Omar Shagaleh/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images(ISTANBUL) -- Saudi Arabia will seek the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, the Kingdoms attorney general, Saud al-Mojeb, announced. Ten other people remain in custody but have not yet been charged, he said. The suspects had allegedly set in motion plans for Khashoggi's murder on Sept. 29, three days before he was last seen entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, al-Mojeb said during a televised press conference in Riyadh. Khashoggi was a high-profile critic of Saudi policy and especially of the Kingdoms de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Khashoggi had an appointment at the consulate on Oct. 2 to apply for paperwork that would have allowed him to marry his Turkish fiancee. There was a struggle, during which Khashoggi was killed by lethal injection, the attorney general said, and his body was later cut up and taken out of the building. The journalists remains were then taken by someone outside the consulate grounds, the attorney general said. The outside collaborator and the location of Khashoggis body remain unknown, al-Mojeb added. The highest-level official accused of being behind the killing is Saudi former deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri, a close advisor to bin Salman, according to al-Mojeb. Al-Assiri was fired for ordering Khashoggis forced return to the kingdom, the attorney general said. The prosecutor said 21 people are now in custody, of which 11 had been indicted and referred to trial. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. The British Councilis the UKs international organisation for educational opportunities andcultural relations. We create international opportunities for the people of theUK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide. British CouncilUganda is based in Kampala and offers a full range of programmes includingexaminations, project management on behalf of other donors, and its own grantfunded projects. British Council has operated in Uganda since 1952 and its aimis to build cultural and educational relations between Uganda and theUK. The Nutrition and Gender Advisor will providesupport to the Country Office ensuring its Programmes have a strong nutritionfocus and a strong gender element to improve cohesion within households.The Gender and Nutrition Advisor will supportthe development of concept notes to build a strong nutrition and gender elementin proposal development, programme delivery and supporting the evaluation ofthe Country Office Programmes.This roleis key in building technical excellence, improving programme quality and takingthe lead in innovative development.Thisposition will be the resource person for Nutrition and Gender within the SHAUganda programme. The role will involve working with the team throughout projectcycle management from supporting the development of concept notes to ensuringa strong nutrition and gender element, proposal development, programmedelivery, supporting M&E and evaluation of projects or programmes.This role is key in the organisations driveto build technical excellence, improve programme quality across theorganisation and lead in innovative development practice.Promoting nutrition sensitive agriculturewill involve ensuring that all of SHA programmes and projects progressivelyintegrate explicit nutrition objectives and indicators into project/programmedesign. It also ensures that gender is mainstreamed within all programmes.Advise, mentor, train and support programme or partner staff to effectivelyintegrate nutrition sensitive agriculture and mainstream gender into programmesand projects including setting objectives and measuring results. The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite... The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday cancelled musician T.M. Krishna's concert that was scheduled to be held in New Delhi on November 17. The concert was supposed to be part of a two-day music festival, jointly organised by the AAI and the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Cultue Amongst Youth (SPIC-MACAY). Though AAI cited 'some exigencies of work' as the reason for abruptly calling off the event, it is alleged that the decision was a result of trolls accusing AAI of supporting an 'anti-India' musician. The trolls hit out at the government body for using public funds to sponsor Krishna who was an 'urban Naxal' and a 'converted bigot' who sang about 'Jesus and Allah'. The trolls had also tagged Union ministers Piyush Goel and Suresh Prabhu in their tweets. #AAI cordially invites you to a Carnatic vocal performance by @tmkrishna who will be accompanied by R.K. Shriramkumar on violin, Praveen Sparsh on Mridangam & Anirudh Athreya on Kanjira - on 17th November in the 2nd edition of 'Dance & Music in the Park' at Nehru Park, Delhi. pic.twitter.com/8ZiUd4n2xC Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) November 10, 2018 We would like to inform that due to some urgent engagements, 'Dance and Music in the Park' programme jointly organized by #AAI and @spicmacay, scheduled for 17th & 18th November, 2018 has been postponed and new dates would be shared shortly. Inconvenience caused is regretted. Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) November 14, 2018 The Carnatic musician has been on the receiving end of much flak and trolls for openly taking a stand against extreme 'Hindutva', and even caste prejudices. Earlier, when Krishna, a Magsaysay award winner, was targetted by Hindu outfits for singing Christian hymns, he had responded by saying he would release a Carnatic song in praise of Jesus and Allah every month. A week after this protest, a prominent temple in the United States, too, cancelled the musician's concert. The Indian Navy was on Wednesday night put on high alert in view of cyclone Gaja approaching the coast of south Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, officials said. Indian Navy officials said the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance as the cyclone was poised to cross the coast on Thursday evening. "Two Indian Navy shipsRanvir and Khanjarare standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid and distress relief," said a Navy official. He said these ships would have divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material on board. The official said helicopters and Dornier and one P8I aircraft were on standby to undertake reconnaissance, rescue and casualty evacuation missions. On Wednesday night, Gaja lay at about 470km south-east of Chennai and was set to make landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban on Thursday evening, bringing heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu. Gaja, which lay south-west and adjoining south-east in the west-central Bay of Bengal, was about 550km north-east of Nagapattinam and very likely to cross the coast between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday evening or night with wind speed gusting up to 100kmph, the Met office said. With the Tamil Nadu government already declaring that 30,500 rescue personnel were on standby, the district collectors of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram declared holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday. All educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions would remain closed on Thursday in view of Gaja's imminent landfall. Against the backdrop of the Central Water Commission advising constant vigil over dams, Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister R.B. Udayakumar told reporters that dams, lakes and rivers channels were being monitored continuously. The CWC had advised action as per the standard operating procedure as heavy rainfall in catchment areas could fill up the dams fast in less than 24 hours. Udayakumar said mobile operators had assured to move 'cell on wheels' mobile platforms to provide uninterrupted mobile connectivity to Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, which were likely to witness the maximum impact from Gaja during landfall. The government also held discussions with oil-marketing companies and they had been advised to maintain sufficient fuel stock for the aftermath of Gaja, he said. While reiterating caution to fishermen to not venture into the sea, Udayakumar said a comprehensive list of do's and don'ts had been circulated to the people on the eve of the arrival of Gaja. The Met office had warned storm surges of about 1.0 metres were likely to inundate low-lying areas of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry at the time of landfall of Gaja. The IMD also cautioned about major damage to thatched huts. Roof tops may blow off and communication and power lines may be affected, it had said, adding standing crops could also be hit besides water intrusion in low-lying areas. A member of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Wednesday accused the administration of Jawaharlal Nehru University of stopping a Facebook Live event on India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary. According to JNU officials, the Facebook Live event was supposed to be held within the 100m periphery of the varsity's administrative block, which would have been against the Delhi High Court's ruling in 2017. "We were not against the programme, but the venue was not appropriate because of the High Court directions and academic regulations," JNU registrar Pramod Kumar told PTI. Last year, the Delhi High Court had asked the JNU students not to protest within a 100m radius of the administrative block, which houses several offices, including that of the vice chancellor. "#JNU_Admin #Stops a mere #facebook_live on Nehru !! On the birth Anniversary architect of Modern India, 14 November. I have got a warning letter from JNU admin. Do not dare to speak the Truth, [they subtly meant, don't expose RSS]. Iqbal's couplet seems quite relevant here," Sunny Dhiman, NSUI's presidential candidate for the 2016 student union polls, posted on Facebook. He also shared a letter from the JNU administration addressed to him. The Facebook Live was supposed to happen near the statue of Jawaharlal Nehru outside the administrative block. "It has come to the notice of the Administration that a programme, NehruKya Sach Kya Jooth, is being organised by Ms Priya Kumari [page admin] at Administrative Block, JNU, on November 14 at 4pm and you are one of the speakers in the said programme," the letter addressed to Dhiman from JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said. "You are requested not to address the said meeting as its venue falls in the close vicinity of the Administrative Block, which is a prohibited area within the university campus for holding such activity. This is in violation of Academic Rules and Regulations Etc and also directives from the High Court," the letter of the JNU Administration said. According to academic rules, all forms of coercion such as gheraos, sit-ins or any variation of the same, which disrupt normal academic and administrative functioning of the university, are prohibited at JNU. "Hunger strikes, dharnas and other peaceful and democratic forms of protest & group bargaining shall be conducted with restraint, i.e at a distance of 100 meters away from the Administrative & Academic complexes," the rules note. The Jammu and Kashmir State Administrative Council on Wednesday gave the nod for the construction of 20,000 apartments for police personnel. The decision shows that the Centre acknowledges that the fight against militancy can't be won without the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The apartments will be allotted to the state police officials on a self-financing basis. The housing proposal for the Jammu and Kashmir Police was submitted by the home department, which was then approved by the State Accountability Council under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday. An official spokesman said the proposal envisaged construction of 10,000 apartments each in Kashmir and Jammu at one or two places subject to the availability of land. The apartments would be in multi-storey buildings and would come in 2-BHK (800-1,000sqft), 3-BHK (1,200sqft) and 4-BHK (1,500sqft) options. The land for the construction of apartments will be provided by the government and the project will be completed in two years. The government will facilitate the provision of loans from Jammu and Kashmir Bank and other banks if required. A demand survey will be conducted by the director general of police to determine the exact demand for flats. This will be completed by December 1, a spokesman said. The spokesman added, ''The construction of 20,000 houses will be a huge welfare measure for the police personnel. The construction of residential colonies for the Jammu and Kashmir Police had gained pace due to frequent targeting of policemen and their families by militants. This year, 36 police personnel have been killed till date by militants, with most of the incidents occurring in south Kashmir's Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian. The targeted policemen, some of whom were shot dead after being abducted from their homes, include the lowly paid and lightly armed and trained special police officers (SPOs). There are around 30,000 SPOs in Jammu and Kashmir. Some quit the job due to threats from militants. The militants also kidnapped 12 kin of policemen in south Kashmir in retaliation to the raids on their homes by the police in August. In a development that will be perceived to be a blow to the Congress, government officials on Thursday started evicting the offices of the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in Delhi, which has been linked to the National Herald Scam. The AJL office at Herald House also houses the National Herald newspaper, which is the Congress's mouthpiece. Security personnel at Herald House | Aayush Goel The Delhi High Court on Monday deferred the petition filed by Associated Journals Ltd, the owner of National Herald newspaper, against the Centre's decision to cancel its lease and vacate the Herald House by November 15 on grounds of violation of lease clauses. ANI reported that the Delhi High Court on Thursday adjourned hearing of the case to November 22 and ordered 'status quo' be maintained. "It's a malicious prosecution and impugned order vitiated by malafides and ulterior political motives," Congress counsel Abhishek M. Singhvi said to the Delhi High Court as the court hearing resumed on AJL's plea. The Centre had issued the order on October 30. Deferring the case to November 15, the single judge bench of Justice Sunil Gaur had observed that there was no urgency in the plea and the case filed had not yet reached it for hearing. Congress leaders allege the eviction was happening even as the Delhi High Court was hearing AJL's plea on Thursday. In Haryana, the governor on Thursday granted sanction to prosecute former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in connection with the National Herald Scam. In 2012, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had filed a case against then Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, alleging irregularities related to a loan of Rs 90 crore given by the Congress to the AJL. The National Herald Case has been an emotive issue used by the BJP to target the Gandhi family in recent years. The eviction is bound to trigger a political uproar. On November 12, the National Herald tweeted it was being targeted by the Narendra Modi government for its growing digital presence. Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday told lawmakers that they could back her deal to exit the European Council or no Brexit at all. "We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," May told parliament. Hours earlier, May's Brexit secretary and other ministers quit one by one in protest at the draft Brexit deal that was passed by May's cabinet on Wednesday. Brexit Minister Dominic Raab, and Work and Pensions Minister Esther McVey quit from their positions saying they could not support the deal. Two junior ministers too quit the government. These resignations will shake an already unstable government with Raab being the second Brexit secretary to quit over May's plans. Despite being a leading Brexiter, he was thought to have been on board with May's plan. Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election, Raab said. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust, Raab said. I cannot support the proposed deal. McVey said the draft agreement "does not honour the referendum" and that she could neither defend it nor vote for it. "We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal," she said. Junior Brexit Minister Suella Braverman and Northern Ireland Minister Shailesh Vara also quit over the draft document. More resignations could put May's government in trouble and could lead to a vote of confidence motion in the House of Commons. May while addressing the House said that while the negotiations had not been "comfortable, it was the best Britain could hope for". "If we get behind a deal we can bring our country back together and seize the opportunities that lie ahead," she told lawmakers. "The British people want us to get this done," May told the MPs. In the House of Commons, May faced heavy criticism from MPs who said the draft deal was not what was promised. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, told May: "The government must now withdraw this half-baked deal. This is not the deal the country was promised." Political crisis in Sri Lanka has deepened as lawmakers clashed in parliament on Thursday morning. Scary scenes were witnessed inside the house as MPs indulged in physical assault and shouting for over 30 minutes. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke for around 15 minutes insisting that he will not step down and that he has majority in parliament. The UNP members shouted slogans against him and threw random things at him. Soon, Rajapaksa's supporters surrounded him and also approached the well of the house. The session was concluded after clashes between the MPs worsened the situation and some were reportedly injured. One of the MPs Dilmu Amunugama of Mahinda Rajapaksa's party was seen bleeding. He was immediately taken to the hospital. Today's session was called by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya after yesterday's chaotic session was adjourned. Tense situation prevailed in the parliament yesterday following the no-faith motion that was taken up against the government and Rajapaksa. The chaotic situation continued today as well. As the session began at 10am today, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that the house does not recognise a government or an opposition. He then allowed Rajapaksa to speak to the lawmakers. Rajapaksa requested all 225 parliamentarians to join the government and to go for general elections. The premier requested the opposition to join hands with them. The UNP MPs were soon on their feet and started shouting against Rajapaksa and called on the speaker to not identify him as the PM. Rajapaksa said, "You can't pass resolutions by just shouting. The previous government was failing. That is why president asked me to take over the government." This particular comment seemed to have irked the UNP MPs who increased their assault against Rajapaksa. If the UNP remained in office for the remaining year, this country would have been destroyed. That is why the President made the decision, he said. Rajapaksa also said that the premiership was not a big deal for him. I have been prime minister, I have been presidentthis premiership is not a big deal for me. The speaker allows only parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa to make the speech, not as prime minister, he said. Rajapaksa also accused the speaker of being biased towards the UNP. He said the speaker was appointed by the previous government and that his position should be neutral. After announcing that there would be a price reduction on petrol from midnight today, Rajapaksa ended his speech. UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella immediately requested a parliament vote by name for the speech delivered by Rajapaksa. Kiriella claimed that the house does not have confidence in Rajapaksa. Refusing to vote on Rajapaksa's speech, group of MPs marched towards the speaker's chair, chanting slogans. The speaker was attacked by Rajapaksa supporters. Jayasuriya soon left the parliament chamber after things were thrown at him. Several media reports said that the speaker left after a wastepaper basket and some documents were thrown at him. Soon after, Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several MPs, too, left the parliament chamber as the tense situation continued to prevail. Following this the parliament was adjourned. Security was tightened around parliament and ministry offices. Special Task Force personnel have been deployed around the parliamentary complex as well as 32 ministries in Colombo as a precautionary measure, the police said. New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) India's exports rose by 17.86 per cent to USD 26.98 billion in October compared to the year-ago month, according to the commerce ministry data. Imports during the month also rose by 17.62 per cent to USD 44.11 billion, leading to widening of trade deficit to USD 17.13 billion. The deficit widened despite a steep decline of 42.9 per cent in gold imports to USD 1.68 billion during the month under review. The trade gap was USD 14.61 billion in October 2017. During the April-October period of the current fiscal, exports grew by 13.27 per cent to USD 191 billion. Imports were up by 16.37 per cent to USD 302.47 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 111.46 billion during the first seven months of the current fiscal. It was USD 91.28 billion in April-October 2017-18. Oil imports in October increased by 52.64 per cent to USD 14.21 billion. The non-oil imports rose by 6 per cent to USD 29.9 billion in the month. In September, exports had contracted by 2.15 per cent. PTI RR MR MR Mumbai, Nov 15 (PTI) "Kaala" helmer Pa Ranjith will direct the biopic on the life of Birsa Munda, the tribal freedom fighter who led a religious movement in the modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand in the late 19th century. On the occasion of Munda's 143rd birth anniversary Thursday, the makers announced Ranjith would be making his Bollywood directorial debut with this yet-to-be-titled film. Birsa Munda single-handedly raised an army of tribals and fought against the British for their rights to ownership of land, a press release read. "When I first read about him seven years back, in Mahasweta Devi's 'Aaranyer Adhikar', I knew I will narrate this story. "When Shareen, Kishor and I met to discuss this, we shared the same passion to narrate this inspiring story that will make a brilliant feature film, which will appeal to the Indian as well as the international audience," Ranjith's said in a statement. Ranjith is well known for directing films such as "Kaala", "Kabali", "Madras" and "Attakathi". Producer duo Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishor Arora of Namah Pictures, who had produced Majid Majidi's "Beyond The Clouds", will back the biopic. Shareen said the life and times of Birsa Munda are an inspiration and it is a remarkable story that needs to be told. The makers have also acquired the rights of Mahasweta Devi's book "Jangal Ke Davedar", based on the life of Birsa Munda. PTI KKP RDS RDS London, Nov 15 (PTI) A man accused of shooting dead his heavily pregnant Indian-origin ex-wife with a crossbow will face trial next year, British media reported Thursday. Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 50, has been charged with the murder of 35-year-old Sana Muhammad. The victim, known as Devi Unmathallegadoo before her remarriage, was attacked at her home in Ilford, east London, on Monday. Doctors performed an emergency caesarian to deliver her son, who was due to be born in about four weeks. The defendant appeared before Judge Nicholas Hilliard at the Old Bailey via video link from Pentonville prison, north London, on Thursday. He spoke only to confirm his name, age and British nationality, The Guardian reported. During a hearing at the Old Bailey, the defendant, who has yet to enter a plea, was told a provisional trial date of April 8, 2019 had been set. A plea hearing on February 6 was also scheduled, the BBC reported. The trial is expected to last up to two weeks. The defendant was remanded into custody. Sana Muhammad was taken to hospital with an abdominal wound and pronounced dead, hours after the attack. Her son was delivered by Caesarean section and "remains in a stable condition in a critical care unit", police said. British Prime Minister Theresa May Wednesday said laws around crossbows would be reviewed after Unmathallegadoo's death. Ilford North MP Wes Streeting said in Parliament Sana Muhammad's death had left people in shock "up and down the country". Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Streeting said: "I know I will speak for every member of this House in expressing our deepest condolences to the family and our best wishes to the baby for a speedy recovery. "Given these weapons, like the crossbow, used to kill my constituent are readily for sale online, can I urge the Prime Minister to urgently and seriously look at expanding the Offensive Weapons Bill so that we can toughen the scope of the laws governing the sale, the possession and the use of these deadly weapons." May responded by saying crossbows were "subject to strict controls", but the government would "consider the risk to public safety and whether further measures are needed". PTI AKJ AKJ Riyadh, Nov 15 (AFP) Five Saudi officials face the death penalty for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not involved, the prosecutor said Thursday. The announcement follows growing international outcry over the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi rulers who was last seen entering the consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Khashoggi died after being drugged and then dismembered, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office said in the first Saudi confirmation of how he was killed. The journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds, the spokesman said. He denied Prince Mohammed had any knowledge of the murder. The deputy chief of Saudi Arabia's intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, gave the order to repatriate Khashoggi -- and "the head of the negotiating team" that flew to the Istanbul consulate had ordered his murder, the spokesman said. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted in mid-October that Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound, but blamed it on a "rogue" operation. The prosecutor has requested the death penalty for the five who "are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals," an official statement published by state news agency SPA said. It said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing, 11 of whom have been indicted with investigations to continue into the others. Turkey on Wednesday called for an international investigation into the murder. Ankara has already shared voice recordings linked to the murder with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States and its Western allies. Khashoggi's killing has plunged the world's top oil exporter into its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals. After first insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, Saudi authorities said he was killed in an argument that degenerated into a brawl before finally accepting what Turkey had said virtually from the start -- that he was killed in a premeditated hit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the order to murder Khashoggi came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government. The global fallout over the murder has tainted the image of 33-year-old Prince Mohammed -- the de facto ruler and heir apparent -- despite persistent Saudi denials that he was involved. Khashoggi's murder has also led to increased scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's role in the Yemen war, which has pushed the impoverished country to the brink of famine. The journalist went into self-imposed exile in the United States in 2017 after falling out with Prince Mohammed. (AFP) AMS AMS Istanbul, Nov 15 (AFP) Turkey on Thursday said the Saudi statement over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "insufficient" and insisted that the killing was "premeditated." "We find all those steps positive but insufficient," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a televised speech. His comments came shortly after Saudi Arabia admitted that 59-year-old Khashoggi was drugged and dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last month. Riyadh's public prosecutor said the journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds and that five Saudi officials were facing the death penalty over the murder. "I want to say personally that I don't find some of the statements satisfactory," Cavusoglu said. "This murder was premeditated." Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen stepping into the doors of the Istanbul consulate to obtain paperwork for his marriage to a Turkish woman. Turkey has said he was murdered and his body was cut into pieces. After denials, Riyadh admitted that the man was killed in a "rogue" operation. On Thursday, a spokesman for the Saudi public prosecutor's office said the deputy chief of Saudi intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, had given an order to force Khashoggi home -- and "the head of the negotiating team" that flew to Istanbul had ordered his murder. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the order came from "the highest levels" of the Riyadh government, but stopped short of pointing the finger of blame at the Saudi crown prince. Cavusoglu said: "Those who gave the command as well as instigators should also be clarified and this process should not be covered up." He said Turkey would continue to do what was necessary "to shed light on this murder in all its aspects." (AFP) AMS AMS Riyadh, Nov 15 (AFP) Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Thursday rejected Turkey's demand for an international inquiry into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his country's consulate in Istanbul. Adel al-Jubeir said Riyadh had its own "investigative body" and would "reject" an independent investigation into the killing of Khashoggi who had been "heavily drugged" before being dismembered. (AFP) AMS AMS Patna, Nov 15 (PTI) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Thursday accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of "snooping" by installing a powerful CCTV camera atop a boundary wall of the CM residence near his bungalow. Leader of opposition in the state assembly, Yadav's 5, Desh Ratna Marg bungalow is just behind Kumar's 7, Circular road, house in Patna. The official residence of the chief minister is 1, Anney Marg. Posting a photograph of the CCTV camera on his Twitter handle, Yadav asked, "Why the chief minister felt the need for the camera only on the wall bordering his political adversary." The chief minister's residence has main roads on three sides and Yadav's bungalow is across the fourth boundary wall. "Bihar chief minister's residence is surrounded by main roads from three sides and leader of opposition's residence from the fourth side. "But, the chief minister felt the need for CCTV only on the wall bordering his political adversary's residence. Someone should tell him that these petty tricks will prove futile," Yadav, the younger son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, tweeted. In his tweets, he accused Kumar of "snooping and interfering with the privacy of a neighbour and having an obsession with luxury and grandeur besides using invectives like autocratic and insecure". The ruling JD(U) in Bihar hit back at Yadav, saying he "seems to be worked up over the possibility of his hobnobbing with criminals getting exposed". Yadav, was allotted the 5, Desh Ratna Marg, residence when he was deputy chief minister in the Grand Alliance government in Bihar. But, he continues to occupy it despite notices to vacate it in favour of incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. The Patna High Court has also dismissed Yadav's petition challenging the evacuation notices. Kumar after stepping down for a brief period after the drubbing in the last general election had been allotted the 7, Circular Road, house, which is adjacent to the Chief Ministers' official residence 1, Anney Marg. After returning as chief minister, the JD (U) chief, retained the bungalow on Circular Road. Reacting to the outbursts of the RJD leader, JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh said, "Tejashwi Yadav seems to be worked up over the possibility of his hobnobbing with criminals getting exposed." "There is no other reason why he should get so agitated over a CCTV camera being installed on a boundary wall. It has not been installed in his bedroom. "Moreover, he should try to acquire some knowledge so that he could at least come out with his own tweets. He has not even completed high school and we are certain that someone is ghost-writing on his behalf," he said. There has been no official word on why and upon whose instructions the CCTV camera was installed. Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, who recently joined the JD(U) and had a meteoric rise with elevation to the post of national vice-president within a month of being inducted to the party, also operates from this bungalow. PTI NAC SNS ANB ANB Guwahati, Nov 15 (PTI) Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in the three police districts of Guwahati city with immediate effect on Thursday, ahead of Friday's Assam secretariat gherao programme of KMSS and AJYCP against the Citizen (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The order clamped in the East, West and Central police districts will remain in force till further notice, police said. The 'Janata Bhawan Gherao' at the secretariat on Friday by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti(KMSS), a peasant organisation, and Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP), a student organisation, is expected to see participation from 68 other organisations from other parts of the state, protest organisors said. Protesters travelling from Sadia, Dhubri and Diphu to participate in the agitation were detained at Tamulpur, which is about 80 km from here, and Sipajhar, which is about 60 km from here, police said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. The bill seeks to grant citizenship to people belonging to minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India, instead of a wait of 12 years, even if they do not possess any proper document. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 15, 2016 and a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament, which is examining it, had been asked to submit its report in the coming winter session of Parliament, which is likely to be the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha. Large sections of people, organisations in the northeast and leading political party AGP, which is an ally of the ruling BJP, are opposed to the bill saying it will nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date for deportation of illegal immigrants irrespective of religion. Assam Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia told newsmen here that the administration will take strong action against anyone trying to break the law. Strict vigil would be kept in Guwahati, he said. The deputy commissioners of police of East and West in separate orders on Thursday said the prohibitory order was passed as it was necessary to take preventive measures to ensure peaceful movement of public, smooth flow of traffic and normal functioning of offices in the areas. PTI ESB KK KK IND IND Patna, Nov 15 (PTI) The JD(U) said Thursday it has suspended former Bihar minister Manju Verma, facing arrest under the arms act following recovery of ammunition from her home during a CBI raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal. JD(U) state president Vashishtha Narayan Singh said the party suspended the absconding leader from its primary membership on November 10 in keeping with the policy of zero tolerance for crime and corruption. "We have always taken a tough stance whenever any member of our party is found to be involved in any criminal or corruption case. Nothing new in that," he said. Singh was replying to queries about Verma, a two-time MLA from Cheria Bariarpur constituency in Begusarai district, evading arrest despite an arrest warrant and warnings issued by the Supreme Court to surrender. Verma had stepped down as social welfare minister in August after media reports indicated close links between her husband Chandrashekhar Verma and prime accused in the sex scandal case Brajesh Thakur. A few days later, the CBI raided her Patna residence besides her in-laws home at Cheria Bariarpur from where a cache of ammunition was seized. A case was then registered against her. She moved an application for anticipatory bail before a Begusarai court which was turned down and a similar plea was rejected by the Patna High Court. Her husband surrendered before a Begusarai court on October 29. The Supreme Court earlier this week rapped the Bihar police for failing to arrest the former minister and directed the DGP to appear before it in-person on November 27 if she was not nabbed by then. Police are conducting raids in Bihar and Jharkhand for her arrest. Over 30 girls were allegedly raped and sexually abused at a Muzaffarpur shelter home and the issue was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the TISS to the social welfare department of Bihar government. An FIR was filed on May 31 against 11 people, including Thakur, who was running the shelter home. The probe was later taken over by CBI and so far, 17 people have been arrested in connection with that case. PTI NAC SNS ABH ABH New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) Accepting the demand of some civil society groups, the Election Commission on Thursday removed S B Shashank as chief electoral officer of poll-bound Mizoram and appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra in his place The order came after some civil society groups in Mizoram demanded Shashank's ouster over a row on allowing Bru voters lodged in Tripura relief camps to exercise their franchise from there. "The Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Mizoram hereby nominates Ashish Kundra as the chief electoral officer for the state of Mizoram with immediate effect," a notification issued by the EC said. The poll panel had earlier asked the Mizoram government for a panel of names to replace Shashank, who has been camping in Delhi since the agitation against him began a fortnight ago. Mizoram goes to the polls on November 28. The NGO Coordination Committee, the apex body of civil societies and students' organisations in Mizoram, has been demanding that Shashank be replaced as chief electoral officer and transferred outside the north-eastern state. It also demanded that 11,232 Bru voters in six Tripura relief camps be allowed to exercise their franchise at their respective polling stations in Mizoram and not in Tripura as committed by the poll panel in 2014. The committee had called for Shashank's exit from the state shortly after the EC removed the state's principal secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo. Shawshank reportedly sought the deployment of additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the state. This did not go down well with the committee. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. "... as people have lost faith in him (Shashank), the only solution for the smooth conduct of the Assembly elections 2018 would be removal of CEO S B Shashank from office forthwith," he said. The EC sent a deputy election commissioner to Aizawl to talk with the agitators. Thousands of people from the Bru community fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes. They have since been living in six relief camps in Tripura. Civil society organisations have opposed the Election Commission's decision to conduct an electoral revision of Bru voters in Tripura relief camps in the past too. They urged the EC to disenfranchise all Bru voters who chose to stay back in Tripura and did not return to Mizoram. PTI NAB NAB MIN MIN New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The Congress Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national interests on the Rafale issue, with party chief Rahul Gandhi alleging that the latest skeleton to tumble out of the "Rafale cupboard" is that there is no guarantee by the French government backing the deal. Gandhi asked if the Rafale jet deal can be called a "Government to Government" contract with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying there is only a letter from the French government promising to be faithful. "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: No Guarantee by the French Government backing the deal. "BUT, our PM says theres a letter from the French promising to be faithful. Thats enough to call this a Government to Government deal?" he asked on Twitter, using the hashtag "BikGayaChowkidar". The government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The French government has, however, given a "letter of comfort" to India which would be good enough "governmental guarantee", Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court. Echoing his party president, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the only forum to investigate acts of omission, commission and corruption in the "biggest defence scam" of India is to have a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone as far as to sabotage his own nation's interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends," he said at a press conference, alleging that the prime minister had waived the sovereign guarantee requirement in the deal. PTI SKC SKC MIN MIN New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The government will give employers the salaries for seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leave for women earning more than Rs 15,000 a month, the Women and Child Development ministry announced on Thursday. The announcement, which covers the government as well as the private sector, comes in the wake of complaints that many companies were reluctant hire pregnant women after maternity leave was extended from 12 to 26 weeks and some were even firing women employees. WCD Secretary Rakesh Srivastava said it has been decided to utilise the funds lying in the labour welfare cess to pay the employers. "The utilisation of the labour welfare cess lying with the state governments has been very less. After talks with the Labour Ministry it has been decided that the seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leave for all women employees in the private and government sector getting more than Rs 15,000 a month would be paid from that fund," Srivastava told reporters here. The labour welfare cess has been given to state governments to ensure the welfare of workers. Maternity leave was extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks last year. According to Srivastava, there were complaints from women that they were getting fired from their jobs due to the increased duration of maternity leave. "The government has now decided that out of the 14 extra weeks, half of the amount of salary paid to the pregnant woman would be refunded to the employer from the funds of the labour welfare cess," he said. Till March 2017, there was Rs 32,632 crore in the fund. Of this, just Rs 7,500 crore has been utilised, he said. "We would be refunding the salary of seven weeks to the employer so women do not face problems upon returning to work," he said. "The labour minister has agreed to the proposal and we are now carrying it forward. There will soon be a notification from the Labour Ministry with further details," he added. PTI UZM UZM MIN MIN New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind will pay a three-day visit to Vietnam beginning Sunday with a focus on deepening bilateral cooperation in key areas of defence and security, trade and in offshore oil exploration. Sharing details of the visit, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau said Kovind will address Vietnam's national assembly, and will become the second foreign leader to achieve the rare honour after Chinese President Xi Jinping. "We are looking at further bolstering the time-tested relationship between the two strategic partners," the envoy told reporters. Kovind's visit comes less than a month after Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong became the country's new president following the death of incumbent president Tran Dai Quang. Trong became the first leader to hold both the powerful posts since founding father Ho Chi Minh in the 1960s. Chau said both sides will aim to bolster cooperation in a number of sectors including defence and security, trade and investment, education, artificial intelligence, culture and tourism. He said a number of issues including India's offshore oil exploration in Vietnamese waters as well as defence cooperation may figure in the talks. Asked whether Vietnam was eyeing to procure Brahmos and Aakash missile systems from India, he did not give a direct reply but said "discussions are underway" between parties concerned on military purchases. The envoy said Vietnam was procuring 11 high-speed patrol vessels from India out of which five will be produced in India and six will be manufactured in Vietnam. He also said cooperation among the navies and air forces of the two countries are on an upswing and there was scope for further enhancing the defence ties. The issue of the South China Sea, where China has been showing increasing assertiveness, is likely to be discussed during Kovind's visit. On trade ties, Chau said the current volume of bilateral trade was USD 8.5 billion and it can increase significantly if the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP comes into force. "There is huge potential for trade to grow further," he said. Under RCEP, a grouping of 16 leading countries are trying create one of the largest regional trading bloc globally through an ambitious trade deal. The RCEP, comprising 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries -- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact. PTI MPB ZMN New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, sources said. They said an official announcement on it may be made shortly. The government has zeroed on Ramaphosa weeks after US President Donald Trump declined India's invitation to be the chief guest at the parade, citing pressing engagements, including his State of The Union (SOTU) address. The sources indicated that India was not exclusively looking at Trump's presence at the Republic Day celebrations and that various other options were also being explored. Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations. In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest which was his second visit to India as American president. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, the then French president Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014. The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac. PTI MPB GVS New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The Election Commission Thursday appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra as poll-bound Mizoram's new chief electoral officer, replacing S B Shashank. The order came after some civil society groups in Mizoram demanded Shashank's ouster over a row on allowing Bru voters lodged in Tripura relief camps to exercise their franchise from there. "The Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Mizoram hereby nominates Ashish Kundra as the chief electoral officer for the state of Mizoram with immediate effect," a notification issued by the EC said. The EC had earlier asked the Mizoram government for a panel of names to replace Shashank. Mizoram goes to polls on November 28. PTI NAB SKC SKC MIN MIN Lucknow, Nov 15 (PTI) Taking a dig at the BJP, Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel said on Thursday even though Uttar Pradesh has a "government of babas (monks)", Ram temple is yet to be built in Ayodhya. During his visit to the state capital in connection with a programme of youth and farmers slated for December, Patel made light of the BJP's attacks on the Congress and accused the saffron party of "doing nothing" for the nation while in power. "UP has a government of babas... the chief minister is the 'peethadheshwar' of Gorakhpur and he needs to serve the God there... he is not able to do much. It is almost over 10 years that the BJP has been in power (at the Centre) together with Atal Bihar Vajpayees' six years. Now in the state too (the party is in power). They still could do nothing for the Ram temple," he told PTI. "They (BJP leaders) ask what has been done in 70 years. It is good that the Congress established schools and colleges. Had they installed statues where would the IITs be? I think all the youth of India would have gone to Australia and the US," Patel said. He, however, said, "This does not mean that I want to help the Congress in any way. But the school where I studied was set up by the Congress and it should be praised for that." Those who brought demonetisation which, Patel claimed, left over 100 dead, should not be hailed. "I do not praise those who speak untruth," Patel said. The Patidar leader also hit out at the BJP government in the state over its recent renaming spree. "If changing names can serve a purpose, change the name of people as Ram, Laxman or Dashrath... will it bring Ram Rajya or benefit the country? You can also rename me Ram, if that helps," he said. When asked if he would contest the Lok Sabha election as a candidate of the united opposition parties, Patel said that he has not given it a thought. "But this is a matter of time. When and where to contest and against whom will be disclosed later," he said. Asked if he was supporting any particular party in Uttar Pradesh, Patel said, "We are with all the parties who are opposed to power. As of now, my job is to create awareness among the youth and farmers for which we will organise many programmes in the state till the Lok Sabha polls are held." PTI SAB SMI NSD New Delhi, Nov 15(PTI) The BJP's city unit will write to the Home Ministry seeking an investigation into the recent visit of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Dubai, the party said in a statement Thursday. The BJP had earlier alleged that Kejriwal travelled to Dubai with a "hidden agenda". The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had, however, dismissed the charge as "outlandish". Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana Thursday said, "I will soon write a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh for an investigation into Kejriwal's Dubai visit." Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari questioned Kejriwal's silence on his Dubai trip. "Why the chief minister, who tweets to make public information about his visit to cinema in Delhi, about his illness and treatment in Bangalore, is not answering the questions on this tour?" Tiwari said in a statement. AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha had earlier said Kejriwal had gone "abroad" to attend a family function of his IIT batchmate. PTI VIT GVS Hyderabad, Nov 15 (PTI) Alleging that genuine Muslim ticket aspirants have been ignored, senior Telangana Congress leader Abid Rasool Khan on Thursday threatened to quit the party if the minority community does not get "social justice". A former chairman of the state Minorities Commission, Khan said the Congress should give tickets to Muslims in one constituency each in the 10 old districts of the state where the party have chances to win. "Can they not do that much?" the state Congress vice-president asked in a poser to the party's central leadership. The Congress has so far announced candidates in 75 constituencies, which include four Muslims, for the December 7 polls to the 119-member state Assembly. The party has forged an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) to take on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Under the seat-sharing formula announced by the Congress, the TDP would contest in 14 constituencies, TJS in eight and the CPI in three. The Congress would field nominees in 94 segments. Khan said of the four Muslim candidates announced by the Congress, two have joined the party only recently and one was not even a member of the outfit. "We (Muslim leaders of Telangana) are very upset. Our president, Rahul Gandhi, has time and again said he will take care of genuine workers, and he will not allow paratroopers to enter the party and take out the cake. Things are totally happening on the other side (to the contrary)," he told PTI. Muslims constitute 30-35 per cent of the population in some of the district headquarters like Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Khammam, Khan said, adding that leaders of the Reddy community had established themselves there and "don't want to leave the seats at any cost, because Muslim votes come easily to them". The Congress leadership, he insisted, has to shift the Reddy community members from these towns and give tickets to Muslims. "They (Reddy community members) can win from anywhere, as they are strong financially, but Muslims cannot win from other seats." Khan added that if the Congress leadership was "so helpless", they should give a commitment that all nominated MLC (member of legislative council) seats would be given to Muslims and Christians. "You don't want to give us nominated positions, don't want to give us political opportunities, you just want our votes. What is the difference between our party and the BJP? "It is a party which says it is secular, but acts in a communal manner. They are saying they are secular, but they are acting in a communal manner. Really, we cannot differentiate," he said. "If Rahul Gandhi really wants to win Telangana for Congress, he should sit down and set right this anomaly immediately," he said, warning that the party would be in a bad situation in all the districts if the Congress chief do not act. "If things are not set right, as far as I am concerned, I am going to resign", Khan said. PTI RS SS HMB Kolkata, Nov 15 (PTI) The Centre on Thursday told the Calcutta High Court that it was agreeable to the guidelines on safety of students in schools as proposed by the court-appointed amicus curiae. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Kaushik Chanda told the court that Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 already provides for security measures of school students, but the government was, nevertheless, agreeable to the Standards of Procedure (SOP) proposed by the amicus curiae as additional initiative. Appearing for the state, Additional Advocate General Abhratosh Majumdar also agreed to the SOP, while suggesting minor changes. Amicus curiae Firoze Edulji, who compiled the proposed SOP following consultations with a court-appointed panel of educationists, was directed by Justice Nadira Patherya to submit another report after including the views of the Centre and the state government. The court also said that it will pass an order in the matter on Friday. Justice Patherya, while hearing a case relating to alleged sexual misconduct against two physical education teachers of a city-based school, had appointed lawyer Edulji as amicus curiae to assist him in the matter and formed a panel of educationists for suggestions. The panel included educationists from six leading schools in the city, the chairperson of West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) and representatives of UNICEF and National University of Juridical Sciences. The amicus curiae submitted a 100-page report to the court on Monday suggesting formation of a nodal body under the SCPCR, which would work for spreading awareness among school staff, sensitise parents and set up a syllabus for awareness of staff, students and parents. It also suggested stringent background check of a person before appointing him or her to any position in a school. On Wednesday, Justice Patherya asked the Centre and the West Bengal government to convey their views on proposed guidelines to prevent sexual offences against students in educational institutions affiliated to the central and the state boards. The ASG was asked to convey the views of the Centre to the court in this regard. The Additional Advocate General was also directed to communicate the views of the state government, which also has many school affiliated to its boards of secondary and higher secondary education. PTI AMR RMS ZMN New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The Centre Thursday gave an oral assurance to the Delhi High Court that it will maintain status quo till November 22 in the land lease matter of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald newspaper. The assurance by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing the Land and Development Office, came after Justice Sunil Gaur said he will hear the matter another day and the Centre shall maintain status quo till then. The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 22. The publisher had approached the high court on November 12 challenging the October 30 order of the Urban Development Ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises in the press enclave at ITO here by November 15. PTI HMP SKV SKV DV DV New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The Centre has told the Supreme Court that 23 states and Union territories (UTs) have developed the websites of their state disaster management authority (SDMA) in vernacular language also to make it easier for people to understand the issues. The Centre's submission came before a bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Deepak Gupta in a matter in which the apex court had in September this year said it was "disheartening" to note that websites of all SDMAs were not bilingual or in vernacular language. The government told the bench that if some more time was granted, all the states and UTs would comply with the suggestion to make websites of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and SDMAs multilingual or in vernacular language. "Four weeks' time, as prayed for, is granted. List the matter after four weeks," the bench said. The apex court had in May last year said that it would be advisable for the NDMA to regularly publish its annual report, to review and update all plans on the basis of experiences and to make its website multilingual so that all concerned may benefit. The court had criticised the lax approach of many states in taking adequate steps to prepare for disasters and had asked the NDMA to remain ever-vigilant and ready to deal with natural disasters. The court's order had come last year while disposing of a plea by advocate Gaurav Bansal who had sought implementation of provisions of the Disaster Management Act. Under Section 17 of the Disaster Management Act (DMA), "a state authority may, as and when it considers necessary, constitute an advisory committee, consisting of experts in the field of disaster management and having practical experience of disaster management to make recommendations on different aspects of disaster management". PTI ABA MNL SJK RKS GVS Chennai, Nov 15 (PTI) The Madras High Court has directed the Union Home Ministry to sanction pension for the widow of a freedom fighter and slammed it for a delay of over three decades in considering the woman's application. Justice R Suresh Kumar said the attitude on the part of officials responsible for keeping the application pending for more than three decades is to be deprecated. Had the application of the petitioner decided in 1973 and disposed of either way, the petitioner would have been in a position either to get the fruits of the freedom fighter family pension or would have protested over the issue in the matter known to law, the judge said. The matter relates to L Kathayee Ammal, the widow of freedom fighter Lakshmana Thevar, who has been made to wait for 30 years for the pension. Ammal's application has been kept pending by the central government and the court wants to register its displeasure against all those responsible, the judge said in his order. The petitioner's husband was an ex- Indian National Army personnel who joined the INA in Malaysia and was captured by the British. After the Second World War, the petitioner's husband applied to the Tamil Nadu and central governments seeking freedom fighters' pension, but before the application was considered, he died in 1969. Then, his wife applied for the pension the state considered the plea but the Centre kept her application pending since 1973 only to reject it in 2003, and it has since been pending. The judge, who quashed the rejection order, directed the Centre to sanction the freedom fighters family pension to the petitioner from the date of her application, that is, from September 25, 1973. The arrears of the payment shall be calculated and be paid to her with interest at 6 per cent per annum from the date of due to till date of payment and shall continue to pay it till her lifetime, the judge said. The judge imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Home Ministry for the lethargic attitude and directed that the dues shall be paid within a duration of two months from the date of the receipt of the copy of the order. Observing that in any democratic set-up the rulers in governance would make policy decisions for the welfare of the people, the judge said, "The policy-makers always depend on the administrative machinery that has to implement such policies." While implementing the policies, the judge said, those at the helm of affairs in administrative hierarchy should go in unison with the policy-makers only then every policy decision of the government would reach people for their betterment. PTI COR NVG BN BN ABH ABH Hyderabad, Nov 15 (PTI) The Telangana Police is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to check possible "desperate action" by the outlawed CPI (Maoists) in districts bordering Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra in the run-up to the state Assembly elections on December 7. The police anticipate that the Maoists might resort to some desperate action just to "create some sensation" and "prove their existence", top officials said, citing intelligence inputs. Police say they have put in place all necessary security measures to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. According to police, Maoists have been almost decimated in Telangana and their activities virtually are nil in the state, but, given the election season, police apprehend some threat (possibility of some offence) from the Maoist "action teams", in very few places particularly in the Bhadrachalam region that borders Chhattisgarh. As per election notification, 13 of the 119 Assembly segments have been identified as sensitive to Left wing extremism (LWE), where election authorities will hold polling between 7 am and 4 pm. "But our action teams are ready and we can thwart any attempt by the outlaws to create trouble. Our Greyhounds (elite anti-Naxal force) is adequately placed and we are going ahead with a multi-pronged strategy to ensure incident-free elections," a top police official said. "We are fully ready to tackle any kind of threat," Inspector General of Police (North Zone) Y Nagi Reddy told PTI. In view of the electioneering, security has been beefed up, combing operations have been further stepped up and roads have been cleared and counter-action teams are on the move, he said. Similarly, for the polling also security measures will be carried out. Security arrangements are in place with deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), state forces and Greyhounds, the official said, adding "lot of area domination will be there and with regard to polling stations additional security will be there". In the wake of posters and banners purportedly written by Maoists appealing to locals to boycott the ensuing assembly elections surfacing in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, another senior police official said, "They will try to prove their existence and give a call to boycott polls." A few days ago a four-member "action team" of ultras had entered Bhupalpally district, but after noticing police parties they escaped, he said. "There are some credible inputs that Maoists are trying to carry out some offence in the area during elections by sending some action teams...they are trying and they are desperate to do some offence... We are working on that and ensuring they are not successful," he added. On VIP movement and politicians who are canvassing for elections, the official said their security has been beefed up and all security-related precautions are being followed. PTI VVK SS DV DV \R Noida, Nov 15 (PTI) A 33-year-old Nigerian student was killed when an unidentified vehicle rammed into his scooter in Greater Noida, police said Thursday. Emanuel, who was staying in Greater Noida and studying at a private university, died in the accident near the Grand Venice Mall close to Pari Chowk late Wednesday night, a police officer said. "He had gone to drop his brother somewhere. The incident took place when he was returning in the night on his scooter," a police official said. A case has been registered and the body sent for post-mortem, said Nishank Sharma, circle officer, Greater Noida 1. The Nigerian Embassy had been informed about the incident and a probe was underway to identify the culprits, officials said. PTI KIS HMB New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The Congress late Thursday night released its first list of 152 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections, fielding former chief minister Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpura and state party president Sachin Pilot from Tonk seat. Gehlot and Pilot had on Wednesday made their intentions clear that they would contest the assembly polls along with senior state leaders. Former National Commission for Women chief Girija Vyas will contest from Udaipur, while senior party leader C P Joshi will be party nominee from the Nathdwara assembly seat. The Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Rameshwar Lal Dudi, is the Congress's candidate from the Nokha assembly seat. AICC Secretary Harish Chaudhary will contest the polls from the Baytoo seat. Former BJP MP Harish Meena, who had switched over to the Congress on Wednesday, has been fielded from Deoli Uniara. The party's central election committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik released the list after hectic deliberations with senior state leaders and the party leadership. Sources said the list was reportedly delayed over differences on distribution of party tickets. The notification for the polls was issued on Monday. PTI SKC GVS The value of the pound tumbled and stocks in British firms fell after a day of political plotting in Westminster sparked fears the UK could leave the EU without a deal. Stirling fell by almost 2% against the euro and the dollar, the biggest fall since June 2017. On the FTSE 100 Index, housebuilding companies Taylor Wimpey and Charles Church owner Persimmon were the biggest casualties of the Brexit chaos, both suffering 8% falls. Shares in state-owned lender RBS fell 9.1% in their worst one-day loss since the 2016 vote, with Lloyds Banking Group also falling 5% and Barclays 4%. The pound fell sharply against the US dollar seconds after Dominic Raab's resignation Sterling stablised around the 1.28 dollar mark but experts say it remains 'under pressure'. This image shows the currency in the 24 hours up until 3pm today Retailers were also deep in the red. Shares in high street bellwethers Marks & Spencer and Next both fell 5%. Foreign exchange experts at ING predicted the pound could fall another 3% to 4% 'unless the threat of a leadership challenge is quashed or there are clearer signs that the withdrawal agreement can garner more support in Parliament'. It is understood major UK banks were asked for their feedback on the market reaction amid fears over finances in a time of political chaos. A spokesman for the Financial Conduct Authority said: 'As you would expect, in this type of situation, we have regular contact with firms and will continue to engage with them.' Mr Raab sensationally quit the cabinet this morning, saying he cannot support Theresa May's plan for Brexit. His resignation was followed by that of Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, who said Mrs May's Brexit deal 'does not honour the result of the referendum'. The currency nosedived after Dominic Raab quit as Brexit Secretary. His resignation was followed by that of Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey (right) Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is among those plotting to get rid of Theresa May Theresa May has vowed to fight on and try to get her deal signed off by the EU and through Parliament Business chiefs breathe 'sigh of relief' at deal Business leaders backed Theresa May's Brexit plan, saying it was 'night and day better' than crashing out of the EU without a deal. As the Prime Minister faced Cabinet resignations and anger from Tory MPs, figures from the City and industry rallied behind her proposals. They claimed the deal would prevent a 'cliff edge' on March 29, adding a wave of pent-up investment could be unleashed if a deal was finally secured. Key bosses were briefed on Mrs May's proposals by Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark. One of them, Aston Martin chief Andy Palmer, said he breathed 'a sigh of relief' after the call. The 55-year-old said: 'This deal is night and day better than a no-deal Brexit. It would appear to operate as a tariff-free border, and the transition part gives us time to understand that. It appears to meet all our requests.' He was followed by other captains of industry who welcomed Mrs May's draft agreement and called for politicians to provide certainty. Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, said: 'The announcement of a draft Brexit withdrawal agreement is a welcome first step forwards. 'We look forward to further clarity and the removal of uncertainty as soon as possible so that Airbus, like every business in the UK, can properly plan for the future.' John McFarlane, chair of Barclays and TheCityUK lobby group, said: 'This is constructive progress and presents a pragmatic and workable solution. We appreciate there needed to be compromises but this is infinitely better than severe and unpredictable damage from a no-deal outcome.' Sir Roger Carr, chairman of aerospace giant BAE Systems, said: 'It's something that had the key elements of what people were looking for, particularly in the sense of a pathway to frictionless trade, control of our borders and preservation of the UK.' The Health Secretary yesterday refused to rule out the possibility that people could die because of medical shortages if there is a no-deal Brexit. Matt Hancock declined three times to say that crashing out of the EU without a deal would not lead to deaths and he warned that no deal would be 'not pretty' for patients. Health chiefs have been warning for months of the dangers of supplies of medicines running out. Advertisement Brexiteer 'ultra' Jacob Rees-Mogg was meanwhile among a number of MPs calling for a no confidence vote in Theresa May, potentially forcing a leadership election. James Hughes, chief market analyst at Axi Trader, said: 'Sterling previously moved on clarity rather than positive and negative headlines. 'This has now changed and it seems sterling is now a barometer of the PM's ability to hold onto her job.' He added: 'If the discontent and resignations continue then the pound will remain under pressure.' David Cheetham, chief market analyst at online trading group XTB, said the currency reaction was 'reminiscent of the Chequers deal in the summer where initial support from the Cabinet has proved short-lived for Theresa May'. Nomura analyst Jordan Rochester said: 'Raab resigning just now changes the ballgame. [It's] hard to be optimistic on the pound in the short term. 'But equally Theresa May has survived much worse. It's whether we get a flood of (ministerial) resignations to follow.' Housebuilders, retailers, and domestic banks all sank and the FTSE 250 tumbled one per cent in early deals, while a slump in Sterling helped keep the exporter-heavy FTSE 100 afloat, up 0.3 percent shortly before 10am. Housebuilders Barratt Development, Persimmon , Taylor Wimpey, Berkely Group all fell 4.9 to 6.7 percent, among the worst FTSE 100 fallers. Bovis Homes, Redrow, Bellway and Crest Nicholson fell 4.2 to 6.4 percent on the mid-cap index. Barclays shares fell 6.6 percent and RBS shares fell 6.2 per cent, with Lloyds down 4.4 per cent as domestic banks were hit by the resignation, which heightened political uncertainty. Hours before Mr Raab's and Ms McVey's resignations, Shailesh Vara had quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying Mrs May's agreement 'leaves the UK in a halfway house'. The departures leave it even less likely that Mrs May will be able to get her agreement with the EU through Parliament and could see her party move to oust her as leader. The pound had ended higher on Wednesday after the Prime Minister said she had won over her divided cabinet following a five-hour meeting. But this morning's resignation sent jitters through money markets. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. engages in the acquisition and operation of multifamily properties in select targeted markets throughout the United States. It operates through the following segments: Multifamily Communities, Financing, New Market Properties, Preferred Office Properties, and Others. The Multifamily Communities segment consists of company's portfolio of owned residential multifamily communities. The Financing segment refers to the portfolio of real estate loans, bridge loans, and other instruments deployed by the company to partially finance the development, construction, and prestabilization carrying costs of new multifamily communities and other real estate and real estate related assets. The New Market Properties segment covers portfolio of grocery-anchored shopping centers, as well as the financial results from the retail real estate loans. The Preferred Office Properties segment relates to the portfolio of office buildings. The Others segment includes deferred offering costs. The company was founded by Leonard A. Silverstein and John A. Williams on September 18, 2009 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: A.P.S. (Holdings) Limited, AFP Trading (China) Co. Ltd., AFPTOH LTD, APS Automated Packaging Systems GmbH & Co. KG, APS Verwaltungs-GmbH, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc. (dba AFP Inc.), Automated Packaging Systems, Automated Packaging Systems Asia Holding Company Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Comerciale Importacao do Brasil Ltda., Automated Packaging Systems Europe, Automated Packaging Systems LLC, Automated Packaging Systems Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Southeast Asia Co. Ltd., B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC*, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Diversey, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Getpacking.com GmbH, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, KRIS Automated Packaging Systems Holding Company, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Polyrol Limited, Polyrol Packaging Systems LLC, ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal- Producao de Embalagens LTDA, Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings BV, Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Real Estate Pty Ltd, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile SpA, Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Cyprus Ltd., Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air GmbH (Germany), Sealed Air GmbH (Switzerland), Sealed Air Hellas SA, Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK I Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited (Ireland), Sealed Air Limited (UK), Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air UK Limited Partnership, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de RL. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, and Trigon Industries. SCOTIA - A panel studying options to deal with Scotia's dilapidated village hall says it should renovate the existing structure and build a new fire house instead of sharing a complex with Glenville. The seven-member citizen's facilities committee, which on Wednesday made its findings public, also rejected separating fire, police and administration locations and putting all the services under a single roof in one municipal center. As part of its work, the committee toured the current facilities, the Beukendaal fire house in the village and Niskayuna Town Hall and also heard from police and fire officials and other department heads. Outgoing Mayor Kris Kastberg said the village will now hire a professional firm to do a size and cost analysis to be presented to village residents. He said those types of study generally cost about $60,000 and take about six months. "Basically saying that you're going to do that study means that you're committed to a project," he said, adding the cost of the study would be part of the total bond for the project. Glenville Supervisor Chris Koetzle, who had pitched the idea of a new joint facility at Dutch Meadows Lane and Route 50 in Glenville, expressed disappointment at the panel's decision. "I think it's a lost opportunity for us to come together and save the taxpayer dollars by sharing space but I respect the fact that the committee wants to keep the facilities on Mohawk Avenue," he said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "We're just going to move on," he said. Koetzle estimated a total savings of about $1 million for the two communities. He said they Glenville, which has about $4 million in funds to put toward a new building, will now consider other sites or retrofitting the current Glenridge Road building. Scotia mayor-elect Tom Gifford had previously said he favored keeping Village Hall centrally located so residents could walk there to take care of their business. In 2002, a joint study was done and then rejected by Scotia residents for a variety of reasons -- chief among them that it would result in no real cost savings. Albany New York State will spend $250 million to support a seven-year, $880 million semiconductor manufacturing research center at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany that will be led by semiconductor equipment maker Applied Materials, a top supplier to computer chip companies like GlobalFoundries. The lab, known as the Materials Engineering Technology Accelerator, or META Center, will be located inside 24,000 square feet of NanoFabX, the building that had once housed SUNY Poly's G450C program that concluded at the end of 2016. The Materials Engineering Technology Accelerator, or META Center, will represent an $880 million investment. That number includes $30 million that will be venture capital spending as part of the deal, with $20 million coming from Applied Ventures, the company's venture capital arm, and $10 million coming from the state's venture fund. Details of the initiative were revealed at the monthly board meeting of Empire State Development, held Thursday morning. A formal announcement was held at SUNY Poly Thursday afternoon. Creation of the lab is the biggest outside investment at SUNY Poly by a semiconductor company since SUNY Poly founder Alain Kaloyeros was indicted in 2016 and subsequently convicted this past summer in a bid-rigging case that had tarnished the school's image and made it difficult to recruit new tenants. Of the $600 million Applied Materials plans to spend over the seven-year program, $100 million will go toward rent at NanoFabX, which will help fill vacant clean room space. As part of that commitment, Applied Materials will set aside $25 million that can be used for any researchers in the SUNY system who want to partner with Applied Materials on research projects. The SUNY system will match that with its own $25 million commitment to those research projects. Howard Zemsky, the CEO of Empire State Development, which is the state's economic development arm, said after Thursday's press conference that his office has been working on the partnership for about a year. He added that the deal is modeled on the new vision for SUNY Poly that its assets can be opened up to researchers from across the SUNY system. "We were talking about the importance of making this accessible throughout the SUNY system, and the Chancellor (Kristina Johnson) is very committed to this," Zemsky said. "This is a great opportunity, and people have the opportunity to submit potential research partnerships, working with Applied Materials, working with SUNY. I hope you all appreciate the asset that you have here." Applied Materials has committed to create 400 jobs through the program, although the bulk of that would be either through suppliers or the Research Foundation for SUNY, which pays the salaries of technicians and scientists who work in SUNY Poly's clean rooms. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. A total of 175 of the 400 jobs would be new Applied Materials employees in Albany. Based in Santa Clara, Calif., Applied Materials has $14.5 billion in annual revenue and 18,000 employees worldwide. The company makes equipment known in the industry as "tools" that process semiconductor materials used in making computer chips, solar panels and displays. The new lab will work on developing next-generation materials that could be used not only in computer chips but artificial intelligence hardware and other cutting-edge devices that require a huge leap in engineering such as quantum computers. The new center would also likely work on materials for the life sciences, the automotive industry and advanced optical sensors. Applied Materials has had operations in Albany for more than 10 years but company officials said the new lab is a huge increase in capabilities and staffing. The company currently sends wafers between its Maydan Technology Center in Sunnyvale and SUNY Poly as part of a "virtual" manufacturing research line. Applied Materials made a big deal about the new META Center in Albany on Thursday, announcing that the facility would help scientists get around the constraints of Moore's Law, which is the industry's ability to reach smaller chip architecture nodes every two years. The lithography machines that etch the smaller designs onto silicon wafers have become so expensive that GlobalFoundries recently decided to pause following Moore's Law and has stopped at 14 nanometer architecture while other companies go to smaller, 7 nanometer architecture. Applied Materials, which makes other machines used in computer chip manufacturing, believes there are other changes outside of lithography that can drive the industry. "Realizing the full potential of artificial intelligence and big data will require significant improvements in performance, power consumption and cost both at the edge and in the cloud," Gary Dickerson, CEO of Applied Materials, said in a statement. "The industry needs new computing architectures and chips enabled by innovative materials and scaling approaches. The META Center creates a new platform for working with customers to accelerate innovation from materials to systems." Albany Construction equipment whirred as students of the Capital Region Career and Technical School training program toured a construction site near the Port of Albany all getting a peek at the day-to-day work they're on track to pursue after graduation this spring. This group of 26 high school seniors from the CTE Schoharie campus represents part of the solution to one of the greatest challenges facing the U.S. construction industry: a nationwide labor shortage. In 2018, 80 percent of U.S. construction firms reported having a hard time finding qualified workers, particularly hourly craft workers. Statewide, 79 percent of New York firms reported having difficulty finding hourly workers, according to the Associated General Contractors of America's 2018 Workforce Survey. "We don't have the bodies. We're aging out, I'm a baby boomer...we're trying to replace us, and we're having trouble doing that," said James Haas, a learning coordinator with Capital Region BOCES. "We want (students) to get the connections from the classroom to the world of work." The Capital Region CTE program has campuses in Schoharie, Albany and Schenectady counties, and provides tandem classwork and workforce skills training. The program is meant to train and connect students to employers. Construction industry recruiters tout the availability of jobs and relatively high pay for workers entering the industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average hourly earnings in construction exceed the average in all nonfarm private sector jobs by over 10 percent. And since most construction careers do not require a college degree, entrants to the industry typically owe less in student debt than those who attend college. "We've got to get mom and dad, we've got to get the guidance counselors, we've got to get the kids to understand that it's not always a baccalaureate degree (that's necessary)," Haas said. "Laborers are making real, living wages, that have good benefits, that have a Monday through Friday work schedule. And they're probably making $1500 a week." A shortage of workers can cause public and private sector construction projects to become more time consuming and expensive, while "undermining broad economic growth," according to the AGC. Jesse Champagne, a bond representative from Reagan Companies, said his group teamed up with the AGC of New York to develop the Construction Skills Gap Initiative. "We're going to try to do a bunch of these around the state," Champagne said of the student construction site tours. "Because every contractor we've ever talked to talks about the skills gap issue. They have trouble finding new talent. It's an industry-wide problem." The trip Thursday was the first in a series of construction site tours for Capital Region BOCES students to learn "a day in the life" of a construction worker. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. For Jacob Zanger, a student at the Schoharie BOCES, the opportunity was a good learning experience. "It gives us an idea what it's going to be like, and not just at BOCES. This shows us on the job, what would happen and the process," Zanger said. The AGC, as part of its recommendations to reduce the labor shortage, suggested that educational reform is part of the process. That includes a proposal to expand federal work-study programs and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as better educate students about employment outcomes. "Making reforms to higher education programs with an emphasis on workforce education is sorely needed," according to the AGC. Also, the report noted immigration reform as a key issue. With millions of undocumented, able-bodied immigrants who can't legally work, the AGC says a visa program would alleviate the labor shortage. The AGC recommended expanding seasonal worker visas, as well as market-based visas to mitigate the current and future worker shortages. "True reform must include a mechanism for construction industry employers to hire the temporary foreign-born workers they need when American workers are unavailable and economic demand merits," the report reads. Champagne said construction often is not "appreciated" enough, but hopes programs to engage with young, potential workers can lead to a solution. "For us to live our lives, these things need to be done. Things need to be fixed. Things need to be built. Roadways, bridges, maintenance," Champagne said. "For years, it's always been the construction industry and what the jobs provide are really underestimated. There's so many opportunities there." It would be easy to mistake Marrakesh, a new Moroccan restaurant in the outdoor shopping plaza of Clifton Park Center mall, for any another Mediterranean eatery. Food photos pressed around the glass doors aim to entice those wandering the parking lot, and a sidewalk board promises sandwiches and lunchtime specials. Since the space was recently vacated by a Turkish restaurant, some will walk in not knowing it has changed hands, going to North Africa from the Middle East. Your first impression is the air scented, as it would be in a traditional Moroccan home. Decorations brought from Fez, Safi and Marrakesh dot walls and line the backs of booths in mirrored pinks, copper and turquoise; decorative tagines the funnel-shaped earthenware cooking vessel from which Moroccan stews take their name are stacked like hats behind the bar; Arab-Andalusian music sets the mood. Our warm welcome starts with an invitation to sit in the softly furnished living area where sofas embroidered in burgundy and gold line the walls behind brass trays around which low hassock cushions are grouped. Before tasting one flavorful bite, other senses are already tuned in. Unveiling characteristic Moroccan hospitality, staff pull silver teapots to respectful heights, pouring hot mint tea in streaming ribbons that froth in each cup. The color pages of a menu anchored by shawarma, kebabs and diced Berber salads (cucumber, parsley and tomatoes bright with lemon and olive oil) turn more mysterious with marrakshee, casawe and shamalee tagines that sound exotic on the tongue; some marry savory and sweet, embracing honey, cinnamon, prunes and aromatic spices to infuse slow-braised meat that slides from great bones. More Information Marrakesh 22 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park Phone: 518-930-0411 Web: marrakeshcp.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Price: Moderate. Dishes $7 to $25. Food: Traditional Moroccan-spiced, pureed-vegetable appetizers, savory pastries, kebab and mixed-grill mains, sweet and savory tagines. Lunchtime sandwiches, gyros. Halal meat. Kids' menu: scratch-made chicken nuggets and burgers. Most of the menu is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, though semolina couscous is rolled in whole-wheat flour. Drink: Hot or cold mint tea (sweet or unsweetened), malt drinks, mango and guava juice, soda. No liquor license. Ambiance: Despite the mall setting, Marrakesh works hard to provide the inviting comfort of a Moroccan home in decor and service. Noise: 2 Good for: Lunch, dinner, small or large groups, families, date night, girls' night, birthdays, takeout, catering, allergy restrictions, halal meat. ADA accessible. Noise rating: 1- quiet; 2 - comfortable/conversational; 3 - loud; 4 - disruptive. Price range: Inexpensive, Moderate, Somewhat Expensive, Very Expensive See More Collapse Later, when the painted lower halves of our tagines arrive, they fill every curve of the round copper table, jostling baskets of warm pita bread and saffron rice puffing out breaths of warm cardamom air. Spiced ground-beef kafta meatballs bob in paprika-tinged stew in which a cooked egg, pierced, leaks gold. A turmeric-stained lamb shank flaked in an armor of sheer almond scales sticks out like a brass handle from the sweet, dark sauce; caramelized onions, raisins and prunes contrast with the tender meat's full, grass-fed scent. Couscous steamed and rubbed with olive oil three times so the tiny semolina grains swollen with moist air won't stick tumbles in a cascade of loose pearls when disturbed by hungry spoons. The chef-owner, Adam El Ghazaoui, grew up in Casablanca, Morocco, where he trained as a junior engineer before completing a degree in finance and management at the University at Albany. But he began to cook in middle school, taught by his mother and grandmother and breaking traditional Moroccan rules that keep men out of the kitchen. In time, he tells with some confidence, his five brothers, two sisters and even his mother, came to prefer his cooking. Annual trips home still require visits to the souk (bazaar) for hard-to-find spices for his ras el hanout, a revered North African spice blend in which the balance of 27 ingredients makes each unique. Unlike Indian food, where spices impart flavor and heat during cooking, aromatic Moroccan spices among them cumin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, fenugreek, sumac, saffron, chile and mace in endless unions are left overnight in lingering contact with grilled vegetables and meats, infusing them with aromas more than heat. Placing your order is no time to be shy. Moroccans order generously, sharing an assortment of spiced vegetable purees: eggplant and peppers that have been roasted over a grill until blistered and chickpeas whipped to cream. Perhaps sensing indecision, our server suggests a sampler of four, to which we add savory pastries that round out a traditional arrangement of appetizers (kemia): Moroccan cigars are crisp wonton wrappers filled with shrimp, olives and threads of seasoned vermicelli; chicken bastille, a flaky phyllo parcel blanketed in sifted cinnamon-sugar, is stuffed with chicken, crushed almonds and sweet rosewater; and onions sweated to a paste with cooked egg. It sends the brain into delicious confusion over sweet-savory tastes. We swab soft pita bread in hummus made silken and creamy with an excess of tahini and scoop up seedy smoked eggplant in garlicky baba ghanoush. In zaatouk, the smokiness is sweetly engineered, shimmering in an olagineous tomatoey stew spiked with garlic, cilantro and harissa, the Moroccan chile paste that deploys a subtle undercurrent of spice. Our fourth is taktouka, in which slow-cooked roasted green and red peppers meld with tomatoes and olive oil for something close to ratatouille warmly tugged south by distinctly Moroccan accents of cumin, paprika and chile. Across similar dishes, cleverly adjusted spices subtly shift flavors from one to the next. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. I venture back for more, delighting in the collagen-thickened sauce of lamb Meknesee dripping umami juices from slow-cooked meat, and in artichoke hearts carved to smooth discs like upturned mushroom caps and filled with peas. There's more: Tender chicken in a casawe boasting the same sweet tfaya sauce and a rust-colored tomato and paprika shamalee threaded with chermoula and preserved lemon turns submerged chunks of tilapia and potatoes into mystery bites. You might close your meal with hot mint tea or dark coffee pricked with white pepper and honey-drenched pistachio baklava. Broader offerings of sweet pastries have temporarily stopped with the loss of the pastry chef, though they are working on desserts and plan to bake Moroccan bread. Complaints are minimal: The kefta meatballs in one guest's Marrakshee tagine needed to be better warmed through, and harira, a tomato-based soup typically used to break the fast during Ramadan, is usually fragrant from slow-simmered spices yet on one visit felt lentil-heavy and surprisingly bland. The culinary heritage of the sous chefs Alan Yacob from Syria and Regina Hingi from Botswana dovetail with Morocco's Arabic, Moorish and sub-Sahara African influences. Though El Ghazaoui hasn't had a day off since opening in February, they now shoo him from the kitchen, encouraging him to take a break. A sample of four vegetable dips ($14), two tagines and hot mint tea for two will cost $74 with tax, before tip. No alcohol is permitted or sold. Susie Davidson Powell is a British freelance food writer in upstate New York. Follow her on Twitter, @SusieDP. To comment on this review, visit the Table Hopping blog, blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping. Jeff Bezos is playing us for fools. Think about it. The world's richest man just got politicians, including our Andrew Cuomo, to give one of most profitable companies on the planet billions of dollars to build in the country's two wealthiest areas. It makes no logical sense, but Bezos is rich for a reason. He is much smarter than dupes like Cuomo. He's probably smarter than all of us. And he's laughing all the way to a monopoly. What Gov. Cuomo doesn't seem to realize is that Bezos would have chosen New York without the billions. By building in Queens and suburban Washington, Amazon will have "headquarters" the word is a misnomer for what New York is really getting proximate to the nation's financial and governmental centers of power. How perfect for a company that has already proven successful at manipulating power to quash competition. (Ask your local bookstore about that, if it is still in business.) A pile of research shows that tax breaks and other giveaways are rarely factors for companies deciding where to locate. Typically, executives choose where they need to be and then go about convincing government officials to hand over the goods. Cuomo was as gullible as Gomer Pyle. New York even agreed to help Bezos build a helipad because God forbid our capitalist overlord gets stuck waiting on a subway platform with the unwashed masses otherwise known as the taxpayers who are putting billions in his pocket. Under the agreements negotiated in secret, of course Amazon will receive $1.5 billion in subsidies from New York and $573 million from Virginia, plus an additional $200 million from each state for bonus jobs created; $300 million from a Virginia infrastructure fund, and an additional $1.3 billion in tax breaks from New York City. That's according to Yahoo News, which pegs the total subsidy to Amazon from both states at a staggering $4.2 billion, including the interest taxpayers will pay for borrowing on the project. Will it make you feel any better if I mention that Bezos' personal wealth has reportedly grown by $36 billion just this year, or that he's $50 billion richer than any other human? No, probably not. Have I mentioned the helipad? More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse In return for its largesse, New York is being promised 25,000 jobs within 10 years. That sounds like a lot until you realize it is equal to well less than one percent of the 9.8 million existing jobs in a region that is already booming. Safe to say, Amazon employment will have no impact on New York's economy. I would call the deal a boondoggle, but the word isn't strong enough to describe just how bad it is. The Amazon deal is welfare on the grandest scale, a brazen display of corporate greed that couldn't be more craven. Crony capitalism doesn't get more egregious. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. It is also terribly unfair. New York is full of companies, including many who compete with Amazon, that have never received a tax break. Instead of trying to create a fair environment for those businesses, Cuomo uses giveaways to help a small handful of connected companies, including some who donate handsomely to his campaigns. I'll note that it hardly hurts a politician with presidential aspirations to cozy up to Bezos. On the positive side, the deal does expose the hollowness of Cuomo's rhetoric. He talks about income inequality, but made the richest man on the planet even richer. He pretends to care about workers, but just advantaged a company with a documented history of treating them terribly. Amazon's warehouses, in particular, are an Orwellian horror show, with every employee sneeze tracked electronically by management. Cuomo lectures Republicans on the environment and climate change, but just handed billions to a company that uses fossil-fueled trucks to deliver goods in wasteful packaging. Getting a tiny item in a huge box filled with plastic bubbles is the quintessential Amazon experience. Americans love the convenience of online shopping, for sure, but there is growing concern over the power that a handful of tech companies have over the economy and our lives. There is also anger about how government gets in bed with those companies to create ravenous global monopolies. If the Amazon giveaway needed approval from voters, in New York City or statewide, I have no doubt it would go down in a resounding defeat. It was announced after the election for good reason. Notably, it is structured to evade input from the public. That the deal is so thoroughly undemocratic makes it all the more infuriating. The message from the governor and other members of the establishment elite is unmistakable: What voters want is of no concern. Their opinion does not matter, and they are not really in control. What Bezos wants, Bezos gets. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill TROY Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove is portrayed as lying to a county grand jury in 2017 to protect himself from being prosecuted for official misconduct in his probe of a 2016 fatal police shooting incident, according to motions filed by the state attorney generals office. Abelove testified before the grand jury that in an earlier 2015 Troy fatal police shooting case that the officer involved did not waive his immunity to being prosecuted, but that did not happen, the attorney general's motions state. The evidence also established that Abelove had been present in the grand jury room during this prior immunity waiver. And the evidence further demonstrated that the prior immunity waiver should have been memorable to Abelove because it was preceded by significant discussions with which Abelove was an engaged participant, the motions state. The attorney general wants to reinstate a felony perjury count and two misdemeanor counts of official misconduct against Abelove that were dismissed by Acting State Supreme Court Justice Jonathan D. Nichols in June, acting on defense motions. The misconduct charges resulted from Abelove allegedly withholding evidence from the grand jury and not seeking a waiver of immunity from Sgt. Randall French, who was the only person who could be charged in the deadly shooting of drunken driving suspect Edson Thevenin. Nichols released the prosecution and defense motions at the request of the Times Union. Abeloves case file was sealed in June after Nichols dismissed the charges. Nichols would have to decide to reinstate charges for the case to continue. Abeloves unresolved criminal case was an issue in this season's district attorneys race. Democratic challenger Mary Pat Donnelly defeated Abelove, a Republican in a 55-45 percent spread on Nov. 6. Nichols had ruled that indicting Abelove for perjury went beyond Gov. Andrew Cuomos Executive Order 163 appointing the special prosecutor to investigate Abeloves handling of the April 22, 2016 grand jury probe into the Thevenin shooting. Nichols also found that the perjury charge was "so inextricably intertwined with the misconduct counts that it damaged Abeloves credibility with the grand jurors. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The attorney general argues that Abeloves alleged perjured testimony is part of its investigation of the Thevenin grand jury. Having already abused the process before one grand jury to benefit French, Abelove perjured himself in front of another grand jury to benefit himself by preventing the grand jury from properly analyzing the very prosecutorial misconduct that the Governor had directed the special prosecutor to investigate," the attorney general's June 27 motion papers state. "Such perjury cannot be characterized as merely 'incidental' to the misdeeds under investigation. To the contrary, such perjury perpetuated Abeloves failure to discharge lawfully the responsibilities inherent in his office. Dismissing the official misconduct charges based on Abeloves "own falsehoods to the grand jury would undermine the essential truthseeking function of grand jury secrecy, according to the motions from the Office of Attorney General Barbara Underwood. Abeloves attorney, William J. Dreyer of Dreyer Boyajian responded on Sept. 17 that the attorney generals motion is without merit and rehashes previous arguments. ALBANY It wasn't easy for Barry Levine to find a home for the Capital District Recovery Center, a nonprofit he started in 2015 to help people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. When he did find possible sites, he recalled getting quotes for above-market rents or, in the case of one building with multiple tenants, an owner who told him it would be hard to fill future vacancies if "you people are here." "That was a fun day for us, to hear it put like that," he said. But Levine persisted because the 72-year-old Mechanicville man felt people in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse deserved a special kind of community support their own place to gather and heal and socialize and support each other. On Wednesday, after three years of searching, he cut the ribbon on a place to do just that. The Capital District Recovery Center opened its doors at 45 Colvin Ave. in Albany on July 1. By the time it celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday, more than four months later, it had already seen more than 2,500 individuals there to attend 12-step meetings, groups and workshops devoted to self-improvement. The center is one of two community centers for recovered individuals slated to open this year, as the Capital Region continues to battle a drug epidemic exacerbated by a surge of deadly synthetic opioids. The other center, sponsored by the Albany nonprofit Second Chance Opportunities, is scheduled to open just down the road at 55 Colvin Ave. It's not just drugs and alcohol that people are seeking safe haven from, Levine said. He's heard from 12-step groups looking to rent rooms for members battling depression, compulsive cluttering or hoarding behaviors, and even Internet and technology addiction. There's a substance-abuse recovery group that meets first for yoga, then for a 12-step program, he said. "It's really heartening to me that it's not all Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous," Levine said. "We have all kinds of different people looking for fellowship and community here." The geography and particulars of the space were important, too. Though Levine lives in Mechanicville, he had hoped to open a center somewhere central in the Capital Region with a bus line, and found that space in a two-story building on Colvin Avenue. He also paid close attention to small details making sure the space had air conditioning and comfortable seating things he always wished for during his own time attending 12-step groups over the years. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "In December, it'll have been 30 years since I've had a drug or a drink," he said. "You wouldn't believe the number of hard metal chairs I've sat on since then." The space occupies 2,500 square feet on the second floor of the building owned by the Northeastern New York Safety and Health Council. While a coffee station and lending library are available, Levine said he hopes to one day expand and build out a full cafe, kitchen and maybe even a bookstore. He wants more office space so the nonprofit can staff the center around the clock, hire case managers to help guide individuals with addiction into the appropriate detox and treatment programs, and offer services for friends and family members of people in recovery. He's also like to host lectures and educational events to help "clear up the stigma" around addiction, he said. "I've taken my 12th step to heart," Levine said, referring to the last step of many 12-step programs, which involves helping others who are suffering. "I've dedicated the rest of my life to helping others in whatever way I can, and this center feels like what I'm being lead to do." NEW YORK A group of New York lawmakers are seeking support for a bill that would require all jails and prisons in the state to offer medication that has been proven to reduce death among individuals with opioid use disorder. On Wednesday, members of the Assembly held a hearing on the effectiveness of "medication assisted treatment," or MAT, in the state's jails or prisons, and concluded the state falls woefully short when it comes to its use of the evidence-based treatment. Currently only six of the state's 54 state-run correctional facilities offer MAT, which relies on one of three FDA-approved medications to help curb opioid cravings and stabilize brain function. "It's a start, but time is fleeting," Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal told state officials after they testified that New York has seen great progress implementing MAT in its correctional facilities in recent years. "This is a recurring problem," she continued. "People come into our facilities with a substance use disorder; others develop it while incarcerated. And when they leave, many go back into the neighborhoods they came from and overdose. So I think it's incumbent on the state to take a giant leap and go for it in all our facilities." Roughly 78 percent of all inmates in New York have a diagnosed substance use disorder, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. While state officials could not provide a figure for the segment that's addicted to opioids, it's safe to assume the number is high, as opioids remain a leading cause of overdose death nationwide. MAT has been a proven treatment for opioid use disorder for at least three decades, with studies showing it prevents relapse and significantly lowers overdose rates. But it remains controversial, in part because the medications used to curb cravings are themselves powerful and because abstinence-only proponents view any reliance on drugs as a negative. Supporters, however, note that abstinence-only policies don't work for everyone and stigmatize those who have gone on to lead normal, productive lives thanks to drugs like buprenorphine and methadone. These so-called maintenance drugs, they argue, save lives by preventing overdose. Those in the drug reform movement characterize disdain for these drugs as yet another example of how those suffering from mental and behavioral conditions are treated differently than those with medical conditions. "I hope and I believe that in every correctional facility in the state our inmates with diabetes and high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis have treatment available to them," said Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, a co-sponsor of the bill. "If there were only six prisons in the state that had diabetes treatment available, nobody would find that acceptable." The high rate of fatal overdoses among former inmates has made the rollout of MAT in jails and prisons a key issue for recovery advocates. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. A 2007 study, for example, found that former inmates of Washington State prisons were 12.7 times more likely to die in the first two weeks after their release than the average state resident, with drug overdose the leading cause. And that was in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before the emergence of highly potent fentanyl in America's drug supplies. Today, public health experts believe the chances are much higher, as synthetic opioids like illicitly manufactured fentanyl are among the fastest-growing category of drug responsible for overdose deaths. Forced to detox before they're incarcerated, inmates enter jail or prison without the physical dependence on a substance but continue to battle the underlying addiction. Illicit drugs smuggled into these facilities can further enable this addiction or, if an inmate manages to stay clean behind bars but is exposed to drugs upon release, their lower tolerance greatly increases their chances of fatal overdose. To help treat the underlying addiction, Sean Byrne, executive deputy commissioner of the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and Acting DOCCS Commissioner Anthony Annucci testified Wednesday that 53 of the 54 state correctional facilities offer psycho-social counseling services for inmates battling substance use disorder. "They're intense," said Annucci. "They can last between six and 12 months." They also noted that while they'd like to expand MAT systemwide, it would be unwise to move too fast, as the programs currently in place downstate are only pilot programs. Obstacles, such as obtaining agreements with outside treatment providers who are licensed to provide the drugs, still have to be ironed out before a systemwide expansion is feasible, they said. "I've been around a long time 34 years in this agency and the worst thing you can do is get excited about a pilot, rush it and then unfortunately have something happen where you lose buy-in from participants," Annucci said. ORLANDO, Fla. - The expo had finally begun, and now hundreds of school administrators streamed into a sprawling, chandeliered ballroom where entrepreneurs awaited, each eager to explain why their product, above all others, was the one worth buying. Waiters in white button-downs poured glasses of chardonnay and served meatballs wrapped with bacon. In one corner, guests posed with colorful boas and silly hats at a photo booth as a band played Jimmy Buffett covers to the rhythm of a steel drum. For a moment, the festive summer scene, in a hotel 10 miles from Walt Disney World, masked what had brought them all there. This was the thriving business of campus safety, an industry fueled by an overwhelmingly American form of violence: school shootings. At one booth, two gray-haired men were selling a 300-pound ballistic whiteboard - adorned with adorable animal illustrations and pocked with five bullet holes - that cost more than $2,900. "What we want to do is just to give the kids, the teachers, a chance," one of them said. "So they can buy a few minutes," the other added. Elsewhere at the July conference, vendors peddled tourniquets and pepper-ball guns, facial-recognition software and a security proposal that would turn former Special Operations officers into undercover teachers. Threaded into every pitch, just five months after a Parkland, Florida, massacre, was the implication that their product or service would make students safer - that, if purchased, it might save a life. What few of the salespeople could offer, however, was proof. Although school security has grown into a $2.7 billion market - an estimate that does not account for the billions more spent on armed campus police officers - little research has been done on which safety measures do and do not protect students from gun violence. Earlier this fall, The Washington Post sent surveys to every school in its database that had endured a shooting of some kind since the 2012 killings of 20 first-graders in Newtown, Connecticut, which prompted a surge of security spending by districts across the country. Of the 79 schools contacted, 34 provided answers, including Sandy Hook Elementary. Their responses to questions about what they learned - some brief but many rich in detail - provide valuable insight from administrators in urban, suburban and rural districts who, as a group, have faced the full spectrum of campus gun violence: targeted, indiscriminate, accidental and self-inflicted. When asked what, if anything, could have prevented the shootings at their schools, nearly half replied that there was nothing they could have done. Several, however, emphasized the critical importance of their staffs developing deep, trusting relationships with students, who often hear about threats before teachers do. Only one school suggested that any kind of safety technology might have made a difference. Many had robust security plans already in place but still couldn't stop the incidents. In 2016, Utah's Union Middle School had a surveillance system, external doors that could be accessed only with IDs and an armed policewoman, known as a resource officer, when a 14-year-old boy shot another student twice in the head during a confrontation outside the building just after classes ended. "Even if we would have had metal detectors, it would not have mattered," wrote Jeffrey Haney, district spokesman. "If we would have had armed guards at the entrance of the school, it would not have mattered. If we would have required students to have see-through backpacks and bags, it would not have mattered." The survey responses are consistent with a federally funded 2016 study by Johns Hopkins University that concluded there was "limited and conflicting evidence in the literature on the short- and long-term effectiveness of school safety technology." The schools that have experienced gun violence consistently cited simple, well-established safety measures as most effective at minimizing harm: drills that teach rapid lockdown and evacuation strategies, doors that can be secured in seconds and resource officers, or other adults, who act quickly. But fear has long dictated what schools invest in, and although campus shootings remain extremely rare, many superintendents are under intense pressure from parents to do something - anything - to make their kids safer. It was the nation's renewed anxiety, after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in February, that had drawn so many administrators to the National School Safety Conference at the Florida hotel, 200 miles north of Parkland. Also there, hoping to capture some piece of the new spending, were 105 vendors, an all-time high for the expo and a 75 percent increase over the previous year. "This is our first school conference that we've ever done," said SAM Medical sales director Denise Ehlert, who, at one point that evening, knelt down and encouraged a 6-year-old girl to tighten a tourniquet on a woman's arm as a way to demonstrate that anyone could do it. "This is brand new. . . . This is our first show," said Paul Noe, who had come to sell a high-tech, armored classroom door that, for the price of $4,000, he claimed could stop bullets, identify the weapon, photograph the shooter and notify police. The bright yellow one they'd put on display had been shot 57 times. "We just released it in the past couple of months to be available to schools, and we've been obviously overwhelmed with interest," said Monte Scott, who sells guns that fire balls packed with a potent pepper mixture meant to disable a shooter. Scott had just returned from training U.S. troops in Afghanistan on how to use the weapons in a combat zone. Echoing a frequent refrain at the expo, Justin Kuhn said his own children, not money, led him to found his company, which produces an elaborate door-security and weapons-detection system. Although Kuhn, who had previously invented a scraper blade and a car wax, acknowledged he didn't know whether his new product would have stopped the attack at Stoneman Douglas, he had still tried to leverage the bloodshed. Standing next to his company's 2,500-pound aluminum-framed vestibule, he recalled a meeting in Indiana with one district's head of school safety who had noted that the price tag for Kuhn's entire system seemed steep. "If you think $500,000 is expensive, go down to Parkland, Florida, and tell 17 people $500,000 is expensive. That's $29,000 a kid," Kuhn recalled saying. "Every person would pay $29,000 a kid to have their kid alive." By this spring, Huffman High in Birmingham, Alabama, had, in security parlance, been "hardened," a term that in recent years has migrated from anti-terrorism circles to school board meetings. Surveillance cameras were mounted inside and out, and Huffman's 1,370 students were periodically checked for weapons, both with handheld and walk-through metal detectors, administrators say. Three resource officers patrolled the hallways. But none of those measures saved the life of Courtlin Arrington, a senior who was about to leave school one afternoon in March when a boy showing off a handgun unintentionally fired it, sending a round through the girl's chest two months before her graduation. How the weapon got into Huffman remains unclear - Arrington's family has sued the district, limiting what administrators can say - but the incident highlights a theme that appears throughout the survey responses: No amount of investment in security can guarantee a school protection from gun violence. Much of what can be done to prevent harm is beyond any school's control because, in a country with more guns - nearly 400 million - than people, children are at risk of being shot no matter where they are. A 2016 study in the American Journal of Medicine found that, among high-income nations, 91 percent of children younger than 15 who were killed by gunfire lived in the United States. But several administrators did point to specific steps that at least contained the attacks on their schools. At Florida's Forest High in April, for example, teachers and teens who had undergone safety training locked classroom doors and barricaded them with chairs and desks just seconds after realizing that a man with a shotgun was in the hallway. He fired through one door and wounded a student but surrendered shortly after failing to get inside. A month later, at Dixon High in Illinois, resource officer Mark Dallas heard shots near the school gym, rushed toward the noise and in, an exchange of gunfire, struck the shooter, who was quickly arrested. Seven of the 23 surveyed schools that had officers at the time of their shootings indicated that they played a direct role in limiting the harm done. Still, what Dallas did is exceedingly rare. The Post's analysis identified just one other case over the past 19 years in which a resource officer gunned down an active shooter. (To put that in perspective, at least seven shootings in the same period were halted by malfunctioning weapons or by the gunman's inability to handle them.) While the mere presence of the officers may deter some gun violence, The Post found that, in dozens of cases, it didn't: Among the more than 225 incidents on campuses since 1999, at least 40 percent of the affected schools employed an officer. Beyond armed security or any other particular safety measure, survey respondents emphasized that nothing was more important to minimizing the violence than preparation. Last November, staff at Rancho Tehama Elementary, a school in rural Northern California, heard what sounded like gunshots and hustled the children outside into the building. All students and staff had locked down, something they regularly practiced, 48 seconds after a secretary called for it - and just 10 seconds before a man with an AR-15-style rifle reached the quad. The gunman, who had already killed five people during his rampage, fired more than 100 rounds, shattering glass and tearing holes in walls. He tried to enter classrooms and the main office, but all were secured. Six minutes after arriving, he gave up and left, taking his own life a short time later. One student, age 6, was wounded but survived. The school's security plan worked "flawlessly," wrote Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick, but that didn't diminish the indignation he felt that his students and staff had suffered through the terror - and that so little had been to done ensure someone else couldn't attempt to do the same thing, there or at any other American school. The attacker, who had been stripped of his guns by a judge, had built the weapons he used with parts, many of which are readily available online. Without what Fitzpatrick called "sensible gun control. . . . We are largely powerless from determined shooters with high-capacity, high-velocity, semi- automatic assault rifles." The idea for Jordan Goudreau's business came to him in Puerto Rico, where he had traveled to work in private security in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Goudreau, a U.S. Army combat veteran, was making lots of money on the island, he said, but the new opportunity was too enticing to pass up. "I saw Parkland, and I was like, 'Well, nobody's really tackling this, so I want to fix this,' " Goudreau explained at the expo in Florida, where the state legislature had just committed more than a quarter-billion dollars to school safety. The solution, Goudreau concluded, was to embed former Special Operations agents, posing as teachers, inside schools. He argued that the benefits over resource officers were obvious. First, because the children wouldn't know who his guys really are (or that they're armed and adept at counterterrorism tactics), students would be more likely to open up, giving agents a chance to glean information that could expose a potential threat. "He's just a - he's a cool shop teacher: 'Hey, what's up, fellas,' " said Goudreau, 42, envisioning a potential conversation with a child. "I go sit down with a kid who's alone, playing 'Dungeons and Dragons,' and I just try to see whether there's any problems." Second, Goudreau said, his men all thrive in combat and could quickly snipe a shooter. "The beauty of it is it's all for the price of a Netflix subscription, so it's really hard to argue with me about, 'Well, it costs too much.' You can't tell me that," insisted Goudreau, hair buzzed and jaw square. No schools had yet signed on for the program, and he still hadn't worked out a number of the business plan's precise details, but Goudreau was certain that he wanted to bill the parents of each student directly (for $8.99 a month) so his staff could remain independent from any district's "chain of command." When the media relations liaison standing beside him at their booth suggested that, if necessary, they could go through school boards and accept government money, Goudreau cut him off. "But we don't want to. We don't want that," he said. "We want private money, because it's faster." Among the many challenges educators face in trying to protect their students from harm is determining what product, or person, to trust. As Home Depot and Walmart market $150 bulletproof backpacks to frightened parents, administrators are being inundated with pitches from entrepreneurs pushing new concepts that make grand promises. One superintendent who responded to the survey said that within hours of a shooting earlier this year, her inbox was "flooded from vendors with some pretty disrespectful and tacky statements: 'had you had this . . .'; 'if you had this . . .' " The industry is also rife with self-appointed experts and consultants who claim to know what safety measures are most effective, but given that so little government or academic research has been done on what insulates students from on-campus gun violence, it's enormously difficult for schools to reach conclusions based in fact. "Decisions about whether to invest in school security technology for a school or school district are complex," the Johns Hopkins study said. "Many choices about the technology selected, however, may be made with incomplete information or with information that is influenced more by political or reactionary consideration than by local conditions." For administrators at the expo, trying to understand which vendors were true authorities was especially tricky, in part because, like Goudreau, dozens had worked in other industries before pivoting to school security. Joe Taylor, co-founder of Nightlock, created a residential door barricade 15 years ago after someone tried to break into his parents' home. Back then, he never envisioned producing a version for classrooms. Now, schools make up 95 percent of his business. As he explained that the company had made the transition after being bombarded with requests following the Sandy Hook shooting, a man approached his booth. "I just bought about $7,000 worth of these," said Cas Gant, an assistant principal from a charter school in Panama City, Florida. Taylor noted that, at one point, his devices were back-ordered nearly two months. "Right after the Parkland shooting -" he said, pausing. "A surge?" asked Gant's wife, Desiree. "There was a big surge," he said. "But we're finally caught up." "That's good," she said. "Anything to keep our babies safe." As the men continued discussing the door lock, Desiree looked around, taking in the scene. Her husband had attended school safety expos before, but this was her first. "This is sad. I came in here with my mouth wide open," she murmured. "Isn't it scary that we literally have to go through this - that all of these vendors are here?" Carl Manna, an assistant principal at another Florida high school, felt the same way as he wandered the room, though none of this was new to him. At one booth, he paused to stare at a photo from Forest High showing the desks and chairs that had been stacked to the classroom's ceiling to keep the gunman out. Months earlier, Manna had pretended to be an active shooter in a training video his school produced. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "That," he said, "is what the room looked like after I left." The video opens with Manna, in jeans and a dark hoodie, stalking Branford High's hallways. In his right hand, he holds a water pistol wrapped with black tape. Manna, also the narrator, explains that the video would review "ALICE" training, a set of strategies developed by an Ohio-based company that teaches people how to respond to active shooters. The acronym stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. "The proper use of these five steps could save your life," he says, as the video illustrates a series of widely accepted approaches to staying safe in an active-shooter situation. Then, at the 2:13 mark, a plastic Germ-X hand sanitizer bottle appears on the screen, followed by a 20-ounce Mountain Dew, a travel mug and an Adobe Photoshop hardcover textbook. "Once you have locked and barricaded the door, quickly move to an area out of sight," Manna says. "Grab several items you can use to protect yourself. Every room is equipped with something that could distract and defend against the aggressor." Seconds later, the video shows Manna and a disguised administrator at another high school each entering classrooms, their guns raised. When Manna walks in, he's bombarded with flying bottles, books and a backpack before the teenagers rush him. In the other video, kids tackle the man to the floor directly beneath an American flag mounted to the wall. This is what the ALICE Training Institute describes as "counter." The drills have grown in popularity in recent years, and many schools, including some of those surveyed, have credited its conventional lockdown and evacuation training with saving the lives of students and staff. But numerous ALICE critics - including consultants, school psychologists, safety experts and parents - have argued that teaching children to physically confront gunmen, under any circumstances, is dangerous and irresponsible. "What if the person is ex-military or the person has police training, and you're teaching the student to throw a can of green beans or attack?" asked Joe Carter, vice president of business development and marketing at United Educators, an insurance company that covers more than 800 K-12 schools around the country. "I haven't seen any data out there - real data - that this is something that makes it safer." Representatives from ALICE, which was founded by a former police officer, insist that the counter strategies should be used as a last resort and that schools are responsible for deciding what's suitable for their students. Colleen Lerch, a marketing specialist at the company, said their instructors recommend "SWARM" techniques - in which kids may gang tackle shooters - only to students who are at least 13 or 14 years old. "At this age, it is statistically very high that the shooter will be the same age as potential victims. A room full of 14 year old's can easily control another 14 year old," Lerch asserted in an email to The Post, though she provided no evidence to support either claim. In fact, a third of shooters who attack middle and high schools are older than their victims, according to a Post analysis. Also, while The Post found that adults who were not members of law enforcement have subdued more than a dozenschool shooters over the past 19 years - including on at least three campuses that underwent ALICE training - the company could not point to a single case in which students used its counter techniques to take down a gunman. On multiple occasions, however, students who have confronted armed attackers, whether on purpose or accidentally, have been killed or wounded. Last year, a 15-year-old boy was shot to death at Freeman High, just outside Spokane in rural Rockford, Washington, after he tried to stop an armed student in the hallway. Three months later, a 17-year-old was killed when he came upon a gunman in the bathroom who was readying an attack at Aztec High in New Mexico, and a 17-year-old girl was wounded when she did the same thing at Alpine High in Texas two years ago. Malcolm Hines, head of safety for the Florida district where Manna participated in the active-shooter video, understood criticisms of the counter training but said he also suspected some parents would object if the kids weren't taught how to defend themselves. "This is an option for them to at least fight back," said Hines, whose district has paid ALICE more than $7,500 since late last year. In numerous ALICE training videos online, the plan always works to perfection: Students pelt the faux shooter with objects the moment he appears, then - without hesitation - several kids charge the intruder, easily bringing him to the ground before he fires a shot. It's ludicrous, critics say, to think that children would behave with such decisiveness and precision if they were facing a real gunman. "There is no research/evidence . . . that teaching students to attack a shooter is either effective or safe," Katherine C. Cowan, spokeswoman for the National Association of School Psychologists, wrote in a statement to The Post. "It presumes an ability to transform psychologically from a frightened kid to an attacker in the moment of crisis, the ability to successfully execute the attack on the shooter (e.g., hit the shooter with the book or rock, knock them down, etc.) again in a crisis situation, the ability to not accidentally hurt a classmate, the reality that unsuccessfully going on the attack might make that student a more likely target of the shooter." Nicole Hockley, whose 6-year-old son, Dylan, was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012, concluded long ago that much of America looks at school safety the wrong way. "It's so much focus on imminent danger and what you do in the moment," she said, "as opposed to what you do to stop it from happening in the first place." Hockley and her colleagues at Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit she co-founded, have argued that reforming gun laws would make a difference, but she knows that there are other, perhaps more attainable, ways to prevent harm, too. In March, her organization launched the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System, which allows users to privately submit safety concerns through a computer, phone or app. Because many, if not most, shooters offer some indication of their intentions through comments to friends or online, Hockley has for years encouraged students to speak up if they're aware of a potential threat. Often, though, kids said that they feared repercussions, a concern that the anonymity should alleviate. The service, which is free and will be adopted by more than 650 districts by January, has already produced meaningful results. At the start of this school year, the organization said, a tipster informed the crisis center that a student who might have access to guns had talked about shooting gay classmates. Staff immediately contacted local law enforcement and school district leaders, who intervened. In another case, someone reported that an eighth-grade friend was cutting herself and considering suicide. Sandy Hook Promise said the girl is now receiving treatment. The system and others like it address what several of the surveyed schools said was the only thing that could have stopped the shootings on their campuses: a tip from someone who knew it might happen. No one at a South Carolina school knew that a former student would drive there and open fire on the playground two years ago, but afterward, the superintendent in Anderson County, Joanne Avery, fixated on finding another way to keep her kids safe. Avery overhauled the school system's safety measures after the shooting, adding resource officers, increasing the number of active-shooter drills, installing trauma kits, updating surveillance systems and providing receptionists with panic buttons. She changed one district practice, too. The shooter, who was 14 at the time, had been expelled from a middle school in a neighboring district after making threats and bringing a hatchet in his bag. It was then, in his isolation as a home-schooler, that he became obsessed with mass murderers and planned his attack on Townville Elementary. So, early this year, when the principal at one of her schools asked to expel a student who'd talked on social media about bludgeoning classmates, Avery said no. "I'm not just going to expel him and be done with him," she recalled telling the principal. "You're going to increase your chances of that person coming back to your school and doing harm." Instead, Avery met with the sheriff's office, a prosecutor and the area's executive director for mental health. "We've got to do something for these kind of kids," she told them, and what they did was conduct a criminal investigation, charge the boy and set a court date. She attended, and although the student's mother argued that he should be released, Avery had told the prosecutor she wanted to make sure he got help. The judge listened, sending him to juvenile detention and ordering that he undergo a mental health evaluation and receive counseling. Months later, at another hearing, the boy's mother argued again that he should be released. Avery didn't oppose that, but again, she asked that he continue to receive support. And again, the judge listened, sending the boy to an alternative school and ordering that he and his mother receive additional counseling. A probation officer was also assigned to check on him every week. Avery doesn't know whether the boy ever would have carried out his threats. But she witnessed the damage caused by 12 seconds of gunfire - a first-grader dead, survivors overcome with trauma, a community splintered - and she does know what her time and effort cost: nothing. COHOES A city police officer is suspended without pay and serving a one-month sentence of court supervision after admitting to reckless conduct to satisfy an original drunken driving misdemeanor, online records from an Illinois police agency show. Officer Sean McKown, 44, was arrested Sept. 30 by Crawford County deputies for driving under the influence of alcohol, Sheriff William R. Rhutan said Thursday. McKown posted $300 bail and was released. McKown, the city's K9 officer and a former president of the Cohoes Police Benevolent Association, refused to take any sobriety tests, Rhutan said. After he was placed under arrest and handcuffed, Rhutan said. "He was very cooperative and polite." McKown appeared in Crawford County Court on Oct. 29 and returned two days later. He pleaded guilty to reckless conduct, a misdemeanor, and the DUI charge was dismissed. He was sentenced to a months supervision and ordered to pay $976 in fines and fees, which was paid on on Oct. 31. McKnown, a 14-year-plus veteran of the Cohoes police, was in Crawford County visiting family friends when he apparently became lost while driving. Located near the Indiana border, the county is a rural area with a population of 19,817 making is slightly more populous than Cohoes, which has 16,875 residents. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Mayor Shawn Morse said McKown informed the city of the incident. He was suspended without pay for 30 days, said Morse, who also is the citys public safety commissioner. Morse said McKown is currently serving the suspension. McKowns salary is $91,656, according to the Empire Centers website seethroughny.net, which compiles municipal payroll information. Hes been very cooperative with us, said Morse. Were working with the union to satisfactorily resolve this. NEW SCOTLAND - A festive occasion turned menacing when a woman attending a birthday party in an apartment building's common area swung a large kitchen knife at another celebrant, police say. The dispute took place at a New Scotland apartment complex Tuesday. In the midst of the party, Mary C. Naylor, 66, and a neighbor had words, Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple Sr. said, and Naylor wielded the blade. Fishkill Kevin Moore begged for the beating to stop. "God help me," he pleaded. But the blows from the prison guards kept coming. They shoved the inmate to the ground and shackled his wrists. An officer swung a baton at Moore's head. At least two others drove kicks into his ribs and threw punches at his face. A sergeant, Kathy L. Scott, stood by and ignored the inmate's cries for help inside a dayroom of the maximum-security Downstate Correctional Facility. "What did I do, ma'am?" Moore asked Scott, a correction officer for 17 years. When it was over, the officers, some of whom have been implicated in other inmate beatings, lifted Moore's battered body from a small pool of blood. He could barely walk or see through his swollen eyes. His injuries included a collapsed lung, eye-socket fractures, blurred vision, bruised legs and five broken ribs, according to court records that outline what state officials said happened that day. "You're not a monster now," Officer George Santiago Jr. allegedly told Moore, 56, before throwing another punch into Moore's bleeding eye. He finished by ripping a clump of dreadlocks from the side of the inmate's skull. When officers from New York City's Rikers Island jail arrived at the Dutchess County prison the following morning to bring Moore to a court hearing, they refused to take him unless his visible injuries were photographed and documented. Moore's condition was so serious the Rikers' officers eventually brought him to Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. He was then transferred to Bellevue Hospital, and hospitalized for about two weeks. More than two years after the incident, the FBI has opened an investigation into Moore's beating, apparently part of an expanding probe by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan into accusations that rogue state prison officers have systematically beaten or tortured inmates. The federal probe was revealed six months ago, when U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced his office was investigating whether a group of officers at Fishkill Correctional Facility, which is less than two miles south of the Downstate prison facility, beat a mentally ill inmate to death last April. The death of Samuel D. Harrell III, whose alleged assailants were known as the "Beat Up Squad," brought widespread attention and sparked a federal wrongful-death lawsuit that was filed by Harrell's wife, Diane. At the request of Bharara's office, the lawsuit was stayed pending the outcome of the federal criminal investigation. In Moore's case, the four officers accused of taking part in the beating claim he lied about the incident. They also said Moore was only slightly injured when they wrestled him to the ground after he refused orders and shoved a guard trying to ferry him to a holding cell. The put him in a special housing unit cell, where he remained for 12 hours after a prison medical evaluation determined he wasn't injured. Moore was at the Downstate prison for just one night, on his way from Coxsackie state prison to a New York City court hearing. He suffers from claustrophobia and acknowledged to investigators that he became agitated when he and other inmates being transported through the Downstate facility were told they'd be held in isolation cells intended for mentally ill prisoners. The officers claim Moore injured only his back when an officer gave him a "bear hug" and took him to the ground. But a medical examiner from Onondaga County who examined Moore's hospital records testified in a disciplinary hearing two years ago that the injuries were consistent with a beating, including the use of a weapon like a baton and kicks to the ribs. "There were also numerous internal injuries including fractures of the internal body wall," the medical examiner, Robert Stoppacher, testified, according to court records. The sergeant and three officers later disciplined privately also said there was no blood, although an inmate who witnessed the incident told investigators he was ordered to clean up the mess, then threw away the bloody paper towels. That inmate also said he saw Moore being dragged out of the dayroom after the beating. Another inmate told investigators that Moore's face looked "weird," apparently due to his face being disfigured from the beating. The officers' accounts of the November 2013 assault fell apart during an internal investigation that relied heavily on the testimony of inmate witnesses. Investigators noted those inmates were separated in the prison yet still gave similar versions of what they saw unfold. The case was briefly explored by the Dutchess County district attorney's office, which empaneled a grand jury last June but did not take any action, courts records show. Santiago, who became a correction officer in 2006, was accused of initiating the beating of Moore. He and Scott, the supervising officer, were both fired two years ago when an arbitrator found "credible evidence" they took part in the November 2013 assault, and then lied about it and falsified documents to cover up what happened. Two other officers implicated in the beating, Donald Cosman and Carson Morris, were disciplined but the agency did not seek their termination even though they were also found guilty in an administrative hearing of using excessive force. The details of the beating, outlined in federal court filings and arbitration records, would normally never be made public because of a provision in state law that prohibits disclosure of prison officers' personnel records, even if the misconduct is criminal or results in an arrest. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has used the controversial statute to liberally withhold records on inmate abuse, often releasing only heavily redacted documents that shield the identity of any accused officers, as well as the prisons where they work and the identities of inmates who have filed abuse complaints. But the circumstances of Moore's beating were laid bare after Santiago and Scott filed a federal lawsuit accusing state prison officials of targeting their jobs because of their minority status Hispanic and female, respectively. Santiago and Scott also claim they were fired to "curry favor" with the NAACP which filed a complaint about Moore's assault and with the U.S. Justice Department, which is probing their case. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "DOCCS cannot comment due to an ongoing federal investigation and statutory protections afforded to personnel actions," said Thomas Mailey, an agency spokesman. "We can confirm that the four staff members associated with this incident are no longer employed by DOCCS." He didn't identify the other two officers or say whether they resigned. Last week, an attorney for Santiago and Scott filed a motion asking a federal judge to put their lawsuit against the state on hold because of the FBI's investigation. "The FBI has now taken up the mantle of conducting a federal criminal investigation of the plaintiffs' underlying use of force as to inmate Moore," said Damond J. Carter, an attorney for Santiago and Scott, in a motion to the court requesting the stay. "The issue of one person making statements against another person in seeking leniency from any criminal prosecution is real and actual." At least three of the officers involved in Moore's beating have been accused of taking part in prior incidents involving inmate abuse, or lying about it. Scott, the female sergeant, and Morris, one of the correction officers implicated in Moore's beating, were both punished in September 2013 after being found guilty of lying to internal affairs investigators about an incident in which an inmate's head was rammed through a glass door of a law library at Downstate Correctional Facility. Scott, who then went by the last name "Todd," was penalized $5,250 in payroll deductions but remained on duty as a sergeant. Morris lost eight vacation days but also remained on duty as a correction officer, records show. Last year, the state paid $60,000 to settle two federal lawsuits in which inmates said they were beaten by prison officers, and that Santiago and Scott were involved in both incidents. In one of the cases, which was settled in November for $52,500, an inmate, Archie Singletary, said officers at Downstate attacked him without reason in September 2013 in a recreation yard. Singletary said they kicked and punched him while he was handcuffed on the ground. Singletary's claim also said that several officers, including Santiago, rammed his head through a window, breaking his cheekbone, while dragging him to the infirmary. The facial injury that Singletary suffered from being thrust through the window required surgery, according to court records. Singletary's claim said he was beaten again when officers brought him from the infirmary to a special housing unit cell, where he was held in isolation for 90 days on disciplinary charges that he said were fabricated to justify the beating. In July, the state paid $7,500 to settle another federal lawsuit filed by an inmate, Keenan Parker, who accused Santiago, Scott and three other correction officers of beating him and trying to break his leg during a pat-and-frisk search at Downstate Correctional Facility in August 2013, three months before Moore was beaten. Parker said the officers rammed his face into a wall and that Santiago was instructed by another officer to break Parker's leg. He said Santiago stomped on his legs and tried unsuccessfully to twist his leg until it broke. The inmate also said Sgt. Scott, who was supervising the situation, allegedly laughed and declined to use a camcorder to record the incident, stating: "We're going to enjoy this." blyons@timesunion.com 518-454-5547 @brendan_lyonstu BETHLEHEM - A 28-year-old man was arrested following months-long investigation into a "quick change" con, which is when a person asks for change from a cashier, but doesn't hand over all the cash due in exchange. Traian Sava, 28, was taken into custody Tuesday in Long Island. He was charged with a petit larceny misdemeanor and scheme to defraud felony, police said. ALBANY Albany County District Attorney David Soares is closing the book on low-level marijuana offenses, and opening his mind to the possible legalization of recreational pot. Soares, who campaigned in 2004 championing reform of the state's harsh Rockefeller drug laws, will as of Dec. 1 no longer prosecute anyone accused of possessing up to 2 ounces of marijuana, a B-level misdemeanor that carries a maximum of three months in jail, or unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation akin to a traffic ticket. "We've been feeling the need to make this change for quite some time," Soares told reporters Thursday after announcing the policy change at a news conference at the Albany County Judicial Center. Soares made it clear that the policy change should not be seen as license to smoke pot. The office will still prosecute low-level charges where someone is smoking in the open air, in a vehicle and/or in front of children. The fourth-term Democrat, who currently serves as president of the District Attorneys Association of New York, said his office is facing more harmful threats from the use of heroin and fentanyl. "This, I felt, could be the appropriate thing to refocus our efforts, our energy and our resources to deal with greater threats to us," Soares said. Prosecuting the low-level pot cases is a "waste of resources, and we can be putting those resources to address things that are really impacting the health and safety of our community." Soares said he would ask judges to dismiss pending cases involving the low-level offenses. He noted that people with prior convictions on those charges can apply to the courts to have their convictions sealed. The district attorney will also expand his office's policy on driving while intoxicated prosecutions which includes mandatory minimum penalties that defendants must accept before taking plea deals to include cases in which a motorist is charged with driving with their ability impaired by drugs. Soares, who clashed with area police departments early in his tenure but has in recent years become highly supportive of them, indicated he made the policy change without first informing police officials. "I didn't go out seeking or polling partners in law enforcement in 2004; I still don't do that," Soares said. "I do what I believe the constituents in Albany County ... want, and their interests are the interests that I hold in higher priority." Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said he agreed with Soares' policy change. "It's a sign of the times," he said. "Violations and B misdemeanors waste a lot of resources." Officer Steven Smith, spokesman for the Albany police department, said in an email, "Our officers are going to continue enforcing laws and exercise their discretion to ensure that our community remains safe." Beau Duffy, a spokesman for State Police, said the agency would decline comment. Defense attorney Cheryl Coleman, a former Albany County prosecutor and City Court judge, said she was "completely unimpressed" by Soares' shift. "This is the guy who ran on a platform to reform Rockefeller drug laws but they systematically send first-time drug offenders to prison for $50 drug sales," Coleman said Thursday. "He's never practiced what he preaches. I'll believe it when I see it." In 2017, the city of Albany and towns of Bethlehem, Colonie and Guilderland had 1,042 low-level marijuana cases that would not have been prosecuted had the new policy been in place. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Soares said people charged with trafficking or selling marijuana or with carrying greater quantities of pot can still face prosecution on misdemeanor or felony charges. In recent months, Soares embarked on a tour of communities around the county to discuss the matter, holding meetings in Albany, Berne, Guilderland, Cohoes and Bethlehem. The state has decriminalized minor marijuana possession and has legalized medical marijuana. Following the lead of nine states and the District of Columbia, New York appears poised to legalize recreational use, which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo now supports. Asked whether he supports legalized recreational use of marijuana, Soares initially hedged, saying, "I'm the district attorney: I have the burden of proof, and not the luxury of an opinion." Soares eventually expressed a willingness to support "ending this war on pot" through legalization. "I would support a fully well-thought-out, regulated industry," the district attorney said. "Thus far, what I've seen in different communities are things that work out well and things that don't work out well. I think that New York state, having been a leader in so many other vast enterprises, we have an opportunity to do it right. And I hope that our lawmakers will take that opportunity to learn from the experiences of other states." Soares said the street value of 2 ounces or less of marijuana would depend on where it came from. That amount of pot imported from Colorado or Oregon where the product has a higher concentration of THC, the chemical that causes euphoria would cost around $200 to $250. Ballston Spa A 17-year-old student was arrested for making a terroristic threat, after a School Resource Officer found a threatening message in the high school Tuesday, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said Wednesday. Zurlo said that he did not believe that the student intended to carry out the threat. The school was not placed on lock down because students had already left for the day, Zurlo said. A letter sent to parents from Superintendent Ken Slentz said the threat was found on a bathroom wall and indicated that there would be a shooting at the school "tomorrow." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Later on that same day, the girl was arrested and confessed to writing the note, officials said. She was arraigned for the felony charge Wednesday. The threat comes shortly after multiple threats were made in the Niskayuna School district, one of which placed the high school on lock down for more than five hours. Washington President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his support for the first major rewrite of the nation's criminal justice sentencing laws in a generation, but it remains to be seen whether the proposal can pass Congress. "Today I'm thrilled to announce my support for this bipartisan bill that will make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time," Trump said at the White House. Trump hailed the deal as proof that "true bipartisanship is possible" though no Democrats attended the announcement. Senators reached an agreement this week on bipartisan legislation that would boost rehabilitation efforts for federal prisoners and give judges more discretion when sentencing nonviolent offenders, particularly for drug offenses. The House approved a prison reform bill in May, but the proposed Senate package makes additional changes and adds the sentencing component. That means the House would need to revote on anything the Senate passes. Criminal justice reform has been a priority of Trump's son-in-law, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner. Trump pushed for swift passage of the legislation, potentially during the lame-duck session of Congress. "I'll be waiting with a pen," he said. But members still haven't seen the details, and time is running short. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. was cautious about the bill's prospects Wednesday. He told reporters GOP leaders would do a whip count to gauge the bill's support once they have a final proposal in hand. Still, he noted the Senate has other things it needs to accomplish in the final weeks of the year, including funding the government and passing a farm bill. He said Republicans would have to see how the criminal justice bill "stacks up against our other priorities" once a final agreement is reached. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., called Trump's announcement "an encouraging sign that we can achieve substantive reforms to our criminal justice system in this Congress." A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they hoped McConnell would hold a whip count after the Thanksgiving break. They also argued Trump's support would move lawmakers to back the compromise and that more would sign on once legislative text is released. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The bill is a rare bipartisan endeavor in a log-jammed Congress and has attracted support from a coalition of liberal and conservative groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and groups backed by the political donors Charles and David Koch. Critics say current sentencing guidelines are unfair and have had a lopsided impact on minority communities. "Did I hear the word bipartisan?" Trump joked during a Roosevelt Room event announcing his backing for the deal. "Did I hear that word? That's a nice word." The Senate package overhauls some of the mandatory sentencing guidelines that have been in place since 1994 legislation approved by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa released a joint statement, calling the endorsement "an important step in our shared effort to promote safe communities and improve justice." Grassley said Tuesday the bill would be easier to pass after the departure of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was ousted by Trump last week. Sessions was a longtime opponent of criminal justice reform and had been especially wary of efforts to overhaul sentencing laws. [November 14, 2018] CIMB Group Joins RippleNet to Power Instant Payments Across ASEAN CIMB Group ("CIMB" or "the Group") and Ripple have entered into a strategic collaboration to enable instant cross border payments across its various markets. On the back of this partnership, CIMB will join Ripple's network ("RippleNet"), which will facilitate access to other RippleNet members and allow CIMB to grow its cross border payments business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114006003/en/ Ripple's CEO Brad Garlinghouse and CIMB Group's CEO Tengku Dato' Sri Zafrul Aziz celebrate their partnership. (Photo: Business Wire) Ripple's blockchain-based solution has been deployed to enhance Speedsend, CIMB's proprietary remittance product. This will expand CIMB's Speedsend network and open new payment corridors to improve consumer access to cross-border remittances, both inbound into ASEAN and outbound to other countries. The solution is now live on Speedsend, enabling remittances via corridors such as Australia (in partnership with InstaReM, also a member of RippleNet), USA, UK and Hong Kong. "We are delighted to be part of RippleNet and look forward to a fruitful partnership with Ripple by leveraging each other's strengths and capabilities. This innovative blockchain solution will revolutionise international cross-border remittances, and is a testament to CIMB's ongoing efforts to enhance its digital banking proposition by providing speedy and cost-efficient solutions to our customers across ASEAN," said Tengku Dato' Sri Zafrul Aziz, CEO, CIMB Group. As part of the overall partnership roadmap, CIMB intends to extend the solution to other use cases across the Group. There is a growing demand for cross border payment solutions, with the World Bank projecting that remittances to Southeast Asia will grow to USD120 billion by the end of 2018. "We're seeing banks and financial institutions from across the world lean into blockchain solutions because it enables a more transparent, quicker and lower cost payments experience," said Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple CEO. "CIMB's network already spans 15 countries, nearly 800 branches and offers Speedsend - one of the best solutions in the ASEAN region. Now, by integrating Ripple's blockchain technology, they will enable their customers to send vital funds to family, friends and loved ones more efficiently. With its focus on innovation, CIMB will continue to be a dominant force in the region for years to come." About Ripple Ripple provides one frictionless experience to send money globally using the power of blockchain. By joining Ripple's growing, global network, financial institutions can process their customers' payments anywhere in the world instantly, reliably and cost-effectively. Banks and payment providers can use the digital asset, XRP, to further reduce their costs and access new markets. With offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney, Ripple has more than 100 customers around the world. About CIMB Group CIMB Group is one of ASEAN's leading universal banking groups and is Malaysia's second largest financial services provider, by assets. It offers consumer banking, commercial banking, investment banking, Islamic banking and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in 9 out of 10 ASEAN nations (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos). Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Korea, the US and UK. CIMB Group has the most extensive retail branch network in ASEAN of around 800 branches as at 30 September 2018. CIMB Group's investment banking arm is also one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, offering amongst the most comprehensive research coverage around 700 stocks in the region. CIMB Group operates its business through three main brand entities, CIMB Bank, CIMB Investment Bank and CIMB Islamic. CIMB Group is also the 92.5% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.1% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand. CIMB Group is listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad. It had a market capitalisation of approximately RM 56.3 billion as of 30 September 2018. The Group has around 36,000 employees located in 15 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114006003/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Element AI Announces Strategic Partnerships with GIC, SGInnovate, and Singapore Management University Element AI expands its successful collaborative approach and existing ties to Singapore with new agreements to develop cutting edge products in the financial sector, enhance local talent, scale commercial Artificial Intelligence solutions, and embark on global research collaborations SINGAPORE, Nov. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - Element AI, a global company delivering AI software products that augment decisions to make businesses safer, stronger, and more agile, today announced partnerships with GIC, SGInnovate and Singapore Management University (SMU) at an event attended by the Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, accompanied by Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr. Also in attendance to witness the signing and provide remarks was Singapore Minister for Communications and Information H.E. S Iswaran. These partnerships expand the Element AI footprint in Asia and reinforce its commitment to the Singapore AI ecosystem, from large corporations to the startup community to academia. As part of its mission of global expansion, Element AI is replicating a proven model of success by working with key Singapore based corporations, startup incubators, and research institutions to convert the latest academic breakthroughs into robust AI products that can be integrated and uniquely customised at scale. "The Singapore industrial ecosystem consists of renowned institutions with deep expertise in building global enterprises, incubators with a proven history of launching world-changing companies, and prestigious academic institutions conducting the research critical to understanding the world around us and lighting the path forward," said Element AI CEO Jean-Francois Gagne. "This Singapore technology ecosystem is familiar to us at Element AI because it's that environment that led to the creation of our company, so we're thrilled to be signing agreements with these like-minded partners today. Through collaborative research drawing on the best and brightest expertise from Singapore and Canada, we're very excited about what is possible as we focus on augmenting collective intelligence and transforming industry as we know it with the help of role-centric AI products." The Singapore AI ecosystem is unique in its ability to integrate government, academia and private enterprise efforts to advance technology adoption in AI. For example, GIC through its innovation labs, accelerates the use of innovative technologies and incubates new ideas, in collaboration with its business units, start-ups, research organisations, and universities. The new partnership between Element AI and GIC initiates a collaboration that will focus on the application of advanced machine learning techniques to challenging problems encountered by large asset managers. Together, they will undertake research on technology trends that can be implemented enterprise wide. The partnership between Element AI and SGInnovte will prioritise the expansion of the deep tech talent pool in Singapore, and the development of the fast-growing technology startup ecosystem in ASEAN. Together, Element AI and SGInnovate will focus on the potential of AI-related startups to help corporations and governments address a variety of challenges. To this end, both parties will co-host a series of events and work alongside technical founders to create opportunities for startups to deploy, improve, and further scale AI solutions. This will be done, in part, through collaborations with the portfolio companies of SGInnovate as well as from the wider market. Steve Leonard, Founding CEO of SGInnovate said, "Two years ago, SGInnovate was launched with a mission to help 'scientist-entrepreneurs' form, build, and scale deep tech startups. Given how hard it is to build a deep tech company, we know how important it is to work with great partners. Our new relationship with Element AI, one of the most exciting AI startups in the world, will help us to increase our impact as a deep tech investor and company builder. SGInnovate and Element AI will look to generate commercial opportunities for deep tech startups to build, deploy, improve, and scale AI-system solutions. Through the shared work of SGInnovate and Element AI, the deep tech startup ecosystem across ASEAN will also be given a boost." SMU is a dynamic city university located in the heart of Singapore, and focuses on the areas of Management, Social Sciences, and Computing (including AI), and their intersections. The university adopts an integrated research-teaching-learning-practice approach that creates positive impact on business, government, and society. The SMU School of Law was recently awarded a competitive grant of $4.5 million by the Singapore National Research Foundation to establish a first-of-its-kind Centre for AI and Data Governance (CAIDG), which they launched publicly in September 2018. Element AI and SMU School of Law will be embarking on a research collaboration in relevant areas on the governance of AI. Specifically, SMU will be responsible for carrying out the Singaporean and ASEAN aspects of research while Element AI will focus on the North American aspects as well as leverage its global researcher network. Together, all parties will share information, tools, and approaches in order to deliver issues and recommendation papers. Associate Professor Goh Yihan, Dean of SMU School of Law and Initial Director of CAIDG, said, "In carrying out our research on AI Governance issues, we have emphasised the importance of reaching out to both academia and industry. This is especially true as we create meaningful impact in this fast-moving space, and why we are very excited about our collaboration with Element AI. This is certainly a wonderful partnership; I look forward to working together in identifying and researching relevant topics in the months ahead." About Element AI Element AI delivers AI software products that augment decisions to make businesses safer, stronger, and more agile. Element AI is headquartered in Canada with offices in Montreal, Toronto, London, Singapore, and Seoul and is funded by leading investors including BDC Capital, Data Collective, Fidelity Investments Canada, Hanwha Investment, Intel Capital, Microsoft Ventures, National Bank, NVIDIA GPU Ventures, Real Ventures, and Tencent. http://www.elementai.com About SGInnovate At SGInnovate, we believe that Singapore has all the resources and capabilities needed to tackle 'hard problems' that matter to people around the world. As part of our Deep Tech Nexus Strategy, we are focused on adding tangible value to the Singapore deep tech startup ecosystem in two key areas development of Human Capital and deployment of Investment Capital. With the support of our partners and co-investors, we back deeply technical founders through equity-based investments, access to talent, and support in building customer traction. Our efforts are prioritised around transformational technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and MedTech, which represent impactful and scalable answers to global challenges. SGInnovate is a private-limited company wholly owned by the Singapore Government. For more information, please visit www.sginnovate.com About Singapore Management University Law Established in 2000, Singapore Management University (SMU) is recognised for its high-impact multi-disciplinary research that addresses Asian issues of global relevance, and for its innovations in experiential learning. With 10,000 students, SMU offers bachelors, masters and PhD degree programmes in Accountancy, Business, Economics, Information Systems, Law and Social Sciences, and executive development programmes. Through its city campus, SMU enjoys strategic linkages with business, government and the wider community in Singapore and beyond. www.smu.edu.sg SOURCE Element AI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Huawei Cloud Unveils in South Africa, Enabling to Build a Fully Connected Intelligent Africa CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HUAWEI CLOUD, the cloud-computing services of Huawei, announced it had unveiled a new region in South Africa at AfricaCom 2018 on November 14, making the company the world's first cloud service provider that operates a local data center to provide cloud services in Africa. Huawei Cloud South Africa region will start providing cloud services at the end of this year, allowing organizations operating inside South Africa and its neighboring countries to access lower-latency, reliable, and secure cloud services, such as Elastic Cloud Server (ECS), Elastic Volume Service (EVS), and Object Storage Service (OBS). Huawei Cloud also indicated a plan to unveil more new regions in Africa. Director-General, National Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, South Africa Mr. Robert Nkuna said: "Huawei has been a great technology partner to our country and they have regularly brought cutting edge technologies to our shores. The launch of the Huawei Cloud is taking place in an exciting period in our country. For an example we are investing in skills development with numerous partners. We'll engage Huawei to transfer cloud technology skills to SA and the continent. We are convinced that we can fast track our development if we work in partnership with other stakeholders." Li Peng, President of Huawei Southern Africa Region, said:" Huawei has been operating in Africa for 20 years, contributing to social and economic development and enriching African people's lives with it ICT solutions and services. We have in-depth understanding of African market and is capable of better meeting customers' current and potential needs. South Africa is one of the most diverse and promising emerging markets globally with tremendous potential. With cloud services, we are aiming to unleash the latent capacity by introducing cloud computing, one of key engines drive the growth in this era." Edward Deng, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Business Unit, commented, "With over 30 years of technical accumulation in ICT infrastructure and products, Huawei provides reliable, secure, and sustainable cloud services to customers worldwide. Looking forward, Huawei Cloud's innovative technologies and services, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, will help African governments, carriers, and enterprises in a variety of industries such as finance, energy, agriculture, to leapfrog to a fully-connected, intelligent era." In the event, Huawei Cloud released the Africa Partnership Program with local channel partners, such as Altron, ATOS, BCX, Datacentrix, EOH, Gijima, StorTech, TCM, Tech Mahindra, T-systems and XON. In additional, Huawei also launched InTouch Aggregator, a PaaS platform powered on HUAWEI CLOUD, which helps connect carriers, open up telecom capabilities, enable OTT, and build up the cloud ecosystem. With over 30 years of technical accumulation in ICT infrastructure and products, Huawei provides reliable, secure, and sustainable cloud services to customers worldwide. Huawei Cloud and its partners' global reach cover Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Africa, and China, with 22 regions and 37 availability zones. A growing number of organizations, such as Groupe PSA, Santander Bank, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Falabella, and Andreani, have chosen Huawei Cloud and partners, thanks to their cutting-edge technologies and professional local technical support. About Huawei Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. With integrated solutions across four key domains - telecom networks, IT, smart devices, and cloud services - we are committed to bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. For more information, please visit Huawei Cloud online at https://intl.huaweicloud.com/?locale=en-us or follow us on: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/huawei-cloud/ https://twitter.com/Huawei_Cloud https://www.facebook.com/Huawei-Cloud-1995859487299836/ SOURCE Huawei [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 14, 2018] PolyU - China Resources Plan to Establish Joint Research Centres for Micro-Electronics and Precision Medicine HONG KONG, November 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) reached strategic collaborative research framework agreements with China Resources Microelectronics Limited (CR Micro) and China Resources Life Science Industry Development Co., Ltd. (CR Life Science) respectively to explore the possibility of establishing two joint research centres for novel micro-electronic devices and precision medicine. The agreements will strengthen the strategic collaboration between the parties, aiming to translate technologies research into practical applications. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784995/PolyU.jpg ) PolyU excels in a number of research areas including artificial intelligence (AI), advanced materials, life science and healthcare. CR Micro and CR Life Science will provide resources and support to PolyU researchers and will build a mutually beneficial platform with PolyU to advance the transfer of research results into applications through close collaborations among industry, academia and research & development (R&D) sector. The agreements were signed today on PolyU campus by Ir Professor Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU; Mr Sean ZHANG, General Manager of CR Micro; and Mr YAN Jianguo, Chairman of CR Life Science. Witnessing the ceremony were Mr LIU Zhi-ming, Deputy Inspector, Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs, Liasion Office of The Central People's Government in HKSAR; Mr T C CHAN, PolyU Council Chairman; and Mr CHEN Ying, Chief Strategy Officer of China Resources Group (CRG). Mr T C CHAN, Chairman of PolyU Council, said, "PolyU has always been committed to conducting impactful research with practical value. In addition to basic research, we also attach great importance to applied research. Among the universities in Hong Kong, PolyU has achieved outstanding results in knowledge transfer, taking up a leading role in the last four consecutive years. This is attributed to our close collaboration with the industry over the years. PolyU has proved itself a good partner of the industry. It is convinced that the collaborative effort between PolyU and CRG will generate fruitful commercialisation results from our research success through the tripartite partnership among industry, academia and research sector, thus improving people's quality of life and promoting economic prosperity." Mr CHEN Ying, Chief Strategy Officer of CRG, said, as a China state-owned enterprise, the Group is determined to implement its innovation-and-technology (I&T) driven strategies. The Group acknowledges that I&T is critically important to its transformation and development, therefore I&T development is a sustainable strategic direction of CRG. In the long run, the Group would cultivate innovation as corporate's culture and DNA, it would also enhance investment in technology innovation, nurture talents and future leaders, perfect corporate culture and improve incentive schemes. The collaboration between CRG and PolyU is an important intiative to realise the nation's implementation of the "innovation-driven" growth strategy and the Greater Bay Area development plan, as well as the Group's I&T development strategy. Leveraging each other's strengths, both parties will beef up the manpower and resources for I&T and promote commercialisation of research efforts. CRG will also continuously enhance its innovativeness and competitiveness for economic development and develop high-quality products. PolyU will collaborate with CR Micro to jointly develop an intelligent sprayable nano-engineered sensor system for monitoring the structural health of large wind turbine blades and its management system. It is expected that such technology will be applied to wind turbines of the renewable energy sector of China Resources. Another joint research project is to develop a low-cost, light-weight, highly sensitive and mechanically flexible organic electrochemical transistors for medical diagnosis use. CR Micro also plans through various channels to support the joint R&D in third generation power semiconductor and module-based semiconductor device, sensing application, AI and advanced manufacturing, Internet of Things and smart cities. The two parties will jointly apply research project grants from Hong Kong and national projects, and strive to open up domestic and foreign markets through various channels for commercialisation of research findings. Separately, PolyU will collaborate with CR Life Science to develop frontier technology and products in life sciences and precision medicine, covering both fundamental and clinical research on precision medicine. The collaboration will leverage the edges of the two parties to conduct research on tumors, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine and metabolic diseases and rare diseases. PolyU experts will undertake research projects whereas CR Life Science will provide major research funding and open the channels for the application of related technologies. About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has a total student population of about 28,000. Through our faculties and schools, the University connects education and research to the real world as manifested in our motto: "To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind". Through an innovative education model combining professional knowledge with Service-Learning and real-world experience, PolyU has nurtured many bright minds to serve and contribute to the community. We also challenge boundaries and uncover knowledge, bringing many practical yet world-changing ideas to life for the benefit of mankind. These efforts reflect our commitment as described in the University's brand promise - "Opening Minds Shaping the Future". Website: http://www.polyu.edu.hk About China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd. China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd. ("CR" or "China Resources Group") was first established as "Liow & Co." in Hong Kong in 1938, and was later restructured and renamed as China Resources Company in 1948. The Group's core businesses include consumer products (including retail, beer, food and beverages), power, real estate, cement, gas, pharmaceuticals and finance. Under China Resources Group there are 7 key strategic business units, 17 grade-1 profit centers, 7 listed companies in Hong Kong, and more than 400,000 employees. In 2017, the Group achieved a turnover of HKD 541 billion. China Resources Group is one of the Fortune Global 500 enterprises, ranking 86 in 2018. Website: https://en.crc.com.cn/ About China Resources Microelectronics Limited CR Micro is a Chinese analog semiconductor group with a complete industrial chain, together with its subsidiaries (the "Group") is engaged in four principal businesses, which cover Integrated Circuits ("IC") design, open foundry, IC testing & packaging and discrete devices businesses. CR Micro is positioned as the most competitive semiconductor company in mainland China. CR Micro is striving to become a leader for energy-saving semiconductor products in China by capitalizing on the eminent position of China as the global manufacturing powerhouse and its burgeoning domestic market, unique design and process technologies of the Group as well as synergy from close cooperation among internal industrial chain. Website: http://www.crmicro.com About China Resources Life Science Industry Development Co., Ltd . CR Life Sciences Industry Development Co., Ltd. is positioned as the "innovation engine" of China Resources Group's comprehensive health sector. It focuses on the three fields of precision medicine, biotechnology and digital medical care. At present, it is building China Resources Life Science Park in Beijing, actively attracting technical achievements in the fields of protein, small nucleic acid iRNA, oncolytic virus, CAR-T, monoclonal antibody, traditional Chinese medicine, medical device, aerospace microorganism, gene diagnosis and so on, to create a comprehensive platform integrating production, study, research and application. At the same time, CR Life Science will set up a life science research institute to integrate basic research, technology research and development, application demonstration and result transformation, carry out cutting-edge research in the industry and cultivate talents with independent innovation, in order to facilitate independent innovation and building China into a science and technology giant. Media contact: Dr Terence Lok-ting Lau Director of Innovation and Technology Development, PolyU Phone: (852) 3400 2806 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/itdo/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 14, 2018] Barefoot Networks to Present at P4 2018 China Summit Leading Technology Companies Gather Together to Showcase the Benefits of P4-programmability BEIJING, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barefoot Networks , a provider of high-performance and fully programmable networking solutions, today announced its participation in P4 2018 China Summit , an event that brings internet technology leaders, networking equipment manufacturers, and researchers to discuss programmable forwarding plane devices and the application of P4 language to the networking industry. This years event features speakers from Alibaba, Arista Networks, Baidu, Barefoot Networks, Cisco Systems, Jiangsu Future Network Innovation Research Institute, JDCloud, New H3C Group, Tencent, UCloud, UnionPay, Xilinx and the Chinese governments Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. What: P4 2018 China Summit will mark the third event since debuting in 2016, and convene technologists and executives from the networking industry in China, who will present various solutions and use cases, such as Tencents and Baidus network programming practices, that are realized by utilizing P4 and P4-programmable devices and systems. This event is organized by SDNLAB . To register and for more information: https://www.bagevent.com/event/191167 P4 (Programming Protocol-independent Packet Processors) is a programming language that allows software developers to design and describe packet-forwarding. The P4 community is growing rapidly with more than 1,500 developers and thousands of commits to P4-based projects and repositories. The P4 programming language is supported globally by a group of more than 100 leading organizations including Alibaba, Arista, AT&T, Baidu, Barefoot Networks, Cisco, Google, FOX, Huawei, JDCloud, Kaloom, Microsoft, Net One Systems, SDNLAB and others. More on P4 can be found at https://p4.org/ . Why: P4 2018 China Summit is the premier event for the industry to gain insights into how P4 programming language, P4-programmable target devices, and the thriving P4 community are transforming the networking infrastructure in China. Who: P4 2018 China Summit will feature leaders from the companies and organizations in the networking industry that are taking advantage of P4, including: Haiyong Wang , Senior Director Infrastructure Service, Alibaba ; presenting Application of Programmable Chip in Alibaba Network , Senior Director Infrastructure Service, ; presenting Application of Programmable Chip in Alibaba Network Huicheng Chi , Engineering Manager of Greater China, Arista Networks ; presenting Arista and Barefoot Creating a Programmable Road for Network Chips , Engineering Manager of Greater China, ; presenting Arista and Barefoot Creating a Programmable Road for Network Chips Yongxin Cui , Chairman of the Technical Committee for System Department, Baidu ; presenting Network ProgrammingBaidus Practice , Chairman of the Technical Committee for System Department, ; presenting Network ProgrammingBaidus Practice Nick McKeown , Chief Scientist, Chairman, Co-founder, Barefoot Networks and Professor Stanford University ; presenting SDN and Programmable Switches , Chief Scientist, Chairman, Co-founder, and Professor ; presenting SDN and Programmable Switches Changhoon Kim , CTO of Applications, Baefoot Networks ; presenting Advanced P4 ApplicationsNetworking and Beyond , CTO of Applications, ; presenting Advanced P4 ApplicationsNetworking and Beyond Thomas Scheibe , Vice President, Cisco Systems ; presenting Programmable Cloud Infrastructure , Vice President, ; presenting Programmable Cloud Infrastructure Yunjie Liu , Dean, Jiangsu Future Network Innovation Research Institute ; presenting Future Network Development Trend and Outlook , Dean, ; presenting Future Network Development Trend and Outlook Qingming Fu , Vice President JDCloud , Vice President Steven You , Co-president, New H3C Group , Co-president, Quan Wen , Head of DC Network, TEG, Tencent ; presenting The Practice, Exploration, and Prospect of Programmable Chips at Tencent , Head of DC Network, TEG, ; presenting The Practice, Exploration, and Prospect of Programmable Chips at Tencent Liang Xu , Head of Virtualized Network, UCloud ; presenting Application of Programmable Switch in UCloud Public Cloud Network , Head of Virtualized Network, ; presenting Application of Programmable Switch in UCloud Public Cloud Network Yongkai Zhou , Special Researcher, China, UnionPay ; presenting Architectural Outlook of Programmable Switch and Distributed Clusters , Special Researcher, China, ; presenting Architectural Outlook of Programmable Switch and Distributed Clusters Jiayou Zong , System Architect, and Strategic Marketing, Xilinx ; presenting Xilinx P4 Compiler and Applications (Telemetry, OvS) , System Architect, and Strategic Marketing, ; presenting Xilinx P4 Compiler and Applications (Telemetry, OvS) Xinsheng Zhang, Secretary General Communications Science, and Technology Committee, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology When: Nov. 15, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Opening remarks will begin approximately 9 a.m. Where: Crown Plaza Beijing Zhongguancun, Chaoyang, Beijing 106 Zhichun Rd, ShuangYuShu, Haidian Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100086 Contact: Reporters interested in attending and interviewing Barefoot Networks may contact [email protected] Barefoot Networks, the Foot Logo, Tofino, Capilano, Deep Insight, SPRINT, P4 Studio, and P4 Insight are trademarks of Barefoot Networks. About Barefoot Networks Barefoot Networks launched in 2016 after two years of developing technology that built switch silicon with a forwarding plane that is defined in software while not compromising on performance. Barefoot empowers network owners and their infrastructure partners to design, optimize, and innovate to meet their specific requirements and gain competitive advantage. In combining the P4 programming language with fast programmable switches, Barefoot has also created an ecosystem for compilers, tools, and P4 programs to make P4 accessible to anybody. Barefoot Networks is headquartered in Silicon Valley and is backed by strategic investors including Alibaba, Dell Technology Capital, Google Inc., Goldman Sachs Principal Strategic Investments, Hewlett Packard Pathfinder, and Tencent, and by premier venture capital firms including Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed, and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit https://barefootnetworks.com/ . Follow us on Twitter: @barefootnetwork . Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barefootnetworks . Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barefoot-networks . Media Contact: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Newman Ferrara LLP Announces Corporate Governance Investigation of Roper Technologies, Inc. - ROP Newman Ferrara LLP announced today that the firm is conducting an investigation on behalf of shareholders of Roper Technologies, Inc. ("Roper" or the "Company") (NYSE:ROP) focusing on potential breaches of fiduciary duty by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Roper, headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, designs and develops software, and engineered products and solutions for various industries. Newman Ferrara's investigation focuses on self-interested decisions made by the Board, without shareholder approval, which diminish shareholder value and threaten to harm the Company's long-term interests. Despite the Company's satisfactory financial performance, certain self-interested deciions make it clear that the Board's interests are not properly aligned with Roper's shareholders or the long-term success of the Company. Roper stockholders seeking more information on this matter are invited to contact Newman Ferrara partner Jeffrey Norton ([email protected]) to discuss this investigation and their rights. Newman Ferrara maintains a multifaceted practice based in New York City with attorneys concentrating on complex commercial and multi-party litigation, securities fraud and shareholder litigation, consumer protection, civil rights, and real estate. For more information, please visit the firm website at www.nfllp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114005993/en/ [November 14, 2018] Infineon and NEXT Biometrics introduce Biometric Card Reference Design Includes all Elements to Simplify and Expedite Biometric Smart Card Technology MUNICH and OSLO, Norway, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY), the global leader in smart card payment solutions and NEXT Biometrics, a global leader in fingerprint sensor technology, have joined to develop a reference design for biometric payment cards. The reference platform incorporates all necessary elements to develop and manufacture a smart card with a fingerprint sensor and helps card makers to simplify their production processes and to shorten time-to-market for their offerings. The use of biometrics for second factor authentication is the next big thing in payment card innovation following signatures, embossing, magnetic stripe and secure chip technologies. Instead of entering a PIN or showing an ID, the card holder authenticates by using a fingerprint sensor embedded on the card. The fingerprint information is stored on the card's secure element and not shared with any third party, thereby protecting the user's privacy. Fingerprint authentication is faster and easier than standard PIN-based EMV* transactions. It will also further reduce fraud, espcially when multifunctional cards are deployed for personal social security payments. The biometric card reference design includes a biometric module, a secure element, an operating system with biometric and payment applets, as well as a recommended and proven pre-lamination and lamination method for manufacturing the card. This complete system solution enables secure biometric smart card payment with significantly reduced false rejection rates to below one percent. The false rejection rate is a convenience feature that measures how often the fingerprint of the authorized user is reliably recognized and not incorrectly rejected. As a turnkey solution, the reference platform that Infineon jointly developed with NEXT will drive biometric innovations in the smart card industry and help make digital transactions easier and safer. Customers have the tools they need to speed the implementation and deployment of biometric smart card technology. The smart card reference design will be demonstrated by the two companies at the upcoming APSCA Digital Payments South Asia conference in Mumbai, India, 13-14 November 2018. About NEXT Biometrics NEXT provides advanced fingerprint sensor technology that delivers uncompromised security and accuracy for the best possible user experience in the smart card, government ID, access control and notebook markets. The company's patented NEXT Active Thermal principle allows the development of large, high quality fingerprint sensors in both rigid and flexible formats. NEXT Biometrics Group ASA (www.nextbiometrics.com) is headquartered in Oslo, with sales, support and development operations in Seattle, Silicon Valley, Taipei, Prague, Bengaluru and Shanghai. *The EMV Chip Specifications define globally valid requirements for chip-based payment solutions and acceptance terminals. They enable secure contact- and contactless applications and the use of other emerging payment technologies. Further information is available at www.emvco.com SOURCE Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 14, 2018] AIDUS Project, a global funds market platform, successful meet-up in Hong Kong - Approximately 150 attendees, including ConsenSys's employees - Scheduled service of Global fund platform to connect investors and asset managers in June 2019 - Signed an AIDUS Listing Agreement with Exchange CoinBene on October 26 SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global fund market platform AIDUS Project meetup ended in great success at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong on November 9th with about 150 people attending. Starting with a welcoming speech of AISYS GLOBAL CEO David Chen, the event on this day included introduction of VIPs including James Slazas of Consensys, Hadi Solh of McKinsey Solutions, AISYS executives and the introduction of AIDUS Advisory. The second part of the event was composed of the AIDUS business introduction, ADFP technology, QTS, performance announcement, and banquets. A lot of former and current ConsenSys employees and the advisories of the AIDUS Project attended in this event, and a total of 200,000 air drops were provided to 150 people through the event. Through this event, AISYS GLOBAL PTE. LTD announced the start of funding about 100 billion investment n the future. In particular, the Company signed a Listing Agreement with Exchange CoinBene on October 26, on the day when the event is held, Angel Vest Group and Godian Captial reached an affiliation agreement on ADFP AIDUS Project, introduced by David Chen on this day, provides information on all fund products in seven languages to connect investors and asset managers worldwide, and you can join or redeem funds around the world through the AIDUS Decentralized Fund Platform (ADFP) simply by computer or mobile phone. The existing asset management market is the market that has a high market share for large asset management companies, and it is true that small and medium-sized asset management companies have no choice but to have limited operations in their own countries even if they want to provide good products to their customers and investors were also not provided with good products because of language limitations. With ADFP, however, investors worldwide will be able to check information on excellent funds around the world without the language barriers and difficulties in currency exchange, and small and medium-sized asset management companies will be able to provide their excellent fund products to customers around the world. In particular, ADFP is attracting attention as a platform that can be contracted and traded securely with Smart Contract in line with the trend of the fourth industrial revolution. Also, Smart QTS (Quantitative Trading System) developed into Robo Advisor based on management know-how for 15 years is expected to prove possibility to exceed limits of asset management market in cooperation with asset management firms which affiliated themselves with ADFP. For an objective judgement on performances of AISYS GLOBAL's Robo Advisor, "QTS", it is said that starting on August 2018, AIDUS is jointly working with law firms and international certified public accountants (CPA). Saying "Based on the excellence of Smart QTS, AIDUS Project is a large-scale project that large investment companies such as the Godian Capital as well as Angel Best Group are going to join", David Chen also said, "AIDUS's target is to make many people greatly pay attention to the asset management market in the future and AIDUS plans to create strategic partnerships with domestic and international prominent companies, is expected to be the core competitiveness of the decentralized fund market platform that will lead the future asset management market." Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181114/2299551-1 SOURCE AIDUS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 14, 2018] GearBest's 11.11 global broadcast attracts extensive exposure and engagement SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Last Saturday, GearBest held one of the its biggest event of the year - the "Get closer, save bigger" 2018 Global broadcast carnival for Singles' Day, with 12 YouTubers coming from America, France, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Brazil and Germany and broadcasting the event from GearBest's headquarters in Shenzhen. This was the third 11.11 festival for GearBest and also the first time GearBest brought its global interaction from an offline experience to online broadcasting, marking the kickoff of GearBest to take the initiative in getting closer with consumers and influencers and share the story behind GearBest. A trip inside GearBest On 11th Nov, YouTubers from around the world gathered in GearBest's Shenzhen headquarters to join the opening ceremony and 11.11 celebration. Through face-to-face interaction with GearBest team members and their products, the influencers not only got to know the complete operation process, which transforms a simple idea to an excellent product, but also the GearBest operating philosophy and corporate culture. The YouTubers were invited to visit GearBest warehouse in Pingshan. From smart sorting to voice order and contro, the whole 50,000 sqm warehouse is operated under the assistance of intelligent management and it takes less than 100 employees to fully manage everything. Additionally, the YouTubers got to visit the GearBest exhibition room for various popular electronic products, such as Xiaomi smartphones and DJI drones, and give their reviews and usage experiences. As always, GearBest prepared huge amounts of giveaways and sales online to show their appreciation to their fans and followers for always being supportive. Meanwhile, over 50,000 youtubers and influencers around the world were sharing and interacting at the same moment with their fans at home. Although they could not join GearBest on the ground, the internet connected everyone with the celebration as they gave their best wishes for GearBest in the coming years. Record-breaking moment Months of preparation for the broadcast event brought GearBest extensive exposure and engagement. By 12th Nov, the total reach of GearBest 11.11 celebration has topped 8,600,000. Meanwhile, GearBest performed unexpectedly well in the major targeted countries. In Russia, GearBest had the best performance with revenue growing 10 times bigger during the 11.11 festival. As electronic consumer countries, GearBest Japan and Germany also had sensational results with quadrupled sales on 11.11. According to Google Trend, the interest in "GearBest" during the festival became 4 times higher. The event was also supported by brands from the suppliers Dibea, Oclean, Elephone, Poptel, Beelink, FIIDO, Chuwi, Teclast, Tanix, Motospeed and more, some of whose sales were 15 times greater than average daily sales. After the excitement of 11.11, GearBest will begin preparations for the next big anniversary in 2019. According to Pauline Wang, the Senior Marketing Manager of GearBest, the interaction with influencers and YouTubers will still be the highlight. "For 2019, the campaign will focus more on the open platform transformation and brand upgrading. The investment and excitement will be even greater," said Pauline. About GearBest Founded in 2014, GearBest is a leading global cross-border e-commerce B2C website, committed to providing great value shopping experience for global consumers. Bringing global goods to Turkey and exporting Turkish products to the world, GearBest will continuously act as a communication bridge between Turkey and the world. Website: www.gearbest.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784631/GEARBEST_youtubers.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784630/GEARBEST_youtuber_kristian.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Zoho Deepens Analytics and AI in Customer Experience Platform Zoho (News - Alert) today unveiled the next generation of Zoho CRM Plus, its all-in-one customer experience platform that empowers Sales, Marketing, Customer Support, and Operations to work as one. Now, Zoho customers have complete visibility of their customers across departments rather than partial views. Fueled by Zia, Zoho's AI-powered assistant, and the enhanced Zoho Analytics, Zoho's business intelligence and reporting platform, Zoho CRM Plus helps businesses deliver superior customer experiences, by allowing users to deeply understand customer sentiments, delight customers across channels, and adeptly prescribe actions to keep customers content throughout their journey-all from one place. "Companies now recognize the importance of AI in creating positive experiences for customers. The focus now has shifted to bring AI across an integrated platform, creating a consistently positive experience across and throughout the customer journey," said Brent Leary, co-founder and partner, CRM Essentials. "With CRM Plus, Zoho has introduced a compelling platform where Sales, Marketing, Support and Operations are built on one technology stack, allowing its intelligent assistant, Zia, to access data across all of its applications, automatically providing teams with valuable insights enabling them to deliver better customer experiences across all channels." The power of Zia and Zoho Analytics across this new Customer Experience Platform, coupled with significant updates to Zoho Desk, Zoho Social, and SalesIQ, businesses can now simply unify all customer-facing teams on a single interface and leverage real-time, contextual intelligence pulled from the front- and back-office, across all customer touch points, in just a single action. The platform sets a new standard for seamless omni-channel customer engagement, sentiment collection and analysis, and prescriptive actions across departments to increase the bottom line. Putting Zia at the center of customer experience Customer sentiments are automatically available to service agents as they receive incoming tickets. Based on prior knowledge, Zia also suggests responses to customers on behalf of support representatives. Sales teams are equipped with real-time insight such as the best time to call a prospect or likelihood to close a deal when they follow a stream of actions. Zia analyzes marketing and sales activities and predicts chances of deal closures. Zia also monitors that trend against actual business health and predicts anomalies, so teams can stay ahead of potential problems. Using Ask Zia, teams can access insight from the past, present, and future with a simple voice command or text message. Zia Voice is now available as an SDK, allowing companies to provide Zia functionality to their customers. Businesses can now easily program AI-enabled conversation assistants to service customers using a conversation assistant. The combined powers of Desk, CRM, SalesIQ, and Zia enable businesses to provide the right solution to customer problems at the right time, while also helping sales and support agents be more productive and informed. Process automation to improve cross-functional business collaboration Customer-facing teams can now manage processes like sales discounts and product returns involving multiple internal stakeholders, without losing track of accountability. The Customer Experience Platform automatically indicates and helps manage bottlenecks that delay deal closures and impede case resolutions, thereby reducing friction in the customer experience. Every stakeholder involved in the process has the appropriate context from all the previous stages, thereby making tactical decisions more straightforward. Employees from marketing, sales, and support functions can use process-management capabilities in Desk and CRM to simplify complex processes, work together, and exceed customer expectations. Real-time insights built for decision-making With the unified Customer Experience Platform, the C-Suite can weigh decisions based on insight across the organization-from marketing, sales, and support to finances and HR in the back-end. Interactive, in-depth dashboards provide dissectible views of impact for every potential business decision. Announced today, Zoho Analytics provides an AI-driven assistant and an extensive range of data connectors making descriptive, and predictive insight, easily accessible across teams. It features 300+ pre-built reports and dashboards that provide real-time data on the various aspects of your business' health. Additionally, users can build their own reports and dashboards to suit specific needs. Powered by Zoho Analytics, businesses can now calculate and track important and complex business metrics, such as deal stage velocity and campaign correlation. For instance, using Ask Zia, a top executive can derive a correlation between marketing spend, the number of support tickets received, and the corresponding impact these two have on sales, and what decisions need to be taken to increase sales. Flawless omni-channel support Customers can receive help on one channel with context from all other channels previously used. Whether it is on social, phone, chat, email, or text, service agents will receive notifications and support history on one common interface and settings, instead of across multiple tools and browsers. Businesses can easily resolve issues that span multiple internal teams, whether it's a sales or a support conversation. Businesses can grasp an accurate pulse of customer sentiments by easily executing surveys at various touch points along the customer journey. This targeted, qualitative insight will allow teams to more deeply understand customer perspectives and fine-tune how they respond to inquiries and needs. The seamless integration between Social, SalesIQ, Desk, CRM, and Survey allows for running a single thread of customer conversation that's contextual and easily shared across all customer-facing teams. "Zia has advanced significantly since her initial launch early last year. With the combined powers of Zia and Analytics behind Zoho's Customer Experience Platform, we are opening up a seamless and contextual flow of information across channels and departments, making it simple for teams to work as one to smartly transform their customer relationships," said Raju Vegesna (News - Alert), chief evangelist, Zoho. "CRM Plus is no longer just a suite of applications. It is now a sophisticated and intelligent platform where businesses can thoughtfully and proactively craft exceptional experiences across the entire customer journey." Customer Statements: "Zoho CRM Plus is a powerful and unified customer experience platform. It is the perfect omni-channel solution that empowers us to effectively reach out and engage with our customers right where they are. Combined with powerful analytics and integration with Jive's hosted voice solution, this unique platform allows us to keep track of every customer interaction on a single interface, helping us increase our productivity across the business and improve our customers' satisfaction." - Dano Ybarra, Vice President, International Sales and Business Development, Jive Communications "Zoho's Customer Experience Platform is extremely powerful yet simple to use. It has enabled us to collaborate across all of our customer-facing teams due to having the apps on one interface, while reducing reporting delays because we are able to track our ROI using Zoho Analytics. Because this is a unified platform, there were no integrations needed, enabling us to successfully implement it across our India, Australia, and China offices within just 10 days. We have not looked back since!" - Joydip Ghosh, Director Marketing APAC at Wilson Learning Worldwide "Businesses have long suffered from disconnected data in their quest to deliver exceptional omni-channel customer experiences. They tried adding artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics to solve these, yet there are many limitations due to the myriad integrations between sales, marketing, support, operations and other many applications. Vendors that provide flexible and dynamic cloud-based platforms, allowing for easy integration and consolidation of data models, create the value proposition businesses demand in a digitally connected world to move forward." - Esteban Kolsky, Founder, ThinkJar Research Pricing and Availability All the features are available immediately on Zoho CRM Plus. Zoho CRM Plus is available for $50/user/month when billed annually. For more information on Zoho CRM Plus, please visit www.zoho.com/crm/crmplus. Please follow #ZohoCX for live updates on the Customer Experience Platform. About Zoho Zoho is the operating system for business-a single online platform capable of running an entire business. With apps in nearly every major business category, including sales, marketing, customer support, accounting and back office operations, and an array of productivity and collaboration tools, Zoho is one of the world's most prolific software companies. In 2017, Zoho introduced the revolutionary Zoho One, an integrated suite of applications for the entire business. Zoho respects user privacy and does not have an ad-revenue model in any part of its business, including its free products. More than 40 million users around the world, across hundreds of thousands of companies, rely on Zoho every day to run their businesses, including Zoho itself. Zoho Corporation is privately held and profitable with more than 6,000 employees. Zoho is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, with international headquarters in Chennai, India. Additional offices are in Austin (US), Utrecht (The Netherlands), Singapore, Dubai (UAE), Yokohama (Japan), and Beijing (China). For more information, please visit www.zoho.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114006038/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Doodhwala Names Mohammed Aehthesham, Chief Architect of SAP Ariba as CTO BENGALURU, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Doodhwala app is Bengaluru's largest subscription-based e-grocer Doodhwala, a subscription-based early morning delivery platform for fresh milk and other perishable groceries, announces the appointment of Mohammed Aehthesham as its Chief Technology Officer. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/543499/Doodhwala_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/785317/Doodhwala_Co_Founders_CTO.jpg ) Aehthesham comes with extensive technical, strategic and enterprise software knowledge. He previously served at SAP Ariba as the Chief Architect for cloud platform. Prior to that, he was a Principal Engineer at Yahoo, playing a key role in merging technical leadership with the product. "Doodhwala has pioneered technology-based solutions to the subscription-based milk distribution industry. With Mohammed onboard, our customer experience and operational efficiency is set to quadruple," says Aakash Agrawal, Doodhwala's Co-founder. "Mohammed is merging technology with Doodhwala's overall business strategy. On the operational front, we are improving our productivity by employing effective technology to the supply chain of fresh produce. On the customer front, the user wil have an enriched intuitive shopping experience." "Fresh food supply chain is an unsolved problem. To provide all participants in the supply chain a value proposition and to boost customer satisfaction with better quality of food and service using technology is an exciting opportunity," says Mohammed Aehthesham, CTO, Doodhwala. "Doodhwala has reached quite an interesting stage, where it has scaled impressively with an impressive growth rate, yet there is a lot of opportunity ahead and building to do." Doodhwala, present in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune, has reached four million orders till date. Its one of the first subscription-based e-grocers built on a unique one-tap-add concept, wherein users can add multiple items - bread, eggs, fruits, etc. to their upcoming delivery without the hassle of payment checkout. "Doodhwala is scaling up to 500,000 deliveries daily. Our last mile cost per order is Rs. 2, one of the lowest in the industry due to increased optimization," says Ebrahim Akbari, Co-founder, Doodhwala. "We deliver 7,000 orders per hour in Bangalore alone. This is probably the most efficient last mile blueprint in the country." In February, Doodhwala received 2.2 million in funding from Omnivore, a venture capitalist firm, in its Pre Series A round. Previously, in 2017, the company received its first round of funding from Thomas Varkey, a partner at Stonehill Capital, USA. About Doodhwala: Doodhwala is a subscription-based, early morning delivery platform for fresh milk and other perishable groceries sourced directly from local farms and dairies. Doodhwala offers customers a variety of fresh milk and dairy products, as well as eggs, fruit, fresh juice, vegetables, meat, and other daily essentials. Doodhwala customers use the company's app to set their subscription schedule and receive their groceries for the day promptly before 7 am. Founded in 2015 by Aakash Agrawal and Ebrahim Akbari, Doodhwala, is present in Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad. For more details, please visit http://www.doodhwala.com. To download: App Store and Play Store Media Contact: Nazneen Daud Doodhwala [email protected] +91-7838742138 Senior Marketing and Communications Manager Doodhwala [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Honor Achieves Record Sales Globally NEW DELHI, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- - 6 million Honor 8X units sold globally - Over 1 Million Units Sold During Diwali in India - No Price Hike despite rupee depreciation in India Honor, a leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group, today announced that it has created a milestone with a record sale across the globe. Honor was the top Singles' Day performer in terms of sales volume and revenue under the Smartphone category on both Tmall.com and JD.com, the two biggest e-commerce platforms in China. The brand sold 6 million units of the recently launched Honor 8X globally. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/682098/Honor_Logo.jpg ) In India, over one million units of Honor products were sold during the Diwali promotional period, a 300% y-o-y increase from 2017. The most popular products included Honor 9N, which became the Star Product on Flipkart's Big Billion Days and the recently launched Honor 8X, which became the Best Seller on Amazon India on the first selling day. Whereas in China, the recently launched Honor Magic2 was another strong sales performer. It was the best-selling smartphone in terms of sales volume and revenue in RMB 4,000-5,000 range (US$580-720) at Tmall.com and JD.com. In Indonesia, Honor became best seller in MobileCategory and Electronics Category at shopee.com, selling over 8,000 units within 80 minutes. Speaking on the announcement, Mr. P Sanjeev, Vice President, Sales, Huawei Consumer Business Group, said, "We are delighted to see the immense support from our customers even when the smartphone industry is down globally. As a thanksgiving for our Indian consumers, we would like to announce that unlike other smartphone brands, Honor will not increase the price of its smartphones this year. Honor stands tall during this tough time and is focused to keep its customer satisfaction above the rest." Honor 8X also became one of the highest selling phones in Germany, France, Middle East, North America and South Asia regions. About Honor: Honor is a leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group. In line with its slogan, 'For the Brave', the brand was created to meet the needs of digital natives through internet-optimized products that offer superior user experiences, inspire action, foster creativity and empower the young to achieve their dreams. In doing this, Honor has set itself apart by showcasing its own bravery to do things differently and to take the steps needed to usher in the latest technologies and innovations for its customers. Honor has emerged as one of the fastest growing smartphone brands in India as per the IDC Q2 2018 report. Honor with its India-first-approach registered an unprecedented growth of 281% in 2018 H1 compared to 2017 H2. Being a young and fearless brand, Honor has secured the second position with an all-time high of 8% share in the online segment in Q2, 2018 For more information, please visit: http://www.hihonor.com/in Huawei- Hotline number : 1800-209-6555 | 9 am - 9 pm | Open all days, except public holidays Huawei website: http://consumer.huawei.com/in Huawei service email: [email protected] Media Contact: Karan Rao [email protected] Rahul Bali [email protected] Agency Contact Genesis Burson Marsteller Geetika Rani [email protected] +91-9958537248 Yukti Gaur [email protected] +91-7503532697 Siddharth Bagchi [email protected] +91-9821407433 Associate, Genesis Burson Marsteller [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] GSMA Welcomes Germany's 5G Spectrum Award, but Cautions against Unnecessary Conditions The GSMA (News - Alert) today welcomed the German government's decision to release the entire 3.4 to 3.8 GHz band (C-Band), essential for the future development of 5G services globally. Making available all of the spectrum in this critical band for 5G, in a timely manner, shows Germany's commitment to European and global 5G leadership. However, the GSMA warns that some of the currently proposed conditions on the allocation of these vital frequencies may slow Germany's 5G future. Ultra-fast 5G networks will form the foundation of the world's digital economy, supporting a wide variety of industry sectors. Imposing unnecessary conditions that limit mobile operators' ability and potential to deliver 5G creates a risk for all, industries and citizens alike. "The C-Band is the most vital frequency band for 5G. Germany is demonstrating 5G leadership in the timely release of this vital spectrum, but risks undercutting its 5G future with unnecessary obligations," said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. "Spectrum (News - Alert) is a limited resource and it must be used and managed as efficiently as possible to ensure a 5G future that will benefit all." The proposed coverage obligations for the 3.6 GHz band, for example, appear to disregard the laws of physics when it comes to the propagation characteristics of this mid-band spectrum. Although these frequencies can provide very high capacity, they only cover a relatively small area and are not well suited to wide area coverage, unlike spectrum in lower bands. To provide extensive rural coverage of mobile services, a combination of frequencies will be essential. Therefore, coverage obligations should provide the possibility of using any - and all - spectrum at an operator's disposal to achieve the ambitious coverage conditions and deliver the best quality of services for consumers and industry. At the same time, coverage obligations should be realistic and not overburden mobile network operators. In addition to coverage obligations, the GSMA believes there are other conditions proposed for the award that should be reconsidered by the regulator, Bundesnetzagentur. The current proposal, which includes potential roaming and wholesale obligations attached to the 3.4 to 3.7 GHz band, is a stark reversal of Bundesnetzagentur's recent position, and introduces a critical level of uncertainty for operators investing in 5G networks in Germany. Bundesnetzagentur is also urged to consider the implication that high reserve prices and fees will have on the market. GSMA analysis on spectrum pricing shows a clear link between high spectrum prices and poorer coverage, as well as more expensive and lower quality mobile broadband services, all of which hinder the take-up of services by consumers. Based on this insight, reserve prices for the upcoming spectrum award in Germany should be set at a minimal level that still allows the market to determine the true value of the spectrum. The GSMA strongly believes that partnership and cooperation across all parts of business, government and society will be critical to deploying efficient and effective 5G networks, creating value for all. The GSMA therefore urges Bundesnetzagentur to reconsider the license obligations for the 3.4 to 3.8 GHz band and create a regime that ensures Germany's spectrum resource is managed in the most effective way to benefit its citizens and businesses. About the GSMA The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with over 350 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter (News - Alert): @GSMA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005276/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] THE ABSOLUT COMPANY: Saving the World -Cocktail by Cocktail STOCKHOLM, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --The problem with bar waste is real. The bars in London alone produce 800 000 tons of waste every year. 'The Green Hustle' is a new initiative with the mission to reduce bars waste. The initiative aims to inspire bartenders to be more sustainable by teaching fun and simple "hustles" that they can instigate today. "Very few consumers associate bars with sustainability, but I think we will soon see the awakening of a more responsible cocktail-era. And reducing waste is pretty simple. Turn disregarded fruit into stock, ditch the plastics, start composting and join the movement", says Bex Almqvist, Co-creator of the Green Hustle and Global Marketing Manager On Trade at Absolut Vodka. The conversation about food waste and sustainable practices in the restaurant has been prevalent for a while. Just recently, the movement has also slowly been making its way into the bar world, with bars such as Dandelyan (London), Honeycut (Los Angeles) and Trashtiki (pop-up) as forerunners. And the challenge with bar waste is real. The 800 000 yearly tons of bar waste in London only is more than the combined weight of the city's total population. One plastic straw takes 200 years to decompose and about 8,5 billion straws are wasted in the UK alone each year. There are 50 000 bars in the UK, 60 000 bars in the US and 260 000 in Spain - that is a lot of waste. The Green Hustle is a new global bartender engagement platform initiated by former bartender Bex Almqvist together with the anti-waste bartender duo Trashtiki and bartender Hampus Thunholm from renowned restaurant Faviken in Sweden. The Green Hustle aims to inspire and enable bartenders around the world to be more sustainable in the bar by showcasing ready-to-implement tools and benefits in a fun and inspiring way. The initiative currently lives online at www.thegreenhustle.com and in seminar format, but will soon expand into new channels. See next page for inspirational tips for reducing bar waste, some low-waste cocktail recipes and for a list of best practice-bars where you can have delicious cocktails without being wasteful. "The Green Hustle is all about inspiring bartenders to get involved in applying easy, ready to be implemented hacks in their bars, that in the end of the day is both beneficial to the environment, our industry and their bottom line. The program is created by bartenders for bartenders with the objective to instigate change. Sustainability is an overwhelming topic, we hope with the Green Hustle to make it less daunting and more accessible for everyone the smallest act can make a big impact and you can have fun and be inventive along the way", says Bex Almqvist. Sustainability has been a priority for Absolut Vodka from the start. Having one the most energy efficient distilleries in the world, they generate 96% less CO2 emissions per liter than the average distillery. Absolut is something rare in the world of vodkas, as it is a one source vodka. This is not only a quality guarantee, but a prerequisite for environmental work that results in complete control from seed to bottle. Watch the film "The S-word" about Bex and her passion for sustainability here. The Green Hustle lists... 7 ways to save the world - drink by drink A few simple examples of what you can do in your bar today, these are tips that can be instantly instigated. Turn disregarded fruit into stock: Citrus is the most common, and most wasted ingredient, and to bartenders what bones are to chefs. So get stewing and make some citrus stock. Ditch the plastics: Forget plastic straws: use tasting spoons instead when taste testing and definitely don't use anything but compostable or recyclable straws in drinks! Recycle: Recycle glass. Recycle paper. Recycle tin cans. Recycle everything you can get your hands on. Refreeze/Melted ice: refreeze melted ice at the end of the night and use it the next day. It has already been filtered so the hard part is done for you. Composting: But better than that, start getting your mind focused on composting, it's like the ultimate Green Hustle Level Up for any bar. Put a lid on it: Put lids on your bins, and use landfill stickers and marine life stickers on your bins. End single-use ingredients: Think of your ingredients as a whole and think of how many ways it can be used. Take a lemon for example, you can juice it, pickle it, peel it and use it as a garnish. 7 sustainable bars Dandelyan, London Cub, London Broken Shaker, Miami Native, Singapore Honeycut, Los Angeles Svartklubb by Faviken, Are TrashTiki, pop-up 6 low-waste cocktails: http://www.thegreenhustle.com/en/drinks/ Contact: For more infortmaion, please contact: Ulrika Lovdahl, Senior Manager Corporate Communications Phone: +46-70-347-7187 Email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/the-absolut-company/r/saving-the-world---cocktail-by-cocktail,c2669545 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/17737/2669545/943137.pdf Press release PDF http://mb.cision.com/Public/17737/2669545/ab8970f152bdef18.pdf Bex Almqvist bio ENG 1 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-absolut-company-saving-the-world-cocktail-by-cocktail-300751019.html SOURCE THE ABSOLUT COMPANY [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Delphix Ranked One of the Fastest Growing Companies in North America on Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Attributes 300% revenue growth to increased demand for DataOps as a way to enable enterprises to fuel the next wave of innovation with data and win in the Digital Economy REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delphix, the company accelerating innovation through DataOps, today announced it was ranked as one of the fastest growing technology companies in the world on Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500 list. This year marks the fourth time the company has been named on this list. The Delphix Dynamic Data Platform is used by over 300 enterprises, including over half of the Fortune 50. The platform enables businesses to increase the velocity at which they deliver new digital services and experiences to customers by ensuring that relevant data is securely and rapidly accessible by development teams across the enterprise with the least amount of effort and friction. Delphixs Chief Executive Officer, Chris Cook, credits its continued growth to the companys unique ability to help enterprises speed innovation in the race deliver and monetize digitally-enabled services. Cook added, "Weve seen strong, continued growth in our business over the past four years, driven by our ability to help enterprises use data to fuel their next wave of innovation. Going forward, well be helping more Global 2000 companies embrace a DataOps approach that will empower them to use data to speed important transformation initiatives and win in todays Digital Economy. Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement, said Sandra Shirai , vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth. Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics, said Mohana Dissanayake , partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloittes audit and assurance practice. This years ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth. Delphix previously was previously named to the Technology Fast 500 list in 2017, 2016 and 2015. About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Delphix Delphix's mission is to free companies from data friction and accelerate innovation. Fortune 100 companies use the Delphix Dynamic Data Platform to connect, virtualize, secure, and manage data in hybrid cloud environments. For more information visit www.delphix.com . Follow Delphix on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn . About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Contact: Alex Plant [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] The Sky Guys Begins Flight Test Campaign of Landmark DX-3 Vanguard Drone TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 /CNW/ -- The Sky Guys, Canada's top drone operator and manufacturer, announced this week the start of its DX-3 Vanguard flight test campaign at Toronto Markham Airport CNU8. After securing a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) earlier this year, The Sky Guys has been focused on systems integration, pilot training, and developing operating procedures, culminating in ongoing flight tests that will continue through 2019. "Flight testing a drone such as the DX-3 is no easy feat. With its custom airframe, electronics, and software, and coming in at a take-off weight above the 25kg normally allowed by regulations, it goes without saying that safety and reliability are our priority. That we have mitigated the key risks and verified key technical requirements is a major achievement for our team," stated Jeremy Wang, CTO of The Sky Guys. The DX-3 Vanguard fills the gap in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, by offering long flight times, safety, and a low operational footprint in a single system. In addition to a maximum range of 1500km and endurance of 24 hours, the DX-3 comes with radio, cellular, and satellite links, and can take off and land vertically. Traditional long-range drones require runways, launch rails, base stations, or other ground equipment that are impractical for use in adverse terrain such as those found in remote pipelines, disaster areas, or combat zones. "The DX-3 Vanguard is the competitive choice for oil& gas, security, and defence organizations globally. We have seen many long-range drones on the market, but none with the same combination of endurance, range, and outstanding communications, software analytics, and safety features as the DX-3," added Adam Sax, President & CEO of The Sky Guys. The Sky Guys now looks to the future as it prepares for pilot projects in 2019. For government agencies, the DX-3 Vanguard will be deployed with The Sky Guys' proprietary cloud platform to demonstrate NATO Class 2/3 ISR capabilities in a Class 1 operational footprint. For midstream oil and gas companies, these technologies will be deployed to help monitor and safeguard pipeline infrastructure in accordance with government regulation (e.g. Pipeline Act, PHMSA), industry standards (e.g. CSA, API, ASME), and internal company policies. "We are excited to be working with a handful of forward-thinking partners in midstream and government, and we continue to encourage interested parties to get in touch. We are committed to providing innovative solutions that save time and money, produce deeper data-driven insights, and offer competitive capabilities in the field," concluded Sax. Media Enquiries: Dallyce Sax (647) 969-8676 [email protected] About The Sky Guys The Sky Guys are global leaders in drone-enabled solutions and technology, leveraging drones to capture, analyze, and report on data for business insight in big industry. With a heavy emphasis on automating complex, recurring operations that are required for compliance and growth, The Sky Guys offers leading-edge inspection, surveying and progress tracking solutions to clients across a wide range of sectors. The Sky Guys also develops proprietary drone technology and advanced data analytics for industry and military. Our latest platform, the DX-3, is a fixed-wing UAS capable of flying for over 24 hours and covering an operation range of 1500km, carrying multiple payload sensors from high-res cameras, optical zoom camcorders, to IR and LiDAR. This platform was designed to service niche industries such as oil and gas pipeline monitoring, power and utility corridor mapping, mining, defense, security and emergency response efforts. Since being founded in March 2015 in Oakville, Canada, The Sky Guys has grown to a client base to over 600 distinct entities across a wide range of sectors and is now ranked in the top 20 drone operators globally and the top drone operator in Canada for inspections, surveying and mapping. Operational across Canada and in 30 states within the US, The Sky Guys deploys its services globally through a robust network of pilots and corporate partnership in cloud data management. Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-GA3PYV8TI SOURCE The Sky Guys [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] INFINIDAT Announces Neutrix Cloud 2.0 to Improve Enterprise Cloud Storage Latest Version of Neutrix Cloud Adds Cross-Regional Data Replication, New Interfaces and Additional Multicloud Integrations SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INFINIDAT , the markets leading independent provider of enterprise-class data storage solutions, today announced the release of Neutrix Cloud 2.0, the latest version of the companys enterprise-class storage service for multicloud computing. With this new release, Neutrix Cloud will now support cross-regional data replication, a new web-based GUI, voice control with Amazon Alexa and additional cloud integrations. Neutrix Cloud is a sovereign public cloud storage service that offers file systems and block volumes that are simultaneously accessible from Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud and VMware Cloud on AWS compute environments. Neutrix Cloud is a pure OpEx service and can be employed standalone or with on-premises InfiniBox in hybrid cloud replication mode with an RPO (recovery point objective) as low as 4 seconds. Since initial general availability earlier this year, Neutrix Cloud has continued to add new features, steadily delivering on its roadmap for enterprise-class cloud storage-as-a-service and increasing its impact on the enterprise storage industry. With the rise of public cloud services, all enterprises need a neutral storage provider that enables cloud agility for applications and data storage, said Gregory Touretsky, Senior Director of Product Management at INFINIDAT. With these latest advancements to Neutrix Cloud, we continue our commitment to storage that works seamlessly with any cloud infrastructure. This next generation of Neutrix Cloud brings more freedom fom data gravity to our customers and the business community. INFINIDAT Neutrix Cloud 2.0 offers several key new features, including: Cross-regional data replication: Enterprises can use asynchronous replication for disaster recovery (DR) and data protection of cloud storage across Neutrix Cloud regions Enterprises can use asynchronous replication for disaster recovery (DR) and data protection of cloud storage across Neutrix Cloud regions Web-based GUI: With the new web-based GUI, INFINIDAT provides users with a simple interface for managing file systems, volumes, snapshots and replicas, as well as checking account details, and other higher-level functions. With the new web-based GUI, INFINIDAT provides users with a simple interface for managing file systems, volumes, snapshots and replicas, as well as checking account details, and other higher-level functions. Additional cloud integrations: In addition to its previous interoperability with AWS, Microsoft Azure and VMware Cloud on AWS, INFINIDAT Neutrix Cloud now offers support for automatic Google Cloud connectivity provisioning and connectivity to IBM Cloud. In addition to its previous interoperability with AWS, Microsoft Azure and VMware Cloud on AWS, INFINIDAT Neutrix Cloud now offers support for automatic Google Cloud connectivity provisioning and connectivity to IBM Cloud. Native cloud management: AWS CloudFormation templates for Neutrix volumes and file systems provisioning. AWS CloudFormation templates for Neutrix volumes and file systems provisioning. VPN Setup Automation: Ease of use for customers is one of the key design principles for Neutrix. This release allows automatic creation of VPN connections with the selected on-premises firewall vendors. Ease of use for customers is one of the key design principles for Neutrix. This release allows automatic creation of VPN connections with the selected on-premises firewall vendors. Voice Control with Amazon Alexa: Perform common storage management tasks using just your voice. All new features are being introduced at no extra charge. AWS re:Invent conference attendees are welcome to join INFINIDAT at Booth 1503 in the Venetian Conference Center to see a live demo of Neutrix Cloud and learn more about the full portfolio of INFINIDAT products. About INFINIDAT Founded in 2011 by storage industry pioneer Moshe Yanai, INFINIDAT helps customers unlock the full potential of their data. INFINIDATs software-focused architecture, an evolution and revolution in data management design over 30 years in the making, solves the conflicting requirements of bigger, faster, and less expensive storage. INFINIDAT technology simultaneously delivers sub-millisecond latency, seven nines of reliability, and hyperscale capacity with a significantly lower total cost of ownership than incumbent storage technologies. For more information, please visit www.infinidat.com. Connect with INFINIDAT About INFINIDAT Read our blog Follow us on Twitter Join us on LinkedIn Visit us on Facebook See us on YouTube Be our partner Media Contact Erika Kamholz Bhava Communications for INFINIDAT [email protected] 949-282-8560 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Progressive Care Inc. Reports Best Nine-Month Revenue Period in Company History in Q3 2018 Financial Filing MIAMI, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB: RXMD), a personalized healthcare services and technology company, today announced financial results for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2018, as well as provided an overview of recent operational highlights along with updates on the Companys strategies. Progressive Care dispensed 212,000 prescriptions during the nine-month period ending Sept. 30, 2018, an increase over the same period last year of 30%. During Q3 2018, the Company experienced continued growth over last year, showing a 6% increase in total revenue over Q3 2017. Total revenue for the nine-month period ending Sept. 30, 2018, was approximately $15.6 million, the largest nine-month period in the Companys history and an increase of 4% over 2017. Additionally, Progressive Cares total assets were $3,221,368 as of Sept. 30, 2018, compared to $2,492,125 as of Sept. 30, 2017 an increase of 29.26%. Progressive Care also reported raising over $1.4 million for 340B charitable organizations during Q3 2018, and $4.1 million total for the nine-month period ending Sept. 30, 2018. The Companys total reported revenue included approximately $188,000 in fees earned on dispensing prescription medications to patients under 340B programs. The Company expanded its revenue growth in this area through the signing of two new 340B contracts that it began fulfilling in Q4 2018. We are thrilled to announce that we have seen significant year-over-year growth in Q3 and record-breaking sales during another quarter of significant growth compared to last year, said S. Parikh Mars, CEO of Progressive Care Inc. The Company is also generating other significant value, including the diversity of its service offerings and investing in initiatives including advertising, staffing, technology and consulting for our future plans for expansion. Our revenue is up, new technology is being developed and we are working on the deployment of our Tele-PharmCo proprietary patient software through Kiosks placed strategically in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Even though the industry is facing a significant headwind, our topline sales are up 4% and we are investing in the future of the pharmacy industry. Since the beginning of 2018, weve seen the biggest nine-month revenue period to date with the most prescriptions filled and the most revenue and sales to date with the acquisition of our second location. Progressive Care is preparing for continuous growth by expanding into new market territories, advancing the Companys compliance and adherence services provided to medical providers, and heightened technological opportunities to drive even more customer satisfaction. Active developments range from market penetration in Palm Beach and Martin Counties through the Palm Beach location; the development of its Tele-PharmCo platform; the development and deployment of its online prescription management solution; and implementation of MTM protocols. THIRD QUARTER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS During the third quarter of 2018, Progressive Care Inc. achieved the following milestones and significant events: Reported record-breaking year-over-year sales and growth numbers In Q3 2018, Progressive Cares wholly owned subsidiary PharmCo, LLC saw an 18.75% increase in prescriptions filled over the same period in 2017, totaling approximately 22,500 prescriptions. Progressive Care drew down a tranche against the Chicago Venture note in the amount of $636,304 on Feb. 15, 2018. The issuance of 1,974,297 shares of Progressive Care stock on Aug. 8, 2018, brought the company balanceto zero and the total number of shares issued to 15,503,604. Progressive Care pharmacy services revenue growth is a result of the Companys expanding breadth of services, manufacturer price increases, new drugs coming to market, new indications for existing drugs, volume growth with current clients, and the addition of new customers due to its focus on higher patient engagement and clinical expertise. The company brought in a total of $1.877 million in net revenue, an increase of 10.5% from last year, totaling approximately 23,390 prescriptions. The companys Touchpoint Pharmacy has seen a 15.5% increase in prescriptions filled totaling 23,390. Received top pharmacy performance scores from leading health and well-being company The Companys wholly owned subsidiary PharmCo, LLC met all three of the performance measures evaluated by Humana Inc., a leading health and well-being company, as part of its Rx Quality Network program. As a result of PharmCos performance scores in the first measurement period, the company will receive the maximum payout offered by Humana as part of the programs rewards. Continued development of technology-driven healthcare service options The Company announced that it has launched an updated website for its wholly owned subsidiary, PharmCo LLC, dedicated to providing their patients with additional knowledge on its growing platform of offered products and suite of services. The newly redesigned website now features more detailed information on the companys offered services, such as custom compounding, Home health risk management and the Companys growing tele-pharmacy initiative. Received international media coverage for its efforts to offer alternative treatments to opioids and technology expertise The Company garnered notable international media coverage in top pharmacy industry publication World Pharma Today around the companys efforts to combat the nationwide opioid epidemic. In a contributed article published in World Pharma Today, Mars explored the history of the opioid crisis and shares her perspective on what more can be done to provide patients with better access to pain management alternatives in lieu of prescription opioid medications. Additionally, the company received notable coverage in MD+DI, Pharmacy Business, and Medical Design Technology around its healthcare technology services and expertise. THIRD QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS Net Revenue: For the nine-month period ending Sept. 30, 2018, Progressive Care showed net sales of $15,682,576 as compared to net sales of $15,034,683 for the nine-month period that ended Sept. 30, 2017 an increase of 4%. Balance Sheet: Total assets for the company were $3,221,368 as of Sept. 30, 2018, compared to $2,492,125 as of Sept. 30, 2017 an increase of 29.26%. For more information about Progressive Care, please visit the companys website . Connect and stay in touch with us on social media: Progressive Care Inc. https://www.facebook.com/ProgressiveCareUS/ https://twitter.com/ProgressCareUS PharmCo, LLC https://www.facebook.com/pharmcorx/ https://twitter.com/PharmCoRx About Progressive Care Inc. Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB: RXMD), through its PharmCo, LLC, is a South Florida health services organization and provider of prescription pharmaceuticals, compounded medications, provider of tele-pharmacy services, the sale of anti-retroviral medications, medication therapy management (MTM), the supply of prescription medications to long term care facilities, and health practice risk management. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Companys expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the intended terms of the offering, closing of the offering and use of any proceeds from the offering. When used herein, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, upcoming, plan, target, intend and expect and similar expressions, as they relate to Progressive Care Inc., its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Public Relations Contact: Kathleen Gonzales, CMW Media [email protected] 619-368-2701 www.cmwmedia.com Investor Relations Contact: Armen Karapetyan, Progressive Care Senior Advisor Business Development [email protected] www.progressivecareus.com www.pharmcopharmacy.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Talkwalker, the world's leading social listening company, continues global expansion with new office opening in Singapore NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Talkwalker , the leading social listening and analytics platform, has opened a new office in Singapore. Founded in 2009, Talkwalker had already shown exponential growth across Europe and the US, with offices in Luxembourg, New York, San Francisco, and Frankfurt; serving over 2,000 global brands and agencies as clients. This new office will help develop the social listening and analytics industry across Asia and the APAC region. The region comprises of over 56% of the world's active social media users , with 3 of the 10 fastest growing countries. Brands can't risk missing out on engaging these users, and with the growth of business in the area, Asian brands are also looking to engage western consumers. This positioning allows Talkwalker to help all businesses connect on a global scale, no matter where in the world they are based. "Singapore is a fantastic gateway for us," says Ben Soubies, Head of Sales, Asia Pacific, who will be leading the Singapore team. "We've been growing our client base across Asia for several years now. The opening of this new office means we'll be able to meet more clients and prospects face-to-face and invest in more local events. Establishing Talkwalker as the number one social listening platform in the APAC region." The new office helps conclude 2018, which has been a busy time for the company. Recognized as a Strong Performer in the Forrester Wave Social Listening Platform Report , Talkwalker has introduced several new products and features this year, including: Quick Search - The fastest way to brand and communication insights. - The fastest way to brand and communication insights. Influencer One - 1 platform to find, manage and monetize your influencers. - 1 platform to find, manage and monetize your influencers. The Talkwalker AI Engine - For faster, more accurate brand insights. "The new office forms part of our long-term strategy of helping global businesses develop their data maturity," says Robert Glaesener, Talkwalker CEO. "This involves providing brands with wider data sources, powerful analytical tools, and the support of a local expert customer support team, to turn that data into actionable insights, and optimize the impact of their communication efforts." Talkwalker will continue to grow in 2019, with further investment in industry-leading technology, and expansion into more markets. Expect next year to be just as busy, with more announcements coming soon. About Talkwalker Talkwalker is a social listening and analytics company that empowers over 2,000 brands and agencies to optimize the impact of their communication efforts. Recognized as a Strong Performer in the Forrester Wave Social Listening Platform Report , we provide companies with an easy-to-use platform to protect, measure, and promote their brands worldwide, across all communication channels. Talkwalker's state-of-the-art social media analytics platform uses AI-powered technology to monitor and analyze online conversations in real-time across social networks, news websites, blogs and forums in 187 languages. Talkwalker has offices in New York, Luxembourg, San Francisco, Frankfurt, and Singapore. It is also the home of Talkwalker Alerts , a free alerting service used by over 500,000 communications and marketing professionals worldwide. Media contact: Albane Flamant, 646-712-9441 ext. 117, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talkwalker-the-worlds-leading-social-listening-company-continues-global-expansion-with-new-office-opening-in-singapore-300750766.html SOURCE Talkwalker [November 15, 2018] DentaQuest Evolves Business Strategy to Transform Oral Health DentaQuest today announced the launch of its new platform - Preventistry - its all-in strategy to make oral health care more affordable, easier to access, driven by innovation and better integrated into the broader health care system. The company also outlined the evolution of its business in support of the Preventistry platform. A purpose-driven oral health company, where business performance and social impact go hand-in-hand, DentaQuest is committed to fixing the oral health system and growing its business. DentaQuest serves more than 27 million Americans in 30 states and is the largest Medicaid dental program administrator in the U.S. DentaQuest is evolving beyond a traditional insurer to transform the way oral health care is delivered and financed, and plans to double its national provider footprint by 2023. "The current oral health system is broken - too many people lack access to quality care or cannot afford the care they do get, and the industry overall is in dire need of innovative solutions," said Steve Pollock, President and CEO of DentaQuest. "Preventistry reflects how we are evolving our business strategy to fundamentally transform the system. It is a call to action for the kind of change necessary to advance oral health for all, and we want to work with policy makers, dentists and oral health advocates to revolutionize oral health." As part of its evolved business strategy, DentaQuest is actively working with states around the country to implement value-based care approaches for oral health to improve outcomes and lower costs. The organization is also investing $20 million in grants and programs in 2019 to advance person-centered oral health. In support of making Preventistry a reality for all, DentaQuest is improving oral health in fundamental ways: Pioneering value-based care approaches for Medicaid. As the national leader in Medicaid oral health programs, DentaQuest is pioneering value-based care approaches for oral health and actively working with states around the country to implement these models to improve outcomes and lower costs. Over the past year, DentaQuest entered into new Medicaid partnerships in five states - Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington - that incorporate necessary building blocks for value-based approaches in the future. Through established programs in Texas and Oregon, DentaQuest is actively supporting the shift to accountable care organizations for Medicaid. The company is also prepared to integrate oral health into accountable oral care in Massachusetts. As the national leader in Medicaid oral health programs, DentaQuest is pioneering value-based care approaches for oral health and actively working with states around the country to implement these models to improve outcomes and lower costs. Over the past year, DentaQuest entered into new Medicaid partnerships in five states - Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington - that incorporate necessary building blocks for value-based approaches in the future. Through established programs in Texas and Oregon, DentaQuest is actively supporting the shift to accountable care organizations for Medicaid. The company is also prepared to integrate oral health into accountable oral care in Massachusetts. Expanding provider footprint to transform care delivery. Over the next five years, DentaQuest plans to double the number of oral health centers it manages across the country, bringing Preventistry in care delivery to scale. DentaQuest currently manages 85 oral health centers in Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Oregon and Texas. DentaQuest's oral health ceters embrace a prevention-first model in delivering care, with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing the need for acute and restorative services over time. A prevention-first model focuses on early oral health interventions such as risk assessment, dental sealants, motivational interviewing, and education for pregnant women. This model has demonstrated strong results in Massachusetts and Oregon. The DentaQuest Oral Health Center in Westborough, MA has successfully reduced the percentage of patients requiring dental surgery, such as root canals and crowns, to 9 percent, compared to the 22 percent state average. At Advantage Dental from DentaQuest, Oregon's largest dental accountable care organization, a Preventistry model has resulted in patients getting healthy and staying healthy, with 85 percent of the services being provided to patients are preventive or diagnostic. Over the next five years, DentaQuest plans to double the number of oral health centers it manages across the country, bringing in care delivery to scale. DentaQuest currently manages 85 oral health centers in Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Oregon and Texas. DentaQuest's oral health ceters embrace a prevention-first model in delivering care, with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing the need for acute and restorative services over time. A prevention-first model focuses on early oral health interventions such as risk assessment, dental sealants, motivational interviewing, and education for pregnant women. This model has demonstrated strong results in Massachusetts and Oregon. The DentaQuest Oral Health Center in Westborough, MA has successfully reduced the percentage of patients requiring dental surgery, such as root canals and crowns, to 9 percent, compared to the 22 percent state average. At Advantage Dental from DentaQuest, Oregon's largest dental accountable care organization, a model has resulted in patients getting healthy and staying healthy, with 85 percent of the services being provided to patients are preventive or diagnostic. Investing to change a broken oral health system. Today, DentaQuest announced that its nonprofit parent company will invest $20 million in grants and programs to drive fundamental transformation of the oral health system. Investments will include strategic philanthropy, care delivery improvement programs, research and innovation, including, but not limited to: Ongoing support for the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN (News - Alert)), the only national oral health network with more than 1,400 participants and organizations committed to advancing systems change and health equity; Commitment of $1 million grant to RIZE Massachusetts to combat opioid addiction; Development of telehealth pilot program enabling virtual medical visits in the dental chair; Expansion of Medical Oral Expanded (MORE) Care to Central Oregon, a framework created by the DentaQuest Institute to support integrating medical and dental care to improve access in rural communities; and, Creation of the Oral Health Value-Based Care Academy to empower the future oral health workforce to thrive and succeed in a value-based delivery system. Today, DentaQuest announced that its nonprofit parent company will invest $20 million in grants and programs to drive fundamental transformation of the oral health system. Investments will include strategic philanthropy, care delivery improvement programs, research and innovation, including, but not limited to: Today's announcement builds on the company's 10-year history of providing more than $200 million in research, programs and grants to local and national organizations to advance the health of communities across the U.S. On November 15 at 11:00 a.m. ET, DentaQuest is hosting a live broadcast event where it will unveil Preventistry and ask thought leaders in oral health what must be done to improve oral health for all. To learn more and watch the event, visit www.preventistry.org/live. About DentaQuest DentaQuest is a purpose-driven oral health care company that is dedicated to advancing oral health for all. We bring a uniquely holistic perspective to our work - as we manage dental and vision benefits for more than 27 million Americans and provide direct care to patients through our network of more than 85 oral health centers in five states. DentaQuest provides flexible and customized dental solutions for Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare Advantage, small and large businesses and individuals throughout the U.S. Our clients range from state governments to leading health plans. At DentaQuest, we believe that business performance and social impact go hand-in-hand, and we have provided more than $200 million in funding for research, grants, and programs to advance oral health in communities across the country. Our mission is bold - our commitment is strong. By advancing oral health for everyone, we will achieve better health for all. Welcome to Preventistry. To learn more about DentaQuest and Preventistry, visit Preventistry.org, and follow us on social: Twitter (News - Alert) @DentaQuest, Facebook (News - Alert) www.facebook.com/DentaQuest, Instagram @Inside_DentaQuest, and LinkedIn (News - Alert) www.linkedin.com/company/DentaQuest. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005180/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Artory Launches the World's First Publicly Available Art and Collectibles Registry on the Blockchain Artory, the only blockchain-secured registry of verified information about artworks and collectibles, has launched their first major product, the Artory Registry (registry.artory.com). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005195/en/ Artory Registry (Photo: Business Wire) The Artory Registry is the world's most secure, object-centric database that contains vetted data about artworks and collectibles. It creates a secure, digital record of transactions by leveraging modern cryptography and blockchain technology to record significant events throughout each lifecycle. Artory's goal is to build confidence in an artwork's ongoing provenance, as well as provide greater efficiency in its eventual resale. Collectors who register their artwork with Artory will be able to prove ownership while remaining completely unknown to the public and to Artory. The first artworks to be registered are from An American Place: The Barney A. Ebsworth Collection sold by Christie's, the world's leading auction house. The collection, widely recognized as the most important private collection of 20th Century American art ever to come to market, totaled $323,103,500 across both the evening and the day sales, led by Edward Hopper's singular masterpiece Chop Suey, which broke the record for any work by the artist and for the category when it sold for $91,875,000. Each of the artworks sold in the auctions can be viewed digitally at registry.artory.com. "We're fulfilling a vision that we started over a year ago: to ensure that buyers and collectors can transact with more assurances than ever," said Nann Dekking, Founder & CEO of Artory and Chairman of The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF). "Working with auction houses like Christie's, Artory is able to provide a true proof of ownership in a completely anonymous way. For ?rst-time buyers and experienced collectors alike, Artory provides the reassurance that they are dealing with a vetted seller, there will be an immutable record of the transaction, and that they will receive a certi?cate of sale from an independent third party-all of which encourages them to buy and sell with con?dence." Richard Entrup, Chief Information Officer at Christie's commented: "The introduction of blockchain into such a significant sale has opened a new collecting audience to the benefits of blockchain technology in the art space, and sets the stage for more developments in the future. The Ebsworth Collection has been the ideal pilot for exploring this exciting innovation, given the rich history and provenance of the artworks in the collection and the exceptional prices achieved for major blue-chip artists, including Edward Hopper and Willem de Kooning. Christie's is pleased to have introduced this exciting technology to our clients as a first step towards broader adoption of blockchain innovations for the art market." On Artory's growth plan for 2019, Dekking stated, "A priority for us over the next several months will be to grow the amount of records in the Registry. We are doing this by onboarding more auction houses and dealers as our partners, as well as working with art data providers. 2019 will be the watershed year for this technology, and we're proud to be leading the charge with an innovator like Christie's." For more information, visit Artory.com. About Artory Artory exists to protect and grow the prosperity and enjoyment of those who buy, own, and sell art and collectibles. The company's core product, the Artory Registry, is a blockchain-secured, digital registry of verified information about artworks, collectibles, and their history. Artory was founded in 2016 by Nanne Dekking, TEFAF Chairman and former Sotheby's Executive, with the endorsement and support of Hasso Plattner, the founder of SAP (News - Alert) Software Solutions and an internationally-renowned art collector, and Ron and Jeff Cordover of the Corber Corp private equity firm and art-collecting family. They all recognized the need for greater confidence and transparency in the art market, and the transformative powers of blockchain to fill that gap. With teams in New York and Berlin, Artory partners with renowned auction houses and other art businesses around the world who are committed to bringing a greater level of transparency and confidence to the market. Learn more at http://www.artory.com. About Christie's Christie's, the world's leading art business, had global auction, private and digital sales in the first half of 2018 that totalled 2.97 billion / $4.04 billion. Christie's is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Christie's offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Alongside regular sales online, Christie's has a global presence in 46 countries, with 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zurich, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. *Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price - see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue. *Estimates do not include buyer's premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer's premium and are reported net of applicable fees. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005195/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Model N Partners with BPI Technologies to Drive Top Line Growth Model N, Inc. (NYSE: MODN), the leading provider of cloud-based revenue management solutions to life sciences and high tech companies, today announced it has partnered with BPI Technologies Corporation, a recognized leader in revenue recognition solutions, to help our customers make faster, smarter, better-informed business decisions, and maximize profit. The Model N and BPI partnership will provide customers seamless integration that combines comprehensive structural and transactional data across commercial, government, and chargeback channels from Model N with a sophisticated gross-to-net (GTN) revenue recognition offering from BPI. Together, the Model N BPI Gross-to-Net solution will provide customers with fast and complete visibility into pre-deal analysis, the true price of products, true net revenue, accurate accruals, full audit reporting, and reliable forecasts that are critical to pharmaceutical and medical technology manufacturers. "We are very happy to announce the partnership of our gross-to-net revenue application with the Model N revenue execution platform," said Richard L. Burcham, chief executive officer at BPI Technologies Corporation. "Based on new data from IQVIA, manufacturers of brand-name drugs in 2017 reduced list price revenues by an astonishing $153 billion---a new high ad twice what it was only 5 years ago. Our combined solution will help our customers achieve higher net revenue and reduce the risk associated with gross-to-net forecasting, accrual management and reporting." By driving top-line growth through Model N's revenue execution platform, and by understanding the true prices and revenues together with sophisticated "what if" analysis within a mature gross-to-net joint solution, customers will be able to make better-informed business decisions to achieve both maximum growth and increased profitability. "We are thrilled to be working with BPI to combine Model N's trusted transaction data sets with BPI's advanced analytics tools," said Jason Blessing, president and chief executive officer at Model N. "Together we will provide complete gross-to-net visibility in near-real-time at each step of the revenue lifecycle. This further builds upon Model N's position as a critical solution provider for the healthcare ecosystem." About Model N Model N is the leader in revenue management solutions. Driving mission-critical business processes such as contract and rebate management, business intelligence, and regulatory compliance, Model N solutions transform the revenue lifecycle from a series of disjointed operations into a strategic end-to-end process. With deep industry expertise, Model N supports the complex business needs of the world's leading brands in pharmaceutical, medical device, high tech, manufacturing and semiconductors across more than 120 countries, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Gilead, Abbott, Stryker, AMD, Micron, Seagate, STMicroelectronics (News - Alert), NXP, Sesotech, and Southern States. For more information, visit www.modeln.com. Model N is the registered trademark of Model N, Inc. Any other company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned for identification purposes only. About BPI BPI is a forward-looking company and believes in investing in a vision of today that can become a reality tomorrow. Transformation of Gross-to-Net processes is one such area of interest. From business models to technology, BPI's gross-to-net solution is helping companies achieve end-to-end transformation of GTN across all channels of their business. Key to transformation is the flexibility and scalability to configure our application to address the ever-changing complexity of the commercial and regulatory environments. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005294/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Sonoran Video Systems Introduces Coyote Playback Servers TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonoran Video Systems, an innovator in the visual technology industry, is introducing two broadcast-quality video playback solutions, the Coyote Q3G, and the Coyote S12G playback servers. Coyote Playback Servers feature four 3G SDI outputs, configured as independent, spanned, sync roll, or UHD playback. The S12G model also has the ability to be configured for a single 12G SDI output. Each Coyote also has a dedicated HDMI multi-view output for local operator monitor. The Coyote Playback Servers are uniquely positioned between playback software and media servers. Playback software lacks professional hardware support, and struggles to meet the high demands of todays live show environments with multiple-screen sync rolls, for example. Media servers on the other end of the spectrum, can cost over five times as much as a Coyote system, and require specialized operators. Coyote Playback Servers are controlled using a free client software, called Coyote Control, an intuitive and easy-to-use software application for Windows or Mac. With a simple learning curve, the Coyote does not require specialized operators, which sould be a consideration for ROI-based decisions. Drag-and-drop functionality with preset based software allows for easy set up and reliable playback. Set up and play assets in minutes not hours. Select from pre-made preset layouts, and the math is done automatically. "We're focused on making the Coyote reliable, intuitive, and affordable, and filling the need for a solution in between playback software and media servers. When an operator sits down to operate Coyote Control, they will be able to easily build a pre-set for sync rolls and spanning and be up and running in a matter of minutes. We've created the Coyote for asset playback unlike any other in the industry," says Dave McBride, owner of Sonoran Video Systems. The Coyote can also be controlled externally using UDP/TCP commands, with any popular third-party controller. The Coyote is compatible with Christie Spyder, Barco E2, and any professional switcher with SDI inputs. Built as an all-in-one playback solution the Coyote is affordably priced at $11,999 for the Coyote Q3G, and $13,499 for the Coyote S12G model. The Coyote rivals the quality of playback systems costing five times more. About Sonoran Video Systems is a privately held company based in Tempe, Arizona. As an innovator in the visual technology industry, Sonoran Video Systems offers better playback solutions for live events, corporate audio visual, digital signage, broadcast, and house of worship industries. Visit www.sonoranvideosystems.com Media Contact: Dave McBride 480-626-4110 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sonoran-video-systems-introduces-coyote-playback-servers-300751035.html SOURCE Sonoran Video Systems LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Andersen Global Adds Tax & Legal Services in Argentina Andersen Global announced today it signed a Collaboration Agreement with Goldemberg Saladino Hermida Rolando & Asociados, in Buenos Aires. This is the second Andersen Global collaborating firm in the commerce hub of Buenos Aires, and the 20th location in nine different Latin American countries. For thirty years, the team at Goldemberg Saladino Hermida Rolando & Asociados has provided tax consulting and compliance, international tax planning, transfer pricing, tax and customs litigation, payroll, bookkeeping, wealth management services, financial and business consulting to high-profile private and public entities, including local, national and international corporations and non-profits, foundations and similar organizations. The firm joins the global association with over 100 personnel and eight Partners. "The addition of Goldemberg Saladino Hermida Rolando & Asociados only further strengthens an impressive roster for the Andersen name in Latin America," said Mark Vorsatz, Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen Tax LLC CO. "All of the professionals at Goldemberg Saladino Hermida Rolando & Asociados have a high-caliber reputation in Argentina and provide a broad platform to assist on legal and tax matters. At the end of the day, we want to bring best-in-class experts into the fold to serve clients worldwide." "This was an important decision for our firm," said Gabriel Hermida, Senior Partner at Goldemberg Saladino Hermida Rolando & Asociados. "Andersen Global's reputation of excellence, stewardship, and transparency lines up well with what our clients value and have come to expect from us. The synergistic collaboration yields great benefits for our clients and our people as it enhances our ability to provide best-in-class services and allows us to continue to grow internationally." "Our motto is 'excellence can always be higher,'" said Valeria D'Alessandro, Partner at Goldemberg Saladino Hermida Rolando & Asociados. "Collaborating with Andersen Global is a move to that end, enabling us to offer even more seamless services to our clients." Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 3,500 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 122 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005025/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Maropost Named Fastest-Growing Company in North America on Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 50 and Fast 500 Companies Lists for Third Year Running TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maropost, the only unified customer engagement platform, today announced it ranked #35 on Deloittes Technology Fast 50 and #159 Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy companies in Canada and North America, respectively. Maropost has made the lists for the third year running, with a three-year revenue growth rate of 650 percent. As one of the fastest-growing companies in Canada and North America, Maroposts three-year growth rate goes far beyond revenue. Since first making the Deloitte lists in 2016, Maropost has grown its employee count by over 60%, expanded its leadership team to include some of North Americas top SaaS executives, and opened a new US office in Chicago, IL. Maroposts CEO, Ross Paquette, credits the companys relentless focus on customer-centric innovation for its success. "With these awards, what they dont mention is what growth really means. When you talk about revenue, youre talking about customers, Paquette says. Our customers power and inspire Maroposteverything we build, we build for them. For us, this is an opportunity to expand our reachto bring Maropost to even more companies. These past three years on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 have also been marked by a rapid expansion of Maroposts platform capabilities. As the company continues to add new features like dynamic content, content and product recommendations, and AI-powered message scheduling, it continues to help companies drive deeper customer engagement. Business is changing rapidly, and what usedto work a few years ago isnt a recipe for what will work in the future, said Erica Pretorius, Partner and National Leader for the Technology Fast 50 program at Deloitte Canada. Fast 50 winners are a beacon of innovation and I look forward to how they will change the business and technology landscape in the future. To qualify for the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking, companies must have been in business for at least four years, have revenues of at least $5 million, be headquartered in Canada, own proprietary technology, conduct research and development activities in Canada and invest a minimum of five percent of gross revenues in R&D. Along with the Deloitte Fast 50 and Fast 500, Maropost also beat out 495 high-growth Canadian companies to secure a top 5 spot on Canadian Business Growth 500. New commerce capabilities coming in early 2019 are set to increase Maroposts impact even further, as Maropost will enable even more companies to better connect with their customers. About Maropost Maropost is a fully unified customer engagement platform, designed to provide a single solution for all areas of businessacross marketing, commerce, service, clienteling, referral, and more. Connecting brands with their customers, Maropost unifies customer data to create unified customer experiences. Were changing the way organizations operate through technologybreaking down divides between and within departments, so companies can truly understand and engage their customers. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Maropost is trusted by brands like DigitalMarketer, New York Post, Mercedes-Benz, SHOP.com, and Yext. Learn more at https://www.maropost.com/ About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program is Canadas pre-eminent technology awards program. Celebrating business growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship, the program features three distinct categories including the Technology Fast 50 Ranking, Companies-to-Watch Awards (early-stage Canadian tech companies with the potential to be a future Deloitte Technology Fast 50 candidate) and the Leadership Awards (companies that demonstrate technological leadership and innovation within the industry.) Program sponsors include Deloitte, 3C Innovation, BCFBusiness Law, Bank of Montreal, Bennett Jones, CBRE, First West Capital and OMERS Ventures. For further information, visit www.fast50.ca . About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and energy tech companiesboth public and privatein North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. For more information, please contact: Christine Glossop Marketing Communications Manager Maropost 1-888-438-3152 x239 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The first style of wedding photography: fashion If the bride wants her wedding photos to be stylish and modern, it's important to keep them fashionable. Can choose this kind of style, like popular wedding photos of the "Olympics" and "China red" emerge both li and qi of the eve of the new people, suzhou wedding photography comments on these two sets of wedding photos belong to "red China" series. I think it's very representative. "Chinese red" expresses the joy in my heart. It can also express warm and festive air. Happy brides who love Chinese characteristics can test this style. The second style of wedding photography: romance Lang love concubine, snuggle together. The style that is full of tender feeling. The bride and groom can have more interactive scenes, such as kissing, hugging and holding hands. This style of fighting can create warm and sweet air. Romantic elements and details emerge. Holding hands for a time, suzhou wedding photography review such style. 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The photo content also adds a lot of weather in the inside, and the past and the same "smiling face opposite" comparison. Play, play, propose, snuggle, memory, and so on, almost become two people's love record. The sixth style of wedding photography: simplicity It has close-up taste and color. A style that accentuates the theme. The bride and groom look and act very prominent, fighting can highlight the good looks and qualities. This is a group of fashionable and simple wedding photos by the seaside. Small make up feel very is New Year, contracted and not big. Also very clean, the scenery of the sea and the air, have the sense of relaxation. The seventh style of wedding photography: Korean style South Korean style of radical and contemporary costume (south Korean style). Bulking the bride's sweetness and gentleness. Recently we have received a lot of young people's attention. The bride in the works is beautiful and elegant, with beautiful traditional Korean costumes, elegant Korean scenery plans and weird Korean make-up styles. Korean wedding photos with thick Korean style. Typical style of Korean wedding photos. The eighth style of wedding photography: avant-garde Demand a difference outstanding words, alternative vanguard of the implementation of the style. The bride pursues novelty. Read more at: wedding dresses sydney | wedding dresses brisbane [November 15, 2018] Rite Aid Foundation Donates $150,000 to Assist Wildfire Relief Efforts in California The Rite Aid Foundation announced today a $150,000 donation that will be distributed across several California relief organizations assisting the families, evacuees and firefighters impacted by the deadly Camp, Woolsey and Hill wildfires. The Camp Fire has now become the deadliest wildfire in California's history. To help relief efforts, the Rite Aid Foundation has made donations to four organizations: American Red Cross Gold Country Region $40,000 American Red Cross Los Angeles Region $40,000 North Valley Community Foundation $35,000 Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation $35,000 "These devastating fires have left absolute destruction and heartbreak across California. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected as well as the brave firefighters who have been tirelessly battling these infernos," said Kermit Crawford, Rite Aid president and chief operating officer and president of The Rite Aid Foundation. "The Rite Aid Foundation hopes today's donations provide hope, relief and support as families and residents begin to recover and rebuild their lives." Since the wildfires ignited last week, the American Red Cross has been on the ground providing shelter, food and comfort to the thousands of residents forced to flee their homes with little notice. In response to the overwhelming devastation and loss, the North Valley Community Foundation has established the Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund to support the needs of the evacuation centers that opened their doors to support people who lost their homes and are fleeing the fire. In addition to providing meals for emergency workers and evacuees, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation has been providing hydration backpacks for the firefighters working tirelessly to contain the fires. Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded more than $36 million to non-profit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $87 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994. Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with fiscal 2018 annual revenues of $21.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org. Founded in 2010 by a committed group of community activists and business leaders, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation serves to strengthen the overall preparedness and responsiveness of the LAFD. Our focus is on public safety: We support the department by helping to invest in equipment, training programs and public outreach to help these men and women excel at their jobs. The North Valley Community Foundation provides visionary community leadership by identifying emerging challenges in our region. NVCF brings together diverse groups of problem-solvers, mobilizes resources, and equips community leaders. We build and energize a community of engaged citizens and philanthropists who strengthen the common good. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005557/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] STUDY: Brand Loyalty Isn't Dead, it's Just Complicated A recent study from customer experience (CX) intelligence leader InMoment reveals how today's retail customers define brand loyalty in the face of endless options as we approach the holiday season. The 2018 Retail Trends Report surveyed 1,300 U.S. consumers and highlights the different ways today's shoppers define brand trust and loyalty. Contrary to the perception of many retailers, 83 percent of consumers consider themselves about the same or more loyal to brands than their parents, with nearly 30 percent of Millennials reported being more brand loyal than their parents - the highest percentage among all demographics. Consumers who considered themselves less loyal than their parents cite more choices (54 percent), with 37 percent saying it was because they have more information. But choice and education cut both ways: for consumers who felt they were more loyal than mom and dad, 42 percent said it's due to doing more research and having first-hand experience, with 35 percent saying its because they have a larger variety of choices. The message to retailers: be transparent with information, and ensure what you have to offer has unique and compelling value for your customers. When asked to describe their style of loyalty, consumers reported the following: b>60 percent: Share the love. The majority of consumers say that while they aren't singularly committed, they are faithful to a "select" number of brands or products. For example, while they may not purchase all of their fitness clothing from a single brand, they do buy their running shoes from the same brand faithfully. Loyalty is connected to specific value offered by a product or service. 23 percent: Play the field. The study found 23 percent of consumers say they aren't loyal to specific retailers or products. Instead, these consumers tend to make purchasing decisions in the moment depending on new products/services, price, offers/sales, recommendations, etc. The study found 23 percent of consumers say they aren't loyal to specific retailers or products. Instead, these consumers tend to make purchasing decisions in the moment depending on new products/services, price, offers/sales, recommendations, etc. 17 percent: Monogamist. The mythological (and perhaps, nonexistent) loyal consumer is a rare find, but they do exist. However, only 17 percent of consumers classified themselves as "fiercely loyal" to a handful of brands - typically one per category. "The holiday shopping season provides a great opportunity for retailers to begin building genuine relationships with their new and existing customers that last far beyond December," said Park. "The brands that stand out during the holiday shopping frenzy are the ones that have been listening to and collecting authentic and direct feedback from customers all year and use this feedback to inform experiences their customers desire most. Whether it's as complex as a popular e-retailer opening a holiday pop-up store or as simple as offering layaway options, when customers recognize they're a priority and co-creators of a brand's reputation and value, they're much more likely to be and stay loyal for the long haul." To download the full report with all of the findings, click here. About InMoment InMoment is a cloud-based customer experience (CX) intelligence leader, arming brands with compelling customer insights to drive high-value business decisions and relationships with both customers and employees. InMoment's industry-leading analytics power a full suite of Voice of Customer (VoC), Voice of Employee (VoE), and Employee Engagement solutions. InMoment also provides strategic guidance, support, and related services to more than 425 brands across 95 countries. For more information, visit http://www.inmoment.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005572/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] LowestRates.ca ranks 9th on Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 The company was honoured among 50 of the fastest growing Canadian tech businesses TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - Today LowestRates.ca , an online recommendation site for personal finance products like insurance, mortgages, loans and credit cards, announced that it ranked 9th on Deloitte's Technology Fast 50. The program and annual award distinguishes 50 Canadian technology companies for their rapid revenue growth, entrepreneurial spirit and bold innovation. Companies are ranked by the highest revenue-growth percentage over the past four years, with LowestRates.ca seeing 1859 per cent in revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program winners consist of public and private companies in the technology sector, which have transformed the industry. Now in its 21st year, the program runs alongside the broader Deloitte North American Technology Fast 500, with winners automatically eligible for this elite ranking. "The team at LowestRates.ca is honoured to be recognized among so many other innovative companies on the Fast 50," says Justin Thouin, Co-Founder and CEO of LowestRtes.ca. "We're incredibly proud of how much we've grown organically in such a short time from both a revenue perspective as well as the number of consumers visiting our site. We're excited to keep growing and to continue our mission of helping Canadians save money and make smarter financial decisions." With rapid growth in the past five years, the company's near term goal is to save Canadians $1 billion in interest and fees. LowestRates.ca currently saves Canadians $250 million a year in car insurance costs alone. It has also increased the size of its team by about 50 per cent and recently moved to a new open concept, collaborative office space at Yonge and Davisville. "Business is changing rapidly, and what used to work a few years ago isn't a recipe for what will work in the future," said Erica Pretorius, Partner and National Leader for the Technology Fast 50 program at Deloitte Canada. "Fast 50 winners are a beacon of innovation and I'm looking forward to how they will change the business and technology landscape in the future." To qualify for the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking, companies must have been in business for at least four years, have revenues of at least $5 million, be headquartered in Canada, own proprietary technology, conduct research and development activities in Canada and invest a minimum of five per cent of gross revenues in R&D. About LowestRates.ca LowestRates.ca is an online rate comparison site for insurance, mortgages, loans and credit card rates in Canada. The free, independent service connects directly with financial institutions and providers from all over North America to offer Canadians a comprehensive list of rates. LowestRates.ca wants to help everyone become more financially literate, with a goal of saving Canadians $1 billion in interest and fees. About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 - The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program is Canada's pre-eminent technology awards program. Celebrating business growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, the program features three distinct categories including the Technology Fast 50 Ranking, Companies-to-Watch Awards (early-stage Canadian tech companies with the potential to be a future Deloitte Technology Fast 50 candidate) and the Leadership Awards (companies that demonstrate technological leadership and innovation within the industry.) Program sponsors include Deloitte, 3C Innovation, BCF Business Law, Bank of Montreal, Bennett Jones, CBRE, First West Capital and OMERS Ventures . For further information, visit www.fast50.ca. SOURCE LowestRates.ca [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Ameresco and West Texas A&M University Announce the University's Largest Single Energy Reduction and Modernization Project Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced a partnership to begin construction on a $14.4 million Campus Energy Reduction and Modernization Project at West Texas A&M University. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005261/en/ Ameresco and West Texas A&M University Announce the University's Largest Single Energy Consumption Reduction Project (Photo: Business Wire) The Energy Consumption Reduction Project was initiated to help guide the physical operations of the university to achieve meaningful reductions of the university's carbon footprint in energy usage, utility consumption, and energy cost through the implementation of infrastructure and modernization upgrades. The project is underway and is scheduled to be completed by September 2019. Upon completion, the project will average over $1.1 million in annual energy and water savings for the university, thus all of the improvements are being funded in a budget neutral manner without the need for additional capital budget dollars. "This project will positively impact energy and water conservation more than any other single initiative in West Texas A&M University's history," said Stan Pena, Director of Facilities and Construction. "This project was developed through collaboration with our Office of Business and Finance, SSC facilities team, the Texas A&M University System's Office of Facilities Plnning & Construction, and Ameresco, our energy partner. We are also thankful for the support of Utilities & Energy Services at Texas A&M and the City of Canyon." Energy conservation and modernization measures will be implemented throughout 31 campus buildings and include retrofitting interior and exterior lighting to new high efficiency light emitting diode (LED) technology, improvements to the campus heating and cooling systems, water conservation measures, and automated controls that allow for the improved tracking of energy consumption on campus. "Ameresco is honored to be working with West Texas A&M University to modernize their buildings through energy efficiency upgrades and realize a continued return on investment," said Robert Georgeoff, Vice President, Ameresco. "This project demonstrates leadership and the university's commitment to energy management, financial stewardship and environmental sustainability." Ameresco is implementing the $14.4 million project under an Energy Services Agreement that provides a guarantee of annual energy savings to the university through 2037. In addition to annual energy and water savings, the university realize an annual carbon reduction benefit that is the equivalent to removing 2,050 passenger cars from the road; or carbon dioxide emissions from over 1 million gallons of gasoline consumed annually; or the environmental benefit of 242,015 tree seedlings grown for 10 years; or greenhouse gas emissions avoided by not landfilling over 3,418 tons of waste "As stewards to the taxpayers of the State of Texas, it is essential that we do everything in our power to keep the cost of our students' education reasonable and affordable," Randy Rikel, West Texas A&M University's Vice President for Business and Finance, said. "This project will be paid 100 percent from the energy and water savings, so additional funding is not needed. This partnership with Ameresco achieves these goals, plus it reduces our energy and water demand now, thereby benefiting the environment." About West Texas A&M University West Texas A&M University, part of The Texas A&M University System, is a four-year public university that serves a diverse population of more than 10,000 students. The University attracts students from 48 states, not counting the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and other U.S. dependencies, and more than 60 countries. Admission is determined through selective criteria, and first-generation students account for a large percentage of the University's student population. Students who come to WTAMU find a friendly campus where faculty are accessible, administrators are approachable, undergraduates are taught by tenured professors, and names are still more important than numbers. They enjoy a university atmosphere that is committed to personal attention and teaching excellence and where ideas are always encouraged so that meaningful careers can be born. WTAMU is a growing, dynamic university that is well prepared to meet the educational needs of a growing student population for years to come. About Ameresco Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. Ameresco's sustainability services include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com. The announcement of a customer's entry into a project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the company's overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the company's overall total construction backlog. This project was reported in our contracted backlog as of September 30, 2018. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005261/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] MT Newswires and BNY Mellon's Pershing LLC Expand Existing Relationship with Live Briefs PRO North America Enhancement to NetXInvestor MT Newswires is pleased to announce their agreement with BNY Mellon's Pershing LLC to expand their existing relationship. The company currently provides its Live Briefs US Investor level news across the NetXInvestor platform, and its more comprehensive service, Live Briefs Pro North America to all NetX360 clients. The NetXInvestor platform has been upgraded to now also receive MT Newswires' flagship news service, Live Briefs PRO North America, which delivers original, real-time, multi-asset class coverage of US and Canadian markets with extensive coverage of developed capital markets and economies globally. With the upgrade to Live Briefs PRO North America, all of Pershing's users will enjoy a greatly enhanced news experience. Pershing is a recognized leader in providing global financial solutions to their users, ranging from clearing and custody services, managed investment and practice management solutions, to prime services, trading, retirement account, and technology and enterprise data management solutions. Their clients worldwide include advisors, asset managers, broker-dealers, family offices, fund managers, registered investment advisor firms and wealth managers. NetX360 is their digitally enabled professional platform, designed to help users work more efficiently, onboard and collaborate with clients more effectively, and stay connected on the go. "We are very pleased to be able to offer this enhancement to our NetXInvestor clients," said George Limberis, Vice President of Technology Produc Management & Analysis at Pershing. "As the provider of an industry-leading platform, we are always listening to the needs of our clients and are personally invested in seeing that the platform provides them with the solutions they need to better serve their clients." MT Newswires is an original source multi-asset class financial news service serving the largest banks, brokerage, wealth management, research and trading applications. The Company's expanding global network of financial journalists and economists produce a leading multi-asset class news service serving a broad range of financial services firms and capital markets participants. With over 110 categories of market moving, original and noise free news, many wealth management, trading and research firms and applications have switched to MT Newswires. "We're very pleased to expand our relationship with Pershing to provide broker-dealers, wealth managers and advisors using NetXInvestor with our multi-asset class financial news," offers Brooks McFeely, MT Newswires' founder and CEO. "The Live Briefs PRO North American newswire will be a great compliment to the NetXInvestor suite of solutions for the world's financial community." ABOUT MT NEWSWIRES With a history of serving the largest and most recognized market data, research and trading applications in North America and Europe, MT Newswires is a recognized leader in original and unbiased business and financial news. The Company's expanding global network of financial journalists and economists produce a leading multi-asset class news service serving a broad range of financial services firms and capital markets participants. With over 110 categories of market moving, original and noise free news, many wealth management, trading and research firms and applications have switched to MT Newswires. ABOUT BNY MELLON'S PERSHING BNY Mellon's Pershing and its affiliates provide a comprehensive network of global financial business solutions to advisors, broker-dealers, family offices, hedge fund and '40 Act fund managers, registered investment advisor firms and wealth managers. Many of the world's most sophisticated and successful financial services firms rely on Pershing for clearing and custody; investment, wealth and retirement solutions; technology and enterprise data management; trading services; prime brokerage and business consulting. Pershing helps clients improve profitability and drive growth, create capacity and efficiency, attract and retain talent, and manage risk and regulation. With a network of 23 offices worldwide, Pershing provides business-to-business solutions to clients representing approximately 7 million investor accounts globally. Pershing LLC (member FINRA, NYSE, SIPC) is a BNY Mellon company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005189/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Nokia releases upgraded CloudBand Infrastructure Software to secure 5G cloud deployments, enhance service delivery and reduce costs for customers Press Release New converged CloudBand Infrastructure Software delivers secure, unified virtual infrastructure management software to secure 5G cloud deployments The new release includes OpenStack directly from the open source community in order to move new capabilities to customers faster and to support the smaller footprint required for edge deployments Enables management of virtual machines (VM) and containers in the cloud to ease the transition to the multi-vendor, cloud-native environments of the 5G era 15 November 2018 Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced its latest CloudBand Infrastructure Software to give communication service providers (CSPs) and other customers sharper cloud management solutions that improve service delivery and significantly reduce operating costs as 5G deployments get underway. CloudBand Infrastructure Software gives CSPs the capability to unify their Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure/Virtualized Infrastructure Manager, or NFVI/VIM, in order to support centralized and distributed edge cloud deployments and workloads. The CloudBand Infrastructure Software upgrade streamlines operational procedures by providing a single NFVi/VIM for all cloud deployment needs, such as support and management for both VM and containerized workloads. In a 5G digital services era, there is greater dependence on containers in the cloud and Nokia CloudBand Infrastructure allows CSPs to gain experience with cloud-native architectures without introducing completely different tool chains. Addressing a combination of IT and Telco use cases enables Nokia CloudBand customers to reduce cost and complexity compared to proprietary siloed approaches. "Operators risk unwanted complexity and costs in their penStack infrastructure by creating new virtualized silos, and they stand to benefit from a unified approach," Peter Fetterolf, CTO of ACG Business Analytics. "By streamlining process definition, execution, and maintenance across multiple vendors for activities like onboarding Virtual Network Functions, deploying and updating software, and troubleshooting using disparate tool chains, operators can reduce the cost of managing and maintaining cloud infrastructure by 92% over a five-year period and total cost of ownership by 56% over the same period." Nokia CloudBand Infrastructure Software includes OpenStack software directly from the open source community to address several challenges facing OpenStack adopters; for example, providing timely maintenance and feature updates and localized infrastructure security compliance. It also includes full Software Defined Networking domain controller pre-integration to give customers an end-to-end solution with lower integration costs and improved time-to-market. Guy Shemesh, Head of CloudBand at Nokia, said: "Nokia's latest CloudBand Infrastructure Software improves on OpenStack's operational state and removes risk and complexity for CSPs. CloudBand Infrastructure Software supports a combination of IT and Telco network cloud deployments, including stringent radio requirements, as well as Enterprise cloud needs. It is the best-in-class solution for converged cloud management solutions. This next-level solution is being swiftly rolled out for Nokia customers." Nokia's CloudBand management and orchestration (MANO), including CloudBand Infrastructure Software, have been key components in several multi-year customer deployment agreements in 2018. These have included StarHub to accelerate mobile data speeds to 1Gbps; BSNL to support the roll out of 4G and Voice over LTE services in India; and T-Mobile to support their nationwide, multi-band 5G network rollout across the United States. Resources Web page: Nokia Cloudband Solutions Press release: StarHub Accelerates Mobile Data Speeds to 1Gbps Press release: Nokia and T-Mobile leading the way with nationwide 5G multi-band network rollout across the United States Press release: Nokia and BSNL to roll out 4G and Voice over LTE services in India About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. We adhere to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. Nokia is enabling the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things to transform the human experience. nokia.com. Media Inquiries: Kelly Stone The Hoffman Agency for Nokia Software Communications Phone: +1 206-618-2028 Email: [email protected] Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] MemSQL Adds New Board Member and Industry Veterans to Its Leadership Team Microsoft, Cloudera, and NGINX veterans join MemSQL in its next phase of growth SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MemSQL, the No-Limits Database for modern applications and analytical systems, today announced the addition of Microsoft veteran, Ted Kummert, to MemSQLs board of directors. In addition, MemSQL has expanded its leadership team with the hire of Cloudera and Hortonworks veteran, Jason Wakeam, and seasoned startup advisor and NGINX veteran, Peter Guagenti. MemSQL Adds New Board Member and Industry Veterans to Its Leadership Team - Click to Tweet The arrival of Kummert, Wakeam, and Guagenti comes during a period of rapid growth for MemSQL. Customers in fintech, media, retail, and energy are switching from legacy databases to the worlds fastest database, which combines transactional and analytical processing into one converged system for greater scalability, flexibility, simplicity, and cost efficiency. In May 2018, MemSQL raised $30 million during its Series D funding round, bringing its total funding to $110 million. The additions of Ted, Jason, and Peter are critical to the growth were expecting at MemSQL, said Nikita Shamgunov, CEO and co-founder of MemSQL. The data services landscape is moving fast. With the expectation of real-time decision making and he rise of AI and machine learning, customers are demanding more from their data than their current infrastructure can provide. Its clear that customers are looking for change and these talented individuals will strengthen MemSQLs ability to solve our customers challenges. Im excited to join MemSQL at a time when we are investing to aggressively grow our channel, said Jason Wakeam, vice president of business development and alliances at MemSQL. We are creating new opportunities for partners to specialize and provide managed services. And we are building new elements into our partner program to make it easier for partners to engage with us, sell, and deliver MemSQL-based solutions. About the Executives Ted Kummert, MemSQLs newest board member, is an almost-25-year Microsoft veteran who for several years oversaw engineering and business teams for Microsofts Application Platform, which included SQL Server, SQL Azure, and other infrastructure software across on-premises and cloud environments. Ted most recently led Products and Engineering at Apptio, where he drove product development of the companys Technology Business Management software category including through Apptios IPO in September 2016. Ted is a Venture Partner at Madrona Venture Group where he works with Madrona portfolio companies on product and go to market challenges and identifies new investment opportunities. Jason Wakeam, Vice President of Business Development and Alliances at MemSQL, hails from Cloudera. He led partner sales, channel strategy and programs at the machine learning and analytics company and led global business development for the System Integrator channel at Hortonworks before that. Jason brings over 20 years of experience driving market share growth across various tech industries including big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, and more. Peter Guagenti, Chief Marketing Officer at MemSQL, has transformed and led marketing and sales as CMO at innovative infrastructure companies Mesosphere and NGINX. Prior to that, Peter led Products and Services at Acquia, which at the time was the fastest growing software company in America. Peter has helped grow five successful startups over the past 20 years and is also currently an advisor for Exceed.ai and Mintigo (both are AI and machine learning startups), Brandcast, and others. About MemSQL MemSQL is The No-Limits Database, powering modern applications and analytical systems. MemSQL provides a cloud-native, massively scalable architecture for maximum ingest and query performance at the highest concurrency. MemSQL envisions a world where every business can make decisions in real time and every experience is optimized through data. Global enterprises use the MemSQL distributed database to easily ingest, process, analyze, and act on data in order to thrive in todays insight-driven economy. MemSQL is optimized to run on any public cloud or on-premises with commodity hardware. Visit memsql.com or follow us @memsql. Media Contact Kristi Lewandowski Director of Communications 810-287-5355 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] HealthLytix Enters Distribution Partnership with CorTechs Labs SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthLytix, a precision health company and developer of quantitative medical imaging solutions that leverage machine learning, today announced a new distribution agreement with CorTechs Labs, a leading medical software innovator that provides market leading solutions for quantitative brain volume analysis. The agreement enables CorTechs Labs to resell HealthLytix's new head CT software called CT CoPilot, alongside its NeuroQuant product line, and expands upon an existing strategic partnership between the two companies. "We are pleased to align with an established organization like CorTechs Labs, which can speed market access, increase our visibility, and enable radiologists to quickly realize the efficiency and clinical confidence benefits that CT CoPilot can enable," says Ajit Shankaranarayanan, COO at HealthLytix. "Our focus on head CT imaging complements CorTechs Labs' focus on quantitative brain MRI." CT CoPilot seamlessly integrates into existing clinical workflow to improve radiologist efficiency, measurement accuracy, and clinical confidence by automatically providing consistent views of head CT exams. It also generates automated quantitative measurements and subtraction series to increase conspicuity of change between exams. "HealthLytix's cutting-edge quantitative CT imaging solution dovetails perfectly with our mission to streamline radiological workflow through our industy-leading brain image analysis solutions," says Chris Airriess, COO at CorTechs Labs. "We believe that our customers will instantly recognize the value that CT CoPilot will bring to their practice." CT CoPilot will be demonstrated at the upcoming Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2018 annual meeting in Chicago. HealthLytix personnel will be available to discuss the benefits and capabilities of CT CoPilot in the CorTechs Labs Booth (#7944 North Hall) at RSNA. About HealthLytix: At HealthLytix, we create data analytics solutions to provide comprehensive insights into health status based on genetics, quantitative imaging, and other medical information. Our products provide consumers with the benefits of early detection and targeted care, while empowering physicians with more accurate clinical decision-making across medical imaging modalities. As a precision health company, we apply proprietary machine learning algorithms to create individualized wellness assessments. We enable physicians and health systems to understand patient data, personalize treatment solutions, and leverage data-driven insights into care pathway management. Learn more at www.healthlytix.com and in our virtual press kit. About CorTechs Labs: CorTechs Labs develops and markets breakthrough medical device software solutions capable of automatically segmenting and quantifying brain structures, making quantitative analysis of the human brain a routine part of clinical practice. CorTechs Labs' cutting-edge brain imaging analysis provides neurologists, radiologists, and clinical researchers worldwide with a convenient and cost-effective means to quantify subcortical structures to help assess a variety of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, brain trauma, and brain development abnormalities. Please visit www.cortechslabs.com for further information. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthlytix-enters-distribution-partnership-with-cortechs-labs-300750669.html SOURCE HealthLytix [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Health Union Ranked No. 162 Fastest Growing Company in North America on Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Union today announced it ranked No. 162 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Health Union grew 622 percent from 2014 to 2017. Health Union has experienced exponential growth since launching its first community Migraine.com in late 2010. Today, Health Union manages 19 condition-specific online communities (with more to come) that provide safe and supportive environments for people to learn, connect and share experiences of life with chronic health conditions. Simultaneously, these communities enable healthcare companies to create smarter, more effective solutions to meet patient needs. "Health Union's impressive growth can be directly linked to our mission to help people live better with challenging health conditions," said Health Union co-founder and CEO Olivier Chateau. "This has helped us to build both a first-of-its-kind sustainable online community model that puts people first and maintain a consistent culture within our team that inspires them to make a real difference for all the people in our communities." Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 143 percent to 77,260 percent from 2014 to 2017, with median growth of 412 percent. "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 50 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai , vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Health Union Health Union encourages social interactions that evolve into valuable online health conversations, helping people with chronic conditions find the information, connection and validation they seek. The company creates condition-specific online ecosystems - publishing original, daily content and continuously cultivating social conversation - to support, educate and connect millions of people with challenging, chronic health concerns. Today, the Health Union family of brands includes 19 online health communities, including ParkinsonsDisease.net, MultipleSclerosis.net, Blood-Cancer.com and Type2Diabetes.com. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-union-ranked-no-162-fastest-growing-company-in-north-america-on-deloittes-2018-technology-fast-500-300751359.html SOURCE Health Union, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Community Collaboration Transforms Trails and Ride Practices in New Hampshire Six local organizations are linking arms for the first time to bring change to the North Country trail system, Ride the Wilds, while raising industry standards for motorsport riding nationally. Funding the project, The Polaris Foundation has given the newly formed alliance a $100,000 grant, which will go toward the creation and installation of 1,000 new ATV trail signs that will provide directional guidance and promote safe and responsible riding practices throughout the trail system. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005663/en/ Alliance members left to right: Kris Dickson and Mark Dickson (Umbagog ATV Club), Steve Baillargeon and Corrine Rober (Bear Rock Adventures), Jodi Gilbert (Executive Director, North Country Chamber of Commerce), Craig Washburn (Metallak ATV Club), Dianne Mattot and Darrin Joque, (Great Northwoods Riders ATV Club), and Andrew Martin (Umbagog ATV Club). (Photo: Business Wire) "Ride the Wilds is an iconic trail system that provides thousands of miles of trails where riders can create memories, discover adventures and spend time with friends and family," said Lucy Clark Dougherty, president of the Polaris Foundation. "Polaris is honored to support this community's collaborative effort to enhance off-road riding experiences." Working together to improve community relations by showcasing a strong collaboration between township, clubs, landowners and state entities, organizations included in the alliance are Bear Rock Adventures, Great Northwoods Riders ATV Club, Metallak ATV Club, Millsfield ATV Club, The North Country Chamber of Commerce and Umbagog ATV Club. With a focus on improving overall rider education, safety and experience through better signage, expected completion is May 2019. "The new initiative will improve navigation, decrease improper access and enhance the overall quality of the trail system," said Corrine Rober, owner of Polaris Adventures Certified Outfitter, Bear Rock Adventures and marketing chair for North Country Chamber of Commerce. "Bear Rock is on the front lines when it comes to customer feedback, and one of the most consistent recommendations from our guests is to improve ATV trail signage. With tourism growing in our community, it's our job to provide these improvements and ongoing education so locals and tourists alike can properly utilize our trails." According to New Hampshire's Office of Strategic Initiatives, data shows tourism is a driving factor of economic growth in Coos County. Largely due to off-roading, Ride the Wilds has been the only economic initiative in the county since 2013. From 2012 to 2017, spending on lodging and meals increased 34 percent annually, which rose to 37 percent during months when off-road trails were open. This added spending helps support local economies through jobs and the generation of additional tax revenue. In addition to promoting tourism, the alliance has been in direct collaboration with Chris Gamache, the head of the Bureau of Trails for the state, to ensure the signage is also helping reach larger bureau initiatives throughout the trail system. "The project to improve ATV trail signage, which is one of the most significant areas of improvement needed on the trails, is a tremendously positive initiative, and we look forward to working on these improvements with the local clubs and chambers," said Gamache, chief of the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails. Communities benefitting from the new signage include Clarksville, N.H.; Colebrook, N.H.; Columbia, N.H.; Dixville Notch, N.H.; Errol, N.H.; Millsfield, N.H.; Pittsburg, N.H.; West Stewartstown, N.H.; Averill, Vt.; Beecher Falls, Vt.; Canaan, Vt.; and Lemington, Vt. For more information, visit https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/ridingtowardchange.html. About North Country Chamber of Commerce: The North Country Chamber of Commerce strives to serve its members by way of business advocacy, promotion of regional attractions and involvement in initiatives to foster economic growth. It promotes northern Coos County, New Hampshire and northeastern Essex County, Vermont. Visitor information and brochures about the area can be found in the State Rest Area and Community Interpretive Center three minutes north of the Chamber on Route 3. The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com About Polaris Industries Inc.: Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) is a global powersports leader that has been fueling the passion of riders, workers and outdoor enthusiasts for more than 60 years. With annual 2017 sales of $5.4 billion, Polaris' innovative, high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER, RZR and Polaris GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; the Sportsman and Polaris ACE all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; snowmobiles; and pontoon, deck and cruiser boats. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris' presence in adjacent markets globally includes military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. Visit www.polaris.com for more information. Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for Polaris Industries Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005663/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Global Particle Size Analyzer Market 2018 Industry Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Global Particle Size Analyzer industry. 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Order a copy of the Global Particle Size Analyzer Market Report 2018 @ https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/683218 List of Chapters: - Global Particle Size Analyzer Market Research Report 2018 1 Particle Size Analyzer Market Overview 2 Global Particle Size Market Analyzer Competition by Manufacturers 3 Global Particle Size Analyzer Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018) 4 Global Particle Size Analyzer Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018) 5 Global Particle Size Analyzer Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type 6 Global Particle Size Analyzer Market Analysis by Application 7 Global Particle Size Analyzer Manufacturers Profiles / Analysis 8 Particle Size Analyzer Manufacturing Cost Analysis 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors / Traders 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis 12 Global Particle Size Analyzer Market Forecast (2018-2025) 13 Research Findings and Conclusion 14 Appendix About Us: Orian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our Repository Reports of Over 500,000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients with access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicated research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients. Contact Us: Ruwin Mendez Vice President - Global Sales & Partner Relations Orian Research Consultants US: +1 (832) 380-8827 | UK: +44 0161-818-8027 Email: info@orianresearch.com Website: www.orianresearch.com/ Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/ [November 15, 2018] Resource Label Group Expands West Coast Presence with Acquisition of Best Label Resource Label Group, LLC ("Resource Label"), a full-service provider of pressure sensitive label, shrink sleeve and RFID/NFC technology for the packaging industry, today announced it has acquired Best Label Company ("Best Label"), broadening its west coast presence and leading position in the label and packaging industry. Best Label represents the fourth acquisition in recent months for Resource Label, a portfolio company of First Atlantic Capital, a New York-based private investment firm, and TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG. Mike Apperson, President & CEO of Resource Label Group, stated, "I am honored that Best Label has joined the Resource Label Group team. Best Label brings a group of talented individuals, a high level of product quality and innovative packaging solutions to our organization. I look forward to working closely with the team to continue to serve our growing customer base across North America." Located in Cerritos, CA (News - Alert) and Union City, CA, Best Label is one of the largest label manufacturers on the west coast and provides innovative and cost-effective labeling solutions across a variety of segments including the food, beverage, health and beauty, pharmaceutical, automotive, agricultural and chemical industries. With more than 40 years of experience, Best Label offers a diverse inventory of letterpress, flexographic and digital printingand enhanced finishing assets to offer a full breadth of pressure sensitive, extended content and promotional label solutions. "We are extremely excited to join Resource Label Group," stated Ernie Wong, former CEO of Best Label. "Resource Label shares our commitment to ensuring the long-term success of our customers and valued employees. This partnership is key to supporting our vision and the growth plans for the business." Roberto Buaron, Chairman and CEO First Atlantic Capital added, "Best Label has an outstanding group of dedicated employees, diverse client base, and is a valued addition to Resource Label Group. We are pleased to continue to support Resource Label's expansion, which includes fourteen acquisitions since our initial investment in 2011." About Resource Label Group, LLC Resource Label Group, LLC is a leading pressure sensitive label, shrink sleeve and RFID/NFC manufacturer with diverse product offerings for the food, beverage, chemical, household products, personal care, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medical device, and technology industries. With eighteen locations across the U.S. and Canada, Resource Label Group, LLC provides national leadership and scale to deliver capabilities, technologies, systems and creative solutions that customers require. Resource Label is a long-standing portfolio company of First Atlantic Capital, a New York-based private investment firm, and TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG. Headquartered in Franklin TN, Resource Label Group, LLC is the parent company of Resource Label (Franklin & Memphis, TN), MidSouth RFID (Franklin, TN), Pamco Label (Chicago, IL), Fox Tag and Label (Providence, RI), Oxford Graphics (Boston, MA), The Label Company (Los Angeles, CA), A1 Label (Toronto, ON (News - Alert)), Taylor Made Labels (Portland, OR), LithoFlexo Grafics (Salt Lake City, UT), Advanced Labels NW (Seattle, WA), RayPress Corporation (Birmingham, AL), Cellotape / Landmark Label (Newark, CA), Gintzler International (Buffalo, NY & Austin, TX), Ingenious Packaging (Toronto, ON), Paragon Label (Napa-Sonoma, CA), Spectrum (News - Alert) Label (San Francisco, CA) and Best Label (San Francisco, CA & Los Angeles, CA). With eighteen manufacturing locations, Resource Label Group, LLC employs 1300 associates in the U.S. and Canada. For additional information, visit www.resourcelabel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005630/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS): Global Market Analysis & Outlook to 2023 - Expected to Register a CAGR of 38.45% DUBLIN, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Energy-as-a-Service Market 2019-2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global energy-as-a-service market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 38.45% during the period 2019-2023. One trend in the market is injection of renewable energy into power grids. The adoption of renewable energy sources across the world has been growing rapidly over the past decade with renewable energy capacity growing at an average of 8.33% between 2008 and 2017. The rise in the scale of generation and the decline in the cost of renewable energy have made it cost-competitive in comparison with conventional power generation sources during this period. According to the report, one driver in the market is demand for reducing building energy costs. Electricity consumption in buildings, including commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, accounts for over 60% of the total energy consume across the world. This percentage has been rising steadily over the years. Estimates given by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicate that about 38 quadrillion Btu of energy was consumed by the residential and commercial sector in the US during 2017. Further, the report states that one challenge in the market is challenges in implementation and deployment. One of the leading challenges for the EaaS market is the difficulty in implementing the EaaS model across end-user industries and customer premises. EaaS requires the deployment of advanced loT devices and equipment for tracking energy consumption and usage patterns, which are used by the service provider for setting the energy tariff and suggesting energy management techniques. Key Vendors EDF Edison International Enel ENGIE Topics Covered 1. Executive Summary 2. Scope of the Report 3. Market Landscape 4. Market Sizing 5. Five Forces Analysis 6. Market Segmentation by End-User 7. Market Segmentation by Service 8. Customer Landscape 9. Geographic Landscape 10. Decision Framework 11. Drivers and Challenges 12. Market Trends 13. Vendor Landscape 14. Vendor Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vvbj9d/energyasaservic?w=5 Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/energy-as-a-service-eaas-global-market-analysis--outlook-to-2023---expected-to-register-a-cagr-of-38-45-300751216.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Minister Hajdu meets with B.C. port, rail and telecom sector employees to discuss legislation to support good quality jobs VANCOUVER, Nov. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - A strong middle class depends on a job market where everyone has a real and fair chance at success. Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, met with GCT Vanterm employees at the Port of Vancouver to talk about recently announced changes to federal labour standards that will better protect Canadian workers and help set the stage for good-quality jobs. The Minister will also meet with employees of VIA Rail and Shaw Communications to talk about how these changes will benefit them. Legislation tabled last month will make changes to improve employees' eligibility for entitlements such as general holiday pay, sick leave, maternity leave and parental leave. They will also improve worklife balance by introducing new breaks and leaves, including a new five-day personal leave and five days of paid leave for victims of family violence. Changes will also ensure that employees in precarious work are paid equally and have fair access to the same entitlements as their full-time counterparts. The legislation also introduces improvements to the Wage Earner Protection Program that will increase the maximum financial support provided to workers who are owed wages when their employer files for bankruptcy or enters receivership. Finally, the Minister will be recommending a regulation extending the protection of remuneration levels to workers covered by a collective agreement at airports and airlines following contract retendering. The practices of contract retendering or "contract-flipping" are serious issues at some Canadian airports and we are taking action. We will work with stakeholders during the regulatory process to ensure we get this right. Quote "Bringing federal labour standards into the 21st century will strengthen the middle class. Better working conditions are good for business and benefit both workers and employers. When economic growth is inclusive, and fewer Canadians are left behind, we are all better off." Th Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Quick Facts Federal labour standards are set out in Part III of the Canada Labour Code . They establish the basic rights (e.g. hours of work, wages, leaves and holidays) of employees in federally regulated private-sector industries, such as banking, telecommunications and interprovincial and international transportation. They also help create a level playing field for employers by requiring them to meet these standards. . They establish the basic rights (e.g. hours of work, wages, leaves and holidays) of employees in federally regulated private-sector industries, such as banking, telecommunications and interprovincial and international transportation. They also help create a level playing field for employers by requiring them to meet these standards. Between May 2017 and March 2018 , the Government consulted with Canadians, stakeholders and experts on the changing nature of work and how federal labour standards could be updated to better reflect current workplace realities. One strong message was repeated throughout the consultations: The way Canadians work has changed, but federal labour standards have not. These consultations also made it clear there are a number of complex issues related to federal labour standards and the changing nature of work that require more in-depth review and discussion. These will be studied by an Expert Panel, to be announced shortly. and , the Government consulted with Canadians, stakeholders and experts on the changing nature of work and how federal labour standards could be updated to better reflect current workplace realities. One strong message was repeated throughout the consultations: The way Canadians work has changed, but federal labour standards have not. These consultations also made it clear there are a number of complex issues related to federal labour standards and the changing nature of work that require more in-depth review and discussion. These will be studied by an Expert Panel, to be announced shortly. Up to $50.7 million over five years starting in 201920 and up to $12.2 million ongoing will be allocated to support implementation and enforcement of the labour standards amendments, including education and awareness, training and increased resources for proactive enforcement activities and to ensure timely resolution of complaints. over five years starting in 201920 and up to ongoing will be allocated to support implementation and enforcement of the labour standards amendments, including education and awareness, training and increased resources for proactive enforcement activities and to ensure timely resolution of complaints. Through Budget Implementation Act 2018, No. 2, the Government of Canada also introduced proactive pay equity legislation and improvements to the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP). Proactive pay equity legislation will ensure that women and men working in federally regulated workplaces, including the federal private sector, the federal public service, parliamentary workplaces and Ministers' offices, receive equal pay for work of equal value. Improvements to the WEPP will increase the maximum financial support provided to workers who are owed wages when their employer files for bankruptcy or enters receivership. Associated Links Government Continues Efforts to Bring Equality and Growth to the Middle Class - Department of Finance Canada Backgrounder: Modernizing Labour Standards Backgrounder: Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP) Backgrounder: Proactive Pay Equity Government of Canada introduces historic proactive pay equity legislation Federal Labour Standards What We Heard: Modernizing Federal Labour Standards Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] IPM Earns 2018 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) is proud to announce it has achieved the 2018 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. IPM is one of five organizations to win the 2018 Award. The MBNQA is granted annually to American organizations in six categories to raise awareness of quality management and excellence in quality systems, based on the systems perspective, core concepts and values of the Baldrige Excellence Framework. IPM will receive this Presidential-level honor in the Small Business category at a ceremony during the 31st annual Quest for Excellence Conference in April 2019. This prestigious national Award follows affiliate Baldrige Program recognition IPM received in 2017 at the state level with the 2017 ILPEx Gold Award for Achievement of Excellence. Rigorously judged by the MBNQA's independent board of examiners, IPM successfully demonstrated its outstanding practices, outcomes and continuous improvement systems for each of the seven performance excellence criteria: Leadership Strategy Customer Relationships Measurement Workforce Empowerment Operations Results In all, 27 organizations were finalists for the 2018 Award. IPM was one of only 12 to move forward for an on-site evaluation, culminating in its selection as an Award winner. IPM now joins the vaulted ranks of 123 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winners granted since the program was established by Congress in 1987 - and is only the fifth consulting firm to earn the distinction. "Achievement of this recognition is indisputable external validation of the passionate focus we have applied to establishing, growing, and sustaining a company that is driven by our values-based culture, obsession with high quality, and a commitment to creating a customer experience differentiated by professional conduct and performance that is second to none," says C. Richard Panico, IPM's Founder, President and CEO. A History of Elevated Skills, High-Impact Client Results From IPM's beginning in 1988, Panico instilled a values- and ethics-based culture; advanced project management practices; and comprehensive operations and growth structures that, in hindsight, all link directly to the Malcolm Baldrige Excellence Framework. "Our Fundamental Values of Honesty, Integrity, Responsibility, Excellence, Caring, Humility, and Respect rest on the foundation of Spirituality.a belief in a Higher Power," says Panico. "These values have provided a 'true north' enabling us to set direction and make decisions that serve the greater good, create a highly collaborative 'family' environment, and motivate us to continually learn and evolve so that we can continue on our journey to achieve 100 years and beyond." By expressing these values through work product and conduct, he adds, IPM's impact has not only benefitted clients, but also the communities surrounding its seven office locations nationwide. IPM was the first company in the U.S. to provide dedicated, professional project management services with a distinct focus on execution against strategies - a crucial aspect of achieving any goal, and one that was missing from many business consultancies that primarily provide strategic planning services. The company has since broadened and deepened its practice of project management to 'Project Leadership' and today considers itself a business consulting firm, deploying its core competencies of process, discipline, and leadership to solve business problems and plan and execute strategically important initiatives. IPM's performance and customer satisfaction levels are validated, for example, by its Net Promoter Score of 61, which exceeds the "World Class" benchmark of 50 - one of numerous quality measures detailed in IPM's Award application (see Performance Excellence Measures, Figure A). FIGURE A - PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE MEASURES Net Promoter Score 61 Quality Project Execution 92% (2015-2017) (Company-wide internal measure) Customer Satisfaction 99% Employee Rating as a (2015-2017) Great Place to Work 94% (2017) Revenue Growth 62% (2013-2018) IPM's ability to achieve results for its clients, and for itself, is reflected in these exemplary measures. View the full company profile on the Malcolm Baldrige website. Execution competency, subject matter expertise, problem-solving dexterity and conduct aligned with the company's Fundamental Values have led IPM to compete successfully with large consulting firms while distancing its services from staffing firms, independent consultants, and boutique firms. IPM's Centers of Excellence - each built from the original foundation of strategy execution - are now tapped by several of the biggest companies in the world for solving critical problems and achieving priority initiatives. To learn more about IPM, view the full company profile on the Malcolm Baldrige website, or, visit www.ipmcinc.com. Contact IPM headquarters at 630.789.8600 or via email at [email protected]. To see the full list of 2018 Award winners, view the News Release from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. For more information on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, visit www.nist.gov/baldrige. Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) (www.ipmcinc.com) is a privately held business consulting firm focused on planning and implementing strategically critical initiatives in the life sciences, healthcare, consumer products, and industrial sectors. Since its inception in 1988, IPM has served more than 400 clients and completed over 4,000 projects. Headquartered in suburban Chicago, IPM has regional offices in Boston, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Parsippany. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005876/en/ [November 15, 2018] For Fifth Consecutive Year, SmartDrive Earns a Place on Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartDrive Systems, a leader in video safety and transportation intelligence, today announced that for the fifth year in a row, it has earned a spot on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. With growth of more than 250 percent from 2014 to 2017, SmartDrive moved up the list to No. 316 this year compared to last year's ranking of No. 395. "Our inclusion, five years in a row, on this prestigious ranking of tech's most innovative and high-growth companies is indicative of our continued commitment to deliver the most advanced video-based safety and transportation intelligence solutions to our customers," said Steve Mitgang, SmartDrive CEO. "The flexibility of our solution and ability to meet the needs of fleets of every size, across industries is a key driver of growth. Fleets don't want to be locked in to legacy solutions that do not/have not anticipated where technology is headed. Transportation is in a period of significant change and technological innovationfleets want as much flexibility to adapt and take advantage of what it has to offer. SmartDrive's open platform approach helps fleets adapt as their business and technology changes." Mitgang credits the company's continued growth to increasing recognition within commercial transportation of the value of video-based insights and prescriptive analytics for improving driver safety and operational efficiency. Withits modern approach to hardware design, flexible configurations, industry expertise and white-glove customer support, SmartDrive is the preferred video safety program provider. The company is also is at the forefront of technology convergence, allowing fleets to utilize a single box architecture and unified data stream, eliminating redundancy across hardware, cellular connectivity, GPS modules, and connectivity to simplify operations and dramatically lower costs associated with in-cab technology. About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companiesboth public and privatein North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About SmartDrive Systems SmartDrive Systems gives fleets and drivers unprecedented driving performance insight and analysis, helping save fuel, expenses and lives. Its video safety, predictive analytics, telematics, compliance and personalized performance program help fleets improve driving skills, lower operating costs and deliver significant ROI. With an easy-to-use managed service, fleets and drivers can access and self-manage driving performance anytime, anywhere. The company, which is ranked as one of the fastest growing companies by Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 for five consecutive years, has compiled the world's largest storehouse of more than 240 million analyzed risky-driving events. SmartDrive Systems is based in San Diego, Calif., and employs over 725 people worldwide. For more information on SmartDrive Systems, please visit www.smartdrive.net. Contact or Follow SmartDrive on: Email [email protected] Facebook http://www.facebook.com/smartdrivesystemsinc Twitter http://www.twitter.com/smartdriveinc YouTube http://www.youtube.com/smartdrivesystemsinc LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/smartdrive-systems View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/for-fifth-consecutive-year-smartdrive-earns-a-place-on-deloittes-2018-technology-fast-500-300751521.html SOURCE SmartDrive Systems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Apex Clearing Names Industry Veteran Lucille Mayer as Chief Operating Officer Apex (News - Alert) Clearing, a leader in digital wealth management, announced today the appointment of Lucille Mayer to Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Mayer will oversee Apex's operations, legal and compliance functions and collaborate with the product and technology teams to align priorities and resources. She also will work with clients and partners to evolve and scale Apex offerings to further enhance the customer experience. Ms. Mayer will report to Apex's Chief Executive Officer, Bill Capuzzi, and join the Apex senior leadership team. "Because Apex Clearing is driven by a mission to increase access to investing and help more people build wealth, we are able to attract industry leaders like Lucille who want to make a real difference," said Capuzzi. "Lucille brings many years of experience helping companies operate smarter and more efficiently to better serve their clients. We are excited to have Lucille on our team and help us take Apex to the next level." Prior to Apex, Ms. Mayer was Chief Information Officer of Client Experience Delivery at BNY Mellon, one of the world's largest financial service enterprises. Previously, she was CIO and an Executive Committee member at Pershing LLC, a BNY company, where she collaborated with broker-dealers, advisors and industry partners to develop business and technology solutions seen as standard in the industry today. Throughout her career, Ms. Mayer has been a mentor to next generation leaders and an advocate for women in the industry, continuing with her current service as a Board Member of the Anita Borg Institute. "I've known Bill for a long time and am thrilled to be a part of the Apex team, Ms. Mayer said. "Apex's mission is one that really speaks to me - making sense of the obstacles imposed by disjointed, legacy systems as marketplace demand redefines the investor experience. Our opportunity is to work together to remove this friction and create a portfolio of services to deliver the next generation of wealth management across different interaction approaches." A custodian of choice for leaders of digital wealth, Apex has brought to market many of the technologies that have transformed the industry. In recent months, Apex has announced it is expanding its fractional trading capabilities to support self-directed brokerages and offering its clients the ability to service the demand for crypto assets and provide commission-free trading. About Apex Clearing Corporation Apex Clearing is a custody and clearing engine that's powering the future of digital wealth management. As a clearing firm, Apex delivers speed, efficiency and flexibility to firms ranging from innovative start-ups to blue-chip brands. Apex's fully-integrated, customized solutions allow registered investment advisors (RIAs), digital advisors, fintech firms, broker-dealers and full-service firms to provide the seamless digital experiences consumers expect and to reach more investors and serve them profitably. Founded in 2012 and based in Dallas - with offices in New York City, Chicago and Portland, Oregon - Apex Clearing Corporation is registered with the SEC (News - Alert), a member of FINRA and a participant in SIPC. For more information, visit www.apexclearing.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005493/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Zipwhip Ranked 5th Fastest-Growing Company in Washington State on Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 Zipwhip, the original cloud software platform for two-way business texting, today announced it ranked the 5th fastest-growing company in Washington state on the Deloitte (News - Alert) Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Securing the number 137 slot nationally, Zipwhip's 818 percent three-year revenue growth also moves the company up more than 200 spots from its 363rd place ranking in 2017. "Zipwhip may have created the business texting industry, but we haven't stopped there. We plan to remain at the forefront of innovation as modern communication needs evolve," said John Lauer, CEO and co-founder, Zipwhip. "The simple fact is that people want to text. Zipwhip's continued growth, and this recognition from Deloitte, reaffirm this demand and motivate our team to deliver the next generation of business-to-consumer communication." Zipwhip attributes its more than 800 percent revenue growth to ongoing product innovation and a customer-centric approach, supported by nearly $40 million in company funding to-date and a growing user base of over 20,000 businesses. With sights set on guiding the industry into the future of business-to-consumer engagement, Zipwhip recently introduced rich communication services (RCS) capabilities, announced the second iteration of its SaaS (News - Alert) platform and added to the company's executive leadership team. The company has also expanded its local Seattle presence, with recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the region and fourth fastest-growing private company from the Puget Sound Business Journal. "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Zipwhip A Seattle-based SaaS company, Zipwhip is modernizing the business texting medium by enabling text messaging to existing landline, VoIP and toll-free phone numbers. Zipwhip pairs direct network connectivity with easy, cloud-based software and an enterprise-grade API, so businesses of any size can give customers the choice to "text or call" and handle two-way text conversations at scale. Learn more about Zipwhip at www.zipwhip.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005869/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Hungary - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hungary's telcos look to expand cross-platform services As in many other markets in the region, in Hungary the number of fixed-lines, as also fixed-line revenue, has been affected by the changing consumer use of such services and by the trend for fixed-to-mobile substitution. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5257933 Fixed-line operators have thus looked to fixed-line and mobile broadband services to boost revenue. The economic crisis also affected telecom revenue, though recovery since 2013 has increased disposable income among consumers and so helped revitalise sector revenue. In late 2015 the government struck deals with Maygar Telekom and a number of other operators under which the telcos are extending super-fast broadband access to underserved areas. These efforts are being supported by intense infrastructure-based competition in the broadband market, with the result that broadband penetration is relatively high for the region. There is an extensive cable network competing against DSL services and a vibrant and rapidly expanding fibre sector. In May 2018 Liberty Global agreed to sell its cable unit UPC Hungary to Vodafone Group, a deal which will see Vodafone Hungary improve its position in the market for bundled services. The incumbent telco Maygar Telekom has built an extensive 1Gb/s fibre-based footprint and has also launched a 2Gb/s service. FttP and the expansion of services based on the DOCSIS3.1 standard will help drive the take-up of fixed broadband services, though from about 2023 it is anticipated that growth will slow as customers adopt voice and data services on 5G infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Amendments to the Utility Tax have also encouraged operators to accelrate the deployment of superfast networks (those which provide data of at least 30Mb/s). These connections accounted for more than 68% of all fixed broadband connections by mid-2018. Hungary's dynamic mobile market is served by three mobile network operators and a growing number of MVNOs. The bundled services operator Digi Telecommunications is building up a mobile network based on its 1800MHz and 3.4GHz concessions and has expanded into the fixed-line market through its May 2018 acquisition of Invitel. Mobile penetration is relatively high for the region, and there remains considerable growth in mobile broadband services delivered via upgraded networks. Revenue growth is focused on mobile data as operators struggle with competition and regulated tariff reductions, as well as reduced MTRs. Maygar Telekom is at the forefront of 5G developments, supported by the government, universities, other telcos and vendors forming the Hungarian 5G Coalition This report provides an overview of Hungary's telecoms market, highlighting regulatory developments, the major operators, fixed-line network infrastructure and a variety of statistics. The report also covers the mobile voice, data and broadband segments, covering the strategies of the major providers as well as regulatory measures. In addition the report reviews the fixed-line and fixed-wireless broadband markets, including market analyses, statistics and subscriber forecasts. Key developments: Maygar Telekom launches a 2Gb/s fibre service; Government invests HUF150 billion in program to deliver universal 30Mb/s broadband services; Vodafone Group acquires UPC Hungary from Liberty Global; Digi Telecom acquires Invitel; Telcos strike deal with the government to extend broadband to underserved areas; Utility Tax amendments favouring superfast broadband network roll-outs; FttX subscriber base broaches 668,000; Regulator preps for 5G spectrum auction in Q3 2019; Telenor Group sells it Hungarian business to PPF Group; Maygar Telekom launches NB-IoT platform; Hungarian 5G Coalition partners trial data rates at up to 22Gb/s; Report update includes the regulator's market data to June 2018 , telcos' financial and operating data to Q2 2018, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Vodafone Hungary, Maygar Telecom, UPC Hungary, Hungarotel, GTS Datanet, B2B Europe , Invitel, Antenna Hungaria. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5257933 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hungary---telecoms-mobile-and-broadband---statistics-and-analyses-300751552.html SOURCE ReportBuyer [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] New Built-In Video for Financial Aid Award Letters Enables Schools to Deliver the Most Engaging, Student-Friendly Experience PHOENIX, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CampusLogic, the leading student financial services (SFS) platform, today announced the preview release of its new built-in video library for AwardLetter. CampusLogic's AwardLetter product empowers colleges and universities to deliver an intuitive, student-friendly financial aid package on any mobile device, personalized for each student, and complete with performance tracking. The new built-in videos will provide a more engaging, intuitive experience to help students make better borrowing decisions. Financial aid award letters are often filled with confusing terminology, financial jargon, and lack of clarity around payment. According to a Young Invincibles and NERA Economic Consulting survey, more than 65% of high-debt student borrowers are confused by some aspect of their loan. This lack of clarity leaves many students making one of the biggest purchases of their life without fully understanding their financial commitment. CampusLogic's new built-in video library for AwardLetter embeds informative videos into each student's award letter to improve engagement and understanding. Videos answer questions like what is cost of attendance, what is the difference between drect and indirect cost, what is a grant versus a loan, and more. Key features include a library of financial literacy videos along with metrics to understand video usage. "When a student watches video they retain 95% of a message, compared to 10% when they read it in text," said Chris Chumley, Chief Operating Officer at CampusLogic. "With CampusLogic's new built-in video library for AwardLetter, schools can deliver a dynamic and immersive award letter experience to drive better borrowing decisions." "Financial literacy is process that extends throughout the student finance journey from saving and shopping to attending, repaying, and giving back. CampusLogic is uniquely positioned to provide financial literacy content and tools that are in-context, at each touch point throughout that journey," said Gregg Scoresby, CEO at CampusLogic. "AwardLetter is the first of several CampusLogic products that will include financial literacy content and tools to simplify the entire student finance journey." A preview of this new enhancement will be available at the Federal Student Aid Training Conference November 27 30 in Building B, Level 3, Room B313 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The new built-in videos for AwardLetter will be available to existing customers free of charge in early 2019. Initially available in English, the library will be expanded to include Spanish translations in 2019, as well. About CampusLogic CampusLogic transforms the way higher education delivers student financial services with the firstand onlycomprehensive platform. Easy. Mobile. Personalized. CampusLogic's innovative software removes financial barriers to improve student access, reduce borrowing, and drive completion in higher education. Nearly 500 schools serving 3 million students simplify financial services resulting in higher enrollment, streamlined efficiencies, and improved retention with CampusLogic. For more information visit campuslogic.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-built-in-video-for-financial-aid-award-letters-enables-schools-to-deliver-the-most-engaging-student-friendly-experience-300751631.html SOURCE CampusLogic [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Lookout Recognized in the Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense for the Third Year in a Row Lookout, the leader in securing the post-perimeter world, announced today that for the third year in a row it is listed as a Representative Vendor in Gartner's Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense Solutions. Lookout Endpoint Security provides comprehensive and continuous assessment of risk across iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices to secure against app, device and network-based threats. Mobile Threat Defense solutions have graduated to become an important part of an enterprise's security architecture. Enterprises are embracing cloud solutions to perform central work tasks. These solutions house sensitive corporate data, which employees can access from any endpoint, including mobile devices, from any network. A corporation's traditional perimeter security, in this new world of work, no longer applies. Enterprises have a new mandate to protect data from threats and risks that are unique to this work-from-anywhere environment. According to Gartner (News - Alert), "Mobile threat defense (MTD) solutions have matured and can provide value to organizations looking to strengthen their mobile security. Security and risk management leaders should leverage MTD to address evolving mobile security needs." Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security makes it easy to get visibility into the entire spectrum of mobile risk, apply policies to measurably reduce that risk, and integrate into your existing securty and mobile management solutions. "We believe our inclusion in the 2018 Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense validates our vision of a security architecture that protect enterprises in today's perimeter-less, cloud-delivered, and privacy-focused world," said Jim Dolce, CEO, Lookout. "As our customers and partners are faced with the rapid rise of a mobile-first workforce and sophisticated attacks that take advantage of this perimeter-less world, they need security that connects endpoint protection, access to cloud services, and identity, across managed and unmanaged devices." As the proven leader in the Mobile Threat Defense market, Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security is uniquely positioned to deliver post-perimeter security. Centered on the continuous protection of corporate data when accessed by devices outside the corporate perimeter, Lookout: Enables continuous conditional access to their corporate data, from any device. With Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security, enterprises have the opportunity to select, based on their risk tolerance, policies that help ensure devices stay compliant with internal and external mandates. If a device exceeds the acceptable level of risk, as defined by the enterprise, Lookout will send a remediation message to the employee, flag the issue to the admin in the Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security console, and log the employee out of any corporate resources. Moves security to the endpoint. Lookout Phishing and Content Protection lives on the device, monitoring for phishing attacks across many vectors including social media apps, messaging apps, SMS, and any app that makes a network connection. Lookout combines cloud-based detection informed by millions of endpoints with leading on-device security to deliver continuous risk assessment of an endpoint. Whether connected or off line, Lookout provides the ability to detect and remediate threats using a hybrid approach to cloud and device based security. Lookout's ability to dynamically allow or block access gives organizations the ability to build policies that define how users connect to the enterprise on devices that are often beyond the reach of IT. (1) Gartner, Inc. "Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense" by Dionisio Zumerle, John Girard, October 30, 2018. 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 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 (News - Alert), Apple 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 (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005104/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Private Tutoring market report accessible on DecisionDatabases.com offer all-inclusive market knowledge and insight of the market. The information is obtained and analyzed from the past and current year to forecast the market covering in the next seven years. The Private Tutoring industry experts were interviewed across the globe to gather the data which is then validated based on the secondary data. Download Free Sample Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-34939 The key players covered in this study Ambow Education New Oriental TAL Education Xueda Education American Tutor TutorZ Chegg.com Eduboard Manhattan Review ITutorGroup MindLaunch MandarinRocks Web International English Kaplan Brighter Minds Tutoring EF Education First Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Online Blended Market segment by Application, split into Pre-School Children Primary School Students Middle School Students High School Students College Students Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia India Central & South America Access the Report and Full TOC @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/34939-private-tutoring-industry-market-report Table of Contents-Snapshot 1 Report Overview 2 Global Growth Trends 3 Market Share by Key Players 4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application 5 United States 6 Europe 7 China 8 Japan 9 Southeast Asia 10 India 11 Central & South America 12 International Players Profiles 13 Market Forecast 2018-2025 14 Analyst's Viewpoints/Conclusions 15 Appendix About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a Global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. 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For More Details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91-90-28-057900 Web: www.decisiondatabases.com/ [November 15, 2018] RagingWire Hires New Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design to Deliver Innovative Data Centers for Hyperscale and Enterprise Clients RagingWire Data Centers, Inc., the premier data center provider in North America and part of the global data center platform of NTT Communications (NTT (News - Alert) Com), today announced that it has hired industry veteran Kevin Dalton as its new Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115006000/en/ As Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design, Kevin Dalton will lead RagingWire's new "V2" data center design and construction model, which will produce superior, large-scale data centers for hyperscale cloud companies and Fortune 1000 enterprises. (Photo: Business Wire) Prior to joining RagingWire, Mr. Dalton spent 12 years at Digital Realty Trust, Inc. During his time at Digital Realty, he served in a number of technical and senior management roles. He spent the last seven years as Vice President of Engineering, leading teams of engineers to design and deliver data center solutions for customers around the world. Mr. Dalton will lead RagingWire's charge to deploy its new "V2" data center design and construction model, which embraces global industry standards, multi-story buildings, and massive capacity delivered at a lower cost and shorter cycle time than ever before. This new design leverages modular construction techniques and robust supply chain management to produce superior, large-scale data centers for hyperscale cloud companies and Fortune 1000 enterprises. "Our new V2 data center design and construction model provides what hyperscale cloud companies and large enterprises want: massive, cost-effective capacity with international connectivity for their mission-critical applications," said RagingWire President and CEO Doug Adams. "With his long history of global success in the data center industry, Kevin Dalton is a perfect fit for this objective. He is an expert at optimizing data center designs and the entire construction process to drive rapid growth, improved quality, and speed to market." Mr. Dalton joins RagingWire as the company is actively developing several new data center properties, including two 250,000 square-foot facilities within its Ashburn Data Center Campus. The two-story VA4 and VA5 Data Centers will each provide 32 megawatts of power across four 35,000 square-foot, private mega-vaults. Construction for VA4 is scheduled for completion in summer 2019. VA5 will be available in six to nine months after customer commitments. In addition to construction underway in Ashburn, RagingWire is planning to develop its 42-acre campus in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, where its 16-megawatt TX1 Data Center opened last year. These expansions add to a portfolio that contains three data centers in Sacramento, Calif., which total 680,000 square feet and 52.7 megawatts of critical power. The company is also completing design and permitting for a 19-acre property in the wholesale data center area of western Chicago, and expects to announce additional new developments in other top data center markets in North America. "RagingWire is rapidly growing its presence in the world's most important data center markets," Mr. Dalton said. "I see this as a great opportunity to contribute to the company's momentum where it is established, while also driving growth into new areas." Before his time at Digital Realty, Mr. Dalton spent 10 years at MGE UPS Systems, a world leader in uninterrupted power supply systems, and nine years at McClier Corporation, a design-build firm. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. About RagingWire Data Centers RagingWire Data Centers designs, builds, and operates mission critical data centers that deliver 100% availability, high-density power, flexible configurations, carrier neutral connectivity, and superior customer service. The company has 177 megawatts of critical IT power spread across 2 million square feet of data center infrastructure in Ashburn, Virginia; Dallas, Texas; and Northern California with significant growth plans in these locations and other top North American data center markets. As part of the NTT Communications group, RagingWire is one of the largest wholesale data center providers in the world with a global network of 140 data centers in 20 countries and regions operated by NTT Communications (News - Alert) under the Nexcenter brand, and one of the most financially strong companies in the data center industry. For more information visit www.ragingwire.com. About NTT Communications NTT Communications solves the world's technology challenges by helping enterprises overcome complexity and risk in their ICT environments with managed IT infrastructure solutions. These solutions are backed by our worldwide infrastructure, including industry leading, global tier-1 public and private networks reaching over 190 countries/regions, and more than 400,000m2 of the world's most advanced data center facilities. Our global professional services teams provide consultation and architecture for the resiliency and security required for your business success, and our scale and global capabilities are unsurpassed. Combined with NTT Data, NTT Security, NTT DOCOMO and Dimension Data (News - Alert), we are NTT Group. www.ntt.com | [email protected] Com | [email protected] Com | [email protected] Com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115006000/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Financial Post Launches Innovation Series Postmedia Network Inc. ("Postmedia") today announced the launch of an in-depth, ongoing examination of innovation in Canada and what Canadian companies need to survive and prosper in the global ideas economy. Innovation Nation is an expansive project launched today with a standalone website, a high-impact speaking event this week - in conversation with Jim Balsillie, Chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators and Financial Post's Kevin Carmichael - and with stories to be published in the National Post, Financial Post and Postmedia newspapers across the country. "Over the next three months, we'll be exploring the issues surrounding innovation and highlighting some of the innovators and scientists on the cutting edge of the new economy," said Anne Marie Owens, Editor-in-Chief, National Post. "We set out to answer the question, 'what is needed for Canada to thrive in the cut-throat ideas economy' by reaching out to thinkers, business leaders and policy experts." Partners on Innovation Nation include the Council of Canadian Innovators, a national business council of Canadian tech CEOs, and the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a global policy think tank. Canada has a rich history of innovation, whether it's the invention of the pacemaker, the snowmobile or the smartphone, or the discovery of insulin. But in the next few decades, powerful technological forces will transform the global economy, making the ability to successfully commercialize innovation the key to prosperity in the 21st-century ideas economy. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, energy storage and quantum omputing are accelerating and are poised to affect every aspect of our lives. In many ways, Canada is well positioned to succeed: it has one of the most educated workforces in the world, ample digital infrastructure, a reputation for welcoming immigrants and is ranked highly when it comes to openness to trade and investment. But headwinds persist - the United States and China have influenced global trade rules to benefit the massive companies inside their borders, Canada's top technology talent often end up working outside of this country, and it has become immensely difficult for capital- and talent-starved companies to reach the scale they need to compete globally. Innovation Nation launches online at innovation.financialpost.com and stories can also be found online on the innovation vertical of financialpost.com. Stories will appear in print in Saturday's National Post and in Postmedia newspapers across country. This initiative is being supported by an integrated ad campaign produced in-house by Postmedia's marketing team. Advertising opportunities include three tiers of integrated sponsorships that include print media in Financial Post, online on the FP Innovation Channel as well as innovation events. For more information about advertising and sponsorship opportunities contact Jutta Gruenewald, Vice President National Sales at [email protected] or visit www.postmediasolutions.com. About Postmedia Network Inc. Postmedia Network Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC (News - Alert).A, PNC.B), is a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 140 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. For more information, visit www.postmedia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115006004/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Illumio Ranked as a Strong Performer in Zero Trust eXtended (ZTX) Ecosystem Providers Report SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Illumio, a cybersecurity leader focused on micro-segmentation, today announced that it has been ranked as a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave Zero Trust eXtended (ZTX) Ecosystem Providers, Q4 2018 report. The report profiles 14 vendors who most closely align with Forrester's ZTX framework to inform and guide security professionals on their Zero Trust journey. "A key factor for any Zero Trust enterprise or strategy is to know what assets and controls are in place and to be able to understand, with context, what transactions and threats are critical to the business," writes Chase Cunningham, principal analyst serving security & risk professionals, Forrester, in the report. "In this regard, Illumio shines. The technology provided by the vendor aligns well with enabling the establishment of Zero Trust for an organization, and its ability to provide the contextual insight of threat areas and workflows for both security and continuity stand out in the space." Illumio ranked second highest in the current offering category, gaining the report's highest marks possible in workload security, visibility and analytics, automation and orchestration, management and visibility, and portfolio growth rate criteria. Illumio was also recognized by its users for its ability to handle micro-segmentation on the fly, visualization, and usability, which Forrester notes are "all key points in any Zero Trust system." "The reality is that when it comes to cybersecurity, we have to completely change our mindset and assume breach," said Matthew Glenn, VP of product management, Illumio. "We've slipped into a reactive state when it comes to cybersecurity strategies, but we can change this approach by securing networks from the inside out. Illumio developed its platform to democratize micro-segmentation, which removes the complexity and costs associated with the approach from the past. Micro-segmentation, agility, usability and visibility are crucial to a successful Zero Trust approach and moving our cybersecuriy posture back to proactive vs. reactive. When we assume breach, we know attackers will get in but with Zero Trust and micro-segmentation, we limit access to our most valuable assets and rob them of success." With 300 percent year-over-year bookings growth and international expansion in Europe and Asia Pacific to support customer growth, Illumio has consistently attracted recognition for its industry leadership. The Forrester Wave's rigorous methodology requires the research team to gather information on vendors that are chosen based on product fit, customer success, and Forrester customer demand. Companies were selected for evaluation based on ZTX capabilities, ZTX alignment, revenues, API integration and mindshare. In addition to the Forrester Wave Zero Trust report, the company was recently named to the Forbes Cloud 100. Additional accolades in 2018 include the Morgan Stanley CTO Innovation Award and the SIIA CODiE Best Network Security Solution Award. Illumio was also recently named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list two years in a row and recognized as one of the Bay Area's Best Places to Work by the San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal. Read the full report here: https://www.illumio.com/resource-center/research-report-the-forrester-wave-zero-trust-extended-ecosystem-providers. About Illumio Illumio, the leader in micro-segmentation, prevents the spread of breaches inside data center and cloud environments. Enterprises such as Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas, Salesforce, and Oracle NetSuite use Illumio to reduce cyber risk and achieve regulatory compliance. The Illumio Adaptive Security Platform uniquely protects critical information with real-time application dependency and vulnerability mapping coupled with micro-segmentation that works across any data center, public cloud, or hybrid cloud deployment on bare-metal, virtual machines, and containers. For more information, visit www.illumio.com/what-we-do or follow us @Illumio. Media and Analyst Contact Michelle Van Jura Intersect Communications, for Illumio [email protected] C: 310-420-4062 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illumio-ranked-as-a-strong-performer-in-zero-trust-extended-ztx-ecosystem-providers-report-300751725.html SOURCE Illumio [November 15, 2018] MetLife to Hold Investor Outlook Call MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) today announced that it will hold an outlook conference call for investors on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (ET). Presenters will include members of MetLife's senior management team. The conference call and accompanying presentation materials will include statements relating to the business, operations, financial results and outlook of MetLife, as well as certain projections regarding the company's future performance. The call will also include a question and answer session. The conference call will be available live via telephone and over the internet. To listen over the telephone, dial (877) 531-2986 in the U.S. and (612) 332-0335 internationally. To listen to the conference call via the internet and/or to access presentation materials, visit www.metlife.com (through a link on the Investor Relations page). Those who want to listen to the call via telephone or internet should dial in or go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register and/or download and install any necessary audio software. The conference call will be available for replay via telephone and internet beginning 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. To listen to a replay of the conference call over the telephone, dial (800) 475-6701 in the U.S. and (320) 365-3844 internationally. The access code for the replay is 433155. To access the replay of the conference call via the internet, visit the above-mentioned website. About MetLife MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005060/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] OESA Board of Directors Elects Jon DeGaynor for 2018-19 Term NOVI, Mich., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) is pleased to announce the election of Jon DeGaynor, president and CEO, to the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) Board of Directors for 2018-19. DeGaynor was announced as an OESA board member at the 2018 OESA Annual Conference held on November 7 in Novi, Michigan. "We are delighted to welcome Jon as a new board member this year," said Julie A. Fream, president and chief executive officer, OESA. "His vast professional experience and participation with OESA in recent years will be an asset to us during this evolutionary time in our industry." "I am honored to be elected to the OESA board for this coming year," said Jon DeGaynor, president and CEO, Stoneridge, Inc. "The transportation industry is rapidly transforming with increasingly innovative and technical demands from our customers and end users. I look forward to working with my felow board members to continue OESA's mission of advancing the business interests of suppliers." OESA also announced the election of Ramzi Y. Hermiz, president and CEO, Shiloh Industries, Inc., as chairman of the board, Francoise Colpron, group president, Valeo North America, and Ken Hopkins, president and CEO, Neapco Holdings, LLC, as vice chairs for 2018-19. Additional board members elected for terms beginning in 2018 are: Scott Ferriman, President, MAHLE Industries, Inc.; Denise Gray, President, LG Chem Michigan Inc. Tech Center; Ronald E. Hall, Jr., President and CEO, Bridgewater Interiors; Dan Sandberg, President and CEO, Brembo North America, Inc.; Katsu Uno, Chairman and CEO, HIROTEC AMERICA, Inc. About Stoneridge, Inc. Stoneridge, Inc., headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the automotive, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, agricultural and off-highway vehicle markets. Additional information about Stoneridge can be found at Stoneridge.com. Contact: Jennifer Carlson Manager of Marketing Communications [email protected] +1.248.324.9814 Chelsea Komblevicz The Quell Group [email protected] +1.248.649.8900 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oesa-board-of-directors-elects-jon-degaynor-for-2018-19-term-300751685.html SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Company Profile for Statewide Internet Portal Authority Established in 2004 by the Colorado General Assembly, the Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) is a self-funded government organization created to be Colorado's single most comprehensive delivery channel for electronic government (eGovernment) services. SIPA strives to accelerate the adoption of efficient and effective electronic government services by placing more government information and services online to benefit the residents of Colorado. In addition to no-cost websites, payment processing, and event registration setup, SIPA provides SaaS (News - Alert) technology solutions, consulting, and cyber security assessments. For more information about SIPA, please visit www.colorado.gov/sipa. Company: Statewide Internet Portal Authority Headquarters Address: Suite 440 1300 Broadway Street Denver, CO 80203 Main Telephone: 720-409-5634 Website: www.colorado.gov/sipa Type of Organization: Government Industry: State/Local Key Executives: Executive Director: Jack Arrowsmith Sales & Marketing Manager Contact: Beth Justice Phone (News - Alert): 720-409-5636 Email: [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115006079/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] You have reached a premium content area of TOL. To read this entire article please login if you are already a TOL subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Asus CEO Jerry Shen says the company has seen shipments to the builder community, including motherboards, impacted by Intel's current CPU supply status, according to a report from DigiTimes today. Further, Shen expects the CPU shortage, especially for desktop CPUs, will continue into Q2 2019. According to Shen, Asus' "operational visibility" for Q4 2018 is 20 percent, a steep drop to the over-50 percent recorded in unspecified previous years. He attributes this to the CPU shortage, as well as growing laptop competition in Europe and the U.S.-China trade war. Asus' net profits dropped in Q3 by 43 percent compared to the same period last year. For the first three quarters of 2018, the company saw a profit decline of 39 percent compared to the first three quarters of last year. The company expects PC shipments for Q4 to remain flat compared to the previous quarter, even though you'd normally see significantly more sales in the Q4 compared to the Q3, thanks to holiday shopping. Components shipments are expected to drop 5 percent. Shen noted that server and gaming PC CPU shipments have stayed on track, so Asus' gaming PC business is yet to be affected by the shortage. The Asus chief isn't the first to say he expects the CPU deficit to continue into 2019, with Martin Wong, CEO of ODM Compal Electronics, saying the same in September. Intel has been having troubles finalizing its 10nm process node, causing shortages in its 14nm processors that it expects to worsen in Q4. Intel even had to revert to the old 22nm chipset to be able to fulfill the demand. LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - A Lawrence police officer who shot a man during an arrest is asking that criminal charges against her be dropped. In a motion filed last week in Douglas County, attorneys for 26-year-old Brindley Blood argued that Blood shot 35-year-old Akira Lewis in self-defense, which makes her immune from prosecution under Kansas law. KANSAS CITY, MO (AP) -- The family of a woman killed in Kansas by a man who wanted to kill Jews has settled a lawsuit with Walmart over the sale of a shotgun used in the shooting. Terri LaManno was killed in 2014 outside the Village Shalom care center in Overland Park. Trade misinvoicing in South Africa leads to massive revenue losses Analysis of trade misinvoicing in South Africa from 2010-2014 shows that the potential average loss of revenue to the government was approximately $7.4 billion per year or $37 billion during the period studied, according to a new study by Global Financial Integrity. The report, South Africa: Potential Revenue Losses Associated with Trade Misinvoicing, analyzes South Africas bilateral trade statistics for five year period 2010-2014 using information from United Nations Comtrade and data made available from the South African Revenue Authority. The detailed breakdown of bilateral South African trade flows allowed for the computation of trade value gaps that are the basis for trade misinvoicing estimates. Import gaps represent the difference between the value of goods South Africa reports having imported from its partner countries and the corresponding export reports by South Africas trade partners. Export gaps represent the difference in value between what South Africa reports as having exported and what its partners report as imported. The average annual revenue lost due to the misinvoicing of imports was $4.8 billion. This amount can be further divided into its component parts: uncollected VAT tax ($2.1 billion), customs duties ($596 million), and corporate income tax ($2.1 billion). Lost revenue due to misinvoiced exports was $2.6 billion on average each year which is related to lower than expected corporate income taxes. The practice of trade misinvoicing has become normalized in many categories of international trade according to GFI President Raymond Baker. It is a major contributor to poverty, inequality, and insecurity in emerging market and developing economies. The social cost attendant to trade misinvoicing undermines sustainable growth in living standards and exacerbates inequities and social divisions, issues which are critical in South Africa today. Related GFI reports Total misinvoicing gaps related to imports can be broken down by under-invoicing ($16.3 billion) and over-invoicing ($9.8 billion). It should be noted that these figures represent the estimated value of the gap between what was reported by South Africa and its trading partners. The loss in government revenue is a subset of these amounts and is based on VAT tax rates (12.9 percent), customs duties (3.7 percent), corporate income taxes (21.7 percent), and royalties (1 percent) which are then applied to the value gap. Export misinvoicing gaps were a massive $11.6 billion for export under-invoicing and $8.6 billion for export over-invoicing annually. Lost corporate income taxes and royalties are then applied to export under-invoicing amounts to calculate lost government revenue. The study examined trade data from the South African Revenue Service in order to conduct an in-depth examination of import under-invoicing. This process analyzed approximately 7.4 million trade transactions which included more than 8,200 commodity types for the period 2010-2015. A key conclusion is that goods categories with a preponderance of under-invoicing tend to be associated with higher effective tax rates than other classes of imports. The data show that the top five categories for potential revenue loss related to import under-invoicing are machinery, knitted apparel, electrical machinery, non-knitted apparel, and vehicles. Three of these commodities (machinery, electrical machinery, and vehicles) are among the most commonly imported goods into South Africa. Trade misinvoicing occurs in four ways: under-invoicing of imports or exports, and over-invoicing of imports or exports. In the case of import under-invoicing fewer VAT taxes and customs duties are collected due to the lower valuation of goods. When import over-invoicing occurs (i.e. when companies pay more than would normally be expected for a product), corporate revenues are lower and therefore less income tax is paid. In export under-invoicing the exporting company collects less revenue than would be anticipated and therefore reports lower income. Thus, it pays less income tax. Corporate royalties are also lower. The report was published with the generous support of the Ford Foundation. The African Union Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency convened partners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 13 November 2018 to rally support for the second phase of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Priority Action Plan (PAP), which is currently under formulation. GIZ started its new PIDA-support phase in August 2018 with four output areas covering EURO 7 million. The objective of the meeting was to garner joint understanding of objectives and content on the next GIZ-PIDA support phase; clarify on modes of cooperation, communication, and monitoring progress; and develop a joint workplan for GIZ Support to PIDA Phase 2018-2021. In his remarks, the Director for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, Mr. Cheikh Bedda stated that the Coordination Meeting is happening at a strategic time in the life of PIDA. The implementation of the first phase, running from 2012 to 2020, has almost reached its end, engagement is well underway in the implementation of PIDA, and negotiations are ongoing for the next phase of PIDA-PAP. By bringing together all these partners, the coordination meeting provides a unique opportunity to promote collaboration and coordination on the second phase of PIDA-PAP (2020-2030), the Director explained. It is therefore necessary and important for AUC, NEPAD, GiZ and all involved that their activities and programmes should be harmonised and coordinated so that we can all put our financial and human resources to achieve our common goal for PIDA. This calls for stronger partnerships and collaborations among regional, continental and international institutions as well as active engagement with our member States, Mr. Bedda asserted. Mr. Bedda concluded his remarks by thanking GiZ and the European Union for their continued support to the first phase of PIDA and their pledges in the formulation and eventual implementation of the second phase of PIDA PAP. On his part, Mr. Symerre Grey-Johnson, Head of Regional Integration Infrastructure and Trade at the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, stated this gathering is laying the groundwork for a new era of collaboration of working together that will propel us towards our common goal for PIDA. Mr. Grey-Johnson gave an overall presentation on PIDA and an outlook on the formulation of the next phase with an invitation to all partners in attendance to involve by listing the opportunities for further engagement on PIDA and with the objective of optimal alignment and coordination between partners. He appealed for tangible results from PIDA that can impact the lives of Africans while emphasizing the essential importance of strengthened collaboration from PIDAs implementing partners. The event gathered representatives from GiZ, European Union, Chinese Mission to the African Union and the Embassies of the Republic of Indonesia and Korea, representing the Group MIKTA, which is an informal partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia. A number of key themes emerged in the main discussion, covering a wide range of issues including: strengthened involvement of the private sector in infrastructure, formulation of project selection criteria, pre-screening of projects against these criteria, support to the expert pool under the Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM) for early-stage project preparation and support to the optimization of the Continental Business Network (CBN) for an increased private sector engagement. Partners lauded the AUC and the NEPAD Agency for organizing such an event early in the process of the preparation of the next phase of PIDA and they agreed that going forward there should be an effort to reduce overlaps and duplication of efforts from partners to ensure increased efficiency. It was also agreed that AUC and NEPAD will organize bilateral meetings with each partner in the coming two months to iron out the work plan and find common areas of cooperation. This first time gathering of these key partners to PIDA was jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA). About 20 delegates were in attendance. PM Salwai says Vanuatu must set a clear framework to respond to all different types of disasters. Photo: Adorina Massing editorial@tribune.com Minimum Rs10 lakh loan amount appears roadblock Vijay C Roy Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 15 Stand-up India, the flagship scheme of the BJP-led NDA government to encourage entrepreneurship among the SC/ST and women has failed to pick up in Haryana and Punjab with less than 3% achievement in the BJP-ruled state and about 8% in Congress-ruled Punjab in the current financial year. In April-September 2018, banks in Haryana could offer loans to only 274 people under the scheme against a target of 9,536 for the whole fiscal year. The neighbouring Punjab, however, performed better compared to Haryana with 995 cases of disbursal in the first half of the financial year against a target of 12,702. Banking sector experts say the progress has been very slow and it is unlikely that the two states could improve their performance in the remaining six months. The government had launched the scheme on April 5, 2016 to facilitate bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up greenfield enterprises in the manufacturing, services or the trading sector. In Punjab, the total number of bank branches was 6,351 as on September 30, 2018. So far, only 570 branches have participated under the scheme. According to state level bankers committee (SLBC) data, against the targeted 12,702 cases, banks in the state have disbursed Rs 193.40 crore to 995 beneficiaries in April-September 30, 2018 period even as the state has very high percentage of SC population. The top performing banks in implementing the scheme in the state are Punjab & Sind Bank, Canara Bank and Vijaya Bank, the report said. Similarly in Haryana, out of 4,768 branches of scheduled commercial banks, only 178 branches have participated in the scheme. As far as disbursement is concerned, an amount of Rs 46.45 crore has been disbursed to 274 beneficiaries in the state. The top performing banks in implementing the scheme are Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank and HDFC Bank. Owing to low performance of banks in Haryana, Punjab National Bank Executive Director LV Prabhakar suggested to the bankers to popularise the scheme by lending to the SC, ST and women beneficiaries. Some bankers say the scheme itself is flawed as it offers a minimum Rs 10 lakh loan, which is often beyond the requirements of the prospective borrowers. In rural areas, people plan small projects. They, therefore, prefer loan under another scheme (MUDRA) that offers loan below Rs 10 lakh, a banker said requesting anonymity. Stand-up India Progress in Haryana and Punjab (April-September 2018-19) State No of bank branches Target (2 cases/branch) Achieved (%) Achievement Haryana 4,768 9,536 274 2.87 Punjab 6,351 12,702 995 7.83 PM Modi launched the scheme on April 5, 2016 It provides loans between Rs10 lakh and Rs1 crore Loan given to 1 SC/ST and 1 woman borrower per branch Loan is given for setting up greenfield enterprises Sandeep Dikshit Sandeep Dikshit Deputy editor The latest round of US sanctions has given world powers like India an additional headache about sourcing their military and oil requirements from Iran and Russia. But there is a silver lining for India as it reworks its calculations. A US exemption to India for a communications artery into the Afghan Pushtun heartland can make New Delhi an unavoidable component of all future deliberations on Afghanistan. In other words, India can soon be back in Afghanistan. The US law, known by its abbreviation CAATSA, is meant to reform North Korea, Russia and Iran by imposing sanctions on their strategic sectors. The US has now allowed India and half a dozen other countries to gradually taper their dependence on Iranian oil instead of abruptly shutting off the tap that will spike global crude prices. But there was another Iran-specific exemption by the US and meant only for India. This was for a road-cum-rail project India has been slowly assembling from the Iranian port of Chabahar into Afghanistan. The link reduces Pakistans strategic importance as Afghanistans only access to the sea. More important from geopolitical terms, the Indian link will be the more-efficient rail-based, making the evacuation of minerals from Afghanistan by this route cheaper than by the road route to Pakistani ports. One reason why this project never caught momentum was the American policy of punishing countries and companies that traded with Iran. This scared off many Indian private companies that were eager to manage berths at Chabahar. Many companies keen to set up factory complexes based on Iranian gas and Afghan minerals around Chabahar also cried off after the Bush administration imposed sanctions on Iran. They havent been back since, leaving the projects in the hand of public sector companies with their inevitable lack of initiative. There is much excitement among strategic circles over the Moscow conference on Afghanistan that was attended by the Taliban. Right from the Bonn conference of 2001, these meets have been hyped up to open a new page in Afghanistans history. But the situation on the battlefield for the past 10 years has been of a stalemate with a slight edge for the Taliban. In terms of ending the conflict, such conferences will not mean anything because neither side can force the other to the negotiating table in a position of inferiority. Both believe superiority over the other is a matter of the next military battle. The external backers of both sides are happy to keep stoking the fires but the interminable Afghan-on-Afghan civil war is wearing down the locals. This was reflected when 30,000 Taliban militants entered government-held cities across the country during the three-day Eid ceasefire in mid-June and held joint celebrations with Afghan National Security Forces. Some fighters were even reported to have taken a break from the Talibans annual offensive to meet their rivals off the battlefield. The military stalemate and desire for peace among Afghans may be forcing a rethink in both Pakistan and the Taliban. The re-entry of the Americans into combat operations from 2016 has made it harder for the Taliban to completely seize provincial capitals as its firepower is inadequate to deal with US armoured vehicles, leading to repeated routs in the contest for flat ground around the cities. With neither side poised to be the ascendant power in Afghanistan, the meets such as the one in Moscow are more about the modalities of holding talks though there is a sense of urgency because of the new player on the Afghan terror block the Islamic State (IS). The Taliban is inward looking, focusing on Afghanistan and may be chastened after learning its lessons from hosting a terror exporter like Osama bin Laden. The end-goal of the IS, on the other hand, is the establishment of a worldwide Islamic caliphate, which means that it will not be disinclined to train budding violent Islamists of other countries, including India, Central Asia and Russia. Having suffered a split with the Central Asian component of the IS forming a separate bloc, a brief window has opened up for talks with the Taliban, an option better than permitting an improvement in IS-Taliban relations. Already security experts are talking about a helping hand from a Taliban ally to the IS for staging a recent series of attacks in Kabul. While over a dozen countries with fingers in the Afghan pie try to reduce the intensity of conflict, PM Narendra Modis conversation with US President Donald Trump, as reported by US journalist Bob Woodward in his book, Fear: Trump in the White House, needs to be recalled. He (Modi) told me the US has gotten nothing out of Afghanistan. Nothing. Afghanistan has massive mineral wealth. We dont take it like others like China, Trump was reported as telling his aides. Trump is absolutely on the ball. The US has been the sucker but Indias communication project is the sole takeaway in Afghanistan that will widen the arc of beneficiaries when Central Asians, ever keen to wriggle out of the Sino-Russian embrace, also connect to this link. This is a unique situation for India. Even Iran doesnt look askance at the US benevolence in this case because the Indian footprint on its territory helps develop its neglected Sistan Baluchestan, for long in the grip of insurgency and drug running because of backwardness. The assurance that this project will not be blackballed by the US should be just the signal for India to go all out to make up for the years of hesitation. sandeepdixit@tribunemail.com laxmi@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 A dancer turned snatcher was chased and caught by Raftar patrolling squad at midnight at Govindpuri. Snatcher Rohan Gill (21), a resident of Govindpuri, who was caught red-handed while he was fleeing after snatching money from an auto-rickshaw driver. The snatched purse of the auto-driver and a stolen mobile has been recovered, said police. On November 14 at midnight, an auto-rickshaw driver, Rahul, resident of Madanpur Khadar, while waiting in his auto for passenger at Govindpuri Chowk at Ravi Dass Marg, was counting his cash, when a boy came to him and asked for bidi. Complainant gave him bidi and while he continued counting, the boy allegedly snatched his purse and ran way, they said. Complainant raised alarm for help and nearby newly inducted Raftar motorcycle patrolling squad beat staff of Govindpuri chased the accused. After a hot chase, the squad managed to apprehend the accused. A snatched purse containing Rs 1,900 was recovered from his possession, said DCP Chinmoy BIswal. During sustained interrogation, accused disclosed that he had studied and remained in a hostel in Agra, UP. He was not much interested in studies and after schooling, he returned to his home here. His father works as a driver. Accused joined a Dance Academy in Kalkaji and completed a one-year professional dance training course. He joined a dance troupe and soon became the lead performer of his troupe. He started performing in events and parties, the DCP said. Accused further disclosed that he has three girlfriends. In order to splurge on them and to get easy money for his expenses, he started petty thefts and snatching in the area, he said. With the arrest of the accused, 12 cases of thefts and snatchings in Govindpuri have been solved and a stolen mobile phone has also been recovered on his instance, the DCP added. amansharma@tribunemail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 The Supreme Court has set aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court order sentencing a Narnaul-based lawyer to one-month imprisonment for a Facebook post against a judge of the high court, holding that it was not a case of contempt. "We have gone through the matter in detail and are of the view that it was not a case where the contempt action should have been taken against the appellant who is an Advocate. We thus allow this appeal and set aside the impugned order passed by the High Court," a Bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said allowing advocate Manish Vashishth's appeal. Vashishth had challenged the high court's June 3 order sentencing him to a month's simple imprisonment for his Facebook post against a judge in connection with a judicial order passed by him on August 24 last year in a personal litigation involving the lawyer. In his Facebook post, Vashishth had alleged that the judgment passed against him by the High Court was "not speaking" and a better decision could have been written by a magistrate. He had said the judge did not upload the judgment as he might not have understood what was to be written. The high court - which took suo motu cognizance of the Facebook post-had on May 31 held that the publication amounted to lowering the dignity of the judicial system. Such a derogatory remark was contemptuous on the face of it and as such, the HC had said holding the contemnor guilty of contempt of court. The high court had noted that the general public's faith in the judiciary would be shattered in case punishment was not awarded to a person scandalising and lowering the authority of not just the court but also the judiciary in the eyes of the general public by his publication. "The dignity and authority of the court has to be maintained not only by the general public, but also by advocates, who constitute an important part of the system of the administration of justice and are considered as officers of the court," an HC Bench of Justice MMS Bedi and Justuce Hari Pal Verma had said. However, the HC had had kept the sentence suspended to enable him approach the top court for an appeal. Allowing Vashishth's appeal, the top court said it was not a case where the contempt action should have been taken against the appellant advocate. amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Gurugram, November 15 Gurugram police have rescued a 16-year-old girl who was illegally employed as domestic help by a doctor in Sector 65. The girl who hails from Jharkhand had allegedly eloped with a youth who had promised to marry her, but sold her to a 'maid manager' who employed her here a few months ago. The police action came following a tip-off from a local NGO. The girl claimed that she had been looking ways to get back home but had no access to anybody outside or any forms of communication. "She got a chance today and called childline number which she had seen written on an autorickshaw. NGO Shakti Vahini called police and we rescued the girl who has been sent to shelter home. The child is under observation and being comforted. She has so far not revealed anything about her treatment at hand of employers who claim they hired her from maid agency and were lied about her age," said Police PRO Subhash Bokan. editorial@tribune.com Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, November 15 It has been a long wait for Pawan Rana, Parmod Rana and Sukhbir Rana, all farmers from Raison village, for compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). They had suffered crop losses during kharif season 2017, but are yet to receive their compensation. The delay in the settlement of claims is brewing resentment among the farmers, who are demanding that the state and the Union Government take action against the insurance companies for delaying the payment. The premium of my kharif crop was deducted from my account in July and after suffering crop losses, I had applied for compensation, which is around Rs 2 lakh, in September 2017. But due to clerical mistake committed at a bank in Kaithal, I am not receiving compensation. A survey has been conducted by the insurance company along with the department in this regard, said Pawan Kumar. He maintained that the bank had changed the name of his village from Raison to Ramba, leading to his and other farmers harassment, despite of no fault on their part. The situation is the same with Sudama, a farmer from Chora village. As per the Agriculture Department report, his crop suffered 70 per cent was damage but no compensation was given to him due to a clerical mistake by the bank. Taking a serious note of the discrepancy, Aditya Dabas, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), has recommended stringent action against the bank manager for causing harassment to the farmers. Apart from them, 71 farmers of rabi season 2016-17, 95 farmers of kharif season 2017 and 159 farmers of rabi season 2018 are running from pillar to post to get their compensation. The compensation of more than 15,000 farmers of the current season is yet to be settled. Dabas said they had asked the insurance company to clear the dues of the farmers at the earliest. editorial@tribune.com Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, November 15 Anil Bamal, a young farmer of Bhatol Jatan village, sowed paddy and cotton on his seven and a half acres in 2017. Since he had taken loan through Kisan Credit Card, he got insurance cover for his crop by default as the local branch of the Bank of Baroda deducted about Rs 5,600 as premium for crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Later, his crops suffered damage due to whitefly and fungus due to untimely rain in the region. But his claim was denied by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company under the crop insurance scheme. Anil and about 760 farmers of many villages were still to get their claims though the bank had automatically deducted premium from their bank accounts. Talking to The Tribune, Anil said like him, these farmers from Bhatol Jatan Bhatol Jatan, Bhatol Rangdan, Kharkhara, Jeetpura, Bhadala, Kharbala and Seesar had been waiting for insurance claims to be settled for over a year now. He said after rejection of claim by the insurance firm, they met district agriculture officials and the Deputy Commissioner. He said finally, the lead bank manager, Hisar, informed them that their claims had been turned down as premium was not deposited with the insurance firm. We were taken aback as our bank accounts showed that premium was deducted by the bank. Though we tried to convince bank officials and district administration to look into the matter, nobody was bothered. We had to lock the bank on October 1 to register our protest, after which senior bank officials agreed to sort out the issue, he said. However, one and a half months later, nothing had happened, said Anil. He added that they had met the bank manager, who has assured them of a settlement. Local branch manager of Bank of Baroda Ravinder Kumar and Bajaj Allianz official Rahul said they had taken up the issue with the higher authorities. Hisar Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena said they were inquiring into the matter. He asserted that whosoever was found guilty would be taken to task. If the claims of farmers are found to be valid, they will get their insurance claims, he added. editorial@tribune.com Vijay Arora Shimla, November 15 The High Court on Thursday directed the state to constitute a three-member special investigation team (SIT), headed by the Additional Superintendent of Police (CID), for investigating the case of Poland national Bruno Muschalik (24), who went missing from the Parbati valley in 2015. While passing the direction, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel directed SIT to file its status report in a sealed cover before the court. In compliance with its earlier direction, the Superintendent of Police, Kullu, along with the Additional SP, CID, were present before the court with the record of the case. During the hearing, the court expressed its dissatisfaction over the investigation of the case and directed SIT to probe it with the help of experts. The court passed the order on a petition filed by the father of Bruno, alleging that the police were not investigation the matter in a fair manner. He sought in its petition that the matter be investigated by an independent agency. Bruno has been missing since August 9, 2015. The matter came to light only on August 18, 2015, after the Poland Embassy informed the police about the youth going missing in the district. editorial@tribune.com Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, November 14 The clouds of uncertainty hovering over the Rs 700 crore Integrated Development Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-fed Agriculture have been cleared with the Centre acceding to the request of the government to drop the Rs 400-crore World Bank project on forests for prosperity in Una. The decision was conveyed by the Department of Economic Affairs to the government yesterday. The decision was also conveyed to Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Country Director, India, World Bank, about the change in the implementation of the forestry project. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, urging him to direct the continuation of the Integrated Development Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-fed Agriculture which was to be implemented in 10 districts, barring Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur. The jobs of almost 400 persons were dependent on the fate of this project as winding it up or merging it would have put their jobs at stake. The headquarters of the project is at Solan. It was following the decision of the previous Congress regime that the World Bank had stopped the funding. Now the issue has been resolved with the intervention of Jaitley. Responding to the decision of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), the Himachal Government today constituted a team to pursue the case with the Centre for expeditious disposal. Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Ram Subhag Singh constituted a team of officers for the integrated development project (IDP) to discuss the follow-up action, consequent to the decision to drop the project. The team is headed by HK Sarwata, Director, Dr Vivek Lamba, Dr Chander Shekhar Sharma and Naresh Thakur. We have already informed about the governments readiness for signing of loan and legal agreement with respect to the IDP on June 27, 2018. Also a formal request was made to the World Bank to prepare the project concept note and project appraisal document, wrote Ram Subhag. The letter has also been sent to the Additional Secretary, DEA, Ministry of Finance, and Principal Chief Conservator (PCCF)-cum-Chief Project Director of IDP, Solan, for immediate compliance. editorial@tribune.com Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, November 15 The British-era heritage building Town Hall, housing the office of the Mayor, is unlikely to be given back to the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) after the completion of the Rs 8-crore conservation project as the High Court has directed the Tourism Department to prepare a conceptual plan so that it could be put to public use. It was following a court hearing on November 3, earlier this month, that it had been conveyed to the department that keeping in mind the historic significance of the heritage building, it should not be used for housing the offices of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Commissioner. It was suggested that the renovated building be put to some public use. The court directive seems to be in line with public demand for putting the majestic building for some public use. Suggestions had poured in for setting up a museum, memento kiosk and handicraft display gallery so that tourists could get a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of the state in the renovated building. However, a final decision is yet to be taken as the next date of hearing in the High Court is scheduled for December 13. It was yesterday that the court directed the department to get a conceptual note prepared specifying the total area in the building, located on The Mall. The department has also been asked to suggest the use to which the building can be put. We have received yesterdays court directive and will get the conceptual plan prepared as the next date of hearing is fixed for December 13, said Ram Subhag Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism and Forest. The councillors, cutting across party lines, have been aggressively demanding that the building belonged to the MC and it should be handed back to them. In a rare show of unity, the councillors have been vociferously demanding the heritage structure. The Town Hall is the second British-era structure after the Gaiety Theatre to undergo an exhaustive restoration work with the help of conservation architects. The main objective of the conservation and restoration project was to restore the historic building to its original look as several additions had been made after it was completed in 1908. The court, in its earlier order on December 13, 2017, asked the Chief Secretary to file a personal affidavit regarding the use of the building. The court was of the considered view that it could be used for housing a library and other public conveniences rather than leaving it to the mercy of babus for nailing the restored wooden panels and work of art only for the purpose of hanging calendars or pasting the same over walls. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Shimla, November 15 Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, flagging off the start-up yatra van from his official residence Oakover, here on Thursday said Himachal Start-up would turn the educated youth from job seekers to job providers. To give support to start-up and innovation projects, the state government would provide assistance to the youth. The Chief Minister said this scheme was a gift of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the youth which envisaged various incentives for start-ups so as to enable entrepreneurs to succeed in their ventures. He said that the yatra van would visit various educational institutes of Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, Kullu and Mandi districts and culminate at IIT-Mandi on November 30. The scheme also had a provision of creating incubation centres to build capacities, develop networking, establishing necessary infrastructure and generating awareness. IIT-Mandi, NIT-Hamirpur, agriculture university, Palampur, the Science, Technology and Environment Council, horticulture university, Nauni, Bir Technology Park, HP University, the CSIR, Palampur and the JPUIT, Vaknaghat, have been selected for incubation centres. Thakur said the basic objective of this scheme was to create self-employment, upgrading the skills of entrepreneurs and provide them support to set up their units under professional guidance. The scheme also aimed at helping and holding entrepreneurs to select viable projects in the potential areas in manufacturing and service sectors and training them to set up start-ups and running them professionally. He said the key focus areas would be the technology-driven innovation sector, rural infrastructure and facilities, crafts, arts, water and sanitation, renewal energy, healthcare, clean tech, agriculture, horticulture and related areas, food-processing, retail, tourism and hospitality, mobile, IT and biotechnology. The Chief Minister also launched the first start-up of the state localguy.in developed by Anuj Sharma. Industries Minister Bikram Singh Thakur urged students to come forward with ideas to start their own ventures. Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, MP Ram Swaroop Sharma and other dignitaries were also present. editorial@tribune.com Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 15 For the first time in more than a decade, the militant groups present in the Kashmir valley have proliferated to seven and include two formerly defunct Islamist organisations whose members were killed by security forces this year. The significant increase in the number of militant organisations has coincided with a rise in number of readily-available recruits. According to police sources, the 200 militants killed in the year so far were affiliated to at least seven militant organisations two of which had gone defunct and two new additions. The Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba the two groups which have anchored militancy since their formation in the 1990s continue to dominate. However, the Jaish-e-Mohammad, which had remained defunct for more than a decade, has made a gradual and serious comeback since 2013. The sources said the Lashkar-e-Toiba accounted for the highest militant casualties this year with 53 of its men being killed by the security forces, the Hizbul Mujahideen stood second with 49 deaths. The Jaish-e-Mohammad, which widened its spread inside Kashmir valley for the first time in the last decade, accounted for 32 militant casualties. The two formerly defunct militant groups, which made a comeback this year, include Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen that lost six of its men and Al-Badr which lost two of its cadre, the sources said. The two new militant groups Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and Islamic State J&K have also emerged since last year and also suffered casualties in counter-insurgency operations this year. Ansar, which lost nine militants, including former Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Abu Dujana, last year saw deaths of its three militants, including top commander Abu Hamas. Islamic State J&K lost eight of its militants this year. Tracking terror Hizbul Mujahideen: The Pakistan-based group is headed by Syed Salahuddin. Its field commander in Kashmir is Riyaz Naikoo. It lost 49 militants. Lashkar-e-Toiba: Founded by Hafiz Saeed, the LeT has headquarters in Pakistan. It lost 53 militants. Jaish-e-Mohammad: Founded by Masood Azhar, the Pakistan-based group lost 32 militants. Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen: The group headquarters in Pakistan, and is headed by Jameel-ur-Rehman. Its former recruitment attempts went awry as many of its cadres split to form a cell linked to the Islamic State. It recruited three youths in October this year out of which two were killed and one was arrested. Al-Badr: The Pak-based group is headed by Bakht Zaman. It remained defunct for a decade. It surfaced in 2018, two of its men were killed in north Kashmir. Islamic State J&K: A nascent militant group formed last year. It lost eight militants this year. Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind: The group founded by one of the longest-surviving militants, Zakir Musa, last year has drawn its cadre from Hizb and LeT. It lost three militants this year. editorial@tribune.com Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, November 15 A comprehensive scientific paper has revealed a strong possibility of finding gas and petroleum in Jammu and Kashmir and has sought access to oil companies and researchers to carry out an exploration in the state. A decade-long study commissioned by Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (National Hydrocarbons Authority), an Italian oil giant, was completed recently to expand the understanding of hydrocarbon occurrences in the northwestern Himalayas of India and Pakistan. The published study, Petroleum systems and hydrocarbon potential of the North-West Himalayas of India and Pakistan, involved collaboration of researchers from India, Pakistan, Italy and England. The University of Jammu, Maghreb Petroleum Research Group, University College London and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Videsh are also a part of the study. As per the paper, the origin and evolution of Himalayas formed and shaped the sedimentary basins (depressions acting as receptacles) where the rocks with oil and gas forms were deposited. These rocks, ranging in age from a billion to a million years, are present in the northwestern Himalayas of India and Pakistan. So far, no comparable research paper exists in the scientific world on the subject. Although some wells were dug by the ONGC in the past, commercial discoveries have remained largely elusive. The exploration is hampered by structural complexity, difficult terrain, drilling complications and poor data quality, said Naveen Hakhoo of the Institute of Energy Research and Training, University of Jammu. He was a part of the research team. J&K is part of a Mesozoic-era ocean, a Tethys basin, which existed between Gondawana and Laurasia continents some 300 million years ago. The interest of scientists towards finding oil in J&K was drawn after a 2008 conference, Hunting for old oil and gases in India, Pakistan and the Middle East. It was held in the university and was attended by leading scientists across the globe. There is a strong possibility of finding oil and gas in J&K. Our studies have suggested this but there is a need for a further comprehensive research to unveil what is hidden below the surface. It needs a massive effort involving foreign and Indian research institutes, said Prof GM Bhat, eminent geologist in J&K, who was also involved in the research. Rock types in the state are sedimentary in nature and considered to be the potential source of hydrocarbons formed due to the decomposition of organic matter in millions of years. Sushil Kumar Phull Sushil Kumar Phull In the late 60s I registered with the PU to pursue a Phd degree in Hindi. Dr Ganpati Chander Gupta was my adviser. The first DLitt in Hindi from the university, he had added to the lexicon a new word, literology science of literature. A young Rajasthani from Seeker had come to Jalandhar to study for his Masters degree. Dr Inder Nath Madan, then HoD, would scarce believe that a shy youth from a village could work miracles, but when Dr Gupta topped the list of successful candidates, Dr Madan was happy to help him. His adviser for Phd was Dr Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, whose many students had come along with him when he moved from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to the PU. It reflected the culture of gurudom: the student is where the guru is. It was a hunger for excellence in research and it could only be done under the very best of times. My topic was Poetic romances of Hindi prior to Padmavat written by Malik Mohammed Jayasi, analysis of their sources and motifs. My guruji made all efforts to make me run from Palampur to anywhere in India to collect material and interact with scholars. Today, with Google it has become easier, but those days, one had to do all the labour. He ensured that I spent a month at Kashi Nagri Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi. It was a place where scholars from across India thronged to eke out the best. It was a great learning experience to meet BHU scholars and consult the huge library. After 50 years, I feel it was a training in writing, interpretation and communion with the silent books of knowledge to assimilate the best available; for posterity, as we are custodians of knowledge who pass on the baton. In 1972, Dr Gupta was posted as HoD of the Regional Centre, PU. I took leave from the College of Agriculture, Palampur, to stay for three months at Rohtak, to discuss every line of my thesis before submission at Chandigarh. Time was flying and I was worried. A friend of Dr Gupta advised me to get the thesis typed and present it to the guide for certification. This was the only way to escape the rigid guru. I did as told and got my railway ticket booked. I went to my advisers residence with a copy of the thesis. He started reading it, his pen in action. He began to correct typographical errors brutally. I pleaded, saying it was a fair copy. Throwing it away, he said, Nothing is final in research. If Dr Dwivedi happens to be your examiner, he may throw it in the bin. Ultimately, I submitted it to the PU. The reports of both external examiners, including Dr Dwivedi, endorsed Dr Guptas view: A grade recommended, but it has chhape ki bhayankar bhulen hain, which must be corrected before publication. The liberal Dr Dwivedi asked me questions about my findings and would elaborate it in his rhythmic style. How great the luminaries were! These days, the external examiner is approached by advisers even before the thesis lands for adjudication. The old order changeth, be it good or bad. rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, November 15 Asserting that India has been and will remain a long-term partner of Afghanistan, the Afghan finance minister has said that Kabul has no secret deal with New Delhi, while hoping that it can have a similar relationship with Pakistan. India has been a traditional and long-term partner of Afghanistan spanning over a couple of millennia more. Culturally, commercially in so many things, we have so much common heritage, so many common elements. They have been a long-term partner. They will remain a long-term partner, Afghan Finance Minister Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi told a Washington audience this week. Afghanistan has no secret deals with India. All of the relationship that we have is based on trust, based on two countries, based on two sovereign governments, two people that have a long history, he said, responding to a question at the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University. India and Afghanistan would continue to have strong cultural, educational ties as well as commercial ties, he said. Our hope is that we have a similar relationship with Pakistan. But I think its Pakistan that has to decide what they would like to do as part of it in where they would like to be, the Afghan finance minister said early this week. Noting that Pakistan had the sixth largest population in the world, yet, he said, it had an economy smaller than that of Israel. So, the conflict is not in the interest of Pakistan, he said. For the betterment of the people of Pakistan, he said it would be helpful for Pakistan to have closer linkages and ties with India and Central Asia as a whole. He said the South Asia region is ripe for being a very functioning economic ecosystem but right now it is the least integrated region of the world economically. Its not helping anyone, Qayoumi said. We hope Pakistan can really see that as a way on how we can work together as a region, as equals, as sovereign nations, but also as a region that can have a future together successfully where economically and politically all areas can work together, he said. PTI editorial@tribune.com KV Prasad Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 Amid growing engagement with countries in the East, President Ramnath Kovind is scheduled to travel this Sunday to Vietnam, an important country in the region that on Thursday said the level of interaction adds strength to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Interacting with the media ahead of the Presidents November 18-21 visit, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau said stepping up the level of engagement between the two countries is a sign of growing confidence and maturity in ties upgraded in 2016, the year PM Narendra Modi visited the country. Vietnam, he said, attaches great importance to its ties with India and made an exception with two high-level visits this year with President Tran Dai Quang coming here a month after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the ASEAN Commemorative Summit and Republic Day. On the bilateral front, his priority includes operationalising a direct flight to Vietnam. As for trade after initial struggle to reach $1 billion a decade ago, he said it boomed recording $8.5 billion (in 2017) and $9.2 billion till October. Both countries have an ambitious target of $15 billion by 2020. Responding to questions on Vietnams view on Quad, the Ambassador said ...anything that brings peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and flight in South China Sea...we welcome the initiative that follows the code of conduct both inside and outside of the region. Quad, a grouping of the US, Japan, Australia and India, in 2007 attracted adverse reactions from China after the joint Malabar exercise. After being dormant since, it was re-energised recently with officials from these countries holding meetings, including one in Singapore on Thursday. The Vietnamese Ambassador said his country was opposed to any military alliance in the region, or the use of threat or force against any country since it goes against the position of Vietnam that includes not aligning with any country nor playing host to any country or joining any country to fight another country. editorial@tribune.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 While the Congress suspects the JCC-BSP-CPI alliance in Chhattisgarh to be the BJPs B-team, the performance of the newly formed political combination in the ongoing Assembly elections is under close watch for it may decide future of any anti-BJP front being formed to take on saffron juggernaut led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Senior BJP leaders, including Shah, have disdainfully dismissed the possibility of mahagathbandhan affecting their prospects in 2019. They had all fought against us in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, Shah has said many times in response to questions over ongoing efforts to form an anti-BJP alliance for the next General Election. Observers, however, believe the Ajit Jogi-Mayawati alliance in Chhattisgarh is another test case for the mahagathbandhan like the successful coming together of the SP and the BSP was in the UP bypoll. Janata Congress Chhattisgarh chief Ajit Jogi was the first Chief Minister of the newly formed state between 2000 and 2003. Ever since the BJP formed its first government in the state, it has not allowed the Congress to return to power. Even in these elections, some surveys have claimed that Jogi might damage his parent party more than the BJP. Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh Assembly Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo recently accused Jogi of helping the BJP even while he was in the Congress. He was sabotaging the party in the state and not helping it win, Deo was quoted as saying. Chhattisgarh was always considered a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress. But the liaison between Jogi and Mayawatis BSP appear to have thrown up some interesting possibilities. The CPI further added oomph to the four-dimensional fight. It was allocated two Assembly seats (Dantewada and Konta) that had earlier been given to the BSP. The CPI emerged third on the two seats in 2013 and Mayawati won just one in the last Assembly elections. How they compliment each other would be an interesting case study. Their coming together has given the combination an edge on caste equations in the state, though conventionally when the vote against the saffron party is divided it is the BJP that gains. The fourth angle is the one led by the Gondwana Party and the SP. Sources also claimed a tacit understanding on seats between the SP and the BSP. Meanwhile, allegations are already flying due to differences in poll percentages in the first phase in 18 constituencies on November 12. The remaining 72 seats will vote on November 20. The Janata Congress Chhattisgarh is contesting 55 seats and the BSP 33 in the 90-member Assembly. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 Even as the Supreme Court yesterday reserved order in the Rafale petitions, the Congress today launched another set of allegations against PM Narendra Modi, accusing him of overlooking his own Defence Minister and sector experts on aircraft pricing, sovereign guarantee by France and arbitration. Congress media head Randeep Surjewala cited government file notings to allege three things the PM ignored the advice of then Raksha Mantri Manohar Parrikar and Defence Acquisition Council against raising the benchmark price of 36 jets to Rs62,166 crore from Rs39,422 crore; the PM waived the legal requirement of a sovereign guarantee from France and instead accepted its letter of comfort; the PM diluted the arbitration clause of the deal by agreeing to engage with jet maker Dassault Aviation instead of the French Government. The Congress reiterated its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the matter saying the Supreme Court had constitutional limitations in the matter. Surjewala questioned the arbitration clause approved by the PM and said while the PM says Rafale is an Indo-French inter-government agreement, he approves India and a private jet supplier as partners in the arbitration clause besides allowing the seat of adjudication to be changed from Delhi to Geneva in violation of Indian law and expert opinions. Congress president Rahul Gandhi also questioned the deal again, saying: The latest skeleton to tumble out of the Rafale cupboard: No Guarantee by the French Government. backing the deal. But our PM says theres a letter from the French promising to be faithful! Thats enough to call this a Govt to Govt deal? #BikGayaChowkidar. Surjewala used official confirmations of Rafale corruption by retired Defence Ministry officer Sudhanshu Mohanty to charge the PM with raising the Rafale deal benchmark price by three billion euros in the Cabinet Committee on Security. Asked if pricing could be discussed when the SC was adjudicating the matter, Surjewala said: The SC has constitutional limitations and cannot look at file notings which reveal the truth. The court is not an enquiry office. The facts will emerge when the JPC summons files of the meetings of Cabinet Committee on Security, Defence Acquisition Council and the price negotiations committee. We are speaking on the basis of government file notings. Let the government refute facts. He also said the PM ignored the file advice of the Law Ministry and the air acquisition wing of the Air Force to insist on a sovereign bank guarantee from France for the deal. editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, November 15 India, Japan, Australia and the US on Thursday met for the third round of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in Singapore. The dialogue held at the existing level of joint secretaries along the sidelines of the East Asia summit focused on areas of cooperation in connectivity, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and maritime and cyber security towards a rule-based, open and free Indo-Pacific. Unlike after the June meeting, the Indian statement this time did not underline common commitment of the Quad members towards the shared goals highlighted by the other members in their respective statements as shared commitments. The officials also exchanged views on the recent regional developments, including in Sri Lanka and Maldives, having been mentioned in the Australian, American and Japanese statements but given a miss by India in its read out. This as PM Modi will be in the Maldives this week to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Ibrahim Solih and India continues to take a cautionary wait-and-watch approach to internal political crisis in Sri Lanka. US officials underscored the importance of coordinated engagement to advance shared regional interests, the US statement said. TNS editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, November 14 Two armed men on Wednesday shot dead a bank guard in Nabha and fled with Rs 50 lakh in cash before being arrested with the booty within four hours of the robbery. Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said the accused Jagdev Singh Tari, 35, and Amanjit Singh Guri were friends and ran an oil tanker business in Sangrur. Amanjits father had retired as an inspector and served as Nabha SHO. Around 11 am, two masked men on a bike shot bank guard Prem Chand in the chest from close range when he, along with clerk Antriksh Vaid, was shifting money brought in a private cash van to a State Bank of India branch. As we were offloading the trunk containing the currency, two masked men asked us to hand it over to them. Before the guard could react, one of them opened fire and the two fled with the trunk, bank officials told the police. The police formed three teams, one to monitor mobile tower data, another to scour the CCTV footage of the area and the third to hunt down the accused. A team recovered the trunk at some distance, said the IG. The mobile tower location of the accused proved key. The two had followed the cash van a few times in the past fortnight and were aware of the route it took to ferry the money to banks, said police official. The CCTV footage of a 3-km stretch within the city area used by the cash van over the past few days the area and the third to hunt down the accused. A team recovered the trunk at some distance, said the IG. The CCTV footage of a 3-km stretch within the city area used by the cash van over the past few days clearly showed the two tailing the vehicle, he said. The footage showed the faces of the two accused. A policeman identified one of them as the son of an ex-cop. The police later traced his phone to Sangrur and conducted a raid, said the official. Sources said the two had confessed to their involvement in two cases of robbery of lakhs of rupees in Sangrur. Bank officials had not informed the police about the cash transfer and there was no CCTV camera outside the branch. We will recommend action against bank officials, said Patiala IG AS Rai. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for the police team that cracked the case. SSP Sidhu later said the money would be handed over to the victims family. Sidhu was in Nabha to attend a function when the incident occurred. rchopra@tribunemail.com Singapore, November 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for home on Thursday after a two-day visit to Singapore during which he attended the ASEAN and the East Asia Summits besides holding a number of bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including US Vice President Mike Pence. PM @narendramodi departs for Delhi after a productive 36 hour visit to Singapore that highlighted our importance to East Asia Summit and ASEAN-led mechanisms to regional peace, prosperity & security, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Modi on Thursday participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit here and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Later, he attended the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) during which he reiterated Indias vision of a peaceful, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and strengthening maritime cooperation. Modi also felicitated the winners of the first India-Singapore Hackathon, a platform for the youth of the two countries to harness and showcase their innovations. The Prime Minister, who arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, held extensive talks with Vice President Pence on a wide range of bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, including defence and trade cooperation, ways to counter terrorism and the need for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, where China is flexing its muscle. Modi on Wednesday also held bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. He also delivered the keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival--the first head of government to address the worlds largest event on financial technology. It was Modis 5th East Asia Summit. India has been participating in the East Asia Summit since its very inception in 2005. The EAS consists of 10 ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 India, Japan, Australia and United States on Thursday met for the third round of Quadrilateral security dialogue in Singapore. The dialogue held at the existing level of joint secretaries along sidelines of East Asia summit focused on areas of 'cooperation in connectivity, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and maritime and cyber security' towards a rules based, open and free Indo-Pacific. Unlike after the June meeting this year, the Indian statement this time did not underline 'common commitment' of the Quad members towards the shared goals highlighted by the other dialogue members in their respective statements today as 'shared commitments'. The officials also exchanged views on recent regional developments, including in Sri Lanka and Maldives, mentioned the Australian, American and Japanese statements but given a miss by India in its read out. This as Prim Minister Narendra Modi will be in Maldives this week to attend swearing-in ceremony of President Ibrahim Solih and India continues to take a cautionary wait and watch approach to internal political crisis playing out in Sri Lanka. "United States officials underscored the importance of coordinated and complementary engagement to advance shared regional interests, including support for the new Maldivian government and encouragement of an outcome to political developments in Sri Lanka consistent with democratic principles," elaborated the US formal statement further. "They committed to supporting broad economic development that harnesses the region's full potential and fosters development of quality infrastructure based on international standards, such as openness, transparency, economic efficiency, and debt sustainability," resonated the separate statements issued without naming China or its One Belt One Road grand project accused of creating financial debt traps in smaller and vulnerable nations in the region. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 The Congress on Thursday levelled the most serious set of accusations on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale deal, saying he compromised national security to ulterior ends and bypassed established procedures and laws. Fielding its media head Randeep Surjewala to reiterate the demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the deal, the Congress suggested that the outcome of the Rafale petitions in the Supreme Court would not impact its own demand for an investigation into the contract. The Supreme Court has constitutional limitations on the matter and cannot look at file notings which reveal the truth of the Rafale. The court is not an enquiry office. The facts will emerge when the JPC summons files of the meetings of Cabinet Committee on Security, Defence Acquisition Council and the price negotiations committee, Surjewala said, citing facts from government files which he said had now been confirmed publicly by one Sudhanshu Mohanty, a retired officer who dealt with finance in the Defence Ministry. Surjewala made serious accusations on the PM alleging that he overruled his own defence minister Manohar Parrikar and the defence acquisition council by raising the benchmark price of 36 Rafale jets from some 32,000 crore to over 62,000 crore. The Congress leader also said that the PM ignored the file advice of the Law Ministry and the air acquisition wing of the Air Force to insist on a sovereign bank guarantee from France for the deal signed in April 2015. The government told the SC hearing Rafale petitions on Wednesday that the French Government didnt give a sovereign guarantee and only gave a letter of comfort for the deal. Thirdly, the Congress alleged that the PM changed the terms of the arbitration clause under the Rafale deal by saying the arbitration will happen between the Indian Government and Rafale maker Dassault Aviation and the seat of arbitration will be Geneva rather than Delhi. Even on arbitration, the PM overlooked the suggestions of the Law Ministry and defence experts who said the partners in arbitration should be the Governments of India and France rather than the Government of India and a private supplier. The PM told the Parliament that the Rafale deal was an inter-government agreement between two nations. How is this an inter-government agreement when the arbitration clause is between India and Dassault? The PM by ending the legal requirements to have the arbitration seat in India and by also changing the partners between whom arbitration will happen betrayed national interest, Surjewala alleged. Fourthly, the Congress asked how NSA Ajit Doval was negotiating the jet price in Paris in January 2016 when the price negotiation committee for the deal was still deliberating the issue and submitted its report in August that year. How was an extra constitutional authority allowed to negotiate outside of the committee and under whose authority? Surjewala asked. To a question on how he was quoting the benchmark price for the deal when the controversial matter of pricing was pending before the court, Surjewala said we are quoting from files, let the government deny. The government has argued before the Supreme Court that disclosure of the deal price would benefit Indian enemies and should be kept a secret. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Beijing, November 15 Top officials of India and China held the ninth Annual Defence and Security Dialogue here after a one-year gap due to the Doklam standoff, as both countries agreed to enhance military exchanges and interactions. The dialogue on November 13 was held between the two defence delegations headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Chinas Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. At the talks both sides agreed on enhancing defence exchanges and interactions at different levels between the two militaries, a press release by the Indian Embassy here said on Thursday. After the talks, Mitra called on Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday, the release said. Mitra was accompanied by senior officials of the ministry of defence and Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The annual dialogue did not take place last year following the 73-day tense standoff between the two militaries at Doklam, which was triggered by the Chinese PLAs plan to build a road close to the narrow Chickens Neck corridor connecting Indias northeastern states in an area also claimed by Bhutan besides China. The standoff ended when Chinese troops stopped the road construction after which both countries stepped up efforts to normalise relations leading to the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in April this year. The defence dialogue was also held ahead of the 21st round of border talks between the Special Representatives of the two countries in the Chinese city of Dujiangyan on November 23-24. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi are the designated Special Representatives for the border talks. Besides efforts to work out a solution to resolve the boundary dispute spanning 3,488 kms, the border talks also focussed on discussions on other aspects of India-China relations. Also the two militaries are due to hold the annual Hand-in-Hand drills next month in China after gap of one year. During the dialogue, both sides also agreed on specific defence exchanges for 2019. Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between the two ministries of defence as well as between military commands, joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon, the Indian Embassys press release said. Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas, implementing the consensus reached between Modi and Xi and specific additional confidence building measures at the operational level, it said. The two sides also had exchange of views on regional and global issues. Both sides underlined the importance of this dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on defence and security matters. They emphasised the need to further strengthen military-to- military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries, it said. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue at a mutually convenient time in India in 2019. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com K V Prasad Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 As India pursues its Act East Policy with vigour, Vietnam an important country in the region on Thursday said it welcomes any initiative that contributes to peace and stability in the region and South China Sea but was opposed to any military alliance. We follow closely developments... anything that brings peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and freedom of over flight in South China Sea... We welcome initiative that follows the Code of Conduct both inside and outside of the region, newly-appointed Vietnam Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau said here in response to the Quad grouping and his countrys stance on it. Quad, a grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia and India, in the year 2007 attracted adverse reaction from China and scaled down since then. Recently, the grouping was re-energised with rounds of meetings of officials from these countries. The Vietnamese Ambassador said his country was opposed to any military alliance in the region, or the use of threat or force against any country since it goes against the position of Vietnam that includes not aligning with any country, not to play host to any country or not join any country to fight another country. While working to maintain peace and stability in the region/South China Sea, he said. We do not want it to be a battle theatre for superpowers...we have been a victim of wars. Interacting with media ahead of President Ram Nath Kovinds November 18-21 visit to Vietnam, the Ambassador said stepping up the level of engagement between the two countries is a sign of growing confidence and maturity in bilateral ties that in 2016 got upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit in 2016 was first by Indian Head of the Government in 15 years while this year, President Tran Dai Quang came to New Delhi a month after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was here for ASEAN Commemorative Summit and Republic Day this January. On the bilateral front, the Ambassador who was credentialed this week, said his priority includes operationalise a direct flight to Vietnam and bring Vietnam television to open an office in India to promote better understanding. Considering that Indian movies continue to be popular in Vietnam and a Hindi television serial followed the most, the Ambassador plans to rope in film makers to choose Vietnam as a destination. On the trade front, he said the countries that were struggling to reach US $1 Billion a decade ago, is now booming recording $8.5 (2017) and already recording $9.2 bn in last months. Both countries have set an ambitious target of $ 15 bn by 2020. During PM Modis visit, India offered $500 million line of credit for purchase of defence equipment while Vietnam is acquiring 11 High Speed Patrol Vessel, six of which would be made in that country with Indian assistance. rchopra@tribunemail.com Prateek Chauhan Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 A fashion designer and her domestic help were allegedly killed by her tailor and his two accomplices in her home in south Delhis Vasant Kunj Enclave locality following a dispute over unpaid dues, police said on Thursday. The bodies of 53-year-old Maya Lakhani, who ran a boutique called Tulsi Creations in Green Park, and her house help, 50-year-old Bahadur, were found with multiple stab injuries in the bungalow in the early hours of Thursday. The accused looted jewellery and ransacked the house after killing the two on Wednesday night, police said, estimating that the incident took place between 10 pm and 11.30 pm. Rahul Anwar (24), the master tailor who worked with Lakhani, his cousin Rahmat (24) and his friend Wasim (25) had been arrested in connection with the killings, a senior police officer said. Around 2.45 am, the three men went to the Vasant Kunj (south) police station and said they had killed two people in Vasant Kunj Enclave, following which officials rushed to the spot to verify the details. They found the bodies lying in a pool of blood. A case had been registered and the three accused arrested, Devender Arya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) said. Police said Lakhani had set up a tailoring workshop in her home. During interrogation, the three said they had hatched a conspiracy to kill her. After committing the crime, they said they stole valuable items, including jewellery, from the house and left in Lakhanis car. Anwar told the police that he had been working with Lakhani for a while. His payments were due for the last few months and he had received money in instalments, the police said. The crime scene had been preserved and the bodies sent for a post-mortem examination, the police said, adding that further investigation was in progress. With PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, November 15 The counter intelligence wing of Punjab Police on Thursday put the state on high alert about the presence of at least half-a-dozen terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the state and said they could be moving towards the national capital. The reports suggest that the terrorists entered India from the international border in Ferozepur area. A letter issued by the Counter Intelligence Inspector General said: "At least six to seven terrorists are reportedly in Punjab (possibly Ferozepur area) and planning to move towards Delhi from Punjab side." The note advised the authorities to step up security, especially along the border, and checking across the state. "There is a need to review and strengthen the second line of defence along the Indo-Pakistan border and to coordinate closely with BSF and other police/defence establishments in your areas," it added. The intelligence alert came just a day after four persons snatched a taxi at gunpoint near Madhopur area, sparking fears of a Pathankot airbase-like attack that took place in 2016. The taxi, a silver-coloured Toyota Innova, was initially hired by the four men from Jammu. They had booked it for Pathankot. Near Madhopur, they forced the driver of a car out at gunpoint and drove off, the police said. The taxi driver, with the help of passers-by, later informed the police. The Pathankot airbase of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was attacked by terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan on January 2, 2016. Seven people were killed in that attack. Prior to the terrorist attack on the IAF base in 2016, suspected Pakistani terrorists had carried out an attack on Dinanagar town in neighbouring Gurdaspur district. The Dinanagar terror attack took place on July 27, 2015 when three Pakistani terrorists entered from the border belt. - IANS editorial@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 15 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the capital today to discuss the matter of appointment of corporation and board chairpersons, but the meeting remained inconclusive and will be taken forward later. Capt Amarinder is learnt to have sought time from Rahul, who is in the middle of hectic electioneering these days with five states witnessing polls. The Tribune has learnt that Rahul also called state unit chief Sunil Jakhar to Delhi along with party secretary for Punjab Harish Chaudhary after he gave time to Capt Amarinder, who also held a separate meeting with the former today. AICC Punjab incharge Asha Kumari could not join being on campaign in Chhattisgarh where her brother and state legislature party Leader TS Singhdeo is fighting election from Ambikapur. Rahul told Asha Kumari to stay in the poll-bound state with the issue of chairpersons of Punjab boards and corporations kept pending for later. It is learnt that there is a difference of opinion in the party organisation and the government over the appointments with Rahul making it clear that the government would have to consult party organisation and state unit leaders on the matter. Rahul is in favour of workers being rewarded with posts and wants Capt Amarinder to hold wide consultations with the Punjab leaders on the issue so all concerns are addressed. The meeting remained inconclusive even as its timing surprised all party leaders, this being hectic election season. editorial@tribune.com Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Pathankot, November 15 The Punjab Police have warned that six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants may have crossed into Punjab near Ferozepur and could be on their way to Delhi, even as the Pathankot police are still groping in the dark over the whereabouts of the four persons who stole an Innova cab near Madhopur on Wednesday. The DGP (Intelligence) has written to all police commissioners and SSPs on the matter. All supervisory field officers, including IGPs/DIGs of ranges and police commissioners are advised to personally involve themselves in the planning and implementation of preventive and precautionary measures in their respective jurisdictions to avoid any untoward incident, the communique reads. It stresses the need to strengthen the second line of defence along the India-Pakistan border and close coordination with the BSF. There is a need to mount immediate special nakas at all important routes and points, conduct strict vehicular checking and take suitable counter-measures, the letter adds. The border police districts of Batala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur on Thursday fortified the second line of defence in areas close to the international border (IB), including Dera Baba Nanak, Dorangla, Dinanagar, Gurdaspur and Bamial. Gurdaspur SSP Swarandeep Singh and his Batala counterpart Opinderjit Singh Ghuman camped throughout the day near the border. Pathankot SSP Vivek Sheel Soni rushed to Jammu, where he met senior police officers. He also visited the site near the railway station where the accused had hired the cab. Bullet-proof vehicles have been moved closer to the IB. Meetings are being held among Punjab Police, BSF, the Army and IAF officials. Video recordings from CCTV cameras installed at various points on the Jammu-Pathankot highway are being examined. Soni said, The police have obtained the photographs of the four carjackers. The photographs, culled from CCTV footage, are not sharp enough. We have engaged professionals for help. In all probability, we will be sharing these with the public on Friday. We are following certain leads to trace the accused. Hopefully, we will crack the case in a day or so, he added. Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, IG (Border), said the owner of the hotel where the accused had dined before snatching the Innova had been questioned for the second time. Innova driver Raj Kumar continues to be in the custody of the Pathankot police. In Ferozepur, a coordination meeting was held between various security agencies. Senior police officers said special security measures were being taken. The Railway Protection Force increased surveillance and security in and around railway stations. (With inputs from Ferozepur) uttara@tribuneindia.com New York, November 15 A resolution passed in the Pennsylvania State Assembly in the US condemning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India has been withdrawn "as if it was not passed" following efforts by lawmakers and members of the Indian-American community, sources said. On October 17, the Assembly passed the resolution, just days ahead of the 34th anniversary of the riots that took place in the wake of the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi. The resolution would have called for marking November 1 as 'Sikh Genocide Remembrance Day globally'. The so-called "non controversial" resolution Number 1160 was introduced on October 15 by two House Representatives Alexander Charlton and Jamie Santora. It was then adopted by 190 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Sources told PTI that about 295 resolutions were tabled in the Assembly and this particular resolution was also "sneaked" into them and got passed. However, following the passage of the resolution, Representative Greg Rothman and members of the Indian-American community galvanised to ensure that it was withdrawn, with some feeling that such a resolution was "not acceptable". The resolution was withdrawn and abolished on Wednesday "as if it was not passed" and not presented at all, community leader and Founder and Chairperson of Asia Indian Americans of Central Pennsylvania Deep Gupta said. He emphasised that all the communities, whether Hindus or Sikhs, have been living in unity in the area for the past several decades and expressed hope that this "unity among community" is always maintained. The House resolution was introduced with efforts of Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and some members of Pennsylvania Gurdwaras. Pro-Khalistan Sikh groups have made efforts to get similar resolutions passed in California and Connecticut. PTI editorial@tribune.com Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 15 The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the 2015 sacrilege and police firing cases, will record the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badals statement in the Kotkapura firing incident on Friday. Badal, who was initially asked to appear before the SIT in Amritsar, and subsequently at a place of his convenience, on Thursday shot off a letter to the SIT head, ADGP Prabodh Kumar, saying that he would be available at his local residence (MLA Flats) on Friday. Sources in the police said he would be examined in the afternoon as a witness. The SIT had issued summons earlier this week to the former CM, former state Home Minister and Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and actor Akshay Kumar. The Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) had mentioned that the then CMhad asked the police not to use force to disperse Sikh protesters at Kotkapura, but the SIT has reportedly come across evidence that the order for getting the dharna lifted was issued by Sukhbir Badal. This was done allegedly after Akshay had intervened and arranged a meeting between Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and Sukhbir. The former Deputy CM and Akshay have denied that such a meeting took place. The police team will separately record the statements of the Badals and the Bollywood star over the next week. The Akali Dal has demanded that the team of police officers questioning the former CM should exclude IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, accusing him of acting under the influence of his political masters, but the request is unlikely to be accepted. Akali Dal MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder and former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema have shot off a letter to the CM, seeking the officers ouster from the SIT. Sources in the government, however, said there would be no change in the constitution of the team. It is a multi-member SIT, headed by an ADGP. Other members can question the former CM, said a top officer. Prabodh Kumar could not be contacted. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, November 15 Asserting that Islamabads support to violence has not benefitted either Pakistan or Afghanistan, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said that the undeclared war between the two neighbours must end. Ghani said the spectre of violence needs to be removed and that Pakistan needs to support direct discussions between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The undeclared war between Afghanistan and Pakistan must end, he told a Washington audience through video conference from Kabul. We have not supported any movement against Pakistan from Afghanistan. The Afghan soil is not being used. Weve exercised immense restraint and control because we seek a cooperative relationship, Ghani said in response to a question at the School of Advanced international Studies of the John Hopkins University on Monday. Of the view that there is a need to define what is a normal relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said Kabul can offer a lot in the way of cooperation. We are the key to Central Asia. How will Pakistan get to Central Asia without a stable Afghanistan? he asked. Ghani said Afghanistan and Pakistan need to together agree with the US and the rest of the world community on counter terrorism. These three sets of relationship, he said are the key. From the day that President Donald Trump announced the South Asia strategy, I extended the hand of friendship. We have engaged in several rounds of discussion, he said, adding that Afghanistan and the US have arrived at a document on what is their expectation, what needs to be done to translate commitments into reality and to help reduce the level of violence in moving forward to lasting peace. Ghani said that he has not seen urgency from the new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding holding concrete dialogue with Afghanistan to fight terrorism or to assist in holding fruitful talks with the Taliban. We have not yet seen the sense of urgency. We hope that sense of urgency can be brought to the picture. We have a framework which is a Afghanistan-Pakistan agreement. The key is to move from talking to taking action, Ghani said. Our national interest is to keep engaging with Pakistan. We seek a stable Pakistan. We need to see substantive and measurable change. As of now that substantive and measurable change with the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has not been seen. This is what needs to take place, said the Afghan president. Ghani said that the Taliban is not in a winning position. Let them disclose their casualties. Let them answer to the mothers who have lost their children. Let them answer to the wounded and let them answer to communities that because of their interference, have been deprived of education, of health, of services. Where is the positive model of the strength? he said. PTI sanjiv@tribunemail.com Riyadh, November 15 Five Saudi officials face the death penalty for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was dismembered inside the kingdoms Istanbul consulate, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not involved, the prosecutor said Thursday. The announcement follows growing international outcry over the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi rulers who was last seen entering the consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Khashoggi died after being drugged and then dismembered, a spokesman for the public prosecutors office said in the first Saudi confirmation of how he was killed. The journalists body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds, the spokesman said. He denied Prince Mohammed had any knowledge of the murder. The deputy chief of Saudi Arabias intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, gave the order to repatriate Khashoggi and the head of the negotiating team that flew to the Istanbul consulate had ordered his murder, the spokesman said. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted in mid-October that Khashoggi had been murdered within the compound, but blamed it on a rogue operation. AFP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Brussels, November 15 EU President Donald Tusk on Thursday confirmed the bloc would hold a special summit to seal the hard-fought Brexit agreement with Britain on November 25. Tusks announcement will come as a boost to British Prime Minister Theresa May as she begins the daunting task of selling the deal to a fractious parliament where she faces resistance from arch Brexiteers and EU supporters alike. Ambassadors from the 27 remaining EU states will meet by the end of the week to share their analysis of the withdrawal deal, Tusk said, adding that he hoped there will not be too many comments. They will also take stock of work on the Joint Political Declaration about future relations between Brussels and Britain, which Tusk said should be finalised with London by Tuesday and then analysed by member states officials. Then if nothing extraordinary happens, we will hold a European Council meeting in order to finalise and formalise the Brexit agreement. It will take place on Sunday the 25th of November at 9:30 am, Tusk told the press alongside EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier a day after the 585-page withdrawal agreement was approved by the British cabinet. Tusk paid tribute to the work of Barnier and his team, who he said had ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and secured the interests of the EU. Barnier said the deal was fair and balanced, though it has caused uproar among Brexit supporters in Mays government who accused her of betraying the June 2016 vote to leave the bloc. The deal covers citizens rights, Britains financial settlement and plans for a post-Brexit transition period during which both sides hope to agree a new trade deal. The most controversial element is a backstop plan to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU until a trade deal is agreed that avoids the need for border checks with Ireland. Many Brexiteers fear this would leave Britain a vassal state, tied to the bloc indefinitely. AFP sanjiv@tribunemail.com Dhaka, November 15 Hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh, worried about their safety, on Thursday protested against rushed repatriation to Myanmar after Dhaka said it is fully prepared for the plan, opposed by the UN and aid agencies. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmars Rakhine state since August last year after a brutal military crackdown was launched, dubbed by the UN as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing and genocide by international rights watchdogs, sparking a global uproar. Four trucks and three buses have been stationed at Unchiprang camp in Coxs Bazar since Thursday morning, ready to carry refugees who have been approved to a transit camp by the border but not one refugee has been willing to board them, officials said. Several thousand Rohingya instead staged protests declining to go back to Myanmar as Bangladesh began preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,000 Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, in line with a plan agreed with Myanmar in October. The buses were ready and we readied three days of rations for those who were set to return, in the first batch but none boarded on the buses, an official of the relief commissioners office at the scene said. Bangladeshs refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam earlier said none of the 50 families spoken to so far expressed their willingness to go back under the present circumstances and We cannot force them to go back against their will. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Singapore, November 15 Singapore Airlines Ltd is facing no problem selling business-class tickets on its ultra-long non-stop flights to the United States but is having to price premium economy seats very attractively, a senior executive said on Wednesday. The carrier last month resumed after five years the worlds longest commercial flight, an almost 19-hour non-stop journey from Singapore to New York. The airline ordered seven new ultra-long-range twin-engine Airbus SE A350-900ULRs fitted with just 67 business class and 94 premium economy seats for those flights and for non-stop services to Los Angeles and San Francisco. These flights have no economy class seats. It represents a major expansion in the US market for Singapore Airlines and a test of whether the carrier can charge the 20 percent price premium that travel industry data shows is typical for ultra-long non-stop services due to their popularity with time-sensitive business travellers. Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial Mak Swee Wah said there was existing demand for business class which he expected would continue to pick up. For premium economy, however, he said some markets were not entirely familiar with the product, which offers more leg room and other amenities than economy class. I think we need to continue to stimulate and encourage the market to consider this product, initially with very attractive pricing, but eventually I think people will see that even at prices which we offer it is a good product to purchase because it is a very long flight, he said at an analyst and media briefing. His comments came after Singapore Airlines reported on Tuesday an 81 percent plunge in second-quarter net profit, hurt by higher fuel prices, lower airfares and non-cash losses at its part-owned Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. Yields, a proxy for ticket prices, fell 2.2 per cent in the second quarter compared with a year earlier, failing to help offset the impact of a 24 per cent rise in fuel prices. Singapore Airlines is offering premium economy fares as low as S$1,698 ($1,230.17) return from Singapore to New York for weekday travel over part of the peak Christmas travel period, according to its website. That is in line with economy class fares from premium rivals like Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd and Dubai-based Emirates that require a stop and a longer travel time, according to a Reuters search on Expedia. When it previously flew to New York and Los Angeles non-stop on four-engined A340-500 jets that used more fuel, it had initially offered both executive economy and business class but later switched to all business class. Those flights were abandoned in 2013 when high fuel prices made them uneconomic. A Singapore Airlines spokesman said on Thursday that the airline constantly reviewed its cabin configurations. However at this point we are confident we have the right balance with business class and premium economy class seating on our A350-900ULRs, and there are no plans to change it, he said. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com Kabul, November 15 Afghan officials say the Taliban have killed 30 policemen in a blistering overnight attack in western Farah province. Provincial council member Dadullah Qani said on Thursday that the onslaught on the police outpost in the provinces district of Khaki Safed began late on Wednesday and continued for more than four hours. In Kabul, lawmaker Samiullah Samim said the district police commander, Abdul Jabhar, was among those killed. The Taliban managed to flee with a large amount of weapons and ammunition. Samim says retaliatory air strikes killed 17 Taliban fighters. The Taliban have in recent months been staging near-daily attacks across Afghanistan, inflicting heavy casualties on Afghan forces. Authorities no longer regularly provide casualty figures but unofficial estimates say about 45 Afghan police or soldiers are killed or wounded daily. AP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, November 15 US President Donald Trump has sent the nomination of Neomi Rao, a prominent Indian-American attorney and academic, to the Senate to replace Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. If confirmed by the Senate, Rao, who is 45, would be able to serve a lifetime post on the D.C. court, largely considered the second highest court of the land and a training ground for future Supreme Court justices. If the Senate confirms her, she would be the second Indian-American judge in the D.C. Circuit Court after judge Sree Srinivasan, who was appointed during the previous Obama regime. Raos nomination was sent to the Senate on Wednesday. Trump, during Diwali celebrations on Tuesday at the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House, announced the surprise nomination of the 45-year-old regulatory czar for the DC Circuit. Trump appeared delighted to jump ahead of Wednesdays planned announcement to nominate Rao, saying it was potentially the biggest story of the day. We were going to announce that tomorrow, Trump told a crowd of Indian-American members of his administration at the White House. And I said, you know, Here we are, Neomi, were never going to do better than this. Shes going to be fantastic, Trump added. Great person. Last month Kavanaugh, 53, was sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice. He has been embroiled in a bitter battle to stave off claims of sexual assault, which he denies. Rao, who currently serves as the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), is a vocal advocate of Trumps efforts to slash government regulations, crediting the reductions with stimulating job growth, The Hill reported. In her current role, Rao has played a key role in regulatory reform, which according to the White House saved American families and businesses USD 23 billion in fiscal year-2018 by getting rid of unduly burdensome and unnecessary regulation. As per the findings, released by the OIRA last month, Federal Agencies issued 176 deregulatory actions. Prior to her service as OIRA Administrator, Rao was a professor of structural constitutional law, administrative law, and legislation and statutory interpretation at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Rao founded the Law Schools Center for the Study of the Administrative State and focused her scholarship on the political and constitutional accountability of administrative agencies and the role of Congress. She has previously served in all three branches of the federal government, and before taking on her current role in the executive branch, she was associate counsel and special assistant to the president for the George W Bush administration. She also served as counsel to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where she was responsible for judicial nominations and constitutional law issues. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School, Rao also worked in the private sector, in the international arbitration group of the London-based law firm, Clifford Chance LLP. Born to Zerin Rao and Jehangir Narioshang Rao, both Parsi physicians from India, Rao grew up in Michigan and did her schooling from Detroit High School. She is married to Alan Lefkowitz and the couple has two children. The South Asian Bar Association welcomed the nomination of Rao. Congratulations to Neomi Rao on her nomination to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, it said. The DC Circuit Court has served as a launching pad for other Supreme Court justices in addition to Kavanaugh, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas and the late Antonin Scalia. Due to its location, the court often hears cases challenging federal government actions, including agency rulemakings, US media reported. PTI TRINIDAD and Tobago is now in the grips of its third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with t We are a family of 6 with kids ages ranging between 6 and 15. This will be our first visit to Costa Rica, and I am looking for some advice. We will be there for approximately 7 days/8 nights in March. Given the age range of our kids, there are some who would like more adventure (zipline/waterfall rappelling/ATV?) and others who would like something with less of an adrenaline rush while the older ones are on an adventure. We would like to be in the same place, though. We will be flying into Liberia and out of SJO. Most itineraries I have seen suggest Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio. Since we do want some downtime, we would probably skip Monteverde. Three questions here, though. 1) Is it better to do the ziplining somewhere near Manuel Antonio (MA) or near Arenal? We are looking for fun, but not too crazy (e.g., we would like double cables and braking ability) and a place that offers fun for those not ziplining. EcoGlide in Arenal seems to offer this. 2) Are we crazy to skip Guanacaste? We want to go to a beach and snorkel, but also want to experience Costa Rica. (In other words, we don't want to feel like we could have been in the US on the beach.) Maybe we can achieve this by staying at a resort with beach access near MA. 3) Are there similar locations to the ones I listed that would be just as nice (expose us to wildlife, adventure, beach, true Costa Rican experience) but less touristy? The other thing I am noticing as I search is that it is hard to find accommodations for a family of 6...so we are considering vrbo/renting a place near Manual Antonio. I have also looked into Los Suenos Marriott in Puntaneras (since it offers more space and rentals) but my concern is that it won't feel like true Costa Rica and I'm not sure how close it is to Manuel Antonio. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you! March will be great for the places mentioned, it will be hot! Cross off Phu Quoc (in my opinion), much more interesting places to see than there. I would add an extra night on Hanoi and take it off HCMC as there is more to see and you will perhaps be tired and a little out of sorts when you first arrive. First time can take a bit of getting used to! As your intinerary stands I would happily leave it as it is. You will see two quite different cities, relax in stunning scenery on Halong Bay and have a good chunk of time to relax around Hoi An between the beach and the pretty old town. You could add in Hue, or my personal favourite Phong Nha, for a couple of days but if you want to have a holiday I would leave it as it is. You will see a lot more, experience it better and get to know each place rather than rushing through ticking off places you have seen. Less is always more in Asia. Hoi An in March should be lovely for a few days by the beach and a few days near the town. Travel inVN isnt always fast or comfy so dont feel you have to be off sightseeing. The best way to enjoy it is to take your time, wander, get lost, eat well and have fun. Id stick with what you have. Just seen new post, I would happily miss HCMC and go to Phong Nha or Ninh Binh instead. But many will disagree. Edited: 3 years ago Hi! We will be in Japan from February 22th to March 8th. We are landing in Kansai airport and leaving from Nagoya. So we were thinking about spending close to 7 days in Kyoto making it our base to explore the area, including a day trip to Nara. And finishing our trip in Tokyo, for about 5 nights. We are kinda stock with the in between... from Kyoto to Tokyo and by the fact that it is winter :) oh and taking in consideration that we are a couple traveling with 3 boys (7,4,1) We wanted to stop and spend a few nights around Kawaguchiko (we want to have a good look at Mt Fuji) but are thinking that 3 nights might be to much for that time of the year... do you suggest any other destination that will be a good fit for that time of the year? Many thanks! V Hi guys, I was just wondering if I could get some opinions and recommendations for my two week trip in March 2019! We are definitely planning on getting a JR Rail Pass (7 or 14day) and possibly SUICA card for inner city travel for Tokyo. The general/bare bones itinerary is: 13th: SOU to NRT (Will arrive in Japan on the 14th Morning time) 14th - 18th: Tokyo (2 days will be for the Disney Parks) 19th - 20th: Overnight in Hiroshima - (Would like to see Miyajima on the 20th before travelling to Kyoto) 20th - 24th: Kyoto (With day trips to Nara and Osaka) 25th - 26th: Overnight in Hakone 26th - 27th: Tokyo 28th: Depart from NRT Does this itinerary sound doable? Is there any recommendations that you could give me to improve this or make additions to the itinerary; although I think its pretty packed already lol. Any input would be incredibly helpful! Thanks, Tay. No it does not make any sense with time allocation you are giving. You need to be a trail runner to do this! Check the kms and gradients in the maps. Also dusk time as you might be doing some in the dark if you intend to follow this schedule so you would need head lamps and dont trip on the many stairs! The route is meant to be a pilgrimage too but each to their own. So for your Day 1- you wont get walking till maybe mid morning. For normal fairly fit hikers ( not running) it would be around 2 hours Takijiri to Takahara, then 6 hours Takara to Nonaka area then 8 hours Nonaka area to Hongu then either a bus or 1 hour walk to Yunomine. So we did this section as 3 nights- we are older fairly fit hikers who have done several multi day hikes. Very fit young friends did that section from Takijiri to Hongu in either 1 or was it 2 nights. From Hongu to Nachi is normally an overnight in Koguchi as for a normal hiker its 6 hours to Koguchi . ( bus Yunomine to trail head at Ukagewa). Then 6-8 hours Koguchi to Nachi. You dont have to do a long bus rides from Nachi back to Yunomine. Instead stay around Kii- Katsuura where theres onsens then train around the coast to Kyoto. So cut back on what you want to do or add more days to this lovely part of Japan. Edited: 3 years ago Hello all, Just another person trying to get advice, but I hope you can help! I am planning with my wife to spend2 weeks travelling through Japan. This is our itinerary based on our research so far, would really appreciate some opinions/advice on, as well as answers to a few logistical queries etc below. We are planning on going just after 'Golden Week' in Japan (29th April - 5th May) which sounds busy and expensive, so mid-May time as we believe it will be a comfortable temperature/climate in Japan and less busy. Tokyo - 4 nights (city exploring various districts and attractions) Hakone - 1 night (Mount Fuji & stay in a Ryokan with an onsen) Takayama - 1 night (sake breweries/old town) Magome - 1 night (part of Nakasendo hike) Kyoto - 4 nights (2 day trips below/city exploring/temples/bamboo forest) Osaka - day trip from Kyoto as nearby (foodie city) Nara - day trip from Kyoto as nearby (nature/deer/temples) Hiroshima - 1 night (peace memorial park/hypocentre/etc) Return to Tokyo to return home (flights from London seem cheaper to do a Tokyo return rather than fly home from somewhere closer to Hiroshima at end of itinerary such as Osaka for example) 1) Any feedback on the itinerary route/nights in places 2) We generally travel with 'regular' sized 20kg suitcases for a 2 week trip like this as not backpackers. Obviously would be using the trains, if you've experienced traveling in Japan do you think this would be problematic based on our rough itinerary at all? For example when getting to Hakone and seeing Mount Fuji, would we be getting off the train with our suitcases and not be able to put them anywhere before going to accommodation? Our fear is that we would have to drag our luggage round with us when seeing an attraction when travelling from accommodation to accommodation/city to city/etc. 3) In terms of planning trains, best way to plan train times/length? 4) In terms of getting around, any tips for the language barrier? Are key locations like train stations 'English-friendly'? 5) Any other essential places & must see's, other info and key tips from your experiences? Thank you very much for help on this =) IMO the bus to the subway is pretty easy The E train will get you closest to that hotel (and is a bit faster as it runs express in Queens. Be aware the destination E and R train stations do not have elevators so you'll need to carry luggage on stairs. If you prefer an elevator, the Rockefeller Center F train station has one but is a little longer walk to that hotel (Only stations with wheelchair symbols have elevators) Be aware the Q70 bus is an SBS style bus with a different fare payment and boarding system (Keep the proof of payment receipt for the duration of the bus ride in case of a fare inspection) You need to buy your Metrocard(s) inside the terminal before going to the bus stop to get the free transfer between the bus and subway. Which type of card to buy depends on the length of your visit and anticipated number of rides ~13 is the break even on a weekly unlimited. If a pay-per-ride is suitable for you up to 4 people can share one card and the card "remembers" free transfers between subways and buses for two hours Here's a video on the ride (Another forum regular discovered this - not remembering who to give them proper credit) Edited: 3 years ago -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) uses a grading system to evaluate the examination performance of students who sit for the KCSE exams. Currently, KCSE results are determined by a 12-point grade system. This grade will determine the kind of tertiary institution that a student can join. Here is a breakdown of the current KCSE grading system. KNEC recently released the KCSE grading system they will use for the national examinations. The system is based on a numeric 12-point scale from 1-12 and an expanded letter grade ranging from A to E (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, E). The expanded letter grade means C+ is the 'pass' grade that allows students to join a public university. It is a grade most students can aim for when sitting for their exams. Many universities and employers consider grades C to E as insignificant nowadays. A is the best grade a student can strive to get. It takes a mixture of grades A- to B- for a student to enroll in a good university. The KCSE grading system attempts to measure the breadth or depth of learning in Kenyan schools. It also measures competence levels and quality of performance in students. In previous years, KNEC used the grading system as a standard measure of comparing students. But this has changed since the Education Department uses it as a tool to assess learning. Students can use the system to reveal their next learning steps. For example, students who score B+ in Biology, Mathematics, and English can choose to learn medicine in university. Although a student may sit for the national examinations, KNEC may not award the student a mean grade for several reasons. This can happen if a student does not meet the set requirements for getting a certificate. In this case, a candidate will have a grade of: U it indicates a candidate has not met the criteria for a certificate award W - it indicates KNEC has withheld a candidates results for various reasons X it indicates a candidate was not present throughout the exams Y it indicates KNEC has canceled a candidates results because of irregularities Z it indicates a candidate has not met the registration requirements How the grading system works KNEC grades candidates who sit for 7 or more KCSE subjects during the national examinations. The examinations body puts all subjects into five groups. These groups include: Group I These are compulsory subjects all students must sit for during exams. They include English (101), Kiswahili (102), and Mathematics (121). Group II The group consists of four science subjects. However, a student must sit for at least two subjects during the exams. They include Biology (231), Physics (232), Chemistry (233), and General Science (237). Group III The group consists of five humanities subjects. A student must sit for at least one subject during the exams. They include History and Government (311), Geography (312), Christian Religious Education (313), Islamic Religious Education (314), and Hindu Religious Education (315). Group IV There are eleven subjects in this group. The subjects include: Home Science (411), Art and Design (442), Agriculture (443), Woodwork (444), Metalwork (445), Building Construction (446), Power Mechanics (447), Electricity (448), Drawing and Design (449), Aviation Technology (450), and Computer Studies (451). Group V The groups consists of subjects from languages and business studies. They include French (501), German (502), Arabic (503), Kenya Sign Language (504), Music (511), and Business Studies (565). READ ALSO: How to pass your KCSE exams with ease A student can choose the seventh subject from Group II or Groups III, IV or V. To get a mean grade based on the KCSE grading system, KNEC averages a students score in all the seven (7) subjects. The table below shows grades and marks and their corresponding points based on the current KCESE grading system. Based on the current KCSE grading system per subject, it shows that the KCSE examinations will not be as challenging as previous ones. A student is more likely to get a grade of A by scoring 81 or above. Had the highest numeric aggregate grade started from 80, for example, it would suggest students will find this years exams a bit harder. READ ALSO: KCSE past papers with answers Marking of exams During the marking of KCSE examinations, KNEC does not give candidates a percentage mark to get a particular grade. Instead, they publish KCSE grades and points to indicate the general performance of students. The examinations body sets grades by combining expert judgment and statistics to come on an agreeable grade boundary. Exam papers are not the same. They vary in difficulty. As such, the experts set grade boundaries to reflect the current performance of all students. The purpose is to ensure candidates do not get lower grades just because they sat for more difficult papers than previous years. After agreeing on grade boundaries, KNEC applies them to students marks to give them a grade. KCSE examiners are teachers experienced in respective subjects. The examinations body selects them carefully and trains them before they can mark the exams. It is essential that they use the same standards when marking the exams so that KNEC can award students the right grades. Before schools can receive the results, senior examiners conduct final checks on all the marking. The purpose is to ensure no errors and that the standards were met during the marking of the exams. The Kenya National Examinations Council does not use percentages in the grading system. They replace them with letter grades to create a mean grade. Kenyan universities do not use percentages from KCSE results when enrolling students too. Instead, they use the mean grade to determine a students rank in the concluded exams. This strategy means that the KCSE grading system gives a better measure of a students performance than the traditional marking system. READ ALSO: Best success card messages for exams Source: Tuko.co.ke - A 2018 survey by UBS has revealed the most expensive city to live in Africa - Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya is the most expensive African city - It is followed by Lagos and Cairo, the capital city of Egypt A 2018 survey conducted by UBS, a global bank headquartered in Switzerland, has indicated that Nairobi, capital city of Kenya, is the most expensive city to live in Africa. The research which was tagged, Cost of living in cities around the world: Prices and Earnings 2018, was carried out between January and April 2018 placing Nairobi at position 68 globally. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: World Bank denies Tanzania KSh 30 billion for denying pregnant girls opportunity to resume school The research which was carried out between January and April 2018 placed Nairobi at position 68 globally. Source: UBS 2018 survey READ ALSO: More pain at the pump as petrol, diesel, kerosene prices go up It included a survey on the prices of 128 goods and services and the earnings for 15 professions in 77 cities worldwide. The findings were separated into prices, earnings, purchasing power and working time. Two other African cities featured in the survey were Lagos, the capital of Nigeria and Cairo, Egypt's capital. READ ALSO: ERC revises fuel prices downwards in line with new 8% VAT charge A 2018 survey conducted by UBS has indicated that Nairobi is the most expensive city to live in Africa. Source: UGC Lagos was ranked position 76 globally while Cairo was ranked position 77 making it the least expensive city both in Africa and the world. The survey also shows that Zurich, a Swiss city, tops the list of the most expensive cities in the world. Nairobi was again ranked 1o4 out of 207 as one of the most expensive cities according to Mercers 21st cost of living survey released in June 2015. READ ALSO: Nairobi Ranked 104 Most Expensive City In The World While an earlier survey by the 2018 edition of Global Peace Index (GPI) ranked Nigeria as the 16th least peaceful country in the world. The report, released on Wednesday, June 6, ranked Nigeria 148 out of the total 163 countries surveyed. Iceland, according to the report, is the most peaceful country, closely followed by New Zealand and Austria . Syria is ranked least peaceful, coming after Afghanistan and South Sudan respectively. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya News Today: MC Jesse Calls Fan Ugly and Kenyans Are Not Impressed | Tuko TV Source: Breaking News - Miguna claimed the defamation case was a matter of public interest and not a private affair - Waiguru had accused Raila of tarnishing her good name in the NYS scandalseason one - The former devolution cabinet secretary sued Raila for linking him to loss of KSh 791 million the service - The duo have since reconciled with Waiguru agreeing to withdraw the case from court A reconciliation between former foes Opposition chief Raila Odinga and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has brought into question the integrity of the former premier in fight against graft. Shortly after Waiguru announced she had dropped defamation lawsuit against Raila, self-styled National Resistance Movement (NRM) general Miguna Miguna laughed off the purported settlement. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Anne Waiguru wants her defamation case against Raila Odinga to resume without further delay Raila poses with Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru at his office. The latter dropped defamation case against the former prime minister. Photo: Raila Odinga/Facebook. Source: Instagram READ ALSO: Governor Anne Waiguru reconciles with Raila Odinga after holding talks Waiguru on Wednesday, November 14, paid a courtesy call on Raila at his Capitol Hill office where according to her, she agreed to drop the case she had filed against the former premier in the spirit of cohesion. But according to the deported barrister, the National Youth Service (NYS) theft witnessed under Waiguru as the devolution cabinet secretary was a matter of public concern and it was therefore laughable to see the two settle privately. "The People's con-man promised Kenyans evidence showing how Anne Waiguru looted more than KSh 45 billion from the NYS - a public institution. Looting of public resources is not a private matter that he can "settle" in secret with Waiguru," he posted. In the defamation lawsuit, the governor had accused Raila of dragging her good name into the National Youth Service (NYS) phase one of the graft scandal which saw taxpayers lose KSh 791 million. Then as Devolution CS, Waiguru moved to court under a certificate of urgency in September 25, 2015 seeking to compel Raila to stop any further utterances linking her to the scam. She was also seeking compensation for damages caused by Raila's utterances claiming he had portrayed her as a thief and looter of public coffers. The NASA leader however went on to dare Waiguru to make good her threat and sue him, insisting his utterances were not defamatory but of public interest. The back and forth continued for close to six months prompting Waiguru to take Raila to court in a bid to clear her name. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Carolyne Nduti Untold Story: My Husband Left Me for My Cousin - Kenya Untold Stories | Tuko TV Source: Tuko - The DP emphasised the need to elevate Kenya into a middle-income country - He said the fight against graft would be thorough and would spare no friends and relatives - Ruto stated taming of wastage and abuse of public resources was necessary for Kenya to thrive Deputy President William Ruto has assured Kenyans the government is determined to win the fight against corruption which is ailing the country's development. Ruto said the fight against graft would be thorough and relentless as the government seeks to elevate Kenya to a middle-income country. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado arrested again Deputy President William Ruto addresses CSs, governors and development partners during the Development Partnership Forum in Nairobi. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Muslim leaders demand to have their caps in passports like Akorinos Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 14, during a forum with cabinet secretaries, governors and development partners, the DP said taming of wastage and abuse of public resources was necessary for the country to thrive. The fight against organised crime, mismanagement, theft and corruption is now running full steam and there are no friends, no relatives and no political sides, said the DP. Ruto said his office was committed to contributing positively in the fight against corruption by providing leadership on Open Government Partnership to foster transparency, accountability and promote citizen participation. READ ALSO: 5 KCSE candidates to sit exams in police cell after being arrested with bhang The transformation of Kenya is necessary, urgent and inevitable, he added. Apparently, the DP is battling a case with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) in which the latter is accusing him of illegally acquiring land where he built his Weston Hotel. The Aviation Authority on Wednesday, August 15, alleged the DP grabbed its plot L.R. No. 209/14372, located on Langata Road opposite Wilson Airport, Nairobi. Several buildings sitting on public land in Nairobi have been demolished but Weston Hotel is yet to be brought down despite confirmation its on public land. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya News Today: MC Jesse Calls Fan Ugly and Kenyans Are Not Impressed | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - The governor allegedly attempted to flee from police after getting wind they were after him - He was picked up at Hilton Hotel in Nairobi where he had gone to attend a business forum - Present at the investment forum was Ruto, cabinet secretaries, investors and other leaders - Obado left the function before it ended and was spotted going to the basement of the hotel - Police claimed he had called a taxi and was just about to leave when he was arrested - He was arrested after illegal firearms were discovered in his homes in Nairobi and Migori - Obado, who is already facing two counts of murder charges, was also being probed over alleged graft It has emerged Migori governor, Zachary Okoth Obado, was attending an investment forum with Deputy President William Ruto and other leaders in Nairobi and had just left the high-profile event when he was re-arrested. The governor, who has increasingly become tight friends with the DP, was reportedly picked up by people believed to be Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives at Hilton Hotel where the business function was going on. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Detectives confiscate 8 firearms, electronics from Okoth Obado during home raids Governor Zachary Okoth Obado was arrested on Wednesday, November 14, after eight guns were found in his homes in Migori and Nairobi. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado arrested again TUKO.co.ke on Thursday, November 15, gathered the embattled county chief was found at the basement of Hilton Hotel where he had entered a taxi and was about to be driven away. The DCI detectives, the Standard reported, had stealthily followed the governor after they noticed he had exited the venue where the function was still going on and ordered him out of the taxicab. READ ALSO: EACC detectives storm Migori governor Okoth Obado's homes over alleged graft He was whisked away in a police car, which was standing by, and taken to the Special Crimes Prevention Unit (SCPU) on Ngong Road. TUKO.co.ke understands the governor was then driven to the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road for some grilling before they locked him up. READ ALSO: Okoth Obado's woes escalate as EACC accuses him of embezzling KSh 2 billion from county coffers Obado was arrested on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 14, for being in possession of illegal firearms and also in connection with alleged misappropriation of public funds. The second arrest came after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives discovered eight guns at the governor's homes and offices in Migori and Nairobi which they raided on Tuesday. The anti-graft sleuths also found several documents, including bank statements, and electronic gadgets they believed could help in the ongoing investigations. READ ALSO: Governor Okoth Obado faces KSh 2 billion fraud charge as he cools off in remand Obado is at the same time facing charges relating to the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Sharon Beryl Otieno, whose body was found dumped in Kodera Forest on September 4. The governor, who was charged with two counts of murder alongside his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Migori County government's clerk Caspal Obiero, was released on a KSh 5 million cash bail on October 24. He had spent 34 days at the Industrial Area Remand Prison at the time of his release. He is expected to be arraigned again on Thursday following his re-arrest. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Governor Okoth Obado Release Terms and Conditions - On Tuko TV Source: Kenyan Breaking News - A Judge ruled that the money was proceeds of crime after Pamela Aboo failed to explain how she obtained it - This is the second high-profile transfer of assets linked to fraudulent dealings back to the state since September - The rulings spell doom for corrupt individuals with millions of unexplained shillings in their bank accounts The Anti-Corruption Court has sent shivers down the spines of fraudulent individuals after allowing the Government to recover KSh19.6 million from the wife of a Kenya Revenue Authority employee. In a ruling that could redefine the war on economic crimes, High Court Judge Hedwig Ongundi found that Pamela Aboo could not explain how she obtained the money and ruled that it was proceeds of crime. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Kenya Revenue Authority reveals it fired employee with KSh 600 million questionable wealth High Court judge Hedwig Ongundi on Tuesday, November 13, ordered Equity Bank to transfer KSh 19.6 million from account of wife of a KRA worker to the government's accounts. Source: UGC READ ALSO: 32 senior KRA, KPA, KEBS employees arrested, grilled over bad sugar import She subsequently ordered Equity Bank of Kenya to transfer the full amount in the womans three bank accounts to the government and ultimately to the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA). There is no dispute that huge deposits were being made. Even with all this, she could not explain how she got the money. It could be true that she does business but where is the evidence? Justice Ongundi ruled on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Records showed that between 2016 and 2017, money was deposited in Aboos Equity Bank account but was never withdrawn. The deposits were typically never less than KSh100,000 but by the time she was coming into the sights of the State, as much as KSh700,000 was flowing into her account. READ ALSO: Kenya Revenue Authority employee's KSh 650 million wealth puzzles anti-graft detectives The money is believed to have come from her husband, Alex Mukhwana, an employee of KRA. Aboo claimed the huge cash deposits are income from a transport business she co-owns with one Samson Waweru, and another business that she runs with Jonathan Kimindu. But she never brought the said business partners to testify or swear an affidavit to prove or support her claims. She further argued that although the Asset Recovery Authority suspected that her husband was engaged in corruption, it did not have any evidence implicating her. But when pressed by the court to explain how his wife had accumulated such a large sum of money, Mukhwana said he did not know where she got it from. READ ALSO: KRA Manager Arrested Soliciting Bribe, See Amount Justice Ong'undi observed that Aboo did not show a single business transaction receipt, adding that she was convinced the money was obtained through graft. There is no law prohibiting one to deposit money. It is also not an offence not to withdraw the money. One can even deposit Sh1 billion but they ought to explain how they obtained it, she said. Worryingly for those involved in economic crimes, this is the second high-profile transfer of assets from individuals following court rulings that assets were linked to fraudulent dealings. In September, the State took ownership of a KSh48.5 million luxury five-bedroom apartment in Lavington, Nairobi that was bought with funds stolen from the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. Justice Ongudi also allowed ARA to recover KSh8 million that Ngamau had allegedly loaned to businessman Ezekiel Owuor. The precedent-setting ruling, for instance, makes it easy for the state to reclaim the over KSh230 million paid to Anne Ngirita and her family for nonexistent supplies to the National Youth Service. In a case similar to Aboos, ARA has flagged KSh40 million suspicious deposits, withdrawals and intra transfers made by former Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lilian Omollo, who is currently facing trial over the KSh8 billion NYS scandal. ARA has told the court that monies were deposited in batches of KSh900,000 and in some instances, to three different accounts, actions that point to money laundering. Omollo has held that the money was proceeds from selling farm produce but has failed to produce any receipts to prove the sales. The case could also prove critical in taming corrupt police officers who have failed to explain the millions of shillings deposited in their bank accounts despite earning a meager monthly salary. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Small Business Ideas for Kenyans With Low Investment - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - Obado was arraigned at Kibera Law Courts on Thursday after spending a night in police custody - He was arrested afresh on Wednesday afternoon over alleged possession of illegal firearms - The guns were found in his homes during raids conducted by EACC detectives on Tuesday - EACC was investigating the governor over alleged embezzlement of KSh 2 billion county funds - The governor is also facing charges in relation to the murder of his ex-girlfriend Sharon Otieno Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado has been sent back to police custody pending a ruling on an application by the prosecution seeking to have him locked behind bars for 15 days following his re-arrest. The governor was arraigned at Kibera Law Courts in Nairobi on Thursday, November 15, over alleged possession of illegal firearms found at his homes and offices in Nairobi and Migori during raids conducted by EACC officers. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado arrested again Governor Okoth Obado was re-arrested after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) raided his homes in Migori and Nairobi and found eight guns. Photo: TUKO. Source: Original READ ALSO: Governor Obado now staring at 2 counts of murder as prosecutor amends charge sheet The prosecution team led by Catherine Mwaniki wanted the governor detained until the ongoing investigations relating to the illegal firearms case are concluded. We need 15 days to allow the officers to visit his (Obado's) rural home during the investigation. We also are also asking for time to find out if the firearms were used in any crimes which might lead to other charges, the prosecution argued. READ ALSO: EACC detectives storm Migori governor Okoth Obado's homes over alleged graft The prosecution further argued the governor failed to provide sufficient answers as to why he was in possession of so many guns and ammunition in contravention of the Firearms Acts. In his defense, Obado's legal team led by Cliff Ombetta denied the prosecution's claims that the governor was in possession of illegal firearms. The defense argued the guns that were purported to had been found at the governor's homes were verified firearms. READ ALSO: EACC freezes Obado's and wife's accounts over corruption The defense further argued some of the guns in question belonged to the governor's bodyguards and that Obado owned only one gun which he was licensed to have. Ombetta poked holes into the prosecution's allegations terming them malicious and mischievous, and laughed off an application to have his client locked up for two more weeks as he pleaded with the court to set the accused free. The court after hearing arguments from both sides directed the governor be returned to police custody to wait for a ruling on the prosecution's application to be delivered on Friday, November 16. READ ALSO: Governor Obado now staring at 2 counts of murder as prosecutor amends charge sheet Obado was arrested on Wednesday afternoon by DCI detectives who found him at the basement of Hilton Hotel where he had gone to attend an investment forum together with other leaders, including Deputy President William Ruto, his political ally. He was driven to the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road where TUKO.co.ke understands he recorded a statement before he was moved to Gigiri Police Station. READ ALSO: Governor Okoth Obado faces KSh 2 billion fraud charge as he cools off in remand In a separate case, Obado is facing charges relating to the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Sharon Beryl Otieno, whose body was found dumped in Kodera Forest on September 4. The governor was charged with two counts of murder alongside his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Migori County government's clerk Caspal Obiero. He pleaded not guilty and was resealed on KSh 5 million cash bail on October 24 after spending 34 days at the Industrial Area Remand Prison. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Okoth Obado Supporters Celebrate His Release - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Peter Mwangangi was found lifeless in the back seat of his Toyota Harrier car in Kanyonyoo market - He had lacerations on his abdomen and blood stains - Police suspected he had been injected with a lethal substance in his abdomen - The deceased was last spotted at a bar in Kanyonyoo market and left after receiving a call form a man who requested him to drive him past a police roadblock A famous businessman in Machakos has been found dead inside his posh car at Kanyonyoo market, Masinga Sub-county. The body of Peter Mwangangi who owns numerous businesses in Machakos and Embu besides being an established contractor was found at the back seat of his Toyota Harrier car with hands tied together on Wednesday, November 14. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado arrested again The body of Peter Mwangangi was found bundled at the rear passenger seats of his Toyota Harrier car. Photo: Terry Nzau/TUKO.co.ke. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Michelle Obama akiri kuvuta bangi ujanani kabla ya kukutana na Barack Obama Masinga OCPD Francis Siror confirmed the incident saying the body was found at around 9pm. He said they suspected the deceased had been injected with a lethal substance because his abdomen had minute lacerations with blood stains. "His hands were strapped on the front seat of his car and the body was lying on the back seats of his car. He had visible blood stains on the abdomen. He was most likely pricked by needles and injected with some poisonous component," Siror said. The OCPD said preliminary findings pointed to chances that the deceased could have succumbed to the lethal injection. The body of the deceased was taken to Matuu Mediance hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem. Photo: Terry Nzau/TUKO.co.ke Source: Original READ ALSO: Betty Kyallo warms up with new colleagues ahead of TV comeback Suspicious residents of Kanyonyoo market who saw the car parked for several hours with hazard lights on notified the police who responded only to find the body of Mwangangi. According to police, the deceased was last spotted at his Rexx bar in Kanyonyoo market where he left after a receiving a call from someone who had asked him tend him his driving license to drive past a police road block around the trading centre. "He drove off his car from Kanyonyo and later on at around 4pm the said car was seen by passers-by parked by the roadside near Kasiangove market with flickering hazard lights. At about 9pm area assistant chief got information the car abandoned on a feeder road a few metres off the main road with its doors wide open," a police incident report stated. The body was taken to Matuu Mediance hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem and the vehicle towed to Masinga police station. No suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident by Thursday, November 15. Story By: Triza Mwikali: TUKO Correspondent, Machakos County Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Okoth Obado Supporters Celebrate His Release - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - Francis Maliti was voted out of the Finance docket by 35 out of 59 Members of County Assembly - The MCAs had passed the motion to impeach Maliti on Wednesday, November 7 - Speaker Florence Mwangangi directed for formation of a five-member Ad-hoc committee to probe allegations against the deputy governor - The committee report concluded Maliti was incompetent - The Senate ordered Governor Alfred Mutua to release salaries of MCAs Machakos Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have adopted a report recommending impeachment of Deputy Governor Francis Maliti from the Finance docket over alleged incompetence and misappropriation of funds. The move comes just one week after 33 out of 59 MCAs passed a motion to kick out Governor Alfred Mutua's deputy from the county's Finance docket. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Okoth Obado attended function with Ruto, tried to dodge detectives moments before arrest Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Maliti and Governor Alfred Mutua. Maliti was impeached by Members of County Assembly over alleged incompetence. Photo: Citizen Source: UGC READ ALSO: Famous Machakos businessman found murdered inside his posh car under mysterious circumstances In an assembly session under leadership of Speaker Florence Mwangangi on Wednesday, November 15, 35 MCAs who were present in chambers voted for the adoption of the report by an Ad-hoc committee formed to probe Maliti after the impeachment motion was passed. All 35 MCAs present voted for adoption of the report while 24 others absconded the session which was halted for a while following pepper spray fumigation. An agitated Mutua said the move to impeach his deputy was a political scheme by MCAs to conceal their corrupt dealings after Maliti wrote to Auditor General Edward Ouko to conduct a financial audit in the County Assembly. "This is precisely a scheme to frustrate my development plans by my detractors. They are hellbent to ensure I don't execute my responsibilities," Mutua told the press on Monday, November 12. Machakos County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi ordered for formation of Ad-hoc committee to probe Francis Maliti after impeachment motion had been passed. Photo:UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Tension boils up in Migori County following Okoth Obado's fresh arrest Just a day after MCAs voted to relieve Maliti of his responsibilities, the Senate ordered Mutua to release the legislators' salaries on Thursday, November 15. The governor had directed Maliti not to approve salaries of MCAs on grounds that they had refused to approve a county integrated development plan. Senate Public Accounts Committee accused Mutua of withholding the pay for purposes of settling scores with the legislators. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Governor Okoth Obado Release Terms and Conditions - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - The teenager picked a quarrel with his father aged 54 after the latter scooped 2kgs of his maize - He picked up a panga and hacked him to death on the spot - The suspect sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education two weeks ago and wanted to sell maize to buy some delicacy - The father scooped the maize after returning from a circumcision session, angering his son - Relatives said the two usually fought over domestic issues - The deceased will be buried at night according to Kabras cultural customs A fight over a gorogoro (tin of maize) turned tragic after a 16-year-old boy hacked his father to death in Malava, Kakamega county. The suspect from Kimange'ti area who sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams two weeks ago was arrested immediately and detained at Kabras Police Station. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Famous Machakos businessman found murdered inside his posh car under mysterious circumstances The 16-year-old is reported to have attacked his father with a machete after discovering he had sold his two kilogrammes of maize. Photo: Citizen. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Michelle Obama akiri kuvuta bangi ujanani kabla ya kukutana na Barack Obama Relatives told TUKO.co.ke on Thursday, November 15, that the juvenile attacked his father after realising the deceased had taken his 2kgs of maize. They said the suspect had intended to sell the grains in order to buy some delicacy only to find it taken by the father. Meshack Masai, a family member said after a short quarrel, the angered teenager hurriedly went for a panga and mercilessly descended on the father identified as Johnson Mwalati, 54. He accused the father of selling maize to a changaa brewer and in the ensuing meleethe boy ran amok and hacked him to death on the spot. The boy had on several occasions fought with his father but this was the first time he picked a weapon and unfortunately killed him," said Masai. The teenager's action incensed the residences who nearly lynched him only to be saved by police officers. READ ALSO: Raila-Waiguru reconciliation inspired by slay queen behaviour - Political analyst Ben Mulwa Area Assistant Chief Joseph Juma said the deceased arrived home from a circumcision ceremony and decided to scoop some maize for sale in order to buy something to eat. "The son was not happy with his father's behaviour and began quarreling. The confrontation culminated to a violent fight," said Juma. The incident happened a few kilometres from Manda-K area where a woman hacked her husband to death with a hoe before surrendering to the police on Wednesday, November 14. Masai termed the teenager's action an abomination, adding the deceased would be buried after clansmen perform some rituals. We shall bury the deceased at night because he was murdered, our traditions dictate that people who die in such circumstances are buried at night so that their spirits wont come back to haunt the living, said he explained. Mwalati's body is lying at Kakamega County Referral Hospital mortuary. Story By Joe Tinga, TUKO Correspondent, Kakamega County Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Governor Okoth Obado Release Terms and Conditions - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Tanzania government recently announced a crackdown on gays and actors of x-rated movies - According to the authorities, the move is meant to safeguard their morals and virtues in society - Denmark withdrew aid citing violation of homosexuals' human rights - World Bank withdrew KSh 30 billion aid it had set for the education sector in the country Tanzania is seemingly getting into more trouble with its donors over its harsh views and policies seen to violate human rights. Denmark has withdrawn a KSh 1 billion aid it had set aside for the country after a government official made negative remarks against homosexuals in the country. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Tanzania creates special police to identify, arrest gays Opposition politicians in Tanzania have accused President John Magufuli over growth of authoritarianism in the country. Photo: UGC Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Tanzania authorities threatens to arrest socialite Sanchoka for displaying sexually provocative photos "I am very worried about the negative development in Tanzania, the latest being the completely unacceptable homophobic statements from a commissioner. I have therefore decided to withhold KSh 1 billion for the country. Respect for human rights absolutely essential for DK," Read a tweet by Denmark Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tornaes . On Monday, October 29, Dar Es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda created a 17-man special task force mandated with the responsibility of hunting down and arresting gays and actors and consumers of x-rated movies in Tanzania. Makonda also pleaded with Tanzanians to report any homosexual suspect to his office. READ ALSO: World Bank denies Tanzania KSh 30 billion for denying pregnant girls opportunity to resume school The development came barely a day after World Bank withdrew KSh 30 billion it had set aside to improve quality of secondary school education in Tanzania. The bank cited the country's policy of banning pregnant girls from school and new law on statistics which made it a crime to question government statistics as major reasons for withdrawal of it's support. Opposition politicians in Tanzania have questioned President John Magufuli's leadership, with many saying the country was experiencing a tremendous growth of authoritarianism and intolerance to dissent views. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya News Today: MC Jesse Calls Fan Ugly and Kenyans Are Not Impressed | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Kibwana claimed Kalonzo's followers have refused to accept his decision to be Uhuru's errand boy - The governor said as their leader, they always follow the Wiper leader's decisions, but this time they will not - Kalonzo had offered to run errands for the president - He made the remarks during the burial of his father Peter Mairu Musyoka - The government later appointed Kalonzo special envoy to South Sudan to monitor peace process in the young African nation Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka's 'errand boy' remark continues to elicit sharp reactions from his Ukambani backyard with his allies and followers now insisting he must come clean on what he meant because they felt betrayed. Among those who want Kalonzo to withdraw his remarks is the Wiper party chairman and Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana who made it clear they would not accept the decision by their party leader to be President Uhuru Kenyatta's errand boy. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Wiper Party leaders angry at Kalonzo Musyoka for offering to be Uhuru's errand boy Wiper Democratic Movement party's chairman and Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana wants his party boss Kalonzo Musyoka to withdraw his errand boy remarks. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Kalonzo Musyoka's security detail upgraded after he offered to be Uhuru's errand boy Speaking to NTV on Thursday, November 15, Kibwana said Wiper supporters were okay with their leader's move to join and work with the government and even pushed for it, but they would not support his errand boy position. "They (Kalonzo's supporters) are feeling let down and betrayed. They see it as a clear indication that he has given up on his presidential ambition," the governor said. READ ALSO: Wiper Party leaders angry at Kalonzo Musyoka for offering to be Uhuru's errand boy According to Kibwana, he and other Wiper leaders have always supported the decisions made by Kalonzo, including in 2017 when he reportedly chose to join the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition after the party advised him to work with Jubilee instead. "Actually, we wanted him to be in government, to work with Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto. But now, we cannot follow a decision that he is an errand boy," the governor said. READ ALSO: Kalonzo Musyoka's security detail upgraded after he offered to be Uhuru's errand boy The other Kamba leader who had also reacted angrily to Kalonzo's offer to be Uhuru's right-hand man was former Machako senator Johnson Muthama who equally demanded clarification from the former vice president. "Kalonzo Musyoka should explain to Kenyans and his followers what he meant when he said he was now Uhuru's errand boy," a furious Muthama demanded. READ ALSO: Dignitaries show up at burial of Kalonzo Musyoka's dad in 32 helicopters The Wiper leader made the controversial remarks during the burial ceremony of his father, Mzee Peter Musyoka, in Kitui County on Friday, November 9. The funeral service was attended by Uhuru, Kalonzo's National Super Alliance (NASA) co-principals Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi, and several other dignitaries including senators and governors. Kalonzo has since been appointed the new head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in South Sudan. The appointment came a few days after Uhuru hinted he was ready to work with the former vice president to foster peace and unity not just in Kenyan but internationally. The Wiper party leader's security detail was also reinstated. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kalonzo Musyoka dismisses removal of Moses Wetangula from Senate - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Newspaper - The retired cleric is involved in a nasty court battle with the courts over a family piece of land - Njoya dragged Mary Wangui to court seeking to have an injuction against her - He claims Wangui settled on a family piece of land belonging to his late father - The accused Wangui has maintained on several occassions that she was married to the deceased who passed away in 1966 Retired cleric Reverend Timothy Njoya has moved to court in an attempt to bar a woman from a piece of land he alleges belongs to his late father. Through documents filed in a Nyeri court, Njoya sought an injunction against one Mary Wangui Maina whom he alleged was a trespasser in the land located in Mukurweini Constituency. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Retired cleric Timothy Njoya wants woman claiming to be his late dad's widow kicked from land Source: UGC READ ALSO: Famous Machakos businessman found murdered inside his posh car under mysterious circumstances The land has been subject to wrangles between the Njoya and Wangui from as far back as 2005 when the clerics attempt to sell the land to Thika Coffee Mills was thrwarted by Wangui, who claims to be Njoyas step mother. Njoya, in his affidavit, argued that Wangui was not his late father Njoya Snrs wife and was in fact a maid. He further denied claims he was related to any of Wanguis four children. READ ALSO: Police officer shoots wife dead after she hit him with hammer on the head Upon the death of Njoya senior in 1966, Wangui reportedly established a residential hut in the piece of land - a move that has since led to bad blood between herself and the retired cleric. I was then served with her application for revocation of grant in May 2005 and learned that she was claiming to be a widow of my father and that she wanted to inherit it belatedly as it were, Njoya said. READ ALSO: 4 prominent Kenyans whose possession of guns has been questioned besides Okoth Obado Aside from Njoya's controversial land case, the cleric has been in the headlines in recent times for quite the bizarre reasons. In 2017, the cleric published a controversial book dubbed "Divinity of the *******." which elicited some explosive reactions from Kenyans who were adamant a man of the cloth was not supposed to think along such obscene lines. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya News Today: MC Jesse Calls Fan Ugly and Kenyans Are Not Impressed | Tuko TV: Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - Keter said he took over as spokesperson of Kalenjin community after their trusted leaders let them down - The MP said the leaders had been stealing from them as reveled in the recent NCPB maize scandal - He said NCPB maize scandal was an eye opener to the residents of Rift Valley Vocal Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has said he is the official spokesperson of the Kalenjin community after their most trusted leader failed them in the maize scandal. According to the legislator, the maize scandal involving the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) was an eye opener for the people in his region to see who could stand and fight with them. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: 4 prominent Kenyans whose possession of guns has been questioned besides Okoth Obado Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter says the NCPB maize scandal was an eye opener to farmers in the Rift Valley. Photo: UGC Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Nairobi MCAs pass motion to have hotels designate breastfeeding zones In a undated video circulating online, the lawmaker said leaders who have been pretending to protect the community were the ones stealing from it. "Our people have realised even our own who pretend to protect us are the ones who are stealing from us. Since we made this discovery, I am now the man in that area, I am their spokesperson," said Keter. The MP said he recently received a call from a leader who will vie in 2022 election saying he wanted to make things right with him. READ ALSO: Narok police officer shoots wife dead in front of 8-year-old child "He called me and told me I have started causing commotion in the region and yet I know he is vying for 2022 elections. I told him , if you become the president other communities in Kenya will hate the Kalenjins thinking we are all thieves like you," he said. Keter, a critique of Jubilee government, has been opposing Deputy President William Ruto who has declared his interest to vie for the country's top seat in 2022 elections. Six months ago, angry farmers from Uasin Gishu County called out the DP Ruto accusing him of neglecting them over their delayed payments for maize delivered to the NCPB. READ ALSO: Kivutha Kibwana demands Kalonzo withdraws his Uhuru's 'errand boy' remarks The farmers said the DP was more interested in tours across the country and gave a deaf ear to their plights as they suffered under the Jubilee government which they voted for overwhelmingly. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri blamed his predecessor Willy Bett, a close ally of Ruto over illegal payment of maize farmers. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya News Today: MC Jesse Calls Fan Ugly and Kenyans Are Not Impressed | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - The committee argued the governor was frustrating the assembly for impeaching his deputy governor - They ordered him to release the MCAs salaries which he ordered the finance minister to freeze - Mutua claimed the MCAs would only receive their salaries after they approved the county development fund - The governor, however, said senators never ordered him to release salaries when he appeared before them A Senate committee has ordered Machakos governor Alfred Mutua to release salaries of members of the County Assembly. The committee on Wednesday, November 15, accused Mutua of frustrating the county assembly while on the other hand, he accused the assembly of fighting him. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Governor Alfred Mutua halts MCAs salaries for failing to approve development budget The committee accused Governor Mutua of frustrating the county assembly for impeaching the deputy governor. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Saudi to behead 5 suspects in the murder of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi The committee also accused him of frustrating the assembly for impeaching his Deputy Governor Francis Maliti as the County Executive for Finance, Citizen TV reported. Mutua, however, came out on Thursday, November 15, to strongly dismiss the claims noting he attended the sitting but was never ordered to release the salaries. Responding to the claims, he noted they only discussed matters pertaining to the issue but no orders were made. READ ALSO: 13-year-old gymnast Wendy Waeni gets wish of meeting Raila after Raila Junior's intervention "I wish to confirm that the senate committee I appeared before today on the regular audit sessions by governors, did not order me to release any monies to the Machakos County Assembly," tweeted Mutua. "They inquired on the media stories on the matter and we discussed, there was no order given, fact," he added. Mutua had on Tuesday, November 13, ordered his Finance minister not to disburse the MCAs' salaries. READ ALSO: Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter declares himself leader of Kalenjin community He accused them of going ahead to approve their salaries but failed to approve the County Integrated Development Plan which had also delayed bursaries for needy students. "The members of the county assembly who are fighting me approved their own salaries but failed to approve money for development, said Mutua. Machakos County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi, however, dismissed the governors claims that the Assembly was withholding development funds. READ ALSO: Narok police officer shoots wife dead in front of 8-year-old child She claimed Controller of Budgets reports revealed the county had received more than KSh 2.5 billion as of July 2018. The orders to release the MCAs' salaries came barely hours after the Ward Reps approved a report by the Ad-hoc committee on the impeachment of Maliti as the Finance CEC. Mutua, who termed the impeachment as a witch hunt, accused the MCAs of removing his deputy from his docket in order to hide their corrupt dealings. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Okoth Obado Supporters Celebrate His Release - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke The University of Dayton was named one of the best schools in the nation for students aspiring to launch their own businesses. The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine listed the University among the Top 25 Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurship Studies for the 13th straight year. The program is ranked 19th. This distinction speaks to the strength of our faculty and the depth of experiential learning opportunities offered to students, said Vincent Lewis, director of the Universitys L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. As an undergraduate, you dont just read about starting a business, you do it. You can take part in a venture capital fund or even lead a seven-figure student corporation. Our faculty, who developed the curriculum and focus their scholarly research on entrepreneurship, connect the classroom to the entrepreneurship ecosystem in our region and around the world. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive here and its growing. The Princeton Review evaluated hundreds of schools based on the percentage of faculty, students and alumni actively and successfully involved in entrepreneurial endeavors; the number and reach of mentorship programs; funding for scholarships and grants for entrepreneurial studies and projects; the level of support for school-sponsored business plan competitions; and dozens of other areas. Its top 25 list will be featured in the December issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands Nov. 27. These colleges and business schools have truly superb entrepreneurship programs, said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief. Their faculties are genuinely engaged in entrepreneurism. Their courses are rich with in-class and out-of-class experiential components, and the financial and networking support their students receive via donors and alumni is extraordinary. The University was highlighted for its alumni success, as well as the number of faculty who have started, bought or run a successful business. The University supports new ventures through its Flyer Pitch competition, among the the largest business plan contests at the collegiate level with more than $100,000 in cash prizes and $100,000 of in-kind support awarded. It is the only global competition with sites in the U.S., China and Vietnam. The University also hosts a contest for high school students in the entrepreneurship 101 boot camp with $70,000 in scholarships awarded. Undergraduates also can gain experience through Flyer Enterprises, the fourth-largest student-run business in the country with annual revenues of more than $1.2 million and nearly 200 employees. Flyer Angels allows students to run a $1 million angel investment fund and Flyer Consulting gives them the chance to work with nonprofits on operational issues, marketing, development challenges and more. All entrepreneurship students start and run micro-businesses during their first year in the program. The Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership provides $60,000 in venture capital for the year-long business. Proceeds go to charities, with about $10,000 donated last year alone. The center also regularly connects students with successful entrepreneurs through curriculum and experiential opportunities. The University, in partnership with the Daytons Entrepreneurs Center, also is an anchor in the redevelopment of the city of Daytons downtown Arcade, which will provide a space to bring students and local entrepreneurs together with a focus on creating new start-up opportunities in the region. The Universitys continued recognition as a leading program in entrepreneurship is a credit to the Crotty Center and its leadership, to the faculty and students of UD, and to the entrepreneurial ecosystem that is developing in the Dayton area, said School of Business Administration Dean John Mittelstaedt. Helping to build a culture of entrepreneurship reflects our Catholic, Marianist roots: innovation, empowerment and engagement, he said. The entrepreneurial mindset students develop at the University of Dayton will pay dividends for our community and for the people they will serve in business and in their personal lives. The supply of food products from Ukraine to Asia and the CIS continued to grow in January-September 2018, amid a decline in exports to the European Union and Africa. India remains the largest importer, as it purchased 10% of Ukrainian agricultural products, according to the National Scientific Center "Institute of Agrarian Economics." "The position of the main importer of domestic agricultural products has been occupied for several years by Asian countries, which bought $5.7 billion worth of Ukrainian food products in the first nine months of 2018. Asia's share during this period amounted to 43.8% of total exports of agricultural products," the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry said. The EU countries account for about a third of domestic exports of agricultural products - 31.5%. They purchased Ukrainian food for $4.1 billion in January-September 2018. Exports to African countries amounted to $1.7 billion, or 13.1% of total exports of agricultural products. There is a tendency to revival of exports of domestic agricultural products to the CIS countries, which was observed last year. In January-September 2018, countries in this region imported $1.1 billion worth of Ukrainian food, or 8.5% of total exports of agricultural products. In the first nine months of 2018, the ranking of countries importing Ukraine's agricultural products was traditionally headed by India. Purchasing food for $1.404 billion, it secured a share of over 10% in total exports of Ukrainian agricultural products. The Netherlands took second place ($780 million). It outpaced Egypt, which imported $721 million worth of agricultural products from Ukraine and took fourth place. China is third ($740 million). Ukrainian exporters also received significant revenues from Spain ($598 million), Turkey ($541 million), and Italy ($540 million). These seven countries ensured 41% of revenues from exports of agricultural products from Ukraine in January-September 2018. op Ukrainian agrarian products are exported to 190 countries, the markets of Turkey and Israel may be opened for Ukraine by the end of the current year. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman stated this when congratulating farmers on their professional holiday during the solemn meeting in the Ukrainian House in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Speaking about the Ukrainian export of agricultural products, 190 countries of the world have trade relations with our agro-industrial complex, and our products are represented in these markets. Undoubtedly, it is very important for us to open new opportunities and new markets. I am deeply convinced that this year we will complete the negotiations with Turkey and will be able to establish a free trade zone. And by the end of the year, even until the end of November, an agreement with Israel on a free market will be signed," Groysman said. According to him, this means new horizons for Ukraine. "You form 17% of GDP, and due to your hands, your intelligence, your technologies, we are recognized all over the world," Groysman told Ukrainian farmers. iy Ukraines exports of goods in January-September 2018 totaled $34.55 billion, which is 10.3% more than in the corresponding period last year, while imports grew by 16.1% to $41.02 billion, according to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. In January -September 2018, exports of goods totaled $34,551.1 million, or 110.3% compared with the first nine months of 2017, imports - $41,019.8 million, or 116.1%. Negative balance made up $6,468.7 million (in January - September 2017, balance was also negative - $4,009.1 million), reads the report. Ukraine carried out foreign trade operations with partners from 218 countries in January-September 2018. The largest export deliveries of goods over the reporting period were made to the Russian Federation for the sum of $2.7 billion, or 7.9% of overall Ukrainian exports, Poland - $2.4 billion, or 7% of overall Ukrainian exports, and Italy - $2.0 billion, or 5.8% of overall Ukrainian exports. The largest volumes of goods exported to other countries in money terms were ferrous metals ($7.7 billion; 22.4% of overall Ukrainian exports), grain crops ($4.8 billion; 13.9%), machinery and equipment ($ 3.4 billion; 9.9%). As to the imports, Ukraine imported the largest volumes of goods over the reporting period from the Russian Federation for the sum of $5.8 billion, or 14.2% of overall Ukrainian imports, China - $5.2 billion, or 12.7% of overall Ukrainian imports, and Germany - $4.56, or 11.1% of overall Ukrainian imports. In terms of commodity items, the largest volumes of goods imported to Ukraine were fuel, oil and petroleum products ($9.5 billion; 23.3% of overall Ukrainian imports), machinery and equipment ($8.4 billion; 20.5% of overall Ukrainian imports), products of chemical and related industries ($5.2 billion; 12.8% of overall Ukrainian exports). As Ukrinform reported, in January - September 2017, Ukraines exports of goods amounted to $31.3 billion, imports $35.2 billion. Compared to the first nine months of 2016, exports grew by 21.1%, imports - by 27.3%. iy Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, but it can also affect some individuals in Ukraine and even representatives of a number of European organizations. NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov told this to reporters in Kyiv on Thursday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "A new package of sanctions from the National Security and Defense Council is currently being prepared. The Cabinet of Ministers and the Security Service are preparing their proposals. The Verkhovna Rada has put forward its proposals. I am convinced that this will be a powerful package of diverse sanctions, including against those who were the leaders, inspirers and organizers of fake elections in occupied territories and against a wide range of Ukrainian enterprises that cooperate with the [Russian] defense sector or strengthen the security and defense of the Russian Federation. I do not exclude that this list might also include representatives of certain European organizations who, for provocative reasons, pretended to monitor those illegal 'elections'," Turchynov said. At the same time, when asked whether he knew anything about media reports that Ukraine allegedly supplies titanium to the army of the aggressor country, Turchynov said: "No, I know nothing about that. If you have such information, I ask you to pass it to me. We will check it and take measures." He noted that Ukraine is protecting itself from Russia not only on the battlefield, but also through sanctions, limiting any support to the Russian industry, and not only the defense industry. "Therefore, our state will block any attempts to supply titanium or any other raw materials to our 'neighbor'," Turchynov said. op Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated at a press conference in Singapore that there is no point in holding a new meeting of the Normandy Four in the current situation in Ukraine. Putins press conference was broadcast by Russian television channels, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. A meeting in the Normandy format during the election campaign that is taking place in Ukraine now is more or less meaningless, Putin said. He accused the Ukrainian leadership of failing to comply with the Minsk agreements. At the same time, Putin expressed doubts that the upcoming elections in Ukraine scheduled for March 31 could change the situation. As reported, the meeting in the Normandy format (the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia) took place in Berlin on June 11. On July 26, the participants of the meeting of the Normandy Four at the level of political directors agreed to continue discussing the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas. Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that another meeting in the same format could be held next autumn. As for the meeting at the level of heads of state, Russia does not agree to hold it until the end of 2018. ish A 20-year-old Ukrainian man illegally detained in Russia, Pavlo Hryb, refused to testify in the North Caucasus Military District Court in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. "I am not guilty and refuse to give any testimonies," Pavlo Hryb told the court where the trial resumed on November 15, Radio Liberty reported. As reported, Pavlo Hryb disappeared on August 24, 2017 in Belarus, where he went to the city of Gostomel to date a girl with whom he communicated on social networking sites. In September, it became known that Pavlo Hryb was in a detention center in Krasnodar (Russia), charged with terrorism. At the same time, his lawyer said that Pavlo had been kidnapped by FSB officers. ish Ukraine and the United States are launching an updated mechanism for deep interaction, which formally received the status of the Strategic Partnership Commission, however, unlike previous formats, it will have wider opportunities. The first meeting of the commission will be held in Washington on November 16 under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The main areas of work include the response to Russian aggression, energy security, economics, legal and humanitarian issues. Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly said in an interview with Ukrinform why this is so important to Ukraine now and what results should be expected from the new format. Question: An "inaugural meeting" of the Strategic Partnership Commission will take place on Friday. President Poroshenko said in Paris that this format was initiated almost ten years ago. Obviously, the issue concerns the implementation of the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership signed in 2008? Why do they need it right now? Answer: The meeting of the Strategic Partnership Commission, scheduled for November 16, is an updated format. It is being implemented as a practical platform for the implementation of a bilateral document - the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership. In fact, the first meeting [after the signing of the charter] of the Ukraine-U.S. Commission was held in 2009. At the same time, no such meetings were held after 2014. As ambassador, I considered it wrong, because such an institutional mechanism as the commission helps create work plans, set out specific tasks, and engage relevant agencies in their fulfillment. This is a pragmatic, concrete, effective mechanism for deepening interaction and strategic partnership. So, why are we talking about a "new" format now? That's because until now bilateral work was conducted at the level of working groups, and the embassy worked on the holding of separate meetings of all groups - from consultations in the military sphere to cyber security issues. Now all these and other developments and results will be combined at a commission meeting, and concrete cooperation plans will be worked out. We are talking about three key areas - security and counteraction to Russian aggression, the rule of law and humanitarian issues, as well as economics and energy. That is, we currently building such a mechanism so that it could be permanent and effective rather than just a one-off event. The commission will now be the main mechanism for practical cooperation between Ukraine and the United States, and it will complement the work of other bilateral entities, including the Trade and Investment Council and the Strategic Energy Dialogue, which was recently launched in Kyiv by the President of Ukraine and the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Q: How often is it planned to hold such meetings? A: This will be determined in a joint statement after the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Commission [on November 16]. I can already say that it would be logical to hold the next meeting in Ukraine, and I expect that it will be regular meetings held twice a year. Once in the format of the co-chairs of the groups - foreign policy chiefs - and once in the working format. Q: What will be done between these meetings? A: A secretariat is usually established in Ukraine to ensure the work of a commission. This is not common in the United States. However, we all understand that the main burden between the meetings will be placed on Ukraine's Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. Q: Why is it important for Ukraine to start or restart a similar format of interaction? A: There are two reasons. First and foremost, it is a powerful signal that we are absolutely clear about reaching the level of strategic partnership. Back in 2008, when the charter was signed, in my opinion, we did not have such a level of relations. Now I can say that at least in the area of security and defense we do have a strategic partnership with the United States, and we will develop it, first and foremost, in the energy sector. In particular, in the joint fight against the construction of gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine, as well as in the alternative supply of fuel, including nuclear fuel, to Ukraine. These are concrete things that bring our relations to a really strategic level. I hope that this will also concern economic projects in the future. Today it is a signal that we, in fact, are moving to a very pragmatic, concrete relationship, particularly in the implementation of the stated political goals. Secondly, for me, as ambassador, the work of the commission is a very positive factor since it will be clearly defined who in the government is responsible for a specific area of interaction with the United States. The delegation, which is now coming to Washington, represents virtually all concerned ministries and agencies at a high level. Accordingly, plans will be approved after a commission meeting and they will be implemented in all involved agencies. I'm sure this will increase the efficiency of work in the American direction. This is especially important in the election period next year when Ukraine will see political battles, and the new composition of the Congress will work in the United States after the current elections. Therefore, it is very important to have a working mechanism that would constantly function regardless of political changes. This is the main idea, and I am grateful that it is supported by the American side. Q: Since you mentioned the elections, Washington has not yet spoken about the upcoming voting in Ukraine. Based on your experience of communication with American officials, what position does the U.S. administration have now regarding electoral processes in our country? A: This question should be addressed to representatives of the U.S. administration. I could have not commented, but I'll just tell about my observations. In my opinion, the U.S. government will continue to interact with political representatives who will be supported by the Ukrainian people. Everything is very simple. The only thing I would like to add is that today's level of mutual relations between the two countries - both at the top political level, these are meetings between presidents, and at a high level, these are meetings between the heads of foreign ministries and interaction at the level of embassies - should develop rather than decrease. Of course, I would like to see consistency in Ukraine's foreign policy and the unchanged foreign policy course and its pace. I think the United States would also welcome interaction with politicians who will continue the chosen course of reforms and the chosen geopolitical course for rapprochement with Euro-Atlantic and European institutions. It is clear. Obviously, there will be no direct support [for candidates or parties] from the United States, but, of course, there will be the readiness to cooperate with those who will maintain this course. Q: Speaking about the work of the commission, as well as the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership, the charter contains a clause reaffirming security guarantees enshrined in the trilateral statement of the presidents of the United States, Russia and Ukraine dated 1994, as well as the Budapest Memorandum. Will this emphasis be preserved in the work of the commission, taking into account Russian aggression and Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea? A: I want to specify that the clause on the Strategic Partnership Commission is not set out in the charter. On the one hand, these are mechanisms not connected directly with each other. However, we will obviously insist that both the charter, as a basic document of bilateral interaction, and a reference to important elements mentioned in it be reflected in future documents, first of all, in the joint statement to be issued after the meeting of the commission. After we agree on the joint statement, and today we have a draft that needs to be approved by the parties, you will see that there will be key elements of the Charter on Strategic Partnership. Q: You said that the commission would also consider security issues. Does it foresee the discussion of further military support to Ukraine, including the provision of lethal weapons? A: The group that will work on security and counteraction to Russian aggression is expected to discuss military-technical cooperation. In addition, it is planned to discuss cyber threats, and representatives of concerned agencies from both parties will also be present there. Therefore, it is obvious that this will be discussed at the talks, while specific decisions are made both within consultations on military-technical cooperation and at the political level. I can only mention one thing that we are opening up new opportunities for military-technical cooperation. We are working now to ensure that changes to Ukrainian legislation could help conduct direct procurement of military weapons and hardware without intermediaries. And these changes can open up new opportunities for our interaction with the United States. But this involves a two-way road. Therefore, today the White House and other concerned U.S. agencies hold the view that the more arms Ukraine procures from the United States, the more direct free aid it will receive. So these are related processes, and I think it is advisable for us to go that way. There are types of weapons that we really need, but we do not produce them ourselves, they are made in the United States. We are just working on this issue. Every such agreement and arrangement involves a preparatory period, so I think you will see the result next year. After the United States provided Ukraine with anti-tank weapons and high-speed boats, we think about further issues, and we not only think, but also interact very pragmatically with the American side. Q: You said that a joint statement will be signed after the first meeting on Friday. What kind of document will it be, with what content? A: It will be the main document after the meeting. Its draft, which we have now, contains political assessments and mutual commitments. There will be general questions regarding our interaction, elements of the response to the actual development of events, in particular, related to Russian aggression, the detention of Ukrainian hostages. The draft statement is quite strong, and, I think, all this will be reflected in the final wording. It is unlikely that you will find something new there, but this political document systematizes all the current positions in our strategic partnership. The work on the statement continues, and it will continue until the last moment of the commission's work. Q: The current U.S. administration actively supports Ukraine, which is in the face of Russian aggression. We see this in statements from the Department of State and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker, as well as the introduction of additional sanctions against Russia. How consistent will U.S. support for Ukraine be in the future? A: I have no doubt that support will continue in the existing areas. This is a policy of sanctions against Russian aggression, military-technical cooperation, as well as assistance in the political context and in reforms. The question is how intensive this cooperation will be. And here a lot depends on Ukraine itself, to what extent we are ready to accept such assistance. Many aspects, including the inflow of U.S. investments, the implementation of economic projects, depend on the willingness of the Ukrainian side to develop this cooperation with the United States. We have quite a good result of the agreements reached between Presidents Petro Poroshenko and Donald Trump in the economic, energy, and military-technical spheres. I think that at least such dynamics and intensity will continue. I will tell you one thing, which I am not advertising here in America. Ukraine has now increased exports to the United States. The trade balance between the two countries has currently shifted to our favor. Exports from Ukraine to the United States have increased much faster than imports from the United States to Ukraine. The past year showed progress. We increased trade by 1.6 times, and then the opportunities are very great. I believe that now we do not use our potential not even by half but by a third. Therefore, our task is to create conditions for deepening this cooperation, which is impossible without a constant dialogue at all levels. Now the intensity of the arrival of U.S. expert groups in Ukraine, which assess the possibilities of interaction, has increased by several times. Ukraine has become one of the areas of constant travel by such advanced groups from the U.S. this year, and the dynamics will only grow next year. It can also be seen from official visits. We see that there is not only communication at the level of presidents but also at the level of ministers. Take, for example, the recent successful trip by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry. Such intensity of interaction should be maintained further and, if possible, strengthened. The embassy is ready for this. Yaroslav Dovgopol, Washington Photo credit: Yaroslav Dovgopol, Volodymyr Tarasov, Ukrinform The Honorary Consulate of Romania will be opened soon in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Romanian Ambassador to Ukraine Cristian-Leon Turcanu stated this, noting that they expect to get an answer from the Foreign Ministry soon. The head of Dnipro Regional Council, Hlib Pryhunov, emphasized that he was ready to support and fully contribute to the opening of the institution. Romania is in close contact with the educational institutions of Ukraine: student exchange, conferences, and others. Next year we plan to hold a large-scale youth meeting on the Eastern Partnership, he said. In 2017, the trade turnover between Dnipropetrovsk region and Romania amounted to almost USD 240 million. This was 30% more than in 2016. And the volume of Romanian investments in the Ukrainian economy amounted to USD 21.7 million. Romania joined the EU in 2007. Ukraine is now undergoing a similar period, so the countries have many points of contact for sharing experience, the head of Dnipro Regional Council emphasized. ish Dzhema Grozdanova (Bulgaria, EPP/CD) and Alfred Heer (Switzerland, ALDE), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of obligations and commitments by Ukraine, will visit Kyiv from November 19 to 21, 2018. Ukrinform learnt this from the PACEs press service. "Discussions will mainly focus on recent political developments, the 2019 parliamentary and presidential elections, and progress in combating corruption," the press service informed. The rapporteurs are due to meet, in particular, the Ukrainian president, the speaker and the foreign and justice ministers. Talks are also scheduled with leaders or representatives of various parliamentary and political groups, the Ukrainian delegation to PACE, the Central Election Commission, the judicial authorities, the heads of a number of anti-corruption bodies and the ombudsperson. The co-rapporteurs will also meet representatives of the diplomatic community and civil society. ish He said this at a press conference in Singapore on Thursday, which was broadcast on Russian television channels. "I hope that people who will lead the country in the future, whoever it may be, will come to the conclusion that there is no other way but a peaceful one. In any case, we will respect the choice of the Ukrainian people. We will work with everyone," Putin said. At the same time, speaking about the exchange of persons held in Russia and Ukraine, he said that the "all for all" swap formula is correct. However, he again accused the Ukrainian side of disrupting the detainee exchange. "The current authorities in Kyiv today have no desire to exchange illegally held persons," Putin said. Earlier, at a press conference in Singapore, Putin said there was no point in holding a new meeting of the Normandy Four under the current situation in Ukraine. op Ukrainians will not pay the consular fee on arrival in Thailand from November 15, not from December 1, 2018 as previously stated, according to Ambassador of Ukraine to Thailand Andriy Beshta. "Attention, Ukrainians who are planning vacation in Thailand. According to the revised decision by the government of Thailand, Ukrainians starting from November 15 will not pay the consular fee of about $60 for receiving a tourist visa upon arrival," the ambassador wrote on Twitter. As Ukrinform reported, the government of Thailand decided to waive the visa-on arrival fee for two months for visitors from 21 countries, including Ukraine, from December 1, 2018 until January 31, 2019. iy Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, illegally convicted in Russia, has been awarded the prize of the international project "Platform for European Memory and Conscience," the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovenia has reported on its Facebook page. This award was received on behalf of Sentsov by Ukraine's Ambassador to Slovenia Mykhailo Brodovych as part of the international conference titled "The Dark Side of the Moon," which is taking place in Ljubljana on November 13-15. During his speech, the ambassador thanked the international community for demonstrating solidarity with Ukrainian political prisoners and expressed hope that Sentsov and all other people of good will, who are ready to defend their independence and European future of Ukraine, will be released in the near future and the Russian authorities will be brought to justice for the crimes committed. The report notes that the award to Sentsov will soon be given to his relatives in Ukraine. The Platform for European Remembrance and Conscience is an educational project of the European Union bringing together government institutions and NGOs from EU countries active in research, documentation, awareness raising and education about the crimes of totalitarian regimes. The platform was founded in Prague on the occasion of the summit of Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Group on October 14, 2011. Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov was arrested in Crimea on May 10, 2014 and was charged with plotting terrorist attacks. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In May 2018, Sentsov went on hunger strike demanding the release of all political prisoners of the Kremlin. He stopped his 145-day hunger strike on October 6 because of the threat of force-feeding. In total, about 70 Ukrainian political prisoners, including Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, are currently held in Russia and in Russian-occupied Crimea. Sushchenko was sentenced to 12 years in a high-security penal colony for alleged espionage. op On November 17-18, Ukrainian Film Days will be held in London. "Ukrainian Film Days in London will be held in the Vue Cinema Shepherds Bush (West 12 Shopping Centre) on November 17-18, 2018," Ukrainian Events in London reported on Facebook. The program of the event includes a showcase of some of the best and most notable Ukrainian films, in particular, "The Stronghold", "When the Trees Fall", "War for Peace" and "Falling". Admission is free upon registration. The event is supported by the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK. It is also pretty much meaningless to hold talks in the Normandy format until Ukraine elections are held, the Russian leader believes. Russian President Vladimir Putin says that in order to resolve the conflict in Donbas, Ukraine must change its leadership. Finally, the most important thing is whether today's leaders are capable of doing anything for the sake of settlement? In my opinion, they aren't. As long as such people are in power in Kyiv, one can hardly count on a peaceful solution of the issue in these territories. But nonetheless, we believe that there is no other way, we still have to come to an agreement," Putin told journalists following his Singapore visit, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia. Read alsoRussia seeks to thwart Ukraine elections by disinformation, cyber attacks - Poroshenko "I hope that the people who will lead the country in the future, whoever they are and we, by the way, in any case, will respect the choice of the Ukrainian people and work with anyone but, hopefully, they will come to the conclusion that It there is no other path but a peaceful one. Minsk Agreements must be implemented," the Russian president stressed. According to Putin, the Ukrainian authorities "have so far not shown any will" to comply with these agreements. Nothing's happening. Even the law on the special status of Donbas, which was adopted by the Parliament of Ukraine, has not yet entered into force. This is a key element of the settlement. It's as if it's supposed to be that way. Everyone is waiting for some sort of implementation of Minsk agreements on the part of Russia, but everyone prefers to turn a blind eye at Kyiv authorities doing nothing," the Russian president said. The incumbent president, unfortunately, did not show willingness and readiness to implement the Minsk agreements. Rada adopted the law on the special status of Donbas, while the president is not signing it into action. He doesn't want to. I dont know for what reasons, ask him. And I don't know whether anything changes after the elections," said Putin. Read alsoEx-chief of Donetsk administration on pseudo-elections in Donbas: Putin shows he would only talk with Trump If someone else comes, they will probably take into account what's happening at the moment. Whether today's president is able to make any effort on his part, whether he changes his attitude to this, this I dont know either. You need to ask him, Vladimir Putin added. Meeting in the Normandy format at the present moment, during the election campaign that is taking place in Ukraine, is pretty much meaningless, the Russian president said. As UNIAN reported earlier, on October 4, the Verkhovna Rada supported the presidential bill on amending Article 1 of the law On the special procedure for local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which extended the law until December 31, 2019. On the same day, the law was signed by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. Turchynov does not rule out that the sanctions list will include individuals from certain EU states, who "for provocative reasons pretended that they were observing fake illegal elections in the occupied territory." Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov says Ukraine is preparing sanctions against masterminds behind the so-called "elections" in the "Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics" ("LPR/DPR") and Ukrainian enterprises that cooperate with the Russian defense industry. "The NSDC is drafting a new package of sanctions, while the Cabinet and the SBU security service are preparing proposals. The Verkhovna Rada has already submitted its proposals. And I am convinced this will be a powerful package of diverse sanctions, including against those who led, inspired and organized the fake so-called 'elections' in the occupied territory, as well as against a wide range of Ukrainian enterprises cooperating with Russia's defense industry and strengthening their security and defense," Turchynov said while visiting the Kyiv Armored Plant on Thursday, Nov 15, an UNIAN correspondent reports. Read alsoTurchynov on "elections" in occupied Donbas: This crime to be punished Turchynov does not rule out that the list will include individuals from certain EU states, who "for provocative reasons pretended that they were observing fake illegal elections in the occupied territory." At the same time, he stressed it is not only at the battlefield where Ukraine repels Russian aggression. "Of course, this is also about the technology of sanctions, technology of limiting any support for the Russian industry, not only their defense industry," Turchynov said. Amid wide criticism of the Donbas "elections," Putin wonders why no one condemns what he calls "politically motivated" assassinations in the occupied territories, hinting that it is Ukraine who is behind the killings. Russian President Vladimir Putin says that "elections" held in the occupied territory of Donbas were "inevitable." "As for condemnation [by Ukraine and the West] of these elections [in the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic ("DPR") and Luhansk People's Republic ("LPR")]: We haven't heard anyone condemn the murders committed in the territories of the unrecognized republics. That's the problem," Putin told journalists on Nov 15 following his Singapore trip, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia. Putin believes that what he calls "politically motivated" murders is what must be condemned first. Read alsoUkraine preparing "powerful package" of sanctions due to pseudo-elections in Donbas Turchynov "This caused the reaction among the people living there. And what were those who are behind such crimes thinking? Of course, [the elections] were inevitable," Putin said. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Russian-puppet "DPR" and "LPR" on November 11 held sham "elections" of the so-called "heads of people's republics" and "deputies of people's councils." The international community has condemned the pseudo-vote. Read alsoPutin: For Donbas conflict to be settled, Ukraine must change its leadership The European Union, the United States, and Japan declared that the holding of "elections" in the occupied parts of eastern Ukraine was a violation of the Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stressed that the fake "elections" in Donbas would not be recognized either by Ukraine or by the international community. Crimean Tatar activist and political scientist Lenora Dyulber was also stopped by the Russian FSB at the de-facto border between the occupied Crimea and mainland Ukraine. Chairman of the Central Electoral Committee of the Kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people Zair Smedlya has said Russian security forces detained Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelalov. He also wrote on Facebook Crimean Tatar activist and political scientist Lenora Dyulber had been detained by the Russian FSB at the checkpoint on the de-facto border between the temporarily occupied Crimea and mainland Ukraine. In an update to his post, he wrote Dyulber was later released and she was on her way home. As UNIAN reported earlier, a Crimean Tatar activist was sentenced by Russian occupation authorities after complaining of FSB torture, that's accoding to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. The Ukrainian military received another 70 units. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov says the enterprises of the Ukraine's state-run military-industrial concern Ukroboronprom have transferred over 3,500 units of weapons and military equipment to the Ukrainian army over the three quarters this year, including over 2,000 units of brand new and modernized weapons. "It is about armored, naval, and aviation equipment, rocket and artillery weapons, air defense systems, communications, and electronic warfare equipment," Turchynov said during his visit to the Kyiv Armored Plant on Thursday, expressing hope that the pace of arms supplies to the Ukrainian Army and other defense and security agencies will not decrease next year. "I hope this will be reflected in the state defense order for the next year, as well as in the budget, which parliament is to approve shortly," the NSDC secretary added. Today, the Ukrainian military has received 70 units of weapons and military equipment, in particular, modernized T-72 tanks, new BTR-3 APCs, high-precision Stuhna-P and Korsar anti-tank missile systems, Delta mobile 360-degree radar, newest Varta and Novator armored vehicles, as well as Ukraine-made 82mm mortars. According to Turchynov, a T-72 tank is a combat vehicle that has undergone a deep modernization, which allows to effectively use it in the conditions of modern warfare. "The domestic BTR-3 APC performed great in the east. It was seriously modified after being used in combat conditions, which allowed significantly increasing its effectiveness and achieving higher fire accuracy from all types of weapons," he said. The EU reiterates the need for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to have full and unrestricted access throughout Ukraine, including Crimea. The European Union has called on Russia and Ukraine to pursue a swap of detainees by the end of the year. "[The] EU encourages Russia and Ukraine to pursue an exchange of detainees by the end of 2018. We welcome firm support for this path expressed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko," the EU Permanent Representation to the OSCE tweeted on November 15. At the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Austria, on November 15, the EU states that Russia violates the Minsk agreements and undermines conflict resolution efforts by supporting the illegal so-called "elections" in eastern Ukraine. What is more, the EU reiterates the need for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to have full and unrestricted access throughout Ukraine, including Russian-annexed Crimea, any impediments to the OSCE SMM and its assets are entirely unacceptable and in violation of SMM's mandate, it said. Read alsoPoroshenko, Merkel, Macron discuss further release of Ukrainian detainees in occupied Ukraine, Russia "The EU remains concerned about ongoing militarisation of the Krerch Strait and the Sea of Azov and the Crimean peninsula by Russia which has sever negative impact on the entire Black Sea region and beyond," the EU Permanent Representation to the OSCE added. As UNIAN reported earlier, Macron and Merkel met with Poroshenko in Paris on November 11 to discuss further efforts to exchange prisoners of war and civilian hostages in Russian-occupied Donbas and to free political prisoners in Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea by the end of the year. Amid the ongoing preparation process, if for some reason the Council does not meet on the unconfirmed date some sources announced, Russian propagandists will immediately create a wave of public frustration, the spokesman warns. The date for the Unification Council is yet to be announced officially, Archbishop and press secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Yevstratiy Zorya, says. The date for the Council will be announced officially. Until it is officially announced, there is essentially no date. Just as the draft tomos project had long been prepared, but it will become a document only after its official adoption and dissemination, Zorya wrote on Facebook. Read alsoEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sends message to Ukrainians The Archbishop noted that the announcement of the date for the Unification Council would mean that the preparatory process had been completed. As of today, preparations are still underway. "Although [the preparation] is not easy, but it has positive dynamics, sober vision from key people and their objective desire to quickly achieve a successful completion the tomos on autocephaly," wrote Yevstratiy Zorya. Read also"Russian scenario" of UOC-MP's demarche disrupted Poroshenko's press secretary "Various sources, especially Moscow's disinformation means means in Ukraine, persistently spread rumors about the Council's date for a single purpose: if for some reason the Council doesn't meet on the date they announced as the preparation process will continue they will create a tsunami of "zrada" [public frustration]," he said. As reported, former press secretary of the leader of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Georgy Kovalenko, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian service that the Unification Council was scheduled to be held on November 22. On November 13, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with part of the UOC-MP's hierarchs. The president briefed the clerics about his recent talks with the Ecumenical Patriarch, while representatives of the UOC-MP who support the unification of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, complained of tremendous pressure exerted on them by Moscow. It is clear, the expert believes, that Russia does not want to seize Donbas, "otherwise it would have grabbed it, just like it did Crimea." Director of Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, Iryna Bekeshkina, has said there are two public positions in Ukraine regarding the solution of the Donbas issue following the pseudo-elections held in the region by Russia. "One of them is to completely fence off from [the occupied] Donbass, meaning we will eventually give up on these territories," she told Novoye Vremya. "And another one is that we recognize that Donbas is ours," she added. At the same time, the expert noted that under the latter option Ukraine shall not have any relations with their [occupation] so-called "authorities." However, "not to lose the population there, we would develop the humanitarian component," according to Bekeshkina. Read alsoUnder whose feet will the ground burn over Donbas pseudo-elections "To this end, first of all, we need to increase the number of checkpoints and simplify the crossing routine to make it less burdensome for the people. Of course, there must be full control there so that neither weapons nor drugs are smuggled. And it's necessary to control those who are working there [at checkpoints]. Obviously, we need to pay pensions in our territory, not the occupied areas," the expert said. Bekeshkina also spoke in favor of having the Ukrainian media be represented in the occupied territories. "I don't know how realistic it is though," the sociologist said. She suggested, "nobody knows what to do with Donbas." "And the problem is that it does not depend on us. It all depends on what pressure the international community exerts on Russia and how costly is Donbas for Russia. Also, it's clear that Russia doesn't want to seize it, otherwise it would have grabbed it, just like it did Crimea," the sociologist said. As UNIAN reported earlier, a historian and journalist Vakhtang Kipiani said that with its actions in Crimea and Donbas, Russia sought to "cripple" Ukraine. The attacker's mother is now being treated at one of the local medical facilities. The body of Vladislav Roslyakov, a 22-year-old student who Russian authorities say was behind an explosion and mass shooting in the Polytechnic College in the occupied Crimea's Kerch on October 17, 2018, has not been buried almost a month after the tragedy. "There is no data on the burial since no one has applied for the body," the Russian news agency TASS reported on Thursday, citing a source in medical circles. The interlocutor explained his mother was now being treated at one of the medical facilities. As UNIAN reported earlier, an explosion hit the Polytechnic College in the Russian-occupied Crimea's Kerch on October 17. Some 21 people were killed and at least 70 wounded in the explosion and a mass shooting at the college premises. Read alsoOSINT group suggests Russian security forces behind mass murder in Kerch Some witnesses also reported they heard automatic gun fire at the scene. The bomb was reportedly planted by Vladislav Roslyakov, a local student of the same college, who allegedly committed suicide following the attack. At the same time, a number of inconsistencies have been found in the official version of Kerch massacre probe in relation to the suicide. Experts doubt that the suspect shot himself. They also assume Roslyakov had accomplices and did not act alone, according to the Krym.Realii online media outlet. Journalists point out the fatal wound of the Kerch shooter does not correspond to the caliber of the weapon he carried Ukraine's Information Resistance OSINT group earlier noted that it was Russian security forces who could stand behind the college attack. The experts also assumed there had been a live fire exchange between the FSB task force and a GRU (or Russian Guard) unit deployed at the scene. During searches, military uniforms and insignia were found, used by Russian-backed militants in the occupied parts of eastern Ukraine. An illegal paramilitary group, which operated under the guise of the so-called military-tactical games, was neutralized just outside the capital city of Chisinau, the press center of the Information and Security Service of Moldova wrote. According to the operatives, members of the illegal group had close links to pro-Russian mercenaries in the occupied Donbas. During the searches, law enforcement officers seized various types of weapons and ammunition, including eight F-1 grenades, 260 5.45mm rounds, 39 9mm rounds, five 7.62mm rounds, and improvised explosive devices. Also, military uniforms and insignia were found, used by pro-Russian militants in the occupied parts of eastern Ukraine. Read alsoFrom 50 to 100 citizens of Moldova reportedly fight against Ukraine in Donbas media As UNIAN reported earlier, the Ukrainian Security Service, SBU in October 2018 published a list of 206 individuals who it claimed have been fighting for Wagner private military company in Syria and eastern Ukraine, with three Moldovan citizens among them. The new name revealed among the Moldovan fighters was Serghey Prida, 47, from Soroca in north-east Moldova. Prida was listed alongside two Moldovans who have been named previously - Veaceslav Apostol, who has already been killed in Syria, and Radu Donciu, an active fighter with the Wagner unit. "Wagner's mercenaries are instruments of Russia's hybrid aggression against the rest of the world," the SBU said. Three enemy fighters were killed and another three were wounded, intelligence reports say. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 16 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action. "One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in the past day. According to intelligence reports, three occupiers were killed and another three 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 15, 2018. The Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms at the defenders of the towns of Schastia and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Stariy Aidar, Krymske, Verkhniotoretske, Pisky, Novoselivka Druha, Hranitne, Pavlopil, Hnutove, and Lebedynske. Read alsoJFO: Ukraine reports seven enemy attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours The enemy also resorted to a using a ZU-23-2 towed 23mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon and 82mm mortars, shelling Ukraine positions near the village of Vilniy. The same type of mortars was employed near Schastia, Krymske, and Stariy Aidar. "Since Thursday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted two attacks on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Shumy and Pivdenne. The enemy used 82mm mortars in both cases, as well as 120mm near Pivdenne. No casualties among Ukrainian troops have been reported since the start of the day," the report said. PM says ministers have agreed to support her plan after long and 'impassioned' debate. Theresa May said she believed with "my head and my heart" that her Brexit deal was the best one for Britain, after securing the backing of her ministers for it during a five-hour cabinet meeting. In a brief statement outside 10 Downing Street, the prime minister said her cabinet had taken a "collective" decision to press ahead with the deal which she will then have to bring back to parliament for approval, The Guardian reported. "This is a decision that was not taken lightly, but I believe it is firmly in the national interest," May said, adding that her colleagues had had a "long, detailed and impassioned" debate. Read alsoRFE/RL: No 2019 Eastern Partnership Summit foreseen in busy post-Brexit EU "When you strip away the detail, this deal delivers on the vote of the referendum, takes back control of our money, our laws and our borders and ends free movement," she said. "There will be difficult days ahead, this deal will come under intense scrutiny and that is entirely as it should be and entirely understandable. "Let me end by saying this: what I owe to this country is to make decisions in the national interest and I firmly believe that, with my head and my heart, this deal is in the best interest of our entire United Kingdom." Downing Street had concerns that some pro-Brexit ministers might walk out, rather than support a deal they fear cannot pass the House of Commons. May held one-to-one meetings with key ministers, including Penny Mordaunt and Andrea Leadsom, on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, in a bid to assuage their concerns that the UK could slide into a permanent customs union with the EU. Scottish Conservatives, including the Scottish secretary, David Mundell, who attended the crunch meeting, had also sought assurances over fishing rights. Rumours were swirling at Westminster on Wednesday night that some discontented pro-Brexit Conservative MPs could seek a vote of no confidence on Thursday by submitting a fresh flurry of letters to Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee. If the total number of such letters reaches 48, Brady would have to announce a confidence vote. There is no inter-agency decision answer yet on the exact sanctions to be applied. The United States is actively looking into launching a second, "more draconian" round of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation in connection with the poisoning of ex-GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yullia on the UK soil, that's according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, Christopher Ford. The second round of sanctions under the statute is a "more draconian menu" than the first round, Ford said, speaking at a Heritage Foundation event a Wednesday, according to the Novoye Vremya publication. Read alsoU.S. says to issue chemical weapons-related sanctions against Russia media All risks have to be weighed thoroughly, according to the U.S. official, who said that at the moment Washington has no inter-agency decision answer on the exact sanctions to be applied. "It is under active consideration," he said. As reported earlier, the U.S. recently introduced new sanctions against Russia over the occupation of Crimea and Donbas. In Prague's Wenceslas Square, several thousand chanted "resignation" and "shame". Some waved Czech and EU flags and carried slogans including "Down with Babis." Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis's hold on power appeared weaker on Thursday evening as thousands of protesters demanded his resignation in Prague's main square, while his coalition partners debated whether to quit the government. The pressure against him followed a media report in which Babis's son said his father had wanted him to go into hiding to impede a criminal investigation into Babis and two of his children on suspicion they illegally tapped a 2 million euro ($2.27 million) EU subsidy a decade ago, Reuters said. The opposition reacted by calling a parliamentary no confidence vote. The house speaker said on Thursday the vote, whose outcome appears uncertain, would likely take place on November 23. Babis, a billionaire businessman and the EU and NATO member country's most popular politician, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the report, published by news website Seznam.cz, as part of a media campaign against him. In Prague's Wenceslas Square, several thousand chanted "resignation" and "shame". Some waved Czech and EU flags and carried slogans including "Down with Babis." The center-left Social Democrats, a coalition partner of Babis's ANO party in the minority administration, have been considering "all options" regarding further action, party leader Jan Hamacek said. "The situation is serious, the information is substantial and we have to examine the most responsible approach," Hamacek told Czech Television. If the government loses the vote, it must resign. A new prime minister would be appointed by the pro-Chinese and pro-Russian President Milos Zeman. Read alsoCzech PM's son claims he was forcibly detained in Crimea by his father's associates Babis may however look for support elsewhere to survive as prime minister. The far-right opposition SPD, an anti-EU and anti-NATO party, has indicated it may be willing to back a Babis-led cabinet without Social Democrat ministers if it changes some of its policies. The chance that Babis might possibly retain his job even if the Social Democrats pulled out has led some of the party's lawmakers to lean toward staying in government, a party source told Reuters. Babis's son Andrej told Seznam.cz reporters who tracked him to his current home in Switzerland that his father had wanted him to hide last year when police brought charges in the subsidy case. In videoed comments Babis junior, who has been treated for mental illness, said that a man who had been looking after him took him from the Czech Republic and held him against his will in Russian-annexed Crimea, but said he believed it was not his father's idea. Police said on Tuesday they had investigated that allegation and concluded there was no suspicion of a crime. Babis said his son traveled to Crimea voluntarily. He said the son, who has Swiss citizenship, had been treated for schizophrenia since 2015. The man who had been taking care of the son also denied wrongdoing. (@FahadShabbir) At least 13 countries have expressed their interest in purchasing the Russian S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems instead of US equipment despite the likelihood of provoking Washington's sanctions, media reported citing people with first-hand knowledge of a US intelligence assessment. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) At least 13 countries have expressed their interest in purchasing the Russian S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems instead of US equipment despite the likelihood of provoking Washington's sanctions, media reported citing people with first-hand knowledge of a US intelligence assessment. Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam were among the countries that had already engaged in talks on buying the Russian missile systems, the CNBC broadcaster reported on Wednesday. Washington expected that several countries would yield to the US pressure and abandon their plans to purchase the Russian equipment, the outlet added. "Many of these countries do not want to wait for US regulatory hurdles ... The S-400 has less export restrictions and the Kremlin is willing to expedite sales by skipping over any regulatory hurdles. It's like buying it off the shelf," one of the sources told the broadcaster. Another source noted that S-400 had been more powerful, in terms of capability, than the US most capable Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. "No other US system can match the S-400's ability to protect large swathes of airspace at such long ranges," the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said. Sanctions over the purchase of the Russian military equipment could be triggered under the US Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which came into force in 2017 and is set to punish Moscow for it alleged meddling in the US 2016 presidential election, something vehemently denied by Russia. In September, Washington imposed sanctions on China over its purchase of Su-35 fighter jets in 2017 and S-400 system-related equipment in 2018. Apart from China, India and Turkey have also reached agreements on the purchases of the missile systems from Russia. Turkey's plans have, particularly, been a point of concern for the United States since Ankara is Washington's NATO ally. The Saudi authorities have also been openly engaged in talks with Russia on the missile system purchase. S-400 is the next-generation mobile missile system which can carry three different types of missiles capable of destroying a variety of aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range, from reconnaissance aircraft to ballistic missiles. A group of Belarusian scientists would visit Pakistan by the first week of next month (December) for imparting training to local scientists, capacity building of Pakistani researchers and farmers to enhance the per-acre crop output as well as promoting the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :A group of Belarusian scientists would visit Pakistan by the first week of next month ( December ) for imparting training to local scientists, capacity building of Pakistani researchers and farmers to enhance the per-acre crop output as well as promoting the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The visiting scientists would also assist the local scientists on 15 areas identified by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and Nation Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Ambassador of Republic of Belarus to Pakistan Andrei Ermolovich said. The ambassador along with counselor General Vladimir Papsuev called on Minister for National food Security and Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan and discussed the matters relating upcoming fifth session of Joint Working Group in Belarus which is likely to be held in February next year, a press release said. The ambassador said the visiting group will work on joint strategy regarding capacity building of researchers and two governments would work on training programs for capacity building of researchers and farmers to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and livestock. The ambassador apprised the minister that Belarus stands 2nd in dairy products in the world and Pakistan could benefit from the dairy industry of Belarus. Belarus values its trading partner Pakistan and inviting Federal Minister to the international exhibition which is going to be held in June next year, he added and said it was a great platform to strengthen the ties and explore new avenues of cooperation in agriculture and its allied fields. Speaking on the occasion, Food Security Minister said that Pakistan was an agrarian economy and current government was committed to uplift the farmers and bring agriculture revolution in the country. He said the bilateral trade between both the countries were stood at US$28.8 million in 2015-16, while in 2017-18 it had reached to $45.13 million. The minister said various memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of agriculture between Pakistan and Belarus have already been signed, adding that the meeting would help in upcoming meeting of agro-cooperation where Pakistan could enhance its export potential along with technical assistance from the friendly country. He expressed his pleasure regarding upcoming visit of Belarusian Scientists in the first week of next month as the group would would assist on 15 potential areas which were identified earlier. He also showed his interest in cotton picking machinery and tools made by Belarus which could be benefiting for Pakistan as it was fourth biggest producer of cotton in the world. Sahibzada Mehboob said that the Ministry of National Food Security plans to formally invite agriculture minister of Belarus to visit Pakistan as these bilateral visits will boost the cooperation between two countries in technologies, transfer, machinery, dairy processing and seeds. Negotiations, he said regarding viable tractors and other agro machinery and implements could be planned and also welcomed the proposal from Belarus ambassador to identify the list of potential dealers and reliable business partners. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform expressed its dismay over unnecessary delay in announcement of Gwadar Master Plan and directed the Ministry to prepare and announce the plan as early as possible. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform expressed its dismay over unnecessary delay in announcement of Gwadar Master Plan and directed the Ministry to prepare and announce the plan as early as possible. Chaired by Senator Agha Shahzaib Khan Durrani, the Committee said the Planning Ministry must come up in the next meeting with full preparation and inform the Committee about the reasons of delay. Senator Kauda Babar said due to Gwadar Master Plan, no one was allowed to construct houses in the area which was causing discontent among the local people. He said members of National, provincial assemblies and the Senate should also be included in the steering committee specifically formed for this purpose in order to help preparing a comprehensive plan. Meanwhile the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform informed the Committee that work on Western Route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was in process and this rout would be the top agenda of meeting of Joint Coordination Committee on CPEC to be held in Beijing next month. Senator Usman Khan Kakar said D.I.Khan-Kuchlak section of CPEC Western Route was getting delay and land acquisition process for some of the section was yet to be done which would further increase the cost of the project. He said despite imposition of Section 4 on the route, the construction was still ongoing and if the construction is not stopped, the project would further delayed. The Committee directed that the representatives of National Highway Authority, Ministry of Finance and Balochistan government should be present in the next meeting to discuss the matter in detail. Discussing on another agenda, Senator Kauda Babar said the Turbat University campus in Gwadar should be up-graded to University of Gwadar as the number of students in the campus was rapidly increasing and at present, around 250 students were enrolled in the campus. With regard to allocation of funds for various projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the Committee was informed that during first quarter of current fiscal year Rs 94 billion were released out of total allocation of Rs 675 billion which was 14 percent of total allocation. The Chairman of the Committee noted that according to rules the government must have been released 20 percent of total allocation during first quarter. The officials of the Ministry said that during first few weeks, the government had to rationalize the allocation due to which funds release got delayed. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The launch of a terminal for the reception and regasification of liquefied natural gas in Bahrain that, in particular, expects Russia's Gazprom and Rosneft to deliver LNG to the facility, is expected to take place by mid-February 2019, Canada's Teekay LNG Partners that has a 30-percet share in the project said in its financial report. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The launch of a terminal for the reception and regasification of liquefied natural gas in Bahrain that, in particular, expects Russia 's Gazprom and Rosneft to deliver LNG to the facility, is expected to take place by mid-February 2019 Canada 's Teekay LNG Partners that has a 30-percet share in the project said in its financial report. The company, in particular, notes that the construction of the terminal in Bahrain continues, however, "the launch is expected by mid-February 2019." Bahrain LNG WLL is engaged in the construction of the LNG terminal in the Bahraini port city of Al Hidd. The list of its shareholders involves Oil and Gas Holding Company of Bahrain (30 percent), Teekay LNG Partners (30 percent), samsung C&T (16 percent) and Gulf Investment Corporation (24 percent). The latter company is owned by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Katar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The terminal's capacity will be 800 million cubic feet of gas per day or 6 million tonnes of LNG per year. In April 2017, Bahrain's Minister of Oil Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said that Manama was negotiating LNG deliveries with Gazprom and Rosneft. In June 2017, Bahraini Ambassador to Russia Ahmed Saati told Sputnik that Manama expected Russian LNG supplies to begin in early 2019. Al Khalifa later said that Gazprom could deliver up to 6 million tonnes of LNG. On Monday, Al Khalifa told Sputnik that Bahrain continues talks with Gazprom and Rosneft on potential import of liquefied natural gas. Gazprom and Bahrain signed a memorandum of understanding on LNG cooperation in September 2016. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The 76th Executive Committee meeting of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) concluded in Chennai India with an unanimous decision to convene the 78th Executive Committee meeting in Islamabad at the occasion of inauguration of SAARC CCI at headquarters. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :The 76th Executive Committee meeting of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) concluded in Chennai India with an unanimous decision to convene the 78th Executive Committee meeting in Islamabad at the occasion of inauguration of SAARC CCI at headquarters. It was also agreed that Women Entrepreneurship Awards-2019 would be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in March, 2019, says a press release issued by SAARC CCi here Thursday. The meeting was held with President SAARC CCI Ruwan Edirisinghe in the chair which was organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an apex business organization of SAARC dedicated to promote regional economic integration through creating strong business linkages among the entrepreneurs of the of South Asia. The house finalized the 77th Executive Committee and General Assembly meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, along SAARC Investment Forum and SAARC Trade Fair in February 2019. SAARC CCI head invited members to block the dates to ensure participation in SAARC CCI headquarter building inauguration. He also invited members to join him to lead a business delegation to participate in 32nd CACCI meeting scheduled on 23rd to 24th November, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Dr Sunil Motiwaal, CEO, SAARC Development Fund also graced the occasion and made a video presentation and initiated dialogue to equip SAARC CCI members with co-financing funding mechanism of SDF. On the sidelines, of the meeting, SAARC CCI had organized a seminar titled "Resilient South Asia: Regional Agenda for Climate Change Cooperation" in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF). The seminar aimed on the way forward for the private sector to streamline strategies based on innovation and entrepreneurship as the key drivers to address the larger challenges of climate change. Ms Hina Saeed, Secretary General SAARC CCI and Vinod Juneja, President SAARC CCI (India) welcomed the participants from SAARC member states. President SAARC CCI in the inaugural session highlighted the role of private sector in combating adverse impact of climate change in South Asia. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Falih met with Libya's National Oil Corporation chief Mustafa Sanalla on Thursday, in a bid to secure the country's commitment to output cuts ahead of the OPEC meeting. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Falih met with Libya 's National Oil Corporation chief Mustafa Sanalla on Thursday, in a bid to secure the country's commitment to output cuts ahead of the OPEC meeting. "His Excellency said it was important that Libya take part in the decisions made by oil producers next month in order to rebalance the market," the Saudi ministry tweeted. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet in December to decide whether its members and a group of major non-OPEC producers need to cut deeper to avoid production glut after a pact in 2016 curbed output by 1. 8 million barrels a day. Libya was not part of that deal but later promised to keep oil production this year under 1 million barrels a day. OPEC estimated Libya's daily output in October to top 1.1 million barrels. Falih warned this week that oil producers would have to cut production by a further 1 billion barrels to avert flooding the market. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. BMB Trade Group was one of the largest business group in Uzbekistan and it was now looking for partners in Pakistan as it considered Pakistan an attractive market for business and investment activities. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :BMB Trade Group was one of the largest business group in Uzbekistan and it was now looking for partners in Pakistan as it considered Pakistan an attractive market for business and investment activities. This was observed by Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Furqat A Sidikov, while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Furqat A Sidikov said Uzbekistan and Pakistan enjoyed deep historic bonds and friendly relations. He said Uzbekistan was the biggest trading partner of Pakistan in Central Asia as the bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$ 95 million in the last nine months and with the current trend, it was expected to reach USD 300 million in few years. He said many Pakistani companies including Hashoo Group had presence in Uzbekistan and his country would welcome more companies from Pakistani for JVs and investment. The ambassador said his country wanted Trilateral Trade Commission comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to promote trade, logistic and investment. He said Uzbekistan has extended its railway line up to Mazar Sharif in Afghanistan and wanted to extend it up to Torkham border in order to facilitate trade with Pakistan. He said Uzbekistan was running direct flights between Lahore and Tashkent twice a week and flights between Islamabad-Tashkent and Karachi-Tashkent would also be arranged soon. He said Uzbekistan would also welcome Pakistani airlines for direct flights between the two countries. Chairman of Supervisory board BMB Trade Group Bekzod Mamatkulov said his group was involved in diversified businesses including development of international economic cooperation, attracting foreign direct investment, consulting services, introduction of modern agro-logistics clusters, export of freshly grown agricultural products, medicinal plants and import of pharmaceuticals to Uzbekistan. He said Pakistan was a potential market for business and BMB was looking for partners in Pakistan for JVs and partnerships. Speaking at the occasion ICCI President Ahmed Hassan Moughal said Uzbekistan was a gateway for Pakistan to access Central Asian markets and both countries should focus on developing strong business linkages between private sectors to explore all untapped areas of business collaboration. He said CPEC has created great business prospects in Pakistan and Uzbek investors should explore Pakistan for JVs and investment. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The national and provincial health authorities have started making the way forward for the mutual collaboration and cooperation of government, World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals-3 (SDG-3) targets in Pakistan. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :The national and provincial health authorities have started making the way forward for the mutual collaboration and cooperation of government World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals-3 (SDG-3) targets in Pakistan According to an official of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, the Sustainable Development Goals-3 localization program has been working successfully throughout the country in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO). He said that Pakistan had made sub-optimal progress towards achieving the targets set out under the MDGs and now the SDG Agenda. He added that health is centrally positioned within the SDG Agenda, with one comprehensive goal (SDG3) with its targets covering major health priorities, with additional links to targets in many of the other SDG goals. The official said that the Ministry considers SDGs as national goals of Pakistan and is committed to implementing SDG3 Agenda through its localization and integration with the country health strategies and plans both at national and provincial level. He said that the first step towards attaining the SDG3 targets in Pakistan starts with understanding the ground realities. The health indicators are not up to the desired level and the government is well aware that there is a need to work hard to achieve SDG3 targets through universal health coverage. He said the Ministry has completed the process of localization of health related SDG indicators in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and partners both at the national and provincial levels. He said that it is a golden opportunity with SDG3 localization to reconsider interventions required for improvement of health indicators at the national, provincial and district levels. The official said that the Ministry seeks close cooperation with line ministries to monitor the progress in SDG3 indicators. He said that Pakistan Bureau of Statistics will be requested to work in collaboration with the Ministry on data sharing and analysis for measuring and reporting progress on health indicators. He said that by adhering to the SDG Agenda 2030, the country aims to bring about transformational change in 17 domains covering multiple sectors to improve the lives of not only the citizens of Pakistan but also contribute towards the betterment of the entire humanity. He said SGD-3 that covers health is aimed to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages and is the pivot that will drive the SGD agenda in Pakistan due to its centrality in human development. He said with the government fully focused on improving the lives of the people of Pakistan, it is imperative that the country is well prepared to enable full achievement of SDG targets and goalsHe said the ministry received full support of the provincial and area governments and departments of Health, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and other relevant line ministries. He said it is achievement for Pakistan that it is one of the first countries globally to complete the localization process which is a fundamental first step towards the long journey of achieving SDGs by 2030. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ADNOC Drilling, an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) subsidiary, held the 14th Rig Owners Seminar, today, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Nov, 2018) ADNOC Drilling, an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) subsidiary, held the 14th Rig Owners Seminar, today, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). The annual seminar, co-hosted with DNV GL, an international accredited registrar and classification society, serves as a vital platform for rig owners and classification bodies, operating companies and marine and offshore service providers to exchange knowledge and share best practices to enhance drilling operation efficiency, rig integrity and HSE performance. Abdalla Saeed Al Suwaidi, ADNOC Drilling CEO, said, "ADNOC plays a leading role in promoting the dialogue and cooperation among industry players in the region, as well as identifying and supporting initiatives that provide fresh impetus to key petroleum industry issues and challenges. With this in mind, this years seminar, entitled Technology adoption: the Primary driver of operational efficiency, tackles a key subject that has a profound impact on oil exploration and production. "Technological advancement, automation, and digitisation are reshaping the oil and gas exploration landscape and creating new opportunities for the drilling industry to achieve heightened levels of efficiency, reliability, and profitability. "As an ADNOC Group company, we are aligned with ADNOCs 2030 smart growth strategy by way of embedding the key enablers of efficiency and innovation into every aspect of our business, and integrating new technologies into our operations to make them more efficient, less costly, and safer, ultimately leading to a more profitable upstream business," Al Suwaidi added. In line with ADNOCs strategies to optimise the value from every barrel of oil it produces, ADNOC Drilling is transforming into a fully-integrated drilling and well construction provider, which entails the deep and rapid adoption of advanced technologies. Last month, ADNOC Drilling, last month, signed a strategic partnership agreement with Baker Hughes, a General Electric company, to utilise BHGEs deep technology expertise, leading-edge equipment, and vast know-how in solving complex drilling challenges through innovative technical solutions. Al Suwaidi highlighted numerous examples of how ADNOC is advancing the use of cutting-edge technologies and applications, such as machine learning, neural networks, and predictive data, to increase productivity and stimulate growth. Among these are ADNOC's Panorama Digital Command Centre and the Thammama Subsurface Collaboration Centre in which the company is using big data technologies and artificial intelligence to help extract maximum value from its assets and resources and achieve all its business and operational targets, including reducing well drilling time by 30 percent by the end of 2019. The full-day seminar included several technical presentations that covered various aspects of technology adoption in the drilling industry, presented by a group of highly qualified professionals from GCC and international companies. The Rig Owners Seminar has been organised annually by ADNOC Drilling since 2005, in cooperation with DNV GL, to share best practices, and discuss topics related to advancing operational efficiency, resource optimisation, and cost-effectiveness in the regional drilling industry. Established in 1972, ADNOC Drilling is the largest drilling company in the middle East. I and operates an expansive fleet of rigs that includes 60 land rigs, 20 jackup rigs, and 11 island rigs. The company provides drilling rigs and associated services to ADNOC Group companies. Since its establishment, ADNOC Drilling has drilled over 8,000 wells. The total distance drilled is more than 50,000 million feet, which exceeds the earths diameter. H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy chaired the councils 52nd meeting, attended by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Nov, 2018) H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy chaired the councils 52nd meeting, attended by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy. The meeting was also attended by Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Energy and other board members including Dawood Al Hajiri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality; Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company, ENOC; Abdullah Abdul Kareem, Director-General of the Department of Oil Affairs; Waleed Salman, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Nuclear Energy Committee; Nasser Abu Shehab, CEO of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, and Frederick Chemin, General Manager of Dubai Petroleum. The meeting discussed several topics, notably the results of the World Bank's Doing Business 2019 report, which measures the ease of doing business in 190 economies around the world. The UAE, represented by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, has maintained its 1st position globally for getting electricity, for the second consecutive year. The meeting also reviewed the results of a Greenhouse Gas emissions study in Dubai, where the emirate recorded a decrease of four million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared to last year. This is the result of implementing energy conservation initiatives and programmes combined with the growing use of solar power. The council also discussed a proposal to make it compulsory for government buildings in Dubai to install photovoltaic solar panels to produce at least 10 percent of its annual electricity consumption from clean energy. "The Dubai Supreme Council of Energys 52nd board meeting, chaired by H. H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, commended the results of the World Bank's Doing Business report, where the UAE climbed from 21st to 11th position globally. The UAE, represented by DEWA, maintained the first position globally in getting electricity for the second consecutive year. In an unprecedented global achievement, DEWA achieved 100 percent in all Getting Electricity indicators in the report. This achievement is the result of the directions of our wise leadership to develop government services and promote the business environment in the UAE, as well as the joint efforts of local and Federal organisations to launch innovative initiatives that contribute to enhancing the country's global competitiveness," Al Tayer said. Al Tayer noted that the efforts of the government organisations in Dubai in energy and water conservation and raising awareness about protecting the environment and its natural resources, in line with the Demand Side Management Strategy, and its aim to reduce the demand by 30 percent by 2030. Al Tayer said that DEWA continues its efforts to produce more clean energy as part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to produce 75 percent of Dubai's total power output from clean energy and make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050. The 200MW first project of the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park became operational in May this year, bringing the total clean energy produced by the solar park to 413MW, one step closer to the targeted 5,000MW by 2030. A total of 1,187 buildings with a capacity of 58.3MW have been connected to DEWAs grid as part of the Shams Dubai initiative to encourage building owners to install solar panels to produce clean energy and connect them to DEWAs grid. AMMAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 14th Nov, 2018) H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, presented financial and humanitarian aid, in the form of food baskets and winter supplies, to ease the suffering of people affected by floods in southern Jordan. The aid was provided by coordinating with the Human Appeal International, HAI, Office in Jordan, as well as with relevant local authorities and Jordanian charity organisations, during the two-day visit of Sheikh Humaid to Jordan. Sheikh Humaid was briefed by the staff of the local HAI office about the conditions in cities and governorates that experienced heavy rains and floods, including Madaba Governorate, the city of Petra, the Wadi Rum Desert, Wadi Musa and Al Jafr. During his visit, Sheikh Humaid, who was accompanied by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Municipality and Planning Department; Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the board of Trustees of the HAI; Mattar Saif Sulaiman Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Jordan; Hamad bin Ghalaita, Personal Secretary of the Ajman Ruler; Tariq bin Ghulaita, Director of the Ajman Rulers Office, and several senior officials, launched the "Winter of Jordan Campaign" for poor and needy families. He also offered a generous donation to several winter projects in poor and needy areas, which includes blankets, winter clothes, heaters and fuel. Sheikh Humaid said that the UAE is usually the first to offer humanitarian assistance to people around the world, and is a leader of charity work and a supporter of humanitarian efforts in all regions, which is due to its unique policy of promoting charity and humanitarian work and assisting needy people and countries. Sheikh Humaid praised the efforts of the HAIs headquarters in Ajman and its office in the Jordanian capital, Amman, to support and launch humanitarian activities and programmes in Jordan and other countries while expressing his pride at the HAIs role in supporting humanitarian initiatives, serving its adopted countries, and offering aid to the needy. Sheikh Humaid explained that the charity programmes of the Ajman-based HAI benefit the humanitarian approach of the UAE and its founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his brothers, Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, is following this approach, by offering assistance and humanitarian aid that will ease the suffering of poor communities, he added. "We must all cooperate to assist the needy families, through organising relevant initiatives and establishing laboratories, small and medium-sized projects, and vocational institutes, so they can help themselves," Sheikh Humaid further added while explaining that the goal of such initiatives is to encourage community members to work together to help poor families. Sheikh Humaid praised the monitoring of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HAI in Ajman, as well as the organisations other leaders, who have always affirmed the commitment of Ajman to its humanitarian responsibilities towards the needy and poor families in other countries. He also called on the HAI to continue its leading charity work and organising humanitarian programmes, relief operations and development projects, to improve the living conditions of people in Jordan. During his visit, Sheikh Humaid met with a group of Jordanian orphans sponsored by the HAI, as well as several mothers of orphans who have benefitted from its small loans projects, and several students who are being sponsored by Sheikh Humaid, as part of his annual inspection of their conditions. HITEC Dubai 2018, the Middle Easts largest hospitality technology exhibition and conference, will be inaugurated by Dubai Tourism on 5th December 2018. The annual business-to-business (B2B) exhibition will give Middle East buyers, currently worth over US$75 billion, access to the worlds leading technology solution providers and experts in the hospitality sector. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Nov, 2018) HITEC Dubai 2018, the middle Easts largest hospitality technology exhibition and conference, will be inaugurated by Dubai Tourism on 5th December 2018. The annual business-to-business (B2B) exhibition will give Middle East buyers, currently worth over US$75 billion, access to the worlds leading technology solution providers and experts in the hospitality sector. Commenting on the critical role technology is playing in driving tourism, Issam Kazim, CEO, Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) stated, "Dubai is a global hub of innovation with the ongoing development of technology at the centre of our strategy. Disruptive technologies are creating new opportunities for our industry while reengineering the marketplace, and Dubai is at the forefront of capitalising on these emerging technologies to optimise travellers journey. We will continue our focus on harnessing the power of data to redefine the customer journey whilst strengthening developments of advanced technology solutions as we invest in entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability that sets a new benchmark for global travel. As such, we are delighted to support HITEC Dubai as the tourism sector continues to lead the way when it comes to evolving technology." Dubai Tourism is the destination partner for HITEC Dubai 2018 that will feature regional and international case studies, panel discussions and technology demonstrations from 70+ solution and service providers. Co-produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Naseba, the two-day trade show will be held on 5th and 6th December 2018 at the Madinat Jumeirah Dubai. Frank Wolfe CAE, CEO of HFTP, said, "Its an honour to receive DTCMs endorsement to HITEC Dubai for the second consecutive year and have their CEO Issam Kazim lead the shows official opening ceremony. DTCMs support reemphasises the governments commitment to transform the hospitality industry through proactive adoption of innovative and intuitive technology, and further position the UAE as a regional driver of innovation." Few industries have felt the impact of enabling technology like hospitality. HITEC Dubais Advisory Council Chairperson Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India for Swiss-Belhotel International, said, "Technology holds the key to a more advanced, sustainable and smart future which is revolutionising the hospitality sector like every other industry. Tech-savvy tourists are demanding more from hotels and therefore it is essential to give them the enhanced experiences they crave. "The internet of Things, Cloud Technology, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, etc are all paving the way for the future of technology in the hospitality sector and HITEC Dubai will give be a great platform to see the latest developments transforming our industry." (@ChaudhryMAli88) The district administration on the recommendation of City Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi has imposed a ban on motorcyclists from entering the Mall Road without helmets. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :The district administration on the recommendation of City Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi has imposed a ban on motorcyclists from entering the Mall Road without helmets. The administration has issued a notification for imposing complete ban on motorcyclists without helmets and they would not be allowed to enter the Mall Road/Peshawar Road from first December. The ban has been imposed in view of casualties as a total of 16 bikers without safety helmets lost their lives in 46 accidents occurred on Mall Road/Peshawar Road during last 10 months. According to a CTP spokesman, every year precious lives are lost due to the bikers' accidents particularly not using safety helmets. The CTP on the directive of Lahore High Court had launched a campaign to make Helmets compulsory for all motor bikes, he added. Talking to APP, he informed that CTP under their ongoing drive issued nearly 19,000 challan slips to bikers for not using safety helmets and imposed Rs5.5 million fines on the rule violators during last 15 days. He said the drive launched for the safety of the two-wheelers had been accelerated on the directive of CTO, Muhammad Bin Ashraf. The CTP also impounded over 3100 motorcycles in different police stations during the period, he said. He said the CTP decided to strictly implement the rules for motorcyclists to ensure their safety. CTP under its awareness campaign was distributing pamphlets among motorcyclists to promote use of safety helmets, the CTO said. He informed that CTP was running a special campaign aimed at raising awareness about traffic rules, road safety and use of safety helmet particularly among motorcyclists. mobile education Unit of CTP was arranging special briefing sessions on road safety and use of safety helmets at different educational institutions and other public places in the city, he added. In order to make the campaign more effective and meaningful traffic wardens and officers had also been issued special instructions, he said adding, Education Wing of Traffic police had been making efforts to spread awareness so that the road journey could be made safe and sound. He said all traffic issues could be resolved by observing traffic rules which are for the safety and protection of the road users. Traffic signals should not be violated as such violation with negligent driving may lead to fatal accidents, he added. He said the traffic police was also disseminating information on various roads andtraffic signals in all tehsils of the district in order to educate citizensabout traffic rules, signals and the damages caused by traffic violations. (@rukhshanmir) A five-member Chinese delegation comprising scholars and diplomacy experts has termed Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to China successful and said cooperation between the two countries would help improve economy of Pakistan. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :A five-member Chinese delegation comprising scholars and diplomacy experts has termed Prime Minister Imran Khan 's visit to China successful and said cooperation between the two countries would help improve economy of Pakistan The delegation is presently visiting Pakistan and holding meetings with Pakistan's scholars, experts on foreign relations and officials of various ministries to get firsthand information about China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The delegation members noted that during the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China various Memorandums of Understanding were signed to further strengthen relations between the two countries. Head of the delegation, Vice President China Institute of International Studies Rong Ying said, "Despite the change in regional and local scenarios, China and Pakistan relations never changed rather got further strength with the passage of time." He said China and Pakistan were best friends and China will not leave Pakistan alone in difficult times. However, he said that Pakistan should adopt short and long terms strategies to come out of economic crisis. He stressed that Pakistan should focus on enhancing its exports. He asked Pakistani and China media to join hands against the negative propaganda against CPEC by the some countries. "For me, one of the pressing challenges for academia and media is to present the true picture of CPEC and BRI in an objective and balanced way. We should also bring forth all the challenges and issues in a positive and responsible manner if we want to make CPEC and BRI a success story," he added. He said In five years since BRI was launched, the focus has been on connectivity and infrastructure development among the partner countries. He said that till date, 130 countries or international organisations had either signed memorandums of understandings (MoU) or had expressed interest in joining BRI, which is an open-ended and inclusive initiative. Director of Centre for South Asia Study and Chinese academy of Social Sciences Ye Hailin said, "I have been visiting Pakistan for the last 20 years and relations between the two countries moved forward with every passing year." He was of the view that the project of the Road and Belt Initiative would be successful with the full cooperation and participation of the member countries. Belt and Road Initiative was a development strategy adopted by Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, he said. He appreciated the government of Pakistan and armed forces for providing security to Chinese working under the CPEC. He stressed the need for joint efforts of China and Pakistan against common enemy. Second Secretary of Department of Asian Affairs and Ministry of foreign Affairs Qin Wenci asked the Pakistani government to focus on increasing exports. "Pakistan should focus on improving manufacturing sector as it will help to increase exports," she added. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP-24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Katowice, Poland was not only challenging, rather it was a potential spot of opportunities for Pakistan to exhibit its achievements in climate change mitigation. Earlier in a seminar on the conference, Malik Amin Aslam admitted that COP-24 was not like any usual international moot rather it had loaded more weight on the shoulders of developing countries. He added that in the times when developed countries particularly the major polluters are retreating from the Paris Agreement, it has become imperative for developing to focus on the right initiatives and strategies to be adopted for climate change mitigation. Malik Amin Aslam had expressed his contentment over the preparations made by Pakistan for the representing its initiatives in coping with climate change impact to the international community. He said astonishingly Pakistan up till now has been spending its own resources for Climate Change projects that were even acknowledged by the international donors with great admiration. He said that it was high time to bring climate politics at par with climate science which was still lagging behind the latter as the former was reversing its position at its part. The Adviser on Climate Change is of the view that in the light of recent global reports we are stripping out the earth from its natural resources and if steps delayed at the brink of the moment would the initiatives to be taken under Paris accord till 2020 an elusive story. The country despite a meager contributor to the global pollution had been facing direct impacts of the climate change however the government has managed to get all provinces involved on the right projects for climate change mitigation projects, he added. "We had a great opportunity to tell the world about our success stories of billion Tree Tsunami implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reaching country wide to 10 Billion Tree to show our commitment to make the country climate change resilient," he maintained. The Foreign Office Thursday strongly dismissed a recent statement by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism and said the attempt was meant to divert world's attention from the ongoing human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :The Foreign Office Thursday strongly dismissed a recent statement by Indian Narendra Modi accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism and said the attempt was meant to divert world 's attention from the ongoing human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with US Vice President in Singapore Wednesday had said, "All the leads in global terror attacks ultimately lead to a single source Pakistan, which was also politically mainstreaming the people involved in terrorist activities," as was quoted by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Faisal, at a weekly briefing, said India was habitual of blaming Pakistan rather than positively responding to the latter's offer for negotiations. "India should refrain from doing this and instead should work on the better option (negotiations)," the spokesman said in reference to Prime Minister Imran Khan's letter to his Indian counterpart, proposing resumption of bilateral dialogue and discussion on all outstanding issues. He confirmed that the body of slain SP Tahir Khan Dawar was still not handed over to Pakistan, to which strong protest was registered with the Afghan authorities. He said Pakistan's embassy in Kabul and the consulate in Jalalabad were constantly in touch with the Afghan Foreign Ministry for the early recovery of body and its transfer to Pakistan. To a question on Asia Bibi, the Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy, the spokesman said she was still in Pakistan "alive and safe". On reasons of US Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad putting off his upcoming visit to Pakistan, he said the Foreign Office was in touch with the US authorities for the finalization of dates. However, he said Pakistan's relations with the US were beyond the framework of Afghan reconciliation. On Moscow format, he said Pakistan as a policy was successfully engaged in efforts to ensure Afghan peace and believed that the forum with regional countries would help resume stability of the war-torn country. He said military-focused strategy could not be successful in Afghanistan and the conflict required a political Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution. He mentioned the recent report by Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs with its key finding that around 500,700 were killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan in terror-related incidents since 2011 and also identified Pakistan as the worst victim. On repatriation of Afghan refugees, he said the process at present was suspended due to winter season in both countries. He said the repatriation process would resume in March and the SAFRON ministry was working on the issue. On crackdown by China separating Pakistani men from their Uygur wives, the spokesman said the Foreign Office was in touch with Chinese authorities to resolve the issue. On the government's efforts for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from the US prison, the spokesman said the matter was consistently being raised with the US focusing her legal rights during detention. He said the consulate general in Houston paid regular visits to Dr Aafia, making around 12 visits in three years. (@FahadShabbir) The Career Development Center (CDC) under the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) - Isra University Hyderabad on Thursday organised the 5th Job and Trade Fair 2018 here at the university premises. HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :The Career Development Center (CDC) under the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) - Isra University Hyderabad on Thursday organised the 5th Job and Trade Fair 2018 here at the university premises. According to a university spokesman, the event was sponsored by a prominent builder's organisation in which more than 50 national and multinational companies from various sectors including banking, insurance, pharmaceutical, construction, manufacturing, FMCG, software and information technology, engineering and telecommunication participated. The objective of the event was to provide employment opportunities to students and graduates for the development of community. More than 2,500 graduates and students from Hyderabad and its vicinity attended the event. The Pro-Vice Chancellor of Isra University Prof Dr Hameedullah Kazi appreciated the efforts of the organisers and thanked to all companies, sponsor and other stakeholders for their participation and support. Participants of the 20th National Security Workshop (NSW) of National Defence University (NDU), comprising eminent politicians, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, ambassadors, senior armed forces' officers as well as representatives from media and business community visited Pakistan Navy Dockyard. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :Participants of the 20th National Security Workshop (NSW) of National Defence University (NDU), comprising eminent politicians, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, ambassadors, senior armed forces' officers as well as representatives from media and business community visited Pakistan Navy Dockyard. The NDU delegation was led by Major Gen Muhammad Samrez Salik, DG ISRAA, said a press release issued here by Directorate of Public Relations of Pakistan Navy on Thursday. Upon arrival, the workshop participants were given briefing about the capabilities, roles and functions of Pakistan Navy Fleet, Coastal Command setup and logistics infrastructure of Pakistan Navy. Commander Coast, Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas and Commander Logistics, Rear Admiral Imran Ahmad were also present on the occasion and interacted with the visiting delegates. The visit provided an ample opportunity for NSW participants in enhancing their understanding about prevailing geo-strategic environment in North Arabian Sea and maritime challenges being faced by the country and role of Pakistan Navy. Towards the end, the participants were also given guided tour onboard Pakistan Navy Submarine Hurmat and PNS Zulfiquar. Earlier, the participants also visited Naval Headquarters, where they were given briefing on maritime security challenges and response including PN contributions in safeguarding maritime interests of Pakistan. After the presentation, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi interacted with the participants, which was followed by an overarching discussion on important issues, especially on Maritime Security and Maritime Sector of Pakistan. As many as 83 Sikh Yatrees from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Newzealand visited the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa here Thursday as part of their visit to Pakistan for pilgrimage. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :As many as 83 Sikh Yatrees from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Newzealand visited the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa here Thursday as part of their visit to Pakistan for pilgrimage. On arrival, the delegates were received by senior officials of Lok VirsaHeritage Museumand briefed about important aspects of Pakistan's traditional culture with special emphasis on the mandate and functioning of Lok Virsa as a specialized body working towards documentation, preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage. Later they took a round of the Pakistan NationalMuseumof Ethnology, popularly known as theHeritageMuseum, spreading over 60,000 square feet of area portraying living cultural traditions and lifestyles of the people of Pakistan depicted in dioramas and cultural displays in museum. The distinguished delegates took keen interest in displays including halls of Sufis, Balads and Romances, folk tales, textile, women at work, wedding rituals in Cholistan desert, silk thread and hall of architecture , cultural heritage of Punjab, Truck art, cultural linkages with Iran, music heritage etc. "The Sikh Yatrees are the ambassador of soft image of Pakistan. Their visit to Lok Virsa aims to get the glimpses of Pakistani culture and history. Pakistan has a very rich, diverse and beautiful culture which has been nicely presented in this museum", said Taranjeet Singh, Head of the delegation. Representing the culturalheritagethrough various displays that include the architecturalheritage, sufi traditions, regional portrayal and way of living of people, museumrepresents the culture of all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.Themuseumshows the tradition through the ages, accounting for most of the cultural changes and influences along the way. Every gallery of themuseumimparts the essence of a bygone era, replete with the traditions, costumes, jewelry and folklore, and ending with depictions of the present folkheritageof the four provinces of Pakistan. The visit was followed by a lunch at Saidpur village. Technological advancement has hit hard on the Smartphone industry. Smartphones have come a long way, from Graham Bells telephone, to a cellphone and then a Smartphone. Many Smartphones today are not smart anymore. Lahore, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) : Technology comes with a price, its not free and its definitely not cheap. Manufacturers spend a hefty amount to own some and make profits out of it by utilizing it in an efficient manner taking into consideration consumer demand. On the other hand, Consumers spend their hard earned cash on these products for self-satisfaction and convenience. Technological advancement has hit hard on the Smartphone industry. Smartphones have come a long way, from Graham Bells telephone, to a cellphone and then a Smartphone. Many Smartphones today are not smart anymore. They are living on small, miniscule upgrades & bandwagon approaches. Heres why most Smartphones arent smart anymore and why you need to make a smart decision before your next purchase! 1) Battle of brands: The insane amount of competition in this industry is to be blamed for halting technological advancement. Brands are busy fighting each other by producing almost similar products with minor upgrades but nothing special or worth praising for. They have lost the capacity to think out of the box and come up with something special and unique. 2) 3Ps (Profit, Profit & Profit) Majority of the brands are bombarding the industry by producing new phones with same specs almost every month. Compromising on the product quality by producing affordable devices can justify the fact that brands are only seeking short-term profits and are not interested in maintaining long-term relationships with their customers. 3) Lack of technical awareness. When we are asked why Smartphones are not smart anymore, we look around for the answer. Unfortunately we ourselves are the answer to this question. When a new device is launched, we look at the design, the number of cameras but we give a little attention to the battery capacity, fast charging and the SOC (system on a chip). Because of being technological illiterate, brands can easily exploit us by only adding more pixels to the camera or adding a new color. Nothing unique or special can be seen in the phone and even if a brand does something unique then we fail to see it. 4) Creativity is a big no!! Creativity demands risk and risk demands patience and acceptance. In an industry where everyday new products are being launched, brands dont get time for creativity. If they do something creative, it has to be something out of this world and it should be in line with the consumers demand. But then again, why take the risk if you are making a good living? Whos innovating and what needs to be done: In 2018, Chinese manufacturer Oppo launched a revolutionary device Find X with the world first motorized camera giving the phone a screen-to-body ratio of 93.8%. OPPO innovated in the charging department by introducing the fastest charging method which they named VOOC Flash Charge. Next, OPPO played and transformed the notch on their successful phone OPPO F9 called Waterdrop notch. OPPO is all set to launch its new A-series phone OPPOA A7. For this phone, OPPO has installed in it a 4230 mAh battery and a beautiful 3D Artistic Texture Design to give it a premium look. What noticeable is the Waterdrop notch giving more screen-to-body ratio. Smartphone manufacturers should foresee future and transform it into reality showing people what it will look like in the palm of their hands. The front camera looks like a droplet and breaks the stereotype that the camera has to stay in the corner. All these innovations in one year is a big achievement for OPPO and a lesson for other brands to learn. OPPO smartphones are smart given their unique features even if its only one in a phone. Something is better than nothing. Lastly, what do we need from technology? We need solutions to problems we are not mindful of, we want upgrades that make a real difference and transformed to cater our future needs. Next time you think of getting a smartphone, dont forget to ask if its actually smart, like OPPO! Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday welcomed the UN Security Council resolution to lift the sanctions imposed on Eritrea. ADDIS ABABA (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday welcomed the UN Security Council resolution to lift the sanctions imposed on Eritrea The Security Council on Wednesday passed a resolution lifting the 9-year-old sanction on Eritrea for what it described as destabilizing activities in the Horn of Africa region. "Yesterday's decision is a further step towards the consolidation of the recent positive developments in the Horn of Africa, marked by an improvement of bilateral relations between the countries of the region, as well as by a renewed determination to promote good neighborliness and foster regional cooperation," the African Union statement quoted Mahamat as saying. He added that "these developments are a major contribution to the African Union drive towards silencing the guns by 2020 and advancing continental integration in the context of Agenda 2063 flagship projects."He encouraged the regional leaders to sustain this momentum, by taking all steps required to address any outstanding issue in their relations and deepening their cooperation in the pursuit of the shared objective of peace and prosperity. In July, Ethiopia asked the UN Security Council to lift the sanctions it imposed against Eritrea on the grounds that its northern neighbor has been improving relations with regional countries Somalia and Djibouti, with which Eritrea had maintained tense relations. A retired Austrian colonel suspected of carrying out intelligence activities on behalf of Russia has given his assurances that he did not disclose state secrets, his lawyer, Michael Hofer, told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th November, 2018) A retired Austrian colonel suspected of carrying out intelligence activities on behalf of Russia has given his assurances that he did not disclose state secrets, his lawyer, Michael Hofer, told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper. On Tuesday, the regional court of Salzburg rejected the prosecutor's office's request to detain the suspect. He has since been released but has to report to the police every day. "My client has assured me that he had not disclosed any state secrets. He is very pleased with the decision of the court. He does not feel like a spy," Hofer said in an interview, adding that the military had no access to such data. The Salzburg prosecutor's office on Tuesday appealed the court's decision, which will be reviewed by the high regional court of Linz. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said last Friday that an army officer had been detained on suspicion of leaking military secrets to Russia between 1992 and 2018. The reports "unpleasantly surprised" Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said the accusations had been unfounded. His Austrian counterpart, Karin Kneissl, canceled her planned visit to Russia. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has urged for the situation to not be dramatized and said that the incident would not jeopardize relations with Moscow in the long run. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Azerbaijan has threatened to "review" its diplomatic ties with France after a visit to Paris by the president of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh republic. BAKU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Azerbaijan has threatened to "review" its diplomatic ties with France after a visit to Paris by the president of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh republic. Bako Sahakyan, who leads the Armenian-majority territory, is reported by Armenian media to be in France. Azerbaijan does not recognize its independence. "Azerbaijan will use diplomatic channels to express to France its decisive protest. This continuous double-standard approach forces Azerbaijan to review its relations with France," the Azeri Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. It lost control over the mountainous region after an armed conflict. A ceasefire was agreed in 1994 but both sides have accused each other of violating it, most notably in 2016 when hundreds of civilians and soldiers were killed in clashes. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has been trying to find a way out of the crisis for the past 26 years. Its monitoring group is co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States. (@rukhshanmir) DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) The civilian death toll from the airstrikes by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State terror group (IS, banned in Russia) in the east of Syria's Deir ez-Zor province has climbed to 23, local media reported on Thursday, citing sources. According to the Syrian state-run SANA news agency, the airstrikes targeted the residential areas of the villages of al-Bubadran and al-Sousa on Thursday. The attack also caused the destruction of houses. Earlier in the day, the agency reported that the strikes hit the village of al-Bubadran, claiming the lives of 17 civilians. The coalition regularly carries out airstrikes in Deir ez-Zor province. On Friday, media reported that 26 civilians, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike by the coalition on the city of Hajin. On Wednesday, the SANA agency reported, citing local sources, that the US-led international coalition used prohibited cluster bombs in recent airstrikes on Hajin city and Shaafa village. Previously, multiple Syrian media reports alleged that toxic white phosphorus munitions had also been used in the coalition's repeated attacks in the region. The Pentagon has dismissed the allegations as false, maintaining that the coalition's airstrikes in Syria conform with the laws of armed conflict. The US-led coalition of more than 70 countries is conducting military operations against IS in Syria and Iraq. The coalition's operations in Iraq are conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi government, but those in Syria are not authorized by the government of President Bashar Assad or the UN Security Council. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ATHENS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) Greece and Cyprus issued statements on Thursday, the 35th anniversary of proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), once again saying that the move was illegal and was condemned by the whole international community. Cypriot government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said in a statement that the TRNC had no legitimacy and pointed out that the main goal of Nicosia was to put an end to the "occupation" of Northern Cyprus. "In order to achieve that, efforts are constantly being made to reach an acceptable and sustainable solution based on high-level agreements, resolutions and decisions of the United Nations, as well as the principles and values of the European Union, to reach a solution that will ensure the future of peace, cooperation and prosperity for all Cypriots in a reunited common homeland," Prodromou said. He expressed hope that Turkey and the TRNC would show the necessary political will and resume the negotiations on the Cypriot settlement. The Greek Foreign Ministry called the anniversary of the TRNC proclamation a "sad date." "This anniversary, which is sad for the international community, reminds everyone about the blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, as a result of the illegal Turkish military invasion, occupation of a part of the territory of Cyprus and its colonization," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Athens called on Ankara to comply with resolutions of the UN Security Council that demand to put an end to the "illegal" existence of the TRNC. Greece also called on Turkey to work on a fair and comprehensive solution of the Cypriot conflict that will ensure fundamental rights of all residents of the island. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when the Turkish troops entered the island. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared in 1983 and is recognized only by Turkey, while the international community considers it to be a part of the Republic of Cyprus. (@rukhshanmir) South Africa and the European Union agreed on Thursday a joint statement, expressing concern about the erosion of international norms on the prohibition of chemical weapons. BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) South Africa and the European Union agreed on Thursday a joint statement, expressing concern about the erosion of international norms on the prohibition of chemical weapons. Earlier in the day, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held a meeting in Brussels with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk. "We share concerns about the erosion of the global norm against the production, use and stockpiling of chemical weapons. We fully support the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons [OPCW] in strengthening implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention," the statement said. In late June, members of the OPCW have approved the UK-tabled draft motion expanding the organization's powers in a 82-24 vote. In particular, the document mandates the OPCW's right to identify those responsible for the use of chemical weapons. After the vote, Russian Envoy to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin said that the attempts to create an attributive mechanism in the OPCW actually put the entire system of international relations at risk. Russia's position was that the UN Security Council was the only organization that can pronounce someone guilty of chemical weapons use and impose sanctions, the diplomat said. Russia intends to give a verified and balanced answer with regard to national interests, he added. BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The UK-EU provisional Brexit agreement ensures the preservation of UK sovereign bases on the Cypriot territory, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said. The deal includes three protocols, concerning Gibraltar, Cyprus and the Irish border, according to the official. "The second protocol relates to Cyprus and the sovereign bases in Cyprus. This enables the continuity of existing agreements in and around these bases between Cyprus and the United Kingdom. In particular, it will enable 11,000 Cypriot citizens established on territories under British sovereignty to continue to live as they do today," Barnier told reporters on Wednesday. The protocol on Gibraltar created the basis for the administrative cooperation on a series of subjects - the rights of citizens, taxation, tobacco, environment, fisheries, police and customs cooperation, Barnier added. This protocol is part of a broader package of bilateral agreements between Spain and the United Kingdom on Gibraltar, according to the negotiator. Since Cyprus became an independent nation in 1960, there have been two UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on the country's territory, namely at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The bases constitute UK sovereign territory under London's jurisdiction. Gibraltar, the only British Overseas Territory which is the part of the European Union, has overwhelmingly voted to remain in the bloc at the 2016 Brexit referendum. Helsinki is discussing with Moscow through diplomatic channels the investigation of GPS glitches during recent NATO exercises, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Helsinki is discussing with Moscow through diplomatic channels the investigation of GPS glitches during recent NATO exercises, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. "The [Finnish] authorities are continuing to investigate this issue. It is being discussed with the Russian Federation through diplomatic channels. Finland believes that such activities should not threaten the air traffic, for example," the ministry said in a statement. The two-week Trident Juncture exercises in several northern European countries, including Finland, were overshadowed by several instances in which pilots reported losing GPS signals. Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said on Sunday they were being investigated as possible jamming by Russia. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Finland's Interior Minister Kai Mykkanen said Thursday that Helsinki will provide Moscow with additional information on developments in the course of the probe into the alleged Russian involvement in GPS glitches during recent NATO drills. HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Finland 's Interior Minister Kai Mykkanen said Thursday that Helsinki will provide Moscow with additional information on developments in the course of the probe into the alleged Russian involvement in GPS glitches during recent NATO drills. Mykkanen visited Moscow on November 13 and met with Secretary of Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, as well as with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokoltsev. "During the trip to Moscow, I raised the issue of GPS disruption. In particular, during a meeting with Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. We agreed that as the investigation proceeds in Finland, we will provide additional information. If the investigation leads to further questions, we will ask them," the Finnish minister told Sputnik. The two-week Trident Juncture exercises in several northern European countries, including Finland, were overshadowed by several instances in which pilots reported losing GPS signals. Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said on Sunday they were being investigated as possible jamming by Russia. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) Gabon's Constitutional Court has amended the rules of calling the council of ministers after the president's absence from the country threatened to paralyze decision-making. The nation's constitution was changed on Wednesday and the modified chapters were published Thursday on the official Facebook page of the president's office. "In the event of the president's temporary absence for whatever reason, certain functions... may be carried out either by the vice president or the prime minister after receiving a special authorization of the Constitutional Court," the text read. President Ali Bongo Ondimba, 59, was admitted to a Saudi clinic last month and is recovering from a surgery. Gabonese Prime Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet asked the top court to intervene as only Ondimba has the power to chair cabinet meetings. (@rukhshanmir) As many as four staff members of the Peruvian National Penitentiary Institute (NPI) have been taken hostage during a prison riot in the country's city of Tacna, the NPI said in a statement released via its Twitter blog on Thursday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) As many as four staff members of the Peruvian National Penitentiary Institute (NPI) have been taken hostage during a prison riot in the country's city of Tacna, the NPI said in a statement released via its Twitter blog on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening in the Challapalca prison. The prisoners got into a fight which resulted in the killing of one of the inmates and caused injuries to another one. "The prison's security staff immediately arrived at [the prison's] unit and were taken hostage. At the moment four of them [held captive], they are all right," the statement said. The Challapalca prison is currently being under control of the security services and police. The inmates have refused to release the hostages and demanded that a representative of the prosecutor's office arrive at the scene. (@rukhshanmir) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a visit to Lisbon on November 24, where the top diplomat is set to hold a meeting with his Portuguese counterpart and the country's president, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a visit to Lisbon on November 24, where the top diplomat is set to hold a meeting with his Portuguese counterpart and the country's president, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday. "On November 24, at the invitation of the Portuguese side, the Russian foreign minister will visit Lisbon. Talks with the Portuguese foreign minister, a separate meeting with the country's president are planned," Zakharova told reporters at a briefing. The ministry's spokeswoman added that the two sides would discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including the countries' cooperation in the international arena on some of the most pressing global issues and the development of economic relations between Russia and Portugal. "The sides will also analyze the current state of relations between Russia, the European Union and NATO. An exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the middle Eastern settlement, along with views on the issues of some Latin American and African problems is expected to take place," Zakharova noted. (@rukhshanmir) The spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA), which backs Libya's Tobruk-based parliament, Ahmed Mismari, believes that Qatar and Turkey should not have been invited to the recent Palermo conference on Libyan settlement since they had nothing to do with the issue and only sought to "defend the interests of terrorists" that they support in the country. CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA), which backs Libya's Tobruk-based parliament, Ahmed Mismari, believes that Qatar and Turkey should not have been invited to the recent Palermo conference on Libyan settlement since they had nothing to do with the issue and only sought to "defend the interests of terrorists" that they support in the country. The international conference, organized by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, was held in Palermo on the Italian island of Sicily on Monday and Tuesday. It was attended, among others, by representatives of the two opposing Libyan government the head of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, and LNA commander Khalifa Haftar. "The conference concerns Libya and was hosted by Italy. What does Qatar have to do with this? What does Turkey have to do with this? ... These countries attended [the conference] in order to defend the interests of terrorist groups," Mismari said late on Wednesday, as quoted by the Sky news Arabia broadcaster. Qatar was represented at the conference by Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The Turkish delegation, led by the country's vice president, Fuat Oktay, left the conference early, expressing its disappointment over its exclusion from some meetings. Mismari has repeatedly accused Qatar, Turkey and Sudan of supporting extremist groups operating in Libya. In particular, the spokesman said that Doha had been training militants from al-Qaeda terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia) and supported attacks on Libya's Ras Lanuf and As Sidr oil ports in June. Libya, which has been engulfed in a civil conflict since 2011, is currently divided between the two governments, with the eastern part of the country controlled by the Tobruk-based parliament supported by the LNA, and Sarraj's GNA, which governs Libya's west from the capital Tripoli. In late August, violence escalated in and around Tripoli, as opposing militant groups renewed clashes with each other. Shortly afterward, the United States announced that it had brokered a ceasefire agreement, but media have since reported that the warring sides continued clashes in violation of the accord. (@ChaudhryMAli88) NATO continues to steadily move eastward and build up its military presence near Russia's border from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) NATO continues to steadily move eastward and build up its military presence near Russia 's border from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. "There is a gradual rotational and permanent presence of US troops in the countries bordering Russia. The military transportation activity at our borders is gradually expanding ... This NATO activity aimed at building up its presence near Russian borders can be seen along the entire length of the arc running from the Baltic to the Black Sea. As many as four multinational NATO battalions are stationed in Poland and the Baltic countries, and a multinational brigade is stationed in Romania. The matter of forming a permanent group of NATO naval forces in the Black Sea has not been removed from the agenda," Zakharova said at a briefing. According to the spokeswoman, since October, the Baltic region and Northern Europe have hosted numerous forces and military equipment that have been involved in a series of large military exercises organized by the alliance. They supplement the forces already stationed on NATO's eastern flank. These developments are leading to the region being militarized, generating new risks and increasing the degree of military-political confrontation, Zakharova added. NATO-Russian relations have been complicated over the past years as the alliance maintains its course for eastward expansion. The alliance has been also stepping up its military presence in Europe since 2014, using the alleged Russian involvement in the Ukraine crisis and what it describes as general destabilizing activities as a pretext. Moscow has refuted the allegations and warned that such a policy may undermine stability in the region. (@FahadShabbir) Over 900 refugees, including more than 500 children, have returned to Syria from Lebanon and Jordan over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees said on Thursday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Over 900 refugees , including more than 500 children, have returned to Syria Lebanon and Jordan over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees said on Thursday. "Over the past day, in total 985 people returned to the Syrian Arab Republic from the territory of foreign states: 129 people (39 women and 66 children) left Lebanon for Syria via the Jaydet-Yabus and Talkalakh CPs [checkpoints], and 856 people (257 women and 437 children) from Jordan via the Nasib CP," the center said in its daily bulletin. The center added that over 240 internally displaced Syrians had returned to their homes in Eastern Ghouta, Deir ez-Zor and Damascus provinces over that period. "It is reported that 245 Syrians returned back to: Eastern Ghouta (Damascus province) - 26 people (8 women and 7 children) ... 219 people (women - 72, children - 118) and 26 vehicles returned back to the places of permanent residence in Deir ez-Zor and Damascus provinces through the checkpoint al-Salhiyah," the bulletin said. One humanitarian action was carried out by the Russian side over the period, with 450 food sets weighing 1. 95 tonnes distributed in the western-central Hama province, according to the bulletin. Additionally, 75 blankets, towels and wheelchairs have been given to a professional training institute for disabled people in Damascus province. Moreover, the center noted that Russia's Chechen Republic's Akhmad Kadyrov foundation distributed a tonne of bread and handed out food packages to 15 families in Aleppo. Almost 40 residents of Deir ez-Zor, including 19 children, received medical assistance over the past 24 hours. The Syrian engineering units have cleared of mines 6.5 hectares of land, 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) of road and two buildings, destroying 28 explosive devices, the center specifed. As most of the heavy fighting in Syria is now over and the war is nearing its end, the Syrian government has started welcoming back Syrians who were forced to flee the armed conflict and seek asylum in other countries. According to the refugee center's data, more than 38,400 refugees have returned to Syria from abroad since July while over 166,800 Syrians returned to their homes since January. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Italian lawmakers praised the results of the recent international conference in Palermo on the Libyan political settlement, in their comments to Sputnik on Thursday, saying that it laid the foundation for establishing stability and peace in the country. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Italian lawmakers praised the results of the recent international conference in Palermo on the Libyan political settlement, in their comments to Sputnik on Thursday, saying that it laid the foundation for establishing stability and peace in the country. The international two-day conference on Libya, which was held under the UN auspices and brought together the country's biggest political forces, started on Monday. The event's participants confirmed their support for the UN Action Plan for Libya and the holding of the Libyan-led inclusive National Conference, which is due to take place at the beginning of 2019. "The results of the conference were excellent. Dozens of delegations participated with numerous heads of state and there was a very important meeting ... The same representative of the UN said that the summit was a success. I think it is the first piece to get to peace in Libya," Gianmatteo Ferrari, a member of Italy's Lega party, stated. He added that the foundation for the Libyan peace process laid by the Palermo conference should be further strengthened at the 2019 National Conference. "This next conference should lead to regulate the forthcoming future election. The expectations are high ... Free and democratic elections are always something positive. The really important thing is that in Libya things are done, based on what is best for the Libyan people. Italy certainly will do everything to ensure that the Libyan people are free to decide in full autonomy of their future," Ferrari emphasized. Marco Zanni, a member of the European Parliament from Italy, shared the positive view expressed by Ferrari regarding the Palermo conference. "The conference for Libya in Palermo has been a fundamental step in order to stabilize Libya and for the security of the entire Mediterranean," Zanni said, adding that the event constituted Italy's attempt to take leading role in the Libyan peace process. Zanni also expressed his support for the commitment of the Libyan political forces and the international community to foster the holding of the Libyan elections in 2019. Libya has been in a state of political and economic turmoil since 2011, when a civil war broke out following the overthrow of its longtime leader, Muammar Gaddafi. The eastern part of the crisis-torn state is governed by its parliament, with headquarters in the city of Tobruk. The parliament is backed by the Libyan National Army headed by Gen. Khalifa Haftar. At the same time, the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez Sarraj, operates in the country's west and is headquartered in Tripoli. The Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian ceasefire has registered two truce breaches over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has not registered any ceasefire violations, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian ceasefire has registered two truce breaches over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has not registered any ceasefire violations, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "Over the last 24 hours, the Russian party of the Russia-Turkey Commission on violations of the Joint Agreement has registered two cases of firing in the provinces of Aleppo (1), Hama (1). The Turkish side has registered no cases of ceasefire violations," the ministry's center for Syrian reconciliation said in its daily bulletin. According to the ministry, the reconciliation center has carried one humanitarian action over the past 24 hours, delivering 1. 95 tonnes of humanitarian cargo to the residents of a settlement in the province of Hama. The number of areas, which signed reconciliation agreements, has remained the same and amounts to 2,518, the bulletin said. The number of armed formations claiming that they observe the ceasefire regime has not changed either, standing at 234. Russia, Turkey and Iran are the guarantors of the ceasefire regime in Syria, while Moscow has also been supporting the government forces' fight against terrorist groups, and providing humanitarian aid to civilians. The Russian Culture Ministry signed on Thursday agreements on cultural cooperation with Abkhazia, Armenia and Mali during the 7th Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum (ICF), currently ongoing in Russia's second largest city ST. PETERSBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The Russian Culture Ministry signed on Thursday agreements on cultural cooperation with Abkhazia, Armenia and Mali during the 7th Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum (ICF), currently ongoing in Russia's second largest city. The agreements were signed by Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, Abkhazia's Minister of Culture and Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage Elvira Arsalia, Armenian Culture Minister Lilit Makunt and Malian Culture Minister N'Diaye Ramatoulaye Diallo. The ICF, organized by the Russian government, the Culture Ministry, and the government of St. Petersburg, started earlier in the day and will end on Friday. The forum has been recognized as a global event, annually attracting thousands of professionals and lovers of arts, particularly theater, opera and ballet stars; renowned directors and musicians; public figures; as well as representatives of governments, and business and academic communities. The Russian Culture Ministry signed on Thursday agreements on cultural cooperation with Abkhazia, Armenia and Mali during the 7th Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum (ICF), currently ongoing in Russia's second largest city. ST. PETERSBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The Russian Culture Ministry signed on Thursday agreements on cultural cooperation with Abkhazia, Armenia and Mali during the 7th Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum (ICF), currently ongoing in Russia 's second largest city. The agreements were signed by Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, Abkhazia's Minister of Culture and Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage Elvira Arsalia, Armenian Culture Minister Lilit Makunt and Malian Culture Minister N'Diaye Ramatoulaye Diallo. "Traditionally, during the forum international agreements are signed they form the basis for long-term agreements, programs, cross-culture years, festivals, exhibitions, and joint theater and cinema projects," Medinsky said following the agreements' signing. Arsalia, for her part, revealed to Sputnik the details of the agreement signed with Abkhazia. "Today we signed a plan for bilateral cooperation in 2019. It will include theater exchanges, exhibitions of Abkhazian artists in a Russian city among other events. Russia and Abkhazia have always been linked spiritually and culturally. This agreement will allow us to lift this connection to a higher level," Arsalia indicated. She recalled that the year 2018 marked the 10th anniversary of Russian-Abkhazian cultural seasons. "Over the past 10 years we have jointly carried out more than 200 events involving all aspects cultural cooperation: starting with theater and museum exchanges and ending with events dedicated to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage," Arsalia stated. The ICF, organized by the Russian government, the Culture Ministry, and the government of St. Petersburg, started earlier in the day and will end on Friday. The forum has been recognized as a global event, annually attracting thousands of professionals and lovers of arts, particularly theater, opera and ballet stars; renowned directors and musicians; public figures; as well as representatives of governments, and business and academic communities. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin talked about the crises in Syria and Libya, specifically how to resolve them, with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary Anne DiCarlo in Moscow on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th November, 2018) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin talked about the crises in Syria and Libya , specifically how to resolve them, with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary Anne DiCarlo in Moscow on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "There was a detailed exchange of views on a number of regional issues with a focus on the crisis settlement in Syria and Libya," the ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, DiCarlo also had talks with the heads of foreign ministry departments specializing in matters related to the situations in Ukraine and the South Caucasus. Additionally, the UN political chief met with Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev. Libya has been in a state of turmoil since the overthrow of its long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011. Ever since, two rival governments have been struggling for control over the country. Syria, on the other hand, has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations. Russia's S-400 Triumph mobile air defense system is unmatched by rival weapons in both attack range and deployment time, Rosoboronexport, the state arms seller, said on Thursday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Russia 's S-400 Triumph mobile air defense system is unmatched by rival weapons in both attack range and deployment time, Rosoboronexport, the state arms seller, said on Thursday. "The S-400 is a unique system. It demonstrates indisputable superiority over its rivals. Its maximum range of 380 kilometers [236 miles] is twice that of analogs. The closest another artillery system has ever come to this result is 200 kilometers, the rest fall far behind," it said. The press release, the first ever official comparative analysis of S-400 parameters, said it took five minutes to deploy the air defense system, three times less than the time claimed by rivals. The surface-to-air system - whose NATO reporting name is SA-21 Growler - can carry three different types of missiles capable of engaging a wide array of aerial targets, from reconnaissance aircraft to ballistic missiles, at a short-to-extremely-long range. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam, and Iraq and at least six others are interested in buying S-400s despite the threat of US retaliation under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, according to media reports. Turkey, China, and India have already signed contracts. (@FahadShabbir) Syria hopes to attract 2 million visitors next year, including religious worshippers and health tourists, Tourism Minister Bisher Yaziji said Wednesday. DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Syria hopes to attract 2 million visitors next year, including religious worshippers and health tourists, Tourism Minister Bisher Yaziji said Wednesday. "We expect around 2 million foreign tourists to come to Syria, including from Arab countries," Yaziji told Kuwait's Al Watan newspaper. He estimated tourism revenues this year at roughly $5.7 million and equated income the oil-rich nation received from one tourist to 10 barrels of crude. Some 200,000 people out of 1.3 million who travelled to Syria last year were pilgrims, the minister said. He complained that health tourism needed a more organized approach in order to flourish. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The airstrikes by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State terror group (IS, banned in Russia) claimed the lives of 17 civilians in the east of Syria's Deir ez-Zor province on Thursday, local media reported. DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The airstrikes by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State terror group (IS, banned in Russia ) claimed the lives of 17 civilians in the east of Syria 's Deir ez-Zor province on Thursday, local media reported. The strikes targeted the village of Bu-Badran, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported, citing local sources. Venezuela has been experiencing a severe health care crisis with the outbreaks of diseases and lack of treatment for HIV patients, a prominent human rights watchdog said in a report on Thursday, adding that the government has been deliberately hiding data regarding the true extent of the crisis. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) Venezuela has been experiencing a severe health care crisis with the outbreaks of diseases and lack of treatment for HIV patients, a prominent human rights watchdog said in a report on Thursday, adding that the government has been deliberately hiding data regarding the true extent of the crisis. "In the last few years, the Venezuelan government has sought to suppress data on the country's epidemiological situation, in an apparent attempt to hide the extent of the health crisis ... The government has also retaliated against physicians who have publicly expressed concern about the crisis or attempted to report data on it," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a press release. The report on Venezuela was published after a Human Rights Watch team visited the border between Venezuela and Colombia, which has been suffering from a mass influx of Venezuelans fleeing from the political and economic crisis in their country. "Venezuela's public health system has collapsed, putting at risk the lives of countless Venezuelans. The combination of a failing health system and widespread food shortages has produced a humanitarian catastrophe, and it will only get worse if it's not addressed urgently," Shannon Doocy, associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg school of Public Health, who traveled to the border as part of the watchdog's team, was quoted as saying by HRW. Despite the Venezuelan government's attempts to conceal the true scale of the health crisis, there are still some figures available. Statistics provided by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) revealed that a total of 5,500 cases of measles, which can be prevented through vaccination, have been confirmed in Venezuela since June 2017, while between 2008 and 2015, only one case was registered. At the same time, 1,200 cases of diphtheria were recorded between 2016 and 2018, marking another striking contrast to previous nine years, when not a single person in Venezuela was reported to have contracted the disease. The watchdog also said that the number of confirmed malaria cases had surged more than tenfold between 2009 and 2017. The tuberculosis incidence rate reached its highest level in four decades last year. Moreover, nearly 90 percent of almost 80,000 HIV-positive Venezuelans officially registered to get treatment were not receiving it, the watchdog said. The Venezuelan Health Ministry's statistics demonstrated that in 2016 maternal and infant mortality leaped by 65 percent and 30 percent, respectively, in just one year. The situation is exacerbated by food shortages and malnutrition, with around 80 percent of Venezuelan households suffering from food insecurity, according to a nationwide survey, cited by the watchdog. For years, Venezuela has been living in a state of a political and economic crisis, which was worsened by a decline in oil prices and US sanctions. Millions of Venezuelans have been seeking refuge, mostly in neighboring Latin American countries. According to UN estimates, a total of 3 million people have left Venezuela, with around 2.4 million of them residing across Latin America and the Caribbean, including more than 1 million in Colombia. The Fourth Annual Albert Institute Bladder Cancer Care and Research Symposium was held from September 14th-16th in Houston, Texas. The symposium covered a range of topics relevant to bladder cancer, including basic science aspects of immunology and immunotherapy that inform clinical management; intravesical therapy for non-muscle invasive disease; understanding the nuances of carcinoma in situ; and optimizing patient care and outcomes following therapy. The moving landscape of bladder cancer from an industry perspective was also discussed. In the following sections we discuss intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including the immune microenvironment and sex bias, in the context of bladder cancer; how these influence tumor development, progression, and treatment strategies; and how the interpretation of immune features in relation to molecular subtypes informs both treatment decisions and response. We conclude with a summary of key points that will need to be addressed to ensure best use of new knowledge in this area for improved clinical management of patients with bladder cancer. Bladder cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 2018 Oct 29*** epublish *** Molly A Ingersoll, Xue Li, Brant A Inman, John W Greiner, Peter C Black, Rosalyn M Adam Unit of Dendritic Cell Immunobiology, Department of Immunology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France., Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA., Division of Urology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA., Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA., Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30417054 The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) has called upon Zambian women religious to scale-up involvement in youth and family ministries. Srs. Helen Kasaka and Beatrice Mwansa Lusaka, Zambia The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) has urged the Zambia Association of sisterhood (ZAS) to strengthen and embrace their mission in youth and family ministries. ACWECA General Secretary, Sr. Enelesi Chimbali has also encouraged the sisters to embrace the Holy Fathers encyclical Laudato si -On Care for Our Common Home and include it in their educational ministry. ACWECA congratulates ZAS I want to congratulate ZAS especially for the different programmes that they are running which involve many sisters including those outside Zambia. I encourage you to continue carrying out your mission and giving hope to the people you serve. In your mission as sisters, include the ministry of the youth, families and the encyclical of the Holy Father, Laudato si, she said. Religious women in Zambia praised Sr. Enelesi who is visiting ZAS ahead of their Diamond Jubilee, this Saturday, also praised the role of ZAS within ACWECA. ZAS has been so good and even initiated the birth of ACWECA in 1973. It is one of the eldest members of ACWECA, and it has also produced the longest member as President who served for five consecutive years and contributed a lot to the association. It was during Zambias tenure as Chair that ACWECA managed to bring countries like Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia on board. She added, In the past, ZAS has also hosted several AWCECA meetings, the last one being in 2014 when a Zambian member was elected again as President till 2017," she recalled. Younger Sisters are the face and future of ZAS Sr. Enelesi has also admired the smooth running of ZAS further invited younger religious women to participate and be fully involved in the affairs of ZAS. This is good because it instils ownership of the Association (in the future generation). It gives hope to carry the mandate of the sisters and their Charisms, she said. The sisters, Sr. Enelesi said, must continue to take ZAS to higher heights. ZAS is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee under the theme; Celebrating with Gratitude Gods Faithfulness and Embracing the Future with Confidence on Saturday, 17th November 2018 at Romas Assumption Parish in Lusaka, Zambia. A group of members of the Sovereign Order of Malta organize a tea-party for the elderly to mark the World Day of the Poor Sunday, 18 November is the second World Day of the Poor, established by Pope Francis to mark the end of the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. By Linda Bordoni Pope Francis has invited everyone to mark the World Day of the Poor to be celebrated on Sunday, 18 November. Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peters Square for the Angelus, the Pope said that, for the occasion, a First Aid Station will be set up in the Square, where those in need will be able to receive medical care. I hope he added, that this Day will encourage greater attention to the needs of the least and the marginalized. Amongst the many organizations making sure the Day does not pass unnoticed is the Sovereign Order of Malta, whose core mission is to uphold human dignity and care for people in need. Prince Dominique de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta, says each of us can find ways to celebrate the occasion by honouring the poor, the sick and the marginalized. Prince Dominique de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta invites you to celebrate the World Day of the Poor For over 900 years it has been the Order of Maltas mission to reach out to people in need. The Grand Hospitaller pointed out that at the heart of the Orders charism, through which members strive to grow spiritually, is the commitment to serve the poor. In a world in which self-centeredness and selfishness often seem to be in the forefront, where the poor are increasingly neglected and deemed useless, Prince de La Rochefoucauld invites all men and women of goodwill to read Pope Francis Message for this second World Day of the Poor in which, he says, we are called to honour the poor and give them precedence, out of the conviction that they are a true presence of Jesus in our midst. Noting that Order of Malta members across the world have organized events and initiatives to celebrate this special day, he points out that the very foundation of the Order of Malta stems from the words of Jesus and on the actions of its members to take care for those in need, seeing Christ in each of them, and being grateful for the opportunity to follow His words that we know so well: For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Pope Francis on November 15 spoke to the some 100 student priests and staff of the Collegio Pio Latino, or the Latin American College of Rome, on the occasion of its 160th anniversary. By Robin Gomes Pope Francis on Thursday urged Latin American priests to create bonds of friendship and fraternity among themselves and be close to the life of their people with the love of Christ. He was speaking to some 100 student priests and staff of the Collegio Pio Latino, or the Latin American College of Rome, on the occasion of its 160th anniversary this year. A pontifical college in Rome is a hostel for student priests who pursue higher ecclesiastical studies in various Church universities and institutes. Cultural fragmentation The Pope noted that the Latin American culture was being fragmented by confrontations, divisive discourses, hatred towards those who are not our own and by importing cultural models that are alien to its identity. The Church that is not alien to these tendencies and ideological colonizations , the Pope warned, risks being disoriented and uprooted if its vocation to be a land of encounter is forgotten. Noting that their continent is marked by old and new wounds, the Holy Father urged the Latin American student priests to use their time in Rome and in the College to be artisans of communion by creating bonds and alliances of friendship and fraternity, making their own the joys and hopes, the sadness and anguish of their brothers, and by giving a name and face to the concrete situations of their peoples. Communion and solidarity The Holy Fathers urged them to create a priestly community and communion that is born of concrete solidarity among them, transcending a parochial mentality and opening themselves to others in order "to weave and heal hope". On the contrary, without a sense of belonging and working side by side, they will disperse and weaken themselves, and little by little, and almost without realizing it, they will end up offering America a "God without a Church, a Church without Christ, a Christ without a people", in other words, a God without Christ, a Christ without a Church, a Church without a people... a pure rehashed gnosticism . Close to the people The love for Christ and of Christ, the Pope pointed out cannot be manifested except in the passion for life and for the destiny of our peoples and in special solidarity with the poorest, suffering and needy. Hence the need to develop the taste of always being close to the life of the people; never to isolate oneself from them. Never curl up in personal or community sheds that separate them from the knots where history is written, the Pope urged. This is why he said it is providential that the 160 years of Collegio Pio Latino was taking place in the year of the canonization of the St. Oscar Romero, a former student of their College and a living sign of the fruitfulness and sanctity of the Latin American Church. In conclusion, the Pope told the student priests to avoid being state priests, never to be afraid of holiness and to spend their lives for their people. Following the overwhelming success of last years record-breaking food drive, The+Source, with locations at 9480 S. Eastern Blvd. in Henderson, Nev. and 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd. in Las Vegas, will host a food drive to benefit Three Square Food Bank throughout the month of November. The popular dispensary hosted Three Squares largest food drive of 2017 which yielded 156,112 pounds of nonperishable food donations. The+Source will continue the holiday tradition and donate three meals to Three Square throughout November for every edible purchase of half an ounce of shake and bake, made up of small pieces of cannabis flower that break off of larger buds, priced at $75, in an effort to assist local families in the community. Monetary donations will be accepted to support Three Square as well. Established in 2007, Three Square is dedicated to providing hunger relief to more than 271,000 food-insecure people in Lincoln, Nye, Esmeralda and Clark Counties in pursuit of a hunger-free community. As Southern Nevadas only food bank, Three Square relies on a network of over 1,600 community partners to offer the most complete food solution to all four counties through a combination of food banking, food rescue and wholesome ready-to-eat meals. The+Source offers more than 30 different strains of cannabis, as well as a variety of concentrates, edibles and related medical marijuana products. Flower prices range from $10 to $17 per gram. It stands apart from other dispensaries through experienced operators, quality and selection of products, along with the experience of Dr. William Troutt, who is renowned for his expertise in cannabis treatments. Vietnams energy demand is predicted to increase by over 10 percent by 2020, while energy consumption is projected to increase four-fold by 2030 compared to 2014. To meet the growing demand which cannot be fulfilled by sources like coal and hydro, the government is promoting other renewable sources such as biomass, solar and wind to reduce the gap between demand and supply. Solar power industry The potential for solar energy in Vietnam is between 60 and 100 GWh per year for concentrated solar power, while for photovoltaic (PV) systems, it is around 0.8 to 1.2 GWH per year. With around 1,600 to 2,700 hours of sunlight per year and an average direct normal irradiance (DNI) of 4-5 kWh/m2, the country has huge potential for solar power. DNI is the amount of solar radiation received per unit area by a surface perpendicular (normal) to the rays. Region Ninh Thuan province in south-central Vietnam has the highest potential for solar power generation. The region has already attracted over 140 projects. Other potential areas include Binh Thuan, Daklak, and Khanh Hoa which have attracted 100, 13, and 12 projects respectively. Government targets Solar power accounts for only 0.01 percent of the total output, and the government aims to increase this to 3.3 percent and 20 percent by 2030 and 2050 respectively. The governments target by 2020 and 2025 is to install 850 MW and 4 GW respectively. By 2030, it aims to increase it to 12 GW. Projects The government has approved more than 70 new projects, with a total capacity of over 3,000 MW that needs to begin operations before June 2019. As of July 2018, projects with a total capacity of 12,622 MW were in the pre-investment phase, while 1,432 MW were in the development and feasibility phase. Around 1000 MW are under construction, while only 8 MW is in the operating stage. As of July 2018, 748 solar roof-top projects are in operation with a total capacity of 11.55 MW peak. Major companies that installed roof-top systems include Intel, Avery Dennison, and Deutsche Bekleidungswerke. In addition, government buildings of the MoIT, National Assembly, and UN have also installed roof-top solar systems. According to government estimates, rooftop solar projects can reduce monthly power bills by over 50 percent. Major companies Major investors in the solar power industry in Vietnam include German ASEAN Power, B.Grimm Power Public Co Ltd, Trina Solar, Siemens, Schletter Group, JA Solar, Sunseap International, Nippon Sheet Glass, Ecoprogetti, Tata Power, Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital, Gulf Energy Development, InfraCo Asia Development, and ACWA Power. Although there is no foreign ownership restriction in the industry, PPP projects in the form of BOT contracts are usually preferred due to government guarantees and incentives. Incentives Investors are entitled to exemption from the land use fee for a period of 11 years and 15 years in case of rural areas. In addition, during the construction of the plant or building, investors are entitled to exemption from land and water surface rents. Corporations can also avail a reduction in corporate income taxes (CIT). A CIT of 10 percent is applicable for renewable energy producers for the first 15 years. Under certain conditions, CIT exemptions are also provided for investors. Import duties are also exempted in case imported goods are raw materials or are used in the manufacturing of components. Regulations In 2017, the government issued Decree No.11/2017/QD-TTg on mechanisms for encouraging the development of solar power in the country. Guidelines on PPA for solar projects were set out in Circular 16/2017/TT-BCT. Together, these include guidelines on the approval process, power development plans, technical requirements, and tariff structures and covers both commercial as well as rooftop projects. In Vietnam, the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) is the sole buyer of energy generated from solar power projects. Feed-in-tariffs (FIT) for commercial and rooftop projects have a commercial operation date (COD) of June 2019. Investors have recommended the government to increase the COD beyond 2019 as it is a tight deadline that can deter long-term investments. Based on the feedback, the government extended the COD to 2020 through Resolution No. 115/NQ-CP, but only for the Ninh Thuan province. The government is planning to do the same for other provinces as well. The government is also planning to introduce a direct power purchase agreement (DDPA) for renewable energy in 2019. DDPA is an agreement between a power generator and a corporate consumer, which will allow power generation companies to sell their electricity directly to corporations. Feed-in-tariffs The FIT for utility solar power plants is VND2,086 (9.35 US cents/kWh) for a period of 20 years. For rooftop projects, the net-metering is 9.35 US cents/kWh. This rate will also apply for excess power generated from rooftop solar projects that begin their operations before the 2019 deadline and sell it to the EVN The FIT will be applicable for projects beginning operations before 30 June 2019, except for ones in Ninh Thuan province, which have a 2020 deadline. Once the COD deadline expires, new FIT rates will be finalized, which may be lower than current rates. Challenges The major challenges facing investors are government policies on solar prices and COD deadlines. Government policies need to be more consistent and COD deadlines need to be extended beyond 2019, as permitting processes and land acquisitions in Vietnam take time which can lead to project delays. Other challenges include lack of financing, technical expertise of the local developers, and grid infrastructure quality. The government needs to increase transparency, provide financial support, reform administrative processes related to permits and land acquisitions, create consistent pricing policies, and develop the grid infrastructure to meet the growing energy demand. Students in class at the Dak Lak Vocational College in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. Participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is said to offer Vietnam a chance to modernise its labour laws and industrial relations system.-VNA/VNS Photo Duong Giang Vietnam officially became a member of the CPTPP after all National Assembly (NA) deputies approved a resolution on the agreement on Monday. The CPTTP, together with the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, includes specific requirements on labour rights and work conditions to ensure that the free flow of trade will contribute to sustainable development and enable workers and businesses to enjoy their fair share of economic gains, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Having to abide by labour commitments and requirements was an inevitable result of joining FTAs, said Head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department of International Co-operation Nguyen Manh Cuong at a dialogue on Vietnams CPTPP labour commitments in Hanoi yesterday. The implementation mechanisms foreseen in the agreement include co-operative activities to engage representatives of business and worker organisations as well as international organisations such as the ILO to strengthen labour market institutions that lay the foundation for improving social dialogue between employers and workers, according to the ILO. This is an opportunity for Vietnam to modernise its labour laws, said ILO Vietnams director Chang-Hee Lee in a press release. The need for such reforms comes from the countrys internal context. In years after the CPTPP comes into effect, it is expected workers will be allowed to establish or join organisations of their own choosing, which can choose whether they will be part of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL). Vice President of the VGCL Ngo Duy Hieu said facing membership competition would be a chance for VGCL to continue its reforms and improve its efficiency to better represent workers. Vietnam committed to fully implementing its CPTPP labour obligations from the day it takes effect in the country, said Cuong. "The country is in the process of amending the Labour Law to make it fall in line with some contents of the CPTPP and make its commitments about labour more concrete," he said. It is expected to take three to five years for Vietnam to amend the law and its related regulations, and to improve awareness among the public, workers and enterprises, according to Cuong. Director of the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs Dao Quang Vinh said the institutes recent study on impacts of Vietnams participation in FTAs showed that joining CPTPP would help to create 17,000-27,000 jobs each year for Vietnamese workers from 2020. FTA participation would also help increase investment flows, enhance competitiveness and productivity, draw more skilled labourers and raise workers incomes, he said. However, Vinh said big wage differences would be seen between foreign-invested enterprises and local businesses as well as between skilled labourers and low-qualified workers, thus creating policy challenges relating to employment, job generation and vocational training. He also stressed that Vietnam needed to prepare its workforce to take advantage of opportunities created by the agreement. For example, when tariffs are reduced, will Vietnam improve productivity in order to tap this market opportunity? he said. It depends on how we prepare human and investment resources to ensure that Vietnamese products will be accepted by members of the agreement. He warned that changes in employment and labour structures would happen more rapidly than forecasted due to FTAs and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so Vietnamese policy makers need to amend their forecast. VGCL Vice President Hieu suggested increasing information dissemination to raise awareness of the public, enterprises and credit institutions of opportunities and challenges of CPTPP. The Government should build specific plans after CPTPP takes effect in order to deal with initial and long-term challenges, he said. The 11-nation accord, which forms a market of 500 million people, is expected to increase Vietnams GDP by an additional 1.32 per cent by 2035, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore have already ratified the agreement, which will take effect on December 30. The pound has won some support from news Theresa May has agreed a draft Brexit deal, though she now faces a number of hurdles before passing it through parliament. (Photo: AFP/Oli Scarff) The pound enjoyed some support after Britain and the European Union said they had reached a draft Brexit deal, though observers were cautious as it faces a number of hurdles before being given the green light. Both main crude contracts plunged Tuesday - Brent lost 6.6 per cent and WTI 7.1 per cent - on oversupply fears just as demand falters in the face of the China-US trade war and easing economic growth. With prices now down more than a fifth from their four-year highs seen in early October, oil kingpin Saudi Arabia this week said it will cut output. The announcement fuelled an initial surge in the crude market before a Donald Trump tweet calling for it to keep prices low sent the commodity plunging. The selling continued on Tuesday and then Wednesday in Asia after OPEC trimmed its outlook for demand this year. And energy firms were caught in the crossfire. Hong Kong-listed CNOOC dived 4.7 per cent while Sinopec slipped 2.3 per cent and PetroChina lost 3.6 per cent. In Tokyo, Inpex was 1.9 per cent down and Australia's Woodside Petroleum sank 2.5 per cent. "Oil prices remain the hottest topic in capital markets if not in the world after extending their slide to 12 days and suffering one of the more precipitous falls in years," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. "It's all about the toxic combination of weakening global demand and oversupply that has sent prices tumbling." And Rakuten Securities commodity analyst Satoru Yoshida tipped Trump's pressure to keep OPEC from making deep cuts. STERLING UNCERTAINTY Broader markets were also lower, with Hong Kong slipping 0.5 per cent and Shanghai down 0.9 per cent. Earlier, figures showed Chinese consumer spending slowed last month, with officials pointing to shoppers saving for the annual Singles Day mega-sale that took place on Nov 11. However, there was some upbeat news in an improvement in investment and industrial production. Sydney lost 1.7 per cent, while there were also losses in Singapore, Seoul, Wellington and Bangkok. But Tokyo edged up 0.2 per cent despite data showing the Japanese economy shrunk in July-September owing to weakness in China and a series of natural disasters hitting domestic spending. Manila, Mumbai Taipei and Jakarta also enjoyed gains. In early European trade, London fell 0.5 per cent, Paris shed 0.8 per cent and Frankfurt was 0.9 per cent lower. There was little movement after comments from the White House's top economic adviser Larry Kudlow that US and Chinese officials were "having communications at all levels" on trade ahead of a possible meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping this month. With both sides digging their heels in, expectations for a breakthrough are low, analysts said. On currency markets, the pound managed to hold on to small gains that came on the back of news that Prime Minister Theresa May finally had a Brexit agreement to put to her cabinet. However, she must now get it past a divided cabinet before putting it to parliament, where both pro- and anti-Brexit MPs are unhappy with the few details that have so far emerged from the pact. "Failure to pass the deal will raise the prospects of a disorderly Brexit, a general election and also a second referendum," said Rodrigo Catril, senior foreign exchange strategist at National Australia Bank. "By the end of the week with some certainty the pound won't be trading near current levels, it could be significantly higher or massively lower." And Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com warned: "The cabinet will likely pass it but with assault from all sides of the house and Brexit divide, it seems impossible parliament will vote it through." The euro was also enjoying some lift from the Brexit developments, though the gains were tempered by news that Italy's populist government had stuck to its wallet-busting budget plan, putting it on course for a standoff with Brussels. Data showing the first shrinkage of the German economy for three years added to pressure on the unit. - Key figures around 0820 GMT - Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 per cent at 21,846.48 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.5 per cent at 25,654.43 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.9 per cent at 2,632.24 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 per cent at 7,015.82 Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 31 cents at US$55.38 per barrel Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 18 cents at US$65.29 per barrel Euro/dollar: UP at US$1.1299 from US$1.1287 at 2200 GMT Pound/dollar: UP at US$1.2999 from US$1.2964 Dollar/yen: UP at 113.90 from 113.82 New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 25,286.49 (close) Source: AFP/ec Tagged Topics business and finance The CPTPP brings great prospects for the Vietnamese textile and garment industry Textile and garment industry speeding up Talking to VIR, deputy general director of French group Scavi JSC, Nguyen Chi Thanh, said that in the recent years, North America and Japan are the groups key export markets, accounting for some 40 per cent of its total revenue. Vietnams joining the CPTPP, however, has been pushing Scavi to make elaborate preparations. Earlier this year, the company has put its fourth factory into operation in Thua Thien-Hue provinces Phong Dien Industrial Zone. Additionally, Scavi has proposed building the Phong Dien garment and textile supporting industrial zone to attract investment. Scavi have held discussions on providing incentives and attracting investment to Phong Dien garment and textile supporting industrial zone with around 30 domestic and foreign leading material suppliers, Thanh said, adding that this strategic move will bring Scavi closer to its aims of becoming one of the worlds top enterprises in lingerie, swimwear, and sportswear by 2022, with an expected annual revenue of $200 million. Another giant in the textile and garment industry, Hyosung Corporation, is also in the process of expansion in Vietnam. According to managing director of Hyosung Vietnam Company Limited, Yoo Sun Hyung, the company has invested some $1.5 billion solely in Dong Nai province, but is still planning to expand its fibre manufacturing projects. However, the enterprises proposal to invest in Nhon Trach 5 IZ has been repeatedly rejected as there is no land available. Recently, Korea-based Hi Knit Company Limited was granted an investment license at Nhon Trach 6A IZ. With the total registered capital of $40 million, the company produces textiles as well as nonwoven fabric for export and domestic foreign-invested companies. In Binh Duong, Taiwan's Far Eastern, whose registered capital is $25 million, has just received the license to invest in VSIP II-A. Sector with potential According to experts, the textile and garment industry will not be the only sector to benefit when Vietnam officially joins the CPTPP, as aquaculture, timber manufacturing, logistics, realty, and agriculture also look at bright prospects, as more FDI will reach these sectors. Recently, feed manufacturers Cargill and CJ have been successively launching factories in southern Vietnam. The largest of these factories is owned by Cargill. With the total capital of $28 million, the factory is located on a land area of 48,000 square metres and will produce some 240,000 tonnes of hog and poultry feed annually. In the meantime, numerous foreign-invested enterprises in other sectors are completing investment procedures to start projects. For example, Binh Duong has recently granted the license to Taiwan-based Vietnam Waytex International Company Limiteds $25 million furniture manufacturing project in Bau Bang IZ. As soon as it received the license, the company has started the construction. Taiwanese group Kenda has invested an additional $56 million into its factory in Giang Dien IZ to expand its tyre manufacturing capacity for domestic and export markets. Its manufacturing materials are mainly natural rubber from Dong Nai and the nearby regions. On November 11, Japanese firm Yuwa Vietnam Company Limited officially launched its second factory on a land area of 2.2 hectares in Binh Duongs VSIP II. Its first factory, which is also in Binh Duong, was built from $4 million in 2009 and produces moulded electronic plastic components. Big investors coming to Vietnam always look for domestic suppliers of high-quality components to reduce the cost of importation, a representative of Yuwa Vietnam said, adding that this is an opportunity for the firm to expand production. In addition, Yuwa Vietnam is also scheduled to build a research and development centre in Vietnam to increase production. Sharing his opinion about the investment trends of Japanese companies, president of the Japanese Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City (JBAH) Kadowaki Keiichi stated that in 2018 and onwards, more and more Japanese enterprises will continue investing in the Southern regions. Although individual investments will be of average magnitude, as the majority of these enterprises work in the supporting industry and mainly apply advanced technology, they can produce millions of products annually. H-Gourmet will bring VIPs an unforgettable dining experience H-Gourmet will bring to the VIPs an unforgettable dining experience by uniting the exotic taste of Vietnamese ingredients. The guests will get to enjoy the intertwined harmony of unique dishes along with 3D mapping technology right at the table an experience where space, time, and taste are perfectly blended, complementing one another. The guests will get to enjoy the intertwined harmony of unique dishes along with 3D mapping technology right at the table. To the famous French Chef Richard Toix, Vietnamese ingredients have become his inspiration in this H-Gourmet. Talking to VIR, Chef Richard said, I was very impressed when exploring Hanoi and working with Chef Ngo Thanh Hoa for H-Gourmet. Vietnamese ingredients will play the main role during the dinner party. H-Gourmet is truly a dinner where all of the guests senses are awakened." Chef Richard Toix will be joined by the first MasterChef of Vietnam in 2013, Ngo Thanh Hoa. Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong shakes hands with Hungarian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Balogh Csaba in their meeting on November 14. (Photo: VNA) Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong made the remarks at the reception for Balogh Csaba, Hungarian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on November 14. Vietnam Hungary relations have made strong progress in recent years, marked by the establishment of a comprehensive partnership during the visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong to Hungary in September this year, Phong told Csaba. The visit showed Vietnams view of Hungary as an important partner and created a new impetus for the expansion of the bilateral ties in all fields, particularly economics, trade and investment, he said. Though the two countries are seeing growing ties, trade and economic relations between HCM City and Hungary remain below the two sides potential and expectations, he noted. HCM City wants to foster friendship with Hungary, he said, urging the country to support economics, trade and business affairs of enterprises from the city in Hungary and in Central and Eastern Europe. He affirmed that HCM City will create the best conditions for firms of both sides to step up cooperation and for the implementation of joint tourism projects between the two governments and at the same time, welcome enhanced people-to-people exchanges. He asked Hungary to reinforce collaboration in high-tech industry and developing smart cities. Csaba, for his part, said Hungary sees Vietnam as its most important partner in Southeast Asia and a gateway for Hungary to enter the region. The two nations must exert greater efforts to realise the will of their leaders, he said. He praised the citys dynamic growth, saying Hungary welcomes all local companies to invest and do business in the European country. He also spoke highly of trade between Vietnam and Hungary, which has expanded six times over the last six year. The two countries have carried out joint projects in food manufacturing, water supply, healthcare and food safety and in addition to these, Hungary hopes to bolster ties with Vietnam in tourism and information technology. Vietnam and Hungary established diplomatic ties on February 3, 1950. Over the years, their economic and trade ties have increased sharply, with two-way trade exceeding 355 million USD for the first time in 2017. The figure reached 348 million USD for the first seven months of 2018, a 113.15 percent increase year on year. Vietnams main exports to Hungary include computers, electronic goods and parts, transport vehicles and spare parts, garments and footwear while Hungary mostly sells pharmaceuticals and public transport vehicles to Vietnam. As of April 2018, Hungary had 17 valid projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of 63.56 million USD, ranking 57th out of 126 countries and territories investing in the country. Education is a traditional cooperation sphere and over the years, Hungary has been the only country in Eastern Europe to constantly offer more scholarships for Vietnamese students. Hungary has made Vietnam a priority in its provision of official development assistance, with its total commitment for Vietnam reaching 535 million EUR. Kilorun Hanoi 2019 aims to launch the new concept of Run, Eat, Fun in One Go in Vietnam The unique festival, to be jointly held by Index Creative Village a leading integrated and creative marketing firm in the ASEAN region AirAsia, AirAsia X, aims to launch the new concept of Run, Eat, Fun in One Go in Vietnam. It follows the first series which was held in dominant Asian cities, namely Kilorun Bangkok Thailand and Kilorun Bali Indonesia and drew in veritable throngs of runners and food lovers, including Vietnamese people. According to Kriengkarn Kanjanapokin, co-chief executive officer of Index Creative Village PLC and creative director of Kilorun, the main highlight of this event is that the contestants will be able fully enjoy the delicious dishes while running and passing the beautiful landmarks of iconic cities. Kilorun Hanoi 2019 will be held under two categories, the KM (kilometre) category and the Kg (kilogramme) category. Runners can register for the KM category from 05.00 to 08.30 at Ly Thai To park, Hanoi. The route will pass Hanois iconic attractions such as, Ly Thai To Statue, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi Opera House, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and is divided into three distances (L Run 10.7km, M Run 6.7km, and S Run 2.3km). Registration for the KG category is from 14.00 to 18.30. Runners can walk or run while tasting or eating the gorgeous food served at different landmarks of Hanoi on the 2.3 km route. AirAsia offers more convenient and economical cost flights for those who will be traveling to participate in Kilorun Hanoi 2019. It provides a unique chance to taste famous local dishes like glass noodles with deep fried eel, barbecued pork with rice vermicelli, rice vermicelli with chicken egg pork, steamed rice rolls, fried dumplings, sweet sticky rice, and more. Topaz Subanruk, group head of Sustainability at AirAsia , the events main sponsor, said, Hanoi is a charming capital of both culture and cuisine and has many attractions. It is a popular tourist destination for Thai people with consistent growth in visitors. Moreover, traveling from Thailand to Hanoi is very convenient and inexpensive as there are daily flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai to Hanoi to serve both Thai and foreign tourists who will travel to take part in this Kilorun event, she said. In addition, AirAsia offers more convenient and economical flights for those who will be traveling to participate in Kilorun Hanoi 2019. Airfares start from THB1,390 ($42.2) or VND1,028,000 ($44.6) or $50, with booking available until November 25, 2018. Visitors who are interested in participating in Kilorun Hanoi activities can use a 6-digit booking code during the said travelling period to get a 20 per cent discount on the price of running tickets of each programme and also get a chance to win many rewards. Furthermore, there are other special promotional flight routes available, such as Chiang Mai-Hanoi, Don Mueang-Ho Chi Minh City, and Don Mueang-Danang. For those interested in experiencing Kilorun Hanoi 2019, tickets will be available for the early bird period until December 14, 2018. Warrick Cleine, chairman and CEO of KPMG Vietnam and Cambodia KPMG Tax Institute, which took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang throughout November, provided an overview of Vietnams macroeconomic outlook and updates on tax revisions. The focus of this years event included transfer pricing, electronic invoices, and the draft Tax Administration Law, with speeches and panel discussions by KPMGs leading partners and directors. According to KPMG, about 1,000 representatives from leading businesses around the country have attended the three events, which is a new record for the auditing firm. The seminar in Ho Chi Minh City attracted the bulk of participants with almost 700 registered attendees. This record number shows that tax is a very important issue for all businesses, and everyone is looking for good and updated information on tax issues. We hope that the attendees can catch up on the latest regulatory changes and gain comprehensive insights from our annual Tax Institute event, said Warrick Cleine, chairman and CEO of KPMG Vietnam and Cambodia. The 2018 edition of KMPG Tax Institute recorded the highest number of attendees KPMG experts provided speeches on transfer pricing at the Tax Institute 2018 Warrick Cleine added that taxation is where the interests of businesses and governments collide, and is prone to confusion and misunderstandings. As the Vietnamese economy continues its breakneck growth and international integration, business are thriving and the authorities are looking for ways to collect more taxes. With this in mind, Cleine said it is very important to have a mutual stand point and manage expectations from both sides. This year, participants were asked to choose topics that they wanted KPMG experts to discuss in detail. The top issues were electronic invoices, refunds of value-added taxes, and the soon-to-come Tax Administration Law. The annual Tax Institute series are KPMGs flagship seminars in the Vietnamese market, open to all businesses in the country. Indonesian air safety investigators examine debris retrieved from the crashed Lion Air JT610 flight. (File photo: AFP/Bay Ismoyo) Investigators are examining whether the system, which is meant to prevent aircraft from stalling, was tied to the crash of Lion Air flight 610. The Boeing 737-MAX plunged into the Java Sea on Oct 29, killing all 189 people aboard. READ: FAA, Boeing study need for changes to 737-MAX software after crash The mid-range jet's engines are heavier than those installed on prior versions, meaning the plane can stall under different conditions. Boeing made modifications to the anti-stall system without informing air carriers and their crews, according to the Allied Pilots Association (APA). "We should have been informed," said APA spokesman Dennis Tajer. "It is just silly." "How this happened is definitely something which has to be resolved," said Tajer, who pilots 737s himself. "Boeing will have to answer to that." Failing to share all necessary information violates the aviation world's "safety culture", he said. Boeing did not respond to AFP's requests for comment. On Tuesday, the aircraft manufacturer said it was focusing on cooperating with investigators. In a letter to pilots on Nov 10, the APA said Boeing's recent "Emergency Airworthiness Directive" had not addressed the key question of incorrect readings from "angle of attack" (AOA) sensors, which monitor the angle of an aircraft's nose. The AOA "may be the causal system in the Lion Air incident", Mike Michaelis, chairman of an APA safety committee, said in the letter. "Awareness is the key with all safety issues," he said. "You are aware this anomaly may occur and there is a mitigation procedure." DIVING, NOT CLIMBING In this case, an AOA malfunction could cause the plane's computers to detect a stall incorrectly and put the plane into a dive when it should climb instead. The APA says pilots should retake control to prevent a crash. "We do not believe that Boeing would purposefully omit critical information from its operators or customers regarding key aircraft systems," said aviation expert Addison Schonland. Airspeed indicator malfunctions had been recorded during prior flights for the jet, he added. According to Richard Aboulafia, vice president for analysis at Teal Group, it is possible Boeing underestimated matters, believing the change too minor to mention. A pilot who asked to remain anonymous said manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus recommend only a few days of training for updated aircraft models such as the 737-MAX. This is because pilots' working environment and philosophy remain unchanged, he said, adding that the 737-MAX had only two sensors and not three, like its rival Airbus A320. An American pilot who also requested anonymity said the plane ideally should require more than one sensor to display a stall before reacting. "If one fails, it seems odd that the automated stabilizer system would depend on only one versus requiring both to display a stall," he said. The 737-MAX in question had only begun service for Lion Air in August. So far, only the plane's flight data recorder has been recovered. Its cockpit voice recorder could offer crucial answers on the pilots' conduct and the alarms that sounded during the accident. Mitsubishi Motors is planning to bring full-scale production to Vietnam Mitsubishi Motors looks to expand beyond simple vehicle assembly in Vietnam and move to full-scale local production, including procuring parts from within the country, as the Japanese automaker commits to enhancing its already considerable presence in Southeast Asia and Vietnam. "To be a true winner, we must develop production and exports to a certain level in each country," CEO Osamu Masuko said during his trip to Thailand. The automaker jointly operates an assembly plant in Vietnam with trading house Mitsubishi Corp. However, the Vietnamese operations will not simply be limited to assembly in a "knock-down kit" production method, Masuko said. Sourcing more materials locally would let the company handle more upstream processes for components. The automaker aims to lift regional unit sales to 310,000 by the 2019 fiscal year. In Thailand, where the government is promoting electric vehicles, Mitsubishi Motors plans to begin the production of plug-in hybrids as early as 2020. The company will file documents this year for approval by the government. The Triton pickup and Mirage compact have sold briskly in Southeast Asia, and the trucks accounts for 15 per cent of Mitsubishi Motors' global unit sales. The Xpander minivan, a seven-seat car produced in Indonesia with the appearance of a sport utility vehicle, has been hugely popular as well. The Outlander is the only model of Mitsubishi Motors Vietnam produced locally since its release in January 2018, while other products are imported from Thailand and Indonesia. Mitsubishis sold about 600 cars per month on average in Vietnam during the first nine months, according to a Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) report, with the Outlander and Triton selling best. This is far lower than other bands which also assemble or import, such as compatriot Toyota (more than 4,500 cars per month), Mazda (more than 2,500), Kia (about 2,200), and Honda (2,000). In the upcoming time, Mitsubishi Vietnam may compete with the domestic brand VinFast, which set the target to reach a localisation rate of more than 40 per cent and to begin exporting to Southeast Asia after a while. VinFast plans to offer diverse products from inexpensive (Fadil) to upscale (Lux) vehicles. Besides, Truong Hai Automobile Company (Thaco) has reached the localisation rate of 15-25 per cent for cars, 35-45 per cent for trucks, and 60 per cent for buses. Thacos buses are exported to several ASEAN countries, such as Thailand and the Philippines, with Cambodia, Singapore, and Taiwan as the next targets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), until 2018, the domestic automobile production featured 173 businesses, most of which are small- and medium-sized enterprises. The total assembly capacity in Vietnam is about 500,000 units per year, 47 per cent of which is accounted for by foreign-invested businesses. Large firms manufacturing and assembling locally take up about 70 per cent of the market. According to the MoIT, the localisation rate for private cars under nine seats was set to reach 60 per cent by 2010, but the current rate is only 7-10 per cent, with Thaco reaching 15-18 per cent, Toyota Vietnam 37 per cent for the Innova in particular, which is much lower than the target. Meanwhile, the localisation rates in other countries in the region stand at 65-70 per cent, and even at 80 per cent in Thailand. However, Vietnam still has a great demand for cars and personal vehicles and car makers who can source locally can reduce prices and improve competitiveness. Vo Minh Nhut, country president of NS BlueScope Vietnam, gave voice to his hope that the labour safety programme will help improve the sustainable development of businesses in Vietnam On November 14, 2018, NS BlueScope Vietnam, in collaboration with Ba Ria-Vung Tau Industrial Zone Authority (BIZA) announced the initiation of a labour hygiene safety awareness and management sharing programme for the sake of a non-occupational-incident workplace. The launching ceremony welcomed the presence of representatives from BIZA, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Labour Federation, the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the local branch of the Labour Hygiene Safety Department, as well as other related organisations and businesses. Le Xa, deputy director of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Industrial Zones Management Authority, expressed great appreciation for the programme's practicality The planned programme is designed to incorporate a series of workshops centring on vital issues: A specialised workshop on the role of enterprise managers in labour hygiene safety and fire prevention to discuss the establishment of a corporate safety culture and efficient models for safety management, identifying and controlling potential safety risks, safety checking and testing, and multi-asset risk system (MARS); A field trip to Phu My I factory in Ba Ria-Vung Tau to learn from NS BlueScope Vietnams labour safety model; Workshops in combination with factory tours focusing on sharing risk management knowledge for highly-risky occupations. Truong Anh Hai, deputy director, NS Bluescope Vietnam, provided a brief overview of the labour safety awareness and sharing programme Vo Minh Nhut, country president of NS BlueScope Vietnam, said: Backed by our groups history and practices of safety management across large-scaled factories across the globe, we put a particular focus on executing labour safety and hygiene procedures in every production and assembly activity. We regularly organise labour safety training courses for our staff, holding occupational contests as well as investing in training centres to keep improving employees awareness of labour safety. By initiating the labour safety and hygiene awareness programme in Vietnam, we expect to improve businesses awareness of labour safety, thereby supporting the sustainable development of businesses." Operating three big factories in Vietnam producing hundreds of tonnes of steel per year, NS BlueScope Vietnam has reported no serious labour incidents during the past five years, which greatly contributed to the achievement of its business objectives. NS BlueScope Vietnam is strongly committed to social responsibility ever since its establishment. The Company did implement several meaningful projects to support community and social growth. The newly launched programme is the second link in the chain of initiatives to improve labour safety awareness from early 2017 that are aimed at promoting the sustainable growth of businesses operating in localities where NS BlueScope Vietnams factories are located. The first session has been successfully implemented and was well received by enterprises in Dong Nais industrial zones. Ceremony participants make a joint resolution of incident-free production NS BlueScope Vietnam now operates three factories in Phu My, Bien Hoa, and Hanoi, providing the market with 156,000 tonnes of high-quality coated steel for big construction projects, hi-tech agricultural solutions, small- and medium-sized factories, and civil buildings via BlueScopes global brands of Colorbond, Zincalume, Lysaght, and BlueScope Zacs. All brands at this years show have decided to accompany their cars with stunning ladies to instantly catching the visitors attention. A tactic that will surely be successful. A glamorous foreign model stands next to a gorgeous red car and gains a ton of attention. The appearance of the models creates an exciting atmosphere around the event. The Toyota booth with what appears to be an Eastern European model attracting attention. Vietnam Motor Show 2018 features auto brands, hot girls Vietnam Motor Show 2018 features auto brands, hot girls Vietnam Motor Show 2018 features auto brands, hot girls Vietnam Motor Show 2018 features auto brands, hot girls A Vietnamese beauty in a grey sparkly dress gains lots of attention. Both Vietnamese and foreign models are at the event, leaving much impression on attendees. People there could be seen often asking for selfies with the beauties. No one model here dresses the same. Each model has various fashion styles sends different messages of auto brands to viewers. Chevrolet booth. The model here is in a Halloween outfit and looks rather sexy. The Vietnam Motor Show 2018 runs through October 28 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in the capital, Ho Chi Minh City. Some more photos of the motor show: Vietnam Motor Show 2018 features auto brands, hot girls Vietnam Motor Show 2018 features auto brands, hot girls Cambodian-American community leaders have said the victory of the Democrats in the US midterm elections this month will not affect the passage of a bill that would place sanctions on senior Cambodian officials over the countrys deteriorating human rights and democratic record. The bill, known as the Cambodia Accountability and Return on Investment (CARI) Act, could lead to Cambodian officials assets being frozen if Kem Sokha, the former leader of Cambodias main opposition party, remains under house arrest and charged with treason. In late January, eight influential senators, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Marco Rubio, wrote Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations, to urge her the government to isolate the Cambodian government, pressure them to reverse course. In July, Congress approved a bill which was aimed at placing similar sanctions on several top Cambodian government officials. US-based advocates say the change in the control of the House after the midterm elections would have no impact on the passage of the CARI Act. Touch Vibol, executive director of the Cambodian-American Alliance, said both US political parties viewed the deterioration of rights and the democratic process in Cambodia in a similar light. The Democratic and Republican parties consider Cambodia a common issue related to promoting freedom and democracy and, in particular, they want those who work to destroy democracy to be responsible before the law, he said. In this, it includes financial sanctions or prohibits officials who violate democratic principles from entering the territory of United States. The issue is not going to change. However, he added that the retirement of Ed Royce, a prominent Republican critic of Prime Minister Hun Sens government and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, would be a loss to the community. Jensen Seng, who has lobbied for the passage of the bill in Congress, agreed. Because both bills are fully supported by the two parties, it goes forward, she said. The European Union, Cambodias largest export market, is making preparations for the countrys expulsion from a preferential trade scheme that guarantees tariff-free access to EU markets for Cambodian goods, according to the EU ambassador. George Edgar, EU ambassador, said in an email on Tuesday that starting the procedure for removing Cambodia from the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme reflected the concerns in Brussels over the deterioration of human rights and basic freedoms. The formal withdrawal procedure for the Everything But Arms arrangement in relation to Cambodia has not yet launched. Preparations are being made for the formal decision by the European Commission that would launch the procedure, he wrote in an email. He added that once the decision is formally made, there will be a six-month period during which the EU will study the issue further, followed by a further six month decision-making process. Edgar declined to comment on the possible impact on the garment industry in Cambodia, which supports some 800,000 jobs in Cambodia and whose largest export market is the EU, with about 46 percent of Cambodian textile exports going to Europe. Garment exporters in Cambodia have appealed to the EU not to remove Cambodia from the scheme. The World Bank has warned that Cambodias economy will face increased risks if the EU presses ahead with Cambodias expulsion from the scheme. Moodys credit rating agency has estimated that the potential loss to the Cambodian economy from the cancellation of the EBA would negatively affect the countrys credit rating and would harm Cambodias competitiveness. Phay Siphan, government spokesman, said the countrys strong growth would counter the potential loss as a result of its removal from the EBA scheme. We are ready for the tax increase, he said. Wages are guaranteed by the law in Cambodia. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe On this Straight Talk Africa host Shaka Ssali explores the need for the existence of strong institutions in a lot of African countries. His guests are Mary Uwera Coordinator for Watch Democracy Grow the U.S. Chapter and Ambassador Omar Arouna, former Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to the United States. This week, Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren looks at the case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was jailed and sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Her acquittal last month sparked violence and protests in major Pakistani cities and renewed the debate over blasphemy laws around the world. Afghan authorities Thursday returned the body of a Pakistani policeman who disappeared in Islamabad about three weeks ago and was found dead in an Afghan border region, an unsolved killing that has worsened tensions between the uneasy neighbors. Pakistani authorities stopped short of blaming Afghanistan for orchestrating the abduction and slaying of senior police officer Tahir Dawar, who was based in Peshawar but had traveled to the Pakistani capital to visit his family. Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered an inquiry into the death. Suspected groups Authorities in Islamabad suspect that the Pakistani Taliban, which allegedly operates out of Afghan bases, was behind Dawar's kidnapping. But the militant group denied its involvement in a statement sent to reporters this week. Pakistani Deputy Interior Minister Shaharyar Afridi told lawmakers on Thursday that the slain officer, an ethnic Pashtun, was actively involved in anti-militancy operations and twice escaped suicide bombings aimed at assassinating him. He said investigators already had determined the route kidnappers used to transport Dawar to Afghanistan, and he vowed to pursue the killers. On Wednesday, the Afghan Foreign Ministry officially informed its Pakistani counterpart that villagers had found the officer's body and police service card in a border area of the volatile Afghan province of Nangarhar. Afghan authorities have said little about who could have been responsible for his death, and mainly discussed with their Pakistani counterparts the logistics of the handover of the body. Dawar's remains were returned to Pakistan on Thursday at the Torkham border crossing. Risk of inflaming tensions Dawar's death carries a risk of inflaming tensions in Pakistan, where Pashtun rights activists have held rallies condemning alleged extrajudicial killings of Pashtuns, accusing state agencies of abuses in the name of fighting a war against militancy and terrorism. Jamila Gilani, an organizer with the Pashtoon Tahaffuz Movement, said the group would launch protests in several cities over Dawar's death, accusing the Pakistani government of failing to protect its citizens. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said authorities had summoned the deputy Afghan ambassador and strongly protested "the inordinate delay and manner of return of the body." Faisal did not explain further, nor has the Afghan side offered any reaction to the Pakistani assertions. "It is hoped that Afghan authorities will offer full cooperation in ascertaining the circumstances under which a Pakistani police officer was found killed in Afghanistan," the spokesman said. Pakistan army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, condemned Dawar's killing. Ghafoor said the officer's abduction, his killing on Afghan territory and "follow-up behavior" of authorities of the neighboring country "raise questions which indicate involvement or resources more than a terrorist organization in Afghanistan." Pakistani officials frequently blame the National Directorate of Security for supporting fugitive anti-Pakistan militants. For its part, Kabul accuses the Pakistani spy agency, ISI, of sheltering members of the Afghan Taliban insurgency. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,600-kilometer, largely porous border, and each often accuses the other of sheltering militants conducting terrorist attacks. Umer Farooq contributed to this report. Millions of Brazilians may be left without access to doctors due to the end of a program that brought Cuban physicians to rural and dangerous areas in Brazil, the former health minister who helped create the initiative said Thursday. The Cuban government on Wednesday said it would end the program after Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said it could only continue if several conditions were met. Bolsonaro, a former army captain, campaigned in part on promises to take a hard line against left-leaning governments. As a congressman, the far-right leader often complained about the Cuban doctors' program and tried to end it. In a phone interview, former Health Minister Alexandre Padilha said the decision to pull out would leave millions of Brazilians without access to doctors. Padilha said Cuban doctors were in 2,800 cities and towns and they were the only doctors in 1,700 of those towns. Padilha said the initiative was launched in 2013 because local doctors could not be found for many positions. This will have an immediate and terrible impact on the health care system, said Padilha. Cuban doctors are in the most vulnerable areas. They are in the Amazon, rural towns and in slums. Brazil, which includes the largest portion of the Amazon basin, is a vast country, a little bit larger than the continental United States. Many areas, particularly in the Amazon and historically poor Northeast region, are sparsely populated and lacking basic infrastructure. After Cuba's announcement Wednesday, Bolsonaro made a blistering critique of the program. Frequently referring to the Cuban government as a dictatorship, he said the program was slave work because the Cuban government keeps 70 percent of doctors' salaries. He also said Brazil had no way to verify if the doctors were truly qualified. Neither Bolsonaro nor the Cuban government has said when the estimated 8,500 Cuban doctors currently in Brazil would be leaving. Bolsonaro said Cuban doctors who asked for asylum would get it, though he stopped short of saying Brazil would provide that to any Cuban who asked. Bolsonaro, who takes office Jan. 1, said he had signaled the program could only continue if doctors directly received their salaries from Brazil, were able to bring their families during their assignments and had their credentials verified. We have no proof that they are really doctors and able to take on these functions, Bolsonaro said. Padilha said the program, passed by Congress, already includes an evaluation of the doctors' credentials and language training; Brazil's national language is Portuguese and Cuba's is Spanish. The former health minister said the doctors were not only highly qualified, but specialists in rural medicine, something that Brazil's health system badly lacks. He said the salary structure was something the Cuban government had worked out with more than 60 countries that participate in the program, and not something specific to Brazil. Bolsonaro doesn't understand that a doctor doesn't just practice medicine for money, said Padilha. Doctors who work in the poorest areas are not just thinking about money. Former Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva left prison for the first time in seven months on Wednesday as he faced questioning over corruption and money laundering in relation to the wide-ranging "Car Wash" graft probe. A massive security operation was put in place in the southern city of Curitiba, where the 73-year-old has been held since April, as press and around 100 devoted supporters flocked to the federal court where he and 12 others were interrogated by Judge Gabriela Hardt. Lula was questioned over refurbishments to a farm believed to belong to him, paid for by major construction companies between 2010 and 2014 in exchange for big contracts with state oil giant Petrobras. The afternoon hearing, which was closed to media, lasted around three hours. The leftist icon, already serving a 12-year sentence for accepting a seaside apartment as a bribe during his 2003-10 presidency, was then returned to his cell. Lula's defense lawyers maintain he is innocent of all charges against him and have accused authorities of harassment. Experts don't expect a decision before the end of the year. A lawyer for one of his fellow accused said Lula looked well but thinner than before. Moral support His supporters are convinced he's done nothing wrong and have held a vigil outside the federal police jail where he has been held since he was detained. He was brought to and from the court in a convoy of black vehicles and without being seen. "We knew they wouldn't give Lula the pleasure of seeing us but we still encourage him so that he can feel our presence," said Susi Montserrate, who was among a group of supporters stationed close to the prison. Earlier in the day, 54-year-old history teacher Eduardo Coelho, who was dressed in a red top emblazoned with Lula's image, said: "Today is an important day, it's the first time that he has left his political imprisonment." "We hope to see him but the important thing is that he sees he's not alone." Roberto Baggio, coordinator for the Landless Farmworkers Movement (MST) in Parana state, told AFP on Tuesday that Lula would be able to "see how much gratitude the people are showing him." Lula is credited during his two terms as president with lifting millions of Brazilians out of poverty and the landless movement is a close ally to his Workers Party (PT). Hardt replaced Sergio Moro, the judge who jailed Lula and who has since been named justice minister by far-right president-elect Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro swept to victory in last month's election, helped in no small part by Lula being barred from running due to his incarceration. During a campaign meeting in October, Bolsonaro had said Lula "will rot in jail." Lula's lawyers have accused Moro of bias and demanded the leftist leader's release. "Lula is the victim of a judicial witch-hunt unleashed by an agent wearing a judge's gown... who sought to cancel his freedom and rights," said the lawyers. Before being questioned, Lula met with his lawyers and the man who replaced him as the PT candidate during last month's election, Fernando Haddad. In addition to the current court case, Lula faces four others for passive corruption, influence peddling, money laundering and forming a criminal organization. He insists he is innocent of all accusations and has denounced the charges as political persecution. British Prime Minister Theresa Mays already tough task of persuading parliament to approve an agreement on Britains exit from the European Union took a hit Thursday as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU, Raab said as he released a statement outlining his opposition to the agreement he helped negotiate. Raab specifically objected to a key provision setting up a customs union that would eliminate the need for a hard border between Britains Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland while Britain and the EU work on a new trade deal. He said not having a firm end date for such an arrangement would leave Britain without democratic control over laws governing its own territory, and would severely prejudice the future trade talks. The British pound dropped sharply in value against the U.S. dollar after Raabs resignation. Speaking Thursday in parliament, opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn called the draft agreement a huge and damaging failure. He said of Raabs resignation, What faith does that give anyone else in this place or in this country? May defends deal May defended the deal, telling lawmakers it would mean Britain would leave the European Union in a smooth and orderly way. It takes back control of our borders, law and money, it protects jobs, security and the integrity of the United Kingdom, and it delivers in ways that many said simply could not be done, she said. May must convince a majority in parliament to approve the agreement, but even before Raabs resignation there were many critics, in both the camp that favors Britain leaving the EU and among those who would rather Britain remain a member. She told parliament Thursday that failing to support the deal would only bring more uncertainty and division. Voting against the deal will bring us all back to square one, she said. Mays negotiation team has sought to keep Britain as close as possible to the EU when it leaves. The pro-Brexit side wants a cleaner break that would give Britain more autonomy over its policies, particularly regarding trade. Pro-EU lawmakers say the agreement puts Britain in a worse situation than existing policies. Annmarie Elijah, associate director for the Centre for European Studies at the Australian National University, told VOA the chance of parliamentary approval "does not look promising," and that the difficulties in the Brexit negotiations go all the way back to the 2016 referendum that set the process in motion. "When the vote actually took place there was very little detail put around what in fact Brexit would look like," Elijah said. "And I think were now all paying the price for that in the sense that it is very difficult to know exactly how you can unwind more than 40 years of economic integration across so many public policy sectors and do that in an orderly way." EU meeting Nov. 25 On the European Union side, there is much less drama in the proceedings. European Council President Donald Tusk said Thursday that EU leaders would meet November 25 to finalize the Brexit deal. He made the announcement after talks with EU Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier, and Tusk and praised what he said was a deal that limits the damage of Britain leaving the European Union while securing the interests of the remaining member states. "Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation, and that our negotiations are only about damage control," Tusk said. He laid out a basic timeline of how the European Union will progress toward the November 25 meeting, with EU ambassadors gathering in the coming days to assess the agreement and their government's back home evaluating it next week. Painless as possible Tusk said the summit to formalize the deal will go forward "if nothing extraordinary happens." "Let me say this to our British friends. As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us," he said. The uncertainty on the British side leaves several options for how the situation will play out in the coming months. If Britains parliament and EU members agree, then the terms negotiated by the two sides will govern their relations going forward. If the agreement fails the votes, there could be a so-called "No-deal Brexit," a potentially chaotic ending that would bring divorce without terms on matters such as trade and immigration. Other outcomes could oust May as prime minister or bring another referendum like the one in 2016. "When you strip away the detail, the choice before us is clear," May said after the Cabinet meeting. "This deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders; ends free movement; protects jobs, security and our union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all." British Prime Minister Theresa May is promising to fight for approval of the draft agreement for Britain to withdraw from the European Union, saying a rejection would put Britain on "a path of deep and grave uncertainty." May's already tough task of convincing parliament to approve the deal suffered a setback earlier Thursday when her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and pensions minister Esther McVey resigned. Their resignations came just more than 12 hours after May announced her Cabinet had agreed to terms of the deal, leaving her with the task of convincing a majority in parliament to approve the agreement. May told reporters she understood Raab's and McVey's unhappiness with her agreement, but said it was the "best deal for the United Kingdom." Raab specifically objected to a key provision setting up a customs union that would eliminate the need for a hard border between Britain's Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland while Britain and the EU work on a new trade deal. He said not having a firm end date for such an arrangement would leave Britain without democratic control over laws governing its territory, and would "severely prejudice" the future trade talks. McVey said in a letter that it is no good trying to pretend to (voters) that this deal honors the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesn't.'' May was dealt another blow when leading pro-Brexit lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg called for a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister. Rees-Mogg said outside Parliament the deal `is not Brexit'' because it would possibly leave Britain in a customs union with the EU for an indefinite period. Speaking Thursday in parliament, opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn called the draft agreement a huge and damaging failure. May defended the deal earlier, telling lawmakers it would mean Britain would leave the European Union in a smooth and orderly way and allow it to regain control of its borders, law and money, while protecting jobs and enhancing the security of the country. The British pound dropped sharply in value against the U.S. dollar after Raabs resignation. Victor Beattie contributed to this report. "There will be difficult days ahead," Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said on the steps of Downing Street when announcing she had secured the backing of her Cabinet for a contentious Brexit divorce agreement after an impassioned and at times angry five-hour meeting. Those words quickly turned out to be an understatement on Thursday. Shortly after she spoke, her Brexit minister, Dominic Raab, who helped draft the agreement, resigned in protest, saying he could not in "good conscience" support the terms of a deal that hardline Brexiteers argue places Britain in a subordinate relationship with the European Union, one the country wouldn't be able to quit without Brussels' consent. A junior minister preceded Raab's departure and three ministers followed as furious Brexiteers plotted openly to oust May as Conservative leader, delivering serious blows to her authority. Now, the future of a deal that's taken more than a year to negotiate and the fate of the Conservative government itself are in doubt. Questions also are being raised about calling a snap general election, which could see a Labor win, or holding a second Brexit referendum that could overturn the original vote to leave the EU. Another possibility is that with the clock ticking toward a formal departure from the EU in March 2019, Britain may end up crashing out of the bloc without any exit deal, an outcome analysts and business leaders say would roil the economy. Facing the House of Commons on Thursday, May came under sharp attacks from opposition lawmakers and from her own ranks, who claim the deal amounts to a "treaty of submission." May had hoped to rally the different factions in her warring party and a divided country around the deal; but, the bid appears to have failed. Remaining characteristically stoic, May faced some of the most hostile House of Commons questioning a prime minister has faced since 1940 from his or her party. At times during three hours of questioning, there were cries of "rubbish." One lawmaker by profession a psychologist accused May of being "in denial." She maintained that the agreement is the best deal Britain can get. The draft EU deal would see Britain remain in a customs union for several years with the European Union after it exits the bloc in March, but with an unclear legal path to quitting the customs arrangement while a fuller, but so far ill-defined, trade deal is negotiated. May told a packed House of Commons, which alternately was somber and uproarious, that she was acting in the national interest and the "draft treaty will ensure we leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way." Her remark drew laughter and jeers. "I don't pretend this has been a comfortable process or that either we or the EU are entirely happy with all of the arrangements that have been included," she said. "Voting against the deal would take us back to square one and it would mean more uncertainty and more division, and the failure to deliver on the decision of the British people that we should leave the EU." May also said, "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, or risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated." Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, said May was offering a "false choice between no deal and this deal," which he said "represents a huge and damaging failure." He added, "After two years of bungled negotiations, the government has produced a botched deal" which "does not have the backing of parliament or the country as a whole." The leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, Ian Blackford, said May "looks desperate and defeated" and is "trying to sell a deal that is dead in the water." The beleaguered prime minister, however, appears determined to move forward. Several Euro-skeptic Conservative lawmakers were reported to have submitted letters to party authorities in parliament demanding a confidence vote on her leadership, saying it was time to change the leader. Forty-eight letters would trigger a vote automatically. The largely Protestant Northern Ireland party that May's minority government relies on to stay in office has said it will vote against the draft Brexit agreement when it formally comes before parliament next month. Few analysts believe May will have sufficient votes to get the agreement approved. EU summit As the political drama played out Thursday in London, the European Commission said EU leaders will meet November 25 for a summit to rubber stamp the withdrawal agreement. Officials in Brussels acknowledged the plan could go awry depending on events in London. They said British negotiators would get a frosty reception if they return looking for major amendments to the proposed deal, arguing several EU national governments believe too much was given away to Britain already. Exhibiting her trademark resilience Wednesday, Prime Minister May indirectly rebuffed calls by hardline Brexiteers in her party to step aside and make way for a new party and British leader. In a news conference at Downing Street, she said, "I believe with every fiber of my being that the course I have set is right." Asked if she would fight off a leadership challenge, she said, "Yes," adding that leadership is about making the right decisions, not the easy ones. She said, "This is a Brexit that delivers on the priorities of the British people." It isn't clear that Britons feel she is doing so. In a poll Thursday for Sky News, more than half of those surveyed say they favor Britain remaining in the EU, with 32 percent saying they wanted to leave without an agreement and 14 percent backing May's deal. Fifty-five percent of those polled want another referendum. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis' hold on power appeared weaker Thursday evening as thousands of protesters demanded his resignation in Prague's main square, while his coalition partners debated whether to quit the government. The pressure against him followed a media report in which Babis' son said his father had wanted him to go into hiding to impede a criminal investigation into Babis and two of his children on suspicion they illegally tapped a 2 million euro ($2.27 million) EU subsidy a decade ago. The opposition reacted by calling a parliamentary no-confidence vote. The house speaker said Thursday the vote, whose outcome appears uncertain, would likely take place on Nov. 23. Babis, a billionaire businessman and the EU and NATO member country's most popular politician, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the report, published by news website Seznam.cz, as part of a media campaign against him. In Prague's Wenceslas Square, several thousand chanted "resignation" and "shame." Some waved Czech and EU flags and carried slogans including "Down with Babis." The center-left Social Democrats, a coalition partner of Babis' ANO party in the minority administration, have been considering "all options" regarding further action, party leader Jan Hamacek said. "The situation is serious, the information is substantial, and we have to examine the most responsible approach," Hamacek told Czech Television. If the government loses the vote, it must resign. A new prime minister would be appointed by the pro-Chinese and pro-Russian President Milos Zeman. Babis may, however, look for support elsewhere to survive as prime minister. The far-right opposition SPD, an anti-EU and anti-NATO party, has indicated it may be willing to back a Babis-led cabinet without Social Democrat ministers if it changes some of its policies. The chance that Babis might possibly retain his job even if the Social Democrats pulled out has led some of the party's lawmakers to lean toward staying in government, a party source told Reuters. Babis' son Andrej told Seznam.cz reporters who tracked him to his current home in Switzerland that his father had wanted him to hide last year when police brought charges in the subsidy case. In videoed comments, Babis junior, who has been treated for mental illness, said that a man who had been looking after him took him from the Czech Republic and held him against his will in Russian-annexed Crimea, but said he believed it was not his father's idea. Police said on Tuesday they had investigated that allegation and concluded there was no suspicion of a crime. Babis said his son traveled to Crimea voluntarily. He said the son, who has Swiss citizenship, had been treated for schizophrenia since 2015. The man who had been taking care of the son also denied wrongdoing. Chinas state-run Xinhua News has debuted what it called the worlds first artificial intelligence (AI) anchor. But the novelty has generated more dislikes than likes online among Chinese netizens, with many calling the new virtual host a news-reading device without a soul. Analysts say the latest creation has showcased Chinas short-term progress in voice recognition, text mining and semantic analysis, but challenges remain ahead for its long-term ambition of becoming an AI superpower by 2030. Nonhuman anchors Collaborating with Chinese search engine Sogou, Xinhua introduced two AI anchors, one for English broadcasts and the other for Chinese, both of which are based on images of the agencys real newscasters, Zhang Zhao and Qiu Hao respectively. In its inaugural broadcast last week, the English-speaking anchor was more tech cheerleader than newshound, rattling off lines few anchors would be caught dead reading, such as: the development of the media industry calls for continuous innovation and deep integration with the international advanced technologies. It also promised to work tirelessly to keep you [audience] informed as texts will be typed into my system uninterrupted 24/7 across multiple platforms simultaneously if necessary, according to the news agency. No soul Local audiences appear to be unimpressed, critiquing the news bots not so human touch and synthesized voices. On Weibo, Chinas Twitterlike microblogging platform, more than one user wrote that such anchors have no soul, in response to Xinhuas announcement. And one user joked: what if we have an AI [country] leader? while another questioned what it stands for in terms of journalistic values by saying What a nutcase. Fake news is on every day. Others pondered the implication AI news bots might have on employment and workers. It all comes down to production costs, which will determine if [we] lose jobs, one Weibo user wrote. Some argued that only low-end labor-intensive jobs will be easily replaced by intelligent robots while others gloated about the possibility of employers utilizing an army of low-cost robots to make a fortune. A simple use case Industry experts said the digital anchor system is based on images of real people and possibly animated parts of their mouths and faces, with machine-learning technology recreating humanlike speech patterns and facial movements. It then uses a synthesized voice for the delivery of the news broadcast. The creation showcases Chinas progress in voice recognition, text mining and semantic analysis, all of which is covered by natural language processing, according to Liu Chien-chih, secretary-general of Asia IoT Alliance (AIOTA). But thats just one of many aspects of AI technologies, he wrote in an email to VOA. Given the pace of experimental AI adoption by Chinese businesses, more user scenarios or designs of user interface can be anticipated in China, Liu added. Chris Dong, director of China research at the market intelligence firm IDC, agreed the digital anchor is as simple as what he calls a use case for AI-powered services to attract commercials and audiences. He said, in an email to VOA, that China has fast-tracked its big data advantage around consumers or internet of things (IoT) infrastructure to add commercial value. Artificial Intelligence has also allowed China to accelerate its digital transformation across various industries or value chains, which are made smarter and more efficient, Dong added. Far from a threat to the US But both said China is far from a threat to challenge U.S. leadership on AI given its lack of an open market and respect for intellectual property rights (IPRs) as well as its lagging innovative competency on core AI technologies. Earlier, Lee Kai-fu, a well-known venture capitalist who led Google before it pulled out of China, was quoted by news website Tech Crunch as saying that the United States may have created Artificial Intelligence, but China is taking the ball and running with it when it comes to one of the worlds most pivotal technology innovations. Lee summed up four major drivers behind his observation that China is beating the United States in AI: abundant data, hungry entrepreneurs, growing AI expertise and massive government support and funding. Beijing has set a goal to become an AI superpower by 2030, and to turn the sector into a $150 billion industry. Yet, IDCs Dong cast doubts on AIs adoption rate and effectiveness in Chinas traditional sectors. Some, such as the manufacturing sector, is worsening, he said. He said Chinas state capitalism may have its short-term efficiency and gain, but over the longer-term, it is the open market that is fundamental to building an effective innovation ecosystem. The analyst urges China to open up and include multinational software and services to contribute to its digital economic transformation. Chinas Made-in-China 2025 should go back to the original flavor no longer Made and Controlled by Chinese, but more [of] an Open Platform of Made-in-China that both local and foreign players have a level-playing field, he said. In addition to a significant gap in core technologies, Chinas failure to uphold IPRs will go against its future development of AI software, which is often sold many-fold in the U.S. than in China as the Chinese tend to think intangible assets are free, AIOTAs Liu said. One year after nearly one million Rohingya Muslims were forcibly evicted from Myanmar, VOA contributor Greta Van Susteren and a camera crew went behind the walls of the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh to hear their stories of murder and rape. Although safe in Bangladesh, she found them depressed, isolated, prevented from attending school or working, and a target for violent extremists and human traffickers. As the Bangladesh monsoon season hit, the crew encountered potentially disastrous landslides and an infrastructure struggling to keep up with the need for food, supplies, and medicines. But they also found stories of hope, as well. Pay three pesos, or 25 cents, and pass through the turnstile. That is what it takes to get on the El Paso del Norte Bridge between Mexico and the U.S. Hundreds of migrants had been waiting here for a chance to request asylum. "This process is very hard. It's been very cold. Then the sun is too strong. We don't have shade or a way to protect ourselves. But we are here. Life is hard, but we continue to move forward," Vilma Mendez Morales told VOA in Spanish last week. Morales, 24, is one of about 200 people waiting on the bridge who are just part of the usual flow of migrants, hoping to get into the U.S. They did not belong to the much-anticipated caravan of migrants working their way north through Mexico that was targeted by President Donald Trump during the recent midterm election campaign. Morales, traveling with her 1-year-old son, was waiting for almost a week on the bridge. "We left Guatemala for a lot of reasons. We want to move forward. Fight for a better life and give my son a better life. I hope God touches the president's [Trump's] heart to give us an opportunity," she said. For shelter, the migrants had only makeshift tents of donated blankets, so on Tuesday, as temperatures fell to freezing, Mexican officials moved them to a local shelter. The Mexican Red Cross, which has been assisting the migrants, gave each person a number so they could keep their place in line. Caravan coming Halfway across the bridge, two U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) field operation officers checked people's documents. Those hoping for asylum must wait due to space issues in the processing area, CBP officials said. Eddy Gonzalez, who had been waiting on the bridge and observing, said "It's a good day" when they take 20 to 30 people into the processing center. From Cuba, Gonzalez had been traveling for three years with a two-year layover in Ecuador to make some money. Both he and Morales knew that Trump had signed an order suspending the granting of asylum to migrants who crossed the U.S. border with Mexico illegally. The move came in advance of the migrant caravan from Central American countries. Several hundred of those migrants have already arrived at Tijuana, a Mexican border city. The United Nations estimates the rest, numbering in the thousands, will arrive in about a week. In advance, the U.S. government is reported to be "hardening" the port of entry at Tijuana, and the number of U.S. troops stationed at the border may be increased from the current 7,900, U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said Wednesday. Rights groups have rushed to court to block the new asylum policy, which they say defies U.S. law. "Under U.S. law, anyone arriving at port of entry or crossing in between a port of entry is eligible to apply for asylum if they have a fear to return to their home country," said Shaw Drake, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union's Border Rights Center in El Paso. But U.S. Department of Justice Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said in a statement that migrants who "contravene a presidential suspension or limitation on entry into the United States through the southern border with Mexico issued under section 212(f) or 215(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) will be rendered ineligible for asylum." In a joint statement with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Whitaker said the president's proclamation is "consistent with our immigration laws, the president has the broad authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens into the United States if he determines it to be in the national interest to do so." DHS also released a "Myth vs. Fact" press release with questions and answers about asylum law and the president's proclamation. There are two kinds of asylum: affirmative and defensive. An immigrant may claim affirmative asylum within one year of their last arrival in the United States. An immigrant may request defensive asylum while fighting an order of deportation. Current policy is to detain asylum-seekers, often when they arrive at a port of entry or if they are detained between entries. Waiting while their cases go through the courts can mean spending months in a detention center. But to be eligible to present their cases to immigration officials, applicants must be physically present in the U.S. Detention and release Gonzalez will almost certainly be put in detention once he crosses the border and makes his asylum claim. "Many of those people in that process will be detained indefinitely, especially single men and single women in a detention facility and go through that [asylum] process while in detention," Drake said. To Gonzalez, it is a small price to pay. "If I have been almost three years away from my country, six days sleeping here on the floor, what's three months detained in a prison? That's nothing. In the end, it's worth it. I'm going to be free," he said. Families with children are not detained indefinitely because U.S. law prohibits children from being held for more than 20 days. When immigrants are paroled, they are released into the community. In El Paso, VOA observed a busload of immigrant families being dropped at a local shelter where migrants can get in touch with family members and receive guidance about the next steps in their asylum cases. "They do have to wear an ankle bracelet, like a monitor. They have to provide an address and a phone number of a relative or a friend who they're going to be staying with," Illiana Holguim, an immigration attorney at El Paso, told VOA. The releases do nothing to reassure those who are concerned about border security. "Are they legal or not? That is what needs to be fixed," said Bob Pena, El Paso resident and volunteer at the El Paso County Republican Party. "We need to seal this border somehow or another; that has to be done," he said. "I know that the wall is an ugly image. Are we concerned about an image or are we so concerned about solving a problem? We need to solve this problem. We need to have controlled system of where people are working here." Former Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski sought asylum at a Hungarian representation outside Macedonia before reaching Hungary earlier this week and submitting his formal application for refugee status, Budapest said on Thursday. Gruevski, who resigned in 2016 after 10 years in power, fled his Balkan homeland six months after being sentenced to two years in prison on corruption-related charges. Macedonian police issued an arrest warrant for him after he failed to show up to begin his sentence following a Nov. 9 court ruling against his motion for a reprieve. Gruevski's refugee status application could put Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a tight spot. He supported the fellow nationalist Gruevski in the run-up to Macedonia's 2017 election and praised his party's efforts in halting migrants passing through the Balkans northwards towards Western Europe. A senior Hungarian official declined to say in which country Gruevski had first sought Hungarian asylum or how he later made his way to the Immigration and Asylum Office in Budapest where he submitted documents and secured a hearing. "According to my knowledge he made a statement regarding threats to his safety ... that justified that his hearing should be conducted not in a transit zone but in Budapest," said Gergely Gulyas, Orban's cabinet chief. Speaking to reporters, Gulyas would not say whether the Hungarian government was involved in helping Gruevski get to Budapest or whether he arrived by land or air. He said Hungary played no role in Gruevski's exit from Macedonia. Police in Albania, which borders Macedonia, said later on Thursday that Gruevski had crossed Albanian territory into Montenegro to the north on Sunday evening as a passenger in an Hungarian embassy car. It was unclear whether Gruevski then transited Serbia to reach Hungary further north. Albanian police said Interpol notified them of an arrest warrant for Gruevski only on Tuesday, when the ex-premier announced on his Facebook page that he was in Budapest and seeking asylum. Gulyas said Budapest had not yet received an official request from Macedonia to extradite Gruevski, adding Hungary would act "in line with the laws" if that happens. He said there was an extradition agreement between the two countries. Asked if Gruevski was being protected by Hungarian authorities, Gulyas said Budapest had applied "the appropriate security protocol", and was assured he would not leave the country. Gruevski had not met Orban this week, he added. On Wednesday, a Fidesz party spokesman said Gruevski was a politician who was being persecuted by Macedonia's leftist government. Gulyas declined to comment on this. The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday launched the agency's first high-band 5G spectrum auction as it works to clear space for next-generation faster networks. Bidding began Wednesday on spectrum in the 28 GHz band and will be followed by bidding for spectrum in the 24 GHz band. The FCC is making 1.55 gigahertz of spectrum available and the auctions will be followed by a 2019 auction of three more millimeter-wave spectrum bands 37 GHz, 39 GHz and 47 GHz. "These airwaves will be critical in deploying 5G services and applications," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday. 5G networks are expected to be at least 100 times faster than current 4G networks and cut latency, or delays, to less than one-thousandth of a second from one-hundredth of a second in 4G. They also will allow for innovations in a number of different fields. While millimeter-wave spectrum offers faster speeds, it cannot cover big geographic areas and will require significant new small cell infrastructure deployments. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the spectrum being auctioned would allow for "faster broadband to autonomous cars, from smart [agriculture] to telehealth." The spectrum being auctioned over the next 15 months "is more spectrum than is currently used for terrestrial mobile broadband by all wireless service providers combined," the FCC said. Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the United States was following "the lead of South Korea, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Australia. But we put ourselves back in the running for next-generation wireless leadership," and she called on the FCC to clearly state the timing for future spectrum auctions. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Commerce Department to develop a long-term comprehensive national spectrum strategy to prepare for the introduction of 5G. Trump is also creating a White House Spectrum Strategy Task Force and wants federal agencies to report on government spectrum needs and review how spectrum can be shared with private sector users. AT&T, Verizon Communications, Sprint and T-Mobile U.S. are working to acquire spectrum and are developing and testing 5G networks. The first 5G-compatible commercial cellphones are expected to go on sale next year. Human rights groups are warning of a pending humanitarian crisis as Bangladesh makes final preparations to begin sending Rohingya Muslim refugees back to Myanmar, where they had been subjected to extrajudicial killings and other atrocities. As VOA's Bill Gallo reports, the move comes as the United States pressures Myanmar to resolve the crisis. A U.S. federal judge has delayed until Friday a decision on whether the White House must, at least temporarily, allow CNN correspondent Jim Acosta back on the premises to do his job. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly has rescheduled a hearing for the case at 10am local time Friday. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) filed a brief Thursday in support of CNN's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order in the matter of CNN vs. Donald J. Trump, according to Olivier Knox, WHCA president. He said at Wednesday's hearing on CNN's motion, the Justice Department argued that the president has unbridled authority to pick and choose for any reason those journalists who might cover him. The WHCA brief highlight the danger posed to all journalists, and to the American public, if the President's claim is permitted to stand, Knox said. CNN lawyer Ted Boutrous told Kelly on Wednesday there were much more tailored ways for the White House to deal with Acosta, such as not calling on him at briefings. Knowing President Trump, hell probably call on Jim Acosta the first day he gets his press pass back, added the attorney. Government attorneys contend Acosta's conduct prevented the White House from conducting an orderly news conference. "A single journalist's attempt to monopolize a press conference is not a viewpoint," argued Deputy Assistant Attorney General James Burnham, who told the judge that the suspension of Acosta's credentials did not cause the journalist immediate and irreparable harm which would necessitate a temporary restraining order. "As for CNN, I don't think there's any harm at all," said Burnham, noting the network has 50 other journalists with White House passes. The hearing on the temporary restraining order was the first in the lawsuit filed by the news network against President Donald Trump after the White House suspended the credentials of CNN's chief White House correspondent. "The President and White House possess the same broad discretion to regulate access to the White House for journalists [and other members of the public] that they possess to select which journalists receive interviews, or which journalists they acknowledge at press conferences," the Justice Department, on behalf of the White House, argued in a filing earlier Wednesday. Asked by the conservative Daily Caller website whether he expected to prevail in the lawsuit, Trump replied: "We'll see how the court rules. Is it freedom of the press when somebody comes in and starts screaming questions and won't sit down?" Several major news organizations, including Fox News which is generally viewed as supportive of the Trump administration have thrown their weight behind CNN's legal effort. "Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized," FOX News president Jay Wallace said in a statement. "While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people." A coalition of news organizations, including the Associated Press, Bloomberg, CBS News, NBC News, and newspapers the New York Times and USA Today, also announced they are filing "friend-of-the-court" briefs, known as amicus curiae, supporting CNN's lawsuit against the White House. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has dismissed the lawsuit as "more grandstanding from CNN," saying the administration stands by its decision to revoke Jim Acosta's credentials. "After Mr. Acosta asked the President two questions each of which the President answered he physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions. This was not the first time this reporter has inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters," Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. The Trump administration last week suspended Acosta's "hard pass," which granted him access to the White House. The suspension came after the reporter challenged Trump's portrayal of a caravan of Central American migrants as an "invasion." White House officials also accused Acosta of "placing his hands" on a White House press aide who had tried to take the microphone from him during the interaction. Video showed that Acosta was not aggressive with the aide. The press secretary's statement on Tuesday, however, made no reference to the previous White House accusation that Acosta had placed his hands on the young woman. A number of legal scholars predict, based on previous rulings, that CNN is likely to prevail but they note the lawsuit is unique in targeting a serving president and White House staff. "If you're going to discriminate based on the content or the viewpoint of their questions or what they write, the courts are really unanimous on that point you can't do it He [the president] just can't do it." said Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, of the argument made by the government in its filing. "The court could bypass that question entirely and just say there's procedure here you needed to follow, and you didn't follow it," Kirtley told VOA. "The case is certainly unusual, but it isn't unprecedented," said Sonja West, distinguished professor of First Amendment law at the University of Georgia, noting a decades-old federal appellate court ruling that the White House could not exclude a reporter based on content. "They are trying to argue that the revocation of the pass wasn't based on Acosta's coverage, but there is a long history here of President Trump expressing hostility toward Acosta and CNN," West said. A day after ousting the prime minister in a no-confidence vote, Sri Lankas parliament descended into violence when rival lawmakers exchanged blows. Parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya declared Thursday that Sri Lanka had no prime minister or a Cabinet after Wednesdays voice vote that removed Mahinda Rajapaksa from office. Jayasuriya held the voice vote after Rajapaksas supporters staged a noisy protest just before debate began over the motion. Rajapaksa denounced the speakers move in his first speech after his ouster and urged lawmakers to support legislation calling for a general election. His supporters then rushed onto the chamber floor and began brawling with lawmakers of the opposing party, and some began hurling water bottles and other projectiles at Jayasuriya. The crisis began Oct. 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, claiming that an informant told police that a Cabinet minister was part of a plot to assassinate him. He replaced Wickremesinghe with Rajapaksa, the countrys former president and strongman, then suspended parliament the next day. In an apparent bow to international pressure, Sirisena summoned lawmakers back to work last Monday. But when it became apparent that Rajapaksa would not survive the no-confidence vote, Sirisena dissolved parliament and called for snap elections. The Supreme Court overruled the presidents decree in a ruling issued Tuesday. Rajapaksa is considered a hero by many of Sri Lankas Buddhist majority for ending the decades-long uprising launched by minority Tamil rebels. But he has also been accused of several human rights violations during his tenure. With time running out, Florida's election recount drama lurched forward Wednesday amid a maelstrom of courtroom arguments, broken machines, allegations of irregularities and President Donald Trump's ongoing criticism. Many counties have wrapped up their machine recount ahead of a Thursday deadline to complete reviews of the U.S. Senate and governor races, but larger Democratic strongholds are still racing to meet the deadline. Republican Gov. Rick Scott agreed to step down from the state panel responsible for certifying the final results. Scott is locked in a tight race with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and has already suggested fraud may be taking place in some counties. Critics have said Scott should have no role in overseeing the election given his close contest. Trump, who has already lashed out over the recount, added to the growing partisan firestorm by arguing without evidence that some people unlawfully participated in the election by dressing in disguise. When people get in line that have absolutely no right to vote and they go around in circles, Trump said in an interview with The Daily Caller published Wednesday. Sometimes they go to their car, put on a different hat, put on a different shirt, come in and vote again. The state elections department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, both run by Republican appointees, have said they haven't seen any evidence of voter fraud of this sort. Adding to the fray, however, a top attorney at the Florida Department of State sent a letter last week asking federal prosecutors to investigate whether Democrats distributed false information that could have resulted in voters having mail-in ballots disqualified. Four county supervisors turned over information that showed Democratic Party operatives changed official forms to say that voters had until two days after the election to fix any problems with mail-in ballot signatures. Under current law, a voter has until the day before Election Day to fix a problem. Meanwhile, problems continue to arise in Palm Beach County, where tallying machines have overheated. That's caused mismatched results with the recount of 174,000 early voting ballots, forcing workers to go back and redo their work with no time to spare. The machines are old, said Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher, who said they underwent maintenance right before the election. I don't think they were designed to work 24/7 kind of like running an old car from here to L.A. And so, you know, things happen to them. Right now, Palm Beach County looks like it could miss the Thursday deadline, even though Nelson and Democrats filed lawsuits seeking to suspend it. Lawyers for Democrats also asked a federal judge Wednesday to set aside the state law mandating that mailed-in votes be thrown out if the signature on the envelope doesn't match the signature on file. No less than six federal lawsuits have been filed so far in Tallahassee. Nelson's campaign has also filed a lawsuit seeking public records from a north Florida elections supervisor who allowed voters in GOP-heavy Bay County to email their ballots in apparent violation of state law. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, citing a well-known Star Trek episode, said during a hearing Wednesday that I feel a little bit like Captain Kirk in the episode with the Tribbles where they start to multiply. The developments are fueling frustrations among Democrats and Republicans as the recount unfolds more than a week after Election Day. Democrats have urged state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every vote is counted. Republicans, including Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. The Republican candidates for governor and Senate, Ron DeSantis and Scott, hold the narrowest of leads over their Democratic counterparts, Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson. Scott was in Washington, D.C., while the court battles rage on. He stood at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's left shoulder Wednesday when the Kentucky Republican welcomed GOP senators who will take their seats in January when the new Congress is sworn in. During the brief photo-op in McConnell's Capitol office, Scott did not reply to a question about whether he contends there was fraud in the election. State law requires a machine recount in races where the margin is less than 0.5 percentage points. In the Senate race, Scott's lead over Nelson was 0.14 percentage points. In the governor's contest, unofficial results showed DeSantis ahead of Gillum by 0.41 percentage points. Once the machine recount is complete, a hand recount will be ordered in any race where the difference is 0.25 percentage points or less, meaning it could take even longer to complete the review of the Senate race if the difference remains narrow. If the Senate race does go to a hand recount, the deadline for counties to finish is Sunday. The lawsuit, however, that could significantly alter the final vote count is the one asking Judge Walker to allow votes to be counted if the signatures on the ballot and initial registration form don't match. Lawyers for Democrats are including in the evidence testimony from former Florida U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. As the vote counts tightened last week, Murphy checked the Palm Beach County elections website and saw his mail-in vote was scrapped because of an invalid signature. That's crazy. It shows how broken our system is, Murphy said, adding In a state like Florida that has a history of really close elections ... where it's really a coin toss of a state, these kind of errors and mishaps,'' are troubling. As votes are still being counted more than a week after midterm elections for the U.S. House and Senate, the bitter recount in Florida has captured the nation's attention. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes, the Associated Press reported. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker early Thursday gave voters until Saturday afternoon to correct their ballots if they weren't counted because of mismatched signatures. The race for governor remains undecided, as is the key Senate race, in which Republican Gov. Rick Scott clings to a 12,500-vote lead over incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Mismatched signatures have surfaced as a particularly contentious issue during the local recounts in Florida, with Scott and Nelson having filed competing lawsuits on various aspects of the vote counting. But the state agency overseeing elections has rejected claims of fraud by Scott and President Donald Trump. Florida officials testified in court that nearly 4,000 ballots had already been rejected by local elections officials because the signatures that were mailed in didn't match the signature on file. The new deadline would apply to those ballots, many of which were likely cast by Democratic voters, particularly young ones. One of the disqualified ballots was cast by former Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy. He discovered last Saturday that his mail-in vote was scrapped because of an invalid signature, when he checked the Palm Beach County elections website. "In a state like Florida that has a history of really close elections ... where it's really a coin toss of a state, these kind of errors and mishaps, are troubling" he said. A lawsuit filed Friday by Nelson's campaign cites a study from University of Florida political science professor Daniel A. Smith. The study concluded that "in Florida, younger voters, as well as racial and ethnic minorities, are disproportionately more likely to not have their VBM (vote by mail) ballot counted as valid." A study conducted before the elections by the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida discovered mail-in ballots from young voters were more likely to be dismissed, partially because they haven't written by hand enough to develop a consistent signature. Only about 10 states still have cursive writing requirements in their curriculum guides. Florida added cursive writing to third, fourth and fifth grade curriculums in 2014. Gains outside of Florida Democrats, meanwhile, continue to gain seats in the House of Representatives, after taking back the lower chamber last week for the first time in eight years. Democrats now have a 230 to 198 edge, with seven races still undecided. Jared Golden was declared the winner Thursday of a race in Maine against incumbent Republican Representative Bruce Poliquin. That contest represented the first test of a new state ranked-choice voting system, designed to prevent candidates in races featuring at least three contenders from winning office without majority support. Golden is a Marine veteran who campaigned on progressive policies such as Medicare for everyone. Former venture capitalist Josh Harder was declared the winner Wednesday over four-term Republican Jeff Denham in a tight race in California's 10th Congressional District. Political novice Andy Kim was declared the winner Wednesday from the 3rd Congressional District in New Jersey, defeating incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur. The former national security aide in the Obama White House is of Korean heritage and will be New Jersey's first Asian-American congressman. The day after the election, Trump boasted that "It was a big day yesterday. The Republican Party defied history to expand our Senate majority while significantly beating expectations in the House." "It was very close to a complete victory," he trumpeted. As results rolled in on election night, it appeared Republicans might add three or four seats to their current 51-49 Senate majority. But a Republican lead for a contest in the southwestern state of Arizona collapsed, giving Democrat Kyrsten Sinema a seat that been held by Republicans for 30 years. With Senate races in Florida and Mississippi yet to be decided, Republicans at most will add two seats to their majority. Incoming House Democratic leaders have vowed to immediately investigate the relationship between Trump's businesses and the federal government. They want to examine his tax returns that he has refused to release, and plan to call on Trump officials to justify government policies they have adopted in the last two years of the administration. While they have been in control of both chambers of Congress, Republican lawmakers rarely held hearings on Trump policies that presented the possibility of embarrassing the Republican president and his administration. Trump is calling the nascent Democratic investigations "presidential harassment," and said the prospective probes have given a headache to national stock exchanges this week, leading to stock price losses. A brother of the late Burkina Faso President Thomas Sankara says the family has come one step closer to getting justice for Sankaras death during a 1987 military coup led former President Blaise Compaore. On Monday, the new Burkina Faso government issued an international arrest warrant for former president Compaore for his alleged role in the killing of Sankara. Compaore fled into exile earlier this year after he was overthrown by a popular uprising and is believed to be living either in Morocco or Ivory Coast. Earlier this month, authorities also brought charges against General Gilbert Diendere, a former Compaore chief of staff, for his suspected role in the death of Sankara. Paul Sankara, the younger brother of Thomas Sankara, said he hopes the government of Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara will extradite Compaore if he is in the country. The Sankara family has accused late Ivory Coast President Felix Houphouet Boigny of complicity in the overthrow and assassination of Thomas Sankara. Its the question of the future of the two countries. The best diplomatic approach of the government of Ivory Coast should be to may be have a negotiations in order to keep the good relationship between the two countries. Im pretty sure that the government of Ivory Coast, for the sake of the historical relationship between the people of Ivory Coast and the people of Burkina Faso, the government in the Ivory Coast, the government of Ivory Coast will have a positive reaction will have a positive reaction to the request to send Blaise Compaore back to Burkina Faso, he said Sankara hopes Burkina Fasos new President Roch Marc Christian Kabore will continue to fight for justice. Otherwise, Sankara said the Burkinabe people whose agitation brought him to power will return to the streets to protest. I will say that the new elected government were part of the 27 years regime of Blaise Compaore. At the same time, they have something more powerful than what Blaise Compaore may represent, which the people of Burkina Faso. The people of Burkina Faso, especially the youth and civil society will work until they get the truth and justice for Thomas Sankara, Sankara said. He added that the Sanakara family is pleased that after requests for probes into the death of Thomas Sankara were ignored during the time Compaore was in power, the transitional government that followed him has been working to investigate the killing. Also on Monday, the Sanakara family said a police lab determined that the state of the remains of Sankara made it impossible to detect any DNA. Sankaras body and those of 12 former aides were exhumed in October for an autopsy to determine how they died. It had been hoped that DNA tests could confirm that the remains were indeed those of Sankara, whose death certificate stated that he died of "natural causes." Ethiopias former deputy intelligence chief has been arrested, Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye said Thursday, in the latest move targeting security officials for human rights abuses and corruption. Former deputy of NISS and Federal Police Commission Commissioner General Yared Zerihun has been apprehended by police, Berhanu Tsegaye said Twitter early Thursday. He did not disclose any details, but the arrest followed that of dozens of security officials on charges of human rights abuse and corruption. On Monday, the wife of Yared Zerihun was also arrested. Sources told Reuters that she was trying to hide him. Yared was moved from that role to head the federal police in April but resigned three months later. Series of arrests On Tuesday, Ethiopia arrested the former head of a military-run industrial conglomerate and flew him in handcuffs to the capital, a day after authorities announced investigations targeting senior members of the security forces. Kinfe Dagnew, a brigadier general in Ethiopias army and former chief executive of METEC, was taken into custody close to the border with Sudan and Eritrea. Kinfe is expected in court Thursday, after appearing there briefly Wednesday and requesting a lawyer. On Monday, Berhanu said investigations had uncovered corruption at METEC (Metal and Engineering Corporation), which makes military equipment and is involved in sectors from agriculture to construction. Promised reforms Kinfe and Yareds arrests are the most high-profile since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in April promising to rein in the security services and tackle what he called economic mismanagement, corruption and rights abuses. He has pushed through reforms that have upended decades-old policies and hierarchies in east Africas economic powerhouse, including moves to let private investors have stakes in the huge conglomerates run by the army and other state bodies. In August, Ethiopia removed METEC from the $4 billion Grand Renaissance Dam project on the River Nile because of numerous delays in completing the project. Unknown assailants threw gasoline bombs at a historic 18th century Orthodox church in the Ukrainian capital and attacked a priest early on Thursday morning, a church spokesman said, blaming Moscow for the incident. The attack comes amid rising tensions between Kyiv and Moscow over Ukraine's decision to create a new national independent church and severing centuries-old ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. The petrol gasoline bombs did not explode and no damage was done to St. Andrew's church, a baroque mid-18th century church which sits on a steep slope on one of Kyiv's best-known tourist spots. The church spokesman, Archbishop Yevstraty, said the attackers, who police said numbered four, used a spray against a priest. The Kyiv authorities handed over the use of St. Andrew's to the Ecumenical Patriarch, the global spiritual leader of Orthodox Christianity who sits in Istanbul, while courting the patriarch's support for Ukrainian church independence. "We see that Moscow's henchmen are dropping "clear hints" to intimidate representatives of Ecumenical Patriarch," Yevstraty said. Ukraine in October secured approval to set up an independent church from the Ecumenical Patriarch, a move fiercely opposed by the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin. Ukraine says the split is an essential step to blocking out Russia's pernicious influence on its soil. Relations between the two countries plunged following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and support for separatist rebels in the Ukraines eastern Donbas region. China's Ministry of Commerce says high-level trade talks between officials from the worlds two biggest economies have resumed. But whether or not Washington and Beijing will be able to strike a deal and avoid a looming sharp hike in tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods remains uncertain. Commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng says the resumption of talks began after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke on the phone on November 1st. Working groups [of both sides] are keeping close contact to carefully carry out a consensus that the two leaders reached during the call, Gao Feng said Thursday. He added that companies in both the United States and China have been affected and are responding to the trade dispute, which has triggered tit-for-tat in tariffs on goods. After the phone call earlier this month, Trump said he thought the two could make a deal, but added Washington is prepared to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods if no progress is made. On January 1, Washingtons 10 percent tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to rise to 25 percent. Trump has also said that if the two cant reach a deal, Washington would impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports, about $267 billion worth. Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet in the coming weeks on the sidelines of a leaders summit for the Group of 20 nations in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Earlier this week, there were reports that Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, the countrys top trade negotiator would travel to Washington. According to a Reuters report Thursday that quotes three U.S. government sources, China has delivered a written response to U.S. demands for wide-ranging trade reforms. It was not immediately clear if the response could help bridge a wide gap between the two on trade or meet Trumps demands for change. The U.S. president has repeatedly criticized Chinese practices of industrial subsidies, intellectual property theft, the lack of a level playing field for U.S. companies in China and the trade deficit. What happens next depends on Beijings attitude, said Darson Chiu, a research fellow at the Taiwan Institute for Economic Research. If Beijing is willing, on the one hand, to reduce the scope of unequal bilateral trade and guarantee that U.S. intellectual property rights will not be infringed upon or forced to hand over technology, there is a good chance the two can reach a consensus, he said. One way Beijing could do that is by offering to reach a bilateral free trade deal with Washington that includes all of the concerns Trump has addressed: be it currency manipulation, intellectual property rights, concerns about state-owned enterprises. That way Trump would have to accept [the offer], Chiu said. And at the same time, it would help get those with vested interests out of the way and remove longstanding obstacles to reform that policymakers in China face. Chiu admits that such a solution is easier said than done and there are many with less liberal views in China. Those with vested interests, the heads of state-owned enterprises also keep arguing that they can help China weather the storm. At the very least, what the two could hope for is a sort of lowering of tensions, some analysts note. China is willing to make some concessions, as long as the demands are not too excessive, said Shi Yinhong, a political scientist at Renmin University. "China has long agreed to make concessions: import as many U.S. goods as possible and greatly relax local market access for U.S. companies. But these may not please Trump, who wants China to fundamentally restructure its economic model and major industrial policies, Shi said. The United States could also create a monitoring mechanism to ensure China walks its talk this time, he adds. Shi said that while China wants reform too, in his view, the best that could be hoped for is a trade war ceasefire. What that means is the United States would suspend its tariff hike on $200 billion in Chinese goods in exchange for concrete concessions from China, including those Beijing made during negotiations in July. At the same time, Washington is unlikely to drop its restrictions or increased scrutiny of Chinese high-tech firms, Shi said. Iranian teachers have gone on a nationwide strike for a second consecutive day to demand better working conditions for their poorly paid profession, one month after their last mass protest. Photos posted on the Telegram channel of the Coordinating Council of Teachers Syndicates in Iran (CCTSI) showed elementary and high school teachers staging sit-ins and holding protest signs in and outside their offices in at least 27 Iranian cities Wednesday. In a statement published on Telegram, CCTSI said it was staging its second round of strikes since October to pressure the government to carry out educational reforms and end mismanagement. It said teachers also were protesting low wages and perceived violations of the educational rights of students and minorities. Iranian social media users earlier had posted photos of what they said were teachers on strike in at least a dozen cities Tuesday. Images of the previous round of Iranian teacher strikes in mid-October also were shared widely on Persian-language social media platforms. Most of Wednesdays striking teacher photos on the CCTSI Telegram feed were identified as coming from schools in northwestern Irans predominantly Kurdish regions. The locations included the cities of Saqqez, Marivan, Sanandaj and Divandarreh in Kurdistan province, and the cities of Kermanshah, Eslamabad-e-Gharb and Sarpol Zahab in Kermanshah province. CCTSI also posted photos of what it said were striking teachers in the capital, Tehran, and the cities of Eslamshahr and Baharestan in Tehran province. Other northern Iranian cities identified in the groups photo stream included Sari, Babel, Ghaem Shahr and Juybar in Mazandaran province and Mashhad, Qazvin, Mahabad and Jolfa. Several central Iranian cities appeared among the captions for the striking teacher photos, including Isfahan and Khomeinishahr in Isfahan province and Hamadan, Karaj and Yazd. Southern cities identified in the picture descriptions included Ahvaz and Bushehr and the Fars provincial cities of Shiraz and Kazerun. CCTSI, the umbrella organization for Iranian teachers unions, said its strike actions were legal and not associated with any domestic or foreign political faction. In a September report, Irans Human Rights Activist News Agency said Iranian authorities had tightened their grip on labor unions in recent years and had shown a particular vitriol toward those representing educators. Three prominent Iranian education activists serving multiyear jails terms for alleged national security offenses at Tehrans Evin prison include Mohammad Habibi, Mahmoud Beheshti Langroodi and Esmail Abdi. This article originated in VOAs Persian Service. Shahed Alavi of VOAs Kurdish Service contributed. More than 1,000 Iranian civil society activists have signed a letter to Irans judiciary chief urging him to resolve the case of eight environmentalists jailed since January and February on suspicion of being spies. Iranian authorities detained seven of the environmentalists in January and the eighth in February. The seven detained in January are members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. Another member of that foundation detained in January, Iranian-Canadian university professor Kavous Seyed Emami, died in prison the following month in disputed circumstances. In the letter posted Monday on a Telegram channel dedicated to Emami, the 1,124 signatories called on judiciary chief Sadeq Larijani to resolve ambiguities in the case of the eight detainees in a way that is transparent and respects their dignity. The signatories, who include current and former government officials, artists, environmentalists and other civil society activists, said the detainees are renowned for their work in protecting Irans wildlife and have not engaged in unlawful activity. The letter does not explicitly call for the release of the jailed environmentalists. Iranian lawyer Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, who has sought to represent the detainees, said last month the judiciary revised its charges against five of them from espionage to sowing corruption on earth, which could lead to the death penalty. In an October 24 news conference announcing the revised charges, Tehran's chief prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, accused the detainees of seeking proximity to military sites under the cover of environmental projects and obtaining military information from those sites. In a sign of division within the Iranian establishment, a fact-finding committee of government ministers who examined the case of the environmentalists announced May 22 that it found no evidence of spying by the detainees. The committee involved Irans environmental department and intelligence ministry. Iranian state-run news agency IRNA referenced the committees exoneration of the environmentalists in a Monday report summarizing the civil society activists letter to Larijani. But Iranian Vice President Isa Kalantari, who heads the environmental department, has said the powerful Iranian judiciary has blocked him and other officials from taking further action in the case. Judicial officials have said Emami, the detained Iranian-Canadian environmentalist, committed suicide in prison, but overseas family and friends of Emami have cast doubt on that assertion. In a statement released last month, the head of New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, Hadi Ghaemi, said: Nothing justifies the continued incarceration of these eight environmentalists, let alone charges leveled against them that could carry the death sentence. One detainee has already lost his life during this travesty of justice, Ghaemi added. Iran should immediately release the remaining detainees to prevent further loss of innocent life. This article originated in VOAs Persian Service. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is cutting hundreds of U.S. troops from Africa so he can use those resources for potential future conflicts with Russia and China. Pentagon spokeswoman Navy Cmdr. Candice Tresch told VOA the move will cut roughly 700 counterterrorism troops and their enablers from West Africa. That is about 10 percent of U.S. Africa Command's presence on the continent. "Operations in Libya, Somalia and Djibouti remain largely unchanged," she said. The Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy (NDS) emphasizes near-peer competition over counterterrorism. When asked whether the reduction was a result of the October 2017 attack in Niger that killed four U.S. troops, one military official said the deadly incident did not play a role in the decision. "Discussions about this shift were under way before that incident occurred," the official said. The military's "adjusted approach" to West Africa will decrease emphasis on tactical-level advice and assistance. Instead, the U.S. will rely more heavily on regional-level advising, assisting and sharing of intelligence, Tresch said. As Mattis rolled out the NDS in January, he said the United States was losing its competitive military advantage over China and Russia. "Great-power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of U.S. national security," Mattis said. A key prosecution witness in the U.S. trial of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman on Thursday told jurors that there were "a lot of deaths" as the accused Mexican drug lord and his associates built the Sinaloa Cartel in the 1990s through bloody conflict with rival drug traffickers. Jesus Zambada told the jury that his brother, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, and Guzman used armies of sicarios, or assassins, to kill their enemies. Zambada, who has pleaded guilty to U.S. criminal charges, was testifying for a second day in Brooklyn federal court under an agreement to cooperate with prosecutors. Guzman is accused of directing massive shipments of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana to the United States. He faces life in prison if he is convicted of the 17 criminal counts against him. One of Guzman's lawyers, Jeffrey Lichtman, told jurors in his opening statement that Ismael Zambada, who remains at large, actually controlled the cartel, and Guzman was a scapegoat framed with the help of corrupt Mexican officials. Zambada on Thursday told the story of the Sinaloa Cartel's emergence in the early 1990s. He said Guzman formed an alliance with several other drug lords to take on the powerful Arellano Felix drug trafficking family. "There are always a lot of deaths," he said of the cartel's wars. Victims included patrons shot at a nightclub in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, where Zambada said Guzman tried, and failed, to kill one of the Arellano Felixes in 1992. Zambada admitted he took part in several murder plots himself, though he said he never personally killed anyone. He was wounded in a gunfight with enemy sicarios, and another one of his brothers, who had no involvement in the drug trade, was shot at his doorstep in Cancun, he said. Dressed in dark blue prison clothing and speaking through an interpreter, Zambada also testified that the Sinaloa Cartel bought off officials at every level of government, including Mexican state governors, national attorneys general and members of the international police organization Interpol, to ensure safe passage for its products. While in charge of cartel operations in Mexico City, Zambada said, he personally paid about $300,000 in bribes every month. On one occasion, he said, he paid a $100,000 bribe to a general at the explicit direction of Guzman. Guzman was an equal partner with Ismael Zambada within the cartel, said Jesus Zambada. Several hundred Central American migrants arrived Wednesday in the Mexican border city of Tijuana after a month of traveling away from poverty and violence at home in hopes of entering the United States. About 800 migrants are now in Tijuana, and many said they would stay there and wait for the rest of their caravan to arrive and for leaders to advise them on their options for seeking U.S. asylum. Some of the early arrivals went to the border fence to celebrate. The bulk of the migrant group, about 4,000 people mostly from Honduras, is making its way through the state of Sonora and is expected to arrive in Tijuana in a few days. 100 asylum claims a day The San Ysidro port linking Tijuana to the U.S. city of San Diego, is the busiest crossing on the border. But it only processes about 100 asylum claims per day, meaning those in the caravan who seek that route face a long wait. Tijuana could also feel the strain with migrant shelters there already at or near capacity. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday it was closing some vehicle lanes at the San Ysidro crossing and the nearby Otay Mesa crossing in order to install additional security in preparation for the migrant caravan and the potential safety and security risk that it could cause. Those measures include barricades, fencing, jersey walls and concertina wire. U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the caravans, casting them as a national emergency. On Saturday, he signed a proclamation declaring migrants who enter the country illegally ineligible for asylum. That goes against laws that state anyone is eligible for asylum no matter how they entered the country. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups quickly filed a legal challenge and sought an injunction against the new rules while the case makes its way through the courts. The government is expected to file a response to the case Thursday, and a federal judge has set a hearing on the injunction for Nov. 19. Trump has also ordered thousands of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to support border patrol agents. Mattis, Nielsen visit U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited the eastern part of the border Wednesday. Speaking to reporters en route to McAllen, Texas, Mattis stressed that border security is part of national security. Its obviously a moral and ethical mission to support our border patrolmen, the defense secretary said. Our units are in a position to enable the border patrols law enforcement operations. More than 5,600 active duty U.S. troops and another 2,100 National Guard troops have moved to the U.S.-Mexico border area in response to requests for help from the Department of Homeland Security. The military personnel assigned to help with border security have been helping with barriers, fencing and aerial support. They are legally prohibited from engaging in domestic law enforcement, such as arresting migrants crossing the border. Mattis told reporters Wednesday the U.S. military has a long history of border deployments. He highlighted 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson deployed troops to stop the threat of Pancho Villas troops during the Mexican Revolution, and 1995, when National Guard and several hundred active duty personnel were assigned to assist law enforcement. Mattis did not mention a deployment in 1997, when an active duty Marine corporal shot a Texas teenager during an anti-drug operation along the Texas-Mexico border, causing the Pentagon to suspend its anti-drug operations there. In addition to the caravan at or nearing the border, two others have made their way to Mexico City with more than 2,000 people. Mexico said last week it had issued 2,697 temporary visas to individuals and families allowing them to work while their refugee applications proceed. VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb and News writer Chris Hannas contributed to this report. This is part of "Ocean Shock," a Reuters series exploring climate change's impact on sea creatures and the people who depend on them. A priest in a white robe swung an incense burner, leading the way for thousands of marchers as they crammed into a winding cobblestone alley decorated with candy-colored streamers in Lisbon's ancient Alfama neighborhood. Behind the priest, six men carried a life-sized statue of St. Anthony, Lisbon's patron saint, born more than 800 years ago. The musky incense swirled together with the smoke from orange-hot charcoals grilling whole sardines a few streets away. The procession moved along, leaving behind just the smell of the sardines. In this city, June is the month to celebrate the saints. Almost every neighborhood throws a party, known as an arraial. Some are just a scattering of makeshift tables in alleyways. Others cover several blocks and are jammed with tourists and locals alike. The saints are quickly forgotten in the din of pumping pop music, brass bands, chattering families, indiscreet lovers and flirty teens. The sardines are not. They're the star of every party. The fish are so popular here, fisheries managers estimate that the Portuguese collectively eat 13 sardines every second during a typical June about 34 million fish for the month. But as climate change warms the seas and inland estuaries, sardines are getting harder to catch. Just a week before the festival, authorities postponed sardine fishing in some ports out of a fear that the diminishing population, vulnerable to changes in the Atlantic's water temperatures, was being overfished. In the last few decades, the world's oceans have undergone the most rapid warming on record. Currents have shifted. These changes are for the most part invisible. But this hidden climate change has had a disturbing impact on marine life in effect, creating an epic underwater refugee crisis. Effect on communities Drawing on decades of maritime temperature readings, fisheries records and other little-used data, Reuters has undertaken an extensive exploration of the disrupted deep. A team of reporters has discovered that from the waters off the East Coast of the United States to the shores of West Africa, marine creatures are fleeing for their lives, and the communities that depend on them are facing turbulence as a result. Here in Lisbon, the decline of the country's most beloved fish tugs at the Portuguese soul. A nation on Europes western edge, Portugal has always turned toward the sea. For centuries, it has sent its people onto the sometimes treacherous oceans, from famous explorers like Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama to little-known fishermen who left weeping wives on the shore. The St. Anthony's festival commemorates a 13th-century priest who, church doctrine says, once drew a bay full of fish to hear his sermon. It is the capital's biggest, most joyous celebration of the year. At the bottom of the track where two bright yellow funicular trains begin and end an 800-foot vertiginous trip through the Bica neighborhood, a social club and a local cafe set up for the festival. Mostly locals were present, though a few German and French tourists have found their way to the party. Four friends sat around a wobbly plastic table perched outside the G.D. Zip Zip social club. There was just enough room for others to walk past and get to the homemade grill where the sardines were being cooked. Three of the friends had sardine skeletons and heads heaped on their plates. They talked about the fish that's as iconic in Portugal in the summer as a hamburger on the grill in America. This year, however, because of limits on fishing, the available fish were mostly frozen. "We listen to it all year round that maybe this year, we will not have sardines," Helena Melo said. Fifteen feet up the hill, Jorge Rito, who has been cooking for the club every June for five years, wiped his watering eyes with the back of his hand. He'd just gotten another order and tossed a dozen whole sardines onto the grill in neat rows. As he flipped the silvery fish, each seven or eight inches long, a burst of smoke rose from the charcoal, and he wiped his eyes again. "Worried? Yes, of course," he said, removing the fish from the grill and placing them onto a platter. "It is important for our finances, our economies, for us." Youngest sardines vulnerable Just as the next generation of humans may pay the highest price for climate change, the youngest generation of sardines is at risk. Susana Garrido, a sardine researcher with the Portuguese Oceanic and Atmospheric Institute in Lisbon, said larval sardines are especially vulnerable to climate change when compared with other similar pelagic species, such as larval anchovies, which are capable of living in a wider range of temperatures. Deep seawater upwelling dominates the waters off the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula and keeps the coastal waters cool. But small differences in temperature, especially when sardines are young, can have a significant impact on whether the fish larva dies or grows to maturity, Garrido said. Other researchers had tested how well adult sardines survived in a variety of conditions, and there was little evidence that environmental variables such as food abundance and water temperature affected the full-grown fish, she said. So she focused on the larval stage of the species. "We did a bunch of experiments varying salinity and all of these other variables, and they survived quite well," she said. "It was when you change temperature that everything, yes, fell apart. So they have a very narrow range of temperatures where survival is good." Garrido said a recently completed stock assessment showed that the larval sardine population was extremely low. "This is getting very serious," she said. The Portuguese sardine population started to fall about a decade ago, even though there were plenty of adults at the time to sustain large catches. And around the same time, southerly species, such as chub and horse mackerel, slowly moved in. Chub mackerel, a subtropical species that was once found only in southern Portugal, is now caught all the way up the coast. "Probably as a consequence of warming, it is now invading the main spawning area of sardines," Garrido said. Larger forces at work Alexandra Silva, who works down the hall from Garrido, has been managing the Portuguese sardine stock assessment since the late 1990s pivotal work that the organization uses to decide the size of the sardine catch. When she started, the northern population of the species was in trouble following a period of strong upwelling that brought unusually cold water to the surface. The southern stock, however, was relatively healthy. And in the early years of the century, the species recovered. It was not to last. These days, without large numbers of larvae growing to maturity, the population is near collapse all along the coast from Galicia in Spain to the southern end of the Portuguese coast. All officials can do is cut down on the fishing. But larger forces, especially climate change, are now affecting the stock in ways that fisheries managers cannot control, the two said. Regulators have tried. Starting in 2004, they blocked fishing during the spring, when sardines spawn. And for a while, that seemed to work. Between 2004 and 2011, the stock remained relatively healthy, with landings ranging from about 55,000 to 70,000 tons, even if the population seemed to be dipping. (From the 1930s to the 1960s, and as recently as the 1980s, fishermen landed more than 110,000 tons in a year.) In 2009, the Portuguese proudly announced that the Marine Stewardship Council, an independent monitoring body, had designated the species healthy and sustainable. That year, Portuguese fishermen landed 64,000 tons of the fish. By 2012, however, that number had dropped to 35,000 tons, and the country lost its sustainable certification. Since then, fisheries managers have restricted the number of days a week that fishermen can catch sardines, as well as the size of the catch. Theyve also restricted fishing to six months during a year. Last year, the catch was limited to about 14,000 tons. Further cuts ahead Earlier this year, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, a forum of scientists that advises governments about fisheries management, warned that it would take at least 15 years to restore the stock at current fishing levels. After the report, European Union regulators permitted fishermen along the Iberian coast to continue at the current 16,100-ton level. But it also required Portugal, which gets the bulk of the quota, and Spain to submit a plan to restore the stock in October, which may well lead to further quota cuts. Fisheries manager Jorge Abrantes handles landings for Peniche, a sleepy fishing town about 60 miles north of Lisbon. He doesn't think the fishing industry is the culprit. For example, Portuguese government stock assessments indicated that the sardine population had decreased by 10 percent to 25 percent in just a few months. Abrantes argued that the dip clearly wasn't caused by fishermen pulling sardines from the sea, because no sardine nets were in the water during that period. Instead, he said, there are just not enough juvenile sardines to replenish the population. In Peniche, fishermen Erbes Martins and Joao Dias sat among piles of nets on a bright but chilly February morning. The two 75-year-old men would have preferred to be fishing for sardines. But the fish were spawning, so they were not allowed to catch them. Sure, there were other fish they could catch, but it wasnt worth it, they say. Horse mackerel, or carapau in Portuguese, one of the southerly species that now thrive all along the coast, is abundant but doesn't sell for much at market, Dias said. "We can't fish for sardines in October, November, December, January, February, March six months," Dias said. "And carapau just doesn't pay the bills." He said the restrictions on fishing sardines were keeping a new generation from going to sea, because they can't make enough money. "When we die," he said, "no one is going to do the work." I would miss this Lisbon's Graca neighborhood sits at the highest point in the capital, its pastel homes looking down over the city's six other hills. For the St. Anthony festival, two stages were set up for music, along with about 20 temporary food and drink stalls. Luis Diogo Sr., his wife, Rita, and their two children, Luis Jr. and Vera, came out to join the party. Luis Sr. looked across a picnic table at his son, who was well into his third plate of sardines. "This is a country between Spain and the sea, so we went to the sea very soon in our history," he said. The talk turned to the present, and the dwindling catch of the city's favorite seafood. Luis Jr. didn't pay much attention to his father. He was too focused on his sardines. "I would miss this very much," the 17-year-old said, wiping his lips clean after polishing off the last sardine on his plate. Pakistan confirmed Thursday that its security forces have rescued five abducted Iranian border guards, saying efforts to recover other captives are ongoing. An anti-Iran Sunni militant organization known as Jaish al-Adl kidnapped a group of 12 security guards a month ago in the southeastern Iranian border city of Mirjaveh and took the captives to the Pakistani side of the porous frontier between the two countries. Tehran demanded Islamabad help recover the men. With concerted efforts of the Pakistani LEAs (law enforcement agencies) and armed forces, five abducted Iranian guards have been safely recovered, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal announced in Islamabad. He added the Iranians are in good health and the Pakistani military-led concerted efforts to recover the other guards were continuing. The Pakistani statement came hours after the chief commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, disclosed to reporters that the five guards were free and hosted by authorities in the neighboring country. Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the October 15 kidnapping and demanded release of its prisoners in Iran in exchange for the abductees. The incident occurred in Sistan-Baluchistan province, which has a long history of violence by separatist militants. It borders Pakistans sparsely populated province of Baluchistan. The Iranian province has been the scene of clashes involving Iranian forces and militants as well as drug traffickers. Iranian separatists say their violence is retaliation for what they call Irans oppression against Sistan-Baluchistans predominantly Sunni population. Pakistan and Iran share a more than 900-kilometer-long border. Tehran alleges that militants involved in terrorist attacks in Iran use Pakistani territory to plot them. The allegation remains a source of tension in Islamabads otherwise friendly and traditionally close relationship with Tehran. The Pakistani military has recently deployed thousands of additional troops on the border to boost security. Islamabad has previously captured and handed over to Tehran leaders and members of anti-Iran groups. In Singapore, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has offered the Trump administrations support for Southeast Asias digital and urban infrastructure development. In his remarks at the U.S. ASEAN Summit, Pence announced the new U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership. This effort will spur renewed American investment in the regions digital infrastructure, advancing prosperity and security in Southeast Asia, Pence said, adding that it will enhance Washingtons cooperation on cybersecurity with the regional bloc. Smart Cities is a buzzword among ASEAN member countries as they face two mega trends, urbanization and digitalization. Southeast Asian nations are rapidly increasing in population, and a large portion of their people are gravitating toward cities, creating multiple challenges ranging from traffic congestion, water and air quality, to digital security. WATCH: Pence Announces US-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership' Speaking to reporters, Pence called ASEAN an extraordinary part of the world filled with remarkable people and highlighted the administrations desire for greater economic engagement with the regional bloc. He said the U.S. has only begun to explore the way that our investments and the economies of this region can contribute to growth and jobs and opportunity in the United States. ASEAN smart cities network Singapore, as the chair of ASEAN, proposed the creation of a network of 26 Southeast Asian smart cities in April 2018. The country is known for being very innovative in terms of incorporating digital technology in urban planning, and other Southeast Asian nations are eager to emulate that success. The ASEAN Smart Cities Network is envisioned as a collaborative platform where up to three cities per ASEAN country work toward a common goal of smart and sustainable urban development that maximizes digital technology. Tan Chee Haw, Singapores chief Smart City officer explains the three pillars with which digital technology will improve the lives of citizens. One is the digital economy, which is about creating a vibrant and innovative digital economy that can create new jobs, opportunities to help people and businesses. Second is the digital government concept, to transform the way that governments deliver services that is citizen-centric. The third is digital society which focuses on ensuring all segments of the population to be digital ready and can benefit from these initiatives. US technology and innovation The United States is still seen by the region as a leader in innovation and a natural partner in the smart cities initiative. The most advanced technologies do come from the U.S., said Lim Tai Wei, senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore. ASEAN countries would like to know how they can work with American companies and partners in order to strengthen ASEANs position as a network of smart cities, he said. The partnership will offer opportunities for American companies to develop urban digital infrastructure ranging from payment mechanisms to smart transit systems. The head of Southeast Asia for the consultancy group Control Risks, Angela Mancini is skeptical on how much the United States can actually offer, considering it has its own challenges with infrastructure and technology. Free and open Indo-Pacific The Smart Cities Partnership is part of what Pence said is proof of the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, which he calls steadfast and enduring. He stressed that Washington seeks collaboration, not control, and we are proud to call ASEAN our strategic partner. On the security front, Pence stressed Washingtons commitment to uphold the freedom of the seas and skies, where we stand shoulder to shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure that your nations are securing your sovereign borders. Pence said the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision excludes no nation. However, a big part of the strategy is aimed to protect freedom of navigation, particularly in light of Chinas territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. "We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," he said. Pence said the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision excludes no nation. However, a big part of the strategy is aimed to protect freedom of navigation, particularly in light of Chinas territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Stephen Nagy, professor of politics and international studies at International Christian University in Tokyo, believes the Trump administration has stepped up its military commitment to the region. Nagy said, I do think theres a lot of evidence that the United States will make a bigger commitment. The U.S. government will want partnerships, he said, and Australia and Japan are increasing their burden to ensure the United States is not only the one helping ASEANs security. An urban region The United Nations reported that two-thirds of the worlds population will live in cities by 2050. Already home to 53 percent of the worlds urban population, Asia will see this proportion expand to 64 percent by 2050. The 26 Southeast Asian pilot smart cities are Bandar Seri Begawan, Bangkok, Banyuwangi, Battambang, Cebu City, Chonburi, Da Nang, Davao City, DKI Jakarta, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Luang Prabang, Makassar, Mandalay, Manila, Naypyidaw, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Siem Reap, Singapore, Vientiane, and Yangon. VOA's Nike Ching, Ahadian Utama and Ralph Jennings contributed to this report. The proposed second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un must result in a detailed list of North Korean nuclear weapons sites, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday. In an interview with NBC News, Pence said the second Trump-Kim summit, tentatively scheduled for sometime early next year, will be where a "verifiable plan" to disclose the nuclear sites must be reached. I think it will be absolutely imperative in this next summit that we come away with a plan for identifying all of the weapons in question, identifying all the development sites, allowing for inspections of the sites and the plan for dismantling nuclear weapons, Pence said. "Now we need to see results," Pence added. But he said the U.S. will not demand that Pyongyang hand over such a list before the summit. Such a list is widely seen as the first step North Korea could take to show it is serious about giving up its nuclear arsenal. Pence's statement is perhaps the most specific public demand that the Trump administration has made of North Korea since Trump and Kim held a historic first summit in Singapore in June. At that summit both sides agreed to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and to improve ties between Washington and Pyongyang. Nuclear talks have stalled since then. Most recently, a planned meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a senior North Korean official was canceled, with no reason given. But Trump has remained publicly optimistic, declaring shortly after the Singapore summit that "there is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." Last week Trump said he is "very happy" with how the negotiations are going. "We think its going fine. Were in no rush. Were in no hurry," Trump said. There are more gorillas in the mist a rare conservation success story, scientists say. After facing near-extinction, mountain gorillas are slowly rebounding. On Wednesday, the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature updated mountain gorillas' status from "critically endangered" to "endangered," a more promising, if still precarious, designation. There are now just over 1,000 of the animals in the wild, up from an estimated population of 680 a decade ago. "In the context of crashing populations of wildlife around the world, this is a remarkable conservation success," said Tara Stoinski, president and chief scientist of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The Atlanta-based nonprofit is named for the primate researcher whose work helped draw international attention to mountain gorillas and whose memoir became the basis for the 1988 Sigourney Weaver film "Gorillas in the Mist." "This is a beacon of hope and it's happened in recently war-torn and still very poor countries," said Stoinski, who is also a member of the IUCN's primate specialist group, which recommended the status change. Mountain gorillas live in lush and misty forests along a range of dormant volcanoes in east Africa. Their habitat falls inside national parks spanning parts of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fossey, who died in 1985, had projected that the primates may be extinct by 2000. Instead, their populations have been slowly increasing thanks to sustained and well-funded international conservation efforts. "We have made progress in terms of their protection, in terms of allowing an environment where mountain gorillas can continue to thrive and grow," said Anna Behm Masozera, director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program, based in Kigali, Rwanda. "But it's important to note that mountain gorillas' numbers could still slip back very quickly. We still have just two fragile and small populations," split between two national park areas. Several factors have enabled mountain gorillas' modest rebound, said Masozera. The three governments have stepped up enforcement of national park boundaries areas where hunting, logging and paved roads are illegal. Tourism helps too: Visitors pay up to $1,500 an hour to watch gorillas, money that helps pay for park rangers. "Primate ecotourism, done right, can be a really significant force for funding conservation," said Russ Mittermeier, chief conservation officer at Global Wildlife Conservation. "It gives local governments and communities a tangible economic incentive to protect these habitats and species." There's also health care. Gorilla Doctors, a nongovernmental group, has trained veterinary staff in each of the countries where the mountain gorillas live. Hunting in the national parks is illegal, but nearby residents still set traps to catch other animals, such as antelopes. Those traps can also grab gorillas' arms and legs. When gorillas are found struggling with snares, the vets are called in to clean wounds. Kirsten Gilardi, U.S. director for the organization, called it "extreme conservation." Other experts said the emergency vet interventions play a significant role in maintaining mountain gorilla populations. "It's a total conservation win, and there aren't that many of them," said Gilardi. On Wednesday, the IUCN also announced that bans on commercial whaling in the North Pacific Ocean and elsewhere had allowed some whale populations to rebound. The fin whale's status was updated from "endangered" to "vulnerable," a less critical designation. None of the first Rohingya Muslims on a list to return Myanmar showed up at their departure points in Bangladesh Thursday, the first day they were scheduled to be sent back under a repatriation agreement between the two nations. About 150 Rohingya refugees were slated to be transported from the crowded camps in Cox's Bazar back to northern Rakhine state, the region where they and more than 700,000 others escaped in August 2017 from a scorched earth campaign by Myanmar's military in response to a series of attacks committed by Rohingya militants. Some of the refugees on the list are believed to have gone into hiding to avoid being sent back. Meanwhile, about 1,000 angry Rohingyas, including children, demonstrated against the repatriation effort at one of the camps. Bangladesh Refugee Commissioner Abul Kalam told reporters that the refugees cannot be forced to return to Myanmar under the terms of the agreement. Human rights groups are calling on Myanmar and Bangladesh to end their plans to send Rohingya Muslims back to Rakhine State, where the United Nations says they are subject to extrajudicial killings and other atrocities carried out by Myanmar's military. Reckless move Amnesty International called the organized return of the Rohingya a "reckless move, which puts lives at risk." "These women, men and children would be sent back into the Myanmar military's grasp with no protection guarantees, to live alongside those who torched their homes and whose bullets they fled," said Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty's East and Southeast Asia director. Bill Frelick, the refugee rights director for Human Rights Watch, said Dhaka "will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar." A special U.N. fact-finding mission said the military acted "with genocidal intent" against the Rohingyas, citing numerous atrocities such as extrajudicial killings, gang rapes and the torching of entire villages. Eleven men have been charged in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul as more details emerged about the circumstances that lead to his death. Saudi Arabia's deputy public prosecutor Shalaan bin Shalaan announced that death sentences were recommended for five people "charged with ordering and committing the crime." Six others charged in connection with the killing should receive "the appropriate sentences." After days of speculation in Western media over what took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Shalaan claimed the original plan was to try to convince Khashoggi to return to Saudi Arabia, but that the head of the team overstepped orders. He told journalists in Riyadh that Khashoggi's "presence abroad represented a threat to the Saudi kingdom," and that deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al Assiri formed a team to travel to Istanbul to try to convince Khashoggi to return home: He said Assiri chose a 15-member team, which comprised three separate groups: a negotiating team, an intelligence team, and a logistical team. He said the head of the negotiating team knew Khashoggi and ordered him taken to a secure location, but that the journalist lost his life in a fight. He said Khashoggi lost his life in a physical altercation as the agents tried to give him a sedative and tie him up. Shalaan said five members of the team admitted to killing him and then chopping up his body and removing it from the consulate. The prosecutor also indicated that a top adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Saud Qahtani, has been banned from leaving the kingdom pending the outcome of the investigation. Qahtani was removed as head of Bin Salman's communications team after Khashoggi's death. Shalaan maintained that the crown prince "did not have any knowledge [about the operation]." Various sources, including The New York Times, claimed an audio recording of a conversation between the Saudi team and parties in the kingdom on the day of the killing contain a message "to tell your boss." Some sources allege the reference is to the crown prince. VOA has not reviewed the recording. Hilal Kashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, said the official Saudi version is "difficult to believe." "Politics is not about morality. Politics is about interests, and I don't think it lies within the interests of the U.S. to get rid of Mohammed Bin Salman," he said. "[The Saudi prosecutors] found a scapegoat and they will execute those people whom they ordered to get rid of the body." Saudi political analyst Mubarak al Attie told Saudi-owned al Arabiya TV a lot of disreputable journalism is taking place in the case and that he believes the prosecutor is sending a message to Saudis that he wants to "get to the bottom of the matter." Saudi Arabias public prosecutor has requested the death penalty for five suspects in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Washington Post columnist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was killed October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. A spokesman for the prosecutors office said Thursday that Khashoggi was given a lethal injection and after he died his body was dismembered. Saudi officials have given numerous explanations since Khashoggi went missing, including saying that he actually left the consulate on his own, that he died after a fight, and then saying he was killed during a rogue operation. The prosecutor said the death sentences were recommended for five people charged with ordering and committing the crime, while six others who have been charged in connection with the killing should receive the appropriate sentences. Saudi Arabia is also asking for Turkeys help in providing evidence and information from its investigation. Turkey has been slowly releasing details during the past month. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleges the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government. Saudi officials have denied the crown prince was involved. A royal treasure trove including jewels that belonged to French Queen Marie-Antoinette fetched 53.5 million Swiss francs ($53.2 million) on Wednesday, as collectors snapped up rare historic gems fresh to the market, Sotheby's said. Held in private European collections for more than 200 years, 10 royal jewels that belonged to the ill-fated Marie Antoinette and were passed down through Italy's royal Bourbon Parma family, featured among 100 lots that all found new owners. "The Marie Antoinette provenance is probably second to none. It's a record for a sale of royal jewels," David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby's international jewellery division who conducted the Geneva auction, told reporters. The total exceeded the $50 million at its historic two-day auction of the Duchess of Windsor jewels, held in the Swiss city in 1987. Bennett said that bidders in 43 countries participated in the Bourbon Parma sale. "It's amazing when you think that these jewels, the majority of them, have not been seen in public for over 200 years. And so for collectors this was a once in a lifetime moment really," he said. Andres White Correal, a Sotheby's jewellery expert, said: "I think we had said when we did the press conference for this sale that this was going to be the Sale of this Century. And I think that the results tonight prove that this is the case." The collection had a total pre-sale estimate of $4.5 million, but due to the historic provenance, bidding soared by phone, in the sale room and online, to reach many times that. The top lot was an 18th-Century natural pearl and oval diamond pendant with a bow motif, which Marie-Antoinette would suspend from a three-row pearl necklace. The pendant soared to 36.4 million Swiss francs which Sotheby's said was a world record for a pearl after 10 minutes of seesaw bidding. The necklace with a diamond clasp fetched nearly 2.9 million, also drawing applause. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Archduchess who married the future King Louis XVI, secretly sent the jewels abroad in a wooden chest to her sister as they planned to escape from Paris. But the royal couple was arrested in 1792 when the French Revolution overthrew the monarchy and executed by guillotine the following year. Their only surviving daughter Marie-Therese later retrieved the jewels in Vienna, which passed on through the Duke of Parma line. The collection was sold off by descendents of Elie de Bourbon, Duke of Parma, whose wife was Marie Anne de Habsbourg-Lorraine, Sotheby's said. It declined to name the sellers who were heirs to the couple's eight children, all deceased. A monogram ring, bearing Marie-Antoinette's initials MA and containing a lock of her woven hair, had been estimated at $8-10,000, but soared in bidding to a whopping 447,000 francs. "Prices really rocketed, some items sold for 25 times more than the pre-sale estimate," said Sotheby's Daniela Mascetti. The top lot the pearl and diamond pendant was sold to a private collector bidding by phone, who asked to remain anonymous. The 10 lots combined fetched $42.7 mllion, Sotheby's said. At rival Christie's on Tuesday, the "Pink Legacy," a diamond weighing nearly 19 carats, fetched a record 50.375 million Swiss francs. It was purchased by U.S.-based luxury jeweller Harry Winston, owned by Swatch. Thousands of firefighters in California are battling deadly wildfires in northern and southern parts of the state. So far 56 people in the state have died as a result of the fires. Many more have lost their homes. The wildfires in Southern California have been sweeping through many affluent communities near Los Angeles. Some residents are now returning home. Among them, celebrities are who posting their thoughts and experiences on social media. VOA's Elizabeth Lee reports from Los Angeles. Sri Lanka appeared to be politically rudderless on Thursday as the speaker of parliament declared there was no functioning prime minister or cabinet after a no-confidence vote the previous day. His comments came after weeks of political turmoil in the island, off the southeast coast of India, leading to raucous scenes on the floor of parliament on Thursday. Parliament on Wednesday passed the no-confidence motion against recently appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government with the backing of 122 of the 225 lawmakers in a voice vote, followed by a signed document. But President Maithripala Sirisena, in a letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, said he could not accept the no-confidence vote as it appeared to have ignored the constitution, parliamentary procedure and tradition. "Since the no-confidence vote was passed yesterday...and no new prime minister or ministers appointed, today nobody will be accepted as prime minister or any other ministers," Jayasuriya told parliament. Sirisena, who triggered the crisis by firing Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and naming Rajapaksa to the job late last month, dissolved parliament last week and ordered elections to break the deadlock. But the Supreme Court ordered a suspension of that decree on Tuesday until it had heard petitions challenging the move as unconstitutional. Rajapaksa, speaking in parliament, demanded a general election to end the current political crisis. Soon after his speech, Rajapaksa's supporters poured on to the floor of parliament and disrupted proceedings. MPs from both sides gathered around the Speaker's chair, with a lot of shouting and hooting. The turmoil lasted almost 20 minutes after which Jayasuriya, who failed to bring the house to order, left parliament without making any statement. TV footage later showed Rajapaksa supporters pulling away the speaker's microphone, denying him the chance to make a further statement. After a meeting with party leaders, Jayasuriya's office said the parliament would be reconvened on Friday. Allies of Rajapaksa-Sirisena say Wickremesinghe is backed by Western nations, which are interfering in Sri Lankan matters. Rajapaksa is mostly backed by Buddhists, who make up more than 70 percent of Sri Lanka's 21 million population, while Wickremesinghe is backed by a cross-section of the community. Security was beefed up around the parliament and 32 ministries in Colombo on Thursday, police said. Later in the day thousands of Wickremesinghe's party supporters held a protest in the capital against what they described as the "fake government". "This president has ignored the constitution. He has to accept the no-confidence vote held yesterday," Wickremesinghe told the gathering. "We are ready to face both presidential and parliamentary polls, but they should be done in line with the constitution." Sirisena has faced international criticism for plunging the country into crisis at a time when the economy is growing at its weakest pace in 16 years. Sirisena has said he fired Wickremesinghe because the prime minister was trying to implement "a new, extreme liberal political concept" and neglecting local people's sentiment. But, sources close to the both leaders have said Sirisena's decision came after Wickremesinghe's party rejected the president's request to back him for second five-year term in the 2020 presidency. They had also split over whether to back Chinese or Indian investors in various projects, the sources said. India and Western countries have requested Sirisena act in line with the constitution while raising concerns over Rajapaksa's close ties with China. Beijing loaned Sri Lanka billions of dollars for infrastructure projects when Rajapaksa was president from 2005 to 2015, creating a major debt problem for the country. The Statue of Liberty's original torch, which has been housed in the base of the statue since a replica replaced it in the 1980s, was moved across Liberty Island on Thursday to its new home in a museum that will open next year. Visitors watched as the base and the detached flame of the 3,600-pound (1,633-kilogram) torch were trucked slowly and carefully to the museum construction site about 100 yards (91 meters) from the statue. Officials with the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation said the torch was removed in 1984 because it was too badly damaged to restore. "Taking it down was very frightening,'' said Stephen Briganti, president and chief executive of the foundation. "We had the largest freestanding scaffolding that at that point had ever been built.'' Thursday's brief trip to the museum site was the latest chapter for an icon that "has crossed many miles in its lifetime,'' Briganti said. The torch left France in 1876 for the United States, where it was exhibited at the Centennial celebration in Philadelphia and then in New York City's Madison Square Park. The trip was intended to raise funds to pay for the statue's pedestal, Briganti said. It went back to Paris in 1882, then returned to the New York Harbor along with other crated pieces of the statue in 1885. The torch was held high by Lady Liberty from 1886 to 1984, but modifications to the flame changed its original design over the years. The flame resembled a stained-glass sculpture lying on its specially designed flatbed truck. That's because the sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who also designed Mount Rushmore, "put all the holes in it with amber glass'' during a 1916 redesign, park Superintendent John Piltzecker said. "It led to the flame's deterioration.'' The torch was further weakened in July of that year by the Black Tom explosion, an act of German sabotage at a munitions plant nearby in Jersey City. The 1980s gilt flame that the statue is holding now restores sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi's original design, officials said. The old torch, meanwhile, made another fundraising trip at the end of 1984, traveling to Pasadena, where it starred in the Rose Parade. A trench was dug under the statue so that the 16-foot (4.9-meter) original torch could be moved into the pedestal when it returned to New York. It couldn't depart the pedestal that way Thursday, Piltzecker said. "It had to come out in two pieces.'' Joining the torch's two pieces was a full-scale copper replica of the statue's face. The torch and the face will be highlights of the new $100 million museum, which is scheduled to open in May 2019. A blistering overnight attack by the Taliban on an Afghan police outpost in western Farah province killed 30 policemen, Afghan officials said Thursday. It was the latest in a series of brutal and near-daily Taliban assaults on the military and police forces, government and other installations throughout the country. The resurgent Taliban, who in recent years have taken over nearly half of Afghanistan, did not comment on the attack in Farah. The attacks have been so relentless that authorities no longer regularly provide casualty figures, but unofficial estimates say that about 45 Afghan policemen or soldiers are killed or wounded on a daily basis. Four-hour assault According to provincial council member Dadullah Qani, the overnight onslaught on the outpost in Farahs district of Khaki Safed began late Wednesday and continued for more than four hours. In Kabul, lawmaker Samiullah Samim told The Associated Press that the Taliban killed all 30 policemen, members of both the national and local police force, who were deployed at the outpost, including the district police commander, Abdul Jabhar. Retaliatory airstrikes killed 17 Taliban fighters but the insurgents still managed to get away with a large amount of weapons and ammunition, he said. Meanwhile, fighting with the Taliban in two districts of central Ghazni province has displaced thousands of people in the past two weeks, most of them minority ethnic Hazaras, who are Shiites, said Mohammad Arif Rahmani, a lawmaker from Ghazni. War grows deadlier Also, about 100 Afghan policemen, local pro-government militiamen and soldiers have been killed in the bitter clashes there, Rahmani told the AP. Currently, Afghan security forces are battling insurgents in 22 of the countrys 34 provinces, he added. Afghanistans protracted war has also become increasingly deadly for civilians. A United Nations report issued earlier this year said more civilians died in the first six months of 2018 than in any year since 2009, when the U.N. mission first began monitoring civilian casualties. Every day in the first six months of 2018, an average of nine civilians, including two children, were killed in the conflict in Afghanistan, said the independent Afghanistan Analysts Network in its own report. Security forces at outposts throughout the country routinely face shortages of weapons, ammunition and even food supplies, said military analyst Javed Kohistani, blaming government mismanagement. More senior and experienced generals have been replaced with younger officers whose inexperience is compromising the strength of the security forces. There are fewer and fewer recruits and in some areas, a battalion which should have 400 to 600 troops barely has 100 to 200 soldiers, he said. Nobody is joining the army, he said. Afghanistans Defense Minister Gen. Tariq Shah Bahrami was grilled by lawmakers in parliament Wednesday about Taliban onslaughts in Wardak and Ghazni provinces where entire districts are under siege. Bahrami acknowledged the security forces have a problem and said that reinforcements have been sent. Fresh Taliban attacks have killed more than 40 government troops in Afghanistans western Farah province, which borders Iran. Officials said Thursday most of the casualties occurred in the embattled Bala Buluk district where insurgents staged a major offensive against a police base late at night. A top officer at the provincial police headquarters, Sayed Abdullah Andarabi, told VOA the ensuing clashes lasted several hours and he confirmed the killing of 32 security forces, including the district police chief. He added that nine police personnel were wounded while 12 others went missing after the attack. Provincial council members and local security officials are quoted as saying that Afghan forces lost at least 40 personnel. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, claimed its fighters inflicted heavy losses on government forces, captured several of them, destroyed government vehicles and seized a large amount of weapons and ammunition. Andarabi said that clashes with Taliban rebels in the nearby Pusht-e-Ko district also killed several security forces and wounded many others while retaliatory attacks inflicted heavy casualties on opposition fighters. The Taliban killed more than 50 Afghan police and army forces in an other district of Farah earlier this week. Fighting in Ghazni Meanwhile, fierce fighting was raging in two districts, Jaghuri and Malistan, of the embattled eastern province of Ghazni, where insurgents have killed dozens of pro-government forces since the beginning of this month. The United Nations warned Wednesday the fighting has triggered a humanitarian crisis in and around the two districts. Thousands of families have been displaced and the situation in Jaghuri and Malistan is chaotic, with families moving repeatedly in search of safety, according the U.N. humanitarian agency. On Wednesday, Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami told lawmakers that intense battles were raging in nine provinces of the country, including Ghazni, putting pressure on already stretched out government forces. On Monday, President Ashraf Ghani said that Afghan security forces have lost more than 28,500 personnel since 2015 in the battle against the Taliban, raising concerns the ongoing year could turn out to be one of the deadliest for pro-government forces. The fighting comes amid renewed U.S.-led efforts to persuade the Taliban to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government. U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, is currently visiting regional countries to push his peace mission. The United Nations warned Wednesday days of heavy fighting in parts of central-eastern Afghanistan has triggered a humanitarian crisis, urging warring parties to ensure safe passage for civilians attempting to leave the affected districts. The sun beat down on Samuel Ronos farm in Kerita, a village in southern Kenya, as six young men struggled to load one of several large trees into a waiting truck. They (the trees) are not for making timber, Rono explained. They are being moved to a new location to be planted there. By removing a few trees from his 10-acre (4-hectare) farm, Rono can make more space for his livestock to graze and for him to grow more maize. But, instead of simply cutting down the 16-foot (5-meter) trees, and potentially breaking the law, he sells them to other farmers who need more trees on their land. Tree hopping The locals call the technique tree hopping, and it is gaining popularity with Kenyan farmers who are trying to produce more food on limited amounts of arable land without further damaging the environment. Tree hopping involves digging up mature trees where they grow close together and relocating them to areas where forest is more scarce. Putting some more space between trees can let in more sunlight and make an areas micro-climate more suitable for farming, said Laban Gitiba, the sub-county forest officer in Kerita village. At the same time, transplanting the trees helps restore degraded areas, Gitiba told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. It will create a new home for birds, insects and other organisms which contribute to improving soil fertility, Gitiba said. Moveable forests At Ronos farm, a mix of indigenous and exotic trees grows among the fields of maize and wheat. Other trees fence the paddocks where his cattle and sheep graze. Trees can help shelter plants and animals from the sun and protect crops from strong winds. But the dense canopy of the trees on his farm often stunts plant growth and creates a chilly environment for his animals, the 67-year-old farmer said. Kenyan law prohibits the felling of trees without a permit, even on private farms. Permits are only granted if the landowner can prove there is an urgent need to cut down the tree, if there is a risk it will fall over in a storm, for example. The government also obliges all landowners to have trees on at least 10 percent of their land, as part of its commitment to the United Nations goal to increase forest area by 3 percent worldwide by 2030. Currently, 7 percent of Kenya is covered by trees. More than 5 million trees are cut down every day for firewood, charcoal or other uses, according to Isaac Kalua, chairman of the Green Africa Foundation. Win-win for farmers Tree hopping allows farmers to legally thin out their forests while helping others boost the number of trees on their land, experts say. Chachu Ganya, a member of the Kenyan parliaments committee on environment and natural resources, said moving trees can be particularly helpful in stabilizing rainfall and avoiding conflicts in areas where trees have disappeared. Ganya said only about a fifth of Kenyan land is suitable for farming, and that figure is declining because of reduced rainfall and land overuse. When arid areas benefit from this fast way of reforestation, their pasture will be protected by the natural climates that trees create, reducing tensions, he said. The technique can also be a good income generator: Rono said he earns about 2,000 Kenyan shillings ($20) for each tree he sells. Besides the purchase price, buyers also pay for transport, which can cost $20 to move a set of trees within a five-kilometer range, Rono said. Digging up trees, and digging holes to replant them is usually done by hand, he said. Gitiba, the forest officer, said about 1,000 trees had been moved so far this year in the Rift Valleys Uasin Gishu County, which includes Ronos farm. Training and cost Farmers in other parts of the country think adopting tree hopping could help them as well. Kioko Mutuku, 38, a farmer from the village of Kivaa in eastern Kenya, said he has seen the villagers reliance on charcoal burning deplete the areas indigenous trees over the years. He thinks if his neighbors cover their farms with trees, they could start to heal the degraded land. But the neighbors complain the trees take too long to mature, he said. This is why farmers are planting fast-maturing trees like blue gum. But the (Australian native) trees end up sucking up underground water, the father of two said. Bringing over mature, native trees would speed up the process of restoring the environment, he added, but no one in his village is familiar with moving larger trees. I would like to use this method here, but I do not know an expert who can help me with the skill, he said. Gitiba said the Kenya Forestry Service, a government agency, is organizing farmer field days to show farmers how tree hopping works. But for many farmers, lack of training is not the biggest obstacle. Njue Njagi Kaithungu, a county executive in Tharaka Nithi County, said the reason tree hopping is not catching on across the country is that many families cannot afford the cost of transporting the trees or buying them from other farmers. At the end of the day, a poor household will choose to spend on food, shelter and health first before embarking on labor-consuming tasks, Kaithungu said in a telephone interview. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his support for the first major rewrite of the nation's criminal justice sentencing laws in a generation, but it remains to be seen whether the proposal can pass Congress. Trump said the bill will make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time. Trump hailed the deal as proof that true bipartisanship is possible though no Democrats attended the White House announcement. Senators reached an agreement this week on bipartisan legislation that would boost rehabilitation efforts for federal prisoners and give judges more discretion when sentencing nonviolent offenders, particularly for drug offenses. The House approved a prison reform bill in May, but the proposed Senate package makes additional changes and adds the sentencing component. That means the House would need to revote on anything the Senate passes. Criminal justice reform has been a priority of Trump's son-in-law, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, who has been working on the issue for months. Trump pushed for swift passage of the legislation, potentially during the lame-duck session of Congress. Ill be waiting with a pen, he said. But members still haven't seen the details, and time is running short. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. was cautious about the bill's prospects Wednesday. He told reporters that GOP leaders would do a whip count to gauge the bill's support once they have a final proposal in hand. Still, he noted the Senate has other things it needs to accomplish in the final weeks of the year, including funding the government and passing a farm bill. He said Republicans would have to see how the criminal justice bill stacks up against our other priorities once a final agreement is reached. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., called Trump's announcement an encouraging sign that we can achieve substantive reforms to our criminal justice system in this Congress. Redemption is at the heart of the American Idea, and that's what this is about, he said. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal thinking, said they hoped McConnell would hold a whip count after the Thanksgiving break. They also argued Trump's support would move lawmakers to back the compromise and that more would sign on once legislative text is released. The bill is a rare bipartisan endeavor in a typically log-jammed Congress and has attracted support from a coalition of liberal and conservative groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and groups backed by the political donors Charles and David Koch. Critics say current sentencing guidelines are unfair and have had a lopsided impact on minority communities. Did I hear the word bipartisan? Trump joked during a Roosevelt Room event announcing his backing for the deal. Did I hear that word? That's a nice word. But even as he hailed the cooperation, Trump couldn't resist a swipe at his former political opponents, saying the Clinton crime law disproportionality affected black Americans. The Senate package overhauls some of the mandatory sentencing guidelines that have been in place since 1994 legislation approved by Congress and signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa released a joint statement, calling the endorsement an important step in our shared effort to promote safe communities and improve justice. Grassley had said Tuesday the bill would be easier to pass after the departure of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was ousted by Trump last week. Sessions was a longtime opponent of criminal justice reform and had been especially wary of efforts to overhaul sentencing laws. I think we have a commitment from the Justice Department now to work with us on it, Grassley said. The White House official called the timing coincidental. The Senate approach would allow thousands of federal prisoners sentenced for crack cocaine offenses before August 2010 the opportunity to petition for a reduced penalty. It would also lower mandatory minimum sentences for some drug offenses. The life sentence for some drug offenders with three convictions, or three strikes, would be reduced to 25 years But roughly 90 percent of prison inmates are held in state facilities and would not be affected by the legislation. All but two Republicans voted for the House bill when it was overwhelmingly approved in May, 360-59. Democratic lawmakers supported the bill by about a 2-to-1 margin, but opponents voiced concerns that it did not go far enough in giving judges more discretion to make the punishment fit the crime. The House bill directs the Bureau of Prisons to conduct assessments for every offender once he or she is sentenced and to offer rehabilitation plans designed to lower the chance of recidivism. The plans would include vocational training, education, counseling and substance abuse treatment. The federal inmate population has been on the decline since 2013, when it peaked at just more than 219,000. The total now stands at about 181,400, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Still, that's about triple the number of inmates in federal detention 30 years ago. U.S. President Donald Trump contended Thursday that his White House operations are "running very smoothly," even as he asserted he would be dismissing more key staff members. "I will be making changes on various things," Trump told the Daily Caller, a conservative news website. "You know, you're talking about a few names, you're not talking about many." Last week, the day after Democrats took control of the House of Representatives for the first time in eight years, Trump ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Trump had long assailed Sessions for removing himself from oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Trump 2016 campaign links with Russia and whether Trump, as president, has obstructed justice by trying to thwart the probe. Then, on Wednesday, Trump acceded to his wife Melania Trump's demand that he oust deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel, who had jousted with the first lady in October when Ricardel discovered there was no seat for her and another National Security Council staffer on the plane taking Melania Trump on her goodwill trip to Africa. The White House said Ricardel would be reassigned elsewhere in the Trump administration. Trump said in the Daily Caller interview that after midterm congressional elections halfway through a president's four-year term "you make changes, so I'm looking at things and I've got a lot of options. A lot of people want to come in. A lot of politicians that have had very successful careers that are very good want to come in. So I'm looking at things, haven't made a decision yet." In a Twitter comment, Trump said, "The White House is running very smoothly and the results for our Nation are obviously very good. We are the envy of the world." But Trump complained that "anytime I even think about making changes, the FAKE NEWS MEDIA goes crazy, always seeking to make us look as bad as possible! Very dishonest!" News accounts say Trump is weighing whether to dismiss Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen, whom he has often criticized for not sufficiently reducing the number of migrants illegally crossing into the U.S. along its southern border with Mexico. At the same, Trump could replace White House chief of staff John Kelly, a Nielsen supporter and his chief of staff when Kelly was the Homeland Security secretary before he took the White House position. "I will be making a decision on Homeland shortly," Trump told the Daily Caller. Trump officials were blindsided Tuesday by Melania Trump's demand to oust Ricardel. "It is the position of the office of the first lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House," the first lady's spokeswoman said. CNN said that President Trump was angry over the incident, saying it made him look like a "bossed-around husband." But within 24 hours, President Trump's spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, said that Ricardel "will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration." U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed new attacks Thursday on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, even as there are hints special counsel Robert Mueller's probe could be nearing a conclusion. Publicly at least, Muellers 18-month investigation was relatively quiet in the weeks leading up to the November 6 nation-wide congressional elections, partly because the Department of Justice tries to refrain from bringing politically sensitive cases forward around major elections. But legal analysts expect more developments soon. Trump answering written questions Trump this week, according to news accounts, has been weighing written answers to questions posed by Mueller's investigators about whether Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with Russian interests to help him win, an allegation he has repeatedly rejected as unfounded. Left open yet, however, is whether Trump will sit for an interview with Mueller for further questioning about the collusion allegations and whether Trump, as president, obstructed justice by trying to thwart the probe. Meantime, Mueller could write a report about his findings, while possibly also filing more indictments against Trump associates, accusing them of criminal wrongdoing. On Thursday, Trump returned to his long-running criticism of the Mueller probe, which he frequently calls a witch hunt. The U.S. leader contended on Twitter, without evidence, that "the inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess." "They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," he said. "They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and dont care how many lives (they) ruin. These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They wont even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY!" Mueller, a registered Republican, actually was first appointed as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a 10-year term by Republican President George W. Bush in 2001, with his term then extended for two years by former Democratic President Barack Obama. The Senate approved the extension on a 100-0 vote. Controversy over new US attorney general Trump last week ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whom Trump had long attacked for removing himself from oversight of the Mueller probe, adhering to Justice Department guidelines requiring officials to recuse themselves from involvement in cases to avoid conflicts of interests. Sessions was the first major political figure to support Trump in the 2016 election, but also had met with Russia's then-ambassador to Washington in the run-up to the voting two years ago. Trump named Matthew Whitaker, Sessions's chief of staff, to be acting attorney general and he has now assumed oversight of the Mueller probe, taking control from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, whom Sessions chose to oversee Mueller's investigation. Whitaker, before joining the Justice Department more than a year ago, had disparaged the Mueller investigation and suggested that a replacement attorney general, such as he is now, could cut funding for the investigation so that it "grinds almost to a halt." Because of his comments, opposition Democrats, and some Republicans, have called for Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the Mueller probe. But Whitaker has not said what he plans to do. The state of Maryland has filed suit to block Whitaker's appointment, but the Justice Department said Trump was within his authority to name him without Senate confirmation, as would be normal for cabinet-level appointments. Senate leader blocks Mueller protection Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked consideration of bipartisan legislation that would guard against Trump ending Mueller's investigation. McConnell says Trump, despite his vocal complaints against Mueller, has assured him he won't fire Mueller and that his investigation will be allowed to reach its conclusion. Mueller has won convictions or secured guilty pleas from several Trump campaign figures, who are cooperating with Mueller's investigators while awaiting sentencing. The ride-sharing and delivery company Uber continues to lose money, with growth slowing as it prepares to go public some time next year. The San Francisco-based company announced it lost just over $1 billion from July through September, a 20 percent increase from the previous quarter. Uber's revenue rose 38 percent in the third quarter from a year ago to $2.95 billion, down from a gain of 51 percent in the second quarter. Uber is seeking to expand in freight hauling, food delivery and electric bikes and scooters, as growth in its now-decade-old ride-hailing business dwindles. Uber is intent on showing it can still grow enough to become profitable and satisfy investors in an initial public offering. "We had another strong quarter for a business of our size and global scope," said Nelson Chai, Uber's chief financial officer, who joined the company in September after the job had been vacant for three years. He emphasized the "high-potential markets in India and the Middle East, where we continue to solidify our leadership position." Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman expects to get new loans from the International Monetary Fund as early as December, once parliament passes a budget of stability that refrains from making pre-election populist moves, he said Thursday. Securing IMF assistance will also unlock loans from the World Bank and the European Union. Groysman also said Ukraine was in negotiations with Washington for a new loan guarantee for sovereign debt. Groysman negotiated a new deal with the IMF last month aimed at keeping finances on an even keel during a choppy election period next year. The new loans are contingent on his steering an IMF-compliant budget through parliament. "This budget is a budget of stability and continuation of reforms," Groysman said in an interview with Reuters. "This is fully consistent with our IMF program." "Yes. We are counting on a tranche in December," he added, when asked about when IMF loans were expected, though he did not elaborate on the possible size of the loan. Ukraine's government approved a draft budget in September but it will typically undergo a slew of amendments before parliament finally approves it. Tax proposal dropped Groysman said a proposal to change how companies are taxed on withdrawn capital, rather than profits had been dropped from the budget because of the IMF's concerns. He also said he would not bow to opposition parties' demands to reverse a recent increase in household gas tariffs, a step that his government reluctantly took to qualify for more IMF assistance. "Populism led to the weakness of Ukraine," he said. "This should not be allowed." The IMF and Kyiv's foreign allies came to Ukraine's rescue after it plunged into turmoil following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and support for separatist rebels occupying the eastern industrial Donbass region. The United States has also sold coal to plug a domestic shortage caused by rebels taking control of mines in the east. U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry visited Ukraine this week. In response to a question about whether Ukraine would continue to buy coal from the United States and potentially also liquefied natural gas, Groysman said that "liquefied gas is very interesting for Ukraine. We talked about the whole spectrum of our cooperation in the energy sector." As for coal, he added, "we will buy it from our international partners until we cover the domestic deficit." Washington has also previously issued loan guarantees for Ukrainian debt. Groysman said another such guarantee was "under discussion." The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees has almost closed a funding gap caused by the loss of $300 million in U.S. contributions, its chief said on Tuesday. The Trump administration pulled the bulk of U.S. funding of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in January after a U.N. General Assembly vote rejected Washingtons recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. Since President Donald Trumps move, the EU has become UNRWAs largest single donor, Japan had increased its funding, and four Gulf countries - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates - had contributed $200 million, according to UNRWA chief Pierre Kraehenbuehl. He told reporters that the U.S. funding cut had made 2018 a very difficult year for UNRWA, which runs schools and clinics for 5.4 million Palestinians across the Middle East, including in Gaza and the West Bank. It began 2018 with a shortfall of $146 million in its planned budget of $1.2 billion. That ballooned to $446 million after Trumps cutback, forcing Kraehenbuehl to seek new funds from other countries and private sector donors. We decided not to sit back and complain but to reach out and launch a global campaign called dignity is priceless, and that really mobilized the international community, he said. We have mobilized until now $382 million of additional funding, which means we brought the shortfall down to $64 million, and we are still in contact with a number of countries; we are hopeful that this shortfall will be brought down further in couple of weeks, said Kraehenbuehl. He added that it was at least good to have a greater geographical spread of donors more representative of the United Nations as a whole. But new donations would have to be stabilized to keep UNRWA funded next year and in future years. Were not out of the woods (yet), he said. Trumps endorsement in December of Israels claim to Jerusalem as its capital drew universal condemnation from Arab leaders and criticism around the world. It broke with decades of U.S. policy that the citys status must be decided in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Seven U.N. military personnel were killed during joint operations with the Congolese military in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Six of the dead were Malawian, and one Tanzanian. Ten more peacekeepers were wounded, and another is missing, according to a statement from the U.N. secretary-general's spokesperson. Several Congolese soldiers and an unknown number of opposing combatants were also reportedly killed or wounded during the operations. The fatalities occurred the near the city of Beni, in the North Kivu region, which is currently at the center of an Ebola outbreak ravaging the country. The French news agency AFP reported that U.N. peacekeepers and Congolese troops were engaged in an offensive against the ADF stronghold of Kididiwe. The ADF is a rebel force with Ugandan origins that has been active in Congo in recent years. A U.N. official speaking on condition of anonymity would not confirm that the fatalities were related to the offensive, although they did say they had occurred over the last two days, when the operation started. The U.N. mission in Congo, MONUSCO, a force of about 18,000 soldiers, has been present in the DRC for almost two decades as the country has suffered through wars and constant internal violence. The Trump administration is adding new names to a list of Cuban tourist attractions that Americans are barred from visiting. The 26 names range from the new five-star Iberostar Grand Packard and Paseo del Prado hotels in Old Havana to modest shopping centers in beachside resorts far from the capital. All are barred because they are owned by Cuba's military business conglomerate, GAESA. Travel to Cuba remains legal. Hundreds of U.S. commercial flights and cruise ships deliver hundreds of thousands of Americans to the island each year. And nothing prevents the government from funding its security apparatus with money spent at facilities that aren't owned by GAESA and banned by the U.S. But the sanctions appear to have dampened interest in travel to Cuba, which has dropped dramatically this year. The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against 17 Saudis for their alleged role in the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul. Among those sanctioned were Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement. WATCH: US Sanctions Some Saudis, but Questions Remain About Crown Prince The sanctions will be implemented under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets those who have committed serious human rights abuses or acts of corruption. The announcement was somewhat surprising given that the United States rarely imposes sanctions on Saudi Arabia. Mnuchin also said Washington was continuing to try to determine the facts of the case and would hold accountable everyone found responsible for the journalist's death last month. Also Thursday, NBC News reported that the Trump administration was looking for legal ways to remove Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is sought by the Turkish government, from his self-imposed exile in the United States. The report said the move might be linked to the Khashoggi case. Possible Saudi angle NBC said the Trump administration might be seeking to persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to ease pressure on the Saudi government, an important U.S. ally. Erdogan has alleged that the order to kill Khashoggi came from the "highest levels" of the Saudi government, but Saudi officials have denied the crown prince was involved. The NBC report cited four sources saying Trump administration officials last month asked the FBI and Justice Department to reopen a case for Gulen's extradition. The sources said the Trump administration asked the Homeland Security Department for details of Gulen's legal status in the United States. Gulen has lived in the United States since 1999. Erdogan accuses Gulen of supporting a failed coup attempt against the Turkish government in 2016. After the coup attempt, Turkey formally requested that Gulen be extradited to Turkey, but U.S. law enforcement officials said they had no evidence that would justify it. NBC also reported, citing the same sources, that U.S. and Turkish officials have discussed forcing Gulen to relocate to South Africa, but added that U.S. officials said they had no legal basis for doing so. Gulen's media adviser, Alp Aslandogan, told the Reuters news agency that he was not aware of any new U.S. inquiries about Gulen. The National Security Council, FBI, State Department, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security all either declined to comment or did not answer NBC's requests for comment. White House denial A White House official told Reuters that the story was "not accurate" but did not elaborate. A senior Turkish official told Reuters that the Gulen case and the Khashoggi matter were "separate issues." The U.S. announced the sanctions hours after Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor requested the death penalty for five suspects in Khashoggi's death. Khashoggi, who was a Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince, was killed Oct. 2 after visiting the consulate in Istanbul to arrange for his marriage. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said Thursday that Khashoggi was given a lethal injection, and after he died his body was dismembered. Saudi officials have given numerous explanations since Khashoggi went missing, including saying that he had actually left the consulate on his own; that he had died after a fight; and that he was killed during a "rogue operation." The prosecutor said the death sentences were recommended for five people "charged with ordering and committing the crime," while six others who have been charged in connection with the killing should receive "the appropriate sentences." Saudi Arabia is also asking for Turkey's help in providing evidence and information from its investigation. Turkey has been slowly releasing details during the past month. Top U.S. officials say they strongly believe American reporter Austin Tice, missing in Syria for more than six years, is still alive. State Department special envoy for hostage affairs, Robert OBrien, would not talk about the intelligence that led him to make that assessment. But he told reporters the department is leading a multinational effort to find Tice and get him freed. OBrien appealed to Russia, Syrias closest ally, for help. There are plenty of disagreements between the United States and Russia at this time. One of the things that Russia and the United States should agree on is that innocent Americans, or innocent Russians ... should not be held hostage and should not be held against their will. The FBI is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his safe return. Tice is a former U.S. Marine captain who turned to journalism. He disappeared in Syria in August 2012 shortly after the civil war erupted. He appeared in a video a month later, blindfolded and surrounded by armed militants. It is unclear who is holding him. The number of U.S. troops at the border with Mexico has reached its upper limit, top Pentagon officials said Thursday. More than 5,800 active duty and 2,100 National Guard troops are currently deployed to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection strengthen barriers, build housing, operate aircraft and other activities intended to help the U.S. Border Patrol. Earlier, President Donald Trump said the force might be larger. "We're pretty much peaked in terms of the number of people that are down there," Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told reporters at the Pentagon. The troops were sent to the U.S. southern border at the request of the Department of Homeland Security. Shanahan said the troops may stay through Dec. 15. The military is legally prohibited from domestic law enforcement, such as arresting migrants crossing the border. In the meantime, several hundred Central American migrants arrived Wednesday in the Mexican border city of Tijuana after a month of traveling away from poverty and violence at home, in hopes of entering the United States. About 800 migrants are now in Tijuana. Many said they would stay there and wait for the rest of their caravan to arrive and for leaders to advise them of their options for seeking asylum in the United States. Some of the early arrivals went to the border fence to celebrate. The migrants in Tijuana got a generally warm greeting from locals, but some were met with hostility from an upper middle-class beach neighborhood. Residents shouted, "You're not welcome!" and "Get out!" to a group of about 100 Central Americans. Police kept the two sides apart. One protester said the hostility had nothing to do with race, but with safety. A Tijuana city official said the city is not prepared for such a large number of arrivals. Most migrant shelters are already full. The official said she hopes the Mexican federal government will offer the migrants asylum and jobs. The bulk of the migrant caravan of about 4,000 people, mostly from Honduras, is making its way through the state of Sonora and is expected to arrive in Tijuana in a few days. The San Ysidro port linking Tijuana to the U.S. city of San Diego, is the busiest crossing on the border. But it only processes about 100 asylum claims per day, meaning those in the caravan who seek that route face a long wait. Trump has sharply criticized the caravans, casting them as a "national emergency." He signed a proclamation last week declaring migrants who enter the country illegally ineligible for asylum. That goes against federal laws stating anyone is eligible for asylum, no matter how he or she entered the country. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups quickly filed a legal challenge and sought an injunction against the new rules while the case makes its way through the courts. A federal judge has set a hearing on the injunction for Nov. 19. In addition to the caravan at or nearing the border, two others have made their way to Mexico City with more than 2,000 people. Mexico said last week it had issued about 2,700 temporary visas to individuals and families, allowing them to work while their refugee applications proceed. Kenneth Schwartz contributed to this report The Trump administration hopes that the U.S.-backed fight against Islamic State in its last foothold in northeastern Syria will end within months but American forces will remain to ensure the "enduring defeat" of the militant group, a top U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday. Ambassador James Jeffrey, the U.S. special representative for Syria engagement, said the United States believes the way forward in Syria includes defeating Islamic State, reinvigorating the political process and winding down the long-running civil war. Toward that end, he said, the United States hopes to see the formation of a committee before the end of the year to work on a new constitution for Syria as agreed by the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey during their meeting in Istanbul in October. WATCH: On Syria, US Emphasizes Defeat of IS, De-Escalation of Conflict He said U.S. forces would remain in place after the coalition forces prevail over Islamic State military units to ensure the group does not "regenerate itself." "The enduring defeat means not simply smashing the last of ISIS' conventional military units holding terrain, but ensuring that ISIS doesn't immediately come back in sleeper cells, come back as an insurgent movement," Jeffrey said, using an acronym for the group. Washington also wants the withdrawal of Iranian military forces from Syria once the underlying causes of the conflict have been resolved, he said, noting that Iran's continued military presence would represent a threat to U.S. partners in the region. Jeffrey said the final ground combat is along the Euphrates River and is being led by Syrian Democratic Forces assisted by U.S. military personnel. "The fight is continuing and we hope that it will be over in a few months and that will be the last of ISIS' terrain that it holds in a quasi-conventional way," he said. Jeffrey said convening a committee under U.N. auspices to begin work on a new Syrian constitution was a "critical step" toward advancing the political process. He said the United States would hold Russia to account to use its influence to bring the government of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to the negotiating table. "Our goal, which again was supported by Russia, France, Germany and Turkey and agreed in the Oct. 27 Istanbul communique, is to establish this constitutional committee by the end of the year," he said. Jeffrey said getting Iranian forces out of Syria, where they back Assad's rule, was not a U.S. military goal but should be an outcome of the process to end the civil war and the only way to achieve lasting peace. He said newly reinstated U.S. sanctions against Iran would encourage Tehran to scale back its presence in Syria. The United States flexed new muscle in Asia Thursday with pledges to counter Chinas expansion in a contested sea and set up a second summit with the leader of North Korea, which Washington regards as a military threat to Western allies. We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told the U.S.-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore. U.S.-North Korea summit in 2019? In a meeting after the summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Pence said U.S. President Donald Trump would meet reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a second time after January 1. The pair met in June after more than a year of missile tests by the authoritarian government of Pyongyang and thunderous criticism from Washington. One thing President Moon did tell me that he believed, as President Trump believes, is that Chairman Kim wants to do something very significant here, Pence told reporters in response to a question from VOA Thursday. South China Sea dispute Pence is attending the ASEAN 2018 Summit, an annual gathering by heads of state from 10 Southeast Asian countries. Members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam claim parts of the South China Sea a waterway contested by Beijing, which has landfilled and militarized islets over the past decade. Pence said Thursday he would discuss this week steps with Southeast Asian leaders to improve their security. His comments on the South China Sea were likely aimed at reassuring Southeast Asian countries that it would keep Beijing in check, said Eduardo Araral, associate professor at the National University of Singapores public policy school. China has rattled other claimants by landfilling and militarizing some of the seas once uninhabited islands over the past decade. China has offered loans and aid for infrastructure throughout Southeast Asia some believe to stop recipient countries from challenging its maritime expansion. Washington probably plans to send more navy ships to the sea to show its open to all countries, Araral said. China usually protests those moves. Any form or reassurance that the U.S. hasnt abandoned ASEAN and China is not the only player in town would be a good reassurance, Araral said. But how these assurances translate into action could be a touchy issue. I think theres a gap between the words and the deeds. China doesnt talk that much, but you see them, boots on the ground. Chinese counter-gambit Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also raised the maritime issue at the November 11-15 summit and side events. China and ASEAN are preparing a code of conduct aimed at avoiding mishaps at sea, he said. But Li surprised some when he said earlier in the week the code would take another three years, not just one as expected after the 2017 summit, to finalize. Given the impact of the South China Sea issue on the smooth development of relations between China and some ASEAN countries, we all made active efforts to overcome this potential hindrance, Li said at the China-ASEAN summit, as quoted by Beijings official Xinhua News Agency. Playing to Southeast Asias quest for stronger external trade links an area Pence said little about this week Li expressed support for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a trade liberalization pact led by ASEAN. The deal that includes economic powerhouses China and India would cover one-third of the world GDP. The U.S. government opposes multi-country trade deals. We look forward to the early and substantive conclusion of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership that contributes to the building of more robust and effective supply and value chains in the region, Li said. Putins participation Russian President Vladimir Putin is leading a delegation to the ASEAN summit this week to vie with other powers for business opportunities in fast-growing Southeast Asia as his homelands fuel-reliant economy struggles. I think hes trying to push Russian business around the region, said Song Seng Wun, economist in the private banking unit of CIMB in Singapore. So hes certainly seeing opportunities. And the Japanese are pushing business, the Chinese are pushing business. Global growth may be slow, but this region is still looking to expand by a fairly decent pace. The world economy grew 3.15 percent last year. ASEAN countries grew at an average 4.8 percent. Putin described as useful his delegations role in a summit investment forum, according to the Russian news agency TASS. Russian technology might find a market in Southeast Asia, Song said. Russia-ASEAN trade grew 35 percent in 2017. Putin envisages nearly 60 joint projects in Southeast Asia under a roadmap of business cooperation, TASS said. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday formally returned church bells to the Philippines that were taken as war trophies over a century ago following gruesome clashes, as the U.S. seeks to close a contentious chapter in the two allies shared history. The decision to return the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines ends a decades-long quest by Manila, including by President Rodrigo Duterte, and is expected to bolster U.S.-Philippines relations. But it has upset some U.S. veterans and Wyomings delegation to the U.S. Congress, which uniformly opposed returning bells that were a memorial to the 45 U.S. soldiers who were killed during a surprise attack Sept. 28, 1901, in the central town of Balangiga. Two of the three bells have been on display at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The third bell is at a U.S. Army museum in South Korea. Courage timeless Mattis, speaking at a ceremony at the air force base attended by the Philippines ambassador to the United States, said the Philippines has proved itself a great U.S. ally in conflicts over the century since that clash. He said the sacrifices of U.S. forces would not be forgotten. To those who fear we lose something by returning these bells, please hear me when I say: Bells mark time, but courage is timeless, Mattis said. It does not fade in historys dimly lit corridors. In Manila, the Philippines foreign affairs department cheered the move. Today is a time of solemn remembrance as we pay tribute to all those who gave up their lives during the Filipino-American War, it said. Wyomings Congressional delegation, which did not attend the ceremony, issued a terse statement. We continue to oppose any efforts by the administration to move the bells to the Philippines without the support of Wyomings veterans community, Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Representative Liz Cheney told Reuters in a joint statement. All three bells will be restored and handed over to the Philippines as early as December, said Joe Felter, deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia. Surprise attack, bloody counterattack The 1901 attack in Balangiga, on the Filipino island of Samar, was seen as perhaps the worst routing of U.S. soldiers since the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, also known as Custers Last Stand. According to historians, one or more of the church bells were rung to signal the attack in Balangiga. U.S. forces took the bells after a brutal counterattack that killed hundreds to thousands of people in the Philippines, historians say. One U.S. general was said to have directed his troops to make the interior of Samar a howling wilderness. Some Wyoming veterans, like Cheryl Shannon at Veterans of Foreign Wars, said they were fine with the decision to return the bells. Were tired of it always being an issue, said Shannon, an Iraq war veteran. But Hank Miller, a veteran with the VFW who wanted to keep the bells in Wyoming, said broader support for his position had faded as it became clear Washington would return the bells. I was advised to stop fighting a losing battle and stop beating a dead horse as the bells were going back, Miller told Reuters. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold talks with incoming Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard in Houston on Thursday, according to the U.S. State Department. The department did not say what the two would discuss, but last month when Pompeo met with the current Mexican foreign minister, Luis Videgaray, in Mexico City they discussed a caravan of Central American migrants moving toward the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has called the migrants' effort to seek asylum in the United States an "invasion" and has deployed the military to the border to reinforce security measures. In the past few days up to 1,000 people from caravans of migrants have arrived in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, with a similar number expected to arrive in the next day or so. Ebrard will take up his post when leftist President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is sworn on Dec. 1. Lopez Obrador has signaled he hopes to repair bilateral ties damaged by Trump's criticism of Mexico for failing to stop migration and his demands for a border wall paid for by Mexico. Mira Ricardel, the White House deputy national security adviser, was forced out of her job on Wednesday after President Donald Trump's wife, Melania, said Ricardel did not deserve the honor of working for her husband. Ricardel "will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Sanders did not elaborate on what Ricardel's new job would be. Trump, after congressional elections last week in which his Republican Party saw its power eroded, is also preparing to oust Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen as part of a post-election Cabinet shakeup, several U.S. officials said. Ricardel is a former Commerce Department official hand-picked by Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, to serve as his deputy. She ran afoul of Melania Trump and her staff in negotiations over the first lady's trip to Africa in October and the use of government resources for the trip, a senior administration official said. Ricardel has also built a reputation in the White House for berating staff, several sources said. Melania Trump's office took the extraordinary step of issuing a statement on Tuesday saying that Ricardel should be ousted. While first ladies historically have been known to pressure their husbands over official business, they do not typically issue statements about it. "It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's spokeswoman, had said. Bolton had fought behind the scenes to keep Ricardel from being forced out but ultimately lost the battle, two officials said. One year ago, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe resigned after 37 years in power. Some Zimbabweans say not much has changed since then, despite vows by new President Emmerson Mnangagwa to allow more freedoms and fix the economy. Officials of the ruling ZANU-PF party say Mnangagwa needs more time. Zimbabweans last November took to the streets to celebrate after Robert Mugabe gave in to military-led pressure and street protests and resigned, ending his nearly four decades in power. Protester Omali Magama hoped after three years as a vendor, his bachelor's degree in archaeology from the University of Zimbabwe was now going pay off. But a year later, he still sells hair accessories and applies makeup in a stall in Harare's central business district. He is bitter toward Mugabe and his successor Mnangagwa. "Comparing what I studied and what I am doing now, I feel robbed actually and kinda degraded," he said. "What I am doing can be done by any guy. You do not need a degree to do that." He said when November came last year, "it was a very emotional moment" for him. "We thought finally change has come," he said. "I could not contain the joy. We thought what we have been waiting finally come. But a few months later, up to this day, it was just an illusion." Tafadzwa Mugwadi, a supporter of the ruling ZANU-PF party, said people should have faith in Mnangagwa's administration. He believes everything is pointing to a positive future for Zimbabwe. "There were a lot of things which were happening in our country before this dispensation," he said, "But here we are with President Emmerson Mnangagwa. A lot of industries are re-opening. If you go in mining areas, there is a hive of activity that shows that Zimbabwe is restoring production once more; we are moving through the right channels." Dissent and press freedom When Mugabe resigned, many Zimbabweans hoped the government would tolerate more dissent and allow freedom of the press. But the early signs are not encouraging. Media Institute of Southern Africa Director Tabani Moyo says restrictions on the media remain in place. "It is clearly painting a picture of where we are headed," he projected. "Though there are positive pronouncements that they are interested in moving with speed in reforming the media sector, in terms of practicalities they remain vague and they are nor showing any signs of movement. ... So there is no difference whatsoever in terms of where we are coming from the Mugabe regime and the Mnangagwa regime." A ZANU-PF official said the Mnangagwa government needs more time to undo nearly 40 years of Mugabe's rule.In the meantime, the jobless, like Magama, say they can not wait long. GABORONE (Reuters) - Around 400 buffaloes drowned after stampeding into the Chobe River along the border between Botswana and Namibia, possibly while running away from lions, the tourism ministry said. The Chobe River flows along the northeastern border of the Chobe National Park, known for the large breeding herds of elephants, giraffe, sable and African buffalo, which make it a major tourist attraction in Southern Africa. Initial investigations Botswana and Namibia suggest that an exceptionally large buffalo herd was grazing in Namibia before they stampeded into the Chobe River. The buffalo trampled on each other and fell into the river from its steep banks, the ministry said in a statement. The cause of the stampede is still uncertain and under investigation. However, initial indications are that they were being chased by a pride of lions, Botswanas Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism said. This is not an unusual occurrence as mass drownings have occurred before in the Chobe River notably off Sedudu Island. (Editing by James Macharia, Larry King) The Democrats have captured another seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Political novice Andy Kim was declared the winner Wednesday from the third congressional district in New Jersey. He defeated incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur. Kim was a national security aide in the Obama White House. He is of Korean heritage and will be New Jersey's first Asian-American congressman. Meanwhile, votes are still being counted more than a week after midterm elections for the House and Senate. The day after the election, Trump boasted that "It was a big day yesterday. The Republican Party defied history to expand our Senate majority while significantly beating expectations in the House." "It was very close to a complete victory," he trumpeted. As results rolled in on election night, it appeared Republicans might add three or four seats to their current 51-49 Senate majority. But a Republican lead for a contest in the southwestern state of Arizona collapsed, giving Democrat Kyrsten Sinema a seat that been held by Republicans for 30 years. With Senate races in Florida and Mississippi yet to be decided, Republicans at most will add two seats to their majority. In the House of Representatives, Democratic candidates are faring even better. Democrats took back the House for the first time in eight years, and now have a 226-200 edge. But Democrats appear poised to add to their majority come January in the new Congress, leading in six of the nine undecided races where absentee and mail-in ballots are still being counted, all in districts held by Republicans in the current Congress. Incoming House Democratic leaders have vowed to immediately investigate the relationship between Trump's businesses and the federal government. They want to examine his tax returns that he has refused to release and plan to call on Trump officials to justify government policies they have adopted in the last two years of the administration. While they have been in control of both chambers of Congress, Republican lawmakers rarely held hearings on Trump policies that presented the possibility of embarrassing the Republican president and his administration. Trump is calling the nascent Democratic investigations "Presidential Harassment," and said the prospective probes have given a headache to national stock exchanges this week, leading to stock price losses. Races for governorships in Georgia and Florida remain undecided amid late vote-counting and recounts, as is the key Senate race in Florida, where Governor Rick Scott, a Republican, is holding on to a 12,500-vote edge over the incumbent Democrat, Senator Bill Nelson. In the Florida race, local election officials are under a Thursday deadline to complete their recount of votes. The Mississippi Senate race is headed to a runoff election on November 27. In the Florida contest, Scott and Nelson have filed competing lawsuits on various aspects of the vote counting. But the state agency overseeing elections has rejected claims by Scott and Trump of fraud, Despite the uncertainty of the outcome, Scott attended meetings in Washington for new lawmakers. Trump has provided a running commentary on the Florida contest, at one point suggesting that Scott, along with Congressman Ron DeSantis, the Republican candidate looking to succeed him as governor ought to be declared the winners because they were ahead in the initial vote counting on election night. "When will Bill Nelson concede in Florida?" Trump said on Twitter. "The characters running Broward and Palm Beach voting will not be able to 'find' enough votes, too much spotlight on them now!" Trump was referring to two Democratic strongholds along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline where Nelson, as more votes are counted, has cut into Scott's big-lead. "Rick Scott was up by 50,000+ votes on Election Day, now they 'found' many votes and he is only up 15,000 votes," Trump complained. "'The Broward Effect.' How come they never find Republican votes?" In another tweet, he sarcastically said, "Lets blame the Russians and demand an immediate apology from President Putin!" President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told Donald Trump that France was the United States' ally and not a vassal state after the U.S. president attacked him in a series of tweets that demonstrated how much their relationship had soured. In five posts sent on Tuesday after a visit to Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Trump reminded France of its near-defeat by Germany in two wars, took a swipe at its wine industry, and mentioned Macron's falling approval ratings. Trump had earlier criticized Macron's suggestion that a European army was needed, in part, to reduce reliance on the U.S. military. Asked in an interview on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier whether he was offended by Trump's tweets, Macron talked at length about the long military alliance between the two countries, from America's War of Independence onward. "At every moment of our history, we were allies, so between allies, respect is due," Macron told TF1 television. "I don't think the French expect me to respond to tweets but to continue this important history," he added. When pressed, Macron dismissed Trump's comments as an attempt to play to a domestic audience, in the wake of Trump's losses in mid-terms elections. "I think he's playing politics, and I let him play American politics." But asked whether there was a deeper misunderstanding between the two countries after Macron's comments about a European army infuriated Trump, Macron said being a U.S. ally did not mean being subservient. "The United States are our historic ally and will continue to be. It's the ally with which we take all the risks, with which we carry out the most complicated operations. But being an ally doesn't mean being a vassal state," Macron said. The public dispute was in sharp contrast with the friendly tone that had been a hallmark of the relationship between the ex-banker and the former real estate developer since Macron was elected in 2017. After being invited to Paris to attend the Bastille Day military parade in July last year and receiving Macron and his wife for a state visit in Washington in January, Trump had praised Macron as a "great guy" and "a friend of mine." Macron had struggled to convert the 'bonhomie' into influence. Trump and Macron disagreed on many international issues, including the Paris climate accord, the Iran nuclear deal or Trump's decision to slap tariffs on European metals exports. But the personal rhetoric between the two men had always been friendly, in contrast with previous Franco-American disputes when French-bashing was sometimes on full display, such as during the war in Iraq that France opposed. Although Macron's response was restrained on Wednesday, his government spokesman showed Trump's criticism had struck a chord. When asked earlier about Trump's tweets, French government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said they were posted on the day France was mourning the anniversary of militant attacks in Paris. "Yesterday was November 13, we were marking the murder of 130 of our people," Griveaux said. "So I'll reply in English: 'common decency' would have been appropriate." More than a dozen times in the past seven days, President Donald Trump has alleged, contrary to evidence, that the recount of Florida's elections for governor and the U.S. Senate has been marred by fraud. "Many ballots are missing or forged," he tweeted on Monday. "Ballots massively infected. The unsubstantiated allegations could help Trump bolster a narrative that appeals to his core supporters ahead of his expected 2020 bid for a second term - that of an aggrieved president at risk of being cheated by what he often decries at rallies as an unfair system. It may also stoke doubts among his loyal base of supporters over the legitimacy of elections - a potentially dangerous tactic, especially if he were to adopt a similar stance in response to razor-close results in the 2020 presidential election. "For a long time, the American democratic process has been based on the idea that if an election has an outcome that one side doesn't like, it's still considered legitimate," said Tom Pepinsky, a professor of government at Cornell University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank. "If there's ever been a time for elected politicians to draw a line in the sand ... this is it. Fellow Republicans including Florida's outgoing governor, Rick Scott, whose Senate campaign is the subject of a recount mandated under state law, incumbent U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and lower-ranking officials have amplified Trump's charges. Researchers have long concluded that voter fraud is extraordinarily rare in U.S. elections. The final result of the match-up between Scott and three-term Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson will not affect the balance of power in the Senate, where Republicans increased their majority in the Noveber 6 elections even as Democrats seized control of the House of Representatives. Sowing seeds of doubt "What we're seeing now is a new and potentially dangerous development," said Jonathan Brater, a voting rights lawyer at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, referring to a call by Trump on Florida officials to abandon the recount. "Not only would that tactic risk throwing out legitimate votes if it is successful, it also sows seeds of doubt about our entire democratic process in the minds of millions of people. Narrow margins of victory for Scott and Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis over Democrat Andrew Gillum triggered the recount under state law last week. It stirred memories of Florida's disputed results in the 2000 presidential election that Republican George W. Bush ultimately won after the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the recount. Trump has said the Florida election should be called in favor of Scott and DeSantis because "large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged." He cited no evidence. A senior White House official said Trump was pressing the issue out of real concern. "He genuinely thinks there is corruption there," the official said. Another source close to the White House said the president was following the lead of Scott and Rubio. "He's echoing in his Trump way the message on this, which is to be aggressive," the source said. 'It's rigged' Florida law enforcement officials have said they have seen no evidence of fraud during voting or the recount. Vote totals often change even after an election, as absentee, provisional and overseas ballots are recorded. Trump supporters who protested on Tuesday outside county offices where votes were being counted rejected that idea. "It's rigged, this is absolute system corruption and everybody is playing dumb," said Sofia Manolesco, a 49-year-old fitness trainer who said she had voted for all Republicans on her ballot and wore a red "Trump 2020" hat. Following his 2016 victory, Trump falsely claimed that millions of illegal immigrants had voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. U.S. politicians, particularly Republicans, have long cited concerns about fraud to justify laws restricting access to polls. But independent researchers have documented only a handful of cases over the years. Justin Levitt, a professor at the Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, tracked just 31 credible allegations of voter impersonation in U.S. elections from 2000 to 2014. In that time, more than 1 billion ballots were cast, Levitt found. There have been some documented instances of problems in this year's Florida voting that could benefit both parties. In Broward County, where Democrats typically do well, nearly two dozen rejected ballots were counted with a batch of valid ones. The Florida secretary of state's office said it had received reports that voters in Bay County, a Republican-leaning area hit hard by Hurricane Michael, may have been permitted to vote by email, which is prohibited under state law. Douglas Heye, a Republican strategist and former top aide to former Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, said he doubted there would be political fallout from Trump's rhetoric. "Trump claimed the last election was rigged, until he won," he said. "We will likely be talking about a million things between now and the 2020 elections. These tweets may be just a distant memory. Angela Bassett is a treasure who can pull off Lady Macbeth at the drop of a hat and so its not at all surprising that shes incredibly good at narrating nature documentaries, in fact she should probably just narrate them all from here on out. In a clip from National Geographic Channels documentary The Flood, set in Botswanas Okavango Delta, Bassett describes a leopard pouncing on an impala and says the word impala like she is the leopard doing the pouncing. Its thrilling stuff. If you want to hear more of Bassetts narration, The Flood premieres Sunday, November 25 at 8/7c on National Geographic. Related Isabel Allende. Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images On Wednesday night Isabel Allende became the first Spanish-language author to be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at the National Book Awards. And an obvious highlight of the night was her acceptance speech, which bounced effortlessly from bawdy, self-deprecating humor to heart-wrenching truths about the function of writing as an art in our current political age. She began by accepting the award on behalf of millions of people like myself who have come to this country in search of a new life and continued on to earn a standing ovation from the audience. You can read her speech in its entirety below: Do you have an encyclopedia or a telephone book so that I can stand on something? Well thank you, thank you so much for this unexpected honor that I accept humbly, on behalf of millions of people like myself who have come to this country in search of a new life. I have always been a foreigner, I was born in Peru and raised in Chile in my grandfathers house. I followed my stepfather in his travels as a diplomat. I was a political refugee for 13 years in Venezuela after the military coup of 1973 that ended a long tradition of democracy in Chile. And I have been an immigrant in the United States for more than 30 years. Being chronically uprooted has some advantages. Most of my writing comes from nostalgia, loss, and separation, from an incurable desire to belong in a place. I look Chilean and I dream, cook, make love, and write in Spanish. Make love: it would be ridiculous panting in English. My lover doesnt speak a word of Spanish. I have a lover at 76, you wouldnt believe, yeah. Hes a brave man. As a stranger, I dont take anything for granted. I observe and listen carefully. I ask questions and I question everything. For my writing I dont need to invent much, I look around and take notes, Im a collector of experiences. I draw on other peoples lives, especially the strong and passionate women that I meet everywhere. I draw on the sorrow and the struggles of every day, on the joy of being alive and not afraid of death. Im not afraid of life either. I refuse to live in fear and let alone to vote in fear. This is a dark time my friends, its a time of war in many places, and potential war everywhere. A time of nationalism and racism, of cruelty and fanaticism, a time where the values and principles that sustain our civilization are under siege. Its a time of violence and poverty for many. Masses of people who are forced to leave everything that is familiar to them and undertake dangerous journeys to save their lives. Remember the little 3-year-old Syrian boy whose body the ocean washed up onto a beach in Turkey in 2015? His name was Alan Kurdi. He could have been your son or my grandson. That same day, his father also lost his wife and another child in the inflatable boat that took them across the sea as they escaped the war in Syria. Alan Kurdi symbolized the plight of millions of desperate people. For an instant the world was shaken by the image of the dead toddler on the beach, but the world quickly forgot. I write to preserve memory against the erosion of oblivion and to bring people together. I believe in the power of stories. If we listen to another persons story, if we tell our own story, we start to heal from division and hatred. Because we realize that the similarities that bring us together are many more than the differences that separate us. I also write to understand. What is writing after all but an attempt to sort out the confusion of life. Often I dont know why I feel compelled to write a certain story and it is only later that I find out that it is connected to some part of my life, or my psyche, that I needed to understand and sometimes to heal. For those without roots in a place, memory is essential to maintain a sense of continuity. Nobody witnesses the length of our lives, we need to remember. And what would a writer do without an acute sense of the past, without an obsession with memory? I dont know how much of my memory is actual fact and how much I have invented. Maybe I remember what never happened. Memory is subjective, it is conditioned by emotion and belief. Our own story is also subjective. We choose what to highlight and what to ignore or forget. We select the adjectives to describe our journey and in doing so we create our own legend. I have created for myself the bigger than life legend, probably to compensate for my short stature. In this land, everybody descends from someone who came from another place. The only difference between you and me, unless theres a Native American person in the audience, is that your grandparents got here first. I am just part of this massive diaspora, and although Im critical of many things about this country, I am proud to be an American citizen. I have received much more than I ever dreamed of, and I have been offered the opportunity to give something back. This national award is an extraordinary gift for me, it means that maybe Im not an alien after all. It means that maybe its time to plant my roots and relax. Maybe I have found a place where I can belong. Maybe Im not going anywhere anymore. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images Lit Parade is Vultures regular guide to what the book world is writing, talking, and getting exercised about. This week: Michelle Obamas Becoming. An A-list celebrity tell-all is always an Occasion for the publishing world you know, Today show drop-ins, fellow celeb Instagram endorsements, photos in all your feeds of fans tearfully clutching copies. A memoir by a former First Lady ratchets up the intensity even more (anyone remember Betty Fords gut-baring Betty: A Glad Awakening?). And when its the first book from the most popular First Lady in recent memory an inspiring speaker and accomplished attorney, the OG J.Crew fashion icon, and the coiner of When they go low, we go high dont expect to look at a screen for the next two weeks without seeing that books cover, and cover girl, flashing back at you. Despite Publishers Weeklys assessment that the book was, financially, a gamble, theres been a frenzy over Michelle Obamas Becoming since Penguin Random House announced the deal back in March 2017 (to the alleged tune of $65 million for this book and an upcoming memoir by President Obama). Just a few days after the midterm elections (nice timing Mrs. O), shes out on a ten-city tour, hosted by the likes of Oprah and Reese Witherspoon. Obama is on the cover of this weeks People and the December issue of Elle, wherein she and Oprah sit down together for the accompanying story. Becoming has a first run of 3 million copies. As John Williams writes in the New York Times, The publishing industry might have to think back to Harry Potters heyday for a book that has garnered as much attention as the former first ladys has. Is the book any good? Former first ladies arent famous for their scintillating prose. NPR claims that this is one of those rare political books with truly excellent writing. Vox says that it is for the most part a safe and anodyne political memoir that does not aspire to any more ambitious territory. But it is enormously effective at distilling Obamas poise, intelligence, and warmth into a single 421-page package. Honestly, most people and critics dont care if the language sings. Theyre too impressed by the perfect balance Mrs. Obama strikes personal, but not an open book; inspiring, but admittedly human in her faults. Its been her calling card for years, and in Becoming she pulls it off yet again. Yes, its full of little tidbits that have media outlets reveling in a joyous delirium of clicks Obama explains why she didnt sweat over that little snafu in which she hugged the queen of England, defends yet another hug (and her relationship) with George W. Bush, and tells the story of how Malia begged her parents to be cool on her prom night. And there was the more serious revelation (broken early by the AP) that shed suffered a miscarriage and conceived her two daughters through IVF. But the main subject of critical discussion is what she is and isnt willing to share. The Washington Post notes that its not a Washington read full of gossip and political score-settling. In one of the multitude of pieces the Times has run about the book in recent days, Alexandra Alter explains that Mrs. Obama, not surprisingly, doesnt let her guard down entirely, a protective posture that is consistent with her public persona. When it comes to Obamas confessions about her marriage (she and Barack attended counseling) and her fertility issues, an NPR review noted, Its clear that the point of telling these stories isnt to dish Rather, one gets the sense that Michelle Obama has grappled deeply and is still grappling with questions about what it means to enmesh two lives together. At the first stop on her tour, Oprah exclaimed that the book let us experience the fullness of you. But then, while describing her years in the White House, this is where her protective walls seem to go up. If this memoir were to be released almost two years into a Hillary Clinton presidency, rather than a Trump administration, its hard to imagine that wed be as delighted by her restraint. But now shes an anomaly, a throwback to a not-long-ago time. As Stacia Brown wrote in her gushing piece for the Times, Why Michelle Obama Is Everything, The brand of transparency offered in the book the kind Mrs. Obama often had to temper during her time as first lady is a reminder of what made women like us feel so deeply endeared to her in the first place. So whats not to like? Shes a joy; she makes people happy, damn it! The book is a tonic were all happy to take a swig of right now. Photo: Canal de las Estrellas With the 2004 film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, director Alfonso Cuaron attempted the difficult task of adapting a story by one of the most famous fantasy authors in the world, marrying his filmmaking sensibility to someone elses distinctive vision in the hopes of finding a rich middle ground between the two. It was an unequivocal success, bringing an emotional intensity and visual artistry to the Harry Potter series not evident in its first two entries, proving that Cuaron could deliver a commercial hit for a major studio, and setting the stage for Cuaron to make the daring Children of Men. But this wasnt his first time trying to pull off such a feat. Fifteen years earlier, a much greener Cuaron attempted a similar trick with a Stephen King adaptation thats since become a footnote in Cuarons career, but at the time represented a big step up for the director. Its also a fascinating look at a creator laboring to find his voice under trying circumstances. Running for over 100 episodes between 1987 and 1990, La Hora Marcada, brought a Twilight Zonelike horror anthology to Mexican television. In the process, it gave early shots to Cuaron, Cuarons film school cinematographer friend Emmanuel Lubezki, Guillermo del Toro and others, offering a chance to wow viewers with tales of the uncanny and the supernatural so long as they worked within a limited budget. Cuaron would direct six episodes, five of which were co-written with his brother and frequent collaborator Carlos Cuaron. The Cuarons made their debut on the show with the 1989 episode A Veces Regresan, an adaptation of Kings 1974 short story Sometimes They Come Back (even though Kings name is nowhere to be found in the credits). Its a loose adaptation, but one that keeps the broad strokes of Kings story, a tight, disturbing tale of childhood trauma and supernatural revenge. Sometimes They Come Back first appeared in the March 1974 issue of the mens magazine Cavalier, when King wasnt even famous enough to rate a mention on the cover alongside such stories as Have American Women Had It? and A Collage of Black Beauties. It tells the story of Jim, a man applying to a teaching job after suffering a nervous breakdown spurred on by the childhood death of his brother Wayne at the hands of some bullies in 1957. Though Jim seems to have gotten it together, he finds his sanity threatened when the bullies, having seemingly not aged a day, begin showing up in one of his classes. In time, they kill Jims wife, forcing Jim to call on a demonic force to defeat them, a force that takes the form of the long-departed Wayne. Because sometimes, like they title says, they come back. An early example of both Kings use of 50s greaser toughs a fixture of The Body, Christine, It, and other stories to come and concern with the way the past bleeds into the present, its potentially good fodder for a TV-length adaptation. (And was adapted as a TV movie starring Tim Matheson in 1991.) Cuaron doesnt quite get there, but its easy to see some of the ambition of his future work in his attempt, which can be found in two parts on YouTube. (A disclaimer: This is without subtitles and my command of Spanish is terrible. I recruited a friend to help with the translation, but she also struggled with some of the dialogue due to the poor sound quality, which seems to be more the fault of the original episode than any issue with the upload.) Cuarons first choice is to streamline the story and emphasize the best bit of production value available to him: an empty amusement park where young Juan and his doomed brother are having the time of their lives before the arrival of their tormentors. Cuaron, too, seems to be enjoying himself, trying out a long tracking shot along a chain link fence, then following the boys as they use rocks to play midway games, climb the hills of a roller coaster, and pretend that one rides stationary fighter plane cars are deep into combat mode. Cuaron underscores that moment jet noises and camera movements that capture the boys excitement before pulling back to a stationary shot that shows theyre not moving at all, just rocking their cars back and forth. Then: trouble. Three greasers show up, their leader, Eddie (Eduardo Palomo), clutching a candy apple and promising to tell them stories. Eventually, the encounter turns violent and Eddie stabs Juans brother to death (though its hard to tell what happens without rewinding this bit a few times) then grabs Juan, at which point a previously unseen policeman shoots Eddie in the head. Demasiada! Juan cries. Its too much! Flash-forward to 25 years later. The now-grown Juan (Miguel Angel Ferriz) is a dedicated father to a daughter named Andrea (Frida Hauptvogel) who one day returns home carrying a familiar-looking candy apple. Despite being in the the midst of a seemingly difficult divorce, Juan seems to have put the past behind him. But the past has other ideas. One-by-one, his greaser foes show up. In the films scariest image, Eddie looks at a sleeping Andrea as a the soundtrack fills with the song and sounds of the earlier amusement park scene. Its the closest Cuaron gets to channeling the spirit of Kings story, suggesting that the echoes of past trauma never fully fade with the passing of time. The seemingly spectral Eddie gets that too: One kidnapping later, were back at the amusement park, where Juan again struggles with the bullies, this time while trying to protect his daughter. In another use of echoes, Cuaron repeats some shots from the episodes opening moments only this time the rides dont stay silent. When Eddie threatens to pounce on Andrea as he did Juans brother, hes run over by a roller coaster. Enter the brothers ghost, who gives a cute little Aint I a stinker? shrug before fading back into the afterlife. The end. A Veces Regresan was Cuarons first work as a director since his film school days, and it would fit the narrative of Cuaron as a born filmmaker to say his genius is evident here. Its not, though if you stretch just a little you could make a connection between characters being haunted by their past and Cuarons masterful new film Roma, a kind of personal journey through the past and the childhood ghosts that remain a part of his life. (Okay, maybe you have to stretch a lot to get there.) The episode would go on to play a key role in Cuarons professional and personal life, however. In a 2015 Los Angeles Times story exploring the friendship between Cuaron, Del Toro, and fellow Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Inarritu, Cuaron recalled the first time he met Del Toro who asked him if he made that show inspired by the Stephen King story. When Cuaron said yes, they spent some time enthusing about the source material before Del Toro said, Let me ask you something. That story was so great, so how come your show sucks so much? In truth, it doesnt suck that much, even if it sometimes bears an aesthetic resemblance to the Ben Stiller Show sketch Low Budget Tales of Cliched Horror. But it does raise an intriguing possibility: What if Cuaron took another shot at adapting King? His career has tended to strike a one-for-them, one-for-me balance, and with Roma an autobiographical story shot in black-and-white hes coming off his most one-for-me project yet. His next one-for-them will coincide with a significant upturn in the quality of King adaptations thanks films like It, Geralds Game, and the King-inspired series Castle Rock. Could, as in the story, the past repeat itself? If so, what an inspired twist that could be. Thanks to Monica Castillo for translation help. The Last Supper found dead in a ditch! Photo: Kevin Connolly via Instagram The Pussy Posse, as christened by New York writer Nancy Jo Sales in 1998, takes up an inordinate amount of space in my brain. There were, more or less, a half-dozen of them: DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Q-Tip, David Blaine, Kevin Connolly, and Lukas Haas. (As of late, theyve started going by Wolf Pack, a rebrand that doesnt earn the same amount of fascination any group of white boys wearing Sperry Top-Siders and whove seen half of Wolf of Wall Street can call themselves a wolf pack! but the Pussy Posse is forever.) Im always thinking about them: Connolly dancing at his John Travolta movies premiere (which none of the Posse attended an important detail that went largely unreported!), and also Connolly not being able to afford anything at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundations annual gala. Orlando Blooms sixth man status. Justin Therouxs dueling West Coast group of bros! Leo has the Oscar and the unanswered texts to Rihanna and the mania, but it has been my private (and correct) opinion that hes the groups social secretary. The reigning member isnt the one with an Oscar, or the one from Entourage, or even the one who was played by Michael Cera in Mollys Game. Its Widows own Lukas Haas. Widows fulfills every one of my fantasies, including but not limited to a supergroup of actresses who wanna rob, Viola Davis and Cynthia Erivo having a staring contest, Elizabeth Debicki wearing gold, a crime-fighting dog, and Daniel Kaluuya simply staring. In Widows, Haas plays David, a fancy architect with a lot of money and a last name he doesnt want you to know. (Hes also the only man to be completely ogled by Steve McQueens camera: Who knew Lukas Haas would be the Fassbender of Widows, ex-Vulture Kyle Buchanan texted me after I told him the movie had snatched my wig clean off.) David is powerful and lonely, and goes on a date with recently widowed Alice (Debicki). Its unsettling how Haass performance as David walks the fine line between calm hes had arrangements like this before, he tells a nervous Alice, and seems genuinely patient and icy indifference. The escort/sugar baby relationship is well-trodden, but in Widows, its another keenly observed transactional relationship. Its an extraordinary performance, that one, because its not an actor providing judgment on that character, Iain Canning told me at a reception for the movie in November. You might have a judgment on that character, but hes definitely the product of an environment that has allowed him to believe that every relationship can be transactional. Which brings me back to my favorite random pop-culture theory, which I will die defending: It is Lukas Haas, not Leo DiCaprio or Tobey Maguire, who is the reigning member of the Pussy Posse. It is Lukas Haas. I, enlightened, am ready to share my thinking about this truth, which is supported by facts. Lukas Haas is not a supporting player in Hollywoods most notorious clique; he is its star! With whom else in Hollywood can you draw a straight line from the UGK-Outkast collab Intl Players Anthem to literal international player Harrison Ford? Only with Lukas Haas, who was the child star of Witness and a white groomsman in the money on the dresser, drive a Kompressor magnum opus. In the music video, Andre 3000 is preparing to walk down the aisle despite protests from his friends and old flames. There, in the background, is the weddings only white guest: Haas, playing a white groomsman at the nuptials. (Andre and Haas have reportedly been friendly for some time, and the Intl Players Anthem video like Roses, in which Haas also pops up is populated with just friends we would call up, Andre told XXL in 2012.) Haas has made cameos in videos for other songs and bands just dissimilar enough to delight. Hes popped up as a backup dancer in Outkasts West Side Story revival in the Roses video; the defining music video of my youthful angst, Welcome to the Black Parade; and Death Cab for Cuties Cath which was featured prominently in an episode of The Hills. Other random pop-culture ephemera also graced with a Lukas Haas cameo: Lindsay Lohans list of men shes slept with. Theres Haas, right between Joaquin Phoenix and Nico Tortorella. Because I am also secretly the coolest member of my friend group, Lukas Haas makes me feel seen: I love that he keeps popping up in the most unexpected places, and fall 2018 with supporting roles in Widows and First Man is the zenith of this talent. Its his time! WAAY 31 is learning more about a mother and hardworking woman killed on the job at the FreightCar America plant in Colbert County. Family members provided a photo of Angel Foster and her son. She was only 21-years-old when she died Tuesday night in an accident at the plant in Cherokee. Angel Foster and her son Angel Foster and her son Officials said emergency workers went to the plant in Cherokee a little after 9 p.m. Tuesday night. Foster was taken to Helen Keller Hospital where she died. Officials with FreightCar America said the plant will be closed for at least 24 hours. They have called in OSHA to investigate the fatal accident. "The plant is closed both day shift and night shift. What we do tomorrow will depend on how the day goes," said David Benson, the Vice President of Human Resources for the plant in Cherokee. Benson said it's been an incredibly sad day for the company and everyone who worked with Foster. "Our focus right now is really on the family and our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we would ask for everyone in the community to have them in their thoughts and prayers right now as well," said Benson. Nationally, FreightCar America has had a total of seven OSHA complaints filed against them in three different states since 2014, including Alabama. According to OSHA's website, the three Alabama complaints are from 2017 and 2018 against FreightCar America's plant in Colbert County. The two serious complaints against the plant were filed in 2018. In April, OSHA cited the plant for having a serious offense where, "Employees were exposed to slip and fall hazards when conducting welding work on top of the roller bed platform." A second complaint filed in March of 2018 was another serious offense saying, the company failed to secure a 400 pound wall paneling. In total, the company paid over $17,000 in fines for those two complaints. Officials have not said how Foster was injured or what part of the plant she worked in. Harvest Elementary School students were given a grant on Thursday from the University of Alabama in Huntsville that will provide a more hands-on experience when it comes to learning about engineering. Fifth grade students have been learning about issues in other countries, including animals falling into wells. Five engineering students made a small model of a tool that could help solve the real-world problem. The Women In Defense organization funded the project in the hope that things like this will help to increase interest in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. One University of Alabama in Huntsville engineer says the project gives students a new way of learning. "Lectures and books can get boring, especially for children. They really want to be in the middle of everything and interacting, so you want something they can really play with and get excited about," Savannah Grosh, a UAH engineering student, said. This is the second project the university has created and donated to Harvest Elementary School. It will be available for second through fifth grade students to study. Today, the Huntsville Police Department honored fallen police officer, Keith Earle. Officer Earle died in April after being injured in a wreck while on duty. Less than an hour before that wreck, he was involved in another wreck. Officer Earle's brick is now laid with other Huntsville police officers who have died in the line of duty. Huntsville Police also plan to add a memorial at the north precinct. "Today is not about grieving his loss. It's about celebrating his service, his sacrifice to professionalism and his sacrifice to the city," said Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray. McMurray remembers the time he was trying to chase three teenagers for stealing items in north Huntsville. He figured what better person to call other than officer Earle. Earle worked in the north Huntsville precinct for 26 years. Captain Jeffery Rice, who worked with him, said he built a relationship with the community. "Because Keith did know everyone, he was able to help solve crime and he was able to make the community a safer and better place," said Captain Jeffery Rice. Officer Earle's widow along with McMurray unveiled the memorial brick. Officers and family laid roses on top of his name. "Brother, we appreciate you. We love you. Thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for this community. Thank you for being a selfless servant. Thank you for being a good friend," Captain Rice said. Officer Earle will also be remembered at the 2019 National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. next May. Maxwell Hayslip, a 26-year-old resident of Irondale, Alabama, was arrested by Huntsville Police on Wednesday for a bank robbery in Lexington, Kentucky. Police received a call around 8:00 a.m. that involved Hayslip sleeping in a parked vehicle at a lot at University Drive and Paramount Drive. They arrested him for possession of meth. During the arrest, police found possible evidence of other crimes which led them to contact law enforcement officials in Kentucky. In communicating with them, it was confirmed that Hayslip was a suspect in a bank robbery case in their jurisdiction. The call to police came from a woman who said she was concerned for Hayslip's safety. She said she was worried that when she looked at him that maybe he'd overdosed. "He didn't know where he was at, time of day, that kind of stuff," said Anthony Baisden, a Huntsville Police officer. Hayslip is in the Madison County Jail awaiting his extradition to face charges in Lexington, Kentucky. A man is behind bars after a rash of car break-ins at several hotels in Athens. Police say William Clark was spotted in a hotel parking lot on Highway 72 after stealing thousands of dollars worth of tools over the weekend. WAAY 31 spoke with one man who stayed in two different hotels in Athens and had the same trailer broken into at both hotels. He didn't want to go on camera, but other travelers said they were surprised to hear that something like this would happen in Athens. I just cant believe that, because this is such a safe area. This is our stopping point," said Carol Berry. Berry and her husband travel from Tennessee to southern Alabama frequently and have stayed in some of the hotels that were targeted. They are always pleasant. They usually have good, nice rooms, clean, and hot meals for breakfast. We always felt safe," Berry said. Police say Clark's spree netted him more than $11,000 worth of tools from trucks and trailers in the hotel parking lots, but thanks to tips and hotel surveillance video, police caught him. Berry says the incident wont keep her from staying in Athens in the future. The hotels, they know theyre doing the right thing, and I believe that the officers and those in law enforcement in this area are going to do their jobs. I would say Id feel safe staying here again, said Berry. She says, from now on, when she stays over night, shell definitely keep an eye out. Ill take precautionary measures to make sure that anything of value will be taken in, but I dont feel like Ill be threatened in any way. I feel like well check our surroundings and know that this is a nice stopping point for usa nice area with good people. Athens police tell WAAY 31 they recovered most of the stolen property, but this is still an ongoing investigation. The Marshall County Commission decided it will not pay for extra supplies ordered. The county attorney said at Wednesday's meeting if the sheriff's office doesn't pay the bill, the supplier could be out of luck. "They can't sue you for it, but do bear in mind this is a needed vendor in the future," said Maze. Sheriff-elect Phil Sims takes office in January and would be inheriting the budget that includes the extra supply expense. "It is going to be tight, but I'm going to be working with the county commission. They're going to be working with me," said Phil Sims. We know the current administration spent $22,000 on toilet paper alone; the budget for all supplies for the whole year is only $15,000. "I can guarantee going forward after January 2019, my administration, we will not have that problem," said Sims. The commission says the toilet paper ordered was a special stock item, so the vendor won't take all of it back. Regardless, the county doesn't even have the capacity to store the extra two years' worth of paper and keep it dry. The original bill was around $30,000, but the commission negotiated it down to $15,000. After last years winter weather that one meteorologist at a conference last weekend called boring, this upcoming winter for the Pacific Northwest will be largely the same a little drier and warmer than normal. Four Portland weathermen spoke to a crowd on Oct. 27 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. While one recapped last years weather, three offered their own predictions of what we can expect with this winters weather. The weathermen offered their predictions at the 26 Annual Weather Forecast Conference, which is sponsored each year at OMSI by the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (www.ametsoc.org/chapters/oregon). In a disclaimer, Steve Pierce, Oregon AMS president, said the Oregon AMS doesnt endorse any of the speakers. Still, each speaker defended his prediction from last year and all of those predictions were fairly close to what actually occurred during the 2017-18 winter. The 2017-18 winter, the second consecutive La Nina winter, brought warmer and drier than normal weather to Western Oregon, according to Mark Nelson, meteorologist at KPTV/KPDX TV in Portland. And this winters prediction is similar to varying degrees warmer and drier than normal and with some variation according to Tyree Wilde, meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NOAA) in Portland, Rod Hill, meteorologist with KGW-TV, and Kyle Dittmer, hydrologist and meteorologist with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. However, the difference in the forecast among the three weathermen is that Wilde and Hill are predicting that a mild El Nino will develop due to rising surface sea temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, while Dittmer is predicting an ENSO neutral year. According to NOAA, El Nino and La Nina together are called the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Each is a periodic departure from normal sea surface temperatures (SST) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. We see an El Nino developing in the equatorial Pacific, Wilde said. He predicted about a 75 percent probability that there will be a weak El Nino during the winter. No models show La Nina this year, and the El Nino should return to neutral by next summer. He added that it could be the cooler central Pacific type of El Nino known as a Modecki El Nino. In a weak El Nino, SSTs in the equatorial Pacific are only about 0.5 to 0.9 degrees Celsius higher than normal, whereas temperatures during a strong El Nino would be more than 1.9 degrees C higher than normal, according to Wilde. He said that past El Ninos have brought a variety of weather. Some have been dry and some have been wet with below normal precipitation in the Cascade Mountains. His prediction for October, November and December this year is for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation, as well as slightly below normal snowfall. Warmer and drier weather in January, February and March will shift to the Rockies, he said, while the Northwest will be more mixed. Still, he predicted slightly higher temperatures and lower precipitation than average, although mixed, and snowpack a little below average for the final winter months. Hill said that historically and following the top five hot summers (2018 had 31 days in Portland when temperatures exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit), there has been only one wet winter: Typically precipitation has been near normal and a moderate El Nino has developed. Hills prediction for Portland is for above normal temperatures (about 73 percent confidence), near normal precipitation, less than six inches of snow in Portland and the Willamette Valley, an 8 percent chance of a big snow storm and a 40 percent chance of a big wind storm with gusts to 60 miles per hour. He also gave a 50/50 chance for normal snow pack on Mt. Hood, but there is cause for concern when looking at similar years: The snow year 2014-15 was a record dry year and the 2004-05 year was the second driest. Dittmer said he looks at multiple indices when forecasting weather, including solar forcing, the multi-variable ENSO index and NOAAs SST departure index, and he looks at the past 20 years of weather. With these variables, he is predicting an ENSO neutral year, but sometimes straying into El Nino territory one or two months. "So Im calling for an ENSO neutral with a flavoring of El Nino, Dittmer said. As the hydrologist for CRITFC, Dittmer also forecasts water supply, saying that it will be normal at The Dalles Dam. He predicts the January July water supply forecast at the dam to be 101 million acre feet, which is 100 percent of normal. We should have an adequate water supply for fish, he said. As for snow, Dittmer said that the personal economics are in your favor if you get a season ski pass this year, although snowfall will be a little less than last years in the Cascades. He is predicting that Government Camp on Mt. Hood will see about 240 inches of snow, or about 117 percent of normal (November May). Hood River could see 23 inches of snow, or 121 percent of normal. Looking at a sea surface temperature map, Nelson showed what could be another warm blob developing in the Gulf of Alaska. However, he didnt offer an interpretation or forecast of what the new blob may mean for either weather or Alaska fisheries. Unusually warm ocean temperatures, referred to as "the Blob," encompassed much of the West Coast beginning about 2014, combining with an especially strong El Nino pattern in 2015. The warm conditions have now waned, although some after-effects remain. In the last five years, tech firms located in the top headquarter markets of Silicon Valley, Seattle, Boston and New York tended to add new office space in these same markets or a handful of other popular cities such as Chicago and Austin, according to a recent report by commercial real estate research firm CBRE. Right now, Google is said to be looking at adding more than 10,000 tech jobs in New York City. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby (Ala.) and other GOP leaders met with Trump on Thursday about ways to fund the government. Shelby said Trump did not commit to signing a bill that does not give him all the money he wants to fund construction of a wall along the Mexico border. Shelby said Trump was noncommittal about how he planned to proceed. The recent market turmoil, House election result and angst in farm states has the Trump team rattled on trade, said one multinational executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about White House deliberations. The president still wants to pull the trigger on crazy stuff like an autos tariff, but hes lost some of his swagger, and a lot of people around him are saying he needs to back away from extreme action. Everyone eligible should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. Vaccination should be voluntary but those who don't get vaccinated should be frequently tested for COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel and employment. Both vaccination and testing should be voluntary and not required as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. I defer to the judgment of lawmakers as long as they base their decisions on a consensus of medical professionals. Vote View Results And yet duty requires me to issue a few caveats. Not only is this book is huge, but its also heavy and unwieldy: Will people actually read it? Perhaps its meant to be consulted at a desk rather than enjoyed in bed. If so, Im not sure that these 1920s novels deserve or require the full annotated treatment. Unlike Klingers admirable New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, there isnt any body of commentary attached to the works here nor do they invite fanciful speculation. In The Roman Hat Mystery alone many pages go by without a single note or illustration. While proper nouns, such as Diogenes or the Wailing Wall, are identified, more pertinent details sometimes pass unremarked. What exactly is the rear coat-tail pocket of a full dress suit? Why is Djuna, the Queens young servant, described as if he were a pet dog? And why does he bear a womans name? A weirdly indeterminate figure, he merits more than a stock reference to writer Djuna Barnes. The 1912 Turkey Trot attracted 30,000 sightseers, who watched a reported 18,000 birds parade down Main Street. The Texas governor attended. The turkeys were followed by turkey-related floats and prominent groups, such as the local Boy Scouts. Cuero would host Turkey Trots, off and on, for decades until the early 1970s, each one a spectacle in itself. For each event, a secret society selected a sultan and sultana, the Trots version of a king and queen, who wore lavish caftans or gomleks to channel the dress of the Ottoman Empire. (This early 20th-century equation, Turkey Trot equals Ottoman Turks, would not fly today.) There was even a sumptuous coronation. We have made progress in terms of their protection, in terms of allowing an environment where mountain gorillas can continue to thrive and grow, said Anna Behm Masozera, director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program, based in Kigali, Rwanda. But its important to note that mountain gorillas numbers could still slip back very quickly. We still have just two fragile and small populations, split between two national parks. Todays technology provides people with a digital shield to hide behind and being anonymous often takes the place of being caring and responsible, which can lead to children and adults feeling empowered to be unkind and at times, cruel, Trump said at the Creating a Culture of Responsibility Online panel, which was part of a conference put on by the Family Online Safety Institute. As I have said before, it is not news or surprising to me that critics and the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking out on this issue, and thats okay. I remain committed to tackling this topic because it will provide a better world for our children. Whether the news of the day concerns national security, the economy, or the environment, reporters covering the White House must remain free to ask questions, lawyers for the group said in a statement. It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the president and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons. Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question this president, or any president. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Amazon was little help. It was stingy about sharing information, forcing the Virginians to gauge the companys interest by the frequency of its calls and visits and the nature of its questions. Even in the Monday call, when Amazons top negotiator Holly Sullivan confirmed that Virginia was getting only half the original proposal of 50,000 jobs, she declined to divulge that New York City was the winner of the other half. Vitiello said that, for now, the president has ordered U.S. immigration officials to keep families together, but he said that detaining them all or giving them the option to split up could deter rising numbers of families seeking refuge at the Mexican border, including a caravan of mostly Hondurans that has infuriated the president. Second Lt. Eric Ivancic of the Fairfax County Police Department said that when police arrived, they found a man later identified as Jose Adalberto Vasquez Hernandez, 36 in front of the apartment with a knife. He said there was some kind of altercation between the two but did not disclose what it involved. He was taken into custody. We did . . . decide that the propertys best use should be for all citizens, Rochelle said at the council meeting last week. A dog park, for our friends that have four legs and wear fur outfits as well, and for many of us who feel that this is also our family. The death is the second this year and at least the third since 2016 in which an inmate has died at the site that is the intake point for newly arrested individuals. It is impossible to flip a seat to the Democrats without flipping it away from the Republicans, Niemeyer wrote. There can be no doubt that at every stage of the process, the States Democratic officials who put the 2011 redistricting plan in place specifically intended to flip control of the Sixth District from Republicans to Democrats and then acted on that intent. He was struck in upper body and subdued in the front of the home. During the gunfire, one of the officers was hit in the back by a bullet fired by Monteith, police said. He was taken to a hospital as a precaution but not seriously injured. During the hearing, marked by heavy U.S. marshal and security presence, Keith Batton, a D.C. homicide sergeant, narrated a surveillance video that showed the Infiniti pulling into the courtyard and four men jumping out and shooting at people gathered outside an apartment building. Batton said Makiyah was standing to the right of a tree shown in the video. Several members of her family in the audience began sobbing. In hours of open sessions, bishops took the microphone at a meeting that revealed how divided they are about everything from the role of laypeople to how confrontational it is permissible to be with Rome. They disagreed over whether to blame or praise the media, whether it was okay for other accused bishops to be in their midst during the meeting and whether there should be more agreement on what constitutes a credible allegation of misconduct. NTSB investigators are trying to understand what caused one of the engines fan blades to come loose and why elements of the system failed to contain the damage. An earlier investigative update noted that there were signs of metal fatigue on the broken fan blade. Investigators also are examining similarities between this incident and a similar one in 2016 that involved a broken fan blade in the engine on another Southwest Airlines jet. No one was injured in that incident, but the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Pensacola, Fla. To help his legislative packages prospects, Herring said he has tweaked some elements to incorporate suggestions made by legislators over the past two years. For instance, the designation domestic terrorist group would apply only to an organization that had at least two previous convictions for violent acts, and the group would be able to appeal the designation. Herrings other proposals include: The outbreak in northeastern Congo is taking place in an active war zone and has now become the countrys largest in more than four decades. Attacks on government outposts and civilians by dozens of armed militias have complicated the work of Ebola response teams, who have often had to suspend crucial work tracking cases and isolating people infected with the deadly virus. Violence has escalated in recent weeks, including attacks by armed groups this weekend near the operations center in Beni, the urban epicenter in North Kivu province. Flakes warning will likely force Republicans to rely on Vice President Pence to confirm any of the 32 judicial nominees pending before the full Senate, as panel Democrats are unlikely to vote for those Flake has committed to oppose. It also means Republicans will likely have to go around the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Flake is a member and the GOP has only a one-seat majority, to advance any of the 21 nominees waiting for that panels endorsement. 7 reported dead in Saudi-led strike in Yemeni port city: An airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition killed at least seven civilians in Yemen's rebel-held port city of Hodeida, security and medical officials said. The airstrike this week targeted a bus carrying civilians who were fleeing clashes and also wounded four people, the officials said. The strike occurred a day after an informal agreement had been reached to reduce hostilities amid advances by the coalition, which has spent months trying to seize the key Red Sea port from the Shiite rebels. As per the World Health Organisation, survival rates are as high as 80% in the developed world Dr. Randima Nanayakkara Dr. Randima Nanayakkara, Consultant in Surgical Oncology, discusses why awareness is of critical importance in battling the most common cancer among women. October is the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness worldwide. The importance of promoting awareness is clear when we examine some startling breast cancer statistics, between the developing and developed countries. As per the World Health Organisation, survival rates are as high as 80% in the developed world, where established state sponsored screening programmes and heightened awareness of the disease exist. In comparison the rate is as low as 40% in the developing world where such awareness levels do not exist. In Sri Lanka breast cancer is today the commonest cancer in females. As per the data reported in 2010 by the Ministry of Health, the incidence was around 18 cases for every 100,000 persons and the general consensus is that this figure has been on a steady rise since then. Thus explaining the significance of marking a month dedicated to awareness, Dr. Nanayakkara explains that as the number one cancer affecting women, the disease has attracted millions of dollars in research funding worldwide and this has been so for over decades. It is also a matter of high importance for the health care profession in Sri Lanka. The result is that today, the treatment of the disease follows a very streamlined and meticulous approach and the rates of success if detected early and treated without an undue delay are very promising. Sri Lanka is yet to implement a far reaching breast cancer screening programme in the country, the lack of which is certainly a disadvantage. However, this is where initiatives taken by the private, public and NGO sector such as the work done during the breast cancer awareness month of October play an important role. Dr. Nanayakkaras observation is that most of the female patients he treats seem to present their case too late for curative treatment. He believes this can be attributed to the fact that most frequently the clinical symptom the patient encounters is a painless lump which slowly grows in size over months. In about 10% of the cases the lump results in only a mild pain. Therefore, patients sense no urgency in investigating these lumps. However as early detection is the key to successfully treating the disease, the ignorance and inaction of the typical cancer patient stands as a huge disadvantage to them in fighting the disease. Dr. Nanayakkara further noted that There is also the apprehension and fear people feel about what is to follow should the lump in fact be cancerous. It is an irrational yet understandable feeling of fear which we as doctors encounter every day with patients we treat he explains. This is why a discussion about breast cancer detection and diagnosis would be of utmost importance. It is usually a panel of doctors comprising of an Oncologist, Radiologist, Pathologist and an Oncological Surgeon who will discuss a treatment plan for a given patient As Dr. Nanayakkara outlines, a first stop for a female suspecting a cancerous lump is at a General Medical Practitioner who is trained to conduct a preliminary breast examination. Thereafter the patient will be referred to a surgical oncologist/ surgeon who will initiate what is referred to as the triple assessment Any breast lump irrespective of the patients age should be investigated via the triple assessment the aim of which is to establish if the lump in question is benign or malignant. Step one of this assessment is the clinical examination where the patients history is discussed with an Oncological Surgeon and a physical examination of the patient occurs. The Second step involves radiological imaging where a non-invasive ultra sound scan will be done. Depending on the age and specific needs of the case, a mammogram and/or a MRI scan will also be warranted. The third stage is a fine needle biopsy which is a study of the cells obtained from the lump. The procedure is a simple out-patient procedure done under local anaesthesia. The above mentioned triple assessment can diagnose a cancer with about a 97% accuracy level. Following the triple assessment, and if the result suggests a breast cancer, a core biopsy will be required for the final confirmatory diagnosis. Here a slightly larger needle will obtain a larger sample of tissue for analysis. This too is an out-patient procedure done under local anaesthesia. As cost is also a cause for apprehension, Dr. Nanayakkara highlights that the cost of the triple assessment is around Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 in the private sector. The cost of a core biopsy is also around Rs. 15,000. Of course, via the public health service all of this comes free of charge. Following the confirmation that it is indeed breast cancer that a patient is diseased of, it is usually a panel of doctors comprising of an Oncologist, Radiologist, Pathologist and an Oncological Surgeon who will discuss a treatment plan for a given patient. While surgery is usually the first step in the treatment of an early stage breast cancer, a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and or hormone therapy may be offered for patients with more advanced disease. As a surgical oncologist Dr. Nanayakkara who carries out regular breast conservation and reconstruction surgeries, he highlights that breast cancer removal surgery today is less radical and less disfiguring than in previous times. The general idea is to provide a greater degree of normalcy for the patient following the surgery. Breast conservation surgery removes a tumour along with a rim of normal breast tissue leaving the original breast largely intact. On the other hand, breast reconstruction involves recreating a breast following a removal of a breast, using muscle tissue from other parts of a patients body or artificial implants. Conservation and reconstruction both are practised by a few surgeons even in Sri Lanka and apart from being effective in removing all traces of cancer from the affected breasts it proves to provide a lesser psychological impact on the patient post recovery. The message during the month of awareness is clear. It is a call to women to be more breast-aware. A self-breast examination every month following the completion of the monthly menstrual cycle is a simple first step in the right direction. Seeking urgent medical attention if there is any change in a breast from what is considered normal is a must. Consider changes in the appearance in the breast, feelings of discomfort, lumps and nipple discharges as tell-tale signs of some underlying problem. Breast cancer is a surmountable challenge. Let your Republican strategist tell you that being honest will make GOP members of Congress mad and stay silent. Yell at your security officer for doing his job because it might put yours at risk. Allow your subordinates to play on the same political polarization your platform is under fire for facilitating by using public-relations firms to fan partisan flames. These tactics, all reported by the Times, whose portrayal Facebook has rebutted and the companys board of directors has called grossly unfair, are how people in power have always held on to it. Sandberg intended to hold on to it, too. McConnell continues to rival Trump in the harm hes doing to the institutions of democracy. He destroyed the campaign-finance system, using legislation and lawsuits to build the current era of unlimited dark money. He destroyed the last vestiges of bipartisan cooperation in the Senate with his year-long stall of Merrick Garland and his use of the nuclear option to seat two Supreme Court justices. Now, he is thwarting efforts to sustain the integrity of the nations voting systems and then, when it inevitably fails, exploiting the failure to his advantage. In response to this disaster, President Trumps callous initial reaction was to insist that the only reason California experiences wildfires is mismanagement of the forests and demand that the state remedy now, or no more Fed payments! In fact, the Camp Fire is blazing through not forestland but urban-rural zones that have vegetation to burn but are also close to people. The presidents outburst is doubly bizarre because the federal government manages most of the states forests. If there is a forest management problem, it is with the U.S. Forest Services past budgets, which went increasingly to firefighting rather than care and prevention. More logging would not help prevent wildfires as much as some might think; highly combustible dry brush is the fuel on which wildfires thrive. Melania Trump and Ricardel have never met, according to people familiar with each of them. But the first lady viewed the conservative operative, who was among the most senior women in the West Wing, as a toxic influence in the White House, to the point that she spoke to Trump about Ricardel after the Africa trip and authorized others to spread the word that Ricardel had overstepped the mark, several people familiar with recent events said. Obviously, we want to see more efforts by the U.S. to stand up for our values, but its hard to see the impact on a significant scale when were seen as hypocritical or when what we say is not supported by the actions of our president, said Jeffrey Prescott, who served as a foreign policy aide in the Obama White House. Magedson said it is not uncommon for Ripoff Report to receive complaints from businesses when they are reviewed negatively on the site. Ripoff Reports business model which encourages companies to pay for a program that can yield better reviews has been criticized. A federal judge in Utah found in 2015 that the website encouraged negative reviews and that it accepted online postings from competitors of businesses reviewed on the site as well as from consumers. The finding came in a defamation suit in which Ripoff Report ultimately prevailed. But the process must be legitimate Why the best option for the country now is to go for a Parliamentary Election his is a golden opportunity for the ordinary people of Sri Lanka to learn about the Constitution of the country. However, they have to learn the law with the highly prejudiced arguments of extremely opportunistic politicians and the lawyers who argue for their political clientele, and not with the objective analysis of academics or the experts. Interestingly, the Articles 33 and 70 of the Constitution are fast becoming two household clauses, with even the children mentioning them in their conversations with each other. President Maithripala Sirisena has put the Constitution to debate among the people twice within two weeks. On October 26, he, in a surprising turn of events unseated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sirisenas archrival and whom he defeated at the last Presidential Election with the help of the vote bank of the Wickremesinghes party, the United National Party (UNP). And while the whole country was arguing over the legality of that regime change, the President on November 9, which was also incidentally a Friday, dumbfounded the country again by dissolving the Parliament while scheduling Parliamentary Elections on January 5. The irony is that the supporters of Rajapaksa, who were highly elated when he was appointed Prime Minister, were similarly happy when the President prorogued the Parliament on the next day. And interestingly, they were even more overjoyed when their heros Government was dissolved by the President in two weeks, even before he occupied the Prime Ministers seat in the House. President Sirisena justified his decision to dissolve Parliamentsaying that there was a possibility of a bloodbath when the Parliament met on November 14 and that prices were placed on the heads of Parliament members. "Hence, the best option the country has now is to go for a Parliamentary election. If the Supreme Court ruled on December 7 that the four-and-half-year Constitutional restriction on the President to dissolve the Parliament applied to the present circumstances, the only way out is to dissolve the Parliament through a resolution by the Parliament itself" However, there wouldnt be any clash; leave alone a bloodbath had Rajapaksa commanded the confidence of the Parliament, as required by the Constitution when he was appointed Prime Minister. It was the President who created that danger. On the other hand, it was no secret that the President prorogued Parliament in order that Rajapaksa was able to buy over MPs or in the Presidents words to place a price on MPs. Also, it was a well-known fact that he dissolved Parliament when it was apparent that Rajapaksa would not be able to buy over or attract through some other means a sufficient number of MPs, before Parliament met of November 14. It was well evident by the jubilation of the Rajapaksa loyalists when their own Government was dissolved. The UNP and others who did not challenge the sacking of Wickremesinghe before the court went to the Supreme Court on Monday, the first weekday after the dissolution of Parliament, challenging that dissolution. 12 petitions, including those of the UNP, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), challenging the dissolution of the Parliament were taken up by the three-member bench including the Chief Justice Nalin Perera on Monday and Tuesday, which culminated in staying the Presidents Gazette Notice on the dissolution and holding of the next General Elections. This ruling allowed the Parliament to function as scheduled before the dissolution. But National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa at a media conference convened by the Rajapaksas lieutenants argued that Parliament couldnt meet since the Supreme Courts Stay Order was not the final verdict. It was clear that the reason behind his argument was nothing but the fear on the part of the Rajapaksa loyalists to face a possible unpleasant challenge thrown at their boss, by the UNP and its allies to show his majority in the House. Yet, it was a strong argument, since everything done by Parliament after that would be null and void, if the Supreme Court finally endorsed the dissolution of the Parliament, on December 7. However, when the Parliament met on Wednesday, as scheduled by the Presidents Gazette on the prorogation of the House, almost all Rajapaksa loyalists including Weerawansa attended. The agenda for the first meeting, according to the newly appointed transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva included only the Presidents traditional policy statement and adjournment of the House. However, the UNP argued that the party leaders meeting had decided to prepare an agenda for the day during the proceedings of the House. That means House will adopt an agenda as a whole or item by item by majority vote. President did not attend the Parliament. Mahinda Rajapaksa had occupied the Prime Ministers seat, with his supporters sitting on the Government side, while Ranil Wickremesinghe was sitting in a backbench on the Opposition side, among his supporters, despite the UNP claiming that Wickremesinghe was still the Prime Minister. "No party has the capacity to form a Government on its own or in coalition" Before the adjournment, JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath handed over to the Secretary General of the Parliament a No-Confidence motion against Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa and his Cabinet. The words eeniya (so-called) written before the words Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the motion had been tipexed, when the motion reached the media. The motion carried 122 signatures in it. Despite the motion stating that the Gazettes issued by the President removing Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister and appointing Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister had no effect, Rajapaksa opponents agreement to sit on the Opposition side and presenting and voting in favour of the NCM against the Prime Minister was technically an acceptance of those Gazettes by them. It seems to be a compromise on their part to show that Rajapaksa has no majority in the House and thereby the President had appointed him illegally, which was well achieved. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that the motion was carried by a voice vote which was not illegal. But the ethicality of passing a motion on a matter of numbers by a voice vote is highly questionable. However, in fairness to the Speaker, he gave an opportunity to the members to vote by their names, but Rajapaksa loyalists did not agree which again shows that they were a minority in the House. Also, Rajapaksa loyalists opposition to such a motion points to the fact that they did not have the necessary numbers. The crisis has worsened by the Presidents rejection of the communication of the Speaker that the motion was passed. Accordingly, the President still recognizes Rajapaksa as the legitimate Prime Minister of the country whereas the Speaker recognises none. Wickremesinghe contends that the motion takes the country to the status- quo that prevailed On October 26, meaning that he is still the Prime Minister. But that also does not seem to hold water, as the motion suggests only removing Rajapaksa from the post of Prime Minister who was appointed after removing Wickremesinghe from the PM post. And the movers of the motion, the JVP say that they do not accept Wickremesinghe either. The whole crisis stems from the withdrawal of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) from the UNP-led Government on October 26. "The crisis stems from the withdrawal of the UPFA from the UNP-led Government on October 26" It created a situation where no party has the capacity to form a Government, on its own or in coalition with another party. The TNA might support the UNP on a case by case basis but would not form a coalition with the latter. Hence, the best option the country has now is to go for a Parliamentary election. If the Supreme Court ruled on December 7 that the four-and-half-year Constitutional restriction on the President to dissolve the Parliament applied to the present circumstances, the only way out is to dissolve the Parliament through a resolution by the Parliament itself. Only the UNP is unlikely to support such a resolution as the party does not seem to be confident of its victory at the forthcoming elections. Yet, leaders must take decisions in the interest of the country and not the party. I think it will be absolutely imperative in this next summit that we come away with a plan for identifying all of the weapons in question, identifying all the development sites, allowing for inspections of the sites and the plan for dismantling nuclear weapons, Pence said in an interview with NBC News. The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess, Trump wrote. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and dont care how many lives the ruin. But Bahrain is also home to most of the Navys Fifth Fleet, the United States most strategic military outpost against Iran in a region where the Islamic Republics influence is spreading. And for most senators, maintaining good relations with the host country of that base is more important than trying to send an indirect message to Saudi Arabia, by stopping military sales to a country that has contributed about a dozen planes to the Yemen effort. Unlike sites such as Zillow, Homesnap doesnt accept advertising from agents. When consumers search for houses on sites such as Homes.com and Zillow, they see a list of potential agents they can contact who have paid to have their information displayed but might not know about the house that interests the buyer. All sites display the listing agent for each property, but buyers need to be aware that the listing agent represents the sellers for a particular property. Buyers can contact that agent for information but should hire their own buyers agent if they want to make an offer on that house. They can also choose to work with that listing agent to find other properties. The Taliban have refused to talk to Ghani and his government because they do not consider it legitimate, said Haroun Mir, an analyst in Kabul. Whether the president is reelected or replaced, the results will probably be marred by charges of fraud, Mir added, giving the next government a tainted legitimacy and further strengthening the Talibans position in negotiating with the United States. If the crisis spins out of control, the President will opt to prorogue Parliament once again Some people assume the constitutional impasse, triggered by the sacking of United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from premiership, would end after Parliament was reconvened yesterday (November 14) after prorogation. Instead, the exact opposite would happen as the crisis is poised to be compounded. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya declared that the no confidence motion against the new Government passed by voice vote. Subsequently, Wickremesinghe said that the Government, led by him before his dismissal, would stand. Nevertheless, further political turmoil is in store for the country as the incumbent Government of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa does not accept the verdict of the Speaker on the premise that the procedure adopted for passing the no confidence motion. That is the point for the problem to take a turn for the worse. Whatever anyone might say, President Maithripala Sirisena is the appointing authority of the Prime Minister. He would never reappoint Wickremesinghe, and it will set the stage for the crisis to balloon in the days to come, with indecision and uncertainty looming over the country. Things will worsen if people take to the streets by and large and the police try to quell such protests. After yesterdays parliamentary session, the UNP MPs were shouting jubilantly whereas the members of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) defied recognising the vote of no confidence on their Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Probably, these slogan- shouting UNP backbenchers have little understanding that the mere passing of the no confidence motion would not resolve the problem at hand. Interestingly, amidst tension between the members of either side, there was bonhomie among some senior members. International Trade Minister Bandula Gunwardane was making comments to media personnel who mobbed him along the corridors of the parliamentary complex when UNP MP for the Badulla District moved down to him. Oh, Minister, why dont you join us? he asked Gunwardane. However, the other main countries such as China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh appear to be neutral observers without attempting to commit anything under the current developments Gunawardane made use of the opportunity only to exchange some pleasantries with his parliamentary colleague. Otherwise, the MPs across the divide looked tense with each other in general.If the crisis spins out of control, the President will opt to prorogue Parliament once again. If that does not solve the issue, he will consider the possibility of calling for a referendum to seek peoples approval for dissolution of Parliament. According to inside sources, he is now mulling over that option. Diplomatic community divided The Colombo based diplomatic community also looks divided on the developments in Sri Lanka. The envoys from the western bloc including the United States were toeing a stand in favour of the UNP. In fact, these countries only sent low level representatives to the briefing by Foreign Affairs Minister Sarath Amunugama and others. These were present in the Speakers gallery or the VIP gallery of Parliament when the vote of no confidence motion was taken up in the House. Among those present were representatives from the countries and regions such as The European Union, Norway, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. However, the other main countries such as China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh appear to be neutral observers without attempting to commit anything under the current developments. Indias silence is remarkable in this instance as it is a country that backed or welcomed the change in 2015. Today, India maintains silence on the issue. It is, in a way, a defeat for the UNP-led camp and a gain for the other side in diplomacy. New political alignments In politics, there are two sayings proved against time- there are no permanent friends and politics is the art of the possible. Seemingly, these two adages are truer in Sri Lanka than anywhere else. Crises, challenges and contradictions, often found in politics, lead to the emergence of totally new political alignments or to transform the existing ones with fresh outlooks. Circumstances even force political party leaders to reconcile their differences even with their arch rivals . The latest example is President Sirisena who forged ties with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa casting aside rancour between them. One year ago, nobody would have ever expected that these two leaders would set aside differences. But, political realism left them with no other choice. In fact, the present climax of political developments originated from the outcome of the Local Government Elections that were conducted on February 10, 2018. Sri Lanka Podujana Pereamuna (SLPP), working under the obvious leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa, won that election.It indicated the dynamics of current political trends, and relegated the Presidents UPFA to a distant third. Fearing a worse political predicament under the unfolding circumstances, 16 UPFA MPs who held ministerial posts in the unity Government voted in favour of a no confidence motion moved against Wickremesinghe from the premiership. In fact, the President and Wickremesinghe were squabbling internally prior to that. They belong to different breeds of politicians. It is well understandable that they cannot remain in a political marriage for long. And, the outcome of the Local Government Elections created an opening and gave an excuse for the President to go against Wickremesinghe in the open. That is why, he extended his discreet support to the no confidence motion. At his behest, 16 UPFA MPs voted for the motion. He even asked Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure the support of his MPs to the motion. Wickremesinghe survived the motion, though. After yesterdays parliamentary session, the UNP MPs were shouting jubilantly whereas the members of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) defied recognising the vote of no confidence on their Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa The President, however, persisted with his efforts to oust Wickremesinghe. He invited then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya or former Minister Sajith Premadasa to accept the premiership. Both turned down the offer, as told by the President himself. Still determined, the President did not stop at that point. He devised another political strategy. This time, he appeared to have come to the conclusion that it would be better to tie up with anyone to sack Wickremesinghe. So, the simmering political crisis climaxed with the President appointing Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister on October 26. It triggered a constitutional impasse, and the President went to the extent of dissolving Parliament. There is much legal wrangling on the matter. Dissolution has been suspended by the Supreme Court till December 7. There are no permanent enemies or friends in politics, as goes the saying. It is all the more evident in the fact that President Sirisena united with his arch rival Rajapaksa. In moving the no confidence motion, all groundwork was done by the JVP, along with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). As such, it is an unofficial political alliance of the UNP, the TNA and the JVP. In politics anything is possible and nobody would have thought of a UNP-JVP alliance several years ago. Today, they have a common political objective. It wont be surprising if the JVP contests the next parliamentary elections on the UNP ticket. Or else, the JVP would stake a credit for unseating Rajapaksa from office by moving and seconding the no confidence motion against him. It is an attempt by the JVP to carve out a niche from the anti- Mahinda vote base. While the highly skilled have always been welcome, Abe wants to allow in 345,000 semiskilled workers by 2024, letting them come for a maximum of five years in about a dozen industries, including agriculture and construction. If they pass some still-unspecified tests at the end of that period, they could be allowed to stay for five more years, and even bring relatives. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday took direct aim at Suu Kyi, saying she was trying to defend the indefensible over the Rohingya abuses. A day later, Vice President Pence, in a tense meeting with Suu Kyi, said violence against the Rohingya was without excuse and pressed her on accountability for those responsible. He was the most senior U.S. official to meet the Myanmar leader since the crisis. In one of the many dramatic moments of the day, Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg announced that he had submitted a formal letter stating he had no confidence in his prime minister. Rees-Mogg, who has been touted as a possible future leader of the Conservative Party and heads a pro-Brexit faction, said Mays deal was worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation by the prime minister. Is it the outdated, warped Constitution that these vested power blocs and a few Western diplomats want to be honoured and abide by? he SC decision has pushed Rajapaksa into back foot defence on a daily basis, reacting to the Wickremesinghe strategy of taking decisions in a Parliament that remains prorogued but accepted by Western interests as Constitutional. The Supreme Court (SC) decision to issue a stay order on the Gazette notification dissolving Parliament is given a completely distorted interpretation by Yahapalana Experts, to be in line with the Western power bloc. Their accredited envoys in Colombo act firmly in legitimising the Government of their choice. On that strength, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya convened the prorogued Parliament, though constitutionally the Speaker has no such power. The US AmbassadorMs Teplitz, who went to the Parliamentary complex with a few other diplomatic colleagues to watch over the proceedings on 14 November, later told media, she was glad the institution was once again fulfilling its constitutional role. That said much about Wickremesinghe believing he could assert himself as the PM and muster a majority, with some MPs bought over, and some MPs crossing over for the second time in two weeks. Geopolitics and the Constitution For the Western diplomats that included the US, Germany, Canada, who on October 27, went to Temple Trees and then made their way to Parliament last Wednesday (India that sent its Deputy HC in Colombo to TTs on Oct 27. was a conspicuous absentee among diplomats in Parliament), act on their own geopolitical agenda. But that does not allow the stay order decided by the Supreme Court on the Gazette notification dissolving Parliament to convene Parliament. The SC did not rescind or squash the Gazette notification dissolving Parliament as illegal and unconstitutional. All that remains to be decided upon, after the SC accepts objections and deliberates on them before finally deciding on the legality of that Gazette. Therefore, the previous Gazette convening Parliament on November 14 cannot be operational as argued by the Colombo interests. This Parliament sitting is another illegal act, as prorogation was NOT challenged as unconstitutional, but was only appealed to be immediately convened by the President. A prorogued Parliament can only be convened by the President after which a new date has to be fixed for Parliamentary business proper to begin. The Speaker becomes the authority in Parliament, thereafter. The Constitution is being used by both sides in usurping power, leaving out the People. The SC is called upon to decide the legality of constitutional jugglery. It leaves aside intrusions of the Western power bloc on their geopolitical interests, that create the tug-O-war between Wickremesinghe backed by them, and Rajapaksa with Sirisena counted as anti-West, pro-China agents. This type of political coups with external factors involved in internal politics can only be engineered in a society where the citizenry is very much distanced from democratic participation, where democratic traditions have faded off through two or three generations. Democracy as an empty shell They raise major issues on democracy and Sovereignty of the People, here in Sri Lanka. Ever since the 1978 Constitution that was amended 19 times, Sovereignty of the People became a mere Article in the Constitution. Democracy came to be promoted as unrestricted consumer freedom in a free market. Freedom of choice and the individual right to compete in this free market evolved as a democracy. The sovereignty of the people and democracy is thus reduced to holding elections. These elections are also held as procedural events in a calendar, dates for which Parliament keeps altering, with the Opposition including JVP and TNA compromising. Truly immersed in a consumer market struggling to improve on their incomes, people show no decisive opposition and interest in these elections. Apathy with which even procedural democracy is treated was in public display when the National Elections Commission (NEC) member Dr Hoole, went to SC with an FR petition against the dissolution of Parliament with elections fixed for January 5, 2019. He did not go to the SC pleading for LG elections that were postponed for over two and a half years and PC elections postponed even without a date announced. Electoral democracy is being ridiculed and degraded with politicians, the urban middle-class including professionals, academics and at times the Judiciary, focussed on procedure and not functionality. Democracy is not elections only. Democracy includes all fundamental rights enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution. They are nevertheless left to remain as statements with no independent mechanisms to challenge violations, other than within the higher judiciary. A means, too costly and far outside, the reach of ordinary citizens. Though Article 11 in Chapter III guarantees No person shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that often times is blatantly violated with impunity. Freedom from torture thus remains irrelevant. "No citizen shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, sex,. also remains on hold with Tamils, Muslims and even Sinhala Christians being heavily discriminated against " Article 12 (2) No citizen shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, sex,. also remains on hold with Tamil, Muslim and even Sinhala Christians being heavily discriminated against with Sinhala Buddhist extremism oppressively dominating social space and often selectively treated by law-enforcement agencies themselves trapped within Sinhala Buddhist dominance. For the war-affected, deprived and suppressed people in the North and the East, Article 14(1)(f) the freedom by himself or in association with others to enjoy and promote his own culture and to use his own language is irrelevant with regular complaints on Sinhala colonisation of their areas. Sinhala colonisation brings with it forced cultural interventions, the Tamil people are unable to resist with ITAK leadership in the TNA playing Colombo Politics with the UNP and with Western diplomatic interests. Almost all employees in the export manufacture sector from among over 2.4 million workers in the private sector are denied their Fundamental Rights as guaranteed in Article 14(1)(c) and (d) of the Constitution that says: Every Citizen is entitled to (c) the freedom of association and (d) the freedom to form and join a trade union. BOI of Sri Lanka Act has allowed the BOI to restrict organised labour through administrative guidelines and the vision and mission of the 95-year-old Labour Department have over the past few decades changed to decide in favour of the employer instead of safeguarding the rights of the employee. In this unfettered free market, with foreign direct investments intensely promoted as the only way Sri Lanka could develop within this global economy, even the Judiciary tends to give the employer the benefit of exploiting labour. Sri Lanka has thus drifted into a pathetically agonising situation where the Constitution is flouted for vested interests by rich and powerful political blocs in the city. Fundamental Rights have little meaning if any in functional terms. Workers are left non-unionised for the benefit of the filthy rich in an unrestricted free market. Privately owned media are used for political bargaining by big-time funders of immensely corrupt political parties. State media are controlled by those same corrupt political parties in Government. In a heavily atomised high-frequency urban consumer society, the middle-class professionals, the English speaking elite, NGOs and the anti-Rajapaksa social activists who by default present themselves as saviours of democracy live out of this free market economy. They dominate social opinion through Colombo based mainstream media. Democracy, therefore, remains the property of the powerful with a Constitution that is overridden with ambiguity and contradictions. Geopolitics of democracy This outdated and warped Constitution is what these vested power blocs in the city and few Western diplomats claim should be honoured and abided by. The term constitutionality is thus given more importance than democracy. Functional democracy would not allow their involvements in the internal life of the country. Functional democracy in the first place, would not have allowed this Yahapalana insanity in power politics. Yet, for the Western powers deeply involved in the internal conflict, it is about keeping Rajapaksa-Sirisena combine out of power at whatever cost. They perhaps regret they were not rich enough to fund the Wickremesinghe Government all through these years, other than through the IMF that comes with conditions attached. That pushed the Wickremesinghe Government to compromise with China on a weak wicket. They fear China would come back stronger, building on what Wickremesinghe compromised on if Rajapaksa was allowed a comeback. Thus, it is now a serious geopolitical issue for the US-led Western diplomacy to keep Rajapaksa out, and strengthen a Wickremesinghe Government politically and economically, to gradually wean out Chinese influence. It is geopolitical supremacy played out in the Indian Ocean. With pro-Chinese strongman Yameenin Male ousted and Mohamad Nasheed going back home, Western geopolitics have regained space they now need to consolidate. That is about saving Sri Lanka from pro-Chinese dominance. This Western involvement in Colombo is about taking advantage gained in the Maldives, a project India does not want to burn its fingers with but welcomes as big brother in the sub-continent. Thus, it is not about an election for people to elect a government of their choice, but about installing a government the Western power bloc is comfortable with. The danger lies in this Colombo alliance being projected in the majority Sinhala South as anti-Sinhala Buddhist; Western interests with the Colombo political lobby and the ITAK leadership that campaigned for war crimes investigations, back again in full throttle, working together. Unfortunately for the people, this provides Rajapaksa with the most comfortable platform for his comeback. What is being fought for by both sides is not going to resolve with a Supreme Court Ruling. This now needs a peoples movement for constitutional reforms, in drafting a constitution the people could own as their supreme law. He said that 11 suspects have been indicted and that authorities are seeking the death penalty for five of them. None of the suspects were named. The order to kill Khashoggi, who had criticized the Saudi monarchy over the past year, came from one of the leaders of the Saudi team in Istanbul, Shaalan said. Providing a new description of the killing which the Saudis initially denied took place and later said was the result of a fistfight the prosecutor said Khashoggi was given a lethal injection by Saudi agents who had orders only to bring him to Saudi Arabia through persuasion or, if necessary, with force. His body was then dismembered, carried out of the consulate and disposed of by a Turkish contact, the prosecutor said. He offered no indication of where Khashoggis remains could be found. There, authorities have said, Bush walked by dozens of white shoppers before shooting Maurice Stallard, a 69-year-old retiree, in the back of the head. He then walked outside and did the same to Vickie Lee Jones, a 67-year-old black woman, authorities have said. He fled after a shootout with another customer and was arrested nearby. The Faculty of Law, University of Colombo has organized an International Legal Research Conference to mark its 70th anniversary. It is scheduled to be held today and tomorrow at Hotel Mirage, Colombo. The keynote address will be delivered by the former Chief Justice of India, Justice Deepak Misra, while the Attorney General, Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC is expected to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. The conference is comprised of separate sessions on topics related to Public law, Private law and Commercial law. Being the first of its kind in the history of the Faculty, the two day conference would attract many legal scholars from around the world. Legal academics, judges, practitioners from the official and private bar, and law students are expected to participate. The accused service members wanted to confront Melgar after he was invited to a party at the U.S. Embassy in Mali and they were not, the Daily Beast reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the case. There allegedly was an ongoing disagreement between Melgar and the others in part because some of them had solicited prostitutes in the past and brought them back to the militarys safe house in Bamako, the Daily Beast reported. FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA yself and few representatives of the community of diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identities and Sex Characteristics (SOGISEC) (or else LGBTIQ+ Community) of Sri Lanka were invited by JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-Peoples Liberation Front) to participate at a public dialogue on the struggle for democracy and the role of intellectuals in Sri Lanka on November 12. JVP, with six MPs in the Parliament, has been subject two insurrections. A party that is largely based on a rural, educated Sinhalese votes base, is in the move to include larger issues that are not championed by major parties such as UNP and SLFP. "The major call which echoed through all the speeches was to stand and join hands for a broader democratic coalition against authoritarian moves of President Sirisena. Such a broader platform entails representation of different progressive rights and interests of the larger society" Recognising SOGIESC Community This was the first such invitation that representatives of SOGIESC communities in Sri Lanka has received from a political party to join a high level public political dialogue. This invitation has come at a time when the SOGIESC community has been continuously demonised and deliberately ignored by the major political parties like UNP. Our request to meet the then Minister of Justice Thalatha Athukorala and the Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender Dr. Thusitha Wijemanna in September 2018, with regard to their statement made to the Ceylon Today newspaper, claiming that they are yet to receive a formal request to decriminalize LGBTIQ, were fallen into the ears of deaf. (https://www.lankanewspapers.com/2018/09/10/india-lifting-gay-sex-ban-gosl-wants-formal-request-consider-legal-reform/?fbclid=IwAR1xii9E3nirVJSb1elrxtRMMJPP7KxeiOEq_xR4gGQc1Oda1cKcUFsGvOo). Particularly this invitation holds value as it came during a situation where the Sri Lankan SOGIESC community is being demonised by President Maithripaala Sirisena, who represents the SLFP, during his speech at a mega rally on November 5. The presidents homophobic remarks were met with fierce criticism from diverse segments of the society (http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Prez-should-apologize-says-LGBTQ-community-158026.html). With the JVPs progressive stance against the discrimination of SOGIESC community in contrast to the homophobic SLFP and UNP, this is a solid start to the LGBTIQ which has been historically oppressed. Call for broader democratic progressive alliance The event was organised by the JVP under the theme Intellectuals for Democracy. The event was well-attended by many of my colleagues from the universities, professionals such as doctors, lawyers, activists, public servants and the clergy. The entire hall at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute was full, which made some stand. The major call which echoed through all the speeches was to stand and join hands for a broader democratic coalition against authoritarian moves of President Sirisena. Such a broader platform entails representation of different progressive rights and interests of the larger society. However, it has also been highlighted that producing a counter hegemony against dominant Sinhala Buddhist nationalism is a major challenge for mainstreaming and the eventual victory of a political strategy based on democracy. Despite that, party Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake invited all interested parties to join hands for democracy and highlighted the role of intellectuals in fulfilling that mandate. JVPs Position on SOGIESC Community At the discussion session of the event, a person raised the question as to the official position of the JVP regarding the discrimination against SOGIESC community in Sri Lanka. In his reply to the question, the JVP Leader Dissanayake explicitly stated that the JVP stands for equal rights while adding that all individuals are equal human beings. His statement says, sexual orientation is a private matter of an individual. We may have different divisions in our society, based on language, religion, culture. But as the JVP we believe that all of these communities including SOGIESC communities have equal rights and equal recognition. Our position on SOGIESC community is that. We are human beings before any divisions are done based on our sexual orientation, sexual preferences, language, culture and religion. We approach all issues based on the idea that we are all human beings. Therefore, we are a movement for equal rights. This speech is remarkable in the struggle against discrimination of the SOGEISC community in Sri Lanka. It was the first time in the political history of Sri Lanka that a party leader publicly expressed his partys support for equal rights which would eliminate the discrimination against sexual minorities. The leaders remarks were welcomed with a huge applause from the audience. I was stunned to hear and feel the momentum in our struggle to eliminate discrimination against SOGIESC community in Sri Lanka. "In his reply to the question, the JVP Leader Dissanayake explicitly stated that the JVP stands for equal rights while adding that all individuals are equal human beings. His statement says, sexual orientation is a private matter of an individual" A beginning for a Sri Lankan approach A party that was subject to heavy criticism by the civil society for homophobic remarks made by one of its few MPs Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa(http://www.dailynews.lk/2015/12/10/features/extreme-no-extremism), has now become the only party in Sri Lanka that has openly come out with a position for eliminating discrimination against SOGIESC community. This is a sign that a locally grounded path for SOGIESC rights has been created. A party that is largely based on rural educated and urban civil society votes with centre-left political orientation indicates left political approach as the only viable path for Sri Lankas SOGEISC community to win their rights. It is an approach not backed by foreign money, but by the commitment and passion of people at the grassroots, engaged in progressive politics. It is an approach where class, language, caste, cultures and ethnicity intersect with SOGIESC identities. Finally I left with the hope that the democratic forum that took shape under the leadership of JVP could be a viable way forward for winning the SOGIESC rights, because no major political parties throw their weight behind it. (Thiyagaraja Waradas is a SOGIESC rights activist and a lecturer at the Department of International Relations of the University of Colombo. He is also a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Bath, U.K. thiyagarajawaradas@gmail.com ) The researchers planning to screen thousands of couples for 500 severe genetic conditions they risk passing onto their children have officially launched the landmark trial that could transform how Australians plan to start their families. The first detailed blueprint for the Mackenzies Mission carrier screening trial was released on Thursday, revealing how the three-year trial will work and what the options will be for couples who discover their future babies run a one-in-four chance of inheriting a serious or deadly genetic condition. Jonathan and Rachael Casella hold their baby daughter Mackenzie who was diagnosed with SMA and died one year ago. From a simple mouth swab or blood test 10,000 couples who are thinking about having a baby or in the early stages of pregnancy will be screened for roughly 500 severe or deadly recessive X-chromosome-linked gene mutations. GPs, obstetricians, midwives, geneticists and genetic counsellors will begin recruiting couples towards the end of 2019 from specific sites across every state and territory. Couples can only be enrolled through health professionals involved in the study. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has encountered more objections to his policy shift on Israel, as a prominent Asian leader raises concerns about the decision and warns that questions over Palestine are contributing to terrorism. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad raised the issue during a meeting with Mr Morrison in Singapore on Thursday on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit of regional leaders. "I pointed out that in dealing with terrorism, one has to know the causes," Dr Mahathir told reporters after the meeting. "Adding to the cause for terrorism is not going to be helpful, I pointed that out." This is not controversial. The government has drafted the bill and has enough support from Labor and others to make it law. But the government also has five other bills that change the rules on super, slowing down consideration of the whole package. The slowdown is understandable with some parts of the package, such as the governments desire to put a stop to insurance premiums that erode super balances of up to $6000, because there are concerns that some workers would be uninsured if the changes go ahead. Shadow minister for financial services Clare O'Neil wants changes to some of the six super bills. Credit:AAP The Assistant Treasurer, Stuart Robert, presented Labor with an extensive list of changes to the package last Friday night at about 7.30pm. Some members of the Senate crossbench only got to see the latest amendments on Monday. That sort of time frame will always make it difficult to get bills through swiftly. The Labor spokeswoman on financial services, Clare ONeil, wants changes to some of the six super bills but the tougher rules on unpaid super are not sticking points in the negotiations. It may seem unfair to blame the Senate for lethargy when it has gone ahead with some business this week. It legislated the new rules on GST to set a floor on tax payments to Western Australia and passed the bill to set up the My Health system, after forcing the government to extend the deadline for people to opt out of the new online records. Australians now have until January 31 to opt out. Loading The Senate also began debating a bill to ban foreign donations to political parties and tighten rules on payments to political campaigns. The slowdown in the Senate is not the result of debate on legislation it is the consequence of all the other business that now chokes its daily program. Like the House of Representatives, the upper house only sits for four days in most sitting weeks. This years calendar has 19 sitting weeks. There is limited time for everything on the agenda. This week, for instance, the Senate has spent about four hours on motions that can spark debate but do not change anything, just like the its OK to be white motion that was so divisive last month. The latest motions have recognised International Pathology Day, lauded World Toilet Day, noted the gender pay gap, praised the Queensland Parliaments laws to decriminalise abortion, condemned the Queensland Parliaments laws to decriminalise abortion, called on the government to award the Australia Network tender to the ABC and noted with concern the reports of cruelty in the live sheep export trade. The latest motions have recognised International Pathology Day, lauded World Toilet Day and noted the gender pay gap. Whether worthy or trivial, the motions do not matter much because they do not change anything. Shouldnt legislation take priority? The Greens planned a motion to call on the government to tell Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Australia opposes whaling, as if that message had never been sent. Pauline Hanson put forward a motion to seek the structural separation of the banking system. Fraser Anning listed a motion demanding tougher laws to protect the Australian flag. A conservative would regard some of this as virtual signalling were it not for the fact that the conservatives seem to enjoy it as much as their opponents. Cory Bernardi from the Australian Conservatives put forward a motion to celebrate 19 years since the republic referendum was defeated. Could he not wait until the 20th anniversary? Loading Greens leader Richard Di Natale listed a motion to acknowledge that a price on carbon was inevitable. If it was so destined to happen, why did the Greens not vote for it in 2009? These are small examples, the sort of thing most observers of the Senate look at with a shrug. The motions have no power over anyone. They are pure self-indulgence, easier to debate than actual legislation because they have no consequence. The way the Senate wastes time during the day makes it all the more surprising that it expects praise from voters for occasionally staying up all night to pass legislation. In the mid 1990s, as the royal commission into the NSW police was in full swing, Labor MP Franca Arena stood up in NSW Parliament and threw an unforgettable bomb. Arena felt the spotlight had to be shone on people in high places and she named retired Supreme Court judge David Yeldham and former state MP Frank Arkell as potential paedophiles. Former Wollongong lord mayor Frank Arkell, who was murdered by Mark Valera. Credit:Robert Pearce Both men denied her claims and Arena was condemned for relying on the cover of parliamentary privilege to protect her from being sued for defamation. More than 20 years on, parliamentary privilege has again become a sinister term. This privilege is about parliamentary immunity. It exists so MPs can speak freely in Parliament without fear of prosecution or being sued for defamation. It is a critical part of our political system. ouring around Sri Lanka has become an option for many tourists who experience climatic changes in their Western countries. Sri Lanka has seen an influx of tourists all year round and many of them often fall in love with the country. Just weeks after Lonely Planet listed Sri Lanka as the number one tourist destination in the world, a tragic story was reported from Horton Plains National Park. With the introduction of selfies in smart phones, mobile phone users are compelled to take any risk to click that perfect photograph. This has become a habit among the young and the old alike. Just a few days ago, an attempt to click a perfect photo took Julia Helgas life away as she fell off a cliff at Horton Plains National Park. She was here on vacation. The operations to rescue her body took days due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions in the area. This fatal incident contributed to the many selfie-related deaths around the world. Julia Helga The incident 35-year-old Julia Helga, a nurse by profession of German origin, had visited the Horton Plains national park with another German friend during her stay in Sri Lanka. The two women had arrived in the country on November 3 and had arrived at Nuwara Eliya on Saturday after visiting several areas down South. They had visited Worlds End on November 11 accompanied by a tourist guide. But Julia wouldnt have expected a deadly fall when she was going to click a selfie while atop a cliff which had a 4000-foot drop. The fall in fact was fatal that her body was found a few kilometres away from the Nonpareil Estate located in the Samanalawewa Police area in the Ratnapura District. The victims friend had informed of the incident to the Horton Plains National Park office with the help of the other tourists who had visited the place. "The fall in fact was fatal that her body was found a few kilometres away from the Nonpareil Estate located in the Samanalawewa Police area in the Ratnapura District The victims friend had informed of the incident to the Horton Plains National Park office with the help of the other tourists" Accordingly, the National Park officials together with the 3rd Sinha Regiment of the Army launched a search operation in search of the woman. Amidst challenging weather conditions the Army recovered her body but it took them two days to take the body to Balangoda to conduct the post mortem. The Daily Mirror learned that the body was sent to A.F Raymond Parlour to carry out the postmortem. The postmortem revealed that her death was caused due to numerous fractures and internal haemorrhage due to the impact of the fall. Discussions are underway to release the body to the German Embassy to be sent to the victims home. Constantly informing public about safety precautions - DWC This wasnt the first instance when a tourist had fallen off Worlds End, but this in fact is the first time a tourist has fallen to her death while clicking a selfie at Worlds End. When inquired from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Hasini Sarathchandra, Media Officer at DWC said that it is difficult to draw up barriers in this area since it has natural formations. Theres an observation deck where people can go to and observe the surroundings. This is the first time that such an incident has taken place. But we are constantly informing the public about taking safety precautions inside the Park. said Sarathchandra. Selfie-related deaths Researchers at the US National Library of Medicine recommend that no selfie zones should be introduced at dangerous spots in order to reduce deaths. A global study conducted this year revealed that the quest for extreme selfies has killed 259 people between 2011 and 2017. These dangerous spots include mountain tops, tall buildings and lakes. Drowning, transport accidents and falling were found to be the most common causes of death. The study found that selfie-related deaths were most common in India, Russia, the United Sates and Pakistan and 72.5% of cases reported are mean. If WA's first minister for Asian engagement has his way, Western Australians will be looking to their northern neighbours and trading partners with a fresh set of eyes. Bill Johnston, who also holds the mining and commerce portfolios, will today release a consultation paper on the state's first Asian Engagement Strategy during a meeting of ASEAN in Perth this week. Asian Engagement Minister Bill Johnston is preparing the state's first Asian Engagement Strategy, to guide WA's approach to its northern neighbours. The strategy, which will set out the importance of the relationship between Asian nations, will aim to strengthen WA's relationship with Asia. Mr Johnston said he wants work with business on how the state can expand its horizons and have a broader engagement with the region for the benefit of both sides of the relationship. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today said they are ready to hold both Presidential and General Elections in a democratic and legal manner after having talks with all political parties. Addressing the UNP rally held at the Lipton Circus, Colombo 07, Mr. Wickremesinghe said they are also ready to show the majority in parliament yet again if President Maithripala Sirisena doesnt accept Speakers letter. Video by Buddhi Several MPs including UPFA Parliamentarian Dilum Amunugama were injured during the tense situation in Parliament a while ago. They had been taken to medical center in Parliament Several roads in Colombo are congested due to the United National Party rally which is to begin in few minutes at Lipton Circus against the unconstitutional moves by the government. WSU Professors Examine Compulsive Use of Technology November 15, 2018 OGDEN, Utah Constantly looking at your phone or clicking into your favorite app? Two Weber State University professors found thats no accident. Their research examined what causes the habitual use of technology and when a habit turns into a compulsion. Jeff Clements, business administration assistant professor, and Randy Boyle, associate professor of management information systems in the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics, published Compulsive Technology Use: Compulsive Use of Mobile Applications in the October issue of the journal Computers in Human Behavior. I have always been fascinated with how technology enables new and different behaviors, Clements said. For this research, we found there are some internal and psychological things that cause us to use technology and mobile applications compulsively. Clements said his interest in the topic was piqued a number of years ago when a social game on his phone started to consume a lot of time. I remember being on an elevator, and someone was using their phone, and without intending to, I found myself grabbing my phone, Clements said. Just seeing someone interact with their favorite mobile app was enough to kick off some automatic compulsive mechanisms inside me that caused me to take my phone out and use my favorite app. Clements was further intrigued about technologys pull when a few months later, he received a call at 3 a.m. from a panicked friend who had lost his internet connection. He begged me to log into his account for him and harvest his crops or whatever, Clements said. That made me take a step back and reflect on what technology can do the power it has to compel us to action. That's really when I started digging in and doing research in the area. Prior research on technology use has demonstrated that high frequency of technology use is associated with high levels of habit. One of the new findings of this study is that technologies with more cues and triggers can lead to higher levels of habit. Technologies are designed to exploit psychological mechanisms that develop compulsive behaviors. There are things about a persons psychology that can be manipulated by very smart designers and mobile app developers that can strengthen compulsive behaviors, Clements said. How the app alerts us and how it rewards us can drive our behaviors and strengthen our compulsions. The study also found that complex technology correlated with low levels of habit. In other words, users are less compelled tointeract with difficult technology. If its easy to use or play, its more likely to become a compulsion. Another interesting finding was that younger users dont place as much value on the investment of time theyve committed to a technology. Its easier to predict that an older user who has invested time will be compelled to use the technology. How older individuals view the world is very different from how younger people do, Clements said. How young people see and use technology is different from how their parents do. That's an important finding from the study. Clements and Boyle said its good for technology users to know they are not alone in their compulsive behaviors. In fact, designers exploit those tendencies when they create games and apps. Clements said he hopes the work reminds individuals to be thoughtful about their technology use. It's up to us to be aware of compulsive behavior, he said, and to monitor our behavior and the behaviors of our kids. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. Sri Lanka Insurance, contributing towards the future generation of Sri Lanka launched Suba Pathum - National Scholarship Scheme which rewards 300 achievers who excel in Grade 5 Scholarship, G.C.E. Ordinary Level and G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations annually. The first phase of the 2018 Suba Pathum awarding ceremony was successfully held at Pinnawala Central College Kegalle on 3rd of November 2018 which will be followed by 17 regional awarding ceremonies island wide. Under this scheme 300 scholarships in total (per annum) will be awarded for students who achieve the top rankings at District level (for Grade 5 Scholarship & O/L examination), National level (for A/L examination in Bio/Mathematics/Commerce & Arts streams). This scheme is open for all the children of Sri Lanka irrespective of whether or not he/she is a child of a SLIC Life policyholder. However there will be extended benefits if the scholarship recipients parents/guardian holds a SLIC Life policy. Dana Milbank The future belongs to the Democrats 14.11.2018 By Dana Milbank Wednesday morning last week, millions of Americans awakened with a sense that our politics might finally settle down. They were mistaken. There was ample reason to believe that President Trumps chaotic presidency would finally be reined in. The day before, Election Day, 114 million Americans went to the polls record turnout for a midterm election and delivered the House of Representatives to Democrats with a 7 percent margin. Democrats also picked up governorships and state legislatures, and received about 13 million more votes than Republicans in the Senate; only the vagaries of the political map allowed Republicans to pick up a seat or two. The message from voters in exit polls was clear: They were, by a lopsided margin, casting their votes to register their disapproval of Trump. They wanted a check on Trumps excesses. Trumps reply to the voters: Go to hell. Wednesday, Trump held a news conference where he declared the defeat very close to complete victory. He threatened to respond to House Democrats prospective oversight of his administration by bringing government to a halt, going to a warlike posture. Then, after the news conference, he announced that had forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions and replaced him with a Trump loyalist who, it quickly emerged, was unqualified for the job. The move was a clear sign that Trump is planning to squash the independent counsels Russia investigation that so far has secured the conviction of several of Trumps former advisers. As if that werent enough, the White House then revoked the credentials of a CNN correspondent and justified this by releasing a doctored video falsely purporting to show that the journalist had assaulted a White House aide. If Trump was chaotic, impulsive, belligerent and divisive during the first two years of his term, he appears determined to be even more so in defeat. For the newly empowered House Democrats, this presents a choice: Fight Trump head on, or ignore his hysterics and proceed with their own agenda. If theyre smart, theyll take the latter course. Democrats prevailed Tuesday because they managed to keep a singular and unrelenting focus on health care refusing to engage with Trump and his daily distractions. Now, there will be an immediate clamor from the progressive base for impeachment proceedings, for Medicare for All legislation, and for the party to engage in multiple high-profile investigations of Trump. Democrats must resist this clamor, just as they resist Trumps distractions. Its pointless to take up impeachment and single-payer health care and such with Trump in the White House and his sycophants controlling the Senate. This would also jeopardize the people who gave the Democrats their majority first-term Democrats from swing districts. The majority makers for the Democrats were candidates who, though generally liberal, appealed to moderate voters in suburban districts with non-ideological campaigns. Bernie Sanders-style Democrats lost in several competitive races. The need to maintain discipline also increases the importance of Nancy Pelosi returning as House speaker. Younger Democrats in the House are growing restless, and the 78-year-old party leader will hopefully satisfy them by announcing that this will be her last term and that she will preside over an orderly transition. But Pelosi is exceptional at keeping Democrats in line. She could be a merciless disciplinarian this session forcing her colleagues to focus on issues voters care about, such as health care, economic growth and infrastructure, and cleaning up government. Tuesdays results show that the future continues to belong to the Democrats. Young voters and Hispanic voters showed up in large numbers to support them. College-educated women helped to turn the suburbs blue, leaving only the rural areas, with their diminishing populations, under Republican dominations. Structural obstacles an Electoral College and Senate that overrepresents rural areas, and the drawing of district lines in the House to favor Republicans are preserving Trumps power for now. In the long run 2024 and beyond Democratic strength will likely overrun those obstacles. Thats no guarantee in 2020, which is why Democrats need to avoid constant quarrels with Trump in the House, and why Democrats need to nominate a presidential candidate in 2020 who doesnt appear threatening to white, rural voters. If they can do both of those things, they will regain full control of Congress, and the presidency, two years from now. Dana Milbank is Op-ed columnist for the Washington Post covering national politics. He graduated from Yale University. He also provides political commentary for various TV outlets, and he is author of three books on politics, including the national bestseller Homo Politicus. Victor Davis Hanson Will Our Discord End in the Streets? 14.11.2018 By Victor Davis Hanson The red/blue map of the recent 2018 American midterm election confirmed the picture of a 50/50 divided nation. The House of Representatives went Democratic by a narrow margin; the Senate stayed Republican by only a few seats. Each side promised to press on with its own antithetical agendas. Democrats in the House are likely not to be satisfied by stymieing Trumps Make America Great Again policies, when they think they can impeach him and thereby discredit his entire conservative project. Republicans will respond by jamming through as many strict-constructionist judicial nominees as they can with a now larger, more conservative Senate majority. If a new Democratic House impeaches Trump, a new fortified Republican Senate will never convict him. It seems the country is back to 1860 on the eve of the Civil War, rather than in 2018, during the greatest age of affluence, leisure, and freedom in the history of civilization. The respective midterm agendas of our two factions were not reconcilable. How do those who wish to abolish immigration enforcement, open the border to create favorable electoral demographics, provide free health care for all, cancel student debt, slash defense spending, and double-down on identity politics reconcile with traditionalists who insist on national sovereignty, a strong military, secure borders, market-based health care and higher education, and equality of opportunity rather than of result, in which race and gender remain incidental not essential to our characters? The ancient historian Thucydides called similar civil discord that finally tore apart the fifth-century B.C. Greek city-states stasis. He saw stasis as a bitter civil war in which the revolutionary masses (with the occasional help of the very wealthy) were pitted against the traditionalist middle and upper classes. In such times, the middle vanished as it divided up and fled to the respective margins. Something like that ancient divide is now infecting every aspect of American life. Americans increasingly are either proud of past U.S. traditions, ongoing reform, and current American exceptionalism, or they insist that the country was hopelessly flawed at its birthracist, sexist, homophobic, and nativistand must be radically reinvented to atone for its original sins. The agendas of the two near deadlocked candidatesBrian Kemp and Stacey Abramsin the governors race in Georgia were as different as Mars is from Venus. No sphere of life is immune from the subsequent politicization: not movies, television, professional sports, late-night comedy, or colleges. Recently, Antifa protestors swarmed the home of Fox News anchorman Tucker Carlson, issuing threats to his family inside in ostensible hopes of forcing Carlson to temper conservative views. Threatening senators, disrupting Congressional hearings, and pounding on the closed doors of the Supreme Court are now near daily occurrences. And sometimes the violence grows lethal, such as the recent shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise by an unhinged Bernie Sanders supporter and the murder of 11 innocent worshipers in a Pittsburgh synagogue by a venomous anti-Semite. Inert bombs were mailed to liberal celebrities and politicos by a crazed Trump fan, even as public figures continue to call for President Trump to be shot, blown up, beat up, and burned up. Amid the vicious discourse and violent activism, even hurricanes are typically leveraged to advance global warming political agendas and the greater need for federal services. What is causing America to turn differences into these bitter hatredsand why now? The internet and social media often descend into an electronic lynch mob. In a nanosecond, an insignificant local news story goes viral. Immediately hundreds of millions of people use it to drum up the evils or virtues of either progressivism or conservatism. Anonymity is a force multiplier of these tensions. Fake online identities provide cover for ever greater extremismon the logic that no one is ever called to account for his or her words. Individual nonentities can assume importance the more they sound extreme, unhinged, and vicious. Speed is also the enemy of common sense and restraint. Millions of bloggers rush to be the first to post their take on a news event, without much worry about whether it soon becomes a fake news moment of unsubstantiated gossip and fiction. The 24/7 cable news media does the same; always the more rapid, the more sensational, the more polarizing the story wins audience share. Analytics divides us up in every conceivable fashion to predict voting preferences. Globalization has both enriched and impoverishedand also further dividedAmerica. Those whose muscular labor could be outsourced abroad to less expensive, less regulated countries were liable to lose their jobs or find their wages slashed. They were written off as losers. Americans whose professional expertise profited from vast new world markets became even richer and preened as winners. Cause was confused with effect: the underemployed who took opiates did not drive away industrial jobs; instead factories left and the subsequent wreckage proved fertile ground for addiction. Geographyhistorys intensifier of civil strifefurther fueled the growing economic and cultural divide. Americans are increasingly self-selecting as red and blue states. The recent midterm election map of red/blue congressional districts amplified the 2016 Electoral College map: two bicoastal corridors of blue urban progressives bookending a sea of red conservatives in between. Liberals gravitate to urban coastal-corridor communities of hip culture, progressive lifestyles, and lots of government services. Government-mandated equality is the subtext of popular culture. Conservatives increasingly move to the lower-tax, smaller-government, and the more traditional heartland, where liberty, freedom, and tradition are seen as neither selfish nor old-fashioned. Lifestyles in San Francisco and Toledo are so different that its almost as if theyre too on two different planets. When the Obama administration ran ads for its Affordable Care Act with a photo of an insipid pajama boy sipping hot chocolate in his jammies and praising Obamacare, half the country found him a wimp who needed to get dressed and get to work. Legal, diverse, meritocratic, and measured immigration has always been Americas great strength. Assimilation, integration, and intermarriage within the melting pot used to turn new arrivals into grateful Americans in a generation or two. But when immigration is often illegal, not diverse and massive, then balkanization follows. Currently, the country hosts 60 million non-nativesthe largest number of immigrants in Americas history. One of four Californians was not born in the United States. Yet unlike the past, America often does not ask new immigrants to learn English and assimilate as quickly as possible. Immigration is instead also politicized. Impoverished, non-English speaking newcomers are seen as potentially useful voting blocs for progressives: the less quickly they integrate, assimilate, and assume an American identity, the more they are likely to seek tribal representation and vote accordingly. Indeed, tribalism is the new American norm. Gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, and ethnicity are now essential, not incidental, to who we are. When pundits talk of midterm election results, they refer to blue-state constituencies as communities, as in the voting patterns of the LGBT or Latino community. Red-state voters are referenced more by class: the working classes or rural folks. Americans too often scramble to divide into victimized blocs. Hyphenated and newly accented names serve as advertisements that particular groups have unique affiliations beyond their shared Americanism. Progressive darling and Texas Democratic Senatorial candidate Robert Francis ORourke sought to assume a Latin identity by using a Latino nickname, Beto, to showcase his multicultural affinities. In contrast, his conservative Cuban-American opponent, Senator Ted Cruz, preferred the melting-pot tradition of dropping his Latino birth name Rafael. America is often the target of unrealistic criticismas if it is suddenly toxic because it is not perfect. Fewer appreciate that the far worse alternatives abroad are rife with racism, sexism, civil strife, corruption, and poverty unimaginable in the U.S. Caravans of Central Americans in schizophrenic fashion approach the U.S. southern border, waving flags of countries they under no circumstance wish to return to, already suing the United States for its culpable behavioreven as they refuse generous asylum from kindred-speaking Mexico. It is as if newcomers are saying to Americans, because we dislike your culture so much, you must allow us to join it. The last few elections, and the recent 2018 midterm, added to the growing abyss. The old Democratic Party of John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton is now trending into a radical democratic socialist party. Meanwhile, the old Republican Party is mostly gone, replaced by tea party movements and the new Donald Trump base. Yet the country remains a center-right nation that rejects progressive radicalism. Republican candidates who rejected Trumpism as too conservative more often lost their races. Democratic candidates who insisted they were hardcore progressives rather than centrists failed too. Former President Barack Obama came into office from Congress with the most left-wing voting record in the Senate. In contrast, Trump was elected as the first president without either prior military or political experience. Obama issued dozens of controversial pen and phone executive orders, bypassing Congress. And Trump is systematically overturning themdoing so with similar executive orders. Will America keep dividing and soon resort to open violence, as happened in 1861? One might think by watching the recent hysterics at the nomination hearings of Brett Kavanaugh, the anti-Semitic terrorist attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue, or the inert bombs mailed to prominent Democratic politicos and celebrities. Hollywood has turned up its assassination chic, as stars argue only over whether Trump should be blown up, cut up, shot up, or beat up. Will Americans reunite and bind up our wounds, as we did following the upheavals of the 1930s Great Depression or after the protests of the 1960s? The answer lies within each of us. Every day we will either treat each other as fellow Americans, with far more uniting than dividing us, or we will continue on the present path that eventually ends in something like a hate-filled Iraq, Rwanda, or the Balkans. Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and the author of the recently released The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won. WESTPORT Election turnout this year was the highest for a gubernatorial year in over a decade. We were almost exactly halfway between the last presidential and gubernatorial (election), Marla Cowden, one of Westports two Registrars of Voters, said of the 75.61 percent turnout in town this year. The Nov. 6 turnout was considerably higher than the 61.60 percent of registered voters who came out in 2014, the previous gubernatorial election year, and also the 64.80 percent who voted in 2010, the last time an incumbent was not up for re-election as governor in Connecticut. The last time turnout for a gubernatorial or mid-term year came close to this years was in 2006, when 72.69 percent of registered voters came out to the polls. Turnout, however, was expectantly lower than at least the last three presidential election years, which saw 85.89 percent, 83 percent and 86.05 percent turnout for 2016, 2012 and 2008, respectively. The registrars ordered enough ballots this year to meet presidential turnout because the high number of people, especially Democrats, who registered and/or requested absentee ballots in September and October led them to expect higher turnout than most gubernatorial election years, Cowden said. In total, 338 residents registered as Democrats since the August primary while 56 Westporters registered Republican in that same time frame. Westport has more Democrats than Republicans, with 7,187 voters registered for the former party and 4,446 in the later. In addition to being the majority party in town, the Democrats also voted at a higher rate than Republicans this year; 82 percent of towns registered Democrats voted compared to the 78 percent of Westports registered Republicans who went to the polls. The registrations were going crazy for the last month. It wasnt just voters that said I need to vote. These are voters that needed to first become a registered voter and then vote. It drew new people, new voters to the polls, I believe, Town Clerk Patty Strauss said. Many more people, 1,956 to be exact, voted through absentee ballots this year than in past gubernatorial election years. In 2014, 798 Westporters voted with absentee ballots and in 2010, the number was a bit higher, at 1,125, but still below this years number of people who voted with absentee ballots. I think voter turnout was a combination of grassroots organization and discontent with what happened in 2016, Gail Berritt, a Westport resident and leader of the Indivisible Electioneers, which worked to increase voter turnout in support of progressive candidates, said. Candidates like Democrat Will Haskell, who won the 26th state senate seat in a surprising upset over incumbent Toni Boucher, knocked on countless doors and were in touch with what bothered residents, Berritt said. It was all because he and other people knocked on doors and got people out to vote and convinced them to change their vote, Berritt said of Haskells victory. svaughan@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2638; @SophieCVaughan1 WESTPORT After hours of contentious debate, the Representative Town Meeting approved $840,000 to fund an ADA-compliant restroom facility on Compos South Beach early Wednesday. The 26-8 vote earned acclaim from disability rights advocates, but also came amid criticism from some Westporters opposed to the buildings size, location and cost. Its about being inclusive, its about making peoples lives easier, and its about breaking down barriers and treating everyone as equals, Parks and Recreation Department Director Jennifer Fava said while introducing the proposal to the RTM on Tuesday night. We want to make South Beach is a place where users can easily access restrooms whether youre with a family with young children, seniors, disabled, or just an average person enjoying a barbeque. The road to the restrooms approval wasnt a quick or easy one. A 2013 Compo Beach stakeholder meeting identified the need for restrooms on its South Beach, which currently only houses port-a-potties. In the five years since then, at least 21 public meetings and hearings with various boards and commissions were held to gather resident feedback about the restrooms, Fava said. The proposal was met with opposition from many residents, including a group of pickleball players. This is not the cost that the people want to spend and I guarantee you its not what the majority of the town wants, Westport resident Jay Walshon said Tuesday. Walshon first mobilized against the plan in late summer on the grounds the facility would block the beach view from the pickleball courts, and hired a lawyer with other residents to oppose the project. To me, its too big, its too intrusive, and its too much money, said RTM member Carla Rea, who voted against the project and echoed many of Walshons concerns. Former Public Works Department Director Steve Edwards, who served as a consultant to the town on the bathroom project, said the size of each stall was designed to ensure families and people with disabilities can comfortably use the restroom. The high cost is a product of FEMA requirements for the construction of new buildings in floodplains, he said. Several residents and RTM members said they were concerned about whether the expenditure would threaten the towns ability to address the problems at Coleytown Middle School, which is closed for the year due to mold. First Selectman Jim Marpe and Board of Finance Chair Brian Stern assured the town has sufficient headroom to pay for the bathrooms without endangering Westports AAA bond rating, through a 20-year bond that would cost each household about $5 per year. The building will likely last for 50 years or more, Marpe said. This expenditure will not jeopardize our response to the school project, or any other capital project that ensures public safety, maintains and repairs our aging infrastructure, or enhances the brand of Westport, Marpe said. Proponents for the facility included Jim Ross, chair of the Westport Commission on People with Disabilities, who said people with disabilities cannot currently use South Beach because of its lack of an ADA-compliant restroom and the far distance to the closest accommodating restroom. Inherent in the disability movement is the essence of civil rights, that forged in the heart of disability rights is the right of inclusion. ... Were talking about the civil rights of people who currently are unable to access our beaches, Ross said. Resident Patty Haberstroh, who last year was diagnosed with ALS and has since lost her ability to walk, also spoke in favor of the proposal. We in the disability community find it hard enough to come here. We have a right to express our opinion. We come on our own to advocate for our need, and I just hope we can end the division and rancour in this community unlike anything Ive ever seen in 28 years. We are better than this, Haberstroh said. The new bathrooms should be ready in time for the coming beach season, Fava said. svaughan@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2638; @SophieCVaughan1 Speaker Karu Jayasuriya left his seat after a wastepaper basket, black folder and copy of the Constitution were thrown at him Parliament. Canadian private real estate sale marketing firm PropertyGuys.com has awarded its first master franchise licence in the United States. The Moncton, NB based firm has made the US a strategic market for growth and has awarded the licence in Florida with the potential of 100 franchises being created within the state. We've been extremely strategic and diligent on expanding south of the border," explained Ken LeBlanc, President and CEO of PropertyGuys.com. "Not only have we waited for the right time to enter the US housing market, but we've also attracted quality partners who share our vision for disrupting real estate." The firm intends to further expand in the US, which could grow its franchisee network to thousands in the years ahead. "Real estate provides investors with access to a huge asset class - touching where every person lives, works and plays," said PropertyGuys.com Director of Partnerships, Walter Melanson. "PropertyGuys.com is at the forefront of this movement within Canada and sees the trend continuing." The Florida master licence has been awarded to a group of entrepreneurs. "It's exciting and humbling to be awarded the first Master Franchise in the US," stated Patrick Belanger, who leads the investment group. "We're excited to be part of bringing this innovative and proven approach to the Florida market and look forward to replicating the success PropertyGuys.com has enjoyed in Canada across Florida." Sriyani Dress point docked on the sunny coast of Negombo unveiling its wide range of sought after fashion labels in the island recently. Located at No. 387, Main Street, Negombo, the shop boasts state of the art readymade clothing items at unbelievably affordable prices and unique trends that have captured the hearts of consumers for years. This showroom, bringing color to the townsmen of Negombo, is the eighth showroom of the Sriyani Dress Point chain. The opening ceremony which was widely advertised and conducted in a celebratory and colorful manner. The event was graced by renowned and loved cinema actress Pooja Umashankar, Parliamentarian Nimal Lansa, Mayor of Negombo Dayan Lansa, chairman of Sriyani Dress Point Mariyapillai Selvaraj, Mrs. Selvaraj , Managing Director, Madhushika Selvaraj, General Manager Nadeshan Kanagaraj, and many invitees and well-wishers. Crowds of people from in and around the area of Negombo were also present to extend their support to the franchise and get their hands on some of the latest trends in the fashion world. The newly commenced operation in the town of Negombo marks the largest showroom of Sriyani Dress Point to date. Sriyani Dress Point has continued to revolutionize the fashion industry and this benchmark showroom boasts tasteful layouts and ample space enabling consumers to choose and purchase their products with utmost convenience. The franchise which commenced in Kegalle with a humble four employees has now grown to a magnitude of employing over two thousand individuals. With showrooms currently in operation in Kegalle, Matale, Kandy and Kurunegala, the ever growing Sriyani Dress Point has identified the newest Showroom in Negombo as an important juncture in its island wide expansion initiative. Comprising of many trusted consumer brands within the range of Kids clothing for the colorful, playful, child, Ladies wear for the fashion forward trendy woman and Gents wear for the smooth operating man, this new showroom has something for everyone. The Negombo outlet of Sriyani Dress Point further features a wide array of bridal sarees and bridal wear straight out of catalogue pages, keeping up with the latest trends, and also materials in many colors and textures, making this the must visit destination for the fashionable Sri Lankan who wishes to obtain value for money at the most competent rates in town, under one roof. Aside from readymade garments Sriyani Dress Point Negombo also makes available to its customers, a wide range of costume jewelry, footwear, watches, bags, fancy items and gift items. It is noteworthy that with the opening of the showroom in Negombo, Sriyani Dress Point, who has won the trust of consumers, offering high quality readymade garments at the most affordable prices, has taken a step closer towards entering the business capital of the island. A tense situation prevailed in Parliament after UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella requested a Parliament vote by name for the speech delivered by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Pix by Lahiru Hashana Alice Fay Pullin Audio Article Alice Fay Pullin, 83, of Floresville and Taft, Texas, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Nov.... Ernesto Silvas Guerrero Audio Article Ernesto Silvas Guerrero passed away on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 40 years,... hose of us who were on our knees praying fervently ever since the 26th of October for justice, democracy and the constitution to be adhered to, the events of the last two days have been a welcome relief. But it is important that our prayers continue for it is only God who can work miracles. This is not an issue between three individuals, it is an issue that concerns our country, our constitution, freedom and democracy. The nation is grateful to the judges for acting independently, something which has been sadly missing all these years, all those who prayed through day and night and civil society who came out fearlessly and courageously to protest in their thousands. I know now that I was right in always being against the executive Presidency. Power of governance has to be with Parliament and not with one individual who can act on personal vendettas,whims and fancies which are not in the interests of the country as a whole. This perhaps was why, my favourite politician the late Dudley Senanayake was always against the executive presidency. I have always been an UNPer born and bred, supported every Leader as it must be when one supports a party, whether I liked them personally or not. I have never been an MR supporter, but I certainly expected better of him than his involvement in the political scenario of the last few weeks Surely, as one who had been President twice over, he should have from his wide political experience known better, than to agree to come in as PM from the back door without the sufficient numbers to back him? Former Presidents such as the late President Jayewardene, the late President Wijetunge and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge exited with dignity when they had served their terms. That is what greatness is all about. Politics and statesmanship should be all about principles, although some have with some cunning and a dollop of luck, navigated successfully through some stormy waters. Power must be used wisely and well; not to feather ones own nest and bask in the grandeur it brings in its wake. Justice and freedom for the individual must be the priority.When the government changed in 2015, people saw it as the dawn of a new era of freedom, a return to fairness, equality, truth,transparency, the embodiment of their dreams and hopes for a new country, recovering slowly but surely from the rampant corruption, extravagance, dictatorship and white vans which were trademarks of the former regime. Politics we know, often has strange bedfellows, no permanent friends or enemies. But when one who accused another of sending him several feet underground if he lost and the other whose accusations of betrayal continued unabated, get together in an act against the constitution and the country, I find that this kind of behavior is far beyond my comprehension and the principles I was brought up on. As for those disgraceful political jumpers, I think they should be nominated to represent Sri Lanka in jumping at the Olympics! This may even bring back the recognition we have lost internationally since the 26th October. "I have never been an MR supporter, but I certainly expected better of him than his involvement in the political scenario of the last few weeks Surely, as one who had been President twice over, he should have from his wide political experience known better, than to agree to come in as PM from the back door without the sufficient numbers to back him? Some media moghuls are behind these moves. They want to be kingmakers and know they cannot get him to grant them favours " In all this, one man has stood tall, his calm demeanour through it all speaks volumes for his inbred qualities of self control and self discipline which money or fame cannot buy but which Leaders must have. No other politician in this country could have handled this situation as he has, having to tackle both MR and MS.While they and others in their rat pack ranted and raved, he remained a gentleman through all the abuse thrown at him. Let it not be forgotten that he did the same after President Premadasas assassination, saw the transition through peacefully, again when MR was defeated, he personally went to Temple Trees, saw that he left safely. I was present at his first Press conference after the Presidential election. I heard him say that he didnt want anyone to harass or attack MR or his family, that all should remember MRs leadership through the war and victory against the LTTE. This is the hallmark of statesmanship. Again, no other Sri Lankan politician could have spoken as eloquently as he did recently to The Oxford Union, or dealt with the questions so cleverly, many of which were about the atrocities committed during the previous regime. He got the GSP back for the country, regained friendship we had lost internationally with all democracies in the world and other countries too. All this was due to him and him alone. Prime Minister Modi and The Congress party in India respect him greatly as was shown by Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul calling on him on all his visits there. All those stabbers in the back from outside and within the party must not forget all this. Some media moghuls are behind these moves. They want to be kingmakers and know they cannot get him to grant them favours. He still lives in the house his father built for him, has no property abroad, his family was never allowed to throw their weight about at Temple Trees, or other offices or official residences. Recently a fellow columnist, who is not an UNPer or a Ranil fan told me that all these qualities he possesses would be appreciated one day, perhaps only after his retirement. "He still lives in the house his father built for him, has no property abroad, his family was never allowed to throw their weight about at Temple Trees, or other offices or official residences. As for those disgraceful political jumpers, I think they should be nominated to represent Sri Lanka in jumping at the Olympics! This may even bring back the recognition we have lost internationally since the 26th October Recently a fellow columnist, who is not an UNPer or a Ranil fan told me that all these qualities he possesses would be appreciated one day, perhaps only after his retirement" I would like to end by quoting from a message I received on my phone about him just today. This is the Man of the Hour in my opinion! He stood firm,cool,calm and confident throughout this shocking crisis which had the entire country in a tizzy. He didnt resort to thuggery, violence, slander or anything unlawful,but sat his ground and waited for the law to take its course. A kudos to you, Honourable Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. As one who has known him since his childhood, I fully endorse these words. As a Christian, I say as Christ said on the cross Father forgive them they know not what they do, but I will also add another quote from the bible, Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord , I will repay. Lyle Koncan on the bench dedicated to her late husband and dog. An unnecessary conflict had been created between the Legislature and the Executive, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena today. The move taken by you on October 26, has created a severe instability in the country. The respect and honour acquired by you, is deteriorating, the letter said. He said that representing the majority in Parliament was not being biased but adhering to democracy and maintaining democratic principles. I assure you that the 122 MPs, who voted in favour of the no-faith motion against the Government and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, were all present in Parliament. Although I attempted thrice to carry out the voting in a proper manner, the tense situation prevailed in the Chamber prevented me from doing so, the Speaker has said. I urge you as the President of Sri Lanka to give heed to the majority and thereby protect the country from the prevailing peril and put an end to the current crisis, he added. Full Letter Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon is facing a call to resign in the wake of an allegation he groped a woman last year. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/11/2018 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon is facing a call to resign in the wake of an allegation he groped a woman last year. Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said Thursday he believes Graydon should step down before the 2020 election. The 72-year-old former Tory turned independent MLA has said he will not run again in the constituency he has held since 2007. "Its one of these things where I think that would be the right thing for him to do. I mean, he could have a long discussion with his constituents and see whether they really want to still support him," Lamont said. "I dont want to rush to judgment, but certainly if these allegations are true, this isnt the kind of behaviour its not fit behaviour and we have to have higher standards." On Wednesday, The Canadian Press reported a longtime Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party member and volunteer said she was groped by Graydon during a PC party function at Tavern United in downtown Winnipeg in September 2017. "I was standing to his left and... all of a sudden, his hand goes around me, and he has his hand on my bottom," the woman said. "And not just on hes got a hold of me. Hes grabbed me and I couldnt move." The woman said Graydon also propositioned her. "He just kept saying, Come back to my apartment and that he doesnt have sex, he makes love," she said. The woman said she reported what Graydon allegedly said to party officials in February, but did not mention the alleged groping. Graydon did not respond to a request for comment about the most recent allegation against him. PC caucus chairman Wayne Ewasko confirmed the party was first made aware of allegations of inappropriate comments made by Graydon in early 2018, and said "disciplinary action was immediately taken to the satisfaction of the victim, including the member for Emerson undergoing sensitivity training." The party would not elaborate on what "disciplinary action" took place. Ewasko didnt answer a question about whether Graydon should step down before 2020. "We first learned of allegations of inappropriate physical contact made against the member for Emerson late last week. The individual involved has been offered any support they need," Ewasko said in an emailed statement. "Our government and caucus will not tolerate this form of conduct. We have a no wrong door policy that supports victims of this unacceptable behaviour." Graydon was removed from the PC caucus on Oct. 22, and dismissed from the Manitoba Hydro board of directors shortly thereafter, after inappropriate comments he allegedly made to female political staffers were reported in the media. The MLA acknowledged hed asked two young women, on separate occasions, whether theyd like to sit on his knee. Graydon said he apologized. He also said he didnt recall whether he asked a woman to lick food off his face, another allegation the Free Press reported. In his first formal address to reporters last week, Graydon said his past remarks were a result of his "bad sense of humour" and he had "not knowingly touched anyone inappropriately." NDP Leader Wab Kinew wouldnt speak much about the subject Thursday after his alternative throne speech, except to offer concern for the targets of Graydons reported behaviour. "What Im always reminded about when a story comes up is that there are young women at the centre of this story who have been harmed, and my thought is, I feel a lot of compassion for them. I feel a lot of empathy for them and I wish that this never happened to them. I wish the harm was never done," Kinew said. "In terms of being the leader of a party, this issue is very sensitive. It triggers people who have experienced trauma in their own life, and so Im in no way going to play any sort of politics with it or offer any sort of comment that could be potentially misconstrued as me taking advantage." jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu After dealing with a months-long transcript backlog that threatened to slow down Manitobas courts, the provincial government is in the process of tendering a contract that could result in a transcription firm taking over requests for the verbatim court records. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/11/2018 (1104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. After dealing with a months-long transcript backlog that threatened to slow down Manitobas courts, the provincial government is in the process of tendering a contract that could result in a transcription firm taking over requests for the verbatim court records. The province acknowledged it may need to update its court transcript prices as it looks for a company that will both handle requests for transcripts and produce those transcripts, according to a public tender notice that closed late last month. The notice was posted Sept. 24, when the demand for transcripts in Manitoba courts far exceeded the supply. It says Manitoba Justice wants to "amalgamate" its transcript services by signing a two-year contract with a single contractor that can co-ordinate requests and provide paper and electronic copies of transcripts for all three levels of court in the province. The transcripts are the official record of what happens in court, and are crucial to the court process. The provincial Transcription Services Unit accepts requests for transcripts from the public, lawyers, government agencies and self-represented litigants. Transcribers, who are independent contractors, type out the digital audio recordings that are captured in court. As the Free Press reported in August, there were too few transcribers to meet the demand and a wait of up to seven months for regular transcripts. As of this week, the estimated wait times were closer to normal: four to six weeks at regular service, seven to 10 days expedited, and three to five business days for a priority-service transcript. Manitoba Justice said there is currently no backlog of transcript requests. A spokeswoman for the department said she could not provide more information while the contract-tendering process is ongoing. For the past five years, Manitoba Justice had been working with a transcription firm in Regina to complete court transcripts, paying Royal Reporting Services annually. In the fiscal year ending March 31, Manitoba paid $128,482 to the firm, the provincial public accounts show. An employee at Royal Reporting Services has told the Free Press the firm was in negotiations with Manitoba. This isnt the first time the province has tried to secure a contract for court transcripts. A request for proposals was issued in January, but it wasnt open to transcript pricing negotiations because transcript fees in Manitoba are regulated under provincial law, capping the regular cost for requests at $3 per page. That led to concerns the rates being paid to transcribers may have been too low. This time, the province says it will "take the necessary actions" to recommend fee-regulation changes as it considers proposals, according to the public tender notice. katie.may@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @thatkatiemay OTTAWA The federal government will start promoting to Manitobans the new trade agreement formed to replace NAFTA by highlighting the duty-free access it has salvaged, from frozen french fries to airplane parts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/11/2018 (1104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The federal government will start promoting to Manitobans the new trade agreement formed to replace NAFTA by highlighting the duty-free access it has salvaged, from frozen french fries to airplane parts. An internal briefing document obtained by the Free Press shows the messages Ottawa plans to share with Manitobans, as it promotes clinching the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement a year before a federal election. JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland hold a press conference regarding the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) at the National Press Theatre, in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Canada agreed to the text of USMCA on Sept. 30, after a year of tumultuous negotiations that included threats of a two-country deal that would exclude Canada, and tariffs on metals that still remain. USMCA's text has not been signed nor ratified, and needs the approval of a new Democrat-headed U.S. Congress hungry to fight Republican legislation. Nevertheless, Ottawa is preparing to prod local businesses to take advantage of changes in the deal, and to play down concerns by opposition parties and groups such as dairy farmers. "What we finally negotiated as Canada is obviously better than the original trade deal," said Dennis Darby, president of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, which had advised negotiators during the talks. Darby reviewed the document, and said it seems to accurately portray Manitoba's stake in the trade deal. The one-page briefing note lays out Manitoba's billions in exports to the United States and Mexico, starting with agriculture, which represents 28 per cent of what the province sends stateside. It highlights that USMCA preserves duty-free access for 90 per cent of agricultural products and commodities bound for the U.S. and Mexico. The document also cites "new market access opportunities" in the province under expanded tariff lines. It gives the example of "the Winnipeg-based company Richardson" being able to expand "in the areas of refined sugar and sugar-containing products." Richardson International did not respond to multiple emails and calls. Under "key benefits," the note similarly outlines preserved access for processed and manufactured goods, saying Manitoba is a heavyweight in canola oil, buses and parts, as well as frozen french fries all of which get a lower tariff rate than countries outside USMCA. The documents highlights Canadians keep the ability to visit the U.S. with fast-tracked visas for short-term visits to provide paid services, "see their investments firsthand" and support colleagues in sales. "This is particularly important for Manitoba's aerospace industry," the note hails. Darby said that's accurate, but noted Canada wasn't able to obtain wider access than what it had before. "The provisions didn't get worse, but they didn't get better, in the new (trade agreement)." It also touts breaking down "technical barriers to trade," such as including new technology in types of work permits, and "electronic processes which will reduce red tape for exporters and save them money." Darby said allowing digital forms would be extremely helpful for ensuring firms can make on-time deliveries across the border. Trade deal remains unsigned OTTAWA Canada secured the USMCA only after months of a concerted lobbying campaign that had ministers, premiers, unions, business groups and farmers rallying their American colleagues, armed with details, hyperlocal information about the benefits of trade between the two countries. click to read more OTTAWA Canada secured the USMCA only after months of a concerted lobbying campaign that had ministers, premiers, unions, business groups and farmers rallying their American colleagues, armed with details, hyperlocal information about the benefits of trade between the two countries. Dennis Darby, head of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, expects Canada will do the same with the new Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress, where some representatives are already raising issues with clauses in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal. "We're all sitting with our fingers crossed that it gets through the U.S. process," Darby said, calling Canadian and Mexican ratification "very straightforward." A week ago, Reuters reported American officials presented their Canadian counterparts with an altered text that was "not at all what we agreed to." Officials from all three countries have mulled signing the deal by year's end. Regardless of what happens, Darby said Manitoba businesses are in a much better place than even three months ago, when there was a real chance the continental trade pact could collapse. "There were moments where there was a lot of trepidation in Canada and Mexico, that the U.S. would try to cancel the deal," he said. "The worst case is that (current North American Free Trade Agreement) will continue." Dylan Robertson Close "A lot of stuff that didn't get much of headlines over the last year-and-a-half but it was all progress made during the negotiations," he said. "Acutely so in Manitoba, which is a small province but punches well above its weight class, in terms of manufacturing and, obviously, exports." The document also cites a new chapter on small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the importance of "ensuring that information is available to SMEs on the obligations and functioning of" USMCA an issue those businesses have raised themselves. American tariffs on steel and aluminum remain. While neither material is generated in Manitoba in large quantities, Darby said the province's manufacturers heavily rely on both, raising the prices of everything from firetrucks to agricultural components. "It continues to be a drag on industry," said Darby. The federal Liberals have committed to fighting those tariffs; the Conservatives have said they should have been resolved before concluding USMCA talks. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Minister Wasantha Senanayake told media that he was going to resign from his ministerial portfolio shortly. He said he would submit the resignation letter to the President. I will support whoever has the majority in Parliament. I could not work for people in my area for the last three years. I want to work for them anyhow, he said. Vadivel Suresh who was appointed as a Minister in the new administration said he never left the UNP though he accepted a ministerial portfolio in the new administration. I have resigned from the ministry now in order to work towards upholding democracy, he said. (Yohan Perera and Kelum Bandara) OTTAWA The federal government held a closed-door consultation on racism in Winnipeg Tuesday as part of a countrywide tour that has garnered scrutiny due to its secrecy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/11/2018 (1104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The federal government held a closed-door consultation on racism in Winnipeg Tuesday as part of a countrywide tour that has garnered scrutiny due to its secrecy. About 30 to 50 Manitobans gathered for a private meeting with Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Among them was Shahina Siddiqui, head of the Islamic Social Services Association. "In general, it was consultations like consultations go. We hope they heard us," she said Wednesday. Rodriguez is visiting 25 communities as he crafts a national anti-racism strategy. The meetings, which were quietly unveiled on a government website Oct. 15, are set to wrap up by the end of the year. The idea came about after the House heritage committee held hearings on systemic racism and religious discrimination, following a benign parliamentary motion against Islamophobia called M-103, which incited far-right protests across the country and claims it would implement Shariah law. Its due, in part, to that furor that the government has opted to hold its consultations in private. "These meetings will not be open to the public in order to ensure that participants are able to have focused, meaningful and safe conversations on subjects that, for many, include reflecting on harmful experiences," the government website reads. Siddiqui said she raised discrimination in how Muslims access social services, the justice system and recreational venues. "We were made aware that the government was serious about it," Siddiqui said. She said Winnipeg is, in some ways, a model for the rest of Canada, given the close collaboration among religious, cultural and LGBTTQ* groups. She listed numerous events where communities have rallied locally after events such as the last months mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, and a similar attack at a Quebec mosque in 2017. "Our work is silent; the racists have loud voices," Siddiqui said. Belle Jarniewski, head of the Manitoba Multifaith Council, said she was invited but couldnt attend Tuesdays meeting. She said Winnipeg has made strides since being branded "Canadas most racist city" four years ago in a national magazine. "I think that we take it a lot more seriously since the Macleans article," said Jarniewski, who is also involved in multiple Jewish groups. Siddiqui added Tuesdays closed-door format likely brought in more people than it would have otherwise, because debates around M-103 devolved into death threats. "If people know that its a safe space, theyre wiling to open up. It may be a careful approach, but I think its also respecting that many organizations and different people are in vulnerable positions," Siddiqui said. "Its protective of those who are participating, not the government," she said. "For those of us in the front line, addressing these issues, we do receive these threats." Yet, the federal NDP has said the talks have been so private some groups have missed a chance to participate. Jarniewski had attended a similar consultation with Rodriguezs predecessor, Melanie Joly, a year ago, where she noticed some groups were overrepresented while others never got an invite. Shed like Ottawa to publish a list of what groups it has reached out to, so Canadians can know how inclusive the consultations were. The government is also running an online survey until Dec. 9, asking about discrimination at work and within institutions such as the justice system. It plans to start offering grants for anti-racism work. Jarniewski said Manitoba seems to need better education about history and different cultures. On Tuesday, she said she spoke to a Grade 10 class in Winnipeg about the Holocaust, where students said they hadnt yet learned about it in school. They also werent aware about historical discrimination in Canada, she said, "If we dont learn about our past, thats very dangerous," Jarniewski said. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The Supreme Court of Canada recently heard the most important case in a generation regarding the Canadian legal systems response to murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/11/2018 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The Supreme Court of Canada recently heard the most important case in a generation regarding the Canadian legal systems response to murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. The hearing was the culmination of a case that was set in motion on the morning of June 22, 2011. On that day, Bradley Barton checked out of a motel room at the Yellowhead Inn in Edmonton, grabbed a coffee and started his truck for another day of work. In Bartons motel bathroom, Cindy Gladue was already dead. Her children didnt yet know that they had been left without their mother. Her mother didnt know that she had lost a daughter. Her Cree and Metis communities didnt yet know that another sister had died in violent circumstances. Barton didnt call for medical services or police assistance until a co-worker urged him to call 911. He lied to the police and colleagues about whether he knew Gladue and how she had come to be in his motel room. At his trial, Barton testified that he had offered to pay Gladue for sex, which he defined as "intercourse." Its now widely known that Gladue died from an 11-centimetre wound in her vagina. Barton admits to having caused that wound. Nonetheless, he was acquitted of all criminal responsibility for Gladues death. What is at stake for Barton in this appeal is the possibility of a retrial. Gladues family and her Metis and Cree communities have followed this trial closely. They heard participants describe 36-year-old Gladue as a "native girl" or "native woman" and a "prostitute." These characterizations ignored legal safeguards that are designed to protect the dignity of victims. They introduced discriminatory myths and stereotypes into the proceedings and likely deflected the jury from the careful analysis of consent thats required by Canadian law. Indigenous women across the country were shaken by the violation of Indigenous laws and basic human decency when they learned that Gladues preserved body parts had been presented in court. Before the jury, Bartons lawyer Dino Bottos relied on Bartons testimony to argue that Gladue had consented to violent sexual activity in expectation of a small payment. Or, at least, that because Gladue was "a prostitute," "Mr. Barton would obviously have believed that she was consenting to sex." More recently, Bottos has said about Gladue: "We cant whitewash the circumstances in terms of who she was and what she was doing there." That word: whitewash. The Yellowhead Inn. A "native girl," aged 36. A colonial legal system that has operated for far too long to exclude Indigenous law and to deny Indigenous personhood. How do we navigate this deeply colonial and gendered story? Who was Cindy Gladue and what was she doing at the Yellowhead Inn? We dont know precisely, because she didnt survive to tell us. Perhaps she was to be paid a small sum of money in return for sexual intercourse. Even so, Gladue like all of us had the right to withhold consent at any time, for any reason. Theres no evidence that she consented to the violence that was necessary to cause her fatal wound. What was whitewashed at trial? Certainly not Gladues Indigenous identity or her reasons for being in that motel room. She was utterly defined by racist and misogynistic stereotypes. Private aspects of her life and body were on full display, literally and metaphorically. In legal terms, this case turns on the significance of any errors that were made at trial. Ultimately, the court is being invited to enforce the principle that Indigenous women who exchange sex for payment are entitled to the full range of protections that Canadian law promises to victims of sexual violence. Beyond the court case, Canadian society must grapple with the circumstances of Gladues life and death. We must come to terms with systemic racism and sexism, and address the intergenerational trauma that Canadian "justice" imposes on Indigenous people. This is our duty, just as surely as the judges must perform theirs. So, Canada, lets not whitewash this. Emma Cunliffe is an associate professor in the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia and a contributor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, which is based at the University of Winnipeg. Troy Media At 8 a.m. one recent morning, when the milking of 110 cows was complete, I helped Jeannie van Dyk feed her calves and give them clean bedding. Van Dyk has not lost any calves, due to excellent biosecurity and their housing and feeding regimes. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/11/2018 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion At 8 a.m. one recent morning, when the milking of 110 cows was complete, I helped Jeannie van Dyk feed her calves and give them clean bedding. Van Dyk has not lost any calves, due to excellent biosecurity and their housing and feeding regimes. All the calves at Lellavan Farms in Noel Shore, N.S., are fed warm water, which helps them avoid getting chilled. The calf hutches are modular, allowing them to be taken down for cleaning. The space is being moved to a positive air-pressure system to ensure protection from disease. The calves are fed milk twice daily, individually according to size, appetite and age. Then theyre taught to drink from a bucket and they start solid food at around three weeks. At 8:20, the milk tanker arrived, collecting 8,000 litres that would soon reach homes across the province. The conversation at the farm shifted from cows to macro forces shaping the Lellavan Farm familys world: supply management and international trade deals. At the centre of trade talks Our dairy industry has been in the news a lot in recent years as a focal point in Canadas many international trade negotiations. First, there was the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreementbetween Canada and the European Union, known as CETA. Then came the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, dubbed the TPP. Most recently there was the sticky renegotiation of NAFTA, resulting in the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or the USMCA. Every farmer in Canada rides the waves of these negotiations. Concessions and deals are cut in faraway urban environments, sometimes with little input from the rural communities that depend on agriculture for cultural and physical survival. Day kicks off in darkness Ive worked with the agricultural industry for more than 20 years, in at least four different countries. But until this past Thanksgiving weekend at Lellavan Farms, I didnt really know what it was to be a dairy farmer, to stomp a mile in their muddy boots, kicking my day off in the darkness at 4:30 a.m. As we worked our way through the various chores, I chatted with Jeannie about her job, her farm and what these trade agreements mean to her. The three aforementioned agreements have collectively given other countries access to more than nine per cent of the Canadian milk market. That is more milk than is produced in all of Atlantic Canada. Van Dyk shared with me a report commissioned by Agropur Dairy co-operative, whose members are spread across five Canadian provinces, called Analysis of the potential impacts of the end of supply management in the Canadian dairy industry. It says opening up the Canadian dairy system risks a net loss of $2.1 to $3.5 billion of Canadas GDP. Approximately 24,000 direct jobs would be affected. A spike followed by a decline Other studies suggest that countries that have transitioned away from supply management, such as Australia, have seen an initial spike in dairy production, then a steady reduction in production, farms and farmers. Many producers have been forced to exit the industry due to soft market conditions. Van Dyk tells me that she writes 50 business cheques each month to local companies, a substantial contribution to the local economy. Her farm employs people from the community and hosts a student each summer, so future farmers have applied knowledge. Being a dairy farmer is more than a job. Its a way of life. The recent concessions in trade agreements are eroding farmers livelihoods, and thus that way of life. Granted, its a challenging life. I often ask farmers why they do it. Love of their animals The answer is always the same: love. Canadian dairy farms are not just milk factories. They are collections of people who love what they do and the animals in their care. That gets them through 20-hour days in the summer. Jeannie and her husband John are proudly mentoring their two sons into the management of the 600-acre crop and 300-head farm. They all showed me how incredibly innovative farmers are as well as their dedication to the welfare and comfort of their animals. Lellavan Farms just installed a $2.2-million dairy barn designed around the principal criteria of animal welfare, comfort and safety. Jeannie knows every single animal. As we walked around and interacted with them, it was clear they knew her. They showed affection. In the language of reports, the Agropur report states that the dairy industry "contributes to the regional fabric and territory occupations." Ill put it this way: you cannot separate farming from the fabric of rural Canada. The families, animals and land are fully integrated into the community and landscape. The survival of rural Atlantic Canada, in particular, is dependent on this, and it is something we must keep in mind during all of our trade negotiations. Agriculture is our future; its that simple. David Gray is dean of the faculty of agriculture at Dalhousie University. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. or obvious reasons, the world doesnt revolve the way most of us would want it. The rise of fringe movements that have taken on the Establishment, the apathy of Third Way centrism that was a cover for neo-conservatism and neo-liberalism, the rejection of conventional politics by the young, and the embracement of bigotry, sexism, and populism by the old (in the West) are all signs of an impending tragedy. Whats worse is that the narratives being spun to the people, for the most, are failing. Perhaps thats why the US midterm elections didnt play up to the hype that political pundits played along to. There was no blue wave, and even though the Democrats won several key governorships and control of the House of Representatives, the Republicans swept into the Senate with a clear majority, winning key swing states. It would be rash to blame one party, or ideology, for the imbroglio this has resulted in. You can add, multiply, subtract, and divide, but whichever way you look, the truth is painfully obvious: its not the world we once knew. Whats true for the world is true for this country too. Its not the country I used to know. "Part of the reason for that, I think, is the way the young react to political parties and political infighting in general. It doesnt take a theorist to figure out that, no matter what the party, no one has really stood for the interests of the teenage, adolescent, and early adult demographic (between 18 and 24)" Part of the reason for that, I think, is the way the young react to political parties and political infighting in general. It doesnt take a theorist to figure out that, no matter what the party, no one has really stood for the interests of the teenage, adolescent, and early adult demographic (between 18 and 24). Their indifference towards political movements stems, not from anger, but from disappointment: it cost the Democrats in 2016, when, shocked at the defeat of Bernie Sanders and upset at Hillary Clintons at times self-contradictory stances, they came down: 60 percent of the 18-24 year old segment had voted for Obama in 2008; for Clinton the turnout was, by contrast, 55 percent. Resentment can be tough. As a former member of this segment (I turned 25 the day the US midterm elections were held), I can attest and even relate to the contempt with which those who belong to it treat conventional politicians. There was a glimmer of hope in 2015 when Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cohorts took over the parliament. For the first time in many years, a woman took over the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs; for the first time ever, a woman took oaths as Mayor of Colombo; for the first time also, many of the members of the Cabinet actively struck a chord with the young. And it wasnt just those promises of free Wi-Fi and free laptops and free tabs that endeared these politicos to them (in any case, we dont have the statistics relating to how many of them voted for Maithripala Sirisena and the UNP). It was the idea of legislators actively taking into account their views, opinions, even prejudices. When a young man I know well, who supports Mahinda Rajapaksa, told me that he had no respect for Anagarika Dharmapala because of his chauvinism, I realised that these were views, opinions, and prejudices that transcended simplistic political dichotomies. These youngsters were hard to understand. I know there are those who supported Ranil Wickremesinghe because of his school tie and elitist credentials (the school clique he institutionalised was one of many reasons why his campaign failed), but even those from this segment who were batting for him were focusing on younger blood: on Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, Harshana Rajakaruna, and more than anyone else, Buddika Pathirana. If Mahinda Rajapaksa managed to conjure an image of himself as a baby-carrying populist who was in touch with the people, these parliamentarians conjured an opposite image: those who made it evident for us that politicians need not always carry those babies. "There was a glimmer of hope in 2015 when Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cohorts took over the parliament. For the first time in many years, a woman took over the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs; for the first time ever, a woman took oaths as Mayor of Colombo; for the first time also, many of the members of the Cabinet actively struck a chord with the young" The need of the hour, in 2015, was a set of parliamentarians who could convince us that there needed to be a shift in the polity from the Executive to the Legislature. A crucial part of the campaign for this shift stemmed from the belief that the country needed meritocrats like Harsha and Eran. They were the face of the UNP. For a while, this worked. From the UPFA I could think of only one politician constantly in touch with the young, and that was Ramesh Pathirana. But when Pathirana posted on Facebook the figures for AIDS patients in India and Sri Lanka and how the situation here would worsen if the ETCA deal was struck, he raised flak from the medical community for his serophobia. It was difficult to imagine Harsha and Eran indulging in that kind of below-the-belt mudslinging. It still is, because they are from a different calibre: while their cosmopolitanism can be squared with the UNP, if tomorrow a campaign for democracy is launched against the party leadership, for legitimate reasons, they would join in, just as Athulathmudali and Dissanayake joined in the movement against Ranasinghe Premadasa. Tragically, however, and despite this, the kind of meritocracy they envisioned for the country failed, not because they had ulterior motives, but because, as Muralitharan aptly put it, people want three meals a day more than anything else. This is not to say that democracy, freedom, and liberalism are values that must be sacrificed at the altar of economics. Far from it. But the meritocracy that Harsha and Eran tried to usher in, with their very personalities, was one rooted in a cosmopolitan, class-based society, English speaking and wielding. It was as rooted, less so, though still rooted, in the elitist credentials and the school affiliations Ranil Wickremesinghes clique stood for. After all, both of them hailed from that same clique. The young hence feel betrayed because the glimmer of hope they saw in 2015 faded away. Political partisanship has never been a strong point with them; they are moved more by ideas than by personalities and parties. But a country like Sri Lanka cannot move ahead with only ideas. It needs personalities and parties, because (and I cant put this more clearly) its prone to instability in a way that the developed world is not. Emotions run high: the reality is that people would vote for anyone who sides with their preferred politicians. How else did the Podu Jana Peramuna garner more than 40 percent of the vote, outstripping the UNP and the UPFA, at the Local Government election? They werent voting for ideas; they were voting for those who sided with the former president. The young didnt think this way, and they went ahead and voted for ideas. When those ideas came crumbling down and not even Harsha and Eran could stop them from crumbling down, they grew tired. That bred resentment. "Sri Lanka cannot move ahead with only ideas. It needs personalities and parties, because (and I cant put this more clearly) its prone to instability in a way that the developed world is not. Emotions run high: the reality is that people would vote for anyone who sides with their preferred politicians" In this, I think they are correct and wrong. Correct, because neither party (not the UNP of Ranil Wickremesinghe, Malik Samarawickreme, and Ravi Karunanayake, and not the SLPP of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Keheliya Rambukwella, and Bandula Gunawardena) stood for their interests. Wrong, because this assumes that it is their interests alone, and their behaviour, that bode well for this countrys future. Dr. W.A Wijewardena, in an article about the illusory appeal of the goodies package that the new government dished out to the public in the form of price cuts and salary increments, relates an interesting encounter he had with a group of MBA students at a State University. He had asked them as to what they would do if they were each given 10 million rupees, and he had got the following answers: they would buy a car, travel abroad, or spend the money on various electronic equipment that have become the fashion of the day. With that mentality, Wijewardana surmises, the increased income through expanded government expenditure programmes would end up as incomes of people in other countries. I am not one to blame the young only for the mess we are in. The Rajapaksas, despite their merits, ushered in a period of economic prosperity that was rooted in garnering debt. Where politicians go, people follow, so the people yielded to the temptation of building up their personal fortunes through more debt. As of now, the per capita debt of this country is close to 500,000 rupees (according to the former government). Every child born to the country is burdened with that debt. But then the young continue to live beyond their means. In a society where social position is determined by your wealth, its tempting to accumulate much more than what you can afford. The typical youngsters response to my questions regarding frugality is that they want to have a good time, an attitude hardened by impossible school curricula, gruelling exams, and a hypocritical puritanism fostered on them, against their will, by an archaic education system. And yet, whatever the reasons for that, the consequence, which is a bunch of youngsters who while away time buying luxuries or aspiring for social positions beyond their status, is deplorable. Do they then have the moral right to point fingers at politicians? I dont think so. Perhaps Im wrong there. Perhaps its not the politicians only. Perhaps its not the youngsters only. Perhaps its also the teachers, parents, guardians, and other officials supposed to be in charge of those youngsters who have, inadvertently or otherwise, contributed to our national imbroglio. Either way, they cant be absolved. UDAKDEV1@GMAIL.COM 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. 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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.. 1 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for iShares North American Tech ETF in the last twelve months. There are currently 1 hold rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" iShares North American Tech ETF stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in IGM, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for iShares North American Tech ETF or view top-rated stocks. The following companies are subsidiares of Allstate: AIMCO Private Fund I Holding LLC, AIMCO Private Fund I LLC, AIMCO Private Fund II LLC, ALIC Reinsurance Company, ALINV Mosaic LLC, ANIHI Newco LLC, AP Real Estate LLC, AP Riverway Plaza LLC, AP Timber LLC, Allstate Assignment Company, Allstate Assurance Company, Allstate County Mutual Insurance Company, Allstate Digital Ventures LLC, Allstate Distributors L.L.C., Allstate Enterprises LLC, Allstate Exchange Services LLC, Allstate Finance Company Agency Loans LLC, Allstate Finance Company LLC, Allstate Financial Advisors LLC, Allstate Financial Corporation, Allstate Financial Insurance Holdings Corporation, Allstate Financial LLC, Allstate Financial Services LLC (1), Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Global Holdings Limited, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, Allstate Insurance Holdings LLC, Allstate International Assignments Ltd., Allstate International Holdings Inc., Allstate Investment Management Company, Allstate Investments LLC, Allstate Life Insurance Company (2), Allstate Life Insurance Company of Canada, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Allstate Motor Club Inc., Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings Inc., Allstate North American Insurance Company, Allstate Northbrook Indemnity Company, Allstate Northern Ireland Limited, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Settlement Corporation, Allstate Short Term Pool LLC, Allstate Solutions Private Limited, Allstate Texas Lloyds, Allstate Texas Lloyds Inc., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Company, American Heritage Life Insurance Company, American Heritage Service Company, Answer Financial Inc., Answer Marketplace LLC, Arity 875 LLC, Arity International Limited, Arity LLC, Arity Services LLC, CE Care Plan Corp, Castle Key Indemnity Company, Castle Key Insurance Company, Complete Product Care Corp, Current Creek Investments LLC, E.R.J. Insurance Group Inc. (3), Encompass Floridian Indemnity Company, Encompass Floridian Insurance Company, Encompass Home and Auto Insurance Company, Encompass Indemnity Company, Encompass Independent Insurance Company, Encompass Insurance Company, Encompass Insurance Company of America, Encompass Insurance Company of Massachusetts, Encompass Insurance Company of New Jersey, Encompass Insurance Holdings LLC, Encompass Property and Casualty Company, Encompass Property and Casualty Insurance Company of New Jersey, Esurance Holdings Inc., Esurance Insurance Company, Esurance Insurance Company of Canada, Esurance Insurance Company of New Jersey, Esurance Insurance Services Company of Canada, Esurance Insurance Services Inc. (4), Esurance Property and Casualty Insurance Company, First Colonial Insurance Company, Identity Protection Strategic Solutions LLC, InfoArmor Aggra Inc., InfoArmor Inc., Insurance Answer Center LLC (5), Intramerica Life Insurance Company, Ivantage Insurance Brokers Inc., Ivantage Select Agency Inc., Kennett Capital Inc., NBInv AF1 LLC, NBInv AF2 LLC, NBInv AF3 LLC, NBInv AF4 LLC, NBInv AF5 LLC, NBInv AF6 LLC, NBInv AP1 LLC, NBInv AP2 LLC, NBInv AP3 LLC, NBInv AP4 LLC, NBInv AP5 LLC, NBInv AP6 LLC, NBInv AP7 LLC, NBInv AP8 LLC, NBInv APAF1 LLC, NBInv Riverside Cars1 LLC, NBInv Riverside Management LLC, North Light Specialty Insurance Company, Northeast Agencies Inc. (6), Pablo Creek Services Inc., Pafco Insurance Company, Pembridge Insurance Company, PlumChoice Business Services Inc., PlumChoice Inc., Protection Plan Group Inc., Right Answer Insurance Agency LLC, Road Bay Investments LLC, ST Product Care Corp, Signature Agency Inc., Signature Motor Club Inc., Signature Motor Club of California Inc., Signature Nationwide Auto Club of California Inc., Signatures Nationwide Auto Club Inc., SquareTrade Australia Pty Ltd, SquareTrade Canada Inc., SquareTrade Europe Limited, SquareTrade Holding Company Inc., SquareTrade Inc. (7), SquareTrade Insurance Services Inc., SquareTrade Limited, SquareTrade Protection Solutions Inc., SquareTradeGo Inc., Tech-Cor LLC, and West Plaza RE Holdings 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.. 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. The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Black Diamond Group Limited rents and sells modular space and workforce accommodation solutions. It operates through two segments, Modular Space Solutions and Workforce Solutions. The Modular Space Solutions segment provides modular space rentals to customers in the construction, real estate development, manufacturing, education, financial, and resource industries, as well as government agencies in North America. Its products include office units, lavatories, storage units, large multi-unit office complexes, classroom facilities, banking and health care facilities, custom manufactured modular facilities, and blast resistant structures. This segment also sells new and used space rentals units; and provides delivery, installation, project management, and ancillary products and services. The Workforce Solutions segment provides workforce housing solutions, including rental of accommodations and surface equipment, and provision of turnkey lodging and travel management services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. This segment also provides associated services, such as installation, transportation, demobilization, and sale of used fleet assets. This segment primarily serves the resource, infrastructure, construction, disaster recovery, and education sectors. The company also provides specialized field rentals to oil and gas industries. Black Diamond Group Limited markets its rental assets, custom sales, and ancillary products and services through in-house sales personnel, its website, social media, web campaigns, and its digital marketplace. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More CAE Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies simulation equipment and training solutions to defense and security markets, commercial airlines, business aircraft operators, helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, and healthcare education and service providers worldwide. The company's Civil Aviation Training Solutions segment provides training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as end to end digitally-enabled crew management, training operations solutions, and optimization software. Its Defence and Security segment offers training and mission support solutions for defense forces across multi-domain operations, and for government organizations responsible for public safety. The company's Healthcare segment provides integrated education and training solutions, including surgical and imaging simulations, curriculum, audiovisual and centre management platforms, and patient simulators to healthcare students and clinical professionals. The company was formerly known as CAE Industries Ltd. and changed its name to CAE Inc. in June 1993. CAE Inc. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC. Tallgrass Energy GP, LP, through its interests in Tallgrass Equity, LLC, provides crude oil transportation services to customers in Wyoming, Colorado, and the surrounding regions of the United States. The company operates through three segments: Natural Gas Transportation; Crude Oil Transportation; and Gathering, Processing & Terminalling. It also provides natural gas transportation and storage services for customers in the Rocky Mountain, Midwest, and Appalachian regions; natural gas and crude oil gathering and processing services for customers in Wyoming; and natural gas liquids (NGLs) transportation services in Northeast Colorado and Wyoming. In addition, the company offers water business services, including freshwater transportation, and produced water gathering and disposal in Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming; crude oil storage and terminalling services in Colorado; and marketing services for NGLs and crude oil. Tallgrass Energy GP, LP was founded in 2013 and is based in Leawood, Kansas. Read More There is not enough analysis data for El Paso Electric. 3.9 Community Rank Outperform Votes El Paso Electric has received 256 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes El Paso Electric has received 192 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment El Paso Electric has received 57.14% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about El Paso Electric and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe EE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe EE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next 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 Read More The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., together with its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, distributes, and sells vehicles, components, and production systems. The company operates through five segments: North America, LATAM, APAC, EMEA, and Maserati. It provides passenger cars, SUV vehicles, trucks, and light commercial vehicles under the Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Abarth brands; and luxury vehicles under the Maserati brand, as well as related service parts and accessories, and service contracts under the Mopar brand. The company also provides cast iron components for engines, gearboxes, transmissions and suspension systems, aluminum cylinder heads, and engine blocks under the Teksid brand; and designs and produces industrial automation systems and related products for the automotive industry under the Comau brand name. In addition, it provides retail and dealer financings, and leasing and rental services; and factoring services. The company sells its products directly, or through distributors and dealers in approximately 130 countries. The company was formerly known as Fiat S.p.A. and changed its name to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. in October 2014. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. was founded in 1899 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd., CROWN Asia Pacific Investments (T) Limited, CROWN Bevcan Espana S.L., CROWN Bevcan France SAS, CROWN Bevcan Slovakia s.r.o., CROWN Bevcan Turkiye Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, CROWN Bevcan and Closures (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Cambodia) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Dong Nai) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Beijing Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Changchun Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Danang Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hangzhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hanoi Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Heshan Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hong Kong Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Huizhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CROWN Beverage Cans Nanning Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Putian Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Saigon Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Shanghai Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Sihanoukville Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte. Ltd., CROWN Beverage Cans Ziyang Limited, CROWN Beverage Packaging LLC, CROWN Beverage Packaging Puerto Rico Inc., CROWN Cans Ghana Limited, CROWN China Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, CROWN Commercial Belgium BVBA, CROWN Commercial France SAS, CROWN Commercial Germany GmbH & Co. KG, CROWN Commercial Hungary Kft, CROWN Commercial Netherlands B.V., CROWN Commercial Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc., CROWN Embalagens Metalicas da Amazonia S.A., CROWN Emballage France SAS, CROWN Emirates Company Limited, CROWN Envases Mexico S.A. de C.V., CROWN Famosa S.A. de C.V., CROWN Food Packaging (Thailand) Public Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Hat Yai) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Nakhon Pathom) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan Germany GmbH, CROWN Foodcan GmbH, CROWN Imballaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Imgallaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Italy Finance srl, CROWN Khmer Beverage Cans Limited, CROWN Maghreb Can, CROWN Magyarorszag Csomagoloipari KFT, CROWN Metal Packaging Canada Inc., CROWN Metal Packaging Canada LP, CROWN Middle East Can Co. Ltd., CROWN Packaging (Barbados) Limited, CROWN Packaging Holdings LLC, CROWN Packaging Investment (H.K.) Limited, CROWN Packaging Ireland Ltd, CROWN Packaging Jamaica Limited, CROWN Packaging Polska Sp.z.o.o., CROWN Packaging Technology Inc., CROWN Packaging Trinidad Limited, CROWN Packaging UK Limited, CROWN Promotional Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN SIEM, CROWN Senegal, CROWN Societe Malgache d'Emballages Metalliques, CROWN Speciality Packaging BV, CROWN Speciality Packaging Investment Pte. Ltd., CROWN Specialty Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN TCP Beverage Cans Company Limited, CROWN Verpakking Belgie NV, CROWN Verpakking Nederland B.V., Caretex Asia Ltd., CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Ltd, CarnaudMetalbox Food South Africa (Pty) Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Group UK Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overeseas Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overseas Limited, Cierres Hermeticos S.A. DE C.V., Constar International, Crown Americas Capital Corp., Crown Americas Capital Corp. II, Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV, Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L.. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF's stock was trading at $39.49 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IEUR stock has increased by 47.1% and is now trading at $58.10. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Alamo Solar LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Azalea Solar LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CID Solar LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Catalina Solar 2 LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cottonwood Solar LLC, Cove Point LNG LP, Cove Point LNG Limited, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Dairy RNG NY LLC, Dairy RNG NY-Curtin LLC, Dairy RNG OH LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Overthrust Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline Services Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Construction and Maintenance LLC, Dominion Solar Gen-Tie LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings I LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings II LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings III LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects A Inc., Dominion Solar Projects B Inc., Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects I Inc., Dominion Solar Projects II Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Enterprise Solar LLC, Escalante Solar I LLC, Escalante Solar II LLC, Escalante Solar III LLC, Four Brothers Solar LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings LLC, Granite Mountain Solar East LLC, Granite Mountain Solar West LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Imperial Valley Solar Company (IVSC) 2 LLC, Indy Solar Development LLC, Indy Solar I LLC, Indy Solar II LLC, Indy Solar III LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Iron Springs Holdings LLC, Iron Springs Solar LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Maricopa West Solar PV LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mulberry Farm LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Pavant Solar LLC, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, QPC Holding Company LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Energy Services Inc., Questar Field Services LLC, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company, Questar White River Hub LLC, RE Adams East LLC, RE Camelot LLC, RE Columbia Two LLC, RE Kansas LLC, RE Kent South LLC, RE Old River One LLC, Richland Solar Center LLC, Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, SBL Holdco LLC, SCANA, SCANA Communications Holdings Inc., SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Energy Marketing LLC, SCANA Pharmacy LLC, SRFI LLC, Scana Corporation, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Selmer Farm LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Somers Solar Center LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TA - Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 201 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and Yemassee Solar LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: Accelerated Production Systems, Acme Elevator, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o, Advansor Germany GmbH, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International, Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Auto Glanz Solutions LLC, Automatik Grundstucksverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Automatik Plastics Machinery (Taiwan) Ltd., BSC Filters Limited, Background2 Limited, Belanger, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., Blackmer, BlitzRotary GmbH, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CDS Visual, CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression BV, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DESTACO UK Limited, DFH Corporation, DFS Netherlands B.V., DSR BZ Holdings LLC, Datamax International Corp, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover CR spol s r.o., Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Products Segment Inc., Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings, Dover France Participations, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover Imaging & Identification Segment Inc., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International Ventures Tunisia S.a.r.l., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Pumps & Process Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dresser Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dresser Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty. Ltd., Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty. Ltd., Em-tec, Espy, Ettlinger, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries, Gala Kunststoff-und Kautschukmaschinen GmbH, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems Company, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Hydronova Australia-NZ Pty Ltd, Industrial Motion Control LLC, Innovative Control Systems, Innovative Control Systems Inc., Inpro/Seal LLC, JK Group, JK Group S.P.A., JK Group USA Inc., K S Boca Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Knowles Electronics, LIQAL, Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MAAG, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM-IMAJE Corporation, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions, MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag Automatik GmbH, Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Gala Inc., Maag Italy S.R.L., Maag Pump Systems, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Reduction Inc., Maag Service (Malaysia) Sdn. Bdn., Maag Systems (Thailand) Limited, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje - Unipessoal Lda, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Philippines Corporation, Markem-Imaje Pty Ltd, Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l., Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn Bhd, Markem-Imaje Singapore Pte. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A.U, Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Mouvex, Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International, OK International (UK) Ltd., OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OPW Engineered Systems Inc., OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions (Jiang Su) Co. Ltd., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW France, OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing, PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSD Codax Holdings Limited, PSD Codax Limited, PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG California LLC, PSG Germany GmbH, Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Production Control Services, Pump Management Services Co. LLC, RAV Equipos Espana S.L., RAV France, Ravaglioli Deutschland GmbH, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod SAS, Revod Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd, Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario, Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd, SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Solaris Laser, Solaris Laser S.A., Somero Enterprises, Sound Solutions, Space S.R.L., Spirit, Start Italiana Petrol Cihazlari Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Start Italiana S.R.L., Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions, Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., Systech GB Limited, Systech Shanghai Consulting Company Limited, TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Heil Co., Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Trans - Logistic Group S.R.L., Triton Systems, Tulsa Winch Inc., UPCO Inc., US Synthetic, Unattended Payment Solutions LLC, Unified Brands, Unified Brands Inc., Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vehicle Service Group UK Limited, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., WSCR Corp., Warn Automotive LLC, Warn Industries, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Corporation, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fuel Management UK Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems, Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Deutschland GmbH, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., WellMark, XanTec Steuerungs- und EDV-Technik GmbH, and em-tec GmbH. The following companies are subsidiares of Emerson Electric: A.P.M. Automation Solutions Ltd., AE Valves, AGI Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ALCO CONTROLS spol. s.r.o., APM Automation Solutions, ASC Investments Inc., ASCO (Japan) Company Limited, ASCO L.P., ASCO Numatics (India) Private Limited, ASCO Numatics Holding Inc., ASCO SAS, ASCO Valve (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ASCO/JOUCOMATIC s.r.o., ATX SAS, Advanced Protection Technologies, Aegir Norge Holding AS, Alliance Compressors LLC, American Governor, Aperture, Apple JV Holding Corp., Appleton Electric LLC, Appleton Electric S.A. de C.V., Appleton Group, Appleton Group Canada Ltd., Appleton Grp LLC, Appleton Holding Corp., Appleton Holding Sarl, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Artesyn Hungary Elektronikai Kft., Artesyn Technologies, Asco AB, Asco Controls AG, Asco Controls B.V., Asco Joucomatic Ltd., Asco Joucomatic ZA B.V., Asco Magnesszelep Kft., Asco Numatics GmbH, Asco Numatics S.A., Asco Numatics Sirai S.R.L., Asco Numatics Sp. z o.o., Ascomatica S.A. de C.V., Ascomation (NZ) Ltd., Ascomation Pty. Ltd., Ascotech S.A. de C.V., Ascoval Industria e Commercio Ltda, Automatic Switch Company, Aventics, Aventics, Aventics AB, Aventics AG, Aventics AS, Aventics ApS, Aventics B.V., Aventics Corporation, Aventics Holding S.A.S., Aventics Holding S.a.r.l., Aventics Hungary Kft, Aventics Inc., Aventics India Private Limited, Aventics Limited, Aventics Ltd., Aventics Oy, Aventics Pneumatics Equipment (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Aventics Pneumatics Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aventics S.A.S., Aventics S.R.L., Aventics Services Germany GmbH, Aventics Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aventics Sp. z.o.o., Aventics Spain S.L., Aventics spol. s.r.o., Avtron LoadBank, Bannerscientific Limited, Beckman Industrial B.V., Beijing Rosemount Far East Instrument Co. Ltd., Bettis Canada Ltd., Bettis Holdings Limited, Bettis UK Limited, Biffi Italia S.r.l., Bioproduction Group, Branson Korea Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonic S.A., Branson Ultrasonics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonics B.V., Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, Branson Ultrasonics a.s., Branson Ultrasonidos S.A.E., Branson Ultrasons SAS, Branson Ultrasuoni S.R.L., Branson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Bray Lectroheat Limited, Bristol Babcock Limited, Bristol Inc., Buehler Europe Limited, Buehler UK Limited, CR Compressors LLC, CSA Consulting Engineers Ltd., California Emerson LLC, Cascade Technologies, Cascade Technologies Holdings Limited, Cascade Technologies Limited, Chemat GmbH Armaturen fur Industrie - und Nuklearanlage, Chloride Koexa S.A., Componentes Avanzados de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Computational Systems, Computational Systems Incorporated, Conception et Representation de Technologies de Controle C.R.T. Controle SAS, Control Products Inc., Controles de Temperatura S.A. de C.V., Cooligy Inc., Cooper-Atkins, Cooper-Atkins Corporation, Cooper-Atkins Pte. Ltd., Copeland Access + Inc., Copeland Compresores Hermeticos S.A. de C.V., Copeland Corporation, Copeland Corporation LLC, Copeland Limited, Copeland Redevelopment Corporation, Copeland Scroll Compresores de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copeland de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copesub Inc., Crosby Valve LLC, Damcos A/S, Damcos Holding A/S, Daniel Automation Company, Daniel Europe Limited, Daniel Industrial Inc., Daniel Industries, Daniel Industries Canada Inc., Daniel Industries Inc., Daniel Industries Limited, Daniel International Limited, Daniel Measurement Solutions Private Limited, Daniel Measurement and Control Inc., Daniel Measurement and Control S. de R.L. de C.V., Danmasa S.A. de C.V., Dar Ibtikar Al Iraq for General Services and General Trade LLC, Decision Management International, Dieterich Standard Inc., Digital Appliance Controls (UK) Limited, Dixell North America Inc., Dixell S.R.L., Do+Able Products, E. Business Development E.B.D.Com Ltd., E.G.P. Corporation, EECO Inc., EGS Comercializadora Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Private Ltd., EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES s.r.o., EMR (Asia) Limited, EMR (Mauritius) Ltd., EMR Emerson Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, EMR Europe Holdings Inc., EMR Foundation Inc., EMR Holdings (France) SAS, EMR Holdings Inc., EMR Worldwide B.V., EMR Worldwide Inc., EMRSN HLDG B.V., EMRSN Process Management Morocco Sarl, ENPDOR2012A Limited, ENPESNA Inc., EPM Tulsa Holdings Corp., EPMCO Holdings Inc., ETC International Holdings Ltd., Easy Heat Europe SAS, Easy Heat Inc., El-O-Matic B.V., El-O-Matic Valve Actuators (F.E.) Pte. Ltd., Electrische Apparatenfabriek Capax B.V., Emerald Advanced Technology Limited, Emerson (Philippines) Corporation, Emerson (Taiwan) Limited, Emerson (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Arabia Inc., Emerson Argentina S.A., Emerson Asia Pacific Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Holdings Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Sichuan) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Taiwan) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Thailand) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Czech Republic s.r.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Denmark A/S, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control France SARL, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Germany GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hong Kong Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hungary Kft, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Italia S.r.l., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Middle East FZE, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Netherlands B.V., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Polska Sp. Z.o.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Holding LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK II Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control US LP, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Automation Solutions GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Automation Solutions Ireland Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Isolation Valves Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions SSC UK Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Beijing Instrument Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Services LLC, Emerson Climate Technologies (India) Private Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies (Shenyang) Refrigeration Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Transportation Solutions ApS, Emerson Climate Technologies Arabia Limited Co., Emerson Climate Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies FZE, Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH, Emerson Climate Technologies Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Climate Technologies Refrigeration S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Europe S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Sarl, Emerson Commercial & Residential Tools LLC, Emerson Commerical & Residential Asia Limited, Emerson Comres de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson DHC B.V., Emerson Dietzenbach GmbH, Emerson Dominicana Srl, Emerson Egypt LLC, Emerson Electric (Asia) Limited, Emerson Electric (China) Holdings Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Electric (Mauritius) Ltd., Emerson Electric (South Asia) Pte. Ltd., Emerson Electric (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Electric (Tongling) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation, Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation (Chile) Limitada, Emerson Electric (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric CR Limitada, Emerson Electric Canada Limited, Emerson Electric Company (India) Private Limited, Emerson Electric Company Lanka (Private) Limited, Emerson Electric Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, Emerson Electric II C.A., Emerson Electric International Inc., Emerson Electric Ireland Limited, Emerson Electric Korea Ltd., Emerson Electric Nederland B.V., Emerson Electric Overseas Finance Corp., Emerson Electric Poland Sp. z o.o., Emerson Electric U.K. Limited, Emerson Electric de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Electric do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Energy Systems (UK) Limited, Emerson FZE, Emerson Final Control US Holding LLC, Emerson Finance LLC, Emerson Fusite Electric (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Gabon SARL, Emerson Hazardous Electrical Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Holding Company Limited, Emerson Holding Sweden AB, Emerson InSinkErator Appliance (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Industrial Automation USA Inc., Emerson International Holding Company Limited, Emerson Japan Ltd., Emerson Junkang Enterprise (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Korea Limited, Emerson LLC, Emerson LLP, Emerson Machinery Equipment (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Mexico Finance S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Emerson Middle East Inc., Emerson Network Power DHC B.V., Emerson Paradigm Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management (India) Private Limited, Emerson Process Management (South Africa) (Proprietary) Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Tianjin) Valves Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management A/S (Denmark), Emerson Process Management AB, Emerson Process Management AG, Emerson Process Management AS, Emerson Process Management Angola Lda, Emerson Process Management Arabia Limited, Emerson Process Management Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Process Management B.V., Emerson Process Management Chennai Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Distribution Limited, Emerson Process Management Europe GmbH, Emerson Process Management Flow B.V., Emerson Process Management Flow Technologies Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Process Management Holding AG, Emerson Process Management Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management Kft., Emerson Process Management LLLP, Emerson Process Management Lda, Emerson Process Management Limited, Emerson Process Management Ltda, Emerson Process Management Magyarorszag Kft., Emerson Process Management Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Korea Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management NV, Emerson Process Management New Zealand Limited, Emerson Process Management Nigeria Limited, Emerson Process Management Oy, Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions Inc., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions India Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Qatar W.L.L., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Inc., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa LLC, Emerson Process Management Romania S.R.L., Emerson Process Management S.A., Emerson Process Management S.A. de C.V., Emerson Process Management S.L., Emerson Process Management S.R.L., Emerson Process Management SAS, Emerson Process Management Shared Services Limited, Emerson Process Management Sp. z o.o., Emerson Process Management Ticaret Limited Sirket, Emerson Process Management UAB, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Valve Automation Inc., Emerson Process Management Verwaltung GmbH, Emerson Process Management d.o.o., Emerson Process Management de Colombia SAS, Emerson Process Management del Peru S.A.C., Emerson Process Management s.r.o., Emerson Professional Tools (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Puerto Rico Inc., Emerson Retail Services Europe GmbH, Emerson S.R.L., Emerson Sales UK Limited, Emerson Saudi Arabia LLC, Emerson Scroll Machining (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Sice S.R.L., Emerson Sweden AB, Emerson TOV, Emerson Technologies GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Technologies Verwaltungs GmbH, Emerson Tool Company de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Tool and Appliance Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson UK Trustees Limited, Emerson USD Finance Company Limited, Emerson Valves & Controls Japan Co. Ltd., Emerson Ventures Inc., Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC, Emerson Xi'an Engineering Center, Emersub 1 LLC, Emersub 10 LLC, Emersub 11 LLC, Emersub 12 LLC, Emersub 14 LLC, Emersub 15 LLC, Emersub 16 LLC, Emersub 3 LLC, Emersub 4 LLC, Emersub 5 LLC, Emersub 7 LLC, Emersub 8 LLC, Emersub 9 LLC, Emersub CII Inc., Emersub CV Inc., Emersub Italia S.R.L., Emersub LXXXIV Inc., Emersub LXXXVI Inc., Emersub Mexico Inc., Emersub Treasury Ireland Unlimited Company, Emersub XLVI Inc., Emersub XXXVI Inc., Emirates Techno Casting FZE, Emirates Techno Casting Holding Limited, Emirates Techno Casting LLC, Enardo, Endura-Greenlee Tools, Energy Solutions International (India) Private Limited, Energy Solutions International GP LLC, Energy Solutions International Ltd., Energy Solutions International SAS, Energy Solutions International Sub LLC, F-R Tecnologias de Flujo S.A. de C.V., FC QSF LLC, FMC Technologies, Fiberconn Assemblies Morocco Sarl, Fincor Holding LLC, Fire & Safety Group.Com Ltd., Fisher Controles de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fisher Controls International LLC, Fisher Jeon Gas Equipment (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Fisher Regulators (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Sanmar Limited, Fisher-Rosemount Systems Inc., Flow Control Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Flow Control Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Flow Control US Holding Corporation, Francel SAS, Fromex S.A. de C.V., Fusite B.V., Fusite Corporation, Fusite Land Company, GSEG LLC, General Equipment and Manufacturing Company Inc., Generale de Robinetterie Industrielle et de Sytemes de Surete, GeoFields, GeoFields Inc., Greenex Ltd., Greenfield (UK) Limited, Greenlee, Greenlee Communications, Greenlee Tools Inc., Gulf Valve FZE, Gustav Klauke GmbH, H.T.E. Engineering Limited, HD Electric Company, HTE Engineering Services Limited, Hindle Cockburns Limited, Hiross India Private Limited, Hiter Industria e Comercia de Controles Termo-Hidraulicos Ltda., Humboldt Hermetic Motor Corp., Hytork International Ltd., I Solutions Inc., ICC Intelligent Platforms GmbH, ISE-MagTech, Industrial Controls Canada ULC, Industrial Group Metran JSC, Instrument & Valve Services Company, Intelligent Platforms LLC, Intellution, International Gas Distribution SA, Intrinsic Safety Equipment of Texas Inc., JCF Fluid Flow India Private Limited, JSC Metran-Export, Joucomatic S.A., K Controls Limited, Keystone Germany Holdings Corp., Keystone Valve (Korea) LLC, Keystone Valve (U.K.) Limited, Klauke, Klauke (Jiangsu) Electrical Connection Technology Co Ltd., Klauke France SARL, Klauke Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Klauke Iberia S.L., Klauke Polska Sp. z.o.o., Klauke Slovakia s.r.o., Klauke UK Ltd., Knurr, Liebert, Liebert Swindon Limited, Locus Solutions LLC, Locus Traxx Worldwide, Locus Traxx Worldwide Europe BVBA, MDC Technology Limited, MDC Technology Trustees Limited, METCO Services Limited, MYNAH Technologies, Management Resources Group Inc., Mecafrance (Deutschland) GmbH, Metallurgical Services Laboratories Limited, Metaserv Limited, Metco Services Venezuela C.A., Micro Motion Inc., Mobrey Group Limited, Motores Hermeticos del Sur S.A. de C.V., NetworkPower Ecuador S.A., Nippon Fisher Co. Ltd., Novel Environmental Technologies Ltd., Novel Extinguishing Agent Technology Ltd., Numatics Incorporated, Nutsteel DHC B.V., Nutsteel Industria Metalurgica Ltda, O.M.T. Officina Meccanica Tartarini S.r.l., Open Systems International, P I Components Corp., PT Emerson Solutions Indonesia, PT. Emerson Indonesia, PT. Paradigm Geophysical Indonesia, Pactrol Controls Limited, PakSense, PakSense Inc., Paradigm, Paradigm (UK) Holding Limited, Paradigm B.V., Paradigm France S.A., Paradigm Geophysical (India) Private Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (KL) Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical (Nigeria) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (U.K.) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical B.V., Paradigm Geophysical Corp., Paradigm Geophysical Italy SRL, Paradigm Geophysical LLC, Paradigm Geophysical Limited, Paradigm Geophysical Pty Ltd, Paradigm Geophysical S.A., Paradigm Geophysical Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical Spain S.L., Paradigm Geophysical de Venezuela C.A., Paradigm Geophysical do Brasil Ltda., Paradigm Geoservices Canada Ltd., Paradigm Geotechnology (Egypt) S.A.E., Paradigm Kazakhstan LLP, Paradigm Middle East FZ-LLC, Paradigm Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Parex Industries Limited, Pentair Valves & Controls, Pentair Valves and Controls India Private Limited, Permasense, Permasense Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, Permasense Limited, ProSys, ProTeam Inc., Progea, RAC Technologies (Israel) Ltd., RIDGID Inc., RPP Europe GmbH, RPP LLC, Rey-Lam S. de R.L. de C.V., Ridge Tool (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Ridge Tool Company, Ridge Tool Europe NV, Ridge Tool GmbH, Ridge Tool GmbH & Co. OHG, Ridge Tool Manufacturing Company, Ridge Tool Pattern Company, Ridgid France SAS, Ridgid Italia S.R.L., Ridgid Online Inc., Ridgid Scandinavia A/S, Ridgid Werkzeuge AG, Rosemount China Inc., Rosemount Inc., Rosemount Measurement Limited, Rosemount Nuclear Instruments Inc., Rosemount Specialty Products LLC, Rosemount Tank Gauging India Pvt. Ltd., Rosemount Tank Gauging Middle East SPC, Rosemount Tank Gauging North America Inc., Rosemount Tank Radar AB, Rosemount Tank Radar Properties AB, Roxar, Roxar AS, Roxar Flow Measurement AS, Roxar Flow Measurement Sdn Bhd, Roxar Limited, Roxar Maximum Reservoir Performance W.L.L., Roxar Saudi Co., Roxar Services AS, Roxar Services OOO, Roxar Software Solutions AS, Roxar Technologies AS, Roxar Vietnam Company Ltd., Roxar de Venezuela C.A., Rutherfurd Acquisitions Limited, S.F.T. Group Ltd., SABO-Armaturen Service GmbH, Safety Systems UK Pte. Ltd., Sakhi-Raimondi Valve (India) Limited, Scroll Compressors LLC, Scroll Mexico LLC, Sempell GmbH, Shanghai Virgo Valves Technology Consulting Co. Ltd., Sherman + Reilly, Soluciones 0925 C.A., Spectra-Tek Holdings Limited, Spectra-Tek International Limited, Spectra-Tek UK Limited, Spectrex, Spectrex Inc., Spectronix Ltd., Spensall Engineering Limited, Steel Support Systems Limited, Stratos Lightwave, System Plast International B.V., System Plast Ltda, System Plast USA de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., TDM-avtomatizatsiya, TV&C GP Holding LLC, Taiwan Valve Co. Ltd., TechnipFMC, Termocontroles de Juarez S.A. de C.V., Tescom Corporation, Tescom Europe GmbH & Co. KG, Tescom Europe Management GmbH, The Automation Group Inc., The J.R. Clarkson Company LLC, Therm-O-Disc Europe B.V., Therm-O-Disc Incorporated, Thunderline Z Inc., TopWorx UK Limited, Tranmet Holdings B.V., Tranmet Holdings Limited, Verdant Environmental Technologies, Vilter Manufacturing LLC, Virgo Valves & Controls (ME) FZE, Virgo Valves and Controls Sdn Bhd, Von Arx AG, Vulsub 1 Limited, Vulsub Brasil Holding, Vulsub Brasil Ltda., Vulsub Chile SpA, Vulsub Gulf Holding Limited, Vulsub Holding III (Denmark) ApS, Vulsub Holding Ltd, Vulsub Holdings A LLC, Vulsub Holdings B LLC, Vulsub Holdings C LLC, Vulsub Holdings D LLC, Vulsub Italia S.r.l., Vulsub Middle East Holdings LLC, Vulsub Peru S.A.C., Vulsub Property Holding LLC, Vulsub Property Limited, Vulsub S.A., Vulsub South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Vulsub VZ C.A., Westinghouse Electric Pvt. Limited, Westlock Controls Limited, Westlock Equipamentos de Controle Ltda., Woodstock Land Company LLC, epro GmbH, iSolera Inc., iSolutions Private Limited, and intelliSAW. 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. Texas Pacific Land Corp. operates as a landowner in the State of Texas. Its surface and royalty ownership allow revenue generation through the entire value chain of oil and gas development, including through fixed fee payments for use of the firm's land, revenue for sales of materials used in the construction of infrastructure, providing sourced water and treated produced water, revenue from its oil and gas royalty interests, and revenues related to saltwater disposal on land. The company also generates revenue from pipeline, power line and utility easements, commercial leases, material sales and seismic and temporary permits related to a variety of land uses including midstream infrastructure projects and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The company operates through following segment: Land and Resource Management and Water Services and Operations. The Land and Resource Management segment focuses on managing oil and gas royalty interest and surface. The Water Services and Operations segment offers operators an unparalleled breadth of service across the majority of the Permian Basin. The company was founded in April 2020 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Read More There is not enough analysis data for Dividend 15 Split Corp. II. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Dividend 15 Split Corp. II has received 4 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Dividend 15 Split Corp. II has received 1 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Dividend 15 Split Corp. II has received 80.00% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Dividend 15 Split Corp. II and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe DF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe DF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Galway Metals Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties. It explores for zinc, gold, copper, silver, and lead. The company holds a 100% interest in the Clarence Stream project that covers an area of 61,000 hectares located in south-western New Brunswick, Canada. It also holds a 100% interest in the Estrades mine, related Newiska concessions, and adjacent Casa Berardi claims covering an area of 20,915 hectares in western Quebec, Canada. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Invesco S&P 500 GARP ETF's stock was trading at $51.94 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, PXLG stock has increased by 82.0% and is now trading at $94.54. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. There is not enough analysis data for Global Crossing Airlines Group. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Global Crossing Airlines Group has received 145 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Global Crossing Airlines Group has received 35 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Global Crossing Airlines Group has received 80.56% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Global Crossing Airlines Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe JET will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe JET will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Imperial Oil Limited explores for, produces, and sells crude oil and natural gas in Canada. It operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic oil, and bitumen. As of December 31, 2020, this segment had 138 million oil-equivalent barrels of proved undeveloped reserves. The Downstream segment is involved in the transportation and refining of crude oil, as well as blending, distribution, and marketing of refined products. It also transports crude oil to refineries by contracted pipelines, common carrier pipelines, and rail; maintains a distribution system to move petroleum products to market by pipeline, tanker, rail, and road transport; and owns and operates fuel terminals, natural gas liquids, and products pipelines in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. In addition, this segment markets and supplies petroleum products to motoring public through approximately 2,400 Esso and Mobil-branded sites. Further, it sells petroleum products, including fuel, asphalt, and lubricants for industrial and transportation customers, independent marketers, and resellers, as well as other refiners serving the agriculture, residential heating, and commercial markets through branded fuel and lubricant resellers. The Chemical segment manufactures and markets various petrochemicals and polyethylene, such as benzene, aromatic, and aliphatic solvents; plasticizer intermediates; and polyethylene resins. The company was incorporation in 1880 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Imperial Oil Limited is a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation. Read More 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 53.8% and is now trading at $80.03. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. iShares Silver Trust's stock was trading at $15.63 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, SLV stock has increased by 42.9% and is now trading at $22.34. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Lloyds Banking Group: A G Finance Ltd, A.C.L. Ltd, ACL Autolease Holdings Ltd, ADF No.1 Pty Ltd, Addison Social Housing Holdings Ltd, Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd, Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Ltd, Amberdate Ltd, Anglo Scottish Utilities Partnership 1, Aquilus Ltd, Automobile Association Personal Finance Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services 2 Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 2) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 3) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland)) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 1 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 2 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 3 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 4 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 5 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 6 plc, BOS (USA) Fund Investments Inc., BOS (USA) Inc., BOS Edinburgh No 1 Ltd, BOS Mistral Ltd, BOS Personal Lending Ltd, BOSSAF Rail Ltd, Bank of Scotland (B G S) Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland (Stanlife) London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Branch Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Central Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Equipment Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, Bank of Scotland LNG Leasing (No 1) Ltd, Bank of Scotland London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Nominees (Unit Trusts) Ltd, Bank of Scotland P.E.P. Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Structured Asset Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Transport Finance 1 Ltd, Bank of Scotland plc, Bank of Wales Ltd, Barents Leasing Ltd, Barnwood Mortgages Ltd, Birchcrown Finance Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Financial Services Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Land Development Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd, Black Horse (TRF) Ltd, Black Horse Executive Mortgages Ltd, Black Horse Finance Holdings Ltd, Black Horse Finance Management Ltd, Black Horse Group Ltd, Black Horse Ltd, Black Horse Offshore Ltd, Black Horse Property Services Ltd, Boltro Nominees Ltd, British Linen Leasing (London) Ltd, British Linen Leasing Ltd, British Linen Shipping Ltd, C.T.S.B. Leasing Ltd, CBRail S.A.R.L., CF Asset Finance Ltd, CF1 Ltd, CM Venture Investments Ltd, Cancara Asset Securitisation Ltd, Capital 1945 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 12 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 3 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 5 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 9 Ltd, Capital Bank Property Investments (3) Ltd, Capital Personal Finance Ltd, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2018-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2019-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Cardnet Merchant Services Ltd, Cashfriday Ltd, Cashpoint Ltd, Caveminster Ltd, Cedar Holdings Ltd, Celsius European Lux 2 S.A.R.L., Central Mortgage Finance Ltd, Chariot Finance Ltd, Cheltenham & Gloucester plc, Cheltenham II Securities 2020 DAC, Cheltenham Securities 2017 Ltd, Chepstow Blue Holdings Ltd, Chepstow Blue plc, Chester Asset Options No.2 Ltd, Chester Asset Options No.3 Ltd, Chester Asset Receivables Dealings Issuer Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings No.2 Ltd, Chiswell Stockbrokers Ltd, Clerical Medical Finance plc, Clerical Medical Financial Services Ltd, Clerical Medical International Holdings B.V., Clerical Medical Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Spanish Prop Co SL, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Prop Co SA, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Funding S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Investments S.A.R.L., Conquest Securities Ltd, Corbiere Asset Investments Ltd, Create Services Ltd, Credit Card Securitisation Europe Ltd, Dalkeith Corporation, Deva Financing Holdings Ltd, Deva Financing plc, Deva One Ltd, Deva Three Ltd, Deva Two Ltd, Dunstan Investments (UK) Ltd, Edgbaston RMBS 2010-1 plc, Edgbaston RMBS Holdings Ltd, Elland RMBS 2018 plc, Elland RMBS Holdings Ltd, Eurolead Services Holdings Ltd, First Retail Finance (Chester) Ltd, Fontwell Securities 2016 Ltd, Forthright Finance Ltd, France Industrial Premises Holding Company, General Leasing (No. 12) Ltd, General Reversionary and Investment Company, Gresham Nominee 1 Ltd, Gresham Nominee 2 Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 1) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 10) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 11) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 12) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 13) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 14) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 15) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 16) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 19) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 20) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 21) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 22) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 23) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 24) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 25) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 26) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 27) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 28) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 29) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 3) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 30) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 31) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 32) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 33) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 34) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 35) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 36) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 37) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 38) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 39) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 40) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 41) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 44) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 45) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 46) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 47) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 48) UK Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No 3) Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No.11) UK Ltd, HBOS Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS Final Salary Trust Ltd, HBOS Financial Services Ltd, HBOS Insurance & Investment Group Ltd, HBOS International Financial Services Holdings Ltd, HBOS Investment Fund Managers Ltd, HBOS Social Housing Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS UK Ltd, HBOS plc, HSDL Nominees Ltd, HVF Ltd, Halifax Credit Card Ltd, Halifax Financial Brokers Ltd, Halifax Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Halifax Financial Services Ltd, Halifax General Insurance Services Ltd, Halifax Group Ltd, Halifax Investment Services Ltd, Halifax Leasing (June) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (March No.2) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (September) Ltd, Halifax Life Ltd, Halifax Loans Ltd, Halifax Ltd, Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd, Halifax Nominees Ltd, Halifax Pension Nominees Ltd, Halifax Premises Ltd, Halifax Share Dealing Ltd, Halifax Vehicle Leasing (1998) Ltd, Heidi Finance Holdings (UK) Ltd, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, Hill Samuel Finance Ltd, Hill Samuel Leasing Co. Ltd, Home Shopping Personal Finance Ltd, Horizon Capital 2000 Ltd, Housing Association Risk Transfer 2019 DAC, Housing Growth Partnership GP LLP, Housing Growth Partnership LP, Housing Growth Partnership Ltd, Housing Growth Partnership Manager Ltd, Hyundai Car Finance Ltd, IBOS Finance Ltd, ICC Enterprise Partners Ltd, ICC Equity Partners Ltd, ICC Holdings Unlimited Company, Inchcape Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Software Ltd, International Motors Finance Ltd, Kanaalstraat Funding C.V., Katrine Leasing Ltd, LB Healthcare Trustee Ltd, LB Motorent Ltd, LB Quest Ltd, LB Share Schemes Trustees Ltd, LBCF Ltd, LBG Brasil Administracao LTDA, LBG Capital Holdings Ltd, LBG Equity Investments Ltd, LBI Leasing Ltd, LDC (General Partner) Ltd, LDC (Managers) Ltd, LDC (Nominees) Ltd, LDC GP LLP, LDC I LP, LDC II LP, LDC III LP, LDC IV LP, LDC Parallel (Nominees) Ltd, LDC V LP, LDC VI LP, LDC VII LP, LDC VIII LP, LTGP Limited Partnership Incorporated, Legacy Renewal Company Ltd, Leicester Securities 2014 Ltd, Lex Autolease (CH) Ltd, Lex Autolease (VC) Ltd, Lex Autolease Carselect Ltd, Lex Autolease Ltd, Lex Vehicle Finance 2 Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing (Holdings) Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing Ltd, Lime Street (Funding) Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I Holdings Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I plc, Lloyds (Gresham) Ltd, Lloyds (Gresham) No. 1 Ltd, Lloyds (Nimrod) Specialist Finance Ltd, Lloyds America Securities Corporation1, Lloyds Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Branches) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Colonial & Foreign) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (I.D.) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (International Services) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Stock Exchange Branch) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Asset Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Scotland Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (HP) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.4) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (LM) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds LLP, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 7) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 9) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Holdings Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 11) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 20) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 5) Ltd, Lloyds Bank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Hill Samuel Holding Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank Insurance Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank International Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 6) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 8) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank MTCH Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 10) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 13) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No.16) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Offshore Pension Trust Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 1) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 2) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pensions Property (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Properties Ltd, Lloyds Bank Property Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank S.F. Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Subsidiaries Ltd, Lloyds Bank Trustee Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group Pensions Trustees Ltd, Lloyds Capital GP Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Properties Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Property Investments Ltd, Lloyds Corporate Services (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Engine Capital (No.1) U.S LLC, Lloyds Far East S.A.R.L., Lloyds General Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Group Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Hypotheken B.V., Lloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds International Pty Ltd, Lloyds Investment Bonds Ltd, Lloyds Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Lloyds Investment Securities No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Leasing (North Sea Transport) Ltd1, Lloyds Leasing Developments Ltd, Lloyds Nominees (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Offshore Global Services Private Ltd, Lloyds Plant Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Portfolio Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Premises Investments Ltd, Lloyds Project Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 3 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 4 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Secretaries Ltd, Lloyds Securities Inc., Lloyds TSB Pacific Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Rentals Ltd, Lloyds UDT Hiring Ltd, Lloyds UDT Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Ltd, Lloyds Your Tomorrow Trustee Ltd, Loans.co.uk Ltd, London Taxi Finance Ltd, London Uberior (L.A.S. Group) Nominees Ltd, Lotus Finance Ltd, MBNA, MBNA Direct Ltd, MBNA Europe Finance Ltd, MBNA Europe Holdings Ltd, MBNA General Foundation, MBNA Global Services Ltd, MBNA Indian Services Private Ltd, MBNA Ltd, MBNA R & L S.A.R.L., MBNA Receivables Ltd, Mainsearch Company Ltd, Maritime Leasing (No. 19) Ltd, Membership Services Finance Ltd, Mitre Street Funding S.A.R.L., Molineux RMBS 2016-1 plc, Molineux RMBS Holdings Ltd, Moor Lane Holdings Ltd, NFU Mutual Finance Ltd, NWS Trust Ltd, Nominees (Jersey) Ltd, Nordic Leasing Ltd, Ocean Leasing (July) Ltd, Oystercatcher Nominees Ltd, Oystercatcher Residential Ltd, PIPS Asset Investments Ltd, Pacific Leasing Ltd, Penarth Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Penarth Funding 1 Ltd, Penarth Funding 2 Ltd, Penarth Master Issuer plc, Penarth Receivables Trustee Ltd, Pensions Management (S.W.F.) Ltd, Peony Eastern Leasing Ltd, Peony Leasing Ltd, Peony Western Leasing Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 1) Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 2) Ltd, Permanent Holdings Ltd, Permanent Master Issuer plc, Permanent Mortgages Trustee Ltd, Permanent PECOH Holdings Ltd, Permanent PECOH Ltd, Perry Nominees Ltd, Prestonfield Investments Ltd, Proton Finance Ltd, R.F. Spencer And Company Ltd, Ranelagh Nominees Ltd, Retail Revival (Burgess Hill) Investments Ltd, SARL Coliseum, SARL Hiram, SAS Compagnie Fonciere De France, SCI Astoria Invest, SCI De LHorloge, SCI Equinoxe, SCI Rambuteau CFF, SW Funding plc, SW No.1 Ltd, SWAMF (GP) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (1) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (2) Ltd, Saint Michel Holding Company No1, Saint Michel Investment Property, Saint Witz 2 Holding Company No1, Saint Witz 2 Investment Property, Salisbury II Securities 2016 Ltd, Salisbury II-A Securities 2017 Ltd, Salisbury III Securities 2019 DAC, Salisbury Securities 2015 Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 Holdings Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 plc, Sandown Gold 2012-1 Holdings Ltd, Sandown Gold 2012-1 plc, Savban Leasing Ltd, Scotland International Finance B.V., Scottish Widows Administration Services (Nominees) Ltd, Scottish Widows Administration Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Annuities Ltd, Scottish Widows Auto Enrolment Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Europe, Scottish Widows Financial Services Holdings, Scottish Widows Group Ltd, Scottish Widows Industrial Properties Europe B.V., Scottish Widows Ltd, Scottish Widows Pension Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Property Management Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth (ACD) Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Wealth Holdings Ltd, Scottish Widows Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Funds Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Trust Managers Ltd, Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society, Seabreeze Leasing Ltd, Seaspirit Leasing Ltd, Share Dealing Nominees Ltd, Shogun Finance Ltd, Silentdale Ltd, St Andrews Group Ltd, St Andrews Insurance plc, St Andrews Life Assurance plc, St. Marys Court Investments, Standard Property Investment (1987) Ltd, Standard Property Investment Ltd, Sussex County Homes Ltd, Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, Swan Funding 2 Ltd, Syon Securities 2019 DAC, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Plc, The British Linen Company Ltd, The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Mortgage Business plc, Thistle Financing Holdings Ltd, Thistle Investments (AMC) Ltd, Thistle Investments (ERM) Ltd, Thistle Leasing, Three Copthall Avenue Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (10) Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (7) Ltd, Tranquility Leasing Ltd, Trinity Financing plc, UDT Budget Leasing Ltd, UDT Sales Finance Ltd, Uberior (Moorfield) Ltd, Uberior Co-Investments Ltd, Uberior ENA Ltd, Uberior Equity Ltd, Uberior Europe Ltd, Uberior Fund Investments Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.2) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Uberior Investments Ltd, Uberior Nominees Ltd, Uberior Trading Ltd, Uberior Trustees Ltd, Uberior Ventures Australia Pty Ltd, Uberior Ventures Ltd, United Dominions Leasing Ltd, United Dominions Trust Ltd, Universe The CMI Global Network Fund, Upsaala Ltd, Vine Street IX LP, WCS Ltd, Ward Nominees (Abingdon) Ltd, Ward Nominees (Birmingham) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees (Bristol) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees Ltd 1, Waverley Fund II Investor LLC, Waverley Fund III Investor LLC, Waymark Asset Investments Ltd, West Craigs Ltd, Wetherby II Securities 2018 DAC, Wetherby III Securities 2019 DAC, Wetherby Securities 2017 Ltd, Wood Street Leasing Ltd, and Zurich Insurance Group - UK Workplace Pensions and Savings Business. The following companies are subsidiares of Danaher: AB SCIEX, AB Sciex Germany GmbH, AB Sciex LLC, AB Sciex LP, AB Sciex Pte Ltd., Accu-Sort Systems, Acme Cleveland Corporation, Advanced Vision Technology, American Precision Industries, Applied Biosystems, Applitek NV, Aquatic Infomatics ULC, Aquatic Informatics, Armstrong Tools, BC Distribution BV, Beckman Coulter, Beckman Coulter Australia Pty Ltd, Beckman Coulter Biotechnology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Beckman Coulter Biyomedikal Urunler Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited [irketi], Beckman Coulter Canada LP, Beckman Coulter Commercial Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Beckman Coulter France S.A.S., Beckman Coulter G.m.b.H., Beckman Coulter Genomics Inc., Beckman Coulter Hong Kong Limited, Beckman Coulter Inc., Beckman Coulter India Private Limited, Beckman Coulter International SA, Beckman Coulter International Shanghai Trading Co., Beckman Coulter Ireland Inc., Beckman Coulter K.K., Beckman Coulter Korea Ltd., Beckman Coulter Laboratory Systems (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Beckman Coulter Limited Liability Company, Beckman Coulter Mishima KK, Beckman Coulter Nederland B.V., Beckman Coulter Nippon GK, Beckman Coulter S.L.U., Beckman Coulter Saudi Arabia Co.Ltd., Beckman Coulter Srl, Beckman Coulter Taiwan Inc., Beckman Coulter United Kingdom Limited, Beckman Coulter de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Beckman Coulter do Brasil Ltda., Beckman Finance ApS, Beckman Holdings Ltd., BioTector Analytical Systems Ltd, Biosafe S.A., Blue Software LLC, Cepheid, Cepheid AB, Cepheid Europe SAS, Cepheid GmbH, Cepheid HBDC SAS, Cepheid UK Ltd., ChemTreat, ChemTreat Inc., ChemTreat International Inc., Cispus Hong Kong Holding Limited, Cytiva, Cytiva BioProcess R&D AB, Cytiva Biotechnology (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Cytiva Biotechnology (Hang Zhou) Co. Ltd., Cytiva Europe GmbH, Cytiva Sweden AB, Cytiva Sweden Holding AB, DH Europe Finance II Sarl, DH Europe Finance Sarl, DH Holding Italia SRL, DH Japan Finance Sarl, DH Life Sciences LLC, DH Netherlands BV, DH Technologies Development Pte Ltd., DHKAB Company AB, DTIL Ireland Holdings Ltd., Danaher (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Danaher Hong Kong Limited, Danaher Medical ApS, Delta Consolidated Industries, Devicore Medical Products Inc., Easco Hand Tools, Esko, Esko BV, Esko Finance BV, Esko Graphics BV, Esko Software BV, FHAB Company AB, Fluke, G. Lufft Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH, GE Biopharma, Gelman Sciences Inc., Gendex, Genetix Group, Gilbarco Veeder Root, Gilzoni Ltd., Global Life Sciences Solutions Austria GmbH & Co. KG, Global Life Sciences Solutions Germany GmbH, Global Life Sciences Solutions Korea Ltd., Global Life Sciences Solutions Manufacturing UK Ltd, Global Life Sciences Solutions New Zealand, Global Life Sciences Solutions Operations UK Ltd, Global Life Sciences Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd, Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC, Global Life Sciences Technologies (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Global Life Sciences Technologies Japan KK, Hach Company, Hach Lange Finance GmbH, Hach Lange GmbH, Hach Lange Sarl, Hach Sales & Services Canada LP, Hach Ultra Japan KK, Hach Water Quality Analytical Instru. (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., HemoCue AB, HyClone Laboratories LLC, Hybritech Incorporated, Hyclone Life Sciences Solutions India Private Limited, IDBS Group, IRIS International, Imaging Sciences International, Immunotech SAS, Immunotech Sro, Intabio LLC, Integrated DNA Technologies, Integrated DNA Technologies BVBA, Integrated DNA Technologies Inc., Integrated DNA Technologies Pte. Ltd., Iris International Inc., Joslyn Holding Company LLC, KVHG GmbH, KaVo, KaVo Kerr, Kaltenbach & Voigt, Keithley Instruments, Kipp & Zonen BV, Kollmorgen, Labcyte Inc., Laetus, Leica Biosystems Imaging Inc., Leica Biosystems Melbourne Pty Ltd, Leica Biosystems Newcastle Limited, Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH, Leica Biosystems Richmond Inc., Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte Limited, Leica Microsystems, Leica Microsystems (UK) Limited, Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH, Leica Microsystems Cambridge Limited, Leica Microsystems IR GmbH, Leica Microsystems Inc., Leica Microsystems Limited, Leica Microsystems Ltd. Shanghai, Leica Mikrosysteme Vertrieb GmbH, Life Sciences Holdings France SAS*, Lifschultz Industries, Linx Printing Technologies, Linx Printing Technologies Limited, MDS Analytical Technologies, Marconi Data Systems, McCrometer Inc., Microtest, Molecular Devices, Molecular Devices (Austria) GmbH, Molecular Devices LLC, Navman Wireless, Navman Wireless OEM Solutions, Nihon Pall Ltd., Nihon Pall Manufacturing Limited, Nobel Biocare, OTT Hydromet Corp, Pall, Pall (Canada) ULC, Pall (China) Co. Ltd., Pall (Schweiz) GmbH, Pall Aeropower Corporation, Pall Artelis BVBA, Pall Asia Holdings Inc., Pall Australia Pty. Ltd., Pall Austria Filter Ges.m.b.h, Pall Corporation, Pall Europe Limited, Pall Filtersystems GmbH, Pall Filtration Pte. Ltd., Pall Filtration and Separations Group Inc., Pall France SAS, Pall GmbH, Pall India Pvt. Ltd., Pall International Sarl, Pall Italia Srl, Pall Korea Ltd., Pall Life Sciences Belgium BV, Pall Life Sciences Puerto Rico LLC, Pall Manufacturing UK Limited, Pall Medistad BV, Pall Netherlands BV Irish Branch, Pall Technology UK Limited, PaloDEX, Pantone LLC, Pelton & Crane, Phenomenex, Phenomenex Inc., Precision NanoSystems, QHC Ireland Finance Limited, Radiometer, Radiometer Basel AG, Radiometer K.K., Radiometer Medical ApS, Radiometer Medical Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Radiometer Turku Oy, Raytek, Reytek Corporation, SH Switzerland Finance Sarl, Sea-Bird Electronics Inc., SenDx Medical Inc., Shanghai AB Sciex Analytical Instrument Trading Co. Ltd., Sutron, Sybron Dental Specialties, TCIL Ireland Finance Ltd., Tektronix, Thomson Industries, Tianjin Bonna-Agela Technologies Co. Ltd., Trojan Technologies, Trojan Technologies Group ULC, VSS Monitoring, Videojet Do Brasil Comercio de Equipamentos Para Codificacao Industrial Ltda., Videojet Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Videojet Technologies Europe B.V., Videojet Technologies Inc., Viridor Waste Management Limited, Vision Systems Limited, Willett International, X-Ray Optical Systems Inc., X-Rite, X-Rite Europe GmbH, X-Rite Incorporated, X-Rite Switzerland GmbH, XOS, Yukon Hong Kong Holding Limited, and Zhuhai S.E.Z. Videojet Electronics Ltd.. Airbus SE designs, manufactures, and distributes aerospace products and solutions in the Netherlands and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, and Airbus Defence and Space. The company's Airbus segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial jet aircraft of approximately 100 seats; and regional turboprop aircraft and aircraft components, as well as provides aircraft conversion and related services. Its Airbus Helicopters segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells civil and military helicopters; and provides helicopter related services. The company's Airbus Defence and Space segment designs, develops, delivers, and supports military aircraft, such as combat, mission, transport, and tanker aircraft; and provides unmanned aerial systems and their associated services. It also offers civil and defense space systems for telecommunications, earth observations, navigation, science, and orbital systems; missile systems; and missile and space launcher systems, as well as services around data processing from platforms, secure communication, and cyber security. The company was formerly known as Airbus Group SE and changed its name to Airbus SE in April 2017. Airbus SE was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands. Read More There is not enough analysis data for Nuveen Senior Income Fund. 4.9 Community Rank Outperform Votes Nuveen Senior Income Fund has received 109 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Nuveen Senior Income Fund has received 37 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Nuveen Senior Income Fund has received 74.66% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Nuveen Senior Income Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe NSL will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe NSL will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next iShares MSCI Australia ETF's stock was trading at $17.46 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWA shares have increased by 44.9% and is now trading at $25.30. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products. It is also involved in the distribution of food products, including meat, seafood, and halal food products, as well as operation of retail/convenience store and concessionary, and provision of food and seafood processing services. The company operates under the brand names of Harvest Meats, Hempler's, Grimm's Fine Foods, Piller's, Freybe, Isernio's, Expresco, SJ Fine Foods, McSweeney's, Made Rite, Fletcher's, Deli Chef, Belmont Meats, Conte Foods, SK Food Group, Oven Pride, Hygaard, Quality Fast Foods, HQ Fine Foods, Creekside Custom Foods, Stuyver's Bread, Bread Garden Express, Audrey's Patisserie, Duso's, Gourmet Chef, Island City Baking, Skilcor, Leadbetter's, Mclean Meats, Buddy's Kitchen, Raybern's, Partner's Crackers, Shaw Bakers, Oberto, Concord Meats, Country Prime Meats, The Meat Factory, and Golden Valley Farms. It serves chains and large format retailers, independent and specialty retailers, foodservice operators, foodservice distributors, and other food manufacturers and food brokers. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada. Read More 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 Read More 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.. iShares MSCI Japan ETF's stock reverse split on Monday, November 7th 2016. The 1-4 reverse split was announced on Friday, October 14th 2016. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the market closes on Friday, November 4th 2016. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF stock prior to the reverse split would have 25 shares after the split. 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. The following companies are subsidiares of Teledyne Technologies: Alia Corporation Inc, Bolt Technology Corp, Bowtech Products, CARIS, CDL do Brasil Equipamentos e Servicos Submarinos Sociedade Empresaria Ltda., CETAC Technologies, DALSA, Demo Systems, Detcon Holdco Inc., Ensambles de Precision S.A. de C.V., Falcon Analytical, Frontline Test Equipment, GMI Group Holdings Limited, Hafmynd ehf, Hanson Research Corp, IST Oldham Instruments India Private Limited, Industrial Control Machines, Intelek, Intelek Limited, Intelek Pension Trustees Limited, Intelek Properties Limited, LeCroy (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd., LeCroy Corporation, Lidar Aviation Services Inc., Maple Imaging LLC, Micralyne Inc, Ocean Design Ltda., Oldham Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Oldham Simtronics SAS, Oldham-Winter GmbH, PDM Neptec, Reynolds Industries Limited, Rhombi Canada LP, Rhombi Holdings Limited, Rhombi Netherlands B.V., Rockwell Scientific Company, Simtronics AS, TDY Jersey Limited, Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Teledyne Australia Pty Ltd, Teledyne BlueView, Teledyne Bogatin Enterprises LLC, Teledyne Bowtech Limited, Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Teledyne C.M.L. Group Limited, Teledyne CARIS B.V., Teledyne CARIS Inc., Teledyne CARIS UK Ltd., Teledyne CARIS USA Inc., Teledyne CDL Inc., Teledyne CDL Limited, Teledyne Catalyst Enterprises Inc., Teledyne Computer Access Technology Corporation, Teledyne Controls LLC, Teledyne Cougar, Teledyne Czech s.r.o., Teledyne DALSA (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Teledyne DALSA Asia-Pacific Ltd., Teledyne DALSA B.V., Teledyne DALSA GmbH, Teledyne DALSA Inc., Teledyne DALSA Industrial Products Inc., Teledyne DALSA K.K., Teledyne DALSA Semiconductor Inc., Teledyne Dalsa, Teledyne Defense Electronics LLC, Teledyne Denmark A/S, Teledyne Detcon Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging US Inc., Teledyne Energy Systems Inc., Teledyne Europe Holdings C.V., Teledyne France, Teledyne France SAS, Teledyne Gas Measurement Instruments Limited, Teledyne Gavia ehf., Teledyne Germany GmbH, Teledyne Hanson Research Inc., Teledyne ICM SA, Teledyne ICM SPRL, Teledyne Innovaciones Microelectronics S.L.U., Teledyne Instruments Inc., Teledyne Instruments Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Teledyne Japan Corporation, Teledyne Korea Ltd., Teledyne Labtech Limited, Teledyne LeCroy AB, Teledyne LeCroy Delaware LLC, Teledyne LeCroy GmbH, Teledyne LeCroy Inc., Teledyne LeCroy India Trading Private Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy Japan Corporation, Teledyne LeCroy Korea Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy OakGate Inc., Teledyne LeCroy S.A.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy S.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy SA, Teledyne LeCroy Singapore Pte. Ltd., Teledyne Limited, Teledyne Micralyne Inc., Teledyne Monitor Labs, Teledyne Monitor Labs P.R. Inc., Teledyne Netherlands B.V., Teledyne ODI, Teledyne Optech Inc., Teledyne Paradise Datacom Limited, Teledyne RD Instruments, Teledyne RD Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne RESON, Teledyne RESON A/S, Teledyne RESON B.V., Teledyne RESON GmbH, Teledyne RESON Holding B.V., Teledyne RESON Inc., Teledyne RESON Pte. Ltd., Teledyne RESON UK Limited, Teledyne RISI Inc., Teledyne Rad-icon Imaging Corp., Teledyne Redlake MASD LLC, Teledyne Reynolds Inc., Teledyne SG Brown Limited, Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, Teledyne Scientific Imaging GmbH, Teledyne Scientific Imaging Limited, Teledyne Signal Processing Devices Sweden AB, Teledyne Singapore Private Limited, Teledyne TSS Limited, Teledyne Taiwan Company, Teledyne Technologies (Bermuda) Limited, Teledyne Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne Technologies International Corp., Teledyne Technologies Israel Ltd., Teledyne Tekmar Company, Teledyne UK Limited, Teledyne VariSystems, Teledyne VariSystems Inc., Teledyne Wireless LLC, Teledyne e2v, Teledyne e2v (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Teledyne e2v (Overseas) Holdings Limited, Teledyne e2v Asia Pacific Limited, Teledyne e2v Limited, Teledyne e2v Semiconductors SAS, and The Oceanscience Group Ltd.. The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1031387 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical, 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California, ACN Group of California Inc., AHJV, AHJV MSO, AHN Accontable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ARC Infusion, ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASI Global, ASI Global LLC, Access Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Inc., Access I.V., Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Care, Advanced Care Pharmacy, Advanced Pharma Inc., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advantage Care Network Inc., Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Sherman Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Alere Health, Alere Health Improvement Company, Alere Healthcare of Illinois, Alere Wellbeing, Alere Wellology, Alere of New York, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Healthcare of Central Florida, Ambient Healthcare of Georgia, Ambient Healthcare of Northeast Florida, Ambient Healthcare of S. Florida, Ambient Healthcare of West Florida, Ambient Holdings, Ambient Holdings Inc., Ambient Nursing Services, AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice Health Services, AmeriChoice of Connecticut, AmeriChoice of New Jersey, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Amil Lifesciences Participacoes Ltda., Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., Apothecary Shop of Phoenix Inc., AppleCare Medical Management, AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., AssuranceRx, AssuranceRx LLC, Athens ASC Holdings LLC, Audax Health Solutions, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Patient Access Program Inc., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Avella of Austin Inc., Avella of Columbus Inc., Avella of Deer Valley Inc., Avella of Denver Inc., Avella of Gilbert Inc., Avella of Las Vegas II Inc., Avella of Orlando Inc., Avella of Phoenix III Inc., Avella of Sacramento Inc., Avella of Scottsdale Inc., Avella of St. Louis Inc., Avella of Tampa LLC, Avella of Tucson II Inc., Avella of Tucson Inc., Aveta Arizona, Aveta Health Solutions Inc., Aveta Inc., Aveta Kansas City, Aveta Tennessee, AxelaCare Health Solutions, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, Banmedica Colombia SpA, Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Behavioral Healthcare Options, Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Belleville Surgical Center Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Blackstone Valley Surgicare GP LLC, Blue Ridge GP LLC, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings III SRL, Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx, BriovaRx, BriovaRx Infusion Services, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 200 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 204 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 209 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 305 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 402 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services Inc., BriovaRx Specialty LLC, BriovaRx of California, BriovaRx of California Inc., BriovaRx of Florida, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Georgia, BriovaRx of Georgia LLC, BriovaRx of Hawaii, BriovaRx of Indiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana L.L.C., BriovaRx of Maine, BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts, BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, BriovaRx of Nevada, BriovaRx of New York, BriovaRx of New York Inc., BriovaRx of Texas, BriovaRx of Texas Inc., CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos S.A., CNIC Health Solutions Inc., COI Participacoes S.A., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California MedTrans Network IPA LLC, California MedTrans Network MSO LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardio Management, Cardio Management Inc., Care Improvement Plus Group Management, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha S.A., Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Catamaran Health Solutions, Catamaran Holdings I, Catamaran IPA III, Catamaran Mail, Catamaran PBM of Illinois II, Catamaran PBM of Puerto Rico, Catamaran PD of Pennsylvania, Catamaran PD of Puerto Rico, Catamaran Rebate Management, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Catamaran Senior Services, Catamaran of Pennsylvania, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care - Empressa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, Central de Compras SpA, CentriHealth Corporation, CentriHealth UK Limited, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Medico Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro Medico PJ Ltda., Centro de Entrenamiento en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada (CERP), Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica S.A., Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte-SC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, ChinaGate (Hong Kong) Limited, ChinaGate Company Limited, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Clinica Oftalmologica Danilo de Castro Sociedade Simples, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinica Alameda S.A., Clinica Bio Bio S.A., Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica San Borja (La Esperanza del Peru S.A.), Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare, Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition For Advanced Pharmacy Services, Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Coastal Physicians Management Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Care Solutions, Collaborative Realty, Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada, Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation, Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Commonwealth Administrators, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Connextions, Connextions HCI, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Country Scan Ltda., Crescent Drug Corp., Cypress Care, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA, DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., DaVita Magan Management Inc., Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company, Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California, Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois, Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Pharmacy, Distance Learning Network, Distance Learning Network Inc., Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duncan Printing Services, Duncan Printing Services LLC, E Street Endoscopy LLC, ELG FZE, EP Campus I, EP Campus I LLC, East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Electronic Network Systems, Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Empire Physician Management Company, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Employers Health Choice PPO Inc., Empremedica S. A., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Etho Empresa de Tecnologia Hospitalar Ltda., Evercare Collaborative Solutions, Evercare Collaborative Solutions Inc., Everett MSO Inc., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos Ltda., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos S.A., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources, Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center LLC, Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., FMG Holdings, FMG Holdings LLC, FOR HEALTH OF ARIZONA, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice, Family Home Hospice Inc., First Rx Specialty & Mail Services, Florida MedTrans Network LLC, Florida MedTrans Network MSO LLC, For Health, For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fortified Provider Network Inc., Fortify Technologies Asia LLC, Fortify Technologies LLC, Foundation Financial Services Inc., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier MEDEX Limited, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX, FrontierMEDEX (RMS), FrontierMEDEX (RMS) Inc., FrontierMEDEX Government Services, FrontierMEDEX Government Services LLC, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa Healthcare LLC, Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology (Canada) Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Golden Outlook, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grapevine Finance LLC, Greater Hartford ASC LLC, Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., Guardian Health Systems Limited Partnership, H&W Indemnity (SPC), H&W Indemnity (SPC) Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCP ACO Nevada LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HMI NewCo LLC, Harken Health Insurance Company, Hayes-Strub LLC, Health Business Systems, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Net Insurance of New York, Health Net Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Health Plan of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Health Technology Analysts Pty Limited, HealthAllies, HealthAllies Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets NewCo Inc., HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Partners Plan of Nevada Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help S.A., Help Service S.A., Highlands Ranch Healthcare, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Care I.V. of Bend, Home Infusion With Heart, Home Medical S.A., Hospice Inspiris Holdings, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada de Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Maternidade Promater Ltda., Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo Ltda., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation (Canada), Hygeia Corporation (DE), Hygeia Corporation (Ontario), INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of New York IPA, INSPIRIS of New York Management, INSPIRIS of New York Management Inc., INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, IRX Financing I LLC, Illinois Independent Care Network, Imed Star Servicos de Desempenho Organizacional Ltda., Impel Consulting Experts, Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., Indian River Surgery Center Ltd., Indian River Surgery Properties LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Infusource, Ingram & Associates, Ingram & Associates LLC, Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Inspiris Services Company, Inspiris of Tennessee, Instituto do Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, International Psychological Services Pty Limited, Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria S.A., Isapre Banmedica S.A., Isapre Vida Tres S.A., Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, LHI, Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., LifePrint Health, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeStyles Marketing Group Inc., LifeWell Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization, Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Lifeprint East, Lifeprint East Inc., Logistics Health Inc., Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., MAMSI Insurance Resources, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MD Ops, MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association, MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MEDEX Insurance Services, MEDEX Insurance Services Inc., MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, MXMD Centros De Cancer, Mamoeco Mamografia e Ecografia Centro de Diagnostico, Managed Physical Network, Managed Physical Network Inc., March Holdings, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care, March Vision Care Inc., Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Maryland Ambulatory Centers, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, Mat-Rx Development, Mat-Rx Fort Worth GP, MedExpress Development, MedExpress Development LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach, MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, MedSynergies North Texas, Medalliance Net Ltda, Medalliance Net Ltda., Medica Health Plans of Florida, Medica Health Plans of Florida Inc., Medica HealthCare Plans, Medica HealthCare Plans Inc., Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Preparatory School of Allied Health, Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services, Medical Transportation Services LLC, Medication Management Systems Inc., Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memphis-SC LLC, Memphis-SP LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Metropolitan Medical Transportation IPA LLC, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Surgery Holdings LLC, Mississippi Surgical Center Limited Partnership, Mobile Medical Professionals, Modern Medical Inc., Monarch Management Services, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Mountain View Medical Group LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings, NAMM Holdings Inc., NSC Fayetteville LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Nashville-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National MedTrans LLC, National Pacific Dental, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes, Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Medical Services LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., Newton Holdings LLC, North American Medical Management - Illinois, North American Medical Management California, North American Medical Management California Inc., North Puget Sound Center for Sleep Disorders LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd., Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care, Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care of Huntsville, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Omesa S.A., OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., OneNet PPO, OneNet PPO LLC, Optimum Choice, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum, Optum Bank, Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics, Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Clinical Services, Optum Clinics Holdings, Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings, Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Solutions (India) Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions (Philippines), Optum Global Solutions (Philippines) Inc., Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Government Solutions, Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health & Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (India) Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology (Singapore) Pte. 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Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Nevada Accountable Care Organization LLC, Optum Operations (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 703 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Public Sector Solutions, Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket, Optum Rocket Inc., Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services, Optum Services (Ireland) Limited, Optum Services (Puerto Rico) LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Solutions do Brasil Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Optum Technology, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Women's and Children's Health, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360, Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO Florida LLC, OptumCare ACO Holdings LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Health Plan of California Inc., OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Holdings New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Financial Services, OptumHealth Financial Services Inc., OptumHealth Holdings, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight, OptumInsight Holdings, OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx, OptumRx Administrative Services, OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Illinois, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA, OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois, OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland, OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Puerto Rico LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Maryland, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada, OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings, OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet Services, OrthoNet Services Inc., OrthoNet West, OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the Mid-Atlantic, OrthoNet of the South, OrthoNet of the South Inc., Ovations, Ovations Inc., Oxford Benefit Management, Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance, Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Oxford Health Plans (CT) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Oxford Health Plans (NJ) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NY), Oxford Health Plans (NY) Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, P2 Lower Acquisition, P2P Link LLC, PCCCV, PCCCV Inc., PCN DE Corp., PHC Subsidiary Holdings, PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYS Holding Corp., PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI, PMSI Holdco II, PMSI Holdings, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado, PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., PacifiCare of Nevada, PacifiCare of Nevada Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Paoli Ambulatory Surgery Center, Paoli Surgery Center L.P., Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center GP Inc., PatientsLikeMe, PatientsLikeMe LLC, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica - PANC., Payment Resolution Services, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Network, Pharmacy Review Services, Pharmacy Software Holdco Inc., PhyServe Holdings, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physician Care Partners, Physicians Health Choice of Texas, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians Plaza Holdings LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico, Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings, Plus One Holdings Inc., Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Precision Dialing Services Inc., Preferred Care Partners, Preferred Care Partners Holding, Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group, Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., Premier Choice ACO, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Prime Health, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network, PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley, PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona, PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley, PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley, PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley, PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands, PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside, PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino, PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City, PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula, PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success, ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success LLC, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Medical Management, ProHealth Physicians, ProHealth Physicians ACO, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management, ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, Procura Management, Procura Management Inc., Progressive Enterprises Holdings, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical, Progressive Medical LLC, Progressive Solutions, Promotora Country S.A., Pronetics Health Care Group, Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Management Services LLC, Pueblo-SCA Surgery Center LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., Quality Software Services, QuarterMaster Newco LLC, R&H Family Fitness Unlimited LLC, Rally Health, Rally Health Inc., Real Appeal Inc., Recaudacion y Cobranzas Honodav Ltda., Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management, Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rocky Mountain HealthCare Options Inc., SC Affiliates LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA California Surgical Holdings LLC, SCA Capital LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA EHSC Holdings LLC, SCA EWASC Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Nashville ASC LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA SSC Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Center of Cullman LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Partners LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Mokena Properties LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-ND VBP Inc., SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Shelby Development Corp., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Wilmington LLC, SCA-Wilson LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC 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Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company, Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options, Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products, Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators, Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sirona Infusion, Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad Editorial para la Ciencia Limitada., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria S.A., Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Southwest Medical Associates, Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center of Bakersfield L.P., Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits, Specialty Benefits LLC, Spectera, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA, Spectera 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Board (Chile) SpA, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Lewin Group, The Lewin Group Inc., The Magan Medical Group, The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Thousand Oaks Endoscopy Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys, Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, TriMed LLC, Trinity Infusion, Trio Motion LLC, Tucson Arizona Surgical Center LLC, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UHC Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UHC Global Health Services BC Ltd., UHC International Services, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings (Ireland) Limited, UHCG Services (Ireland) Limited, UHCG FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHIC Holdings, UHIC Holdings Inc., UICI Funding Corp. 2, UMR, UMR Inc., USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors L.L.C., USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD Administrative Services, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD CT (Mo), USMD Cancer Treatment Centers, USMD Cancer Treatment Centers GP, USMD Diagnostic Services, USMD Holdings, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Inc., USMD PPM, USMD PPM LLC, USMD of Arlington GP, Ultima Rx, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Administrative Services, Unison Health Plan of Delaware, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A., United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Management Services Inc., United Resource Networks IPA of New York, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., UnitedHealth Advisors, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Finance Inc., UnitedHealth Group Global Healthcare Services Limited, UnitedHealth Group Global Services, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group Information Services Private Limited, UnitedHealth Group International Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth Group International GP, UnitedHealth Group International L.P., UnitedHealth International, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services, UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealth UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Canada Limited, UnitedHealthcare Global Medical (UK) Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare India Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia, UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International I S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International V S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VI S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Services Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas, UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida, UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky, UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi, UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England, UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico, UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York, UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma, UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas, UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah, UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington, UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic, UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands, UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UpFront Insurance Agency LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings, Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO, Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network, Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vida Tres Internacional S.A., Vidaintegra S.A., Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., WebInsure Benefits LLC, WellMed Medical Management, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida, WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., WellMed Networks DFW, West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, WillowB Labs LLC, Wilmington ASC LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, Your Health Options Insurance Services, Your Health Options Insurance Services Inc., Your Partner in Health Services, divvyDOSE, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative, inPharmative Inc., and ppoONE. Vedanta Ltd. is a natural resource company, which engages in the exploration, extraction, and processing of minerals, oil, and gas properties. It operates through the following segments: Copper, Aluminum, Iron Ore, Power, and Oil & Gas. The Copper segment focuses in custom smelting and also include a copper smelter, a refinery, a phosphoric acid plant, a sulphuric acid plant, a copper rod plant, and three captive power plants. The Aluminum segment comprises refinery and a captive power plant at Lanjigarh and a smelter, a thermal coal based captive power facility at Jharsuguda both situated in the State of Odisha in India. The Iron Ore segment explores, mines, and processes iron ore, pig iron, and metallurgical coke. The Power segment consists 600 MW thermal coal-based commercial power facility at Jharsuguda in the State of Odisha in Eastern India. The Oil and Gas segment involves in the exploration and development and production of oil and gas. The company was founded by Dwarka Prasad Agarwal on June 25, 1965 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India. Read More Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. The U.S. Drilling segment includes land drilling activities in the lower 48 states and Alaska, as well as offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment consists of land-based drilling rigs in Canada. The International segment focuses in maintaining a footprint in the oil and gas market, most notably in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela. The Drilling Solutions segment offers drilling technologies, such as patented steering systems and rig instrumentation software systems that enhance drilling performance and wellbore placement. The Rig Technologies segment comprises Canrig, which manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools. The company was founded by Clair Nabors in 1952 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More Aareal Bank AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides financing, software products, digital solutions, and payment transaction applications for the property sector and related industries in Germany and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Structured Property Financing, Banking & Digital solutions, and Aareon. The Structured Property Financing segment offers property financing and refinancing solutions for office buildings, hotels, and shopping centers, as well as retail, logistics, residential properties, and student apartments. This segment also provides deposits, registered and bearer Pfandbriefe, promissory note loans, medium-term notes, debt securities, private placements, other bonds and subordinated issues, mortgage Pfandbriefe, and public sector Pfandbriefe. The Banking & Digital solutions segment offers various services and products for the housing, commercial property, and energy and waste disposal industries. Its services include specialized banking, payment systems, and optimized business processes. The Aareon segment provides IT systems consultancy and related advisory services, enterprise resource planning systems, software solutions, hosting and software as a service, and in-house services. Aareal Bank AG was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany. Read More Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Read More William Lyon Homes (NYSE:WLH) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November, 6th. The construction company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, beating the Zacks' consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.07. The construction company earned $466.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $487.15 million. William Lyon Homes had a net margin of 3.04% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 6.98%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.68 EPS. View William Lyon Homes' earnings history. The following companies are subsidiares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.: 2235158 Alberta Limited, A.J. Amer Agency, AHC Digital LLC, AIX Limited, AJG Coal LLC, AJG Financial Services LLC, AJG Meadows LLC, AJG North America ULC, AJG RCF LLC, AJGRMS of Louisiana LLC, ARM RE Ltda., AVIATION INSURANCE SERVICES, AVRECO, Ace IRM Insurance Broking Group, Acumus Holdings Limited, Acumus Interco Limited, Acumus Ltd, Adams & Associates International, Adaptive Marketing LLC, Adco General Corporation, Advanced Benefit Advisors, Aequus Trade Credit, Affinity Marketing Group, Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Aires Consulting Group, Alesco Risk Management Services Limited, Alize Limited, Allied Claims Administration Inc., Alternative Market Specialists, Altman & Cronin Benefit Consultants, American Freedom Carriers Inc., American Security Services Corp., American Wholesalers Underwriting Ltd, Andrew-Anthony Insurance Agency, Anthony Hodges Consulting Limited, Antrobus Investments Limited, AquaSurance, Argentis, Argentis Financial Group Limited, Argentis Financial Management Limited, Argus Benefits, Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle, Artex (SAC) Limited, Artex Cedar Hill, Artex Corporate Services (Malta) Limited, Artex Corporate Services Limited, Artex Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Holdings (Malta) Limited, Artex Insurance (Guernsey) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance (Tennessee) PCCIC Inc., Artex Insurance Brokers (Malta) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance ICC Limited, Artex Intermediaries Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Cayman) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Guernsey) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (International) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (UK) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions Inc., Arthur J Gallagher (Norway) Holdings AS, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AUS) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Illinois), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher (Aus) Pty Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Bermuda) Holding Partnership, Arthur J. Gallagher (Life Solutions) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (U.S.) LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Asesoria S.A.C., Arthur J. Gallagher Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd., Arthur J. Gallagher Brokerage & Risk Management Services LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Broking (NZ) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Financial Services Professionals Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Group Quebec ULC, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Latin America LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Management (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Real Estate Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services (Hawaii) Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services of Utah Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher School Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Ltd, Ashmore & Associates Insurance Agency, Atlantic Risk Management Corp., Atrex Insurance (Cayman) SPC Limited, Avantek Pty Ltd, Axe Insurance PCC Limited, BIS Insurance Services, Baker - Tillys employment benefits solutions, Ballard Benefit Works, Bankers Financial Benefits, Barmore Insurance Agency, Behnke & Co. Inc., Bellisle Pty Ltd, Belmont Associates Consultants, Belmont Insurance Holdings Limited, Belmont International, Belmont International Limited, Benefit Development Group, Benefit Management Group, BenefitLink Resource Group, Benefits Planning & Insurance Agency, Benefits Unlimited, Bennett & Shade Co., Bergvall Marine, Bergvall Marine A.S., Besselman & Little Agency, Big Savings Insurance Agency Inc., Blenheim Park Ltd, Blenheim Park Services Limited, Blue Holdings Pty Ltd, Blue Horizon Insurance Services, Blue Water Benefits, BluePeak Advisors, Blueleaf Consulting Pty Ltd., Bluewater Incorporated Cell Insurance Company, Bollinger Inc., Bollinger Insurance Services Inc., Bowen Miclette Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc., Brendis & Brendis, Brim AB, Broker Benefit Services, Brokerage Professionals, Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance, Bultman/Bell Associates Inc., Burkwald & Associates, Burns-Fazzi Brock & Associates, Bushong Insurance Associates, C&B Consulting Group, CGM Gallagher Insruance Brokers (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, CJM Solutions Inc., CMA Solutions LLC, Cairnstone Financial, California Insurance Center, Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Capitol Benefits Group, Capsicum CRLA LLP, Capsicum Re Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Capsicum Re Latin America Corretora De Resseguros Ltda, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Bermuda Limited, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Miami Inc., Carefree Marketing Inc., Carpenter Cammack & Associates, Cashan & Co., Castle Insurance Associates, Centennial Insurance Agency, Charity First Insurance Services Inc., Charles Allen Agency, Charter Lakes Insurance Agency, Chris Schroeder Insurance, Christie-Phoenix, Cintran Claims Canada Limited, Classic Insurance Services, Cleaveland Insurance Group, Cohen & Lord Insurance Brokers, Cohn Financial Group, Coleman Group Holdings Limited, Coleman Holdings Limited, College and University Scholastic Excess Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Commercial Insurance Brokers, Complete Benefit Alliance, Complete Financial Balance, Complete Financial Balance Pty Ltd, Consolidated Casualty Specialties LLC, Construction Risk Solutions, Contego Underwriting Limited, Contego Underwriting Ltd, Continental Excess & Surplus, Convergence Risk Services Ltd, Copper Mountain Assurance Inc., Cornwall & Stevens Co., Corporate Benefit Advisors, Corporate Life Consultants, Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited, Coverdell & Company Inc., Coverdell Canada Corporation, Cowles and Connell, Craig M. Ferguson & Co., Crist Elliott Machette Insurance Services, Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited, Davis-Poston & Associates, Denman Consulting Services, Detlefs Johnson & Partners, DiBrina Group, Dickinson & Associates, Discount Development Services L.L.C., Discovery Benefit Solutions, Dodson-Bateman & Co., Donald P. Pipino Co. Ltd., E. S. Susanin Inc., EHE Holdings LLC, EHS Holdings Limited, Elantis Premium Funding (NZ) Limited, Elantis Premium Funding Limited, Elite Benefits Insurance Marketing Services, Employee Benefits Analysis Corp., Employee Benefits of The Carolinas, Encore Insurance & Bonding, Everett James, Evolution Risk Services Limited, Evolution Technology Services Limited, Evolution Underwriting Group, Evolution Underwriting Group Limited, Evolution Underwriting Limited, Excel Insurance Services, FYI Direct Canada Corporation, FYI Direct LLC, Farallone Pacific Insurance Services, Fenchurch Faris Limited, Fidelity Benefits & Insurance Services, Financial Profiles Inc., Finergy Solutions Pty Ltd, First Agency, First Iowa Insurance Agency, First Premium Inc., First Premium Insurance Group, Fish & Schulkamp, Fishermans Insurance Services, Foley Healthcare Limited, Fortress Financial Solutions Pty Ltd, Fortress Insurance LLC, Foundation Strategies, Fox Lawson & Associates, Franklin-Case Agency LLC, Fraser MacAndrew Ryan Limited, Friary Intermediate Limited, Fuller & O'Brien, G.S. Chapman & Associates Insurance Brokers, G.S. Levine Insurance Services, GBS (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, GBS Administrators Inc., GBS Insurance and Financial Services Inc., GBS Retirement Services Inc., GBS Specialty Markets LLC, GGB Finance 1 Limited, GGB Finance 2 Limited, GGB Finance 3 Limited, GGB Finance 4 Limited, GPL Assurance, GPL Assurance Inc., Gabor Insurance Services, Gale Smith & Co. Inc., Gallagher (Bermuda) Insurance Solutions Ltd., Gallagher - Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Gallagher Bassett Aires Inc., Gallagher Bassett Canada Inc., Gallagher Bassett Insurance Services Ltd., Gallagher Bassett International Ltd., Gallagher Bassett NZ Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. , Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Workers Compensation Victoria Pty Ltd., Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services (Holdings) Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services Management Company Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Benefits Consulting Limited, Gallagher Bomford Couch Wilson, Gallagher Burgess, Gallagher Canada Acquisition Corporation, Gallagher Caribbean Group Limited, Gallagher Clean Energy LLC, Gallagher Communications Limited, Gallagher Community Clinic RPG LLC, Gallagher Consulting Ltda, Gallagher Corporate Services LLC, Gallagher Coyle, Gallagher CyberRisk, Gallagher Energy Risk Services Inc., Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC, Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Bermuda Company Limited, Gallagher Holdings Four (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Three (UK) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Lucia) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Vincent) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers Jamaica Limited, Gallagher International Cash Management s.r.l., Gallagher International Holdings (US) Inc., Gallagher Investment Advisors LLC, Gallagher Inwest Group, Gallagher Koster, Gallagher Lambert Group, Gallagher Madison Risk & Insurance Services, Gallagher Mauritius Holdings, Gallagher Mississippi Brokerage LLC, Gallagher RE Colombia Ltda Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, Gallagher Risk Group LLC, Gallagher Risk Placements Pty Ltd, Gallagher SKS, Gallagher Service Center LLP, Gallagher-Tarantino, Galtney Group, Game Day Insurance Inc., Gardner & White Corp., Gardner Marine Agency, Garza Long Group, Gatehouse Consulting Limited, Gault Armstrong Kemble Pty Ltd, Gault Armstrong SARL, Giles Group, Giles Holdings Limited, Giles Insurance Brokers, Gillis Ellis & Baker Inc., Goodman Insurance Agency, Grandy Pratt Co., Greenseed Alternative Mangaers Platform Ltd, Grossman & Associates, Group Benefits of Arkansas, Group Insurance Associates, Gruppo Marcucci, HLG Holdings Limited, HMG-PCMS Limited, HPF Investments LLC, HR Owen Insurance Services Limited, Hagan Newkirk Financial Services, Hagedorn & Company, Hardman & Howell Benefits, Harlequin Insurance PCC Limited, Hartstein Associates Inc., Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group LLC, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Heath Lambert Group Ltd., Heath Lambert Limited, Heath Lambert Overseas Limited, Heiser Insurance Agency, Henderson Phillips Fine Arts Insurance, Herbruck Alder & Co., Heritage Insurance Brokers (CI) Limited, Hesse & Partner AG, Hesse Consulting, Hexagon ICC Limited, Hexagon Insurance PCC Limited, Hill Chesson & Woody, Hogan Insurance Services, Home & Travel Limited, Honour Point Limited, Horseshoe Corporate Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services USA Inc., Horseshoe ILS Services UK Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Advisors US LLC, Horseshoe Insurance Advisory Ltd., Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings US Inc., Horseshoe Management (Gibraltar) Limited, Horseshoe Management (Ireland) Ltd, Horseshoe Management Ltd., Horseshoe PCC Limited, Horseshoe Re Limited, Horseshoe Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Services (Pty) Ltd, Horton Insurance Agency, Housing Authorities Services Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Human Resource Management Systems, I-Protect Underwriting Pty Ltd, IBIS Advisors, IBS Reinsurance Singapore Pte Ltd, ILS Fund Services Ltd., ISG International, ITI Solutions, Igloo Insurance PCC Limited, Independent Benefit Services, Independent Fiduciary Services, Ink Underwriting Agencies Limited, InsSync Group Pty Ltd, Inspire Underwriting Limited, Instrat Insurance Brokers, Instrat Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Instrat Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Insurance Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Insurance Associates Inc., Insurance Dialogue Limited, Insurance Dialogue Ltd., Insurance Plans Agency, Insurance Plus Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Insurance Point, Insurance Risk Managers of Missouri Inc., Insure My Villa Limited, Insure Pty Ltd, Integrated Healthcare Strategies, InterNational Insurance Group, InterPacific Underwriting Agencies, Intermountain Financial Benefits, Interstate Insurance Underwriters, JPGAC LLC, James F. Reda & Associates, James R. Weir Insurance Agency, Jenkins and Associates, Joe E. Martin Inc., John P. Woods Co. Inc., Jones Brown, Jones Brown Group Inc., Jones Brown Insurance Solutions Inc., Joseph Distel, Joseph James & Associates Insurance Agency, Just Landlords Insurance Services Ltd, KDC Associates, KRW Insurance Agency, Kahl Insurance Services, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co. Inc., Kane Group - Insurance Management Operations, Kelly Financial, Kent Kent & Tingle and RBS, Keyser Benefits Corp., Kingspark Enterprises Pty Ltd, L&R Benefits, LSG Insurance Partners, Learn About Money Limited, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Leystone Insurance & Financial, Life Plans Unlimited, Lincoln Financial Management, Longfellow Financial, Lucas Fettes Limited, Lucas Fettes and Partners Limited, Lutgert Insurance, MA Underwriting Pty Ltd, MDM Insurance Associates, MG Advanced Coal Technologies-1 LLC, MGA Insurance Services, MRS Holdings Ltd., Madison Scott & Associates, Managed Healthcare Solutions, Mannequin Insurance PCC Limited, Marchetti Robertson & Brickell Insurance, Marine Insurance Service, Martin Gordon & Jones Inc., McDowall Associates Human Resource Consultants, McIntyre Risk Management, McLean Insurance Agency, McNeary, McPherson Benefits Group, McRory & Co., Mecacem Insurance SPC Ltd, MedInsights Inc., Melton Insurance Associates, Memberworks Canada LLC, Merit Insurance, Metcom Excess, Metzler Bros. Insurance, Meyers-Reynolds & Associates, Mid America Group, Midwest Surety Services, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers Limited, Mike Henry Insurance Funding Limited, Miller Buettner & Parrott, Miller-Harrison Insurance Services, Milne Alexander Pty Ltd, Minvielle & Chastanet Insurance Brokers, Monument Insurance (NZ) Limited, Monument Llc, Monument Premium Funding Limited, Mortgage Insurance Agency, Murphy Consultants, Mutual Insurance Services, NationAir Aviation Insurance, National Administration Co., National Ethics Association, National Transportation Adjusters, Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Nicoud Insurance Services, NiiS/Apex Group Holdings, Nonprofit Insurance Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Noraxis Capital Corp, Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, North Alabama Insurance, Nourse Insurance Brokers, O'Gorman & Young, OAMPS (UK) Limited, OAMPS Gault Armstrong Pty Ltd, OAMPS Limited, OAMPS Special Risks Ltd, Offshore Market Placements Limited, Optimum Talent, Orb Financial Services, Orb Financial Services Limited, Osprey Insurance Brokers Limited, Oval Group, Oval Healthcare Limited, Oval Insurance Broking Limited, Oval Limited, Oval Management Services Limited, Oxygen Insurance Managers, P2 Group, PEN Insurance Management Advisors Ltd, PT IBS Insurance Broking Service, Pacific Insurance Agency, Palmer Atlantic Insurance, Palmer Atlantic Insurance Ltd, Palmer Atlantic Risk Services Ltd., Park Row Associates, Parkstar Enterprises Pty Ltd, Parmia Pty Ltd, PartnerSource, Pastel Holding (NZ) Company, Pastel Holdings Pty Limited, Pastel Purchaser (NZ) Limited, Pastel Purchaser Pty Limited, Pavey Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Pavey Group Holdings Limited, Pavey Group Limited, Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc., Pen Underwriting Canada Limited, Pen Underwriting Group Pty. Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial. Raymond James Financial, Inc., a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments. The Private Client Group segment provides securities brokerage services, including the sale of equities, mutual funds, fixed income products, and insurance products to their individual clients; and borrowing and lending of securities to and from other broker-dealers, financial institutions, and other counterparties. The Capital Markets segment offers securities brokerage, trading, and research services to institutions with a focus on sale of the United States and Canadian equities and fixed income products; and manages and participates in underwritings, merger and acquisition services, and public finance activities. The Asset Management segment engages in the operations of Eagle, the Eagle Family of Funds, Cougar, the asset management operations of Raymond James & Associates, trust services of Raymond James Trust, and other fee-based asset management programs. The RJ Bank segment provides corporate loans, SBL, tax-exempt loans, and residential loans. The Other segment engages in private equity activities, including various direct and third party private equity investments; and private equity funds. Raymond James Financial, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Read More If youve never donated blood before, Red Cross Donor Specialist Anna Michel gives us a short description of what your donation process is like. "We get up to the computer and we ask them for a donor card or ID. If they have neither, then we go to an alternative of 2 forms of ID without picture, but you need an address, name, date of birth type of thing. And then we move on to a physical findings. Its like a little mini physical. We get your height, your weight, your pulse, your temperature, your blood pressure. We test your hemoglobin to make sure we all want to make sure youre 100% before you help somebody else." You then have to answer some questions about how youre feeling, if youre on any medications, and if youve been to any areas outside the United States. Most people opt to donate whole blood because the process is easy and doesnt take long, but Mallory Brown,the Executive Director Mohawk Valley Red Cross, tells us theres also a need for blood platelets. "Platelets are really crucial for people battling cancer, and so that process is a little bit longer. It takes about 2 hours, but we have a really comfortable facility here, and you can donate platelets every 2 weeks. So whole blood is every 56 days, and platelets are every 2 weeks." It only takes a little time and you could be saving the lives of up to 3 people, so what little discomfort you feel donating doesnt even compare to what someone on the other end is receiving. Youre not going to know specifically who your blood is helping, but West Winfield Donor Chris Jones knows his donation is making a difference. "Ive met some people that their kids actually have need of it, so thats a really heartwarming type of thing when you meet somebody that actually uses it, or needs it." If giving blood isnt your thing the Red Cross is always looking for volunteers to assist with registration and the canteen area. Andy Meachan tells us what it means to volunteer. "Its just the satisfaction of being of help to other people and having a purpose. You know, doing something good." The Red Cross tells us you can sign up to donate and even speed up the process by filling out some information on-line: RedCrossBlood.org 1 800 Red Cross Thunderstorms are advancing east from Syracuse and are expected to produce strong winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rain this evening. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Oneida County until 8:45pm. The storm will travel through the county between 8-9pm this evening before heading into the Mohawk Valley. Additional thunderstorms are expected to arrive tomorrow morning. This active weather is part of a cold front that will bring a drop in the humidity as we head into Tuesday afternoon and evening. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) According to the FBI, Lafayette is the city with the most reported hate crime incidents in the state. Mary Finnegan is on the board of Citizens for Civil Rights in Tippecanoe County. "You cannot realistically eliminate all racism or all homophobia or things like that," said Finnegan. But you can report it. "Speaking out against these things has huge impact," said Finnegan. According to the FBI's newly released 2017 stats, Lafayette reported 8 racially motivated hate crime incidents and one motivated by sexual orientation. Purdue University also reported one hate crime motivated by race, ethnicity or ancestry. "Generally those statistics tend to be under-reported," said Finnegan. However, Finnegan believes those areas who report more likely have a better relationship with law enforcement. "I think it's because it's better policing here," said Finnegan. Whatever the reason, Finnegan hopes these numbers influence a future hate crime law in Indiana. "I would hope that these type of statistics would prompt them to want to pass this," said Finnegan. 2019 could be the year. Senator Ron Alting has expressed interest in proposing a hate crime bill. He said he will talk to News 18 about his plans soon. Governor Eric Holcomb announced his support for a hate crime bill back in July after anti-Semitic graffiti was found at a Carmel synagogue. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce just released its support as well. We are pleased that Governor Holcomb is making this a priority. Having a meaningful bias crimes statute in Indiana is not only the right thing to do, it is also important to helping our employers recruit and retain talented employees. Indiana is a welcoming place and we need to enact every policy possible to convey that message to those outside our state. As we work to attract top talent from all over the U.S. and the world, individuals need to know that their friends and families will be safe from discrimination," said Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. The Indiana Chamber will be pushing for as broadly defined a law as possible, yet recognizing that the overriding goal is for a bill to pass and Indiana to take itself off the very short list of states (five) that do not have a bias crimes law on the books. TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) Indiana State Police are on the look out for clear windshields. Troopers said especially at the beginning of the snow season, they see windshields and windows not completely clear and drivers can face fines for this. One way to avoid that is to give your car some time to run before you leave home. Police also suggest waking up a little earlier to allow for extra travel time. Sgt. Kim Riley said not having clear windows could have consequences. "If you can't see out the window and you got a hole that big in your windshield that is obstruction and you can't see so we want to make sure people clean their windows off," said Riley. With the snow and ice expected into Thursday, window scrapers will be extremely important. The US state of Montana is located in the countrys northwestern region. Nicknamed "The Treasure State," "Big Sky Country," "The Last Best Place," and The Treasure State," the state was admitted to the union back on November 8, 1889, which made it the fourth state to be admitted. The capital city of the state is Helena, the largest city is Billings, and the population estimate from 2017 say that Montana is home to about 1,050,493 people. Like any other state in the US, Montana has a number of state symbols such as the flag, the state flower, and the state animal. The official state flower of Montana, which was chosen back in 1895, is the bitterroot with the scientific name Lewisia rediviva. Description The bitterroot flower is small and belongs to the family Montiaceae. The perennial herb has a unique ability to grow from roots that appear dead and dry. The taproot is usually fleshy while the base may be simple or branched. The stems of the flowers do not have leaves while the flowers themselves may have five or six sepals with an oval shape. The flowers can have a number of colors ranging from whitish to a lavender or deep pink hue. Usually, blooming occurs between April and July. The petals of the flower have an oblong shape and a length of between 0.7 and 1.4 inches. Upon maturity, the plants produce seeds that have the shape of an egg. Range During their bloom season, the flowers can be found in sagebrush plains as well as the foothills of mountains in the western and south central sides of Montana. Native to the western region of North America, the flower can also be seen growing in places like grasslands, forests, and open bushlands. The range of the flower begins at the southern region of British Columbia all the way to Oregon and Washington. After that, the range extends further to southern Californias Cascade Range then heads east to northern Colorado, northern Arizona, western Montana, and Wyoming. The perfect soil for its growth is one that is dry and gravelly or rocky. History and Culture In the past, people knew the flower by other names such as racine amere for the French while Native Americans called it spetlum, spetlem, nakamtcu, and mo'otaa-heseeo'otse. In the case of the Flathead Indians and the Shoshone, the roots of the plant were eaten although not that frequently. The Ktunaxa mixed the plant with grouse and ate it with sugar or salt in the case of some tribes. The Lemhi Shoshone held the belief that there are special powers in the red core found in the taproot. An example of such a special power is the ability to stop an attack by a bear. In the state of Montana, three major features owe their names to this plant. These features are the Bitterroot Mountains between Montana and Idaho, the Bitterroot River, and the Bitterroot Valley. The scientific name probably stems from an explorer known as Meriwether Lewis who took specimens after his Lewis and Clark Expedition. A botanist named Frederick Pursh was the one who came up with the name. The red carnation (scarlet carnation) is the designated state flower of Ohio. The flower was awarded the official status in 1904. The red carnation was designated the official state flower in honor of President William McKinley, the 12th president of the United States who was assassinated in 1901. McKinley wore a red carnation on his jacket whenever he attended official functions. The white trillium is the official wildflower of Ohio. The red carnation flowers are between 2 and 3 inches across with five-clawed and serrated petals. Although they are known as red, Their color vary from red, white to pink. They can either be found as single flowers, or in forked clusters. Facts About The Red Carnations Red carnations are perennials and can grow to a height of about 2 feet The stems of the carnation are woody at the base with herbaceous branches. The leaves are between four to six inches, narrow, and their color varies from green to glaucous blue. When the plant begins to flower swollen nodes appear on the stem The fruits of the red carnation form as a capsule with several tiny seeds The plant can either be propagated by seed or cuttings Significance Of The Red Carnation The carnation is a durable, delightful, and delicate flower. Its scientific name Dianthus translates to flower of the gods or flower of love.It is one of the oldest and most cultivated flowers because of the ruffled appearance, long blooming period and clove-like scent. The history of the carnation dates back to the Roman and Greek times when it was used for decor and art. Christians believe that the first carnation bloomed when Mary wept as Jesus carried the cross to his place of crucifixion. The carnations symbolize love, distinction, and fascination, but like other flowers, different colors express a different message.A light red carnation symbolizes admiration while the dark carnation express love and affection. The carnation is the official flower of mother's day in the United States. It is also worn in boutonnieres and corsages for prom and special events. Eritrea is an African nation that is located along the Red Sea. The nations 1388 mile coastline along the Red sea bears strategic significance and has contributed immensely to the nations history and formation. The toponym of Eritrea is derived from Greek word for the Red Sea Erythra Thalassa and it was first adopted in 1890 for the Italian Eritrea. The Eritrean coast had been used over the regions long history as an entry point for Islam, Christianity, and great empires and powers such as the Egypt, Ottoman and Italian Empires which were eager to exploit the ports for the coffee, gold, and slave trade. Eritreas Neighbors Eritrea is bordered to the south by Ethiopia, to the west by Sudan and the east by Djibouti. The nation has had a long and hostile relationship with its neighbors with some such as Ethiopia claiming the territory as a means to gain access to the sea. Before the arrival of the Italians, the territory which Eritrea currently lies on had its borders defined by various civilizations and kingdoms that ruled the area. Some of the civilizations that resided in the area include Gash Group, Punt, Kingdom of Dmt, Ona Culture, Medri Bahri, Kingdom of Aksum, Aussa Sultanate and Habesh Eyalet. Demarcation Of Eritreas Current Boundaries The Italian Empire defined Eritrea's current boundaries. In 1880, the Italians arrived in the present day Eritrea and following the death of the Ethiopian Emperor Yohannes IV, and the Italian General OresteBaratieri helped establish Eritrea as an Italian Colony without much resistance. The new territory was cemented by the Treaty of Wuchale in which King Menelik who ruled the Ethiopian Kingdom to the south recognized Italys claim to the lands in exchange for European arms and finance. King Meneliks defeat of rival Kings and accession to the Emperor of Ethiopia formalized the agreement. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Border History Eritrea and Ethiopia currently share a 566.6-mile border. The initial relationship along the border of present-day Eritrea and Ethiopia to the south was without much conflict with King Menelik II leveraging the Italian claim to the north to his advantage to accede to the Emperors throne in Ethiopia. The coexistence was however short-lived following the outbreak of the Italo-Ethiopian war that lasted between 1895 and 1896. The conflict was initiated by the disputed treaty that had initially helped the Italians claim present-day Eritrea. The Italian colonizers claimed that the treaty stipulated that Ethiopia was an Italian protectorate. Emperor Menelik II opposed the claim. The Italians were subsequently defeated by Ethiopia which had assistance from Russia with which it shared a common Orthodox connection at the battle of Adwa. The defeat forced Italy and its allies to retreat into Eritrea. The victory made Ethiopia the only African nation to have defended its independence from colonial powers. Ethiopias Absorption Of Eritrea Following the defeat of Italy during World War II by the British invading from Sudan with the help of Ethiopian forces, the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie sought claim to its northern neighbor with the help of the US in a bid to gain access to the sea. A UN decision in 1950 declared that Eritrea would become part of its southern neighbor Ethiopia from 1952. Re-establishment Of Eritreas Borders In 1958 the ELM (Eritrean Liberation Movement) was formed to oppose Ethiopia governance and was later succeeded by the ELF ( Eritrean Liberation Front) which started Eritreas struggle for Independence, the war lasted 30 years with the successor of the ELF, EPLF ( Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front) winning the war. A referendum on Eritreas Independence was later held in 1993. The Eritrean-Ethiopian Border War Following the independence of Eritrea, the governments of both Eritrea and Ethiopia could not agree on the border lines. Eritrea then invaded Ethiopia in 1998 with the aim of seizing the Badme region resulting in a war between the two nations. The war quickly escalated to include air strikes that caused casualties in respective nations. The war lasted until the year 2000 and was followed by occasional border clashes. Peace was finally achieved in the year 2018 at the Eritrea-Ethiopia Summit. Years of war resulted in significant border changes with Ethiopia occupying territory it had won during the war and ceding the Badme region to Eritrea in 2018, ultimately leading to the end of the 20-year war. Djibouti And Eritrea The two nations share a 70-mile border and have had strained relations over the years. The current boundary between Eritrea and Djibouti is derived from a boundary agreement established in the year 1900. The agreement indicated that the boundary would start at Ras Doumeira. The agreement, however, did not assign sovereignty to the nearby Doumeira Island and neighboring islets. The boundary had witnessed conflict sometimes including during colonial times when Djibouti was under French rule. Recent conflict over the border was reported in 1996 when Djibouti claimed that Eritrean forces had made a 4.5 mile incursion into Djiboutis territory. The border also experienced the Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict in the year 2008 that lasted between June 10 and June 13. Eritrea And Sudan Eritrea and Sudan have a 375.9-mile border and have had strained relations over the years with Sudan accusing Eritrea of harboring Sudanese rebels from Darfur and Eritrea accusing Sudan of harboring Eritrean rebels. Sudan recently deployed troops to the border following simmering tensions between the two nations. Both nations, however, maintain that there is a need to pursue positive bilateral relations. Eritreas Neighbor Relations Eritrea has had rocky relationships with its neighbors with periods of tension and conflict over the years. The country has however in the recent past managed to mend fences by reaching a mediated agreement in 2018 with its longtime rival Ethiopia. The nation has also managed to improve relations with Djibouti. The country has still not reached a mediated agreement with neighboring Sudan. Intergovernmental organizations such as IGAD are helping with mediation between the two nations to reduce tensions and encourage good bilateral relations. A series of Indo-Pacific summits in Singapore and Papua New Guinea this week has been overshadowed by belligerent accusations and demands issued by the Trump administrations representatives, Vice President Mike Pence and National Security Advisor John Bolton. US President Donald Trump is himself boycotting the gatherings, instead sending his envoys to effectively veto any agreements struck by the regions governments, particularly economic deals with China or settlements over contested territory in the highly-strategic South China Sea. Pence and Bolton insisted that China had to bow to far-reaching US economic and military demands, or face a new Cold War. They said Washington would not tolerate any regional agreements that cut across US interests or its escalating military activities. As these threats indicate, a conflict with China would almost certainly involve a military war, not just a Cold War. Pence even used his arrival flight, from Japan to Singapore, to provocatively fly over the South China Sea only 80 kilometres or so from the Spratly Islands, where China has erected defence facilities. He told the Washington Post journalist on his plane that the flight was a freedom of navigation mission. Over the past year, under the misleading banner of freedom of navigation, the Trump administration has stepped up naval and air force incursions within territorial zones around Chinese-claimed and occupied isletsconfrontational operations that began under the Obama administration. We will not be intimidated, Pence said. We will not stand down. When the reporter asked him what would happen if Beijing did not agree to act in a way that could avoid a Cold War with the United States, Pence replied: Then so be it. We are here to stay. Pence said Trump was leaving the door open for a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina on November 30, but only if Beijing made the massive changes that the US was demanding in its economic, military and political activities. The vice president said this would be Chinas best, if not last, chance to avoid a showdown with the United States. He said Xi had to come to Argentina with concrete proposals that address not just the trade deficit that we face. The US demands go far beyond the punitive tariffs already imposed to slash Chinese exports. Pence said China must offer concessions on a host of issues. He listed supposed rampant intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, restricted access to Chinese markets, respect for international rules and norms, efforts to limit freedom of navigation in international waters and Chinese Communist Party interference in the politics of Western countries. As the US ruling elite is well aware, this list of demands is impossible for the Beijing regime to meet. It would mean terminating Chinas economic development, especially into high technology fields, accepting US military domination of the seas and vital trade routes off Chinas shores, and ceasing all diplomatic, aid and investment activity to further the interests of Chinese capitalism. Before he left Washington for his Asian trip, Pence foreshadowed a bullying speech he plans to deliver at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Port Moresby on the weekend, where he is scheduled to speak just after Xi. His spokeswoman said Pence would accuse China of authoritarianism, aggression, and the disregard for other nations sovereignty and declare that this would not be tolerated by the United States. In a Washington Post opinion piece published last weekend, Pence wrote: The United States will work with like-minded nationsfrom India to the Pacific islandsto advance our shared interests. Together, we will stand up to anyone who threatens our interests and our values. While Pence claimed that the US sought collaboration, not control, these threats underline the drive by US imperialism to reassert its domination over the region, which it achieved through victory in World War II. Pence essentially demanded the dismantling of Chinas government-controlled economy in order to clear the way for unfettered exploitation of the countrys working class, markets and resources by the US capitalist class. Businesses, not bureaucrats, will drive our efforts, because governments and state-owned enterprises are incapable of building lasting prosperity, he declared. Unnamed US officials told reporters that Pences speech would connect to the bellicose one he delivered in early October, in which he flatly accused China of stealing US intellectual property, suppressing human rights and meddling in US elections. As soon as Bolton touched down in Singapore on Tuesday he said the US would oppose any agreements between China and other claimants to the South China Sea that limited free passage to international shipping. Trumps national security advisor said the US would continue the faster pace of its freedom of navigation missions and increase both military spending and its level of engagement with other countries in the region to reinforce its position. Boltons remarks served as a warning to Asian countries, and particularly the Philippines, which is now in talks with Beijing about jointly exploring natural resources in the contested area. During negotiations to develop a code of conduct for the South China Sea, China has reportedly sought to curtail military exercises in the disputed waters and urged its southern neighbours to develop the seas resources only with other countries in the region. The US has tried to block such a code, which has been years in the making, in order to provide a pretext for the intensifying US military operations across the area. Boltons bullying follows an explicit US demand that China remove a missile shield allegedly deployed in the Spratly Islands. At a US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue in Washington earlier this month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis issued their Chinese counterparts with a formal ultimatum that called on China to withdraw its missile systems from disputed features in the Spratly Islands. Leaders of Asian governments, caught on the potentially catastrophic frontline of the collision course between Washington and Beijing, voiced dismay and alarm as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit commenced in Singapore on Tuesday. Opening the event, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong issued a warning that seemed directed at Trumps America First unilateralism. Major powers were resorting to unilateral actions and bilateral deals and even explicitly repudiating multilateral approaches and institutions, he said. As a result, the international order could break up into rival blocs. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the US-China conflict could create a domino effect that would provide a reason for other developed countries to adopt protective measures against developing countries, including the ASEAN countries. Despite these pleas, the US will only ramp up its aggression, regardless of the economic damage it will inflict and the danger of war it will stoke. Another indication of that came when the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)a China-backed bid to complete the worlds largest trade deal without the USwas again pushed back, to at least 2019. The RCEP is a trade pact among ASEANs 10 member states and six Asia-Pacific countries with which the group has existing trade agreements: China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. First proposed in 2011, but repeatedly stymied by the Obama administration, the agreement had been expected to be signed during this weeks three days of summits in Singapore. Underlying Washingtons pursuit of economic warfare and its threat of military confrontation with China is an increasingly frenzied bid by US imperialism to reverse its protracted economic decline from its former position of unchallenged global hegemony, raising the spectre of another world war. An investigation is now underway that will assess the culpability of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) in starting the Camp Fire, now the deadliest wildfire in the history of California. The company acknowledged Tuesday that it had submitted an electric incident report to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on November 8, moments before the wildfire broke out. The report detailed a power failure on a transmission line in Butte County at 6:15 a.m., 15 minutes before the fire was reported as starting in the same area. More than 100 people are still listed as missing by the Butte County Sheriffs Office after the fire destroyed the town of Paradise, California Thursday morning. The official death toll stands at 56, while Butte County officials have said they expect more bodies will be found. One quarter of the population of Paradise, a town of 27,000, are senior citizens, and 73 of the missing persons are 65 years or older. In a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, PG&E stated that if its equipment was found responsible for starting the fire, the cost of the damage would exceed its insurance coverage and hurt its financial standing. The companys shares fell 21 percent on the following day. Its stock has fallen by 53 percent in total since the fire broke out. Affected residents have filed a lawsuit against PG&E at the San Francisco Superior Court, accusing the company of negligence. Rather than spend the money it obtains from customers for infrastructure maintenance and safety, states the official complaint, PG&E funnels this funding to boost its own corporate profits and compensation. Oakland attorney Michael Danko, representing the plaintiffs, claims to have overwhelming evidence that PG&E is to blame. In addition to the incident report the company filed to the CPUC, Danko cites witnesses who saw the fire start on a transmission line as well as a resident who received an email from the utility a day before the fire broke out notifying her of sparking lines. The total number of those killed in the Camp Fire may never be known. There are currently over 100 missing person reports from the fire, but those without close friends or family may never be reported. The destruction is so extensive that emergency responders will have a hard time finding all the victims. The Butte County Sheriff told reporters that in some cases the fire burned so intensely that the temperatures would be high enough to completely consume the body. No wireless emergency alert was issued, and thousands of panicked residents clogged the roads trying to escape. The fire has burned a total of 138,000 acres. Officials say they expect that it will not be contained until the end of the month. The Camp Fire is joined by the Woolsey and Hill fires in Southern California, which killed at least two people and forced over 260,000 to evacuate in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. These fires have either damaged or destroyed a combined total of more than 9,000 structures. This year has been one of Californias most destructive wildfire seasons on record, with 7,579 fires and counting, which have burned almost two million acresthe largest amount of burned acreage recorded in a fire season. At present, the fires have caused more than $2.9 billion in damage. Rising temperatures, extended dry seasons, high winds, and an increase in dead tree fuel have all helped to exacerbate the strength, speed and deadliness of the wildfires. However, it is now becoming clear that unsafe practices by the major power companies, coupled with an overall decay of infrastructure in large parts of the state, have played a defining role. In addition to PG&Es role in the Camp Fire, state regulators have also begun a probe into Southern California Edison (SCE) for its possible role in sparking the Woolsey Fire. SCE is a subsidiary of Edison International, a corporation with $41.44 billion in total assets. The CPUC has stated that the companys electrical infrastructure may have broken down near ground zero of the blaze. On Thursday, SCE issued an incident report to the CPUC alerting that a substation circuit near the fires origin sent a protective relay, a function designed to trip a circuit breaker in the event of a malfunction such as over-current or over-voltage. The notification was sent automatically just two minutes before the inferno began. While the culpability of either utility is yet to be proven, it is widely known that energy companies throughout the US routinely employ cheap materials and unsafe practices in the interest of cost-cutting. The vast majority of power in the US is circulated through overhead, rather than underground, power lines. Overhead lines, which are cheaper to build and maintain, are known to be a contributor to wildfires. According to data compiled by the Texas Wildfire Mitigation Project, overhead lines caused almost 4,000 wildfires in Texas over a three-and-a-half year period alone. Under capitalism, utility providers are operated as privately-owned corporations run for profit. Basic safety measuressuch as installing underground lines in areas particularly sensitive to wildfiresare ignored. At the same time, the public infrastructure designed to prevent such catastrophes, such as reliable emergency notification systems, first responders, evacuation coordinators, fire prevention programs and others are starved of badly needed funds. If PG&E is found responsible for the fire, it may file for bankruptcy. According to Bloomberg News, a bankruptcy filing could come down to a fight between bondholders who lent the company money and property owners whose homes were scorched by wildfires. In other words, just as in every major catastrophe in capitalist society, the victims are likely to never be made whole. The neo-Nazi terrorist cell in the German Army associated with Lieutenant Franco A. is much larger than previously revealed. This revelation was included in an article in the current edition of the news magazine Focus titled The Conspiracy. Based on investigations by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the magazine reported on a network of at least 200 active duty and retired soldiers, including members of the special forces command (KSK) and Military Intelligence Service (MAD). The following was already publicly known about the case of Franco A: The lieutenant was arrested on February 3, 2017, at Viennas airport while trying to retrieve a weapon he had previously concealed there. Subsequent investigations revealed that he had collaborated with two other accomplices, Maximilian T. and Matthias F., to carry out attacks on high-ranking politicians, among them former president Joachim Gauck, Justice Minister Heiko Maas and Left Party Minister President of Thuringia Bodo Ramelow. They were also planning to attack institutions such as the Central Council of Jews and the Central Council of Muslims. Despite this, Franco A. has been a free man since the end of last year. In November 2017, Germanys Federal Court cancelled his arrest warrant. According to the official explanation, there was insufficient evidence at that point in the investigation to indicate the immediate threat of a criminal act in connection with a serious act of violence. The Frankfurt am Main Court of Appeals argued along similar lines this year. In a decision on June 7, it confirmed that Franco A. would not be charged for the preparation of a serious act of violence. In light of the latest revelations, the decisions by the two courts raise serious questions. In their article, authors Josef Hufelschulte and Alexander Rakkow paint a picture of a close-knit terrorist network, which, like the Black Wehrmacht during the Weimar Republic, is preparing the murder of politicians and the violent suppression of revolutionary struggles. Even though the charges against Franco A. were thrown out, the BKA investigation already provided evidence of the existence of a shadow army. The Focus article begins with the summation of the BKA interrogation of former Air Force officer and major in the reserves Horst S. on July 13, 2017, as part of the BKAs investigation into the Franco A. case. According to the statements of Horst S., a group chiefly composed of elite soldiers was preparing at the general staff level for an ominous Day X. Asked by the investigator what was meant by this, the 48-year-old soldier answered that Day X would come during an extreme crisis caused by attacks on women and children by refugees, rapes, terrorist attacks or slum German cities. In a transcript of the witnesss testimony printed in Focus, the statement continues: Associated with this is I believe also the fear that the state will lose its monopoly on violence and cannot fulfill its tasks as a result. This has led to consideration being given to what can be done if such a case occurs. The result of these considerations was that we would have to take precautions in different aspects of life for such a case. That means we would need to procure, for example, diesel to power emergency generators, radios and long-lasting foodstuffs. Munitions should also be stored so we could fight. The plans for attacks were apparently far advanced. In concrete terms, Horst S. named individual participants, who, in their deeply rooted hatred of the left and refugees, had organised a folder with addresses and pictures of targeted persons, who had to go. Two acquaintances of Horst S. saw the lists and also have a well-stocked weapons cabinet. According to the transcript, discussions took place in a small circle about bringing the targeted people to one location where they would be killed. The allegedly conspiratorial squadron included members of the elite KSK force, according to Focus. For this reason, the authorities kept secret the initial evidence of a potential underground network ready to commit violence. There were also connections to the Uniter organisation, which is mainly made up of KSK combatants, but also included paratroopers, reconnaissance troops, members of special forces police units, lawyers and doctors. An employee of the Bavarian state intelligence agency is also a Uniter member. Focus wrote that within the association, according to witness testimony, a conspiratorial network of around 200 active duty and former soldiers has formed. Testimonies in the file numbered GBA 2 Bjs 205/17-5a painted a picture of conspiratorial soldiers, who apparently were even willing to consider targeted killings of political opponents. According to information obtained by investigators, the soldiers had secret locations for weapons, munitions, fuel, and food, and established so-called safe houses on the borders with Austria and Switzerland. These arrangements were made in chat groups. Uniter published a statement on its website distancing itself from the allegations and accusing Focus of disinformation. In a threatening tone, it said that since the article was published, it had made direct contact with all named representatives of the authorities, including the police and military, as well as the responsible state prosecutor. It declared that it can be established that the information in the article is drawn from several proceedings, creating an overall picture that would not stand up to any research. The chat groups mentioned in the Focus article were certainly not authorised or operated by Uniter, the statement asserted. The World Socialist Web Site does not possess any independent information in this case, but it is obvious that widespread right-wing extremist terrorist networks are operating in Germany and are being concealed by sections of the military, the police and the intelligence apparatus. The domestic secret service, in particular, has deep roots in the neo-Nazi scene and has been implicated in a series of right-wing extremist violent acts. Several dozen informants from the secret service and police operated around the right-wing terrorist group NSU, which was responsible for the murders of nine immigrants and a police officer. The latest revelations surrounding the sacking of the long-standing president of the domestic intelligence agency, Hans-Georg Maassen, have confirmed that the intelligence service was led by a self-acknowledged right-wing extremist. A lieutenant from the Military Intelligence Service (MAD) is currently appearing at the Cologne District Court on a charge of betraying secrets in the Franco A. case. The officer is accused of having warned suspects associated with him about imminent investigations by the state prosecutor, according to a court spokesperson. The man was a contact point for the BKA and the state prosecutor at the military intelligence service, added the court spokesperson, thereby indirectly confirming Focus s information. According to the news magazine, the MAD lieutenant is 42-year-old Peter W., who last autumn warned a KSK member about raids on Uniter members. Prior to his work with the intelligence services, W. was a member of the KSK. According to the investigators findings, the main beneficiary of the tip-off was staff sergeant Andre S., a strict KSK trainer who is responsible for the units military security. According to testimonies, S., who now heads Uniter, was an informant to Uniter about MAD and had presented the only credible information about the KSKs internal processes. A report in the TAZ daily newspaper also suggests that S. had contact with Franco A. Under the pseudonym Hannibal, S. was the administrator of chat groups in which Franco A. was allegedly also a member. The newspaper reported that the authorities responsible did not want to share whether Franco A. and S. knew each other personally or only virtually. The Cologne District Court suggested that they might have moved in each others orbit. The explosive character of these disturbing revelations stands in stark contrast to the response in the political establishment and the media. The major daily newspapers have barely reported on the terrorist network, and spokesmen for the government and military have remained silent. At the federal governments press conference on November 9, Defence Ministry spokesman Jens Flossdorf confirmed that proceedings against a member of the MAD were underway, but added that he could provide no further information. A report by the MAD would be provided only to the appropriate intelligence committees in Germanys parliament. He would not, was not permitted, and could not provide any more specifics on this. The intervention by President Donald Trump in the Florida elections, demanding that all vote counting be halted and the Republican candidates for governor and US senator be declared elected, is an attack on democratic norms whose logical conclusion is presidential dictatorship. It would mean disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of Florida voters. Nothing outrageous or even unusual is taking place in the Florida recount, where the procedures for handling a closely contested election are set by law and are being followed by local officials, both Republican and Democratic, under the eyes of party observers and large numbers of journalists. County officials are counting ballots that were not tabulated on Election Day because of time constraints, limitations on machine capacity, or procedural issuesmilitary votes, for example, may be postmarked by Election Day and are still arriving in the mail. Florida state law requires a machine recount, essentially re-running the machine tabulation for each precinct, when a contest is within half a percent of the vote. The two main statewide contests are well within this margin. In the Senate race, Republican Rick Scott leads incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by only 0.15 percent of the vote. In the governors race, Republican Ron DeSantis leads Democrat Andrew Gillum by 0.41 percent. The Scott campaign first tried to block the machine recount, with (unsuccessful) court suits and then sought to compel counties to meet a 3 p.m. Thursday deadline for the recount. Counties that missed the deadline, the Republicans argued, should forfeit their right to add in the previously uncounted ballots, even when they encountered technical problemsmachines broke down in Palm Beach Countyor delays brought on by the legal wrangling itself. Thus, the Scott campaign sought to use the obstacles created by its own intervention as an argument for excluding valid ballots. Nonetheless, Trump tweeted Monday, The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possibleballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night! Trumps intervention recalls the 2000 Florida election crisis, in which the Republican Party stole the presidency through the intervention by the US Supreme Court, which issued an unprecedented order halting vote-counting in Florida and awarding the states electoral votes, and thus the White House, to George W. Bush. As the World Socialist Web Site explained in 2000, the Republican theft of the presidential election, and the spineless capitulation of the Democrats to the Supreme Court ruling in Bush v. Gore, demonstrated that there was no longer any significant constituency within the US ruling elite for basic constitutional and democratic norms. The defense of democratic rightsincluding the most elementary democratic right, the right to votedepended on the independent intervention of the working class, fighting against all sections of the capitalist class and both of its political parties. The 18 years that have passed since the Florida election crisis have seen an intensifying assault on democratic rights, under both Democratic and Republican administrations. This build-up of a police state infrastructurethe Patriot Act, the Northern Command, the Homeland Security Department, mass surveillance, Guantanamo, indefinite detention, drone assassinationshas been carried out under conditions of unending war and the supposed requirements of the global war on terror. This steady shift to the right finds its reactionary culmination in the current administration. President Trump has deployed American troops to the Mexican border, ordered tens of thousands of immigrants detained in tent cities and declared his intention to issue an executive order rescinding birthright citizenship, guaranteed for 150 years under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. He glorifies police brutality and regularly incites violence against his political critics in both parties and the press. After a bullying performance at his most recent press conference, Trump ordered the White House to revoke the press credentials of Jim Acosta of CNN and threatened similar treatment to three other reporters, all African-American women. In demanding that Floridas Senate seat and governorship be awarded to his favored candidates, regardless of the will of the people, Trump is not just reprising what took place in 2000. He is giving a glimpse of what Election Day 2020 and its immediate aftermath could look like, particularly if the election is closely contested. Already in 2016, candidate Trump branded the election as rigged and declared ahead of the vote that he would not necessarily accept the outcome as legitimate if he did not win. There is little doubt that President Trump will use the full powers of his office to resist an unfavorable result in 2020. The Democratic Party and the sections of the media aligned with it are well aware of Trumps authoritarian proclivities. But they limit any criticism to efforts to pressure Trump to adopt a more stridently anti-Russian foreign policy. Democratic Party spokesmen on the television talk shows on Sunday focused attention on defending the Mueller investigation into bogus allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, not calling attention to the real and ongoing voter suppression in the 2018 election. Senator Bernie Sanders, the self-styled socialist who defends capitalism and the Democratic Party, issued a tweet Monday that sought to connect the 2018 elections and the anti-Russia campaign, writing, Donald Trump, like his friends in Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea, is an authoritarian leader who does not believe in democracy. Particularly cowardly and unprincipled is the editorial published Wednesday in the New York Times, criticizing Republican claims of fraud in the Florida recount. It begins by conceding that the Republican candidates Scott and DeSantis are almost certain to win the Senate seat and governorship in Florida. It then complains that both men are not only acting as if its 2000 all over again, when control of the White House hinged on a few hundred votes in Florida, they are also fanning conspiratorial flames with claims of outrageous fraud, seconded by President Trump. In other words, according to the Times, the Republicans are dreaming up fraud when there is no necessity to do so, since they were going to win in Florida anyway! Meanwhile, the editors complacently reassure their readers, democracy did remarkably well last week, with record turnout in the midterms, and (although they avoid mentioning it) the Democratic Party takeover of the House of Representatives. Indicative of the prostration of the Democratic Party before Trump and its indifference to the defense of democratic rights is the op-ed column by Frank Bruni in the Times, under the headline, Save Us, Al Gore. The piece contrasts Gores supposed grace and poise in 2000 to the rapacity of the Republican candidates in 2018. He credits Gore with a commitment to democracy greater than a concern for self because he accepted the Supreme Court decision that made Bush president. Gore, however, was not defending democracy. He was repudiating democracy and the democratic principle that all votes should be counted in favor of preserving the stability of the American capitalist state. According to Bruni, he e-mailed one aide the message, Dont trash the Supreme Court, although the five-member majority decided to put Bush in the White House and then worked backward to concoct legal and constitutional sophistries to support the desired result. Gore was particularly sensitive to any signs that the Pentagon brass was uncomfortable with the protracted delay in determining who would be its commander in chief. He told aides that he did not want to become president if the military was opposed. Today, in Gores party, at least a dozen graduates of the military-intelligence apparatus were elected to the House of Representatives on November 6. These CIA Democrats constitute a grouping with larger numbers and incomparably more influence than the handful of democratic socialists like Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, who provide left window-dressing for this right-wing party of American imperialism. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka have called public meetings in Colombo and other locations on the intensifying political conflict within the ruling elite. President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the parliament on November 9, two weeks after he sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and replaced him with ex-President Mahinda Rajapakse. Sirisena has openly violated the countrys constitution. Now the political crisis has escalated further with the Supreme Court overturning Sirisenas shut down of the parliament. Sirisenas moves represent the culmination of the protracted decay of parliamentary rule since independence in 1948. At the same time, this crisis of capitalist rule has emerged amid deepening global economic problems, rising geo-political tensions between the US and India on one side and China on the other, and the growing struggle of workers and the oppressed masses as part of an international upsurge of the class struggle. No one should have any illusion that the democratic and social rights of working people will be defended by any of the rival capitalist factions that have ruled the country for more than seven decades, suppressing the basic rights of workers and the oppressed masses, or the other parties of the bourgeois establishment, such as the Tamil National Alliance and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. The working class must reject all these ruling-class factions and their opportunist pseudo-left hangers-on, like the Nava Sama Samaja Party, United Socialist Party and Frontline Socialist Party. They must mobilise independently of all these bourgeois parties and their agents, rallying the rural poor and other oppressed masses in the fight for a workers and peasants government based on a socialist and internationalist program. We urge workers, youth and intellectuals and WSWS readers to participate our meetings, which will discuss these vital political issues and the socialist program and perspective needed to respond. Venues, dates and times: Sunday, November 18, 3.00 p.m. Post Office Auditorium, Matara Monday, November 19, 4.00 p.m. N. M. Perera Centre, Cotta Road, Borella, Colombo 08. Sunday, November 25, 10.00 a.m. CWF Hall, Hatton HAYNEVILLE, Ala. (AP) One person is dead and two are injured after a pair of unrelated police shootings in Alabama. WSFA-TV reports a man was shot to death late Wednesday in the Lowndes County town of Haynesville. Authorities haven't released any details, but Joe Herman of the State Bureau of Investigation says two police officers are on administrative leave during an investigation. In Tuscaloosa, a police officer and a citizen were hospitalized with injuries after an officer shot at a suspect early Thursday. Police Capt. Kip Hart tells The Tuscaloosa News that the officer had to open fire after police stopped a possibly stolen vehicle. The confrontation included a brief chase. COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - A former employee of the Lowndes County Health Department has been indicted for embezzlement. Mississippi State Auditor Shad White says special agents with his office arrested Phyllis Welch Thursday after she was indicted by a grand jury. Welch was also issued a demand for $4,192.68, which includes interest and investigative costs. White says Welch was employed by the department for more than 17 years. She is accused of altering payment records to note bogus deductions from cash payments received from patients for services provided, to be used for personal use. If convicted, Welch faces up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. FULTON, Miss. (WTVA) - Itawamba Community College criminal justice students and instructors will benefit from a $50,000 grant that was awarded to Mississippi College. The goal is to help researchers explore ways to battle against global terrorism. The grant comes from the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security and will fund Mississippi Colleges Project Arrowhead. Mississippi College researchers begin working with ICC starting in January. Students from both schools will assist with the project. Project Arrowhead is aimed to learn what motivates young people in the United States to join terrorist groups like ISIS. Update 11/15/18 6 a.m. A Mississippi official is identifying two women killed in a tour bus crash on an icy road near Memphis, Tennessee. DeSoto County Coroner Joshua Pounders says the dead are 70-year-old Betty Russell and 61-year-old Cynthia Hardin, both of Huntsville, Alabama. The two women died after a tour bus operated by Teague VIP Express overturned on Interstate 269 in Byhalia, about 35 miles (southeast of Memphis. Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Capt. Johnny Poulos says witnesses told investigators that the driver lost control after crossing an icy overpass and the bus rolled over on the driver's side, coming to rest in the highway median. Poulos says investigators haven't yet concluded how fast the bus was traveling. See the original post below. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A coroner says two people have died and several others are injured, some critically, after a tour bus overturned on an icy highway ramp in northern Mississippi. DeSoto County sheriff's deputy Alex Coker said the tour bus carrying about 50 people overturned just after midday Wednesday south of Memphis, Tennessee. The crash came as a winter storm has been raking parts of the South. The county coroner, Josh Pounders, says two people are confirmed dead in the crash where Interstate 269 meets with Interstate 22. He says that the injured have been taken to area hospitals, some in critical condition. The Mississippi Department of Transportation reports that Interstate 269 in closed in both directions at the interchange. The road agency reports icing on roads and bridges in 10 north Mississippi counties from a winter storm raking parts of the South. On Sunday, November 11th, a group of approximately 80 Central American migrants, the majority of whom identify as LGBTQ, arrived in the coastal city of Tijuana, Mexico, just south of the U.S.-Mexico border. They are part of the massive caravan of more than 3,600 people traveling north on foot in hopes of being granted asylum in the U.S., but this group broke off after allegedly facing discriminatory treatment from other travelers and local residents. Whenever we arrived at a stopping point the LGBT community was the last to be taken into account in every way. So our goal was to change that and say, This time we are going to be first, Carlos Mejia, who is from Honduras, said at a press conference on Sunday. One member of the group, a transgender woman, told reporters that there was plenty of verbal abuse, but noted that it was nothing compared to the threats and discrimination she faced in her home country of Honduras. Originally part of a much larger group of migrant travelers, the LGBTQ members gravitated towards one another while en route and began organizing. After an internal headcount found that they were over 100 people strong, they decided to splinter off on their own, and made seriously good time after RAICES, a Texas-based non-profit agency, raised enough money to pay for bus tickets, four nights of lodging and sent a legal team to Mexico, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Members of the group were initially hesitant to reveal the name of the organization that funded the last part of their journey, but after Fox News made an issue of their anonymity, RAICES took responsibility on Twitter. We did not contact them; they learned from our group thanks to the media and decided to help us, Mejia said. As a result, according to NPR, the group which includes several children, as well as numerous transgender men and women from countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador arrived several weeks ahead of majority of the caravan, including the largest group of approximately 3,000 people, which is still 1,400 miles south in Guadalajara, Mexico. A second smaller group of approximately 350 migrants arrived in Tijuana on Tuesday, according to the Washington Post. Story continues Most members of the LGBTQ group are expected to seek asylum in the United States as early as Thursday, on grounds that they are members of a persecuted class. Other migrants are said to be fleeing gang violence, political persecution and severe poverty. We are fleeing a country where theres a lot of crime against us, a transgender woman, who wasnt identified, told reporters. In an interview with Telemundo 20, Honduran migrant Erick Dubon described how poverty and an inability to find work forced him into prostitution. Sleeping with men for money made him increasingly vulnerable to physical violence, and Telemundo reported that his body is covered in scars from one such assault. Nehemias de Leon, who is from Guatemala, brought few possessions on the journey, the most important being documentation which he says proves that, as a gay man, his life is in danger in his home country. While the 2,400-mile-long journey was arduous and frightening, de Leon told reporters he had no other choice but to try. It would be a death sentence, he said about the possibility of returning to Guatemala. The chances of being granted asylum are slim, especially in light of President Donald Trumps largely false and inflammatory rhetoric characterizing the migrant caravan as an invasion. Last week, Trump took steps to deny asylum to those who crossed the border illegally, a move that is already being challenged in court, although it wouldnt impact any members of the caravan who sought legal asylum by applying at a port of entry, like San Diego, San Ysidro or Otay Mesa. Though the group has not crossed into the United States, they are already dealing with discriminatory rhetoric from residents south of the border. Mexican immigration officials arranged for small groups of migrants to rent temporary housing in the upscale community of Coronado in Playas de Tijuana, angering local residents who said they should have been warned. Not unlike Trumps claims that the caravan is full of violent criminals, some locals said they feared someone in the group could hurt them, and questioned whether they were being funded by narco traffickers. Santiago Alvarez, a police officer who stood guard in front of one rental house, told the Washington Post that locals have been seen knocking on the door, shouting things, telling them to leave. A few of the migrants left to go buy a couple of things, and they were harassed and insulted in the street, he said. This president, Trump, this wall it is all so ridiculous. Weve had migration for years, and these people just want to get to the U.S. They just want something better. Residents of Paradise, California, have had to flee their homes in the past due to wildfires in the area. But this time, the deadly Camp Fire blaze has left many wondering whether theyll ever be able to return to the once-picturesque town. This had to be one of the most surreal experience Ive ever had, Cal Fire firefighter Josh Smario, 23, tells PEOPLE. Standing in what used to be my house while Im working to save the town I live in. The house I thought my son would experience his first years of his life in. Then hopping right back in the engine to go fight the blaze that took my house and my grandparents house. A firefighter standing the ruins of his own home. A World War II vet smashing a garage window to get to his car and escape to safety. Generations of families burned out of their homes. A town leveled. The tsunami of tragic stories continue pouring out from the deadliest fire in California history. It wiped out all of my familys houses, but thank God they all made it out safe, Smario says. Its a war zone. When you saw how many bodies didnt make it out, I could care less about the things that were lost. The Camp Fire named for nearby Camp Creek broke out in Butte County on Thursday, killing at least 48 people, burning through 130,000 acres and destroying more than 7,500 buildings, most of them homes, by Tuesday, CalFire reported. Communities throughout the Bay Area and Northern California have come together to bring aid to those forced out by the fires. Cal Fire firefighter Josh Smario (center) holding new son Paradise is lost. Nearby towns have been devastated. Pets have been displaced. Hundreds are unaccounted for and crews are sifting through the rubble discovering bodies in what looks like a battlefield. Colleen Arnold, 70, had just moved to Paradise in April to help care for her ailing older sister. She was only able to grab two pictures of her grandchildren and a few belongings when the fires began. I lost my car, Arnold tells PEOPLE. I lost everything but what I have in this tiny Trader Joes bag. Story continues RELATED: Death Toll Rises to 50 in California Wildfires as New Blaze Breaks Out: Its Absolutely Chaotic As they fled the flames, they could feel the intense heat of the fire chasing them. I was in the backseat of the car and getting warm from the fire, Arnold says. I saw people getting out of cars because [the cars] were catching on fire. People were stopping, trying to fit them into their cars to get them out. Arnold says her sister lost her husband, a California Highway Patrolman, in an accident a few years ago. They made sure to grab his urn, with her sister saying, You are coming with me! Her grandkids said, Did you get grandpa out? and she said, Yes I did! Arnold recalls. I Dont Know What the Future Holds Chuck Piazza, 93, a World War II vet who once marched with Gen. Patton, says he and his neighbor had to break into his garage to get his car out to escape the oncoming firestorm. I got up like every other morning when my neighbor called and said you have five minutes to leave the house, Piazza recalls. I panicked, I grabbed what I thought I would need, thank God I didnt have pets, but the power was off so I couldnt get my garage door opened. He and his neighbor managed to free the car. Then, what was usually a 20-minute drive took Piazza eight hours as darkness surrounded him and others attempting to drive away from the flames as smoke blocked any source of light. Im glad I had gas in my tank or it could have been worse, says the widower who drove by himself to safety. I had nothing to eat, but I finally made it to a shelter. Monia Pezzi There, his longtime friend John Sensiba met Piazza and took him to his home. Sensiba tells PEOPLE that his friend will always have a place in his home, though he knows Piazza wants to remain independent. I dont know what the future holds for me. I know my place is gone, unless there was a Godsend, Piazza says. But Im insured and have a small union pension, so Im not destitute. I hadnt expected anything like this to happen to me. But I have a few dollars to keep me going. Without John, though, Id be really lost. Nicole Lawhun, 44, had just dropped her kids ages 17, 12, 10 and 7 off at school when she got a call from her sister saying she and her family needed to evacuate immediately. Her family living on the property included her husband, her children, her blind mother, her mother-in-law and her husbands cousin. By the time I came back home at 7:45 there were flames in my backyard. I grabbed the kids and as many pets as we could, Lawhun says. We had an evacuation plan, but this happened too quickly. Right Now We Have Nothing Lawhuns church provided the family with a 10-person travel trailer so they would have a place to live as they plan their next steps. We have insurance, but right now we have nothing, Lawhun says. The Camp Fire is one of four blazes plaguing the state. The Woolsey, Hill, and Sierra Fires have collectively burned hundreds of thousands of acres and two people died as a result of the Woolsey blaze. No town has been hit harder by the fires than Paradise, and 53-year-old Monia Pezzi says she and her family have been staying with friends since narrowly escaping to safety. GO, GO, GO! was what Pezzi, heard when she answered the phone. She had already left for her job as a crisis counselor with FEMA when she heard about the fire from her son-in-law. Had I not gotten that call, I would not have been able to get back home. From left: Gretchen Goslin, Jack Matz, Jim Heumann, Hazel Matz, Genevieve Williamson, Ellianna Dodds, Dean Goslin, Carole Heumann, Liam Thompson, Dave Moser, Lindsey Heumann, Bentley Moser and Stacey Matz She raced back to her Paradise home to warn her brother and wake up her son. I told him the whole town is on fire, the mother of four and grandmother of seven recalls to PEOPLE. Pezzi, whose children and grandchildren all live in or around Paradise, grabbed a basket of clothes, some photo albums and her dogs. It was pitch black and I could hear propane tanks exploding. She adds: We have been evacuated before, but the sheriff usually comes through to tell us. This time, nothing. Its a little mountain town with dead ends and narrow roads. We got out with almost nothing and Im sure my house is gone. RELATED: Drone Footage Shows Devastation of California City Where Wildfire Killed Residents, Destroyed Homes On Monday, Pezzi and her family were delivering supplies to her neighbors. The Camp Fire was only 35 percent contained by Wednesday and firefighters have been working tirelessly to quell the flames. Many have said that they never expected the fire to grow so big, including Gretchen Goslin who tells PEOPLE that she became concerned when she saw the skies growing darker due to smoke around her home in Paradise. Goslin called her husband, Dean Goslin, who works for the local utility company. Im coming right home, he said. Its a large fire. Theres Nothing There Now Dean (left) and Gretchen Goslin Goslin says the sky was almost black with ash and debris and it sounded like a train was coming. She grabbed her granddaughter, two pets, paperwork and her computer to escape. Dean stayed behind for two more hours trying to save their home, but had to escape. By 10:30 a.m., Goslins house was gone, and so were the homes of her two sisters and her mom. People were fleeing in their cars and tires were catching on fire, she recalls to PEOPLE. The people who had already left for work and were off the mountain couldnt get back to save anything. Goslin says that the area has a large elderly community and fears have been raised that most were not able to escape the flames in time. Most of the people on the missing lists are in their 80s and 90s, she says. I work at a nursing home and there were a lot of people there. It was chaos. The hospital is gone. The Goslins found a rental home in nearby Chico and her whole family is sharing it for now. She has no plans to return to Paradise to rebuild. Theres nothing there now. To help victims of the California wildfires, visit the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Fire Foundation and the American Red Cross, for more information. The Georgia gubernatorial race wont be decided until at least Friday evening, and Democrats are doing all they can to ensure sure every vote is counted before the results are certified. On Wednesday, Stacey Abrams partnered with the Georgia Democratic Party to release a TV commercial encouraging voters to share stories of difficulties they may have encountered while trying to cast their ballot. This election, was your voice heard? the ad reads. Too many were silenced. For every voice to be heard, every vote must be counted. Share your story. Make Georgia count. WATCH: In our latest ad, we discuss the fight to count every vote and how we must make sure every Georgian's voice is heard. Share your voting story here: https://t.co/eKopViJfgG. pic.twitter.com/OsgZbYZwFT Georgia Democrat (@GeorgiaDemocrat) November 13, 2018 The post-campaign campaign ad is a sign of just how fierce the fight has rown to ensure the legitimacy of Georgias elections. The months leading up to last Tuesdays midterms were plagued by concern over voter suppression measures taken by Republican candidate Brian Kemp in his capacity as secretary of state, a position he refused to step down from until after the election. Over 300,000 voters were improperly purged from the rolls during Kemps tenure at the helm of Georgias elections, and his controversial exact match policy, which holds that the information on a voters registration must mirror that of other official documents, has been struck down in court as restrictive to voting rights. On Monday, a federal judge ruled that because of concern over unaccounted for provisional ballots, acting Secretary of State Robyn Crittenden must delay certifying the election results until at least Friday. The judge also ruled that the state must create and publicize a hotline and website so that voters can confirm whether their ballots were counted. Story continues Though on election night it appeared Kemp was going to cruise to victory over Abrams, the race tightened as the night drew to a close. Abrams did not concede, believing that after provisional ballots were tallied neither candidate would finish with at least 50 percent of the vote, forcing a December 4th runoff. Kemp currently sits at around 50.3 percent and leads Abrams by just under 60,000 votes. Though Abrams believes there to still be around 30,000 outstanding provisional ballots, the state has claimed there are only 21,000 such ballots yet to be counted. Abrams would need to bring in around 19,000 additional ballots to force a recount, and around 21,000 to trigger a runoff. The fight to ensure every vote is counted hasnt been confined to television and the Internet. On Tuesday afternoon, protesters occupied the Georgia State Capitol to hold the government accountable. Over a dozen people were arrested, including Georgia state Sen. Nikema Williams. I showed up at the Capitol today for a special session to take care of the citizens of Georgia, she said after being released. I saw I had constituents protesting for their voices to be heard. There are countless Georgians who cast their ballots and still dont feel like their voices are heard. I joined them down on the floor, and I was singled out as a black female senator standing in the rotunda with constituents. BREAKING: @NikemaForSenate just got released from jail after being arrested at todays #counteveryvote rally at the Georgia Capitol. I am incredibly proud and will continue to stand with the citizens of Georgia to demand that their votes be counted. pic.twitter.com/SA5V3F1oAN Care In Action (@CareInActionUSA) November 14, 2018 State Rep. David Dreyer was also present but, unlike Williams, he wasnt arrested. Dreyer, who is white, agreed with Williams that race may have played a role in the senators arrest. For some reason, Senator Williams was treated differently than I was treated, he told reporters, claiming that they both went to the Capitol in an effort to deescalate the situation, which had grown tense as law enforcement officials clashed with protesters. For some reason, I saw Capitol police lined up three abreast, row after row after row, looking like they were trying to stop a riot, when we were standing up for peoples right to vote, Dreyer added. So this is not democracy. This looks a lot more like an authoritarian government. And it seems like thats happening a lot these days, doesnt it? Building on a remarkable eruption of global listeners in 2017, Latin music has continued to soar on YouTube this year, according to data provided to Rolling Stone by the platform. The extent of Spanish-language pops domination is impressive. The three artists with the most views on the platform in 2018 so far are all Spanish-speaking: Ozuna (20 million subscribers; 8.7 billion views), J Balvin (18 million, 7.1 billion) and Bad Bunny (13 million, 7 billion). In addition, while 45 of the Top 100 most-viewed videos in 2017 involved Latin acts, that number rose to more than 50 this year. 17 Latin videos reached more than a billion views in 2017; that number climbed to 19 this year. Six of the top 10 most-viewed videos in 2017 were made by Latin artists; that number inched up to eight in 2018. In total, over 30% of the songs that appeared on YouTubes global chart involved Latin acts. Were seeing extraordinary growth, says Lyor Cohen, YouTubes Global Head of Music. People often dont understand that when your base is already high, and your growth is off that base, its really impressive. This is a massive cultural statement thats being made by the Latin community. In addition, there are some signs that YouTube is enabling a new group of Latin artists to reach a global audience of women. In 2017, Shakira an already established star was the only woman who managed to make a music video that garnered a billion views. This year, however, listeners made room for new female artists. Chief among them is Natti Natasha, who vaulted into YouTubes Top 10 most-watched acts this year with 3.9 billion views, 98% of which come from outside her native Dominican Republic. Also performing strongly is the Brazilian star Anitta, who amassed 1.7 billion views. And Becky G successfully crossed the billion views threshold with two different videos. This year, Karol G, Natti Natasha and Becky G exploded and exported their content outside of Latin America, says Sandra Jimenez, Head of Music, LATAM, YouTube and Google Play Music. In the past, we had some barriers for women [in Latin music]. Now we dont. When you are listening to songs in the urban genre and there is a suggestion, it doesnt matter who it is theres no, because its a female I wont click. The new generation just clicks. Story continues Cohen, who once led the Def Jam label, has been present for other moments of remarkable growth in popular music. But Latin music is spreading around the globe an order of magnitude faster, according to him. The momentum and the word of the mouth and the strength of the movement is undeniable and has relationships to hip-hop, Cohen says. But I had to use the DJ network; back then I didnt have this global platform that rap could use to circumvent traditional radio. Its unique that [Latin artists] have such a megaphone. And thanks to that megaphone, traditional radio is now taking note of Latin musics dominance in ways that would have been nearly unthinkable five years ago. Top 40 is known for its tight playlists and narrow-minded approach to what constitutes pop, but J Balvin and Nicky Jams X, a compact club missile, enjoyed play on some stations. The relentless reggaeton posse cut that is Casper Magico, Nio Garcia, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny and Ozunas Te Bote remix is still hanging out on Mediabases Rhythmic Radio chart. (It also reached one billion views on YouTube in just 119 days, the sixth-fastest trip to the billion-views club; 20 of the 50 fastest trips belong to Latin videos.) Notably, Neither X nor Te Bote involve any words in English. Theyre not being deferential in any way, Cohen says of Latin artists. And radio cannot ignore whats happening. Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking artists dont overlook the fact that the Brazilian star MC Fiotis Bum Bum Tam Tam video became the first ever baile funk clip to reach one billion views are so effective at using YouTube to get their music out there that Cohen has started advising other acts to study their approach. Nigerian afrobeats stars, he believes, are looking to Latin artists and absorbing their best practices. Yesterday I was in Amsterdam for a conference, Cohen adds. The independent Dutch music industry asked me, What is specifically happening with Latin artists that they are getting such powerful growth and international recognition? I said, get one of those artists to come in and speak to your team. Its amazing to watch. Top 10 Most-Viewed Music Uploads of 2018 Casper, Nio Garcia, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny, Ozuna Te Bote Remix Nicky Jam and J. Balvin X Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B Girls Like You Remix Daddy Yankee Dura Ozuna and Romeo Santos El Farsante Remix Becky G and Natti Natasha Sin Pijama El Chombo featuring Cutty Ranks Dame Tu Cosita Drake Gods Plan Reik featuring Ozuna and Wisin Me Niego Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin I Like It Top Artists: Ozuna Ozuna is the Number One artist globally across YouTube in 2018, amassing over 8.7B views this year alone. Hes held the Number One spot on the Global Artists chart for 20 weeks throughout 2018 to date, a record for the year. With five videos in the billion views club, hes tied for the second most to hit the milestone. Four of those five videos crossed this year. His official artist channel has gained over 10M subscribers in 2018, doubling its count since the beginning of the year. J Balvin J Balvin is the Number Two artist globally across YouTube in 2018, amassing over 7.1B views this year alone. Hes held the Number One spot on the Global Artists chart for six weeks throughout 2018 to date. He has four videos in the billion views club. X with Nicky Jam is the seventh fastest video to hit the milestone, doing so on July 4 in only 125 days. 90% of his views are coming outside of Colombia, his home country. Out of that 7.1B, hes earning huge views in Mexico (1.23B views), the United States (842M views), and Argentina (568M views). Bad Bunny Bad Bunny is the Number Three artist globally across YouTube in 2018. Hes had over 7B views this year alone. Both of his videos with over one billion views hit this year. The Te Bote remix hit the milestone in only 119 days, making it the sixth fastest video to do so. He broke his personal 24-hour debut record this year with his Drake collaboration Mia. It earned over 12M views in one day. Natti Natasha Monica Lewinsky shares details of falling for former president Bill Clinton originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Standing in his presence for the first time, Monica Lewinsky, then a young White House intern, was immediately taken with President Bill Clinton. "I was struck in a way that he had this ability to hold everybody that was there -- not just young women, not just older women -- but young men, older men, gay, straight, everybody is sort of starry eyed in his presence. ... I kind of have to laugh at my younger self, but that is when my crush started." Lewinsky has always been reticent to publicly discuss her affair with the president -- a scandal that rocked the world in the mid-'90s -- but she shared some of the details of how she fell for Clinton in a new six-part documentary, "The Clinton Affair," premiering Nov. 18 on A&E. PHOTO: Monica Lewinsky during the 'Whitney' New York Screening at the Whitby Hotel, June 27, 2018, in New York City. (Gonzalo Marroquin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images, FILE) (MORE: Monica Lewinsky on her anti-bullying campaign, calls Kavanaugh accuser 'a role model') The documentary traces the events leading up to Clinton's impeachment trial, but much of the focus centers around his fateful relationship with the then-White House intern. Lewinsky, now 45, reflected back on her thoughts and feelings during intimate moments with the former president. "I don't talk about this very often, and I still feel uncomfortable talking about it because I think it's one of those things where it's not as if it didn't register with me that he was the president. Obviously it did," she said. "But I think in one way, the moment we were actually in the back office for the first time the truth is that I think it meant more to me that someone who other people desired, desired me. However wrong it was, however misguided, for who I was in that very moment, at 22 years old, that is how it felt." (MORE: Monica Lewinsky storms off stage after 'off-limits' question) Lewinsky also talked about the first two times the president noticed her, and the third time -- a very deliberate decision on her part. Story continues "When the opportunity arose to attend a departure ceremony or some of the other events -- I did," she said. "The first time he sort of seemed on autopilot so my crush kind of waned a bit. The second time was different. ... He, you know, paid a lot of attention to me. He spent time sort of standing there and holding my hand a little longer than he should have and gave what others have described as 'the full Bill Clinton.' ... It feels as if you're the only person standing there. "The next day we had a surprise party for Bill on the South Lawn that the staff was having," she continued. "I did this really silly thing -- I ran home at lunchtime and put on the same sage green suit I was wearing the day before when he paid attention to me. I thought maybe he will notice me again. And notice me he did." News broke of Lewinsky's affair with the president in January 1998, though she says the relationship took place from 1995 to 1997. Clinton famously declared in a national TV address he "did not have sexual relations with that woman." PHOTO: A photograph showing former White House intern Monica Lewinsky meeting President Bill Clinton at a White House function submitted as evidence in documents by the Starr investigation and released by the House Judicary committee Sept. 21, 1998. (Getty Images) (MORE: Kavanaugh urged graphic questions to President Clinton about Lewinsky affair) But the FBI had already begun interviewing Lewinsky, who had denied having a sexual relationship with Clinton in testimony provided to investigators looking into an alleged affair he had with Paula Jones while governor of Arkansas. Eventually the truth came out. "In order to cooperate and to avoid charges I would have to make phone calls, monitored phone calls they would record, and I'd have to wear a wire and go see people actually in person," Lewinsky said. "The ground completely crumbled in that moment. I felt so much guilt -- and I was terrified." As the investigation drew on, Lewinsky said she even contemplated suicide. "I would be hysterically crying and then I'd just shut down," she said of the FBI questioning. "And in the shut-down period I remember looking out the window and thinking the only way to fix this was to kill myself -- was to jump out the window. I felt terrible. I was scared and was mortified and afraid of what this was going to do to my family. You know I was still in love with Bill at the time so I felt really responsible." Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives in December 1998, but acquitted of perjury and obstruction of justice by the Senate two months later. PHOTO: Monica Lewinsky arrives at TLC's Give A Little Awards at NeueHouse Hollywood, Sept. 27, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images, FILE) (MORE: Clinton says TV interview about Monica Lewinsky scandal wasn't his 'finest hour') Going back through the scandal 20 years later has been painful for Lewinsky, who has recently returned to the spotlight in a campaign against cyberbullying. "Do I wish I could erase my years in D.C. from memory, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'-style? Well, is the sky blue? But I cant. And in order to move forward in the life I have, I must take risks -- both professional and emotional," Lewinsky wrote in an op-ed for Vanity Fair published on Tuesday. "An important part of moving forward is excavating, often painfully, what has gone before," she wrote. "Yes, the process of filming has been exceedingly painful," she continued. "But I hope that by participating, by telling the truth about a time in my life -- a time in our history -- I can help ensure that what happened to me never happens to another young person in our country again." A&E is a joint venture between Hearst Communications and DisneyABC Television Group, a unit of The Walt Disney Company, the parent company of ABC News. As deadline looms, Florida Senate race moves to a manual recount originally appeared on abcnews.go.com As Florida continues to count and recount votes, a key deadline loomed Thursday afternoon and one key county, Palm Beach, missed it as the state's Senate race now moves into a manual recount. Florida counties had until 3 p.m. on Thursday to complete their initial recount of votes in the state's hotly contested Senate, governor, and agriculture-commissioner races. Palm Beach a key Democratic county in South Florida that has been the subject of lawsuits and criticism by Senate candidate and Republican Gov. Rick Scott missed the deadline, its top election official said. We gave it a heroic effort, Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher told reporters adding that her county did not finish. (MORE: Experts say vote recounts like Florida's are rare and reversals even rarer) Palm Beachs counting machines had overheated and stopped functioning at least twice this week. PHOTO: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., exits the Senate subway en route to a vote on Capitol Hill, June 20, 2018. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, center, speaks during a news conference, Aug. 22, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP) Recount deadlines are being contested in court, although a federal judge on Thursday denied Sen. Bill Nelson's request to extend them across the state. What's Next Two Florida races have drawn national attention the Senate contest between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and the governor's contest, between Mayor Andrew Gillum and Rep. Ron DeSantis. The Senate race and agriculture commissioner races will move to manual recounts. A manual recount is solely a hand recount of overvotes and undervotes in the affected races. An overvote is when a voter designated more choices than allowable in the recounted race and an undervote is when a voter made no choice or less than the allowable number of choices in the recounted race. The results of the manual recount will be reflected in the official returns due to the Department of State no later than noon on Sunday. The governor's race is less likely to meet the threshold for a manual recount. Story continues In the Senate race, Scott leads Nelson by .15 percentage points, according to current totals. In the governor's race, DeSantis leads Gillum by .41 percentage points. Gillum has urged Florida to count every vote. An unknown number of overseas and military ballots are still coming in they can arrive until Friday, under state law. Counties will have until Sunday to count them, and official results are not expected to be known in either race until after that happens. Latest in Court A federal judge on Thursday denied Nelson's request to extend recount deadlines. But Nelson did score a win, in his bid to allow provisional and by-mail ballots where signatures did not match those on voter-registration books, as required by state law. A federal judge gave voters whose ballots had been rejected until Saturday to correct the issue with election officials. The ruling will affect an unknown number of ballots. Just under 4,000 ballots are known to have been rejected, but that total does not encompass all counties and lacks totals from some key ones, like Duval and Miami-Dade. Nelson is also challenging Florida's laws over what ballots count, seeking to expand considerations of when a voter intended to select a specific candidate with a ballot mark. ABC News' Adam Kelsey, John Verhovek, Stephanie Wash, and Karen DUva contributed to this report. Republicans select House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy as minority leader in next Congress originally appeared on abcnews.go.com House Republicans have selected House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to serve as minority leader in the next Congress, choosing the California Republican who was a key architect of the 2010 GOP wave. McCarthy defeated Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in the two-way race during a closed-door vote Wednesday afternoon. Speaking with reporters later, McCarthy said Republicans will work to unite the country and reclaim the House majority, warning that Democrats only want to disrupt. They want to disrupt, they want to impeach, they want to stall achievements that weve moved forward, he said. PHOTO: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy talk during the House GOP press conference in the Capitol following the House Republican Conference meeting on May 16, 2018. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) He defended Republicans performance in the midterms, arguing that were fighting with history. Anyone who is in that office, history is against them, he said of President Donald Trump. Barack Obama lost 63 [seats in 2010]. (MORE: 'Never Nancy': Democrats ramp up efforts to sideline Pelosi, without offering an alternative) In McCarthy, Republicans have boosted one of the partys strongest fundraisers and campaign strategists to replace retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan, who also has an encyclopedic knowledge of Republican members families and districts. McCarthy raised more than $60 million for Republicans this midterm cycle, more than any majority leader in history, and campaigned with 75 members of Congress and 22 candidates across 46 states, according to his staff. Along with Paul Ryan and former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, McCarthy was one of the partys Young Guns, poised to be the next generation of GOP leadership on Capitol Hill. We took a beating in suburban areas. Our message is going to have to be clearer, McCarthy told reporters Wednesday. While his 2015 run to replace Boehner was derailed by opposition from conservatives, McCarthy benefited Wednesday from the fact that he only needed a simple majority of House Republicans support, and not 218 votes on the House floor. Story continues He was also one of Trumps earliest supporters on Capitol Hill, advising him quietly through the general election in 2016 and developing a closer bond with the businessman-turned-president in Washington. He served as a guide through the intricacies of Washington policy-making, and, on one occasion, as a supplier of his favorite Starburst candies. Trump has referred to him as "my Kevin." He has the energy and ideas and the will to go out there and be successful, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, a McCarthy supporter, told ABC News. Jordan, a pugnacious conservative and former Division I college wrestling champion, ran against McCarthy - and the current slate of GOP leaders. Jordan called for House Republicans to fight with the same intensity as Trump on his priorities. Hes a frequent guest on Fox News who has vigorously defended the president and raised questions about the legitimacy of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling during the 2016 election. (MORE: The Note: Decision time for diminished GOP in House) Hes been at the forefront of the fight throughout these last two years, when quite honestly, the rest of the folks around this place werent interested, Rep. Scott Perry, R-PA, a Jordan ally, told ABC News. But the founder of the House Freedom Caucus, the band of hard-right insurgents who ousted former Speaker John Boehner and generally made life very difficult for Republicans in the majority, doesnt have much support outside the group. Jordan is favored to win a post as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, putting him a key position to defend the president in any of the committee Democrats planned investigations in the next Congress. Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, was also selected to serve as minority whip in the next Congress, while Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, was expected to become the conference chair and top-ranked female Republican in the House. USDA urged to name turkey brands linked to salmonella outbreak originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Public health and regulatory officials are under pressure to identify the turkey brands linked to the recent salmonella outbreak. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak started in November 2017. As of Nov. 5, 2018, 164 people in 35 states have been infected. Sixty-three people have been hospitalized and one person in California has died. The states most affected include Texas, Minnesota, Illinois and New York. Consumer Reports on Wednesday called on the USDA to list the brands associated with the drug-resistant strain of salmonella with Thanksgiving about a week away. (MORE: What to know about Salmonella after recent outbreaks have made hundreds ill) The USDA should immediately make public which turkey producers, suppliers, and brands are involved in this outbreak especially with Thanksgiving right around the corner, Jean Halloran, director of Food Policy Initiatives for Consumer Reports, said in a statement. This information could save lives and help ensure consumers take the precautions needed to prevent anyone in their home from getting sick. However, USDA-FSIS stated today, "To be abundantly clear, FSIS has NOT identified a source or supplier of the product or products that are making consumers ill, but we continue to work around the clock with our federal and state public health partners to solve this." Salmonella infection can cause symptoms of what is commonly referred to as food poisoning. Symptoms include fever, stomach aches and diarrhea which typically develop within 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria. Most people recover within four to seven days without treatment. Sometimes the illness can be so severe that people need to be hospitalized; this could be for severe diarrhea leading to dehydration, or if the infection spreads from the intestines to the bloodstream and other places in the body. People at higher risk for severe illness are children under the age of 5, adults over the age of 65 and people with weakened immune systems. Story continues The strain of salmonella causing the outbreak has been found in samples from live turkeys, raw turkey products and turkey pet food in Minnesota, the CDC said. It has also been identified in samples of raw turkey products from slaughterhouses and meat processors. "The salmonella strain isolated from these samples is closely related genetically to the salmonella strain from ill people," the CDC said. The CDC is not advising consumers to avoid eating properly cooked turkey products or that retailers stop selling raw turkey products. It recommends handling raw turkey carefully, including washing your hands before and after preparing or eating turkey. Counters, cutting boards and utensils should also be thoroughly washed to prevent the spreading of germs from raw turkey to food preparation areas. Cooking raw turkey thoroughly (to an internal temperature of 165F, measured by placing a thermometer in the thickest part of the food) will help prevent food poisoning. Feeding raw meat to pets is also discouraged. Johanna Kreafle, M.D. is an emergency medicine physician at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Alicia Rountree is introducing her own swim collection. The 32-year-old model has spent most of her life wearing swimsuits, whether that was while modeling for Victorias Secret or spending time on the beaches in Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean on the east side of Madagascar where she grew up. And now shes presenting her own swimwear designs to the market. This idea has been in me forever, Rountree said. And the second I was ready to do it, everything just fell into place. I found the manufacturing, the fabric and I started making the prints and it just developed from there. The line, named Alicia Swim, is an eco-friendly, sustainable assortment. The swimwear is constructed using an Italian fabric made from Econyl, which is a technical yarn that comes from regenerated nylon found in fishing nets floating in coastal areas. Rountree also wanted to make sure that the stitching was on the interior of the suits, there were no metal clasps and the cuts could work on multiple body types. Ive tried on so many swimsuits and the cut is the main thing I spent a lot of time on with the factories, Rountree said. The line, which is made in Mauritius, a detail that was important to Rountree, features mix-and-match bikinis and one-pieces coming in a palette of red, green and blue colors that make up the Mauritius flag. The prints come from Rountrees watercolor designs that she sent to Italy to be printed on the fabric. The swim line is accompanied by a long and short kimono, a turban and a headscarf. It retails from $115 to $150 for a bikini top; $110 to $135 for a bikini bottom; $230 to $280 for a one-piece; $105 to $120 for headpieces, and $350 to $420 for kimonos. I was inspired by the Seventies, Rountree said. I liked the idea that you can have an outfit. If you go for a swim and your hair gets messy, you can put something on your head or throw on a kimono over your swimsuit. The line will be available on its own e-commerce site and sold through LuisaViaRoma, which is holding a pop-up at Spring Place in New York that opens on Thursday. Rountree is also selling the suits in hotels in Mauritius. Proceeds from the sale of the suits will go toward the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society. Story continues Rountree, who also cofounded the restaurant chain Tartinery and has studied nutrition and wellness, will shoot a book for Rizzoli next year documenting her life in Mauritius and shes already plotting whats next for her swim brand. This is just the beginning. I have different ideas for headpieces and beach bags and tops that will match the first collection, Rountree said. Id love to create a lifestyle brand and move into active. We have a lot of manufacturing in Mauritius and Im lucky to call this place home. Related stories ShopRunner Primes District App with Amazon 'Prime-Like' Efficiency Mert and Marcus to Receive Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator Penney's Loss Deepens, Pressure for Improvement Grows If youre interested in weird sneakers or know who Luka Sabbat is, you probably find style to be a nuanced thing. If youre less committed to fashion, its much simpler. Its making sure your jeans are from the right decade. Maybe buying something nice at a store like A.P.C. every five years. Our coverman Michael B. Jordans choice of winter coat will appeal to both crews (and the folks in the middle too). The menswear nerds will see it as a simple but sharp weekend flex. The basics-lovers will see it as a way to turn the volume up without going full Zoolander. Everyone is right. The coat is the kind of big, badass, plaid style weve talked about a lot over the last two years. Its more assertive and attention-grabbing than the basic black topcoat you can find at any mall store but is still rooted in a classic place. Your dorky dad and your hypebeast brother will both understand and approve when they see you wearing it over Thanksgiving weekend, which is a move you should definitely make. Alternatively, itd make an excellent thing to seek out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday at a discount. Celebrity Sightings In New York City - November 12, 2018 Tal Rubin As for how to wear it, we dig Michael B. Jordans all-black, simple base layers, and we suspect most guys will see the appeal in that kind of approach too, but what you wear under the coat is ultimately up to you. If youre big into luxury, logo-stamped track suits or neon cashmere T-shirts and white jeans, by all means, go for it. This coat can hang with anyone and anything. Its that good. A mystery hit the friendly skies over Ireland last Friday when multiple airline pilots reported seeing what they believed to be UFOs flying by. According to CNN, at least four pilots reported seeing a "very bright" unidentified flying object moving at incredible speeds. The exchanges began over the radio when one pilot asked for confirmation about possible military activity happening somewhere close by. However, Shannon air traffic control officials replied with negative. The pilot then said that she saw something moving "so fast." "It came up on our left-hand side (rapidly veered) to the north, we saw a bright light and it just disappeared at a very high speed ... we were just wondering. We didn't think it was a likely collision course ... (just wondering) what it could be," the pilot explained. A second pilot from Virgin Flight 76 added he saw "two bright lights at 11 o'clock (which) seemed to bank over to the right and then climb away at speed." A third pilot also noticed the quick moving object, saying its speed was "absolutely astronomical, like Mach 2 or something." While we may all want to believe that E.T. is taking a vacation in Ireland, a fourth pilot put the kibosh on the rumors, saying over the radio that its likely a "meteor or some kind of object re-entry appears to be multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory... very bright where we were." Other aviation experts agree that theres likely a very plausible explanation. "In all probability, they were meteorites," aviation journalist Gerry Byrne told the Irish Examiner. "It's not uncommon for meteorites to come in at a low angle, a low trajectory into the Earth's atmosphere." Still, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is taking the sightings seriously. "Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday 9th November of unusual air activity the IAA has filed a report, the IAA said in a statement. This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process." Despite the disasters unassuming name, Camp Fire which started last Thursday near Camp Creek Road in Pulga, California is now being called the states deadliest wildfire ever, claiming at least 42 lives. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the area about 90 miles north of Sacramento. Probably the most recognizable city in the region is Chico which is currently on the fires western border. As plenty of craft beer drinkers can tell you, Chico is home to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, which had to temporarily shut because of the blaze. The taproom reopened yesterday, but focusing on the ongoing Camp Fire is still one of Sierra Nevadas top priorities and the brewery has launched a Camp Fire Relief Fund, asking for donations and getting things rolling with $100,000 seed money of its own. As many of you are aware, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and our surrounding communities are in the midst of dealing with the still-active Camp Fire. Even though we are all living moment to moment trying to figure out who is safe and if our homes have been spared, the beauty of the human spirit still shines through, the Grossman family, owners of the brewery, said in an email. There are many opportunities both immediate and long-term to help those affected. For long-term support, we have set up a Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund, supported through the Golden Valley Bank Community Foundation. The brewery is seeding this fund with an initial $100,000 to get started. Once the fire is out, we will distribute all donated money to partner organizations that are dedicated to rebuilding and supporting the communities that have been affected. The brewery is asking anyone who would like to donate to go to the Golden Valley Bank website where they can choose the Sierra Nevada Brewery fund by clicking on the brewerys link on the Camp Fire Support list. With the brave men and women risking their lives fighting this fire and the outpouring of support from communities near and far, we know we are on a path to healing and rebuilding, Sierra Nevadas message concludes. In the short-term, the brewery says that rather than duplicate the efforts of traditional relief organizations, we will instead focus on connecting those groups with people who need help. However, Sierra Nevada is offering free meals all week to first responders and anyone who has been displaced by the Camp Fire. Additionally, we have some clothing in our tour lobby available to anyone in need while our inventory lasts, the brewery wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, a bit further south in Davis, California, just outside of Sacramento, a benefit will be taking place at the Sudwerk Brewing Company on Saturday, November 17. A similar event held last year to raise money after the Sonoma/Napa fires reportedly brought in about $30,000. As California battles the worst fires in state history, fire departments across Texas are springing into action. On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas firefighters will be deployed to help combat the wildfires that are ravaging the Golden State and have already claimed the lives of 42. Approximately 200 firefighters with 55 fire engines from local fire departments across Texas began their journey to California on Monday morning, according to Abbots office. Teams from the Texas Forest Service at Texas A&M were also dispatched. This is another solid example of Texas firefighters stepping up to help out, Mark Stanford, fire chief and associate director at Texas A&M Forest Service, told KWTX. This is the largest mobilization of Texas firefighting resources to another state to fight wildland fires. A representative from the Fort Worth Fire Department, which is sending five firefighters and a brush truck, told CBSDFW that this is the first time the city has sent firefighters to help outside of the state. When disaster strikes, it is imperative that the call for help is answered, and that is exactly what these men and women serving in the fire departments across Texas are doing, Abbott said in a release. As California continues to fire these fires, Texas will be sending its bravest firefighters to aid in their efforts. Our prayers go out to all who have been impacted by these devastating wildfires, and the State of Texas will continue to offer any resources to aid in the recovery process. A middle schooler pens letters to his family during a school lockdown. (Photos courtesy of Claudia Charles) A 12-year-old boy in North Carolina wrote a heartfelt goodbye letter to his family out of fear for his life during a lockdown at his middle school on Friday. Ajani Dartiguenave is a student at Governors Village STEM Academy in Charlotte, where students experienced an unexpected lockdown just before the weekend. The school is in the same district as David W. Butler High School, where a fatal shooting took place just a few weeks ago, followed by a number of scares during which guns were found at three in the area. Now, Ajanis mother Claudia Charles is seeing the impact that these incidents are having on students first hand, after her son came home with a troubling handwritten note. Picking her son up on Friday, Charles had no idea about what had taken place at school that day, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that parents werent informed of a lockdown. I spoke to my son when I picked him up from school. He was telling his siblings what happened while I was on the phone with a client. My 6-year-old caught my attention when she said, Mom, if I die at school I want you to know I love you,' Charles explains. My oldest son Ajani then began to become upset and told me, Mom, we had a lock down, a real lock down today. I thought I was going to die. People were crying and praying.' Ajani went on to tell his mother that he wrote two letters to his family during the frightening moments. The 12-year-old then read them aloud to his mom and siblings. Charles explains the experience of listening to her son read the letters as heartbreaking, and says that she felt helpless. Charles felt helpless when her son read his letters to her. (Photo: Claudia Charles) He even wrote our address on the top of the letter in case they had to figure out who wrote it, Charles continues. When he and his friends saw each other after the lockdown, they began expressing to each other that they did not think they would see each other again. A spokesperson for the school tells Yahoo Lifestyle, Governors Village STEM Academy had a limited outdoor activity lockdown on Nov 9th. The students were not allowed to go outside, however student movement inside of the building such as class changes, lunch activities and all instruction continued as usual. Additionally, they say, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools offers support to any student who would like to speak with a school psychologist about any issue at any time. The district also offers support to families as well. Story continues Still, Charles maintains that she has yet to hear anything from the school about the incident or how to ease her childs anxiety about it. The single mother decided to approach the situation with honesty by explaining to her son that she never had to experience that same fear as a student, while also reminding herself to stay strong for him. It is upsetting that as a parent I drive my child to school to ensure his safety and that he feels the real danger is school itself, she says. Im mad the school has not responded to the local news and to parents about what took place and how they will provide support to students that were traumatized by these events. Since the Butler shooting, which took place 45 minutes from Charless home, and the recent lockdown incident, she has maintained open communication with her son in order to comfort him. She says that she also bought a new iPhone for Ajani to bring to school so that he feels more in control of his own safety. Im mad the school has not responded to the local news and to parents about what took place and how they will provide support to students that were traumatized by these events, Charles says. Now, its up to her to make sure her son feels safe when he leaves the house every day. He knows I love him and that even though as a single mom who is busy quite often he can always come talk to me about anything. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Good Samaritan drives mother of school shooting victim to see son before he dies Mom with gut feeling stops school shooter before planned attack Illinois schools have installed active-shooter alarms will that do anything? Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Many of the Trump administrations most controversial immigration policies have taken aim at the most vulnerable class of migrants: asylum seekers. President Trumps family separation policy was designed in part to target moms, dads, and children seeking asylum in the country, while former Attorney General Jeff Sessions June opinion specifically made it more difficult for victims of gang and domestic violence to legally apply for protection here. In October, the president ordered troops to the border to stave off a caravan of roughly 5,000 migrants, many of whom are likely asylum seekers, traveling by foot toward the southern border. And in early November, the administration announced yet another new and highly controversial rule barring all migrants from seeking asylum for 90 days unless they enter the U.S. through an official port of entry. All of these policies have come to fruition at a time when the total number of asylum requests have skyrocketed, nearly doubling in the last two years alone. In fiscal year 2008, fewer than 5,000 people passed the first step in the asylum process at the U.S. border. By the end of fiscal year 2018, that number had reached 91,786, marking a nearly 2000% increase. The spike is largely due to upticks in family units and minors traveling alone across the border. The president and his supporters argue that the reason for this rapid increase is that migrants have discovered loopholes in the asylum process and promise to crackdown on the influx. But many migrant advocates say the increase in asylum seekers is the result of a confluence of world eventsenvironmental devastation, gang activity and political volatility in much of Central Americaand that the Trump administrations hardline interventions are immoral, costly, and counterproductive. At the center of this legal and political war all are the migrants themselves who, regardless of whether or not they get status in the U.S., are left to navigate an increasingly complex and ever-changing immigration system. Here are the basics of how the asylum process works. Story continues What is an Asylum Seeker? Like refugees, those seeking asylum are migrants who cannot or will not return to their country of origin out of fear that they will be persecuted based on their race, nationality, religion, or membership in a social or political group. While refugees obtain permission to come to the U.S. while living abroad, asylees obtain humanitarian protection while they are physically present in the U.S. (Once asylum seekers cases are approved, they are granted whats known as refugee status in the U.S.) How did Asylum Become a Thing? The U.S. first adopted an official policy with regard to refugees in the aftermath of World War II when Congress passed the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. The U.S. resettled some 350,000 European refugees under that law, which expired in 1952. In the decade that followed, the U.S. signed the United Nations 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which expanded basic legal protections for refugees. The definition of a refugee included in that protocol would later inform U.S. policy. Policies regarding refugees were hodgepodge until the U.S. Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980 that, among other things, created a comprehensive and statutory basis for claiming asylum in the U.S. It is thanks to that law that migrants who are physically present in the U.S. or at a port of entry have a legal right to to apply for asylum. How Does the Process Work? There are two ways to obtain asylum, affirmatively or defensively. Migrants who apply for asylum affirmatively submit a form to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within one year of arriving in the U.S., either at the U.S. border or from within the country. Those who apply defensively do so after theyve been arrested and placed in expedited removal proceedings. In both cases, migrants are interviewed by a specialized U.S. official who determines whether they have a credible fear of returning to their home country. Most migrants pass this initial screening. In fiscal year 2018, around 89% of migrants in expedited removal proceedings passed a credible fear interview. At that point, migrant are then provided an immigration court date, during which time they will plead their case before an immigration judge. What Happens to Asylum Seekers While They Wait? Due to a yawning backlog in the immigration court system, asylum seekers court dates are often months down the road. Trump and his supporters have said migrants should be held in detention until they get their day in court, but federal protocols and rules governing how long kids can be held in detention limit their options. Due to shortages in family detention space, family units are often released from custody to await their court proceedings. The president has derided this process as catch-and-release. There are alternatives to detaining for families that have proven to be effective, but the White House ended one such program in 2017. What Happens When an Asylum Seeker Gets Status? Receiving refugee status is no easy feat. During fiscal year 2018, for example, of the 34,000 immigration cases that were completed or closed some 71% ended with an order of removal. Of the 20,563 credible fear cases where a migrant filed for asylum, the protection was granted in only 5,639, according to federal data. If asylum protection is granted, an asylee obtains the right to work in the U.S. and may be able to apply for some social benefits, according to the Migration Policy Institute. After a year of living in the U.S., asylees can also adjust their status to become legal permanent residents. If an asylum seekers case is deniedwhich they most often areapplicants have a right to appeal. Those who dont, or those who lose their appeal, are ordered deported. Thousands of would-be asylum seekers, who pass the initial credible fear interview, either never officially apply for asylum or fail to show up at their immigration court hearings. Some percentage of that population continues to live in the U.S. with undocumented status. Michelle Obama has dropped quite a few bombshells in the days leading up to the release of her memoir, Becoming,which is released today. The former first lady has not been afraid to hold anything back. In her recent press interviews, Ms Obama took a job at President Donald Trump, revealed marital struggles with her husband Barack, and some of the obstacles she faced in her private life while she was invariably in the public eye. Here are six takeaways from her memoir: She did not think Mr Obama could win the presidency. Although the Chicago native gave Mr Obama her blessing, she was still worried about the racial tension in the country. In Becoming, she revealed that she was harbouring a painful thought: Barack was a black man in America, after all. I didnt really think he could win. In an interview with Good Morning America, Ms Obama explained that she was simply doing what a lot of black folks were doing: We were afraid to hope, because its hard to think that the country oppressed you could one day be led by you. In the book, the former first lady wrote about the criticismsometimes racially motivatedshe faced throughout Mr Obamas campaign. She was accused of not loving her own country, and headlines like Her Looks: Regal or Intimidating became the norm. I am telling you, this stuff hurt, Ms Obama wrote. I sometimes blamed Baracks campaign for the position I was in. She had a miscarriage, and then conceived Sasha and Malia through in vitro fertilization. About 20 years ago, after the Obamas were attempting to have a baby for quite some time, they were able to get a positive pregnancy result. That, however, ended up as a miscarriage that left Ms Obama feeling devastated. A miscarriage is lonely, painful, and demoralising almost on a cellular level, she wrote. When you have one, you will likely mistake it for a personal failure, which it is not. Or a tragedy, which, regardless of how utterly devastating it feels in the moment, it also is not. What nobody tells you is that miscarriage happens all the time, to more women than youd ever guess, given the relative silence around it. Story continues She later reveals that she was able to conceive their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, through in vitro fertilisation. The Obamas went through couples counselling. A few moments after the birth of their two daughters, the Obamas sought out couples therapy. The reasons are similar to most married couples: They did not get to see each other enough. Mr Obama had a rising political career, and that required a lot of hard work and time. At first, the Hawaiian-born politician was reluctant to speak about their issues in front of a stranger. But Ms Obama explained to him couples therapy was born out of necessity, to aid her in exploring her own sense of happiness. The couples therapy sessions helped the former first lady explain to her husband that, whenever he was traveling or away, she felt vulnerable all the time. I feel vulnerable all the time, Ms Obama wrote. And I had to learn how to express that to my husband, to tap into those parts of me that missed him and the sadness that came from that so that he could understand. He didnt understand distance in the same way. You know, he grew up without his mother in his life for most of his years, and he knew his mother loved him dearly, right? I always thought love was up close. Love is the dinner table, love is consistency, it is presence. So I had to share my vulnerability and also learn to love differently. It was an important part of my journey of becoming. Understanding how to become us. The Sandy Hook shooting was one of Mr Obamas difficult times as president. Although Ms Obama rarely ever got to see her husband while he was working, she wrote about the only time he requested her presence during the work day within his two presidential terms. It was in December 2012, after news broke out that a gunman walked into an Connecticut elementary school, and killed 20 students and 6 teachers. My husband needed me, the former first lady wrote. This would be the only time in eight years that hed request my presence in the middle of a workday, the two of us rearranging our schedules to be alone together for a moment of comfort. Mr Obama was just briefed on the brutal catastrophe involving school children. Those images were seared permanently into his psyche, she added. I could see in his eyes how broken theyd left him, what this had done already to his faith. The former first lady and the Queen both commiserate over uncomfortable shoes. In September 2009, Ms Obama made headlines for an awkward faux paus: She hugged the British Queen during the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh. I laid a hand affectionately across her shoulder, Ms Obama wrote. I couldnt have known it in the moment, but I was committing what would be deemed an epic faux pas. But the encounter between these two powerful ladies were anything but awkward. In her book, Ms Obama revealed that she hugged the Queen after they both confessed how painful their shoes were at the moment. Youre so tall, Her Majesty reportedly told the 5-foot-11 Princeton graduate, before pointing down on her Jimmy Choo shoes and asking if it hurt her feet. When the Queen admitted her own shoes were painful, the women bursted out laughing. When the Queen and Ms Obama met again, Her Majesty invited her to sit with her in the backseat of a Range Rover. Did they give you some rules about this? the Queen reportedly told her. Thats rubbish. Sit wherever you want. Ms Obama wont be running for public office. The Harvard Law graduate has sparked a lot of inquiries of whether or not a career in politics is in her future. She electrified Americans with her powerful, eloquent speeches about going high when others go low, referring to Mr Trumps notably racist presidential campaign. But in the epilogue of her memoir, Ms Obama made it clear: She has no intention of running for office, ever. She believes she has found another method in resisting, or fighting for democracy. We all play a role in this democracy, Ms Obama wrote. We need to remember the power of every vote. I continue, too, to keep myself connected to a force thats larger and more potent than any one election, or leader, or news story and thats optimism. For me, this is a form of faith, an antidote to fear. 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. The holidays are the most hectic for travelers. Airports are packed, traffic is heavier and leaving early is a necessity in order to get to your destination on time. Adding a pet to this can make traveling even more difficult. But if boarding your pet isnt an option, finding a petsitter is difficult or you just want to keep your animal close this holiday season, there are ways to make it happen more safely. Heres what you need to know. Update your pets tags and information. Whether driving, flying or traveling by train, one of the most important ways to safely travel with pets is making sure that their tags are updated with their name and contact information. This will help reconnect them with you should they get lost. If theyre microchipped, make sure that information is also on the tag and that your information is current. In the event that something happens, it could prove critical. If youre driving, do it properly. Its easy to want your dog or cat to sit on your lap or in the seat next to you while youre driving to your destination. But since accidents can occur, it isnt safe for your pet to be loose. Protect yourself and your pet by placing them in a secured carrier that is in a place where they wont slide should you need to abruptly stop. In case your pet does not do well in a carrier, your local pet store has seat belts and carseats to give them freedom while keeping them safe. This will also decrease their desire to jump out whenever you stop. No retractable leashes. If youre flying and you plan to walk your dog through the airport, avoid retractable leashes. It allows the dog to stretch the limits and can easily snap with the amount of traffic moving through the terminals. A four-foot leash is the better option to maintain a specific distance between you and your dog. Read the airlines pet travel requirements. Former Alaska Airlines employee Elaine Malmrose recommends reading your chosen airlines pet policy before booking your flight. Read the requirements to see what they need to have, size of carrier, food and water, their shots record and clear labeling. Most people show up to the airport confused. Its easier to avoid problems for both you and the airline this way. Story continues Traveling with your dog soon? Here are seven tips to help keep your pet safe. (Photo: Getty Images/Robert Mooney) Most airlines, and more specifically customs, require you to provide health certificates when crossing state lines or country borders. The appointment for the certificate can take up to two hours, but without the certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian, you may not be able to fly with your pet. Additionally, some airlines, such as Delta, do not allow pets on flights to specific locations and have specific requirements for whats allowed in the kennel. Make sure you are aware of these rules. The Transportation Safety Authority lists some reminders on its website. You can find them here. Avoid the cargo hold. Unless your pet is too large, Malmrose also advises you to avoid putting your pet in the cargo hold. Without proper restraints, the carrier can be jostled around, and that, combined with the relative darkness, can be a traumatic experience for your pet, which can lead to an even more difficult return trip. She recommends taking your pet onboard with you in an airline approved carrier that can fit in either the seat next to you or under the seat in front of you. This allows you to keep an eye on your pet and your pet to know where you are at all times, which can make them a better traveler over time. Make sure your pet is comfortable traveling. Some pets are nervous travelers, and it can make for a difficult trip. If youre not sure how your pet travels, try taking them for a small drive to gauge their nervousness. Pay attention to the condition your pet is in before you travel. If your pet is sick or on the older side, it might be best to travel by car or train rather than by plane. Consider sedatives. According to Indiana-based veterinary tech Kristina Schmelzer, many animals can benefit from a sedative when traveling via airplane. Schmelzer says this will help to ease your pets uneasiness at being kept in the kennel and the different sensations that come with air travel. Its important to note, however, that giving your pet sedatives can come with risks, including a change in heart rate or breathing. Talk to your veterinarian to figure out what is best for your particular pet. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The United States Customs and Border Protection in Arizona released a video on November 14 which shows an alleged smuggler cutting down barbed wires shortly after it was installed by CBP agents at Yuma. Just as quickly as #CBP #Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents put up new structural deterrents, CBP Arizona tweeted, the smugglers cut it down. The video was filmed on November 7 next to the Sanchez canal, west of the San Luis port of entry, according to the Arizona Republic. A CBP spokesperson also said Border Patrol agents apprehended 654 migrants in the Yuma Sector on November 12 and 13, and tweeted a video of the incident. Credit: CBP Arizona via Storyful Paris (AFP) - President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that "allies owe each other respect", after he was assailed on Twitter by US President Donald Trump after his visit to France for World War I commemorations. "I think he's doing this for American politics," Macron said in a televised interview on board France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea. "At every crucial moment in our history, we have been allies," he said citing France's role in America's independence fight as well as US participation in two world wars and the joint fight against jihadists after the September 11, 2001 attacks. "And allies owe each other respect, and so I don't want to hear all the rest," he said. "I think that's what the French expect from me, not to respond to tweets but to remain committed to pursuing this important history," he added. Macron apparently drew Trump's ire by starkly rejecting nationalism during the WWI ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe last Sunday, an implicit critique of the "America First" policies which have led Trump to pull out of several key international agreements. On Tuesday, Trump fired off a caustic series of tweets against his weekend host and renewed his frequent charge that America's European allies in NATO spend too little on defence. "The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject," Trump posted. But Macron said the flap would not shake the strong cooperation between the two countries, in particular their joint military actions, in particular against jihadist terrorism. "Every day our soldiers fight together, risk their lives together -- that's the most important decision you take when you are president," Macron said. The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/GettyThe lone suspect in the SUV attack that killed at least five and injured dozens more at a quaint holiday parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday has been identified as a 39-year-old sex offender who recently posted bail on reckless-endangerment charges.Darrell Brooks is set to be charged with five counts of intentional homicide in connection with the Sunday evening incident involving a red Ford Escape that plowed through barricades and into the crowd, If I ever had to use my gun to defend myself or others, Ive often wondered, what would I do when the police arrived? After all, theyre not going to be able to immediately discern friend from foe. Each person with a drawn weapon will be perceived as a threat. And the chances of mistaken identity are high. And on early Sunday morning in Illinois, mistaken identity cost an armed citizen his life. The facts are terrible. Simply put, a police officer shot and killed the good guy with a gun. He shot Jemel Roberson, a young black security guard whod used his weapon to stop an attempted murder and to secure the suspect. According to local media reports, after security asked intoxicated customers to leave Mannys Blue Room Bar, a person approached the bar with a gun and opened fire. Security returned fire, and Roberson reportedly detained a suspect and held him on the ground, with Robersons knee and gun in the suspects back. What happened next is tragic: Soon after, witnesses said, an officer responding to the scene fired at Roberson killing him. Everybody was screaming out, Security! He was a security guard, [witness Adam] Harris said. And they still did their job, and saw a black man with a gun, and basically killed him. NPR reported that Roberson was wearing his uniform, including a hat that was labeled security. Making matters worse, there is a report that other officers were already outside with Roberson, handling the situation appropriately, when a cop ran from inside the bar and opened fire. Roberson wanted to be a police officer. He had a nine-month-old son and played music for area churches. Our hearts ache at his death. I want to first state the obvious it is hard for a police officer to arrive on a dangerous crime scene and immediately possess the necessary situational awareness. It is especially difficult if theyre on extraordinarily heightened alert because shots have already been fired. And we know such situations are extremely dangerous for cops. A police officer was gunned down just last week responding to the Thousand Oaks, Calif., mass shooting. Story continues In other words, this wasnt like some previous police shootings of innocent armed citizens. They hadnt gone to the wrong house. They hadnt mishandled a routine traffic stop. They hadnt entered a mans home without a warrant. Police were arriving at the scene of a firefight. At the same time, however, armed citizens stop enough shootings for police to understand from the moment they get the call that a private citizen may have already responded, and he may be defending the lives of innocent men and women in those precious minutes before the police arrive. Therefore, from the moment a police officer arrives, he cannot assume that everyone who is armed is hostile. This places an undeniable burden on the cop to make rapid, accurate assessments of the situation from the moment they arrive including by listening to bystanders. There is also a burden on the armed citizen to clearly identify himself immediately, but his or her burden is lesser. They may well be engaged in a life-and-death struggle and must focus on the immediate threat. And so, as I read the sketchy details of brief news reports, my mind fills with questions. Did the officer clearly identify himself and shout clear commands? How chaotic was the scene at the moment of the shooting? Were bystander warnings that the armed man was a security guard clear enough to be heard? Was there enough light to see the security guards uniform? Was he given an opportunity to say or do anything before the officer opened fire? There are those who read this terrible story and immediately attack the entire concept of the good guy with the gun. But imagine if Roberson had not been present. How many people would the gunman have killed? Here, the good guy with a gun did his job. The police failed. Thats no reason to limit or scorn Second Amendment rights. Indeed, the armed citizen appeared to have the situation under control until the police arrived. We ask a lot of cops. We truly do. In some ways, we ask more of them than we should they are all too often the states immediate point of contact with mentally distressed individuals. But it is not asking too much to ask them to shoot the right person, or not shoot at all. Theres no easy fix here. Theres no simple training tip that can remove the fog and fear of a firefight. And that urgency is absolutely enhanced when a police officer sees a gun pointed at another person. At the same time, a citizens right of self-defense shouldnt face material limits simply because police officers may make mistakes. So-called commonsense gun control doesnt have much bearing on cases like this. But as we ponder these situations, I come back time and again to two words awareness and restraint. Police must be aware of the possible presence of the good guy with the gun. They must continue to train themselves in the unique skill of assessing a tactical situation under duress. Armed citizens to the extent they are able must also be aware that police will approach, and they will not immediately know who is a threat. Then theres restraint. What is the additional risk of pausing just a bit to take in more information? There is risk either way. Pause a moment, and a bad guy may gain an advantage. Shoot immediately, and you may shoot the wrong man. Soon enough, we will learn the complete facts of that terrible night in Illinois. We may learn that the police officer plainly and clearly acted with reckless haste. Or we may learn complicating facts. But one fact is unlikely to change that Jemel Roberson died a hero. May he rest in peace. TOKYO (AP) Karen Pence, the U.S. vice president's wife, announced Tuesday a $54,000 U.S. grant to a teacher at Tsukuba University in Japan for the study of art therapy, a little-known mental health profession she has championed under the Trump administration. Pence was in Japan while accompanying her husband, Mike Pence, on a trip through Asia for a series of meetings, including a Southeast Asian summit in Singapore and an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Papua New Guinea. Karen Pence declined to answer questions during an interview with The Associated Press about opposition in Japan to the presence of the U.S. military and about the recent U.S. midterm elections that saw her husband's Republican Party lose control of the House of Representatives. Instead, the focus was on art therapy, which uses craft work to help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, autism or other mental illnesses, as well as children with cancer. "When we go all over the world and observe art therapy, it's used frequently with people who are having some kind of depression, or stress or trauma, anxiety, anger issues," Pence said in the interview while attending a meeting with art therapists and other guests at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Tokyo. Art therapy has also been reported as effective for people in the military dealing with suicidal thoughts, depression and nightmares. In Japan, it has also been used for hospitalized children and women experiencing domestic abuse. Tuesday's grant goes to Cheryl Okubo, an art therapist, who will pilot a course at Tsukuba University, and introduce a two-year curriculum, taught by both American and Japanese art therapists, for students and faculty. Japan does not yet have a system to authorize art therapists, and people who want to study it have had to go to the United States or Great Britain. Akie Abe, the wife of the Japanese prime minister, told an audience during the meeting that she appreciated Pence's efforts to promote art therapy in Japan. Story continues Supporting the spouses of U.S. troops is another interest for Pence, who is not an art therapist. She is a watercolor artist. She met with such spouses at the ambassador's residence, and called their work as crucial as military service. "We find it very effective with spouses and children," she said of the use of art therapy. "Probably the most important is to get it for our service members who have injuries. But the other important thing is to make spouses aware of it." Amy Snyder, the wife of a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Camp Zama, near Tokyo, stood in line to get a special bracelet Pence hands out to spouses to show gratitude for their work. "It was amazing, and I liked how she was talking to us," she said. ___ This story has been corrected to show the grant is going to a teacher at Tsukuba University, not the university itself. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yurikageyama/?hl=en By Colin Packham and Philip Wen SYDNEY/BEIJING (Reuters) - When Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill flagged the possibility of China bankrolling a port development off his country's northern coast in June, the consternation in neighboring Australia set off a lightening-fast response. Despite a change in leadership in Australia's government in August, a rival offer was swiftly formulated, government and diplomatic sources told Reuters, amid concern the strategically-located Manus Island port could regularly host Chinese military vessels. Canberra, a staunch Washington ally, said earlier this month it would fund the port development, part of what analysts see as a push to reassert its dominance in the South Pacific as Beijing seeks a more prominent role. "The Manus Island port was a big concern for us," a senior U.S. diplomatic source told Reuters, on condition of anonymity. "It was feasible Chinese military vessels could have used the port so we are very happy that Australia will fund the re-development." Australia is preparing to make the verbal agreement formal at this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, held in PNG's capital, Port Moresby. While conceived as a means to remove trade barriers in the Pacific, the hosting of this year's APEC has also seen PNG become a staging ground for regional influence where the U.S. and China lock in competing alliances. China has spent $1.3 billion on concessionary loans and gifts since 2011 to become the Pacific's second-largest donor after Australia, stoking concern in the West that several tiny Pacific nations could end up overburdened and in debt to Beijing. China says it has no ulterior motive beyond assisting the development goals of Pacific Island nations and that Australia should see it as a partner, rather than rival, in the region. On Friday, President Xi Jinping will showcase China's Belt and Road to Pacific leaders, several of whom are expected to sign up to the infrastructure initiative. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week characterized the Pacific as Australia's "patch" while offering the region up to A$3 billion ($2.18 billion) in cheap infrastructure loans and grants to counter China's rising influence in the region. "There is an acceptance within Australia that it has taken its eye off the ball and that has prompted Australia's Pacific reset," said Nick Bisley, professor of international relations at Melbourne's La Trobe University. NAUGHTY STEP This is the first time PNG, the poorest of the 21 countries in the economic bloc, is hosting the APEC summit. The country's overriding focus is for the event in Port Moresby to be a success, Western officials say, overcoming perceptions of inadequate infrastructure, high crime rates and a crumbling healthcare system. Aware of the importance PNG's leadership has attached to the event, Australia and China have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to help stage the forum. But Western efforts to leverage APEC have been a dealt a blow by lukewarm U.S. support, with President Donald Trump electing to skip the event. Attending in Trump's stead, Vice-President Mike Pence will not stay in Port Moresby, instead flying in and out daily from the northeastern Australian city of Cairns. "The U.S. are well and truly on the naughty step," a senior British diplomat told Reuters. "Papua New Guinea believes the quality of the event is not what comes from it but rather who attends and the decisions by Trump not to attend and Pence to fly in and out only for APEC has upset PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill." In contrast, Chinese President Xi Jinping will spend several days in Port Moresby and conduct an official bilateral visit. He will also host a closed forum with Pacific leaders, where he is expected to announce a big Chinese aid and investment package to the Pacific, tying it to his signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, Western diplomats said. "The President asked the Vice President specifically to do this trip on his behalf because he believed that he would be the ideal messenger for the President on American policy for the region, the President's objectives in trade and investments, and strategically," a senior U.S. administration official told reporters in a briefing. Asked whether Asian nations might view Trump's absence as a snub, Pence told reporters traveling with him to Asia: "Not in the least," adding that Trump attended the ASEAN and APEC summits last year. PLAYING CATCH-UP Manus Island was a major U.S. naval base during the Second World War, playing a key role in Washington's Pacific strategy. More recently, the island has hosted one of Australia's two controversial offshore immigration detention centers. Analysts say a Chinese presence there could impact the West's ability to navigate the Pacific while offering Beijing close access to U.S. bases in Guam. "Australia is concerned the Pacific could become the next South China Sea where Beijing militarizes the region," said La Trobe's Bisley. The question is whether China has gained such a firm foothold it will prove difficult to shake, diplomats and officials told Reuters. PNG has the largest debt to China in the South Pacific, at almost $590 million, representing about one-quarter of its total external debt. "Chinese presence is seen everywhere. It has been achieved in large part through its investment into the country," said a senior French diplomat who declined to be named as he is not authorized to talk to the media. "With PNG's economy now in trouble, what China says, goes." ($1 = 1.3837 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Colin Packham in SYDNEY and Philip Wen in BEIJING; Additional reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in NEW ZEALAND and Roberta Rampton in WASHINGTON) It was a humid day in March, 2015 when 25-year-old feminist activist Zheng Churan was confronted by eight men knocking at her door, one of them in a police uniform. They demanded she go with them to the nearby police station in Guangzhou, southern China, where authorities interrogated her about her activism. The questioning continued overnight. Zheng would spend the next 37 days in prison along with four other activists: Li Maizi, Wu Rongrong, Wei Tingting and Wang Man. Their crime? Planning to distribute information about gender equality and sexual harassment to mark International Womens Day. The imprisonment of the women, who are collectively known as the Feminist Five, garnered international outrage that contributed to their eventual release the following month. But the effects of their activism and detention have been long-lasting, and have been credited with laying the foundations for the #MeToo movement that has emerged in China over the past year. In a new book titled Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China, author and academic Leta Hong Fincher looks at the impact of the Feminist Five on the womens movement in China today, more than three years after their arrests. During Hong Finchers recent visit to Hong Kong, she spoke to TIME about the Feminist Five, the global spread of patriarchal authoritarianism and the importance of international solidarity in the fight for womens rights. How has the #MeToo movement played out in China, and has it been different than the movement in the U.S., for example? #MeToo didnt spring out of nowhere in China: it was already growing. Chinas feminist movement was already very active, and when #MeToo came up as a global phenomenon, these activists seized on that momentum as a useful tool to attract more ordinary women. Its now become very mainstream and at this point, its extremely hard for the Chinese government to control it. There are news reports that say #MeToo has been slow to take off in China. Well, what do you expect? Chinas not a normal country. This is a hashtag campaign in a country where there is no internet freedom. The hashtag is routinely censored. Womens personal stories of sexual abuse are routinely deleted within hours if not minutes. There is no press freedom, which was essential to #MeToo taking off in the U.S. Story continues Read more: How #MeToo Is Taking on a Life of Its Own in Asia How important was the imprisonment of the Feminist Five for the womens rights movement in China today? I consider it to be a really important turning point. We can see now that this event galvanized a huge number of young people men as well as women. Inside China, it marked the beginning of a real dedicated political movement. Outside China, it showed the world that there actually are feminists in China who are independent of the Communist Party and there actually is an organic, grassroots womens rights movement. Chinas Feminist Five activist Zheng Churan & activist Liang Xiaowen at #MeTooRallyNYC ????? pic.twitter.com/PrwbXaV3aQ Leta Hong Fincher??? (@LetaHong) December 9, 2017 In the context of the wider crackdown on rights in China, such as the repression of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, why do you think that the womens rights movement has been able to differentiate itself and gain support for its cause? The difference with the womens rights movement is that first of all, their fundamental message resonated with many, many millions of women in China. [But] until recent years, they didnt really see a possibility to connect with larger numbers. Social media has played a really important role in the growth of the feminist movement, in spite of the draconian controls on the internet. It shows you that there is still space for successful activism, even with all this incredibly grim news on multiple fronts such as in Xinjiang. When I look at the whole history of social movements since 1989, I think that this is the one with the greatest promise. You write about patriarchal authoritarianism and Xi Jinpings particular brand of leadership. Could you explain what this means and how this affects women in China? Patriarchal authoritarianism is what underpins the longevity of the Communist Party. They see the subjugation of women as critical to the partys survival. I think thats even more important to them than sustaining economic growth. There is also the hyper-masculine personality cult of Xi Jinping, where he presents himself as a father figure and strongman ruler over these male-dominated, harmonious families. Keeping the family with children together under a man who exerts his authority and a wife who is obedient is seen as critical to political stability. So when you have single women refusing to get married and have babies, insisting that they control their own bodies, wanting to make their own decisions and not follow the edicts of the Communist Party, then thats an existential threat to these male leaders. Have you seen similar tendencies in other world leaders? There isnt a single authoritarian state that embraces feminism, and so that misogyny and subjugation of women underpins all of these strongman-like states. Most recently [right-wing, president-elect Jair] Bolsonaro in Brazil, is a horrible misogynist. Just look at Donald Trump. Hes always praising strongmen rulers around the world. He wants to be one, clearly. There are a lot of commonalities and a lot of overlap between how patriarchal authoritarianism exists in China and how it exists in other countries as well. A woman walks past a poster that reads 'say no to sexual harassment' in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province of China on Aug. 9, 2018. Despite the challenges, do you see any trends in China and internationally with the womens rights movement that inspire optimism? Im not hopeful when it comes to looking at the Chinese government, or any of these other rulers around the world who just want to stay in power. What gives me hope in China is that there are so many young women who are not just giving up and being cynical. This is a global fight against the patriarchy, and what we are seeing in China with how women have resisted is really important to pay attention to. Feminist activists around the world inspire each other, such as Pussy Riot, who have inspired women in China, and women in Ireland who took on the Catholic Church in the abortion referendum. Even though there is a ton of dire news with the rise of fascism and authoritarianism, we have seen women rising up around the world. And I derive hope from that. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Amazingly, the fact that television stations in Chicago had helicopters above Soldier Field filming kicker Cody Parkey practicing kicks isnt the craziest part of that story. The craziest part came when the Chicago Bears banned the television stations from using the footage. Parkey went to practice at Soldier Field on Wednesday night after he hit four uprights in one game on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. That was unusual. Having helicopters hovering above and filming him practice was weird. Banning footage of it like its a state secret is insane. Bears kicker Cody Parkey (1) got in some extra practice Wednesday night. (AP) Bears wouldnt allow Cody Parkey footage to be used The Chicago Tribune reported that the team would not let WLS and WGN use the footage it got from Parkey kicking with a holder and snapper in Soldier Field. It invoked its rules on practice footage, although its hard to believe the Minnesota Vikings, this weeks opponent, could gather much of a strategic edge from an overhead shot of Parkey practicing kicks. WGN ended up getting the footage on air during a live shot Wednesday night. The Bears did not comment to the Chicago Tribune for why they wouldnt let the helicopter footage be aired. Parkey got some extra practice Parkey is having a good season but had a rough game last Sunday against the Lions. It was a different approach to have him kick at the stadium on Wednesday night and not at the practice facility like usual. Maybe that will help him be ready for the conditions on Sunday night against the Vikings. Did Parkey do well or does he have the yips all of a sudden? We might never know because the practice footage is apparently being treated as classified material. Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Subscribe to The Yahoo Sports NFL Podcast Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Podcasts Brussels (AFP) - The tentative Brexit deal grudgingly approved by the British cabinet on Wednesday could yet fall apart, but for one man it is already a personal victory. No-one in Brussels welcomed Britain's decision to quit the European Union, but Michel Barnier has been hailed for at least keeping the other 27 members together during the divorce talks. The union's chief negotiator, a veteran French politician and Brussels insider whose best days were seen as behind him, has seemed to relish the challenge. And he beamed, albeit with a fatigued air, when he stepped up to announce the draft accord, the fruit of what he described as 17 months of "very intense negotiations". "There's no more green. White is the new green," he said as he leafed triumphantly through the 585-page withdrawal agreement, joking about the coloured ink used on passages still under debate. "Yes, we're tired, that's for sure," he said, praising his team, which has been locked in what some officials here called a "diplomatic tunnel" for weeks to hammer out the fine print. "But I hope we hide it well," he continued. "We also have the energy and determination that gave us this unity and the confidence of European leaders." When Britain voted in June 2016 to leave the EU, there were fears in Brussels that it could trigger a domino effect that would see the bloc splinter. The deal agreed this week won't keep Britain in, but Barnier has been hailed by his peers for keeping the other 27 members united behind his negotiating strategy till the end. He has stood by Ireland's concerns over its border with the land border in the UK, and reassured business about the dangers of disruption to ties with Britain's large economy. And in doing so, he has revived his own career, perhaps even placing himself in line once again for the post he was passed over for in 2014 -- president of the European Commission. Story continues "Barnier demonstrated flexibility and great political savvy in the negotiations. His job was to keep the 27 together and to have a frank dialogue with the British," said Jean-Dominique Giuliani of the Robert Schuman Foundation. "The 27 have always backed him up and trusted him," he added. A convinced European, the 67-year-old former minister had hoped to take a role in building rather than dismantling the union when he sought the backing of the centre-right PPE to take Brussels' top job. But his own French conservative party failed to swing behind him, and former Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker got the job instead. Isolated in Brussels, Barnier later hoped to return to his homeland of Savoie in the French Alps as president of the regional assembly, but again local barons of his UMP opposed him. "He embodies Europe -- everything our voters don't want," one party powerbroker told colleagues ahead of the 2015 poll, in a conversation overheard by an AFP reporter in Strasbourg. Friends say these failures left him bitter, but it was Europe that came to the rescue, albeit with a role mitigating what he sees as the "lose-lose" decision of British voters to quit the union. - 'Pragmatic and experienced' - His former rival Juncker named him a special adviser, then handed him the tricky but high-profile task of agreeing divorce terms with the prickly Brits. Two years later, Barnier felt he had to announce he was not seeking PPE support to replace Juncker next year -- and the party picked little-known Bavarian MEP Manfred Weber. But Brexit has allowed Barnier to stay above the fray ahead of next May's European elections, and he could yet have a role in the horsetrading to come. When late French leader Charles de Gaulle opposed Britain's entry into the then European Common Market, Barnier voted in a 1972 French referendum to allow it in. "I have never regretted that vote because there is strength in unity," he has repeatedly declared. Barnier served variously as France's environment, European affairs, agriculture and foreign minister -- learning the dossiers that now bedevil the complicated break-up talks. And in Brussels, where he has been commissioner for finance and for the single market, he mastered the arcane mysteries of EU law. "He knows about the problems we'll have to negotiate with the British," Juncker explained. - Power players - Britain's task was a hard one; the dissolution of legal, political and trade ties built over four decades after a narrow majority of voters backed an exit rejected by the bulk of the political elite. But Barnier's political challenge was almost as complex. He is the Brexit point man not only for his nominal employer the European Commission, but also for the 27 remaining member states. But, while Britain repeatedly changed its own main negotiator, and Prime Minister Theresa May has tried and failed to go above his head directly to fellow national leaders, Barnier has held on. And on Thursday he will be standing alongside European Council president Donald Tusk to announce plans for a leaders' summit to approve his deal. Prime Minister hit by wave of resignations on turbulent day Dominic Raab and Esther McVey most high-profile ministers to go Jacob Rees-Mogg among at least a dozen MPs to issue letter of no-confidence in PM Defiant May tells Commons her Brexit plan is the only viable option Jeremy Corbyn condemns PMs half-baked deal as halfway house Odds of Theresa Mays exit tumble in wake of resignations A defiant Theresa May has stared down Brexiteer attempts to oust her and called for the country to unite as she fights for her political life in the face of increasingly unlikely odds. The PM has been hit by a wave of resignations and open rebellion among senior Tory MPs today, leaving her administration on the brink of imploding and her plan to leave the EU in tatters. In a tense speech from inside Downing Street given after numerous letters of no-confidence in her were submitted Mrs May said: I believe with every fibre of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for our country and all our people. Theresa May has vowed to see Brexit plan through on day of turmoil (AP) From the very beginning I have known what I wanted to deliver for the British people to honour their vote in the referendum. The PMs resilience in the face of widespread condemnation was marked, with her voice quivering as she began to speak. Serving in high office is an honour and privilege. It is also a heavy responsibility that is true at any time but especially when the stakes are so high. Her comments came after a chaotic day that had looked set to end more decidedly than it has. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey both Brexiteers resigned on Thursday morning just hours after Mrs May secured Cabinet backing for her Brexit deal in a fiery meeting. Two junior ministers have also quit today along with two ministerial aides and the partys vice-chairman Rehman Chishti. Significantly, the first concrete moves designed to topple the PM have also got under way as Jacob Rees-Mogg became one of many Tory MPs to submit a letter of no-confidence, bringing the prospect of a leadership challenge within touching distance. Forty-eight letters are needed to trigger a contest. Story continues WATCH | Fantastic statement just now by @Jacob_Rees_Mogg: "The negotiations have given away on all the key points. Leaving the EU is the most fantastic opportunity for the United Kingdom. It's being thrown away! This is a failure of government policy, it needs to be rejected!" pic.twitter.com/ty5e0Ss7qA Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) November 15, 2018 Mr Rees-Mogg said the country could have a new leader within weeks. Asked about possible successors, he named Boris Johnson, David Davis, Dominic Raab, Esther McVey and Penny Mordaunt. During a defiant address to MPs on Thursday morning in the face of increasing adversity Mrs May said her draft deal was the only viable option, saying it was this deal, no deal, or no Brexit at all. But by then her plans had already begun to unravel dramatically with Mr Raab becoming the first high-profile Cabinet minister to quit. READ THE LATEST BREXIT NEWS FROM TODAY EUs Tusk says bloc is prepared for Brexit to be cancelled Pound plunges after Brexit minister resigns This insane chart shows just how much theres still to do on Brexit Irish government criticised for self-congratulations on Brexit deal Ms McVey resigned at 10am, saying I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. Brexit minister Suella Braverman and Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara have also gone. Theresa May put in a stubborn performance in the House of Commons. (PA) Esther McVey became the second high-profile resignation (Getty) One bookmaker has now stopped taking bets on Theresa Mays exit date. A BetFred spokesperson said: We see her position as untenable and a wave of support for her to leave this year has forced us to close the market. Of those still in position, Penny Mordaunt and Michael Gove are those most likely to make a move next. Mr Gove has reportedly been offered the role of Brexit Secretary but is thought to have said he will only accept it if he can scrap Mrs Mays current draft deal. Mays uphill battle The Prime Minister came under fire from all angles during tense exchanges with MPs from all parties in the House of Commons. There was widespread laughter as she said that it would allow the UK to leave in a smooth and orderly way on March 29. It takes back control of our borders, laws and money. It protects jobs, security and the integrity of the United Kingdom, and it delivers in ways that many said could simply not be done, she said. However, when pressed whether she would put a second referendum back on the table, Mrs May said that wasnt an option. She also insisted that Article 50 will not be extended. Jacob Rees-Moog tore into Mrs Mays Brexit plan in the Commons, listing the broken promises contained within the agreement. He threatened to write to Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 committee, who received the letters of no confidence in the PM. Jeremy Corbyn condemned her half-baked deal. The Government is in chaos. Their deal risks leaving the country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say, he said. Notwithstanding the ministerial resignations that have already taken place, Mrs May faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs and some Remainers have lined up to condemn the plan. Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg wrote to all Tory MPs urging them to vote against the deal (Getty) Chief Whip Julian Smith has said he is confident the Government will get the support of Parliament for the deal. But with the DUP whose 10 MPs prop up Mrs May in the Commons voicing their unhappiness at the agreement, and the prospect of a significant Tory backbench revolt it is hard to see how ministers can make the numbers add up. The DUPs deputy leader Nigel Dodds tore into Mrs May. He told MPs: I could today stand here and take the Prime Minister through the list of promises and pledges she made to this house and to us, privately, about the future of Northern Ireland in the future relationship with the EU. But I fear it would be a waste of time since she clearly doesnt listen. Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the draft Brexit agreement is a miserable failure of negotiation and that Labour will vote against it. He said: This is now an incredibly serious situation. The Prime Ministers Brexit deal has fallen at the first hurdle. Brussels reacts As Tory MPs began their maneouvres in London, in Brussels the EU fought against British critics of the draft Brexit deal, insisting it is the best deal anyone can offer. Senior figures from the European Commission and parliament weighed in behind the PMs efforts to sell the deal to sceptics from both sides of the Brexit debate. EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, left, European Council President Donald Tusk. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) European Council president Donald Tusk also appeared to express the hope that Brexit could still be averted. The EU is prepared for a final deal with the United Kingdom in November, he told a news conference in Brussels. We are also prepared for a no-deal scenario but of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario. Raab and McVey lead the pack Tweeting his letter of resignation, Mr Raab said Mrs Mays deal posed a threat to the integrity of the UK. He wrote: The regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom. Dominic Raab was the first high-profile minister to go. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement. Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 Explaining his resignation Mr Raab said he believed Mrs May should stay on as Prime Minister but change course over Brexit. I have been fighting for a good Brexit deal but the terms proposed to the Cabinet yesterday had two major and fatal flaws, he said. The first is that the terms being offered by the EU threaten the integrity of the UK. The second is that they would lead to an indefinite, if not permanent, situation where we are locked into a regime with no say over the rules and the laws being applied, with no exit mechanism. Ms McVey said in her resignation letter: The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesnt. We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. Earlier this morning I informed the Prime Minister I was resigning from her Cabinet pic.twitter.com/ZeBkL5n2xH Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) November 15, 2018 COUNTDOWN TO BREXIT LATEST ANALYSIS FROM YAHOO UK Where do Theresa Mays ministers stand on Brexit? Post-Brexit trip to Europe? Try these non-EU alternatives Bank of England governor confident about UK banks Brexit readiness Dont be fooled the biggest battle over Brexit starts now Hard Brexit could cripple UK science warn Nobel Prize winners Pic: Yahoo Finance UK Irish stocks sunk more than 3% to their lowest levels in more than two years on Thursday, with investors spooked by the deepening political tumult in London. With fears mounting that the UK could crash out of the European Union without a deal, by 2.30pm local time the benchmark ISEQ index in Dublin had fallen below 6,000 for the first time since November 2016. The plunge made Irish stocks the worst-performing in western Europe. Stocks in Ryanair (RY4C.IR) plunged more than 5%, while those in construction firm CRH (CRG.IR) fell by almost 4%. Ireland would be severely affected by a no-deal Brexit. In July, the International Monetary Fund predicted that a no-deal could reduce Irish economic output by nearly 4% and cost nearly 50,000 jobs, and said that the loss in economic output could be as much as for the UK itself. Irish stocks were buoyed on Wednesday on the back of reports that negotiators for the UK and EU had agreed on the text of the withdrawal agreement. Though prime minister Theresa May later secured cabinet approval for the deal, by lunchtime on Thursday four of her ministers, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, had resigned, as had two parliamentary private secretaries and a Downing St official. READ MORE: EU tells Mays critics: this deal is the best we can do Stephen Prosser, 51, who is suing British Airways for 10,000 after he claims he suffered soft tissue damage after sitting next to 23-stone passenger on a 12-hour flight (Wales News). A businessman is suing British Airways for 10,000 claiming that sitting next to a 23-stone passenger injured his back. Company director Stephen Prosser, 51, claims he suffered soft tissue damage after a 23-stone passenger wedged himself into the seat next to him. BA seated the pair side by side for a 12-hour flight from Bangkok, in Thailand, to London Heathrow on January 10, 2016. Mr Prosser, who is 5ft 2in, claims the obese passenger was so large his body fat spilled into his seat by several inches. British Airways are facing a 10,000 lawsuit after Stephen Prosser claimed being seated next to a fat passenger left him with soft tissue damage (PA) The freelance civil engineer said he was crushed against the side of the plane by the 6ft 5in 23-stone man. His lawyers say Mr Prosser was forced to adjust his body and sit in an awkward and uncomfortable position for the whole 12 hour and 40 minute flight. Mr Prosser says he was left suffering from his injuries for the next three months. But BA deny the claims stating Mr Prosser did not not display any signs of injury when leaving the flight and disagree that the man was fat. Dad-of-two Mr Prosser said: Id paid over 1,000 for the flight and usually I fly Thai Airways but because BA had a sale on and were cheaper I went with them. Just as the plane door was about to close, this 6ft 5in elk, weighing about 23-stone got on-board and sat between myself and another passenger who had the aisle seat. He was a huge bloke, not just overweight but really big boned as well. He was a real lump. Mr Prosser claims he was injured by a man weighing 23-stone. Stock image (PA). I felt discomfort as soon as he sat down because I was pinned against the side of the cabin. Im only about 5ft 2in and weigh 10 stone. I ended up doing a lot of damage to my back over the course of a nightmare 13-hours. Mr Prosser says he continued to see a chiropractor up until May this year. Defence documents to the claim show Mr Prosser was sitting in a window seat on the plane and the obese passenger was in the middle seat. A BA customer service manager said the passenger next to Mr Prosser was well built and over six feet tall, but certainly not fat. Story continues Mr Prosser, of Tonypandy, South Wales, was offered extra pillows and blankets to support his back which he accepted. He is claiming between 5,000 and 10,000 as general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. The case is set to be heard at Pontypridd County Court on Friday. Before the hearing, a spokeswoman for BA said: As the case is subject to ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo In the most destructive wildfire in the states history, Camp Fire ravaged extensive parts of Northern California, claiming 48 lives so far. Meanwhile, Woolsey Fire caused two deaths in Southern California, with a whopping 57,000 structures still threatened by the fire, per a CNN report. Needless to say, utilities operating in California are likely to bear the brunt of the losses caused by these wildfires. Economic Impact While the deadly blaze continues in parts of Northern as well as Southern California, disaster modeler CoreLogic predicts that 48,390 homes in the state are at "high or extreme risk" of damage. This is likely to bring potential reconstruction costs to $18 billion. AccuWeather believes the total damage and economic impact of the California wildfires has already exceeded $80 billion. It may exceed $150 billion and possibly reach $200 billion by next week based on AccuWeather forecast conditions of strong winds and very little rain in the inferno affected areas. If these conditions persist at least partially into December, this could turn out to be one of the costliest weather and climate disasters in the United States, exceeding the damage caused by recent major hurricanes such as Katrina, Sandy and Harvey. Impact on Utilities Shares of electric utility providers in California, particularly PG&E Corp PCG and Edison International EIX plunged on concerns that the wildfires ravaging the state could cost them billions of dollars. Notably, PG&E Corp. and Edison Internationals subsidiary, Southern California Edison (SCE) have recently released reports suggesting that their equipment may have started the deadly fires now burning at both ends of the state. Both utilities are currently grappling with power outages affecting tens of thousands of customers. They have submitted initial incident reports to state regulators, which have started investigations. Consequently, both these Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stocks have witnessed more than 15% decline in their share price since Nov 8, when the wildfire started to spread widely. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues It is imperative to mention in this context that PG&E Corp is already facing liability issues associated with wildfires in wine country that caused damage of up to $17.3 billion in October 2017, per a JP Morgan Chase & Co. estimate. The company recorded a charge of $2.5 billion in the final quarter of 2017 in connection with the Northern California wildfires. Now that it has accepted its role in the latest fire, the company is likely to face more losses in the coming days. In December 2017, several wind-driven wildfires impacted portions of Southern California Edisons service territory and caused substantial damage to both residential and business properties and service outages at its customers. During the third quarter of 2018, Moody's and Fitch downgraded the companys credit ratings due to the exposure related to wildfires. The latest announcement made by the company, in relation to the Woolsey Fire, will make its position in the credit market no better. Another utility operator in the region, Sempra Energys SRE subsidiary, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), is also likely to incur huge loss due to the latest wildfires that have destroyed 8,800 structures in Northern California and 435 in Southern California. This companys shares have lost only 1.7% since Nov 8. However, shares can fall further considering the fact that the blaze has already torched 97,114 acres in Southern California. Is There a Silver Lining? Although utility providers are trying to restore their systems, it is difficult to forecast the time needed for full restoration. Moreover, as the fire continues to rage, delayed restoration is likely in most areas, leading to new outages. The fate of utilities in California hangs in balance for now, since the complete impact of Camp Fire along with Woolsey Fire cannot be gauged at the moment. 3 Medical Stocks to Buy Now The greatest discovery in this century of biology is now at the flashpoint between theory and realization. Billions of dollars in research have poured into it. Companies are already generating revenue, and cures for a variety of deadly diseases are in the pipeline. So are big potential profits for early investors. Zacks has released an updated Special Report that explains this breakthrough and names the best 3 stocks to ride it. See them today for free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PCG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Edison International (EIX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sempra Energy (SRE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The Camp Fire in Northern California is the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century, according to wildfire historians. The death toll for the blaze, which is still burning through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains outside Sacramento, increased to 48 Tuesday night as crews searched for bodies in communities that were caught in the fast-moving flames. The Camp Fire already became the deadliest fire in California history earlier this week surpassing the 1933 Griffith Park Fire in Los Angeles, which killed 29. It also surpassed the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, which killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighting crew. Not since the Cloquet Fire in 1918 has a wildfire killed so many people in the United States. An estimated 450 died in the wildfire in Minnesota. The deadliest fire in U.S. history was the Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin in 1871. At least 1,200 people died. The grim milestone of the Camp Fire is the result of increasing development in fire-prone areas and climate change that makes wildfires more intense, experts say. John Bailey, a wildfire expert and professor at Oregon State University, fears these factors could result in wildfires regularly returning to levels of destruction not seen since before the advent of modern firefighting and prevention. Were returning to levels of fire that were present before the era of effective fire suppression in the 1960s and 70s. Not only did we have good technology and a workforce for fire suppression and a willingness to spend the money including the Smokey Bear campaign and Walt Disney it was a real mission of the land management agencies for quite a while, he says. Climate change has also caused fire seasons periods of hot, dry weather that create conditions for wildfires to spark and spread to grown months longer in many places, Bailey says. California barely talks about fire season anymore; its [just] part of the year now. Conditions are often worse. Were reworking conceptualization of how bad they can be. Story continues Wildfires are not new in the United States. In fact, 150 years ago there were probably just as many wildfires as there are today, says Adam Sowards, a professor of history at the University of Idaho. But, he says, we have more people so there is greater likelihood of people getting caught and also as communities build into what fire professionals call wild land urban interface. To prevent future deadly fires, it will take major action from governments and people living in fire-prone areas, Sowards says. It will take a whole combination of things, from changes in zoning regulations to applying fire back to the landscape in certain context to try to refuel that way, he says. Probably situations where there should be logging in some scenarios, a moratorium on building in some places. Overall we need to pay close attention to the changing climate and what that is doing to our landscape [and] taking that seriously as we plan into the future. Here are some of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. Peshtigo Fire 1871 Peshtigo Fire is the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history. The wildfire burned through 1.2 million acres in Wisconsin, killing 1,200 people. According to the National Weather Service, the blaze began as a brush fire in an unknown part of the Wisconsin forest and that eventually caused $169 million of damage in 17 towns, completely decimating the city of Peshtigo. The fire was made far worse by a cold front moved in from the west, which brought strong winds of up to 110 mph that fanned the fires. The flames reportedly reached up to 2,000 degrees. The severity of the fire was caused by multiple factors, including prolonged drought, logging and clearing of land for farms. Map of the areas affected by the Peshtigo Fire in 1871. Cloquet Fire 1918 In October of 1918, 450 people died in Minnesotas Cloquet Fire. The wildfire burned through 250,000 acres and caused $73 million in damage. According to the Weather Service, a spark from a passing train mixed with the parched landscape and winds of up to 76 mph led to the worst wildfire in Minnesota history and one of the worst in the recorded U.S. history. At the time, northeast Minnesota was reportedly experiencing its driest season in 48 years. In the end, 38 communities were destroyed by the blaze, including Cloquet, Moose Lake and Kettle River. Map of the areas affected by Minnesota's Cloquet Fire in 1918. The Great Fire- 1910 The Great Fire of 1910 burned through 3 million acres in northern Idaho and western Montana. According to the Forest History Society, the wildfire killed 87 people, mostly firefighters, and is believed to be the largest wildfire in U.S. history. Although no official cause was determined, throughout the dry summer up to 100 small fires in the areas were started by railroad sparks. That August, strong winds swept through the area and fanned embers causing flames to spread rapidly. In what is known as the Big Blowup, the fire continued to spread rapidly for two days before it was stopped by rain. According to the Weather Service, the smoke for the Great Fire spread a third of the way around the world producing some dark days in the U.S. and Canada. Griffith Park Fire- 1933 In 1933 the Griffith Park Fire in Los Angeles, Calif., 29 firefighters died trying to put out the blaze that started as a brush fire that spread up the Mineral Wells Canyon and burned through 47 acres. The Griffith Park Fire was the deadliest wildfire in California history until 2018s Camp Fire. Yarnell Hill Fire 2013 The 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona burned though 8,400 acres and killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group within the Prescott Fire Department whose mission was to fight wildfires. The wildfire was sparked by lightning and spread by 22 mph winds and extremely dry conditions caused by a drought. The wildfire ultimately caused $664 million in damage and was the deadliest wildfire in Arizona history. Cedar Fire- 2003 In 2003, the Cedar Fire in San Diego burned through 273,246 acres, killing 15 people, including one firefighter. The blaze caused over a $1 billion in destruction and began in the Cleveland National Forest by a hunter signaling for help. It quickly spread due to the Santa Ana Winds. The Cedar Fire destroyed nearly 3,000 structures, including 2,232 homes. Communities across California have started on the arduous road to recovery even as massive wildfires still blaze through the state and despite more than 100 people remaining missing. Forecasters predicted extreme red state conditions could worsen throughout the week as the death toll in the deadly Camp Fire rose to 56, and the total number of dead across the state hit 59. Meanwhile, some residents in Southern California and elsewhere were slowly allowed back into their neighbourhoods, where charred vehicles and destroyed homes painted a grim picture. Authorities searching through the blackened aftermath of Californias deadliest wildfire, the Camp Fire in the north of the state, have released the names of about 130 people who are still missing, including many in their 80s and 90s. As the names were made public, additional crews joined the search for remains. We want to be able to cover as much ground as quickly as we possibly can, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said. This is a very difficult task. Meanwhile, friends and relatives of the missing grew increasingly desperate. A message board at a shelter was filled with photos of the missing and pleas for any information. A number of alleged looters were also arrested around the area on Wednesday. We mourn for the lives lost and we pray for the victims of the California Wildfires. I want to thank the Firefighters and First Responders for their incredible courage in the face of grave danger.... pic.twitter.com/3YQYZR8OzS Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018 Of the two fires in the south, the smaller Hill Fire is 94 per cent contained, while the Woolsey Fire, which has ripped through more than 97,000 acres and killed at least three, is 47 per cent contained. US interior secretary Ryan Zinke said its not the time to point fingers as he was visiting the aftermath of the Camp Fire on Wednesday. Mr Zinke said there were many factors in wildfires, including rising temperatures. Story continues Theres a lot of reasons for a fire, he said. Now is really not the time to point fingers. Mr Zinke was visiting the town of Paradise with governor Jerry Brown days after President Trump blamed poor forest management for the fire. Mr Brown said climate change was the greater source of the problem and fire officials have said that forest management is not what was behind the fires. Mr Brown said he spoke with Mr Trump on Wednesday and that the president has pledged the full resources of the federal government. Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Brock Long called the blaze one of the worst disasters that Ive seen in my career. Local Officials have said they are looking to bring in mobile homes for thousands of people who have lost their houses to the Camp Fire. Mark Ghilarducci, of the California governors Office of Emergency Services, said hotels and rental properties were other options to house people driven from the town of Paradise and neighbouring communities. The blaze displaced 52,000 people and destroyed more than 7,600 homes, burning through 135,000 acres. It is around 35 per cent contained. Mr Long said that temporary schools and hospitals will be brought in because rebuilding Paradise will take time. He says the town of 27,000 wont be rebuilt the way it was and that we will all have to work together to find a new normal. Celebrities whose homes and communities were ravaged by the wildfires have also chipped in to recovery efforts, providing resources, food and money to foundations working to rebuild the thousands of destroyed homes. Lady Gaga arrived at a local shelter donning black sunglasses and a hat reading Malibu, holding upwards of 10 pizzas. She spoke with community members about the need to support each other during tragedies, and reportedly provided other resources during the visit. I am thinking so deeply for everyone who is suffering today from these abominable fires & grieving the loss of their homes or loved ones, Lady Gaga tweeted. Im sitting here with many of you wondering if my home will burst into flames. All we can do is pray together & for each other. God Bless You. Paramount Pictures cancelled Sundays premiere of the film Instant Family in Los Angeles due the wildfire. The studio said it would donate food ordered for the after party to the American Red Cross, and would screen the film at an evacuation centre. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian-West and Kanye West reportedly hired a private team of firefighters to protect their home and battle blazes within the surrounding area of their mansion in Hidden Hills after the reality TV star flew home and packed for nearly an hour before evacuating. For now, it remains unclear how much worse the wildfires could become in the coming days. While forecasts have predicted strong winds ahead, it appears rain is also a possibility next week, which could provide the drought-stricken area with much-needed water to help combat the deadly flames. Additional reporting by AP An organisation of physicians fear radioactive waste could become a major issue after southern Californias huge wildfire burned near a former nuclear test site. The organisation of Physicians for Social Responsibility said it was likely that smoke and ash from the fire spread radiological and chemical contamination that was in soil and vegetation near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. We know what substances are on the site and how hazardous they are. Were talking about incredibly dangerous radionuclides and toxic chemicals such a trichloroethylene, perchlorate, dioxins and heavy metals, Dr Robert Dodge said in a statement. These toxic materials are in SSFLs soil and vegetation, and when it burns and becomes airborne in smoke and ash, there is real possibility of heightened exposure for area residents. Regulators in California said initial testing found no elevated levels of radiation of hazardous compounds after the blaze near the site. The Department of Toxic Substance Control said its staff went to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory on Saturday and found facilities that previously handled radioactive and hazardous materials were not affected by the fire. The state agency said its measurements on the site and in the surrounding community found no radiation levels above background levels and no elevated levels of hazardous compounds other than those normally present after a wildfire. In an update to their previous statement, the Organisation of Physicians for Social Responsibility said it was irresponsible to claim that SSFL contamination was not spread further by the fire. The Santa Susana Field Laboratory was used for decades to test rocket engines and for nuclear energy research. One of its nuclear reactors had a partial meltdown in 1959, when nuclear material was intentionally vented to prevent the sites Sodium Reactor Experiment from overheating and exploding. Battles over decontamination efforts have gone on for years, with neighbours blaming the site for illnesses. Story continues The so-called Woolsey Fire in southern California has killed two people, destroyed more than 400 structures and at its height displaced about 200,000 people in the mountains and foothills west of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Northern California is beset by its most deadly wildfire in history, dubbed the Camp Fire, which has killed at least 48 people, some burned beyond recognition. The death toll of 48 far exceeds the previous record for the greatest loss of life from a single wildfire in Californias history 29 people killed by the Griffith Park fire in Los Angeles in 1933. The remains of six more victims of Californias most lethal and destructive wildfire in history have been found, bringing the death toll to 48 in the so-called Camp Fire in northern California and 51 total, statewide. Forensic teams with cadaver dogs spent the day combing through ash and charred debris in what was let of the town of Paradise, around 175 miles (280km) north of San Francisco, near the state capital of Sacramento. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said 100 National Guard troops were being sent in at his request to assist in the search for additional human remains left by the Camp Fire. The names of 80 people, many of them elderly, have been released in an effort to locate them amid the blaze damage. The intensified effort to locate victims comes on the sixth day of a blaze that has incinerated more than 8,800 homes and other buildings, including most of Paradise, a town once home to 27,000 people that was largely erased hours after the fire began last Thursday. More than 50,000 local residents remained under evacuation orders. In southern California, the Woolsey Fire has killed three people, destroyed more than 400 structures and displaced some 200,000 people in the mountains and foothills near the Malibu coast west of Los Angeles. Darkened skies could be seen for days as the fire raged on, with winds picking up the smoke and sending it as far as Wisconsin nearly 2,000 miles away. The Woolsey Fire has displaced several celebrities as well including Gerard Butler, Neil Young, and Lady Gaga, who was seen delivering pizzas, coffee, and gift cards to a nearby evacuation centre in Los Angeles. That fire has consumed more than 97,000 acres through Los Angeles and Ventura counties and leaving 57,000 residents still in danger as firefighting authorities said only half of the blaze has been contained. Donald Trump was briefed on the situation by Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) director Brock Long. Mr Trump said he had a phone call with California governor Jerry Brown to let him know that we are with him, and the people of California, all the way! Story continues The president had tweeted over the weekend the fires were due to "poor" "forest management" in the state but did not elaborate on what that actually meant. He also threatened to stop federal government payments to California, presumably funds earmarked for forest management. However, the current spate of wildfires is not in forests. The Camp and Woolsey fires actually began in what the New York Times called the "wildland-urban interface: places where communities are close to undeveloped areas, making it easier for fire to move from forests or grasslands into neighbourhoods." According to a 2015 report by the US Department of Agriculture, there were 44 million homes in those areas. That number is certainly higher in 2018 as urban areas expand in California. Regarding his threat to withdraw federal funds for forest management in California - approximately 60 per cent of the forest land in the state is actually federally held and managed. Of the 33 million acres, 40 per cent are owned and managed by individuals, Native American tribes, and timber companies. Only 3 per cent is owned by the state. After devastating fires last year, California had allocated more than $250 million to lower the risk of more wildfires but drought, possibly due to climate change, has exacerbated conditions. Meanwhile, several homeowners filed a lawsuit against utility company Pacific Gas & Electric for causing the fire. The suit alleged the company did not properly inspect its high voltage power lines, a spark from which is thought to have ignited dry brush and grassland nearby. The company has lost approximately 45 per cent of its stock value as the fires continue to rage. To see how the day unfolded follow our live blog below Please allow a moment for the live blog to load Americans were the third largest group seeking asylum, spurred by fears they would be deported by the Trump administration A Somalian family is helped into Canada by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in February 2017. During that year, some 2,550 US citizens applied for asylum in Canada. Photograph: Paul Chiasson/AP Tiroude and Gislyne are Haitians by birth and migrants by necessity. The couples 18-month-old daughter, however, was born in Fort Lauderdale, and as an American by birth she is part of a growing number of US citizens seeking refuge in Canada. In 2017, some 2,550 US citizens applied for asylum in Canada an increase of more than sixfold from 2016 and the largest such number since at least 1994, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Americans were the third largest contingent of asylum seekers in 2017, after Haitians and Nigerians. The vast majority are children born to Haitian parents, according to experts. Most of the Americans applying for refugee status are the children of non-residents, says Stephane Handfield, a Montreal-based immigration lawyer. They are US citizens because they were born there, but they come across the border with their parents because they dont want to be separated. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to find a way to end birthright citizenship, although legal scholars say this is impossible. Tiroude and Gislyne fled Haiti for Brazil in 2014, in search of work and safety after Gislyne was targeted for her advocacy. Two and a half years later, they headed north after Tiroude lost his job, entering the United States in November 2017 just as the Trump government announced that it wanted 59,000 Haitians living legally in the US to leave the country. In May, the couple moved again this time with a newborn baby becoming some of the roughly 6,000 Haitian asylum seekers who fled the US for Canada last year. We left because President Trump said he wanted to deport people Tiroude We left because President Trump said he wanted to deport people, said Tiroude, who, like his wife, didnt want his last name used. The family flew from Florida to Plattsburgh, New York, and crossed into Canada by way of Roxham Road in Quebec, a remote section of the border which has become a well-trodden path for asylum seekers. Story continues Because they crossed the border irregularly they were quickly arrested. They claimed asylum and were eventually released to await their hearing in front of Canadas Immigration and Refugee Board. They chose their destination largely because of a tweet by Justin Trudeau welcoming to Canada those fleeing persecution, terror and war which came just as Trump made his first attempt to bar refugees from majority Muslim countries. Tiroude and Gislyne originally fled Haiti because Gislyne had been targeted by political rivals for her advocacy work. If I go back to Haiti, I die. Its that simple, she said. But their odds arent good; last year, only about one in four Haitian asylum applicants were successful. They would be compelled to return to an unstable country still reeling from the 2010 earthquake and near-chronic political unrest. For their two children their son was born in October Haiti is a foreign country. Going to Haiti as a parent is dangerous. For my kids its worse because they dont know it. They wont know how to speak Creole, Tiroude said. Were very pessimistic, because theyre starting to deport people. Since Trudeaus tweet, his governments welcome for asylum seekers has cooled notably, with Ralph Goodale, the countrys public safety minister, saying that there was no free ticket into Canada. Canadas border agency hopes to increase deportations of failed refugee claimants by up to 35%, according to a recent investigation by the CBC, Canadas public broadcaster. Meanwhile, Trudeaus Liberal government under increasing political pressure over immigration has dispatched officials to Haiti and Nigeria in an attempt to convince would-be asylum seekers to stay put. Tiroude said he was aware of the backlash against migrants, though he is facing bigger issues. His immigration hearing was recently postponed for a second time, leaving him and his family in limbo once again. We are pessimists. We dont know when our turn will be. We are waiting. We hope it works, he said. This story was amended on 14 November 2018 to correct the location of Plattsburgh from Vermont to New York. ASHKELON, Israel (AP) Loren Amar was watching TV with her father around midnight when an air-raid siren warning of incoming rocket fire blared through their working-class neighborhood in southern Israel. Their old apartment had no in-house shelter, so they huddled in the stairway just before a rocket from Gaza slammed into the building next-door, sending shrapnel and debris flying into their bedrooms and the 29-year-old Amar to the hospital with shock symptoms. "The walls shook and the hallway filled with white smoke. It felt like an earthquake," she recalled Tuesday, a hospital identity tag still wrapped around her wrist. "The electricity went out and we didn't know whether to go up or down. I was hysterical." It was the first lethal rocket attack from Gaza in years, and yet the only fatality was a Palestinian laborer from the West Bank. Two Israeli women were critically wounded. In just 24 hours, Gaza militants fired more than 450 rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel, the most serious escalation since a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2014. Israel responded with a wave of airstrikes it said targeted militants. Residents angrily demanded the government restore calm for good, even if that means another war. Yet many people wearily expressed a sense of helplessness, as successive governments fail to come up with an effective policy to bring quiet to the Israel-Gaza frontier. Hamas militants seized Gaza in 2007, triggering an Israeli-Egyptian border blockade that has choked the territory of 2 million people. Israel refuses to lift the blockade unless Hamas disarms, a demand the militants refuse. The volatile standoff has produced repeated rounds of violence, including indiscriminate Gaza rocket fire at Israeli border towns. Word late Tuesday that Gaza militants agreed to a cease-fire was unlikely to sway people's minds that there is no long-term solution to the Gaza conundrum. "I don't know how you stop this thing. Nothing helps. Whatever you do it always comes back," said Shlomit Hayat, 38. Story continues She noted that the deadly violence came just days after Israel allowed Qatar to deliver $15 million in cash to Gaza to alleviate its economic hardship and after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he'd do everything he can to prevent an "unnecessary" war. The latest fighting was triggered by a botched Israeli raid into Gaza on Sunday that set off clashes resulting in the deaths of seven Palestinian militants, including a local Hamas commander, and a senior Israeli military officer. Palestinian militant groups said the rocket barrage was a message to Israel that such incursions have a cost. Gazans have similar fears when fighting breaks out. While Israel says it has confined its airstrikes to military targets, hundreds of Palestinian civilians have been killed in the three previous wars. For many in Gaza, the latest outbreak of fighting brought back fears that no place is truly safe in the densely populated territory. On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike destroyed a six-story residential building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City that housed a kindergarten on its ground floor. Israel said the building was used by Hamas for military purposes a charge denied by residents. "All the people here are civilians, children and families," said Mamdouh al-Shurafa, a building resident. "When we are bombed in the middle of the city, where can we go?" Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the group seized Gaza from the internationally-backed Palestinian Authority in 2007. In the most recent war, over 2,200 Palestinians were killed, more than half of them civilians, and tens of thousands were left homeless. Seventy-three people, most of them soldiers, were killed on the Israeli side. Israel's Iron Dome rocket-defense system and advanced warning networks have provided a large degree of protection from the rockets, which killed some 30 civilians in the decade prior to the 2014 war. Casualties have dropped considerably since then and a proliferation of rocket-proof safe rooms in newer buildings has allowed many Israelis to feel much safer in their own homes. But this week's onslaught showed the system is not foolproof. The overnight rocket that slipped through penetrated the roof of a four-story apartment building, leaving the entire structure pockmarked, its windows blown out and the balcony shutters hanging limply. Emergency forces evacuated a critically wounded woman to hospital. Only an hour later, a neighbor sifting through the rubble discovered the other wounded woman and the dead man. "I heard a murmur and then I saw a hand reach out," said Shlomi Lankry. Relatives in the West Bank town of Halhoul identified the dead man as 48-year-old Mahmoud Abu Asbeh. A married father of six, he would typically sleep in Ashkelon during the week and return home for weekends. "The rockets don't have eyes to see, they hit randomly, and this happened randomly, it was unintentional," said his father, Abdel Hamid Abu Asbeh. "Last night he told me the rockets are falling like rain. He said: 'May God protect us,' as if he expected something." Those around the building were at a loss to describe the shock of a rocket landing in the heart of their neighborhood. "It's like Russian Roulette," said Elie Mozes, 57. "It just comes out of nowhere." Back at home after her stint in the hospital, Amar said she was at a loss to prescribe a solution. With glass strewn across her bed and holes blown through her hanging laundry, she said all she knew was that something had to be done. "If anyone still lives in a fairytale that there will be peace here they need to snap out of it," she said. ____ Associated Press writer Fares Akram in Gaza City contributed reporting. ___ Follow Heller at www.twitter.com/aronhellerap By David Shepardson and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge said he would hold a hearing on Wednesday on CNN's lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking the speedy reinstatement of press credentials for White House correspondent Jim Acosta, a frequent target of President Donald Trump. In its lawsuit filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, the cable news network said the White House violated the First Amendment right to free speech as well as the due process clause of the Constitution providing fair treatment through judicial process. The network asked for a temporary restraining order. Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, dismissed the action as "just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit." U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to respond to the lawsuit by 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Wednesday and he set a hearing for 3:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) that day on the request for a restraining order. Kelly, a former lawyer for the Senate Judiciary Committee, was nominated to the bench by Trump last year. The White House revoked Acosta's credentials last week in an escalation of the Republican president's attacks on the news media, which he has dubbed the "enemy of the people." Trump has intensified his criticism of the reporters who cover him, making personal jabs in response to questions he does not like, including those about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of whether his campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 presidential election. Trump denies any collusion took place. CNN, and Acosta in particular, have been regular targets of the president. The day after the Nov. 6 congressional elections, Trump erupted into anger during a news conference when Acosta questioned him about the Russia probe and a migrant caravan travelling through Mexico. "That's enough, that's enough," Trump told Acosta last Wednesday, as a White House intern attempted to take the microphone away from the correspondent. "You are a rude, terrible person." Story continues The White House suspended his credentials later that day, with Sanders alleging that Acosta had put his hands on the intern who was trying to take the microphone from him. Videos of the encounter show Acosta pulling back as the intern moved to take the microphone. 'COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYONE' "While the suit is specific to CNN and Acosta, this could have happened to anyone," CNN said in a statement. "If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials." The lawsuit noted that Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday there "could be others also." Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer for CNN and Acosta, said the White House was punishing Acosta for the contents of his reporting. "The White House cannot be permitted to cast out and punish reporters with whom it disagrees," CNN said in its court filing. The White House Correspondents Association said revoking Acosta's credentials was a disproportionate reaction to what happened at the news conference. "The President of the United States should not be in the business of arbitrarily picking the men and women who cover him," it said. U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler, who is likely to become the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in January, supported the CNN lawsuit. "@CNN is right to fight back against the cynical, unfair, and authoritarian treatment of @Acosta for doing his job," he said in a Twitter post. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Doina Chiacu; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Peter Cooney) At least 56 people have been killed in the devastating Camp fire in Northern California and 130 people are still missing, authorities said on Wednesday evening. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told reporters that search and rescue officials had discovered eight additional bodies on Wednesday, adding to a rising death toll in what has become the states deadliest fire in history. More than 130,000 acres have been burned in the blaze, which was only 35 percent contained at the time of the news conference. This is the most difficult part of my job, Honea said. A lot of work has been done with regard to our efforts to find unaccounted for and missing persons further down the road. We have brought a lot of resources in. Around 460 people have been sifting through the wreckage left by the fire and officials were using nearly two dozen cadaver dogs to find human remains. Honea said the additional bodies were all discovered in the Paradise area. #CampFire (Butte Co) - 56 fatalities from the fire per the Sheriff in the press conference right now w/ all 8 located today found in the #Paradise area, 6 were inside structures. 130 people remain missing/unaccounted for. CA Fire Scanner (@CAFireScanner) November 15, 2018 Officials also said that more than 10,300 structures had been destroyed by the flames, including 8,650 homes. Some 52,000 people have been evacuated from the region, with more than 1,300 living in temporary shelters as smoke still blankets the area. The air quality is extremely unhealthy, a public health official said at the briefing Wednesday. I know were working on putting together some information about short-term and longer-term health effects. The same preventative measures are being recommended. Story continues Aviva Braun, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said dry conditions and winds would continue and that the agency expected rain to arrive by the end of next week. Honea said the county was flying in a rapid DNA identification system to help identify victims of the fire, and urged those with missing family members to donate DNA samples to help determine who had been killed. The sheriff said his office had tentatively identified 47 people but that he was still waiting on confirmation. Many of the missing people were 65 years and older, according to a list released by the sheriffs office. Firefighters recover the body of a Camp fire victim at the Holly Hills Mobile Estates on Wednesday in Paradise, California. Thousands of homes were destroyed when flames hit Paradise, a former gold-mining camp popular with retirees. (Photo: AP Photo/Noah Berge) Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke visited the communities affected by the fire on Wednesday alongside California Gov. Jerry Brown (D). While he acknowledged that wildfires were getting worse in the state, he failed to link their severity to climate change. Each trip, I say this is the worst fire Ive seen. Were here today, and this is the worst Ive seen, Zinke said, adding that it was not the time to point fingers. Brown, on the other hand, said bleakly that Californians were living in a different kind of world. What causes these catastrophes the changing of the climate, the winds, the dryness and the continuing drought, he said. Were in for difficult times. It will never be the same. Related Coverage Death Toll Mounts To 48 In Northern California Fire, Deadliest In State History Southern California Wildfire Burns Most Of National Park In Santa Monica Mountains Ryan Zinke Says California Wildfires Are Getting Worse But Wont Mention Climate Change Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Dirty Lemon, a direct-to-consumer health-conscious beverage company that sells its drinks exclusively via text message, recently discontinued its best-selling cannabidiol (CBD) drink that it launched earlier this year. There was a little bit more liability for us to take on than what we were expecting, CEO Zak Normandin said on Yahoo Finances Morning Meeting live show. Its a legal gray area right now, CBD. And, until the farm bill passes and theres clarity on the federal and state level, its just too much of a liability for us. So, weve had insurance carriers threaten to cancel us, weve had credit card processors shut us down. Theres a lot of risk. But thats obviously paired with a lot of consumer interest around this specific ingredient. At $65 for a case of 6 bottles, the +CBD drink was described on Dirty Lemons site as a calming, non-psychoactive blend where a consumer might expect mild euphoria, full-body relaxation, and a clear head. Were not a CBD company According to Normandin, +CBD had been one of Dirty Lemons best selling products. It truly is a liability that were just not taking on as a company, Normandin said, adding, But at the end of the day, were not a CBD company. This was one ingredient we incorporated into a beverage Were not Dirty Lemon, CBD company. Were a beverage company thats focused on taking innovating ingredients and blending them into ready-to-drink beverages. Dirty Lemon has a line of nine beverages that all feature lemon juice, ocean minerals, and sea salt as the base. Dirty Lemon adds flavor and function profiles on top of that base. Dirty Lemon newest drink is its +turmeric, which touts anti-inflammatory properties. Dirty Lemon beverages shown on Yahoo Finances Morning Meeting live show on Nov. 15, 2018. We think that the modern consumer wants to take the guesswork out of whats historically been consumed through pills and powders, and we think the ready-to-drink format is a great way of introducing some of these ingredients that have been common in the naturopathic space for a very long time and blending them into something that fits the lives of the modern consumer. The drinks are ordered by text and delivered the same day or next day in every U.S. market. In a new brick-and-mortar play, Dirty Lemon also recently opened up a cashier-less store in Manhattans Tribeca neighborhood where customers pay via text. In other words, its a complete honor system. Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. Jim Acosta questioning Donald Trump - AFP Donald Trump's administration has argued in legal documents that it does have a constitutional right to ban CNN reporter Jim Acosta from the White House. Lawyers for the US justice department contended that the administration has "broad discretion" to regulate press access to the White House complex. It was a response to CNN's legal request for a temporary restraining order restoring Acosta's access. A judge is due to hold a hearing on Wednesday on CNN's complaint. Responding in court documents the justice department said: "The President and White House possess the same broad discretion to regulate access to the White House for journalists (and other members of the public) that they possess to select which journalists receive interviews, or which journalists they acknowledge at press conferences." Acosta was banished following a particularly contentious press conference with the president last week. He has repeatedly clashed with Mr Trump and press secretary Sarah Sanders in briefings. Jim Acosta Credit: AFP The administration lawyers argued it was "lawful" to punish Acosta. His press credentials were taken away by the Secret Service and CNN alleged that his constitutional rights had been violated. Fox News on Wednesday backed CNN, its bitter cable news rival, in the ongoing dispute. Jay Wallace, president of Fox News, said: "Fox News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporters press credential. "We intend to file an amicus brief with the US District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponised. "While we dont condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the president and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people." The White House has dismissed the complaint as "grandstanding" and vowed to "vigorously defend" its actions. Story continues Acosta and CNN are plaintiffs in the case which names six defendants including Mr Trump, Mrs Sanders, and White House chief of staff John Kelly. In addition to requesting the return of the journalist's credentials CNN is seeking "a declaration that the revocation of Acosta's press credentials was unconstitutional". In a statement ABC News said: "We stand with CNN in believing that Jim Acosta should have his White House pass reinstated. We hope this is resolved swiftly." Donald Trump has named retired General John Abizaid, former head of US Central Command, as his nominee for the next ambassador to Saudi Arabia: Win McNamee/Getty Images Donald Trump has finally nominated a US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, nearly two years after taking office. The president has nomiated retired four-star Army General John Abizaid to the post at a crucial time in diplomatic relations between Washington and Riyadh given the controversy over the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul. Mr Abizaid will have to confirmed by the US Senate before taking up his post. Mr Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and others in the administration have placed the blame for leaving the crucial diplomatic post vacant on Senate Democrats. However, the president had not nominated anyone for the job until now despite making a state visit to Saudi Arabia last year and touting the ties between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and White House advisor Jared Kushner. Mr Abizaid, a Lebanese American, is best known for leading US Central Command from July 2003 to March 2007, overseeing operations in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and Central Asia. He had opposed a troop surge in Iraq during his time at the helm, instead wanting US troops to focus on training Iraqis. When then-President George W Bush disagreed and sent 30,000 additional troops in 2007, they came under the command of then-General David Petraeus and Mr Abizaid retired later that year. He is currently a scholar at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University and holds a Masters in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. Experts have said Mr Abizaids nomination points to the presidents emphasis on US-Saudi Arabian military cooperation - the two countries signed an arms deal last year worth up to $110bn. Mr Trump promised severe consequences over the killing of Mr Khashoggi, a permanent US resident. Saudi leadership has denied any involvement in the murder which Turkey has alleged was carried out by a Saudi "hit squad". Despite the international outcry Mr Trump has said he will not void the arms deal. Story continues Former US ambassador to the kingdom, Robert Jordan, told NPR: "You can't really deal with the highest levels of the government on the ground without an ambassador there and without someone who is constantly beating the drum for American interests. He called Mr Kushner an inexperienced freelancer. Ambassador Joseph Westphal, appointed by Barack Obama, was the last to fill the diplomatic seat. President Donald Trump expressed the extent of his knowledge on voter ID laws Wednesday when he said that buying a box of cereal requires identification. As midterm election votes for the governor of Georgia continue to be counted, along with a recount of votes for governor and Senate positions in Florida, Trump has baselessly claimed that Democratic operatives are attempting to steal the election. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) himself said late last week that there was no evidence of voter fraud. As soon as Democrats sent their best Election stealing lawyer, Marc Elias, to Broward County they miraculously started finding Democrat votes. Dont worry, Florida - I am sending much better lawyers to expose the FRAUD! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2018 He doubled down in an interview with The Daily Caller on Wednesday when he called for more voter ID laws. The Republicans dont win and thats because of potentially illegal votes, Trump said, without evidence. When people get in line that have absolutely no right to vote and they go around in circles. Sometimes they go to their car, put on a different hat, put on a different shirt, come in and vote again. Nobody takes anything. Its really a disgrace whats going on. He then added, If you buy a box of cereal you have a voter ID. President Donald Trump points to his shopping cart during a tour of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Welfare Square food distribution center in December 2017 in Salt Lake City. (Photo: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) Theres a lot to unpack here, which The Daily Caller did a very thorough job of not doing. Is the president saying buying cereal requires identification? Maybe hes referencing that some businesses require a photo ID when paying with a personal check? Or maybe he means to suggest that for certain individuals, a box of cereal itself could act as identification (were looking at you, Toucan Sam, Tony the Tiger, Capn Crunch and that Trix rabbit). This is at least the second time the president has suggested identification is needed to buy groceries. In a July rally in Florida, Trump boasted about his supposed knowledge of both identification laws and grocery shopping. Story continues You know, if you go out and you want to buy groceries, you need a picture on a card. You need ID, Trump said at the time. The July statement caused even The New York Times to ask: Has this man ever shopped at a grocery store before? The publication talked to close friends and personal associates of Trump, who could not confirm the president has ever shopped at a grocery store. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Related Coverage Donald Trump Says You Need A Picture ID To Buy Groceries In America Twitter Users Needle Donald Trump For His Claim You Need Voter ID To Buy Cereal President Trump Is Still Lying About Voter Fraud Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Addis Ababa (AFP) - The lifting of UN sanctions on Eritrea is an unconditional win for the Red Sea state but no guarantee of change to domestic policies that have led to isolation and a refugee crisis. The UN on Wednesday lifted an arms embargo as well as travel bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions imposed nine years ago to punish Eritrea for its alleged support to jihadists in Somalia, an accusation Asmara has always dismissed. But analysts warn against expecting any major changes in Eritrea, despite the rapid reshaping of relations in the Horn of Africa since Ethiopia moved to break a hostile years-long impasse this summer. "The expectation at all levels of Eritrean society is that now there's going to be some sea change, and so far, there's no sign of it," said Matt Bryden, director of Nairobi-based think tank Sahan and a former coordinator of the UN group monitoring the sanctions. Eritrea plunged into repression and isolationism following a 1998-2000 border war with its much larger neighbour Ethiopia. With the two nations locked in a standoff over disputed territory, Eritrea's authoritarian regime jailed dissident politicians and independent journalists, and forced much of the population into perpetual national service. The repression prompted the flight of hundreds of thousands of Eritreans, many of whom made the risky journey to Europe in search of asylum and a better life. - Eritrean vindication - With neither a constitution nor parliament, the power to change Eritrea is entirely in the hands of President Isaias Afwerki, a pugnacious former guerrilla fighter. But both peace with Ethiopia -- which followed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's promise to cede disputed land to Asmara -- and the lifting of UN sanctions play into Isaias' hands. "There will be a lot of vindication rhetoric, that we were right all along," predicted Awet Tewelde Weldemichael, an associate professor at Queen's University in Canada. Story continues "But in practical terms, I don't see much changing." To weaken Ethiopia, Eritrea trained armed groups fighting Ethiopia's 2006 invasion of Somalia. Some of those fighters morphed into the Shabaab Islamist insurgency that plagues the country to this day, according to Bryden. The support to militants in Somalia, as well as an unwillingness to resolve another sometimes-violent border dispute with Djibouti, prompted the UN to impose sanctions. "Asmara's refusal to even talk about it, let alone make tangible progress on resolving [the dispute with Djibouti], were the main argument" for the sanctions, said Dan Connell, a researcher on Eritrea at Boston University. Eritrea is among the world's poorest countries and Asmara blamed sanctions for hindering development, but Awet, who fled the country as a refugee, dismissed this narrative. "The sanctions did not cause any of the hardships that Eritrea is gripped by," he said. - Little push for change - Despite all the talk of peace and a new dispensation in the Horn of Africa triggered by Abiy's sweeping reforms, Eritrea has yet to make any changes: dissidents still languish in jail, young men and women are still forced into national service. Instead, critics -- including a former finance minister -- are still being arrested and Eritreans are still fleeing, with the UN saying more than 14,000 have left since the border with Ethiopia was reopened in September. Bryden expects Isaias' administration to once again face pressure to change tack, but this time it might come from Eritrea's business, political and military elites who sense an opportunity for Eritrea to re-engage with the world. But, he warned, "Eritrea hasn't had normal governance for 20 years, and it's not clear that the competence and expertise required to make these changes still exists." On the world stage, Eritrea is set to benefit from sanctions relief irrespective of its domestic policies. "Keeping sanctions in place was not in the US' interest," Connell said, adding that Eritrea's recent promise to end the border dispute with Djibouti made it "a done deal". "The goal in Washington now is reintegrating Eritrea into the region, restructuring a bilateral relationship and establishing a regional bulwark against Islamic extremism," he added. Positioned on the Red Sea's western shore, the United Arab Emirates already has a military base in Eritrea and Awet said the country's geopolitical value means the US and Europe will want to make an ally of Isaias, whether or not there's change at home. "What's the point of having Eritrea on your side if you can't put it to its maximum use as a strategic asset?" he asked. By Aaron Maasho ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Thursday it had arrested the former deputy intelligence chief after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration launched a crackdown this week on senior security officials suspected of human rights abuses and corruption. Also on Thursday, state-affiliated television Fana Broadcasting said police had arrested the head of the security division at state-owned Ethio Telecom network. Since Monday more than 60 officials, some from the intelligence services and some from the military-run industrial conglomerate METEC, have been arrested. Some have already appeared in court. A judge has denied them bail and given police 14 days further to investigate. None have been charged. Fana Broadcasting said Gudeta Olana, head of security at Ethio Telecom, had also been apprehended by police. It gave no reason for the arrest. In a statement from the prime minister's office on Thursday, Abiy warned against the "cancer" of corruption and human rights abuse in the Horn of Africa nation. "All the criminals will be revealed from where they are hiding," he said. The detentions have been broadly welcomed by rights groups and opposition politicians as a first step by Abiy toward fulfilling pledges made when he took office in April to tackle impunity and seek justice for past crimes by the government. "Former deputy of NISS and Federal Police Commission Commissioner General Yared Zerihun has been apprehended by police," Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye said on Twitter early on Thursday. He did not disclose details. Yared's wife was arrested on Monday and sources told Reuters that she had been trying to hide him. Yared was appointed head of the federal police in April but resigned three months later. The whereabouts of former intelligence chief Getachew Assefa are unknown, government sources say, and the attorney general declined at a news conference on Monday to say whether the government had issued an arrest warrant for him. Tsegaye has said evidence showed "the senior leadership of the national security agency" had instructed members of Abiy's Oromo ethnic group to attack him at a rally in June, in which two people were killed and scores wounded. Analysts and diplomats are describing the arrests as a "full frontal assault on the establishment". Though 42-year-old Abiy began sacking senior officials upon taking office, this week's detentions have picked up the pace of his stated efforts to rein in the security services and tackle economic mismanagement and other problems. Abiy is Ethiopias first leader from its majority Oromo ethnic group. He was chosen by the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), as its new head after three years of street protests and strikes piled pressure on it to reform. Kinfe Dagnew, a brigadier general in Ethiopia's army and former chief executive of METEC, was arrested on Tuesday close to the border with Sudan and Eritrea. He is due in court on Thursday, after a brief hearing on Wednesday at which he requested a lawyer. The attorney general has said that investigations uncovered corruption at METEC (Metal and Engineering Corporation), which makes military equipment and is involved in sectors from agriculture to construction. In August, Ethiopia removed METEC from the $4 billion Grand Renaissance Dam project on the River Nile due to delays and failure to complete the installation of turbines. "There's clear evidence that these people at METEC committed sophisticated, high-level economic crime," said Hallelujah Lulie, Addis Ababa-based program director at the Amani Africa thinktank. "I don't think he can reform the economy without addressing the issue of METEC," he said, referring to Abiy. (Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Writing by Maggie Fick; Editing by George Obulutsa and Raissa Kasolowsky) EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier presenting the Withdrawal Agreement (Reuters) The EU is fighting back against British critics of the draft Brexit deal, insisting it is the best they can offer. Senior figures from the European Commission and parliament have weighed in behind Theresa Mays efforts to sell the deal to sceptics from both sides of the Brexit debate. The prime minister told MPs to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated during a dramatic debate of almost three hours at Westminster. Her efforts have been set back by rolling resignations from the government as well as threats from opposition parties to vote against the deal. MORE: Barnier hails crucial step towards Brexit deal Many Conservatives want further concessions from the EU, while pro-EU parties believe talks should be reopened to achieve a closer relationship. But, speaking in Strasbourg, European parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said: What is delivered today on our table is the best agreement we could obtain taking into account the positions of the UK. What this deal is doing is combining Brexit, because that was the decision of the British people, with a scenario that avoids disruption and a disaster for the economies for the EU and certainly for the UK economy. So, its a very important achievement. It minimises disruption on both sides and I think thats important for our economy, for our businesses for our citizens. Michel Barnier with the European parliaments president, Antonio Tajani, and its Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt (European parliament) European parliament president Antonio Tajani said the Withdrawal Agreement will pave the way towards a close future EU-UK relationship. Although, he added: This agreement should reflect that any outcome will be inferior to full membership. Meanwhile in Brussels, a senior EU official refused to speculate about what would happen if the draft deal being voted down by MPs and warned the EU has exhausted our margin for manoeuvre. A lot of people on both sides of this negotiation have spent a lot of time and effort on this, they said. MORE: Sad EU chief Tusk calls farewell summit to sign-off Brexit deal Story continues We think that this is the best we can do collectively with the constraints we have on both sides. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier again urged critics to read all 585 pages of the agreement in detail before coming to a conclusion. On Wednesday he urged MPs to take their responsibility for securing a Brexit deal. European Council president Donald Tusk has called an emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday 25 November to finalise and formalise the deal as long as nothing extraordinary happens in between. He refused to comment on events in London but added mischievously that the EU is best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario. By Jeff Mason and David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China has delivered a written response to U.S. demands for wide-ranging trade reforms, three U.S. government sources said on Wednesday, a move that could trigger more formal negotiations to resolve a withering trade war between the world's top economies. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on the list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the two countries. China has responded with import tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Argentina at the end of November and in early December. The U.S. president has repeatedly railed against Beijing over intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, Chinese entry barriers to American businesses and the U.S. trade deficit with China. Three U.S. government sources told Reuters on Wednesday that China had sent a response to U.S. demands on those and other issues, but gave no further details on its contents. It was unclear if the response contained concessions that would satisfy Trump's demands for change. While two industry sources familiar with the contents of the response said it was largely a restatement of previous Chinese commitments, it was seen as a necessary starting point for continued negotiations. The two sides have been far apart during their months-long tariff dispute. One of the sources briefed on China's response said it reiterated pledges Xi has made in recent speeches, and demanded that the United States lift tariffs, including those set by the Section 232 investigation into steel and aluminum imports. "They are not close to a favorable deal on trade. Not in the same universe," the Washington-based source said. A U.S. team led by Treasury Under Secretary David Malpass discussed trade issues with a Chinese team via videoconference on Tuesday, a U.S. Treasury spokesperson said on Wednesday. JANUARY TARIFF TRIGGER The United States had said it would not start formal negotiations on trade until it saw concrete proposals from China to address its concerns. Earlier this month, after a phone conversation with Xi, Trump said he thought the United States would make a deal with China on trade but stood ready to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods if no progress is made. Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng, asked on Thursday about the Chinese response, said that "high-level" contact had resumed since Trump and Xi spoke by phone. "Working teams are maintaining close contact to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two leaders by telephone," he told a regular weekly briefing. The tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1. Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports, about $267 billion worth, if Beijing fails to address U.S. demands. Future trade talks could hinge on whether or not tariffs rise on Jan. 1. One scenario suggested by analysts is that Trump and Xi could agree to a ceasefire in Argentina that would prevent further tariffs from taking effect while negotiations continued. U.S.-China Business Council President Craig Allen told Reuters last week that he thought it was likely China would withdraw from any process set at the G20 if the Trump administration went forward with raising the tariff rate. The two countries resumed talks after the call between the two leaders, ending a three month hiatus that saw relations deteriorate as the United States accused China of interfering in U.S. domestic politics and seeking to undermine Trump. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday that Beijing needed to change its behavior to avoid a new cold war with the United States. China must offer concessions on intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, restricted access to Chinese markets and respect for international rules and norms, among other issues, he said. Responding to Pence's remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China had always been a "model student" when it came to respecting international rules and norms. "China respects U.S. sovereignty, security, and development interests," she told a daily news briefing in Beijing. "The U.S. side should also respect China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and respect the development path chosen by the Chinese people in line with its own national conditions." In comments made before the Chinese response, Wu Baiyi, the director of the Institute of American Studies at the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that a Jan. 1 tariff increase would imperil efforts to reverse trade tensions. "This is one of the major goals that they (Chinese officials) are working hard on to prevent those tariffs from coming into force early next year. But it will depend on both sides." (Additional reporting by Steve Holland and David Lawder in WASHINGTON and Michael Martina, Stella Qiu, Christian Shepherd and Se Young Lee in BEIJING; Writing by Simon Webb; Editing by Tim Ahmann, Cynthia Osterman & Simon Cameron-Moore) Washington (AFP) - Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday sought to quell a new firestorm over the social network's handling of Russian misinformation efforts in 2016 and its hiring of a consulting firm that used questionable tactics to target the company's critics. Speaking on a conference call on content moderation efforts, Zuckerberg repeated his comments that Facebook was slow to spot Russian interference in the 2016 election but argued that "to suggest we weren't interested in knowing the truth or that we wanted to hide what we knew or stop investigations is simply untrue." Facebook said in an earlier statement that "we ended our contract" on Wednesday with Definers Public Affairs, a consultancy using campaign-style tactics and founded by Republican operatives that sought to link anti-Facebook campaigns to financier George Soros, according to the Times. But Facebook disputed claims that it used the firm in a nefarious way. The Times, Facebook said, was "wrong to suggest that we ever asked Definers to pay for or write articles on Facebook's behalf -- or to spread misinformation." The Times said in its investigation that Definers had sought to cast billionaire liberal donor Soros as the "unacknowledged force" behind a broad anti-Facebook movement. - Taking on Facebook critics - Facebook acknowledged that Definers had encouraged reporters to look into the funding of "Freedom from Facebook," an anti-Facebook organization. "The intention was to demonstrate that it was not simply a spontaneous grassroots campaign, as it claimed, but supported by a well-known critic of our company," it said in a statement, without naming Soros. But it added that to suggest "that this was an anti-Semitic attack is reprehensible and untrue." Zuckerberg said he was not aware of the role of the firm and learned about it from the Times article. "I got on the phone with our team and we are no longer working with this firm," he told journalists. Story continues "This type of firm might be normal in Washington but it is not the kind of thing I want Facebook associated with." While the Times noted that Soros was a favorite bete noire of anti-Semites, it did not characterize the actions of Facebook or Definers as anti-Semitic. - Board backs Zuckerberg - The board of directors issued a statement backing the efforts of Zuckerberg and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg in responding to influence campaigns. "As Mark and Sheryl made clear to Congress, the company was too slow to spot Russian interference, and too slow to take action. As a board we did indeed push them to move faster," the board statement said. "But to suggest that they knew about Russian interference and either tried to ignore it or prevent investigations into what had happened is grossly unfair." The Times said Facebook had amassed evidence for over a year of Russian activity through an investigation led by its former security chief, Alex Stamos. Stamos, who is now a Stanford University faculty member, said his probe did find a link to Russia in the first half of 2016 but that his investigation was not quashed. "The entire discussion around Facebook's disclosures of what happened in 2016 is very frustrating. No exec stopped any investigations, but there were a lot of heated discussions about what to publish and when," Stamos said on Twitter. "A lot of parties failed in 2016. I failed to prepare my employer for the disinformation campaign and that is on me." - Going on the attack - The Times said that when criticism of its belated Russia admission grew, Facebook mounted a lobbying campaign led by Sandberg, pushing negative stories about its political critics and making rival companies like Google and Apple look bad. In July of this year, as a Facebook executive testified before a congressional committee, anti-Facebook demonstrators barged into the room and held up a sign depicting chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and Sandberg -- who are both Jewish -- as the twin heads of an octopus with its tentacles around the world. Facebook responded by lobbying a Jewish civil rights group -- the Anti-Defamation League -- to publicly label that criticism as anti-Semitic, the Times said. The Open Society Foundation founded by Soros meanwhile called for an independent probe of Facebook's tactics. "We urge Facebook to stop engaging in practices inspired by the enemies of democracy across the globe," said a statement from foundation president Patrick Gaspard. "Facebook should launch an independent investigation of what took place and to publish a full report disclosing the techniques that were used in their effort to compromise activists and George Soros." The world's most popular social media platform has been on the back foot for months, including over the allegation that data from millions of Facebook users was abused by the consultancy Cambridge Analytica to help drive Donald Trump to the White House. At the same time, Facebook and other tech giants are facing criticism from Trump and others that they suppress conservative voices. Mar del Plata (Argentina) (AFP) - Yolanda Mendiola turns up every morning to join other grieving mothers in a forlorn protest at the home base of a missing Argentine submarine. Thursday's will be harder, marking a year since the last communication was received from the sub before it vanished into the depths of the Atlantic with a crew of 44. "Our families have been destroyed" says the 55-year-old. Mendiola shows up at the Mar del Plata base because, like the others, she has nowhere else to go. "We cannot go to our homes. We go to the base every day -- morning and evening. We need to see the bodies of our children, have them as best we can," says Mendiola. She is one of several women who have been living for the past 12 months in a military hotel near the base, nearly 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from her home in the northern city of Jujuy. She is still waiting to find out what happened to Petty Officer Leandro Cisneros, her 28-year-old son. - Last contact - The navy lost contact with the submarine on November 15, some 450 kilometers from the Argentine coast. It was on its way back to base from Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina. A massive air and sea search began 48 hours later involving units from 13 countries, but the majority withdrew before the end of 2017, as the wintry South Atlantic refused to give up its secrets. The navy has been fiercely criticized for its handling of the operation since first reporting the submarine overdue at Mar del Plata on November 16. It was only several days into the tragedy that navy officials acknowledged the old, German-built submarine had reported a problem with its batteries in its final communication on November 15. And nearly 10 days later, the navy confirmed there had been an explosion on board, which experts said was likely linked to the battery problem. Several senior officers were dismissed, including navy chief Marcelo Srur. The navy has a poor reputation in Argentina. During the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, some navy facilities, like the one at Mar del Plata, served as detention and torture centers, and an estimated 30,000 people disappeared. Story continues Authorities have opened a criminal investigation on orders from a judge in the city of Caleta Olivia, a port in Patagonia where maritime cases are usually heard. The judge has so far heard testimony from 70 people but says she is no closer to knowing what happened. Families of the missing crew have kept up pressure on the government not to give up on the search, staging protest marches and camping out in front of the local assembly. More than 25 million dollars has been spent on the search, defense ministry official Graciela Villata told a congressional committee this week. - Still believing - Some of the mothers still hope that the sub had another destination other than the bottom of the ocean and that, fanciful as it may seem, the crew is still alive. "It's coming up to a year now. And we will be there waiting for him to come back," said Zulma Sandoval, 56, mother of 39-year-old submariner Celso Vallejos. "It would be a huge miracle if the submarine showed up and we saw them return, because truthfully, nobody knows what happened," she said. Far from her house in the northern city of Santiago del Estero, a tearful Lourdes Melian, 21 continues a lonely vigil with other relatives in Mar del Plata. "I feel that my brother is no longer here," she says of officer David Melian, 32. "I prefer that to thinking he's still there, or that they have been kidnapped." The loss of the San Juan is the first major tragedy to hit the navy since the Falklands War in 1982. Argentina, which refers to the islands as Las Malvinas, lost the war to Britain. Some crew members had told their families they had been shadowed on previous trips by British ships. That has led some family members to believe the sub may have been in the exclusion zone around the still-disputed islands. "I dream of my husband. I asked him where he was and he told me he was in the Malvinas and that he couldn't talk," Andrea Mereles told AFP. In those dreams, she says her husband tells her: "What I told you about what happened us in the previous trip -- that we were followed by a British submarine -- the same thing happened again." Where the submarine disappeared, on the edge of the Argentine shelf, depths plummet from 200 meters (650 feet) to more than 3,000 meters. Experts say the sub would have been crushed by water pressure once it dropped below about 600 meters. By Chris Kirkham (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced sweeping new restrictions on flavored tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes popular among teenagers in an effort to prevent a new generation of nicotine addicts. The much-anticipated announcement will mean that only tobacco, mint and menthol e-cigarette flavors can be sold at most traditional retail outlets such as convenience stores. Other fruity- or sweet-flavored varieties can now only be sold at age-restricted stores or through online merchants that use age-verification checks. The FDA also plans to seek a ban on menthol cigarettes, a longtime goal of public health advocates, as well as flavored cigars. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the moves are meant to prevent young people from continuing to use e-cigarettes, potentially leading to traditional cigarette smoking. "I will not allow a generation of children to become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes," Gottlieb said. The agency has faced mounting pressure to act on e-cigarettes amid their surging popularity among U.S. teenagers in recent years. One of the most popular devices, made by San Francisco-based Juul Labs Inc, has become a phenomenon at U.S. high schools, where "Juuling" has become synonymous with vaping. E-cigarettes vaporize a liquid containing nicotine, the addictive stimulant that gives smokers a rush. They are widely believe to be less harmful than combustible cigarettes, but the long-term health consequences of using the devices are unknown. Data released on Thursday by the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a 78 percent increase in high school students who reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 days, compared with the prior year. More than 3 million high school students, or more than 20 percent of all U.S. high school students, used the products, along with 570,000 middle school students, according to the survey. SUPPORT TO RESTRICT YOUTH ACCESS Juul and tobacco giant Altria Group Inc had announced measures to pull flavored e-cigarette products from retail outlets, after the FDA threatened in September to ban Juul and other leading e-cigarette products unless their makers took steps to prevent use by minors. Juul, Logic, a unit of Japan Tobacco Inc, Altria, which makes e-cigarettes under the MarkTen brand, British American Tobacco Plc (BAT) and Imperial Brands Plc, the maker of blu e-cigarettes, all said they supported efforts to reduce youth access. Altria said it believes the devices have the potential to be "less harmful products that can deliver nicotine to adults who want them." Imperial said it was developing a technology that can lock the devices if an underage person tries to use it. BAT said that while "flavors play an important role in an adult smokers transition out of smoking, we understand the FDAs concern that some flavors can play a role in increasing youth appeal." E-cigarettes have been a divisive topic in the public health community. Some focus on the potential benefit of shifting lifelong smokers to less harmful nicotine products, while others fear it will create a new generation addicted to nicotine. Last year the FDA under Gottlieb extended until 2022 a deadline for many e-cigarette products to comply with new federal rules on marketing and public health. Today's restrictions on flavors are interim measures that companies must follow before submitting detailed plans before the deadline. The new rules on e-cigarette flavors mean that many of the sweet and fruity varieties believed to be most popular among minors will only be available in stores such as vape shops or tobacco shops that do not allow under-age people inside. Stores could also have a separate, age-restricted section that allows sale of other flavors, the FDA said. FIERCE RESISTANCE TO MENTHOL BAN The agency cited survey data showing that mint and menthol flavors were more popular with adult e-cigarette users than teenagers. Anti-tobacco and public health groups commended the FDA on its proposed ban on menthol cigarettes, which data show are far more popular among young smokers and particularly young African-Americans. Any move to ban menthol is expected to face fierce resistance from the tobacco industry. Menthol cigarettes represent more than 30 percent of U.S. cigarette volumes and approximately 55 percent of BAT's U.S. volumes, through its Newport brand, according to a research note from AllianceBernstein earlier this week. The FDA must go through a rulemaking process, which requires significant public comment before finalizing any regulation on menthols. Imperial, BAT and Altria said the ban on menthols or flavored cigars was not supported by science and evidence. (Reporting by Chris Kirkham in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Marguerita Choy) Georgia Secretary of State, Brian Kemp. Photo by John Disney/ ALM A federal judge in Atlanta late Wednesday handed down an emergency injunction ordering that absentee ballots rejected throughout the state because of an inaccurate or missing birth date be validated and tallied. Without a preliminary injunction, the voters whose ballots have been rejected on improper grounds or without a chance to cure the rejection will lose their opportunity to vote in this election; an injury that money cannot compensate, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones said in issuing the emergency ruling. The suit, filed Sunday by the Democratic Party of Georgia and the campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, sought to validate and count thousands of absentee and provisional ballots across the state rejected by county election officials. Ballots are still being counted, and Abrams is battling to force the governors race with Republican opponent Brian Kemp into a run-off. Kemp is leading with 50.23 percent of the vote to Abrams 48.83 percent. The front-runner must secure 50 percent plus 1 of the total votes cast to avoid a run-off. Jones ruling expands on a temporary restraining order handed down Tuesday by colleague U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May in a separate case. Mays order was limited to restoring and counting absentee ballots rejected because of an incorrect or missing birth year to those in Gwinnett County. Gwinnett was the only county named as a defendant in the lawsuit before her. Both cases named Kempwho was secretary of state until last Thursdayas a defendant, and both sought court orders involving thousands of rejected absentee ballots in Georgias 159 counties. Kemp stepped down as secretary of state after declaring himself the governor-elect, but ballots are still being counted, Abrams has not conceded, and media outlets have deemed the contest still too close to call. Jones order prohibits acting Secretary of State Robyn Crittenden from certifying the midterm results until she confirms the returns from the states 159 counties include absentee ballots where the birth date was omitted or incorrect. Jones declines Democrats and Abrams request to count provisional ballots that voters casted in the wrong county. It is the sixth order issued by a federal judge within the past two weeks reversing election policies put in place by Kemp. The rulings have expanded the number of outstanding ballots that are now permissible to count. Jones noted that the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled in 2005 that state law does not require the automatic rejection of any absentee ballot lacking a voters place or date of birth. Jones also noted that as one of her first acts after she was appointed to replace Kemp last week, Crittenden instructed all counties that they canbut not that they mustcount absentee ballots despite birth year errors or omissions. Jones also referenced Mays order, adding that he was concerned Crittendens instructions to county election officials were discretionary while Gwinnett County was under orders to count absentee ballots with a birth year error, and that could lead to future voter confusions as well as inconsistency in how such ballots are counted. Jones added that May declined to order the verification of absentee ballots rejected because of a missing signature, incorrect address or other errors. He adopted her ruling for the sake of statewide uniformity and assurance that all absentee mail-in ballots are equally treated. On Wednesday night, Abrams campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo applauded Jones ruling as a major victory. Under Brian Kemps watch as the nations foremost architect of voter suppression, countless Georgians have had substantial roadblocks placed in their path as they sought to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Now, the courts are doing what Brian Kemps Secretary of State office refused toupholding and protecting Georgias rights and underlining the need for free and fair elections in a state that has suffered from an acute assault on voting rights engineered by none other than Secretary of State Brian Kemp." Kemp campaign spokesman Ryan Mahoney responded to the order, tweeting that Jones ruling solidifies @BrianKempGAs insurmountable lead. The election is over and Kemp is governor-elect. Its time for Abrams to concede. Attorney Vincent Russo, counsel to the Kemp campaign and deputy counsel to the Georgia Republican Party, and Ryan Teague who also represents the GOP, which intervened in the case before Jones, could not be reached Wednesday night. The Daily Report also was not able to reach Secretary of State spokeswoman Candice Broce. Read the order: falcon-embed src="embed_1" Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama appeared set for a comfortable election victory Thursday as voters in the coup-plagued South Pacific nation opted to stick with the former military strongman who led a takeover in 2006. Bainimarama, 64, led a bloodless coup 12 years ago but now declares himself a convert to democracy, vowing to end the instability that saw four governments toppled between 1987 and 2006. Preliminary results with almost three-quarters of votes counted gave Bainimarama's FijiFirst Party a narrow majority of 51.63 percent, well ahead of nearest rival the SODELPA Party on 38.05 percent. The National Federation Party on 7.5 percent is the only other grouping on the ballot to reach the five percent threshold needed to gain representation in the 51-seat parliament. An election winner may not be known for several days as votes trickle in from polling stations on the archipelago's more remote islands. Election officials also have to make alternative voting arrangements for constituents affected when torrential rain on Wednesday forced the closure of 23 polling stations. Turnout was as low as 53 percent in some districts, with many voters deciding against braving the tropical downpours to cast their ballot. The preliminary figures, if replicated in final results, would represent a resounding vote of confidence in Bainimarama after 12 years in power, eight of which saw him leading a military regime that ruled by decree. The island nation of 920,000 people has enjoyed sustained growth in its tourism-reliant economy under Bainimarama's watch. He has also made Fiji's foreign policy less reliant on Australia and New Zealand, which both tried to isolate his regime when he seized power, allowing China an increased role in aid and development. Supporters say he has helped heal racial divisions by introducing equal rights for Indian-Fijians, a sizable minority brought in to work on sugar plantations during British colonial rule. Story continues But critics, including Amnesty International, say some democratic fundamentals such as media freedom and the right to assembly remain inadequate under Bainimarama, who is notoriously sensitive to criticism. Fiji is by far the most populous and economically powerful of the South Pacific island nations and seen as a regional hub for business and diplomacy. University of the South Pacific academic Shailendra Singh said FijiFirst had its critics and had been accused of vote buying. But he said many Fijians were wary of a return to the upheavals experienced between 1987 and 2006. "People (are) voting for continuity, stability and what they regard as progress, versus change," he said. Suva voter Tevita Vuibau said Fijians would honour the result, regardless of who won. "The vast majority of Fijians realise that Fiji cannot afford another coup and for that I am thankful," he said. By Karishma Luthria SYDNEY (Reuters) - Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was set to win re-election on Thursday, with a provisional count showing his Fiji First party holding a comfortable lead, although some voting has been delayed due to bad weather in the South Pacific nation. Bainimarama has held power in the island nation since 2006 when as military chief he led a bloodless coup. In 2014, he resigned from the military and became prime minister in a landslide victory at the first poll since his coup. Results posted on the government's twitter account on Thursday morning showed Bainimarama's Fiji First party leading with nearly 52 percent of the 367,350 votes counted. Over 500,000 Fijians were eligible to vote, according to the Fiji Elections Office (FEO) website. Bainimarama's main opponent is also a former coup leader and long-serving prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, who now leads the Social Democratic Liberal Party of Fiji (SODELPA). He was coming second, with 38 percent support. Torrential rain and flooding on Wednesday forced voting in some centers to be rescheduled. Authorities said around 8,000 voters were affected. A campaign blackout period was extended because of the delayed voting, but media were allowed to report the preliminary results, Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) Chairperson Ashwin Raj said on Wednesday. Fiji was isolated diplomatically after the 2006 coup, but its return to democracy has seen it welcomed back into the international community, with Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, Megan, visiting in October. Jonathan Pryke of the Lowy Institute in Sydney said before the poll that the Bainimarama government had surpassed critics' expectations with the economy growing and standards of living rising steadily. Polling booths where voting was delayed have been rescheduled to the 17th of November, the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem also announced on Thursday. (Reporting by Karishma Luthria; Editing by Michael Perry) Havana (AFP) - The first of more than 6,000 Cuban doctors working in Brazil arrived back on the Communist-run island Thursday after Havana announced it was withdrawing from a medical aid program over a spat with President-elect Jair Bolsonaro. Cuba announced Wednesday it was pulling thousands of its doctors out of Brazil in response to Bolsonaro's "direct, contemptuous and threatening" remarks about its "More Doctors" program. A first group of 196 doctors arrived at Havana airport, welcomed home by Cuba's deputy health minister after a three-year stint in disadvantaged areas of Brazil. The official, Regla Angulo, said the withdrawal "will be supported by our doctors, because principles and dignity are non-negotiable." Cuba's state news agency ACN reported the medics arrived "happy to have fulfilled their mission" but also "worried about what awaits the (Brazilian) people with the newly-elected president." Bolsonaro has repeatedly criticized Cuba's management of the program, saying he would make changes to include a competency test for Cuban medical personnel wanting to work in Brazil. He said Cuba kept back most of the doctors' salaries, and he planned to directly hire doctors who wished to remain in Brazil. The United States, a longstanding foe of Cuba until a thaw under former president Barack Obama, praised the incoming Brazilian leader for his stance. "Great to see President-elect Bolsonaro insist Cuban doctors in Brazil receive their fair salary rather than let Cuba take most of it for regime coffers," tweeted Kimberly Breier, the top State Department official for Latin America. The health ministry says nearly 20,000 Cuban doctors have been working in Brazil since the program began in August 2013, part of the "white-coat diplomacy" practiced by the island's Communist rulers for decades. Introduced under Fidel Castro, the medical program has spread to 67 countries to become Cuba's most valuable export, worth $11 billion a year. A Brazilian diplomatic source told AFP the withdrawal of some 6,000 Cuban doctors would be concluded by December 24. Some 2,000 others are believed likely to stay in Brazil because of personal ties. Yasin Aktay, an advisor to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaks during an event organized to mark the 40th day of the death of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi - AP Five Saudi officials face the death penalty for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not involved, Saudi's prosecutor said Thursday. The announcement follows growing international outcry over the killing of Mr Khashoggi, with the US announcing punishing sanctions for the individuals it says were involved in the murder. Mr Khashoggi was a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi rulers who was last seen entering the consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Mr Khashoggi died after being drugged and then dismembered, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office said in the first Saudi confirmation of how he was killed. The journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds, the spokesman said. He denied Crown Prince Mohammed had any knowledge of the murder. The deputy chief of Saudi Arabia's intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, gave the order to repatriate Mr Khashoggi - and "the head of the negotiating team" that flew to the Istanbul consulate had ordered his murder, the spokesman said. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Credit: REUTERS After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted in mid-October that Mr Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound, but blamed it on a "rogue" operation. The prosecutor has requested the death penalty for the five who "are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals," an official statement published by state news agency SPA said. It said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing, 11 of whom have been indicted with investigations to continue into the others. Turkey on Wednesday called for an international investigation into the murder. Ankara has already shared voice recordings linked to the murder with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States and its Western allies. Story continues Also on Thursday, the US placed punishing economic sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved in Mr Khashoggi's murder, including top aides of the Crown Prince. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggis fiancee, children, and the family he leaves behind, he said. Mr Mnuchin also warned the Saudi government that it must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists. Mr Khashoggi's killing has plunged the world's top oil exporter into its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals. After first insisting Mr Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, Saudi authorities said he was killed in an argument that degenerated into a brawl before finally accepting what Turkey had said virtually from the start - that he was killed in a premeditated hit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the order to murder Khashoggi came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government. The global fallout over the murder has tainted the image of 33-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed - the de facto ruler and heir apparent - despite persistent Saudi denials that he was involved. Mr Khashoggi's murder has also led to increased scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's role in the Yemen war, which has pushed the impoverished country to the brink of famine. The journalist went into self-imposed exile in the United States in 2017 after falling out with Crown Prince Mohammed. Riyadh (AFP) - The Saudi government exonerated the country's powerful crown prince of involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi Thursday as death-penalty charges were announced against five men and the US placed sanctions on 17 suspected of involvement. Riyadh prosecutors announced indictments against 11 people and said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing, which outraged Saudi allies and placed massive pressure on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to come clean about the murder. The Saudi prosecutor said execution would be recommended for five principals who "are charged with ordering and committing the crime." But prosecutor spokesman Shaalan al-Shaalan rejected allegations that Prince Mohammed, whose father is King Salman, directed the murder. The prince had "no knowledge" of Khashoggi's killing, Shaalan said. And Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told journalists in Riyadh that the prince was not involved. "Absolutely. The crown prince has nothing to do with this issue," Jubeir said. - Prince's aides blacklisted - Khashoggi, who lived in the United States and wrote for The Washington Post and other international media, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2. The murder was carried out by a team of Saudis who travelled to Istanbul for that purpose, according to Turkish and US assessments, and was allegedly directed and led by close aides of the prince. The Saudi prosecutor, in the country's newest account of what happened, said agents were dispatched to Istanbul to bring Khashoggi home "by means of persuasion" but ended up killing him with "a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose." The Saudi prosecutor did not name any of those indicted in the murder. But the US sanctions announced Thursday included two top aides of Prince Mohammed, Saud Al-Qahtani and Maher Mutreb, and Mohammed Alotaibi, who was the consul general in the Istanbul consulate when Khashoggi was murdered. Story continues The US Treasury said Qahtani, Prince Mohammed's long-time right-hand man, "was part of the planning and execution of the operation" to kill Khashoggi. The US statement made no mention of the crown prince. Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said that her country "welcomes the US action" and that Ottawa "is actively considering" following suit. - Crisis for crown prince - Khashoggi's killing has plunged the world's top oil exporter into its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals. The criticism has shaken the 33-year-old Prince Mohammed, who has moved with brash confidence since becoming heir to the throne in June 2017 in a shakeup undertaken by King Salman to secure power for his wing of the sprawling Saudi royal family. The country's allies and critics alike are pushing for an independent investigation into Khashoggi's murder, with Turkey at their helm pointing a finger directly at Prince Mohammed, widely known as "MBS". But Jubeir Thursday dismissed the calls for an international probe. "This is now a legal case and is thus in the hands of Saudi Arabia's judiciary," he said. On Thursday, the Saudi prosecutor's office said the kingdom had requested that Turkey sign a "special cooperation mechanism" on a probe. But Turkey said the Saudi response fell short and insisted the murder had been "premeditated." "We find all those steps positive, but insufficient," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. In Washington State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called the Saudi announcement a "good first step," while denying there was any link with the Treasury announcement of sanctions just two hours later. "We regard the announcement that they made as a good first step, it's a step in the right direction," Nauert told reporters. "It is an initial investigation finding. It is important that those steps continue to be taken toward full accountability." - US legislators: sanctions not enough - But senior US politicians and the Washington Post said the moves Thursday were far from adequate. "In announcing actions against 'those responsible' for Jamal Khashoggi's murder, the Saudi and US governments are asking the world to take their word for it that this settles the matter," said Post publisher and chief executive Fred Ryan. "From the start, the Saudi 'investigation' has been an effort to shield those ultimately responsible for this heinous crime when there is every reason to believe that it was authorized at the highest levels of the Saudi government." "The US government should be demanding an independent investigation that gets to the truth about the murder of an innocent journalist." Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the US sanctions on the 17 Saudis were not enough. "Everyone who had a hand in Khashoggi's brutal murder should be subject to strict sanctions, and, as I review this list, it's clear that it is not comprehensive," she said in a statement. "There must be further sanctions on Saudi leadership who ordered this assassination. We must send a clear message that the United States stands unequivocally on the side of human rights and democratic values." burr-pmh/ec Batkid has saved the day once again, offering a happy update at a time of otherwise sad news. Miles Scott, the 5-year-old leukemia patient who won hearts playing a superhero for a day on the streets of San Francisco back in 2013, has now been in remission for five years. Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area this week shared a lengthy update about the local superhero on the fifth anniversary of the event. Many people ask us, How is Miles doing? The answer is, hes doing great! Since his crime fighting day five years ago, Miles has returned to being a typical kid playing little league, going to school, helping his family farm, and even selling his first market goat in the local fair! Make-A-Wish wrote. Now 10 years old and in fifth grade, Miles loves science and robotics. Miles Scott, 5, is honored as Batkid in San Francisco on Nov. 15, 2013. (Photo: Trisha Leeper/WireImage) Miles had struggled with cancer since he was 1. Following his last treatment in 2013, he asked for Make-A-Wish to make him Batman for a day, and it came through big time. San Francisco transformed into Gotham for a day, and crimes for Miles to fight sprang up all over the city. For instance, the San Francisco Giants mascot was kidnapped by the Penguin, and someone dressed as the villainous Riddler attempted to rob a bank of millions. A crowd supports Batkids Make-A-Wish request on the streets of San Francisco. (Photo: Trisha Leeper/WireImage) Thousands watched from the streets. Social media was rapt. Even President Barack Obama was enthralled with Batkids adventures, and he thanked the young hero for saving the city from supervillains. A special edition of the San Francisco Chronicle proclaimed, Batkid Saves City. It was all laid out in a 2015 documentary, Batkid Begins, which examined why it was such a phenomenon. The young Batman fan behind it all now sees his oncologist just once a year. Miless mom, Natalie, had such a happy experience with the nonprofit organization that shes volunteered to help grant the wishes of other sick kids. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) At the center of Florida's vote recount storm is an elections supervisor with a checkered past whose Democratic-dominated county has been the target of protests and accusations, including by President Donald Trump, that something fraudulent is afoot. Lawyers for Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who is in a razor-thin Senate race with incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, have claimed that Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes committed fraud without presenting any evidence. Trump has echoed those claims on Twitter. State monitors and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement say there are no indications of fraud in the county's vote. Yet, Snipes, a Democrat, remains a target for the GOP, including former Gov. Jeb Bush, who appointed her to the post in 2003 when the previous supervisor was accused of malfeasance and now says Snipes should be removed. Snipes has been re-elected since then, and is unapologetic about her record. "I've worked here for about 15 years, and I have to say this the first time that this office or I have been under such attacks," Snipes told reporters Monday. "There have been issues that haven't gone the way we wanted it. You can call it a mistake or you can call it whatever you want to call it." On Tuesday, Snipes hinted to reporters that she might not run for re-election in 2020 "It is time to move on," she said but quickly added that no final decision has been made. "I'll check with my family and they'll tell me what I'm doing," she said. Since Snipes has been in office, there seems to be a long list of these mistakes. Earlier this year, for example, a judge ruled she broke election law by destroying ballots in a 2016 congressional primary race involving Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz without waiting the required 22 months. Also in 2016, a medical marijuana amendment didn't appear on some Broward ballots, and again that year results from primary elections were posted on the office's website before polls had closed. Story continues A week after the 2012 election, about 1,000 uncounted ballots were suddenly discovered. And in 2004, about 58,000 mail-in ballots were not delivered, requiring workers to hurry to replace them. Just last week, a judge found that Snipes had violated Florida open records laws by failing to quickly provide voting records to attorneys for Scott's Senate campaign. "This is not a case about counting votes. This is a simple case about access to information that the supervisor of elections was required to have and required to provide," said Scott lawyer Jordan Zimmerman. "This is simply public information the public is entitled to." Snipes, 68, a native of Talladega, Alabama, moved to Broward County in 1964 to begin what became a long career as an educator. She eventually rose to become an area director in the public school system, leading principals from 16 schools, according to the supervisor's office web site. In 2003 Bush appointed her to the supervisor's position after her predecessor, Miriam Oliphant, was removed from office because of numerous problems in the 2002 primary election. Now Bush is calling for Snipes to be removed after the ongoing recount. Scott has not commented on whether he would take such a step. However, in his nearly eight years as governor, Scott has only suspended or removed elected officials when they are charged with crimes. Snipes remains a target of Trump and other Republicans, including a cadre of protesters who have sometimes broken into chants of "lock her up," mainly because of their claims she is trying to tilt the elections for Senate and governor to the Democrats. Scott has a slim lead over Nelson and Republican Ron DeSantis is ahead of Democrat Andrew Gillum for governor. Elections experts, however, say it's not unusual for contested or provisional votes in "blue" Democratic counties like Broward to mainly support that party. "It is no surprise that Democrats gain votes later in the counting process in part because big cities tend to contain lots of Democratic votes, and given their population, cities take much longer to count," said Richard Hasen, law professor at the University of California-Irvine and author of books on election controversies, in an opinion article Monday in Slate. "Although nerve-wracking, there's nothing at all nefarious about any of this protracted counting," he added. Snipes' attorney, Eugene Pettis, said "people are going to scream fraud no matter what" and that the Broward process is moving forward in an orderly fashion. Snipes insists Broward will meet the Thursday deadline for all votes to be sent to the State Department. "It takes time to go through those ballots. It should not be missed on anyone that state law permits until 12 o'clock four days after the election to submit your preliminary results. If it didn't take up to four days, the law wouldn't have put that in there," Pettis said. _____ Associated Press video reporter Josh Replogle and writer Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale contributed to this report. _____ Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://miamicurt@twitter.com Two members of the Broward County Canvassing Board show political lawyers a damaged ballot that will need to be duplicated and then recounted, Nov. 14, 2018, in Lauderhill, Fla. (Photo: Wilfredo Lee/AP) Lets start with the basics of understanding the Florida recount. First, its helpful to remember Florida has never conducted a statewide hand recount. The 2000 recount was conducted statewide by a machine count, with four counties participating in a hand recount: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Volusia. And those recounts were halted midprocess by the Supreme Courts decision in Bush v. Gore. But Florida is expected to proceed with a hand recount statewide for the U.S. Senate race and the contest for agriculture commissioner, once the results of the machine recount are reported Thursday afternoon. Scott, who had loudly protested the recount process and echoed President Trumps apparently baseless charges that it would be tainted by fraud, saw his lead actually increase by 865 votes from the figure reported last Saturday, to 13,427. That is still within the margin 0.25 percent that will require a hand recount. The machine recount did not change the outcome for the race for governor between Rep. Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. DeSantis appeared to be holding a lead that exceeded the threshold for a hand recount, but Gillum as of late Thursday afternoon had not conceded. Ballots were cast in one of five ways. People could vote in Florida this year: through absentee voting, also known as voting by mail (VBM); by in-person early voting; by voting on election day; through a provisional ballot for voters who did not have state-approved ID or who may have gone to the wrong precinct; and through overseas and military voting. Counties will not count all 8 million ballots by hand. That would take forever. They will be looking at one particular type of ballot, which involves overvotes and undervotes. Overvotes and undervotes occur in the following way: A voter in Florida filled out a ballot by hand and turned it in to an election official for counting by machine, and the machine then read either more than one or less than one vote in any particular race. Story continues Sometimes, the machine reads a ballot as not showing a vote for any candidate in a particular race. That might be because the voter did not intend to vote in that contest. Or it could be because the voter circled or underlined the name of a candidate or wrote an X next to it, rather than filling in the bubble according to instructions, or didnt fully fill in the bubble. Any of those could result in an undervote for that race. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla. (Photos: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images, Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) An overvote occurs when the machine reads the ballot as showing a vote for too many candidates in the same race. In the U.S. Senate race between Sen. Bill Nelson, the Democrat, and his challenger, Gov. Rick Scott, an overvote would mean that the machine read the ballot as showing a vote for both Nelson and Scott. The most common way this happens is a voter starting to mark the bubble for one candidate, realizing a mistake and then more fully filling in the other one. The machine reads both bubbles as being filled in, and it invalidates the vote in that race. All ballots with overvotes and undervotes will be assessed by hand in a two-step process. County workers will sort through ballots, and if the actual intent of the voter isnt obvious, volunteers for the campaigns involved in the recount can ask that the ballot be assessed by a canvassing board consisting of the local supervisor of elections, the chair of the county commissioners board and a county court judge. There were an unusual number of undervotes in the U.S. Senate race: 31,529 statewide. Around 25,000 of those were in Broward County, according to the Tampa Bay Times. That has led many observers to speculate that the ballot design chosen by Broward County led many voters to overlook the Senate race, which appeared at the bottom of the left-hand column under a dense block of written instructions, while the governors race was in a much more prominent position at the top. But its possible that some number of voters tried to mark a choice in the Senate race and it wasnt registered by the machine process. That could make a significant difference, because the number of undervotes in the Senate race is larger than the margin between the two candidates: Nelson trailed Scott by 12,562 votes as of Nov. 10, when counties reported their preliminary results. Meanwhile, Democrat Nikki Fried led the race for agriculture commissioner by 5,326 votes over Republican Matt Caldwell. The other outstanding issue in the recount are some 5,000 ballots statewide that werent counted because the signature on the mail-in ballot did not match the signature on file with the state. On Thursday morning, a federal judge granted partial relief to Democrats asking him to allow those signature-mismatch ballots to count. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker said voters whose ballots were thrown out for a mismatched signature could correct the problem and have their ballots counted, but only if they were belatedly notified that their ballot was thrown out. Democrats had asked the judge to do away with the signature match requirement altogether and to count all 5,000 ballots that had been thrown out. Its not clear how many of the 5,000 or so disqualified ballots under signature match will be corrected and retroactively added to the totals. Republicans immediately appealed the decision. The deadline for the hand recount to be finished is Sunday at noon. Boxes of ballots at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office, Nov. 15, 2018, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Photo: Wilfredo Lee/AP) _____ Read more from Yahoo News: MIAMI (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co, Walmart Inc and delivery service Postmates Inc will collaborate to design a service for delivering groceries and other goods to Walmart customers that could someday use autonomous vehicles, the companies said on Wednesday. The project is the latest to grow out of Fords broader effort to develop businesses that could use automated delivery vehicles. Ford was working with San Francisco-based Postmates already to develop delivery services that could employ automated vehicles. The Walmart pilot, which will take place in the Miami area, initially will use human-driven vehicles operated to simulate how a self-driving vehicle would behave, Ford said. Ford has said it expects to launch commercial production of automated vehicles by 2021. Ford and its partners are using Miami as a testing ground for automated delivery service ideas and automated vehicle technology. The new pilot project will offer customers delivery by Postmates of goods ordered at Walmart stores. Brian Wolf, an executive of Fords autonomous vehicle unit, wrote in a blog post that the companies will work over the next couple of months to figure out what goods can be delivered successfully, especially perishable groceries. "Before self-driving cars can go mainstream, we must get a better sense of how people want to interact with them," Tom Ward, Walmart senior vice president for digital operations, said in a statement on Thursday. That could require new designs or equipment for vehicles, Wolf wrote. Among the challenges Ford has said it is working on is designing on-board storage systems that are easy for customers to open to retrieve a pizza or a package. Postmates, according to its website, operates in 385 U.S. cities, as well as Mexico. It offers delivery from brick-and-mortar restaurants and stores. Walmart is competing with online retailer Amazon.com and other rivals to cut the cost of delivering goods over what industry executives call the last mile to customers who order online. Story continues Replacing human delivery van drivers with robotic systems could reduce last-mile delivery costs. But the technology is still expensive, and the industry is still waiting for regulations that could help protect automated vehicle owners or manufacturers from liability claims. Ford has emphasized commercial uses of autonomous vehicle technology, such as goods delivery, in contrast to rival General Motors Co, which is working to build a robot taxi service at its GM Cruise unit. Ford is in discussions with German automaker Volkswagen AG about a possible investment in its self-driving vehicle unit, people familiar with the situation said. No deal has been announced. In July, Ford said it would create a new business unit, Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC, to house its self-driving vehicle operations. The automaker said it would invest a total of $4 billion in the unit through 2023. (Reporting by Joe White; Editing by Leslie Adler) France has accused Donald Trump of a lack of common decency after the US president taunted Emmanuel Macron about his call for a European army. In a flurry of early morning tweets on Tuesday, Mr Trump said the US saved Parisians from learning German during the Second World War, blasted not fair French tariffs on American wines, and goaded Mr Macron over his very low approval ratings. Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the US, China and Russia, Mr Trump tweeted. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the US came along. Pay for NATO or not! On Wednesday, a French government spokesperson criticised Mr Trumps decision to launch his tirade on the day France was mourning victims of the November 2015 terror attacks. We were commemorating the assassination of 130 of our compatriots three years ago in Paris and Saint-Denis, and so I will reply in English: Common decency would have been appropriate, Benjamin Griveaux said. The spat underscores tensions between the once-friendly leaders and displayed Mr Trumps irritation over criticism of how he acted in France over the weekend. Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018 The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!........ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018 ......MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018 During a gathering of world leaders in Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World Wars end, Mr Macron issued a stark warning about the dangers of nationalism, a political ideology Mr Trump who was watching on has recently said he represents. Story continues Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism, Mr Macron said, in what was seen as a thinly veiled swipe at the US president. Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday: There is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so! MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN! On Saturday, Mr Trump provoked incredulity and condemnation by skipping a visit to a military cemetery in France because it was raining. The White House said the presidential helicopter had been grounded by the weather and Mr Trump did not want to cause traffic jams with a hastily arranged motorcade. Mr Trump contradicted this explanation on Tuesday, tweeting: I suggested driving. Secret Service said NO, too far from airport and big Paris shutdown. The US president complained his speech at another American military cemetery in the French capitals suburbs the following day was little reported. He received further criticism on Monday when he failed to visit Arlington National Cemetery, just a couple of miles from the White House, to mark Veterans Day. Bobigny (France) (AFP) - A French court on Thursday acquitted former government minister Georges Tron of raping two employees during foot-massaging sessions in his office. Tron, who served as junior minister for the civil service, was forced to resign in 2011 over the allegations made by two women who worked for him at the town hall of the southern Paris suburb of Draveil. The women accused the 61-year-old Tron, who is mayor of Draveil, and his former deputy, Brigitte Gruel, of abusing them during foot reflexology sessions in Tron's office between 2007 and 2010 that turned into threesomes. After a four-week trial Tron and Gruel were both acquitted of the charges. The court found no evidence the women were "forced" to take part in the sexual encounters, even while noting "Georges Tron's clear ability to get his own way and to exert pressure." Virginie Ettel, 41, and Eva Loubrieu, 44, testified that they felt powerless to resist being groped and penetrated digitally by Tron because they were afraid of losing their jobs. They said Gruel took part in some of the sessions. Ettel later resigned, while Loubrieu was fired after being accused of theft. The court said in its ruling the pair appeared motivated by a desire for "vengeance." Reacting to the verdict, Ettel expressed "huge disappointment" and said: "I will not give up the battle I have been fighting for years." The prosecution, which had called for Tron to be given a six-year prison sentence, has 10 days to appeal. Tron, who practises reflexology as a hobby, and Gruel had denied the allegations, claiming they were part of a political smear campaign. Tron's lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti welcomed the ruling, contrasting it with the "trial by media which saw Georges Tron condemned to impossible conditions for seven years, unable to pursuee his career, mocked." The Osez Le Feminisme (Dare Feminism) campaign group expressed anger at the ruling. Story continues "To all the victims of rape and sexual assault.... Have courage. We believe you," spokesman Raphaelle Remy-Leleu wrote. The accusations against Tron emerged days after Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former French head of the International Monetary Fund, was arrested in New York in May 2011 on charges of attempting to rape a hotel maid. The criminal case against Strauss-Kahn later fell apart and he settled the civil case out of court. But the affair had a knock-on effect in France, leading several women to break their silence about alleged harassment or assault by politicians and other public figures. David de Gea and Christian Pulisic could soon be on the move. Manchester United have been having a rough time of it on the pitch since Alex Ferguson left the club, and now they could start paying the price for their lack of organisation off it, too. David de Gea is the first player they could lose. The club and player thought they were close to agreeing a new deal all the way back in June, with wages not a bone of contention for either side. However, De Gea now wants to win something, having just one league title in his eight seasons at the club it does not appear that will change any time soon. Uniteds failure to perform means that De Gea has stalled on signing the new deal, and United are considering activating a one-year contract extension in order to preserve his resale value over the next 12 months, should they need to sell him in the summer rather than lose him for nothing The Evening Standard reports that Juventus are ready to snap up the player, with Real Madrid content with Thibaut Courtois back in goal. READ MORE: Pulisic open to Premier League move with Chelsea leading chase READ MORE: Phil Foden on verge of signing new long-term contract READ MORE: United counting the cost as De Gea contract talks rumble on Elsewhere, the Sun report on another potential Old Trafford exit. Chris Smalling has a year left on his current deal, and United also have the chance to extend that by 12 more months. Everton manager Marco Silva is keen on the central defender if he becomes available on a free transfer, and has sent scouts to watch him in action. Smalling is currently on 90,000 a week and is aiming to renegotiate a big raise on his current wages, which may put off those clubs who are expecting a reliable performer, something Smalling is not. Chelsea lead pack for Pulisic Chelsea are ahead in the race for Borussia Dortmund forward Christian Pulisic, according to the Guardian. The 20 year old has not entered into negotiations with a contract extension with his current club, and speaking to the press ahead of Americas friendly game against England, he talked of his ambition to play in the Premier League one day, saying: England, the Premier League, is a league where lots of kids dream of playing so there is no reason why maybe one day I wont play here. Story continues With Eden Hazard consistently linked with a move to Real Madrid, Pulisic might be under consideration as a potential replacement. Maurizio Sarris club is also willing to listen to loan offers for central defender Gary Cahill. The club are willing to make an exception for Cahill, despite his contract running down, because of his service to the club over the years, and will allow him to put himself in the shop window for any summer move. West Ham and Southampton are mentioned as potential suitors in the Mail. Ashley in USA for Newcastle talks Mike Ashley could be on the cusp of selling Newcastle United. The club have been up for sale for the last couple of years, with no deal yet secured. However, the Mirror reports that Ashley is in America to discuss the possibility of a 350 million deal. Any purchase would be complicated by the drop-off in form this season, with Rafael Benitez in a relegation fight just a year after finishing in the top half, and dropping down a league would wipe off millions from the clubs valuation. Warsaw (AFP) - Environmental activist group Greenpeace lodged a legal complaint against Poland's agriculture minister Thursday, accusing him of wrongly allowing the use of neonicotinoid pesticides restricted by the EU over fears that they imperil bee populations. Greenpeace has filed a complaint with the prosecutor general's office alleging that minister Jan Ardanowski "violated" procedures by twice allowing the use of the restricted insecticides. "He made a bad decision in giving in July his temporary authorisation (to use neonicotinoids) which, in fact might be in the interest of rapeseed growers, but is to the detriment of the 60,000 Polish beekeepers," said Katarzyna Jagiello, describing the minister's actions as "absolutely scandalous". Greenpeace said that in October Ardanowski also granted emergency authorisations for the use of neonicotinoid pesticide on sugar beet crops, in accordance with provisions in the EU restrictions. Its complaint has been filed jointly with the Frank Bold legal group, which specialises in environmental, human rights and anti-corruption cases. The prosecutor can decide if a minister has over-stepped their role. "He delivered his authorisations very quickly, without consulting beekeepers, without taking account of the results of scientific research nor a negative opinion from the environment ministry," said Bartosz Kwiatkowski of Frank Bold. Last week, beekeepers sent a letter to the minister protesting against his decisions as "harmful both for beekeepers and for the environment". - Partial EU ban - The European Union issued a partial ban on three neonicotinoids in 2013, but the bloc has since taken more drastic action after a major report by European food safety agency targeted the chemicals. In April, EU countries voted for an outright ban on the use of the three neonicotinoid pesticides -- clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam -- in fields meaning that they can only now be used in sealed greenhouses. A top European Union court upheld the ban in May. Story continues The pesticides are based on the chemical structure of nicotine and attack the nervous systems of insect pests. Past studies have found neonicotinoids can cause bees to become so disorientated that they cannot find their way back to the hive, and lower their resistance to disease. Bees help pollinate 90 percent of the world's major crops, but in recent years have been dying off from "colony collapse disorder," a mysterious scourge blamed partly on pesticides. According to the EU, several member states have granted emergency authorisations for some restricted uses of the neonicotinoid pesticides -- notably Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Hungary, Finland, Latvia and Estonia. The EU's top court in April ruled Poland's right-wing government broke the law by logging in one of the continent's last primeval forests. Poland is due to host vital UN climate talks in December, where nations must finalise on a legal framework to implement the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Health Secretary Matt Hancock reportedly told fellow ministers during the crunch Brexit deal meeting that he could not guarantee people wouldnt die as a result of a no deal exit from the EU. Mr Hancock was locked inside Downing Street for five hours with the Cabinet last night, as minsters finally approved the terms of the draft deal. Speaking the morning after the deal was announced by Theresa May, Mr Hancock refused to confirm or deny his reported comments. Health Secretary Matt Hancock reportedly said he could not guarantee people wouldnt die under a no-deal Brexit (Getty) Theresa May is facing a threat to her leadership over her plans for Brexit (Getty) He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme he would not go into what people had said behind closed doors, but said the prospect of no deal was not pretty for healthcare. He added: We are working very hard to ensure that people have the unhindered flow and access to medicines that they need. There is a lot of work to do that but I hope that by this deal we can avoid a no-deal Brexit, we can avoid a second referendum and we can have a high-quality future with the EU, and that is what this deal provides. COUNTDOWN TO BREXIT LATEST ANALYSIS FROM YAHOO UK Where do Theresa Mays ministers stand on Brexit? Post-Brexit trip to Europe? Try these non-EU alternatives Bank of England governor confident about UK banks Brexit readiness Dont be fooled the biggest battle over Brexit starts now Hard Brexit could cripple UK science warn Nobel Prize winners Reports from the meeting suggested that tensions ran high, with Work and Pensions minister Esther McVey, who has since resigned, and Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom said to be in tears. Mr Hancock said the discussions at the Cabinet meeting had been civil but open and frank, adding: I didnt see any tears. Mrs May faces a fight for her political survival today after four ministers, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, and three ministerial aides resigned in protest. Work and Pensions minister Esther McVey is among those rumoured to be on the verge of resigning (Getty) All the key dates in the countdown to Brexit (PA) Ms Leadsom and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt are also reported to be on the brink of quitting. Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg wrote to all Tory MPs urging them to reject the deal but Mr Hancock said MPs should back the PMs Brexit plan because the alternatives to it are ugly. Story continues Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned this morning in protest at the Prime Ministers Brexit deal (Getty) The ministerial resignations since the 2017 General Election (PA) He warned that failing to get the deal agreed with Brussels through Parliament would either lead to a no-deal Brexit or a second referendum and the risk of not leaving at all. He told BBC News: All MPs should vote for it because this deal is in the national interest. The two alternatives are deeply unattractive and as people read the detail of it and look at the deal in the round, rather than the bits and pieces that have come out in the newspapers during the latter stages of the negotiations, anybody in any compromise negotiated document can pick out individual parts that they would prefer were written differently. An employee displays cannabis buds in a posed photo at Hexo Corps facilities in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, September 26, 2018. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) In the days following the legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada, HEXO was quick to send out a press release touting its ability to meet demand where other companies had fallen short. HEXO has risen to the challenge of a much higher than anticipated demand during the first few days of legalization, and we are very pleased with their responsiveness, said Jean-Francois Bergeron, the Societe des alcools du Quebecs Vice-President of Supply Chain, in the release. Thanks to HEXOs preparedness, we have been able to provide and maintain customer service to the SQDCs clients, even with this higher demand. Amid a mixed earnings season for major cannabis companies including Aurora, Cronos, Tilray and Canopy Growth, investors interested in making money off marijuana may be looking for some alternatives (although some would argue the time to make money off legalized weed in Canada has already passed us). HEXOs confident swagger aside, the cannabis producer remains of interest for marijuana market investors. The company, formerly known as The Hydropothecary Corporation, launched in 2013. The Gatineau, Quebec-based producer has a market cap of $1.154 billion about a tenth of Canopy Growths on the TSX. But that hasnt stopped the small dog from having a big dog mentality. HEXO themselves views their peers as being Canopy and Aurora. Pretty much to an exclusion of everything else, says Andrew Udell, managing director of The Cannalysts (note: The Cannalysts strictly provide analysis of stocks, and not advice as to which stocks to purchase). Udell says there are two key things which set HEXO apart from the bigger players in the space (for better and for worse): its regional focus, and its product offerings. Focused on their own backyard HEXO is largely regional in focus, says Udell, explaining that theyve struck supply deals in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. They are littered about the Canadian landscape, but theyve effectively preempted themselves from any U.S. markets, at this point. Story continues While other cannabis producers are heavily focusing on overseas markets and eventual expansion south of the border, HEXO has opted to stay within Canada. They have no interest in going anywhere, any jurisdiction where cannabis is unlawful or illegal, says Udell. Being that they are Quebec-basesd, their primary offtake is through the Quebec government, as wellThey have, I think, 20,000 kilograms, [a] fair amount, put out, anticipated to be sold within the first year of legalization, and mainly in Quebec. The focus on the provincial market offers some protection to the company (and in turn, investors) that other producers dont have. The heavy presence in Quebec provides them some sort of ring fence, maybe a little bit more of a Quebec feel to it, says Udell. Their retail expansion, which is again, was going to be a large part of the HEXO platform, they do have several strategic alliances, ownership initiatives, ventures available. But that heavy regional focus can also lead to problems, and fewer alternative avenues to fall back on. I think that the headwinds that theyre facing is that theres going to be a delay thats beyond their control, says Udell. If Quebec is facing the same logistical constraints of getting this product to market, then that just backs up all of those revenue expectations that were expected to happen on October 17. Different product line Back in August, HEXO became a household name because of the blockbuster deal it landed with Molson Coors. The joint venture would see the companies develop non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beverages. Despite the splash the news made at the time, Udell says that alone hasnt been enough to make HEXO a guaranteed winner. Even with Molson Coors, I suspect why that [joint venture] is not as greeted as enthusiastically as say, Constellations entry [investing in Canopy Growth] is because it is a joint venture, says Udell. Its not an equity take by Molson Coors. And its only centered around drink products, non-alcoholic drink products. And that product suite is definitely years away. Id say 18 to 24 months at least. I can see drinks as being more problematic, even, maybe 48 months out. One of the biggest challenges that partnership faces is getting the product out to market legally. Edibles, which [beverages] would fall under, is a completely different animal, says Udell. I know Health Canadas running hot and horny to get it to begin consultations in December and getting some working regulations for comment out by February. I cant see that possibly happening in this lifetime. But edibles arent the only thing HEXO is banking on. They currently have some unique cannabis products, including an intimate spray, peppermint-flavoured medical products, and a cannabis powder for medical use. They also vintage their products, in order to differentiate themselves from the competition. Their novel product line, or some of their product suite, theyre probably one of the more advanced out there, says Udell. Aurora being the only competitor whod probably be in the same space as that. While it may not be as globally exposed as some of its competitors, investors who are looking to get into the pot game could still find some reasons to explore HEXO. If youre looking for a company that will have production thats looking for a view towards novel products, novel product designs, and has ostensibly, whether international or not, a very heavy regional focus within Quebec, I think HEXO would suit the investor looking for that type of exposure, says Udell. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Do you agree with the schools ruling against designer coats? [Photo: Getty] A school in Merseyside has banned pupils from wearing designer coats in an attempt to prevent poverty-shaming in the classroom. Woodchurch High School in Birkenhead sent a letter out to parents prohibiting pupils from wearing branded coats naming Canada Goose and Moncler as examples. Despite head teacher Rebekah Phillips believing that many are in support of the schools latest move, a large number of parents took to Facebook to call out the ban. One father took to the social media platform to write, I work very hard to afford to buy my children some luxury items which I never had. Are these people who are asking where parents get the money from the same parents who are sitting there on their 1,000 pound phones, watching their 60-inch televisions? All my daughter wanted for Christmas was a coat, which I have bought for her. The school should have thought about this in September. Another commented: I think its pathetic. If I or my family member want to buy an expensive coat with our hard earned money so what?! However, there were parents who agree with the forthcoming ban. I think its a fair decision and other schools should follow in example, another parent argued. All the children in this school have to have the same bags, they are not allowed certain shoes and the coat is just another. This definitely stops bullying as all the children dress the same so no individual can be singled out. Good work Woodchurch High School. The ban has left parents divided [Photo: Getty] A fellow parent agreed, writing: On the divisive ban set to be introduced after the Christmas holidays, the schools headteacher said: We are very concerned as a school about poverty-proofing our school environment and, as such, we met with groups of pupils and made the decision in consultation with them. Story continues The pupils spoke to us about the pressure on families and the pressure on themselves to wear particular branded coats. A few years ago we introduced a school bag for the same reason. We have had parents approaching us asking us to introduce a ban prior to us writing the letter. Moncler, one of the brands under question, sells coats for teenagers with a starting price of 425. Meanwhile, jackets by Canada Goose can reach eye-watering figures of up to 4,000. Do you agree with the schools decision to ban designer coats or is a call that should be left to the parents? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. Read more from Yahoo Style UK: How young is too young for sex education at school? Should parents buy new school uniforms every year? Would you delay your summer baby starting school for a year? Migrants stand in line for a free meal after arriving in Tijuana - REUTERS Around 400 Central American migrants travelling through Mexico to seek asylum in the US arrived at the border city of Tijuana. The group, which includes around 80 LGBT asylum seekers, broke away from the larger caravan of 5,000 people in Mexico City. Larger groups are expected to reach the border in the coming days. The US government said on Tuesday it was starting work to "harden" the border crossing from Tijuana, Mexico, to prepare for the arrival of the migrant caravan making its way across western Mexico. Customs and Border Protection announced it was closing four lanes at the busy San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry in San Diego, California. It said the closures were needed "to install and pre-position port hardening infrastructure equipment in preparation for the migrant caravan and the potential safety and security risk that it could cause." James Mattis, the Defence Secretary, is due to visit the border on Wednesday, his first trip since thousands of US troops were deployed. US Marines stand guard next to a barricade at the border in Tijuana Credit: Reuters San Ysidro is the border's busiest crossing, with about 110,000 people entering the US every day. That traffic includes some 40,000 vehicles, 34,000 pedestrians and 150 to 200 buses. The first group, which officials estimated was around 350 people, made it to Tijuana on Tuesday aboard a fleet of buses. The arrival of the LGBT group in the Mexican border city has provoked an angry backlash from local residents, rights activists said. The asylum seekers are among thousands of migrants who are making their way through Mexico towards the United States. They split from the caravan they were originally travelling with after facing discrimination from others in the group. The first group from the caravan from poor Central American countries -mostly Hondurans- are seen near the US border in Playas de Tijuana, Mexico Credit: AFP Fergie Bibiana Andersen of the advocacy group Diversidad sin Fronteras said the LGBT migrants had been verbally abused in Tijuana and also threatened on social media. Story continues "They're being attacked by the town," said Ms Andersen, whose organisation has been supporting the LGBT migrants. "They (attackers) are filled with hate," she said on Tuesday. "They're racist people who think (the migrants) are going to just stay there." Tijuana resident Juan Carlos Ruano wrote on the neighbourhood Facebook page that the migrants were a security concern and called them "homo-deviant invaders". "Everyone has the freedom to do what they want with their lives," he later told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "But they are impacting us... A lot of people are angry," said Ruano, 46, who lives in the Playa de Tijuana neighborhood where the group of migrants are staying. Amnesty International said the discrimination highlighted the broader difficulties faced by LGBT asylum seekers as they cross Mexico, including increased violence and abuse from local authorities. "We have certainly identified them as one of the most vulnerable groups within the context of mobility," Carolina Jimenez, research director for the Americas at Amnesty International told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. A US Marine sets up a barricade with wire at the border between Mexico and the US in Mexico Credit: Reuters In addition to suffering violence and exclusion from their own families, the group of migrants face attacks from other asylum seekers, she added. "We came with the caravan, the caravan is still going," Cesar Mejia, one of the migrants from Honduras told reporters on Sunday. "What we want to avoid is that whenever we reach the end the LGBT community is the last one to be taken into account, in everything." US President Donald Trump has taken a firm stance against the caravan, which began its journey north on October 13 and briefly clashed with security forces in the south of Mexico early on its route. On Friday, Mr Trump signed a decree that effectively suspended the granting of asylum for those who cross the border illegally, a move that could drastically slow claims at gates of entry. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) The Hungarian government said Thursday it did not assist a fugitive politician leave Macedonia to avoid serving a prison sentence, while police in Albania said he was seen departing their country in a Hungarian Embassy vehicle. If accurate, the information in a statement from Albanian police on Thursday shows part of the route former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski took from his homeland and through the Balkans to reach Hungary. Gruevski, 48, was convicted of corruption and facing a 2-year prison term in Macedonia. He said Tuesday on Facebook that he was in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and seeking political asylum. The police statement also implied the Hungarian government was involved in some of his passage. Earlier, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said Hungary did not help Gruevski flee Macedonia. Hungarian authorities "did not have anything to do with" Gruevski leaving Macedonia and "guaranteed" he would not be able to leave Hungary now, Gulyas said. Albanian police noted that when Gruevski left Albania and entered Montenegro on Sunday evening, an international warrant for his arrest had not been issued yet. Macedonia has called on Hungary to extradite Gruevski, who was prime minister from 2006-2016 and convicted in May of unlawfully influencing Interior Ministry officials over the purchase of a luxury vehicle. Hungarian authorities "are proceeding according to appropriate security protocols," Gulyas told reporters, adding that the prime minister was "very amused" by reports that Gruevski, a close political ally, was living at his house. Gulyas said that for security reasons, Gruevski was questioned at length in Budapest about his asylum request instead of at a border transit zone where most asylum-seekers wait for their requests to be evaluated. Asked about Albanian police statement issued later, Orban's office said it would not comment until the asylum review process concluded. Story continues Macedonia's Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov spoke with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto about the case Thursday. Dimitrov noted the former prime minister had other pending legal proceedings involving allegations of serious crimes. Meanwhile, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee, a human rights group, criticized the country's judiciary and Interior Ministry for not preventing Gruevski's departure. The committee demanded a "thorough investigation" to determine responsibility in the case. ___ Testorides reported from Skopje, Macedonia. Jessica Blackwells wedding gown was stolen from husband Jakes car on Sunday, but an anonymous man returned it. (Photo: Duce Photography) Jessica and Jake Blackwell were just planning ahead. They were going to take Jessicas bridal gown, a little muddied from their August wedding, to the cleaners, so they put it in the trunk of Jakes car on Sunday night. But the next morning it was gone, along with an old blanket, a pair of gloves, a couple packs of gum, and half a can of Red Bull. Jake woke me up and said, You need to get up. I need to call the police. My car has been broken into, and your dress is gone, Jessica tells Yahoo Lifestyle. I just laid there for a second. I thought that I was dreaming. Jessica had planned on preserving the sparkly, blush mermaid-style gown from Morilee, along with her mother-in-laws veil, in a shadow box to display when the couple bought their first home, maybe passing it down to a future daughter one day. The police came to their Indianapolis neighborhood and said they would start an investigation, but they didnt give the Blackwells much hope that anything could be done. (Photo: Courtesy Jessica Blackwell) Rather than sit around waiting, Jessica did what many of us would: She posted about it on Facebook. She made the post public, in case some friends wanted to share it. But she most certainly didnt expect her story to go viral. I set my phone down and I picked it back up, and it had been shared 50-60 times, she says. I had messages coming from news reporters and strangers with leads. It just kind of blew up. Readers posted it to Facebook groups for local brides and secondhand marketplaces. Two local stations covered the story, and it became a cause celebre within a day. People were outraged, especially older women on Facebook, Jessica marvels. They were so angry, you would have thought whoever it was stole directly from them. Even Jessicas sister in California heard about the story from a co-worker. I feel absolutely terrible, because shes actually in the [path] of the fires that are going on out there. If anybody should be having media attention, it should probably be them. Story continues Unlike so many stories in the news, however, in this case, the coverage actually worked. By Tuesday, Jessica received a text from an anonymous man who said hed bought the dress from a couple. He said they were going through hard times, and they were on their way out of town and that they just got married and they asked him if he wanted to buy it. He said he bought it for $250 because he thought he could sell it for more. It was a really sketchy conversation. Jessica didnt know whether she believed the man, but she wanted her dress back. She doesnt think it would have sold for much secondhand anyway, and shes quite certain that all the attention made it pretty much impossible to unload. She and Jake met the man at the police station and retrieved her gown. The whole experience has left her feeling very grateful to her community in Indianapolis, from those outraged older women to the owners of local consignment shops who promised to look out for her gown. An anonymous man returned the stolen wedding gown. (Photo: Duce Photography) I never in a million years expected the people of the south side of Indy to come together and actively help me, she says. It was a very supportive situation. And while more than one dry cleaner in the area has offered to clean her returned gown for free, shes decided to keep it in her living room for a little while after its grand adventure. I just like keeping an eye on it, she says. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Subscriber content preview WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Postal Service is reporting a financial loss for the 12th straight year, citing declining mail volume as well as the costs of its pension and health care obligations. The Postal Service is awaiting a report ordered by President Donald Trump to address the agency's unsustainable financial path. . . . On edge: British Prime Minister Theresa May gives a statement to the media outside 10 Downing Street following emergency Cabinet meeting on Brexit during which government ministers have agreed to the draft withdrawal agreement negotiated between UK and EU. November 14, 2018 in London, England. Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz / Barcroft Media via Getty Images. After months of to-ing and fro-ing, it looks like we are finally in the end stages of Brexit. The UK government on Tuesday announced it had agreed the text of a draft withdrawal agreement with the EU and late on Wednesday night, after a mammoth 5-hour cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Theresa May declared she had support from her cabinet for the deal. But dont be fooled into thinking the hard part is now behind us. Brexit is in a more precarious state that ever, with two ministers resigning and furious denouncements of the deal in the British press on both the left and right. May is seen as hanging on by a thread, with talk of more cabinet resignations to come. There are serious doubts about her ability to get the deal approved by Parliament. Investment bank Citi have produced a chart illustrating just how fiendishly complex the remaining process of Brexit is and how we could still end up in a scenario where Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal. Heres the chart: Complex: Citis chart shows we still have a long way to go. Photo: Citi Citi economist Christian Schulz writes: The ratification procedure especially on the UK side is fraught with risks. After the meaningful vote, the deal will also have to pass the legislative process in both chambers of Parliament. If at any point, MPs vote down the deal, the likelihood of a Conservative Party leadership contest, a general election or a second referendum rises substantially. While it may be possible to try and renegotiate or to simply wait, the government may lose control of the process to Parliament on 21 January, with uncertain consequences. Still our base case is that the deal will eventually pass and the UK will leave the EU smoothly after a long transition period. Todays news brings us another step closer to that. GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States has chosen the wrong path in reimposing sanctions on Iran and will be defeated, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday, according to the Tasnim news agency. Washington reinstated sanctions targeting Iran's oil industry on Nov. 5 as it seeks to force the Islamic Republic to accept tougher curbs on its nuclear program, halt its development of ballistic missiles as well as its support for proxy forces in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. "The Americans will definitely be defeated in this path. The path they have chosen is wrong and incorrect," Rouhani said. "If they are being honest and they are looking for regional security, this is not the path. If they are being honest and respect the Iranian people, this is not the path." He added, "They have made themselves more infamous in the world and in front of our people. It's clear for everyone that the incorrect and cruel sanctions of America will harm the dear and honorable people of our country." U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said Tuesday that Washington intends to step up enforcement of sanctions on Iran and "squeeze them very hard." President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions after withdrew the United States from world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, reached before he took office. The other signatories - Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China remain committed to the deal. Iran has said it will stay in it only if the other powers preserve its economic benefits against U.S. pressure. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Fianna Fail Brexit spokersperson Lisa Chambers. Pic: PA Opposition party Fianna Fail has criticised the Irish government for patting themselves on the back about the Brexit deal, suggesting that its self-congratulations contributed to the turmoil in Westminster. Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fails Brexit spokesperson, called extremely unhelpful Irish prime minister Leo Varadkars statement that the backstop in the new deal was even stronger that what had been agreed in December 2017. I think our own government need to be far more aware that their actions, their self-congratulations, their patting themselves on the back here in Dublin absolutely negatively feed into whats happening in the Commons today. Though Fianna Fail considers itself to be the main opposition party, it props up the governing Fine Gael party in parliament by way of a supply and confidence agreement. READ MORE: Irish foreign minister says Brexit deal is only deal on the table Fianna Fail has been largely supportive of the Irish governments Brexit strategy until recently. On Wednesday, Varadkar and his ministers gave Theresa May time and space to get cabinet approval for the Brexit withdrawal treaty agreed by negotiators earlier in the week. But speaking at a press conference following Mays announcement that she had secured the necessary support, Varadkar said it was a pretty good day for politics, and that Ireland had reached a satisfactory outcome on all of its key priorities. This is even stronger than what we had back in December, he said. While they maintained 24 hours silence up until the 9pm news last night, Chambers said, they simply couldnt help themselves and found that they were quick off the mark to try and congratulate themselves on their own perceived victory. Fine Gael senator Neale Richmond, the chair of the Irish parliaments Brexit committee, called Chambers statement grossly disingenuous, and said she had a partisan desire to lay all of the Brexit problems at the door of the Irish government. Story continues Varadkar, Richmond said, merely laid out the detail and process at hand last night. What has been agreed is a legally binding draft treaty which is by its nature stronger than a political statement. Ample space is being given. READ MORE: Resignations leave Theresa Mays government in tatters By lunchtime, four of Mays ministers, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, had resigned over the deal, as had two parliamentary private secretaries and a Downing St official. Paris (AFP) - Tariq Ramadan, a leading Islamic scholar held in France since February on charges he raped two women, on Thursday won conditional release after testifying in an appeals court. A Paris court ruled in favour of Ramadan after the 56-year-old Swiss academic made, who has been in custody since February 2, an impassioned argument for release. His bail was set at 300,000 euros ($340,000) and requires him to hand over his passport and report to police once a week. "Where would I flee to?" he asked in his hearing, his first public appearance since his incarceration. Ramadan denies charges he raped the women in 2009 and 2012. One accuser is a disabled woman identified in media reports as "Christelle" and the other is a feminist activist, Henda Ayari. But last month Ramadan was forced to drop assertions he had no sexual contact at all with the women after an expert recovered 399 text messages between him and "Christelle", some of which detailed violent sexual fantasies. Ramadan subsequently said the sexual contact was "consensual". In court, Ramadan said he had no intention of becoming a fugitive from justice, and said his multiple sclerosis meant he had difficulty walking after 10 months locked up. "I will remain in France and defend my honour and my innocence," the well-known TV commentator told the judges in what was his fourth bid to secure his freedom. "I would like you to make your decision from your conscience, not because my name is Tariq Ramadan and I'm demonised in this country," he said. He portrayed his accusers as liers bending media attention in the case to their benefit, asking: "Who has instrumentalised the 'Me Too' movement? "I have never raped, I am not a rapist. It's true that I made a mistake," he said. But Ayari's lawyer Francis Szpiner said the two "women were regularly threatened." Ramadan, a married father of four whose grandfather founded Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, was a professor at Oxford University until he was forced to take leave when the rape allegations surfaced at the height of the "Me Too" movement late last year. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jeffrey Heller GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian militants and Israel held their fire late on Tuesday following an Egyptian mediation effort, bringing a relative calm to the Gaza frontier after the fiercest rocket salvoes and air strikes since the 2014 war. The enemies made clear the pause was an armed stand-off rather than a long-term accommodation. Fighting died down at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) and a Palestinian official briefed on the negotiations said Gaza factions ceased firing as part of a deal proposed by Egypt. Israeli officials confirmed Cairo had been involved in Tuesday's arrangement. Since Monday, Israeli air strikes had killed seven Palestinians, at least five of them gunmen, and destroyed several buildings used by Gaza's ruling Hamas Islamists. Rocket attacks from Gaza sent residents of southern Israel to shelters, wounding dozens and killing a Palestinian laborer from the occupied West Bank. The flare-up was triggered by a botched Israeli commando incursion on Sunday but the surge of violence has been stoked by the economic plight of the Gaza Strip, which Israel blockades in hope of isolating Hamas, an Islamist movement designated a terrorist group by the West. The exchanges were the fiercest since the Gaza war in 2014, the third between Israel and Hamas in a decade as part of the wider Israel-Palestinian conflict. In that 50-day war, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed Gaza, most of them civilians, along with 66 Israeli soldiers and seven civilians in Israel. CEASEFIRE The joint command of the Palestinian armed factions in Gaza said in a statement on Tuesday they would abide by a ceasefire "as long as the Zionist enemy does the same". Hamas, which has ruled the packed and impoverished coastal enclave since 2007, claimed victory. Spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said the militants had "taught the enemy a harsh lesson and made it pay for its crimes". Israeli security minister Yuval Steinitz said after a cabinet debate lasting several hours that he knew of no formal truce. Rather, he told Ynet TV, Israel had "landed a harsh and unprecedented blow on Hamas and the terrorist groups in Gaza, and we will see if that will suffice or whether further blows will be required". While many Palestinians celebrated in the streets, in Israel the response was mixed. Dozens of residents of bombarded southern villages blocked an Israeli traffic junction and burned tyres in protest at what they deemed a government capitulation. Hamas and other armed factions had fired more than 400 rockets or mortar bombs across the fenced border after carrying out a guided-missile attack on Monday on a bus that wounded an Israeli soldier, the military said. Hamas said it was retaliating for a Israeli commando mission in Gaza on Sunday that erupted into gunfight when uncovered by militants. A Hamas commander, six other gunmen and an Israeli colonel were killed in that incident. Israel said its Iron Dome anti-rocket system intercepted more than 100 projectiles from Gaza on Monday and Tuesday. Responding with dozens of air strikes, Israel hit buildings that included a Hamas intelligence compound and the studios of Hamas's Al-Aqsa Television. The Israeli military said its air attacks took out a rocket-launching squad and fired at several Palestinians infiltrating through the border fence around Gaza. SIMMERING VIOLENCE Violence has simmered since Palestinians launched weekly border protests on March 30 to demand the easing of the blockade and the right to return to land lost in the 1948 war of Israel's founding. Israeli troops have killed more that 220 Palestinians during those confrontations, which have included border breaches. Alarmed at the bloodshed, Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar have sought ways to improve conditions in the enclave. Israel withdrew settlers and soldiers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land, air and sea borders. The wider Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been stalled for several years. In the latest violence, Israeli missiles flattened seven buildings. Abdallah Abu Habboush, 22, said he was awakened by shouts from neighbors to get out of his residential building after what Israel terms the "tap on the roof" warning. They all gathered in a room on the first floor to wait out the attack. "Old men who were with us fainted because of the smoke," he said. Israel said all of the buildings targeted by the Israeli military were used by Hamas. (Writing by Jeffrey Heller and Dan Williams; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Angus MacSwan) Jeremy Corbyn has hit out at Theresa Mays draft Brexit deal, warning that it cannot be put to Parliament. The Labour leader said Mrs Mays deal which has already prompted several resignations was a huge and damaging failure and had left the Government in chaos. Replying to the Prime Ministers Brexit update, Mr Corbyn told the Commons: After two years of bungled negotiations the Government has produced a botched deal that breaches the Prime Ministers own red lines and does not meet our six tests. The Government is in chaos. Their deal risks leaving the country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say. Mr Corbyn said: When even the last Brexit Secretary, who theoretically at least negotiated the deal, says I cannot support the proposed deal, what faith does that give anyone else in this place or in this country? The Government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected. No-deal is not a real option and the Government has not seriously prepared for it. COUNTDOWN TO BREXIT LATEST ANALYSIS FROM YAHOO UK Where do Theresa Mays ministers stand on Brexit? Post-Brexit trip to Europe? Try these non-EU alternatives Bank of England governor confident about UK banks Brexit readiness Dont be fooled the biggest battle over Brexit starts now Hard Brexit could cripple UK science warn Nobel Prize winners Mr Corbyn went on: The withdrawal agreement is a leap in the dark an ill-defined deal by a never-defined date. He said it was clear the Prime Ministers red line regarding jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice had also been torn up. Jeremy Corbyn has slammed Theresa Mays Brexit deal (Picture: REUTERS/Yves Herman) Mrs May, who was greeted with shouts of resign, questioned whether Mr Corbyn had read the same document, listing what she said were his errors. Im really not sure what document he read, she said. There is indeed a choice before members of this House it is a choice of whether or not we go ahead with a deal that does deliver on the vote, while protecting jobs, while protecting our security and while protecting our union. Story continues It is thought that Mr Corbyn will block Mrs Mays agreement by ordering his partys MPs to vote against the proposals. This is a bad deal which isn't in the interests of the whole country. #WithdrawalAgreement #BrexitChaos pic.twitter.com/vfUK2DgGUY Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 14, 2018 Following the announcement of the deal, he tweeted: This is a bad deal which isnt in the interests of the whole country. # WithdrawalAgreement # BrexitChaos. He is said to have told reporters that Labour would do a better deal with Brussels and would re-open negotiations quickly if the party won a snap General Election. WASHINGTON Before President Donald Trump forced former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign, the Justice Departments quasi-judicial Office of Legal Counsel told him he could appoint an official who had not been confirmed by the Senate, like acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, to take Sessions place. A 20-page OLC opinion authored by Assistant Attorney General Steven Engel, released by the Justice Department on Wednesday, states that OLC had previously advised that the President could designate a senior Department of Justice official, such as Mr. Whitaker, as Acting Attorney General. The OLC opinion acknowledged that its rare for the acting attorney general to be an individual not confirmed by the Senate. The only example they found was from 1866, before the creation of the Justice Department. Nevertheless, the opinion concluded that Trumps appointment of Whitaker would be legitimate. Following Attorney General Sessionss resignation, the President could have relied upon the Deputy Attorney General, the Solicitor General, or an Assistant Attorney General to serve as Acting Attorney General. But the availability of potential alternatives does not disable Congress from providing the President with discretion to designate other persons, Engel wrote. Nothing in the text of the Constitution or historical practice suggests that the President may turn to an official who has not been confirmed by the Senate if, but only if, there is no appropriate Senate-confirmed official available. OLC, sometimes referred to as the presidents law firm, is a small unit within the Justice Department that plays an important role in the executive branch by offering internal legal reviews before the president or agency takes action. Its the office that signed off on President Barack Obamas use of drones against U.S. citizens, and the enhanced interrogation techniques during the George W. Bush era. Much of OLCs work is typically shielded from the public, but it does occasionally make its opinions public when it benefits the administration to do so such as when there are questions about whether the attorney general has been legitimately appointed. Story continues A senior Justice Department official declined to say when, precisely, the White House asked OLC to opine on Trumps options should Sessions resign. The OLC opinion takes the position that it wouldnt have mattered whether Sessions was fired or resigned. OLC cited dozens of examples of individuals taking control of top agency positions on an acting basis without being confirmed by the Senate, but could find only one example of an acting attorney general who had not been Senate-confirmed. J. Hubley Ashton, the opinion noted, was acting attorney general for six days in 1866 after the resignation of James Speed, who was appointed by Abraham Lincoln but resigned because he disagreed with President Andrew Johnson. Ashtons successor, Henry Stanbery, resigned as attorney general to represent Johnson during his impeachment trial. Read the opinion below. Ryan Reilly is HuffPosts senior justice reporter covering the Justice Department, federal law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs. Have a tip? Reach him at ryan.reilly@huffpost.com or on Signal at 202-527-9261. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Subscriber content preview HOUSTON (AP) The U.S. government has awarded a $167 million contract to build 8 miles (13 kilometers) of border wall in south Texas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the contract Wednesday. Construction will begin in February. CBP already announced a $145 million award for another 6 miles (10 kilometers) in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley. . . . CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Thursday while he remains undecided about another presidential run, the midterm election results could suggest a greater opening for an independent or third-party candidate. Kasich made his second trip this year to New Hampshire, where he finished second in the state's leadoff Republican presidential primary in 2016. "I'm encouraged every time I come back here," he told reporters in Concord before meeting with supporters. "I know everybody's wondering how I'm going to make a decision, when I'm going to make a decision. I don't know, but what's most important to me is that I can have a voice that can be a healing voice for the country." Asked about his previous speculation about running as a third-party or independent, Kasich said all options remain on the table. "I think there's a vast ocean in the middle. The middle has been numb, they didn't know what to do. But they did something they haven't done in 100 years, they voted. They turned out in unbelievable numbers to say we've had enough," he said. "Where that takes us, I can't quite tell. But if you have this big ocean in the middle, there's perhaps a chance for something that's unique in American history." Kasich elaborated a bit later in Manchester, noting the rapid pace of innovation in technology and medicine. "In an era of all this change, why wouldn't we think there could be fundamental political change?" he said. "The day will come, I think. When it will happen, I don't know." The former congressman has been one of President Donald Trump's most outspoken Republican detractors, and said the president will have a hard time getting re-elected as a divider. He said the midterm elections showed the Republican Party needs to change its message on separating families at the border, health care and other issues. Story continues "To me, there is a very positive message. And that is: Americans don't want the negativity. They don't want the chaos. They don't want the divide," he said. In contrast to Trump, who characterizes the media as an enemy of the people, Kasich spoke later at the annual First Amendment Awards given by Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications. The school is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded by the late president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader. "The press is the one thing that holds the rich and the powerful accountable so we normal citizens can make up our minds about the current state of affairs, about our culture, about the world, about what we can do, and think and take action about," Kasich said. Fergus Cullen, a former chairman of New Hampshire Republican Party, backed Kasich's 2016 primary bid and wrote him in on the general election ballot rather than vote for Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton. He refused to vote for any midterm candidate who supports Trump, leaving him with a nearly blank ballot. "The election results to me suggest that enough Republicans are disgusted with the Trump administration that it's now costing other Republicans their chance to win," he said. Kasich noted while many Republican governors lost, Ohio elected another Republican to replace him. "Why is that? A big factor is because no one was left behind in the state over the last eight years," he said. "People in Ohio feel pretty good. They're not angry. They don't feel left out. They feel like why would I change, we're going in the right direction." But back at home, the Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly spent Thursday thumbing its nose at the absent governor . Lawmakers overrode Kasich's veto of a measure expanding their power to revisit rules written and finalized by the government's executive branch. The Ohio House also passed a "stand your ground" gun bill and a restrictive heartbeat abortion bill like one Kasich vetoed in December 2016. Both measures still need to be voted on by the Ohio Senate before a bill reaches Kasich's desk. ____ Associated Press Writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Kuwait City (AFP) - Kuwait on Thursday halted flights at its international airport after heavy rains flooded the Gulf state's capital, diverting incoming flights to neighbouring countries not affected by deadly storms. "Rains overnight Wednesday submerged main passages at the airport, resulting in diverting several incoming flights to Dubai, Bahrain and Dammam airports," said the head of Kuwait's civil aviation, Sheikh Salman al-Sabah. All departing flights were cancelled, Sheikh Salman told AFP. Life in the desert emirate came to a standstill in the past two days because of heavy rains, estimated by the national meteorological department at 96 mm (3.78 inches) -- almost equal to the country's average annual rainfall. The deluge has flooded bridges and main roads and damaged buildings in residential areas. A stateless man drowned on Saturday as he tried to rescue his family from their flooded home in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti government ordered public offices and schools shut on Wednesday and Thursday as authorities stood on high alert and urged people to stay at home. Torrential rains have swept across the region, with Jordan hit the worst. At least 13 people have died in flash floods in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia's civil defence said on Thursday it rescued 46 people from a bus after they had become stranded by floods in the city of Hafer al-Batin, near the Kuwaiti border. Kuwaiti parliament on Wednesday held an urgent session in which the government was accused of failing to take measures to protect civilians and infrastructure. It ordered a committee to investigate who is responsible. The government last week sacked two top public works ministry officials. Public Works Minister Hussam al-Roumi submitted his resignation over the issue. ATLANTA (AP) The Latest on the disputed election count for Georgia governor (all times local): 2:20 p.m. The Associated Press will not declare a winner in the race for governor in Georgia until state officials certify results. Republican Brian Kemp leads Democrat Stacey Abrams by 54,977 votes out of more than 3.9 million votes counted. Kemp has 50.2 percent of the votes counted. Abrams has not conceded and is pursing legal challenges. Kemp must finish with more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. State law sets a Nov. 20 deadline for official certification of results. A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that the secretary of state must not certify results without confirming each county's tally includes absentee ballots previously rejected because of missing or incorrect dates of birth. State elections officials issued guidance to county officials to review those ballots Thursday. ___ 1:30 p.m. Georgia election officials say counties will review absentee ballots and count those previously rejected for missing or incorrect dates of birth. The review was ordered by a federal judge Wednesday in response to a request included in a lawsuit brought by Stacey Abrams' campaign for governor. Abrams trails former Secretary of State Brian Kemp by more than 50,000 votes. Her campaign has disputed the results, and says she needs about 17,700 votes to force a Dec. 4 runoff. Kemp's campaign contends that the results show he has an "insurmountable lead" in the race. Counties have been ordered to count absentee ballots rejected "solely because of an error or omission in the date of birth" and recertify results if counts change. The deadline is Friday by 5 p.m. ___ 12:10 a.m. Republican Brian Kemp is claiming results certified by county election officials confirm he has an "insurmountable lead" in the Georgia governor's race. But Georgia Democrats are casting public doubts on the legitimacy of any election count that ends with the former secretary of state being certified the winner of the race against Stacey Abrams, who's seeking to become the first black woman elected governor in the U.S. Abrams' campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo said at a news conference Wednesday at the Georgia Capitol that her group believes Kemp "mismanaged this election to sway it in his favor." Groh-Wargo previously said the Abrams campaign believes she needs a net gain of about 17,700 votes to pull Kemp below a majority threshold and force a Dec. 4 runoff Where next? Mrs May explains her Brexit deal (PA) More than two years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May finally has a draft divorce agreement with Brussels. But it is looking like negotiating the deal is only the start of her troubles. She warned yesterday that there are difficult days ahead as she begins to tread a hazardous path through her own party, parliament and Brussels to get a deal rubber-stamped. On Thursday the resignations began to roll in, with Brexit Secretary Dominic Rabb, Work & Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, and as junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara walking. So, what happens next? Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 London and Brussels statements On Thursday morning, European Council President Donald Tusk called Brexit a lose-lose situation and said negotiations have been and would be about damage control. All eyes now turn to Westminster and the reaction of Eurosceptics as Mrs May delivers her Brexit statement to Parliament. Mrs May announced she will outline the deal to MPs in the House of Commons today. Brexit Summit Brexit supporters demand a different deal (PA) In his statement, Tusk confirmed that the EU would hold a summit on November 25. In the meantime, Mrs May will have to convince parliament and others that the deal is a good one while Tusk said similar would be done with the other 27 member states of the EU. All ambassadors for those countries will meet before the end of the week, said Tusk. As much as I am sad to see you leave I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible for both for you and for us, he told the UK. Story continues COUNTDOWN TO BREXIT LATEST ANALYSIS FROM YAHOO UK Where do Theresa Mays ministers stand on Brexit? Post-Brexit trip to Europe? Try these non-EU alternatives Bank of England governor confident about UK banks Brexit readiness Dont be fooled the biggest battle over Brexit starts now Hard Brexit could cripple UK science warn Nobel Prize winners The UK Parliament The governments plan is to secure a vote that will back the Brexit deal before Christmas. But that is far from guaranteed, and depends on the reactions of the Conservatives, with many in Mrs Mays own party deeply sceptical, and Labour. On Thursday, its MPs began a petition for leader Jeremy Corbyn to back a second referendum. There is also the small matter of convincing the public that this is best deal Britain can get. More resignations? Gone: Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey (PA) Mrs May is braced for even more further resignations. All eyes will be on various high-profile members of her Cabinet in the next few days, such as Andrea Leadsom and Penny Mordaunt to see if they jump ship. There is also the reaction of the DUP in Northern Ireland, which is helping prop up Mrs Mays fragile government. Ministerial resignations under Mrs May (PA) The Transition period When Britain finally leaves the European Union on March 29 2019, the deal agreed allows for a transition period to be put in place until the end of 2020. This is to allow the UK and the EU time to form a deal on their future post-Brexit relationship. If this is not possible by the end of that date, the UK and EU could jointly agree to extend the transition period. Alternatively, a temporary backstop arrangement could also be put in place from January 2021, establishing a single EU-UK customs territory. Tirana (AFP) - Former Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski, who fled the country to avoid prison, used a Hungarian diplomatic vehicle to escape through Albania, police in Tirana said Thursday after Budapest formally denied any involvement. Gruevski left Albania on Sunday "at 7:11 pm (18:11 GMT) using the border crossing Hani i Hotit, to enter Montenegro," a police statement said. The former strongman, who dominated the country for nearly a decade until 2016, travelled in a car with the number plate CD 1013A, it said. Montenegrin police confirmed that Gruevski entered the country on November 11 "and left Montenegro the same day", adding that they had "fully respected legal procedures in this case." Facing a jail term for abuse of power, Gruevski fled to Hungary, a European Union member, where he sought asylum. Earlier Thursday, the Hungarian government formally denied having actively provided assistance in Gruevski's escape. "The Hungarian state authorities had nothing to do with him leaving the territory of his own country," Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief Gergely Gulyas told reporters. "The Hungarian state had nothing to do with him leaving Macedonia," he added. A Hungarian government representative told AFP in the evening it did not want to comment on the information released by Albania. In the past, Gruevski has indicated he was close to Orban. In 2017, Orban publicly supported the Macedonian ex-leader during his campaign for municipal elections, in which Gruevski's rightwing VMRO-DPMNE party lost to the ruling Social Democrats. Both have accused US liberal billionaire George Soros of stoking illegal immigration -- claims that Soros denies. - Passport was confiscated - Hungary has said it would "consider the assessment of the former Macedonian prime minister's asylum request to be solely a legal issue". Orban's ruling Fidesz party said Wednesday that Gruevski was "persecuted and threatened by a left-wing government, which clearly has the support of George Soros". Story continues Gruevski's request will test Budapest's willingness to apply harsh asylum rules and anti-migrant measures like border fences and detention camps for asylum seekers that have drawn fierce criticism from Orban's opponents at home and abroad including Brussels. On Wednesday, Macedonian premier Zoran Zaev urged Hungary to "respect international practice, international law" and not provide "a refuge shelter for criminals". Macedonia has meanwhile issued an international arrest warrant. "Macedonia is a strategic partner and an important ally of Hungary," the government in Budapest said in a statement. Gruevski was convicted in May of using a 600,000-euro ($676,009) government Mercedes for personal travel. A Skopje court upheld the sentence in October. He also faces a number of other charges of corruption, abuse of power, electoral fraud as well as illegal wiretapping. Gruevski claims that the cases are politically motivated. His passport had been confiscated during the probe and Macedonian media has questioned how he managed to leave the country. Hungarian opposition parties have warned the government against giving protection to Gruevski. "Corrupt criminals who steal their own people are usually granted asylum only in the worst dictatorships in the East and in the banana republics and not in the EU," said the Democratic coalition party. burs-phs/ks/ach Antananarivo (AFP) - Two former presidents of Madagascar look set to compete in a hotly-contested run-off election in December after partial results Thursday showed they were frontrunners in the first-round vote. With 84 percent of the ballots counted from last week's vote, Andry Rajoelina was on 39.61 percent and Marc Ravalomanana on 35.15 percent -- pointing towards a close race for the presidency in the head-to-head second round. Outgoing president Hery Rajaonarimampianina was in third place out of 36 candidates with eight percent. "Given the results of the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission), the second round is now inevitable," Madagascan analyst Mahery Lanto Manandafy told AFP. Under Madagascar's electoral regulations, the two frontrunners go through to a run-off -- scheduled for December 19 -- if neither manages to secure more than 50 percent in the first round. "But anything is still possible if Rajoelina and Ravalomanana lodge a complaint in the courts," warned analyst Toavina Ralambomahay. "Everyone hopes to be elected in the first round because a second-round election will bring huge campaign costs." Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, according to World Bank data, with almost four in five people living in grinding poverty on the Indian Ocean island. But the candidates spent huge sums on flashy campaign rallies, helicopters and giveaways such as free T-shirts for supporters. The three leading candidates have raised allegations of fraud and malpractice by election authorities. - Legal challenges? - A European Union observer mission said in a report on Monday that it had "noted candidates committed breaches" ahead of the November 7 poll, but concluded that the election was well organised overall. Roberto Tinoka, a lawmaker supporting Rajoelina, on Thursday again questioned the counting and said his campaign would launch a legal challenge, while Ravalomanana's side said money was being used to influence the CENI results. Story continues "All the results we have published are verifiable," said CENI vice president Thierry Rakotonarivo. Both Ravalomanana and Rajoelina were banned from contesting the last election in 2013 under international pressure to avoid a repeat of political violence that engulfed the island in 2009. Ravalomanana, 68, and Rajoelina, 44, are bitter rivals. It is the first time they have faced each other at the polls. Ravalomanana ruled from 2002 to 2009 until he was ousted in a military-backed coup that installed Rajoelina who was in power until 2014. Rajaonarimampianina succeeded him, ruling until earlier this year. Rajaonarimampianina's attempts to change the electoral laws this year backfired, sparking nearly three months of sometimes violent protests in the capital Antananarivo. The demonstrators forced Rajaonarimampianina to accept a "consensus" government tasked with organising the election in the former French colony, which is burdened by a long history of coups and unrest. African Union (AU) observers have called on the three leading contenders to "show restraint and respect the law". By Lizbeth Diaz TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - Demonized by U.S. President Donald Trump and exhausted after a harrowing journey, migrants from Central America in a caravan now face a new threat: open hostility from some Mexicans. A small group of residents in an upscale Tijuana neighborhood near the Mexican border confronted caravan migrants late on Wednesday, throwing stones and telling them to go back to their home countries. "Get out of here," around 20 people shouted at a camp of Hondurans near the border. "We want you to return to your country. You are not welcome." Migrants shouted back and dozens of police officers had to intervene to keep peace in a city known for welcoming both American tourists and thousands of immigrants every year. A caravan of thousands of mostly Honduran migrants who are fleeing violence and poverty at home set off for the United States in mid-October, with the bulk of them still to arrive at the border. Other large bands of mostly Salvadorans have followed. Trump has declared the caravans an "invasion," and has sent some 5,800 troops to "harden" the border, including with barbed wire. With some exceptions, Mexico has welcomed the Central Americans, offering food and lodging in towns during their journey. The migrants said they were stunned by the hostile attitude in Tijuana. "We are not criminals. Why do (they) treat us like this if everywhere we have traveled in Mexico they treated us well?" migrants shouted back. "Think about the children who are here, please." Recent polls show a sizeable minority of Mexicans opposed to aiding the migrants as they head northward to the United States. An Oct. 26-28 survey of 1,000 Mexicans by polling firm Consulta Mitofsky showed that 51.4 percent were in favor of helping or protecting the migrants, while 33.8 percent took the opposite view, believing that they should return home. The remaining respondents expressed no opinion. Mexican Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said job fairs would be held around the country from Thursday to lay out opportunities for Central Americans, reiterating earlier government offers of work. This time though, he emphasized that there was also work for Mexicans seeking jobs. At a news conference that included Juan Pablo Castanon, head of the CCE business lobby, Navarrete said the private sector had told the government there were enough jobs available for all the Central Americans who entered Mexico during October. Since Oct. 19, a total of 3,800 migrants had sought asylum in Mexico, Navarrete said, though some later dropped their applications and returned home. As of now, 2,600 asylum requests were being processed, the minister added. Mexico's low-paying factories at times struggle to find workers, and the border area is suffering chronic labor shortages. WELCOMING HISTORY Tensions began brewing in Tijuana a few days ago when residents complained about a group of 80 or so LGBT migrants who broke away from the caravan and arrived in an upscale part of the Playas de Tijuana neighborhood, near where the stones were thrown. A popular party town for U.S. tourists, Tijuana has a history of absorbing visitors, including Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. It has a large American population and some 3,000 Haitians settled in the city, just south of San Diego, in 2016 after failing to cross the U.S. border. But the arrival of hundreds of members of the caravans has stretched to the limit migrant shelters that were already overflowing with people. While Tijuana's traditional generosity was also on display, with the government setting up a new shelter and citizens offering food and clothing, a harder attitude also emerged. Reuters gained access to a WhatsApp chat group called "Citizen Blockade" where some 250 members using strong language discussed strategies to harass the migrants or block their arrival. Tijuana's city government opened a shelter for 360 people of an estimated 810 that arrived this week, and officials warned there was little room to house more than 2,000 more who are expected to arrive this week. Irineo Mujica, representative of the organization Pueblos Sin Fronteras, which is advising the migrants in the caravan, said the migrants wanted to seek asylum in the United States. Their arrival adds to already long lines of people who have been waiting their turn at the Tijuana crossing. Last week, Trump suspended the granting of asylum to migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. "We are looking for solutions, not confrontations," Mujica said following the clash with Mexicans as a helicopter hovered above, surveying the scene from the American side. (Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Additional reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Writing by Michael O'Boyle; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, Alistair Bell and Lisa Shumaker) Mexico City (AFP) - Mexico's president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced Wednesday he would maintain the country's controversial military efforts to fight organized crime and seek to reinforce them by creating a national guard. Lopez Obrador, unveiling his security strategy that also included fighting police corruption, outlined a plan that would see the military, naval and federal police integrated. Although withdrawing the military from Mexico's battle against organized crime was not a campaign promise, AMLO -- as he is known -- has been critical of the strategy, launched in 2006 by former president Felipe Calderon. Since then, Mexico has been gripped by violence, with over 200,000 people murdered and around 37,000 missing, according to official figures. Lopez Obrador, who will take office December 1, repeated his view against fighting "violence with violence" -- but simultaneously defended creating a national guard expected to be 50,000-strong by 2021. The leftist added that creating the integrated force would require constitutional reform, but did not clarify when he would introduce the amendment. Days earlier, he had vowed not to introduce such reforms during his first three years in charge. Constitutional reform needs the support of two thirds of Mexico's Congress, and although AMLO's Morena party enjoys a comfortable majority, it would require negotiation with the opposition. Migrant caravan arrives at U.S.-Mexico border U.S. Border Patrol agents, left, speak with two Central American migrants as they sit atop the border structure separating Mexico and the United States, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Tijuana, Mexico. Migrants in a caravan of Central Americans scrambled to reach the U.S. border, catching rides on buses and trucks for hundreds of miles in the last leg of their journey Wednesday as the first sizable groups began arriving in the border city of Tijuana. (Photo: Gregory Bull/AP) The bulk of the migrant caravan crossing Mexico began arriving Thursday at the U.S. border, as around 800 Central Americans reached the city of Tijuana aboard 22 buses after more than a months trek. Weve finally reached Tijuana. I cant wait to see the border. Its been a never-ending journey, but God brought us here, said Carmen Soto, a Honduran migrant traveling with her two young children. More than 750 migrants who had traveled ahead of the main caravan had already arrived over the past several days in Tijuana, which is across the border from San Diego, California. More than 3,000 others are on the way, expected to reach the border Thursday or Friday in buses organized by charities, private donors and local authorities. Across the border, nearly 6,000 troops deployed by Donald Trump have been busy erecting concrete barriers and razor-wire fences to keep out what the president has described as an invasion. The caravan began its journey on October 13 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras more than 4,300 kilometers (2,700 miles) from Tijuana. (AFP) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. FILE PHOTO: The Federal Reserve building is pictured in Washington, DC, U.S., August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo/File Photo/File Photo/File Photo The Federal Reserve is set to get its first board member dedicated to community banking. On Thursday afternoon the U.S. Senate voted 64 to 34 to confirm Michelle Miki Bowman to fill a Fed governor seat reserved for someone with experience in community banking or community bank supervision. Bowman is currently the Kansas State Bank Commissioner and prior to that worked for the Farmers & Drovers Bank, which her great-great grandfather chartered. Bowman will be the fourth Fed member appointed by President Donald Trump to the board. Lael Brainard is the last remaining Obama-era appointee still on the board. Bowman said she would use her community banking experience to bring small bank perspectives on industry regulation and monetary policy. She told the U.S. Senate in May that regulatory burden was making it hard for community banks to survive, arguing that the costs of compliance were forcing the industry to consolidate. She criticized the current regulatory framework for applying the same regulations on large banks to companies only a fraction in size. Its important to be able to understand the burden on a [bank] staff of three to implement the same regulations that apply to much larger institutions, Bowman said. Bowman will arrive at the Fed as the major banking regulators begin work on implementing the regulatory relief bill signed by Trump in May. The bill offered a number of relief for smaller community banks, such as shorter reporting forms and blanket exemptions from certain rules for healthily-leveraged banks. Critics of the bill argue that the relief may have gone too far by offering some regulatory relief such as lighter stress test requirements on banks with up to $250 billion in total assets. The Fed recently extended some concessions in the form of looser liquidity and funding requirements to banks with up to $700 billion, covering the likes of Capital One (COF), Charles Schwab (SCHW), U.S. Bancorp (USB), and PNC Financial (PNC). Story continues For community banks, generally defined as those with less than $10 billion in total assets, having a small bank-minded member on the Fed is a big deal. We needed someone who could recognize the need for tiered regulation, said Paul Merski, executive vice president of congressional relations for the Independent Community Bankers of America. The ICBA lobbied Congress to create the community banking seat on the Fed. As a Fed governor, Bowman will also be a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee. In her testimony, Bowman mostly focused on regulatory items but said the Feds efforts to shrink its balance sheet is the appropriate path forward. Doug Wareham, President and CEO of the Kansas Bankers Association, told Yahoo Finance that the monetary policy-setting side of the job will be a new role for her but said she should bring a familiarity with rural communities to her decision making. The impact of rate changes impacts communities large and small and shes certainly going to bring the perspective of what effect Fed monetary policy has on small family-owned businesses and Main Street America, especially rural communities, Wareham said. Brian Cheung is a reporter covering the banking industry and the intersection of finance and policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter @bcheungz. Read more: How Trumps tax cuts hurt the GOP in Americas wealthy suburbs Trump target Maxine Waters is poised to take a lead on banking regulation Bernanke: Fed needs greater lender of last resort authority Washington (AFP) - Of all the issues facing US military planners in Asia, few have persisted for so long -- and seen such little resolution -- as opposition to the troop presence in Okinawa. But the Japanese island's newly elected governor is hoping to break the stalemate by taking his message directly to the United States -- where he is emphasizing his roots in both cultures. Denny Tamaki was born to a US Marine father, whom he never met, and a Japanese mother and is campaigning against the construction of a new US base. On a trip to Washington and New York barely a month after taking office, Tamaki said he hoped his message would appeal to President Donald Trump, who has mused about cutting US military commitments overseas. "I don't know how much President Trump knows about Okinawa but it is obvious that there are lots of US bases on the island and that this concentration is unfair," Tamaki said in Washington, where he was meeting Defense Department and State Department officials. "This is why we are requesting that some bases move out of Okinawa to other countries including the United States or Australia. I believe the Okinawan people have the right to call for a reduction to our burden," he told AFP. - Building base 'on tofu' - Okinawa, which was under US occupation until 1972 and lies strategically close to the Taiwan Strait, accounts for less than one percent of Japan's land area but plays host to more than half of the 47,000 US troops in the treaty-bound ally. Incidents involving US forces -- ranging from a helicopter's emergency landing in January to, most notoriously, three soldiers' gang-rape of a 12-year-old girl in 1995 -- have led to frequent spikes in tension, although Washington has regularly apologized and promised sensitivity. A longstanding source of grievance is the Marines' Futenma Air Station, located in the thick of what has become a dense urban area. In a bid to ease local concerns, the two countries agreed in 1996 to move Futenma's air operations to the isolated town of Nago. But they have encountered opposition ever since, in part because Nago is home to a sensitive coral reef and dugongs, endangered sea mammals. Story continues "According to our investigations, there is very soft ground -- like mayonnaise or tofu -- and underneath it is said that there are active faults that lead to earthquakes," Tamaki said. "So it's obvious that a new base can't be built there." But Tamaki, elected in a special election after his predecessor died, faces strong opposition even in Japan, where Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- a conservative focused on defense -- wants to press ahead with the base plan. - 'I love rock 'n' roll' - Tamaki, 59, believes that his US heritage makes him a natural envoy to resolve the base issue. "I believe I represent the diversity of Okinawa," he said. "I am proud to have two roots." But his experience in the United States is mostly limited to trips when he was a parliamentarian. His father left Okinawa before he was born and he said he has not tried to locate him, although he remains curious. "If I could meet him, I would like to give him a big hug," Tamaki said, grinning and holding out his arms. Tamaki's relationship with the United States appears to be less about his father and instead more typical of Okinawans, who have grown up in a culture heavily influenced by US bases. One key area is music. Tamaki said he grew up listening to tunes on the jukeboxes in US troops' bars. The future governor served as a host of a pop radio show for 10 years and played guitar in a band. "I love rock 'n' roll!" he said, switching briefly and enthusiastically to English. A fan of guitar rock, Tamaki lists Eric Clapton as a favorite along with two mega-bands of the 1990s, Foo Fighters and Nickelback. Tamaki said his experience with US culture was indicative of Okinawans. "I believe that a majority of Okinawans are not against the Americans," he said. "But because there are a lot of bases, which have caused incidents and accidents including noise pollution and environmental pollution, and at the same time some US service members have caused some trouble, that is why I believe Okinawans are very concerned." Tijuana (Mexico) (AFP) - The bulk of the migrant caravan crossing Mexico began arriving Thursday at the US border, as around 800 Central Americans reached the city of Tijuana aboard 22 buses after more than a month's trek. "We've finally reached Tijuana. I can't wait to see the border. It's been a never-ending journey, but God brought us here," said Carmen Soto, a Honduran migrant traveling with her two young children. More than 750 migrants who had traveled ahead of the main caravan had already arrived over the past several days in Tijuana, which sits across the border from San Diego, California. More than 3,000 others are on the way, expected to reach the border Thursday or Friday in buses organized by charities, private donors and local authorities. Across the border, nearly 6,000 troops deployed by Donald Trump have been busy erecting concrete barriers and razor-wire fences to keep out what the US president has described as an "invasion." The caravan began its journey on October 13 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras -- more than 4,300 kilometers (2,700 miles) from Tijuana. The migrants rushed the Mexico-Guatemala border six days later, clashing with riot police and then fording the river between the two countries when Mexican authorities refused to let them through as a group. They then spent weeks walking and hitch-hiking through southern and central Mexico, but accelerated their pace dramatically in the north, thanks to buses provided by donors and in some cases local authorities who preferred to send them on their way rather than host them in shelters. The migrants are mostly fleeing poverty and violence in Central America's "Northern Triangle" -- El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, where brutal gang violence has fueled some of the highest murder rates in the world. RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco inaugurated on Thursday Africa's fastest train which will halve traveling time between the commercial and industrial hubs of Casablanca and Tangier. After seven years of work on the high-speed railway line, King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron boarded the train for the inaugural trip from Tangier to the capital Rabat. The train, which was tested at a speed of 357 km (222 miles)per hour and is planned to run at 320 km (198 miles) per hour, will more than halve the 200 km (124 miles)Casablanca-Tangier journey to around two hours. It is about twice as fast as South Africa's high-speed Gautrain linking Johannesburg's international airport to the city's financial district Sandton. The high-speed line was completed at a total cost of 22.9 billion dirhams ($2.4 billion), according to state news agency MAP. Transport officials were not immediately available for comment. Morocco bought 12 double-decker high-speed-trains from French group Alstom that will be operated by state-owned railway ONCF which expects six million passengers on the new train service annually. Officials have said the project will boost growth in Tangier and help attract more investments to northern Morocco where one of Africas largest ports is located. But critics perceive the project as symbolizing a two-speed Morocco further accentuating disparities between territories as vast regions in the south and key cities such as Agadir remain without a basic train service. A train derailment last month near Kenitra 15 km (10 miles) north of Rabat, which killed seven people and injured 125 others, triggered calls for a better allocation of resources by giving priority to improving safety and infrastructure as well as punctuality of basic railway services. (Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) Russia will allow an international delegation to inspect its shuttered drug-testing lab this month, World Anti-Doping Agency president Craig Reedie said Thursday. The visit is part of a deal between WADA and the Russian government which allowed the country's anti-doping agency to be reinstated in September, following a suspension of almost three years because of widespread drug use and cover-ups. The September deal gave Russia a deadline of Dec. 31 to provide full data from the lab, which has been closed since 2015. That could help WADA ban athletes for past doping violations. Russia must also hand over samples from the lab for reanalysis by June 30. "We have an absolutely written guarantee that this will happen from the authorities in Russia and they have accepted the date of Dec. 31," Reedie said. "I find it almost inconceivable to believe that we don't complete this project in time." Russian authorities had been slow to agree on conditions, but Reedie said he received a letter from Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov hours before Thursday's meeting. "We will be sending a team of highly qualified experts. Everybody knows what they've been asked to provide. The experts will deliver it and I'm perfectly confident that we have the right people going in," Reedie said. "This will resolve the situation we have with the Russian authorities." The first visit which isn't expected to recover the data will involve three "independent people" and "the Russians will also have some people," Jonathan Taylor, who leads WADA's compliance committee, told The Associated Press. "A full technical mission" will follow up to gather information, Reedie said. Emails from the laboratory revealed in a WADA investigation showed that it routinely covered up doping by top Russian athletes. It's not clear what any retesting of stored samples could accomplish, since staff allegedly destroyed more than 1,400 samples in 2015 to obstruct WADA's investigations. Story continues Russian law enforcement has sealed off the lab for its own investigation, which so far has focused on accusing former lab director and WADA informant Grigory Rodchenkov of lying about doping on the country's Olympic team and of tricking clean athletes into taking banned substances. The Russian sports minister said he reached an agreement with WADA for lab access and added he was in contact with law enforcement. "We will fulfill our obligations to the full regarding allowing them into the laboratory," Kolobkov said in a statement. The Russian anti-doping agency, known as RUSADA, could be suspended again if the government misses the Dec. 31 deadline. "We really hope that the process of accessing the sealed-off data has exited deadlock," RUSADA chief executive Yuri Ganus told the Tass state news agency. WADA said its board also approved the creation of an "independent ethics board," a development which follows a dispute over alleged bullying at a meeting in September. It is not yet clear how the new ethics board would differ from the existing Ethics Panel's advisory role, or if it could discipline WADA officials. "There are some details to work out on that in the coming weeks," Fitzgerald told the AP. Also, Nigeria's national drug-testing agency has been declared non-compliant by WADA. According to WADA statistics, the Nigerian National Anti-Doping Committee registered only 30 samples tested last year, one of the smallest numbers of any large country. Of those, seven were positive. ___ Ellingworth reported from Moscow. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plotted his next moves Thursday after his defence minister resigned over a controversial Gaza ceasefire, throwing his coalition into crisis and raising the possibility of early elections. After Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday, Netanyahu was clinging to a one-seat majority in parliament. The far-right party of Education Minister Naftali Bennett, one of Netanyahu's main rivals, demanded Wednesday he be given the defence portfolio or its eight seats would be withdrawn from the coalition. In a speech Thursday, Bennett did not reiterate the threat, but made his case for why he should be defence minister. "The most dangerous thing for the state of Israel is that we begin to think that there is no solution to terrorism, to terrorists, to missiles," said Bennett, who heads the Jewish Home party. "There is a solution. When Israel wants to win, we will win." Netanyahu and Bennett were reportedly set to meet on Friday, but there were increasing signs the coalition's days may be numbered. Another key coalition partner, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon of centre-right Kulanu, reportedly told Netanyahu elections should be called because a stable government was needed to keep the economy on track. Netanyahu was seeking to contain the political fallout of his decision to accept a ceasefire deal Tuesday that ended the worst escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war. Lieberman said it was "capitulating to terror" when announcing his resignation and also criticised Netanyahu's recent decision to allow Qatar to send millions of dollars in aid to the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Beyond that, there have been protests calling for tough action against Hamas by Israelis living near the border whose communities were targeted by barrages of rockets from Gaza this week. A poll published Thursday found 74 percent of respondents were unhappy with Netanyahu's handling of the escalation with Gaza and its Islamist rulers Hamas, though it also showed his party would still win the most seats. Story continues Giving further ammunition to Netanyahu's political critics, Hamas has portrayed the ceasefire and Lieberman's resignation as a victory. - 'Mr. Security' - Netanyahu's popularity is in large part due to his reputation as Israel's "Mr. Security", as he has often been dubbed, and he has defended his decision saying: "Our enemies begged for a ceasefire." His Likud party has hit back at suggestions he will be forced to call elections soon, saying Netanyahu will take over the defence portfolio at least temporarily -- in addition to the premiership, foreign affairs and health portfolios he already has. A Likud spokesman said Netanyahu was continuing consultations on Thursday aimed at stabilising his coalition. Netanyahu did not publicly comment on the coalition crisis, but said in reference to Gaza that "we are in the middle of a campaign. "Patience, cool and determination are necessary," he said. "We are preparing for what comes next." Amid the political upheaval, the prime minister has cancelled a two-day trip to Austria next week, a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP without giving a reason. Netanyahu had been due to arrive in Vienna on November 20 to attend a conference on anti-semitism and anti-Zionism. There has long been speculation that the premier may call elections before they are due in November 2019, particularly with police having recommended charges against him in two corruption probes. The attorney general is expected to announce in the coming months whether to pursue charges against him, and some analysts believe he would be better positioned to combat them with a fresh electoral mandate. But Netanyahu would want to make the move at the most advantageous time and likely not with public attention focused on the Gaza ceasefire. - Qatari cash - The Gaza violence had erupted Sunday with a botched Israeli special forces operation inside the territory that turned deadly and prompted Hamas to vow revenge. Palestinian militants responded with rocket and mortar fire, as well as an anti-tank missile that hit a bus that Hamas says was being used by Israeli soldiers. A soldier was severely wounded in the attack. Around 460 rockets and mortar rounds were fired from the Gaza Strip, wounding 27 people, three of them severely. A Palestinian labourer from the occupied West Bank was killed when a rocket hit a building in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Israel hit back with widespread air strikes on some 160 targets in the Gaza Strip before the Egyptian-brokered truce took effect Tuesday. Seven Gazans were killed. The escalation came despite Netanyahu's decision to allow Qatar to transfer millions of dollars in aid to Gaza for salaries as well as fuel to ease a chronic electricity shortage. The cash transfers and fuel had led to calmer protests along the border after months of deadly unrest. But they also drew criticism from within Netanyahu's own government, and Lieberman slammed them in announcing his resignation. It was a feel-good story for the ages a homeless military veterans random act of kindness and a New Jersey couple intent on helping him get back on his feet during the holidays that inspired people to donate more than $400,000 in an online fundraiser when it went viral last fall. But prosecutors say Mark DAmico, Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt Jr. fabricated the story in an effort to raise money for themselves. The paying it forward story that drove this fundraiser might seem too good to be true, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said at a press briefing in Mount Holly, N.J., on Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately it was. The entire campaign was predicated on a lie. The three were each charged with second-degree conspiracy and theft by deception. If convicted on all charges, DAmico, McClure and Bobbitt would each face 10 to 20 years in prison. McClure and DAmico surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and were released pending a Dec. 24 court date, Coffina said. Bobbitt Jr. was taken into custody on Wednesday in Philadelphia, where he is awaiting an extradition hearing. Coffina said that less than an hour after the couples online campaign went live, McClure texted a friend to say the story of Bobbitt assisting her was fake. OK so wait, the gas part is completely made up, but the guy isnt, McClure wrote, according to prosecutors. I had to make something up to make people feel bad. Ernest Badway, the attorney representing McClure and DAmico, declined to comment. An attorney for Bobbitt did not immediately return a request seeking comment. In a statement to Yahoo News, GoFundMe spokesman Bobby Whithorne said that all donors who contributed to the couples campaign will receive a full refund. The company said it will process all refunds in the coming days. We have a zero tolerance policy for fraudulent behavior, Whithorne said. One fraudulent campaign is one too many, but when it does take place, we take action to protect donors. Story continues Johnny Bobbitt Jr., Mark DAmico and Kate McClure pose at a Citgo station in Philadelphia last November. (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) The tale of the homeless good Samaritan and his would-be benefactors began in the middle of night last October, when McClure said she ran out of gas on a freeway ramp in Philadelphia. According to McClure, Bobbitt approached her car, told her it wasnt safe and went to purchase her gas with his last $20. Johnny did not ask me for a dollar, and I couldnt repay him at that moment because I didnt have any cash, but I have been stopping by his spot for the past few weeks, McClure, a staffer for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, explained in her initial GoFundMe post. I repaid him for the gas, gave him a jacket, gloves, a hat, and warm socks, and I give him a few dollars every time I see him. Inspired by Bobbitts selflessness, McClure and DAmico launched a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $10,000 to get him an apartment and a reliable vehicle and to cover four to six months of expenses. The story went viral, and the campaign raised more than $400,000 from over 14,000 donations. He will never have to worry about a roof over his head again! the couple wrote in a subsequent post. She did not run out of gas on an off ramp, and he did not spend his last $20 to help her, Coffina told reporters Thursday. Rather DAmico, McClure and Bobbitt conspired to pass off a fake feel-good story that would compel donors to contribute to their cause. The net proceeds generated by their campaign amounted to more than $367,000, which was electronically deposited into accounts controlled by McClure. Months later, their pay it forward story began to unravel over control of their haul. In August, Bobbitt filed suit against the couple, alleging they were using the money for themselves and had failed to pay him nearly $300,000. The civil case caught the attention of Coffinas office, and a criminal investigation was launched. In an appearance on NBCs Megyn Kelly Live, McClure and DAmico denied Bobbitts allegations, saying they withheld some of the money out of fear Bobbitt would spend it on drugs. Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina speaks during a news conference in Mt. Holly, N.J., on Thursday. (Photo: Seth Wenig/AP) He wanted his fair share of the take, Coffina said. But the money was long gone. According to prosecutors, DAmico and McClure spent the vast majority of the money raised by mid-March, buying a car, going on trips and hitting the casinos hard. About $20,000 was spent on gambling, Coffina said, and nearly $90,000 was withdrawn at ATM locations near casinos. In September, police raided the couples south Jersey home, but they were not charged at the time. That month, GoFundMe announced that it would pay Bobbitt the rest of the money owed to him. Its unclear if the company did so, or whether it would seek to reclaim the funds. Coffina said it appears the couple met Bobbitt, a homeless Marine veteran, near an underpass during a trip to a casino at least a month before launching their campaign. Bobbitts arrest came after a stint in rehab. He deserves our appreciation for his willingness to serve our country as a United States Marine, Coffina said. And he has our sympathy and concern for the homelessness hes experienced as well as his publicized struggle with addiction. But it is imperative to keep in mind that he was fully complicit with this scheme. This type of case can damage the psyche of the public, Coffina added. A case like this can make generous people skeptical and hesitant to help someone else in need. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: By Lizbeth Diaz TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - The arrival in the Mexican border city of Tijuana of the first few hundred travelers from migrant caravans is stretching to the limit shelters already overflowing with people, and sparking signs of friction among the population. Lugging heavy bundles and small children, an unprecedented caravan of thousands of mostly Honduran migrants set off for the United States in mid-October, many of them fleeing violence and poverty at home. Two other copycat groups, mostly made up of El Salvadorans, followed behind. U.S. President Donald Trump has declared the caravans an "invasion," and threatened to close down the Mexico-U.S. border to keep them out, ordering some 7,000 troops to reinforce the frontier, including in Tijuana, with barbed wire. But that has not stopped people trying to reach the border, including those from the caravans, others traveling from Central America independently, and Mexicans fleeing violence in cartel-plagued states. Jose Maria Garcia, director of the Juventud 2000 migrant shelter, said he had been warning authorities since the Honduran caravan set out that migrant refuges were already operating at capacity in the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. "People are still arriving, but we're not prepared to receive them," Garcia told Reuters. He said he believes the incoming caravans would be the largest number of migrants to arrive in the city in such a short time in recent memory. The buildup in Tijuana will be a test of tougher asylum rules introduced by Trump, which some experts believe will push more people to try to cross illegally. Few of the 20 migrants interviewed by Reuters were aware of the new rules. Tijuana has a history of absorbing visitors, including Chinese immigrants in the 19th century, a large American population and Haitians who settled in the city south of San Diego in 2016 after failing to cross the U.S. border. Some 810 people who broke away from the first caravan have reached Tijuana since Monday, said Mario Osuna, secretary of social development in Tijuana's municipal government. Osuna said that an additional 1,260 migrants are expected in coming days as the main body of the caravans arrive. "It's our concern ... to receive the support from the central government (so) we can receive the resources and face this situation," said Osuna, adding they were also coordinating with the incoming government of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Almost 3,000 people - many of them Mexicans - are waiting in migrant shelters to request asylum alongside hundreds of Central Americans, said Cesar Palencia, head of the Tijuana city government's migrant outreach team. U.S. border officials process about 75 to 100 asylum claims a day, so it could be a month before new arrivals are seen, said Pedro Rios, of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group that works with migrants. Of the 14 migrant shelters on the 2,000-mile (3,200 km) border, 10 are totally overcrowded, Palencia said. Dozens of arrivals from the caravan camped on the beach on Tuesday night. "People have received us kindly, but they say there's not enough room for everyone, so we decided to spend the night on the beach," said a Honduran woman in Tijuana as she washed her face in a public bathroom, asking to remain anonymous. "It was a terrible night for me and my children." The bulk of the group that formed after the Honduran caravan began entering Mexico over three weeks ago is now moving up the Pacific northwest coast through the state of Sinaloa, made up of between 4,000 and 5,000 people, authorities say. 'NOTHING FOR US' The Mexican government has urged the migrants to register for asylum in Mexico, or risk deportation. President-elect Lopez Obrador has vowed to provide jobs and visas to the Central Americans. That message has not been popular with all Mexicans, many of whom fear for their own futures. "We also need help," said Olga Cruz from the western state of Michoacan, who had come to Tijuana to seek asylum in the United States with her three children. "Not a day goes by (in Michoacan) without somebody being killed, and I don't want my children growing up like this," she said. "But if the government only focuses on helping (Central Americans) they leave nothing for us," she added. On Monday, a group of about 80 mainly LGBT people who split from the migrant caravan moved into a building in a wealthy area of Tijuana. Residents shouted at them to leave and demanded that authorities take steps to eject them. (Additional reporting by Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Dave Graham and Bill Berkrot) PARIS (Reuters) - Swiss academic Tariq Ramadan, a professor of Islamic studies accused of rape in France and who had been in detention since February, has been offered bail while an investigation into the case continues, lawyers said on Thursday. Ramadan, an Oxford University professor, last month admitted to having had sexual relations with two French women. But he has continued to deny accusations that he raped them - accusations that led to him being placed under formal investigation. He also faces criminal complaints of rape by women in the United States and Switzerland. The professor, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and has been detained at the penitentiary hospital in Fresnes, south of Paris, sought unsuccessfully to be released on bail several times. But on Thursday he was offered that right by an appeals court. He will be released on condition that he pays 300,000 euros ($340,000) in bail, hands over his passport to the authorities and checks in at a police station once a week. He would also be banned from leaving France and from getting in touch with the plaintiffs. "It's a disappointment for my client but the fight continues," Eric Morain, a lawyer for one of the women, known only as "Christelle", told Reuters. "Tariq Ramadan's release is logical in view of the latest development in the case that demonstrated that the rape accusations against him were lies," Ramadan's lawyer, Emmanuel Marsigny, told Reuters. Married with four children, Ramadan is a grandson of the Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna. He has a substantial following among young Muslims and has challenged French restrictions on wearing veils. (Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; Writing by Michel Rose; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Paedophiles are reportedly using Fortnite to blackmail children into sending explicit pictures (Flickr) Paedophiles are said to be using video game Fortnite to blackmail youngsters into sending them explicit content. According to Canadian Police, scammers have been targeting children via Instagram with promises of cheat codes and guidance for the massively popular online game. In return, children are being asked for naked photos or video footage of themselves performing sexual acts, according to Quebec Police Force, Regie intermunicipale de police Richelieu-Saint-Laurent. Fortnite has proved massively popular with youngsters (Flickr) Young gamers have reportedly been targeted on Instagram with promises of help with the online game (PXHere/posed by models) The force said in a statement: Suspects who use fake avatars successfully integrate groups of friends from where they launch the offer, and thus privately trap their victims. They explained how blackmailers would demand sums of money in return for keeping the explicit material away from public view. MORE: Jeremy Corbyn planning to block Theresa Mays Brexit deal by ordering MPs to vote it down MORE: Tattoo artist, 24, charged with murdering 13-year-old schoolgirl Lucy McHugh Police spokesperson Luc Roberge told PC Mag that youngsters playing other games including Minecraft have also been targeted by scammers. Quebec Police Force have advised children to avoid interacting with any strangers who approach them online. Washington (AFP) - Top congressional Democrat Nancy Pelosi brushed off concern Thursday about simmering internal party opposition to her leadership, expressing confidence that she will be elected speaker of the House of Representatives. Pelosi has led House Democrats since 2003, including a historic four-year stint as the first-ever female speaker. With Democrats reclaiming the majority after last week's midterm elections, House Republicans will relinquish the gavel, and Pelosi recently said she had "100 percent" confidence in reclaiming it. But that was before revelations that 17 Democrats have signed a document committing to not support her when the full 435-member House votes on January 3. Asked about the internal revolt, Pelosi, 78, was defiant. "I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker," she told reporters. "I intend to win the speakership with Democratic votes." House Democrats are widely expected to elect Pelosi as their leader on November 28. The subsequent vote for speaker involves all House members. With Republicans rallying around their new leader Kevin McCarthy, Pelosi will need the vast majority of Democrats to secure the 218 House votes necessary to prevail. The number of midterm Democratic gains is not final, as some races remain uncalled. But with the party likely to hold between 230 and 237 seats, the anti-Pelosi block of 17 could prove crucial. Resisters appeared to be gaining some steam. "Congress needs a new leader. Period," House Democrat Seth Moulton said on Twitter. Moulton, from Massachusetts, is among a group of Democrats who argue that the torch should be passed to a new generation. He has helped gather the signatures of opposition to Pelosi, a person familiar with the effort told AFP. Moulton has said he would back Marcia Fudge, a former chair of the House's Congressional Black Caucus, saying Wednesday that the Ohio congresswoman has "the type of leadership this party needs." Story continues Congressman Filemon Vela of Texas is also publicly supporting Fudge. Fudge, 66, has not publicly stated whether she will run, but Pelosi welcomed the challenge. "Come on in, the water's warm," she said. Some of the opposition is coming from newcomers, including congresswoman-elect Mikie Sherrill who said she pledged to voters that she would not support Pelosi. "I think there are some great people that'll be coming forward and I'm excited to see who those people might be," Sherrill told reporters. But Pelosi, who clearly has been working the phones to build support, remains the post's frontrunner. "Nancy Pelosi has my vote for Speaker," tweeted congresswoman Karen Bass. By Pavel Polityuk KIEV (Reuters) - Unknown assailants threw petrol bombs at a historic 18th century Orthodox church in the Ukrainian capital and attacked a priest early on Thursday morning, a church spokesman said, blaming Moscow for the incident. The attack comes amid rising tensions between Kiev and Moscow over Ukraine's decision to create a new national independent church and severing centuries-old ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. The petrol bombs did not explode and no damage was done to St. Andrew's church, a baroque late 18th century church which sits on a steep slope on one of Kiev's best-known tourist spots. The church spokesman, Archbishop Yevstraty, said the attackers, whom police said numbered four, used a spray against a priest. The Kiev authorities handed over the use of St. Andrew's to the Ecumenical Patriarch, the global spiritual leader of Orthodox Christianity who sits in Istanbul, while courting the patriarch's support for Ukrainian church independence. "We see that Moscow's henchmen are dropping "clear hints" to intimidate representatives of Ecumenical Patriarch," Yevstraty said. Ukraine in October secured approval to set up an independent church from the Ecumenical Patriarch, a move fiercely opposed by the Russian orthodox church and the Kremlin. Ukraine says the split is an essential step to blocking out Russia's pernicious influence on its soil. Relations between the two countries plunged following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and support for separatist rebels in the Donbass region. (Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Richard Balmforth) SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte skipped several meetings at an Asia-Pacific summit in Singapore on Wednesday, prompting the 73-year-old's office to issue a statement scotching speculation that it was due to ill health. "We assure the nation that his aforementioned absence has nothing to do with his physical health and wellbeing which have been the subject of speculation," spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. "The president's constantly punishing work schedule is proof that he is in top physical shape." Panelo named four scheduled events that Duterte had not attended on Wednesday, during which the president "took power naps" to catch up on sleep, and said he would also skip a gala dinner with the leaders of nine Southeast Asian nations, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and several others. Duterte's health has been a constant source of speculation since he disappeared from public view for a week last year, and he has said openly that he is tired and would like to step down before the end of his term ends in 2022. Last month Duterte's office revealed that he had undergone a colonoscopy and he told reporters that a biopsy had shown he did not have cancer. The constitution provides for the public to be told of the state of health of an incumbent president, if serious. If a sitting president dies, is permanently disabled or removed through impeachment, the vice president succeeds to serve the remaining years in a six-year, single term. Vice President Leni Robredo, a leader of the opposition, was elected separately in 2016. Speculation about Duterte's health last month prompted concern that the Philippines could be headed for uncertainty given the highly polarized political climate. Duterte has cited Robredo's "incompetence" as a reason for his inability to quit as president. Duterte has a record of skipping summit sessions, though he did not miss any as host when the Philippines held the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last year. Panelo said it was "amusing that some quarters are making a big fuss" of Duterte's absences, noting that he had attended ASEAN meetings with leaders from China, Japan and Russia. "Last night, the president worked late and had only less than three hours of sleep," he said. "It is unfortunate that the first event scheduled today was at 8:30a.m." Duterte is known for having an unorthodox working schedule that typically starts mid-afternoon and includes cabinet meetings that can go on beyond midnight. (Reporting by John Chalmers; Editing by Nick Macfie) The Camp Fire, the most deadly and destructive wildfire in California history, has destroyed hundreds of homes, put thousands of lives at risk and separated pets from their owners. People have been using social media to look for and share images of their lost animals in hopes of finding them, and it's working. Lost animals following Camp Fire AP Photo/Garret Fischer First, at vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui voluptatum. 1/12 (Image via Jock Hamilton) (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420591 female If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420598 female If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420583 male If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420593 male If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420587 female If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420590 female If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420580 male If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420586 female If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. Story continues (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420594 male, neutered If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) The owner of this cat was found. The cat and owner have been reunited. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420592 female If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420581 male, neutered If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420584 male, neutered If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420599 male, neutered If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420597 male If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420596 female (young) If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420600 male, neutered If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) #420607 female If you believe this cat may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. (Image via Jock Hamilton) The owner has been found, reunion pending. The cats above are currently under care at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Some have been reunited with their owners, but there are still many waiting to find their owner. Laci Ping is one of the owners who found out her cat Mayson was safe in the care of UC Davis. Ping was packing up all of her animals to flee the fire when her light Tabby male escaped his cage. "I had him in his cat carrier cage loaded in the car ready to go, but a propane tank at the house behind us exploded scaring him and everyone else. He is super small so he ended up scooting the bottom tray aside and slipping sideways through the bars," Ping said. Cat owner finds missing cat through FaceBook post "When he got out, all of my neighbors heard me scream bloody murder 'NO, MY BABY! NOOOOO!' We couldn't go after him; he kept running," Ping said. Ping said she was standing in a long line at the airport of about 200 people who were all waiting to see if their animals were saved and inside. They were only allowing one person in at a time due to the massive numbers of animals and people. "I was about to be called up to go look inside for my cat when I found a picture of my cat on Facebook while I was standing in the line. The people all around me started cheering 'yay, I'm so excited; go get your baby,'" Ping said. Ping spoke to UC Davis and has to wait one week until she is able to pick up her cat due to the burns on his feet. She said she hopes other pet owners do not give up hope on finding their beloved animals. If you believe one of the animals above may be yours, please email ucdavisvetmed@gmail.com. You will need to provide photo ID of your missing pet if at all possible. "Please keep in mind that these animals may have been rescued from a variety of different locations near or far from where they were initially located, and that any identifying items like collars or tags may have been lost while they were escaping the fire," UC Davis said in a Facebook post. The best information you can provide UC Davis are pictures of your animal or detailed descriptions, especially if they have any unique characteristics. "We are not legally permitted to manage adoptions or temporary fosters for these animals. If owners are unknown, they are technically the property of county animal services of the county they came from," UC Davis officials said. If the owner is not found, they will remain hospitalized until they are healthy enough to return to those authorities and only they have the authority to foster or adopt them out. If you'd like to help contribute to their care, you can donate here. Washington (AFP) - Windy weather pushed back until Saturday the planned launch of a US cargo ship loaded with supplies for astronauts living at the International Space Station, NASA said Thursday. The delay to 4:01 am (0901 GMT) on November 17 from Wallops Island, Virginia marks the second time launch managers have postponed the mission from its initial flight plan of Thursday. "The teams decided to wait another day for launch after assessing continuing unfavorable weather conditions, including high winds and high seas, forecast for Friday morning," said a statement from Northrop Grumman, which operates the Antares rocket. "The forecast for a launch Saturday is significantly improved with a less than five percent chance of weather conditions preventing a launch." An unmanned Russian Progress supply ship is also scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1814 GMT on Friday. The Russian ship is scheduled to arrive at the orbiting outpost Sunday. A NASA spokeswoman told AFP the Cygnus -- bearing 7,400 pounds (3,350 kilograms) of supplies -- will follow at 5:20 am (0920 GMT) Monday. They mark the first cargo missions to ISS since a Soyuz rocket carrying three people bound for the space station failed on October 11 just minutes after blast-off -- the first such incident in the history of post-Soviet space travel. The astronauts on board were not hurt. Russia has since blamed the problem on a sensor that was damaged during assembly at the Baikonur cosmodrome. And Russia has already marked a successful return to flight with its Soyuz rocket on October 25, launching a satellite for the Russian military. Three astronauts -- one German, one Russian and one American -- are currently living at the space station, which has been continually inhabited since 2000. The next Soyuz launch with astronauts on board -- one Russian, one Canadian and one American -- is planned for December 3. Pro-Brexit Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg called for a vote of no-confidence in the British Prime Minister Theresa May. Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images The UK pound dropped sharply on Thursday as members of Prime Minister Theresa Mays own party threatened to oust her over her draft Brexit deal. Multiple ministers, including Brexit minister, Dominic Raab, resigned on Thursday in protest over Mays draft agreement with the European Union. Hardline Brexiteer Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister later in the day, raising the prospect of a leadership challenge. Sterling (GBPUSD=X) was down by roughly 2% against the US dollar to around $1.27 and down 2% against the euro to 1.13 (GBPEUR=X) in the late afternoon. The pound has been under intense selling pressure today, as resignation after resignation from the government ranks ramped up fears of a no-deal Brexit in March, said Joshua Mahony, market analyst at IG. The biggest resignation so far has been that of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who decided he couldnt back the deal he helped negotiate. Shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) plunged by roughly 10%, making it the biggest loser on the benchmark FTSE 100 index. Lower interest rate hike expectations, coupled with the fear that a no-deal Brexit could bring chaos to trade, are raising worries over the performance of UK banks going forward, said Mahony. Shortly after Raab resigned, Esther McVey, the secretary of state for work and pensions, also quit. Earlier this morning I informed the Prime Minister I was resigning from her Cabinet pic.twitter.com/ZeBkL5n2xH Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) November 15, 2018 Earlier in the morning Shailesh Vara, the member of parliament for North West Cambridgeshire, also submitted his resignation. Multiple minister resignations had been expected as prime minister Theresa May calls on them to back her unloved draft Brexit deal. Raab, who was in charge of Brexit negotiations, is the second Brexit minister to quit, following the resignation of David Davis in July. Story continues Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 There are strong doubts over Mays ability to stay in power and convince the majority of MPs to support her divorce deal, which would maintain close ties between the UK and European Union. Ministers on all sides are upset with her agreement, including hard-core Brexiteers and those who hoped to remain in the EU. May had scored a victory on Wednesday night by announcing that her cabinet, the most senior ministers in her party, supported her plan. This pushed the pound higher, though the move was rather modest. May said on Wednesday evening the nation must choose between her deal, no deal or no Brexit at all. She said she had secured the best deal possible, encompassing issues related to UK citizens rights in the EU, border controls, energy issues, data protections and the divorce payment that the UK will pay to the EU. Brexit is slated to occur at the end of March 2019. Related: What is a no-deal Brexit? Oscar Williams-Grut and Lianna Brinded contributed reporting. Protesters demanding that every vote be counted were arrested at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on November 13, according to local media. Among those arrested was State Sen. Nikema Williams, who spoke to reporters as police handcuffed her. Williams told cameras she was being arrested because she refused to disperse and never yelled or chanted. Fourteen others were arrested for disrupting the Assembly. Video from the Capitol after the arrests shows protesters chanting, No justice! No peace! as police officers stand by. Credit: Kevin Sanchez via Storyful Speaker Paul Ryan made a big goodwill gesture to Saudi Arabia and its King Salman. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON With less than two months left at the helm of the House of Representatives, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Wednesday won his first vote since the midterm elections on behalf of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Almost all Republicans and a handful of Democrats voted with Ryan to strip privilege from a bill endorsed by top Democrats that would have ended U.S. support for the Saudis and their allies in the four-year civil war in Yemen. Without privilege, the House leadership can ignore the bill. In other words, its now almost certain that the House wont deal with the legislation and, more broadly, the conflict itself until Democrats take charge next year. Wednesdays vote is the best possible outcome for the Saudis and their friends in the Trump administration who were worried about congressional anger over the war in Yemen and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and a boon for Republicans who were scared of a vote that would force them to either break with President Donald Trump or endorse a military campaign that has been accused of thousands of war crimes. But even before the vote, opponents of the war had issued loud reminders that they would not be giving up. January cant come soon enough, tweeted Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a leading anti-war figure whos expected to ascend to House Democratic leadership. The likely future speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), blasted Ryans move and Republicans attempts to justify it by pointing to Trumps decision last week to end one aspect of U.S. assistance to the Saudis. This step alone does not come close to addressing our concerns, or stopping the carnage, she said. A similar bill with privileged status is still alive in the Senate, where Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) is expected to bring it to the floor for a vote later this month. Theres a clear path to victory, thanks to a bipartisan consensus to end the U.S. role in this misbegotten war, said Kate Kizer of the advocacy group Win Without War, referring to Republicans critical of the war like Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Story continues Ahead of Wednesdays vote, Democrats tried to shame Republicans, accusing them of abdicating Congress role in approving American military operations and thereby encouraging brutality and abandoning their own promises to respect the Constitution. I plead with my Republican colleagues: Please vote no. ... Lets have a debate about the starvation and the killing going on there and do the right thing for our Constitution and the world, said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the lead author of the House bill. He noted that the House had in the past allowed similar resolutions based on the War Powers Act to be considered on the floor even if they were ultimately defeated. Ryan began the effort to strip privilege from the bill Tuesday in the House Rules Committee, stunning Democratic leaders and outside groups lobbying Congress on Yemen who had thought that the legislation would at least be considered. Even some conservatives joined the chorus of criticism: This is despicable, gutless and wrong, Christopher Preble of the libertarian Cato Institute wrote on Twitter. Several Republicans in both chambers who are wary of American adventurism abroad and the legality of military action initiated without congressional approval have publicly supported the measures from Khanna and Sanders. Two of them, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.), lobbied fellow GOP lawmakers to vote against Ryans effort in a Wednesday morning letter obtained by HuffPost. This rule ... serves only to obstruct our constitutional right to decide questions regarding the use of military force, they wrote in a message also signed by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). The hope was that they could persuade at least 19 Republicans to buck the party line and they targeted those who had in 2016 voted against the transfer of cluster bombs to the Saudis for use in Yemen. Their ultimate failure closes off one of the routes to quickly ending U.S. support for the Saudi-led campaign. Facing global pressure particularly from American allies like the U.K. Saudi Arabia and its partner the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday temporarily halted an offensive against Yemens most important port. International negotiators are pushing ahead with plans with peace talks. But capturing the port remains a priority for the Saudis, experts say. For now, Washington is allowing the Saudis onerous restrictions on food imports into Yemen to continue which means the price increases that have brought 14 million people to the brink of famine arent going away any time soon. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. By Ruma Paul and Shoon Naing COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh/YANGON (Reuters) - A plan to begin repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar stalled on Thursday, amid protests by refugees at camps in Bangladesh and recriminations between the officials in both countries. The delay is a major setback for both nations and it leaves one of the world's biggest refugee crises unresolved. Officials on both sides blamed each other for the lack of progress on the bilateral plan that had been agreed on in late October. Bangladesh had begun preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,200 Rohingya to Myanmar on Thursday, but there have been extensive doubts about the plan. It has been opposed by Rohingya at camps in Bangladesh and the U.N. refugee agency and aid groups, who fear for the safety of the Rohingya in Myanmar. Hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh protested on Thursday against any attempt to send them back, and by late afternoon no refugees had returned, Myanmar officials said. Myanmar blamed Bangladesh for failing to bring any returnees but said it remained ready to accept them. "To be honest, Bangladesh is weak in following the physical arrangement," said Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmar's foreign affairs ministry, at a media briefing. "We will accept them according to the agreement signed by the two countries. Whether they come back or not is their own decision," said Myint Thu. Unverified images on social media showed officials on the Myanmar side of the border waiting idle at a reception center. Bangladesh has vowed not to force anyone to return and it has asked the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure those short-listed to return really want to go back. Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Abul Kalam told Reuters on Thursday that his government had left no stone unturned. "We made all preparations. Everything was ready: the transit camp, buses to carry them to border, medical facilities, rations for three days for the returnees," said Kalam. "How they can say we are weak in physical arrangements? If Rohingya don't want to return what can we do? We will not send them forcefully." Kalam called on the international community to put pressure on Myanmar to accept "some logical and acceptable demands," in order for any repatriation to take place. "WE WON'T GO" The Rohingya demand that Myanmar recognizes their ethnic identity, grants them citizenship and allows them to return to their original homes and lands. Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group and most are stateless. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call Rohingya "Bengalis", suggesting they belong in Bangladesh. Earlier on Thursday, Rohingya protesters chanted "No, no, we won't go," at the Unchiprang camp in southeast Bangladesh near the Myanmar border. Some also waved placards that said "We want justice" and "We will never return to Myanmar without our citizenship." More than 700,000 Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state last year, according to U.N. agencies. The crackdown was launched in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks on security forces. The Rohingya refugees say soldiers and Buddhist civilians massacred families, burned hundreds of villages and carried out gang rapes. U.N-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies almost all the accusations, saying its forces engaged in a counter-insurgency operation against "terrorists." U.N. rights boss Michelle Bachelet had called on Bangladesh this week to halt the repatriation plan, warning lives would be put at "serious risk". The U.N. human rights office continued to receive reports of ongoing violations against Rohingya in Myanmar including allegations of killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests, Bachelet said. (Reporting by Ruma Paul, Shoon Naing and Thu Thu Aung; Writing by Euan Rocha and Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Robert Birsel, Nick Macfie and Peter Graff) BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Romania approved a bill on Wednesday that would cancel wiretap evidence used to prosecute past corruption cases and could wipe out hundreds of convictions, including that of the head of the ruling Social Democrats. The lower house vote, pushed through by the Social Democrats and their coalition partner, seemed certain to increase concern within the European Union whose executive on Tuesday criticized moves in Romania to weaken the independence of the judiciary and democracy. If it comes into force, the bill would retroactively cancel evidence intercepted by the intelligence services on behalf of prosecutors based on court warrants. It could nullify hundreds of verdicts for crimes ranging from corruption to human trafficking, including potentially the case against Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea, a former deputy prime minister. Dragnea, who backed the bill together with Calin Tariceanu, leader of the junior coalition partner ALDE, was given a two-year suspended sentence in 2016 for electoral fraud and is currently on trial in a separate abuse of office case, with a third investigation under way. Separately, prosecutors want to investigate Tariceanu in a graft case. Some previous attempts by the ruling coalition in Romania to decriminalize graft offences, reduce sentences and bring magistrates under political control have failed and the opposition said it would challenge the bill in the Constitutional Court. "Serious crime cases ... from 2005 onward could be reopened based on this bill, not just corruption, but also murder, human trafficking, drugs smuggling and so on," lawmaker Stelian Ion of the opposition Save Romania Union told Reuters. "They're using a cannon to shoot at birds, and it could blow up the entire judicial system." He expected the Constitutional Court to reject the bill as it has done in similar cases in the past. The European Commission, the U.S. State Department, thousands of magistrates and street protesters have criticized the government's attempts to weaken the judiciary and raise the burden of proof. The Social Democrats have shrugged off the criticism. They say the European Commission's report on Tuesday which condemned developments in Romania, was unfair and politically-motivated. Dragnea and Tariceanu, who are respectively speakers of the lower house and senate, have accused the intelligence service of abusing its power by faking evidence and illegally wiretapping millions of Romanians. Prosecutors deny the claim. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Richard Balmforth) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Russia warned France on Thursday that it must put aside "parochial national interests" and recognize its peace efforts in the Central African Republic as negotiations continued on a contentious UN Security Council resolution. France has presented a draft resolution that takes aim at recent Russian efforts to broker peace deals in CAR by specifying that an African-led initiative is "the only framework" for a solution. "We are pro-actively helping the CAR, knowingly with the support of the people and we would like our efforts to be duly reflected in the French draft," Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanski told the council. "In the CAR, there will be work for all to genuinely help the country get back on our feet," he said, adding that it was time to "set aside historical complexes, egotism and parochial national interests." Working with Sudan, Russia in August convened talks in Khartoum of Central African militias who signed a preliminary agreement, drawing criticism from France of unhelpful meddling in its former colony. Russia has sent military trainers and equipment to the Central African Republic, and a security adviser is working with President Faustin-Archange Touadera, under a bilateral agreement. French diplomats and some UN officials have complained that the Russian peace initiative has complicated diplomatic efforts, sending mixed messages to the parties. "There must be no ambiguity about the central role of the African Union initiative, as asserted in our draft resolution," French Ambassador Francois Delattre told the council. The Central African Republic is struggling to recover from the bloodletting that exploded in 2013 after the ouster of leader Francois Bozize, a Christian, by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Touadera controls only a fraction of the country, most of which is overrun by militants who claim to protect either the Christian or Muslim communities. Story continues France also faced objections from the United States over a plan for UN peacekeepers in CAR to support newly-trained national forces as they deploy across the war-scarred country. But agreement was reached over language that specifies that the new task given to the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission will not lead to additional costs. The Security Council unanimously voted to extend for a month MINUSCA's mandate. The mandate was due to expire at midnight Thursday. A new vote will be held before December 15. Delattre said he hoped to win unanimous backing for the draft resolution to shore up peace efforts in the Central African Republic. Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - The European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday that Russia's repeated arrests of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were politically motivated and violated his rights. Focussing on two of the arrests, the Strasbourg-based court held that they "had actually aimed at suppressing political pluralism", in addition to violating his rights to liberty, freedom of assembly and a fair trial. "It is a very clear judgment," Navalny said in Strasbourg after the ruling. "The European court recognises that it was a politically motivated arrest and persecution. It was very important not just for me but for other people all over Russia who are arrested every day," he said. The court sentenced Russia to pay Navalny 50,000 euros ($56,000) in damages, as well as 1,025 euros in financial compensation and 12,653 euros for costs and expenses. "The court called on Russia to provide a legal mechanism for the authorities to take due regard of the fundamental importance of the right to peaceful assembly and show the necessary tolerance for unauthorised, peaceful gatherings," the ECHR said. Between 2012 and 2014, Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner who has been President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critic, was arrested seven times at public gatherings. He was detained and later prosecuted for either breaching procedures for holding public events or disobeying a police order. Navalny was convicted on each occasion. He was fined five times and twice sentenced to administrative detention. - Barred from leaving Russia - He has been arrested several times since then, and released from his latest jail term last month. In February 2017, the court first condemned Russia for violating his rights to "liberty", freedom of assembly and fair trials, but rejected the accusation of "political motivations". Both Navalny and Russian authorities appealed that decision. Navalny, 42, travelled to Strasbourg on Wednesday after Russian border guards prevented him from flying out of Moscow on Tuesday for failing to pay a 2.1 million rubles ($31,000) fine connected to a 2013 conviction. Story continues Putin's approval ratings have slumped recently over an unpopular pension reform, and his ruling United Russia party has suffered setbacks in regional elections. Navalny was barred from leaving the country between 2013 and 2017, when authorities refused to issue a passport because of legal cases against him. He was eventually allowed to leave the country in May last year to seek treatment in Spain for damage to his eye after an assailant threw green dye in his face in Moscow. He was barred from running against Putin in a presidential election in March. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and European Council president with the 585 page Withdrawal Agreement (Reuters) EU chief Donald Tusk has said hes ready to cancel Brexit amid the political chaos thats broken out since a draft deal was unveiled. The European Council president announced on Thursday morning that a summit to sign-off the deal will take place at 9.30am on Sunday 25 November in Brussels if nothing extraordinary happens. The extraordinary circumstances began to unfold almost immediately with the resignation of Dominic Raab as Brexit secretary and continued throughout the day. Asked about the situation a few hours later, he refused to comment on events in London but made a mischievous comment that will encourage pro-EU politicians to vote down Theresa Mays deal. The EU is prepared for a final deal with the United Kingdom in November, he told reporters in Brussels. We are also prepared for a no-deal scenario. But of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario Earlier he had promised to make the UKs exit from the EU as painless as possible as he convened the long-awaited summit which now looks in jeopardy. The event in ten days time will see the likes of German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron give their blessing to the deal. That had been expected to happen at a summit last month but a delay in talks caused by disagreement over the Irish border backstop has forced a special summit to be called. MORE: Barnier hails crucial step towards Brexit deal Tusk was finally able to call the gathering to finalise and formalise the deal after a 7am meeting with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Speaking to the press in Brussels, the European Council president made no secret of the fact that he still doesnt share the prime ministers enthusiasm about Brexit. Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation, and that our negotiations are only about damage control, he said. But the Polish politician added: As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us. Story continues Barnier and Tusk addressing Thursdays 8am press conference (Reuters) Tusk said Barnier and his team had ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and said he would not propose the deal if he wasnt sure that it protected the EUs interests. His commitment to the deal is crucial to clearing a number of hurdles that block the way to next Sundays summit. First, ambassadors of the EU27 countries will meet with Barniers team for the second time in three days on Friday to discuss the details of the 585-page Withdrawal Agreement. I hope that there will not be too many comments, said Tusk pointedly. Europe ministers from each member state will meet on Monday before the UK and EU agree the second document needed for a Brexit deal the political declaration on the future relationship on Tuesday. MORE: EU accused of backdoor bid to keep UK in customs union Our work is not finished, warned Barnier. We still have a long road ahead of us on both sides. Barnier is now travelling to Strasbourg to meet members of the European parliamnent, who have a veto on the deal. Guy Verhofstadt, the chair of the parliaments Brexit steering group, has backed the deal that will make it possible to maintain a close relationship between the EU and the UK. But he said: I hope that one day the UK will come back home into the European family. By Mohammed Ghobari and Aziz El Yaakoubi ADEN/DUBAI (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition has ordered a halt in its offensive against Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen's main port city Hodeidah, three sources said on Thursday, in an apparent concession to Western pressure to end the war. Key Western allies including the United States have been urgently calling for a ceasefire ahead of renewed U.N.-led peace efforts. The nearly four-year-old conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and caused a humanitarian disaster that could potentially threaten millions of lives. The Hodeidah offensive, which first began earlier this year and was re-launched last month after a pause of several months, aims to cut Houthi-ruled areas from their main supply route. The United Nations fears it could deprive millions of people already on the verge of starvation from access to food or medicine. "The coalition has instructed forces on the ground to halt fighting inside Hodeidah," said one pro-coalition military source. A source in another military force backed by the coalition confirmed the order. A third non-military source with knowledge of the decision said the coalition was responding to international requests for a ceasefire to ensure the Houthis attend planned peace talks. Hodeidah has become a key target for the Sunni Muslim coalition, trying to oust the Houthis since 2015 after they took control of the capital Sanaa and overthrew the government. The Houthis now rule over most of Yemen's population, while the exiled government controls a section of the south. Western countries have provided arms and intelligence to the Arab states in the alliance, but have shown increasing reservations about the conflict since the murder of U.S.-based Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul early last month. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said on Thursday the kingdom supports U.N.-led peace efforts. "We support a peaceful solution in Yemen and we support the efforts of the U.N. special envoy to Yemen," Jubeir told a press conference, in which he separately said the Khashoggi case should not be politicized. Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki would not confirm the order to halt the offensive had been given, saying operations were ongoing: "Each operation has its own specifics and pace," Malki told Reuters, without providing details. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a Houthi leader and member of its Supreme Revolutionary Committee, told Reuters the group had still not seen an official announcement about a cessation of hostilities and skirmishes continued in outer suburbs. MISERY AMID CALM Street battles have abated over the last three days and Hodeidah was calm on Thursday, residents said. Coalition warplanes have conducted intermittent air strikes, mostly in the evening. "We heard some sporadic (mortar) shelling this morning, but it is very calm," said resident Arwa Mohammed. "People have started to leave their houses and go outside. We don't want the fighting to resume as our situation is miserable." Aid groups have warned a full-scale assault on Hodeidah, which handles 80 percent of the country's food imports and aid supplies, could trigger a famine. Some 22 million Yemenis rely on aid, out of a population of 29 million. Almost 18 million are considered hungry and 8.4 million severely hungry. The coalition abandoned its earlier attempt to capture Hodeidah last June without any gains amid concern about a humanitarian catastrophe. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which is leading military operations on the southern and western coast, may want to exit what has become a costly military quagmire, but peace talks will have to overcome deep mistrust among all sides. U.N. special envoy Martin Griffiths is trying to salvage talks between the warring Yemeni parties after the last round in September collapsed when the Houthis did not show up. He hopes to convene talks before the end of the year to agree a framework for peace under a transitional government. Sweden is preparing to host consultations when the parties "are ready to talk", said a source familiar with the matter. "I would describe the process as slightly positive. Steps have been taken during the last weeks towards peace talks." UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash has welcomed an early resumption of talks, saying on Twitter the alliance would raise the issue at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday. "(The) coalition will urge all parties to take advantage of window of opportunity to restart political process," he said. The Saudi state news agency reported on Thursday that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United States and Britain had formed a committee to address the economic and humanitarian situation in Yemen, including through possible support of its central bank. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari in ADEN and Aziz El Yaakoubi in DUBAI; Additional reporting by Johan Sennero in STOCKHOLM and Asma Alsharif in DUBAI; Editing by Ghaida Ghantous and Raissa Kasolowsky) RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said on Thursday the person who had ordered the killing of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi was the head of the negotiating team sent to repatriate him and that the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body remained unknown. The prosecutor told reporters in Riyadh that investigations were still ongoing to locate the remains of the body. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi policy, was killed in the country's Istanbul consulate on Oct. 2. (Reporting By Stephen Kalin; Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Gareth Jones) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Seven peacekeepers were killed and 10 others were wounded during a joint military operation with troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo against rebels in the east of the country, a UN spokesman said Thursday. Another UN peacekeeper is missing from the fighting near the city of Beni in North Kivu, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing in a statement and called on armed groups to disarm immediately. Six peacekeepers from Malawi and one from Tanzania were killed during the operation Wednesday against rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group blamed for a series of attacks. "Initial reports indicate that ten additional peacekeepers were wounded, and another one is missing," said Dujarric, adding that several Congolese soldiers were also killed or wounded during the operations. The UN spokesman declined to give details of the joint operation, but said it was linked to efforts to combat the outbreak of Ebola. "As you know there is an Ebola outbreak in this area and insecurity has been an obstacle to the response to the outbreak," he said. The ADF, operating in North Kivu province near the Ugandan border, has been blamed for the deaths of hundreds of civilians since 2014 as well as of 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers last December. The UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO has about 17,000 troops and police. Beni (DR Congo) (AFP) - Eight United Nations peacekeepers were killed in an operation against a rebel militia in eastern DR Congo, the UN Security Council said on Thursday. One Tanzanian and seven Malawian peacekeepers were killed, the council said, raising the toll from an earlier count. The deaths mark the biggest loss by the large UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the rebels killed 15 troops nearly a year ago. Earlier Thursday, General Bernard Commins, deputy head of the MONUSCO peacekeeping force, said a joint operation had been launched with DRC troops on Tuesday against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadi group blamed for bloody attacks on civilians. The offensive aimed at Kididiwe, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Beni, a city of between 200,000 and 300,000 inhabitants, said Commins. "We are holding Kididiwe at present, after violent fighting with an armed group. At present, we are evacuating wounded Congolese troops and Blue Helmets," he told AFP. He added he was unable to provide any information about reports at that time of fatalities. Malawi's armed forces confirmed earlier that four of its soldiers with MONUSCO -- a sergeant and three privates aged between 29 and 38 -- had been killed on Wednesday. The military "has lost courageous, hardworking and disciplined soldiers who were always ready to serve to ensure that peace prevails," the Malawi Defence Force said in a statement. It gave no further details on where or how they died. Commins described Kididiwe as a "major stronghold" of the ADF. A Congolese officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the town had been used as a springboard for militia attacks on Beni's suburbs this year. On Wednesday, Commins said MONUSCO had deployed attack helicopters against ADF forces threatening UN troops in the Mayangose area, northeast of Beni. The region is also battling an Ebola outbreak that has left more than 200 dead. Insecurity is hampering efforts to contain the disease, the UN spokesman said. Story continues In its statement the Security Council "underlined that deliberate attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law." The Council called for a swift investigation from Congolese authorities and warned that attacks against UN personnel constitutes a basis for sanctions. - Notorious militia - The ADF is an Islamist-rooted group that rose in western Uganda in 1995, led by Jamil Mukulu, a Christian turned Muslim. Forced out of Uganda, it operates in the border area in the DRC's North Kivu province. It has been blamed for recruiting and using child soldiers, killing hundreds of civilians since 2014, as well as 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers, who died in an attack in December 2017. Those fatalities were the biggest loss of life in a UN peacekeeping force since 1993 when 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Somalia during clashes with a local warlord. On Monday, MONUSCO's head, Leila Zerrougui, sounded the alarm over violence in the eastern DRC, saying it cast a shadow over the country's elections on December 23. "I have grown increasingly alarmed over the situation in Beni in recent months, where we continue to face major challenges in implementing our mandate," she added. "There is a potential for armed group interference in elections in specific areas throughout eastern DRC," she said. MONUSCO has around 17,000 members, making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations. Created in 1999 during the Second Congo War, it has an annual budget of $1.153 billion (1.02 billion euros). Photo: Getty Shailesh Vara has resigned and has become the first politician to quit their job over prime minister Theresa Mays draft Brexit deal proposal. On Twitter the MP for North West Cambridgeshire said, With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) November 15, 2018 READ MORE: May goes to war over her Brexit deal and to keep her power On Tuesday evening, Theresa Mays government confirmed that it had sealed a draft Brexit deal with the European Union. After a night of intensive one-on-one talks with her ministers and she then held a Cabinet meeting the following day. On Wednesday night, she confirmed that the collective decision of Cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration. Importantly, she did not stipulate that it was unanimous decision. In fact, reports have surfaced since then that ministers are on the brink of resigning as that Cabinet meeting left some of the MPs in tears. It is suggested as many as a third of the 28 ministers that attended that Cabinet meeting voiced doubts about the deal. READ MORE: Brexit deal: Ministers on the brink of resigning as stormy Cabinet meeting leaves them in tears Late last night, May drew battle lines over what the options are over the draft Brexit deal. Story continues When you strip away the detail the choice before us is clear. This deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings us back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our union, or leave with no deal, or no Brexit at all, she said. I know that there will be difficult days ahead But the choice was this deal or going back to square one, with more division, more uncertainty, and the failure to deliver on the referendum. It marked the first time she had publicly acknowledge that cancelling Brexit was an option. More to follow JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's former Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has quit as a member of parliament following his resignation from the government after the High Court found he had lied under oath, parliament said on Thursday. Gigaba resigned as minister on Tuesday in a case involving efforts to set up an immigration facility for wealthy VIPs at an airport. The speaker of parliament, Baleka Mbete, received a letter from Gigaba informing her of his resignation, parliament said in a statement without providing further detail. Last month, South Africa's anti-graft watchdog said Gigaba should be disciplined for lying about the wealthy Oppenheimer family's attempt to open the private immigration facility. Gigaba, who was finance minister in 2017-2018, has denied any wrongdoing. Last month he apologized over a private sex video that was leaked. (Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; editing by David Stamp) By Daniel Dickson and Johan Ahlander STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's parliament rejected center-right Moderates party leader Ulf Kristersson as new prime minister in a vote on Wednesday, leaving no end in sight to the political deadlock that has gripped the country since a September election. Kristersson's bid for the premiership had looked doomed to fail after two other parties in his center-right Alliance bloc said they would oppose any government that would require support from the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. "Now, the ball is back in the speaker's court," Kristersson told reporters. (GRAPHIC - Election scenarios: https://tmsnrt.rs/2p45tJh) Neither the center-left nor the center-right blocs have made headway in negotiating a new government after voters delivered a hung parliament with the Sweden Democrats - shunned by both sides of the political divide - holding the balance of power. Kristersson lost the vote by 154 to 195 in the 349-seat parliament, with the Sweden Democrats supporting his candidature. The speaker of parliament, Andreas Norlen, will now hold more talks with party leaders, but the way forward is uncertain. Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven was voted out by parliament late in September and has so far failed to entice the Centre and Liberal parties - both part of the Alliance - to switch allegiance. But the Centre Party and Liberals also voted against Kristersson. "I am not prepared to be a hostage to the Sweden Democrats or to be subject to their blackmail," Centre Party leader Annie Loof told reporters after the vote. Both Lofven and Kristersson have ruled out sitting in a government together. The Sweden Democrats, ostracized by all other parties due to their fierce nationalism and early links to white supremacist activists, hold the whip hand. They have said they would reject any government that did not give them guarantees over policy, particularly on tighter immigration curbs. Liberal leader Jan Bjorklund called for talks with the Greens, part of Lofven's outgoing government. But that has been rejected by the Greens as well as the Moderates, and a coalition of the Alliance and the Greens would still lack a parliamentary majority. With no sign of compromise, a snap election is looking more likely. But that could easily return a similar result and simply delay forming a new government. The impasse is likely to have negative effects the longer it lingers. A budget to be presented by acting Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson on Thursday will freeze new spending and is likely to hit some local authorities hard. Analysts also say the deadlock could damage faith in the democratic process, potentially boosting the Sweden Democrats. Even when a new government is in place, it will struggle to push through major policy initiatives, meaning urgent reforms, for example in the housing market, are likely to be delayed. Three more parliamentary votes to choose a new prime minister can be held before new elections must be called. (Writing by Niklas Pollard and Simon Johnson; editing by David Stamp) Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - At least three soldiers were killed and several missing after a Boko Haram attack on a military base in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, military and militia sources told AFP Thursday. Boko Haram fighters believed to be from the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) late Wednesday attacked the base in the town of Kareto, 150 kilometres (about 90 miles) north of the state capital Maiduguri. The militants temporarily dislodged troops from the base before being repelled with aerial support, the sources said. "We lost three soldiers in the fight and several others are still missing," a military officer in Maiduguri told AFP. "The terrorists were smoked out of the base by a fighter jet which deployed to the scene," said the officer who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the incident. Troop reinforcements were sent to the base, the officer said. It was not clear if the jihadists took away weapons. A civilian militia fighting Boko Haram in the area said troops withdrew to the town of Gubio, 60 km away, while Kareto residents fled across the border into Niger. "The bodies of three soldiers were recovered after the attack," said the militia who preferred not to be identified. "More troops have arrived in Kareto but most residents have not returned," he said. It was the second attack on the military base in two years. In April 2016, a Boko Haram raid left 24 soldiers wounded, according to military authorities. Boko Haram jihadists late Wednesday also attacked Mammanti village, just outside Maiduguri, killing one person and burning the entire village before stealing hundreds of cattle, the local chief of the village and residents said. "The insurgents came around 11:00 pm (2200 GMT) and opened indiscriminate fire," Muhammad Mammanti, a resident, said. "They killed one person and burnt the whole village and stole our cattle," Mammanti said. Story continues Earlier in the day a group of jihadists abducted seven women while working on a farm near the town of Bama, 70 km from Maiduguri, after killing their male escort, militia sources said. Boko Haram has stepped up attacks on farmers and loggers in recent years, accusing them of passing information on the group to the military. Despite the government's insistence that the group is near defeat, Boko Haram has recently carried out major attacks on military and civilian targets, killing scores. More than 27,000 people have died since the start of the insurgency in the remote northeast in 2009 and 1.8 million are still homeless. (Reuters) - Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 6 elections and Republicans held onto a majority in the U.S. Senate, but 14 federal and two state governorship races remain undecided more than a week later. In one of the two undecided U.S. Senate contests, Florida has ordered a recount as Democratic Senator Bill Nelson trailed his Republican challenger, Florida Governor Rick Scott. Florida has also ordered a recount for its gubernatorial race, while the winner of the governor's race in Georgia remained uncertain, with a December runoff still possible. In Mississippi, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and her Democratic challenger, Mike Espy, will contest a runoff on Nov. 27 after neither won a majority for a U.S. Senate seat. Vote tallies continue to trickle in for the 12 U.S. House races that appear too close to call, and there is no consensus among media outlets that a victor has emerged. On Wednesday, a consensus among media outlets emerged that vote tallies had sealed a victory for Democratic candidate Josh Harder in California's 10th congressional district over Republican incumbent Jeff Denham. With Harder's victory, Democrats have so far gained a net 30 House seats. Even if they pick up more seats in the Senate or House, the outcomes of the undecided elections will not change the overall balance of power in either chamber. The following are House seats where there is no consensus winner: State District California 39 California 45 California 48 California 49 Georgia 7 Maine 2 New Jersey 3 New Mexico 2 New York 22 New York 27 Texas 23 Utah 4 (Reporting by Washington newsroom; editing by Grant McCool) A travel blogger is being called out for her dangerous behavior after she shared a photo of herself on social media posing in front of a moving train. While in Thailand, the Instagram blogger who has garnered over 30,000 followers, visited Maeklong Railway Market. The tourist destination is infamous for the train that travels directly through the stalls, with salespeople quickly packing up their goods to move to either side to let it pass. She copped heat after she stood in front of an oncoming train for the perfect Instagram pic. (Photo : Instagram/oneoceanaway_) But rather than move aside, the Singapore-based blogger risked her life by remaining on the tracks to get the perfect picture. Fans were not impressed, with many slamming her for acting inappropriately. Ya but you dont mind to do anything for social media content even if its dangerous, one commented. Another added, If you tripped or something you would have been dead. Despite her dedication, many fans were concerned about the message she was promoting to others. (Photo: Instagram/oneoceanaway_) While some fans appreciated the bloggers dedication, many voiced concern that this could encourage others to try something similarly reckless for the perfect gram. You shouldnt promote this, you are giving the wrong impression of safety and some people following you might get hurt if they do the same, one person said. Ive been there and though the train is slow, everyone should be out of the railway when it comes by. Similarly, another added, Great that youve created such a crazy photo, now lets hope there are no kids out there stupid enough to copy it. But it seems that could be a little too late: After receiving significant backlash the blogger responded saying: First, this is not dangerous at all, and second I am not the first and wont be the last person taking a photo here or any other dangerous places. It is on ourselves to be aware of the dangers and the limits. Even if I would not take this photo, people would anyway. I am not a person who takes a big risk just for a photo, I value my safety and life. Story continues Some people did praise the shot, calling it amazing, stunning and worth the risk. Despite standing up for herself, she later decided to remove the photo. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - Amid signs that negotiations between North Korea and the U.S. are stalling, analysts say Pyongyang still sees its nuclear arsenal as a key tool in securing its national safety and winning concessions from international rivals. Just as the United States has doubled down on its sanctions on Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has not retreated from his pledge to expand his operational force of nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles, increasing his leverage under any still-elusive denuclearization deal. A U.S. think tank said on Monday it had identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons programs. As time goes by, North Korea's likely expansion of its arsenal could force Washington to rethink its insistence on full denuclearization, said Moon Hong-sik, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul. "This is the choice the United States has to make: whether they keep pursuing the ideal of 'complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization,' or take this dilemma into consideration and make a compromise for limited denuclearization," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump met Kim at an unprecedented summit in Singapore in June where they agreed to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But with scant sign of progress on negotiations since and recent high-level meetings canceled, Trump said last week he's now in "no rush" and still wants to meet with Kim for a second time. U.S. officials have said sanctions forced North Korea to the negotiating table and vowed to keep pressure until complete denuclearization. But North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the world's largest powers. Kim's own words suggest Pyongyang will continue with production and development of the nuclear program even as it negotiates with Washington on denuclearization, experts say. "In the 2018 New Year address, Kim Jong Un called for shifting to full-scale production and deployment of nuclear weapons and missiles," said Joshua Pollack, a senior research associate at the U.S.-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). "He's never said or done anything since then to contradict that." North Korea has not tested a nuclear bomb or ballistic missile since last year, and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site with plans to dismantle several more facilities. North Korea recently warned, however, it could restart its nuclear program if the United States does not drop its campaign of maximum pressure and sanctions. "NORTH KOREA NEVER PROMISED" Monday's report by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), sparked media coverage calling it a "great deception" by the North Koreans. But South Korea's presidential Blue House said without an actual deal to violate, Pyongyang has broken no promises. "North Korea has never promised to shut down this missile base," Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. "It has never signed any agreement, any negotiation that makes shutting down missile bases mandatory... the fact that such a missile base exists shows the necessity for negotiations to be achieved quickly." Asked about the report, Trump's national security adviser John Bolton told reporters in Singapore on Tuesday that Trump "has given North Korea an incredible opportunity to walk through a door to a different future if they denuclearize...but they still need to do that." The activity at the missile bases is one of several examples why American officials may be reluctant to lift any sanctions, said Shin Beom-chul, director of the Center for Security and Unification at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "In short, from the CSIS report we can infer that first, North Korea is not sincere enough with negotiating and second, theres no change in their nuclear capacity," he said. U.S. officials have discussed possible clandestine enrichment sites for nuclear fuel, and in July, analysts at CNS used commercial satellite imagery to conclude that North Korea was "completing a major expansion of an important factory for producing solid rocket motors for... nuclear-armed missiles". In April, ahead of his meeting with Trump, Kim told a gathering of ruling party leadership the nuclear arsenal represented a "great victory" and announced there was no need for further tests of nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles. In the speech, however, Kim also hinted at nuclear weapons playing an important role long into the future, calling them a "powerful treasured sword for defending peace" that would "reliably guarantee" a dignified and happy life for generations of North Koreans. "Note the description of nuclear weapons as the only firm security assurance," Pollack said. "They are not seeking any 'security assurance' other than the indefinite possession of nuclear weapons." (Additional reporting by Jeongmin Kim and Joyce Lee in Seoul and John Geddie in Singapore. Editing by Lincoln Feast) Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker to lead the US Department of Justice was called "unlawful" Tuesday in a court challenge less than one week after he was named acting attorney general. The state of Maryland asked a federal judge to block Whitaker from acting on behalf of the department in an ongoing court case on health care policy, arguing that he had not been approved by the US Senate as required by law. But Maryland state Attorney General Brian Frosh made clear that the challenge was also a political move against someone that Democrats believe Trump chose to protect his presidency from the Russia collusion investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. "President Trump's brazen attempt to flout the law and constitution in bypassing Deputy US Attorney General Rosenstein in favor of a partisan and unqualified staffer cannot stand," Frosh said in a statement. Trump, he said, has chosen "an unqualified and unconfirmed partisan to be the nation's chief law enforcement officer in order to protect himself rather than the rule of law." Frosh's request for an injunction against Whitaker was the first official challenge to his appointment last Wednesday to replace fired attorney general Jeff Sessions. The appointment has raised controversy because of Whitaker's limited experience and his record of vocal opposition to the Mueller investigation, which he has now taken control of from Rosenstein. Maryland said the appointment violated a fundamental law requiring the top government officials to be confirmed by the Senate -- which Rosenstein has been. Legal experts have warned that Whitaker could jeopardize Justice Department legal cases if his appointment is found to be illegal. "Whitaker's appointment is unlawful," the state said in a court filing, which argued it could damage Maryland's ongoing health care case against the government. Story continues Whitaker had been Sessions' chief of staff for a year, acting as liaison to the White House as Trump's relations with Sessions became increasingly strained. Before that, he was a federal prosecutor in Iowa who became a television and radio commentator after losing two races for political office. In his role as a commentator, he made repeated comments last year dismissing the basis for the Mueller investigation and suggesting it be starved for funds to shut it down. - Pressure to recuse - The Maryland case involves apparently conflicting laws governing succession at the Justice Department. "It's a serious question and one that's not clearly resolved by anything that the Supreme Court has said," said Fordham University Law School Professor Andrew Kent. "There could be many persons who could challenge it, for instance somebody who is criminally prosecuted under his authority ... I think that they would have a good argument." "Maybe his whole holding of the office is constitutionally null and void." Meanwhile senior Democrats called for Whitaker to recuse himself from the Mueller probe because of his past statements. On Monday, Senator Chuck Schumer, Representative Nancy Pelosi, and other top party legislators sent a letter to the Justice Department's top ethics official outlining their concerns. "There are serious ethical considerations that require Mr Whitaker's immediate recusal from any involvement with the Special Counsel investigation," they said. "Mr Whitaker's statements indicate a clear bias against the investigation that would cause a reasonable person to question his impartiality," they said. Mr Trump has lashed out once again against the Mueller investigation: REUTERS President Donald Trump has once again lashed out at special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation, claiming broadly and without any evidence that the probes inner workings are a total mess. Mr Trump unleashed the tirade on Twitter just over a week after midterm election losses delivered a rebuke to Mr Trumps presidency by handing control of the House of Representatives back to Democrats for the first time in eight years. Just after the elections Attorney General Jeff Sessions was ousted from his post, with Mr Trump having repeatedly criticised Mr Sessions for recusing himself from overseeing the probe into Russian election meddling and possible collusion with Trump campaign officials. The firing prompted calls from newly emboldened Democrats and some Republicans to call for legislative protection for Mr Muellers probe. The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess, Mr Trump wrote. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and dont... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2018 He continued: They are a disgrace to our Nation and dont care how many lives the ruin. These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They wont even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY! A bill that would have protected the special counsel investigation was blocked in the Senate by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday, who claimed that the there was no threat to the investigation from the president who has repeatedly sought to undermine the probe with his "witch hunt" taunts. Story continues Democrats and some Republicans felt compelled to push for the legislation after Matthew Whitaker was named as acting attorney general following Mr Sessions departure. Mr Sessions had to recuse himself from oversight of the investigation, citing his role in the 2016 Trump campaign. Mr Whitaker, though, has previously parroted the presidents language regarding the Mueller investigation, saying it could become a witch hunt and suggesting that the investigation could be hobbled without firing Mr Mueller if the budget is virtually eliminated. Mr Whitaker has claimed he has no intention to cut the budget, and has reportedly consulted ethics experts on whether he should recuse himself from oversight of the investigation as Mr Sessions did. Prior to this time, the investigation which is rumoured to be preparing a new set of indictments has been overseen by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. By Patricia Zengerle and Stephen Kalin WASHINGTON/RIYADH (Reuters) - The United States imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials on Thursday for their role in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor sought the death penalty for five suspects in the murder. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctions were the first concrete response by the Trump administration to Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. Among those sanctioned were Saud al-Qahtani, who has been removed from his position as a top aide to the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi and members of a 15-person team Turkey has identified as being involved in Khashoggi's death. The measure was unusual for Washington, which rarely imposes sanctions on Saudi nationals. The sanctions do not target the Riyadh government, an important U.S. security and economic ally. It also allows the administration to stop short of action that might affect lucrative U.S. arms deals with Saudi Arabia that President Donald Trump has vowed to preserve. The sanctions limit access to the U.S. financial system and freeze people's assets. They will be implemented under an act which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement. In a previous diplomatic rift between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the U.S. government did not impose sanctions on Saudi officials over the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were from the kingdom. A U.S. government commission found no evidence that Saudi Arabia directly funded al Qaeda, which carried out the attacks on New York and Washington. The panel, however, left open whether individual Saudi officials might have. DEATH SENTENCE Khashoggi, a royal insider turned critic of Saudi policy, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. He was a U.S. resident and columnist for The Washington Post and his killing has provoked a political crisis in Saudi Arabia as well as friction with Western allies. Some members of the U.S. Congress said that even with the sanctions the administration has not been tough enough, specifically in regard to the Saudi crown prince. Democratic Senator Ben Cardin said: I remain concerned that the administration is enabling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its effort to protect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from accountability." Canada, which had a major diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia this year over human rights, welcomed the U.S. sanctions and said it was weighing similar action. Saudi deputy public prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan said the reporter died by lethal injection after a struggle. Without naming them, Shalaan said the Saudi prosecutor had requested the death penalty for five people "charged with ordering and committing the crime, and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals". He said 11 of 21 suspects have been indicted and will be referred to court. Shalaan said Prince Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggi's body was dismembered, removed from the building and handed over to an unidentified "local cooperator." Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the order for the operation came from the highest level of Saudi leadership but probably not King Salman, putting the spotlight instead on his 33-year-old heir, Prince Mohammed. Turkey wants the 15-man team that it says killed Khashoggi to be tried there. Trump has suggested ultimate responsibility lies with the prince. Riyadh initially denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's disappearance, then offered contradictory explanations including that he was killed in a rogue operation. Shalaan said Khashoggi was murdered after "negotiations" for his return to the kingdom failed. When asked why such a large team capable of poisoning and dismembering a body was used for a supposed extraction, Shalaan said the lead negotiator had surveyed the consulate before Khashoggi entered and decided it was unfeasible to remove him, so instead they killed him. U.S. SANCTIONS TARGETS Among others cited in Thursday's U.S. Treasury announcement are General Maher Mutreb, an aide to Qahtani who has appeared in photographs with Prince Mohammed on official visits this year to the United States and Europe. Absent from the sanctions list were four officials fired last month along with Qahtani: General Ahmed al-Asiri, the deputy head of foreign intelligence, and three other intelligence deputies - General Rashad bin Hamed al-Hamadi, General Abdullah bin Khaleef al-Shaya, and General Mohammed Saleh al-Ramih. The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for an explanation of why they were not included. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said there could be further U.S. measures. Its a step in the right direction. It is an initial investigation finding. It is important that those steps continue to be taken for a full accountability. We will continue to work diligently to ascertain the facts, she told a news briefing. Some details provided by the Saudi prosecutor on Thursday again contradicted previous versions, none of which mentioned a drug-induced death and one of which called the killing premeditated based on information provided by Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the measures announced by Saudi Arabia were "positive but insufficient", and repeated Ankara's demand that the 15-man team be tried inTurkey. Turkey says it has recordings related to the killing which it shared with Western allies. One Turkish official told Reuters that officials who heard the recordings, which include Khashoggi's killing and conversations leading up to the operation, were horrified but their countries had done nothing. Last month, two intelligence sources said Qahtani gave orders over Skype to Khashoggi's killers. More recently, a government source said Qahtani featured prominently throughout the recordings. (Additional reporting by Maha El Dahan and Asma Al Sharif in Dubai, Marwa Rashad in Riyadh, Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara, David Brunnstrom, Doina Chiacu and Matt Spetalnick in Washington, and John Irish in Paris; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Mary Milliken and James Dalgleish) By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi officials on Thursday for their role in the killing last month of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, the first concrete response by the Trump administration to the journalist's death. Among those sanctioned were Saud al-Qahtani, who has been removed from his position as a top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi and members of a 15-person team Turkey has identified as being involved in Khashoggi's death. The announcement was unusual for Washington, which rarely imposes sanctions on Saudi nationals. The sanctions do not target the Riyadh government, an important U.S. security and economic ally. It also allows President Donald Trump's administration to stop short of any action that might affect lucrative U.S. arms deals with Saudi Arabia that he has vowed to preserve. The sanctions limit access to the U.S. financial system and freeze the individuals' assets. They will be implemented under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement. "The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists," Mnuchin said. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Thursday's announcement "an important step" in the response to Khashoggi's killing and said his department would continue to seek facts, consult the U.S. Congress and work with other countries to hold accountable anyone who was involved. TURKEY IDENTIFIED MANY OF THOSE SANCTIONED Among others cited in Thursday's announcement are Maher Mutreb, an aide to Qahtani who has appeared in photographs with Prince Mohammed on official visits this year to the United States and Europe. Story continues He and 14 others were members of the team Turkey identified as being responsible for killing Khashoggi. Absent from the sanctions list were four officials fired last month along with Qahtani: General Ahmed Asiri, the deputy head of foreign intelligence, and three other intelligence deputies - General Rashad bin Hamed al-Hamadi, director of the general directorate of security and protection, General Abdullah bin Khaleef al-Shaya, assistant head for human resources, and General Mohammed Saleh al-Ramih, assistant head for intelligence affairs. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for an explanation of why they were not included. The U.S. sanctions were announced a few hours after Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said the death penalty was being sought for five out of 11 suspects charged in Khashoggi's murder, as the kingdom tries to contain its biggest political crisis in a generation. Khashoggi, a royal insider-turned-critic of Saudi policy, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 after a struggle, by lethal injection, deputy public prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan told reporters. Shalaan said Prince Salman knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggi's body was dismembered, removed from the building and handed over to an unidentified "local cooperator." In contrast to Thursday's announcement, the U.S. government never imposed sanctions on Saudi officials over the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were from the kingdom. A U.S. government commission found no evidence that Saudi Arabia directly funded al Qaeda, which carried out the attacks on New York and Washington. The panel, however, left open whether individual Saudi officials might have. (Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington and Stephen Kalin in Riyadh ; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Paul Simao) By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi officials on Thursday for their role in the killing last month of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, the first concrete response by the Trump administration to the journalist's death. Among those sanctioned were Saud al-Qahtani, who has been removed from his position as a top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi and members of a 15-person team Turkey has identified as being involved in Khashoggi's death. The announcement was unusual for Washington, which rarely imposes sanctions on Saudi nationals. The sanctions do not target the Riyadh government, an important U.S. security and economic ally. It also allows President Donald Trump's administration to stop short of any action that might affect lucrative U.S. arms deals with Saudi Arabia that he has vowed to preserve. The sanctions limit access to the U.S. financial system and freeze the individuals' assets. They will be implemented under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement. "The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists," Mnuchin said. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Thursday's announcement "an important step" in the response to Khashoggi's killing and said his department would continue to seek facts, consult the U.S. Congress and work with other countries to hold accountable anyone who was involved. TURKEY IDENTIFIED MANY OF THOSE SANCTIONED Among others cited in Thursday's announcement are Maher Mutreb, an aide to Qahtani who has appeared in photographs with Prince Mohammed on official visits this year to the United States and Europe. He and 14 others were members of the team Turkey identified as being responsible for killing Khashoggi. Absent from the sanctions list were four officials fired last month along with Qahtani: General Ahmed Asiri, the deputy head of foreign intelligence, and three other intelligence deputies - General Rashad bin Hamed al-Hamadi, director of the general directorate of security and protection, General Abdullah bin Khaleef al-Shaya, assistant head for human resources, and General Mohammed Saleh al-Ramih, assistant head for intelligence affairs. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for an explanation of why they were not included. The U.S. sanctions were announced a few hours after Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said the death penalty was being sought for five out of 11 suspects charged in Khashoggi's murder, as the kingdom tries to contain its biggest political crisis in a generation. Khashoggi, a royal insider-turned-critic of Saudi policy, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 after a struggle, by lethal injection, deputy public prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan told reporters. Shalaan said Prince Salman knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggi's body was dismembered, removed from the building and handed over to an unidentified "local cooperator." In contrast to Thursday's announcement, the U.S. government never imposed sanctions on Saudi officials over the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were from the kingdom. A U.S. government commission found no evidence that Saudi Arabia directly funded al Qaeda, which carried out the attacks on New York and Washington. The panel, however, left open whether individual Saudi officials might have. (Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington and Stephen Kalin in Riyadh ; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Paul Simao) By Elias Biryabarema KAMPALA (Reuters) - Ugandan soldiers will be deployed shortly as security guards for businesses of mostly Chinese investors that have suffered a spate of robberies, the military said on Wednesday. The East African country of 40 million people hosts a large number of Asian investors and workers, a sizeable portion of them from China, and their numbers has been growing in lock-step with China's deepening stake in Africa. Chinese businesses have put down roots in Uganda's retail sector, where their competition has stoked local resentment - and light manufacturing. Firms from China have also captured a large chunk of public infrastructure works in Uganda in recent years, taking advantage of large Chinese credit lines to the country. Chinese companies are now developing two hydro-electric dams on the Nile river costing about $2 billion while others are building roads and an airport. Ugandan military spokesman Richard Karemire said soldiers would start offering security to Chinese investors in response to a recent series of attacks that have fueled fear in the business community. He did not say how many soldiers would be deployed as guards or give a time frame for the operation. Karemire said Chinese investors were being targeted for their tendency to keep large sums of cash in their factories. "Security forces, the military inclusive, will provide security...We hold them dearly because of the employment opportunities they offer," he said, referring to Chinese investors. In recent months local newspapers have reported a number of attacks on Chinese-owned businesses, mostly in central Uganda, with robbers grabbing cash and other valuables. On Wednesday, the Daily Monitor, a local paper, quoted an official from an association of Chinese-owned businesses in Uganda as saying some business owners were considering leaving the country because of insecurity. In recent years crime, including murder, robberies and kidnappings for ransom, has been growing in Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni has said security personnel may be colluding with criminals. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Omar Mohammed and Mark Heinrich) LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May will give a short statement to media later on Wednesday after she finishes a meeting of her senior ministers to win their approval for a draft Brexit divorce deal, a Downing Street official said. "The PM will make a short statement after Cabinet concludes," the official said. "The PM will make a statement to the Commons tomorrow." "There is no press conference tonight," the official added. Shortly before, police minister Nick Hurd had told parliament there would be no government statement on Brexit on Wednesday evening. (Reporting by William James and Kylie MacLellan; writing by David Milliken; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) Geneva (AFP) - A group of United Nations human rights experts said Thursday they had suspended a trip to Hungary after the government denied them access to sites where migrants are being held. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions had been invited by Budapest to visit the country this week. Committee member Setondji Roland Adjovi told AFP in an email that Hungary was aware the experts intended to visit the Roszke and Tompa "transit zones", two sites implicated in potentially illegal detentions. Hungary was "fully on notice, through various means before and during the visit, that the Working Group considers (the two sites) as places of deprivation of liberty," he added. Adjovi said the committee habitually carries out both announced and unannounced visits during country missions. Hungarian authorities were not informed about the timing of the visits to Roszke and Tompa, he added. "The Working Group showed up at those two locations simultaneously (on Wednesday) and was not allowed to enter," he said. The experts then told the government they would not continue the mission. "Unimpeded access to all places of deprivation of liberty including these transit zones must be guaranteed to independent international, regional and national organisations," the experts said in a statement. The terms of reference for visits by the group require states to guarantee freedom of inquiry, especially concerning "confidential and unsupervised contacts with persons deprived of their liberty," the statement said. The group said it "hoped that the Government of Hungary would enter into a constructive dialogue to enable the delegates (to) resume their visit in the near future." Hungary under anti-migrant Prime Minister Viktor Orban has had an increasingly tense relationship with UN human rights bodies. In a September speech at the UN Human Rights Council, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused "pro-migration" UN officials of "spreading lies" about the country. Former UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein in May accused Orban of being a "racist." The UN rights chief on Tuesday urged Bangladesh to halt imminent plans to start returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, warning doing so risked further grave violations against the Muslim minority. Bangladesh authorities say they will begin returning Rohingya refugees, who have fled what the UN has called ethnic cleansing, to the Buddhist majority country from Thursday. The prospect has created panic in the camps, prompting some families who were due to be among the first to be repatriated to flee, community leaders said. The UN rights office said it continued to receive reports of ongoing violations against Rohingya still in Myanmar and urged Dhaka to reconsider. "We are witnessing terror and panic among those Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar who are at imminent risk of being returned to Myanmar against their will," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement. "Forcibly expelling or returning refugees and asylum seekers to their home country would be a clear violation of the core legal principle of non-refoulement, which forbids repatriation where there are threats of persecution or serious risks to the life and physical integrity or liberty of the individuals." More than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state following a military crackdown from August last year, bringing with them stories of murders, rapes and torture. They have joined some 300,000 Rohingya already living in squalid camps in Bangladesh's southeast for years. Some 2,260 Rohingya Muslims had been scheduled to leave the Bangladesh border post in the southeastern Cox's Bazar district in the first repatriations from Thursday under the voluntary scheme. Director general of Bangladesh's foreign ministry Delwar Hossain told AFP the refugees would be repatriated in groups of 150 each day during the initial phase. "Both sides have agreed to start repatriation on November 15," he said Tuesday before the UN rights office issued its statement. Story continues - Confusion and fear - Refugee community leaders said many Rohingya on the returnee list were terrified and in hiding. "They were intimidated and fled to other camps," said Nur Islam, from Jamtoli refugee camp. An AFP correspondent was able to speak to three families who said they were due to leave this week. "As the day is coming closer, our tension is rising," said Mohammad Khaleque. He said he and his family were fleeing their camp for another makeshift Rohingya settlement in Cox's Bazar, in an effort to avoid being forcibly repatriated. "We don't want to go back like this," he said. The UN pointed out several of the families apparently listed for return are headed by women or children, and some refugees had threatened suicide if forced to go back. Around 400 Hindus from Rakhine, who also fled the violence alongside the Rohingya, said they were ready to return if the passage was safe. "We have prepared out bags. We would go today, if sufficient security was provided," said 60-year-old Jyotsna Bala Paul. - 'Rather die' - The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which earlier this week received a list from the Bangladesh government to assess whether the refugees wanted to go back to Myanmar voluntarily, said the start date of November 15 was an "ambitious plan". "This is the matter of the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Although we still think that the conditions are not conducive now for the refugees to return in Myanmar," UNHCR senior spokesman Chris Melzer told AFP on Monday. Bangladesh refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said the country was ready to start repatriating the refugees via two transit points they have set up at the border. An AFP team visited both the centres. One appeared complete while the construction of the second was "over 80 percent" finished, according to builders. A Bangladeshi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that the Rohingya refugees were not "mentally ready" for returning. "They often say to us they would rather die here in the (Bangladeshi) camps than to go back and embrace the harrowing pain they have already experienced," he said. Bachelet stressed that "the human rights violations committed against the Rohingya in Myanmar amount to the worst atrocities, including crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide." "With an almost complete lack of accountability indeed with ongoing violations returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar at this point effectively means throwing them back into the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades." burs-np/ecl Talking crypto: Dan Roberts, Brad Garlinghouse, and Andy Serwer attend the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit: Crypto on February 7, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Yahoo Finance/Oath. The initial coin offering (ICO) funding market is being crushed by the crypto winter, according to two new reports. ICOs are where startups and projects raise money by issuing digital coins or tokens, similar to bitcoin, in exchange for real money. The majority of tokens are snapped up by ordinary retail investors, cutting out venture capitalists and other early-stage institutional investors. The fundraising method emerged in 2017 and almost 500 projects raised more than $5bn (3.8bn) through ICOs last year. ICOs continued to be popular at the start of 2018, with the total raised through the method surpassing 2017 levels in April. But the market has since collapsed as cryptocurrency prices dived. Reports from ICORating, an independent crypto ratings agency, and Outlier Ventures, a blockchain and crypto-focused venture capital firm, show that the third quarter was brutal for the market. The amount of money raised and quality of startups declines, returns on investments were negative, and apparent scams have become commonplace. The reports show: Startups raised 48% less through ICOs in the third quarter compared to the second. 75% of startups trying to raise money had nothing but an idea. The average return from ICO tokens in the quarter was -22%. 64% of attempted ICOs failed. 19% of companies that raised money through ICOs in the third quarter have deleted their websites and social media accounts, suggesting they were scams. Outlier Ventures report blamed the crypto winter for part of the slowdown, while ICORating said it expects to see projects go bust in the coming months. On the slide: The number of ICOs and amount raised through the method has been steadily declining since May. Photo: ICORating. We expect some strongly hyped projects which raised significant funding to actually fail for a variety of reasons due to being compromised as scams, to conflicts between founders, failure to deliver the promised technology or a failure of solutions offered to be widely adopted, ICORatings report said. Jamie Burke, the founder and CEO of Outlier Ventures, told Yahoo Finance UK: We knew what was happening towards the end of last year was unsustainable. The reason it was unsustainable was a lot of it was not tied to underlying value. Being more technically involved in the industry, we were aware that the hype was running ahead of technology. Story continues The majority of projects that raise money through ICOs rely on blockchain technology in some form or another. However, Burke said that the infrastructure is not yet developed enough to support many of the ideas that projects raised money for last year. The market got a bit of itself, Burke said. All the possibilities that blockchains and distributed ledgers offered, everybody rushed to try and realise those and the capital rushed to follow them. But the reality is the technical cycle is much further behind the market cycle. A vast number are scams ICORatings report found scams are increasingly common in the market: 19% of ICO projects from the third quarter have already deleted their social network accounts and websites, suggesting they were scams. The projects collectively raised $62m, 3% of the total $1.8bn raised through ICOs in the third quarter. The key problem with ICOs is that a vast number of them are scams or scam-like projects, the report said, noting that there has been an an increasing lack of transparency from ICO teams/projects that makes it harder to tell the good from the bad. However, Burke said: A large majority of ICOs shouldnt have ICOed full-stop. Now, does that make them a fraud? I dont think so. 90% of startups fail in their first three years. The numbers pretty much mirror traditional early-stage ventures. Outlier Ventures report found that venture capital is increasingly filling the void left by ICOs when it comes to digital token-based projects. VCs have invested almost $3bn in these projects in 2018, which is more venture capital inflow than all previous years combined, according to Outlier Ventures. Although the number and size of public token fundraises has reduced, startups, corporates and regulators continue to believe that tokens are foundational to Web 3.0 infrastructure and represent the opportunity for new business models, Outlier Ventures report said. Burke said: We dont see ICOs as dead. They are just evolving as the industry professionalises. MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) Uruguay's Senate approved a law Thursday allowing U.S. aircraft, military personnel and civilians into the South American country to help provide security for a Group of 20 summit of world leaders in neighboring Argentina. The measure was passed by a large majority in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday and a slightly different version of the law was approved earlier by the Senate. An amended version of the law was sent back to the Senate and approved unanimously on Thursday. It authorizes the entry into Uruguay of three U.S. fuel cargo aircraft, two transport aircraft and three AWACS planes as well as 400 U.S. military personnel and civilians who would be the crew and provide support and maintenance. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among the international leaders who attend the Nov. 30-Dec.1 meeting in Buenos Aires. The G20 is composed of 19 countries and the European Union. While the bill easily passed in the houses, it divided Uruguay's leftist ruling Broad Front party. Many lawmakers spoke out against it. "The armed forces of the United States have not been and will not be welcome in Latin America," said Constanza Moreira, even though she voted in favor of the law in line with her party's position. Others questioned the need to provide such support when Uruguay is not a member of the G20. New York (AFP) - A Florida man accused of sending 16 pipe bombs last month to critics of President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday in US federal court in New York to all counts. Cesar Sayoc, 56, is an avowed Trump supporter and registered Republican. He could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted on all counts, according to federal prosecutors. Sayoc's targets ranged from former president Barack Obama and former vice president Joe Biden to Trump's presidential rival Hillary Clinton, actor Robert De Niro and billionaire philanthropist George Soros. None of the bombs exploded and most were not delivered to their intended recipient. US federal judge Jed Rakoff set a trial start date of July 15, 2019. The charges against Sayoc include five counts of use of a weapon of mass destruction, five counts of interstate transportation of explosives, and five counts of threatening interstate communications. Allegedly included with the bombs were a print-out or photograph of his intended victim marked with a red X. Sayoc was also charged five times with illegal use of mail, five times with carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony and five times with use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence. Sayoc, who has a criminal history and lived in a white truck plastered with pro-Trump and anti-Democrat stickers, was arrested in Florida five days after the first device was discovered in Soros's upstate New York mailbox, following a massive manhunt. The episode heightened political tensions in the lead-up to the November 6 US midterm elections, which saw Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives while Republicans retained control of the Senate. Police found Sayoc's fingerprints and DNA on the packages. Cape Town (AFP) - One day, when nature calls, your urine could be put to better use than to be flushed down the loo. Instead it could be a key ingredient in the construction of a greener office or new home. In one of the latest innovations in the search for eco-friendly building materials, South African university researchers have created bricks using human urine. The first of their kind in the world, the bio-bricks hold out the prospect of a sustainable alternative to standard clay and concrete bricks, they hope. The prototypes have been "grown" from urine using a technique somewhat similar to the natural formation of seashells, taking six to eight days to form. The groundbreaking invention is the brainchild of two University of Cape Town students and a lecturer. With a grant from a government-run Water Research Council, the feasibility study was launched last year using synthetic urea. And then the study escalated to using human urine. "I was always curious to know why don't we use urine to do the same thing," Dyllon Randall, the lecturer who supervised one of the two students, told AFP. "The simple answer is: 'Yes, we can'." A year later they successfully produced their first bio-brick in a laboratory. Using a natural process known as microbial carbonate precipitation, they mix urine, sand and bacteria to make the brick. The research is still in its early days. So far, it requires up to 30 litres (eight US gallons) of urine to make just one brick -- with the urine provided by male students at the university via a special urinal. "We basically made the first bio-brick from real urine," Randall said. "This process is amazing because essentially what we've done is we grew bricks at room temperature." The first three bricks are on display. They are grey weighty blocks and indistinguishable from any standard limestone. - Mould - Suzanne Lambert, a civil engineering Masters student, marvels at how the team copied "nature's natural processes" to create a sustainable way of building. Story continues "This process mimics the way coral is formed and the natural processes produce a cement," she said. Conventional bricks or clay-fired bricks are manufactured in kilns, where they are dried at 1,400 degrees Celsius (2,500 degrees Fahrenheit), a process that causes large emissions of carbon dioxide. In contrast, the bio-brick is "grown" through loose sand seeded with bacteria that produce an enzyme called urease. The urease reacts with the urea in urine to produce a cement-like compound that bonds with the sand. The product can be moulded into any shape and dries at ambient temperatures -- no ovens, no greenhouse-gas emissions. "We take something that is considered a waste stream such as urine and use it in a completely sustainable process," said Randall. And for those concerned about the odour of urine permeating from the walls, the good news is that the brick does not smell. The strong ammonia smell that comes from urine dissipates after a few days of drying. Fellow researcher Vukheta Mukhari said the strength of the brick can be tailored to specific building requirements but the ones they have produced so far are "as strong as common bricks you find on the market". Bio-bricks are already manufactured in the US, but they use synthetic forms of urine. These, though, are the first to use natural human waste. Will the bio-brick one day supplant standard clay or concrete counterparts? The key factor is price, but at this very early stage of development there has been no attempt to research costs. "We are still far from actually commercialising this as a full scale system," Randall cautioned, but said there was plenty of scope for gains in efficiency. "At the moment we need between 20 to 30 litres to make one standard brick. That does sound like a lot, but remember that about 90 percent of urine is actually water," said Randall. "We are looking at reducing the amount of urine we are requiring to make one brick, and I'm sure within the next few years will have much better results". A senior White House aide who very publicly fell out with Melania Trump has now been removed from her post, administration officials said. Mira Ricardel, Donald Trumps deputy national security adviser, is said to have clashed with the first lady over arrangements for the latters tour of Africa. Political observers were stunned when Ms Trump responded by issuing a public statement saying Ms Ricardel no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House. First ladies have been known to wield influence on personnel decisions in the past, but not to issue press releases about it. In a statement just 24 hours later, White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ms Ricardel was being moved to another post. She did not elaborate on where the new job would be, nor on who would be replacing her in the key national security role. Ms Ricardel will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration, Ms Sanders said. Ms Ricardel is a former Commerce Department official who was hand-picked by Mr Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, to serve as his deputy. Mr Bolton fought to keep Ms Ricardel in spite of the row with Melania Trump but failed, two administration officials told Reuters. According to US media reports, Ms Ricardel and Ms Trump argued over seating arrangements on flights during the Africa trip two weeks ago. An unnamed administration official said they also disagreed over the allocation of government resources for the trip, specifically from the National Security Council budget. During a rare interview with ABC on the tour, which encompassed Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt, Ms Trump said there were people in the White House who she did not trust. A Wall Street Journal article reported that Ms Trump blamed Ms Ricardel for some of the negative stories about the first lady and her staff. Ms Ricardels removal comes amid reports that Mr Trump is preparing another shakeup of his White House staff, with homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen also rumoured to be in the firing line. Mr Trumps two years in the White House have come with unprecedented staff turnover. Ms Ricardel was the third person under Mr Trump to hold the post of deputy national security adviser alone. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) The wife of Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged Thursday with seeking and receiving bribes related to a 1.25 billion ringgit ($299 million) solar energy project, in addition to earlier graft charges brought against her last month. A former minister and her former aide were also charged with graft, in the latest prosecution of officials from Najib's administration. Rosmah Mansor pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption linked to a project to supply and install solar energy panels in 369 schools in eastern Sarawak state on Borneo. She was accused of soliciting 187.5 million ringgit ($44.8 million) in 2016 from a manager at Jepak Holdings for her help in securing the contract and later receiving 1.5 million ringgit ($358,400) in 2017. The Education Ministry awarded Jepak the contract without any open tender. The charges came over a month after Rosmah, 66, pleaded not guilty to laundering illegal proceeds and tax evasion in a multibillion-dollar graft scandal that led to her husband's shocking electoral loss in May. Rosmah's former aide, Rizal Mansor, was also charged with requesting and receiving bribes for himself and on behalf of Rosmah for the same project. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of corruption, including allegedly receiving 5 million ringgit ($2 million) on Rosmah's behalf and another 500,000 ringgit ($119,400) for himself as a reward for helping Jepak obtain the contract. In a separate case, former Federal Territories Minister Adnan Mansor pleaded not guilty to receiving bribes worth 3 million ringgit ($716,400) related to several land deals in Kuala Lumpur. The three defendants are not related. Rosmah, who was escorted by her husband Najib at the courthouse, was calm and waved to reporters but didn't speak. The three were released on bail. Najib, his former deputy and several high-ranking former officials have already been charged with corruption. Najib has accused the new government of seeking political vengeance. The May 9 election outcome ushered in the first change of power since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, whose alliance ousted Najib's long-ruling coalition, has said the court cases are "not about revenge" but are based on the rule of law and that those accused will be given fair trials. In what could foreshadow things to come, the first lawsuits have been filed by California fire victims against the states largest utility company PG&E, blaming the company for igniting the still-raging wildfire burning across Butte County. As of Thursday morning, the Northern Californias Camp Fire had taken the lives of 56 people, and it had burned nearly 140,000 acres including 8,000 homes and 260 businesses. A lawyer who filed suit against PG&E on behalf of one of the early plaintiffs said his experts are helping him to understand what caused the fire. We have received enough information that leads us to believe that PG&E is responsible for the Camp Fire, John Fiske of the law firm Baron & Budd said. When asked how the expert determined the alleged causal connection, Fiske said he could not go beyond his statement based on attorney work product privilege and because the matter is the subject of litigation. A Butte County sheriffs deputy makes a note while recovering the body of a Camp Fire victim at the Holly Hills Mobile Estates on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. Thousands of homes were destroyed when flames hit Paradise, a former gold-mining camp popular with retirees, on Nov. 8, killing multiple people in Californias deadliest wildfire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) The utility could be subject to significant liability The companys stock reached a 52-week low Thursday morning, as investors tried to gauge validity of the plaintiffs claims. Compounding investors fears may be PG&Es most recent 8K filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, in which the company notified investors that its insurance coverage would likely fail to compensate victims if the companys equipment is found at fault. While the cause of the Camp Fire is still under investigation, if the Utilitys equipment is determined to be the cause, the Utility could be subject to significant liability in excess of insurance coverage that would be expected to have a material impact on PG&E Corporations and the Utilitys financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows, the filing states. Nearly two dozen plaintiffs represented by different law firms have filed complaints against PG&E in San Francisco Superior Court saying they lost their property because PG&E negligently maintained its power lines. Story continues PG&E has filed two reports so far, one with state regulators, and another with the SEC, that place the integrity of its power lines before the fire into question. The company notified state regulators on November 8, the day the fire broke out, that a high-voltage transmission line experienced an outage at 6:15 a.m., 18 minutes before CalFire says the Camp Fire began. According to the Associated Press, a PG&E customer who lives near the origin point of the fire reported receipt of an email from PG&E a day before the fire notifying her that power lines near or on her property were having trouble with sparks. An investigation by California authorities is underway to determine the origin of the fire. Because the cause of the fire has not been determined, it is uncertain if PG&E could be liable for any of the damages. In regards to stock prices, PG&E is not speculating or commenting on what factors may or may not be impacting the stock market, PG&E said in a statement to Yahoo Finance. Utility customers could be on the hook A new law signed by California governor Jerry Brown in September permits PG&E to pay for last years fire damage liabilities, estimated to be as much as $17 billion, through bonds funded by customer fees. Critics of the measure call it a bailout for PG&E, whose electrical equipment was found to have caused 17 of 21 wildfires in Northern California last year. The law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2019, applies to 2017 liabilities and potential liabilities incurred in 2019, though does not pertain to liabilities arising from this years wildfires. Fiske said he doesnt expect PG&E to resort to bankruptcy even if faced with liabilities arising from the current wildfires. We know that the law allows for securitizationfor pass through, and for PG&E to get creative with their financing, Fiske said. Fiske says hes now inundated with phone calls from wildfire victims from both the Northern and Southern California fires. Asked whether the bill provides proper compensation for wildfire victims, a spokesperson for Gov. Brown said: We will let the Governors signature of the bill and his comments speak for themselves. The Governors spokesperson pointed to a recent comment from Brown saying, at the end of the day, its the Federal Government, which our taxpayers provide; its the state government, which our taxpayers provide; or its the utility users that put up a lot of the money or its some shareholders. Alexis Keenan is a New York-based reporter for Yahoo Finance. She previously produced live news for CNN and MSNBC and is a former litigation attorney. Read more: Weed is legal in 3 more states heres what to expect from the new laws Why Philadelphia halted plans to unleash e-scooters across the city Heres how eBay alleges Amazon illegally lured its high-value sellers Winning the Mega Millions is sweeter in some states than others In mid-October, as high winds and warm weather struck the Sierra Nevada foothills in Northern California lights went off for some 60,000 Californians. Schools shuttered and businesses went dark. At fault was the specter of dangerous wildfires. To be clear, no wildfire burned in the immediate vicinity. Instead, the local utility company preemptively shut off power, fearing that high winds could lead to a collision between highly flammable dead trees and a power line, sparking a deadly fire. The procedure called de-energizing power lines is a new feature across the state, and its not the only measure being employed to halt wildfires that would have seemed extreme not long ago. In California, like much of the world, climate change is no longer a scientific possibility to avoid but a harsh reality thats reshaping elements of society now. The climate is changing and were seeing it firsthand here in California, says Kurt Henke, former Sacramento fire chief who now heads AP Triton, a fire consulting firm. We have switched from a reactive standpoint to a proactive approach. A whole slew of changes are included in that proactive approach. Firefighters now position themselves before any wildfire starts when they know weather conditions will increase the odds of a blaze. Cities are rethinking their zoning procedures and building codes, requiring homes to use materials made to withstand flames while some new subdivisions have been halted altogether. And individuals are making their own decisions about the level of risk they want to take living on the so-called wildland urban interface that dominates so much of the states landscape. Other methods of preventing wildfires have been around much longer and continue to capture attention. Officials work hard to manage forests, removing dead plants that serve as tinder and lighting controlled burns to allow woodlands to burn under the watchful eye of fire officials rather than run wild. Many who deny the science of climate change like President Donald Trump blame wildfires on poor forest management. There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor, Trump wrote on Twitter. Story continues Fire experts acknowledge the wisdom of effectively managing the forest, but they say those methods have proved insufficient in the face of a changing climate. The Earth is going to do what the Earth is going to do, says Henke. And indeed it has in California. Even with a slew of adaptive measures wildfires continue to burn. Between Nov. 8 and 13, the Camp Fire in Californias Sierra Nevada Foothills had burned some 125,000 acres, reducing towns like Paradise to rubbles. The inferno quickly became the most destructive in the states history after destroying more than 7,000 buildings and leaving more than 40 dead. Just outside of Los Angeles, the Woolsey Fire burned nearly 100,000 acres this month and destroyed more than 400 buildings. Wildfires in California are nothing new, but the frequency of these severe events has sounded the alarm for many state officials. Nine of the states 20 most destructive fires have occurred since 2015, following a severe drought that killed trees, leaving behind highly flammable material. And of course global warming promises to exacerbate the problem. Things like this will be part of our future, California Gov. Jerry Brown said at a Nov. 11 press conference. Things like this, and worse. Thats why Californias pre-emptive changes dramatic as they may be represent only the tip of the iceberg when considering the adaptation needed to prepare for climate change. Brown, who has made halting global warming a top focus of his final term at the helm of the Golden State, called for hundreds of billions to be spent on adaptation efforts in the coming years. The state has studied a slew of plans along those lines from how to move electric utility infrastructure to avoid rising sea levels to how to manage the effects of drought on water supply. Adapting communities to a warming world often receives less attention from the scientists, advocates and policymakers who think about climate change than methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It makes sense: the more we slow emissions the less we need to adapt. But with temperature rise already passing the 1C threshold as a result of human activity and showing little signs of slowing meaningfully, the question of adjusting for impacts will only become more urgent. It is unfortunately totally clear that such events will likely increase with unabated climate change, says Kirsten Thonicke, a wildfire expert at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. This is and will be a completely new challenge. A participant walks next to a picture of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh - REUTERS The 15-strong Saudi kill team responsible for the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi carried luggage containing scissors, syringes and a stun gun, a pro-government Turkish paper has claimed. Sabah, a daily newspaper headquartered in Istanbul, published images on Tuesday purported to be airport X-ray scans of the team's bags as they left Istanbul for Riyadh on October 2, the day of Mr Khashoggis murder. A number of tools and pieces of equipment can be seen, including walkie-talkies, a signal jammer and a pair of scissors. The bags were loaded onto two private jets but police were not able to open them due to diplomatic immunity, according to the report. The paper, which is close to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is one of a number of outlets that has published a steady stream of leaks providing lurid details of Khashoggis death, a tactic seemingly designed to keep pressure on Riyadh and its allies. Mr Khashoggi, a regular contributor to the Washington Post, was killed in the kingdoms Istanbul consulate while attempting to secure paperwork that would allow him to remarry. According to Istanbuls chief prosecutor, he was strangled and his body dismembered soon after entering the building. Saudi officials initially denied all involvement but in the face of mounting international outrage admitted that the columnist had been killed as part of a rogue operation. The X-ray images were published as the New York Times reported that in an audio recording of the killing, one of the team responsible can be heard instructing a superior to "tell your boss" after the murder takes place, a suspected reference to Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince. Khashoggi was once close to the royal family but went into self-imposed exile last year and had since been critical of the Crown Prince in his writing. Mr Erdogan described the tape as a calamity this week and said it shocked even a Saudi intelligence officer who listened to it, according to local media. The Turkish president added that orders for the killing came from the highest levels of the kingdom. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Security Cabinet's decision to accept the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement is an experiment, better yet a strategic gamble. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Israeli acceptance of ceasefire the minute Hamas offered it is eroding what is left from the Israeli deterrence, opening the door for further and more severe rounds of fighting in the not too distant future. IDF tanks along the Gaza border (Photo: MCT) It is very possible that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad will do our job for us by violating the ceasefire, freeing Israel its commitment to the truce and allowing the IDF to pound Hamas's military assets until a genuine achievement is reached, unlike what has been reached so farwhich is not enough to create deterrence. But we cannot and should not count on the Palestinians to always save us from our own mistakes. The Security Cabinet made the wrong decision by accepting the ceasefire agreement after Hamas had launched an anti-tank missile at a bus filled with soldiers, shortly before the Palestinian terror factions in the strip, let by Hamas, launched over 460 rockets and mortar shells at Israeli communities on the Gaza border. Israeli bus struck by anti-tank missile X Moreover, both the truce efforts and the surprise rocket attack launched against Israel on Monday were Hamas's doing. Israel barely responded, serving as the pawn of an organization that wages an attrition war against the residents of its south region. If the Security Cabinet and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's gamble succeeds, calm will prevail for at least several months on the Gaza border, and we would be able to go from calm to an arrangement, from which the main beneficiaries would be the residents of Ashkelon, Sderot and Kibbut Zikim. But if the gamble fails, the Gaza border communities' residents would be the ones paying the heaviest price. House hit by rocket in Ashkelon (Photo: AFP) One should be skeptical about the chances of the current ceasefire agreement leading to a long-term quiet. This skepticism stems from two reasons: primarily the arrogance demonstrated by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who have been repeatedly declaring over the past 24 hours that they had "taught Israel a lesson." IDF attacks Hamas targets in Gaza (: ") X Moreover, if the IAF bombardments hurt Hamas, they know how to explain it away, and it's doubtful they are suffering much by the damage we inflicted on their military assets. It's a reasonable price to pay for the psychological blow they hit Israel with. Since the IDF special force's entanglement in Gaza late Sunday, sparking massive rocket and missile fire from Gaza, Israel has retaliated with great restraint. Destruction in Gaza (: EPA) The second reason that makes success of the ceasefire doubtful is the fact Hamas has yet to renounce the "March of Return" riots, which are most likely to resume on Friday. These riots will generate local clashes, including the killing of Palestinians, to which Hamas and Islamic Jihad could not turn a blind eyemeaning additional rounds of fighting are to be expected. Why was a ceasefire reached after all? As far as I know, Netanyahu did not provide any new explanations for his desire to maintain restraint. He spoke about the necessity of facing the Iranian threat in the north, the need to avoid offending Egyptwith which we share many interestsadding that the defense establishment seeks to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Apart from that, no other explanation was presented. Rocket fire at Israel X It appears that cognitive fixation was the reason Netanyahu pressured the Security Cabinet to accept the ceasefire agreement. Showing restraint meant something as long as Hamas was not stepping over the line while provoking Israel, and as long as the Israeli deterrence was maintained vis-a-vis Gaza's terror organizations. This week's events have created a strategic turning point for Hamas, causing them to go too far. The fixated Israeli leadership failed to notice that turning point, and possibly was influenced by political considerations, for which the Gaza border communities' residents will pay the highest price. Hate crimes in the United States jumped 17 percent in 2017, with a huge 37 percent spike in anti-Semitic attacks, marking the third year in a row that such attacks have increased, according to FBI data released on Tuesday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The release of the data comes just weeks after a gunman burst into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shot dead 11 worshippers while shouting All Jews must die. According to the FBIs annual Hate Crime Statistics report, there were a total of 7,175 hate crime incidents reported last year by law enforcement agencies, up from 6,121 incidents in 2016. The agency did not offer a reason for the increase. Anti-Semitic vandalism in California (Photo: AFP) Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said in a statement that hate crimes were despicable violations of Americas values. I am particularly troubled by the increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes, Whitaker said. The report showed a 37 percent jump in anti-Semitic incidents to 938 from 684 a year earlier. The Pittsburgh synagogue massacre in late October fueled a debate ahead of the November 6 national elections over US President Donald Trumps inflammatory political rhetoric and his self-identification as a nationalist. Critics say Trumps rhetoric has fomented a surge in right-wing extremism and may have even helped provoke the bloodshed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, which was the worst attack on Americas Jewish community. The Trump administration has rejected any notion that he has encouraged white nationalists and neo-Nazis who have embraced him, insisting the presidents true aim is to unify America. Memorial for victims of Pittsburgh synagogue massacre (Photo: AP) This report provides further evidence that more must be done to address the divisive climate of hate in America, Jonathan Greenblatt, the Anti-Defamation Leagues national director, said in a statement. That begins with leaders from all walks of life and from all sectors of society forcefully condemning anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hate whenever it occurs. Nearly 16 percent of the 4,131 incidents in 2017 involving race or ethnicity were fueled by anti-black or African-American bias, increasing to 2,013 from 1,739 in 2016, the FBI said. Of the 6,370 known offenders in the report, 50.7 percent were white, while 21.3 percent were Black or African-American. The 2017 data was compiled from reports voluntarily submitted by 16,149 law enforcement agencies. FBI officials said the agency will provide training next year for law enforcement officers on how to identify bias-motivated incidents and report that data to federal authorities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't want to give Avigdor Lieberman, who resigned his post as defense minister on Wednesday, what he wantsearly elections. But it appears he might not have a choice, as the alternative appears to be giving Education Minister Naftali Bennett the defense portfolio, something Netanyahu is far less inclined to do. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Senior coalition officials said Wednesday the prime minister is unlikely to capitulate to Bennett's ultimatumthe Defense Ministry or the abrupt end of the 34th government. This means Netanyahu might have no choice but to call snap elections within 90 days from the decision to disperse the Knesset, somewhere between the end of February and the beginning of March 2019. The defense minister's dramatic resignation announcement caught Netanyahu in Sde Boker in the Negev, at the midst of a memorial ceremony for Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. Netanyahu was speaking at the ceremony, but his head was preoccupied with the political turmoil and the entanglement created by Lieberman, who decided to resign and take his Yisrael Beytenu party out of the coalition. He would've probably loved some good advice from Ben-Gurion, who had his fair share of intrigues and political crises. Education Minister Bennett; Prime Minister Netanyahu; resigning Defense Minister Lieberman (Photos: Emil Salman, Gil Yohanan) Likud officials initially thought Lieberman's resignation would immediately lead to snap elections. After the tumultuous term of this government, it is no longer feasible to rely on a one-vote majority in the Knesset. "Netanyahu can't rely on a majority of 61 MKs, when he has MKs in his party like Oren Hazan," a senior Likud official said. The Likud officials' assumption was also based on the fact over the past few months Netanyahu had been considering calling early elections anyway. Defense Minister Lieberman (Photo: GettyImages) But as soon as Lieberman's decision to resign was announced, Netanyahu was quick to declare he had no interest in calling early elections, and that he wanted to maintain the stability of the government and the coalition even in its current makeup. The prime minister is trying to erode the political capital Lieberman could gain from resigninga move the former defense minister would present to voters as his insistence on assertive right-wing policy against Hamas in the face of Netanyahu's conciliatory move, agreeing not to fight in return for another ceasefire, which no one knows how long it would last. "There is no need to go to an election during what is a sensitive period for national security," said a Likud official with close ties to the prime minister. "This government can see out its days." "Netanyahu can't call the early elections Lieberman has forced upon him," the Likud official explained. "The negotiations with Hamas and the ceasefire agreement will be on the political agenda during the campaign, and Netanyahu has lost public opinion points following the recent security incidents in the south. Netanyahu doesn't want to call early elections over Gaza." Sweets handed out in Rafah to celebrate Lieberman's resignation On Wednesday evening, Netanyahu launched into consultations with senior Likud officials and the heads of the coalition parties in an effort "to stabilize the coalition." He spoke on the phone to his senior ministers and told them he had no intention of calling snap elections over Lieberman's resignation. "Netanyahu gave us the impression nothing happened despite Lieberman's resignation, that we needed to keep going," said one coalition member. Another senior coalition official said that "Netanyahu doesn't want to give Lieberman credit for bringing down the government and bringing the elections forward. There's one man who sets the agenda, and his name is Benjamin Netanyahu." But while the prime minister is working to preserve the current government, there is another significant obstacle: the fate of the defense portfolio. Everything can fall apart if Netanyahu refuses to give Education Minister Naftali Bennett the defense portfolio and the latter makes good on his ultimatum and quits the government. Education Minister Bennett (Photo: Amit Shabi) Minister Bennett told political officials the current government has no right to exist if a change is not made to restore Israel's deterrence. "A government that has no deterrence is not a right-wing government. And a government that isn't right wing has no right to exist, and it would be better to call elections," Bennett was quoted as saying. Even before Lieberman officially announced his resignation, officials in Bennett's Bayit Yehudi party rushed to declare they would demand the defense portfolio for their party leader in return for remaining in the coalition. MK Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli threatened: "If we don't get the defense portfolio for Bennett, we will quit the coalition." Bennett's close associates claimed that the Bayit Yehudi chairman already had to give up the defense portfolio once despite having explicit commitment from Netanyahu that he would get it. Netanyahu himself was asked by senior Likud and coalition officials whether he planned on giving Bennett the defense portfolio, but he's been dodging the question. In private conversations, however, the prime minister said he was not impressed by Bennett's threats. "Bennett's making threats? Let him make threats to bring down a right-wing government," Netanyahu apparently said. The heads of Israeli communities along the Gaza border went on the defense in May 2016; not because of a new threat posed by the Hamas terror organization, but because Avigdor Lieberman was appointed defense minister, a position he vacated on Wednesday afternoon. They were concerned that the experienced politician would implement his threats vis-a-vis the Palestinian problem in their back yards. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The residents of Gaza border towns, most of whom are on the center-left part of the political map, were later surprised by Lieberman's performance. Lieberman visits Israeli communities on the Gaza border (Photo: Roee Idan) The heads of the regional councils in the area received an official invitation to meet with Lieberman at the Gaza Division base several days after he entered the Defense Ministry. Lieberman was warm and attentive during the meeting. "He turned out to be a pragmatic, practical, attentive person, who avoided dealing with politics during our meetings and genuinely saw us as the public's emissaries," one of the regional council heads said. "Lieberman surprised me. Prior to his appointment as the defense minister, I viewed him as a tough man whose sole desire was to erase Gaza and inflict another round of fighting on the Gaza border communities at any cost. However, it turned out that things are not always as they look from afar," he said. "In my opinion, Lieberman is leaving office with an extensive knowledge of the Gaza Strip and a much wider perspective on things," the regional council head added. Lieberman visits Israeli communities on the Gaza border Slowly but surely, Lieberman's relations with the heads of the border communities and the residents grew closer. During almost all of his professional visits to the Gaza Division, the defense minister met with the regional council heads and briefed them about recent security assessments, never hiding any information from them. In addition, Lieberman used to call the regional council heads once a week, especially following security incidents, asking how the residents were doing. He didn't do it to score points with the general public, since neither Lieberman nor the Gaza border residents have ever leaked the defense minister's calls to the media. Over a year ago, the regional council heads spoke to the minister about the importance of reopening the Erez border crossing, with most of them certain Lieberman would reject the move. But the defense minister surprised them once again, giving his consent to the opening of the main crossing for Palestinian workers from Gaza to enter Israel. Opening the Erez Crossing could "ease the economic pressure in the strip as well as improve Israeli agriculture," Lieberman told them at the time. Unfortunately, Shin bet Director Nadav Argaman opposed the initiative, and the crossing remained closed. Head of the Eshkol Regional Council Gadi Yarkoni (L) and defense minister Lieberman "The border communities' residents don't feel safe these days. If Lieberman resigned because he couldn't provide us with security, I appreciate that decision," Yarkoni added. "The resounding message to the next defense minister should be that the sense of security must be resorted to the Israeli communities on the Gaza border." Lieberman's unique relationship with the Gaza border communities has been put to the test over the past eight months over the "March of Return" campaign in Gaza and the arson terrorism that accompnies it. Lieberman tours the south (Photo: Reuters) Another regional council head who wished to remain anonymous echoed Yarkoni's comments, saying that Lieberman "understood the residents' distress and used to speak with us every Friday." "Unfortunately, he gave the impression the Gaza issue has no solution, addressing it as lost battle," he added. "Lieberman used to say 'The only thing they (the Palestinians) understand is force,' which I disagree with. This approach eventually led him to resign." Merhavim Regional Council head Shai Hajaj thanked Lieberman for his work, wishing him the best of luck. "We don't care who replaces him. We only seek to restore calm to our region. We came in peace and prefer to achieve peace through an arrangement and not wars. Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi came under fire on Thursday after calling the over 460 rockets fired from Gaza at southern Israel this week "minor," noting there is a difference between attacking the South and attacking Tel Aviv. Hanegbis comments drew widespread condemnation, including from the prime minister. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "Hamas responded (to the botch IDF mission in Gaza on Sunday ) in a measured manner and attacked only the Gaza border area. There's a difference between the border area and Tel Aviv, the economic capital of Israel. Hamas's attack was minor, because (rocket) fire at Tel Aviv has different ramifications," Hanegbi said in an interview with Army Radio. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to disavow Hanegbi's comment. "I completely reject the statement that there is a distinction made between the border area and Tel Aviv. Hamas's aggression is not 'minor,' and there is no distinction made between Hamas's (rocket) fire at southern Israel's communities and fire at any other area in the State of Israel," he said. Hanegbi and Netanyahu (Photo: Amit Shabi) Later, Hanegbi apologized and clarified his comments, saying in a statement: "I've never made a distinction between the lives of residents in the border area and the lives of the residents of Tel Aviv, and if this is what my comments were taken to mean, I regret that." "What I meant in my comments from this morning was that a wide-scale campaign in Gaza would necessarily lead to many casualties among our soldiers, massive fire on Tel Aviv, serious economic damage, harm the aerial movement to Israel, and to consequences on the economy and on tourism," he continued. "At the end of the campaign, we could have found ourselves at the exact same place we are today, and so we preferred to reach a long-term calm, as possible as that may be, without escalation, for the sake of both the residents of the south and the residents of the rest of the country," Hanegbi went on to say. In his interview with Army Radio, Hanegbi explained that the prime minister, the Security Cabinet ministers and the heads of the defense establishment "all thought we ought to put an end to the violence in Gaza. We had two ways: one was (resigning Defense Minister) Lieberman's way, who proposed a 'serious blow' (against Hamas), while the other was an arrangement. We're in the midst of the first stage of the second option." Ashkelon house that suffered direct rocket hit (Photo: AFP) Explaining why the Cabinet decided to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and continue with the implementation of the Egyptian-mediated arrangement with Hamas, Hanegbi said "a serious blow means entering a long campaign, in which every day for weeks, and perhaps longer, Tel Aviv would be paralyzed with hundreds of rockets, which we will have no way of stopping without sending our soldiers into every nook and cranny in Gaza. Ben-Gurion Airport would be paralyzed for weeks, and this would affect the economy and tourism. There are no wars without a cost. And those who don't wish to pay the price must find alternatives." He added that Hamas "had a reason to seek revenge" after the IDF Special Forces mission inside Gaza, which led to the death of a senior IDF officer, adding Hamas "with 470 rockets only managed to kill a Palestinian." The prime minister was not the only member of Hanegbi's own Likud party to slam his comments. Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel told Ynet that his statement was "particularly unfortunate." "I'm a bit surprised by Minister Hanegbi, but there is no doubt this isn't the government's policy; I don't agree with it at all, and it's safe to assume neither does the government. He needs to recant his statement, there's no doubt," Gamliel added. Culture Minister Miri Regev, also of the Likud Party, wrote on Twitter: "Tzachi Hanegbi, my friend, you have erred. Your comment was inappropriate. Any fire that endangers the well-being and security of the citizens of Israel, in any place, must be met with a severe and identical response." Criticism also came from the other side of the aisle, with Opposition leader Tzipi Livni calling Hanegbi's comment "outrageous," and Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay calling on the government to disperse. "According to Tzachi Hanegbi, Hamas must not shoot at Tel Aviv residents, but it's okay to shoot at the south's residents. According to the government, it's impossible to protect the residents of the south," Gabbay charged. The International Bible Contest, which is held in Israel every Independence Day, landed in Africa for the first time this year. The competitions in Angola and Nigeria attracted 1,000 participants, the finals included 12 contenders, and the first prize was a trip to Israel to attend Bible camp. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The finals took place in Luanda, Angola, in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Education and with the help of the Theological University and a Bible association. The winner, Leonel Biha. (Photo: The Israeli Embassy in Angola) Angolan television broadcasted the finals, which lasted three hours, and articles about the competition made headlines in local news. Itzik Ben Avi, who heads the educational programs department in the Education Ministrys youth and social projects administration, and the 2015 winner of the competition Hananel Malka, served as judges, alongside the Israeli ambassador in Angola Oren Rozenblat. The winner, Leonel Biha, a student for electrical engineering, was moved to tears. He won a visit to Israel and will be participating in Bible camp. The competition Judges. (Photo: The Israeli Embassy in Angola) Ambassador Rozenblat said that the event created a bond between Angola and Israel. The government here is not friendly to Israel, and its important to establish good connections with the Angolan people on other grounds, and not only with the government. We formed important bonds with leading Christian organizations here in preparations for the competition, which took six months, he said. Ben Avi continued to Nigeria, where the Nigerian finals of the competition took place on Wednesday. The three winners of the competition there won a visit to Israel, but will not make it in time to the Bible camp events. The ultra-Orthodox parties in the government, Shas and United Torah Judaism, are worried by the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beytenu party's departure from the coalition, which would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with only a one-vote majority in the Knesset. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter After Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday, Netanyahu made a series of phone calls to senior Haredi politicians. He asked them not to issue any explicit pronouncements regarding the resignation. The ultra-Orthodox accepted his request, and refrained from publicly reacting to Lieberman's resignation. Avigdor Lieberman (Photo: GettyImages) However, behind the scenes, senior Haredi politicians estimated that even if Netanyahu gives the defense portfolio to Education Minister Naftali Bennett and the government survives the latest crisis, they would still have great difficulty with the current coalition. One of the primary concerns for the Haredim is the fate of the IDF draft law. The government is required by the court to pass a new law by December 4, following a High Court ruling that the existing law discriminates in favor of the ultra-Orthodox. In the past, Lieberman said he would accept any compromise that was acceptable to the defense establishment. Now that he is leaving, the Haredim understand that there is no chance of passing a new law before the appointed time. Gafni, Netanyahu, Deri (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Failure to pass a new law before the court's deadline would mean all yeshiva students, who have so far enjoyed exemptions from IDF service, would be subject to enlistment. But if the coalition collapses before the deadline, the legislation would receive an extension until another government is formed. Therefore, some Haredi officials believe that the most palatable solution is to topple the government. In addition, the ultra-Orthodox parties are worried that in a narrow coalition, any member can "run wild" and promote legislation that could clash with issues that are important to them, such as Jewish conversion, the Shabbat, or surrogacy laws. "There is a difference between a coalition in its early stagesthat can function with such a limited majoritybut at this stage it will be very difficult," said MK Uri Maklev (United Torah Judaism). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently holding the three most senior positions in the governmentprime minister, foreign affairs minister and now the defense minister as well, following Avigdor Lieberman's resignation on Wednesday over the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Likud party officials believe Netanyahu will give up one of the posts. Netanyahu, meanwhile, is considering appointing a temporary foreign affairs minister while keeping the defense portfolio to himself. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: GPO) The prominent candidates for the foreign affairs minister position are Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, and Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources Yuval Steinitzall from the ruling Likud party. Netanyahu could also accept the Bayit Yehudi party's demand and appoint Education Minister Naftali Bennett as the next defense minister. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on his visit to Singapore Thursday that he briefly spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the two are not planning another meeting. Putin said that they spoke about the situation in Syria, and added that Israel claims it has nothing to do with the tragic shooting down of the Russian plane. President Reuven Rivlin said during his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday, that retrieving the IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens held captive by Hams in Gaza, constitute a condition for reaching an arrangement with Hamas. Hamas again and again escalates the situation by cynically exploiting the people of Gaza, he said. Israel does not want escalation or to hurt innocent civilians, but will not stand by while Hamas undermines stability and our civilians are harmed. "However, well not stand by while Hamas seeks to destabilize our lives and hurt Israel's citizens," Rivlin stressed. BRUSSELS - European banks and firms who engage in a special European Union initiative to protect trade with Iran will be at risk from newly reimposed US sanctions, US Special Representative Brian Hook warned on Thursday. "European banks and European companies know that we will vigorously enforce sanctions against this brutal and violent regime," Hook said in a telephone briefing. "Any major European company will always choose the American market over the Iranian market." Bayit Yehudi chairman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett demanded publicly on Thursday the defense portfolio following the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, stressing his appointment would get Israel back to winning ways. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "I appealed to the prime minister on Wednesday with a request to appoint me as the next defense minister with only one goal in mindto get Israel back to winning ways, he stated. Speaking at an Education Ministry conference in Ramat Gan, Bennett said that he only has the interests of the country's security in mind. Naftali Bennett (Photo: Motti Kimchi) "Israel is currently facing one of the most complex and dangerous periods ever when it comes to security. The octopus called Iran is spreading its tentacles in order to surround us. Hezbollah and Iranian forces in Syria on the northern border and Hamasthats only getting strongerin Gaza, the education minister emphasized. The mindset over the past several decades has beento avoid contact with an enemy The enemy in turn interprets it as a fear of confrontation. The fact that we began to believe that there is no solution to the issue of terror is very dangerous. But there is something that could be done. There is a solution. When Israel decides it wants to win, we will win," he went on to say. The 46 year old continued, saying that the position of defense minister represents much more to him than simply a political post. "The defense ministers role is to challenge the conventional way of thinking, to bring innovation, to come up with creative and surprising alternatives The job of defense minister is to lead and not to be led," Bennett asserted. "All of my advisers and friends told me, 'Why do you want it, it's a political suicide. They may be right, but they do not understand that for me, Israel's security is the end, and politics only the means, the education minister emphasized. Earlier, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri both urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call early elections in light Lieberman's resignationwho left the post due to his objections to the latest ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. "In the light of recent events, the right thing for Israel's citizens and its economy would be going to elections as soon as possible," Kahlon told the prime minister. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (L) and PM Netanyahu (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) The finance minister (Kulanu) asserted that with the coalition having only a one-vote majority in the Knesset, the government would not be able to ensure stability, and therefore the responsible thing would be to form a new, strong and stable government. Kahlon said he was willing to lead the move in coordination with the rest of the coalition members. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas), who also met with the prime minister, echoed Kahlon's remarks, saying the heads of the coalition parties must agree on a date to hold elections as soon as possible. Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) "Going to elections would the best thing for Israel," he told Netanyahu. Sources in United Torah Judaism said that Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman backs Education Minister Naftali Bennett's demand for the defense portfolio, believing the government should see out its days. During a press conference on Wednesday, Lieberman explained the reason for his resignation, saying "Israel is buying short-term quiet, with the price being severe long-term damage to national security." "It's no secret there have been disagreements between the prime minister and myself in recent months. I'll mention allowing in Qatari-funded fuel, which I thought was a mistake. It was only after the prime minister issued a written order that I had to allow the Qatari-funded fuel into the strip," he added. Almost half of UK Jews consider emigrating due to rising anti-Semitism, and its hold on the Labour Party, said Chairman of Campaign Against anti-Semitism Gideon Falter in an European Jewish Association (EJA) meeting in Brussels. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The annual meeting of the EJA is supported and funded by the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, and includes representatives from various communities and other European officials. Gideon Falter, Chairman of Campaign Against anti-Semitism X According to the data, 40 percent of British Jews are considering leaving the UK, some of them to Israel, due to the rising anti-Semitism they experience, and 90% of them believe that Jeremy Corbyns Labour is anti-Semitic and that Jews should refrain from voting for it. Falter criticized the Israeli government for not doing enough. It has an important role in this struggle, but the Jewish community in the UK feels it is on its own. Jewish leader Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the EJA. (Photo: Yoni Rikner) Any help that Israel can offer regarding this struggle will be of great help to us, and weve seen it being done before, said Falter. Jews are afraid, especially after the summers events, that revealed Corbyn has himself been extensively involved in anti-Semitic activity for several decades. The EJA convened in Brussels ten days after the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, in order to discuss the rise of the populist far-right groups around Europe and how to stop them from gaining more political power. Part of the discussion revolved around the need to compile a list with several demands and hand them to the different political candidates around the continent. If the demands remain unanswered by certain candidatesthey would be blacklisted. United in strugglefrom Orthodox to Reform European Jewish leader Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the EJA, warned that the future of European Jewry is on the line, and stressed the importance of drawing red lines that will be a wake-up call for politicians. Margolin added that Europe is at a crossroad, and its likely that the political sphere will be even more polarized after the elections for the EU Parliament. Current events brought leaders from different communitiesReform, Orthodox and Christians who support Israelto unite in the name of the campaign against anti-Semitism. Matthew James Offord, Parliament member from the UK Conservative Party, who spoke in the meeting. (Photo: Yoni Rikner) The lists draft included a demand for full adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, as well as appointment of a government official committed to the campaign in each country, a guarantee not to form coalitions with anti-Semitic parties, defining the BDS as an anti-Semitic movement and finally, a promise for complete freedom of worship. Changing the Labour Party One of the things that worry EJA the most is the situation in Britain. A British delegation to Brussels arrived in order to discuss possible actions against Labour leader Corbyn, whose past anti-Semitic activity has only recently surfaced. Matthew James Offord, a UK Parliament member from the Conservative Party, spoke in the Brussels meeting and said that the Labour leader never tried to face anti-Semitism or speak against it, and reminded everyone that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Many of my friends are Jews who deal with anti-Semitism every day and fear that Corbyn will become the next prime minister, said Offord. We need to make sure this doesn't happen, but we also need to make sure that the Labour changes its face, and acknowledges what its doing, so that people cant say anti-Semitic things and remain in the party. Federal prosecutors say they've charged a 26-year-old German woman with membership in a terrorist organization on allegations she joined the extremist Islamic State. Prosecutors said Thursday that Derya O., whose full name wasn't given in line with privacy laws, is accused of joining the group in Syria in February 2014 and marrying a fighter there with whom she had had previous contact over the internet. They lived in Syria and Iraq off funds the husband received from IS, and had a child together. Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox city, is not allowing children who are not patients to enter its gates due to a measles outbreak. This includes children who were vaccinated. Many anti-vaccine parents come from the ultra-Orthodox society, and the recent death of a 1.5-year-old ultra-Orthodox toddler from measles created a public debate about the anti-vaccine phenomena. One of the key interpretations that accompanied Avigdor Lieberman's entry into the defense minister's office is that the post was supposed to shape him as a candidate for prime minister. His conduct in the ministry was also explained using the same logic. Wednesday, two and a half years later, his term came to an abrupt end, and Lieberman is no closer to his goal. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Consistently, the polls never suggested that he was ever a serious alternative for the leadership position. Credit for successful operations against Iranian entrenchment in Syria was never his but rather that of the IDF chief of staff or the prime minister, who touted his influence as an effective leader maintaining good relations with both President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin. Lieberman at a security meeting (Photo: Gov. Press Office) Until his resignation, Lieberman's belligerent statements regarding Gaza were not perceived as an ideology-based policy, but rather as a childish battle over territory with Education Minister Bennett. In any case, if Netanyahu is re-elected, all parties will find themselves back at the same table. With all due respect, a relatively calm and orderly process of choosing the next chief of staff is hardly a glittering event in a resume. If so, what mark did Lieberman leave on such a strategic position? Indeed, during his resignation speech, the Prime Minister's Office released a photograph featuring Netanyahu and the chief of staff and it is doubtful whether anyone in the country, outside Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party and its constituency, felt that someone was missing from the picture. Thus ended the tenure of a man who never should have been given the post in the first place. Lieberman entered the position taking full advantage of the anger on the right towards former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's conduct in the Elor Azaria case. Moments earlier, Lieberman and Netanyahu were exchanging verbal blows, and the prime minister was actually in contact with the Zionist Union party regarding them joining the coalition. Moshe Ya'alon (Photo: Ido Erez) Suddenly, they fell on one another's shoulders, in order to expand the coalition and move it further to the right and calm the political arena. During the first 48 hours, some still wondered what would be the fate of Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh following Lieberman's famous pledge. Within a short period of time it was already clearWhat was, will be. As a result, Lieberman sought to upgrade his status. There was the usual chatter: revolting statements against Israel's Arab population, populistic statements regarding the death penalty for terrorists, and of course the exhausting brawl with Naftali Bennett over the Gaza mess. Even on this critical issue, Lieberman took his time with his "principles." As soon as the tight, stormy and nauseating election campaign in Jerusalem was decided in favor of his proxy (Moshe Leon), it became possible to move on and present Hamas with an almost unimaginable image of victory. As expected, the Likud responded to his resignation with venomous remarks. "He was and remains a cynical politician," Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely tweeted. To say that she was right would be an understatement, but this is also true when it comes to the one who appointed him. Ya'alon's removal and replacement with Lieberman was the mother, father and great-grandmother of political cynicism "The public will not give credit to those who prefer political exercises over national considerations," said Hotovely. Therefore, aside from political ecstasy and the question of when exactly the elections will be held in 2019, there is no drama here: Israel is not left with a vacuum in the defense minister's position, that was the situation to begin with. And after Israel goes to the polls, everyone will realize that they are actually quite fond of each other in exchange for a senior portfolio. This is also a possible explanation for the fact that in his speech, Lieberman did not personally attack any of his Cabinet colleagues. He still seeks to be there next time, and they are not going anywhere. And it seems that the added significance of Lieberman's term is that the Defense Ministry position has finally ceased to be a guarantee of a quick political dividend: Shaul Mofaz is gone, Moshe Ya'alon is an electoral deadweight, and now Lieberman is leaving the post just as he entered it. And in his case what will really be remembered is that Ismail Haniyeh is still alive and breathing, and after yesterday maybe even smiling. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan signed a warrant to cancel a PLO-supported event in the Old City of Jerusalem, and ordered the police not to allow it. The event was supposed to bare Palestinian national symbols like the PLOs anthem, and officials were supposed to attend. This is one of several events in East Jerusalem that Erdan has ordered to cancel recently. Education Minister Naftali Bennett said Thursday he asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appoint him as defense minister, following Avigdor Liebermans resignation. All my friends and advisors said this is a political mistake, that this ministry is a political graveyard. They could be right, but they dont understand that for me the security of Israel is the cause, and politics is only the means, and not vice versa. Im certain that my experience as a combat soldier and commander will aid me in dramatically influencing Israels security, Bennett concluded. RABAT - Morocco inaugurated on Thursday Africa's fastest train which will halve travelling time between the commercial and industrial hubs of Casablanca and Tangier. After seven years of work on the high-speed railway line, King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron boarded the train for the inaugural trip from Tangier to the capital Rabat. The train, which was tested at a speed of 357 km (222 miles)per hour and is planned to run at 320 km (198 miles) per hour, will more than halve the 200 km (124 miles)Casablanca-Tangier journey to around two hours. It is about twice as fast as South Africa's high-speed Gautrain linking Johannesburg's international airport to the city's financial district Sandton. The high-speed line was completed at a total cost of 22.9 billion dirhams ($2.4 billion), according to state news agency MAP. Transport officials were not immediately available for comment. A delegation of senior Egyptian intelligence officials entered the Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing on Thursday to continue discussions with the Hamas leadership regarding a ceasefire arrangement with Israel. Some 500 residents of the Gaza border region demonstrated Thursday at the Azrieli Junction in Tel Aviv in protest over the security unrest on the southern border. One of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's most fascinating qualities is the agility with which he recruits the dead in times of distress. Sometimes Theodor Herzl, sometimes Winston Churchill, sometimes Menachem Begin, sometimes Yitzhak Rabin, and sometimes even his own brother Yonatanwho was killed during Operation Entebbe. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter On Wednesday, it was David Ben-Gurions turn. During the official memorial ceremony marking 45 years since the death of Israel's first prime minister, Netanyahu gave a speech, explaining to his voters that he is not to blame for the ongoing failure in Gazahe is merely fulfilling Ben-Gurion's legacy. "In times of crisis Ben-Gurion made fateful decisions. Sometimes he did so against popular opinion, but in the course of time, these decisions proved to be correct, stressed the prime minister, adding Leadership is not to do the easy thing, leadership is to do the right thing, even if it is difficult. Avigdor Lieberman, Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett (Photo: Guy Morad) Ben-Gurion did not rise from the grave to put Netanyahu in his place, because the dead do not rise from graves. However, that shouldnt stop the Israelis from knowing the truth. The failure to deal with Hamas is not a result of strong leadership. It stems from the exact oppositea complete lack of leadership. The solution to the Gaza issue should have been found long before Hamas escalated the violence on the border, which the IDF and Shin Bet warned the government about. There were different ideas on the table, each of them involved a certain risk, but Netanyahu chose the easiest option. He chose not to decide. Ben-Gurion dealt with existential issues. His decisions were not free of error, but he had the courage to decide. Netanyahu cannot compare himself to Ben-Gurion. Netanyahu chose to end the latest round of escalation because he understands that another month of violence would only lead to more casualties, more botched ground operations in the strip and further disappointment among his electorate. The most outrageous aspect of this latest round of hostilities is that no lessons have been learnedNetanyahu is re-entrenched in his policy of non-decision, at least until the next time. Netanyahu's weakness was Lieberman's lifeline. The press conference he convened on Wednesday did not make Israeli public more educated on the issue of security, but it was a masterclass as far as politics are concerned. Lieberman resigned from his post with elections in mindhe had to position himself to the right of Netanyahu and Bennett, otherwise he had nothing to sell to the voters. He did it well, eloquently, elegantly, with a cruel review of all the issues Netanyahu is sensitive aboutwhich Lieberman is familiar with better than anyone else. This is not the first time that Lieberman decided to enter an election campaign as the opposition. To his credit, Liebermans rhetoric has always been consistent because unlike others, he has been saying the same things for years. In practice, as defense minister, Lieberman was able to separate his rhetoric from his actions. There are apparently two of him, and they live peacefully side by side. What is required now, after Liebermans party Yisrael Beiteinu quit the coalition, is to dissolve the government and call snap elections. The government can not be held hostage by Oren Hazans every belch. After all, this was the reason why Netanyahu brought Lieberman into his government and gave him the defense portfolio. Anything the coalition does from now on, if it actually does anything, will be contrary to the national interest. Netanyahu cant hold the top three government portfolios simultaneously. It is possible in a transitional government, on the eve of an election, but not in a functioning government. Enough is enough. I will be the defense minister, Bennett declared with an ultimatumthat if he doesnt get his way early elections will be inevitable. Bennett is a full-fledged politician, with an open mind and youthful enthusiasm, but his ultimatum is childish. Firstly, because he expects Netanyahu to surrenderthat would be one capitulation too many. Secondly, because he doesnt deserve it, and it would cause an unrest in the government. Thirdly, his threats to quit the coalition on the basis of a personal ambition, is not something the voters will like. Most importantly, Bennett isnt ready. Unlike Lieberman, who knew how to make a distinction between political slogans and defense missions, Bennett believes its in his power to change it. Similarly to what Ayelet Shaked did in the Justice Ministry. It's not a promise, its a threat. Because national security is a matter of life and death. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has almost closed a funding gap caused by the loss of $300 million in US contributions, its chief said on Tuesday. The Trump administration pulled the bulk of US funding of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in January after a UN General Assembly vote rejected Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with heads of communities located near the Gaza border, and they were briefed on the "military efforts being made against the terror in Gaza." The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled Thursday his official trip to Vienna next week, where he was scheduled to attend a conference to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism initiated by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Netanyahu decided to cancel the trip following the political unrest caused by the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Ahead of the weekly demonstrations along the Gaza border, COGAT Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon urged Thursday Palestinians in the strip, via a video message in Arabic, to refrain from violence. "Anyone who approaches the fence puts himself in danger," he stressed. Mike Fauerbach, left, provides an update on trail progress to the Hurley city council Tuesday. Seated, from left, are: mayor Paul Mullard and clerk/treasurer Stacey Wiercinski. By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY - The Hurley City Council Tuesday authorized members of the Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts to continue working toward their ultimate goal of expanding a nonmotorized trail from the Montreal River to Cary Park or beyond. So far, said ICORE member Mike Fauerbach, the unnamed, paved trail runs about 300 feet from U.S. 51 to the Montreal River, where a bridge provides access to Ironwood's Iron Belle Trail. Fauerbach said ICORE hopes, at a minimum, to continue the trail from the highway to Hurley's Cary Park. Meanwhile, he said a tempo... By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER An Ironwood Township man appeared in Gogebic County Circuit Court Wednesday to confess to sexually assaulting a child. Jason Elliot Irvine, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sexual conduct-first degree, a crime that carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. In exchange for pleading guilty to the two counts, three additional first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges are expected to be dismissed at sentencing. Irvines plea agreement also stipulates prosecutors will agree to recommend a sentence within t... News Tokyo, Japan - Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met Tuesday with Japanese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeo Akiba in Tokyo, Japan. During the meeting, the two reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance as the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Vice Minister Akiba discussed how to further the strong security alliance and cooperate in new areas to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Vice Minister Akiba also pledged to work together toward achieving both countries shared goal of a final, fully verifiable denuclearized North Korea, including through trilateral cooperation with the Republic of Korea. News Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program is offering rewards of up to $5 million each for information leading to the identification or location of Hamas leader Salih al-Aruri and Lebanese Hizballah leaders Khalil Yusif Mahmoud Harb and Haytham Ali Tabatabai. Salih al-Aruri is a deputy of the political bureau of the terrorist organization Hamas and one of the founders of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamass military wing. Aruri is currently living freely in Lebanon, where he reportedly is working with Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. Aruri funded and directed Hamas military operations in the West Bank and has been linked to several terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings. In 2014, al-Aruri announced Hamass responsibility for the June 12, 2014 terrorist attack that kidnapped and killed three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, including dual U.S. Israeli citizen Naftali Fraenkel. He publicly praised the murders as a heroic operation. In September 2015, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated al-Aruri as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order 13224. Khalil Yusif Mahmoud Harb is a close adviser to Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanese Hizballah terrorist group, and has served as the groups chief military liaison to Iran and to Palestinian terrorist organizations. Harb has commanded and supervised Lebanese Hizballahs military operations in the Palestinian territories and in several countries throughout the Middle East. In August 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Harb as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224. In May 2015, Saudi officials designated Harb as a terrorist and accused him of commanding Hizballahs central military unit and of being responsible for Hizballahs activities in Yemen. Haytham Ali Tabatabai is a key Hizballah military leader who has commanded Hizballahs special forces in both Syria and Yemen. Tabatabais actions in Syria and Yemen are part of a larger Hizballah effort to provide training, materiel, and personnel in support of its destabilizing regional activities. In October 2016, the Department of State designated Tabatabai as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224. Hamas and Hizballah receive weapons, training, and funding from Iran, which the Secretary of State has designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Department of State designated both Hamas and Hizballah as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) in October 1997, under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entities in October 2001 under Executive Order 13224. More information about these reward offers is located on the Rewards for Justice website at www.rewardsforjustice.net. We encourage anyone with information on these individuals to contact the Rewards for Justice office via the website, e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), phone (1-800-877-3927 in North America), or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA). Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Officer at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. All information will be kept strictly confidential. The Rewards for Justice program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $145 million to more than 90 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. News Yuma, Arizona - The Yuma Police Department encourages the public to revisit good safety practices during this Holiday Season. When parking at home: Take all valuables out of your vehicle. Lock all windows and doors. Dont leave your car unattended while it is running. When parking while out: Park in a well-lighted area. Lock windows and doors. Hide all shopping bags and gifts in the trunk. Protecting your home: Dont leave gifts and valuables where they can be seen from outside. Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows. Turn on lights and a radio or TV so it looks like someone is home. When youre out: Even if you are rushed, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings and people around you. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Dont carry too many packages and carry your purse close to your body and put your wallet in the front of your pants pocket. Do not leave your purse in the shopping cart unattended. Shop with friends or relatives there is safety in numbers. When youre at home: Latest News Yuma, Arizona - On Friday November 9, 2018, the Yuma Fire Department received a mutual aid request regarding a deployment to the Camp Fire burning in northern California. At about 3:50 pm an Engine and four YFD personnel left Yuma to meet with other fire department apparatus and personnel from Imperial County. We were later told the location this team was being sent to had been changed, and they were now going to the Woolsey Fire in Ventura and Malibu counties. Since their arrival our firefighters have been working 24 hour shifts handling spot fires and clearing brush away from structures. On their last shift they were again clearing brush and protecting structures in the Bell Canyon area. Our firefighters are all reported to be healthy in good spirits. As of this morning they were headed back to base camp for some food and hopefully some rest. Deployments such as this can last up to two weeks. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. VILLANOVA, Pa. Two Villanova University astrophysicists are part of an international team of researchers that has discovered a candidate super-Earth planet orbiting the second nearest star system to the Earth. Announcement of the new find was made Nov. 15 in the academic journal Nature. Members of The Red Dots Project, a European-led scientific collaboration with researchers representing 33 universities and scientific institutions, Edward Guinan, PhD and Scott Engle, PhDboth professors in Villanovas Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Scienceswere two of the researchers and co-authors of the paper, A candidate super-Earth planet orbiting near the snow line of Barnards Star. A red dwarf star, Barnards Star at about six light years from us, is the closest single star to the Sun and second only to the Alpha Centauri triple stellar system. The planet candidate, named Barnards Star b (or GJ 699 b) is a cold super-Earth with mass just over three times the Earths mass orbiting the red dwarf star every 233 days about the same distance that Mercury orbits the Sun but near this dim stars snow line. In the absence of an atmosphere, Barnards star b is likely to have a temperature of about -170 degrees centigrade making it unlikely that the planet can sustain liquid water on its surface. However, the higher mass of the super-earth could, according to Guinan, result in higher internal temperatures and geothermal activity than the Earth, which might warm the planet (in niches of the planet near thermal vents) making it possible to sustain life. The international team of astronomers led by Ignasi Ribas of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), and Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC), based its analysis on 18 years of observations combined with new observations. As participants in the Red Dots research project, Guinan and Engle have carried out high precision photometry of Barnards star (as well as dozens of other stars) for the past three years using robotic telescopes in Arizona. The pair have obtained photometry of Barnards Star for the past 15 years, the data from which was added to the Red Dots analysis. Barnards Star has been on our radar for a long time, Guinan said. In 2003 it became a founding star member of the Villanova Living with a Red Dwarf program that has been sponsored by the National Science Foundation/National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA). The most significant aspects of the discovery of Barnards star b is that it demonstrates planets arent only found at vast distances from the solar system, but within the Suns local stellar neighborhood, Engle noted. Also, Barnards Star is about twice as old as the Sun about 9 billion years old compared to 4.6 billion years for the Sun. The universe has been producing potentially habitable planets far longer than the Sun has existed. Guinan agreed, adding that it is possible that the majority of stars cooler than our Sun may host planets. What is significant about this planet is that its angular separation from its host is large enough that it may be able to be imaged by NASAs Webb Space Telescope as well as by the next generation of extremely large ground-based telescopes, he added. These observations may reveal if the Barnard Star b has an atmosphere and details about its composition. Since the star and its planet are so nearby, they will be natural targets for future instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope and the velocity measures from the ground will continue to search for any other planets orbiting the star, Engle agreed. Both Guinan and Engle are delighted to be part of the team that discovered Barnards star b. It has been very exciting to be part of this international collaboration to search for exoplanets. I have been very lucky to have witnessed the discovery of now thousands of exoplanets over the past 20 years and am grateful that I have been able to make a contribution to the research, Guinan said. Engle agreed. Its been great. The team has done fantastic work and were very happy that our data could be of such use. About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu. Felicia Nuna Tawiah commonly known by her stage name, Feli Nuna is Ghanas queen of rap. She is a Ghanaian born on 20th May in the year 1990. She is famous for her versatility in singing as she can handle hip hop, rap, riddim and Afro pop for which she is mainly associated with. She comes from Leklebi Agbesia in the Volta Region. Feli Nuna profile Born: 2oth May 1990 Age: 28 years Origin: Volta region, Ghana. Occupation: Musican with multiple genre talent Famous for: Verstaility in music and Afro pop specialist Facebook: FeliNuna Twittter:@FeliNuna Instagram:felinuna READ ALSO: Feli Nuna's heart wrenching post on Ebony's death Feli Nuna biography Feli Nuna biography gives fans a chance to know who she is apart from the music that we all enjoy. Read on to discover for yourself some of the aspects of Felis life that you probably would never have known. Feli Nuna career Feli Nuna is celebrated today in the Ghanaian music scene because of her exciting talent that keeps many people trying to figure her out unsuccessfully. Her versatility in music makes her impossible to beat as she can fit in practically any setting and excel at it. This has been seen by her ability to sing hip hop, Afro pop and riddim genres just to mention a few. What is common across board is that her songs are always instant hits as they are bangers that will get you dancing. So, just when and how did she get into music? Feli Nuna is not only loved for her sweet personality, but also because of the quality of music she releases. She puts her best foot forward always. Feli has been in the industry for quite sometime now, with her songs, like I like am and Gelaway being instant hits. The songstress seems to be making hits every time she releases a song which goes to show that she is taking this career seriously as she puts all her mind into it. The Daava Diva continues to wow her fans with more surprises as she easily changes between genres without betraying her excellence in any of them. Listen to any of Feli Nuna songs and you will understand this aspect more. Most people got to know her after her hit Ghana Girl Swag in 2013. Apart from singing, Feli is also a song writer. She loves coming up with music probably because of her love for twisting words and playing around with words to create something unique and influential. In 2010 she participated in the Miss Ghana beauty contest where she emerged among the 20 finalists. She believes that she would have won had she paid attention to the competition as she had all it took to win. This is one of the things she is cross with herself for. Nevertheless, she used the opportunity as a great learning platform and got to network. At the time, she had already started her music and was also a rap artist. READ ALSO: Feli Nuna dispels rumours that she has issues with Ebony Feli Nuna family Parents Feli Nuna was born to Col. Theophilus Tawiah (Rtd) and Ms Sitsofe Dzansi. Feli Nuna songs Feli Nuna has released a number of hits that continue to propel her in the limelight. She is fast becoming a darling of many fans especially with regard to female rappers in Ghana. She is one of the best artists and needless to say,she is one of the few multifaceted female artists in Ghana. The following is a list of her most popular songs. Feli Nuna - Gelaway Feli Nuna - Afro magic Feli Nuna - Awola Feli Nuna - Dream Feli Nuna - I like am Feli Nuna - Lose control Her famous collaborations include : Feli Nuna ft Kojo Cue Knii Lante ft Feli Nuna Kuami Eugene ft Feli Nuna If you are a fan, then you have probably heard some of the above songs by Feli. Whether you are looking to download Gelaway by Feli Nuna or are just interested in Feli Nuna - Gelaway lyrics, it is possible to find them online. The same can be said for other songs by the artist including Afro Magic Feli Nuna hit song. READ ALSO: Lyrics of Ebony's 'Sponsor' song make me uncomfortable- Feli Nuna Feli Nuna photos Latest news on Feli Nuna Even as you settle for Feli Nuna - Gelaway video download, it is clear that she has a message she strongly advocates for. Feli is a champion of abstinence before marriage. This is clear in her song Gelaway which is advice to ladies not to give away the cookie too quickly, especially not before getting the necessary commitment. For this and more interesting views, here are a few things about Feli you ought to know. Feli strips The well known Daavi Diva recently stripped for her male fans during a pool party performance. This is unlike her as she is always about decency in dressing and music message. Whether she was overwhelmed by the moment as she performed her act is something we are left wondering. She however continued her act in the pool after she stripped, so there may have been nothing to see after all. Get to watch the Nii Lante ft Feli Nuna video on YouTube to appreciate the sensual side of the artist. This is an example of song that shows Feli tapping into a song to speak to your emotions directly. Lack of seriousness cost her the 2010 miss Ghana win If you think that the Feli Nuna - Gelaway video is the best of Felis talents, think again. The beautiful artist does not shy away from stating her disappointment at herself after she failed to clinch the top position at the 2010 Miss Ghana competition which she had potential for. She believes that her lack of seriousness cost her the award. Nevertheless, the opportunity was well utilized as a chance to network and get a few lessons on womanhood. As you download Afro Magic by Feli Nuna, it is interesting to note that your favorite artist was once a model. Nipple play is a turn on If you think that the chemistry in the song "Show" by Feli Nuna ft Kuami Eugene is strong, then you have probably not heard of her response on Hitz fm when she was asked about a few of her secrets. On intimacy, she had a difficult time revealing that her nipples are the way to turning her on. The moment of truth further led her to reveal that she sleeps naked because it is convenient and comfortable for her. In the same interview, she went ahead to reveal that the lack of collaborations between female artists in Ghana is because of their issues but she was working on debunking this. She also advocates for good content since musicians serve as role models and thus cannot just afford to sing about anything. I am for men all the way Do not be fooled by the video when you download Feli Nuna - Gelaway song on YouTube. The artist featured ladies for a good reason which was to pass the message of unity among ladies as well as advise them not to give the cookie too quickly. Femi was quick to trash all rumors about her being a lesbian as she confirmed that she was into men. Feli Nuna biography above gives you insight into the life of the celebrity that is fast becoming a must follow in Ghana. Feli is known for great hits and is probably going to continue producing the best hits over time. READ ALSO: Feli Nuna casts doubts over the return of Tiffany to music Source: Yen A 13-year-old girl from Limpopo was named best young female scientist at the Eskom Expo in Boksburg recently. Tumelo Ramokone, a grade 7 student at Mapudithomo Primary School in Nobody village earned the amazing accolade with her innovative cooler box. The science fair allows pupils to share innovative and ground-breaking inventions based on their scientific findings. Judges voted her the best of the talented bunch thanks to her solar-powered device which keeps food, beverages and medicine cool. In addition, its able to charge mobile phones as well. READ ALSO: South Africans react to Blade Nzimande's appointment and Gigabas exit The Sowetan Live reported that Tumelo got the inspiration following a trip to Mpumalanga in 2016. She said the familys ice melted in the standard cooler box they had. It then took them a lot of time and effort to find a shop with ice and this led her to realise the need for one driven by solar energy. The humble young lady credits her sister for her efforts in creating the breakthrough device. Tumelo said, "After my teacher told us about the expo I wanted to create a solar-powered umbrella but she convinced me to follow my long thought project. Kgaugelo is into arts but she really helped and encouraged me in completing my project. She would be searching information on the internet while I tried to assemble the parts." Beverages can stay cool for 1 whole day when the cooler box is fully charged. Her parents funded the project and confirmed the total cost to be R2500. The prize for the familys hard work was a laptop, R500 prize money, a gold medal and the prestigious prize for Tumelo. READ ALSO: Apostle Prah finally tells story behind leaked wedding photos with Nayas (Video) Ghana News Today: Adenta on Fire as Angry Residents Protest Over Frequent Deaths| #Yencomgh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen Ghana Kumawood star Clara Benson known in showbiz as Maame Serwaa is really carving a niche for herself. The young actress is not leaving any stone unturned as she is up for awards. Maame Serwaa has earned four nominations ahead of the upcoming Ghana Tertiary Awards 2018. Kumawood actress Maame Serwaa up for four awards (Photo credit: supplied) Source: UGC READ ALSO: Ghana's Pretty Kobe hosts Floyd Mayweather Jnr. to talk business She will be challenging for the Student of the Year, Student Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Student Actress of the Year and Student Foundation of the Year. The young celebrity has starred in numerous local movies like Ghana Police, Maame Serwaa in love and Who killed Maame Serwaa. Recently she was named as brand ambassador for KNUST University College. READ ALSO: Sister Derby mocks Medikal and Fella Makafui in latest video As part of the deal, the university has given Maame Serwaa a four-year degree scholarship. Not too long ago, Maame Serwaa was honoured by the University of Cape Coast. She was awarded for her contribution in the movie industry. The budding actress was honoured during the premiere of the television series One Over Eight held at UCC on October 20, 2018. READ ALSO: Akua GMB ends eight-year marriage with Dr. Oteng Ghana News Today: Adenta on Fire as Angry Residents Protest Over Frequent Deaths| #Yencomgh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh - The woman is said to have sued her husband for assault and abandoning his parenting roles - She turned up in court but the prosecution did not arraign the accused and this angered her - She threatened to kill her two children and also take her own life as a result of the problems - Residents intercepted before she could commit the heinous crime against her own children - The young ones were taken to a minor rescue center and the woman counselled by villagers - It is feared she might be headed for more malice and help of professional counselors in required Residents of Gatundu, Kiambu County were on Tuesday, November 13, seized in a remorse after they rescue two children from their mother who attempted to take away their lives. YEN.com.gh has learnt that unidentified woman tried to kill her twins (boy and girl) behind a Gatundu court as a result an abusive marriage. Gatundu residents rescue depressed woman who attempted kill her twins after domestic fight READ ALSO: Meet Tumelo the village girl who created a solar-powered cooler box According to a Facebook post shared by a user identified as Hon Mario Nderi, the woman sued her husband for neglected his parenting roles, a situation that plunged her into depression and trauma. Before the incident, the woman, in the company of her two children (less than three year), attended a proceeding at the court but the prosecution did not arraign her husband. READ ALSO: Kakamega woman surrenders to police after killing husband with jembe On leaving the court, it is alleged that she threatened to take away her children's lives and thereafter kill herself. She attempted to make good her threats but residents intercepted before she could commit the crimes. The young ones were taken away by a local child support agency as a section of the public volunteered counseling services to the woman. Source: Yen Earlier in October 2018, on his 54th birthday, Chinas richest man, Jack Ma, announced that he would step down as executive chairman of e-commerce giant Alibaba. Jack Ma, the rags-to-riches entrepreneur behind Chinas biggest tech company isnt going to retire. He wants to be a teacher again. With a net worth of $40.5 billion, Ma is one of the richest people on the planet and a prominent figure: He is well-known for speaking at conferences, advocating globalization, and rubbing shoulders with world leaders. Jack Ma. Credit: Nikkei Asian Review Source: UGC READ ALSO: Ranking of 20 most credible banks in Ghana revealed Ma most recently made headlines for his warnings about the escalating U.S.China trade war, insisting that its going to be a mess which could last for decades. His plan to create 1 million jobs in the U.S., a pledge he made after meeting Trump in January 2017, has been completely destroyed as a result. Mas decision to step down from the top job at Alibaba will usher in a new era for the $420 billion company, which he grew from a web site run out of his apartment to one of the biggest tech companies in the world. His rise to fame as one of Chinas biggest tycoons is a Hollywood story, he told The New York Times in a 2005 interview. Early Life and Career Mas story starts in Hangzhou, a city in the eastern part of the country with close to 10 million people, where he was born in 1964 to a family with little money. As a kid, he was scrawny and often got into fights with classmates who teased him for his size. I was never afraid of opponents who were bigger, he recalls in the book Alibaba. Ma learned English from foreign tourists by offering them tours of the city in exchange for lessons, and bought a radio so that he could listen to the English broadcast every day. One of the tourists he befriended during this time gave him the nickname Jack which stuck. After high school, Ma applied to go to college. Low marks on the math portion of Chinas college entrance exam, however, caused him to fail twice. On his third try he finally passed, and eventually graduated from the Hangzhou Teachers Institute in 1988. READ ALSO: Communications Ministry fights BoG over Mobile Money data Ma then applied to as many jobs as he could, but was rejected from all of them including one at KFC, a position on the police force, and another as a waiter at local restaurant. The experience taught him a valuable lesson that prepared him for his entrepreneurial future: to get used to failure and learn from it. Ma was eventually hired as an English teacher at a local university a job that he loved, even though he only made $12 a month. After visiting the U.S. in 1995 and discovering the Internet, he quit teaching and borrowed a couple thousand dollars to launch China Pages. It was his first attempt at an internet business not to mention one of the countrys first commercial websites, but he ultimately ceded control to the government after he was pressured into a joint venture with Hangzhou Telecom, according to The New York Times. Jack Ma Alibaba founder Jack Ma, center, raises a ceremonial mallet before striking a bell during the companys IPO at the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. Jack Ma Alibaba founder Jack Ma, center, raises a ceremonial mallet before striking a bell during the companys IPO at the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. Mark LennihanAP/REX/Shutterstock Alibaba and the Rise to Fame He didnt give up though: Four years later, Ma gathered 17 of his friends in his apartment and convinced them to invest in his idea for an online marketplace. They scraped together roughly $60,000 for Alibaba.com, which let Chinese exporters, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs post product listings for international buyers. READ ALSO: Kweku Adoboli finally deported to Ghana Ma reportedly came up with the company name while sitting in a San Francisco coffee shop, when he thought of how Ali Baba overheard the secret password of the 40 Thieves and unlocked untold riches. Within a few months, the venture had raised big money: $5 million from Goldman Sachs and $20 million from Japanese telecom company SoftBank. The company survived the dot-com crash and began turning a profit; Alibaba spawned Taobao.com a bartering marketplace that was its eBay competitor, in 2003. Fast growth led former tech powerhouse Yahoo to buy a 40% stake of Alibaba for $1 billion in 2005. Since those early years, Alibaba has amassed millions of customers and become one of the biggest tech companies on the planet, helping merchants sell everything from luxury goods to fresh groceries. When the company went public in 2014, it raised $25 billion on Wall St. in what was the worlds largest initial public offering ever. Alibaba today is a huge tech investor with a wide range of businesses: Like its main competitor Amazon, it has expanded into video streaming, online payment platforms, and cloud services, among other things. READ ALSO: Kumawood actress Maame Serwaa up for four awards End of an Era While Ma plans to remain on Alibabas board until 2020, over the next 12 months he will pass his executive chairman duties to chief executive Daniel Zhang who has previously held a variety of senior management positions. No company can rely solely on its founders, Ma said in a letter to customers, employees and shareholders. Since stepping down as chief executive in 2013, Ma devoted time to other projects, including starting a charity in 2014 and even performing in a kung fu movie. He has said he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates by devoting more attention to his Jack Ma Foundation, dedicated to improving education, the environment, and public health. The former English professor said he will return to teaching, describing that he is still young and has lots of dreams to pursue. Duncan Clark, author of Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built, told CNN that Mas retirement should come as no surprise. He has long talked about his desire to go back to his roots as a teacher. READ ALSO: Meet Tumelo the village girl who created a solar-powered cooler box Watch: Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh The Communications Ministry and the Bank of Ghana are currently on a collision course over the latters refusal to release data on Mobile Money. Apparently, the Communications Ministry has written severally to the Central Bank requesting that it releases the data to the contractor asked to verify revenue generated by telcos, Kelni GVG. The Ministry wants disclosure of customer balances, transaction amounts, date and time of the transactions. Ursula Owusu-Ekufu, Minister for Communications. Source: Myjoyonline.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Haruna Iddrisu spotted watching Arsenal vs Wolves game over the weekend However, the Central Bank insists obliging such a request contradicts the Data Protection Act and the Guidelines of Electronic Money Issuers. According to the Bank, the current laws do not allow it to hand over such confidential data to Kelni GVG or any other regulator for that matter. The BoG also considers it an invasion of privacy of mobile money subscribers, a statement signed by its secretary, Frances Van-Hein Sackey, said. He explained that the Communications ministrys authority over telcos ends when it comes to mobile money transactions. A representative from the Communications Ministry Anastasia Marfo has, however, described the Central Banks stance as disrespectful and appalling. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has reportedly stepped in to try to resolve the impasse between the two parties. READ ALSO: Ranking of 20 most credible banks in Ghana revealed Accra-based Joy FM reports that all parties have held several meetings to try to reach a fruitful conclusion on the matter. It is, however, not know whether the meetings could lead to the Communications Ministry, National Communications Authority (NCA) and Kelni GVG reviewing their position on the issue. Mobile Money transactions which hit 109 billion by September 2017 has become an important source of income for telecommunication companies. Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Serbian University shows interest in tall 14-year-old SWESBUS student Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen Ghana Everybody has needs and, just like human beings, countries also have major needs which must be met to enable them develop. While the needs of a human being, if met, benefits just his or her family and other close associates, that of countries have a much bigger impact. That is why citizens queue to vote for leaders, who they entrust with the responsibility of ensuring that the countrys needs are adequately met. READ ALSO: Kweku Adoboli finally deported to Ghana To this end, YEN.com.gh put up a post soliciting for the views of Ghanaians on what they think Ghana immediately needs to become a better country. The question was: What do you think Ghana needs right now to be a better country? Could it be leadership, positive attitude, human resource development, effective spending, better production or firm implementation of laws? Some of the views we had were really intriguing, with many appearing to think a return to the autocratic days would help develop the country better. On Facebook user said: Military Rule. Everything will go on excellent. No one can chop any money belongs to the nation and precisely Amendment of the Law. Military all the way. Another said: What Ghana needs most is an Autocratic Government, explaining that because our Constitution is not working?. A third person rather cheekily added: Implementation of the gods of our lands in swearing into government. It will bring righteousness and sanity in this country. READ ALSO: Most ladies in Ghana want to be like me - Moesha One other guy said: Good leadership. If the head is not corrupt, the tail will never be corrupt because he knows the consequences of his actions. See more of the responses below: Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Ranking of 20 most credible banks in Ghana revealed Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has barred 125 Ghanaians from further operating current accounts in Ghana. YEN.com.gh understands that the decision was reached after it was realized that the affected persons constantly issue dud cheques. The BoG has, in that respect released the full list of people who were found to have engaged in such activities. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: The 2018 list of most credible banks in Ghana Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC In a letter dated November 2, 2018, and signed by the Head of Financial Stability Department of the BoG, Dr Joseph O. France, wrote: you are directed to debar or cease them from operating current accounts for three years with immediate effect. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC The list showed the names, the type of identity card used to open the account and number of the identity card of the people involved. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC The BoG further advised all banks to make arrangements to facilitate the recovery of debts such individuals may owe them. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC We further advise that if they are indebted to your bank, appropriate arrangements should be made with your institution to facilitate recovery, the letter read. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC The letter added that the affected people may however be allowed to operate savings accounts. READ ALSO: Communications Ministry fights BoG over Mobile Money data Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: Yen - Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante says 70% of problems in Ghana come from Christians - He described the situation as unfortunate and called on Ghanaians to change in order for the country to develop The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, has revealed that 70% of problems in Ghana are related to Christians since they are mostly involved in negative acts and corrupt practices. According to him, in spite of the fact that most Ghanaians claim to be Christians, they always gave the police service a hard time because all they do is pay lip service instead of living a Christ-like life. Rev. Prof. Asante described the situation as rather unfortunate and called on Ghanaians to change in order for the country to develop. 70% of Ghanaian problems are from Christians says Peace Council Chairman Source: Yen.com.gh Source: Original READ ALSO: Kweku Adoboli finally deported to Ghana He expressed the hope that once Christians changed their ways from their involvement in crime and corruption related activities things would improve in the country. 70% of the countrys problems are Christian problems because we pay lip service. Thats why we are where we are, Speaking at the climax of the 60th anniversary of the Church of Christ Spiritual Movement in Cape Coast, the Chairman of the Peace Council was however, full of praise for the church in the achievement of their milestone. READ ALSO: Apostle Prah finally tells story behind leaked wedding photos with Nayas (Video) The Rev Prof Asante however admonished Christians to be wary of pastors who preach about themselves. He averred, the gospel should be about Christ and his teachings and not any other person. He added that many teachings and preaching in many churches these days are not a true reflection of the teachings of Christ. He explained that trouble looms in our churches when we push Christ aside and put our ourselves at the centre of things READ ALSO: Medikal causes confusion between Deborah Vanessa and Lydia Forson with new track Ghana News Today: Adenta on Fire as Angry Residents Protest Over Frequent Deaths| #Yencomgh Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page Source: Yen - A lawyer, Kwame Osei Prempeh, has slammed the efforts of the Akufo-Addo administration to fight corruption - According to him, the government's promise to deal with it was mere political talk A former deputy attorney-general, Kwame Osei Prempeh, has argued that President Akufo-Addos fight against corruption is political talk and nothing else. According to a report by MyNewsGH.com, he stated that the government is incapable of fighting corruption, because there is the need for hardcore evidence to prove cases. Prempeh added that the state agencies could have played a better role if evidences presented were strong enough to prosecute people accused of corruption. Kwame Osei Prempeh Source: Facebook Source: UGC READ ALSO: Full List: Bank of Ghana bans 125 Ghanaians from using current accounts He added that the attorney-general does not conduct investigations, but instead relies on security agencies to work. The Akufo-Addo-led government, in the year 2017, established the Office of the Special Prosecutor, headed by former attorney-general, Martin Amidu. Challenges facing the office have however come to the attention as Amidu often releases information about the his inability to execute his mandate. This, he explains, is because his office is not well resourced to work, aside the fact that it operates from a 3-bedroom apartment. READ ALSO: Jesus' 'face' uncovered at an ancient church in Israeli desert Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen.com.gh President Akufo-Addo has said that so far there has not been any serious evidence of corruption against his appointees. The president made this revelation at the African Investment Forum 2018 which was held in South Africa recently. According to him, members of his administration will be subjected to thorough scrutiny if found culpable of corrupt practices, but that will not be anytime soon because so far, his appointees have acted as angels without any corrupt tags on them. READ ALSO: Former Miss Malaika Hamamat Montia spotted hawking food on the streets However, Akufo-Addos claim has angered some Ghanaians on social media who believe he is just deceiving them. Some have given examples of corruption in his government, with the recent case being that of the Ghana Maritime Authority CEO and allegations made by former GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, in the Anas "No. 12" video. For instance, commenting on the Facebook page of your authoritative YEN.com.gh, a Facebook user, John Makarty, questioned if the president has been able to do something about the Maritime CEO: Yusif also wondered if Akufo-Addo has been brave enough to prosecute Kwei Nyantakyi after Anas' investigative piece and FIFA' s lifetime ban: READ ALSO: It is the courage to continue that counts Akua GMB allegedly speaks on her divorce Apart from the concerns that have been raised by the Ghanaians above, others, who also felt disappointed in the president for saying there has no been any serious evidence of corruption against his appointees, have warned him about his chances in election 2020. Richard, for instance, said he was fed up with the president, and urged him to advise himself with regards to future elections: Wisdom also said there is an end to everything, indicating that Akufo-Addo's tenure as president would end soon: READ ALSO: After snatching Medikal from Derby, Fella Makafui hints of death attack on her Bohye, who appeared to be very angry with the president's comment said Akufo-Addo and his 111 ministers would be shamed in the 2020 elections: Ekow warned Akufo-Addo that Anas would soon provide him with the evidence he needs about his appointees: Ezekiel also asked the president and his 'angelic' appointees to wait for elections 2020: READ ALSO: 'Jesus' face' uncovered at ancient church in the Israeli desert Asante Kojo cautioned the president by writing: "2020 is coming slowly": Musah also cried that for Akufo-Addo to make that statement, it means he does not fear God: READ ALSO: Medikal causes confusion between Deborah Vanessa and Lydia Forson with new track Meanwhile, in an earlier report by YEN.com.gh, some Ghanaians registered their displeasure with president Akufo-Addo following the increase in the price of sachet water ('pure water'). Other traders including the Spare Parts dealers and graduate teachers have also said they are disappointed in the president because they are facing hardship. Also, a media person, Caroline Samson has said in plain terms that she has regretted voting for Akufo-Addo. Shatta Wale, also a good friend of the president has said the youth is disappointed in him for the many hardships reported to be experienced by Ghanaians in recent times. READ ALSO: Bank of Ghana bans 125 Ghanaians from operating current accounts Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Kufuors minister slams Nana Addos fight against corruption Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook pag Source: Yen Selassie Aku Lodonu, a staff of Otec FM, a private radio station in Kumasi, Ashanti region, has been reported dead. The 29-year-old female staff was reported to have died on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at a private hospital in Accra after a short illness. The journalist, before her death was the producer of the stations afternoon social programme show, Asem Beba Dabi, hosted by Nana Yaw Krobea Asante. Late Selasie Aku Lodonu. Credit: Modernghana.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Hamamat Montia spotted hawking tiger nuts on the streets According to reports, immediately the news broke, people thronged the premises of Otec FM and calls were also made to the station to authenticate the news. Selassie, as she was affectionately called, was the toast of many of the stations listeners with her smooth voice and many touted her as one of the finest reporters of Otec FM. Selassie Aku Lodonu was born on November 5, 1989 at Jerekope in the Volta region but grew up in Dunkwa Offin in the Central region where she attended Boamposem SHS. She then attended Right Media College in Kumasi and obtained Diploma in Journalism in 2015 and did her internship with Metro FM, an Ejisu-based radio station in the Ashanti region. READ ALSO: Budget 2019: Government to spend GHC73.4bn in 2019 Selassie Aku Lodonu. Credit: Facebook Source: Facebook READ ALSO: I broke my virginity at age 32 - Adjoa Bayor Selassie, who celebrated her 29th birthday anniversary on Monday, November 5, 2018, joined Otec FM on February 23, 2018. Krobea Asante during his show on Wednesday recounting how he met Selassie said After she completed Right Media Journalism School in Kumasi, she came to Metro FM at Ejisu in 2105, where I was asking for her internship. After completion I included her into my production team because of her seriousness, commitment and passion for the journalism work. Selassie worked with excellence and made sure the production for the day is done within time. The vacuum created by her departure will forever be felt he added. READ ALSO: Lady recounts how she was jailed after inheriting property from woman who adopted her Watch: Nuru Deen Story - The Miraculous Xylophone Manufacturer: Faces of Ghana | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Bank of Ghana bans 125 Ghanaians from operating current accounts Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: Yen - Saudi Arabia's prosecutor, Saud Al-Mojeb, says the kingdom has sought death penalty for suspects that were accused of murdering Jamal Khashoggi - Khashoggi, a United-based Saudi Arabian journalist, was killed in his country's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday, October 2 - He was said to have been chopped into pieces while still alive in horrifying seven-minute execution Following the brutal killing of Saudi Arabian journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, death penalty has been sought by Saudi against five suspects that were accused of murdering the journalist in the country's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday, October 2. Daily Mail UK reports that Saudi's public prosecutor, Saud Al-Mojeb, announced charges against six other people allegedly involved in the killing. YEN.com.gh notes that the prosecutor said Saudi believes that Khashoggi was given a lethal injection inside the country's consulate on October 2. READ ALSO: Journalist Selassie Aku Lodonu of Otec FM dead According to report, the prosecutor requested death sentence for the five who were charged with ordering and committing the crime and appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals. Twenty-one people are in custody in connection with the killing, 11 of whom have been indicted, while investigations will continue into the others. Recall that Khashoggi was said to have been chopped into pieces while still alive in horrifying seven-minute execution in Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo criticised for saying there is no serious corruption evidence against his appointees According to an anonymous source, the journalist, who wrote critically about the Saudis for the Washington Post, could be heard screaming as he was dragged from the consul generals office to a desk in the next door study. The source said the consul general was taken out of the room before Khashoggi was "injected with an unknown drug". The anonymous source said Khashoggis cries and screams were heard by witnesses downstairs before his body was cut into pieces. He said: "There was no attempt to interrogate him. They had come to kill him." READ ALSO: Benedicta Gafah sets tongues wagging on social media with latest video Reactions have, however, trailed the decision to seek death penalty for the five suspects in the murder of Khashoggi. An English journalist and television presenter, Piers Morgan, tweeted: "So the crown prince who ordered the murder is now going to kill 5 people who carried out his order. What a lovely man!" See his tweet below: See reactions to Morgan's tweet below: yEN.com.gh previously reported that the United States promised to make those involved in the gruesome killing of US-based Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, pay for their act. The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, made this promise during a phone conversation with the Saudi crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Sunday, November 11. The promise was expedient after the pre-killing audio statement of the slain veteran journalist and critic of the Riyadh was revealed, detailing how he was begging his killers moments before he was murdered. Earlier, President Tayyib of Turkey had revealed that the audio evidence had been sent to states interested in the case across the world. He said: "We gave the tapes. We gave them to Saudi Arabia, to the United States, German, French and British, all of them. They have listened to all the conversation in them. They know." Ghana News Today: Adenta on Fire as Angry Residents Protest Over Frequent Deaths| #Yencomgh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen Newspaper - The finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, said the government will spend a total of GH73.4bn in 2019 - This, he said, has been approved by Parliament - The GH73.4bn is 27 per cent higher than the 2018 budget The finance minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, has revealed the governments intention to spend a total sum of GH73.4 billion in 2019. He has requested Parliaments approval to enable the government spend that amount. The total expenditure estimate, is inclusive of clearance of arrears is equivalent to 21.3 per cent of total economic output, measured by gross domestic product (GDP). READ ALSO: Former Miss Malaika winner caught selling food on the streets The 2019 estimate is also 27 per cent higher than 2018 projected. Giving a breakdown, the minister revealed that GH19.4 billion, representing about 26.5 per cent of total expenditure, will be spent on wages and salaries He said the wage bill is anticipated to reduce to 5.6 per cent of GDP from the 5.9 per cent projected outturn for 2018. Goods and Services will also consume some GH6.3 billion while some GH18.6 billion will be spent on interest payments of public debt. READ ALSO: Stephen Appiah mocks his looks in latest photo The Finance Minister made this known in his budget reading in Parliament on Thursday, November 2018. Meanwhile, some Ghanaians have lashed out to president Akufo-Addo for his comments that so far no serious evidence of corruption has been found against any of his appointees. This has angered the Ghanaians who have also said the president and his appointees will lose the 2020 elections. READ ALSO: Fella Makafui hints of death attack on her After snatching Medikal from Derby Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Bank of Ghana bans 125 Ghanaians from operating current accounts Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page Source: Yen.com.gh - Former employees of two defunct banks, UT and Capital Bank, have threatened to demand their severance packages from government - According to them, they have been living from hand to mouth as life has become difficult since they lost their jobs About 1,200 former employees of defunct banks, UT Bank and Capital Bank, have threatened to deal with the government over its failure to pay their severance packages. Sharing their grievances on Dwaso Nsem, Adom FMs morning show, on Thursday, November 15, 2018, two of them revealed that they now live from hand to mouth We are now dead goats so we will stop at nothing until we get our severance packages; the government should not push us to the wall, they fumed. Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana Source: Supplied Source: UGC READ ALSO: Some BoG officials will soon be in hot waters - Finance Minister Samuel Enin, former staff of UT bank said he now begs friends and family to feed his family. Im now the woman in the house because I cant feed my family and my wife has to take over. Im now a beggar after 14 months, he bemoaned. Samuel Obeng Osei, also with UT Bank said the severance package for former staff of both banks amount to just GH40,000 thus could not fathom why the government cannot pay them. For the past 14 months, we have been begging and living from hand to mouth; why? he asked. The Bank of Ghana revoked the two banks licences due to severe impairment of capital on August 14, 2017, and appointed Messrs Vish Ashiagbor and Eric Nana Nipah, both Directors of PwC, as Joint Receivers for the purpose of winding-down the two banks. GCB Bank was then authorized by the Bank of Ghana to take over management of the defunct banks under a Purchase and Assumption Agreement. READ ALSO: Full List: 125 Ghanaians banned by BoG from using current accounts Nuru Deen Story - The Miraculous Xylophone Manufacturer: Faces of Ghana | Yen.com.gh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! 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The NATO exercise, Trident Juncture, concluded Sunday and involved some 50,000 personnel. It was labeled the alliance's largest exercise since the Cold War. Non-NATO members Finland and Sweden also participated in the exercise. Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? Dragos, Inc., a Hanover, Md.-based developer of the threat detection and response platform, raised $37M in Series B funding. The round was led by Canaan, with participation from existing investors as well as Emerson, National Grid Partners and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL). In conjunction with the funding, Joydeep Bhattacharyya, Partner at Canaan, joins Dragos board of directors. The company intends to use the funds to continue to grow the team, as well as expand internationally. Led by CEO Robert M. Lee, Dragos provides a platform which gives ICS cybersecurity teams the necessary components required to detect and respond to industrial cybersecurity threats, threat hunting and incident response services as well as a threat intelligence program for intelligence reports on the latest industrial threats. The company provides operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) practitioners visibility of their ICS assets, threat detection through intelligence-driven analytics, and prescriptive procedures to respond to adversaries. FinSMEs 15/11/2018 Ezra, a NYC-based startup creating a new way to screen for cancer, launched its prostate cancer screening program and announced a $4M seed round. The round was led by Accomplice, with participation from Founders Future, Credo Ventures, Seedcamp, Esther Dyson and a number of startup founders and angel investors. Led by Emi Gal, CEO & co-founder, and Diego Cantor, PhD, CTO and co-founder, the company provides a direct-to-consumer membership that offers men the ability to get a prostate MRI scan and have it analyzed by radiologists to help screen for cancer. Currently available as an invite-only private beta program in New York City for $999 per year, Ezra is partnering with outpatient imaging company RadNet, Inc.. Ezras members will be able to get their prostate MRI scans at RadNets Lenox Hill Radiology facility in Manhattan (61 East 77th Street, New York, NY). Additional facilities are scheduled to be enrolled through 2019. The company is also developing artificial intelligence technology, the Ezra AI, designed to assist radiologists in their analysis and potentially make them more accurate and productive. it intends to seek marketing authorization from the FDA in 2019. Ezra has R&D operations in Toronto. FinSMEs 15/11/2018 Mintos, a Riga, Latvia-based global marketplace for loans, raised 5m in Series A funding. Backers included existing investors Grumpy Investments (previously, Skillion Ventures), a Riga-based venture capital firm that is focused on investing in technology companies. The company intends to use the funds to hire new people, expand geographically, to Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, and continue to develop its offerings, providing users with personal IBAN accounts and debit cards. Led by Martins Sulte, CEO and co-founder, Mintos provides retail investors with a marketplace to invest in loans originated by a variety of alternative lending companies around the world. The company, which has already facilitated more than EUR 1 billion in investments in loans through its platform, will be adding personal IBAN accounts and debit cards to its established global lending marketplace in the near future. The IBAN personal accounts will give its investors the ability to make and receive payments from around the world, including receiving a salary directly to their Mintos account. Meanwhile, the Mintos card will allow investors to make transactions around the world or online and withdraw money at ATMs. This will be made possible by the e-money licence that the company is applying to receive. As an Electronic Money Institution, Mintos will protect money held by investors under the European PSD2 legislation. The fintech startup currently has a customer base of 87 000 investors from 71 different countries, with 100,000 registered investors forecasted by the end of the year and 300,000 by the end of 2019. Mintos has a team of 60 employees at its headquarters in Riga, Latvia, with representative offices in Warsaw, Poland and Mexico City, Mexico. FinSMEs 15/11/2018 PFF, LLC, a Northern Virginia-based specialty financing company, closed a $100M capital raise and changed its name to Parabilis. The backers were not disclosed. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Edward Bersoff and led by Bruce Lyman (Col USAF Ret), Chief Executive Officer, Parabilis provides asset-based loans to small and medium size companies that have chosen not to, or are unable to receive funding from, traditional senior financial sources. The company works with clients that are in transition, with near-term or intermediate funding requirements such as winning a large contract and funding the start-up payroll cycle. FinSMEs 15/11/2018 THE PRESS RELEASE Specialty Finance Company Raises $100M and Relaunches as Parabilis Formerly known as PFF, LLC, Parabilis provides small and growing government contractors with asset-based financing November 14, 2018 10:34 AM Eastern Standard Time WASHINGTON(BUSINESS WIRE)PFF, LLC closed a $100M capital raise and changed its name to Parabilis. Founded in 2013, by Dr. Edward Bersoff, the specialty financing company will continue in its mission to provide working capital funding to companies serving the U.S. Federal Government. Parabilis provides asset-based loans to small and medium size companies that have chosen not to, or are unable to receive funding from, traditional senior financial sources. The Companys expertise lies in working with clients that are in transition, with near-term or intermediate funding requirements such as winning a large contract and funding the start-up payroll cycle. The Parabilis leadership team, with decades of military service and over 50 years of combined experience in the government contracting and finance industries, understands what our clients need to be successful, said Bruce Lyman (Col USAF Ret), Chief Executive Officer of Parabilis. With deep domain knowledge and expertise in the government contracting business, we partner with our clients to provide the financing needed to support contract execution and growth. Parabilis Chairman, Dr. Edward Bersoff, a longtime D.C. businessman who holds deep roots within government contracting, conceived of and launched the platform. Bersoffs ties to the company have contributed significantly to its success. We have grown to be one of the largest non-bank providers of working capital financing for our clients who support the U.S. Federal Government. Since our founding in 2013, our goal has been to help our clients make the best funding decisions for the growth of their businesses. With this new capital raise, we can continue to expand our support of small and medium size businesses who need a strong financial partner. About Parabilis Founded in 2013, based in Northern Virginia, and led by a group of seasoned government contracting and financial industry executives, Parabilis provides working capital funding to small and medium size companies serving the U.S. Federal government. Over the past several decades, Dr. Bersoff and his Co-founders, have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for both public and private companies. The Parabilis founders clearly recognized the need to provide financing to government contractors who were unable to secure traditional financing and ensure that small to medium size companies had the financial support to successfully win and implement government contracts. To learn more about Parabilis, visit www.parabilis.com. Slyngshot Health, a Chicago, IL-based healthcare network that enables the delivery of Personalized Medicine, raised a seed round of funding of undisclosed amount. The round was led by Prakash Ramani, Managing Director, Head of Healthcare Investment Banking of Loop Capital Markets and other prominent Chicago based investors including Thad Wong and Michael Golden of @Properties. The company will use the funds to expand its network of providers into five major metropolitan markets over the next year as well as officially come out of beta with new to market technology. Founded in 2018 by Badal Shah (CEO), Murray Firestone, Ph.D. (Director), Sahar Swidan, PharmD (Director), Randy Fink, MD (Director), and Fred Tanne, JD (Director), Slyngshot Health is building a digital network connecting providers and patients with compounding pharmacies to improve patient outcomes. FinSMEs 15/11/2018 Standard Cognition, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of AI-powered autonomous checkout solutions for brick & mortar retailers, raised $40M in Series A funding. The round, which brings total amount to more than $51M, was led by Initialized Capital, with participation from CRV and Y Combinator, and new investors including Draper Associates. In conjunction with the funding, Garry Tan, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Initialized Capital, and Devdutt Yellurkar, General Partner at CRV (which led Standards previous funding round), have both joined Standards board. The company intends to use the funds to expand its team and accelerate its ongoing global expansion. Led by Jordan Fisher, Co-founder and CEO, Standard provides an artificial intelligence-based system that lets consumers shop and pay without waiting in line, scanning or stopping to check out. The system offers such benefits as: Privacy No biometric information is collected from customers, including no facial recognition Scalable Lightweight installation requiring only overhead cameras no shelf or item sensors Seamless Experience No checkout, no lines Flexible Allows for dynamic retail environments and flash sales Insight Anonymized shopper analytics for the store In recent months, the company has: Signed on its first four retail customers (spanning Asia, North America and Europe); Obtained a patent for a critical component of its technology; and Opened San Franciscos first public cashierless store, which has been a busy site for Standards customers and prospects. FinSMEs 15/11/2018 . . , ,... Today is Thursday, Nov. 18, the 322nd day of 2021. There are 43 days left in the year. Todays Highlight in History: On Nov. 18, 1991, Shiite Muslim kidnappers in ... Thanksgiving is celebrated each November in the United States and each October in Canada. People traditionally gather around the dinner table flanked by friends and extended members of their families ... These flourless chocolate cookies are delicate and need to be cooled completely before handling. Holiday entertaining season begins on Thanksgiving. Anyone who has been tasked with hosting Thanksgiving understands the... Lerch, who served 12 years with the U.S. Coast Guard and another 30 in the reserves, died on Sunday evening of cancer. MTN Uganda has granted third-party access to its mobile money Access Programming Interface (API) to innovators/developers. An Open API platform enables developers and programmers to get free access to MTN mobile money proprietary software platform. Developers can now access it, create products that ease payment options and leverage the 10 million of MTN clients registered on mobile money platform. This is an exciting development for the Ugandan start-ups ecosystem. Innovators will now be able to develop applications that ease the customer experience in terms of mobile money payments, said Elsa Muzzolini, the General Manager, Mobile Financial Services MTN Uganda. In January 2018, MTN Uganda and Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) entered a partnership intended to drive customer growth and activity by facilitating a wider range of mobile wallet applications for all customers through open APIs. According to CGAP, open APIs have the potential to further drive financial inclusion, which is already being accelerated by the usage of mobile money. Stories Continues after ad Our expectations are that this decision will enable innovators to monetise their products, ensure that there is fast turnaround of innovations to get to market and improve the value created for innovators and entrepreneurs, why not a Ugandan ebay or Amazon in the next few months Muzzolini added. The company also announced the launch of a Shs1 billion Startup Fund that will be accessed by local technology start-ups in Uganda. The fund is expected to provide a financial boost to startups that participate in the MTN innovation challenge series. The first of these is the MTN Open API Challenge starts on 3 December 2018. Participants will make their entries on the innovation challenge website. It has been 20 years since we started operating in Uganda and our role in this economy has been evolving. Today, opening the Mobile Money API further emphasises our ambition of being a digital company. Ugandan developers now have the opportunity to build products that will enhance financial inclusion, improved customer experience when making payments and improve the movement of virtual money, said Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda CEO. At the same function, the MTN Uganda CEO unveiled Shs310 million high speed internet connectivity package to the Innovation Village, courtesy of the MTN Foundation. The package includes free internet connectivity for use by young developers and innovators as part of its youth empowerment drive. 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. When I hear or read an invocation of the term leadership or, even worse, a call for bold leadership, I tend to roll my eyes. The words are often used in ways that are so vague as to be virtually meaningless, a kind of wishful, magical thinking. When someone writes that what is needed in a given situation is a list of attributes, the first item on the list is usually bold leadership. Right, that and world peace and an end to poverty.Most of what is taught and written about leadership focuses on the private sector. I believe that leading in government is far more difficult. Government has to solve problems that industry cannot solve. No one makes a profit trying to fix the opioid crisis or homelessness. Getting things done in government involves managing powerful, often conflicting interests.So where does government go to get some bold leadership? Many believe that it is some sort of inherent quality that people either do or do not have. I disagree. In my view, leadership is mostly learned. We can find the fundamentals within ourselves. Over time, we can strengthen our ability to lead, just as we can strengthen our muscles. Leadership isnt mystical. At its core, leadership is enabling a group of people to achieve a goal that none of them could accomplish on their own.The primary tool real leaders need is communication. Im not talking simply about making speeches or giving direction, but about listening and speaking in ways that make others feel heard, understood and valued. It starts with learning. Martin Luther King Jr. spent an enormous amount of time studying philosophy and theology; he also listened closely to the sermons of the leading preachers of the day. King was an accomplished communicator by the time he was thrust into the leadership role of the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955.There is one inherent quality that is fundamental to leadership: courage. We value and even admire people who work hard and play by the rules, but leadership requires something different. Leaders take on the problems of others and are willing to risk ridicule, derision and the loss of position or reputation to overcome those problems. That generally means disrupting a system; some current winners may become losers. There will be pushback by people who benefit from the existing order and have the power to inflict pain. In guiding Rhode Island through two rounds of badly needed pension reform, first as treasurer and now as governor, Gina Raimondo endured plenty of pushback and pain, but she pressed on relentlessly.It is this test of moral courage that separates real leaders from those who merely hold positions of authority. Somebody needs to be in charge of every organization, of course, but power and leadership are not the same things. My shorthand for all this is to talk about love, hope and mission. People have to know that you care about them. They have to have hope that if they stick together and stick with you, their circumstances will get better. And they have to believe in the mission -- not only that you are competent, but also that you have a plan and the plan is going to work.The world is filled with serious challenges, most of which threaten in some way those we love. These challenges can be overcome only by effective collective action. You cant have that without leadership, however you define it. Students in small schools or schools with high concentrations of poverty are less likely to be offered the kinds of higher-level classes that prepare them for college, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).As the share of poor students in schools rises, the prevalence of advanced math and science courses drops. Small schools and charter schools, regardless of the socioeconomic makeup of the student body, are also less likely to offer those types of classes, the report found The condensed course offerings are just one way that students in poorer schools are disadvantaged."High-poverty schools may not offer rigorous courses, such as Advanced Placement (AP) courses, due to lack of resources or teaching staff," the report reads. "Students in high-poverty schools also face other stressors that can make going to college challenging, [including] homelessness, hunger and trauma."In many ways, says one education policy observer, the report's findings are merely the effects of historic school segregation along racial and class lines.The questions asked and answered in the report only make sense in a stratified, segregated school system," says Kevin G. Welner, chairman of the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado. "If our schools were truly integrated by race, class and ethnicity, you couldnt ask whether the course offerings were equal."For rural high schools, the biggest challenge is funding.According to a separate report fromin 2016, 40 percent of the nations high schools didnt offer physics. But in Alaska and Oklahoma, states with an especially high number of small rural schools, 70 percent of the high schools didnt offer physics. Across the country, the schools that didn't offer physics classes had an average student population of 270; those that did offer physics had, on average, 880 students. Many of the smaller schools had a single science teacher who taught both high school and middle school classes.Urban schools face a different set of challenges. Their funding is also tight, but Welner says the driving force behind the disparity in course offerings in those schools is the demographic makeup of the students. They're more likely to have more black and Latino children, and according to Welner, "educators dont hold high expectations for minority students, and that often permeates course offerings at the school."In some cities, elected officials have mandated that schools offer more college prep classes. In 2015, high schools in Washington, D.C., for example, were required to increase the number of AP offerings from a minimum of four to at least six. The idea is that even if students dont score well on the AP exam, the experience can better prepare them for higher education.Even if they struggle with it, theyve gone one-on-one against the academic equivalent of Michael Jordan,"education columnist Jay Mathews told the journal. "Theyll have a visceral sense of what theyre going to come up against in college. After a yearlong and very public deliberation over the location of its second headquarters, Amazon this week disappointed some policymakers when it announced that it would split HQ2 into two locations, one in New York City and the other in the Washington, D.C., metro area.In choosing New York and D.C., Amazon opted for two cities that have led the economic expansion since the end of the last recession in 2009, far outpacing the rest of the nation in job growth. The decision drew the ire of politicians at the state and federal levels , along with others who had called on the tech giant to place its second headquarters in a city where it could play a more transformative role in the economy.Yet a new study from the Urban Institute suggests that landing such a large corporation isn't actually the best way to build a local economy and spur job growth.Instead, the report says, cities should focus on growing existing local firms, not trying to lure out-of-town companies and poaching firms from other cities. Most job expansion and contractions come from birth and deaths of homegrown businesses or expansion or contractions of existing home-based businesses, says Megan Randall, a research analyst with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and a co-author of the report.When marquee companies move into a new city, they often displace existing firms, like when a big box store puts some mom-and-pop stores out of business. Creating and expanding homegrown businesses has a better track record for adding job growth to a region, the report says.The competition to land Amazon HQ2 has spurred debate over the generous tax incentive deals cities offer up to attract big corporations. New York City offered some $3 billion incentives to Amazon, and Crystal City, Va., where the company will be located just outside Washington, put up $500 million in tax breaks. But those offers weren't the deciding factor, according to the company. The stronger draw was the highly skilled and highly educated labor force in both cities.One of the first things to remember when using tax incentives and any other cash rewards is that they play a relatively small role in attracting businesses, Randall says. We see that pretty clearly in Amazons own self-stated priority. They said they wanted to go to a place where they can recruit and hire talent.Sometimes, tax incentives can even harm the local economy, especially in cities whose finances aren't as rosy as New York's or D.C.'s. Giving up that tax revenue can put a strain on local services, particularly schools. As New York University business professor Scott Galloway put it in an email to Barrons on Tuesday , the tax incentives from New York amount to an elegant transfer of funds from municipal school/fire/police districts to Amazon shareholders.Cutting into services and school budgets makes the local workforce less attractive in the long run, and the location less alluring, the Urban Institute report notes. What is the trade-off? What are the investments that the city or the state can be making to change its long-term economic trajectory? Randall says.Cities would be better served, according to Randall and other economic policy analysts, by improving schools and public services, and focusing on nurturing their existing network of businesses.When a city offers tax giveaways to lure a company, the government goes into the negotiation with a marked disadvantage because of what economists call "information asymmetry." The city doesn't have all the information about what the company is looking for. In some cases, a company may choose a city it would have moved to anyway, pocketing the tax incentives even though they weren't a deciding factor.Firms are in a advantageous position," Randall says. "They know cities want to attract jobs and create opportunities for their residents. They know they are in the position to leverage a public benefit from what they have to offer. Ceasefire Oregon has called on the state House of Representatives to investigate Rep. Bill Post, R-Keizer, for putting online the phone numbers and home addresses of the chief petitioners of a ballot measure to ban assault weapons.Penny Okamoto, executive director of the gun control advocacy group, sent an email last week to House Speaker Tina Kotek and the Oregon Ethics Commission, calling for the state House to convene a committee to investigate Post's alleged unethical behavior. The email was sent just days after Post retained his legislative seat in a race against Democrat challenger Dave McCall."Although the information is publicly available, Representative Post's action was clearly an attempt to harass and intimidate the chief petitioners and to undermine the ballot measure process," Okamoto wrote. "Representative Post's behavior is beneath the dignity of Oregon elected officials and chills political discourse."Post called Ceasefire Oregon's allegations "outrageous," and said it's unfortunate that "this letter is the first thing Ceasefire wishes to pursue after a brutal election cycle," Post's legislative director Abby Weekly wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. She pointed out that Post was doxed by a national writer who posted part of Post's social security number, as well as his home address and phone numbers online.Kotek could not be reached immediately for comment.In a Facebook post in March, Post encouraged gun rights supporters to personally contact three Portland clergy leading the initiative campaign to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines in Oregon. He posted the message on the Facebook page of a group called "The Heirs of Patrick Henry, Northwest.""Should anyone want to make a phone call or send a note...." Post wrote above a photo of the three petitioners' phone numbers and home addresses. "Feel free to right click and save the picture then share everywhere."The post led to harassing emails and phone calls to the petitioners, and it's had a chilling effect on others challenging the powerful gun rights lobby, Okamoto said. The petitioners of Initiative 43 have since withdrawn the ballot measure but are pursuing a bill that would ban assault weapons in the next legislative session..The next month, Kurt Eichenwald, a Dallas-based journalist for Vanity Fair and MSNBC, posted Post's personal information online in an extensive Twitter tirade against the former conservative radio host. After posting portions of Post's social security number and phone number to his Twitter followers, Eichenwald then deleted the information, saying he'd made his point.Okamoto also cited Post's use of Twitter on Oct. 6 to share a statement mocking victims of sexual assault, on the day U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in after a close confirmation vote in the Senate. A first-term Atlanta senator was among more than a dozen demonstrators who were arrested during a protest in the state Capitol.State Sen. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta, said she was standing with her constituents when officers led her out of the Capitol rotunda and placed plastic restraints on her wrists."I was not yelling. I was not chanting," she said. "I stood peacefully next to my constituents because they wanted their voices to be heard, and now I'm being arrested."Williams said she was handcuffed after she "refused to disperse" from the rotunda.Williams is charged with obstruction, Capitol police said. She was released on a signature bond after being detained for about five hours.Williams said she felt as though she was targeted for standing with protesters concerned about voter suppression."I stood with constituents to demand that their voices be heard and countless other Georgians who cast ballots on last Tuesday and thought that their votes were counted and are learning now that they're not," she said after her release. "I will continue to stand with the citizens of Georgia -- and any citizen -- to demand that their votes be counted, because that is the bedrock of our democracy."The other 14 protesters are charged with disrupting the General Assembly.The protest in the rotunda under the Gold Dome was organized by a local Black Lives Matter group to pressure state officials to ensure all absentee and provisional ballots are tallied in the governor's race between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp. Kemp has declared victory.Occasionally, the group of roughly 100 people broke into chants of "count every vote."Authorities said the demonstration was broken up after several warnings because of rules that prohibit chanting or yelling while lawmakers are in session. Police armed with stacks of plastic restraints circled the protesters as the clocked neared 1:30 p.m.,when the House convened for a special session called by Gov. Nathan Deal.Capitol police said they arrested 15 people, including Williams, who are accused of violating state code that prohibits disruption of "orderly conduct of official business."Williams and other protesters were taken to the Fulton County jail, where lawmakers and supporters gathered demanding that all 15 people be released without charges.State Rep. Park Cannon, D-Atlanta, called the arrests a "travesty.""It's funny because one in 18 Georgians is under correctional control in the state of Georgia," she said. "We see this as indicative of the wrong trends in Georgia as it relates to fair elections and people being able to feel safe in their communities."Williams' Senate colleagues condemned the lawmaker's detention."When a sitting senator, who is the vice chair of the state Democratic Party, is thrown into a paddy wagon at the state capitol it is a stark reminder that our right to freely assemble is at risk," said state Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta.Williams is the first vice chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Party Chairman DuBose Porter said Williams was arrested "for doing her job where she works.""Today, (Williams) was arrested at the Georgia State Capitol while standing up for her constituents' right to peaceful protest and advocating to count every Georgian's vote," Porter said. "We stand with her and with all Georgians whose Constitutional rights are at risk. "Georgia includes a provision requiring that legislators "shall be free from arrest during sessions of the General Assembly" except for treason, felony or breach of the peace.Abrams campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo criticized legislative leaders for arresting protesters concerned about voter suppression."Today there were people who came to the Capitol to raise this issue," Groh-Wargo said. "They were literally only asking to be heard. Demanding that this state count every vote."She thanked Williams for standing with the protesters."I applaud her bravery and we stand with voters and their story and demand that they count every vote," Groh-Wargo said. Description GIS 15 November 2018: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Ivan Collendavelloo, handed over Home Solar Project Certificates yesterday to 17 beneficiaries of the region of Trefles in Rose Hill during a ceremony held at the Trochetia Municipal Centre in Trefles. In his address, Mr Collendavelloo expressed his satisfaction that it is the first time that people from the lower rungs of society will be able to consume electricity that they will produce themselves through solar panels. He lauded the Home Solar Project which aims at helping low-income communities to be energy sufficient, save energy costs and protect the environment. He added that the Central Electricity Board (CEB) will pay for the installation of the photovoltaic panels on the rooftops of those households which have been identified. He also said the CEB will give the beneficiaries 50 units of electricity free each month for the next 20 years, which will enable people in low income communities to benefit from significant electricity bill savings. Speaking about the Home Solar Project, Mr Collendavelloo recalled that a sum of Rs 350 million (USD 10 million) has been obtained as a loan from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) for the implementation of this project. According to him, the project will bring 10 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity into the grid, resulting in savings of over USD 35 million in fossil fuel imports over the project lifetime and improvements in the energy security of the country. Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that the Home Solar Project earned an IRENA Award International Recognition on 13 January 2018, as supported by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the IRENA, the global platform for international cooperation on renewable energy. The Project ranked first out of all 89 projects submitted to IRENA. He underscored that the Director General of IRENA, Mr Adnan Z. Amin, had congratulated Mauritius for the quality and the innovativeness of the Home Solar Project which will support low income households and improve their quality. The Home Solar Project This project, which is being implemented by the CEB and CEB (Green Energy) Co. Ltd aims at installing solar photovoltaic systems on rooftops of 10 000 households in Social Category tariff 110A as part of the Governments efforts to alleviate poverty whilst contributing to the national target of achieving 35% of renewable electricity in the energy mix by 2025. The Pilot Phase, targeting an initial 1 000 households (1000 Solar PV Kits) with a total capacity of 1 megawatt is currently in the process of being implemented with 654 PV kits already installed as at 08 Nov 2018. In the second phase, 10 000 Grid-Tie Roof-Mounted Solar PV Kits will be deployed for 10 000 CEB customers. Implementation of the second phase is expected to start in the second quarter of 2019, with around 2 000 kits per year over the next five years. (TNS) Palm Beach County's aging vote-counting machinery exposed its deepest flaws Tuesday in the national glare of a recount of three races for pivotal statewide office.On Tuesday night, Susan Bucher, the supervisor of elections for Palm Beach County, announced that vote-counting machines had overheated and stopped working requiring staff to redo a recount of 174,900 early-vote ballots that took a day and a half to get through the first time, according to reporting by The Washington Post."We are disappointed by the mechanical problems," Bucher said. "We're working 24/7 to get the job done."WPTV Channel 5 reported that a mechanic had been flown in to work on the machines.Bucher already had assured the public she could not recount the U.S. Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner races, as well as a local state House race, by Thursday's state-mandated deadline.A Leon County Circuit Court judge granted her a reprieve, allowing her more time, but that was immediately undone as Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner petitioned to move the case to federal court.The county is alone in the state in using a particular type of equipment, made by the now-defunct company Sequoia Voting Systems, that cannot recount more than one race at a time.Bucher, who inherited the equipment when she took office in 2009, has gotten the county to set aside $11 million to pay for new counting equipment but has held off on a purchase as the state wrestles with how voting systems must meet the Americans with Disabilities Act by a 2020 deadline."I don't think it's very responsible to spend $11.1 million on new equipment that's not going to be viable in 2020," Bucher said Tuesday.Recounts in Palm Beach and Broward counties have drawn sharp criticism from both Gov. Rick Scott and President Donald Trump, both of whom have alleged that Bucher and neighboring supervisor, Brenda Snipes of Broward County, have engaged in fraud because they kept counting ballots for several days after Election Day.In every election, ballots are counted after Election Day, with big counties traditionally taking longer because they have more questionable ballots to examine. No evidence of fraud has been uncovered as the recounts have unfolded under an intense media glare.At stake in the recounts are close races for governor, U.S. senator, agriculture commissioner and several state legislative seats, including House District 89 in Palm Beach County, where the candidates are separated by 37 votes.Unless the courts order an extension, counties have until 3 p.m. Thursday to complete machine recounts in those races. If the margin of victory remains within 0.25 percent, election officials would likely be required to eyeball hundreds or even thousands of overvotes and undervotes cast in those races. An overvote is when more than one candidate is selected; an undervote is when no candidate is selected.Sometimes, the human eye can detect evidence of a voters' intent on such ballots that escaped detection by the computer.The machine recount sets up the hand recount by separating undervotes and overvotes from the larger body of ballots. In Palm Beach County, Bucher is looking at recounting nearly 600,000 ballots three times in the statewide races and about 80,000 ballots in the District 89 race.In Leon County Circuit Court Tuesday, Judge Karen Gievers said Palm Beach County expected to complete its U.S. Senate machine recount late Tuesday, three days after it began. It cannot move on to the next recount, Gievers wrote in an order extending the county's time to finish, until it completes the hand recount of overvotes and undervotes discovered during the machine recount.Under state law, if the county doesn't get done by 3 p.m. Thursday its initial count, completed Saturday, is submitted to the state.Bucher said Monday that her office was confident it could complete a recount in the Senate race, where Scott, a Republican, is attempting to unseat Democrat Bill Nelson. But Bucher wasn't as optimistic about completing recounts in the other races by Thursday.Bucher's office confronts a trifecta of travails as it attempts to complete the recounts.First, Palm Beach County is the third most populous in the state. Nearly 600,000 people cast ballots in the highest profile races, those for governor and U.S. Senate.The second issue is the unprecedented number of recounts that must be performed. A single recount after an election isn't atypical. But recounts in such high-stakes, high-profile races as governor, U.S. Senate and agriculture commission at the same time present a huge challenge even for counties with the most up-to-date equipment."This is a very difficult undertaking," said David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research. "Those deadlines are going to be hard to meet. I'm pretty sure when the Legislature set that deadline, they never contemplated three statewide recounts."The final hurdle Bucher's office faces is the limitation of her voting equipment.Equipment in other counties can retabulate ballots in multiple races at the same time.In Palm Beach County, the recount will be slowed by equipment that can only handle one race at a time. That means the nearly 600,000 ballots cast in the big statewide races have to be run once, then again and still again.Ion Sancho, the recently retired supervisor of elections in Leon County, said the seeds of Palm Beach County's problems were sown by Bucher's predecessor, Arthur Anderson."This is an instance of be careful what you wish for," Sancho said.Anderson ran for and won election on a platform of upgrading equipment used by his predecessor, Theresa LePore, who oversaw the infamous butterfly ballot and the county's many recounts during the 2000 Bush-Gore presidential battle.In 2007, Anderson bought new equipment from Sequoia to convert from touchscreen voting to fill-in-the-bubble-style paper ballots. He picked Sequoia because the county already used the company's tabulators and he would not have to commit to the large expense of buying new tabulation equipment if he stayed with the same vendor.Competitor Dominion Voting Systems, which would buy Sequoia in 2010, told commissioners Sequoia was selling "old technology" to the county.Bucher, then a term-limited state legislator running for the supervisor's job, urged the county to go in a different direction.Now, the equipment and its limitations and headaches belong to her office.Staff writer Christine Stapleton contributed to this story. (TNS) An app that helps low-income defendants make bail is in the works and so is an app that would help track the many obstacles ex-offenders face when released from prison.The ideas for the apps didnt emanate from some think tank, but rather from a group of activists who were brought together in Cleveland for the purpose of finding ways that technology can enhance criminal justice.The Fix216: Criminal Justice Scope-a-thon was held at the Midtown TechHive on Euclid Avenue. The organization promoting the session was HackCleveland, an offshoot of the nonprofit Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. The Cleveland Foundation provided funding to HackCleveland for the effort.Five groups of six to eight members competed for cash prizes that are to be used to bring their ideas to fruition, according to Justin Bibb, co-founder of HackCleveland.The top prize went to a group who proposed an app that would connect low-income inmates with the resources to make bail. The members call themselves Unbailed." They will receive $6,000 to develop the app along with up to $5,000 in software support from Microsoft. Group member Cait Kennedy, a graduate student at Cleveland State University, said her group wanted to address the human and taxpayer costs of jailing people unnecessarily.Kennedy said her group wanted to start a community bail fund similar to the Bronx Freedom Fund, which helps New Yorkers charged with low-level offenses to make bail and then to ensure that those defendants make their court appearances. Once the defendants have met their legal obligations, the money is returned to the fund to be reused.Kennedy said the goal is to make the bail app accessible to defendants, as well as their family and friends. The group also envisions the app being able to receive donations from the community.Second place in the Scope-a-thon went to a group envisioning an app that would collect data on the many ways ex-offenders are denied opportunities, such as being turned down for a job or a loan. The group was awarded $4,000 to pursue its goal, along with up to $5,000 in software support from Microsoft.One of the members of that group is Ken Brickman, an ex-offender who works as a job developer for the Center for Employment Opportunities in Cleveland. Brickman said that he didnt know what he was getting into when he showed up for the Scope-a-thon, "but I had to be part of it.The app is expected to allow ex-offenders who face obstacles, or what group members call collateral sanctions," to self report those experiences on the app. A partnership that has yet to be developed would monitor the app to determine how the information might be used, such as to provide data for university research or to advocate for policy changes, Brickman said.Four members of the community served as judges for the Scope-a-thon. They were Damian Calvert, program facilitator at Collaboration Station and field trainer/program developer at Reentry Bridge Network; Ronnie Dunn, chief diversity officer and associate professor of urban studies at Cleveland State University; Antonio Howard, software quality assurance analyst at Hyland Software; and Denise Williams, a former data scientist with IBM. The first was a penalty of $686 for a late remittance to the U.S. Department of Treasury, which Olson said was the result of a payment error by the auditors office. The other two were late fees assessed to the county for failing to make payments to the state retirement system on time. (TNS) Integrating and automating the payroll and benefits systems should mean Brown County, S.D., will avoid paying late fees and penalties in the future.That was the main takeaway Russ Olson, with the South Dakota Department of Legislative Audit, discussed with commissioners during Tuesdays county meeting at the courthouse.Commissioners enlisted the help of the department to resolve problems that have cost the county more than $9,000 in fees and penalties.Olson said there were three primary instances the department looked into:The first payment was $4,193 and the second was $4,525, according to meeting minutes.The county was penalized for making one payment two days past the Aug. 15 deadline. Then it was assessed a late fee for failing to make a payment to the retirement system in September.Olson said the retirement system penalties were no ones fault, per se, but rather could be attributed to how payroll data was being manually transmitted between systems. The other factor, he said, was a lack of training provided to a new human resources employee who was charged with managing the payroll and benefits systems.They probably didnt know the significance of being late. I dont know how well that was communicated in the training process, Olson said.Chief Information Officer Paul Sivertsen said the county is already in the process of integrating the payroll and benefits systems. Once all the interfaces are complete, the process will be fully automated. That should eliminate human error. (TNS) Community Organizations Active in Disaster brought together various organizations to help the southwest Georgia area recover from Hurricane Michaels storm damage. COAD spokeswoman Sherrell Byrd said recovery is going pretty smoothly.I think its had a few hiccups in terms of the debris pickup and the weather that weve had, Byrd said. For the most part, we learned a lot from the January (2017) storms that enabled us to be able to serve peoples needs and pretty much anticipate the needs a lot faster. We were a little more organized and ready to go in terms of corralling the same organizations that we worked with in the past to mobilize them into action this time around. COAD is hosting a Community Cleanup Day on Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and is seeking corporate volunteers to assist with disaster relief efforts. Phoebe Putney Health System and SunTrust Bank have already confirmed their commitments. Corporations, organizations and community groups interested in participating can call (229) 364-7113 or email arrcoad@gmail.com.Theyre going to partner with the organization Samaritans Purse to receive training, Byrd said. Every volunteer will go through their debris cleanup training and, after theyre trained, they will go out into the community. We have a list of approximately 1,200 homes (in Albany) that are still in need of assistance with debris cleanup. Theyll be dispatched to those different homes from about 7 oclock that morning, and theyll be working as long as 5 that afternoon.Byrd added that COAD might do the Cleanup Day again in December if the volunteers put a dent in the pickup requests. COAD has now transitioned into long-term recovery status and will begin providing assistance for unmet needs. COAD defines unmet needs as individuals whose needs have not been met by homeowners insurance or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Eligibility for aid is on a case-by-case basis. Case management will begin on or around Dec. 3. Those who wish to be considered can complete an online application at Arrcoad.com or call Albany Relief and Recovery at (229) 288-2669 or United Way by dialing 211.Byrd explained that the organization was previously operating in acute recovery, where resources go to addressing basic needs such as shelter, food, access to clean water, electricity and removing obstructive debris immediately following a natural disaster. Long-term recovery is when people have power and can return to work.(Long-term recovery is) when we start addressing needs like taking care of people who may have roof or housing needs that their insurance companies cant cover, helping people with securing food if needed, securing water if needed, having debris still cleaned up in their homes to get the city looking back the way it was, Byrd said.Byrd mentioned that the long-term recovery phase might take a year to complete the process and vet every case in the community. Albany Disaster Recovery Center will offer recovery assistance, tree and debris removal, counseling and community resources for disaster victims. The hours of operation are 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1-7 p.m. on Sunday. Representatives from FEMA, Small Business Administration, Aspire Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services and others are available to assist at the following locations: Isabella Complex 300 Cason St. Albany Technical Colleges Kirkland Building 1704 South Slappey Blvd. Lee County 935 U.S. Highway 19 South in Leesburg Citizens can now use an online form to apply for FEMA disaster recovery assistance at any DRC location with FEMA agents. The application can be found at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1 (800) 621-3362.Asked how long people could expect the food distribution locations to be open, Byrd responded,Right now, the food pantries that are still serving are the ones that are typically open all the time in our community. That wont change. Theyre back to their normal operations until were simply sending people to them.2018 The Albany Herald, Ga.Visit The Albany Herald, Ga. at www.albanyherald.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) The new city of Lima, Ohio, website developed to account for mobile users, improve user experience and comply with the American with Disabilities Act is scheduled to go live Monday.Created through a cross-departmental effort led by Gary Wurst with the citys data services group and Chief of Staff Sharetta Smith, the new website used community input collected through an online survey to create what Mayor David Berger called a clean, citizen-centric design.Compared to the citys current link-filled website, the end result is easier to read and navigate for both desktop and mobile users.Berger said the citys current website sees roughly 30,000 visitors on average each month with the majority heading to the utilities section to pay a water bill or the court section to navigate court records. Those pages have been highlighted on the homepage along with links to the citys social media pages.The city also added a notify me feature to the city website so Lima residents can sign up to receive notifications such as city alerts, press releases, events, meeting notifications and electronic newsletters sent out via email.One of the goals of the citys website redesign was to create a better user experience for those on mobile devices. According to the city, almost half of all website users, 45 percent, access the citys website from a smartphone or tablet.Earlier this year, the city of Lima held a photo contest in order to populate the new website with eye-catching imagery. The grand prize winner, who provided the image for the citys homepage, was John Wehner for his photo of Faurot Park.While we could have hired a photographer, we recognized that one of the driving factors behind getting an upgrade was that we wanted to better connect with citizens. We also recognized that our government is a peoples government and that people feel most connected when they are included, Smith said at the time.The website committee worked diligently with CivicPlus to create a design based on analytics and customer needs. For more than six months, these employees worked on the design, content migration, functionality and employee training, all while performing their other day-to-day responsibilities, Berger said in a press release.Other members of the citys redesign team include Courtney Parent, Jim Morrisey, Autumn Swanson and Dana Addis.Were looking forward to the public getting their hands on it, Smith said. Check it out Nov. 19 and let us know of any improvements that could be made. WORKFORCE A MOTIVATOR FOR WISCONSIN COUNTY OREGON PARTNERS SEEK DIGITAL EQUITY CONNECTIVITY, PARTNERSHIPS KEY IN VERMONT In a new initiative that has already been expanded by popular demand, 35 groups representing cities, counties, towns and municipal utilities across 18 states will join private-sector partners in the first-ever Neighborly Community Broadband Accelerator.The cohort, announced on Nov. 15, will get underway later this year and conclude sometime in 2019. Its the first-ever broadband endeavor for the San Francisco-based company, which links communities to capital and has helped finance such traditional public projects as schools, bridges, playgrounds and roads. More recently, however, Neighborly has focused on supporting infrastructure that will make communities more resilient and more future-proof, said Product Manager Garrett Brinker.Nearly a year after the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality, Brinker and incoming members of the new cohort said its clearer than ever that the availability of affordable, high-speed broadband is essential for public entities across the U.S. to improve connectivity, fight brain drain and bolster their workforces and economies. Financing and funding are key aspects of any broadband project and the realization that many municipalities dont address these areas early enough in the process helped inspire creation of the Accelerator, which opened its application process in August.The company initially planned on accepting around 10 groups but received more than 100 applications that it reviewed with an eye for network feasibility, geographic diversity and overall effort. The enthusiastic response motivated Neighborly to roughly triple the number of participants. The company believes that broadband is foundational for modern infrastructure and smart city efforts alike; and widening participation would improve the groups capacity to educate and inform members.Just like the bridges did in the 20th century, broadband infrastructure can help unlock economic prosperity, the creation of jobs, new educational opportunities and ways in which people can become more connected to anyone and anything around the world, Brinker said, comparing its potential to the 1930s construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, an early economic enabler for the Bay Area. Having closely examined how to establish a broadband network in an educational curriculum guided by industry representatives, participants will have access to competitive Neighborly financing at the program's end.Keeping economic engines running smooth is definitely an aim for officials in Sauk County, Wis., part of a Neighborly Accelerator that includes partners from Laramie, Wyo., to JEA, the community-owned utility in Jacksonville, Fla.; and from Baird, Texas, to Palo Alto, Calif.Jared Pinkus, who has been Sauk County's community liaison for nearly eight months, said his position was created following a 2014 survey of rural broadband that identified a need for better connectivity, particularly in the southwest section of the county. Pinkus said that, despite ongoing efforts, the county continues to face a workforce gap as its population ages and younger residents move to better connected areas.Were situated right outside of Madison, said Pinkus. Its the capital so theres a lot going on, its very attractive to a younger workforce and so its How do we tap into that? We went through a number of initiatives over the course of four years to try to figure out how to attract and retain specifically millennials, but (also) young families or skilled workers.The countys topography, including hilly areas with dense forest, is a natural challenge to deploying broadband, but the county continues to study the need and hopes to drill down on financing and learn from participants and private-sector partners with more experience.Standing up high-speed broadband would cost nearly $50 million, Sauk Countys second study determined, but supervisors are supportive and joining the Accelerator should help the county's effort, Pinkus said. Local connectivity efforts are also progressing. The Reedsburg Utility Commission, which provides Internet, TV and telephone services to more than 4,400 customers in Sauk County, recently received two state grants totaling nearly $450,000 to connect a fiber backbone.Leaders in one Oregon metropolitan area have already bonded over improving broadband. Michael Hanna, a data engineer at Multnomah County and campaign manager for the regional Municipal Broadband PDX campaign, said last winters FCC vote galvanized support for creating a publicly owned Internet utility with permanent net neutrality. Last year, new data showed 30 percent of Latino households in Multnomah, and 28 percent of households with residents ages 65 and older, lack broadband access.The county and the cities of Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village will partner in an upcoming broadband feasibility study, Hanna said. By joining the Accelerator, the group hopes to gain a better sense of how to streamline the process of creating a public utility; and how to create a template that could serve as a model to other agencies. Other reasons for participating, however, have to do with leveling the playing field.Digital equity is a primary driver for Municipal Broadband PDX, which took the lead in applying to join the Accelerator. (PDX is the airport code for Portland International Airport, and also regularly used as a signifier of the Portland metropolitan area.) Serving the neediest is a primary mission for the county, Hanna said, but because Internet access is controlled by a for-profit industry, furthering high-speed broadband has been difficult.Equity was really the primary driver for Multnomah County, and for the four cities in eastern Multnomah County, said Hanna. They quickly also joined both from an equity perspective but also from an economic development perspective. They saw the opportunity to attract and retain new businesses and kind of the local economic boom and local jobs. Theres really kind of a compelling economic aspect to municipal broadband.Connectivity is a primary issue for the town of Enosburgh, Vt. But Sean Kio, chairman of the Enosburgh Technology and Innovation Committee, said the town, which serves more than 2,700 residents in areas including the village of Enosburg Falls, has other motivations for joining the Accelerator, including a growing workforce it wants to retain, forging local partnerships, sparking creative tech work and potentially standing up a broadband network.The quality of broadband access, provided by the private sector, can vary around the region, the chairman said, calling it decent in the village which is within town boundaries but somewhat slower in the town and elsewhere. Compounding the issue is the fact that most residents live outside the village. Joining the accelerator, Kio said, would enable the muni to explore closing its digital divide with education from partners but also help attract and retain a younger workforce drawn by the lower cost of home ownership but seeking high-speed Internet.Enosburgh being a small community, not putting the town in any sort of financial burden long-term is always something to think about. I dont think theres a wrong answer. Were currently in that process of looking at alternatives and whats right for the community, said Kio, who works for a fiber broadband company, Burlington Telecom, which provides TV, telephone and Internet to residents in Burlington, Vt. Washington, D.C., looked within to find its new IT security leader in a longtime partner, the governments Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) announced on Nov. 14.Suneel Cherukuri, a contractor with the agency for nearly a decade and a former engineer there, was named Chief Information Security Officer for the District of Columbia, OCTO said in a news release, affirming the announcement this week by Interim Chief Technology Officer Barney Krucoff. Cherukuri, whose first day on the job was Nov. 13, is replacing former CISO John MacMichael who left OCTO in February to join Gartner as a research leadership partner.OCTO, since our inception 15-plus years ago, weve always had a mixture of contractors and government employees. Just because technology moves so fast and we have to try to keep up with it, OCTO Communications Director Michael Rupert toldCherukuri, who has 20 years experience in large enterprise network environments according to LinkedIn , has specialized in cybersecurity architecture, design, engineering and operations. He's currently listed as a cybersecurity architect at OCTO, on LinkedIn.Prior to joining OCTO, he was a cybersecurity architect at Networking For Future (NFF), a D.C. IT firm, for more than four years. Before NFF, he worked at ANZ, one of Melbourne, Australias largest banks, as a senior technical analyst for about 26 months. But beyond his time in various environments, his previous work at D.C. helped make him a contender, OCTOs communications director said. Cherukuri also served as senior network security engineer at D.C. from 2006 to 2010.D.C., because of its state and local functions, is a very unique IT network. We also have an extremely large municipal digital network that connects hundreds of government buildings and schools. Its a big responsibility, and having someone with that degree of familiarity with our system, being able to walk in on Day 1 and not having a huge ramp-up time, is a positive, Rupert said.In D.C. government, Cherukuri will oversee cybersecurity and coordinate protection of information resources from internal and external threats while administering overall security. Hell also oversee OCTOs security architecture and engineering division, which handles tools and tech to protect D.C. assets and resources; its Security Operation Center, which watches the Districts cybersecurity posture around the clock, enterpris-wide and leads incident response; and its governance risk and compliance division, which spearheads development and oversight of IT policy, procedures and standards.In a statement, Krucoff called Cherukuris on-boarding a well-deserved promotion.Suneel provided critical expertise as OCTO focused on expanding and strengthening our cybersecurity efforts over the past decade, Krucoff said.The new CISO called his promotion a true honor and a great responsibility, also in a statement.Cybersecurity is one of the biggest challenges that is faced in todays world of digital governance. We can never be 100 percent protected from all the cyberthreats, the key is to be better prepared by investing wisely in technology and people and focus on reducing overall risk factors, Cherukuri said. Gov. Jay Inslee has tapped another states chief technology officer to fill the CIO role with Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech).According to a press release from Inslees office Nov. 15, James A. Weaver will fill a position that has only had interim leadership since late last year.Since the departure of former CIO Michael Cockrill in September 2017, the position has been held by two interim CIOs Rob St. John, who retired in June, and Vikki Smith In a press release, Inslees office lists Weavers experience as the current CTO for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as previous roles as the deputy CIO and as CTO for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Weaver also served in the Pennsylvania National Guard for more than three decades, focusing on personnel information management systems.James brings a wealth of experience in state government information technology. He has decades of hands-on knowledge and he will build on the important work that WaTech has done to serve the people of Washington through technology, Inslee said in the press release. I look forward to working with James, and I extend my deepest thanks to Vikki for stepping in and ably directing the agency over the past several months.During the Washington Digital Government Summit* last week, Smith alluded to a permanent replacement being named, though officials in the governors office were unable to confirm a specific candidate. Smith, who has worked in a number of capacities at the Department of Revenue since 1970, also talked about the future of the agency and its shift away from a central service provider and toward a brokerage role.Weaver will begin work at WaTech Dec. 10. Bernie Ecclestone is not saying whether he will leap to the rescue of the Brazilian grand prix. The former F1 supremo, who lives part-time in the country and whose wife Fabiana heads their coffee brand Celebrity, has been linked with potentially buying Interlagos. The circuit is being privatised, leaving the future of the Brazilian grand prix in doubt. When asked about the race's future, 88-year-old Ecclestone told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper: "I have no idea. It depends on the commercial prospects." Pressed further, he added: "I don't have any news, and if I did I would not tell you or anyone else. But I'm pretty busy." Ecclestone did praise the presidential election of the controversial right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, comparing him with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. "Brazil needs a Putin. Brazilians should not be afraid," he said. "I believe he (Bolsonaro) will do what is necessary. He will put Brazil back on the map and hopefully make the future happen sooner. "I am certain he will do what is necessary," Ecclestone added. As for the way Liberty Media is running F1 in his wake, the Briton has not hidden that he disagrees with many of the American company's tactics. "They do things differently, but maybe it will work. Things work in America in a way that does not work anywhere else in the world," Ecclestone said. (GMM) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Photo for illustration (Source: nhandan.com.vn) The week will take place at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism from November 18th to 23rd to mark the founding anniversary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (November 18th) and Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23rd).It will attract the participation of nearly 200 people of 15 ethnic groups from 13 localities in Vietnam. Visitors can enjoy activities such as cultural exchange with ethnic groups from southwestern Vietnam, folk exchange, folk games of Khmer and Cham ethnic groups, introduction of ethnic Khmer traditional handicrafts and arts, and Cham ethnic culture./. The areas bar and restaurant owners are excited about their new neighbors. Photo: Leanne Staples/Getty Images/RooM RF The citys Amazon delivery will be here soon. The company announced this week that it has selected Long Island City as one of its two new headquarters, along with Crystal City near Washington, D.C., bringing 25,000 new employees to to the hood over the next few years. Newly elected congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes parts of Queens, calls the news extremely concerning, leading the cries that Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill De Blasio sold out to Amazon at taxpayers expense. But while she and plenty of other New Yorkers are skeptical, the areas small-business owners are, understandably, much happier about their new neighbors. We are delighted that Amazon has chosen to come to Long Island City, says Amber Jacobsen, co-founder of Tobys Estate, the coffee and small bites chainlet that opened its Court Square location in early 2017 a short walk from the Citi building that will serve as a launch pad for Amazons LIC takeover (the company will likely build most its LIC office space from the ground up). One of the more high-profile openings in LIC this year was Bellwether, whose owner Matt McCormick doesnt hesitate when asked if he welcomed the news about Amazon. Obviously the answer to that question is yes, he says. A ten-year LIC resident himself, he goes on to hedge, Growth at a reasonable rate is always a positive thing for commerce and property value. Too much too quickly can create imbalances on all fronts. Less cautious is LIC pioneer Richard Boccato, whose Dutch Kills opened on a bleak stretch of Jackson Avenue almost ten years ago. He says that Amazons arrival actually has him considering expanding the acclaimed cocktail den into an adjacent space that recently became available. Hopefully itll have a positive effect, he says of Amazon HQ. I dont have a crystal ball but I been here since 2007 and Im still here. Boccato points out that even before Tuesdays news, Dutch Kills business has steadily grown, especially of late, as the citys A-list developers scurried to erect shiny glass luxury rental towers amid the industrial environs. The real-estate data start-up Localize.city released a report in the wake of the Amazon news this week showcasing its findings on LIC: New units are opening at a clip right now in the neighborhood. Roughly 3,000 units were completed in the first half of 2018, and another 3,300 units are expected to hit the market between now and 2020, according to their analysis of Department of Building data. Now, another 1,500 units are in the pipeline, as well as roughly 500,000 square feet of retail space thats expected to be available by early 2020. Scott Avram, senior vice-president at real-estate developer Lightstone, says the proximity to Manhattan, a waterfront esplanade and copious mass-transit options made the area attractive for renters even before the Amazon news. His companys recently opened Arc leased all 430 of its units in just a few months, with one-bedrooms starting north of $3,000. He thinks that the influx of Amazon employees will 100 percent help the areas restaurateurs. Beyond the thousands of new residents, a few well-known chefs and restaurateurs have already announced forthcoming projects, from the latest outpost of Xian Famous Foods, opening at 26-19 Jackson Avenue any day now, to Dan Kluger, the Loring Place chef-restaurateur who just revealed plans for a 5,000-square-foot restaurant in Tishman Speyers Court Square retail-and-office tower. The target opening for that is spring 2020. But before other high-end chefs send their biz dev teams out to scout body shops ripe for reclamation, they should probably look at how Amazons original Seattle headquarters affected the citys South Lake Union neighborhood, where the online retail giants generously paid, lanyard-wearing masses toil. One of Seattles most prolific and successful chef-restaurateurs, Ethan Stowell, sees his one South Lake Union restaurant, a branch of his Ballard Pizza Company, as an outlier in his empire. He doesnt blame Amazon or its employees, but he suggests that unlike his other 13 restaurants which serve residential urban neighborhoods and have earned him James Beard Award nominations as well as a devoted following the area around Amazon HQ is a daytime-first endeavor. When it opened in 2016, Stowell says, We were expecting a happy-hour crowd, but that and the early dinner rush didnt happen or not as much as we expected. Instead, its become something of a glorified slice joint, and Stowell says he considers Ballard Pizza Company more of a learning experience than anything else. Its not one of our neighborhood places. Its impersonal, transactional. Its not the business were good at. What advice would he give New York restaurateurs setting their sights on LIC right now? Focus on breakfast and lunch and dont expect much of a dinner crowd, he suggests. Youre basically food service on a corporate campus. Or, Stowell says, focus on the cooler nearby residential neighborhoods Greenpoint or Williamsburg, where Amazons employees will head after work. Still, its likely that LIC will see a burst of restaurant openings from next year into the foreseeable future, and Dutch Kills Boccato views the coming competition as healthy, mostly. A rising tide floats all boats. Generally the pioneers get their names on the plaques and the monuments, he says, before adding a pragmatic afterthought: For what thats worth I could probably ride the subway. Opinion Diabetes, an ailment that shows no mercy The silent killer disease diabetes can be ruthless in its attack. The report by the International Diabetes Federation that one in ten (10.5%) adults around the world is currently living with diabetes is surely cause for concern, and raises a red IGAD To Discuss South Sudan Peace Process Leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will tomorrow discuss the South Sudan peace process. JUBA, 15 November 2018 [Gurtong]-The 66th Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers will convene on Friday, November 16, 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a statement from IGAD South Sudan office said on Wednesday. On the agenda are the Implementation of the Revitalized Agreement of the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and progress in Somalia, it added. The meeting will be at Sheraton Hotel Addis Ababa. This will be the first meeting by IGAD leaders to discuss South Sudan peace process after a peace agreement was signed by South Sudan government and opposition leaders in Addis Ababa, in September. The South Sudan peace monitoring body, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission last month late September issued an implementation report noting that some deadlines have been met while others have been missed. Activities implemented included ratification of the Agreement, nominations and appointment of the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC), the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements (PCTSA) workshop, and several declarations of commitment to the R-ARCSS by the Parties. The NPTC had since that time met in Khartoum and Juba, to coordinate for the implementation of the peace agreement. Late last month, the government and opposition groups celebrated the signing of the peace agreement in Juba, a move seen by many as confidence building in the implementation process. In the past two weeks, the forces of the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF) and Forces of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) met in five different States to discuss ways of coordinating information on implementation of the peace agreement. Deadlines missed include the reconstitution of the National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC), reconstitution of JMEC, and the formation of the Joint Defense Board others. Leaders of ASEAN members and Japan at the 21st ASEAN-Japan Summit in Singapore (Photo: VNA) As the leader of the coordinator country for the ASEAN-Japan relations, the PM was addressing the 21st ASEAN - Japan Summit and the celebration of the 45 years of ties between ASEAN and Japan in Singapore on November 14th within the framework of the 33rd ASEAN Summit. He held that the ASEAN-Japan strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation have seen good progress in all three pillars, with many practical activities, especially in the fields of maritime security, anti-terrorism and trans-national criminal combat, cyber security, nuclear weapon non-proliferation and disarmament, law enforcement training, jurisdiction promotion and defence cooperation. Japan is the fourth biggest trade partner and second largest investor of ASEAN, as well as the leading ODA provider of many ASEAN member countries, he noted. ASEAN highly values support of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund in health care, environment, natural disaster control, climate change, science-technology and innovation, as well as in connection through the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and ASEAN Plan of Action on narrowing development gap, and Mekong-Subregion development. Sharing PM Phucs opinions, other ASEAN countries agreed to further promote the sound cooperation between the two sides over the past 45 years and welcomed Japan to continue performing its active and responsible role in the region, while coordinating with ASEAN at forums chaired by the grouping, and contributing to promoting dialogues, building trust and strengthening cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and respect. For his part, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe agreed to foster comprehensive collaboration with ASEAN and support the associations central role as well as efforts in enhancing regional cooperation and connectivity. He briefed participants on the plan to hold the ASEAN-Japan Day in Vietnam in 2019 to strengthen mutual understanding between people of both sides. He also introduced many cooperation initiatives such as a fund of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to support infrastructure cooperation in the region, high quality human resources development, exploiting opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, preventing ocean plastic waste, responding to natural disasters and climate change, and providing health care services for the public. He stressed that ASEAN and Japan should work harder to reinforce opening, equal and law-based multilateral trade. He lauded Singapore, Vietnam and Japans ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), expressing his hope for the soon finalisation of negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. The Japanese PM reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security, freedom and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, respecting diplomatic and legal processes, and upholding principles of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, while stressing efforts to build an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). PM Phuc recognised ideas of Japan, highlighting the ASEANs stance on the East Sea issue and hope that Japan will continue supporting ASEANs efforts in strengtheing dialogue and trust, creating a favourable environment for COC negotiations. He also hailed Japans initiatives to promote connectivity between the rims of Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, pledging that Vietnam will do its utmost to accelerate the ASEN-Japan ties. Vietnam welcomes the Japanese PMs idea of organising the ASEAN-Japan Day in Vietnam, he stated, adding that Vietnam is ready to work with Japan on the event. Concluding the summit, leaders of ASEAN and Japan agreed to approve a declaration on the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation./. Ministers Learn about the ministers of the Health portfolio, including who they are, what they are responsible for and what they do. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets with US Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore on November 14th (Photo: VNA) During their meeting on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Singapore on November 14th, PM Phuc said Vietnam wants to lift the bilateral comprehensive partnership to a new height on the basis of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions. The PM suggested that the two sides should increase meetings and exchange of delegations, especially high-level delegations. He applauded US leaders commitments to cooperation in dealing with war consequences in Vietnam, including dioxin detoxification at Bien Hoa airport. Vietnam will continue to consitently implement the Doi Moi (reform) and international integration process, improve its business environment, raise its intellectual property protection capacity, ensure cyber security and safety, and abide by international financial and monetary standards, PM Phuc said. He proposed the two countries further facilitate their bilateral trade and investment ties, and satisfactorily address concerns of each side, for the benefits of their people. The PM spoke highly of cooperation between Vietnam and the US in regional and international issues. He also commended the USs affirmation to back the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and regional mechanisms led by the bloc, as well as cooperation initiatives contributing to peace and stability in the region, and to respect independence and sovereignty of other nations. Vietnam also welcomed the USs support for ASEANs stance on the East Sea issue and negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said. PM Phuc called on the US to back Vietnams bid to run for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020-2021 tenure, and join hands in promoting the ASEAN-US strategic partnership when Vietnam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020. For his part, Vice President Pence stressed that the US supports a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam, and stands ready to cooperate with the country in matters of shared concern. He agreed with PM Phucs proposals to increase the exchange of high-level delegations in the time ahead, especially on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and work together to settle each others concern in trade and investment collaboration. The Vice President used the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Government and people for their assistance to the US in searching and repatriating remains of US servicemen missing in action during the war in Vietnam. He also highlighted common interests in maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and respecting international law in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Vice President lauded Vietnams observance of the United Nations Security Councils resolutions regarding the Korean Peninsula and urged the country to continue backing dialogues between the US and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK)./. Halla-Aho said in the European Parliament on Tuesday the GCM is a misguided and dangerous document that offers no solutions to tackling immigration and urged all member states not to join the declaration. Jussi Halla-aho, the chairperson of the Finns Party and Member of the European Parliament, has expressed his strong reservations about the so-called global compact for migration (GCM), an exhaustive agreement on global migration prepared under the auspices of the United Nations. What Europe is facing is a century of migratory pressure from Africa and Middle East, he predicted. This is an existential threat to our society. You simply cant tackle this kind of a problem with a migration policy thats only focused on the rights of the individual migrant, or by opening new legal avenues to Europe or by silencing criticism with hate speech legislation, continued Halla-aho. The European Union, he added, needs effective tools to limit mass immigration from the third world, tools that according to him are not offered by the GCM. Laura Huhtasaari, a deputy chairperson of the Finns Party, expressed her concerns about the agreement last week in the Finnish Parliament. You claim that were about to sign it somewhere, responded Timo Soini (BR), the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Were not about to sign it. Itll be put forward for a vote at the UN General Assembly, in accordance with regular UN procedure. You should learn the facts before bringing up and making questions about these issues. Aleksi Teivainen HT Source: Uusi Suomi Folker de Jager, VEI Manager for Asia, said that the firm has worked with various water companies in Vietnam since 2009 and defined water as one of the countrys most important sectors. The WaterWorX will be implemented from 2019-2030, through three phases. In the first phase, from 2019-2021, the project will receive an investment of EUR2.5 million, 90 percent of which is sourced by the Dutch Government and VEI. In the first phase, the project will cover three localities of Can Tho, Hau Giang, and Soc Trang. Folker de Jager said that its objectives include assisting water supply firms in localities to deal with upcoming climate change challenges amidst the increasing salt water intrusion, depression, and reduced levels of underground water. He said that the project will help enhance the operational capacity of water supply firms, focusing on reducing revenue losses, as well as improving water quality and saving power. At the same time, VEI will also coordinate with firms in building future plans to cope with the effects of climate change. In the second and third phases, the project will expand collaboration with water firms in other localities facing similar problems, such as Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang. He also expressed his hope that the project will contribute to promoting economic growth in the Mekong Delta region, where water plays a significant role in local agriculture. Can Tho has three companies that will join the projects first phase, while Hau Giang and Soc Trang also have one each. During the project, the VEI will also coordinate with the Centre for Climate Change Research from Can Tho University. Vice Chairman of the Can Tho Peoples Committee Dao Anh Dung said that the city supports the project, adding that relevant authorities will approve the project as soon as all necessary procedures have been completed so that the signing of agreements will take place as scheduled./. SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and Singapore vowed to work together to promote bilateral ties and help boost relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is on an official visit to Singapore, met with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob Wednesday. During their meeting, Li first extended President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to her. Upholding the tradition of friendship, China and Singapore have had frequent high-level visits and personnel exchanges, with pragmatic cooperation expanding to new areas and benefiting people of the two countries, Li said. China is willing to work with Singapore to achieve greater progress of bilateral relations in the new era, he said. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. Li said China always views ASEAN as a priority in foreign relations, and appreciates Singapore's active role in promoting China-ASEAN relations as the China-ASEAN country coordinator and the ASEAN's rotating chair. China is willing to work with Singapore to promote further development of China-ASEAN relations and make new contributions to the peace and development of the region and the world, Li said. For her part, President Halimah Yacob said the reform and opening-up that China launched 40 years ago has not only put China on a fast track of growth, brought about benefits to China and the world, but also started a new journey for Singapore-China ties. The more than ten cooperation deals signed during Premier Li's visit will not only provide a new platform for deepening bilateral cooperation, but also lift Singapore-China relations to a new level, she said. The Singaporean president also expressed hopes that the two countries expand cooperation areas and deepen people-to-people exchanges in the fields of culture and tourism, so as to consolidate the foundation for bilateral relations. Singapore is ready to work with China to promote greater development of ASEAN-China relations, the president said. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Israeli jets firing laser-guided missiles at RPG-toting gunmen, along with pictures of Arab children throwing stones at hulking Merkava tanks, have become an icon of modern armed conflict and the asymmetrical warfare being waged in the Middle East. Consequently, the Israel Defense Forces overall record of success is frequently written off as the result of overwhelming materiel advantage victories won by beefed-up American weaponry and technology. But the Israeli army that won independence in 1948 and a six-day victory in 1967 did not fight with superior planes and tanks. In fact its soldiers didnt even have a decent rifle. In most cases, Israels forces were armed with equipment that was at best equal to that of their Arab opponents. Israel won battles because of the daring tactics and volunteer response of a people convinced that defeat would mean eradication. It is difficult to remember that American billions in weaponry were not available before the 1960s. President John F. Kennedy commenced arms sales to Israel of Hawk surface-to-air missiles in 1962, but it wasnt until the Johnson and Nixon administrations that they arrived on a large scale. For the first 20 years of its existence, the period of formative Israeli victories, Israel had to patch together what weapons it could get. This was certainly clear in the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948, when the British mandate over Palestine forbade accumulation of weapons there, leaving the surrounding Arab states free to build up armies. When the fighting began, Jordans British-trained Arab Legion charged toward Jerusalem in armored cars, wielding American Thompson submachine guns. Israels makeshift forces met this assault with surplus Czechoslovakian boltaction rifles, Molotov cocktails and homemade artillery, including the noisy but terribly ineffective Davidka cannon. Yet the Israelis prevailed and survived. Nineteen years later the IDF again won an underdog victory, defeating Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq and seizing expansive territory in just six days. In 1967 Israels opponents came to the field with $2 billion in Soviet hardware, including 500 jet planes, 1,700 tanks and 2,400 artillery pieces. The T-54 tank was fortified with twice the armor of its American equivalent, the M-48 Patton. When the smoke cleared, Israels armor had decisively bested its opponent. Israels success in the Six-Day War stemmed from strategy and ethos, not materiel. Israel was willing to hazard a preemptive strike the technical superiority of Egypts jets made little difference once they were ambushed on the tarmac. The Yom Kippur War shows the same pattern. Israel was momentarily shocked by new Soviet technology. In the early days of the conflict, SA-6 SAMs knocked out many Israeli jet planes, and Sagger antitank missiles devastated the IDFs M60 tanks. Sophisticated Soviet weapons, combined with the surprise invasion and poor leadership by its government, nearly spelled defeat for Israel. Still, the civilian military saved the nation, even as the government fumbled. Thousands of reservists jumped into their own cars and raced through the desert toward the front. Within a few days they pushed back Egypts invasion, seizing Egyptian territory. Though the IDF was beginning to acquire a few high-quality American arms, the 1973 victory relied more on rapid mobilization and motivated troops. Israel never even fielded that most basic weapon of war, a quality rifle. Since the late 1950s, most Arab states have wisely trusted the AK-47, the worlds most reliable assault rifle. Israels military, however, hopped from design to design, using the homegrown Uzi, then the Belgian FN FAL, then the Israeli Galil. Each weapon had major shortcomings. The Uzi, for instance, is just a large automatic pistol, but Israeli troops won their greatest battles armed with it, again suggesting that there was more involved than equipment. Until the 1980s, the IDF succeeded because of their lack of overwhelming power. As poorly armed underdogs, Israelis were forced to fight for their lives, forced to launch dynamic, sudden attacks and to accomplish their goals before the international community had time to react. A small nation born of artificial partitioning and global politics, Israel understandably had no friends among its Middle Eastern neighbors. Israel developed a military ethos that depended on surprise and communality rather than international response. Things changed in the 1980s, when the IDF found itself fighting in low-intensity occupations, first in Lebanon, then during two Palestinian uprisings, or Intifadas. Strategy, however clever, could do little to alleviate the drudgery of targeted assassinations and the monotonous work of manning checkpoints. Israel succeeded in stifling certain uprisings, but gone was the emphasis on preemptive strikes and mobilizations of reserves. With U.S.-Israeli diplomatic ties tightening, there was a sudden glut of American equipment. These weapons were also given to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait, and Israel had its own military industry. The IDF became largely dependent on its F-16 jets, Apache helicopters, M-16s and other fancy gifts from the Pentagon. Ironically, these better weapons have probably weakened the Israeli army. For the first time Israel began to think in terms of sheer materiel strength. The IDFs 2006 campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon resembled American-style protracted and ineffective offensives. It began with major strategic bombing, including a shock-and-awe attack that substituted Beirut for Baghdad. Such a display of air power may have crumbled Saddam Husseins conscripts, but it makes little difference against an organization as dedicated as Hezbollah. This bombing continued for a stunning 11 days before the IDF committed ground troopslonger than Israel has ever before hesitated. Mobilization, which helped in 1973, has been absent in 2006. When tanks and infantry were finally introduced, they failed to overwhelm Hezbollahs defenses quickly, allowing its antitank teams to snipe at the IDF positions from far away. In 1976 Israeli troops quietly slipped into Entebbe Airport, in Uganda, and rescued 101 kidnapped airline passengers using nothing more than C-130 cargo planes, vehicles borrowed from civilians and a few Uzis. When a similar raid was recently attempted on the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek, Israel pounded the region with laser-guided bombs for hours before inserting commandos. News of the assault was all over the Internet while the operation was still taking place. Hezbollah had weaknesses Israel could have exploited using simpler methods. The organizations cellular structure meant a lack of central command. Its scattered antitank teams could never coordinate a defense against a large Israeli ground assault. Israelis, both civilian and military, blamed their leaders logistical mistakes for the unimpressive campaign, ignoring history in favor of materiel strength. Yet Israel cannot afford to fight with the confidence of the United Statesits materiel resources are not so seemingly boundless. Perhaps when the IDF relearns the lessons of the past and chooses to fight as an agile, dynamic, desperate nation, it will regain its ability to sustain its position in the Middle East. Originally published in the February 2007 issue of Military History. To subscribe, click here. During the crop, which ran from October 2017 to September 2018, Vietnam shipped more than 29.9 million bags of coffee abroad and earned US$3.48 billion. As prices of coffee beans have plunged to the lowest price in the last 50 years, with each tonne being sold at US$1,943, 3.43% lower than the previous crop, the Southeast Asian country only experienced a slight increase of 8.43 % in export turnover. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, some 1.57 million tonnes of coffee were sold abroad for US$2.98 billion during the January-October period, up 21.3% in volume and 0.9% in value in comparison to the same time last year. The average coffee price in the ten-month period fell 16.2% to US$1,901 per tonne. Germany and the US remained the biggest coffee importers of Vietnam, with market shares of 12.5% and 9.6%, respectively. Coffee shipments to Germany rose 14.4% in terms of volume, but decreased 6.6% in value. Meanwhile, coffee exports to the US declined 3.6% in quantity and 20% in value. The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) said that coffee production during the 2017-2018 crop was estimated to grow 5.7% to 164.81 million bags. Brazil was the largest coffee producer in the period, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia. Coffee supply was 2.58 million bags higher than demand, pulling coffee price down to 111.51 US cents per pound from 132.43 US cents per pound recorded in the 2016-2017 crop. Currently, coffee volume remains high in the stocks of many importers, ICO said. Since mid-October, Vietnamese coffee beans have been sold at around VND35,600-36,700 per kilogramme, which has gone up slightly but is still lower than the average prices of previous years. Vietnams coffee scarcity and Indonesias export limitation sparked an increase in coffee prices, experts said, but there isnt a bright prospect for coffee prices in the 2018-2019 crop due to an abundant supply. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Local community access television organizations fear the ruling could force them to shut down operations. Community TV Stations: Proposed FCC Rule Could Gut Funding The studio at NBCTV set up for a debate. The local access television station says its revenue from the local cable company has been dropping yearly. A proposed change before the FCC could cut into its ability to provide local programming and possibly force it to close. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Local public access stations fear that a potential new Federal Communications Commission rule will allow cable companies to obliterate their operating funds. Public, educational, and government access (PEG) stations are mostly funded through franchise fees that cable subscribers pay in their monthly bill. Communities negotiate those fees, typically every 10 years. The county has four local access stations: Northern Berkshire Community Television, WilliNet in Williamstown, Pittsfield Community Television and Community Television for the Southern Berkshires. Editor's note: Lanesborough also has a public television channel, as a commenter has reminded us. But now, a proposal in front of the FCC would allow cable companies to charge "in-kind" services to those fees. Local stations don't know exactly what those in-kind fees charged against their funding will be, but see an easy path through which cable companies could gut their operating funds. "It would be devastating without that cable franchise money. I don't know how we'd survive," said Pittsfield Community Television Executive Director Shawn Serre. The issue dates back to the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 when Congress established laws requiring cable companies to provide up to 5 percent of their gross income to support public access. The companies created the infrastructure to support PEG stations, studios were built, stations started doing more and more in the community -- from covering elections to city council meetings to local sports to local interest shows. "It is our primary source of funding," said Northern Berkshire Community Television Executive Director David Fabiano. The proposed rule change would allow cable companies to charge the costs of much of the basic infrastructure to keep the channels on against the franchising fees. Serre said there are cable drops at various places throughout the city, infrastructure the stations use to record meetings at schools or city hall, the tree lighting ceremony, or others and maintenance of those could be charged against the fee because the company maintains them. He said there are institutional network points allowing for live feeds from various places, and the cable company could do the same. "The other thing could be the value of the channels themselves, the very nature of PEG access channels -- the channels people have to find us now on 1301, 1302, and 1303," Serre said. Serre said the company could have the ability to say those channels could be leased to someone else for a certain price and that price would be charged against the franchise fee. "By the end of the day, they won't be paying any operating money for PEG access TV and we'll have to shut down," Serre said. According to the FCC filing on the issue, the rule is an attempt to keep cities and towns from negotiating above what is statutorily a 5 percent cap on franchise fees. The argument is that various services negotiated to be provided by cable companies are on top of the monetary payment and that puts cable companies on a competitive disadvantage to online providers. Fabiano's biggest concern with the proposed rule, however, is a lack of definition of what can be charged and how much. "It's an unknown. There is no set description as to what passes as an in-kind service," Fabiano said. Local access stations are already fresh off a battle with local cable company Spectrum after it switched the channel numbers from low digits to in the 1300s. Spectrum said it was to keep conformity across its nationwide system but local stations say the move eliminated many viewers who had found the station by browsing, whereas now the stations are mostly found by physically using the remote to get to them. When looking at the possibilities the rules open up for cable companies, Serre said: "if they are allowed to, they definitely will." And the issue has some urgency. "If it goes through the way it is proposed right now, the contract wouldn't be nullified but they would essentially be doing an end run around it. They would still have to pay the fees but they would put on some spreadsheet somewhere and say here are the fees they would have paid and by the way here are the value of the things we provided in-kind," Serre said. Fabiano said the ruling would allow the companies to start charging against that franchise fee even in the middle of the agreement. Fabiano said it is "not quite fair" to change the process in the middle of the contract when local stations are looking for predictability in their funding. Northern Berkshire Community Television serves four communities and franchise fees have already become "volatile." As more people move away from cable, the franchise fees go down. "In the past few years we are starting to see a 1 to 2 percent drop each year, whereas in the past it was 1 to 2 percent increase each year," Fabiano said. However, the cable company has been raising prices so the impact hasn't been as dramatic as it could be. Serre has experienced something similar but since the decrease has been slower, it hasn't quite impacted the organization in a major way. "As time goes on, the numbers will probably shrink. That is part of the reason why we started independent fundraising efforts of our own," Serre said. "We've stepped up our efforts in the last year under many different categories to bring in dollars that are not connected to cable subscriptions. But the problem is, even if we were to do that and over the next five years we were able to make up 20 percent of the amount of money we're getting currently, we would never be able to support what we do here." A PCTV volunteer operating the camera at a Spectrum hearing earlier this year. The station has been fundraising but says it can't raise enough to keep operating without the 5 percent franchise fee its gets from the cable company. Fabiano said his organization has done the same. He said NBCTV does fundraise but it is nowhere near enough to sustain itself. Both organizations say they are not flush with cash. Fabiano has three employees while Serre in the much larger city of Pittsfield has seven. And they both have offices to staff, equipment to replace, utilities, phones, and all of the necessary items to sustain a business. Fabiano added that the importance of local access television has a greater importance to Berkshire County because of the lack of television news. Elections and meetings don't get the attention of New York or Springfield news stations -- and certainly wouldn't get the "gavel to gavel" coverage PEG stations boast. North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard wrote to the FCC about the importance local public access stations have to the civic well-being of the community. "In particular, live and recorded coverage of North Adams City Council meetings and other public events provides residents with a direct connection to information, issues, and concerns that directly affect their lives. Beyond local government, PEG programming and the access corporation's facilities and expertise create opportunities for true and meaningful citizen engagement in the community. The FCC's proposed rule threatens the future of PEG programming," Bernard wrote. Serre said PCTV is members of national and statewide community access organizations ready to oppose the ruling. "We've been in contact with them and they've been on the front lines of this fighting it every step of the way," he said. The novel, which tells the story of a soldier who grows reflective as he collects dead bodies after a battle, won the only prize at the Asia Literature Award 2018 during a recent ceremony in the RoK. The winner was selected by a council of seven Korean writers and a publisher from all works available in the book market. Organisers invited nominated writers to the RoK for the award ceremony. Ninh, whose real name is Hoang Au Phuong, was born in 1952. He is a novelist and writer of short stories best known for his aforementioned award-winning first book, The Sorrow of War. During the anti-American War, he served in the 27th Youth Volunteer Brigade. Of the five hundred who went to war with the brigade in 1969, he is one of just 10 who survived. The Sorrow of War, written in the stream of consciousness style, first won the Vietnam Writers Association Award in 1991. The writer and his novel also won the third Shim Hun Literary Award in the RoK in 2016 and the 2011 Asia Literature Award from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun in Japan, among other honours. Since its publication in 1990, the novel has been translated into many different languages and published in around 20 countries. In the RoK, the novel was first available a long time ago, but the only accessible version was translated from the English version. In 2012, it was translated directly from Vietnamese into Korean by Ha Jae-hong and published by Asia Publishing House. The Asian Literature Award 2018 was part of the Asian Literature Festival 2018, which ran from November 6 to 9 in the RoKs southwest city of Gwangju. The five-episode programme is jointly produced by the VTV and the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), aiming to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of ties between Vietnam and Japan. The programme will introduce Vietnamese audiences to nature and clean energy as well as self-contained production processes addressing environmental protection and sustainable development in Japan. The programme was divided into five episodes titled Experience of catching octopus in Kanagawa province, Experience of making traditional pottery in Nagasaki, Experience of cooking in Nouhaku, Experience of fishing net pulling in Wakayama, and Experience of Onsen bathing in Oita. The two characters involved in the experience are editor Le Bao An and actress Le Chi, who visited Japan for the first time. They get closer to Japanese culture and help Vietnamese audiences to know more about the nature and the simple life of Japanese people. The previous series of Colours of Japan were broadcast in 2016, 2017 and January 2018. 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: During the midterm elections, Indianapolis taxpayers voted on two tax referendums regarding the Indianapolis public school system. Voters answered yes or no regarding two public questions: Shall Indianapolis Public Schools issue bonds or enter into a lease to finance the IPS Safety and Modernization Project, which includes renovating and improving school facilities, making security and safety enhancements, and upgrading campus technology and equipment, which is estimated to cost not more than $52,000,000 and is estimated to increase the property tax rate for debt service by a maximum of $0.0332 per $100 of assessed valuation? And: For the eight (8) calendar years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall Indianapolis Public Schools impose a property tax rate that does not exceed nineteen and six-tenths cents ($0.1960) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in addition to all other property taxes imposed by the school corporation for the purpose of funding academic and educationally related programs, including the attraction and retention of teachers, expanding academic programs, and providing support for students with special needs? An overwhelming majority voted Yes to both questions, passing both IPS referendums. Its a huge win for the district and the children of Indianapolis Public Schools, Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said. This positions us well to continue to offer competitive compensation. Im really pleased and grateful and extremely thankful that the voters approved this investment in Indianapolis Public Schools. Approximately 31,000 students, 3,600 faculty and staff in 88 schools make Indianapolis Public Schools the largest school district in Indiana. Capital funding for the IPS Safety and Modernization Project will provide all IPS-owned school buildings with safety and security enhancements including enhanced exterior lighting, technology upgrades, hardened exteriors, classroom safety upgrades and upgraded emergency communication system. In addition, better services will be provided to special needs students, academic and educational programs for students will be expanded, and IPS will work to hire and keep more teachers. There is a teacher shortage here in the state of Indiana, and actually across the nation, and we need to be competitive about our compensation, Ferebee said. We raised salaries the last couple of years where we have invested $10 million in compensation and benefits for our employees. We want to continue to do that, we need to continue to do that. According to IPS, it is likely that the district couldve been forced to freeze teacher and employee compensation, reduce educational programs for students, reduce the quality of services for students with special needs and continue to defer building maintenance and scale back transportation services if they did not receive the additional funds. Years have passed since the last referendum, and with the districts spending gap, the passing votes came right on time. IPS closed three high schools and a middle school last year alone. And after IPS has closed under-utilized schools and disposed of several unused properties to save money and generate additional funds, there is still a gap between state-provided funds and the amount spent. With budgets still falling short, the district decided to go to the citys taxpayers. In the spring the district originally rolled out a plan asking for close to a billion dollars, which was not well perceived by local taxpayers. This forced IPS to pull the questions from the May ballot, go back to the drawing board and scale back considerably. Working with the Indy Chamber to conduct an analysis of the districts expenses and needs, both groups worked together to create what was presented on the ballot and passed during the midterm elections. Indianapolis taxpayers will see a property tax increase to fund $272 million to IPS over the next eight years. Of that, $52 million will pay for capital projects such as the Safety and Modernization Project and $220 million to pay higher wages to current teachers and provide funding to hire additional teachers in the district. Urban League President Tony Mason stated The $220 million proposal does not address all of the fiscal issues that IPS is facing, but it does help the district compete better with the townships for the best educators we need strong principals to lead high-performing schools, and great teachers to inspire and educate our children. And the cost to the average homeowner is less than $5 a month, with every dollar benefiting our students. According to IPS, this is expected to cost homeowners approximately $3.19 per month in increased property taxes to benefit our children and our citys future. Although the district has new funding, it will have to make substantial budget cuts. The school system will likely close more underutilized schools in the years to come but will have secured better buildings, better programs for students, more teachers and higher compensation so this was definitely a big win for Indianapolis as a whole. For more information regarding the IPS referendums or to calculate how this will affect your property tax visit my ips.org. For more information regarding state and local property taxes visit IN.DOR.gov. Brittany Sabalza, enrolled agent, is director of continuing education for Pro Tax Solutions Indianapolis and a tax columnist. The Recorder Womens Auxiliary will continue its tradition of celebrating the holidays by giving back to the community. The groups annual Christmas event will be 6-10 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Marott Apartments. Tickets are $50 and formal attire is encouraged. The holiday event will feature a dinner, raffles and a style show. The Groove Theory will play live music, and there will be a silent auction with donated items that in the past included things such as jewelry, clothing, carriage rides and paintings. Proceeds generated from the event will go to a scholarship fund for minority high school seniors going to college. Over the last 10 years, the Recorder Womens Auxiliary has given a minimum of $5,000 in scholarships each year, according to Virginia Mason, who has been involved with the Auxiliary for about a decade and became president of the group in 2011. I firmly believe we need to keep the money in Marion County, in Center Township, instead of the suburbs, Mason said. Scholarships are $500 each. Criteria include having a good moral ability, as well as academic achievements and community involvement, according to Mason. The Recorder Womens Auxiliary has been in the business of raising and donating money to the needy since its founding in the early 1950s, when the group helped the poor, primarily during the holiday season. The Recorder Womens Auxiliary has continued in that spirit by adopting a family in need for the holidays. Along with continuing to help families during the holidays and raising money for scholarships, the Recorder Womens Auxiliary provides food and clothing to needy in the community and encourages unity among women. The group, which has an annual membership drive in March, also supports organizations such as the Dayspring Center and the Crispus Attucks Museum. Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853 and follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick. James Blane, lead singer for the group Groove Theory, says Lets Get It On, setting the tone for the annual Recorder Womens Auxiliary Holiday Happenings Scholarship and Christmas Benefit party. Home Search ICH War Criminals in High Office Commemorate the End of World War I By Prof Michel Chossudovsky November 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - In a bitter irony, several of the Worlds leaders who were peacefully commemorating the end of World War I in Paris including Trump, Netanyahu, Macron and May are the protagonists of war in Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Iraq and Yemen. To put it bluntly they are war criminals under international law. They have blood on their hands. What on earth are they commemorating? In the words of Hans Stehling: As We Honour the 15 Million Dead of 1914-1918, a Demented US President Flies into Paris with Plans to Attack Iran [with nuclear weapons] (Global Research, November 12, 2018) Lest we forget: War is the ultimate crime, The Crime against Peace as defined under Nuremberg. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The US and its allies have embarked upon the ultimate war crime, a Worldwide military adventure, a long war, which threatens the future of humanity. The Pentagons global military design is one of world conquest. The War to End all Wars??? One hundred years later: Whats happening NOW in November 2018? Major military and covert intelligence operations have been launched in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia and the Far East. The U.S. military agenda combines both major theatre operations as well as covert actions geared towards destabilizing sovereign states, not to mention economic warfare. In the course of the last seventeen years, starting in the immediate wake of 9/11, a series of US-NATO led wars have been launched: Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Yemen, resulting in millions of civilian deaths and countless atrocities. These wars have been led by the US and its NATO allies. It is all for a good cause: Responsibility to Protect(R2P), Going after the bad guys, Waging a Global War on Terrorism. It just so happens that Outside Enemy Number One Osama bin Laden was recruited by the CIA. And the Bush and the Bin Laden families are friends. Confirmed by the Washington Post Osamas brother Shafiq bin Laden was meeting with George W Bushs Dad, George H. Walker Bush at a Carlyle business meeting at the Ritz Carleton in New York on September 10, one day before 9/11: It didnt help that as the World Trade Center burned on Sept. 11, 2001, the news interrupted a Carlyle business conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here attended by a brother of Osama bin Laden. Former president Bush, a fellow investor, had been with him at the conference the previous day. (WaPo, March 16, 2003) Now does that not sound like a conspiracy theory? While Osama was allegedly coordinating the attack on the WTC, his brother Shafiq was meeting up with the Presidents Dad, according to the Washington Post. In turn, according to the Wall Street Journal The bin Laden family has become acquainted with some of the biggest names in the Republican Party (WSJ, 27 September 2001) Here is a rather believe it or not concept: if the US were to boost defence spending to go after Osama bin Laden (Enemy Number One), the bin Laden family would benefit so to speak because (in September 2001) they were partners of the Carlyle Group, one the Worlds largest asset management companies: Waging War on The Bad Guys Amply documented, the Bad Guys, namely Al Qaeda and its various affiliates including ISIS-Daesh are constructs of Western intelligence (aka so-called intelligence assets). In recent developments, the US and Israel are threatening Iran with nuclear weapons. U.S. and NATO ground forces are being deployed in Eastern Europe on Russias immediate doorstep. In turn, the U.S. is confronting China under the so-called Pivot to Asia which was launched during the Obama presidency. The US also threatens to blow up North Korea with what is described in US military parlance as a bloody nose operation which consists in deploying the more usable low yield B61-11 mini-nukes which are tagged as harmless to civilians because the explosion is under ground, according to scientific opinion on contract to the Pentagon. The B61-11 tactical nuclear weapon has an explosive capacity between one third and twelve times a Hiroshima bomb. Flashback to August 6, 1945, the first Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Up to 100, 000 people were killed in the first seven seconds following the explosion. But it was collateral damage: In the words of President Harry Truman: The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians. What is at stake is a global criminal undertaking in defiance of international law. In the words of the late Nuremberg Prosecutor William Rockler: The United States has discarded pretensions to international legality and decency, and embarked on a course of raw imperialism run amok. (William Rockler, Nuremberg Tribunal prosecutor) Robert Jackson said with some hesitation: We must never forget that the record on which we judge these defendants is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow. To pass these defendants a poisoned chalice is to put it to our own lips as well. We will recall that the architect of Nuremberg, Supreme Court Justice and Nuremberg Prosecutorsaid with some hesitation: Does this historical statement apply to Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Margaret May? In defiance of Nuremberg, the US and its allies have invoked the conduct of humanitarian wars and counter-terrorism operations, with a view to installing democracy in targeted countries. And the Western media applauds. War is now routinely heralded in news reports as a peacemaking undertaking. War becomes peace. Realities are turned upside down. These lies and fabrications are part of of war propaganda, which also constitutes a criminal undertaking under Nuremberg. The US-NATO led war applied Worlwide is a criminal endeavor under the disguise of responsibility to protect and counter-terrorism. It violates the Nuremberg Charter, the US constitution and the UN charter. According to former chief Nuremberg prosector Benjamin Ferencz, in relation to the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a prima facie case can be made that the United States is guilty of the supreme crime against humanity that being an illegal war of aggression against a sovereign nation. Ferenz was referring to Crimes against Peace and War (Nuremberg Principle VI): which states the following: The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law: (a) Crimes against peace: (i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances; (ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i). (b) War crimes: Violations of the laws or customs of war which include, but are not limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for any other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory; murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the Seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity. (c) Crimes against humanity: Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and other inhumane acts done against any civilian population, or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds, when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime. (i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances; (ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i). The original source of this article is Global Research Copyright Prof Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, 2018 Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here 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. Israel Wins 2018 Midterm Election No matter who is elected Israel comes first By Philip Giraldi November 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Judging from the mainstream media, Israel was not a major issue in the midterm election but it sure did come up a lot when candidates for office were wooing Jewish or Evangelical voters. To cite only one example, Florida Congressman Ron DeSantis criticized his opponent Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum during their gubernatorial race for receiving support from the Dream Defenders, a group favoring Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, and giving a speech welcoming members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to his city. DeSantis claimed in a video clip that I can find anti-Semites around him, but its almost like we dont want to discuss that. DeSantis, who sponsored the 2013 Palestinian Accountability Act which called for the withholding of U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority until it recognizes Israel as a Jewish state, charged that Gillum would not be a friend of Israel. In 2017, he co-founded the Congressional Israel Victory Caucus, saying Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East, as we share common national interests and possess similar national values. Israel is not the problem in the Middle East; it is the solution to many of the problems that bedevil the region. American policy must ensure that Israel emerges victorious against those who deny or threaten her existence. Earlier this year, DeSantis drafted a proposal calling on the U.S. to recognize Syrias Golan Heights as an integral part of the State of Israel. DeSantis boasted about his presence in Jerusalem when the U.S. Embassy was moved to that city in May and has promised as governor to visit Israels illegal settlements on the West Bank, which he refers to by the preferred Israeli usage as Judea and Samaria. He threatens critics that If you boycott Israel, the state of Florida will boycott you. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter One might note at a minimum that for Ron DeSantis and ambitious slimeballs like him it is all about Israel due to their own political self-interest, with nothing actually in the mix for either Florida or the United States. The uninformed public buys into the narrative because it doesnt know any better thanks to the medias heavy slant in favor of Israel, allowing uncritical support for the Jewish state to continue under the radar unchallenged. DeSantis, a former U.S. Navy lawyer, has demonstrated that he reveres Israel even more than his former comrades in arms. In his congressional district there are a number of survivors of the U.S.S. Liberty, which was attacked in international waters by Israel on June 8, 1967, killing 34 crewmen and injuring 171 more. They report that DeSantis has been completely unsympathetic to their requests that a commission of inquiry finally be convened to determine what actually happened on that day. In fact, Americans have never had the option of voting on the special relationship that Israel enjoys with the United States as no Congressman would dare run against it lest they be smeared in the media and find themselves running against an extraordinarily well funded opponent benefitting from large donations coming from out of state sources. The list of prominent politicians taken down by Israel is lengthy, and includes Cynthia McKinney, Adlai Stevenson III, Paul Findley, Chuck Percy, William Fulbright, Roger Jepsen, and Pete McCloskey. It is particularly ironic that as the midterm campaigns were drawing to a close there appeared some serious investigative journalism that demonstrates precisely how Israel and Jewish groups corrupt the political process in America to provide virtually unlimited support for anything and everything that the despicable Benjamin Netanyahu and his gang of war criminals seek to do. How the process has succeeded is best illustrated by the current Israeli governments policy of mowing the grass in Gaza where it is using army snipers to kill unarmed Palestinian protesters. Washington not only does not protest against the in-your-face war crime, it aids and abets it with U.S. Ambassador David Friedman justifying the military response as measured and appropriate. Another area where Washington chooses to look the other way is regarding Israels nuclear arsenal, believed to consist of two hundred warheads. Under U.S. law, any country that has an undeclared nuclear weapons arsenal cannot obtain American-made weapons and cannot received aid of any type. Congress and the White House pretend that the Israeli nuclear arsenal does not exist, in spite of the fact that the Israelis themselves have more than once implicitly acknowledged it and instead of cutting aid to Israel have instead increased it. It is currently $3.8 billion per year guaranteed for the next ten years, with extra money also available if needed. No other country benefits from such largesse and gives in return so little. To be sure, the groundbreaking book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by professors Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer, which appeared in 2007, pulled no punches in describing how the Israel Lobby operates in the United States. It also made clear that the relationship with Israel serves no United States national interest whatsoever and exists solely because of the corruption of the political system and the media by principally Jewish individuals and groups that are dedicated to that task. While acknowledging the great debt to Walt and Mearsheimer, it is one thing to read about something in a book and quite another thing to see it live, which is what the new evidence of Israeli interference consists of. Several years ago, the Qatari news service al-Jazeera commissioned two investigations. The first was on the activities of the Israeli Lobby in Britain and the second was on the lobby in the United States. The material consisted largely of meetings with members of Israels active lobby that were secretly filmed by journalists who were pretending to be supporters and who eventually managed to penetrate some of the organizations that were most active in promoting Israels interests. The British expose, in two parts, aired in January, and was based on discussions and interviews that took place between June and November 2017. It demonstrated how the Israeli Embassy in London connived with government officials to take down parliamentarians and government ministers who were considered to be critical of the Jewish State. It also revealed how the Israeli Embassy was secretly subsidizing and advising private groups promoting Israeli interests, including associations of Members of Parliament (MPs). The secret recording revealed how an Israeli Embassy diplomat/spy named Shai Masot connived with a senior civil servant to get rid of Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan, regarded as a supporter of an independent Palestinian state. To Masots additional query Can I give you some MPs that I would suggest you would take down? the civil servant suggested if you look hard enough, Im sure there is something that theyre trying to hidea little scandal maybe. Another alleged pro-Arab member of Parliament Crispin Blunt was also identified and confirmed to be on a hit list. It was also learned that Masot had been secretly subsidizing and advising two ostensibly independent groups, the parliamentary Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) and the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Masot did, however, express concern that Israels control over incoming parliamentarians was not quite what it used to be: For years, every MP that joined the parliament joined the LFI. Theyre not doing that any more in the Labour Party. CFI, theyre doing it automatically. All the 14 new MPs who got elected in the last elections did it automatically. The documentary was initially a sensation in Britain but then, predictably, it went away as Israels loyal host of media scriveners took charge. Masot was recalled to Israel and Prime Minister Teresa May, as good a friend to Jewish money and power as one is likely to find, decided to do nothing. Her characteristically toothless reaction to the suggestion that her government officials might be removed by the clandestine activity of a foreign country was: The Israeli ambassador has apologizedthe U.K. has a strong relationship with Israel and we consider the matter closed. The four-part series by al-Jazeera on the Lobby in the U.S. was meanwhile temporarily spiked because the Qatari government was seeking to obtain the mediation of prominent American Jews to pressure the White House to help resolve its outstanding conflict with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The documentary has remained in limbo but in the past two weeks it has surfaced and is now available. Its undercover investigative journalist, a British Jew named Tony Kleinfeld, quickly charmed his way into the inner circle of Israels supporters where he discovered a network of organizations that act as fronts for the Israeli government. Their activities include spying on supporters of Palestinian rights and disrupting demonstrations, with a particular focus on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), which Israel has particularly targeted. They also resorted to tactics like smearing critics by generating false accusations of sexual and personal misconduct, all of which was coordinated by Israels Ministry of Strategic Affairs. The ministrys director general is Sima Vaknin-Gil, a former senior officer with Israels military intelligence, and is staff consists mostly of former spies drawn from Israels various security agencies. Later, Kleinfeld became involved with The Israel Project, which is a U.S. based Israeli government backed propaganda organ that claims to be a non-partisan American educational organization dedicated to informing the media and public conversation about Israel and the Middle East. In a recorded conversation, Project employee Jordan Schachtel, explained the objectives and extent of a secret Facebook operation. Were putting together a lot of pro-Israel media through various social media channels that arent The Israel Projects channels. So we have a lot of side projects that we are trying to influence the public debate with. Thats why its a secretive thing, because we dont want people to know that these side projects are associated with The Israel Project. In another episode, the Israel on Campus Coalitions Jacob Baime, who claimed to have a $2 million budget, described coordinating with the Israeli government, with an approach modeled on General Stanley McChrystals counterinsurgency strategy in Iraqcopied a lot from that strategy that has been working really well for us, actually using offensive information operations. Baime described putting up some anonymous website along with targeted Facebook ads so that critics either shut down or they spend time responding to it and investigating it, which is time they cant spend attacking Israel. Its psychological warfare, it drives them crazy. Kleinfeld also met with other groups. Foundation for Defense of Democracies was revealed as yet another agent of Israels Ministry of Strategic Affairs, its directors meeting regularly with Israeli Embassy staff in Washington. In spite of that the Treasury Department has not compelled it to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA). It is also registered with the IRS as a tax exempt 501(c)3 charity. Indeed, no Jewish organization active on behalf of Israel has ever had to register under FARA and most are classified as tax exempt charities or educational foundations. Interestingly, however, the FDDs Jonathan Schanzer lamented in his recorded conversation with Kleinfeld that anti-Semitism as a smear is not what is used to be. In another bizarre episode, Kleinfeld visited the neocon dominated Hoover Institute in California where he participated in a demonstration together with a group of bored young conservative think tankers compelled by their professors to protest against a Students for Justice in Palestine conference. The think tank fellows admit that they were astroturfing rent-a-crowd activism to make a small demonstration appear much larger. Another segment includes Israeli Lobby financier Adam Milstein, who is reported to be the principal funder of Canary Mission, which has targeted some 1,900 students and academics in its profiles since 2015, smearing them as racist, anti-American and anti-Semitic. Jacob Baime, executive director of the Israel on Campus Coalition, boasts in the film that Canary Mission is highly, highly effective to the extent that we monitor the Students for Justice in Palestine and their allies. In his recording, Milstein also talks about the need to investigate and expose critics of Israel, who Milstein claims are anti-Semites, as well as anti-Christian and anti-freedom activists who terrorize us. His foundation also funds numerous anti-Palestinian organizations, including the Israel on Campus Coalition, StandWithUs, CAMERA, the AMCHA Initiative and the FDD. Milstein also funds and is chairman of the board of the Israeli-American Council. An Israeli-born California based real estate developer, Milstein reportedly served time in federal prison after a 2009 conviction for tax evasion. An Israeli spy at the University of California at Davis, Julia Reifkind also described to Kleinfeld how the system worked at the campus level. She used multiple fake Facebook accounts to monitor the activities of Students for Justice in Palestine. I follow all the SJP accounts. I have some fake names. My name is Jay Bernard or something. It just sounds like an old white guy, which was the plan. I join all these groups. The information she obtained was then passed on to her contact in the Embassy for forwarding on to Israel to be entered into their data base of enemies. So, Israel was engaging in interfering in legitimate political activity and also generating fake news on the social media in both 2016 and 2018, the same accusation that has been leveled against Moscow, but Special Counsel Robert Mueller seems curiously uninterested. And beyond the al-Jazeera revelations, there is also the evidence that it was Israel that sought favors from the incoming Trump Administration in 2016, not Russia. So who was actually corrupting whom? And then there are the more overt Israeli front groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) with its $100 million annual budget and 200 employees, as well as the other special arrangements to pander to Israel and the powerful American Jews who have made it their mission to use the U.S. government as a mechanism to protect and nurture Israel. Last week in Los Angeles $60 million was raised by Hollywoods finest for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Their Job is to Look After Israel. Ours is to Look After Them, the website proclaims. Last month, an additional $32 million was raised for the IDF in New York City. Donations are tax exempt, to support the armed forces of a country that is currently engaged in war crimes and that has a secret nuclear arsenal. So, Israel was technically speaking not running in the 2018 election, but it was very much in the race. Jewish Democrats are already boasting how the presence of a couple of Israel critics in the House, who will be reeducated on the Middle East, will make no difference, that the party will be solid for the Jewish state with more Jewish congressmen than ever before. Indeed, the special relationship bond will be stronger than ever. Five committee chairmanships in the House of Representatives will be in the hands of passionate Israel firsters, including Adam Schiff at the Intelligence Committee and Eliot Engel at Foreign Affairs. On the Republican side, the House is already 100% in Israels pocket. And as part of the White House team we have John Bolton and Mike Pompeo. Donald Trumps Ambassador to Israel David Friedman expressed the dual loyalty phenomenon best in a recent speech. The United States is his country of citizenship but Israel is the country he loves so much. www.councilforthenationalinterest.org, address is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a 501(c)3 tax deductible educational foundation that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Website isaddress is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is inform@cnionline.org By Jacob G. Hornberger November 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Lets be blunt: the 117,466 U.S. soldiers who died in World War I died for nothing. No one can deny that. In fact, that might well be the reason why interventionists changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. They wanted Americans to stop thinking about the fact that all those American soldiers in World War I died for nothing. After the war was over, the American people knew that those soldiers had died for nothing. Thats why they were overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. entering World War II. They had had enough of foreign interventionism. After losing 117,466 soldiers for nothing in a foreign war in Europe, the last thing they wanted was to go through the entire experience again. The United States was founded on the principle of non-interventionism in the forever wars in Europe and Asia. That non-interventionist philosophy was captured in the speech entitled In Search of Monsters to Destroy that John Quincy Adams delivered to Congress on the Fourth of July, 1821. There are lots of monsters in the world, Adams pointed out. Always have been. Always will be. Tyrants. Wars. Revolutions. Civil wars. Starvation. But Americas job was not to send military forces to Europe or Asia or other faraway lands to slay those monsters. Instead, America would serve as a haven for anyone who was able and willing to flee the monsters. Thats what Americas policy of open immigration for more than 100 years was all about. It told people: We will not send troops, bombs, or bullets to save you but if you can get out, there is one place where you can come without fear of being forcibly deported back to your monster. The turning point came in 1898 with the Spanish-American War, when U.S. proponents of foreign interventionism were claiming that America could never be a great nation without acquiring colonies, like the other empires around the world. Thats how the United States ended up owning or controlling former colonies of the Spanish Empire, like the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Cuba. Thats how the United States ended up with Gitmo, which would ultimately be converted into a U.S. torture and prison center. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The 1898 intervention was followed by President Wilsons fateful decision to intervene into World War I, a brutal and vicious European war that ended up killing some 40 million people. There was absolutely no reason for Wilson to embroil the United States in the war. The conflict was none of the U.S. governments business. But Wilson was an academic idealist. He was certain that given Americas greatness, it could force those Europeans to stop their incessant wars, once and for all. Wilson was convinced that if the U.S. entered the conflict, it could ensure that this would be the final war in history. In his mind, this was the war that would end all wars into the future. Wilson was also convinced that his intervention would also finally make the entire world safe for democracy. Ironically, in other to wage his war Wilson had to resort to conscription. When one has to force men to fight in a war, thats a pretty good sign that that is not a good war. Moreover, forcing men to serve the state, especially by killing and dying in a foreign war, obviously destroyed the freedom of those who were conscripted. What could be worse than dying for freedom when youve been forced to die for freedom. That wasnt all that Wilson did to destroy freedom in America. His goons also began arresting, prosecuting, and jailing people who dared to criticize his foreign adventure. And then they began persecuting German Americans, even making sure that the German language could no longer be taught in public (i.e., government) schools and, more important, making sure that red-blooded, patriotic Americans referred to sauerkraut as freedom cabbage rather than as sauerkraut. He also enacted a tyrannical law called the Espionage Act, which, believe it or not, is still used by U.S. officials today as an instrument of tyranny. If the U.S. had not intervened in World War I, it is a virtual certainty that there would have been a negotiated settlement between the warring parties. U.S. interventionism instead brought about the total defeat of Germany, which Wilson was convinced would mean that the world would be made safe for democracy and that this would be the war to end all wars forever. The result of Germanys total defeat? The vengeful Treaty of Versailles, which later provided Hitler with his rationale for his rise to power. So much for making the world safe for democracy. So much for making this the war to end all wars. Wilsons intervention into WW I was a critical factor in the rise of the Nazi regime and then World War II. Can you see why Americans were so overwhelmingly opposed to entering World War II? President Franklin Roosevelt understood the depth and fervor behind that opposition. Thats why in his 1940 presidential campaign, he did precisely what Wilson had done in his 1916 presidential campaign. A few days before the election, he assured voters, I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars. But FDR was lying, intentionally, just like Wilson had done. In fact, FDR was secretly doing everything he could to embroil the United States in the conflict. But FDR knew that he could never secure a congressional declaration of war, which the Constitution required. (This was when U.S. presidents were still complying with the Constitutions declaration-of-war requirement.) So, FDR began provoking the Germans into attacking U.S. vessels, so that he could then go to Congress and get his declaration of war on as self-defense basis. When the Germans refused to take FDRs bait, he turned to the Pacific in the hopes of using it as a back door to getting into the European war. Thats what the oil embargo on the Japanese was all about, along with the humiliating demands that FDR placed on Japanese officials. FDRs plan worked perfectly. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese, attempting to break out of the oil-embargo noose that FDR was tightening around their neck, attacked U.S. naval forces that were conveniently positioned at Pearl Harbor. FDR got what he had been striving for U.S. entry into World War II. How can the lies and machinations that led the United States into World War I and World War II be reconciled with democratic principles? That cant be. World War II, in turn, brought about the conversion of the federal government into a national security state, a type of governmental structure that is inherent to totalitarian regimes. It also brought the Cold War against Americas World War II partner and ally, the Soviet Union, and the anti-Russia mentality that is a core element U.S. foreign policy today. It also brought coups, regime-change operations, assassinations, torture, partnerships with brutal dictatorship, a foreign and domestic military empire, an ever-voracious military-industrial-congressional complex, out-of-control federal spending and debt, denial of due process of law and trial by jury, mass secret surveillance, invasions, occupations, and forever war, not to mention the destruction of liberty and privacy in America. It all goes back to the meaningless deaths of 117,466 U.S. soldiers in World War I. That is Woodrow Wilsons legacy. That is the legacy of foreign interventionism. That is what happens when a nation founded on the concept of a limited-government republic and a non-interventionist foreign policy abandons its founding principles. Jacob G. Hornberger is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation. He was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and received his B.A. in economics from Virginia Military Institute and his law degree from the University of Texas. He was a trial attorney for twelve years in Texas. He also was an adjunct professor at the University of Dallas, where he taught law and economics. In 1987, Mr. Hornberger left the practice of law to become director of programs at the Foundation for Economic Education. https://www.fff.org/ 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 information was announced at a press conference held by the Ministry of Defence in Hanoi on November 14. Accordingly, Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the event, while the Chinese delegation will be led by his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe. Major General Nguyen Van Duc, Director General of the Department of Information and Training under the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam Peoples Army (VPA), said that the exchange aims to build friendship and solidarity among the local authorities, people, and border protection forces of the two countries, thus promoting political trust, bilateral relations, and ties between the two armies. The exchange will be comprised of numerous activities, including a welcome ceremony for the two countries defence delegates, a ceremony to salute demarcation markers, a joint patrol on the border river, as well as a general talk and meeting to review the events organisation over the last five years. Seminars, cultural and sporting exchanges, a ceremony to launch a centre for cultural exchange and tourism promotion at the Ta Lung international border gate, and a joint drill on disaster and disease relief, will also be included in the event. The first Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange programme was held in 2014 in Mong Cai and Chinas Dong Xing, the second took place in Lao Cai in 2015, the third in Lang Son in 2016, and the fourth in Lai Chau last year. By AP November 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - BRUSSELS (AP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the European Union should work toward creating its own joint army, just after marking the centenary of the end of World War I with world leaders in France. Merkel told EU lawmakers Tuesday that we have to work on the vision of one day creating a real European army. In a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Merkel underlined that such a force would not mean the end of NATO, the U.S.-led military alliance. She also called for the creation of a European security council. Its not the first time such a call has been made. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was widely criticized after suggesting the creation of a European army; notably by Britain, a staunch ally of the United States. November 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - It appears increasingly likely Wikileaks founder and publisher Julian Assange will wind up in the clutches of the U.S. government. Its hardly surprising, given that in ten years time, Wikileaks published more classified information than all other media combined. It exposed human rights abuses, government spying, torture, and war crimes on an unprecedented scale. WikiLeaks put government, corporations and even the Pentagon, the FBI, the CIA and other intel agencies on notice that they could no longer count on operating in secret. It created a trove of primary source material that serious journalists and researchers will mine for years to come. Its publications are accessible to readers who prefer primary sources to mostly mediated news. Wikileaks so infuriates the USAs most violent, corrupt, and criminal institutions that Hillary Clinton half-jokingly suggested drone-bombing Assange. Other U.S. politicians called for his execution by other means. Californias 28th District Congressman Adam Schiff, who became the chair of the House Intelligence Committee when Democrats reclaimed the House, said he would speak to Assange when he is in U.S. custody, not before. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Schiff is a vociferous and supremely self-righteous leader of the Democratic Partys Resistance, which sullies the name of the underground movement formed in France during World War II to fight Nazi Germanys occupying forces and the collaborationist Vichy government. The Resistance tolerates only one truth and one loyalty: Russia is the enemy, interfering in Syria, the Ukraine and even U.S. elections. Russia elected Trump with Wikileaks help, it says. Russia dares to position missiles on its own borders, it says, to respond to NATOs missiles on the other side. The U.S. must build more missiles, more drones, more nuclear weapons, and every other sort of weapon to defend the European world against Russia and its ally China. Moral and Racial Superiority Moral and racial superiority entitles the U.S. to occupy the world with military bases, ringing any nation that challenges its hegemony with military aircraft, battleships, assault vehicles, and military surveillance. Moral and racial superiority entitles its spy state agencies to shut down access to information deviating from its narratives and therefore to arrest and extradite Julian Assange. The Republican Party shares the same supremely intolerant nature as the Democrats, but differentiates itself by insisting that, although Russia is the enemy, Donald Trump did not collude with Russia to steal the 2016 presidential election. The Republicans also want to silence the founder of Wikileaks and find a way to shut the organization down. Trumps former CIA director, and now Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, has called Wikileaks a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia and vowed to hunt Assange down. Has Time Run Out? conference Assange has been an asylee in Ecuadors London Embassy for more than six yearssince August 2012. Ecuador and the UK, however, are no closer to an agreement that would allow him safe passage out of the embassy. In a recent video #Unity4J organizer Suzie Dawson said she fears Assange and those working to free him are running out of time: Right now time is not on our side. And I had someone today complaining because they want us to do a big, big action day march. When you do those types of actions it takes two or three months to organize. You need to have an organizing committee, you need to wallpaper the town, you need to have one date that you do it on, you need to do a ton of advertising. You need to get all the unions and various other organizations to sign on board, and then you have this one action day. Well, theres a couple of problems with that. First of all, I dont think we have three months right now. If we schedule a February giant march in support of Julian, I honestly dont think we have until February. I hope Im wrong. I hope that the actions we take in the short term, in the next days and weeks, will buy us that much time for Julian, but I dont see it. CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, who spent two years in prison for exposing the agencys official use of torture, said if Assange walks out of the embassy without a guarantee of safe passage, he will be extradited to the U.S. in chains: We all know why the British have that embassy ringed. Its to snatch him and to turn him over to the United States. If that happens, the CIA and the FBI are both going to be on that plane and theyre both going to be at least attempting to interrogate him all the way back home. They will bring him back to the United States in chains because thats what they do. Dawson feels the FBI and CIA will interrogate and torture Assange to try to obtain information that would allow them to bring Wikileaks down. She has no doubt hes been preparing for this eventuality for years. She believes he will have made sure the organization has adopted security codes and measures he himself doesnt know and therefore cant revealeven if hes tortured. They want to know about security files for example. They want to know about the inner processes and workings of Wikileaks. They want access to the knowledge thats inside Julians brain. And they will torture him. And they will interrogate him in order to attempt to get that. Now I trust Julian to be smart enough to have made sure that even he doesnt possess a lot of that knowledge. In my personal opinion, Julian has spent years planning for these various eventualities, but it wont stop them from trying. Dawson aded intelligence agencies are eager to punish him: At the end of the day they want to punish him for outing their corruption and their crimes. Theyve been waiting eight years to do it, and they will be rubbing their hands together with glee at the prospect of the UK detaining him and extraditing him to the USA. Ann Garrison is an independent journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2014, she received the Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Democracy and Peace Prize for her reporting on conflict in the African Great Lakes region. She can be reached at ann@anngarrison.com This article was originally published by " Consortium News " - 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 November 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - British author and social commentator H.G. Wells may have coined the expression that originally popularized World War I as The War that Will End War, as his book, based on articles written during that vast military conflict, was titled. In any case, in one version or another, the expression was one of the most common catchphrases of the Great War of 1914-1918 and has survived as an expression, often used with a grimace of sarcasm, ever since. As we commemorate the passing of the 100th anniversary of the armistice ending the war to end war, one can only marvel at how wrong humans can be sometimes. Not content with the violence inflicted during World War I, humans used the twentieth century to systematically decimate human and other life as violence and war raged across the planet with an increasingly massive and sophisticated armory. In fact, by mid-century, in a tribute to their technological ingenuity and psychological dysfunctionality, humans had invented a weapon that could destroy life on Earth. And by the beginning of the 21st century, humans were living in the era of perpetual war against life see Humanity has wiped out 60% of animal populations since 1970, report finds and Living Planet Report 2018: Aiming Higher with war also the largest contributor to the climate catastrophe: Not only is the Pentagon the single largest industrial consumer of fossil fuels, but fighter jets, destroyers, tanks and other weapons systems emit highly toxic, carbon-intensive emissions, not to mention the greenhouse gases that are released from the detonation of bombs. How quickly the world forgot the toxic legacy of Saddam Husseins oil fires! See War and Climate Change: Time to Connect the Dots. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter So advanced is our war against life that human extinction is now imminent. See Human Extinction by 2026? A Last Ditch Strategy to Fight for Human Survival. Resisting war historically Of course, the failure to end war has not been the outcome of lack of effort. And while there have been many efforts focused on ending a particular war, efforts directed at ending a particular aspect of war (such as the use of a type of weapon), and efforts aimed at preventing a type of war (such as aggressive war or nuclear war), there have also been ongoing efforts to achieve the holy grail: to end war itself. These attempts have included ongoing grassroots mobilization by anti-war organizations spawned by World War I (such as the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom founded in 1915 and War Resisters International founded in 1921) and many equivalents since that time, official attempts to outlaw war such as the Kellogg-Briand Pact that outlawed war in 1928 but has been ignored ever since see League of Nations Treaty Series vol. XCIV, 1929, p. 63 and institutional efforts to prevent it, particularly by establishment of the League of Nations in 1920 and its successor the United Nations in 1945, both also readily ignored or manipulated. Separately from the above, however, there has been a long history of nonviolent activism to end wars and this has been conducted by individuals and groups all over the world. Undoubtedly the most effective anti-war movement in history was that undertaken in response to the US war against Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Inspired and supported by the nonviolent resistance of the civilian population, and building on the long history of resistance to war within the military see, for example, The Soldiers Strikes of 1919 there was widespread nonviolent resistance undertaken by US troops and conscripts to end the US war against Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos from 1968 until it ended in 1975. If you like, you can read detailed descriptions of the systematic and ongoing resistance (nonviolent and otherwise) within the US military, in many forms, which progressively incapacitated the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force during the last years of the war, forcing the US out of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. See Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance During the Vietnam War and Self-Destruction: The Disintegration and Decay of the United States Army during the Vietnam Era with a summary of the first book in Antiwar Resistance Within the Military During the Vietnam War and a review of it in The soldiers revolt in Vietnam: Rebellion in the ranks. For a documentary account of the conscientious objection by more than half a million US conscripts to military service in South East Asia during this period, which overwhelmed the legal system making prosecutions beyond a token few impossible and, combined with soldier resistance and civilian efforts, forced Presidents Johnson and Nixon to curtail plans to escalate the war and make plans to end it, see the forthcoming film The Boys Who Said NO! Reanalysing the Cause of War to Reorient our Resistance So, if we are to use this 100th anniversary to renew our struggle to end war and to work effectively to achieve that purpose, then clearly we need to reassess our analysis of the cause(s) of war so that we understand the problem more precisely, and then use this revised analysis to guide the development and implementation of a strategy that addresses the cause(s). Of course, I am not suggesting that ending war will be easy, even with a sound analysis and a comprehensive strategy. But at least it will be feasible. Before proceeding, I would like to record my own passion for this subject. I lost two great uncles to World War I: Tom Farrell was killed in action at Gallipoli and Les Burrowes was a victim of shell shock later labeled post-traumatic stress disorder after being wounded in action three times at Gallipoli and then dying prematurely some years after the war. My father served in World War II as a coastwatcher and both of his brothers, including his twin, were killed. I am named after my fathers older brother. Bob died when the Japanese POW ship Montevideo Maru was torpedoed by the USS Sturgeon on 1 July 1942. 1,053 Australian POWs died that night. And my fathers twin, Tom, died when his Beaufort Bomber was shot down on 14 December 1943 killing the entire crew. So my childhood is dotted with memories of occasional commemorations of war which, for me, always ended with the same question: Why? But not just why war? Given other manifestations of violence I observed around the world during my childhood, including exploitation of peoples in Africa, Asia and Central/South America as well as destruction of the environment, the deeper question was always my focus: Why violence? Well, despite considerable research over three decades, I was never content with any version of the answer to this question that I found. Consequently, 14 years in seclusion with Anita McKone taking our own minds apart finally gave me the answer I wanted. In ugly detail. If you would like to read this answer, which explains the unrelenting visible, invisible and utterly invisible violence that adults inflict on children and the enormous lifetime damage (including the legacy of unconscious fear, self hatred and powerlessness) that this causes, you can do so in Why Violence? with our process described in Fearless Psychology and Fearful Psychology: Principles and Practice. Needless to say, understanding a problem makes developing a strategy to address it far easier (which does not mean that the problem is easy to resolve). However, it is also the case that violence has many manifestations notably including war, violence against huge sectors of the human population in various contexts (ranging from violence against women and indigenous peoples to military occupations and dictatorships), economic exploitation and destruction of the biosphere and tackling each of these effectively requires its own sophisticated nonviolent strategy. This is partly because certain manifestations of violence are structural see Violence, Peace, and Peace Research or cultural see Cultural Violence as Professor Johan Galtung describes these terms, and they originated long ago and have been recreated and built-in over successive centuries. However, it is important to understand that the nature of any given structure or cultural symbol/process reflects the psychology of those who create and/or maintain it. That is, it is dysfunctionalized human beings who create and maintain dysfunctional (that is, violent and/or exploitative) structures and cultures. So, for example, while the origin of capitalism can be explained in terms of the development of economic structures and processes that took place over preceding centuries (in a particular socio-political-legal setting), fundamentally the exploitative nature of capitalism is a direct outcome of the badly damaged psychology of those men who progressively created it and now those men (and some women) who maintain it, expand it and primarily benefit from the manner in which it exploits most others. And if those men and women were not psychologically damaged by the violence they suffered during childhood, then they would devote their efforts to creating egalitarian economic structures and processes that benefited everyone equally and nurtured the biosphere. In short, a human being who is psychologically whole regards the idea of killing or exploiting a fellow human being as deplorable. This is not a moral stance. It is a psychological outcome for the child who is parented lovingly: such parenting produces compassionate identification with others (and, in fact, everything that lives and the biosphere as a whole). The same reasoning applies to the institution of war particularly as it has evolved and is now conducted by western nations, led by the US, and their allies such as Israel. War is a method of conducting conflict. It has a great many components including elites who promote war-for-profit by using various channels such as think tanks, the corporate media, government propaganda and education systems to call for and justify it, political processes to order it, legal processes to defend it (including against those who take nonviolent action against it), military command, control and communication structures to plan and implement it, corporations employing a labor force to manufacture weapons and other hardware to be used in it, military personnel to deploy and fire the weapons, and citizens willing to pay taxes (or too scared to resist doing so) to finance it. But at every level of the institution of war, and despite vast advances in peace, conflict and nonviolence theory and practice during the past 60 years, it requires individuals who were terrorized during their childhood into believing that killing fellow human beings is an appropriate way to deal with conflict (or, a variation, that killing human beings is a reasonable way to earn a wage or make a profit). And because they are so psychologically damaged and now deeply embedded within the institution of war, consideration of alternatives to violence is only tokenistically contemplated, if at all (with occasional exceptions by those whose conscience survived the childhood violence they suffered). If you like, you can read a little more about how childhood violence creates insane individuals who perpetuate violence and war in articles such as The Global Elite is Insane Revisited but there is plenty more on that website. In essence, if most human beings were not so psychologically damaged by the violence inflicted on them during childhood (leaving them unconsciously terrified, self-hating and powerless), there would be a mass uprising against the barbarity of war: the large-scale industrial slaughter of people like you. So what are we to do? Well, if we consider war as an outcome not of political and economic differences manifesting as military violence but, fundamentally, as an outcome of psychological dysfunctionality preventing intelligent resolution of conflict, then our strategy for ending war can acquire a sophistication it must otherwise lack. Put simply, by understanding the psychological roots of violence we can develop and implement a strategy that intelligently addresses these, both in the short and medium terms. So how do we tackle, strategically, the interrelated set of problems that constitute the institution of war? If your primary interest is focusing on war itself, check out the Nonviolent Strategy Wheel which simply illustrates the 12-point strategic framework necessary to conduct an effective nonviolent campaign and then consider the basic list of 35 strategic goals necessary to end war. Choose one or a few goals appropriate to your circumstances and conduct a strategically-oriented nonviolent campaign, as explained on the same website, to achieve those goals. If you are concerned that you need some form of military defense against those who might attack your country, it is actually strategically superior to use a strategy of nonviolent defense, which is explained in detail in The Strategy of Nonviolent Defense: A Gandhian Approach and presented more simply in Nonviolent Defense/Liberation Strategy. In fact, this strategic framework can be used to plan and implement a nonviolent strategy to defend against a foreign invading power or a political/military coup, to liberate your country from a dictatorship or a foreign occupation, or to defeat a genocidal assault. As an aside, if your preferred focus is the climate catastrophe, some other assault on the biosphere or a social justice campaign of any kind, the Nonviolent Strategy website will assist you to develop a comprehensive and focused strategy. When conducting any campaign, keep in mind a clear understanding of Nonviolent Action: Why and How it Works and remember the distinction between The Political Objective and Strategic Goal of Nonviolent Actions. By keeping these points in mind, your campaign (including each of your tactics) will be focused for strategic impact. If your interest in ending war is more focused on undermining it at its source, consider making My Promise to Children and nisteling, whenever appropriate, to children too. See Nisteling: The Art of Deep Listening. This will mean that any children in your life are supported, at least by you, to become self-loving and powerful individuals who are immune to the seductions and indoctrination of those who advocate and make war while developing the capacity to pursue life-enhancing behavioral options when dealing with conflict. If parenting children in this manner feels beyond you, consider allowing yourself the time to heal from the violence that you have suffered throughout your life. See Putting Feelings First. And dont forget: while depending on our psychological dysfunctionality to accept, finance and conduct war as a means of dealing with conflict, at its most mundane level, war is a conflict over resources, particularly fossil fuels, strategic minerals and fresh water, and it is our consumption of these, in all of those products (such as meat and cars) and services (like airline flights) that we buy, that fuels the wars conducted in our name while also destroying the biosphere in various other ways. (If you want to understand the psychological origin of this obsession with material goods, see Love Denied: The Psychology of Materialism, Violence and War.) In short, there is no point deluding ourselves that we can subvert this violent world order without substantially reducing our consumption on all fronts. So another way you can have strategic impact in undermining the institution of war (and capitalism), while slowing destruction of the biosphere, is to join those participating in The Flame Tree Project to Save Life on Earth. The Flame Tree Project outlines a simple plan for people to progressively reduce their consumption, by at least 80%, involving both energy and resources of every kind water, household energy, transport fuels, metals, meat, paper and plastic while dramatically expanding their individual and community self-reliance in 16 areas. You might also be interested in signing the online pledge of The Peoples Charter to Create a Nonviolent World where the names of many people who are working to end war (and other violence) are already listed. Ending war is not impossible. Far from it, in fact. But it is going to take a phenomenal amount of intelligent strategic effort, courage and commitment. Robert J. Burrowes has a lifetime commitment to understanding and ending human violence. He has done extensive research since 1966 in an effort to understand why human beings are violent and has been a nonviolent activist since 1981. He is the author of 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 By Peter Koenig November 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - This sounds like a bad joke. It aint. Its real. One fascist government helps another fascist government. Yes, I have written about fascism invading the west before warning that the European Union (non-union) is being gradually, but ever faster turned into a fascist dictatorship under the guise of democratic protection of Democracy; and this by her unelected European Commission (EC) leaders (sic). EU citizens are being brainwashed with neoliberal lie-propaganda into believing that they are living in the heart of democracy that they are free and protected by police and military, 247. Indeed, such protection can be seen at almost every street corner in Frances major cities; France, the country that had the audacity to make the permanent state of emergency part of her Constitution. And others are dutifully following Macrons example. No wonder, EU member country governments have all been put in place by fake elections, with the help of Cambridge Analytica and other social media tricks, by now well-known around the globe and even the myriad MSM (mainstream media). It would be a strange coincidence if practically all of the heads of EU states are following either neoliberal or Nazi doctrines. In any case, the differences are a few details. Most obvious, neo-nazis are depicted with the denigrating term of populists, disregarding the fact that a populist is someone who is liked by the people. Wouldnt that be democracy? The PM of Hungary, Victor Orban, and Polands far-right Andrzej Duda, fall into this category and soon Italys government, basically led by the far right, deputy PM, Matteo Salvini, who calls the shots in Italy, to the detriment of the Five-Star lead party, will follow suit. Everybody who refuses to bend to Brussels rules is a populist. Its that simple. And its no coincidence. Back to the head-story: An Israeli private military contractor, Elbit Systems Ltd, has been awarded a contract to Monitor European Coasts, as reported by the Palestine Chronicle. Israels private defense contractor has won a 68 million dollars two-year contract, renewable by another two years, to survey most of the European coastlines and to report to Brussels and the countries authorities. Universal surveillance and fascism are on the march and running ever faster. This bidding process was not an open competition. This was one fascist hand washing the hand of another fascist. Yes, thats as bad as we have become in Europe. And the populace has no clue because they are comfortable seeing their freedom, their civil rights, their human rights, being eroded, floated away, under the pretext of national security and of course their own, the peoples security. Thats what a few false flag terrorist attacks can achieve people scream for help, for police protection. The more the better. And who is better suited than a fascist state to respond to that call of desperation to fulfill that fake role of protector? Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Israel is known to have armed the fascist Ukraine government. Israels purpose of policing the European coastlines is to prevent Palestine Gaza prisoners from escaping their horrible, horrible fate. Two million Palestinians need to be forcefully kept locked into this open-air concentration camp, being tortured, bombed, starved and finally killed. Thats what Zionist-Israel is all about. Mind you, that is not at all an anti-Semitic statement. There are millions of Israelis who disagree with this fascist policy. But they are being shut-up, they have no right to speak out plus they are, like Europeans, constantly drip-by-steady-drip indoctrinated by lies, falsehoods, and deceptions that Palestinians are a danger for the survival of Israel. This is simply NOT TRUE. It is a flagrant lie a lie sustained by the United States, whose interest is permanent conflict in the Middle East to control the Middle Easts rich resources and Israel is an important ally more than an ally. Thanks to Israels and AIPACs (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the strongest Washington lobby) endless flow of money to Washingtons politicians Israel, as the paymaster of political campaigns of both parties of the US-One-Party system calls the shots. By Israel, is meant Zionist-led Israel, not the common people who want nothing more than peace and a friendly and harmonious relationship with Palestine; Israelis who are aware that they are actually camping on Palestine land Israelis, who have not been blinded by those who have since 70 years purposefully distorted history, altered schoolbooks and pretend that this Holy Land is theirs, rather than a piece of land of mutual ownership, to be shared equally and with equal rights. These Israelis, the vast majority, are not targeted with this article, or with the accusation of being fascists. Its their dictator leadership, those who are in lock-step with the neofascist Trump Administration and, well, those who call the shots in Washington, in all the so-called thinktanks (sic) that make US foreign policy. Neoliberal, cum neo-nazi Israel wants to eradicate Palestine, Iran, Syria, but they are in bed with the murderous Saudis with the killers of tens of thousands of Yemeni children, with the brutal murderers of the entire Yemeni population through famine, destruction of water supply and sanitation systems, of lack-of-hygiene, induced cholera and a myriad of other diseases. Israels private defense contractor announced having won a two-year contract, renewable for another two years, with the EU Maritime Safety Agency. They will patrol the Mediterranean Sea and Europes Coastlines with drones and inform Europes authorities of irregularities, of refugee ships, of last-hope vessels carrying desperate people, escaping from western created misery in their lands. And Palestinian refugees are on the rise. They can no longer stand their abject fate under Israelis inescapable rules and cruel dictate. They seek refuge in Europe, paradoxically, they go to their hangman seeking shelter. But where else to go? So, these unmanned Israeli military aircraft will automatically signal the defense forces of Israel to intercept any attempt of escaping Palestinians to bring them back to their open torture chamber which Gaza has become. Gazas terror conditions have become the utter normality from the western populace, especially Europeans. They will just watch like Palestinians will be slaughtered into fear of escaping from their life prison, called Gaza. Thats what the west has become, or as my friend, Andre Vltchek, would say, they have colonized, enslaved and raped Asia, Africa and Latin America for at least a thousand years why would you expect them to change? They have gotten away with murder for so long why would they change? Today, they continue with (slightly) different methods its financial slavehood. Its the epitome of shameless criminal neo-colonialism. Israels two to four- year contract of their defense contractor serves as a mere proxy for the EUs terror, lack of compassion and inhumanity. Mind you, the United States is just the heritage of Europeans migrated across the Atlantic. The company, Elbit Systems Ltd, will provide European Union countries with maritime unmanned aircraft patrol services and in theory with nothing more -which is, of course, a flagrant lie. They will ex-contractually confiscate refugee boats, as miserable as they may be, contributing to more refugee deaths. In September 2018, UNHCR, Mediterranean refugee transfers have been deadlier than ever this year, having reached more than 1,600 so far. Rocket News reports, in October, Israeli companies signed purchase agreements with the United Nations for the provision of water and security service to UN forces in Africa. Israel also won a $777 million contract for the supply of Indias missile defenses, as well as being revealed as a lead exporter of tools for spying on civilians being used by dictatorships or authoritarian governments around the world. Rocket News continues, Such deals and multi-million-dollar contracts over a variety of regions are seen as not only a benefit to the Israeli economy but also [as proof for] the reliability of its [Israels] services and the subsequent potential increase of its international credibility. Whatever Zionist-Israel does, the Chosen People, is for the good of Mother Earth. How long will it take until the populace inhabiting Mother Earth wakes up, screaming for fear and agony, bringing an end to this farce, this criminal Anglo-Zionist farcical dictatorship? Peter Koenig 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 A 9-month-old baby has died after she was allegedly raped by a male suspect in Bandar Baru Bangi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday 9th Novermber, 2018. The baby was reportedly in a very critical condition before she died from injuries. Kajang police Chief, ACP Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussuf said the victim died at 10:30am after being admitted for two days at Serdang hospital, kuala Lumpur. In his words: Based on the statement of the victims mother, when she was sent to the caretakers home in the morning, the victim was in good health. However, the victim was said to have suffered from shortness of breath in the afternoon and was rushed to the Bandar Baru Bangi Clinic, before being referred to the Serdang hospital. Further examinations on the victims hymen, and a subsequent examination found that the victims anus was torn He also added that the police had subsequently arrested the caretaker and her husband, who worked as a barber. We arrested the 28-year-old caretaker and her husband, aged 36 Ahmad said. The suspect was remanded for five days and the case is being investigated under section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to a recent endorsement by some Igbo leaders for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. In a statement on Thursday entitled Our response to the purported endorsement of Atiku Abubakar by some Igbo leaders, APC said both Atiku and his supporters have lost shame. The ruling party stated that the purported endorsement totally speaks against the misrule of PDP for 16 years in which the Igbos suffered greatly. The APC noted that, it was certain that the Igbos wont be fooled by any group with whatever name, to adopt a discredited party. Heres the full statement All Progressives Congress (APC) considers Atiku Abubakar and his Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) co-travellers as people who have lost any sense of shame. The purported endorsement of Atiku and PDP by some leaders of the South East for the 2019 general elections is an affront on the the Igbo people who were frontline victims of the 16 years of the PDP misrule. It will be interesting to know what the PDP will be telling the Igbo people during the campaign. The South East people have three and half years of visible progress in terms of massive infrastructure and the thousands of common people who are benefiting from the social programme investments under APC to compare to the PDPs 16 years of retrogression. We in APC are confident that the Igbo wont be fooled by any group, by whatever name, to sell a thoroughly discredited party like the PDP to the very discerning Igbo people. The presidency has reacted to claims by members of the opposition party, that president Muhammadu Buhari in his address in the Paris Peace Forum, said 40 million Nigerians are mad. It will be recalled that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode had in a tweet quoted Buhari as calling 40 million Nigerians mad in Paris. He wrote: 40 million Nigerians are mad and are suffering from mental illness President Muhammadu Buhari, Paris, Nov. 11th 2018. Buhari went to France and told the world that one quarter of the Nigerian people are mad? I am at a loss for words! May God deliver us from this man! "40 million Nigerians are mad and are suffering from mental illness" President Muhammadu Buhari, Paris, Nov. 11th 2018. Buhari went to France and told the world that one quarter of the Nigerian people are mad? I am at a loss for words! May God deliver us from this man! Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) November 13, 2018 However, reacting to the statement, Senior Special Assistant to Buhari on Media, Mr Femi Adesina dismissed the claims as fake news. Adesina noted that evil minds created the news, adding that they would go to any length to gain political advantage even if its with the mental health of Nigerians. He wrote: President Buhari has praised Kano state governor, Umar Ganduje, for his exemplary conduct, despite allegations of the governor receiving bribes, putting his position as governor in question. President Buhari acknowledged the behavior of the governor and cited several healthcare and education projects Ganduje has completed. In his words: So I complement the governor for doing so much because he invited me here so I went to Kano. The good project started by Kwankwaso in education and healthcare which is a lot of emphasis that should be made for the ordinary Nigerian. If it were another person, he could have no other ambition than that. This is the project he started, he diverted the balance of the money to go contest for presidency instead of completing. But he (Ganduje) completed the projects and Kano people are enjoying the benefits. I think thats very responsible of him. I think hes done very well. Ganduje had previously been in the news over allegedly receiving bribes regularly from contractors handling projects in the state. Five different video clips had gone viral on social media, showing the governor accepting bundles of dollar notes from an unidentified contractor. Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has said that, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not ready to conduct credible elections in the country in 2019. This comes following an assurance by National chairman of the commission, Yakubu Mahood, that it would conduct credible, free and fair elections next year. In a state by the Rivers State governor on Thursday, he explained that the commission, is most unprepared agency in Nigeria, for the forthcoming elections in the country. The governor stated that there will be resistance next year, should INEC try to manipulate the will of the people. Wike also reacted to the recent approval of funds to INEC to conduct the elections, saying the funds are to squander and not to conduct elections. See full statement below: Lets not deceive ourselves, INEC is not prepared for credible elections. If there is an agency that is not prepared for 2019, it is INEC . I have no confidence in INEC. There is no amount of INECs preparation will convince me. INEC chooses how it interpretes laws to suit those they support. They choose the court orders to obey and the ones to disregard. In one state where it favours a particular, they obey. In another state , INEC will claim they are yet to see judgments not in favour of the party they support . In 2019, any attempt by INEC to negatively manipulate the will of the people will be resisted. In 2019, whoever wants to manipulate the process to destroy the outcome, the people will come after that person and the family. We will not agree that for anybody to rig elections here in Rivers State. Nobody will do anything contrary to the will of the people . Results are declared at the polling units, but INEC goes ahead to manipulate results at the collation centre as was done in Osun State. The National Assembly has budgeted money for INEC to squander, but not for the conduct of credible elections. The refusal to sign the amended Electoral Act is a ploy by the APC Federal Government to rig the 2019 elections in connivance with INEC. Despite the fact that the National Assembly continues to amend the Electoral Act in favour of the Presidency, the APC Federal Government continues to generate excuses why they will not sign the amended Electoral Act . INEC and Police are two institutions that impede the conduct of credible elections in the country. Vanguard THE Igbo leaders, including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igbo Leaders of Thought, the political elite, the intelligentsia, women groups, religious leaders, among others, have resolved to support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi in the 2019 presidential election. The Nation National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to name any member of the APC who offered him bribe either in foreign or local currency to influence him and members of the National Working Committee to take decision in their favour before, during and after the party primaries or face legal action.Oshiomhole also said that it is pathetic and irresponsible for the resort to what he described as petty politics by the Senate This Day The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Mr Mutiu Agboke, says another consignment of 242,694 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) is ready for distribution to their owners in the state. Agboke said in a statement on Wednesday in Ibadan that the cards were for those who registered between April and August 2018. Guardian Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have intercepted gold worth about N211 million being illegally transported through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos The Sun Uyo Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has proposed total budgetary outlay of N670.718 billion for the 2019 financial year as against the approved provision of N 646.649 billion of 2018. This is made up of Recurrent Expenditure of N 97.096 billion, Capital Expenditure of N 445.936 billion and Consolidated Revenue Fund Daily Times The continued absence of the Leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in Court took another twist on Wednesday as the trial judge, Daily Trust The Federal Governments plan to ensure that Aviation Security [AVSEC] personnel bear arms in the next three months needs to be reviewed to ensure that it conforms with global best practices. President of Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr Gbenga Olowo, who disclosed the plans impending implementation last Wednesday in Lagos, said the primary objective of Leadership The Progressive Network for AlhajiAtiku Abubakar has appointed former Inspector General of Police and immediate past chairman, Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro as its chairman of Board of Trustees. The group in a statement stated that Sir Okiro, whose appointment takes immediate effect, shall be saddled with the responsibility of giving valuable advice. Tribune Thu, 15 Nov 2018 An emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Wednesday night in Abuja resolved to send another delegation to President Muhammadau Buhari to canvass the Governors position on the new Minimum Wage. Politburo member Phong made the request during a meeting with more than 150 prestigious figures among Hanois ethnic minority communities on November 14. Congratulating the delegates for their exceptional performance in 2018, the senior NA official affirmed that the Party and State always see ethnic affairs and solidarity among ethnic groups as a strategic, fundamental and long-term issue of the revolutionary cause. She asked Hanois Party committees and authorities at all levels to continue synchronously implementing the Partys policies and the States laws on ethnic affairs, effectively implementing the Party Central Committees ethnic policies, and supporting ethnic minority communities to develop production and reduce poverty. Hailing the importance and decisiveness of the cultural exchange between ethnic communities to the survival of national culture, NA Vice Chairwoman Phong encouraged Hanoi to focus on summarising good cultural models to accelerate care for the cultural and spiritual lives of the ethnic minority communities, especially those in disadvantaged communes. The city was also encouraged to pay attention to training and improving the quality of human resources in ethnic minority areas. Hanoi currently accommodates over 92,000 ethnic minority people, accounting for 0.92% of the citys total population. The National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed accusations of bribe collection against him, as tactics to tarnish his reputation. The former Edo state governor, in a statement by Simon Ebegbulem, his Chief Press Secretary, said some top members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were working with some APC members to see him out of office. In the statement entitled Alleged Bribe-taking: This Nonsense Must Stop, Oshiomhole revealed that, he would take legal action against anyone or media, that doesnt desist tarnishing his image, except they can produce evidence. The statement read thus: The attention of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Party (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomole has been drawn to a rash of libellous reports by disgruntled persons aimed at maligning his hard-earned reputation. The primary elections of the APC, which were at the root of these malicious attacks, have come and gone, but it is understandable that those who lost out in the transparent exercise conducted by the party under the leadership of Comrade Oshiomhole have been exercising their rights to protest. It is curious to note that some elements in the top hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeared to be too eager to see the exit of the APC Chairman from office and may be working in tandem with certain APC members. While it makes sense for PDP to wish for cure for their headache that Comrade Oshiomole has become, it should not be taken for granted that anyone can get away with any action that is capable of tarnishing the unassailable integrity of the APC Chairman. We are aware that part of the strategies discussed in Dubai, where the PDP leaders recently visited and held their meeting, was to continue to dish out lies against top APC leaders with a view to distract the leadership of the APC ahead the 2019 general election. But they have failed because the National Chairman and APC leaders are focused and will never be distracted. However, it is time these irresponsible lies stopped; otherwise, anybody who continues to make unsubstantiated allegations against the person and character of the National Chairman should be ready to provide proofs in a court of law. It cannot be just a political game to smear the character of Comrade Oshiomole by people whose track record is unenviable. We want the public to note that if the exercise of the APC primaries were to be about money-taking or money-making, the state governors, some of whom are embittered about the outcomes in their states, were in a better position to dish out mega bucks. But the National Working Committee of APC under the leadership of Comrade Oshiomole was motivated by higher ideals and the pursuit of noble democratic principles. It is sad that instead of commending the National Chairman for resisting criminal overtures to compromise him, he is being relentlessly harangued, abused and accused of receiving phantom bribes. This is a callous and wicked enterprise. The National Chairmans credibility is unassailable. His reputation as president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is a matter of fact. Significantly, as NLC president, he fought the PDP-controlled Federal Government in furtherance of pro-people policies without collecting money to compromise the struggles. He rode on the crest of his credibility and reputation to step in the saddle in Edo State as governor for eight years where he turned around the fortune of the state. Indeed, owing to his performance in Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was able to get the peoples support to ensure victory for APC governor as his successor. The National Chairman views the current attempts to tarnish his image as uncalled for and has vowed that he will seek legal redress against anybody or media, whether the traditional or in the social media, who makes such unsubstantiated allegations henceforth. Enough is enough. We urge our respected media outfits to exercise caution not to be used by unscrupulous elements. Except such persons or media house can provide evidence. As the political terrain gets messier, with accusations and counter accusations to and fro the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), ahead of the 2019 presidential elections, a lot of dirty linens have been taken out to wash in public. The latest is the accusation by Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, that Peter Gregory Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, and the running mate to PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is a tribal bigot, who hounded non- indigenes out of his state, when he was governor. Peter Obi has also been accused by members of the ruling APC and some Nigerians, of giving the Hausa community in his state, a hard time, during his time as governor. It was also said that, the mosque at Onitsha was demolished on his orders, and even when the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III visited, Obi allegedly snubbed him. However, Obi, on his part has dismissed the allegations as mere lies by the ruling APC and the Kaduna state state governor, a tactics he says, they have employed to win the 2019 presidential elections. The big question that has been on the lips of many Nigerians is, is Obi, truly what he is accused of being? Or is APC trying to score political with branding the opposition partys VP candidate, tribal bigot? Heres what we know There are document to support the fact that Peter Obi, in 2011, deported beggars that came from Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi States. According to the reports, Obi did not like them, and as such, ordered that, about 29 of them be bundled out of the streets of Awka and Onitsha. A report by Leadership, on December 4, 2011 showed that the Anambra government had issued a warning to street beggars(mostly children) to desist from the act, after a six-year-old beggar, identified as Goodnews Sunday, was hit in the jaw by an Okada rider. Subsequently, 29 beggars(including children) were arrested in Awka and Onitsha , warned and repatriated back to their respective states of origin. Opinion Policies Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue. Feedback policy If you have a grievance concerning the content or argument of the Editorial Board, please contact either Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or the Editorial Board as a whole (editorialboard@iowastatedaily.com). Those wanting to respond to editorials can also submit a letter to the editor through the Iowa State Daily website or by emailing the letter to Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or Editor-in-Chief Sage Smith (sage.smith@iowastatedaily.com). Column Policy 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 Apple and Qualcomm are not exactly seeing eye-to-eye as of late, and while Qualcomm has remained steadfast that the situation might improve at some point in the future, Apple seems adamant in moving in the other direction: further away from Qualcomm. Apple has already started in on that transition in key areas. Specifically, starting in 2017 the company transitioned to Intel modems. And, this year, that transition was complete as Apple only uses Intel modems now, pushing Qualcomm out of the iPhone picture altogether with the iPhone XS lineup and the iPhone XR. But it sounds like Apple isnt quite done. According to a report on Thursday from Bloomberg, Apple is hawkishly seeking chip engineers in San Diego, California. For those keeping track, thats Qualcomms home base in the United States. At the time of publication, Apple has published 10 different job positions related to chip design in Qualcomms backyard, which certainly appears like a strategic move. This month, Apple published 10 job listings on its website for chip design-related positions located in the city, marking the first time the Cupertino, California-based technology giant has publicly recruited for such roles in the Southern California hotbed for chip design. Apple is advertising for engineers to work on multiple types of chip components, including engineers to work on the companys Neural Engine artificial intelligence processor and wireless chips. Apple is no stranger to wireless chips, of course, or designing its own chips. Apple has its own wireless chips in the Apple Watch and in the truly wireless headphones, the AirPods. And Apple has been designing its own processors and co-processors for years, culminating in this years A12 Bionic in the iPhone XS/XR and the A12X Bionic, outfitted in the new iPad Pro lineup. However, Apple has yet to venture into creating its own wireless chips for the iPhone lineup. As for when a shift like this might happen, it might not be any time soon. But, it may be good timing. We recently reported that Apple is planning on using Intels 5G modem in future iPhones, which could launch in 2020. But that shift to 5G may be a good stepping stone for Apple in designing its own chips. Apple and Qualcomm are locked in an ongoing legal battle, which sees both companies ramping up complaints on either side. There is no indication that the fight will end anytime soon, either. Of course, losing Apples business is a huge blow, but Qualcomm still provides the lions share of chips for the Android platform (which Facebook clearly favors). However, its worth noting that some Android manufacturers are making ground on their own chips, including Huawei. Samsung, of course, has had its Exynos line of processors for years, but it still relies on Qualcomm for the majority of its handsets. It sounds like were going to see even more Apple-branded chips in the future. [via Bloomberg Just yesterday, a bombshell story from The New York Times was published that outlined Facebooks efforts to navigate a parade of recent crisis moments. In that report, Apple and the companys CEO, Tim Cook, were brought up. According to the report, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, was none too pleased with Cook over his comments regarding the social network. As a quick refresher, when Facebook was dealing with the Cambridge Analytica fallout, Cook was asked in an interview about privacy in general, and, if he was in Zuckerbergs shoes in the same situation, what he would do. Cook replied: I wouldnt be in this situation. Cook had other choice words on Facebook in general, of course, including stating the most obvious difference between the two companies in that one uses a customers personal information to make money, while the other does not. Cook has never been shy about championing individual privacy, especially when it comes to the data that big companies like Apple and Facebook can collect. Well, all of that reportedly didnt go over well with Zuckerberg, who, in a retaliatory action, told management to shift their personal phones from iPhone to Android. According to the report, this had something to do with the fact that Android is the most popular mobile operating system, but also in part because Zuck was mad at Cook. Here we are not even a day later and Facebook is quick with the response. The published blog post from the social network uses a bullet point list to touch on a variety of topics the original NYT report exposed, but were jus there for the Facebook comment on iPhones. Interestingly, the company says that its long encouraged employees and executives to use Android, because its the most popular operating system in the world. That would indeed line up with the original report, leaving out the fact that Zuckerberg was mad at Cook and ordered the change. Tim Cook has consistently criticized our business model and Mark has been equally clear he disagrees. So theres been no need to employ anyone else to do this for us. And weve long encouraged our employees and executives to use Android because it is the most popular operating system in the world. The main difference here appears to be that Facebook has been suggesting folks use Android at the company for quite some time, and that this is not a new policy, or mandate from Zuckerberg directly. Whatever the reality is here, its all pretty funny. Zuckerberg will go to bat for Facebook and its myriad ways the company goes about collecting data on its users, but to hear that he got mad at Cook over pointing out that reality is comical. [via Facebook Facebook is not a stranger to being in hot water, and this year was certainly not different. When the company was dealing with fallout over Cambridge Analytica, for instance, a lot of different executives were asked about the social network and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. One of the executives asked about Facebooks role in society was Apples chief executive, Tim Cook. In an interview with MSNBC (which was hosted by Chris Hayes and Kara Swisher) earlier this year, Cook said that Apple is not going to traffic in your personal life, and went on to add that the company believes privacy is a civil liberty. Were not going to traffic in your personal life, Tim Cook, Apples chief executive, said in an MSNBC interview. Privacy to us is a human right. Its a civil liberty. This was a direct response to Facebook, which obviously does not necessarily align with those beliefs. The company is not only using its first smart display as a potential means of offering up marketing data for companies, but also uses two-factor security details for targeted advertising. However, Cooks comments did not go over well with Mark Zuckerberg, according to a report this week from The New York Times. Zuckerberg was so mad, in fact, that he ordered his executive staff to drop their iPhones and adopt Android handsets (on the basis that Android has more users globally than iOS). Cook would go on to say that he simply wouldnt be in the same situation as Zuckerberg over privacy: Zuckerberg didnt take that lightly, of course, and went on to say that Apples comments were extremely glib, and that just because Apple charges its customers more doesnt mean that Apple actually cares about its customers. Heres what Zuckerberg said earlier this year: If you want to build a service which is not just serving rich people, then you need to have something people can afford, said Zuckerberg. I think its important that we dont all get Stockholm Syndrome, and let the companies that work hard to charge you more, convince you that they actually care more about you. Because that sounds ridiculous to me, said Zuckerberg. This particular detail is certainly interesting, but the full write-up from the NYT is definitely worth looking at, which you can find through the source link below. It goes into detail on how Facebooks executives tried to make their way out of the darkness with all of the crisis moments the company has suffered recently. What do you think? Does Apple care about you more than Facebook does? [via NYT Photo Credit: TV3 Photo Credit: TV3 Thanks to a new article from, we are getting an update on how former(previously known as Dublin Housewives) stars are doing since the show came to an end. Check it out below!Dublin Wives consisted of five women; Danielle Marr (previously known as Danielle Meagher), Jo Jordan, Lisa Murphy, Roz Flanagan and Virginia Macari. The show premiered back in 2012 on TV3 under the name Dublin Housewives.The series followed similar format to Bravo's The Real Housewives franchise. When the show returned for a second season, the show had changed it's name to Dublin Wives, due to NBC's request.According to a report in The Irish Independent, the change came after contact from NBC which owns The Real Housewives franchise. The Dublin Spire has also been removed from the Irish shows logo as it resembles the use of the Empire State Building in the New York version of the franchise."We did get contacted by NBC querying the name of our series and asking for a copy of our programme," a TV3 spokeswoman told the Indo, stressing that the contact with the US network was amicable. After viewing an episode of the show, NBC requested changes.An average of 262,000 viewers tuned into each episode of Dublin Wives during its first season in 2012. But, sadly when Jeff Ford replaced Ben Frow as content director at TV 3 he announced he wanted to take the channel from trashy to upmarket. Obviously, this meant that Dublin Wives got canned.(previously known as Danielle Meagher) was the labeled as the show's villain of the group. She was constantly bickering with the other wives, and was even uninvited to a New York cast trip. During the first season she feuded with Virginia Macari but in Season 2 she fell out with Jo Jordan.After the show ended, Danielle went on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013 under her new name, Danielle Marr. Some of Marr's housemates included Dustin Diamond, Courtney Stodden, and Charlotte Crosby. But she became the first housemate to get evicted.Now, Danielle is the CEO, a producer, and a writer at Unhinged Media. According to their website, shes been busy getting qualifications in acting both in Ireland and Hollywood. She lives between Dublin, London, and LA.She ceased her work as Medical Director at the DermaFace anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle clinic in Dublin with a sale of the clinic in December. She has since changed her name again as Danielle Marr Collins.had her first child at 16. Viewers of the now cancelled series will remember that she was the down to earth, no-nonsense mammy-like figure among the girls. She earned her place on the show as she and her husband started a business, JJ Carpets, which became a big success. She and her husband split during the show and became roommates with her co-star Lisa Murphy.Jo admitted that she became a recluse after the show, and that it left her not trusting anyone. While she said she thought the show would be a nice thing to do after being a young single mother, she ended up regretting it.In 2016, Jordan suffered a heart attack at the age of 42, citing stress and heartbreak as the cause. Jo is still at the helm of JJ Carpets.was dating well-known solicitor Gerald Kean at the time. She owned a beauty salon, A New Lisa Life. She became roommates with co-star Jo Jordan when they both became single for sometime.While her salon doesnt exist anymore, Lisa still appears in social pages. Lisa and Gerald ended their relationship a few months after the show was canned.Roz Flanagan was the show's Switzerland, and had four teenage daughters at the time. Now, Roz recently appeared on social media, keeping active on Instagram. Roz is living her best life at the moment, as the blonde beauty looks better than ever.In September, she married off her daughter Stephanie in New York City, you know the one who made a cameo on the show, who was studying college in the big apple. Roz appeared to live life to the fullest as she travels around the world with her family.was instantly the breakout star of the show and was the fan favorite. Unlike some of her co-stars, Virginia has continued success with her swimwear line. Often times used to compare her to RHOBH's Kyle Richards.Since the show ended, Virginia had a few bumps with the father of her son, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges.Despite the hiccup, Macari who has moved to Spain with her son Thor has released a new collection called Virginia Macari Beachwear Couture. In May 2018 she released the Amore Collectionto purchase Virgina's swimwear.Source/Photo Credit: The Daily Edge , TV3 Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong made the remarks at the reception for Balogh Csaba, Hungarian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on November 14. Though the two countries are seeing growing ties, trade and economic relations between HCM City and Hungary remain below the two sides potential and expectations, Phong noted. HCM City wants to foster friendship with Hungary, he said, urging the country to support economics, trade and business affairs of enterprises from the city in Hungary and in Central and Eastern Europe. He affirmed that HCM City will create the best conditions for firms of both sides to step up cooperation and for the implementation of joint tourism projects between the two governments and at the same time, welcome enhanced people-to-people exchanges. He also asked Hungary to reinforce collaboration in high-tech industry and developing smart cities. Csaba, for his part, said Hungary sees Vietnam as its most important partner in Southeast Asia and a gateway for Hungary to enter the region. The two nations must exert greater efforts to realise the will of their leaders, he said. He praised the citys dynamic growth, saying Hungary welcomes all local companies to invest and do business in the European country. He also spoke highly of trade between Vietnam and Hungary, which has expanded six times over the last six years. The two countries have carried out joint projects in food manufacturing, water supply, healthcare and food safety and in addition to these, Hungary hopes to bolster ties with Vietnam in tourism and information technology. HEC Higher Education Commission Jobs 2018 For Islamabad Latest Higher Education Commission HEC Management Posts Islamabad 2021 Higher Education Commission HEC Government of Pakistan requires the services of experienced and well educated candidates for the posts of Operations Member, Planning Member, Monitoring Advisor, Evaluation Advisor, Managing Director, Director General in Islamabad Pakistan 2018. How to Apply on Higher Education Commission HEC Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Company Address: Assistant Director HRM Higher Education Commission HEC Sector H-9 Islamabad Telephone: 051-90401424 Official Website: www.hec.gov.pk Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. Gerry Wright, director of the Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University is seen in this undated handout photo. With cold and flu season upon us, some patients will undoubtedly go to their doctors seeking a prescription for antibiotics, which are useless against viruses. Such misuse and overuse has led to the development of bacteria resistant to virtually all antibiotics, a phenomenon doctors are calling a crisis because there are no new drugs to replace them in the pipeline. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, McMaster University, JD Howell *MANDATORY CREDIT* The meetings took place during PM Phucs trip to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related summits. Meeting with the Brunei Sultan, the Vietnamese Government leader proposed the two countries maintain and increase the exchange of high-ranking delegations as well as promote the efficiency of the Inter-Government Committee mechanism. He said he wishes that Brunei will continue facilitating Vietnamese goods access to the local market and boost labour cooperation, especially at Vietnams investment projects in Brunei, as well as collaboration in defence, marine issues, crime prevention, search and rescue and judicial assistance. The two nations should work together to ensure peace, security and stability in the East Sea, and respect the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said. PM Phuc also expressed his thanks to the Sultan and Government of Brunei for their humane treatment towards Vietnamese fishermen. Sultan Hagi Hassanal Bolkiah spoke highly of the positive progress of the Vietnam-Brunei relationship and Vietnams cooperation in agriculture, fishery and ensuring food security and defence, as well as bilateral coordination at international forums. He affirmed to direct Bruneis authorities to consider Vietnams proposals and continue equal treatment towards Vietnamese fishermen in line with local law. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. (Photo: VGP) Meanwhile, at the meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, PM Phuc suggested the two countries work to raise their two-way trade to US$15 billion by 2020 and Malaysia support Vietnamese businesses in supplying Halal food and increase energy and marine collaboration. He also thanked Malaysia for its humane treatment towards Vietnamese fishermen. The Vietnamese Government leader proposed the two sides continue coordinating in standpoint, consolidating the solidarity and role of ASEAN in the East Sea issue in accordance with principles and practices agreed by the grouping, boosting the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and building an effective and legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). For his part, the Malaysian PM agreed to increase the exchange of high-ranking delegations in the time ahead. He expressed his impression on the land and people of Vietnam, hoping that the two sides will cooperate in fostering the production of key commodities. He noted that his country is ready to share experience and processes in producing Halal food. Toronto Mayor John Tory addresses the crowd after being called to the microphone by activist and writer Desmond Cole (right) at an anti-racism meeting in Toronto on Thursday July 14, 2016. Cole was stopped by Vancouver police in what he calls a carding incident. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Addressing the event, the PM said the EAS needs to maintain dialogue, build trust and support collective efforts to uphold international law, form and abide by a code of conduct, refrain from unilateral actions, and support the peaceful settlement of differences. Discussing regional and global issues of concern, the leader said a stable and peaceful environment is a prerequisite for development cooperation, and striving for such a goal is a common responsibility for many countries, including EAS member states. Regarding the East Sea issue, he stressed that ASEAN always upholds self-restraint, increases dialogues, builds trust, prevents militarisation, abides by international law, refrains from the use of or threat to use force, and settles disputes and differences by peaceful means in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The leader called on countries to support such principles of the bloc with specific actions. Participants agreed to continue strengthening the EAS as a leading dialogue mechanism about strategic issues in the region in an open, inclusive and rule-based architecture with ASEAN at the central position. They adopted five EAS declarations on preventing plastic waste at sea, ASEAN smart cities, strengthening cooperation in communications tech security and digital economy, countering threats of foreign terrorist fighters, and nuclear security. In the afternoon of the same day, the summit wrapped up with the participation of leaders of ASEAN member states as well as Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the US. The Chairmanship of ASEAN 2021 was handed over to Thailand. The Vietnamese PM and his spouse then returned home, successfully concluding their trip to attend the summit and related meetings. At a reception for Belarusian Defence Minister Ravkov Andrei Alekseevich in Hanoi on November 15, Vice President Thinh said Vietnam always attaches importance to its partnership with Belarus. Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge for Belarus to enhance collaboration with ASEAN nations, she said, asking the European country to support Vietnams bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021. Appreciating the fruitful defence cooperation between the two countries over the past time, especially in training, military technique, political education for soldiers and people, and information and communications, the Vice President held that the two sides see great potential for collaboration in various fields. She said she supports orientations and measures agreed by the two defence ministers during this visit to make defence ties, particularly cooperation in military technique, a highlight in the Vietnam-Belarus relations. Vice President Thinh urged Belarus to ensure the progress and quality of signed military commercial contracts, prioritise collaboration in technological transfer and production of weapons and technical equipment following Vietnams demand. She also wished that Belarus will continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live, study and work in the country, as well as supporting the two countries businesses in boosting trade exchanges. For his part, Minister Ravkov Andrei Alekseevich informed his host that he discussed and agreed on a wide range of military cooperation issues with his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich. The two sides signed an agreement on cooperation in military science and a plan on delegation exchange in 2019, he said. Hailing Vietnam as a sincere friend and reliable partner of Belarus, the guest said Belarus always supports Vietnam at international forums. He also vowed to do his utmost to contribute to fostering the bilateral relations between the two countries. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Vietnams APEC membership; therefore, the country will continue to work together with other members to build an Asia-Pacific community of peace, stability, dynamism, inclusion, connectivity, and prosperity, he said. Over the past nearly three decades, APEC has proven its strong vitality, especially during difficult periods, the deputy PM said, adding that in 2017, APEC affirmed its core values in free and open trade and investment, as well as its strong commitments to multilateral trade. It has made marked progress in economic linkage, regional connectivity, quality and inclusive growth, and human resources development, the official noted. Given the increased connectivity of the digital era, he underlined the need for APEC to carry forward its locomotive role in spurring sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, as well as economic connectivity in the region. Deputy PM Minh also highlighted APECs role in trade and investment connectivity and liberalisation and in the settlement of global challenges. APEC should take the lead in coordinating regional multi-layered economic connectivity mechanisms towards the formation of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and promoting an open and transparent multilateral trading system based on the law, balance, and inclusion with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) playing the central role, he said. He urged APEC to continue performing its role as a pioneer in structural reform, setting up central networks and innovative incubators, and promoting the business and startup spirit in order to turn the Asia-Pacific into the worlds leading centre of technology and education. APEC also needs to take decisive steps towards implementing the action plan on inclusive growth and enhance the capacity for its members to access digital technology, adapt to and cope with changes and risks, and harness cooperation and connectivity. Deputy PM and FM Minh called for joint efforts within APEC to build a strategic and ambitious Post-2020 Vision which aims to serve the benefits of people and businesses. An overview of the 30th APEC Ministerial Meeting. (Photo: VNA) In his opening remarks, Papua New Guineas Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbing Pato said that with the theme Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future, the 30th APEC Ministerial Meeting is of great significance as it will review the APECs realisation of commitments over the past years and set forth measures to bolster regional economic connectivity and growth, and maintain the Asia-Pacifics role as momentum of global growth and economic connectivity. The participating ministers agreed on the need for APEC to maintain its economic cooperation and pace of connectivity, as well as deploy open and free trade and investment, complete Bogor goals in 2020 and gearing towards the formation of the FTAAP. They committed to realising the APEC Connectivity Blueprint, focusing on infrastructure and supply chain connectivity, institutions, and people, among others. The ministers consented to accelerate the implementation of the Cross-Border E-commerce Facilitation Framework and the Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap adopted in 2017, while handling non-tariff barriers and helping micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises improve their competitiveness and access the digital economy. They concurred to continue their support for the law-based open and transparent trading system, and improve the function and operational efficiency of the WTO. The ministers also highly valued the role and contributions of APEC to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They welcomed the establishment of the APEC Vision Group in 2018 and reiterated their commitments to building a strategic, long-term, and ambitious APEC Post-2020 Vision for the benefits of people and businesses. * On the same day, Deputy PM Minh had separate meetings with New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Meeting New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker, Deputy PM Minh handed Vietnams document ratifying the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to him, affirming that it reflects Vietnams determination to continue with comprehensive reform and widespread global integration, as well as active efforts to shape regional economic connectivity frameworks. Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (second from left) hands over Vietnams document ratifying the CPTPP to New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker. (Photo: VNA) He asked both sides to work closely together to fully and effectively tap interests brought about by the CPTPP, thus deepening the Vietnam-New Zealand comprehensive partnership. Speaking highly of Vietnams role in and active contributions to the formation of the CPTPP, Parker expressed his belief that the deal will make it easier for both sides to lift two-way trade. He affirmed that New Zealand is willing to share its experience and assist Vietnam in improving its law enforcement capacity to effectively tap into opportunities created by the pact. In a dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Deputy PM Minh asked Japan to make it easier for Vietnamese farm produce to enter the country and receive more Vietnamese trainees for work. Kono expressed his wish to step up practical and effective ties with Vietnam in diverse areas, adding that the Japanese Government is considering a new law on labour and expects to welcome more young foreign workers, including those from Vietnam. He asked for joint efforts to prevent the legal violations of Vietnamese people in Japan. Deputy PM Minh and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne expressed their delight at the strong development of bilateral ties over the past years, especially since the upgrade of ties to a strategic partnership in March 2018. They were satisfied with the outcomes of the strategic dialogue between Vietnamese and Australian foreign and defence ministers held in Hanoi on October 10, as well as the first ministerial defence dialogue held in Sydney on November 6-9. Sharing views on challenges facing the region, both sides highlighted the need to strive further to help maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Hailing mutual support between the two governments in regional forums, especially in mechanisms in which ASEAN plays a central role, Deputy PM Minh asked both sides to realise the outcomes reached during the APEC Year 2017, especially initiatives on inclusive economic, financial, and social development as well as the APEC Vision beyond 2020. Payne, for her part, wished that the two sides would foster bilateral ties in an effective, practical and comprehensive way, with priority given to building an action plan to realise the bilateral strategic partnership in the near future, considering ties with Vietnam a model of Australias external relations. At the event, they discussed several issues related to an international conference on improving Vietnams peacekeeping capacity co-chaired by Vietnam and the UNDP on November 23. Joining the UN peacekeeping force is a long-term strategy of Vietnam, Vinh affirmed, stressing that the conference will help Vietnam outline its rational policy in participating in the force in the coming time. The Ministry of National Defence will continue close coordination with the UNDP in Vietnam in the fields of official training and post-war consequence recovery. Kamal Malhotra, for his part, congratulated Vietnam on its successful implementation of the first level-2 field hospital in South Sudan, while lauding the countrys meticulous preparations for the international conference. Vietnam has previously sent many individuals to join global peacekeeping efforts who were later complimented by leaders of UN Missions in South Sudan and Central Africa for their professional and prompt response to urgent situations. The hospital is the first-ever independent unit of Vietnam to join the UN peacekeeping operation. On October 1, the first hospital delegation with 32 members set off for South Sudan. The second group, with 31 doctors, left Ho Chi Minh City for the mission in the African country on October 15. Export-Import Bank of Korea CEO Eun Sung-soo, center, holds hands with Aso Kenichi, third from left, regional head for Asia and the Pacific at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Eun's Chinese counterpart Zhang Qingsong, third from right, at the Asian Exim Banks Forum on Phuket, Thursday. They agreed to establish an export-import consultative body for the three countries. / Courtesy of Export-Import Bank of Korea Korea Times President-Publisher Lee Byeong-eon, third from right, and Woori Financial Group Chairman Sohn Tae-seung, third from left, congratulate winners of the 14th English Economic Essay Contest at The Seoul Plaza, Monday. From left are Sean Bahk; Kim Chee-sue; Sohn; the father of Olivia Han; Kim Jung-hyun; Lee; Park Min-jei; and the father of Min Sung-jun. University of Cincinnati student Aaron Lefler-Moore was unable to attend the ceremony. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul 'It will become harder for firms to win new contracts' By Nam Hyun-woo Samjong KPMG CEO Kim Kyo-tae Samjong KPMG and Deloitte Anjin are expected to have a harder time in winning new audit contracts after they were reprimanded by financial regulators for their "faulty" auditing of Samsung BioLogics, according to industry analysts Thursday. They said the high-profile "accounting fraud" case involving the biopharmaceutical unit of Samsung Group has tarnished the image of Samjong and Anjin, making it difficult for them to secure new corporate clients or maintain existing ones. On Wednesday, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), affiliated with the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), ruled that Samsung BioLogics violated accounting rules intentionally by inflating its net profits in 2015 before its initial public offering (IPO) in 2016. Upon ruling so, the SFC said Samjong KPMG made a "serious error" in auditing Samsung BioLogics and ordered the accounting firm to pay a fine of 170 million won, as well as banning it from auditing BioLogics for five years. The SFC also decided to request its umbrella Financial Services Commission to suspend the license of four Samjong accountants. For Deloitte Anjin, the securities committee found the firm made an "error" and banned it from auditing BioLogics for three years, without imposing a fine. Over the decision, industry officials say firms are expected to suffer difficulties in managing their penalty points for receiving auditor designation. The auditor designation system is the highlight of the amended Act on External Audit of Stock Companies. Introduced after the 2015 accounting fraud involving Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the system requires more companies to receive outside auditor designation from the SFC in a certain period of time. Deloitte Anjin CEO Lee Jung-hee Federico Heinzmann, left, the executive chef of the Park Hyatt Seoul, poses with Buddhist monk Ven. Sunjae at the hotel's restaurant, The Lounge, after launching the Road to Korean Temple Food promotion, May 24, 2017. / Courtesy of Park Hyatt Seoul Park Hyatt chef presenting diverse Korean menus By Kang Seung-woo Federico Heinzmann, the executive chef of the Park Hyatt Seoul, is a culinary artist with a decorated career. The veteran chef worked at Martin Berasategui in Spain, a three-Michelin-star restaurant, the Park Hyatt Tokyo's New York Grill and other high-profile global hotels and restaurants, showing off Italian, French, American and Spanish cuisine. However, at this point, the Argentine seems to be beefing up his already-illustrious resume with a new job that is not that much coveted by foreign chefs in other words, to offer authentic Korean dishes. "Hansik, or traditional Korean food, is not only unique, but also ancient. I am a big fan of cultural heritage that has been handed down by local people," Heinzmann said in an interview with The Korea Times. "I think those two things were the characteristics that attracted me the most." Heinzmann praises Korean food as "straightforward." "Korean food cannot be mixed or confused. It is not like northern Italian and southern French (food) that are similar and mixed. Once you eat Korean food, it is Korean food. It is extremely sharp and there is nothing like it," he said. "I must say it is straightforward and this is what Korean people like." He added that such character makes Koreans miss their dishes so much abroad. "They miss their food like nobody else. I miss Argentine food, but I live in Korea without it. Can Koreans live without Korean food abroad? I don't think so. It is into your identity and that is what I found," the chef said. The temple food promotion was designed for locals and international guests alike to experience the authentic flavors of Korean temple cuisine and realize the value of Korean fermented foods. / Courtesy of Park Hyatt Seoul Heinzmann returned to the Park Hyatt Seoul last year to take the helm of the property's all food and beverage facilities. His first tenure as a chef de cuisine at the Italian restaurant Cornerstone there lasted from 2012 to 2014. Upon his arrival in February 2017, he wasted no time bursting onto the Korean cuisine scene with a promotion featuring "unprecedented" temple food. "I decided to do the Road to Korean Temple Food promotion because I realized there were not many places offering Korean temple food here. So I thought, 'If not here, then where?'" he said. "I also wanted my young chefs to be able to experience and work with this style of cuisine." The promotion in partnership with Buddhist monk Ven. Sunjae featured seasonal ingredients and fermented pastes, drawing rave reviews from foreigners as well as Koreans. Despite the success, however, the chef said it was not an easy road to launching the promotion, describing the first reaction from Koreans as a "total surprise." The Ark of Taste promotion, also offered by the Argentine chef in April, used rare ingredients from Jeju Island. / Courtesy of Park Hyatt Seoul British social media influencer and podcaster Emma Gannon, left, says the digital era won't necessarily hurt book sales and social media influencers can play a role to increase book sales. Sitting next to her is Tony Mulliken, right, CEO of Midas Public Relations. / Korea Times photos by Kang Hyun-kyung By Kang Hyun-kyung Growing up online, millennials are more comfortable with accessing information online, rather than reading printed books or newspapers. The digital era is a source of concern for people in the publishing industry because they believe it will negatively affect book sales and newspaper subscriptions. British social media influencer and podcaster Emma Gannon said such digital woes were exaggerated, as far as books are concerned. "In U.K., book sales are on the rise," she said during the digital revolution session at the Sharjah book fair on Nov. 5. "I think people are craving having physical objects that can represent their identity. If you look around someone else's house, you look at their bookshelf. Their bookshelf sums up who they are as a person. Sometimes people put books on their bookshelf to say this is who I am as a person." According to Gannon, the social media influencers-publishers partnership is one example that can bring mutually beneficial results to the two sides. In the U.K, she said such collaboration boosted an increase of the sales of children's books. "There is a British YouTube star who has 12 million subscribers and she has partnered with WHSmith, a British retailer operating shops selling books, stationery, newspapers and magazines, and their partnership increased young people's reading by 70 percent or something," she said. "The YouTube star picks the books and children want to read them. I think influencers can trigger book sales and help kids back to reading." Twenty million books were showcased during the 11-day Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Ara Emirates. / Korea Times The digital revolution has seen the rises and falls of industries. In South Korea, books and print media, among others, have been hit hard as readers adopt to digital platforms. Book sales in recent years have dropped year after year. According to the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea, the local publishing industry saw a 1.6 percent decrease in book sales in 2017 with the total sales revenue of 3.9 trillion won. This is a decrease in book sales revenue for the second year in a row. In 2016, the total sales revenue of the local publishing industry had dropped 4.3 percent from the previous year. Amid decreasing book sales, ebooks are on the rise and their portion of the total sales record continues to increase, although their ratio of the total book sales is still small. The shift in the way people gather information from reading books to watching digital content appears to play a part behind the decrease of book sales in South Korea. James Parkinson, an American lawyer and author of two books, "Soldier Slaves: Abandoned by White House, Courts and Congress" and "Autodidactic: Self-taught," said books can survive the digital revolution as they have a comparative advantage over digital content provided by YouTube channels. "Of course, competition is going on between them. But I think they can go hand in hand," he said. "You've got to do both." Parkinson said the nature of the relationship between printed books and digital content is complimentary, indicating there are certain topics, such as historic speeches, better covered by digital content. But he said books are still the prime source of wisdom through which readers can learn a lot. Tony Mulliken, CEO of Midas Public Relations, observed readers are benefiting from the competition between printed books and digital content as they have a wider selection of formats as a source of information. "When ebooks first came out, everybody said printed books were dead because ebooks are here," he said. "But what happened in the last years after the presence of ebook, book sales were on the rise. So the choice now is brilliant. Some of you might like to read printed books and some audio books or ebooks. There are so many formats of books. This is the first time readers choose." Unlike books, the future of newspapers in the digital era appears not to be so rosy. Experts say the rise of social media-based media is more than a story of digital technology and claim it could be a reflection of traditional media's losing credibility among readers. Gannon said over 80 percent of her audience is women aged between 13 and 35, indicating the digital generation is her main audience. She said she covers travel, politics, feminism and equality and addresses issues not reported by traditional media. Gannon described herself as a rebel against traditional media. The rise of digital-based media, particularly among millennials, appears to be associated with the generation's overall distrust of traditional media. A Harvard University poll of Americans aged 18 to 29 reveals millennials' deep distrust of the media. According to the survey released in April 2018, only 21 percent of them trust the press all the time and 14 percent trust it most of the time. The survey also shows eight out of every 10 millennials either never trust the media or only trust it some of the time. The 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer survey showed a similar trend. It said the public's trust in four key institutions business, government, NGOs and media has declined. Edelman said this is a new phenomenon. People read books at the Sharjah Expo Center. / Korea Times Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, left, and Ri Jong-hyok, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee of North Korea, head to ride a self-driving Zero Shuttle bus at Pangyo Techno Valley in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Yonhap The ruling Democratic Party (DP) chief plans to meet with a visiting North Korean official in charge of inter-Korean ties on Thursday, party officials said. Lee Hae-chan, the DP's chairman, plans to have dinner with Ri Jong-hyok, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC), party officials said. Details about their planned meeting have yet to be revealed, but they are expected to discuss a proposed parliamentary meeting between the two Koreas and civilian exchanges. Leading a five-member delegation, Ri arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to attend an international forum to be held in Goyang, north of Seoul, and tour various local facilities. The Democratic Party President Lee Hae-chan. Yonhap By Jung Da-min Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. Courtesy of CSIS Korea Chair North Korea's missile bases may look rudimentary but they are being "well-maintained" and therefore pose a serious threat, a U.S. expert told The Korea Times. "The physical structure of the base has little to do with the capability of the missile units that are housed there," said Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., a satellite image specialist at the Center for Strategic International Security (CSIS) Korea Chair, a Washington-based think tank. "They could take a very modern missile and put it on an old base and the missile is still very modern and a significant threat." His comments came after a CSIS report released Monday caused a political storm. Bermudez said the North's short-range (SRBM) and mid-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) pose as great a threat as inter-continental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads, a point that fails to gain enough attention in the political arena in Seoul and Washington. He said most of the bases he revealed in his report house missiles with conventional warheads capable of striking the upper two-thirds of South Korea. "Cheong Wa Dae confirmed what we said (in the report) by saying the Sakkanmol base is for SRBMs, though not for ICBMs or IRBMs," he said, regarding the base in North Hwanghae province, 85 kilometers north of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and 135km northwest of Seoul, which the CSIS report highlighted. He said the research team concluded that the Sakkanmol base could handle Scud or Rodong missiles by measuring the size of the underground facility's entrance. The Scud is an SRBM that can travel about 1,000 kilometers. The Rodong is an MRBM that can reach up to about 3,000 kilometers. "We have to be careful whenever we look at the North Korean military, no matter what it is," Bermudez said about his report that triggered a political firestorm on both sides of the Pacific. The U.S. and South Korean governments rejected claims that the sites have not been raised in ongoing talks with North Korea, saying the allies have recognized their existence and have continued to keep a close watch on them. An overview of the Sakkanmol Missile Operating Base, March 29, 2018. CSIS/Beyond Parallel, via DigitalGlobe By Jung Hae-myoung The Seoul Metropolitan Government awarded honorary citizenship to 22 foreigners to recognize their social, cultural and financial contributions to the city at a ceremony held in the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Thursday. Among the 22 people was Zahid Hussain, known as the representative of Pakistan on "Abnormal Summit," a Korean television talk show featuring foreigners living in Korea. Outside the set, he has contributed to reducing the cultural gap between Muslims and Koreans as the head of Seoul International Student Forum, and as an honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics this year. Dimitrios Psyllakis, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, was also awarded for his great social contribution and investment. The company has held traffic safety campaigns for children and offered vehicles for welfare facilities in the capital. He took part in this year's Seoul Kimchi Festival together with other employees of the company, and became a part of the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people making kimchi at one place. Lewis Patterson, the CEO of Latitude, a packaging company seeking sustainable development, was also commended for helping single-parent families by offering scholarship and experience programs. Baasanjav Ganbold, former ambassador of Mongolia to Korea, was lauded for founding a weekend school for Mongolian citizens living in Seoul to help them settle in the country. Monica Cymerman and Benjamin Kostenbader received the honor as a couple, for suggesting an innovative model for English education at the Seongdong Global English House in Seongdong-gu and helping children from low-income backgrounds receive quality English education. Others were also awarded for their outstanding work in spreading foreign culture to Koreans, collaborating with international organizations and helping underprivileged people. Ambassadors representing 40 countries and around 30 foreign residents who previously received the honorary citizenship also attended the ceremony. "Seoul is already a global city with 460,000 foreign residents who make the city more diverse and flourishing," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said at the ceremony. "Seoul will strive to listen to the voices of foreign residents to make an environment that is safer and where they can succeed as well." A guard post in South Korea's northeastern border county of Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, is destroyed, Thursday. The South is removing 10 guard posts near the border area by the end of this month, as part of an inter-Korean agreement to ease tension. / Joint Press Corps By Lee Min-hyung South Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Yoon-je The main entrance of the United States Forces Korea's Camp Casey. Korea Times file Three South Korean companies have agreed to pay a total of US$236 million for their involvement in a bid-rigging scheme in supplying fuel to U.S. military bases in the country, the U.S. government announced Wednesday. South Korean petroleum and refinery companies including SK Energy Co. Ltd., GS Caltex Corporation and Hanjin Transportation Co. Ltd. are accused of involvement in a "conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition" during the bidding process for the fuel contracts, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a press release. The alleged scheme began at least in or around March 2005 and continued into 2016, it said. "These charges are the first to be announced in this investigation into bid rigging and price fixing of fuel supply services to the Department of Defense in this critical region," Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the department's antitrust division said in the release. "When a firm cheats the United States by rigging bids, the Division will insist on robust civil settlements like those announced today." SK Energy, GS Caltex and Hanjin Transportation have agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay some $82 million in criminal fines, according to the department. Separately, the firms will also pay some $154 million to the U.S. in a related civil antitrust case. All three have agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigations. "As a result of this conduct, the United States Department of Defense paid substantially more for fuel supply services in South Korea than it would have had SK Energy, GS Caltex and Hanjin competed for the fuel supply contracts," the release said, without specifying the amount that was paid. In the same statement, FBI Executive Assistant Director Amy Hess called the alleged rigging "particularly egregious, as they targeted the U.S. military in a critically strategic region, defrauded the U.S. government, and ultimately, cheated the American taxpayers of millions of dollars." The U.S. stations some 28,000 troops in South Korea to deter North Korean aggression, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap) According to FOUR PAWS Viet, the female moon bear had been held in captivity by a family in Phu Hao hamlet, Phu Hung ward, Ben Tre city, since 2002. Its current weight is 139kg. The provincial forest guard force has pinned a chip on the bear to monitor and conduct periodical inspections on the bears living condition and health status. After the reception, FOUR PAWS Viet took the moon bear to the bear sanctuary in Ky Phu commune, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province. Ngo Thi Mai Huong, FOUR PAWS Viets director, said that the centre, together with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are mobilising people nationwide to hand over any captive bears because the bear is a protected wild animal and among the list of rare wild animals. There are currently nearly 800 bears living in sparse conditions in households across Vietnam, she said, adding that rescue centres are willing to receive these bear individuals in order to take care of them and provide them with a life closer to nature. Earlier, on May 29, the Can Tho municipal authorities handed over the last captive bear to the bear rescue station at Cat Tien National Park, making the Mekong Delta city become the 22nd locality in Vietnam to not have any more captive bears. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and South Korean President Moon Jae-in meet at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Center on the sidelines of the annual ASEAN Summit in Singapore, Thursday. Yonhap President Moon Jae-in told U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday that relations between the United States and North Korea and between the two Koreas should move forward in tandem. Moon and Pence met in Singapore on the sidelines of annual regional summits. The meeting came as North Korea's denuclearization process has made little headway in recent weeks, with the planned high-level talks between the U.S. and the North having been called off at the last minute last week. "It is entirely the power of the strong Korea-U.S. alliance that drew North Korea into dialogue and made the current situation possible," Moon said at the start of the meeting. "In order to realize lasting peace (on the Korean Peninsula), inter-Korean relations should move forward together with North-U.S. relations." Moon also said that the Korean peace process began with February's PyeongChang Winter Olympics and has led to three inter-Korean summits and the historic North-U.S. summit. And it is thanks to the strong leadership and resolution of U.S. President Donald Trump that made the current situation possible, he said, adding that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un thinks the same way. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton meets President Moon during the bilateral talks on Thursday. Yonhap Moon also said that the North's leader is expected to visit Seoul in the near future and a second U.S.-North Korea summit will also be taking place, adding that a new Trump-Kim summit will produce big progress in the denuclearization and peace process. Moon said that he feels confident about the way forward as Pence, whose father fought in the Korean War, is supporting the peace process, and that the Korea-U.S. alliance is the basis of South Korea's foreign policy and will remain solid going forward. Pence said that he spoke with Trump earlier in the morning and Trump asked him to send Moon his regards. Trump also expressed appreciation to Moon for showing close partnership in efforts to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to presidential officials. Pence also said he looks forward to a second summit between Trump and the North's leader and that things are moving forward in a way that ultimately guarantees security and peace on the Korean Peninsula, officials said. The U.S. will continue to make efforts toward the ultimate goal of realizing a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, Pence said. He also said that a lot of progress has been made, but there still remains much work to do ahead, according to officials. Moon, Pence and their entourages fill the room as the two leaders discuss North Korea and its denuclearization process. Yonhap Lee Gang-rae, chief supervisor of the 2018 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), speaks to reporters about the test's difficulty and other issues at the Ministry of Education in Seoul shortly after the test began. Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun Pan-government efforts are being made to crack down on online sharing of illegally produced or uploaded sexual content. Relevant ministries and state organizations, led by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, are devising measures to strictly control and punish the prolific online sex crimes across the country. They believe the most serious problem with online sex crimes these days is that file-sharing websites have become the main distribution channel of illegal photos and videos, such as revenge porn and voyeur videos, and operators of these sites are abetting or even colluding in their distribution. The Ministry of Justice will strengthen punishment for online platform operators that are involved in the distribution of such content, and claim any related profits. By Jung Min-ho The body of a college student has been found in Seokchon Lake, southern Seoul. Songpa Police Station said Thursday that investigators are now looking into the death of the student, 19, surnamed Cho, after finding his body at the bottom of the lake about 12:10 p.m. Wednesday. Police also found his bag containing a mobile phone and a laptop computer in the water. Data on the devices will be investigated. The National Forensic Service will carry out an autopsy on the body soon to find the cause of death. Cho, who was a Namyangju resident, went missing on Nov. 8 after drinking in southern Seoul with three friends. Police said they shared four bottles of soju. After texting his family around midnight that he was on his way home, he took a taxi. But for an unknown reason, he got out near Jamsil Station and hailed another taxi by using the Kakao T mobile app, police said. Because of miscommunication with the taxi driver, Cho did not take it. Surveillance camera footage shows he walked toward the lake while looking at his phone around 1:20 a.m. It is unclear why he went there. Given he was still intoxicated, police suspect he slipped into the lake. By Park Si-soo An appellate court has upheld the conviction of a former professor who was accused of defaming Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II. Gwangju Provincial Court made the ruling on Thursday, upholding a lower court's six-month jail term imposed on the former professor at Sunchon National University. The scholar, whose name was withheld, was charged with defaming victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery system, collectively called "comfort women," during a lecture on April 26, 2017. According to court documents, the ex-professor claimed some women joined the system "voluntarily in pursuit of their sexual pleasure." He claimed the accuser, a Sunchon-based human rights group, misunderstood the point of his remark. But the court did not agree. "The accused, as a national university professor, committed a crime tarnishing the name of comfort women seriously," Judge Im joo-hyuk wrote in a ruling statement. "In addition, the accused did nothing to recover the damage to the victims." The university sacked the professor in October. By Kim Hyun-bin Korea's top budget carrier Jeju Air was slapped with a 9 billion won ($7.9 million) fine by the government on Thursday, for transporting unauthorized lithium battery powered watches on 20 different occasions. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport finalized the fine as the airline was caught transporting lithium powered wrist watches from countries like Hong Kong without government approval, between April and May, a ministry spokesman said. Lithium batteries are categorized as dangerous materials as they could lead to a fire. The final decision comes after the airline requested a review of the ministry's initial penalty imposed in September. The airline claimed the punishment was too severe considering the lithium batteries on wrist watches were subminiature in size compared to that of cell phone batteries, which have caused several fires on aircraft. However, the ministry stood by the first decision. "We do not accept the fines and are considering filing an administrative suit for appropriate results," an official of Jeju Air told The Korea Times. The government also fined five budget airlines, including Jeju Air, for violating other safety regulations. Air Seoul was fined 300 million won as the front wheel of its airplane was broken right before takeoff at Incheon International Airport on May 21. The pilot's operation license was also suspended for 30 days. Korean Air was fined 600 million won and received 30-day suspension for the pilot after its plane taking off from Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia on Aug. 8 flew back due to problems with its pressurization system. Eastar Jet, Air Incheon and Jeju Air were also fined for other safety violations. "We will tighten on-the-scene inspection and take stern measures for any violation of aviation safety," a transport ministry official said. By Kim Yoo-chul Ninety-seven South Korean businesspeople including some having business connections in third countries started a visit to North Korea, Thursday, after gaining approval from the Ministry of Unification. "The ministry approved the trip to the North for 97 individuals, who will stay there through Sunday," said a ministry official. The businesspeople will participate in the 2018 Pyongyang Forum of Overseas Korean Entrepreneurs for Peace and Prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, which was initially planned to take place in mid-October. They arrived in Pyongyang late Thursday after boarding a flight from Shenyang in northern China. As North Korea's national carrier Air Koryo doesn't usually operate a Shenyang-Pyongyang flight on this day, analysts raised the prospect of Pyongyang using a a special charter for the event. The ministry official said the businesspeople will meet North Korean officials during their stay and be briefed on the Kim Jong-un regime's progress toward developing its economy. "Several meetings and company inspection trips have been planned for them," the official said without elaborating. Local media reports said the participants will attend sessions on North Korea's current economic conditions, and be given a chance to make personal connections ahead of possible developments in inter-Korean relations. The ministry official said the United States was notified of the trip and event before it granted approval for the businesspeople to enter the North. "Participation in the event is unrelated to Seoul's efforts to accelerate inter-Korean business projects," he said. The four-day event is organized by the Asia-Pacific Pyongyang Peace Association and the Federation for the People's Economic Cooperation, along with the Seoul-based World Federation of Korean Association of Commerce (WFKAC). By Lee Min-hyung Conscientious objectors will likely perform their alternative military service at prisons for 36 months, according to the Ministry of National Defense. The ministry has yet to finalize the plan, but will announce its final decision no later than the end of the year. The ministry explained that the option is one of the fairest and most realistic alternatives for objectors to carry out their alternative duties, rather than enlisting as soldiers. Conscripted soldiers who enlist in the Army should serve 21 months to fulfill their military service. The ministry viewed the 36-month-long alternative service period is long enough to prevent some people from abusing the system to evade mandatory military duty. "We set the period to maintain fairness between conscripted soldiers and conscientious objectors," a ministry official said. The prison is also seen as a suitable venue for the objectors, as it comes with facilities for them to sleep and stay. The ministry is also taking into consideration human rights recommendations from international organizations such as the United Nations. The issue of alternative service for conscientious objectors surfaced in June when the Constitutional Court ruled that the existing conscription law is unconstitutional as it lacks alternative service options. At that time, the court said this infringes on people's freedom of conscience and religion, ordering the National Assembly to revise the Military Service Act by the end of next year in a way to include alternative service measures for conscientious objectors. The defense ministry has since inspected some places for objectors to serve their alternative service. Prisons and rescue facilities have been cited as probable options for them in consideration of the lack of workers there. After the ministry finalizes the measure for alternative service, the objectors will start serving their alternative duties in 2020. Rep. Lee Un-ju of the Bareunmirae Party / Korea Times file By Park Ji-won Rep. Lee Un-ju of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP) is considering leaving the party after clashing with its leader. Lee, a former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker who recently emerged as an icon for far-right conservatives because of her remarks praising former President Park Chung-hee, is stepping up criticism against BMP chief Sohn Hak-kyu. This comes after Sohn criticized Lee for her recent move to coordinate with the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) by participating in one of its gatherings. Lee gave a lecture about her ideas of unifying conservatives to young members of the main opposition party last week. At the venue, Lee reportedly hinted at the possibility of her defection saying "if the party comes up with new momentum, I might join it." Sohn openly warned her saying this might tarnish the reputation of the BMP. BMP lawmakers also criticized her. Rep. Lee Sang-don said, "Lee should make up her mind now. It is not good for her to have people talking about her political position." Despite Sohn's warning, Lee maintained that her intention was to form a conservative alliance to stand against President Moon Jae-in. The opposition parties haven't found a breakthrough to recover from their large defeat in the June local elections, continuing to lose support from conservatives. Senior LKP members gathered to push for a conservative alliance with the BMP. The BMP's Sohn, meanwhile, made it clear the party will not join hands with the LKP. Critics say it is highly likely Lee will join the LKP in the future. Political veteran Rep. Park Jie-won of the minor Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) stated his belief that Lee would join the LKP during a radio interview. Also, based on Lee's political history, critics say she may change parties if the LKP stabilizes. Lee is one of many who often changes political parties. She started as a member of the Democratic United Party in 2012, where she became a lawmaker. Later, when Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party became a presidential candidate, Lee moved to the People's Party to support him. She remained in the current BMP after the People's Party merged with the Bareun Party. Critics also point out her intention to form a conservative alliance might resonate with some LKP members. Recently, she has been actively presenting herself to the public as a far-right figure. She is making appearances in broadcasts by far-right YouTube channels. Some say her motivation is to seize power as a lawmaker in one of the LKP's precincts in the 2020 general elections. When asked about Lee's possible nomination as a candidate for her home precinct, the current holder of the position, Rep. Kim Moo-sung of the LKP, said "I am open to help those who visit me and ask for advice." President Moon Jae-in, right, shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence before the start of his meeting with the vice president held in the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center, Singapore, Thursday (KST). Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul The United States is waiting for more moves from North Korea to advancing the goal of denuclearization, Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday (KST). "President Trump wanted to convey his gratitude for the full partnership in our collective efforts to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. And that progress gives us all great hope in the days ahead. We will see even more material steps taken by North Korea to achieve our shared objective," Pence told President Moon Jae-in at a meeting held on the sidelines of their participation in a series of annual regional summits in Singapore, according to press pool reports. Pence said the planned second summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will lay the groundwork for achieving the long-term objective of denuclearization. He added the United States will also work together with Japan and other nations to work toward peace on the peninsula. "But much work remains and I look forward to discussing with President Moon about the plans for another summit between Trump and the North's leader Kim. The point is how we can work even more closely together in the days ahead to ensure peace and security on the peninsula," the vice president said. He added previous negotiations on the North Korean nuclear issue represented "meaningful progress" to achieve the objective of complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID). President Moon thanked Pence for U.S. support in the ongoing peace process and reaffirmed Seoul's alliance with Washington as the linchpin of peace and security in Northeast Asia, as well as the peninsula. "President Trump's strong leadership and firm determination significantly helped the denuclearization talks see substantial progress. Kim Jong-un told me it was impossible to see progress in the denuclearization talks without President Trump. If the second summit between Trump and Kim actually happens, then that will help the ongoing peace process see huge progress," President Moon said. Cheong Wa Dae said Moon and Pence also discussed the ongoing efforts to accomplish the two countries' mutual goal of achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) of North Korea as agreed to by the North Korean leader. "Vice President Pence and President Moon noted the importance of close coordination on North Korea-related matters, including implementing sanctions and inter-Korean cooperation, and committed to continuing the close communication between our two countries," the U.S. State Department said in a press release after the meeting. Separately, the South Korea-ASEAN summit adopted a joint statement highlighting President Moon's efforts in bringing about progress in peace talks thus far. "We highlighted North Korea's pledge to refrain from further nuclear and missile tests and called on North Korea to fulfill its stated commitment to complete denuclearization. We reiterated our commitment to the full implementation of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and noted international efforts to bring about complete denuclearization in a final, fully verified manner," the joint statement said. South Korea also agreed with ASEAN members to further enhance mutual trade and investment by capitalizing on the free trade area agreed to with a view toward achieving the target of $200 billion by 2020 in bilateral trade. "We agreed to strengthen ongoing efforts to advance negotiations for further tariff liberalization of sensitive track products under the South Korea-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (AKTIGA). We noted the importance of improving the intellectual property regime to ensure the protection of innovation, and welcomed cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea intellectual property-related government organizations," it added. Themed Travel the World and Celebrate, the event will feature the participation of foreign embassies and communities of 30 countries from around the world, who will treat visitors to their traditional dishes and drinks. There will also be music and dance performances by students from international schools in Hanoi, as well as booths displaying souvenirs and handicraft products. Children will be invited to participate in a range of exciting games, while an auction area will be set up, where lucky visitors might win air tickets, jewellery, or other amazing gifts. According to HIWC President Kate Ruddon, the annual fundraising-event provides an opportunity for Hanoians to celebrate a festive day of diverse cultures and cuisines from around the world. All proceeds collected from the event will benefit underprivileged women and children in Vietnam. The bazaar is held in late autumn every year to strengthen the cooperation, friendship and cultural links between the international community in Hanoi and Vietnamese friends. The HIWC groups hundreds of members from many countries around the world, who are studying, living and working in Hanoi. Since 2005, the club has raised more than US$1.25 million to fund activities aimed at helping Vietnamese women and children. By Arthur I. Cyr Veterans' Day and thereafter is a good time for reflection on our military. This November marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice agreement ending World War I. Horrendous casualties in stalemated trench warfare dominated that conflict on the Western front. Combat killed millions of men. Commemoration is vital, and immature political rhetoric should not distract from the solemnity and significance. Germany was winning the war when the arrival of fresh United States forces turned the tide in 1918. Russia, knocked out of the conflict, sank into bloody civil war and a successful communist revolution. In the west, British and French troops were steadily being driven back to the Atlantic Ocean when the Americans arrived. The acrimonious aftermath of the war included imposition of confiscatory settlement terms on Germany by the governments of Britain and France. Americans reacted to that, and the shock of heavy casualties, by retreating to traditional isolationism. Chaos ensued in continental Europe, and the Nazi Third Reich emerged in Germany, with further horrible consequences. Before entry in World War II, most Americans considered our involvement in the earlier war to be a mistake. Only several months after the attack on Pearl Harbor did American public attitudes change. U.S. leaders benefited from direct experience in these wars. Every U.S. president from Harry Truman through George H.W. Bush was a veteran, including combat. That provided insight crucial to executive leadership when the stakes were highest. The 1960 presidential campaign is especially instructive. All four contenders, the vice-presidential as well as presidential candidates, were combat veterans of World War II. Democratic presidential nominee Senator John F. Kennedy (D-MA), as a U.S. Navy lieutenant, commanded a patrol boat struck by a Japanese destroyer. He led surviving crewmembers to land, swimming for over a mile towing a wounded comrade. Vice President Richard M. Nixon, Republican presidential nominee, also was a Navy officer. He served on Bougainville, near New Guinea, and the scene of brutal combat until the surrender of Japan. We never took Bougainville. Rather, U.S. forces hemmed in Japanese troops and continued the drive north to Japan's home islands. Nixon was in an area bombed consecutively for twenty-eight out of thirty nights. He demonstrated impressive courage in rescuing and aiding the wounded. Nixon's experience was less dramatic than Kennedy's but heroic. Nixon's running mate was Henry Cabot Lodge, scion of a distinguished New England political family and an influential U.S. senator (R-MA). He was U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Eisenhower Administration. Lodge spent years in the Army reserves as well as on active duty during World War II. In the last year of the war in Europe, he single-handedly captured an armed German military patrol. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) was Kennedy's running mate, and successor in the White House. Characteristically, he secured appointment as a Navy officer through political rather than regular professional channels, but he did serve. Biographer Robert Caro describes vividly one incident during a Pacific flight. Johnson stood straddling a bay gun turret in the aircraft as a Japanese fighter plane flew directly at him, machine guns firing. We should do more for veterans than utter the pro forma "thank you for your service." That mantra quickly loses significance when constantly, thoughtlessly repeated. Spend your time as well as money helping groups that support veterans. Our collective mixed record in the forty-five years since the end of the military draft makes this not only important, but imperative. Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.edu) is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War." Amid a frenzied spate of gun violence in Chicago over the first weekend of August, a lot of emergency room doctors and nurses were called in to try to save the wounded. Relatives of victims came to pray for them and those caring for them. Mayor Rahm Emanuel paid visits to Mount Sinai Hospital and Stroger Hospital "to hug the doctors and nurses" and "let them know how much I appreciated what they did this weekend." Here's who was not on hand to help cope with the carnage: representatives of the National Rifle Association, whose highest priority is opposing virtually any proposal to regulate firearms. Its officers rarely, if ever, see the catastrophic damage done by bullets to human bodies. Doctors do. They also have the task of repairing and rehabilitating survivors of gun violence, many of whom require care for years afterward, if not for a lifetime. They have a perspective on gun matters that is different from that of gun owners but equally valuable. Many medical professionals have opinions on such issues. Recently, the Annals of Internal Medicine published a position paper from the American College of Physicians on how to reduce gun deaths and injuries. This infuriated the NRA, which mocked the ACP for deploying "pseudo-science 'evidence' that supports their preferred anti-gun policies." The NRA also tweeted, "Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane." Someone should have told the NRA that doctors also know how to tweet. One posted a photo on Twitter of a human heart that had been fatally perforated by a gunshot. Others offered images of bloody emergency room floors and messages like: "She didn't make it." Judy Melinek, a forensic pathologist someone who performs autopsies replied: "Do you have any idea how many bullets I pull out of corpses weekly? This isn't just my lane. It's my (expletive) highway." It's one thing to critique the proposals made by the doctors' group. In debates on public policy, no one is exempt from rebuttal. But it's another to tell physicians they have no standing to weigh in on issues that implicate health and safety. It's the equivalent of telling the mayor of Hiroshima he has no business commenting on nuclear arms control. The ACP's suggestions were hardly off-the-wall. It characterized firearm violence as "a public health crisis in the United States," which is obviously true. It endorsed universal background checks to keep guns away from people who are not allowed to own them an idea so reasonable that the NRA used to support it. It said states shouldn't forbid doctors from discussing gun safety with patients, as Florida did until a federal court ruled the law unconstitutional. The ACP also proposed a ban on "assault weapons" and large-capacity magazines, which would essentially expand a 1994 federal law that expired in 2004. The NRA takes issue with the evidence the group offered in support of these ideas. That sounds like a useful and constructive response. No one in favor of tighter gun laws, after all, is afraid to examine the research data. But there's not as much as there should be, thanks to a 1996 measure that effectively stopped the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from funding research on gun violence a law passed at the instigation of the NRA. That measure, unfortunately, didn't prevent emergency room and other physicians from acquiring an intimate, endless familiarity with the effects of gun violence. They have a hard-earned moral authority on the topic. The NRA may be incapable of learning from what they say, but the rest of us can stand to hear it. The above editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Andrew Hammond The global spotlight turns to Asia Pacific this week with world leaders, from Russia to Australia, and India to Canada, attending the ASEAN and APEC summits. With states in attendance accounting for more than 50 percent of global GDP and nearly half of world trade, U.S.-Chinese rivalry will be center-stage in their respective attempts to shape the regional order. With Donald Trump, surprisingly, skipping the events, his deputy Mike Pence will be pitching the U.S. case. On Monday, before starting a trip taking in Japan, Singapore, Australia and Papua New Guinea, the U.S. vice president asserted that Washington seeks a region "where sovereignty is respected, where commerce flows unhindered and where independent nations are masters of their own destinies ... while some nations now seek to undermine this foundation, the U.S. is taking decisive action to protect our interests and promote shared success." While not acknowledging China explicitly here, Pence is primarily referring to Beijing which has its own ambitions to shape the regional order. To that end, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang this week will be promoting at ASEAN and APEC not just their Belt and Road plan, one of the biggest initiatives of its kind in history with a trillion-dollar price tag. In addition, they will be doubling down on their visions for a Free Trade Area of Asia Pacific (FTAAP) and a pact known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). FTAAP has assumed new importance for Beijing since the inception of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which was originally promoted by the Obama administration. According to Xi, the FTAAP would provide a significantly greater economic boost than TPP (which comprises Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Brunei, Chile, Peru, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mexico, but not the United States as was originally intended because of Trump's rejection of it). And Beijing's push for FTAAP and RCEP (which comprises the 10 ASEAN members plus India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand, but not the United States) thus provides an alternative model for regional economic integration much more conducive to its national interests. This is not least because China will be explicitly part of the new economic agreements and shape their design by creating free trade areas with it potentially at the center. And it is in this context that the United States will this week set out its own stall for the shaping regional order under three pillars. Promoting prosperity; enhancing security; and supporting transparent and responsive government, rule of law, and protection of individual rights. Yet, despite the ambitions set out here, there are concerns among allies in Asia-Pacific that this is too little, too late by the Trump team, especially following its pulling out from TPP. A key remaining question now, for U.S. allies, therefore is whether Washington will step up to the plate and develop a comprehensive and well-funded grand strategy to embed U.S. influence, as Obama had intended with TPP. There have been some signs in the last few months that Trump is starting to wake up and smell the coffee. Last month, for instance, he signed a bill into law which will create a $60-billion new International Development Finance Corporation aimed at strategic investment in developing countries. The new IDFC will move forward U.S. interests, in Asia-Pacific and beyond, including supporting U.S. firms in key developing markets to enhance U.S. geopolitical influence vis-a-vis China. This latest step in Washington's response to China's growing influence builds on other recent announcements by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In July, for instance, he committed some $113 million in regional investments focused on technology, energy and infrastructure as a "down payment" on future U.S. commitments to Asia-Pacific. Extensive as these pledges are, however, there appears no overarching plan to bring them all together in a powerful, strategic way. And this perceived under-ambition has left allies anxious, especially given Trump's uncertain personal commitment to the region as underlined by his non-attendance this week. History points to what may now be needed to fill this vacuum. In the postwar period, the United States has undertaken a global institutional-building project on a largely bipartisan basis, at least until the election of Trump, to encourage growth of democracy and open markets across the world. From 1945, U.S. administrations helped create and nurture key bodies that exist to this day from the U.N., to the IMF and World Bank. Inspired by this success, both the administrations of George H.W. Bush and especially Bill Clinton sought to respond to the collapse of Soviet communism by encouraging creation of a range of economic institutions including not just APEC, but also the WTO, and NAFTA too. Yet, with Trump pulling the plug on U.S. participation in TPP, and possibly in other institutions such as the WTO, a vacuum exists that someone will fill. And the danger for Washington is that, unless it now acts decisively, irresistible momentum could build for a regional architecture, including RCEP and FTAAP, which would allow Beijing to assume the upper hand, damaging U.S. influence not just with local allies, but potentially well beyond too. Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. Stern punishment of violators needed as a warning to others Samsung BioLogics intentionally violated Korea's accounting rules before its initial public offering in 2016, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced Wednesday. Immediately after the announcement, the Korea Exchange halted trading of the company's shares, saying it will examine whether to delist the biopharmaceutical unit of Samsung Group. The regulators' decision put an end to the 20-month-long controversy over the accounting fraud. It will leave a huge blow, however, not just to the company through possible class-action suits and other moves by shareholders, but also Samsung Group and the entire local bourse. The FSC focused its investigation on questions about Samsung BioLogics' sudden turnaround to a profit of 1.9 trillion won ($1.68 billion) in 2015 after years of losses. Riding on the abruptly "improved" performance, the company went public the following year. The regulator concluded there was intentional window-dressing in that process. At stake is how to punish lawbreakers sternly while minimizing the damage to innocent market participants. Damages to shareholders have already become a reality because of the halted stock trading. The number of Samsung BioLogics' minority stockholders is more than 80,000. In addition to losses, their investments are now locked up because of the suspended trading. It will be surprising is there is not a wave of class action lawsuits by investors. The parent Samsung Group is also at bay. Civic groups suspect the accounting breach at Samsung BioLogics may have helped the controversial merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2015. Activists argue Samsung BioLogics might have inflated its profit to raise its value for the benefit of Samsung Group's heir apparent Lee Jae-yong, who held a major stake in Cheil Industries at the time. The regulatory move may likely affect the Supreme Court's upcoming ruling on Lee's alleged involvement in the massive corruption scandal involving disgraced former President Park Geun-hye. The prosecution ought to thoroughly investigate the company as well as accounting firms involved and bring any irregularities to light. The case should serve as an opportunity to promote awareness about accounting fraud as a serious crime, prevent the recurrence of inflicting losses on innocent investors, and restore confidence in the local financial market. By Donald Kirk WASHINGTON We hear so much about North Korea's secret bases that it's sometimes easy to forget the ruckus over U.S. bases in the region. They may not be secret, but they can be controversial. Take, for instance, the huge U.S. air and marine bases on Okinawa. People over there, living in Japan's southernmost island prefecture, historically the independent Ryukyu kingdom, cannot see why the U.S., fully supported by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, does not scale down the American presence. The answer in part is they're the cutting edge of U.S. power in the Pacific. More than 50,000 U.S. troops are based in Japan, nearly twice as many as the 28,500 in Korea, and U.S. and Japanese strategic planners see their presence as critical as long as North Korea remains a threat, refusing to give up its nukes and missiles, and China looms as a dominant regional power from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea to the Yellow Sea. A majority of the people of Okinawa clearly disagree. Okinawa's newly elected governor, Yasuhiro "Denny" Tamaki, is here this week explaining why he easily defeated a candidate supported by the central government in the recent election. The differences centered on the determination of the government to build a U.S. marine air station off the northeastern coast near a major U.S. marine base, Camp Schwab, and the equal determination of clearly a majority of the people of Okinawa to stop construction. "We have good relations with Americans," Tamaki told me after arriving here on a whirlwind round of visits to think tanks, political figures and officials. "The purpose of my visit is to convey the message to Americans to understand why the Okinawa people do now want the base at Henoko." That's a message the Americans have been hearing for years in polite conversation as well as mass demonstrations that break out after some criminal offense, notably the rape of local women. In between such outbreaks, foes of the Henoko project are camped out day and night beyond the fences surrounding the base, making their views known while the government insists it's needed to replace another marine air station at Futenma, near the Okinawan capital of Naha. Opposition to the Henoko project bears a certain similarity to the ruckus raised over construction of the Korean navy base on the southern coast of Jeju. The comparison, of course, is flawed. The base at Henoko, unlike that on Jeju, would be for aircraft, not ships, and it would be a U.S. base. Still, the emotions generated by what is seen as an intrusion on local society and culture reminds a visitor of the ongoing protest on Jeju. Governor Tamaki's view is the Americans should build the air station elsewhere in Japan anywhere but Okinawa. He does not really oppose the presence of Kadena Air base, one of the largest U.S. air force bases anywhere, and he is not calling for the marines to go home. Maybe, he said, they could relocate elsewhere on Okinawa, somewhere near Kadena. It's not likely, however, that Japanese would welcome expansion of U.S. forces on the main Japanese islands. The U.S. navy base at Yokosuka and the air base at Yokota, both fairly near Tokyo, are vital, but Japanese oppose having more U.S. bases on their soil. For old people on Okinawa, the worst nightmare is the battle for Okinawa in the Spring of 1945 when more than 200,000 died, more than half of them local citizens. U.S. forces won the battle at a cost of 12,520 American lives. The Okinawan people suffered far more. All told, 94,000 civilians were killed plus 22,228 soldiers from Okinawa drafted into in the Japanese army. Another 65,908 troops from "mainland" Japan died in the battle, the worst in the Pacific War. There is no doubt, if the confrontation between North and South Korea goes on, that Okinawa would be a crucial rear-base area. There is also no doubt that Okinawa would be caught in the crossfire, victims of North Korean missiles, maybe even nuclear warheads, fired at U.S. bases. Such talk seems highly abstract, a distant apparition, but helps to explain Okinawan opposition to a base at Henoko and the need for serious peace, not just a "peace resolution," on the Korean Peninsula. It also explains why the Americans and their Japanese ally, having been defeated on Okinawa, view the bases on Okinawa as so critical to their own defense and that of the region. Donald Kirk (www.donaldkirk.com) who has covered war and peace in Asia for decades, is the author of "Okinawa and Jeju: Bases of Discontent." By Jung Min-ho The German government has come under pressure to exclude Chinese companies, including Huawei, from supplying equipment to its 5G network amid national security concerns. According to , senior officials are trying hard to convince decision makers to ban Chinese companies from taking part in 5G network deployments in Germany as the country plans to start its 5G auctions early next year. The report came after the United States and Australia decided to block Huawei and ZTE from rolling out 5G technology on their wireless networks over cyber-espionage concerns. There have been reports that Japan and the United Kingdom are also considering the same move. "There is serious concern. If it were up to me we would do what the Australians are doing," one senior German official involved in the internal 5G debate in Berlin was quoted as saying. Officials at German foreign and interior ministries met their U.S. and Australian counterparts recently and shared their concerns about the risks of using Chinese equipment, according to the report. Huawei has claimed that its equipment poses no security risks, but experts say governments are right to be cautious about allowing the company, which allegedly has close ties to the ruling Communist Party, to build and manage the next generation of wireless technology. Legally, China's national intelligence law requires all organizations to support, cooperate with and collaborate in national intelligence work if they are asked to do so. Politically, the Communist Party has and exerts enormous power over Chinese companies and people. It is no secret the Chinese government uses its companies and vast markets to act against foreign governments and companies whenever it feels necessary. Not long ago, it "retaliated" against the South Korean government by throttling its tourism industry over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system here known internationally as "THAAD revenge." Experts warn that there is little reason to imagine that the party has changed and, when the time comes, Chinese companies will have no choice but to comply with the party's request. Huawei is being treated as a national security threat in some countries over its ties to the Chinese government. Reuters By Jung Min-ho Bates Gill. The United States, Britain, Australia and now Japan. Huawei, a Chinese telecoms equipment maker, is facing severe restrictions over its ties to the Chinese government. On Aug. 23, the Australian government decided to block the company from rolling out 5G technology on the country's wireless networks, due to national security concerns. Now Japan's government is considering doing the same. Meanwhile, Korea's No. 3 mobile carrier LG Uplus is set to buy 5G network equipment from Huawei for its latest mobile services. Should Koreans be worried? Experts say they are right to be cautious. "The future 5G network is considered critical infrastructure. As such, insider knowledge of the 5G network which its builders and operators would possess could not only provide access to sensitive information within the system, such as transport and energy grids, water supplies, financial and banking services, but also allow those builders and operators to disrupt those systems if they chose to," Bates Gill, professor of Asia-Pacific security studies at Sydney's Macquarie University, told The Korea Times. Shambhu Upadhyaya By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung Electronics hosted an artificial intelligence (AI) technology forum in Beijing, Thursday, showcasing what it calls the essential parts for the emerging technology. The Korean tech giant's Device Solutions Division, which oversees the firm's chip business, said it held the inaugural Samsung Future Tech Forum, 2018 AI Solutions at the NUO Hotel Beijing. There, the firm displayed its semiconductor and display products that can be used in developing AI technology-related products. Samsung said it held the forum to strengthen ties with Chinese firms dedicated to AI technology. "Innovative technologies such as AI, fifth-generation (5G) networks, the internet of things (IoT), self-driving cars and blockchain technologies can fundamentally change our lives," said Choi Cheol, executive vice president and head of Device Solutions China regional office at Samsung during an opening speech. "We hope this forum can create cooperative opportunities between Samsung Electronics' high-tech products and the rapidly growing AI industry in China." Samsung said this is the first time the firm has held an AI technology-focused forum in China. "We have held technology forums in China several times, but this is the first time Samsung hosted a forum dedicated to AI technology," said a Samsung official. The AI forum featured some 500 officials from global enterprises such as Baidu, Xiaomi and Hikvision and AI technology-related startups in China. Samsung introduced its high bandwidth memory-2 (HBM2) DRAM for use in supercomputers, AI and graphic systems; 16-gigabit GDDR6 DRAM for use in advanced graphics processing; mobile application processor Exynos 9 (9820); and its ISOCELL image sensors. The firm's foundry division introduced its capability to manufacture customized chips using the 7-nanometer Low Power Plus (LPP) process that utilizes extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology. Samsung Display also showed its OLED panels. Choi said the Beijing forum was in line with the firm's Tech Forum 2018, which was held in Silicon Valley in the United States on Nov. 6. The forum featured 150 developers and designers at the headquarters of Samsung Research America. During the Beijing forum, renowned tech gurus delivered keynote speeches to share the latest developments and future vision of AI technology. They were Larry Heck, senior vice president of Samsung Research America; Yin Shouyi, professor at Institute of Microelectronics at Tsinghua University; and Chen Tianshi, CEO of Cambricon, an AI chip startup in China. U.S. Department of Justice antitrust chief Makan Delrahim says SK Energy, GS Caltex and Hanjin Transportation have agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to rig fuel prices at U.S. military bases in Korea. AP By Jung Min-ho Three Korean companies will plead guilty to conspiring to rig fuel prices at U.S. military bases in Korea, the U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday (KST). SK Energy, GS Caltex and Hanjin Transportation will pay $236 million in criminal and civil penalties for their role in a conspiracy to fix the price of fuel between 2005 and 2016. Makan Delrahim, head of the department's antitrust division, said there may be other co-conspirators and investigators will dig deeper into the case. The main entrance to the United States Forces Korea's Camp Casey / Korea Times file "These charges are the first to be announced in this investigation into bid rigging and price fixing of fuel supply services to the Department of Defense in this critical region," Delrahim said. "As a result of the anti-competitive agreement, the U.S. Department of Defense paid substantially more for fuel supply services than it would have absent the collusion." The petroleum and refinery companies and their agents tried to suppress competition during the bidding process for U.S. military fuel contracts, according to the department. Delrahim refused to disclose the exact amount of money the U.S. military lost in the rigging, but said the civil penalties against the companies were more than they had overcharged. The three will pay some $82 million in criminal fines. Separately, they will pay about $154 million over civil charges brought against them. The U.S. stations about 28,000 troops here to deter North Korean aggression, after the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty. By Park Jae-hyuk S-Oil and Hyundai Oilbank are being investigated by the U.S. government for antitrust activities as they allegedly colluded with other refiners to supply fuel to U.S. military bases in Korea at higher than market prices, according to industry sources, Thursday. Antitrust prosecutors at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have reportedly been probing the two Korean refiners both here and in America. The DOJ said early Thursday that it slapped $236 million in criminal and civil penalties on SK Energy, GS Caltex and Hanjin Transportation for their roles in the coordinated scheme to fix the price of fuel between 2005 and 2016. S-Oil and Hyundai Oilbank were not included in the department's initial announcement, but rumors began spreading that the two were excluded from the list as they were preparing to appeal any adverse decision. One of the successes of the Palermo conference was to bring both General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) that controls much of eastern Libya, and Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), to the dialogue table. General Haftar, from the citadel in Benghazi, arrived in Palermo following doubts about his important presence. General Haftar and GNA Prime Minister Sarraj held a rare private meeting on the sidelines of the conference, which was also the first between the two in the past five months. Ahead of the conference, General Haftar announced he would not attend a working dinner with other leaders, although he had planned to do so previously. According to the self-styled LNA, General Haftar came to the Palermo conference just to meet with leaders of countries in the region to discuss the latest proceedings. General Haftar stated that he will be pleased if Sarraj continues to serve as the GNA prime minister until the elections are held as planned, which is seen as a diplomatic progress leading the two rival factions in Libya towards resolving conflicts. The two sides, between which there exist many differences in terms of interests, voiced their support for the UNs new plan. Accordingly, the North African nation will hold a national conference in Libya early next year and then the parliamentary and presidential elections in June 2019. The Palermo conference on Libya attracted the participation of representatives from European and Arab countries and the United States. A total of 38 delegations confirmed their attendance, including 10 government leaders and officials, and foreign ministers from 20 countries. Experts said that Russia, France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supported General Haftar, while Turkey and Qatar favoured the factions in opposition to General Haftars forces, especially the Islamic groups. With the presence of representatives from many countries, this is an opportunity for the parties concerned to negotiate a roadmap to peace for Libya. However, the new UN roadmap rejected the French initiative from the conference on Libya held in Paris last May, which had proposed holding elections in Libya this December. This raises doubts surrounding the ability to implement the commitments made at the Palermo conference. Moreover, outside their commitments to supporting the new UN plan, the parties did not make any specific decisions. The issues of decisive importance to Libyas political fortunes were not specifically discussed as of yet. Libya is in need of establishing a unified military force as well as a state-controlled police force. The reallocation of benefits from oil one of the key factors that could end interest oppositions and conflicts and bring peace to Libya has also yet to be addressed. In the context of the complicated proceedings with prolonged disputes and conflict in Libya over the past several years, the rival factions agreeing to sit together at the negotiating table in Palermo has paved the way for dialogue. However, it is not at all easy to reach a political deal for a divided Libya, which currently sees the flourishing development of armed militant groups born out of chaos and turmoil. International efforts to remove the deadlocks in Libyan politics have not yet been successful. Furthermore, most of the Libyan factions share a stance of denying outside interference into the North African country, which had suffered heavy losses due to outside intervention in the NATO-led war to dethrone the Gaddafi regime in 2011. Libya has been experiencing more than eight years of conflict and turmoil since the Arab Spring but has yet to find a real spring for their own. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence listens to Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, not seen, in Singapore, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Pence is in Singapore to attend the 33rd ASEAN summit. AP-Yonhap By Catherine Wong US President Donald Trump's absence from two high profile Asian summits has raised questions as to America's right to be a leader in the region, but analysts remain uncertain on whether China is ready to supplant it. "If Asia matters to America, why is your leader President Trump not here?" Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh asked his American counterparts of the US leader's decision to skip the East Asian Summit hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea. US Vice-President Mike Pence is representing America at the two events. "To Asians, turning up for a meeting is significant," Koh, a lawyer and ambassador-at-large at Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at an event on Wednesday in the city state. Koh said also that many of his counterparts in Southeast Asia were uneasy about the United States' Indo-Pacific strategy, whose primary aim was to contain China. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers his keynote address as members of his security entourage stand guard during a welcome banquet organized by the Singapore Business Community on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN summit in Singapore, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. AP-Yonhap "Is it intended to exclude countries in the region which are not democratic?" he asked. "Is the strategic intent of this concept targeted at excluding China from the family? If so we are not comfortable." While Koh said he was speaking in a personal capacity and that his views did not represent those of the Singaporean government, his concerns resonated throughout the region at a time of uncertainty regarding a shifting world order and struggles between major powers. "Trump missing [from the two meetings in Asia] is a missed opportunity," said Huong Le Thu, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. "It looks like he is not committed in the region something that contradicts the purpose of the Indo-Pacific strategy. To me, I think it looks like Asia policy is left to Pence, Mattis, Pompeo but does not reach to Trump," she said. Meanwhile, Beijing is working hard to make headway in the region. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said at the Singapore summit that China would continue to push for a code of conduct for the South China Sea and hoped to reach consensus within three years. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in pose for a photo during the ASEAN-Russia Summit in the ongoing 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 in Singapore. AP-Yonhap But its efforts to conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership a free-trade deal between Asean and six other Asia-Pacific nations, including China was postponed until next year, mainly due to India's reluctance to open up its markets to Beijing highlighting resistance to a China-led trade order. And while Trump's absence from the Asia summits has drawn scrutiny, others have pointed to the continued absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping. "It is worth noting that the Chinese president has never attended the East Asia Summit," said Aaron Connelly, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. "Southeast Asian countries have always viewed this as a snub, intended to signal Beijing's refusal to acquiesce to Asean's leading role in the regional institutional architecture. "Under President Xi Jinping, who has consolidated so much power to the detriment of Premier Li Keqiang, it must be particularly disappointing," he said. ASEAN Leaders pose for a group photo during the opening ceremony for the 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Singapore. From left Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Rodrigo Duterte of The Philippines, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of Thailand, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos. AP-Yonhap A US congressional committee has asked Congress to list Chinese financial companies and officials that could face sanctions because of their ties to North Korea's nuclear weapon programmes. Photo from the South China Morning Post By Zhenhua Lu, US correspondent Within the next six months, the US Treasury should give Congress a list of Chinese financial companies and officials that could be sanctioned because of their ties to North Korea's nuclear weapon programmes, a US congressional advisory committee said in a report released on Wednesday.? The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) recommended in its latest report that Congress should "direct the US Department of the Treasury to provide a report within 180 days on the current state of Chinese enforcement of sanctions on North Korea". "A classified annex should provide a list of Chinese financial institutions, businesses and officials involved in trading with North Korea that could be subject to future sanctions," the committee said. The list, it said, should "explain the potential broader impacts of sanctioning those entities". The recommendation comes as China and Russia, two of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, are at odds with the US over easing sanctions on North Korea. "The pressure campaign will continue, and sanctions will remain in full force until we achieve the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea," US Vice-President Mike Pence tweeted on Tuesday during his visit to Japan. "The US, Japan and the world will accept nothing less." US Vice-President Mike Pence has promised to continue 'the pressure campaign' aimed at removing nuclear weapons from North Korea. Yonhap US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also told reporters after a US-China diplomatic security dialogue last Friday in Washington that he had emphasised to the visiting Chinese delegation "the importance of remaining united in the pursuit of the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea". "This means maintaining pressure through the continued strict enforcement of all UN Security Council resolutions," Pompeo said he told the delegation, which was led by Politburo member Yang Jiechi and Minister of National Defence Wei Fenghe. Yang, China's highest ranking diplomat, responded that "China will continue to enforce strictly relevant UN Security Council resolutions". He said China hoped that Washington and Pyongyang would "meet each other halfway, accommodate each other's legitimate concerns, build trust and advance the denuclearisation process and the establishment of a peace mechanism in tandem". In October, Chinese and Russian deputy foreign ministers met their North Korean counterpart in Moscow seeking to coordinate a trilateral approach to the denuclearisation process on the Korean peninsula. They called on the UN Security Council to "adjust" the current sanctions regime against Pyongyang. A China Merchants Bank branch. Photo from Facebook Chinese and Russian foreign ministers Wang Yi and Sergey Lavrov also clashed with Pompeo in New York in late September over North Korea sanctions during Security Council talks. Wang, backed by Lavrov, urged the UN body to consider easing the tough measures because of "positive developments" in the wake of the US-North Korea presidential summit in Singapore. But Pompeo urged council members to "set the example" for the world by enforcing sanctions "without fail". The congressional committee suggested in its latest report that if China were to drop sanctions or revert to "providing a relief valve for Chairman Kim [Jong-un] through lacklustre enforcement", US policymakers could "begin to consider a mix of incentives and pressure on Beijing to entice China to strengthen sanctions enforcement to support a 'maximum pressure' strategy". Some influential US lawmakers had tried to push the US government to impose sanctions on major Chinese banks. China has long opposed Washington's policy of "unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdictions" related to Chinese entities and nationals. An Agricultural Bank of China branch. Photo from Facebook Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Update: Nov. 15, 6:17 p.m. Democrats appear poised to take over all of Orange County's traditionally GOP congressional seats. Based on the latest vote counts out late Thursday, Democrat Katie Porter pulled away from Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th Congressional District seat representing parts of Orange County, including Irvine and Tustin. With Porter holding over a 6,000-vote lead, The Associated Press projected a win for the Democrat. In the 39th Congressional District, Democratic opponent Gil Cisneros took over the lead from Republican Young Kim by nearly 1,000 votes. At last estimate in Los Angeles County alone, election officials reported 688,000 ballots left to be counted. Orange County estimates it has156,241 ballots to tally. San Bernardino County election officials say they have 95,500 ballots left to process. While SoCal Republicans fought hard to defend themselves from a blue wave that shifted control of the House to the Democrats in this year's midterm elections, they were outgunned in fundraising, hobbled by strong anti-Trump sentiment and challenged by voter preferences in an increasingly non-white region. The Associated Press has now called all of California's House seats except the 39th. In Orange County, Democrat Harley Rouda was declared the winner in the 48th Congressional District on Saturday, defeating longtime GOP incumbent Dana Rohrabacher. Rohrabacher has yet to concede. Similarly, Democrat Mike Levin has already beat out Republican Diane Harkey for the 49th Congressional District's open seat. All other congressional districts that include parts of Orange County were already controlled by Democrats who won reelection. Officials are still counting many ballots across the state. Some 2,658,360 remain unprocessed statewide, according to the latest report from the Secretary of State's office posted at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Here are more details on the two closely watched races: 39th Congressional District: Democrat Cisneros is now leading Kim by 941 votes. He has 104,003 votes to Kim's 103,062 votes, based on the latest count. The next Los Angeles County count on Friday is expected to further push Cisneros ahead. The candidates are seeking an open seat held by Ed Royce, a GOP congressman who is stepping down from office. The district straddles L.A., Orange and San Bernardino counties. 45th Congressional District: Porter has extended her lead in this Orange County district by a margin of 6,203 votes. The latest count shows her with 135,237 votes against Walters' 129,034 votes. When the L.A. County numbers are released Friday, Porter is expected to widen her lead. The Democrat declared victory in a statement Thursday. "What we are seeing -- here and across the country -- is what happens when we make the choice that if this is to be a government for the people, it must also be a government by and of the people, and that we accept the hope and the responsibility that that represents," she stated. The 45th was one of a handful in the region targeted by Democrats as part of the party's effort to retake the U.S. House, which they have done. Officials have previously explained that the large numbers of uncounted ballots are due in part to both changing election rules that give voters more time to cast ballots and a jump in the number of people who are opting to vote by mail instead of by voting in person. California's election laws make for one of the slowest statewide vote counts in the country. The last of the eligible vote-by-mail ballots arrived last week Friday. Paul Mitchell, vice-president of Political Data Inc., a bipartisan research group, told Take Two on Wednesday that the Los Angeles County vote count will likely take even longer in 2020, when it's set to shift to a system where everyone gets a mail ballot, many polling places are consolidated into voting centers and voters get an 11-day window to cast ballots. Orange County is expected to issue its next vote count update on Friday at about 5 p.m. L.A. County's next vote count update is also set for Friday afternoon around 5 p.m. San Bernardino's next update is scheduled for November 21. WILL THERE BE RECOUNTS? It's possible, but recounts are very rare in California. California does not have automatic recounts. A voter or candidate may request one but must shoulder the cost and decide which votes to review. Because recounts are expensive, they are much less frequent in California than in other states, some of which require automatic recounts for close elections. Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe In the dark of night, some unusual new marquees were put up on several Los Angeles movie theaters -- and not by late shift theater employees. The anonymous artists of street art collective Indecline hit the New Beverly, the Nuart, and the Palace Theatre with signs that included the names of men whose names have come to light thanks to the #MeToo movement. Those include some who've denied the claims against them, such as Scott Baio and Woody Allen (who issued denials both before and after #MeToo began), and others who've disputed some of the details of those allegations, such as Harvey Weinstein. Michael Douglas, whose name is up on a billboard, also spoke out ahead of allegations against him to deny they were true. The signs also included dark parodies of the names of films by directors who have been accused as part of #MeToo. A marquee put up by street art group Indecline at the New Beverly. (Courtesy Indecline) "The design was to help disrupt what we're calling Hollywood's conspiracy of silence surrounding the Me Too movement," a representative for Indecline told LAist, "and particularly protecting the patriarchy, the leaders of the industry -- whether it's a Weinstein or some of the bigger actors, directors involved in these allegations." The representative declined to be identified by name due to the group's unauthorized activities. The group scouted locations a few weeks ago, wanting to do something ahead of awards season -- thus their video, "For Your Consideration," which shows them putting up the new marquees. It was put up on social media Wednesday after they went to work overnight, finishing up around 3 a.m. A marquee put up by street art group Indecline at the Nuart. (Indecline) The group also wanted to go beyond just the alleged perpetrators, but also those who they see as helping to enable the culture that enabled their behavior, according to their representative. "Someone like [Quentin] Tarantino, who we felt was culpable just because he decided to turn his back on what Weinstein did for so many years," their representative said. That included making what they saw as a hard choice for a liberal organization, going after those on their same side politically. "It's really easy to -- and I think this goes for a lot of people on the liberal side of things -- to cry foul and get all up in arms when the Proud Boys are acting up, or there's racial issues happening over in the South," their rep said. "These are obvious battles to fight, but there was something to be said about this one, when it was Quentin Tarantino and various actors and producers who have been responsible for some of the things that have, quite frankly, inspired us to do what we do." A marquee put up by street art group Indecline at the Palace Theatre in downtown L.A. (Courtesy Indecline) Indecline has been around since 2001, with high-profile projects including naked statues of President Donald Trump. The group's members, largely based on the West Coast, have backgrounds in graffiti and video production. "And then we have dozens of people we work with all over the country," Indecline's rep said, "whether those are welders, or people who can rappel -- whatever the case may be." Indecline doesn't assume that people know everything about the stories they're covering, their rep said. "One of the first things we want to do is just send a gut check -- kick in a door with some sort of a visual or metaphorical wake-up call," their rep said, "to get people talking, and to get them engaged. And if they're inspired, that's great. We want to hope that these things can get people active." The group works to keep the issues it cares about in the news, even when the news cycle has moved on. Other issues that the group has sought to address include environmental issues and police brutality. Another project they did previously included putting the names of alleged victims of police brutality onto stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Members of the group were in Hollywood for a different project, their rep said, and were half-joking about names not represented on those Walk of Fame stars. "The names that aren't listed on this revered stretch of sidewalk, and how there are people that should be celebrated or remembered," their rep said. So they put those names down to send the message that those were the names that should be focused on. The group is considering other awards season projects in some other format. A marquee put up by street art group Indecline at the New Beverly. (Courtesy Indecline) Indecline has some sympathy for theater employees -- their representative said they brought their own letters for the marquees, and set aside those belonging to the theaters for them to find when they showed up the next morning. They aren't announcing where they'll strike next, but several of their pieces -- including one of those Trump statues -- is up for sale tonight in auction house Julien's Street and Contemporary Art auction. You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Memorial services were held Thursday for the Ventura County sheriff's sergeant who was killed last week after entering the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks to confront an active shooter. Helus' body arrived at the Calvary Community Church in Westlake at 11:00 a.m. as hundreds of law enforcement officers stood by at attention, saluting his casket. According to the San Bernardino Sun, busses carrying officers from "as far as Arizona" drove to the church for the service. The service was held in front of a large screen upon which a photo of Helus was projected, along with the words, "In Memory of Sergeant Ron Helus, July 21, 1964 - November 8, 2018." Helus' casket was placed at the center of the stage and draped in an American flag. Towards the beginning of the service, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus sang "Amazing Grace," backed by a choir dressed in all black. Pastor Steve Day of Calvary Community Church told the assembled crowd that 30 years ago, Helus proposed to his wife at the restaurant that would later become the Borderline Bar and Grill. Pastor says Sgt. Ron Helus asked his wife to marry him 3 decades ago at the restaurant that would eventually become the Borderline Bar & Grill https://t.co/t4N9cEBgUb KTLA (@KTLA) November 15, 2018 Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub took the podium to eulogize Helus, telling mourners that Helus "dared to go where most would flee...he entered the nightclub with no other purpose than to defend the defenseless." Ayub called Helus a hero, noting that in his near-30-year career, Helus--an "intense guy"--was always engaged, constantly working on improving himself and his skills. Ayub noted how frequently Helus talked about his son Jordan, and "how proud he was of him." Adding that he community owes Helus a debt of gratitude, Ayub closed his remarks and the services' eulogies by noting that in his final moments, Helus imparted a lesson to us all: "fearlessness in the face of certain danger, and selfless services to the community he lived in." "You truly are a hero," said Ayub. On Nov. 7, Sgt. Ron Helus responded to calls about a shooter that poured in to the Ventura County Sheriff's office. He went into the bar through the front door and was gunned down during the confrontation. A California Highway Patrol officer pulled Helus out of the line of fire, but Helus later succumbed to his injuries at Los Robles Regional Medical Center. In total, 13 people died that night, including Helus and the shooter. Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean believes that many more may have lost their lives that night had Helus not stepped in, according to the Los Angeles Times. "There's no doubt that they saved lives by going in there and engaging with the suspect," Dean told reporters. After 29 years on the force, Helus was approaching the end of his career and planning to retire next year, reportedly hoping to continue his work as a firearms instructor after recently obtaining his master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma. He was 54. Helus is survived by his wife and son. UPDATES: 1:47 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes and a description of Sergeant Ron Helus' memorial service. This article was originally published at 7:00 a.m. on November 15, 2018. Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe The mantra gets repeated at every news conference at every big wildfire by every fire official: "When we call for mandatory evacuation, please leave, so you don't endanger yourself or our firefighters." But fire science studies tell us that at every big wildfire, about 10 percent of residents stay behind. An additional 25 percent are in the "wait and see" category: They linger after the call, and when they finally evacuate ahead of the oncoming flames, it's far riskier than if they had left early. Still, some who refuse to heed evacuation orders do save homes. Ventura City Fire Marshal Joe Morelli acknowledged that he reacted positively to a neighbor who, despite the risk, stayed behind during the Thomas fire to help put out spot fires. "I told him, 'Look, I can't tell you you weren't supposed to evacuate, I work for the fire department,'" Morelli said. "'But thank you for what you did in the community,' because I know that he saved some homes." That raises a policy question that firefighters would rather not confront. Firefighters know a significant number of people refuse to leave, yet there is no state or local policy to help train them to save their homes. "We do not support that at all, and I think it could give a false sense of security to the public," said Cal Fire Deputy Director Mike Mohler. WHY DO FIRE OFFICIALS INSIST EVERYONE LEAVE? First off, officials say, it's too difficult for firefighters to sort out who has the ability and training to stay and who's just flirting with a fiery death. Protecting people's lives will always be a top priority for firefighters, so the presence of stay-behind residents requires fire crews to shift their tactics to protect those people, rather than keeping fire from taking homes and other property. In addition, state and local governments don't want the liability, said Mohler. "The risk versus gain is not something that we would be willing to compromise," he said. "Our job is to get the public out of harm's way." Many California neighborhoods have the Community Emergency Response Team program, which trains civilians to help organize and lead disaster recovery efforts, mostly focused on earthquakes. But Morelli is not willing to see that program expanded to train volunteers to remain behind to save homes from fire. "We had a firefighter die on [the Thomas fire] who is from Cal Fire and very, very experienced," Morelli said. Apparatus Engineer Cory Iverson of San Diego got trapped while fighting the Thomas Fire and died. The danger in staying isn't just physical either. Cal Fire Administrative Chief Dennis Burns told the story of a Northern California man, "A man's man," who stayed behind during a fire and saved his home. "He was just bawling and just breaking down because he says, no way he could've prepared for the actual mental emotional side that was out there," Burns said. Cindy Zahner credits the action of her son, Adam Maingot for saving her house, below, from the Thomas Fire. Maingot, who had training and brief experience as a firefighters, says fire officials should help train volunteers to stay and defend their homes from wildfires. (Sharon McNary/LAist) A MAN WHO STAYED BEHIND Adam Maingot was one of those who stayed behind in the Clearpoint neighborhood of Ventura to protect his mother's house as the Thomas Fire raced in last December. It was terrifying. "The flames did come in. It was touching the house and I was using buckets after buckets and crawling on my hands and knees," Maingot said. "It was a spiritual moment." The Thomas Fire burned most of his neighbors' homes, but he saved his mom's house. Maingot was better prepared than most. He had worked briefly as a firefighter and had some protective gear. When a group of fire experts toured the area in August, Maingot shared his experience with them. He also told them he thinks their evacuation orders fall short. "The plans just don't include residents who are prepared, able-bodied and want to stay and actually help the firefighting efforts," Maingot told the experts. He got immediate pushback from Ventura City Fire Department Assistant Chief Matt Brock: "You had a plan. It's that simple. The general public doesn't. And that's just the difference." On this map of the Ondulando and Clearpoint neighborhoods of Ventura, the inset portion shows the location of the house Adam Maingot saved, with X's representing burned homes around it. SO WHAT DO FIREFIGHTERS RECOMMEND? In California, it's all about "Ready, Set, Go." The slogan dates back to 2009; it emphasizes preparing your home to withstand fire and then getting the heck out of Dodge when authorities issue a mandatory evacuation order. (You can get the full details on creating your own action plan directly from the L.A. County Fire Department.) But Ready, Set, Go was a U-turn from a very different policy that the state almost adopted. Early in 2009, an organization of California fire chiefs was considering adopting a new policy called Leave Early Or Stay And Defend. It had been working in Australia for more than two decades. The Ash Wednesday fires in 1983 killed 83 people in Australia. Many of the dead were overrun by fire in their cars while evacuating. Australia's "Leave Early or Stay and Defend" program assumed that people would be at less risk if they stayed in their homes and learned to protect them. A key element is the emphasis on "Leave Early." People are encouraged to leave fire-prone areas when heat, low humidity and high winds trigger red flag warning days, even if no fire is burning. In winter 2008, Ventura Fire Chief Bob Roper was advocating Stay and Defend in his newsletter to the community. His department created a brochure describing the Leave Early or Stay and Defend concept; however, Roper says it was never distributed. The idea was catching on in California and beyond. The Quadrennial Fire Review from the nation's most important fire agencies (U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and others) recommended supporting stay-and-defend strategies, where appropriate. The concept of stay-and-defend was suggested as a way to make people take greater responsibility for their presence in the wildland-urban interface and to let fire services be more flexible about evacuating everyone from the path of fire. THEN WHAT HAPPENED? Australia's Black Saturday happened. A disastrous series of wildfires in Feb. 2009 killed 173 people in their homes and in their cars trying to escape fires and in fire shelters. In the wake of Black Saturday, "we had an aha moment to put the brakes on the Leave Early Or Stay and Defend program, and modify it over to Ready, Set, Go," said Bob Roper, who was Ventura County fire chief at the time and had been a key advocate of Leave Early or Stay and Defend. By April 2009, California's flirtation with the concept was toast. Instead, the policy is Ready, Set, Go, which emphasizes fuel reduction/brush clearance, preparing your home to withstand fire from flying embers and early evacuation. IF I'M CAUGHT IN A FAST-MOVING FIRE, WHAT SHOULD I DO? California has a one-page guide with tips for how to survive if caught in a fire. Stay safe out there. This story is part of Elemental: Covering Sustainability, a multimedia collaboration between Cronkite News, Arizona PBS, KJZZ, KPCC, Rocky Mountain PBS and PBS SoCal. Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now. The Wesley Palms retirement community at 2404 Loring St. saluted 40 veterans from all branches of the military Nov. 9, ahead of the Veterans Day weekend. The residences veterans were acknowledged with a certificate bearing their name and branch of military service, and a gratitude pin, bestowed upon them by another service-member. U.S. Retired Naval Lt. Commander Gary Rossi opened the event with inspirational words before the vets in the audience had the chance to share their stories. Some spoke from the podium, others from their seats. U.S. retired Naval Lt. Commander Gary Rossi Ashley Mackin-Solomon Rossi opened: In the Navy, we have an analogy for the connection between generations of sailors, and I know in attendance here, there is representation from the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force And Merchant Marines! a resident shouted from the audience, to laughter and applause. Yes, Rossi continued, But bear with me for this story from the Navys perspective. He went on to say that in the Navy, the connection is that of an anchor chain. The chains strength comes from the connection of its links. This chain is created with the connections of generations of our service members over our countrys history. Your link and legacy in that chain set the standard for those of us who followed. We are honored to stand, ready to assume the watch that you stood with honor, courage, committeemen, duty, loyalty, integrity and excellence. It is because of you and your services that our armed forces have become so great. My fellow veterans, please accept our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. When you see and wear this pin, know that your faithful and dedicated service to our nation is deeply appreciated. Jerry Kibbey with Pauline and Dan Chang following the ceremony Ashley Mackin-Solomon Resident Bob Crabb shared how he pre-enlisted and was sworn-in to the Navy by the time he graduated high school in June 1945. I waited, and sure enough, they called me to active duty on Aug. 1. Well, if you remember, on Sept. 1, 1945, Japan surrendered. Ive always known it wasnt just the atomic bombs, it was the fact that they heard that I was now in the active Navy! he said. George Wong added that he was drafted out of college and served on the frontlines in the Korean War. I cant think of anything (regarding my service) except losing friends, he said. But the good thing was that the war ceased on my 21st birthday, so I consider that a great birthday present. Referring to 2018 as The Year of the Woman, resident Gena Fishley said she had to speak up. 13 months ago, I was honored to be selected as one of the five service women who served from 1941 to 1945 who were not previously given any (recognition) honors by the government. Now, they have a new government building next to Arlington National Cemetery, dedicated to women who served. Car/bicycle collision causes minor injuries Only minor injuries were reported following a collision between a car and a bicyclist the afternoon of Nov. 7 at the intersection of Girard Avenue and Pearl Street, which drew police presence. The victim was transported for care, and Sgt. Josh Odom told La Jolla Light police needed to stay onsite until the extent of injuries were determined. While the report is still being processed, and details about the driver and the cyclist have not been announced, media relations officer Josh Hodges confirmed the injuries were considered minor. La Jollan shaken by high-pressure Census experience A La Jolla woman was startled by what she thought was a scam based on the upcoming U.S. Census data collection in 2020, and wanted to alert other La Jollans. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told La Jolla Light that she received multiple packets in the mail with requests for information associated with the American Community Survey and had Census workers come to her house on multiple occasions, urgently asking for the completed forms. With these red flags, she reached out to local offices and determined the survey was legitimate. The American Community Survey is under the auspices of the U.S. Census Bureau, and is used to register changes within a community. Nevertheless, the experience left her concerned due to the high-pressure tactics used. The Light has learned that there are steps to ensure the Census information that comes to your door is legitimate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a Census field representative must: present an ID badge that contains a photograph of the field representative, Department of Commerce watermark, and expiration date; will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the regional office phone number for verification, if asked; will provide you with a letter from the Director of the Census Bureau on U.S. Census Bureau letterhead; may be carrying a laptop and/or bag with a Census Bureau logo. Bureau officials also caution citizens to be aware of the questions on the form. The Census Bureau never asks for: your full Social Security number, money or donations, anything on behalf of a political party, your full bank or credit card account numbers, your mothers maiden name. Those who suspect fraudulent activity can report it online at census.gov La Jolla robber sentenced to life A man who gunned down a woman in her Santee home two years ago during a robbery and eight days later robbed a La Jolla man in his home and threatened him with the same gun was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jose Luis Nunez Torres, 23, was convicted in September of first-degree murder and special circumstance allegations of murder during a burglary, robbery and lying in wait in the death of 34-year-old Leticia Arroyo. Torres shot Arroyo in the head, then stole one or more bags of meth before fleeing, Deputy District Attorney James Koerber told the jury. Eight days after killing Arroyo, Torres put the same gun to the head of a man in La Jolla during another home-invasion robbery, Koerber said. Torres was convicted of that robbery and another incident in which nothing was stolen. City News Service Police Blotter Oct. 19 Battery with serious injury, 1400 block Park Row, 6:50 a.m. Oct. 27 Possession of controlled substance, 600 block Pearl St., 1:13 p.m. Oct. 28 Vehicle break-in/theft, 300 block Prospect St., 11:59 p.m. Oct. 31 Vehicle break-in/theft, 5100 block La Jolla Blvd., 1 a.m. Nov. 4 Vehicle break-in/theft, 8300 block Camino del Oro, 12:45 p.m. Residential burglary, 7700 block Ludington Pl., 6:40 p.m. Nov. 5 Vehicle break-in/theft, 1200 block Nautilus St., 5:35 a.m. Vehicle break-in/theft, 1300 block Nautilus St., 5:35 a.m. Vehicle break-in/theft, 1200 block Turquoise St., 6:30 a.m. Nov. 8 Residential burglary, 100 block Coast Blvd., 5:45 a.m. Vehicle break-in/theft, 600 block Pacific View Drive, 4 p.m. Vehicle break-in/theft, 5800 block Caminito Empresa, 11 p.m. Nov. 9 Vehicle break-in/theft, 6300 block Via Cabrera, 2:22 a.m. Vehicle break-in/theft, 8100 block El Paseo Grande, 12:30 p.m. Vehicle theft, Linda Way at Sea Ridge Drive, 4 p.m. Residential burglary, 7300 block Country Club Drive, 4:35 p.m. Compiled by Ashley Mackin-Solomon At the event, part of the ongoing 33rd ASEAN and other related summits, the leaders lauded the success of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney last March. They pledged to further enhance cooperation in priority fields such as cyber security, the fight against human trafficking, marine security, defence, economy, climate change response, disaster management, infrastructure, and the Mekong sub-region. They also committed to promoting trade and investment ties, effectively making use of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and working towards the early finalisation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. PM Morrison stressed the importance of the ASEAN-Australia strategic partnership to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, voicing his support for the blocs central role in an open, transparent, and rule-based regional architecture. He also expressed his support for ASEANs stance on maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; peacefully settling disputes on the basis of international law; fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and making efforts to build an effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters. Regarding its cooperation with the ASEAN, he affirmed Australias commitment to fostering collaboration in coping with traditional and non-traditional security challenges; increasing trade and investment; developing micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises; capitalising on the AANZFTA; and stepping up educational and people-to-people exchange, along with infrastructure connectivity and sustainable development in the region. Morrison said the hundreds of thousands of ASEAN students in his country, as well as the many Australian students learning in ASEAN countries under the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Programme are valuable bridges helping to connect the cultures and peoples involved. At the session, PM Phuc spoke highly of Australias role in and contributions to the region, welcoming the countrys effective support and assistance for the grouping. Australia is a long-term and trustworthy partner of ASEAN. Both sides share common visions and interests in peace, stability, and cooperation for the development of the region, he noted. The PM also welcomed Australias continued endorsement of ASEANs central role and joint efforts to promote an open, transparent, and rule-based regional architecture. Vietnam hopes that Australia will also continue bolstering connections with ASEAN in the fields matching its strength and the blocs demand, including infrastructure development, regional connectivity, climate change response, sustainable use of natural resources in the Mekong sub-region, and human resources development, he added. PM Phuc also expressed his hope for Australias continued support of ASEANs efforts and stance on dialogue and trust building promotion; respect for international law and common standards of conduct; peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; non-militarisation and refrain from actions that could complicate the situation; and full implementation of the DOC and building of an effective and substantive COC. Back in the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction, the future looked bigger, brighter and more ferocious than it ever would again. This was from roughly the mid-30s to the early 50s, when lean, handsome star-warriors such as those leading the charge in Jack Williamsons Legion of Space series could traverse a multi-light-year-sized nebula after only a few hours of heavy turbulence, so long as they turned up the generators and tweaked those darn geodynes just right. In Robert A. Heinleins Universe, a city-sized spaceship might travel for many thousands of years until its multi-generational inhabitants forgot they were even riding in a spaceship at all. And in Twilight, by John W. Campbell (a.k.a. Don A. Stuart), a near-future space pilot test-flew himself 7 million years into the future only to find a dying sun, a cold Earth and a dwindling, incurious race of little misshapen men with huge heads. While the heads might contain large brains, they didnt accomplish much thinking. Thats because the unstoppable, self-repairing machines that presided over their mostly deserted cities did all the thinking for them. These stories were written, or published and conceived into existence, by the undoubtedly great and incomprehensibly peculiar John W. Campbell Jr., who single-handedly designed many of the ways we saw the future then and continue to see it now. Born in Newark, N.J., in 1910, he was raised by combative parents who embodied the extremes of their sons divided personality: his father, an engineer with Bell Telephone, stressed rationality, planning and control over emotions, while his mother was a wild, tantrum-prone woman who couldnt be controlled so much as fought to a draw. After their divorce, Campbell grew up, like many writers, unhappy, lonely and distressed; he often felt like a disappointment to his father, and his mothers unpredictable cruelties instilled in him a deep sense of panic about a world that couldnt be adequately rationalized or controlled. Advertisement John W. Campbell in 1942 (Courtesy of Leslyn Randazzo / from Astounding) Often, for a joke, Campbells mother and her twin sister assumed each others identities to greet him when he returned from school, contributing to Campbells lifetime suspicion of anybody who wasnt himself. This eventually led to one of his finest stories, Who Goes There?, in which a shape-shifting alien serially devours scientific researchers in the Antarctic, then assumes their identities in order to trap the next meal. Filmed three times, initially as The Thing from Another World (1951, one of my favorite black and white sci-fi films) and later remade as The Thing by John Carpenter (1982) and Matthijs van Heijningen (2011), these popular permutations left Campbells clearly distinct footprint on modern culture. But his larger influences go far wider and deeper. While studying physics at MIT (he was asked to leave after one semester) and later Duke University (where he eked out mediocre grades), Campbell enjoyed his only early success pounding out space operas for the pulps, where he soon established himself as second in popularity to the master of Gosh, Wow! intergalactic mayhem, E. E. Doc Smith. (Notably, the Doc referred to Smiths PhD in food engineering and not to any form of rocket science.) Campbells early stories remain almost uniformly risible, focusing on problem-solving space adventurers who sit around exchanging endless expository dialogue such as: You should talk! Russ Spencer laughed. One of the features of that ship is the new Carlisle air rectifiers, guaranteed to maintain exactly the right temperature, ion, oxygen, and ozone content as well as humidity control. Science fiction writers Campbell worked with, from left: L. Sprague de Camp, Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein in 1944. (John Seltzer and Geo Rule / From Astounding) These early efforts might have sufficiently entertained the already-acclimatized buffs, but they never measured up to good fiction, and it wasnt until Campbell married a woman with her own literary savvy, Dona Louise Stewart Stebbins, that he developed gravity. Renaming himself in her honor as Don A. Stuart, he began producing poetic, reflective stories that deserve to be remembered Twilight, Night, Forgetfulness and Cloak of Aesir stories that testify to a young authors sense of isolation and helplessness in the face of immeasurable universal forces. Despite an aimless early life, Campbell eventually stumbled onto the job he was born to do long before anybody realized it was a job worth doing. Until Campbell came along, the pulps were edited by company men who felt little if any personal affection for the stories they published. But in 1937, when Campbell accepted the editors chair at Astounding Stories (which he quickly renamed Astounding Science Fiction), he became the first SF fan to shape the genre he loved; and almost immediately he discovered that exploring futuristic ideas for his stories was not nearly so pleasurable as passing those ideas onto others. When I was a writer, he told his youthful discovery, Isaac Asimov, I could only write one story at a time. Now I can write fifty stories at a time. Campbell was an industrious conversationalist who loved nothing more than enticing his writers to follow in his own imaginative footsteps; and when he couldnt entice them, he did what any good pulp editor worth his salt did he commissioned them. He seemed to enjoy watching them do what he imagined in ways entirely different from how he might have written himself. Campbell had plenty of ideas to go around and a good eye for the best writers to develop them. Over the next decade, he industriously discovered and/or employed the most influential sci-fi writers of the modern era: Theodore Sturgeon, Lester del Rey, A.E. Van Vogt (for my money, the strangest of them all), Henry Kuttner, Robert Silverberg and L. Sprague de Camp; significant female writers such as Leigh Brackett and C.L. Moore; and ultimately the three most important writers who helped him shape the Golden Age: Robert A. Heinlein, Asimov and L. Ron Hubbard. L. Ron Hubbard in the 1960s. Campbell was an early supporter of fiction - and his Dianetics. (Express Newspapers / Getty Images) Over a mere few years, Campbell provided Heinlein enough support to make him one of sci-fis most stylish practitioners of ideas and gave Hubbard free rein to produce numerous popular and still readable fantasies, notably Fear and Slaves of Sleep. He guided the young Asimov a poor Russian-Jewish immigrant who grew up reading Astounding while working in his fathers newspaper shop into writing his most famous works, such as the unforgettable novelette, Nightfall, about an alien race who only glimpse the stars one night every thousand years and then go mad, and a series of Foundation novels describing the efforts of psycho-historians to shape the future history of their galaxy. It was a multiple match made, if not in heaven, in outer space; and in his enjoyable, cinematically-absorbing history of Campbell and his magazines, Astounding, author Alec Nevala-Lee affectionately charts the course of all these contradictory talents, energies and ambitions. Campbells imaginative life often revolved around the desire to maintain emotional order in an emotionally disordered world. And at the heart of his personal metaphysic lay a desire to extol the virtues of a type that he presumed himself to be the competent man, as exemplified by the firm-but-kind father figures in Heinleins best novels and stories. Unlike the qualified, limited-ability academics who spurned him at Duke and MIT, the competent man knows a little bit about everything, such as how to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Campbell and his favorite writers certainly never saw themselves as insects. Isaac Asimov in 1984. He was a teenage fan reading Astounding before he met editor Campbell. (Mario Suriani / AP) The trajectory of all four men describes a similar sudden rise and sad demise. First, a burst of explosive creative energy in the 1940s. Then a withdrawal from the genre that fed them in the 50s; and finally, a series of strangely unpredictable final acts and departures in the 70s and 80s. Campbell, who had often celebrated the joyous promises of atomic energy, was so shocked by its Hiroshima blossoming that he spent most of his postwar life seeking ways to control the human emotions that unleashed it. As a competent man who believed in self-made remedies, he quickly became one of Hubbards earliest champions; eventually, he not only announced the new science of Dianetics in Astounding, but became one of its most devoted patients, believing Hubbard could audit out his many deep-seated emotional traumas from as far back as the fetal state. I firmly believe this technique can cure cancer, he wrote Heinlein in 1949. And he did firmly believe it for a while. After he stopped believing in Hubbard and his Dianetics, Campbell went digging for other basement-built theories of human and social improvement, eventually turning Astounding (later renamed Analog) into a cross between Popular Mechanics and a crash-course in miracle-peddling. He grew enamored of concepts such as dowsing, astrology and telekinesis, which he referred to as psionics. At one point, impressed by Hubbards E-meter machine, described by Nevala-Lee as a metal box hooked up to two tin cans, and another inventors so-called psionic machine that sounded like a 6-year olds art project glued together with random electrical components and colored string, he decided to invent a device of his own. The resulting Campbell Machine added up to a meaningless switch and a pilot light on the outside of the box and a circuit diagram with ink, and a few other curlicues stapled here and there. He seemed proud of it; but it was never clear what it was or what it was supposed to do. Astounding/Analog went downhill, and so did Campbell. He developed into an angry old man who drank and smoked too much at sci-fi conventions and collared anyone still impressed by his reputation to talk at them until they werent impressed anymore. While Heinlein and Asimov enjoyed their late years as bestselling novelists and cultural celebrities, Campbells audience grew smaller, just as the theories he expounded grew nastier. He argued that tobacco might prevent cancer, that Negroes lack self-discipline and that homosexuality was a sign of cultural decline. He decried the murdered demonstrators at Kent State and once said, Im not interested in victims, as if he were pronouncing an irrefutable mathematical theorem. Im interested in heroes. Like many men defeated late by their own ambitions, Campbell didnt respect striving individuals like himself; he only respected super-versions that never existed. Subsiding bitterly into self-dissatisfaction, he went from being one of Americas most prescient futurists to one of its ugliest reactionaries. So it was probably a form of salvation that Campbell died at 61, when his greatest achievements could still be remembered relatively free from his later perorations. Nobody put it better than Laurence Janifer, who remarked after Campbells death: The field has lost its conscience, its center, the man for whom we were all writing. Now theres no one to get mad at us any more. But equally correct was Michael Moorcock, who succeeded Campbell as science fictions next great sci-fi editor at New Worlds in the 60s, when he labeled Analog a crypto-fascist deeply philistine magazine. They were both right; just as they were both raised in the monumental and inescapable shadows of Astounding. Bradfield is the author of a dozen books, including the recent novel Dazzle Resplendent: Adventures of a Misanthropic Dog. Book jacket for Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction by Alec Nevala-Lee. (Dey Street / Dey Street) Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction Alec Nevala-Lee Dey Street: 544 pp., $28.99 In a major new effort to curb smoking, a top U.S. health official pledged Thursday to try to ban menthol from regular cigarettes, outlaw flavors in all cigars and tighten rules regarding the sale of most flavored versions of electronic cigarettes. The restrictions, announced by Food and Drug Administration chief Scott Gottlieb, are aimed mainly at reducing smoking by kids: About half of teens who smoke cigarettes choose menthols, and flavored e-cigarettes have been blamed for a recent increase in teen vaping rates. I will not allow a generation of children to become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes, Gottlieb said in a statement. Health advocates say a menthol ban would have greater effect on the health of Americans but probably would take years to put in place. The changes for e-cigarettes could kick in within a few months. Advertisement Battery-powered e-cigarettes are more popular among teens than regular cigarettes and are considered safer. But many versions contain potentially addictive nicotine, and health officials believe that they set kids who try them on a path toward regular cigarettes. Gottlieb called for additional steps to prevent the marketing of e-cigarettes directly to kids and prevent online sales to minors. He also proposed beefing up measures so that convenience stores and some other retailers dont sell e-cigarettes in kid-friendly flavors such as cherry and vanilla. Those flavors could still be sold in vape shops and other stores that dont admit minors. Smoking is the nations leading cause of preventable illness, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year. The FDA bans sales of e-cigarettes and tobacco products to those under 18. In 2009, the government banned a number of kid-friendly flavorings in cigarettes. But after an aggressive lobbying effort by tobacco companies, menthol was exempted. Gottliebs proposal for e-cigarette flavorings also exempts menthol. He said menthol e-cigarettes may be an option for adults who turn to vaping products to quit regular cigarettes. The nations smoking rate has been declining for more than five decades. About 42% of U.S. adults smoked in the early 1960s. Last year, it was down to 14%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts credit anti-smoking campaigns, cigarette taxes and smoking bans for most of the decline in the adult rate. But some say adult smokers switching to e-cigarettes have helped drive down the rate in recent years. The cigarette smoking rate is even lower among high school students about 9%, according to the latest figures. But e-cigarette use jumped 78% this year in high school kids and 48% among middle school kids, Gottlieb said, citing new survey data. Some experts attribute the jump to newer versions of e-cigarettes, such as those by Juul Labs Inc. They resemble computer flash drives, can be recharged in USB ports and can be used discreetly. The increase in e-cigarette popularity [among kids] is almost certainly not a function of flavors. All the flavors were out there already, said Kenneth Warner, a University of Michigan emeritus public health professor who is a leading authority on smoking and health. The FDA has taken earlier steps to investigate the marketing of e-cigarettes by San Francisco-based Juul the market leader and a number of other companies. Getting out ahead of Thursdays FDA announcement, Juul announced Tuesday that it stopped filling stores orders for mango-, fruit-, creme- and cucumber-flavored nicotine pods and would resume sales only to retailers that scan IDs and take other steps to make sure a buyer is at least 21. Juul said it would continue to sell menthol and mint-flavored nicotine pods through retail stores and would sell all flavors through its website. Health advocates generally applauded the e-cigarette plans the FDA announced Thursday, but some said they did not go far enough. Some called for a complete ban of flavorings, for example, and a more aggressive regulation of e-cigarettes that have come on the market in the last two years. The proposed sales restrictions are a step forward, but by themselves are not enough to stem the youth e-cigarette epidemic, said Robin Koval, chief executive of the Truth Initiative, an advocacy group that runs anti-tobacco ads. Gottlieb acknowledged that he could have taken more aggressive steps, but I dont want to foreclose opportunities for currently addicted adult smokers to access e-cigarettes as they try to quit regular smokes. He also said he hopes e-cigarette companies work to restrict kids from buying their products. If the efforts he outlined do not succeed, hes willing to take more steps later, he said. Some said the measures aimed at flavorings in cigars and cigarettes if they come to pass would be much more consequential. Menthol cigarettes, which contain a minty compound that reduces the harshness of smoke and suppresses coughing, were widely marketed starting in the 1950s and 1960s. Roughly a third of the cigarettes sold today are menthols, according to some estimates. The e-cigarettes measures will probably face little opposition, Warner said, but Gottlieb has guts to pursue a menthol prohibition because it will draw political and legal fire from the tobacco industry and its supporters. An official with Altria Group Inc., one of the big tobacco companies, said a total ban on menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars would be an extreme measure not supported by the science and evidence. Murray Garnick, Altrias general counsel, said the company expects that establishing product standards on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars will be a multi-year, deliberative process. UPDATES: 11 a.m.: This article was updated with expert and industry comments. 8:50 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details. This article was originally published at 7:25 a.m. Elon Musk is apparently charting his way out of what hes referred to as delivery logistics hell by making acquisitions and lining up contracts with trucking haulers. The Tesla Inc. chief executive officer tweeted Thursday that Model 3s ordered in the U.S. by the end of the month will be delivered by year end. He wrote that using trucks instead of rail shaves more than a month off the time it takes to get cars to the East Coast. When asked to elaborate on how Tesla arranged for more capacity, Musk said the company made some acquisitions of trucking companies, without being specific. Musk, 47, tweeted repeatedly in September about how Tesla was having trouble smoothly getting Model 3s out to customers. On Sept. 24, he wrote that the company had gone so far as to start building some of its own car carriers. Advertisement A Tesla spokesman declined to comment when asked which trucking companies the electric-car maker bought or arranged contracts with. Guy Young, the general manager of the Auto Haulers Assn. of America, said he hadnt heard of any acquisitions involving Tesla. Theres a capacity crunch right now, because so many companies are gearing up for Black Friday and the holidays, Young said by phone. Theres a lot of stuff that needs to go on trucks right now. Southern California drivers have an added reason to be thankful next week. When they hit the road for the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend one of the busiest driving periods of the year theyll find gasoline prices have dropped 15 cents a gallon or more, on average, from a month ago. And pump prices are likely to fall further in response to a recent drop in crude oil prices, analysts said. California should see declines of around 20 cents a gallon over the next several weeks, said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, an energy consulting firm in Houston. Advertisement Oil fell for a record 12 consecutive days on commodities markets and suffered a decline of more than 20% from its recent high, entering whats known as a bear market before rebounding slightly Wednesday. On Thursday morning, the benchmark West Texas intermediate crude oil for near-term delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 90 cents to $57.15 a barrel. A month ago, oil traded above $70 a barrel. The recent high for oil came in early October, when oil and gasoline prices were on an upswing and mid-range and premium blends were priced at more than $4 a gallon at Southern California gas stations. But then oil prices abruptly turned lower amid fears of excess supplies of crude and slowing worldwide growth in demand for oil. That has lowered the average pump price for regular gas in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area to $3.707 a gallon from $3.882 a month ago, the American Automobile Assn. reported Thursday. Average prices for mid-range and premium blends dropped back below $4 a gallon. The average for regular gas in all of California fell to $3.673 a gallon from $3.821 a month ago, the AAA said. The states record high price was $4.671, set in October 2012. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which tracks fuel prices, expects prices to keep falling and recommended that Thanksgiving drivers wait to fill up until they get closer to the holiday. Motorists need not be in a hurry to fill their tanks because the drop in oil prices will extend and accelerate the declines seen at the pump, just in time for Thanksgiving, DeHaan said on GasBuddys website. Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at Oil Price Information Service, said further declines in gas prices are as close to a guaranteed bet as you have, given current market conditions. In California, I think it will be 25 cents [a gallon] and it happens just in time for the holidays, he said. The declines come as the AAA predicts 48.5 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving period from Wednesday through Sunday. Thats up nearly 5% from last year. Thanksgiving travel overall, including plane travel, will climb 4.8% from last year to the highest level in 13 years, the auto club estimated. Despite the latest drop in prices, gasoline in Southern California still costs far more than it did a year ago, when the average price for regular in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area was $3.293 a gallon. The national average a year ago was $2.564 a gallon. The national average price for gas has plummeted nearly 23 cents a gallon in the last month, to $2.666 a gallon from $2.893, the AAA said. Gasoline prices in California are higher than national averages because of the states unique blend of fuel to accommodate its strict environmental laws, which few refineries outside the state produce. In addition, Californias taxes are higher than those of most other states. Part of the jump in California prices in the last year reflects a 12-cent-a-gallon increase in the states fuel excise tax that took effect in November 2017, bringing the state tax to 41.7 cents a gallon. The tax increase was intended to pay for road and bridge repairs and an expansion of mass-transit projects. Critics of the higher tax tried to repeal it with Proposition 6 in the elections this month, but the ballot measure was defeated. Until a month ago, oil prices had shot up more than $20 a barrel, or 39%, over the preceding 12 months after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia agreed in late 2016 to restrain crude production and ease a global oil glut. Prices also were lifted by President Trumps decision this summer to reimpose sanctions on Iran, an OPEC member, which raised fears that Iranian oil exports would be curtailed. But the White House later softened the sanctions by granting waivers that allow certain countries to keep buying Iranian oil for now. The market was surprised when the strong rhetoric from the administration was countered with the granting of the waivers to eight countries, allowing Iranian oil sales to continue in excess of what the market anticipated, Lipow said. At the same time, U.S. oil production has reached a new record, which, combined with Russia producing at a post-Soviet-era high as well as production increases from OPEC and non-OPEC members in anticipation of the Iranian sanctions, has led to an oversupply situation and driven prices steadily down, Lipow said. james.peltz@latimes.com Twitter: @PeltzLATimes UPDATES: 8:55 a.m.: This article was updated with details about Californias fuel taxes, Proposition 6s defeat and an analysts comments on why oil prices have fallen. This article was originally published at 7:20 a.m. Its gotten to the point that there are so many data breaches, people can find it hard to work up a sense of outrage over their privacy being violated again and again and again. The business world is counting on such breach fatigue to keep meaningful privacy safeguards at bay. Consumers shouldnt hand them such a huge victory. Which is why we should all get behind legislation unveiled by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called the Consumer Data Protection Act. Its a sweeping bill aimed at addressing the nationwide epidemic of data security lapses. And it has teeth. Advertisement Not least among its provisions, the bill would impose $5-million fines and up to 20 years in prison for executives who knowingly mislead federal authorities about their security efforts. It also would strengthen the Federal Trade Commissions ability to crack down on privacy violations and give consumers more power to control how their personal information is used. Big companies are vacuuming up peoples personal information, just scooping it up, Wyden told me. Everything you read, everywhere you go, everything you buy is sucked up in a corporations database. Its long overdue that we made clear to these companies that consumers need to come first, he said. Case in point: Facebook. The social media giant reportedly went to elaborate lengths both to minimize recent security lapses and to undermine the credibility of critics. Its now under fire for putting its own interests way ahead of all other considerations. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a San Diego advocacy group, more than 11 billion records have been compromised in nearly 9,000 known data breaches since 2005. Some get attention, such as hackers breaking into credit agency Equifax and gaining access to the files of about 148 million U.S. consumers. Or 3 billion Yahoo users having their privacy endangered in what was likely the biggest hack of all time. But most data breaches fly below the radar, either because theyre too small to merit media attention or they never get reported. Under California law, a company can keep a breach to itself if it reasonably believes nobody got harmed. The consumer has the right to some sunshine about how their information is used, Wyden declared. My bill creates radical transparency for consumers, gives them new tools to control their information and backs it up with tough rules with real teeth to punish companies that abuse Americans most private information. To which I say: Its about time. American businesses, led by banks and other financial firms, have lobbied aggressively to keep the government from prying into their data security measures and to minimize their accountability when (not if) a breach occurs. Theyre already pushing for a weak federal privacy statute that would preempt tougher state laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, which is set to take effect at the beginning of 2020. The California law allows state residents to find out what kinds of information a business has collected. It also permits consumers to request that a company delete any personal information it holds, to opt out of the sale of such info and to sue if reasonable security practices arent maintained to prevent data breaches. The Europeans have gone even further. The General Data Protection Regulation, which took effect in May, is bristling with provisions aimed at leveling the privacy playing field. It requires that companies obtain consent from customers before using or sharing their personal information. It also gives consumers the right to know how their personal data is being used and to receive a free copy of any such information held by a business. People must be notified of a security breach within 72 hours. And get this: Any violation of the European law can result in a fine of up to 20 million euros ($23 million) or 4% of the companys annual global revenue, whichever is greater. Last year, Equifax had revenue of $3.4 billion. Four percent of that is $136 million. Under Wydens bill, any company with revenue topping $1 billion a year, or that stores data on more than 50 million consumers or consumer devices, would have to submit an annual data protection report to the FTC detailing all activities related to keeping peoples info under wraps. A 4%-of-revenue penalty would be imposed on companies found to have deliberately misled the FTC in the report. Scofflaw executives would be slapped with separate $5-million fines. And if an exec enjoys a particularly fat compensation package, the bill says the $5-million fine would be replaced with 25% of the largest amount of annual compensation the person received during the previous three-year period. Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts, for instance, had total compensation of $32.5 million last year. If Wydens bill were law, he better pray he never runs afoul of the FTCs privacy watchdogs, not unless he considers a more than $8-million fine just another cost of doing business. I spoke with a number of privacy experts about the legislation. They all agreed the time is ripe for stronger measures to protect consumers. I think the ground is shifting fast, said William McGeveran, a law professor at the University of Minnesota. The new laws in Europe and California, changing politics around the power of Silicon Valley companies, and rising concern about privacy and security all contribute to that. He said that passing any legislation in this dysfunctional Congress has become very difficult, but I think there is more interest in comprehensive privacy laws now than at any time since the 1970s. Most other experts, though, said any bill featuring millions of dollars in executive fines and the threat of orange jumpsuits for CEOs stands little chance of becoming law. The Wyden bill looks like an opening bid, said Peter Swire, a professor of law and ethics at Georgia Tech. It sets forth what Wyden believes strong protections would look like. I dont think he expects penalties this strict to be adopted. I asked Anita L. Allen, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, how aggressively businesses would fight any such law. She had a one-word answer: Very. Realpolitik notwithstanding, Wyden is correct to push the U.S. toward greater consumer privacy protections. And anyone with personal data on the line, which is everyone, should get behind his Consumer Data Protection Act. Wyden said the bill is now circulating among interested parties. He plans to officially introduce it in Congress early next year. He encouraged all people to contact their congressional representatives and voice support for the legislation. You also can share your thoughts by emailing Wyden at PrivacyBillComments@wyden.senate.gov David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. The Walt Disney Concert Hall organ pipes were bathed in a slimy green light that made them look like they were up to no good. To begin a Los Angeles Philharmonic Green Umbrella program Tuesday night, Italian composer and organist Francesco Filidei, who has written such pieces as the aptly titled Killing Bach, sat motionless at the organ keyboard onstage, as if waiting. Waiting for what? Was it the faint rumbling that sounded like it was coming from backstage? When it got a little louder, and the vibrations were mildly felt under foot, another possibility came to mind that no one wanted to think about. Filideis feet werent moving, but they were on the pedals. He was stirring the barely audible but plenty physical lowest notes on the largest pipes, summoning colliding pitches capable of producing a rumble. Ever stronger, rumble became roar, the organ pipes now seeming some slimy green monster from the deep. Over all that, a tinnitus-like high pitch, with the sound of a flute, ominously pierced the atmosphere. The piece eventually reached a huge climax before dying away. Throughout, Filidei produced a repertory of sounds I had never heard before from this magnificent instrument. Advertisement Called Lamento, it was the first of five works commissioned for the occasion from European composers who were selected by L.A. Phil principal guest conductor Susanna Malkki, the latest premieres in the orchestras centennial season extravaganza. This Green Umbrella program came under the umbrella, European Avant-Garde, a classification all five composers rejected during a pre-concert discussion. To them, the European avant-garde connotes the period of continental new music experimentation in the 1950s, ancient history to these composers who were born between 1968 and 1974. But the title sticks just the same. These are major mid-career figures in Europe who are little known in the U.S. because they are out-of-step (whether out ahead is a matter of contention) from the Americans. John Adams has offered a sense of optimism as one reason why. You might add to that the progressive European composers drive to challenge their audiences. They mean to reflect their times, whether we like it not. Malkki, who is a former music director of the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris, very much has her finger on the European pulse and is a compelling advocate of uncompromising modernism. In the case of Czech composer Miroslav Srnka, whose spectacular South Pole was a stunning success in Munich two years ago, this was a consideration of what a centennial means. Accepting the L.A. Phil commission left him, he said, with no time to accept offers to provide works for the centennial of the Czech Republic, also this year. Not that he was sorry. It hasnt been such a hot century, or you might say its been too hot, with its wars, environmental disasters and general level of suffering. Srnka wrote a poem on that subject as his program note, asking whether we care more about the flags or the heat, and noting the flags threads frazzle into gusts of burning sparks, only to have the premiere of his Overheating in an L.A. shockingly aflame. Overheating is as exactly as uncomfortable as it needs to be, with its gusts of roiling and airless sounds. A muted trumpet wha-whas into the night. A solo cello slides down the scale like a first responder down the station pole. Still, a sense of emerging, of sparks of sound becoming fertile offers if not hope, awareness. French composer Yann Robins Ubergang II is meant to capture the transitional state between death and liberation of the soul from the body that The Tibetan Book of the Dead describes as a sonic procedure, listening being the last sense to go. Thus large mallets hit the strings of the piano and harp. Winds and brass screech like wild animals. Robin convinces us that we should not expect to be wrenched from the physical world without a fight or fright. Finnish composer Lotta Wennakoski offered something of an exception to the profound alienation in the male composers. Her Hele, the title being a Finnish term for grace note and implies light, sparkled without setting off dangerous sparks. It is complex and rhythmically playful. Toy bird-whistles are employed but even they in their unreal vivacity are unsettling. Fires and alienation, however, found their way back into Arnulf Herrmanns The Call, six songs set to texts by Esther Kinsky. These comprise a forlorn call to overcome the fear of action in the face of the too many possibilities contemporary life forces upon us. The poetic images are of smoldering obstacles, coils of smoke and glow of cinders again too close for the slightest comfort. Not unlike Filideis Lamento, this Call begins in the rumbling depths here with the help of a contrabass clarinet and grumbling French horn. Baritone Sean Michael Plumb conveyed the scores shuttering indifferent sighs. Mark Lowenstein, who conducted, did the same on his end. Herrmann is too much a realist to ask The Call to be a call to action. It is a call, instead, to understanding inaction. Optimism may not always be an option but at least, as these composers show, each in their own way, were not alone. mark.swed@latimes.com When actor and performance artist John Fleck steps out of the shadows in the opening moments of Blacktop Highway, he could be telling a ghost story around a campfire. The show at first relies on bare bones props to set the mood: a flashlight, a cigarette. His body serves as both the proscenium and the players. The pale stripes on his black track shorts stand in for the titular roadway; his hand, spidering across his chest, for a stranded traveler wobbling forth from his vehicle after an accident on a dark road. It is theater at its most essential. But the production values of this creation, billed as a gothic horror screenplayd on one mans body, gradually become more elaborate. The story zooms out, so to speak, to encompass the whole stage at the Odyssey Theatre and even the audience. Fleck narrates the action as one would dictate a screenplay, and he embodies all the characters, both human and animal. Simple props and wigs give way to images and video, and this is where we begin to grasp the underlying point that Fleck has been steadily, casually driving toward, right up to the moment when meaning descends with the swiftness of an ax sinking between the shoulder blades. Fans of John Fleck may have some idea of what to expect. He is perhaps best known as a member of the NEA 4, one of four performance artists denied funding in 1990 by the National Endowment for the Arts on grounds of obscenity. Fleck and his colleagues sued and later had their grants reinstated by an appeals court, though they eventually lost the Supreme Court case. (The court ruled the NEA did not violate 1st Amendment rights by factoring standards of decency into its funding decisions, and the NEA later opted to stop awarding grants to individual artists under pressure from Congress.) Advertisement Blacktop Highway isnt a political play, but its not devoid of politics. The baroque plot involving a suitcase of money, taxidermist siblings and a misshapen captive referred to as the Pitiful Creature isnt quite beside the point. But the production, with all its stylized artifice, serves as a vehicle for Fleck to play with deeper ideas about the nature of reality and representation, as well as our particular political moment. Fleck drops breadcrumbs to aid with our interpretation. A jaunty academic breaks in from time to time by way of video projection, name-checking the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard and his theory of simulacra. Roughly speaking, it holds that as society advances, the distinction between the real and its image begins to break down, until finally the image determines reality. Despite these heady and timely ideas, Fleck himself takes them only half seriously. The show, directed by his longtime collaborator Randee Trabitz, exudes more camp than horror. But as it progresses, some moments including a female characters recollection of mistreatment at the hands of a vindictive family member read as cruel rather than creepy. And audiences may find themselves having to do rather more work than they had intended to keep up with the rapidly shifting POV, never mind the post-structural theory. Like Fleck himself, Blacktop Highway isnt easily categorized. And yet, after a week that included a shooting, massive wildfires and a doctored White House video presented as truth, Flecks exuberant phantasma made about as much sense as anything else. Blacktop Highway. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12. No performances Nov. 23-25. Ends Dec. 16. $17-$30. (310) 477-2055, Ext. 2, or odysseytheatre.org. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes. A chat with Ben Foster is not a quick, breezy BS session: From the moment he arrives in the French restaurant Lucien, hes laser-focused, asking his own questions, then offering considered, thoughtful answers. Foster started out on the Disney TV series Flash Forward as a teen and today plays complicated men that bend without breaking under stress in movies like Hell or High Water and, most recently, Leave No Trace, written and directed by Debra Granik. He spoke with The Envelope about being described as intense, new fatherhood (with his wife, actress Laura Prepon) and finding peace among trees. A great deal of Leave No Trace takes place out in the lush woods of the Pacific Northwest, where your character, Will, and his daughter, Tom, live. Are you an outdoorsy person? Im drawn into the woods, bodies of water, the desert. I found a lot of creativity in being in those spaces. I used to live in L.A. for about 13 years, actually, and when I had enough of it, I would find myself driving north with an impulse: I need to see trees. Quite often when I find myself in pictures and films, I just hop the fence and go find the right tree to sit with. My mind calms and my breathing would as well, and then Id get back into the car and go back to whatever it was I was ducking. Advertisement Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie and Ben Foster star in Leave No trace, a film is based on Peter Rocks 2009 novel My Abandonment. (Scott Green / Bleecker Street) What was it about Tom and Will that got you excited about the script? Debra Granik once said something to the effect of, I just want to know how people get up in the morning. People like Tom and Will, sure, but all people. How do you get up in the morning and face this experience? People who choose to live other [ways]. Shes urgently after some clue, and that was exciting to feel that interest and curiosity. When people describe your performances, the word intense comes up a lot. Is that an accurate description of you? Well, I give a [damn]. I hear that word a lot. But its a lazy word. I take great pleasure in the rigor of discovery, so that kind of concentrated attention can often be translated as intense. Intense also often translates to hes totally method and never breaks character no matter what. Im not asking people to call me Will on set but, on the other hand, everything we did in the film is done practically. I enjoyed rebuilding the campsite, digging the fire pit. These are things I can do with my body and then the emotion of the scene travels through with less resistance. I like to collaborate, to build. Ben Foster (Michael Nagle / For The Times) You dropped out of high school at 16 to act, but how did you talk your parents into letting that be OK? Its not like you were living in Los Angeles or New York at the time. It wasnt, I want to be a star; it was, I want to make things. As a new parent myself, I dont think theres a week that goes by that I dont apologize [to my parents], and I think its so spectacular that they let me do that. Im sure it would have been heartening to them if I could have gone to college, but I was really not gifted. I had some learning disabilities. I got tested, but they burned the results. They were like, You dont need to put that label in your head. Do you find theres a through line to the roles you choose? Im looking for a character that walks a straight line. The human animal is peculiar and complex; in certain circumstances, were capable of all sorts of things. I like to practice empathy with that that might be distasteful, scary, uncomfortable. The job at its best, for me, is learning and practicing empathy. Ben Foster (Michael Nagle / For The Times) How has becoming a father changed your perspective about the world? Ive never been more humble. When we were shooting Leave No Trace, my wife came to Portland. Id go to work and spend my time in the woods, then come home and put my hands on my wifes second-trimester belly and hear her kicking and listen to the heartbeat. Theyre woven together. Now Im happy about something so much more precious than I am. And I value my time more. This maybe is an evolution, a healing of the young man disease: Either you grow up or you dont. My understanding of how fragile life is has never been louder, and Im at peace with that. calendar@latimes.com Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and head of a CMC leading group for deepening reform on national defense and the armed forces, attends and addresses a CMC meeting on the reform of policies and institutions in Beijing, capital of China. The meeting is held in Beijing on Nov. 13 and 14. (Xinhua/Li Gang) BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has highlighted the significance and urgency of pushing forward reform on military policies and institutions to build a socialist system of military policy and institution with Chinese characteristics. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and head of a CMC leading group for deepening reform on national defense and the armed forces, addressed a CMC meeting on the reform of policies and institutions held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Xi called for consensus, firm confidence, concerted action and effective implementation to carry out the reform. He stressed that a systematic and profound reform is urgently needed to address deeply-rooted problems in military policies and institutions, fully release the efficacy of national defense and military reforms, open a new ground for building strong armed forces, and seize the initiative in military competition and warfare. The reform should be guided by the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, ensure the Party's absolute leadership over the military, aim for combat effectiveness, and enhance the motivation, initiative and creativity of service personnel, Xi said. Xi stressed safeguarding the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership and ensuring the Party's absolute leadership over the military, while deepening reform on the institution of Party building in the military. Xi ordered efforts to innovate the policies and institutions on the application of military strength, adapt to the needs of national security strategy and focus on how to win when it is called on. He called for restructuring of policies and institutions on military strength building, strengthening institutions and system-designing for military human resources, and focusing on combat, innovation and military-civilian integration. Xi also called for reform on policies and institutions of military management, including establishing a system to manage military spending and further reform on the military judicial system, in order to enhance the efficiency of the whole military system. "Implementing the decisions by the CPC Central Committee and the CMC on the reform is a major political responsibility," Xi said, ordering the military to strengthen their sense of duty, as well as carefully and orderly implement the decisions. They should fully recognize and grasp the significance of the reform, understand, support and comply with the reform, he said. Noting that pushing forward the reform is the common mission of both military and civilian authorities, Xi asked both central and state organs and local Party committees and governments to support the military reforms. A mystery isnt just meant to be solved. In the right context, it can be a mirror to society. Thats one of the unique characteristics of Lee Chang-dongs Burning, a modern-day thriller that centers on a 20-something South Korean, Jong Su (Yoo Ah-in), who falls for a former classmate, Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo), he hasnt seen in years. Both are struggling to make ends meet and are immediately intoxicated by the wealthy lifestyle of a new acquaintance, Ben (Steven Yeun). And then Hae-mi vanishes without a trace leaving Lee perplexed and dazed. According to Lee, good jobs are hard to find in Korea and the nations youth are often forced to take positions they never expected to. He adds, Jong-su is one of many young people in Korea who feels anxious over his future but also lethargic and helpless. On the other hand, there are young people like Ben. He enjoys material wealth but is incredibly empty inside, the emptiness of the modern-day man who can do anything but also nothing at all. There are also young women like Hae-mi. She has no choice but to rely on credit card debt despite working hard as a narrator model on the streets, and yet she never ceases her search for the meaning of life. Yeun, best known for his role on The Walking Dead, was born in Korea but spent most of his adolescence in Michigan. This is the second time hes been able to work with a Korean director after having appeared in Bong Joon-hos Okja, and he appreciates that Lee made one for the kids. To me, it conveys that feeling of loneliness and fear and confusion that I think a lot of people of my generation and younger feel as they look towards the future and they dont feel like theres something to guide them, per se, Yeun says. It looks chaotic, and I think it does a really purposeful and great job of trying to capture that feeling and emotion. Advertisement He was also impressed with how patient Lee was on set and his willingness to revisit a scene if it wasnt quite right. Yeun says the director would often ruminate over the dailies at night and then inform him he wanted to give it one more go the next day. Steven Yeun, one of the stars of the upcoming indie Burning. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Its pretty much the same feeling except now theres this beautiful flock of geese that flies by and reflects off the glass, Yeun recalls. And youre just like, OK. You were just waiting for that. Its just this openness and patience to let the film kind of unfurl itself, and all the while having control over it. Thats something that I dont know if Ill ever see [again]. From the directors perspective, Ben may be a serial killer or just a rich young man who is overly generous to those around him. After meeting him in person, Lee felt Yeun was the best actor who could portray the duality of the character. When I first met him for casting, he told me that he thinks emptiness is what lies at the bottom of Ben and that he is very familiar with the feeling because hes experiencing it himself, Lee says. He talked about the existential crisis he experienced, having grown up in the U.S. as a second generation Korean American and suddenly gaining wealth and popularity after struggling as an Asian actor. I felt that he not only logically but also physically understood the character. While watching Burning the audience will have endless questions. Is Ben a serial killer or just a nice, generous rich friend? Where did the woman go? Lee Chang-don Ben is the films most intoxicating question mark as Jong-su becomes increasingly obsessed over whether or not his rich acquaintance is responsible for Hae-mis disappearance. Lee recognizes that in most mystery thrillers the puzzle pieces come together in the end and the riddles are logically solved. Burning, on the other hand, has a haunting ambiguity that the auteur felt was important to maintain throughout the picture. By keeping this uncertainty in the audiences minds Lee hopes it will lead to questions about the world were living in and the lives we lead. He also hopes it further influences the narrative and cinematic medium itself. These days, more and more films present direct experiences to the audience. The audience can vividly experience outer space, battles of WWII, and even murder scenes as if they are actually there, Lee says. I think this is partially an influence of video games. But while having such experiences, I wanted viewers to also put some distance between themselves and the film. While watching Burning the audience will have endless questions. Is Ben a serial killer or just a nice, generous rich friend? Where did the woman go? How close to the truth are what I see and believe? How close to the truths of life and the world is this narrative I watch and accept from the film? What is the narrative I desire? What really is cinema? I wanted these questions to become a new and interesting cinematic experience for the audience. WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders calendar@latimes.com Netflix broke through at the Emmy Awards five years ago when Television Academy voters gave House of Cards nine nominations, making it the first streaming program to earn a series nod. Since then, Netflix has racked up 225 Emmy nominations and 43 Emmys and, with its monolithic for-your-consideration promotional spaces, practically redefined television awards campaigning. The film side has proved trickier for Netflix. Oscar voters have been largely immune to the streamers offerings, ignoring titles such as 2015s Beasts of No Nation that other awards season groups embraced. (Beasts actor Idris Elba became the first Screen Actors Guild Award winner to not earn an Oscar nomination.) But lets also be real here. For all the talk about Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members viewing Netflix as an existential threat to the theatrical film experience, the streamer has never had a movie that could be marked as a slam-dunk best picture contender. The child soldier story of Beasts was emotionally powerful and undeniably tragic. It was also overlong, unfocused and seemed to take a bit too much pleasure in the atrocities it was expertly documenting. Subsequent Netflix contenders including two from last year Bong Joon-hos enjoyably nutty and strange creature feature Okja and Dee Rees leisurely paced, disquieting melodrama Mudbound had their merits. Mudbound, in fact, picked up four Oscar nominations. Did it belong among the best picture nominees? Id argue that if any movie was overlooked last year, it was Sean Bakers spellbinding, immersive drama The Florida Project. Advertisement This year, though, Netflix has a movie that not only will likely earn the streamer its first-ever best picture Oscar nomination, its a film so good that it could go on to win. That movie is Alfonso Cuarons Roma, a glorious, intimate drama that combines the filmmakers gift for visual poetry with a story that is delicate, mysterious and full of surprises. At times, the movie, beautifully shot in black and white, feels experimental in its novelistic approach to storytelling and memoir. But for all its formal prowess, Roma is fundamentally a movie that elevates the spirit with a generous empathy and love for its characters. In telling the story of the women who raised him, the Oscar-winning Cuaron has made his greatest film. Film critics groups are going to bow to it. (The movie, produced by Participant Media, already won the Golden Lion prize for best film at the Venice festival.) Id expect Roma to win the top prize from either the New York Film Critics Circle or the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. Maybe both. That doesnt happen often, but Richard Linklaters Boyhood was special enough to pull off the feat in 2014. Yalitza Aparicio and Marco Graf in Roma. (Carlos Somonte) A win from either group would give Roma momentum. More important though, Netflixs awards season consultants have convinced the company to break precedent and release Cuarons film theatrically on Nov. 21, a good three weeks before it will be available for streaming. That provides Roma a window of opportunity to build buzz and assuage academy naysayers who grumble about Netflixs policy of releasing movies simultaneously in theaters and on its service. It will also provide awards season voters with more opportunities to see the meticulously crafted, 65mm, Dolby Atmos movie in an optimal presentation. (Netflix is also offering early theatrical releases for the Coens inspired western anthology The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Susanne Biers thriller Bird Box.) I want this movie to be seen by as many people as possible, Cuaron told me recently before a guild Q&A we did together for the film. And Netflix will make that possible. I also appreciate their effort and passion to provide people with the chance to see it in a theater. This was a labor of love. Its impossible to envision a scenario in which Roma doesnt earn a best picture nomination and make history for Netflix. Its chances of winning the Oscar are less certain. Its a foreign-language movie (Spanish and Mixtec) shot in black-and-white with a cast that will be largely unknown to voters. Other movies are also likely to find champions among critics groups, namely The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos stinging, subversive costume drama, and If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins follow-up to Moonlight that masterfully adapts James Baldwins 1974 novel. Spike Lees BlacKkKlansman, his best movie in years (not including his noteworthy documentaries), could also win a few honors, including long overdue recognition for Lee himself. Heres how Id handicap the best picture race at this early juncture, with the movies ranked based on their likelihood of securing a nomination. 1) A Star Is Born 2) Roma 3) Green Book 4) The Favourite 5) If Beale Street Could Talk 6) Black Panther 7) BlacKkKlansman 8) First Man 9) Widows Ill stop there as the academy has never nominated more than nine movies since adopting, in 2011, its current, complicated voting system that allows for a variable roster of five to 10 best picture nominees. (Seriously, I think 10 is probably mathematically impossible, but Im going to keep my slide rule in the drawer for now and not get into it.) The wild card remains Adam McKays sure-to-be-scathing Dick Cheney biopic Vice, which screens for journalists for the first time on Saturday. Everyone loves a latecomer barging in and upending awards season absolutes, and Vice has the potential to be that spoiler. Or it could be like Unbroken, and the song will remain the same. Well find out in a couple of days. glenn.whipp@latimes.com Twitter: @glennwhipp Its good to be queen. Or to be more precise, its good to play a queen in the type of sumptuous royal drama that often reigns supreme during awards season. Consider: Helen Mirren won an Oscar as The Queen. Judi Dench portrayed Queen Victoria twice, in her Oscar-nominated Mrs. Brown and last year in the Golden Globe-nominated Victoria & Abdul. Cate Blanchett got nominated for Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Kirsten Dunst wore Oscar-winning costumes in Sofia Coppolas Marie Antoinette. Danish Queen Caroline biopic A Royal Affair picked up a foreign language film Oscar nomination. And flashing back to the 60s, Anne of the Thousand Days delivered Genevieve Bujold a lead actress stauette for playing King Henry IIs wife one year after Lion in Winter star Katharine Hepburn won an Oscar for portraying Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. For the record: This article says Genevieve Bujolds character in Anne of the Thousand Days was married to King Henry II. She was married to King Henry VIII. Hollywoods fascination with female monarchs continues this fall. Mary Queen of Scots features Saoirse Ronan in the title role opposite Margot Robbies Elizabeth I, while The Favourite casts Olivia Colman as royal eccentric Queen Anne. Why do women in thrones continue to ring a bell for 21st century moviegoers? Queens not only manage all the complexities of wielding power, but they also do it against the backdrop of a society thats uncomfortable with the very notion of a woman ruling, observes Mary Queen of Scots writer Beau Willimon. Advertisement Olivia Colman as Queen Anne in The Favourite. (Atsushi Nishijima / Twentieth Century Fox) Margot Robbie, Christian Bale and nine more stars undergoing movie makeovers this awards season When you take someone whos both on the fringe and in the inner circle at the same time, it adds a layer to the dramatic complexity of the story. When you put these conflicts against a grand canvas with extraordinarily high stakes, it makes queens more interesting and attractive than their male counterparts. Willimon, who created the House of Cards series about backstabbing Washington, D.C., power brokers, pictures the 16th century history between Catholic Mary and Protestant Elizabeth as a potentially potent friendship gone horribly awry. Elizabeth and Mary both understood what it was like to be surrounded by men doing everything they could to manipulate, steer or diminish their reign, so theres a certain camaraderie on that level, he says. But they also pose a threat to one another. How do you navigate the desire to coexist with this contradictory desire to dominate the other? That question is at the heart of this version of Mary Queen of Scots. Mary Stuart, daughter of King of Scotland James V, exuded imperial confidence from childhood. Her mother, Mary de Guise, was a supreme operator and Mary was groomed to become queen, says Willimon, who based his script on John Guys Mary, Queen of Scotts biography. Oftentimes through the ages Mary has been portrayed as an impetuous, overly emotional young woman who made blunder after blunder, but Guy proposes that she was actually quite savvy, sure-footed and decisive, although I doubt that she ever felt too secure in her power. This was a time when people didnt get impeached; they got murdered. They werent voted out of office; they were jetted off to the Tower. Rival Elizabeth began her reign crippled with uncertainty. Margot Robbie as Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots. (Parisa Tag / Focus Features) She was born a bastard child and probably grew up worried about getting shipped off to a nunnery or being executed, says Willimon. When Elizabeth became Queen of England, there was great strife between Protestants and Catholics, not all that different between what you see today between conservatives and liberals. At the start of our story, Elizabeth has not yet become the stalwart, strong and fierce person weve seen dramatized before. She was much more insecure. WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders Unlike the steely Queen of Scots and increasingly shrewd Elizabeth I, Colmans Queen Anne in the 18th century-set tragicomedy The Favourite comes across as a needy, gout-afflicted monarch surrounded by 17 bunnies representing the children she lost through miscarriages or stillborn births. That level of loss was very important to understanding Queen Annes character, says The Favourite co-writer Tony McNamara. We wanted to honor that part of her history and the rabbits showed this in a way that was tonally consistent with this woman who was a bit of a child. Teamed with director Yorgos Lanthimos, McNamara, who previously dramatized royal temperament in his 2008 Catherine the Great play The Great, kept Englands disastrous War of the Spanish Succession off-screen in order to focus on Queen Annes relationships with close advisor Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and Sarahs seductive cousin Abigail (Emma Stone). Yorgos and I were drawn to the idea of these personalities being much bigger than the political story, McNamara says. Were accustomed to thinking of politics as a much more rational pursuit, but in this film we wanted to show how the personal relationships between these three women changed the course of history. Queen Anne and Sarah and Abigail have everyday problems just like regular people. Apart from the fact that theyve got pretty dresses and carriages, theres a downside as well. calendar@latimes.com Lady Gaga decided to carry the pizzas herself as she made her way around Los Angeles-area wildfire evacuation centers earlier this week, delivering food, coffee and compassion to those displaced from their homes. The show of support Tuesday came the same day the pop star and actress celebrated World Kindness Day, her favorite day of the year, according to a video she shared on Twitter. I encourage you all to do one act of kindness, Gaga told her followers, even if its for yourself. Gagas charitable display was nothing new for the star, having long made social activism and advocacy a central part of her fame. From LGBTQ rights to anti-bullying to numerous charitable campaigns (including her own Born This Way Foundation), the musician is nothing if not actively seeking to do good. Advertisement Yet its easy, especially when it comes to Hollywood, to be suspicious. Gaga is a front-runner for an Academy Award for her acclaimed turn in A Star Is Born. Of course shes out there hand-delivering pizzas and rubbing shoulders with the less fortunate! Theres a cynicism that sometimes shadows celebrity charity, an assumption that every move is calculated and that good publicity is priceless. Why do we care so much about what celebrities do anyway? And when they do good things, why are we so suspicious of their motivations? Plenty of stars have announced their good deeds in the wake of recent California tragedies, including Sandra Bullocks $100,000 donation to the Humane Society and Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth donating $500,000 to the Malibu Foundation. But why promote it? Why tell the world all about the good things youre doing? Because like it or not, some of us still value what famous people do and think and care about. When venturing out to visit shelters this week, Gaga was seeing people at the very worst moment in their life, driven away from their homes by flames and worried there will be nothing left to return to. But one of the biggest stars on the planet stopped by and visited, brought them pizza and talked for a while. Made them feel human at a moment when it would be easy to think the whole world had already forgotten about them. By not just donating funds, but arriving on the scene, Gaga sheds a global spotlight on victims of a tragedy that continues to unfold. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth donated $500,000 to the Malibu Foundation in the wake of recent California wildfires. (Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press) You see this in the wake of many tragedies, including Lin-Manuel Mirandas activism for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria or J.J. Watt after Hurricane Harvey, celebrities using their powers for the greater good. And the recent California crises are no exception, as stars have used their platforms to support first responders and victims of both the wildfires and the Thousand Oaks shooting, whether its on social media or from the podiums at awards shows. Good works are good, no matter the motive. Some people are moved to donate when they see the generosity of celebrities. Some lives are improved when someone untouchable shows them kindness. Artificial light shines just as brightly as the real thing, and the world is too dark as it is. libby.hill@latimes.com @midwestspitfire The recent biopic A Private War explores the interiority of war correspondent Marie Colvins life. But the documentary Under the Wire, featuring Colvins colleague, photojournalist Paul Conroy, painstakingly details Colvins final days before her death while reporting from Homs, Syria, in February 2012. Watching Under the Wire, directed by Chris Martin from Conroys memoir of the same name, one has the sense of sitting at the photographers knee, listening to war stories in his distinct Liverpudlian accent. Theres a scant bit of back story as to Conroys military background and his professional partnership with Colvin. The majority of the film, however, covers their time in Syria, up to Colvins death, and the days after, when a gravely injured Conroy made his way out of the war-torn country, carrying the burden of Maries story as well as the stories of the Syrian civilians slaughtered by President Bashar Assads forces. The bloody and harrowing tale is rounded out by Sunday Times editors and colleagues, as well as Conroy and Colvins Syrian comrade Wael Al-Omar, and French journalists William Daniels and Edith Bouvier, who was also injured. French photojournalist Remi Ochlik was also killed in the attack. Under the Wire brings a vivid immediacy to this tragic event. Conroy speaks candidly to the responsibility that he feels to survive and to tell the stories of the others, a task that he will carry with him for the rest of his life. Advertisement ------------- Under the Wire Rated: R, for language and disturbing violent images Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes Playing: Starts Nov. 16, Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies The Last Race is a high art film about a blue-collar subject, and that unlooked-for ability to see beauty in the everyday is what makes it both a surprise and a success. That subject would be stock car racing, a salt-of-the-earth endeavor that made its first appearance on New Yorks Long Island in 1927. Once upon a time there were as many as 40 stock car tracks on the island, but now only a single one remains, Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead. This documentary is an impressionistic, atmospheric examination of a sport and a way of life that feel perilously close to extinction. Director Michael Dweck, a photographer whos been a fan of stock car racing since childhood, had been shooting stills at the track for five years when he got the idea for a documentary, and he enlisted Gregory Kershaw as both cinematographer and co-producer. Advertisement From The Last Races opening shots of wrecked racers, its clear we are in the presence of filmmakers with an impeccable eye, individuals who know that no shot is too random to be artfully composed. That goes for the films racing footage as well, persuasively edited by Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, a Dane with no previous stock car interest whose best-known credit, Joshua Oppenheimers The Act of Killing, couldnt be more different from this. Captured by small, lightweight cameras attached to the cars, the footage is sometimes projected in slow motion, sometimes held longer than expected. Overall, it manages to be quite magical, enabling us to feel why stock car drivers and devotees are so passionately attached to their sport. Just as important as the visuals here are the interviews shot with key players as well as candid dramatic moments captured on the fly. All of it is presented with the purpose of illuminating life on the inside of an endeavor where, as the filmmakers note, regular guys can become heroes. So we meet drivers who talk about proudly following in their fathers footsteps, announce theyve been in love with muscle cars since I was a kid and work obsessively on their cars in home garages while holding down day jobs that include, in one case, exterminating yellow jackets for a company called Jims Busy Bee. The people we spend the most time with are the tracks 87-year-old owners, Barbara and Jim Cromarty, who still love the place theyve run for 37 years but are feeling pressure to retire. When work is all youve known, Barbara says in one of the films many unforced but intimate moments, to give it up is a tremendous decision. One of the factors the Cromartys are weighing, real estate brokers let us know, is how valuable the land the track sits on has become. Surrounded by huge shopping centers on every side, it is likely worth $10 million, a sum too sizable to ignore. In addition to its more or less formal interviews, Last Race uses audio to capture the feeling of the track, like listening in as the announcer excitedly talks about competitors like Paul The Pistol Parisi and 17-year-old leadfoot Jack Handley Jr., the Jack Attack. The racing cars on display are often dented and damaged, a tribute to on-track collisions in a sport without a lot of politeness where competitors are shown roundly cursing one another and getting into fistfights for no apparent reason. We dont look good, but we like to go fast, one driver says, summing it all up, a fitting tribute to a proud but imperiled subculture and the surprising film that wants to ensure it is not forgotten. ----------- The Last Race Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Playing: Laemmles Monica, Santa Monica kenneth.turan@latimes.com @KennethTuran When countries submit one of their own to contend for the foreign-language film Oscar, as 87 nations did this year, documentaries, no matter how well done, are hardly ever selected. Austria, however, has gone against the grain, provocatively choosing The Waldheim Waltz for consideration this year. That this thoughtful and inquisitive doc was chosen is a tribute both to the skill with which it has been made and the way the past events it details raise uncomfortable questions about today. For those with long memories, its clear from the title that the film, written, directed as well as narrated by Ruth Beckermann, deals with the unusual career of Kurt Waldheim, once one of the most prominent Austrians on the international political scene whose professional life was all but derailed in a quite unexpected fashion. Beckermann, however, does not start the film in any big picture way, quite the contrary. Part protester, part documentarian, she presents low-key footage she herself shot back in 1986, footage she had thought lost for more than 30 years. Advertisement The film shows us the beginning of what looks to be a desultory, modest demonstration against Waldheim, who was then running for the largely ceremonial office of president of Austria. But just the act of quietly protesting Waldheims candidacy suddenly draws a hostile backlash in a gathering crowd, creating ugly reactions that refuse to go away. It is Beckermanns thesis that the Waldheim candidacy and the ruckus it provoked was the beginning of the end for Austrias grand delusion of having been the first victim of the Nazis. For as it turns out, this election triggered an emotional reckoning with Austrias past, infuriating people on both sides of the issue in a way that echoes through the decades to right now. Though Hitlers Reich did indeed invade Austria, the film produces evidence that even if the country as a whole and Waldheim in particular did not want to admit to it, they reacted to the Germans not as resistors but cooperative collaborators. Certainly, as the documentary shows, Waldheim was the unlikeliest person to have this kind of scandal arise around him. After all, he was a man the world trusts, elected twice as the secretary-general of the United Nations, someone whose voice was on the Voyager Golden Record that went out into deepest space. And as a politician who in 1986 ran for his countrys presidency, Waldheim certainly looked the part. Trim, aristocratic, a natural diplomat and a deft campaigner, he seemed a sure thing to avoid a runoff until two months before the election. Thats when an Austrian news magazine published a bombshell about two years of Waldheims World War II biography it said he had concealed. This was followed in short order by more detailed reports coming out of the New York-based World Jewish Congress. Waldheim had always claimed hed been drafted, wounded early in the war and discharged, but official records told a different story. It turns out Waldheim had enlisted in the S.A., the Nazi paramilitary organization, later becoming part of the Germany army. There was even the possibility he had been involved in inexcusable actions against Yugoslavian partisans as well as the mass deportation of Jews from Salonika. How Waldheim and Austria responded to these charges is the most fascinating part of the story, and Beckermann and her team have culled specifics from hundreds of hours of TV footage. Never at a loss for words (though his son Gerhard is at one point shown to be memorably speechless), Waldheim began a series of smooth tactical retreats, only admitting as much as he needed to at any given point. At first, Waldheim called the charges old and discredited and a smear campaign, but as evidence mounted that the whole truth had not been told he claimed hed been no more than an honest soldier and insisted to voters, I stand before you with a clear conscience. Even more disturbing was the reaction of Waldheims conservative Austrian Peoples Party. Seizing upon the fact that the New York based WJC were key players in the accusations, the party accused them of being outside agitators stirring up feelings nobody wants, in effect mobilizing anti-Semitic feeling by seeming to decry it. How this all played out in terms of the Austrian election will surprise no one, but seeing how much the situation came to prefigure the contemporary house of mirrors in Europe as well as America still comes as something of a shock. ------------ The Waldheim Waltz Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes Playing: Laemmles Royal, West Los Angeles, Town Center 5, Encino, Westpark 8, Irvine kenneth.turan@latimes.com @KennethTuran Brick walls coated in grime. Rows of industrial sewing machines. Fluorescent lights. The room isnt much to look at. But Ben Stiller is still excited about it. On this gray morning in December Stiller proudly shows visitors around the set of Escape at Dannemora, the seven-episode limited series hes directing. Deep in Brooklyn, the dank, old industrial space is a stand-in for Tailor Shop 9 at the Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York, the maximum security prison that in 2015 became the site of perhaps the most notorious breakout in modern memory. With an almost forensic level of detail, Stiller sketches a map of the 19th century penitentiary on the back of a script page, explaining where the shop was located in relation to the mess hall, the cellblock and the steam pipe through which convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped, triggering a three-week manhunt and round-the-clock news coverage. In the series, which premieres Sunday on Showtime, Benicio Del Toro and Paul Dano star respectively as Matt and Sweat. The inmates plotted their breakout for six months with assistance from the civilian supervisor of the tailor shop, Joyce Tilly Mitchell (Patricia Arquette), who is believed to have had sexual relationships with both men. Using hacksaws she smuggled to them via blocks of frozen ground beef, Sweat and Matt cut holes in the walls of their cells, tunneled through the bowels of the prison and climbed to freedom out of a manhole a spectacular feat that immediately invited comparisons to The Shawshank Redemption. Advertisement But if the escape seemed like something straight out of the Hollywood imagination, Stiller is determined to ground this stranger-than-fiction tale with nitty-gritty details, bringing to life the prison sometimes called Little Siberia and the sordid human drama that unfolded within its walls with painstaking verisimilitude. Benicio Del Toro as Richard Matt in Escape at Dannemora. (Christopher Saunders / Showtime) A multihyphenate primarily associated with comedy, Stiller is the first to concede hes not the obvious choice for the material. His work as a director began 25 years ago with the Gen-X touchstone Reality Bites and continued with Zoolander, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Tropic Thunder. Escape at Dannemora represents a number of firsts for him as a director: his first drama, his first fact-based project, his first TV gig since the failed Fox pilot (and cult favorite) Heat Vision and Jack in 1999. And, oh yeah, the first time hes directed something with a 400-page script and a running time of 7.5 hours. The real deal This particular morning, Stiller has been filming take after take of a tense scene between Arquette, whose character, distracted by the escape plot, is struggling to fulfill an order for inmate clothing, and Del Toro, who tries to calm her frayed nerves. Standing in front of the raised platform where she sits, Del Toro as Matt tells her he has aquafina prison moonshine and lures her to the backroom for a sexual encounter. The other inmates look up from their piecework and roll their eyes at the brazenness of it all. The story was always interesting for me on a human level, Stiller says afterward. Prisons are created by people, but people are always going to be people and have human desires and wants. Director Ben Stiller, left, and Patricia Arquette as Joyce Tilly Mitchell on the set of Escape At Dannemora. (Christopher Saunders / Showtime) Though Stiller didnt follow the escape closely at the time it was happening he was in Italy filming Zoolander 2 Dannemora co-creators Michael Tolkin and Brett Johnson, like millions of Americans, were captivated by the 2015 breakout. The writers, who were then working on the Showtime crime drama Ray Donovan, began to map out a series version of the story while Sweat and Matt were still on the loose. Early in the development process, Stiller was approached about directing. We knew we couldnt have somebody who lacked a sense of humor, explains Johnson, speaking by phone with Tolkin. Its not a comedy, but theres a lot of stuff thats organically funny, ironic. Stiller wasnt specifically looking to do television, but he was eager to try something more overtly dramatic. So he asked Tolkin and Johnson to annotate the two scripts theyd written, marking what was fact drawn from information available at the time and what was creative license. It was about an even split, say the writers. After months of conversation, Stiller decided to pass reluctantly, painfully. I was very, very, interested in the facts. It was the only way I could find a way into it, because its just so outside of anything Id really done before, Stiller says in a later interview, nearly a year after the day on location in Brooklyn, as hes winding down post-production on the series. Because it was so sensational, and so much like a movie, I really was interested in what the reality of how something like this happens in this day and age. Then in June 2016, the New York state inspector general released a 150-page report outlining the chronic complacency and elaborate efforts that enabled the escape. Every detail you would want was in that report, Johnson says. Here was a story maybe as good as any novel published in the year 2015 that was sitting there on the ny.gov website for free. (Others have already attempted to tell the story: New York Prison Break: The Seduction of Joyce Mitchell, a Lifetime movie starring Penelope Ann Miller, came out last year.) Cinematic TV With the report now providing an abundance of facts, Stiller was ready to commit. The writers pored over hundreds of pages of interviews conducted as part of the investigation to flesh out the backstories of the main characters, including the vicious murders committed by Matt and Sweat and Mitchells rocky marriage to another prison employee. Stiller weighed in on the scripts with meticulous notes. In terms of work ethic, Ive never seen anything even close to Ben, says Johnson. Escape at Dannemora, Stiller says, represents the kind of subject matter that isnt really being made by the studios anymore. Now being on the other side of it, Johnson says, we both feel theres no one else who could have done it. Johnson also points out that Stillers films are incredibly cinematic. Theyre not two guys sitting in a room doing fart jokes. Tropic Thunder cinematically is as accomplished as most Vietnam war films. The writers also praise the directors instinct for casting and his ability to attract big-name talent, including two Oscar winners, Arquette and Del Toro. Arquette, whose transformation into Mitchell involved 40 extra pounds, prosthetic teeth, dark contact lenses and a thick, almost Midwestern accent, was the first of the key cast to come on board. She had known Stiller since they worked together on the antic David O. Russell comedy Flirting With Disaster. Though she wasnt surprised by his interest in darker material, she was struck by his vision for the story. Acting was the priority, but he really knew the shots he wanted, the lenses he wanted, where he wanted the camera, she says. He was, like, obsessed with this project. Stiller was assiduous about using real people and places whenever possible. Former inmates were hired as consultants and background players. Episodes were filmed on location at the grocery store where Mitchell bought her doughnuts, in the field near the Canadian border where Sweat was shot and captured, and even in the ramshackle trailer where Matt spent the night before he was killed though, as Johnson notes, it was rotated 180 degrees to better capture the light. So my joke with Ben was thats why our show is complete bull . There were times when I thought: Why do we need to shoot this in the real spot? Its a field with trees. Director Ben Stiller, right, checks a shot on location for Escape At Dannemora. (Christopher Saunders / Showtime) Perhaps more understandable was Stillers insistence on filming in Dannemora, and he faced skepticism from locals who wondered why Zoolanders Blue Steel guy was making a movie about their suddenly infamous town. I think they were a little cautious. That might be a kind word, he says with a laugh. I really understood why they felt skeptical. They heard it was me directing so they might have assumed it was going to be a comedy: Oh, theyre going to make fun of us. Stiller was instrumental in winning over wary officials, Tolkin says. Ben went out of his way to make himself available to the community. There isnt a mantelpiece in the county that doesnt have a selfie with Ben. He really convinced them he wasnt going to make them the butt of the joke. The production was ultimately granted permission to film scenes in the north yard of the prison and surrounding streets, including the manhole from which Sweat and Matt emerged. And while they were permitted to tour inside the facility, they could not take any pictures. So production designer Mark Ricker sketched the cellblock and recreated it, in all its claustrophobic glory, at a Queens studio. Stiller was even able to meet with Sweat, who was originally imprisoned for murdering a police officer in 2002 and is now in solitary confinement. Over a five-hour meeting, Sweat provided further details about the breakout and his time on the run with Matt. He was pretty candid, Stiller says, noting one major exception: There were certain things he wouldnt talk about, or we feel he wasnt telling the truth about, in terms of his relationship with Joyce Mitchell. A composite image of the real mugshots of convicted murderers David Sweat, left, and Richard Matt, whose prison breakout is the basis of the Showtime series Escape at Dannemora. (New York State Police) Both Sweat and Mitchell have denied their relationship was sexual, although they exchanged intimate letters and were often seen going into the backroom of the tailor shop together. Their scenes together in Escape at Dannemora are one of the areas where the creators have taken some necessary liberties. Other times reality was deemed a little heavy-handed: Stiller ultimately cut a scene in which Sweat and Matt wondered how long it took Tim Robbins character to escape in The Shawshank Redemption because it felt too meta, Stiller says, even though it was based on Sweats account. Stillers commitment to detail lends Escape at Dannemora a palpable sense of place. The series captures the austerity and isolation of Dannemora, the kind of rural, working-class community that has historically been overlooked by Hollywood and, to some extent, Washington. Donald Trump announced his candidacy for presidency during the breakout, a fact thats deftly woven into the backdrop of the story. Stillers dedication also extended to his willingness to break with the usual practice in series television and direct every episode of Dannemora joining the rarified list of film directors (Steven Soderbergh, David Lynch, Spike Lee) whove helmed entire seasons of television a feat of endurance not unlike cutting through the walls of a prison with a hacksaw. Stillers been actively working on the project for more than two years, four times longer than it took Sweat and Matt to carry off their escape. While the gritty subject matter made him very, very grateful to be able to leave at the end of the day, he says, the amount of work that we had to get through in a certain amount of time was probably the most oppressive part of it. It helped that he wasnt acting in the series. I found it really freeing to be able to finally do all the things as a director you want to do, that you cant do when youre acting, which is basically be in two places at one time. For Del Toro, having a single director alleviated his anxiety about crafting a coherent performance in a long-form series that, out of necessity, filmed out of order with scenes from multiple episodes sometimes shooting in a single day. Ben really had the whole show in his head. Not only did he have an idea of the arc of the characters emotionally but also about the journey of the seven episodes, how they all had a different feeling, but collectively told one story. That really helped every department. It was essential for it to be what it is, he says. Stiller looks forward to viewers recreating his own journey through the story. My hope is that people will watch it and go, Oh, that couldnt happen, and then if they do the research, they might see that, Oh, my God, that actually did happen, he says. Its just like a movie and it is but its also far more interesting than that. ALSO New York prison escape: How two murderers broke out of maximum security Debris from failed relationships litters New York prison escape Saga of New York prison break ends with David Sweats capture New York prison officials put on leave amid review into inmates escape My Favorite Room: Escape at Dannemora actor Eric Lange gets lost in his creative lab Inmates charged with new felonies as Orange County manhunt widens after Dannemora-style escape Justin Chang: Ben Stiller is beyond compare in the terrific midlife-crisis comedy Brads Status Ben Stiller draws from his experiences as both a father and a son in two new character-driven films Theres Something About Mary at 20: Its creators and actors share memories of risky scenes (hello, hair gel) See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour meredith.blake@latimes.com Follow me @MeredithBlake BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday published a signed article titled "Set Sail on a New Voyage for Relations Between China and Pacific Island Countries" on two newspapers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) ahead of his state visit to the Pacific island country. The full text of the article, carried by Post-Courier and The National, is as follows: Set Sail on a New Voyage for Relations Between China and Pacific Island Countries Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China I will soon pay a state visit to Papua New Guinea, famed as home to the birds of paradise, and attend the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting there. It will not only be my first visit to the country, but also the first-ever state visit by a Chinese President. I have great expectations for this trip. Being the largest and most populous Pacific island country and endowed with abundant natural resources, Papua New Guinea has enormous potential for development and is truly a land of great promise. In recent years, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and great work of the government and the industrious and enterprising people of this country, Papua New Guinea has thrived in national development and its society has taken on a new look. I sincerely wish Papua New Guinea even greater achievements in economic and social development and full success in hosting this year's APEC meeting. China's friendly interactions with Papua New Guinea go a long way back. More than 100 years ago, there were Chinese travelling across the seas to Papua New Guinea who settled down and, with their hard work, made important contribution to the economic and social development of the country. China and Papua New Guinea established diplomatic relations in 1976. Since then, our two countries have treated each other with respect and as equals, and have pursued mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Our relationship has stood the test of changing international circumstances and stayed as strong as ever. In recent years, bilateral ties have entered a new stage of rapid growth. Today, Papua New Guinea is China's largest trading partner in the region, while China is the biggest foreign investor and project contractor in this country. For example, the Independence Boulevard and International Convention Centre, which will play an important role in Papua New Guinea's hosting of the APEC meeting, are both built with Chinese assistance. For sixteen years running, Chinese medical teams have provided humanitarian health services to the people of Papua New Guinea. Hydropower stations, hospitals and school dormitories financed by Chinese government concessional loans have become landmark buildings across the country. And in an active response to the PNG government's Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030, Chinese companies have taken part in the construction of roads, bridges, airports and docks locally. Eighteen years ago when I was Governor of China's Fujian Province, I personally pushed for a demonstration project to help the Eastern Highland Province with mushroom and upland rice planting. I am glad to learn that this project, still in operation to this day, has produced good economic and social benefits for the local community and become a success story in the growth of China-Papua New Guinea relations. In my upcoming visit, I look forward to working with your leaders to cement mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and increase people-to-people exchanges in order to take our bilateral ties to a new level. The rapid growth of China-Papua New Guinea relations is an epitome of China's overall relations with Pacific island countries. Four years ago in Nadi, Fiji, I had a group meeting with leaders of the eight Pacific island countries having diplomatic ties with China, during which we agreed to forge a strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, thus heralding a new dynamic stage in our relations. The following principles have been adhered to in the development of relations between China and Pacific island countries. -- We have stayed committed to treating each other with mutual respect. China and Pacific island countries take each other as true friends and good partners. China believes that all countries are equal, regardless of their size. We support the people of Pacific island countries in pursuing development paths suited to their national circumstances and support Pacific island countries in playing a due role in international affairs. On their part, Pacific island countries have, for decades, lent valuable support to China on issues involving China's core interests and major concerns. -- We have stayed committed to deepening cooperation. r business ties and deeper economic and technological cooperation have made the pie of common interests between China and Pacific island countries even larger. A number of island specialties, including liquefied natural gas of Papua New Guinea, mineral water of Fiji, squash pumpkin of Tonga, and tuna fish of the Federated States of Micronesia, have made their way into the Chinese market. China has done what it can to support and assist in the development of the island countries, thus contributing to economic growth and people's welfare in this part of the world. -- We have stayed committed to building people-to-people links. Over 100,000 Chinese tourists visit Pacific island countries each year. Students, government officials and technicians from Pacific island countries also visit or study in China in large numbers. There have been frequent exchanges between cultural and art troupes of the two sides. China's hospital ship "Peace Ark" has visited Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, providing humanitarian medical services to more than 20,000 local people. The Chinese often say, "Distance cannot separate true friends who remain even when thousands of miles apart." The vast Pacific Ocean is indeed a bond between China and Pacific island countries. As the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation gains momentum across the world, our two sides face the common task to seize opportunities, overcome difficulties and speed up development, as this meets the shared aspiration of both our peoples. During my visit to Papua New Guinea, I will invite leaders of the eight Pacific island countries that have diplomatic relations with China to join me once again in a gathering to renew friendship, explore new ways of development and chart the course for future growth of our relations. First, we need to bring our strategic trust to a higher level. China will stand firm with Pacific island countries and all other developing countries. Following a policy of pursuing the greater good and shared interests under the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, China will enhance solidarity and cooperation with Pacific island countries, support their development, and help narrow down the development gap between the North and the South. China will work with Pacific island countries to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. Second, we need to lend fresh impetus to our common development. China will expand practical cooperation with Pacific island countries in trade and investment, and encourage their active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in line with their own national conditions, strengths and development strategies. I am convinced that the BRI will open up new pathways for Pacific island countries to enhance business ties and connectivity with China, among themselves and with the rest of the world, and for the island countries to take a greater part in economic globalisation. Third, we need to write a new chapter in people-to-people friendship. As an island idiom goes, "Friendship is a furrow in the sand." China will continue to increase exchange and cooperation with Pacific island countries in culture, education, medical services, sports, youth and human resources training and at the sub-national level. We also welcome friends from these countries to visit, study, invest or do business in China. This will help deepen mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples and carry forward our friendship from generation to generation. During my upcoming visit, I will attend the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. It will be the first time for Papua New Guinea, and indeed for a Pacific island country, to play APEC host. It will be a huge event for the entire region. Under the theme of "Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future," I look forward to an in-depth exchange of views with other member economies on regional economic integration, digital economy, connectivity, and sustainable and inclusive growth, so that we could jointly contribute to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region. The relations between China and Pacific island countries are now better than ever and face important opportunities of development. China will work with Pacific island countries to brave the wind and waves and set sail for a brighter future of our relations. If summer beauty is all about bronzing and glow, then winter is the time to nourish and moisturize. Beauty brands are tapping into a demand for products that are as natural as possible ideally vegan and often from different cultures with effective ingredients formulated to soothe, soften, tighten and tone. And once your skin is set, dont forget to add a little holiday sparkle. Here are some products you should check out. Starskin Korean sheet masks are all the rage these days. Check out a pink cactus mask from Starskin. (Starskin) Advertisement Starskin has recently bowed its Orglamic Pink Cactus Collection, part of which is the two-step organic oil Hydrate + Glow Facial sheet mask. Break open the enclosed capsule and massage the blend of various seed oils, including camellia japonica and prickly pear cactus oils onto your face. Apply the mask, made from various fruit and flower extracts with hyaluronic acid, and peel off after 15 minutes. $15, starskin.com Silk Therapeutics The latest from Silk Therapeutics is its ultra-nourishing Hydra-Rich cream with liquid silk at its core. (Silk Therapeutics) Liquid silk is one of a dozen ingredients in the new Hydra-Rich Advanced Moisturizing Cream from Silk Therapeutics, a doctor-founded brand that has silk as a core component of all its products. The new cream, created specifically for fall, uses collagen molecules to seal in hydration. $120 for a jar lasting between 80 and 100 applications, silktherapeutics.com Bite Beauty Bright holiday colors are among the lip-color offerings from beauty brand Bite. (Bite) Fun for yourself or as a gift is Bite Beautys new Astrology by Bite Mini Set, a limited-edition offering of a dozen shades of the brands Amuse Bouche lipsticks. The selections were inspired by the zodiac think plum berry for Aquarius and glittering gold for Leo. The lip colors are made using a dozen edible oils to help nourish as well as fruit butters to hydrate; and they are scented with fresh-pressed citrus. $75, sephora.com and bitebeauty.com Tatcha Specifically for nourishing the lips in cooler weather is this gel from Japanese-inspired brand Tatcha. (Tatcha) To keep those lips particularly soft, San Francisco-based brand Tatcha (its based on the geisha principles of beauty) recently bowed its Kissu Lip Mask. The gel-like product is based on the ancient Japanese beautifying technique of chopped peach seeds mixed with oils to repair chapped lips. In addition to peach seed extract, the mask contains camellia oil and three types of rose extract. (The product is currently sold-out but will be replenished in the next few months. Or try getting your hands on a limited-edition $68 holiday gift set containing the lip mask.) $30, tatcha.com MDNA Skin Facial rollers such as this one from Madonnas MDNA Skin are designed to contour the face and help eliminate puffiness. (MDNA) Beauty rollers are the hot skin-care tool at the moment. They come in various materials (such as jade), shapes (such as floral) and textures (such as bristled or smooth). They are intended to help reduce puffiness and lend contoured definition to the face. Among the top-of-the-line examples is the Beauty Roller from MDNA Skin, the brand co-founded by Madonna, beauty company MTG and Italian spa destination Montecatini. The device doesnt use a battery and has at its tip a pair of carbon spheres said to help firm the face and aid the skin in absorbing cream or other products. The tool can also be used on the body for soreness and to target cellulite. $200, barneys.com Crude Soap-free cleansers are among some of the all-natural and clean skin-care products from Crude. (Austin Wright / Crude) Skin-care brand Crude is turning the idea of cleansing on its head by taking soap out of all its products as well as sulfates, chemicals and parabens to go all plant-based and vegan. The body wash, for example, is made from sunflower oil, aloe vera and essences of lime, lavender and bergamot. The brand is offering a Convert Kit, incorporating several products including a series of serums and its specialized pull cloths that deeply cleanse skin. $135 for the kit, livecrude.com Alaffia Ingredients native to Africa, such as kola nut and moringa, make up the natural products from Alaffia such as this skin scrub. (Alaffia) Pulling beauty secrets from other cultures is the modern way of beauty, and West African brand Alaffia (a greeting that means peace, health and well-being) mines its indigenous ingredients kola nut extract, moringa seed extract and baobab oil for its Age Defying Face Scrub. $18, Whole Foods Market and alaffia.com Daily Concepts Daily Concepts Detox Massing Brush is intended to help remove dead cells from your skins surface. (Daily Concepts) Dry brushing is as much a beauty conceit as it is a wellness one. The Detox Massaging Brush from Daily Concepts buffs the skin, removing layers of dead cells and generally helping with circulation. $18, Bed, Bath & Beyond and dailyconcepts.com Carter + Jane The Everything Oil from Carter + Jane is made from a few pure oils such as almond and avocado. (Carter + Jane) Carter + Jane named its new product the Everything Oil because its meant to make pores look smaller, soften fine lines, speed up collagen production and fade spots and scars with a blend of oils from nourishing ingredients such as prickly pear seed, almond, aloe vera and avocado. It can be used all over the face, body and hair. $128, carterandjane.com Pixi Pixi, a beauty brand founded by former makeup artist Petra Strand, recently launched this Retinol Tonic. (Pixi) Retinol has long been recommended by dermatologists to help with skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation and fine lines. Cult fave brand Pixi recently launched its Retinol Tonic, a light-yet-potent liquid said to endow the skin with a pretty glow. $15, Target and pixibeauty.com Rebecca Minkoff Sparkling metallic nail shades from Essies collection created by designer Rebecca Minkoff. (Essie) Noted designer Rebecca Minkoff, whos also the global color designer for nail brand Essie, created six shades for the brands limited-edition winter 2018 collection, which is designed for holiday festivities. Among them is a pale pink shimmer, a dark-as-night smoked plum purple and this gold chrome metallic lacquer. $9, essie.com image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. A stinging state audit of the California bullet train project released Thursday found that flawed decision-making, organizational faults and poor contract management led to multibillion-dollar cost overruns and delays in construction. The construction program in the Central Valley, in which the rail authority is building 119 miles of bridges, rail bed, viaducts and trenches, is $600 million over budget and at risk of missing a 2022 federal deadline for completion set under past grant agreements, the audit said. Missing the deadline could expose the State to the risk of having to pay back as much as $3.5 billion in federal funds, State Auditor Elaine Howle said in a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown. Howle suggested that much of the spending so far may have been an outright waste. Advertisement Despite its challenging financial situation, we determined that the Authority has failed to implement sound contract management practices, she wrote. As a result, it cannot demonstrate that the large amounts it has spent on its contracts have been necessary or appropriate. The audit was released Thursday morning minutes before the California High-Speed Rail Authority board met in Burbank, where dozens of residents, mayors, school superintendents, activists and elected officials lined up to decry plans to move ahead with a Palmdale-to-Anaheim route they claimed would devastate communities with noise, visual blight and lost jobs. After the outpouring of anger, begging and tears, the board voted to endorse the staff plan, though with a pledge to examine more thoroughly some of the communitys concerns. The audit, ordered by the Legislature this year, found extensive mismanagement, including serious problems tracking contracts, reviewing invoices for payment and monitoring construction progress. Mike Rossi, a former Bank of America executive who is the finance expert on the rail authority board, pledged to adopt the audits many recommendations, but he said that does not signal agreement with all of its conclusions about the impact of past decisions by the authority. The findings of deep-rooted problems come as Brown, who has devoted his considerable political power to advancing the project, prepares to hand off leadership to Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. The 87-page audit gives Newsom the basis for almost any kind of restructuring he would want to make, though support for the train remains high among its key constituencies: construction companies, labor unions and Californians who have traveled by bullet train in Europe or Japan. The push for the audit originated with Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly but was resisted by the Democratic majority until this year when delays and cost increases continued to mount. The project is 13 years behind the schedule set in the bond act approved by voters in 2008 and has grown in cost by $44 billion over its original $33-billion price target. Newsom has carte blanche to begin a serious examination of how the project can be restructured, curtailed or restored, said Elizabeth Alexis, co-founder of a Bay Area rail oversight group. But the audit also fuels opponents calls for a termination. Insurmountable funding shortfalls, continued mismanagement and hugely flawed assumptions mean this project is dead in the water, said Assemblyman Jim Patterson, the Fresno Republican who pushed for the audit. There will never be a completed track from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. This project cannot be revived in its current state, and this audit is further proof that the best we can hope for is a rump railroad running from Bakersfield to Madera. The audit covers a laundry list of problems including the authoritys failing to follow the advice of its own consultants, failing to document the reasons for cost increases, failing to properly assign staff and repeatedly amending its contracts. The authority has 56 managers who are supposed to administer hundreds of contracts worth $5.6 billion, but the staff has high turnover and only three of those managers work full time in the crucial function, the report said. Howle focused first on the rate of progress in building the first 119 miles of rail in the Central Valley, running between the farm towns of Madera and Wasco. The rail authority has been stymied by problems acquiring land, rerouting underground utilities and redesigning its structures, all resulting in slower-than-expected progress. Unless it can double its current rate of progress, the project is at risk of missing a federal deadline set under 2010 grant agreements, the audit warns. Shortcomings in the agencys ability to monitor progress on its existing $5.6 billion of construction, engineering and environmental contracts have been well known to the authority. Howle noted that the authoritys in-house audits in 2014 and 2015 identified those problems but that the authority was unable to implement corrective action. The job of managing contracts includes tasks such as promptly reviewing invoices, monitoring the work products of contractors (such an engineering drawings or construction work) and controlling costs. An important shortcoming noted in the report is a failure to demonstrate that invoices are fully reviewed before they are paid. One result is a greater reliance on outside consultants. For five years, rail authority executives have told The Times that they recognize a need for bolstering the ranks of state managers and relying less on outside advisors. The authority reiterated a plan to the auditor to rely less on consultants. The authority has approved hundreds of millions of dollars in change orders, most of which it initiated and may have been overpaid. In one instance, the rail authoritys consultant advised a change on a bridge should cost $7.4 million, but the agency eventually agreed to pay a construction firm $18.6 million and then could not document later why the higher amount was appropriate, the audit said. In some cases, the authority delayed making crucial decisions. Until 2015, the authority planned to enter downtown Los Angeles in a dedicated tunnel or a viaduct, but it then switched the strategy to having grade-level tracks on an existing Metrolink right of way. Such blending has helped avoid even greater cost increases, the auditor said, but the project has exhausted all blending options. Howle made broad recommendations to improve performance by next year, such as performing a review of compliance with existing quality controls. In the three-hour meeting Thursday, rail board members did not address the audit beyond Rossis statement. They sat through hours of statements by residents and representatives of Santa Clarita, Acton, Agua Dulce, Shadow Hills, Lake View Terrace, Sylmar, Sun Valley, Tujunga and other areas, who largely oppose any above-ground track. A Palmdale city official praised the program, as did a Sierra Club official. Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean said the only acceptable Palmdale-to-Burbank route would be underground, nearly doubling the amount of tunnels over the 38 miles between the cities. There must be many many mitigations if this route takes place, she said. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) sent a statement asserting the existing plan is unacceptable. That sentiment was echoed by statements from two Los Angeles council members, a county supervisor, five local neighborhood councils and various civic associations, homeowner groups and others. Opposition also came from farther south along the route. A representative from Vernon said the route through his city would displace 21 businesses employing 1,200 people and restrict key highway routes. The public works director of Santa Fe Springs said his citys recommendations were ignored and asked for a delay in the boards decision. But the rail staff was enthusiastic about the future laid out in the staff reports. In 2040, 35,000 people will board high-speed trains every day somewhere in L.A. County, Michelle Boehm, the authoritys Southern California section chief, told the board in a presentation. Pretty cool. ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com Twitter: @rvartabedian UPDATES: 5:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reporting after a meeting later in the day. This article was originally published at 10:15 a.m. Thousands of people made their way to a Ventura County church on Thursday to pay tribute to sheriffs Sgt. Ron Helus, who died just over a week ago trying to save the lives of others after a gunman stormed a bar in Thousand Oaks. The service offered a moment of peace in what has been a devastating month for California, with the mass shooting followed in quick succession by wildfires still ravaging the state. For the record: An earlier version of this article misidentified Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub as assistant sheriff. Law enforcement who have been fighting on the front lines of these disasters packed Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village alongside California residents grateful for their service. When the 911 call about a shooting came in late on Nov. 7, Helus rushed to Borderline Bar and Grill. He ran in through the front door and was cut down by the gunman, becoming one of the 12 killed that night. Advertisement At the service, Helus, who was 54 when he died, was described as a hero who sacrificed his life for others. The memorial drew so many people at least 4,000 that it jammed traffic nearby. The church sanctuary, which seats 2,900, was a patchwork of khaki, black and navy, filled with uniformed officers from across the state. In photographs displayed around the church, Helus young and middle-aged smiled warmly. In one photo, he grinned as his son Jordan, then a blond-haired toddler, nervously rode a merry-go-round. In a series of intimate stories, Pastor Steve Day traced the course of Helus life describing how he met his wife in a college anatomy class, how he proposed to her in a restaurant after sneaking the ring into her purse as a surprise. When she discovered it, Day said, Helus went down on one knee at the restaurant where they were dining. They were in the old Charley Browns restaurant, which is now the Borderline, he said. How ironic. Shortly after the memorial began, Billy Ray Cyrus played guitar and sang Amazing Grace, accompanied by a choir. He asked everyone present to join in. He then sang his patriotic ballad Some Gave All, which includes the words, All gave some, some gave all. The hallways and overflow rooms of the church were crowded with people standing and watching the service on TVs. There, burly men put their arms around each other, their tattoos peeking out from under their sleeves. A woman gave her baby a bottle and kept one eye on the service. A few people walked out into the warm fall air to gather themselves after beginning to cry. Many, even though they didnt know Helus personally, came to the memorial to thank him for his bravery and to honor him. One woman approached group after group of officers, saying thank you to each one. Brandon Apelian, 21, stood outside the church and gripped a blue flag that rippled in the wind. The California Lutheran University student knew Justin Meek, the bars bouncer, who was killed in the shooting. Meek had recently graduated from Cal Lutheran with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Apelian said that, growing up in Ventura County, he felt that law enforcement had my back. Now its my turn to show them that I have theirs, too, he said. Tracy Carr, 58, drove two hours from San Dimas for the service with his dog, Scooby Doo, who took a nap in the shade. I like to respect law enforcement because they lay their life down, said Carr, who wore a baseball cap that read dont forget to thank a cop. At the start of the service, Lauren Smith took the stage, standing next to her uncles flag-draped casket. She talked about how much Helus loved his annual Mammoth trips with his son, now 24. He couldnt wait until her own son was old enough to tag along too, she said, her voice breaking. Smith said Helus, who was also her godfather, was protective of her and loved his family deeply. She told a story of a Thanksgiving holiday when he found out that Smith, who had just gotten her learners permit, was afraid to drive on the freeway. He immediately took her out to face her fears, in his new blue truck. Though she worried about crashing his truck, she didnt. But as they were returning, she cut things too close, scraping a mirror. She figured she was done for. Instead of getting upset, he calmly thought of my feelings at first, Smith said. He looked at her and said: Lets just keep this our secret its just a truck. When the 911 calls began to pour in on the night of the shooting, Helus was on the phone with Karen, his wife of 29 years. I gotta go handle a call, he told her. I love you. Ill talk to you later. She had heard those words many times before. Helus, who was on the brink of retirement, had worn a badge for the length of their marriage. At the service, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub spoke of Helus extraordinary commitment to duty. Ron dared to go where most would flee, and he selflessly ran towards gunfire to confront someone who attacked the innocent, Ayub said. He entered the nightclub with no other purpose than to defend the defenseless and to save their lives and lives he did save. Ventura Flores came to the service to thank Helus. His 26-year-old niece was at Borderline on the night of the shooting, he said, but she crawled to safety as bullets flew. Two days later, his sisters home in Malibu burned down in the Woolsey fire, and his sister and niece came to stay with him in downtown L.A. Together, they drove to Westlake to pay tribute to Helus and other first responders. My sister and her daughter wanted to come over and pay their respects for their bravery, said Flores, 52. Its been a tough week. At the end of the service on Thursday afternoon, more than 1,000 officers filed out of the church. Some leaned toward each other as they walked, quickly embracing. They clutched their hats to their chests, positioning them back on their heads as they walked out of the sanctuary. Many whose badges said Ventura County Sheriffs Department, stared at the floor, eyes wet. Outside, people poured out of office buildings to watch the procession to the burial ground nurses in scrubs, firefighters in yellow jackets, workers on their lunch break. The area around the church is verdant, with rows of pepper trees and a golf course nearby. The backdrop is black, mountains recently charred by fire. Officers lined up along the wide street as the procession began. Hundreds stood at attention, necks stiff, saluting their colleague. Times staff writers Marisa Gerber and Javier Panzar contributed to this report. soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com Twitter: @skarlamangla UPDATES: 6 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with additional details of the memorial service, including comments from those who attended. 1:25 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub. 12:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Pastor Day. 12:25 p.m. This article was updated with details from the memorial, including comments from Billy Ray Cyrus and Pastor Steve Day. 12:20 p.m.: This article was updated with details from the scene, including an estimate of the size of the crowd. This article was originally published at 11:35 a.m. California State University trustees on Wednesday approved plans to add 21,000 more students and boost efforts to improve graduation rates without raising tuition in the next academic year. Trustees, wrapping up a two-day meeting in Long Beach, approved a $7.3-billion operating budget for 2019-20, voting to request $456 million in additional state funding. They are hoping that the robust economy and widespread public support for higher education will persuade Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to provide more money. Some trustees pushed for Cal State to ask for even more money for such problems as decaying infrastructure, but Chancellor Timothy P. White said the systems many pressing needs had to be tempered with political realism. The budget proposal, White said, is our best approximation of something that has more than a snowballs chance in Long Beach of being successful. Advertisement Cal State is asking for $206 million more to help pay for the additional students, who cost about $11,000 each to educate annually. Last year, the 23-campus system turned away 32,000 fully qualified students because of lack of space and staff. For the first time, the university plans in 2019-20 to redirect any qualified students rejected at their selected campuses to other campuses with available space. The budget also provides money for employee raises ($148 million), efforts to increase graduation rates ($75 million), infrastructure needs ($80 million) and health benefits, retirements and other mandatory costs ($45.4 million). The spending plan includes one-time funding requests of $250 million to repair or replace aging facilities and $15 million to help students in need of food and shelter. Trustees will revisit the spending plan in January, after Newsom releases his first budget proposal. teresa.watanabe@latimes.com Twitter: @TeresaWatanabe Most Californians believe higher education should be a top priority for the new governor and support increased funding for public colleges and universities, according to a new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. As the states public higher education system struggles to recover from major funding cuts a decade ago, the majority of Californians surveyed by the institute supported giving the schools a wide range of help. Most backed free community college, a statewide bond for university construction projects, a minimum state funding guarantee and even reform of Proposition 13 to raise more money by loosening restrictions on taxing commercial properties. A majority of those surveyed also said they wanted a new direction for higher education, with fewer than half approving of how Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature have handled it. Brown has championed online learning and slowly restored billions of dollars cut after the 2008 recession. But his successor, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, repeatedly has said much more investment is needed. The people are saying they want a new era and they want new energy, said PPIC President Mark Baldassare. They want to see the higher education system perform to the level they think is needed, which is producing [more] college graduates to create financial success for people today and be an asset for Californias future. Advertisement Democrats and independents were far more likely to favor more generous funding. More than three-fourths of Democrats surveyed said they would support a state bond and Proposition 13 reforms to raise more money for colleges and universities, compared with just over a quarter of Republicans. While two-thirds of Democrats and independents want to tie increased funding to student outcomes, such as graduation rates, only 44% of Republicans were in favor. Republicans also were less likely to believe that college was necessary for career success. The biggest problem facing college students today, most of those surveyed said above educational quality and admissions access is the cost. Most were concerned that students were taking on too much debt, and more than one-third of those surveyed said housing and living expenses were a greater financial burden than tuition. (Financial aid covers tuition for the majority of students at the University of California and California State University.) The findings are based on a survey of 1,703 California adults, conducted in English and Spanish between Oct. 27 and Nov. 5. The margin of error is 3.5%. The UC and Cal State systems both are requesting more state funding for 2019-20 to avoid tuition hikes and expand enrollment, provide more student support, pay for faculty and staff raises and repair aging buildings. Despite recent funding increases, the states share of per-student support at UC has dropped from 78% in 1990 to 37% in 2017. George Kieffer, chairman of the UC Board of Regents, said he was gratified by the public support and hoped it would help win Sacramentos backing for additional assistance. The survey also found: Solid majorities rated UC, Cal State and California Community Colleges as excellent or good and said they are vital to the states future. Californians are divided on whether educational opportunity is equally available to students who are low-income or racial or ethnic minorities. Most say public colleges are providing adequate academic support to students to complete their degrees on time. teresa.watanabe@latimes.com Twitter: @TeresaWatanabe Its an iconic if horrifying shot of the Camp fire pulverizing Paradise a large ball of grayish-black smoke with fire radiating on the right, taken less than two hours after the Northern California inferno started a week ago. The photo ran on the websites of the New York Times, the Washington Post and Time magazine. It was taken on an iPhone from the roof of the Chico Enterprise-Records office by the papers editor, David Little. For the record: A previous version of this article said a dozen other dailies are printed at the Chico office. Eight other dailies are printed there. The responsibility fell to the Chico native because the newspapers only photographer is on medical leave. The image also ran prominently in the Enterprise-Records Friday print edition. It was just the first photo we posted on our website that morning and stayed there till [the] afternoon, Little said. Until we got some real photographers in town. Advertisement Little has run the small paper and several others, which are part of the Digital First Media Group, for almost 20 years. The Enterprise-Records staff was 45 when he started; now its 10, with four part-timers pitching in. Journalists from their sister papers in the San Francisco Bay Area were dispatched to assist with coverage. The last week has been like nothing else the 40-year-newspaper veteran has experienced. Like the community theyre trying to keep informed, members of Littles staff have been displaced and are worried about missing friends and lost loved ones. As the death toll rises to 56, hope fades for those missing in Paradise fire For several days after the fire started, two employees were missing. Both were found alive and well. Throughout it all, Littles staff continued to perform at the highest of levels. Informing the community in times of crisis is why many of them got into the business after all. We have had a lot of help from a lot of people, Little said in an interview, his tired voice hoarse from the smoke. Everyone has been dealing with evacuations, sheltering family and friends, and yet theyre down here working hard all the time. Thats why people are doing this, because they know people depend on it. It gives you hope that people appreciate newspapers in a time like this. The boxes of free pizza sent by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Redding Record-Searchlight tasted pretty good too. Little also manages the Oroville newspaper, which covered last years dam spillway failure that led to the evacuation of about 180,000 people. That experience, he said, prepared his staff for the last week. David Little, right, editor of the Chico Enterprise-Record and Oroville Mercury-Register, speaks to Dylan Bouscher of the San Jose Mercury News. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) They came to understand what, with their limited resources, they should be focusing on and thats getting out facts as fast as possible. With a bigger staff a lot more is possible, and for Little, his focus has been on maximizing what they with the help of photographers and reporters from the East Bay Times and Mercury News can do. The beautiful, heart-wrenching stories are fun to tell, but they take longer, whereas the nuts-and-bolts information is whats essential. No one can get back into Paradise. So, the paper posted an interactive map Wednesday that allows readers to search by address to see whats been destroyed in the small town and its surrounding environs. The twice-weekly Paradise Post also falls under his supervision, and its staff of two has been in overdrive, he said. They work in the Chico office, and the paper is printed there as well along with eight other dailies and six weekly and semiweekly papers from Monterey to Eureka. The challenge, though, has been where to deliver the Paradise Post. How do you distribute a newspaper to a town thats not there? So they have been taking the full press run to evacuation centers while updating the website constantly. Little said he hasnt paid too close attention to readership numbers but was told theyre receiving record traffic. LIVE UPDATES: California fires The 55-year-old has also found time to write as well. His regular Sunday column was about his heartbreaking return to his grandmothers home in Butte Creek Canyon. The house survived, but the surrounding area didnt fare well. I only cried three times. I thought I did pretty well, he wrote. The other was a searing unsigned editorial about President Trumps baseless tweet from the weekend concerning the states gross mismanagement of the forests. He pulled this together with longtime staffers Steve Schoonover and Laura Urseny. (Steve was supposed to retire this week but agreed to stay on to help out.) Their response to the leader of the free world? Zip it. One thing we will always do is stand up for our area, Little said. If some outsiders want to try to run roughshod over our area, were always going to fight back. Roughly a week after FBI agents raided his home and offices, Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar has been removed from all of his committee assignments, including chairman of the powerful panel that reviews the citys biggest development projects. Council President Herb Wesson sent a letter to City Clerk Holly Wolcott on Thursday, taking Huizar off committees that deal with planning, economic development, poverty and homelessness, and election rules and state legislation. Wesson did not explain his reasoning in the letter, and his representative later issued a one-sentence statement on the move. Were optimistic Angelenos will be best served by these changes as the Los Angeles City Council continues the peoples work without interruption, said Wesson spokeswoman Vanessa Rodriguez. Huizar has been under tremendous legal pressure in recent weeks. He has been sued by two former aides who alleged that they faced retaliation after complaining about unethical or potentially illegal activities. Last week, FBI agents searched his home in Boyle Heights and two of his offices, carrying out boxes and bags of materials. Advertisement Huizar has missed seven out of nine council meetings since the first of the two lawsuits was filed, according to city records. His City Hall office was locked for two days last week after the FBI searches. Stephen Kaufman, Huizars lawyer, said in an email that the councilman had scaled back his activities this past week to assess the situation but will return to work next week. He respects Council President Wessons decision, and will use the time away from committee assignments to tend to personal matters, the lawyer said. FBI investigators took bags and boxes of materials from Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizars residence last week. One of those boxes was marked Fundraising. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) An FBI spokeswoman said seven federal search warrants were executed last week, including at Huizars home and two offices, and confirmed that the IRS is involved in the investigation. The spokeswoman declined to say what investigators were looking for at any of those locations. One of the boxes carried out of Huizars home during the raid had the word Fundraising on it. Huizar has served for several years as the chairman of the powerful Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which vets proposals for apartment towers, hotel projects, new shopping malls and other large-scale development proposals. The panel also oversees regulations for digital billboards and Airbnb-type rentals and proposals for designating properties as historic monuments. Real estate developers, outdoor advertising companies and others with business before the committee have been a major source of Huizars campaign contributions, donating to his reelection bids and officeholder accounts. The change in committee assignments is effective immediately, according to Wessons letter. One group thats been highly critical of the citys handling of planning and zoning decisions welcomed Wessons action. Were glad to see Huizar placed on the sidelines while investigators sort through materials they seized at his home and offices, said Jill Stewart, executive director of the Coalition to Preserve L.A., which has spoken out against council members practice of letting developers many of whom donate to their campaigns build projects that are taller or denser than city rules ordinarily allow. We hope the FBI takes a close look at pay-to-play within the PLUM Committee and on the entire City Council. Huizar, first elected in 2005, must step down in 2020 because of term limits. His wife, Richelle Huizar, announced two months ago she is running to replace him on the council, representing a district stretching from Boyle Heights to Eagle Rock. Whether her bid will move forward is an open question. Derek Humphrey, the political consultant who announced the launch of Richelle Huizars campaign in September, had no comment on Thursday when asked whether her plans have changed. Wesson has been a close ally of Huizar, endorsing him in his 2015 bid for reelection and showing up for at least one fundraiser. At one campaign event in 2013, Wesson referred to Huizar as his best friend on the council and said Huizar was like a brother. I trust him with my life, Wesson said at the time. He does the same for me. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser emily.alpert@latimes.com Twitter: @AlpertReyes UPDATES: 5:45 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the FBI, the Coalition to Preserve L.A. and additional details. This article originally published at 12:30 p.m. Los Angeles Countys inspector general said Thursday that a Sheriffs Department team that pulled over thousands of innocent Latino motorists on the 5 Freeway in search of drugs violated the constitutional rights of drivers, and he questioned the reason for the units existence. In a damning verbal report to the departments civilian oversight panel, Max Huntsman criticized Sheriffs Department officials for inadequate supervision of the highway drug unit and for failing to take heed of several federal court rulings that found the deputies on the team violated the rights of motorists by detaining them longer than was reasonable. Adding that the initial premise of this drug enforcement team was flawed, Huntsman said the department had no evidence the unit had had a measurable impact on the flow of drugs from Mexico. The system is inherently built to violate the constitutional rights of a vast number of people passing through the I-5 Freeway, Huntsman said. Thats a problem. Advertisement Huntsman began his investigation of the team after a Times analysis last month found that 69% of drivers stopped by the deputies were Latino and that two-thirds of them had their vehicles searched a rate far higher than motorists of other racial and ethnic groups. Cars belonging to all other drivers were searched less than half the time, according to the newspapers analysis of Sheriffs Department stop data. Deputies found drugs or other illegal items in the vehicles of Latino motorists at a rate that was not significantly higher than that of black or white drivers, The Times found. Some Latino drivers pulled over by the team have said they believe they were the victims of racial profiling. Huntsman said his staff recently conducted ride-alongs with the teams deputies and saw no signs they were using race or other biased factors when deciding whom to stop or search. Huntsman is still gathering data on the teams traffic stops that he plans to analyze for evidence of racial disparities. But Huntsman, who is in the early stages of his investigation, said some facts had already become clear. Regardless of whether his upcoming review of traffic stops finds evidence of racial profiling, Huntsman noted that only a small fraction of the more than 9,000 people who were stopped by the team faced criminal charges, adding that some portion of those drivers were subjected to unlawful detentions. Thats the obvious and inevitable result of a process where you have deputies who simply stop people on a pretext and then try to develop probable cause to search for drugs, he told members of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. A Sheriffs Department official at the meeting did not respond to Huntsmans criticisms, and a spokeswoman for the department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Huntsman said the problems echo those in recent years in the Antelope Valley, where the U.S. Department of Justice found that sheriffs deputies were making racially biased traffic stops and improperly detaining drivers in police vehicles. The department reached a legal settlement with federal officials in 2013 that called for significant reforms and outside oversight. The inspector general cited the federal findings, which blamed tolerance for misconduct on a lack of supervision and accountability within the department. Thats exactly what was happening in this case here, Huntsman said. The parallels to Antelope Valley, Huntsman said, highlighted the need for auditors in the Sheriffs Department to analyze data on the highway teams traffic stops. He also called on department officials to examine the teams policies and procedures and explain why video cameras in the teams vehicles have been shut off. The problems with the highway team should spur the department to undertake a review of traffic stops made by deputies across the entire agency for signs of racial profiling, he said. Commissioner Lael Rubin asked the inspector general to examine how deputies on the team were trained and why the dashboard cameras were removed. That is a very damning beginning of what I expect your report will ultimately be, Rubin said. It raises many issues for us to begin to consider. The highway team was launched in 2012 as a response to a spate of drug overdoses in the Santa Clarita area, department officials said. Similar units operate around the country as part of a federal program designed to use local and federal law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking. Though the deputies are looking for any criminal, nearly all of the arrests are for drug-related crimes. The 5 Freeway, they say, is a pipeline for cartels to move drugs up the West Coast and return to Mexico with cash from drug sales as well as weapons purchased in the United States. The team has made more than 1,000 arrests and seized 600 pounds of cocaine and more than a ton of methamphetamine since it was formed. But Huntsman said that without knowing the total supply that is moving through the 5 Freeway corridor, its difficult to say whether those efforts have made a measurable dent in the amount of drugs flowing in from Mexico. Without an evidence-based analysis, you can have no confidence that this approach is going to be effective in reducing the actual amount of drugs available for people to use, he said. To combat overdoses, the department would be better off supplying its deputies with naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of heroin and other opioids, Huntsman said. After The Times shared the findings of its analysis with the agency earlier this year, Sheriffs Department officials declined to address the racial disparities but denied that deputies use race as a factor when making stops. Instead, they said, deputies pull over people for traffic violations or other infractions and then look for suspicious behavior or other signs from drivers and passengers that contraband may be hidden in the vehicle. The Times analyzed traffic stops the California Highway Patrol made in its Newhall patrol area, which includes the section of the 5 where the Sheriffs Department team makes stops as well as other freeways and roads in the area. It found that in 37% of the traffic stops made by CHP officers, the driver was Latino. Racial profiling experts who reviewed The Times findings said the CHP stops from the wider area provide a meaningful comparison and strongly suggest the Sheriffs Department team is targeting Latinos. The CHP is compiling statistics on the race of drivers its officers stopped on the same stretch of the 5; Huntsman said he plans to use the data as a comparison to the highway teams stops. Some of Huntsmans harshest criticisms were over the failure of Sheriffs Department officials to take action after nearly a dozen of the highway teams arrests came under scrutiny in federal court and were dismissed. When something is resulting in a third of your cases getting kicked, that should be a red flag, a siren blaring in your ears, he said. ben.poston@latimes.com maya.lau@latimes.com joel.rubin@latimes.com UPDATES: 4:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from the commission meeting. This article was originally published at 2:15 p.m. When the Camp fire barreled toward this Sierra foothill town last Thursday morning, officials had a crucial choice to make right away: How much of Paradise should be evacuated? The decision was complicated by history and topography. Paradise sits on a hilltop and is hemmed in by canyons, with only four narrow winding routes to flee to safety. During its last major fire in 2008, authorities evacuated so many people that roads became dangerously clogged. So this time, they decided not to immediately undergo a full-scale evacuation, hoping to get residents out of neighborhoods closest to the fires first before the roads became gridlocked. But it soon became clear that the fire was moving too fast for that plan, and that the whole town was in jeopardy. A full-scale evacuation order was issued at 9:17 a.m., but by then the fire was already consuming the town. Advertisement At least 56 people were killed most of them in their homes, some trying to flee in their cars and others outside, desperately seeking shelter from the flames. More than 10,000 structures were lost in what is by far the worst wildfire in California history. (Swetha Kannan ./ Los Angeles Times) Its unclear how much a different evacuation strategy would have changed the outcome of the fire, which was fueled by intense wind gusts of up to 52 mph and record dry vegetation in an area notoriously vulnerable to fires and wind-blown embers. But the level of destruction and death is sure to make Paradise a grim lesson for agencies trying to improve emergency alerts and evacuations from fires as well as floods, mudslides and other natural disasters. The death toll from natural disasters in California in the last year has been enormous, with nearly 40 killed in the wine country and Mendocino County fires and more than 20 in the Montecito mudslides. Officials acknowledged shortcomings in the efforts to get people out of harms way. In the chaos of the Paradise fire, many residents said, they never got warnings by phone from authorities to leave. Some said they got warnings from police driving through their streets using loudspeakers. Others got texts from neighbors. But few said they got official text alerts or phone calls from the government. The fire was first reported near the community of Pulga about seven miles from Paradise about 6:30 a.m. By 7:35 a.m., it had reached the nearby hamlet of Concow. The first evacuation order for Paradise came at 8 a.m., a minute after the first flames were spotted in town. The order was limited to the eastern side of Paradise. The hope was to get the residents closest to fire out immediately, with the rest of the town to follow if needed. But the fire was simply moving too fast. The fire had already outrun us, said John Messina, California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection battalion chief for Butte County. The evacuation orders were sent using a phone system called CodeRed, which covers all landlines as well as cellphone numbers voluntarily submitted by residents. But the system doesnt cover all phones in the town. In the town of Paradise, I think wed be lucky to say 25% or 30% of phone lines are in the system and thats after local officials urge residents to sign up, said Jim Broshears, who directs Paradises emergency operations center. The Paradise fire (Los Angeles Times) Also, the system can reach only so many phones per hour. I cant give you the raw numbers, but theres a capacity per hour of calls. So CodeRed cant [make] 12,000 calls at once. Its really fast, but not this fast, Broshears said. These types of systems have been criticized because they reach so few people. Instead, some safety experts have advocated using the federal governments Wireless Emergency Alert system, which sends Amber Alert-style warnings to cellphones within a certain geographical area. But the system was not used during several California disasters, including the wine country fires and the heavy flooding that hit San Jose. James Gore, chairman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, said government is failing when officials dont do a good job of communicating an incoming hazard. If people are already getting word on Facebook, and theres nothing coming out of your government, then youve failed, said Gore, whose county has begun to buy fire cameras that can sense the movement of blazes by heat and is seeking to purchase air sirens for parts of the county without cell coverage. If youre more worried about the crisis you could cause than the crisis that is upon you, then you have failed. 1 / 37 Ariel view of destruction from the Camp fire in Paradise off of Clark Road. The Camp Fire has burned more than 7,000 structures in Paradise. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 37 Crews continue their search for victims of the Camp fire in Paradise, Calif., where the majority of homes were destroyed by the fast-moving wildfire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 37 A body is recovered from Ridgewood Mobile Home Park in Paradise, as the search continues for victims of the Camp Fire in Paradise. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 37 Little remains of the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park in Paradise, Calif., where a team recovered one victim Monday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 37 The search for victims continues in Paradise, Calif., after the deadly Camp fire raced through the community. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 37 A crew recovers the remains of a dog on Lawndale Lane in Paradise, Calif. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 37 A horse at the Butte County Fairgrounds has its owners phone number on its neck (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 37 Outside of Pulga, Calif., on the North Fork of the Feather River, helicopters do airdrops while ground crews try to keep the Camp fire from spreading. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 37 Two young deer stand in the rubble of a home in Paradise, Calif. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 37 Burned out business in the downtown area of Paradise, Calif., after the Camp fire burned through the area. (Peter Dasilva / EPA / Shutterstock) 11 / 37 Silvia Johnson, age 85, said her house in Paradise, Calif., was burning when she left it, and knows its gone. Johnson has been living in Paradise for 48 years and says of the fire, Ive never seen anything like it. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 37 The sun rises over the burned hills near Paradise, Calif., as the Camp fire continues to burn. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 37 Firefighters work to keep flames from spreading through the Shadowbrook apartment complex as a wildfire burns through Paradise, Calif., on Friday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 14 / 37 Scorched vehicles at a used-car dealership in Paradise, Calif., on Friday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 15 / 37 Officer Randy Law tends to a rescued horse as a wildfire burns in Paradise, Calif. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 16 / 37 A firefighter battles flames in the Butte County town of Magalia on Friday. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 17 / 37 Abandoned vehicles on the side of a road in Paradise, Calif. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) 18 / 37 A home burns in Paradise, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 19 / 37 Hospital workers and first responders evacuate patients from Feather River Hospital as the Camp fire moves through Paradise, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 20 / 37 Rescue teams scramble to evacuate patients as Feather River Hospital burns in Paradise, Calif. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) 21 / 37 A statue is seen on a smouldering property as the Camp fire tears through Paradise. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) 22 / 37 A home is overshadowed by towering smoke plumes as the Camp fire races through town in Paradise (JOSH EDELSON / AFP/Getty Images) 23 / 37 A home burns during the Camp fire in Paradise. At least five people have died in a massive wildfire raging in northern Calif. (JOSH EDELSON / AFP/Getty Images) 24 / 37 A Jack In The Box fast food restaurant burns as the Camp fire tears through Paradise. (JOSH EDELSON / AFP/Getty Images) 25 / 37 Flames consume a Kentucky Fried Chicken as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 26 / 37 A fire fighter puts water on a fire as he performs structure protection, as the Camp Fire burns out of control through Paradise. (PETER DASILVA / EPA / Shutterstock) 27 / 37 Hillery Johnson prepares to leave here horse, Augie in a shopping center parking lot after law enforcement officers said it was time to leave as the Camp fire approached and there is no trailer to transport Augie out of the area. (PETER DASILVA / EPA / Shutterstock) 28 / 37 Hospital workers embrace as they evacuate patients from the Feather River Hospital in Paradise, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 29 / 37 A home burns as the Camp fire rages through Paradise. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 30 / 37 A Paradise business is in ruins as the Camp fire ravaged the area. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 31 / 37 Hospital workers and first-responders evacuate patients from the Feather River Hospital in Paradise. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 32 / 37 Flames engulf a home in Paradise. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 33 / 37 The evacuation of patients continues at the Feather River Hospital in Paradise. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 34 / 37 The Camp fire rages through Paradise. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 35 / 37 Flames from the Camp fire destroy a home in Paradise. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 36 / 37 The evacuation at Feather River Hospital. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 37 / 37 A building burns in Paradise. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) In Paradise, Broshears said officials did not employ the Wireless Emergency Alert system because they initially wanted to stagger the evacuations by neighborhood. He also said that Amber Alert-style alerts do not go to every phone at the same time. According to the Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Emergency Alerts are broadcast to coverage areas that best approximate the zone of an emergency; mobile devices in the alert zone will receive the alert. There has been criticism that the geographical targeting of the system is not terribly precise, and in late 2019, wireless carriers are supposed to improve geo-targeting of the alerts. During the recent test of the presidential alert distributed through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, the average delay in users receiving a text message was about 22 seconds. Because of its vulnerability to fire, Paradise has debated the best evacuation strategy for years. The idea of staggering evacuations was discussed in the wake of the 2008 fire that burned dozens of homes, county documents reviewed by The Times show. After the fire, some officials felt that residents were over-evacuated and that that needlessly clogged roads. But the documents also show several instances in which county emergency officials warned that they might have to quickly evacuate the entire town. Many Paradise residents said they were baffled by the lack of a warning. I assumed if something were to happen, thered be an alert on your cellphone, said Alexandria Wilson, 21. Neither she nor any of her 10 relatives now packed into a home in Applegate who all lost their homes in Paradise had ever heard of Butte Countys CodeRed emergency alert program. Only two of them received warnings and those were from a police officer driving down the road telling people to evacuate. Instead, Wilsons 10-year-old brother, Eden, was coordinating an evacuation effort. Savvy with a cellphone, he was texting and calling everyone and telling them to rendezvous at a Burger King in Chico. Nobody should have to get a call from a 10-year-old, said Jacob Golden, Wilsons boyfriend. Serna and St. John reported from Paradise and Lin from Los Angeles. Bettina Boxall and Sonali Kohli contributed to this report from Los Angeles. UPDATES: 7 a.m.: Updated with new map. Originally posted at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (5th L) poses for a group photo with other leaders at the 21st China-ASEAN (10+1) summit, which is also held to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, in Singapore, Nov. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called for efforts to upgrade the strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as the two sides adopted a key document to chart the course for their ties till 2030. The China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 was approved at the 21st China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting held in Singapore. The summit was also held to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. Co-chairing the meeting with the Chinese premier, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose country holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year, said that the vision will chart the course for the future ASEAN-China strategic partnership. UPGRADING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP At the summit, Li called upon China and ASEAN to boost all-round cooperation, join hands to establish higher-level strategic partnership, and build a r community with shared future. Urging China and ASEAN to enhance strategic planning, Li said the two sides should, under the guidance of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with the ASEAN Vision 2025, and strengthen the building of the three pillars -- the political security, economy and trade, and people-to-people exchanges, so as to lift China-ASEAN relations to a higher level. To deepen economic and trade cooperation, Li expects China and ASEAN to work with other relevant countries to substantially conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at an early date, expand cooperation and reduce barriers to trade and investment. Li said, as this year is the China-ASEAN Year of Innovation, the two sides should discuss the establishment of a new mechanism for science and technology innovation cooperation, implement the science and technology partnership program, conduct research and prepare to sign the cooperation documents on smart cities, and support the establishment of a digital platform for tourism in ASEAN. To facilitate the key pillar of people-to-people exchanges, Li said China will set up a China-ASEAN scholarship, implement a research and study program for about 1,000 youth leaders from China and ASEAN, and invite another 1,000 outstanding young people from ASEAN for training programs in China. The Chinese premier also proposed expanding security cooperation, saying China is ready to work with ASEAN to institutionalize the joint naval drills, set up a direct hotline between their defense ministries at an early date, carry out friendly exchanges between defense think tanks and junior officers and deepen cooperation in disaster prevention and reduction, humanitarian aid and counter-terrorism. Calling the summit a milestone for bilateral strategic partnership, ASEAN leaders said that it is in the interests of both sides to safeguard multilateralism and free trade and that ASEAN is ready to align its development strategies with the Belt and Road Initiative and open up more space for cooperation. They also agreed on enhancing collaboration in connectivity, innovation, smart-city construction, e-commerce, digital economy and other areas so as to facilitate regional economic integration and the building of an East Asian Community. REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT ON SEALING SOUTH CHINA SEA COC The Chinese premier also stressed China's commitment to finalizing a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea as he met with leaders of Southeast Asian countries on Wednesday. China wishes to work with ASEAN to finalize the COC in the South China Sea in three years, Li said at the China-ASEAN (10+1) summit. China and ASEAN have arrived at a single draft negotiating text of COC and agreed to complete the first reading of the pact in 2019, Li noted. China and ASEAN already reached a Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) years ago, and have been seeking a more robust code of conduct. Full implementation of the DOC combined with consultations on the COC is a proven way to keep peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said in the 10+1 meeting. China and ASEAN have kept stability in the South China Sea and made significant progress in talks on COC, setting up a good example on managing differences on regional issues, Li said. Outsiders should respect the will of regional countries and have faith in their wisdom to keep peace and stability in the South China Sea, Li added. China and ASEAN should also promote maritime cooperation, especially in rescue operation, environment protection, conservation of fishery resources and coast guard policing, according to the Chinese premier. In addition, China and ASEAN should institutionalize their joint maritime drills, he said, referring to the first joint maritime drill between China and ASEAN in October. ASEAN leaders agreed to push for the completion of talks on COC and expand maritime cooperation with China so as to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea. "FINISHING KICK" OF RCEP TALKS Premier Li also called on parties involved in talks on a new Asia-Pacific free trade pact to keep up with their efforts so as to clinch the deal next year. Talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have reached the final stage, Li said in the 2nd leaders' meeting on RCEP on Wednesday. "We must build on the momentum and unleash a strong finishing kick, striving to complete the deal within 2019," he told leaders of ASEAN as well as South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India in the meeting. ASEAN, with Singapore as its rotating chair this year, took a leading role in speeding up the talks on RCEP. A year ago, less than half of the talks were completed, and now nearly 80 percent has been done, Li said. The deal, once reached, would boost trade and investment, promote regional economic integration and benefit the people of all participating countries, Li said. Leaders at the meeting expressed a strong will to reach the deal as soon as possible, which will send a strong signal on preserving multilateralism and free trade and to boost economic growth and globalization. The RCEP free trade talks involve the ten ASEAN nations as well as partner countries such as Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. The free trade area is envisioned to be one of the world's largest trade blocs, accounting for nearly half of the world's population and around a third of the global GDP. Li, who arrived in Singapore on Monday, is also scheduled to attend the 21st ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea leaders' meeting (10+3) and the 13th East Asia Summit during the five-day trip. John Digby was on the phone with his son when there was a knock at his door in Paradise. The 78-year-old was in bed sick, unaware of the raging inferno outside, so he didnt get up to answer it. Hours later, Roman Digby called again to see if his fathers health had improved. Static met him on the other end. He tried the police, to no avail. The younger Digby then searched Paradise on Google and learned that a wildfire had taken the town. He realized the knock on his fathers door must have been a neighbor urging him to evacuate. His worst fear was confirmed Wednesday when he got a call from the coroner: His father like 55 others had perished in the blaze, which started a week ago. The Camp fire death toll increased when search crews recovered eight more bodies in Paradise. Advertisement He was loved and hell be missed, Digby said of his father. He was a very kindhearted man. Others who fear their loved ones dead, authorities said, may never know for sure. About 130 people remain unaccounted for. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said family members interested in offering a DNA sample could do so it could help investigators identify the remains. More than 460 people, along with 22 cadaver dogs, are involved in recovery efforts. Since they began collecting names of those missing, investigators have found more than 200 people safe. I think thats a pretty positive number, Honea said. 1 / 37 Silence hangs over Paradise,Calif., after the explosive Camp fire burned through Butte County and claimed 23 lives. Residents have not been allowed back. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 37 President Donald Trump meets California Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom at Beale Air Force Base on Saturday. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) 3 / 37 US President Donald Trump views damage from wildfires with Paradise Mayor Jody Jones in Paradise, Calif. (SAUL LOEB / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 37 President Donald Trump walks with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left and FEMA Administrator Brock Long, right, as he visits a neighborhood impacted by the wildfires in Paradise, Calif. (Evan Vucci / AP) 5 / 37 President Donald Trump tours the Woolsey Fire ravaged neighborhood on Dume Drive in Malibu on Saturday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles TImes) 6 / 37 President Donald Trump, second from left, tours the Woolsey Fire ravaged neighborhood on Dume Drive in Malibu. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles TImes) 7 / 37 From left, Johnny Hardin, 15, Madeline Hardin, 13, Donita Hardin and Erik Hardin, 15 months old, get ready to sleep in their car after getting displaced by the Camp fire, at the Walmart parking lot in Chico, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 37 Alexandria Wilson, 21, kisses her dog Harley, after they both escaped the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 37 Search and rescue teams inspect the grounds of a house burned by the Camp Fire along Boquest Boulevard in Oroville, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 37 Volunteers hand out supplies to fire evacuees near a Walmart in Chico, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 37 People go through donated clothes at a Walmart in Chico, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 37 A sign warns looters at the site of burned-down properties in Paradise, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 37 A search and rescue team combs through the debris for possible human remains Friday at Paradise Gardens, in Paradise, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 37 Alexandria Wilson, 21, consoles her boyfriend, Jacob Golden, 25, as they recount their harrowing escape from the Camp Fire at a relatives house in Applegate, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 37 A vanished neighborhood in Paradise. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 37 A forensic team investigates the site of a Paradise home where remains were found. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 37 Michael John Ramirez hugs his wife, Charlie Ramirez, after they found her keepsake bracelet while sifting through the remains of their home in Paradise. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 37 Religious figurines sit atop a burned vehicle in Paradise. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 37 Authorities recover the remains of a fire victim from an overturned car alongside Pearson Road in Paradise. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 37 David Neeley hugs his ex-wife, Jeanne Neely, and their daughter, Faith Neeley, 10, in a parking lot in Oroville, where they are staying amid the Camp fire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 37 Megan Butler, 26, and her daughter Aurora, 2, are homeless after their house burned down in Concow in the Camp fire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 37 Yolo County Animal Services Officer Stephanie Amato holds a chicken she helped rescue in Paradise. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 37 Smoke fills the sky as the Camp fire continues to burn along the North Fork of the Feather River. It has already burned more than 200,000 square miles. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 37 A sign in Paradise offers a warning for would-be looters. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 37 A man rests at a shelter at the Church of the Nazarene in Oroville, Calif. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 37 Outside of Pulga, Calif., on the North Fork of the Feather River, the Camp fire continues to burn. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 37 Outside of Pulga, Calif., on the North Fork of the Feather River, where the Camp fire may have started, helicopters do airdrops while ground crews try to keep the fire from spreading. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 37 Firefighter Brian Carter of Weed, Calif., keeps an eye on the flames along the North Fork of the Feather River. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 37 Many people dont want to stay in shelters because they cant take their dogs inside. This dog waits for his human companion in a parking lot in Oroville. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 37 Residents of Paradise, Calif., try to get through a roadblock to check on their home but are turned away. People havent been allowed to return to the town. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 37 The Camp fire burns along a ridgetop near Big Bend, Calif., on Saturday. (Noah Berger / AP) 32 / 37 Yuba County sheriffs officials carry a body away from a burned residence in Paradise. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 33 / 37 A crew from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection walks through the rubble of a home while putting out hot spots in Paradise, Calif. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) 34 / 37 Flames and embers, pushed by strong dry winds, set the town of Paradise, Calif., ablaze. Thousands of buildings were destroyed. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 37 Brad Weldon, 63, waits for help along Skyway in Paradise, Calif. Weldon was among the residents who stayed and battled the wildfire. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) 36 / 37 Fire crews put out hot spots in Paradise, Calif. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) 37 / 37 Firefighters walk through the rubble of a home in Paradise, Calif. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) As of Wednesday evening, the deadliest wildfire in state history has destroyed more than 10,300 structures and scorched 138,000 acres in Butte County. It was 35% contained, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials. As crews strengthened containment lines around the fires footprint, public health officials were dealing with another problem at an evacuation shelter in Chico, a city near Paradise. A norovirus outbreak was confirmed at Neighborhood Church, where about 200 evacuees are staying, said Lisa Almaguer, a spokeswoman for the Butte County Department of Public Health. She did not know how many people were ill but said that the sick have been separated from the healthy. Such outbreaks are not uncommon in relatively small spaces where lots of people are living, she said. Shelter staff members are working to clean handles, counter tops and anywhere else the virus might be. Elsewhere, some residents built their own makeshift resource center for those displaced. In the Walmart parking lot in Chico, people brought a variety of food items, including enchiladas and pastries. A man made patties out of a large tray of ground beef. Another served homemade minestrone. There was an area for pets, with dog beds and pet food piled high. Maggie Missere, 61, and her partner, Michael Crowder, 64, spent five days sleeping in their truck in the Burger King parking lot with their dog, Coco. Missere has heart problems and had difficulty living out of the truck. So earlier this week, they headed to Walmart for a tent and met a pastor who set them up with donated supplies. On Wednesday afternoon, the couple sat outside their red tent, clutching mugs of coffee while Coco slept on a new bed beside them. By the afternoon the camp had swelled with more than 100 people. Many had pets with them. You cant go hungry here, Missere said. The couples home in Magalia is still standing, but they havent been allowed back. I feel relieved that we have a home, Crowder said. Many of their friends werent so lucky. Crowder has been overwhelmed by the support at the camp. The couple spent most of what little money they had on hand before the fire on fast food when they were sleeping in their vehicle. On Wednesday, a man walked up and gave Crowder $60 in cash, bringing him to tears. Soon after, two middle-school-aged girls walked up to the couple, one with a tray of patties and the other with the fixings including mustard and pickles. See? They just come to you, Missere said. Its like being at a restaurant. Santa Cruz reported from Chico, Tchekmedyian and Shalby from Los Angeles. A federal judge slammed Florida on Thursday for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems and said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker also rejected a request to extend the deadline later in the day for all of the states counties to submit the results of a machine recount. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said in court. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. Advertisement This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. An employee at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office examines ballots on Nov. 14. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision, by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. Floridas 67 counties had until 3 p.m. Thursday to finish recounts that could determine the next senator and governor in one of Americas top political battlegrounds. State officials were expected to post the results. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in Tallahassee. Earlier Thursday, Walker ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans and state officials have appealed the ruling, but an Atlanta-based court has not yet decided whether to take up the case. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signature on the envelope did not match the signature on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will now be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Barack Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Razor-close races and recounts theres a reason Floridas elections are so fractured Meanwhile, the recount threatened to stretch into the weekend. The election supervisor in Palm Beach County, a Democratic stronghold, warned ahead of time that her office would not meet Thursdays initial deadline. More than a week after election day, a quick resolution seems unlikely. Once the machine recount is complete, state law requires a hand review of races with margins of 0.25 percentage points or less. That almost certainly means another recount in the Senate race, with unofficial results showing Republican Gov. Rick Scott ahead of Sen. Bill Nelson by 0.14 percentage points. Also, the election will not be certified until Tuesday, even though the machine recount may essentially bring a conclusion to the governors race, where Republican Ron DeSantis leads Democrat Andrew Gillum by 0.41 percentage points in unofficial results. Nelson, a three-time incumbent, has defended his legal strategy that resulted in Walkers ruling, saying in a statement Wednesday that his goal was to make sure that every lawful vote be counted correctly in this Senate race, and that Floridians right to participate in this process is protected. Republicans say in their own lawsuits and motions that Democrats are trying to change the rules after the voting did not go their way. We will continue to fight to defend Florida law and uphold the will of the voters, said Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Scott. Nelson and Democrats had wanted Walker to order the counting of all mail-in ballots rejected for a mismatched signature, arguing that local election officials are not handwriting experts. Walker said he could not go along with that suggestion. UPDATES: 4:10 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes from the judge and additional details. This article was originally published at 11:55 a.m. When a young soldier in Texas asked Defense Secretary James N. Mattis on Wednesday whether his unit would soon be ordered to remove the razor wire and vehicle barriers they had installed at Mexico border crossings, Mattis couldnt answer. Good question. Well let you know, Mattis replied, according to video of the encounter. Right now, the mission is put them in. Asked by another soldier to explain the goals of the border deployment, Mattis said, Short term, get the obstacles in. Longer term it is somewhat to be determined. The exchanges, during a visit by Mattis and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to a muddy military encampment near the Texas border town of Donna, captured the uncertainty and tedium that surrounds President Trumps preelection decision to rush troops to the border in the largest such deployment in decades. Advertisement Nearly 6,000 Marines and Army soldiers are assisting the Border Patrol in Texas, Arizona and California by strengthening defenses and building temporary encampments near dozens of border entry points. A total of about 7,000 troops may be deployed, officials said. Critics have questioned the need for active-duty troops when there is no discernible threat. Numerous retired senior military officers have criticized Mattis for approving a deployment that appeared aimed more at stirring up Trumps supporters before the midterm election than confronting a potential enemy. During the campaign, Trump had warned at rally after rally of an invasion by a caravan of about 5,000 migrants, mainly from Honduras, most of whom are still hundreds of miles away from the border with California, their goal. Trump said the group included human traffickers and other criminals. Trump now appears to have moved on. He has mentioned the caravan just once since the Nov. 6 election, tweeting the announcement of a policy change aimed at preventing migrants who enter the country illegally from seeking asylum. About 400 of the migrants were bused this week to the border city of Tijuana. Most reportedly plan to turn themselves in at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and ask the U.S. government for asylum. Three separate smaller caravans of Central American migrants are also moving through southern Mexico, but their destination is unclear. Mattis did not mention the migrants quest for asylum in defending the military operation Wednesday. Were here because of the number of illegals who say they are going to illegally try to cross into our country, he said. He deferred to Nielsen when asked whether the migrant threat justified the use of thousands of troops. But he told reporters traveling with him that it is an obviously moral and ethical mission to support our border patrolmen. Until Wednesday, Mattis had issued only terse statements about the deployment, denying last month it was a political stunt. We dont do stunts in this department, thank you, he said. Mattis emphasized to troops Wednesday that their mission is to back up Customs and Border Protection. Right now thats our role, and thats all our role is, he said. The eyes of the world right now certainly all of the Americans are on you, Mattis told the soldiers, adding that they are part of a nontraditional mission. He demurred when reporters pressed him about the fairness of asking troops to miss Thanksgiving with their families after Pentagon officials have warned for years that their units were overstretched by years of war. Welcome to your military, he said. Its on duty. He stressed the routine nature of the operation, noting that presidents as long ago as Woodrow Wilson in the early 20th century had dispatched forces to the border to halt incursions. The threat then was Pancho Villas troops, Mattis said. The installation of razor wire and barriers at border crossing points will be completed in a week to 10 days, he said. But the troops will stay through early December and potentially longer if the Department of Homeland Security requests an extension. Mattis declined to provide an estimate of how much the mission will cost. By law, active-duty troops are barred from conducting domestic law enforcement, including arrest or questioning of migrants on U.S. soil. Pentagon officials reportedly rejected requests from Homeland Security to authorize troops to conduct crowd control and other duties normally carried out by law enforcement personnel. Most of the troops will not be armed, although military police units will carry weapons for protection of military personnel, officials said. Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan told Mattis and Nielsen in a televised briefing that the border region from San Ysidro to Yuma, Ariz., is being overseen by Marines, including an engineering unit, and an Army military police force. The troops have eight ports of entry to cover, he said. During the campaign, Trump targeted the migrant caravan at every turn. At rally after rally, he framed the election as a referendum on the caravan, law and order, and common sense. Youve got some bad people in those groups. Youve got some tough people in those groups, he said at an Oct. 20 rally in Mesa, Ariz. This country doesnt want them. The same day, Trump told reporters that a fairly big percentage of those people are criminals, but offered no evidence to support his claim. Days before the election, Trump cited video of migrants throwing rocks at authorities in Mexico and suggested U.S. troops might respond with deadly force if they face people throwing rocks. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back, the president said. I told them to consider it a rifle. When they throw rocks like what they did to the Mexican military and police, I say consider it a rifle. A day later, amid concerns that U.S. troops would fire on unarmed civilians, Trump walked back that bit of bluster, saying that troops wont have to fire but that migrants throwing rocks would be arrested. Trump rejected a TV ad from his campaign that focused on economic issues, preferring to run a controversial immigration-focused spot featuring a convicted cop killer who entered the country illegally and images of the caravan of migrants. But on Wednesday, Mattis emphasized his efforts to tamp down the operations political overtones. Pentagon officials initially dubbed the deployment Operation Faithful Patriot, but abandoned the name after the election. I had given instructions that I did not want this mission put in some arcane terms if what we are doing is laying wire. Mattis said. david.cloud@latimes.com Twitter: @davidcloudLAT State Sen. Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) lost more than his seat in the Legislature when he conceded the race to his Democratic challenger, Melissa Hurtado, on Monday. His defeat gives Democrats back the veto-proof supermajority in the state Senate they lost in June after a Republican-backed recall of state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton). It also strips Vidaks party of the last little bit of power it retained in the Legislature: the ability to stymie Democrats on major issues. Most legislation can be passed by a simple majority vote, which Democrats have long been able to muster on their own. But it takes a two-thirds majority to raise taxes, pass urgency measures, revise the state Constitution or place a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot. Thats why getting big things accomplished usually requires securing votes from members of both parties. Considering how the state Republican party has savagely punished members of its diminishing ranks who dared to side with Democrats such as on last years important cap and trade legislation and the long-overdue increase in the gas tax that kind of bipartisanship is extraordinarily unlikely. Vidak shouldnt take his loss too hard. Dozens of Republicans saw their campaigns swamped by the blue wave that swept across the nation; in California, it hit like a liberal tsunami. The seat held by Vidaks termed-out GOP Senate colleague, Anthony Cannella, turned blue on Tuesday. And in Californias congressional races, the Republican Party did even worse. Although ballots are still being counted, at least four of the 14 Republican-held congressional seats in California have flipped, including the one held by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), practically an institution in Orange County. The Democratic lock on power means theres the potential for excess, particularly with the restraining hand of Gov. Jerry Brown soon to be lifted. Advertisement Once the vote count is finalized in coming weeks, the numbers could be even worse for Republicans. As it is now, Democrats stand to control more combined state and congressional seats than at any time in history. That includes every statewide constitutional office from governor to the nonpartisan superintendent of public instruction, along with both U.S. Senate seats. The surge helped Assembly Democrats pad their supermajority to hedge against any unforeseen departures in the months ahead. (It happens; think of the two Assemblymen who quit within the last year after they were accused of sexual misconduct.) Vidak and his colleagues have no one but themselves to blame for their political marginalization. Californias leftward tilt has been evident for decades in the changes in party registration numbers. But instead of adopting a more moderate form of conservatism that might appeal to the growing Latino and Asian residents of the state, they doubled down on an anti-immigrant and anti-tax path that led them to the brink of extinction as officeholders in the Golden State. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Supermajorities come and go, at least they have in recent years, and Democrats should make haste to address issues that are difficult to tackle otherwise, such as tax reform and police accountability. Californias heavy reliance on income and sales taxes to fund the government makes the state budget vulnerable to sharp peaks and valleys. Lawmakers ought to fix this before the next economic downturn. One thing they may need to take on immediately is whether Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, the states two largest power providers, can survive financially if their power lines are held liable for the Camp and Woolsey fires. The Democratic lock on power means theres also the potential for excess, particularly with the restraining hand of Gov. Jerry Brown soon to be lifted. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom may profess to have more fiscal restraint than he gets credit for, but theres no reason to believe he will be as frugal as Brown, whose penny-pinching ways have been a healthy check to spendthrift legislators. In fact, Newsom has already committed to investing in early childhood education, a costly if worthy endeavor. Thats not necessarily a bad thing. With state revenues so flush on Wednesday the states legislative analyst projected a $14.8 billion budget surplus in the coming year California ought to be investing in sensible projects and programs that pay real dividends in the long run, particularly those that benefit Californians most in need, such as poor children. The voters have put a lot of trust in Democrats to lead the state in a wholly different direction from the one being taken by the nations leaders. We hope they prove worthy of it. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Recent history shows that mass killings in the U.S. dont follow a single script. But there is one common element shared by many of these tragedies: legal access to semiautomatic guns. Domestic terrorists such as the mass shooters in Thousand Oaks, Pittsburgh and Parkland, Fla., come from different demographic backgrounds and have different characteristics. Few reforms are likely to stop them all. But all three killers used semiautomatic guns, which research has shown are more lethal on average in terrorist attacks than explosives or other weapons. And all three managed to kill and injure more people than the terrorist who mailed homemade pipe bombs to high-profile targets in October. Domestic terrorists are increasingly exploiting lax gun laws. Advertisement Yet Americas debate about gun laws continues to center on modest proposals, such as raising the legal age for gun purchases and allowing more time for background checks. Some of these measures may benefit public safety, as Rand Corp. research demonstrated earlier this year. But on the whole they would not address attacks by mass shooters who do not have a previous criminal record and who kill with legally purchased semiautomatic weapons. The Pittsburgh shooter had no criminal record and used weapons that were legally purchased and registered in his name. Recent studies have shown that domestic terrorist attacks carried out with guns are on the rise in the U.S., and that guns are the most lethal weapons terrorists use. From 2002 to 2014, 85% of people murdered by terrorists in the U.S. were killed with guns. Worse, more of those terrorists are using semiautomatics, which shoot more bullets in a fixed amount of time and are roughly twice as deadly as other guns. The three most lethal domestic terrorist attacks since 9/11 the 2016 Pulse Nightclub attack in Florida, the 2015 San Bernardino shooting and the 2009 attack on Ft. Hood Texas were all carried out with high-capacity semiautomatic weapons. None of those attackers were under 21. None were stoppable through criminal background checks. And none committed their attacks during proposed additional wait times to buy a gun. Domestic terrorists are increasingly exploiting lax gun laws. Even when the FBI does a background check and finds that someone with terrorism ties is attempting to purchase a gun, it almost always allows them to complete the purchase, government data show. Current federal law requires only that registered dealers run a background check through the FBI, and even then, the FBI can delay the sale for only 72 hours. One way to counter this threat would be to strengthen the FBIs ability to put and keep individuals on the federal terror watch list, and to grant the agency the authority to deny the sale of semiautomatic guns to people on that list. But terrorists can evade the watch list by buying a gun online or at a gun show. They can also get less-suspicious accomplices to privately sell them weapons, as the San Bernardino attackers did. And many aspiring mass killers, including the Pittsburgh and Parkland shooters, still wouldnt end up on the list at all. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Another alternative is to close the private gun-sales loophole. To do so, Congress would have to legally mandate universal background checks for any gun purchase and create a federal registry for certain types of semiautomatics. That would constitute a significant expansion of active government control over firearms. But though it might catch known terrorist sympathizers and affiliates, U.S. citizens would probably slip through, since they are unlikely to be on terror watch lists. A prohibition on sales of particularly lethal semiautomatics, such as the 1994 assault weapon ban, and on related assault weapon technologies (bump stocks, high-capacity clips and fast-clip replacement mechanisms), would make it much harder for terrorists to obtain their most effective means of killing. Such a ban would be controversial, to be sure. Policymakers would be forced to weigh restrictions on the ability of law-abiding citizens to buy those weapons against a potential reduction in deadly mass shootings. Benjamin Bahney is an adjunct policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan Rand Corp. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To the editor: I am tired of reading about the estimates for the cost of Californias bullet train going up. In 2008, voters approved a concept of a straight-line, high-speed train through the grazing land of the west San Joaquin Valley. Northbound travelers wouldnt see city lights until approaching San Jose. Trains operating on this line would have an easy time meeting their planned 200 mph schedule. What happened? Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich successfully lobbied to turn our bullet train into an Antelope Valley commuter train. In a feeding frenzy, local politicians in the San Joaquin Valley insisted that their constituencies also deserved a slice of this political pie. Now, the concept offered to all of California is dying in shame. Advertisement Antelope Valley commuters deserve faster Metrolink service, but the voters of California have their priorities too. Lets reboot this project as a real bullet train. Had the original concept not been attenuated, we could have trains running by now. Joseph A. Strapac, Bellflower .. To the editor: How many more times do we have to read about the soaring costs of the bullet train? Lets be honest: There is no way to truly estimate the cost of this project, and there will never be enough riders to recoup what will be spent to build it. Like it or not, we need better roads, cleaner cars and improvements to our airports. Rudiger Stuhlmuller, Long Beach Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Academic leaders have an instrument for setting norms of discourse without violating free speech. It is called selective denunciation, and it was used effectively by UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block when Milo Yiannopoulos came to speak on campus last February. Yiannopoulos views were denounced explicitly on moral grounds, and the cultural contributions of Latinos to our city and country were highlighted proudly. Block should use the same instrument against the anti-Israel conference about to convene at UCLA and tell the campus community how central Zionism is to the collective identity of many Bruins and how inspirational it is to us. For the record: A Nov. 15 letter to the editor incorrectly said hundreds of Palestinian children are held in Israeli military prisons. In fact, Palestinian minors are not held in military prisons, but in facilities operated by the Israeli Prison Service, which is separate from the Israeli Defense Forces. Most importantly, he should tell Zionist students that they are welcome on this campus. An environment in which most students learn about Israel from the megaphones of anti-Zionist speakers cannot sustain a climate of respectful discourse. Advertisement Judea Pearl, Encino The writer is a professor of computer science and director of the Cognitive Systems Laboratory at UCLA. .. To the editor: As an Israeli citizen whose family played a role in founding Israel, I applaud Block for refusing to cancel the upcoming Students for Justice in Palestine conference. However, his defense of a modern state that regularly commits human rights violations while demonizing the call for equal rights by Palestinians is problematic. Boycotts are a time-honored tactic many progressive movements use to effect change. Our movement is no exception, with situations as dire as hundreds of Palestinian children in Israeli military prisons who were tried in a military court with a 99% conviction rate. While at UCLA, I and other SJP members had the chance to meet with school administrators, and I appreciated their willingness to express how this issue impacts their work. I understand the position in which they find themselves and thank Block for his decision. I hope the chancellor understands that SJP will continue fighting bigotry and injustice in all its forms, regardless of how misinformed he and other administrators are regarding the nonviolent Palestinian resistance to Israels violent crimes. Eitan Peled, Brooklyn, N.Y. .. To the editor: Block is someone for whom I have great respect. But I strongly disagree with his handling of the national SJP conference at UCLA. Block notes that the Los Angeles City Council is among the groups expressing concern about anti-Semitic statements by SJP members around the country, especially after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Of course were concerned. An environment in which most students learn about Israel from the megaphones of anti-Zionist speakers cannot sustain a climate of respectful discourse. Judea Pearl, UCLA professor of computer science This is not a simple issue of free speech. The Jewish community in Los Angeles is looking at how to increase security at Jewish institutions. At such a time, bringing a group of unidentified people who support a virulently anti-Zionist organization is deeply concerning to those fearful about the safety of the Jewish community in Los Angeles. The chancellor espouses the values of inclusion and the need for mutual respect. However, this conference is a closed one, meaning only those who have been verified and vouched for can attend. A public university should not allow any group to implement a litmus test for event participation on its campus based on an attendees beliefs, religion, or national origin. The perception of institutional endorsement by UCLA was exacerbated when the university backed down on SJPs use of what seemed like a UCLA Bruin bear holding a terrorist attack kite on the groups event flier. It did not look exactly like the Bruin bear, but the message was clear. The timing of this conference is both potentially dangerous and sends a terrible message. At least postponing it until a more appropriate time seems eminently reasonable. Paul Koretz, Los Angeles The writer is a member of the Los Angeles City Council. .. To the editor: Block missed the mark when describing SJP, the group under attack for organizing a national conference at UCLA. Block grudgingly agreed to tolerate us to preserve the marketplace of ideas, even though our message challenges all forms of bigotry, including anti-Semitism, and promotes justice and equality for all, no exceptions. The people attending the conference are social justice-minded students challenging U.S. support for Israeli apartheid. Students supporting Israel may feel uncomfortable when Israels policies are challenged, but should that trump the Palestinians right to life, clean water, electricity and an education? SJP is already attacked and misrepresented, so instead of denouncing us in the L.A. Times, Block should try to better understand what our work is all about: building a world in which all people are free. Ayesha Khan, Houston The writer is a steering committee member of National Students for Justice in Palestine and a 2015 graduate of UCLA. .. To the editor: As a resident of Westwood, a 1st Amendment lawyer, an American citizen and a Jew, I applaud UCLAs decision not to cancel the upcoming Students for Justice in Palestine conference. Blocks heartfelt explanation in The Times clearly articulates why the principles of free speech and academic freedom compel this decision. College students do not need to be sheltered from ideas they may find offensive; they need to equip themselves to confront such ideas and address them with counterarguments. Justice Louis Brandeis, the first Jew on the Supreme Court, advocated that the answer to the expression of hateful and objectionable ideas was more speech, not less. Stephen F. Rohde, Westwood Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Two Orange County Republicans facing the prospect of defeat in the Nov. 6 congressional election as final ballots are counted have adopted President Trumps tactic of making baseless allegations of vote fraud. Neither GOP Rep. Mimi Walters nor Republican candidate Young Kim has produced evidence to back up their charges that Democrats are trying to steal the election. County registrars of voters supervising the ballot counts said they knew of no one doing anything that would compromise the elections integrity. Both Republicans leveled the accusations after they steadily lost ground in the continuing tabulation of tens of thousands of ballots. Walters finished ahead on election night, but has fallen 3,797 votes behind Democrat Katie Porter. Kim is clinging to a 122-vote lead over Democrat Gil Cisneros. Walters and Kim have joined a growing number of Republicans in Florida and elsewhere who, like Trump, challenge the legitimacy of vote counts when Democrats gain in late tallies. Nonpartisan election watchdogs are appalled. Advertisement The tone has been set at the top, said Stephen Spaulding, chief of strategy at Common Cause. I think its reckless. It is irresponsible. Scholars who track the rise and fall of democracies around the globe are also alarmed. Public trust in the validity of free elections is a pillar of democracy, they say, and a political partys systematic attacks on that faith can be corrosive. People need to learn to lose and accept the results and move on to the next campaign, said Daniel Ziblatt, coauthor of How Democracies Die. If people dont believe in the legitimacy of elections and start acting that way, then the whole thing can disintegrate very rapidly. The Walters and Kim campaigns both declined to comment or provide any evidence to support their allegations. In California elections, its a firmly established pattern that the votes counted last almost always favor Democrats. The growing dominance of mail ballots has made it more pronounced. The most reliably Republican voters a shrinking share of the states electorate tend to be older white homeowners who send in their ballots before most other Californians do. On Sunday, when she was still slightly ahead, Walters told supporters in an email that she needed donations to stop Democrats from overturning the will of the voters. Im currently up by 1 point, but the Democrats are already preparing for a recount to try and steal this Republican seat after the fact, Walters wrote. Orange County election workers sort through mail-in ballots on Wednesday in Santa Ana. (Nick Agro / For The Times) In another fundraising email, Walters said she needed to make sure vote tallies arent tampered with. Neal Kelley, Orange Countys registrar of voters, responded emphatically no when asked whether anyone had tried to tamper with any of the ballots. We take this responsibility very seriously, he said. I certainly do. I have seen no evidence of it. Californias not goofy, its really big. Thats why counting the vote takes so long The 45th Congressional District that Walters represents in the Irvine and Mission Viejo area is entirely within Orange County. She lives outside the district in Laguna Beach. Kim, running in the neighboring 39th Congressional District, which straddles Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, released a statement alleging that the Los Angeles County registrar had rebuked an unnamed Cisneros operative for physical ballot tampering, which is illegal. Mike Sanchez, a spokesman for the county registrar, said no one had reported any attempt to alter ballots. Kim, who lives in Fullerton, also said that all the uncounted ballots must nearly match the results of those already tallied even though history suggests they probably wont. Anything falling significantly outside of those percentages could reflect foul play and we will continue observing closely to make sure the integrity of this election remains intact, Kim said on Twitter. (Los Angeles Timse) As the vote count has unfolded, the Kim and Cisneros campaigns have each accused the other of harassment and other improper conduct by their respective observers of the tallying in county election offices. That type of tit for tat is common in ballot counts in tight contests. Allegations of full-scale ballot fraud are not. Sean Clegg, a strategist for the Porter campaign, called Walters allegations dangerous. Mimi Walters attacks on routine and fair vote counting come from a deeply dark, cynical and, yes, fascistic place, he said. We have to be able to agree in the United States of America that every vote should count, every person matters and the winner should prevail. Lose that agreement, and we lose the nation. In both the Walters and Kim races, tens of thousands of ballots remain to be counted over the next couple weeks, and the eligibility of many of the voters must still be verified. Jim Condos, president of the National Assn. of Secretaries of State, said he was disturbed by the rise in unfounded vote fraud allegations. Words do matter, said Condos, the Democratic secretary of state in Vermont. I think its unconscionable and irresponsible to be making accusations and threats without any evidence behind it. michael.finnegan@latimes.com Twitter: @finneganLAT Times staff writer Maya Sweedler contributed to this report. The presidential campaign clock may be ticking, but Bernie Sanders insists it doesnt rattle him. I am here in northern Vermont, and people just went through six months of an election, and they are not all that happy to get into another election, the newly reelected Vermont senator said in his characteristically brusque manner when asked about deciding on a presidential bid. The media has pushed this country into never-ending campaigns. We can all take a deep breath. That unworried attitude belies the intense pressure on Sanders and the rest of the horde of potential Democratic contenders to move swiftly. Privately, some of Sanders advisors have warned him that holding his fire much longer than a few weeks into the New Year could prove fatal to a 2020 bid. Advertisement At no time in recent history have Democrats forged into a presidential primary with a field of viable candidates so large and the outlook for their individual prospects so muddled. President Trumps rewrite of the rules of political engagement has spilled into the contest among his rivals. Candidates who wait for a clear path could find themselves knocked aside before they take their first steps. No one seems to have a clean field here, said Jim Jordan, who managed the presidential campaign of 2004 Democratic nominee John F. Kerry. There are multiple Californians, multiple New Yorkers, multiple Massachusettsans, multiple African Americans, lots and lots of women. The pie is going to get carved up quickly into small slices. Building a campaign is complicated business, he and others warn. The pool of top-shelf operatives, well-connected fundraisers and activists in early voting states will get spread thin very quickly in a year when more than 20 notable candidates could realistically jump in. Already, in addition to Sanders, Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota have all taken steps toward a possible presidential bid. Former Vice President Joe Biden has been calling seasoned operatives seeking assurances from them that they will be on board if he runs and that they wont take jobs with another candidate without checking with him first. While aides declined to discuss Harriss timing, her previous campaigns suggest that if she formally enters the race, as seems increasingly likely, she will do so on the earlier side rather than waiting. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks at the ACLUs Annual Bill of Rights Dinner on Nov. 11. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has been strategically visiting early primary states and taken on advisors with presidential campaign experience, plans to make up his mind by the end of the year. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio told local media after his successful reelection Tuesday that hell be working through the possibility of a presidential bid with his family over the holidays. Gillibrand vowed only weeks ago, during her reelection campaign, that she would serve her full six-year Senate term. She waited just two days after the election to pivot away from that, sending a clear signal to party activists and donors not to shop elsewhere when she told late-night host Stephen Colbert that she was weighing a White House bid. Govs. Steve Bullock of Montana and John Hickenlooper of Colorado have been touting the benefits of a western governor as the partys nominee. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has joined Garcetti in talking up the benefits of a mayor. Another former mayor, Michael Bloomberg of New York, spent tens of millions to help elect Democrats in the midterm elections. So did California-based billionaire Tom Steyer. Julian Castro, the Obama administrations secretary of Housing and Urban Development has been eyeing an early announcement. Another Obama friend, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, also has been considering the race. The hesitance of any of the partys factions to coalesce around a candidate so far heightens potential for an outside-the-box alternative like Texas Rep. Beto ORourke to quickly become a runaway star, as Sanders did in 2016. And the list goes on. Knowledgeable operatives project a flurry of announcements early into winter. This is one of these rare situations in politics where he or she who hesitates is going to be lost, said Jordan. Most serious candidates will have entered the race by February a big shift from the last Democratic presidential primary, when the race didnt get underway in earnest until Hillary Clinton released an announcement video in mid-April of 2015. Her campaign lumbered along from there, with infrequent, highly scripted appearances that left many voters wanting. Former Vice President and potential 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden greets supporters during a campaign rally for Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Matt Cartwright on Nov. 4. (Butch Comegys / Associated Press) At Gonring, Spahn & Associates, a public affairs consulting firm based in Los Angeles and Washington that has long advised big Hollywood donors, including Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, the phone is already ringing steadily. In the last 24 hours, Ive gotten three calls from potential 2020 candidates, firm President Andy Spahn said Tuesday. That tells me there is going to be a regular drumbeat for the next six to eight weeks. The unique dynamic of this years race has pushed the calendar up for everyone, said William Carrick, a veteran Democratic strategist who was campaign manager for Dick Gephardt in 1988 and is currently advising Garcetti. Weve had full fields with multiple candidates before, but we have never had anything like this, he said. Its like three times more than anything we have had before. Voters typically dont grasp everything that goes on behind the scenes or how challenging it can be to build a durable campaign infrastructure when so many attractive candidates are vying for a relatively small pool of proven talent, he said. Decades-old loyalties are being tested as politicos with longtime relationships with multiple potential candidates are being lobbied by all of them. At the same time, party activists have a yearning for new blood and ideas. That has many veteran campaign warriors and donors reconsidering whether to re-up with candidates whose political careers they have long nurtured. People are going to make judgments based on considerations other than I have known someone for a whole hell of a long time, Carrick said. There is a lot of talk about needing new faces. For now, many of the partys big donors are still assessing the field. I am just going to wait and see, said Susie Tompkins Buell, the San Francisco philanthropist and leading Democratic donor who gave more than $15 million to Bill and Hillary Clintons campaigns and helped raise untold millions more for them. This is such a serious matter now. You cant just fall in love with somebody or sign on with them because you have a relationship. We have to keep an open mind and see what opportunities we have. We need the fluidity to see who everybody is objectively and analyze all the potential possibilities. The new fundraising possibilities unleashed by popular online platforms like ActBlue and social-media savvy campaign operatives do give candidates alternative paths to building war chests, and many of them will head into the race with big pots of cash as a result of their digital success. But even in that arena, candidates playing coy could be at a disadvantage against those openly playing to win. Not everyone who has been through the grueling process of a presidential run buys into the idea that moving fast is essential this cycle. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who mounted an unsuccessful Democratic primary bid in 2008, is skeptical that the earliest voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire will hold the influence they have in the past, particularly now that California has moved its primary up to early March. Relative newcomers to presidential politics hoping to be the fresh face would be better served focusing on California, South Carolina and possibly Nevada in a year when Democratic voters consumed with ousting Trump are particularly focused on electability, he said. The voting populations in those states are more diverse, and the latter two in particular are not dominated by the progressive wing of the party, and likely more reflective of the general electorate, he added. And the deck there is not already stacked against newcomers in such states as it is in New Hampshire and Iowa, where candidates like Sanders and Warren already have built formidable campaign machines, Richardson said. There is a totally new landscape and new thinking, he said. The primary calendar has shifted so that it is not just New Hampshire and Iowa. It creates an advantage for lesser known candidates, and candidates from the West, and maybe even unknown candidates. But like so many other political veterans, Richardson is cautious about dispensing advice at a time none of the old rules of presidential politics seem to apply and the new ones have yet to be written. Of course, what do I know? he said, recalling his fourth-place finish in Iowa and New Hampshire before dropping out of the 2008 race. I lost. The latest look at the Trump administration and the rest of Washington More stories from Evan Halper evan.halper@latimes.com | Twitter: @evanhalper Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m China urges U.S. to respect nations' choice of their own road China on Wednesday urged the United States to do as it says in respecting and supporting nations choosing their own road. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily news briefing, responding to recent comments by U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence that the United States hoped all countries in the Indo-Pacific region would be free to choose their own path and pursue their own interests. Pence made the comments at a joint news conference Tuesday following talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, saying authoritarianism and aggression had no place in the region. "China has always advocated all countries respecting each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries," Hua said. "We have always advocated that all nations have the right to choose their own path of development in accordance with their own conditions. " "This is also an important content of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," Hua said. "We have noticed that Mr. Pence has publicly expressed the hope that all countries in the Asia-Pacific region will be free to choose their own path. This is very good. We hope the U.S. side will walk the talk." President Trump, in his first attempt at bipartisanship since last weeks election, endorsed a bill Wednesday aimed at reducing some prison sentences and better preparing inmates for life after incarceration. Did I hear the word bipartisan? Trump said in a White House announcement, surrounded by a small group of Republican lawmakers and law enforcement union leaders. Thats a nice word. Trumps backing could advance the legislation, long supported by a collection of advocates on the left and right, including Trumps son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner. One of the proposals biggest opponents, former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, was ousted by Trump last week. Advertisement The bill would ease mandatory minimum sentences for some federal offenders, including ending mandatory life sentences for drug dealers and manufacturers convicted for the third time, instead imposing a mandatory 25-year sentence. The proposal would also give judges more flexibility in certain cases to curtail high minimum sentences. In addition, the bill would retroactively reduce penalties for many inmates convicted of crack cocaine offenses, who have long been given higher sentences than people convicted of powder cocaine crimes. People convicted of offenses involving crack are disproportionately black, while many more of those convicted over powder cocaine are white. A bill passed in 2010 eliminated the disparity in sentences for the two types of the drug, but did not affect thousands of people who had been sentenced under the previous law. The bill would house more inmates closer to home to promote family visits and offer them more job-training opportunities in an attempt to rehabilitate them after they serve their sentences. Some of those provisions could change as lawmakers try to muster support to bring the measure to the floor of the Senate, where it will require a supermajority of 60 votes. The issue divides more libertarian-minded Republicans, who cite the potential to save money on incarceration and reduce the inmate population, from the law-and-order wing of the party, which has long promoted the stiffer penalties adopted during the war on drugs. The current proposal has been backed on the right by the conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch and on the left by groups including the American Civil Liberties Union. Trumps support is notable given that he has called for the death penalty for drug dealers to cement his tough-on-crime image. In his remarks Wednesday, the president emphasized that some of the toughest people in law enforcement and politics, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and several police unions, support the bill. Trump also cited support in the evangelical community, a political constituency he values highly. The bill gives religious groups a greater role in prison rehabilitation programs. The issue also gives Trump an opportunity for a bipartisan win, something he has sought since Democrats won control of the House last week. Trumps statement puts pressure on Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to bring the bill to a vote in the Senate before the end of the year. McConnell was noncommittal Wednesday, saying he would count the votes and then see how it stacks up against our other priorities. An earlier version of the bill which focused on prison rehabilitation but did not address changes to federal sentencing laws has already passed the House, and the current bill is believed to have enough support to pass in that chamber. Redemption is at the heart of the American Idea, and thats what this is about, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a statement issued after Trumps announcement. In addition to Kushner, celebrities and lawmakers have lobbied Trump on the issue. The stars have aligned politically and now would be a good time to do it, but I dont know what happens, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who attended Wednesdays announcement and said he spoke with Trump about the issue Monday night. Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), who heads the Judiciary Committee and sponsored the bill, said that with Sessions gone, the Justice Department now also supports it, clearing a big hurdle. Grassley issued a joint statement with Illinois Sen. Richard J. Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate and cosponsor of the measure, calling Trumps endorsement an important step. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington noah.bierman@latimes.com Twitter: @noahbierman jennifer.haberkorn@latimes.com Twitter: @jenhab It didnt even look like a blue wave on election night. Now its looking like a potential tsunami, at least in California. As late votes poured in, largely from mailed ballots, the Democrats tally rose and swept away Republicans. What happened in the final days of the election season to generate energy for a big blue wave? President Trump kept blowing hot air. Thats the educated guess of many political pros. Democratic congressional candidates also smartly campaigned on healthcare. They pledged to preserve the ban on insurance companies denying coverage because of preexisting medical conditions, and to fight against lifetime limits. Advertisement It was a winning issue among Democratic voters, whether poor or middle class. And, importantly, it showed Democratic candidates being for something, rather than just trashing Trump. As a turnout prod, Trump was the big motivator and so was healthcare, says Bob Shrum, a longtime Democratic strategist who is director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc., says: The most striking thing to me was how deeply the blue wave cut into California and took out Republicans in some of the deepest Republican districts. Particularly in a gubernatorial election. Gubernatorial elections always attract fewer voters than presidential contests, so theyre less favorable to down-ballot Democrats who fare best when turnouts are high. But this election has turned out to be a rarity. A Democratic blue wave had been predicted for months. But on election night all anyone saw was a ripple. Then it slowly began to change. Late votes started being counted and Republican leads eroded. Historically, the later vote tends to favor Democrats, Shrum points out. Thats not just in California, but everywhere. It makes sense. (Priya Krishnakumar / Los Angeles Times) Republicans have a higher propensity for voting. They often vote early by mail, and those ballots are counted right away. The numbers are released soon after the polls close on election night, giving GOP candidates an immediate boost. Democratic voters, however, generally need more prodding and often dont decide to cast a ballot until late. But Trump seemed to be ignorant of this elementary fact Monday when he alleged voter fraud, and particularly focused on Florida. Large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere and many ballots are missing or forged, the president tweeted. He urged Florida to disregard all ballots counted after election night. Florida election officials, led by a Republican, quickly replied that Trump was all wet. As of Wednesday, California election officials had counted about 9.4 million ballots and still had 3.1 million to process, according to the Secretary of States office. Of the uncounted ballots, 1.9 million had been mailed. The state had sent voters a record 13.4 million mail ballots. Theyre slower to count because signatures have to be checked against those on file. So the more mail ballots there are, the slower the counting. The vote-counting deadline is Dec. 7. Coverage of California politics Democrats seemed to have flipped at least four Republican U.S. House seats, as of Wednesday. And two more were in doubt. That would mean Democrats holding at least 43 of Californias 53 seats. And for 26 years, they have held both of the states two U.S. Senate seats. In the Legislature, Democrats appear to have picked up enough seats to regain supermajorities in each house. Thats sufficient to pass tax increases without Republican votes. But thats just theoretical. Any Democrat who beats a Republican in a competitive district cant vote for a tax increase without risking being fired in the next election. In the state Senate, Democrats picked up two Republican seats in the San Joaquin Valley two Latinas beating two white men. That will mean a 28-to-12 Democratic dominance over Republicans. A supermajority is 27. In the Assembly, Democrats have picked up at least two seats for a total of 57, leaving Republicans with no more than 23. But four races still havent been called and Democrats could wind up with around 60. A supermajority is 54. Trumps stumping around the country in late October bellowing to his voter base about an allegedly dangerous caravan of asylum-seeking migrants from Central America is generally credited with stirring up Latino voters in California. But no one yet knows how big the turnout was among Latinos or young voters, or anyone. It may take another month. A good Latino turnout is the only way to explain two Latino female candidates beating two Republican white males in the Central Valley, asserts Tony Quinn, a former Republican advisor on gerrymandering and now editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book, which handicaps congressional and legislative races. Darry Sragow, a longtime Democratic strategist who publishes the Target Book, says: My initial presumption is Trump went over the top too many times. He outdid himself. Things he was doing and saying in the closing days of the campaign led a lot of Democratic voters to conclude they just couldnt stand it anymore. He was putting his finger in the eye of all manner of voters. For Republican consultant Rob Stutzman, the startling thing was that Democrats made their gains in a non-presidential election. That means the bottom could really fall out on Republicans in two years, especially if Trump is the nominee, Stutzman says. Democrats are riding a big blue wave while Republicans are wiping out. george.skelton@latimes.com Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter If you catch Waitress at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, youll probably leave with the strange hunger for a generous serving of pie. Pie is, indeed, the centerpiece of this new musical based on the movie Keri Russell made before playing a Russian spy in The Americans. And, like that dessert, Waitress is a tasty dish of a show in which the strong talents of its performers outshine the soap opera-ish story line. Here, the impressive Christine Dwyer takes the Russell role of Jenna, a waitress whod like to shed her cloddish, abusive husband but learns that shes pregnant with his child. Things get complicated when she falls for her doctor (also married). Dwyer projects her conflicted character beautifully, both in dialogue and song, scoring high early with her solo What Baking Can Do, as she cheerfully whips up yet another pie. Shes equally effective in her second act musical face-off with her husband (a riveting Matt DeAngelis) in the menacing duet You Will Still Be Mine. Strong support is provided by Jennas two fellow waitresses, Jessie Shelton (shy and naive) and Maiesha McQueen (the exact opposite). Sheltons Dawn transforms when she meets an overenthusiastic poet (Jeremy Morse) while McQueens more chatty Becky dallies with the gruff cook (Ryan G. Dunkin). Steven Good is perfectly cast as the hunky doctor who loves Jenna but cant risk his marriage. Good and Dwyer blend nicely in the duet You Matter to Me. The primary show stealer is Morse, who vigorously pursues Sheltons character and hits a first-act summit with his number, Never Ever Getting Rid of Me. Larry Marshall has some fine moments as the gruff but good-hearted owner of the restaurant who offers sage advice in Take It From an Old Man. Director Diane Paulus and choreographer Lorin Latarro keep the show moving briskly in a tribute to the movies original author, Adrienne Shelly, now deceased. Lilli Wosk conducts the peppy background band. Solid characterizations and sprightly musical numbers tend to mask the more mundane plot aspects. Pies prevail, along with enthusiastic musicality in this down-home countrified tale. Tom Titus reviews local theater. IF YOU GO What: Waitress Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa When: Tuesdays to Sundays through Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Cost: $14 to $47 Information: (714) 556-2787, scfta.org The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach served as the setting for Variety magazines 20th anniversary 10 Actors to Watch event on Nov. 11. Movie stars, publicists and members of the press worked an active red, or in this case blue, carpet, as a surprisingly warm, mid-November sun beat down on everyone and the Pacific Ocean glistened in the background. The gathering celebrated several actors whose stars have been on the rise over the past year or so. The honorees were Zazie Beetz from Atlanta and Deadpool 2, Gemma Chan from Crazy Rich Asians, Elsie Fisher from Eighth Grade, Henry Golding from Crazy Rich Asians and A Simple Favor, Russell Hornsby from The Hate U Give and Creed 2, Anthony Ramos from the original Hamilton Broadway cast and A Star is Born, Cailee Spaeny from next months On the Basis of Sex, Marina de Tavira from Alfonso Cuarons Roma, John David Washington from Spike Lees BlacKkKlansman, and Letitia Wright from Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War. Its amazing. Its such a gift, it really is to be highlighted out of all the young actors that have come up, said Golding, 31, who made a splash this year as the leading man in Crazy Rich Asians, the first major Hollywood studio film in 25 years to feature an all-Asian and Asian American, English-speaking cast in a contemporary story. To be recognized by an industry giant like Variety is really something to treasure, said Golding, who is slated to star in Guy Ritchies Toff Guys and Paul Feigs Last Christmas next year. Hopefully this will lead on to bigger and better experiences and projects, not only in front of the camera, but behind the scenes as well. British actress Chan, who also starred in Crazy Rich Asians, said she never thought she could make it as a working actor, let alone be chosen as one of the industrys 10 Actors to Watch. It is such an honor, and Im in such incredible company, said Chan, 35, who will appear in Mary Queen of Scots next month and Captain Marvel next year. It feels really great to be here, and Im really proud and really grateful. The event was co-sponsored by the Newport Beach Film Festival, which will be celebrating its own 20th anniversary next year, and Visit Newport Beach, the citys official destination marketing organization. Topher Grace, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Colman Domingo and Zazie Beetz (from left) attend the Newport Beach Film Festival Fall Honors and Varietys 10 Actors to Watch at the Resort at Pelican Hill Nov. 11 in Newport Beach. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Visit Newport Beach) The film fest bestowed additional honors on three veteran actors. Robert Forster received an Icon Award; and Colman Domingo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Topher Grace received Artist of Distinction awards. Gregg Schwenk, CEO and executive director of the Newport Beach Film Festival, encouraged everyone in the room to use their influence to support independent film and film festivals. He mentioned the unexpected demise of the Los Angeles Film Festival this year, after 24 years. For the failure of the arts, it takes good people to do nothing, Schwenk said. Wright, the Guyanese-born British actress who made an impact as tech-savvy Shuri, the younger sister in Black Panther, earlier this year, said she has been watching the careers of her fellow honorees for a few years now. Just to be in the same category as them its been amazing, she said. It feels really good. Its an honor. Russell Hornsby, right, and Cailee Spaeny speak onstage at the Newport Beach Film Festival Fall Honors and Varietys 10 Actors to Watch at the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Visit Newport Beach) Not all of the 10 Actors to Watch are young up-and-comers. Hornsby, who played the father, Maverick Carter, in this years The Hate U Give, has been a working actor for 20 years. It feels great to finally be recognized, said Hornsby, 44. All Ive ever tried to do was pursue the work with a sense of purpose, and be honest and true to the craft of acting, and not worry about celebrity, not worry about being famous, and not worry about getting rich. I got into it for the purity of acting, the purity of being a craftsman. The actors and invited guests enjoyed a brunch and a program that included an awards ceremony and a question-and-answer session led by Jenelle Riley, deputy awards and features editor for Variety. After the program, Chan posed for pictures with fans and reflected on the impact her movie, Crazy Rich Asians, has had on American and popular culture. It has amazed me how affected people have been by the film, she said. Its been 25 years since The Joy Luck Club. Thats a whole generation of people growing up without ever seeing themselves being the center of the narrative. And I hope for any young boy or girl watching it, they will believe that theyre worthy of being the center of their own narrative. Richard Chang is a contributor to Times Community News. A day after a divided Costa Mesa City Council decided to terminate his contract, departing City Manager Tom Hatch said he hopes to make a quiet exit. I love, care deeply about and have been honored serving the Costa Mesa community for the past 12.5 years, he wrote in a statement Wednesday afternoon. The city of Costa Mesa has the most talented and dedicated staff of any city in Orange County, and we need to take care of those invaluable professionals and show them the respect they have earned by allowing them to do their work. As a departing city manager, he added, I hope to make a quiet exit so the council, staff and community can move forward for the betterment of Costa Mesa. I want to sincerely thank the current and past city councils for giving me the opportunity to serve the best city in Orange County and wish the incoming City Council well. He declined to offer any additional information beyond his statement or further elaborate regarding the circumstances behind his departure. In Hatchs stead, Assistant City Manager Tamara Letourneau will take over temporarily as acting city manager, according to city spokesman Tony Dodero. Hatchs tenure as city manager came to an end Tuesday, when the council in closed session voted 3-2 with members Katrina Foley and John Stephens opposed to terminate his contract. However, both Foley and Stephens said Tuesday that Hatch effectively left the position earlier, as he had already moved out of his office. If he decided he didnt want to work for the new council, then I think the appropriate thing for him to do would have been to resign, Stephens said, referencing the results of last weeks election which saw voters choose Foley to be the citys first directly elected mayor and elevate Manuel Chavez, Andrea Marr and Arlis Reynolds to the council. Councilman Jim Righeimer, though, said Hatch left because it was clear to him, at least, that he wasnt going to be around much longer, given the election results an allegation Foley called just a flat-out misrepresentation. As a result of the councils vote, Hatch is entitled to nine months severance pay, which he will receive by Dec. 15. His annual pay was set at $237,960 under a contract revision approved last March. Prior to becoming Costa Mesas head administrative employee in 2011, Hatch served as assistant city manager for more than four years. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney The OC Fair & Event Center covers a large chunk of land in Costa Mesa and, next summer, every inch of it will be used to provide Acres of Fun. Thats the theme of the 2019 Orange County Fair, announced Thursday. It marks the finale of a three-year initiative accentuating the countys agricultural history and its continued importance. The series began with 2017s Farm Fresh Fun, which paid particular attention to agricultural products, and continued this year with Free Your Inner Farmer, which saluted the people whose labor brings food from the farm to the table. Acres of Fun will focus on land and the environment, Michele Richards, the Fair & Event Centers vice president of business development, said during Thursdays Orange County Fair Board meeting. In a world full of artificial experiences, where our human connections are threatened and the world seems to be permanently zoned out, the OC Fair calls to the community each year to come and experience real fun, pure fun, with no artificial ingredients, she said. The 2019 fair will run July 12 through Aug. 11. We love showcasing agriculture and educating the public about our rich heritage its our mission and our passion, Fair & Event Center Chief Executive Kathy Kramer said in a statement. I look forward to having a great fair that helps fund our community give-back programs and provides terrific family fun. This years fair set an attendance record with more than 1.47 million visitors. The Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive. For more information, visit ocfair.com. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney Laguna Beach does not have an official motto, but if it did, it should be, No good deed goes unpunished. The latest example is the Americans with Civil Liberties Union homeless lawsuit that was recently settled with the city. By and large, it was a non-event and for good reason. Back in 2015, the ACLU filed a class-action suit alleging, among other things, that the city was not playing nice by the homeless. Remember that Laguna is the only city in coastal Orange County even trying to support the homeless. It has an overnight shelter called the Alternative Sleeping Location. It has an extended support program that tries to find permanent housing for the homeless, the Friendship Shelter. It has various community and religious groups that regularly help the homeless. By all accounts, Laguna Beach is doing a respectable job under difficult circumstances. The same could not be said for any other city in the county, except perhaps Santa Ana, which receives much more financial support. So when the ACLU filed its suit, everyone in the Laguna homeless community shook their heads. The collective response was basically, What now? It turns out the answer was not much. I carefully read the 16-page settlement. Half of it is boilerplate legalese. The other half has about 20 or so agreements. And most of them are minor or already in place. Things like: At the ASL, there should be a refrigerator for medications. There is since 2009. There should be continuing staff training for Americans with Disabilities Act issues. There is. There should be electrical outlets for disability devices. There are. There should be bathroom rules posted. Check. The settlement seemed less like a class-action lawsuit compromise and more like a standard operating procedure document. Laguna officials clearly were unhappy with the exercise. Though we are pleased with the outcome, the money and time weve spent over the last three years defending ourselves against the unfounded allegations in this lawsuit would have been better spent elsewhere, said Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig, who rarely gets ruffled. We are ready to move on and put this behind us. The main result of the settlement is that it codifies what was already in place. The operator of the ASL, the Friendship Shelter, will have to litter the place with notices not unlike the office break-room covered with fine-print announcements. The agreement outlines that the city will continue certain policies, programs and services already in place and will take certain additional actions with regard to homeless individuals, particularly with reference to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the operation of the Alternative Sleeping Location, City Attorney Phil Kohn said in a statement. There were very few new requirements made in the settlement. A city ADA coordinator needs to be assigned. The van that shuttles homeless people from Main Beach to the ASL location in the canyon again an unprecedented benefit needs to have an ADA lift. The city purchased one. In a pilot program, the ASL will have to designate up to five beds for non-locals. Historically, people who use the ASL need to have a Laguna connection. Also, there will be three hours assigned for new daytime drop-in services for laundry, showers, assistance, etc. In addition, the ASL will have to provide no less than three ADA-compliant private or semi-private sleeping areas for those who need it because of mental or physical disabilities. This requirement will be reevaluated after 150 days to see if its working. It was agreed that it probably would decrease the overall number of beds available to help people. The Friendship Shelter has three rooms allocated in its Coast Highway location for this purpose, if needed. The remaining terms, again, were either minor or already in place. For example, in a somewhat bizarre requirement, one or more of the City Council members has to write an op-ed piece for the Orange County Register saying that the city confirms its commitment to ending homelessness in Laguna, supports the countys 10-year plan and encourages other cities to do the same. No word on whether council members have to raise their right hands when they make this pledge. For its part, the ACLU maintains that these agreements are necessary because otherwise, nothing gets done. This settlement creates a system for ensuring that people experiencing homelessness who also have disabilities can benefit from Laguna Beachs homelessness program, said Peter Eliasberg, chief counsel and Manheim Family attorney for First Amendment Rights at the ACLU SoCal, in a release. This means people will no longer be shut out of services on account of their disabilities. The problem with this position, however, is the homeless in Laguna were not turned away at the ASL because of disabilities. In fact, the ASL has had proven success with the disabled. Our largest program today is our permanent supportive housing program, where 85 disabled individuals who have had the experience of long-term homelessness now live in their own apartments with ongoing supportive services provided by our staff team, said Dawn Price, executive director of the Friendship Shelter. Nearly a third of our housing tenants began their journey at the ASL Emergency Shelter. Each night at the ASL, there are 45 people getting free sleeping accommodations, showers, hot meals, clean laundry facilities, warm blankets and a case worker to help them with services and resources. It costs Laguna about $400,000 a year to do this. Now, Im sure it will cost more. But will the new paperwork help house one more homeless person? Doubtful. David Hansen is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com. DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com. Helpings of penne pasta and kebabs as well as cultural and practical information were handed out by the Glendale Community College International Students Assn. Tuesday afternoon at Plaza Vaquero. The schools club celebrated International Education Week with a food fair that offered dishes from Japan, Armenia, Thailand, Mexico, Italy and Brazil. Students and staff enjoyed free delectable delights, such as black beans, tacos, Pad Thai and Armenian chicken kebabs. We want people to know we exist, said Allavhar Duisenbek, a Glendale College international student and native from Kazakhstan, who majors in journalism. Were open to making friends, and were very curious about American culture. According to its enrollment figures, Glendale Community College enrolls between 550 and 600 international students from more than 50 nationalities each semester. Some of those students dressed in traditional Japanese attire, such as a casual kimono called a yukata, while others handed out pamphlets with information about their native homes, such as Thailand. This week is about celebrating diversity and different cultures, said Julia Maia, a Brazilian native and Glendale College sophomore whos majoring in filmmaking. We have a lot of things going on this week for people to get to know international students, but also for students to learn about important things like healthcare. On Wednesday, the group put on a seminar on health and wellness, while on Thursday, there was an international student resume-writing workshop and a panel presentation titled, Celebrating the Benefits of International Education. The purpose of [International Education Week] is to showcase the benefits of international education and exchange by promoting programs that prepare Americans for a global environment, and that will attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences, said faculty adviser Mariah Ribeiro. Along with food and facts, a demonstration of the Brazilian martial art and dance technique known as Capoeira was also presented. At least one student who hadnt planned to attend the festivities was grateful. I was headed to [the] administration [building] and I saw the crowd and made some inquires, Valentine Oanessian said. I saw the Armenian food and that got my attention, but I also wanted to know about the other nationalities and cultures. andrew.campa@latimes.com Twitter @campadresports A Chinese air force plane takes off to conduct drills in international airspace over the Sea of Japan, Dec. 18, 2017. The Chinese Air Force announced a roadmap for building a stronger modern air force in three steps. The building of a stronger modern air force is in line with the overall goal of building national defense and the armed forces, Lieutenant General Xu Anxiang, deputy commander of Chinese Air Force, said at a press conference on celebrating the 69th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese Air Force held in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 11, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Haishen) Annandale Country Club in Pasadena was the setting Jan. 19 for USC Verdugo Hills Hospitals annual medical staff award event. It was a time for these hard-working doctors to kick up their heels a bit and have fun socializing, playing blackjack, craps and roulette at the gaming tables that were abuzz with activity all evening. Another popular gathering place was the dance floor, with an expert DJ spinning the tunes. This historic club is well known for its meals and there was an extravagant display of different food stations, including a meat-carving room where sliced prime rib and succulent turkey was served. The seafood table offered mountains of jumbo shrimp and crab. Another buffet room was serving up different pastas with sauces. The dessert tables were filled with sweets to please all tastes, especially those who love chocolate. Dr. Steven Hartford, chief of staff at the hospital, introduced the doctors being honored for their service at the hospital and the community. Dr. Leland Watkins was honored for his 40 years of service, and his family was there to celebrate with him. His father before him was also a physician in the community. Doctors being honored for 30 years of service were John Honch and Daniel Levitan. Physicians being honored for their 20 years of service were Jean-Pierre Antaki, Andrew Hurwitz, Hrair Koutnouyan, Donald Kroe, John McKenzie, Mandy Ramani, and Mihran Shirini. Keith Hobbs, the hospitals chief executive, stepped to the microphone to also welcome guests. He shared his excitement about the opening of the hospitals new neonatal ward, which will begin accepting its little patients in March. Hartford introduced the medical staff leadership team including doctors Craig Moritz, Chandnish Ahluwalia, Niveen Abdelmesih, Alexandria Darras, Armand Dorian, Allen Perry Jr., Leonid Perez, Sameer Patel, David Tashman, Niveen Abdelmessih, Darshaa Sarathchandra, Janet Schori, Happy Khanna and Jose Perez. * * * For the seventh consecutive year, a Rose Parade trophy banner held center stage at the La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn.s annual meeting and dinner: the Bob Hope Humor Trophy awarded to our most recent float, Panda-Monium. So the evening at the Thursday Club on Jan. 26 was festive from beginning to end. Mayor Pro Tem Terry Walker served as emcee and expressed her and the citys shared appreciation of the local tournaments longtime community volunteer effort. She then called upon Maureen Bond, Community Center executive director, to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and LCFTRA Past President Tim Rahtz to deliver the invocation. After the delicious dinner catered by Jeff Hemphill of Cut, Carve and Pour, president Chuck Terhune recognized the past presidents of LCFTRA, and particularly the 40-year contributions of Bob and Ann Neilson, also presenting to them commendations from state Sen. Anthony Portantino and Rep. Adam Schiff. Then president Terhune, vice president of administration Peggy Hotaling, vice president of float development Bob Wallace and the various chairs recognized the many individuals involved in all aspects of fundraising, designing, constructing and decorating Pand-Monium, LCFTRAs 40th consecutive entry in the Rose Parade and 29th award winner. Terhune presided over the annual meeting, receiving the treasurers report, recognizing the retiring directors, and electing six new directors for a three-year term: Michael Davitt, Barbie Eland, Michael Leininger, William Pounders, Samantha Wickersham and Nancy Wolhaupter. They will join continuing directors Pam Gossoo, John Wolhaupter, Rora Melendy, Ernest Koeppen, Charles Thuss, Sara Wickersham, Maureen Bond, Jeff Helgager, Clyde Hemphill, Sarah Marshall,Terhune and Cindy Crane. Following the election, emcee Walker installed the new board members as well as the subsequently elected officers for 2018-2019 fiscal year: Michael Davitt, president; William Pounders, vice president of administration; Chuck Terhune, vice president of float development; Sue Beatty, secretary; Pam Wiedenbeck, treasurer; and Clyde Hemphill, parliamentarian. Terhune closed the meeting with thanks and appreciation for an outstanding year. He expressed the hope that many other association members and other volunteers will become actively involved during the coming year. JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Canada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event. La Canada Flintridge voters narrowly favored Democratic candidates in the Nov. 6 midterm election, except in the races for insurance commissioner and a seat on the State Board of Equalization, county voting records indicate. Figures from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorders Office following last weeks election show the breakdown of 7,112 ballots cast representing 48.53% of La Canadas total 14,655 registered voters. In the race for governor, Democrat and former Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom led locally, with 3,557 votes, compared to Republican John Coxs 3,364. Newsom secured a statewide win with nearly 70% voter approval. With two Democrats in the running for lieutenant governor, 2,828 La Canada voters favored Ed Hernandez with only 2,672 voting for Eleni Kounalakis, who secured 50.31% of the state vote. La Canadas political sentiment ran counter to the statewide preference in the race for insurance commissioner, where locals favored an unaffiliated Steve Poizner (4,074 votes) to Democrat Ricardo Lara (2,197), who won the state with 60.14% of the vote. Locals also preferred Republican G. Rick Marshall in the race for State Board of Equalizations 3rd District, with 3,387 votes compared to 2,958 votes for Democrat Tony Vazquez, who went on to seal a statewide win with 70.16% of the vote. Incumbent Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was selected by 3,747 La Canadans to lead in the U.S. Senate, with challenger state Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) trailing with 2,146 local votes. That trend was mirrored statewide, with Feinstein leading with 58.54%. In Californias 28th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) was widely favored by 3,992 of the citys voters, compared to Republican Johnny Nalbandians 2,873. Districtwide, Schiff cinched a 76.66% win. La Canadans voted against repealing the statewide gas tax (3,750 to 3,073 votes) and against Proposition 10, which would have made it easier for municipalities to pursue rent control 4,743 locals were opposed with only 2,143 in favor. City voters also shot down the Water Supply and Water Quality Act, Proposition 3, which called for an $8.8-billion general obligation bond to provide drinking water supply, improvements and services statewide, particularly for disadvantaged California communities. Nina Jazmadarian, general manager of Foothill Municipal Water District (which supported the measure) said Proposition 3 would have helped finance water projects aimed at ensuring safe and reliable water supplies. The financial burden of those costs will result in higher water rates and make it more difficult to complete some of the projects that are planned in southern California to drought-proof the region, Jazmadarian said in an email after the election. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Long before the city of La Canada Flintridge incorporated in 1976 before the United States declared its nationhood in 1776 and before Spanish settlers roamed coastal landscapes a century before that a coast live oak stood tall and proud. As centuries passed the oaks multi-trunk base thickened to a 6-foot diameter as boughs reached heights of 65 feet and its canopy encompassed an 84-foot span. Roads were cleared and homes were built around the spot where the tree and several others like it grew to splendor, near the current intersection of Georgian Road and Oakwood Avenue. At 650 Georgian Road, a single-story ranch home was built in 1952, its floor plan shaped in a semicircular arrangement with the tree at its center. Now, after some 400 years, the mighty oak is slated to come down. City officials received a request for a tree removal permit from new property owner Alan Frank on Oct. 2, accompanied by an arborists report indicating the tree is in poor health. The tree is hazardous and is at risk of falling on persons and property, read the report, prepared by William McKinley, a consulting arborist for Glendale-based McKinley & Associates. The oak is no longer an asset to the subject property but now poses a clear liability. Conducted at the behest of Frank and La Canada architect Dave De Angelis, the report included findings for another large oak tree in the homes frontyard and a sycamore tree. Those were found to be in relatively good shape, and McKinley suggested protective measures to preserve them. But the backyard oaks prognosis was grim. The only reasonable course of action is the complete removal of this tree, stated McKinley, whose findings were corroborated in a letter by La Canada arborist James R. Smith. Several oak species, as well as California sycamores, are protected by the citys tree ordinance but no special status is given to trees whose age and size might be considerations for landmark or heritage designation. On private properties, protected trees cannot be removed without a permit or the owners paying fines from $1,062 to $10,800 for illegal removal. A $291 tree removal permit that can prove disease, liability, damage or hardship to an owners enjoyment of the property preempts restitution. Planning Department employees visited 650 Georgian Road on Oct. 24 and noticed a 16-inch diameter cavity in the trees trunk along with cracked bark tissue and a canker on one side. A large old oak can be seen in the backyard, from the street through an entryway, at 650 Georgian Road, in La Canada Flintridge on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Raul Roa / La Canada Valley Sun) There is significant wood decay in the trunks and stems, causing the tree to begin to lose structural integrity, the citys report indicated. If the tree were to fall, the house and residents would be heavily impacted and potentially injured. The removal permit was approved Nov. 2, on the condition the new owner plant one 48-inch box-sized replacement oak on the property within 90 days. But some whove lived in the neighborhood for decades and who knew the homes previous owners and the arborist who once cared for the oaks, are disappointed by the reports findings and incredulous about the future plans of the property owner, who purchased the home in September. Longtime Beulah Drive resident Dottie Juett worries La Canada is losing its heritage as a tree community through the sanctioned loss of its oaks. Im not going to go to the city and stand up and protest if people are going to do it, theyre going to do it, she said. It just makes me sad. Community Development Director Susan Koleda said the city has not yet received building plans for 650 Georgian Road. Adjacent homeowners have been notified of the trees pending removal. Anyone wishing to appeal the decision to the Planning Commission has until 5 p.m. Friday to submit a request. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get back to the regular racing days at Del Mar. Since Del Mar is running, can there be a better time to talk about Santa Anita? (Just turned out that way, nothing malicious.) Santa Anita announced its stakes schedule for its winter meet and it seems pretty much like usual. There are 64 stakes races, 30 of them graded, eight of which are Grade 1. Opening day on Dec. 26 has the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes and La Brea Stakes. Next up is the Dec. 29 American Oaks. The Big Cap is on March 9, along with the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (and the Grade 2 San Felipe for 3-year-olds). The Beholder Mile is March 16 and the Santa Anita Derby and Oaks are on April 6. Now, the ever-shrinking Santa Anita Handicap has shrunk even more, going from $600,000 to $500,000. It seems as if that money is now with the San Felipe, which went from $400,000 to $500,000. It makes sense. When we cover the stories that day, the attention is always on the San Felipe because of its Kentucky Derby implications and the secondary story is the not-quite-as Big Cap. Still, a pretty good day of racing. Heres the full list of races, and those of you who are viewing on your phone, good luck. Dec. 26 $300,000 Malibu Stakes (Grade I), 3 year olds, 7 furlongs $200,000 Mathis Brothers Mile (Grade II), 3 year olds, 1 mile (turf) $300,000 La Brea Stakes (Grade I), 3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs $300,000 San Antonio Stakes (Grade II), 3 & up, 1 1/16 miles $75,000 Lady Of Shamrock Stakes, 3 year-old fillies, 1 mile (turf) Dec. 28 $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes, 2 year olds, 1 mile (turf) Dec. 29 $300,000 American Oaks (Grade I), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/4 miles (turf) $150,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (Grade III), F/M, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles (turf) Dec. 30 $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile (turf) Jan. 1 $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes, 4 & up, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) Jan. 5 $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (Grade II), 4 & up, 1 1/8 miles (turf) $100,000 Sham Stakes (Grade III), 3 year olds, 1 mile Jan. 6 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (Grade II), 3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs Jan. 12 $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (Grade III), F/M, 4 & up, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) $200,000 La Canada Stakes (Grade II), 4 & up, 1 1/16 miles Jan. 13 $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes, 4 & up, 6 1/2 furlongs Jan. 19 $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (Grade II), 4 & up, 6 furlongs Jan. 20 $75,000 Astra Stakes, 4 & up, 1 1/2 miles (turf) Jan. 21 $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (Grade III), 4 & up, 1 mile (turf) Jan. 26 $100,000 Cal Cup Turf Sprint Stakes, 3 year olds (Cal-bred), 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint, F/M, 4 & up (Cal-bred), 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) $150,000 California Cup Sprint, 4 & up (Cal-bred), 6 furlongs $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, 4 & up (Cal-bred), 1 1/8 miles (turf) Jan. 27 $75,000 Clockers' Corner Stakes, 4 & up (R), 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) Feb. 2 $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes (Grade II), 4 & up, 1 1/8 miles $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Grade III), 3 year olds, 1 1/16 miles $200,000 San Marcos Stakes (Grade II), 4 & up, 1 1/4 miles (turf) Feb. 3 $75,000 Baffle Stakes, 3 year olds, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) Feb. 9 $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes (Grade III), 4 & up, 1 mile (turf) $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (Grade II), 3-year-old fillies, 1 mile Feb. 10 $75,000 Sweet Life Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (Grade II), 3 year olds, 7 furlongs Feb. 16 $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes, 4 & up (R), 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) $250,000 Santa Monica Stakes (Grade II), 4 & up, 7 furlongs Feb. 18 $200,000 California Cup Derby, 3 year olds (Cal-bred), 1 1/16 miles $200,000 California Cup Oaks, 3 year-old fillies (Cal-bred), 1 mile (turf) Feb. 23 $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (Grade II), F/M, 4 & up, 1 mile (turf) Feb. 24 $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes, F/M, 4 & up (Cal-bred), 6 furlongs March 2 $200,000 Pasadena Stakes, 3 year olds, 1 mile (turf) March 3 $100,000 Tiznow Stakes, 4 & up (Cal-bred), 1 mile March 9 $500,000 San Felipe Stakes (Grade II), 3 year olds, 1 1/16 miles $75,000 China Doll Stakes, 3 year-old fillies, 1 mile (turf) $500,000 Santa Anita Handicap (Grade I), 4 & up, 1 1/4 miles $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (Grade I), 4 & up, 1 mile (turf) $200,000 San Carlos Stakes (Grade II), 3 & up, 7 furlongs March 10 $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (Grade III), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles March 16 $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (Grade III), 3 & up, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) $400,000 Beholder Stakes (Grade I), F/M, 3 & up, 1 mile March 17 $100,000 Irish O'Brien Stakes, F/M, 4 & up (Cal-bred), 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) March 23 $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (Grade II), 4 & up, 1 1/2 miles (turf) March 24 $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes, 4 & up (Cal-bred), 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) March 30 $200,000 Santa Ana Stakes (Grade II), F/M, 4 & up, 1 1/4 miles (turf) March 31 $75,000 Santana Mile, 4 & up, 1 mile April 6 $1-million Santa Anita Derby (Grade I), 3 year olds, 1 1/8 miles $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes, 3 year olds (Cal-bred), 6 1/2 furlongs $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes, 3-year-old fillies (Cal-bred), 6 1/2 furlongs $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (Grade I), 3-year-old-fillies, 1 1/16 miles $150,000 Providencia Stakes (Grade III), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles (turf) $200,000 Royal Herione Stakes (Grade II), F/M, 4 & up, 1 mile (turf) April 7 $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (Grade III), F/M, 4 & UP, 6 furlongs Del Mar preview Del Mar has an eight-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. Its one of the few times I just couldnt find a feature to preview, which will make it tough to do the review tomorrow. There are three races worth $54,000, maybe the most interesting being the eighth an allowance/optional claimer going 1 3/8 miles on the turf. There are also two races worth $53,000. So, Im going to leave it up to you figure which race is the most interesting. Here are the field sizes, in order: 7, 8, 6, 8, 9, 8, 7, 10 (1 also eligible). Bob Ikes SA play of the day FIFTH RACE: No. 4 Peachy (10-1) These restricted claimers are not my favorite races to handicap but the price seems right to gamble on this George Papaprodromou-trained filly. She faded on turf last time but returns to the main track, where both of her efforts around two turns have been good, including a maiden claiming win one back despite racing wide. She figures to get a legitimate pace at which to run and might be able to pull off the upset in here. Mondays result: More Ice ($6.00) got bet from 9/2 morning line but split horses in mid-stretch and outkicked a game runner-up to get the victory in the seventh race. Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here's a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy). Golden Gate preview We are back with our weekly look at the best racing going on at Golden Gate Fields. Race caller and all-around good guy Matt Dinerman is our host for previews and other musings. So, take it away, Matt. Some handicappers and horsemen say that the biggest step up in class is from maiden company to competing against proven winners. Tivan, a 2-year-old California-bred gelding, made his first start against winners in the $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes last Sunday and passed the class test with flying colors, sitting off the pace before coming with a ferocious rally down the lane to surge past early pacesetter Tribal War Chant in the final yards. Jerry Hollendorfer trains and veteran Frank Alvarado was the jockey. Our feature race of the week is the Golden Nugget Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward. The six-furlong stake will feature some of the Bay Areas fastest sprinters, including stakes winners Annies Candy, Quick and Silver and hard knockers like J Cs Nightcap, Midnight Ming, Sunset Draggun, Sir Vronski and Touched By Autism. The Stronach 5 wager Leg E (last leg) goes as the fourth race on Friday: a contentious 12-horse starter allowance race over 5 1/2 furlongs. My top pick in the race is #12 Cannonball Comin, who should get a lovely stalking trip from that outside post. I also like #11 Dancing Harbor at a price. The Frank Lucarelli trainee drops in class having just finished five lengths behind Oakland Stakes contender Annies Candy. In other news, Bay Area trainer Jonathan Wong claimed 8-year-old Point Piper off of Hollendorfer in a $10,000 claiming race last weekend at Del Mar. Wong reported on Twitter that Point Piper was doing well after the claim and that he would be retired to stand stud. Point Pipers biggest win came in the 2016 Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs and the 2015 Harry F. Brubaker at Del Mar. Final thought Still looking to jump the circulation of this newsletter. Cant beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you dont like it, then youre probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. If you have any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa And now the star of the show, Thursdays entries. Sail north to Alaska without having to fly first on a new series of round-trip cruises from the Port of Los Angeles. Princess Cruises announced this week that it will launch a full summer season of 14-day Alaska Inside Passage voyages in 2020, sailing round-trip from L.A.'s World Cruise Center in San Pedro. The voyages will take place in May, June and July. Tickets go on sale Nov. 15. Six new sailings are a contrast to the lines current schedule, which includes three round-trip San Pedro sailings to Alaska in 2019 all on less-attractive dates: April 23, 27 and Sept. 17. (Inside cabins begin at $1,349.) Advertisement Round-trip cruises are sought after by people who prefer not to fly and by those who enjoy spending more time at sea. Most Alaska cruises depart from Seattle or from Vancouver or Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Many are weeklong cruises that end or begin in Anchorage, necessitating more air miles for Southern Californians. Round-trip Alaska cruises departing from L.A. visit the Inside Passage plus Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Glacier Bay; and Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to California. Various Princess ships will sail the 2019 voyages. The 2020 voyages will be aboard Grand Princess, which holds 2,600 passengers. Prices are not yet set for the 2020 voyages. Princess Cruises will celebrate 50 years of sailing to Alaska in 2019. Info: Princess Cruises, (800) 774-6237, or contact a travel agent ALSO Dumb and dumber: Do these things on a cruise and you could be in a world of trouble Mauis Wailea resorts are best in Hawaii, Conde Nast Travelers readers say Plan your Thanksgiving travel to avoid L.A.'s worst holiday traffic times and the worst time to drive to LAX travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Hundreds of Central Americans from the migrant caravan that drew indignation from President Trump are now waiting near the U.S. border in Tijuana, with thousands more expected to arrive within days. Caravan members say they are undeterred by warnings from the Trump administration that few will be granted political asylum and those who claim it will face long detentions as they wait for court appearances. Maybe Trump will change his mind, said Paula Quintanilla, 26, a Honduran national traveling with her 11-year-old son, both of whom were among multitudes walking along a highway on Tuesday headed north from the Mexican city of Guadalajara. Weve gone through a lot. We cant go back now. Her group of several thousand migrants was advancing toward Mexicos Sonora state, which borders Arizona. Advertisement Trump, who labeled the caravan an invasion, called its members very bad thugs and gang members and deployed troops to the Southwest border, has made only scant public mention of the issue since last weeks U.S. midterm elections. But the caravan has kept moving, no longer a single column but disjointed groups and stragglers spread out for hundreds of miles in western Mexico. The caravan consists of roughly 5,500 people, mostly Honduran citizens, according to Mexican authorities. The group set off a month ago from Honduras and crossed illegally into southern Mexico from Guatemala about a week later. Caravan members have since traveled more than 1,000 miles through Mexico on foot and in vehicles. Migrants traveling with a caravan hoping to reach the U.S. border hitch a ride on a truck on the highway between Mazatlan and Culiacan in Mexico on Nov. 14, 2018. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) Some have peeled off and returned home, or applied for refugee status to remain in Mexico. But others including some citizens of Mexico have joined the northbound voyagers en route. Many participants say traveling with large groups is safer and cheaper than paying thousands of dollars to smugglers. Maybe there is a chance we can get in, said Guillermo Vizcarra, 59, a Mexican citizen who said he joined the caravan in Mexico because he was keen to see his 28-year-old daughter, who lives in the Chicago area, and two grandchildren, ages 8 and 2. Its worth a try, added Vizcarra, who spoke on the highway headed north from Guadalajara. Officials in Guadalajara, Mexicos second most populous city, said they had provided aid in recent days to more than 6,000 northbound migrants, including Central Americans, Mexicans and South Americans. On Wednesday, hundreds of caravan members remained stuck on roads in western Mexico after traveling through Guadalajara. Mexican police and other authorities were trying to get them off the highway and gather the migrants together in safe areas while arranging for rides north. Chaotic scenes unfolded beneath highway overpasses and at toll plazas as migrants lugging backpacks, sleeping rolls and other luggage jumped on tractor trailers, pickups and other vehicles. Some begged for coins from motorists. Many assailed Mexican authorities for not providing buses. This was one of hardest stretches, said Jose Ryneris de Benavidez as he arrived at a gas station along a rural stretch of highway in the western state of Nayarit, where police were securing transportation for exhausted migrants and aid workers provided food, water and medical attention. We walked and walked, and couldnt find a ride all day until the end, said Ryneris, who had traveled from Honduras with his wife and their two small children. Among those providing assistance at the gas station was a contingent of Catholic nuns who have been traveling with the caravan for weeks. Keep your spirits up! We are getting closer! Sister Berta Lopez Chavez advised a group. Once in Tijuana, we are in Gods hands. Special correspondents Cecilia Sanchez in Mexico City and Liliana Nieto del Rio in Guadalajara contributed to this report. patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT Lincoln Falls to #1 Irwin (OCILLA, GA) The Red Devils were outscored 51-27 by #1 ranked Irwin County Friday night to end the season in the 2nd round of the... Last call for Pioneer Day participation Pioneer Day, Lincolntons largest attended event of the year, is this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m, and all those with an interest in... 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 The school calendar for 2022-23 was finalized by the Lincoln County Board of Education in their November 9 meeting, along with the purchase of a... China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday adopted their first medium and long-term plan to guide the future development of their strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. The China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 was endorsed at the 21st China-ASEAN summit on Wednesday. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose country holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year, said in the opening remarks of the summit that the plan will chart the future direction of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership. He said ASEAN and China share a strong, substantial and mutually beneficial relationship and bilateral economic ties are "robust," adding that China has been ASEAN's top trade partner for continued years and the upgraded bilateral free trade agreement will open up new opportunities for businesses and further increase two-way trade. The Singaporean prime minister also highlighted the progress made by the two sides over negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which he said is close to finishing line. He said the two sides have also deepened mutual trust and understanding to manage their differences peacefully and in a spirit of goodwill, adding that they have announced a single draft negotiating text to commence the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. China has pledged that ASEAN is a priority of China's diplomacy and will support the construction of the ASEAN Community and its centrality in regional cooperation in East Asia. Established in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. On the surface it would appear the power dynamic in Pennsylvania state government changed little as a result of the Nov. 6 General Election. Gov. Tom Wolf was re-elected and Republicans retained solid control of both the state House and the state Senate. Back from where we started? Not quite. The 2018 election cycle saw the continuation of two trends: the drift of Democrats into the arms of the socialist Left, and a Republican power shift from the Philadelphia suburbs to the more conservative central and western parts of the state. Gov. Wolf has often (and for good reason) been labeled the most liberal governor in America. To the degree that lieutenant governors matter, the states new second banana will push him even further in that direction. Lt. Gov.-elect John Fetterman is a Bernie Sanders-style socialist. He replaces the hapless Mike Stack, a Philadelphia pol more interested in the power dynamics of politics than ideology. Wolf titled to the far Left to win his first primary four years ago and clearly felt at home. He went on to propose tax hikes that exceeded those offered by governors in all 49 other states combined and has remained a staunch advocate for Left-wing policies ever since. Fetterman, and the avowed socialists who upended traditional Democrats in the primary to claim seats in the General Assembly, are certain to fortify his position. As liberal policies made the city more and more unlivable Philadelphia Democrats fled to the suburbs. There they have continued voting into office candidates who espouse the very same policies that destroyed the city. As a result, the four counties surrounding Philadelphia which had for decades been the epicenter of Republican power in the state have trended Democrat. If there was a blue wave this election year it crashed ashore in those counties. The numbers could change a bit as the official count progresses, but Republicans lost 13 state House seats and four state Senate seats in that region. It is rare for more than three or four incumbents to lose statewide in a given election cycle, so the GOP wipeout in southeastern Pennsylvania can rightly be described as a blue tidal wave. Continuing the westward shift of the statewide GOP, Republicans partially offset their losses in the southeast by flipping three Democrat seats, one in Bucks County and two elsewhere in the state. Republicans held historically high majorities in both state legislative chambers. Thus the losses left them in solid control, but with margins closer to the historical average. What the election did do was to shift the ideological center of both the House and Senate Republican caucuses away from southeastern liberalism into the mainstream conservatism that is popular in the balance of the state. While legislative Democrats voted in lockstep with their leadership, Republican legislative leaders had the more difficult task of moving conservative policies advocated by their caucus majority, while trying to appease their southeastern members. The goal was to hold onto those southeastern seats it didnt work. The end result is absent the need to protect its members from suburban Philadelphia because well, they are no longer there legislative Republicans are now free to stand firmly against the socialist policies Gov. Wolf and Democrats are sure to pursue. This means Pennsylvanias divided state government has become even more divided. The first battle will come in a matter of weeks when Governor Tom Wolf proposes his next state budget. It is sure to be chock full of tax hikes and new spending. Republicans effectively blocked the more radical elements of his agenda during the governors first term. A more conservative majority should be able to do so in the years ahead. Thus have voters across Pennsylvania put into effect all the elements needed for epic policy and budget battles which are likely to end in gridlock. Given the fact that most legislation that actually passes expands the dependency state at the expense of taxpayers gridlock may be the best outcome. Lowman S. Henry is chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research in Harrisburg. His email is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org This content is from: Patents Warner-Lambert patent was insufficiently disclosed and would not have been infringed by generics even if the claims were valid, in a ruling that raises the bar for plausibility of Swiss form claims The Philippine National Police said Thursday it will include La Union province in its election hot spots following the latest ambush-slaying of Balaoan Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcion and the wounding of her daughter Aleli and eight others by still unidentified armed men. For obvious reasons La Union will be included in the hot spots during the elections, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said. He made his statement even as Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday called on the police to focus on the political situation in La Union following the killings of local officials. I think they should also address the issue of gun-for-hire groups, said Lacson who served as police chief under the Estrada administration. The PNP has already listed La Union in the election watch list, including the provinces of Abra, Masbate, Zamboanga and Lanao del Sur which have been marred by killings apparently linked to the 2019 elections. A councilor aspirant in Zamboanga, Teomila Nobleza, was planning to file her certificate of candidacy for the 2019 elections when unidentified armed man shot her dead. In Placer, Masbate, Councilor Antonio de Ocampo, who is also planning to run in the 2019 elections, was killed by armed men while his child was wounded in the attack. A day after the killing, Albayalde said they hadnt had any vital information at hand as to the people who could shed light on the shooting incident that also resulted in the death of Concepcions security aide, Michael Ulep.A Special Investigation Task Group has been formed but it has yet to establish the motive for the ambush. But Albayalde is hoping that Concepcion, who is in stable condition in hospital and under heavy guard, could provide crucial information leading to the identification of the armed behind his ambush. Hopefully she [the mayor] could identify the assailants but we have to give her space to recover fully, Albayalde said. While putting La Union in the election hot spots, Albayalde, on the other hand, has to wait for the decision of the Commission on Elections as to whether the poll body will put the province under its control. Albayalde remained clueless as to the circumstances surrounding the ambush, saying the two politicians were not in the drug watch list, but linked the ambush to political rivalry based on previous incidents. In light of the ambush, some candidates have requested police security. Meanwhile, Alabayalde said a tracker team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 3 had already launched a manhunt against gun-for-hire leader Ricardo Peralta. SingaporeChinese Presidentfrom Nov. 20 to 21 upon the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Palace announced Thursday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the two leaders will exchange views on areas of mutual concern and chart the course for the future Philippines-China bilateral relations. Panelo could not say if there were any major agreements that would be signed during the visit, saying only that it was a good opportunity to discuss certain issues that require attention. READ: Philippine, China working on state visit of Xi Jinping to Manila Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he still has to work on the arrangements for Xis visit. Were working on that. Theres a whole list here of things to talk about. Were still finalizing it. I have to go to Papua New Guinea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, said Locsin in a press conference Thursday afternoon hours before the closing ceremony of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Singapore. Of course, Ill rush back [to the country] immediately to finalize it, he added. Xis historic visit to the country comes after his attendance at the APEC 2018 from Nov. 16 to 17 in Papua New Guinea. Duterte will also attend the summit with his delegation. Xis will be the first visit of a Chinese president to the country in 13 years.In 2005, Chinese president Hu Jintao made a state visit to the country under the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The two forged stronger ties as Hu visit coincided with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The last time Xi visited Manila was in November 2015 during the APEC hosted by the Philippines. Duterte had invited Xi to visit the Philippines during all of his three trips to China dated October 2016, May 2017, and this April. In preparation for Xis visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi flew to Davao City in late October to meet with Duterte and Locsin. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had also made an official visit to Manila in November 2017, marking his first time in 10 years. The Duterte administration, however, has not yet given any details about Xis schedule in the Philippines, what issues will be discussed, and what specific agreements will be forged during his visit. The Palace had earlier said there are plans for a framework agreement on joint exploration for oil and gas to be signed in time for Xis visit. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay said Thursday his daughter, incumbent Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, deserved to be reelected in the May 2019 midterm polls because she performed well and had shown genuine compassion for her constituents compared to her predecessor. Binay said public services and government operations were ignored and declined during the time of Mayor Romulo Pena Jr. and these included significant benefits for residents he initiated during his term as Makati mayor. She showed very good performance. She deserves to be reelected, Binay told a forum in Manila. Binay, now running for a House seat to represent Makatis 1st district, served as city chief executive from 1986 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010 before he was elected vice president in 2010. Abigail is the official candidate for mayor of the United Nationalist Alliance chaired by her father. She is running against her brother, also former Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun Binay. Binay said the city under the leadership of his daughter regained its fiscal strength, with 90 percent of the 2018 targetor P14.17 billionalready met in August. Some 3,378 new business establishments in Makati were recorded by the Business Permit and Licensing Office from January to Sept.10 this year. The city government noted a significant increase in the number of permit renewals with 33,729 posted as of Sept. 10, which topped by more than 900 last years total of 32,790 renewals. This shows that Makati remains the location of choice for local and foreign businesses. With more revenues, Mayor Abby said her administration could continue expanding and adding new benefits for residents, particularly in health, education and social welfare. Just last week, the Commission on Audit declared Makati as the countrys richest city, with total assets reaching P196.5 billion. It is also the first and only local government to exceed the P100-billion mark.For more than five years, Makati was outranked by Quezon City as the richest locality. Since Mayor Abby took office in July 2016, the city government has implemented reforms at City Hall to facilitate business registration and promote transparency, including an aggressive campaign against fixers. She also ordered the strict monitoring of businesses for compliance with relevant laws, in line with her thrust to restore discipline and respect for the law in the city. Under her leadership, Makati earned the first-ever unqualified audit opinion of the Commission on Audit in the latters audit report for calendar year 2017. This means that the financial statements of the city government conform with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and that they fairly represent the citys financial accounts. It was also in 2017 that the city posted, for the first time in 12 years, a two-digit increase in revenue collections. Makati City also met the performance target set by the Bureau of Local Government Finance under the Department of Finance in 2017. Makati achieved 100 percent of the BLGFs total locally-sourced income target for 2017 amounting to P14.25 billion, after its actual collections from local sources reached P14.26 billion in November of 2017. Under the administration of Mayor Abby, Makati has registered its highest revenue collection in years without increasing taxes. From July to December 2016, her first six months in office, the city government had topped by over P600 million the revenue collection for the same period in 2015 under the previous administration. (Photo: Liu Qing/People's Daily Online) Officials from China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) see potential to build on their bilateral relations as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to make his first state visit to the Pacific island nation. Xi will be there November 15 and 16. He last met with Pacific island leaders in 2014 at the G20 Leaders summit in Fiji. PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said his country and China share positions and values on international issues such as climate change and free trade. Being the largest and most populous Pacific island country, PNG is an important partner for China. President Xi and Prime Minister O'Neill have met several times previously and there are now increased exchanges between the two countries in economics, trade and humanities. China-PNG relations are part of the successful story of China's relations with island countries and South-South cooperation, Chinas State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Port Moresby on October 31. As PNGs partner, China has offered support for infrastructure improvements and for Papua New Guinea, the opportunity to host this weekends Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting could lift its worldwide profile and attract more investment opportunities. On different occasions, Chinese Ambassador to PNG Xue Bing and Prime Minister O'Neill have both mentioned that the two countries complement each other economically and that there is potential for more cooperation. Xue stressed that PNG is rich in natural resources while China has advantages in capital, technology and the market. Among Pacific island countries, PNG is China's second largest trading partner and China is the third largest trading partner of PNG. Being China's largest investment destination in the Pacific, PNG has attracted almost $3.04 billion in direct investment from China. About 40 Chinese-funded enterprises are operating in PNG, creating local job opportunities. The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark sailed to the PNG capital Port Moresby in July on a humanitarian mission. The vessel, which last visited the country four years ago, conducted joint medical diagnoses, treatment and academic exchanges with local hospital staff. In a recent interview with China Central Television, Prime Minister O'Neill announced that PNG had joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in May this year and became the first Pacific island nation to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative with China. He said that participating in the BRI will enable PNG to obtain capital and infrastructure construction capabilities and broaden the market for its commodities, which will benefit both PNG and the entire South Pacific region. Many BRI projects have been undertaken in PNG in recent years, including ports, roads and bridges to improve access for local people, especially those in isolated areas. People in many villages have connected to the outside world via roads, O'Neill added. Stocks Could End 2018 With A Dramatic Rally We are pleased to bring this new analysis to everyones attention because we strongly believe the bears and the shorts are in for a wild ride throughout the rest of 2018. Our research team, at www.TheTechnicalTraders.com, have gone over the chart using our advanced predictive and price modeling tools and we are going to show you why we believe the ES could rally +400 points or more before the end of 2018 leaving the shorts/bears wishing they had read this research. Before we get too carried away, we need to highlight one thing regarding the current price setup we are illustrating with these charts. A Price Anomaly has setup because of this deep October 2018 price correction. This move has resulted in many industry researchers calling for further downside price action as they fear the beginning of a far deeper price decline in the future. We believe this conclusion is absolutely false. The price anomaly is the result of effective price rotation within volatility ranges that are acceptable to continue the current upward/bullish price trend and our modeling/research applications are suggesting we are about to see a +400 point rally in the ES (+11% or more; likely targeting 3100 or higher). Lets get into the charts and the data. First, our TT Charger price modeling tool on an ES Weekly chart shows how volatility and price work hand-in-hand to create acceptable ranges of price rotation while still maintaining price trends. At this point, on the hard right edge of the chart, we can see the Oct 2018 deep price rotation fell to near our support levels (near 2650 & 2588) before rebounding higher over the past two weeks. Within this type of Price Anomaly setup, it is not uncommon for the price to over-shoot the targets before rebounding back towards the target levels. This chart showing out Adaptive Dynamic Learning price modeling system highlights the Price Anomaly event as well as highlights the upside price ranges/targets that we are expecting to play out over the next few months. Please pay special attention to the Aug/Sept 2018 price targets below 2600 that represent the Price Anomaly. When our predictive modeling systems identify outliers like this, it usually means there is a potential for a price anomaly event to occur. We call it a price anomaly event because the price may rotate and target these outlier areas in a broader price trend (in this case higher). This type of setup creates an incredible opportunity for skilled traders to trade the reversion price trend, higher in this case, after the price anomaly event is completed. As you can see from this chart, we are expecting the price to recover quickly to near 2900 with a strong potential for higher prices in early 2019. Before we continue, we want to share some data that supports our research and to alert you as to why we believe this upside price move could be dramatic and very profitable for skilled traders. One of the tools we use is a Probability Factoring Model while helps us understand what to expect in future price periods (Weeks, Months, Quarters). This tool helps us to understand if there is a predominant bias in price over a certain period of time or not. For example, it identified that October and November are typically very weak for Crude Oil and alerted us to the potential of falling oil prices in late September 2018. Right now, these are the results for November and December 2018. =================================================== Analysis for the month = 11 Total Monthly Sum : 484.75 across 22 bars Largest Monthly POS : 79 NEG -119.75 Total Monthly NEG : -266.5 across 5 bars Avg = -53.30 Total Monthly POS : 751.25 across 17 bars Avg = 44.19 =================================================== Analysis for the month = 12 Total Monthly Sum : 420.75 across 21 bars Largest Monthly POS : 93.25 NEG -57 Total Monthly NEG : -121.5 across 4 bars Avg = -30.38 Total Monthly POS : 542.25 across 17 bars Avg = 31.90 By reviewing this analysis, we can see that for the month of November 2018, the bias is clearly positive (17 bars positive vs. 5 negative; 3:1 ratio) and the upside price activity clearly outperforms the downside price activity (+751.25 vs. -266.50). Resulting in a +484.75 upside bias result. For December 2018, the results are equally impressive. A 4:1 upside bias ratio with a +420.75 upside bias result. Please keep in mind that these results DO NOT mean the ES is going to climb 900 points between now and the end of the year. What we can pull from these results is that there is a clear upside price bias for both months and that we should expect, roughly, at least 50% of this pricing bias to materialize. This means about 200~220 points in November and about 180~200 points in December totaling about 400+ points overall. Anything beyond that would be considered an extended price move higher based on this research. Additionally, we would like to disclose that these analysis tools do not guarantee anything in terms of future price activity. We cant attempt to guarantee any future price moves or activity based on our research. We simply attempt to use our proprietary tools to assist our members and followers in an attempt to stay ahead of these market moves so we can profit from them. It is our opinion that the markets are poised for an incredible upside price advance from the correlative and combined research presented by our proprietary price modeling and adaptive learning systems. It is hard to argue the facts that the price anomaly predicted this downside price rotation when we called this move on September 17th (nearly 45 days before it actually happened). At that time, we called for an ultimate price bottom to occur between November 8 and November 12. After that, we expected the markets to rally into the end of 2018 and well into 2019. You can read all of our public research by visiting www.TheTechnicalTraders.com/FreeResearch/ . Our members are kept aware of these trends, rotations, cycles, rotations, and setups every day with our Daily videos and other research posts. Additionally, we issue very clear trade alerts to our members so they can take advantage of timely trading signals for profits. Get ready for an incredible end to 2018 and a fantastic 2019 by joining our other members in creating greater success at www.TheTechnicalTraders.com . Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Finally, after months of fraught negotiations, the UK-EU negotiators have come up with a proposed deal. Written on the side, however, are instructions: light the blue touchpaper and stand well clear. All hell is about to break loose. From the point of view of big business, the draft deal is not too bad, tying the British economy to Europe. But for Tory Brexiteers, in particular, the deal is toxic. Mrs May has attempted to defend the interests of business. But this has come at the cost of opening up civil war in the Tory Party. After a five-hour cabinet meeting, despite heated divisions, the Prime Minister was able to force through an agreement. Her ultimatum was effectively: either my deal, or no deal and no Brexit. Apparently 10 or 11 ministers opposed her in this meeting, but they eventually acquiesced. It was a collective agreement at the point of a gun. Decisive stepover a cliff edge This is a decisive step, said May, which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead. But such soothing assurances should be taken with a bucket load of salt. There will be no moving on. These latest departures follow on from a series of high profile resignations over the past year, as the question of Brexit tears the Tory Party apart / Image: Socialist Appeal Things have already begun to quickly unravel. Two cabinet ministers have resigned: the pensions secretary Esther McVey and, more importantly, the minister responsible for negotiating Britains exit from the EU, Dominic Raab. Raab had only been in the job a few months, following the resignation of David Davis, who stepped down as Brexit secretary after the announcement of the proposed Chequers deal in the summer. These latest departures follow on from a series of high profile resignations over the past year, as the question of Brexit tears the Tory Party apart. It seems likely that others will follow, putting Mays future as party leader and prime minister in serious question. The Tories: a sinking ship This is the most serious government crisis in living memory. Mays government is tottering on the edge of a precipice. It is holed below the waterline, sinking fast. All attempts to plug the gaps seem ineffective. The water continues to flood in. Soon they will all be up to their necks. Ironically, a few days after the Armistice commemorations, the German newspaper Der Spiegel put it well by stating that May had dodged a bullet in the cabinet. It would be more appropriate to say a hail of bullets. The deal has antagonised all sides. Now May is fighting to save her own political skin. She has risked everything for the sake of the country, the so-called national interest in other words, the interests of big business. Brexit has been a mess from the beginning. Cameron gambled and lost. And now the ruling class are faced with the consequences. The Tory Party is going to be torn to shreds. Europe has poisoned the Tory Party and is in the process of destroying it. Epic fail For the bankers and capitalists, the thought of a no-deal Brexit was too daunting for words. It would be a calamity for their markets and profits. They are doing everything in their power to prevent this. They clearly twisted Mays arm to accept a soft Brexit and she obeyed. According to the draft agreement, leaving aside all the details, Britain would remain closely tied to Europe, either in a trade agreement or in a backstop. Britain would have to accept EU laws to provide a level playing ground. This customs arrangement could be extended indefinitely, if no further agreement is reached. This would be a Brexit in name only. Jacob Rees-Mogg, who urged rebellion, comparing the situation to the fight against King John / Image: fair use This has sent the Tory Brexiteers into a frenzy, who have threatened to depose her. As Tory MP, Conor Burns, stated: I have consistently said we dont want to change the PM, we want to change the policy of the PM. However there comes a point where if the PM is insistent that she will not change the policy, then the only way to change the policy is to change the personnel. The same point was made by Jacob Rees-Mogg, who urged rebellion, comparing the situation to the fight against King John. There comes a point, the arch-Brexiteer Tory MP said, at which the policy and the individual become so intimately connected that it will be very hard to carry on supporting the person who is promoting this policy. Another Eurosceptic MP described Raabs resignation as the end game for Mrs Mays leadership. If the guy who was supposed to be leading it cant support it, he added, then how can MPs or the country. Its a horror show. Theres no way back. She has just got to go. This is an epic fail. General election on the cards The writing is therefore on the wall for Theresa May. All a Tory leadership challenge would take is for the 1922 backbench committee to receive 48 letters calling for her to step down to trigger a ballot. Such a vote could happen in days. It is therefore possible that May could be on the verge of being ousted. Even if the Tories find a new leader (possibly Boris Johnson or Rees-Mogg), the government is likely to fall as it would no longer have a majority. A new Tory leader would have to negotiate with Europe and the DUP at the same time, with the reactionary Northern Irish party having little interest now in propping up a Tory government. And without DUP support, the government is finished. The deadline for leaving the EU is 29 March. There is no time to renegotiate another deal. However, all this could be overtaken with a general election in the New Year. If May is deposed and there is no majority, then Jeremy Corbyn, being the leader of the opposition party, will be asked to form a government. Without a majority for this, the only option will be a general election. Uncharted waters Even if May survives, which cannot be ruled out, after the Europeans have endorsed the deal, it will be placed before the House of Commons, which is likely before Christmas. The deal has already attracted widespread opposition from all sides. Both wings of the Labour Party are against it. Seemingly both wings of the Tory Party are also against it. The nationalist parties are opposed, as are the Lib Dems and the DUP. With the deal thrown out by parliament, Mays authority would be zero. We can be pretty confident that this is the end game for her government / Image: fair use Mays negotiated deal therefore looks very unlikely to get through parliament. Meanwhile, there is no time to renegotiate a new deal and the EU is not interested in extending the 29 March deadline. Clearly we are in uncharted waters. Things are only going to get more complicated from here. Corbyn correctly should vote down Mays deal and try to force a general election. This is the only alternative. With the deal thrown out by parliament, Mays authority would be zero. We can be pretty confident that this is the end game for her government. This is an alarming position for big business to be in, without a deal so far agreed. They will try their hardest to put pressure on MPs and cobble together a soft Brexit. But that may have to wait until the outcome of a new general election. A new chapter The likelihood of a general election, and the election of a Corbyn Labour government, opens up a new chapter and new challenges in Britain. The deepening crisis of British capitalism will continue regardless of the exact outcome. The only way forward for a Corbyn government is the implementation of bold socialist policies in the interests of the working class / Image Socialist Appeal The deepening crisis of British capitalism will continue regardless of the exact outcome. The only way forward for a Corbyn government is the implementation of bold socialist policies in the interests of the working class. This is the only way we can take back control, in the fight for a socialist Britain and a socialist Europe. The following is an introduction to the latest publication by Marxist Books, The Revolutionary Philosophy of Marxism, by the editor of In Defence of Marxism, Alan Woods. This new selection of writings on dialectical materialism is now available for purchase at a special launch price on MarxistBooks.com. I was delighted to learn of the plan of the comrades of the US section of the IMT to publish an anthology of basic writings on Marxist philosophy. Every specialized branch of human activity presupposes a certain level of understanding and study. This applies as much to carpentry as to brain surgery. The idea that we can get along without some degree of learning is in flat contradiction to everyday experience. If I go to the dentist and he says to me, I have never studied dentistry and know nothing about it, but open your mouth and I will have a go, I think I would make a hasty exit. If Im experiencing problems with my central heating and a man comes to my house, pulls a hammer out of his bag and says: I know nothing about plumbing, but show me your central heating system and I will learn by trial and error, I would certainly show him where the exit is. Most people would not dream of expressing an informed opinion about brain surgery or quantum mechanics without specialized knowledge of these fields, but matters seem to be quite different when it comes to Marxism. It seems that anyone can express an opinion about Marxism without having read a single line of what Marx and Engels actually wrote. This statement applies just as muchin fact, far moreto the so-called academic experts who write books attacking Marxism, which clearly show that they have not read Marx, or if they have read a little, they have not understood a single word of it. Alan Woods speaking at the launch of The Revolutionary Philosophy of Marxism at the 2018 Northeast Regional Marxist School in NYC: This situation is sufficiently lamentable, but even more unfortunate is the fact that many people who call themselves Marxists are equally ignorant of the writings of Marx and Engels. In my experience, even many people who consider themselves to be Marxist cadres rarely bother to plumb the depths of Marxist theory in all its richness and variety. All too often they merely skate over the surface, repeating thoughtlessly a few slogans and quotes taken out of context which they have learned by rote, the genuine content of which remains a closed book for them. Many people think they know what Marxism is. Over time they have become familiar with some of the basic ideas. But what is familiar is not understoodprecisely because it is familiar. A long time ago I read something that Hegel wrote that made a deep impression on me. I cannot remember where I read it and I am writing from memory: Aber was bekannt ist, ist darum noch nicht erkannt (But what is known is not on that account understood). Nowhere is this affirmation clearer than in the very important area of philosophy. It is too often forgotten that Marxism began as a philosophy, and the philosophical method of Marxism is of fundamental importance in understanding the ideas of Marx and Engels. It is too often forgotten that Marxism began as a philosophy, and the philosophical method of Marxism is of fundamental importance in understanding the ideas of Marx and Engels / Image: Adam Jones Here, however, we are confronted with a difficulty. The most systematic account of dialectics is contained in the writings of Hegel, in particular his massive work The Science of Logic. But the reader can soon be disheartened by the highly inaccessible way in which Hegel sets forth his ideasabstract and abstruseEngels called it, while Lenin commented that reading The Science of Logic was the best way of getting a headache. Marx intended to write a work on dialectical materialism in order to make available to the general reader the rational kernel of Hegels thought. Unfortunately, he died before he could do so. Marxs indefatigable comrade, Friedrich Engels, wrote a number of brilliant studies on dialectical philosophy including Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of German Classical Philosophy, Anti-Duhring, and The Dialectics of Nature. The last-named work was intended to be the basis for a longer work on Marxist philosophy, but unfortunately, Engels was prevented from completing it by the immense work of finishing the second and third volumes of Capital, which Marx left unfinished at his death. It is true that, scattered throughout the works of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky, and Plekhanov, one can find a very large amount of material on this subject, but it would take a very long time to extract all this information. Over 20 years ago, in collaboration with my comrade and teacher, Ted Grant, I wrote a book called Reason in Revolt. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first attempt to apply the method of dialectical materialism to the results of modern science since Engels wrote The Dialectics of Nature. But the task of putting together a more or less systematic exposition of Marxist philosophy still remains to be done. For some time, I have been planning to write a work of Marxist philosophy that will hopefully present the ideas of Hegel in a way that will be more accessible to the general reader. Unfortunately, this work has been delayed by other tasks, mainly the production of the complete version of Trotskys Stalin. I hope to complete this task in the not too distant future. In the meantime, the present anthology will prove of invaluable assistance to the student of scientific socialism who wishes to acquire a better grasp of Marxist philosophy, and I welcome its publication with every possible enthusiasm. The decay of modern philosophy The attitude of most people these days regarding philosophy is usually one of indifference or even contempt. As far as modern philosophy is concerned this is quite understandable. The fiddling and fussing about meaning and semantics strikingly resembles the rarefied atmosphere and convoluted debates of the medieval Schoolmen who argued endlessly over the sex of angels and how many angels could dance on the head of the needle. For the past one-and-a-half centuries, the realm of philosophy has resembled an arid desert with only the occasional trace of life. One will search in vain in this wasteland for any source of illumination. It is hard to say what is worse: the intolerable pretensions of so-called postmodernism, or the obvious emptiness of its content. The treasure trove of the past, with its ancient glories and flashes of illumination seems utterly extinguished. With the latest craze for so-called postmodernism, bourgeois philosophy has reached its nadir. The meager content of this trend has not prevented its adherents from assuming the most absurd airs and graces, accompanied by an arrogant contempt for the great philosophers of the past. When we examine the cesspit of modern philosophy, the words of Hegel in the Preface to the Phenomenology of Mindimmediately spring to mind: By the little which can thus satisfy the needs of the human spirit we can measure the extent of its loss. The contempt for philosophy, or rather, the complete indifference that most people display towards it is richly deserved. But it is unfortunate that in turning aside from the present-day philosophical swamp, people neglect the great thinkers of the past who, in contrast to the modern charlatans, were giants of human thought. One can learn a great deal from the Greeks, Spinoza, and Hegel, who were pioneers, who prepared the way for the brilliant achievements of Marxist philosophy and can rightly be considered as an important part of our revolutionary heritage. Empiricism versus dialectics The Anglo-Saxon world in general has proved remarkably impervious to philosophy. Insofar as they possess any philosophy, the Americans and their English cousins have limited the scope of their thought to the narrow boundaries of empiricism and its soulmate, pragmatism. Broad generalizations of a more theoretical character have always been regarded with something akin to suspicion. Philosophy is abstract thought, but philosophical generalizations are alien to the Anglo-Saxon tradition. The empiricist tradition is impatient with generalizations. It constantly demands the concrete, the facts, but in confining itself to this narrow approach, it constantly misses the forest for the trees. For everyday purposes, empirical forms of thought may suffice, but for more complex processes, the narrowness of empiricism immediately becomes an obstacle / Image: public domain In its day, empiricism played a most progressive, and even revolutionary role in the development of human thought and science. However, empiricism is helpful only within certain limits. In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the empirical school of thought associated with the name of Sir Francis Bacon exercised a contradictory influence upon subsequent developments. On the one hand, by stressing the need for observation and experiment, it gave a stimulus to scientific investigation. On the other hand, it gave rise to the narrow empiricist outlook that has had a negative effect on the development of philosophical thought, above all, in Britain and the United States. That peculiarly Anglo-Saxon aversion to theory, the tendency towards narrow empiricism, the slavish worship of the facts, and a stubborn refusal to accept generalizations, has dominated educated thought in Britain and, by extension, the United States, for so long that it has acquired the character of a rooted prejudice. For the empirical thinker, nothing exists except in its outward manifestation. This thought always examines things in their singleness, stillness, and isolation, and ends up examining the idea of a thing, and not the thing itself. Sense perception is thought on a very low and basic level. For everyday purposes, such forms of thought may suffice, but for more complex processes, the narrowness of empiricism immediately becomes an obstacle to a mind that aspires to attain the truth. By the truth we mean human knowledge that correctly reflects the objective world, its laws, and properties. In this sense it does not depend on a subject, as imagined by Bishop Berkeley, Hume, and the other early representatives of English empiricism, who inevitably fell into the swamp of subjective idealism. The demand for the facts Many people only feel secure when they can refer to the facts. Yet the facts do not select themselves. A definite method is required that will help us to look beyond the immediately given and lay bare the processes that lie beyond the facts. Despite claims made to the contrary, it is impossible to proceed from the facts without any preconceptions. Such supposed objectivity has never existed and will never exist. In approaching the facts, we bring our own conceptions and categories with us. These can either be conscious or unconscious, but they are always present. Those who imagine that they can get along quite happily without a philosophyas is the case with many scientistsmerely repeat unconsciously the existing official philosophy of the day and the current prejudices of the society in which they live. It is therefore indispensable that scientists, and thinking people in general, should strive to work out a consistent way of looking at the world, a coherent philosophy which can serve as an adequate tool for analyzing things and processes. The conclusions drawn from sense perception are hypothetical, demanding further proof. Over a long period of observation, combined with practical activity which enables us to test the correctness or otherwise of our ideas, we discover a series of essential connections between phenomena, which show that they possess common features, and belong to a particular genus or species. The process of human cognition proceeds from the particular to the universal, but also from the universal to the particular. It is therefore incorrect and one-sided to counterpose one to the other. Dialectical materialism does not regard induction and deduction as mutually incompatible, but as different aspects of the dialectical process of cognition, which are inseparably connected, and condition one another. Inductive reasoning, in the last analysis, is the basis of all knowledge, since all we know is ultimately derived from observation of the objective world and experience. However, on closer examination, the limitations of a strictly inductive method become clear. No matter how many facts are examined, it only takes a single exception to undermine whatever general conclusion we have drawn from them. If we have seen a thousand white swans and draw the conclusion that all swans are white, and then see a black swan, our conclusion no longer holds good. In The Dialectics of Nature, Engels pointed out the paradox of the empirical school, which imagined that it had disposed of metaphysics once and for all, but actually ended up accepting all kinds of mystical ideas. [This trend] which, exalting mere experience, treats thought with sovereign disdain . . . really has gone to the furthest extreme in emptiness of thought. In the Introduction to The Philosophy of History, Hegel rightly ridicules those historiansall too common in Britainwho pretend to limit themselves to the facts, presenting a spurious facade of academic objectivity, while giving free reign to their prejudices: We must proceed historicallyempirically. Among other precautions we must take care not to be misled by professed historians who . . . are chargeable with the very procedure of which they accuse the philosopherintroducing a priori inventions of their own into the records of the past . . . We might then announce it as the first condition to be observed, that we should faithfully adopt all that is historical. But in such general expressions themselves, as faithfully and adopt, lies the ambiguity. Even the ordinary, the impartial historiographer, who believes and professes that he maintains a simply receptive attitude; surrendering himself only to the data supplied himis by no means passive as regard the exercise of his thinking powers. He brings his categories with him, and sees the phenomena presented to his mental vision, exclusively through these media. And, especially in all that pretends to the name of science, it is indispensable that Reason should not sleepthat reflection should be in full play. To him who looks upon the world rationally, the world in its turn presents a rational aspect. The relation is mutual. But the various exercises of reflectionthe different points of viewthe modes of deciding the simple question of the relative importance of events (the first category that occupies the attention of the historian), do not belong to this place. Bertrand Russell, whose views are diametrically opposed to dialectical materialism, nevertheless makes a valid criticism of the limitations of empiricism, which follows in the same line as Hegels remarks: As a rule, the framing of hypotheses is the most difficult part of scientific work, and the part where great ability is indispensable. So far, no method has been found which would make it possible to invent hypotheses by rule. Usually some hypothesis is a necessary preliminary to the collection of facts, since the selection of facts demands some way of determining relevance. Without something of this kind, the mere multiplicity of facts is baffling (The History of Western Philosophy). Dialectics The term dialectics comes from the Greek dialektike, derived from dialegomai, to converse, or discuss. Originally, it signified the art of discussion, which may be seen in its highest form in the Socratic dialogues of Plato. Setting out from a particular idea or opinion, usually derived from the concrete experiences and problems of life of the person involved, Socrates would, step by step, by a rigorous process of argument, bring to light the inner contradictions contained in the original proposition, show its limitations, and take the discussion to a higher level, involving an entirely different proposition. An initial argumentthesisis advanced. This is answered by a contrary argumentantithesis. Finally, after examining the question thoroughly, dissecting it to reveal its inner contradictions, we arrive at a conclusion on a higher levelsynthesis. This may or may not mean that the two sides reach agreement, but in the very process of developing the discussion itself, the understanding of both sides is deepened, and the discussion proceeds from a lower to a higher level. This is the dialectic of discussion in its classical form. Dialectics is a dynamic view of nature that frees human thought from the rigor mortisof formal logic. The first real exponent of dialectics was a remarkable man, the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (c. 544484 BCE). His work survives today as a series of brief but profound aphorisms, such as the following: Fire lives the death of air, and air lives the death of fire; Water lives the death of earth, and earth lives the death of water. It is the same thing in us that is living and dead, asleep and awake, young and old; each changes place and becomes the other. We step and we do not step into the same stream; we are and are not. These utterances seemed so difficult to understand, because they contradict what is known as the common sense view of the world. So obscure and paradoxical did they appear to his contemporaries that they earned him the nickname of Heraclitus the Dark. They did not understand what he was saying, but he was entirely indifferent to their incomprehension and treated it with scorn: Though this word is true ever more, yet men are as unable to understand it when they hear it for the first time as before they have heard it at all . . . But other men know not what they are doing when awake, even as they forget what they do in sleep. Fools, although they hear, are like the deaf; to them the adage applies that when present they are absent. Heraclitus was able to see what others, who based themselves purely on the empirical evidence of the senses, could not. In a devastating criticism of empiricism, he wrote: Eyes and ears are bad witnesses for men if they have souls that understand not their language. Of course, all our knowledge is ultimately derived from our senses, but sense perception can only tell us part of the story, and not necessarily the most important part. It is sufficient to remember that our senses tell us that the Earth is flat. Hegel, who had a very high opinion of Heraclitus as a philosopher, wrote in his History of Philosophy: Here we see land. There is no proposition of Heraclitus which I have not adopted in my Logic. The psychologist Carl Jung wrote: Old Heraclitus, who was indeed a very great sage, discovered the most marvelous of all psychological laws: the regulative function of opposites . . . A running contrariwise, by which he meant that sooner or later, everything runs into its opposite (Two essays on Analytical Psychology). In Anti-Duhring Engels gives the following appraisal of Heraclituss dialectical world outlook: When we reflect on nature or the history of mankind or our own intellectual activity, at first we see the picture of an endless maze of connections and interactions, in which nothing remains what, where, and as it was, but everything moves, changes, comes into being, and passes away. At first, therefore, we see the picture as a whole, with its individual parts still more or less kept in the background; we observe the movements, transitions, connections, rather than the things that move, change, and are connected. This primitive, naive, but intrinsically correct conception of the world is that of Greek philosophy, and was first clearly formulated by Heraclitus: everything is and is not, for everything is in flux, is constantly changing, constantly coming into being and passing away. . . . Motion is the mode of existence of matter. Never anywhere has there been matter without motion, or motion without matter, nor can there be. In his Dialectics of Nature Engels writes: Change of form of motion is always a process that takes place between at least two bodies, of which one loses a definite quantity of motion of one quality (e.g., heat), while the other gains a corresponding quantity of motion of another quality (mechanical motion, electricity, chemical decomposition). Dialectics, so-called objective [materialist] dialectics, prevails throughout nature, and so-called subjective dialectics, dialectical thought, is only the reflection of the motion through opposites which asserts itself everywhere in nature, and which by the continual conflict of the opposites and their final passage into one another, or into higher forms, determines the life of nature. In Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, Engels wrote: the whole world, natural, historical, intellectual, is represented as a processi.e., as in constant motion, change, transformation, developmentand the attempt is made to trace out the internal connection that makes a continuous whole of all this movement and development. The Hegelian dialectic The dialectical method appears in the writings of Heraclitus in an embryonic, undeveloped form. It was developed to its highest degree by Hegel. However, it appears here in a mystical, idealist form. It was rescued by the theoretical labors of Marx and Engels, who for the first time showed the rational kernel in Hegels thought. In its scientificmaterialistform, the dialectical method provides us with an indispensable tool for understanding the workings of nature, society and human thought. Hegels great dialectical masterpiece was The Science of Logic, the structure of which, he claimed, was an abstraction from the history of philosophy. It resembles the process the mind of a child undergoes when it first starts to receive external perceptions, beginning with the category of being, and from it, moving to more abstractHegel would have said concreteideas. It is necessary to read the great dialectician Hegel from a critical and materialist standpoint, which was what Lenin did in his Philosophical Notebooks / Image: public domain But the basic problem with The Science of Logic lies in the structure of the work itself. As an idealist, Hegel tried to create a philosophical system that, proceeding step by step through all the processes of conscious thought, would lead ultimately to the Absolute Idea, which Feuerbach, correctly, saw as just another name for God. That was also Lenins opinion. He wrote in his Philosophical Notebooks: Hegels Logic cannot be applied in its given form, it cannot be taken as given. One must separate out from it the logical (epistemological) nuances, after purifying them from the mysticism of ideas: that is still a big job. The artificial character of Hegels philosophical system is commented on by Engels in a Nov. 1, 1891 letter to Conrad Schmidt. He remarked that the structure of Hegels Logicis artificial, and that the transition from one category to the other is often made in a forced way. He did this by means of a pun: as in zugrunde gehen in order to get to the category of Grund, reason, ground. As for the Absolute Idea, Engels commented ironically, the problem with this is that Hegel tells us absolutely nothing about it. The attempt to force what was undoubtedly a masterpiece of dialectical thinking into the straitjacket of idealism meant that the work frequently had a forced and arbitrary character. It was, to quote Engels yet again, a colossal miscarriage. Nevertheless, for the patient reader, Hegels Logic offers a vast number of profound and rewarding ideas. Despite its idealist, and often quite obscure, character, it is possible to discern, as if through a distorting mirror, the reflection of material realitynot merely the history of philosophybut the history of society and the laws and processes of nature in general. For this, it is necessary to read Hegel from a critical and materialist standpoint, which was what Lenin did in his Philosophical Notebooks. The law of identity The inclusion in the present anthology of Trotskys brilliant little article The ABC of Materialist Dialectics was an absolutely correct decision. Here, in a few words, the essence of dialectics is explained with impressive clarity. It is hardly surprising that this article has driven the critics of dialectics into paroxysmal rage. It challenges the very basis of the logical conceptions that have dominated philosophy for hundreds of years: the law of identity. The generalizations arrived at over a lengthy period of human development, some of which are considered as axioms, play an important role in the development of thought and cannot be so easily dispensed with. The thought forms of traditional logic play an essential role, establishing elementary rules for avoiding absurd contradictions and following an internally consistent line of argument, but this formalistic way of thinking remains true only within certain limits. The law of identity (a = a) is the basic, dogmatic assumption of all formal logic, and has been for over 2,000 years. It is typical of formal thinking: empty, rigid, and abstract. Dialectical thinking, on the contrary, is concrete, dynamic, and complex in its multiple determinations: it is movement expressed in its most general form. In his book The Metaphysics, Aristotle worked out the principle of non-contradiction: It is impossible that one and the same attribute should belong and not belong to the same subject, considered at the same time and in the same relation. An extension of the same idea is the principle of the excluded middle: If that which is false is only the negation of what is true, then it will be impossible for all to be false: one of the two sides of the contradiction must be true. However, in another of his works, the Organon, Aristotle worked out the basic laws of dialectics. Unfortunately, the ideas of Aristotle have mainly come down to us in the lifeless and scholastic form in which they were preserved by the Church in the Middle Ageslike a corpse preserved in formaldehyde. The Aristotle of formal logic and the syllogism was preserved in a one-sided way, but the Aristotle of the Organon was consigned to oblivion. Since then, logical formalism has generally been utilized as a kind of scholastic deviceor artifice, as Kant correctly observedto avoid reality and, following in the footsteps of the medieval Schoolmen, as a kind of opium to burrow deep into the supposed profundities of the linguistic vacuum, where they dispute endlessly the meaning of words, just as the Schoolmen entertained themselves with endless debates on the sex of angels. Logical Positivism, which dominated Anglo-Saxon philosophy in the 20th century in different disguises, was a worthy inheritor of this bad tradition of medieval Scholasticism, with its obsession with form and linguistic hairsplitting. For these people, dialectics is a book sealed with seven seals. Their way of thinking is completely dogmatic and formalistic. Whether we call it the law of identity or the principle of equivalence really makes no difference. In the end a = a, the same old formal dogma established by Aristotle. The forms may have been changed and expressed as symbols or anything you please, but the content remains what it always was: an empty shell, or as Hegel put it the lifeless bones of a skeleton. The law of identity very clearly states that a given thing is equal to itself (or self-identical, it does not really matter). But, as Trotsky points out, since things in the material world are in a constant state of changethey constantly flow, to use Heraclituss wonderfully profound aphorismthey are never self-identical. Thus, the law of identity is, at best, only a rough approximation. It cannot lay hold of a constantly changing reality. This is precisely the Achilles heel of formal logic. All attempts to eliminate contradiction from logic are the equivalent of attempting to remove contradiction from nature itselfbut contradiction is at the basis of all movement, life, and development. The idea that everything flows has been brilliantly confirmed by the discoveries of modern science, especially physics. In the space of the last 100 years or so, physics has furnished a vast amount of evidence to show that change and motion are fundamental qualities of matter. Engels asserted that motion is the mode of existence of mattera brilliant prediction. But Einstein went much further than that. In 1905 he proved that matter and energy arethe same. It is not possible to understand the dynamics of the world we live in, let alone be a conscious revolutionarythat is, someone who intervenes actively and consciously in the historical processwithout the aid of dialectical thinking. The breakthrough in scientific thinking associated with chaos theory is ample proof of this assertion. Cognition The first law of dialectical materialism is absolute objectivity of consideration: not examples, not digressions, but the thing itself. The basis of all our knowledge is, of course, sensory experience. I experience the world through my senses, and can experience it in no other way. This is the essential content of empiricism. The early empiricistsBacon, Locke, and Hobbeswere materialists. Their battle cry was: Nihil est in intellectu quod non sit prius in sensu (Nothing is in the mind that was not first in the senses). Their insistence upon sensory perception as the basis of all knowledge represented in its day a gigantic leap forward with regard to the empty speculation of the medieval Schoolmen. It paved the way for the rapid expansion of science, based upon empirical investigation, observation, and experiment. Yet, despite its tremendously revolutionary character, this form of materialism was one-sided, limited, and therefore incomplete. It tended to regard the facts as isolated and static. Taken to an extreme, as it was by the likes of Hume and Berkeley, it led to subjective idealism, which denied the existence of a material reality independent of the observer. As Bishop Berkeley put it: Esse est percipi (To be is to be perceived). The early empiricistsBacon, Locke, and Hobbeswere materialists. Their battle cry was: Nihil est in intellectu quod non sit prius in sensu (Nothing is in the mind that was not first in the senses) / Image: public domain The statement I interpret the world through my senses is correct but one-sided. One must add that the world exists independent of my senses. Otherwise, we are left with the absurd proposition that if I close my eyes, the world ceases to exist. This argument was comprehensively demolished by Lenin in his philosophical masterpiece Materialism and Empiriocriticism. In reality, empiricism presents cognition in a very superficial and one-sided manner. Hegel, whose objective idealism is in flat contradiction to subjective idealism, went to great lengths to show that cognition is a process that proceeds through different stages. Of these stages, sensory perception is the lowest, confining itself to the mere statement that it is. But this elementary conception immediately comes into a series of contradictions, if what is being analyzed is considered, not as an isolated atom, but as a process of constant change, in which things can be transformed into their opposites. The process of cognition has two essential elements: a thinking subject and an object of thought. In the Phenomenology of Mind, which Marx described as Hegels voyage of discovery, the great dialectician did not intend to analyze either the one side or the other, but to demonstrate their unity in the process of thought. It was thought itself that was to be examined. However, Hegels method had an inherent weakness. As an idealist, Hegel did not set out from real, concrete, sensuous human thought, but from an idealist abstraction. In reality, we do not think only with our mind but with all our senseswith our whole body in fact. What links humans with the external world (nature) is not abstract thought but human labor, which transforms nature, and at the same time transforms humankind itself. The possibilities of sensory cognition are limited. The cognition of phenomena that are beyond the reach of sensation can only be arrived at through abstract thought, dialectical thought. The object of thought has an inherent beingin German, an sich. The purpose of thought is to turn this being in itself into being for us, i.e., to proceed from ignorance to knowledge. We do not get any closer to the truth by compiling a mass of facts. When we say all animals we do not assume that this amounts to zoology. In Lectures on the Philosophy of History, Hegel pointed out that, It is, in fact, the wish for rational insight, not the ambition to amass a mere heap of requirements, that should be presupposed in every case as possessing the mind of the learner in the study of science. The power of thought lies precisely in its capacity for abstraction, its ability to exclude particulars and arrive at generalizations that express the main and most essential aspects of a given phenomenon. The initial step is merely to obtain a sense of the being as an individual object. This, however, proves to be impossible and compels us to delve deeper into the subject, revealing inner contradictions that provide the impulse for movement and change, in which things turn into their opposite. The unity of opposites For Hegel, the division of the One and the knowledge of its contradictory parts constitutes the essence of dialectics. For the One is the whole consisting of two conflicting and opposite poles. It is only by identifying these contradictory tendencies that a correct knowledge of the object under consideration can be recognised in its true, dynamic reality. Hegels basic idea was that of development through contradictions. To give it another name, dialectics is the logic of contradiction. Whereas traditional (formal) logic attempts to banish contradiction, dialectics embraces it, accepts it as a normal and necessary element of all life and nature. Giordano Bruno, the 16th-century Italian philosopher, astronomer, and mathematicianwhose theories anticipated modern science and whose reward by the Inquisition was to be burned at the stakegave us a charming definition of dialectics when he described it as la divina arte degli opposti (the divine art of opposites). Hegel refers to the restless unity, that underlying tension which is the basis of all matter. The unitycoincidence, identity, and resultant dynamic interplayof opposites is conditional, temporary, transitory, and relative. The mutually exclusive relationship of opposites is absolute, and it is the basis of all movement, change, and evolution. In Moralising Criticism and Critical Morality Marx wrote: It is characteristic of the whole grobianism of sound common sense, which feeds upon the fullness of life and does not stunt its natural faculties with any philosophical or other studies, that where it succeeds in seeing differences, it does not see unity, and that where it sees unity, it does not see differences. If it propounds differentiated determinants, they at once become fossilised in its hands, and it can see only the most reprehensible sophistry when these wooden concepts are knocked together so that they take fire. In the Science of Logic, Hegel begins with the category of Being, with the bare assertion it is. But this statement, despite its apparently commonsensical and concrete characterwe have established the basic fact of existencedoes not get us very far, and in fact leads us to a false conclusion. Pure Being, as Hegel points out, is the same as pure nothing. It is being stripped of all its concreteness and actuality. What appeared to be concrete turns out to be an empty abstraction. Being and nothing are generally considered to be mutually exclusive opposites. But in reality, there can be no being without nothing, and no nothing without being. The unity of being and not being, as Hegel points out, is becoming: the constant movement of change that means that at any given moment, we are, and are not. Life and death are considered to be mutually exclusive opposites. But in fact, death is an integral part of life. Life is not conceivable without death. We begin to die the moment we are born, for in fact, it is only the death of trillions of cells and their replacement by trillions of new cells, that constitutes life and human development. Without death there could be no life, no growth, no change, no development. Thus, the attempt to banish death from lifeas if the two things could be separatedis to arrive at a state of absolute immutability, changeless, static equilibrium, but this is just another name fordeath. For there can be no life without change and movement. I have before me a photograph of a baby, taken many years ago. That baby was me, but no longer exists. A vast number of changes have occurred since that photograph was taken, so that I am no longer what I was. And yet it is possible for me to say to somebody looking at the photograph: oh, thats me, and I would not be telling a lie. This dialectical process was described most beautifully by Hegel in the Preface to The Phenomenology of Mind: "The bud disappears when the blossom breaks through, and we might say that the former is refuted by the latter; in the same way when the fruit comes, the blossom may be explained to be a false form of the plants existence, for the fruit appears as its true nature in place of the blossom. These stages are not merely differentiated; they supplant one another as being incompatible with one another. But the ceaseless activity of their own inherent nature makes them at the same time moments of an organic unity, where they not merely do not contradict one another, but where one is as necessary as the other; and this equal necessity of all moments constitutes alone and thereby the life of the whole." Hegel: "The bud disappears when the blossom breaks through... the former is refuted by the latter... But the ceaseless activity of their own inherent nature makes them at the same time moments of an organic unity" / Image: U.S. Department of Agriculture Love and hate are opposites. Yet it is common knowledge that love and hate are very closely identified, and can easily be transformed from one to the other. It is the same with pleasure and pain. One cannot exist without the other. From a medical point of view, pain has an important function. It is not just an evil, but a warning from the body that all is not well. Pain is part of the human condition. Not only that: pain and pleasure are dialectically related. Without the existence of pain, pleasure could not exist. Don Quixote explained to Sancho Panza that the best sauce was hunger. Likewise, we rest far better after a period of vigorous exertion. And in Shakespeares Henry IV, Prince Hal says: "If all the year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work; But when they seldom come, they wishd for come." A world in which everything was white would actually be the same as a world in which everything was black, as polar explorers discovered when they suffered from snow blindness. Quantity and quality In the Science of Logic, particularly the section on measurement, Hegel elaborates his theory of the nodal line of development, in which a series of small, apparently insignificant changes eventually reach a critical point in which there is a qualitative leap. Chaos theory and its derivatives are clearly a form of dialectical thinking. In particular, the idea of the transformation from quantity to quality is central to itone of the basic laws of dialectics. In his book Anti-Duhring, Engels pointed out that in the last analysis, nature works dialectically. The advances of science over the last hundred years have completely borne out this assertion. American scientists have been at the forefront of some of the most important developments in modern science. I am thinking in particular of the work of R.C. Lewontin in the field of genetics, and above all, the writings of the evolutionary biologist, Stephen J. Gould. Let us cite one easily understood example. When water at normal atmospheric pressure is heated or cooled, there is a leap from one state of aggregation to another: at 0 degrees Celsius it is a solid (ice), and at 100 degrees it changes to a gaseous state (steam). If we increase the temperature still further, to 550 degrees, it becomes plasma, an entirely different state of matter, where the dissociation of atoms and molecules occurs. The leaps between each of these states are known as phase transitions. The study of phase transitions constitutes a very important branch of modern physics. Similar changes can be observed in the history of society, where the equivalent of a phase transition is a revolution. Nucleation is the first step in the formation of either a new thermodynamic phase or a new structure by means of self-organisation. It is the process that determines how much time is required before a new phase or self-organised structure appears. This phenomenon is seen in thermodynamic phase transitions of every type. From a saturated solution to a crystal, from the evaporation of a liquid to a gas, or in the transition from water to ice. It is possible to actually reach a position of supersaturation of a solution, where, for example, water under normal conditions can be heated or cooled above 100oC or below 0oC without becoming steam or a solid. What is required in many circumstances for the phase transition to occur is either an external shock or the presence of some impurity. Water, when heated, does not form bubbles of steam at any random point, but they all begin ascending from a scratch or imperfection on the surface of the saucepan. This is a nucleation point forming around a catalyst. In thermodynamic terms, a supersaturated solution will have reached a level of concentrationor temperature or whatever other quantitative element is involvedwhere the alternative phase represents a lower entropy, but there is an entropy cost in forming the first nucleus. Sometimes this nucleation point forms randomly over a period of time and, as is also the case with radioactive decay, there is an increasing probability over time of it forming. However, its formation is aided by the presence of some catalyst on whose surface the entropy leap is lowered. We can visualise this process when we think of the crystallisation of a pearl in a clam. Indeed, we often talk about the crystallisation of anger within a factory or society and the analogy is an apt one. In the case of the formation of a pearl, all of the conditions for its formation can exist except one: some impurity around which it can take shape. That impurity is often a worm that has burrowed through the shell of a clam and died. Here the imagery is quite striking: a beautiful pearl forming a sarcophagus around a rather ugly piece of dead biological matter. We will return to this analogy later. The two percent genetic difference that separates us from the other primates is a qualitative leap that carries humankind to an entirely different and higher level / Image: Flickr, Paul Hudson We often see the apparent repetition of stages of development that have long since been overcome. We see the same thing in the study of embryos, which apparently go through the stages of evolution. A human embryo starts as a single cell, then divides and acquires more complex forms. At one stage it has gills like a fish, later it has a tail like a monkey. The similarity between human embryos and those of other animals, including fish and reptiles, is striking, and was already noted by the ancient Greeks. Over two thousand years before Darwin, Anaximander (c. 611546 BCE) deduced that man had evolved from a fish. The genetic difference between humans and chimpanzees is less than two percent and we share a large percentage of our genes with fruit flies and even more primitive organisms. The last desperate counterattack of the Creationistshiding behind the banner of intelligent designwas shattered against the remarkable results of the Human Genome Project. However, the two percent difference that separates us from the other primates is a qualitative leap that carries humankind to an entirely different and higher level. The process of evolution has gone on uninterruptedly from the first primitive life forms that emerged, as we now know, at a surprisingly early period in the Earths history. The first primitive organisms probably emerged on the bed of the primeval oceans, deriving energy, not from the sun, but from volcanic vents, generating heat from below the earths crust. The earliest protozoa developed into chordata, through to the earliest land-dwelling amphibians, to reptiles, and later to mammals and humans. History and nature know both evolutionslow, gradual developmentand revolutiona qualitative leap, where the process of evolution is enormously accelerated. Evolution prepares the way for revolution, which in turn prepares the way for a new period of evolution on a higher level. The unity of opposites can be clearly observed at all levels of matter. Conflicting tendencies are found at all levels in nature, from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles. The identity of opposites is the recognitionor discoveryof the mutually exclusive tendencies that exist in all the phenomena and processes of nature. This is what Engels meant when he defined dialectics as the most general laws of nature, society, and human thought. Criticality It is an elementary truth of chemistry that opposite charges attract, while like charges repel. But here we have an apparent paradox. The nuclei of all atoms except hydrogen contain more than one proton, and each proton carries a positive charge. The protons must feel a repulsive force from the other protons. So why would the nuclei of these atoms stay together? What holds the nucleus together? The unity of opposites pulling together and tearing apart the atom are the strong nuclear force and the electrostatic force respectively. Neutrons and protons bind to each other through the strong nuclear force, however, this force only operates over a very short range. Positively charged protons, however, are constantly repelling each other through electrostatic repulsion. This force operates over much larger distances. The strong nuclear force holds most ordinary matter together. In addition, the strong force binds neutrons and protons to create atomic nuclei. Just as centrifugal forces attempt to tear galaxies apart while gravity holds them together, electromagnetism is the force that would theoretically rip a nucleus apart, while the nuclear force130 times stronger than electromagnetismholds it together. The nucleus holds together, but only within certain limits. If the number of protons or neutrons exceeds these limits, the nucleus becomes unstable due to radioactive decay. If the nucleus becomes very large it can undergo an even more dramatic transformation. As the nucleus increases in size, the repulsive electrostatic force eventually overcomes the attractive nuclear force and the nucleus becomes unstable. All that is then required is to fire a single neutron at the nucleus andquantity transforms into qualitythe nucleus splits in two, emitting a large amount of energy and often emitting more neutrons in the process. This is what physicists refer to as nuclear fission. If a certain amount of fissionable material is present, it will ensure that neutrons released by fission will strike another nucleus, thus producing a chain reaction. The more fissionable material is present, the greater the odds that such an event will occur. Critical mass is defined as the amount of material at which a neutron produced by a fission process will, on average, create another fission event. In the transition from a controlled to an uncontrolled nuclear reaction there is a qualitative leapa transition from quantity into quality. If you insert materiala control rodinto the fissile material to absorb more neutrons than are being emitted by the fission reaction, the reaction remains under control. However, remove the control rod an inch too far and you have a cascade of neutrons and quantity transforms into qualityproducing a nuclear meltdown. The same processes can be observed at all levels of nature. In his book Ubiquity, the American physicist and author, Mark Buchanan, points out that phenomena as diverse as heart attacks, avalanches, forest fires, the rise and fall of animal populations, stock exchange crises, the movement of traffic, and even revolutions in art and fashion are all governed by the same basic law, which can be expressed as a mathematical equation known as a power law. This is yet another striking confIrmation of the dialectical law of the transformation of quantity into quality. The dialectics of Capital In his marvellously profound Philosophical Notebooks, written during the period of his Swiss exile in the years of World War I, Lenin wrote: It is impossible completely to understand Marxs Capital, and especially its first chapter, without having thoroughly studied and understood the whole of Hegels Logic. Consequently, half a century later none of the Marxists understood Marx! Even allowing for an element of exaggerationthese were, after all, rough notes written for self-clarification, not intended for publicationthe fundamental idea expressed by Lenin is correct. Capital itself is a masterful application of the dialectical method refined by Hegel and perfected by Marx and Engels. The first chapter of the first volume is purely philosophical in character and is precisely based on Hegel, as Marx himself pointed out. For that very reason, this chapter is generally considered one of the most difficult in the entire work. It is not about economics but about philosophy. It is rooted in the method of Hegels dialectical masterpiece The Science of Logic. Yet it is fundamental to an understanding of Marxs analysis of the capitalist economy. Prices fluctuate according to the laws of supply and demand, but these fluctuations take place around a given point, which is the real value of a commodity. This value is the product of human labour / Image: Max Pixel In the first volume of Capital, Marx derives all the laws of capitalist society from an analysis of its basic cellthe commodity. Marx analyses the commodity and explains that it has two aspects, which are really contradictory tendencies. At first sight, the commodity appears to be something very simple and concrete: an object of use. Whether this use is really necessary or is the product of caprice is indifferent to this consideration. But on closer examination, we see the commodity is not simple at all. It is not just a use value, but also an exchange valuesomething entirely different. Humankind has produced use values from the earliest period, but under capitalism, the nature of commodities undergoes a fundamental change. The capitalist does not produce objects for human use but objects for sale in order to obtain a profit. The use value of a commodity is confined to its concrete attributes; but in exchange value there is not a single atom of matter. The price of an individual commodity is determined by a vast number of transactions that take place daily in the world economy. Prices fluctuate according to the laws of supply and demand, but these fluctuations take place around a given point, which is the real value of a commodity. This value, as even economists prior to Marx explained, is the product of human labour. Particular and universal In his Philosophical Notebooks, Lenin writes: "In his Capital, Marx first analyses the simplest, most ordinary and fundamental, most common and everyday relation of bourgeois (commodity) society, a relation encountered billions of times, viz., the exchange of commodities. In this very simple phenomenon, in this cell of bourgeois society, analysis reveals all the contradictions (or the germs of all contradictions) of modern society. The subsequent exposition shows us the development (both growth and movement) of these contradictions and of this society in the sum of its individual parts. From its beginning to its end." Such must also be the method of exposition (or study) of dialectics in generalfor with Marx the dialectics of bourgeois society is only a particular case of dialectics. To begin with what is the simplest, most ordinary, common, etc., with any proposition: the leaves of a tree are green; John is a man; Fido is a dog, etc. Here already we have dialectics (as Hegels genius recognised): the individual is the universal. The medieval scholastics cracked their brains over the question as to whether universals (abstractions) actually exist. Hegel solved this problem brilliantly by pointing out that the particular and the universal are in fact the same: every particular is, in one way or another, a universal. Every individual belongs to a genus or species that defines its true nature, however, genesis and species are made up of individual creatures. The limit of these categories in biology is determined by the ability to reproduce. Consequently, the oppositesthe particular as opposed to the universalare identical: the individual exists only in the connection that leads to the universal. The universal exists only in the individual and through the individual. Every individual isin one way or anothera universal. Every universal is a fragment, or an aspect, or the essence of an individual. Every universal only approximately embraces all the individual objects. Every individual enters incompletely into the universal, etc., etc. Every individual is connected by thousands of transitions with other kinds of individualsthings, phenomena, processes, etc. As Aristotle pointed out: But of course, there cannot be a house in general, apart from individual houses (Metaphysics). . . . This apparently contradictory assertion can be shown from even the simplest sentence. It is impossible to express the nature of any particular without immediately turning it into a universal. Such is the nature of any definition, for example when we say John is a man, Fido is a dog, this is a leaf of a tree, etc., we disregard a number of attributes as contingent; we separate the essence from the appearance, and counterpose the one to the other. Hegel pointed out that, in ordinary language, statements do not take the form of a = a (John is John, a house is a house, etc.) but a = b (John is a man, a house is a building), which implies the unity of identity and difference. And Lenin comments: "Here already we have the elements, the germs, the concepts of necessity, of objective connection in nature, etc. Here already we have the contingent and the necessary, the phenomenon and the essence. . ." . . . Thus in any proposition we canand mustdisclose as in a nucleus (cell) the germs of all the elements of dialectics, and thereby show that dialectics is a property of all human knowledge in general. And natural science shows usand here again it must be demonstrated in any simple instanceobjective nature with the same qualities, the transformation of the individual into the universal, of the contingent into the necessary, transitions, modulations, and the reciprocal connection of opposites. Dialectics is the theory of knowledge of (Hegel and) Marxism. This is the aspect of the matterit is not an aspect but the essence of the matterto which Plekhanov, not to speak of other Marxists, paid no attention. Can human society be understood? Even the most superficial observation proves that human society has passed through a number of definite stages and that certain processes are repeated at regular intervals. Just as in nature we see the transformation of quantity into quality, so in history we see that long periods of slow, almost imperceptible change are interrupted by periods in which the process is accelerated to produce a qualitative leap. In nature, the long periods of slow changestasiscan last for millions of years. They are interrupted by catastrophic events, which are invariably accompanied by the extinction of animal species that were previously dominant, and the rise of other species that previously were insignificant but were better adapted to take advantage of the new circumstances. In human society, wars and revolutions play such a significant role that we are accustomed to using them as milestones that separate one historical period from another. Just as in nature we see the transformation of quantity into quality, so in history we see that long periods of slow, almost imperceptible change are interrupted by periods in which the process is accelerated to produce a qualitative leap / Image: public domain It was Marx and Engels who discovered that the real driving force of history is the development of the productive forces. This does not mean, as the enemies of Marxism frequently assert, that Marx reduced everything to economics. There are many other factors that enter into the development of society: religion, morality, philosophy, politics, patriotism, tribal alliances, etc. All these enter into a complex web of social interrelations that create a rich and confusing mosaic of phenomena and processes. At first sight it seems impossible to make sense of this. But the same thing could be said of nature, yet the complexity of the universe does not deter scientists from attempting to separate the different elements, to analyse and categorise them. By what right do men and women imagine that they are above nature, and that they alone in the entire universe cannot be understood by science? The very idea is preposterous and a manifestation of that burning desire of humans to be some kind of special creation, entirely separate from all other animals and with a special relation to the rest of the universe determined by God. But science has mercilessly stripped away these egocentric illusions. Marx and Engels, for the first time, gave communism a scientific character. They explained that the real emancipation of the masses depends on the level of development of the productive forcesindustry, agriculture, science and technologywhich will create the necessary conditions for a general reduction of the working day and access to culture for all, as the only way of transforming the way people think and behave towards each other. Marx gives an excellent though little-quoted definition of historical materialism in the third volume of Capital: "The specific economic form in which unpaid labour is pumped out of the direct producers determines the relationship of domination and servitude, as this grows directly out of production itself and reacts back on it in turn as a determinant. "On this is based the entire configuration of the economic community arising from the actual relations of production, and hence also its specific political form. It is in each case the direct relationship of the owners of the conditions of production to the immediate producersa relationship whose particular form naturally corresponds always to a certain level of development of the type and manner of labour, and hence to its social productive powerin which we find the innermost secret, the hidden basis of the entire social edifice, and hence also the political form of the relationship of sovereignty and dependence, in short, the specific form of state in each case. "This does not prevent the same economic basisthe same in its major conditionsfrom displaying endless variations and gradations in its appearance, as the result of innumerable different empirical circumstances, natural conditions, racial relations, historical influences acting from outside, etc., and these can only be understood by analysing these empirically given conditions." The essential content of social development is the development of the productive forces. But on the basis of the productive forces there arise property relations and a complex superstructure of legal, religious, and ideological relations. The latter constitute the forms through which the former express themselves. Content and form can come into contradiction, but in the last analysis, the content will always determine the form. The content changes faster than the forms, creating contradictions that must be resolved. The obsolete superstructure impedes the development of the productive forces. Thus, at the present time, the development of the productive forces, which has attained levels undreamed of in previous history, is in open conflict with private ownership and the nation-state. The old forms are strangling the development of the productive forces. They must be burst asunder in order to resolve the contradiction. The obsolete forms are burst apart and replaced by new forms that are in consonance with the needs of the productive forces. Every successive socioeconomic formation opens up the possibility for a greater development of the productive forces and therefore increases humanitys power over nature. In this way, the material basis is prepared for what Engels described as humanitys leap from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom. Class society The species Homo sapiens emerged about 100,000 to 250,000 years ago, perhaps even as long as 400,000 years ago. What we call civilisation, which arose on the basis of the division of society into classes, is roughly five thousand years old. Thus, during at least 95 percent of its history, humanity was denied the blessings of private property, class struggle, the police and the army, the monogamous family, and the antagonism between town and countryall those institutions that are accepted as given and eternal by mainstream social scientists. Class society itself has seen a succession of fundamental changes, or revolutions, in the course of its development. Broadly speaking, as Marx explained, the economic development of society has been marked by a succession of stages or epochs. At a certain level of development of the productive forces, socioeconomic systems based on communal land ownership, slavery, serfdom, and wage labour have arisen, each with their own political and cultural superstructure and their own laws of motion. During at least 95 percent of its history, humanity was denied the blessings of private property, class struggle, the police and the army, the monogamous family, and the antagonism between town and countryall those institutions that are accepted as given and eternal by mainstream social scientists / Image: David Stanley It is therefore pointless to try to discover the laws of political economy in general, equally applicable to, say, ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, and the modern world economy. It is necessary to discover the particular laws that govern each system, to appropriate the material in detail, to analyse its different forms of development, to trace out their inner connection, to use Marxs expression. Today, the anarchy of production cannot contain the demands of modern industry, technology, and science. The only way to solve the contradictions of capitalism that are the cause of starvation, poverty, wars, and terrorism is through the socialist transformation of society. It is important to note how the process of human development has undergone a constant acceleration. The fall of the Roman Empire, which represented slavery in its most developed form, caused, first a collapse of civilisation in Europe, then a slow revival under the feudal system that lasted just over a thousand years. Feudalism lasted for a shorter time than slavery, and capitalism has existed for only two or three centuries. It must be noted that the pace of development of the productive forces under capitalism has been far more rapid than in any previous society. There have been more inventions in this period than in all previous history. But this feverish development of industry, science, and technique has come into conflict with the narrow limits of private property and the nation-state. Capitalism in its period of senile decay is no longer capable of developing the productive forces as it did in the past. This is the fundamental cause of the present crisis, which is beginning to threaten the very existence of humanity. Contradictions in society The dialectical laws are not confined to nature, but also apply to society, history, and economics. To this list of phase transitions described in books such as Ubiquity, we can also add revolutions, which are an expression of war between the classes. We have already dealt with the phenomenon of criticality in relation to phenomena such as the atom, showing that the internal contradictions are contained by specific forces within certain limits, but that when these limits are exceeded, criticality results with explosive consequences. A similar process can be observed in society. The Communist Manifesto explains that the history of all hitherto existing societyexcluding pre-class societiesis the history of class struggle. The existence of class antagonisms threatens to tear society apart. In order to regulate and control the class struggle, a power emerges that stands above society and is increasingly alienated from it. This power is the state. The role of the state power is to guarantee the maintenance of the status quo, maintain order and ensure that the forces that threaten to tear society apart are kept within acceptable limits. In the last analysis, the state consists of armed bodies: the police, the army, the prisons, courts, and judiciary. Ultimately, the ruling class, which is a minority, must rely upon violence, or the threat of violence, to maintain its domination over the masses. However, the appeal to violence is only a last resort. The ruling class has in its hands a whole battery of instruments for keeping control. Not only does it possess a monopoly of armed force, it also has a monopoly of culture. The schools and universities, the press and mass media, and all the other paraphernalia of culture are the privileged preserve of the ruling class, which it uses and abuses in its own interests. The philosophy departments in universities, like all the rest, have a very useful function from the standpoint of the ruling class: to combat Marxism and any other subversive tendencies, and to inculcate in the youth ideas that tend to serve the interests of the ruling class and the status quo. It is sufficient to quote the avalanche of anti-revolutionary propaganda that flooded the bookshops and television screens during the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution to underline this point. One of the most powerful weapons in the hands of the ruling class is religion. The utilitarianor rather, cynicalview was expressed long ago by the Roman philosopher Seneca when he said: Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful. There is some truth in this view, particularly when it is used to explain the role of organised religion. Napoleon saw the Church as a very useful way of controlling the masses and bolstering his own power, although he himself did not believe a word of it. Probably the same was true of the emperor Constantine, who adopted Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire, although there is no real proof that he himself was ever baptised. One of the most powerful weapons in the hands of the ruling class is religion / Image: Pixabay But this cannot explain the deep roots of religion in the popular psyche, or the powerful hold it has on the minds of the masses. To understand that, one must go deeper into the nature of class society and the role of alienation. In that sense, Marx had a far more profound understanding than the Left Hegelians such as Strauss. In capitalist society, men and women are alienated from each other and subordinated to alien forces beyond their control or understanding. The real God of capitalism is neither Jehovah nor Muhammad, but Mammon, the god of wealth. Its real temples are not the churches, mosques, or synagogues, but the stock exchanges that determine the fate of millions of people. In the first volume of Capital there is a famous chapter on the fetishism of commodities. This explains in very graphic terms the power of money in bourgeois society. All human relations are mediated by this power, which distorts and warps them into something inhuman, ugly, and oppressive. Human psychology is powerfully conditioned by this alien force, by which human beings are judged, not on the basis of their natural abilities, physical strength, beauty, or intellect, but purely by the amount of money they possess. This produces a monstrous situation in which all natural human relations stand on their head. If we judge the level of civilised conduct by the standards of treatment of women, children, and old people, our modern civilisation stands condemned from every point of view. The ghastly record of wife and child abuse, orphans, and prostitution under capitalism compares most unfavourably with the communal child rearing practised by humanity during most of its historythat is, before the advent of that strange social arrangement that men are fond of calling civilisation. We recall the words of a Native American to a missionary: "You white people love your own children only. We love the children of the clan. They belong to all the people, and we care for them. They are bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. We are all father and mother to them. White people are savages; they do not love their children. If children are orphaned, people have to be paid to look after them. We know nothing of such barbarous ideas." (M. F. Ashley Montagu, ed., Marriage: Past and Present: A Debate Between Robert Briffault and Bronislaw Malinowski) The tipping point Just as within the nucleus there are forces that prevent it from flying apart, so in society there are a whole series of mechanisms that serve a similar purpose. But by far the most powerful of these is a force within the heads of the people themselves. Tradition, habit, and routine constitute an extremely powerful force of inertia in society. Most people do not like change. They fear any disturbance in the existing order as a terrifying leap into the unknown. Most people will cling to ideas, prejudices, religious beliefs, well-known political parties, and leaders with extraordinary tenacity. This is the most powerful glue that serves to preserve the existing order. But like everything else in nature, this powerful force of inertia can hold things together only up to a definite point. Beneath the surface of apparent tranquillity in which nothing happens here, there is a seething discontent, and accumulation of anger, bitterness, and frustration that is striving to find a conscious expression. Sooner or later, the point is reached where quantity becomes transformed into quality. We can see the same process in every strike, where people become transformed. Workers who were always apathetic and inactive in the past suddenly become energised and move into action in a way that surprises those who liked to consider themselves as more advanced. In the words of the Bible: for the first shall be last and the last shall be first. That is a very dialectical affirmation! The emergence of a critical state was expressed in very poetic and striking language by Hegel in his Phenomenology of Mind: "For the rest it is not difficult to see that our epoch is a birth time, and a period of transition. The spirit of man has broken with the old order of things hitherto prevailing, and with the old ways of thinking, and is in the mind to let them all sink into the depths of the past and to set about its own transformation. It is indeed never at rest, but carried along the stream of progress ever onward. But it is here as in the case of the birth of a child; after a long period of nutrition in silence, the continuity of the gradual growth in size, of quantitative change, is suddenly cut short by the first breath drawnthere is a break in the process, a qualitative change and the child is born. In like manner the spirit of the time, growing slowly and quietly ripe for the new form it is to assume, disintegrates one fragment after another of the structure of its previous world. That it is tottering to its fall is indicated only by symptoms here and there. Frivolity and again ennui, which are spreading in the established order of things, the undefined foreboding of something unknownall these betoken that there is something else approaching. This gradual crumbling to pieces, which did not alter the general look and aspect of the whole, is interrupted by the sunrise, which, in a flash and at a single stroke, brings to view the form and structure of the new world." The contradictions within societythe class strugglecontinues unabated in one form or another, and to a greater or lesser degree of intensity, until the critical point is reached. At this point, certain symptoms emerge that demonstrate the impossibility of continuing as before: the ruling class splits and is unable to rule in the old way; the masses move into action to challenge the existing order; the middle layers of society vacillate between revolution and reaction. All these symptoms indicate the imminence of a drastic change. The process by which society finally splits apart on class lines was best expressed by the great Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky. In the chapter on dual power in his History of Russian Revolution, he writes the following: "Antagonistic classes exist in society everywhere, and a class deprived of power inevitably strives to some extent to swerve the governmental course in its favour. This does not as yet mean, however, that two or more powers are ruling in society. The character of a political structure is directly determined by the relation of the oppressed classes to the ruling class. A single government, the necessary condition of stability in any regime, is preserved so long as the ruling class succeeds in putting over its economic and political forms upon the whole of society as the only forms possible . . . "This double sovereignty does not presupposegenerally speaking, indeed, it excludesthe possibility of a division of the power into two equal halves, or indeed any formal equilibrium of forces whatever. It is not a constitutional, but a revolutionary fact. It implies that a destruction of the social equilibrium has already split the state superstructure. It arises where the hostile classes are already each relying upon essentially incompatible governmental organizationsthe one outlived, the other in process of formationwhich jostle against each other at every step in the sphere of government. The amount of power which falls to each of these struggling classes in such a situation is determined by the correlation of forces in the course of the struggle." The role of the individual On October 13, 1806, an excited Hegel wrote in a letter to his friend Niethammer: I saw the Emperorthis World-Spiritriding out of the city on reconnaissance. It is indeed a wonderful sensation to see such an individual, who, concentrated here at a single point, astride a horse, reaches out over the world and masters it. Like Beethoven and many of the most progressive intellectuals of his time, the young Hegel was a fervent admirer of the French Revolution. In the person of Napoleon, he thought he saw the spirit of that revolution riding on horseback. Of course, his appraisal of the nature and role of Napoleon was mistaken. Nevertheless, in his vision of the French Revolution as the essential spirit of the times, he was not mistaken at all. Marxism does not deny the role of the individual in history, as Engels explains: "Men make their history themselves, but not as yet with a collective will or according to a collective plan or even in a definitely defined, given society. Their efforts clash, and for that very reason all such societies are governed by necessity, which is supplemented by and appears under the forms of accident. The necessity which here asserts itself amidst all accident is again ultimately economic necessity. This is where the so-called great men come in for treatment. That such and such a man and precisely that man arises at that particular time in that given country is of course pure accident. But cut him out and there will be a demand for a substitute, and this substitute will be found, good or bad, but in the long run he will be found. That Napoleon, just that particular Corsican, should have been the military dictator whom the French Republic, exhausted by its own war, had rendered necessary, was an accident; but that, if a Napoleon had been lacking, another would have filled the place, is proved by the fact that the man has always been found as soon as he became necessary: Caesar, Augustus, Cromwell, etc. While Marx discovered the materialist conception of history, Thierry, Mignet, Guizot, and other historians writing before 1850 are the proof that it was being striven for. Lewis Morgans investigations into early society also proves that the time was ripe for it and that it had to be discovered. "So with all the other accidents, and apparent accidents, of history. The further the particular sphere which we are investigating is removed from the economic sphere and approaches that of pure abstract ideology, the more shall we find it exhibiting accidents in its development, the more will its curve run in a zigzag. So also you will find that the axis of this curve will approach more and more nearly parallel to the axis of the curve of economic development the longer the period considered and the wider the field dealt with." (Engels, Letter to Borgius, January 25, 1894) We have already mentioned the process of nucleation, that critical point where a given phenomenon is hovering on the brink of a fundamental change. The transformation of quantity into quality is brought about either by an external shock or the presence of a catalyst. We see just the same process in a revolution. All the objective factors necessary for a revolution may be present, but in order for the potential to become actual, something else is needed. The role of a catalyst in the prerevolutionary situation is played by the revolutionary party and its leadership. It is this that provides the as yet undeveloped, shapeless, and confused movement of the masses with the necessary coherence, structure, aims, and organization that are needed to overthrow the existing order, which, even when it is tottering for a fall, still represents a formidable force of resistance that must be consciously overcome. Class forces often express themselves in confused or contradictory ways. In the English Revolution, the Puritans were convinced it was their religious duty to fight the good fight and assist Gods Kingdom to come into existence as soon as possible / Image: Elliott Brown Every revolutionary party in history always begins as a small minority. In the beginning it does not apparently present a serious challenge to the existing order. It starts, like every other living organism, as an embryo. But an embryo, providing it includes all the necessary genetic information to form a healthy human being, can grow and develop. Although it seems to be a paradox, the determinism of the early Calvinists, far from leading to pessimism and a paralysis of the will, had exactly the opposite effect. The Puritans were convinced that they were fighting on the side of a force that had all the power of inevitability behind it. It was their religious duty to fight the good fight and assist Gods Kingdom to come into existence as soon as possible. Their absolute conviction of its ultimate success spurred them on to action. Likewise, Marxists believe in the inevitability of socialism, in the sense that capitalism has exhausted its potential for developing society and advancing the cause of culture and civilisation. By developing the forces of production to their present level, it has prepared the way for the next logical stage, which will be the socialization of the means of production, which are in revolt against the suffocating restrictions of private ownership and the nation-state. This process can be accelerated or delayed by a series of factors, not least of which is the subjective factor. There will be many opportunities for the working class to take power into its hands, but the mere existence of a possibility does not necessarily mean that the potential will be realised. That depends on the actions of human beings, their willingness to fight, and the quality of their leaders. Capitalism is in a state of self-evident decay. The senile decadence of capitalism poses a deadly threat to civilisation and to the human species itself. To prolong the agony signifies a deepening of the crisis, with all the attendant evils of economic and social collapse, poverty, suffering, wars, death, and destruction on a massive scale. It is, therefore, the duty of Marxists to fight to lessen the sufferings of the human race by doing everything possible to accelerate the process of revolution, which alone can put an end to the death agony of a superannuated, rotten, and thoroughly decayed system. In that sense, conscious revolutionaries are agents of historical necessity, in the same way as Oliver Cromwells Ironsides, the French Jacobins, and the Russian Bolsheviks were the agents of a necessary social transformation in an earlier period. Dialecticsthe scientific basis of revolutionary practice The equivalent of genetic information in the revolutionary party is Marxist theory. The party, even when it is small, must contain the necessary quality in order to grow. If it conducts its work correctly and has the necessary opportunities at its disposal, it can grow and develop. Quality becomes transformed into quantity, but quantity in turn at a certain point becomes quality. A mass party becomes a factor in the situation, and its actions can now influence large numbers of people. It will be in a position to lead the masses to victory. The history of the Bolshevik Party is highly instructive in this respect. No other party in history has ever achieved such striking success in such a relatively short space of time, transforming what were originally tiny and isolated groups of Marxist cadres into a mass party capable of carrying out the greatest social revolution in history. What is most important to note is the colossal importance that Lenin and Trotsky always gave to theory, and the serious working out of perspectives, tactics, and strategy. This, in the last analysis, was the secret of their success. From the very beginning Lenin always insisted on the key importance of theory. In What Is to Be Done he wrote: Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement. This idea cannot be insisted upon too strongly at a time when the fashionable preaching of opportunism goes hand in hand with an infatuation for the narrowest forms of practical activity. The fundamental importance of the dialectical method as the scientific basis for all revolutionary practice was explained in a brilliant way in Trotskys autobiography, My Life: "Later, the feeling of the supremacy of the general over the particular became an integral part of my literary and political work. The dull empiricism, the unashamed, cringing worship of the fact which is so often only imaginary, and falsely interpreted at that, were odious to me. Beyond the facts, I looked for laws. Naturally, this led me more than once into hasty and incorrect generalizations, especially in my younger years when my knowledge, book-acquired, and my experience in life were still inadequate. But in every sphere, barring none, I felt that I could move and act only when I held in my hand the thread of the general. The social-revolutionary radicalism which has become the permanent pivot for my whole inner life grew out of this intellectual enmity toward the striving for petty ends, toward out-and-out pragmatism, and toward all that is ideologically without form and theoretically ungeneralised." This dull empiricism, the unashamed, cringing worship of the fact, as Trotsky points out, is the philosophical basis of reformism, of that cowardly surrender to what is called the facts of life, of politics conceived as the art of the possible, in which all serious challenges to the status quo are regarded as something impossible, a utopian dream or dangerous adventurism. Marxism, on the contrary, presents us with a scientific analysis of the status quo, penetrating beneath the surface of the facts to reveal the hidden contradictions that will eventually lead what appears to be stable, solid, and unchangeable into its opposite. Marx and Engels said that there were two alternatives before humanity: socialism or barbarism. The elements of barbarism already exist, not only in the so-called developing world, where millions of people are forced to live in nightmare conditions of poverty, hunger, disease, and war, but also in the so-called advanced capitalist countries. The aim of Marxists is to fight for the socialist transformation of society on a national and international scale. We believe that the capitalist system has long ago outlived its historical usefulness and has converted itself into a monstrously oppressive, unjust, and inhuman system. The ending of exploitation and the creation of a harmonious socialist world order, based on a rational and democratically run plan of production, will be the first step in the creation of a new and higher form of society in which men and women will relate to themselves as genuinely free human beings. The role of philosophy in the modern epoch must be the noble task of facilitating the work of the socialist revolution, combating false ideas, and providing a rational explanation of the most important manifestations of our age, thus clearing the ground for a fundamental change in society. In the celebrated words of Karl Marx: The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it. The German Revolution of 1918 ended the First World War. During a little-known episode of the Revolution, German soldiers liberated Belgium from a brutal military occupation before the armistice of the 11 November was signed. This revolutionary movement was also crucial in pushing through a swift introduction of universal general suffrage in Belgium. A dubious withdrawal At the end of September 1918 the German ruling class was divided. The war was at a stalemate. Both sides were unable to win the war militarily and the Russian Revolution gave the war-weary population a point of reference: revolt to put an end to the carnage. As a consequence, the German Government fell on 1 October 1918. Several days later, the newly appointed Chancellor Max von Baden contacted the president of the USA, Woodrow Wilson to begin peace talks. The war was however, not over yet. The Germans made clear they would not settle for a defeat, but only for a peace without victory. Both sides intensified their military actions to gain the best possible position to talk about peace. When Woodrow Wilson agreed in principle to begin peace negotiations on 10 October, the German 6th army immediately began its withdrawal from the front in northern France and was stationed in Brussels. The German army command wanted to use the threat of mutiny and plunder in the densely populated city as a means of pressuring the peace negotiations, while the Allies intensified their offensives to gain as much possible territory before the actual peace negotiations began. But the German general staff quickly lost control over the situation. The railways were overwhelmed by tens of thousands of war-refugees who wanted to return home, feeling an end to the war was near. The disorganisation intensified, with war-weary German soldiers deserting. The plan of the army leadership was falling apart and the authority of the officer corps was decreasing by the day throughout the month of October. The outbreak of the German Revolution on 3 November broke the stalemate. The news reached the German army command in Brussels on 8 November. Through Carl Eisenstein, a revolutionary socialist telegraphist soldier, the news was passed on among the soldiers. The German Emperor resigned the next day. That 9 November, the atmosphere in the streets of Brussels was rebellious. Cases of soldiers violence against their officers were reported. Gatherings of soldiers and civilians alike took place in the streets. Now that the Emperor had fallen, both the population and the soldiers expected to receive at any moment the news of the final peace-agreement. The German soldiers were motivated by the desire to end the war, go home and end the military occupation, to not trample on the democratic rights of the Belgian population any more. The Soldier Council is set up That same evening, following the revolutionary movement in Germany, a Soldiers Council was improvised in the trade union rooms of the Brussels North Station. Six speakers took the floor before the night put an end to the meeting. The session of the Soldiers Council continued until the next morning. Hugo Haase: vice-president and leader of the Independent Social-Democratic Party of Germany- USPDHowever, the discussions of the Soldiers Council was cut short through manoeuvring ny the moderate left wingers who were at this point part of the new government and wanted to retain law and order. Hugo Haase, the freshly appointed vice-president and leader of the Independent Social-Democratic Party of Germany (USPD: a left-wing split from the German Social-Democratic Party) contacted his friend and army doctor, Hugo Freund. He asked Freund to calm down and discipline possible rebellious soldiers. In order to cut the discussions of the Soldiers Council short and to limit their demands, Freund used the authority of the new, revolutionary (in words) government to bring together a group of moderate social-democrats. With this moderate group separated from the Soldiers Council, he worked out a list of demands. Later that day, representatives of the Soldiers Council accepted Freund as chairman and along with his programme, without ever putting these questions to the vote at the general meeting in the North Station. Freunds program focused on organising an orderly retreat and to pass over power to Belgian civilian government, while silencing further reaching social demands that could orient the growing solidarity between the German soldiers and the working-class population.This manoeuvring passed by unnoticed in the enthusiastic revolutionary mood amongst the soldiers. Meanwhile, the army commander, the aristocratic Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria, had fled after a heated discussion with a recently arrived detachment from his native region, who refused to grant him protection against the mutinous troops without the approval of the Soldiers Council. With the upper command disbanded, the Soldiers Council was now the only valid authority in formally still-occupied Belgium. Belgium liberated On that same turbulent day, German soldiers tore down German flags all over the capital and replaced them with red ones. The unthinkable happened. A big demonstration of 6,000, unarmed soldiers gathered and marched from the Soldiers' Council in the North Station, through the city center, to the Palace of Justice. On their way, the German soldiers fraternised with the population and were greeted as liberators. Eyewitnesses described the scene as an euphorical carnival procession. Louis Bertrand, leader of the BWP (the Belgian Social-Democratic Party) spoke hatefully about the cowardly German officers who led themselves to be disarmed by their soldiers. The Socialist leadership did not take part in the celebration, refusing to link with the German soldiers. This anti-German attitude was characteristic of the leadership of the BWP, which was among the most belligerent of the Second International. This chauvinist attitude was not shared by the masses in the streets, where an atmosphere of solidarity and euphoria reigned. In front of a massive gathering of soldiers and civilians alike, Freund announced the demands of the Soldiers Council. Essentially, the soldiers wanted to organise an orderly return home. They no longer trusted their officers and no longer accepted the privileges they were getting with regards to housing and food. At the same time, the Soldiers Council removed all the remains of the brutal military occupation. The political prisoners in the prison of Sint-Gilles were released, the rights of the Belgian population restored and the security guaranteed. The next day this would be emphasised once again, along with the intention of the Soldiers Council to put to trial those responsible for the decision to deport Belgian workers to the German war factories and to execute civilians. These soldiers also intended to investigate who was guilty for beginning the misery of war. These two points would not be put into practice because of the short life of the Soldiers Council in Belgium. The Belgian Social-Democratic leaders refuse any cooperation Shortly after declaring the demands of the Soldiers Council to the population, the representatives of the Soldiers Council went to the nearby Peoples House where the headquarters of the Belgian Social Democratic Party (BWP, Belgian Workers Party) were located. The soldiers wanted to create mixed Belgian-German guards to guarantee good order. They wanted to hand over the power to the socialist leaders and thus spread the German Revolution to Belgium. But the BWP leadership bluntly refused to cooperate with "German soldiers". In an effort to nip the sympathy with the revolutionary soldiers in the bud, the Socialist leaders proclaimed the introduction of single universal suffrage for men... once the German troops left the country. As a result of this refusal to extend the revolution, the Soldiers Council temporarily also took over the leadership of civil affairs and focused on a rapid and orderly demobilisation. It moved its location symbolically to the Senate building, where every day at 5pm a thousand soldiers came together to represent the different Soldiers Councils that had sprang up around Belgium (Antwerp, Liege, Namur, Leuven, Hasselt etc.) German Army final withdrawl from Belgium - November 1918On 16 November, the last German soldiers left the country to join the revolutionary masses in their homeland. Their revolt had effectively put an end to the brutal military occupation and, in the same breath, also led to the swift introduction of the universal suffrage for men. This key episode in our history is completely shut out of Belgian history books. That is not surprising as the events show that the masses have the power to end wars. The ruling class can only stand aside and manoeuver secretly when the soldiers turn their bayonets against them and act according to class solidarity. As the primary provider of large airtanker services to the United States Forest Service for more than 25 years, Neptune Aviation has proven to be a leading aerial firefighting company in the nation. Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Snyder, gives us a tour at the Missoula, MT headquarters during the MSO #AOPAFlyIn. https://www.funplacestofly.com/blog.asp?ID=2478&fbclid=IwAR1RcjJ8C3y3bgwJhwvYpTcv_q52Vo0O042w1VWlvC4zrixcHQhTcsB_jFQ Many thanks to Tom S. for sharing H-E Parts International Mining Profits with Lean During the week of July 22, 2019, Flathead Valley Community College will be hosting the National Haas CNC Machining Educators Conference. Seeking a Business Advisor News & Resources Strengthen your firms competitive advantage through the 8-week Operational Excellence training program coming in early 2019 to Kalispell. Registration opening soon! Contact MMEC to be notified when registration opens. https://mailchi.mp/montana/nov-14-2018-news-and-events-for-montana-manufacturers SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday delivered the 44th Singapore Lecture organized by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in collaboration with Business China. The following is the full text of the speech: Pursuing Open and Integrated Development For Shared Prosperity The 44th Singapore Lecture By H.E. Li Keqiang Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Singapore, 13 November 2018 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends, It gives me great pleasure to deliver the 44th Singapore Lecture organized by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in collaboration with Business China and communicate with all of you on this occasion. I wish to first express my appreciation to the two institutions for their long and productive efforts to promote r engagement and better understanding between China and Singapore. Let me also use this opportunity to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, warm greetings to the distinguished audience today and through you, to the Singaporean people. China-Singapore relations have been making steady progress with deepening practical cooperation. During President Xi Jinping's state visit to Singapore in 2015, our two countries established an all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times. The purpose of my visit this time is to work with Singaporean colleagues to review past progress, further build consensus and deepen cooperation in order to lift our relations to a higher level. China and Singapore are neighbors linked by the sea, and our peoples are bonded with a special affinity. I still recall my visit to Singapore back in 1985 when I felt deeply impressed by Singapore's vibrant economy, magnificent skyline, orderly society and efficient governance. More than thirty years on, I see new progress and a country bustling with new energy. Over the past five decades and more since independence, Singapore has made remarkable achievements, becoming the world's important economic and financial center, shipping hub, petrochemical and electronics manufacturing center and a R&D center of biotechnology. It now occupies a leading position in the world in terms of development level, innovation capacity and competitiveness. I wish to hereby express my sincere congratulations on Singapore's tremendous accomplishments. Singapore's success story has been underpinned by an abiding commitment to openness and vigorous efforts to develop an open economy in keeping with the trend of economic globalization. China's progress in the past four decades has also been powered by ever wider opening-up. The decision to integrate itself into the world economy and share opportunities and benefits in the process of opening-up has not only propelled China's own progress but also contributed to world development. The course of development of our countries thus shows that pursuing open and integrated development is a sure path leading to prosperity and inclusive growth for countries regardless of size. It is also the reason for the unprecedented and sustained growth of the post-war global economy. We live in a world of extensive, profound and complex changes. Continued momentum of recovery coupled with the emergence of troubling risks and challenges has brought the global economy again to a crossroads. Economic globalization is facing a backlash, protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise and global trade tensions are gathering. These developments have eroded global economic and trade growth, and dampened confidence in the prospect of future development. At the same time, the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation on the back of economic globalization have created new opportunities for global growth, yet they are also handicapped by a lack of inclusiveness, as reflected in the uneven distribution of opportunities and benefits and hard-hit traditional industries and jobs. Facing these risks and challenges, we in the international community must decide where we should go and how we should respond. The right decision can only be made with a proper understanding and evaluation of the realities. An objective fact that any fair-minded person would recognize is that economic globalization, by enabling freer flow of goods, capital, people and information, has delivered producers bigger markets, consumers more choices, and countries broader space for development. Moreover, every leap in global productivity and human civilization in the past was driven by technological revolution and industrial transformation. At a time when the traditional drivers of growth are losing steam, the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation would be critical for sustained, steady growth of the world economy. Just as every coin has two sides, economic globalization and the new technological revolution and industrial transformation also have their upsides and downsides. Yet compared with the compelling benefits they bring, the problems and imbalances are but side effects that can be tackled with effective responses. What would be inadvisable is to allow the bigger gains to be undermined, or to quote a Chinese idiom, give up eating for fear of choking. Such a line of reasoning would help us draw a logical conclusion and make the right decision. The rules-based multilateral trading system is the cornerstone of economic globalization and the international economic and trade order. Its authority and efficacy should be respected and upheld. Admittedly, the WTO rules do fall short in some respects, which ought to be brought up to date by reforms. China has all along been positive toward the reform. That said, the reform should be guided by some basic principles: the overall direction of trade liberalization should not change; the basic principles of openness, transparency, inclusiveness and non-discrimination should not change; and no attempts should be made to dismantle the current system or build a new one. Such attempts would weaken the foundations of the multilateral trading system and destabilize global trade. As the reform involves the interests of all parties, there should be equal participation, with the concerns of the majority WTO members accommodated and the broadest possible common ground pursued. In particular, the development rights and interests of all developing members must be upheld in order to narrow, rather than widen, the North-South gap. The intricacy of the reform determines that a package solution that fixes all problems at the same time would be unrealistic. Instead, prioritization should be sorted out so that the most pressing issues such as the selection of new members to the Appellate Body will be addressed first. Free and fair trade are two major concepts in the multilateral trading system. China advocates free trade, which is the foundation and prerequisite of trade. At the same time, China has all along pursued equity and fairness in trade with concrete actions, as we believe trade that is inequitable or unfair would not be sustainable. The equitable and fair trade China stands for is one underpinned by the WTO principles of multilateralism, inclusiveness and non-discrimination. What we oppose is the practice of imposing unilateral rules or engaging in protectionism in the guise of fair trade. Specific issues concerning fair trade should be tackled in the broader context of free trade. Only in this way can the reform of the WTO move forward along the right track and can the world economy grow further through openness, exchanges and integration. History tells us that humanity has the wisdom and means needed to tackle all kinds of risks and challenges. No obstacles would be insurmountable when we join hands and work together like we did during the global financial crisis. I have strong confidence and expectation that this togetherness will tide us over any difficulty and usher in a bright future for the world economy. Ladies and Gentlemen, Our region East Asia, home to such economies as ASEAN, China, Japan and the ROK, has a combined population of 2.2 billion, and takes up over one fourth of both the global economic output and trade. Our fast-growing and dynamic region has been an important engine of global growth, thanks to the ever-widening intra-regional openness and cooperation. In the past 20-plus years, intra-regional trade has taken up an increasing share in the overall trade of ASEAN, China, Japan and the ROK, and reached nearly 50% today. Intra-regional investment has surged, so has the number of visits exchanged among regional countries. All these have given a strong boost to the economic growth and living standards in this region. East Asian cooperation enjoys unique advantages, a solid foundation and bright prospects. Geographic proximity and similar cultures have nurtured a long-standing friendship among us. The different stages of development, resource endowments and industrial structures have made us highly complementary and deeply integrated in the industrial and value chains and increased the potential of our cooperation. To fully unlock this potential, we must go with the trend of economic globalization and make more institutional arrangements for regional trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. At the summits on East Asian cooperation last year, we all agreed to pursue opening-up and cooperation at a higher level and work toward an early establishment of an East Asia Economic Community. This is a long-term, comprehensive undertaking that requires sustained, step-by-step efforts. We could use the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to enhance connectivity and advance big project cooperation. We must fully leverage the existing regional cooperation frameworks, accelerate the upgrading of existing FTAs or sign new ones, and expand industrial capacity cooperation and third-market cooperation. The RCEP covers nearly half of the world's population and to one third of global trade. Its conclusion on the basis of WTO rules will contribute to regional integration. This year has seen substantial progress in RCEP negotiations. China will continue to follow a win-win and flexible approach and work with other parties to advance negotiations. We hope all parties will make concerted efforts toward concluding the negotiations in 2019, with a view to securing a modern, comprehensive, high-standard and mutually beneficial agreement. We also need to strengthen cooperation on health, education, culture, tourism and poverty reduction, and expand people-to-people and subnational exchanges to strengthen the bond between our peoples. East Asian cooperation cannot thrive without a peaceful and stable environment, which requires the efforts of all parties. We need to pursue common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, deepen mutual political trust, respect and accommodate each other's legitimate security concerns, and address differences and disagreements through dialogue and consultation. The South China Sea has seen greater stability and easing of the situation. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), deepen practical maritime cooperation, and strive to conclude consultations on a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea in three years' time on the basis of consensus. This will go a long way to advancing regional peace and development. The Chinese nation loves peace and upholds justice. We believe in harmony in diversity and amity with one's neighbors. China will unwaveringly pursue peaceful development and will never impose its will on others. No matter how developed it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. We will continue to follow the policy of building friendships and partnerships with all neighbors in keeping with the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. We will endeavor to be a trustworthy and reliable partner for regional countries. Ladies and Gentlemen, This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. In the past four decades, China has achieved tremendous progress in its development and transformative changes in the country. China's GDP registered an average annual growth of 9.5%, which made our country the second largest economy in the world. People's lives have significantly improved from shortage and poverty to abundance and moderate prosperity. More than 700 million people have been lifted out of poverty. Those of you who are regular visitors of China may have personally witnessed such changes. China's development has not just benefited its own people but the whole world. In recent years, it has contributed over 30% to global growth and 70% to that of East Asia. What is the fundamental reason for China's fast development over the years? In the final analysis, it has been down to the hard work and perseverance of the Chinese people in the face of difficulties and hardships. The Chinese nation is known for its industry, wisdom and fortitude. We have made continuous efforts to deepen reform, free up prices and the market overall, and remove institutional barriers and unreasonable restrictions, thus unlocking people's entrepreneurship, creativity and drive for innovation. In recent years, we have advanced the reform of streamlining administration and delegating powers, and adopted a prudent yet accommodative regulatory approach. As a result, the number of market entities has seen exponential growth, to the tune of more than 100 million today. Emerging industries have flourished, and traditional industries are being transformed at a faster pace. A powerful new driving force has thus been created for the sustained and sound growth in our country. Another factor contributing to China's achievements has been opening-up, which has helped China to leverage its comparative advantages and raise its competitiveness and development level by integrating it into the global division of labor and industrial and value chains. In this process, we have also endured huge pressure, paid a high price, and experienced growing pains. Some obligations China assumed upon WTO accession far exceeded what was required of a developing country and even approached the level of a developed member. For example, China undertook to cut tariffs for agricultural products to around 15%, only one quarter of the world's average level and lower than that of many advanced economies. Some industries in China were inevitably affected in the open marketplace, leading to bankruptcies and lay-offs. In some sectors, domestic brands came to be outnumbered by foreign ones, such as in passenger vehicles. Yet, we view these developments with an open mind and from a win-win perspective. We value good faith. To date, we have delivered on all our WTO commitments and even outperformed some of them by taking voluntary measures of opening-up, including making multiple rounds of tariff cuts that have brought our average tariff level down to 7.5%. Between 2001 and 2017, China's import of goods and services reached US$20 trillion and US$3.7 trillion respectively with annual growth rates of 13.5% and 16.7%, 6.9 and 8.8 percentage points higher than the world average. This year, import of both goods and services has seen double-digit increase. In its pursuit of greater opening-up, China has made important contributions to global economic and trade growth. Some foreign friends may wonder whether China remains a developing country now that it is the second largest economy in the world. To understand a country as large and populous as China and to determine its development stage, one needs to take a comprehensive and multi-dimensional view and put things in perspective. Yes, China has a big economic aggregate. Yet its per capita GDP is merely about 80% of the world average and less than one sixth that of Singapore. Yes, China is seeing fast growth in new industries and new forms and models of business. Yet its traditional industries, still a considerable share of the economy, urgently need transformation and upgrading. Hence China's overall industrial development remains at a medium-low level in the global context. Yes, some Chinese cities may seem modern and the coastal areas fairly advanced. Yet there are significant disparities in development between rural and urban areas and among different regions. Primitive infrastructure remains a big challenge for many places in China's rural areas and some remote regions, where access to roads, electricity and the internet has only just been provided. China has nearly 600 million people living in the rural areas and more than 200 million migrant workers, who live and work under conditions far below what is available to urban residents. Our estimate at the end of last year put the number of rural residents with a per capita annual income of less than 3,000 RMB yuan at over 30 million. Furthermore, China lags far behind developed countries in education, elderly and medical care and health. All these realities speak to the fact that China remains a developing country, and there is still a long way to go before China achieves modernization. China has come this far thanks to reform and opening-up, which will continue to serve as a key driver for development. Yet still there has been no shortage of doubts and misgivings about China's commitment to reform and opening-up. As I see it, such concerns are unnecessary. Why should China take a pause, slow down the pace, or even backpedal in its reforms when reform and opening-up has brought such tremendous changes and benefits to our country and its people? Reform and opening-up enjoys broad public support as it represents the will of the people. It is the default option for China in pursuing greater progress. Our reforms will only intensify and our door will only open wider to the world. China is committed to market-oriented economic reform. We will work to remove institutional obstacles and see that the market plays a decisive role in resources allocation and the government better fulfills its responsibilities. Putting the concerns of people and businesses at the front and center of its agenda, the Chinese government will continue to streamline administrative approval procedures, exercise fair and impartial regulation and provide more efficient services. We will strengthen protection of property rights and abolish all regulations and practices that impede the development of a unified market and a level playing field in order to further improve the business environment. The reform to transform state-owned enterprises (SOEs) into standard companies and joint-stock companies has been basically completed. It is entirely up to the SOEs themselves to make business decisions and take responsibility for any profits or losses. Those that perform poorly will be put out of business or d down. In our laws and regulations, there is no provision on subsidies or special policies that favor SOEs. Continued efforts will be made to deepen the reform of SOEs and state-owned assets, including mixed ownership reform in an active and prudent manner. Foreign investors are welcome to participate in the reform and restructuring of Chinese SOEs. The private sector, an important part of the Chinese economy, will receive greater support. And targeted measures will be taken to ease their difficulties in accessing affordable financing. China's industrial policy, which is transparent and in line with international rules, provides fair and equal treatment to enterprises of all types of ownerships. China is committed to building an open economy at a higher level. We will further ease restrictions on market access, shorten the negative list for foreign investment, and accelerate the opening of financial and other modern services sectors. To break new ground in opening-up, we will continue to improve the quality of pilot free trade zones and explore the development of free trade ports, to foster new highlights in our opening-up endeavors. We will take more active steps to lower tariffs and facilitate customs clearance to expand import of quality goods and services. The first China International Import Expo concluded a few days ago was an earnest initiative to open China's market to the rest of the world and a solid step to support free trade. A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations and more than 3,600 enterprises participated in the event, attracting more than 400,000 domestic and overseas buyers. The Expo saw booming sales and deals worth US$57.83 billion reached for intended purchase of goods and services within a year. The recent fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate have prompted some discussions and concerns. Persistent depreciation of the RMB will only do more harm than good to China. Therefore we will not engage in competitive devaluation. Instead, we will work to create conditions for keeping the value of the yuan stable. Given the healthy fundamentals of the Chinese economy, the sound balance of international payments and abundant foreign exchange reserves, there is no basis for persistent depreciation of the RMB. There is every reason that the RMB exchange rate will remain basically stable at an adaptive and equilibrium level. Stringent IPR protection is crucial for all companies, Chinese and foreign-invested alike. It also serves China's own needs for high-quality development. We will align our innovation protection system with international business rules, further improve IPR-related laws and regulations, strengthen law enforcement, handle IPR cases more efficiently, and introduce a more rigorous mechanism of punitive compensation for IPR infringements to deter violations. The Chinese government will never allow forced technology transfer or make technology transfer a precondition for the approval of foreign-invested projects. Innovation can only be self-sustaining and its value fully realized when the outcomes are successfully commercialized. More innovative businesses from around the world are welcome to pursue business success in the Chinese market, which provides a broad stage for innovation application. Ladies and Gentlemen, China-Singapore friendly relations and cooperation have come a long way in the past forty years. Looking ahead, China is ready to join hands with Singapore to advance the development of the Belt and Road and build the three cooperation platforms of connectivity, financial support and third party cooperation. Let's make the pie of our trade and economic cooperation bigger, expand innovation cooperation and work to upgrade China-ASEAN cooperation. Continued progress in the China-Singapore all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times will bring more benefits to our peoples and make new contributions to peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and the world. Thank you. Federal regulators are allowing entrepreneur Elon Musk to use an expanded range of wireless airwaves for his plan to deliver cheap, high-speed Internet access from space. The decision Thursday by the Federal Communications Commission paves the way for SpaceX to build its full network of about 12,000 satellites intended to blanket the earth in wireless Internet access. Proponents say next-generation satellite Internet technology could help developing countries and rural areas connect to economic opportunities currently out of reach for them because they lack competitive Internet access. By Brian Fung https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/11/15/elon-musks-spacex-wins-fcc-approval-put-starlink-internet-satellites-into-orbit/?utm_term=.625a43578919 Global tech company, Huawei believes that information and communication technologies or ICTs, has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20% over the next decade. William Xu, Director of the Board and President of Huaweis Institute of Strategic Research, recently said energy sustainability was a daunting challenge that faced all countries over the next decade. Global energy consumption is growing at an annual rate of 1.7%. Currently 85% of energy comes from fossil fuels. Energy sustainability is a daunting challenge that faces all of us. By empowering a wide range of industries, ICT technology has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20% over the next decade, said Xu. He added that as many countries commit to carbon neutrality and lower emissions, the push for renewable energy has increased, and this is where ICT adds new opportunities in electricity generation, storage, and consumption. For energy consumption, we must promote integrated smart energy to build energy management systems for households, buildings, and factories, and to create zero-carbon communities, campuses, and cities, said Xu. Huawei recently announced that it will focus on innovating new technologies to help industries reduce their energy consumption for a low-carbon world. In Africa too, many countries are increasingly embracing renewable energy to leapfrog to a sustainable energy future. With its grid connectivity algorithm powered by AI, Huawei has provided over 200 power grid models for more than 30 countries and regions. This has helped power plants stably connect to grids in all scenarios and has gradually made PV a high-quality, mainstream energy source. In solar power alone, Africa has made great progress over the recent years, with more than 6,200 large-scale, commercial and industrial (C&I) and mini-grid projects identified across the continent. In addition, nine more African nations, apart from South Africa and Egypt, are on their way to joining the Gigawatt Club, an unofficial tag for the group of countries with installed capacity to produce one GW of solar power. Huang Su, Director of Huawei Southern Africa Digital Power Business pointed out that nearly half the worlds population without access to electricity live in sub-Saharan Africa. So there is a strong and urgent need to accelerate the growth of renewable energy across the region to ensure sufficient, affordable, reliable energy for all Africans and for countries to reap the benefits of a green economy, he says. Huawei has harnessed over 30 years of expertise and experience in digital technologies to make solar power generation and consumption more efficient and reliable with optimal cost. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The spoken and written languages of ethnic groups are widely used in Xinjiang, said a white paper released Thursday by the State Council Information Office. Language, in both spoken and written forms, is an important carrier and a distinct symbol of culture, said the white paper, titled "Cultural Protection and Development in Xinjiang." It said the Chinese government works hard to promote the use of the standard Chinese language, protects by law ethnic people's freedom to use and develop their own languages, and advocates and encourages ethnic groups to learn spoken and written languages from each other, so as to promote language communication and ethnic unity among all Chinese people. Spoken and written ethnic minority languages are protected in a scientific way, it said, adding that currently 10 spoken and written languages are used among the various ethnic groups of Xinjiang. Ethnic minority languages are extensively used in such areas as judicature, administration, education, press and publishing, radio and television, internet, and public affairs, it added. Multilingual press and publication and radio and television are a major feature of Xinjiang, according to the white paper. Xinjiang publishes newspapers, books, audio and video products, and e-publications in six spoken and written languages - Chinese, Uygur, Kazak, Kirgiz, Mongolian and Xibe. Also, the government encourages ethnic groups to learn spoken and written languages from each other, it noted. For many years, it has been a common practice that different ethnic groups of Xinjiang learn languages from each other. More and more people are becoming bilingual or multilingual, which promotes communication and integration among all the ethnic groups, according to the white paper. BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A white paper released Thursday by the State Council Information Office noted Xinjiang's active cultural exchanges with other countries. Xinjiang has been an important gateway for China's civilization to open to the West, and has played a significant role in cultural communication and mutual learning between East and West, said the white paper, titled "Cultural Protection and Development in Xinjiang." Supported by the central government, Xinjiang has created a framework of cultural exchanges with other countries in all sectors and at all levels, it said. Xinjiang participates in international cultural exchanges and cooperation in various forms, it said, adding that Xinjiang International Ethnic Dance Festival, Chinese and Foreign Culture Week of China-Eurasia Expo, and Publishing Expo have become branded cultural exchange projects of considerable international influence. In recent years, Xinjiang has been active in building the core area along the Silk Road Economic Belt, strengthening cultural and scientific and technological exchanges with countries along the Belt, according to the white paper. It said Xinjiang has steadily implemented the "Study-in-China" initiative, gradually increasing scholarships for outstanding students from countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt. Xinjiang presents different ethnic cultures to foreign countries, it said, adding that since the late 20th century, quality exhibitions of Xinjiang cultural relics, such as the "Exhibition of Ancient Silk Road Cultural Relics of Xinjiang" and "Secrets of the Silk Road - Exhibition of Xinjiang Cultural Relics", have been held in Japan, the United States, Germany, the Republic of Korea, and some other countries. China-Brunei media symposium kicks off in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Nov. 15. (Photo: Lin Rui) Media from both China and Brunei discussed how to deepen exchanges and cooperation in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Nov. 15. China and Brunei are neighbors, facing each other across the sea. The two countries have established strategic cooperation and deepened mutual political trust since the establishment of diplomatic relations, said Guo Weimin, vice minister of Chinas State Council Information Office. Guo said that President Xi Jinpings state visit to Brunei would advance the China-Brunei relationship into a new historical period, with bright prospects for bilateral cooperation in various fields. Attendees talk during the conference. (Photo: Lin Rui) The vice minister stressed that media plays a significant role in enhancing mutual learning and understanding. Its hoped that media from both countries can strengthen cooperation to cement public opinion. The General Manager of Borneo Bulletin, an English newspaper in Brunei, introduced the media outlet's current exchanges with Chinese media in information sharing, content exchange, and training of personnel. He also expressed his wish to know China better through deepened media collaboration. (Photo: Lin Rui) News media from both countries are supposed to tell stories of China-Brunei friendship to fuel the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, said Liu Hui, Director of the External Communication Department of Peoples Daily Online. Chinese people are striving for the Chinese Dream while Brunei is moving toward Vision 2035, said the director of Sin Chew Daily Brunei office. With further interaction and broader coverage of Chinese stories, media from both countries will contribute to the development of both sides. (Photo: Lin Rui) The conference was hosted by Chinas State Council Information Office, with participants from Chinese media including Peoples Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, Economic Daily and China Daily, and also local media such as the Borneo Bulletin, Sin Chew Daily Brunei and See Hua Daily News. Chinese Ambassador to Brunei, Yang Jian, also attended the symposium. All attendees expressed high expectations for President Xis visit to Brunei. The Asprey - a Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph reference 2499 manufactured in 1952 - was the star lot of a selection of world-class vintage wristwatches. The auction attracted over 900 bidders from 54 countries, with nearly a quarter of buyers choosing to buy online. Testament to the huge potential in this market and the depth of demand for the finest pieces, 30% of participants were new to Sothebys. International collectors drove the final total of the Important Watches sale to CHF 12,208,000 the second highest total in ten years for a Sothebys watch sale in Geneva (est: CHF 9.8m 16.9m). 81% of lots sold, with almost half of them selling above the high estimate. The enthusiasm we felt from international collectors before the sale has translated into strong bidding today, in recognition of the world- class quality pieces we offered, including of course the legendary Asprey, commented Sam Hines, Global Head of Sothebys Watches, speaking after the sale. This watch is the ultimate 2499: enormously rare, absolutely pristine a dream for watch lovers. In 2018, we have seen some of our best results in years, and we are delighted that our approach, seeking out the very highest quality and focusing on expertise, has resonated with collectors. The Asprey Sotheby's The Asprey Four bidders on the phone and two in the room competed for this wristwatch, which is exceptional in every way. Known simply as The Asprey, this Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph reference 2499 was the star of todays auction in Geneva, achieving a final price of CHF 3,915,000. Manufactured in 1952 and sold in 1956, this Patek Philippe 2499 1st series was retailed by Asprey of London in 1956. It is the most complicated Patek Philippe sold by the prestigious London jeweller. The dial is double signed by both the manufacture and Asprey, the case is stamped with London hallmarks and the date letter for 1955 and the inside case back too bears London import marks and the Asprey stamp. A legend amongst the market and collecting community, the watch has remained in the same private collection since first coming to auction in 2006 (lot 220 estimate CHF 2,000,000 4,000,000). Vintage watches steal the show Fresh to the market and previously unknown, an extraordinary Rolex Daytona reference 6239 with a Pulsometer dial - among the rarest chronographs ever made - was sold for CHF 831,000 (Lot 216, estimate CHF 500,000 1,000,000). Rolex Daytona Reference 6239 Sotheby's A stunning example of Patek Philippes reference 3448, made in white gold in 1977 and one of only around 50 known on the market exceeded pre-sale expectations to sell for CHF 519,000 (lot 224, estimate CHF 200,000 300,000). Patek Philippe Reference 3448 Sotheby's An extraordinary example of Patek Philippes legendary reference 1518, a perpetual calendar chronograph in yellow gold from 1950 sold for CHF 495,000 (lot 225, estimate CHF 300,000 500,000). Patek Philippe Reference 1518 Sotheby's The unique pilots watch by IWC in support of the Antoine De Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation garnered a winning bid of CHF 30,000 (lot 154). Russian companies are interested in supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Thai market, according to the Russian Energy Ministry. Moscow and Bangkok have a long track record of energy cooperation. Russian energy resources oil, petroleum products and coal are delivered stably to Thailand. Considering the great importance of natural gas for Thailands power generation, as well as the growth of gas consumption, Russian companies are interested in organizing the supplies of liquefied natural gas to Thailands market, Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak was quoted as saying by the press service. Read more The ministry is also considering the construction of power generation facilities in Thailand as a promising cooperation area for Russian companies. Thailand's Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan told Sputnik news agency the country is facing a natural gas shortage and sees Russia as a potential new supplier. READ MORE: Arctic to tropics: India welcomes first-ever shipment of Russian liquefied natural gas We are planning to increase imports of LNG from various countries. We are now importing from the Middle East, Australia, the United States, and South Asia. We are looking for additional imports from Canada, and various other countries. Russia is one of them, Jirapongphan said. Thailand imports five million tons of LNG per year, according to the minister, but plans to increase that to 20-25 million tons in the next 10-15 years as its own natural gas resources continue to decline. READ MORE: Russia doubles LNG exports as revenues grow threefold We are open to discussions and there have already been some exploratory meetings [with Russia], anything we can do together will be splendid and beneficial for Thailand as well, Jirapongphan said. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section Russias sovereign wealth fund has signed agreements with companies from Singapore on investment projects in Russia totaling more than $1 billion. The contracts were sealed at the Russia-ASEAN Summit in Singapore. Russia-Singapore investment cooperation is actively developing, including Russias ties with major Asian economies, said the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev. According to Dmitriev, the agreements include investments in chemical projects in Russias Tatarstan. At the moment Singapores investments in Russian businesses account for more than $17 billion, Dmitriev noted. Singapore has recently recognized Russia as a key country for investment potential, and has been actively encouraging both Singaporean government funds and the private sector to invest in the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the Russia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit on Wednesday, paying a visit to Singapore for the first time. He said economic relations between Russia and ASEAN were evolving steadily and trade increased by 35 percent last year, reaching $18.3 billion. Mutual accumulated investment exceeded $25 billion. READ MORE: Singapore firm to mint Islamic cryptocurrency backed by gold The first Russia-ASEAN summit took place in Kuala Lumpur in 2005. Currently, ASEAN comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Russia became a dialogue partner in July 1996. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection, revealed at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, welcomes today a new model : the Polaris Geographic WT, limited to 250 pieces, exclusively available at Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques. The design is inspired by the 1968 Memovox Polaris watch, one of the Grande Maison's iconic models. The 42 mm case houses the Calibre 936A/1, a mechanical self-winding Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre bringing a new feature to the collection: the geographic function, ideal for both travellers and men of action. The Polaris Geographic WT (for "World Time") watch invites to discover the world through the 24 time zones instantly visible on a flange, which can be adjusted by the crown at 10 oclock. For cities switching between standard and daylight-saving time according to seasons, a white asterisk indicates the time with this one-hour difference. Jaeger-LeCoultre The dials design highlights the alliance of the two Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris colours: a blue turning to black a signature for this collection. The smoky blue dial gives the Polaris Geographic WT watch the impression of depth. It is decorated with three finishes: an opaline base for the city disk, a sunrayed sub-dial housing the calendar at 2 o'clock, the second time zone at 6 o'clock and the power reserve at 10 o'clock, and a grained finishing for the case back. The day/night disk, clearly divided into two black and white sections, is instantly recognisable and indicates whether it is day or night in the local city and therefore in the second time zone of choice. One slight, yet eye- catching detail on the disk is the small sun indicating the daytime hours black numerals on a white background and the little crescent moon for the night hours white numerals on a black background. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris line is inspired by one of the Grande Maison's emblematic models: the 1968 Memovox Polaris watch, recognisable by its three crowns. Suggested at the time, by the American market, the name Polaris echoed the bold and adventurous spirit of the 1960s. Synonymous with freedom and avant-garde, Polaris also heralds a revolution: a diving watch, fitted with an alarm function, featuring a patented triple case-back to amplify its sound underwater. Back in the days, this spirit was summarised with a slogan: "For the man of action". 1,714 Memovox Polaris II pieces were produced between 1965 and 1968. The 2018 Jaeger- LeCoultre Polaris model has been entirely redesigned: the lugs are shorter and the bezel is slimmer, giving the watch a more contemporary look while offering a clear readability. The polished and brushed finishing enhance the line's sporty spirit, and the Plexiglas was replaced by sapphire crystal. [November 15, 2018] Pundi X locates its global headquarters in Singapore SINGAPORE, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pundi X, a leading developer of blockchain-based technology solutions, today announced Singapore has become its global corporate headquarters. Pundi X, founded in Jakarta, is expanding its international operations to Singapore in recognition of the country's encouraging stance towards blockchain technology and rising demand for its products. Pundi X's Singapore HQ will oversee the rollout of its technology, including the world's first blockchain-based point of sales device, the XPOS, and the first mobile phone to employ blockchain-based telephony, the XPhone, to markets in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Announcing the decision at the Singapore Fintech Festival, company CEO Zac Cheah said: "We've been encouraged by the dynamism of the Singaporean blockchain market. The country's connectedness to the Asian region, talent pool and the early recognition of the economic potential of blockchain industry have cemented our decision". In addition to the new corporate structure, muc of Pundi X's key executive team will now be based in the new headquarters, including recently-appointed Chief Investment Officer, Vic Tham, a former COO for Transaction Banking, Asia Pacific for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Pundi X's international full-time equivalent workforce now exceeds 150 people; the Singapore headquarters will oversee other regional offices in Jakarta, Seoul, Sao Paulo, Shenzhen, Tokyo, and London. 5,000 Pundi XPOS units have begun shipping last month to international retail clients in Brazil, Colombia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and more. The company has also publicly displayed a prototype of the XPhone, the first mobile telephone to run telephony and messaging on blockchain technology and independently of a central carrier. The phone will be released to consumers in Q2 2019. About Pundi X Pundi X is a leading developer of blockchain-powered devices, including the world's first point-of-sales ("POS") solution enabling merchants and consumers to do transactions on the blockchain in the physical stores. Its POS, the XPOS, has been shipped to markets including in the UK, Switzerland, Korea, Colombia, Taiwan and Brazil; 100,000 of the devices are being targeted for a rollout to the global retail market by 2021. Headquartered in Singapore its international presence includes offices in London, Jakarta, Sao Paulo, Seoul and Tokyo. The company is also a member of Singapore Fintech Association, Fintech Association of Hong Kong, ACCESS, and Swiss Finance and Fintech Association. For more information, please visit https://pundix.com/ . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pundi-x-locates-its-global-headquarters-in-singapore-300751146.html SOURCE Pundi X By By: Dr. Francis R. Souder, 85, formerly of Telford, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 in the skilled nursing unit of Peter Becker Community, Franconia Township. He and his wife Marion R. (Parker) Souder celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July. Born in Souderton, he was a son of the late Elvin B. and Mary (Rittenhouse) Souder. A 1938 graduate of Souderton High School, he received his undergraduate degree in 1941 from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Souder went on to receive his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1944 and completed his internship at Hahnemann Hospital from Oct. 1944 July, 1945. He served with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps for 30 months in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif. during WW II and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to his discharge. He entered his second tour of duty during the Korean War where he served in Panama City, Fla. as the medical officer for the Panama City Naval Air Station and the Tyndal Air Force Base. Dr. Souder owned and operated his family practice on Main Street in Telford from 1947-1989. He served on the staff of Grand View Hospital, and as its president, and taught at the Grand View Hospital Nursing School. He was a member of the Pa. Medical Society, the Bucks County Medical Society, Diplomat American Academy of Family Practices, and served on the board of trustees at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Telford, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the MacCalla Lodge #596 in Souderton, the Raja Shrine, and Lehigh Consistory. In addition to his widow, he is survived by a son, Dr. Ronald L. Souder, and his wife Susan L. of Green Lane; a daughter, Susan J. Souder, and her husband Stephan Russo of New York, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Jennifer A. Souder of Philadelphia; Emily E. Souder of Philadelphia; Kathryn A. Souder of Washington, D.C.; Noah Russo of New York, N.Y., and Rebekah Russo of New York, N.Y., and two brothers: Attorney Elvin B. Souder of Souderton and Dr. Lawrence Souder of Souderton. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. in Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 S. Main St., Telford, with calling hours following the service. Interment will be private in Trinity UCC Cemetery Telford. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand View Hospital, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, Pa. 18960. Arrangements are by Sadler-Suess Funeral Home, Telford. Egypt has welcomed a UN Security Council resolution to lift sanctions imposed on Eritrea, considering it an important step, the foreign ministry said. In a statement issued Wednesday, the foreign ministry hailed the step, saying it is key for achieving stability in the Horn of Africa and the whole continent. It reiterated Cairo's support for all efforts to bring peace, security, and stability in the East Africa region, the statement added. Search Keywords: Short link: Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry discussed illegal immigration and ways to combat it in Addis Ababa, Wednesday, with EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Egyptian foreign ministry said. The two officials discussed means of cooperation to address illegal immigration and Cairo's vision on the issue that includes social and development aspects as well as political instability and poverty, said foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafiz. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the African Union extraordinary summit to be held later in the Ethiopian capital. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued decree No 329 of 2018, approving a $530 million loan agreement between the Egyptian government and the World Bank to improve the public healthcare system in Egypt. The agreement was signed 10 July 2018. The decree was published in the official state gazette Thursday. Search Keywords: Short link: How many of you remember wild nights at the Asylum, Daytons Alternative dance club that was on Patterson Road in downtown Dayton? Or more likely, how many of you dont remember much of what happened there? According to club DJ Matt Freeman, the Asylum opened circa 1993 and closed in 2005 (under the club name Fusion). Youll have your chance to relive those glory days for one night only, on Friday Nov 23rd at the Asylum Reunion, being hosted at Therapy Cafe, located at 452 E 3rd Street in Dayton. We asked Freeman about the upcoming event: What are a couple of your best memories? MF: The memories of the Asylum are endless. If you were a part of that time, you know how easy it is to still share stories with a fellow club goer even after being closed for over 13 years. I recently met up with Chris Maloney, who worked there for almost the clubs entirety. We have only met up a handful of times in the past years, and we always have a conversations starting off Remember that time at the asylum?. It was such an important part of so many peoples formidable years, its the conversation that will never die. Maybe it was the fact the venue brought straight edge kids, goths, punks, b-boys, ravers, college students and outcasts together and it all just made sense. Youd hear techno, industrial, hip hop, disco, 80s wave and it all simply worked. No cell phones, rarely a camera, it was what it was, and you had to be there to experience it all so you never wanted to miss a night. There was a sense of urgency to always be in attendance. What can folks expect at the reunion? Egypt and Belarus signed here on Thursday a cooperation agreement to develop parliamentary relations. The agreement was signed by Egypt's House of Representatives Speaker Ali Abdel Aal and speakers of Belarus's two houses of parliament. Before the signing, Abdel Aal held a meeting with Speaker of Belarus House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko and Speaker of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich. Abdel Aal lauded the distinguished relations binding Egypt and Belarus that were highly promoted following the latest visit by Belarus president to Egypt. He expressed Egypt's desire to further enhance relations with Belarus. He said the visit is not his first to Belarus but the first by an Egyptian parliamentary delegation to the country. Search Keywords: Short link: Gilford Steamer Streetcar Company tackles Shakespeare's "Macbeth" by Erin Plummer Brendan Berube (standing) as Macbeth and Frank Stetson as Macduff rehearse their climactic sword fight for the Streetcar Company's upcoming production of "Macbeth." (Photo by Erin Plummer) (click for larger version) "Something wicked this way comes" to the stage at the end of the month, when Streetcar Company presents "Macbeth," its first ever serious foray into the works of William Shakespeare. The classic tale of the Scottish nobleman who is pushed to murderous ambition by a prophecy and the manipulation of his scheming wife will come to the stage at Laconia High School Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and 2. Streetcar has never done a Shakespeare play before. Director Paul Ayer raised the idea of doing "Macbeth" during the board's annual "pitch" meeting, where members are welcome to pitch their show ideas for the following season. The fact that the Bard's works are in the public domain convinced the board to take a chance on the show, provided Ayer agreed to direct it. Ayer has been in six different Shakespeare plays, both in college and professionally. He said he has been working to make the play as audience friendly as possible, especially the language. Any words or phrases that might be too arcane to come across to modern audiences have either been changed to something more understandable or cut. "We are trying to capture the flavor of Elizabethan theater without baffling people," Ayer said. Overall, he said, audiences will still get the story and emotions of the play. He said the rehearsal process has been going really good. "A lot of people who came to audition, they came with misgivings," Ayer said. "Now they say, 'Thank God I came,' because they're having a blast. These people will definitely try another Shakespeare play." Brendan Berube of Laconia, whose name readers might recognize as the Editor of the Steamer, plays the Scottish King himself. "As a character, Macbeth is an interesting guy to play," Berube said. He said calling Macbeth "henpecked" would be an understatement given his relationship with his wife. Played by Gilford High School alum Cordelia Penney, Lady Macbeth famously goads him into murdering Scotland's king early in the show in order to expedite the fulfillment of a witches' prophecy that Macbeth himself will one day be king, but Berube says there is also a side of him that deeply wants to achieve greatness. "What makes it interesting is that as the play develops, [Macbeth and Lady Macbeth] switch places more and more, and he becomes the schemer and the bloodthirsty one," Berube said. "The question becomes, was it really all her, or was this paranoia and savagery part of his inner nature from the word go? And what, if any, redemption does he find in the end?" Berube said he took a college course on Shakespeare, and came in quite familiar with the language. He said he has always wanted to do Shakespeare. "This is a no kilts, no accents show," he said, "so t's basically using my normal voice, getting accustomed to the metric configuration of the lines." Ayer, he added, insisted from the outset that the cast not employ Scottish or British accents in order to make the dialogue more accessible to audiences. He said this is one of the best experiences he has had in theater. Macbeth's ultimate enemy, Macduff, is played by Frank Stetson, who comes from Meredith and currently lives in Concord. He said Macduff is a vengeful father and husband looking for justice for his family and his country. "His motivations and his drive are pretty simple," Stetson said. Stetson studied Shakespeare on college and has done a few Shakespearean shows. "When we had the opportunity to finally do it I was really excited," Stetson said. Stetson said Shakespeare's language can be understood. "It's a matter of sitting down and understanding what you're saying," Stetson said. Kristine Snow of Alton, Evelyn Taylor of Gilford, and Melanie Perkins of Middleton play the Witches. Perkins once played Lady Capulet in a production of "Romeo and Juliet." "I like it because it's poetic and it all rhymes," Perkins said. Snow and Taylor had never done Shakespeare before. "It's on my bucket list," Taylor said. All three said they have been having a lot of fun playing the Witches. Perkins said the three have some choral lines together and that the text gives flexibility to play with the lines. Taylor said everyone has been awesome to work with. "Macbeth" will be performed at the Laconia High School auditorium Nov. 30, Dec. 1, and Dec. 2. The Friday and Saturday night shows begin at 7 p.m., and Sunday's performance will be a 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are on sale at the Streetcar Company Web site at "Something wicked this way comes" to the stage at the end of the month, when Streetcar Company presents "Macbeth," its first ever serious foray into the works of William Shakespeare.The classic tale of the Scottish nobleman who is pushed to murderous ambition by a prophecy and the manipulation of his scheming wife will come to the stage at Laconia High School Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and 2.Streetcar has never done a Shakespeare play before. Director Paul Ayer raised the idea of doing "Macbeth" during the board's annual "pitch" meeting, where members are welcome to pitch their show ideas for the following season. The fact that the Bard's works are in the public domain convinced the board to take a chance on the show, provided Ayer agreed to direct it.Ayer has been in six different Shakespeare plays, both in college and professionally.He said he has been working to make the play as audience friendly as possible, especially the language. Any words or phrases that might be too arcane to come across to modern audiences have either been changed to something more understandable or cut."We are trying to capture the flavor of Elizabethan theater without baffling people," Ayer said.Overall, he said, audiences will still get the story and emotions of the play.He said the rehearsal process has been going really good."A lot of people who came to audition, they came with misgivings," Ayer said. "Now they say, 'Thank God I came,' because they're having a blast. These people will definitely try another Shakespeare play."Brendan Berube of Laconia, whose name readers might recognize as the Editor of the Steamer, plays the Scottish King himself."As a character, Macbeth is an interesting guy to play," Berube said.He said calling Macbeth "henpecked" would be an understatement given his relationship with his wife. Played by Gilford High School alum Cordelia Penney, Lady Macbeth famously goads him into murdering Scotland's king early in the show in order to expedite the fulfillment of a witches' prophecy that Macbeth himself will one day be king, but Berube says there is also a side of him that deeply wants to achieve greatness."What makes it interesting is that as the play develops, [Macbeth and Lady Macbeth] switch places more and more, and he becomes the schemer and the bloodthirsty one," Berube said. "The question becomes, was it really all her, or was this paranoia and savagery part of his inner nature from the word go? And what, if any, redemption does he find in the end?"Berube said he took a college course on Shakespeare, and came in quite familiar with the language. He said he has always wanted to do Shakespeare."This is a no kilts, no accents show," he said, "so t's basically using my normal voice, getting accustomed to the metric configuration of the lines."Ayer, he added, insisted from the outset that the cast not employ Scottish or British accents in order to make the dialogue more accessible to audiences.He said this is one of the best experiences he has had in theater.Macbeth's ultimate enemy, Macduff, is played by Frank Stetson, who comes from Meredith and currently lives in Concord. He said Macduff is a vengeful father and husband looking for justice for his family and his country."His motivations and his drive are pretty simple," Stetson said.Stetson studied Shakespeare on college and has done a few Shakespearean shows."When we had the opportunity to finally do it I was really excited," Stetson said.Stetson said Shakespeare's language can be understood."It's a matter of sitting down and understanding what you're saying," Stetson said.Kristine Snow of Alton, Evelyn Taylor of Gilford, and Melanie Perkins of Middleton play the Witches. Perkins once played Lady Capulet in a production of "Romeo and Juliet.""I like it because it's poetic and it all rhymes," Perkins said.Snow and Taylor had never done Shakespeare before."It's on my bucket list," Taylor said.All three said they have been having a lot of fun playing the Witches. Perkins said the three have some choral lines together and that the text gives flexibility to play with the lines.Taylor said everyone has been awesome to work with."Macbeth" will be performed at the Laconia High School auditorium Nov. 30, Dec. 1, and Dec. 2. The Friday and Saturday night shows begin at 7 p.m., and Sunday's performance will be a 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are on sale at the Streetcar Company Web site at www.streetcarcompany.com Gilford Steamer Stow makes commitment to Michigan Tech Gilford would join Gilmanton, part of Laconia under proposed redistricting Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Littleton Courier Lakeway Committee plans next steps by Justin Roshak LITTLETONThe Lakeway Elementary Facilities Advisory Committee met last week, and considered its next steps, following its recommendation to the School Board that the district move forward with a new school building and location. The School Board accepted the Committee's recommendation at its Monday meeting, at which Committee Chair Ralph Hodgman laid out the conclusions of months of research, analysis, and discussion. Hodgman expressed the Committee's consensus view, that continuing to spend money to keep Lakeway's 70-year building operational was fiscally unsustainable. Their proposal called for a pair of warrant articles in March 2019 (next town meeting) to purchase land and to pay the architecture/engineering costs for a new school. Hodgman, a vocal budget hawk and usually the most skeptical voice on Littleton's Budget Committee, said "It is time to put the children first in our choices as a community." The same calculations led the Committee to decide against a refurbishment of the existing site on Union Street, which is considered too cramped for expansion, and too close to the highway for safety. "It simply does not make financial sense for us to ask the taxpayers to spend millions of dollars to repair a 70-year-old school building that is landlocked on a very busy highway," said School Board Member Ann Wiggett. The district expects to interview the top two candidate firms for the job of construction manager within the week. Whichever is selected will work with the Committee, Board, and Town if and when the project moves forward, and sub-contract specific elements of the design and build. One of their key jobs will be nailing down specific and accurate estimates of costs. The best current estimates suggest that the kind and size of parcel a new school would require will cost roughly $800,000, while the Committee expects to pay just about $388,000 for architectural and engineering work, if a new site is chosen. Some preliminary work on the most popular site, "Greenwood Acres," is already completed. Warrant articles are due Jan. 8, giving the school district a little less than a month to write them, probably with the aid of counsel. Then the real work begins: selling the project to the voters. Multiple similar efforts over the past decade have failed to garner the required votes to pin down a new parcel, or hammer out specific design plans. The most likely site for a new school, the "Greenwood Acres" property north of the downtown, was put up for sale in the past, but voters declined to support it and the deal fell through. The Committee plans to reach out to citizens with an interest in the school's future, and skills in relevant fields, as it moves forward. "We have to reach out into the community and get the best minds out there," said Superintendent Steve Nilhas. Preparing for voter questions and skepticism will be another major push: all members of the Committee are very much aware that a $20 or $25 million new school will be a hard sell, even in a strong economy. One major focus of discussion will be the future of the existing Lakeway site. The Committee hopes to generate some solid possible uses for the building and land as part of its broader campaign to convince voters that the Elementary School's future lies elsewhere. "You really need to know what's going to happen to this building," Nilhas told the Committee at last week's meeting. The Lakeway building and site is valued at about $5 million, they were reminded. The Committee holds out some hope that state building aid will be reinstated next year, for which preliminary work, such as land purchase and design, would be retroactively applicable. If the program comes back, the district could see as much as 55 percent of costs paid for, up to a certain limit. Not all was grim determination, though: Committee member and former Selectman Ron Bolt reminded them that Littleton residents have paid almost one million dollars to refurbish and invest in the River District, over the years. He suggested that a school would be able to garner at least that level of excitement, if not more. LITTLETONThe Lakeway Elementary Facilities Advisory Committee met last week, and considered its next steps, following its recommendation to the School Board that the district move forward with a new school building and location.The School Board accepted the Committee's recommendation at its Monday meeting, at which Committee Chair Ralph Hodgman laid out the conclusions of months of research, analysis, and discussion.Hodgman expressed the Committee's consensus view, that continuing to spend money to keep Lakeway's 70-year building operational was fiscally unsustainable. Their proposal called for a pair of warrant articles in March 2019 (next town meeting) to purchase land and to pay the architecture/engineering costs for a new school.Hodgman, a vocal budget hawk and usually the most skeptical voice on Littleton's Budget Committee, said "It is time to put the children first in our choices as a community."The same calculations led the Committee to decide against a refurbishment of the existing site on Union Street, which is considered too cramped for expansion, and too close to the highway for safety."It simply does not make financial sense for us to ask the taxpayers to spend millions of dollars to repair a 70-year-old school building that is landlocked on a very busy highway," said School Board Member Ann Wiggett.The district expects to interview the top two candidate firms for the job of construction manager within the week. Whichever is selected will work with the Committee, Board, and Town if and when the project moves forward, and sub-contract specific elements of the design and build. One of their key jobs will be nailing down specific and accurate estimates of costs.The best current estimates suggest that the kind and size of parcel a new school would require will cost roughly $800,000, while the Committee expects to pay just about $388,000 for architectural and engineering work, if a new site is chosen. Some preliminary work on the most popular site, "Greenwood Acres," is already completed.Warrant articles are due Jan. 8, giving the school district a little less than a month to write them, probably with the aid of counsel. Then the real work begins: selling the project to the voters.Multiple similar efforts over the past decade have failed to garner the required votes to pin down a new parcel, or hammer out specific design plans. The most likely site for a new school, the "Greenwood Acres" property north of the downtown, was put up for sale in the past, but voters declined to support it and the deal fell through.The Committee plans to reach out to citizens with an interest in the school's future, and skills in relevant fields, as it moves forward."We have to reach out into the community and get the best minds out there," said Superintendent Steve Nilhas.Preparing for voter questions and skepticism will be another major push: all members of the Committee are very much aware that a $20 or $25 million new school will be a hard sell, even in a strong economy.One major focus of discussion will be the future of the existing Lakeway site. The Committee hopes to generate some solid possible uses for the building and land as part of its broader campaign to convince voters that the Elementary School's future lies elsewhere."You really need to know what's going to happen to this building," Nilhas told the Committee at last week's meeting.The Lakeway building and site is valued at about $5 million, they were reminded.The Committee holds out some hope that state building aid will be reinstated next year, for which preliminary work, such as land purchase and design, would be retroactively applicable. If the program comes back, the district could see as much as 55 percent of costs paid for, up to a certain limit.Not all was grim determination, though: Committee member and former Selectman Ron Bolt reminded them that Littleton residents have paid almost one million dollars to refurbish and invest in the River District, over the years. He suggested that a school would be able to garner at least that level of excitement, if not more. Littleton Courier Littleton School Board decides against mask mandate at emergency meeting County broadband project secures funding, faces opposition Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Meredith News Meredith parade, ceremonies honor veterans by Erin Plummer Meredith's Veteran's Day parade goes down Lake Street toward Hesky Park. (Photo by Erin Plummer) (click for larger version) MEREDITH Veterans from all eras of this country were honored for their service and sacrifice during American Legion Post 33's annual Veteran's Day ceremony. A Legion honor guard led a parade of veterans and scouts on Sunday morning, first for a ceremony in front of the Meredith Public Library and then for a ceremony at Hesky Park. Selectman Jeanie Forrester noted that it was the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the day that lead to the founding of Veterans Day. "To all our veterans it's not just your country that owes you a huge debt of gratitude, it's the entire world," Forrester said. She said to all the veterans, "Our flag flies higher and prouder because you served. Nov. 11 is your day." World War II veteran Elliott Finn said the country's best and brightest are around the world fighting for their country and the defense of freedom echoes across the world from the beaches of Normandy to the sands of the Middle East. "Many of these young men and women did not live long enough to experience the privilege they fought for," Finn said. He said service people have come from all walks of life and all had in common "courage, pride, determination, and dedication" who leave the comforts of home to defend the rights of others. "The debt we owe to those who have risked everything for America is not one that can fully be repaid," Finn said. "Thank you very much for your sacrifices." The parade moved to Hesky Park for a ceremony lead by Bob Jones of the Northeast POW/MIA Network. Jones thanked everybody who works on behalf of those who have served, including those who continue the POW/MIA vigil in the park. The guest speaker was Karen Thurston, president of the Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire. Thurston said Blue Star Mothers, or mothers with children in military service, do a lot to support veterans. "We need to say thank you every day when we see veterans," Thurston said. Thurston said veterans need to be recognized year round and not just on holidays. Thurston is a strong supporter of POW/MIA's and works to spread the word about the cause. She said everyday she thinks about POW/MIA's and how their families are in limbo wondering if that will be the day the car will come to their house announcing their loved ones remains have been found or the possibility their loved one could still be alive. Jones gave Thurston special recognition for her work with the Blue Star Mothers and raising awareness of the group. MEREDITH Veterans from all eras of this country were honored for their service and sacrifice during American Legion Post 33's annual Veteran's Day ceremony.A Legion honor guard led a parade of veterans and scouts on Sunday morning, first for a ceremony in front of the Meredith Public Library and then for a ceremony at Hesky Park.Selectman Jeanie Forrester noted that it was the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the day that lead to the founding of Veterans Day."To all our veterans it's not just your country that owes you a huge debt of gratitude, it's the entire world," Forrester said.She said to all the veterans, "Our flag flies higher and prouder because you served. Nov. 11 is your day."World War II veteran Elliott Finn said the country's best and brightest are around the world fighting for their country and the defense of freedom echoes across the world from the beaches of Normandy to the sands of the Middle East."Many of these young men and women did not live long enough to experience the privilege they fought for," Finn said.He said service people have come from all walks of life and all had in common "courage, pride, determination, and dedication" who leave the comforts of home to defend the rights of others."The debt we owe to those who have risked everything for America is not one that can fully be repaid," Finn said. "Thank you very much for your sacrifices."The parade moved to Hesky Park for a ceremony lead by Bob Jones of the Northeast POW/MIA Network. Jones thanked everybody who works on behalf of those who have served, including those who continue the POW/MIA vigil in the park.The guest speaker was Karen Thurston, president of the Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire. Thurston said Blue Star Mothers, or mothers with children in military service, do a lot to support veterans."We need to say thank you every day when we see veterans," Thurston said.Thurston said veterans need to be recognized year round and not just on holidays.Thurston is a strong supporter of POW/MIA's and works to spread the word about the cause. She said everyday she thinks about POW/MIA's and how their families are in limbo wondering if that will be the day the car will come to their house announcing their loved ones remains have been found or the possibility their loved one could still be alive.Jones gave Thurston special recognition for her work with the Blue Star Mothers and raising awareness of the group. Meredith News Masks now optional for court and ice sports at IL Local thrift shop recognized for helping Inter-Lakes programs Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Plymouth Record Enterprise PAREI spearheads development of new solar array in Plymouth by Donna Rhodes write the author Sandra Jones (center, in purple) of the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative cut the ribbon on a new solar array in Plymouth that will benefit income-eligible families in the community. Joining her for the celebration last Friday were N.H. Electric Cooperative President Steve Camerino, landowner Alex Ray, members of PAREI as well as many volunteers and community partners in the project. (Photo by Donna Rhodes) (click for larger version) PLYMOUTH The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative was joined by representatives of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission, New Hampshire Community Finance Authority and other partners and supporters as they cut the ribbon on a new solar array last Friday that will benefit low income residents of Plymouth. The array is located behind Frosty Scoops ice cream off Route 3 in Plymouth, across the parking lot from Foster's Boiler Room. When landowner Alex Ray heard about the project, he allowed PAREI to use the property for the new electrical initiative they were undertaking. "This property here could have been used for many things," Ray said, "but this is the perfect use." It was NHEC President Steve Camerino who first presented PAREI with the idea of bringing solar energy to local families. Sandra Jones said her group was hesitant at first to take on such a project but eventually said yes to what they knew would be a huge undertaking. "We're no longer an 'initiative'; we're here for the long term," Jones said. To oversee the energy project, PAREI formed a separate legal entity known as N.H. Solar Shares, which falls under the 501c:3 nonprofit status of PAREI. Their decision, it turns out, came at a good time. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission was just beginning a program to assist in such community projects and donated $86,000 toward the construction of the array, and the U.S. Dept. of Energy had also started a new grant program. Other local businesses made generous donations as well and soon a team of volunteers was busy clearing the land and preparing the ground for the solar panels. The workers also helped build two pavilions on the grounds near the panels where summer patrons of Frosty Scoops will be able to relax as they enjoy their ice cream. In all, Jones said 125 hours of volunteer time were accumulated in doing the groundwork. Construction of the pavilions, both made from chestnut, was 85 hours of volunteer time alone. Among the many who volunteered were members of the NHEC during the annual Granite United Way Day of Caring and others who pitched in during the Equinox Extravaganda earlier this year. "We wanted it to be a showcase," said Jones. ReVision Energy was contracted to install the 90 solar panels and on Oct. 29 the 28.9kw system went online, generating 36,000 kw/hour to low income families. Electricity generated by those panels is being essentially put into an "energy bank" that will offset the energy costs for ten local families. In turn those families will take part in an energy education program through PAREI, where they will learn ways to save on their energy costs in the future. At the end of two years, those participants will "graduate" from the community solar program and pass their benefits on to another eligible family. Jones said they received 16 applications for the program, which also looked at income eligibility in selecting the first 10 participants. Barbara Spike was the first resident to be accepted and she was also at last week's ribbon cutting to thank all who have brought the solar energy program to Plymouth. "I'm proud to be part of this program," she said. "I've been environmentally conscious for about 40 years now and this is going to help the community and the environment as well." The array behind Frosty Scoops is just the first of a few planned installments, Jones said, with three more in mind for Plymouth, one in the Squam Lakes area, and another to be built in Warren in the near future. To help fund that continuation of community-shared solar power and energy education, N.H. Solar Shares is now in the process of applying for a $500,000 national award, which also offers a second prize of $250,000. Karen Cramton, director of the Sustainable Energy Division of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission was impressed by what PAREI and all the volunteers had accomplished in just under five months. As one of three projects that received money through the commission this year, Cramton said theirs was the first to go online and she congratulated them on a job well done. "We're excited to see how this works out and hope to make it the model for others," she said. PLYMOUTH The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative was joined by representatives of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission, New Hampshire Community Finance Authority and other partners and supporters as they cut the ribbon on a new solar array last Friday that will benefit low income residents of Plymouth.The array is located behind Frosty Scoops ice cream off Route 3 in Plymouth, across the parking lot from Foster's Boiler Room. When landowner Alex Ray heard about the project, he allowed PAREI to use the property for the new electrical initiative they were undertaking."This property here could have been used for many things," Ray said, "but this is the perfect use."It was NHEC President Steve Camerino who first presented PAREI with the idea of bringing solar energy to local families. Sandra Jones said her group was hesitant at first to take on such a project but eventually said yes to what they knew would be a huge undertaking."We're no longer an 'initiative'; we're here for the long term," Jones said.To oversee the energy project, PAREI formed a separate legal entity known as N.H. Solar Shares, which falls under the 501c:3 nonprofit status of PAREI.Their decision, it turns out, came at a good time. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission was just beginning a program to assist in such community projects and donated $86,000 toward the construction of the array, and the U.S. Dept. of Energy had also started a new grant program. Other local businesses made generous donations as well and soon a team of volunteers was busy clearing the land and preparing the ground for the solar panels. The workers also helped build two pavilions on the grounds near the panels where summer patrons of Frosty Scoops will be able to relax as they enjoy their ice cream.In all, Jones said 125 hours of volunteer time were accumulated in doing the groundwork. Construction of the pavilions, both made from chestnut, was 85 hours of volunteer time alone. Among the many who volunteered were members of the NHEC during the annual Granite United Way Day of Caring and others who pitched in during the Equinox Extravaganda earlier this year."We wanted it to be a showcase," said Jones.ReVision Energy was contracted to install the 90 solar panels and on Oct. 29 the 28.9kw system went online, generating 36,000 kw/hour to low income families.Electricity generated by those panels is being essentially put into an "energy bank" that will offset the energy costs for ten local families. In turn those families will take part in an energy education program through PAREI, where they will learn ways to save on their energy costs in the future. At the end of two years, those participants will "graduate" from the community solar program and pass their benefits on to another eligible family.Jones said they received 16 applications for the program, which also looked at income eligibility in selecting the first 10 participants.Barbara Spike was the first resident to be accepted and she was also at last week's ribbon cutting to thank all who have brought the solar energy program to Plymouth."I'm proud to be part of this program," she said. "I've been environmentally conscious for about 40 years now and this is going to help the community and the environment as well."The array behind Frosty Scoops is just the first of a few planned installments, Jones said, with three more in mind for Plymouth, one in the Squam Lakes area, and another to be built in Warren in the near future. To help fund that continuation of community-shared solar power and energy education, N.H. Solar Shares is now in the process of applying for a $500,000 national award, which also offers a second prize of $250,000.Karen Cramton, director of the Sustainable Energy Division of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission was impressed by what PAREI and all the volunteers had accomplished in just under five months. As one of three projects that received money through the commission this year, Cramton said theirs was the first to go online and she congratulated them on a job well done."We're excited to see how this works out and hope to make it the model for others," she said. Plymouth Record Enterprise Bonan to become Fire Chief in Holderness Ashland selectmen approve proposed budget Recent Donna Rhodes Bonan to become Fire Chief in Holderness 2021-Nov-18 Plymouth police welcome new Chief, Deputy Chief 2021-Nov-11 Community creates moving tribute to Hazel Roy 2021-Nov-04 Engine dedicated in honor of former Sanbornton Fire Chief 2021-Nov-04 Fundraiser celebrates former Alexandria residents love for animals 2021-Oct-29 Fundraiser planned to benefit local animal lovers family 2021-Oct-13 More... Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Winnisquam Echo Visiting officials express gratitude for service of Veterans Home residents by Donna Rhodes write the author Tilton School senior Kaitlin Bardellini of Northfield made a brief presentation during Veterans Day ceremonies at the New Hampshire veterans Home last week as state and federal dignitaries listened. (Photo by Donna Rhodes) (click for larger version) TILTON Gratitude was the message of the day as Gov. Chris Sununu, Sen. Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and Congressman-elect Chris Pappas joined a standing room only crowd at the New Hampshire Veterans Home last Friday for Veterans Day ceremonies. NHVH Commandant Margaret LaBrequec began the event by a reading of the Governor's Proclamation declaring Nov. 11, 2018 as Veterans Day in New Hampshire. The governor then took the podium for his own personal remarks, thanking the military men and women, both past and present, for their sacrifices "not just for us as individuals but for that flag right there." He said our gratitude for all they have done and continue to do all around the globe is an obligation all American's carry and it is up to America to now care for them. He praised New Hampshire for meeting that obligation so well, citing the care and support they receive at NHVH as one shining example. "When it comes to serving them now as a whole, nobody does it like New Hampshire. We are the gold standard," the governor said. In thanking the veterans and their families who attended the ceremonies, Sununu said, "You represent everything that that flag stands tall for every day." Sen. Hassan said Veterans Day provides an opportunity each year for Americans to re-confirm their commitment to making sure the United States is worthy of the service of its military. "You fought for us simply because we're Americans," she said. "You did it to make sure our country is strong and safe. Thank you for all you have done, not only for our country but in your communities as well." Congresswoman Shea-Porter said she worked hard during her time in Washington to make sure the military had all they need to be successful in their missions and every day duties. She said there is still work to be done in Congress however to bring about long overdue recognition to those who served in Viet Nam and to fill in the gaps in treatment that many veterans need and deserve. "But I also want you to know that every person I've served with in Congress cares deeply, and wants to make it right for you," she said, adding that the best way America can thank its veterans is to "never let the sun set on the promises we made to all of you." Pappas, who will now take Shea-Porter's place in representing the state's First Congressional District in Washington, thanked the Home's residents for their courage, integrity and selflessness. "You stood up for us in incredible ways, and we need to do that now for you," Pappas told the crowd. New Hampshire Adjutant General, Brig. General David Mikolaites, also had a few words of praise for veterans at the ceremony before Shawn Buck, U.S. Army (Ret.), gave the keynote address. Buck is the new superintendent of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, and said that while it was his privilege to serve the country, no one serves alone. "This day is about our families as well," Buck said. They are people who stood by as their loved ones went off to serve in both peacetime and war, he said. They worried them every day, sent packages and cards and always reminded others of their service. "Let's endeavor to share our gratitude with them, too," he said. "Our job now (as veterans) is to tell our stories and support those who serve today; advocate for them as they become the heroes of today." Remarks also came from Tilton School senior Kaitlin Bardellini of Northfield. Bardellini said her family has a strong history of service and when she graduates next spring she herself will be joining the Army ROTC. Throughout the school year she explained that she visits NHVH regularly where she has been both inspired and humbled by the stories of the veterans she has come to know. She closed her speech by quoting a song by Lee Greenwood. " And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today/ for there ain't no doubt I love this land/ God Bless the U.S.A.," Bardellini said. The ceremony concluded with a presentation of the video, "Doughboys," which was done by the World War I Commission in honor of the 100th anniversary of the end of that war on Nov. 11, 1918. TILTON Gratitude was the message of the day as Gov. Chris Sununu, Sen. Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and Congressman-elect Chris Pappas joined a standing room only crowd at the New Hampshire Veterans Home last Friday for Veterans Day ceremonies.NHVH Commandant Margaret LaBrequec began the event by a reading of the Governor's Proclamation declaring Nov. 11, 2018 as Veterans Day in New Hampshire. The governor then took the podium for his own personal remarks, thanking the military men and women, both past and present, for their sacrifices "not just for us as individuals but for that flag right there." He said our gratitude for all they have done and continue to do all around the globe is an obligation all American's carry and it is up to America to now care for them. He praised New Hampshire for meeting that obligation so well, citing the care and support they receive at NHVH as one shining example."When it comes to serving them now as a whole, nobody does it like New Hampshire. We are the gold standard," the governor said.In thanking the veterans and their families who attended the ceremonies, Sununu said, "You represent everything that that flag stands tall for every day."Sen. Hassan said Veterans Day provides an opportunity each year for Americans to re-confirm their commitment to making sure the United States is worthy of the service of its military."You fought for us simply because we're Americans," she said. "You did it to make sure our country is strong and safe. Thank you for all you have done, not only for our country but in your communities as well."Congresswoman Shea-Porter said she worked hard during her time in Washington to make sure the military had all they need to be successful in their missions and every day duties. She said there is still work to be done in Congress however to bring about long overdue recognition to those who served in Viet Nam and to fill in the gaps in treatment that many veterans need and deserve."But I also want you to know that every person I've served with in Congress cares deeply, and wants to make it right for you," she said, adding that the best way America can thank its veterans is to "never let the sun set on the promises we made to all of you."Pappas, who will now take Shea-Porter's place in representing the state's First Congressional District in Washington, thanked the Home's residents for their courage, integrity and selflessness."You stood up for us in incredible ways, and we need to do that now for you," Pappas told the crowd.New Hampshire Adjutant General, Brig. General David Mikolaites, also had a few words of praise for veterans at the ceremony before Shawn Buck, U.S. Army (Ret.), gave the keynote address. Buck is the new superintendent of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, and said that while it was his privilege to serve the country, no one serves alone."This day is about our families as well," Buck said.They are people who stood by as their loved ones went off to serve in both peacetime and war, he said. They worried them every day, sent packages and cards and always reminded others of their service."Let's endeavor to share our gratitude with them, too," he said. "Our job now (as veterans) is to tell our stories and support those who serve today; advocate for them as they become the heroes of today."Remarks also came from Tilton School senior Kaitlin Bardellini of Northfield. Bardellini said her family has a strong history of service and when she graduates next spring she herself will be joining the Army ROTC. Throughout the school year she explained that she visits NHVH regularly where she has been both inspired and humbled by the stories of the veterans she has come to know. She closed her speech by quoting a song by Lee Greenwood." And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today/ for there ain't no doubt I love this land/ God Bless the U.S.A.," Bardellini said.The ceremony concluded with a presentation of the video, "Doughboys," which was done by the World War I Commission in honor of the 100th anniversary of the end of that war on Nov. 11, 1918. Winnisquam Echo Franklin Savings Banks promotes five employees Winter sports start dates announced at Winnisquam Recent Donna Rhodes Bonan to become Fire Chief in Holderness 2021-Nov-18 Plymouth police welcome new Chief, Deputy Chief 2021-Nov-11 Community creates moving tribute to Hazel Roy 2021-Nov-04 Engine dedicated in honor of former Sanbornton Fire Chief 2021-Nov-04 Fundraiser celebrates former Alexandria residents love for animals 2021-Oct-29 Fundraiser planned to benefit local animal lovers family 2021-Oct-13 More... Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com Sunitha natti By Express News Service HYDERABAD : IDBI Bank needs an emergency lifeboat of Rs 4,000 crore by December. Given this capital is not found, the bank will likely miss coupon payments worth Rs 1,000 crore to be serviced this month and next. IDBI immediately needs capital infusion this quarter, as CET-1 (Common Equity Tier) is significantly lower. The banks risk-weighted assets are around Rs 2 lakh crore, 2 per cent of which translates to Rs 4,000 crore. This is without considering third quarter losses ... coupon payments are contingent upon the ability of the banks CRAR, Anil Gupta, VP, Financial Sector Ratings, ICRA Ratings, told Express. The needed Rs 4,000 crore is over and above the Rs 2,000 crore capital that incoming promoter LIC infused in September. Currently, IDBIs CET-1 is about 3.87 per cent, (down from 5.84 per cent as on June 2018) as against the minimum requirement of 5.5 per cent. Its asset quality too is deteriorating with slippages increasing in Q2. Add to this the stressed loan pile, which continues to be high in relation to the banks net worth. Some way has to be found. The onus of bailing out or infusing capital now lies with LIC. But pending shareholders approval (to pick up stake up to 51 per cent), its unclear how capital infusion will happen, Gupta explained. Government is unlikely to offer help as its already short of capital, and moreover, there are other banks that are high on capital requirement. Maintaining capital ratios above regulatory levels is critical for servicing the banks Basel II debt capital instruments. Although the IDBI-LIC deal is expected to provide capital, whether this will come before the coupon payment dates needs to be watched out for. Rating firms including ICRA have already placed some of IDBIs upper tier-II bonds under ratings watch with developing implications. Meanwhile, profitability remains under pressure. The banks net interest income fell 21.5 per cent to Rs 1,301 crore compared to Rs 1,657 crore last year. IDBI reported net loss of Rs 3,602 crore during the second quarter. By Express News Service MUMBAI: India is open to importing more oil and gas from the United States, that had emerged as a new crude source in recent years, agency reports from Singapore said quoting foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale. Gokhale was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an Asian summit in Singapore attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We expressed our readiness to import more gas and more oil from United States as a way of expanding trade, Gokhale said as per Reuters report. He said India is expected to import about $4 billion worth of oil from US this year. The announcement is significant at a time India was among the eight countries that won a partial waiver from the US sanctions on Iran. India had to substantially cut its crude imports from Iran to be eligible for US waiver.While Indian Oil Corporation and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals said they will continue to import from Iran, private refiner Reliance Industries and other state-owned refiners have halted Iran purchases. Egypt's Army Chief-of-Staff Mohamed Farid attended on Thursday the primary phase of the Arab Shield 1 joint military drills at Egypt's Mohamed Naguib Military Base. Participating in the drill are the armed forces of Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, while Morocco and Lebanon are attending as observers. Also attending were Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the UAE Hamad Thani Al Rumaithi and the Chief of the Saudi Land Forces Fahd Abdallah Al Motier, as well as other Arab counterparts. The commander of the Northern Military Region delivered a speech where he affirmed the importance of the Arab Shield exercise, which contributes to the exchange of expertise between different Arab armed forces and unifies military concepts to address the challenges and threats facing the region. Farid listened to a detailed explanation on the nature of the participating forces and the topographical nature of the area of the exercise. The exercise witnessed the tactical use of live ammunition involving various army branches and combat forces. Farid praised the level of coordination and cooperation between the Arab forces participating in the exercise, which is considered one of the largest to involve the armies of Arab countries. According to a communique released by Egyptian army spokesman Tamer El-Rifaai, Arab Shield 1 aims to develop and strengthen military cooperation between the Egyptian Armed Forces and the armed forces of brotherly Arab nations, and to develop joint Arab action in the framework of the challenges that face the region. The drills, which started on 4 November, were organised at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base in Matrouh Governorate, the largest base in the Middle East and host to the Bright Star maneuvers. According to the Egyptian military spokesman, the first stages involved theoretical lectures supported by practical exercises intended to unify operational concepts and better coordinate the execution of assigned tasks. At a general level, the drills aimed to strengthen interoperability between the participants, hone their skills in planning and managing combat activities on land, in the air and at sea, and promote the exchange of expertise between the different air, naval and ground forces. The special forces that took part in the exercises performed a range of training tasks to improve their camouflage and concealment techniques, exploiting features of the terrain. Search Keywords: Short link: Sesa Sen By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Call it the Space Age 2.0. Challenging the old guards in orbit, space start-ups are capitalising on opportunities to carve a niche in space under the Indian sun. For space entrepreneur Susmita Mohanty, however, the private sectors role is yet to take off, owing to the bureaucracy of the government space agencies and mega corporations, which largely dominates the space industry. Mohanty, who is widely known as the woman behind Indias first private space start-up Earth2Orbit, says that she had worked with some of the finest scientists of her time who encouraged innovative ideas, but today, those who are in charge of ISRO seem to be orthodox. Citing an instance of how the traditional spacesuit doesnt fit into the future of space tourism, Mohanty points out that the new space companies are required to take a user-centric design approach, unlike the engineering- centric approach used by the government space programmes. When you have to fly humans, you have to ensure the hardware meets safety, but tourists also expect some degree of style, Mohanty says, adding that what happened to commercial aviation in the last century is set to happen to private space flight in this century. But, for this take-off, India has to facilitate private sector participation. Enunciating the trouble for ISRO to meet the growing domestic needs for satellites and rocket launches, Mohanty says it must let the industry take over satellite assembly and PSLV integration activities. A robust space industry can help mitigate problems across a wider set of sectors shipping, mining, oil and gas, logistics and aviation through predictive analytics. The other big hurdle for space entrepreneurs is the lack of funding ecosystem. Be it zerogravity tourism, satellite launch or software development, all carries a hefty price tag. Unlike Europe and the US, we do not have a funding mechanism. Here, we have to persuade policymakers to eliminate the regulatory hurdles and red tape, and to extend financial support, Mohanty says. By UNI KOLKATA: Steel secretary Binoy Kumar has said the steel ministry is actively working on reducing India's dependence on high-quality steel imports as well as imports of capital goods for steel manufacturing and coking coal. Addressing the 56th National Metallurgists' Day and 72nd Annual Technical Meeting of the Indian Institute of Metals organised by Tata Steel and Indian Institute of Metals, here on Wednesday, Mr Kumar said the Centre's policy for preference to domestically manufactured iron and steel products had been a success, and it saved over Rs 12000 crores on the import bill, according to 2017 report. He said domestic steel companies have been able to provide quality steel to government companies like GAIL, ONGC and the railways. "We don't want imports, we are increasingly learning to meet our own requirements. We are confident that with the kind of support we are providing to the industry, we will be able to meet our target of achieving 300 million tons production capacity by 2030," he said. Public enterprises that procure steel in large scale for Rs 50 crores or more were being asked to source their requirements from domestic steel producers, both public and private. Further, the steel ministry was ensuring that Indian companies got into long-term arrangements with government enterprises that needed steel to ensure continued demand for Indian steel. Mr. Kumar said the availability of coking coal and logistics posed a major challenge in achieving the 300 million tons target of manufacturing steel domestically in the next 10-12 years. He said three Indian PSUs have been mining coking coal in Mozambique and the figures have risen from 1.2 million tonnes to 1.9 million tonnes. For the first time ever, the ministry of coal has earmarked certain coal fields to be auctioned specifically to the steel sector, to ensure the security of raw material to the domestic companies, both private and public, he informed. Kiran Prakash By Express News Service CHENNAI : Jaffa shows its age, all 4,000-odd years of it, but alive and buzzing as ever. The ancient port town, whose history goes beyond its biblical association, is where past meets present, in contrast to the jazzy metropolis it overlooks Tel Aviv, a showpiece of modern Israel where present truly meets future. The two neighbourhoods, different from each other, represent todays Israel, where the ancient and the modern coexist in complete harmony. The setting and the perspective remain the same wherever you go in Israel, only the narrative differs slightly be it Nazareth, Haifa, Jerusalem or any other city. While innovation and entrepreneurship are at the heart of Israels development and progress, its foundation lies in the history of its lands and people. That the country is betting big on its peoples potential to innovate and create is shown in the number of successful entrepreneurs it has produced. While Tel Aviv ranks among the top start-up ecosystems around the globe, other Israeli cities have their own innovation-driven entrepreneurial networks. For example, the Nazareth Business Incubator Center, with its headquarters offering a magnificent view of the biblical city and the history it holds, focuses on the entrepreneurship among the countrys sizeable Arab population and nurtures Arab-Israeli start-ups. Haifa-based Technion, Israels premier technology institute, has played a crucial role in establishing the country as a hub of innovation, not just by producing the required technical talent pool but also by churning out many entrepreneurs. There is innovation at every level, across the nation and population. WMN, a community that provides the ecosystem for women-led ventures, has a network of 22 female founders of companies spanning sectors such as cybersecurity to dating to e-commerce. Even other Israeli universities are part of the start-up ecosystem, by being facilitators and incubators. Lightricks is a start-up that was founded on the Hebrew Universitys campus in Jerusalem, and is known for popular photo and video apps like Facetune, Photofox, Quickshot and Videoleap. Then there are initiatives like OurCrowd that facilitate investments in start-ups at an early stage through equity crowdfunding. According to Ran Natanzon, head of innovation and brand management at Israeli ministry of foreign affairs, the country currently has about 7,700 start-ups, 360 venture capital funds and 330 R&D centres. Israel is said to be investing 4.3% of its GDP in R&D, the highest among all countries. The efficient start-up ecosystem is supported by government, venture capitalists, and banks on the availability of a rich pool of technical and management expertise. Israelis say their culture of innovation stems from their instinct for survival. Lacking natural resources and surrounded by hostile territories, innovation was Israels only path to survival and move up. Israel is a state thats created from our brain power. Everything we achieved is through innovation, said Chemi Peres, son of Nobel-winning former Israeli President Shimon Peres. Chemi Peres, a venture capitalist himself, heads the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation named after his father. Israels need for innovation was best summed up by PM Benjamin Netanyahu when he said how the future belongs to those who innovate. Innovation is not just an engine of progress, its also an engine of peace. Quite a few neighbouring countries are reaching out to Israel and normalising relations with us because of our innovation. They want our innovation not merely for security reasons but also for civilian reasons, he said at the Prime Ministers Innovation Summit in Tel Aviv on October 25. The contrast between the two sides of Israel is starker in Jerusalem. The modern part can be compared to the most modern of global cities, but passing through one of the gates of the Old Citys walls is like entering a time machine that can literally take you back hundreds of years in a moment. Significantly, both parts of the city are rich one in history and the other in entrepreneurial spirit. (The author was in Israel to attend Prime Ministers Innovation Summit) By Express News Service CHENNAI: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) will establish a Joint Research Cell with leading Japanese manufacturing firms. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday with alfaTKG Co. Ltd., Japan and OKABE Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Japan for collaborating in core areas of manufacturing sector including Research and Development (R&D). The MoU will pave way for cooperation between alfaTKG, IIT-M and Okabe Co. on areas related to joint research, sponsorship programmes, usage of facilities of alfaTKG, OKABE and IIT-M by each other, and exchange of employees. Speaking about the importance of this collaboration, Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT-M, said, There is a lot of potential for this kind of collaboration with IIT-M. It can also pave way for our students to intern in the partner firms in Japan. IIT-M has incubated start-ups that are doing amazing work based in IoT and AI that surpass even the big corporates in their technological innovation.Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Toshio Takagi, president and CEO, alfaTKG, Japan, and Hiroaki Okabe, president and CEO, OKABE Manufacturing Co., Japan, signed the MoU in the presence of Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT-M, Periasamy Thanapandi, president and CEO, alfaTKG Integrated Solutions India Pvt. Ltd and others. As part of the initiative alfaTKG, a pioneer in providing IoT-based solutions for knowledge-driven paperless manufacturing technology in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan and other Asian countries, will introduce Genius Artificial Intelligence Assistance (GAIA) for efficient manufacturing, machinery utility and health monitoring. Takagi said, We had a tie-up earlier with IIT-M in 2015 and since then our firm has grown a lot. This is a collaboration so important to the SMEs sector, which also uses a lot of robots and IoT-based solutions. The MoU signing event was followed by a special lecture by Toshio Takagi on the Japan GAIAs AI based IoT Solutions for Manufacturing in SMEs.Speaking about this collaboration, N Ramesh Babu, HoD Mechanical Engineering, IIT-M, who is coordinating this initiative, said, This collaboration will bring many SMEs from Japan to interact with many start-ups in IITM Research Park to address the issues related to IoT and Industrie 4.0. This will also enable many students and faculty members to interact with Japanese industries in smart manufacturing. Nandalal By Online Desk DELHI: Many a time, walking through the K block in New Delhis Connaught Place, you might have come across the signboard of 'Kerala Club'- in retro design in both Malayalam and English. This club has been around since the pre-Independence era, even before Kerala was officially formed. Kerala Club in Connaught Place. ( Photo | Nandalal) Climb up the stairs and you can spot 'Kerala Club since 1939' written in golden colour. The door opens up to a hall filled with black and brown photo frames of well-known Malayalees bathed in vintage yellow lights. The club, which has more than 500 members, has served as the meeting hub of Delhi Malayalees for the past several decades. The New Indian Express interacted with P Radhakrishnan, the club secretary. "The name Kerala Club itself was very unique at that time because Kerala was not formed then. It was Travancore, Cochin and Malabar, says Radhakrishnan. WATCH VIDEO HERE The idea of a Kerala Club was born in the house of KPS Menon, later India's first Foreign Secretary, in 1939 in Shimla. Later, VP Menon, the Political Reforms Commissioner to the last three Viceroys during British rule in India, was appointed as the first president of Kerala Club. A large number of educated, English-speaking Malayalee men began arriving in Delhi since the 30s, down till the 80s, to take up government positions. Their urge to connect with their culture and language was the reason of the clubs formation, adds Radhakrishnan. The exclusive picture gallery in the hall is a treat for the visitors. Photos of writers, artists, civil servants, politicians and many others who had played an important role in shaping todays Kerala are given pride of place. Our picture gallery was set up to make younger generations know about the people who have contributed to the present-day culture, literature and social reforms of Kerala, says Radhakrishnan. The picture gallery of writers, artists, civil servants, politicians and many others who had played an important role in shaping todays Kerala are given pride of place. ( Photo | Nandalal ) "Most of those in the photographs have played an important part in this club in one way or the other, Radhakrishnan said. Pointing at a frame, he says, "This is OV Vijayan. It is here at Kerala club that he completed his famous book Khasakkinte Ithihasam. There used to be reading sessions where initially many criticised his writing. He made changes accordingly and finally published the bookmaking Khasakkinte Ithihasam one of the great works in Malayalam literature. The club has some of the finest Malayalam books stacked up in a glass shelf contributed by eminent Malayalees who lived in Delhi such as KPS Menon, VP Menon and John Mathai. Holding a copy of khasakkinte ithihasam, Radhakrishnan said, We used to run a library here, but later closed that down as there were very less takers. Many of the books are crumbling and we are planning to make them readable again by chemically treating them." Next to the gallery is a mini auditorium that can easily accommodate 100 people. The auditorium was built some years ago in memory of former club president Justice Subramanium Poti. The auditorium was inspired by the design of Akshara Theatre, he says. Be it Onam or Vishu, celebrations at Kerala club are grand. With a smile, Radhakrishnan explains, Onam is the most important festival for us as on an Onam day, we decided to form a club for Malayalee communities in Delhi. Apart from festivals, a discussion on literary, social, economic and contemporary issues - Sahithee Sakyam' - is a notable activity that takes place on Fridays at the club. This platform is something which we are very proud of and it has also initiated several new trends in Malayalam literature. Kakkanandan, OV Vijayan, M Mukundan, MP Narayana Pillai and others had admitted the fact that this forum inspired their creativity, he says. Once upon a time, the concept of Kerala club was very unique but today there are hundreds of Malayalee clubs in and around Delhi. Even then the legacy of 'Kerala Club' will stand tall. By PTI BHOPAL: Battle lines have been drawn for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh elections in which 2,907 candidates will be into the fray from 230 assembly seats. The deadline for a withdrawal of nomination papers for the assembly election ended on Thursday, an Election Commission official said. Stakes are high for the BJP as the Congress is going all out to wrest power from the saffron party, which has been ruling the state for 15 years. The highest number of 34 candidates will lock horns in Mehgaon constituency in Bhind district, while the lowest number of four nominees will battle it out in Gunnor seat in Panna district, the EC official said. READ| Madhya Pradesh Congress, BJP fail to quell dissent in ranks The keenly-watched constituency will be Budhni, the home turf of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress has pitted former Union minister and former Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arun Yadav against him. According to the EC official, there are 1,102 independent candidates into the fray. Of the major parties, only the BJP has fielded candidates on all 230 seats. During one of his addresses last month, BJP chief Amit Shah had exhorted his party workers to strive to win over 200 seats. "The party had once registered a victory by winning 207 seats in Madhya Pradesh. So, we have given a slogan 'Abki bar, 200 par'. We are confident of achieving this target and forming the government for the fourth consecutive term," BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said. The Congress, which tried unsuccessfully to forge a pre-poll alliance with Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party and Akhilesh Yadav-led-Samajwadi Party, later joined hands with Sharad Yadav's Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) for the election. The Congress is contesting on 229 seats and has left one seat "Jatara in Tikamgarh district" for the LJD. Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi expressed confidence that his party would form the government this time. "There is anger against the BJP dispensation because of their fake promises. Congress will form the government by winning over 150 seats. The party has been highlighting the 15-year 'misrule' of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and reaching out to people," he said. The BSP has fielded 227 candidates and the SP is contesting on 51 seats. Madhya Pradesh BSP president Pradeep Ahirwar said there is a strong anti-incumbency wave against the BJP. He added that Dalit unity would work in the party's favour and help it win 32 seats. SP national spokesman Jagdev Singh Yadav claimed his party would win at least 10 seats. "The party has a strong presence in Bundelkhand, Chambal regions besides in Balaghat district," he said. The Aam Aadmi Party, contesting the Madhya Pradesh election for the first time, has fielded 208 candidates. In the last assembly poll, of the total 230 seats, the BJP had won 165 seats, Congress 58, BSP four and independents three. As per the final electoral rolls, the state has 5,04,95,251 voters, including 2,63,01,300 males, 2,41,30,390 females and 1,389 third gender voters. In addition, there are 62,172 voters who can exercise their franchise through postal ballots. By PTI JAIPUR: Looking to retain power in Rajasthan, the BJP has denied tickets to its 43 sitting MLAs, including four ministers, even as some leaders who have crossed over from other parties have been fielded for the upcoming assembly elections. The ruling party has released two lists so far of 162 candidates for the elections to be held on December 7 for 200 assembly constituencies. Names of more candidates are expected to be announced soon. The BJP had released its first list of 131 candidates on November 11, while the second list of 31 candidates was announced on November 14. READ| Rajasthan elections: BJP's Dausa MP Harish Meena, Nagaur MLA Habibur Rahman join Congress In the second list itself, the party denied tickets to 14 sitting MLAs and three ministers. In the two lists, a total of 92 sitting MLAs have been fielded again in the election. The BJP had won 163 seats in the last 2013 elections, while its arch-rival Congress could get just 21. Traditionally, these two parties have ruled the state one after another. So far, the saffron party has given tickets to 19 women candidates. Besides, four leaders who have joined the BJP from some other parties have also got the party ticket for the polls. READ| Former CM Ashok Gehlot, Congress chief Sachin Pilot to contest Rajasthan assembly polls These include Abhinesh Mehrishi, who would contest from Ratangarh seat after quitting BSP, Congress leaders Ashok Sharma and Mahesh Pratap Singh (for Rajakheda and Nathdwara seats, respectively) and two-time independent legislator Gurdeep Shahpini (Sangaria seat). Those having been denied a ticket include Gyandeo Ahuja, a sitting MLA from Ramgarh seat of Alwar. When contacted, Ahuja declined to comment on denial of ticket from his existing constituency. "I would comment only after meeting the office bearers of the RSS," Ahjua said. He said he has not met Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje so far on this issue. The BJP ministers who have been denied ticket by the party from their existing seats include Babulal Verma, Dhan Singh Rawat, Rajkumar Rinwa and Surendra Goyal. Goyal has resigned from the party and has announced he will contest the election independently. The denial of ticket to leaders like Gyandeo Ahuja and Dhan Singh Rawat has come as a surprise to many, even as they have been known for their hardliner comments that have often triggered controversies. Sheo constituency MLA Manvendra Singh has joined the Congress while the Nathdwara assembly seat fell vacant after the demise of BJP legislator Kalyan Singh Chouhan. The saffron party has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate so far. It is also being keenly watched what would be the fate of Chief Minister Raje's close aide Yunus Khan, who was fielded from Deedwana Assembly seat in last election. The party has not announced any candidate from that seat so far. Also, there is no clarity so far on the candidature of erstwhile royal family member Diya Kumari from Sawai Madhopur seat. The counting of votes for December 7 elections would take place on December 11, along with the same for four other state assemblies -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a setback to Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot, party veteran Ashok Gehlot has announced he would contest the December 7 assembly polls. The announcement raised fresh question marks on the leadership issue in the state.While Pilot, being the state unit chief, was being seen as a natural claimant to the post of chief minister, former chief minister Gehlot clearly hasnt given up on his political ambitions. The speculation around infighting in the state unit is over. We are entering the fray together. Both Pilotji and myself will contest the polls, Gehlot said at an AICC briefing on Wednesday.Pilot seconded Gehlot on record, but sources said Sachin was not in favour of Ashok contesting the polls as he believed it would add fuel to the ongoing power struggle between the two leaders. Sachin Pilot has worked hard to revive the Congress in Rajasthan. I and Gehlotji will fight the elections and together we will bring Congress back to power, Pilot said, adding he received support of all the senior leaders in strengthening the state unit.Old timers said the tussle started when Sachin was sent to revive the party by Rahul Gandhi, then Congress vice president, in 2014, after the party could win just 21 of the 200 seats in the 2013 assembly polls under Gehlot as chief minister. In 2014, the party lost all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Party insiders acknowledged that over the last five years, Pilot has worked hard to revamp the state unit winning several bypolls and local body polls, including the crucial Alwar and Ajmer Lok Sabha bylections, taking on chief minister Vasundhara Raje.Gehlot, too, remained politically active in the state using his considerable influence over party organisation.After Rahul became party chief in December 2017, he moved Gehlot to national politics, making him AICC general secretary, organisation. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: While other parties are promising the moon to lure voters, the saffron party has chosen to go with gomata and Sanskrit. Days after BJP promised to distribute 1 lakh cows per year in Telangana if voted to power, it has now promised early introduction of Sanskrit in school. We will have Sanskrit introduced from Class-V in school, BJP manifesto committee chairman NVS Prabhakar has said, adding that yoga would be a part of the curriculum. Despite receiving flak for the cow idea, Prabhakar feels his partys manifesto will help one find purpose in life. It is not sure if parents, especially those who migrated to the city for work and already burdened with the idea of compulsory Telugu education in schools, would receive the BJP proposal with much enthusiasm. It also looks like the saffron party wants to bring Telangana on the lines of UP, led by BJP man Yogi Adityanath, for it seems to have planned a series of name changes if it comes to power. If Allahabad, Bombay and Calcutta can be renamed, then why not those in Telangana, argues Prabhakar. The change of name is not to saffronize but present the right history of these places, he claimed. Prabhakar added that places, where agitations for separate Telangana was taken up, would also be identified. After all these jabs Prabhakar claimed the BJP would promote welfare of Muslims and Christians. P Krishna By Express News Service SIDDIPET: Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao who is seeking the peoples mandate for a second term as Chief Minister filed his nomination papers from Gajwel constituency, even as his nephew, party leader and minister in the previous Cabinet T Harish Rao followed suit in Siddipet Wednesday afternoon. The caretaker chief minister offered prayers at Koinapally temple and placed his nomination papers at the feet of Lord Venkateswara Swamy, a tradition he has been following since 1985 when he first contested elections. The deeply religious leader who takes astrology seriously submitted two sets of nomination papers to returning officer Vijayender Reddy in Gajwel between 2.21 pm and 2.55 pm one proposed by former ZP chairman Laxmi Kantha Rao at 2.33 pm and another by Nacharam temple chairman K Yadagiri at 2.35 pm in the presence of election agent and childhood friend Jahangir. At 2.39 pm, He took an oath in Gods name to do his best for the State. ALSO READ: KCR is worth over Rs 20 crore, owns no car The pink party supremo addressed the people of Konaipally and urged them to vote the TRS to power. Rao promised upon Lord Venkateswara that he would make the farmers of Telangana the wealthiest in the country and exuded confidence in the partys chances of winning 100 seats in the forthcoming polls. He also showered praise on Harish Rao for doing a commendable job in the constituency. Make sure he wins with a thumping majority of over one lakh votes, he told the cheering crowd. After filing his nomination papers, Harish Rao, the caretaker irrigation minister who will be contesting from Siddipet for the sixth time, told mediapersons he had the blessings of the TRS chief. He likened the people of the constituency to his family while promising them water from Kaleshwaram if given the mandate. He added that if the government announced an award for development Siddipet would be honoured duly, thanks to the all-round progress it had made under the watch of his party. It may be recalled that Harish Rao had entered the political arena in 2004, when he took his uncle KCRs place. KCR had been elected as a Member of Parliament, and as part of his alliance with Congress at the State and Centre, he was given the Union labour portfolio. Car man has no car Did you know that the supremo of a party that has Car as its election symbol does not own one? Filing his nomination papers, the TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao declared his assets, liabilities and the fact that he does not own a car. His gross value was estimated by him at Rs 10.40 cr. Among his investments, he has a Rs 4.16 crore state in Telangana Publications Pvt. Ltd.He also disclosed that he does not have any pending criminal cases, though there were some related to the Telangana agitation pending against him. He has not been convicted in any case so far. TRS CHIEF doesnt have a car! DID you know that the supremo of a party with car as its election symbol does not own one? K Chandrasekhar Rao has declared his assets, liabilities and the fact that he does not own a car. He has said that he does not have any criminal cases pending against him, though he is named in cases related to the Telangana agitation. He has not been convicted in any case A prime ministerial decree banning government employed doctors from taking unpaid leave has provoked anger. Immediately after the decision was announced by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli he argued Egypt suffers from a shortage of doctors and the decision will help cover the shortfall doctors working for the Health Ministry threatened to resign their posts. Ahmed Harhash, a pediatrician working in Saudi Arabia after taking unpaid leave, said he would leave his government job permanently if the decree is implemented. All my Egyptian colleagues have either resigned or will resign. We are working abroad for the sake of a better life for our families, he said. Ali Mahrous, Head of the Central Administration for Free Treatment at the Ministry of Health, says that since the decree was announced more than 2,000 doctors have resigned. Mahrous pointed out that though there are no accurate statistics for the number of doctors affiliated to the Health Ministry they are estimated at around 170,000, of whom more than half are currently working abroad. There are 69,000 Egyptian doctors in Gulf countries while between 15,000 and 20,000 have permanently left for the US, Canada and Australia, said Mahrous. Egyptian doctors working abroad, says Mahrous, earn far more than they make working for the Ministry of Health. Why would they sacrifice these salaries to return to Egypt, he asks, where working conditions leave a lot to be desired. Their salaries are low, and often hospitals lack essential equipment and supplies. The doctors who have resigned, says Mahrous, are paid multiple times more than they receive in Egypt. They do not want to risk their positions abroad or lose their salaries. Ihab Taher, a member of the board of the Doctors Syndicate, believes the decree may well be illegal since it undermines the constitutionally guaranteed right of Egyptian workers to seek employment abroad. More than half of doctors currently working abroad have already threatened to resign should the decision not be annulled, he warned. But some medical professionals argue doctors working abroad should return for the sake of Egypt, which needs their services. Rashwan Shaaban, assistant secretary general of the Doctors Syndicate, says the country has just one doctor per 800 patients, far short of the doctor per 300 patients recommended internationally. This ratio negatively affects the services provided to patients. Egyptian doctors should return as a national duty, says Taher. While Taher notes that the basic salary of government employed doctors does not exceed $80 per month they can earn as much an hour in some countries additional incentives are in place. Doctors who work in remote areas are paid four times more than those in cities, and there are incentives in place for those working in dangerous fields or dealing with highly contagious diseases. Doctors, adds Taher, have to make sacrifices for the sake of Egypt which suffers from a serious shortage of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) specialists, anesthetists and orthopedic, neurology and cardiac disease specialists. Ahmed Harhash argues the prime ministerial decree will have the opposite effect to the one intended, encouraging many doctors to leave for good. Ihab Ramsis, an ophthalmologist who moved to the US five years ago, says the decision is unrealistic and will soon be withdrawn. We have seen similar decrees before, he says. One was issued in 2015, and before that in 2013. They were annulled when the government realised the consequences of the decision. Government officials need to be more realistic. They should improve doctors working conditions before asking them to leave better paying jobs. *A version of this article appears in print in the 15 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Forced return Search Keywords: Short link: Aditya Shrikrishna By Express News Service The face of terrorism in Paul Greengrass 22 July, a Netflix original, is something weve seldom seen in cinema before. In 2018, this face is all around us, has consumed and continues to consume us, has lost the ability to confound us. Cinema, especially western cinema, has not documented this face. At least not as often as it should have. The face is white. When the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, asks intelligence officials why a purchase made by a terrorist was not flagged when it easily could have been, the reply comes quickly We were focused on Islamic terrorists. 22 July is based on the book, One of Us: The Story of the Massacre in Norway and its Aftermath by Asne Seierstad telling the story of the terrorist attack on a youth camp in Norway in July 2011, and follows the events leading up to the trial of the perpetrator, terrorist Anders Behring Breivik, claiming to be part of the far right organisation, Knights Templar, and carrying on the work of the crusades. A group of politically-inclined teenagers are gathered in the Utoya island at a camp for young adults, where evening games include If I were the Prime Minister. Greengrass puts us right in the middle of the event, and the way the attack is filmed is chilling, visceral and leaves nothing to the imagination. The scenes can be triggering; they at once bring to the mind images of the attack that took place in 2011 and even remind us of American school shootings. Breivik massacres children inside the cottages and then shoots at will as they run and hide into the forest. As he unloads all his bullets into the bodies of teenagers, he shouts a warning against elites, Marxists and liberals. The events in 22 July are from 2011, but watching it in 2018, Greengrass offers the most inoffensive I-told-you-so ever filmed. As we watch right wing governments elected to power and Vladimir Putin swinging elections in first world nations, we are offered a ring-side view of how this was not impulsive and has been in the works in the most calculated manner long before Donald Trump even dreamed of running for presidency. Breivik wants the borders closed, tougher immigration laws and he gives the Nazi salute in court. His mother is shocked by his actions, but not before asking his lawyer, Hes kinda right, about the way the country is going, isnt he? The deep-rooted switch in perspective and how entrenched the hate is comes to the fore in Greengrass film. Violence in this film is not used for shock value. Greengrass is not one to go for a simplistic exercise but rather to, first, show that the deadliest attacks can be carried out in full knowledge by bigots on either side of the world, who have carefully cultivated their hate and, second, to explore the trauma it can cause for a survivor. Viljar survives the attack after multiple bullets to his limbs and his head, with bullet fragments still lodged in his brain stem. For Greengrass, this becomes almost symbolic of the PTSD it leaves him with, unable to come to terms with the nature of the attack and its aftermath. We see Viljar is an enthusiastic member of the youth division of the Labour Party that was camping in the Utoya island when he is the first to rise to take part in If I were Prime Minister. He talks about his liberal values, empathetic worldview and how Norway can be home to anyone that wishes to stay and how the citizens should welcome refugees. As Breiviks arrest and subsequent trial begins, we see events from the perspective of several different people. 22 July, if nothing else, is empathetic to a fault. It focuses on the Prime Ministers helplessness, Viljars health and recovery, and even Breiviks lawyer, Geir Lippestad, whom the terrorist handpicks because the lawyer had represented a neo-Nazi murderer in 2001. We get to see Lippestads personal life too, the threats he receives in his home or how he is asked to find a different school for his daughter as other parents start to feel unsafe. If one is warmed up to Greengrass by way of his Bourne films, then 22 July is at the other end of the spectrum. The cause of this film may be guns, but it uses them less and focuses on the atmosphere, the vast expanse of Scandinavian mountains and glaciers that are as cold as they are inviting. And the not-so-difficult debate between welcoming and unwelcoming, love and hate is what the film deals with. When Viljar faces up to Breivik in the trial and delivers his speech, a lesser filmmaker would have gone for a rousing finish, but 22 July is not that film nor is Greengrass that filmmaker. It cuts almost immediately to his Muslim immigrant friend smiling, and his parents and brother greeting him outside the court, saying, Lets go home. 22 July is quiet, but assertive, in its proclamations of tolerance and compassion. By PTI NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Wednesday filed a charge sheet against pro-Pakistani separatist and Dukhtaran-e-Millat head Asiya Andrabi and two of her associates for allegedly "waging war" against the country using Internet platforms, officials said. In a statement, the NIA's spokesman said Andrabi, Sofi Fehmeeda and Naheeda Nasreen were using various social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and TV channels including some in Pakistan to spread "insurrectionary imputations and hateful messages and speeches against India". The Dukhtaran-E-Millat, a banned terrorist organisation, through Andrabi and others, openly advocates secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India and its merger with Pakistan through violent means. READ| Pakistan can't handle own provinces, doesn't need Kashmir: Shahid Afridi's comment sparks Twitter storm It is engaged in anti-India activities and has been inciting the general populace of Kashmir for an armed rebellion against the Government of India with aid and assistance of terrorist organizations based in Pakistan. The three were arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police in April and the case was later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in July. The spokesman said the investigation has established that Andrabi, as the chief of Dukhtaran-E-Millat, used social media and other platforms to abet waging of war against the Government of India. "She is spreading seditious and insurrectionary imputations against the Government of India. She is promoting ill-will and enmity between different communities in India on religious grounds." Investigation has also established that she has close contacts with designated global terrorist Hafeez Mohammad Saeed who is the head of Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Lashkar-e-Taiba, internationally designated terrorist organizations that are based in Pakistan. The NIA said that Sofi Fehmeeda, personal secretary to Andrabi, and Dukhtaran-E-Millat's general secretary, Naheeda Nasreen, have been instrumental in the use of social media and other platforms to abet waging of war against the Indian government besides spreading seditious and insurrectionary imputations against it, and are promoting ill-will and enmity between different communities in India on religious grounds. They have collected funds to carry out terrorist activities of Dukhtaran-E-Millat and have used public platforms to incite Kashmiri youths to rise in armed rebellion against the government with the objective of securing cessation of Kashmir from India and its merger with Pakistan. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad has planned a nationwide stir from December 6 to seek the release of incarcerated Dalit leaders who have been booked in fake cases. Making the announcement about the agitation, Azad said on Thursday in Muzaffarnagar that scores of Dalit and Bhim Army leaders were booked for various crimes including vandalism, violence and arson during April 2 Bharat Bandh, called against Supreme Court's order over SC/ST Act. "National Security Act (NSA) was also invoked against a number of Bhim Army members," he stated. In order to drum up support for proposed December 6 agitation, Azad has been meeting leaders of various Dalit organisations. He met Upkar Bawra, district chief of Bhim Army and also Vikas Median, a member of Shaheed Udham Singh Sena, said a source. Azad said that protests would commence in Muzaffarnagar on December 1 to set the tone for the nationwide-stir on December 6. He claimed that their members were not involved in the violence that erupted during the April 2 bandh and maintained that "outsiders" had indulged in acts of violence. Azad, who was jailed under the NSA for his alleged role in fomenting caste violence in Saharanpur in May 2017, was set free by Uttar Pradesh government two months prior to his scheduled release on November 1, 2018. On June 8 last year, Azad was arrested by Saharanpur police and special task force of UP police. The Allahabad HC had granted him bail on November 2 in four cases but the state government immediately slapped NSA on him extending his stay in jail. Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya Thursday gave sanction to prosecution of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the case of re-allotment of a plot to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company that owned the Congress-controlled National Herald newspaper in Panchkula in 2005. In May 2016, the state vigilance bureau had registered a case against Hooda and others on charges of cheating and corruption in allotment of land to the AJL in Panchkula by Haryana Urban and Development Authority (HUDA). AJL was the publisher of the National Herald newspaper in 2005. In 2011, AJL's ownership was transferred to Young India Limited, in which Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are shareholders and directors. Hooda was chairman of HUDA at the time of allotment of the plot. Last year, the case was transferred by the government to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the apex agency registered the case against Hooda for criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating and misuse of official position. Sources said that it is alleged that AJL was allotted a plot in Panchkula in 1982 on which no construction took place till 1992. Then HUDA took back possession of the plot. The same plot was re-allotted to AJL more than original rates in 2005 by allegedly violating the norms by Hooda who was then Chairman of HUDA. The AJL was re-allotted a plot (no C-17), measuring 3,360 square meters, in Sector 6 of Panchkula on June 29, 2005. In July 2017, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Hooda allegedly misused his official position and illegally re-allotted a plot in 2005 to AJL. Hooda termed it as politically motivated and said the decision to allot the plot to the AJL was taken by the entire HUDA and not by a single individual. He denied any wrongdoing in the case and put forth that he had full faith in the judiciary. Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Abhay Singh Chautala had written letter to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in which he had demanded registration of a criminal case against Hooda and AJL. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: A high alert has been sounded in the border police districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Batala in Punjab after four men snatched an Toyota Innova on Tuesday night from near Madhopur on Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir border. Sources said that all the four accused had hired the taxi from Jammu to Amritsar in Punjab and had dinner at a restaurant near Samba in Jammu where they picked up a quarrel with the owner. After leaving the restaurant, one of the accused complained of vomiting and the driver stopped the vehicle near Madhopur in Punjab and then another accused pointed a gun at the driver, Raj Kumar, and pushed him out of the vehicle. Raj Kumar then rang up the police control room, following which Senior Superintendent of Police of Pathankot Vivek Sheel Soni and other senior police officials reached the spot. Within an hour of the incident, nine check posts were set-up up on the Pathankot-Gurdaspur-Batala-Amritsar highway. Punjab Police has dispatched a team to Sambha in Jammu. The hotel owner was also questioned. Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar did not rule out a terror angle and said a massive manhunt has been launched to nab the accused. We are not in a position to take any risks, especially after the January 2016 terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force station. We have formed six teams and information has been sought from the two toll barriers on the Gurdaspur-Pathankot and Batala-Amritsar highways, Singh said. In 2016, terrorists launched attacks on the Pathankot Air base after snatching a Punjab police officers car to get to the air base. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Indian citizens who moved to Assam even before 1971 will be included in the NRC if citizenship of such persons is established beyond reasonable doubt, according to the Standard Operating Procedures of the Assam NRC. The SOPs were submitted by the state coordinator of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Prateek Hajela, to the Supreme Court recently. The apex court has fixed December 15 as the deadline for filing of claims and objections for inclusion of names in the NRC. While submitting the SOPs, the NRC coordinator said there had been instances where some people had not been able to provide documents to satisfactorily prove their residence in any part of India (outside Assam) up to March 24, 1971. As such, their cases will be dealt with under Rule 4 of tahe Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 and Clause 3(3) of its Schedule. They are as follows: Citizens of India who originate from other states in India and who do not have any origin in specified territory (Bangladesh) and have moved to Assam prior to March 24, 1971, or after, will be included in the NRC if the citizenship of such persons is ascertained beyond reasonable doubt. READ| Assam NRC: Claims and objections process begins to decide fate of 40 lakh excluded people Cases of all such persons whether ordered for inclusion by the authority (disposing claims and objections) or for exclusion, will be examined first by the CRCR (Circle Registrar of Citizens Registration) and then by the DRCR (District Registrar of Citizens Registration), according to the SOPs. The final decision of inclusion or exclusion will be taken by the DRCR, who will record a speaking order issued under his seal and signature. The authorities examining the claim and the DRCR will exercise great caution to ensure that no illegal person's name is included taking recourse to the above provisions. Claims, where only children (14 years or below) have been left out from the draft NRC while their parents have been included, will be segregated and pre-claim verification undertaken by the CRCR to ascertain the shortcoming in linkage documents or any inconsistencies thereof, the SOPs said. The DRCR concerned will cause specific hearings for the composite family in respect of these minor children and oral or written evidences from parents will be admissible. This special consideration is required as adequate documentary evidence may not be available for children less than 14 years of age, it said. The Supreme Court had earlier directed that "in so far as clause 3(5) of the Schedule to the Rules is concerned, we clarify that Indian citizens, including their children and descendants, who may have moved to the State of Assam subsequent to March 24, 1971 would be eligible for inclusion in the NRC on adducing satisfactory proof of residence in any part of the country (outside Assam) as on March 24, 1971". The update of the NRC, the massive Supreme Court-monitored exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals living in Assam, excluded over 40 lakh people from the draft list published on July 30, creating a huge political controversy. The exercise is aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state that borders Bangladesh was carried out only in Assam, which faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century. When the NRC was first prepared in Assam way back in 1951, the state had 80 lakh citizens then. As per 2011 census, Assam's total population is over 3.11 crore. The process of identification of illegal immigrants in Assam has been widely debated and become a contentious issue in the state's politics. A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the AASU in 1979. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, in the presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. (with inputs from PTI) SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service SRIHARIKOTA: Three years from now, India will be capable of taking humans into space. Works have already commenced at Sriharikota from where the human spacecraft will take-off. K Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said launch pad works are being carried out parallel at Sriharikota alongside consultations with international space agencies and other governmental departments on selection of crew members. We are currently at the discussion stage. Meanwhile, suitable modifications have to be carried out to the launcher GSLV MkIII vehicle to make it human rated, he said replying to a question at the post-launch press conference on Wednesday. ALSO READ: ISRO's 'Bahubali' puts communication satellite GSAT-29 in orbit; Mission Moon next He said at least two unmanned flights using human rated vehicle will be carried out before Gaganyaan mission to assess various parameters. The first unmanned flight will take-off around December 2020. Initially, the plan was the construct a new launch pad for the human space flight, but Sivan told the Express that due to paucity of time one of the two existing launch pads is being modified to meet the requirement. Under Gaganyaan, ISRO will send a three-person crew to space for a period of 5-7 days to carry some of the scientific tests like micro gravity experiments. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. The crew module along with the service module, together called the orbital module, weighing around seven tonnes will be mounted atop GSLV MkIII launch vehicle. The crew will reach low earth orbit in 16 minutes once launched. In the return phase at 120 km above earth, the crew module will separate from the service module and head towards the earth in a controlled manner. The human space programme got a fillip after Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Independence Day address this year announced that an Indian will go to space by 2022. Chandrayaan-2 on schedule P Kunhikrishnan, Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, said Chandrayaan-2 mission was on schedule for January launch. According to the ISRO, Chandrayaan-2 is a totally indigenous mission comprising an orbiter, lander and rover. The spacecraft, weighing around 3,290 kg would orbit around the moon and perform objectives of remote sensing the moon.Kunhikrishnan said orbiter is on an advanced stage of development, while design of lander has been standardised, which is much robust and has undergone all stipulated modifications. Abhijit Mulye By Express News Service MUMBAI: The state government shall complete all the legalities to be able to grant the reservation quota to the Maratha community by the end of this month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday even as sources within the government have indicated that the Maharashtra State Backward Caste Commission is likely to submit its report on Maratha community to the state government on Thursday. The report will be submitted to the Chief Secretary of the state D K Jain in a sealed cover on Thursday, the sources said adding that, as per indications the report is likely to give favourable recommendations to granting reservation quota in government jobs and educational institutions to the Maratha community, without infringing on the reservation quota granted to the Other Backward Classes (OBC). With this the government is likely to be able to keep its promise on quota for the community, sources within the government said. Fadnavis, who was at Akola to review drought condition, told the reporters that the government will complete all legal formalities by the end of November to grant Maratha community their due reservation quota. "We are committed to give reservation quota to the Maratha community that will withstand the scrutiny by the court," Fadnavis had said earlier this year. The government had also granted 16 per cent reservation in 72,000 government jobs which was later stayed following protests. Meanwhile, speaking to newspersons on conditions of anonymity a senior BJP minister clarified that the government will not be submitting the commission's report before the Bombay High Court as is the general perception. The government would prepare its own report based on the Maharashtra State Backward Caste Commission, as per the court directives, the minister said. The court was concerned over the time period required for the process to be completed and we had accordingly urged the commission to submit their report by November 15, which they are likely to do, the minister said. Submission of the report by the commission will be the defining moment for the government, the minister added. Submission of the report comes just days before the two-week winter session of the state legislature that begins on November 19. This will help the government to move a legislation granting quota to the Marathas before the month end. To prepare the report, the Commission went through 2 lakh memorandums submitted to it, surveys of about 45,000 families and the empirical data on the social, financial and educational backwardness of the Maratha community. The commission went through old historical records, old verdicts, studied constitutional provision, writings by noted anthropologist, sociologist Irawati Karve and several organizations like Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics and others, sources have said. The demand for Maratha quota dates back to the 1980s. The UPA government in the state had on June 25, 2014 announced 16 per cent quota in government jobs and in educational institutions for Marathas and five per cent quotas for Muslims. However, on November 14, 2014, the Bombay High Court stayed the government decision. On November 18, 2014, the Supreme Court of India had declined to vacate the stay imposed by the Bombay High Court. The ordinance eventually lapsed and the Fadnavis government decided to complete all the requisite processes like formation of Backward Caste Commission and getting recommendations from them. Meanwhile, a statewide Maratha community agitation was triggered after rape and murder of a girl from the community at Kopardi in Ahmednagar on July 13, 2016. Thereafter the community under the banner of Sakal Maratha Kranti Morcha, Maratha Kranti Thok Morcha held around 58 peaceful mammoth rallies across the state while stirring the atmosphere in favour of the community. The Maratha Kranti Thok Morcha agitation earlier this year had gone violent at several places. The agitation was withdrawn after setting November 15 as the deadline for launching guerrilla-style attacks to press for the demands. By PTI NEW DELHI/ PATNA: Stepping up his campaign against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his alleged 'neech' remark, RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha on Thursday sought to draw a parallel between his attack on the JD(U) chief and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's targeting of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in 2014. The Union Minister, who has accused Kumar of referring to him as "neech" (lowly) - a charge rejected by Kumar-led JD(U), took a dig at Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi over his defence of the chief minister over the issue. In a series of tweets, the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader, who has been sulking over the seat sharing issue, asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "wrong" in his attack on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is sister of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, over her "neech rajnitii" (lowly politics) jibe against the saffron party during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. She had used the term "neech rajniti" to attack the BJP, and Modi, then his party's prime ministerial candidate, had invoked his backward caste origins to accuse her of targeting his background. Kushwaha has been targeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his remark at a function that the level of discourse should not be lowered (itna neeche mat giraiye), after his reaction was sought on the RLSP's "growing discomfort" within the NDA. The RSLP leader's fresh offensive came amid signs that he was drifting away from the BJP-led NDA due to his unhappiness over seat sharing arrangement in Bihar for the Lok Sabha polls. ALSO READ: Upendra Kushwaha meets Sharad Yadav, fuels speculation over his next move Referring to the bitter political slugfest between Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar over the 'DNA issue' during the 2015 Bihar assembly polls when the two leaders led rival camps, Kushwaha added that Sushil Kumar Modi should also have said that the Bihar chief minister was right at that time and the prime minister was wrong. Modi, while attacking Nitish Kumar at a rally, had said there was "some problem with Nitish Kumar's DNA", while referring to the changes in his political allegiance. Kumar had built a campaign against the prime minister over his DNA barb at him, linking it with Bihari pride and had asked his partymen to collect samples of hair and nail to be sent to Delhi for DNA test. After the RLSP leader last week accused Nitish Kumar of describing him as "neech", Sushil Kumar Modi had tweeted on November 12 that the CM had never used such a word but some people are trying to become "martyrs". Kushwaha, who is said to be upset over BJP president Amit Shah's proposal that his party contest fewer number of seats in 2019 than it did in 2014, also said Thursday that he will be discussing the seat sharing issue with Shah. The RLSP had fought three seats in 2014 and won all. The state sends 40 members to Lok Sabha. "I am leaving Patna for Delhi. I will try to talk on the seat sharing arrangement in a meeting with BJP President Amit Shah," Kushwaha tweeted. With the BJP going all out to keep the Bihar chief minister in good humour, political observers believe it has not gone down well with Kushwaha, who has long had a bitter relationship with him. Kushwaha had joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2014 election. The JD(U) had walked out of the alliance in 2013 after 17 years. However, it returned to the NDA in 2017 after quitting the grand alliance which it had formed with the Congress and the RJD. Meanwhile, RLSP national general secretary and spokesman Madhaw Anand hit out at Chief Kumar Nitish Kumar saying reports of its MP Ram Kumar Sharma being wooed by the JD(U) "confirm our charge that Nitish Kumar is involved in 'jod-tod' (poaching of leaders)". "We hear that a CCTV camera has been installed to keep a tab on the movements of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. The Chief Minister should install one inside his own residence which would expose his devious designs before all the people of Bihar," Anand said. Earlier, RLSP MLa Sudhanshu Shekhar had met JD(U) national vice-president Prashant Kishor, triggering speculation of his joining the JD(U). By PTI NEW DELHI: "This is a different kind of war room and you all can go to your war rooms", said the Supreme Court Wednesday after interacting with senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officers in the case pertaining to import of Rafale fighter jets from France. Top IAF officers -- Air Vice Marshall J Chalapati, Air Marshal Anil Khosla and Deputy Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal V R Chaudhari -- had to rush to the apex court at a short notice after a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that it wished to interact with IAF officers as the controversy over Rafale fighter jets deal concerns them. The issue has become a political battlefield with Congress levelling various allegations against the Modi government on the deal. The Supreme Court Wednesday commenced its crucial hearing on pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. "We are dealing with the requirements of the Air Force and would like to ask an Air Force officer. We want to hear from an Air force officer and not the official of the Defence Ministry on the issue," the bench said when the Attorney General K K Venugopal began his arguments on behalf of the Centre in the pre-lunch session. Pricing of Rafale jets can be discussed only if facts on deal come in public domain: SC Chalapati, who appeared before the bench also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph, answered the questions asked by the CJI about the induction of fighter jets by India and said the fifth generation aircraft have niche stealth technology and the electronic warfare capabilities are very very enhanced. The CJI asked Chalapati the first question as "What is the latest induction to IAF?" Chalapati replied that its Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft which is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at Nashik in Maharashtra and Bangalore in Karnataka. He said that IAF is getting new Su-30MKI aircrafts each year. The CJI then asked Chalapati that besides Su-30MKI, which aircraft are being manufactured in India. The officer said that he himself is a pilot and has special liking for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being built in Bangalore but is yet to be inducted into IAF. The CJI also asked the officer which generation aircraft is LCA and Su-30MKI. Chalapati said there is no clear definition of generation and as he has flied the LCA which according to him is three and half generation aircraft. He said both LCA and Su-30MKI are three and half and fourth generation aircrafts respectively but the requirement of IAF at present is of four plus or fifth generations aircrafts. The CJI asked does it mean that IAF currently requires few squadrons of fourth and fifth generation aircrafts. Chalapati replied in affirmative and said, "the fifth generation aircraft have niche stealth technology and the electronic warfare capabilities are very very enhanced". The CJI Gogoi then asked Chalapati was there any induction made in IAF after Mirage in 1985. The officer replied in negative which led CJI to observe: "It means since 1985 to 2018 there is zero induction". The CJI said it is all that they wanted to know from the officials and later asked them to go back to their offices after nearly half an hour saying, "Air Marshalls can now leave. This is a different kind of war room and you all can go to your war rooms. Thank You". The bench then continued with the arguments on the validity of Rafale jets deal. Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad has announced the intention to adopt resolutions on biodiversity that were reached during the second day of high level meetings held on the sidelines of the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Sharm El-Sheikh. Participating ministers and delegates stressed the importance of biodiversity for the functioning of the ecosystem and on human health and wellbeing, as well as achieving economic growth and sustainable development. They also stressed that involving the health, energy, mining, infrastructure and manufacturing fields in expanding biodiversity is essential to achieving the targets of the Brazil Aichi convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), noting the need for involvement from communities, women, youth, civil society, governments, local authorities, academics and businessmen as well. The UN Biodiversity Conference will officially kick off in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh on Saturday, four days after African ministerial meetings discussed the continent's biodiversity priorities and future work plans. Amid reports of an alarming decline in the variety of plant and wildlife, the conference aims to send a clear message that preserving biodiversity and the health of the ecosystem is fundamental to life on earth. World biodiversity has declined by almost one third in the past 35 years, mainly due to the loss of habitat and the wildlife trade, according to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The Fund also said last month that worldwide vertebrate populations are set to decline by 60 percent by 2020 from their 1970 levels. Search Keywords: Short link: Anand ST Das By Express News Service PATNA: With yet another RLSP leader shot dead in Bihar in what is the fourth murder of the partys grassroots leaders this year, party chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday stepped up his attacks on the Nitish Kumar-led state government amid reports that NDA has finalised a seat-sharing formula minus RLSP. Amit Bhushan Verma, RLSPs Paliganj block president, was shot dead by unidentified assailants when he was attending a cultural programme at Mera village under Paliganj police station on Tuesday night. Just when he was getting down the podium, he was shot at. Verma received three bullets on his stomach and one on his right arm. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The murder shocked RLSP leaders and workers as the local police station in-charge was present beside Verma when he received the gunshots. The assailants, said to have fired from a distance of 100 metres, escaped unnoticed by taking advantage of the darkness. A man who was hurt in the firing is currently under treatment and out of danger, said officials. Repeated murders like this have clearly exposed the lie in the state governments tall claims about good governance. If this is what they call good governance, they have perhaps changed the words definition in Bihar, said Kushwaha to reporters after meeting Vermas bereaved family and the local people. In a tweet, Kushwaha said his partys leaders were being killed selectively. Three other RLSP leaders Manish Sahni or Vaishali, Manoj Mahato of Khagaul and Sanjay Sah of Siwan were killed earlier this year, prompting Kushwaha to attack the state government on the declining law and order situation. Honourable Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, if you have got some free time from your divisive politics, please pay some attention to Bihars law and order. RLSP leaders are being killed selectively and you remain a silent spectator, said RLSP national general secretary Madhaw Anand in a tweet. Meanwhile, sources in both BJP and JD(U) said that the seat-sharing plan for NDA in Bihar has been finalised without taking RLSP into account. It is now clear that NDA will have three parties in Bihar JD(U), BJP and LJP. While JD(U) and BJP would contest on 17 seats each, LJP would get the rest six seats, said a senior JD(U) leader familiar with the development. By PTI PUNE: Some Maoist leaders were conspiring to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and planned to procure arms and ammunition to wage a war against the country, Pune police claimed in its charge sheet in the Elgar Parishad case filed Thursday. The police also said that the Maoists are trying to mobilise and incite Dalits and the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune last December was part of this strategy. The Maoist-backed conclave "aggravated" the violence at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, the charge sheet said. The over 5,000-page charge sheet named 10 persons, including activists Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhavale, all arrested on June 6. Besides, it named five Maoist leaders believed to be underground: Dipak alias Milind Teltumbade, Kishan Da alias Prashant Bose, Prakash alias Rituparn Goswami, Deepu and Manglu. "Maoist leaders including Rona Wilson and fugitive Kishan Da were conspiring the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and waging war against the country for which they were planning to procure arms and ammunition," it stated. The police cited several documents seized from the Maoist leaders to make the claim on Modi's assassination plan. The larger conspiracy of CPI (Maoists) was to overthrow the democratic system in the country, and the accused were working in that direction, the charge sheet claimed. The charge sheet, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC, was filed in the court of District & Sessions Judge Kishor D Vadane here. The Elgar Parishad had been organised with "inspiration, money and directions" of Maoists, it alleged. "It is the policy of the CPI (Maoists) to mobilise Dalit community's sentiments and mislead them and provoke them to take violent path against the system," it said. "As a part of this strategy, Sudhir Dhavale and other members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM, a cultural group) spread hatred by giving inciting speeches, presenting distorted history and staging provocative skits and songs," it said. On the directions of CPI (Maoists) Dhavale and KKM, under the banner of Bhima-Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerana Abhiyan, galvanised Dalit organisations and organised Elgar Parishad on December 31, the charge sheet said. "During the conclave, inciting speeches were made, inflammatory songs and street plays were played. All these things aggravated the violence on January 1, 2018 at Bhima Koregaon (in Pune district) during 200th commemoration of Bhima Koregaon battle," it said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar, the investigating officer, said Pune Police recorded the statement of surrendered Maoist leader Pahad Singh. "Singh gave details of Milind Teltumbade's role. He revealed that Teltumbade has the responsibility of spreading Maoist network in urban areas and he is particularly involved in mobilizing the Dalit community for Maoist activities," he said. Singh's statement is part of the charge sheet. Vishrambaug police here had initially registered a case on the complaint of Tushar Damgude who alleged that "provocative" speeches at Elgar Parishad led to violence at Bhima Koregaon in which one person was killed. In August, Pune Police arrested rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj, Telugu poet Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Gautam Navlakha in the case. The charge sheet does not name them. Dalits at a commemoration event of the Bhima Koregon battle -- in which the forces of the Peshwa, ruler of Pune, were defeated by the British East India Company -- came under attack on January 1. While Dalits see the victory as an assertion of their identity as the British forces included Mahar (a formerly untouchable caste) soldiers, some Hindu right-wing organisations were opposed to the celebration. Anand ST Das By Express News Service PATNA: Blinded by rage over his wife's delay in cooking mutton for him, a man in Bihar killed his four-year-old daughter by slamming her on the floor. Residents of Fakirtoli village, under Amaur police station of Purnea district, were shocked by what Shambhu Lal Sharma, 40, did to his only child on Wednesday. He himself took the child, Shalu Kumari, to the Amour referral hospital, where she was declared brought dead. Sharma was arrested a few hours after his daughter died. "The accused flew into a rage during an argument with his wife, Rajkumari Devi, about the delay in cooking mutton curry for him. He caught hold of his four-year-old daughter, who was playing near him, and, grabbing her by the neck, he slammed her repeatedly on the floor," Pankaj Kumar, the station house officer (SHO) of Amaur police station, said. Although the shocking act took place in front of Rajkumari's eyes, she could hardly do anything as she was too scared. Sharma, who works at a factory in Surat in Gujarat and had come to his home for the Chhath festival, was known to be a wife beater in the village, a police officer said. "As the child lay unconscious after the attack, Sharma rushed her to the hospital. However, the child was dead by the time he reached the hospital. Sharma fled the hospital on learning of her death, but was arrested within a few hours," the SHO said. Rajkumari told police that Sharma was "fond of mutton and liquor" and would spend a lot on having a grand meal and drinks. He would often beat her up mercilessly when she protested and asked him to cut down on his expense on mutton and liquor. The couple had married seven years ago, and Shalu Kumari, who used to live with her mother, was their only child. Balbir Punj By Within less than two decades of raising the demand for a separate homeland, the Muslims of the subcontinent who put forth the demand managed to vivisect the country and get for themselves a theocratic Pakistan. In contrast, the majority Hindus have been struggling to reclaim Lord Rams birthplace in Ayodhya for the last few hundred years, with little success. The two situations, however, are not comparable, either in their scale or their ramifications. The creation of Pakistan led to the killing of thousands and displacement of millions of innocents. Islamic Pakistans sole agenda since its birth has been to destabilise and dismember residual India.Rebuilding the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, in the manner of Gujarats Somnath, would not have hurt anyone. Instead its reconstruction would have removed a major irritant in Hindu-Muslim relations. And the proposition still holds good. How did Pakistan become a reality in such a short time-span? Firstly, barring a few notable exceptions, the entire Muslim community rallied behind Mohammad Ali Jinnah after he articulated the demand for a separate Islamic nation in the 1930s. Secondly, the then establishmentthe Britisherssupported Jinnahs bloody endeavour for their own strategic reasons. Since Jinnahs divisive goal overlapped with the Lefts ideological paradigm, communists happily worked with the Muslim League for a shared objective of dismembering India. In contrast, the then Congress leadership, though opposed to Partition, lacked the courage to fight the divisive stratagem of the British-Muslim League-Left combine and meekly accepted it as a fait accompli. Have things changed for the better since Independence? If they have, the fate of the Ram temple would not still be hanging in the balance. Interestingly, the very caucus consisting of communists, the establishment and Islamic zealots, who worked for Pakistans creation, has also actively opposed the Ram temple. The establishment does not necessarily mean the party in power. It refers to the colonial mindset which pervades the ruling dispensation, the alienated English-educated and mostly Left-leaning elite that controls the bulk of the English media, academia, law and bureaucracy. Despite the repeated destruction of four iconic templesSomnath, Kashi, Mathura and Ayodhyaat the hands of Islamic invaders, the temples subsequent phoenix-like rise from the ashes sums up the indomitable spirit of people of the subcontinent and the struggle they put up against the 800 years of alien rule to save their timeless inclusive civilisation. Mir Baqi, when he demolished the Ram temple on Baburs orders in 1528-29, did not bring down a mere building. He destroyed a value system. The Babri structure erected by him on that very site was not a place of worship, but an ideological statement, by a barbarian victor to humiliate the vanquished. It was the defeat of pluralism at the hands of bigotry. Ram is not only a deity worshipped by millions since aeons. His value system and life are intrinsically linked to the identity of the nation and civilisational ethos of pluralism and morality that define the Indian public and private life. While it is presented just as a title dispute for a small piece of land between two warring groups in a court of law, in fact it is a fight waged by a wounded civilisation to reclaim its original glory and self-respect. How has the establishment dealt with issues relating to faith in India since Independence? In 1988, Salman Rushdies novel, The Satanic Verses, provoked protests from Islamic zealots in several countries, including India. The government, under PM Rajiv Gandhi, feared a Muslim backlash and was the first in the world to ban Rushdies work. No legal or expert opinion was sought before denying non-Muslims (87 per cent of the population) their right to read the book, if they so wished. The ban on the book was not based on merit, but was in deference to the supposed Muslim sentiments, or an abject surrender to threat of violence by Islamic zealots. I am not sure if even all the Muslims in the country favoured such a ban.On 23 April 1985, the apex court in the Shah Bano case decided that a divorced Muslim woman was eligible for alimony from her husband. The Muslim orthodoxy took to the streets against it. Fearing a hostile reaction from Muslims, the Parliament hurriedly passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986, effectively overturning the SC judgment. The Noble Sanctuary in Jerusalem hosts Islams third holiest site, the al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock, a seventh-century structure believed to be where the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven. The Compounds Western Wall, known as the Wailing Wall to Jews, is believed to be the last remnant of the Second Temple. The Islamic tradition refers to it as the al-Buraq Wall and believes it is where the Prophet tied the winged animal upon which he later ascended to the sky. There have been numerous skirmishes and battles for the control of this site. In all such disputes, the communists have always sided with the warring Muslims. But none has ever questioned the Muslim belief that the mosque was built over the Prophets footprint and other such beliefs. But Hindus are asked for evidence in support of their belief that Ram was born on that very site in Ayodhya. And they are also asked to prove that there was a temple prior to the construction of the Babri Mosque, which they in fact have done. Can issues relating to matters of faith (and it applies to all religions) be put to test by any known tools or adjudicated by human institutions, including courts? S Lalitha By Express News Service BENGALURU: For the first time at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), automated baggage check-in facility will be open to air passengers from Thursday.Following a three-month trial, 16 counters will begin the Self Bag Drop system, a highly placed source said. It will be a soft launch on November 15 at these counters belonging to two airlines initially, a source said. Based on the effectiveness of the system, it will be extended to all the 83 counters of all the airlines. This is a unique system and is being adopted for the first time at the Bengaluru airport, the source added. After terminal 1 of Mumbai airport got the facility in June 2018, KIA will be the second airport in India to have this system.Explaining how it works, another source said it was something similar to the self check-in kiosks at the airports, which already exists at KIA. The passenger needs to go to these machines placed at the counters of the specific airline and place the check-in luggage on the conveyer belt near the counter. The weight of the luggage is digitally displayed. If it tallies with the luggage specifications of the airline, then a slip bearing the bar code for the luggage is printed and tagged to the luggage by the machine, he said. Then the passenger has to key in the PNR number from the physical ticket or mobile into the boarding pass kiosk, which automatically issues the boarding pass. The baggage will automatically head to the cargo hold, he explained. This automated system will help airlines reduce its staff strength in the long run as presently two individuals are deployed by every airline to complete the check-in system. A person seated at the counter issues a boarding pass after verifying the ticket and another staffer tags the baggage to be checked in. Hari Marar, Chief Operating Officer of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd which operates the airport, said he will issue a statement in this connection but no official version was available from BIAL till the time ofgoing to print. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy carried out a scathing attack on the JDS-Congress coalition government after his release from Parappana Agrahara central prison, saying that the state is being ruled by demons. Reddy was granted bail by a city court in connection with a multi-crore cheating case on Wednesday. He furnished a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh while two of his relatives submitted sureties of Rs 1 lakh each. After his release, Reddy lashed out at the government and the Central Crime Branch officials, saying he was being harassed for political reasons. I had made Rs 150 crore kickback allegations against HD Kumaraswamy in 2006, when he was the chief minister. After that he unsuccessfully tried to get me arrested. Now, after 12 years, he has ensured that I am put in jail at least for a day, Reddy said. I am away from politics and campaigned only for my friend (Sriramulu). But the government is not letting me lead a peaceful life. The way it is trying to fix me has shocked me, he added. On allegations about his links with Ambidant Marketing Pvt Ltd, the firm that has allegedly cheated investors to the tune of Rs 600 crore, he said, My friend Ali Khans family invested around Rs 60 lakh with the firm. His uncle has also invested in it and as the firm did not return his money, he was upset. Ali went to their office and there was some argument. Later, the firms proprietor Farid approached Brijesh Reddy for help. Brijesh took him to the then Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and said that people will lose money if he is arrested. The minister assured them that he wont be arrested. During that period, Farid returned some money to Ali Khan and other investors. Brijesh also brought Farid to me and said he was in trouble but is now returning money to the investors. How can I know he was a fraud? Reddy denied that his help was sought to deal with the ED case. He also requested the CM to provide him security, saying, Considering there is so much happening to silence me, I feel a threat to my life. Meanwhile, two CCB ACPs who were investigating, were transferred on Wednesday evening. ACP Manjunath Choudhary was transferred to City Crime Records Bureau while ACP PT Subramani was transferred without any posting. GOVT NOT INTERFERING, SAYS CM CM Kumaraswamy said that the government was not interfering in the investigations related to Reddys links with Ambidant. State government is not misusing its powers. Police have been given a free hand to investigate the case and take action against the guilty irrespective of their political affiliations, he said. By Express News Service MANGALURU: Transport vehicles operating between Mangaluru and Bengaluru can heave a sigh of relief. Dakshina Kannada district administration has lifted the ban on movement of trucks on Shiradi Ghat road. Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil on Wednesday said that all kinds of heavy vehicles will be allowed on the ghat road from 6 am on Thursday. The movement of all kinds of vehicles was banned on the ghat road in August after landslides struck the newly laid concrete road. However, the road was restored within a month after which the light vehicles and ordinary buses were allowed to ply on it. Luxury buses were allowed from October 3. During the ban on heavy vehicles, the trucks and oil tankers were moving on Charmadi Ghat road which is heavily battered. District minister U T Khader, in a statement, said the decision to allow heavy vehicles was taken after a meeting with the deputy commissioners of Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts and after assessing the road safety and stability. With the ban being lifted, the movement of essential commodities between the two major cities of the state, especially vegetables and fruits, are set to ease bringing down prices to a certain extent. In the wake of the ban, traders said there was drop in the supply of some essential commodities thereby leading to shooting up of their prices. By PTI An all-party meeting Thursday failed to end the deadlock over the Supreme Court verdict that lifted the ban on entry for women of menstrual age to Sabarimala temple which was wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket on the eve of its opening for the two-month long annual pilgrim season. Amid fears of fresh protests against the verdict, officials said prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of four or more people would be in force in Sabarimala in Kerala from midnight Thursday for a week. The temple opens Friday evening, for the third time since the apex court verdict on September 28 allowed women of all age group to offer prayers at the hilltop Lord Ayyappa temple though none could do so following stiff resistance from devotees and activists, opposing any change in the temple traditions. At the meeting Thursday, the Kerala government took a firm stand it would implement the verdict, prompting the opposition to walk out in protest. The government also put forward certain suggestions, including setting apart certain days for young women to offer prayers, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, adding these had to be discussed with all stakeholders. State Director General of Police Loknath Behara told reporters at Nilackal, a base camp, that security has been doubled at Sabarimala and nearby areas for the season, compared to the previous two occasions when the temple opened last month and early this month. READ | Kerala High Court cautions government against likely intrusion by vested interests Over 15,000 personnel, including women police personnel and 860 women civil police officers, would be deployed during the season, when lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country are expected to throng the shrine, police said. Earlier, at the end of the nearly three-hour-long all-party meet, dubbed as a 'farce' by opposition, Vijayan said his government was duty bound to enforce the court verdict as it had not been stayed. Vijayan convened the meet in the backdrop of state-wide protests by devotees after the Supreme Court ended the ban on entry of women in the 10-50 age group. "The government has no other option as Supreme Court has made it clear that the September 28 verdict has not been stayed, which means women in the 10-50 age group have the right to visit the Sabarimala temple," Vijayan told reporters. Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP staged a walkout at the meeting. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala accused the government of being adamant, while BJP state President P S Sreedharan Pillai said the meeting was a 'waste of time'. Meanwhile, the erstwhile Pandalam Royal family, associated with the temple, told Vijayan there was no change in its stand with regard to rituals and traditions of the shrine and it was against entry of young women. The views were conveyed during talks held separately by the chief minister with the family member Sasikumar Varma and Tantri (head priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru on the issue. "We are against the entry of young women. There is no change in the stand", Varma told reporters, adding Vijayan informed them about the limitations faced by the government vis-a-vis the court order. READ | Sabarimala issue: Half of Congress has become RSS, alleges Pinarayi Vijayan Kandararu Rajeevaru said "we can only appeal to young women not to come to Sabarimala". At the all-party meet, Vijayan rejected the demand that the government seek time from the court to implement its order since a bunch of review petitions are expected to come up for hearing before the apex court on January 22. The government cannot say that belief was above the Constitution, he said. He said the CPI(M)-led LDF government was not adamant but was duty-bound to implement the court verdict. Chennithala said the government was "adamant" in its stand and it refused to accept opposition's suggestions. "We decided to walk out of the meeting after Chief Minister's reply. The meeting was a farce, government was not ready for any compromise", he told reporters. READ | Trupti Desai asks Kerala CM to provide police protection during Sabarimala visit UDF was with the believers and wanted peace and harmony in Sabarimala, while the government's aim was to "destroy" the pilgrimage, where lakhs of people from all over the world visit annually, he alleged. "This is a declaration of war" on the believers by the government. The chief minister and the government would be responsible for any violence in Sabarimala, he added. BJP leader Pillai alleged attempts were on to convert Kerala into "Stalin's Russia". "We will oppose the government's decision in a democratic manner", he said. Varma said the talks were held in a 'cordial' atmosphere and Vijayan put forward certain suggestions. "These have to be discussed with other members of their respective families," Varma and the head priest said. "We will examine it, hold discussions and take a decision", Varma said. The state had witnessed a string of protests by the Congress, the BJP, RSS and right wing outfits against the LDF government's decision to implement the court verdict. Frenzied devotees had prevented at least a dozen women in the 10-50 age group from entering the temple when it opened for five days last month and two days this month for monthly and special puja amid high drama. The sanctum sanctorum will open at 5 pm Friday. Though devotees will be allowed into the shrine from 5 pm to 10 pm, pujas will be held only from the next day, the first day of Malayalam month of 'Vrischikom', an official release said. By Express News Service KOZHIKODE: The protest held by the Muslim Youth League and Muslim Students Federation to the Collectorate turned violent on Thursday. The activists were demanding the resignation of Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel, who is caught in the web of nepotism charges for appointing his cousin, K T Adeep, as the General Manager of Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation. The march led by Muslim Youth League General Secretary P K Firoz turned violent when the protesters pelted stones at the police officers and tried to jump over the barricades. The police, who were less in number, soon resorted to caning and tear gas was used to disperse the crowd. As per the information available, about 17 persons including five policemen suffered injuries. The protest march had affected the traffic and movement of vehicles was affected for about an hour at the Collectorate road in the morning. Nadakkavu police have registered a case against about 52 persons in connection with the incident. MSF and Youth League gherao Nadakkavu station The members of the Muslim Student Federation and Muslim Youth League gheraoed the Nadakkavu police station protesting against the police who had detained the injured party workers without taking them to hospitals. The protesters, who had gathered in front of the police station, raised slogans and gheraoed the station for about half an hour. The conditions turned violent for some time when the police caned the party workers who tried to enter the police station. The injured party members were then shifted to Government Beach General Hospital in a police van after Muslim Youth League leader held talks with the Station House Officer. Speaking on the issue, Muslim Youth League General Secretary Firoz said they would intensify the protest demanding the resignation of the minister. The government and minister is trying to oppress the protests using police force. But nothing will stop us. We will continue with the protest, he said. Youth League leader said that police had 'brutally' handled the party workers. About 52 of our workers were confined to a dingy room and the policemen manhandled them. The police even caned our workers who went to request to the officers to take the injured workers to the hospital. We will definitely raise our complaint against the erring policemen with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, he added. Firoz also said the protest in the coming days will be joined by senior IUML leaders. Even UDF has called for a state-level meeting to discuss this on November 19. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ending hopes of a consensus over Sabarimala women entry issue, the All Party Meet convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, failed to resolve the imbroglio with the state government firmly continuing with its declared stance that the Apex Court verdict allowing women should be implemented. With Mandala-Makaravilakku season beginning on Friday, the Sabarimala season is set to be stormy. With both the government and the opposition parties refusing to budge, the Opposition UDF boycotted the meeting. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reiterated that the state government is not ready to water down the SC verdict. BJP also criticised the government for its adamant stance in the issue. Coming out of the meeting, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala blamed the government for its stubborn attitude. It was a major opportunity for the state government to resolve the Sabarimala issue. "None of the demands raised by the UDF were accepted by the Chief Minister. The government wants to weaken the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The government is in fact trying to support the RSS and BJP. The all party meet was a mere farce. It's unfortunate. The chief minister would be responsible for any law and order issue in Sabarimala," Chennithala said. Later BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai termed the all party meet a 'mere drama' scripted at AKG Centre, the CPM state headquarters. "Kerala will prove that it's not Stalinist Russia," reminded Pillai. Briefing the media about the meeting, the Chief Minister said in view of the SC verdict the government cannot take any other stance. "The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be violated. The government cannot take a stance that belief should be given more prominence than fundamental rights." The CM pointed out that the government was suggesting to bring in a system for women devotees - like allowing women on some particular dates. However, the opposition parties were not ready to listen to the proposal. Supreme Court verdict and the verdict on review petitions were also discussed in detail. What's the next course of action was also discussed. "The Opposition UDF and BJP took similar stance. The government has no pre-conceived notion in the issue. The government is of the view that the court verdict would be implemented. We have no stubborn attitude. The government stands with the devotees. The devotees will be given all protection. As far as women entry issue is concerned, the government has no other option. The SC has made clear that the September 26 verdict allowing women of all ages to the hill shrine, is in effect. The government has to abide by the same. Unfortunately, the UDF and BJP are not ready to agree with the government's reasoning," said Pinarayi. While CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan termed the meeting a major success, the Sabarimala season is all set to be stormy. The Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Cairo reaffirms its trust in Saudi investigations into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which reflect a high level of seriousness and transparency. The statement said that Cairo has been paying great attention to the latest announcements by the Saudi judicial authorities on the results of investigations into the killing of Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. "Egypt appreciates the actions taken by Saudi Arabia in this case, and calls on all involved parties to abide by the current course of investigations and avoid politicisation," the statement said, adding that Egypt trusts the investigation is conducted with integrity and credibility." Search Keywords: Short link: By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just a day remaining for the Sabarimala temple to open for the Mandala - Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, all eyes are on the all-party meet called by the state government on Thursday. Though earlier there were indications the government may climb down after it finally decided to convene an all-party meet, the tough posturing by the Chief Minister and the CPM leadership has raised concerns. On Wednesday, both the Chief Minister and the CPM state secretary reiterated the court verdict has to be implemented. ALSO READ | Kerala HC cautions government on security at Sabarimala temple However, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has also stated the government has been trying to avoid law and order issues. A section within the government has been pinning hopes on the all-party meet and is hopeful the meet may come up with a solution to the issue, at least for the time being. Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran has stated the government is optimistic about the all-party meeting. Even while indicating the government would try for a consensus move, the minister also added the government is constitutionally bound to implement the SC verdict. ALSO READ | Kerala deploys 5200 cops ahead of reopening, charts out pilgrims' progress Meanwhile, its learnt the Devaswom Board has received legal advice that as per the latest SC verdict, womens entry cannot be prevented. With the SC making clear theres no stay in the previous order, it has to be implemented. According to sources, the verdict has brought more clarity.Contrary to reports, theres no confusion regarding the SC verdict. The SC has just decided to consider the review petitions in an open court. It doesnt bring any change from the previous situation, said a top legal official with the state government. ALSO READ | Activist Trupti Desai says she will visit Sabarimala temple on November 17 BJP will participate in all-party meet: Pillai Kozhikode: Confirming the BJPs participation in the Thursdays all-party meeting convened by the government to discuss the Sabarimala imbroglio, BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to maintain status quo regarding women entry to the shrine till the Supreme Court hears the review petitions on January 22. Speaking to reporters here, Pillai urged the Chief Minister to adopt an exemplary stance that would ensure lasting peace at the hill shrine. Terming the governments decision to convene an all-party meet as wisdom that dawned late, Pillai said the government should take the lead in maintaining peace during the entire pilgrim season. By UNI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Activist Trupti Desai has written a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, seeking security during her visit to world famous Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala on November 17. In her letter, Ms Desai said she will come to Sabarimala temple when it opens for the two-month 'Mandalam Makaravilakku' annual pilgrimage season for which the temple will open at 1700 hrs on November 16. Founder of Bhumata Brigade, Ms Desai is known for her campaign for women's right to worship in temples in North India. Stating that she has been receiving a threat, Ms Desai urged the Chief Minister to ensure police protection for her and a few others coming with her from the time she enters the State to the time she departs Kerala. Some people threatened to commit suicide and some organisations warned of dire consequences if I come to Kerala, she said in the letter. Yesterday, the Chief Minister called an all-party meeting on Thursday at 1100 hrs to discuss issues related to SC verdict allowing the entry for women of all ages into the temple. He also clarified that Government was waiting for expert legal opinions on the November-13 SC direction to hear the review petitions in open court in the case on January 22. However, about 800 women registered their names through online seeking Darshan during the pilgrimage season. The all-party meeting was called in the wake of Tuesday's SC decision to hear the review petitions, against the September-28 SC verdict allowing the entry for women of all ages into Sabarimala temple. The all-party meeting is aimed at creating a consensus among political parties to implement the previous SC verdict citing that Tuesday's SC order didn't stay the women entry. Yesterday, Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the Government's responsibility is to implement the Supreme Court order. To a question on no stay for the September 28 SC verdict, the Minister said the Government will abide by the SC verdict. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: In a major jolt to the Odisha Government, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has put on hold the ambitious tiger relocation project between Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, Indias first inter-state big cat relocation programme, after Mahavir, the male tiger shifted to Satkosia Tiger Reserve from Kanha Tiger Reserve, was found dead on Wednesday. The relocation programme was under cloud from the beginning of November after tigress Sundari was tranquilised and brought back to Raigoda enclosure following protest from the locals who opposed her relocation after she killed two villagers who had ventured int the forest. Member Secretary of NTCA Dr Anup Kumar Nayak told this paper that a two-member team including IG Amit Malik and Ramesh will head for Satkosia on Friday to take stock of the circumstances under which Mahavir - or MB2 - died. It will also review the condition of Sundari, the tigress which was tranquilised and recaptured earlier this month. The team will review the community engagement, protection mechanism and monitoring capacity of the existing staff at Satkosia. Only after they review and complete the investigation a final call on the relocation project will be taken the NTCA chief said. The apex tiger conservation body has asked the Forest Department to conduct the post-mortem of Mahavir as per NTCA protocol. An NTCA nominee and an NGO worker would remain present during the procedure for transparency. PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Sandeep Tripathi said since allegations of poaching are being leveled, DFO Satkosia has been asked to probe the death of the tiger and submit a report to the government at the earliest. The tiger relocation programme, which was being done under the supervision of NTCA has been put on hold because of these incidents. We will chalk out further course of action after holding talks with authorities of NTCA and other officials concerned, he told mediapersons. Tripathy had rushed to the spot on Wednesday after death of the tiger was reported from a spot around 300 metre away from Nuagaon road located at a distance of 5 km from Raigoda in Satkosia. A deep laceration and a five-day old magot-infected wound was found in the dorsal neck of the young tiger which was brought from Kanha Tiger Reserve on June 21 and released into the wild on July 7. A radio collar was fitted on its neck, with two tracking devices, to monitor its movement. The last movement of the tiger recorded was at around 10 am on November 14. We have found wound on the tigers neck which appears to be five-day old. However, the exact reason of tiger's death is yet to be ascertained, Tripathy said, adding, it will be known after the postmortem is complete. The spate of incidents involving the tiger supplementation has raised serious question marks on of the Forest Departments protection and monitoring mechanism. Conservationist Aditya Chandra Panda took to Twitter raising posers about the failure of the protection area management in the State. @odishawildlife has lied to itself and state for decades. Results showing now, his tweet read. By PTI LONDON: Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday defended the Brexit deal agreed with the European Union ahead of a major showdown with her Cabinet ministers, saying the agreement would give the UK control of borders, laws and money and also protect business and jobs. Downing Street has said that the UK and the EU have agreed an initial draft agreement on the negotiating terms for Britain's exit, the so-called divorce settlement, from the economic bloc by March next year. As the UK's withdrawal agreement with the European Union (EU) enters a crucial stage, Prime Minister May now has the tough task of convincing her deeply divided Cabinet that the agreement is the best possible outcome for Britain. Addressing a raucous House of Commons during her weekly Prime Ministers' Questions (PMQs) ahead of the crunch meeting at Downing Street, May told MPs that the deal agreed with the EU delivers on the British public's vote in favour of Brexit in the 2016 referendum. "What we have been negotiating is a deal that does deliver on the vote of the British people," she said, adding that the agreement would give the UK control of borders, laws and money and also protect business and jobs. However, Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn accused her of preparing to bring a "false choice" before Parliament between a "botched deal and no deal". He said the UK would be stuck in an "indefinite half-way house without any real say" if the current Brexit agreement went ahead. But May countered that the Labour Party's objective was to "frustrate Brexit and betray the vote of the British people". May, in a speech earlier this week said: "The negotiations for our departure are now in the endgame. And we are working extremely hard, through the night, to make progress on the remaining issues in the withdrawal agreement, which are significant". "Both sides want to reach an agreement. But what we are negotiating is immensely difficult. I do not shy away from that," she said, hours before it emerged that Brussels was ready to publish a 500-page document of the withdrawal agreement once May is able to get her Cabinet on board. On one of the most contentious aspects of the negotiations, the EU has reportedly dropped its demand for Northern Ireland to remain in the economic bloc's Customs Union as a "back stop" until a future trade deal is signed. However, May is believed to have agreed that the region can remain more closely aligned to the EU regulations in some areas than the rest of the UK. The deal will involve a two-year transition until 2021, followed by a UK-wide Customs Union "backstop" in the event that the Irish border issue cannot be resolved during that period. While the full details of the agreement are yet to be published, leading Brexiteers and even some pro-Remain MPs of the ruling Conservative Party have called on ministers to reject the deal as unacceptable. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), on whom May relies for her majority in the House of Commons, has warned that the agreement could lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom. An embattled May hosted one-on-one briefings with her ministers in Downing Street on Tuesday ahead of the full Cabinet meeting expected to last around three hours later on Wednesday. Some key pro-Brexit ministers, including international development secretary Penny Mordaunt and work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, are being named as possible members of her Cabinet who might resign in protest and possibly even pave the way for a leadership challenge against May. But May is thought to have won the support of five key ministers foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, home secretary Sajid Javid, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, environment secretary Michael Gove, and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. If the Cabinet ends up signing off on the deal, the European Commission is expected to publish the details of the agreement alongside a much shorter declaration on future economic and security relations, which still need to be fully thrashed out. Ambassadors from the remaining 27 EU member states will then discuss the possibility of organising an emergency summit later this month, earmarked for November 25, to sign off on it. However, then the UK government faces a battle to win Parliament's backing on the divorce agreement, with some Tories already vowing to vote against it and the Democratic Unionist Party DUP's support being uncertain. The crucial leg of the Brexit negotiations this week follows months of wrangles, with transport minister Jo Johnson becoming the latest minister to step down over the issue last week. He followed in the footsteps of his brother Boris Johnson, who resigned as foreign secretary a few months ago and David Davis, who stepped down as Brexit secretary. These ministers have vehemently opposed the withdrawal agreement and called on fellow Tory MPs to oppose it. But Conservative Party Chief Whip Julian Smith, in charge of party discipline, has said he is "confident" the deal would pass. This critical stage of negotiations will determine the final stages of Britain's formal exit from the EU on March 29, 2019, after the June 2016 referendum in favour of Brexit. By Associated Press SINGAPORE: The rivalry between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific is proving "awkward" for Southeast Asian nations that do not want to have to choose between their friends, Singapore's prime minister said Thursday as he wrapped up a regional summit. "It's easiest not to take sides when everybody else is on the same side. But if you are friends with two countries which are on different sides, then sometimes it is possible to get along with both, sometimes it's more awkward if you try to get along with both," Lee Hsien Loong said when asked about the competition between the US and China in the region at a news conference. Lee, who hosted the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said countries whose economies and strategic interests are deeply entwined with both powers would prefer not to have to decide, "but the circumstances may come where ASEAN may have to choose one or the other. I hope it does not happen soon." US VP Mike Pence at the ASEAN Summit (Photo | AP) The comments appeared intended to send a message to the US, represented this week by Vice President Mike Pence in place of President Donald Trump, and to China, whose growing influence across the region is abundantly clear at such international gatherings. Trade tensions between the US and China over Beijing's technology policy and other market access issues have added to strains within the region, especially since Trump took office in early 2017. The two sides have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's products in a standoff that has shown no sign of easing. Lee also remarked on Trump's "America First" deal-oriented diplomacy, saying it was a departure from the past, when "they were generous, they opened their markets, they made investments, they provided regional security, and in the indirect benefits of a prospering region, the U.S. prospered along." "But now they say 'no, that's not good enough. I want every deal to come,' and that will mean a different kind of relationship and we will have to get used to it if the U.S. decides that this is the direction which they would go in the long term," Lee said. In comments to the gathering earlier in the day, Pence stressed the American commitment to the region, where he said there was no room for "empire or aggression." Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks during a press conference following the 33rd ASEAN summit (Photo | AP) In a veiled swipe at China's growing influence and military expansion in the South China Sea, he said that "Our vision for the Indo-Pacific excludes no nation. It only requires that every nation treat their neighbors with respect, they respect the sovereignty of all nations and the international rules of order." While in Singapore, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sought to reassure China's neighbors over its expanding reach, both economic and military, across the region and urged fellow Asian leaders to help reassure world markets roiled by trade tensions. Southeast Asian countries and others in the region share China's consternation over the Trump administration's rejection of multilateral trade regimes and the global trade system that have helped them modernize and enrich their economies. Many of the leaders attending the meetings in Singapore have emphasized the need to fight protectionism and safeguard the rules that help govern global trade. The region needs to "take concrete action to uphold the rules-based free trade regime and to send a message a positive message to the market to provide stable, predictable and law-based conditions for the market," Li said. The South China Sea Security issues, in particular managing conflict in the South China Sea, were another major focus of the meetings. The sea is a potential flashpoint, and a huge concern for the U.S. and other countries that rely on the right of passage for shipping. China is pitted against its smaller neighbors in multiple disputes in the sea over coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves. ASEAN leaders said they discussed the need for restraint in the area. "We all agreed on ways and means not to increase tensions in the South China Sea. And that means not bringing in warships and allowing for freedom of navigation," Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed told reporters. "Small patrol boats are needed to deal with piracy, mainly, but big warships may cause incidents and that will lead to tension." Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has relaxed his country's stance on Chinese claims to islands also claimed by Manila, said it also was crucial that the countries involved finish work on a "code of conduct" to help prevent misunderstandings that could lead to conflict. "China is there. That is the reality," he told reporters before joining the day's meetings. "Strong military activity will prompt a response from China. I do not mind everybody going to war, but except that the Philippines is just beside those islands. If there is shooting there my country will be the first to suffer." ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Its annual summit includes meetings with various other nations. Next year's summit is planned in Thailand, whose capital Bangkok was the site of the 1967 meeting that created ASEAN. By IANS LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday that cabinet has agreed on the draft Brexit deal with European Union (EU) after impassioned debate. The latest development came as May was seeking cabinet's support for the Brexit deal text agreed between Britain and EU. "I firmly believe it's the best agreement that could be negotiated," she told media shortly after the close-door meeting with the cabinet that lasted for five hours. "This is a decisive step that enables us to move on," she said. Earlier, the PM told the House of Commons that Britain is "significantly closer" to delivering on the result of the Brexit vote. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lankan lawmakers on Thursday exchanged blows and threw objects at each other, leaving at least one of them bleeding, as MPs loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena surrounded the Speaker in his chair after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who lost a floor test, demanded fresh elections to resolve the raging political turmoil. Trouble erupted when Speaker Karu Jayasuriya agreed to a request from ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) that a vote be taken on a statement made by Rajapaksa demanding fresh polls. READ | Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa loses no-trust vote Jayasuriya had allowed Rajapaksa to make a statement as a member of parliament after stating that he does not recognise the claim of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader who lost a no-confidence motion on Wednesday. "I was the president and premier, so this prime minister's post is not important," Rajapaksa said. "I urge all 225 members to join me in calling for a fresh election. We want a general election," he said, adding that a fresh election was the best way to resolve the crisis. UNP legislator Lakshman Kiriella urged Jayasuriya to take a vote by name, showing the loss of confidence over Rajapaksa's remarks. Jayasuriya asked the House if it agreed and with resounding voices of 'Aye' he proceeded to take the vote. He was immediately surrounded by Sirisena and Rajapaksa's MPs who were protesting against Jayasuriya's decision to take the vote. President Maithripala Sirisena (centre) sacked PM Ranil Wickremesinghe (left) in the pretext that Wickremesinghe was plotting an assassination against him. Sirisena then appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa (right) as PM, who is unable to win a majority in the parliament. "I am the Speaker and I decide," Jayasuriya told the angry lawmakers as UNP MPs formed a ring around the Speaker's chair to shield Jayasuriya. "They are trying to assault the Speaker," UNP legislator Harsha de Silva tweeted from the House. Objects were thrown at the Speaker's chair and at least one MP was seen leaving the chamber bleeding, an official said. The commotion continued for about half an hour before Jayasuriya adjourned the House. "We are the lawful government and we will sit in the government benches today," Ajith P Perera, a senior UNP legislator said earlier. The UNP had sat on the opposition benches during the no-trust vote. Rajapaksa's side has disputed the no-trust motion, saying proper procedure was not followed and accused Jayasuriya of bias towards his own party. Since the Speaker had ruled that Rajapaksa had no majority, Wickremesinghe remains the lawful premier, the UNP claimed. The UNP said they would boycott a meeting called by Sirisena with political parties which backed the motion against Rajapaksa on Wednesday. This was after a strongly-worded letter from Sirisena to Jayasuriya last night. ALSO READ | Sri Lankan Supreme Court overturns dissolution of parliament Sirisena, in response to an official communique by Jayasuriya on the vote in parliament, told the Speaker that a prime minister does not necessarily require a parliamentary majority, that Jayasuriya had violated parliamentary procedures and standing orders of parliament in conducting the no-trust motion against Rajapaksa, and that he as president was the sole authority in appointing a prime minister. Parliament on Wednesday passed the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa who was installed by as premier by Sirisena in a controversial move, after the Supreme Court overturned the presidential decree to dissolve the House and hold snap polls on January 5. Amid raucous scenes, Parliament on Wednesday met for the first time since October 26, when Sirisena sacked premier Wickremesinghe, installed Rajapaksa in his place and suspended the House, plunging the island nation into an unprecedented Constitutional crisis. The vote of no confidence against Rajapaksa has further complicated the political crisis as the former strongman has rejected the outcome of the floor test. It is not yet clear whether Rajapaksa will resign or whether the ousted Wickremesinghe, who has the support of 122 lawmakers, will return to power. The passing of the no-confidence motion comes as a major blow to Sirisena and is a victory for Wickremesinghe. By PTI WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Wednesday defended in court its decision to suspend the press pass of a CNN reporter, arguing that no journalist has the first amendment right to enter the White House. CNN filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and several of his top aides, seeking the immediate restoration of the network's correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass to the White House which was suspended following a testy exchange with the US president. The Justice Department, in a court filing Wednesday, said: "No journalist has a First Amendment right to enter the White House". The filing was in response to a lawsuit filed by the CNN after the White House last week suspended the press pass of CNN's Chief White House Correspondent Acosta. The lawsuit filed in US District Court in Washington, DC on Tuesday alleged that Acosta and CNN's First and Fifth Amendment rights are being violated by the ban. "The president and White House possess the same broad discretion to regulate access to the White House for journalists (and other members of the public) that they possess to select which journalists receive interviews, or which journalists they acknowledge at press conferences," the Department of Justice asserted. During a White House press conference last Wednesday, Acosta challenged Trump's use of the word "invasion" to describe a migrant caravan heading to the US from Central America. When Acosta tried to ask a question about the Russia investigation into alleged interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump told him repeatedly "that's enough" and "put down the mic". Hours after the encounter, seen across the world, the White House, in an unprecedented move, suspended Acosta's press pass, known as a Secret Service "hard pass". Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service Despite a major push from China and Singapore, plans to finalise the contours of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) were pushed to next year after several nations, including India, Australia and Indonesia, expressed reservations during the East Asia Summit in Singapore on Wednesday. India, Australia and Indonesia go to polls next year, and worry that the proposed FTA - between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and six Asia-Pacific states, including China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand - would impact their domestic industry adversely. India also believes that such an FTA must include the free flow of services, and not just goods. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice President Michael Pence on the sidelines of the summit, where they discussed various bilateral issues, including terror. In an obvious reference to Pakistan, Modi told Pence that all traces and leads in global terror attacks ultimately lead to a single source and single place of origin. The mainstreaming of people involved in the Mumbai attacks (like 26/11 mastermind Hafeez Saeed) in Pakistan following the recent elections in that county should be a matter of serious concern to the international community, the PM added. Apart from terror, the leaders discussed closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and ways to ramp up bilateral relations. Prime Minister in particular stressed that there was a great opportunity for United States in India in making defence equipment and setting up defence industry in India, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said. Pak origin of global terror, Modi tells US All leads in global terror attacks can be traced back to a single source and single place of origin, PM Modi told US Vice President Michael Pence, in an obvious reference to Pakistan By PTI SINGAPORE: Senior officials of India, Australia, Japan and the United States met here on Thursday and held consultations on regional and global issues of common interest, amid China flexing its muscles in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. The discussions focused on cooperation in areas such as connectivity, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and maritime and cybersecurity, with a view to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected Indo-Pacific region that the four countries share with each other and with other partners, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement in New Delhi. The participants -- officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Department of State of the United States of America -- reaffirmed the ASEAN centrality as the cornerstone of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, it said. The US has been pushing for a broader role by India in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military maneuvering in the region. In November last year, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending Quadrilateral coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of Chinese influence. China claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea and has also laid claims on the Senkaku islands under the control of Japan in the East China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims over the South China Sea. The US is periodically deploying its naval ships and fighter planes to assert freedom of navigation. In a statement, the State Department said that the senior officials highlighted the complementary visions for the region held by their four countries, grounded in a shared support for a free, open and inclusive region that fosters universal respect for international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, and sustainable development. The US officials underscored the importance of coordinated and complementary engagement to advance shared regional interests including support for the new Maldivian government and encouragement of an outcome to political developments in Sri Lanka consistent with democratic principles, it said. They focused on their shared goals including support for sustainable development, connectivity and good governance, it said. The officials committed to driving broad economic development that harnesses the region's full potential and fosters connectivity and development of infrastructure based on transparency, genuine need, sustainable debt burden, and other principles in accordance with international standards, the State Department said. They reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, as well as their support for other regional institutions such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Pacific Islands Forum, it added. The MEA said that all the four countries agreed to partner with other countries and forums in the region to promote a free, open, rules-based and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific region that fosters trust and confidence. They committed to strengthening connectivity and quality infrastructure based on sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of all nations, as well as transparency, economic viability and financial responsibility, it said. The officials also exchanged views on recent developments in the regional situation and agreed to continue the consultations, the statement added. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Emirates Policy Centre, opened on Sunday the fifth annual Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate (ADSD). This year's session discussed the role of power in international politics. The conference, held from 10 to 12 November, was attended by large number of prominent policy-makers, experts, and officials from all over the world. The first day's sessions discussed the UAE's experience as a model of power building, US power under the Trump administration, Russia's use of force and its ambitions, the geographical and economic boundaries surrounding China's power, Europe's search for a new role in the global balance of power, the rise of India as a major Asian power and Africa's role in this geopolitical sphere. On the second day, the attendees analysed the challenges facing Arab countries, whether domestically or regionally, such as Syria's war and the situations in Yemen and Libya. Also discussed were geo-economic transformations and the extent of Turkey, Iran and Qatar's power. The Middle East The conference began with an opening speech by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, who said that he rejects Iran's "destructive policies" in the Middle East. Due to Irans destructive regional and global policy, we have voiced our support for President Donald Trumps administration's stance towards Tehran, he said. The UAE, along with Arab states, is increasingly playing a role to address security challenges in the region. We are pushing, alongside the US, to form a strategic alliance to counter these issues, he said, referring to the Middle East Strategic Alliance, or the so-called "Arab NATO." We have spared no efforts in ensuring that peace prevails in the Middle East, he said. This year we celebrate the centennial of Sheikh Zayed, who laid down the values that shaped our country, our people and our relations with the world, he said, referring to the founding father of the UAE. Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Centre, spoke about how the UAE serves as a unique model in power-building in a region mired in wars and clashes. The UAE has been known to be diplomatic and impartial; however, the expedited transformations in the region and international environments made it somehow impossible for the UAE not to interact and respond to this transformation, Al-Ketbi said. This intervention and contribution have come to restore stability, economic growth, development, tolerance, moderation and fight extremism, Al-Ketbi said. We at EPC adopt the concept of smart power, which combines soft and hard power at the same time. This means using the components of a country's power as a decisive element in the international policies of the government we have to move from analysing power by its conventional concept to power in its smart concept, and the UAE is the first to use smart power when it comes to the power-building model. The US During a panel on 'Temptation of Power: US Policies,' Jasim Al Khalufi, former Emirati diplomat and moderator of the panel, said that no president has generated as much controversy as Trump has. Americans probably have fatigue from all this involvement in wars and upheavals, he said in his opening remarks. Michael Rubin, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, started his speech about Trump by saying that when it comes to his foreign policy, it is chaotic. The question is whether it is chaotic by design or because of the nature of Trumps personality, or whether there is logic behind it. Under Trump, as in the past, we have not really had a very proactive foreign policy; we tend to be more reactive. Russia On Russia, Oxana Gaman-Golutvina, chair of Comparative Politics Department at MGIMO-University, said in a panel named 'Ambitions of Power: Russian Policies,' that " Russias aspirations to power are contradictory, and this aspiration is variational, it includes several motives including striving to ensure its security and to maximise economic benefits, including oil and gas, which account for approximately half of Russian budgets. Russia strives to stop turbulence in the region and considers this region as a space for seeking new approaches and mechanisms for conflict resolution, and while the military component of its foreign policy is sometimes perceived as replacing other global players in the region, this is not the reality. Moscow understands that the stability of the region should not be carried out alone, she explained. Moscow seeks to prevent conflict between Iran and Gulf countries as well as Israel and Iran. It is trying to strengthen its position here without squeezing out the US. However, Andrey Kortunov, director-general at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), disagreed, saying I dont think Russia is a revisionist power; I think China is. Russia is a status quo power which uses revisionism to make its case. It is not looking to replace the US as a security provider in the Gulf or the MENA region. People in the Kremlin are smart and they understand their limitations, Kortunov explained. No matter how we evaluate the Russian place in the world, we will probably all agree that Russia can punch above its weight. Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, member of the UK House of Lords, said that "the great danger at the moment is that there could be much more confrontation much closer to the centre. For Europeans, the big turning point in our relationship with Russia was over Ukraine. It is now very serious because it defied all the rules we had laid down in the past. I would like to see change, but at the moment, I dont see it happening. We are in a destabilised situation leading to one that can become a major crisis. The lack of ability to control it is extremely worrying. China Speakers also discussed China's potential of becoming a global power and the implications of this during a panel titled 'Limits of Power: China and Geography Constraints.' Sonia X. Y. Li, director-general of the Research Centre for People-to-people Diplomacy at CPAFFC, said that the Chinese nation has gone through many hard ups and downs and forces in its 5,000 years of uninterrupted civilisation. "Maybe more important and appropriate is to understand Chinese culture and its impact upon its mentality and thinking pattern rather than just having a biased assumption and analysis." "China can become a regional or global power, but the philosophy will be followed through because it is the DNA of Chinese culture, she explained. Since it is rapidly becoming the second largest economy with almost 1.4 billion people, indeed it has the potential to become either a regional or global power. However, we are all in the same boat and a new way of thinking of live and let live is needed. Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP) at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), also sees China as a world economic power [China] is the largest trading partner for more than 120 countries, so we are also one of the world powers. But when we look at China in a different way, like financially, its currency is very weak, and the US dollar is the dominant currency in terms of many standards, he said. We were just two percent that of the US, but today we are two thirds; a fundamental change took place in the past 40 years, especially during the past two decades. It is why people view China as a rising power, but in China, it is still a point of debate. Roy Kamphausen, senior vice president for research at the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) said in the same session that Chinas military has also experienced tremendous growth and has been largely regionally-focused up to this point. But we are also seeing China change its orientation, adding a strategic dimension to it and it will be more present globally as a result. Sarah Kirchberger, head of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Strategy and Security at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University, sees that Europe's economic approach towards China is more of a business competitor than anything else. "But this perception is now changing; we also now discovered there are possible concerns that affect European interests. We fully realise that there are huge domestic Chinese concerns and constraints that play into Chinas rise," she said. Europe The fifth panel discussed the challenges faced by Europe in exerting power and its longing to restore its old role. According to Jean-Marc Rickli, head of Global Risk and Resilience at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and moderator of the session, European projects in the 1990s had a lot of optimism in terms of building a new government structure integrating Western and Eastern European countries. "It peaked in 2004 and seems to have declined since because of the financial crisis and international relations where Europe has not been a very strong actor," he said. Franco Bruni, vice president and co-head of Europe and Global Governance at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), said that "we have been recovering with a series of measures and our union is now more robust financially." "The growth rate is still inadequate and lower than the potential. There is no incentive to accelerate structural reforms that would [see] an increasing convergence of European economies to make Europe more uniform and robust. We have a lot of plans for the future which I am not sure will be successful when comes to political decisions, but the plans are there." Guillaume Klossa, special adviser to the vice-president of the European Commission, sees that everybody in Europe is aware that the alliance with the US is not what it was before, as there is now a risk with Russia, and stressed the need for Europe to organise itself for its future. "Its relatively new, and step by step, we are going towards a more autonomous European defence." Power is becoming harder to retain, Rastislav Kacer, Ambassador of Slovakia to Hungary and Honorary Chairman at GLOBSEC in Bratislava, said "We usually tend to see Europe as the soft power king of the world" "Europe, for being a cluster, was extremely efficient in power, though being a soft power. We are a half billion market and that share of a market is disproportionate." Sir Michael Leigh, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said that Brexit is one challenge the EU is facing at the moment. "We should not underestimate the impact of this for the EU. The main reality now is that the EU is facing many internal challenges and it must come to terms with these if it wishes to exercise a role in the world and to resume its claim to be a normative power that can influence others," he said. "The idea that with the UK out, it will be much easier to pursue reforms, I take with a pinch of salt. The UK is the second largest economy in the EU, and one of two [European] member-states that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, so it will have a significant impact on both sides," he said. "The EU is full of ambition as far as reforms, but we also see very serious breaks on this reform process. And it could well be that the elections for the European Parliament next May might turn out to be a tipping point in this process." India Experts also discussed India as an emerging power on the global stage during a panel entitled 'The Rising of Power: Indias New Role.' Samir Saran, president of the Observer Research Foundation in India, said that India is "a security actor, provider, underwriter of stability in the region, an intervening force in its neighbourhood in the last few decades and a global public goods provider in the defence and security domain." "Indias defence budget became larger than Russias this year, with a $2.6 trillion economy, and a $250 billion defence budget in the next 15 years." "This could range from simple soft activities like human assistance and relief, and evacuations from countries like Yemen, Syria and Libya," Saran said. "I have no doubt India will contribute annually close to $10 billion in development activities, he added. India will roughly contribute $100 billion to its friends and neighbours in the next 15 years, which will change the development narrative in its region and in regions far beyond its shores." As for the relations between India and Gulf countries, Sarin said "the Gulf has become one of our most important economic and trading partners, and we see the Gulf as the single most important contributor to Indias infrastructure and economic growth going forward, as we are no longer just trading in oil and gas, but setting up downstream infrastructure." N Janardhan, senior research fellow at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, sees that the Gulf-India relationship must be looked at from a Gulf-Asia perspective. "Moving forward from oil trade, expatriates, to strategic arrangements, we have cross-investments taking place, he said. It will be multi-lateral partnerships and hopefully also a completely different security architecture which will be Asian-led and in which India will have a great role to play." Africa Africas strengths, weaknesses and potential to become a rising power were also discussed in the last session of the first day. Abdullah Al-Seyid Wald Abah, professor of philosophy and social studies at the University of Nouakchott, said that "Africa is the future of the world, and this is not a judgement based on a vacuum." "The big renaissance in Europe and in the United States was based on what happened in Africa, thanks to the youth of African resources and labour, namely the slave trade in the 16th and 17th centuries," he explained. "Africa is now showing a new face with African countries developing and emerging both in the East and West that has made it a rising continent that is attracting China and the US." H.E. Victor Borges, independent consultant and former minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Cape Verde, sees that Africa is moving forward but still faces a lot of challenges and that it has to develop its capacity to face and solve all these challenges. "We could see the size of land mass, the surrounding seas and oceans, trade routes and proximity to Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Gulf. But Africa also has a lot of national resources, land for agriculture and biodiversity, tourism and a young population," Borges said. "We tend to speak about governance and public administration, but we must see the capacity in the private sector, social organisations, and in the field of science and technology. We need a strong capacity at the scientific and technological level to master natural resources." On relations with the Gulf, Abah said that "from the Gulf to the Arab Peninsula, where vital security is linked to the Horn of Africa, to East Africa, and North Africa, adopting a political approach is one way of becoming a power." Search Keywords: Short link: By Associated Press RIYADH: Saudi Arabia Thursday called for the death penalty against five people accused of murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, but absolved the crown prince of any blame. Khashoggi, the Washington Post contributor and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was drugged and his body dismembered, a spokesman for the public prosecutor said, in the first Saudi confirmation of how the journalist died. But spokesman Shaalan al-Shaalan denied Prince Mohammed had any knowledge of the killing. The journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds, Shaalan said. The prosecutor has requested the death penalty for the five who "are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals", Shaalan said. READ | Saudi explanation insufficient, says Turkey's foreign minister The announcement follows huge international outcry over the killing of the 59-year-old Khashoggi, last seen entering the consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. The journalist went into self-imposed exile in the United States in 2017 after falling out with Prince Mohammed. 'Semblance of accountability' Implicated in the murder are the once-powerful deputy chief of Saudi Arabia's intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, who gave the order to repatriate Khashoggi, and an unnamed "head of the negotiating team" who flew to the Istanbul consulate had ordered his murder, Shaalan said. The prosecution said it now has 21 people in custody, 11 of whom have been indicted with investigations to continue into the others. ALSO READ | Jamal Khashoggi murder: Saudi kill team's luggage contained syringes, scissors The kingdom previously said it had sacked two top aides to the crown prince who were known to be part of his tight inner circle -- Assiri and royal court media adviser Saud al-Qahtani. Qahtani has been banned from travel and is now under investigation, the prosecutor's office said, but did not reveal the fate of Assiri. Khashoggi was a close acquaintance with Saudi's crown prince. Khashoggi suddenly went on a self-imposed exile in 2017, and began writing against the Saudi Prince in Washingon Post. IN PIC: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman(Photo | AP) "This is clearly an attempt to display to the world that a semblance of accountability is being applied in Riyadh, but the question that has been asked will continue to be asked," said H.A. Hellyer, senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Royal United Services Institute in London. "Who gave the actual order to these senior officials?" Tension with Turkey On Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Saudi crown prince in a phone call that Washington would hold accountable all those involved. "The secretary emphasised that the United States will hold all of those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, and that Saudi Arabia must do the same," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. Turkey has called for an international investigation into the murder, and has previously hinted that the Saudi authorities were not keen on genuinely cooperating with their investigation. The Saudi prosecutor's office said the kingdom had requested that Turkey sign a "special cooperation mechanism" on a probe into the murder but had not yet received a response. Responding to the statement, Turkey on Thursday said the Saudi response was "insufficient" and insisted the killing was "premeditated." "We find all those steps positive, but insufficient," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a televised speech. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said the order to murder Khashoggi came from the upper echelons of the Saudi government. Ankara has also shared voice recordings linked to the murder with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States and its Western allies. The global fallout over the Khashoggi murder has tainted the image of 33-year-old Prince Mohammed -- the de facto ruler and heir apparent widely known as MBS -- despite persistent Saudi denials that he was involved. "The prosecutor's statement further reinforces that there is no risk whatsoever to MBS's position," said Quentin de Pimodan, a consultant at the Greece-based Research Institute for European and American Studies. "The Saudis will continue to push the narrative that these advisors 'betrayed the prince's trust'." Khashoggi's killing has plunged Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, into its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals. After first insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, Saudi authorities said he was killed in an argument that degenerated into a brawl before finally accepting what Turkey had said virtually from the start -- that he was killed in a premeditated hit. By AFP ISTANBUL: Turkey on Thursday said the Saudi statement over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "insufficient" and insisted that the killing was "premeditated." "We find all those steps positive but insufficient," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a televised speech. His comments came shortly after Saudi Arabia admitted that 59-year-old Khashoggi was drugged and dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last month. READ | Khashoggi murder: 11 suspects indicted, 5 may receive death penalty Riyadh's public prosecutor said the journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds and that five Saudi officials were facing the death penalty over the murder. "I want to say personally that I don't find some of the statements satisfactory," Cavusoglu said. "This murder was premeditated." Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen stepping into the doors of the Istanbul consulate to obtain paperwork for his marriage to a Turkish woman. Turkey has said he was murdered and his body was cut into pieces. After denials, Riyadh admitted that the man was killed in a "rogue" operation. On Thursday, a spokesman for the Saudi public prosecutor's office said the deputy chief of Saudi intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, had given an order to force Khashoggi home -- and "the head of the negotiating team" that flew to Istanbul had ordered his murder. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the order came from "the highest levels" of the Riyadh government, but stopped short of pointing the finger of blame at the Saudi crown prince. Cavusoglu said: "Those who gave the command as well as instigators should also be clarified and this process should not be covered up." He said Turkey would continue to do what was necessary "to shed light on this murder in all its aspects." By PTI ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Malaysia next week where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. The Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Khan would be accompanied by a high-level delegation during his official trip to Malaysia on November 20-21. This would be Khan's first bilateral visit to Malaysia. Khan and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks. The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Khan's visit "would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit," the statement said. Pakistan was facing a USD 12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the International Monetary Fund by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials here believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. READ | China set to give USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan as PM Imran Khan meets President Xi Jinping Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. Meanwhile, Malaysia's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ikram Bin Mohammad Ibrahim called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here and discussed a wide range of issues. Qureshi briefed the High Commissioner about Prime Minister Khan's upcoming visit to Malaysia. He also highlighted that the prime minister's visit would help further strengthen bilateral relations between two countries and open new avenues of bilateral cooperation. The Malaysian diplomat assured his government's full support to enhance bilateral relations with Pakistan and said that the Malaysian leadership looks forward to Khan's visit. By AFP ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said its security forces safely recovered five Iranian guards, abducted near the countries' shared border a month ago. Jihadist group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice in Arabic) had claimed responsibility for the abduction of 12 Iranian security personnel. "With concerted efforts of Pakistani law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and armed forces, five abducted Iranian guards have been safely recovered," foreign ministry spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said in a statement in Islamabad. The Iranians, including intelligence offices, were abducted near Lulakdan, a village 150 kilometres (90 miles) southeast of Zahedan, capital of Sistan-Baluchistan. Faisal said: "They are in good health, being handed over to Iranian authorities." He added efforts were being made "to recover the other guards". Pakistan briefed Tehran about "active efforts" to locate the abducted guards during two visits by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to Islamabad in one month. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi blamed the kidnapping on "our common enemies unhappy with the existing close, friendly relations between Pakistan and Iran". Sistan-Baluchistan has long been a flashpoint, with Pakistan-based Baluchi separatists and jihadists carrying out regular cross-border raids against Iran. The province has a large, mainly Sunni Muslim ethnic Baluchi community which straddles the border. Jaish al-Adl, formed in 2012, is a successor to the Sunni extremist group Jundallah (Soldiers of God) which has carried out a spate of attacks on Iranian security forces in recent years in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. By PTI DHAKA: Bangladesh on Thursday called-off its plan to repatriate hundreds of Rohingya refugees in the country after they refused to return to Myanmar where the minority Muslim community feared for their lives. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since August last year after a brutal military crackdown was launched, dubbed by the UN as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" by international rights watchdogs, sparking a global uproar. On Thursday, Bangladesh began preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,000 Rohingya Muslims from 485 families to Myanmar, in line with a plan agreed with Myanmar in October. READ | Rohingyas to be sent back to Myanmar, process to begin soon: Bangladesh official Four trucks and three buses have been stationed at Unchiprang camp in Cox's Bazar since Thursday morning, ready to carry refugees who have been "approved" to a transit camp by the border but not one refugee has been willing to board them, officials said. Several thousand Rohingya instead staged protests declining to go back to Myanmar as Bangladesh began preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,000 Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, in line with a plan agreed with Myanmar in October. About 1,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees demonstrated Thursday at a camp in Bangladesh against plans to repatriate them to Myanmar, from where hundreds of thousands fled army-led violence last year. (Photo | AP) However, several thousand Rohingya instead staged protests declining to go back to Myanmar as four trucks and three buses have been stationed at Unchiprang camp in Cox's Bazar, ready to carry refugees who have been "approved" to a transit camp by the border but not one refugee has been willing to board them, officials said. READ | Rohingya flee camps fearing forcible return to Myanmar "Nobody is willing to return to Myanmar, Rohingya repatriation will be called-off for the day if nobody volunteers by 4pm on Thursday," Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission's (RRRC) chief, Md Abul Kalam was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune. "The buses were ready and we readied three days of rations for those who were set to return, in the first batch but none boarded on the buses," an official of the relief commissioner's office at the scene said. The Rohingyas staged protest marches demanding realisation of a five-point demand as the precondition that included deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in the Rakhine State to ensure their safety and giving them the full citizenship status in Myanmar. ALSO READ | Conditions in Rakhine state 'not yet conducive' for return of Rohingya refugees: UNHCR "We want our security and dignity, we don't believe them (Myanmar authorities)," a Rohingya protestors told a private TV channel. Kalam earlier said none of the 50 families spoken to so far "expressed their willingness to go back under the present circumstances" and "We cannot force them to go back against their will." "We are waiting, we will start the repatriation if someone agrees to go back by 4pm," Kalam said. Bangladesh officials on Thursday held several rounds of meetings with the Rohingya in their effort to motivate them to return home but said they were at liberty to decide on their return. The authorities in Dhaka, however, are yet to make any announcement on the situation. The UN rights body chief Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday urged Bangladesh to halt the repatriation plans fearing that sending them back would put their lives at "serious risk". The date for the beginning the repatriation was set on October 30 in line with Myanmar officials talks with Bangladesh while they visited the crammed Rohingya camps in the country's southeastern Cox's Bazar visibly in their effort to start a process as Naypyidaw agreed to begin their repatriation by November. Bangladeshi officials said they so far provided Myanmar a list of 24,000 Rohingyas in two phases, while Myanmar said they verified 5,000 of them while media reports quoting Naypyidaw sources suggested they could return initially 2,000. Myanmar earlier announced a large-scale repatriation plan in November 2017 but Dhaka alleged the country took little steps to keep their promise. Myanmar, however, is still refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing in its treatment of the Rohingyas. The UN investigators said Myanmar's top military officials should be prosecuted for genocide but the country has rejected the calls, insisting it was defending itself against armed fighters. The UN has called on both governments to halt the "rushed" repatriation plans but the pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Bangladesh, however, tried to quell the panic by instructing NGOs it maintained its commitment to voluntary returns and that all NGOs should continue their work as usual. US Vice President Mike Pence told Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse", adding pressure on Myanmar's civilian leader. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has remained silent on the Rohingya issue. This has led to the stripping of many of her honours, including the Nobel Peace Prize that she won in 1991 (Photo | AP) Bangladesh, which had been extending refuge to another 300,000 Rohingyas ahead of the fresh exodus since last year, demanded greater UN and global pressure on Myanmar for their safe and dignified return. Rohingyas who took refuge in Bangladesh said their movement was restricted in their homeland ahead of the cleansing campaign while "fear and mistrust" had exposed them to hardship and economic vulnerability. By Express News Service A day after the Lankan Supreme Court overturned President Maithripala Sirisenas decision to dissolve the legislature, SL Parliament on Wednesday voted to remove Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM, saying his appointment last month was illegal. In a noisy session, attended by diplomats from various nations, including US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Alaina B Teplitz, Rajapaksa and his allies stormed out after attempts to disrupt proceedings failed. After the vote, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ruled that 122 members of the 225-member Parliament supported the motion against Rajapaksa, who was named PM on October 26 after Sirisena abruptly sacked PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Honored to attend the reconvening of Sri Lankan Parliament this morning to see democracy in action, Teplitz said after the meeting. While the vote gives Wickremesinghe a breather, it does not mean he will become the PM as President Sirisena still retains the right to appoint the next premier. By PTI LONDON: Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May's leadership was in jeopardy after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Indian-origin minister Shailesh Vara and two other ministers resigned Thursday from her divided Cabinet over UK's "half-baked" divorce deal with the European Union. Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, Prime Minister May was hit by a bigger blow as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the withdrawal agreement with the 28-member bloc. "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better," said Vara, Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) since January. READ | Brexit backfires: British PM Theresa May battles for survival as a string of ministers quit He attacked the draft withdrawal agreement which would form the basis of the UK's exit from the EU by March, 29, 2019 as a "half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation". The UK and EU must agree an ultimate end date for the transition period by the end of next week. The transition period is due to end in 2020 and can be extended once by mutual agreement. The resignation of Raab, the man involved with the actual drafting of the agreement with EU counterparts, throws Prime Minister May's leadership in turmoil. ALSO READ | EU lawmakers optimistic about Brexit deal Raab, who took charge as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU after his predecessor David Davis stepped down in protest over May's Brexit negotiations in July, said the proposed arrangement to avoid a post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". "I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to exit the arrangement," he said. Raab's resignation was followed by another pro-Brexit minister, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, announcing that she is resigning from the Cabinet over the issue. Another junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit over Brexit, shortly after her former boss Raab quit office. "It is with deep regret and after reflection that I have had to tender my resignation today as a Brexit Minister. Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working to support Brexit from the Backbenches. This has not been an easy decision," Braverman said in a tweet. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who defended the agreement. "I firmly believe that the draft Withdrawal Agreement was the best that could be negotiated, and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks," she said in her statement at the Downing Street doorstep after hours of talks with her top team on Wednesday. "The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop. But the collective decision of Cabinet was that the Government should agree the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the Outline Political Declaration this is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead," she said. There were already rumblings that while she claimed the Cabinet had collectively given its backing to her deal, many ministers had spoken out against it and were not entirely happy with the final text. The biggest sticking point remains over what is termed as a Northern Ireland backstop, which leaves the EU with the option of keeping the whole of the UK within a common Customs Union if a future trading relationship fails to be thrashed out during the 21-month transition period, set to run until December 2021. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, attacked Prime Minister May in his response to May's statement on Brexit to the House of Commons. He said May's negotiations that resulted in Wednesday night's draft Brexit deal with the European Union had ended in a "huge and damaging failure." Corbyn demanded that the government should withdraw the deal. "The government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected," he said. The markets also reacted sharply, with the British Pound falling heavily against most major currencies after Raab's resignation. Meanwhile, European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed November 25 as the date of an emergency summit where the remaining 27 EU member states are set to formally approve the withdrawal agreement. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up the minority Tory government, have also been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. DUP Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson led praise for Vara, who he described as "a man of his word" for taking the stand to step down as Northern Ireland minister. The fresh turmoil comes as Britain continues to try and thrash out the basis of its exit from the EU, after a referendum over its membership of the economic bloc resulted in a 52 per cent vote in favour of Brexit in 2016. As the chaos within government circles gathers momentum, calls for a second "people's vote" over the issue of Brexit is also gaining ground. By PTI BEIJING: Top officials of India and China held the ninth Annual Defence and Security Dialogue here after a one-year gap due to the Doklam standoff, as both countries agreed to enhance military exchanges and interactions. The dialogue on November 13 was held between the two defence delegations headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and China's Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. At the talks both sides agreed on enhancing defence exchanges and interactions at different levels between the two militaries, a press release by the Indian Embassy here said on Thursday. ALSO READ | India, China sent highest number of students to American institutions: Report After the talks, Mitra called on Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday, the release said. Mitra was accompanied by senior officials of the ministry of defence and Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The annual dialogue did not take place last year following the 73-day tense standoff between the two militaries at Doklam, which was triggered by the Chinese PLA's plan to build a road close to the narrow Chicken's Neck corridor connecting India's northeastern states in an area also claimed by Bhutan besides China. The standoff ended when Chinese troops stopped the road construction after which both countries stepped up efforts to normalise relations leading to the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in April this year. The defence dialogue was also held ahead of the 21st round of border talks between the Special Representatives of the two countries in the Chinese city of Dujiangyan on November 23-24. ALSO READ | China-backed trade deal pushed back to 2019 National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi are the designated Special Representatives for the border talks. Besides efforts to work out a solution to resolve the boundary dispute spanning 3,488 kms, the border talks also focussed on discussions on other aspects of India-China relations. Also the two militaries are due to hold the annual 'Hand-in-Hand' drills next month in China after gap of one year. During the dialogue, both sides also agreed on specific defence exchanges for 2019. "Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between the two ministries of defence as well as between military commands, joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon," the Indian Embassy's press release said. Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas, implementing the consensus reached between Modi and Xi and specific additional confidence-building measures at the operational level, it said. The two sides also had exchange of views on regional and global issues. "Both sides underlined the importance of this dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on defence and security matters. ALSO READ | India's pavilion at China expo showcases key sectors They emphasised the need to further strengthen military-to-military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries," it said. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue at a mutually convenient time in India in 2019. By PTI WASHINGTON: Asserting that Islamabad's support to violence has not benefitted either Pakistan or Afghanistan, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said that the "undeclared war" between the two neighbours must end. Ghani said the spectre of violence needs to be removed and that Pakistan needs to support direct discussions between the Afghan government and the Taliban. "The undeclared war between Afghanistan and Pakistan must end," he told a Washington audience through video conference from Kabul. ALSO READ | Pakistan rejects Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani's allegations on Kandahar attack "We have not supported any movement against Pakistan from Afghanistan. The Afghan soil is not being used. We've exercised immense restraint and control because we seek a cooperative relationship," Ghani said in response to a question at the School of Advanced International Studies of the John Hopkins University on Monday. Of the view that there is a need to define "what is a normal relationship" between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said Kabul can offer a lot in the way of cooperation. "We are the key to Central Asia. How will Pakistan get to Central Asia without a stable Afghanistan?" he asked. Ghani said Afghanistan and Pakistan need to together agree with the US and the rest of the world community on counter-terrorism. These three sets of relationship, he said are the key. From the day that President Donald Trump announced the South Asia strategy, I extended the hand of friendship. We have engaged in several rounds of discussion," he said, adding that Afghanistan and the US have arrived at a document on what is their expectation, what needs to be done to translate commitments into reality and to help reduce the level of violence in moving forward to lasting peace. Ghani said that he has not seen "urgency" from the new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding holding concrete dialogue with Afghanistan to fight terrorism or to assist in holding fruitful talks with the Taliban. "We have not yet seen the sense of urgency. We hope that sense of urgency can be brought to the picture. We have a framework which is an Afghanistan-Pakistan agreement. The key is to move from talking to taking action," Ghani said. ALSO READ | Ashraf Ghani to seek re-election in Afghanistan presidential poll, says official "Our national interest is to keep engaging with Pakistan. We seek a stable Pakistan. We need to see substantive and measurable change. As of now that substantive and measurable change with the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has not been seen. This is what needs to take place," said the Afghan president. Ghani said that the Taliban is not in a winning position. "Let them disclose their casualties. Let them answer to the mothers who have lost their children. Let them answer to the wounded and let them answer to communities that because of their interference, have been deprived of education, of health, of services. Where is the positive model of the strength?" he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plotted his next moves Thursday after his defence minister resigned over a controversial Gaza ceasefire, throwing his coalition into crisis and raising the possibility of early elections. After Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday, Netanyahu was clinging to a one-seat majority in parliament and one of his main right-wing rivals was also threatening to pull out of the coalition. Education Minister Naftali Bennett of the far-right Jewish Home party was demanding to be given the defence portfolio or he would withdraw his eight seats from Netanyahu's governing coalition. Another key coalition partner, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon of centre-right Kulanu, reportedly told Netanyahu elections should be called as soon as possible because a stable government was needed to keep the economy on track. Netanyahu was meanwhile seeking to contain the political fallout of his decision to accept a ceasefire deal on Tuesday that ended the worst escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 Israeli offensive on Gaza. Lieberman said it was "capitulating to terror" when announcing his resignation and also criticised Netanyahu's recent decision to allow Qatar to send millions of dollars in aid to the blockaded Palestinian enclave. He formally submitted his resignation on Thursday. Beyond that, there have been protests calling for tough action against Hamas by Israelis living near the Gaza border whose communities were targeted by barrages of rockets from Gaza this week. A poll published on Thursday found some 74 percent of respondents were unhappy with Netanyahu's handling of the escalation with Gaza and its Islamist rulers Hamas. Giving further ammunition to Netanyahu's political critics, Hamas has portrayed the ceasefire and Lieberman's resignation as a victory. "This government has failed to establish deterrence," Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, from Bennett's Jewish Home, told army radio on Thursday. Netanyahu's political popularity is in large part due to his reputation as Israel's "Mr. Security", as he has often been dubbed, and he has defended his decision saying: "Our enemies begged for a ceasefire. "In times of emergency, when making decisions crucial to security, the public can't always be privy to the considerations that must be hidden from the enemy," he said. His Likud party has hit back at suggestions he will be forced to call early elections, saying Netanyahu will take over the defence portfolio at least temporarily -- in addition to the premiership, foreign affairs and health portfolios he already has. A Likud spokesman said Netanyahu would continue consultations on Thursday aimed at stabilising his coalition. There has long been speculation that Netanyahu may call elections before they are due in November 2019, particularly with police having recommended charges against him in two corruption probes. The attorney general is expected to announce in the coming months whether to pursue charges against him, and some analysts believe he would be better positioned to combat them with a fresh electoral mandate. But Netanyahu would want to make the move at the most advantageous time and likely not with public attention focused on the Gaza ceasefire. The Gaza violence had erupted on Sunday with a botched Israeli special forces operation inside the territory that turned deadly and prompted Hamas to vow revenge. Palestinian militants responded with rocket and mortar fire, as well as an anti-tank missile that hit a bus that Hamas says was being used by Israeli soldiers. A soldier was severely wounded in the attack. Around 460 rockets and mortar rounds were fired from the Gaza Strip, wounding 27 people, three of them severely. A Palestinian labourer from the occupied West Bank was killed when a rocket hit a building in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Israel hit back with widespread air strikes on some 160 targets in the Gaza Strip before the Egyptian-brokered truce took effect on Tuesday. Seven Gazans were killed. The escalation came despite Netanyahu's decision to allow Qatar to transfer millions of dollars in aid to Gaza for salaries as well as fuel to ease a chronic electricity shortage. But they also drew criticism from within Netanyahu's own government, and Lieberman slammed them in announcing his resignation. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Russias foreign ministry said on Thursday the process of separating radical militants from moderate opposition groups in the demilitarized zone in Syrias Idlib region had not yet been successfully achieved. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the process, which was launched as part of a deal between Turkey and Russia in September, had not been successful despite efforts by Ankara. Search Keywords: Short link: One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Thursday Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had "absolutely nothing to do" with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, after the public prosecutor said he would seek the death penalty for five suspects. Asked about possible international sanctions in response to the case, Adel al-Jubeir told reporters there was a difference between sanctioning individuals and holding the Saudi government responsible. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Hong Kong and Australia announced today the successful conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement and an investment agreement after reaching a consensus on both. Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau today met Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment Simon Birmingham, who is also attending the 30th APEC Ministerial Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to discuss the two agreements between Hong Kong and Australia. After the meeting, they signed the Declaration of Intent to signify the successful conclusion of the negotiations. Mr Yau said Hong Kong and Australia are two like-minded economies in pursuit of free trade, adding Australia is also a very important Hong Kong trading partner. He said Hong Kong has set clear objectives in launching the free trade agreement negotiations to achieve zero tariffs for Hong Kong products to the Australian market, and to secure Australia's best free trade agreement commitments for Hong Kong services. Our objectives are largely met with the successful conclusion of the negotiation of the very comprehensive free trade agreement and investment agreement today, thereby bringing our bilateral trade and investment relationship with Australia to a new height," Mr Yau said. He added, the two agreements encompass trade in goods, trade in services, investment and other related areas, providing Hong Kong with legal certainty and better access to the Australian market. The agreements also create business opportunities and further enhance trade and investment flows between the two places, Mr Yau said, adding Hong Kong's economy stands to benefit from the two agreements. Hong Kong and Australia expect to sign both agreements in the first half of 2019, after completion of the respective internal procedures. Mr Yau said: "To help Hong Kong enterprises and investors expand their markets, further reinforce Hong Kong's status as an international trade and investment hub and establish our worldwide network of economic and trade connections, we have been actively seeking to negotiate and forge free trade agreements and investment agreements with economies that have strong economic and trade connections with Hong Kong, markets with development potential or at strategic locations, as well as like-minded trading partners." In the past 12 months, the current term Government has signed three free trade agreements with 12 economies. It has also concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Maldives. The free trade deals with Australia and the Maldives will bring the total number of such agreements Hong Kong has signed to nine, more than double the number signed prior to the current term. Chief Executive Carrie Lam When we talk about multilateralism, the World Trade Organization (WTO) immediately comes to mind. The establishment of the WTO in 1995 was a landmark development, a giant step towards a rule-based multilateral trading system, which is the foundation for the liberalisation of global trade and investment. Indeed, trade volume in goods and services has tripled since then. Global foreign direct investment flow is up more than four-fold over the past 22 years. Developing economies, in particular, rose almost six-fold. The results are clear and compelling: the flow of goods and capital has unleashed immense productivity growth worldwide. In doing so, it has raised incomes and the living standards of billions of people. World GDP has grown an average 3.8% a year in real terms over the past 22 years, with per capita GDP also doubling. For developing economies, globalisation through multilateralism has helped them integrate into the global value chain, in the process lifting a great many people out of poverty. Indeed, nearly 1.1 billion people have moved out of extreme poverty since 1990, according to the World Bank. That's not to say that globalisation is problem-free. Some of the world's poorest economies have been left behind; their paucity of resources, skills, equipment and infrastructure leave them unable to seize the opportunities. As for advanced economies, there is the real challenge of job losses, in part because of widespread outsourcing and the relocation of lower-skilled, labour-intensive production to developing economies. At the same time, efforts to expand multilateralism have foundered in recent years because of profound differences among WTO members. The global financial crisis in 2008 has also had an unsettling impact, from protests against free trade to calls for de-globalisation in some advanced economies. In short, the multilateral trading system set in motion by the WTO has encountered fierce opposition, and that resistance has only swelled in recent years. As I noted in my speech here last year, the fundamental solution lies in making economic development more inclusive, in boosting the benefits we create for our people. I outlined a number of measures essential to building an inclusive community, and I won't repeat those this morning. Rather, let me say that I am very concerned about global trade developments over this past year. Last year at this occasion, I said that I saw worrying signs of rising protectionism. I am afraid that now we see more than signs, with the United States introducing unilateral trade measures against other economies. The unilateral actions taken by the United States and inevitable retaliatory actions by other economies will surely raise the barriers to trade and investment, risking a widespread economic slowdown or even a global recession. I'm pleased to note that the second largest economy in the world, that is Mainland China, is providing the much needed support for the multilateral system. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. By the way, many of you in Hong Kong would know that I just came back to Hong Kong on Monday after leading a delegation of over 160 members from various sectors of the community to visit Shenzhen and Beijing to celebrate this anniversary. In this milestone year, the inaugural China International Import Expo was held in Shanghai last week. Actually, Hong Kong actively participated in the Expo. We set up a Hong Kong Exhibition Area, and over 160 enterprises joined the Enterprise & Business Exhibition, showcasing our unique role as a strategic gateway and important hub for the opening up of the country. The Expo is the world's first import expo held at the national level. Some of you may have picked up the figures about the achievements in this Expo. This reaffirms my belief that sometimes the Chinese people approach the subject of trade in a way very different from the American people, that we emphasise deeds rather than rhetoric. At the opening ceremony of the Expo, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address entitled "Work Together for an Open Global Economy that is Innovative and Inclusive". He said that the Expo "demonstrates China's consistent position of supporting the multilateral trading system and promoting free trade", and "it is a concrete action by China to advance an open world economy and support economic globalisation". President Xi emphasised that "openness and co-operation will remain essential for continued human progress". He named five concrete aspects that China will step up efforts to broaden its opening up, one of which is to promote international co-operation at the multilateral and bilateral levels. In particular, he said that China will continue to advance the Belt & Road Initiative through international co-operation in the spirit of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits. Active national role Hong Kong is determined to play an active part in the country's noble efforts to build a community with a shared future and usher in an even better tomorrow for mankind. First of all, we will continue to promote free trade, both by supporting the rule-based multilateral trading system, which is the most effective safeguard against protectionism, and by expanding our network of free trade agreements. Let me make it clear: whatever the changes to the global economic landscape, we are committed to keeping Hong Kong markets free and unfettered, our economy open wide to global business and investment. And we will promote international co-operation through our participation in the Belt & Road Initiative. Hong Kong is prepared to offer our expertise in professional services for countries and enterprises seeking to participate in the Initiative. Our expertise covers infrastructure development, financial services, engineering, consultancy, accounting, law, etc. These services will be in considerable demand for infrastructure and other projects arising from the Belt & Road Initiative. Let me add that we will leverage our unique advantages under "one country, two systems" to promote multilateralism and people-to-people bonds in the global environment, which is one of the key objectives of the Belt & Road Initiative. One area that Hong Kong can contribute, which we are doing, is capacity building. We have huge experience in many areas of city management, including town planning, flood prevention, slope stabilisation, railway operation, aviation safety and emergency services. We have also built institutions to fight against corruption, promote equal opportunities and deal with administrative complaints. We are willing to share our experience in those aspects with emerging economies and help build their capacity. In fact, many of our departments and institutions, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy, are already offering training or experience sharing with their counterparts from emerging economies, including those along the Belt & Road. We believe that such capacity building efforts will help promote inclusive growth, which in turn will strengthen the confidence in the multilateral system. Ladies and gentlemen, economic globalisation is an irreversible trend. The rule-based multilateral trading system is one of the pillars that enable freer flows of trade and investment across economies that provide the very impetus to global economic development. At the moment, it is being tested, threatened by a wall of protectionist rhetoric and lamentable action. Through dialogue, through gatherings such as today's, I'm hopeful that we will surmount those obstructions, that we will find our way to an open and inclusive global economy. Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the AsiaGlobal Dialogue 2018 held at the University of Hong Kong on November 15. France on Thursday welcomed Saudi Arabia's indictment of several suspects over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, calling it a "step in the right direction" in an investigation being watched by the world. In a statement, the French foreign ministry reiterated President Emmanuel Macron's call for full light to be shed on Khashoggi's October 2 death at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul and said: "We will continue to study developments in the case closely." Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor on Thursday called for the death penalty against five people accused of murdering Khashoggi, who was drugged and his body dismembered by the admission of Saudi authorities. A total of 21 people have been arrested over the killing, of whom 11 have been indicted. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, had been living in self-imposed exile in the US. Search Keywords: Short link: President Mnangagwa yesterday spoke out against people abusing the democratic space ushered in by the Second Republic saying such behaviour had no place in the new dispensation. Addressing a Presidential Graduation Parade at Morris Depot, on the first anniversary of the launch of Operation Restore Legacy that ushered in the new dispensation, the President urged people to entrench constitutionalism and promote democratic tenets. The advent of the new dispensation and the Second Republic saw the expansion of democratic space in our country, as enshrined in our Constitution. This culminated in the holding of peaceful, free, fair and credible harmonised general elections. However, it is regrettable that some retrogressive, unpatriotic and selfish individuals are bent on abusing the democracy we now enjoy, President Mnangagwa said. The new dispensation opened up democratic space with individuals and civic groups now openly expressing themselves although some have taken advantage of the openness to engage in violent demonstrations and propagation of hate speech, especially on social media. He added that the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the violence that took place on August 1 would be made public once it completes its work. The unfortunate and violent incident that took place in the streets of Harare on the 1st of August 2018, is not only regrettable, but has no place in the new Zimbabwe. The Commission of Inquiry looking into the event is expected to complete its work soon and its findings will be made public, President Mnangagwa said. He commended the graduates for passing the rigours of the one-year training. I am aware that this programme involved on-the-job, where recruits were attached to various police stations countrywide, before coming back for final refinement, polishing and to remedy identified shortcomings. I call upon you to constantly review the curriculum of the training programme so that it remains relevant in moulding police officers who have the requisite attributes of professionalism loyalty, patriotism and unyielding devotion to jealously guard the pillars of peace, law and order in our nation, he said. Some of the courses the graduates undertook include political history of Zimbabwe, human rights and policing, the Constitution of Zimbabwe, public order management, and community policing and traffic enforcement among others. In line with evolving modern crimes, it is pleasing that the police recruits also undertook lessons related to the investigation of modern crimes such as terrorism, trafficking of persons, drugs and arms. I am confident that this rich selection of courses has transformed the graduates into patriotic, disciplined, honest, reliable, capable, hardworking, devoted and a corruption free generation of police officers, President Mnangagwa said. He also urged the police to keep abreast of modern technological developments that are being used to commit crimes. The President also called on the ZRP to undertake programmes to earn public trust and also called on the public to respect police authority as set out in the Constitution. On the economic front, the ongoing engagement and re-engagement policy, together with the vast economic reforms and the implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme are turning the economic tide and boosting confidence across all sectors of the economy. Furthermore, we will continue to plug the holes and stop the economic haemorrhaging of our economy being perpetrated by cartels of individuals and businesses. These unscrupulous elements are manipulating and subverting our economic turnaround efforts for opportunistic and greedy ends, thereby abetting the suffering of our people. The police must fully acquaint themselves with the reforms and associated legal instruments which have been put in place to deal with these various challenges, President Mnangagwa. The President added that the ZRP must coordinate with the Anti-Corruption Unit, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Ministry of Finance and RBZ, among other stakeholders, to bring economic saboteurs to book. I equally encourage the public to be forthcoming in reporting crimes of all form and types at every level. In the Second Republic, there are no sacred cows. No one is above the law. Our laws will be enforced without fear or favour. Some unscrupulous bakers are reportedly colouring white flour brown in making bread as a substitute to using brown flour, NewsDay has learnt. The difference between colouring white flour brown and brown flour is that the latter is made from whole-wheat that has not undergone heavy processing, making it more nutritious compared to white flour. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) said it started receiving complaints from consumers two weeks ago that brown bread was in fact being made from white flour which has been made brown by colourants. We need to take it up with the National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ). We need to approach them from a consumer perspective and actually highlight those concerns because it is coming from the public. They need to give an explanation, CCZ deputy executive director Rosemary Mpofu told NewsDay yesterday. Mpofu said they made presentations to the Zimbabwe Wheat Board two weeks ago, but did not have a chance to engage NBAZ on the concerns around bread. The price of a 50 kg bag has risen 14,02% from $32 to the current $36,50 around the same time last year as a result of millers raising prices to militate against shortages in wheat deliveries. Inadequate levels of forex hampered wheat supply to millers, which averages 30 000 tonnes against a monthly demand of 38 000 tonnes. This saw National Foods Limited and Blue Ribbon Foods, the biggest millers in Zimbabwe, resorting to reserve stocks of wheat in June this year, leading to shortages in flour on the market, affecting deliveries to bakers. You can check whether the suppliers have stopped supplying brown flour, but as long as the suppliers are supplying brown flour there shouldnt be any issue. We are getting the brown flour, but we are not getting enough as you are aware there is still a challenge on flour, rationing of flour, NBAZ president and chief executive officer of Bakers Inn Ngoni Mazango said. He, however, added that he had not heard of any bakers colouring white flour brown to make bread in light of the reduced brown flour delivery. He said when he arrived in the country in April 2014, he presented himself to authorities with the hope that he would be taken to a refugee camp, but instead, he was taken to the remand prison. No charges, however, have been levelled against him to date. Newsday The Commission of Inquiry on the August 1 violence has adjourned public hearings and will be calling individuals mentioned by name in some of the witnesses testimonies to appear before it, the secretary, Virginia Mabhiza said yesterday. Mabhiza told the Daily News that the commission will send out invitations and subpoenas to the individuals who are expected to appear for hearings on November 21, next week. We have not really adjourned, we are still at work. We are not going to be conducting the hearings in the same manner as we have been doing, but we shall be calling people who have been identified by name during the testimonies, she said. We are hoping the people implicated by name will come and testify on November 21; we shall be sending out invitations and subpoenas. Some of the names that popped up during the Commission of Inquiry hearings on the violence that ensued in the aftermath of the July 30 harmonised elections include MDCs Tendai Biti and Jim Kunaka, among others. Mabhiza confirmed that the Kgalema Motlanthe-led seven-member commission is set to request for footage from international media to clarify certain areas. During this weeks hearings, army officials who testified, including General Valerio Sibanda vowed on record that the military was not responsible for the killing of six civilians. Sibanda said the orders given on that day were very clear you do not open fire on the rioters. The general told the commission that he believes that the force used by the army was appropriate, so was the weaponry. Police officials indicated that the force was overwhelmed by 5 000 protesters and had to request for army intervention as they were short-staffed on the day in question due to election deployments. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga said the situation became so volatile that there was no time to follow protocol in the deployment of the army to assist the police force to quell the situation. He said he gave an instruction to the military to tread with care, further noting that he believes minimal force was used on August 1, evidenced by the number of casualties recorded. Meanwhile, the countrys civil society groups have said they are gobsmacked by misleading evidence presented by top army and police officers before the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1, 2018 shootings. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a pro-democracy quasi political group, said it is foolhardy to believe sentiments from top army officials that a video of a kneeling soldier firing into the crowds portrays him firing warning shots into the air. As CIZC, we maintain that truth-telling processes require sincerity and denialism perpetuates a fractured society. We have also noticed conflicting statements from the police and army top brass with a senior police officer seemingly blaming the army for the shootings. We note an apparent attempt to blame the opposition, business and ordinary citizens for the shootings and this will likely lead to a witch-hunt that will see continued persecution of hundreds of activists that were arrested in the aftermath of the August 1 killings on false charges, the coalition said in a statement. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) said the deaths or injury of civilians represents a gross human rights violation in terms of the constitutional rights to life, to demonstrate and petition, to personal security, and to human dignity. The Butterfly 'Apocalypse' May Not Be Upon Us After All (Newser) Police are seeking a woman who pushed, punched, and choked a McDonald's manager because she wanted ketchup. Police in Santa Ana, California, say the assault took place around 11pm on Oct. 27 when the drive-thru customer entered the restaurant through an employee door and asked for the condiment. Video released by police shows the woman attack the manager after she was told she could not be in the building. The footage shows other employees trying to help before a man, who police believe was with the suspect, ran into the restaurant and pulled the woman off the manager. The pair left. (This Florida man was arrested after attacking two Muslim men at a McDonald's and telling them they didn't "deserve American food.") (Newser) Iran has executed the so-called Sultan of Coins for the crime of spreading corruption on earth. Per the BBC, Vahid Mazloumin was convicted of hoarding gold coins to manipulate prices. He and another financial trader, Mohammad Esmaeel Qasemi, were hanged after the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the convictions, the Los Angeles Times reports. A third person, who also was convicted, has an appeal pending. According to state media reports, Mazloumin, 58, amassed two tons of gold coins. He was reportedly arrested in July and later tried by a special court recently set up to adjudicate suspected financial crimes. Several other people, often in televised trials, have also been convicted and sentenced to death, according to reports. story continues below Earlier this year, financial traders in Iran did brisk business, per the Times, as financial mismanagement by the government and renewed US sanctions decimated the Iranian rial and many people traded their cash for dollars or gold. The Iranian government blamed traders for the currency crisis and shortages of basic items, such as medicine and diapers, leading to police raids and the establishment of the special courts for economic crimes. Amnesty International tells the BBC that the resulting executions are horrific, saying that international law forbids the death penalty for non-lethal crimes, such as financial corruption. (Iran warns of "war situation" amid renewed sanctions.) (Newser) Police in Ohio say a reporter found dead in a home was shot several times by her uncle, who then killed himself, the AP reports. Perrysburg Township police in suburban Toledo said Wednesday that Robert Delamotte shot his niece, 30-year-old Nikki Delamotte. Their bodies were found Monday. Nikki Delamotte had worked for Cleveland.com about two years and wrote human interest and culture stories. The website reports that Nikki Delamotte wanted to reconnect with her 67-year-old uncle after having little contact with her father's family since her parents divorced. Delamotte's mother said her daughter went to visit her uncle Sunday. Police say a security camera showed that she arrived at her uncle's home that afternoon and didn't come out. (Read more Ohio stories.) Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will likely meet again after New Year, the US vice president said, but insisted his government would not repeat past mistakes where "promises are broken." The US president and the North's leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. North Korea has taken some steps since then -- forgoing nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a missile test site and promising to also break up the country's main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions. But progress has generally been slow, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. Trump has said he hopes to have a second meeting with Kim early next year, but talks between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official planned for last week, partly to prepare for the meeting, were cancelled. The US said the North axed the talks because they weren't ready, and Trump insisted he was in "no rush". Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still "ongoing". "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," he told reporters. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of prior administrations -- frankly both political parties have made over the last several decades -- where promises are made, sanctions are lifted and economic support comes and then promises are broken." His comments came after a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a summit attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. - Maximum pressure - Pence urged other countries at the meeting to keep up sanctions pressure on the North amid signs that Pyongyang's traditional trading partners, China and Russia, have eased enforcement. Seoul has also said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. US officials insist on the complete, verified and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled on the pressure in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), insisting sanctions should be fully enforced. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship to ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". "In all that we do the United States seeks collaboration not control," he said at the meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. He also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure your nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land and at sea." Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, even areas approaching the coastlines of other countries, and has been establishing military installations on disputed outcrops. After Singapore, Pence is heading to Papua New Guinea for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Search Keywords: Short link: (Newser) Stormy Daniels' lawyer was arrested Wednesday on what he claimed was a "completely bogus" charge of felony domestic violence. Michael Avenatti, a frequent and outspoken critic of President Trump, was released on $50,000 bail, the BBC reports. Los Angeles Police Department Tony Im says the victim in the case had visible injuries, the Guardian reports. Sources tell TMZ that the woman's face was "swollen and bruised." The sources say the alleged incident occurred Tuesday night, when Avenatti "kicked the woman out" of a luxury apartment building in Century City, and the woman called police after another confrontation when she returned to retrieve her belongings Wednesday. story continues below TMZ initially claimed the woman was Avenatti's estranged wife, but Lisa Storie-Avenatti later released a statement saying she was not involved and had never known him to be violent. Avenatti denied the allegations in a statement released by his law office, the Washington Post reports. "I wish to thank the hard working men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism," he said. "I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated." The Vermont Democratic Party has cancelled two events Avenatti was supposed to speak at over the weekend. (In July, Avenatti said he was considering running for president in 2020.) (Newser) Deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel was removed from her post Wednesdaythe day after Melania Trump's office released a highly unusual statement calling for her firing. "Mira Ricardel will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration," press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "The president is grateful for Ms. Ricardel's continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities." Sources tell CNN that no new role has been found yet for Ricardel, who had served as deputy to national security adviser John Bolton for seven months. story continues below Sources tell the New York Times that Ricardel, who apparently never met Melania Trump in person, clashed with the first lady's staff over plane seating on her trip to Africa last month, becoming angry when a seat for an NSC staffer was pulled to make room for a journalist. Melania Trump's staff also accused Ricardel of withholding resources like logistical information, and suspected she was the person who told a journalist about the first lady's $95,000 spend at a Cairo hotel. Ricardel was apparently already unpopular inside the administration: Insiders tell the Wall Street Journal that she was seen "as overly attentive to rank and prone to meddling in other official' communications." (John Kelly may also be on the way out.) (Newser) "Did I hear the word bipartisan?" President Trump asked Wednesday as he announced his support for a major reform of prison and sentencing laws. The First Step Act, which the AP calls the "first major rewrite of the nation's criminal justice sentencing laws in a generation," was created by a bipartisan group of senators and will remove some of the harsher minimum sentencing laws passed in the 1990s. "We're all better off when former inmates can re-enter society as law-abiding, productive citizens," Trump said. "Americans from across the political spectrum can unite around prison reform legislation that will reduce crime while giving our fellow citizens a chance at redemption." story continues below The bill, which builds on one the House passed in May, includes a boost to rehabilitation efforts for federal prisoners and bans practices including the shackling of pregnant women, the Guardian reports. It's not clear whether it will go to a vote during the lame-duck session of Congress, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it will go to the floor if 60 votes can be guaranteeddepending on how it "stacks up" with other priorities. The bill is opposed by some conservatives, though its broad range of support includes both the ACLU and the Koch brothers, the New York Times reports. It earned the support of the national Fraternal Order of Police last week. (Last year, Jeff Sessions brought back tougher drug sentences.) (Newser) A New York Times investigative story about Facebook presents a brutal picture of how Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg handled the controversy over Russian hacking in the 2016 election. The Times uses three words to sum up company strategy: "delay, deny, and deflect." The story, based on interviews with more than 50 people, makes the case that Zuckerberg and Sandberg "ignored warning signs" that Russians were exploiting the platform, "then sought to conceal them from public view." Distracted by personal projects and issues, the pair delegated to subordinates key decisions on security and privacy. And when the scope of the problem became clear, Sandberg then oversaw an aggressive lobbying campaign to not only undermine its critics but to shift public anger toward rivals such as Google, according to the story. story continues below One key part of that campaign was to have a GOP opposition-research firm link vocal anti-Facebook critics to liberal financier George Soros. Another was to depict the Facebook criticism as anti-Semitic. The story doesn't present a flattering view of Sen. Chuck Schumer, either, asserting that he did his best to blunt criticism of Facebook on Capitol Hill. At one point, he ordered Sen. Mark Warner to back off his repeated criticism of the company. Schumer received more money from Facebook employees than any other member of Congress in 2016, and his daughter is a marketing manager there. One early reaction to the piece comes from Siva Vaidhyanathan at Slate: "Facebook is now just another normal sleazy American company run by normal sleazy executives, engaged in normal sleazy lobbying and corporate propaganda." (Read the full Times story here.) (Newser) Its not only the founders of a disputed GoFundMe campaign that raised $400,000 for a homeless man who find themselves in hot water. NBC Philadelphia reports Kate McClure, Mark D'Amico, and Johnny Bobbitt will face charges of conspiracy and theft by deception for allegedly concocting a false story to benefit themselves. Believing they were creating a better life for Bobbitt, said to have given McClure his last $20 to buy gas when she became stranded on a Philadelphia highway, 14,000 people donated more than $400,000 to the campaign last year. Temporarily set up in a trailer on property owned by McClures family, Bobbitt went on to sue, claiming McClure and DAmico were using the fund as their "personal piggy bank." story continues below Police raided the couple's Florence, NJ, home in September, seizing cash, jewelry, financial statements, and a new BMW, though Bobbitt's lawyer said the donated funds were gone. Citing a source familiar with the case, NBC reports McClure and D'Amico turned themselves in Wednesday to Burlington County prosecutors, who believe the three deliberately prevented campaign donors from gaining information "that would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort." It's not clear if Bobbitt is also in custody. Per WVPI, prosecutors are to announce new developments in the case at 2pm local time Thursday. (GoFundMe previously promised to give Bobbitt the full amount he was due.) (Newser) Bad: your flight making an emergency landing due to smoke in the cabin. Worse: being holed up for three days in a place that wasn't your original destination. Worst of all: that place being one of the farthest reaches of Russia. That was the plight of nearly 300 passengers flying from Paris to Shanghai on an Air France flight, a scenario worthy of a made-for-TV movie that Radio Free Europe has already dubbed "Sleepless in Siberia." The nightmare on Flight 116 began Sunday with smoke and "acrid smell" in the cabin, per the New York Times, and the plane diverted to Irkutsk, which is more than 2,500 miles east of Moscow. After holding tight on the tarmac for six hours, passengers were finally allowed to disembark, but because they didn't have entry visas, they were limited to the airport and two nearby hotels. story continues below They weren't allowed to get to their luggage at first; the Siberian Times notes many "were dressed in light autumn clothes." Then, a second plane sent to get them out of there broke down before takeoff due to a frozen hydraulic system. The passengers had to disembark once again. They tried to make the best of itsome hung out at a pub in one of the hotels and posted a parody video from their newly made-up TV series called "Stuck in Siberia"but their irritation was clear. "We are dirty, we smell bad, it's now more than 30 hours that we're under house arrest without suitcases or passports," a passenger tweeted at one point. Air France offered its apologies via a statement, noting it "regrets this exceptional situation." A third plane finally got them to Shanghai on Wednesday. (This woman, on the other hand, had the "best flight delay ever.") (Newser) "Fake it until you make it" has apparently been the secret M.O. of Japan's cybersecurity chief, though it's not so secret anymore. The New York Times reports lawmakers there were "aghast" Wednesday when, during a parliamentary questioning session, 68-year-old Yoshitaka Sakurada admitted he doesn't do any work on a computer, because that's what he has secretaries or other workers for. SakuradaIDed by the Guardian as having been appointed deputy chief of Japan's cybersecurity strategy office just last monthdidn't even appear to be familiar with the basics on computers, seeming confused and defensive about what USB drives were when asked if they were used at nuclear power plants. "I don't know details well," he retorted, per the Times. "So how about having an expert answer your question if necessary, how's that?" story continues below By way of explanation, he said that "since the age of 25, I have instructed my employees and secretaries, so I don't use computers myself." Others were left shaking their heads, with one opposition lawmaker incredulously putting out the understatement of the day: "I can't believe that a person who never used a computer is in charge of cybersecurity measures." The Asahi Shimbun notes this isn't the first time Sakurada has shown off his "knack for giving baffling replies." The minister is also in charge of plans for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, and at a presser last week, he "showed a stunning lack of understanding of basic issues concerning the event," the paper says. Sakurada said he had trouble answering such questions because he didn't know the questions ahead of time. (Meanwhile, the US has its own cybersecurity issues.) (Newser) A female lawmaker stood in Irish parliament Tuesday and pulled a pair of lacy thong underwear from her sleeve. This "might seem embarrassing," MP Ruth Coppinger began. But "how do you think a rape victim or a woman feels at her underwear being shown in a court?" It was a move spurred by the Nov. 5 acquittal of a 27-year-old man in the rape of a 17-year-old, per the BBC. The man argued the sexual contact that occurred along a roadside in Cork was consensual, and in her closing address, his lawyer asked the jury whether the evidence ruled out "the possibility that [the victim] was attracted to the defendant" and "open to being with someone," per the Irish Examiner. "You have to look at the way she was dressed," she said. "She was wearing a thong with a lace front." story continues below The jury delivered a not-guilty verdict in 90 minutes, reports the Irish Independent. Though she didn't question the verdict, the head of Dublin's Rape Crisis Centre afterwards called for court reforms, noting rape trials often focus on what a victim was wearing, per the Independent. Responding to Coppinger's statement Tuesday, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar noted "it doesn't matter what you wear nobody who's a victim of rape is ever to blame for the crime committed on them." His words have been echoed by women sharing photos of their underwear on Twitter using #ThisIsNotConsent, and by protesters in cities across Ireland. "It's terrifying to think that someone could get away with rape because of a piece of clothing," one participant in Dublin tells DublinLive. "A piece of material can't consent at all." (Elsewhere, a rape victim who gave birth now faces prison time.) (Newser) Worried residents of Milton, West Virginia, called police about raccoons that looked for all the world like they were rabid. Turns out, they were just drunk, reports Gizmodo. In a Facebook post, the local police department explains that the raccoons apparently got into some fermented crabapples. Officers corralled two of the "staggering and disoriented" critters before releasing them back into the woods to sober up. (Raccoons aren't the only animals known to get tipsy in public.) (Newser) Nancy Pelosi hopes to be House speaker again, and the first big step happened on election night when Democrats reclaimed control of the chamber. The second step, however, is no gimme. Pelosi now has to fend off a revolt among Democrats who say it's time the 78-year-old relinquished her leadership post. As things stand now, the numbers stacked up against Pelosi look daunting. Details: The math: Pelosi needs 218 votes to become speaker, and Democrats won 228 House races and lead in five more uncalled races, per the Wall Street Journal. The problem? A dozen Democratic incumbents, 10 incoming freshmen, and four leading still-uncalled races have said they won't support her. If she loses those 26 votes, and all Republicans vote against her, Pelosi would fall short. The vote is Jan. 3. Pelosi needs 218 votes to become speaker, and Democrats won 228 House races and lead in five more uncalled races, per the Wall Street Journal. The problem? A dozen Democratic incumbents, 10 incoming freshmen, and four leading still-uncalled races have said they won't support her. If she loses those 26 votes, and all Republicans vote against her, Pelosi would fall short. The vote is Jan. 3. The foes: So far, 17 of those opposed to Pelosi have signed a letter pledging to not support her, and HuffPost has the list. (The first name is Tim Ryan of Ohio, a regular Pelosi critic.) Those behind the letter plan to release it after more pledge their support. story continues below Voting 'present': Slate takes note of a potential Pelosi strategy: Get some of her opponents, and even some supportive Republicans, to vote "present" instead of no. That would lower the number of yes votes needed, and she would likely triumph. Some who oppose Pelosi might go along as a compromise, but as the Journal notes, this could result in the perception that Pelosi is a weakened leader. Slate takes note of a potential Pelosi strategy: Get some of her opponents, and even some supportive Republicans, to vote "present" instead of no. That would lower the number of yes votes needed, and she would likely triumph. Some who oppose Pelosi might go along as a compromise, but as the Journal notes, this could result in the perception that Pelosi is a weakened leader. A different woman? One of the pro-Pelosi arguments is that with a record number of women elected to Congress, it's essential that a woman hold a leadership post. That's fine, says the anti-Pelosi camp, which is putting forth names including Cheri Bustos of Illinois, Marcia Fudge of Ohio, and Karen Bass of California, per the Hill. Fudge, for her part, has said she isn't ruling it out. One of the pro-Pelosi arguments is that with a record number of women elected to Congress, it's essential that a woman hold a leadership post. That's fine, says the anti-Pelosi camp, which is putting forth names including Cheri Bustos of Illinois, Marcia Fudge of Ohio, and Karen Bass of California, per the Hill. Fudge, for her part, has said she isn't ruling it out. Fighting back: Pelosi is taking the threat seriously, with the Washington Post reporting that she made her case to the pivotal Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday. Her office also unveiled endorsements from major unions. Pelosi is taking the threat seriously, with the Washington Post reporting that she made her case to the pivotal Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday. Her office also unveiled endorsements from major unions. Newcomers: Pelosi won over one on-the-fence female newcomer, Jennifer Wexton of Virginia, on Wednesday. But others, including Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, who ran on a pledge to oppose Pelosi, aren't budging. "I think there are some great people that will be coming forward, and I'm excited to see who those people might be," Sherrill said. "They haven't identified themselves yet, but we have such a deep bench of talent in the Democratic Party." Pelosi won over one on-the-fence female newcomer, Jennifer Wexton of Virginia, on Wednesday. But others, including Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, who ran on a pledge to oppose Pelosi, aren't budging. "I think there are some great people that will be coming forward, and I'm excited to see who those people might be," Sherrill said. "They haven't identified themselves yet, but we have such a deep bench of talent in the Democratic Party." The word from Pelosi: "I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that," Pelosi told reporters Thursdsay, per the Washington Post. (The Republican House leadership, meanwhile, is already decided .) (Newser) What a mess. Reaction in Britain has been so bad to Theresa May's newly unveiled Brexit plan that she's now busy trying to fend off a revolt within her own Conservative Party to remain prime minister. The highlights: Resignations: Six government ministers quit Thursday, the big one being her own Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, reports the Wall Street Journal. Raab had been in charge of helping Britain negotiate its exit from the European Union. "I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," said Raab. Six government ministers quit Thursday, the big one being her own Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, reports the Wall Street Journal. Raab had been in charge of helping Britain negotiate its exit from the European Union. "I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," said Raab. Why? May has been trying to come up with what's seen as a "soft Brexit," and nobody seems happy. The New York Times frames it this way: Lawmakers on the left and right "are converging around the view that the compromise she has carefully forged is the worst of both worlds, leaving Britain without a voice in the European Union but still subject to many of its trade rules." story continues below A challenge: A prominent fellow Conservative in the pro-Brexit camp, Jacob Rees-Mogg, says he's written a no-confidence letter to the committee that oversees leadership elections. If 47 other Conservatives join him, a no-confidence vote would take place, reports the AP. Rees-Mogg thinks Boris Johnson would be a fine replacement for May. A prominent fellow Conservative in the pro-Brexit camp, Jacob Rees-Mogg, says he's written a no-confidence letter to the committee that oversees leadership elections. If 47 other Conservatives join him, a no-confidence vote would take place, reports the AP. Rees-Mogg thinks Boris Johnson would be a fine replacement for May. Now what? The EU is expected to approve May's draft plan on Nov. 25. Then it would go to Britain's full Parliament, where its fate is uncertain, to put it mildly. Another pro-Brexit Conservative, Mark Francois," said it is "mathematically impossible" for the measure to pass, given the opposition in both the Conservative and Labour parties, per the Washington Post. The EU is expected to approve May's draft plan on Nov. 25. Then it would go to Britain's full Parliament, where its fate is uncertain, to put it mildly. Another pro-Brexit Conservative, Mark Francois," said it is "mathematically impossible" for the measure to pass, given the opposition in both the Conservative and Labour parties, per the Washington Post. What May says: She pointed out that under the referendum approved in 2016, Britain is to exit the EU in March, and she said that's going to happen even if her deal is rejected. "The choice is clear: We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated." She pointed out that under the referendum approved in 2016, Britain is to exit the EU in March, and she said that's going to happen even if her deal is rejected. "The choice is clear: We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated." The possibilities: The Wall Street Journal has an interactive graphic that charts a variety of outcomesincluding the Britain leaving the EU with no deal in place. Another possibility: a second referendum on whether to leave at all. The Wall Street Journal has an interactive graphic that charts a variety of outcomesincluding the Britain leaving the EU with no deal in place. Another possibility: a second referendum on whether to leave at all. The pound: Britain's pound fell dramatically amid the turmoil; it was down 1.7% against the dollar Thursday morning. (President Trump has his own advice for May .) (Newser) For once, a story about a selfie that helped someone rather than hurting them. A Texas man was confused when police arrested him in September of last year, telling him he was accused of breaking into an ex-girlfriend's home, attacking her, and slashing an "X" into her chest with a box cutter. When they told Cristopher Precopia the date of the alleged attack, however, he realized he had been out of town, about 65 miles away at a hotel with his mom and others. Photos were taken and posted to social media, including a selfie obtained by KVUE. Nine months after his arrest, Precopia's lawyers took the evidence of his alibi to Bell County prosecutors, and the charge was dropped. story continues below The felony charge, burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit other crimes, came with a possible prison term of 99 years. It's not clear what evidence the Temple Police Department had or thought they had, and police won't talk about their handling of the case. Precopia's alibi evidence included time-stamped, geolocated photos, as well as sworn affidavits from people with him on the night in question. "Most of the time, we deal with gray matters," says his attorney. "It's not normally black or white. But this is one of those cases where I could definitely prove he did not commit this offense." (A study recently tallied the body count of selfies-turned-deadly.) (Newser) Hundreds of Iowa National Guard soldiers have been told they were overpaid after a year-long deployment to the Middle East and that they must make plans to repay the money, the AP reports. The 248th Aviation Support Battalion held a homecoming ceremony on Nov. 2 to celebrate returning from Kuwait and Iraq. The next day, about 366 of the battalion's 400 soldiers were informed of the money issue, the Quad-City Times reported. The overpayments range from $2 to $4,500, according to Lt. Col. Michael Wunn, a spokesman for the Iowa National Guard. The amounts vary based on a soldier's rank, years of service, entitlements and the duration of the payment error. story continues below The problem seems to have originated from an issue at the demobilization station at Fort Hood in Texas, Wunn said. Some battalion members continued receiving active-duty pay or entitlements after their active duty ended, he said. Officials are giving soldiers multiple options to repay the funds, and many have already taken steps to do so, Wunn said. "We understand this creates a hardship for those affected," Wunn said, noting that soldiers don't have to repay the full amount by the end of the year. Democratic US Rep. Dave Loebsack urged any soldiers facing financial hardship as a result of the error to call his office. (The Pentagon recently asked for years-old signing bonuses back.) (Newser) A feel-good tale of a homeless man using his last $20 to help a stranded New Jersey woman buy gas was actually a complete lie, manufactured to get strangers to donate more than $400,000 to help the down-and-out good Samaritan, a prosecutor said Thursday. As expected, Burlington County prosecutor Scott Coffina announced criminal charges against the couple who told the story to newspapers and television stations along with the homeless man who conspired with them to tell the story. He said the money, donated to the homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt, will be refunded to people who saw the story and contributed to him through a GoFundMe page set up by the couple, Mark D'Amico and Katelyn McClure. "The entire campaign was predicated on a lie," Coffina said, per the AP. "It was fictitious and illegal and there are consequences." story continues below Bobbitt was arrested Wednesday night by US marshals in Philadelphia and remained in custody Thursday on probation detainers and a $50,000 bond. D'Amico and McClure surrendered to authorities Wednesday night and were released. All were charged with theft by deception. Coffina said almost no part of the tale behind the fundraising campaign was true; the couple actually met Bobbitt near a Philadelphia casino they frequented, People reports. Less than an hour after the couple set up the page to solicit donations, McClure allegedly sent a text message to a friend saying, "The gas part is completely made up, but the guy isnt. I had to make something up to make people feel bad." Police say they likely would have gotten away with the scheme had Bobbitt not gone public with his claims that the couple had only given him $75,000; an investigation was launched after that. (Bobbitt's lawyer has said all the money is "gone.") Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Tuesday that any proposal to resolve the Libyan crisis must consider the political, security and economic aspects given the crisis complicated nature. Speaking at a mini-summit on Libya held in Italys Palermo, El-Sisi said that proposals have to be in compliance with the Libyan political accord and the UN envoys plan, according to presidential spokesman Bassam Rady. The Egyptian leader called on all Libyans to shoulder the responsibility of implementing the accord. He also urged the international community to support a settlement in Libya without bias towards any party and that this settlement should ensure that all factions are represented in the state. El-Sisi also showcased how Egypt has worked to unify the army in Libya, as it believes that any political settlement would need a security infrastructure that would enable the Libyan authorities to secure all the countrys territories and fight terrorism. The president revealed during the summit that Egypt has reached an agreement with most of the Libyan factions about regulating the Libyan armed forces, expressing hopes that the negotiations will end soon with an agreement to unite the Libyan armed forces. He also stressed the importance of fighting terrorism in Libya and preventing the country from being used as a hub for terrorist groups that take advantage of the political vacuum. El-Sisi also stated that no international or regional party involved in supporting terrorism in Libya should be treated as part of the solution to the countrys crisis. The summit was attended by officials from Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Italy, Russia, the UN and Libya upon an invitation from Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. President El-Sisi returned to Cairo on Tuesday after taking part in the mini-summit. Search Keywords: Short link: Motorsport fans will enjoy many firsts at the upcoming Bapco Bahrain GT Festival, taking place November 30 and December 1 at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir. Aside from the all-new FIA GT Nations Cup and the inaugural SRO GT4 International Cup, the first-ever Bahrain Classic Challenge will give those in attendance an opportunity to take a step back in time with some of the most iconic racing machines. Held in cooperation with Patrick Peters Classic Endurance Racing Series, this popular category features a packed grid of more than 20 cars from yesteryear. Usually found at Europes premier venues, the series makes its journey to Bahrain to add a historic flavour to the Bapco Bahrain GT Festival. For the first time, Peter Autos Sixties Endurance grid will be showcased in the Middle East for their final races of the year. On the track are cars whose names AC Cobra, Ferrari 250 GT, Lotus 15, Jaguar E-Type, and many others still echo in the memories of fans of this era of endurance racing which, at the time, was the top branch of motorsport. They are part of a long list that continues to bewitch the public with their shapes and exhaust notes that hark back to another era. A classification based on an Index of Performance which, in addition to the scratch classification, gives an advantage to the small capacity cars and the oldest warriors faced with their more powerful and more modern rivals like the very quick AC Cobras that have racked up victories on many circuits. Free practice and qualifying will take place on November 30 and will be followed by two races on December 1 on the Sakhir circuit. The MENA Angel Investors Summit 2018, held as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), played a key role in providing investors across the MENA region a platform to empower and connect local and regional start-ups. Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) was the event partner of the summit which had its theme focusing on educating investors on how to invest in start-ups, connecting start-ups with Family offices, banks and law facilitators, learning and interacting with the start-up ecosystem. BDB hosted a specialised workshop for entrepreneurs and SMEs focused on marketing, business model development, and perfecting the way to pitch to investors. Speaking at the summit BDB Group Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Paul, who was a key speaker and a panellist at the event, briefed the audience on BDBs role in supporting young entrepreneurs and the financial and non-financial services offered by the bank. Explaining about the programmes BDB runs to fund startups, he said the bank runs a development service programme called Rowad to support entrepreneurs in improving their business skills. BDB also runs a pioneering accelerator programme called the Seed Fuel wherein the bank invests up to BD25,000 of seed capital in a start-up enterprise among others. We have financed seven start-ups in the last 18 months and I am very pleased that three of our start-up investments have received further funding two from Flat6Labs and one from a Saudi Arabian investor, he added. Commenting on the summit organised by Tenmou, BDB Senior Vice President and Head of Development Services Areije Al Shakar said: The MENA Angel Investors Summit is another example of continued collaboration in our eco-system. Between 260,000 and 340,000 foreign workers are estimated to flow into Japan in the five years from next April through an envisioned immigration control law revision aimed at dealing with the country's serious labor crunch, government sources said Tuesday. The estimate was unofficially made available as opposition parties are criticizing the government for hastily moving ahead to pass the bill to revise the law without disclosing details, such as how many workers would be accepted and in which sectors. Deliberations on the bill started at the House of Representatives the same day, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying that the government will announce the official estimate "sometime soon." According to the sources, the government is expecting a labor shortage of around 1.30 million to 1.35 million workers in the five-year period. For the fiscal year from April 2019 alone, it expects to accept about 33,000 to 47,000 foreign workers for an estimated shortage of more than 600,000 laborers. The government is expected to release the figures on Wednesday. Abe said at the lower house plenary session that the exact figures are "being examined now" but the estimate will serve as a ceiling for the number of foreign workers to be accepted under the new system unless there is a major change in the economic situation. The government aims to pass the bill during the ongoing parliamentary session through Dec. 10, with an eye to introducing the new program from April next year. The bill would create a new visa status for foreign workers in various sectors deemed seriously short of labor, possibly ranging from construction and farming to nursing care. The system, under certain conditions, could pave the way for foreign workers to live permanently in Japan. It has stirred controversy as being a major policy shift for Japan, which has largely restricted imported labor. Japan will help countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations groom 80,000 manufacturing and digital industry specialists over five years, part of a broader effort by Tokyo toward cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the program at a summit meeting Wednesday. The program will focus on training engineers, researchers and business managers in manufacturing, artificial intelligence and other fields. This builds on similar efforts announced in 2015 to train 40,000 workers in areas like materials processing and infrastructure design and maintenance. Japan is widening its scope to high-tech fields this time around. Abe also announced an initiative to support smart-city development in Southeast Asia. Tokyo will host a minister-level meeting by the end of 2019 to discuss cooperation on renewable energy, advanced sewage systems, traffic congestion and electronic payments, among other fields. The idea is to match the needs of each locality with the expertise of Japanese companies to draw up concrete projects. Japan will "promote high-quality infrastructure that meets international standards," Abe said. He also expressed hopes that more nations will come aboard the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which is set to slash tariffs for its 11 member countries. "As an advocate of free trade, Japan will promote free and fair rules around the world," he said. The talent program is part of Japan's vision for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," which Abe will promote in a series of upcoming ASEAN-related meetings. He is playing up Japan's strengths in environmental issues and local talent development, offering the region an alternative to Chinese aid. The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a damaged product. The ruling party also accused th... The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a damaged product. The ruling party also accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using fake news to distort facts as political parties begin their campaigns. In a statement on Wednesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, spokesman of the party, said the consequences of fake news are often dire as it inflames perceived divisions in our communities, fuels hate speech, leads to violence and distorts democratic processes, among others. While the APC is not surprised at the PDPs typical theatrics in an attempt to evade scrutiny for its 16 years of misgovernance, it is instructive to the electorate that no lessons have been learnt by the prodigal party, Issa-Onilu said. shadow chasing through fake news and spurious allegations. It is indeed clear to the electorate that the PDP is not a party to either be trusted or taken seriously as it has missed out on the opportunity to apologise and show remorse for the cruelty it wrought on our country while in power. What we witness instead is its weekly disgraceful and embarrassingshadow chasing through fake news and spurious allegations. PDP cannot pull the wool over the eyes of the good people of this country. It can cry wolf for all it cares, Nigerians wont be deceived. PDP remains a damaged product showing no regret for its retrogressive old practices which brought the country to its knees in terms of our infrastructure, economy, security, values and standing among nations of the world. conspiracy theories, moving from one absurdity to another. Instead of engaging the electorate on serious issues of development such as health, education, economy, foreign policy, security, corruption, pension, job creation, infrastructure development among others, the PDP and its agents have chosen to populate the mainstream and social media space with ludicrous fake news and infantileconspiracy theories, moving from one absurdity to another. While the PDP ups its game as a crybaby, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration is busy building a new Nigeria for our collective progress, peace, unity and prosperity. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday, faulted the Federal Government for allegedly failing to provide the funds needed for the National Bureau of Statistics to perform his essential service.He said the situation had made it impossible for the NBS to prodnable to release the annual unemployment report that it is mandated by law to produce because the present administration has not provided the NBS with funds.uce the current annual employment report as mandated by law.Atikus position was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by his campaign group, the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation.The organisation recalled that notes Statistician-General of the Federation, Mr. Yemi Kale, was quoted as saying that that NBS was uIt claimed that the present administration deliberately starved the NBS of the fund with a view to hiding the nations unemployment figure which it said has become unprecedented.It said throughout the period the PDP was in power, the party did not starve NBS of fund.The statement read, Throughout the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party governed this nation, their various governments never took this route, but funded the NBS to perform its statutory duty.We know for a fact that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is in a state of panic because of the unprecedented unemployment numbers in Nigeria and is desperate to hide that information from the public.If the Buhari administration can afford N1.1bn to fumigate the office of the National Security Adviser, if they can afford 3.5mevery month to feed Ibrahim El Zakzaky, then they can afford to release funds for the NBS to perform its statutory duty of releasing the nations job report.President Buhari promised to create three million jobs per annum during the 2015 Presidential campaign season, but has ended up losing over three million jobs every year since he was sworn in on May 29, 2015. President Muhammadu Buhari is about now meeting behind closed doors with Guinea Bissau President, Jose Mario Vaz. The meeting is hol... President Muhammadu Buhari is about now meeting behind closed doors with Guinea Bissau President, Jose Mario Vaz. The meeting is holding at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President Vaz arrived State House at 11pm and was received by the President and they proceeded to the meeting. Buhari on Wednesday arrived Nigeria after a five-day official visit to Paris, France where he joined about 80 other world leaders to commemorate a century since World War I came to an end. Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has sued an online platform, Daily Nigerian and its publisher, Jafaar Jafaar, for defamation.He is claiming N3billion in damages.Counsel to Ganduje, Nuradeen A. Ayagi in a writ of summons tendered before the High Court demanded the defendants to file an appearance before 14 days. The writ was dated 13 November.Daily Nigerian, had published stories and videos alleging that the Kano state Governor Ganduje collected $5 Million as kickback from contractors.Nuradeen asked the court to declare that the act of publishing and circulating libellous statements, false and doctored video clips attacking and impugning the character and integrity of the plaintiff amounts to defamation of character of the plaintiff by the defendants and thus wrongful.He also asked for order perpetually restraining the defendants, their agents and all persons and entities to whom they shared their libellous documents/records from further defaming the good standing and character of the plaintiffThe suit also seeks an order compelling the defendants to write a public apology to the plaintiff and broadcast such apology through their online platforms and news media with global accessibility.Daily Nigerian in a report on its website quoted its publisher, Jaafar as saying that its lawyers would study the court papers and respond appropriately.The remorseless paper in its report still repeated the alleged libel, restating that Governor Ganduje appeared in several video clips it obtained receiving bribe, amounting to about $5million from contractors in the state.It said its sting operation to capture the governor on camera began two years ago when one of the contractors agreed with DAILY NIGERIAN request to plant spy camera on his kaftan lapel while offering the bribe.During about 10 months efforts to capture the bribe giving/taking scenes, the governors face and body were clearly captured in nine clips, while six others did not clearly reveal the governors face.About $5m dollars were delivered to the governor during the sting operation, it reported. Laolu Akande, media aide to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, says his principal is a well-known stickler for the rule of law. Akand... Laolu Akande, media aide to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, says his principal is a well-known stickler for the rule of law. Akande said this in reaction to the indictment by the house of representatives committee on emergency and disaster preparedness. The committee had accused Osinbajo of illegally approving N5.8 billion for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Osinbajo gave the approval when he was the acting president in June 2017. The money was meant for the north-east intervention fund. The panel said the release of the fund contravened section 80(4) of the constitution But in a series of tweets, Akande said as acting president, Osinbajo had the power to approve the funds. Ignore the distractions being generated by misleading reports and false stories, this Vice-President is a well known stickler for the rule of law and he is a diligent advocate of constitutional order and good governance. Just watch him closely, the facts are easy to adjudge, he tweeted. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says its members will not be intimidated by threat from the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to sack wo... The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says its members will not be intimidated by threat from the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to sack workers if the new national minimum wage of N30,000 is implemented. Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja. The governors had said paying N30,000 new minimum wage would lead to bankruptcy, adding that only Lagos and Rivers can afford it. Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara state and chairman of the NGF who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, also said it was impossible to implement the N30,000 minimum wage without downsizing the workforce all over the country. Reacting to the governors stance, Wabba said Nigerians workers will vote out any governor who refuses to implement as the new minimum wage. He said threat to sack workers is not new to the union, therefore, the current one by the governor of Zamfara cannot be used to intimidate labour. He accused some political leaders of wanting to enslave Nigerians workers with meagre salary, asking them to compare their humongous salaries with the N30,000 new minimum wage demanded by the union. The consequences of workers retrenchment are too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate, the statement read. Few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabeled as salaries. We urge such elected public officials to subject their humongous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world to public perusal pro rata with the minimum wage they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers. To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you, we will never sleep on our rights. We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30, 000. We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour. It would interest Nigerians to know that the new national minimum wage of N30,000 was a product of intense and robust negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee that lasted for one year. The Senate, yesterday, disclosed that it has uncovered alleged fresh multiple withdrawals from the dividend accounts of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, totaling $1.151.609 billion, illegally withdrawn by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC .Ex-Niger Delta agitators protest over alleged plan to revoke surveillance jobs contractAccording to the Senate, this is outside the alleged $1.05billion the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mikati Baru earlier admitted to have withrawn by the coporation.While scrutinising the NLNG account documents presented yesterday by the Chief Operating Officer, COO, Finance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Babatunde Adeniran, the committee observed series of cash debiting from the account from November 2016 to June this year. Ahead of the 2019 general elections in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that there are still pockets of issues question... The President who stated this when he unveiled Buhari Unity Band, BUB, a brainchild of his support group known as Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria, GOGAN, in Abuja, assured that with the determination of all Nigerians, the country would remain strong and united. Ahead of the 2019 general elections in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that there are still pockets of issues questioning the unity of Nigeria.The President who stated this when he unveiled Buhari Unity Band, BUB, a brainchild of his support group known as Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria, GOGAN, in Abuja, assured that with the determination of all Nigerians, the country would remain strong and united. Speaking at the launch of campaign wrist bands, President Buhari said the occasion was part of his administrations commitment to the sustenance of unity and mutual co-existence, stressing that Nigerians were united by shared history and shared destiny. The President also said his administration was doing all it could to promote togetherness as well as cement cordial relationship among the citizens, adding that the coming together of the group made up of people of various ethnic backgrounds was an indication and demonstration of the determination of his administration to see that Nigeria succeeds. He said that no nation can make progress without unity, noting that despite some challenges that tried to tear the country apart, it had always emerged stronger from such crisis. According to him, This occasion is part of our commitment to the sustenance of unity and mutual co-existence as one people united by our shared history and shared destiny. It is a demonstration of our determination to see Nigeria succeed as we come to agreement that no nation can truly make progress without unity. Our country has passed through difficult times, on occasions threatening the foundations of our unity, but with the help of God, we have always emerged from each crisis stronger. There is no doubt that we still have pockets of issues that question our unity but we are convinced that, with the determination of all Nigerians, we shall remain strong and united. The Buhari Unity Band is a visual and token symbol of our resolve to live in unity as one and to preach the message of unity wherever we live. Those who subscribe to the unity wristband will be known as Nigerian Unity Ambassadors. You will be building on the legacy of a number of our patriots who have, in the past, sacrificed so much, some even their lives, in defense of our nation. I want to commend the Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria, who initiated this project, for their sense of patriotism and commitment. Let me assure you that the government remains committed to advancing the course of national unity and progress. Manchester United bosses are set to block manager Jose Mourinho from making any January transfers, after he lost faith in three of his own signings.United have endured a difficult season so far and are currently 12 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, following a 3-1 defeat in Sundays Derby.According to The Independent, Ed Woodward and Uniteds hierarchy are reluctant to let Mourinho spend any more money, when his job security is so precarious.The board also feel his signings since taking charge, have been rather disappointing.Mourinho pushed for the 52m signing of Fred, but he is said to be highly unimpressed with the Brazilians performances in matches and in training.Fred played no part against City despite injury to Paul Pogba and is now firmly behind the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera in the pecking order.But there are two more signings Mourinho himself has concerns about: Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly.Bailly has hardly featured this season and looks set to leave United.Mourinho made no secret of his desire to sign a new centre-back last summer and he remains uncertain about Lindelof despite an upturn in the Swedes performances, while he has lost all trust in Bailly.The Ivorian could even be offloaded in January, such is the extent of their fallout, with Inters Milan Skriniar Mourinhos first choice to replace him. Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has alleged that the National Chairm... Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has alleged that the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, collected over $50 million from different aspirants and candidates during the primary elections of the party. According to Frank, who is now a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a large percentage of the money was paid to the former Edo State Government through proxies from Imo, Zamfara, Adamawa and Ogun states among others. Report emerged recently that the Department of State Services, DSS, invited and interrogated Oshiomhole, and reportedly did ask him to resign over allegations of bribery and corruption against him. Oshiomhole, however, told reporters that his meeting with the DSS was a mere routine conversation that held in the interest of national security. But in a statement he personally signed and issued in Abuja on Thursday, the former APC spokesman threatened to publish the names and amounts paid to lobby the National Chairman to clear aspirants and substitute names of duly elected candidates with those that failed. According to Frank, the Department of State Services (DSS) has presented its report and findings against Oshiomhole to President Muhammadu Buhari but the President is still in dilemma on what to do. I dare say that this singular act of refusing to order the prosecution of Oshiomhole over sundry acts of bribery and corruption he committed as contained in the DSS report, President Buhari has shown that his APC-led administration is a stinking house of corruption. While expressing surprise at Oshiomholes latest ordeal, he said the former Labour leader will go down in history as a party chairman who had allegedly received such humongous bribe within a short period of time in office. Frank, however, called on the President to act on the recommendations of the DSS by ordering Oshiomholes sack and prosecution, if his (Buhari) government is actually fighting corruption or opposition. We are in the know that President Muhammadu Buhari has received the DSS report on Adams Oshiomhole and Nigerians are patiently waiting for the action or inaction of his government because this is an administration that has claimed fighting corruption as an achievement. In the history of party administration in Nigeria, no party chairman has been accused of collecting the jaw-breaking amount of money allegedly collected within a short period in office like Comrade Oshiomhole has allegedly done. Instead of Oshiomhole to clear his name, he has taken to diversionary path asking the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki to resign. Nigerians are not gullible. We shall wait to see how the acclaimed anti-corruption regime will act on this particular issue. On the occasion of former Gov. Peter Ayodele Fayoses 58th birthday today, ex-Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has praised the ex-governor for his courage, intelligence, dogged spirit, and resolutness in pointing out the errors of the All Progressives Congress-led federal government over the last three years.Fani-kayode, in his Happy Birthday homily, saluted Fayose for refusing to surrender to intimidation, harassment, mental torture, and blackmail by agents of the President Muhammadu Buhari government.He also likened the former Ekiti governors spirit and courage to that of Papa Obafemi Awolowo.According to a press statement issued in Ado-Ekiti by Mr. Idowu Adelusi, Chief Press Secretary to the former governor, Fani-Kayode said that Nigeria is lucky to have people like Fayose who have continued to put the Buhari Administration on its toes, stating that if Fayose had kept quiet and hidden under the bed as many hitherto critics had done, Nigeria will by now be a fascist state where rule of thumb will reign absolutely.In the five-paragraph letter entitled, Bravo to Uncommon, Irrepressible Politician and Leader, the former minister recalled the midnight burgle of the judges homes and abduction of the justices by operatives of the DSS; the midnight invasion of the Akwa Ibom Government House; the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and abduction of a lawmaker; and the invasion of the National Assembly all by the DSS. Fayose led the crusade against these illegal actions.He has been in the fore-front to condemn flagrant disobedience to court orders by the Buhari Administration, and indefinite incarceration of members of the opposition party.Large contingent of security forces deployed to rig the Ekiti governorship poll also unleashed terror on him, causing him to suffer fracture on the neck.Fayose refused to join the APC, bluffed all entreaties made by the federal government to trade his conscience. He submitted himself to the EFCC at the date and time he promised.I am talking of a man who is constant like a Northern star, who is fighting injustice like a Spartan soldier, and who has refused to be cowed.Of course, I am eulogising the architect of modern Ekiti State; the Apesin Ola, Osokomole of Ekitiland. May God bless your day and keep you more for the voiceless, he added. The final quarter of 2021 is on its way and theres so much positivity about the rapid growth of the... We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. European Commission Clears DS Smith Proposed Acquisition of Europac Europac is a leading Western European integrated manufacturer of corrugated packaging and paper with operations in Spain, France and Portugal. Nov. 15, 2018 - DS Smith announced that the European Commission on Nov. 14 cleared its proposed acquisition of Papeles y Cartones de Europa, S.A., known as Europac. As part of the transaction clearance DS Smith has agreed with the Commission the disposal of two packaging businesses in Western France and Portugal. The financial impact of these disposals is not material. Following the clearance, DS Smith anticipates the offer documentation being posted to shareholders of Europac shortly and expects to complete the acquisition by the end of 2018. Miles Roberts, Group Chief Executive, said, "I am delighted that we have received competition clearance from the European Commission. This is an important milestone in our acquisition of Europac. We look forward to completing the formal takeover process and integrating Europac into DS Smith to the benefit of all our stakeholders. This acquisition is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our customer coverage and offering in this important region." DS Smith announced the proposed acquisition of Europac in June. It is a highly complementary, vertically integrated packaging business based in Spain with a diversified customer portfolio and strong customer relationships. In 2017 Europac delivered revenues of EUR 868 million and had recurring EBITDA of EUR 147 million. In the first nine months of this year, recurring EBITDA was EUR 157 million and net profit was at EUR 79 million, compared to EUR 104 million and EUR 58 million posted in the same period of 2017. DS Smith is a leading provider of corrugated packaging in Europe and present in 37 countries, employing around 26,000 people. To learn more, please visit: www.dssmith.com . SOURCE: DS Smith Heaven On Earth the party produced by Ty Sunderland at China Chalet each month in New York City is known for celebrating iconic pop moments and pop anniversaries. For the one year anniversary of the party itself, Sunderland revisited the original theme: Britney's Blackout-era stripper poles a la "Gimme More." A huge crowd turned out for at guest DJ set by Dicap and drag shows by Ruby Fox & Wench and all night-dancing hosted by downtown denizens Linux, Terence Edgerson and Austin James. See photos from the night below and get your full lewks ready for the next installment of the series on December 1, appropriately dedicated to the only holiday song that matters: Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You." Photography by Megan Walschlager Iran's Execution of Two Traders Convicted in Iran's New Corruption Courts Is Unlawful 11/15/18 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran Vahid Mazloumin and Mohammad Esmail Ghassem Both Hanged at Dawn Despite Denials of Due Process and the Right to a Fair Trial Read related story by Iranian daily Ghanoon Three More Pending Death Sentences Must Not be Carried Out November 14, 2018-The hanging today of two individuals who were convicted of economic crimes in Iran's new corruption courts is unlawful and inhumane, as these courts deny due process and do not allow for fair trials, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said today. There should be an immediate moratorium on carrying out any sentences issued by these courts, especially the three other death sentences that have been issued so far by them, CHRI said. There should also be an immediate halt on the activities of these courts until their procedures fully allow for due process and fair trial standards, and all sentences issued thus far should be mandated for review, CHRI added. "Iran's hanging of people who have been convicted in courts without a fair trial is a blatant violation of law," said Hadi Ghaemi, CHRI executive director. "The international community must register its forceful condemnation of these kangaroo courts and the executions that are being carried out under their direction." Vahid Mazloumin and Mohammad Esmail Ghassemi, two of the five people sentenced to death so far by the special economic corruption courts, we're hanged at dawn in Tehran on November 14, 2018. Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi condemned the courts in an interview with CHRI on November 13, 2018, describing the quick prosecution and heavy sentences issued as "a masquerade of justice." The prominent lawyer said, "Instead of implementing justice, the state is pretending to be seeking justice, meaning that ...judicial procedures, bringing charges, the right to legal counsel - none of these things are clear in these cases...." Ebadi also expressed concern about the short duration of the trials. "From my experience, usually the appeal process takes more than two years. But if cases are closed in just a few weeks we have to believe the prosecutions are being deliberately expedited and in my opinion that is because they want to quiet down the people." The courts were set up by Iran's judiciary and approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in August 2018 to try individuals accused of economic corruption. They severely violate the right to due process and to a fair trial on many levels. Among other violations, they: Do not allow adequate time for defense procedures or appeal reviews. Restrict the right to choose counsel to the short list of state-approved lawyers that are designated for "national security" cases. Do not allow any appeal process except in cases involving the death penalty, and then appeals can only be made to the Supreme Court within 10 days. Mazloumin, known as the "(Gold) Coin King" who was arrested on July 1, 2018, said in an interviewwith the Mizan News Agency published after he was hanged, "I loved my job. Especially dealing coins. There's nothing mysterious about the market, if you ask me. It's just a perpetual supply and demand in society." Mohammad Esmail Ghassemi, known as Mohammad Salem, began trading in the currency and gold market in 1993 and worked closely with Mazloumin. Asked in an interview with Mizan published on November 14 why Mazloumin was called the (Gold) Coin King, he said: "When someone trades $30 million a day and has the ability to read the market, his name spreads everywhere." The three other individuals sentenced to death so far by these courts are: Dariush Ebrahimian Bilandi and Younes Bahaeddini who were sentenced by the special court for economic crimes in Fars Province on November 6 for "organized disruption of the country's banking and economic network" (the two have appealed to the Supreme Court) and Hamid Bagheri, who was sentenced on October 1 along with Mazloumin and Esmaili. Bagheri's death sentence has been transferred to another branch of the Supreme Court for review, his lawyer Mr. Ramezani told Mehr news agency on November 5. On October 21, Judiciary Spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei announced that the Supreme Court had upheld the death sentences issued against Vahid Mazloomin and Mohammad Esmail Ghassemi. "In four months the authorities arrested, investigated, tried, convicted, reviewed and executed two men-neither of whom were given adequate provision for defense or due process," said Ghaemi. "This is a slaughtering of justice and demonstrates complete disregard for the rule of law." Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta will today, Thursday, November 15, 2018 present the 2019 budget in Parliament. This Budget will mark the beginning of Ghanas exit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, under which Ghana sought almost 918 million dollars over three years with conditions. With Ghanaians complaining about economic hardship, the budget, according to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, is designed to bring relief, hope and improvement in the standard of living of Ghanaians. The Minister of Finance will demonstrate to Ghanaians what, as we exit the IMF programme, the Akufo-Addo Administration intends to do to maintain the Fiscal Discipline, which has been restored; increase liquidity in the Ghanaian economy; and sustain the heightened growth' he indicated at a press conference. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta says Ghanas economy is now buoyant under the Nana Addo-led government in less than two years. He described the economy under the Mahama-led government as high-risk to foreign investors and locals. The Finance Minister said this when he presented government's fiscal plan to Parliament on Thursday, in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 constitution. The budget statement which is the third of the Akufo-Addo administration addressed very pertinent issues that have arisen over the course of time. The government's first ever budget, christened 'Asempa budget' read in March 2017 brought to life the flagship policy, Free SHS and the abolishing of taxes termed 'nuisance tax' The second, 'Adwuma budget' read in November 2017 promised to bring about jobs and economic prosperity for Ghanaians. This led to the creation of the NaBCo programme where 100, 000 graduates are to be given 3-year employment under 7 modules. Themed A Stronger Economy, for Jobs and Prosperity, this budget is the first of the Akufo-Addo administration after its exit from the IMF bailout - by the end of the this year - signed unto in 2015 by the then Mahama-led government. Mr Ken Ofori-Atta touted the current administration's management of the economy, especially in the improvement of the macroeconomic indicators within two years after a change of government. A change in the management of the economy from incompetence to competence, change from rising debt to GDP ratio to declining debt to GDP ratio, Change from weak banking system to better supervised system, a change from manual process of clearing goods to paperless process, a change from dumsor to reliable power, a change from lack of access due to cost of education to implementation to Free SHS, a change from cancelling teacher training allowance to restoration of teachers allowance he said "Our economy has changed from one with a weak banking system to a strong, well-capitalised banking system, from a rising debt to GDP rate to a declining debt to GDP rate" he added. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that his government has cleaned up the big mess it inherited in the economy, following which the current outlook is pointing in the right direction. He stressed that already the gloomy economic indicators it inherited had been turned around and, therefore, the 2019 budget statement would reflect the hope the people had in the government and the future of the country. Swearing-in President Akufo-Addo, who gave the assurance when he swore in four ministers of state and two deputy ministers of state at the Jubilee House, said members of his government would have a retreat at the weekend on the budget. The ministers are the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah; the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Evans Opoku Bobie; the Gender Minister, Ms Cynthia Morrison, and the Upper East Regional Minister, Ms Paulina Tangoba Abayage. The remaining two are the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Nuetey Ayertey, and the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Martin Oti Gyarko. The President administered the oaths of allegiance, minister of state and secrecy. He also presented them with their instruments of appointment after which they signed the oath book. No reason to be poor President Akufo-Addo reiterated that there was no reason for the people of Ghana to be poor because God had endowed the nation with everything that it required and that if Ghanaians put them together properly, they would be wealthy and developed. He said his administration had delivered some of the promises it made to the people and there were still others to be accomplished but if they continued to work hard and kept their eyes on the ball, he was confident that after the four years they would be able to give a good account of themselves to the people of Ghana. Advise The President told the appointees that they would be exposed to all kinds of things in the public domain, including allegations against them, but advised them not to be distracted but focus on helping the government to deliver on its mandate. President Akufo-Addo urged them to work in tandem with their colleagues and cooperate with one another so that they could deliver, stating that through personal observation, he had come to realise that cooperation was most important in governance. He cautioned them against rivalry and competition among themselves but urged them to bear in mind that they were working to complement one another towards a common goal so that the promises they made to Ghanaians would be delivered. Ministers Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Mr Oppong-Nkrumah commended the President for the honour done them and promised him that they would work assiduously to ensure that the President realised the vision he had for the country. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Executive Director of Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), Mr. William Nyarko, has indicated that the laws of Ghana which protect the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians are not discriminatory. According to him, although majority of Ghanaians are not comfortable with lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersexual (LGBTs), chapter 5 of Ghanas Constitution as well as the International Human Rights Law protect the fundamental human rights of all persons including the vulnerable in society. This vulnerable group includes Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the poor as well as LGBTIs, he explained. Mr. Nyarko disclosed this during a two-day capacity building workshop on human rights for journalists in the Eastern and Volta regions from 9th to 10th November in Koforidua organised by ACILA in collaboration with Human Rights Defenders Ghana (HRDG), a subsidiary organisation of ACILA. ACILA is a non-partisan, non-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Ghana with a focus in research and education focused on human rights, empowering of the press and investigating issues of public interest. The workshop was aimed at enlightening journalists on the countrys obligations under chapter 5 of Ghanas Constitution and the International Human Rights Law to protect the fundamental human rights of all persons including the vulnerable in society. The workshop also saw a panel formed from the participants who led a discussion on ways of reporting on human rights stories from their various communities by sharing their experiences on stories they ever did or heard of. Speaking at the workshop, a Human Rights Lawyer and Lecturer at Ghana Institute of Journalism, Mr. Zakariah Tanko Musah, simplified human rights to mean fairness, respect, humanity and dignity that persons must be accorded whether they are PWDs or not, rich or poor, LGBTI or not. Mr Musah walked participants through some fundamental human rights as spelt out in the Constitution. Right to life, personal liberty, dignity of all persons, equality before the law, equal educational opportunities, among others. He explained that even though law breakers are made to face punishment to deter others, the State has a responsibility to uphold their dignity as humans stressing that there is no justification for mob justice against people, especially based on their sexual preferences. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghana is moving forward under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo, says Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta. Delivering the 2019 budget statement on Thursday, November 15, 2018 to Parliament under the theme A Stronger Economy, More Jobs And Prosperity, the Finance Minister notes that under the 2-year rule of the current Akufo-Addo administration, the government has taken tough decisions to transform the economy. Though admitting that the hardships confronting Ghanaians have not been entirely resolved, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta however told the legislative house that the government has since assuming power put transformative measures in place to ease the economic burdens on Ghanaians. He cited some social interventions by the Akufo-Addo led government saying a change from micro-economic instability to macro stability. A change from the rising debt to GDP ratio to a declining debt to GDP ratio. Changing from a weak banking system to a strong well-capitalized and better supervised banking system. A change from taxation that undermines production . . . A change from the manual process of clearing goods and its attendant corruption to a paperless process. A change to bring about reduction in electricity tariffs; a change from dumsor to reliable power. A change in the access to and cost of education to social justice will be introduction of free Senior High School education leaving, Mr. Speaker, no one behind . . . Mr. Ofori-Atta stated emphatically that Ghana is moving forward and moving forward in the right direction. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The civil society space in Ghana has witnessed an historic event when Star Ghana Foundation was outdoored with the sole aim of whipping up citizens to be active in the governance of the country. The Star Ghana Foundation builds on the successful STAR-Ghana programme, a multi-donor civil society initiative established in 2011. The launch of the Foundation took place at the Alisa Hotel and was immediately followed by a public lecture on the theme: Active Citizenship in a Changing Ghana: context, challenges and opportunities. Professor Akilagpa Sawyer, Former Chairman of the STAR-Ghana Programme Steering Committee, who performed the official launch, said, the Foundation is a strategic national entity which will continue the good work of the old STAR-Ghana Programme by promoting, coordinating and supporting the work of other civil society organizations. The Star Ghana Foundation must work to sustain itself after assured donor funding is cut off in two years time. He continued that in order for the new Star Ghana Foundation to be impactful, it must meet the real needs of Ghanaians and not simply cleverly thought of ideas from somewhere or somebody. it is crucial for this new Foundation to educate, unite, strengthen and motivate people in order for it to benefit the ordinary Ghanaian, Professor Sawyerr, stated. He added that he has very high confidence that the new Foundation will maintain the 100% record of fund integrity that the old STAR-Ghana Programme had. Ibrahim Tanko Amidu, CEO of the Star Ghana Foundation, stated, this new Foundation is a milestone in the journey of civil society in Ghana. We have worked with both big and small CSOs and the coming into being of the Star Ghana Foundation is a way of continuing to support citizens to be active in the development process. This Foundation constitutes a major development in the landscape for active citizenship, civil society and philanthropy in Ghana and Africa as a whole, Mr. Tanko added. The new Star Ghana Foundation received support from its major strategic partners and donors like Christian Aid, UKaid, DFID, etc Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ministry of Health has allocated money to complete the Bogoso Municipal Hospital by the year 2020 as part of government's vision aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal deaths and giving citizens quality health delivery. Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu disclosed this at Bogoso in the Prestea Huni-valley Municipality on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 where he cut sod for the construction of an ultramodern municipal hospital for the people of Bogoso. The Minister said building and expanding health facilities to make healthcare delivery more accessible in the country to achieve universal health coverage is the utmost priority of the government. The hospital contracted to VAMED Engineering group, an Austrian firm, is scheduled to be completed in eighteen months. The hospital will be equipped with modern facilities such as out-patient clinic, dental clinic, theatres, delivery rooms, imaging room with x-ray ultra sound among other facilities to ensure that the Bogoso Municipal Hospital is well-resourced. The Municipal Chief Executive for Prestea Huni-valley, Mozart Kweku Owuh expressed profound gratitude to the government and the Member of parliament Hon. Mrs. Barbara Oteng Gyasi for effectively lobbying for the project. The Divisional Chief of Bogoso-Kokoase, Nana Akwesi Sompreh II, also commended President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government for the historic municipal hospital and urged the contractors to keep to the job specifications and completion time. The Health Minister further pledged governments relentless commitment to continue to support the health sector. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party has hit back at former President Mahama for claiming that Ghanaians, are dying under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo. Through the incompetence of former President Mahama, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, noted that innocent Ghanaians lost their precious lives. He recounted former President Mahama inability to stabilize electricity in Ghana drove many business owners who depended on electrical energy for production to suicide. People who were on life support lost their lives because the incompetent Mahama couldnt fix the power issue in Ghana. Several businesses collapsed because they depended on electricity for production. Some of the business owners had gone in for loans but couldnt pay back and through that their business collapsed and the stress associated to their problem drove them to the grave before their God given time, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi said. He went on to state that because former President Mahama was bad as a president, a lot of scammers took advantage of his weak administration to operate Ponzi schemes. You were weak as a President and because of that a lot of scammers popped up in the financial sector leading to the collapse of banks. If you consider the measures President Akufo-Addo and his able vice put in to consolidate banks to make them vibrant to that of Mahama and how he managed the DKM issue, it tells you he was a low quality president, he said. Former President Mahama is reported to have said Ghanaians are dying under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Speaking to NDC delegates at Asante Akim Central Constituency, John Mahama stated that when the NDC was in government under his leadership, the NPP led by Akufo-Addo thought it was easy to govern. He added, the way NPP was talking during his time as President, they appeared to know the job than him but look at the mess they have led us into. Even though an elected President has a four-year mandate, the NPP government with only two years in office has demonstrated that they dont know what they are doing. Farmers are sad, drivers are sad and galamseyers are also sad, Mr Mahama said with cheers from the crowd. But Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, noted that most of the cynical comments being peddled around by the former president were borne out of his desperation to return to political power. He further explained that former President Mahama is focused on sowing seeds of discord amongst Ghanaians just to taste political power again. The NPP chair who is known as Chairman Wontumi was quick to add that the high standards being set by President Akufo-Addos government would make it extremely difficult for Mr. Mahama to return to power. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A GOP-appointed county commissioner in Kansas faces national criticism after he berated a black woman with racist language during a public planning meeting. During that meeting, Leavenworth County commissioner Louis Klemp a white man made several racist remarks to a black woman from an architecture firm making a land study presentation. I dont want you to feel like Im picking on you. Because we are part of the master race, Klemp told the woman. You have a gap in your teeth. We are part of the master race, dont you forget that. KSHB 41 in Kansas City reported on the incident noting: The commissioners had been listening to a land-use study and commenting on the presentation. At one point during his comments, commissioner Louis Klemp addressed an African-American woman who had just presented the study. I dont want you to think I am picking on you because we are part of the master race. You have a gap in your teeth. We are part of the master race, dont you forget that, Klemp said. I was shocked. I was in disbelief, said commissioner Robert Holland. He should resign. I dont care if hes got two days left, he should resign. 41 Action News received an email about Klemps comments and tried to contact the commissioner several times by phone. He would not speak on camera when 41 Action News knocked on his door. Instead, off-camera he implied his comment was a joke. This isnt the first time Klemp has landed himself in hot water over racist and inappropriate remarks. Newsweek noted: Last year, Klemp made local headlines after comments he delivered regarding Robert E. Lee and George Washington in a routine meeting set to approve the countys holiday schedule. Not everybody does them all because we have Robert E. LeeOh God, Robert E. Lee, wonderful part of history, the commissioner said, referring to the Confederate commander during the American Civil War. Klemp said in the meeting that his great, great grandfather had owned a slave and claimed that George Washington would never be given a holiday because he owned slaves. If were going to have Martin Luther King Day, why dont we have a George Washington? I think George was a pretty important guy, he said, before going on to ask if Oprah Winfrey would be given a holiday. Holland said at the time Klemp had embarrassed the county with this remarks. Klemp was appointed to his current position by the Republican-led committee in county after commissioner Clyde Graeber resigned for health reasons. Though he is due to step down from his position on January 15, 2019, some local residents on social media are calling for him to resign. Other (white) commissioners on the board, however, are only calling for an apology. Newsweek added: Whats this master race? [Leavenworth County commissioner Bill] Holland said on Wednesday. None of us are a master race. We are all Americans, we are all human beings. I think he is a racist. I do. I think he owes an apology to that woman. I think he owes an apology to the whole commission. And the county. But Holland told KSHB-TV: Im ashamed of one of our commissioners and what he has done. We shouldnt be labeled as Leavenworth County, the racist county. Thats the way I feel we are being labeled. It was not the first time he had criticized his Leavenworth colleague. Though Kansas elected mostly Democratic representation in the 2018 midterm elections, Leavenworth County predominantly voted for Republicans. Heres video of the interaction at the county meeting: Peacock Panache readers: Tim Peacock is the Managing Editor and founder of Peacock Panache and has worked as a civil rights advocate for over twenty years. During that time hes worn several hats including leading on campus LGBTQ advocacy in the University of Missouri campus system, interning with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and volunteering at advocacy organizations. You can learn more about him at his personal website. Like this: Like Loading... Related We hope you enjoyed reading this article! If you would like to support our ongoing work, please consider buying us a cup of coffee. It's not much, but we don't do this for the money. We do, however, need caffeine to keep going some days!If you do donate, send us a message through our Contact Us page or via social media so we can thank you! Riding association president Daniel Joseph addressing some of the newly elected board members at the first Kelowna meeting of the People's Party of Canada on Nov. 11. The group is new party is planning similar organizing meetings in Penticton and Summerland. A BIG PROBLEM MANISTIQUE A public meeting addressing the lack of childcare in the area took place last week. The meeting comes on the heels of the Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce application... OH, WHAT A NIGHT Ladies Night Out took place over the weekend in downtown Manistique. The annual Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce event, expanded this year to take place over the course of three days,... The editors at the Chronicle ignore the fact that Europa was repeatedly declared one of the top priorities by the National Academies of Sciences in the decadal survey reports. They misrepresented a single scientist's dissent as proof of broad scientific division, and suggested that Culberson was unable to support Europa (a relatively minor program within the $56 billion jurisdiction of the CJS subcommittee) while addressing local issues. Europa's remoteness and extraordinary promise of discovery served as a handy literary devicethe false dichotomy of choosing water on some distant moon versus addressing flood waters here. The editorial was distilled into an attack ad by the Independence USA PAC, a pro-Democratic political action committee which, to be clear, is unaffiliated with the Lizzie Fletcher campaign. The ad ignored the scientific caveats from the Chronicle editorial board and went full-on anti-space: The ad, as you can see, dredges up dismissive tropes used to caricature space science and exploration advocates: cartoonish aliens, "Jetsons"-style futurism, and false dichotomies of space versus "real" issues. Make no mistake, this ad is anti-science. This dismissal of a scientifically valid area of studyone that could potentially reshape entire fields of scienceshould be roundly rejected by any citizen committed to a modern scientific society, regardless of political affiliation. The point here is not to draw conclusions about Republicans versus Democrats, or whether Culberson deserved to be reelected by his district. Nor is it to say that this ad was the primary factor as to why Culberson lost his seat. The point is that supporting space science was seen as a liabilitysomething to be exploited instead of commendedand it was used to diminish and embarrass the candidate for having the nerve to embrace far-reaching scientific goals. No doubt this lesson will be internalized by other politicians: space science and exploration should be pursued quietly and apologetically, an extravagance to be indulged only after "real" issues are addressed. It is likely that the individuals who made this ad did not think about these implications, nor do they consider themselves anti-science. But the message they sent was clear: to anyone who dares to dream about exploration and discovery, to anyone who finds their soul stirred by the thought of discovering life beyond Earth, to anyone who finds the courage to take the cosmic perspectiveyou do not belong here, and you do not deserve to have access to power. And in that sense, we as a nation, as a polity, and as a species, are diminished. A new congress convenes next year. There will be many new faces, including Lizzie Fletcher, that have yet to understand the awesome scientific potential of planetary exploration. The political implications from this election are a setback, but they are not permanent. It's up to us as Planetary Society members and supporters to ensure the new Congress learns that an ancient ocean on a distant moon has valueand is worth their supportin addition to issues here on Earth. An officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department has been charged with vehicular homicide months after a vehicle collision that left one man dead, according to ABC News. The Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office said on Wednesday that Officer John Young Songwho has been with the police department for six years was travelling at nearly 80 miles per hour when he crashed his marked patrol vehicle into a car driven by Emilio Vizcaino in March. According to prosecutors, Song was on duty, but did not have his emergency lights or sirens activated, when he ran a stop sign and crashed into Vizcaino's car. Vizcaino was pronounced dead at the scene. "A post-collision inspection of Officer Song's police car revealed that the headlight switch was in the 'off' position, indicating that Officer Song likely did not have his headlights on while he was driving on the dark roads," the news release stated. "Mr. Vizcaino had no chance to avoid the collision with the officer." Police in Philadelphia responded to a call of a man wielding a gun on Tuesday evening, arriving at the scene to find 66-year-old Patrick McGuinn on his front porch with a gun in his hand. McGuinn proceeded to threaten officers, shouting, "I'm not going to jail, kill me," and, "You're going to have to kill me!" as officers approached, according to WPVI-TV News. Police say McGuinn pointed the gun at officers as they ordered him to drop his weapon. When he pointed the gun at an officer again, that officer fired and hit McGuinn in the left thigh. "The fact that one officer fired just one shot, that is a lot of restraint," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "It caused the suspect to fall to the ground, and, even then, he had the gun in his hand that the officers had to wrestle from his hand." When your personal information is possibly at risk in a data breach, reading news and information in the language you understand best helps you to feel more in control. Now, Firefox Monitor will be available in Albanian, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English (Canadian), French, Frisian, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Malay, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish (Argentina, Mexico, and Spain), Swedish, Turkish, Ukranian and Welch. We couldn't have accomplished this feat without our awesome Mozilla community of volunteers who worked together to make this happen. We're so grateful for their support in making Firefox Monitor available to more than 2.5 billion non-English speakers. Introducing Firefox Monitor Notifications Along with making Monitor available in multiple languages, today we're also releasing a new feature exclusively for Firefox users. Specifically, we are adding a notification to our Firefox Quantum browser that alerts desktop users when they visit a site that has had a recently reported data breach. We're bringing this functionality to Firefox users in recognition of the growing interest in these types of privacy- and security-centric features. This new functionality will gradually roll out to Firefox users over the coming weeks. While using the Firefox Quantum browser, when you land on a site that's been breached, you'll get a notification. You can click on the alert to visit Firefox Monitor and scan your email to see whether or not you were involved in that data breach. This alert will appear at most once per site and only for data breaches reported in the previous twelve months. Website owners can learn about our data breach disclosure policy here. If you do not wish to see these alerts on any site, you can simply choose to "never show Firefox Monitor alerts" by clicking the dropdown arrow on the notification. For those new to Firefox Monitor, here's a brief step-by-step guide on how Firefox Monitor works: Step 1 - Visit monitor.firefox.com to see if your email has been part of a known data breach Simply type in your email address, and it will be scanned against a database that serves as a library of known data breaches. Step 2 - Learn about future data breaches Sign up for Firefox Monitor using your email address and we will notify you about data breaches when we learn about them. Step 3 - Use Firefox to learn about the sites you visit that have been breached While using the Firefox browser, when you land on a site that's been breached, you'll get a notification to scan with Firefox Monitor whether or not you've been involved in that data breach. Being part of a data breach is not fun, and we have tips and remedies in our project, Data Leeks . Through recipes and personal stories of those who've been affected by a data breach, we're raising awareness about online privacy. We invite you to take a look at Firefox Monitor to see if you've been part of a data breach, and sign up to be prepared for the next data breach that happens. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181115/2301225-1 SOURCE Mozilla Taiwan NEW DELHI, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pernod Ricard has been recognized as a Global Compact LEAD company, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and its Ten Principles for responsible business. The Group is the only wine and spirits company to receive this recognition this year. The Group has demonstrated its strong commitment to the UN Global Compact by actively participating in two Action Platforms v.i.z a) Reporting on the SDGs b) Decent work in global supply chains. Pernod Ricard India Charitable Foundation (PRICF) has always been committed to driving sustainability and creating impact. Driven by the desire to bridge the gaps that keep social enterprises from reaching their potential, Pernod Ricard India Charitable Foundation has launched the Social Impact Incubator program. The program aims to provide social entrepreneurs with access to technology, mentorship, business development support and incubation funds. The first Chapter will focus on the following sectors: Water (Safe Drinking Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Water Conservation), Agriculture, Livelihoods, Education, Healthcare, Waste & Energy. Many sustainable social impact programs across the country will get support in reaching their true impact delivery. The selection of programs for the incubator will be done by a distinguished jury who will also mentor the program fellows during the incubation, and the mentors will be supported in the entire process by the program advisors, 'Price Waterhouse Coopers'. The Program Jury & Mentors are: 1. Dr. Arunabha Ghosh: Chief Executive Officer - Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). 2. Jayesh Ranjan: Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of the Telangana Government. 3. Vineet Nayar: Founder Chairman, Sampark Foundation & Former Vice Chairman and CEO HCL Technologies. 4. Ashok Khosla: Chairman of the Development Alternatives Group. 5. Naina Lal Kidwai: Chairman, Altico Capital India Ltd. Past President FICCI and Chair Sustainability and Water Council. 6. Dr. Suhas P. Wani: Former Director Research Program Asia, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics, ICRISAT, Hyderabad. Mr. Sunil Duggal, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Pernod Ricard India said, "There are numerous social projects which have the potential to deliver a stronger and larger impact on society, except that they do not have access to the required resources, and we aim to support some of them through this program. Such great mentors, credible knowledge and advisory partners managing the operations, will further strengthen the program and its beneficiaries." Over the years, the program aims to include many other sectors and increase their beneficiary footprint. Interested NPOs, NGOs, social entrepreneurs can log on to prifoundation.com to know more and apply. About Pernod Ricard India Pernod Ricard India (P) Ltd. is a fully owned subsidiary of Pernod Ricard SA and is a fast-growing multinational alcohol beverage company delivering quality products to its consumers across the country. With leading brands in each category, Pernod Ricard holds one of the most dynamic and premium portfolios in the industry led by Seagrams whiskies such as Royal Stag, Royal Stag Barrel Select, Blenders Pride, Blenders Pride Reserve Collection, Imperial Blue, 100 Pipers and a wide range of International premium brands that include Chivas Regal, Ballantines, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute and Jameson Irish whiskey. Some of the eminent brands in white spirits category include ABSOLUT vodka, Jacobs Creek and Campo Viejo wines, Martell cognac, Beefeater and Monkey 47 gin, Kahlua and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagne. Pernod Ricard India is a socially responsible organization with a strong belief to strengthen corporate citizen by addressing social, economic and environment sustainability in all key states. The company embraces priorities in areas of responsible drinking, education, sanitation, primary healthcare & youth employability, with a key focus towards sustainable initiatives on environment conservation, and has undertaken large scale integrated projects across the country in Water Resource Management. Please visit: https://www.pernod-ricard-india.com/welcome Media Contact: Richa Bhatnagar [email protected] +91-9971634096 Senior Account Executive Avian WE SOURCE Pernod Ricard India Charitable Foundation BENGALURU, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- San Francisco based AI-enabled Unified Assessment and Interviewing platform, Talview, has hired Rajeev Menon as its new Chief Product Officer. Rajeev started his career as an accomplished sales professional and moved on to be a thought leader in assessments. He is a product innovation specialist who has been responsible for the creation of several behavior/personality assessments and tech enabled delivery platforms. He envisages that the Human Capital Measurement is set to undergo significant changes both in design and delivery and continues to draw best practices for assessments as the Chief Product Officer at Talview. "Our pioneering products have been our greatest asset all these years and fueled our strong growth even in face of much bigger competition. As Talview is embarking on its next phase of accelerated growth, having someone like Rajeev Menon to lead our product strategy will ensure that Talview maintains and gains on its lead in innovation as we continue to disrupt the global recruitment technology stack. Rajeev experience in global markets and being an early team member of one of the first HR tech companies out of APAC is an added advantage," stated Sanjoe Tom Jose, CEO of Talview. "Talent Management worldwide is undergoing never-before-seen changes as it faces the high uncertainties of the VUCA world, coupled with complex job roles and an entirely new GenZ culture bringing in the Gig Economy. Enterprise-grade intelligent hiring platforms that utilize the best of cutting-edge tech to help companies hire resources rapidly and accurately from anywhere in the world are the need of the hour. Having worked with Talview in a limited capacity over the past couple of years, I am convinced that it is wired correctly to provide the right solutions to meet this industry requirement. I am happy to come on board at Talview and help it realize its potential," said Rajeev Menon, Chief Product Officer, Talview. About Talview: Talview is a unified talent assessment and interviewing platform that helps large enterprises brings down the time to hire by up to 70% and significantly improve the quality of hire. This is enabled by our AI-enabled video interviewing, cognitive remote proctoring and advanced assessment solutions that leverage the best in class NLP, Machine Learning, Computer Vision and Video Analytics capabilities. Talview is transforming the global talent measurement industry by automating and modernizing the talent assessment process for some of the largest organizations in the world. Founded in 2013, Talview now processes over a million candidates each year for clients in more than 100 countries across the world. Talview is designed to cater to the mobile-first internet user of the 21st century who is accustomed to virtual methods of communication by providing an exceptional experience. Talview integrates seamlessly into most ATSs and LMSs to help reviewers and administrators automate repetitive tasks so they can focus on selecting the right candidates. Talview is funded by leading Silicon Valley-based VC funds. Currently operating out of the United States, Singapore, and India, with its headquarters in Palo Alto. For more details, please visit http://www.talview.com Media Contact: Chaitanya Pattapu [email protected] +91-80-2572-1552 Growth Manager, Talview SOURCE Talview If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Eisenhower Fellows Montserrat Ramiro (Mexico '18) and Sebastian Kind (Argentina '18) The Latin America and Caribbean Fellows will join an active network of nearly 1,600 influential leaders from government, business, civil society, science, technology, health, education, the arts and journalism who have undergone the Eisenhower Fellowship since the organizations founding in 1953. Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) announced today it is seeking outstanding midcareer professionals from across Latin America and the Caribbean to travel to the United States on a unique six-week fellowship program in fall of 2019. The Latin America and Caribbean program will be Eisenhower Fellowships first targeted initiative aimed exclusively at the Western Hemisphere since 2008. The program will bring 20-25 exceptional leaders ages 32-45 from a variety of professional fields to the U.S. for intensive, individualized fellowships. The Latin America and Caribbean Fellows will come mainly from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, but qualified candidates can apply for the fellowship from other nations in the hemisphere. Applications are being accepted until January 15, 2019 and Fellows will be selected in the first trimester of 2019. The Fellows will gather as a cohort in Philadelphia for an opening seminar of orientation activities in October, 2019, before fanning out across the country to each visit 8-10 American cities and meet with scores of experts in their chosen fields. They will then return to Philadelphia for a closing seminar of events in November before returning to their home countries to carry out concrete projects with a positive impact on their societies. The Latin America and Caribbean Fellows will join an active network of nearly 1,600 influential leaders from government, business, civil society, science, technology, health, education, the arts and journalism who have undergone the Eisenhower Fellowship since the organizations founding in 1953. Eisenhower Fellowships identifies, empowers and connects innovative leaders through a transformative fellowship experience and lifelong engagement in a global network of dynamic change agents committed to creating a world more peaceful, prosperous and just. For further information, please contact Susan Kohler Reed at skohler@efworld.org or 215-546-1738. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: File photo shows the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducting a joint combat patrol mission in the South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping has called for the military to reform its policy system to form a solid foundation in order to build a world-class force. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that a systemic and deep reform is urgently needed to resolve deeply rooted conflicts and problems inside the policy system, extensively strengthen the effects of the ongoing military reforms, open a new chapter in Chinese armed forces' development, and obtain the upper hand among world powers as well as in any future wars. Xi said reform of the military's policy system must be based on the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces and its focus on improving combat capability. It should help stimulate enthusiasm, initiative and creativity among military personnel, he said. The president made the remarks at a Central Military Commission meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday in Beijing that discussed reforming the military's policy system. All of the military's top commanders took part in the meeting. Party-building inside the military will be further improved to ensure the Party has total control over the armed forces, Xi said. He ordered the military to establish regulatory mechanisms on joint operations, fine-tune combat-readiness system, and set up a modern institution that governs the use of military forces, he added. Xi stressed that the military's human resources system should be optimized. He ordered that incomes and benefits of military personnel be elevated. Changes should be made in policies in almost all areas, ranging from training, equipment and logistics to research and mobilization. The ultimate goal is to boost the Chinese military's combat capability, he said. Xi also requested that the military's budget management, resources allocation and legislative affairs should be improved to facilitate its growth. He asked the military to mete out reform measures that are badly needed in combat training or have been long-awaited by the troops. A pixilated photo of the J-20's fuel-receiving probe popping out from the right side of the cockpit. It does so only when conducting refueling operations to keep its stealth capability. Photo: China Central Television China's most advanced stealth fighter jet, the J-20, is now ready for aerial refueling operations that will help the jet reach farther targets, as national television showcased the aircraft's embedded refueling probe on Tuesday. The J-20 is equipped with a fuel-receiving probe on the right side of the cockpit, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday. Embedded under the fuselage, the probe only pops up when the fighter jet conducts an aerial refueling mission. When the refueling is completed, the probe is retracted into the fuselage, according to a video released by CCTV in the report. A military expert, who asked not to be named, told the Global Times on Wednesday that hiding the probe under the fuselage is a perfect design to keep the aircraft's stealth capability. "A fixed-probe installed outside of the fuselage, like the one on the J-10 fighter jet, will significantly increase the aircraft's radar cross-section, making it easier to be spotted by enemy radar," the expert said. On Sunday the J-20 displayed its missiles for the first time at the Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province. The missiles were kept in the aircraft's missile bays and were only shown when the bay doors were open. This is a similar design element to hide the the J-20 from enemy radar, the expert noted. The CCTV report quoted an unnamed People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force officer as saying that being able to refuel in the air enables the J-20 to operate in a wider range. Replenishing fuel in the air will allow J-20 to fly much farther and reach targets it otherwise could not, the expert said, noting that the J-20 is an aggressive weapon, and endurance is a very important factor for it to fulfill its role. The PLA Air Force's aerial refueling tankers like the HU-6 can provide extra aviation fuel to military aircraft in the air. Despite the J-20 displaying its refueling probe, missiles, new camouflage, new formation and maneuverability at the Airshow China 2018 last week, its chief designer, Yang Wei, said that the world has not seen the best of the fifth-generation fighter jet as of yet. "First, the J-20 has outstanding stealth capability; second, it has outstanding long-range strike capability; third, it has outstanding capability in information warfare," Yang told CCTV. "However, these key advantages could not be shown at the air show," he said. Chinese military experts believe that the J-20 can now rival the US' top fighter jets, the F-22 and F-35, after witnessing its performance at the air show, which is also said to be a PLA display of confidence to foreign countries. This article is part of State of Health, a series examining health disparities, how they affect Michigan's children and seniors, and the innovative solutions being developed to address them. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Senior citizenhood presents new challenges for everyone, but for Lansing resident Dave Devinney those challenges were almost insurmountable. Devinney has bad teeth. ("If I were a horse you wouldn't get very much money for me," he cracks.) He was shocked when his dentist told him he needed $60,000 to $80,000 worth of dental work done, even with Medicare coverage. "I kept waiting for him to go on, (to) maybe tell me what my other options were or what else was available out there for me, but he had nothing," Devinney says. Through his own research, Devinney eventually found Care Free Medical, a Lansing clinic providing low-cost care to uninsured and financially constrained patients, where he says he got the work done "practically for free." "For us older people, who live on fixed incomes and have health issues that seem to get bigger every day, places like that can literally be a lifesaver," he says. Lansing and many other cities across Michigan are taking steps to better connect older residents like Devinney to infrastructure, policies, and resources that address their unique needs. In 2015 Lansing joined the AARP network of Age-Friendly Communities, which establishes standards for improving older residents' quality of life. Over 300 other American communities have joined the network, including Auburn Hills, East Lansing, Grand Rapids, Highland Park, Lansing, and Southfield in Michigan. Age-friendly communities are becoming increasingly important as lifespans and senior populations have increased, but they also benefit more than just seniors. Karen Kafantaris, associate state director for livable communities at AARP Michigan, says "an age-friendly community is a community for all ages." "Whether you're 8 or 88, it's a place where you can get where you need to go and do what you need to do, a place where you can live your life, no matter how old you are," she says. The long road to age-friendly status Inspired by the World Health Organization's Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, AARP has identified eight domains of livability as being critical for all age-friendly communities. They include: outdoor spaces and buildings; public transportation; affordable and accessible housing; opportunities for social participation; opportunities for civic participation and employment; respect and social inclusion; accessible methods of communication and information access; and community and health services. Achieving age-friendliness in all eight domains is a years-long process for most cities. For example, while Lansing joined AARP's age-friendly network in 2015, it's only beginning to implement its age-friendly action plan, developed last year. In all communities the process starts with community conversations, where people of all ages can share what they believe would make their community more age-friendly. When Southfield began its community conversations after joining the AARP's age-friendly community network last year, city staff learned some surprising things about aging Southfield residents' needs. "We discovered that most of the seniors in our community don't have access to cable or internet," says Karen Schrock, chair of the Southfield Commission on Senior Adults. "So the assumptions that are made about how much information is available are incorrect. Online info is no good to someone who can't go online. We need a much more grassroots approach." Attendees at Southfield's community conversations were invited to contribute ideas either in discussion or by writing them down on a sticky note and posting them on a wall. Schrock and her colleagues read and cataloged every suggestion afterwards. "There are so many barriers to healthcare that people encounter," she says. "The catch is listening to what they are. You won't know what people need until you listen." Similar efforts have taken place in Auburn Hills. "In putting together our community conversations, we wanted to hear not just from the current aging population, but also from younger people who would be seniors in the future," says Karen Adcock, Auburn Hills' director of senior services. Healthcare was a priority for Auburn Hills seniors, and it's one of the major issues city staff have worked to address. Adcock says the city has added a wide variety of health-related services including cooking, fitness, and safe driving classes; a tech class that teaches participants how to access their healthcare records; and affordable public transit to and from doctor's visits for seniors. Adcock says the city has tried to prioritize social, mental, and physical health. "If you want a healthy community, you have to make all of those things available, and you have to make sure they're available to people of all ages," she says. Beyond the AARP Other Michigan cities are making strides toward becoming age-friendly outside the AARP's formal structure. Ann Arbor is one such community, with places like the Turner Senior Resource Center (TSRC) contributing to a vital, age-friendly community by offering a variety of health and wellness programs for seniors. Paul Clark leads an enhanced fitness class at Turner Senior Resource Center. "We believe strongly in the fact that social needs and medical needs are all part of the greater whole, that quality of life and wellness are integrated, and social connection is vital to health," says TSRC director Rachel Deweese. "So while people are coming here for specific reasons, the underlying thing that draws everyone is the connections and relationship." Turner Senior Resource Center director Rachel Deweese. Some TSRC clients have even created their own programming. Concerned about the documented links between social isolation and failing health, one TSRC client pitched the idea of a group encouraging better socialization between men. The group, known as the "Wise Guys," has been going strong for four years. Clients' notes on a bulletin board at Turner Senior Resource Center. Other Ann Arbor organizations focus more specifically on seniors' unique medical needs, like the Senior E.R. at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Where the usual emergency room experience is loud and chaotic, a senior E.R. focuses on safety and comfort for older adults. The facility offers softer lighting, non-skid floors, hearing assistive devices, reading glasses, pressure-reducing mattresses, and staff trained to connect seniors to appropriate resources in the community. St. Joseph Mercy Health System was the first to create a senior E.R. in Michigan, and it now has five senior E.R.s in the state. However, it isn't the only organization looking to provide Michigan's aging population with a more age-friendly healthcare experience. "We've had hospitals around the state reach out to us because they're interested in starting their own senior E.R.s, or because they want to provide a more age-friendly experience for the fast-growing number of seniors in their communities," says Joanne Grosh, regional director of senior services for St. Joseph. "Sparrow in Lansing is one of a growing number of health care systems that's genuinely interested in providing age-friendly health care access." Whether under the AARP's formalized umbrella or not, providers agree that developing age-friendly communities requires coming together to take a holistic approach to ensuring older residents' wellbeing. "We look at health in a really broad way," Schrock says. "You can't really address health-related issues without also addressing a host of other concerns as well. ... Health means so much more than just the state of your body." Sarah Hillman is the news editor at Capital Gains and has been writing stories about issues that impact people's lives for years. She is also the writer and illustrator of a children's book about leadership qualities. All photos by Doug Coombe. By Zhang Wenwen and Cheng Yongliang The opening ceremony of US-China Disaster Management Exchange 2018 (Photo by Hu He) BEIJING, Nov. 15 (ChinaMil) -- The opening ceremony of the US-China Disaster Management Exchange 2018 was held at an engineering brigade of the army under the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday morning. The Chinese side sent more than 150 people, helicopters, drones, engineering rescue and medical rescue equipment to the exchange, and the US side sent more than 90 people, light engineering and medical rescue equipment to the exchange. Taking an earthquake disaster in the third country as the background, the Chinese and US militaries will coordinate with each other in the third country to organize the disaster relief and the massive evacuation of affected people. The event consists of an expert academic discussion, a table-top exchange, a practical field training and HA/DR topic demonstration. Exchange activities between officers and soldiers of the two armies will also be held during the event. Prior to the event, military and civilian experts from both sides conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as international humanitarian relief operations, disaster management and evacuation planning. The two sides will exercise various subjects in the following days. In the field training part, the two sides will focus on the disaster assessment, search and rescue, first aid and evacuation management. And the HA/DR topic demonstration part involves water rescue operations in use of helicopters and boats, as well as emergency transfer and rescue for drowning personnel, etc. In addition, the army under the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command and the United States Army Pacific both will send military observers to the exchange. Deutsche EuroShop (DUSCF.PK) reported that its funds from operations or FFO increased by 2.9% to 110.7 million euros in the first nine months of the current financial year. Net operating income climbed 3.9% to 150.0 million euros, and EBIT 4.4% to 146.5 million euros. EPRA earnings, i.e. operating earnings adjusted for valuation effects, rose by 4.8 million euros to 107.8 million euros, an increase of 4.7%. The consolidated profit in the first nine months of 2018 was down 3.6% compared with the same period in the previous year, at 82.2 million euros. Revenue increased by 3.8% to 167.0 million euros, which was largely attributable to the acquisition of the Olympia Center in the Czech city of Brno. The revenue from the remaining asset portfolio also made a small contribution towards growth in the first nine months of the current financial year, at 0.3%. Deutsche EuroShop reaffirms its forecast for financial year 2018 and continues to expect revenue of between 220 million euros and 224 million euros; earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of between 193 million euros and 197 million euros; earnings before taxes (EBT) excluding measurement gains/losses of between 154 million euros and 157 million euros; funds from operations (FFO) per share of between 2.35 euros and 2.39 euros. The company plans to increase dividends for 2018 by five cents, paying out 1.50 euros per share. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News By Nie Ran Only by building a true European army can the European Union (EU) defend itself...without having to rely wholly on the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of a European army once again on November 6, when participating in international events marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I at Verdun, France. In fact, the European Union (EU) defense integration, including the creation of a European army, is an old topic and a big problem. In the 1950s, France proposed the Pleven Plan which claimed to establish the European Defense Community but ended in failure due to a lack of conditions. The EU was officially established and a common foreign and security policy mechanism for EU was set in 1993. Thats when EU member states got to the issue of defense cooperation once again. The Treaty of Lisbon, having come into effect at the end of 2009, clearly stipulates the EU collective defense responsibilities. However, the progress in EU defense cooperation has always been limited. President Macrons dedication to promoting European self-defense not only shows the ambition of the youngest president in French history, but also reflects the dilemma of love and hate between the US and France under the Trump administration. In recent years, especially after Donald Trump took office as US president, the pace of promoting self-defense in Europe has obviously accelerated. In June last year, the European Commission (EC) announced the establishment of European Defense Fund totaling 5.5 billion to promote defense research and development and joint procurement in member states. In November last year, 23 EU countries signed a joint agreement during an EU Foreign Ministers meeting, reaching a deal on permanent structural cooperation in the defense field, with a view of jointly developing defense capabilities, investing in defense projects, and enhancing military strength. The move is considered to be the beginning of the European defense alliance. In June of this year, nine EU member states including France, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Spain and Portugal signed a letter of intent creating the European Intervention Initiative. Finland has since joined this initiative. In November this year, 10 countries involved in the European Intervention Initiative convened the first ministerial working conference under the framework of the initiative and determined the main guidelines for military cooperation among relevant countries from 2018 to 2019. According to the joint press communique issued after the meeting, the 10 signatories will strive to strengthen cooperation at political and military levels in terms of strategic forecasting and action support, and will encourage the development of a common strategic culture. It should be noted that despite frequent European moves towards promoting self-defense, the EU are still far away from the establishment of a European army as President Macron said. The dream is perfect, but the reality is cruel. The European army is still a concept in essence. Looking from the external environment, it is sure that the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will remain vigilant against the EUs defense independence trend, and will not sit idly and allow the EU to start afresh in military and challenge NATOs status in the European defense system. In response to President Macron, US President Trump said that the call to establish a European army was very insulting, in a tweet and once again put pressure on Europe by threatening NATO member states to meet their financial obligations regarding defense. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also stressed that NATO is still the cornerstone of European security. At the present stage, the EUs strengthening of collective defense construction is not to compete with the NATO, but to complement each other. Meanwhile, the heavy reliance on NATO over security for years has put the EU in a position of lack of independent and complete military industrial support. Without the support from the US and NATO, it is unknown whether Europe will be able to walk steadily and far. Internally speaking, differences among EU member states will also hinder the advancement of EU defense integration. There is no consensus among EU member states as to what kind of army the EU should create and what capabilities their respective national armed forces should give up. Agence France-Presse (AFP), an international news agency headquartered in Paris, pointed out that the creation of a European army is a very sensitive topic among EU member states, and all countries regard national defense as a matter of national sovereignty. Bruno Alomar, professor at the School of War in Paris, said that the idea of establishing a common strategic culture was interesting. But there exists a fantastic gap between European defense dreams of Emmanuel Macron and the reality of very powerful disagreements between European partners on defense issues. In addition, burden-sharing within NATO and the shortage of troop sources will also become the stumbling blocks for Europe to promote self-defense. Disclaimer: The article was published on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese PLA on November 15, 2018, and it is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The pound lost ground against its major counterparts in the European session on Thursday, as U.K. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit from the government, protesting against Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plans. Raab announced that his resignation was due to disagreement over "the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland" that poses "a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom." Raab's departure came shortly after the resignations of Work and Pensions minister Esther McVey and Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara over the plans. The resignations of cabinet ministers are a big blow to Prime Minister Theresa May, who is struggling to get support from lawmakers in Parliament to accept the agreement with the European Union. The currency was also hammered by weak U.K. retail sales for October. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that U.K. retail sales fell 0.5 percent from last month, when they fell 0.4 percent, revised from a 0.8 percent slump. Economists had forecast a 0.2 percent increase. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales volume grew 2.2 percent in October, which was the slowest pace in six months. Economists were looking for a 2.8 percent gain, defying forecasts for a 0.2 percent rise. The currency was higher against its most major opponents in the Asian session after news that U.K. PM Theresa May had obtained cabinet support for her proposed Brexit deal to move forward. The pound depreciated 1.7 percent to a 2-week low of 0.8844 against the euro, following a rise to 0.8695 at 5:00 pm ET. The pair had closed Wednesday's trading at 0.8704. Next likely key support for the pound is seen around the 0.90 level. After rising to 147.93 against the yen at 2:15 am ET, the pound reversed direction and dropped 2.3 percent to a 2-week low of 144.57. The pair was valued at 147.56 when it closed deals on Wednesday. Continuation of the pound's downtrend is likely to take it to a support around the 143.00 level. The pound was 1.9 percent lower against the Swiss franc, touching a new 2-week low of 1.2844. This follows a high of 1.3097 touched at 1:30 am ET. The pound-franc pair had closed yesterday's trading at 1.3057. The pound may test support around the 1.27 level, if it slides again. The U.K. currency lost 2 percent to hit a new 2-week low of 1.2751 against the greenback, after climbing to 1.3030 at 1:45 am ET. At Wednesday's close, the pair was quoted at 1.2985. The pound is poised to find support around the 1.26 level. Looking ahead, U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended November 10, inventories for September, retail sales and import and export prices for October as well as Canada existing home sales for October are set for release in the New York session. Federal Reserve Governor Randal Quarles will testify on banking supervision and regulation before the Senate Banking Committee in Washington DC at 10:00 am ET. At 11:30 am ET, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will speak about Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts at an event hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in Houston. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic is scheduled to speak about monetary policy at the Global Interdependence Center in Madrid at 1:00 pm ET. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Forex News Spanish telecom giant Telefonica has teamed up with IBM to use their blockchain platform to streamline its core and network processes. Telefonica will use blockchain to address complex challenges in services delivered by it that register data and information from different sources. Telefonica will use the IBM Blockchain Platform powered by the IBM Cloud to track in real time the certainty and traceability of each international call and its origin, destination and duration in a decentralized platform to which all the operators in the chain have permissioned access. The platform is expected to help achieve reduced risk, time saving and cost removal in business processes such as billing, accounting and reporting. Blockchain helps in delivering enhanced privacy and confidentiality by allowing participating members secure and authorized access to necessary details. It will also help the telco networks to dramatically enhance the accuracy and immutability of the data generated while delivering different services. The market size for blockchain telecommunications projects is expected to grow to $993.8 million by 2023 from $46.6 million in 2018, according to a report from Research and Markets. Telefonica was among the major telecom companies which joined a Blockchain Settlement Trial in May that aimed to reduce costs in the telecoms industry. The trial is based on a Proof of Concept (PoC) developed by Colt Technology Services and PCCW Global in collaboration with blockchain start up Clear in March. The aim of the PoC was to automate the inter-carrier settlement of wholesale international services through the use of blockchain technology. The PoC was able to reduce this labor intensive and costly process from hours to minutes. The PoC trial was successfully completed late last month. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The US government has awarded a $167-million contract to a Galveston, Texas-based construction company to build a levee wall in south Texas along the United States' border with Mexico to prevent the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants to the country. The contract was awarded the day hundreds of U.S.-bound Latin American migrants, who started their grueling journey on foot from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, arrived at the border fence that separates Mexico from California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Wednesday that as per the contract, SLSCO will build an 8-mile stretch of levee wall system in the U.S. Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector. The contract for this project, referred to as RGV-02, was jointly awarded by CBP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction work will begin in February. The project consists of five segments located south of Alamo, Donna, Weslaco, Progreso and Mercedes, within Hidalgo County. The wall is constructed in two stages. A reinforced concrete levee wall will be built as foundation, and 18-foot tall steel bollards will be installed on top of it. The levee wall system will include detection , lighting, video surveillance, and an all-weather patrol road parallel to the levee wall. This is the second border wall contract that CBP is awarding in Texas. The first one, a $145-million contract to build a 6.21 mile-stretch in the Rio Grande Valley, also was awarded to SLC. A wide area of vegetation along a 150-foot enforcement zone throughout the levee wall system will be felled for the construction, which has already evoked concerns from environmental activists. Four US states share border with Mexico, stretching more than 1900 miles - California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The House of Representatives, when it had a Republican majority last year, had approved a bill that includes $1.6 billion fund for building the wall. Meanwhile, the first batch of Central American migrants have reportedly reached the southern border Wednesday, and a larger 4000-strong migrant caravan dramatically accelerated its pace to join them at the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Trump has vowed to prevent them from crossing to the United States, and has deployed some 5,900 troops to the border. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Isan Elba, the daughter of British actor, producer and musician Idris Elba, has been named as the official ambassador for the 2019 Golden Globe Awards season. Isan was born to Idris Elba's first wife Hanne Kim Elba, who is a makeup artist and businesswoman. Isan's name was announced by HFPA President Meher Tatna at The Four Seasons in Los Angeles. "Last year, the HFPA renamed the title to represent a more inclusive role that was not only gender-neutral but also spoke to the HFPA's commitment to philanthropy," said Tatna. The Ambassador, a title that traditionally goes to the children of a well-known actor, assists in distributing trophies during the Golden Globe Awards ceremony on January 6. In addition, she will align herself with a nonprofit organization and work to raise awareness of a cause of her choosing. Isan, 16, said she would be focusing on the issue of mental . "I feel honored to hold this title and use this role to not only further educate people on the work of the HFPA, but also shine a light on issues that I care about," said Isan. "Mental health, specifically among African Americans and my peers, in particular, is something I really want to be more vocal about. There's this perceived stigma and I've seen friends struggle. We need to empower young people to not be afraid to ask for help," she added. The awards ceremony will air live on NBC from The Beverly Hilton. Produced by Dick Clark Productions in association with the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards are viewed in more than 210 territories worldwide. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News The European ended Thursday's session solidly in negative territory. Bank stocks took a hit after the announcement of some high profile U.K. government resignations. U.K. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit from the government, protesting against Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plans. Raab announced that his resignation was due to disagreement over "the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland" that poses "a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom." Raab's departure came shortly after the resignations of Work and Pensions minister Esther McVey and Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara over the plans. The resignations of cabinet ministers are a big blow to Prime Minister Theresa May, who is struggling to get support from lawmakers in Parliament to accept the agreement with the European Union. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index weakened by 1.05 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone blue chip stocks decreased 0.45 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, lost 0.63 percent. The DAX of Germany dropped 0.52 percent and the CAC of France fell 0.70 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. gained 0.06 percent, but the SMI of Switzerland finished lower by 0.68 percent. The pace of decline in EU new car registrations eased in October, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, or ACEA, showed on Thursday. New car registration decreased by 7.3 percent year-on-year in October after a 23.5 percent slump in September. Registrations dropped for a second straight month and the pace of decline was the weakest since March. BMW declined 0.72 percent, Daimler fell 2.68 percent and Volkswagen lost 0.98 percent. Renault weakened by 0.70 percent and Peugeot surrendered 5.24 percent. In Frankfurt, consumer goods maker Henkel rallied 1.44 percent after reporting a rise in third-quarter sales and confirming full-year guidance. In Paris, Bouygues slid 0.22 percent. The industrial group confirmed its FY18 outlook after reporting a rise in net profit in the first nine months of the year. In London, Tullow Oil rose 1.82 percent. The oil exploration company raised its full-year free cash flow forecast and said its net debt would drop to $2.8 billion by the end of the year. Antofagasta climbed 4.57 percent after it was granted approval to expand its Los Pelambres mine. Premier Oil tumbled 9.02 percent. The company said it expects FY output to be at the bottom of the range announced previously. Royal Mail sank 6.49 percent after profit before tax for the half year ended 23 September 2018 dropped to 33 million pounds from 77 million pounds last year. U.K. retail sales declined for a second straight month in October, defying expectations for an increase, amid a sharp decrease in sales of household goods, preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics showed on Thursday. Sales volume including automotive fuel dropped 0.5 percent from September, when they fell 0.4 percent, revised from a 0.8 percent slump. Economists had forecast a 0.2 percent increase. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales volume grew 2.2 percent in October, which was the slowest pace in six months. Economists were looking for a 2.8 percent gain. Retail sales in the U.S. increased by more than anticipated in the month of October, the Commerce Department revealed in a report released on Thursday. The Commerce Department said retail sales advanced by 0.8 percent in October following a revised 0.1 percent dip in September. Economists had expected retail sales to climb by 0.5 percent compared to the 0.1 percent uptick originally reported for the previous month. First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly showed a slight increase in the week ended November 10th, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday. The report said initial jobless claims inched up to 216,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 214,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to edge down to 212,000. A report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Thursday showed the pace of growth in New York manufacturing activity unexpectedly accelerated in the month of November. The New York Fed said its general conditions index rose to 23.3 in November from 21.1 in October, with a positive reading indicating growth in regional manufacturing activity. Economists had expected the index to dip to 20.0. Growth in Philadelphia-area manufacturing activity slowed by much more than expected in the month of November, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on Thursday. The Philly Fed said its diffusion index for current general activity tumbled to 12.9 in November from 22.2 in September, although a positive reading still indicates growth in regional manufacturing activity. The index had been expected to dip to 20.0. A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed U.S. import and export prices both rose by more than expected in the month of October. The Labor Department said import prices climbed by 0.5 percent in October after rising by a downwardly revised 0.2 in September. Economists had expected import prices to inch up by 0.1 percent compared to the 0.5 percent increase originally reported for the previous month. Meanwhile, the report said export prices rose by 0.4 percent in October after coming in unchanged in September. Export prices had also been expected to tick up by 0.1 percent. Business inventories in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of September, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday. The Commerce Department said business inventories rose by 0.3 percent in September after climbing by 0.5 percent in August. Economists had expected inventories to rise by 0.3 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis President Donald Trump ramped up his attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and potential collusion with the president's campaign in a series of posts on Twitter on Thursday. In the tweetstorm, Trump reiterated his oft-repeated claim that the investigation is an unprecedented "witch hunt" and denounced Mueller's team as "a disgrace to our nation." "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," Trump tweeted. "They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want." "They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives the ruin." He added. "They won't even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY!" Trump described Mueller as "highly conflicted," claiming the former FBI Director served under former President Barack Obama for eight years. However, Mueller was FBI Director under Obama for less than five years after holding the position for over seven years under former Republican President George W. Bush. Trump highlighted the fact that Mueller was not confirmed to his current position by the Senate and accused the special counsel of protecting former Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey and other of his "friends on the other side." "The only 'Collusion' is that of the Democrats with Russia and many others. Why didn't the FBI take the Server from the DNC? They still don't have it," Trump tweeted. "Check out how biased Facebook, Google and Twitter are in favor of the Democrats," he added. "That's the real Collusion!" The latest Twitter rampage by Trump comes following reports earlier this week indicating the president and his legal team could provide written answers to questions posed by Mueller as soon as this week Last month, a report from Bloomberg said Mueller was expected to issue findings on core aspects of his investigation after last week's midterm elections. Citing two U.S. officials, Bloomberg said Mueller is facing intensifying pressure to produce more indictments or shut down his investigation. One of the officials told Bloomberg that Mueller is close to rendering judgment on whether there were clear incidents of collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign and whether the president took any actions that constitute obstruction of justice. Responding to Trump's tweets, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued Mueller should be allowed to "do his job" and urged Congress to pass legislation to protect the special counsel's investigation from the president. (Photo: Michael Vadon) For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News After initially moving to the upside, shares of Walmart Inc. (WMT) have moved notably lower over the course of the trading session on Thursday. Walmart is currently down by 1.9 percent, pulling back further off the nine-month closing high set last Friday. The downturn by Walmart comes even though the retail giant reported better than expected third quarter adjusted earnings and raised its full-year outlook for adjusted earnings and U.S. comparable sales. News that billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. sold its last remaining shares in Walmart is likely weighing on the company's stock. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News By SA Commercial Prop News Sephaku Holdings CEO Lelau Mohuba, says the company embarked on cost-cutting measures that include reducing the number of board members from ten to seven. Building and construction-materials group, Sephaku Holdings, says it has embarked on a cost-reduction programme aimed at reducing head office expenses. The company which has a portfolio of assets focused on the building and construction-materials industry, has embarked on cost-cutting measures that include reducing the number of board members from 10 to seven, says CEO Lelau Mohuba. The reduction of the companys head office expenses is meant to soften the effect of difficult trading conditions in the second half of the current financial year. The company, the portfolio of which includes subsidiary Metier Mixed Concrete and associate Sephaku Cement (SepCem), said on Tuesday it expected the constrained trading environment to persist. The group said mixed concrete supplier Metier had been negatively affected by the depressed construction sector. Industry cement volumes are expected to decrease by between 5% to 10% year on year as demand continues to be muted. The groups focus for the next 24 months is to reduce debt, reduce head-office expenses, complete the fleet efficiency-improvement programme at Metier and continue to evaluate opportunities to enhance shareholder value, the company said. Sephaku said cost cutting would focus on high expense items such as travel and other noncritical operational activities. Mohuba said the company would not replace former board member Mpho Makwana, who resigned in early October. Makwana had been on the board for more than five years. He said board members Rose Raisibe Matjiu, who had been on the companys board since 2005, and Kenneth Capes, who was previously an executive director for business development, also resigned on Monday. Capes had served on the board since 2013. Their active participation in the group has been gradually decreasing due to additional external commitments, hence their decision to resign from the board, Mohuba said. The company said Capes would continue to consult for the group on business development as and when required. In the six months, Sephakus net profit rose 79.2%, from R14.8m to R26.5m. Basic earnings per share 75.9%, from 7.29c to 12.83c, and headline earnings per share 77.3%, from 7.10c to 12.59c. Metier increased revenue 4.5% to R468m, while net profit decreased 35.9% to R20.3m. SepCem is a subsidiary of Lagos-based Dangote Cement, and has a December financial year-end. A group of five North Korean officials led by Ri Jong-hyok, the vice chairman of the North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, arrived at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday for an event hosted by the Gyeonggi provincial government and a civic group. Kim Song-hye of the United Front Department, who was also expected, canceled citing "personal reasons" just an hour and a half before the delegation's arrival. By SA Commercial Prop News We believe this conversion is the best use of our resources right now. However, we aren't at a stage yet where we would go and create a separate residential business, CEO Marc Edwards said. Tower Property Fund [JSE: TWR] joins other property companies that are selling or re-purposing older A- and B-grade offices and retail centres as residential developments. Tower Property Fund, the SA- and Croatia-focused real estate investment trust, has now entered the residential market with the conversion of two retail buildings. It joins other property companies that are selling or repurposing older A- and B-grade offices and retail centres as residential developments. This is aimed at supporting income growth, which has come under pressure for many real estate counters amid weak economic conditions. Tower is well under way to converting part of its Cape Quarter in De Waterkant retail development to 70 apartments, which it says will attract the highest prices in Cape Town. It has completed the first phase, having built 16 apartments on Napier Street, and is now working on the second phase, which will add 54 apartments to the adjacent Cape Quarter Piazza building. The first 16 apartments sold well, which prompted the group to continue with the second phase of the conversion. "De Waterkant is attracting the highest residential sales prices right now, higher than Camps Bay and Clifton," CEO Marc Edwards said. The first phase of the conversion includes 16 apartments priced at an average of R90,000 per square metre, along with two floors of retail space. It also has 140 parking bays for sale at a cost of R570,000 per bay. Edwards said the conversion is "opportunistic" and Tower is not yet considering a separate residential portfolio. "We believe this conversion is the best use of our resources right now. However, we aren't at a stage yet where we would go and create a separate residential business," Edwards said. Some critics have questioned Tower's investment strategy in Croatia this year. Evan Robins, listed property manager at Old Mutual Investment groups MacroSolutions, said recently that Tower is not yet an expert on Croatian real estate and still needs to convince the market that investing there was the best strategy for the company. Edwards said in July that he hopes TPF International, which houses Tower's five Croatian assets, will be able to grow more aggressively in the second half of 2018. TPF International is an unlisted company that is 74% owned by Tower and 26% owned by Oryx Properties, a Namibian property fund. Unfortunately, TPF International has experienced slow growth, but Edwards said he is still excited about investment opportunities in the country. "We are very bullish on Croatia, even if we have faced some challenges since we first invested there in 2015. TPF will look to raise money in the country next month and we have set up meetings with a number of pension funds and other investors," he said. By SA Commercial Prop News The Last vacant Foreshore property was acquired by Growthpoint Properties at Aucor's auction event for R86.5 million. Cape Town - Mayor Patricia De Lille has ordered a forensic investigation into an allegedly botched auction of a prime piece of land in the city, leading to a potential loss of millions in revenue. Site B on the foreshore was sold in 2016 to JSE-listed property giant Growthpoint Properties at Aucor's auction event for R86.5 million. With organisations representing the poor constantly complaining that the city favours wealthy developers, an alleged R140m undervaluation of the land before the auction created a massive row. There were allegations that the land had been severely undervalued and this resulted in a loss for the city, De Lille said. Growthpoint CEO Norbert Sasse said on Sunday the company believed the price it paid was more than fair. De Lille said that following "a barrage" of media reports related to the auctioning of Erf 165639 in September 2016, she discussed the matter with city manager Lungelo Mbandazayo. "I wrote to the city manager to express my concern at this alleged loss of public funds and also stated that the city could also run the risk of an audit query from the auditor-general or as a result of a member of the public reporting the matter to the public protector. "In light of these concerns and allegations, and in the spirit of transparency and responsiveness, I have requested that the city manager initiates a forensic investigation into what exactly transpired in this sale process," De Lille said. According to Ndifuna Ukwazi, a Cape Town nonprofit law centre that has been campaigning for affordable housing near the city centre, had Growthpoint paid a market-related price for the land, the city could have pocketed between R185m and R240m. The organisation said the auction documents inaccurately stated the maximum floor area for the land was 17,500m, when it was nearly three times more. There are important factors such as anonymity to consider for central banks that wish to develop a digital currency, because it could open doors to illegal activities. This is according to the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) Deputy Division Chief (Monetary and Capital Markets Department), Tommaso Mancini Griffoli, who told the Samoa Observer that it all comes down to how the central bank digital currency is designed. A central bank will want to maintain control over the design, it will not want to issue the digital currency that is entirely anonymous, that wouldnt facilitate illegal transactions, money laundering, corruption, terrorist financing, even more so than cash, Mr. Griffoli said. Cash at least is costly to hold and transfer because its risky, it takes room, it takes space, and the digital currency doesnt. So central banks probably wouldnt want to do that. He said then there is also the extreme factor of no anonymity at all, which is possible, but central banks would have to think about consequences of doing so. If there is no official means to undertake transactions that are anonymous, where will those who want to pursue anonymity for legitimate reasons go, currently they can use cash. And there are legitimate reasons to desire anonymity, the sense of privacy, concern with data being hacked, concerns with customer profiling. So you would want to satisfy those who have legitimate reasons for anonymity and not the criminals. Maybe one way to do so is to have a digital currency where only the State can follow the transactions and link those transactions to the identity, but not private parties. Thats a very interesting prospect of thinking creatively about design, of introducing something, a form of money that improves the tradeoff between anonymity and financial integrity, relative to the current offering attached. Mr. Griffoli said there are central banks in China, Brazil, Sweden, Canada and Uruguay have considered the idea of issuing official digital currency by investigating the possibility of doing so. Some have run pilots, Uruguay has, some are about to start pilots like Sweden, and the reasons they give range from facilitating financial inclusion to decreasing cost of cash, managing circulating cash to countering monopoly power of private payment providers, he said. Theres a concern that with the disappearance of cash, payments will be increasingly concentrated in the hands of few private companies that might impose monopoly power, and its not just a consumer protection issue, its also a security issue because these private companies may invest less in the payment of the security systems, they may not fully measure the cost to society of a major disruption to the payments systems, and even if they did to an extent that they are not entirely liable for it, they would not necessarily try to avoid it as much as State might. These are all hypotheticals, its not that all private companies will behave like this, but that is the tendency and that is why central banks are concerned. Mr. Griffoli said these issues can be addressed with proper regulations, but regulations have limits especially when these companies are large, often foreign and revolve quickly. So to the extent that regulations are limited and its impact, central banks may want to step in and provide an alternative, cheap and efficient alternative means of payment, or at least have some hand in the system. There are others who are not interested; we have heard statements from the Federal Reserve of the United States for instance, saying that for now they dont really see the advantages. I think its an area that is very ripe for research and analysis. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Eight years after a methane explosion in an underground coal mine killed 29 workers, New Zealand's government says crews will re-enter the mine to better understand what went wrong and hopefully recover some of the bodies. The announcement Wednesday by Justice Minister Andrew Little was greeted with jubilation by family members of workers killed at the Pike River mine, who for years have lobbied for the move. Two workers escaped the mine after the deadly November 2010 explosion. After several more explosions, the mine was sealed shut. New Zealand's previous conservative government concluded the mine remained too unsafe to re-enter. But after winning power a year ago, liberal Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised her government would re-examine the issue. "To the Pike River families, to New Zealand: We are returning," said Little. Anna Osborne, whose husband Milton Osborne was killed in the explosion, said it was a victory for the "little people" of New Zealand. She said that for the men who were killed, the families couldn't just let things lie. "We needed to fight," she told media on Wednesday. "We need to bring our men home if we can. We need answers to questions that we don't have. We need the unexplored crime scene investigated. And that's what's going to happen." Dinghy Pattinson, the chief operating officer for the Pike River Recovery Agency, told The Associated Press that the mine remains filled with about 96 percent methane gas. He said the plan is to add some bore holes and gradually pump in nitrogen gas to replace the methane as it rises and dissipates into the atmosphere. The nitrogen will then be replaced by air before crews can safely re-enter the mine by about February, he said. But the plan won't allow access into the inner workings of the mine, which remain blocked by a massive rockfall. New Zealand Police say they'll be examining any new evidence from the mine, which they could use to file charges. An earlier investigation concluded the Pike River Coal company had exposed miners to unacceptable risks as it strove to meet financial targets. The report found the company ignored 21 warnings that methane gas had accumulated to explosive levels before the disaster. The company, which went bankrupt, didn't contest labor violation charges against it. Former chief executive Peter Whittall also faced labor charges but they were dismissed after he and the company made a financial settlement, a development which angered many of the grieving families. New Zealand's Supreme Court later ruled the settlement was unlawful. Any new evidence revealed by re-entering the mine could be used in a new case against him. CHEORWON, South Korea (AP) South Korea exploded one of its own front-line guard posts Thursday, sending plumes of thick, black smoke into the sky above the border with North Korea, in the most dramatic scene to date in the rivals' efforts to reduce animosities that sparked last year's fears of war. Last week, the two Koreas finished withdrawing troops and firearms from some of the guard posts along their border before dismantling them. The steps are part of agreements signed in September during a meeting between their leaders in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital. On Thursday, South Korea's military invited a group of journalists to watch the destruction of a guard post with dynamite in the central border area of Cheorwon. The journalists were asked to stay hundreds of meters (yards) away as black smoke enveloped the hilly border area. They later watched soldiers and other workers bulldoze another guard post. Most of the South Korean guard posts are being destroyed with construction equipment for environmental and safety reasons, but dynamite was used for the first structure because of its location on a high hill where it was difficult to use excavators, the Defense Ministry said. North Korea is demolishing its guard posts with explosives, according to South Korean media. The guard posts are inside the 248-kilometer (155-mile) -long, 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) -wide border called the Demilitarized Zone. Despite its name, it's the world's most heavily fortified border with an estimated 2 million land mines planted in and near the zone. The area has been the site of violence and bloodshed since the 1945 division of the Korean Peninsula, and civilians need special government approval to enter the zone. The Koreas each agreed to dismantle or disarm 11 of their guard posts by the end of this month before jointly verifying the destruction next month. South Korea had about 60 posts inside the DMZ guarded by layers of barbed wire and manned by troops with machine guns. North Korea was estimated to have 160 such front-line posts. Under the September agreements, the Koreas are also disarming the shared border village of Panmunjom and clearing mines from another DMZ area where they plan their first-ever joint searches for Korean War dead. They've also halted live-fire exercises along the border. The deals are among a set of steps they have taken since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reached out to Seoul and Washington early this year with a vague commitment to nuclear disarmament. The fast-improving inter-Korean ties have raised worries among many in South Korea and the United States as global diplomacy on the North's nuclear weapons program has produced little recent progress. Speaking in Washington on Thursday, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon acknowledged that criticism and offered reassurance that the South would not pursue economic cooperation with the North until there's "significant progress" on denuclearization. But he argued that improving inter-Korean relation would help, not hinder that process. He said another summit between South and North Korea could still take place this year. If it happens, Cho said it would break a "glass ceiling" in inter-Korean relations and could pave the way for another U.S.-North Korea summit. "Chairman Kim's visit to Seoul and South Korea is something that we have agreed upon, something that we can implement and something that is possible," Cho said at the Wilson Center think tank. The two Korean leaders have already met three times this year, most recently in North Korea's capital in September. But a lack of progress in U.S.-led efforts to get the North to give up its nukes has added to doubts about whether plans for South Korean President Moon Jae-in to host Kim in the South Korean capital during 2018 can be realized. If Kim, a third-generation hereditary ruler, visits Seoul, he would be the first North Korean leader to do so since the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice. The long-running effort by San Diego Gas & Electric to pass onto ratepayers $379 million in costs related to deadly wildfires in 2007 that ripped through parts of the county has suffered another setback. Californias 4th District Court of Appeal in San Diego late Tuesday afternoon denied a petition from SDG&E asking the court to review a decision made by the California Public Utilities Commission last year that rejected the utilitys request to recover the $379 million through rates. Writing for the appeals court, Associate Justice Patricia Benke, re-asserted many of the justifications the CPUC made when it voted 5-0 against SDG&E in November 2017. The record contains substantial evidence showing both that SDG&Es facilities caused all three of the wildfires at issue, Benke wrote, and that SDG&E did not meet its burden to show that it reasonably and prudently operated and maintained those facilities In sum, SDG&E has failed to demonstrate that the (CPUC) erred on the claims it asserts. Advertisement The Witch, Geujito and Rice fires destroyed more than 1,300 homes, killed two people, injured 40 firefighters and forced more than 10,000 to seek shelter at Qualcomm Stadium. April Maurath Sommer, executive director and lead counsel for the Protect Our Communities Foundation, an environmental group based in San Diego County, agreed with the appeals courts three-page decision. Its not very long but its clear and direct and to the point, Maurath Sommer said. They did not take SDG&Es assertions seriously at all. This is a total shutdown, which is good. San Diego attorney Michael Aguirre represented ratepayer advocate Ruth Henricks on behalf of utility customers in a lawsuit dealing with the 2007 fire but Aguirre, normally a sharp critic of SDG&E, held his fire. SDG&E fought hard and in this particular case, the utility customers won, Aguirre said. But were not gloating. We respect the fact (SDG&E) made such an effort and were just happy the utility customers won out. SDG&E spokeswoman Colleen Windsor said the utility is considering next steps, including whether to further appeal. In a statement to the Union-Tribune, the utility alluded to a legal doctrine that has quickly moved to the center of discussions about California wildfires and investor-owned utilities. The Courts decision to deny the appeal is disappointing because it missed an opportunity to provide clarity on important statewide issues regarding the relationship between the legal doctrine of inverse condemnation and cost recovery at the CPUC, SDG&E said. As interpreted by courts in California, inverse condemnation holds that utilities can be held liable for damages related to a wildfire ignited by a power companys equipment such as a downed power line even if the utility followed accepted safety procedures. Virtually no other state applies inverse condemnation the way California does and utilities say such an interpretation, combined with the requirement that power companies provide electricity in areas at risk to wildfires, may lead them to bankruptcy. Defenders of inverse condemnation say the way its applied in California gives power companies extra incentive to reduce wildfire risks in their respective service territories and take extra precautions their equipment and procedures dont spark conflagrations. While SDG&E has shown that the costs incurred was a result of inverse condemnation and that the fires occurred due to factors beyond its control, the CPUC nevertheless denied its application for cost recovery, the utility said in its statement. The Court did not address the substance of SDG&Es arguments on appeal as to why the CPUC erred in its decision. Aguirre said one option for SDG&E is to appeal to the California Supreme Court but he advised against it. The utility not only lost last November before the CPUC, it also lost an an appeal before the commission for a rehearing before losing at the appeals court in San Diego on Tuesday. I think theyre at the law of diminishing returns at this point, Aguirre said. SDG&E spent $2.4 billion to resolve more than 2,000 lawsuits related to the Witch, Guejito and Rice wildfires but the utility insists the blazes were ignited by factors beyond its control including extreme Santa Ana winds, a lashing wire owned by Cox Communications that hit an SDG&E power line and a tree limb that fell onto an SDG&E line due to high winds. SDG&E officials have pointed out the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates interstate transmission rates, granted SDG&E settlement payments through rates that eventually came to $80 million and found the record indicates SDG&E behaved as a reasonable, prudent utility in the maintenance of its lines prior to the wildfires. During the most recent legislative session in Sacramento, Gov. Jerry Brown supported making changes to inverse condemnation but those efforts were rebuffed. Instead, a scaled-back bill passed that allows companies to borrow money for 2017 wildfire costs while using money collected from ratepayers to pay back the loan. The appeals court decision comes as another string of deadly wildfires have broken out across California. The cause of the Camp Fire in Northern California has yet to be determined but questions have been raised whether Pacific Gas & Electric equipment may be linked to the fires ignition. Some of the fires victims have filed a lawsuit against the utility. On Monday, Southern California Edison reported an outage near the spot where authorities believe the Woolsey Fire started last week. Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski Near record numbers of people will be traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, expected to be the busiest since 2005, predicts the Automobile Club of Southern California. An estimated 4.2 million Southern California residents will be leaving town for the long weekend, which runs from Nov. 21-Nov. 25. That represents a 5.1 percent increase over last years holiday. The great majority of Southern California travelers 3.6 million will drive to their destinations, while an additional 476,000 are expected to fly, which is a nearly 5.9 percent increase compared with 2017. Similarly high numbers of individuals will be hitting the roads and traveling by air and train statewide and across the country. In California, 6.8 million are expected to be traveling for the holiday and 54.2 million nationwide, the Auto Club is projecting. Advertisement The all-time record number of Thanksgiving travelers was set in 2005, when 58.6 million nationwide, 6.9 million statewide and nearly 4.3 million in Southern California took holiday trips. Nationwide, Anaheim is expected to be the third most popular destination for Thanksgiving travelers, based on AAAs online and travel agency bookings. Among Southern Californians, Las Vegas will be the No. 1 destination, followed by San Diego, a survey of the Auto Clubs travel agents found. In a separate forecast, the industry trade group, Airlines for America, is projecting a record 30.6 million passengers will travel on U.S. airlines during what it defines as a 12-day holiday air travel period. Thats up from an estimated 29 million passengers during last years holiday. The busiest travel day, the association says, will be Sunday, Nov. 25, followed by Wednesday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 16. For those who will be driving, the good news is that Southern California gas prices have been dropping from their highest levels since 2014, but theyre still expected to be 50 to 60 cents higher per gallon than during last years holiday. San Diegos average gas price was $3.69 a gallon, up from $3.27 a year ago, according to the Auto Club. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg Several hundred chili loving chow hounds pulled into St. John of the Cross Parish in Lemon Grove Saturday night for the 14th annual Wild Western Round-Up and Chili Cook-Off. More than a dozen local chefs battled for the title of best chili in Lemon Grove, with proceeds going toward Soroptimist International Lemon Grove and the Lions Club of Lemon Grove to help people in need. For the sixth year straight, the Lemon Grove firefighters chili was voted the favorite. Lions roared Saturday night in Lemon Grove and the Soroptimists were thrilled that they did, said Soroptimist Lemon Grove club president Helen Halmay. With the help of Lions Club members, (it was) the most successful chili cook-off in years. We brought our community together, had fun doing it, and raised money for good causes. What could be better than that? Advertisement City Council members Jennifer Mendoza, a Soroptimist, and David Arambula, as well as former City Councilman George Gastil, were among those taking part of the spicy event. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com Theres now an official website and special buttons to bring attention to one of Santees most pressing issues traffic. The second meeting last week of the Highway 52 Coalition drew about two dozen people who heard the latest news about the groups plans to, as their motto says, Fix the 52! The coalition is a task force created by the city of Santee to deal with growing traffic congestion along the east-west freeway. Led by the mayor and city manager of Santee, the group is looking to bring together strategic partners to push for regional and local interests to focus on state Route 52. Advertisement The Highway 52 Coalition was planning on holding quarterly meetings, but the group said it would meet more often when it had information that needed to be shared sooner. Its first meeting was Sept. 19. At each meeting, either the Santee city clerk or someone from the city clerks office, a representative from the citys finance department and the city engineer join the city manager and mayor. At the initial meeting, Mayor John Minto, City Manager Marlene Best and other city staff reviewed the goals of the Coalition and heard presentations from the California Department of Transportation and San Diego Association of Governments, the regions planning agency. Discussion centered around current planned expansion of state Route 52, funding opportunities and ways to participate and/or become a member of the Coalition. At the Nov. 8 meeting, Minto announced that nearly $35,000 had been raised so far to get the group going and offered the new buttons to those who have donated. The buttons show an image of a handshake superimposed in front of a car and say Highway 52 Coalition and Fix the 52! The group now has an online presence as part of the citys official website at highway52.cityofsanteeca.gov/ Best pushed a holiday stocking stuffer a coupon available in any denomination saying that a contribution was given to the Coalition gift giver in the name of the recipient. Remember, you dont have to give to just one person, Minto chimed in. Laura Koval, the recent City Council candidate who beat two others for the two-year seat in District 3, came up with one of the meetings most well-received ideas. Koval suggested putting a movable electronic traffic billboard at different sites along state Route 52 to advertise the Coalition. Lets target the market, she said. Tell them about the website. Thats how we build our Coalition. Koval also suggested the city ask people who fill out the online form to join the Coalition to share where they work, then look to include those employment hubs as well. Other local candidates, including Zack Gianino and Lynda Marrokal in District 3, and Evlyn Andrade-Heymsfield in District 1, along with City Councilman Rob McNelis, who beat Andrade-Heymsfield, were at the Coalition meeting. Minto said everyone showing up, win or lose in the election, meant a lot to the group. Marrokal at the end of October had put together a fundraiser for the Coalition at a local restaurant, aptly named the 52 East Neighborhood Eatery. The event raised several hundred dollars. Best shared a list of some upcoming local City Council, school board and water district meetings and urged Coalition members to attend and speak about what the group is doing, even possibly enlisting more people in the process. They like to hear from elected officials, but when they hear passion from other residents, that means a lot to them, Best said. Tell them how the 52 affects your life. We need to be that squeaky wheel to get something to happen. Minto noted that there will be new faces representing cities on SANDAG next year because of results from the Nov. 7 election, either because they were termed out or didnt win voter approval. He admitted some disappointment regarding the coming departure of two pretty good (Coalition) advocates on the San Diego City Council, Myrtle Cole ad Lorie Zapf, both of whom lost their seats to opponents earlier this month. Theyll be gone, and we dont know who were going to have here (as advocates), he said. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com Some 80 overseas Korean businesspeople and about a dozen of their staff visit Pyongyang for four days starting Thursday to discuss investment opportunities. The Unification Ministry approved their visit, a spokesman said on Wednesday. They are members of the World Federation of Korean Association of Commerce, a group of overseas Korean businesspeople. They are expected to seek investment opportunities there in preparation for the easing of international sanctions against the North, while touring various agencies and facilities until Sunday. Founded in 1993, the federation consists of 246 business organizations in 68 countries. Two grants will allow the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to expand services and outreach to the schools nearly 1,700 veterans and their dependents. Both Grossmont and Cuyamaca have each secured $200,000 in state grants from the California Community Colleges Chancellors Office to help vets. In addition, both colleges have plans in place to nearly triple the size of their veterans resource centers. According to the Legislative Analysts Office, the California legislatures nonpartisan fiscal and policy advisor, California is home to about 1.8 million veterans. California Community Colleges enroll nearly 80,000 veterans and active-duty service members each year. Spokeswoman Anne Krueger at the Grossmont-Cuyamaca district said that more than 1,100 veterans are enrolled at Grossmont College and 562 enrolled last year at Cuyamaca College. Advertisement District Veterans Counselor Maria Martinez.said that the Grossmont College grant will pay for a veteran program specialist, who will provide operational support for the Veterans Resource Center and coordinate events and activities to help keep veterans on track and involved. Grossmont is also in the planning stages of building a 3,400-square-foot Veterans Resource Center. The center will have a large computer lab and quiet commons area, a study center, meeting room, counselors offices, a lounge and an outdoor patio. The new center is scheduled to open in 2021. At Cuyamaca College, the grant is paying for a part-time veterans resource center coordinator, several new computers, a food pantry for veterans and their families, and an expanded textbook library. It will also fund a veterans academic survival kit, veterans counselor Osvaldo Torres said, which comes complete with a flash drive, calculator, stationery, and pens, pencils and highlighters. Cuyamaca is also expanding its Veterans Resource Center from 870 to 2,487 square feet. Construction is set to begin in the Spring of 2019. Veterans services will be housed in a bungalow near the library during the construction. Krueger said that besides the veterans resource centers, those who have served in the military have access to priority registration, tutoring, specialized counselors and more. More than 90 of the 114 California community colleges have a dedicated veterans resource center, and the $400,000 in grants recently awarded to Grossmont and Cuyamaca were among the $8.5 million in funding approved by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors this fall. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com Paul Mac McNamara now leads incumbent Sam Abed by 237 votes in the race for mayor of Escondido, according to the latest tally from the Registrar of Voters posted Wednesday evening. With 254,000 ballots still to be counted countywide, of which an unknown number will impact the Escondido mayors race, McNamara now holds a 50.37 percent to 49.63 lead. The totals: McNamara 16,064, Abed 15,827. Theres still a long way to go, McNamara said. Its not over yet, but its looking pretty good. Advertisement Abed could not be reached for comment. McNamara, 65, has been eating into Abeds lead since the day after the Nov. 6 election as ballots that were mailed or turned in near or on Election Day continue to be counted. At the current pace, it may not be until after Thanksgiving before the winner is clear. McNamara, a retired Marine Corps colonel and private sector executive, told voters it was time for change in Escondido. He said it was time for a mayor who was genuinely public spirited. Abed, 66, has served as mayor since 2010 and been on the City Council since 2004. He spent more than twice as much money on his campaign, peppering all registered voters with 10 glossy mailers in the weeks before Election Day at a cost of $150,000. Months before the election, he was predicting a convincing victory, but the day after the election, holding just a slim lead, he said he thought the results were part of a national backlash against incumbents rather than a rejection of him or the policies of the councils conservative majority he has led. Should McNamara win, the balance of power will be completely changed on the council, with Olga Diaz being joined by Consuelo Martinez, who beat incumbent Ed Gallo last week, and McNamara, who ran as a moderate Democrat. The other members of the council would be John Masson, who won his re-election bid Tuesday, and Mike Morasco, who will be up for re-election in 2020, as will Diaz. In recent years, Diaz has often been on the losing end of 4-1 votes on many issues. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones In 1995, Gaetano Cicciotti arrived in San Diego from his native Italy and realized he never wanted to leave. As many local Italian food fans know, Cicciotti scuttled his plan to be a commercial pilot in Italy and instead has built a career here re-creating the dishes he grew up on at Cicciottis restaurants in Cardiff and Carlsbad. Now hes following a new passion. On July 7, he opened Cafe Ground Up, an Italian-style coffee house and cafe serving authentic Italian coffees, pastries, paninis, gelato and imported frozen desserts. Cafe Ground Up is located just across the street from his 2-year-old Cicciottis restaurant in Carlsbad Village, which makes it very easy for the La Costa resident to indulge his lifelong espresso habit. Advertisement When you open one restaurant after another it becomes more of a business than a passion. But opening a coffee shop is a passion, he said. I usually drink three or four espressos a day and thought the village could use a cafe with really good, authentic Italian coffee. Gaetano Cicciotti inside his recently opened Italian coffee house Cafe Ground Up in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) Cafe Ground Up serves only Lavazza coffee, Italys premiere brand. And its espressos, cappucinos, lattes and more are pulled by hand from an imported $12,000 La Spaziale espresso machine, which he calls the Ferrari of coffee machines. With imported ingredients, the shop bakes about a half-dozen Italian-style pastries and breads daily, including bombolones (filled doughnuts), biscotti, madeleines, chocolate croissants and lemon cake as well as ciabatta for sandwiches. There are also paninis, piandina (a tortilla-like flatbread), frappes, gelatos and imported frozen sweets by Milans famed Bindi Desserts company. And there are a number of specialty drinks made with Torani and Fabbri flavored Italian syrups. Cicciotti said thanks to the focus on authenticity, more than 20 percent of the new cafes customers are Italian expatriates, and many of his own restaurant workers stop in for espressos before their shifts. While the emphasis is on Italian fare, Cicciotti has supplemented the menu with a wide variety of American dishes and drinks, including scones, coffeecake, muffins, acai bowls, toasts, salads and smoothies, as well as kombucha, cold brew and nitro coffee on tap. The interior of Cafe Ground Up in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) Cafe Ground Up features modern, European-style decor with a roll-up garage door-style glass window up front. One wall is a giant photo collage of Italian imagery, including film star Sophia Loren, and a shot or two that Cicciotti shot himself on a recent trip back home. Cicciotti, 49, grew up in Naples, where his mothers family had a long history in Italian commercial aviation. He spent 3- years in the Italian air force before leaving to pursue his commercial pilots license. He came to San Diego in 1995 to take classes at a local flight school and shared an apartment with a friend on La Jolla Shores. Waking up every morning and opening my door to that view, I thought it was paradise and I knew I had to live here, he said. Another attraction that soon made going home impossible was Cicciottis wife, Monica, who he met and married in 1996. They have three children, ages 11, 14 and 18. An artfully poured latte by barista Joy Riojas at Cafe Ground Up in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) Cicciotti realized early on that his heart was no longer invested in the family business of flying but in cooking and serving food, a hobby hed enjoyed since his teens. He started out as a cashier at Manhattan of La Jolla in 1996, then moved on to management and cooking positions at When in Rome and Vigiluccis. He opened his first Cicciottis restaurant in Cardiff in 2002, published his cookbook Cicciottis Kitchen in 2009 and opened his Carlsbad Village restaurant in 2016. Cicciotti said business at Ground Up has been growing steadily, particularly on weekend mornings when there can be long lines and the fresh pastries sell out quickly. Theres also a steady clientele of regulars, both Italian and American, who come ever day. Im very happy with it, he said. People really seem to enjoy it and I can stop in and drink some good espressos. Cafe Ground Up Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Where: 550 Grand Ave., Carlsbad Phone: (760) 637-5077 Online: cafegroundup.com Chocolate chip croissants at newly opened Cafe Ground Up, an Italian coffeehouse in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com Madison Fay Wagner rode a horse before she was walking. The Valley Center 19-year-old was on a horse several weeks after she was born, strapped to her mom. By age 3, she was riding a pony. Since then she has been riding horses, often bareback, almost every day. Horses have always been in my life and I pretty much grew up on them, Wagner said. Wagner was picked out of seven top rodeo contestants to take the state title of Miss Rodeo in the California Circuit Finals Rodeo in Lancaster. Madison Fay Wagner wins Miss Rodeo title (Photo by Interface Visual) Advertisement Wagner was crowned 2018 Miss Valley Center Stampede Rodeo in March and was the 2012 Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Young Miss. She has attended every Valley Center Stampede Rodeo since it started in 2002 and has volunteered with the organization since she was 12 years old. This is the first year that the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo was eligible for Miss Rodeo California, and the first year that a Miss Valley Center Stampede Rodeo has competed for the title, according to Wagner. During the four-day state pageant in October, Wagner was judged on personality, speech, horsemanship skills and appearance as she proved herself a superb horsewoman and role model to youngsters. She got top scores in speech and modeling contests and written tests on rodeo knowledge and horsemanship. She was judged during media appearances, horsemanship competitions, interviews, written tests and fashion shows, winning in four out of five categories. In past years, Wagner was recognized for her prowess in mounted archery. She has certificates of recognition from Sen. Joel Anderson for her Outstanding Community Service and Commitment to Community Spirit and Assemblywoman Marie Waldron for Participation and Performance at the fourth annual Kuk Gung Traditional Archery Festival. Madison has had a love for horses and horseback riding since she was born, I was not able to keep her away from the horses, any chance she had she could be found with the horses, said her mother, Madelyn Wagner. As Rodeo Queen, Wagners duties included helping children with disabilities rope and ride a simulated bucking horse/bull during the challenged childrens rodeo. Her duties as the new Miss Rodeo 2019 include serving as an ambassador for the sport of professional rodeo and the world of ranching, farming and agriculture. She will spend the next year traveling across California and other western states, promoting rodeo and the western way of life. Next year in December, Wagner will compete for the Miss Rodeo America crown during the National Finals Rodeo. As part of her award, Wagner won a $2,500 scholarship. She is working on finishing two associates degrees at Palomar College in University Studies Math and Science and General Studies Arts and Humanities. Wagner plans to transfer to California State University San Marcos after she graduates next semester and will major in chemistry, so she can pursue a career developing pharmaceuticals to treat mental illnesses. Along with her classes, Wagner works part time as an equine veterinary assistant and guides mustangs in a Trainer Incentive program sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management . I absolutely adore horses they are highly intelligent and incredibly strong, Wagner said. They are such a huge part of how our great country was founded, and are really the trademark of the western lifestyle. Solana Beach, one of the first cities in the state to ban single-use plastic bags and polystyrene food containers, has some new targets. Disposable plastic straws, stirrers, spoons, forks and knives would be prohibited at restaurants, coffee shops and other vendors, under a proposal discussed Tuesday by the Solana Beach City Council. Also, single-use plastic beverage bottles such as the ubiquitous 16-ounce clear polyethylene water container would be off limits at all city events and on city properties where fountains and other hydration sources are available. The city has long been the leader in environmental stewardship, Assistant City Manager Dan King said in a presentation to the council, which directed the city staff to investigate further ways to accomplish the ban and get residents on board. Advertisement The proposal from the citys Climate Action Commission, which was formed in 2015, would take that stewardship to a higher level. Research shows only about 9 percent of the worlds plastic is recycled, commission member Mary Yang told the council. About 12 percent is incinerated, and the rest accumulates in landfills and elsewhere in the environment. Islands of plastic trash float in the oceans. Plastic is not biogradable. It eventually breaks into small particles known as microplastics that work their way into the food chain. Also, the production of plastic bottles consumes large amounts of energy and oil, creating greenhouse gases and other negative environmental effects. An increasing variety of low-cost alternatives made of wood and other biodegradable materials are available in stores and online. Plastic is a worldwide problem, said James Wang, a member of the Encinitas Environmental Commission. By setting a precedent, you are doing the right thing and letting other cities know what is the right thing to do, Wang said, adding that he hopes his own city of Encinitas will follow suit. Solana Beach is a leader in a state known as the front-runner in environmental responsibility. Assembly Bill 1884, passed in September and effective in 2019, prohibits restaurants from providing customers with single-use plastic straws except upon request. Another bill introduced this year, Senate Bill 1335, prohibits non-recyclable and non-compostable take-out food packaging at state parks, beaches, colleges and fairgrounds. Solana Beach council members agreed their city should take the restrictions further. An update and possibly a draft ordinance prepared by the city staff could be ready for consideration early next year. We do have to be part of the solution, said Councilwoman Lesa Heebner. Its really scary whats happening to this planet. Residents and businesses such as grocery stores need to be part of the process, she said, so that they are fully informed of the changes ahead. Outreach is important, said Councilman Peter Zahn, a member of the citys Climate Action Commission. Solana Beach was the first city in San Diego County to ban single-use plastic bags in 2012. It was first to ban polystyrene take-out food containers in 2015. This year, it also became the first city in the county to adopt a community choice energy program, which allows residents to purchase a higher percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. (An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Mary Yang as Jane Yang, who is her twin sister.) philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl National City has won an award for the artsy makeover of a small corner store that sells produce in a neighborhood characterized as a food desert an area where nutritious and affordable food is scarce. The outdoor renovation of Big B Market & Deli won an Orchid award last month. City staff will present the award to the City Council on Tuesday. The makeover, completed in June, was part of a larger effort to address food insecurity in National Citys Old Town neighborhood a microcosm of a city long troubled by health problems such as diabetes. The concentration of fast-food restaurants and a lack of major grocery store chains such as Vons or Ralphs exacerbate health concerns in the city of predominately low-income and Latino residents. San Diego State University students and BrightSide Produce members Courtney Linton, foreground and Lucas Thoresen, background, deliver fresh produce to Big B Market in October 2017. (Howard Lipin / Howard Lipin/The San Diego Union) Advertisement The upgrades to Big B Market & Deli, on Coolidge Avenue at West 16th Street, transformed the facade into a vibrant sight. The renovation, led by A Reason To Survive, a youth organization known as ARTS, brought together volunteers of all ages to help install a mural, a succulent wall, planters that feature mosaic art and a trellis shade structure. Volunteers also gave the exterior of the building a fresh coat of paint. Over the course of months before the art pieces were installed on June 30, ARTS had worked with local elementary, high school and college students to design the mural, planters, trellis and succulent wall. With the makeover complete, the hope is to attract more customers to the store, which a year ago started to sell fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to a partnership with BrightSide Produce, a nonprofit launched in 2017 by San Diego State University students. It is hopefully a place families and kids, as theyre walking by, can stop a place to rest, get a piece of fruit, said ARTS Executive Director James Halliday. He and others noted the store is two blocks away from Kimball Elementary School. Ghali Dikho, the owner of Big B market, said he has already seen an uptick in customers thanks to the makeover. It has helped, Dikho said. ...We made this little corner look like a nice neighborhood. Dikho has been fairly receptive to the citys efforts to address food insecurity and the revitalization of Old Town. His store is one of 14 in National City where BrightSide Produce delivers fruits and vegetables. While distributors generally require minimum orders and have high prices, BrightSide pulls orders from stores into one request large enough to work with large distributors. While residents now have access to produce at corner stores like Big B Market & Deli, the vegetables and fruit are not what sell the most, Dikho said. For Halliday, the access to produce is a major first step, the start of change. The idea of having fresh fruits and vegetables at a corner store expands the notion of what is available, he said. It sends a message. He is hopeful a customer who goes to a corner store for a snack or drink may begin to see healthy foods as an option. Deputy City Manager Brad Raulston said its up to the city and its partners to promote healthy lifestyles. I think we can change behavior, he said. He said the idea of giving a corner store a makeover, transforming one into a vibrant spot with nutritious food options, cropped up around the time the city was working on its General Plan, a long-range blueprint for growth the city adopted in 2011. The idea came about based on a desire in the community for better access to healthy food, he said. The city set out to renovate the store about five years ago when it received a federal grant for a host of projects mostly street upgrades but didnt get the go-ahead from the owner at the time. Plans for the makeover came to fruition, with Dikho as the owner, thanks to a $65,000 grant from the California Arts Council and an in-kind match from the city. Raulston and Halliday say they see opportunities to renovate the facade of other corner stores. Wed love to do a series of these, Halliday said. The makeover was one of almost 120 nominations considered for the San Diego Architectural Foundations design-related Orchids and Onions awards. The Orchid award National City won recognized the partners involved in the collaborative project, including ARTS, BrightSide Produce, Spurlock Landscape Architects, the Live Well Community Market Program at UC San Diego, the city of National City and the store owner. Criteria used to evaluate nominations includes: Contributes to its surrounding context and adds to community character Skillfully and thoughtfully detailed and crafted showing respect for materials and the community Expresses something relevant to our time and place San Diego, 2018 as well as its function Provides social and economic benefit Encourages social interaction or a quiet moment Elicits a sense of civic pride Is technologically or environmentally innovative Supports community building Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez The modern bicycle was born from an early 19th century contraption called a dandy horse that allowed a person to travel a distance relatively quickly by pushing it with ones feet. Originally an important mode of transport, the bicycle has also become a source of exercise, wellness and leisure. The unique engineering of the bicycle, combined with its simple pleasure, has influenced generations of artists since its invention and is currently the inspiration for a new exhibit, I Love to Ride My Bicycle, at the San Diego State University Downtown Gallery. Curator Tina Yapelli, an avid cyclist, points to the gallerys downtown location as inspiration for the exhibit. Cars, trains and, of course, bikes whisk by the front entrance of the gallery and are a constant reminder that this metropolitan area is in a constant state of motion. Advertisement Chantel Paul, Downtown Gallerys director, shares that the exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to become acquainted with the myriad ways artists have been inspired by the bicycle itself, from playful and clever to works that deconstruct social paradigms. Since the bicycle is personally important to Yapelli, she cant help but notice a number of contemporary artists incorporating bicycles into their work over the years. Initially, it was Dinh Q. Les freestanding tires sculptures that caught her attention. Les work references the effects of the Vietnam War on Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), where the artist keeps his studio amidst the abundance of bicycles that crowd the streets. The three sculptures included in the exhibit are collectively titled Beyond Sign and Signals and are essentially a series of bicycle tires precariously balanced upon one another. The makeshift aesthetic is reminiscent of the many bike repair shops the artist encounters in the city, yet the sculptures embody an altar-like form that references the past life of these objects. The conceptually driven duo leonardogillesfleur consists of Leonardo Giacomuzzo and Gilles-fleur Boutry. They use the bicycle as an important part of their collective artistic process. This husband-and-wife team creates work addressing how one can lose their individuality through collaboration and relationships. The photograph Irreconcilable Differences #2 captures this frustration as both artists pedal a two-headed bicycle in opposite directions. Sharing a rear wheel, whichever artists pedals harder forces their partner to follow unwillingly. An introspective and compelling piece that uses the bicycle to heighten this struggle for identity, one can feel the frustration of being immobile due to anothers actions. The most traditional work in the group show are two large-scale paintings by Christopher Brown that pull visitors towards the back of the gallery. Twice Over is an expressively painted work that features a close view of the corner of a high-rise building. The rows of windows push to each side of the canvas establishing the expansiveness of the context. A mix of realism and abstraction, Brown paints a series of moments from his life as they overlap one another like imperfect memories. Notable among these recollections is a man in a gray suit performing a daring stunt on his red shiny bicycle. However, its no ordinary man; its the TV and film character Pee-wee Herman that supplies a simple reminder that the bicycle is a source of enjoyment and fun. From Marcel Duchamps use of bicycle parts in his ready-made sculptures to Freddie Mercurys song lyrics, the bicycle is a symbol of ingenuity, transportation, and wellness in our collective history. The exhibit I Love to Ride My Bicycle is a gesture of gratitude, and, according to Yapelli, acknowledges the importance of bicycles to our local culture, not only as a means of recreation but also as an integral component of our citys livable future. I Love to Ride My Bicycle When: Nov. 15 through Jan. 27 Where: SDSU Downtown Gallery, 725 West Broadway, San Diego Admission: Free Phone: (619) 501-6370 Online: art.sdsu.edu/sdsu-downtown-gallery/ Daichendt is dean of the colleges and professor of art history at Point Loma Nazarene University. British Prime Minister Theresa Mays government was thrown into disarray Thursday as she faced a slew of resignations over her Brexit strategy and threats of a no-confidence vote in her leadership. As the British pound slipped and members of her own party questioned her ability to lead, May spoke defiantly about fighting any effort to scuttle her EU exit plan or push her from power. Leadership is about taking the right decisions, not the easy ones, she said. My job is to bring back a deal that delivers for the British people. Yet, less than 24 hours after May stood outside her 10 Downing Street residence and proclaimed she had secured the collective backing of the Cabinet for her draft agreement for Britains withdrawal from the European Union albeit with grudging support her key Brexit negotiator, Dominic Raab, stepped down, saying he could not in good conscience support the strategy the prime minister was pursuing. Advertisement Raabs resignation is seen as a potentially crippling blow to May. It was his presence in the Cabinet that had reassured any Euroskeptics in the Conservative Party that the government was pursuing a Brexit strategy that they could live with. But when the details of the final proposed agreement became public outlined in a 585-page document Raab said it became clear he could not reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country. Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 His resignation was followed quickly by that of Cabinet colleague Esther McVey, the work and pensions secretary who had been a vocal Brexit advocate in 2016 when Britons voted to quit the European Union. Anti-immigrant sentiment was a big driver of the divisive referendum vote, but its proved nearly impossible for negotiators to scrap free movement within the bloc without also disrupting those who have built lives and careers outside their home countries. We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal, McVey wrote in her resignation letter. Two junior members of Mays government along with two ministerial aides also quit amid speculation that others would soon follow. As May scrambled to save her Brexit deal, as well as her job, the pound fell sharply. Veteran Conservative lawmaker Ken Clarke described the unfolding events as the most extreme situation in Parliament Ive ever seen. Facing three hours of questioning in the House of Commons, May defended her Brexit deal. The choice is clear, she said. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated this deal. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn described Mays Brexit strategy as a botched deal that his Labor Party cannot support. Anti-Brexit campaigners unfurl a banner on Westminster Bridge in front of the Houses of Parliament in London on Thursday. (Adrian Dennis / AFP/Getty Images) The key issues triggering alarm to both the pro- and anti-EU camps relate to how to maintain frictionless trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is in the European Union, and will stay there. Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, will leave. This has long been the thorniest issue in the Brexit negotiations because it threatens to undermine the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland in the late 1990s after decades of conflict. Among other things, there are fears that any provisions to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland could create new barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., weakening the bonds that hold the U.K. together. A so-called backstop plan that has been written into the draft agreement states that the entire United Kingdom would remain part of the EU customs union if no satisfactory trade deal can be achieved. Under the backup plan, Britain could not unilaterally leave the arrangement, a condition that alarms some. Northern Ireland would also face a more restricted customs relationship with the EU than the rest of the U.K., which many lawmakers including members of Irelands Democratic Unionist Party find deeply objectionable Nigel Dodds, a Democratic Unionist Party member of Parliament, said he could walk May through the list of failed promises shes made to Northern Ireland but it would be a waste of time because she clearly doesnt listen. As the resignations mounted, questions quickly surfaced Thursday whether May would be able to keep her grip on power. Diehard Brexit proponent Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted a letter urging a no-confidence vote in her leadership of the Conservative Party. Up to a dozen other Conservative lawmakers submitted similar letters. If 48 of her lawmakers submit letters asking for one, a vote will have to take place. Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg walks in Westminster after submitting a letter calling for a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May. (Jack Taylor / Getty Images) If a majority of Conservative members of Parliament vote against her at least 158 she would be forced to resign and a leadership election would be held. At a news conference Thursday, May spoke to journalists amid the unfolding chaos. She said she believed in her Brexit plan with every fiber of my being. Am I going to see this through? Yes, she said. May knew all along that it would be difficult to push her deal through Parliament, which has to approve terms of the final Brexit agreement before Britain can pull out of the 28-member bloc, something thats supposed to occur by late March. But it is no longer clear how May can win majority support for her plan, or what alternatives remain. This is the start of a long period of rancor that will outlast Brexit day, should that occur, predicted Anand Menon, director of the think tank UK in a Changing Europe. EU leaders will meet Nov. 25 to endorse the deal. May said that her European counterparts should not be distracted by the political infighting back home, but instead see that the government is intent on working with them to deliver a good deal for the British people because I think a good deal for the U.K. is a good deal for the EU as well. Boyle is a special correspondent. UPDATES: 3:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details and background. 1:15 p.m.: This post was updated with a staff report. 7:10 a.m.: This post was updated with comments from Jacob Rees-Mogg and the latest market report. 5:30 a.m.: This post was updated with an additional ministers resignation and more details. This post was originally published at 2:05 a.m. One wore a black cowboy hat; another wore his No. 70 jersey, Coffman printed on the back. The mourners packed the Perez Family Funeral Home in Camarillo on Wednesday evening to remember Cody Coffman, who was one of a dozen killed last week when a gunman sprayed bullets into the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks during college night at the country-themed bar. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported that during the service, one of Coffmans friends recalled meeting him on the Borderline dance floor. He taught me how to two-step, a woman named Erica said during the service, the newspaper reported. Halfway through the dance he said, By the way, Im Cody. By the way, Im Erica. From then on, he was always my partner. He would always pull me out onto the floor when no other boys would. Advertisement She said Coffman had used his body to shield her from the bullets. Be ready to put others before yourself, like Cody did last week, Coffmans youth pastor said during the service, according to the Tribune. Steve Denson, father of Sarah, whose life was saved by Cody's actions: "The story isn't politics, it's that boy giving his life for others. He saved my daughter's life. He will always be a hero to me." #CodyCoffman #ThousandOaksStrong #BorderLineShooting Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) November 15, 2018 Jason Coffman told The Times last week that he woke up to the sound of banging on his door in Camarillo about 1 a.m. Thursday. He thought it was the police. It was his sons friends, who told him about the shooting. He didnt come out, Coffman, 41, said of his son. Cody Coffman was on his way to fulfilling his dream, his father said. He had plans to join the military and had been talking to recruiters. He was looking forward to being a big brother to his unborn sister and had two younger brothers, ages 6 and 8. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek China's largest online travel agency Ctrip resumed sales of group tours to Korea on Wednesday after a one-year halt but changed its mind again just a few hours later. Ctrip began selling tour packages to Korea at 2 p.m. Wednesday leaving from Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing. The five-day tours included visits to Seoul, Busan, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island. There were rumors that the Chinese government had authorized the resumption of group tours and the second and third-largest online travel agencies would soon start selling tour packages too. Beijing imposed an unofficial ban on Korean products and travels to Korea after the U.S. deployed a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery here. The ban included online sales of package tours on charter flights and cruise ships, and prohibited tour organizers from using hotels, duty-free shops and other commercial establishments of the Lotte Group, which provided the land to station the THAAD battery. China partially lifted the boycott on tours from Beijing and Shandong in December last year, followed by Hubei and Chongqing in May this year and Shanghai and Jiangsu in August, but only at offline travel agencies. When Korean media reported the resumption of online sales, Ctrip management called an urgent meeting to stop them again. A travel industry source in Beijing said, "Chinese authorities allowed the resumption of group tours to Korea, but also urged travel agencies to proceed without making a lot of noise. It looks like Ctrip grew alarmed by the media coverage." Authorities have detained a man suspected of setting off an explosion at a Tustin home Wednesday morning. The Orange County Sheriffs Department bomb squad was sent to the 12700 block of Newport Avenue after reports of a loud explosion just before 9 a.m., spokeswoman Carrie Braun said. Four condominiums in the area were evacuated. Officials found evidence that an explosive device had been set off, damaging a small area in the backyard of one of the condominiums, Braun said. Authorities think there may be another explosive device but are waiting for a search warrant before entering the home and continuing their investigation. Advertisement No injuries were reported in the incident. #OCSDPIO on scene of a possible explosive device investigation. Deputies responded to call of possible explosion in 12700 block Newport Ave in unincorporated Tustin. Newport Ave closed in both directions from Wass to Warner. OCSD Hazardous Devices on scene and investigating. pic.twitter.com/GZIk7MbU8H OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) November 14, 2018 The OCFA Hazardous Materials Response Team is assisting the OCSD Hazardous Devices with a possible explosive device investigation. This Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT) routinely train together in preparation for these types of incidents. pic.twitter.com/Wwj9tPnMKN OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) November 14, 2018 alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra A young man who jumped a woman as she loaded her car at Lindbergh Field, then stabbed her husband multiple times when he intervened, was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in state prison. Alberto Jauregui, 19, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to attempted murder causing great bodily injury. Late on the afternoon of Oct. 28, 2017, Jauregui confronted Donna Kashani and Robert Bobbett as they put items in their vehicle in a parking lot off Admiral Boland Way, on the north side of the airport between Sassafras and West Palm streets. Kashani a child psychiatrist and Bobbett who runs his own company were returning to San Diego from Washington, D.C., where they attended a conference. Advertisement Jauregui brandished a knife, grabbed the woman around the neck and demanded the keys to the couples car. Her husband intervened, suffering six stab wounds before getting the knife away from Jauregui, who ended up running off. He (Bobbett) saved my life and he saved your life by choosing not to kill you, Kashani told the defendant. Bobbett whose kidney was damaged by one of the stab wounds told Jauregui he could have killed him but he decided to show compassion. I could have slit your throat. I could have stabbed you in the brain, Bobbett told the defendant. There is no logical reason why we were attacked. You are nothing but a small detour. Bobbett who was in the hospital for six days following the attack said he has an irregular heartbeat now and has no feeling in his middle finger after Jauregui nearly sliced the top of it off. Jauregui, a U.S. citizen who was known to stay both in San Diego and Baja California, was arrested Nov. 6, 2017 after entering the San Ysidro Port of Entry from Tijuana. Before he was sentenced by Judge Polly Shamoon, Jauregui said, You guys have made a big mistake by not getting me help. The judge chastised the defendant for his behavior during the case, including laughing during the court proceedings. This was a horrible, violent and vicious attack, the judge said. An initiative that clears the San Diego Unified School District to borrow $3.5 billion won the majority vote in 85 percent of precincts, according to data from the midterm election. Some 152,500 people were in favor of the initiative, which is the largest bond in district history and its third request for extra funding in the past decade. According to the 204-page measure, the money will help the states second-largest school district improve aging classrooms and bring updated technology to the classrooms, among other things. Among precincts with more than 100 votes, Measure YY was most popular in an area of Montezuma between Montezuma Road and Aztec Walk with more than 88 percent of voters approving the bond. Registrar of Voters data show 88 percent of voters in a Chollas Park precinct, near Logan Avenue and Interstate 805, voted yes, the second highest percent among voting precincts. In a Southeastern San Diego neighborhood, near Imperial Avenue and South 28th Street, four out of every five voters approved the measure. Advertisement San Diego Unifieds bond was least popular in three Pomerado precincts, with about 60 percent of voters in each area voting no on the measure. Data show 57 percent of voters in a La Playa precinct voted against Measure YY. Click through the map below to see how your neighborhood voted. Use the search button to find your precinct by address. If the map is not displaying properly, disable ad blockers or click here The measure will add 6 cents to property tax bills for every $100 of assessed valuation, or about $300 for a home valued by the county at $500,000. The added tax will last for 39 years, costing taxpayers $7.5 billion after factoring in interest. Measure YY was advertised to voters as a way to lower lead levels in drinking water and upgrade school infrastructure to protect students from school shootings. Both the school district and bond supporters pointed to Michigans lead-in-drinking-water crisis and this years Parkland, Florida, school shooting as reasons for pursuing a third multi-billion dollar bond measure within 10 years. The measure allocates about $45 million to lowering lead levels in drinking water. Contact Lauryn Schroeder via Twitter or Email. The fate of 1,000 students at Thrive charter schools is uncertain after the San Diego Unified School District board declined to renew the four campuses at a board meeting Tuesday, citing continuously decreasing state test scores. Thrives only option now to continue operating in San Diego next school year is to seek renewal from the California Board of Education, which would likely decide on Thrives renewal in the spring. State law requires charter schools to be renewed every five years by a local or state school board in order to keep operating. It is rare for San Diego Unified to recommend that a charter school be denied renewal. In the past five years leading up to Tuesdays meeting, the district had renewed 44 charter schools and only twice recommended that a charter school be denied renewal, according to district data. Obviously, were disappointed that San Diego Unified didnt vote for us and that they didnt recognize the incredible academic and social-emotional growth of our kids, Thrive Founder and CEO Nicole Assisi said. Advertisement Thrive and Assisi have received much recognition for what Thrive says is its innovative approach to education, one that involves personalized and project-based learning. It serves grades K-11, with campuses in Oak Park, Colina de Sol and two in Linda Vista. At the school board meeting Tuesday, trustees listened to a selection of parents rave about how Thrive has served their children better than traditional public schools could have. But in the end, none of those personal testimonies or accolades could stand up to Thrives poor academic performance. San Diego Unified trustees said state law is firm about what they have to evaluate when considering a charter schools renewal: The charter school either has to be performing as well as comparable district schools on state tests, or it has to have improved its test scores over time, according to Deidre Walsh, San Diego Unifieds charter school director. The districts analysis found that Thrive met neither of those benchmarks. About 31 percent of Thrive students who took state tests this past spring met or exceeded state standards in English and 19 percent did so in math. Thrive performed worse than all but 11 percent of district schools serving K-8 in English language arts and all but 6 percent of district schools in math, according to the districts analysis. Thrives test scores have also declined every year since it opened in 2014. Where it may not capture the true value of what is happening and taking place at this school as weve already said, the school is more than a score it is the standard that we are stuck with, Trustee Mike McQuary said of the test scores at Tuesdays board meeting. At the same time trustees claimed their hands were tied in denying Thrives renewal, however, trustees said Thrive was failing to meet an extremely low bar that all but two San Diego Unified charter schools have been able to meet in the past five years. I believe that the academic success, or lack of success, in this school points to a school that has simply not met the most minimal standards for academic achievement in the time it has existed, board member Richard Barrera said. Trustees voted 4-0 to reject Thrives renewal, with board member Kevin Beiser absent. The debate surrounding Thrive alluded to a larger debate in education about how schools, and specifically charter schools, should be judged. On the side supporting Thrive were current Thrive parents, Thrive teachers and the California Charter Schools Association. On the side opposing Thrive were former Thrive parents who said they were burned by the school administration, the San Diego Unified teachers union and advocacy group In the Public Interest, which publishes research critical of privatization of government services. Thrives supporters argue that state test scores are only one way to measure school quality and that the scores do not capture all aspects of a students learning. State tests are only taken once toward the end of a school year and do not show how much a student has improved from the beginning of the year, a concept known as student growth. The school has to be looked at in its entirety, said Michelle Anderson of the California Charter Schools Association. It needs to be given time to grow and prosper and they certainly have been on the right direction and growing. Thrive has argued that its students are growing in academics, according to the schools own set of test scores. Thrive claims that 56 percent of its students are meeting growth targets in reading and 51 percent are meeting growth targets in math on a different test, called Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP. But there is no way to compare student growth between schools, because the state does not publish such data. San Diego Unified could not use Thrives growth data in its analysis of Thrives performance because the district has no way of verifying the data or using it to compare with other schools. The only academic data that is publicly available statewide and that is consistent enough to compare schools is data from the mandated state tests. We certainly think that a student is much more than a test score, but when we say much more than a test score, it doesnt mean that we disregard test scores either, board member John Lee Evans said at Tuesdays meeting. As for the schools declining state test scores, Assisi has attributed that to the large numbers of new students Thrive has brought in every year, many of whom Assisi said came to Thrive because their former schools were not effective. Thrive has grown from 45 students in 2014 and expected to grow to 1,458 students by 2023. Staff is concerned that the rapid growth over the current charter term has been a contributing factor to the declining academic results for the school, San Diego Unified staff said in its analysis of Thrive. This growth is concerning because the schools that Thrive pulls the majority of its students from and other comparison schools (including district and charter schools) are performing academically better on the state assessments and measures than Thrive. Thrive has found more favor at the state level rather than the local level in the past. After both the San Diego Unified and San Diego County boards of education denied the charter schools initial petition to open in 2014, it was the state Board of Education that finally granted the schools petition and became its authorizer. Two years later, the state board granted Thrive the approval to expand to high school. Kristen Taketa Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa More than a week after the election, the race for a Southern California seat on the state tax board remains too close to call, and the candidate leading among votes counted so far is a perennial candidate whos been disbarred twice and referred to in news coverage as a slumlord. As of Wednesday afternoon, Democrat Mike Schaefer had 1.11 million votes, compared to 1.09 million for Republican State Sen. Joel Anderson a 20,000-vote lead. Votes are still being counted in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties. Each Board of Equalization district represent around 9.5 million residents. Im confident, Schaefer said. I feel ecstatic I look forward to serving. Anderson said in an emailed statement, Whatever the voters ultimately decide will be best for the district. Advertisement The District 4 race was by far the most competitive Board of Equalization race this year and is the only one that has yet to be called. Schaefer, a former San Diego city councilman during the 1960s who lives in Coronado, has been both a Republican and Democrat, and has racked up electoral bids over the past several decades in Maryland, Nevada, Los Angeles and San Francisco. He told a reporter in Palm Springs that he would be so surprised if he won a mayoral bid there, he would demand a recount. An attorney and businessman by trade, Schaefer had legal dust-ups during his council days. He was indicted and acquitted in the 1970 Yellow Cab bribery scandal. He also made the news while living in Los Angeles in the 1980s. A judge ordered him to pay former tenants of one of his apartment units $1.8 million. The Los Angeles Times wrote an extensive profile on him at the time calling him a slumlord extraordinaire. Schaefer said the conflict stemmed from having gang members around and living in the property, as well as issues related to being unable to hire security guards or get contractors who could adequately complete the needed building repairs. Then in the 2000s Schaefer was disbarred in Nevada for violating a rule requiring fairness to opposing counsel and party, filing a frivolous complaint and refusing to pay court-ordered sanctions, and making false statements in an affidavit filed with the court. California followed suit. Theyre hunters, Schaefer said of the bar. My clients loved me, I was not only competent but beloved. Meanwhile Anderson has not escaped controversy either. While a member of the California State Assembly, Anderson was fined $20,000 in 2009 for breaking the law by accepting campaign contributions in excess of the legal limit. At the time he told the Union-Tribune, You know what? I made the mistakes, and I corrected them as quickly as possible. We didnt spend the money. Once I realized there was a mistake, we went straight to the FPPC and tried to reconcile it. Then in September of this year Anderson now a state senator was reprimanded by the Senate after a legislative investigation found it likely he threatened to bitch slap a female lobbyist at a Capitol-area bar. At the time of the reprimand, Anderson said that he regretted his word choice, and the words were not directed at the lobbyist in question. The investigation said Anderson did not physically attempt to strike the lobbyist. Despite their issues, both Schaefer, 80, and Anderson, 58, were not deterred from running for a seat on the Board of Equalization seat, a seat lacking an incumbent after incumbent Diane Harkey opted to run for the House of Representatives in Californias 49th Congressional District. Anderson appeared to be the favorite after emerging from a field of seven candidates during the June primary, capturing 31.2 percent of the vote. Schaefer, by contrast, placed second with 17 percent of the vote. The San Diego County Democratic Party didnt endorse Schaefer even after the primary or offer him any other support. Although the board is still responsible for setting certain taxes and overseeing county property assessments, it is a shell of its former self after a series of audits in early 2017 showed widespread mismanagement. In response to the audits, state lawmakers decided to shift most of the boards responsibilities and employees to the Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the states Office of Administrative Hearings. Those offices now operate dozens of tax and fee programs, and the states tax court respectively. Assuming the results hold, Schaefer is very excited to join the tax board, seeing it as a good way he can help. He said one of the first things he would like to do on the board is see board members cut their salaries. Harkey was paid more than $142,000 last year, according to the open government website Transparent California. We should knock our salary down 50 percent, Schaefer said. Half of the responsibilities have been taken away because of mismanagement. I dont want to see the taxpayers paying for a big job that is not a big job. Students at Paradise Hills Elementary School were briefly evacuated after smoke with an electrical smell was reported in a classroom early Thursday afternoon. Students and staff at the school on Alleghany Street near Rancho Drive reported smelling smoke inside a classroom shortly after noon, said Maureen Magee, a spokeswoman for San Diego Unified School District. No fire was seen. San Diego police and fire crews were sent to the school. Firefighters determined there was no fire but an issue with an electrical fan on the schools roof, a San Diego Fire-Rescue spokeswoman said. Students were dismissed on time for a regularly scheduled minimum day, Magee said. Advertisement Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com A man suspected of attacking his wife with a pickaxe and then holing up in a La Jolla home was taken into custody Thursday when he emerged from the residence after apparently setting a fire inside, San Diego police said. The woman reported the attack at the home on Ellentown Road near Horizon Way about 10:40 a.m., police said. She originally said her husband had hit her with a hatchet, but officers later reported the weapon was a pickaxe. Officers arrived and located the woman, who managed to get out of the house on her own, police said. Its unclear if she was injured. She declined medical treatment. Police tried to persuade the man to come outside, but he refused. At one point, a family psychologist and the mans father were at the residence. Advertisement At some point, the man apparently started a fire inside the house and emerged a short time later. When he opened a door, smoke billowed out of the home, police said. He was taken into custody without incident. Its unclear what charges he will face. Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: This story was originally published at 12:10 p.m. The Union-Tribune profiles a wanted suspect each week in an effort to make our community safer. We partner with Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement to prole known fugitives as well as draw attention to unsolved crimes. This weeks wanted suspect: Jennifer Michelle Kidd, 43 Wanted: Kidd is wanted by the San Diego Fugitive Task Force on a $100,000 warrant on suspicion of assaulting a peace officer and child endangerment. She has no criminal history. Description: White, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 140 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. Frequented areas: She is known to frequent the North County area. Advertisement If you have information about this persons whereabouts, you can report it anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Anonymous texts or web tips can also be sent at sdcrimestoppers.com. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. A 92-year-old man is suspected of shooting and killing his 51-year-old son Wednesday evening inside their Old Town home, San Diego police said. A woman reported the incident about 6:20 p.m., telling a 911 dispatcher that her elderly neighbor was calling for help and saying he had shot his son, San Diego police homicide Lt. Matt Dobbs said. Officers arrived at the home on Juan Street near San Juan Road a few minutes later and found Robert Peck dead of a gunshot wound, Dobbs said. The father, identified as Richard Peck, was detained across the street. He was later booked into jail on a murder charge. Detectives are still working to determine what what led to the shooting. Advertisement The home the men shared is a few blocks from Old Towns tourist district, and less than a quarter-mile up a steep hill from Heritage County Park and the Mormon Battalion Historic Site. Anyone with information about the shooting death was asked to call the homicide unit at (619) 531-2293, or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: Nov. 15, 2:25 p.m.: This article was updated with the names of the victim and the suspect. 10:10 p.m.: This article was updated with details about the shooting, suspect and victim. This article was originally published at 7:05 p.m. President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that he wants to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit Seoul is hosting next year. The summit was launched in 2009 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of relations between South Korea and ASEAN member countries. The second was held in 2014. Moon made the comments during the ASEAN Summit in Singapore, in response to a suggestion by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. "If the political situation on the Korean Peninsula becomes more peaceful, I will actively consider inviting Chairman Kim," Moon said. Kim has never attended any international summit. Moon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit in Singapore. Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said, "The two leaders discussed their opinions on a comprehensive easing of sanctions" against North Korea. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is scrambling to shore up the support she needs to become speaker again, just days after she led her party to retake the chamber for the first time since 2010. A small but increasingly vocal faction of Democratic defectors say fresh leadership is needed to ensure rank-and-file members are heard. They claim they have enough Democrats ready to prevent Pelosi who has led her caucus for 16 years from regaining the gavel, but they declined to release all their names. On Thursday, Pelosi brushed off the threat and said she has the votes needed to win the speakership, which will be determined in a January vote on the House floor. She hinted that sexism may be playing a role in the effort, saying that 14 of the 17 lawmakers who have reportedly signed a letter in opposition to her are men. Youd have to ask them. If, in fact, there is any misogyny involved in it, its their problem, not mine, Pelosi said. I enjoy a tremendous amount of support from the women in our caucus, from the new members who are women in our caucus. And so I get the upside, I think, of being a woman. Advertisement Pelosis critics deny that sexism a factor. This is not about Nancy Pelosi being a woman, said Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), one of the lawmakers promising to vote no, pointing to some of the newly elected representatives who have also pledged to vote no. These are all strong, intelligent women who won really difficult races. And they should not be disrespected that way. There are other women to support in this caucus who are perfectly capable of being in leadership. Depending on how the final uncalled House races are decided, Pelosi can lose no more than 12 to 19 votes. The numbers are extremely close, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who is backing Pelosi. Im concerned about the situation... Democrats being Democrats, we like a good fight. We just wouldnt be Democrats without some drama. Pelosi has faced rebellion in the Democratic ranks before and always managed to emerge on top. But this time the struggle could be more difficult. So far no one has declared their intention to directly challenge Pelosi. But Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) said she is considering. According to a tally of public comments, 12 newly elected members have pledged to vote against Pelosi in the speakers race, which will be decided as the first vote in the new Congress in January. Some have made ironclad promises to oppose her under any circumstances, and others have made less strident promises. Another dozen incumbents are expected to vote no, according to public statements and sources whipping against Pelosi. But it is unclear whether that opposition will hold and if it is actually enough to deny her the speakership. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) is one of several lawmakers gathering signatures on the letter of opposition, which he hopes will persuade Pelosi to step aside and allow new Democrats to assume leadership roles. The Huffington Post this week said 17 names are already on the letter. Both Moulton and Rice suggested that there are more ready to get on the letter. Moulton said he plans to release the letter before a Nov. 28 closed-door Democratic meeting where the party will select the person it will put forward as speaker on the House floor. The whole point of the letter is to accelerate the process so it doesnt spill out onto the floor, Moulton said, suggesting he doesnt want Democrats to be embarrassed by losing a vote live on television. Shes the one who is trying to drive this to a floor vote. We want to make it clear before it comes to that that she should step aside. Pelosi allies have been whipping members to support her and have released letters outlining her fundraising and legislative prowess. In the last 15 years, she has raised $728 million for Democratic members and in the last election cycle, she raised about half of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees spending. Among those circulating letters of support: the head of Emilys List, a group that helps female candidates who support abortion rights and that backed the vast majority of the new female members; leaders of the healthcare group Protect Our Care; and the heads of several labor groups. Support has also come from fellow members who are expected to lead committees, including Reps. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, Nydia M. Velazquez of New York and Eliot L. Engel of New York. Supporters argue that Pelosi has more than proved herself an effective leader and is ready to stand up to President Trump or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Weve got a battle-tested leader at the top, and Im hoping that she will absolutely win, said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a close Pelosi ally. Shes been in the room where it happens. She really understands, as one of the smartest strategists Ive ever seen even in the minority she has managed to run circles around the Republicans. The question is, Schakowsky said, will some minority of the Democratic caucus try to sideline her on the floor, which I think will be very destructive. Publicly rebuking Pelosi could have significant consequences if she does ultimately win the speakership. She will help determine committee assignments and which bills get to the floor, among other decisions that could make life easier or more difficult for freshman members. Pelosi has strategies in her arsenal as she pursues the majority votes she will need on the House floor. There are 435 members of the House; if all races are decided and every member votes, shell need 218 in her favor. She can ask those who oppose her to vote present instead of casting a vote for someone else. A present vote would essentially count as if that member did not vote at all instead of a vote against her, reducing the total number of votes shell need. Pelosi allies say members who promised they would not vote for her could also live up to that pledge by voting against her in the Democratic secret ballot, but then reluctantly vote for her on the floor or vote present when the only other choice would likely be a Republican. But even some Pelosi allies acknowledge that would be politically difficult. Its going to be tough if the first on the very first day, on TV, out loud, you have to renege on that promise, said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). New members say they are already being hounded for votes in the various leadership elections that Democrats will hold after Thanksgiving. The speakers race is definitely the topic of conversation that everyone is having at new-member orientation, which began Tuesday, said Rep.-elect Katie Hill, who came out in support of Pelosi on Thursday. Pelosis allies blame Republicans who have spent years and millions of dollars campaigning against her for forcing Democratic candidates to pledge to oppose her. Such campaigns have taken a toll on Pelosis public approval. Among Democrats, 23% support Pelosi for speaker, according to a Monmouth University poll released Wednesday. Thirty-six percent prefer someone else, and 41% have no opinion. Times staff writer Sarah D. Wire in Washington contributed to this report. The latest from Washington jennifer.haberkorn@latimes.com @jenhab UPDATES: 2:10 p.m., Nov. 15: This article was updated with Pelosis comments. 3:40 p.m.: This article was updated with an estimate of those planning to oppose Pelosi. 3:20 p.m.: This article was updated with Fudges comments. 10:20 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from Beyer, Hill and others. This article was originally published at 6:45 a.m. Nov. 14 State utility regulators approved a settlement of the long-running fight over who should pay for the failed San Onofre nuclear plant back in July, when they agreed to slice $775 million from the billions of dollars in closure costs originally charged to electricity customers. Now the California Public Utilities Commission is asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals not to dismiss the federal lawsuit contesting the settlement, and instead to send it back to a lower court for further review. Commission lawyers said the $5.4 million in attorney fees that would be paid to Aguirre & Severson are unreasonable. The San Diego law firm spent years challenging the 2014 decision to charge customers 70 percent of the $4.7 billion in estimated closure costs. The plant north of Oceanside shut down amid a radiation leak in January 2012, caused by abnormal tube wear in a replacement steam generator. If Aguirre & Severson is allowed to accept millions in legal fees, the commissions intervenor compensation program which rewards consumer advocates who contribute to commission decisions affecting utility rates would be undermined, commission lawyers argued. Advertisement The commission attorneys said regulators were never a party to the settlement, which was announced early this year and already resulted in savings for utility customers. Instead, the commission approved a settlement between utility companies that owned the plant and consumer advocates who represented the ratepaying public. The CPUC thus opposes this motion to dismiss on the limited basis that it prejudices the CPUCs exclusive ratemaking authority and duty to ensure the due process rights of all parties in CPUC proceedings and is contrary to public policy, the commission lawyers wrote. Commission spokeswoman Terrie Prosper did not respond to questions about the state agencys legal strategy. Aguirre & Severson is headed by former San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre and partner Maria Severson, who sued the commission and majority plant owner Southern California Edison in 2014 over the charges to consumers. They argued that assigning consumers $3.3 billion of the estimated $4.7 billion in closure costs was an illegal taking of property because customers were being charged for power that was no longer being produced. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2015, and the 9th Circuit agreed to hear an appeal the following year. In response to the commissions request to delay closing the case, Aguirre & Severson said the commission left key facts out of its motion. The lawyers pointed out that it makes no mention of an undisclosed meeting between former commission president Michael Peevey and a Southern California Edison executive, who met in a Warsaw luxury hotel in 2013 to sketch out a framework of the deal to assign billions in closure costs to customers. The meeting was disclosed in an official filing by the utility after a January 2015 report in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Edison was later fined $16.7 million for failing to report the Warsaw meeting as required two years earlier. The $5.4 million in attorney fees at issue is less than 1 percent of the savings that consumer will realize under the settlement, Severson told the federal court. And the cost will be paid by Edison shareholders -- not utility customers, she said. Severson pointed out that the commission also failed to acknowledge to federal judges that it was under criminal investigation for its handling of the San Onofre closure -- a case that was opened by the California Attorney Generals Office but has resulted in no criminal charges. Mike Aguirre (U-T files) The CPUC also ignores that it is accused of misconduct in its proceedings, requiring federal plaintiffs to seek redress in federal court, she wrote. The CPUC should focus on eliminating unlawful ex parte meetings by its officials, not interfering with those settlements reached by litigants who exposed their misconduct. After the 9th Circuit judges agreed to hear the appeal, Aguirre began settlement talks with Edison. The two parties struck a deal that was subsequently approved by every other consumer group and stakeholder in the commissions San Onofre case. In March, however, the commission granted limited party status to the San Diego nonprofit Public Watchdogs, which opposed the settlement. Charles Langley, the Public Watchdogs executive director, said the settlement was improper because it was reached in secret and it allowed Edison to keep charging customers for its own mistakes. Langley also said the fees to be paid to Aguirre & Severson were too high. This settlement is a cover-up of a multibillion-dollar ratepayer swindle, Langley said. The attorneys got $5.4 million and the public got the shaft. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to rule on the motion. Previously jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald A 15-year civilian employee at Naval Base Coronado is suing the U.S. Navy, claiming her supervisors tolerated long-running sexual-harassment and then demoted her instead of the alleged harasser. Debora Allen said her supervisor and others failed to respond appropriately to harassment that began five years ago. According to the U.S. District Court complaint, a manager at North Island Naval Air Station repeatedly stared at her breasts and made moaning sounds and sexual comments even though she directed him to stop. When Allen, 47, confronted the manager, 66, he responded by saying, Oops! Im lonely; its been a while for me and my wife, the lawsuit states. Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office in San Diego, which is defending the lawsuit, said it could not comment on the allegations. The legal complaint alleges that the managers behavior escalated in recent years. In April 2017, he allegedly pushed his entire body and genitals against plaintiff, the suit states, adding that he paired this unwanted touching with sexually harassing statements including Oh yes, keep pushing me or words to that effect. Allen reported the allegations to the Navy Region Southwest and Coronado police departments, the lawsuit said, but the situation was not resolved. The suit accuses two supervisors of failing to intervene to stop the harassment, saying they continued to allow the managers access to Allens workspace, which caused her severe anxiety and stress and prompted her to seek treatment. Allen was an operations assistant on the base beginning in early 2003. Last year one of the supervisors offered Allen a position in dining services that would limit her contact with the manager but she rejected the offer because it was two levels below her operations position, the lawsuit says. In March, Allen was told she was being transferred to the job anyway. She cant afford to quit so shes still there, said attorney Joshua Gruenberg, who represents Allen. She has done nothing wrong. The complaint names Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer and the U.S. Navy as defendants. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald Americans like their tax refunds. Refunds are good for tax administration, too. Plenty of evidence shows that tax compliance is higher when taxpayers see refunds on their tax returns. But millions of Americans looking forward to their tax refunds are about to be disappointed, even upset. They will not see their expected refunds when they file their returns in 2019. Even worse, many will be required to pay extra taxes. Why the change? The Republicans push to sell their tax law to the American public is the culprit. The tax law signed by President Trump in December of 2017 made many changes to the tax code. The standard deduction increased, but the personal exemptions disappeared. Business owners got a rate cut but the deduction for state and local taxes shrunk. Mortgage interest deduction became less generous, but child credit expanded. Because of all these changes and many others, the withholding form that every American employee filed with his or her employer became outdated when 2018 arrived. Employers needed new information from employees to keep the refunds roughly the same. But getting this information would take time. And Republicans wanted American workers to see tax savings from the 2017 tax law in their paychecks right away, before the 2018 midterm elections whether these savings were real or not. Advertisement So the IRS took a leap of faith, came up with an updated withholding schedule as best it could, and told employers to follow it going forward. The IRS then tried to convince Americans to do a paycheck checkup using its new withholding calculator to make sure that the employers withholding is not grossly off the mark. Well-intentioned, but how realistic? Democrats had doubts about the Republican tax strategy all along. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the highest ranking Democrat on the Senate tax-writing committee, warned all the way back in January that the Trump administration is tampering with Americans paychecks, resulting in a whopping tax bill next year. The Trump administration dismissed these concerns as ridiculous. At first, it seemed that the rushed implementation of the new tax law was not going to create a big problem. At Democrats request, the Government Accountability Office evaluated the new withholding regime and issued a report in July. The report concluded that the number of taxpayers who will have to pay extra tax rather than get a refund may increase by 3 million in 2018. Not chump change, but nothing earth-shattering either given the total of 150 million returns filed. But last month a new report became public. This one came from the IRS Information Reporting Advisory Committee. And this new report drops a few troubling hints. The IRS decision not to wait until employers obtain the necessary information from the employees, the report explains, may cause a significant number of taxpayers to be under-withheld when they file their 2018 personal income tax returns. The IRS calculator, it turns out, did not exactly catch fire. Despite the IRSs efforts to inform taxpayers to check their withholding and encourage the use of the calculator on the IRS website, usage of the calculator through completion has been minimal because of the complexity (per IRS comments). How concerned is the Advisory Committee about a major increase in the number of under-withheld taxpayers who will have to pay extra tax during the filing season? Concerned enough to officially recommend that the IRS waive penalties for under-withholding. Thats right, if you did nothing during 2018 about your taxes at all, you may end up owing not just extra taxes, but penalties as well all because the IRS decided to rely on the old forms that you may have given to your employer years ago. The idea, of course, was for you to start seeing a lot more money in your paycheck as soon as possible, as Trump said. Unfortunately, all that money can come right out of your bank account in a few months, and then some. If the IRS Advisory Committee is worried, you should be as well. So do yourself a favor check that IRS withholding calculator. You may need to cut back on your holiday shopping after that. Raskolnikov is Wilbur H. Friedman Professor of Tax Law at Columbia Law School. All persons born and naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. (The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.) Related: Birthright citizenship: Bedrock principle is good for America President Trump is correct to challenge birthright citizenship. As we commemorate 150 years since the 14th Amendments passage in 1868, it is long overdue for our nation to conform to the true intent of the subject to the jurisdiction clause which confers United States citizenship. It is unknown to most Americans that prior to the adoption of the 14th Amendment, United States Attorneys General Caleb Cushing in 1856, and Jeremiah Black in 1859, both wrote that the doctrine of perpetual allegiance, or citizenship determined by the soil, is inadmissible in the United States. They concluded, at the time of the Revolution our nations founders rejected regal government and feudal law. Advertisement Rep. John Bingham and Sen. Jacob Howard, the chief authors of the 14h Amendments subject to the jurisdiction clause, stated it grants citizenship for a birth to a parent who is under complete jurisdiction, who owes allegiance to our nation. They stated the clause does not apply to someone who is subject in some degree to the political or civil jurisdiction. Five years after the amendments passage on Dec. 1, 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant proclaimed in his State of the Union address, The United States had led the way in the overthrow of the feudal doctrine of perpetual allegiance. President Trump is upholding President Grants and the nations original understanding that the 14th Amendment ended birthright citizenship. In 1898, the Wong Kim Ark decision granted citizen births to Chinese parents who, under the Emperor of China, were prohibited from becoming citizens of other countries. The Ark decision concluded, the words subject to the jurisdiction thereof in the Fourteenth Amendment must be presumed to have been intended by Congress , to mean the same as the words in the case of The Exchange. This case precedence confirms inadmissible aliens are not subject to complete jurisdiction. United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, the principal founder of our constitutional law system, authored The Exchange decision in 1812. Chief Justice Marshall wrote of the distinction between civil and territorial jurisdiction; persons residing with the nations consent are under civil jurisdiction. Justice Marshall clarified, But if the property of an alien, be forcibly carried within the territory, no consent is implied, and consequently there is no ground for jurisdiction. The case confirms jurisdiction over things and persons is the same. Wong Kim Ark cited defining precedence from The Exchange, the whole civilized world concurred that a foreigner is not understood as intending to subject himself to a jurisdiction absent his document proving the nations consent. The justices understood an alien under territorial jurisdiction, without this document, is subject to arrest and detention. Compliant with that legal precedent, Wong Kim Ark decided, Chinese persons are entitled to the protection of, and owe allegiance to, the United States so long as they are permitted by the United States to reside here ... In the 2012 Congressional Research Service report to Congress, Margaret Mikyung Lee omitted this crucially significant section, imprecisely writing, The holding does not make a distinction between illegal and legal presence ... Clearly, the justices conditioned granting citizenship to children whose parents were residing lawfully with permission, signifying doubt this ruling would be granted to aliens without legal presence. Six Wong Kim Ark justices wrongfully declared the congressional debates that govern the accurate meaning of subject to the jurisdiction, were inadmissible. Opposing that misjudgment, Chief Justice Fuller and Justice Harlan, a renowned civil rights activist, dissented from this ruling. They concurred with the governments case, to grant citizenship to children of parents ineligible to become citizens defies the Constitutions evident meaning of jurisdiction. President Trumps administration can also initiate a court challenge concerning citizen births of birth tourists and inadmissible aliens, which can ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. There is confidence a majority of the justices will comply with the 14ths original intent, and the conclusive jurisdiction decisions of John Marshall, the most revered Supreme Court Justice in American history. Congress must follow the relevant words of former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, A refusal to consider reliable evidence of original intent in the Constitution is no more excusable than a judges refusal to consider legislative intent. All Wong Kim Ark justices concurred a citizen is born to a parent who is, or is eligible to become, a U.S. citizen. This is how Congress can legislatively define citizenship by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to follow the correct intent of the Fourteenth Amendments authors. When Congress adheres to this intelligent, common-sense intent, the United States of America will at last, no longer practice feudal law and no longer silence the Founding Fathers. Hilton, a San Diego resident, advocates for entitlement and immigration reforms. Re Thousand Oaks shooting leaves 13 people dead, including gunman, and 18 injured (Nov. 8): Another shooting and what have we learned? Existing gun laws are not working, the police are not always able to protect you and the killers usually broadcast their violent beliefs in advance on social media. How about a law that matches up gun ownership with those that post dangerous rhetoric and put a public warning notice on every one of their postings? We cant stop their free speech, but we should be able to put them on notice that their views and weapons put the public at risk. Bill Graffius Scripps Ranch Advertisement We pride ourselves on being a nation of laws, yet a gun law that can save many lives has been unattainable because of the National Rifle Associations financial and political stranglehold on Republicans. Now that Democrats will be the majority in the House and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom is a gun-control advocate, it is essential for them to promote and pass a sane gun-control law. Bunny Landis Oceanside Bonnie Cannon Temecula In Thousand Oaks, the same cries: Why? How to return to normal? How can we prevent this in the future? There is no answer except serious gun regulation. Strong laws nationwide preventing gun sales apart from stringent criminal and psychiatric checks. Gun licenses only if you pass, revocable with harsh penalities for breach of license terms. Secure storage of guns not in use. Harsh penalities for conveying licensed guns to others. Limited grace period to license existing guns; penalties for not doing so. Complete ban on military weapons, e.g. assault rifles. Then we might perhaps join civilized nations regarding gun control. Hunting and target shooting would remain OK for licensees. The next Thousand Oaks would become less likely. 2nd Amendment? With a well-regulated militia... ignored by the Supreme Court, a new amendment is needed. Keep courage. Once there was the Dred Scott court decision. The 14th Amendment eventually prevailed. Robert Knox Del Mar Heights 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. We can only stretch our resources so far As thousands of migrants from Central and South America make their way toward the United States, we cant help but feel compassion for their plight. However, in this era of severe drought, climate change, exploding population and crumbling infrastructure, we must consider a more pragmatic approach . Each new arrival will require, as do we, their 80-100 gallons of water per day. Each pound of beef they consume will require 2400 gallons of water just to raise and process it. They, like us, will drive cars that, on average,will pump 20 pounds of carbon monoxide into the air for each gallon of gasoline burned. It is a quandary that pushes and pulls us in two conflicting directions but we can rescue only a very limited number of seekers of Lifeboat America. Warren Dunn Advertisement Oceanside Re Wealthy Nation can afford to be welcoming (Nov 15). The letter writer implies we have more money than we know what to do with. Does the country, state, county and city have extra money? Or we can just raise our taxes. Then she compares us to other smaller countries in size. We have most of our population living on the two coasts. We have major housing issues here in San Diego, as well as other communities in our state. Are they going to live in the desert? She makes a statement that other smaller countries, have taken in many times the number we can absorb. According to a 2015 U.N. Report on Refugees, United States has 19 percent of all Refugees at over 46 million. Next on the list has 12 million. I think we as a country have shown that we are very open and care for our fellow humans, wherever they may come from. Roy Franklin Alpine Why cant migrants just fix their countries? Re Migrant caravan arrives: Nation wrestles with the ramifications (Nov. 14): Thousands of people, fleeing corruption and other dangers in their own countries, are marching to the United States, threatening to overwhelm our borders. My question to them is, why dont they try fixing the problems in their own countries. We did in 1776. Richard M. Kemplin Poway 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. Future plans? My compliments to Poway Mayor Steve Vaus, who has successfully maneuvered Caylin Frank to be a permanent member of his posse at City Hall. I believe she is well qualified to serve. Ms. Frank is a senior policy advisor for County Supervisor Bill Horn. She comes from a successful, proactive political family in the county. I believe she is very knowledgeable about the political dynamics in San Diego County and would be a very valuable asset for anyone seeking most any office in the county. Supervisor Diane Jacob will be termed out in two years. Could our good mayor be positioning himself to run for her seat, or maybe a state or federal spot? How likely could it be we could ultimately have Supervisor Steve Vaus and Mayor Caylin Frank? With a continuing lack of leadership on the disastrous Espola Road project and the lackluster community pool project, I wonder if a someone with a cowboy hat and without any cattle is really ready for prime time? Tom Yarnall Poway Thanks for support The 12th annual Once Upon a Halloween in Old Poway Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, was a resounding success, thanks to its many supporters and volunteers from all segments of the region. More than 8,000 guests attended the four-hour event, which featured a haunted house, costume parade, carnival games, train rides, duck races, a pie eating contest, scary stories, pony rides, thriller dancers, great food and a replica of the Ectomobile from the original Ghostbusters movie. A heartfelt thank you to the following for their hours of effort to make it all happen: Acme Brothers, Bryan Fear and his Ectomobile, City of Poway staff and reserve park rangers, Del Norte High School Key Club and drama program, Friends of the Poway Library, Golden Spoon Yogurt/Old Poway Village, Living Way Church, Loretta Gibson, Miss Poway and her court, Mt. Carmel High School Key Club and drama program, San Diego Padres volunteers, Old School Skaters, Poway Arts & Crafts Guild, Poway High School student, Poway Historical and Memorial Society, Poway Midland Railroad, Poway Womans Club, PowPAC, Poways Community Theatre, Rubios Poway, Studio K, Scripps Ranch High School Drama Department, The Ledford Family, Thriller Dancers, Torrey Powers, Tracey Van Putten, Twin Peaks Middle School Builders Club, Westview High School Drama Department and the many community volunteers without whose participation this event would not have been possible. Lynn Wolsey Ted Dawson Event Co-Chairs No one listens When I heard about the shooting in Pittsburgh, I was trying to figure out why someone would hate a group of people because of their faith. It didnt make any sense to me. Then I read your Nov. 1 story on the candlelight vigil at Temple Adat Shalom. There were remarks by Mrs. Blumenthal, who herself is a survivor of another atrocity. She said President Trump and the Republicans are contributing to all this hate by not allowing illegal immigrates just to enter our country without any vetting. I think for a 93-year-old woman, she should have more sense to be able to tell the difference between illegal and legal immigration. No one has a problem with immigration as long as rules and laws of this country are followed. We are all immigrates, if you want to get right down to it. Maybe that is the reason for all the problems right now. No one listens to what is really being said. We all want to put our own twist on it to get our way and make the other guy wrong. Evie Holland Poway Email: editor@pomeradonews.com Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. North Korea has been telling its people that it will not give up nuclear weapons even after the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in September, according to the Radio Free Asia on Wednesday. Jiro Ishimaru of Osaka-based AsiaPress International told RFA, "Even after Kim met with [U.S. President Donald] Trump, progress on a peace treaty has been slow. So Kim must feel the need to assure people domestically that he has no intention to let go of nuclear weapons." North Korean propaganda media have been criticizing a new South Korea-U.S. working group that will review inter-Korean projects to see if they violate international sanctions. Toyota suffered a severe cash crunch during the global financial crisis 10 years ago but achieved record sales from April to September of this year. Operating profit rose 15 percent compared to the same period of last year, resulting in the operating margin soaring to 8.6 percent. Toyota is also now a market leader in hybrid cars and self-driving vehicles. After suffering a W5 trillion loss in 2008 compounded by a global recall, Toyota's CEO was even grilled at a U.S. congressional hearing. But a decade on the carmaker has returned to its former glory. When Toyota was in the doldrums, Korean carmakers had a field day. Hyundai and affiliate Kia saw soaring demand around the world and managed to rise to the ranks of the top five automakers in the world in 2014. Their operating profits rose from W2 trillion just before the crisis to W12 trillion in 2012, while the operating margin rose to 11.4 percent. For a moment Hyundai looked poised to overtake Toyota, but the strong performance did not last. After peaking in 2015, Hyundai's operating margin fell to a mere 1.2 percent in the third quarter of this year, less than one-seventh of Toyota's. And its production volume, which soared to around 8 million vehicles, shrank to around 7.5 million. Their fates have been reversed. Toyota's revival is the result of cooperation between the government, management and labor. Management strove to improve quality and production processes while responding quickly to soaring demand for SUVs. The labor union voluntarily announced a wage freeze for four years, continuing 56 years without strikes, while the government kept the yen low so Japanese products would become cheaper to buy overseas. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also use diplomacy to open new markets for Japanese businesses. There was no magic involved. Everything was simply common sense. But Hyundai went the opposite way. Management failed to respond to market needs and trends and spent a whopping W10 trillion to buy land for a new headquarters it did not need (US$1=W1,136). Spoiled unionized workers continue to strike for higher pay, causing their employer more than W7 trillion in production losses over the last five years alone. The government, meanwhile, has failed to tame militant unions and bring in more flexible labor market conditions. The average annual wage at Korea's top five automakers now stands at W90 million, way higher than the W84 million at Toyota. Labor costs compared to sales reached 12 percent, double the size of Toyota's. Yet productivity remains at a global low. It does not take a rocket scientist to see what is going wrong here. Lewes, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/15/2018 -- Global HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) market will register a 3.1% CAGR in terms of revenue, reach US$ 500 million by 2023, from US$ 420 million in 2017. HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) include a pump at the surface to send the power fluid down hole, a gas, diesel or electric engine to drive the pump, and a system for storing, treating and delivering the power fluid (produced oil or water) for use by the down hole pump . The global consumption of HPS products rises up from 2301 units in 2011 to 2676 units in 2015, with an average annual growth rate of 4.08%. At the same time, the revenue of world HPS sales market has a leap from 389.45 million dollar to 427.44 million dollar. The reason causes this increase is the growing demand for the HPS products, which is the outcome of the downstream industries are in a good situation. Although sales of HPS products bring a lot of opportunities, the study group recommends the new entrants who just have money but without technical advantage, raw materials advantage and downstream support, do not enter into the HPS field hastily. Over the next five years, Study projects that HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) will register a 3.1% CAGR in terms of revenue, reach US$ 500 million by 2023, from US$ 420 million in 2017. This report studies the global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa, focuses on the top 5 players in each region, with sales, price, revenue and market share from 2013 to 2018, the top players: Schlumberger Baker Hughes GE Borets Weatherford Novomet Dover National Oilwell Varco SPI HOSS Summit ESP Canadian Advanced ESP Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales, revenue, market share of top players in these regions, from 2013 to 2018 (forecast), like North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Korea) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia etc.) South America (Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina) Middle East and Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia) Split by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided into Under 100 HP 100-600 HP Above 600 HP Split by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate in each application, can be divided into Industrial Oil & Natural Gas Mining Spanning over 140 pages "Forecast of Global HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Market 2023" report covers HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Market Overview, Global HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Sales, Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Players, Global HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Sales, Revenue (Value) by Regions, Type and Application (2013-2018), North America Top 5 Players HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Sales, Revenue and Price, Europe Top 5 Players HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Sales, Revenue and Price, Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Sales, Revenue and Price, South America Top 5 Players HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Sales, Revenue and Price, Middle East & Africa Top 5 Players HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Sales, Revenue and Price, Global HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Players Profiles/Analysis, Global HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Market Forecast (2018-2023), HPS (Horizontal Surface Pumps) Manufacturing Cost Analysis, Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders, Market Effect Factors Analysis, Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix. Please visit this link for more details: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/mrrpb2/forecast-global-hps-horizontal-surface-pumps-market-2023 Find all Industry and Manufacturing Reports at: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/industry-manufacturing For related reports please visit: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/search/site/Horizontal%2520Surface%2520Pump Read our Interactive Market Research Blog About MarketResearchReprots.com MarketResearchReprots.com is world's largest store offering quality market research, SWOT analysis, competitive intelligence and industry reports. We help Fortune 500 to Start-Ups with the latest market research reports on global & regional markets which comprise key industries, leading market players, new products and latest industry analysis & trends. Contact us for your market research requirements: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/contact Essington, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/15/2018 -- Philadelphia Security Products and their All Padlocks storefront features ABUS File Cabinet Lock Bars to protect valuable files from unauthorized access. The heavy-gauge coated steel lock bars have simple instructions for installation on any steel file cabinet with a minimum of " frame next to each drawer, with a parallel side bar construction. Choose the model most appropriate for each individual application, each securing up to five file cabinet drawers. ABUS File Cabinet Lock Bars are in stock, and they're easy to install. Most orders ship in one day, so be sure to stock up on the best lock bars available. Things to consider when choosing a file cabinet lock bar should include ease of installation, whether or not it is a correct fit, and whether or not it is well-built. There are various ways a filing cabinet can be installed, which creates a need for a versatile locking system that fits different sizes of filing cabinets that is easy to install. If it's complicated or it requires constant maintenance, odds are it will be more of a pain than a straightforward lock bar like the ABUS File Cabinet Lock Bars. Philadelphia Security Products offers safety lockout padlocks, cable locks and cables, all weather padlocks, hidden shackle padlocks, and even bluetooth padlocks for wireless access to locking mechanisms. To learn more about the ABUS File Cabinet Lock Bar, or to buy safety lockout padlocks, visit their website at www.allpadlocks.com or call 800-831-1497. To request a quote, please fill out a Request Quotation form. About Philadelphia Security Products, Inc. Philadelphia Security Products, Inc. is an industrial distributor and wholesaler that sells leading security hardware for manufacturers including Abus Lock, American Lock, and Master Lock. They provide their customers with all types of security hardware such as padlocks, file cabinet lock bars, safety lockout padlocks and devices, security chain, hasps, and much more. In 1985, PSPI created the Flexguard Security System which is anti-theft security hardware form computers and small electronic devices. On top of the friendly and efficient customer service they provide, this company offers competitive prices in Southeast Pennsylvania, as well as all of North America. To learn more, visit https://allpadlocks.com/. Archaeologists in Greece have unearthed what they believe are the remnants of the long-lost ancient city of Tenea. Tenea was an ancient Greek (then Roman) city founded in the 12th or 13th century BC. It is believed that the first inhabitants were former Trojan prisoners to whom Agamemnon, King of nearby Mycenae, permitted to build their own town after the Trojan War. Hence the name Tenea resembles that of Tenedos, their home-town. The fall of Troy, according to myth, led Aeneas to found the city of Rome. It also inspired Agamemnon to found the city of Tenea in the Corinthia by installing Trojan war-prisoners strategically on the passage near Tenea leading from Corinth to Argos and Mycenae, explained lead archaeologist Dr. Eleni Korka, Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage at the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Tenea flourished by founding with Corinth the colony of Syracuse. Commerce brought great wealth to the city. Later on, during the Roman invasion in Corinthia, only Tenea was spared due to the mythic common descent of the inhabitants of Rome and Tenea. The remnants of Tenea were uncovered by Dr. Korkas team in excavations at Chiliomodi, a village in eastern Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. The precise location of Tenea was previously only documented in historical sources, but we were able to pinpoint its location following the discovery of a variety of artifacts and the remnants of housing, the archaeologists said. They discovered the remains of several Hellenistic- and Roman-period buildings, including door openings and walls as well as stone and marble floors, and several burial sites. They unearthed pottery fragments that date to the fourth century BC to Roman times. They also found a huge storage jar and an 11.5-foot (3.5 m) section of a clay pipeline. Among the findings was a unique plastic clay lantern in the form of a reclining Seilinos, found for the very first time in its context, and clearly associated with Roman religious beliefs, Dr. Korka said. In addition, the team found jewelry and more than 200 coins, evidence that Tenea was a wealthy city. Among them were a series of coins minted by Roman emperor Septimius Severus (ruled from 193 to 211 CE) as well as rare coins issued by various Peloponnesian cities. Neanderthals had just as many head trauma injuries as Upper Paleolithic humans, according to new research from the University of Tubingen, Germany. Neanderthals are commonly depicted as leading dangerous lives and permanently struggling for survival, said University of Tubingens Professor Katerina Harvati and colleagues. Traumatic injuries, considered to be common among remains of adult Neanderthals, are a major piece of evidence supporting this hypothesis: not only are Neanderthals proposed to suffer from a high prevalence of trauma, but they are also thought to exhibit more traumatic injuries than early modern humans. Explanations for this include violent social behavior, a highly mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyle in glacial environments and attacks by carnivores. Moreover, Neanderthals are thought to show unusually high levels of head and neck injuries, attributed to their hypothesized reliance on close-range hunting leading to confrontations with large prey mammals. These interpretations have important implications for reconstructions of Neanderthal paleobiology and behavior, and have shaped the prevailing perception of the species, yet mainly rest on descriptive, case-based evidence. Quantitative, population-level studies of traumatic injuries are rare. In the study, the researchers assessed the hypothesis of higher prevalence of head trauma among Neanderthals relative to Upper Paleolithic humans using a population-level comparison. They identified 21 specimens with one or several cranial lesions (9 Neanderthals and 12 Upper Paleolithic humans) in a sample of 114 Neanderthal specimens and 90 specimens of Upper Paleolithic humans. Our findings refute the hypothesis that Neanderthals were more prone to head injuries than modern humans, contrary to common perception, Professor Harvati said. We therefore believe that the commonly cited Neanderthal behaviors leading to high injury levels, such as violent behavior and inferior hunting capabilities, must be reconsidered. The researchers found that males of both species were more frequently injured than females, a finding consistent with observations in more recent human groups, explained by division of labor between men and women or by other culturally determined sex-specific behaviors and activities. Beyond these similarities, the scientists also found interesting differences. While Neanderthals and Upper Paleolithic humans exhibited a similar prevalence of trauma overall, we found a different age-related trauma prevalence for each species, said firs author Dr. Judith Beier, researcher in the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tubingen. This could mean that Neanderthals were more likely to be injured at a younger age than Upper Paleolithic modern humans. Alternatively, it could be related to differences in long-term survival after a (non-lethal) injury. The age-related pattern is a novel finding, Professor Harvati added. Overall, however, our results suggest that Neanderthal lifestyles were not more dangerous than those of our ancestors, early modern Europeans. The study was published in the journal Nature. _____ Judith Beier et al. Similar cranial trauma prevalence among Neanderthals and Upper Palaeolithic modern humans. Nature, published online November 14, 2018; doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0696-8 China's fiscal revenue down 3.1% in October From:ChinaDaily | 2018-11-14 15:35 BEIJING - China's fiscal revenue growth entered negative territory for the first time this year with a 3.1 percent year-on-year decline in October, official data showed on Tuesday. The country's fiscal revenue stood at 1.57 trillion yuan ($226 billion) last month, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The central government collected 768.4 billion yuan in fiscal revenue last month, down 7.1 percent year-on-year, while local governments saw fiscal revenue rise 1 percent to 804.3 billion yuan. In the first 10 months of the year, fiscal revenue went up 7.4 percent year-on-year to 16.1 trillion yuan, MOF data showed. Tuesday's data also showed China's fiscal spending expanded 8.2 percent year-on-year to 1.2 trillion yuan in October. Fiscal spending in the January-October period rose 7.6 percent to 17.5 trillion yuan, accounting for 83.6 percent of the planned budget for the year. Home Just In From the Kathmandu Press: Thursday, November 15, 2018 Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have given the top priority to a host of issues from political, sociocultural and economic affairs. The formation of constitutional bench in the Supreme Court and the publication of a report on mobile phone service quality by Nepal Telecommunications Authority have received significant attention on the front pages of major newspapers. Likewise, Annapurna Post has published a follow-up story on alleged irregularities of Nepal Airlines Corporation in the purchase of two wide body aircraft. Nagarik and Republica have discussed why some provinces are still struggling to finalise their names and capitals. Important Constitutional bench comes into function finally Nepal Samacharpatra and Kantipur report that Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra has finally formed a constitutional bench in the apex court, around three and half months after he joined office. Mishra has assigned justices Deepak Raj Joshee, Cholendra Shamsher Rana, Deepak Kumar Karki and Kedar Prasad Chalise besides him in the bench. Total 229 cases are awaiting consideration in the bench, according to Nepal Samacharpatra. Meanwhile, Abhiyan reports in a brief story that the bench began hearing if a CIAA commissioner can delegate his/her authority to the Commission Secretary while retiring. Nepal assures EPG report implementation While there are reports that Indian government is reluctant to receive the report of Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India Relations as it is, Nepal has expressed its hope that the report will be implemented. Gorkhapatra reports that Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali told journalists in Kathmandu yesterday that the report submission was delayed only because Indian PM Narendra Modi was busy. The Kathmandu Post lead story, however, still claims that Modi is reluctant to receive the report. Meanwhile, Minister Gyawali also demanded that Bhutan repatriate its citizens currently residing in Nepal as refugees, Nepal Samacharpatra reports in a brief story. All mobile phone services in the country are poor Kantipur and Nagarik report on their front pages that the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has concluded that mobile phone services provided by Nepal Telecom, Ncell and Smart Telecom are poorer than the set standard. The regulatory body had conducted 15 day study in Kathmandu Valley recently to prepare the report. The Authority has also warned of action if the companies do not improve their services. Ignored 1.8 million households still in darkness The countrys electricity regulatory body says around 1.8 million households, which is around 23 per cent of total households in the country, are still deprived of electricity facility. Therefore, Nepal Electricity Authority has launched a mission to let every family have the access to power within next two years, Karobar reports in a two column story. The cost of the mission is estimated at Rs 100 billion. Commission to check universities affiliation Following reports of misuse of university affiliations, the University Grant Commission is preparing to impose a restriction on the universities right to grant affiliation to colleges for some specific period, reports Nepal Samacharpatra. A task force led by the Commissions Member Secretary Dev Raj Adhikari is carrying out a research to ensure that all affiliations are scientific and transparent, the report adds. Another custodial death reported A 48-year-old man from Tarakeshwor Municipality of Kathmandu recently died in a police custody and it has raised concerns about the arrestees human rights under the control of police, reports The Himalayan Times in a four column box story. Rabindra Kumar Dhunganas death has raised questions after Assistant SubInspector Surendra Karki, who accompanied the police team to arrest him, allegedly paid Rs 2.7 million to the deceaseds family apparently to hide his role in the case, police say. Nepal Police, however, has been officially claiming that he died due to some medical conditions. Interesting Dharahara reconstruction finally begins The government has begun constructing a new 11-storey tower beside Dharahara, which was destroyed by the 2015 earthquake, so as to replace the historic monument, Naya Patrika reports in a brief story. The new towers height will be 69.2 metres, which is equal to the height to the collapsed monument, the report says. The National Reconstruction Authority hopes that the construction works will be over in next two months. Kathmandu, November 15 The sixth ministerial consultation of Colombo Process, a group of 12 Asian countries that send workers for overseas employment, has begun in Kathmandu on Thursday. Nepal is the current chair of the group. Nepals Labour Secretary Mahesh Dahal is chairing the senior officials meeting today. The ministerial consultation will begin on Friday officially. Spokesperson at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Narayan Regmi, says Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will inaugurate the meeting tomorrow. Labour and Employment Minister Gokarna Bista will chair the meeting. Labour and employment ministers or their representatives of other 11 member statesAfghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnamwill attend the event. The Colombo Process was established in 2003 in response to calls from several Asian labour sending countries who increasingly recognised the need for optimising the benefits of organised labour migration whilst protecting their migrants from exploitative practices in recruitment and employment. Banke, November 15 Flights to and from Ranjha Airport in Nepalgunj of Banke district could not take place on Thursday morning due to poor visibility caused by thick fogs in the region. All flights to and from Nepalgunj scheduled for this morning could not happen, said Rabina Pandey, Chief of Field Office of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Pandey shared that the visibility in Banke district this morning remained only upto 50 metres. The visibility for small aircraft should be from 1,600 metres to 2,000 metres while the visibility for large-scale planes is expected to be above 2,000 metres. Despite the improvement in weather, the entire sky is not clear so far and such a situation is likely to continue for some more days, Pandey said. In the morning hours, planes leave for Dolpa, Humla, Mugu and Kathmandu from Ranjha Airport. RSS #big companies Large S. Korean firms cut jobs amid coronavirus pandemic Large South Korean companies have cut their combined workforce by more than 1 percent over the past two years amid the coronavirus pandemic, a corporate tracker said Tuesday. Th... S. Korea, U.S., Japan can achieve bigger success when working together: Ned Price The press secretary for the U.S. Department of State reiterated the importance of trilateral cooperation between the U.S., South Korea and Japan on Monday, saying the countries wil... He joined CLIA in April this year after eight years as gm for France Belgium and Switzerland for Pullmantur subsidiary Croisieres de France before the Paris-based company ceased operations. The CLIA post included developing trade activities in the three countries including the Travel Agents European Program as well as trade promotions, campaigns and events. Le Futuroscope in Poitiers today announced Lacarriere as its commercial, marketing and communication manager. The theme park, which opened in 1987, has welcomed over 50m visitors. Joe Petrosky is dean of engineering and advanced technology at Macomb Community College. Hands-on exploration is a must-experience part of the Explore Careers in Manufacturing Auto STEAM Evening event. Educators and enterprises will welcome students, parents, and all who are interested in learning about careers in manufacturing and technology to Macomb Community College for the Explore Careers in Manufacturing Auto STEAM Evening on Dec. 6.To help students and parents explore future career paths in technology, advanced manufacturing and other high-demand industries, including electric vehicle development and robotics, the event will feature up to 40 companies with a local presence in a casual, get to know you atmosphere.To offer a deeper dive than a simple meet-and-greet, each company will have an interactive manufacturing or engineering pod to offer immersive experiences to attendees, says Joe Petrosky, dean of engineering and advanced technology at Macomb Community College. Ford, GM, FCA, American Axle, Magna, and other manufacturers offer this chance for students to really learn about careers in many areas, including autonomous vehicles, he says.Automotive supplier and developer Continental will bring its autonomous CUbE vehicle to demonstrate LIDAR, radar, and camera technology for future autonomous vehicles.The Dec. 6 evening event is a companion to Manufacturing Auto STEAM daytime events on Dec. 5 and 6, when 2,000 Macomb County sixth- to twelfth-grade students will attend the event. Participating students, as well as any student from the greater Detroit region, can attend the evening event with parents to share what they may have learned.Panel events will allow participants to learn first-hand what high-demand careers are available in the industry, and what educational programs, apprenticeships , internships, and work-based learning experiences are available to get future workforce talent to their goal.We will have discussions that include a variety of panelists from current participants in apprenticeship programs to students to CEOs of companies, says Petrosky. Expect to hear a variety of perspectives about careers from people who are hiring or who are currently in [educational] programs, or coming out of programs.For parents and students, this event is an opportunity expand knowledge on the breadth of tech-based, advanced manufacturing, and mobility-related careers that exist now, or will exist in future.The event is a follow-up to Manufacturing Day , the October daylong field trip that offered an inside look into participating local manufacturing companies. Here, students can show parents and other family members what they learned at Manufacturing Day.Overall, the event offers the chance for eye opening exploration into unfamiliar future careers, and can serve as a valuable springboard to further understanding of the value of post-high school education paths toward in-demand careers in Michigan. Sometimes, parents are in the drivers seat, but in other cases, the students are working to influence their parents, says Petrosky, who shares that panel discussions can be particularly illustrative for everyone.I love watching the panel discussions, he says. Sometimes, the parents are trying to influence, and you see them elbow their kids to highlight important points. Sometimes you see it the other way around. The students is giving the parent the elbow as if to say this is the path I want to pursue.As we move to a climate where the most valuable workforce is the one committed to lifelong learning, Petrosky underscores the flowing nature of education as circumstances and industries change. To that end, universities will also be present at the event, including Wayne State and Ferris State.Career pathways are so permeable now, he says. If you want to continue on and get a full associate degree, or bachelors degree, those paths are there, but werent 20 years ago. Many parents dont know that.The Explore Careers in Manufacturing, Auto, STEAM Evening will be held Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at Macomb Community College South Campus at the Sports & Expo Center, Warren. Hours are 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. and food will be served, and a door prize drawing will feature a drone giveaway. Register by calling 586-445-7117.Photos courtesy of Macomb Community College. Senior student Emma Fidler, 17, believes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities can be just as much fun as they are schoolwork. She is the CEO of the Thunderchickens, a robotics team at the Utica Center for Math, Science, and Technology, and will be one of the students pitting their robotic skills against each other this weekend. For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics events challenge student teams to raise funds, design a brand and program industrial-size robots that play difficult field games against like-minded competitors. Its as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Fidler and her peers will put their work on display at an open house and panel discussion on November 19 at the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD). The event, organized by Macomb County, MISD and the International Academy of Macomb, will showcase robotics' role in building a strong STEM workforce for the future. It is estimated that 65 percent of todays kindergarteners will have job titles that do not currently exist, says Vicky Rad, deputy director of Macomb County Planning and Economic Development. And many of those roles will be related to STEM. So it is imperative that young people have opportunities to explore and become educated in these fields and FIRST Robotics is a great platform for that. Fidler didn't discover robotics until the 10th grade, despite always enjoying math and engineering. She instantly fell in love with the field. I love how the robot serves as a mechanism to solve a complex problem," Fidler says. "Each system on the robot functions together like the organ systems of the human body. It's fascinating to learn how to combine those systems through teamwork and creative engineering. With an eye on a career in astrophysics, Fidler says activities like this one provide important challenges for the growing number of students taking an interest in technology and innovation. Its like exercise for your brain, she says. The public event will feature a panel discussion and remarks from Macomb County executive Mark A. Hackel, MISD superintendent Michael DeVault and FIRST Robotics in Michigan president Gail Alpert. Business and manufacturing leaders are encouraged to attend and registration is required through this link. says Josh Dunn, executive director for VOCES. Students work togther in the VOCES classroom. Latinx residents have been a part of the fabric of the community in Battle Creek for more than 30 years and in 2010 a nonprofit named Voces began to address the needs of this growing segment of the citys population.There are about 5,000 Latinx who call Battle Creek home. This equates to about eight percent of the citys total population of just over 51,000 residents.We are many voices and one community, says Josh Dunn, executive director for Voces. There are 38 Hispanic countries with multiple languages and voices, but we can all work together for the betterment of everyone. Were not trying to amalgamate them all into one.So it's not surprising that Voces is not an acronym, but rather the Spanish word for voices.Latinx were drawn to the Battle Creek area because of the opportunities to get good-paying jobs in various industries, particularly those located at Fort Custer Industrial Park, says Dunn.In the '80s and '90s immigration was up and industries here were running very strongly, Dunn said. There continues to be a large migrant population, many of whom follow family members here. As the family and their children grow, many of them go off of the migrant chain.When you talk about the Latinx population, people think of immigrants, though that is not how the population trend is going, Dunn says.The reality is that Latinx are staying and becoming citizens because their children, the majority of whom were born in the United States, are going on to college and achieving the type of success that their parents wanted for them.Recognizing those parents' desires, Voces offers a number of programs for parents and youth focused on education to better prepare young people for success in all areas of their lives after high school.A program offered at Post Franklin and Prairieview elementary schools focuses on comprehensive literacy which teaches students how to read a science experiment and replicate what they are being asked to do. It also highlights the importance of cultural understanding. Books by Latinx authors are made available to give students cultural references they can relate to.At the middle school level, Dunn says, there is a group called Creative Leaders United which at its core focuses on issues of identity and works on areas such as building confidence and dealing with difficult emotions. This year, the program received a grant from Unidos U.S. to expand its focus to include civic engagement, which led to a service project that the middle school participants will be presenting at a conference in Texas.High school students can participate in a Voces-sponsored Youth Council, which gives them opportunities to develop leadership skills as they prepare for college or for a productive life after high school.And Voces Family Leadership Institute is designed to get parents talking about the same things their kids do in the programs in which they participate. The goal of the program is to teach parents the art and skill of family leadership by supporting academic achievement and lifelong success for their children. Through conversations and activities, parents talk about different modules and have the opportunity to participate in a university trip.From a broad perspective we focus on three main areas, language access, education, and the third is community advocacy, Dunn says. Interpreters provide in-person assistance, assistance over the phone, and document language translation. We provide English classes and were also at medical appointments, school conferences, and court-related matters.A study funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation titled the Business Case for Racial Equity, said that by 2050, 40 percent of Michigans working-age population will be people of color and 45 percent of children will be children of color. As the number of people of color and English as a Second Language in the workforce continues to grow, Voces began offering resources to area organizations and employers to help them create more supportive and welcoming environments for people of color facing language barriers.We dont want to send people over to a job that they dont feel supported in, Dunn says. We work with about 60 organizations in Battle Creek to provide language access. This includes hospitals and the school districts. II Stanley and Stewart Industries have purchased ESL classes through Voces which are hosted at the citys YMCA.Ani Turner, co-director, Sustainable Health Spending Strategies with Altarum which co-authored the WKKF study, said the biggest story is that the states population isnt growing and is getting older while also becoming more diverse. She said a couple of decades ago, the non-Hispanic white population accounted for between 85 and 90 percent of the population.The birthrates for Hispanic and Black residents are higher than that those of the White population, Turner said, adding that this is not unique to Michigan.This is something thats really happening around the country, Turner says. The younger population is more people of color."This growth has also happened with the states Asian and Hispanic populations due to immigration. Turner says immigrants were drawn to Michigan by the employment opportunities in sectors such as higher education, healthcare, and technology.Dunns organization devotes a lot of time to getting organizations to understand the importance of being more responsive to and supportive of their non-white, ESL employees. As part of Vocess community advocacy work, he says he hopes to build the capacity of area employers to effectively support all of their employees regardless of language preference or national origin, by offering resources such as language access and English classes to make that support a reality.The population is changing and we still need to serve ESL and the immigrant population, but not everybody whos Hispanic needs these services, Dunn says.For example, many times someone who is bilingual will be asked to provide interpretive services. Dunn says Voces began a bilingual employee training program that recognizes the extra effort it takes to be a bilingual employee. He says some of the first participants were community members interested in serving as interpreters.The goal is to make this a professionally recognized skill rather than something employers take for granted, he says.In previous sessions, we trained 10 Battle Creek Public School employees whose job is to serve English language learning students, but weve also been asked to interpret for families, Dunn says. We believe the program has helped clients to be better prepared.Underlying much of Voces work is the issue of immigration and how it impacts various segments of the Latinx community in Battle Creek. He and his staff have been kept busy answering questions about whether parents can apply for benefits for their U.S.-born children who are citizens. Dunn says Voces is trying to be proactive in convincing immigrants with permanent residency status to become U.S. citizens.After the 2016 presidential election, we had a meeting in our office with the police chiefs from Battle Creek and Emmett Township and the Calhoun County sheriff and undersheriff to come in and talk to us. People werent sure what they could do because they didnt know what would happen with immigration laws, Dunn says. We had a run on people trying to get Mexican passports for their children in case they had to leave the country. We also had a lot of people asking for Powers of Attorney so that someone could watch their children if they had to go.The recent forced separation of parents from their children at the border has been an emotional toll on our community, Dunn says. People can see themselves in those shoes.Adding to the anxiety is a contract that the Calhoun County Jail has had with ICE to provide beds for detainees. Although this contract has been in place for more than 20 years, it has become more of a hot button issue as potential changes to immigration laws have moved to the political forefront.Dunn says having a jail that holds ICE detainees has had a chilling effect on the citys immigrant population. Even though the sheriff says his officers dont arrest people based on immigration that is a difficult line to handle for a community that knows there are immigrants being held in that jail, he says. ICE may request to hold onto people.Calhoun County Sheriff Matt Saxton says that less than 1 percent of ICE detainees housed at the County Jail are from Calhoun County. Typically, we have 30 to 40 nationalities in here at any given time and the Mexican jail population is under 20 percent, Saxton says. Right now we have a lot of ICE detainees from Iraq.In addition to its ICE contract, the jail also has contracts with municipalities including the cities of Dearborn and Livonia which rent beds for their overflow inmate population. Chippewa, Monroe and St. Clair counties also have contracts with ICE and Saxton says most other jails, including his, also rent space to Federal Marshal programs.The new jail, which was opened in 1994, was initially proposed to be built in Marshall, the Calhoun County seat, but elected officials pushed to have it built in Battle Creek to be part of a new Justice Center complex. It was intentionally built with additional space in anticipation of renting beds to other municipalities and the Federal government.These long-standing contracts are worth about $6 million which is used to offset the $12 million budget for the jail. Saxton says that without the additional revenue from these contracts, he would be forced to lay off most of the departments enforcement division and some of the jail staff. A total of 196 people are employed by the Sheriffs department and work in various divisions, including emergency management, and as school liaisons.Saxton says he knows that there are people in the community who dont like the idea that the jail houses ICE detainees, but he says in the 20-plus years that the ICE contract has been in place, no one has ever been picked up for an immigration violation while visiting a detainee and his agency is not responsible for making decisions to detain people.We do run across from time to time someone whos been deported on a traffic stop, he says. If theyre arrested for an offense like drunk driving and come in and get fingerprinted, if theres a deportation order it comes from ICE.The ICE-imposed guidelines that the jail must follow are much more stringent than those governing privately-run, for-profit detention facilities that are starting to crop up. Saxton says, for this reason, it is better that ICE detainees are housed in a facility such as his.But, the unintended consequences of the jails housing of ICE detainees are many and varied. Eusebio Solis, a local attorney and former Calhoun County Commissioner, says he has been contacted by members of the Latinx community seeking assistance with criminal and non-criminal matters.I had a woman contact me who paid for a car and the woman she bought it from wouldnt give it to her, he says. I told her that if we litigate well have to go to court. She told me that she was undocumented. Things like this, and when people get stopped and get a traffic ticket, make them fearful about going to court.During a local Families Belong Together rally in June which was part of a national call to action, Dunn says Latinx residents were surprised to see white Americans protesting alongside them. A number of families remarked that they couldnt believe that a bunch of white people cared about what would happen to them, he says.Its very clear who our allies are. We have strong relationships with the Mexican Consulate and were accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide legal services without an attorney. Theres a huge demand for legal immigration work. Weve done DACA renewals, family processing when someone tries to sponsor someone, and Visas.The $495 legal fees for a recent DACA renewal were more than covered after donations were made within a 24-hour period by more than five individuals in the community. But, he says convincing people to do these DACA renewals can be difficult.Although Voces and its partners in a group called Project Dignity are in support of ending the jails ICE contract and fully support people who are detained, they have decided that they dont need to take on ICE as a whole preferring instead to focus on the positive impact the Latinx community makes in Battle Creek.We want the community to be welcoming and accepting of all people, Dunn says. Our community is very entrepreneurial-minded. We want to give back and we want to create. Our community wants to be able to participate fully. There is an economic invigoration of Battle Creek and our community is so ready to be a part of that.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 Tomiwa, a 5th grade Kalamazoo Public School student, has been taking viola for two years at the Fox Gospel Music Center. Sometimes a surprisingly rich world lies behind a door that you might have passed a dozen times, but never opened. Music studios are often like that, tucked as they can be into the basements of churches or in otherwise ordinary-looking houses.But the Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center studio at the Douglass Community Association has its own special light, thanks in part to its namesake, the late Helen Fox, a Northside music teacher, community icon and hugger extraordinaire. Foxs spirit, along with the dedication of the organizations founders, teachers, and students, are growing musicians on Kalamazoos Northside.Many youth, particularly underserved youth, dont even get an opportunity to see and know what instruments there are, says Fox Music President Bridget Tucker Gonder. Theyve never seen a clarinet or a tuba. Were about exposing the kids to music. We wont turn you away if you cannot pay.That musical exposure is not limited to the studio, as the Fox Music students have already performed in four studio recitals. They've also performed at the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestras Family Discovery Series and at the Parchment Community Library. In addition, they have attended an inspiring performance by pianist Alpin Hong, thanks to the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, and Black Violin , thanks to the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.Last summer, through a generous loan of instruments from Meyer Music, 4120 Stadium Drive, the organization sponsored an Instrument Petting Zoo for the summer campers of New Genesis, where nearly 50 youth attended.The center currently offers piano, violin, viola, cello, and voice lessons. Its mission is to provide musical education for urban youth as a pathway for success and excellence in all areas of life.A lot of people think music is just for pleasure, just for fun, but theres some really scientific research that shows its also good for math and science skills and for social development, says Tucker Gonder. Thats part of our giving back, as well.Tucker Gonder says shes grateful for the support of Kalamazoos rich musical community, and she mentions the generosity of both individual donors and foundations, including the Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and Irving S. Gilmore Foundation.So far, news of The Fox Music Center has only spread by word of mouth. The music center which opened its doors quietly at the Douglass two years ago, is ready to expand its reach, says Tucker Gonder, now that the organizations website, Instagram and Facebook pages have recently launched. The center currently has 15 students, three volunteer administrators, including Foxs son, Vice President Joseph Fox, and three volunteer teachers.When the Fox Gospel Music Center opened its studios in a back room of the Michigan Works office at the Douglass, they replaced the walls "corporate green" with bright purple and aqua blue lined with a musical notes border. They laid down a rug, and filled the space with history, including clippings and old photos of Helen Fox, the Velvelettes, and surprisingly, a violinist little known to them at the time.One of their volunteer teachers happens to be famous in her own right, Bertha Barbee-McNeal, artistic director and piano instructor, but most notably known as a founding member of Kalamazoos own Motown all-women singing group, the Velvelettes, which achieved acclaim in the '60s with several recordings. In 1964, the Velvelettes single, Needle in a Haystack, hit 45 on Billboards Hot 100.You dont retire with music, says Barbee-McNeal, who after her moving on from the Velvelettes to raise a family, then taught music and directed choirs in the Kalamazoo Public Schools for 26 years, the last 19 at Millwood Middle School.Music goes over into different areas and different fields, says Barbee-McNeal. I was always concerned about diversity in classical music, getting more students involved in choir and band, that kind of thing.Organization namesake Helen Fox, also known as Sister Fox and the lady with the cart, often walked hours daily in both Kalamazoo and Battle Creek spreading encouragement to whomever she met until she passed away at age 96 in 2016. Her frequent stops included Interfaith Homes on the Northside and the downtown train station. Her story was featured in the, the, and on Channel 3 WWMT.In partnership with Reuben Moss, now a Fox Music Center Board Member, Fox also brought up a generation of Kalamazoo musicians in their Moss Piano Studio on North Westnedge for over 30 years, including teaching one piano student who went on to tour in Japan. She allowed students to pay what they could, but always at least $1 because she believed that a financial commitment would increase a students sense of the lessons value.I considered her to be community icon, says Tucker Gonder. There was very little that would hold her back. She graduated from high school at the age of 50. This was a woman who didnt let a lot keep her down. She gave music lessons to people based on their ability to pay.Soon after setting up at the Douglass, Tucker Gonder says the music center made the delightful discovery that the abolitionist Frederick Douglass himself, after whom the Douglass Community Association was named, was an amateur violinist, and that he had a musically-gifted grandson, Joseph Douglass, who was considered the most talented violinist of the race in the 1890s, according to black press of the time. Douglass was the first black professional violinist to make transatlantic tours. A framed photo of Douglass playing his violin is one of the treasures of the studios historical legacy.Caleb Jackson, 12, arrives for his piano lesson just as On the Ground prepares to leave. Barbee-McNeal says she hopes he will be their first Gilmore Keyboard Festival student this year.Tucker Gonder reminisces about Calebs last piano recital, where he paused after an arpeggio, waited, then hit the last note of Clair de Lune. He has a natural stage presence, says Tucker Gonder. That just flowed out of him. No one taught it to him.Caleb says music runs in the family. His father sings and his mother was coincidentally a choir student of Barbee-McNeals at Milwood Middle School. When I was 2, I just started banging on stuff, he says. Music has always been something I liked.Without too much prodding, Caleb agrees to play a bit of Dirty Hands, Dirty Face, an old jazz standard. To the delight of all, Barbee-McNeal joins in singing, a validation of how music uplifts and transforms.Helens legacy was about giving back to the community, says Tucker Gonder. Many of us get caught up in our lives, our own jobs, raising our own kids, and we dont think very much about giving back. This is our way of giving back.What were doing here is carrying on what my mother did back in the '60s and '70s with her music lessons, says Joe Fox, who thinks his mother would approve.Eventually we want to turn this into a full music academy, says Tucker Gonder. Clarinet, tuba, drums, and other instruments could be taught. We have dreams. To increase our presence, to increase our footprint.And she adds, to eventually have a choir, after which Barbee-McNeal and Joseph Fox nod in enthusiastic assent.I didnt have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Joes mom, says Barbee-McNeal, but it gives me great pleasure to carry on her legacy. It really does. Press Release November 15, 2018 De Lima lauds veteran journo Varona for bagging 'Prize for Independence' award Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has congratulated veteran Filipino journalist Inday Espina-Varona for bagging the prestigious "Prize for Independence" conferred to her by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) at the recent Press Freedom Awards. De Lima, a known human rights defender here and abroad, lauded Varona for boldly raising the alarm against misogyny and violence encouraged by no less than Mr. Duterte, through her journalistic prowess. "Under the rule of Mr. Duterte where misogynistic remarks and foul jokes are encouraged and where gender-related harassment continues to run rampant, it's not a walk in the park to launch an online women's rights campaign in response to President's degrading comments on women just like Inday Varona did," she said. "I commend Ms. Varona for courageously reporting the human rights violations of the Duterte administration despite the risk of being attacked and cyber-bullied by the President's troll army who love to spread disinformation online," she added. Varona, who founded a social media women's rights campaign in response to Mr. Duterte's comments on women, was recognized for her bravery in holding governments to account in the face of persistent threats. RSF, which is awarded "to journalists who resist financial, political, economic or religious pressure," also acknowledged Varona's fearless reports on sensitive issues like child prostitution, violence against women, LGBT, and the conflict in Mindanao. The veteran Filipino journalist was also recognized together with Indian journalist Swati Chaturvedi at the recently-concluded RSF annual awards staged in London, United Kingdom. Speaking before the media, Varona was quoted as saying that "independence is very important for citizen journalism" that is why she "teaches young people to be critical minded and I hope this award will inspire them." The Senator from Bicol said Varona should serve as an inspiration to fellow media practitioners to continue serving as messengers of truth without succumbing to pressure and intimidation by the state and incompetent, abusive officials. "We are all aware that attacks against journalists and other media practitioners have worsened under the administration of President Duterte who cannot accept legitimate criticisms from some quarters. But as messengers of truth, it should not prevent you from valuing truth and freedom while presenting information with accuracy and fairness," she said. Last January 2017, De Lima delivered a fiery privilege speech to denounce the unabated proliferation of misinformation in the Internet and other social networking sites, where she likened fake news to a "virus" that could "bring about a zombie apocalypse." Statement of Sen. Francis Pangilinan on talks on the Code of Conduct on disputed waters Asean-China talks on territorial dispute should be anchored on respect: Kiko Respect. For oneself, for who you're talking to, for your countrymen, for the environment. That should be the basis of any Asean-China talks on the Code of Conduct in the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. What should have been done after the favorable ruling at the international arbitration in 2016? Engage with China, with our Asean neighbors, and with their people. Explain the victory of the Philippines is a win for all, especially to the small fishermen, whether Filipino, Chinese, or from Asean. Push for a zone of peace and sustainability in the seas we are duty-bound to protect; highlight the participation of fishermen, seafarers, and the so-called environmental activists or environmental advocates. Listen to the sentiments of ordinary citizens. Filipino, Chinese, or Asean people, no one wants conflict. The governments of the Philippines, China, and Asean should not forget that in these talks, they represent their people and the next generation -- those who are most affected by their decisions. Press Release November 15, 2018 Koko: Return of Balangiga Bells "Timely" for US-RP Relations Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III expressed confidence that the imminent return of the Balangiga Bells, taken as war booty by American troops from Eastern Samar during the early 1900s in what historians call the "Filipino-American War", would continue the process of "historical and diplomatic healing between the Philippines and the United States." "The bells' return is a timely and significant gesture that can only lead to the further mending and strengthening of relations between two traditional allies. We've insisted on getting them back for generations. Now that the Balangiga bells are coming home after more than a century, we're thankful. More importantly, we're appreciative and proud of the efforts of our government, veterans groups, historians, local and US academics and every Filipino who relentlessly campaigned to take back what is rightfully ours." President Rodrigo Duterte called for the return of the Balangiga Bells in his second State of the Nation address in 2017. Pimentel filed Senate Resolution No. 610 more than seven years ago on September 28, 2011 seeking the return of the bells and other war artifacts taken by US troops at the turn of the 20th century. His father, former Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, authored the first Senate resolution on the matter in 2002. "This is a long-overdue victory for the Filipino people. Unlike in actual war, however, everyone benefits. There are no winners and losers here. This has been a long time coming, and we fully appreciate both the gesture of the US government and tireless efforts of everyone else from our government and the private sector," the lawmaker stressed. The return of the Balangiga Bells comes at a time of significant pivots made by the Philippine government in relation to the region's two acknowledged powers, the United States and China. "As a long-time advocate on the matter of the bells' safe and complete return to Philippine soil, I cannot overemphasize the significance of this event, especially at this time and considering our continually evolving relationship with the US these last two years. This signifies a closure and a new beginning between our two countries," Pimentel emphasized. Accounting software company MYOB is claiming market leadership in the Australian and New Zealand markets after adding 205,000 new subscribers in the 12 months ended September. That compares with the 192,000 new subscribers Xero added in Australasia in the same period. It marks a remarkable transformation for the company which remains on track to pass one million online subscriptions in 2020, MYOB said after unveiling September quarter figures at its investor day. MYOB now claims more than 550,000 online subscribers after growth of 60 percent in the September year, much faster than Xeros 24 percent. However, Xero had nearly twice the number of subscribers in the region at 981,000 and its global subscribers totalled 1.58 million at Sept. 30. Founder Rod Drury started Xero in 2007 and stole a march on MYOB - then the Australasian market leader for desktop software. That part of the market is now slowly dying as online products gain ever greater market traction. Stephen Ridgewell, an analyst at Craigs Investment Partners, isnt buying MYOBs spin. He attributes much of that companys recent growth to desktop-based Banklink customers moving online. Ridgewell compares the relative high-value subscribers of each company and essentially, from where we sit, theres no change in relative momentum. Xero remains the clear leader in the Australasian market when comparing the annualised revenue per unit, or ARPU. Its about 70 percent larger as far as high ARPU subscribers in the Australasian market. If anything, Xeros slightly accelerated its lead in the last year. Xero is certainly improving ARPU in Australasia. While subscriber numbers in the region grew 24 percent in the latest year, Australasian revenue grew at 30 percent to NZ$169.2 million in the six months ended September, suggesting recent price increases have stuck. Thats not to say MYOB isnt growing and it is clearly demonstrating it has a secure place in the market. But MYOBs results include other businesses which dont compete with Xero, making a like-for-like revenue comparison difficult. MYOBs total revenue for the six months ended June rose 7 percent to A$218 million. Certainly, global corporate raider KKR sees value in MYOB. Having nabbed nearly 20 percent of the company last month, it is currently conducting due diligence with a view to offering A$3.77 per share to take over the business. Its offer values MYOB at more than A$2.2 billion. Xero doesnt lack for challenges elsewhere in the world. It similarly caught the British incumbent desktop accounting software provider, Sage, napping and is now market leader in the online space with 355,000 subscribers, up 40 percent in the latest year. However, Ridgewell says that subscriber growth was slightly disappointing, given that Britain is moving to digitalise tax from April 2019. One explanation for softer growth in the UK could be increased competitive intensity from Intuit. Intuit is the incumbent player in the United States. Its latest earnings report showed it had 2.6 million online subscribers to its QuickBooks product in the US at July 31 and more than 800,000 in other countries. By contrast, Xero had just 178,000 subscribers in the US at Sept. 30. Ridgewell says Intuit told its investor day in September that its QuickBooks subscribers in Britain were up 84 percent year-on-year to 305,000. That is up an estimated 74 percent to 241,000 if you back out its QuickBooks self-employed product, a cheaper and less sophisticated product. Intuit has taken a more aggressive approach to pricing the core accounting software, preferring to rely on attaching ecosystem products to drive ARPU higher. We note that not only is the price of QuickBooks lower than Xero 15 British pounds to Xeros 26.40 pounds but our channel checks suggest that Intuit engages in deep discounting in the partner channel, or product sold to accountants. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY 22nd November 2021 Morning Report Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) welcomes final investment decision on ITS The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Transition of Marsden Point site to a fuel import terminal Kiwi Property Group Limited (NZX: KPG) reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy Meridian Energy Limited (NZX: MEL) agrees terms for the sale of Australian business Veritas, the listed food and beverage company with the dubious honour of having bought Mad Butcher for $40 million and sold it for $8 million, has a healthier looking balance sheet, but is far from out of the woods yet. The company, which was also involved in a disastrous foray into the Nosh foodstore business, which it sold in 2017, warned shareholders at the annual general meeting today it was anticipating net profit from continuing operations before significant items to be down from almost $1.5 million in the June 30, 2018 year to $850,000 to $1.05 million in 2019. On the positive side, cashflows from continuing operations - seven English and Irish pubs in Auckland and one in Hamilton - could increase from $1.14 million in 2018 to between $2.3 million and $2.7 million in 2019, Veritas chairman Tim Cook told shareholders. A growing pub sector and tighter margin control would help, he said. Veritas recorded a net gain of $4.8 million on its balance sheet from selling Mad Butcher during the 2018 year. The company paid $40 million for the meat retailer in 2013. This helped get its liabilities down from $32 million to $23 million and saw its gearing ratio improve from 79 percent to 60 percent - still at the higher end of the risk scale. The effective wind-back of the Veritas business also meant the company has been able to get ANZ Bank off its back. At one stage, Veritas owed ANZ $27 million, but Cook said that debt had been repaid and BNZ was now the companys trading bank. Meanwhile, it had refinanced $27.5 million of credit facilities with Pacific Dawn and had a $5 million undrawn facility to finance future growth. Pacific Dawn is a wholly-owned New Zealand subsidiary of Japanese financial services group Nomura. In 2011 Nomura bought the so-called good bank assets of high-profile failed lender South Canterbury Finance. Meanwhile, at Veritas, revenue rose 1 percent in the 2018 year to $23.8 million, but underlying net profit after tax from continuing operations was down 8 percent to just under $1.5 million. The share price, which has hardly snuck over 30 cents in the last two years and got as low as 3 cents in April, was quoted on the NZX at 10 cents per share but had not traded just before noon. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY 22nd November 2021 Morning Report Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) welcomes final investment decision on ITS The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Transition of Marsden Point site to a fuel import terminal Kiwi Property Group Limited (NZX: KPG) reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy Meridian Energy Limited (NZX: MEL) agrees terms for the sale of Australian business The government has effectively raided the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund to top up the budget for the second phase of its rural broadband initiative, filling in mobile 'black spots' and ensuring broadband is available to marae that don't have access now. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Communications Minister Kris Faafoi announced the funding, which will be added to the $105 million already allocated for the expansion of the RBI2 and mobile black spot fund. The work, being led by Crown Infrastructure Partners, is to reduce as far as possible the remaining 90,000 rural households and businesses that were identified last year as having slower broadband speeds than most of the rest of the country. Some 74,000 of those 90,000 households and businesses were initially intended to be covered by 2022 with the $105 million funding by a joint venture comprising Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees, dubbed the Rural Connectivity Group. Details of the expanded roll-out have yet to be announced, but CIP general manager of government and industry affairs Nick Manning told BusinessDesk that the additional funding was to extend the programme "even further" than previously announced. The additional $40 million will be spent in the six so-called 'surge' regions where the PGF is seeking to have its greatest impact - Northland, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Whanganui and the West Coast, Jones and Faafoi said. Manning said tendering for the $105 million RBI2/MBSF programme "has been in train this year ... and the $40 million has been added into this". "Costs for the original RBI2/MBSF programme as contracted in 2017 have not been higher than anticipated. There has been no cost blowout," Manning said in emailed comments. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY 22nd November 2021 Morning Report Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) welcomes final investment decision on ITS The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Transition of Marsden Point site to a fuel import terminal Kiwi Property Group Limited (NZX: KPG) reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy Meridian Energy Limited (NZX: MEL) agrees terms for the sale of Australian business A daily commuter rail service between Auckland and Hamilton is a step closer following the release of a New Zealand Transport Agency business plan outlining a service that could start in election year. The $57.7 million budget would cover three years' operation of a peak-hour service heading to Auckland in the morning and back to Hamilton in peak-hour in the evening. It would start in March 2020 with four carriages capable of carrying 150 passengers each way, with capacity for a fifth carriage to take 200 passengers if demand warrants it. It is currently possible to travel by train between Auckland and Hamilton on the Northern Explorer tourism train service between Auckland and Wellington, but only on alternate days in each direction. The NZTA business case now goes before three Waikato local bodies - the regional council, district council and Hamilton City Council. Their approval in principle is required before a board meeting of NZTA, scheduled for Dec. 14, at which a final decision will be made on a service that featured as part of the Green Party's pre-election manifesto. Government ministers also believe it will pave the way for increased commuting between the country's largest city and Waikato's main centre. The potential to extend the service to a triangular route including Tauranga has also been promoted. Announcing the business plan and consultation process, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the initial service would be operated by KiwiRail and stop at Frankton, The Base, Huntly, and Papakura. Instead of transport investment trying to play catch up, we need to lead growth and shape our towns and cities," he said. "More people are commuting between Hamilton and Auckland, and introducing this service will give them a choice in how they do that." (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY 22nd November 2021 Morning Report Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) welcomes final investment decision on ITS The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Transition of Marsden Point site to a fuel import terminal Kiwi Property Group Limited (NZX: KPG) reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy Meridian Energy Limited (NZX: MEL) agrees terms for the sale of Australian business The highest amount a bank salesperson received on top of their salary as a result of incentive schemes, mostly linked to sales volumes, was $279,000 in the year ended March. The highest amount paid averaged across all nine of the banks the Financial Markets Authority has reviewed was $104,000 in addition to salary. However, the average variable pay of salespeople across all nine banks was just $6,180 or 9 percent of total pay. The FMA hasnt attempted to assess how many inappropriate sales of bank products such incentives have led to or how much harm they have caused customers. But it is encouraging all banks to remove all sales volume-linked incentives no later than the year beginning September 30, 2019. FMAs director of regulation, Liam Mason, admits the financial markets conduct regulator has no power to forbid the use of such incentives although he says that is the regulators aim. We see the settings in the banks as being high-risk for customers and we would like to see them change, Mason says. The FMA intends to ask all banks how they will meet its expectations in March. Any bank that hasnt committed to removing all sales-linked incentives by then will be required to explain how they will strengthen their control systems to address the risks of poor conduct. Its clear that the banks have already seen the writing on the wall as a result of Australias Sedgwick report, which was a year in the making, and which lifted the lid on toxic bank sales culture in April last year. Australias royal commission into financial institutions has also had a major impact on this side of the Tasman. The FMAs review focused on incentives in place for frontline bank staff at May 21 this year. In addition to requiring information from the nine banks in the review, the regulator also spoke to 68 salespeople and 22 managers from the five largest banks by customer number. Those five banks account for 93 percent of New Zealand bank customers. The four largest of those are owned by Australias four largest banks. When New Zealands largest bank, ANZ, announced its annual results earlier this month, chief executive David Hisco said his bank has removed frontline retail sales incentives so customers could be assured our staff were delivering the best products and services for their needs. Mason says ANZ isnt alone and the pace of the changes has picked up through this year. Theyre all heading in the right direction and we want them to go a bit further. He says the FMAs interviews did get examples of inappropriate sales pressure and sales that appeared to be inappropriate and of customers with complex needs not being provided with sufficient staff time to cater for those needs. Customers with questions about their existing products were also being given short shrift. There was obviously no reward to come out the other side from that, Mason says. The FMA also discovered that such sales incentives often led to unintended consequences such as staff hoarding referrals rather than working as a team, leading to clients needs not being met in a timely manner. The FMA also makes clear that bank directors havent been very inquisitive about the impact on customers of sales incentives. Its findings in that area are reminiscent of the shock Commonwealth Bank of Australias directors evinced earlier this year when they discovered their bank was far from as squeaky-clean as they had thought in the way it treated customers. Mason says its pretty disappointing that the information going up through the ranks to senior management and directors hasnt allowed them to assess the impact on customer outcomes. Were not satisfied that boards are asking for or getting the information that they should to steer the bank to get better customer outcomes, he says, promising to keep the pressure on the banks until such matters improve. He said there is obviously a question about what removing sales incentives will do to bank profitability. I would be astounded if they werent concerned about that. He said the FMA is fine with banks being profitable but that shouldnt come at the expense of outcomes for customers. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY 22nd November 2021 Morning Report Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) welcomes final investment decision on ITS The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Transition of Marsden Point site to a fuel import terminal Kiwi Property Group Limited (NZX: KPG) reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy Meridian Energy Limited (NZX: MEL) agrees terms for the sale of Australian business The New Zealand dollar climbed against the British pound amid intensifying political turmoil in the UK over the government's Brexit plans. The kiwi also strengthened against the US currency. "Brexit dramas are hogging the headlines," ANZ Research senior economist Liz Kendall and senior macro strategist Philip Borkin said in a note. "The sterling collapsed overnight as earlier optimism around Brexit quickly faded." The New Zealand dollar traded at 53.41 British pence at 9am in Wellington from 52.26 pence late Thursday. It was at 60.23 euro cents from 59.99 euro cents. "After edging closer to Brexit, with a draft deal agreed between UK and EU negotiators, UK politics descended into chaos overnight," Kendall and Borkin said, pointing to the resignation of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and other ministers. "This has renewed concerns about whether it will be possible to secure Parliamentary support for the deal, with a lot of opposition both from opposition parties and within Teresa Mays own party, Kendall and Borkin said. But also, the turmoil has renewed speculation about Teresa Mays ongoing leadership prospects. The kiwi traded at 68.29 US cents in Wellington from 67.99 cents late Thursday. The trade-weighted index was at 74.60 from 74.22. The kiwi had "another bulletproof night" against the US dollar, ANZ said. "It avoided the volatility seen elsewhere suggesting market positioning is still a dominant narrative, Kendall and Borkin noted. Technically, it has broken through the first level of topside resistance, but there seems to be plenty of other key levels up here that will make the path higher tricky. A Commerce Department report showed US retail sales rose 0.8 percent in October, compared with a 0.1 percent decline in September that was revised from an increase. Even so, a measure of underlying spending indicated growth has begun to slow. The US consumer is still spending, said Kendall and Borkin. Retail sales rose more than expected. That said, momentum in core sales is slowing. The kiwi traded at 93.76 Australian cents from 93.44 cents Thursday. The New Zealand dollar was at 4.7393 Chinese yuan from 4.7166 yuan and at 77.60 yen from 77.13 yen. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY 22nd November 2021 Morning Report Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) welcomes final investment decision on ITS The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Transition of Marsden Point site to a fuel import terminal Kiwi Property Group Limited (NZX: KPG) reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy Meridian Energy Limited (NZX: MEL) agrees terms for the sale of Australian business Seven detained over east China chemical spill Beijing, Nov 15 (AFP) Nov 15, 2018 Seven people have been detained over the spilling of tonnes of toxic chemicals into seas off eastern China's Fujian province that left 52 ill, local authorities said. The incident happened in the early hours of November 4 when a tube transferring the chemicals from a wharf to a tanker broke, spilling 6.9 tonnes of C9 aromatics into the sea. C9 is typically used to produce adhesives, printing ink and paint, and is toxic. Three employees of the Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Company, which operates the wharf, and four crew members of the tanker were detained, the Quangang district government said in a statement issued on Wednesday. It added that 6,615 fishing rafts in surrounding waters had to be cleaned. The local environment bureau has been posting near-daily updates of chemical levels in the area, which they say are normal, after locals reported a strong smell lingering for days and fishermen complained of fish die-offs. Last week, residents near the coast who had come into contact with the C9 reported dizziness, nausea, and breathing difficulties. As of Wednesday afternoon, two remained in hospital for observation. The local government faced accusations it had attempted to cover-up or play down the incident. Posts about of the spill were rapidly taken down from China's Twitter-like Weibo social media platform, while searches of the term "Quangang carbon leak" were blocked. "The seven poor scapegoats, what about those on top who are in charge? Ageing and badly maintained facilities are the problem of the lowest workers?" one user wrote. el/dma/rma Xi arrives in Papua New Guinea ahead of APEC summit Port Moresby, Nov 15 (AFP) Nov 15, 2018 President Xi Jinping arrived in Papua New Guinea on Thursday for a much-vaunted state visit ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit he is expected to dominate. Xi touched down in Port Moresby, where he was greeted on the tarmac by tribesmen and women in traditional attire, complete with feather headdresses. With US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the APEC leaders meeting in Port Moresby on Saturday and Sunday, Xi has golden opportunity to highlight China's growing regional clout. Xi kicks off a two-day state visit to the resource-rich and strategically important host country -- the first ever state visit here by a Chinese president -- before meeting Pacific Island allies and delivering a keynote speech to Asia-Pacific CEOs. On the eve of his arrival, Xi wrote in the country's main newspaper that Papua New Guinea was "truly a land of great promise". "In recent years, bilateral ties have entered a new stage of rapid growth. Today, Papua New Guinea is China's largest trading partner in the region, while China is the biggest foreign investor and project contractor in this country." He is expected to inaugurate Chinese-built infrastructure projects and get a traditional "sing-sing" Papua New Guinean welcome. "President Xi Jinping is a good friend of Papua New Guinea" the country's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said ahead of Xi's arrival. The visit, he said, "is a clear indication of a growing bilateral relationship between our two countries." Xi's visit is timed with a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a grouping of 21 economies advocating free and open trade as well as regional economic integration. On Friday, he is expected to open a new road and be treated to a traditional "sing sing" -- a colourful tribal welcome. After Papua New Guinea, Xi heads to Brunei and the Philippines, whose President Rodrigo Duterte has forged closer ties with China for investments and trade. Page Content Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Miklos Giterson recently attended, along with Secretary General Louis Brown, the Latin America Geospatial Forum held in Mexico City, Mexico. The forum, which saw representatives from over forty countries, gathered under the theme: Geospatial Information: Making a Difference for Millions. This forum is the largest regional conference on geospatial information and technologies and it provided a platform to meet and network with regional leaders and experts from the geospatial domain. Minister Giterson explains, The forum provided great insight into many different areas in which geospatial information technology is being used to acquire, manipulate, and store geographic information. There were a number of interesting sessions at the forum; two focusses that were of particular interest to me were the symposiums on Climate Change & Natural Disasters and Construction & Engineering. These sessions were very timely given Sint Maartens, and all small island developing states, vulnerability to climate change and the resulting increase of natural disasters that we are now faced with. During the symposium on Climate Change and Natural Disasters it was discussed and demonstrated how geospatial information can be used to develop national strategic plans that can help in measuring the environmental, social and economic impact of natural disasters. Also discussed at that symposium was the use of geostatistical networks for monitoring biodiversity and climate change and geostatistical solutions for the study of territorial and environmental dynamics. The Constructing and Engineering session focused on moving countries towards more resilient planning and a better design of infrastructure. It also touched on ways to operate and maintain infrastructure efficiently and effectively as well as post-disaster infrastructure reconstruction and recovery. Minister Giterson believes that attendance at this forum was of particular importance since it tied perfectly to the National Spatial Data Infrastructure consultation session the VROMI Ministry held in August with a number of community stakeholders. One of the main goals of that consultation session was to discuss the importance of sharing each organizations GIS layer in order to create maps with more accurate and detailed information. In its completed state the National Geographic Information System of St. Maarten will feature information on all established zoning plans, protected monuments, issued permits, and countless other geospatial data features that may be useful for planning, policy development, enterprise asset management and other purposes. This system will be particularly beneficial to institutions that require accurate and current digital geographic information about St. Maarten to increase their service efficiency and effectiveness. Poor weather delays US space cargo launch to Saturday Washington, Nov 15 (AFP) Nov 15, 2018 Windy weather pushed back until Saturday the planned launch of a US cargo ship loaded with supplies for astronauts living at the International Space Station, NASA said Thursday. The delay to 4:01 am (0901 GMT) on November 17 from Wallops Island, Virginia marks the second time launch managers have postponed the mission from its initial flight plan of Thursday. "The teams decided to wait another day for launch after assessing continuing unfavorable weather conditions, including high winds and high seas, forecast for Friday morning," said a statement from Northrop Grumman, which operates the Antares rocket. "The forecast for a launch Saturday is significantly improved with a less than five percent chance of weather conditions preventing a launch." An unmanned Russian Progress supply ship is also scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1814 GMT on Friday. The Russian ship is scheduled to arrive at the orbiting outpost Sunday. A NASA spokeswoman told AFP the Cygnus -- bearing 7,400 pounds (3,350 kilograms) of supplies -- will follow at 5:20 am (0920 GMT) Monday. They mark the first cargo missions to ISS since a Soyuz rocket carrying three people bound for the space station failed on October 11 just minutes after blast-off -- the first such incident in the history of post-Soviet space travel. The astronauts on board were not hurt. Russia has since blamed the problem on a sensor that was damaged during assembly at the Baikonur cosmodrome. And Russia has already marked a successful return to flight with its Soyuz rocket on October 25, launching a satellite for the Russian military. Three astronauts -- one German, one Russian and one American -- are currently living at the space station, which has been continually inhabited since 2000. The next Soyuz launch with astronauts on board -- one Russian, one Canadian and one American -- is planned for December 3. Lockheed Martin awarded $22.7 billion Pentagon contract New York, Nov 15 (AFP) Nov 15, 2018 The Pentagon on Wednesday announced it had awarded Lockheed Martin a $22.7 billion contract for 255 F-35 fighter jets. Of the aircraft, 106 are destined for the US military: 64 F-35As for the Air Force, 26 F-35Bs for the Marines, and 16 F-35Cs for the Navy, while the rest are destined for foreign customers, the department said in a statement. A major Pentagon supplier, Lockheed Martin will receive a $6 billion advance for the order, due to be completed in March 2023. Most of the work on the jets will be performed in the US, with some will be carried out in countries including Britain and Italy. Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 program is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years. Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion. According to Pentagon figures from early October, 320 F-35s have been delivered worldwide, including 245 in the US. The Pentagon also announced it ordered eight MH-60R helicopters from Lockheed Martin for $382 million. jum/sdu/ska/wd Pence says Trump-Kim meeting likely in New Year, won't accept broken promises Singapore, Nov 15 (AFP) Nov 15, 2018 Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will likely meet again after New Year, the US vice president said Thursday, but insisted his government would not repeat past mistakes where "promises are broken." The US president and the North Korean leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. North Korea has taken some steps since then -- forgoing nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a missile test site and promising to also break up the country's main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions. But progress has generally been slow, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. Trump has said he hopes to have a second meeting with Kim early next year, but talks between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official planned for last week, partly to prepare for the meeting, were cancelled. The US said the North axed the talks because they weren't ready, and Trump insisted he was in "no rush". Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still "ongoing". "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," he told reporters. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of prior administrations -- frankly both political parties have made over the last several decades -- where promises are made, sanctions are lifted and economic support comes and then promises are broken." His comments came after a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a summit attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. - Maximum pressure - Pence urged other countries at the meeting to keep up sanctions pressure on the North amid signs that Pyongyang's traditional trading partners, China and Russia, have eased enforcement. Seoul has also said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. US officials insist on the complete, verified and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled on the pressure in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), insisting sanctions should be fully enforced. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship-to-ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". Pence also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. But with the US retreating behind protectionism under the Trump administration, China has stepped into the space it has vacated as the champion of global free trade. Chinese Premier Li, who was also in Singapore, beat the drum for the world's largest free trade deal -- which excludes the US -- but sweeps in nearly half of the globe's population including all of the 10-country ASEAN bloc. Southeast Asian leaders welcomed the "substantial progress" made towards completing the RCEP, as the deal is known, which is forecast to be signed and enacted next year if sticking points including over market access can be surmounted. "We are very close to the finish line," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong said in a closing speech of the 16-nation deal, which also includes India, Japan and Australia. English14/11/2018 SRNA News Roundup /I/ - November 14, 2018 REPUBLIKA SRPSKA BANJALUKA - Radovan Viskovic, a candidate for Prime Minister-designate of Republika Srpska, says he expects a parliamentary majority of up to 56 members of parliament. Viskovic says that after an inaugural session of the National Assembly which will take place on November 19, president of Republika Srpska will officially present the prime minister-designate and consultations about a new government formation will follow after that. BANJALUKA - A delegation of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats /SNSD/ and a group led by Obren Petrovic /former vice-president of the Serbian Democratic Party, SDS/ from Doboj on Wednesday agreed a joint appearance in Republika Srpska and at the Bosnia and Herzegovina State level, said SNSD spokesman Radovan Kovacevic. BANJALUKA - Academician Matija Beckovic says the results of the general elections in BiH are a great defeat of those who were against Milorad Dodik /the newly elected Serb member of the BiH Presidency/ because there were a lot of people who meddled in the elections. DOBOJ/SOKOLAC - Mayor of Doboj Obren Petrovic and his family received a threat sent on an official city administration e-mail address on Tuesday, Srna has found. Mayor of Sokolac Milovan Bjelica confirmed to Srna that death threats to him and his family arrived on an official municipality e-mail address and asserted that such messages had a political background. Police in Doboj are determining the circumstances regarding threats sent to Mayor Obren Petrovic and his family and identifying the perpetrators, the Doboj Police Administration told Srna. DOBOJ - Death threats made against Mayor of Doboj Obren Petrovic and his family are in direct correlation with his political decisions he recently made, member of the Doboj SDS City Board Boris Jerinic told Srna. TREBINJE - Nikola Selakovic, an envoy of the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, stated Tuesday in Trebinje that what Vucic had done for the city was just the beginning of the assistance Serbia was going to send to the whole Republika Srpska. BANJALUKA - Zlatibor is more than just a mountain and one of the most attractive tourist destinations in this part of Europe, which makes it a perfect choice for holidays, participants of a presentation of the winter season on the mountain stated in Banjaluka on Tuesday. SARAJEVO - Defence attorney Anto Nobilo, who left an international team of legal experts who are trying to establish the circumstances of the death of David Dragicevic, says that Davids fathers idea about what had happened and what Nobilo determined did not match and that was the reason he terminated the cooperation. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BANJALUKA - Interpol has issued red wanted notices for 19 BiH terrorists, two of whom are 23 and the eldest one is 58 years old, reports the Banjaluka Nezavisne Novine daily. SARAJEVO - The BiH Agency for Statistics reported on Wednesday that two years ago it successfully finished the 2013 Population Census in cooperation with entity statistics institutes. SARAJEVO - The presidency of the Independent Bloc suspended Salko Sokolovic and Sadik Ahmetovic, members of the outgoing BiH House of Representatives, for signing an application to the BiH Constitutional Court demanding the restoration of allowances paid to state-level elected and appointed officials for six months after the expiration of their term in office. FEDERATION OF BiH MOSTAR - Instead of the National Theatre, the venue of a formal ceremony marking the centennial of the liberation of Mostar in WWI hosted by the Serbian Cultural Society Prosvjeta /SPKD/ city board, will be Vladicanski Dvor, due to pressures exerted lately, reports the Mostar SPKD. SERBIA BELGRADE - The Serbian parliament working group in charge of investigating the crimes of the terrorist Kosovo Liberation Army /KLA/ has got hold of a part of international documentation in Kosovo showing that the KFOR, UNMIK and OSCE missions had disposed of information about the crimes committed against Serbs but failed to take any action, says head of the working group Milovan Drecun. NOVI SAD - Festivals organised by Exit have received record eight nominations for this years European Festival Award, Exit team reported. REGION BELGRADE - Belgrade must seek help from the relevant international organisations regarding Zagrebs decision to announce a public call leasing holiday resorts and other properties on the Adriatic coast which Serbia lays claim to according to the Yugoslav Agreement on Succession Issues, says Miodrag Linta, chair of the parliamentary committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region. PODORICA - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic says progress in the Western Balkans has been brought into question and that only a more active Europe can prevent the Balkans from falling under the influence of Russia and Turkey. /end/ds English14/11/2018 SRNA News Roundup /II/ - November 14, 2018 REPUBLIKA SRPSKA BANJALUKA - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik pointed out in a meeting with Croatian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivan Del Vechio that he will keep supporting a consistent application of the Dayton Peace Agreement and restoration of sovereignty to the peoples in BiH. BANJALUKA - Speaker of the Republika Srpska National Assembly Nedeljko Cubrilovic stated Wednesday in Banjaluka the first session of the new parliament will be held on Monday, November 19. BANJALUKA - The Peoples Democratic Movement /NDP/ will be part of the ruling majority in Republika Srpska and backs Radovan Viskovic for prime minister-designate, said SNSD spokesman Radovan Kovacevic. He told the press in Banjaluka, after a meeting of the SNSD and NDP delegations headed by party leaders Milorad Dodik and Dragan Cavic, that there had been talk of the NDPs concrete participation in the government and that the topic would be discussed in the future meetings. Kovacevic noted that the NDP requested to be in charge of one ministry. BANJALUKA - Democratic Peoples Alliance /DNS/ deputy president Nedeljko Cubrilovic says he has good relationship with the party leader Marko Pavic and that there are no problems there. Cubrilovic told the press they should ask Pavic about the topics that would be discussed at the upcoming DNS presidency meeting, because Pavic had scheduled it. BANJALUKA - Serbian Democratic Party /SDS/ vice-president Nedeljko Glamocak says the party main board will discuss all issues raised in the recent weeks at a meeting scheduled for Saturday in Istocno Sarajevo and added that the party leadership believed it would be good to hold inter-party elections and review a potential responsibility of its leadership after analysing the general election results. BANJALUKA - Minister of Justice Anton Kasipovic delivered certificates on the appointment of 10 new notaries public in Republika Srpska in Banjaluka on Wednesday, saying that the positions were filled in several official centres, which would improve availability of notary services. ISTOCNI DRVAR - Milan Kecman did not take over as acting director of the forest estate Klekovaca-Potoci in Istocni Drvar because a committee of the public forest enterprise Sume Republike Srpske proposed an economist from Ribnik Nikola Stojakovic for the position, said Assistant Minister of Forestry and Hunting Goran Zubic. NOVI GRAD - Mayor of Novi Grad Miroslav Drljaca expects the competent institutions of Republika Srpska and BiH to protect the residents of his municipality from the danger posed by a radioactive waste disposal site planned to be opened at Trgovska Gora in Dvor, Croatia. NOVI GRAD - Jasmin Emric, a deputy in the BiH House of Representatives, believes that BiH institutions reacted very slowly regarding the problem of a radioactive waste disposal site planned to be opened at Trgovska Gora in Dvor, Croatia, which the Croatian side used in its favour and adopted the national programme for implementing the radioactive waste disposal strategy, bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina into a much more complicated situation. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SARAJEVO - An inaugural session of the new BiH Presidency will be held on November 20 in Sarajevo, the Presidency reported on Wednesday. SARAJEVO - Deputy Foreign Minister Josip Brkic informed diplomats in Brussels on Wednesday about the post-election developments in BiH and voiced expectations that it will not affect the finalisation of answers to the additional 655 questions of the European Commission. SARAJEVO - The Audit Office of the Institutions of BiH has found that not a single of its recommendations regarding the distribution and usage of current reserves and accommodation of active military officers in the Ministry of Defence has been executed in the past four years. SARAJEVO - Major General Ivica Jerkic, Deputy Chief of the BiH Armed Forces Joint Staff, and Lieutenant General Drago Matanovic, Deputy Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Main Staff, stated Wednesday in Sarajevo that the two neighbouring countries armed forces have good cooperation, especially in the field of joint response to natural disasters. FEDERATION OF BiH TUZLA - Representatives of the cantonal boards of the SDP, SBB, Democratic Front, Our Party and Party for BiH singed a framework agreement on joint representation in the Tuzla Canton Assembly on Wednesday. SERBIA BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told Russian Ambassador Alexander Chepurin that he believes the upcoming visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Serbia will be the most fertile so far and thanked Moscow for supporting the countrys territorial integrity and efforts investing in finding a compromise solution for Kosovo. NOVI SAD - Hungarian Ambassador to Serbia Attila Pinter on Wednesday announced a big business meeting for December in Novi Sad including the participation of 50 Hungarian companies. BELGRADE - Head of the Serbian Government coordination body for gender equality Zorana Mihajlovic and Head of UNICEF in Serbia Regina De Dominicis signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the improvement of childrens position on Wednesday. REGION SARAJEVO - More than 10,000 persons gone missing in the 1990s armed conflicts are still searched for in the former Yugoslav countries and the issue of improving the laws on the missing and their families is the topic of a two-day regional conference which began in Sarajevo on Wednesday. The event is organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross /ICRC/. BECICI - A meeting of defence ministers of the of the US-Adriatic Charter /A5/ member states and observers began in Becici on Wednesday. BELGRADE - The County Court in Varazdin held a hearing on Wednesday on a motion by Dragan Vasiljkovic, better known as Captain Dragan, for release after he served two thirds of his prison sentence and the ruling is supposed to be issued as a matter of urgency, head of the defence team Savo Strbac told Srna. /end/ds A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Index of turnover in industry 2021, September Published: 15 November 2018 Turnover in manufacturing grew by good 6 per cent in June to August According to Statistics Finland, turnover in manufacturing in the June to August period was 6.1 per cent higher than in the corresponding period of the year before. Domestic sales grew by 3.2 per cent and export turnover by 8.2 per cent from one year ago. Three months' year-on-year change in turnover in manufacturing (C) sub-industries (TOL 2008) Turnover went up from the corresponding period of the previous year in nearly all manufacturing (C) sub-industries . Growth was strongest in the chemical industry, 12.9 per cent, and in the forest industry, 9.8 per cent. The growth was slowest in the food industry, 1.0 per cent, and in the electrical and electronics industry, 2.3 per cent from the previous year. Turnover decreased from the previous year only in the textile, clothing and leather industry, by 6.7 per cent. Three months' year-on-year change in turnover in main industrial categories (TOL 2008) The turnover of all main categories of manufacturing industries grew year-on-year. Turnover growth was strongest in the industry of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, 14.1 per cent. Turnover in mining and quarrying grew by 13.8 per cent and in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities by 7.7 per cent from one year ago. The index of turnover in industry describes enterprises whose main industry is manufacturing. The calculation of the indices is based on the Tax Administrations self-assessed tax data which are supplemented with data obtained with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The monthly turnovers of manufacturing enterprises can vary considerably, especially in the metal industries. The variation is mainly due to invoicing practices. The final invoice for major machinery deliveries and projects may be recorded in the sales of one month, even if the delivery had required the work of several months or years. Source: Index of turnover in industry 2018, August, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Maija Sappinen 029 551 3348, Kirsi-Maaria Manninen 029 551 2681, myynti.teollisuus@stat.fi Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko Publication in pdf-format (361.6 kB) Updated 15.11.2018 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Index of turnover in industry [e-publication]. ISSN=1798-596X. August 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 23.11.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tlv/2018/08/tlv_2018_08_2018-11-15_tie_001_en.html 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. Children from the Polish Saturday School in Stratford presented a special assembly, which celebrated the thousandyear-long history of Poland. On 11th November, the same date as the UK's Armistice Day, Polish Community in Stratford upon Avon and all over the world celebrated the centenary of Polands becoming an Independent State, writes Malgosia Librowski. For 123 years the state of Poland had been wiped off European political maps and ceased to exist, suffering servitude, bloody suppression, Russification and Germanisation policies, national insurrections, political repression and Siberian katorga. However, 11November 1918 saw the dream of generations of Poles came true - Poland finally returned to the map of Europe as an Independent State. To commemorate this special occasion, children from the Polish Saturday School in Stratford presented a special assembly, which celebrated the thousandyear-long history of Poland, one of the oldest states in Europe, its people and events that shaped it. It was a wonderful opportunity for children from Polish Saturday School to showcase their talents and for everyone to sing Polish national anthem. The event also remembered the fallen, who have given so much to protect the freedom we can all enjoy today. Renata Barys, the Head Teacher and founder of the Polish Saturday School in Stratford said: Many Polish families built their lives in Britain, contributing to this country every day. We are grateful to Britain for having welcomed us and we are happy and proud to be part of Stratford community. Now the famous store has teamed up with a French compatriot with a similarly distinguished heritage Louis Vuitton. The two brands have teamed up to collaborate on a lavish tea-trunk comprising a wooden foldable table, removable tray, and natural cowhide leather handles. Called Secretaire The, the piece also come with a Fortnum & Mason Camellia Tea Set featuring a gold-gilded pattern crafted exclusively for Fortnums in Stoke-on-Trent - the British home of fine china for centuries - with a design inspired by the beautiful handmade wallpaper of the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. The trunk is part of the French Art de Vivre Louis Vuitton and London, a collection celebrating the brands enduring spirit of innovation. Located on the prestigious Piccadilly thoroughfare in London, Fortnum and Mason was founded by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason in 1707. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... In Spring 2014, Kevin Deese, now 26, was about to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, when officials there told him that routine blood testing had turned up abnormal numbers -- and that a follow-up HIV test came up positive. In keeping with a longstanding U.S. military policy that bans HIV-positive people from enlisting and enlisted servicemembers who test positive from deploying overseas -- squelching their chances at military promotion -- Deese was told that he could graduate but not be commissioned into the Navy. After getting over the shock, Deese reached out to the LGBT military advocacy and legal group OutServe-SLDN and joined the lawsuit of another anonymous HIV-positive military academy graduate to fight the policy in court. Lambda Legal is also involved in the suit. In the age of easy, effective HIV treatment, the military policy is outdated and discriminatory, says Lambda's HIV project director Scott Schoettes. "People with HIV today can deploy," he says. It is not the only case challenging the military's HIV policy; in September, a federal court pushed forward a similar case, brought by Lambda on behalf of Sergeant Nick Harrison, who was denied military advancement because of his HIV status. The Body talked with Deese, who is now in graduate school in St. Paul, Minnesota, about how his ordeal unfolded and why he's determined to fight for his rightful place in the military. Tim Murphy: How did you set your sights on the military in the first place? Kevin Deese: It goes way back to my first visit to Annapolis when my brother was there, when I was nine. I saw the change that my brother had undergone. He stood taller and was part of something greater than himself. That's what really made me start thinking about serving. So I did great in high school. My senior year, I was vice president of the student body, president of National Honor Society, school mascot, and heavily involved in chorus and drama. So I went into the Naval Academy right after. The experience was awesome. If I could go back and do it again, I would in a heartbeat. There was so much camaraderie. My freshman year, I came out as gay to myself right around when they were ending "don't ask, don't tell" and allowing gays in the military. The following year I came out to a few closer friends. If anyone ever asked, I was honest with them. But I certainly wasn't posting on Facebook and did not join the LGBTQ and allies group that started at the school. TM: What was your military goal? KD: I was going to be a submarine officer. I applied for that early in my junior year and was accepted. I was really attracted to the mission. Submarines defend surface ships from below and go on top-secret missions all over the world. I wanted to be where the action was. Subs also play a role in strategic nuclear deterrence. TM: So then what happened? KD: So April Fool's Day 2014, I'm eating lunch in the dining hall with my best friend, and a lieutenant I didn't know comes over and ushers me to the commandant's office, which is like the dean of students. "It's not a good reason that you're here," the commandant says, and I start to panic. What did I do? Was I in trouble? I had no idea why. Then he tells me that I tested positive for HIV and my heart just dropped. It was not something I thought I had been at risk for. Then he says that I will not be commissioning as an officer along with my classmates. It was a double whammy -- so much stigma and shame, everything I had worked for and that the Naval Academy had paid to educate me for. So I spoke with the chaplain and the brigade medical officer. "We're not going to abandon you," they said. But really no one had my back. It was presented as very cut-and-dry with no possibility to get a waiver, no process. One of the commandants had prepared talking points for me and had scrawled "not a death sentence" on a Post-It note. I only told my roommate, my best friend, my company officer, and my family. I graduated, but everyone but me had a folder with their diploma on one side and their commissioning papers on the other. That was tough. By that point, many people knew I wasn't commissioning. I would simply say that I had a rare blood condition. But many people knew I was gay, so they probably put two and two together. I had so much shame. I didn't get my mom to switch out my midshipman shoulder boards [insignia] for officer ones, and I didn't get my first salute from an underclassman. Historic Eutawville Part 2: Historic Village When I was a child, my parents often took me to Eutawville to visit my great aunt, a grizzled old woman my mother held in great esteem. Momma told me... Historic EutawvillePart 1: Indians & Marions Earliest historical data locates the Cherokees in a vast area of what is now the southeastern United States, with about 200 towns scattered throughout the present states of Alabama, Georgia,... Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images The Prince of Wales celebrated his 70th birthday on Wednesday with a day full of engagements, and the women in his life brought out some major jewelry for the occasion. Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Charles and Camilla started off the day with a special tea for 70 inspirational people who were also celebrating their 70th birthdays on Wednesday. Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images The Duchess of Cornwall wore her three-stranded pearl necklace with the diamond and sapphire Art Deco clasp for the occasion. On Wednesday evening, a party was held in Charless honor at Buckingham Palace. Charles and Camilla posed for an official birthday portrait as they left Clarence House for the party, so we got to see that Camilla wore her diamond cluster suite for the party. Camilla wears the necklace and earrings in Spain, 2011 (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Camilla often reaches for this suite, which includes a necklace and a matching pair of earrings, for gala events. Above, she wears the set for a gala in Madrid. The official portrait of Charles and Camilla was the only insider glimpse we got of the festivities. Instead, we got quick glances at some of the other royals arriving by car. Heres a look at the Duchess of Cambridges statement earrings for the party. Kate wears the earrings at the BAFTAs in February 2017 (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) The earrings have been in Kates collection since at least 2011, and we previously got a good look at them when she attended the BAFTAs in 2017. (See a close-up in our post here!) Our glimpse of Meghan arriving at the palace gave us another look at the diamond earrings she wore during her tour of Fiji. Meghan wears the earrings in Fiji, October 2018 (Ian Vogler Pool/Getty Images) These are the earrings that the palace stated were borrowed without giving any additional information. Back in October, I floated a theory that the earrings might have come from Camillas collection you can read more about it in our earlier post here! Newlyweds Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie were also spotted arriving for the party, though we didnt get a good look at Eugenies accessories. We also caught a glimpse of Zara Phillips Tindall, who appeared to be wearing a pair of sparkly earrings. The Duchess of Gloucesters diamonds, though, were front and center, even when viewed through the car window. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Penny K. Lukito (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 10:05 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c40584 3 Opinion vaccines,vaccine-skeptics,health,medicine,BPOM,WHO Free Indonesia will host the first ever meeting of the heads of National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRA) from about 56 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jakarta on Nov. 21 and 22, which will also be attended by delegates from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Islamic Development Bank and leading vaccines and medicine manufacturers. They will discuss strategic issues of common concern impacting the Islamic world, including how to strengthen collaboration toward self-reliance in medicines and vaccines. This meeting could not be timelier. Needless to stress the importance of the provision and access to safe, good quality and efficacious medicines and vaccines. Particularly given the fact that many OIC member countries are confronted with public health challenges, crises and emergencies, caused by many factors ranging from poverty to violence and armed conflicts. This is true in the case of 21 OIC countries, which are still the least developed (LDC). A 2017 OIC health report published by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) presents worrying heath situations, particularly in countries affected by conflicts and still suffering from extreme poverty if not immediately resolved through collective actions by countries in the Islamic world, it will adversely affect the ability of regulators in the countries to provide access to basic health, essential medicines and vaccines. Subsequently, medicines regulatory authorities of the OIC countries are facing complex pressures and challenges. They must ensure their performance is up to international standards and be capable of providing a strong oversight role in order to guarantee that the medicines and vaccines marketed and consumed by the public are safe, of great quality and efficacious. To this end, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has a strategic role to play to ensure that the issues of collaboration for self-reliance of medicines and vaccines will be high on the OICs agenda. OIC secretary-general Yousef Al-Othaimeen has also suggested that the BPOM take the lead in strengthening OIC cooperation to achieve self-reliance in and access to medicines and vaccines for the benefit of OIC countries. As the governments regulatory authority responsible for drugs and food control, the BPOM has been recognized internationally as one of the functional NMRAs and as the authority of one of the countries that produces WHO-prequalified vaccines with a good export capacity. BPOMs membership since 2012 in the Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PICS) an international cooperative arrangement between 52 regulatory authorities from around the world in the field of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) of medicinal products also proves its good standing. Such a recognition provides a positive contribution for Indonesias export competitiveness in the countrys effort to boost exports and market expansion, showing that Indonesia is capable of providing international markets with safe, efficacious and high quality vaccines, including to OIC member countries. Access to and availability of safe, high quality and affordable drugs are very important in preventing and curing diseases as well as maintaining and improving health, especially in OIC countries that still have a high prevalence of various diseases. At present, drug manufacturing capacities within OIC member countries are still low, making them dependent on imported medicines from non-OIC countries and other important sources of medicines such as UNICEF. Only a handful of OIC member countries possess drug- and vaccine-manufacturing capabilities, namely Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Egypt. Vaccines produced by BioFarma, the state-owned vaccines producer of Indonesia, are used in more than 140 countries worldwide, mostly in developing countries, including in 49 out of the 56 OIC countries. UNICEF and other United Nations bodies have also used Bio-Farma vaccines in their programs. Against this backdrop, this forthcoming meeting will identify and deliberate key issues that are highly relevant to experiences of OIC countries, especially from medicine regulatory authorities perspectives. The meeting will discuss the current status of medicine regulation in OIC countries, the important role played by NMRAs in ensuring equitable access to safe, efficacious and quality medicines and the importance of developing and harmonizing standards of medicines and vaccines. The need for halal medicines and vaccines is also a challenge for the Islamic world. Strategic solutions are needed, not only in supporting their production but also in making sure the vaccination program runs smoothly. This forum offers opportunities to encourage the development of halal products so that they can expand the scope and increase the success of health programs in OIC member countries. The delegates will also discuss the challenges faced by member countries in tackling substandard medicines and vaccines including counterfeit ones. OIC member countries will share their experiences in implementing strategies to address substandard and/or counterfeit medicines and vaccines, so that collaboration strategies/programs can be formulated to eradicate their circulation. This timely forum is expected to produce a collaboration framework among NMRAs of OIC member countries to strengthen collaboration in the form of the Jakarta Declaration and Plan of Action to provide member states with a platform for continuous collective and concrete action, including through collaborations between pharmaceutical and vaccines manufacturers in OIC countries. *** The writer is the head of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM). The views expressed are her own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 08:29 1104 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c35874 1 Editorial #Editorial,Jokowi-administration,economy,investment,China Free The governments plan to open more sectors to foreign investors by revising the 2016 Negative Investment List (DNI) is indeed a bold measure in the run-up to the presidential and legislative elections next April, since electoral campaigns tend to raise the ugly head of inordinately strong nationalistic sentiment. Even now, the camp of Prabowo Subianto, the contender in the presidential election, has highlighted inequality in income and asset ownership, and ensuing debate usually leads to the bashing of foreign investors (companies) and Indonesian businesspeople of Chinese descent. However, we still challenge the incumbent administration of President Joko Jokowi Widodo to make a tough move for the long-term good of the nation in a bid to woo more foreign direct investment (FDI). We need more foreign investment in several sectors, notably in higher learning institutions, transportation and logistics services and various segments of higher added value manufacturing industries, such as rubber processing, to expand our export capacity. It is simply a coincidence that China observes this year the 40th anniversary of its reform and opening-up policy, which within 30 years has transformed the country into the worlds second-largest economic powerhouse. The strongest driver of Chinas rapid growth was its bold decision in 1978 to open up its economy through special economic zones, which attracted a huge wave of FDI because the rules and regulations in these zones became more flexible and liberal than the rest of the mainland. Chinese experiences, which have been validated by many international researches, have shown that joint ventures with companies from advanced countries, under proper regulatory arrangements by the host government, have transferred technology, expertise and good corporate governance practices to indigenous firms. In fact, most Indonesian businesses have become high-growth companies by banking their capability in internalizing FDI spillovers through both linkages and demonstration channels. The benefits of FDI extend well beyond wooing needed capital. With proper government regulations, foreign firms can be guided to transfer to domestic businesses technical know-how, managerial and organizational skills and provide access to foreign markets. World Bank studies also concluded that FDI improves labor conditions, setting global industry standards and delivering infrastructure to local communities. FDI can benefit domestic firms, mainly through linkages and demonstration channels: Linkages between foreign firms and local partners or suppliers can enhance the transmission of foreign firms technology, knowledge and requirements that may help domestic suppliers upgrade their technical and quality standards. The demonstration effect, in which domestic firms imitate foreign technologies and managerial practices either through observation or by hiring workers trained by foreign companies, is another key channel that benefits companies in host countries. Just look at how Indonesian bankers who moved from foreign to local banks have contributed greatly to good governance in the banking industry. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pietro Paganini (The Jakarta Post) Rome Thu, November 15, 2018 09:08 1104 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c39478 3 Opinion Insight,palm-oil,environmental-crimes,environmental-issues,Sustainable-Development-Goals,natural-resources Free Get ready, because the war against palm oil will not end as long as palm oil continues to be more competitive, better-quality and above all more sustainable than other vegetable oils, especially European vegetable oils. This is demonstrated by the fact every time a step forward is made towards sustainability, accusers come up with new arguments, without acknowledging the incredible efforts made in just a few short years, in extremely difficult geographical and socio-economic conditions. Have you ever heard anyone in Europe acknowledge the rapid improvement in the economic conditions and well-being of millions of African, South American or Asian citizens? Or has anyone ever celebrated access to education on the part of thousands of children who would otherwise be dying of hunger, without any prospects for the future? Access to education is more important than anything else for the future sustainability of our planet. In Europe, were more concerned about the conditions of the orangutans, or the worlds last green lung (now that we have destroyed the others). Its right to fight for sustainability, for the orangutans and for the forests. As Pope Francis maintains in his Encyclical, sustainable development requires striking a delicate balance between humanity and nature. Boycotting palm oil does nothing to strengthen this balance, and indeed complicates the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Those who discriminate against palm oil, also through the indiscriminate use of the palm oil free labels, are responsible for this failure. Palm oil has one of the most sustainable production and supply chains, which complies with very stringent sustainability and food security standards; is subject to a large number of certifications in competition with each other precisely with regard to the achievement of the SDGs; is an extraordinary resource for economic growth and the improvement of living conditions: access to education and the spread of knowledge and innovation, which are the key factors for encouraging more sustainable production processes. From an environmental and economic point of view, it is much better than its competitor oils and fats: significantly higher productivity per hectare; uses a lower amount of natural resources (earth, water) and energy; uses a lower amount of fertilizers and plant protection treatments; lower production costs, especially considering the high yield. But it is precisely the characteristics above that give us the answer to our question. Why is it boycotted in Europe? Because its more competitive than sunflower oil, rapeseed oil and any other alternative energy resource. Its not pleasant to have to expose the inconsistent and sometimes damaging behavior of the NGOs. Their contribution to improving the sustainability of palm oil crops has, in the past, undoubtedly been useful for stimulating the production and supply chain and making it more responsible. Lets ask them why they are not doing the same for other crops, or why they prefer to fight ideological battles, exploiting the poor orangutans, instead of striving to improve living conditions for the millions of people who make their living from palm oil crops and the oil production process. More worrying still than the NGOs are the companies in the food sector replacing this ingredient with less sustainable alternatives. They have presented this turnaround as a positive change, but in fact all it is a marketing ploy to exploit the emotional reaction of consumers, fomenting it with false media campaigns, devoid of any scientific foundation. Italian and Spanish companies are acting as trailblazers in Europe for this, with misleading slogans that delude the consumer, and behind which there is no improvement to the products. The British are following with the recent anti palm oil commercial that has gained the front page of many elite main stream media. The international community, Europe and the governments of the member states ought to forbid the claim palm oil free, because it is misleading. The UN should also intervene, so that the SDGs can be achieved as quickly as possible. To do so, it is important to keep investing in the sustainable palm oil chain and strengthen partnerships between all the players involved. A move away from this direction means denying the urgent need to invest in sustainability. Saying no to palm oil means saying no to SDGs. International institutions should provide incentives for the development of responsible production and supply chains, and adopt strict criteria also for other vegetable oils. The use of these products slows down the achievement of the SDGs, which will not be obtained unless the alternatives to palm oil also make a commitment to guaranteeing maximum sustainability. If this does not happen, it would be confirmation of the suspicion that the question of sustainability is merely an excuse for a commercial blow to the palm oil chain, which is much more competitive. The countries that produce palm oil, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Colombia, are now coming round to the idea that even if they were to achieve maximum levels of sustainability, the European Union and the NGOs would continue with their groundless accusations and threats of a boycott. Its time Europe adopted a responsible attitude and went down the road of true sustainability, as the countries that produce palm oil are doing. Right now we can only learn from them. *** The writer teaches at John Cabot University and Temple University of Philadelphia and is founder of Competere.eu think tank group. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Cairo, Egypt Thu, November 15, 2018 06:04 1104 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c33c35 2 Health bees,beekeeper,therapy,Egypt,Cairo Free On his rooftop in the outskirts of Cairo, Omar Abulhassan raises thousands of bees not for the honey, but their venom. After reading about the benefits of bees in the Koran, Abulhassan, 30, decided five years ago to raise the insects and use the venom in alternative therapy. He believes bee stings can relieve pain and cure illnesses such as rheumatism. These are not the only benefits, said Abulhassan, who has no medical background. It helps with having a better mood. He now treats about five people a month. In a typical session, hell use six bees to sting his patient in different parts of the body. [RA::Malaysia's honey hunters defy angry bees to harvest treetop treasure::http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/03/13/malaysias-honey-hunters-defy-angry-bees-to-harvest-treetop-treasure.html Mohamed Abdelfattah, 29, a regular patient, said the therapy improves his mood and makes him feel healthy. I constantly receive treatment using bees to increase my immunity and body strength, said Abdelfattah. The benefits of bee-sting therapy have not been scientifically proven, said Mahmoud Abdullatif, an experienced beekeeper and member of the Arab Federation of Beekeepers. This needs studies and scientific equipment and research so that we can understand what the bee venom contains and how we can benefit, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Chris Kirkham (Reuters) Thu, November 15, 2018 07:03 1104 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c33e9a 2 Health JUUL,e-cigarette,united-states,cigarette,FDA Free Juul Labs Inc, the US market leader for electronic cigarettes, said on Tuesday it will pull popular flavors such as mango, cucumber and fruit from retail store shelves in an effort to reduce surging teenage use of its products. The move comes as Juul and other e-cigarette makers have faced heightened scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amid a sharp increase by high school students in use of the devices, which look like a USB flash drive and vaporize a flavored liquid containing nicotine. In a statement on Tuesday, Juul Chief Executive Kevin Burns said the company wants to be the off-ramp for adult smokers to switch from cigarettes, not an on-ramp for Americas youth to initiate on nicotine. Juul said it will stop selling flavors except for tobacco, mint and menthol in all retail outlets, including convenience stores and vape shops, until retailers can install technology that scans buyers IDs to independently verify they are aged 21 or older. Until then, popular fruit flavors and other sweet flavors that appeal to younger users will only be available on Juuls website. The company said it uses an age-verification system that requires buyers to enter their social security number, address and birth date, which is verified by a third-party service. In addition, the company said it is shutting down its social media channels on Instagram and Facebook, and working with social media companies to remove unauthorized, youth-oriented content on their platforms relating to Juul. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said on Twitter that voluntary action is no substitute for regulatory steps FDA will soon take, but he acknowledged Juuls actions and urged other e-cigarette makers to take steps to reduce use by minors. Read also: JUUL: e-cigarette dominates the market -- and fears of parents Juul Rooms Some of Juuls early social media and YouTube videos included images of attractive young people using the product. User-generated social media about Juul became popular over the last two years, with young people posting videos and photos of themselves using the product at school or with friends, often under the hashtags #doit4juul or #juullife. Juuling has become synonymous with vaping in high schools across the country, where some teachers and administrators have started locking bathrooms, jokingly called Juul rooms by students. The FDA in September threatened to ban Juul and four other leading e-cigarette products unless their makers took steps to prevent use by minors. The FDA gave Juul and four big tobacco companies 60 days to submit plans to curb underage use, a compliance period that has now ended. The agency is expected to announce restrictions on flavored e-cigarette products this week that mirror those suggested by Juul and other manufacturers. A senior agency official last week said the FDA plans to only allow sales of tobacco, mint and menthol flavors in convenience stores and gas stations. Other flavors could still be sold at vape shops. Juul said that beginning in early 2017 it required models used in advertisements of its products be older than 35. Earlier this year, it began featuring only former cigarette smokers in its ads to highlight smoking cessation benefits. Juul has grabbed significant U.S. market share over the last year, growing from 13.6 percent of the market in early 2017 to nearly 75 percent now, according to a Wells Fargo analysis of Nielsen retail data. Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc, which sells e-cigarettes under the MarkTen brand, last month said it would stop selling its pod-based electronic cigarettes, generally smaller devices that use pre-filled nicotine liquid cartridges, in response to FDAs concerns. The company also said it would restrict flavors for its other e-cigarette products to tobacco, menthol and mint. James Campbell, a spokesman for the Imperial Brands Plc unit that makes blu e-cigarettes, said the company told the FDA it plans to introduce a technology early next year that would lock devices in an effort to prevent underage use. The company also said it would review its flavors and packaging to minimize youth appeal, strengthen age verification for online sales and terminate contracts with retailers found to sell to minors. Michael Shannon, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds Vapor, a unit of British American Tobacco, said last week the company planned to tell the FDA it would penalize retailers that sell to youth and strengthen online sales restrictions to prevent underage or large bulk purchases of its products. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Kuwait City, Kuwait Fri, November 16, 2018 05:03 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c61ed1 2 Books Kuwait,author,Literature,Censorship,Fyodor-Dostoyevsky,Gabriel-Garcia-Marquez,festival,Victor-Hugo Free Saad al-Anzi, who heads the Kuwait International Literary Festival, told AFP the information ministry had banned 948 books including Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, a novel set in 19th century Russia that explores morality, free will and the existence of God. Dostoyevsky joins a growing list of writers banned in the relatively moderate Gulf state, where a conservative trend in politics and society is rising. More than 4,000 books have been blacklisted by Kuwait's information ministry over the past five years, including Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez -- Gabo to his fans. All titles on show at the 43rd edition of Kuwait's book fair, which runs through November 24, were screened in advance by a censorship committee as per Kuwaiti regulations. Read also: New Murakami novel ruled 'indecent' by Hong Kong censors The committee works under a 2006 law on "press and publications", which outlines a string of punishable offences for publishers of both literature and journalism. Offences include insulting Islam or Kuwait's judiciary, threatening national security, "inciting unrest" and committing "immoral" acts. Activists took to the streets of the capital twice in September to protest against rising censorship. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Kuwait was a regional publishing hub, home to the high-brow, pan-Arab cultural journal "Al-Arabi" and a string of popular scientific and literary books. But in recent years, religious conservatives and tribal leaders have gained ground in parliament, paralleled by changing societal trends. Kuwait is the only Gulf state with elected lawmakers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Kurniawan Ulung (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 09:32 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c3b5d2 4 Art & Culture Jim-Adhi-Limas,theater,art,performing-arts,acting,actor Free Actor Jim Adhi Limas might have been living in France for 50 years but he still considers Indonesia home. No words could describe his mixed feelings when the 81-year-old visited Indonesia for the first time in December 2017 since he left in 1967. He was wowed by big changes in Jakarta, something that he previously observed through photos in magazines and newspapers only in France. Jakarta is like New York now, he said, referring to the capital bursting with shopping malls and high-rise buildings. In 1967, [the only high building in Jakarta] was Sarinah mall. As an actor, Jim has starred in over 100 TV series and films inside and outside France, such as romance drama Bitter Moon, for which he played with award-winning actors Hugh Grant and Kristin Scott Thomas. In the Indonesian theater scene, he has made a name for himself as one of the seven founders of Studiklub Teater Bandung (STB), the first contemporary theater group in Indonesia. In August this year, he visited Jakarta again to share the history of the STB in a talk during the Salihara International Performing Arts Festival (SIPFest) at the Salihara Theater. The STB was initiated in October 1958 in Bandung, West Java by Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) visual art students Jim Lim, Sutardjo A. Wiramihardja, Sujatna Anirun, Thio Gigo Tjong Gie, Tien Srie Kartini and Adrien Kahar and Pikiran Rakyat newspaper journalist Soeharmono Tjitrosoewarno. Unfortunately, many of them have passed away, Jim said. The STB might not be a very popular name in Indonesias theater scene, but it is far older than other legendary modern groups, such as Bengkel Teater founded by WS Rendra in 1967 and Teater Populer by Teguh Karya in 1968. The group still exists as of today although Jim left it in 1967 after he received a scholarship from the French government to study in France. When we were young: Actor Jim Adhi Limas (second left) performs as part of Studiklub teater Bandung in the 1960s. (-/A. Kurniawan Ulung) During his time in the STB, he was an actor and director. We knew nothing about theater. We just learned it from books because we loved reading, he said. If asked about who our teachers were, we answered that we were the students and teachers at the same time, he added. Jim said the idea to form the STB popped up when the visual art department of the ITB asked him and other students to perform to celebrate its 10th anniversary on March 8, 1958. The first play the group staged was titled Jayaprana, a popular legend in Bali that tells of how good-looking and loyal general Jayaprana was betrayed by king Anak Agung Gde Jelantik. The flick starts with the king who asks Jayaprana to choose any woman in his kingdom to be his wife as a reward for his services. But, Jelantik later crushes on Layonsari, a pretty woman Jayaprana fell in love with. Incited by his cunning uncle, the king then kills the general to takes Layonsari away from him and marries her. In the Jayaprana play, Jim not only played the perfidious king, but also directed it with the Indonesian version of a five-acts-play script by Dutch poet Jef Last. The script was translated by author Rosihan Anwar, Jim said. From 1958 to 1968, the STB was never paid for the plays it staged, according to Jim. Its members did side jobs to make ends meet. He himself was unemployed but he could make money from contributing movie reviews to Pikiran Rakyatonce or twice every week. Although STB members were self-taught theater players, they liked to perform foreign plays, such as Hamlet by English poet William Shakespeare, Tea and Sympathy by American playwright Robert Anderson and Rhinoceros by Romanian-French playwright Eugene Ionesco. We wanted to prove that we, Indonesians, were also able to perform these plays as well as foreign theater groups did [....] Tea and Sympathy, for example, was so popular that it had been staged worldwide at that time, he said. The STBs performances were so good that Jim got a scholarship to learn theater in France at the age of 30. It turned out that he received many offers to play in TV series and films there. When we were young: Jim Adhi Limas (second left) performs as part of Studiklub Teater Bandung in the 1960s. (Photo by A. Kurniawan Ulung) However, for me, 30 years of living in Indonesia is way more important than 50 years of living in France, he said. After using an Indonesian passport for 25 years in France, he decided to give up his Indonesian citizenship and become a French citizen in 1993. [As an Indonesian], I faced complicated procedure to get visas. The problem was that I was often sent to other countries for filming. He, for example, was once forbidden to enter Portugal because of the Timor Leste issue. Jim admitted that he often got small roles in TV series and films in France, so he could not visit Indonesia for 50 years. I could not afford the expense, he said. However, he said, he was never disappointed because what mattered for him was the countless opportunities to learn in the industry. I never dream to be famous or to be a superstar, he said. During his recent trip in Indonesia in December 2017, Jim met his old friends from ITBs visual art department and visited places historical to the STB, such as Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ) where the group once staged plays Tea and Sympathy and Masyitoh by Ajip Rosidi. From Gambir station in Jakarta, he then took the train to go to his hometown of Bandung to recall his childhood. When he was little, his parents a Sundanese mother from Bogor, West Java and a Javanese father from Kudus, Central Java often brought him to watch wayang wong (human puppet) every weekend in Kosambi. I love wayang wong very much because the Javanese language spoken by its players is like music to my ears, he said. Jim says that his feelings for Indonesia have not changed although he is no longer an Indonesian citizen. I like Paris where I live today, but for me, the best city in my heart is still Bandung. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Chen Jie (China Daily) Thu, November 15, 2018 23:06 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c601e3 2 Lifestyle Louis-Vuitton,fashion,luxury,luxury-brand,China,Shanghai Free An upcoming Louis Vuitton show in Shanghai will tell the story of the brand's history, Chen Jie reports. In 1835, a 14-year-old boy left Anchay, his native village in the Jura Mountains of eastern France, close to the country's border with Switzerland. He traveled on foot, reaching Paris two years later. He was immediately hired as an apprentice by a company that manufactured boxes and other material used in packing everyday objects. Nineteen years later, he founded his own company-Louis Vuitton-in the French capital. Olivier Saillard, the former director of the Palais Galliera in Paris, was moved by the true story of Louis Vuitton, who left home very young and later established the fashion house and luxury-retail brand bearing his name. People forget the names behind brands, Saillard says, adding that he wanted to look back at the founder of the Louis Vuitton company. As a result an exhibition, Volez Voguez Voyagez, a retrospective on both the founder and brand, was held in 2015 in Paris. It toured Tokyo the following year, and Seoul and New York last year. Now, the same display will be on at the Shanghai Exhibition Center from Friday to Feb 1, the exhibition's curator Saillard says. "Having curated some 110 exhibitions about fashion, I was a little tired of dresses," says Saillard. "The idea of working around the trunks (for the Louis Vuitton exhibition)-an almost architectural object-attracted me." He says people should understand that creating trunks is a craft born from a personal initiative. Read also: Vying for Vuitton: China's e-commerce rivals seek luxury stranglehold "I hope that when they visit the exhibition, they will have the impression of a journey, a dream." Saillard spent six months at the Louis Vuitton archives in a Paris suburb to prepare for the exhibition. He approached the show with "a sense of fantasy, as if Tintin (the Belgian comic character) was the curator, to appeal to a younger audience". The exhibition is likely to be an unusual journey for many visitors. They will first see a 1906 trunk, an iconic box that brings together all the elements of the Louis Vuitton identity-wooden struts, ribbon tufting, locks and the brand's monogrammed canvas. Then visitors will enter a space of wood. "Of all the materials used in the manufacturing of a trunk, wood is the most important. Before arriving in a luxury boutique, a trunk passes through a wood workshop," Saillard says. "It is also a reminder of the forest landscapes of Louis Vuitton's native land, Anchay." Passing the wood workshop, visitors will see most of Louis Vuitton's classic trunks from 1854 to the present day. Some boxes are filled with clothes and other items of daily use that suggest old memories. It's as if the owners of the trunks had just left the room, Saillard says. The other sections reflect different kinds of travel experiences: An expedition through Algeria, Mali and Congo; sea travel by yacht; a road trip with cars carrying wardrobes, picnic baskets and so on; and riding in steam vessels and on trains and aircraft. "Louis Vuitton is closely linked to the evolution of transport, whether steam engines or the automobile," says Saillard. For the "train" section, the exhibition's artistic director and set designer, Robert Carsen, has created an actual wooden compartment, inspired by the Orient Express, with images moving past windows. "An exhibition should be like a journey in which the visitors want not only to learn but also to be inspired, touched," says Carsen. "My challenge is not just to develop the right visual support for what the curator has chosen to present but also to help him develop and transmit his ideas." After this section, visitors can see a room for "writing and music" with secretary trunks, writing desks and library trunks customized for such writers as Francoise Sagan and Ernest Hemingway. "Louis Vuitton (the brand) accompanied those for whom writing was a necessity and a pleasure, before any means of modern telecommunication existed," Carsen adds. Since the founding of the company, exacting customers have been able to place special orders to fulfill their personal purposes and dreams. It seems there is no fantasy that cannot be packed into something. Fragile musical instruments are probably some of the most difficult items to pack. Whether a violin, a guitar or a conductor's baton, cases were expertly designed by Louis Vuitton to safeguard the instruments. The Shanghai exhibition has added a special section that tells the story of the brand in China. Read also: Lagerfeld takes Chanel to beach as Vuitton boosts color In 1907, Louis Vuitton was a partner in the first Beijing-Paris automobile rally, with the company's trunks and luggage serving as a natural partner for adventure. A year later, the French philanthropist Albert Kahn began an epic journey to photograph global cultures, stopping in China to capture many images. He commissioned a special trunk from Louis Vuitton for his equipment, which will be presented at the Shanghai exhibition. In 1931, Louis Vuitton provided trunks for a rally across Asia, from the Mediterranean to Beijing. Over 100 trunks were created to suit aspects of this extreme journey, including a version of the famous "automobile trunk" launched a year before, which will be featured in Shanghai. For the show, Louis Vuitton has commissioned Chinese artists Xu Bing and Ding Yi to create two trunks to highlight the links between the fashion house and Chinese culture. Xu's trunk design has Chinese calligraphy-his signature style-and includes the English translation of contemporary Chinese poet Zhai Yongming's poem, In Ancient Times. Zhai gave Xu the poem as a gift some 14 years ago when Xu was traveling. Xu says he accepted the work because he feels the fashion house has "a sense of romance", and it pursues quality while creating products and is mindful of social trends and tastes. "That's also what I try to pursue," says Xu. Ding's design is a cocktail-and-cigar trunk that also features his signature patterns. He followed personal interests while creating it. "I love traveling and cigars, and I enjoyed designing a trunk that can pack cigars while traveling." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Thu, November 15, 2018 15:31 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c4f5f4 2 Science & Tech Amazon,headquarter,united-states,e-commerce,New-York-City Free Around 100 people on Wednesday protested against Amazon's impending arrival in New York's borough of Queens, condemning $3 billion in tax breaks and incentives, and worried ordinary families will be pushed out by gentrification. The online retail giant announced on Tuesday that it had selected Long Island City and Crystal City, just outside Washington, for two new headquarters that will each hire 25,000 people. While New York's Democratic state governor and mayor are delighted, critics fear it will accelerate gentrification in a city where affordable housing is increasingly rare and have questioned the size of the tax breaks offered to a company headed by the richest man in the world, Jeff Bezos. According to New York officials the combined incentives offered for the Queens site total nearly $3 billion, including both direct grants and tax breaks and commitments to improvements related to the project. In Virginia, the package reaches some $2.5 billion according to The Wall Street Journal. "I am steaming mad," elected Democrat councilor Jimmy Van Bramer told the rally near the prospective Amazon site on the East River overlooking Manhattan. "We at the city council are going to be looking at every aspect of this," he said. "We are going to see how we can reengage in a process that we were deliberately excluded from." Read also: New Amazon HQ split between New York, Washington suburbs New York state senator Mike Gianaris also complained about "secrecy" behind the deal, vowed that opponents would "go to court if we have to" to renegotiate the agreement and demanded a consumer boycott of Amazon. Angela Tamura, a 47-year-old freelance artist who lives in nearby Jackson Heights, said she was "very scared" that Queens will no longer be "affordable" but was skeptical about demands for a boycott. "They have worked themselves into our lives so deeply it's very hard to let go of Amazon," she said. Shawn Dixon, 35, who works at a nearby barber shop, demanded that the city and the governor change the terms of the agreement with Amazon and protect small businesses to stop them being pushed out by rising rents. "I don't know what can happen but that's why we are here today, to properly put pressure on him (Governor Andrew Cuomo) to change it," Dixon said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 08:31 1104 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c3616f 1 City East-Jakarta,cat,castration,population Free The East Jakarta Food Security, Marine and Agriculture Agency is offering a free cat neutering service as the areas cat population continues to spiral out of control, prompting worries over their effects on the local environment. The cat population is concentrated in East Jakarta and South Jakarta, the agency head Irma Budiany said on Wednesday, tempo.co reported. She said that up to 137 male cats had been castrated in 10 districts in East Jakarta during an event at Duren Sawit district office hall. A similar event was held in May, at which 95 cats were neutered. The agency had enlisted 15 veterinarians from an Animal Welfare Body to castrate the cats, she added. Meanwhile, local residents have taken advantage of the offer to have their cats neutered for free. Yuyun, a local resident, had her 10 cats neutered. Sony, a resident of Jatinegara, neutered his five cats at the event. He said that he expected pet owners to help the government reduce the cat population. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Makassar Thu, November 15, 2018 09:40 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c3ce4c 1 National Survivor,earthquake,#PaluTsunami,#DonggalaEarthquake,#CentralSulawesiQuake,Central-Sulawesi-earthquake Free Nurul Istikharah, better known as Lulu, is too scared to go back to Palu, the city where she experienced 36 hours of horror following a powerful earthquake. Now living in her ancestral home town in another province, the 16-year-old is determined to move on with her life, even though she lost her legs to the disaster. Lulus home in the Balaroa area of Palu was among the areas decimated by soil liquefaction, a phenomenon unfamiliar to many Indonesians. That evening, on Sept. 28, Lulu, a 10th-grader at State Islamic High School 1, heard the call to prayer from the mosque and went to wash herself to prepare for the dusk prayer. With her at home were her mother, Risni, 45, and her 14-year-old sister Nurul Istikamah, or Isti. Her father, Muhammad Yusuf, 43, was out in the backyard tending to their chicken. Then, the earthquake struck. The 7.4-magnitude tremor threw their bodies around the house, and a cabinet collapsed onto Risni. But the three of them managed to escape from the house. They saw buildings falling down and the earth split. The soil was moving, mud was flowing out of the ground, and some water from burst water pipes was flooding their way. Later, they found themselves buried after concrete debris fell onto them. Unable to move, they could not help each other. Her mother was trapped next to Lulu, while her sister was trapped near her legs. Her father Yusuf was separated from them and had to climb over debris and wade through the mud to find his family. When he got to them, Lulu was the only one alive. Lulu said she had witnessed her mother and sister die before her eyes. Yusuf was determined to save Lulu but could not pull her out alone. So he found a hose and gave it to his daughter to breathe. Lulu stayed alive in that state for almost 24 hours, until the search and rescue team reached her on Saturday afternoon. They found her hugging her dead mother. A fathers hard decision The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) personnel did not have the right equipment to safely pull Lulu out. Pulling with force entailed the risk of breaking Lulus legs. So her father made a difficult decision. Pull her, its ok if her legs break, as long as she is alive. Do it, Ill take the responsibility, Yusuf told the Basarnas personnel. The rescue took hours. The team had to pump out water from the hole where Lulu was stuck in. In the early hours of Sunday, they managed to free Lulu. Search and rescue personnel work hard to free Nurul in Balaroa, Palu, on Sept. 29, after a powerful earthquake struck the city. (Antara/Darwin Fatir) The team took her to Undata Hospital in Palu. The doctors could not save Lulus legs, so they asked for Yusufs permission to amputate them. Yusuf saw no other option but to sign the form of consent. But her uncle insisted they get a second opinion and convinced Yusuf to take Lulu to the family's hometown in Pasangkayu regency of West Sulawesi. Upon arriving there, they found the regency did not have a hospital, only a community health center (Puskesmas). The doctor there said the same thing: Lulus legs had to be amputated, and it had to be done fast as the infection was spreading. So the family took her to Makassar in South Sulawesi, the most developed city in Sulawesi. This time, the decision was quick. The legs, from the knees down, must go. Point of no return Last Friday, after being treated for a month at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in Makassar, Lulu was allowed to go home. But Lulu no longer calls Palu home. I dont want to go to school in Palu anymore. Im scared, she told The Jakarta Post. So they stayed at a relatives house in Makassar. Yusuf, who had lost his job because of the earthquake and was staying in Makassar with his daughter, did not have the money for them to leave. After some word of mouth via WhatsApp groups, however, several donors chipped in to finance their return to their ancestral home of Pasangkayu, from where they had moved to Palu nine years earlier. Now in Pasangkayu, Lulu is eager to go back to school and says she would like to have artificial legs. Charles Ham from the HOPE Worldwide Indonesia foundation said he would see to it. We will help Nurul and we will bring her to Yogyakarta to measure the artificial legs, he said. The Palu earthquake, which triggered a tsunami and soil liquefaction, killed at least 2,086 people in Palu and the regencies of Donggala and Sigi. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 20:46 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c5d47a 1 City Bekasi,murder,family,suspect,arrest Free A man believed to have murdered an entire family in Bekasi, West Java, including two children, has been arrested, according to Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono. The suspect, identified as HS, was apprehended at a hiking post on Mount Guntur, also in West Java. The police found him after following the trail of a missing Nissan X-Trail that had last been seen parked in front of the victims home, Argo said. The car was located at a boarding house in Cikarang, West Java, where HS was staying, he added. The car was stolen by HS [] We received information from local residents that HS was in Garut, so we sent a team there, Argo said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. When we arrived in Garut, we found HS resting at a hiking post. When we searched his bag, we found the keys to a Nissan car, a cellphone and Rp 4 million [US$272.44] in cash. HS has reportedly denied his involvement in the crime. The case has been taken over by the Jakarta Police, who will continue to interrogate him. Diperum Nainggolan, 38, his wife Maya Boru Ambarita, 37, and their two children Sarah Boru Nainggolan, 9, and Arya Nainggolan, 7, were found dead in their home on Tuesday. Police have dismissed robbery as a possible motif. (gis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 14:49 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c4e162 1 National Baiq-Nuril-Maknun,defamation,headmaster,ITE-Law,sexual-harassment,SAFEnet Free The Supreme Courts decision to find Baiq Nuril guilty of defaming her former superior on Friday has sparked criticism among activists who argue that Baiq is in fact a victim of sexual harassment from her boss, a former headmaster, and should therefore not be punished. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) said on its official Twitter account @safenetvoice on Tuesday that H. Muslim, the former headmaster, had contacted Baiq by phone several times. In their conversations, Muslim allegedly shared vulgar and lewd stories about his sexual affair with his treasurer and asked Baiq to stay in a hotel with him on several occasions. Have you ever received a phone call from your colleague but the conversation turned into a lewd conversation that [was a form of] sexual harassment against you and made you feel uncomfortable? Thats what happened to Nuril, @safenetvoice tweeted. Baiq, afraid she would be fired if she filed a report, initially kept mum, but when Muslim called her again, she decided to record the conversation. Her colleague, Imam Mudawin, asked about the recording and reported it to the Mataram Education Agency. Muslim was removed from the school after the incident, while Nuril was reported for spreading the recording, something that she said she never did. Nurils case will make many women in Indonesia who have become victims of sexual harassment afraid to report what they had been through, because they are afraid they will be a convict like Nuril. Of course, this is a bad example for the protection of sexual abuse and harassment victims in Indonesia, a SAFEnet volunteer, Ike Ningtyas, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. Meanwhile, Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said the courts ruling was absurd since Nuril was only documenting the abuse she received from her employer. Unsolicited, sexually explicit and abusive telephone calls would constitute sexual harassment and should be investigated as a priority, with charges brought accordingly. It is a travesty that, while the victim of the alleged abuse has been convicted for recording this call, little if any action has been taken by the authorities to investigate what appear to be credible claims, he said on Thursday. Usman said the verdict was yet another example of how the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law had been used to repress people. Its vague definitions of defamation, blasphemy and, in this case, sharing information that violates decency, have routinely been used in abusive ways often to silence freedom of expression. In this case, it appears a woman was criminalized simply for taking steps to redress the abuse she experienced. Nuril must be freed, and the ITE law must be amended, Usman said. Nuril must serve a six-month sentence and pay a Rp 500 million (US$33,749) fine, according to the ruling on Friday, which found her guilty of violating Article 27 Point 1 of the 2016 ITE Law. Meanwhile, a crowdfunding campaign was initiated by the Victims of UU ITE Community (PAKU ITE) on Tuesday evening to raise money to help Nuril pay the fine. As of Thursday morning, the link had been shared 8,900 times on Facebook and more than Rp 89 million had been raised. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Laura Bonilla (Agence France-Presse) Thu, November 15, 2018 11:22 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c43e49 2 World #USA,#drugs,El-Chapo,trial Free Drug baron Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman co-headed the Sinaloa cartel, an informant told his US trial Wednesday, skewering defense claims that he was little more than a scapegoat and spilling the operational secrets of the criminal enterprise. Jesus "El Rey" Zambada, brother of still-at-large co-defendant Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, was one of the first witnesses to take the stand on the second day of what is expected to be a more than four-month trial. In US custody since 2008, he testified at length about the import-export business of the Sinaloa, which rose to prominence after 1997, when Colombia changed the law, allowing its citizens to be extradited to the United States. The change was enacted under pressure from Washington, looking to clamp down on drug trafficking. But instead, Mexican traffickers filled the void, bringing in cocaine by speedboats, fishing boats, planes and even commercial containers, which were then sent in their entirety to the United States. The shipments generated "billions of dollars" that Colombian and Mexican drug traffickers split between them, Zambada said. Guzman, considered the world's largest drug trafficker since the death of Colombia's Pablo Escobar, is on trial in a federal court in Brooklyn under draconian security arrangements after twice escaping from prison in Mexico. He faces 11 trafficking, firearms and money laundering charges that will likely see him incarcerated for the rest of his life in a maximum security US prison if he is convicted. Accused of smuggling more than 155 tons of cocaine into the United States over 25 years, he listened attentively Wednesday, dressed in a dark suit and tie, and sometimes taking notes that he passed to his lawyers. - Stares for beauty queen wife - At other times, he fixed his eyes on his 29-year-old beauty queen wife, Emma Coronel, who sat in the gallery and from whom he is banned from having any direct contact or communication by the court. Zambada testified that he had been working for the Sinaloa cartel for two decades before his arrest, becoming its main leader in Mexico City and that he established a system to track payments from US clients. The price of cocaine rose as it progressed north. In Colombia, a kilo cost about $3,000, in Mexico it was $10,000 to $13,000, in California $20,000, $25,000 in Chicago and $35,000 in New York, he said. He detailed one incident in 1994 when smugglers deliberately sank a fishing boat loaded with a whopping 20 tons of cocaine en route from Colombia to Mexico, believing they were being followed by authorities. Guzman's co-defendant simply hired deep-sea divers and manage to recover the smuggled narcotics, he said. Undercutting the defense argument that the real culprit is the absent co-defendant, Zambada also told the second day of the trial that the cartel was indeed co-headed by his brother and Guzman. He called Guzman "one of the most important drug traffickers in Mexico." Asked by the prosecution who was boss of the cartel, Zambada replied "mainly" Guzman and his brother. Prior to Zambada, the first government witnesses to testify were a US customs agent and a forensic chemist who worked for the DEA. - 'Scum' - In concluding his opening statement, defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman sought to discredit the more than a dozen informants expected to take the stand, calling them "scum," "degenerates" and "liars." "These are people who lie every day," he said. He singled out Miguel Angel Martinez, reputedly Guzman's former right-hand man for his "unbelievable" cocaine habit and for lying about it for 15 years. "His nose basically fell off for sniffing cocaine," Lichtman told the jury. Another, Cesar Gastelum Serrano, was a Colombian narco who paid off a former president of Honduras, he added. Prosecutors say that from 1989 to 2014, the Sinaloa cartel smuggled 340,892 pounds (154,626 kilograms) of cocaine into the United States, as well as heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana, raking in $14 billion. They have spent years accumulating more than 300,000 pages and at least 117,000 recordings in evidence against Guzman, whom they said kept his "own private army," a diamond-encrusted pistol and a gold-plated AK-47. Guzman has been held in solitary confinement since being extradited to the United States in January 2017. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 13:25 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c48bd2 1 City Bekasi,murder,school Free Students were dismissed early from school upon hearing news of the murder of the Nainggolan family in Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday. Sarah Boru Nainggolan, 9, and Arya Nainggolan, 7, who were students of the city's Imanuel Viktori Christian elementary school, were murdered in a homicide along with their parents, Diperum Nainggolan, 38, and Maya Ambarita, 37. Their bodies were found in their house, which is not far from the school, on Tuesday. The teachers of the school received the news of the murder from the victims relatives, whose children were enrolled at the same school, school principal Romme Winoka said on Wednesday. "The teachers were very shocked that, at 10 a.m., [we] decided to dismiss the [children from] school," Romme said as quoted by tempo.co. According to Romme, members of the teaching staff cried hysterically upon receiving the news. As the situation became unbearable for some, the entire school was closed for the day. Sarah and Arya were found dead in their bedroom, allegedly because of asphyxiation. Their parents, Diperum and Maya, were found dead in the living room with stab wounds. Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Indarto said the police alleged that the murder was not a part of a robbery and involved more than one perpetrator. All of the [potential] motives are still being looked into, he said. (gis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 12:23 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c464bf 4 Business Sriwijaya-Air,Garuda-Indonesia,citilink,joint-operation Free Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia president director Ari Askhara has said that the joint operation scheme (KSO) between Garuda Indonesia Group and private airline Sriwijaya Air is aimed at helping improve the operational and financial performance of the latter. Garuda Indonesia Group, through its subsidiary low-cost carrier PT Citilink Indonesia, announced on Wednesday that it had taken over the operation of PT Sriwijaya Air and NAM Air under a KSO scheme. Ari said that, with the KSO, Sriwijaya Air was expected to be able to fulfill its obligations to third parties, including Garuda Indonesia Group. He said under Citilinks operation, Sriwijya was expected to be able to expand its market segment, network and operations. It (joint operation) will be able to accelerate the process of [Sriwijaya Air] restructuring to fulfill its obligation to Garuda Indonesias subsidiary, he said as reported by tempo.co.id, adding that, with the KSO, Garuda Indonesia Group and Sriwijaya Group controlled 52 percent of the domestic aviation market. Meanwhile, securities firm Koneksi Kapital Sekuritas research head Alfred Nainggolan said the cooperation between Citilink and Sriwijaya Air would positively impact Garuda Indonesia Group. He said the market segment of the two airlines were similar and, therefore, the cooperation would help improve efficiency. If there was no economic incentive, such cooperation would never happen, Alfred said on Wednesday. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 14:21 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c4b466 1 Business Jokowi,ASEAN-Summit,RCEP,negotiation Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has encouraged participating countries of the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) to settle differences to help boost economic cooperation in the region that hosts 48 percent of the global population. The President said in Singapore on Wednesday that the trade war between China and the United States had triggered protectionism, with countries issuing antidumping duties, countervailing duties and other safeguard policies. With such a condition, it is important to immediately complete RECP negotiations, said Jokowi in Singapore as quoted by kontan.co.id. The President is in the country to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit. He called on negotiators to immediately return to the negotiation table to complete the long process of establishing the economic cooperation. As a coordinator of RCEP negotiations, I assess that we are at the point of no return. What we have achieved should become capital to complete RCEP negotiations so that the fruits of economic integration can be enjoyed by our 3.4 billion people, he added. The RCEP involves 10 ASEAN member countries, plus China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Once an agreement is reached, the RCEP will also cover 38 percent of the worlds gross domestic product (GDP) and 25 percent of trade. Previously, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said RCEP negotiators had been unable to reach an agreement on the issue of fair competition, failing to meet a deadline set during the 2017 RCEP Summit in the Philippines. He said Japan was the only country that had not agreed with the specific chapter in the document. (bbn) https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/jokowi-mendorong-pembahasan-rcep Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Thu, November 15, 2018 22:10 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c5fbd0 2 World #UK,#Brexit,members,parliament,no-confidence Free Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the hardline pro-Brexit European Research Group of lawmakers, on Thursday requested a vote of no-confidence in the British prime minister. The ERG leader handed in a letter to the party's parliamentary group in the House of Commons after a raucous session of parliament in which Theresa May sought to defend her draft Brexit agreement despite trenchant opposition. "Regrettably, the draft Withdrawal Agreement presented to parliament today has turned out ot be worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation," he wrote in the letter to 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady. "Therefore, in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures... this is a formal letter of No Confidence in the Leader of the party." If 48 Conservative MPs write similar letters then a leadership contest is triggered. Although other MPs have already sent letters, all eyes were on Rees-Mogg given his influence over Brexit supporting MPs. Only 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady knows how many letters have so far been submitted, with speculation mounting that the threshold may be close following the publication of May's Brexit divorce deal. Rees-Mogg on Wednesday rejected the deal, saying it threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom, prevented Britain from striking free-trade deals with the rest of the world and made the country a "permanent rule taker" from Brussels. If May wins a leadership contest, she will remain in office and cannot be challenged again for a year. If she loses, she must step down and cannot stand in the leadership election. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15 2018 The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has urged the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to simplify licensing procedures and provide businesspeople with a lending facility to help boost the fishing industry. Kadin representatives, accompanied by academics and regional leaders, said in a meeting with Bappenas officials in Jakarta on Wednesday that the government, under its 2020 to 2025 national development plan, should draft policies to encourage these initiatives. The five-year plan is still being formulated by Bappenas. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 15:53 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c53689 1 City theft,motorcycle,Facebook,arrest Free The South Tangerang Police have caught three people suspected of being part of a gang of motorcycle thieves known to operate in Bintaro, South Tangerang. Two of the suspects are minors. "We arrested them on Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. in Ciputat," said South Tangerang Police crime head Adj. Comr. Alexander Yurikho as quoted by tempo.co. Alex said the three were suspected of stealing a motorcycle in Bintaro Sector 7 at 3 a.m. earlier that day. One of the thieves allegedly pulled the victim, Tegar Riyanto, off the motorcycle. A second thief then threatened Tegar with a sharp weapon. Tegar gave up his motorbike and fled to a nearby police post. "The [three suspects] then stole Tegar's motorcycle and attempted to sell it on Facebook for cash," said Alex. "One of our officers from the cybercrime unit tracked them down and pretended to be a buyer, which resulted in the arrest." The suspects said that they planned to divide the money among them and use any remaining money to buy alcohol. "They are being charged with Article 365 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), which carries a maximum punishment of 12 years in prison," said Alex. "For the juveniles, we're working with the Banten Law and Human Rights Agency, the P2TP2A [Integrated Empowerment Center for Women and Children] and their parents to provide assistance during the investigation," he added. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 10:53 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c43752 4 Business biodiesel,B30-mandatory-policy,proposal,producer Free While the implementation of the 20 percent blended biodiesel (B20) mandatory policy needs fine tuning, biodiesel producers want the government to increase biodiesel content in fuel to 30 percent early next year. If we want to save our foreign exchange further, we need to reduce diesel fuel imports by utilizing more fatty acid methyl esters [FAME]. We need to upgrade B20 to B30, said PT Wilmar Nabati Indonesia director MP Tumanggor in Jakarta on Wednesday as reported by kontan.co.id. Meanwhile, Indonesian Biodiesel Producers Association deputy chairman said if the government agreed to the implementation of a B30 policy, producers would be able to start adjusting production capacity. Monthly B20 biodiesel production had reached 12 million kiloliters , Tumanggor said. If a better policy is feasible, why cant we implement it so that we can further save our foreign exchange by reducing imports? he said. If the consumption of Solar diesel fuel reached 30 million kl annually, 30 percent of which could be replaced by diesel fuel if a B30 mandatory was implemented, he said, adding that with the policy, the government could save 9 million kl of fuel imports. Therefore, we want to propose the B30 mandatory policy. If possible, the policy could be implemented next April, he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 14:29 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c4bbd2 1 City city-budget,capital-injection,BUMD,jakarta Free Several city-owned companies have left some of the funds granted to them through the city budget untouched for years, Jakarta city secretary Saefullah has revealed. He said the companies had requested capital injections for projects, but had yet to start them. There are 10 companies [with unused capital injections], so there is about Rp 4.4 trillion [US$297.76 million] left unused, Saefullah said on Wednesday, kompas.com reported. About Rp 2.6 trillion [of the projects] are in progress, according to their proposals, while some are in the procurement process, Saefullah said. He said city-owned PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) would return its capital injections of Rp 650 million to the city administration. The capital had been granted in 2013 for JakPro to acquire private water company PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja). Furthermore, Rp. 1.8 trillion was unused with no attached plans. He said the city had yet to provide the legal basis for redistributing the unused capital injections. We will discuss it [with Jakarta Councils budget committee], he added. According to the city administrations evaluation and monitoring website, publik.bapedadki.net, as of Nov. 15, only 55 percent of the city budget, Rp 41.39 trillion, had been used, from the total Rp 75.09 trillion. Saefullah said funds had been left untouched because some projects had failed to procure contractors on time, causing delays. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 15:39 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c52ada 4 Business Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,banking-industry,crisis,survival Free Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has praised the banking industrys ability to face critical situations. Her statement was delivered at the Indonesia Banking Expo (IBEX) on Thursday, attended by stakeholders in the banking industry, including regulators. In the last 20 years, after the economic crisis in 1998, the banking industry has faced tough challenges, said the minister as reported by kontan.co.id,during the event that highlighted the banking industry in the fourth industrial transformation. Sri Mulyani said the economic crisis in 2008 was the biggest challenge since the crisis in the 1998 because unlike previous crises, the 2008 crisis threatened the global economy, but the banking industry managed to survive. The industry continued to face challenges from 2011 to 2014, when the price of several commodities such as oil, gas, coal and palm crude oil (CPO) dropped significantly, she said. However, the banking industry survived the crisis, although non-performing loans worsened after the industry restructured bad loans, she added. Sri Mulyani also warned that the banking industry was facing similar challenges amid global economic uncertainty sparked by the United States fiscal and economic policies as well as trade war between the US and China. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Fri, November 16 2018 Jakarta and Tokyo are focused on advancing their ties through a long-term partnership aimed at pushing both states up the global ladder to be among the top five economies by 2045 coinciding with a century of Indonesian independence. President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on Thursday in Singapore for bilateral talks that highlighted Project 2045, which is expected to promote Japan-Indonesian cooperation and promote a life of plenty, freedom and safety. Jokowi said the activities carried out under the cooperation should reflect the potential both countries have in overcoming challenges and seizing future opportunities together. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Japan News) Awaji, Hyogo Thu, November 15, 2018 18:03 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c59254 2 News Hello-Kitty,travel,Japan,Hyogo Free A cottage that evokes the world of Hello Kitty will open Thursday on Awajishima island, Hyogo Prefecture, with expectations high that it will attract many visitors including foreign tourists. The operator of Grand Chariot Hokutoshichisei where guests can enjoy luxurious meals while surrounded by nature renovated one of its facilitys 23 cottages in a Hello Kitty theme. Read also: Hello Kitty debuts as vlogger on YouTube The image of the world-famous character can be found on the cottages mirror, wall, skylight and even the package of bath powder. The cottage is available for groups of two to four people. Prices start from 92,000 ($800) per night with two meals, excluding tax and service charge. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, November 15, 2018 16:30 1103 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c54b3c 4 Tips nusa-penida,bali,travel,destination,tourism,tips Free White beaches, sapphire blue sea and stunning karst scenery are what lures tourists to Nusa Penida. Located southeast of Bali, the island is a dazzling picture-perfect spot with thousands of daily visitors. For those planning to enjoy Nusa Penidas beauty, here are a few tips for a nice, budget-friendly trip as compiled by kompas.com: 1. Purchase a boat-crossing ticket in advance Nusa Penida can be reached with a speed boat that will take you from Sanur Port in Bali to Banjar Nyuh Port in Nusa Penida. A one-way trip costs Rp 75,000 (US$5). The boat departs from Sanur Port at 8:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. From Banjar Nyuh Port, it departs at 9:15 a.m., 2:15 p.m. and 5 p.m. Although tickets can be purchased on the spot, only a limited number of tickets are sold daily. It is better to buy tickets at least one day in advance to avoid a long line. 2. Rent a vehicle The only way to move about in Nusa Penida is by renting a vehicle, so locals around Banjar Nyuh Port usually offer vehicles for rent. A regular one-day rental is Rp 75,000 for motorcycles and Rp 500,000 for cars. These prices include gas, so make sure the vehicles tank is filled up before renting. Read also: Jakpost explores Bali 3. Cheap tourist spots Raja Lima, or Molenteng as locals call it, is a tourist spot located 45 minutes away from Banjar Nyuh Port. It has treehouses where visitors can take pictures with vast sea and a karst backdrop. Atuh and Diamond beaches are the two tourist spots nearest to Raja Lima. They boast Nusa Penidas signature white sand, clear sea and karst. These destinations cost a mere Rp 5,000 to enter. They are also located near Banjar Nyuh Port, perfect for a short trip. 4. Maximize your visit Each corner of Nusa Penida Island offers a picturesque landscape. Thekompas.com team found over five interesting photo-taking spots in Raja Lima alone. Maximizing visiting time at each destination leads to minimizing spending. 5. Prepare supplies and equipment Nusa Penida is very warm during the day, so apply sunscreen for skin protection. Comfortable clothes and footwear are also obligatory. Also take along drinks and snacks to save money, because at such tourist sites they are quite expensive. 6. Be punctual Punctuality is the key to a cheaper Nusa Penida Island visit. Missing the speed boat crossing schedule means waiting for next days departure. Nusa Penida has several inns with prices ranging from Rp 200,000 to 300,000 per night, but vacant rooms arent always available. (iru/kes) "I used to sell tickets for Phantom, now I star in it." Tim Howar giggles with childish excitement as he recalls his full-circle transition from front of house staff member to leading role in Britains second longest running musical. Living off $10 a day in New York and struggling to survive, Howars career was ignited when he attended a musical at The New York City Opera which inspires him even today. I sat in the fifth circle, way above, looking down on peoples foreheads, but hearing this thing sing in the clouds changed my life, changed the way I looked at acting, Howar says. Its a performance I will always remember. It was this event, spurred on by an intense work ethic, that inspired Howar to follow the industry he loved. In his words, rising to the most coveted seat in the West End can only be attributed to hard work and a never give up attitude that has seen the 49-year-old star in major productions either side of the Atlantic. Having declined a dance scholarship at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to follow his love of musicals, Howar was thrown into the deep end aged 18 with a leading role in a budget production of Oliver! in Edmonton, Canada. With this experience under his belt, he embarked on a series of Canadian productions before starring as Marius in a US tour of Les Miserables alongside original London cast member Colm Wilkinson. Going on to star in shows across both Broadway and the West End, he began 2018 with a role as Freddie Trumper in Abbas revival of Chess at the London Coliseum. Im not afraid to get my hands dirty, Howar says. It doesnt matter whether Im mopping a floor, peeling potatoes, waiting tables or being a bartender. If youve got to put food on the table youve got to put food on the table and theres always jobs out there. After welcoming his third child, Hamish, in early 2018, Howar learned of an opening at Phantom of the Opera. Hours of studying later, he went in for a successful audition. Unveiled as the latest star of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintoshs successful hit at Her Majestys Theatre, Howar followed in the footsteps of original cast member Michael Crawford and Ramin Karimloo, who played the role in the 25th anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. [The directors] called me, and they said, will you come and audition for the phantom?, says Howar. After the fourth audition, Cameron Mackintosh was there, and he said yeah, we want you. I never thought it was going to happen. His personality traits certainly make him a perfect fit for the role. He describes himself as a delusional optimist and, like the Phantom, thinks emotion is key to success in theatre. The measure of a good show is if it has a heart and tells a wonderful story, says Howar. Camerons very particular about who he wants to have in that role and I hope hes given me that because I like to tell a story and like to make it exciting. With a new album release and tour booked in for 2019 with Mike and the Mechanics, a band Howar joined in 2009 and claims he is a fan of, his second career is just as demanding. Although singing has always been important, he admits that his intense work schedule can be tiresome. I finish on December 8th and I go immediately into a bunch of orchestra concerts, and then Im on tour with my band, Howar says. Im a little bit exhausted some days but thats good, If I wasnt exhausted Id probably be worried I wasnt doing enough. Thats what coffees for. Exhausting perhaps, but Howars self-proclaimed graft has paid off. As the interview comes to an end, he has a little over two hours until showtime. I need to go and get the makeup on, it takes about an hour but its all worth it, says Howar. Still clearly in love with what he does, Howar finishes with the philosophy that brought him so far. Given the opportunity to go for something just go for it. Its been an honour. Phantom of the Opera is playing at Her Majesty's Theatre, London. Box Office - 0844 412 4653 Images - Raw PR. defence Counsel for man acquitted of rape suggested jurors should reflect on underwear worn by the 17yo complainant. Following this wholly unacceptable comment, we are calling on our followers to post a picture of their thongs/knickers to support her with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/ZkVU0GVAIN I Believe Her Ireland (@ibelieveher_ire) November 10, 2018 na wearing gross pants, nice pants or no pants: #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/FqSt0TEJI6 Repealist [on Illness Hiatus] (@Repealist_) November 12, 2018 organised and organisation rally I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in #Dail. In courts victims can have their underwear passed around as evidence and it's within the rules, hence need to display in Dail. Join protests tomorrow. In Dublin it's at Spire, 1pm.#dubw #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/DvtaJL61qR Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD) November 13, 2018 courts Dublin 1pm. offence In the case in Cork, the jury was encouraged to consider the 17-year-olds choice of underwear in thelawyers closing speech. The accused was subsequently found not guilty. Following the trial, a viral campaign saw women posting images of their own underwear on social media, with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent.The hashtag was created by a closed Facebook group called MnahEireann (Women of Ireland). Susan Dillon, a member of the group who also runs the Twitter account I Believe Her Ireland, spread the word further. Dillon said: One of the women in the group was angry at the comments made, as we all were. Dillon said the woman suggested a protest to highlight that what women wear does not constitute consent, and another woman came up with the hashtag wording. Irrespective of the other evidence no item of the complainants clothing implied consent. If a jury is a representative sample of the population, then its clear we have some work to do to dispel this archaic myth that clothing invites rape.Shubhangi Karmakar drew sketches of different kinds of underwear to go with the hashtag, claiming that consent is not given while wearing gross pants, nice pants or no pants. Karmakar said: There are many hidden survivors and stories here. Its nice to create small shareable symbols of solidarity for us, and those who believe and support us.Another Twitter user said: Just because my panties are cute doesnt mean Im saying yes.Protests have also beenin Galway, Limerick, DublinCork by feministRosa. More than 900 people have expressed interest on Facebook in the primary Cork protest. Fiona Ryan, a spokesman for Rosa, said: This case, and the particular awfulness of what was said, is absolutely endemic in our judiciary system. We decided to call thisnot just specifically about this case, but calling for an end to victim blaming in courts. The international solidarity thats been extended to these awful cases when theyre exposed will go a long way towards pushing for genuine legal change, and unfortunately that comes from above, but were going to push from below to ensure it happens.Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger also brought attention to the protests led by Rosa, holding a lace thong up in the chamber during Leaders Questions. She used Twitter to explain: I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in Dail. Invictims can have their underwear passed around as evidence and its within the rules. Join protests tomorrow. Inits at Spire, The row follows the trial in Belfast earlier this year of Ireland and Ulster Rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding. After the case prompted fierce debate on both sides of the border, retired appeal court judge Sir John Gillen was tasked with carrying out a review of how the criminal system in Northern Ireland deals with serious sexualcases. Among the issues to be examined by the review will be support for victims and witnesses, measures to ensure the anonymity of the complainant, the arguments for defendant anonymity and the impact of social media on trials. colour It touches on issues such as police brutality against people of colour, as well as violence and poverty in inner-city communities - issues we still encounter far too often today. Davidsons vision and message is clear - Bob Marley was not just a musical icon, he was a cultural icon. Marleys impact on masses internationally and as the face of the Rastafari movement is beautifully depicted. The episode includes emotional and revealing interviews with individuals ranging from reggae legend Jimmy Cliff to record producer Wayne Jobson. Vivien Goldman, Marleys UK publicist, says what all of us right-minded people are thinking just two minutes in: Why would anybody want to hurt Bob? He was so much a symbol of peace.To the surprise of many - on December 3rd, 1976 four gunmen shot Bob Marley in his own home on Hope Road in Kingston and wounded him. Netflix does not shy away from blaming the establishment. Who Shot the Sheriff suggests the possible involvement of the CIA and the American government, as well as of the two main political parties in Jamaica at the time. But why would the American or Jamaican government want a reggae legend that sung about peace and love murdered? The Netflix episode included several different theories behind their possible motives. It was suggested the CIA shot Bob Marley due to the Jamaican Prime Ministers good relationship with Fidel Castro, and out of fear, it would become the next Cuba. Also, Bob Marleys girlfriend, Cindy Breakspeare said she believed the People National Party attempted the assassination in order to make it look like the Jamaican Labour Party had done it. The idea that his attempted assassination could have been planned and orchestrated to such detail pinpoints the degree of impact Marley had on Jamaican and even world politics. Despite his influence, Bob Marley himself asserted independence from the political system. The episode commemorated his devotion to neutrality in the fight for peace at a time of polarised politics in Jamaica in the 1976 elections. However, by refusing to get political, Bob Marley did just the opposite. Netflix took advantage of this refreshing reality and presented us with a story of a musician that became a political figure altruistically through his music. It makes perfect sense that the most breathtaking moment of the one hour special is the 'Smile Jamaica' concert. This was held on December 5th, 1976, two days following the shooting as a benefit for the people of Jamaica. Over 90,000 people watched Marley perform for over an hour, despite planning to only single one or two songs, with a bullet lodged in his arm. Footage of the concert showed the atmosphere of mayhem and of unbelievable noise when Bob Marley arrives on stage. Friends and family of Bob Marley describe the concert as one of the greatest of his life and remember the sea of people present. Marleys lawyer, Diane Jobson said he was a proud man bearing the wounds of his battle. This was more than a concert, it was a moment in history. One that once again, the Establishment took advantage of. Prime Minister Michael Manley scheduled elections to 10 days after the concert and the episode suggests he did this to make it seem like the concert was a political endorsement for the Peoples National Party. Quite similarly to Jamaica in 1976, 2018 has been a year of polarised politics and political turmoil. Although Bob Marleys decision to not pick a side might not be the way to go for 2018, embracing some of Marley's key messages should be. Protecting people ofagainst police brutality and corruption, condemning hate and violence, and respecting the environment are all values that could help our world become a little less grey. In a time where populist leaders such as Trump are in power and climate change is being cast to the side, we need these values more than ever. Diane Jobson, once again, said it well: If there's one thing that Brexit has done successfully so far, its get people emotionally invested. This rings true this week as tempers, resignations and letters of no-confidence flare following Theresa Mays unveiling of the EU withdrawal proposal. The 585-page withdrawal agreement is an expected give and take, offering a solution to the issue of trade at the Irish border, addressing the rights of citizens living in other countries, and addressing what businesses can expect in the upcoming transition. Many, however, including Brexiters, claim that the May has given up too much ground in order to find a deal. Dominic Raab, an original leave supporter, resigned as Brexit Secretary following the release of the agreement. In an interview with BBC on Thursday he says he resigned because the proposal may lead to an indefinite if not permanent situation where [the UK] is locked into a regime with no say in the rules and the laws applied with no exit mechanism. The result, according to Raab would be damaging for the economy but devastating for public trust in our democracy. Image courtesy of Chris McAndrews Other cabinet resignations came from junior Brexit Minister Suella Braverman and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, who says we have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal to any deal is better than no deal. On Thursday, amidst laughter and calls for her resignation, Prime Minister May spoke to the Speaker of the House regarding the negotiations to leave the European Union. While she did insist that the terms laid out arent final, they absolutely show the direction of the negotiations in the lead-up to the UKs departure from the EU in March of next year. Image courtesy of UK Parliament Here are some key terms of the agreement The 3 million EU citizens whove been living in the UK and the 1 million UK nationals whove been living in the EU for more than 5 years will be permitted to stay permanently. This includes those who are both working and studying, as well as their family members. The host state, however, will not be obliged to give student grants or loans to non-permanent residents Visa-free travel between the UK and EU countries will remain. The proposal ensures that businesses will only have to deal with one set of changes during the transition. No hard border between Northern Ireland, which is currently part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, which is a member of the EU (in the short term). While many of those key terms sound positive for both sides, its the fine print between those terms that are raising tensions. The UK, for instance, had to sign up to a myriad of EU rules and regulations regarding competition, environment and social policy. Further, the deal as a whole doesnt give the UK much power in disputes that arise regarding these terms. Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, says this is not the deal the country was promised and Parliament cannot and I believe will not accept a false choice between this bad deal and no deal. Image courtesy of Chatham House Others have chimed in to say the deal is dead on arrival. According to Tory MP Mark Francois, its mathematically impossible to get the deal through the House of Commons. In that light, the deal would need a majority vote among the 638 MPs to pass in the House of Commons. With many tight-knit voting groups having already spoken out against the proposal, estimates show that nearly 400 seats will be looking to shoot the agreement down. While calls for Mays resignation during her address could easily be seen in jest, they may actually be gaining traction, as growing numbers of MPs call for her to be ousted through letters of no-confidence. Brexiteer MP Anne Marie Morris says there is enough time to install a new PM and change course, claiming now is not the time for her leadership. Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted a letter of no confidence, saying that the draft withdrawal bill was worse than anticipated and failed to meet promises made by Prime Minister Theresa May. In his letter, he wrote: It is in opposition to the Prime Ministers clear statements that this was something that no Prime Minister would ever do As a result of the agreement, its opposition and the resignations that followed, the UK pound tanked 1.8% against the US dollar this week. As staggering as an immediate drop like that is, Helen Dickinson of the British Retail Consortium suggests it could get worse. It is vital that we avoid the cliff edge of no deal in March 2019 as this could immediately lead to consumers facing higher prices and reduced availability of many everyday products. Accordingly, the S&P estimates that the pound could slump as far as 15% against the US dollar if the deal were to fall through, leaving Britain to crash out of the EU. While the overwhelming consensus agrees that the deal is not perfect, those on the manufacturing side of the coin insist that its simply better to know what lies around the bend. In a statement through BBC Radio, German engineering magnate Juergen Maier insisted that What we need is certainty. One crucial caveat in the proposal is that it only defines the terms of the divorce, leaving many businesses a murky forecast when it comes to the long term trading relationship between the UK and its primary trading partner following the transition. The joint proposal even goes so far as to specify that negotiations regarding future trade had been particularly challenging, which doesnt offer tonnes of confidence moving forward. A special European council will be called to go over the provisional terms on 25th November, but it seems as if negotiations are just starting to ramp up. Student life is never straightforward. Its colourful, ridiculous, stressful, intriguing, fascinating and one hell of a learning curve. As a student, youre given the freedom to be exactly whoever you want to be in a space that allows you to flourish individually, collectively, emotionally and intellectually. Credit: Photo by Caitlin Clark for The National Student So, if our lifestyle is colourful and crazy then surely our clothes should reflect that, right? Right. Thats why The National Student teamed up with Jack Wills for an exclusive photo shoot - featuring our very own writers who represent the beauty, diversity, and fun of the modern day student, shot and directed by a recent graduate. We were given the freedom to set up our photo shoot with props, choose our own clothes and cater the creative direction to reflect the real experiences of real students. So often, were fed what we should and should not do, should and should not wear or listen to or read. Donned in our JW outfits, we were given free rein. Credit: Photo by Caitlin Clark for The National Student Our female model Maddy is a creative - colourful and oozes charisma. Whether shes writing up essays at her desk or performing late at night in Drag shows across the country, she loves comfortable outfits that still have that Maddy flair. Sleek silhouettes, vintage styling, stripes and pops of colour feed her influences. Maddy chose an adorable, frilled-sleeve pink jumper and donned the matching pink bobble hat for a splash of baby pink pastel colour. Her skirt completed the comfortable creative look. Credit: Photo by Caitlin Clark for The National Student Maddys counterpart Robert is a sharpshooter. Constantly on the move between university , seeking out the next big student story, and political and social marches, his off-white cotton shirt and beige chinos are the perfect balance between environments. Giving him the flexibility of dressing up or down with a black and white flat cap, Robert likes to be prepared for any situation: from desk to protest. Credit: Photo by Caitlin Clark for The National Student African Studies graduate-cum-photographer Caitlin (hi thats me!) is a lover of tunes, gigs, coffee and laughing so hard you pull a stitch. Stretchy mixed-fabric trackies and a simple white Tee sums up my style: comfy, minimalist and adaptable. Rolling around on the studio floor and almost falling off ladders needed something strong and classic, and thats exactly why this outfit worked so well. Credit: Photo courtesy of Jack Wills The day was full of fun, laughter and silliness. In Jack Wills' beautiful studio and with the support of their full-time staff, we were able to capture the student spirit all with a professional touch. Sure, it wasnt without its hitches, but what part of life as a student isnt? More photos in our gallery. You can find out more about Jack Wills' new collection here Don't forget that students get 10 % discount with Unidays ABU DHABI: The TAPI pipeline project to supply Turkmenistans gas to India and Pakistan via Afghanistan is moving closer to securing funding and a final investment decision could be made next year, its chief executive said on Tuesday. The development, a key step forward for the project after decades of delays, could see the new pipeline link the energy-rich central Asian nation to some of the strongest growth markets in the region. Muhammetmyrat Amanov, chief executive of the TAPI Pipeline company, told an industry conference in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi that the cost of the pipeline had been reduced to $7 billion from an initial estimate of $10 billion, and that its first stage could cost only $5 billion. We are planning to make a final investment decision (FID) in the first half of next year and then, stage by stage, finalise construction in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, he said. The first gas could be delivered to Afghanistan within around a year from the FID, and to Pakistan within two years, he said. The project has been supported by import/export credit agencies in Germany and Italy, he said, which will fund exports of equipment for the project from those countries. Reuters You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. South Koreas second city is often overlooked by western travellers in favour of Seoul, the ultra-modern capital in the north of the country, but it really should be firmly on the radar of those looking for somewhere warm and cultural to explore. What makes Busan a beacon of light in South Korea is its world-famous fireworks festival (forgive the pun!) that attracts spectators from around the world, but also its scenic coastal cliffs and forests, historic temples and tasty street side food. Busan South Koreas second city is just a 2.5-hour journey from Seoul on the fast and efficient KTX high-speed railway, or less than an hour by air. Unlike most of the Korean Peninsula, Busan was largely spared the devastation caused by the Korean War in the 1950s, but its legacy is still visible throughout this city of towering glass skyscrapers, record-breaking shopping centres, and famous meeting venues for heads of state. Busan is a surprisingly large city, connected by a series of seemingly endless bridges that connect pristine beaches and quiet forested areas to the bustling central downtown areas. The city has no shortage of record-breaking attractions, including the worlds largest shopping mall, the worlds largest outdoor cinema, and the worlds largest fireworks festival. The unbelievably inexpensive metro system conveniently connects the main settlements to the train station and tourist areas. United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea Although Busan was spared from much of the large-scale bombardment that the rest of the country endured during the Korean War, the city is the site of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea. The sobering sight of 2,300 allied graves, of all different shapes, styles and colours spread over an area of 35 acres, is something that visitors to Busan simply cannot miss. The only United Nations cemetery in the world attracts both veterans and sightseers alike, all going to pay their respects to the many who fought for the democratic values of the South Korea of today. The graves are divided into 22 distinct sections, each denoting a different nationality that is buried in the cemetery. British gravestones stand in neat rows behind a stone lion, New Zealand graves behind a traditional Maori carved stone, Turkish graves in their unique Ottoman style, and Korean graves in their distinct tall, narrow style. At one end of the cemetery you will find a polished marble wall listing the names of each and every allied soldier who died fighting for South Korean freedom surrounding a water feature. The United States lost 36,492 troops during the war, but they were all repatriated after the war back to America, and the second largest group of war dead were the British, with 1,177 who lost their life. Such is the feeling of comradeship, a number of veterans have declared that after they die, they want their ashes to be interred in the cemetery beside their fellow soldiers. Jagalchi Market Unlike in the west, South Korean shopping is still dominated by its sprawling markets and hawkers selling the freshest seafood and freshly-cooked foods made-to-order. Jagalchi Market is the largest seafood market in Korea, with primarily older women selling crabs, fish of every size and shape, live octopus, starfish, sea cucumbers, giving it the nickname Jagalchi ajumma, the word ajumma meaning middle-aged or married woman in Korean. The market is an absolute maze. The sights of locals hawking their fish and vegetables all around, smells of fish plucked straight from the sea and seafood boiling in huge pans, and the sounds of Koreans haggling for the best prices is enough to confuse the senses but wait until you actually try the food on offer. If you are feeling brave, you could try live octopus, its suckers clinging to your tongue as you try to swallow it whole. But if you arent feeling quite as adventurous, there are other foods than just seafood on sale in and around Jagalchi. Kimchi, cabbage that has been preserved in chili sauce and salt, is served with every meal, so there is no worry that you wont get your daily cabbage fix. You are also likely to find tteokbokki (fried rice cakes) coated in gochujang sauce (Korean chili paste) grilling on griddles, buchimgae pancakes frying with their eggy and vegetable goodness, and jjigae (stew) boiling in huge vast with every ingredient imaginable thrown in for good measure. Haedong Yonggungsa Seaside Temple There is no shortage of temples in Busan it was only in the mid-20th century that Korea opened up from self-imposed isolation after all, and Buddhism was the state religion until then. The Haedong Yonggungsa Temple complex is different though, it is located on a multi-level cliff beside the inviting light blue waters where the Yellow Sea and East Sea meet. Dating back to the year 1376 during the Goryeo Dynasty, the temple was built by one of the most renowned teachers in Korean Buddhism, Naong. There are a number of temples and shrines throughout the temple complex, each dedicated to different gods and their individual responsibilities. There is a towering pagoda dedicated to a monk who died serving the temple, a three-storey pagoda with four lions denoting joy, anger, sadness and happiness, a temple dedicated to the seawater great goddess buddha (Haesu Gwaneum Daebul), and the Yongwangdang shrine. The view up at the temple and the surrounding tree-coated cliffs jutting out of the gently lapping sea from the bottom of the 108 stone steps is simply spectacular. On a clear day, the sun casts growing shadows from the towering pagodas as though the spirits of the gods are reaching out from the temples. Busan International Fireworks Festival For 14 years, Busan has held a world-class fireworks festival that has attracted increasing numbers of expert pyrotechnicians and spectators from around the world. Every October, more than 1 million people fill Gwangalli beach to watch some of the most extraordinary fireworks demonstrations. For around 1 hour, fireworks of every shape and colour imaginable fill the skies above the 1.4km Gwangan bridge. Thundering bangs and cracks echo through the air as people sitting on the sandy beach, chilly winds blowing from the sea, gaze up at the lit skies in amazement. Fireworks experts from across the world come together to put on a show worthy of one of the worlds top fireworks showcases. Reds, oranges, blues, greens, yellows and purples flash across the skies, creating fountain shapes, heart shapes, rain showers, and stars. Busans fireworks festival is the pinnacle of Busans annual events calendar and it puts South Koreas second city on the map of places to visit. Fact File FLY: Korean Air flies direct to Seoul Incheon from London Heathrow, and then direct to Busan without having to clear immigration in Seoul. TRAIN: Its a 2.5-hour journey from Seoul to Busan by the KTX high-speed train. STAY: The Ramada Encore Haeundae hotel a short walk from the beach and on one of the busiest restaurant streets in Busan. MORE INFO: Korea Tourism Organization, who organised and funded this trip, has a wealth of information available on Busan and South Korea. MBABANE Former Miss Eswatini First Princess Zethu Manana abides by the popular quote sometimes, knowing when to quit is wisdom by resigning from Mrs Eswatini Committee. The mentioned former beauty queen revealed her immediate resignation as a committee member early this week. Justifying her resignation, she said she was going through personal challenges which needed her full attention. There is no bad blood between me and the team as I left due to some personal issues that I am going through at the moment, and these issues will not allow me to be hands on in the project. I am still going to be there on the final day and the team knows they can ask for my advice or help anytime, and I am more than willing to help, said Manana. However, the committee was said to be a bit reluctant on her prompt decision but she was able to convince them otherwise, and they peacefully respected her decision. Currently, the beauty is making major moves but she told this publication that she preferred to play her cards close to her chest for now. I will reveal all my plans in time, she said. During her reign, Manana was behind the book drive which saw many under privileged pupils getting free educational and literature books. THE former Mail & Guardian Editor, Angela Quintal, and Muthoki Mumo, formerly of Kenyas Daily Nation, were detained overnight in Tanzania on Wednesday. They were visiting that country as representatives of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The CPJ fights for the rights of journalists around the world. In recent years, the organisation has had to do an increasing amount of advocacy in support of Tanzanian journalists, who are facing unprecedented levels of threats, harassment and repression from their own government. This week, Quintal and Mumo experienced that harassment first-hand. Immigration officials descended on their hotel in Dar es Salaam, confiscated their passports and hauled them off to a detention centre. They were only released the next day, after an urgent intervention by South Africas Department of International Relations and Co-operation. It is impossible to view their detention as anything other than a brazen attack on press freedom and freedom of speech. Not only is the Tanzanian Government going after independent journalists in their own country, they are now also targeting the very institutions established to protect those journalists. Quintal, Mumo and the CPJ are unlikely to be cowed. Nonetheless, the incident will reverberate throughout newsrooms across the continent as yet another example of the worsening conditions in which journalists are being forced to work. Incidents As such incidents go, what happened to Quintal and Mumo is relatively minor. They were not hurt, as far as we know, and were swiftly released. Others have experienced far worse. An illustrative sample of incidents from just the past few months: Abdullahi Mire Hashi, a radio journalist from Somalia, was gunned down by unknown assailants. Kenyan newspaper journalist Barrack Oduor, was assaulted during an investigation into a prominent politician, and his source was killed. Tharcisse Zongia, Editor-in-Chief of the satirical weekly Grognon, was convicted of criminal defamation and sentenced in absentia to one year in prison. Three Burundian journalists with the private station Radio Culture, were attacked by police and prevented from covering a protest. La Nouvelle Tribune, a private daily in Benin, was suspended after reporting critically on the government. The offices of Nigerian radio station Fresh FM, Were partially bulldozed on the orders of the Oyo state government after critical reporting. Together, these incidents, along with countless others that do not make the headlines, represent a serious assault on the institution of journalism on the African continent. Journalists will not go down without a fight, however. Organisations such as the CPJ, and individuals such as Quintal and Mumo, are doing their part to raise awareness when the rights of journalists are abused. But the best defence of all is journalism itself. Even as it becomes ever more difficult to do so, we remain committed to speaking truth to power; to holding governments and corporations and individuals to account; to credible, responsible, comprehensive, fact-based reporting on our countries and our continent. In the face of growing repression, only the truth will set us free. MANZINI We have no power to control churches when it comes to having condoms in their places of worship. This was revealed by the Council of Swaziland Churches during a press conference yesterday. The councils Chairperson, Bhekindlela Magongo, said there was no way they could control the churches and religious leaders who were for the idea of distributing condoms in the house of the Lord. However as a council, we do encourage prevention, including faithfulness and honesty, especially to those who are married. We also conduct referrals to health institutions for such services, he said. distribute Meanwhile, Vice Chairperson Albert Thwala said the Ministry of Health had a duty and was given the task to distribute condoms and for now its outlets had not run out of space. The ministry has not approached anyone to voice out that it has run out of outlets to distribute condoms. People know all the outlets and they are sufficient for all members of the public to access, Thwala added. On another matter, the council congratulated His Majesty the King, the Queen Mother and the entire Eswatini Kingdom on a number of achievements in the year 2018. These include the occasion of the nations double celebrations marking His Majestys 50th birthday and the Kingdoms Golden Jubilee, the generally peaceful National Elections, the Sibaya Peoples Parliament and appointment of the new Prime Minister, Ambrose Dlamini and entire Cabinet. We look with optimism to the future and trust that this new government will take up its task with a sense of duty and most importantly with the fear of the Lord, Magongo said. MBABANE The court yesterday heard how a popular traditional healer was allegedly paid E500 to help exonerate murder suspect Lucky Obama Matsenjwa from the crime. The traditional healer allegedly applied muti on a list containing names of police officers who arrested Matsenjwa and instructed his brother to bury it in an anthill so that he may be released. This evidence was given by Zandile Malinga yesterday. Malinga told the court that she assisted the traditional healer, Gogo LaZawane Mndzebele of Sidzidzini, at Mahlangatsha, because she is an elderly person and has a hearing problem. Malingas evidence was corroborated by that of Reuben Ngwenya, who was one of the witnesses to be paraded by the State. Ngwenya told the court that he accompanied Matsenjwas wife to the popular traditional healer known as gogo LaZawane. Popular He told the court that LaZawane was a popular traditional healer at Sidzidzini in Mahlangatsha and was known for helping people with various problems and sicknesses. She (Matsenjwas wife) told LaZawane that her husband had been arrested in connection with the death of a person and he urgently needed help so he could be released from prison, submitted Ngwenya. He narrated that LaZawane then instructed her assistant to go and fetch some concoction which she later mixed and gave to Matsenjwas wife. According to Ngwenya, the traditional healer then gave the wife instructions on how the concoction was to be used. LaZawane told her (wife) that she must put part of the concoction in an anthill with needles and use a portion of it to wash clothes belonging to Matsenjwa. Shee said they must then take the clothes to prison and give them to her husband, submitted Ngwenya. MBABANE The supplier who assaulted a chief executive officer on Tuesday alleges that he is owed about E100 000. The suppliers name is known to this publication, but will not be named because he has not appeared in court. The businessman admitted that he assaulted Eswatini Economic Research Policy and Analysis Council (ESEPARC) CEO Dr Thula Dlamini with open fists due to the non-payment of work done. He said what angered him was that Dlamini allegedly disrespected him, by laughing while he asked for his payment. He said this was after he had learnt that some people in management had allegedly said he would be paid at a later stage. It is true that I slapped him; I was angered by the way he responded to me, he was unprofessional and thought I was a fool. I run a business that needs money, the businessman said. The businessman said he would have understood if Dlamini failed to pay him because there were no funds. He said he found the reason not to pay him as one meant to frustrate him. I am not saying what I did was right, but I assaulted him unintentionally after I saw that he was not taking me seriously, while I went to communicate peacefully, the businessman said. The businessman said he believed he was fighting for what was his. He said what Dlamini did pained him and showed a side of him that he did not want people to see. You cannot speak to a businessman and refer to him as exe as if we are playing a game of dice, said the businessman. He alleged that Dlamini giggled and declined to give him valid reasons why he was failing to authorise his payment. He said his employees had been turned back about five times when they went to collect payment. On more than one occasion, he said he would not pay me because there were dirty windows which needed to be cleaned, which I cleaned the supplier alleged. The businessman said at some point he had to send about 10 people to clean one window in a bid to have his money released, but that did not help as the payment did not come through. He alleged that he was once told to clean the windows at around 6am. The businessman said he had hoped that he would be paid after he had ensured that all the windows were cleaned but that never happened. He said he learnt that the institution wanted to pay him around month end. He said he found this inappropriate, as he had done the work he was contracted to do. The businessman stated that what frustrated him was that he worked with project managers and supervisors, whom he had to pay. He said the people he worked with had begun to suspect that he was paid by the parastatal but did not want to give them their dues. He said this damaged the trust he had with the project managers and supervisors. The businessman narrated that what broke the trust with his suppliers and employees was that they knew that ESEPARC usually paid them in less than a week after completing certain duties. He said the organisation had already been paid over E600 000 for renovations done at the new offices. Stalling He stated that his suppliers failed to understand what was stalling the E100 000 payment, as things were running smoothly in the past. The businessman said he was naturally a respectful man but assaulted Dlamini because of the way he spoke to him. I had told myself that I would go to his offices every day until he gave me my money. The businessman said he had planned to go to the offices every day but was advised against doing that. He confirmed that police had called him about the matter and he would go to them and hear what they had to say. He said he would not deny assaulting Dlamini. GEGE Two girls who had been reported missing were found hitchhiking in South Africa, in search for their mothers. The two young girls shocked many when they attempted to embark on the dangerous journey to Johannesburg, South Africa, on their own after migrating from the country illegally. The pair, which is doing Grade V at a primary school situated around Gege, in the Shiselweni Region, had last been seen at their respective homesteads on Monday morning when they left for school. The two girls, aged 11, are said to be close friends besides coming from neighbouring homesteads. Journey They became the talk of the local community when they both could not be accounted for since Monday, the day when they left their homesteads under the guise of going to school, until yesterday when they were caught in South Africa, trying to embark on the long journey to Johannesburg. Immigration to Johannesburg from the country is an old phenomenon, which has long been driven by local economic hardships; young adults searching for better employment opportunities have often left the country to settle in the city of gold, as Johannesburg is commonly referred to. However, what was striking about this particular case, is the age of the children who attempted the long trek covering over 400km unaccompanied. Theirs was not about getting employment though, because they only wanted to be with their parents, as they later claimed when questioned by the police about their attempted move. The two girls were travelling on foot, and already on the South African side closer to the neighbouring town of Piet Retief, when a curious resident became suspicious of their movements. After spotting the pair, the worried resident immediately called the local radio station, Mkhondo FM, and alerted the person on the receiving end of the line, that there were children he considered were in danger after crossing the border from neighbouring Eswatini on their own. The resident informed the radio station that the children had indicated that they were trying to reach Johannesburg, where their parents stayed and claimed they were running away from abuse back home in Eswatini. The young girls were reportedly flagging down cars for lifts when they raised the curiosity of the Good Samaritan. An announcement was subsequently run by the radio station, in an attempt to locate the childrens parents or guardians. Fortunately, the radio announcement about the travelling children was also picked up by officers from the local Gege Police Station, where the girls had been reported missing since Monday. Assistance was later sought from the South African Police Service, which later facilitated the return of the undocumented young girls back to their home country yesterday morning. The girls were fetched by local officers at the Gege Border Gate shortly after 11am, and taken to the local police station, where they were further interrogated. During interrogation, the young girls claimed they were being beaten up by their guardians and had become tired of living under the conditions hence their decision to set out to Johannesburg in search for their biological parents. SIKHUPHE Prime Minister (PM) Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini has jetted out of the country on his first international assignment. The premier, who was accompanied by his wife Portia, left the country yesterday at around 2pm through King Mswati III International Airport. The PM is going to represent His Majesty King Mswati III, who is currently in seclusion, during the 11th Extraordinary Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and governments of the African Union (AU) to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday and Monday. reform During a press briefing which was held at the boardroom of the department of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), the PM said during the meeting, they would consider proposals on the reform of the structure and portfolio of the senior leadership of the AU Commission. It was gathered that the meeting would also focus on selection of the senior leadership of the commission, administrative and financial reforms together with the mandate of the AU Development Agency (AUDA). On another note, Dlamini said the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, would be the acting PM during his absence. The DPM and Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza were among those who came to bid farewell to the PM at the airport. development According to the AU website, the assembly kick-started with an Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) on Wednesday at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The gist of the preparatory meeting was highlighting the need for reform of the AU in order for the continental organisation to achieve peace, development and the Africa wanted by AU member states. Regarding travel and tourism, the European Union has proposed visa-free travel for Britons after Brexit The European Commission and the United Kingdom's negotiators have reached an agreement on the entirety of the Withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, as provided for under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The Withdrawal Agreement establishes the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. It ensures that the withdrawal will happen in an orderly manner, and offers legal certainty once the Treaties and EU law will cease to apply to the UK. The Withdrawal Agreement covers the following areas: Common provisions, setting out standard clauses for the proper understanding and operation of the Withdrawal Agreement. Citizens' rights, protecting the life choices of over 3 million EU citizens in the UK, and over 1 million UK nationals in EU countries, safeguarding their right to stay and ensuring that they can continue to contribute to their communities. Separation issues, ensuring a smooth winding-down of current arrangements and providing for an orderly withdrawal (for example, to allow for goods placed on the market before the end of the transition to continue to their destination, for the protection of existing intellectual property rights including geographical indications, the winding down of ongoing police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters and other administrative and judicial procedures, the use of data and information exchanged before the end of the transition period, issues related to Euratom, and other matters). A transition period, during which the EU will treat the UK as if it were a Member State, with the exception of participation in the EU institutions and governance structures. The transition period will help in particular administrations, businesses and citizens to adapt to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom. The financial settlement, ensuring that the UK and the EU will honour all financial obligations undertaken while the UK was a member of the Union. The overall governance structure of the Withdrawal Agreement,ensuring the effective management, implementation and enforcement of the agreement, including appropriate dispute settlement mechanisms. The terms of a legally operational backstop to ensure that there will be no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland also contains UK commitments not to diminish rights set out in the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement 1998, and to protect North-South cooperation. It provides for the possibility to continue the Common Travel Area arrangements between Ireland and the UK, and preserves the Single Electricity Market on the island of Ireland. A protocol on the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) in Cyprus, protecting the interests of Cypriots who live and work in the Sovereign Base Areas following the UK's withdrawal from the Union. A Protocol on Gibraltar, which provides for close cooperation between Spain and the UK in respect of Gibraltar on the implementation of citizens' rights provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement, and concerns administrative cooperation between competent authorities in a number of policy areas. More specifically, regarding travel and tourism, the European Union has proposed visa-free travel for Britons after Brexit: The European Commission has proposed to grant UK citizens visa-free travel to the EU after the United Kingdoms withdrawal from the European Union. It would mean that UK citizens would not need a visa when traveling to the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, the European Commission noted in a statement, adding that in the case of a no-deal Brexit, this would apply as of 30 March 2019. If a deal is reached, however, it would apply as of the end of the transition period, as outlined in the withdrawal agreement. This proposal is entirely conditional upon the UK also granting reciprocal and non-discriminatory visa-free travel for all EU member states, in line with the principle of visa reciprocity, it continued. The UK has declared its intention not to require a visa from citizens of the European Union 27 member states for shorts stays for the purposes of tourism and business. For UK nationals, once EU law no longer applies to the United Kingdom, visa-free travel will be possible in the 22 EU countries which are members of the Schengen area and in the four Schengen-associated States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). It will also apply to Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus which are not yet full members of the Schengen area, the statement specified. Read more at europa.eu 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 Gulf International Bank (GIB) announced that it has successfully closed a $500 million three-year financing facility with a group of lenders. The lenders comprise First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited Natixis DIFC Branch, Riyad Bank, Mizuho Bank Ltd, Samba Financial Group, State Bank of India Bahrain, Citibank N.A. Bahrain Branch and Wooribank Bahrain Branch. UAE-based First Abu Dhabi Bank and HSBC Bank Middle East Limited are mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners and First Abu Dhabi Bank is the agent for the facility. The proceeds of the facility will be used to refinance an existing term facility and for general funding purposes. Abdulaziz A. Al-Helaissi, group chief executive officer of GIB, said: We are extremely pleased to announce the successful closing of this facility with the support of nine regional and international financial institutions. The facility was oversubscribed and upsized from an initial amount of $250 million due to strong appetite from leading regional and international banks, reflecting market confident in GIB and the markets confidence in GIB. We thank our partner banks in this transaction and look forward to continuing to deliver on our strategy of growth, diversification and the strengthening of our position as a leading pan-GCC universal bank. GIB continues to make progress in the implementation of its expansion strategy and the strengthening of its presence in key regional markets through growth across its business and client base. In April 2018, the Bank launched its digital commercial banking business, meem, in Bahrain. It is also in the final stages of converting its existing branches in Saudi Arabia into a locally incorporated bank as it pursues further growth in the Saudi market and to leverage opportunities created by the Kingdoms Vision 2030, a statement said. -TradeArabia News Service Raysut Cement, Oman's largest cement producer by market value, has bagged the 'Omans most trusted brand 2018' award at a major awards event in Oman, reinforcing its reputation as a prominent contributor to the economy of the country. The award instituted by Apex Press and Publishing, Oman, was conferred on Raysut Cement at a function held recently under the auspices of Sayyida Tania Al Said and the patronage of Talal Al Rahbi, deputy secretary general of Supreme Council for Planning and the general coordinator for the Tanfeedh programme, Oman. The awards were launched by Apex in 2016 to recognise brands that succeeded in creating a lasting customer appeal, said Mohana Prabhakar, chief executive officer, Apex Press and Publishing. Raysut Cement Company said in a statement that the winning of the award as Omans most trusted brand was a continuation of the companys rich record of bagging a string of such accolades over the past years. Earlier, Raysut won eight honours in the competition of HM Sultan Qaboos competition for the best five factories. It also won the honouring shield in 1993 and in 2013 after being adjudged as among the best 10 factories in the sultanate. The company had also won five awards as the best industrial institution in Oman in caring for the environment and in as early as 1996 and 1999, Raysut was considered as one of the industrial institutions adhering to prudent environmental norms. In 1998, it won the gulf council award for its activities related to the environment. Raysut Cement Company had won many international certificates including quality control system certificate NO (ISO 9001:2008) and environmental control system certificate No (ISO 14001:2004) and the international ISO No (API 10 A. 0006) for the oil well cement from the American Petroleum Institute. Last September, Raysut Cement Company had also won the green era award in the field of sustainability in a ceremony held in Rome, Italy. TradeArabia News Service Kanoo Automotive and Industrial Equipment (KAIE), a subsidiary of the Ebrahim K Kanoo conglomerate, has signed an official agreement with partners Butzbach to expand its portfolio to include hangar doors, on the sidelines of the Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS) 2018. The three-day event will conclude tomorrow (November 16) at the Sakhir Air Base in southern Bahrain. Jamie Bowen, general manager, KAIE, and Simon Jones, area manager, Butzbach, were present at the KAIE booth in the trade zone with functioning replicas of Butzbachs most popular products. The Butzbach Group is the leading provider of hangar doors to owners of business aircrafts, international airports, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies and military installations. The company has installed more than 750 hangar door systems worldwide. In Germany, Butzbach recently installed a sliding door for the new Lufthansa Technik hangar at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which is set to open in 2020. Bowen said: Butzbach has partnered with KAIE for some time now and their products are installed at many outlets in Bahrain. This new exclusivity deal will help both companies grow their local and regional customer base and provide local companies with the best international products and the professional aftersales service that KAIE is renowned for, he added. Jones said: KAIE and Ebrahim K Kanoo are providing our local customers steady aftersales support along with a dedicated service team, which operates around the clock. We know that this exclusive partnership will further enhance our business opportunities in Bahrain and the region, he added. The KAIE stand is located in the Traders Zone of the air show and is showcasing a wide range of airport ground support and terminal hall services with global partners Butzbach, Stahlwille, Renner, Kuken, Dynabrade and SWF cranes. KAIE was established in 1990 and is the sole distributor of more than 40 world renowned brands, providing high quality automotive and industrial equipment as well as tools. In addition to aftersales support such as installation, service and annual maintenance, KAIE offers customers consultation and expertise of highly qualified sales engineers, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Italy-based Leonardo, a leader in aerospace, defence and security industries, today delivered the second of six upgraded naval vessels, Al Muharraq ship, to the Royal Bahrain Naval Force. The ship was delivered at a ceremony at the Royal Bahrain Navy Headquarters in Mina Salman and follows a deal signed in 2015 with the Royal Bahrain Naval Force. The upgrade includes a new weapon control system, training services and logistics. The first ship, called Al Manama, was delivered in December 2017 two months ahead of schedule, proving the strong commitment of Leonardo in supporting the Royal Bahrain Naval Force as well as all its customers in the country, the company said. This is just one of the latest in a string of successes for Leonardo in Bahrain, where the company has also supplied advanced air traffic control radar systems, which are enhancing the safety and efficiency of the countrys national airspace management. Leonardos offer spans from turn-key combat management systems for maritime surveillance and security, to naval guns, ammunition, underwater systems for all classes of military vessels, manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors for naval missions. It includes the most advanced naval training and maintenance offer and satellite systems and services for Earth observation and geo-location, for marine environmental monitoring and maritime security. Leonardo has a track record in the upgrade of corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and frigates, and in the land sector, where the company offers fully integrated solutions, warfare systems and cost-effective overhaul programmes. TradeArabia News Service The Emirates A380, on display at the Bahrain International Airshow, received visits by top dignitaries VIPs, on the first day of the show yesterday (November 14). The visitors included Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of the Crown Prince of Bahrain; Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, vice chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports and managing director of Royal Jet; and Tony Douglas, chief executive officer of Etihad Aviation Group. The visit was part of the official opening tour for the airshow. The VIP delegations were received by Adel Al Redha, executive vice president and chief operations officer for Emirates, and Adil Al Ghaith, senior vice president, commercial operations, Gulf, Middle East & Iran for Emirates, who took him through the flagship aircrafts signature design details and latest onboard products. The Emirates A380 is the largest aircraft on display this year at the Bahrain International Airshow. At the last Bahrain Airshow in 2016, more than 8,000 visitors toured the Emirates A380 on the show days. The airline is displaying its 100th A380, which has been emblazed with a decal of HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, the UAEs founding father. The Emirates A380 on display features 14 luxurious First Class suites, 76 flatbed seats in Business Class and 429 spacious seats in Economy Class, as well a refreshed Emirates OnBoard Lounge. The new OnBoard Lounge includes more seating options, mood lighting, a new wooden finish, modern detailing, a special sound system, among a number of other features. Emirates is the largest operator of the A380 with 105 in the airlines widebody fleet and a further 57 on order. The Emirates A380 currently operates to 50 destinations and has carried over 114 million passengers on over 129,000 flights since going into service in 2008. Emirates has been flying to Bahrain since 2000 and services the kingdom with four daily flights, and has deployed its iconic A380 to Bahrain on a number of occasions. - TradeArabia News Service Key contracts aimed at elevating hospitality and healthcare services at the Bahrain International Airport (BIA) were awarded on the first day of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) yesterday. Hala Bahrain, the premium hospitality and passenger services provider at BIA, has awarded a catering contract for all four of its lounges to Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), ensuring guests enjoy a wider variety of dining options, said Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the airports operator and managing body. BAC chief executive officer and Hala Bahrain chairman Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah and BAS chief executive officer Salman Al Mahmeed signed the one-year agreement in the presence of representatives from both companies, said a Bahrain News Agency report. BAC also awarded a contract for the operation of the new Passenger Terminal Buildings airport clinic to Bahrain Specialist Hospital. A dedicated team of healthcare professionals will be on hand 24/7 to provide various medical services to passengers and airport staff at the new facility. Al Binfalah signed the 10-year agreement with Bahrain Specialist Hospital chairman Hamed Rashid Al Zayani. Al Binfalah said: "We are delighted to partner with some of the kingdoms leading companies to elevate BIAs facilities and services. These milestone agreements mark another successful step in our journey towards the launch of the new Passenger Terminal building next year. BACs goal is to ensure travellers enjoy an exceptional airport experience from the moment they arrive right up until the second they leave, which is why having the right tenants and service providers in place is so essential. We look forward to announcing other landmark partnership agreements with some of the most widely-known local, regional, and international companies in the coming days." Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the supervision of BIAS Supreme Organising Committee Chairman and the Personal Representative of His Majesty the King, His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, BIAS 2018 runs until November 16 at Sakhir Air Base. Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, has signed new air service agreements with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brunei and Brazil, said a report. The agreements, signed on the sidelines of the 2018 Bahrain International Airshow, include the regulation of air services between Bahrain and the signatory countries, in accordance with the latest standards approved by International Civil Aviation Organization, to comprise air safety regulations, aviation security, protection of environment, sale of air transport products, automated airline reservation system, as well as provision of air transport rights, BNA reported. The minister represented Bahrain in the signing ceremony, while Saudi Arabias Transport Minister Dr Nabeel bin Mohammed Al Amoudi, UAEs General Civil Aviation Authoritys general-manager Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Bruneis Communications Minister Abdulmutalib Pehin Dato Yusof and Brazils Ambassador to Kuwait, Norton de Andrea Mello Rapesta, represented their sides. The new agreements are expected to boost Bahrains regional standing in the aviation field, the report said. Venerable Phra Medhivajirodomi, UNHCR Patron of Peace and Compassion, and HRH Princess Sara Zeid, Patron of Maternal and Newborn Health, following their appointment in Geneva. Chayanon Panyathiraphong UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today, appointed HRH Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan and the Venerable Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi, a highly respected Thai Buddhist monk, as its first two Patrons in recognition of their advocacy and awareness-raising work on behalf of millions of refugees. A Patron is a prestigious honorary title given to those who support UNHCR and refugees by dedicating valuable time to disseminate information and knowledge about refugees. The role is to influence public opinion and change negative attitudes towards refugees and engage others to support the work of UNHCR. The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements, presented certificates to the UNHCR Patrons, officially marking their appointments at a special ceremony in Geneva. The Venerable Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi has supported UNHCRs Nobody Left Outside shelter campaign by hosting awareness and fundraising events to contribute to the campaign goal of raising funds to shelter two million refugees in 12 countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Rwanda and Chad. He is particularly focused on using his title to advocate for peaceful co-existence between refugees and international communities. Despite religion, we are human beings who can connect with each other either with joy or misery which makes us indivisible, said Venerable Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi, named as UNHCRs Patron for Peace and Compassion. As a member of the global family, we are bound to make a better and sustainable living conditions. Loving kindness and compassion are the paths to bring about peace to the world, he added. The Venerable V. Vajiramedhi is the Director of the Vimuttayalaya Foundation, an alternative educational establishment for the promotion of World Peace. He is known for his innovative approach for Buddhist teaching and his strong advocacy for peace and compassion towards fellow human beings through the concept of We are One, We are World, particularly in interfaith dialogues to support refugees. He is influential among all groups in Thailand and throughout Asia. His outreach is global as he has lectured and taught mindfulness course to both Thai and foreigners around the world. His books have been translated to at least 10 languages. HRH Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan has been appointed Patron for Maternal and Newborn Health. She has championed the needs and rights of mothers and new-borns in fragile and humanitarian settings. Her role will also help to highlight the results of the work jointly conducted between UNHCR and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to save newborn lives. She is also a member of High Commissioner Filippo Grandis Advisory Group on Gender, Forced Displacement and Protection, and a long-standing advocate for newborn health. Since 2016, Princess Sarah has visited with UNHCR South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda and Jordan among several other locations to highlight preventive measures that ensure healthy new mothers and their babies and to advocate for the ending of gender-based violence and other related issues. I am honored and proud to be working with UNHCR, prioritizing the specific needs, vulnerabilities and contribution of forcibly displaced women, girls and their children, and reducing the needless horror of preventable deaths and injury, HRH said in a statement. UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements thanked both for their relentless efforts to provide refugees with a more dignified life. Passionate and devoted individuals can help garner compassion and understanding for refugees, she said. Both Patrons are committed individuals working to ensure the well-being of refugees around the world and we recognize the impact of their efforts in changing attitudes towards refugees. Globally, record numbers of men, women and children are being displaced due to wars, violence and persecution. Without a major increase in awareness, support and funding, millions of people fleeing war and persecution face difficult lives without adequate and safe shelter and protection. The private sector is an increasingly important donor source for UNHCR, contributing approximately 10 per cent of the organizations funding in 2018. Individuals and companies in the private sector are stepping up to bring vital funding, technical expertise, creativity, and innovation, and are often well-positioned to drive policy change and influence public opinion. To learn more about UNHCR and how to give your support, please go to www.unhcr.org Media contacts: "No Muslim" poll policy not suitable for Rajasthan--assert BJP rebels Jaipur, Nov 15 (UNI) Two of "disgruntled" BJP sitting MLAs who turned rebellious following denial of ticket for the December 7 assembly polls in Rajasthan, believe that after experiment in Uttar Pradesh the ruling party was now replaying its "No-Muslim" card in this desert state. They observed that after success in the neighbouring UP, where the party did not field even a single Muslim in the last assembly polls, the same approach is apparently being repeated in Rajasthan. However, this is unlikely to work here. China to boost cooperation with India, Mongolia: defence minister Beijing, Nov 15 (Xinhua) State Councilor and Minister of National Defence Wei Fenghe met with Indian Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and State Secretary of the Mongolin Ministry of Defence Khalzankhuu Batbileg in Beijing Thursday. While meeting with Mitra, Wei said China and India see far more common interests than divergencies between each other, stressing that the two countries should boost military exchanges, improve mutual trust in the security field and properly manage and control any disparities. India's relationship with China is one of its most important bilateral ties, said Mitra, who hopes the two sides will further develop relations between the two countries and two militaries. Displaced Iraqis return to refugee camps due to worse living conditions, fragile security BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (Xinhua) Worse living conditions and fragile security have pushed many Iraqis to leave their houses to refugee camps in many areas previously under control of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group. Jassim al-Afri, head of al-Alam town council in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, told Xinhua that the displacement of these Iraqis this time is not because IS group seizes their lands but because security forces can not guarantee their safety after dozens of attacks by remnants of IS militants. The IS attacks paralyzed the agriculture which makes the living of most population of the villages in the northern part of Salahudin province and Hawijah area in west of the neighboring Kirkuk province. Iran's president says U.S. "cruel" sanctions fail to reach goals TEHRAN, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday the United States will fail to achieve its goals by imposing sanctions on Iran. "The Americans will definitely be defeated on this path. The path they have chosen is wrong," Rouhani was quoted as saying by IRAN daily. If they are honest and concerned about regional security, this is not the path, he said, adding that the "cruel" U.S. sanctions will only harm the Iranian people. Blinken urges Sudan's leaders to work rapidly to implement political deal - State Dept 23 Nov 2021 | 7:21 AM Washington, Nov 23 (UNI/Sputnik) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently spoke with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and General Abdel Fattah Burhan to discuss the restoration of a process to transition to a civilian-led government, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. see more.. US to invest $1 5bln in equitable health care - Harris 23 Nov 2021 | 6:18 AM Washington, Nov 23 (UNI/Sputnik) The Biden administration will invest $1.5 billion in equitable healthcare in the United States, US Vice President Kamala Harris said. see more.. US delays Webb Telescope launch for 4 days after shock clamp release incident - NASA 23 Nov 2021 | 6:17 AM Washington, Nov 23 (UNI/Sputnik) NASA announced that it is delaying the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope by four days until December 22 to investigate the unanticipated release of a clamp band holding the highly sensitive instrument to its launch vehicle. see more.. Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone shelled 11 times in past day - Reconciliation Center 23 Nov 2021 | 6:14 AM Moscow, Nov 23 (UNI/Sputnik) The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in Russia) shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone 11 times over the past 24 hours, Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said at a briefing. see more.. Military spokesman warns of possible infiltration of terrorists from Syria into Libya TRIPOLI, Nov 15 (Xinhua) A spokesman for Libya's eastern-based army warned on Wednesday of a possible infiltration of terrorists from Syria to Libya after suffering losses there. "The province of Idlib, north of Syria, currently has more than 18,000 terrorists of Libyan and other Arab nationalities. Information indicates that while the Syrian army continues to pressure them, they will be expelled to Sudan, and from there to Libya and other African countries," Ahmad al-Mismari told a news conference in the eastern city of Benghazi. Al-Mismari pointed out that the army is capable of conducting air and land reconnaissance operations to respond to any potential threat, despite UN ban of supplying arms to Libya. Somalia lauds lifting of UN sanctions on Eritrea MOGADISHU, Nov 15 (Xinhua) Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Thursday welcomed the UN Security Council's decision to lift the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on Eritrea nearly nine years ago. Farmajo, who thanked the council for its decision to lift the sanctions, said the move came because of the unity efforts spearheaded by regional countries. "We welcome the arms and other targeted embargoes on Eritrea been lifted with our collective request. Thanks to the UN Security Council for this helpful and timely intervention," said Farmajo said in a statement. Three drug peddlers, including two from Andhra nabbed, 12 Kg ganja seized Bengaluru, Nov 15 (UNI) Police have nabbed three drug peddlers, including two hailed from Karnul District of Andhra Pradesh, and seized from them 12 Kg ganja. Police said on Thursday that the arrested were identified as 23 year-old Vishnuvardhan, native of Masalamadu Village, Karnool District, AP, twenty two year-old Rajesh, native of Bopanatapuram village, Karnool District, AP and a localite 24 year-old Juned. Preliminary investigation revealed that Vishnuvardhan and Rajesh were purchasing ganja from Karnool District and through Juned they were selling it in the City. U.S.-led airstrikes kill at least 105 in 7 days in eastern Syria DAMASCUS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) At least 105 people have been killed over the past seven days in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour as a result of U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) positions, a war monitor reported Thursday. A total of 80 children and women were among those killed by the intense U.S.-led airstrikes that have been targeting the last IS-held pocket in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The London-based watchdog said the death toll will likely rise as people are still stuck in the rubble. Comic Book Legend Stan Lees Legacy Lives on at UW American Heritage Center Legendary comic book superhero creator Stan Lee, who died Nov. 12, also was known as an advocate for literacy and education. In 1994, Lee participated in educational events at the University of Wyoming. UWs American Heritage Center houses nearly 200 boxes of Lees working drafts, photos, videos, articles and fan mail. The records are open to the public for research and viewing. (UW American Heritage Center Photo Files) It is hard to imagine, but comic book legend Stan Lee -- known worldwide for creating timeless characters such as Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the Fantastic Four -- has strong ties to the University of Wyoming. His legacy lives on at UWs American Heritage Center (AHC). Lee -- comics industry pioneer, collection donor and AHC benefactor -- died Nov. 12 at age 95 in Los Angeles. The AHC houses nearly 200 boxes of Lees working drafts, photos, videos, articles and fan mail. The records are open to the public for research and viewing. An exhibition featuring Lees long career will be on display at the AHC beginning Tuesday, Nov.19. Stan was such an advocate for the American Heritage Center, says AHC Archivist Leslie Waggener. Despite his busy schedule, he kept us on his radar through social media and by steering those in the comics industry our way so that we can continue to document the industrys history. Waggener says a frequently asked question at the AHC regarding Lees papers is how they came to Wyoming. In a January 2012 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Lee explained: I have this little archive at the University of Wyoming. You may wonder why I picked that university but, when they asked if I would archive my material there, they said that Jack Benny had his archive there. And I was a big fan of Jack Bennys and I figured, if hes there, I want to be there. Lees papers are a valuable educational resource, particularly for UW students, Waggener says. Students and faculty in multiple disciplines use Lees collection to study literature, American Studies, social studies education and more for research papers, theses and curriculum development, she says. From his papers, students learn about different facets of U.S. culture from the 20th century, including politics and social constructs; for example, the Civil Rights Movement. Stan Lee stares down Spider-Man, one of the many well-known superhero characters he created. (Stan Lee Papers, American Heritage Center Photo) Open to the public, Lees papers also are a resource for anyone who is interested -- whether for personal interest or for academic study. For these reasons, Lees comics and papers are frequently used, and are a valuable asset to the AHC collections and the education of its students and the wide number of people across Wyoming and the globe it serves, Waggener says. Lee, born Stanley M. Lieber in 1922 in New York City, landed his first job with Timely Comics in 1939 as an office gofer. Two years later, he wrote a text filler piece, titled The Traitors Revenge! for Captain America No. 3. He used the pen name, Stan Lee, because he was so embarrassed to have his real name associated with lowbrow comics. By the 1950s, Lee was ready to quit the comics industry, but was encouraged by his wife, Joan, to experiment with stories he preferred. Acting on the advice, Lee created superheroes that bucked the archetype of ideal perfection. Lees characters were flawed, complex and naturalistic. They were human. The first superheroes Lee and artist Jack Kirby created together were the Fantastic Four. It was an immediate success, according to Lees biography. Timely became Marvel Comics in 1967. By 1972, Lee had become publisher of the Marvel Comics Group. Nine years later, he moved from New York City to Los Angeles to develop Marvels television and motion picture concepts. He also helped form Stan Lee Media, an internet site that introduced comics to the web. Even after retirement in the 1990s, Lee was the public figurehead for Marvel, frequently making cameo appearances in movies based on Marvel characters. The Marvel character-based movies have been a worldwide phenomenon. In recent years, Lee was credited as associate producer on many of the blockbuster movies -- including multiple sequels -- starring Marvel characters such as Iron Man, X-Men, the Avengers and Captain America, in addition to Spider-Man. The Marvel Comics chain of films has grossed into the billions of dollars worldwide, according to industry sources. Lee continued independent creative ventures until his death. For more information about Lees papers, call the AHCs reference department at (307) 766-3756 or email ahcref@uwyo.edu. About the AHC The AHC is UWs repository of manuscript collections, rare books and university archives. The AHC is the laboratory for citizens and scholars to engage with primary sources in all formats that support the creation of historical narratives, interrogate the past, build community, and pose and answer questions about human experience. The AHC holds collections of distinction, serving citizens and scholars in Wyoming and beyond. The Hon. Prof Cortes Launches Almost Homo calpicus: The Early History of the Gibraltar Skull by Dr Alex Menez The Hon. Prof John Cortes, launched the latest book by Dr Alex Menez, at The Gibraltar National Museum last night. The book, Almost Homo calpicus: The Early History of the Gibraltar Skull, draws on previously unpublished sources to tell the early history of the Gibraltar Skull. The Gibraltar Skull is Gibraltars most famous fossil. It is the first adult Neanderthal skull ever found and was presented to the Gibraltar Scientific Society in 1848, but almost nothing is known about its early history. Charles Darwin, one of the first scientists to see the skull, described it as the wonderful Gibraltar skull, and Menezs book looks into what happened to the skull whilst it was in Gibraltar, how it ended up in England in the midst of debates about human origins, antiquity, and evolution. Dr Menez is a biologist who was born and lives in Gibraltar. He is an Associate Researcher of the Institute of Life and Earth Sciences at the University of Gibraltar, an Honorary Fellow of the Gibraltar National Museum, and a Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London. He is currently researching the history of natural history in Gibraltar, including palaeoanthropology, and has recently published several papers on the history of the Gibraltar Skull, and the Gibraltar Scientific Society. The book has been published by the Gibraltar National Museum. Theresa May Meets Fabian Picardo and Gibraltar Brexit Team The Prime Minister Theresa May MP and Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington MP this evening met Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia in Downing Street. The Gibraltar delegation included Attorney General Michael Llamas and Financial Secretary Albert Mena. The meeting marks the end of the second phase of negotiations to leave the European Union that the Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar had identified and embarked upon as far back as September 2016. The first phase for Gibraltar was the conclusion of a series of UK-Gibraltar agreements to safeguard market access and other matters. This was achieved earlier this year as a result of work done in the Joint Ministerial Council (Gibraltar Exit from the European Union). This second phase, which is about to come to a close, was Gibraltars inclusion in the Withdrawal Agreement, including the transitional period, which currently runs until the end of 2020. This has required engagement with EU and Spanish negotiating teams. The third phase are the negotiations on the future relationship between the UK and the EU, including that of Gibraltar. This is expected to open when and if the agreement on Withdrawal is formally approved and ratified. The Government of Gibraltar says it is ready for such discussions on our future relationship with the EU. The meeting with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street today provided an opportunity to discuss and review the draft Withdrawal Agreement, including its transitional period, and its application to Gibraltar. In particular, the conclusion of a Protocol on Gibraltar, that forms an integral part of the Agreement and will provide certainty to citizens and businesses in Gibraltar and the surrounding area, was welcomed. The documentation that will emerge as a consequence of this was also generally considered. The Prime Minister and Chief Minister have approved the implementation of these agreements in line with the established constitutional relationship that the UK and Gibraltar enjoy and which is embodied in the 2006 Gibraltar Constitution. The meeting today also provided an opportunity for a general discussion. The Chief Minister, who has led on these negotiations for Gibraltar, was able to thank the Prime Minister and David Lidington for their solid support throughout this process, as well as the support of Ministers Duncan and Walker and the official teams from all relevant UK departments. Government have said that it is a mark of this support that Mrs May first met Mr Picardo in 2016 a few hours before she was due to meet HM the Queen to be appointed Prime Minister. The meeting today came straight after the UK Cabinet discussion on the agreement. This once again highlights the important degree of commitment to Gibraltar and the fact that relations between the Gibraltar and UK Governments have never been better. It is relevant also to note that the Gibraltar Cabinet has also been briefed on the latest developments, as has the Brexit Select Committee of the Gibraltar Parliament and, separately, the Leader of the GSD. All have been shown the latest versions of the documentation. The Chief Minister said: The meeting with Prime Minister May, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster David Lidington and Sir Alan Duncan, Minister for Europe and the Americas was warm and positive. At important and key moments of her premiership, Mrs May has made time for Gibraltar. She saw me, the Deputy Chief Minister and the Attorney General on the very day of her appointment. She saw me on the first day of her recent party conference. She has seen us today, the very day of her statement to Parliament and after the most important Cabinet meeting for many years. Mrs May's deep commitment to Gibraltar has never been in doubt. Today the Prime Minister and I welcomed the Protocol on Gibraltar which will give confidence and certainty to individuals and businesses operating in Gibraltar. We have agreed that we are confident that the UK, Gibraltar and Spain are now well placed to rapidly conclude Memoranda of Understanding that will address areas of mutual interest and enhance cooperation on citizens rights, tobacco, the environment, and police and customs matters, and to agree to conclude a treaty on tax transparency and information exchange. It is clear to me that all parties can and should now move forward in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation to enhance the security and prosperity of Gibraltar and the entire surrounding area. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Advertisement By Mike Cooper, West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 14, 2018 | PADUCAH By Mike Cooper, West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 14, 2018 | 09:41 PM | PADUCAH The City of Paducah hosted a public meeting Wednesday evening at city hall dealing with the proposed stormwater utility. A large crowd braved a rare November winter storm to hear the presentation and ask questions. The meeting was moderated by John Lyons of Strand and Associates, the engineering firm that has been working with the city on the flooding problems for the past 18 months. Lyons explained how a stormwater utility would operate, and also gave a presentation on how this could be funded. He explained that the most common method of funding is known as an impervious rate structure. Impervious surfaces refers to areas on a parcel of land that do not allow rain water to permeate, such as rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, and patios. Lyons said the formula for figuring the fee is based on what is known as an equivalent residential unit. The formula looks at only two types of property, residential and non-residential. Residential includes single family dwellings and duplexes. All other property would be considered non-residential for purposes of these calculations. The approximate average equivalent residential unit, (ERU), for Paducah is 3,500 square feet, and there are approximately 37,000 ERUs in the City of Paducah. The estimated cost of the entire project is $43 million which, according to city engineer Rick Murphy, would likely be funded with a 30-year bond issue. Lyons stressed this is the best way to figure the fee, but also explained that they are taking recommendations from the public as to any other ideas they might have, even including a tax if that is what the people really want, to fund this. Eric Hickman, City of Paducah stormwater drainage engineer, told West Kentucky Star that the Impervious rate structure is used by most stormwater utilities in the United States. Strand and Associates will make their recommendation to the Paducah City Commission on November 27th. They welcome all comments and suggestions in order to come up with the best possible solution. By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 14, 2018 | 09:20 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY A Marshall County man is facing burglary and other charges following his arrest Wednesday morning. The Marshall County Sheriff's Office says around 12:10 am, deputies responded to Beal Road in reference to a man running down the road screaming. Upon arrival, deputies found the man, later identified as Larry Edwards of Benton, inside a home. Deputies say Edwards had broken into the home and was laying in a bed unconscious. Edwards was arrested and charged with 2nd degree burglary, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. Edwards was later served a warrant after an investigation by the Benton Police Department into vandalism to a vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot. He was lodged in the Marshall County Detention Center. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 13, 2018 | 03:47 PM | PADUCAH Our area got hit Wednesday with what forecasters are calling an extremely rare snow event, dumping several inches of the white stuff during the evening and overnight hours, and creating hazardous driving conditions which prompted many area schools to close.Snow, occasionally mixed with light freezing rain and sleet fell through the night, with Snow accumulation of 1.8 inches reported early Thursday morning in Paducah.Forecaster Rick Shanklin with the National Weather Service office in Paducah says it's extremely rare to see this kind of weather move into our area so early in the year. "This is a very rare event," He said. "Only a couple other times in years past have we had an event of this significance, so quite rare indeed."Records indicate that only on two days in 80 years has it snowed two inches or more before December in Paducah (Nov. 28, 1958 -- 4 inches; Oct. 30, 1993 -- 2 inches).Travel this morning is reportedly slick and hazardous in spots, and clouds will likely slow progress of any melting on roadways.You can see a full list of area closures and cancellations by visiting our Snow Patrol page at the link below. On the Net: China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page FOCUS Wales shortlisted for UK Festival Award This article is old - Published: Thursday, Nov 15th, 2018 An annual Wrexham music and culture event has been shortlisted at the UK Festival Awards. FOCUS WALES, which takes place across three days in May, is among the contenders in the Best Festival for Emerging Talent category. Previous recipients of the award include Liverpool Sound City and Dot to Dot festival. The event has been shortlisted for the award as a result of its ongoing work supporting emerging musicians, providing a platform for artists to showcase their talents to music industry professionals and new music fans. Each year the FOCUS Wales festival conference attracts over 200 music industry delegates each year from all corners of the world to provide advice and guidance to emerging musicians, for free. Delegates already confirmed to attend the 2019 festival include Martin Elbourne (Glastonbury Festival), Rebecca Ayres (LiverpoolSound City) and Bev Burton (Cambridge Folk Festival). The winner will of the Best Festival for Emerging Talent category will be announced at a ceremony in London on 6th December. Applications to perform at the festival are still open for UK and international artists via the FOCUS Wales website the application deadline is 1st December. FOCUS Wales 2019 takes places on the 16th, 17th, 18th May across various venues in Wrexham town centre. Full three day wristbands for admission to all FOCUS Wales events are available now at www.focuswales.com/tickets. Standard festival tickets start at an early bird price of 35 each. Pictured: Stella donnelly at FOCUS Wales. Photo credit Brent Jones Welsh rates of Income Tax: HMRC letters landing on Wrexham doormats this week This article is old - Published: Thursday, Nov 15th, 2018 Tax payers across Wrexham have been receiving letters this week from Her Majestys Revenue and Customs about some upcoming changes to their Income Tax. The light thud of a brown HMRC envelope (or several depending on how many tax payers are in your household) dropping onto the doormat is enough to send a cold shiver down ones spine, but fear not, they dont want more of your hard earned cash . yet! From April 6th 2019 if you pay Income Tax and live in Wales, some of this money will be paid to the Welsh Government to fund Welsh public services. This is the first time, a proportion of that Income Tax will be transferred straight to the Welsh Government instead of being paid to the UK Government to fund spending across the UK. So what does this mean? If you live in Wales, HMRC will continue to collect your Income Tax as usual but Welsh ministers now have the powers to vary income tax rates from April next year. If youre employed or receive a pension, from April 2019 your tax code will begin with a C. Likewise if you complete a self assessment tax return online, youll be asked about your country of residence in your return. The money raised by Welsh rates of Income Tax will then be used by the Welsh Government to fund public services like the NHS and schools. All you need to know! The process for setting Welsh rates of income tax From April 2019, the UK Government will reduce each of the three rates of income tax basic, higher and additional rate paid by Welsh taxpayers by 10p. Each year, the Welsh Government will then decide the three Welsh rates of income tax, which will be added to the reduced UK rates. The combination of reduced UK rates plus the Welsh rates will determine the overall rate of income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers. The Welsh Government proposes to set the first Welsh rates of income tax at 10p: this means the rates of income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers will continue to be the same as those paid by English and Northern Irish taxpayers. The National Assembly will need to confirm this proposal through a motion prior to the final Budget. What will change? Each year from 2019-20 onwards, the Welsh Government will decide whether to vary the rates of income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers or whether to keep them the same as the income tax rates paid by English and Northern Irish taxpayers. The Scottish Parliament decides the income tax rates for Scottish taxpayers. The financial year beginning in April 2019 will be the first year in which the income tax rates paid by Welsh taxpayers will be affected by decisions made by the Welsh Government about income tax. What will stay the same? Income tax will continue to be collected by HMRC for Welsh taxpayers in the same way it is now. The personal allowance the amount people can earn before they start paying tax will continue to be the same as it is for the rest of the UK. The point at which people start to pay the higher and additional rates of income tax will stay the same as in England and Northern Ireland. Responsibility for taxing income from savings and dividends will remain with the UK Government. Could the Welsh Government set Welsh rates of income tax at less than 10p? The reduction in the three rates of income tax by the UK government will reduce the amount of tax paid to the UK Treasury by Welsh taxpayers. If the Welsh rates of income tax are set at less than 10p, the UK Government will recover the money it no longer collects in tax from Wales by reducing Wales block grant (this is the way the UK government funds Wales to pay for public services, such as the health service and education). In order to maintain the money for public services in Wales, the Welsh Government would need to re-apply the 10p removed by the UK government to each of the tax bands. The Welsh Government could decide that the social and economic circumstances in Wales require a different rate to be set for one, two or all three of the tax bands. This would mean the combined rates paid by Welsh taxpayers the UK reduced rate plus the Welsh rates would be different to the rates paid by English and Northern Irish taxpayers. This could also affect the amount of money for public services in Wales. Will this affect me? This will affect you if you are a Welsh taxpayer. If you live in Wales you will be a Welsh taxpayer, regardless of where you work. Minimum WRIT rates which can be applied 3 If you live in Wales but also live for some of the year in another part of the UK, it will depend how much time you spend in each country. If you live most of the year in Wales, you will be a Welsh taxpayer. The Government of Wales Act 2006, as amended by the Wales Act 2014 provides a detailed description of who is a Welsh taxpayer. This covers the range of different situations that could apply to people who live in more than one part of the UK during the year. People who are elected to represent the people of Wales in the National Assembly, in Parliament or in the European Parliament will be Welsh taxpayers regardless of where they live. Why is this change happening? The Welsh Government is taking greater responsibility for setting taxes in Wales, which are then spent on public services such as schools, hospitals and roads. This decision followed recommendations by two commissions the Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales (the Holtham Commission) and the Commission on Devolution in Wales (the Silk Commission). The commissions were asked to advise how Wales should be funded in the future. Following the commissions reports, the UK Parliament passed legislation to devolve taxes to Wales the Wales Act 2014. From April 2018, stamp duty land tax and landfill tax are no longer operational in Wales; two new taxes have been introduced land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax. From April 2019, the Welsh Government will decide on Welsh rates of income tax. What are income tax rates? In the UK, people pay different rates of income tax depending how much they earn. The amount payable depends on how much of a persons taxable income is above the personal allowance and how much falls into each tax band. Currently, the UK Government decides how income tax should operate in Wales, England and Northern Ireland and, to some extent, in Scotland. In Scotland, many aspects of income tax are decided by the Scottish Parliament. The current rates of income tax are shown in the table below. With the exception of the highest earners, everyone benefits from the personal allowance and does not pay any income tax on the first 11,850 they earn. People who earn less than 11,850 a year should not pay any income tax at all. People who earn 20,000 a year will pay no income tax on the first 11,850 they earn but will be taxed at 20% on the next 8,150. People who earn 50,000 a year will pay no tax on the first 11,850; 20% tax on the next 34,500 and 40% on the final 3,650 they earn. How will the Welsh rates of income tax be decided? As part of its annual budget process, the Welsh Government will propose Welsh rates of income tax for approval by the National Assembly. The National Assembly will then vote to decide whether it agrees those rates. The Welsh Government has committed not to increase income tax rates in Wales for the duration of the current Assembly, which is due to continue until May 2021. Ahead of the 2021 National Assembly elections, it is expected all the political parties in Wales will set out in their manifestos what they would do with income tax if they formed the next Welsh Government. In theory, setting lower rates could allow Welsh taxpayers to keep more of their earnings but could mean cuts to public services as less money is raised through income tax in Wales and Wales block grant is reduced to take account of that fall in tax revenue. Setting higher rates could raise more money for public services in Wales but could mean taking more money from Welsh taxpayers. In practice, the outcome of changing tax rates could be more complicated. For example, a higher or lower tax rate might encourage more people to move in or out of Wales, which may then affect the amount of tax revenue raised. It might also affect the decisions made by businesses to move in or out of Wales. Future Welsh Governments will need to weigh up these factors when deciding what to do with income tax rates. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on Florida's election recount (all times local): 5:30 p.m. A federal judge says he is unlikely to let Florida election officials automatically count thousands of mail-in ballots that have signatures that do not match those on file. Democrats are asking U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to throw out Florida's existing signature match law. They say untrained experts should not be allowed to decide if someone's signature on a mail-in ballot doesn't match the signature included on a registration form that could be years old. Walker has not yet ruled but said he may give voters extra time to fix their ballots. The lawsuit is one of a half-dozen related to Florida's ongoing recount that involves three statewide races including U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's race against Gov. Rick Scott. Election officials testified that nearly 4,000 mail-in and provisional ballots have been rejected so far because of mismatched signatures. ___ 3:45 p.m. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson's campaign is suing a north Florida elections official in an effort to get copies of ballots that were emailed in possible violation of state law. Nelson's campaign filed the lawsuit against Bay County Supervisor of Elections Mark Andersen on Wednesday. The lawsuit asks a judge to order Andersen to turn over records to the campaign. Andersen has acknowledged to media outlets that he accepted 147 ballots by email even though that's barred by state law. Andersen said the voters were displaced by Hurricane Michael, telling a Panhandle television station that anyone who objects "ought to be ashamed." The lawsuit seeks to get copies of the ballots that were emailed or faxed as well as any instructions telling voters they could email their ballots. 1:25 p.m. Florida election officials have asked federal prosecutors to investigate whether Florida Democrats put out false information that could have resulted in voters having their ballots disqualified. Last week, a top attorney in the Department of State wrote a letter to three Florida federal prosecutors that asked them to review "irregularities" related to mail-in ballots. The department included information that showed that voters were given the wrong deadline to fix any problems with those ballots. Current law requires the signatures on mail-in ballots and a voter's registration form to match. If the signatures do not match, a voter has until the day before Election Day to fix the problem. But four supervisors turned over information that showed the official forms were changed by Democratic Party operatives. The new deadline said voters had until two days after the election to fix any problems. --- 12:45 p.m. It's unclear whether one of Florida's largest counties will make a looming recount deadline after their machines malfunctioned. Tallying machines in Palm Beach County overheated and caused mismatched results with the recount of 174,000 early voting ballots. The machine recount is supposed to be finished by Thursday, though a Leon County judge has ordered that the recount be extended. Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher said that the machines are "old" and were not designed to work around the clock. Bucher compared it to trying to drive an old car from Florida to Los Angeles. The county was already behind because it can't recount multiple races simultaneously. The staff worked overnight to recount early votes again. Florida is doing a recount in three state races, including a tight battle for U.S. Senate. ___ 11:10 a.m. Florida Gov. Rick Scott will step down from the state panel responsible for certifying the results in the state's highly contested elections. Daniel Nordby, a lawyer for the Republican governor, told a federal judge Wednesday that Scott will recuse himself from the state's canvassing commission. The commission is a three-member panel that officially signs off on election results in state and federal races. Scott is locked in a tight Senate race against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson that is the subject of an ongoing recount. The League of Women Voters of Florida and another group have filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Scott from any official control over the election. Scott appoints the state's chief election official responsible for ordering recounts. Ballots, however, are counted by local election officials. ___ 10:55 a.m. Rick Scott is Florida's Republican governor, not a senator-elect. Yet there he was at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's left shoulder Wednesday when the Kentucky Republican welcomed GOP senators who will take their seats in January when the new Congress is sworn in. Scott holds the narrowest of leads over Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, and a recount is ongoing. During a brief photo op in McConnell's Capitol office, Scott did not reply to a question about whether he contends there was fraud in the election. President Donald Trump and Scott have accused elections supervisors in two Florida Democratic counties of fraud without offering evidence. State law enforcement and elections officials have said no fraud complaints have been filed. ___ 7:15 a.m. The Palm Beach County elections supervisor says aging equipment has overheated, causing mismatched results in the recount of ballots in Florida's U.S. Senate race. Susan Bucher said Tuesday night that the 11-year-old machines began having problems on Monday as early voting ballots were being counted. When the numbers were crunched on Tuesday, they didn't match. WPTV says a mechanic was flown in to fix the issues, but Bucher says "we don't have a lot of assurances." She says the machines "started overheating so as a result the tally types are not reconciling properly." That means about 174,000 early voting ballots in the state's third most populous county will have to be recounted. Workers are working around the clock to count the vote, but Bucher has already said they will not meet the state's Thursday deadline to report the recounted votes. Nearly 600,000 ballots were cast in the county. ___ 12:23 a.m. Florida's ongoing recount battle will head back to a courtroom on Wednesday as lawyers for Democrats ask a federal judge to set aside the state law that mandates that a vote be thrown out if signatures on mail ballot envelopes don't match the signature on file with election authorities. This is the latest skirmish in Florida's legally mandated vote recount that has drawn national attention, including that of President Donald Trump. Trump on Tuesday called on Democrat Bill Nelson to admit that he lost to Republican Gov. Rick Scott in the state's high-profile U.S. Senate race and again implying without evidence that officials in two pivotal South Florida counties are trying to steal the election. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) (WTXL) - U.S. Senator Bill Nelson is asking a federal court to waive the state's re-count deadlines, arguing there isn't enough time to count all the votes. Court proceedings Wednesday ended with no resolution. Nelson filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, arguing election precincts should not have to rush and cut corners to get the results in by the 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon deadline. More than half of Florida's 67 counties have completed their recounts. Pete Dunbar said: "One is to throw out some ballots and the other argument is to put some ballots in. I think the right answer is that all the legal ballots should be counted and accounted for in the system that Florida has provided for the confirming, the recounts and the full aggregates so we can get to a vote total." Nelson currently trails Rick Scott in the Florida Senate by 13,000 votes. GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) It's been more than a month since Hurricane Michael hit the Big Bend and one Gadsden County community is concerned about the piles of debris that still hasn't been cleaned up. Lake Tallavana is a private gated community in Havana. It took residents about two weeks to get their power back after Michael. The homeowners' association said aside from a few contractors hired by residents, no one has come to clean up the debris. The head of security said it's a real safety hazard. Our roads have diminished to one lane throughout most of the community, so our risk for accidents or even residents who like to walk and at night, it's very perilous in here, because you cannot see a lot of the big trunks sticking out,"said Vice President Cheryl Roberts. "So, we've had several residents have car damage as a result of the debris." The county has applied for federal funding to cover the cost to remove debris on private roads and gated communities. So far, the county estimates it's collected 20 percent of all debris. According to officials, the total cost of debris removal is just under 13 million dollars. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Science-focused lessons Wednesday morning continued despite a veil of clouds and the threat of rain. The meteorological features blended in well with Killearn Lakes Elementary School's third-annual weather balloon launch. Most of the school's students and staff witnessed the launch from the playground area, assisted by a consortium of school district teachers and volunteers, including our own Chief Meteorologist Casanova Nurse. He also gave a presentation in the cafeteria covering the purposes of weather balloons and their application in everyday weather forecasting. The effort was supported by a grant from the Foundation for Leon County Schools. A platform was attached by string to the balloon, carrying tracking equipment and cameras. The balloon exceeded 60,000 feet in elevation during its flight. After the balloon burst, the platform and equipment were recovered later in the morning in a neighborhood in Coffee County, Ga. ST. PETERSBURG, FL (WWSB) - A woman found herself in hot water, after Pinellas County Deputies say she stole a live lobster from its tank while being kicked out of a restaurant. It happened at Red Lobster at 6151 34th St N. in St. Petersburg. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Somerset Academy in Monticello has received another threat after a person called on Tuesday, threatening to detonate three bombs inside the school. Superintendent Marianna Arbulu said the school received a call Thursday morning that made mention of a non-specific threat. Arbulu stated is was almost like a "threat of a threat." School officials said the students are safe and the school is continuing classes as scheduled. The school is working with law enforcement to determine where these calls are coming from. The school was never evacuated during the time of Thursday's threat. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating after a person called Somerset Academy in Jefferson County and threatened to detonate three bombs inside the school. Somerset Academy principal Cory Oliver confirmed that someone called the schools main line Tuesday morning, threatening to detonate three devices in the school. All of the schools approximately 750 students were evacuated and taken off-campus. Local law enforcement was called in to search the school, but found no evidence to support the threat. He says the search has now concluded, and classes will resume. Students are being given the option of being picked up by their parents at the old auditorium on Water Street or returning to campus. The FDLE was called in to investigate as well. THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - The recent shootings in Thomasville has taken many residents by surprise. In a matter of weeks there were two isolated shootings in Thomasville. Now officers are looking to the community. They're asking you to help keep them informed of this aggressive type of behavior that often leads to gun violence. Thomasville Police Captain Maurice Holmes said if officers knew about these ongoing arguments, it would've given them the chance to get involved before it escalated to someone getting shot. "If you're aware of these types of disagreements, or these types of ongoing feuds and disputes go ahead and gives us a call," said Captain Holmes. He said if you call, you can remain anonymous. Captain Holmes stated with residents help, it will allow officers to be proactive in their search for these types of crimes. "Allow us to go in and investigate. You never know, you may prevent someone from losing their life," said Captain Holmes. Like 32-year-old Akelious Hardy who was shot in the head on October 31 and died the following day. Now the suspects, Micharius Johnson and Braden Davis, are in the Thomas County jail facing murder charges. Captain Holmes said this is one of those cases that should've never happened. "When you have people that go out and continuously use firearms as a result of them being angry, or in a dispute, a spur the moment thing that's going to a life time effect, or end the life of someone, it's pretty impactful," said Captain Holmes. We spoke with a few residents who didn't want to be interviewed on camera, but said they live near where these crimes are happening. They said their neighborhood is usually pretty quiet. But, after the second shooting Sunday evening they worry these crimes may become more frequent. Investigators stated the community can take ease knowing the recent shootings in Thomasville aren't gang related, but they're diligently working to find ways to keep the city safe. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - We are one day away and Thursday is the WTXL Turkey Drive. We are collecting frozen turkeys and monetary donations all day long at Ponce De Leon Park in Downtown Tallahassee. It feels great to give and help others less fortunate on this Thanksgiving holiday, but do you ever wonder exactly where or to whom your donations go? Thanksgiving for most families is a time to give thanks and enjoy a meal with loved ones. But not everyone has that luxury. That's why WTXL is partnering with Second Harvest for their 5th Annual Turkey Drive to raise money and collect frozen turkeys so everyone, in need, can eat this Thanksgiving. But when it comes to your donation, whether it's monetary or a turkey, how does that translate into dinner? How is everything dispersed and who is actually getting what? An especially pressing question in the wake of Hurricane Michael. "This year is as important as ever, some families may not even have a table to sit around due to Hurricane Michael," said Mary Dekle, Director of Philanthropy for Second Harvest of the Big Bend. She said the donation distribution process is streamlined and efficient and starts the day after the turkey drive. They distribute the turkeys equally among their partner agencies, depending on the capacity, divide up the turkeys, and send them to their partner agencies. "Second Harvest has over 135 in 11 counties. They may be a soup kitchen or feeding site like Grace Mission or a church that has soup or a food pantry," said Dekle. "There are many in our community who need the food." Ginger Cooksey, Coordinator at the Crawfordville United Methodist Church Food Pantry, knows first-hand how important donations from the Turkey Drive are to those who rely on them at the food pantry. Last year they got over 160 turkeys from Second Harvest and were able to give 160 families turkeys and dinners. "It's just a great thing. The families have gotten to the point that they know we are going to have frozen turkeys. And so it's a great thing," said Cooksey. "We do it the Thursday before Thanksgiving and there's a line going around the parking lot and we get together and give people Thanksgiving dinner." They had so much frozen turkey last year they were able to give some away for Christmas as well. Last year the turkey drive raised over $22,000 and collected 358 turkeys. This year they hope to collect 380 turkeys and raise over $25,000. That will provide over 100,000 meals. "Leon County is the third hungriest county in our state. It is hiding in plain site," said Dekle. "There are many people who don't have the luxury of having a turkey on their table for Thanksgiving, so let's give them a little bit of normalcy this year." If someone needs a meal or frozen turkey this Thanksgiving, they can go online to Fightinghunger.org. "Depending on where you live you can find out the partner agencies that they work with," said Dekle. "And they have what there distribution dates and contact information. You can contact them directly." If you can't get online call 211 for more information. Whether it's a monetary donation or a frozen turkey, you can be assured that all of what is raised will be given to those who will be grateful because of you for a Happy Thanksgiving. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) On Wednesday, the City of Tallahassee honored the man who stopped the shooter at Hot Yoga Tallahassee on November 2. Joshua Quick risked his life, but he said he doesn't consider himself a hero. Wednesday, the City of Tallahassee awarded him the highest honor possible with a key to the City. Quick grabbed a vacuum and fought the shooter inside Hot Yoga Tallahassee. He was pistol-whipped, but he kept fighting, giving the others inside a chance to escape. Mayor Gillum and the city commission thanked him for his bravery and saving lives that day. Quick said he's not the only one who should be recognized. "I think of everybody in there who were under that situation. They did things to help mitigate loss, and they all did things to help people get to safety, but for this award, I just I'm overwhelmed with gratitude," said Quick. Mayor Gillum said he spoke with the father of Maura Binkley, who wanted to thank Quick as well. Just before the key was handed over, the mayor said he was doing so on behalf of "a grateful city" and "a grateful community." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-14 23:07:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), presided over the fifth meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform Wednesday. Xi, also Chinese president, chairman of the Central Military Commission, and head of the central committee for deepening overall reform, called for "holding high the banner of reform and opening-up and achieving the overall goal in improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China's system and capacity for governance." He also urged more efforts to keep advancing the reform and opening-up in the new era. Wang Huning and Han Zheng, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy heads of the reform committee, attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed and approved a series of official documents: -- a plan to implement an innovation-driven growth strategy in Hainan Province; -- a plan to develop Hainan into an international tourism and consumption center; -- a plan to implement fiscal and taxation policies to support Hainan in deepening reform and opening-up; -- a regulation on the management of the fiscal subsidy fund to support Hainan in deepening reform and opening-up; -- a plan to adjust policies on duty-free shopping for tourists leaving Hainan; -- a plan to accelerate the improvement of the reform on the exit mechanism of market entities; -- a plan to deepen the reform on the government procurement mechanism; -- a plan to implement the reform on vocational education; -- a guideline on enhancing the development of county-level media convergence centers; -- a guideline on deepening reform for fostering world-class science journals; -- a guideline on integrating law enforcement and approval services at grassroot levels; -- a guideline on enhancing and improving the publishing sector; -- a plan to pilot collective medicine procurement; -- a guideline on improving administrative law enforcement; -- a document on Beijing's exploration on innovative CPC-led grassroots governance. The meeting demanded efforts in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up and called for "more resolve, courage and intensity in its continuation and deepening." A statement released after the meeting said achievements and experience accumulated in the past 40 years should be summarized from "a historical, big-picture and strategic perspective," as well as with a problem-oriented approach. "Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have not only made many historical achievements, but also created and gathered a lot of fresh experience in reform," the document said. "To celebrate the 40th anniversary, concrete actions are needed in facilitating reform implementation," said the document, adding that local authorities should take tough action against the practice of "formalities for formalities' sake" and bureaucratism. It called for strengthened strategic research and judgments on planing both strategic reforms and campaign-level reforms, to unleash domestic demand, boost economic vitality and foster drivers of growth. "Efforts should be made to foster a good social atmosphere for reform and opening-up, and boost people's confidence in reform," it said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 06:10:04|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a press briefing at European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Nov. 14, 2018. The European Union (EU) and Britain have made decisive steps to end Brexit negotiations, said Michel Barnier Wednesday, sending a clear signal for an upcoming special summit later this month. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan) BRUSSELS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and Britain have made decisive steps to end Brexit negotiations, said the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier Wednesday, sending a clear signal for an upcoming special summit later this month. "We have reached a crucial stage, an important moment in this extraordinary negotiation," said Barnier in a press conference conveyed shortly after Britain's cabinet approved the draft Brexit deal. The progress is the result of very intensive negotiations stretching back 17 months, said Barnier, adding that "We are at an important moment in this extraordinary negotiation," he said. On citizen's rights, Barnier noted that the draft deal ensures that "those EU citizens who live in the UK and UK citizens who live in the EU will be able to live their lives as before." As to the Northern Island border issue, Barnier said the solution for avoiding a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland meets four key conditions: protecting the Good Friday agreement; preserving the integrity of EU single market and Ireland's place in it; respecting Britain's territorial integrity and constitutional order; and preserving Britain-Ireland common travel area. Compromises reached in the final stages would ensure that there would be no hard border in Ireland, with a "backstop" plan included in the agreement which would place entire Britain into a customs union with the EU, Mr Barnier said. Talking about the transition period, Barnier admitted that the only thing not specified in the deal is the length of a possible extension to the transition period. Commenting on the future relationship between Britain and the EU, Barnier said "the United Kingdom will remain our friend, our partner, our ally." But "There remains a lot of work to do ... I know that the way ahead is still long and perhaps difficult to guarantee an orderly withdrawal, and to build a "durable" future partnership, he said. Prior to Barnier's press conference in Brussels, British Prime Minister Theresa May said Wednesday night that the cabinet has given its backing to her Brexit deal. May delivered her message outside 10 Downing Street after an emergency meeting of her cabinet that overran by more than two hours. She acknowledged the difficulties facing the government and the country over Brexit, adding: "I firmly believe with my head and my heart that this is a decision that is in the best interests of the whole United Kingdom," she said. May said she will make a full statement to the House of Commons on Thursday. Political observers are now waiting to see if any of her dissenting ministers have quit. The next 24 hours could also determine whether May could face a vote of no confidence among her Conservative ranks in the House of Commons. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 06:09:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Two Israeli policemen were lightly injured in a Palestinian stabbing attack inside a police station in East Jerusalem on Wednesday night, the police said. The incident took place in Armon HaNetziv, a Jewish neighborhood in southern East Jerusalem. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement that the police "arrested the terrorist who stabbed a police officer lightly." The Jerusalem police said that a knife-wielding Palestinian entered the Armon HaNetziv police station and stabbed a para-military Border Police officer before he was shot and severely injured. Another policeman was wounded, apparently as a result of the shooting. The national medical emergency service confirmed that three men were injured in the incident. Last week, a Palestinian woman attempted to stab Border Police officers in a gas station near the West Bank settlement of Kfar Adumim using scissors. The suspect was shot and injured before she was taken to a hospital. The recent attack came a day after Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group, announced a cease-fire after three days of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and barrages of Gazan rockets towards southern Israel. The fire cost the lives of at least 16, all but one were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 06:06:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel's government was in turmoil on Wednesday after its defense minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned over cease-fire with Hamas group in the Gaza Strip. A spokesperson for the pro-settler Jewish Home, the second largest party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, said its lawmakers unanimously voted to leave the government if Netanyahu will not give the defense portfolio to the party leader, Naftali Bennett. Netanyahu's Likud party issued a statement saying the prime minister has called on to "stabilize" the coalition and for now, will keep the defense portfolio for himself. Local media reported that Netanyahu launched a series of talks with the heads of his coalition parties in an attempt to keep them together. Avi Gabay, head of the Zionist Union party, the main opposition faction in the parliament, called for immediate elections. "Unfortunately, Netanyahu preferred the small political considerations and appointed an unsuitable person for the position of defense minister," Gabay said in a statement. "This policy has led us to the fact that Hamas decides when our defense minister will resign." Lieberman, 60, a hawkish politician, announced his resignation in a press conference earlier on Wednesday. "What happened yesterday ... is capitulating to terror," Lieberman said, referring to Tuesday's cease-fire. The truce halted a flare-up between Israel and Hamas after three days of fire exchanges that cost the lives of at least 16 people in Gaza and Israel. Lieberman has reportedly objected to ending the air strikes in Gaza during a seven-hour cabinet meeting on Tuesday. "What we're doing now as a state is buying short-term quiet, with the price being severe long-term damage to national security," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 06:35:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close By Eric J. Lyman ROME, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Financial markets reacted negatively to the start of an unprecedented new chapter in the budget standoff between Italy and the European Commission, before the end of Wednesday's trading. Late Tuesday, just before the commission's 15-day deadline for Italy to refile its 2019 draft budget plan with a reduced deficit, the Italian Ministry of Finance released a budget plan almost identical to the one that sparked the warning from European officials. Italy announced a month ago that it wanted its 2019 budget to include a deficit equivalent to 2.4 percent of the country's gross domestic product, three times larger than guidance from the commission, the European Union's executive wing. On Oct. 22, commissioners gave Italy 15 days -- until Nov. 13 -- to resubmit a budget with a smaller deficit. Italy declined. "We still have the conviction that this is the budget needed to get the economy going," Luigi Di Maio, Italy's deputy prime minister said late Tuesday. "For 15 days the budget plan was discussed with ministers, multilateral organizations, the Court of Audits, economists, and officials from the National Statistics Institute," Francesco Daveri, a macroeconomist with the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, told Xinhua. "The result was the government came to the same conclusion as before: the budget deficit should be 2.4 percent" of gross domestic product. Daveri said that the Italian government's failure to gain the commission's OK for the budget would likely trigger sanctions, which could add up to as much as 0.2 percent of gross domestic product. That could total around 4.4 billion euros (4.9 billion U.S. dollars) based on this year's estimates of the size of the Italian economy. Political scientists have told Xinhua that standing up to the European Commission would likely earn political points for the backers of the two political parties supporting the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. But sanctions would further drain the economic resources of the cash-strapped government while hurting the country's prestige internationally. "It is very unlikely that full, maximum sanctions will be levied," Daveri said. "But this is unchartered territory. No European state has gone this far without making an attempt to follow the commission's guidance. Any sanctions would be significant." When markets opened Wednesday, they reacted negatively to the news. The yield on Italy's benchmark ten-year bonds immediately leapt to 3.6 percent, their highest level since 2014. They calmed by the end of the day, ending at 3.493 percent, bit that is still their highest close in 46 months. The Italian Stock Exchange in Milan reacted similarly, the blue chip MIB-30 index opened nearly 2 percent lower than its close on Tuesday before briefly climbing back into positive territory and ending 0.73 percent lower on the day. Among the biggest losers in the MIB-30 were companies that had once been state-run monopolies, such as communications giant Telecom Italia, which finished the day down 3.4 percent, and the Italian Post, which lost 2.8 percent Wednesday. That trend was due in part to the Tuesday announcement that the government could try to pay down the deficit by selling off its minority shares in former state companies. The shares lost value due to the prospect that a government selloff would upset the balance between supply and demand. "The problem with selling off shares to reduce the deficit is that the value of those shares is dependent on market forces," Giuseppe De Arcangelis, an economist with Rome's La Sapienza University, told Xinhua. "One of the market forces that could push prices lower is the very fact that the government want to sell its shares." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 06:52:27|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close LONDON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May will face her toughest test yet in the House of Commons Thursday on the long road to Brexit. Less than 24 hours after she won backing from her top ministers at a Downing Street Cabinet meeting, May is to make a full statement to Members of Parliament (MPs). She is expected to face a grilling from both sides of the Brexit divide, those who back leaving the European Union and politicians wanting Britain to remain tied to the EU. The main opposition Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn said Wednesday night his party would announce during May's statement in parliament whether they will vote against the agreement. MPs representing Northern Ireland will also demand more information on how the deal affects their area. It was the fate of the 500 km land border separating Northern Ireland from Ireland, one of the 27 remaining EU states, that has provided the biggest headache for negotiators in Brussels and London. To add to what could be a difficult day for May, she will also learn whether there will be a challenge to her leadership. If 48 Conservative MPs request a vote of no-confidence in May as leader, it will be up to the party's MPs to decide the outcome. If the no confidence vote is won it will almost certainly trigger a leadership election that could end May's tenure at 10 Downing Street. If she survives a challenge she is guaranteed a free run without a further challenge for at least a year. May on Wednesday chaired a meeting of her Cabinet, expected to last three hours, but instead going on for just over five hours. According to political commentators the lengthy meeting was a measure of the different opinions within her ranks of ministers about the agreement May has produced detailing Britain's future relationship with the EU. The dawning of a new day could also reveal whether any of her ministers are following in the footsteps of former foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit secretary David Davis. They both quit days after May first published her Brexit proposals in July. The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday that two senior ministers were considering resigning. Wednesday turned out to be a day of high drama, as May emerged on the steps of Number 10 to issue a statement. Chanting and shouts from the public could be heard coming from the end of highly barricaded Downing Street. Saying it was her deal, no deal or no Brexit, May delivered her long awaited decision in what was described as a make-or-break day for the UK-EU negotiations. May declared: "I firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated and I needed Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland decision. But the decision in cabinet was that the Government should agree with the withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration." She concluded her message: "I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision that is in the best interests of our entire United Kingdom." The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday night that 11 of the 29 ministers at May's Cabinet meeting spoke out against the deal. This could explain, the report said, why May announced that was a collective decision rather than one that had been unanimous. Leading Brexiteer, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who leads a group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs, called on MPs to oppose May's plan, adding he could not support her proposals. Another leading Conservative MP and Brexit supporter, Steve Baker, predicted the deal put forward by May "will be in bits in a couple of days". Gerard Batten, leader of UKIP, the party founded to campaign for Britain to leave the EU, described May's deal as a surrender. He said: "We can expect a complete betrayal of the referendum result. The real struggle to leave the EU now begins in earnest. UKIP will never give up the fight for a complete and total exit from the EU. "If this surrender deal is implemented, UKIP will be the political resistance movement, fighting on the electoral beaches, fields, lanes, and landing grounds." The Guardian newspaper reported that the main opposition Labor Party is confident it can convince the majority of potential rebels to vote against May's Brexit deal. There was a more positive reaction to May's proposals from Britain's business community. Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry said May's compromise deal has led Britain one step away from the nightmare precipice of no deal". Meanwhile, Catherine McGuinness, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: "The proposed framework for the future relationship provides welcome clarity and offers a foundation for financial services "In particular, the commitment to close regulatory and supervisory cooperation is a positive move that recognizes the need for any deal to reflect the City's unique role in providing services to households and businesses across." In Brussels, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier gave a buoyant and upbeat response to Britain's withdrawal proposals, acknowledging that there was still difficult work to do by both sides. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 06:53:04|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Ma Zhaoxu (C, Front), Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, chairs a Security Council meeting on Somalia at the UN headquarters in New York, on Nov. 14, 2018. Ma Zhaoxu on Wednesday called on the Security Council and international community to provide constructive assistance to the countries in the Horn of Africa. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu on Wednesday called on the Security Council and international community to provide constructive assistance to the countries in the Horn of Africa. At a Security Council meeting on Somalia, Ma said that the relations between countries in the Horn of Africa have been continually improved over past few months. Ambassador Ma said China hopes the countries in the region will actively seize the current favorable opportunity, strengthen dialogue and consultation, and work in tandem to properly resolve relevant issues. In a unanimous vote, the Security Council adopted a resolution to lift a nearly decade-old arms embargo and targeted sanctions on Eritrea after the country's recent rapprochement towards neighbors in the Horn of Africa. The Chinese diplomat said the lifting of sanctions is conducive to the peace and development in the region. Ma pledged that China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in achieving peace, stability and development of the countries in the Horn of Africa. The council imposed sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 for its support of Al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia. The UN's most powerful body slapped more sanctions on the Horn of African country in three other resolutions from 2011 to 2013. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 07:05:10|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Participants attend a session of the 21st Euro Finance Week in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 14, 2018. A senior member of German central bank (Bundesbank) Burkhard Balz on Wednesday called for perseverance and patience for the international usage of the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB) at the 5th European-Chinese Banking Day session amid 21st Euro Finance Week Frankfurt. (Xinhua/Lu Yang) FRANKFURT, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior member of German central bank (Bundesbank) Burkhard Balz on Wednesday called for perseverance and patience for the international usage of the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB). Executive board member of German central bank (Bundesbank) Burkhard Balz, at the 5th European-Chinese Banking Day session amid 21st Euro Finance Week Frankfurt which kicked off Monday, reminded that the role of RMB, or the yuan, in international payment is not commensurate with the standing of China as the second largest economic power in the world, who has contributed over 17 percent of the global economy last year. The renminbi is currently the fifth most used currency in international payment, after the U.S. dollar, euro, British pound and Japanese yen, according to SWIFT RMB Tracker. "An upward trend has been seen after all," Balz said, noting that the use of renminbi as global trading currency has regained momentum following a shrink in 2016 and 2017. In his opinion, the international usage of renminbi aims at long-term success, therefore the phases should not be surprising, in which the expansion of usage of the Chinese currency stagnates for a time. Besides, Balz welcomed China's commitment to further opening up, covering its capital market, calling on international investors to remain patient in the near future as China opens the door of captial market step by step. | 2018-11-15 07:12:53|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close CHICAGO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zotye Automobile, a Zhejiang-based privately-owned automaker in east China, is planning to launch at least two SUVs on the U.S. market in 2020, local media Detroit News reported on Wednesday. As auto giant Ford Motor's newest Chinese partner, Zotye is partnering with California-based startup HAAH Automotive Holdings to look beyond its home market and form a new sales distribution company in the United States known as Zotye USA. The new company, owned by HAAH, will be based in Lake Forest in California. Plans for the dealer network include up to 325 stores nationwide, targeting the top 80 markets in the United States - including Detroit area. According to the HAAH website, the first Zotye USA model will be its existing T600, which will arrive in the fall of 2020, making it the first Chinese-branded car offered on the U.S. market. A Ford spokesman said Zotye's plans to enter the U.S. market are unrelated to its joint venture with the automaker on electric vehicles in China for that market, and declined to comment further. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 07:27:33|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close PARIS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday admitted "I'm not perfect," but he recalled his determination to reform Europe's main powerhouse that may further fuel social roar and cost him his place at the Elysee Palace. Speaking to TF1 television on the Charles de Gaulle carrier, Europe's only nuclear-powered surface aircraft carrier, Macron said he was aware of the French's "impatience" and "anger. " Dogged by critics for having a vertical, monarchical way of governing and a reputation of arrogance, France's youngest top official in its modern history, said he regretted his failure in "reconciling the French people with their leaders." "That affects me. If it only affects myself, it would not matter. This divorce worries me... " he said. Macron added "I may have made mistakes." However, he vowed "to maintain the course and think about the fate of the nation and not (his) image. "When the polls are not good, I'm not going to say that it's nice. But, we will have to reform the state in depth... Do you think I can stop or complain? " he asked. Upon his inauguration in May 2017, Macron pledged that his first mission would be uniting the French people, facing all challenges and getting the country out of crisis. Since then, he had been changing labor code and pension, proposing to inject dynamism into public services and institutions and reforming rail sector and education system, areas where he was facing fierce opposition that drew thousands to the country's streets in addition to rolling strikes. Further social movement and blockades across the country's cities are planned on Saturday to oppose a government plan to hike tax on fuel. "Many predecessors during last decades had changed their course when they faced difficulties. Me, I won't do so, because it's the inconsistency," the 40-year-old head of state told the TV channel. "I understand that there are disappointed people, but ... I do not want to change the course. We are in a moment of transition. This takes time and it's the time of our institutions," he stressed. An Elabe survey released earlier this month, showed Macron's popularity dropped to a new low with 27 percent of positive opinions, down by three percentage points as his package of reforms and fiscal drive to transform the country failed to win public support. The pollster noted that this month's approval ratings were the worst score for Macron who failed to meet his goals of creating more wealth and jobs. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 07:56:03|Editor: mym Video Player Close Displaced people from Jaghori district arrive in Ghazni city, Afghanistan, on Nov. 14, 2018. Taliban militants in a surprise move stormed security checkpoints in the peaceful Jaghori district last Wednesday and since then fighting has been continuing in Jaghori and the neighboring Malestan districts which have claimed dozens of lives besides rendering scores of people homeless. (Xinhua/Sayed Mominzadah) Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 07:48:45|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder James Rodriguez will be out of action for several weeks, the German record champions confirmed in an official statement on Wednesday. The Colombian international suffered a partial tear of his lateral collateral ligament in his left knee during a trainings session on Tuesday, a medical examination by club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt revealed. James' knee will be immobilised for the next 10 days before he starts with rehabilitation training. The 27-year-old joined the "Bavarians" on a two-year loan deal in the summer 2017 and has provided 10 goals and 12 assists in overall 31 Bundesliga appearances ever since. Defending champions Bayern Munich sit currently on the 5th place of the standings. They will encounter newly-promoted Fortuna Dusseldorf after the international break on Nov. 24. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 07:46:48|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close LONDON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Susanna Dinnage was on Wednesday confirmed as the new Chief Executive of the Premier League to replace Richard Scudamore, who will step down from the position at the end of the year. Dinnage joins from the media organization 'Discovery' where she is the president of the Animal Planet channel. She told the Premier League official website that she was "excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role." "The Premier League means so much to so many people. It represents the pinnacle of professional sport and the opportunity to lead such a dynamic and inspirational organization is a great privilege," she said. Dinnage was chosen by a five-person panel led by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, who said the organization was "very pleased to appoint such a capable leader to this important role." "We had a very strong field, but Susanna was the outstanding choice given her track record in managing complex businesses through transformation and digital disruption," he added. Dinnage began her career with MTV, before working with the UK's Channel Five for around 10 years and then joining Discovery. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 08:22:14|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Demonstrators shout slogans during a strike in Athens, Greece, on Nov. 14, 2018. Greece's umbrella trade unions of the public sector ADEDY called a 24-hour strike Wednesday, demanding increases in wages and pensions after being slashed since 2010. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Greece's umbrella trade unions of the public sector ADEDY called a 24-hour strike Wednesday, demanding increases in wages and pensions after being slashed since 2010. It is the first major strike of the post-bailout era of the country as Greece exited its third bailout program on Aug. 20 this summer. Thousands of strikers marched in front of the Greek parliament at Syntagma Square in Athens, chanting anti-austerity slogans, as public services nationwide were paralysed. Public hospitals run on skeleton staff, while schools and tax offices were closed. "We demand increases to salaries. As you know in the last eight years, our wages have frozen, we have seen earnings shrink by up to 40 percent," ADEDY President Giannis Paidas told Xinhua. Despite recent positive indexes on the course of Greek economy after eight years of crisis, workers protested against widening inequalities and job insecurity. The ADEDY union wants the government to abolish the real estate property tax and reduce the VAT to 15 percent. Other demands include an end to privatizations, more public sector hirings and the abolition of all memorandum laws. "The government says that we are free from memorandums, but commitments for high primary surpluses will continue for many years to come. Public health has collapsed. There are no funds. There is no nursing staff and the patients are hospitalized under bad conditions with hospital infections roaring. We will not allow that any further. We will be on the streets every day," said Michalis Giannakos, chairman of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of the Public Health Workers. Argyris Christos, an auxiliary doctor from public hospital Georgios Gennimatas expressed his resentment with the government's extreme policies of austerity. "Strikes will help us get everything back and surpluses will become increases in our wages and more hirings of staff. If we leave the government on its own, nothing will happen," he noted. Greek labor unions have organized dozens of general strikes and thousands of rallies since 2009, but Greek governments and international creditors have insisted that there was no other way than painful sacrifices to keep the Greek economy afloat and in the euro zone. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 09:36:16|Editor: mym Video Player Close SYDNEY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A major health project to screen 10,000 Australian couples for the likelihood of having children with severe genetic conditions was launched on Thursday. The project, touted as the first of its kind under a national medical research initiative, will focus on identifying couples who are "carriers" of faulty genes that could cause in their children debilitating and often fatal conditions, such as spinal muscular atrophy and cystic fibrosis, according to a statement from the government-funded Australian Genomics research group administering the rollout. It will work with the University of New South Wales, the University of Western Australia and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in the screenings. "This is such an important project for the future health of our children, for the health of our society," said the group's lead professor Kathryn North, who is also director of the institute. "Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to managing and treating medical conditions, and genomic testing enables us to do that. Genomics is transforming the way we approach health." The volunteer couples who are thinking of having a baby or are in the early stages of pregnancy are set to be screened for about 500 genetic conditions during the three-year study, according to the research group. The project was about giving people information and options, including better access to treatment and support, said Professor Edwin Kirk from the University of New South Wales. "If we can offer a safe and simple test to couples thinking of having a baby, we can make a difference to the lives of thousands of future families," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 11:04:39|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close CANBERRA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A rookie Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) female officer was key in stopping maybe the largest terrorist attack in the nation's history, it has been revealed. The Supreme Court of Australia on Wednesday evening lifted a suppression order on the trials of Abdullah Chaarani, 27, Ahmed Mohamed, 25, and Hamza Abbas, 23, revealing that the three men were found guilty of plotting a major terror attack on iconic Melbourne landmarks. A fourth man, ringleader Ibrahim Abbas, pleaded guilty to all charges in February and gave evidence against his brother, Hamza, and cousin, Abdullah. Chaarani, Mohamed and Abbas face lifetime prison sentences after the court heard that the four men purchased pre-cursors for explosives as well as machetes as part of their planned attack on Melbourne Central Business District (CBD) in December 2016. They planned to use knives, explosives, vehicles and suicide vests to attack large crowds gathered in the city ahead of Christmas. Duncan Lewis, director general of ASIO, has detailed how a female officer who had been a member of Australia's top spy agency for only a few days noticed the men "performing in an unusual way" leading up to Christmas in 2016. "The Christmas crowds were gathering and we, as the result of the exertions of a young ASIO officer, a young woman who'd been with us for about five minutes, one of our analysts, had noticed a group of young men performing in an unusual way and going to a chemist's shop very late at night," Lewis said. "They were in fact picking up the precursors for explosives. That was all the lead we needed." Lewis made the comments during a speech to military officials at the Land Forces conference in Adelaide in September but the information could not be made public until the trial and any appeals were concluded. The four men, all of who were born in Australia, were arrested on Dec. 22, two days after they carried out a reconnaissance mission in the CBD, and charged with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack. Evidence presented by the prosecution during the trial revealed that the men were inspired by Islamic State (IS). Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 11:14:21|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close PORT MORESBY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Michelle McGeorge, an Australian in her 30s, has nurtured so profound a love for Papua New Guinea (PNG) that she began to call it "our country" after working in a nature park here for eight years. "It's a fantastic country that has so much to offer, with its untapped potential in tourism," said McGeorge, general manager of the Port Moresby Nature Park, which features a rainforest trace and the best of highly varied indigenous flora and fauna species of the country. "But people don't know much about it," she said. Located in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean, PNG is one of the world's least explored countries both culturally and geographically. "PNG really wants to shine on the world stage," McGeorge said. In that respect, she said she wants to thank China in particular, for helping the Oceanian country "show off" by constructing many of its infrastructure projects, some of which are venues for the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. The geography of PNG, comprising about 600 small islands, is diverse and can be extremely rugged in many places, making it difficult for the country to develop infrastructure, especially transportation. Many Chinese enterprises have crossed the ocean to build roads, ports and public facilities. McGeorge, who lived in China's southern Guangdong Province for a year before coming to PNG, is a witness of the partnership between the two countries. "The relations between China and PNG are very strong," she said, adding that "we can learn from China to better our country." For her nature park, she sees an opportunity to learn from China in fostering a tourism industry. "China has an amazing tourism industry," said McGeorge, who had traveled through China from Beijing to the southwestern cities of Guilin and Chengdu. Geremy Mogi, an APEC coordination official, sees a unique opportunity for his country to shine in the APEC meetings, which are regarded by the PNG public as one of the most important events in the country's 43-year history. "This is the first time we are having such a massive number of (leaders) from across 21 economies, which has never happened before," he said. "We want to learn and we want to showcase." Perched on reclaimed land near Ela Beach in Port Moresby's central business district, APEC Haus, the Leaders' Conference Center, resembles a lakatoi sail, ready to embark on a journey in the Pacific Ocean. Leaders from the Asia-Pacific economies are gathering in the capital for the APEC Economic Leaders' Week on Nov. 12-18. Mogi has been paying frequent visits to a gymnasium-turned media center for APEC meetings to supervise its final preparations. The walls of the venue have been painted red, black and yellow, the colors on PNG's national flag, which features a yellow raggiana bird-of-paradise ready to rise up into the sky. He said he looks forward to Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the event, which would be inspiring for his country's development. The Chinese president is set to pay a state visit to PNG on Thursday and Friday, the first of its kind since China and PNG established diplomatic ties in 1976, and to attend the APEC economic leaders' meeting on Saturday and Sunday. "I have been following the news about the Chinese president over the past couple of years. A lot of people respect what he is doing," Mogi said. Like an ocean, the Chinese economy has been nurturing and benefiting smaller economies such as PNG, he said, citing Xi's remarks at the China International Import Expo held in Shanghai earlier this month that the Chinese economy is not a pond, but an ocean. PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said in a recent interview with Xinhua that his country needs to engage with large economies like China which can ensure that capital and skills are readily available to invest in a country like PNG. "We have a large resource base, but we don't have the capacity to develop those," he said. He said his country believes in and supports Xi's visions on global issues such as climate change and economy. "We value that and we look forward to seeing him here." Photo taken on Nov. 10, 2018 shows the seedling of Artemisia annua at China (Guangdong)-Papua New Guinea (PNG) anti-malaria center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (Xinhua Bai Xuefei) by Levi J Parsons, Zhang Ning, Yang Jingzhong PORT MORESBY, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nestled away in tropical waters off the east coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Kiriwina Island, a palm tree laden paradise, is largely untouched by the modern world. Most of the island residents still live a tribal life, hunting, fishing and hand-making their clothing and huts. But despite the beauty and allure of this idyllic South Pacific setting, the island and its people have been plagued by the devastating disease of malaria for years. With a population of around 40,000 people, there were 179 reported cases per 1,000 people in 2016, according to the figures from a Chinese anti-malaria team, co-organized by China's Guangdong New South group and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Last year, the Chinese anti-malaria team chose Kiriwina Island to start a treatment project, using a combination of modern medical science and the wisdom of ancient Chinese medicine. A key member of the Chinese anti-malaria team Dr. Deng Changsheng, who is from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, introduces the anti-malaria center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 10, 2018. (Xinhua Bai Xuefei) Dr. Deng Changsheng, a key member of the Chinese team, told Xinhua that his squad helped the island set up an anti-malaria working task force, including a supervisor in charge of the whole island system, scores of regional operators and medics in almost all villages. From March to June this year, the village medics, under the supervision of the Chinese team, distributed the anti-malaria medicine with Artemisinin as its main ingredient, for three rounds. Now the island is over 99 percent malaria free, according to the statistics from the Chinese medical team. MODERN MEDICINE INSPIRED BY ANCIENT WISDOM The Chinese cure is mainly focused on plasmodium-killing, rather than eradication of mosquitoes, "as mosquitoes are impossible to eradicate," according to Zhu Layi, head of the anti-malaria mission and president of the New South group. Up until 1969, researchers around the world had screened over 240,000 compounds during the fight against malaria, according to the World Heath Organization. Seeing no progress, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou decided to dig in the traditional Chinese medicine for a solution. In an ancient Chinese medical book, she found a treatment for severe fever which mentioned the use of a particular plant called Artemisia annua - more commonly known as sweet wormwood. High fever is a major symptom of malaria. She thus decided to do further research, and eventually developed an effective cure for the deadly disease. Credited with saving the lives of countless people around the world, in 2015, Tu was awarded with a Nobel Prize for her research into malaria and became the first Chinese woman ever to be granted the prestigious honor. CHINA'S "ARTEMISININ MISSION" Since the start of this century, the Chinese anti-malaria team has been implementing the "Artemisinin mission" in malaria-plagued countries including Cambodia, Comoros, Malawi, Togo and Kenya, achieving outstanding results. Causing a wide range of extremely severe symptoms including vomiting, muscle pain, headaches, convulsions, delirium and coma, the mosquito-borne disease is responsible for the deaths of over 1 million people per year. With the majority of deaths occurring in Africa, the region was prioritized by the Chinese medical team. In Comoros, before the operation started in 2007, there were 100,000 cases of malaria every year, but as of 2017, the figure dropped over 98 percent to 1,300 cases and the government now believes Comoros will be completely malaria free by 2020. Zhu, the major sponsor of the Chinese anti-malaria effort, told Xinhua that "we made it in Comoros and we will make it in PNG." ANTI-MALARIA MISSION SET TO EXPAND ACROSS PNG Accessible only by a plane trip to a separate nearby island followed by hours of boat journey, the remoteness and isolation of the Kiriwina Island allows Chinese scientists to track data and measure the effectiveness of the project more easily, as the island acts as a controlled environment with few variables. A staff member sticks the Chinese instructions on the Chinese medicine chest at the anti-malaria center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 10, 2018. (Xinhua Bai Xuefei) Philon Tivirari, a Papua New Guinean working at the local anti-malaria center, told Xinhua that "there was a time I was attacked by malaria once every month. When I heard the anti-malaria project succeeded in Kiriwina, I came here immediately to apply for a job because I think it's so meaningful." "My family and I all took the Chinese anti-malaria medicine, and I want to tell Papua New Guineans, the Chinese medicine is really working." With an effective rate of 99 percent on the Kiriwina island, the Chinese medical team is now preparing to extend the "Artemisinin mission" to the whole province, then throughout the country, with an ultimate goal of eradicating malaria in PNG, said Li Guoming, a research member. "As the governments of China and PNG have been enhancing their cooperation, we are confident that the mission will be accomplished across the nation," said Li. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 11:44:19|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close CANBERRA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) has called on Prime Minister (PM) Scott Morrison to abandon plans to move the Israel embassy to Jerusalem. Penny Wong, the ALP's foreign affairs spokesperson, on Thursday said that moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem should be dismissed on the grounds that it would harm Australia's relationship with Indonesia. Morrison on Thursday said that he would make a final decision on the embassy by Christmas (Dec. 25) after meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The PM in October said he was "open" to the idea, which would make Australia the second country in the world to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel after U.S. President Donald Trump did so. The Indonesian government has previously voiced its disapproval of the proposal on the grounds that the country's conservative Islamic majority does not recognize Jerusalem as an Israeli city. Morrison made the announcement only days after he and Widodo agreed on a free trade agreement between the two countries that had been years in the making. "The reality is the Indonesian trade minister has made very clear the delay in finalizing this agreement, or signing, is the government's position on Palestine," Wong told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio on Thursday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 12:00:29|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday delivered a speech here at the 21st China-ASEAN Summit. The following is the full text of the speech: Speech by H.E. Li Keqiang Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China At the 21st China-ASEAN Summit Singapore, 14 November 2018 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Colleagues, It is a great pleasure to join you in Singapore for the 21st China-ASEAN Summit in Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. I wish to thank the Singapore Government for its thoughtful preparations and arrangements for the Summit. In the past 15 years, faced with a complex and changing international and regional situation, Asian countries have maintained overall peace and stability, withstood the test of the global financial crisis, and enjoyed a sound momentum of fast development. We Asian countries have become an important presence on the world stage. The past 15 years have also seen a momentous journey for China-ASEAN relations. In 2003, China became the first country to establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN. The Joint Declaration on China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity signed by our leaders in Bali marked the beginning of a new historical stage in our fast-growing relations. Over these 15 years, we have engaged in all-round, multi-tiered and wide-ranging cooperation which has delivered bountiful outcomes. We upgraded the 2+7 cooperation framework to the 3+X framework, and achieved a leap in our ties from quantity to quality. China-ASEAN relationship now enjoys tremendous vitality and bright prospects. We enriched the substance of our strategic cooperation. We deepened strategic communication by setting up security dialogue platforms, and worked to build an open and inclusive regional architecture based on international law and rules. This has contributed to the maintenance of overall peace and stability in our region. We established the Lancang-Mekong cooperation framework, worked toward the East Asia economic community, and led the way in the regional integration process. This has boosted regional development and prosperity. We maintained close communication and coordination at APEC, the UN and other fora, worked together to improve the global governance system by reform and resolve regional and international hotspots by peaceful means, and opened new prospects for South-South cooperation. China-ASEAN relations have gone beyond the bilateral scope and gained increasing regional and global significance. We established a framework for win-win cooperation. Since President Xi Jinping set out the vision of a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in 2013, China and ASEAN countries have reached broad consensus on jointly taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with concrete steps for stronger synergy between the BRI and ASEAN's development plans. So far nine ASEAN countries have signed agreements with China on BRI cooperation, which facilitated the delivery of a series of big projects on infrastructure connectivity and industrial capacity cooperation. We established and upgraded the largest FTA among developing countries whereby over 90% of our goods can trade at zero tariff. Two-way trade surged from US$78 billion in 2003 to US$510 billion in 2017. China has been ASEAN's top trading partner for nine years in a row, and ASEAN China's third largest for seven consecutive years. Cumulative mutual investment exceeded US$200 billion. The number of annual mutual visits increased from 3.9 million to nearly 50 million. Over 3,800 flights travel between China and ASEAN countries every week. Practical cooperation powered by complementary strengths and shared interests has boosted our integrated development and delivered benefits to two billion people in the 11 countries. We set an example of working together to properly manage differences. Given the impact of the South China Sea issue on the smooth development of relations between China and some ASEAN countries, we all made active efforts to overcome this potential hindrance. In 2002, China and ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), laying a solid foundation for managing differences and strengthening cooperation. In the past 16 years, we have worked to increase mutual political trust and kept to the overall direction of amity and good-neighborliness. We have fully and effectively implemented the DOC, deepened practical maritime cooperation, launched and advanced consultations on the Code of Conduct(COC) to keep disputes under control and preserve stability in the South China Sea. This year has seen important progress in COC consultations. We worked out a single draft negotiating text and agreed to complete the first reading of the text within 2019. And on that basis, China is ready to work with ASEAN countries toward concluding COC consultations in three years' time on the basis of consensus. Greater stability in the South China Sea will be conducive to the peace and development of East Asia as a whole. With geographic proximity, close cultural ties and interconnected development, it is only natural that China and ASEAN countries have been good neighbors, good friends and good partners. China firmly supports the building of the ASEAN Communities and ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation. Our steady and growing relationship has been underpinned by our abiding commitment in following respects: First, a commitment to mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences. Our friendly relations go back a long time and rest on a solid foundation. Peace and stability is the common aspiration of all countries in the region and an overriding premise for development and prosperity. Our shared adherence to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the ASEAN Way and common preference for resolving differences through dialogue and consultations have contributed to greater mutual trust and to peace and stability in East Asia. Second, a commitment to openness and cooperation for common development. East Asian countries, with our strong economic complementarity and great potential for cooperation, have forged a bond of closely entwined interests. We made joint efforts to deepen cooperation on the industrial and value chains, advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and promote East Asian integration, thus achieving win-win outcomes in the process of economic globalization. Third, a commitment to inclusiveness and mutual learning. In the unique East Asian civilization, different ethnicities, religions and cultures have long lived side by side, and shaped a regional tradition of harmony in diversity. We respect cultural diversity and each other's national conditions and development paths, and sought to draw on each other's strengths through dialogue and exchanges. This has invigorated our divergent cultures by unleashing tremendous creativity and contributed to the advancement of human society. Colleagues, The East Asian region now faces unprecedented new challenges: growing uncertainty and instability on the global horizon, protectionism and unilateralism on the rise, multilateral rules and the international order under strain, set-backs in economic globalization, flare-ups of regional hotspots, and traditional and non-traditional security threats compounding each other. It is all the more important that we, China and ASEAN, strengthen all-round cooperation to be a firm facilitator of regional peace, stability, progress and prosperity, a staunch supporter of the international order and multilateral system, and a vigorous advocate for regional integration and world multi-polarity. We need to join hands to take the China-ASEAN strategic partnership to a higher level and forge a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. To this end, I wish to make the following proposals: First, we need to strengthen strategic planning. Effective top-level design and sound policy implementation will generate sustained momentum for cooperation. The China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030,which will be issued as an important outcome of this Summit, draws a blueprint for the long-term growth of China-ASEAN relations. Following the guide of Vision 2030, we should work to upgrade China-ASEAN relations by fostering stronger synergy between the BRI and ASEAN Vision 2025, strengthening the "3+x" cooperation framework, and bolstering the three pillars of political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Second, we need to deepen economic cooperation and trade. The protocol on upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and negotiations on the product specific rules of origin have been completed. Both will serve to elevate trade liberalization and facilitation between our two sides. We look forward to the early and substantive conclusion of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that contributes to the building of more robust and effective supply and value chains in the region. A few days ago, China successfully held the first International Import Expo, which was another major action to open China wider to the world. It is expected that in the coming 15 years, China will import over US$30 trillion worth of goods and over US$10 trillion in services. This will bring greater development opportunities to ASEAN and other countries. China is ready to work with ASEAN to deliver the Joint Statement on Production Capacity Cooperation and the Joint Statement on Further Deepening the Cooperation on Infrastructure Connectivity with priority given to industrial capacity cooperation in areas such as power, automobiles, ICT, rail transport and equipment manufacturing. We will steadily move forward the construction of the China-Laos Railway, China-Thailand Railway, Jakarta-Bandung Railway and other large-scale infrastructure projects in the transportation sector to help regional countries grow their economies and improve people's lives. Third, we need to nurture innovation highlights. Embracing the new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, China and ASEAN have both placed innovation high on the development agenda. Innovation has thus emerged as a new growth area of cooperation. This year is the China-ASEAN Innovation Year. The two sides will release a joint statement on ASEAN-China science, technology and innovation cooperation, explore new mechanisms for this cooperation, work together to establish science parks, and deepen the implementation of the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Partnership Program. China supports the building of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), and has participated in the ASEAN Smart Cities Showcase. We are ready to enter into a smart cities cooperation agreement with ASEAN to advance cooperation in policy research, standard-setting, technological innovation, market sharing, personnel training and other areas. We may set up a platform for ASCN cooperation on the basis of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor. Chinese cities, including Nanning, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Jinan and Kunming, are ready to establish partnerships with their ASEAN counterparts. China supports the building of an ASEAN tourism digital platform and will work with ASEAN on the Environmental Information Sharing Platform, forge the partnership for ecologically friendly urban development, and establish a geoscience cooperation center to boost green economy and sustainable development. Fourth, we need to cement people-to-people ties. The proud achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation owe to a large measure to the robust exchanges between our peoples. China and ASEAN have designated 2019 as the China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchanges. To enhance public knowledge and participation in our bilateral cooperation and support more people-to-people and cultural exchange programs, China will make an additional contribution to the China-ASEAN Cooperation Fund next year. The fund management team of the ASEAN Secretariat will soon be operational. China will set up the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Scholarship and launch the "Bridge of the Future" China-ASEAN Young Leaders Training Program. In the next five years, we will invite 1,000 young talents from ASEAN countries to China for training to sow the seeds of friendship in the hearts of our peoples. Fifth, we need to expand security cooperation. Strengthening security exchanges and cooperation serves the interests of all countries. Since the beginning of this year, major progress has been made in China-ASEAN security cooperation. Last month, China and ASEAN countries successfully held the first joint maritime exercise in Zhanjiang, an important initiative for the two sides to increase mutual trust, jointly manage security risks and uphold regional stability. We hope that such exercise will be institutionalized. China is ready to work with ASEAN to set up a direct hot line between our defense authorities as soon as possible. We will carry out friendly exchanges between our military think tanks and young and middle-aged officers, deepen cooperation in such areas as disaster prevention and reduction, humanitarian assistance, military medical sciences and counter-terrorism, and explore the possibility of setting up an ASEAN warehouse of disaster relief equipment in order to make our cooperation more diversified and productive. Colleagues, Peace and stability in the South China Sea is the common aspiration of all regional countries and serves our shared interests. Thanks to the concerted efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has eased and consultations on the COC have been moving forward smoothly. All this testifies to the resolve of regional countries to address the South China Sea issue with a constructive approach and jointly shape the rules of the region. What has happened proves that the full and effective implementation of the DOC and progress in COC consultations are an effective means toward achieving these goals. The South China Sea is an important international shipping route. As a major trading nation, China conducts over 60 percent of its seaborne trade in goods through the South China Sea. China is committed to safeguarding the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea enjoyed by countries under international law. Non-littoral countries should respect and support the efforts made by China and ASEAN countries for peace and stability in the South China Sea. China and ASEAN countries are each other's opportunity for development, not threat. We must grasp the key to addressing the South China Sea issue with our own hands and overcome external impediments. While steadily advancing COC consultations, we need to conduct practical cooperation on the sea, and unlock the potential of cooperation in areas such as search and rescue, environmental protection, fishery resources conservation and coast guard. China has been improving the civilian facilities on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea. In addition to strengthening the search and rescue capabilities in the middle and southern parts of the South China Sea, we have also installed maritime observation, meteorological forecasting, environmental monitoring and disaster prevention and reduction facilities, which are all designed to provide more public goods for the region. Colleagues, When we stick together and forge ahead with firm confidence in each other's development, in China-ASEAN cooperation, and in the future of East Asia, we will foster a higher-quality China-ASEAN relationship that is even more fruitful and beneficial to our peoples in the next 15 years. Thank you. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 12:00:30|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- As the global economy continues to encounter uncertainties and headwind, China unwaveringly keeps its door open to international cooperation and stays committed to pushing for common development. In a show of that spirit, which is in pressing need under current circumstances, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is in Singapore for a series of East Asian leaders' meetings to help forge broader consensus on issues of common concern. In the same month 40 years ago, then Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping landed in Singapore for a historic path-finding visit, where he was deeply impressed by the Southeastern Asian nation's dynamic transformation only 13 years after its independence, a result of active engagement with the global economy. That year was also when Beijing began to ready itself for a whole new prescription for faster development and a reorientation with the wider world. One month later that year, Beijing declared the start of its reform and opening-up endeavor, commencing China's decades of exuberant economic ascent. Over the past four decades, the spirit of opening-up has shined as the loadstar of China's cooperation with the international community, and the East Asian nations in particular. That spirit has helped chalk up stronger political mutual trust, greater economic cooperation and more frequent people-to-people exchanges between China and its East Asian neighbors, and given birth to a host of multilateral dialogue partnerships and free trade arrangements in the region. Within these frameworks, trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hit a record high of 514.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, more than six times that of 2003, when China and ASEAN established their strategic partnership. Accumulated two-way investment has reached more than 200 billion dollars and over 4,000 Chinese companies have set up ventures in the ASEAN markets, creating over 300,000 jobs for locals, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. Thanks to the robust trade and investment, the region has seen the formation of a rather complete and mature industrial and supply chain that has strung local economies together, laying a solid foundation for further regional economic integration. This year, the negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has picked up speed. The proposed regional free trade agreement, comprising the 10 ASEAN members and the six Asia-Pacific states with which ASEAN has free trade agreements -- Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand -- could cover nearly a half of the world's population and a third of global trade once established. This year's gathering of East Asian leaders comes at a time when the global economy is facing such daunting challenges as rising trade protectionism and nationalism. East Asia's vibrant economic fabric is under serious threat. Beijing's solution to the predicament is to open up even wider, and that has been propped up with concrete actions. Li's trip comes right after the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), which attracted 3,600 companies from more than 130 countries and regions and concluded with perspective deals worth 57.8 billion dollars. At the CIIE, China not only offered overseas traders direct access to its domestic markets, but also demonstrated its commitment to further opening-up. This April, Beijing unveiled at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference a package of measures aimed at giving foreign investors greater access to China's markets, better protect intellectual property rights, significantly reduce tariffs on imported vehicles, and fully scrap the restriction on foreign ownership in financial sectors in three years. Economic cooperation requires solid political trust and regional tranquility. The good news is that the region now enjoys an increasingly favorable condition. In May, leaders of China, Japan and South Korea convened for the first time in three years. In August, China and ASEAN arrived at a single negotiating text of the Code of Conduct in a bid to ensure peace in the South China Sea. Looking into the future, countries in the region need to uphold the spirit of openness and cooperation along the way ahead, and join hands to facilitate regional economic integration and safeguard multilateralism as well as the rule-based global trading system for common development. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 12:13:49|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia agreed to lift their overall ties to a strategic partnership through closer cooperation on a mutually beneficial future relations based on equality so as to promote peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development in the region. The two sides held their third summit on Wednesday with the attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two sides agreed to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region by further deepening of relations, mutual trust and confidence, adding that they also should enhance economic cooperation amidst growing protectionism. They reaffirmed that international trade and investment are important drivers for sustainable economic growth and development, according to a joint statement late Wednesday. Russia in 2017 established its mission and dispatched an ambassador to ASEAN in Jakarta. Two-way trade between ASEAN and Russia surged by 35 percent last year and investment totaled over 25 billion U.S. dollars. During Wednesday's summit, the two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in sectors including energy, agriculture, infrastructure science and technology. Established in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 12:21:08|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SYDNEY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The snake or snakes suspected of being behind a slew of attacks on students at a primary school in Western Australia remain on the loose, with education authorities putting in place emergency measures amid growing concern about the reptile threat,local media reported on Thursday. The school located in the south of state capital Perth had been locked down, with notes sent to parents informing them about two students being taken to hospital for "possible snake bites," following the latest incidents, according to the Nine News channel. Multiple first-aid kits for snake bite were available on school grounds, the school which is surrounded by bushland told parents late last week. "Emergency procedures" have been set out for "these types of incidents" due to nearby snake habitats, the Nine News channel quoted local education authorities as saying. A snake specialist has also been deployed to "assess the area." There have been at least two other recent incidents involving suspected snake bites, with the school locked down for some time after a teacher or staff member had found a snake, according to the channel. Parents are increasingly worried about more attacks that may result in serious injury or death going into summer in the southern hemisphere when the reptiles are active, the channel reported. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 12:55:59|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Gui Tao, Gu Zhenqiu, Peter Barker LONDON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's 40-year struggle to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty was labeled as "phenomenal" by the director of the London School of Economics (LSE). "The massive reduction in poverty which has been achieved in an incredibly short amount of time is remarkable," LSE director Minouche Shafik told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview. "I think that has come as a result of China being very good at drawing on international experience, and adapting it to local circumstances," she said, adding that China is "really better than any country I know at scaling up." "Running a pilot and then doing it on a national scale -- there are few countries that have done it quite as successfully," Shafik said. The LSE director, also former deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund and former vice president of the World Bank, said she has been following China's economic progress "very closely," adding that "the Chinese economy has done remarkably well in recent decades." She also pays close attention to China's reforms and opening-up that have transformed the nation's economy. "The reduction in poverty has been phenomenal." Also as former deputy governor of the British central bank, the Bank of England, Shafik pointed out new challenges the world's most populous country and the second-largest economy now must tackle. Shafik said such challenges include the middle-income trap, the transition from an export-oriented economy to one that relies more on domestic consumption, and how to ensure financial stability when leverage and debt in the economy have grown. She also brought up challenges of building an "affordable and sustainable" modern social safety net, as well as environmental sustainability. Moreover, Shafik hailed the cooperation between the LSE and some Chinese universities, highlighting strong partnerships with China's Fudan University and Peking University, both holding summer schools in partnership with the LSE, as well as longer and more formal academic courses. About 10 percent of the LSE's student body are Chinese, Shafik said. "Our Chinese students are very clever, and very able." The director also mentioned some of the implications of the 2016 referendum, which set Britain on a path to leave the European Union (EU), for many British institutions, including the LSE, because of the transformation that Brexit might bring to the free movement of people between the EU and Britain. She said the LSE, with 70 percent of students coming from all over the world, could face problems in recruiting and retaining talented academic staff and students. Yet she underlined that Brexit or no Brexit, the LSE wants to remain very much open for business. "The LSE is a university that's very engaged with the world." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 13:26:44|Editor: mym Video Player Close LUSAKA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zambian miners in Kitwe City, Copperbelt Province staged a small demonstration on Tuesday to protest against opposition politicians who have been inciting xenophobic attacks on Chinese investors. Businessman Richard Chileshe said opposition leaders who were issuing false statements in order to incite people against the government were enemies of peace and development and should stop their misdeeds. "This demonstration has nothing to do with politics, but it is about the interest of the country's economy and Zambians who benefit from the partnership between the Chinese and Zambians," he said, noting that he was crying for the welfare of the innocent Zambians who will suffer if investors decide to leave the country. He also appealed to the government to deal with those who incite xenophobic attacks on foreigners as they also endanger the lives of Zambians living in foreign nations. Receiving the petition on behalf of the government, Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang'ombe said he would relay the message from the youths who oppose xenophobic attacks against foreign investors. Kang'ombe said he was delighted to hear that Copperbelt youths welcome investment that will develop the country regardless of where it comes from. Samson Mpembwe, spokesman for the Association of Small Scale Miners, also urged the leaders who incite youths to attack foreign investors to desist, noting political leaders should stop using youths as political tools of violence. Another Kitwe businessman Simeon Kalobo sent a warning to Hakainde Hichilema, president of the main opposition party, United Party for National Development, urging him to stop causing confusion and breeding division. Kalobo said Hichilema should stop spreading lies about the sale of the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) without evidence. Wang Xin, president of the Zambia-Chinese Association (ZCA) Copperbelt Chapter, said he was happy that Chinese investment is supported in Zambia. Wang said while some Zambians were hostile towards Chinese investors, others appreciate their investment and the good relationship which exists between the two countries. He hoped that justice would be done to those who were arrested for allegedly damaging and looting shops owned by Chinese nationals in the towns of Chimwemwe and Kawama in Kitwe. "We are impressed with the solidarity march put up by some Zambians in support of the Chinese investors in the country," he said. On Nov. 5, more than 100 people were arrested and five shops owned by Chinese nationals were damaged in a small-scale riot sparked by rumours that ZAFFICO had been sold to Chinese investors. Zambian President Edgar Lungu has instructed officials in Copperbelt Province to refute the rumors, and ordered local police to investigate the riot, Zambian officials said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 13:39:04|Editor: mym Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro announced Wednesday that diplomat Ernesto Henrique Fraga Araujo will be his new foreign affairs minister. The president-elect said the future foreign minister will focus on improving Brazil's partnerships and foreign relations "without ideological bias." On Tuesday Bolsonaro said that he would announce his appointment of the new foreign minister this week, and he fulfilled his promise that the new minister would be a career diplomat. Araujo, 51, has been working at the Foreign Affairs Ministry for 29 years, and currently serves as the ministry's head of the Department of United States, Canada and Inter-American Affairs. Araujo said he will push for a policy that is "effective for the national interest" in order to make Brazil a more prosperous country. Incumbent Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes praised his successor as an "exemplary" public servant in an official statement. So far, Bolsonaro has announced seven other cabinet members, namely the chief of staff and the ministers of agriculture, justice, economy, defense, science and technology, and institutional security. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 13:57:50|Editor: mym Video Player Close KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Fighting between security forces and Taliban militants have left 16 fighters from both sides dead in Qala-e-Zal district of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province, an army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Thursday. The clash, according to the official, broke out early Thursday and lasted for six hours during which 13 insurgents had been killed and 16 others injured. Rezai also admitted that three security personnel were killed and two others wounded as their vehicle ran over a mine in the area. According to locals, sporadic fighting is still ongoing. Taliban militants have yet commented. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 14:27:09|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A 53-year-old fashion designer and her 50-year-old domestic help were found murdered Thursday inside her home in India's capital city New Delhi, police said. The double murder took place at the designer's residence at New Delhi's Vasant Kunj Enclave area. The designer has been identified as Mala Lakhani. "The two were stabbed with knives late last night," a police official said. "The woman, Maya Lakhani, was found dead in her bedroom and the body of the servant was found in the living room." Police officials said seven injury marks were found on Lakhani's body. According to police three people were arrested in connection with the murder. "One of the accused Rahul Anwar was a tailor at the fashion designer's workshop. He committed the crime with two of his relatives in an attempt to loot," a senior police officer Ajay Chaudhary told media. Reports said the trio themselves walked into the police station Thursday and confessed to the crime. Lakhani used to run a boutique in Green Park in New Delhi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 14:35:43|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korea posted a trade surplus for 81 straight months through October thanks to strong global demand for locally-made products, customs office data showed Thursday. Revised figure for trade surplus was 6.5 billion U.S. dollars in October, according to the Korea Customs Service. The country's trade balance stayed in the black for 81 months since February 2012. Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, gained 22.7 percent from a year earlier to 54.9 billion U.S. dollars in October, while import advanced 28.1 percent to 48.4 billion U.S. dollars. Among key export items, shipment for semiconductors, oil products and automobiles posted a double-digit growth last month, but export for ship and telecommunications devices, such as smart phone, declined by a double digit. Export to China and the United States, the country's top two trading partners, soared 17.6 percent and 47.6 percent each, with those to the European Union (EU), Vietnam and Japan all logging a double-digit expansion. Import of raw materials jumped 38.4 percent amid the higher crude oil price. Those for consumer and capital goods also increased by a double-digit last month. Enditem Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2018 shows the internal view of the International Convention Center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) by Xinhua writers Bai Xu, Mao Pengfei PORT MORESBY, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The International Convention Center where APEC Senior Officials' meeting was held here was a building with distinctive Papua New Guinean (PNG) style. The pillars bear carvings of PNG traditional patterns, while the big meeting room at the center is decorated with tribal totem. But taking a closer look on the exterior wall one could find a red sign "China Aid." According to local newspaper the Post-Courier, China has spent 70 million kina (about 21.2 million U.S. dollars) to build the center, which was opened in 2016. The Chinese government later gave 20 million kina (about 6.1 million U.S. dollars) to the PNG for its maintenance. "I quite like this center," said Paul Kasokason, Meeting Rooms Coordinator. "It is quite comfortable, with modern facilities including remote functioning equipment to control light and projection." "China helped us a lot in the modernization of Port Moresby," he said. Apart from the convention center, China also funded for six-lane highway in Port Moresby between the convention centre and the nearby national parliament, among other projects. While walking in the APEC venues, Xinhua reporters also met with smiling local people who tried to speak some Chinese words to show their affection for China. People pose for photo while waiting for bus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 11, 2018. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) Amanda Tau ran a handcraft booth in the APEC 2018 International Media Center. Three of her cousins are in China, working or studying. She had planned a trip to China and asked if she could browse the photos to see China's scenery. "China gave us a lot of aid," she said. "I can see Chinese people running business everywhere." The 28-year-old owner of Pacificana said Chinese businessmen gave her some good advice. "The Chinese are among the most successful businessmen," she said. "They work together and help each other." Sharon Dua also expressed her gratitude to China's aid. The 23-year-old student is a volunteer in the International Media Center, who approached Xinhua reporters to ask voluntarily if she could help by hailing a shuttle bus. "I am thankful to China," she said. "A road here was built by the Chinese government." Davara Uru who worked in the Stanley Hotel & Suites has great interest in the Chinese culture. To prepare for the APEC, she learned not only some simple Chinese expression, but also Chinese culture and etiquette. "China has deep culture which has never faded, and people are proud of that," she said. Chinese student Wu Jingru came to Port Moresby five years ago, where she saw the number of Chinese people increasing. "There are more shops now," said the 19-year-old girl. People visit a photo exhibition co-organized by China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) displaying 100 pictures on the two countries' landscapes, cultures and society, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 12, 2018. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) With more interaction with the Chinese, Papua New Guineans are now increasingly interested in China. Kasokason planned to travel to China after APEC. "I will first go to Beijing," he said. "It will be good if our countries could maintain this relationship." | 2018-11-15 16:03:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- After a 14-month search for a second home, U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon finally decided to locate its new headquarters in New York City and Arlington County, Virginia, signaling a major shift in its center of gravity to the East Coast. The company, based in Seattle, said on Tuesday that it will invest 5 billion U.S. dollars and create more than 50,000 jobs in the areas, with more than 25,000 employees each in the two locations. The decision to split its new headquarters between two cities came as a surprise to some, but many believe it makes sense. "We're talking about them hiring upwards of maybe 50,000 people and finding the one city that has that much talent, even for New York, would be really difficult," David Reibstein, a marketing professor with Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, told Xinhua. In September 2017, Amazon announced that it would open a second headquarters by building "HQ2," attracting bids from a whopping 238 candidates across North America. Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, also highlighted the talent factor in making the final decision. "These two locations will allow us to attract world-class talent that will help us to continue inventing for customers for years to come," Bezos said. Virginia's bid to Amazon included its promise to double the number of college graduates in computer science and related fields each year, while New York City will certainly facilitate Amazon's efforts to better connect to the global market, with its office located in Long Island City, just across the East River from Manhattan. Arlington might not be a name that rings a bell for some, but it's directly across the Potomac River from the capital, and is part of the Washington, D.C. metro area, which some observers believe will expand the company's presence in the political arena. Anyhow, selecting two locations as its new headquarters will give the company more bargaining power. "There were concessions that were given by both cities and rather than take one concession, they ended up getting two concessions," Reibstein said. Virginia will grant 550 million dollars of direct incentives over 12 years as long as Amazon creates 25,000 jobs with an average wage of over 150,000 dollars in Arlington. New York State, meanwhile, will offer more than 1.5 billion dollars in credits and incentives if the company meets job creation and building occupancy targets. The huge amount of incentives has also drawn fire from critics. Nevertheless, some believe that the high-profile move is expected to boost local economy for the two places. Stephen Moret, president and chief executive of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, said the project is a "transformational opportunity to diversify the economy" of Northern Virginia, which now focuses on government contracting. On the downside, it could lead to increased traffic congestion. Also, the likely price increase of houses is not likely to please everyone. Just as Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia put it, "People love to have Amazon here, but they are concerned about the affordability of housing." Amazon, currently the world's third-most valuable company, joins a crowd of tech giants that compete to build offices outside the West Coast, which is traditionally known for its "high tech clusters." But the East Coast is catching up, as tech workers are increasingly drawn to cities like New York, Boston and Atlanta, all of which have a strong higher education sector. Google has 7,000 employees in New York, and Facebook has more than 2,000. According to official statistics, tech sector employment in the city grew by 65 percent to reach an estimated 134,700 from 2010 to 2017. As for Arlington, this could be a game changer. "The choice of Crystal City in Arlington County as one of the winners cements Northern Virginia's reputation as a magnet for business and will potentially reshape the Washington region into an eastern outpost of Silicon Valley over the next decade," said an article from The Washington Post. Amazon is not alone in making its strategic plan across the East Coast. Google is reportedly making preparations for its expansion in New York City, which could add space for more than 10,000 staff. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:13:30|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A white paper released Thursday by the State Council Information Office said Xinjiang's cultural heritage is being protected and carried forward. Xinjiang is a region rich in cultural heritage, it said. The central government and the local government of Xinjiang have made a continuous effort to strengthen the legal system for the protection of the region's cultural heritage. Protection of cultural heritage yields results, said the white paper, titled "Cultural Protection and Development in Xinjiang," adding that Xinjiang has formed a cultural heritage protection network comprising 189 institutions at all levels. By the end of 2017 Xinjiang had 9,542 cultural heritage sites, of which six were World Heritage sites, it said. The white paper said archeological findings attract wide attention and protection of ancient books has been strengthened. It said the Chinese government has supported the translation, editing and publishing into Chinese and Uygur languages of Kutadgu Bilig (Wisdom of Fortune and Joy) and A Comprehensive Turki Dictionary, two works of the Karahan Kingdom period in the 11th century. Intangible cultural heritage is effectively protected, it added. The program for protecting and preserving Xinjiang's intangible cultural heritage as part of the initiative to promote Chinese cultural traditions is well under way, it said. By the end of 2017, to rescue and preserve its intangible cultural heritage, Xinjiang had completed the recording of intangible cultural items presented by 23 state-level representative trustees in the form of written texts, images, audios and videos, it said. Folk cultures are respected and preserved, according to the white paper. Xinjiang embraces cultural diversity and inclusiveness, and upholds mutual learning among cultures. The region fully respects and protects folk cultures, thus realizing the harmonious coexistence of different cultures and enabling the effective protection and preservation of the best traditions of all ethnic groups, the white paper said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:17:25|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Photo taken on June 14, 2018 shows piers of the Nam Khone super major bridge in Vientiane, Laos. China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group has completed the main construction work of the bridge. (Xinhua/Qin Xiaoming) by Xinhua writers Xie Meihua, Zhao Qing SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have mapped out a blueprint to further advance their strategic partnership and forge wider mutual beneficial cooperation so as to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. The China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, a medium and long-term plan, was adopted here Wednesday at the 21st China-ASEAN Summit. It comes in a year that marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, reflecting the common aspirations of both sides to build a region of enduring peace and stability. STRENGTHEN "THREE PILLARS" The vision is a new cooperation framework between China and ASEAN, underpinned by the three pillars of political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange, and supported by cooperation in mutually-agreed areas. To enhance political and security ties to further build mutual trust, the two sides emphasized respect for each other's national conditions and development paths, and promised to promote understanding through dialogue, confidence building measures and cooperation in defence, security, non-traditional security and transnational threats. China and ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining and creating peace, security, stability and safety in the South China Sea, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and working towards the early conclusion and adoption of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea based on consensus. As the backbone and engine for promoting development and prosperity in the region, China and ASEAN hailed the continued strong growth in bilateral trade, investment and tourism flows. The two sides have pledged to intensify efforts to meet the joint target of 1 trillion U.S. dollars in trade volume and 150 billion dollars in investment by 2020 through deepening economic linkages and improving connectivity with an eye on more fruitful results in trade and investment by 2030. They remained committed to intensifying efforts to finalize negotiations for a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually-beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, boosting physical and institutional connectivity to bring markets closer together, deepening financial cooperation, enhancing dialogue and exchanges in maritime economic cooperation, engaging in the process of economic globalization and facilitating further economic integration, among others. While encouraging people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between them for a better future, the two sides said they would promote youth exchanges in the fields of language learning, culture, art and heritage. They would also strengthen cooperation in environmental protection, water resources management, sustainable development and climate change, and promote policy communication among governments. ENHANCE CONNECTIVITY The vision encouraged the two sides to enhance mutually-beneficial cooperation on the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Proposed in 2013, the BRI aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes, while the MPAC 2025, adopted by ASEAN leaders in 2016, aims to optimize trade routes in the bloc to ease the movement of goods and increase business opportunities. ASEAN has always been a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy, and is also a priority region in the construction of the Belt and Road. With the adoption of the 2030 vision, China and ASEAN will further enhance the synergy between the two plans, with connectivity projects such as the China-Laos Railway, China-Thailand Railway and Jakarta-Bandung Railway already under implementation. The vision 2030 also reiterated the commitment of both sides to sub-regional and regional cooperation, and welcomed continued strengthening of cooperation under relevant sub-regional frameworks and cooperation mechanisms to support the efforts to narrow the development gap in the region. Proposed by China in 2014 and grouping six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) is one of the most prominent sub-regional frameworks. Most of the LMC's 45 early harvest projects and 13 initiatives have already been completed or recorded substantive progress. CHART DIRECTION FOR TIES The vision has been hailed as a milestone in the relations between the two sides, charting the future direction to advance their strategic partnership to new heights. The vision "will chart the strategic direction of our cooperation," Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said. The vision will lay a solid foundation for the strategic partnership between the two sides in the coming decades, ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi commented. Phay Siphan, Cambodia's secretary of state and spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that the vision is a concrete road map for both China and ASEAN to work together to build a community with a shared future. "The vision reflects high commitment of both sides to building a region of ensuring peace and stability, common development and shared benefits for all," he said. "It features stronger mutual trust and win-win cooperation between the two sides. Closer partnership between China and ASEAN should serve as a role model for countries all around the world," he added. Joseph Matthews, director of the ASEAN Education Center, said the vision is a milestone in the relationship between the two sides. "The vision is based on the win-win policy where both partners will benefit from each other." Thonglor Duangsavanh, editor-in-chief of Vientiane Times, a local daily, said closer people-to-people exchange that China and ASEAN have promised will contribute to and promote the mutual political and security trust as well as pragmatic economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. (Xinhua reporters Zhang Jianhua in Vientiane, Yu Qianliang and Zheng Shibo in Jakarta, and Nguon Sovan in Phnom Penh contributed to this story.) (Video editor: Cao Ying) Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:25:15|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close PORT MORESBY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from the Pacific Rim economies are gathering in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG), for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week on Nov. 12-18. This is the first time PNG hosts the event. The week-long get-together is held under the theme of "Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future" with three policy priorities -- improving digital connectivity, deepening regional economic integration; promoting inclusive and sustainable growth; strengthening inclusive economic growth through structural reform. With a combined population of 2.6 billion, the 21 APEC economies account for about 60 percent of the world's total gross domestic product (GDP) and nearly half of world trade. APEC is working on areas such as trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, human security, and economic and technical cooperation, aiming to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. The notion of establishing a forum for promoting sustainable economic growth and regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific was first raised by former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of the region and the advent of regional trade blocs in other parts of the world. The first APEC Ministerial Meeting was held later that year in Canberra, Australia, which marked the official establishment of the mechanism. In November 1991, the third Ministerial Meeting was held in the South Korean capital of Seoul with the approval of the Seoul APEC Declaration, which finalized APEC's objectives of developing and strengthening the open multilateral trading system, and reducing barriers to trade in goods, services and investment. The APEC Secretariat, based in Singapore, was established in 1993 to provide support and services for the forum's activities at various levels. In 1994, at the Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, the APEC Economic Leaders' Declaration of Common Resolve was adopted. The declaration pledged APEC's intent to achieve free, open trade and investment by 2010 for industrialized economies, and 2020 for developing economies. APEC's institutional framework includes the Economic Leaders' Meeting, the Ministerial Meeting, the Senior Officials' Meeting, committees and working groups. APEC currently has 21 members, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. It has three observers -- the ASEAN Secretariat, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, and the Pacific Islands Forum. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:29:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for Libya's eastern-based army warned on Wednesday of a possible infiltration of terrorists from Syria to Libya after suffering losses there. "The province of Idlib, north of Syria, currently has more than 18,000 terrorists of Libyan and other Arab nationalities. Information indicates that while the Syrian army continues to pressure them, they will be expelled to Sudan, and from there to Libya and other African countries," Ahmad al-Mismari told a news conference in the eastern city of Benghazi. Al-Mismari pointed out that the army is capable of conducting air and land reconnaissance operations to respond to any potential threat, despite UN ban of supplying arms to Libya. The spokesman also announced that military trials of a number of detained terrorists started for the first time. "One terrorist was sentenced to death for mass murder. Two terrorists were sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labor. Another terrorist was sentenced to 10 years in prison for participating in terrorist acts, and 65 terrorist suspects have been acquitted," the spokesman said. Al-Mismari added that the court sentences were preliminary and can be appealed before the Supreme Court. Thousands of detainees, who participated in terrorist operations, are in prisons of the Libyan army in eastern Libya, after many of them were arrested during the three-year war against the army in Benghazi. Army Commander General Khalifa Haftar announced earlier in June the taking over of the entire city of Benghazi and defeating the rival armed groups. However, some militants still remain in the city and mainly use landmines. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:46:32|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A girl sits in a bus waiting to return to Syria in Lebanon's northern city Tripoli, on Nov. 15, 2018. Over 400 Syrian refugees returned on Thursday to their homeland from areas in Lebanon including Bekaa and Aarsal, local media reported. (Xinhua/Khalid) BEIRUT, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Over 400 Syrian refugees returned on Thursday to their homeland from areas in Lebanon including Bekaa and Aarsal, local media reported. Buses arrived at meeting points where refugees were transported along with their bags to Masnaa and Aboudiya borders, according to Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. The National News Agency (NNA) reported that the return of refugees took place under the supervision of Lebanon's General Security. "Lebanon's General Security took all the necessary measures to facilitate the voluntary return of refugees in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees," according to NNA. Lebanon is hosting 976,000 registered Syrian refugees, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, while the government estimates the true number of Syrian refugees in the country at 1.5 million. The flow of Syrian refugees to Lebanon has weighed heavily on the country's economy. This prompted Russia to draft a strategy that would secure a safe and gradual return for Syrian refugees to their homeland. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:46:32|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun will visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) later this week to mark the 20th anniversary of the currently suspended tour program to Mount Kumgang in the DPRK's southeast region. An unnamed unification ministry official of South Korea told local reporters on Thursday that the ministry approved the visit by more than 100 South Koreans, including Hyun, to the DPRK's scenic resort of Mount Kumgang on Nov. 18-19. The visit was approved to allow about 30 Hyundai officials as well as former South Korean unification ministers and lawmakers to attend the ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the launch of the tourism program, one of symbols for inter-Korean economic cooperation and reconciliation. The tour to Mount Kumgang was launched in November 1998 by Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung, the late father-in-law of the current Hyundai chairwoman. It has been suspended since July 2008 when a South Korean female tourist was shot dead by a DPRK soldier after allegedly venturing into an off-limit area. After the Pyongyang summit in September, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed to resume the Mount Kumgang tour and the inter-Korean industrial complex in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong when "conditions are met." The unification ministry official was quoted as saying that the visit had nothing to do with the resumption of the tourism program. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:57:04|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) WUHAN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan on Thursday reiterated the support of more exchanges between Chinese and foreign cities. Wang made the remarks in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference held in Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei province. Chinese people are born with the concepts of harmonious co-existence, peaceful cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness, Wang said. With deeply converging interests, China hopes to work with other countries to discover a new interaction model featuring mutual-respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, so as to propel the building of a shared future for humanity, Wang stressed. He reiterated that the Chinese government supports people-to-people friendly exchanges in various ways and at various levels. "It has been 45 years since China started to foster sister cities. Supported by fruitful cooperation results, local areas have witnessed dramatic social and economic development, as well as increased mutual understanding and friendship among the people," Wang said. With distinct features and complementary advantages, different problems but common challenges, cities have huge potential to advance future cooperation, Wang said, expressing his hope that the delegates will share their wisdom at the conference, reach consensus, and contribute to more active interaction among cities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:57:05|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China has finished revising its negative list for market access for nationwide roll-out, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said Thursday. The new version will enter effect after later approval by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, NDRC spokesperson Meng Wei told a news conference. China has decided to make the "negative list" approach, which will open all sectors except a proscribed few to investors before the end of this year to streamline government administration and give more freedom to the market. The NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce will work to facilitate the application of the scheme for market entities and improve its transparency, Meng said. They will also further amend the list to adapt it to China's reform progress, economic restructuring, and legal changes, Meng added. China started related reforms in 2015 and has piloted the scheme in regions including Tianjin, Shanghai, Fujian, and Guangdong. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 16:57:06|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Libya's National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday expressed concern over renewed clashes in the southern part of the capital city Tripoli and called for an immediate ceasefire. In a statement issued later Wednesday, the commission expressed "deep concern over military actions and renewed armed clashes in southern Tripoli, a sign of a new escalation of violence and armed clashes." The commission called on all armed parties to immediately cease any armed escalation and avoid violence, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. The commission also called on the United Nations (UN) Security Council's International Sanctions Committee to implement Resolutions 2174 and 2259, which call for prosecution of any persons who plan, direct or commit acts that violate international law or human rights in Libya. Local media said clashes erupted and lasted for hours on Wednesday night in southern Tripoli between forces allied with the government and an armed group called the Seventh Brigade from the city of Tarhuna, some 80 km southeast of Tripoli. Southern Tripoli witnessed violent clashes later in August between government forces and the Seventh Brigade. The fighting lasted nearly a month, killed over 100 people and injured more than 500 others, mostly civilians. The fighting ended with a UN-brokered peace agreement signed by the rival parties. The agreement stipulates that regular government forces would replace armed groups in government headquarters. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:12:37|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The cyclone Gaja over the South West Bay of Bengal is set to cross the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu coast Thursday evening, officials said. According to Meteorological Department officials, the cyclone is likely to cross the coast between Cuddalore district and Pamban in Ramanathapuram district, with a wind speed of 80-90 km per hour, and gusting up to 100 km per hour and make a landfall in Nagapattinam district, 303 km south of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. "As per latest updates Gaja cyclone is likely to have landfall between 8:00 p.m. local time and 11 p.m. local time today in all probability in Nagapattinam district," an official with the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority said. "Government of Tamil Nadu has appealed to private employers in coastal districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thiruvar, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram to permit their employees to leave early so that they can reach their homes safe before 4:00 p.m. local time," the official said. Parts of coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to get widespread rainfall as cyclone Gaja comes closer to the Tamil Nadu coast. The local administration has ordered closure of educational institutions in the vulnerable districts. "Educational institutions will remain closed in six districts that are more susceptible to the cyclone, as announced by the Collectors. Several Universities and polytechnics have rescheduled their examinations today," the official said. "People in these districts have been asked to stay indoors when the cyclone crosses and fishermen have anchored their boats as the sea is rough," the official said. Authorities have nominated senior officers to oversee relief measures in five of the districts having long coastlines, where the impact of the cyclone is expected to be more. Disaster response force personnel have been deployed in the vulnerable district to carry out rescue work, besides two ships of Indian Navy have been put on standby. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:27:55|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Shi Xiaomeng BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's support for multilateralism is "incredibly" important for the United Nations at current times, said Michael Moller, director-general of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), here on Wednesday. In an interview with Xinhua, Moller said "China is supporting us in all kinds of ways," and cooperation between China and the UNOG is "friendly," "practical" and "useful." "It's very important to have a permanent member state of the size of China to be a champion of multilateralism in a world where the UN is a little bit under attack, just like multilateralism is," he said. "Time and time again, China sets a good example," said Moller, noting that China is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and China has lifted millions of people out of extreme poverty. China is actually "walking the talk" when it pledges to support the United Nations, he commented. Moller recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping went to Geneva last year and made a speech in which "he very clearly spoke about the support of China for multilateralism for the United Nations." Speaking of Xi's vision of building a community with shared future for mankind, Moller said: "It gives a lot of hope and a lot of positive energy in the sense that it encourages us to go in the same direction and to push even harder on in that direction." The vision is exactly what the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are all about -- leaving no one behind; everything is interconnected and everybody has a responsibility to make it happen, he added. The SDGs are a set of UN-facilitated global goals adopted by 193 UN member states in a bid to eliminate poverty, combat climate change and promote common prosperity. On SDG implementation, Moller said: "The UN is already playing and will strengthen this role as a facilitator, as a provider of expertise and knowledge and human capital with experience." The SDGs have really become a global roadmap, said Moller, noting that it is important to capture the best practices in the process of implementation and share them across the world. Moller established an SDG lab within the UNOG in a bid to transfer expertise and knowledge into policy, practice and action to support SDG implementation. "It's an innovation place where you come up with new ideas, new conversations," he said, adding that the lab aims to make things work out in a more effective way for SDG implementation. On SDG financing, Moller is quite optimistic as private financing is very much looking for sustainable projects to fund. Climate change is the most "urgent" and "dangerous" problem that the world needs to deal with, said Moller. "We need to have a much bigger, much greater international solidarity and multilateral approach to it." While acknowledging that multilateralism and globalization are under pressure, Moller called on every one to be part of the solutions to world challenges since "our planet cannot afford a walking away from a collective management of its affairs." "It's too easy to say that globalization is disappearing. It simply is not possible," he said. "Globalization, you can call it many different names, but the fact is that it's here and it's here to stay." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:27:55|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close WUHAN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference opened Thursday in the city of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. The two-day conference themed "Sharing Development Opportunities and Deepening Win-win Cooperation" has attracted over 800 representatives from more than 60 countries and regions. "International friendship city exchange is an important channel for China's public and civil diplomacy," said Li Xiaolin, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. "By June this year, China's 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities had established more than 2,500 friendly province-city relations with 136 countries and regions since the establishment of the first international sister-city relationship in 1973, and China expects the number to continue to grow in the coming year." Guests also expressed their wish to share their experience of city development for a better future for their people and the world. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said that China and Japan were close neighbors, and ancient Japan had learnt a lot from ancient China. "Several days ago, I paid a visit to Xi'an, the ancient national capital city Chang'an where Japan sent many envoys to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). We are very thankful for that. And now we can work further in more areas, such as the construction of an aged society," he said. The China International Friendship Cities Conference, initiated in 2008, is one of the most influential platforms for China's local government to carry out international exchanges. It is convened every two years and has been held in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Chongqing. An investment conference for international friendship cities, themed sessions, and exhibitions will also be held at this year's conference. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:27:55|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close FARAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Up to 40 police personnel have been killed as Taliban militants stormed a police base in Afghanistan's western Farah province, an official said Thursday. The official, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Taliban militants attacked a police base in Bala Blok district at 09:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, which lasted for several hours and after killing 40 police personnel, the attacking militants fled away. The official also admitted that the militants attacked police checkpoints in Khak-e-Safid and Pushtrod districts on the same night, inflicting casualties to the police personnel. Meanwhile, Dadullah Qani, a member of Farah's provincial council, has confirmed that 30 police personnel lost their lives in Taliban attack on Wednesday night in Khak-e-Safid district. Taliban militants who have adopted aggressive approach and intensified activities since late April are yet to make comments on the situation in Farah's restive districts. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:32:56|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Thursday welcomed the lifting of sanctions imposed on Eritrea. The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution lifting the sanctions imposed on the Horn of African nation since December 2009. "Yesterday's decision is a further step towards the consolidation of the recent positive developments in the Horn of Africa, marked by an improvement of bilateral relations between the countries of the region, as well as by a renewed determination to promote good neighborliness and foster regional cooperation," the Chairperson of the AU Commission said in a statement. "These developments are a major contribution to the African Union drive towards silencing the guns by 2020 and advancing continental integration in the context of Agenda 2063 flagship projects," he said. Mahamat encouraged the regional leaders to sustain the momentum, by taking all steps required to address any outstanding issue in their relations and deepening their cooperation in the pursuit of the shared objective of peace and prosperity. He further expressed AU's readiness to assist this process in any way deemed appropriate, according to the statement of the pan-African bloc. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:42:58|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close MACAO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chui Sai On said here Thursday that the SAR government will spend 18.75 billion patacas (2.32 billion U.S. dollars) on public subsidies next year. Chui made the announcement in the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2019 at the Legislative Assembly. He said the SAR government will continue the Wealth Partaking Scheme, which offers 10,000 patacas (1245.25 U.S. dollars) annually to each permanent resident and 6,000 patacas (747.15 U.S. dollars) for each non-permanent resident. It will also offer medical coupons worth of 600 patacas (74.71 U.S. dollars) for each permanent resident and subsidies worthy of 5,260 patacas (655 U.S. dollars) for each new-born, he added. The SAR government will also continue to offer public subsidies for elderly, disadvantaged families, low-income full-time employees and those who need help, Chui said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:53:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close File Photo taken on Oct. 1, 2018 shows British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab delivering his keynote speech during the Conservative Party annual conference 2018 in Birmingham, Britain. British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday, saying that he cannot support the draft Brexit agreement between London and Brussels. (Xinhua/Han Yan) LONDON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday, saying that he cannot support the draft Brexit agreement between London and Brussels. "Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary," Raab said in his Twitter message. "I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU (European Union)." The resignation announcement came just hours before British Prime Miniter Theresa May is to speak to the British parliament to sell the new draft deal, which was reached on Tuesday by the United Kingdom and the European Union after months of intense negotiations. Meanwhile, he also published his letter to May to explain his two reasons for resignation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 17:58:03|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close PORT MORESBY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) on Thursday recommended here that APEC economies take actions to leverage the digital age, support the rules-based global trading system and deliver truly inclusive and sustainable growth. In the annual report to APEC leaders, released on Thursday, ABAC highlighted the importance of digital economy, echoing the APEC's theme of "Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future" this year. "The digital economy offers numerous possibilities to advance the common good, in terms of sharing the benefits and providing greater opportunities for women-owned businesses and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)," says the report. However, to allow the benefits of the digital economy to reach all APEC citizens, economies should adapt to the challenges of the digital revolution. "That means developing a future-ready workforce and investing in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, investment in effective infrastructure for affordable broadband access, and the right policy settings to ensure data flow, privacy and security, while not leaving some economies behind," said David Toua, ABAC Chair at a press conference. The ABAC also recommended that APEC leaders continue to support the integrity and purpose of the international trading system to counter the trend towards protectionism. "We have given a strong message to APEC Economic Leaders in our annual Report about our support for the global rules-based trading system and the value we place on pressing ahead towards a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). These are fundamental to ensuring that our region will be seamless, dynamic, resilient and sustainable, and a place where everyone can enjoy equally the opportunities and benefits of regional economic integration," said Toua. Advancing regional economic integration and inclusive trade policy to foster growth in the digital era would also be the overarching priorities in 2019 for ABAC, said Richard von Appen, who will be the ABAC Chair 2019 at the press conference. ABAC was created by APEC leaders in 1995. Each economy has three members and they meet four times a year to prepare for their recommendations to the APEC leaders. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 18:03:04|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close PORT MORESBY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Thursday to pay a state visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting. It marks the first visit by a Chinese head of state to the Pacific island nation since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1976. During his stay in the PNG capital of Port Moresby, Xi will also meet with leaders of the eight Pacific island countries which have diplomatic ties with China. PNG is the first stop of Xi's ongoing Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to Brunei and the Philippines. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 18:13:06|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 4.2 million people in Somalia will require humanitarian assistance in 2019, the UN agency said on Wednesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the reduction in needs, compared to 2017, reflects an improvement in the overall humanitarian situation and a more focused approach in defining needs. "An estimated 2 million people continue to receive food assistance every month," the OCHA said in its latest humanitarian report. The UN agency however said humanitarian needs remain above the pre-crisis level from two years ago. "Contrary to earlier forecasts, the 2018 Deyr rainfall season has so far performed less well than expected and some areas have not received significant rains," said OCHA. "It said humanitarian agencies are stepping up investment in recovery and resilience programming, alongside life-saving assistance. The Horn of Africa nation experienced a prolonged drought from late 2016 through late 2017 that resulted in significant livestock losses and consecutive seasons of below-average production, causing severe and at times extreme acute food insecurity. According to the FAO-led Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM), rainfall in October has been below average across most parts of Somalia. It said rainfall performance in November and December will determine the impact of the Deyr season on food production. The UN agency also recorded an overall decline in the major communicable diseases (cholera, measles and malaria) since the beginning of the year. "Sustained funding for health and water, sanitation, and hygieneclusters will be required in the follow-up to the Deyr rainy season in early 2019 to protect the gains," said the UN agency. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 18:28:12|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded its 33rd summit here on Thursday with a pledge to stay in the course of economic integration. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, "We have taken considerable strides towards a more united, resilient and innovative ASEAN." This is just the beginning of a new and exciting chapter of ASEAN, said the prime minister. "We must continue to uphold the ASEAN centrality framework and engage our partners to keep our region open and inclusive." "We must stay in the course of economic integration and pool our talents and resources to improve our people's lives," he added. Also at the closing ceremony, Prime Minister Lee ceremoniously handed over the gavel, the symbol of the ASEAN chairmanship, to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha whose country will assume the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2019. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The 33rd ASEAN summit and related meetings were held here on Nov. 11-15 with the theme "Resilient and Innovative." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 18:33:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov.15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has arrested Yared Zerihun, former deputy chief of the country's intelligence agency, state affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported on Thursday. Zerihun had served as deputy chief of the Ethiopia National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) until April. NISS has in recent years been accused of torturing and killing dissidents and rebels. FBC reported Zerihun who had been on the run for several days was arrested from an undisclosed location on Wednesday evening. The arrest of Zerihun is part of a crackdown by the Ethiopian government targeting security officials accused of mass corruption and human rights abuses. On Monday, Berhanu Tsegaye, Ethiopia's Attorney General said 63 intelligence and army officers have been arrested over accusations of corruption and human rights abuses during a six years period from 2011 to 2017. "Some of the suspects have already been presented before court, while we are currently searching for other fugitive suspects," said Tsegaye. He said some of the fugitive suspects are believed to be hiding inside the country, while others are suspected to have escaped to foreign countries. The arrest of the suspects is part of the promise the new administration of Prime Minister Abiy ahmed which assumed office in April made to the public to restore law and order and crack down on high level corruption. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 18:58:23|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Police and other government officials attend the funeral of Superintendent of Police (SP) Tahir Khan Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Nov. 15, 2018. Tahir Khan Dawar, who was police chief of the rural circle of the northwest provincial capital of Peshawar, was kidnapped in Islamabad on Oct. 26 and his body was found in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Umar Qayyum) ISLAMABAD, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday ordered an immediate inquiry into the murder of a police officer who was allegedly kidnapped in Islamabad and was later killed in Afghanistan. Khan made the announcement on his Twitter account, saying that he followed the "shocking tragedy" of the murder of Superintendent of Police Tahir Khan Dawar and ordered the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province government to coordinate with Islamabad police in holding an inquiry immediately. According to reports and officials, Dawar, who was police chief of the rural circle of the northwest provincial capital of Peshawar, was kidnapped in Islamabad on Oct. 26 and his body was found in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Tuesday. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that the tortured body found in Nangarhar was certainly that of Dawar, a police officer renowned for his armed encounters with militants. According to local media reports, the slain officer's body had been handed over to Pakistani authorities in Afghanistan on Thursday, which would be transported to Peshawar for the funeral. No group has claimed the incident yet. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 18:58:23|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday, saying that he cannot support the draft Brexit agreement between London and Brussels. "Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary," Raab said in his Twitter message. "I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU (European Union)." The resignation announcement came just hours before British Prime Minister Theresa May is to speak to the British Parliament to sell the new draft deal, which was reached on Tuesday by the United Kingdom (UK) and the EU after months of intense negotiations. Raab, the first to resign from May's top team after the draft deal was reached, is the seventh minister to step down from May's cabinet over Brexit through the past two years. His resignation is believed to set off new political crisis in Britain over how the country will leave the European Union in March next year. Meanwhile, he also published his letter to May to explain his two reasons for resignation. "For my part, I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons. First, I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom," he said in the letter. "Second, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit." Earlier Thursday, Shailesh Vara, minister of Northern Ireland state, resigned over the British government's planned Brexit deal, a new challenge to May's leadership. Vara, who backed to remain in EU in the 2016 referendum, said he feared the UK would stay in limbo for years while a permanent deal with the EU was negotiated. On Wednesday, the prime minister, after a five-hour cabinet meeting on the draft deal, cleared the first hurdle when cabinet ministers finally approved the draft terms of her EU withdrawal agreement, which needs to be ratified by the British parliament and the remaining 27 EU countries. At present, she is facing a battle to get it through parliament as Brexiteer Conservative member of the parliaments -- as well as some Remainers -- condemned the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and handing control back to Brussels. "The draft agreement is the best that could be negotiated," May said after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "The deal enables us to take back control." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 19:28:28|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Fresh charges were levied against Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, on Thursday for receiving bribes in connection with a 300-million-U.S. dollar solar power project for rural schools. Rosmah and her former special officer were separately charged for attempting to solicit 44.8 million U.S. dollars, 15 percent of the contract value, from the company awarded the contract. Rosmah was also charged with receiving bribes from the company director to assist him in obtaining the contract. Her special officer, Rizal Mansor, faced four charges - two counts of soliciting and another two counts of receiving bribes. Both of them pleaded not guilty to the charges. It had been previously alleged that the solar panel project, involving more than 300 schools in the country's eastern state of Sarawak, was awarded to a company without an open tender with the endorsement by Najib. Rosmah already faces 17 money laundering and tax-evasion offences involving 1.6 million U.S. dollars. Najib himself faces 38 corruption charges involving billions of dollars in public funds connected to the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. Meanwhile, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, the federal territories minister in Najib's government was charged on two counts of receiving 720,000 U.S. dollars from two property developers over land deals involving the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. Tengku Adnan, who had served as secretary-general of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), also pledged not guilty. UMNO has led a coalition to govern Malaysia for more than 60 years until the general elections in May. The new government led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has launched investigations into alleged wrongdoing during Najib's government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 19:33:29|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- British Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey on Thursday resigned over the draft Brexit agreement, becoming the second cabinet member to step down hours before British Prime Minster Theresa May is to speak to the parliament to sell the new "divorce deal". McVey said the European Union (EU) withdrawal deal, which was reached Tuesday by Britain and the EU, "did not honour the result of the referendum." "This is a matter of trust," she said in her resignation letter. "It is about the future of our country and the integrity of our democracy." The latest development came after the resignation of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who said that he "cannot in good conscience support" the draft Brexit agreement between London and Brussels. "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime," Raab said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 19:33:30|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia blocked several channels used to finance terrorist groups, authorities said Thursday. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained a group of Russian citizens who are "supporters of the creation of the so-called World Islamic Caliphate" and suspected of raising money and providing financial services to IS militants in Syria, according to the FSB statement. In a search, the FSB seized bank cards, electronic data carriers with instructions on financing terrorists, means of communication used for conducting financial operations, extremist religious propaganda literature and IS symbols, said the statement. Meanwhile, the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against a woman resident of the city of Strezhevoy of Russia's Tomsk region on the grounds of "assisting terrorist activities in the form of financing of terrorism," the agency said in a separate statement. According to the statement, the suspect regularly transferred money to another woman currently living in Germany, who was previously married to members of an illegal militant group in North Caucasus. During searches at the suspect's workplace and residence, Islamic literature, paintings with Islamic symbols and allegedly images of the Al Qaeda black flag were seized. Investigators also inspected cars of employees of a financial institution through which money transfers were made, and interrogated them as well as relatives and acquaintances of the suspect, the statement said. The suspect was arrested after an interrogation. Investigators are gathering evidence of other individuals involvement in financing terrorists, the Investigative Committee said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 19:43:32|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close KUNMING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 Hong Kong Antique Car Yunnan-Vietnam Run will be held from Nov. 21 to Nov. 27, according to local authorities in southwest China's Yunnan province. Making their way along the "Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haphong-Quang Ninh" economic corridor, these antique cars will cover a journey of over 1,000 km through five provinces in China and Vietnam. The event is jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Yunnan Provincial Government and the Hong Kong Xinhua Finance Agency to enhance the trade competitiveness of the economic corridor and deepen pragmatic cooperation between Yunnan, Hong Kong and the northern provinces of Vietnam. The antique cars, shipped from Hong Kong to Haiphong, the first stop of the event, will hit the road on Nov. 22 and pass through Quang Ninh province and Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. They will then enter China via Lao Cai and arrive in Kunming, the final destination of the event, according to Chen Maoyuan, the vice president of the Hong Kong Xinhua Finance Agency. The eight antique cars participating in the event are a Ford V8 Coupe produced in 1937, a Morgan (1979), a Volkswagen Touring (1966), an Aston Martin V8 (1980), a Ferrari 550 (1999), a Ferrari Mondial (1986), an Alfa Romeo Spider (1973) and a Mercedes 280S. Business exchange meetings and antique car shows will also be held in cities along the economic corridor. Local citizens and tourists can participate in an online promotional activity by searching for "Photo with antique cars - The Sweetest Smile." The public can join in by scanning the QR code and uploading photos. File photo shows a man fetches water to drink in Minjar Arerti, Ethiopia, June 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) NAIROBI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Water ministers from Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) bloc on Wednesday signed a protocol to help implement a policy on shared resources to reduce conflicts. The policy is expected to sustainably manage water resources for economic development, peace-building and integration in order to reduce conflicts over the commodity. The ministers drawn from countries including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda in a joint communique endorsed during a meeting in Nairobi, also directed the IGAD secretariat to ensure continued facilitation of negotiation process on the regional water protocol in order to promote regional cooperation on sustainable management of water in the region. "IGAD member states are the main beneficiaries of this regional legal framework and all of us should endeavor to overcome issues which are obstacles to the negotiation process of the water protocol," said Mohammed Musa, IGAD deputy executive director. "We have much of shared surface water and groundwater resources, hence the need to have a set of rules in place to guide in the governance of these shared resources properly," Musa added. They also further reaffirmed their commitment to finalize the negotiation on the protocol to promote closer cooperation to conserve and manage the shared water resources in the region. Musa appreciated the member states for having stood the test of time in starting the water protocol negotiation process, knowing too well that water protocol negotiation processes are tedious and time taking. He said with endorsement of the IGAD regional water resources policy on January 2015, member states remained engaged in the the protocol negotiation process, but regretted that the negotiation process stalled almost two years ago and the secretariat made all efforts to move the process forward to no avail. Musa said the negotiation committee met only thrice; once in 2015 and twice in 2016 and thereafter could not proceed further and called upon all players to consider water as an enabling pillar for socio-economic development in the region and provide guidance. Simon Chelugui, Kenya's cabinet secretary for water and sanitation, said the availability and distribution of water resources in the Horn of Africa region is uneven and irregular both in space and time. "The situation is further exacerbated by periodic serious droughts that affect the region with serious and devastating human, economic and ecological consequences," Chelugui said, adding that water resources are an important trans-boundary issue in the region. "With particular reference to the IGAD region, approximately 60 percent of the surface area is occupied by international basins and it is foreseen that by 2025, all countries in this region would be water scarce," he added. Chelugui said that with climate change and increasing populations, management of water resources becomes a high priority in the region. He added that in order to preempt future inter-state conflicts and political tensions, there is need for judicious consideration in the cooperative and equitable development and management of shared water resources, particularly between upstream and downstream countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:03:35|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday urged the United States to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and strive for "mutually acceptable solutions" on issues of common concern through consultations to push the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a news briefing when answering a question related to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's recent comment that China should change its behavior in economic, military and political activities to pave the way for reaching an agreement between the two countries during the G20 Summit in Argentina. "The China-U.S. relations is at an important juncture," said Hua, stressing that both sides need to make correct choices and make practical efforts to ensure a healthy and steady development of bilateral ties in the right direction. She said doing so is in line with the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries and the world, and it is also the common expectation of the international community. China respects the sovereignty, security, and development interests of the U.S., Hua said, stressing that the U.S. should also treat China the same way and respect the development path chosen by the Chinese people, which suits China's national conditions, said Hua. She reiterated China's stance on economic and trade consultations with the United States, saying that "carrying out consultations on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, and mutual benefit is the only correct way to resolve economic and trade issues." She called on the U.S. side to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, focus on cooperation and eliminate interference, and conduct honest and serious consultations based on mutual respect and mutual benefit to strive for a "mutually acceptable solution." She said this would turn the "good wishes of of both sides," namely maintaining the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations and expanding bilateral economic and trade cooperation, into reality. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:03:36|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai mayor Ying Yong has pledged support for private enterprises, responding to calls from the central authorities to beef up support for the private sector. Private enterprises are an important driving force of economic and social development in the country's financial and business center, Ying told Xinhua in an interview. Private companies contribute to one-fourth of gross domestic product, one-fifth of foreign trade, one-third of tax revenue and over 70 percent of new jobs in Shanghai, he said. Private firms are also a major driver behind technological innovation in Shanghai as over 90 percent of tech companies are privately owned, Ying said. The city government will continue to offer a level playing field for the public and private sectors as well as foreign investors and promote them to coexist and cooperate for common development, he said. The city has rolled out a spate of measures to support the private sector, Ying said. Local authorities have set up a 10-billion-yuan (1.4 billion U.S. dollars) fund to help ease liquidity risks for publicly-traded firms which have pledged shares as collateral for loans, said the mayor. Authorities are also offering 10 billion yuan of credit and secured loans and another 10 billion yuan of guaranteed funds for small and medium-sized private businesses, he added. The local government will reduce taxes, administrative fees and land use costs and also unveil preferential policies to encourage innovation and domestic and overseas business expansion, he said. In addition, Shanghai is mulling a new round of action plans, including measures to facilitate trade and investment, to further improve its business environment, Ying said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:08:36|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced on Thursday that the government was in final touches of establishing a beach management directorate aimed at promoting beach tourism in the east African country. "We instructed the ministry responsible for tourism to ensure that we improve our lakes and sea beaches for the country's development and the ministry is working on the instructions and a new directorate to regulate beach tourism will be formed soon," Majaliwa told the National Assembly in the capital Dodoma. Majaliwa acknowledged that Tanzania was not doing well when it came to beach tourism despite the country's abundant lake and sea beaches. The premier observed that beach tourism was doing much better in the Zanzibar archipelago than on mainland Tanzania. He said the directorate will oversee the construction of luxury hotels and malls along beach areas to attract more tourists and investors. He added that Tanzania has decided to come up with strong strategies to efficiently explore available opportunities in beach tourism to boost the national economy. Tourism is the largest foreign exchange earner of Tanzania, contributing an average of 2 billion U.S. dollars annually, which is equivalent to 25 percent of all exchange earnings, according to the government data. It also contributes to more than 17 percent of the national gross domestic product and creating more than 1.5 million jobs, 500,000 of which are direct. A report released in June 2017 rated Tanzania's tourism industry as one of the fastest growing sectors in the country with figures showing a surge on tourist arrivals. The 2016 International Visitors' Exit Survey Report indicated that the number of tourists who visited the country continued to rise. The report was jointly compiled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Bank of Tanzania, the National Bureau of Statistics, the Immigration Department and the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism. The report showed that Tanzania hosted at least 1.2 million tourists in 2016, compared to 1.1 million in 2015, which was an increase of 12 percent. The report showed revenues from the tourism industry have been increasing year after year with 2.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2016 against 1.9 billion dollars in 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:13:38|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends the 21st ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting in Singapore, on Nov. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed a more robust multilateral cooperation to ensure stability in the Asian financial sector, as he met with leaders of Southeast Asian nations, Japan and South Korea here on Thursday. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other East Asian countries should take measures to strengthen regional financial security in order to enhance risk management and bailout mechanisms, Li said at the 21st ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting. Li called on all sides to improve upon the Chiang Mai Initiative, a multi-country currency swap agreement created in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Regional countries should back the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office's (AMRO) efforts to improve its monitoring capabilities of the economy, he added. AMRO is the research and monitoring unit of the Chiang Mai Initiative. The 10+3 grouping, consisting of the ten ASEAN members plus China, Japan and South Korea, should steadfastly uphold multilateralism and free trade against protectionist headwinds, as they did in addressing past world and Asian financial crises, Li said. In the meeting, Li also proposed to speed up talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between China, Japan and South Korea. Talks on the RCEP have reached the final stage. "We must build on the momentum and unleash a strong finishing kick, striving to complete the deal within 2019," Li said Wednesday at the 2nd leaders' meeting on the RCEP in Singapore. The RCEP is being negotiated among the ten ASEAN countries plus Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. It is expected to be one of the world's largest trading blocs, accounting for nearly half of the world's population and around a third of global GDP. At the 10+3 meeting, Li also proposed a series of mechanisms to promote regional economic integration and deepen cooperation in culture, innovation and development among the 10+3 countries. Li, who arrived in Singapore on Monday, is scheduled to attend the 21st China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, the 21st ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting and the 13th East Asia Summit during the five-day trip. It is the first official visit to Singapore by a Chinese premier in 11 years. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:13:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (L) leaves 10 Downing Street to speak to the British Parliament on the draft Brexit deal in London, Britain, on Nov. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Stephen Chung) LONDON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday told the parliament that "there is no plan for the no-deal Brexit," and the parliament should decide whether it wants the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (EU) without any deal at all. In defending the draft agreement reached Tuesday between London and Brussels, May said in her speech at the parliament that "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to support the best deal to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," she said. The no-deal Brexit would mean "more uncertainty and division," said the prime minister, who described the latest agreement as a "decisive breakthrough." Her speech came as she is facing a leadership challenge after two cabinet members resigned on Thursday morning over the draft Brexit deal. Political sources have claimed a vote of confidence could be forced through by lunchtime on Thursday as the prime minister faces a fierce backlash from both sides of the Brexit divide. Earlier Thursday, British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned over the draft deal, saying that he "cannot in good conscience support" the draft Brexit agreement between London and Brussels. Just about one hour later, British Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey also stepped down, saying that "I cannot defend this, I cannot vote for this deal." "I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. I therefore have no alternative but to resign from the government," McVey said. "It is a draft treaty that means we will leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way on 29 March 2019 and which sets the framework for a future relationship that delivers in our national interest," May said. "It takes back control of our borders, laws and money," the prime minister said. "It protects jobs, security and the integrity of the United Kingdom. And it delivers in ways that many said could simply not be done." The draft agreement was reached by negotiators from London and Brussels, but it needs the cabinet support and parliament approval in Britain and the ratification of the remaining 27 EU member states. However, the issue of border between Northern Ireland, a UK region, and the Republic of Ireland, a sticking point in the Brexit talks, remains an outstanding problem. "Since the start of this process I have been committed to ensuring that our exit from the EU deals with the issue of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland," May said. "Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated: This deal," she said. Hard Brexiters reacted negatively to the proposed deal and indicated that they intended to vote against it if it comes to parliament. The draft divorce deal represented a technical breakthrough after months of tense negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union on how Britain can leave the regional bloc on March 29 next year. The draft agreement of more than 500 pages is understood to involve the UK remaining in a customs union and committing to a "level playing field" on EU rules in areas such as environmental and workplace protections during a backstop period after Brexit. The agreement was released by the European Union in Brussels late Wednesday shortly after the conclusion of the British cabinet meeting. On Wednesday, the prime minister, after a five-hour cabinet meeting on the draft deal, cleared the first hurdle when cabinet ministers finally approved the draft terms of her EU withdrawal agreement, which needs to be ratified by the British parliament and the remaining 27 EU countries. At present, she is facing a battle to get it through parliament as Brexiteer Conservative member of the parliaments, as well as some Remainers, condemned the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and handing control back to Brussels. "The draft agreement is the best that could be negotiated," May said after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "The deal enables us to take back control." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:33:45|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close PORT MORESBY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Australia have concluded the negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) and an investment agreement, the two sides announced on Thursday. The arrangement would take the two economies' trade and investment relationship to a "new height," said Edward Yau, secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR government, who met with Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham here on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting. He said Hong Kong and Australia are two like-minded economies in pursuit of free trade, adding that Australia is also a very important trading partner of Hong Kong. "Hong Kong has set clear objectives in launching the FTA negotiations to achieve zero tariffs for Hong Kong products to the Australian market and to secure Australia's best FTA commitments for Hong Kong services," he said. "The two agreements encompass trade in goods, trade in services, investment and other related areas, providing us with legal certainty and better access to the Australian market," he added. Describing the deal as a "significant milestone," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was in Singapore, said in a joint statement with Birmingham that the deal will be a major windfall for Aussie businesses and service suppliers and "good news for our farmers, and in particular our seafood industry, our beef and pork producers and winemakers." "Hong Kong is a large and vibrant market for Australian goods and services and is a major gateway for Australian producers into East Asia," the statement added. In 2017, Australia was Hong Kong's 19th largest trading partner, while Hong Kong was Australia's 12th ranking trading partner. Bilateral trade in goods between Hong Kong and Australia amounted to 6.92 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, up 3.7 percent from 2016, according to Hong Kong SAR's Trade and Industry Department. Over the past 12 months, the Hong Kong SAR government has signed three FTAs with 12 economies including the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Georgia and Macao SAR. Negotiations have also been concluded on a FTA with the Maldives. Hong Kong and Australia are expected to sign both agreements in the first half of 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:38:46|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BUDAPEST, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Last year, Hungary entered the world's top 20 largest pharmaceutical industry exporters in 19th place, according to official sources here. "Last year, 84 percent of the pharmaceuticals produced here were marketed abroad," Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, declared in a statement published on the official website of the Hungarian government. Calling the pharmaceutical industry one of the determining sectors of the 21st century, Szijjarto said "The success of the pharmaceuticals industry is one of the guarantors of the transformation of the Hungarian economy from a production-orientated economy into an economy driven by research and development." According to Szijjarto, the production value of the Hungarian pharmaceuticals industry was 880 billion forints (3.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2017. And the industry has a bright future, according to the minister, who said that the fact that over 2,500 students were studying pharmaceutical courses in Hungarian superior education institutions was a clear indication. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:38:46|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Ministry of Interior and British Crime Agency on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on security cooperation. Libyan Minister of Interior Fat'hi Bashagha and British Ambassador to Libya Frank Baker signed the MoU on Thursday morning, according to a statement issued by the Libyan Interior Ministry. "The MoU includes development of mechanisms of the Libyan Interior Ministry's Criminal Investigation Department by training courses and support of Libyan capabilities against crime using modern techniques and systems," the statement said. Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj in October approved new security arrangements in the capital Tripoli, which focus on forming joint police and army forces to secure the city. Libyan security services struggle to train and equip their personnel, as the country suffers insecurity and chaos as well as domination of armed groups and militias that operate independently from the authorities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:38:46|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close A 1,000-tonne steel beam is lifted to be installed at the construction site of the Yangsigang Bridge across the Yangtze River in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, on Nov. 15, 2018. Construction of a double-deck suspension bridge with the longest span in the world is expected to be completed in October 2019, said an engineer working on the project. The bridge, with a 1,700-meter-long main span across the Yangtze River in Wuhan, saw the first steal beam installed for the bridge deck Thursday. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) WUHAN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Construction of a double-deck suspension bridge with the longest span in the world is expected to be completed in October 2019, said an engineer working on the project. The bridge, with a 1,700-meter-long main span across the Yangtze River in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, saw the first steal beam installed for the bridge deck Thursday. The main structure of the bridge deck consists of 49 steel beams that are each 36 meters long, 32.5 meters wide and 10 meters tall. Each beam weighs around 1,000 tonnes, the weight of about 200 adult elephants. Liang Xianwei, an engineer with the project, said the project is expected to be finished in October next year. After completion, the bridge will have two decks of six-lane roads and is expected to ease traffic, Liang said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:38:47|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday as the Euopean Union (EU) is set to hold a special meeting to finalize the Brexit agreement. Assuming the position in July, Raab said that he "cannot in good conscience support" the draft Brexit agreement between London and Brussels. Shortly before Raab's resignation, European Council President Donald Tusk said that the EU will hold a European Council meeting to "finalize and formalize the Brexit agreement," which "will take place on Sunday 25th November at 9:30." Referring Brexit as a lose-lose situation, Tusk praised the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and his team for doing the "exceptionally hard work." The Brexit agreement is now being analyzed by all the member states. By the end of this week, 27 ambassadors for the EU member states will meet to share their assessment of the agreement, said the president. "I hope that there will not be too many comments. They will also discuss the mandate for the Commission to finalize the Joint Political Declaration about the future relations between the EU and the UK," he said. With the European ministers involved in this process, Tusk said, the Commission intends to agree on the declaration about its future with Britain by Tuesday. "Over the following 48 hours, the member states will have time to evaluate it," he added. On Wednesday, Barnier said the EU and Britain have made decisive steps to end Brexit negotiations, sending a clear signal for an upcoming special summit later this month. "We have reached a crucial stage, an important moment in this extraordinary negotiation," said Barnier in a press conference following British cabinet's approval of the draft Brexit deal. Shortly after Barnier's press conference, the French and German governments said they welcomed the decisive progress made in Brexit negotiations, while warning that there is still a long way to go. "We welcome the substantial progress obtained thanks to the work Michel Barnier has accomplished for more than a year," Nathalie Loiseau, France's EU affairs minister, told European media Politico. "France ... is examining very carefully the draft agreement," said Loiseau. "We want a good text which will painstakingly make sure that the interests of the EU are respected. We will be particularly vigilant when it comes to maintaining the conditions of fair competition," Politico quoted him as saying. Meanwhile, Germany is "very relieved" to hear of the Brexit deal, said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in a statement. "After months of uncertainty we finally have a clear signal from Britain of how their departure can be carried out in an orderly manner. There is still a long way to go, however," said the statement. "Britain's exit from the EU is and remains regrettable. Despite that, we want to retain the closest possible links with our British friends," read the statement. British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to make a full statement to the House of Commons on Thursday. Hours before the crucial speech, May suffered the resignation of Shailesh Vara who quit as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland office. In his letter to the prime minister, Vara said the deal was a "half-way house" which did not allow Britain to become a "sovereign, independent country leaving the shackles of the EU." The next 24 hours would also determine whether May could face a vote of no-confidence among her Conservative ranks in the House of Commons. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:43:47|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Wang Yang (3rd R, back), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, holds a symposium to solicit opinions from the religious circle during a research tour in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 14, 2018. Wang made a two-day research tour to Jiangsu Province on the work on religious affairs on Nov. 14-15. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) NANJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang has called for comprehensive and precise implementation of the religious policy of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks during a research tour to Jiangsu Province in east China. The two-day tour ended on Thursday. The work on religious affairs affects social harmony, ethnic unity and national security, said Wang, calling on CPC committees at various levels to strengthen the Party's leadership over the work. "Commercial capital should be strictly forbidden from getting involved with religious affairs," stressed Wang. He called on various religions to interpret their teachings and tenets in line with the requirements of the development and progress of contemporary China and fine traditional Chinese culture, to better adapt to the Chinese context. During the tour, Wang also held a symposium on the work of the CPPCC National Committee and visited enterprises with investments from Taiwan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:48:48|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Abdi Nassir started his entrepreneur journey after graduating from a mid-level college in Kenya's capital Nairobi thanks to inspiration and mentorship from close relatives who followed a similar path and was rewarded handsomely. The 28-year-old businessman was in buoyant mood on Wednesday afternoon as he strolled along the elegantly decorated pavilion where the China-Kenya Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exposition took place. Abdi and a group of young entrepreneurs huddled together at the exhibition stand belonging to China's Hebei Pingle Group where they learnt about the inner workings of modern flour and wheat milling machines. "Am impressed by the cutting edge industrial machines being showcased in this expo particularly the ones dealing with food processing because that is the line I have invested in the recent past," said Abdi. He has been processing fruits for domestic and export markets but has lately toyed with the idea of venturing into flour milling given the huge profit margins that are guaranteed. "So far, am convinced that the flour milling machines from Pingle group are of high standards and am negotiating for a discounted price to enable me plunge into a business that is lucrative since maize flour is a staple in the country," said Abdi. The Hebei Pingle Flour Machinery Group was among dozens of Chinese companies that are showcasing their products at the four-day expo taking place in Nairobi. Candy Ren, marketing manager of Pingle group, said the expo has provided a platform for Chinese companies to explore the Kenyan market and forge long-term linkages with local clients. "Kenya is a potential market for industrial machines and we have already established a strong presence in the country. We have an office and a spare parts storage facility as we gear up for huge business opportunities," said Ren. She revealed that budding entrepreneurs who were impressed by the quality and user-friendliness of Pingle group's flour milling machines, promised to place an order in the near future. Kenyans from all walks of life trooped to the expo that showcased China's prowess in advanced manufacturing, which Kenya has been aiming for to accelerate economic growth. Ken Ng'ang'a, a middle-aged entrepreneur, visited Qingdao Foxxon Rubber and Tires Co., Ltd, where he inquired about the cost and durability of vehicle and motorcycle tyres on display. "The most impressive thing about this expo is that companies that have an international reach are participating. I have faith in tyres manufactured in China and have been stocking them in my hardware shops spread across Nairobi and nearby towns," said Ng'ang'a. He disclosed that he has visited Chinese manufacturing hubs like Guangzhou in search of quality but cheaper tyres for domestic and regional market. "I have been importing tyres from China and this expo came at the opportune time as I look forward to fruitful partnership with manufacturers who are participating," said Ng'ang'a. Henry Ren, general manager of Qingdao Foxxon Rubber and Tires Co., Ltd, said that participating at the expo was a milestone in his business career. "We are shopping for a local agent to facilitate our entrance into the wider eastern African region. In the meantime, Kenya remains our key target market given its robust economy and close trade partnership with China," said Henry. He disclosed that many Kenyans were keen to sample his company's tyres after discovering their quality was above board yet their cost was modest. "Our goal is to sustain quality of our products as we cement business relationship with Kenyans and hope to identify a local agent to help grow our footprint in this market," said Henry. The expo was a showcase of heavy industrial machinery, motor vehicle parts, electronic goods and solar lighting systems manufactured from the Asian country. Richard Tapatayia, an entrepreneur in transport business said that attending the expo was an eye opener since it exposed him to China's competitive edge in the manufacture of vehicle spare parts and industrial machinery. "It was exciting to learn that China is also advanced in motor vehicle assembly and came across exhibition stands where high quality vehicle parts were displayed," said Tapatayia. He expressed a desire to source for vehicle spare parts from China having been convinced that they meet the threshold in terms of quality and durability. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:48:48|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- About 85 percent of preschoolers in China, aged between three and six, will be enrolled in certified kindergartens by 2020, according to a high-level directive published Thursday. Meanwhile, children studying at affordable kindergartens, including public and private ones, will account for 80 percent of all preschoolers by that date, said the document jointly issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council. By 2020, the country aims to enroll more than 200,000 university students onto preschool education degrees annually and plans to train 1.5 million preschool principals and teachers. By 2035, preschool education, which lasts for three years, will be available for all children of the appropriate age, with a national preschool network set to be established. In the document, the government promises to increase financial input into preschool education, particularly in poverty-stricken rural areas in the country's central and western regions, improve training of preschool teachers and step up supervision of kindergartens. Affordable preschools will be the priority of the campaign, the document said, warning that the proportion of high-end kindergartens is now too large. Governments of all levels are encouraged to establish public kindergartens, in a bid to put about 50 percent of all preschool children in public education by 2020. Each township should have at least one public kindergarten while a large village should have at least one public kindergarten or a branch. Communities, villages, state-owned enterprises and public institutions such as universities are also encouraged to establish their own kindergartens. Children from disadvantaged families, as well as those who are orphans and/or disabled, will receive financial support to ensure they go to preschool. Private kindergartens will be put into two categories: profitable and nonprofitable. Existing kindergartens are required to register with authorities as either of them. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:58:51|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Thursday that he had signed 11 international agreements during the opening of a top level officials meeting. The agreements included additional protocols to child rights, the rights of people with disabilities, women citizenship rights and the convention of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. During the meeting in Ramallah, Abbas also slammed the Israeli assaults against the Palestinian people and held the Israeli government responsible for the consequences of its attacks on Palestinians. He also thanked the states that have "responded to efforts to reach calm in Gaza Strip, particularly Egypt." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:18:56|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Chen Xi (C), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (the Chinese Academy of Governance), attends the opening ceremony of the school's 2018 autumn semester for the second intake of students in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Chen Xi on Thursday stressed the importance of loyalty, integrity and a sense of responsibility, which are the political characteristics that all Party cadres must possess. Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (the Chinese Academy of Governance), made the remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the school's 2018 autumn semester for the second intake of students. He asked the students to stay absolutely loyal to the CPC, stay true to its ideals and convictions, serve the Party's purpose, and resolutely implement the decisions made by the CPC Central Committee. Students should be more aware of public interests and be selfless, be cautious in using their power and strictly discipline themselves, in order to maintain their integrity and frugality, he said. Chen also told the students to be willing to take on responsibilities and improve their capabilities in order to make their own contributions to completing the Party's tough tasks at hand. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:18:57|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's foreign trade went up 24.4 percent year on year to 10.8 billion U.S. dollars in the first 10 months of this year, data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed on Thursday. Mongolia's exports increased 14.6 percent to 5.9 billion U.S. dollars while imports surged 39 percent to 4.9 billion dollars in the January-October period, according to the data. The rise in total exports was largely attributed to increases of 1 billion dollars and 75 million dollars in exports of mineral products and textile goods, respectively. The growth in total imports was mainly due to the significant increases in imports of diesel, machinery and electric appliances, the NSO said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:23:57|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NICOSIA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The status of several thousand Cypriots living within the boundaries of the British Sovereign Base Areas on the eastern Mediterranean Island will remain unchanged after Britain's withdrawal from the European Union (EU), according to a draft Brexit deal. The Draft Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU posted by European Commission late Wednesday stated that the arrangements applicable to relations between the EU and the British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus will continue to be defined within the context of the Republic of Cyprus membership of the Union. Britain retained as its sovereign soil two areas totaling 254 square kilometers or 3 percent of the island's territory, in different spots on the southern and southeastern coasts, to use as military bases, when Cyprus became independent in 1960. Britain opted to leave these areas outside EU jurisdiction when Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, but otherwise accepted the application of the customs union and common commercial policy, taxation and agriculture controls within its bases. This means that about 11,000 Cypriots living within the boundaries of the two bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia are subject to Union legislation for most of their everyday activities, but are subject to British legislation when it comes to crime and road offences and their cases are tried by separate courts established by the base authorities. Even so, it makes no practical difference for the population, as British and Cypriot legislation is based on Common Law and is almost identical. People employed by the base authorities will still have their salaries calculated and paid in euros. The continuation of existing arrangements will also apply to imports and supplies through Cypriot ports and airports for the needs of the bases, meaning that they will not be subject to taxes and import levies and that customs control will be exercised by the bases authorities. Several thousand British permanent residents of Cyprus, mostly pensioners, will also be unaffected, as they will not be required to go through the process of obtaining new residence documents. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:28:59|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PARIS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Thursday cast doubt on the possibility to ratify a draft Brexit deal after a series of minister resignations made hard for British Prime Minister Theresa May to sell the divorce accord with the European Union (EU). "The current political situation in Britain fuels uncertainty over the ratification of the accord," Philippe said during a visit to Dunkirk, north France. "Nothing allows us at this stage to know if the agreement ... will ultimately be adopted. Therefore, we must be prepared for the hypothesis of a no-deal exit, which is still on the table and that we do not wish," he added. Late on Wednesday, May said she won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft divorce deal which represented a technical breakthrough after months of tense negotiations between Britain and the EU on how London can leave the regional bloc on March 29 next year. Hours later, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work, Pensions Minister Esther McVey, as well as two junior ministers quit, saying they could not support the draft deal. Their departure plunged Britain into a political crisis in which May could lose her leadership. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:49:04|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Until Monday, Fred Muriungu would work as a tout at a terminus on the East of Nairobi, Kenya's capital. His work involved calling out for passengers to get into public buses or sometimes sit in an empty vehicle with three or two other colleagues to lure commuters inside. And for these work, he would earn between 20 shillings (0.18 U.S. dollars) and 4.8 dollars per vehicle depending on the fare charged. In a good day, Muriungu would go home with up to 10 dollars. However, the job he loved and had done for two years is now gone, following the implementation of tough traffic rules by the government. Police ordered the operators of public buses, fondly known as matatus, to follow the rules or keep their vehicles off the road. A crackdown was launched on Monday. Among the things the traffic laws outlaw is touting, the job Muriungu and hundreds of other youths have been doing. The jobs are gone, and anyone found touting risks a fine not exceeding 29 dollars as stipulated by the Traffic Act. The youths would call for passengers, sit in empty vehicles to "hoodwink" commuters that the vehicle had people, help load luggage on vehicles or relieve matatu drivers when they went for lunch. In the capital Nairobi, each terminus in the residential areas was manned by at least five youths. Others were stationed along terminus on major roads, calling out for passengers and thereafter demanding money from matatu operators. The situation was replicated in all town centers across the east African nation, therefore, keeping hundreds employed. "We are now jobless. I am not sure if the government wants us to become thieves or to die of hunger because it has taken our jobs away," said Moses Kitula, a tout in Kayole. Kitula lamented that he had not earned any income since Monday for fear of arrest by the police. "Many of us have kept off bus stations. Two of our colleagues were arrested on Tuesday for touting and it took time to convince police to release them," he said. Kitula, who holds a diploma in social work, said he joined the work after failing to get a job in his career field. "I looked for a job for two years in vain and had no option but to do this work, from which I have been earning a living for the last four years," said Kitula, who is married, and has a two-year old child. Interestingly, he sees himself as manager of the public buses route, and not a tout. "The government calls our job touting but we are actually route managers. Our work is to help conductors set fares depending on demand for services and ensure vehicles that don't ply that route don't carry passengers," he said. However, even as the youths complain, some matatu operators are happy with the development noting some of the youths were extorting them or harassing passengers. "You could not carry passengers peacefully unless you pay them. While they are jobless, the law is good and had brought order at bus termini," said Bernard Ndung'u, a matatu conductor in Nairobi. Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai has praised the new rules noting a majority of the youths extort operators. The World Bank puts Kenya's unemployment rate at 40 percent, with many new jobs being created annually in informal sector like matatu. According to the Economic Survey 2018, some 897,000 new jobs were created in 2017, a 7.6 per cent increase from 2016. Ernest Manuyo, a business management lecturer at Pioneer Institute in Nairobi, noted the traffic rules worsen unemployment crisis because the youths have lost sources of income. "But this gives the country chance to address the job crisis. President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four Agenda on manufacturing we hope would help address this problem," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:54:05|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. special envoy on Iran, Brian Hook, on Thursday in Jerusalem to discuss moves against the Islamic republic. They discussed "the special efforts being made against Iranian aggression," Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for reimposing the second batch of sanctions on Iran earlier the month. "It's the most important thing that has been done against the most aggressive power in the region that has to be rolled back," Netanyahu said, hailing the U.S. sanctions as "a very important American step to establish peace in our region and peace in the world." Hook said reimposing the sanctions is a way to toughen the U.S. moves against Iran. "Now that we have reimposed our sanctions, we're in a position to really go after all of the revenue streams that Iran uses to fund Hamas and Hezbollah, its missile proliferation, all of the threats to peace and security that Iran presents," Hook said. Hook commend Netanyahu, a long-time vocal opponent of the 2015 Iranian deal to curb Iran's nuclear program, as "a fantastic and committed partner" in the campaign against Iran. The U.S. envoy is on a nine-day trip to Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which includes meetings with officials from the two countries to discuss cooperation on dealing with "Iranian threats." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:59:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) on Thursday welcomed an agreement between European Union (EU) and British negotiators on a draft Brexit withdrawal deal. "With regards to the Brexit question, I am primarily happy that it has been possible to present a proposal in protracted and also not always quite easy negotiations," Merkel told press on the sidelines of a two-day special cabinet summit in Potsdam. While the potential deal struck by negotiators would now have to be analyzed by Britain as well as the remaining EU member states, she expressed hope that it could serve as a foundation. British Prime Minister Theresa May, however, is currently battling to secure domestic parliamentary approval for the plan after witnessing several minister resignations, including that of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. It is still far from clear whether a sufficient majority of delegates in the House of Commons will lend their support to the deal. In Britain, the draft deal disgruntled the Remainers and the Brexiters alike. Some Brexiters have accused May of breaking promises and handing control back to Brussels. In light of such disagreement, Merkel articulated her own views again on Thursday, saying a failure to reach a valid withdrawal agreement by March 29, 2019, or a so-called no-deal Brexit, would be the "worst case and the last regulated case" scenario. Similarly, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) reiterated earlier warnings that "the worst that can happen is a disorderly development." "This would neither be good for the citizens nor for the economic prospects," Scholz told press in Potsdam. The finance minister said it was "obvious" that the deal under consideration would spark "difficult debates" in Britain and noted that he still felt regret at the decision of the country to leave the EU in the first place. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:59:07|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SHIJIAZHUANG, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Police in north China's Hebei Province have arrested 45 suspects and seized 20 tonnes of drug production materials while busting eight drug factories and warehouses. Police authorities in the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang Wednesday said they received information at the end of 2017 that a batch of phenylacetone, a raw material for drug manufacturing, had been illicitly transported into the city. A follow-up investigation found that a suspect, surnamed Pu, bought 61 tonnes of phenylacetone from January to May 2017, producing and trafficking drugs with accomplices. Police finally found the suspects had produced or sold drugs in Wuji county of Hebei, Xilingol of neighboring Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Pingxiang and Ganzhou of east China's Jiangxi Province in July. Police launched simultaneous raids in the four places on July 30, detaining 45 suspects and seizing over 20 tonnes of drugs production materials. Principal suspect Pu confessed to having purchased drug production materials several times as well as producing and selling drugs since 2017. Another suspect, surnamed Xiao, pleaded guilty to drug smuggling. Further investigation is ongoing. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:59:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DUBAI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Italy on Thursday discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in all areas, including fighting terrorism, the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. The discussion was held at a meeting in the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and visiting Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. The two talked about bilateral friendship as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, WAM said. Both sides discussed ways of serving their interests and fulfilling aspirations to enhance the cooperation between their public and private sectors, and how to benefit from the economic and investment opportunities available in their countries, the report said. They also talked about the efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, and achieve regional and international security, stability, peace and development while addressing the role of Italy and Europe in promoting stability and development. Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the UAE's policies, its cooperation with friendly countries, and efforts to reinforce security and stability in the region, while praising Italy's hosting of the Palermo Summit earlier the week to support the political efforts to achieve peace in Libya. For his part, Conte stressed Italy's desire to enhance the cooperation with the UAE to serve the mutual interests of both countries, especially in economic, commercial, investment and energy areas. Both sides highlighted the importance of combining global efforts to combat all forms of terrorism, as well as the necessity of achieving development and prosperity and promoting the values of tolerance and peace around the world, WAM said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:04:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry on Thursday announced latest tariff rate quotas for selected products to be imported from the European Union under the Southern African Development Community and Economic Partnership Agreement. According to a statement released by the Namibian government, the tariff rate quotas will allow limited quantities per product to be imported from EU into Namibia duty-free. "The tariff rate quotas are only eligible to Namibian registered companies. Interested companies should apply in writing and indicate the specific products and quantities required for importation." the Ministry of Agriculture said in the statement. Some of the commodities and quantities that Namibian companies will be able to import from Europe include pork (140 tons), pig fat (24 tons), butter (80 tons), cheese (1,014 tons), wheat (27,180 tons), barley (1,000 tons), cereal-based food products (86 tons) and ice cream (18 tons). Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:04:08|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative has brought concrete benefits to both Chinese and foreign businesses, said a number of company executives. Angelos Karakostas, deputy CEO of Greece's Piraeus Port Authority, said at a press conference Thursday that the port's cooperation with China's shipping giant COSCO has proved to be a win-win. COSCO has been running Pier II and Pier III of the Port of Piraeus through its subsidiary since 2008. In 2017, the port's annual throughput grew to 4.15 million TEUs from 880,000 TEUs in 2008, bringing the port's global ranking up to 36th from 93rd. Yu Zenggang, vice general manager of COSCO, said the company has been increasing transport capacity along the Belt and Road routes. The company's overseas assets account for more than half of the total, while overseas profit takes up some 63 percent. The China Communications Construction Company has seen a surge in overseas investment since the Belt and Road Initiative proposed in 2013, with new contract value exceeding 1.1 trillion yuan (158.5 billion U.S. dollars), said Sun Ziyu, vice president of the state-owned construction giant. One of the major projects the company has engaged in under the initiative is the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, which had carried some 2 million passengers and 2 million tonnes of cargo as of the end of October. James Michugu Karanja, vice director of Kenya's SGR project, said that the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway created some 46,000 local jobs and contributed more than 1.5 percent to Kenya's GDP. China's Wanhua Chemical Group has been expanding its footprint along the Belt and Road in Europe, with market share increasing rapidly after its acquisition of Hungarian chemical producer BorsodChem in 2011, said Huo Pengtao, Wanhua's vice president. Bela Varga, vice president of human resources and public relations for BorsodChem, said that it was through the partnership with Wanhua that BorsodChem managed to turn a profit in 2015 and keep more than 3,000 jobs. Proposed by China, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:09:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Opel and Segula Technologies have signed a contract to enter into a new strategic partnership to cooperate on research and development (R&D), the German carmaker announced on Thursday. "This marks an important step to secure highly-qualified jobs in the areas of research and development at the Ruesselsheim and Dudenhofen locations," a statement by Opel read. No information was provided about the value of the deal which is expected to be finalized in the second quarter (Q2) of 2019. The move follows an earlier announcement by Opel in September that it was mulling a far-reaching partnership with the French engineering company Segula Technologies at the Ruesselsheim development center. The division at the carmakers corporate headquarters has witnessed a steep decline in external orders, resulting in excess R&D capacities at the site. According to Opel, Segula Technologies is now planning to build a European engineering campus and Center of Excellence in Ruesselheim. The French company intends to take over 2,000 workers from the Opel development center, as well as some assets from its vehicle- and propulsion development facilities towards this end. The French PSA group, Opel's parent company, emphasized that the Ruesselsheim development center would remain at the center of its global R&D activities after the conclusion of the transaction. The site will continue to provide design and development services for future Opel and Vauxhall models, as well as being responsible for developing a new motor family and series of light-duty utility vehicle for the entire automotive group. In spite of a formal agreement between PSA and Opel not to close any factories in Germany and to refrain from further involuntary lay-offs until 2023, the Opel workers' council has previously repeatedly urged the management board of the company to clarify reports that it plans to sell parts of the Ruesselsheim-based development center. "A sell-off of the Opel development branch would rob Opel of its future," the workers' council warned at the time. Opel emphasized on Thursday that the guarantees made so far would retain their validity after the deal with Segula Technologies, and noted it continued to engage in related "talks and negotiations" with labor representatives. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:14:10|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Thursday welcomed the UN Security Council's decision to lift the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on Eritrea nearly nine years ago. Farmajo, who thanked the council for its decision to lift the sanctions, said the move came because of the unity efforts spearheaded by regional countries. "We welcome the arms and other targeted embargoes on Eritrea been lifted with our collective request. Thanks to the UN Security Council for this helpful and timely intervention," said Farmajo said in a statement. The Somali president said the Horn of Africa region is swiftly progressing towards partnership and economic cooperation. His remarks came after the UN Security Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to lift arms embargoes, travel bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions against Eritrea following its good relations with Ethiopia and other neighboring countries. The council imposed sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 for its alleged support of al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia. The UN's most powerful body slapped more sanctions on the Horn of African country in three other resolutions from 2011 to 2013. Wednesday's resolution by the council recognized that UN monitors have "not found conclusive evidence that Eritrea supports al-Shabaab." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:14:10|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A soldier of the Yemeni pro-government forces stands on a military vehicle in Hodeidah, Yemen, on Nov. 15, 2018. Relative calm prevailed Thursday in most parts of Yemen's war-ravaged port city of Hodeidah, despite sporadic clashes between the two warring rivals. (Xinhua) by Murad Abdu ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Relative calm prevailed Thursday in most parts of Yemen's war-ravaged port city of Hodeidah, despite sporadic clashes between the two warring rivals. The de-escalation of fighting was described by Yemeni sources as "an unannounced cease-fire" hammered out by powerful Western countries in order to pave the way for new peace talks. An army commander of the pro-government Giants Brigades told Xinhua by phone that the "commanders of the the Saudi-led coalition along with their local Yemeni allies agreed to de-escalate fighting in Hodeidah after meeting officials from the UK and America." The commander said that the plan to curb the fighting in Hodeidah will not continue for very long because the Houthis who are encircled resumed sporadic attacks against government forces in the city. He described the situation as "a unilateral declaration of ceasefire" by the Saudi-led coalition and the allied Yemeni government forces only. An official of the Aden-based Yemeni government told Xinhua that the temporary halt of fighting was optional and not compulsory. "The fighting temporarily was paused just for humanitarian purposes and the safety of civilians is more important than any other military gains," the official said anonymously. The government forces had planned to take the fighting into non-residential areas but the Houthi rebels withdrew and established military posts inside the populated neighborhoods of Hodeidah, he said. Another military official of Yemen's Defence Ministry said that the "negotiations are underway with Houthis to hand over the strategic city along with its seaport peacefully without more fighting and destruction." The Houthis realized that their military capabilities are not strong enough to confront well-trained government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition, the source added. Residents in Hodeidah confirmed to Xinhua there were no immediate reports of casualties after a temporary pause of the fighting in Hodeidah. However, the Houthi-affiliated TV network Al Masirah reported that an attack was launched by their fighters against a government-controlled site in Hodeidah. The report said earlier the day that "more than 15 mercenaries (government soldiers) were killed after an attack against their site in Hays area of Hodeidah." It also said that a series of airstrikes were launched by the warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition against the Kilo16 quarter in Hodeidah. At least 5 children were injured following a mortar attack by government forces against the Houthi-controlled Kilo7 quarter in Hodeidah, Al Masirah TV reported. Rajeh Badi, spokesman of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, said that "the reports talking about ceasefire with Houthis in Hodeidah are baseless and not true." Badi told the Middle East News Agency (MENA) of Egypt in an interview that "the liberation of Hodeidah is considered as a strategic national goal to protect Yemen and the international waters from the terrorist Houthi militias." The Saudi-backed government forces vowed to continue pushing forward in an attempt to seize full control of the city's strategic port, but Houthis dealt with the offensive with stiff resistance. Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly accused the Houthi rebels of using Hodeidah's port to smuggle Iranian weapons. Both the Houthis and Iran denied the accusation. Hodeidah is the single most important point of entry for food and basic supplies to Yemen's northern provinces controlled by the Houthis, including the capital Sanaa. The Arab coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to roll back the Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels which forced the internationally-backed Yemeni government into exile. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:24:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Morocco's King Mohammed VI (3rd L) and French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) attend the launching ceremony of the high-speed train in Tangier, Morocco, on Nov. 15, 2018. Mohammed VI and Emmanuel Macron launched Thursday the first high-speed train in Africa. (Xinhua) TANGIER, Morocco, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's king Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron launched Thursday the first high-speed train in Africa. The Moroccan king and Macron took the train from the northern city of Tangier to arrive in the capital Rabat, in a ride that lasted 80 minutes, compared to around four hours for a normal train ride before. Called Al Boraq, the 200-km high-speed rail line has been built with a budget of more than 2 billion U.S. dollars. In addition to over 600-million-dollar financing from Morocco, several foreign countries contributed to the implementation of this project. France contributed half of the total budget of the project, while the rest was mobilized by loans from Gulf countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The new train exceeded a speed of 220 miles (352 km) per hour in the tests, but it will travel at a speed of 320 km per hour during normal operation. As a result, the journey time between Tangier and Casablanca will be reduced from five hours to two hours and 10 minutes. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:24:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to use information communication technology (ICT) to widen the tax base and boost government revenues, officials said on Thursday. Ruth Wachira, acting commissioner domestic taxes in Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), told a media briefing in Nairobi that about 3.8 million individuals filed their income tax in 2017 against an estimated working population of 18 million. "We hope to deploy use of ICT to detect those who are earning an income but are not paying their fair share of taxes," Wachira said. She noted that Kenya is committed to expand the number of tax payers in the country in order to increase domestic resource mobilization and reduce dependence on loans for financing expenditure on social programs and basic infrastructure. KRA plans to roll out the value added tax (VAT) auto assessment system (VAA) after a successful trial to curb tax evasion among the business community. Caxton Masudi Ngeywo, deputy commissioner policy and tax advisory KRA, said that every tax system uses information to identify non compliant individuals. Ngeywo said that KRA is currently implementing reforms that will enable the tax authority to access data from third parties for the purpose of reducing cases of income non declaration or under reporting. The tax administrator plans to build a data warehouse to hold all bank, property, utilities and business transactions taking place in the country. He said that the data will enable KRA to detect those who earn incomes but are not paying their fair share of taxes. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:24:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RIYADH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A quartet meeting held in Saudi capital Riyadh urged the international community to provide Yemen more financial support, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. Officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and Britain have met to discuss the economic and humanitarian situation in Yemen. Senior officials from the four countries gathered to identify key actions to address issues in Yemen, and said that despite the realized support, Yemen's economic situation and currency riyal remain fragile, which need more financial support. The statement highlighted that some steps have been taken to help Yemen's economy, including an initial deposit of 2 billion U.S. dollars into the Central Bank of Yemen, 200 million dollars granted to the government of Yemen, and monthly donation of 60 million dollars in fuel derivatives for municipal power generation. The four sides agreed to establish an advisory committee to meet monthly for further measures to stabilize the currency, strengthen the regulation of foreign currency flows, and support the Yemeni government's efforts to improve its economic management. The officials also decided to support the establishment of an international trade facility under the supervision of the Central Bank of Yemen, and help the Yemeni government to implement overall economic reform, including payment of civil servant salaries. Moreover, the officials reaffirmed the role of economic development in alleviating the humanitarian situation, stressing the critical importance of humanitarian and commercial access, as well as the protection of civilians and infrastructure. File Photo: Honduran migrants board a truck as they take part in a new caravan heading to the U.S., in Quezaltepeque, Chiquimula, Guatemala on Oct. 22, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP) WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of State said Wednesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would meet with Mexican Foreign Secretary-Designate Marcelo Ebrard in Houston on Thursday. The State Department did not provide the content of their meeting, but media speculated that the two would discuss the migrants marching toward the southern U.S. border. Ebrard will become Mexico's top diplomat when President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador assumes office on Dec. 1. Pompeo spoke by phone with incumbent Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray in October, discussing Mexico's efforts to address the migrant caravan. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen met on Wednesday with service members currently deployed in Texas to support the border mission, according to media reports. "We are proud of you," Nielsen told service members during the visit. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier described the caravan as an "invasion" and ordered the deployment of active-duty troops to the border to assist border security forces. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 22:44:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NANJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists should focus on essential and original research to tackle urgent problems, Wang Zeshan, winner of China's 2018 top science award, said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Wang, 80, a professor at Nanjing University of Science & Technology and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is known as China's Alfred Nobel for his contributions to the study of gunpowder, one of ancient China's four era-defining inventions. During his 60 years of research on gunpowder, Wang has designed several new propellant charging theories and technologies, helping to improve the launch range of China's artillery by more than 20 percent, lifting the nation's ballistic performance of similar artillery above international levels. Before China's reform and opening-up that started in 1978, the country lacked policies to encourage innovation. Few Chinese had a sense of innovation, Wang said. "The research environment was poor, and Chinese scientists had many concerns. It was the reform and opening-up that emancipated Chinese scientists and brought them the spring," he said. The situation has gradually improved. China is now among those leading the fields of high-energy explosives and aircraft ammunition, Wang said. As a new round of scientific and technological competition has arisen worldwide, innovation has been regarded as a national strategy in China. "I think it's very necessary," said Wang. The scientific and technological innovation over the past four decades has triggered innovation in all aspects of society, bringing significant changes to China and enriching people's lives, said the scientist. Recalling that Chinese invented gunpowder, but were defeated by Western colonialists using improved gunpowder in modern times, Wang said: "We still have a sense of anxiety. We must strengthen innovations that are basic, leading and original, which are still insufficient in China." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 23:09:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close THE HAGUE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok considers the Brexit draft agreement "a good step", he stated on Thursday. "The Netherlands will test the texts, both on the Brexit and the political statement, against the broad Dutch interests," Blok said in a statement. "This is a good step." One of the important issues to study for the Dutch is the part about fishing as many Dutch fishermen are fishing in British waters. In addition, the Dutch government will pay attention to the level of playing field for Dutch companies, so that British companies will not get advantages over their Dutch counterparts. After months of negotiations, London and Brussels reached a draft agreement this week, which still needs the cabinet support and parliament approval in Britain, while the remaining 27 European Union states also need to ratify it. "Many thanks to European Union negotiator Michel Barnier that a draft agreement has been reached," Blok added. "The Netherlands and the other EU 27 member states will now study the draft texts, including the political declaration, with great accuracy. The European Council will be convened as soon as the texts have been examined by the 27 Member States." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 23:24:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Inside the building of a trans-disciplinary innovation platform in Istanbul, a couple of young minds were constantly creating different types of innovative toys with any stuff they could find on the desk. Plastic bottles, various empty cups, egg cartons and pinecones are among the pieces used in making vehicles, creatures and characters along with items of a toy kit. Elif Atmaca and Ogeday Ucurum, two young Turkish entrepreneurs, have recently founded a social enterprise in partnership with Atolye, an innovation platform, and created an innovative toy kit named "Toyi." The kit allows children to transform almost every object around them into unique toys. A water bottle can turn into a rocket, while an old box can be made a train compartment, and a swimming mask into a cute monster. "Our initial target was to deliver Toyi kits to only disadvantaged children who were socio-economically limited in accessing toys," Atmaca told Xinhua. But, during a research conducted with around 300 children, the duo realized that the restriction on being creative goes beyond any boundary. "We saw that everything was planned and shaped by grown-ups, blocking the kids' imagination in a significant way," said Atmaca. In her view, rules are set by the industry, under which children are instructed on how to play with or what toys to make. "Even with toys composed of building blocks, the final product is shown to children beforehand," she pointed out. Atmaca and Ucurum concluded that each kid needs space where he or she can freely create, the reason why the Toyi kits come with no instructions, giving priority to open-ended free play experience. "The entire process is left to kids' creativity, reminding parents, teachers and all grown-ups that child-led play is an excellent way for children to develop lifelong skills," explained Atmaca. A simple kit of Toyi consists of sticks, junction parts, flexible connectors, toy body parts like feet, eyes, hands, and wheels. The most fundamental pieces of the kit are flexible connectors, which help remove material restrictions, and "act as glue holding different objects together," Atmaca said, adding the connectors provide "a sense of boundlessness." Toyi's creators are now considering distributing the kits to as many children as possible around the world through different international NGOs. "We have got in contact with several refugee camps in India and Greece through various refugee community centers around the world," said Ucurum. "We are currently trying to determine how many children and how many kits are needed." He noted that for each Toyi kit sold out, they would also donate one kit to a disadvantaged child through different partnerships around the world. The Toyi founders are trying to encourage adults to have a free play experience with the kits as well. "That is why the age range mentioned on Toyi kit boxes is 6-99," explained Ucurum. "We think that each person has a strong sense of imagination, but losing that while growing up," he said, noting "we want to encourage others in the working space to play as they are working." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 23:34:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KAMPALA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Uganda, the host of the largest number of mountain gorillas in the world, has called for continued efforts to conserve the primates despite their population going up. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a state conservation agency, in a statement to Xinhua on Thursday said more efforts are needed to conserve the giant apes if their number is to continue growing. "We don't have to be complacent, more is still needed, we have to ensure the population of mountain gorillas continue to increase, this will happen if we put poaching to zero levels and ensuring they don't contract diseases that can kill them," the statement said. The statement follows a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which announced that mountain gorillas had been struck off their Red List of Threatened Species. The body said on Thursday that mountain gorillas among others were no longer a threatened species since their world population had surpassed the 1,000 mark. The increase in the number is attributed to the conservation efforts by the three host countries, Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. UWA said it will intensify its anti poaching campaigns and do day and night patrols to protect the gorillas. Mountain gorillas, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, were a highly endangered sub-species of primate. They live in forests that have suffered from considerable human impact in the form of timber extraction and other human activity. The primates are also a major source of tourism revenue to countries that host them. According to UWA, tourists who come to see the gorillas contribute a considerable percentage to Uganda's tourism revenue. Uganda earns over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars from the tourism sector annually. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 23:39:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Thursday unanimously approved a technical roll-over of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) for a month to allow negotiations on regular renewal. Resolution 2446 extends the peacekeeping mission's mandate till Dec. 15, 2018. The technical roll-over is a necessity as the mandate of the mission, known by its French acronym as MINUSCA, expires midnight Thursday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 23:44:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian police has arrested Gudeta Olana, Head of Security Division at Ethiopia Telecom, state affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported on Thursday. Olana is accused of intimidating and obstructing investigators probing alleged corrupt practices at the military-linked business conglomerate Metal Engineering Corporation (MeTEC), reported FBC. On Tuesday, Ethiopian security forces arrested the ex-chief of MeTEC, Kinfe Dagnew on corruption charges. Dagnew had resigned from MeTEC in April amid allegations of widespread corrupt practices. The arrest of Dagnew and Olana comes soon after the Ethiopia Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye said the east African country is launching a massive probe into corrupt practices at MeTEC. On Monday in a press conference held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Tsegaye said MeTEC which is building several mega infrastructure projects, is suspected of being responsible for massive corrupt practices between 2011 and 2017. "MeTEC officials and civilians close to them were involved in the illicit purchases of plane, ships, cranes and other equipment and pocketed a portion of the purchased money." said Tsegaye. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 23:54:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close XI'AN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- When Chinese explorer Zheng He commanded expeditionary voyages and opened up the Maritime Silk Road about 600 years ago, it was the stars that helped him navigate his fleet through the boundless oceans. The ancient Chinese invented astronavigation and Zheng He was among the first to use it during many of his voyages. The position and course of his fleet were determined by observing the stars and constellations, such as the Big Dipper, the Southern Cross, and the Lyra constellation. Inhabiting the northern hemisphere, Chinese people on land also used to navigate by observing the Big Dipper. Nowadays, the navigation satellite system developed by China is called BeiDou, the Chinese word for the Big Dipper. The BeiDou system opened to China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region in 2012. When the system is completed in 2020, it will be the fourth largest global satellite navigation system after the U.S. GPS system, Russia's GLONASS and the European Union's Galileo. As one of the core providers of global navigation services, the BeiDou system hopes to cooperate with other global satellite systems, providing free research and being used in rescue services around the world. It has been recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Maritime Organization, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project. "The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has been used in the Safe City Project in Phongsaly in northern Laos. It is used to maintain public security, and position police forces and emergency vehicles," said Houangsanasay Ping, a Laotian scholar at the 13th meeting of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, held in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, from Nov. 4 to 9. In its next phase, the application of the BeiDou system will be tailored to suit customers' needs and will serve to monitor landslides and dam deformations using accurate positioning, according to Ping. "Its capabilities are only limited by imagination," said Liu Jingnan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He is confident about the application of the BeiDou system in countries along the Belt and Road. Liu believes the BeiDou system can provide diverse and innovative services. "For example, the accurate positioning can be used in driving tests and overhauling tracks of high-speed railways," he said. So far, China has launched 17 BeiDou-3 satellites. Two more BeiDou-3 satellites are planned to be sent into space by the end of this year. By that time, the primary system of BeiDou-3 will be ready to expand services to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. By 2020 when the BeiDou system goes global, it will have more than 30 satellites. Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system, said the primary BeiDou-3 satellite system would provide more precise positioning services and international search and rescue services. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has been performing well in Asia-Pacific regions, said Luc St-Pierre, chief of Space Applications section, Office for Outer Space Affairs, United Nations, adding that he was looking forward to its application in countries along the Belt and Road. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 00:14:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday accused on Twitter that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team was "threatening" people to cooperate in the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," Trump tweeted early Thursday morning. "They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want." the president continued, without details or evidence. "These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They won't even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side." Trump said in another tweet. Mueller served under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama. "The only 'collusion' is that of the Democrats with Russia and many others," the president went on. Trump's remarks came one day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a bipartisan bill to protect Mueller's probe from any interference by Trump, insisting that the president isn't likely to fire Mueller or meddle in the probe. A Fox News report said Trump's legal team is believed to be finalizing written answers to Mueller, concerning questions about whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign. Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and named Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general on Nov. 7. Whitaker, known to be skeptical about Mueller's probe, is expected to take charge of oversight over Mueller's Russia probe including approval of budget decisions and subpoenas. A group of 18 U.S. state attorneys general last week urged Whitaker to recuse himself from the Russia probe in a cosigned letter, saying the Mueller's probe "must proceed free from interference." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 00:39:50|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close RIYADH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecution revealed Thursday that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered with "overdose" of a drug injected by a group of Saudi agents. Khashoggi was "forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death," the Public Prosecution said in a detailed press briefing on the results of the investigation into Khashoggi's death. The investigation involved 21 suspects, including five key offenders, who were recommended by the Public Prosecution for death penalty as a punishment for their direct roles in the murder. The statement said that the plot began on Sept. 29 on an order to bring back Khashoggi by means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force. The former Deputy President of the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) issued this order. The leader of the mission formed a 15-member team which contains three groups for negotiation, intelligence and logistics to persuade and return the victim. The leader also asked a forensics expert to join the team for the purpose of removing evidence from the scene in case force had to be used. The expert joined the team without the knowledge of his superiors, said the statement. A collaborator in Turkey was also contacted to secure a safe location for transferring the killed journalist. After surveying the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the negotiation team concluded it would not be possible to transfer Khashoggi to the safe location. Then, the head of the negotiation team decided to murder the journalist if the negotiations fail, said the statement. Five individuals murdered Khashoggi with an injection of a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose. Then the victim's body was dismembered by the individuals that committed the murder and transferred outside the consulate building, it added. The investigation also identified the individual who wore Khashoggi's clothes after the murder and disposed of the victim's belongings in a trash receptacle, including his watch and glasses, after leaving the consulate building. The investigation revealed that the leader of the mission agreed with the negotiation group to write a false report that stated the victim had left the consulate after the failure of negotiation or forcing his return. In a statement issued earlier on Thursday, Saudi Public Prosecutor requested death penalty for the five key suspects in the case over charges related to ordering and committing the murder. Khashoggi, a journalist for The Washington Post and a strong critic of Saudi government, disappeared on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey to get documents for his marriage, sparking an investigation by the Turkish government and international pressure on Riyadh to reveal about his whereabouts. After initial denials, Saudi authorities admitted late last month that Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate and 18 individuals in relation to the case were arrested. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 00:54:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- In a major police operation, 560 officers and special forces (SEK) searched apartments of alleged left-wing extremists in Berlin on Thursday. "The background is an investigation by Berlin prosecutor's office into grievous bodily harm," said a police spokesman. The Rigaer street in Berlin, which is considered by German authorities as a hotspot of left-wing criminal activities, was at the focus of the police operation. The police operation was sparked by an attack on a shop owner in Berlin by a masked group in May 2018. Allegedly, a woman had hired the group to punish the shop owner after he refused to give out a parcel. According to a tweet by Berlin police, four houses have been searched to gather evidence but only few of the suspects whose apartments were searched are under official investigation. Berlin's senator for interior Andreas Geisel (SPD) is demanding better video surveillance in Germany's capital. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 00:54:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) accused the federal government on Thursday of failing to promote alternatives to cars in transportation. Speaking to press in Berlin, ADFC spokesperson Stephanie Krone said that the lack of initiative was reflected in an only-minimal gain in the share of journeys completed with bicycles. Krone argued that while the so-called journey share for bikes had only risen from 10 to 11 percent during past years, it could have increased to as much as 30 percent during the same period. The ministry of transport has recently published an official "mobility" study which found that cars have easily defended their position as the dominant mode of transportation in Germany. For Krone, the findings were indicative that Germany was yet to experience a meaningful shift in its transportation sector. Whereas every citizen in the Netherlands completed more than 1,000 kilometers on bikes each year on average, the corresponding figure for Germany was only around 400 kilometers. The spokesperson argued that share of bicycles journeys could be expanded significantly by offering a comprehensive and independent network of bike trails which offered its users high levels of comfort. "As long as Germany only invests pocket money in bicycle transport -- and only grants bikes leftover spaces on the street, the bike has no real chance in the modern transportation mix," Krone complained. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 00:59:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Thursday imposed sanction on 17 individuals over their alleged roles in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a statement, the Treasury said that it has designated Saud al-Qahtani, a senior official of the Government of Saudi Arabia, his subordinate Maher Mutreb, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, and 14 other members of an operations team for "being responsible for, or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in serious human rights abuse." The sanctioned ones were punished based on the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act that targets "perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption," the Treasury said. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in the statement. "The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi's fiancee, children, and the family he leaves behind," he said. "The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists." As a result of these designations, any property or interests in property of the individuals designated within or transiting U.S. jurisdiction would be blocked. Additionally, U.S. persons were generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with blocked persons, including entities 50 percent or more owned by designated persons, the Treasury said. Later, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts, consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Khashoggi. Earlier on Nov. 13, the U.S. State Department hinted that the U.S. side would take more actions against the kingdom over the case. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the U.S. actions "will not end with the visa revocations and the blocking of certain Saudi officials from coming into the United States." The U.S. Congress has urged a thorough investigation in the murder of Khashoggi, and threatened to take more actions against Saudi Arabia if those responsible were not held accountable, such as suspending the U.S. military sales to Saudi Arabia and sanctioning the kingdom. In the first concrete step of punishment taken by the U.S. government after the disclosure of Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Turkey's Istanbul, the State Department in October said that 21 Saudis suspected of involvement in the case were being revoked of their visas. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said on Oct. 23 that the State Department was working with the Treasury Department to review the applicability of Global Magnitsky sanctions. However, Pompeo repeated that the United States still considers Saudi Arabia as a "strong" ally. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. The Saudi authorities said that Khashoggi died in a "brawl" in its consulate. After releasing the results of its initial investigations, the Saudi Public Prosecution announced that 18 people were arrested over their alleged connections with the killing. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 01:19:59|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close LONDON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China has been the strongest performing Asian nation this decade in the Global University Employability Rankings, according to new rankings published on Thursday. This year's league table, published each year by London-based Times Higher Education (THE), lists the top 150 institutions worldwide for employability, based on a global survey of around 7,000 recruitment and international managers from major businesses. Chinese mainland retains seven institutions in the 2018 global listing, led by Peking University at 19th. Hong Kong has four institutions, led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology at 16th, while Taiwan loses two institutions to increased regional competition -- but with two new institutions included this year. The National University of Singapore rises this year to join the 2018 global top 10. Simon Baker, data editor at THE, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview: "China is still the top performer in Asia. Compared with 2011 it has seen the biggest improvement." "China has seen a rapid rise in keeping with some other rankings. In research based rankings and world university rankings, China has just risen and risen, in the employability ranking in the last four years, a number of universities have stayed the same." China's overall performance in the ranking has notably risen since 2011, despite facing strong competition from South Korea which has been the highest rising Asian nation in the rankings so far this decade, and has made quick progress with a rise in both its representation and institutional positions. Baker said South Korea had just one institution in the rankings in 2011 but now has almost as many as Chinese mainland, with six against Chinese mainland's seven. The overall performance of South Korea's institutions in the 2018 table is up almost two-fold from last year alone. However, analysis shows that while Chinese mainland has notably improved and continues to dominate in the region, it has not experienced the same surge in recent years. This may reflect the traditional emphasis placed by Chinese institutions on hard, practical skills, as opposed to softer skills, such as communication and teamwork, which are increasingly favoured by employers. "One aspect where China may not compete so well is in instilling soft skills for graduates. But it won't be long, judging by places like Singapore's performance, before this is addressed and Chinese universities rise further," Baker said. He was quick to add that "there is no massive fall, it is just that they are not improving as much. Tsinghua is the top university ranked in Asia for research, but that isn't visible in these data." The 2018 table is topped by Harvard University in the United States, which climbs one spot to switch places with the country's California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S. and UK's the University of Cambridge both go up one place to third and fourth, while Stanford University of the U.S. rises two places, to place fifth. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 01:19:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May stoically defended her proposed Brexit deal with the European Union (EU) Thursday, less than hours after two of her top ministers resigned. Political commentators speculated that the decisions by Dominic Raab and Works and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey to quit their front-bench government roles could threaten May's entire Brexit plan, and her tenure at Number 10. Influential Brexit-supporting Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg was reported to be preparing a letter expressing no confidence in May. As chairman of a group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs, his move could trigger a confidence vote in May, throwing the whole Brexit project into chaos. The tabloid Sun newspaper said May's job as prime minister was hanging by a thread, with her former foreign secretary Boris Johnson tipped as a potential successor at Number 10. DEVASTATING RESIGNATION Raab only took over as Brexit Secretary in July, replacing the original holder of the job, David Davis who quit because he, like Raab, could not reconcile with May's EU withdrawal proposals. Brexit supporter Conservative Iain Duncan Smith described Raab's resignation as devastating. "The very man who is effectively May's negotiator to resign saying he doesn't think this is a good deal, I think is devastating." "It's devastating because he's been aware of all of these things and has clearly been raising these alarm bells with the prime minister, but it sounds like he has been ignored," he said. With Ministers Shailesh Vara and Suella Braverman also quitting, it brought the number of government resignations to four. Vince Cable, the leader of the minority Liberal Democrats, said May's government was in meltdown. BEST OR BAD DEAL? The main opposition Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn said May's plan represents a huge and damaging failure and does not meet Labor's six tests, an indicator that his party's MPs would vote against her deal. Corbyn said May's withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration represent a huge and damaging failure. He said: "After two years of bungled negotiations, the government has produced a botched deal that breaches the prime minister's own red lines. The government is in chaos. Their deal risks leaving the country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say." London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on all MPs to vote against what he described as a bad deal. In a statement issued by City Hall, Khan, who backs a second referendum, said: "It's crystal clear that this is a bad deal for London and the UK that will worsen life chances and reduce the opportunities available to the next generation." "Faced with a bad deal and a catastrophic no deal, the British public must be given the final say, with staying in the European Union an option on the ballot paper." Addressing House of Commons, May said the draft deal meant Britain would leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way, adding it sets the framework for a future relationship. On the issue of the border in Ireland, May said the withdrawal agreement has set out an insurance policy should a permanent new UK-EU relationship not be ready by the time the implementation period ends at the end of 2019. "I do not pretend that this has been a comfortable process, or that either we or the EU are entirely happy with all of the arrangements that have been included within it," May said, adding it was an arrangement both sides say they never want to have to use. "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated. This deal," she concluded. DEAL IN QUESTION The draft Withdrawal Agreement, detailed in a document of 585 pages, spells out a future relationship between Britain and the EU after next March. Britain's membership would end on March 29, 2019, but immediately an implementation period, lasting until December 2020, would kick in. During this period nothing would change, with Britain continuing to follow EU rules. This would ensure businesses would only have to plan for one set of rule changes. If by then a permanent future trade deal has not been agreed there would be an extension, but that could involve bringing in arrangements to avoid a hard border being introduced between Northern Ireland and the neighboring Irish Republic. During an extended period there would be a UK-wide single customs territory but Northern Ireland would be aligned to the rules of a single market essential for avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland. A contentious issue with an extension is both EU and UK approval would be needed for the backstop arrangement to end. The deal secures the rights of the more than three million EU citizens living in Britain and around one million UK nationals living in the EU. It also includes a so-called divorce bill which would see Britain paying around 50 billion U.S. dollars to Brussels. ROAD TO DEPARTURE The two big resignations of front-benchers of Raab and McVey could throw a spanner in the works. It could prompt a confidence vote in May, leading to a leadership challenge and a new prime minister at 10 Downing Street. Less likely, but also possible, is a snap general election. The focus would then switch to the EU Council when the leaders of the 27 EU member states meet on Nov. 25 to ratify, or reject the draft withdrawal agreement. If it is given the green light it would then go to the European Parliament for a vote there. In December MPs in the British House of Commons will debate and vote on the agreement. Dozens of May's own Conservative MPs are said to be contemplating voting against her Brexit plan. May will also need the backing of the 10 Northern Ireland MPs from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). They have insisted they will not support a deal that sees Northern Ireland treated differently by the EU than the rest of Britain. The plan as proposed would cross what the DUP sees as its red line. If May survives that battle it would be a countdown to EU departure date on March 29, 2019. If her plan is rejected, there would be a small window of opportunity to put forward an alternative Brexit plan. That scenario could plunge the whole program into uncharted waters, with possible outcomes including leaving the EU with no deal, a new referendum or a general election. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 01:35:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Thursday expressed her disappointment with the conclusions of the European Commission report regarding the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), complaining about the double standards imposed by the European authorities. "I am disappointed with the conclusions of the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism report, taking into account that Romania proved to be a loyal and fair partner of the European Union," the prime minister told the government sitting, adding that "the Government has always been in touch with experts of the European Commission and provided clarifications every time, as well as arguments. Unfortunately, I noticed that these were simply ignored". This is the first formal statement of the Romanian prime minister after the European Commission issued highly critical CVM report for Romania on Tuesday. Dancila categorically stated that "we cannot agree with the setting of some additional recommendations requiring us to ignore the constitutional rules and accept what no other member state would accept." Complaining about double standards used by the relevant European institution, the prime minister requested "equal treatment" for her country and people. Referring to the resolution adopted also on Tuesday by the European Parliament against Romania, Dancila believed the resolution is "the expression of some electoral interests of European political groups". The European Commission adopted on Tuesday its latest report on developments in Romania to meet its commitments on judicial reform and the fight against corruption, urging the country to fully enforce all the European Commission's recommendations. "We are able to prove to our European partners that Romania is a balanced, responsible member state, determined to contribute to the formation of the future of the European Union, regardless of the purely political approaches at one time or another," said the prime minister. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 01:40:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RIYADH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir on Thursday insisted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "absolutely" had nothing to do with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Al-Jubeir made the statement at a press conference in Riyadh, hours after Saudi Public Prosecutor requested death penalty for five key suspects involved in Khashoggi's murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 2. The kingdom is committed to holding those involved in the murder accountable through the judiciary, and investigations into journalist's killing will continue until all questions are answered, Al-Jubeir said. He highlighted that the defendants and the victim in the Khashoggi case are Saudis and that the incident took place on Saudi land. The top Saudi diplomat said that there has been an attempt to politicize Khashoggi's case, which is regrettable. "The Qatari media has launched an organized campaign against Saudi Arabia and are exploiting Khashoggi's case," Al-Jubeir noted. Riyadh has cut ties with Doha since June 2017, citing Qatar's support to terrorism and extremism and close ties to Iran, Saudi's top rival in the region. Earlier Thursday, Saudi Public Prosecution revealed the details about the murder of Khashoggi, saying that he was murdered with an injection of a drug and his body was dismembered, after an altercation with a group of Saudi agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a journalist for The Washington Post and a strong critic of Saudi government, disappeared on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get documents for his marriage, sparking an investigation by the Turkish government and international pressure on Riyadh to reveal his whereabouts. After initial denials, Saudi authorities admitted late last month that Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate and 18 individuals in relation to the case were arrested. Asked about possible international sanctions on Saudi Arabia for the Khashoggi case, Al-Jubeir said there is a difference between imposing penalties on those accused and holding the Saudi government responsbile. At the same time, U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions on 17 Saudi officials over the murder of Khashoggi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 01:45:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Five of 12 Iranian border guards kidnapped last month by an Iranian militant group were freed Thursday in Pakistan, the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Thursday. The released guards will soon return home, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said. Efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining captives, said Jafari. The Iranian border guards were kidnapped on Oct. 16 by the Pakistan-based Iranian Sunni extremist group, Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), at the Mirjaveh border point in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province and were transferred to Pakistan. "The kidnappers are seeking to exchange the abducted guards for several of their accomplices that are behind bars in the Islamic Republic for committing crimes," Jafari said. However, this request is not acceptable, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 01:55:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Education Minister Marwan Hamade said Thursday that Lebanon needs more international support in order to cater to the education needs of the big number of Syrian refugees. "Our willingness to offer education services to this big number of students is linked directly to the support we receive from the international community," Hamade was quoted by the National News Agency as saying. Hamade's remarks came during his meeting with representatives from the international organizations and donors to discuss ways of boosting the education sector in Lebanon. Employees at the ministry told the meeting that the Lebanese education sector needs an additional 30 million U.S. dollars to cover the total expenses of teaching refugee students during this current academic year. They also emphasized the pressure that is being exerted on the schools where the number of students per class sometimes surpasses 40. Lebanon is hosting 976,000 registered Syrian refugees according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, while the government estimates that the true number of Syrian refugees in the country is 1.5 million. The flow of Syrian refugees into Lebanon due to a protracted civil war has weighed heavily on the country's infrastructure and all aspects of life. Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecution reveals that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered with "overdose" of a drug injected by a group of Saudi agents. (AFP photo) RIYADH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecution revealed Thursday that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered with "overdose" of a drug injected by a group of Saudi agents. Khashoggi was "forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death," the Public Prosecution said in a detailed press briefing on the results of the investigation into Khashoggi's death. The investigation involved 21 suspects, including five key offenders, who were recommended by the Public Prosecution for death penalty as a punishment for their direct roles in the murder. The statement said that the plot began on Sept. 29 on an order to bring back Khashoggi by means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force. The former Deputy President of the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) issued this order. The leader of the mission formed a 15-member team which contains three groups for negotiation, intelligence and logistics to persuade and return the victim. The leader also asked a forensics expert to join the team for the purpose of removing evidence from the scene in case force had to be used. The expert joined the team without the knowledge of his superiors, said the statement. A collaborator in Turkey was also contacted to secure a safe location for transferring the killed journalist. After surveying the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the negotiation team concluded it would not be possible to transfer Khashoggi to the safe location. Then, the head of the negotiation team decided to murder the journalist if the negotiations fail, said the statement. Five individuals murdered Khashoggi with an injection of a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose. Then the victim's body was dismembered by the individuals that committed the murder and transferred outside the consulate building, it added. The investigation also identified the individual who wore Khashoggi's clothes after the murder and disposed of the victim's belongings in a trash receptacle, including his watch and glasses, after leaving the consulate building. The investigation revealed that the leader of the mission agreed with the negotiation group to write a false report that stated the victim had left the consulate after the failure of negotiation or forcing his return. In a statement issued earlier on Thursday, Saudi Public Prosecutor requested death penalty for the five key suspects in the case over charges related to ordering and committing the murder. Khashoggi, a journalist for The Washington Post and a strong critic of Saudi government, disappeared on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey to get documents for his marriage, sparking an investigation by the Turkish government and international pressure on Riyadh to reveal about his whereabouts. After initial denials, Saudi authorities admitted late last month that Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate and 18 individuals in relation to the case were arrested. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 02:40:20|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang poses for a group photo with leaders attending the 13th East Asia Summit in Singapore, on Nov. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday called on countries in the region to enhance equality-based consultation and mutual openness so as to maintain peace and prosperity in East Asia. Li made the remarks at the 13th East Asia Summit held Thursday afternoon in Singapore, which gathered leaders of the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States. Li said the East Asia Summit, launched 13 years ago, has become a major platform for dialogue and cooperation in East Asia and played an important role in boosting mutual understanding, maintaining regional peace and stability, and promoting development and prosperity. He stressed that against the backdrop of rising instability and uncertainty on the global horizon, there is a need to uphold the concept of living together in harmony and win-win cooperation, enhance consultation on an equal footing and promote mutual openness so as to maintain peace and prosperity in East Asia. The Chinese premier made a five-point proposal for further increasing regional cooperation. Firstly, countries should adhere to multilateralism. China advocates the building of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation, Li said, adding that China stands ready to work with all sides to safeguard the rules-based international order. Secondly, countries should safeguard free trade. Li called for concerted efforts to build an open world economy, support the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at the core, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. Thirdly, countries should make efforts to expedite regional economic integration. With regional free trade arrangements picking up steam, all sides should show political decisiveness to work toward an early conclusion of the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and advance openness, cooperation and inclusive development at a higher level, Li said. Fourthly, countries should boost regional cooperation on sustainable development. All sides should further promote cooperation in the key areas of energy and environment, education, finance, public health, disaster management as well as ASEAN connectivity, Li said. He said China will continue to hold seminars on new energy and maritime management, advocate joint research on earth science and promote inclusive development. Fifthly, countries need to conduct political and security dialogue and cooperation. Stressing that China advocates a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, Li said China is willing to conduct cooperation with other countries in such areas as anti-terrorism, climate change and cyber security and hold a joint exercise on anti-terrorism in 2019. On the South China Sea issue, Li said a peaceful South China Sea is the common aspiration of all parties and in line with the interests of all countries in the region. China stands ready to work with countries in the region to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, he said. China is committed to pushing forward Code of Conduct (COC) consultations with ASEAN countries, and the two sides have worked out a single negotiating text this year, Li said. At the China-ASEAN summit on Wednesday, China and ASEAN members agreed to complete the first reading of the draft within 2019, Li said, adding that China also proposed to conclude COC consultations in three years, so as to allow countries in the region to safeguard with rules the peace, stability, free trade as well as freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea. China, said the premier, hopes for countries outside the region to respect and support the efforts in this regard made by their counterparts in the region. Leaders attending the summit agreed that the East Asia Summit has produced remarkable progress since its launch in 2005 and become a major part of the ASEAN-led regional open framework. All parties hailed the fruitful results produced in areas such as environment, energy, disaster control, connectivity, trade and maritime cooperation within the past year, and called for joint efforts to better synergize development strategies and enhance cooperation on sustainable development, connectivity and blue economy. The leaders agreed that countries also need to jointly address global challenges such as cyber security, terrorism and climate change and resolve regional hotspot issues via diplomatic means. They also pledged to speed up RCEP negotiations and enhance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in the region. The summit adopted several outcome documents including a statement on ASEAN smart cities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 02:50:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NICOSIA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish fighters flew over Nicosia, the divided capital of Cyprus, on the anniversary of the declaration 35 years ago of a Turkish Cypriot breakaway state, Cypriot authorities said Thursday. A Cypriot government official strongly deplored the overfly, saying it hikes tensions as the United Nations (UN) is working to secure an agreement for the resumption of peace negotiations. Turkey occupied the northern one-third of Cyprus in 1974, in reaction to a coup engineered by the military rulers of Greece, and later on Nov. 15, 1983 set up a breakaway entity called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The action was strongly condemned by the UN Security Council in a resolution which said the breakaway state was considered to be non-existent and called on all countries to abstain from recognizing it. Turkey dismissed the call and has since kept up the so-called state with the presence of 40,000 troops and by financing its subsistence. A delegation led by Turkey's first Vice-President Fuat Oktay attended a military parade along with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the occupied Turkish part of Nicosia, during which two F-16 planes of the Turkish air force flew over the crowd. Ankara's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the anniversary as a happy occasion and vowed continued support. He also said those who expect Turkey to disavow guarantee and intervention rights in Cyprus and withdraw Turkish troops "should wake up from their dream." "We never had such a policy and will neither have such a policy in the future," Cavusoglu said. The refusal of Turkey to abandon guarantee rights it obtained under a 1960 treaty establishing Cyprus as an independent state was blamed by Greek Cypriots for the collapse of an international conference presided over by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in July, 2017. At the conference, Guterres had called for the end of guarantee and intervention rights ceded to Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom, and for the establishment of a "normal" Cypriot state. A UN envoy is expected to start a new round of efforts soon by talking to Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Akinci to get them agree on the terms of reference for the resumption of negotiations to reunify Cyprus in a federal state. Cypriot government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou denounced the declaration of a breakaway state by Turkey and urged it to set aside its secessionist logic. He said Anastasiades is working along the line of ending the occupation of Cypriot territory and called on the Turkish Cypriot leadership to show the necessary political will to agree on the modalities of renewed negotiations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 02:55:24|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Singapore, on Nov. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation between China and Russia in various fields has yielded new outcomes and there is still room for further development, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Thursday. In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation, Li conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings to Putin, recalling that the two presidents have met multiple times this year and reached new consensus. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has been running at a high level, Li noted, adding that the 23rd regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, held last week in Beijing, has pushed bilateral cooperation in various fields toward new achievements. He then pointed out that there is still much space for bilateral practical cooperation. "China hopes to deepen cooperation with the Russian side in trade, investment, energy, innovation, finance and other areas," Li said. He also proposed that both countries should ease restrictions on market access, expand trade and investment, and promote the implementation of high-tech projects, so as to benefit both peoples and create win-win results. For his part, Putin said Russia stands ready to fully implement the consensus reached with China, and strive for more outcomes in cooperation in energy, aviation, space, science and technology, joint research and development, as well as digital economy. Putin also said it is very important that Russia and China maintain regular top-level communication, adding that he looks forward to meeting Xi again on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit to be held soon in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Recalling the successful regular meeting between Chinese premier and Russian prime minister last week, Putin said the two governments have actively pushed forward bilateral cooperation in various areas, laying a solid foundation for the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 03:15:27|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ANKARA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Qatar have close relations at political, economic and military levels, an alliance that has progressed over the years even in the murder case of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, analysts said. The Turkish presidency announced in a statement that Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday to discuss "regional and bilateral ties." It is the emir's second visit to Turkey in a few months. During his previous visit in Ankara in August, the Qatari emir pledged to invest 15 billion U.S. dollars in Turkey which was struggling with a currency crisis. "We stand by the brothers in Turkey that have stood with the issues of the Muslim world and with Qatar," he said in a tweet after meeting Erdogan. The much-needed financial support for the slowing Turkish economy was considered a show of solidarity. In a similar act from Turkey back in 2017, the Turkish leader rushed to aid Qatar, sending cargo ships as well as hundreds of planes loaded with food, in order to break a blockade imposed by a Saudi-led Arab quartet, which accuses Qatar of supporting extremism and fostering relations with Iran despite Doha's repeated denials. Turkey also deployed more troops on its military base in Qatar, and prevented, according to many observers, a move targeting Qatari sovereignty and independence. "Ties between Turkey and Qatar are moving steadily toward a strategic relationship and it seems that they will grow in the coming years," Oytun Orhan, a researcher from the Ankara-based Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM), told Xinhua. Meanwhile, there is an agreement between Ankara and Doha to further their relations and increase Qatari investment in economically troubled Turkey. Qatar's investments in Turkey exceed 20 billion U.S. dollars, the second highest by country in Turkey. Turkish media reported that Qatar will invest a further 19 billion dollars in Turkey in 2018, with 650 million dollars in agriculture and livestock. In addition, a luxurious Boeing 747-800 was gifted to Turkey by Emir Tamim this summer. However, this regional alliance is being tested in the killing case of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "Qatar was perhaps the country which benefited the most from this affair because the aggressive policies adopted by Riyadh against Doha seem to have eroded" amid the international condemnation of Saudi Arabia's direct or indirect involvement in the killing of Khashoggi, said Orhan. "Qatar has adopted a low profile in this affair so as not to upset Riyadh, looking for ways to restore its severed relations with Saudis," he explained. Some Turkish pro-government commentators criticized Doha's silence, as Ankara and Riyadh, amid chilly ties, are locked in a long battle for domination over the future of the region. The break in the Ankara-Riyadh relations dates back to 2013, when Saudi Arabia supported the military overthrow of Egyptian elected President Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood backed by Erdogan. Many believe Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud is behind Khashoggi's murder as the journalist was vocal in his criticism of the prince's rule. "We want to have good relations with Qatar but also with Saudi Arabia. The conflicts that are plaguing our region are enough, so we seek amicable ties with all countries of our region," a Turkish diplomatic source told Xinhua. "This horrific crime was perpetrated on Turkish soil and it's only natural that Turkey wants it to be elucidated," the source said on condition of anonymity. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 04:05:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Thursday demanded "significant additional efforts" from France toward the regular renewal of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR). The Security Council on Thursday had to approve a technical roll-over for one month to allow time for more negotiations on a French draft resolution that would renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR, known by its French acronym as MINUSCA, for a year. After weeks of consultations among Security Council members, France's draft resolution for a regular renewal failed to get the approval of Russia, a Security Council member that has veto power. Russia wants its presence and peace efforts in the CAR to be recognized in the French draft, which says the CAR political process should be led by the African Union. Russia's First Deputy Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy on Thursday warned that France should take "significant additional efforts" if it wishes to revisit its initial draft and have it adopted by the Security Council in a month's time. Polyanskiy indicated that France, the former colonial power in the CAR, should "set aside historical complexes, egotism, parochial national interests" over the issue. "Those who have approached this with good intention should have no hidden agendas, no malign competitive interests," he said after the Security Council vote on the technical roll-over. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 04:20:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ATHENS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas introduced on Thursday an action plan for 2019 to improve the living conditions of refugees who remain stranded across the country. According to the data presented during a press briefing, approximately 42,000 refugees and migrants entered Greece illegally in 2018. This year, the biggest challenge was the increased number in arrivals in Greece's Evros region. "Until Nov. 12, a total of 14,250 arrivals have been recorded via Evros route. In 2017, the arrivals reached 5,500 people," Vitsas said. Evros region that separates Greece from Turkey has seen migrant flows surge after the EU-Turkey deal sealed to suspend the route via the Aegean Sea. Vitsas stressed that among the government's priorities is to decongest the reception centers in northern Aegean Sea islands that are overcrowded, and to speed up the assessing procedures of asylum seekers. "From Jan. 1 to Nov. 12, 2018, a total of 28,031 people arrived at the islands of Northern Aegean Sea, while at the same time there were 23,014 transfers to the mainland, " he said, "In addition, 290 refugees returned to Turkey under the EU-Turkey deal and 886 people returned voluntarily to their countries. Last 177 people were sent to Germany under the family reunification scheme and four returned to Greece under the agreement for the return of migrants and refugees from Germany to Greece," he stressed The situation on the islands remains hard and difficult as the flows continue and the asylum procedures are being delayed. Until the end of the year, 6,000 people will be transferred from the islands to the mainland. Of them 5,000 will be settled in hotels and apartments, while the other 1,000 will be housed under the program ESTIA which is provided by UNHCR in partnership with the municipalities. To help Greece meet the housing and protection needs of the most vulnerable groups of migrants and refugees ahead of the winter, the European Commission announced also an additional 43.7 million euros in emergency support to the International Organization for Migration. In parallel, Vitsas announced the plan to create medical centers in the reception centers to offer instant medical care to the refugees, to expand accommodation to cover refugees' needs and to promote integration programs to the refugees granted asylum in order to help them find a job and be part of the society. "I believe that in 2019 there will be a decrease in migrant flows. Otherwise, the arrivals will stay at the same level or up by 20 percent in comparison to 2018," he estimated. File Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Nov. 9, 2018. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday accused on Twitter that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team was "threatening" people to cooperate in the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," Trump tweeted early Thursday morning. "They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want." the president continued, without details or evidence. "These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They won't even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side." Trump said in another tweet. Mueller served under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama. "The only 'collusion' is that of the Democrats with Russia and many others," the president went on. Trump's remarks came one day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a bipartisan bill to protect Mueller's probe from any interference by Trump, insisting that the president isn't likely to fire Mueller or meddle in the probe. A Fox News report said Trump's legal team is believed to be finalizing written answers to Mueller, concerning questions about whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign. Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and named Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general on Nov. 7. Whitaker, known to be skeptical about Mueller's probe, is expected to take charge of oversight over Mueller's Russia probe including approval of budget decisions and subpoenas. A group of 18 U.S. state attorneys general last week urged Whitaker to recuse himself from the Russia probe in a cosigned letter, saying the Mueller's probe "must proceed free from interference." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 04:50:52|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Countries in the Horn of Africa, once considered Africa's most restive region, have expressed high expectations amid an international recognition to the region's fast-evolving diplomatic rapprochement. After the UN Security Council on Wednesday lifted a range of international sanctions against Eritrea, which include an arms embargo and other targeted sanctions, the global community has expressed high hopes and commitment to support the positive changes in the region. The latest call was made by Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Thursday who welcomed the lifting of sanctions imposed on Eritrea and called for regional and international support as countries in the Horn of Africa presently embarked on the normalization of previously restrained ties. Faki Mahamat, who encouraged the regional leaders to sustain the momentum by taking all steps required to deepen their cooperation and relations, also stressed that recent rapprochement of ties is in the pursuit of the shared objective of peace and prosperity of the continent. "These developments are a major contribution to the African Union drive towards silencing the guns by 2020 and advancing continental integration in the context of Agenda 2063 (AU's 50-year continental development plan) flagship projects," the chairperson said. Faki also expressed AU's readiness to assist this process in any way deemed appropriate, according to the statement of the pan-African bloc. The Security Council Resolution 1907, which was passed in 2009, accused the Red Sea nation of fueling peace and security perils in the troubled Horn of Africa region, mainly an alleged support to the terrorist group al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia. It also passed three other sanctions on Eritrea in three other resolutions from 2011 to 2013. The Ethiopian government, which had been a major proponent of stiffer sanctions against its former regional arch-rival Eritrea for the past two decades, was the first to congratulate Eritrea on the lifting of sanctions, reiterating intention to build on recent diplomatic successes for further regional stability and integration. "The lifting of sanctions will further enhance the collaborative gains that have been achieved in the region over the last few months," the Ethiopian Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Wednesday. "It will have far-reaching effects in improving the stability of the Horn of Africa region and in building a lasting peace and normalization of relations among the countries in the region," the statement read. "It is a significant step towards deepening the economic, social and cultural ties the sisterly nations of Ethiopia and Eritrea enjoy," the statement reads. Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo, who welcomed the lifting of arms and other targeted embargoes on his country's former regional rival, also said that the lifting of sanctions was a result of "our collective request." Noting the UN Security Council's decision as a "helpful and timely intervention," Farmajo also reiterated that the Horn of Africa region is swiftly progressing towards partnership and economic cooperation." Eritrea's Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel also hailed the contribution from regional neighboring countries towards the lifting of the sanctions. "The government of Eritrea expresses its gratitude to all friends of Eritrea who added their moral weight, and contributed in different ways, to the lifting of the ignominious sanction," Gebremeskel said in a statement that followed the council's decision. "Eritrea as a nation is committed to working with all its neighbors. The peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and the tripartite agreement between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, mark the beginning of a new dawn," said Amanuel Giorgio, Eritrean Permanent Representative to the UN. The lifting of sanctions on Wednesday followed series of meeting and partnership agreements that mainly involved Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti. After decades of hostility and rivalry, a recent thaw in relations between the three Horn of Africa nations of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia is considered a new beginning towards normalizing diplomatic relations in the troubled region. Eritrea and Somalia, which have been blaming each other for supporting rebel and terrorist groups, had recently commenced diplomatic relations, marking a new beginning among the two countries. Recent positive developments between Ethiopia and Eritrea also came after two decades of bitter armed standoff since the two countries' bloody two-year border war from 1998-2000, that killed an estimated 70,000 people from both sides. Countries such as China and United Kingdom also on Wednesday called for support to the region as the sanctions on Eritrea were lifted. Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN, Ma Zhaoxu, on Wednesday called on the Security Council and international community to provide assistance to the countries in the Horn of Africa. Ma said that the relations between countries in the Horn of Africa have been continually improving over past few months. Noting that the lifting of sanctions is conducive to the peace and development in the region, Ma also pledged that China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in achieving peace, stability and development for the countries in the Horn of Africa. The UK, which chaired the drafting process of the resolution to lift sanctions, said via its Ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce that the resolution recognizes improvements in regional peace and security. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 04:55:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Photo taken on Nov. 15, 2018 shows the United Nations Security Council voting on a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) till Dec. 15, 2018, at the UN headquarters in New York. The Security Council on Thursday unanimously approved a technical roll-over of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) for a month to allow negotiations on regular renewal. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Thursday unanimously approved a technical roll-over of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) for a month to allow negotiations on regular renewal. Resolution 2446 extends the peacekeeping mission's mandate till Dec. 15, 2018. The technical roll-over is a necessity as the mandate of the mission, known by its French acronym as MINUSCA, expires midnight Thursday. France drafted Resolution 2446 after its draft resolution for a regular renewal of MINUSCA's mandate for a year failed to get the approval of Russia and the United States -- two Security Council members that have veto power. Russia wanted its presence and peace efforts in the CAR to be recognized in the French draft while the United States expressed concern over possible increases in costs from the proposed new task of supporting newly trained CAR troops in their deployment. The French-U.S. difference was solved through the agreement that there should be no additional costs for the new task. U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jonathan Cohen said Thursday after the council vote that his country supports the addition of the new task in the next mandate that would allow "limited logistical support" to the CAR military, police and gendarmerie -- by using existing resources. The technical roll-over would allow time for full notification within the U.S. government as required by U.S. law, he said. But Russia on Thursday demanded "significant additional efforts" from France toward the regular renewal of MINUSCA's mandate. The fact that France addressed the U.S. concern inspired optimism, said Russia's First Deputy Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy. "Since you heard their views, kindly listen to ours as well." The French draft insists on an African Union-led political process in the CAR. France does not see Russia's efforts in the African country, including Moscow's brokering of a preliminary agreement between CAR armed groups signed at the end of August in Khartoum, as helpful, according to its Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly. Russia is also providing weapons to the CAR and has trainers in the country. Before the vote on Thursday, French ambassador to the United Nations Francois Delattre remained adamant. "There must not be any ambiguity vis-a-vis the centrality of the African Union initiative," Delattre told the Security Council. "We have tirelessly, through in-depth consultations, sought to strike a delicate balance among the various positions that have been put forward. We, I believe, have struck this balance," he said, referring to the draft resolution for a regular renewal. Polyanskiy of Russia indicated that France, the former colonial power in the CAR, should "set aside historical complexes, egotism, parochial national interests" over the issue. "Those who have approached this with good intention should have no hidden agendas, no malign competitive interests," he told the Security Council after the vote. The Russian ambassador said the CAR should not be an area for competition between powers, but rather a platform for concerted action for peace. "We are proactively helping the CAR knowingly with the support of the people in the country and we would like our efforts to be duly reflected in the French draft," said Polyanskiy. "We stand ready to continue to work on your draft in a spirit of mutual respect so that in one month it will not be necessary for you to jeopardize such an important unity of the council on the issue discussed today -- unity important for us and our friends in the CAR." The CAR has been in civil war since 2012, which is being fought along religious and ethnic lines. The CAR government, which controls only one fifth of the country's territory, wants MINUSCA to take up more security responsibilities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 05:21:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday blasted plots to cripple his country's efforts to achieve peace in Central African Republic (CAR). "Many envy Sudan over its endeavors to achieve peace in the region and tend to cripple its efforts to achieve it in the CAR," said al-Bashir during his address to the conference of the Islamic Movement in Khartoum. "All the conflicting parties in the CAR are convinced that Sudan can achieve peace in their country," especially after it has succeeded in doing so in South Sudan, he added. Sudan has become a refuge for those who seek peace and safety, the Sudanese president noted. In August, Khartoum hosted a session of talks between the CAR's Seleka armed opposition and the Anti-Balaka militia group under a Russian initiative and the patronage of al-Bashir. The talks concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which requires the establishment of a joint body for peace aiming at renouncing violence and extremism, cessation of hostilities and allowing free movement of citizens and trade with neighboring countries. A new round of peace talks between the CAR's conflicting parties was set to be held in Khartoum by mid November, but Khartoum announced on Sunday its postponement upon the request of the African Union (AU) as the talks would coincide with the AU Extraordinary Summit on the Institutional Reform in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Since 2013, the CAR has been suffering from a religious and ethnic conflict after the Muslim-majority Seleka armed opposition seized power, which led to reprisal operations by the Anti-Balaka militia group. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 05:21:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Romanian government approved on Thursday the legal framework for the establishment of sovereign wealth funds for development and investment, announced Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. "Every sovereign wealth fund...will provide Romania with cost-effective and sustainable investments in development areas, or areas that need development and investment," the minister told a press conference after the government meeting. According to him, the funds will make a decisive contribution to the development of Romania's economy by "providing alternative sources of funding for important investments in infrastructure, industry or capital markets." The legal form of organizing these sovereign funds is that of Romanian joint-stock companies under terms to be established separately under government decisions. The funds will be managed in a dualistic system, by a Management Board made up of seven members, under the oversight of a Supervisory Board made up of nine members, according to the minister, adding that the members of the Supervisory Board are appointed by the General Shareholders Meeting for a term of five years. At the beginning of the government meeting on Thursday, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated that "We need this financial instrument to support Romania's economic development. A development model like this has been successfully implemented in other countries, with benefits on many levels, through profitable investments and backing of projects in priority fields." The funds will support such fields and development activities as: financing of Romanian companies of a strategic importance, investments in industry and infrastructure, contributing to an increase in competitiveness of the national economy, to the development of the energy strategy, capital markets, said the prime minister, stressing that "these are large projects that we can develop together with other institutional or private developers, including through the participation in public-private partnerships, as we committed ourselves to do under the governing programme." According to governmental sources, the funds will manage stakes in some 30 of the most profitable state-owned companies and will have an initial social capital of 9 billion lei (2.25 billion U.S. dollars). Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 05:36:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANAA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday denied reports that a cease-fire was reached between their fighters and the Saudi-led coalition in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, the rebel-controlled Saba news agency reported. "The Saudi-led coalition has been trying to ease the international humanitarian pressure on its countries by spreading rumors about a truce," Houthi government spokesman Dhaif-Allah al-Shami said in a statement. "The reports of Hodeidah truce is baseless and aimed to mislead the world public opinion," he added. "What has been going on in Hodeidah was that the coalition forces are preparing for a further military escalation," al-Shami noted. Earlier in the day, Houthi media reported that clashes broke out between their fighters and the government troops, backed by the coalition, in and around the port city. In the capital Sanaa, also under the Houthi control, a coalition airstrike hit the Sanaa International Airport in the evening, according to the residents and Houthi media. The Yemeni government sees the capture of Hodeidah as a potential major victory in the four-year-long civil war, as the loser of the battle is likely to be forced to sit down at the negotiation table. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 05:41:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Egypt said on Thursday that it will continue efforts to cool off conditions in the Gaza Strip after two days of fierce fighting between Gaza militants and the Israeli army. Addressing a meeting of the Arab League council on the Israeli attacks on Gaza, Egypt's delegate to the Arab League Yasser al-Atwi said his country is following up with the aftermath in the enclave, warning of the seriousness of the volatile situation. Al-Atwi called on Israel to immediately cease all air raids as well as the use of excessive military force. He called for avoiding any acts that jeopardize the already worsening humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories. The Egyptian official also urged the international community to shoulder their responsibilities toward the Palestinians and activate resolutions to restore Palestinians' rights. Al-Atwi reiterated Egypt's commitment to all legitimate rights of Palestinians. On Tuesday, Egypt brokered a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas-led militant groups in the Gaza Strip, which ended two days of confrontations that killed at least eight and wounded more than 20 civilians. Tension between Gaza and Israel mounted on Monday evening, when Gaza militant groups fired a barrage of rockets from the coastal enclave into southern Israel. The rockets came in retaliation for the killing of seven Hamas militants on Sunday night east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, where one Israeli army officer was also killed in the exchange of fire. In response, Israeli war jets carried out intensive airstrikes across the blockaded Palestinian enclave, destroying buildings, homes of Hamas leaders and a television station owned by Hamas. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 05:46:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Department of Defense announced Thursday the realignment of Counter-Violent Extremist Organization (C-VEO) personnel operating in U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). A Pentagon statement said that the realignment projects a reduction of less than 10 percent of the 7,200 military forces serving in Africa Command over the next several years. The statement said the C-VEO activities in Somalia, Djibouti and Libya would remain at the current level, while in other regions, such as West Africa, the United States would shift its emphasis from tactical assistance to advising, assisting, liaising, and sharing intelligence. The force optimization preserved the majority of U.S. security cooperation partnerships and programs in Africa to strengthen partner networks, and enhance partner capability and support ongoing programs, said the statement. Pentagon said the realignment aimed to support priorities outlined in the National Defense Strategy. According to its official website, AFRICOM began initial operations on Oct. 1, 2007, and officially became fully operational capable on Oct. 1, 2008. It is responsible for U.S. military relations with African nations, the African Union, and African regional security organizations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 05:51:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Egypt commended on Thursday the measures taken by Saudi Arabia to probe the murder of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. All concerned parties abide by the current track of the case and keep away from politicizing or bargaining on it, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement. Earlier in the day, Saudi Public Prosecution (SPP) revealed the details about the murder of Khashoggi, saying he was murdered with the injection of a drug with his body dismembered, after his altercation with a group of Saudi agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. "Egypt has been following with deep concern the statement released by the SPP on the outcome of investigations into the murder of Khashoggi, which proved to be transparent and reflected the seriousness of the kingdom in revealing the facts about the case," the statement said. Khashoggi, a journalist for The Washington Post and a strong critic of the Saudi government, disappeared on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for his marriage documents. After initial denials, Saudi authorities admitted late last month that Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate and arrested 18 individuals in relation to the case. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 06:16:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from China's Sichuan Province is visiting the Silicon Valley and looks to collaborate with the region's high-tech and business communities. The delegation, headed by Tang Limin, secretary general of Sichuan Provincial government, participated in a forum hosted by the Bay Area Council on Wednesday in San Francisco to promote an economic zone and boost bilateral ties. "We are hear to learn," Tang told the forum, which attracted dozens of local business leaders. "The relationship between Sichuan and California in the past year has grown stronger than the last decade." He said California and Sichuan have a lot in common, for instance, they are both in the west of their countries and they both focus on innovation and technology. "The potential for cooperation is great," he said. San Francisco has a large Chinese community, and it's valuable to continue the relationship between the city and China, said Manish Goyal, manager of San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. "We can work together to look at how we adopt more smart city solutions, such as making transportation, delivery of water and energy more efficient, so we can make our cities better," he said. During the forum, two films promoting Sichuan Province and the Tianfu New Area in Meishan City were screening. Approved in 2014, the Tianfu New Area became the 11th national-level new economic zone in China, spanning southeast of Chengdu and northern Meishan. "The unique geographic advantages and forward-looking scientific positioning makes the Tianfu New Area an ideal location for attracting investment from around the world," said Huang Jiandong, deputy secretary of the Meishan Municipal Party Committee. The area focuses on such fields as electronic information, digital economy, high-end service, equipment manufacturing, and new materials. The area houses a few projects in collaboration with California. California Smart Town is an innovative project to promote China-U.S. cultural exchanges and scientific and technological cooperation. The California-featured project, designed with the concept of "open, smart, ecological and harmonious," will include research centers, incubators, as well as commercial and residential space. The University of California, Berkeley, and Sichuan University are jointly building a research institute focusing on science, engineering and business, in the Tianfu New Area. The delegation also visited Autodesk and a few other high-tech companies in the Bay Area after the forum. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 06:16:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- SpaceX launched a Qatar satellite on Thursday with its Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the U.S. space agency NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the state of Florida. The Es' hail-2 satellite was lifted off at 3:46 p.m. EST and the communication satellite was deployed to a geostationary transfer orbit about 32 minutes after liftoff. "Successful deployment of Es' hail-2 to geostationary transfer orbit confirmed," according to SpaceX's official Twitter account. This launch marked Falcon 9's 18th successful launch this year, equalizing the record the private rocket launch company made last year. SpaceX may have four additional flights before the end of December. Falcon 9's first stage for the mission, once supporting the Telstar 19 VANTAGE mission in July 2018, was recovered about eight minutes after the launch on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket capable of re-flight. The rocket reusability is a breakthrough needed to reduce the cost of access to space and enable people to live on other planets, according to SpaceX. The Es' hail-2 satellite is based on the Mitsubishi Electric DS 2000 satellite bus. It will provide business and government sectors with secure communications across the Middle East and North Africa region. Its multi-mission architecture will enable the satellite to respond to demand for the fastest growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa, including content transfer, broadcast distribution, enterprise communications, and government services, according to SpaceX. Syrian Democratic Forces and U.S. troops are seen during a patrol near Turkish border in Hasakah, Syria, on Nov. 4, 2018. (Reuters photo) DAMASCUS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 105 people have been killed over the past seven days in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour as a result of U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) positions, a war monitor reported Thursday. A total of 80 children and women were among those killed by the intense U.S.-led airstrikes that have been targeting the last IS-held pocket in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The London-based watchdog said the death toll will likely rise as people are still stuck in the rubble. Airstrikes on the last IS-held pocket on the eastern bank of Euphrates River have recently intensified as the U.S-backed Kurdish militias were planning a second wave of attacks on the IS after a failed attempt on Sept. 10. On Saturday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry renewed in a statement its call on the UN to form "an independent international mechanism" to investigate the "crimes of the Washington coalition" and punish the perpetrators. The Syrian government has long questioned the intention of the U.S.-led operations in this oil-rich area inside Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 06:26:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close THESSALONIKI, Greece, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said here Thursday that the messages from Brussels to allow the Greek government to suspend legislated social security cuts are very positive to the country's economic recovery and growth. "The news from Eurogroup Working Group's meeting is very positive," Tsipras told the third "Thessaloniki Summit 2018", organized by the General Assembly of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (FING). The Greek prime minister referred to Thursday's positive messages from the Eurogroup Working Group meeting that provided the green light to the Greek government's request to suspend legislated social security cuts. "The country can look ahead with more optimism through the economic recovery and can implement its own national growth strategy plan," Tsipras said, stressing that those investing in prophecies of disaster had been proved wrong. According to Tsipras, a series of significant and necessary measures to ease the financial burdens will be included in the 2019 draft budget. He said the unemployment rates were steadily dropping. "In August, the unemployment rate was at 18.9 percent and showed a decrease of 8.6 percentage points compared to August 2013," he said. He also stressed that the most dynamic element was the drop in youth unemployment, which had declined from 50 percent in August 2014 to 36.8 percent in August 2018. In addition, in 2017 there was the largest increase in Foreign Direct Investment of the last decade, up 86 percent compared to August 2014. "The latest official figures show a 16.9 percent increase in exports in the first nine months of 2018, in comparison to the same nine months in 2017," he cited. During the opening ceremony of the third Thessaloniki Summit, the Greek prime minister praised the prospects for joint development and cooperation with the Balkan countries as "the prospects of the future". Outlining the cooperation among the countries of the Western Balkans, Tsipras mentioned energy, transport and infrastructure projects as part of the agenda of the summit attended by Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Ana Birchall. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 06:31:33|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu (C, Front) addresses a Security Council meeting on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel at the UN headquarters in New York, on Nov. 15, 2018. Ma Zhaoxu on Thursday urged international support for a 16-month-old regional force set up with the aim to tackle insurgents in the Sahel region. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's envoy to the United Nations on Thursday urged international support for a 16-month-old regional force set up with the aim to tackle insurgents in the Sahel region. At a Security Council meeting on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Ma Zhaoxu said the joint force is "facing real difficulties, including worsening regional security, inadequate operational capabilities, equipment and training, as well as funding shortages." In July 2017, five Sahel nations, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad and Mauritania, set up the joint force with the aim to roll back terrorism and lawlessness in the aftermath of a Tuareg separatist uprising in northern Mali in 2012. However, due to inefficient financing, the joint force has met difficulties in attaining full operational capacity. In his statement, Ma noted the joint force represents an important contribution to peace and security in Africa and world at large, and stressed it requires continued support from the international community. Moreover, he highlighted the need to "comprehensively implement policies" to tackle the root causes of the conflict in the Sahel, as well as to leverage the role of regional mechanisms in addressing relevant issues. Concluding his statement, the Chinese envoy pledged that China is ready to work with the international community in continuing to play a constructive role in achieving peace and stability in the Sahel region and on the African continent. The Sahel region stretches across the south-central part of Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea, touching multiple countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-16 06:41:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's envoy to the United Nations on Thursday urged international support for a 16-month-old regional force set up with the aim to tackle insurgents in the Sahel region. At a Security Council meeting on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Ma Zhaoxu said the joint force is "facing real difficulties, including worsening regional security, inadequate operational capabilities, equipment and training, as well as funding shortages." In July 2017, five Sahel nations, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad and Mauritania, set up the joint force with the aim to roll back terrorism and lawlessness in the aftermath of a Tuareg separatist uprising in northern Mali in 2012. However, due to inefficient financing, the joint force has met difficulties in attaining full operational capacity. In his statement, Ma noted the joint force represents an important contribution to peace and security in Africa and world at large, and stressed it requires continued support from the international community. Moreover, he highlighted the need to "comprehensively implement policies" to tackle the root causes of the conflict in the Sahel, as well as to leverage the role of regional mechanisms in addressing relevant issues. Concluding his statement, the Chinese envoy pledged that China is ready to work with the international community in continuing to play a constructive role in achieving peace and stability in the Sahel region and on the African continent. The Sahel region stretches across the south-central part of Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea, touching multiple countries. Earlier at the meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix highlighted the funding inefficiency for the joint force. "To this date, almost 50 percent of pledges generated (for the joint force) have not been earmarked, let alone disbursed," he said. He urged donors to deliver on their commitments and to provide the financial support to the joint force urgently needs. I know many XpatLoop readers, and in particular my fellow UK nationals, will continue to be concerned about what this means for them. From the beginning of this process, the Prime Minister has been clear that safeguarding citizens rights has been her first priority. The draft Agreement contains provisions securing the rights of around one million UK nationals living in the EU and more than three million EU citizens living in the UK. The draft includes provisions to allow UK nationals in Hungary, along with their family members, to be able to carry on living their lives as they do now. They will be able to carry on living, working or studying in Hungary for as long as they want to. Their right to remain in Hungary will be protected now, during the implementation period and beyond. Under the text agreed in principle, UK nationals will also continue to be able to access entitlements to social security on the same basis as Hungarian citizens living in Hungary. They will be entitled to have their social security contributions made before and after exit in the UK, or in another Member State, count towards a future UK or EU Member State pension. Their children will continue to enjoy access to education on the same basis that Hungarian children do. In short, most of what they do (or are entitled to do) on a daily basis will not change. This is a major step forward, but is not the end of the process. UK and EU leaders will need to agree a Political Declaration on the future relationship, alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, at a special European Council on 25 November. Then UK and EU Parliaments must approve the deal. As the Prime Minister said following the Cabinet meeting on 14 November, there will be difficult days ahead. As I said in my September open letter published on XpatLoop, I would strongly urge UK nationals here to register with the Hungarian authorities. All UK nationals who have been residing in Hungary for 3 months and wish to continue to live here through self-sufficient means, or wish to continue studying or working here, must register with the relevant regional directorate of the Hungarian Immigration and Asylum Office. This is a long-standing requirement. The application fee is HUF 1,000. For further information, visit the website of the Immigration and Asylum Office. The Hungarian Government, along with other Member States, are making plans for the practical aspects of applying the Withdrawal Agreement. This includes any administrative procedures UK nationals will need to follow after our departure from the EU. We do not yet have exact details of this, but are working closely with the Hungarian Government to ensure information is provided to UK nationals in a timely manner. We will publicise information provided by the Hungarian Government when this becomes available. To build on this, the British Embassy is planning to hold another town hall meeting for UK nationals in December in Budapest. We expect to have a senior representative of the Hungarian government joining us. If you would like to attend, you can follow the Embassys Facebook and Twitter pages, where more details will appear in due course, as it will on XpatLoop. Where you can find out more The UK Government website has a range of documents that concern the UKs departure from the EU, including a section on what you need to know as a British citizen living in the EU The online Do I Need a Visa tool will be useful for those who are thinking of going on holiday to the UK with family members who are not British or EU citizens. For those thinking about returning to the UK with family members who are not British or EU citizens click here. If you are unsure if your family member is a British Citizen click here for related info. You can also find out more information about processes while in Hungary, including applying for a British passport or naturalisation by following this link. Our contact with UK nationals has shown that some of you are not sure what your entitlements and obligations are as EU citizens living in another Member State. It is impossible to put in writing detailed information that would reflect all of your individual circumstances and situations. I would, however, encourage you to use the resources of the European Unions website. The EU's website has a whole range of easy-to-follow explanations of how pensions, social security payments, driving licences, education and a whole range of other topics in the EU work. The Your Europe website is available in all community languages. One particular area of interest is how state pensions are calculated, particularly where you have been making contributions in more than one Member State, for example both in the UK and in Hungary. The above website explains how the relevant departments in EU Member States calculate entitlements. HM Revenue and Customs also have an online portal that allows you to check your National Insurance record. And the UK governments International Pension Centre provides more information on pension entitlements while overseas. Finally, as more information is released, we will publish this through the Embassys social media channels on Facebook (UKinHungary) and on Twitter (@UKinHungary), and you can look here on XpatLoop. We continue to talk to the Hungarian Government to discuss what UK nationals may need to do in the future and to encourage information to be shared when decisions are made. I would also recommend that you subscribe to Brexit e-mail alerts and Living in Hungary which will be the quickest way to get up-to-date information. Should you have any questions to which you are unable to find answers using these online resources please contact the Embassy at Consular.Budapest@fco.gov.uk. I hope you have found this update helpful. Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador To Hungary Former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has submitted an asylum application to the Hungarian authorities, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed in a statement. Gruevski said on his Facebook page on Tuesday that he was staying in Budapest and had sought political asylum in Hungary. The Prime Ministers Office told MTI that Gruevski had filed a declaration of intent to apply for refugee status. Hungarian authorities allowed the former Macedonian prime minister to submit his asylum application and have his hearing take place at the national immigration and citizenship offices headquarters for safety reasons, the statement added. The immigration office is handling the asylum procedure in line with Hungarian and international law, it said. The PMs Office stressed that Macedonia is a strategic partner and important ally to Hungary. Close cooperation between the two countries is an important cornerstone of the development of the Balkan region and Europes security, the statement said. Hungarys partnership in international relations is with the Macedonian government, the office said, adding that Hungary therefore had no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign countries. Related articles: Former Macedonian PM Seeks Political Asylum In Hungary MTI Photo: Balogh Zoltan Ambassador Anunciada Fernandez de Cordova arrived in Budapest this Spring, and presented her credentials on June 25. She has a Law degree, she's also a poet, and an enthusiastic bicycle rider. She started her diplomatic career in the Embassy of Spain in Ghana. She has served in different positions in the public (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Interior) and private sectors. In 1993 she was admitted to the staff of His Majesty the Kings Office, where she remained until 1999, when she accepted the post of Director General of the UNI2 Foundation. In 2006 back at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she was promoted to Director General for Iberoamerican Multilateral Organizations, and in 2009 she was appointed as Ambassador of Spain to Slovenia. In 2015 she returned to Spain as Vice-Counsellor of Culture and Tourism of the Community of Madrid. From 2017 until her appointment as Ambassador to Hungary, she worked as Chief Advisor for Central Europe for the Director General for Europe in the Spanish MFA. Besides her official activities, Ambassador Fernandez de Cordova is a known author of poems and narrative with numerous publications in Spain, Her poems have been translated into Slovenian, member of the jury of the Queen Sofia Prize for Iberoamerican Poetry, and in general consumer and admirer of all cultural genres. She graduated from the Diplomatic School and in 1983 she got admitted to the Spanish Diplomatic Service. 1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here? I arrived on May 15th, posted as Ambassador of Spain to Hungary. May 15th is Madrids patron Saints day, San Isidro. I felt like that was a good omen. 2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere? Yes. I am a diplomat, and a daughter of a diplomat, so I have lived in several countries from my early childhood. I learned to speak Spanish in Chile, where my father was posted, and I had a lovely Chilean accent as a little girl. I have lived in Chile, France, Morocco, Ireland, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Slovenia I always was the new student at school. 3. What surprised you most about Hungary? I was in charge of Hungary back at the Foreign Ministry, but I was surprised by the solid presence of Spanish companies in Hungary. 4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? My favourite area in Pest is from the Parliament to St Stephens basilica: beautiful buildings, cafes, restaurants, terraces I also find it very pleasant to take a boat trip on the Danube, which is such a protagonist of Budapest, to have a global sight of the city, both Buda and Pest. And of course the Castle, the Central Market, Vorosmarty sq. area 5. What is your favourite Hungarian food? Duck and duck liver. 6. What is never missing from your refrigerator? Cheese. 7. What is your favourite Hungarian word? Jo napot. 8. What do you miss the most from home? Madrids unique clear blue sky. 9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue? Being a writer. Up until now, I have been able to combine diplomacy and writing. 10. Whats a job you would definitely never want? Being a politician. 11. Where did you spend your last vacation? In Ruiloba, a tiny village in Cantabria, in the North of Spain. 12. Where do you hope to spend your next one? In Ruiloba. I have a house there, which is a family gathering point, and have good friends around. 13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen? I loved dancing, climbing trees, listening to The Beatles, the movie Sting. Paul Newman and Robert Redford were my favourite actors. 14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist? Dancing when I listen to some music I like. Cheese. 15. Red wine or white? Red. 16. Book or movie? Book 17. Morning person or night person? I used to be a night person, but I have become a morning person. 18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? Womens rights. 19. Buda side or Pest side? Pest, lively Budapest is in Pest. 20. What would you say is your personal motto? If you want to collect, you have to sow. Grew up in Santa Barbara California, doing a stint in the United States Air Force where they discovered I was better suited for other activities. Moved to Beverly Hills to go to college, graduating as a Doctor of Chiropractic in 1985 whereupon I moved to Stockholm for, what was meant to be, a 2 year visit. Well, here I am still traveling the world. While having my clinic in a Stockholm hospital I was also carrying several other hats and responsibilities. One of them as the Chairman of Republicans Abroad for Sweden, a position I held for 4 years from 85-89. Concurrent with my business duties from 86-87 I was also working with then President General Mohammed Zia-ul-haq of Pakistan until his untimely death also being in close contact with the Mujahideen from Peshawar in the Northwest Frontier where I spent some time. Concurrently, I spent a considerable amount of time in the Soviet Union seeing first hand that region of the world spending most of the time in Moscow, Leningrad and Ufa, Bashkiria. Aside from visiting the Peoples Republics in Poland, East Germany, Romania, then Czechoslovakia, in April 1989 I came to Budapest to interview survivors of the holocaust that may have known Raoul Wallenberg back in the day. During that visit to Budapest I also worked with United States Ambassador Mark Palmer on a concept he stood behind, which was a private radio for Hungary. Later this became a Voice of America station, historically the first radio in VOA's decades of existence, to broadcast from within a Soviet block country. Some of your readers may remember this as Hid Radio or Radio Bridge. It was an extremely instrumental tool at the time to disseminate news that did not necessarily follow the local political line and then later, after the change of the political landscape in Hungary, as a tool to teach English in the schools of Budapest. Another first was the establishment, here in Hungary, of the first Republicans Abroad chapter in a Peoples Republic, a position I held for many years. In 1989 I actually thought I would be in Hungary for 6 months, and here I am 29 years later having had companies in a wide variety of diverse fields from gambling, gaming, ISP, manufacturing, distribution, oil & gas, real estate, the list goes on. To be fair I have spent time in between in Serbia, Czech Republic, Ukraine and elsewhere mostly for business but also as Chairman of Republicans Abroad Serbia. Today I am a resident of United Arab Emirates where I am the Chairman of Republicans Overseas for all the Emirates. My work is once again mainly in the field of oil and gas as the CEO of such a company in Pakistan. 1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here? April 1989. Interview survivors of the Holocaust that may have known Wallenberg and the establishment of Voice America via Hid Radio (Radio Bridge). 2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere? Yes, Sweden, Emirates. 3. What surprised you most about Hungary? Hungarys ability to survive as a nation for more then a Millennia despite being used and abused by so many invaders and neighbors over time. 4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? Visit a thermal bath, the Castle District, Andrassy Street, Heros Square (and its museums), the Great Synagogue, Basilica, Parliament, Terror House, and a Danube River Cruise. If you time it right, you can do it!! 5. What is your favourite Hungarian food? Turos Csusza 6. What is never missing from your refrigerator? Trappista Cheese 7. What is your favourite Hungarian word? Nagyszeru. 8. What do you miss the most from home? Giant organic supermarkets. 9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue? Archaeologist. 10. What's a job you would definitely never want? Air Traffic Controller 11. Where did you spend your last vacation? The Emirates. 12. Where do you hope to spend your next one? Florida 13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen? The OJays, Scarface, and Stamp Collecting 14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist? Mountain Biking 15. Red wine or white? Neither, more Vodka please! 16. Book or movie? Movie 17. Morning person or night person? Night Person 18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? The individual free right to choose, with as little government interference as possible. 19. Buda side or Pest side? Buda to live Pest to work and play. 20. What would you say is your personal motto? Live your life to complete your bucket list. The trick to making the perfect Thanksgiving turkey, is brining! Learn How to Brine a Turkey for Thanksgiving that will have all your guests in love with how moist it is! What does brining a turkey do? Ill save you the google searches and give you the food science 101 on turkey brining. Essentially the salt from the brine loosens up the muscle fibers in the meat and allows them to absorb more moisture and release less during the cooking process. This makes turkey less dry after cooking and gives you more tender meat. My husband Parker can tell you more about the nerdy science behind it all but were here for turkey right? So lets learn how to brine a turkey for Thanksgiving this year! Can I stuff my Brined Turkey? I always stuff my turkeys when they cook with onions, herbs and sometimes sliced oranges! But You actually dont want to put the stuffing youll eat into them. But as you can see in my photos from a shoot a did with Home with Holly J I love the look of a turkey with stuffing coming out of it! So we put a huge scoop into the bird when we placed it on the table to still get that magazine look! Make sure you check out Hollys fun new blog, her tablescapes are beyond gorgeous! Heres a video of How to Brine a Turkey: Whats in a Turkey Brine? A turkey brine is a mixture of salts and aromatic herbs and spices that give the turkey more flavor while locking in moisture. There are tons of turkey brining recipes out there with all sorts of variations and add-ins from soy sauce to star anise and everything in between. I decided to come up with a pretty simple brine recipe because Thanksgiving already is the most hectic cooking day of the year so why not make things easier! In all reality, the salt is the main player in the brine because its doing most of the work, but dont get me wrong, those other flavors are just as essential. If you only brine with salt water, then youll end up with a plump turkey full of water but devoid of flavor. So that extra liquid were filling the bird with needs to be packed with flavor! I go with some extra herbs and seasonings that naturally go with poultry like oregano, thyme, and others and then some brown sugar to sweeten things up a little. How long does a turkey need to brine? First things first, a Thanksgiving turkey takes way more time than just the time it spends in the oven. Plan on picking up your turkey several days in advance because youll need to take into account several days to thaw, a day to brine, and then the big day in the oven, smoker, fryer, or whatever you have planned. Plan for one hour of brine time for every pound of turkey. For example, a 20-pound bird should brine for 20 hours. Pretty straightforward. If you want to go above and beyond, brine your turkey a few days early and then give the bird a day to air dry in the fridge overnight. The less moisture on the skin means the crispier it will get. Can I use the turkey drippings for gravy? Some people do use the drippings for gravy and some people dont. If you decide to use the drippings just be sure to taste as you go and make sure its not salty. I like to add cream to my gravy because I like the balance of flavors. Pro tip: you can also add 1-2 raw, quartered potatoes to the drippings as you make the gravy. Potatoes naturally absorb salt and this should reduce the overall salt content of the gravy after 15-25 minutes. Well I hope you learned How to Brine a Turkey for Thanksgiving that will wow all your guests this year! 5 from 1 vote Print How to Brine a Turkey for Thanksgiving Ingredients 1 turkey thawed 2 gallons water divided 1 1/2 cup salt 1 cup brown sugar 2 tbsp peppercorns 1 tbsp oregano dried 1 tbsp thyme dried or fresh 1 tbsp sage dried 1 tbsp rosmary dried or fresh Instructions Pour one gallon (16 cups) of water into a large pot. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove from heat and let cool for 15-20 minutes. Place a brining bag in a 5-gallon bucket or cooler. Pour one gallon of ice water into the bucket, then the brining solution, then place your turkey in the bag. Zip closed. Place the turkey in the fridge for 24 hours or one hour per pound of turkey. After 24 hours, remove the turkey from the brining solution, place on a rimmed baking sheet and pat the skin dry with paper towel. Be sure to get the skin as dry as possible. Prepare and cook the turkey as desired. Coun Perez reiterates warning to barangay leaders involved in drugs 07 Aug 2017 Hits:37 Comments(0) Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jerry Perez yesterday reiterated his warning to all barangay officials from using or selling drugs. Perez said he is closely monitoring the activities of all the barangay officials and vowed sanctions against erring leaders. Aqui gane na mio barangay ya quita ya iyo na puesto cunel dos barangay leaders quien mas temprano ya sale positivo na... Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Jucatorii echipei nationale de fotbal au cerut conducerii federatiei sa il convinga pe Mirel Radoi sa continue la conducerea primei reprezentative, a declarat, miercuri, Mihai Stoichita, directorul tehnic al FRF."Au venit 12 jucatori, eu nu mint. Ne-am intors de la Vaduz si jucatorii - Romania has one of the "lowest" rates of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the European Union, stated, on Tuesday, in Glasgow, President Klaus Iohannis, who added that Romania is committing to increasing, in the future, the percentage of electrical energy coming from renewable sources. "We - Prof.dr. Viorel Scripcariu, rectorul Universitatii de Medicina si Farmacie Grigore T. Popa" din Iasi, a fost reales, cu unanimitate de voturi, membru in Comitetul Executiv al Asociatiei Scolilor de Medicina Europene (Association of Medical Schools in Europe - AMSE). Adunarea Generala AMSE a avut loc, - Liceenii romani pot studia un an in SUA. S-a deschis aplicatia pentru Future Leaders Exchange Program FLEX 2022-2023. Conditii Ambasada Statelor Unite in Romania si American Councils for International Education (Consiliile Americane pentru Educatie Internationala) invita liceenii cu cetatenie romana - The states of the European Union are committing over 48 billion euros for railway projects through their national recovery and resilience plans, and Romania's metro and railway projects amount to 4.5 billion euros, the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean told on Friday a press conference - Folosirea certificatului verde COVID in localitatile in care incidenta este mai mare 3 la mia de locuitori ne ajuta sa nu inchidem economia, sustine premierul Florin Citu. Nu este o forma de discriminare, pentru ca accesul este permis atat celor vaccinati, cat si celor care au trecut prin boala sau - The increase in the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection will continue in the coming period, and over 92 pct of deaths were recorded in unvaccinated persons, announced, on Tuesday, the the president of Romania's National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV), military doctor Valeriu - Prime Minister Florin Citu said on Wednesday night for the private TV broadcaster Digi 24 that his resignation from office would mean that he is "irresponsible", that he agrees to throw the "country in the air" on the eve of winter. "That would mean that I am being irresponsible too. The world Ibanestiul recicleaza! Sambata, 27 noiembrie 2021, in comuna Ibanesti va avea loc o noua actiune de colectare gratuita a deseurilor electrice si electronice. Locuitorii comunei, care au aparatura electrica si electronica stricata sau pe care nu o mai folosesc, au posibilitatea sa o predea masinii de colectare care va circula intre orele 09.00-16.00. Colectarea este gratuita [citeste mai departe] There's an old-time "let's-put-on-a-show" aspect to LALO, the Filipino lunch stand at the new Bourse Food Hall across from Independence Mall, as well as a splash of serendipity: Three millennials of Filipino heritage, all friends with ties to the hospitality industry, rued the dearth of Pinoy food options four years ago. They began a series of pop-up restaurants under the name Pelago. Emboldened by the critical reception, they began looking for a permanent location and found a chef to add professionalism. Then the Bourse began soliciting vendors for its new project. That was enough to convince Jillian Encarnacion, who grew up in Bucks County, to pull the trigger. For 35 years, her grandfather Bas sold kebabs and other Filipino-inspired foods from a cart parked on Sixth Street, directly across the mall. Her family, including her father, Willie, also owned several now-closed restaurants, including Manila Bay. Her spouse, Resa Mueller (raised all over; mother was born in the Philippines), photographer-farmer Neal Santos (who grew up in Jersey City), and chef Michael Cher (who grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County) signed on, too. At LOLA a portmanteau of the Tagalog words lolo (grandfather) and lola (grandmother) you can get the skewers known as inihaw served with garlic rice, the veggie-filled crepes known as lumpiang sariwa, and house-made sweet garlic pork Longanisa sausages served on a roll, with Gina brand mango and calamansi juices. How did this get started? Resa: I was working on Feastival [the annual food festival benefiting FringeArts]. Jill was managing Twenty Manning Grill, and Neal was taking pictures. We were walking around Feastival. We noticed there was no representation for Filipino food in the city which is pretty notable, because there are a pretty significant population of Filipinos, but everybody I guess was just traveling to South Jersey or just eating at home. We decided to get together and start doing pop-ups focused around Filipino food in the context of Philadelphia in whatever season we were doing. Neal has his farm [with husband Andrew Olson]. We wanted to utilize a lot of the produce. That sense of locality was also important to us, in addition to presenting food from our heritage and food from our childhood. We reached out to a friend of ours, Lou Boquila [a chef who has since launched the Filipino restaurants Perla and Sarvida]. Why the Bourse? Neal: We were looking for any type of relationship that would lead us to something that would build us a brick-and-mortar. Then I heard the Bourse was available, and I just sent an email to [the developer]. We all got our ducks in a row, we found an awesome investor, and ultimately signed a lease. Resa: Kind of built into the story of this specific location are Jill's family recipes and the fact that her grandfather sold food right across the street. Originally, we weren't really looking for a fast-casual. We were looking more for a full-service restaurant thing. This kind of fell into our laps a little bit, and we stepped back and looked at it. We were like, you know what? Let's get in the kitchen, where we can do pop-ups. It's a home for pop-ups, it's a home for catering, because we've been getting requests for catering as well, because there aren't a lot of options for Filipino food in the city. Michael, how did you get involved? Michael: I come from Ukrainian Jewish descent, and I did a lot of different things. I went to school for law and predental until I realized that I actually wanted to cook. When I was 25, I went to culinary school here at the Art Institute. Just started dabbling, working for a bunch of different restaurants in the city. Eventually, I ended up being the sous-chef at Heritage in Northern Liberties, and that's when we all got to know each other. The Pelago team gave me the opportunity to do my first pop-up at Farm 51, Neal's farm. That was our first little go at it. It was my first experience cooking Filipino food. We had a common passion, which was food. As a chef, it doesn't really matter which direction of food it is. I just like to immerse myself in whatever I'm doing. I'm kind of a traditionalist where, if I take on the challenge of learning a new cuisine, I want to do it respectfully and thoroughly without adding too much outside influence. Before I can start tweaking things, I want to make sure I can do it as well as your grandmother, your father cooked. It wasn't hard for me to become adjusted to this kind of food. It doesn't hurt that I really liked it. How did you learn that? Michael: When we talked about it, they asked, 'Would you be interested in us holding your hand?' I'd mix my expertise with their knowledge and upbringing of the food. I was like, 'Yeah, absolutely.' I started reading books. We talked a lot about the dishes that they liked and grew up with. Later on, earlier this year we went to the Philippines together and I learned a lot more hands-on there, just tasting everything. Tell me about the pop-ups. Jillian: It's really awesome to be able to share Filipino food to people that had no idea what it was. That's kind of our main focus, is sharing what our heritage is, explaining to people what it is that Filipino is which is just us in a nutshell. It's what family means to us. What it means to just have people to our homes, coming together at the dinner table, the food, to share stories. Things like that. Define Filipino food. Resa: Filipino food is very easy to define, but very difficult to pinpoint. The food geographically is kind of located in that perfect area where, during the spice trade, precolonial times, it was a perfect landing spot for Chinese traders, Arab traders, and Malayan traders. There was a lot of cultural interaction and exchange happening. Our food exhibits a lot of influence from all of those cultures. Then you have 500 years of Spanish colonialism and then you have 50-ish years of American colonialism. If you look at the LALO menu, you can see influences from all over the world. On top of that, you have Filipinos living in the diaspora. Filipino American food feels like its own kind of thing. Especially on the East Coast, it's really hard for us to get specifically produce, but also even animal products that are integral to the cuisine. Jillian, tell me more about your grandfathers cart. Jillian: Mike used to go buy food from him. Michael: I'd do it all the way from the '80s to the '90s a long, long time. Jillian: We told Mike, "Don't screw it up because we love that food." People browse at CBD products while attending a ticketed event at Botanic Alternatives CBD at 2497 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago, on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Read more LAS VEGAS A popular line of cannabis-derived CBD products was found to be tainted with a dangerous synthetic cannabinoid known to cause anxiety, agitation, and psychosis. The discovery by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University prompted them this week to warn e-liquid users of the danger and to call for government oversight of unregulated CBD products. The manufacturer of the allegedly tainted products, Diamond CBD, markets a line of hemp-based oils and e-liquids, the best known of which is Chong's Choice, endorsed by the 1970s comedian and celebrity stoner Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong. The company, owned by PotNetwork Holdings, also markets the Liquid Gold brand. Diamond CBD's chief executive officer said he was surprised to learn about tainted e-liquids. "Our products are all subject to third-party testing," said Kevin Hagen, who was in Las Vegas attending the MJBiz Con, the world's largest marijuana and hemp business conference. "I suppose any type of product could be tampered with or modified by someone with a syringe." He says the company is looking into the case and doing all it can to ensure the best-quality product is on the market. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the more than 100 compounds produced by the cannabis plant that scientists are investigating. The FDA recently approved the compound, which doesn't provide the high of the better-known THC, to treat some rare forms of childhood epilepsy. It is increasingly being sold as a cure-all to treat a myriad of ailments from anxiety to pain and cancer. Though anecdotal evidence of CBD's therapeutic effects are numerous, there are no clinical studies offering proof that CBD works for anything but epilepsy. With the exception of the government-approved Epidiolex, all commercial forms of CBD are considered to be illegal by the federal government and are therefore unregulated. The researchers at Virginia Commonwealth, in Richmond, recently tested a suite of nine Diamond CBD products. In two separately purchased samples, they found the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-ADB in Liquid Gold Strawberry e-liquid. The toxic compound also was discovered in Liquid Gold Jungle Juice e-liquid and Diamond CBD Vape Additive. In another sample of the vape additive, they found Dextromethorphan (DXM), a chemical normally used as a cough suppressant. "The finding of both 5F-ADB and DXM were both unexpected," said researcher Justin L. Poklis, who was the primary author of the article published in the journal Forensic Science International. "There was no indication on the website, box, or labeled e-liquid containers to indicate that these products contained any psychoactive substance other than CBD," Poklis said. "There are things that shouldn't be in these products that are potentially dangerous. Somebody really has to step in and actually look at this stuff." Poklis, of Virginia Commonwealth's department of pharmacology and toxicology, warned of the potential effects of the chemicals found in the Liquid Gold and the vape additive. The addition of 5F-ADB and DXM compounds to the CBD products may lead to unexpected psychoactive effects, Poklis said. The inclusion of these drugs in e-liquids can lead to dangerous consequences, particularly when the users are unaware, and the products are used for therapeutic reasons. Twenty Pennsylvania car dealers will collectively pay more than $10,500 to settle accusations of falsely advertising as individual sellers on Craigslist, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday. The settlements followed investigations targeting dealerships that were advertising vehicles for sale without disclosing they were auto retailers, as required by the state's consumer protection law, the attorney general's office said. Car dealers advertised in the "for sale by owner" section of the Craigslist website, authorities said. Craigslist charges dealers $5 per ad, while postings for individual sellers are free. At least 178 vehicles were illegally advertised, according to the attorney general's office. "These car dealerships used deceptive advertising and were dishonest with Pennsylvania consumers," Shapiro said in a statement. "Car buyers are making a significant investment, and they need to have full knowledge of whom they are buying from." The dealers are not admitting guilt and have agreed to operate lawfully under the settlement agreements, called Assurances of Voluntary Compliance. The following businesses are subject to the legal actions: Gov. Wolf, shown in this file photo with Philadelphia schoolchildren, is de-emphasizing standardized tests. Read more Pennsylvania officials on Thursday unveiled a new way to measure public schools' progress, in a further shift away from the strict accountability culture of the No Child Left Behind era. The Future Ready PA Index evaluates schools and districts in academic performance, student progress, and college and career readiness. The prior measure, the School Performance Profile, looked at much of the same data, but the new tool places a higher priority on improvements in schools and adds some new categories for evaluation. Previous iterations of state report cards assigned schools a score; the Future Ready measure is more nuanced, responding to complaints that a heavy reliance on standardized test scores was an unfair and imperfect way to think about schools. "Parents, educators, and communities have said we need a better way to evaluate our schools with a broader set of measurements," Gov. Wolf said in a statement. "The Future Ready PA Index recognizes that students and the schools that teach them are more than just standardized tests." The new color-coded tool breaks out the performance of different groups within a school, such as English language learners, students living in poverty, students from any given racial group trends that may have been obscured in the past, when schools received an overall score, Matt Stem, deputy secretary for elementary and secondary education, said at a news conference. It also provides statewide averages for comparison, and makes district-wide facts easy to access. "Your first glance at a school's page what you want to see is a lot of green and blue," Stem said. "If you're seeing areas of red, those should be areas that are stirring conversation." Last year, the Wolf administration reduced the amount of time students spend taking standardized tests; with the governor's support, lawmakers recently de-emphasized the importance of the Keystone Exams that were set to become a graduation requirement for all Pennsylvania public school students. State education officials said Thursday that the new measure is a broader reflection of how schools are performing. "We hope everyone who goes onto the website will have a much better understanding of what's happening in a given school than they would have in the past," Stem said. The tool, he said, "is designed to get parents and business and industry members and educators talking together and having informed conversations about what's happening in their schools." In Philadelphia, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said the new measure is in line with the district's approach, paying attention to growth and supporting needy student groups. "I'm pleased that the state continues to improve the tools it uses to share school performance information with the public, and identify areas to best support school districts across Pennsylvania as they work to prepare students for college and career," Hite said in a statement. Check the performance of your public school or district here. Sylvia P. Simms with Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. before she left the School Reform Commission. Read more Multiple applications and deadlines. Confusion over the process and where to get information. Inconsistent support for families trying to navigate their choices. Choosing and applying for schools in Philadelphia can be a challenge, according to a report issued Wednesday by a pro-school-choice group. It recommends steps to streamline the application process across all schools district, charter, or private. The report, by Educational Opportunities for Families, calls for a single application to be used for all schools in Philadelphia, and the same deadlines for submitting applications, issuing offers to families, and selecting schools. It stops short of calling for a system that matches each student to one school, a process adopted by several cities nationally. An earlier proposal to unify Philadelphia's enrollment process stalled after a 2014 hearing, where some voiced concerns that a single-best-offer system would narrow parents' choices. Unified enrollment proposals have also drawn criticism in some cities, including from opponents of charter-school expansion. They argue that the system is aimed at boosting charter enrollments. Advocates say the current process shortchanges families, particularly those who may struggle to navigate their choices. "We have so many options and choices today. We just want a simpler process," said Sylvia P. Simms, executive director of Educational Opportunities for Families and a former School Reform Commission member. The report was authored by Heather Cope, a Philadelphia-based consultant who previously worked for the Camden School District which has a unified enrollment system and education agencies in other states. Her report summarizes the process in three cities that have partially or fully unified enrollment Chicago, Indianapolis, and Washington. In Philadelphia, "there's just a lot of confusion, and for families especially, frustration," Cope said. "We were really trying to dig into what families were experiencing, and what they hoped might happen going forward." The problem, she and Simms said, is that the current school application process is one of "haves and have-nots." At feedback sessions in North, Northeast, Northwest and West Philadelphia, and another session online, parents said it was "challenging trying to figure out the requirements, dates, availability, and admissions process" for various schools, and that "you have to be an active parent," according to the report. Philadelphia's school choices include selective-admission district schools, like Masterman, which admit students based on criteria including academic performance; citywide district schools, like Dobbins, which also have admissions criteria but are less selective; neighborhood district schools, which serve students in a specific attendance area; and charter schools. Charter schools, which are authorized by the Philadelphia School District, are publicly funded but independently run. They enroll about 70,000, or one-third of students in the district. There are also nearly 200 private and parochial schools, according to the report. The report and information collected by the district "shows that all families and students want to know more about how to access the many options that are available," said district spokesman Lee Whack. He said the district was "committed to exploring what we can do to ensure all families can participate in school selection." A website launched this year allows students to apply to most charter schools in the city with one application. The Apply Philly Charter effort, run by the nonprofit Philadelphia School Partnership, includes standard deadlines for students to apply, and for schools to accept students. Schools still run their own lotteries. Apply Philly Charter was started with a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, which also funded Camden's enrollment system and charter-school expansions nationally. David Saenz, a spokesman for Philadelphia School Partnership, said the grant "does include funds that can be used to explore how more public schools can be added in the future, either charter or district." Cope said it was difficult to estimate what it would cost to streamline applications across the city. In addition to implementing a single application and deadlines, the report recommends providing families "unbiased support" in selecting schools and access to technology. Kevin Feeley, a spokesman for Educational Opportunities for Families, said the group is funded by Excellent Schools PA. A political action committee, Excellent Schools PA advocates for school choice and charter schools. It sued the Philadelphia School District earlier this year over new charter regulations. Tom Hewitt and Elizabeth Ashley in "I Hate Hamlet," through Dec. 1 at the Bucks County Playhouse. Read more Some serious Broadway firepower is involved with Paul Rudnick's I Hate Hamlet, through Dec. 1 at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope. Rudnick apparently attended rehearsals, for one thing, and added some contemporary references and one-liners to update the play. Marc Bruni, who directed Beautiful: The Carole King Story on Broadway, directs here, and Ben Fankhauser, from the original Broadway cast of Newsies, plays the protagonist. Broadway guy Tom Hewitt (Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar) plays the ghost of John Barrymore. And then there's Elizabeth Ashley, Tony-winner, stage and film veteran, back for her first time at Bucks County Playhouse since 1963, when she played opposite youngster Robert Redford in an early version of Barefoot in the Park. She plays Lillian, a German agent and former lover of Barrymore's. As for Barefoot back in the day, "Neil Simon had one act, no second act, and we had this young, untried director, Mike Nichols," Ashley says with a laugh. "Soon as I was done, I was off to California for the film The Carpetbaggers, then back to Broadway to do, what else, Barefoot in the Park!? I was just the ingenue of the moment. What does a 22-year-old know, you know?" How's it feel to be returning? If you ignore the stresses of moving, great, says Ashley, 79, whose son is helping her relocate temporarily to New Hope. She came into the play as a replacement for her friend, actress Penny Fuller (All the President's Men and much else). "So I had only a few rehearsals," Ashley says. "The more I work with I Hate Hamlet, the more I love it. "With all the trauma recently injected into the collective unconscious, laughter may not be a cure, it might be a relief. We are just carnival players, but maybe laughter is what we can offer." And in other theater news this week: The Color Purple is extended again Musicals are everything now, as we know. And, in Philly especially, the "intimate musical" is at peak interest the Quintessence production of My Fair Lady, for example, was that theater's biggest hit ever, and one of the best things I saw in 2017. And now comes news that the run for the sprawling epic The Color Purple has just been extended for a second time, to Dec. 23 at the intimate Theatre Horizon in Norristown. Theatre Horizon may be a small theater, with the audience in the company's lap and vice versa, but director (and Temple prof) Amina Robinson sees that as a great opportunity to tell the story in a new way. "The question is: How can we take something epic and make it intimate and specific and person-focused?" Transitions, scene changes, and set design are enormous challenges in The Color Purple. "But as a woman," she says, "I felt the story as moving fluidly, and I looked for a way to give us that feeling." >> READ MORE: Theater Horizon's 'The Color Purple': Original, fiery update to the classic musical The solution: fabric. "Fabric can be very flowing," she says, "and it can, when knotted, be very hard. I think we've used it wisely." Curtains and draperies suggest what divides people in time, place, emotions; they peek through to establish connection. And fabrics connect with a main through-line of the play: After all, the main character, Celie, is an expert seamstress who turns her way with fabrics into a clothes store and financial independence. "The schedule was insane, but the cast has been completely blowing my mind," Robinson says. "We had a full run-through of the whole show on only the ninth day of rehearsals, which is crazy. And the voices are I can't take it! I run around the theater because I get so excited when they sing." (Left to right:) Chris Anthony, Lee Minora, Leonard C. Haas, and Dave Johnson in David Ives' "Heir Apparent," through Dec. 16 at the Lantern Theatre Company. Read more "Brevity is the soul of wit," Hamlet tells us. (It is also the soul of lingerie, as Dorothy Parker told us, but that is neither here nor there). David Ives' The Heir Apparent at the Lantern Theater Company could do with some brevity, especially in Act 2, although this adaptation/translation of an 18th-century French farce is, if not exactly witty, pretty funny. The plot is the usual Comedie-Francaise formula: An old miser named Geronte (the outstanding Leonard Haas) has a nephew, Eraste (Chris Anthony), who wants him to write a will making him the sole heir to his fortune, thus letting him marry Isabelle (Ruby Wolf), daughter of the formidable dowager Madame Argante (Mary Martello). Organizing the elaborate dupings are the clever servant Crispin (Dave Johnson) and the maid Lisette (Lee Minora). In the course of various and devious shenanigans, a hilariously tiny lawyer named Scruple (Adam Hammet) appears. There are bosoms. There are fart jokes, diarrhea jokes, and high colonic jokes. There is greed. There are disguises some, like the backwoodsman, are a hoot, others not so hootish. There are French characters pretending to be French ("As the French but wait. I am French"). There is a happy ending. Mainly though, there is language. Ives is the master of rhyme, and much of the amusement is in listening to lines like these: This is the basilisk, Madame Argante! She whom the Prince of Darkness couldn't daunt. She next to whom a rock looks nonchalant. Who makes Godzilla seem a mad bacchante. To whom Attila is a dilettante. Whew. M. Craig Getting's direction sometimes lags when it should sparkle, and too often I found myself looking at an actor's back, given the awkward configuration of the thrust stage in the middle of the three-sided audience. Old-fashioned plays even those that are only pretending to be old-fashioned need a proscenium, although Lance Kniskern's set design is handsome, as are Marla Jurglanis's costumes. There is no way Ives' earlier plays the brilliant and sexy Venus in Fur and the philosophical New Jerusalem, The Interrogation of Baruch Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656 would lead you to expect The Heir Apparent. But there it apparently is. The ensemble in "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical," through Jan. 6 at the Walnut Street Theatre. Read more Young girls in party dresses filled the opening-night audience at the Walnut Street Theatre's Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical: little Matildas, perhaps on the verge of discovering their own superpowers. No doubt they had fun. Director Linda Goodrich's very broad and indisputably energetic take on this Tony- and Olivier Award-winning adaptation of the 1988 Roald Dahl children's novel is perfectly pitched to a family audience high-spirited comedy largely shorn of menace. The musical itself (book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by the Australian comedian Tim Minchin) evokes the childhood nightmares and identity mysteries of Charles Dickens, the victimization and resilience of Annie, and the magical triumphs of the Harry Potter books. Matilda's themes, while universal, also resonate with the age particularly the show's glorification of (female) intellect and the power of storytelling. If only its own storytelling were a bit less convoluted: The first act speeds along, while the second meanders, piling on incident and coincidence. The titular Matilda (a charming Jemma Bleu Greenbaum, who alternates with Ellie Biron) isn't an orphan, but she might as well be: Her parents, the Wormwoods, are both dim-witted and uncaring. Her dopey brother (Mark Donaldson) barely speaks. Matilda's fraudster father (the elegantly buffoonish Christopher Sutton) can't even acknowledge she's a girl. And her mother (the terrific Lyn Philistine) is laser-focused on her dance moves with faux-Latin partner Rudolpho (the very funny Jacob Tischler). Their Latin number, "Loud," is one of the cleverest of Minchin's lyrics, enhanced by Michelle Gaudette's wonderfully comedic choreography. Matilda is a 5-year-old genius who reads prolifically and holds the librarian, Mrs. Phelps (an over-the-top Demetria Joyce Bailey), in thrall with her fantastical stories. (Greenbaum struggles a bit with the British accent and her diction.) School should be a great release. But this one, filled with terrorized uniformed children, is ruled by the vicious Miss Trunchbull, a stickler for (unfair) rules. Her motto is "Children are maggots," and her punishments include confinement in a cupboard filled with spikes. Philadelphia favorite Ian Merrill Peakes, in costume designer Mary Folino's outrageous drag, plunges unreservedly into the role, squeezing out laughs with every inflection and pratfall. His first-act credo, "The Hammer," is slightly chilling and great fun. Along with the librarian, Matilda finds an ally in a gentle teacher, Miss Honey (an endearing Laura Giknis), who turns out to have travails of her own. And instead of being bullied by her fellow students, as one might expect, Matilda and her second-act telekinesis eventually inspires them to revolt. The children are hugely cute, but their ensemble numbers are sometimes muddy and hard to understand. Nicky Intrieri's persecuted Bruce is a standout; the kid's a star. (He will alternate with Akiva Schostak in the role.) As usual at the Walnut, the production looks and sounds good. Robert Koharchik's set features stacks of books and blocks piled high, and Stuart Duke's rich, candy-colored lighting situates us in a fairy-tale world where the dangers and dramas of childhood can turn into happily ever after. Not soon enough for me. As a genial story of racial healing, the 1962-set Green Book may feel to some modern viewers like a movie that might have been released back then moving a little too easily toward solidarity and uplift. This trepidation is understandable, given current events. Any contemporary movie implying that the mantle of racism can be tossed away like a bad sweater runs the risk of being regarded as dishonest. So what, if anything, does Green Book a buddy comedy have to offer the more hard-nosed audiences of today? I think the question is answered somewhere by the first-rate performance of Mahershala Ali, Oscar winner for Moonlight, who stars in the fact-based Green Book as musician Don Shirley, whose complexity is obviously thrilling, and fun, for Ali to play. Shirley was what you might call an American original, save for the fact that he was born in Jamaica. There, he was spotted early on as a piano prodigy. He was raised in Florida, trained on the piano in Leningrad, and tutored in the classics, composing for the London Philharmonic at age 19, performing for the Boston Pops and at Carnegie Hall, playing with Duke Ellington, turning to forms of popular music at a time when opportunities for a black virtuoso were constrained. The music he then created was too innovative for the classical crowd, too formal for jazz, and yet ingeniously of his own design. If he was not popular, his talent was recognized, and he was one of a few dozen artists actually granted living space above Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, where he lived at the center of the cultural universe even as he remained remote and removed from it as an artist whose talent who didn't quite fit in anywhere. No wonder Ali wanted this role and poured so much into it. If code-switching is difficult today, imagine how hard it must have been for Shirley, possessed of other attributes that would have made it difficult to find cultural acceptance in that era (or, indeed, today). Then, as now, his record company didn't much care. It sends him on a concert tour (with a bassist and cellist who formed his trio) of the South, where Nat King Cole had been assaulted just a few years earlier. So Shirley looks for a driver who can also provide brass-knuckle security. He ends up with Anthony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), also known as Tony Lip because he talks too much. Vallelonga is a bouncer at the Copacabana looking for work. He's good with his fists, he knows how to spot and thwart trouble, and he's a racist. Director Peter Farrelly (yes, the guy who brought us There's Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber) does a quick, deft sketch of Tony in early scenes, framing him as a hustler who plays angles, puts out fires, and discards the drinking glasses of the black contractors who remodel his kitchen. As Tony, Mortensen struggles with the accent, but he captures Tony's watchfulness. He doesn't like taking orders from Shirley, but he's intrigued by him by his music, and also his loneliness and dislocation. The men are opposites in almost every way, and they repel more than attract in early scenes. They occupy different poles of race, refinement, education, class, and personality, the latter causing the most trouble as the trip commences. Tony won't shut up, and his unfiltered babble offends the reserved Shirley, but it's soon too late to turn back. A breakthrough occurs when Shirley observes that Tony writes as poorly as he speaks and begins to help him with letters to his wife (Linda Cardellini, in a small but vivid role). Shirley starts to look upon uncouth, untutored Tony as a kind of project stepping in Cyrano-style to recast Tony's dull letters home as heartfelt expressions of love. It's a funny inversion of Driving Miss Daisy, and beautifully played by both actors. This leads, of course, to bonding, which affects Tony as he sees his own bigotry enshrined as institutionalized behavior in the South. He starts to see things through Shirley's perspective, and is a little ashamed of himself. Some of this is on the nose, and schematic, and the movie plunges bravely into crosscurrents of race and class with more bravado than finesse. But Ali and Mortensen make the friendship feel real, using some unexpected tools from Farrelly's kit. His comedic instincts help the movie tiptoe through some dangerous cultural minefields I'm thinking specifically of a bit when Tony becomes fixated on the idea of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kentucky. Shirley sits in the backseat with a look of horror, but his disdain gives way to curiosity (or perhaps plain old hunger) as the seductive fragrance of chicken and biscuits fills up the car. What follows is a graceful slapstick of eating and sharing, informed by the in-character gestures of both actors. It's the movie in capsule form you wonder about the nourishment, but it's hard to resist. MOVIES Green Book Art really imitates life for writer-director Sean Anders, who became a foster parent to three kids and made a movie of it. Instant Family stars Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne, characters loosely modeled on Anders and his wife, Beth. Anders describes himself as a guy who was so busy working in Hollywood (Hot Tub Time Machine, the Daddy's Home movies) that he put off having kids until he felt like he was past his prime dad years. "I feel like emotionally I was better off to avoid it. If I had kids when I was younger, I don't know I was such a knucklehead," said Anders, who stopped in Philadelphia recently with his family to visit Smith Memorial Playground, the Liberty Bell, and to talk about his movie. The origins of Instant Family go back to an offhand remark that Anders once made to Beth. He joked that since he'd waited five years too long to start a family, he should just find some kids who are 5 years old. That joke turned into something quite serious a decision to become foster parents. He found out just how serious a few months into the process, when he wondered if he was in over his head as a pop-up pop. "We had a conversation very much like the one that [Wahlberg and Byrne] have in the movie. Like, we wondered if we'd made a terrible mistake, and we wanted to go back to the quiet, easy life we had before," he said. Instant Family is a comedy, but the humor comes from the real fears and feelings that foster parents inevitably have when they find themselves overwhelmed, from time to time, by the rigors of parenting. "You have these thoughts that you're not proud of, because you're human, and often that's where the comedy comes from," he said. Foster parents are often required to do superhuman things, but they are not superheroes, so there was not huge momentum in Hollywood to make a foster-care film. Fate intervened when Anders' pal Wahlberg, star of the Daddy's Home movies, was doing some charity work and had a heart-melting encounter with a young man in the foster-care system who was awaiting placement. The young man told Wahlberg that he had one goal in life: to grow up to become the parent he never had. "I sent him the script and he called me the next day and said, 'Yes, absolutely.' After that, getting the movie made was very easy," Anders said. Anders said he also based the movie's family on other couples he met during his foster journey. Support group meetings, for instance, were a great resource for some of the scenes in Instant Family. His own children (now officially adopted) provided inspiration as in the film, they are Latino and Anders and his wife are now learning Spanish. A small obstacle, Anders said, for a system that has way more kids than potential parents. "I think the message of the movie is: no matter what, love first," said Beth Anders. "They need parents, and we're here." James E. West, inventor of the microphone used in most cell phones, and Bjarne Stroustrup, creator of the C++ computer programming language, are winners of the 2018 John Scott Award, given each year in Philadelphia. Read more Talk on a cell phone recently? In all likelihood, the call was made possible by the pioneering smarts of James E. West and Bjarne Stroustrup, both alumni of the fabled Bell Labs research center, based in Murray Hill, N.J. The two are being honored Friday with the John Scott Award, given annually in Philadelphia for achievement in the sciences. West, a Temple University graduate who is now an engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University, is co-inventor of the type of microphone used in most cell phones. Stroustrup, now a managing director in the technology division of Morgan Stanley, created a computer programming language called C++, which is widely used in telecommunications. Both innovations are useful for much more than making a phone call. West's microphone, which relies on a device called an electret, is commonly used in hearing aids and toys, among other audio devices. Stroustrup's computer language, said to be used by more than 4 million programmers, is "object-oriented" making it handy for creating graphics and video games. The common denominator was Bell Labs, which throughout the 20th century was the birthplace for much of what makes modern life possible: transistors, computer chips, circuits used in digital cameras, lasers, fiber optics, and communications satellites. "It was the most marvelous place on Earth if you wanted to build interesting things," Stroustrup said. First given in 1822, the Scott Awards are bestowed by the Board of Directors of City Trusts, a group that manages more than 100 charitable trusts for which the City of Philadelphia is named as trustee. The winners are chosen based on recommendations from a panel of scientists a group that currently includes members from Temple and Drexel Universities and the University of Pennsylvania. Scott was a Scottish chemist and pharmacist who endowed the award in honor of Benjamin Franklin, dictating that the prizes be given to "ingenious men or women who make useful inventions." This year each winner receives $15,000 and a copper medal, to be presented in a ceremony at the American Philosophical Society. West grew up in Virginia and, at his father's urging, enrolled as a pre-med student at Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va., now called Hampton University. The family is African American, and West's father felt there were ample jobs in medicine for people of color. But West, a born experimenter who once took apart his grandfather's watch, was drawn to pure science. Midway through college, he transferred to Temple to study physics even though his parents, upset at the news, cut off financial support. While at Temple, West landed a summer internship at Bell Labs, then part of AT&T, which led to a full-time job after he graduated in 1956. Just six years later, West and colleague Gerhard M. Sessler created the electret microphone. Microphones work by converting sound waves into an electrical signal, a process that relies upon the presence of a magnetic field. At the time, microphones needed bulky batteries to generate such fields in a way that would minimize sound distortion. But an electret a type of material that holds electric charge in a manner analogous to a magnet needed no battery. West and Sessler sought to harness that ability to make a compact, high-quality microphone. West said they experimented with a variety of synthetic materials that could "trap" the necessary charge before settling on Teflon, which had been discovered two decades earlier by a scientist at another U.S. industrial giant: the DuPont Co. "We can open the trap, jam an electron in, and close that trap," said West, 87. "Now you have a field emanating from the trapped charge." Stroustrup, who is West's junior by 20 years, came to Bell Labs in 1979 and worked in a different building, though the two became aware of each other's work. A native of Denmark, he studied computer science in that country at Aarhus University and later earned a Ph.D. at Cambridge University before coming to the research lab in New Jersey. Stroustrup said he created C++ because he needed a computer language that could manipulate hardware efficiently while allowing him to define "classes" of objects. In the case of a video game, for example, the programmer might create a class of "human," with a set of core instructions for how humans run, jump, and walk. Then the coder could make individual human characters with varying levels of running ability. AT&T released the first commercial version of C++ in 1985. Under the terms of its monopoly, the company was not allowed to earn a profit on software, so it sold Stroustrup's work at cost $75 worth of bulky magnetic tape plus shipping, he said. The tape ran on big computers. "You needed something like a very large refrigerator to read it," he said. Stroustrup moved to Texas A&M University in 2002, then to Morgan Stanley in 2014. He also is currently a visiting professor of computer science at Columbia University. West joined the faculty at Hopkins in 2001, where he has continued inventing most recently working on a digital stethoscope to improve pneumonia diagnosis in developing countries. His daughter, Ellington, is chief executive officer of Sonavi Labs, a company that plans to commercialize the stethoscope in 2019. The inventor has been honored for his achievements by numerous other organizations, including the Franklin Institute in 2010. In addition to doing research, he has been a strong advocate of science education both for minorities who are underrepresented in technical fields and for Americans as a whole. While at Bell Labs, for example, he and several colleagues pooled their money to open a storefront science center across the street from a nearby playground. West warned that the United States is losing its technological edge because too few students pursue the sciences compared with some other countries, such as China. West said that when his post-doctoral students from China go home to pursue their own research, the level of government support allows them to create larger and more active labs than his own. The key to making discoveries such as his microphone is to have lots of people in the mix, he said. "Science is a grinding operation," West said. "If you've got people to turn the crank, you're going to find out things." FILE This Tuesday, April 10, 2018 file photo shows vaping devices, including a Juul, center, that were confiscated from students at a high school in Marshfield, Mass. Read more The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday a series of policies to attack what it calls "the epidemic use of electronic cigarettes and nicotine addiction among kids." It imposed sharp restrictions on where most flavored e-cigarette products can be sold, and announced plans to ban flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes. The use of all three products has been on the rise among youth. In the last year, e-cigarette use has jumped 78 percent among high school students, according to new data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey released Thursday. More than 3.6 million middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes, most of which have flavors like candy, vanilla, and fruit. And more than a quarter of youths use the product daily. Many parents, advocates, and health officials worry these products will start children on the path to becoming regular smokers. Research shows 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18, and 95 percent by the age of 21. "I will not allow a generation of children to become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes," Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. "We won't let this pool of kids, a pool of future potential smokers, of future disease and death, continue to build. We'll take whatever action is necessary to stop these trends from continuing." Sales of most flavored e-cigarettes will be limited to stores that sell only to customers over the age of 18, or areas of stores that have age-restricted entry. Gottlieb called on companies that cannot adhere to the restrictions to remove the products within 90 days. The move aims to decrease the number of young people buying these items from convenience stores and gas stations. Nearly a quarter of all attempts by minors to purchase tobacco in Philadelphia in 2015 were successful. "For too long, flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes have been the on-ramp to smoking for teenagers in Philadelphia. Prohibiting these flavored products would be a major advance in the battle against the nation's biggest killer, tobacco," said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. "We also support FDA's proposed actions to protect teens from the marketing of flavored e-cigarettes." Convenience store owners questioned the fairness of the policy, suggesting it imposed additional burdens on only select types of retail outlets. "Sound regulation should ensure that e-cigarettes are sold responsibly and that the market is a level playing field," said Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president of government relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores. Many vape shops already impose an age limit for customers, so they would not be affected by the new rule. In addition to the regulations for brick-and-mortar stores, the FDA will also require websites that sell e-cigarettes to use stricter methods to verify buyers' ages. The new restrictions will not apply to menthol, mint, or tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes for now. Gottlieb said these products can help adults who use conventional cigarettes quit smoking, though evidence is limited. He stressed that the new regulations seek to balance protecting children with giving adult smokers access to products that may help them go smoke-free. Thursday's announcement came after months of efforts by the agency to curb youth vaping. E-cigarettes which look nothing like conventional cigarettes have become wildly popular with teens. They produce tiny vapor puffs from pods that contain flavored nicotine fluid. The most popular brand, Juul, is designed to look like a thumb drive, can be charged on laptop computers, and can be easily hidden in a shirtsleeve. In September, the FDA demanded that e-cigarette manufacturers produce a plan to restrict sales to minors, and imposed a deadline that passed last weekend. Juul Labs, which accounts for nearly 70 percent of e-cigarette sales, announced this week it would stop selling most of its flavored products in retail stores. Another company, Altria, said late last month it would stop selling its pod-based flavored e-cigarettes for now. The FDA also announced plans to target flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes. The agency is starting the process to ban both products. Flavors, including menthol, candy, and fruit, help mask the harshness of tobacco and can make it easier for youths to start smoking. One study found two-thirds of teenagers who had smoked a cigar used a flavored one their first time. The tobacco industry has long fought to protect menthol cigarettes, and several companies made it clear they'd fight both proposed bans. The National Association of Tobacco Outlets said it shares the FDA's concerns about youth smoking, but bans would have "unintended consequences," shifting items to the black market. The group advocated enforcement of current laws instead. "Education and compliance with the law are the keys to achieving the goal of helping to prevent underage access," said Thomas Briant, executive director of the association. Others questioned the evidence behind the proposed bans. Altria Group, which makes Marlboro cigarettes and Black & Mild cigars, said in a statement, "We continue to believe that a total ban on menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars would be an extreme measure not supported by the science and evidence." Yet research shows menthol cigarettes can actually be more difficult to quit than non-flavored cigarettes. Health advocates, who have pushed for a ban on menthol cigarettes for years, applauded the move as a key step toward reducing racial health disparities. National data show 70 percent of African American youth smokers choose menthol cigarettes, compared to just over half of young white smokers. Flavored cigars are also especially popular among African American youth. "If adopted, these two proposals will have a greater impact in reducing tobacco use by youth and the African American community than any regulatory measure ever undertaken by the federal government," Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement. Flavored cigars and smaller cigarillos are a particular concern in Philadelphia, where their use has doubled in recent years, even as cigarette use fell. The use of cigars has tripled among African American youth in the city. Earlier this year, City Council proposed banning flavored cigars and cigarillos, but the measure failed after the state prevented individual cities from enacting new tobacco restrictions. Gottlieb said the new policies represent a start, and the FDA is open to enacting more restrictions in the future. "If the policy changes that we have outlined don't reverse this epidemic, and if the manufacturers don't do their part to help advance this cause, I'll explore additional actions," he said. (From left to right) Johnny Bobbitt, Kate McClure, and Mark D'Amico are facing charges in an alleged GoFundMe scam. Read more Johnny Bobbitt Jr. and the Burlington County couple who launched a campaign that raised $400,000 to help the homeless man have all been arrested and charged with fabricating the feel-good story that prompted thousands to open their wallets for the former Marine at the start of last year's holiday season. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office announced the arrests and charges Thursday in what started as an investigation of the couple after Bobbitt accused them of squandering the money raised in a GoFundMe campaign purportedly set up to help him. But the "Paying It Forward" fundraising campaign was only paying into the trio's pockets, prosecutors said, a "completely made up" scam devised by the three after they met near SugarHouse Casino in the fall of 2017. The couple, Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico, were arrested in Burlington County on Wednesday and released, officials said. U.S. Marshals, acting on a fugitive retainer from Burlington County, arrested Bobbitt on Wednesday in Philadelphia, where he was being held in jail with bail set at 10 percent of $50,000. All three are charged with second-degree theft by deception and second-degree conspiracy to commit theft by deception. The crimes carry sentences between five and 10 years, prosecutors said. What had started as a heartwarming story last November of a homeless veteran using his last $20 to help a stranded motorist began to unravel over the summer, when Bobbitt began to raise questions about how the money was spent. The tale then took an improbable turn Thursday with the announcement of the conspiracy charges. "The entire campaign was predicated on a lie," said Burlington County Prosecutor Scott A. Coffina. "Less than an hour after the GoFundMe campaign went live, McClure, in a text exchange with a friend, stated that the story about Bobbitt assisting her was 'completely made up.' She did not run out of gas on an I-95 off-ramp, and he did not spend his last $20 to help her. Rather, D'Amico, McClure and Bobbitt conspired to fabricate and promote a feel-good story that would compel donors to contribute to their causes." Bobbitt, who has a history of struggling with drug use, accused McClure and D'Amico using the money as their own, forcing him to again panhandle on city streets. The couple said they did not steal the money and accused Bobbitt of lying. An investigation and review of more than 60,000 text messages and thousands of pages of subpoenaed financial documents revealed that D'Amico and McClure spent the money on a BMW, a New Year's trip to Las Vegas, and high-end handbags, officials said. A breakdown of the cash withdrawals showed the $85,363 was withdrawn at, or in the immediate vicinity of, casinos located in Atlantic City, Bensalem, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas. Within a few months of the campaign's creation, all the money had been spent, prosecutors said. Meanwhile, GoFundMe has vowed a full refund to the more than 14,000 donors who contributed nearly $403,000 during the holiday season to help Bobbitt. "While this type of behavior by an individual is extremely rare, it's unacceptable and clearly it has consequences," GoFundMe said in a statement, adding that misuse of the platform was rare. Bobbitt had said he met McClure about a year ago as she was on her way to Philadelphia to pick up D'Amico at the SugarHouse Casino. After coming close to running out of gas on I-95, she has said she pulled off the freeway near Kensington, where Bobbitt, who had been homeless in Philly for several years, had been panhandling. Bobbitt said he used his last $20 to buy McClure gasoline. She and D'Amico, they said, returned to repay him, sparking a relationship that was reported in the local press. At the press conference Thursday, Coffina said the trio met a month prior to the GoFundMe campaign's launch at the SugarHouse Casino, where McClure and D'Amico liked to frequent. He said the three "hung out," "began talking," and it "grew from there." After the couple started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to get Bobbitt off the streets, their story was retold around the globe. They raised more than $400,000 that the couple said would be managed by a financial adviser and with the help of an attorney. They bought Bobbitt a used SUV and a trailer that they parked near the small home the couple shared in rural Florence Township. After months of that arrangement, the relationship soured. Bobbitt had told the Inquirer and Daily News that the couple sold the SUV and then the camper, keeping the money for themselves. Bobbitt also questioned whose money paid for McClure's new BMW, vacations, shopping sprees, and gambling. D'Amico, in an interview with the newspapers, conceded that he had spent $500 of the donations at SugarHouse, but that he repaid the amount from his winnings. He also said that he was managing the money instead of a financial adviser. In that interview, D'Amico further said that he would rather burn the cash than give it to Bobbitt because the homeless man would use it to feed his drug habit. Bobbitt sued them in August, and a Burlington County judge ordered them to turn over the remaining money to Bobbitt's attorneys. After telling reporters that they still had about half of the donations, their attorney revealed in court that it was all gone. That civil case was put on hold after prosecutors announced the criminal investigation. In September, authorities raided the couple's home and towed McClure's BMW from the house on a flatbed. One of Bobbitt's pro-bono lawyers, Jacqueline Promislo of Cozen O'Connor, said the once-homeless man recently completed a four-week residential drug treatment program. He has declined recent interview requests. McClure and D'Amico are expected in court next on Dec. 24, Coffina said, while Bobbitt's next court date is pending his extradition. Staff writer Oona Goodin-Smith contributed to this story. A would-be robber who shot and critically wounded a West Philadelphia beer deli owner in May was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state prison Thursday as part of a plea deal that was approved by prosecutors and that left his victim stunned. Under the agreement, the District Attorney's Office dropped attempted murder and other charges against the defendant, Jovaun Patterson, 29. The hearing took about two minutes before Common Pleas Court Judge Rayford Means and apparently happened without any prior notification to the victim or his family. "No one called, no one sent me a letter," the deli owner, Mike Poeng, 50, said in an interview. In a text message, his nephew Rich Poeng, 32, called the plea agreement and sentence "pretty outrageous." Patterson, of the 5400 block of Delancey Street in West Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault, robbery, and possession of an instrument of crime. His attorney, Philip Steinberg, said afterward that his client pleaded "to all the appropriate charges." About 1:30 p.m. May 5, Patterson, armed with an AK-47, approached Mike Poeng outside his KCJ Inc. store at 54th and Spruce Streets while Poeng was washing his car. Patterson tried to push Poeng into his store in an attempt to rob it while Poeng's wife and sons were inside. The store's outdoor surveillance video showed Patterson punching Poeng and the deli owner fighting back even spraying his attacker with his water hose before Patterson shot him in the right hip. Poeng, who is of Chinese descent and who came to the United States in 1981 as a refugee from Cambodia's killing fields, said he spent about a month and a half hospitalized, then another month at a rehabilitation facility before being discharged in early August. He said he didn't understand why the District Attorney's Office would drop the attempted-murder charge. "He changed my life forever," Poeng said. "I can't do anything. I can't take care of myself anymore. I have three kids. Who is going to support them? He's going to be in jail three to 10 years that's it? I'll be handicapped the rest of my life. I can't do anything." He said that because of his injuries, he has to spend much of his day in bed and can't walk or sit for long without his wife's assistance. (Poeng's nephew said his uncle has a wheelchair and may have to use it for the rest of his life.) Ben Waxman, spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner, said by email after the hearing that the withdrawal of the attempted-murder charge was "wholly appropriate as the video evidence depicted a struggle involving the gun prior to its discharge." He also said the sentence was "wholly appropriate." The District Attorney's Office has been criticized for not notifying victims' family members of plea deals. Krasner this year set up a Crime Victims' Advisory Committee to help his office communicate with victims or their families. In his statement, Waxman apologized about the fact that Poeng had not been informed about the plea hearing. "We strongly believe that every victim has a right to be heard," he wrote. At Temple, this year's entering med school class has, out of 200 students, one male African American: Sean Brown, 24, from Burlington Township, N.J. (There are 17 black women.) Read more Germyce M. Harris was sitting at her father's bedside at Temple University Hospital when the surgeon arrived. "My face just lit up when I saw this tall, handsome, African American man walk into the room," Harris said of that moment this summer. "Then I noticed that the medical students around him were all white males." Where were the young black men who could be learning from Dr. Leonard L. Mason III, she wondered? "I said, 'When I get back to my office, we need to do something about this. What can we do to fix this?'" What Harris wanted to "fix" is a situation the medical community has noticed for decades: The number of black men applying to medical school has stayed relatively stagnant. According to a 2015 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges, "Altering the Course: Black Males in Medicine," the number of black men admitted to medical schools in the United States peaked in 1978, at 542, when 1,410 black men applied. In 2014, 36 years later, only 1,337 black men applied and 515 were admitted. (There's a shortage of black doctors overall: Less than 6 percent of medical school graduates nationally 1,069 out of 19,254 identified as black or African American in 2017, according to the AAMC.) "The inability to find, engage, and develop candidates for careers in medicine from all members of our society limits our ability to improve health care for all," said Marc Nivet, chief diversity officer for the AAMC, in a foreword to the report. Although it's been Harris' job for three years as multicultural student recruitment coordinator at the Katz School of Medicine to recruit underrepresented students to the field, the experience with her father seeing the one black doctor surrounded by white students made something click on a personal level. "It painted a picture," she said. "It's one thing when you look at it on paper. It's another to see it in front of your face." Also, she said, research that shows that when patients have a doctor who looks like them, it has a direct result on the health outcomes. "For black men, there may be some things that you won't share with a white woman. But if a black man comes in as your physician, you may be willing to share." >>READ MORE: To address shortage of black doctors, Drexel medical students create mentoring network On Thursday night, her father's surgeon, Mason, an assistant professor of clinical surgery at Temple, took part in "Evening With Black Men in Medicine," a chance for black male undergraduates to spend time with 14 black male doctors and residents at the medical school and hospital. Harris said 25 premed students registered for the event, where they were able to circulate in a kind of speed-dating format to meet with small groups of physicians. It was the first of what Harris hopes will be an annual program. Since 2013, Temple's medical school has had a Diversity Day, a one-day conference where about 100 premed men and women listened to a keynote speaker and then broke into workshops. But when only one black man decided to enter Temple's class of 2022 this year out of 21 who were accepted, Harris wanted to do something different. "It's a reflection of how hard it is now," Harris said. For Dr. Vincent S. Cowell, 65, he finds it "a little perplexing" why so few black men are applying to medical school. He himself entered the field in a nontraditional way: South Philadelphia born and raised, he was a teenage father who went to community college to earn a degree in nursing before getting his bachelor's in nursing at Temple. He later became a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist, and then, through a program to attract more experienced professionals to medical school, he attended Medical College of Pennsylvania. He is now a professor of clinical anesthesiology at the Katz School of Medicine. The AAMC report lists many possible reasons for the lack of applicants: There's an absence of black male doctors as role models; black males subjected to stereotypes are suspended at school more than other students; kids at public city schools that are poorly funded, disproportionately attended by black students, don't receive good foundations in the sciences. Harris said eventually, students at the college level who want to be doctors might not perform well after three or four hard science classes. By then, they might hear from a counselor: "Maybe medicine isn't meant for you." For the Katz School of Medicine's Class of 2022, 303 black men started the application process and 188 completed applications. Out of 32 who were interviewed, 21 were accepted. But because 20 took offers elsewhere, this year's class of 200 entering students has one black male: Sean Brown, 24, from Burlington Township. (There are 17 black women.) Brown has been fortunate: Both his parents were professionals his late father was an engineer and his mother is an accountant. And while he attended public schools in Burlington County through eighth grade, his parents sent him to Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., a private prep school. >>READ MORE: Where did all the male ob-gyns go? He connected with Peddie through A Better Chance, a program that helps young people of color gain access to competitive schools. After graduating, he earned a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology at Johns Hopkins University (even though he said a school counselor warned him it might be too difficult of a school to get in) and later a master's in biochemistry and molecular biology before applying to Temple. He didn't always know he was going to be a doctor, he said. But when his father became ill with prostate cancer when Brown was in high school and later died from pancreatic cancer, he decided he wanted to go into the medical field. "Initially, I saw it as a disadvantage when I found out I was the only black male, because just naturally, we're stigmatized in society and we are hyperaware of our identity. "But now I look at it, honestly, as a blessing. I am representing a population that is very vulnerable. Because if we look at where Temple University Hospital is located, it's a very disadvantaged area. And I'm representing a significant population." Donna Roberts, 65, was charged with animal cruelty after authorities found 44 dead dogs on her Shamong Township property. Read more A 65-year-old woman was charged with animal cruelty after 44 dead dogs were found on her Burlington County property, New Jersey state police said Wednesday. Authorities also found 161 dogs living in filthy conditions around Donna Roberts' home on the 500 block of Oakshade Road in Shamong Township when they executed a search warrant on Tuesday, state police said. "Although the circumstances surrounding the demise of the 44 dogs that were discovered inside plastic bags in freezers remain under investigation, the deplorable and inhumane living conditions the rescued dogs were forced to endure is tragic," Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said in a statement. "Troopers take an oath to protect and safeguard life, including the lives and well-being of pets, which can be vulnerable to abuse." The pervasive odor of animal feces and ammonia caused several responders to experience dizziness and nausea, state police said. A state police detective told the Burlington County Times that the conditions were so terrible the house was condemned. Complaints by neighbors and others about the property led to the township passing an ordinance in October that resulted in the raid on Tuesday, the Times reported. Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said in a statement: "When contact with the occupant raised concerns about the welfare of animals on the property, we sought a search warrant, which was then executed by the state police. We are appalled by the horrendous conditions these dogs were subjected to, and as a result I authorized charges against the property owner, Donna Roberts." Roberts was released with a pending court date, state police said. Four dogs required transport to an emergency veterinary clinic. The rest were evaluated and treated at the scene by animal shelter workers, state police said. The Monmouth County SPCA posted photos of some of the dogs on its Facebook page for anyone who wishes to help. Shelia Oliver, NJ Lieutenant Governor, left, gets up to speak next to Gurbir S. Grewal, NJ Attorney General, at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Mayor's Box Luncheon, at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, in Atlantic City, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam did not attend the event. Read more ATLANTIC CITY Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam, his shiners starting to fade under his eyes from a weekend fistfight outside a casino, was a no-show Wednesday at the annual "Mayor's Box Luncheon" at the New Jersey League of Municipalities meeting. The mayor's traditional "Host City Welcome" was eliminated from the program, which featured state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal discussing the state's long history of politicians' "bad behavior." Gilliam was an honored guest later in the day, however, seated next to Gov. Murphy at a ribbon-cutting for the new South Jersey Gas Co. headquarters in Atlantic City and giving a speech. "No exchanges on that," Murphy said when asked to comment on Gilliam's situation. Before his speech, Grewal who ordered the investigation of Gilliam and Councilman Jeffree Fauntleroy II to be transferred to Cape May County said the incident was a figurative black eye on Atlantic City. Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who has control over the city's operations, payroll, assets, and budget under a state takeover entering its third year, reiterated Wednesday that she had had no discussions with Gilliam about the incident, which she previously called "troubling." She said she did not ask Gilliam to stay away or discuss his possible presence to give a welcome to Atlantic City. Michael Darcy, the League of Municipalities' executive director, said he had reached out to Gilliam and the two decided mutually it would be better for Gilliam to stay away and allow the focus to be on the content of the luncheon itself, which included speeches and awards. "He wasn't happy about it," Darcy said. "We're not happy about it. We would rather have the host city do the welcome." There were reporters and cameras lined up waiting for Gilliam to arrive at the luncheon. Gilliam did attend an earlier workshop by the league, hosted by the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, and moderated by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and attended by Camden Mayor Frank Moran and others. Baraka thanked Gilliam for "allowing us to be here in Atlantic City." "I know he has a very challenging job," Baraka said. "He has a myriad of issues that he has to deal with, I know something about that. I think he's been handling it in stride, with grace and intelligence." Gilliam discussed the city's improvement in technology, STEM summer programs, opioid issues, anticipated marijuana legalization, and other topics in the workshop, titled "Innovation Cities: Advancing the Quality of Urban Living." There was no discussion of the incident, which remains under investigation. Gilliam enigmatically answered "today" when asked by reporters Tuesday night whether he was still mayor, he continued business as usual Wednesday in and out of City Hall. The mayor has little actual power under the state takeover, a fact that was noted later in the day by former Gov. Chris Christie, who spoke to a gathering of Morris County attendees in another Sheraton ballroom around a hallway from the mayorless Mayor's Box Luncheon. Christie, who began the state takeover of Atlantic City in an acrimonious position with then-Mayor Don Guardian, said he was used to being "disappointed" with the city's mayors. "I think it's just another example of the way they disappoint us," he said. "The good news is they're not in a position to make any major decisions anymore. And they won't be for quite some time." "An Immigrant Alphabet" art installation by artist Wendy Ewald and Northeast High School students hangs at the Cherry Street Pier in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Read more A young woman is pictured standing stoically, suitcase in one hand, yellow folder in the other, on the cream-colored banner dancing in the breezy shadow of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. "I" is for "immigrant," it proclaims. Nearby, a pair of hands flatten a piece of paper and photo identification. "G" is for "Green Card." And "A" is for "America," "B" for "Border," and "C" is for "Culture." Created by Hudson Valley artist Wendy Ewald and 18 Northeast High School students in spring 2017, the 26-banner "Immigrant Alphabet" is in its second year on display in Philadelphia, this time in a new home at the Cherry Street Pier on the Delaware riverfront. Each of the lettered signs represents a word and story from the students, who come originally from four continents, at the high school in one of Philadelphia's most diverse pockets. The hope of the alphabet art is to add humanity to the discussion on immigration, said Megan Madison, public education manager of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, the nonprofit Arab arts and education organization that collaborated on the project with the students and Ewald. "It's often an issue used to polarize people, and often talked about as if it's a numbers issue or with fear tactics," Madison said. "With the installation, what we've seen, even people with very extreme or differing opinions are able to come together because of the medium. It's art and it's by local youth, and people are able to connect." The conversation around immigration is especially pertinent in Philadelphia, a leader in the "sanctuary city" movement, as the Trump administration continues to clamp down on new arrivals to the country. More than a quarter of Philadelphians are either immigrants or U.S. natives with immigrant parents, according to a Pew Philadelphia Research Initiative study. Last year, the art installation made its debut during Welcoming Week a city celebration of immigrants, refugees, and people of all backgrounds hanging from the windows of the Municipal Services Building. This fall, the alphabet has also taken on a more mobile format: a book that's available at the Free Library, in some Philadelphia schools, and online, complete with transcribed interviews from the students. "Some students are immigrants, some are refugees, some won a visa lottery their experiences vary and it's important to show people that immigration doesn't just look one way," Madison said. "And now, instead of just banners that you can see in one place or online, you can read the student's stories, personalizing a very politicized issue." "An Immigrant Alphabet" is on display at the Cherry Street Pier through June 2019. Here's a closer look at the display: Ken Smukler, a political strategist for U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, and his lawyer Brian McMonagle, right, exit Federal Court, after an arraignment in 2017. Read more A political adviser to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady flouted campaign laws and employed "no-holds-barred, anything-goes tactics" over two congressional campaigns to give his clients an unfair advantage that "undermined the fundamental integrity and fairness of our democratic process," a federal prosecutor said Thursday. But the defense lawyer for Ken Smukler said he never committed or intended to commit a crime, even when he routed $90,000 to Brady's Democratic primary rival in 2012 a payment prosecutors assert was intended to persuade the challenger to drop out of the race. A jury of six men and six women heard both sides as Smukler's trial on conspiracy, obstruction, campaign finance violations, and other counts opened in Philadelphia. The trial, expected to last up to three weeks before U.S. District Judge Jan E. DuBois, not only could entangle some familiar political names, but will also offer a glimpse into the campaign workings of Brady, a top power broker in the region who's retiring this year after two decades in Congress. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Gibson told jurors that Smukler, 58, of Villanova, was focused on gaining "personal political power for his candidates and by extension himself" while working on Brady's 2012 successful reelection bid, and in advising former Rep. Marjorie Margolies in her failed House bid two years later. Gibson described Smukler, a lawyer himself, as "an experienced, high-priced, 30-year veteran of political campaigns involving some of the most powerful politicians in the Philadelphia region" who knew exactly what he was doing not a "volunteer college intern knocking on doors for a political campaign on their summer vacation." In 2012, Gibson said, Smukler and others conspired to pay off Brady's challenger, former Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Jimmie Moore, so he would drop out of the race. The $90,000 Smukler routed to the Moore campaign, which had accrued tens of thousands of dollars in debt, exceeded federal limits on contributions one campaign could make to another, Gibson said. Smukler disguised the payments as a purchase of a poll which the Brady campaign already possessed and for phantom consulting work done by Moore's campaign manager, according to the prosecutor. But defense lawyer Brian McMonagle offered jurors a different account. He said Smukler bought the poll from Moore at Brady's instruction and that because Moore, not his campaign, personally owned the survey, the payment wasn't an illegal campaign contribution. McMonagle argued the congressman wanted exclusive rights to the survey so it wouldn't see the light of day it showed he was unpopular in certain areas of Philadelphia. Had the poll's results been made public, it "could have destroyed" Brady, McMonagle said. He also disputed the prosecution's assertion that Smukler had cooked up some illicit scheme. After all, he noted, the whole thing began when former Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode Sr. brokered a meeting between Brady and Moore, who was running out of money and wanted to drop out of the race. "Goode. Moore. Brady. They meet. Guess who's not at the meeting?" McMonagle told jurors. Pointing to Smukler, he said, "Him!" Repeating the congressman's name three times, McMonagle said it was Brady who agreed to help Moore by saying he'd purchase the poll. "Brady tells his adviser, I need you to legally buy Moore's poll and I need you to hire his campaign manager, Carolyn Cavaness,'" McMonagle said, adding there was nothing illegal or unusual about that arrangement. Despite McMonagle's invoking his name, there was no suggestion that Brady will end up on the witness stand. For months, the FBI investigation had threatened to ensnare the congressman, who also is chairman of Philadelphia's powerful Democratic City Committee. Shortly after the authorities filed charges against Smukler and fellow Brady aide Donald "D.A." Jones in October 2017, investigators asked a judge to approve a search of the congressman's personal email account. And an affidavit signed the next month by an FBI agent identified Brady as an active participant in the criminal scheme. But ultimately Brady was not charged, and in January he announced he wouldn't seek reelection, saying he wanted to spend more time with family. The witness list will, however, include Jones, Moore, and Cavaness. Each have pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme. Jurors might also hear from Margolies. In new charges filed in March, prosecutors accused Smukler of facilitating and concealing illegal contributions to her 2014 campaign a bid to reclaim a House seat she won in 1992. As Margolies' 2014 campaign ran out of money in the Democratic primary, prosecutors say, it illegally tapped contributions that had been earmarked for the general election. To hide the scheme, Smukler allegedly solicited $225,000 from his brother and a friend and routed the money through his companies to the campaign, which falsely described the transfers as reimbursements. The indictment says those were illegal straw donations. Smukler also caused the Margolies campaign to obstruct an investigation by the Federal Election Commission, according to the indictment. McMonagle said Thursday that Smukler had borrowed money from his friend and brother so that the campaign could repay donors who had contributed to Margolies' general election account. Margolies was granted immunity to testify before the grand jury in the case, according to court papers. On Thursday, the prosecutor promised the trial jurors they would hear from the former congresswoman. Democrats (from left) Chrissy Houlahan, Mary Gay Scanlon, state Rep. Madeleine Dean and Susan Wild are four of the six Democrats in the Philadelphia region who won U.S. House seats on Election Day and will be new members of Congress in January. They are seen here at a campaign rally in September. Read more WASHINGTON After two years locked out of power in Washington, Democrats poised to take control of the House are pitching an agenda centered on ethics, attainable health care, and middle-class jobs one that appears aimed at making the argument that they, and not President Trump, are watching out for the interests of everyday people. Few of their big policy goals, if any, are likely to be realized with Trump in the White House and Republicans holding the Senate. But their newfound majority still represents an opportunity to articulate their party's vision. In separate interviews, Democrats from the Philadelphia region listed campaign-finance reforms, shoring up the Affordable Care Act, a massive infrastructure program, raising the minimum wage, and strengthening gun laws as ambitions once they hold the House majority in January. None of the three Democratic incumbents returning from the Philadelphia area has ever been in the majority, so they have had little chance to enact their priorities. They'll likely be joined by six Democratic freshmen, after the Associated Press on Wednesday said that New Jersey's tight Third District race had been won by Andy Kim. The new crop includes four Pennsylvania women breaking the all-male makeup of the state's delegation. The region's Republican representation will drop from six to one, with only Bucks County's Brian Fitzpatrick remaining. The new dean of the area's delegation will be U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, a Camden County Democrat who took office way back in 2014. For those who have never held public office, their votes will begin building records that measure whether they live up to their campaign pledges. First up, Democratic leaders have promised an ethics package including campaign finance reform that aims to reduce the influence of big money in politics, make political spending more transparent, and protect voting rights. The plan also could require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, as was long the norm but which Trump has refused to do. "It goes to having faith in our government," said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, a Delaware County Democrat who on Tuesday became the first of the newly elected local lawmakers to join Congress. She won a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, who resigned earlier this year, allowing her to take office immediately. "If I'm ranking priorities, first I'm ranking health care and infrastructure," said U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia. He and other Democrats talked up the idea of protecting the Affordable Care Act from further incursions by Trump, and restoring some provisions that have been undermined by the president. Health care "was the number one issue that people talked about in terms of their daily lives," said State Rep. Madeleine Dean, who won in a congressional district that includes much of Montgomery County. Democrats also called for pushing the minimum wage up to $15 a counterpoint, they argued, to GOP tax cuts that provided the greatest benefits to wealthier taxpayers. "If we can take care of the multimillionaires, we certainly can take care of those who are the most vulnerable," Norcross said. He also argued for a bill to allow people to refinance their student debt, much like homeowners do with mortgages. Each of the seven Democrats interviewed supported an infrastructure program to improve roads, bridges, and internet access, and create jobs. U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle of Philadelphia suggested that the push could be part of a compromise, noting that Trump previously voiced support for the idea. "Hopefully now that we've won back the House and we don't have [Speaker] Paul Ryan in the way of blocking that, that's something we can achieve," Boyle said. Both Dean and Chester County's Chrissy Houlahan stressed the importance of tightening gun laws. In New Jersey, State Sen. Jeff Van Drew of Cape May County, who will represent the Second District, hoped federal lawmakers would craft immigration legislation with a mix of tighter border security and a legal solution for the millions of undocumented immigrants already living in the United States. In many cases the ideas, days after the election, were still vague more goals or principles than legislation. And whatever the aims of local lawmakers, the House agenda will hinge mainly on the party's senior leadership, leaving rank-and-file members with limited opportunities to shape key legislation. Just a week after the election, the Democratic newcomers are still learning about their new jobs, building staffs, and jockeying for committee assignments. They were in Washington this week for orientation, with more sessions to come. On Twitter, Houlahan called it "Congress school" and posted photos of herself and fellow freshmen getting a candlelight tour of the Capitol. Any legislation that does pass is likely to run into hurdles in the Senate. With Democrats' House leader, Nancy Pelosi, also emphasizing oversight over the Trump administration, and the president vowing to fight back hard, the prospect of lingering feuds could short-circuit any major policy negotiations. U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey has been one of the leading voices pushing to obtain Trump's tax returns, an issue Democrats almost certainly will revisit. One of the key figures in the new majority could be U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone of Monmouth County. He is in line to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has a sweeping jurisdiction including telecommunications, health care, energy policy, and interstate commerce. Given the powers of the speaker, one of the most important votes the Democrats will cast could be whom they support as party leader. Evans, Boyle, and Norcross all said they would back Pelosi citing her experience as a negotiator and her role in leading the party back to power. Most of the newcomers, however, were more equivocal, and Van Drew stuck to his pledge not to support Pelosi for speaker. "She's a very able politician, but the reality is sometimes it's good to have a different look, a change," Van Drew said. "We do that all the time." He also joked that there should be a resolution mandating that lawmakers "would act like normal human beings," a nod to yearnings many voters expressed for a kinder tone in the capital. Boyle and Evans are aiming to climb the ranks. Each said he hoped to gain a seat on the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax law and has no Pennsylvania Democrats; only one of them, at most, is likely to land the coveted slot. With freshmen typically shunted to less influential committees, several of the newcomers emphasized the importance of setting up their constituent service operations. Such local connections garner few headlines but often can leave lasting impressions at home. "My first order of business is to make sure that we have a really great team" of staffers, Houlahan said. Several of the newcomers including Houlahan, Van Drew, Kim, and the Lehigh Valley's Susan Wild come from competitive districts and easily could become campaign targets in 2020. They could face a balancing act in a majority that includes both Democrats who campaigned as moderates and young liberals who hope to pull the party to the left. Philadelphia has spent plenty of time talking about the danger of lead poisoning. It's time to do more and sign onto the only way to actually pay for the high costs of cleaning up lead: a lawsuit against lead paint companies. The Pennsylvania Apartment Association East (PAA East), the region's leading advocate for property owners, management, and renters, is proud to join with everyone else in the state trying to do just that. It is well established that lead can cause serious health problems and that young children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. The Inquirer's "Toxic City" series provided vivid details about how Philadelphia's history as a manufacturing hub has left playgrounds, parks, and building sites in some of our poorest and fastest-growing neighborhoods with dangerous levels of lead in the soil. We also know that too many schools are plagued by crumbling lead paint-covered walls the Inquirer's story about a child eating lead paint flakes so as to not be scolded for a messy desk is heartbreaking. It's no secret that too many buildings, including unregulated and unlicensed rental units, likely have lead paint on the walls from decades ago. >>READ MORE: Danger: Learn at your own risk What's not clear, however, is how we will address these problems, clean up, and otherwise remediate the lead, and make Philadelphia safer. That is why the recent campaign by Pennsylvania counties to help communities across the commonwealth do more than talk about lead, and instead find a way to pay for necessary cleanup and remediation, deserves more support. In recent months, counties across the region have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of lead paint. The concept behind the suit is simple: Much as tobacco companies knew their product was unsafe yet sold it anyway, paint companies sold lead-based paint for decades despite allegedly knowing of its dangers. Because the paint companies profited while poisoning communities, they should pay to mitigate the damages, just as tobacco companies have done. Philadelphia has not joined the lawsuit. Instead, there are proposals under discussion in City Council that would address only a portion of the problem lead paint in older buildings, particularly rental units but do not delineate funding for inspections or remediation. Not only would these approaches increase taxpayer costs for inspections if enacted, they would decrease the supply of affordable housing. According to a study by Anderson Economic Group and cosponsored by PAA East this year, if property owners have to pay for lead paint remediation, those costs could be passed on to tenants by rent increases of up to $400 a month. In some neighborhoods, the higher rents will make housing all but out of reach for too many people. At a time when Philadelphia faces an affordable housing crisis, it is unwise and counterproductive to enact a policy that would likely make tens of thousands of housing units unaffordable. It's also unclear that these proposals would do anything to address the problem of lead in the soil or in classrooms. >>READ MORE: In booming Philadelphia neighborhoods, lead-poisoned soil is resurfacing That's why we believe that Philadelphia should file a similar lawsuit to the ones brought by neighboring counties. Any recovery from the paint companies should be used to remediate properties where children 6 and under live. This solution will help keep rents lower, while at the same time allowing for limited funds to go toward our schools and neighborhood cleanup. The more local governments that file against lead paint companies, the more pressure those companies will feel to move toward a resolution. We all want to help eliminate lead poisoning for the children of Philadelphia. By filing its own lawsuit, the city can finally have the resources to do more than talk and actually lead on lead. Brianna Westbrooks is government affairs manager for Pennsylvania Apartment Association East. Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, center, poses for a photograph with newly introduced school members, from left, Wayne Walker, Mallory Fix Lopez, Angela McIver, Julia Danzy, Joyce Wilkerson, Leticia Egea-Hinton, Maria McColgan and Lee Huang. The new school board members were introduced during a press conference at the City Hall on Wednesday, April, 4, 2018. Read more Friday marks one year since the School Reform Commission voted to disband and return control of public education to the residents of the city of Philadelphia. A year later, Philadelphia schools are under local control, and we are proud to serve as the city's first mayor-appointed Board of Education in nearly two decades. A quality public education requires sustained and citywide dedication. We are committed to carrying out this public duty and the action it requires. Since our appointments in April , we have been hard at work, overhauling the way that school governance looks, feels, and operates in Philadelphia. We have a lot to be proud of. Some of our major accomplishments to date include: participating in a robust training and orientation for nine qualified and diverse Board members; selecting two student representatives to serve on the Board of Education; participated in listening sessions and school visits across Philadelphia to ground Board members in the hopes and dreams of Philadelphia's diverse constituencies; redesigning the Board structure to include four committees which have already met six times to discuss critical issues publicly and in advance of key actions; establishing a Parent and Community Advisory Council; launching social media platforms to connect with more individuals; implementing a new board management system so that actions of the Board are more clearly understood and searchable; and working closely with the mayor and City Council to address concerns and develop solutions. While we have accomplished much, there is more to be done. Drawing on community feedback and valuable input from key education stakeholders, we have set four key priorities to guide our work moving forward. The first is a focus on student achievement. We know that our students' potential is limitless. The achievement and safety of our students drives all of our decisions, and we will invest in programs and initiatives that are proven to support all students in reaching their potential. The second is a commitment to continuing to increase our transparency and accessibility. We believe that effective school governance requires the intentional inclusion of diverse populations and viewpoints in order to support and strengthen decision-making. All voices matter, and we intend to continue to find ways to hear them. One way is through the Parent and Community Advisory Council that 123 people applied to serve on, eager to be a voice for their children and their community The third is the pursuit of creating a unified, diverse system of quality public schools in Philadelphia. While the School Board oversees district schools and charter schools differently, both types of schools exist to provide quality educational opportunities to all Philadelphia students. All of our students deserve access to quality schools. We will work to make sure that all children attending public schools regardless of life circumstances, zip code, behavioral challenges, or disability have access to great schools. Finally, we know that none of our goals will be possible without maintaining our financial stability. We're planning to adopt a long-term strategy that will allow us to maintain the District's fiscal stability, while ensuring that we are able to continue to make investments in our schools that reflect our beliefs and are in the best interest of Philadelphia students. In the coming weeks, months, and years, you will see us tying our decisions and actions to these core tenets. We ask you to come out for these discussions and votes. If we work together, we can give every child in Philadelphia access to the high quality education that they deserve and assure all Philadelphians that public school education is a great choice for everyone. We can't afford to compromise on that goal. We're committed to making this happen, and urge you to join us. Join us at the upcoming District Partnerships and Community Engagement meeting on Thursday, Nov. 29, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 2101 Cecil B. Moore Ave. View our full meeting schedule here . Joyce Wilkerson is president of the Philadelphia Board of Education. FILE In this Jan. 26, 2013, file photo, handguns are displayed on a vendor's table at an annual gun show in Albany, N.Y. In a study looking at data from 2006-14, serious gun injuries including many from assaults sent 75,000 U.S. children and teens to emergency rooms over the nine years. Results were released on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Philip Kamrass, File) Read more Earlier this month, the bullies at the National Rifle Association told doctors who want to reduce gun violence, to "stay in their lane." The NRA was responding to a paper from the American College of Physicians published in the Annals of Internal Medicine outlining a series of steps to reduce firearm injuries and deaths The NRA's swipe at what it called "self-important anti-gun doctors" unleashed a torrent of responses from the very people who brave the front lines. On social media, physicians are sharing photos of themselves in blood-splattered scrubs and surgical masks images of the gruesome work they have to do because our government is so cowed by the gun industry that it barely tries to control carnage. Every year, almost 125,000 people are shot to death or injured, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. About 35,000 die. If gun violence was any other public health crisis, the government would marshal its forces to find causes and treatments. But even basic research into who is inclined to shoot and why is scarce because the $51 billion gun industry and its mouthpiece, the NRA, have browbeaten Congress and administrations for decades into stifling gun-violence studies at the Centers for Disease Control. The research could help us find better ways to curtail the constant bloodshed. In 1995, just two years after Congress passed the Brady bill requiring background checks for gun buyers, the gun lobby shot back. They convinced Congress to prohibit the CDC from spending money on research that called for a cure to the pernicious disease of gun violence. In 1996, with the Dickey Amendment, the NRA's puppets in Congress stopped the CDC from studying gun violence as a public health issue. If the CDC studied gun control as a public health issue, it may very well conclude that guns have to be controlled, just as if they were a virus. Universities, private foundations, and states have done important research, but anything that kills and injures roughly 125,000 people a year deserves the full weight of the federal government to stop it, starting with research into the scope and causes of the problem as well as the effectiveness of solutions. Five years ago, the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council drew a road map for research that included studying the characteristics of people who acquire guns, how they use them and who they share them with as well as evaluating the risks of having a gun in the home and deepening our understanding of the effectiveness of gun-prevention programs. The new Democratic-majority in Congress should keep its promise to the voters who rejected more than a dozen pro-NRA candidates, who want to be able to go to a church, a synagogue, a dance club, a supermarket, and to school without getting shot. Congress should stand up to an industry that thrives on bloodshed and repeal restrictions to gun research and appropriate money to find the cause and scope of the problem, so it can solve it. Desiree Peterkin-Bell at the Commonwealth Proper Collection Happy Hour at Barclay Prime in center city Philadelphia on September 17, 2013. . Reuben Harley / For the Daily News Read more Despite her years in government, Desiree Peterkin Bell who served under New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, before joining Michael Nutter's administration apparently missed the part about taxpayer money and accountability. Peterkin Bell was charged Tuesday by Attorney General Josh Shapiro with a variety of felony corruption charges, including theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and tampering with public records while she served as City Representative, a job that gave her control over the Mayor's Fund. Shapiro's office says Peterkin Bell misspent $250,000 in public money. The grand jury presentment detailed a litany of instances where Peterkin Bell used credit cards linked to the fund a nonprofit funded with private donations and taxpayer dollars to improve the city to spend lavishly on herself, including travel, shopping, restaurants, and Uber rides. Every time we write a sentence like "taxpayer dollars to spend lavishly on her/himself," we experience a tragic sense of deja vu. But there's another deja vu moment in considering Peterkin Bell's saga: the fact that at the center of this mess is a nonprofit. There is a long list of reasons to be cautious when government and elected officials start looking at nonprofit organizations as a way to circumvent transparency when spending our money. Some of those reasons are named Vince Fumo, Chaka Fattah, and Mike Veon all of whom are serving or have served prison time for their raids of nonprofit organizations that they set up. Peterkin Bell, who faces jail time if convicted, didn't set up the Mayor's Fund, and the money she allegedly took was tied to public dollars contributed to the fund, not private donations. But the Mayor's Fund was another a nonprofit lacking oversight. Peterkin Bell made decisions and expenditures with no accountability and outright disregarded requests for documentation of her spending, which included shoes from Macy's, travel with her husband, and a $1,700 dinner to launch her own consulting business. She also made questionable moves with money earmarked for one event to cover expenses she incurred for other events and had staff falsify documents, according to the grand jury presentment. The Internal Revenue Service, which is in charge of granting nonprofit tax-exempt status, has been subject to major budget cuts, so it can't be relied on to investigate such abuses. This created a vacuum in oversight. Of course, that's no excuse for the way the Mayor's Fund was mismanaged. Peterkin Bell's predecessor, Melanie Johnson, was removed from the position for mishandling funds under her control, using the fund's credit card for questionable personal expenses. Mayor Nutter then gave Johnson a new, higher-paying job. When then-Controller Alan Butkovitz started investigating Peterkin Bell's activities, the mayor lambasted him, calling him, among other things, a snake. Johnson has not been charged with any crimes. The Kenney administration has revamped the Mayor's Fund following Peterkin Bell's departure; now, there is a new nine-member board but no credit cards. Peterkin Bell has made heavy use of the hashtag "Purpose, Not Position" to promote herself and her business. "Arrogance, Not Accountability" sounds more fitting. MUMBAI: Hindutva icon and freedom fighter Veer Savarkar's family is reportedly offended with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's statement that the former had pleaded to the Britishers to be freed from jail and apologised for his activities. Ranjeet Savarkar, the grand nephew of Veer Savarkar, has filed a police complaint against the Congress president for allegedly making a "false statement" about the iconic Hindutva leader, who is revered by the ruling BJP. ''Rahul Gandhi, while addressing an election rally, had alleged that Veer Savarkar had apologised to the Britishers to be released from jail. It's false. Savarkar ji was jailed for 27 years by the Britishers. I've filed a complaint against him for defaming Savarkar ji,'' Ranjeet Savarkar told ANI. Rahul Gandhi in an election rally y'day alleged Veer Savarkar had apologised to the Britishers to be released from jail. It's false.Savarkar ji was jailed for 27yrs by Britishers.I've filed a complaint against him for defaming Savarkar ji: R Savarkar, Grandnephew of #VeerSavarkar pic.twitter.com/dzhvkZwsHC ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 The complaint against Rahul Gandhi was filed at Mumbai's Shivaji Park police station. In his complaint, Ranjeet mentioned that Rahul Gandhi's statement that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar - better known as Veer Savarkar - had apologised to the Britishers and pleaded to them in writing to be freed from jail. Veer Savarkar is widely believed to have popularised the term "Hindutva". Hitting out at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had on Saturday alleged that women in the country were now scared of coming out fearing attacks. Rahul Gandhi also alleged that freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, who is worshipped by the BJP party as an icon of patriotism, wrote a letter to the British Government to release him when leaders like Mahatma Gandhi were in prison. Attacking Veer Savarkar, the Gandhi scion said "Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept the portrait of Veer Savarkar in Parliament...When Britishers were ruling this country, when all the Congress leaders were in prison, Veer Savarkar wrote a letter to the British. He was not 'veer' (gallant)." The Congress president further alleged that Savarkar wrote that he would do anything for them (British), according to PTI. "I apologise you. I will not indulge in any political activities. Release me from the prison. With folded hands, I will touch your (British) feet. Please release me from the prison. On the other hand, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ambedkar and Sardar Patel were fighting for the freedom of the country," Rahul Gandhi said. He said there were currently two ideologies in the country. (With PTI Inputs) Dehradun: Terming Dassault CEO Eric Trappier's recent statement on the Rafale deal as a "slap on the face of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi", Delhi BJP unit chief Manoj Tiwari said speaking a lie again and again did not turn it into truth. The BJP leader, who was here to campaign for party candidates in the forthcoming civic body polls, said Wednesday, "The Congress president seems to believe that telling a lie again and again makes it a truth, but the Dassault CEO's statement is a slap on his face". He was speaking to reporters at the state BJP office here. Trappier had in a media interview defended the Rs 58,000 crore-Rafale deal between India and France. He had claimed no wrong-doing and said his company chose Reliance as an offset partner. When asked about Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) prospects in the November 18 civic body polls, Tiwari evaded a direct reply. He nevertheless added that the recent attack on him by the "AAP's goons" in front of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Signature Bridge in the national capital had "exposed the party". Tiwari, who is also a popular Bhojpuri film actor, addressed several election meetings, especially in the pockets populated predominantly by people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Claiming that the BJP was the only party which worked for development, the Delhi party unit chief said putting it (BJP) at the helm in civic bodies would accelerate development as the party was in power both in the state and the Centre. He also clicked selfies with youngsters and sang songs of Chhath Puja to woo the voters. Barwani (MP): BJP chief Amit Shah reached out to tribals in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Thursday and informed them about the several welfare measures being taken by the party-led governments at the Centre and in the state. Speaking at a rally in Barwani, which comprises four tribal-dominated assembly seats, scheduled to go to polls along with the rest of the state on November 28, Shah also criticised Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress chief was "suffering from Modi phobia". He claimed Gandhi's speeches were leading to confusion that the Congress chief was addressing BJP rallies as he was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than his party's colleagues and leaders. "Rahul is chanting, Modi, Modi across the country and is suffering from Modi phobia. I heard a speech of Rahul baba, where, instead of speaking anything good or worthwhile, he chanted Modi, Modi," Shah told the crowd. He claimed the Congress had done no good for tribals but the BJP sanctioned the Indore-Manmad rail route for them. He said Modi, in his first speech after becoming prime minister, had said his government would be of tribals. "Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had opened a separate Tribal Welfare Ministry, which the Congress couldn't do before," Shah said. He alleged that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had said that minorities have a right over the country's resources but Modi had said tribals and the poor have control over the nation's resources. "Modiji has provided smoke-free stoves (LPG connections) to 5.5 crore tribal and poor women," he claimed, adding that the Centre was running 129 schemes for the poor and has taken a lead in giving land to tribals under the Forest Rights Act. At an election rally on Wednesday in Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, where the second and final phase of polling would be held on November 20, Gandhi had accused Modi of being arrogant and said India cannot be run by a single person or a party. The Congress chief had said the prime minister "doesn't understand that India has progressed due to the sweat and blood of the common man". He had urged the crowd at his rally to ask Modi, when he visits them, about the promises he made to people in 2014 after being elected. "He (Rahul) is suffering from Modi phobia. This is not his fault given that throughout the length and breadth (of the country), the public is chanting Modi, Modi," Shah responded Thursday. "Rahul Baba is throwing questions to Modi ji and seeking account of his four-and-a-half-year-old government. Instead, (he should) give an account of the work of 60 years of your four generations." Referring to former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh, the BJP president said during the rule of "bantadhar" (spoiler), there were no roads and electricity in the state. On the other hand, Shah claimed, the BJP government under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has turned MP from a BIMARU (laggard) state to a developed one. JAIPUR: Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot has said that the central leadership of the party will decide from which assembly constituency in the state will he contest the upcoming assembly elections. ''The party will decide from where I will contest elections. A list of candidates will be announced soon,'' Sachin Pilot told ANI. The party will decide from where I will contest elections. A list of candidates will be announced soon: Sachin Pilot, Congress. He had announced yesterday that he will contest December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections. pic.twitter.com/NyquDkW29U ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Sachin had confirmed on Wednesday that he will contest the December 7 assembly elections in Rajasthan. The remarks from Piot comes at a time when the speculations over Congress party's CM pick has intensified. Both Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot are seen as top contender for the post. Sources close to the party have said the leadership contest in Rajasthan Congress will now intensify with both main contenders throwing their hat in the ring. Gehlot and Pilot, however, dismissed suggestions that there was any infighting among the state leaders and asserted that they will take on the BJP collectively. The two leaders ended the speculation over whether they will contest the polls at a joint press conference here at the Congress headquarters, where the party announced the joining of BJP MP Harish Chandra Meena from Dausa in Rajasthan. While Gehlot is a sitting MLA from Sardarpura in Jodhpur district, Pilot has never contested the state assembly polls. "The talk about division within the Congress is a conspiracy by the BJP which has also been exposed in last two months. There is no division in the party and all leaders will unitedly contest the upcoming election,'' Gehlot said. "Sachin Pilot ji and I will contest the assembly election, as well as all other senior leaders in the state who wish to contest," Gehlot told reporters. He was asked about the delay by the Congress in announcing candidates and reports that claimed that infighting among the top state leaders over the distribution of tickets was responsible for it. Filing of nomination papers in Rajasthan started on Monday and will continue till November 19. On the issue of the chief ministerial candidate, Gehlot said since independence the Congress has never declared its chief ministerial face in Rajasthan and the party is happy to carry on this tradition. He also asserted there is discipline in the party and all Congressmen will abide by the party leadership's decision. Pilot had earlier been an MP from Dausa in 2004. He won from Ajmer in 2009 Lok Sabha election. He unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from Ajmer in 2014. He, however, did not contest the bye-election to the seat earlier this year. (With PTI inputs) Former Hyderabad Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy on Thursday sat in protest outside Congress president Rahul Gandhi's residence in Delhi. According to news agency ANI, Reddy was sitting outside Rahul Gandhi's house with her husband to express her disappointment over not being given a ticket from the party. Reddy is the first Mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and is the member of Indian National Congress. Earlier on November 12, Congress had released a list of 65 candidates for Telangana ahead of assembly elections in the state. Many party workers protested at the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) headquarters- Gandhi Bhawan - on Monday. The workers had expressed their that they were not satisfied with the way the tickets were distributed for the elections that are due to be held in the state next month. The disgruntled leaders and their supporters climbed trees to make their voices heard and urged Congress high command to give tickets to leaders who have worked hard for the party's progress. Some Congress leaders and party workers from Vaderula community have been agitating in front of the party's office for the last few days, demanding the ticket for Jai Ramulu from Patancheru constituency. There are a few other Congress leaders from Malkajgiri constituency, who have been on a hunger strike for the last three days demanding the ticket for Sridhar. The Congress has teamed up with TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) to form a "grand alliance" for the upcoming polls. It has allotted 14 seats to Telugu Desam Party (TDP), eight to Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and three to Communist Party of India (CPI). However, the CPI has been pushing for at least five seats, though it said it would remain in the alliance. Congress on Wednesday released a list of 10 more candidates for Telangana Assembly elections 2018. The final list of candidates for 119 constituencies with alliance partners is yet to be announced. "From one seat, only one person will get the ticket. Ability to win the election is the only criteria for giving tickets. In some cases, the party has to give seats to the alliance partners. As a result, some leaders are agitations. Many of them were called to Delhi and were counseled not to accept the party decision," TPCC spokesperson Gudur Narayan had said on Monday. "However, each and every competent leader will get some responsibility once the government is formed. It is very sad that some people, who have really worked hard, have been deprived of a chance to contest the polls. These leaders will be taken care of in a big way," he said. The election to the 119-member assembly of Telangana is scheduled to be held on December 7. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. Actor Salman Khan, who was filming for Ali Abbas Zafar's upcoming film 'Bharat' in Punjab, has wrapped up the shooting of the film. The superstar was on Thursday spotted at the Mumbai airport in a casual look. Take a look at his photos here: The shooting of 'Bharat' started almost three months ago. Salman along with Disha Patani kick-started the first schedule of the film at a studio in Mumbai and reportedly shot for a Holi dance sequence. Later, the film made headlines after Priyanka Chopra walked out of the project due to her engagement with Nick Jonas. After Priyanka's ouster, Katrina Kaif was taken on board as the leading lady of the film. The second schedule of the film was shot in Malta in August this year. Last week, Salman and Katrina headed to Ludhiana to shoot for the next and the final schedule of the film. The team also shot few sequences in Chandigarh for which a Wagah Border set was created. Earlier today, Salman and Katrina shared a picture from the sets on their Instagram pages. 'Bharat' is one of the highly-anticipated films of 2019. The period-drama is being produced by Atul Agnihotri and will be set across different time periods, that spans over 60 years. The film will also have some war sequences. As per the report, the film will show events such as the Hungnam Evacuation during the 1950 Korean War. Salman will reportedly sport five different looks in the film. 'Bharat' also features Nora Fatehi, Tabu and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles with Varun Dhawan in a cameo. It is slated for release next year. New Delhi: A day after Binny Bansal stepped down as Group CEO following personal misconduct allegations, Flipkart team heads are extensively engaging with staff to address their concerns and queries arising in view of the surprise development. According to sources, various heads at the e-commerce giant have been engaging with their teams to answer any queries and address concerns related to business and operations after Bansal's exit. Walmart -- Flipkart's parent entity -- Tuesday issued a statement saying Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal had resigned as the group chief executive officer. The cryptic statement said an independent investigation had been conducted against Bansal following allegations of "serious personal misconduct" but gave no details about the nature of the misconduct and findings of the probe for which a global law firm had been engaged. It gave a clean chit to Bansal stating that the probe "did not find evidence to corroborate the complainant's assertions" against him. According to multiple sources, this was the second time that the issue had against Bansal had been raised. They said the matter was first flagged three years ago. However, it wasn't clear if any action was taken back then. In July this year, the complainant -- an associate engaged with Flipkart and now working independently -- reached out to Walmart, following which the investigation was set up, they said. The sources said Walmart -- which had picked up 77 percent stake in the Bengaluru-based firm for a whopping USD 16 billion -- was upset that this development had not been disclosed when the deal discussions were on. Binny, 37, has also strongly denied the charges and said he was "stunned" by the allegations. He had added that while had had stepped down from the lead role, he would continue to remain a large shareholder and board member of the company that he co-founded 11 years ago with Sachin Bansal (who exited Flipkart having sold his entire shares as part of the deal). Binny had been appointed group CEO in January last year. In his email to employees Tuesday, Binny had said he had been mulling over the right time to step away from an operating role at Flipkart Group for some some time. "My plan was to continue in my current role for a few more quarters to continue the transition after closing the deal with Walmart. However, my decision to step down has been accelerated by certain personal events that have taken place in the recent past," he wrote in his email. Binny's exit after that of co-founder Sachin Bansal (not related) has raised questions around leadership and the course of action over the next few months for the company that is locked in an intense battle with American rival, Amazon. Walmart has stated that Kalyan Krishnamurthy, currently chief executive of the Flipkart division and PhonePe (Flipkart's payments arm) Sameer Nigam will report directly to the board. Also, Flipkart's operations will now include fashion portals, Myntra and Jabong even though they would continue to operate as separate platforms. Ananth Narayanan will continue as CEO of Myntra and Jabong and will report to Krishnamurthy. The sources indicated that further rejig of roles could be on the cards soon. New Delhi: Vodafone Idea on Wednesday reported a consolidated loss of Rs 4,973 crore for the September quarter in its maiden financial results post merger. The merger of Vodafone India with Idea Cellular was completed on August 31, 2018. The numbers for the reported quarter include results for Idea Cellular up to August 30, 2018 and for Vodafone Idea from August 31 to September 30 and hence these are not comparable to the earlier period, Vodafone Idea said in a statement. The company continued to face the impact of tariff war, with customers moving to low-cost plans. "Headline tariffs remained stable during the quarter. However, customer migration to lower ARPU (average revenue per user) offerings led to a 4.7 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decline in ARPU to Rs 88 for the quarter," the statement said. The country's largest telecom operator with subscriber base of 42.2 crore reported consolidated revenue of Rs 7,663 crore for July-September 2018. Vodafone Idea said that post-merger, synergy between assets and operations is progressing well. "Committee of Board members to evaluate a potential capital raise of up to Rs 250 billion, promoter shareholders have indicated to the Board that they would contribute up to Rs 182.5 billion," Vodafone Idea said. Vodafone Group has indicated to the board that they would contribute up to Rs 11,000 crore and Aditya Birla Group up to Rs 7,250 crore, respectively. The company is also actively exploring sale of its fibre network. "Several parties have indicated a potential interest in acquiring the company's fibre network, consisting of over 156,000 kilometer of intra- and inter-city fibre routes. The Company has decided to actively explore a potential sale of these assets in order to provide further balance sheet flexibility," the statement said. The merged entity's gross debt as at September 30, 2018 stood at Rs 1,26,100 crore. "The cash and equivalents was Rs 136 billion, resulting in a net debt of Rs 1,125 billion," the statement said. NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has been named as an accused in the FIR lodged by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari in connection with scuffle during the inauguration of Signature Bridge on 4th November. Kejriwal's party has accused the Delhi Police of working at the behest of BJP - its political master - and registering an FIR against Kejriwal and not against Manoj Tiwari. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been named as an accused in an FIR lodged by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari in connection with scuffle during the inauguration of Signature Bridge on 4th November. ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Shrugging off criticism from AAP, Delhi Police said that is following the due procedure and the matter related to the ruckus on November 4 is being probed by the Crime Branch. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari had on Tuesday filed a police complaint against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan who had allegedly misbehaved with him during the inauguration of the Signature Bridge last week. According to ANI, the Delhi BJP chief filed a complaint against Khan and several unknown persons. Tiwari also wrote a letter to the DCP northeast demanding action against the AAP legislator. During the inauguration of 'Signature Bridge' on Sunday, Tiwari had alleged that he was heckled, pushed and threatened by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and his party workers. The BJP MP also alleged that a few policemen too misbehaved with him. "The policemen who entered into a scuffle with me have been identified. The additional DCP-I of this area is saying that some AAP volunteers were injured. I will show them what the police is in just four days," an agitated Tiwari said. Tiwari and his supporters had reached the venue of the inaugural function allegedly carrying black flags. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were not present when the protest took place. Tiwari had expressed displeasure over not being invited to the function and took a dig at the Kejriwal government, saying he would be present at the bridge to welcome the Chief Minister. A statement issued by the party later said, ''AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan attacked the Delhi BJP president at the instance of Kejriwal". However, Khan categorically denied the charges. "Why was he (Tiwari) there and trying to come on the stage? What was his intention? Why didn't the police stop him? I was just trying to stop Tiwari from coming on the stage. His allegation that I threatened to shoot him is laughable," the AAP leader said. When he (Manoj Tiwari) was trying to climb the stage I stopped him, I didn't push him. It was obvious from his actions that if he was successful in climbing the stage he would have misbehaved or attacked CM and Deputy CM, Amanatullah Khan said. A video of the alleged incident also emerged in which Khan could be seen shoving Tiwari and scuffling with him close to the stage where the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleague were attending the inaugural function. Tiwari said he had gone to the venue to share the moment of joy with people, but he was threatened. New Delhi: Chinese companies are showing an increasing interest in Indian start-ups and the government's ambitious Smart Cities Mission, with experts reminding that the investors should factor-in risks and challenges, as per a report in Chinese media. A Global Times report said that India has become a major investment destination for the Chinese companies. Recently, eight Indian startups managed to secure funding commitments to the tune of USD 30 million at the 2nd Startup India Investment Seminar held at Beijing. Around 20 Indian startups pitched for attracting Chinese investment from 350 representatives of leading Chinese Venture Capitalists who attended the event. Quoting experts, the Global Times said the prospective smart cities must show they can generate returns for investors The smart cities mission, launched in 2015, aims to tackle the escalating problems in urban areas with regards to transportation, energy supply, governance, basic urban infrastructure services and overall quality of life. Zhao Gancheng, director of the South Asia Studies Department at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times that the smart cities need to establish business-friendly environments and facilitate policies for investors As per India's housing ministry estimate, the total proposed investment in the finally selected 100 cities under the Smart Cities Mission is Rs 2,05,018 crores. Zhao however cautioned that Chinese companies, seeking opportunities in the smart city project, should lower their risks by getting familiar with India's investment environment, such as relevant laws and regulations". Anarock Property Consultants had in June this year estimated that 5 percent of the proposed projects are completed so far. However, as per a recent report in the HT Media, 20 of the total 100 smart cities will be completed by 2021. A smart city rankings by the ministry of urban development showed that tier-II smart cities of Nagpur, Vadodara and Ahmedabad topped the charts, leaving behind tier 1 cities such as Pune, Chennai and many others. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will next week launch the 10th city gas licensing round that will help extend coverage of CNG and piped cooking gas connections to 70 percent of the population. Modi will also lay foundation stones marking the beginning of work for city gas networks in at least 62 cities, licences for which were given out in the previous bidding round that concluded a couple of months back, oil regulator PNGRB Chairman Dinesh K Sarraf told reporters here. In the 10th bid round for giving licences to retail CNG to automobiles and piped natural gas to household kitchens, 50 geographical areas or GAs spread over 124 districts in 14 states, covering 24 percent of India's population and 18 percent of its area, are being offered, he said. In the ninth bid round, 86 GAs spread over 174 districts in 22 states and union territories and covering 26 percent of India's population and 24 percent of its area were offered. Of these, 78 GAs have been awarded to companies like Adani Gas, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Torrent Gas. Modi through video conferencing will lay the foundation stones for 62 GAs during a function on November 22, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Chairman said. "Of the 86 GAs of 9th bid round, five GAs have been excluded as they are under litigation. Another 16 GAs fall in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana where assembly elections are on and so have been excluded because of model code of conduct. Another three GAs will have to be excluded because of local panchayat elections," Sarraf said. First CNG station or a piped natural gas connection in the GAs awarded in the previous round will take at least 1-2 years to become operational. "In the two rounds (9th and 10th), we have covered 50 percent of India's population and 42 percent of the area," he said. The government is targeting raising share of natural gas in the primary energy basket to 15 percent from current 6.2 percent, in the next few years and the bid rounds are aimed at fulfilling that objective. Bids for the 10th round will close on February 5 and areas will be awarded by end of February, he said. The GAs awarded in the 9th round and to be offered in the 10th are the ones that lie close to natural gas pipelines, he said adding companies have been given 8 years for the complete rollout of city gas infrastructure in their awarded cities. "Future bid rounds will be slower and smaller as new areas can be offered only when gas pipeline is laid to connect them to gas grid," he said. "Next round will happen after some gap." For companies to retail CNG to automobiles or supply piped natural gas to household kitchens, natural gas - either imported on ports or found below the earth's surfaces, mostly in offshore - has to be transported to consumption centres through pipelines. Currently, western and northern India are well connected with cross-country pipeline and only couple of years back the work on connecting the eastern part with pipeline has begun. Like in the 9th round, bidders in the 10th round will have to quote the number of CNG stations to be set up and the number of domestic cooking gas connections to be given in the first eight years of operation. Also, they have to quote the length of pipeline to be laid in the GA and the tariff proposed for city gas and compressed natural gas (CNG), he said. Cities on offer in the 10th round include Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, Muzaffarpur in Bihar, Kaithal in Haryana, Mysore and Gulbarga in Karnataka, Allapuza and Kollam in Kerala, Ujjain, Gwalior and Morena in Madhya Pradesh, Jhansi and Basti in Uttar Pradesh, Firozpur and Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Ajmer and Jalor in Rajasthan, Nainital in Uttarakhand and Darjeeling and Howrah in West Bengal. Companies having a net worth of not less than Rs 150 crore can bid for GAs with a population of 50 lakh and more while the same for GAs with a population of 20-50 lakh has been proposed at Rs 100 crore. The net worth eligibility goes down with population, with a Rs 5 crore net worth firm being eligible to bid for GAs that have less than 10 lakh population. The winning company would have 8 years of marketing exclusivity in the given city. Licences given prior to the 9th round provide for 5 years of exclusivity. In the 9th round, which closed in July, billionaire Gautam Adani's group, IOC, BPCL and Torrent Gas were the big winners. Adani Gas won rights to retail CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to households and industries in 13 cities on its own and another nine in a joint venture with IOC. IOC on its own won rights to seven cities while Bharat Gas Resources Ltd, a unit of BPCL, won a licence for 11 cities. Torrent Gas made 10 winning bids. State gas utility GAIL's retailing arm GAIL Gas managed rights for five cities. Prior to the 9th round, 91 GAs were awarded to firms like Indraprastha Gas and GAIL Gas, which are serving 240 million population, 42 lakh domestic consumers and 31 lakh CNG vehicles. Of these, 56 GAs were awarded through bidding rounds and the rest on government nomination. PTI ANZ ANZ ANU ANU Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Thursday suspended Ankiv Baisoya from all the responsibilities of the RSS-affiliated student organisation until the inquiry over his fake degree is over. According to news agency ANI, ABVP has asked Baisoya to resign from his post of DUSU president until the inquiry is over. Earlier in September, National Students' Union of India (NSUI) had alleged that the newly election DUSU president submitted fake degree for admission. Thiruvalluvar University, of which Baisoya claimed to be a student of, had also released a statement earlier stating that Baisoya was never their student. They had informed the state government that Ankiv Baisoya was never enrolled in their university. On their part, Delhi University officials had said they will hold a meeting to decide action in the matter. The National Students' Association Of India also demanded an apology from BJP president Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for "cheating" the university administration and students. The party also demanded their candidate Sunny Chill, to be declared as the students' union president and also repolling on ballot paper. "The admission of the ABVP Candidate Ankiv Baisoya should be canceled from the DU on the ground of forgery. All those who were involved in fake admission racket be arrested including the university administration, the candidate himself for cheating the varsity and all those from the ABVP who backed the candidate," the NSUI said. The NSUI members claimed that the university from where Baisoya did his graduation only has post-graduate courses and has Tamil as a compulsory language, adding they were sure Baisoya "could not even write his name in Tamil". The Department of Buddhist Studies, where Baisoya is studying, has said it will hold a meeting to discuss the allegations and order inquiry into the matter. A litigant in the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case, Iqbal Ansari, has raised an alarm over convergence of various political groups and right-wing organisations in Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya on November 25. Equating the situation with that in 1992, he demanded that members of Muslim community must be given protection. Our houses were burnt down in 1992 even when we didn't go there (disputed land). I have asked for security for Hindus and Muslims in Ayodhya. If crowd pours in here, like 1992, Muslims of Ayodhya and I should also be given protection, Iqbal Ansari told news agency ANI on Wednesday. Threatening to leave the holy town if adequate security is not provided, the litigant further said, Two security personnel have been deployed for my protection. Several people come to meet me, it poses danger to me. I have said that if my security is not heightened, I will leave for somewhere else before November 25. Notably, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Shiv Sena, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), among others, have declared that they will go to Ayodhya on November 25. The RSS has called for a Hunkar rally in Ayodhya to press for the demand for construction of Ram temple. Top RSS functionaries are expected to be a part of the rally. Members of the Shiv Sena, including party chief Uddhav Thackeray, have also declared that they will be in the holy town on November 25. The Shiv Sena has, however, maintained that they are going to Ayodhya to just offer prayers to Ram lalla. They have also said that residents of all communities in Ayodhya must not fear their arrival in the town as they do not intend to cause any disturbance or harm to anyone. A war of words has also ensued among different political parties and right-wing organisations over their Ayodhya plans. In an article in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena recently mocked the RSS, saying that its Hunkar wont yield any result. Asserting that the construction of Ram temple is an issue of national pride, the Saamana article said that RSS had forgotten about the same earlier, but was reminded of it once the Shiv Sena declared that its members would go to Ayodhya on November 25. With thousands protesting across Assam on Friday demanding the withdrawal of proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Guwahati administration has slapped prohibitory orders banning the assembly of four or more people across the state capital. The prohibitory orders, Section 144 of the CrPC, has been issued until further orders by the Guwahati West district Deputy Commissioner of Police, Harekrishna Nath and was made public on Thursday. "Hereby prohibit assembly of more than five persons, agitation, demonstration, procession and shouting of slogans in the entire West district of Guwahati covering areas under Bharalumukh, Fatashil Ambari, Gorchuk, Jalukbari and Azara Police Station without prior permission from the competent authority. The order shall remain in force from November 14 to until further orders, read the prohibitory order. The order comes in the wake of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti-led (KMSS) 70 other organisations calling a state-wide protest against the bill. Members of these 70 organisations are expected to protest at the Janata Bhawan in Guwahati against the bill. However, the state administration has denied the KMSS to hold the said rally. The leader of KMSS, Akhil Gogoi, has threatened to call a bandh if the state administration does not allow them to hold the scheduled meeting. The administration has denied us permission to hold the rally. But, we are determined to hold the rally with or without the permission. It is going to be a democratic protest without causing any harm, said Gogoi. Speaking to news agency IANS, a senior official said, "We are taking preventive measures to ensure peaceful movement of public, smooth flow of traffic and normal functioning of offices in and around Guwahati." The Pune Police on Thursday filed charge sheet against the five accused in the Bhima Koregaon case. According to news agency ANI, charge sheet has been filed against Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale and Rona Wilson in Pune Sessions Court. Activist Shoma Sen had filed a bail plea in Pune Sessions Court which was rejected by the court on November 2. The Supreme Court had on October 29 stayed the Bombay High Court order refusing extension of time to the state police for filing charge sheet in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case. Taking note of the appeal of the Maharashtra government, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi stayed the high court order and issued a notice to rights activists on the plea. Earlier, the apex court had refused to interfere with the arrest of five rights activists by the Maharashtra Police in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case and declined to appoint a SIT for a probe into their arrest. The Bombay High Court on October 24 rejected Pune Sessions Court order which had granted police more time to file the charge sheet against lawyer Surendra Gadling and others who were arrested in June for alleged Maoist links in the aftermath of violence at Bhima Koregaon near Pune. The Pune Police arrested Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson in June for their alleged links with Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The arrests had followed raids at their residences and offices in connection with the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31 last year, which, the police had claimed, had led to violence at Bhima Koregaon the next day. The police had also alleged that the conclave had the support of Maoists. Under the UAPA, a charge sheet must be filed within 90 days of arrest. However, the prosecutor can file a report before the trial court, explaining the reasons for a delay, and seek more time. If satisfied, the court can extend the time by 90 days. The Pune sessions court had granted the police the additional 90 days, following an application from the investigating officer (IO) and written submissions by an assistant commissioner of police (ACP). Gadling had challenged this, saying the report and the submissions came from the police, not the prosecutor. Under the Act, the report should be filed by the prosecutor, he said. (With Agency Inputs) CHENNAI: The cyclonic storm 'Gaja' over the Bay of Bengal lay at about 470 km south-east from here and is set to make landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban on Thursday evening bringing heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu, Pudducherry and parts of Andhra Pradesh. 'Gaja' that lay over southwest and adjoining southeast and west central Bay of Bengal is about 550 km northeast of Nagapattinam and is very likely to cross the coast between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday evening or night with a wind speed gusting upto 100 kmph, the Met office said. A bulletin released by the IMD at 00230 HRS said, ''The Cyclonic storm GAJA over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved further west-southwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 2330 hrs IST of 14 th November, 2018 over Southwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 12.0N and longitude 83.8E, about 410 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 450 km east-northeast of Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu). It is very likely to move west-southwestwards and intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. While moving west-southwestwards thereafter, it is likely to weaken and cross Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore, around Nagapattinam during 15th November evening as a Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.'' IMD further warned of 'heavy to very heavy' rainfall at most places over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Cuddalore, Nagappattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai. In view of the IMD warning regarding the cyclonic storm Gaja, the Indian Navy, NDRF, SDRF and other agencies are on standby to carry out relief and rescue operations. "The Eastern Naval Command(ENC) has assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Two Indian Naval ships Ranvir and Khanjar are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, the logistic support including providing medical aid. These ships will be embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets etc," a statement from Navy said. #IndianNavy on the Alert for Cyclone Gaja relief efforts as the cyclonic storm is approaching the coast of South Tamil Nadu & Pudducherry - likely poised to cross East coast on the evening of 15 Nov @SpokespersonMoD@DefenceMinIndia @nsitharaman@narendramodi SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) November 14, 2018 Additionally, aircraft from Naval Air Stations Dega, Rajali and Parundu and Water Jet FACs and Patrolling Boats from Naval Detachments in Ramnad and Nagapatnam have been warning the fishing vessels about the approaching storm and directing them to return to the harbour. The ENC is monitoring the developments closely and Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area is in constant communication with the State Administration to augment rescue and relief operations. "One P8I aircraft, Dornier aircraft and helicopters are also standing by to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material to the stranded," the statement further noted. According to IMD, Cyclone Gaja is expected to make a landfall between Pamban and Cuddalore this evening. In an attempt to mitigate damage to properties and human lives, the state administration headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has planned to evacuate around 20,000 people residing on the coastal line and moving them to relief camps. With the Tamil Nadu government already declaring that 30,500 rescue personnel were on standby, the district collectors of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram have declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday. All educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions would remain closed on Thursday in view of the cyclone. Against the backdrop of the Central Water Commission advising constant vigil over dams, Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar told reporters that dams, lakes and rivers channels were being monitored continuously. The IMD has also cautioned about major damage to thatched huts. "Rooftops may blow off," and communication and power lines may be affected it had said adding standing crops could also be hit besides water intrusion in low lying areas. Apart from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh is also bracing for the impact of the cyclone which is likely to bring heavy downpour and strong winds to several parts of the region for the next couple of days. As the pollution level in the national capital is on the rise, farmers Haryana's Rohtak continues to burn stubble on Wednesday night. Delhi's air quality improved through the day on Thursday after rainfall washed away pollutants, but authorities warned that the pollution level might increase again from Saturday. The overall air quality index was recorded in poor category, according to the Central Pollution Control Authority (CPCB) data. This is the first time since Diwali that the air quality has slipped into the poor category. The AQI had been oscillating between severe and upper range of very poor for the past one week, at one point even crossing the 600-mark post Diwali. Haryana Chief Secretary D S Dhesi on Sunday said it was unfair to blame the state for Delhi's poor air quality, saying that crop residue was burnt only on one per cent of the total sown area of paddy. Dhesi alleged that the role of Haryana was being adversely publicised regarding the pollution in the National Capital Region. "But, actually, crop residue was burned on only two per cent area of total sown area of paddy in Haryana during (the) last year whereas this year, the crop residue was burned on only one per cent area," he said in Hisar, according to an official release. Dhesi said the role of Haryana and its farmers was negligible, but rumours were being spread in this regard. "It is being projected that farmers of Haryana are burning crop residue in each and every agricultural field." The chief secretary said in Haryana, paddy crop was mainly sown on 13 lakh hectares area in 10 districts. "As per the data received from HARSAC (Haryana Space Applications Centre, Hisar) the crop residue burning cases were reported on 12,473 places in the state in 2017. "Similarly, this year such cases were reported on 7,273 places which is only one per cent of the total area," he said. Dhesi added that crop residue-based compressed bio gas plants would be established Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Jind. Apart from this, an MoU has been signed between the Indian Oil Corporation and Renewable Energy Department, under which crop residue would be purchased from farmers for these plants and energy would be generated out of it. Later, presiding over a meeting of administrative officers of Fatehabad, Sirsa and Jind districts, Dhesi said the seriousness of administrative officers and representatives of panchayati raj institutions would be evaluated on the basis of their contribution in curbing burning of crop residue. Dhesi said the period between October 15 and November 25 was very crucial as this is the period when maximum cases of crop-residue burning are reported. In view of this, the chief secretary constituted two committees -- a committee comprising of members of the revenue, agriculture and district development and panchayat departments would monitor the sensitive villages; whereas the committee of sub-divisional officer and tehsildar would visit different villages of the district from time to time. The chief secretary directed the deputy commissioners of Sirsa and Jind district to adopt the decision taken by the Fatehabad deputy commissioner of not issuing arms licences or renew old licences of those persons who are found guilty of burning crop residue. He said apart from issuing challans to people indulging in burning crop residue, FIRs should also be registered against such guilty persons. The Haryana State Pollution Control Board would send cases of farmers burning crop residue to the courts for trials. On Thursday, the PM2.5 particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers level was recorded at 96 in the national capital, while the PM10 level was recorded at 177, according to CPCB data. Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Greater Noida and Noida recorded "poor" air quality, while Gurgaon's air quality was recorded in the "moderate" category, it said. 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. Twenty-five areas in Delhi recorded "poor" air quality and 11 areas showed moderate air quality, CPCB said. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, fire counts observed during the past 24 hours over northwest region of India were fewer (less than 100 counts). "The impact of stubble burning in NW India is not significant over Delhi," the IITM said. According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR), the air quality improved significantly following sufficient rainfall early Thursday due to wash-away effect. "Surface wind speed moderately increased but pollution level declined faster than expected as still weather conditions are not completely favorable except sporadic rain," SAFAR said in a report. "In addition to cleaning by rain, accumulative emission loading is relatively less which has led to drop in pollution. The AQI is likely to remain in poor range tomorrow but may slip back to very poor range thereafter," it said. EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal on Wednesday recommended to the pollution watchdog CPCB that it should implement either the odd-even scheme or impose a complete ban on non-CNG private vehicles if the air pollution level in Delhi increases again. In a letter to CPCB member secretary Prashant Gargava, Lal said all cities, which have similar emergency plans - like Paris or Beijing - include restrictions on private vehicles, done by either number plate or fuel type or its age. He said vehicles contribute as much as 40 percent of the total emission load in Delhi and roughly 30 percent in the region. "In this situation, the only option is to look at either a complete ban on all private vehicles (without the identification of petrol or diesel), other than CNG and/or restriction on plying by number plate (odd-even)," he said. In 2016, the odd-even scheme was enforced twice - January 1-15 and April 15-30 - in Delhi when vehicles having odd and even numbers were allowed to ply on alternate days as the air quality deteriorated. The odd-even scheme is a part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), emergency measures implemented in phases to combat air pollution. It came into effect on October 15. (With PTI inputs) A fire broke out in a factory in Bawana Industrial Area of the national capital on Thursday morning. At least 22 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Firefighting operations are underway. More details are awaited. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended greetings to the people of Jharkhand on the occasion of 18th foundation day of the state. The state government has planned a grand programme in state capital Ranchi to mark the Jharkhand statehood day. Taking to microblogging site Twitter on Thursday morning, President Kovind noted that Jharkhand is blessed with vast natural resources and a rich culture. The President tweeted, Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on statehood day. The state is blessed with vast natural resources and a rich culture that we are all proud of. May Jharkhand go from strength to strength in the years to come. Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on statehood day. The state is blessed with vast natural resources and a rich culture that we are all proud of. May Jharkhand go from strength to strength in the years to come #PresidentKovind President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 15, 2018 Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the people of the state and sought blessings of Bhagwan Birsa Munda for Jharkhand. Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day. With the blessings of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, may this state scale new heights of growth and glory in the coming years, he wrote on Twitter. Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day. With the blessings of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, may this state scale new heights of growth and glory in the coming years. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2018 The occasion is being celebrated with fervour in Jharkhand with Chief Minister Raghubar Das-led government has planned a chain of events in Ranchi. Elaborate security arrangements have been made and senior government officials have been given the responsibility to make the events successful. The main event will be held at Morabadi Ground in the Jharkhand capital and is likely to be attended by Chief Minister Das and his cabinet ministers, among others. A huge crowd is expected and hence the administration has installed at least seven temporary parking spots for the vehicles. According to reports, the Chief Minister is expected to declare Jharkhand Open Defecation Free on Thursday, which is a year ahead of the original deadline for the same. NEW DELHI: Launching fresh salvo at the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday raked up Centre's admission to the Supreme Court that there was no sovereign guarantee by the French government backing the deal. The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: NO Guarantee by the French Govt. backing the deal. BUT, our PM says theres a letter from the French promising to be faithful! Thats enough to call this a Govt to Govt deal?, tweeted Gandhi along with hashtag #BikGayaChowkidar Sharing an image along with the tweet, Gandhi added, Modi government lies again 'sovereign guarantee by the French government'. Who takes responsibility if Dassault fails to deliver? The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: NO Guarantee by the French Govt. backing the deal. BUT, our PM says theres a letter from the French promising to be faithful! Thats enough to call this a Govt to Govt deal?#BikGayaChowkidar pic.twitter.com/Epw3J62JbV Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 15, 2018 The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on four petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into 36 Rafale fighter jet deal with French firm Dassault Aviation. A three-hour-long hearing saw Attorney General K.K. Venugopal informing the bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph that though there is no sovereign guarantee from France government, there is a letter of comfort. "There is no sovereign guarantee but there is a letter of comfort from France dated September 25, 2015 which says that if there is any exigencies, it would be taken care of by them (France)," Venugopal told the bench. The hearing saw counsel Prashant Bhushan and former Union Minister Arun Shourie questioning the circumventing of the procedure for aborting the process for procuring 126 aircraft (18 in a flyaway condition and 108 to be manufactured by HAL) in favour of procuring 36 jets in a ready-to-fly condition and unloading HAL as an offset partner. Meanwhile, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier, in a media interview, defended the multi-crore-Rafale deal between India and France. He had claimed no wrong-doing and said his company chose Reliance as an offset partner. 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 Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore. The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. With agency inputs NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday adjourned hearing in the National Herald case involving Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia and some party leaders till November 22. According to the news agency ANI, the high court also directed that complete status quo be maintained till the next date of hearing in the case. #UPDATE Delhi High Court adjourns hearing in National Herald case for 22nd November and orders complete status quo to be maintained till next date of hearing https://t.co/cSYQLcYJHe ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 The Delhi High Court ruling came days after the Supreme Court fixed December 4 for final arguments on pleas filed by Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia against the Delhi High Court order for re-opening of their income tax assessments in the National Herald case. The Delhi HC had refused to give them relief in a case of re-opening of their tax assessments for 2011-12. The apex court did not issue any notice on their petitions as the Income Tax department was represented by its counsel. The Income Tax department had filed a caveat in the apex court that it should be heard in case an appeal is filed against the high court order. After a brief hearing, a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and SA Abdul Nazeer said, "Since the respondent (Income Tax department) has made an appearance, we are not issuing a formal notice. However, we are fixing the matter for final arguments on December 4". The appeals were filed by Rahul, Sonia and veteran Congress leader Oscar Fernandes, who have challenged the September 10 verdict of the high court. The income tax probe against the Congress leaders has arisen from the investigation into the private criminal complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy before a trial court in connection with the National Herald case, in which the trio is out on bail. Sonia and Rahul were granted bail in the case by the trial court on December 19, 2015. In the complaint before the trial court, Sonia, Rahul and others have been accused of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by paying just Rs 50 lakh, through which Young Indian (YI), the not-for-profit organisation, had obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) owed to the Congress party. It was alleged that YI, which was incorporated in November 2010 with a capital of Rs 50 lakh, had acquired almost all shareholdings of the AJL, which was running the National Herald newspaper. In this process, YI had also acquired AJL's debt of Rs 90 crore. The tax department had said the shares Rahul has in YI would lead him to have an income of Rs 154 crore and not about Rs 68 lakh, as was assessed earlier. It has already issued a demand notice for Rs 249.15 crore to YI for the assessment year 2011-12. The department's move followed its probe on a complaint alleging that the Gandhis had misappropriated AJL's assets while transferring their shares to the newly formed YI. The high court had noted in its September 10 order that the premise of the reassessment notices was that the non-disclosure of the taxing event-- allotment of shares of YI-- deprived the assessing officer of the opportunity to look into the records. It had said that in Rahul's case, the non-disclosure of share acquisition constituted tangible material justifying reassessment. In case of Sonia and Oscar, the bench said returns filed by them were processed under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, which pertains to 'Notice or intimation', and are not treated as "assessments". (With PTI Inputs) The counter-intelligence wing of Punjab Police on Thursday put the state on high alert about the presence of at least half-a-dozen terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the state and said they could be moving towards the national capital, as reported by the news agency IANS. The reports suggest that the terrorists entered India from the international border in Ferozepur area. A letter issued by the Counter Intelligence Inspector General said, "At least six to seven terrorists are reportedly in Punjab (possibly Ferozepur area) and planning to move towards Delhi from Punjab side." The note advised the authorities to step up security, especially along the border, and checking across the state. "There is a need to review and strengthen the second line of defence along the Indo-Pakistan border and to coordinate closely with BSF and other police/defence establishments in your areas," it added. The intelligence alert came just a day after four persons snatched a taxi at gunpoint near Madhopur area, sparking fears of a Pathankot airbase-like attack that took place in 2016. The taxi, a silver-coloured Toyota Innova, was initially hired by the four men from Jammu. They had booked it for Pathankot. After reaching near Madhopur, they forced the driver of a car out at gun-point and drove off, the police said. The taxi driver, with the help of passers-by, later informed the police. The Pathankot airbase of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was attacked by terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan on January 2, 2016. At least seven people were killed in that attack. Prior to the terrorist attack on the IAF base in 2016, suspected Pakistani terrorists had carried out an attack on Dinanagar town in neighbouring Gurdaspur district. The Dinanagar terror attack took place on July 27, 2015 when three Pakistani terrorists entered from the border belt. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that no progress must be expected on resuming peace talks with India before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing mediapersons after a meeting of Pakistans Senate Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, Qureshi said that the issue of dialogue with India was discussed during the meet. According to Pakistan-based The Express Tribune, the panel was also briefed by the government on the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia and China, apart from status of Pakistans relationship with neighbours India and Afghanistan. This comes less than a month after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that anti-Pakistan rhetoric rakes in votes in India. Pointing that relationship with Pakistan is a poll issue in India, Imran Khan had said that he would again extend a hand of friendship to India after the completion of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief had made the remark while addressing mediapersons at the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh. Talking about Pakistans efforts to mend ties with neighbours, Imran Khan said that he had extended a hand of friendship to India soon after assuming power, but the same was rebuffed by New Delhi. He had also cited that India had called off talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session. State-run Radio Pakistan had quoted the countrys Prime Minister as saying that peace with India would help the two countries to divert their resources towards human development instead of indulging in arms race. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday launched yet another scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar, accusing the latter of being obsessed with luxury and grandeur. Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Tejashwi, the leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly, alleged that Nitish Kumar had occupied three chief ministerial bungalows and one exclusive plush suite in Bihar Bhawan. Nitish Kumar has occupied 3 Chief Ministerial Bungalows (2 in Patna, 1 in Delhi) moreover One exclusive plush suite in Bihar Bhawan!, tweeted Tejashwi, the son of RJD supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is currently serving a sentences in fodder scam cases. Nitish Kumar has occupied 3 Chief Ministerial Bungalows (2 in Patna, 1 in Delhi) moreover One exclusive plush suite in Bihar Bhawan! Why self proclaimed austere CM of a poor State has this obsession with luxury & grandeur? Has he got any morality to answer this? Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) November 15, 2018 Questioning the morality of the JDU chief, the Yadav scion further said, Why self proclaimed austere CM of a poor State has this obsession with luxury & grandeur? Has he got any morality to answer this? Tejashwi also attacked Nitish Kumar over the installation of a CCTV camera on the boundary wall of his official residence, accusing him of snooping. He questioned the need of a security camera when theres already a permanent security check post. Is this Nitish Ji's paranoia for security or many other insecurities, frustrations & apprehensions with tht he has put only CCTV camera right on the boundary wall b/w his & mine residence to snoop over? Why CM needs a camera only thr with already a permanent security check post? pic.twitter.com/EljUO5EiLf Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) November 15, 2018 Bihar CMs residence is surrounded by main roads from 3 sides & Leader of Opposition's residence from the fourth side. But CM felt the need for CCTV only on the wall bordering his political adversary's residence? Someone should tell him that these petty tricks will prove futile! pic.twitter.com/HISzUEW1Gr Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) November 15, 2018 Is this Nitish Ji's paranoia for security or many other insecurities, frustrations & apprehensions with tht he has put only CCTV camera right on the boundary wall b/w his & mine residence to snoop over? Why CM needs a camera only thr with already a permanent security check post? the Yadav scion tweeted. Bihar CMs residence is surrounded by main roads from 3 sides & Leader of Opposition's residence from the fourth side. But CM felt the need for CCTV only on the wall bordering his political adversary's residence? Someone should tell him that these petty tricks will prove futile! Bihar govt must tighten the security whenever required for the CM who already has Z+ category and even resides in high security zone but is it preferable to install high resolution HD CCTV cameras facing, snooping & interfering the privacy of neighbour? the Yadav scion further said. The security forces on Thursday arrested two terrorists in Mendhar in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Several arms and explosives were also recovered from the possession of the arrested terrorists. According to sources, the terrorists were part of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit. They were arrested by a joint team of Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police along the Rajouri-Poonch highway near Mendhar. Two AK-56 rifles and several other arms were recovered by the police following the arrest of the terrorists. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir police apprehended a Tavera car having number JK01R 5936, in which the terrorists were travelling. A case has been registered and the police are investigation as to what plan the terrorists wanted to execute. New Delhi: The latest 'It' couple of Bollywood (as well as Hollywood), Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are all set to take the big step soon. The couple will reportedly get married on December 2 in Jodhpur and we can't help but wait for the wedding pictures and videos to be out! As per reports, the wedding festivities will begin from November end which will include Sangeet, Mehendi and two separate weddings. The buzz is that the nuptials will happen at Jodhpur's Umaid Bhawan Palace, which has one of the most beautiful architects in the world. Priyanka, who has been shooting for Shonali Bose's 'The Sky Is Pink', has reportedly taken all charges of her wedding herself to ensure that things are happening as planned for her dream wedding. If latest reports are anything to go by, the diva is all set to visit the Umaid Bhavan Palace with her in-laws to check the wedding preparations. Speaking of her trousseau, Priyanka is most likely to wear red where as Nick will be dressed in an ivory outfit on the big day. Earlier, a source had told Filmfare, "Nick and Priyanka were recently in India and had even gone to Jodhpur. That was when they decided the gorgeous Umedh Bhawan to be their dream wedding venue. They will have a limited guest list of 200 people with only their close friends and family in attendance. Since a lot of their Hollywood friends are settled in New York, PC is quite excited to have her bridal shower there followed by a grand wedding in Jodhpur," a source told Film Fare." A few days ago, both Priyanka and Nick were holidaying in Jodhpur. Apparently, they were in Jodhpur to do a recce of their wedding venue. The duo got engaged in India in September. Congratulations are pouring in for Bollywood's power couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, who exchanged wedding vows at Lake Como in Italy on Wednesday. And keeping up with their tradition of posting cheeky wedding wishes for newly-weds celebrities, the official handle of popular condom brand Durex congratulated 'Deep Veer' with a sassy post. "We've got you covered, Congrats Deepika & Ranveer for officially putting a ring on it," the post read. It is to be noted that Ranveer is the brand ambassador of Durex. In fact, he is the first mainstream actor of Bollywood to endorse a condom brand. In May this year, Durex had congratulated newly-weds Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja with a digital ad that read, "Congrats Sonam and Anand, we have you covered." Durex's wedding wish for Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma was not only hilarious but also carried a hidden meaning. The company took to social media and wrote, "Congratulations, Anushka and Virat. Let nothing come between you, except Durex." In the meantime, Amul too took to social media to wish 'Deep Veer' for their wedding by sharing a doodle of the duo eating buttered toast and wrote, "Ranveer not singhle anymore. The Deepik-tion of taste." After tying the nuptial knot in traditional Konkani style on November 14 in Italy, Deepika and Ranveer will exchange vows during Sindhi wedding ceremony today. The power couple, that flew with their respective family and friends to the European country during the weekend is officially man and wife. A controversial rape trial in Ireland has seized the internet by storm and women across the world are taking to social media platform Twitter protesting over it, according to reports. Recently in Ireland, a 27-year-old man was acquitted in a rape trial of a teenager by providing her thong as an evidence, as reported by CNN. On November 6, in a rape trial in Ireland's Cork city, a jury declared the defendant not guilty of raping a 17-year-old, according to CNN. The barrister defended the man saying the underwear worn by the teenager indicated consent. She pointe out that the teenager was wearing "a thong with a lace front" which indicated consent. The move by the barrister, who was also a woman, was taken as victim-blaming by women on social media. The women took to Twitter posting pictures of their underwears using the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent, protesting against the argument of the barrister, reported CNN. The women by posting pictures of their underwear protested that wearing a certain type of clothing didn't point at consent. The hashtag, #ThisIsNotConsent, was created by a Facebook group, Mna na hEireann (Women of Ireland), and it took Twitter too by storm with the account I Believe Her Ireland, lending support. According to an Irish newspaper, Independent, Susan Dillon a member of 'I Believe Her Ireland' said what women wear does not constitute consent. Irrespective of the other evidence no item of the complainants clothing implied consent. If a jury is a representative sample of the population, then its clear we have some work to do to dispel this archaic myth that clothing invites rape, Independent quoted her as saying. Another woman, Shubhangi Karmakar, made sketches of different kinds of underwears and claimed consent is not given while wearing gross pants, nice pants or no pants, according to Independent. LONDON: UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday warned the Parliament that there's no choice but to back the Brexit. "The choice is clear: We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," May told parliament in a statement. In a major blow, four more ministers including May's Brexit secretary quit on Thursday. Indian-origin Shailesh Vara was the ministers to resign over a "half-way house" divorce deal with the European Union. Minutes after, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet. Earlier in the day, junior ministers Esther McVey and Suella Braverman also quit office. "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better," said Vara, Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) since January. "I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to exit the arrangement," said Raab. "It is with deep regret and after reflection that I have had to tender my resignation today as a Brexit Minister. Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working to support Brexit from the Backbenches. This has not been an easy decision," Braverman said in a tweet. It is with deep regret and after reflection that I have had to tender my resignation today as a Brexit Minister. Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working to support Brexit from the Backbenches. This has not been an easy decision. pic.twitter.com/C0kply8aLE Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) November 15, 2018 The May government suffered a total 18 resignations since last November, ten of which are related to Brexit. The other 16 ministers who've quit include Michael Fallon, Priti Patel, Damian Green, Justine Greening, Amber Rudd, Greg Hands, Phillip Lee, David Davis, Steve Baker, Boris Johnson, Andrew Griffiths, Guto Bebb, Tracey Crouch and Jo Johnson. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who is set to defend the agreement before MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday. Meanwhile, European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed November 25 as the date of an emergency summit where the remaining 27 EU member states are set to formally approve the withdrawal agreement. With agency inputs KABUL: Major assaults by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan`s western province of Farah bordering Iran, mounted with the aim of weakening the government`s grip on the region, have killed at least 30 Afghan security forces, officials said on Thursday. The Taliban have ramped up attacks in strategic provinces in their battle to expel foreign forces, topple the Western-backed government and restore their version of hardline Islamic law. The latest attack comes four days after the Taliban killed 50 police and soldiers at checkpoints in Farah city and nearby districts. "Unfortunately, many of our men have lost their lives in Farah," said Najib Danish, a spokesman for the interior ministry in Kabul, the capital. Danish said more than 30 policemen had been killed since Wednesday and additional forces were being deployed. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the clashes in Farah, which are widely seen as forming part of their strategy to step up battlefield pressure while seeking a political settlement with the United States. Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the hardline militant group, said its fighters killed 35 security personnel, arrested two security officials, destroyed government vehicles and seized a large cache of weapons in Farah. US commanders have said they expect the Taliban to step up military efforts to improve their position while they maintain contacts with U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad aimed at opening peace negotiations. Khalilzad, an Afghan-born former U.S. ambassador to Kabul, met President Ashraf Ghani and other officials at the weekend, in his latest round of meetings following an initial meeting last month with Taliban officials in Qatar. Fighting in Farah highlights the pressure on Afghanistans overstretched security forces, which are suffering from their highest level of casualties ever, estimates from the NATO-led Resolute Support mission show. The government no longer releases precise casualty figures, but officials say at least 500 men are being killed every month and hundreds more wounded, a tally many consider an underestimate. Clan of Pushilin can count on the rich fare in the occupied area of Donetsk region after the end of his career Open source Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin has signed a law, which provides him and the members of his family with the lifetime maintenance from the budget of the occupied areas of Donetsk region, as Dmytro Zolotukhyn, Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine reported on Facebook. Denis is no slouch. The experience at Ponzi scheme company has not been in vain. He, rascal, knows, that Vladislav Surkov (personal adviser of Vladimir Putin on relationships with Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Ukraine, - Ed.) can eliminate him if he wants to. In three days before the elections he provided the capital cushion for his family, Zolotukhyn wrote. According to the document, Pushilin and the members of his family will be provided with the state security, free communication, accommodation, transport, and medical service as the authorities of Pushilin will come to the end. If DPR Head dies while serving (like Alexander Zakharchenko), then the members of his family will use these preferences during five years but will keep the accommodation they used. Also, they will be paid a one-time allowance in the sum of the annual wage of the head and disabled members of the family will have the monthly allowance calculated on the basis of the wage of the deceased. Denis Pushilin signed this document on November 8, three days before the so-called elections in occupied Donetsk, taking out insurance for the possible defeat at the will of the Russian mentors. The so-called elections took place in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions on November 11. The voters elected the leaders of 'people's republics' and their representatives in the parliaments of the 'republics.' It was reported that Leonid Pasechnyk was chosen as the "head" of the self-proclaimed republic at the illegal "elections" in the separate parts of Luhansk regions (Luhansk People's Republic, LPR). Denis Pushilin was "elected" as the head of the territory of Donetsk region occupied by the pro-Russian militants (Donetsk People's Republic, DPR). Related video: Hennadiy Zubko, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister said this during the session of Committee for Emergency Prevention Ukrainian Cabinet will assign the short-term loan to Smila, the town in central Ukraine that faced a trouble with the central heating system. The sum of the loan makes almost 900,000 U.S. dollars. Hennadiy Zubko, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Housing and Development said that during the session of Committee for Emergency Prevention. He was quoted by Interfax-Ukraine as saying. 'The Prime Minister offered to provide a short-term loan for Smila, worth 25 million Ukrainian hryvnias, so that the start of the heating season is observed', Zubko said. Earlier, a number of Ukrainian cities faced issues with heating supply system amidst the low temperatures in November. The list included Kherson, Smila, Kryvyi Rih, Kamyanka and others. The cold spell led do the temporary shutdown of some schools, kindergartens and hospitals. GLEB GARANICH/Reuters Ukrainians were granted the most residence permits of any non-EU nationals in the EU last year. Approximately 662,000 Ukrainians received such permission in 2017 alone. Ukrainians are now integrating into Europe at an annual number roughly equal to the population of Montenegro, an official EU accession candidate and new NATO member. For hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, European liberties such as the freedom to work legally and the ability to live long-term and sell their services in the EU are becoming reality. These rights include the right of residence for persons of independent financial means. Read the original text at Atlantic Council. Open source Ukraines National Bank has announced a decline in the liquidity position of VTB bank, which has Russian capital. So far, only one of the groups of Russian financial institutions has faced these problems of our domestic market. But what is really important here, actors of a similar financial cluster might face an analogous situation. The legal precedent for the arrest of state assets of the Russian Federation might serve a general condition for the destabilization of a group of Russian banks in Ukraine. The story began with the legal battle between Ukraines Naftogaz and Russian Gazprom and the imposition on the last multi-billion dollar fine (by the decision of the Antimonopoly Committee). Since then, our largest gas company has launched a real hunt for the assets of the Russian monopolist, however, the results are not that impressive, and the funds collected are not enough even to pay bonuses to Naftogazs managers for winning the Stockholm arbitration... But Gazprom has assets in Ukraine are chicken feed. However, a group of Russian banks whose parent structures are directly owned by the Russian Federation represented by authorized government bodies (government, property management, etc.) still operate in Ukraine. Recently, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court has rejected Ukrainian companies complaints about assets, lost in Crimea. Claims were filed in 2015, after Russian annexation. They dealt with claims of PJSC Ukrnafta and LLC Stabil regarding "nationalization" gas station network on the peninsula, carried out after a decision of the so-called "State Council of Crimea." The case was considered in The Hague, and the Russians, as expected, refused to participate in this process, stating that the jurisdiction of this court does not apply to the subject of the dispute. It would seem that the lawsuit technology of Ukraine against the Russian Federation has come to a deaf deadlock. Almost all international courts require obtaining consent for participation in the court from all participants in the process as a legal reason to start considering the case. And Russia takes advantage of it. But such a legal stalemate was suddenly unblocked: international arbitrators decided that they could consider the above cases even without the participation of the Russian Federation. The reason was Russias violation of the Agreement between Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers and Russia Government on the Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investments, signed November 27, 1998. International arbitration has come to the logical conclusion that the Russian Federation is responsible for the damage caused to Ukrainian investments in Crimea, and should compensate for the reasonable losses. Ukrnafta and Stabil claimed 100 million USD. In parallel (but at a faster pace), the lawsuit of the PrivatOfis, Everest Estate, Aerobud, and other companies, associated with Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, regarding compensation for the value of real estate lost in Crimea was filed. The amount of the claim amounted to 139 million USD. Back in May of this year, international arbitration decided to recover these funds from the Russian Federation, and enforcement proceedings against Russian assets began in Ukraine. In September 2018, the Kyiv Court of Appeal arrested the shares of Prominvestbank, Sberbank, and VTB Bank at the suit of private Ukrainian companies associated with Ihor Kolomoisky. Moreover, according to a court decision, the above-mentioned Russian banks are prohibited from conducting a reorganization/liquidation procedure and alienating property (movable and immovable) owned by them. Thus, the Ukrainian oligarch plans to compensate part of the losses from the nationalization of its assets in annexed Crimea. In accordance with the rules of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, after the verdict is rendered, the place of arbitration to challenge the decision is appointed. Switzerland is defined as such a place at the suit of a group of Ukrainian companies. Now the Swiss arbitrators must make a final verdict. The Russian Federation attempted to challenge the jurisdiction of the arbitrators and filed a lawsuit with the Swiss Federal Tribunal demanding to cancel the consideration of these court cases, but the highest judicial body of Switzerland confirmed the competence of local arbitrators and decided to recover from Russia the legal costs of 550 thousand Swiss francs. The judicial hurdle could be completed in the near future. And then, it is up to the executive services, authorized to seize Russian assets within the countries that recognize the decisions of international arbitration, that is, in Ukraine. The first success of Ukrainian companies in the courts outlined the legal technology that provides the plaintiffs with a positive result. I mean filing of claims to the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague and determining Switzerland as the place of arbitration. Considering the achieved precedent in the first trials, subsequent decisions are likely to also be in our favor. If the above-mentioned legal technology develops, the other Russian banks can get a scolding. This group currently includes the following financial institutions with Russian capital: Prominvestbank, which owns 99.77% of the Vnesheconombank, Russian Development Bank, which refers to itself as "the state corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs. The latter is 100% owned by the state of the Russian Federation: the head of the supervisory board of the bank was Dmitry Medvedev. Sberbank, 100% owned by the same Russian parent bank, 50% + one share of which, or 52.32% of voting shares, also belongs to the Russian state. And VTB, mentioned at the beginning of the article, 99.99% of the corporate rights of which are owned by a similar Russian structure (60.9% of its shares belong to the Federal Agency for State Property Management). The loan portfolios of the above banks have undergone significant changes over the past five years. Loans to legal entities of Prominvestbank and VTB decreased the most: from 1 billion USD to 425 million USD, and from 561 million USD to 114 million USD respectively. The credit portfolio of Sberbank did not suffer that much: a decline from 879 million USD to 757 million USD. In total, in 2013 these banks owned credit assets in Ukraine in the equivalent of 8.5 billion dollars, and now this amount has decreased in terms of the current exchange rate to 1.3 billion dollars. Thus, starting in 2014, Russian banks have lost more than 7 billion dollars of their investments. And this is only the sector of legal entities lending. Speaking about the attracted resources, as of October 1 of this year, the populations funds in banks with Russian capital amounted to just over 428,000 USD, and Sberbank is the leader here 240,000 USD. As for corporate resources, in 2013 legal entities placed 528 million USD in these banks, at the moment, there are about UAH 300 million USD, which indicates a gradual leaching of the customer base. The financial transformation that has taken place with Russian banks is very well illustrated by the example of the movement of their capital. If before the crisis, their authorized capital was 607 million USD, and their own capital was 424 million USD, then as of October of the current year, the statutory rose to 3,5 million USD (mainly due to the conversion of payables to motherboard into capital, which resulted in inflated growth rates of Russian investments in the Ukrainian economy), while its own capital amounted to just 464 million USD amid such an impressive increase in its statutory part. Thus, almost 3,2 billion USD of the capital of these banks went to the formation of reserves, and the process of erosion of the capital of the first level reached an impressive scale. In the next few months, the process of pressure against Russian banks from Ukrainian claimant companies towards the Russian Federation will somewhat weaken. De jure. And de facto, now it is the time to conduct effective undercover negotiations between all the interested parties. And the fact that Ihor Kolomoisky personally was not included in the Kremlins sanctions list suggests that he might be part of some negotiations. Under these circumstances, enforcement proceedings in Ukraine and the "hunt" for the Russian assets resemble it's the early bird that gets the worm maxim. Read the original text at 112.ua. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners. Budapest currently contacts with all potential winners of 2019 presidential election in Ukraine, Hungarian PM says Open source Hungary admits it cannot negotiate with the current Ukrainian government; however, the situation may change after the presidential election slated for next year. Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary said that as quoted by the government's web portal. Budapest currently contacts 'all potential winners' of 2019 presidential election in Ukraine, Hungarian prime minister said. At that, he added that if things don't get worse after the election it will be a certain achievement. According to Orban, Hungary expects Ukraine to act friendly and to restore the rights of Hungarians who reside in this country. As is known, Ukraine and Hungary's relations worsened when the Ukrainian parliament passed the language on education; it stipulated that the national minorities will be gradually switched to the mode where school students study in the Ukrainian language. They will be able to learn their native language, choosing it as an option. T-64 (modernized), main battle tank of Ukraine's Armed Forces Ukroboronprom The Ukrainian army received seventy units of armored vehicles and a number of weapons. The list includes restored tanks and armored personnel carriers, missile launchers, mortars and armored cars. Part of the hardware and armaments will go to military schools, the rest will go to the division line in the combat area of Donbas. Last month, tests of new Bars-8MMK 120mm mortar carrier vehicle, mounted on an armored car was held in Ukraine. The press office of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) reported this on Wednesday. According to Secretary of NSDC Oleksandr Turchynov, Ukrainian manufacturers built the mortar carrier vehicle, which is based on the Bars-8 armored car. The mortar carrier vehicle can quickly reach the required firing point. Its computer system allows to be positioned on the ground; it takes only one minute to start firing from a carrying position, Turchynov said. According to him, it takes the crew of the vehicle, which includes three people, only 20 seconds to abandon a firing position. He also advised that the vehicle is equipped with 60 mines and an automatic system of deployment and fire management. Tourists from 21 countries will be allowed not to pay $60 on arrival in Thailand until January 13, 2019 Thailand prematurely canceled the visa fee for Ukrainians. The tourists will not pay the consular fee on the arrival in Thailand from November 15 instead of December 1, 2018, as it was planned earlier, as Andry Beshta, Ambassador of Ukraine to Thailand reported on Twitter. To the attention of Ukrainians who plant to spend the vacation in Thailand. According to the refined decision of the Thai government, the Ukrainians will not pay the consular fee in the sum of about $60 for the issuance of the tourist visa on the arrival already from November 15, he wrote. The owners of passports of Andorra, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Papua New Guinea, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The preferential treatment extended to the foreigners who come to Thailand for not more than 15 days. According to the Immigration Bureau of Thailand, the number of foreign students continues to decrease since January 2016. It is expected that the initiative with the cancelation of the visa fee will help to increase the tourist flow by 30%. According to the official data, during nine months of 2018, 28,54 million foreign tourists visited Thailand, and it is more by 8,7% than during the same period of time last year. However, Thailand is more concerned about the number of the visitors from China as they make the majority of the tourists (the citizens of South Korea are in second place, and the Russians ranked third). On November 2, Ukraine-Qatar visa-free regime took effect. The citizens of Ukraine who use the Ukrainian foreign passports and the citizens of Qatar who use the usual passport can enter, stay, leave, and pass the territory of the state of another side without the visa if the duration of their stay does not exceed 90 days over the 180 days-long period. Related video: The detention took place at the end of October and the court arrested the sniper at the beginning of November Open source The law enforcers detained a sniper of the National Guard on the suspicion of the murder of the activists of Euromaidan in Kyiv on February 20, 2014, as Ukrainian News reported citing its own source at law enforcement bodies. He was detained at the end of October and court arrested him for 60 days at the beginning of November, the message said. The name of the detainee is not called in the interests of the investigation. According to the source, the investigation established that on February 20, 2014, Commander of Internal Troops Stanislav Shulyak sent the group of the Omega snipers to Instytutska Street to support special unit of Berkut, which shot the activists of Euromaidan. Commander of the detached squad of special forces against terrorism of 14th brigade (special forces of North territorial command department of Inner Troops) deployed the sniper groups at the territory of the club of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. At 11:28, the suspect fired TS.M308 sniper rifle equipped with telescopic sight at activist of Euromaidan, theatre director Oleksandr Khrapachenko, who stayed in front of the snow barricade at Instytutska Street with the group of other unarmed protesters and posed any threat to the officers of militsiya. He died as a result of the wound. Sniper of Omega and the acting officer of the National Guard was detained at the place of residence after the held expert studies and researches on October 31, 2018. The court arrested him for 60 days. He is charged with the commitment of the intentional homicide in the manner that poses the threat to the lives of many persons with prior agreement of a group of people and abuse of authority and official powers. The press service of the Interior Ministry and National Guard do not comment on the information about the detention officially. One of the most tragic events in the history of independent Ukraine took place in Kyiv on Maidan Nezalezhnosti 4 years ago, on February 18-20, 2014 - the brutal execution of participants of the Revolution of Dignity. During the clashes in the center of the capital, 73 civilians and 11 law enforcers were killed. The Trade Unions Building on Maidan burnt to the ground. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko posthumously awarded 104 Heroes of Heavenly Hundreds the title of Heroes of Ukraine, as well as three foreigners - a citizen of Belarus Mikhail Zhiznevsky, Georgia - Zurab Khurtsia and David Kipiani. They were posthumously awarded the Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes. Open source Oleksandr Turchynov, Secretary of National Security and Defense Council, announced new sanctions against the individuals involved in the elections on the occupied territories of Donbas and the Ukrainian companies that cooperate with Russia, as he told the journalists in Kyiv, 112 Ukraine reports. "I would like to say, that a new sanctions package of NSDC is being prepared. The proposals of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada will be included. I am convinced that this will be a strong package of different sanctions, including against those, who lead, inspired, and organized the fake elections on the occupied territories, and against a wide range of the Ukrainian enterprises which cooperate with the defense complex or enhance Russias security and defense," Turchynov said. According to him, some representatives of the European states, who participated in the elections as observers, might be included in the sanctions list. The so-called elections took place in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions on November 11. The voters elected the leaders of "people's republics" and their representatives in the parliaments of the "republics." A member of the Hungarian party Jobbik and a representative of Bekes regional council in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Tamas Samu Gergo visited the Donbas occupied territories of Ukraine to observe the elections held by the militants. Ukraine, the U.S., and the EU unanimously condemned the voting, considering it illegitimate. Russia still has not commented on the outcome of the elections. Related video: According to Oleksandr Turchynov, the norm concerning the right of the Verkhovna Rada to call on sanctions against media might become a fuse against abuse Media can cover the violations of the militants, but it is a crime to informationally support the aggressor state, as Oleksandr Turchynov, Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, said on November 15. 112 Ukraine broadcasted the commentary. Answering the question about possible imposition of sanctions against 112 Ukraine, the Secretary said: I am not ready to comment on this. The package is being prepared. I will inform when it is ready. Being asked whether media might be called terrorists, if they cover the actions of the terrorist organizations, Turchynov said: When media support the terrorists, according to the Ukrainian legislation this is included in the support of terrorism as an element of the terrorist activities. Therefore, it is one thing to cover the information, and it is a completely different thing to informationally support the aggressor state and the terrorist organizations. According to the Ukrainian legislation, it is a serious offense. Besides, Oleksandr Turchynov expressed support of the bill No. 9275 On protection of information space recently registered in the Ukrainian Parliament. I think that to avoid abuse, many are afraid that the executive authority might impose pressure against the freedom of speech. That is why, I think that such fuse, that the issue which concerns media, their inclusion in the sanctions list or those structures they maintain, should be solely within the competence of the Verkhovna Rada, the Secretary noted. He added that he regards the introduction of such fuse logical to prevent abuse at the level of the executive power, security institutions so that one can distinguish the informational security and freedom of speech. Earlier it was reported that the bill No.9275 proposes to extend the concept of funding and other ways of facilitation of terrorism of the counter-terrorism law. In particular, to specify that it is also about the informational support of the terrorist organizations or illegal armed formations. Therefore, production and distribution of the information, which positively covers occupation of Ukrainian territories and armed aggression against Ukraine is a service to terrorism. It also provides that only Ukraines Parliament can offer the National Security and Defence Council to impose sanctions against mass media, broadcast, television and radio organizations, and other subjects of informational activity in television and radio sector, their founders, beneficiaries, who are Ukraines residents. Tal Beery is a project of Occupy Museums, which itself grew out of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. As Occupy Museums artist Noah Fischer described it, a movement concerned with the pressing financial and social inequalities laid bare in the 2008 world. There is a need to demystify the realities of working artists today, as UNM's Claire Staciewisc points out in her essay for the catalog for the upcoming exhibition, opening this Saturday, Nov. 17 (6-8pm), at 516 ARTS (516 Central Ave. SW), the romantic ideal of the starving artist isn't a workable one in the real world. In this iteration of, the economic concerns of New Mexico are evaluated. Staciewisc continued in her essay, So how does the debt of New Mexican artists stack up to the debt of other Americans? And how does this debt affect the work of these artists?surveyed New Mexican artists in order to determine the economic position of these individuals and their overall relationship with their debt." Before the opening, Occupy Museums' Tal Beery, Arthur Polendo and Fischer talked about the long-running work and how it takes shape locally. Alibi: What need did you see to highlight this topic? Fischer: When we last checked, 8 out of the 10 most expensive colleges were art schools. In order to train for their careers, artists often end up in unpayable debt situations that can lead to bad health, financial ruin and almost always, little to no time to make art while working precarious jobs to pay the rent and debt. This punishes poorer, less privileged artists the most and is the basis for an unequal art world. We also saw that politics in the arts focused on institutions or larger global issues but was often blinded to its own social and class realities and wanted to bring that into the picture. Then artists would begin to self organize and push back. What have you learned over the course of curating Debtfair? There are many ways to answer this. This would be my answer right nowwe've learned so much from Debtfair over the years! Possibly the most striking thing we've learned is that there is a tremendous number of banks and individuals who are profiting greatly from our debt crisis. The sheer multitude of these institutions has been a big surprise for us. We have spent a lot of time mapping connections between these organizations, and understanding their trustees and other points of leverage in order to understand what effective strategies might exist toward a debtor's strike. The need to push back against the power of banks that trade debt is more vital than ever. The system, though, is incredibly complex and abstract, and it's been challenging to identify an individual or corporate target since people are in debt to so many different institutions. When we did this project at the Whitney Museum, we discovered that there are a few big companies behind the pool of smaller ones. BlackRock Inc, the world's largest asset management company at over 6 trillion assets, and their president, Larry Fink (who, by the way, was a major winner of the 2008 crash) ... have been our targets because BlackRock makes most of their money from our debts while Larry Fink is involved in the art world as a MoMA board member. Courtesy of Occupy Museums Debt is a drag, an anchor that keeps people from taking additional risk. This is as true for artists as it is for anyone else. But art requires risk taking. When an art student takes out a loan, or insurance refuses to pay after an accident or illness, or any other unexpected thing happens in an artist's life, the debt she incurs ties her down to steady employment and slows her process of experimentation and creative expansion. To be sure, lots of people who are in debt maintain active art practices. Debt just slows that part down. At the same time, because of how vulnerable debt makes artists to the vicissitudes of the economy, debt increases the market's influence on artists' creative choices. In that way, debt exerts a homogenizing force on artistic output. In broad strokes, this mirrors the more popular discussion around entrepreneurship and student debt, which has more or less concluded that debt decreases innovation. What do you think would happen if artists weren't burdened by the constraints of money? Just to be clear, we are not advocating that artists are any different from other people or should be entirely unconstrained. Constraints are a part of life, and artmaking would be impossible without them. Money as a medium of exchange is also fine, broadly speaking, but six trillion dollar companies that are more powerful than democratic governments and encourage people to get more and more entwined in debts are not fine. We don't believe artists should be unburdened from the constraints of money. But we do believe that the way artists are positioned without agency in the current economy highlights the struggles faced by many non-artists and other groups as well. As more of our economy is privatized, the rich are soaking up the gains, and 99 percent of us are finding it more difficult to sustain a fulfilling and healthy life while providing for ourselves and our families. For artists, the current economy has made it increasingly difficult to sustain a life and a creative practice at the same time. If artists were not constrained by the burden and encouragement of onerous debts (and also fair rental laws) then we'd see a flourishing of artmaking, a burst of creative energy and much more equality about who can be an artist. And art would not be seen as a privilege of the rich. It would matter more, to more people. Rob M. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been sent to the Island of Misfit Toysthere to spend eternity in limbo, watching a TV that only plays CNN and wiping his watery eyes. My phone exploded last week minutes after word of his resignation hit the air. There was a popping sound, and conflict mineral shrapnel flew around the room. To look cool in front of my friends, I made some easy digs at him. Better lock up the silverware. Too many steps up the Hill, huh? Look out, ladies. That sort of thing. I've spent a lot of time in these pages mocking Sessions and making fun of his horrible face, but the truth is I've always felt bad for the little guy. People say he's evil incarnate, but I've always seen a frightened, confused man trying to navigate the eschaton. Someone once told him the world was black and white, and it stuck. When I was a kid in high school, I once overheard two older boys in the school courtyard laughing about all the loser freshmen who hadn't even smoked pot yet. One of them scanned the courtyard, and I knew before he saw me that I was about to become his next victim. Look at this guy! You know he's never smoked any pot! Haw haw! Scott walked over to me for a better look. He slung a thick arm around my shoulders. I like you, kid! Haw haw! Let's go get high right now! My eyes widened. Isn't that stuff addictive? I asked. Scott just looked at me. This was in 1998. The internet was around, but it was mostly Star Trek chat rooms and GeoCities. I say my ignorance was excusable. Now thrust yourself way, way back to when Sessions was a teenage braggart. That would be somewhere around 1961about two decades before the internet was even inventedat Wilcox Central High in Camden, Ala. Back then he'd have been lucky to have a decent library in his shitheel town. Maybe he'd meet someone special who could introduce him to novel ideas to throttle his worldview and make him think a little. More likelyas was clearly the casepoor Sessions just swallowed everything he was told and let it settle in over the next 50 years. One day he picked his head up and looked around to find the world had been overrun by hippies and communists. Boys were dressing like girls and lunatics with PhDs were saying that marijuana was good for you. One thing it's good for is teaching you empathy, something sorely missed in our culture. I've often wondered if the paranoia people feel on cannabis is just the pressing weight of empathy. It suddenly drags you kicking and screaming to an angle where you can see yourself the way others see you. It can be scary, for sure. Sessions could probably use some of that. It let me see the world the way he does: tinged with redbristling with sharp corners and populated by money-grubbing madmen willing to throw our country's youth away for a quick buck. What if cannabis really was the Devil? What if it actually was a gateway drug capable of undermining the very moral fabric of our society? No wonder he had that look of panic in his eye at every turnthe look of a man flabbergasted and on the verge of tears. In another life, Sessions could have been a hero. He just got the wrong set of instructional input. He probably needs a real bear hug. I guess I could send him a letter (he doesn't use Twitter) letting him know he isn't universally hated Well. I hadn't planned to spend so much time talking about it. I suppose I'll miss the ol' Sesh. I had a pretty good running gag about him turning into a stone gargoyle on top of the Robert F. Kennedy building every night when the sun went down. I would've loved to have used it a few more times. C'est la vie. I'll just have to come up with something worse for the next jag off. And if you're still doing cartwheels and singing hosannas, then you should probably take a break and think about the future. It isn't strictly cannabis-related, so I'm leery to mention it, but Sessions getting fired had nothing to do with his drug policy. Most likely it had everything to do with the fact that he recused himself from the Mueller Russia investigation. He was replaced by his chief of staff, Matt Whitaker, who has been outspoken against the investigation on numerous occasions, including a 2017 op-ed he wrote for CNN, in which he said the investigation into Russian election meddling was dangerously close to crossing a line if it investigated President Donald Trump's finances. So that's who'll be in charge of certain key aspects of the investigation, like whether to subpoena the president or approve criminal charges of individuals in the case. He'll also have control over what parts of Mueller's final report get published, if any. And the future looks sour, too. If Whitaker is given the position permanently, the cannabis industry in particular could be in for a shitstorm. While running in the Republican primary for US Senate in Iowa, he criticized the Department of Justice for declining to prosecute cannabis violations in states where it was legal. And who knows what could happen if it's someone else? Headlines are currently trumpeting Chris Christie as a possible replacement, which could be good for us, considering he recently seemed to flip-flop on the legalization issue. Traditionally (and fervently) anti-marijuana, Christie told a crowd at Politicon last month that he had been convinced that it was a states' rights issue. He would later go on to say states have the right to do what they want to do on this. I just can't bring myself to endorse Chris- goddamn- Christie, though. What strange times we live in, dear reader. 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!) Thursday 15 A Prayer For Mr. T: The SuperMansion Thanksgiving Special (Sony Crackle streaming anytime) Sony Crackles stop-motion superhero parody goes full-on holiday special when Titanium Rex (Bryan Cranston) and Dr. Devizo (Chris Pine) compete in an annual Thanksgiving turkey cook-off. Naturally, Rexs turkey transforms into a nightmarish bird monster whose murderous eggs hatch at an alarming rate. Friday 16 Holly Hobbie (Hulu streaming anytime) Holly Hobbie, the popular rag doll in the 70s among girls who watched a lot of Little House on the Prairie, returns as a live-action show about a tweenage girl growing up in small-town America. The Kominsky Method (Netflix streaming anytime) Aging actor Sandy Kominsky (Michael Douglas) and his agent (Alan Arkin) navigate their later years in youth-obsessed Los Angeles in this sitcom from creator Chuck Lorre (Cybill, Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory). The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Netflix streaming anytime) The Coen brothers (Fargo, No Country For Old Men) are the directors of this Western anthologyoriginally conceived as a series. It was filmed partially in New Mexico. Saturday 17 Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle (Sundance 10pm) Just in time for the 40th anniversary, Sundance airs this docuseries looking back at cult leader Jim Jones and his no-good, very bad church, The Peoples Temple. Sunday 18 Enemies: The President, Justice & the FBI (Showtime 6pm) Showtime examines the long, complex history of American presidents testing the rule of law. Hmmm. Feels kinda timely. Macys Thanksgiving Cake Spectacular (Food 6pm) How big are these cakes, exactly? The Clinton Affair (A&E 7pm) Documentary king Alex Gibney (Finding Fela, Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) produces this three-night documentary series, dissecting the 1998 impeachment hearings of President Bill Clinton. Escape From Dannemora (Showtime 8pm) This limited series starring Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette and Paul Dano dramatizes the stranger- than- fiction account of the prison break in upstate New York which involved a married prison employee and the convicted murderers with which she was um, er, sexually entangled. Monday 19 The Little Drummer Girl (AMC 7pm) From the makers of the gripping 2016 British adaptation of John le Carres The Night Manager (with Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie) comes this follow-up mini-series. Florence Pugh, Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Shannon star in le Carres tale of an Israeli spymaster, a Palestinian terrorist and an English actress working as a double agent. Tuesday 20 The Final Table (Netflix streaming anytime) Netflix gets into the global culinary competition category with this cooking showdown featuring celebrity judges and country-based themes. Wednesday 21 Double Dare: Team Kel vs. Team Kenan (Nickelodeon 6pm) Nickelodeons revival of the classic 1986-to-1993 gameshow gets doubly nostalgic tonight by spotlighting teams captained by 1996-to-2001 Nickelodeon sitcom stars Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson. Leila and her partner Sadie are the virtual poster children for modern lesbian couples. Theyve been together for a decade, they run a successful business, and theyre about to be the subjects of a fawning magazine article. But Sadie (Maxine Peake), the older and more grounded of the two, is looking for something more from her partner. She wants to get married and start a family. But its clear these two are on different wavelengths. We talked about kids and family, reminds Sadie. We talked about it abstractly, dismisses Leila. We also talked about euthanasia. Turns out Leila (series writer, director and creator Desiree Akhavan) might be looking for something more as well. She might be attracted to men. This question of sexuality and identity is at the heart of Akhavans funny and cutting dramedy The Bisexual, which comes to Hulu by way of Englands Channel 4. Thinking that a break in the relationship is in order, ex-pat New Yorker Leila moves out of Sadies upscale London apartment and into a flat with aging hipster Gabe (Brian Gleeson). Gabe published a successful novel 10 years ago but is now teaching college English classes and sleeping with the occasional student. Despite his unthinking sexist and racist attitudes, he becomes a valuable wingman for Leila as she tests out her new sexuality. The Bisexual is hip, flippant and mocking in a way that can only be described, appropriately, as millennial. Its the kind of show where a character is forced to drown out the sounds of her roommates sexual shenanigans with an All Things Considered podcast. But Akhavan (who wrote, directed and produced 2016s gay conversion film The Miseducation of Cameron Post) is doing some subtle work here. Leila doesnt simply wake up one day and decide shes attracted to men. This is clearly something thats been percolating in her head for quite some time. But shes reluctant to voice it. Partially because all of her traditional lesbian friendsthe only supportive community shes had since she came out to her conservative Iranian parents years agoare dismissive of the very concept of bisexuality. Its a betrayal of good, old-fashioned lesbian values. Yeah, says Leila, halfheartedly parroting her pals. Bisexuality was just made up by ad executives to sell flavored vodka. Leilas quest for sexual identity also serves as a metaphor for her stumbling attempts to come into herself as a human being. Shes no longer a twentysomething slacker. But shes not quite an adult. I have no fucking idea what I want! she confesses at one point (in response to a discussion about underarm hairbut you get the point). Akhavans style is a mix between the smartypants New York verbiage of Woody Allen and the sexual shenanigans of The L Word (a show every character in The Bisexual openly loathes, yet cant stop quoting). If youre not in the same headspace, it can come across as exclusionary and unfocused. But the shows meandering pace lends unexpected punch to Akhavans Jack-in-the-box wit. Your white man Orientalism fetish is the reason the spice cabinet is such a fucking mess, Leila grouses, brilliantly, to her new roomie. At a glance, The Bisexual may not be for you. Commit to it for an episode or three, however, and you might find yourself rewarded with a witty, spiky, lovably snarky sitcom that plays like an indie dramedy. PRINT | EMAIL | PERMALINK Reel World Get High The Reel Rock Film Tour, dedicated to the best climbing and adventure films of the years, returns to Albuquerque this Thursday, Nov. 15. Reel Rock 13 is the work of filmmakers Josh Lowell (Big Up Productions) and Peter Mortimer (Sender Films). Since 2006, they have assembled the most eye-opening, jaw-dropping, high-altitude documentary shorts from around the globe. Doors open at 6:30pm. Films start at 7pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased at kimotickets.com. A portion of the profits will go to benefit Albuquerque Mountain Rescue Council. View in Alibi calendar Native Stars The 5th Annual Pueblo Film Fest lights up Albuquerques Indian Pueblo Cultural Center this Friday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 18. This years theme is Empowering Women Through Film, and there will be a special emphasis on female filmmakers. The festival begins with an opening night reception featuring actor, director and writer Georgina Lightning. She will screen her 2008 feature drama Older Than America and hold a Q&A afterward. That event runs from 6 to 9:30pm. An assortment of workshops, panel discussions and film screenings continue on Saturday and Sunday. Highlights include a block of Native music videos (noon on Saturday) and a screening/Q&A for Karen Cantors documentary Return: Native American Women Reclaim Foodways for Health & Spirit (2:15pm, Sunday). A suggested donation of $10 gets you in the door. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is located at 2401 12th Street NW. For a complete list of events and times, go to indianpueblo.org View in Alibi calendar Andi Murphy I had been listening to the Toasted Sister podcast for months before I realized that its host, Andi Murphy, lives in Albuquerque. The show has quickly become one of my favorites, because it exposes me to people and ideas that I probably wouldnt have dug up on my own. The tagline is Radio about Native American food, and if that seems like a niche focuswell, then you just need to listen in, and find out how rich and broad the history of Native American food is. Last week Andi and I went for beers at Bow and Arrow, where she says shes had every beer on their list. Wolf Eyes is my go-to, she said. The week prior, Andi had catered an event at Bow and Arrowthe kick-off party for the Indigenous Comic Conand the beertender knew her by name. Over a couple hours, Andi and I talked about her childhood, her career and how she came to start the Toasted Sister podcast. She asked me about as many questions as I asked her (which is what happens when a journalist interviews a journalist), and we spent a lot of time talking about what books we read as kids. Nevertheless, I got enough to put together the story of how she got so interested in indigenous food sovereignty and started her own podcast about it. In her dayjob, Andi works as a producer for Native America Calling, the public radio show that discusses Native American issues with those directly impacted by them (it airs on KUNM every weekday at 11am). Shes been working there for about four years, and the expertise shines through in her own podcast as well: Toasted Sister sounds about as clean and professional as any high-budget Radiolab segment. Im not just being nicego listen, you can tell that this was done by a professional. She grew up in Crownpointa small Navajo community in western New Mexico. Her family was poor, and most of the food she remembers eating in her childhood was poor mans food. So we had a lot of high fat, high sugar stuff, she says. Lots of meat and potatoes, lots of ground beef. And my dad worked for the commodity foods program, so we would have some of that surplus food that he would bring back. It wasnt very colorful. (The commodity foods program is a food subsidy program similar to food stamps, but specifically for tribal reservations. Historically, the foods provided have been things like canned meat and beans, white flour, white ricenot very nutritious or flavorful stuff.) It wasnt until Andi left home for college in Las Vegas, N.M., that she began cooking and actually eating. I dont think we [Andi and her sister] really touched a fresh vegetable until we left home, she says. Around then was when Andi got excited about writing, too. Though she started out as an English major in Las Vegas, a scholarship program called the American Indian Journalism Institute introduced her to multimedia journalism. And I was just hooked from there. I went back the next summer and the next summer, then I moved down to Las Cruces and changed my major over to journalism. After college, Andi went to work at the Las Cruces Sun-News, where she quickly found herself covering the food beat. In 2014 she got her current job as a producer at Native America Calling, where she first got exposed to indigenous food and its revival: I did a show on Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef, back when he just had the little Tatanka Truck. I talked to him and thought, Oh my goodness, what is this all about? I read more about him and indigenous food in general, followed him on social media, and then from there, it just kind of all popped out of the woodwork. So I started pitching more food shows, and the executive editor eventually said, You cant do all these food shows, you have to cover other stuff too. And my coworker, who is a podcast addict, she suggested I start a podcast. So I did! I drew the logo first because I didnt want to just have some clip art or somebody elses work. I wanted it to be all my own. I branded it as a kind of cool, punk rock sort of feelI didnt want to put feathers and beads on it, because that shit is so tired. Then I started a website and a Soundcloud accountand I just did it. The first episode of Toasted Sister came out in January 2017. On the show, Andi interviews chefs, farmers, scholars and food activists from all over the country about indigenous foods. In one of her favorite episodes, she went up to a sheep camp in Shiprock, New Mexico. We got to see the sheep and talk to this family who come from generations of sheepherders about things like climate change, processing the wool, what sheep mean to them on a cultural level, an economic level and just a personal level. Because these animals, even the sheepdogs, are a part of the family, she says. Since starting the podcast, Andi has learned a wild amount about indigenous food. Back before she started these interviews, she says, I remember a couple times explaining Navajo food or Native food to some people, and saying, Its very bland and plainits just some stewed meats and roasted vegetables and thats it. Now she knows thats not the case. Native chefs like Sean Sherman are cooking up wild rice crusted walleye in wild plum sauce and smoked apple broth, or lamb shanks with blue corn mush and a Three Sisters succotash. Native food is having a long-awaited revival, and Andi Murphy is dedicated to showcasing it. The morning after my interview with Andi, I got a text from her: Dude! Check the home page of Civil Eats! (a website that provides reporting and criticism on agriculture and food systems) I did, and saw a photo of her staring back at mechefs knife in hand, bright red lipstick on. She looks like a total badass. Young Women Are Reviving Indigenous Food Traditions Online, is the article, and Andi is one of several women featured. Holy shit! Thats you! I texted back. Could I get a copy of that photo for my article? After so many years of shining the light on other people, I wonder what it feels like for her to get some of the spotlight herself. Thankfully, she doesnt seem too camera shy. Eric Williams Photography I hardly ever venture up into the Rio Rancho area for dining options, and until fairly recently there wasnt much up there to write home about anyway. But thats started to change over the last couple of years. Along the commercial big-box stretch of Coors that I used to think of simply as a place to buy a car or a mattress, restaurants and breweries have started opening up to serve the commuter population thats looking for a little more than the usual chain joints for dinner. As example I offer Kyoto, a new Japanese restaurant in the middle of the Cottonwood commercial sector. Though mostly marketed as a sushi place, their menu also includes noodle and rice dishes, steaks, soup and salads. Located in the endless parking lot of NM 528 between a Twisters and a Days Inn, its not what I would call an attractive spot. The inside offers a lot more visual stimulation. With wallpaper featuring huge patterns of Mt. Fuji, waterfalls and cherry blossom trees along with color-changing spotlights, it comes across as a bit much. But its certainly something to look at while you wait for your meal. Despite the sushi focus of the restaurant, there is plenty vegetarian fare to be found at Kyoto as well. In the sushi realm there are cucumber, avocado and sweet potato rolls, as well as tofu skin (inari) rolls or sashimi ($4.99). On my first visit to Kyoto my dining companion and I went all tofu all the time, ordering the inari sashimi, agedashi tofu ($4.59) and house udon with tofu ($10.99). Agedashi tofu is such a simple dish, but one of my favorites. Marinated soft tofu is lightly breaded with potato starch and fried, then served in a dish of seasoned soy sauce. The agedashi tofu at Kyoto is delicate and savory, with a wafer-thin fried skin that offers just the right amount of crunch. For me, this dish and a salad would make a more than satisfying lunch on their own. The chef came out to serve us the inari and to tell us that he had just made it, and that he had used a sesame instead of a mayo sauce on top. I dont know if he had intuited that there was a vegan in the party, or if he was just trying something new. Either way, the heads up was appreciated, and the inari was fresh, crackly and a touch less sweet than usual. In the house udon the tofu was crispy and the sauce far richer than the watery, sweet stuff that I associate with most mid-level Americanized Asian restaurants. On a second visit I turned to the sushi menu, deciding that trying the eponymous Kyoto roll ($14.99) would be the best test of the restaurants mettle. But first: veggie tempura ($6.49), another one of those simple yet satisfying dishes. I appreciated the addition of acorn squash and asparagus in Kyotos rendition, especially as both are in season now. My sushi roll also had tempura shrimp in it, along with fresh avocado, cream cheese and fried green chile. Instead of the typical nori, this roll is wrapped in pink soy paper, and topped with crab, eel sauce and spicy mayo. Yeah, I went big yall. And Im glad I did. The crunchy and creamy contrast in this roll is the star of the show, and the little note of spice from the green chile cuts it just right. Im an unapologetic fan of these Americanized, everything but the kitchen sink sushi rolls, so my opinion will likely be different from that of a sushi puristbut damn, sign me up for more. I cant pretend that Kyoto is the best Japanese food in the city, but its certainly a step above most of whats available to Rio Rancho. And residents seem to have caught onto that: The restaurant was packed both times I visited. If you find yourself in the neighborhood and have a craving for some tasty sushi candy, I recommend you give Kyoto a try. Dateline: Netherlands A Dutch positivity trainer has filed a lawsuit demanding that his age be officially recognized as 20 years younger. According to BBC News, Emile Ratelband, 69, wishes to have his birthday year legally changed from 1949 to 1969. We live in a time when you can change your name and change your gender. Why can't I decide my own age? he asked reporters. Ratelband, who calls himself a young god, believes he is discriminated against because of his age, saying it keeps him from finding employment and successfully attracting women on the dating app Tinder. He told the court that he feels 20 to 25 years younger than his physical age. His success rate on a popular dating app was also mentioned as a reason to change his age. When I'm on Tinder and it says I'm 69, I don't get an answer, he said. When I'm 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position. On his website, Ratelband calls himself an entrepreneur in personal development. Court officials voiced concerns over legal precedence and the lack of a mechanism in place to change a person's birth date. Ratelband was unable to clarify what would happen to the first 20 years of his life. A judge asked, Who were your parents looking after then? Who was that little boy? A local court in the city of Arnhem is expected to rule on the case this month. Dateline: America The Satanic Temple is suing Netflix and Warner Bros. over a statue used in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina over similarities with the groups own idol which they say have caused some viewers to misalign Satanists with the evil antagonists depicted in the series. The villains of the horror show commit acts of cannibalism, murder and torture in the name of the Christian Satan. But Temple co-founder Lucien Greaves says these are hurtful stereotypes of Satanists, a group he says believes that undue suffering is bad and does not promote evil. According to CNBC, he accused the show of normalizing the characterization of the Satanic Temple as a patriarchal, cannibalistic cult. The statue in question depicts Baphomet, an androgynous figure with both human and goat features. According to the suit, the statue shown in the series is too similar to one the group attempted to erect at the Oklahoma State Capitol in 2014. The real statuecreated in protest against a similar monument to the Ten Commandments already on the capitol groundscurrently resides in Detroit. Neither Netflix or Warner Bros. have commented publicly on the lawsuit. Dateline: Switzerland Researchers are playing music to cheese to see if it will taste better. Phys.org reports Swiss cheesemaker Beat Wampfler is working with the University of the Arts in Bern to test whether Emmental, a famous cheese from the region, is affected by being exposed to different kinds of music. The project, titled Sonic cheese: experience between sound and gastronomy, began in September when nine wooden crates, each loaded with a wheel of Emmental, were set up in Wampfler's cheese cellar. Speakers were installed under the crates, each playing a different type of music. Wampfler told reporters that he believes that Sounds, ultrasounds or music can have physical effects on the cheese by altering the way bacteria influences its flavor. The music director Michael Harenberg said university staff were initially skeptical about the idea, but changed their minds after discovering the field of sonochemistry, which studies the effects of sound waves on physical bodies. Among the music being played for the cheeses are songs by Tribe Called Quest, Mozart and Led Zeppelin. Wampfler told reporters that he hopes the hip-hop cheese will be the best, but won't have results until the cheese is ripe next spring. Dateline: Florida A surgeon allegedly mistook a woman's healthy kidney for a tumor and removed it. According to WFTV-9 in Orlando, Maureen Pacheco recently settled a malpractice lawsuit launched against Dr. Ramon Vazquez alleging that the surgeon mistakenly removed her fully-functioning kidney during a 2016 spinal surgery. Pacheco went to the doctor complaining of back pain following a car crash and was scheduled to undergo anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery in April 2016. According an administrative complaint filed by Florida Department of Health officials, Vasqueza general surgeon in charge of opening the patient up and giving the treating physician access to the siteallegedly noted a pelvic mass and provided a presumptive diagnosis of a cancerous tumor. The pelvic mass was clipped, transected and removed in its entirety, according to the documents. Days later, a hospital pathologist found that the mass was actually a pelvic kidney, which occurs when a person's kidney fails to travel away from the pelvis in utero. Pacheco's lawyers maintained that the surgeon should have been aware of her condition, as MRI images had been taken of her spine and showed the kidney's location. Vazquez also failed to biopsy the mass before removing it. The case was settled last month, but details were not disclosed. Vazquez' privileges were revoked immediately after the incident and hospital officials say steps were taken to avoid similar incidents in the future. Fifteen years ago, my best friend visiting Albuquerque for the first time was quickly swayed by Nob Hill. The tight interlacing of the residential and commercial was reminiscent, I guessed, of the vibrant and variegated slice of his native Chicago that triangulates from North Clark Street west to Damen Avenue. No strip or megamalls, not a Downtown or Old Town vibe, it was a signature neighborhood to him. And the neighborhood had a character like no other; an amalgam of taverns, restaurants as well as uncommon clothing, bling and toy shops mixed in with the utilitarian (cleaners, haircuts, pet grooming)and best in his view, retail stores filled with used and vintage vinyl. This is really cool, he remarked, regarding the section of Central that seemed to lay under a funky and contiguous sun-splashed Southwestern banner. Ive been riding my bike or strolling through Nob Hill more than once a week since that time; its still a favorite to find a unique birthday or holiday gift, or show off to first time visitors. Last summer; however, after most of the ART construction was finished, noting the departure of Beeps, Larrys Hats, Hey Jhonny and the appearance, one by one, of nine other empty and locked storefronts within a two block area, I sensed what has now become obvious to many who work in the district. Restaurants that were consistently full at lunchtime seemed curiously vacant, even during weekends. Wondering what kind of long lasting impact the ART project may have had, I grabbed my notebook and sought to take the pulse of as many of the open businesses along Centralfrom Girard to Carlisle, new and oldthat I could. Without preconceptions but systematically, I hoped to find that all were doing well, and that I didnt have much of a story to tell Alibi readers. As was well known by the time ART construction began, nearly every concern verified drastic losses during said construction phase: Some merchants reported injury to the tune of 40 to 60 percent of their gross receipts. One owner recorded $400,000 in diminished revenue during the worst of it. By the skin of our teeth, was how a dance studio survived; a few others made it through the thicket because of transfusions from partner operations. But, what gives now, since the worst is overincluding a 2016 fire that burned out the inside of The Carlisle apartment project after all of the discarded nails from that project ironically caused an epidemic of flat tires for area Uber and Lyft drivers? Are folks coming back in the same kind of numbers as those characteristic of the pre-ART days? The consensus among managers and owners in the area is to report a slight uptick in foot traffic, yet not nearly to levels seen before the implementation of the transit project. A handful of the most optimistic noted that business was great. Kenny, longtime proprietor of Masks y Mas experienced the best October his shop has seen in 10 years. Like many of the destination-shops benefitting from October, Balloon Fiesta and tourism in general, a loyal retinue of customers with a strong sense ofand obligation tothe community, has proven to be a pivotal factor. Duane, the manager of Yannis says the business was lucky enough to have three parking lots behind the restaurant, as access seems to have made a critical difference. But the majority of vendors chronicled for this briefing indicate that business is still not what it used to be. Confusing street markings, new U-turn lanes, the inability to turn from or across Central along several stretches, increased accidents, vandalism and tripled parking fines are being blamed for the supposition that some city folks are giving up on Nob Hill due to the frustrations involved in navigating Central Avenue. For some, business is stagnant, as an owner of a favorite restaurant and bar reported to me. Jamo works in one of the oldest brew pubs in town, an epicenter of Nob Hill that once was full with students and faculty from two of our learning centers, flowing from lunch into the late afternoon. He currently operates with 1 to 4 people working the day shift, down from the usual 5 to 10. When it does get busy, I cant accommodate with one waitperson. Only three tables were occupied at 12:30pm on a cold and gloomy Halloween afternoon when I checked in for lunch. What solutions might alleviate the stagnation? I never opposed ART, Janiece, working in a jewelry store, told me. A cheerful salesperson, she believes in the power of optimism. The idea was to get tourists here and people from Downtown. Get the buses back and people will come. The most enlightening discussion I had was with Joe of Astro-Zombies, voted the number one comic and toy shop in Albuquerque for the last 16 years. With 19 years of established customer loyalty, he likewise has noted the ubiquitous decline, but also a perceptible and slow swing back to better days and more customers. Astro-Zombies organizes a sleeping bag drive that takes place every Christmas Eve; customers and friends buy hundreds of new, adult, cold-weather rated sleeping bags to give to those with no other place to spend the night but alongor hidden fromAlbuquerques cold streets. A pool of prizes is offered that may be drawn from the contributors. Merchants such as Joe and others who thank the community at large for their survivalalong with organizations like new city-supported Block By Block clean up crews providing hospitality, cleanliness and some forms of safetyremind me that Nob Hill transcends an ordinary commercial zone. What makes it shinewhether its home or a new destination for first-timersis that it may be one of the last vestiges of what true neighborhood means. The nails are swept and gone, people are friendly as ever up and down the street. If you havent been in a while, dont take my word for it, come back to Nob Hill and check it out for yourself. DENVER, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bow River Capital 2017 Fund (Bow River) today announced that it has agreed to recapitalize Roseland Management, LLC, a physician practice management platform, in partnership with Precision Spine Care, PA (Precision or the Company), a leading physician group focused on the treatment of back and neck pain. As part of the transaction, the founding physicians will retain a meaningful ownership stake in the Company, with Precisions current management team continuing to lead the organization. In partnership with Bow River, Roseland Management will bring strategic, non-clinical management expertise and financial resources to help facilitate the continued growth and success of Precision. Founded in 2004 and based in Tyler, Texas, the Company is comprised of board certified and fellowship trained neurosurgeons and interventional pain management specialists dedicated to the treatment of back and neck pain. By providing a comprehensive set of surgical, non-surgical, and minimally invasive treatment options as well as a suite of complementary service offerings, patients receive the highest quality of care resulting in optimal patient outcomes and experience. The Company serves patients through seven facilities across East Texas. Blair Richardson, Chairman and CEO of Bow River said: Bow River is honored to partner with an exemplary group of physicians and providers that espouse the highest standard in patient care. We have deep respect for the work Dr. Gordon and his partners do on behalf of their patients and are proud to assist the Precision team in expanding access to care across the markets they serve. Dr. Charles Gordon, CEO of Precision said: Precision Spine Care is very pleased to announce our partnership with Bow River Capital. We believe that by teaming up with Bow River, we will be able to see our platform grow. We are passionate about providing high quality care to patients in pain and are grateful for this opportunity to be able to expand our service offering. We have long admired the team at Bow River and are excited about our prospects together. Greenburg Traurig, LLP served as legal advisor to Bow River. Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. served as financial advisor and McDermott Will & Emery LLC acted as legal advisor to Precision. Financing supporting the transaction was provided by Capital Southwest Corporation. About Bow River Capital Founded in 2003, Bow River Capital is a private alternative asset management company based in Denver, Colorado, with Buyout, Real Estate, Software Growth Equity and Energy Fund platforms. The Bow River Capital platforms focus on the lower middle market across a geographic area referred to as Bow Rivers Rodeo Region, which encompasses the Rocky Mountains and surrounding states. Collectively, Bow River Capital has deployed capital into diverse industries, asset classes and across the capital structure. About Greenburg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurigs multidisciplinary Health Care & FDA Practice provides strategic counsel to a diverse group of companies and other organizations, helping them to respond proactively to the rapidly changing healthcare marketplace. The group combines dedicated experience in health care regulatory compliance and operational matters with the firms capabilities in corporate & securities, finance, tax, antitrust, ERISA, commercial and governmental litigation, restructuring, intellectual property and biotechnology, in order to provide a wide range of legal services. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. (TSX: CGG; HKEx: 2099) (China Gold International Resources or the Company) wishes to announce that, on November 13, 2018, its Board of Directors accepted the following changes in senior management and board composition: 1. Mr. Bing Liu has resigned as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director of the Company. Mr. Bing Liu served as a Non-Executive Director from May 2008 to February 2014 when he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director. Mr. Liu has played a major role in the success of the Company. Mr. Liu has tendered his resignation in order to devote his time to a new position within China National Gold Group Co. Ltd. (CNG or China National Gold), the Companys largest shareholder. The Company wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Mr. Liu for his service and all he has accomplished as CEO. We wish Mr. Liu all the best in his new endeavors and will always be grateful for his leadership. 2. Mr. Lianzhong Sun has resigned as Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. Lianzhong Sun has served as Non-Executive Director since February 2014. Mr. Sun also served as Vice President of China National Gold, the Companys principal shareholder and the largest gold producer in China, since 2011, where he was mainly responsible for resources development. Mr. Suns resignation represents a general retirement from all positions at CNG. The Company wishes to express its gratitude to Mr. Suns for his contributions to the Company during his tenure of office. 3. Mr. Liangyou Jiang has been appointed as CEO of the Company. Mr. Jiang joined the Company in August 2010 and has moved quickly through the Companys ranks. He started as General Manager of Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Corp. Ltd. ("Tibet Huatailong"), the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, and in February 2012 was appointed as Chairman of Tibet Huatailong. On August 18, 2014, he was appointed Senior Executive Vice President and on October 23, 2014 he joined the Board of Directors of the Company. In addition, Mr. Jiang served as Vice-President of CNG since July 2018, manager of Oversea Operation Department of CNG from December 2015 to July 2018, and Director of China National Gold Group Hong Kong Limited, CNGs wholly-owned subsidiary, since October 2018. From September 2007, Mr. Jiang served as the Head of the Engineering Management Division of the Investment Management Department of CNG, and in February 2008 he was appointed as a Manager of the Investment Management Department. Mr. Jiang is a senior professional engineer, holds a bachelor's degree in mineral processing from Northeastern University. Mr. Jiang has been a key part of management and the Board extends its warmest welcome as Mr. Jiang moves into his new leadership role. 4. Ms. Fuzhen Kang has been appointed as Non-Executive Director of the Company. Ms. Kang joined Tibet Huatailong in July 2008 in a number of community communications roles. She holds a bachelors degree in environmental science from the Tibet University. The Board would like to express its warmest welcome to Ms. Kang on her appointment. 5. Mr. Yongqing Teng has been appointed as Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. Teng currently serves as Deputy General Manager of China National Gold Group Hong Kong Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CNG (since October 2017), Executive Director and General Manager of China Gold Group Sichuan Co., Ltd. (since October 2017), Bureau Director of Sichuan Gold Industry Administration Bureau (since November 2015), and President of Sichuan General Investment Co., Ltd. (since November 2015). Prior to this Mr. Teng served as Manager of China Gold Sichuan Company from November 2015 to November 2017. He joined Tibet Huatailong, the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, in August 2010 where he served as Deputy General Manager until he was appointed General Manager in February 2012 and subsequently appointed Chairmanin August 2014. He served in this capacity until November 2015. Mr. Teng has over 30 years experience working in engineering and operations roles in the gold mining sector in China. The Board would like to express its warmest welcome to Mr. Teng on his appointment. 6. Mr. Zhongxin Guo has been appointed as the Chief Engineer of the Company. Mr. Guo is a professional engineer with over 35 years experience in engineering studies, mine engineering and mine operations. He has served as a senior mining engineer and director of technical services for the Company since 2014. Previously Mr. Guo held senior mining engineer positions with global mining engineering consulting companies, working on a variety of projects for a wide range of clients, including some of the worlds largest mining companies. He also held the position of engineering director with the Mine and Gold Branch, Changsha Engineering and Research Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy, leading design and consultancy of key national and provincial / ministry projects in China. In addition, he also assumed responsibilities of leading Chinas strategic planning initiatives for development at new and existing nonferrous metals mines and smelters. Mr. Guo will serve as the Companys internal qualified person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Mr. Liangyou Jiang, the Companys new CEO, stated: I would like to thank Mr. Liu for his leadership and dedication to the Company and, in particular for bringing both Series I and Series II of the Jiama Phase II expansion into commercial production during his tenure. We welcome Ms. Kang and Mr. Teng to the Companys board of directors and look forward to their contributions as the Company brings more diverse viewpoints to the board. About China Gold International Resources China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. is based in Vancouver, BC, Canada and operates both profitable and growing mines, the CSH Gold Mine in Inner Mongolia, and the Jiama Copper-Polymetallic Mine in Tibet Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. The Companys objective is to continue to build shareholder value by growing production at its current mining operations, expanding its resource base, and aggressively acquiring and developing new projects internationally. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGG) and the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 2099). For additional information on China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd., please refer to its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or contact Tel: 604-609-0598, Email: info@chinagoldintl.com, Website: www.chinagoldintl.com. Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements Certain information regarding China Gold International Resources contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although China Gold International Resources believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. China Gold International Resources cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what China Gold International Resources currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and subject to change after that date. TORONTO and NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acreage Holdings, Inc., (the Company or Acreage), formerly Applied Inventions Management Corp., is pleased to announce that, further to its November 13, 2018 press release, its business combination with High Street Capital Partners, LLC (d/b/a Acreage Holdings) (the Business Combination) has been completed. In connection with the Business Combination, among other things, the 12,566,144 subscription receipts (the Subscription Receipts) issued by Acreage Finco B.C. Ltd. in contemplation of the Business Combination (the Offering) were ultimately exchanged for 12,566,144 Class A subordinate voting shares (the Subordinate Voting Shares) of the Company. Completion of the Business Combination and Escrow Release The Business Combination was completed in the manner described in the Companys listing statement (the Listing Statement) filed today with the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and available under the Companys profile on www.sedar.com . As part of the Business Combination, the Company implemented a multiple class share structure such that the outstanding shares of the Company consist of (i) 21,443,042 Subordinate Voting Shares, (ii) 1,445,887 class B proportionate voting shares (the Proportionate Voting Shares), and (iii) 168,000 class C multiple voting shares (the Multiple Voting Shares). Each Subordinate Voting Share carries the right to one vote per share on all matters voted on by shareholders of the Company, each Proportionate Voting Share carries 40 votes per Proportionate Voting Share on all matters voted on by shareholders of the Company, and each Multiple Voting Share carries with it 3,000 votes per Multiple Voting Share on all matters voted on by the shareholders of the Company. All of the Multiple Voting Shares are held or controlled by Kevin Murphy, the Companys Chief Executive Officer. In connection with the Business Combination, the Companys officers and directors were replaced such that, among other things, the officers of the Company are: Kevin Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, George Allen, President, Glen Leibowitz, Chief Financial Officer, Robert Daino, Chief Operating Officer, James A. Doherty, General Counsel & Secretary and Harris Damashek, Chief Marketing Officer. Driving the Companys operations, marketing and product innovation, through its subsidiaries, are former executives from General Electric, AB-InBev, and Diageo, as well as legendary cannabis cultivation and processing professionals Phillip Hague and Bill Fenger. The Companys board of directors (the Board) is something that distinguishes Acreage from its competitors in the cannabis industry, with unparalleled policy access in the U.S. and abroad, and extensive corporate governance expertise and experience. The Board consists of: John Boehner, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada, Bill Weld, former Massachusetts Governor, Larissa Herda, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TW Telecom, Douglas Maine, former Chief Financial Officer of IBM, Bill Van Faasen, Chair Emeritus of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., and Kevin Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Acreage. Its been a journey many years in the making, and I could not be more thrilled for our investors and employees, said Kevin Murphy, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Acreage. He continued, One of the more passionate issues we are working hard to address is getting legal access to cannabis for more than 22 million veterans, who have been left behind, and will lose their veteran benefits if found to be using cannabis even in a legal state. It is for this reason, that we are even more honored to have our public trading debut during the week of Veterans Day. Certain proceeds from the Offering of the Subscription Receipts were placed into escrow (the Escrowed Proceeds) upon completion of the Offering as disclosed in the Companys press release dated November 13, 2018. The Escrowed Proceeds were released from escrow and ultimately received by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, non-U.S. holders of High Street Capital Partners, LLC units will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax under U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 1446(f) upon the disposition of High Street Capital Partners, LLC units equal to 10% of the fair market value of shares received in the exchange, or approximately $22 million, based on the offering price of the Subscription Receipts. The Company will withhold 10% of the Subordinate Voting Shares delivered to non-U.S holders, or approximately 900,000 Subordinate Voting Shares, and the Company may cancel such Subordinate Voting Shares. In the case of the cancellation of such shares, the Company will pay the resulting tax withholding tax obligation out of the use of proceeds from the Offering. The Company reserves the right to facilitate the sale of such shares and, in such case, to remit the proceeds thereof in satisfaction of its withholding tax obligation. The Company has received conditional approval from the CSE for the listing of its Subordinate Voting Shares, which are expected to commence trading on the CSE under the ticker symbol ACRGU at market open on November 15, 2018. Listing is subject to the Company satisfying all listing requirements of the CSE. The Proportionate Voting Shares and the Multiple Voting Shares will not be listed on the CSE and the conversion of such securities into Subordinate Voting Shares is governed by the Companys Articles. About the Company Headquartered in New York City, Acreage is a vertically integrated, multi-state owner of cannabis licenses and assets in U.S. states where either medical and/or adult use of cannabis is legal. With one of the largest geographic footprints of any cannabis company, it currently owns and/or operates cultivation, processing and dispensary operations. Acreage is dedicated to building and scaling operations to create a seamless, consumer-focused branded cannabis experience. The CSE (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. This announcement does not constitute an offer, invitation or recommendation to subscribe for or purchase any securities and neither this announcement nor anything contained in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. In particular, this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. The securities described herein 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 accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States or to "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Companys securities to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, proposed, is expected, budgets, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current beliefs of Acreage and is based on information currently available to Acreage and on assumptions that Acreage believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the anticipated trading date of the Subordinate Voting Shares. 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 Acreage to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation affecting Acreage; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals and the other factors identified in Acreages Listing Statement. Although Acreage 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. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Acreage as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, Acreage expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. For further information please contact: Communications Contact: Lewis Goldberg / Jon Goldberg KCSA Strategic Communications 212-896-1282 Acreage@kcsa.com Company Contact: Howard Schacter Head of Communications 917-579-0727 h.schacter@acreageholdings.com TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lydian International Limited (TSX:LYD) (Lydian or the Company) announced today its results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. All dollar amounts referenced in this news release are, unless otherwise indicated, in United States dollars. Since late June 2018, illegal blockades have been in place at Amulsar that continue to prevent the Company and its contractors from entering the Amulsar site and resuming construction work. While delivery of certain supplies, spares, and equipment continued during the third quarter of 2018, no physical construction occurred. Lydian is engaging and will continue to engage with local and national government officials to seek enforcement of the law in order to have the illegal blockades removed. The illegal blockades have substantially restricted access to capital and caused conditions to occur that are deemed events of default by the Companys senior lenders, stream financing providers, and equipment financiers. The Company has entered into a forbearance agreement through December 31, 2018 with its senior lenders, stream financing providers, and equipment financiers. During this period, Lydian will continue to engage in discussions with its lenders to address the issues resulting from the illegal blockades while at the same time evaluating a range of financing and strategic alternatives. More detailed financial information can be found in the Companys interim managements discussion and analysis and interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, which are available on SEDAR under the Companys profile (www.sedar.com). As a corporate update, on November 14, 2018, Gordon Wylie resigned as Chair and director of the board of directors (the Board) to pursue other interests, effective immediately. Russell Ball was appointed as Chair of the Board. Joao Carrelo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lydian, stated, We thank Gordon for all of his contributions to Lydian over the past 12 years. We wish him well in all his future endeavors. Mr. Wylie said, I would like to thank the teams in Armenia and Denver for their support over the years and wish them all well. I am proud to have worked with exceptional colleagues who are committed to building a world-class gold mine in Armenia. About Lydian International Limited Lydian is a gold developer focusing on construction at its 100%-owned Amulsar Gold Project, located in south-central Armenia. However, illegal blockades have prevented access to Amulsar since late June 2018. Amulsar will be a large-scale, low-cost operation with gold production targeted to average approximately 225,000 ounces annually over an initial 10-year mine life. Open pit mining and conventional heap leach processing contribute to excellent scale and economic potential. Estimated mineral resources contain 3.5 million measured and indicated gold ounces and 1.3 million inferred gold ounces as outlined in the Q1 2017 Technical Report. Existing mineral resources beyond current reserves and open extensions provide opportunities to improve average annual production and extend the mines life. Lydian is committed to good international industry practices in all aspects of its operations including production, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. For more information and to directly contact us, please visit www.lydianinternational.co.uk . For further information, please contact: Doug Tobler, Chief Financial Officer +1 720-307-5087 Pamela Solly, Vice President of Investor Relations +1 720-464-5649 Or: moreinfo@Lydianinternational.co.uk Caution regarding forward-looking information There can be no assurances as to the timing, magnitude or impact of future protests or blockades affecting Amulsar, if any, or the success of the Companys ongoing attempts to mitigate such risks. The Company does not intend to comment further upon protests, blockades or similar disruptions unless required by law, it deems further disclosure is appropriate, or where appropriate in the context of its normal course disclosure on construction, operational and financial matters. The Company makes reference to the risk factors outlined in section 4.2 of its most recent Annual Information Form, dated March 28, 2018, including risk factor disclosure under the headings Single Property Focus, Community and Social and Foreign Operations as well as the risk factors disclosed in the its other public filings including the Companys interim managements discussion and analysis and interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Certain information contained in this news release is forward looking. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects, is expected, intends, anticipates or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, will, would, should, or occur or the negative or other variations of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to: the illegal blockades at the Amulsar site and potential cost reductions as a result; the Companys assessment of alternatives for dealing with the blockades, the Companys dealings with the Armenian government and communities to have the blockades removed to allow Lydian to resume construction activities, the Companys discussions with its lenders in connection with the illegal blockades, the Companys consideration of other strategic alternatives to complete the construction of Amulsar and to address liquidity concerns, restructuring of funding instruments and potential funding through the issuance of equity, the Companys ability to carry out comprehensive revisions to its senior credit, stream, and offtake agreements, potential future employee reductions, the realization of mineral resource estimates and the timing of development of the Amulsar Gold Project, including the expected start date of gold production; restructuring of funding instruments and potential funding through the issuance of equity; the expected and estimated cost of operations and capital costs at the Amulsar Gold Project; the current Amulsar Gold Project construction schedule, the commitment to and implementation of good international industry practices; the expected gold production from, and life of mine of, the Amulsar Gold Project; the formation of the Armenian Government; the impact of management in relation to the Companys strategic growth objectives; the magnitude or impact of historical and future (if any) protests or blockades affecting Amulsar and the success of the Companys ongoing attempts to mitigate such risks; the response of the Armenian government to future (if any) protests or blockades affecting Amulsar; the impact of protests, blockades or similar disruptions on the Companys construction, operations and financial performance; and the expected mining methods at the Amulsar Gold Project. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking information to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered when the property is developed. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, without limitation: changes in gold and silver prices; adverse general economic, political, market or business conditions; unwillingness of the Companys creditors to amend the senior credit, stream, and offtake agreements; failure to achieve the objectives of the future exploration and drilling programs; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; risks associated with obtaining and maintaining the necessary licenses and permits and complying with permitting requirements, including, without limitation, approval of the Armenian Government and receipt of all related permits, authorizations or other rights, regulatory changes; as well as "Risk Factors" included in the disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. San Francisco, CA, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hacking IP: Considerations for Startups and Entrepreneurs is bound for the tech capital of the world, Silicon Valley! The third leg of the year-long multi-city IP education program presented by the Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property (MIIP) is taking place at Babson San Francisco this Thursday, November 15th. We invite all interested Bay area students, entrepreneurs, and community members to come and engage with an illustrious panel of IP specialists as we discuss the importance of a well-developed IP strategy when launching or operating a startup. Registration is free and open to the public. Silicon Valley is at the center of innovation in todays digital economy, as startups launched in dorm rooms and garages go on to disrupt long-established industries. The region attracts and cultivates an array of entrepreneurs whose technologies can serve as a powerful force for good in the world, provided these visionaries have a plan to protect all of their valuable intellectual property. For early-stage startups, IP is the primary driver of value, says Deborah Kang, Director of Startup@BerkeleyLaw. But we've learned that founders sometimes don't always know all the ways to protect their IP. While patents are familiar, founders often forget or don't realize that trademarks can be used to protect their company name and brand, and should be explored sooner than later. Trade secrets, if done right, can also be a cost-effective way to protect IP. San Francisco Hacking IP provides burgeoning founders with a wealth of insight on how to safeguard the entirety of their intellectual property so that their venture can achieve lift-off. The evening commences with a reception and networking hour, followed by a moderated panel of IP luminaries that includes: John Cabeca : John is the Director of the Silicon Valley United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He has dedicated much of his career to the USPTO's outreach and education programs focusing on small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs. : John is the Director of the Silicon Valley United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He has dedicated much of his career to the USPTO's outreach and education programs focusing on small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs. Aldo Carrascoso : Aldo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Venn Biosciences. His ventures have created ~$500M in value for investors. : Aldo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Venn Biosciences. His ventures have created ~$500M in value for investors. Rafa Gutierrez : Rafa is a Legal Director at Uber and is the head of its trademark, copyright and domains practice group. : Rafa is a Legal Director at Uber and is the head of its trademark, copyright and domains practice group. Deborah Kang (moderator): Deborah is the Director of Startup@BerkeleyLaw, where she educates and supports startups and early-stage investors in the legal, financial, and organizational aspects of starting and scaling a business. (moderator): Deborah is the Director of Startup@BerkeleyLaw, where she educates and supports startups and early-stage investors in the legal, financial, and organizational aspects of starting and scaling a business. Shantel Williams: Shantel is IP Counsel at Facebook where she focuses primarily on IP matters in the intermediary liability space. With its mission emphasis on entrepreneurship education, event co-host Babson College is the perfect partner in helping to raise intellectual property awareness among future business leaders. "Babson has distinguished itself as the nation's premier college in entrepreneurship learning, making them an ideal collaborator to co-host our San Francisco event," says Dr. Gary K. Michelson, founder of Michelson 20MM Foundation. "We are delighted to partner with an institution that has developed a long and illustrious history in fostering the next generation of innovators." MIIP also welcomes the support of event partners Hacker Dojo, Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Runway, Startup@BerkeleyLaw, and Women in 3D Printing in helping to present San Francisco Hacking IP. Register to attend the November 15th event, and join our mailing list for updates on when the Hacking IP: Considerations for Startups and Entrepreneurs program will visit a location near you. About The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property (MIIP) The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property, an initiative of the Michelson 20MM Foundation, addresses critical gaps in intellectual property education to empower the next generation of inventors by providing high-quality instructional content. Its library of free educational resources includes an interactive textbook, undergraduate IP curriculum, animated videos, and a self-paced online course. Michelson 20MM was founded thanks to the generous support of renowned spinal surgeon Dr. Gary K. Michelson and his wife, Alya Michelson. To learn more, visit www.Michelson20mm.org. About Hacker Dojo Hacker Dojo is a community of almost 300 members and over 5,000 alumni who love technology, science, and building cool things. The majority of our space is used for co-working and collaboration. We have a maker space with tools such as a laser cutter, CNC router and 3D printer. Hacker Dojo is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which is popular with our international crowd. Check out events.hackerdojo.com to learn about the latest events and workshops. About The Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship NFTE's Entrepreneurship Pathway program integrates the development of an entrepreneurial mindset with academic and industry skills to ensure NFTE youth are career- and startup-ready. Through its nationwide network of U.S. offices, NFTE programs reached almost 35,000 students in 1,000 schools across the country last year. Partnerships in eight other countries allowed NFTE to serve an additional 40,000 young people internationally. About Runway Innovation Runway Innovation accelerates growth for Global 2000 companies and early stage startups through innovation advisory, investment and accelerator programs, and community workspaces and ecosystems. Founded in 2013 in the heart of San Francisco, Runway Innovation has worked with leading brands such as Lenovo, Fujitsu, ADT, KDDI, NRI, Skycatch, Duolingo, and hundreds more. About Society of Women Engineers For more than six decades, SWE has given women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. Our organization is centered around a passion for our members' success and continues to evolve with the challenges and opportunities reflected in today's exciting engineering and technology specialties. About Startup@Berkeley Startup@BerkeleyLaw is an institute of the Berkeley Center for Law and Business at the UC Berkeley School of Law. It serves law students, entrepreneurs, and investors by delivering educational programs and services on the core legal, financial, and organizational issues faced by early-stage companies. It serves entrepreneurs at UC Berkeley, Silicon Valley, and nationally through its Access to Entrepreneurship program. About Women in 3D Printing Women in 3D Printing is an organization dedicated to promoting, supporting and inspiring women who are using Additive Manufacturing technologies. Our mission is to increase the visibility of women in the Additive Manufacturing industry and encourage more women to use 3D Printing technologies. - Net Profit totaled NIS 950 million; Return on Equity of 10.7% - - The Bank's credit portfolio grew by 3.7% compared with year end 2017 - TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bank Hapoalim (TASE: POLI) (ADR: BKHYY), Israel's leading financial group, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018. Key highlights: Total net profit reached NIS 950 million, compared with a net profit of NIS 469 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017*. reached NIS 950 million, compared with a net profit of NIS 469 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017*. Return on equity (ROE) - reached 10.7%, compared with 5.3% in the corresponding quarter*. (ROE) - reached 10.7%, compared with 5.3% in the corresponding quarter*. Credit growth - total credit portfolio grew by 3.7% totaling NIS 275.8 billion compared with NIS 265.9 billion at the end of 2017. - total credit portfolio grew by 3.7% totaling NIS 275.8 billion compared with NIS 265.9 billion at the end of 2017. Retail deposit base in Israel - increased by 3.7% totaling NIS 217.4 billion compared with NIS 209.7 billion at the end of 2017. - increased by 3.7% totaling NIS 217.4 billion compared with NIS 209.7 billion at the end of 2017. Income from regular financing activity - totaled NIS 2,356 million compared with NIS 2,209 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, an increase of 6.7%. - totaled NIS 2,356 million compared with NIS 2,209 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, an increase of 6.7%. Efficiency ratio cost-income ratio totaled 57.6% for the third quarter of 2018, compared with 72.2% in the same quarter last year*. cost-income ratio totaled 57.6% for the third quarter of 2018, compared with 72.2% in the same quarter last year*. Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio - stood at 11.32% as at September 30, 2018, surpassing both regulatory and internal capital targets. - stood at 11.32% as at September 30, 2018, surpassing both regulatory and internal capital targets. The Bank made no further provisions in the quarter with respect to the investigation of the Bank Groups business with American clients. The Bank did not declare a distribution of dividend from third quarter 2018 net profits. *Excluding costs associated with the discontinuation of the Bank's activity in Switzerland, third quarter 2018 net profit would have totaled NIS 980 million (11.0% ROE), and cost income ratio would have stood at 56.8%. Excluding provisions in connection with the investigation of the Bank Groups business with American clients and costs associated with the discontinuation of the Banks activity in Switzerland, third quarter 2017 net profit would have totaled NIS 861 million (9.9% ROE), and cost income ratio would have stood at 59.7%. Key developments in the financial statements for the third quarter of 2018: Total income from regular financing activity, totaled NIS 2,356 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared with NIS 2,209 million in the same period last year. The increase is attributed to the growth in business activity in Israel across all segments. totaled NIS 2,356 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared with NIS 2,209 million in the same period last year. The increase is attributed to the growth in business activity in Israel across all segments. Fees and other income, totaled NIS 869 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared with NIS 905 million in the same period last year. totaled NIS 869 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared with NIS 905 million in the same period last year. Net provision for credit losses, totaled NIS 118 million in the third quarter of 2018, 0.17% of the average credit to the public, compared with an income of NIS 8 million, 0.01% of the average credit to the public, in the same period last year. totaled NIS 118 million in the third quarter of 2018, 0.17% of the average credit to the public, compared with an income of NIS 8 million, 0.01% of the average credit to the public, in the same period last year. Operating and other expenses, totaled NIS 2,018 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared with NIS 2,275 million in same period last year. Key developments in Balance Sheet items for the third quarter of 2018: Consolidated balance sheet, as at September 30, 2018 totaled NIS 447.9 billion, compared with NIS 454.4 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 1.4%. as at September 30, 2018 totaled NIS 447.9 billion, compared with NIS 454.4 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 1.4%. Net credit to the public, totaled NIS 275.8 billion, compared with NIS 265.9 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 3.7%, caused mainly by the increase in corporate lending, commercial customers and housing loans. totaled NIS 275.8 billion, compared with NIS 265.9 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 3.7%, caused mainly by the increase in corporate lending, commercial customers and housing loans. Consumer credit in Israel, totaled NIS 44.1 billion compared with NIS 45.9 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 3.9%. totaled NIS 44.1 billion compared with NIS 45.9 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 3.9%. Housing loans in Israel, totaled NIS 79.0 billion compared with NIS 74.1 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 6.6%. totaled NIS 79.0 billion compared with NIS 74.1 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 6.6%. Credit to small businesses in Israel, totaled NIS 32.3 billion compared with NIS 32.4 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 0.2%. totaled NIS 32.3 billion compared with NIS 32.4 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 0.2%. Credit to the commercial segment in Israel, totaled NIS 36.5 billion compared with NIS 33.9 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 7.7%. totaled NIS 36.5 billion compared with NIS 33.9 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 7.7%. Credit to the corporate segment in Israel, totaled NIS 69.6 billion compared with NIS 65.5 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 6.2%. totaled NIS 69.6 billion compared with NIS 65.5 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 6.2%. Deposits from the public, totaled NIS 341.8 billion compared with NIS 347.3 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 1.6%. totaled NIS 341.8 billion compared with NIS 347.3 billion at the end of 2017, a decrease of 1.6%. Retail deposits in Israel, totaled NIS 176.7 billion compared with NIS 171.5 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 3.0%. totaled NIS 176.7 billion compared with NIS 171.5 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 3.0%. Small businesses deposits in Israel, totaled NIS 40.8 billion compared with NIS 38.2 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 6.6%. totaled NIS 40.8 billion compared with NIS 38.2 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 6.6%. Shareholders' equity, totaled NIS 37.6 billion as at September 30, 2018, compared with NIS 35.9 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 4.9%. totaled NIS 37.6 billion as at September 30, 2018, compared with NIS 35.9 billion at the end of 2017, an increase of 4.9%. Total capital ratio, stood at 14.77% as at September 30, 2018, compared with 14.64% as at December 31, 2017. stood at 14.77% as at September 30, 2018, compared with 14.64% as at December 31, 2017. Leverage ratio, representing the ratio of the capital measurement (Tier 1 capital) to the exposure measurement (total balance sheet exposures, derivatives exposures and securities financing transactions, and off-balance sheet items), stood at 7.63% at the end of the third quarter of 2018. representing the ratio of the capital measurement (Tier 1 capital) to the exposure measurement (total balance sheet exposures, derivatives exposures and securities financing transactions, and off-balance sheet items), stood at 7.63% at the end of the third quarter of 2018. Liquidity coverage ratio, representing the ratio between the supply of "high-quality liquid assets to the net expected outgoing cash flow in a stress scenario, stood at 122% at the end of the third quarter of 2018. Conference Call Information Bank Hapoalim will host a conference call today to discuss the results at 5:00 p.m. Israel time/ 3:00 p.m. UK time/ 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. To access the conference call, please dial: 1-888-281-1167 toll free from the United States; 0-800-051-8913 toll free from the United Kingdom; or 972-3-9180685 internationally. No password is required. The call will be accompanied by a slide presentation, which, together with the financial statements, will be available on the Bank's website at www.bankhapoalim.com , under Investor Relations, Financial Information. An archive of the call will be available on the Bank's website at the above address a few hours following the completion of the call. Please note: The conference call does not replace the need to peruse the immediate reports and the Financial Statements of the Bank, including all the forward-looking information included therein in accordance with Section 32A of the Israeli Securities Law, 1968. About Bank Hapoalim : Bank Hapoalim is Israel's leading financial group. In Israel, the Bank Hapoalim Group operates 230 full-service retail branches, 12 regional business centers and specialized industry relationship managers for major corporate customers. The Bank Hapoalim Group includes Isracard Ltd, Israel's leading credit card company as well as financial companies involved in investment banking, trust services and portfolio management. Internationally, commercial banking services are provided in North America by the New York branch and in Europe credit facilities are provided through Bank Hapoalim Luxemburg and Bank Positif in Turkey. Bank Hapoalim is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In addition, a Level-1 ADR is traded "over-the-counter" in New York. For more information about Bank Hapoalim, please visit us online at www.bankhapoalim.com . Contact: Karen Mazor, SVP Head of Investor Relations Bank Hapoalim T: +972 54 228 8039 E: Karen.mazor@poalim.co.il Condensed financial information and principal performance indicators over time(1) For the three months ended For the nine months ended For the year ended December 31 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 2017 2016 Main performance indicators Return of net profit on equity attributed to shareholders of the Bank(2) 10.67 % 5.31 % 9.23 % 7.82 % 7.50 % 7.72 % Return of net profit on equity attributed to shareholders of the Bank excluding extraordinary items(2)(3) 11.02 % 9.91 % 9.56 % 9.33 % 9.44 % *10.04 % Return of net profit from continued operations on equity attributed to shareholders of the Bank(2)(7) 9.41 % 4.27 % 8.18 % 6.79 % 6.61 % 6.92 % Return of net profit from continued operations on equity attributed to shareholders of the Bank excluding extraordinary items(2)(3)(7) 9.75 % 8.84 % 8.52 % 8.30 % 8.55 % 9.23 % Return on average assets(2) 0.84 % 0.41 % 0.74 % 0.61 % 0.59 % 0.60 % Efficiency ratio - cost-income ratio from continued operations 57.61 % 72.18 % 59.28 % 63.49 % 64.96 % 63.42 % Efficiency ratio - cost-income ratio excluding extraordinary items from continued operations(3) 56.75 % 59.74 % 58.41 % 59.36 % 59.55 % 59.42 % Financing margin from regular activity(2)(4) 2.29 % 2.16 % 2.27 % 2.12 % 2.13 % 2.05 % Liquidity coverage ratio(5) 122 % 123 % 122 % 124 % As at December 31 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 2017 2016 Ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk components(6) 11.32 % 11.26 % 11.26 % 11.01 % Ratio of total capital to risk components(6) 14.77 % 14.85 % 14.64 % 15.11 % Leverage ratio(6) 7.63 % 7.37 % 7.37 % 7.25 % * Restated for inclusion of the effects of the reduction of corporate tax as part of profit excluding extraordinary items in 2016. In the Periodic Report for 2017 (and the subsequently published presentation for 2017), net profit and return on equity for 2016 and 2017 were presented excluding expenses in respect of the update of the provision in connection with the investigation of the Bank Groups business with American clients and the discontinuation of activity in Switzerland only. In 2016, net profit and return on equity for 2016 were presented also excluding the effects of the reduction of corporate tax (in addition to the exclusion of the update of the provisions in respect of the investigation, as noted).Within the process of preparation for filing a shelf prospectus of Hapoalim Hanpakot Ltd. (the issuance arm of the Bank, which is a company under full ownership), the Israel Securities Authority requested that the Bank present these data for 2016 in a manner that consistently applies the aforesaid excluded components. (1) Comparative figures, including credit of the Isracard Group, were restated in order to present a discontinued operation separately from continued operations. For further details, see Note 1E to the Condensed Financial Statements (2) Calculated on an annualized basis. (3) Does not include expenses in respect of the update of the provision in connection with the Bank Groups business with American clients, and costs in respect of the discontinuation of activity in Switzerland (4) Financing profit from regular activity (see the Report of the Board of Directors and Board of Management, in the section Material developments in income, expenses, and other comprehensive income) divided by total financial assets after allowance for credit losses, net of non-interest bearing balances in respect of credit cards. (5) For additional information, see the section "Liquidity and refinancing risk," in the Condensed Financial Statements. (6) For additional information, see the section "Capital, capital adequacy, and leverage," in the Condensed Financial Statements. (7) The return of net profit from continued operations, after separation from Isracard, may be influenced by processes of adjustment of capital in respect of the subtraction of risk-adjusted assets in the amount of approximately NIS 12 billion, as a result of the separation, and additional adjustments. Condensed financial information and principal performance indicators over time(1) (continued) For the three months ended For the six months ended For the year ended December 31 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 2017 2016 Main credit quality indicators Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of credit to the public(1) 1.33 % 1.39 % 1.33 % 1.39 % 1.36 % 1.50 % Impaired debts and debts in arrears of 90 days or more as a percentage of credit to the public(1) 1.30 % 1.34 % 1.30 % 1.34 % 1.31 % 1.83 % Net charge-offs as a percentage of average credit to the public(1) 2) 0.15 % 0.03 % 0.17 % 0.25 % 0.21 % 0.18 % Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average credit to the public(1) 2) 0.17 % (0.01 %) 0.21 % 0.11 % 0.08 % 0.07 % Main profit and loss data NIS million Net profit attributed to shareholders of the Bank 950 469 2,498 2,048 2,660 2,628 Net profit attributed to shareholders of the Bank excluding extraordinary items(3) 980 861 2,588 2,440 3,348 *3,417 Net profit from continued operations attributed to shareholders of the Bank 841 379 2,219 1,781 2,346 2,354 Net profit from continued operations attributed to shareholders of the Bank excluding extraordinary items(3) 871 771 2,309 2,173 3,034 3,143 Net interest income 2,228 2,091 6,616 6,263 8,424 7,958 Provision for credit losses 118 (8 ) 424 213 202 179 Net financing profit*** 2,634 2,247 7,611 6,743 9,076 9,121 Non-interest income 1,275 1,061 3,650 3,231 4,292 4,982 Of which: fees 856 869 2,595 2,617 3,477 3,682 Operating and other expenses 2,018 2,275 6,086 6,028 8,260 8,207 Of which: salaries and related expenses 1,020 **1,037 3,126 **3,184 **4,209 **4,239 Total income 3,503 3,152 10,266 9,494 12,716 12,940 Net earnings per ordinary share (in NIS) Basic net earnings per share in NIS attributed to shareholders of the Bank from continued operations 0.63 0.29 1.66 1.34 1.76 1.76 * Restated for inclusion of the effects of the reduction of corporate tax as part of profit excluding extraordinary items in 2016. In the Periodic Report for 2017 (and the subsequently published presentation for 2017), net profit and return on equity for 2016 and 2017 were presented excluding expenses in respect of the update of the provision in connection with the investigation of the Bank Groups business with American clients and the discontinuation of activity in Switzerland only. In 2016, net profit and return on equity for 2016 were presented also excluding the effects of the reduction of corporate tax (in addition to the exclusion of the update of the provisions in respect of the investigation, as noted). Within the process of preparation for filing a shelf prospectus of Hapoalim Hanpakot Ltd. (the issuance arm of the Bank, which is a company under full ownership), the Israel Securities Authority requested that the Bank present these data for 2016 in a manner that consistently applies the aforesaid excluded components. ** Reclassification of certain actuarial cost components of employee benefits from salary expenses to other expenses. For further details, see Note 1C(3) to the Condensed Financial Statements. *** Net financing profit includes net interest income and non-interest financing income (expenses). (1) Comparative figures, including credit of the Isracard Group, were restated in order to present a discontinued operation separately from continued operations. For further details, see Note 1E to the Condensed Financial Statements (2) Calculated on an annualized basis. (3) Does not include expenses in respect of the update of the provision in connection with the Bank Groups business with American clients, and costs in respect of the discontinuation of activity in Switzerland. Condensed financial information and principal performance indicators over time(1) (continued) As at For the year ended December 31 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 2017 2016 NIS million Main balance sheet data Total assets 447,921 449,815 454,424 448,105 Of which: cash and deposits with banks 77,622 85,596 86,093 80,367 Securities 57,943 64,173 65,416 71,429 Net credit to the public 275,806 262,356 265,853 258,691 Net problematic credit risk 7,026 7,180 6,822 7,358 Net impaired balance sheet debts 2,238 2,261 2,097 3,094 Total liabilities 410,203 414,070 418,420 413,880 Of which: deposits from the public 341,775 342,740 347,344 338,494 Deposits from banks 4,357 3,044 3,649 4,077 Bonds and subordinated notes 28,647 29,411 29,058 33,560 Shareholders equity 37,613 35,591 35,863 34,047 Impaired credit to the public not accruing interest income (NPL) 2,218 2,179 2,073 3,480 Additional data Share price at end of period (in NIS) 26.6 24.7 25.6 22.9 For the three months ended For the nine months ended For the year ended December 31 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 2017 2016 Total dividend per share (in agorot)* - 24.37 37.17 26.08 64.53 51.44 Ratio of fees to average assets 0.19 % 0.28 % 0.57 % 0.58 % 1.14 % 1.18 % Danish English Gabriel Holding A/S realises organic growth of 21% in revenue and an increase of 22% in profit before tax Selected financial ratios Revenue increased to DKK 598.7 million (DKK 492.8 million). Operating profit (EBIT) from continuing operations was DKK 55.3 million (DKK 45.9 million), an increase of 20%. Operating margin was 9.2% (9.3%). Profit before tax from continuing operations was DKK 57.0 million (DKK 46.8 million), an increase of 22%. Profit after tax was DKK 45.2 million (DKK 35.3 million). Return on invested capital (ROIC) before tax was 28.6% (29.5%). Earnings per share (EPS) increased to DKK 23.4 (DKK 19.1). Cash flow from operating activities in the period was DKK 39.7 million (DKK 25.6 million). The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of DKK 9.50 per DKK 20 share. Summary In a mildly increasing market, growth has been a feature at Gabriel A/S this financial year. The organic revenue growth of 21% is a result of growth within all business units and in all geographical markets except the UK. Screen Solutions Ltd, which we acquired in November 2016, continued to realise a decline in revenue compared to last year. This is a result of planned adjustments to the sales strategy. Revenue in Screen Solutions is expected to be stable in 2018/19 and identified potential is expected to be developed and realised in the years to come, both in the British company and the FurnMaster units. The 22% improvement in profit is a result of revenue realised above expectations and of productivity improvements across the Group. At the beginning of the year, management expected growth in revenue of the order of 10-15% and an equivalent increase in profit before tax. After the first six months, management adjusted its expectations upward, to growth in revenue and profit before tax of around 20%. Shortly before the end of the financial year, the expectations were clarified to revenue of the order of DKK 598 million and profit before tax of DKK 57-58 million. Subsequent events On 12 October 2018, Gabriel Holding A/S signed a letter of intent with the pension group PenSam with a view to selling the entire share capital of its fully-owned subsidiary, Gabriel Ejendomme A/S. The total sale price is DKK 150 million, from which interest-bearing debt and deferred tax of Gabriel Ejendomme A/S must be subtracted. The transaction transferring the property company to PenSam is expected to take place around 1 April 2020. The financial statements therefore continue to classify the subsidiary as discontinuing its activity. On 4 October 2018, a conditional agreement was entered into for the acquisition of the entire share capital in UAB Baltijos Tekstile in Lithuania. The agreed price is just over EUR 4 million. The transaction is conditional and expected to be completed by the end of 2018, following due diligence. Expectations for the future The global market for contract furniture is expected to increase slightly in 2018/19. New products within all areas have been well received and momentum is generally good in all business units. We are already prepared for customs tariffs in the U.S. on goods from China and for Brexit, when completed, and expect to meet any challenges that arise. Management judges that growth is possible in both revenue and earnings. Based on the Groups outreach activities, on its constantly increasing efforts in development and sales initiatives, and on the mildly increasing market, we expect revenue and earnings growth of the order of 10-20%. The Board of Directors recommends that the general meeting of Gabriel Holding A/S, to be held on 13 December 2018, should approve the following: To pay a dividend of DKK 9.50 per DKK 20 share To re-appoint directors Jrgen Kjr Jacobsen, Hans O. Damgaard and Sren B. Lauritsen and Group CFO Pernille Fabricius as board members appointed by the general meeting To re-appoint KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab as auditors. The annual report is recommended for adoption at the companys general meeting to be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday 13 December 2018 at the companys office in Aalborg. The official annual report is published on the companys website and the printed version of the report will be available by 3 December 2018 at the companys office. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trevali Mining Corporation (Trevali or the Company) (TSX: TV; BVL: TV; OTCQX: TREVF; Frankfurt: 4TI) announces that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has accepted its notice to implement a normal course issuer bid (NCIB) to purchase, for cancellation, up to 40,000,000 common shares representing approximately 6.5% of Trevalis public float of common shares (calculated in accordance with the rules of the TSX), having a maximum aggregate purchase price of C$20 million, over a twelve month period commencing on November 19, 2018. The NCIB will expire no later than November 18, 2019. All purchases made pursuant to the NCIB will be made through the facilities of the TSX or alternative Canadian trading systems, in open market transactions or by such other means as may be permitted under applicable securities laws. The price that Trevali will pay for common shares in open market transactions will be the market price at the time of purchase. In accordance with TSX rules, any daily purchases (other than pursuant to a block purchase exemption) on the TSX under the NCIB are limited to a maximum of 547,457 common shares, which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX for the six months ended October 31, 2018. As of November 14, 2018, the Company has 831,196,085 common shares outstanding. Trevali has appointed BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to conduct the NCIB on its behalf. Trevali may enter into an automatic purchase plan with its broker to allow for the repurchase of shares during internal trading blackout periods. Any such plan entered into with Trevalis broker will be adopted in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and would be subject to prior approval of the TSX. Trevali believes that initiating the NCIB at the current time represents an attractive use of cash, with now an opportune time to return cash to shareholders. The actual number of common shares that will be repurchased under the NCIB, and the timing of any such purchases, will be determined by Trevali based on market conditions, Trevalis share price, alternative uses of cash and other factors. There cannot be any assurances as to how many common shares, if any, will ultimately be acquired by Trevali under the NCIB. ABOUT TREVALI MINING CORPORATION Trevali is a zinc-focused, base metals company with four mines: the 90% owned Perkoa mine in Burkina Faso, the 90% owned Rosh Pinah mine in Namibia, the wholly-owned Caribou mine in the Bathurst Mining Camp of northern New Brunswick in Canada, and the wholly-owned Santander mine in Peru. The shares of Trevali are listed on the TSX (symbol TV), the OTCQX (symbol TREVF), the Lima Stock Exchange (symbol TV), and the Frankfurt Exchange (symbol 4TI). For further details on Trevali, readers are referred to the Companys website (www.trevali.com) and to Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of TREVALI MINING CORPORATION Mark D. Cruise (signed) Mark D. Cruise, President Contact Information: Steve Stakiw, Vice President - Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Email: sstakiw@trevali.com Phone: (604) 488-1661 / Direct: (604) 638-5623 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of the Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the United States Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or in releases made by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, all as may be amended from time. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results. Such forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, statements as to the Companys intentions regarding the normal course issuer bid, and the number of common shares that might be purchased by the Company under the normal course issuer bid and the terms and conditions of any such purchases. These statements reflect the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. If any assumptions are untrue, it could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including commodity prices, anticipated costs and ability to achieve goals. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the Companys actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the ability to acquire common shares in the market through the normal course issuer bid and in compliance with regulatory requirements; share price volatility; availability of funds to purchase shares under the normal course issuer bid, as well as other risks as more fully described in the Companys annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is available on the Companys website ( www.trevali.com ) and filed under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty or reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Source: Trevali Mining Corporation CAMBRIDGE, Mass. USA and BERLIN, Germany, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zageno Inc., the largest and fastest-growing online marketplace for research materials, today issues an open call for scientists and vendors alike to contribute to the continuous improvement of the Scientific Score. Designed as an unbiased indicator to help purchasing scientists navigate the enormous amount of product information, the Scientific Score is the result of proprietary algorithms calculating and weighing different data points across multiple information formats. Among others, factors like recency of purchase, user interaction on product level, brand performance in the specific category, product performance, quality and quantity of available resources, and the number of provided product specifications contribute to the 0 to 10 scoring range. The sheer number of factors the algorithm takes into the equation eliminates any opportunity for result manipulation. Hence, the score functions as an objective, unbiased measure of the quality and quantity of information that is available for each product found in the marketplace. The Scientific Score is one of our key differentiators in the life science e-commerce vertical, and we brought Christian Bohm on this past summer as our new vice president of scientific content to further a robust and continuously improving life science product rating tool that will become the standard in the industry, said Chief Executive Officer David Pumberger, Ph.D. Researchers, vendors, and manufacturers can help enhance the scoring metrics by providing experimental results, sharing validation data, or supplying additional product information. Commenting on the algorithm-update, Christian Bohm, Ph.D., said, With the introduction of our new-generation scoring system, we are making an important step in covering more information than ever before. Today, the foundation of our Scientific Score rating tool comprises more than 75 million product-specific data points for five million product variants combined with insights gleaned from user behavior, and that is just the beginning. With this collective, 360-degree perspective, the integrity of the score is enhanced enabling Zageno to offer, in our opinion, the best product-research tool in the industry: a real and unbiased comparison of similarly categorized products. By calling upon scientists, vendors, and manufacturers to contribute to the continuous improvement of the scientific score rating system, Zageno encourages and drives an open dialogue, which is key to an overall industry benefit. Contributors, like individual scientists and vendors, can gain more visibility for their studies and product information, respectively making them more readily accessible to a broader audience; and they can share resources with their scientific peers to collaborate across lab borders, countries and paywalls. About Zageno Inc. (www.zageno.com; twitter: @ZAGENOteam) Founded in 2015, Zageno is eliminating bottlenecks to breakthrough science and research through curated connections linking scientists and their institutions procurement offices with leading life-science vendors. World-renowned academic and government research facilities, global pharmaceutical companies, and biotechs large and small are already users of our unique online biotech marketplace, currently comprising of about five million products. What do we do? 1) We make purchasing transactions more efficient for both buyers and sellers. 2) We help scientists choose the optimal laboratory kits and materials for each unique experiment setup. 3) We provide a valuable, expanded sales channel for our vendor partners. The growing Zageno team in Cambridge, USA, and Berlin, Germany, includes accessible experts in science, e-commerce, systems integration, and customer support. Our people work directly with customers to enable smarter, faster processes allowing more time and resources for value-added science and better research results. Attachments SMITHFIELD, Va., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Smithfield Foundation , the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc. , is pleased to announce its successful partnership in the first year of a three-year commitment to Share Our Strength and the No Kid Hungry Virginia campaign. During the 2017-2018 school year, No Kid Hungry Virginia worked to expand the school breakfast, afterschool meals, and summer meals programs, improving access to nutritious food for children across Virginia. "The support from Smithfield Foods has helped the No Kid Hungry Virginia campaign to ensure more children throughout Virginia have access to the nutritious food they need to learn and achieve," said Claire Mansfield, director of No Kid Hungry Virginia. We are proud of what we have accomplished over the past year together and look forward to continued progress towards ending childhood hunger in the Commonwealth, thanks to the support of great partners such as Smithfield Foods. During the 2017-2018 school year, participation in the school breakfast program increased among kids in need by 61 percent, resulting in 16,080 more students now eating a nutritious breakfast before they start their day. In addition, more than 2.9 million afterschool meals were served during the first half of the school year, an increase of nearly 300,000 meals over the same period the previous year. The summer meal program, which provides working families with access to nutritious food for their children during summer break, was able to serve 136,660 more summer meals in 2017 than the previous year. This collaborative partnership, consisting of a yearly $150,000 donation from Smithfield, provides funding for grants in schools and community organizations to help overcome barriers to child hunger, such as limited refrigeration, cafeteria equipment, carts and coolers, and other resources necessary for food delivery. Hunger and food insecurity are two of the biggest social problems facing our country today, said Keira Lombardo, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Smithfield Foods and president of the Smithfield Foundation. As a global leader in the food industry, we feel strongly about our responsibility to help feed all families, particularly those right here in our home state. We are thrilled with the first year of our partnership with No Kid Hungry Virginia as we work together to improve access to nutritious food for all children across the commonwealth. For more information about Smithfields charitable efforts, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com/key-outreach-efforts/smithfield-foundation . 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, Nathan's Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Cook's, Gwaltney, Carando, Margherita, Curly's, 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 No Kid Hungry No child should go hungry in America. But 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger through effective programs that provide kids with the food they need. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization working to end hunger and poverty. Learn more at NoKidHungry.org . Media Contacts: West Palm Beach, FL, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iTeknik Holding Corporation (OTC PINK: ITKH) today announced its third quarter results for the period ending September 30, 2018. The results for the period were from its wholly owned subsidiaries, Big Rhino Corporation and the Blender Company. Highlights of the financials which are posted on OTC Markets include these improvements over prior periods: Revenues improved 29.7% from the prior nine-month period from $1,587,457 to $2,458,976 Revenues improved 6.8% from the prior three-month period from $815,880 to $871,519 Gross Margins were 50% and 51% for the three- and nine-month periods respectively The Company also reduced its net loss quarter-over-quarter by 11.3% The net loss for the current quarter includes $225,000 of interest payments accrued as part of the TCA Global Fund debenture agreement. The interest is accrued in the Companys financial reports but has not been paid due to its ongoing litigation with TCA Global Fund. Management expects the Company to prevail in the litigation. If it does prevail these interest charges will be reduced significantly. Fred Wicks, iTeknik's Chairman and CEO said, Kyle Eng and his team at Big Rhino Advertising grew their company at an exceptional rate of 105% in 2017 its first year of operation. They continue to grow at an impressive rate. If we prevail in our lawsuit or come to an agreement with TCA we will use the Big Rhino model to pursue acquisitions of additional agencies and increase the value of iTeknik. Wicks also said, We are getting close to completing our financial audit of iTeknik. Once the audit is complete, we can become fully reporting. Being fully reporting along with our solid growth will make the Company much more valuable to investors. iTeknik Holding Corporation (OTC Pink:ITKH) trades on the OTC Pink tier of the OTC Market and is classified as Pink Sheet Current Information. To view complete posted financials on the company, visit https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ITKH/filings . About iTeknik Holding Corporation: iTeknik Holding Corporations strategy (OTC Pink: ITKH) is to acquire fundamentally sound companies that are market accepted, scalable and demonstrate a quantifiable value proposition. Our focus is in companies that have strong market presence, brand awareness and talented and dedicated management teams. We primarily seek companies with the potential to achieve exceptional performance over time in the Marketing, Advertising and Digital Media space and related technologies. iTeknik may lend its operational support, management approach and financial resources to these companies to achieve improvements in revenue and earnings growth as well as positioning in the marketplace. iTeknik Holdings currently operates one wholly owned subsidiary, Big Rhino Corporation. For more information check us out at www.iteknik.com . About Big Rhino Corporation: Big Rhino Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of iTeknik Holding Corporation and is a full-service advertis- ing and digital media agency. Big Rhino excels in providing on-strategy, fast, precise and creative marketing solu- tions that get our clients BIG results. We maintain a nimble in-house creative team with a unique talent for deliver- ing the highest quality creative that we believe is faster than anyone else. When combined with our completely inte- grated digital, interactive and media teams, our clients have access to a strategic and responsive advertising machine. For more information check us out at www.bigrhino.agency About Blender Company, LLC: The Blender Company LLC. Blender, part of our holdings, is an Arizona based multi-cultural focused advertising and digital media firm with long standing clients in the state and local government agencies. Blenders has exten- sive minority business enterprise (MBE) experience. Blender holds government contracts and has significant po- tential to expand business within state and local government agencies in Arizona. Safe Harbor: This document contains certain 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking state- ments involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the ability of the Company to successfully imple- ment its turnaround strategy, changes in costs of raw materials, labor, and employee benefits, as well as general market conditions, competition and pricing. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and there- fore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this letter will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. In assessing forward-looking statements included herein, readers are urged to carefully read those statements. When used in our documentation, the words "estimate," "anticipate," "ex- pect," "believe," and similar expressions are intended to be forward-looking statements. Figures herein are unaudited and if audited results may vary. Contact: Investor Relations iTeknik Holding Corporation info@iteknik.com 561-459-3809 (for messages) Full results to be released on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Management to Host Conference Call on Tuesday at 11:00 am ET NAPLES, Fla., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTE Networks Inc. (NYSE American: FTNW) ("FTE" or the "Company"), a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for smart platforms, network infrastructure and intelligent buildings, today provided an update regarding third quarter financial results. Michael Palleschi, President and CEO of FTE commented, We are pleased with our operational execution during the quarter in both business segments, resulting in record revenues of $92.2 million with an estimated adjusted EBITDA of approximately 8% of revenues. Our infrastructure segment has won approximately $442.8 million of new contract awards year to date and continues to win business at a strong, steady pace. We are also pleased to see our adoption rates accelerating in our technology segment, CrossLayer. We look forward to providing a full update on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. Conference Call and Webcast Information Michael Palleschi, Chief Executive Officer, and David Lethem, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to review the Companys third quarter 2018 results, followed by a brief question and answer period. The dial-in information for the conference call is as follows: Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Time: 11:00 a.m. EST U.S. Toll-Free dial-in number: 1-877-407-9716 International dial-in number: 1-201-493-6779 The conference call will also be available via live audio webcast, which can be accessed through the events section of the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at https://ir.ftenet.com/news-events or at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=130868 . Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any necessary software to listen to the live broadcast. For interested individuals unable to join the conference call, a replay of the call will be available through December 5, 2018, at 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. Toll Free) or 1-412-317-6671 (International). Participants must use the following code to access the replay of the call: 13685281. About FTE Networks, Inc. FTE Networks, Inc. (FTE) is a leading provider of innovation technology. We enable adaptive and efficient smart network connectivity platforms, infrastructure and buildings. FTE provides end-to-end design, build, and support solutions for state-of-the-art networks, data centers, residential and commercial properties. We create transformative smart platforms and buildings. FTEs services are predicated on smart design and consistent standards that reduce deployment costs and accelerate delivery of leading-edge projects and services. The Company works with Fortune 100/500 companies, including some of the worlds leading Telecommunications and IT Services Providers as well as REITs and Media Providers. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release may include, without limitation, statements and forecasts we make regarding our financial performance and anticipated operating results, our expectations and plans for continued growth and market acceleration, and other matters that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this release. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and market trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. These risk factors and others are included from time to time in documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, our Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. The amounts set forth above are preliminary unaudited financial results and are based solely upon information available to management as of the date of this press release. Material adjustments may arise between the date of this release and the date on which the Company announces its third quarter 2018 results and files its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the SEC. For more information, please contact: SALISBURY, N.C., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ahold Delhaize USA today announced that its eCommerce engine, Peapod Digital Labs, has launched a new digital media service, Peapod Digital Labs Media Partnerships, powered by Quotient Technology (NYSE: QUOT). The great local brands of Ahold Delhaize USA, Food Lion, Giant Food, GIANT/MARTINS, Hannaford, Peapod and Stop & Shop, have elected to participate in the new platform, which will officially launch with Peapod Digital Labs in the coming months and help consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands target, optimize and measure digital media campaigns that address all customer contact points and connect online and offline shopping experiences for consumers. A hallmark of Ahold Delhaize USAs great local brands is the close connections that each brand holds with its customers, said JJ Fleeman, president, Peapod Digital Labs and Chief eCommerce Officer. As we stand up Peapod Digital Labs, the engine that will power brands digital strategies, were pleased to launch this new platform, which will strengthen the brands abilities to incorporate CPG partners into the omnichannel experience each delivers and CPGs abilities to leverage a best-in-class technology platform to engage consumers at every stage of their shopping journeys. Peapod Digital Labs Media Partnerships will create connected solutions for CPG advertisers that will run on the digital properties of each of the local brands, Quotients digital properties, www.coupons.com , and major social platforms and third-party digital publisher properties. Quotient is excited to be a part of the Ahold Delhaize USA brands digital journeys, powering Peapod Digital Labs Media Partnerships, which will provide new, data-driven digital marketing solutions for the brands and their CPG partners, said Mir Aamir, President & CEO of Quotient Technology. The platform is designed to efficiently grow sales through data science, media delivery and measurement. For CPG brands looking to reach active shoppers at the local brands of Ahold Delhaize USA, Peapod Digital Labs Media will provide media solutions for a variety of objectives, including driving online grocery sales, launching new products, amplifying in-store events, building brand loyalty and supporting shopper themes. Peapod Digital Media Partnerships will do this through: Targeting shopper audiences using exclusive point-of-sale captured purchase data from more than 25 million active shoppers. Delivering highly relevant and actionable ad experiences with utility, including digital coupons, store locators, add-to-cart for online purchases and influencer-led social platform experiences. Best-in-class media execution across all digital display formats and into social platforms; and Advanced analytics media measurement to optimize performance by linking ad views to shoppers verified purchases. For more information about Peapod Digital Labs Media Partnerships, please visit www.pdlmedia.com . Ahold Delhaize Licensing, SARL, a company of Ahold Delhaize, is the contracting entity for Peapod Digital Labs Media Partnerships powered by Quotient. About Ahold Delhaize USA Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize, is the parent company for Ahold Delhaize's U.S. companies, including its local brands, Food Lion, Giant Food, GIANT/MARTIN'S, Hannaford and Stop & Shop, as well as online grocery retailer Peapod, Retail Business Services, a U.S. support services company providing services to the brands, and Peapod Digital Labs, its recently announced eCommerce engine. When considered together, the local brands of Ahold Delhaize USA comprise the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast and the fourth largest grocery retail group in the nation, operating more than 2,000 stores and distribution centers across 23 states and serving millions of customers each week through a wide variety of store formats with thousands of food and non-food items. About Quotient Technology Inc. Quotient Technology Inc. (NYSE: QUOT) is the leading digital promotions, media and analytics company using proprietary data to deliver personalized digital coupons and ads to millions of shoppers daily. Our core platform, Quotient Retailer iQ, connects to a retailers point-of-sale system and provides targeting and analytics for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and retailers. Our distribution network also includes our Coupons.com app and website, thousands of publishing partners and, in Europe, the Shopmium mobile app. We serve hundreds of CPGs, such as Clorox, Procter & Gamble, General Mills and Kelloggs, and retailers like Albertsons Companies, CVS, Dollar General, Kroger and Walgreens. We operate Crisp Mobile, which creates mobile ads aimed at shoppers, and Ahalogy, a leading influencer marketing firm. Founded in 1998, Quotient is based in Mountain View, California, with offices across the U.S., in Bangalore, India; Paris and London. Learn more at Quotient.com, and follow us on Twitter @Quotient. MEDIA CONTACTS: Christy Phillips-Brown 704-310-2221 Erin DeWaters 704-310-3884 WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Columbus, Ohio-based Buckeye Institute has been selected as this years winner of Atlas Networks prestigious North America Liberty Award for its work advancing meaningful criminal justice reform in Ohio. Buckeye's outstanding work has had demonstrable impact in liberating enterprise, promoting prosperity, and removing barriers to human flourishing in North America. Buckeyes efforts have blazed a trail to reverse Ohios growth trend in incarceration by shrinking the states prison population to below 50,000, dramatically slashing the recidivism rate from 40 to 27 percent, reducing prison admissions by nearly 10 percent, expanding opportunities for thousands of people leaving prison, and redirecting $40 million to Ohio communities for the treatment of addiction and mental health issues. As a result, Ohios prison admissions rate has now hit a 27-year low. Accepting Atlas Networks inaugural North America Liberty Award is a tremendous honor for The Buckeye Institute," said Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute. We are extraordinarily proud of the unprecedented accomplishments we have achieved in reforming Ohios criminal justice system law-by-law over the past five years. To be recognized for this success helps us shine a light even further into the dark crevices of injustice. Buckeyes work is proof that powerful left-right coalitions led by state think tanks with true legal expertise combined with an unrelenting focus on sound public policy including greater protections for the rights of the accused, cost-effectively rehabilitating offenders, and reducing the astronomical cost of the criminal justice system can make an astounding difference. The Buckeye Institutes business model has proven to be the best example for how to do criminal justice reform in a world that desperately needs us to solve these seemingly intractable problems. Buckeye is committed to setting the gold standard for the nation on this issue, and we strongly encourage everyone to join us in this worthy cause to advance liberty and change lives forever. Beginning in 2014, Buckeye worked with Ohio policymakers on the nations first mens rea reform package. The reform requires the government to prove that the defendant had the requisite mental state for each element of the crime. For crimes already on the books that did not contain an existing mental state requirement, a default reckless standard is applied retroactively. But if the legislature fails to include a criminal intent requirement in a new crime, then that crime is void which Buckeye claims is the strongest reform in the country and provides meaningful protection to the accused. Two years later in 2016 came another major reform package crafted by Buckeye and passed into law (with unanimous consent in the Ohio Senate) this one concerning civil asset forfeiture in Ohio. Under the new law, property valued at less than $15,000 cannot be seized without a criminal conviction, which eliminates most civil asset forfeiture, since the average seizure involved assets of less than $2,500. Additionally, the standard of proof required to seize property was raised from preponderance of the evidence to clear and convincing evidence. Substantial restrictions were also placed on local law enforcement agencies ability to participate in federal equitable sharing programs that are frequently used to circumvent legal protections. Next came the Targeted Community Alternatives (T-CAP) to Prison in 2017. Fueled by Buckeyes research, state policymakers codified the T-CAP program in Ohios FY 2018-19 budget, which allows non-violent, non-sexual, non-trafficking felony offenders sentenced to less than one year to be rehabilitated through treatment programs, probation, jail, and other local programs. Ohios Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is now granting money back to the counties resulting in savings by reducing the costly expense of housing low-level offenders in prison. As a result of this reform, Ohios prison admissions are now at their lowest levels in 27 years, and significant savings for the state (and taxpayers) have been achieved by preventing the building of an additional prison. Also in 2017 came probation reform, when in FY 2018-19 the state limited the time a low-level offender could be sent to prison for technical probation violations such as being late to a meeting with a probation officer, drinking alcohol, or breaking curfew. Buckeye was also successful in removing barriers to employment for ex-offenders. A key driver of recidivism is the inability to secure and keep a job, and a felony conviction carries with it more than 800 distinct collateral consequences including numerous restrictions on ex-offenders ability to obtain occupational licenses many with little or no connection to the offense that they committed or their continuing threat to the community. Buckeye supported changes to Ohios Certificate of Qualification for Employment program, allowing individuals with criminal records a better shot at obtaining an occupational license in their chosen career field. This change in the law allows individualized assessment, protecting public safety while giving ex-offenders a fair chance. Buckeye was also invited to advise Ohios Criminal Justice Recodification Committee (2016-2017), which was tasked by the Ohio Legislature to review the states entire criminal code and develop recommendations to make Ohio safer and more just. Buckeyes legal fellow and criminal justice expert Daniel J. Dew worked with the committees chairman, Judge Fred Pepple, and his staff to provide research and support on reforms. The result of the collaboration was nearly 4,000 pages of draft legislation substantially written, reviewed, and revised directly by Buckeye which now serves as the template for numerous pieces of reform legislation that have been introduced in the Ohio Legislature. One of those pieces of legislation passed in June 2018 with Senate Bill 66, which expands eligibility and opportunity for record sealing to give non-violent offenders a chance at a fresh start, increases opportunities for treatment rather than punishment, and makes rehabilitation a goal. The Buckeye Institutes innovative policy victories are ensuring that prosperity and opportunity are available to all Ohioans, who are now much freer and less likely to become inadvertently ensnared by the criminal justice system. About Atlas Network's Regional Liberty Awards Atlas Network's Regional Liberty Awards annually recognize think tanks that have made important contributions to improving the landscape for enterprise and entrepreneurship in their regions. Atlas Network selects winners from each of the following world regions: Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Middle East & North Africa. About The Buckeye Institute Founded in 1989, The Buckeye Institute is an independent research and educational institutiona think tankwhose mission is to advance free-market public policy in the states. The staff at Buckeye accomplish the organizations mission by performing timely and reliable research on key issues, compiling and synthesizing data, formulating sound free-market policies, and promoting those solutions for implementation in Ohio and replication across the country. About Atlas Network Washington-based Atlas Network is a nonprofit organization that strengthens the worldwide freedom movement by connecting more than 475 independent partners in over 90 countries that share the vision of a free, prosperous, and peaceful world where limited governments defend the rule of law, private property, and free markets. AtlasNetwork.org Attachment Chicago, IL, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OppLoans today announced it ranked number 86 on Deloittes Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. OppLoans chief technology officer, Andy Pruitt, credits in-house technology innovations and a highly trained and committed customer advocate team of Loan Advocates with the companys remarkable growth. This is a fantastic accolade to receive as we close out another blockbuster year at OppLoans, Pruitt said.Weve always known our profitability, explosive growth rate and award-winning culture made us special. Prestigious awards like these solidify our story and success. Were looking forward to achieving even more growth and delivering additional emergency bridge financing in new markets next year. And, of course, we'll continue to support our technology mission by hiring another 100 highly qualified and enthusiastic employees. Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement, said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth. Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics, said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloittes audit and assurance practice. This years ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth. About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About OppLoans OppLoans is one of the highest-rated online lenders and service providers in the industry. With fast funding, significantly lower rates, total transparency, and unmatched customer service, OppLoans provides non-prime borrowers a reliable alternative to payday lending. For more information regarding OppLoans, please visit the OppLoans website at OppLoans.com or email media@opploans.com. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuuhubb Inc. (Kuuhubb or the Company) (TSX-V: KUU) reports that, further to the Companys November 13, 2018 press release, trading in the Companys shares on the TSX Venture Exchange will be reinstated effective at the opening, Friday, November 16, 2018. About Kuuhubb Kuuhubb is a company active in the digital space that focuses mainly on lifestyle and mobile game applications for the female audience. Its strategy is to create sustainable shareholder value through acquisitions of proven, yet underappreciated, assets with robust long-term growth potential. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Kuuhubb has a global presence with a strong focus on developing U.S. brand collaborations and Asian partnerships. 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. For further information, please contact: Kuuhubb Inc. Jouni Keranen - CEO jouni@kuuhubb.com Office: +358 40 590 0919 WDLs premium protein product, ProTyton, complements ethanol production LINCOLN, Neb., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Invest Nebraska added to its growing portfolio of high-growth companies with an investment in White Dog Labs, a business focused on producing feed for the aquaculture industry. "We conducted due diligence on WDLs technology, products and plans and are extremely optimistic about the companys potential, said Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska. WDLs entrepreneurship, technology, products, markets and emphasis on sustainability, fit nicely with our profile of high potential companies, and we are excited that they have selected Nebraska for their first plant. Invest Nebraska, the states public-private venture development organization, was joined by existing WDL investors in this investment. WDL has developed and scaled up ProTyton, a Single Cell Protein ingredient that exhibits upwards of 85wt% crude protein and over 40wt% essential amino acids. ProTyton fermentation, similar to that of ethanol, is a simple anaerobic process, thus allowing co-location with ethanol plants. First ProTyton production plant is to be co-located with Midwest Renewable Energy ethanol plant in Sutherland, NE. Shortages of energy and protein are two key concerns for the ever-growing global population, said Joe Fox, Director, Business Development Division, Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED). Nebraska is a large corn and ethanol producing state and we are delighted to have the first plant that will complement ethanol production with a premium protein product made from corn. We are certainly pleased with the investment, said Bryan Tracy, WDLs CEO, But even more importantly, we are delighted to be in such a supportive, action-oriented state starting with NDED, extending to state agencies involved in permitting, to the USDA Nebraska office, and concluding with Invest Nebraska. He added, We are looking forward to ProTytons production start-up in the Sutherland plant in Q4 2019. ProTyton is trademark of WDL TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Changfeng Energy Inc., (TSXV: CFY) (Changfeng or the Company), an energy provider in the Peoples Republic of China (the PRC), is pleased to announce that, further to the press release of the Company dated December 30, 2015 entitled Changfeng Obtains Land Use Right and Receives Government Approval for Natural Gas Transmission Project in Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province Changfeng has completed construction of the 2.0 kilometres (1.4 miles) of pipeline connecting the existing provincial natural gas trunk lines to the Gaoyao Combined Heat, Power and Cold Natural Gas Power Plant (the Datang Gaoyao Plant) owned by Guangdong Datang International Zhaoqing Heat & Power Co., Ltd. (Guangdong Datang). On November 14, 2018, Guangdong Datang began trial operation to transport natural gas through the Changfeng pipeline to the Datang Gaoyao Plant. The Company is currently in negotiations with Guangdong Datang and Guangdong Grid with respect to a definitive agreement to provide the transmission service to the Datang Gaoyao Plant and expects to execute the definitive agreement in the near term. Guangdong Datang International Zhaoqing Heat & Power Co., Ltd. () Guangdong Datang International Zhaoqing Heat & Power Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. (Datang International). Together with its subsidiaries, Datang International engages in power generation and power plant development in the PRC. It operates through power generation, coal, and other segments. Datang International generates electricity through various sources, such as coal-fired, thermal, hydro, wind, nuclear, solar, and natural gas. As of December 31, 2017, Datang International managed an installed capacity of approximately 48,031.175 MW. Datang International also engages in heat supply; the import of power related fuel; coal mining and trading; silicon and aluminium smelting; the production and sale of alumina; cargo shipping; the sale of coal ash and integrated application of solid wastes; the repair and testing of power equipment; and the provision of power related technical services. Datang International was formerly known as Beijing Datang Power Generation Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Beijing, PRC. Datang Website: www.dtpower.com About Changfeng Energy Inc. Changfeng Energy Inc. is a Canadian public company currently traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the stock symbol CFY. It is an integrated energy provider and natural gas distribution company (or natural gas utility) in the PRC. Changfeng strives to combine leading clean energy technology with natural gas usage to provide sustainable energy to its customer base in the PRC. In 2009, Changfeng was recognized as being one of Chinas the Top Ten Most Influential Brands in the Natural Gas Industry. Changfeng Energy Website: http://www.changfengenergy.com CONTACT INFORMATION Corporate Investment Relations Investor.relations@changfengenergy.cn Ann Siyin Lin VP, Corporate Development ann.lin@changfengenergy.cn Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, Forward-Looking Statements). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated by reference in this document are Forward-Looking Statements, including statements regarding activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future, including with respect to a definitive agreement with Guangdong Datang and Guangdong grid. These Forward-Looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as will, expect, intend, plan, estimate, anticipate, believe or continue or similar words or the negative thereof. No assurance can be given that the plans, intentions or expectations or assumptions upon which these Forward-Looking Statements are based will prove to be correct and such Forward-Looking Statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. Although management believes that the expectations represented in such Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such Forward-Looking Statements are not a guarantee of performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Statements. These factors include, without limitation, no significant and continuing adverse changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets. Readers are cautioned that all Forward-Looking Statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those risks and uncertainties detailed in the Corporations filings with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, copies of which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company urges readers to carefully consider those factors. The Forward-Looking Statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this document 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. 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. PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural) received the national award for Best Ethics and Compliance Program (Mid-Cap) at the Corporate Governance Awards 2018. Corporate Secretary magazine has hosted the annual awards for 11 years. This year, 14 companies from a wide range of industries received awards across 15 categories. Integrity is fundamental to everything we do at NW Natural. As our first core value, it informs how we serve our customers, operate our business, treat our employees and engage with the community, said David H. Anderson, NW Natural president and CEO. The way we behave guided by our Code of Ethics is one of our greatest assets. All of NW Naturals nearly 1,200 employees are required to complete the companys Business Integrity Program every year, with results reported to the companys board of directors. The training program includes a Code of Ethics and an hour-long online course. This past year, we refreshed our Code of Ethics and online module program with a focus on helping employees to understand their responsibilities and make the right choices in the workplace, said Shawn Filippi, vice president, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary at NW Natural. Im incredibly honored to work with a group of people who are clearly dedicated to living our core values every day. Additionally, all NW Natural employees have access to the companys Business Integrity Hotline, where questions can be asked or concerns can be reported anonymously. An independent panel of judges selected the winners of the Corporate Governance Awards, which were announced at a gala event on November 8 in New York. About NW Natural NW Natural provides natural gas service to approximately two million people in more than 140 communities through 740,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. It consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. NW Natural is part of Northwest Natural Holding Company, (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings), which is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and owns NW Natural, NW Natural Water Company, and other business interests and activities. NW Natural is currently constructing a 2.5 Bcf regulated gas storage expansion of its 16 Bcf facility in Oregon to support renewables. NW Natural Holdings' subsidiaries own and operate 31 Bcf of underground gas storage capacity. NW Natural Water provides water distribution service to more than 17,000 people through 5,300 meters. To date, NW Natural Water has acquired four water distribution systems with one additional acquisition pending. Cumulatively, the company has committed approximately $67 million in the water and wastewater industry for nearly 16,700 connections in the Pacific Northwest. HOUSTON, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Partners LP (Targa Resources Partners or the Partnership) (NYSE: NGLS PR A) announced its monthly distribution on the Partnerships 9.00% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units ("Series A Preferred Units") for November 2018. Targa Resources Partners LP announced today that the board of directors of its general partner has declared a monthly cash distribution of 18.75 per Series A Preferred Unit, or $2.25 per Series A Preferred Unit on an annualized basis, for November 2018. This cash distribution will be paid December 17, 2018 on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units to holders of record as of the close of business on November 30, 2018. About Targa Resources Partners LP Targa Resources Partners LP is a Delaware limited partnership formed in October 2006 by its parent, Targa Resources Corp. (TRC or the Company), to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. On February 17, 2016 TRC completed the acquisition of all outstanding common units of the Partnership. Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream energy companies in North America. TRC owns, operates, acquires, and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and selling natural gas; storing, fractionating, treating, transporting, and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; gathering, storing, and terminaling crude oil; storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products. The principal executive offices of Targa Resources Partners LP are located at 811 Louisiana, Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77002 and their telephone number is 713-584-1000. For more information, please visit our website at www.targaresources.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release 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. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Partnerships control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Partnership. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Partnership does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Contact the Company's investor relations department by email at InvestorRelations@targaresources.com or by phone at (713) 584-1133. Sanjay Lad Director - Investor Relations Jennifer Kneale Chief Financial Officer GOLDEN, Colo., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden Minerals Company (NYSE American and TSX: AUMN) (Golden Minerals, Golden or the Company) is pleased to announce the filing on SEDAR of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and accompanying Technical Report for its Santa Maria silver-gold project located in southern Chihuahua State, Mexico. The report, entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report, Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment, Santa Maria Silver Project, Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, Mexico is dated September 14, 2018 and was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects by the independent firm of Tetra Tech. The report supports the disclosures made by the Company in its October 3, 2018 news release entitled Golden Minerals Reports Improved Economics in Second PEA for Santa Maria Silver-Gold Project. The Technical Report is available for review on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ) and on the Companys website (http://goldenminerals.com/elquevar_drill.php). Qualified Persons The Report was prepared by the following Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Deepak Malhotra, Ph.D., President of Pro Solv Consulting LLC Mr. Guillermo Dante Ramirez-Rodriguez, Ph. D., MMSAQP, Principal Mining Engineer of Tetra Tech Mr. Leonel Lopez, C.P.G., Associate Principal Geologist of Tetra Tech The contents of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Warren Rehn, QP MMSA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Minerals Company. About Golden Minerals Golden Minerals is a Delaware corporation based in Golden, Colorado. The Company is primarily focused on advancing its El Quevar silver property in Argentina and in acquiring and advancing mining properties in Mexico with emphasis on areas near its Velardena processing plants. 'Chick disposal' is something the egg industry doesnt like to talk about. And is it any wonder? Its hard to imagine eggs selling like hotcakes if carton packaging was up front about this: It's the brutal reality of commercial egg production: millions of tiny male chicks ground up alive or suffocated every year because they don't lay eggs. These little guys aren't considered 'commercially viable' to be raised afer all, they'll never lay eggs, and they're not suitable to be raised for meat. That half of all chicks born into the egg industry are male poses an enormous ethical issue not to mention a potential public relations problem for the the egg industry. But finally, there may be hope on the horizon that this brutal practice could come to an end. Scientists and animal rights campaigners have teamed up in Germany to come up with an alternative option to the mass-slaughter of the 45 million male chicks born into the country's egg industry each year. A company called Seleggt has developed technology that will determine the sex of each fertilised egg before the chick inside develops enabling the removal of all male-identified eggs from the hatchery, and leaving only the female eggs to hatch. Seleggt are aiming to provide this technology FREE to hatcheries in Germany by 2020! This means 'chick shredding' could soon be a thing of the past in Germany which could make it the first country in the world to end the cruel practice. Learn more about egg production in Australia: If Germany can pull it off, what's stopping everyone else? Millions of tiny chicks are 'disposed of' every year in Australia and while caring people would never condone this ruthless treatment of vulnerable babies, most people have no idea it's even going on. Though it may not surprise you to hear that this is perfectly 'normal' in the caged egg industry (the same one that continues to defend the use of cruel battery cages) the tragic reality is that the slaughter of male chicks is standard across all types of commercial egg farming free range included. Sadly, the egg industry is not the only industry which shreds newborn chicks alive. The Australian chicken meat industry recommends that 'unviable' chicks be gassed or thrown into mincing machines alive. This is the fate of roughly 3 million chicks born into the Australian chicken meat industry (and over 12 million male chicks born into the Australian egg industry) every year. But while the Aussie chicken meat and egg industries consider this callous treatment of day-old chicks 'normal' you don't have to accept it. Nowadays, it's easier than ever to stand up for chicks and hens by reducing your meat and egg intake there are so many egg alternatives and tasty plant-based recipes to choose from. 1 in 3 Australians are already eating plant-based meals, or reducing their animal products. Our starter kit has helped thousands take their first steps towards a kinder way of eating. Order your free copy today. More in this section: YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that two long-time allies like France and the United States should treat each other with respect and that France was a U.S. ally but not a vassal state, after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked him on Twitter, Reuters reports. In five posts sent on Tuesday after his visit to France, U.S. President Donald Trump blasted France over its near defeat to Germany in two world wars, its wine industry and Macrons approval ratings. At every moment of our history, we were allies, so between allies, respect is due, Macron said, citing French support for Americas war of independence and U.S. support during the two world wars. I dont think the French expect me to respond to tweets but to continue this important history, he told TF1 in an interview on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. Trump was only playing to a domestic audience, he added. I think hes playing politics, and I let him play politics. Asked about his suggestion to build a European army, which Trump criticized in tweets last week, Macron said: The United States is our historic ally and will continue to be. Its the ally with which we take all the risks, with which we carry out the most complicated operations. But being an ally doesnt mean being a vassal state, Macron said. Look at the world that we live in, and youll see authoritarian powers that are becoming more and more active and re-equipping themselves being located in bordering regions with Europe. We are being attacked in the cyberspace and they are interfering in our democratic life. We must protect ourselves from China, Russia and even the USA, Macron had said earlier in November. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian departed for Italy on a working visit on November 14, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The Armenian President met with President of the Italian National Research Council Massimo Inguscio in Rome. During the meeting Massimo Inguscio said he is greatly interested in the global risks quantum behavior theory proposed by President Sarkissian, in particular in the Armenian Presidents visions on new, creative solutions for managing these risks. The two officials also talked about deepening the Armenian-Italian scientific cooperation and expanding the scientific-educational ties. They highlighted the great potential of mutual cooperation especially in the fields of natural sciences, high technologies, as well as attached importance to the exchange programs of small research groups. President Sarkissian invited Massimo Inguscio to visit Armenia in early 2019 to discuss concrete cooperation directions. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Indonesia hopes to speed up the negotiations on creating a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union, President Joko Widodo said after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Singapore, according to TASS. I am hopeful that Russia will assist us in accelerating the negotiations over creating a free trade zone with the EEU, Detik media quoted Widodo as saying. The meeting was held November 14 during the ASEAN events. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Tsarukyan faction Member of Parliament Naira Zohrabyan argues that the bill of HHK lawmakers Samvel Farmanyan and Mihran Hakobyan on banning bookmaking in Armenia will not solve the task it pursues. Zohrabyan proposed to withdraw the bill from voting. The idea at the basis of the initiative is important, she said. She reminded that they, together with MP Alen Simonyan, had previously presented a similar bill. I can confidently say that our bill was regulating in a more literate way the problem that is raised. Tsarukyan bloc will not take part in the voting of the bill, she said. She said they have reasonable concerns that the authors of the bill dont realize the chaos that will be caused in the event of adopting it. Armenian lawmakers Samvel Farmanyan and Mihran Hakobyan introduced a legislative initiative proposing to prohibit bookmaking and online gambling in Armenia. Farmanyan presented yesterday the bill on amending the law on gambling in parliament. The bill refers to banning the activities of bookmakers in Armenia, he said. The activities of both local and international bookmaking companies should be banned by law. Both their office presence and online presence must be banned, Farmanyan said. He argues that 99,9% of the society in Armenia agree that bookmaking must be banned. He even proposed the ruling party to raise this issue in one of its campaigning rallies. The prime minister, on various occasions, has also noted that gambling is harmful not only from the perspective of economic development, but also inflicts irreversible losses to the moral description of our people, he said. Farmanyan said he has worked on the bill for more than five years. Different governments have brought different arguments on why banning the existence of these bookmakers would be wrong in Armenia. I believe that the parliament can make this important step, for which all of us can sleep calmly, knowing that we are saving people from a potential sinkhole, he said, adding that bookmaking offices exist in almost all regions of the country. He added that upon his recommendation the minimum required age for betting was raised from 18 to 21 previously. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General of Armenia Arthur Davtyan has approved Frances request on extraditing Merab Kalashov, a previously convicted thief-in-law currently under arrest in Armenia, for criminal proceedings, the general prosecution told ARMENPRESS in response of an inquiry. Taking into consideration that Merab Kalashov is wanted by French law enforcement agencies and that a motion on transfer from French authorized bodies is present, the prosecutor has filed a motion to court requesting to place Kalashov under arrest pending extradition. The court has approved the motion. He has been placed under a two-months detention. The prosecutor general of Armenia has made a decision on allowing the extradition of Kalashov to French authorized bodies for criminal proceedings, the general prosecution said. The 43-year-old stateless thief-in-law wanted by France was arrested in Yerevan on November 6 by officers of the general department of criminal intelligence of Armenian police. Merab Kalashov is wanted by French law enforcement agencies since 2015 for conspiracy to commit a crime, money laundering and organized crime activities. The man does not have citizenship of any country. This phenomenon, known as thief-in-law, emerged in the infamous Soviet gulags and became a prison culture in most of post-Soviet states. Thief-in-law is a specifically granted formal status of a professional criminal who enjoys an elite position within the organized crime environment and employs informal authority over its lower-status members. Criminals are crowned as thieves-in-law by senior members of the organized crime syndicates for many years of contributions to the criminal business or long record behind bars. Thieves-in-law are known for their distinctive tattoos and code of conduct. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of the Parliament of Artsakh Ashot Ghulyan on November 14 sent congratulatory letters to a group of US legislators for the victory in the US midterm elections, the Artsakh Parliament told Armenpress. The people of Artsakh highly value your support to the issues of Armenian significance. We hope your future activities will contribute to strengthening human rights, democracy and recognizing the peoples right to free self-determination, the letters say. A group of Congressmen have been re-elected based on the recent US midterm election results. Armenian-American Anthony Brindisi has also been elected to the Congress. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Republican (HHK) faction lawmaker Samvel Farmanyan admits that the bill authored by him and MP Mihran Hakobyan on banning bookmaking lacks sufficient political support. Farmanyan expressed hope in parliament today that the next legislative will be coherent around this issue. Problems have their right time for solutions, he said. Sometimes they are impossible to be solved. I am disappointed, I feel that the bill wont get enough support, he added. He told his colleagues that each time problems regarding bookmaking will appear in the press he will forward the information to the lawmakers who will vote against the bill. In response to MP Alen Simonyans argument that the bill is a revenge attempt toward the incumbent government, Farmanyan said he finds it to be a personal insult. I am sure that one day the government of Armenia will have to go for a radical regulation of the problem, he said. Earlier, Tsarukyan faction Member of Parliament Naira Zohrabyan argued that the bill of HHK lawmakers Samvel Farmanyan and Mihran Hakobyan on banning bookmaking in Armenia will not solve the task it pursues. Zohrabyan proposed to withdraw the bill from voting. The idea at the basis of the initiative is important, she said. She reminded that they, together with MP Alen Simonyan, had previously presented a similar bill. I can confidently say that our bill was regulating in a more literate way the problem that is raised. Tsarukyan bloc will not take part in the voting of the bill, she said. She said they have reasonable concerns that the authors of the bill dont realize the chaos that will be caused in the event of adopting it. Armenian lawmakers Samvel Farmanyan and Mihran Hakobyan introduced a legislative initiative proposing to prohibit bookmaking and online gambling in Armenia. Farmanyan presented yesterday the bill on amending the law on gambling in parliament. The bill refers to banning the activities of bookmakers in Armenia, he said. The activities of both local and international bookmaking companies should be banned by law. Both their office presence and online presence must be banned, Farmanyan said. He argues that 99,9% of the society in Armenia agree that bookmaking must be banned. He even proposed the ruling party to raise this issue in one of its campaigning rallies. The prime minister, on various occasions, has also noted that gambling is harmful not only from the perspective of economic development, but also inflicts irreversible losses to the moral description of our people, he said. Farmanyan said he has worked on the bill for more than five years. Different governments have brought different arguments on why banning the existence of these bookmakers would be wrong in Armenia. I believe that the parliament can make this important step, for which all of us can sleep calmly, knowing that we are saving people from a potential sinkhole, he said, adding that bookmaking offices exist in almost all regions of the country. He added that upon his recommendation the minimum required age for betting was raised from 18 to 21 previously. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Foreign minister of the Republic of Artsakh Masis Mayilyan gave an interview to the Azat Artsakh (Free Artsakh) republican newspaper. ARMENPRESS presents the full text of the interview: - Mr. Mayilian, on the background of the latest developments around the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, in particular, the scandalous statement by the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, you have reconfirmed the position of the Republic of Artsakh in the Karabakh peace process, stating that the Madrid Principles are outdated and cannot serve as a basis for the negotiation process. You have also stressed the importance of working with the mediators so that they do not use outdated approaches to the settlement. Did you express this viewpoint to the mediators? - At the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, we expressed our position on the need to restore the trilateral format of the negotiation process with the full-fledged participation of Artsakh and to revise some approaches to the negotiation process. An exchange of views took place, during which we stressed that our stance proceeds from the interests of promoting the settlement process, which would give a new impetus to the negotiations. As to the statement by the U.S. diplomat, Richard Mills, I should note that the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict is not territorial. And it is not accidental that, according to Mills himself, the Armenian society does not accept any prospect related to territorial concessions. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to brief various international experts and diplomats on why this conflict is not a territorial dispute. In particular, the issue is that in 1988, when the new stage of the conflict began, the territory around the former NKAO, even one of the NKAO districts, was under the control of Azerbaijanis. That is to say that despite the fact that these territories were controlled by Azerbaijanis, however, there did exist a conflict. Therefore, it is illogical to believe that a territorial concession from Artsakh can resolve the conflict. All this indicates that seeking for the possibilities to resolve the conflict based on territorial concessions has no prospect and does not reflect the essence of the conflict. As the President of the Republic of Artsakh has repeatedly stated, the basis for resolving the conflict should be the right of the people of Artsakh to a free and safe life in its homeland. - Official Stepanakert keeps presenting an unchanged position to the international community, i.e. restoration of the full-fledged negotiation format with Artsakh's participation in all the stages of the conflict settlement process. We would like to draw your attention to the statement voiced by John Bolton, the National Security Adviser to the U.S. President in Yerevan, according to which, following the December parliamentary elections in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan will, most likely, have a strong mandate, which will allow to take decisive steps in some areas, including the Karabakh conflict settlement. How would you comment on the statement by the President's Adviser? - The positions of the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia on the settlement are clear. For many years, the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have consistently stressed the need to restore the trilateral format of the negotiations, with direct and full participation of the Republic of Artsakh in all the stages, which is crucial in facilitating a peaceful settlement and ensuring the effectiveness of the process. The settlement, in turn, must be based on the recognition of the fact that the people of Artsakh have exercised their right to self-determination. In this regard, I consider it necessary to confirm the willingness of the authorities of Artsakh to de jure assume their share responsibility for ensuring stability and peace in the region. Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan also stated the necessity to return Artsakh to the negotiation table, which is also enshrined in the Armenian Government program. As to John Boltons expectations for the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement, they are not realistic, for various reasons. - The relations between the two Armenian states and our neighboring and friendly country, Iran, have always been balanced. In the context of the Western sanctions imposed on Iran, the positions of the South Caucasus Republics may be different in terms of the prospect of cooperation with that country. Is there a possibility of a change in Artsakh-Iran relations conditioned by the geopolitical situation? - We have repeatedly expressed our stance on the readiness to establish bilateral friendly relations with Iran. Taking into consideration that we have a 138-km-long border with Iran, we hope that the U.S.-Iran disputes will have a peaceful settlement and the developments around Iran will not have a negative impact on the Armenian states. - In one of your interviews, touching upon the situation after the April war and, in particular, the fact that Baku ignores the calls for an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict, you stressed the need for new international political and diplomatic measures to deter Azerbaijan, which will ensure the irreversibility of the peace process. How would you comment on this? - Currently, we ensure our security mainly by military means, which is part of the hard power elements. However, we are convinced that for increasing the security level it is also necessary to use the "soft power" elements, in particular, political and diplomatic means of deterring Azerbaijan, including steps towards the international recognition of the independence of Artsakh. The international recognition of Artsakh is one of the priorities of our foreign policy agenda that will ensure the irreversibility of the peace process and the regional security. The ink is barely dry on the secret agreement that will soon bring Amazon to Long Island City, but some New Yorkers are already working to crush the deal. On Wednesday afternoon, one day after the news was officially confirmed, a broad coalition of lawmakers, activist groups and outraged locals gathered in the neighborhood to voice their staunch opposition. Some said they'd do whatever it takes to chase out the sprawling tech campus, while others vowed revenge on the "three men in the room" who privately orchestrated the moveGovernor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. "We're going to tell Amazon to take that welcome mat, roll it back, put it back in the package and send it back to Seattle," said State Senator Michael Gianaris, who represents Western Queens. "The state and city should be embarrassed. They got taken, plain and simple." In the view of the mayor and governor, the worthiness of the dealan estimated 25,000 jobs in exchange for upwards of $2.5 billion in taxpayer-funded incentivesshould be self-evident. During a swaggering press conference on Tuesday, Cuomo insisted that "it costs nothing" to bring Amazon to New York, and de Blasio repeatedly emphasized that the lives of local residents, including the 6,000 NYCHA tenants living in the Queensbridge Houses, would only be improved by the presence of the retail giant. But longtime residents of Long Island City are far less optimistic. "It's pure bullshit. They're never going to hire us for these jobs," Raymond Normandeau, a resident of Queensbridge Houses since 1973, told Gothamist. "Only a country bumpkin like de Blasio or Cuomo would believe this shit." Normandeau contends the promised workforce development and technology training programs provided by Amazonthe supposed award for low-income residentsdoesn't sound much different than what's already offered at the local library. Amazon's resources would be better spent on maintenance work for the city's public housing stock, he said, including the Queensbridge Houses, where some residents are currently without heat or hot water. "Amazon is running a reality show to see which city will dive fastest to the bottom of the barrel," Normandeau added. "New York City lost, and de Blasio and Cuomo think they won." Several reports this morning from #Queensbridge residents who have no heat. We've notified NYCHA. But Jeff Bezos has his helipad so we're all good, right? #AmazonHQ2 Jimmy Van Bramer (@JimmyVanBramer) November 14, 2018 According to Queens College student Enrique Pena, the promise of career opportunities rings especially hollow in light of the Cuomo's continued refusal to sign legislation funding the state's public universities. "We are being let down by the promise of jobs that will ignore us in favor of wealthy, white graduates," he said, to loud agreement from other rally-goers. "We're denying education funding to hardworking New Yorkers, so why are we giving a huge tax break to the wealthiest man on Earth?" A parade of progressive officials also took issue with Amazon bypassing the standard land-use review process normally overseen by the City Council. Instead, the deal made use of a state-led General Project Planan approach used in other controversial developments like Atlantic Yards and Brooklyn Bridge Park. In response, City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents the district, promised an upcoming council hearing on the runaround, while Councilman Brad Lander vowed to introduce legislation barring private companies from forcing city officials to sign non-disclosure agreementsan "assault on Democracy," as he put. But beyond raising their voices about process concerns, it's unclear what local elected officials could realistically do to prevent the trillion dollar company from setting up shop in Queens. It's also not clear if they actually want that, or if they're just looking to play a role in guiding the details of the project. (Somewhat awkwardly, many of the officials in attendance, including Van Bramer and former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, signed a letter last year urging Amazon to consider New York City for its headquarters). After the rally, Gianaris told Gothamist that if Amazon wanted to "have a conversation about subsidizing Long Island City to accommodate all these people, and no public subsidies, I'm willing to have that conversation." Today, the NY Times looks at how the Amazon plan could meet resistance at the state level, primarily with the obscure five-member Public Authority Control Board, through which the Assembly speaker and the Senate leader have veto power. $1.2 billion to lure a company that exploits working people and destroys organized labor. This is #debezosnewyork Melissa MarkViverito (@MMViverito) November 14, 2018 That's a far cry from the current approach taken by the borough's labor unions and advocacy groups, who seem unified in their demand there be no LIC HQ2, regardless of the specifics of the deal. Their reasons for that opposition, laid out over and over again at Wednesday's rally, are myriad: Daniel Gross, the executive director of Brandworkers, warned that Amazon's arrivalsubsidized or notwould decimate Long Island City's thriving food manufacturing industry; Deborah Axt of Make the Road framed the deal as a humanitarian issue for New Yorkers, citing Amazon's aiding of ICE deportations; and Jonathan Westin, executive director of NY Communities for Change, warned of skyrocketing housing costs, and noted that the company once threatened a capital strike if Seattle passed a small tax on businesses to help the homeless. But longtime neighborhood group Queens Barrios was perhaps most direct. "We will not negotiate our survival and we'll do everything in our power to shut them down," the group said in a statement. "We will make it impossible for them. We will target the politicians, the individuals, the institutions, the organizations and whoever else had the power to stop this deal." Video by Jennifer Hsu. YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The Trump administration's new National Defense Strategy is insufficiently resourced and the US runs the risk of a military defeat by China or Russia, according to a report by a congressionally mandated panel of bipartisan experts that was released Wednesday. The warning comes as the Trump administration is weighing a possible cut to the defense budget following a major boost in fiscal years 2018 and 2019, CNN reports. The security and wellbeing of the United States are at greater risk than at any time in decades. Americas military superioritythe hard-power backbone of its global influence and national securityhas eroded to a dangerous degree. Rivals and adversaries are challenging the United States on many fronts and in many domains. Americas ability to defend its allies, its partners, and its own vital interests is increasingly in doubt. If the nation does not act promptly to remedy these circumstances, the consequences will be grave and lasting, the report says. While the report applauds the administration for focusing more on Russia and China as opposed to counterterrorism missions in places like the Middle East, it slams the administration's strategy for not explaining how the goals of that strategy will be met. The report warns that given current trends and Russian and Chinese efforts to bolster their own military capabilities, "the US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties" and "might struggle to win or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia." "The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously," it adds. The Pentagon issued a statement saying it "welcomes the release of the report by the Commission," saying that the report "affirms the strategic direction set out on the National Defense Strategy, as well as its key priorities." Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Acting justice minister of Armenia Artak Zeynalyan on November 15 received UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, the justice ministry told Armenpress. During the meeting the acting minister highly appreciated the current level of cooperation with the UN and attached importance to the Rapporteurs visit to Armenia in the context of getting acquainted with the ongoing developments in Armenia and discussing the opportunities to deepen the cooperation. In his turn the UN Special Rapporteur thanked for the reception and presented their structures issues of interest which mainly related to the independence of judiciary, the citizens exercise of right to peaceful assemblies and etc. In response the acting minister said ensuring fundamental, guaranteed human rights by the Constitution is one of the goals of the Armenian government, and highlighted as an example the high tolerance of the authorities towards a number of recent peaceful rallies. As for the independence of judiciary, Artak Zeynalyan stated that the former government had a great impact on the judiciary. Our government since its first day in office announced that no judge will receive any order. The judges are free from the duty to receive instructions from the prime minister and the justice minister, the acting minister said. Touching upon the issue of the participation of civil society to the decision-making stage, the acting minister said the state has introduced a number of online tools to ensure the civil societys participation in the development process of legal acts. The UN Special Rapporteur highly valued the Armenian governments position on ensuring the independence of judges, stating that by this the government guarantees the rule of law in the country. At the end of the meeting the officials also discussed the ongoing anti-corruption actions and expressed readiness to deepen the cooperation. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. During planned inspections at Gazprom Armenia, certain circumstances have been discovered that require a criminal-legal assessment, State Revenue Committee (SRC) President David Ananyan told reporters today, referring to the criminal investigation into the finances of Gazprom Armenia. In Gazprom Armenia, shall we say, planned inspections were carried out, he said, adding that the SRC had published a list of taxpayers subject to inspections based on risk assessment for the July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019 period, and that the list includes Gazprom Armenia. During these inspections, the tax agents have discovered certain information that has been presented to the SRC investigative department and a report was made on carrying out further inspections. At this moment, the investigator has launched a criminal case based on this report, Ananyan said, stressing that filing a criminal case is not a conviction. He said that investigators must take the kind of actions during the probe which they wouldve been unable to carry out during simple inspections. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia said November 14 it has revealed fraud at Gazprom Armenia. SRC said it has inspected Gazprom Armenia as part of ongoing anti-fraud operations of the agency and discovered a number of violations and major tax evasion cases. SRC said that in 2016 and 2017 Gazprom Armenia has reported fake data in its VAT and profit tax calculations to taxation authorities which resulted in several billions drams less calculated tax obligations. The State Revenue Committee said that the research data on the volumes of supplied natural gas to filling stations (natural gas stations) also prove fraud. SRC said that Gazprom Armenias volume of loss in the distribution network reduced on an average of more than 3 times in June-July 2018 compared to January-May of the same year. At the same time, according to the SRC, the volumes of Gazprom Armenias supplies to the filling stations in June-September 2018 has increased nearly 37% as compared to the first five months of the year. The SRC said it has launched a criminal investigation on major tax evasion based on the findings. Shortly after the accusations, Gazprom Armenia denied the State Revenue Committees claims. Gazprom Armenia issued a statement the same day a criminal investigation was announced against the company. In the statement, Gazprom Armenia said that the SRC began complex inspections since October 1, 2018 on accuracy of budget relations. Afterwards, on October 17, the inspection duration was extended for 30 consecutive business days. The complex tax inspection is factually ongoing at the moment and until now the SRC has not presented any instance of tax legislation violation to Gazprom Armenia. Instead, without discussing with the company and without notifying, the SRC distributed totally unsubstantiated information through the press, Gazprom Armenia said in a statement. Gazprom Armenia reminded that for many years it has been the largest taxpayer in Armenia and it has carried out its operations exclusively within the law, for which it has regularly been awarded certificates of appreciation. The company said that the comparative studies mentioned in the SRCs statement have been carried out based on incomparable time periods and incomparable volumes, and that the company has not received any evidence from the tax authority which led to ridiculous conclusions. This kind of a conduct by the SRC might jeopardize the reputation of the company and cause failure in its normal functioning, Gazprom Armenia said. Gazprom Armenia said it is organizing a press conference on the matter on November 15, and invited SRC officials to be present and substantiate their conclusions. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet today issued a negative conclusion for the legislative initiative proposed by Yelk faction MP Gevorg Gorgisyan who proposed to increase the financial support provided by the government to political parties. Caretaker minister of justice Artak Zeynalyan said that the lawmaker is recommending to amend the law on political parties and to increase the funding seven times. Putting this kind of a burden on the budget is not justified, and we recommend issuing a negative conclusion to the legislative initiative, Zeynalyan said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has revealed and prevented a number of corruption-related crimes, the press department of the service said. One case concerns a group of locals of the Aragatsotn Province who are suspected in illegally appropriating and selling nearly 600 trucks of chernozem a black-colored fertile soil. The group operated during April-November of 2018 and sold each batch (one truck) for 65-110,000 drams. The NSS said that the suspects have regularly bribed two local officials of the ministry of nature protection to have a green light for their illegal activities. Four people in total have been charged and are currently under investigation. Another revealed case concerns the smuggling of automobile tires from Georgia. According to preliminary information, two citizens of Armenia have bribed a customs inspector at the Bagratashen checkpoint to carry out their illegal actions without obstruction. The NSS is also probing misappropriations at the Tashir community municipality of Lori Province, where several officials are suspected in embezzling a total of 114 million drams. Investigations into illegal loggings in Tavush involving officials are also underway. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Gazprom Armenia claims the State Revenue Committees (SRC) tax evasion accusations are unsubstantiated. Gazprom Armenia CEO Hrant Tadevosyan delivered a press conference today, a day after the SRC announced it has launched criminal proceedings into major tax evasion in the company. The SRC statement makes a comparative about the companys winter and summer losses, which the CEO finds inappropriate. The losses in winter are incomparably higher than in summer, and this is not only for 2018. Making this kind of comparatives is inappropriate. Additional losses occur in winter, and the losses differ depending on the given winters [weather], which is normal, Tadevosyan said. He mentioned that Gazprom Armenia is one of the largest taxpayers in the country and it has numerously been awarded certificates by the SRC for good conduct. We were awarded the last certificate as recently as this September, he said. Tadevosyan says the SRCs announcement has jeopardized the loan process from the major Russian bank and has defamed the company. 2016s 254 million dollar loans of Gazprom were brought to 128 million in the end of 2018, while during these days we were to sign a contract with a major Russian bank, for 6,5%, for taking a 150 million dollar credit. We were planning to save an annual of 2-4 million dollars, but after the SRCs announcement, which was also distributed in the Russian press, we received serious concerns and alarms from this bank, with which we were completing negotiations. The completion of the transaction is under serious jeopardy, he said. During planned inspections at Gazprom Armenia, certain circumstances have been discovered that require a criminal-legal assessment, State Revenue Committee (SRC) President David Ananyan told reporters earlier today, referring to the criminal investigation into the finances of Gazprom Armenia. In Gazprom Armenia, shall we say, planned inspections were carried out, he said, adding that the SRC had published a list of taxpayers subject to inspections based on risk assessment for the July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019 period, and that the list includes Gazprom Armenia. During these inspections, the tax agents have discovered certain information that has been presented to the SRC investigative department and a report was made on carrying out further inspections. At this moment, the investigator has launched a criminal case based on this report, Ananyan said, stressing that filing a criminal case is not a conviction. He said that investigators must take the kind of actions during the probe which they wouldve been unable to carry out during simple inspections. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia said November 14 it has revealed fraud at Gazprom Armenia. SRC said it has inspected Gazprom Armenia as part of ongoing anti-fraud operations of the agency and discovered a number of violations and major tax evasion cases. SRC said that in 2016 and 2017 Gazprom Armenia has reported fake data in its VAT and profit tax calculations to taxation authorities which resulted in several billions drams less calculated tax obligations. The State Revenue Committee said that the research data on the volumes of supplied natural gas to filling stations (natural gas stations) also prove fraud. SRC said that Gazprom Armenias volume of loss in the distribution network reduced on an average of more than 3 times in June-July 2018 compared to January-May of the same year. At the same time, according to the SRC, the volumes of Gazprom Armenias supplies to the filling stations in June-September 2018 has increased nearly 37% as compared to the first five months of the year. The SRC said it has launched a criminal investigation on major tax evasion based on the findings. Shortly after the accusations, Gazprom Armenia denied the State Revenue Committees claims. Gazprom Armenia issued a statement the same day a criminal investigation was announced against the company. In the statement, Gazprom Armenia said that the SRC began complex inspections since October 1, 2018 on accuracy of budget relations. Afterwards, on October 17, the inspection duration was extended for 30 consecutive business days. The complex tax inspection is factually ongoing at the moment and until now the SRC has not presented any instance of tax legislation violation to Gazprom Armenia. Instead, without discussing with the company and without notifying, the SRC distributed totally unsubstantiated information through the press, Gazprom Armenia said in a statement. Gazprom Armenia reminded that for many years it has been the largest taxpayer in Armenia and it has carried out its operations exclusively within the law, for which it has regularly been awarded certificates of appreciation. The company said that the comparative studies mentioned in the SRCs statement have been carried out based on incomparable time periods and incomparable volumes, and that the company has not received any evidence from the tax authority which led to ridiculous conclusions. This kind of a conduct by the SRC might jeopardize the reputation of the company and cause failure in its normal functioning, Gazprom Armenia said. Gazprom Armenia said it is organizing a press conference on the matter on November 15, and invited SRC officials to be present and substantiate their conclusions. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Acting defense minister Davit Tonoyan on November 14 received UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Armenia Shombi Sharp, the defense ministry told Armenpress. During the meeting the cooperation development prospects between the UN Office and Armenias defense ministry, the opportunities for implementing joint programs were discussed. The UN Resident Coordinator highly valued the level of cooperation with the Armenian defense ministry and reaffirmed the UNDP commitment to support cooperation programs and events in Armenia. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenias delegation led by Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Artak Davtyan paid an official visit to Bulgaria, the Armenian defense ministry told Armenpress. During the visit Lieutenant-General Artak Davtyan met with Bulgarias defense minister Krasimir Karakachanov and Chief of Defense, General Andrey Botsev. Issues relating to the Armenian-Bulgarian military and military-technical cooperation were discussed. The officials summed up the activities carried out in 2018 within the frames of the mutual partnership and outlined the cooperation development prospects. Armenias Ambassador to Bulgaria Armen Sargsyan accompanied the Armenian delegation during the visit. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces also visited Bulgarian military industry enterprises, laid a wreath at the memorial of Unknown soldier. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Cassation of Armenia has overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal to eliminate Robert Kocharyan's detention and the case has been sent to the same court for a new examination. ARMENPRESS reports after examining the complaints of both former President Robert Kocharyan and Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan, the Court of Cassation made a decision to partially satisfy the motion of the Prosecutor General and to reject the motion of Kocharyans lawyers. The decision enters into force immediately after the trial and cannot be appealed. The Prosecutor General of Armenia had submitted a cassation complaint to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal, as well as to restore the decision of the Court of 1st instance about applying pre-trial detention as a preventive measure for Robert Kocharyan, but the Court of Cassation satisfied Prosecutor Generals complaint partially, overturning the decision of the Court of Appeal and sending the case back to the same court for a new examination. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan visited Megerian Carpet Company, where he toured in the companys museum and got acquainted with the works of the company. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the leadership of the company introduced to the acting PM the development projects of Megerian Carpet. The sides exchanged views on prospects for developing business in Armenia. Afterwards, Nikol Pashinyan had a working lunch with Harvard Universitys Armenian graduates. Highly assessing their education, Pashinyan noted that he is interested in their involvement in state administration system. The acting PM expressed confidence that their knowledge and abilities can foster the development and modernization of the state administration system. Various issues about the opportunities of Armenias development were also discussed. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Roughly 7,300 cyclists commute over the Williamsburg Bridge every day, according to the Department of Transportation. In just 163 days, when L train service between Brooklyn and Manhattan shuts down for 15 months, the DOT expects that figure to "double or even triple." On Thursday morning, the City unveiled a new two-way protected bike lane on Delancey Street that will help get all those cyclists in, out, and around Manhattan. The lane itself is a quarter mile long, stretching from the base of the Williamsburg Bridge west to Chrystie Street; cyclists can then turn onto the bike lanes on Allen Street and Chrystie to destinations north and south. Currently the Delancey Street lanes only offer barrier protection from Delancey Street traffic east of Allen, but the DOT's Manhattan Borough Commissioner Edward Pincar, Jr. said at a press conference that they are still "putting the finishing touches" down, including more paint and additional planters that will act as barricades. The DOT's Manhattan Borough Commissioner Edward Pincar, Jr. (at podium) stands with advocates from Transportation Alternatives at the unveiling of the new bike lane on Thursday morning (Gothamist) A new traffic island with jersey barriers sits on Allen Street as a refuge for cyclists caught between light cycles, but it remains to be seen if the intersections will be kept clear during rush hours. The DOT said they were planning on beefing up the gradient of the concrete, insisting that it was a "first attempt." The traffic island on Allen and Delancey (Gothamist) No longer will cyclists be ticketed for coming off the bridge and traveling straight through the harrowing Clinton Street Gap. [Editor's note: Wanna bet?] But does the DOT really expect 20,000 cyclists to do it every day without incident? A cyclist heads west through the Clinton Street Gap (Gothamist) Under the current configuration, cyclists traveling east are supposed to enter the bridge by riding for a few bone-jarring feet next to the automobiles screaming up the bridge's approach, then taking what is essentially a 90-degree left turn up the steep, narrow ramp meant for bicycles, while avoiding the pedestrians congregated on the island. The spot is just a few feet from where 12-year-old Dashane Santana was fatally struck by a minivan driver in 2012, one of two pedestrians killed and 24 others seriously injured on Delancey Street between 2012 and 2016. Eastbound cyclists are supposed to ride next to this traffic then up the ramp on the far right to get onto the Williamsburg Bridge (Gothamist) Ted Wright, the DOT's director of bicycle and greenway programs, acknowledged that none of this was good, but that there wasn't much that could be done about the Clinton Street Gap in the short-term. "It's a security feature of the bridge, and it expands deep into the ground," Wright said, explaining why the DOT can't just widen the gap or carve out another one. A cyclist does what many cyclists will undoubtedly do when faced with the choice of breaking the law and endangering their lives (Gothamist) Wright added that the agency was looking into how to fix the issue as part of the larger Delancey Street capital plan, but come April, the surge of cyclistsand car riders and bus riders and straphangers and "slugs" and the rest of the 100,000+ extra people the MTA and DOT anticipate will use the Williamsburg Bridge to get in and out of Manhattan once the L shuts downmay dial up the urgency. The DOT is also planning on changing the traffic patterns in the neighborhood to hopefully lessen congestion, with perhaps the biggest change being that drivers will no longer be able to use Clinton Street south of Delancey to get onto the Williamsburg Bridge while the L train is out of service. Instead, they will have to take South Street to Allen Street, or make a left onto Grand and then a right onto Norfolk, Essex, or Allen. A handsome stretch of protected lane looking west on Delancey between Essex and Ludlow (Gothamist) One of the cyclists exiting the bridge on Thursday morning, Michelle LoBianco, a photographer who lives in Bushwick, said she rides 6.2 miles to her office on Hudson Street because "it is so much faster than taking the train." LoBianco was only able to give us a quick reaction to the new Delancey Street lane before her light turned green: "Thank God." On Remembrance Day, journalist Tim Davies presented a disturbing news story even as companion media were beginning to focus on the exorbitant expenditure of staging the APEC meetings in Port Moresby. BRISBANE The words were handwritten on a torn white plastic sheet, and the images appeared on Australias Channel 9 news on Sunday. Davies succinctly reported on the modern-day battle that is taking place along PNGs historic wartime Kokoda Trail. Footage of an expansive lawn, a hauswin and shirtless small children playing were overshadowed by audio of loud voices ricocheting around a quiet village. The camera cut to trek operator Adventure Kokoda staff and several village people engage in strained but peaceful negotiations. One of the barricades blocking the Kokoda Trail Davies described how the Papua New Guinea government agency, Kokoda Track Authority (KTA), charged each trekker a fee of K350 (approximately $145) to walk the Trail. Trekkers pay this fee to their tour operator which then forwards it to KTA. The fee is intended to develop the communities whose land is tramped through year-round as visitors from around the globe (but predominantly Australians) undertake pilgrimages along the wartime route and across battle sites. It was clear from the news footage that not everyone is benefiting from the million kina revenue stream generated. Community members told Davies they have not seen trekker fee payments translated into their daily lives for at least the past three years. Davies also interviewed long-time friend of PNG and Kokoda Trail communities advocate, Charlie Lynn. Lynn said that in the 27 years his trek company, Adventure Kokoda, has been operating, the dissatisfaction of Trail communities is the worst it has ever been. Trek leader Bernie Rowell, whose group of Australian trekkers encountered the barricades, echoed these sentiments when interviewed by Davies. Standing alongside the Papua New Guinean Adventure Kokoda trek guide, both Lynn and Rowell were filmed engaged in discussion with disgruntled villagers. Their aim was to bring temporary relief to simmering grievances, which have received no effective long-term resolution from the Port Moresby-based joint PNG-Australia management. Its a real problem for trek tour operators. The recent barricades at both Kovello and Alolo villages resulted in Adventure Kokoda having to pay an K6,300 ($3,100) to pass through. This was in addition to the K6,300 trekker fees paid by the company to KTA prior to the trek. This week Lynn informed KTA management of the incidents, of the ensuing dialogue with upset villagers and the additional expenses incurred to his company. As he has done in past years, Lynn offered his companys long-standing rapport and open dialogue with Trail communities to support the PNG-Australia management body in reaching a sustainable solution. He is awaiting a response. Erecting barricades to demonstrate frustration at inept management is not a new act by Trail communities. Earlier this year, blockades at Owers Corner, coinciding with Anzac Day pilgrimages, disrupted the onset of the 2018 trekking peak-season. Adventure Kokoda staffer Fiona Foster described how last month her trek group encountered the aftermath of protest when approaching Isurava campsite. While it was not as confronting as the experience of Bernie Rowells group, the young Australian trekkers were unsettled by the tense atmosphere of the encounter. Foster also spoke of a barricade erected at the Isurava memorial in 2015. Landowners sought an additional cash payment of K50 from each trekker. I was gutted when I saw this as it is really the highlight for so many trekkers, she said. Accounts such as Fosters and the Channel 9 News crew should be of great concern to the PNG-Australia Trail management, especially PNGs Tourism Promotion Authority which should be actively involved in addressing the worries of land custodians and people directly impacted by trekking. Tim Davies news story reinforced the questions raised in my recent series of seven articles for PNG Attitude, published under the title, Trail Of Woe. The second barricade (and observation platform) on the Trail With an established pattern of the Kokoda Track Authority not delivering funding, Trail communities seem within their rights to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. I have a small sense of that feeling. The KTA chief executive officer chairman has not responded to my correspondence of August in which I sought feedback on concerns I had raised after trekking the Trail that same month. Three months later, I dont think he intends to get in touch. In a September ABC radio interview, the same CEO deflected sole responsibility for his offices capacity to deliver to Trail communities to other agencies including PNGs Conservation Environment and Protection Authority, CEPA, and Australias Kokoda Initiative. In the interview the CEO said if there was concern about community development funding, there was an urgent need for an audit of the Kokoda Initiative. He queried its expenditure of K186 million (!) in comparison to the mere K3,000 a quarter (!) he claimed is received by the KTA from trekkers fees. Whilst Trail communities wait for formal resolution of this matter, it is evident that a concerted effort at accountability and redress must be demonstrated to the people of the Trail. As the Channel 9 news story was broadcast into Australian homes that Sunday night, there was quite a contrast between the troubles on the Trail and the mateship displayed between villagers, trek staff and trekkers, working together to ensure the safe passage of Australian trekkers, pilgrims on that sacred route. It is too easy to take for granted the engaged and respectful dialogue, and the skilful negotiation at times of disagreement along the Trail. Yet, unlike the Kokoda Campaign of World War II, when an existential struggle was being waged, the Trail has been commercialised with many people benefiting from this state. But some benefit much more than others, and in this discrepancy the interests of the custodians of the land and the guides and carriers are being downplayed. What is totally unjustifiable is that those agencies and managers mandated to deliver sustainable, safe and equitable development along the Trail sit in relative anonymity, disengaged from and seemingly uninterested in the many problems that beset this iconic track. Despite drug and medical equipment shortages and escalating disease problems, the health sector was cut by 2% after allowing for inflation. And education received only a 1% increase, at odds with the governments planning commitment to massively hike the number of teachers. In what at first glance looks like a perverse budget outcome, there was a transfer of nearly K1.1 billion from provinces and districts, effectively removing the discretionary spending previously controlled by governors and constituency MPs. No, just kidding. The biggest winner was the centralised administrative sector says Paul Flanagan , an economist who includes amongst his specialisations a close familiarity with Papua New Guinea. NOOSA In an expansionary budget that Papua New Guinea may not be able to afford, the biggest winner was. the people. Port Moresby this week. Constituency politician alert: You're losing your discretionary funds and they're coming home to Uncle Pete To me, this just doesnt compute as being commensurate with the challenges facing PNG and is at total variance from the interests of the PNG people. Flanagan sums it up as a transfer of power to the central government and away from the provinces and observes that the political ramifications will be interesting. At least interesting, possible incendiary. Waigani doubles down on its neglectful approach to the people to favour what can only be seen as the best interests of a small cadre of politicians and cronies who really run the country. Taking a longer-term perspective from 2015 to 2019, Flanagan writes, there have been real cuts in transport of 36%, education of 30%, health of 17% and law and justice of 17%. The big longer-term winners have been utilities, debt servicing, the economic sector and administration. Note debt servicing those loans come with a big budget price tag. Actual expenditure patterns have often not matched the policy language, observes Flanagan. In saying this, he also points out that price changes mean that a 2015 kina could buy 26% more that it does now. Even a 2017 kina could buy 11% more. But by far the biggest change in this budget is the cut of nearly K1.1 billion, or 26%, in the allocation to provinces which is transferred to the central administrative sector. The budget documents explain that this funding has been transferred to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development. The political implications of this are uncertain, Flanagan says. From a budgetary perspective, this is just a transfer of funds. From a political perspective, there are more significant implications." He writes if such a shift happened in Australia it would cause a massive rift in Commonwealth-State relations. A signature policy of the new ONeill government in 2011 was a large increase in providing more funds to local MPs and governors to spend in their constituencies. It reflected ONeills views at the time on the benefits of increased decentralisation. Now, it seems, those views have been abandoned along with the slashing of provincial funds. There have been serious doubts about whether K10 million [to each parliamentarian] was too much, whether it has been well spent and whether there has been accountability for this expenditure, writes Flanagan. Possibly the transfer could be seen as a good administrative move for fiscal accountability given poor reporting under previous systems, but it is a very interesting and politically sensitive change. A national government minister now in charge of this funding, rather than governors and local members. Possibly expect fireworks. Flanagan also remarks that the budget was clearly disappointing for its 1% real cut in health funding [which] is hard to reconcile with the proposed massive increase in the number of health workers." He plausibly points out that the 17% real cut in funding over the last five years may have contributed to the outbreak of polio and increasing incidence of tuberculosis and malaria. Flanagan also says that talk of free health has always been a fiction with an allocation of only K20 million a year since 2012. Recent reports indicate parliamentarians have suffered from this deception when seeking even basic anti-malarial drugs. So K1.1 billion is returning to the central government at a time when revenue is scarce in PNG. Looked at against this backdrop, it's probably no surprise. What will be a surprise is if these funds are redistributed in a more efficient and equitable way so the vast bulk of the population benefits. Given the ONeill governments track record, theres no point spending more than a nanosecond pondering whether that might happen. Read Paul Flanagan's full analysis here (it's quite technical) The first is the pursuit of the issue by statutory bodies set up to monitor such things. Task Force Sweep was one of those. There are a couple of ways by which it can come unstuck. Prime minister Peter ONeill is a master of this sort of tactical deception. Its not his invention, there are many precedents for its efficacy, but he has refined it to a fine art. The stalling in the courts is relied upon as a regular source of income by a whole cadre of lawyers with questionable ethics. That income is usually supplied from the public coffers. The way it works is fairly simple. When an uncomfortable truth is revealed about their behaviour, PNG politicians resort to bluster and threats and, if that doesnt work, stalling in the courts until everyone gets bored and forgets about it. TUMBY BAY - One of the tactics that the politicians of Papua New Guinea rely upon is the fallibility and short life span of public memory. Voices like Martyn Namorong, Bryan Kramer MP, Governor Gary Juffa, Bal Kama and PNG Attitude writers do exist on social media but they struggle to be heard and find it hard to get traction Peter ONeill soon realised how dangerous Task Force Sweep was to his nefarious dealings and quickly cut off its funding. In a similar way he has resisted the setting up of an Independent Commission Against Corruption. That he defunded Task Force Sweep and refuses to advance an anti-corruption commission is like a flashing neon sign telling everyone that this prime minister and his government have a lot to hide. The second way the tactic can come unstuck is through a conscious effort by the media to pursue anything it perceives as questionable in the way the government behaves. It is one of the main reasons why any nation claiming to be democratic needs a strong, inquisitive and fearless media. We have many fine examples of brave and dedicated journalists in Australia who are able to bring the government to account. The most recent example was the journalism leading to a banking royal commission. In the USA, President Trumps campaign against the media tells us that he has something to hide and, the more he pursues the media in an effort to suppress its reporting, the more his credibility is taking a hammering. In Papua New Guinea the mainstream media has been tamed by the government and the vested interests of business. Intelligent and courageous investigative journalism has ceased to exist. This is exactly how Peter ONeill and his cronies want it. The only place where there is a minor irritant that defies his control is social media. He is mostly happy to let that go, however, because he knows that, at best, social media reaches only about 15% of the population. There is little public pressure that can grow from real and critical issues like the inexcusable squandering of public money on the APEC circus while people suffer in poverty without medicines and while schools close down and teachers are unpaid. Nobody is going to set up Maserati-watch to see where those unnecessary and expensive automobiles end up. No doubt plans are being made to ship them to the driveways of the substantial residences the politicians own in places like Cairns, but who is going to follow up that if the media is compromised and ineffective? And no doubt there will be many grandiose scams emerging from APEC after the professional talkfesters of the world have departed for the next party. Peter ONeill has already hinted at major announcements to be made. More roads to nowhere and more mountains of debt no doubt. Who will monitor these new outrages? No one with a loud enough voice, of course. Then they will tumble into the far reaches of public memory like everything else. This switch in the way funding is allocated to the provinces is a classic case of O'Neill realising he cannot control the process and must therefore centralise it. Its a kind of Waigani/Provinces seesaw that's being going on for years and that people have long forgotten about. Image: Getty The Federal Court has slapped We Buy Houses and its sole director with a staggering $18 million penalty, after it was found to have peddled false hope and taken advantage of Australians desperate to enter the property market. We Buy Houses and its sole director Rick Otton received respective $12 million and $6 million penalties; the highest-ever penalties imposed for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law by a corporation and an individual. Also read: House prices to fall by 30% by end of 2020 We Buy Houses and Mr Otton peddled false hope to people simply looking to get a foothold in the housing market or invest money in real estate for their future, the chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims said today. The record penalties imposed against both We Buy Houses and Mr Otton reflect their egregious conduct. They have also effectively been permanently banned from any further involvement in real estate in order to protect consumers. Heres the background: Through its mentoring programs, We Buy Houses told clients they could buy a house for $1 without needing a loan or deposit and without using any of their own money. The property spruiker also told people they could start making profits from property immediately and could build a property portfolio without investing any of their own money or borrowing. The company generated most of its $20 million revenue by conducting training programs between 2011 and 2014. Also read: How this corporate high-flyer left her six-figure job The Federal Court found these claims to be false or misleading in August 207 and in breach of consumer law. The judgement signals the Courts condemnation of false and misleading property spruiking and get rich quick schemes, Sims said. Otton and We Buy Houses also offered free seminars and paid boot camps, which offered little value. Additionally, the Federal Court found Ottons claims that he had successfully implemented the strategies he taught to be false or misleading. A book, authored by Otton and featuring testimonials from students, received the same verdict. Story continues In her judgement on liability, Justice Gleeson said the free seminars were a waste of time, and that the boot camps and the mentoring programs were an expensive waste of time, Sims commented. This outcome also reflects a recent trend of higher penalties for Australian Consumer Law breaches. We can expect this to continue following recent law changes to increase maximum financial penalties under consumer law. Also read: The worst investment decision you can make Years of alarms Victorias Consumer Action Law Centre raised the alarm on the scheme in 2012, warning consumers to be on the look-out for programs targeting their desperation to buy or sell. These transactions can be risky and some consumers may not be protected by consumer credit laws, Carolyn Bond, co-chief executive of Victorias Consumer Action Law Centre told The Age. The houses may be overpriced, repayments high and, unlike a traditional mortgage, the buyers name is not put on the title of the property until they have purchased the house outright. Responding at the time, Otton said people were desperate for alternatives due to tougher lending requirements following the GFC. Also read: 500 Roger David workers to lose jobs by Christmas Its like Harvey Norman with his TV sets. Lets make it easy for someone to buy; it makes it easy for me to sell the house, said Mr Otton, who has trained nearly 10,000 students through his seminar system. Make your money work with Yahoo Finances daily newsletter. Sign up here and stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news. The wealthy are leaving the UK and moving to Australia and the US, according to analysis by consultancy New World Wealth. Last year 4,000 high net worth individuals left, reversing a 30 year trend of the UK as a destination high net worth individuals. The reasons include high inheritance taxes and Brexit. The wealthy have started leaving the UK and heading to Australia to escape Brexit and high inheritance taxes. The UK, for the past 30 years a major destination for high net worth individuals (HNWI), those with net assets of $US1 million ($A1.38 million) or more, is seeing the wealthy head to the airport. About 1,000 came into the UK in 2017 but this was more than cancelled out by about 5,000 leaving, according to analysis by consultancy New World Wealth in its latest UK Wealth Report. "The UKs traditionally high inheritance taxes made the likes of Australia and the US more appealing to migrating HNWIs post Brexit," says the report. "Wealth migration figures are very important gauge of the health of an economy. For instance, if a country is losing a large number of millionaires (HNWIs) to migration, it is probably due to serious problems in that country. "It also can be a sign of bad things to come as HNWIs are often the first people to leave -- they have the means to leave unlike middle class citizens. "If one looks at any major country collapse in history, it is normally preceded by a migration of wealthy people away from that country." Countries attracting the wealthy such Australia tend to be very healthy and normally have low crime rates, good schools and good business opportunities. Australia is currently attracting more high net worth individuals than any other country in the world, according to New World Wealth's 2018 Global Wealth Migration Review. In 2017, Australia topped the world with a net inflow of 10,000 HNWIs. Second was the US with 9,000. Popular places for them to move to in Australia included Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Perth and Brisbane. Story continues The latest study on the UK cites among possible reasons for the exit of the wealthy as new taxes making it more expensive and complicated for foreigners to buy homes in the UK. "London was obviously a hotspot for migrating HNWIs for many years," says the report. "However, this trend appears to have changed over the past couple years as migrating HNWIs now prefer moving to other international cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, New York, Geneva and San Francisco. "Notably, over the past few years, many wealthy Londoners have moved out of the city to nearby small affluent commuter towns such as Bray, Taplow and Marlow. This is a notable trend that is gaining momentum. "A large number of wealthy Londoners have also left the UK altogether -- many of these individuals have gone to the US and Australia." As Papua New Guinea prepares to make its international summit hosting debut, there are lingering concerns about whether one of the Pacific's poorest countries can afford the cost, and if it is able to take advantage of its time in the sun. Barefoot betel nut vendors in Port Moresby's main market expressed confusion on Thursday about the political circus that has arrived on their shores, as guards cleared nearby roads for presidents and CEOs from around the Asia-Pacific region. Few of the capital's residents had the faintest idea about what will be discussed when leaders sit down for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Saturday and Sunday, or what will have changed by the time they leave. "Will APEC make us rich like other nations?" asked Harriette Jack, 68. "Comparing to other nations, we are not close." Aid from China helped build glistening convention centres and repave roads ahead of the meeting. Australia pitched in with military and police assistance that will help secure the summit. But despite promising an APEC on the cheap, the government also bought 40 Maseratis to ferry delegates around, underscoring the high price tag that comes with playing on the global stage. That outlandish expense comes at a time the developing nation of eight million people battles a polio outbreak and the resurgence of malaria, and struggles to pay its teachers. "It's a big risk to be taking to host this summit," Jonathan Pryke of Australia's Lowy Institute told AFP. "It has pushed the country to the limit in terms of the capacity of the bureaucracy, in terms of the cost." The government has declared a public holiday on the eve of the summit, but people in the Port Moresby suburb of Hohola say many children do not go to school anyway because their families cannot afford the expense. "We know that very big people are coming like... presidents and prime ministers so we are looking forward to some kind of improvement in our lives," schoolteacher Freddie Mupa told AFP. "It's crazy because there's a lot of money (spent)." - 'A burden' - Papua New Guinea agreed to host the summit five years ago, when the country was enjoying double-digit growth and was hoping for a windfall from high oil and gas prices that have since tanked. However, some Papua New Guineans are upbeat about the summit, milling outside the conference venues in their red, yellow and black national shirts. "It's once in a lifetime that (this) occurs so we are grateful I would say and blessed to have this event in our country," teacher Jesset Gilimusi told AFP, giggling with excitement. "There are a lot of issues that we have but when it comes to things like this, we have to put it aside." It is in the same vein that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill urged citizens and visitors on Wednesday to "forget about the Maseratis and possibly enjoy the country". The meeting will boost trade and investments that will benefit the nation, he added. On Friday, O'Neill will play host to his first visitor, Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country's investments in Papua New Guinea are making some locals nervous. "I think it will be a burden for us. If those are just fundings out of their good hearts then it's okay but if we have to repay them, then it's a lot," said land surveyor Otte James. As world leaders tackle the worsening tariff war between the US and China as well as a massive trans-Pacific trade deal, residents say many of the topics are far removed from their daily reality. Mupa, the teacher who laments not receiving his wages, says the summit's message of harnessing inclusive opportunities does not resonate with him. "If the world is advanced, why should we be like this all the time?" Papua New Guinea's APEC summit expenditures come as the impoverished nation battles disease outbreaks and struggles to pay teachers Graphic charting social indicators for Papua New Guinea, venue for the APEC summit Locals in PNG capital Port Moresby say they are not sure how hosting the high-profile APEC summit will help them PNG agreed to host the summit five years ago, when the country was enjoying double-digit growth The PNG government has said the summit will boost trade and bring in desperately needed investment Cruise ships have been brought to Port Moresby to accommodate leaders and delegates amid concerns about security in the PNG capital A baby died after a monkey snatched it from its mother's arms, Indian police investigating the incident in the city of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, said on Thursday. The 12-day-old boy was being fed by his mother when a rhesus macaque monkey broke into the room late Monday, local deputy police chief Prashant Verma told AFP. The monkey grabbed the infant and jumped away along several rooftops in a crammed district of the global tourist hotspot, he said. Locals chased the monkey down after the mother raised the alarm, forcing the animal to abandon the baby's body on top of a building. Verma said the infant was declared dead on arrival at hospital but the family refused to allow a postmortem and the cause of death -- whether from a fall, bite or something else -- could not be ascertained. India has an estimated monkey population of 50 million and roughly 10,000 are believed to roam Agra, stealing goods, bothering residents and breaking into properties. Incidents of attacks by macaques -- a species with reddish-pink faces common across India -- are frequent in the city. Last week a girl was grievously injured in Agra in a ferocious attack by monkeys. In May, two French tourists were injured by monkeys as they took selfies at the Taj Mahal. Many monkeys in India, who are fed by Hindus who revere the monkey god Hanuman, are turning aggressive due to their shrinking natural habitat. Nationwide figures are not available but nearly 1,900 people were bitten by monkeys in the capital New Delhi in 2016, government figures show. A former Delhi mayor was killed after falling from the balcony of his house when he was attacked by monkeys in 2007. India has an estimated monkey population of 50 million and roughly 10,000 are believed to roam Agra The Indian father (3rd R, in red) of a baby who police say was killed by a macaques monkey sits with relatives at their family home in Agra on November 15, 2018 Many monkeys in India, who are fed by Hindus who revere the monkey god Hanuman, are turning aggressive due to their shrinking natural habitat A photo of what appears to be nothing more than a pile of leaves has gone viral after a delivery driver noticed something very wrong during a routine drop-off. Jordan Weaver was driving through the Indiana suburb of Elkhart in the US on November 5, when he got out of his vehicle to deliver a package. He walked across the street to deliver a package to a woman that was leaf blowing in her yard, the UPS director of corporate media relations Glenn Zaccara told Yahoo Lifestyle. She took the package and started walking into her home, and Jordan started walking back across the street to his truck. Thats when he noticed the little boy submerged in a huge pile of leaves practically in the street. Mr Weaver was walking back to his delivery truck when he saw a child lying in the leaves. Image: Facebook/Theresa Baker I couldnt believe it at first my heart completely stopped, Mr Weaver told local media. Moments later, the boy emerged from the leaves and ran back towards the house that Mr Weaver had just delivered a package to. Unable to simply walk away, he returned to the house to inform the childs mother just how wrong things could have gone if a car had been travelling down the edge of the road. Determined to use the scare as a learning moment, Mr Weaver shared the photo with his colleagues unaware just how viral it was about to become. Weaver sent the picture to the co-chair of the safety committee program, which every facility has, Zaccara detailed. That person, Theresa Baker, posted it on her Facebook page, with the intent of sharing it with other drivers and just locally. Its safe to say, the message was delivered. That post, which has since been deleted, had garnered 33,000 reactions and nearly 400,000 shares as of Tuesday afternoon. Not one Rohingya refugee crossed back into Myanmar from Bangladesh on Thursday under a disputed repatriation programme, officials said, with Yangon blaming Dhaka for bungling efforts to start returning the stateless minority. Bangladeshi officials waited hours at a border transit point where the first returnees were expected to cross into Myanmar, despite the United Nations warning the displaced Muslims risked fresh persecution if they went back. But not a single Rohingya from the 720,000 estimated to have fled a Myanmar military crackdown in August last year came forward, with hundreds instead staging a demonstration shouting "We will not go". "No one turned up voluntarily," Bangladesh refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam told AFP, adding they were awaiting instructions from the foreign ministry as how to proceed. With the UN and international aid groups also fighting the controversial plan, Rohingya leaders said many on a Bangladesh repatriation list of 2,260 people had gone into hiding. Bangladesh expected 150 refugees to volunteer to return Thursday, with five buses waiting to carry them to the border. But they remained empty, and instead about 1,000 Rohingya men, women and children protested against repatriations, shouting "We want justice". Tajul Mulluk, 85, who is on the repatriation list, said: "They killed two of my sons. I escaped to Bangladesh with two others. Please don't send us back. They will kill the rest of my family." "We can't go back," added Mohammad Amin, 45, who was among the protesters. - Violations risk - "They (Myanmar) have tortured us, killed our people. If we go back without any justice, they will repeat the same thing. That's why we protested today." The United Nations had urged Bangladesh to suspend the programme, with rights chief Michelle Bachelet saying it would send the Rohingya "back to the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades." Many of the Rohingya who fled Myanmar last year have recounted horrific tales of murder, rape and razed villages. The UN has said a genocide investigation is warranted. Kalam, the refugee commissioner, said his team was "completely ready" to start sending back Rohingya but stressed that only volunteers would go. "If we get anyone willing to go, we will carry them to the border point with respect and dignity." Kalam cknowledged that the UNHCR refugee agency had found no family ready to go. "None feels safe to go back now," Kalam told AFP. On the other side of the border Myanmar officials also waited all day, said Myint Thu, permanent secretary at the foreign ministry. "We will continue waiting on our side and will be on standby," he told reporters. But he lashed out at Bangladesh for being "weak regarding the logistical arrangements" and accused the UN refugee agency of interfering with the process. "We think the UNHCR should not be a barrier for those who really want to return," he added. - 'Reckless' - The two countries agreed in November last year to start repatriations but the plan never took off. With Myanmar refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing in its treatment of the Rohingya, the operation faced mounting opposition abroad and stoked anxiety in the refugee camps. US Vice President Mike Pence told Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a summit on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse". He added Thursday that securing justice for the victims of "atrocities" in Rakhine state was a condition for better Myanmar-US relations. The most recent influx of refugees joined the roughly 300,000 Rohingya who had previously fled violence in Myanmar for camps around the Bangladesh city of Cox's Bazar. It has left the poor South Asian nation struggling to cope with about one million Rohingya. UN agencies say they have received only a fraction of the billion-plus dollars needed to pay for their operations for the year. As the deadline day for repatriation loomed, Rohingya leaders said nearly all those on the returnee list had gone into hiding. A confidential UNHCR document seen by AFP said the agency would only provide aid if returnees were allowed back to the villages they had left or to other locations chosen by them. Amnesty International on Wednesday called the planned repatriation "reckless". Human Rights Watch had also called on Bangladesh not to send back the Rohingya. "The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar," said Bill Frelick, HRW refugee rights director. burs/np/mtp Rohingya refugees at a camp in Bangladesh protest against a programme to repatriate them to Mayanmar The mass influx of refugees joined about 300,000 Rohingya already in camps around the Bangladesh city of Cox's Bazar having fled earlier violence Not a single Rohingya from the 720,000 estimated to have fled a military crackdown in August last year has volunteered to return under a Bangladesh-Myanmar repatriation deal In his book Brooklyn Before, Larry Racioppo shares his views from the borough as he saw it from 1971 to 1983. Do you have an image in your mind already of what this may look like? Search for photos of NYC during this window of time and you'll come out with enough apocalyptic images to fill a burnt-out-car-lined East River. As Tom Robbins points out in his excellent introduction to the series of photographs, many of the images that now define this era were shot in the 24 hours after the 1977 blackoutstorekeepers outside their shops holding guns, broken glass lining the streets, looting, and so on. Somehow it has become accepted wisdom that before New York turned so grand and fabulously costly it was a desperately lousy place to live. This line of thinking holds that, beginning at some point in the mid-1970s, everyone who could got out of town. They didnt come back until things got safe, supposedly some time around Rudy Giulianis second term in City Hall. Those who couldnt flee the citys terrors lived sullen, fearful lives trapped in darkened apartments in woebegone neighborhoods. The alleged documentary evidence for this claim is a handful of shopworn images: photos of blasted ruins of collapsed tenements, fearful passengers aboard litter-strewn, graffiti-covered subway cars, and of wild crowds storming past shattered shop windows, gleefully hoisting stolen trophies above their heads during the great blackout riot of 1977. The parade of urban ruin usually culminates with shots of John Lindsay, who is presented as the hopelessly liberal mayor who created this debacle, looking stooped, worried, and apologetic. Any thinking person understands that, as a summary of life lived in this town in those years, this is complete nonsense. This bogus portrait of a city begins with small, insecure people who insist that they have turned streets of dread into streets of gold. Racioppo's photos portray a realistic view of what daily life was like for the New Yorkers who populated his life. There are abandoned dirt lots, sure, but there is also proof of life surrounding them. Born in 1947, when his parents were renting an apartment on 6th Avenue between Prospect Avenue and 17th Street, Racioppo was soon swept into the cycle of moves every New Yorker goes through. In '54, their building was torn down "to make way for the Prospect Expressway," he told Gothamist, "So we moved to 40th Street in Sunset Park, where I lived until I went to college." When he returned to Brooklyn in 1970, he settled in to his own apartment on 15th and 6th, and started photographing with his $30 camera. He told us he paid $125/month for a floor-through apartment at the time, "so I could drive a cab a few days a week and pursue my 'dream' of being a photographer." Indeed, the biggest negative change he's seen is this economic shift, also noting that before that, in the 1950s, "my Dad, without a high school education, could get a union job with decent pay and benefits. Its much harder to do those things now." To see more of Racioppo's work, pick up that book, and hit up the Brooklyn Public Library, which is currently hosting a retrospective exhibit of his photographs. There was a loud bang, and suddenly the Southwest Airlines jet rolled sharply to the left. Smoke began to fill the cabin, and flight attendants rushed row by row to make sure all passengers could get oxygen from their masks. When flight attendant Rachel Fernheimer got to row 14, she saw a woman strapped in her lap belt but with her head, torso and arm hanging out a broken window. The passenger in the window seat, Jennifer Riordan, was fatally injured the first death on a US airline flight since 2009. Ms Fernheimer grabbed one of the womans legs while flight attendant Seanique Mallory grabbed her lower body. They described being unable to bring the woman back in the plane until two male passengers stepped in to help. The harrowing details from the April 17 fatal flight were released for the first time as the National Transportation Safety Board began a hearing Wednesday into the engine failure on Southwest Flight 1380, which carried 144 passengers and five crew members. Passengers and crew on board the SouthWest flight recalled how they desperately tried to pull Ms Riordan back into the plane. Image: AP via Marty Martinez A National Transportation Safety Board investigator examines damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. Image: AP The flight attendants told investigators at least one of the male passengers put his arm out of the window and wrapped it around the womans shoulder to help pull her back in. Ms Fernheimer said when she looked out the window, she could see that one of the planes engines was shattered, and there was blood on the outside of the aircraft. Flight attendants asked for medical volunteers. A paramedic laid the woman across a row of seats and began chest compressions. They tried a defibrillator but it indicated that there was no shock. The paramedic and a nurse took turns at CPR. Passengers asked if they were going to die. Ms Fernheimer said she squeezed their hands. She told them that they were going to make it, an investigator wrote. Pilots Tammie Jo Shults and Darren Ellisor landed the crippled Boeing 737 in Philadelphia. Wednesdays hearing in Washington focused on design and inspection of fan blades on the engine, made by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric and Frances Safran S.A. Story continues Jennifer Riordan, pictured here with her husband, died during the flight. Image: AP An official from CFM defended the design and testing of fan blades like the one that snapped on the Southwest plane as it flew high above Pennsylvania, triggering an engine breakup that flung debris-like shrapnel into the plane. After the fatal accident, CFM recommended the use of frequent and more sophisticated tests using ultrasound or electrical currents. Another Southwest jet had suffered a similar blade-related engine breakup in 2016 over Florida. CFM and federal regulators considered the Florida incident an aberration. We determined early that we would require some corrective action in that it was an unsafe condition, an FAA expert on engines, Christopher Spinney, testified on Wednesday. But we also determined we had some time. Rather than order immediate inspections of fan blades after the 2016 incident, the FAA began a slower process for drafting a regulation and getting public comment before enacting it. That process was still underway when the fatal accident occurred nearly two years later. Flight attendants described being unable to bring the woman back in the plane until two male passengers stepped in to help. Image: AP Since the deadly flight, widespread inspections have turned up eight other fan blades on similar CFM engines that also had cracks. The fan blade that broke was last inspected six years earlier and, it was determined, suffered from metal fatigue even then but it went unnoticed by a less sophisticated exam used at the time. Fan blades have been thought to have no real lifetime limit. CFM and FAA officials said they were now considering whether blades must be replaced at some point, even if they dont show wear. Representatives from CFM also testified about testing and certification of jet engines, which are supposed to be built to prevent pieces from breaking off and flying free. The investigation is continuing. Most of Wednesdays hearing was highly technical. It was led by one of the safety boards five members, Bella Dinh-Zarr. The full board is expected to determine a probable cause for the accident in the next several months. Meanwhile, Ms Riordans husband, Michael, said in a statement on behalf of his family that they were grateful for the heroic actions of the passengers who tried to save Jennifers life. The most important thing now is making sure that the aircraft and engine failures that caused Jennifers untimely and unnecessary death never happen again, he said. The fiancee of a man who was killed in the Lion Air plane crash last month as he flying home to get married has posed for her wedding pictures alone after her husband-to-be joked she should wear her gown without him if he was late to their nuptials. Intan Syari wore her white dress and wedding ring and smiled for the camera to fulfil the last wish of husband-to-be Rio Nanda Pratama. The couple were due to get married on November 11, but Mr Pratama was among 189 people killed when Lion Air flight JT 610 crashed into the Java sea on October 29, shortly after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia. Intan Syari has posed for her wedding pictures alone after her partner was killed in the Lion Air plane crash. Source: Intan Syari / Instagram Posting the pictures on Instagram, Ms Syari wrote: Even though I feel grief that I cannot describe, I still have to smile for you. I cannot be sad but should be strong like you always told me to be. Medical doctor Mr Pratama had joked shortly before the flight that she should take the pictures and send them to him if he did not arrive at the wedding on time, according to the wedding photographer. Ms Syari posed for photos wearing her white gown and wedding ring. Source: Intan Syari / Instagram He reportedly told his bride-to-be: If I dont return by 11 November, you should still wear your wedding gown that I chose for you. Wear beautiful make-up, ask for white roses. Take good photos and send them to me. The pair had known each other for 13 years, and Ms Syari described her betrothed, who was flying to the couples home town of Pangkai Pinang for the wedding, as her first love. Rio Nanda Pratama died as he was flying home for his wedding to Intan Syari. Source: Intan Syari / Instagram The exact cause of the flight has so far not been determined but Indonesian investigators said the airspeed indicator for Lion Air flight 610 malfunctioned during its last four flights, including the fatal flight on October 29. All 189 people on board the flight were killed. Hungary confirmed Wednesday that it had received a request for political asylum from fugitive former Macedonia prime minister Nikola Gruevski, in a case that could prove a diplomatic headache for Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Budapest said it would consider the application from Gruevski, who dominated Macedonia for nearly a decade until 2016. The move is likely to enrage Skopje, which has issued an international warrant for the former premier's arrest after he failed to show up for his two-year jail term. A day after the 48-year-old said on Facebook he had fled a prison sentence for abuse of power, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office confirmed that Gruevski "has submitted an asylum request" and had declared that he intended to "submit a request for refugee status in Hungary". "Given that he was prime minister of his country for 10 years, for security reasons the Hungarian authorities have allowed Mr Gruevski to have his asylum request submitted and heard at the headquarters of the Immigration and Asylum Office in Budapest," it added. Budapest declined to reveal details of Gruevski's whereabouts, or how the Macedonian -- who has been stripped of his passport -- entered Hungary. Gruevski had announced via Facebook on Tuesday that he had fled to the Hungarian capital. "I am now in Budapest, where I have requested political asylum from the Hungarian authorities," he wrote. Skopje has called on Budapest not to grant his request. On Wednesday, Macedonian premier Zoran Zaev urged Hungary to "respect international practice, international law" and not provide "a refuge shelter for criminals". In the past Gruevski, an opponent of Macedonia joining the European Union and NATO, had indicated he was close to Hungarian premier Orban. Both have accused US liberal billionaire George Soros of stoking illegal immigration -- claims that Soros denies. In 2017, Orban publicly supported Gruevski during his campaign for municipal elections in which the Macedonian's right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party lost to Zaev's ruling Social Democrats. Budapest insisted that it wanted to keep on good terms with Skopje. "We in no way wish to intervene in the internal affairs of sovereign countries, and we consider the assessment of the former Macedonian prime minister's asylum request to be solely a legal issue," said the government statement. - 'Persecuted and threatened' - Nevertheless, a spokesperson for Orban's ruling party Fidesz said Wednesday that Gruevski was "persecuted and threatened by a left-wing government, which clearly has the support of George Soros". The application will also test Budapest's willingness to apply harsh asylum rules and anti-migrant measures like border fences and detention camps for asylum seekers that have drawn fierce criticism from Orban's opponents at home and abroad including Brussels. Since 2015 Hungary has built a fence fitted with heavily guarded so-called "transit zones" on the border with Serbia where asylum-seekers are detained until their cases are judged. "Will they lock Gruevski up or is a VIP-asylum procedure possible in Budapest?" asked Dutch Green MEP Judith Sargentini on Twitter. Sargentini wrote the report which formed the basis of the European Parliament's decision in September to launch an unprecedented "Article 7" legal action against Budapest. The report accused Hungary of a slew of alleged breaches of civil liberties and EU values, including its harsh treatment of asylum-seekers. Andras Racz, an analyst with the Political Capital think tank in Budapest, said that the one-day delay in confirmation indicated that Budapest was probably "taken by surprise" by Gruevski's sudden announcement. "I don't expect the government will move quickly, it will try to measure the international feedback, to weigh the pros and cons, all the while keeping Gruevski on Hungarian soil," he told AFP. Macedonian then-Premier Nikola Gruevski (R) has previously indicated he was close to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The men are pictured here in Skopje in 2013 WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Jonestown cult survivors have revealed how they rebuilt their lives after the horrific murders and mass suicide attempts which occurred in the jungle of Guyana in 1978. The cult was started by the Reverend Jim Jones, who controlled the lives of more than 900 people in the jungle commune, until a mass murder and suicide on November 18, 1978. It claimed the lives of 918 people, including more than 300 children. However, some followers survived and managed to rebuild their lives. The best thing in my life Mike Touchette, 65, was a self-taught bulldozer operator in the cult and is now a grandfather who has worked for a Miami hydraulics company for nearly 30 years. We built a community out of nothing in four years, Mr Touchette said, recalling his time in the cult. Jonestown cult survivors Jordan Vilchez (left) and Stephan Jones (right). Source: AP Being in Jonestown before Jim got there was the best thing in my life. Jordan Vilchez , 61, was sent to Jonestown from San Francisco and survived the tragic day because she raising money in Georgetown, Guyanas capital. She has worked as office manager at a private crime lab for 20 years and now sells her artwork. The temple really became my family, Ms Vilchez said. How can you ever be proud of your father? Stephan Gandhi Jones was the biological son of Jim and Marceline Jones. Stephan was sent to Jonestown when he was a high school student. People ask, How can you ever be proud of your father? he said. I just have to love him and forgive him. Mr Jones is now a father of three daughters, ages 16, 25 and 29, and works in the office furniture installation business. 1978 file photo of the Peoples Temple compound. Source: AP Man lost 11 relatives John Cobb, 58, was born to a mother who was already a member of the cult. He was sent to Jonestown from San Francisco as a teenager and became part of Jones personal security detail. Mr Cobb lost 11 relatives on the day of the tragedy including his mother, youngest brother and four sisters. He now owns a modular office furniture business in the East Bay and is married with a daughter, 29. A 40th Jonestown anniversary memorial will be held Sunday at Oaklands Evergreen Cemetery, where remains of unclaimed and unidentified victims are buried. -With AP A kayaker has been sent flying after a four-metre tiger shark rammed and then sank its teeth into his tiny craft on Queenslands Sunshine Coast. The man, aged in his 30s, was fishing from his kayak off Moffat Beach on Thursday morning when he was flung into the water, surfacing to find the shark with its jaws still clamped around one end. The man managed to right his craft, which was upside down, allowing him to climb back on but he was in a perilous situation, with the kayak taking on water and the shark circling nearby. Two jet skiers brought the shocked paddler back to shore, about 45 minutes after he called for help. A jet ski unit was dispatched to bring the kayaker back to shore. Image: 7 News Rescuers believe he only lived to tell his tale because he had a radio with him and was able to contact the Coast Guard for help. He was having a paddle out to sea, and fishing, and yeah unfortunately out of the blue a shark has just attacked his kayak and latched onto it, throwing him out, one of the rescuers, Jacob Thomson from Surf Life Saving Queensland said. The shark still had its jaw on his kayak, which was upside down. But hes managed to flip it and at some point the shark has let go. But it was starting to sink, there was only small pocket of air holding it afloat. The shark continued to circle him for some time until we got there. The abandoned kayak was found floating in the ocean before being collected by water police. Image: 7 News A Surf Live Saving Queensland spokesman told Yahoo7 News the shark had another chomp at it, not missing the patient by much. Paramedics assessed the man once back on solid ground, who remarkably had no injuries, however a Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman told Yahoo7 News that the patient appeared to be suffering from shock. She said he was treated at the scene but opted to go home following the ordeal. Seven News footage shows the abandoned kayak floating off the coast before it was later collected by water police. Questions swirled Wednesday about how Boeing had failed to tell airlines and pilots about changes to an anti-stall system suspected in last month's fatal crash in Indonesia. Investigators are examining whether the system, which is meant to prevent aircraft from stalling, was tied to the crash of Lion Air Flight 610. The Boeing 737-MAX plunged into the Java Sea on October 29, killing all 189 people aboard. The mid-range jet's engines are heavier than those installed on prior versions, meaning the plane can stall under different conditions. Boeing made modifications to the anti-stall system without informing air carriers and their crews, according to the Allied Pilots Association. "We should have been informed," said APA spokesman Dennis Tajer. "It is just silly." "How this happened is definitely something which has to be resolved," said Tajer, who pilots 737s himself. "Boeing will have to answer to that." Failing to share all necessary information violates the aviation world's "safety culture," he said. Boeing did not respond to AFP requests for comment. On Tuesday, the aircraft manufacturer said it was focusing on cooperating with investigators. In a letter to pilots on November 10, the APA said Boeing's recent "Emergency Airworthiness Directive" had not addressed the key question of incorrect readings from Angle of Attack sensors, which monitor the angle of an aircraft's nose. The AOA "may be the causal system in the Lion Air incident," Mike Michaelis, chairman of an APA safety committee, said in the letter. "Awareness is the key with all safety issues," he said. "You are aware this anomaly may occur and there is a mitigation procedure." - Diving, not climbing - In this case, an AOA malfunction could cause the plane's computers to detect a stall incorrectly and put the plane into a dive when it should climb instead. The APA says pilots should retake control to prevent a crash. "We do not believe that Boeing would purposefully omit critical information from its operators or customers regarding key aircraft systems," said aviation expert Addison Schonland. Airspeed indicator malfunctions had been recorded during prior flights for the jet, he added. According to Richard Aboulafia, vice president for analysis at Teal Group, it is possible Boeing underestimated matters, believing the change too minor to mention. A pilot who asked to remain anonymous said manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus recommend only a few days of training for updated aircraft models such as the 737-MAX. This is because pilots' working environment and philosophy remain unchanged, he said, adding that the 737-MAX had only two sensors and not three, like its rival Airbus A320. An American pilot who also requested anonymity said the plane ideally should require more than one sensor to display a stall before reacting. "If one fails, it seems odd that the automated stabilizer system would depend on only one versus requiring both to display a stall," he said. The 737-MAX in question had only begun service for Lion Air in August. So far, only the plane's flight data recorder has been recovered. Its cockpit voice recorder could offer crucial answers on the pilots' conduct and the alarms that sounded during the accident. Investigators are examining whether an anti-stall system, which is meant to prevent aircraft from stalling, was tied to the crash of Lion Air Flight 610 Graphic on Lion Air JT 610 that crashed shortly after take-off with 189 people on board An Indonesian rescue team lift a pair tires from the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 off Karawang in the Java Sea on November 4, 2018 Former Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski, who fled the country to avoid prison, used a Hungarian diplomatic vehicle to escape through Albania, police in Tirana said Thursday after Budapest formally denied any involvement. Gruevski left Albania on Sunday "at 7:11 pm (18:11 GMT) using the border crossing Hani i Hotit, to enter Montenegro," a police statement said. The former strongman, who dominated the country for nearly a decade until 2016, travelled in a car with the number plate CD 1013A, it said. Montenegrin police confirmed that Gruevski entered the country on November 11 "and left Montenegro the same day", adding that they had "fully respected legal procedures in this case." Facing a jail term for abuse of power, Gruevski fled to Hungary, a European Union member, where he sought asylum. Earlier Thursday, the Hungarian government formally denied having actively provided assistance in Gruevski's escape. "The Hungarian state authorities had nothing to do with him leaving the territory of his own country," Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief Gergely Gulyas told reporters. "The Hungarian state had nothing to do with him leaving Macedonia," he added. A Hungarian government representative told AFP in the evening it did not want to comment on the information released by Albania. In the past, Gruevski has indicated he was close to Orban. In 2017, Orban publicly supported the Macedonian ex-leader during his campaign for municipal elections, in which Gruevski's rightwing VMRO-DPMNE party lost to the ruling Social Democrats. Both have accused US liberal billionaire George Soros of stoking illegal immigration -- claims that Soros denies. - Passport was confiscated - Hungary has said it would "consider the assessment of the former Macedonian prime minister's asylum request to be solely a legal issue". Orban's ruling Fidesz party said Wednesday that Gruevski was "persecuted and threatened by a left-wing government, which clearly has the support of George Soros". Gruevski's request will test Budapest's willingness to apply harsh asylum rules and anti-migrant measures like border fences and detention camps for asylum seekers that have drawn fierce criticism from Orban's opponents at home and abroad including Brussels. On Wednesday, Macedonian premier Zoran Zaev urged Hungary to "respect international practice, international law" and not provide "a refuge shelter for criminals". Macedonia has meanwhile issued an international arrest warrant. "Macedonia is a strategic partner and an important ally of Hungary," the government in Budapest said in a statement. Gruevski was convicted in May of using a 600,000-euro ($676,009) government Mercedes for personal travel. A Skopje court upheld the sentence in October. He also faces a number of other charges of corruption, abuse of power, electoral fraud as well as illegal wiretapping. Gruevski claims that the cases are politically motivated. His passport had been confiscated during the probe and Macedonian media has questioned how he managed to leave the country. Hungarian opposition parties have warned the government against giving protection to Gruevski. "Corrupt criminals who steal their own people are usually granted asylum only in the worst dictatorships in the East and in the banana republics and not in the EU," said the Democratic coalition party. burs-phs/ks/ach Gruevski has indicated he is close to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban The Brooklyn Museum has just announced a major exhibition "exploring the life and work of the iconic Mexican artist" Frida Kahlo. The exhibit will open on February 8th, 2019, and feature Kahlo's workincluding paintings, drawings, photographs and filmas well as her clothing, jewelry, and other personal items. This is the first time her personal objects (from the Blue House, the artist's lifelong home in Mexico City) will be on view in the United States, according to the press release. A little more on that: After Kahlo's death in 1954 [when she was just 47 years old], her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, instructed that their personal belongings be locked away at the Blue House, not to be touched until 15 years after Rivera's death. In 2004, these items were unearthed and inventoried. Making their U.S. debut are more than one hundred of Kahlo's personal artifacts ranging from noteworthy examples of her iconic Tehuana clothing, contemporary and Mesoamerican jewelry, and some of the many hand-painted corsets and prosthetics used by the artist during her lifetime. Shedding new light on one of the most popular artists of the twentieth century, these objects illustrate how Kahlo crafted her appearance, and shaped her personal and public identity to reflect her cultural heritage and political beliefs while also addressing and incorporating her physical disabilities. Kahlos choice of clothing, though a purposeful statement of her politics, must also be understood in relationship to her well-documented disabilities. At eighteen, after recovering from a childhood case of polio that left one of her legs permanently weakened, Kahlo was in a horrific bus accident that left her with lifelong injuries, including a severely broken spine. Enduring more than thirty operations during her lifetime, Kahlo convalesced at the Blue House and in hospitals on and off for decades. The exhibition is titled Appearances Can Be Deceiving, after a drawing by Kahlo, "in which she makes visible the disability that her striking Tehuana skirts and blouses covered." The show will also delve into Kahlo's time in New York City, where she traveled with Rivera for his work, as well as her own. In 1934, the two had been in town when Rivera was commissioned to paint a mural at Rockefeller Center, but was fired from the project when he included (and refused to remove) an image of Vladimir Lenin (Kahlo and Rivera were active members of the Communist party). A few years later, in 1938, Kahlo was here again for her first and last NYC exhibit (and her first solo show), at the Julien Levy Gallery. The above portrait was taken not long after this show opened, and her career had been taking off both in New York and internationally; it was taken on the roof of a Greenwich Village building. It's unclear if this will be included, as it was at the 2015 exhibit at the the Detroit Institute of Arts, but it's worth highlighting here. In 1932, as Kahlo's career was just beginning, an article was published with this headline alongside her photo: "Wife of the Master Mural Painter Gleefully Dabbles in Works of Art." According to the Detroit News, the reporter, Florence Davies, asked Kahlo (who was living in Detroit at the time with Rivera), "Are you a painter, too?" Kahlo replied, "Yes. The greatest in the world." We're gonna go ahead and guess that the headline for Davies' article was the handiwork of a male editor. A 1932 headline that most certainly was written by a man. The exhibitwhich the Museum's Anne Pasternak points out "comes at an important time, when it is critical to build cultural bridges between the United States and Mexico"will only run through May 12th of next year, and will certainly be drawing crowds (the museum has already instituted a timed ticketing procedure). US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday said there were no double standards at play when he criticised Myanmar for jailing two Reuters journalists, given the White House's own combative relationship with Washington media. President Donald Trump routinely criticises reporting he dislikes as "fake news" and often labels journalists "enemies of the people". In the administration's latest spat with the media the White House pulled the credentials of a CNN correspondent, promoting a court challenge by major news networks. During a summit in Singapore, Pence took Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to task for the jailing of two reporters for seven years for breaching the Official Secrets Act. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested over their coverage of a massacre of Rohingya men during an army operation last year. In his Wednesday meeting with Suu Kyi Pence called on the Nobel Peace Prize laureate to pardon the pair, calling their prosecution and jailing "deeply troubling". The following day, when asked about the White House's own repeated clashes with the media, Pence said the administration has "stood strong on a free and independent press... and defended the freedom of the press on the world stage." "There is no comparison whatsoever between disagreements over decorum at the White House and the imprisonment of two reports in Myanmar," he told reporters. Media groups -- including CNN and its arch-rival Fox News -- are taking the revocation of the press pass of correspondent Jim Acosta to court. The White House has dismissed CNN's complaint as "grandstanding" and vowed to "vigorously defend" against the lawsuit. burs-apj/jta/rox US Vice President Mike Pence has said there is no comparison between the White House's combative relationship with media and the jailing of journalists in Myanmar British MPs took turns for three hours on Thursday to savage Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan in parliament, while down a corridor, members of her own party plotted to unseat her. The Conservative leader's statement to parliament to explain the terms of the divorce deal with the European Union was met with a torrent of opposition. MPs from all parties lined up to say they would reject it, but the attacks on her own side were particularly brutal. One Conservative MP, Andrew Bridgen, directly asked her to resign. Another, Jacob Rees-Mogg, threatened to submit a letter of no confidence in her leadership -- and did so shortly after the session. May conceded that Brexit required "difficult choices" but insisted the deal she had agreed after months of negotiations was in "the national interest". She paid tribute to the work of her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, one of two cabinet ministers who earlier quit over the deal. He was followed by several junior colleagues, prompting speculation the entire government could collapse. May said she "respects their views". - 'Chaos' - Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told parliament: "The government is in chaos." He outlined his critique of the Brexit deal as Conservative MPs behind May sat in silence, many checking their phones. Nigel Dodds of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the Northern Irish party on whom May relies for her majority, also pulled no punches in his warning that Britain must not become a "vassal state" of the EU. "I could today stand here and take the prime minister through the list of promises and pledges she made to this House and to us, privately, about the future of Northern Ireland in the future relationship with the EU," he said. "But I fear it would be a waste of time since she clearly doesn't listen." - 'Not a coup' - Rees-Mogg, leader of the powerful European Research Group (ERG) of Brexiteer Conservative MPs, requested May's advice on whether he should try to unseat her -- before shortly after, announcing he would. He said he did not know whether his action brought closer the possibility of a leadership contest, which requires the submission of 48 letters of no confidence. But he said: "There is absolutely no support for this deal." Rees-Mogg made his announcement after meeting with eurosceptic colleagues, including former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, in a committee room of parliament while May continued to speak in the Commons chamber. "It's like a bloody alternative government," muttered an angry minister as he walked past, warning the eurosceptics were doing nothing to help deliver Brexit. Later, addressing a hastily-convened press conference on the steps of parliament, Rees-Mogg was forced to deny he was leading a coup. "This is working through the procedures of the Conservative party," he insisted, as a protester yelled "Stop Brexit" at him through a loudspeaker. Pro- and anti-Brexit demonstrators jostled for pavement space outside parliament, waving placards reading "Save Brexit"; "Leave means leave" and "Stop the Brexit mess!"; "We want a people's vote". - Strongly held views - In her attempts to persuade MPs to back the agreement, May warned eurosceptics that rejecting it could lead to "no Brexit at all". Aides said that referred to the possibility of a snap election in which Labour took office and called a second referendum on Brexit. But pro-European MPs in the chamber were so vocally enthusiastic about this idea that she was forced to play it down. "We are making no plans for no Brexit because this government is going to deliver on the vote of the British people," May said. Pro-EU MP Anna Soubry hailed May's "absolute commitment and dedication" but called for another Brexit vote, saying: "This is not the promised deal." There were some voices backing the prime minister, with Commons leader Andrea Leadsom -- among the cabinet ministers earlier tipped to resign -- saying she was "determined to support her". May's spokesman acknowledged "there are strongly held views" about Brexit, but said she would fight any attempt to remove her. Prime Minister Theresa May spent three hours fending off fierce criticism of her Brexit plan in parliament May conceded that Brexit required "difficult choices" Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said he did not know whether his call for a no confidence vote brought closer the possibility of a leadership contest Pro- and anti-Brexit protesters mingled outside parliament Sri Lanka's political crisis descended into farce Thursday with MPs throwing punches and projectiles in parliament, a day after voting the disputed prime minister out of office and leaving the country without a government. President Maithripala Sirisena, who triggered the unprecedented constitutional standoff by sacking prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month, held talks Thursday with parties representing a majority in the legislature in a bid to defuse tensions. An MP who was at the closed-door talks said there was no breakthrough to end the deadlock, but the parties agreed not to escalate tensions. "The only way out is for the president to respect the no-confidence motion against his PM nominee," the legislator said referring to Wednesday's vote against Mahinda Rajapakse's disputed government. There was no immediate comment from Sirisena about the talks involving Wickremesinghe's United National Party and two other smaller groups who together have 122 out of 225 MPs in the House. The discussions followed a mass rally in Colombo where activists denounced Sirisena's October 26 sacking of Wickremesinghe that plunged the Indian Ocean nation into turmoil three weeks ago. Fisticuffs broke out in the national parliament earlier in the day as a majority of MPs moved another resolution against Rajapakse, this time to reject his call for snap elections. "It was difficult to make out immediately who was hitting whom, but several were hurt, but not seriously," an official in parliament told AFP. "The speaker adjourned the House till tomorrow (Friday)." The official said an MP from toppled premier Rajapakse's party injured himself trying to rip out the speaker's microphone and had to be taken to hospital with a bleeding hand. Two weeks after dismissing Wickremesinghe and appointing Rajapakse in his place, Sirisena dissolved the strategically important Indian Ocean nation's parliament and called snap elections for January. However, these moves were suspended by the Supreme Court on Tuesday pending an investigation. Day-to-day administration in Sri Lanka remains paralysed as the crisis drags on. Parliament reconvened on Wednesday and lawmakers approved a motion of no-confidence in what they called Rajapakse's "purported" cabinet, also passing motions declaring Sirisena's moves illegal. - No government - Thursday's routine parliament session, the first since Rajapakse and his disputed administration were deposed, began with the speaker announcing that the country now had no government. "As of now, there is no prime minister, no cabinet ministers and no government in Sri Lanka," said Karu Jayasuriya, wearing his black and gold robe. "I do not recognise anyone as prime minister." The vote ousting Rajapakse and the Supreme Court's rulings were a major boost to Wickremesinghe. The four-time prime minister, popular with Western countries for his economic reforms, had refused to leave his official residence after being fired by the president. - Let's have elections - Sirisena, who is vested with constitutional powers to induct a new prime minister and a cabinet of ministers, was yet to take note of Wednesday's no-confidence motion. On Thursday he accused Jayasuriya of violating legislative traditions, saying the signatures of 122 legislators who opposed Rajapakse had not been certified as genuine and also pointed to a typographical error. "We don't need to submit signatures to the President. All he has to do is take notice of the resolution passed by parliament. He need not be a proofreader," leftist lawmaker Bimal Ratnayake said. The president also rejected the position that he did not have the power to sack Wickremesinghe and replace him with Rajapakse. - Unbecoming - The crisis has alarmed the international community. Germany's ambassador Joern Rohde? tweeted on Thursday that it was a "bad day for democracy in Sri Lanka... reading about throwing objects at the speaker and preventing votes is unbecoming of a democracy." "There is political and economic instability. Our international image has been badly damaged," Jayasuriya told Sirisena in a letter released to the media before his meeting with Sirisena later in the day. Parliamentary proceedings in Sri Lanka turned ugly as MPs got physical with each other in the chamber Factfile on Sri Lanka Thursday's routine parliament session, the first since Rajapakse and his disputed administration were deposed, began with the speaker announcing that the country now had no government Diplomatic niceties have been in short supply for Aung San Suu Kyi at a summit in Singapore, where the one-time rights champion has been publicly chastised over her handling of the Rohingya crisis, compounding a dismal week for Myanmar's de facto leader. Suu Kyi has refused to speak up for the Rohingya, a stateless, persecuted Muslim minority driven by violence into Bangladesh in huge numbers. Her reticence on the issue has cut her adrift from the global rights community including the United Nations, whose investigators say last year's Myanmar army campaign amounted to genocide. Many of the honours previously showered upon Suu Kyi for her stoic, peaceful resistance during years of house arrest by Myanmar's junta have been rescinded. This week the bad news got worse. On Monday Amnesty International, whose campaign to free Suu Kyi galvanised global recognition of her democracy struggle, stripped her of its highest honour over her "indifference" to the atrocities against the Rohingya. One day later at a regional summit in Singapore, criticism replaced the garlands she has received on the global stage since steering her party into government in 2016. Suu Kyi was castigated by Malaysia's premier Mahathir Mohamad at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet, a forum better known for platitudes than admonishments. "Someone who has been detained before should know the sufferings and should not inflict it on the hapless," the forthright Mahathir told reporters on Tuesday shortly before the summit opened. "But it would seem that Aung San Suu Kyi is trying to defend what is indefensible," he added, ploughing through the summit's tradition of politeness. Dialling up the awkwardness, Mahathir spent the entire summit next to Suu Kyi at photocalls, roundtables and dinners -- thanks to the alphabetical proximity of Malaysia and Myanmar. "You can sense (her reception) is not the same as before," a Southeast Asia diplomat told AFP, requesting anonymity. "Everyone was expecting more from her." The diplomatic siege deepened on Wednesday when US Vice President Mike Pence told Suu Kyi the "violence and persecution" against the Rohingya was "without excuse". In reply Suu Kyi, who appeared wrong-footed by the directness of the public critique, retreated behind her usual position: the Rohingya crisis is an internal Myanmar affair. "In a way, we can say we understand our country better than any other country does," she said. The Nobel Laureate insists impartial domestic probes will establish any evidence of army abuses. But Rohingya refugees say Myanmar will never provide real justice. - Fallen star - Myanmar's army has driven the Muslim minority out in waves and denies them citizenship and self-identification as "Rohingya", instead labelling them "Bengalis" -- illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. More than 720,000 Rohingya were forced to cross the border by a Myanmar army kickback against Rohingya militants last year. They joined crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, one of Asia's poorest and most populous countries. The first families in an initial group of 2,000 were due to be repatriated on Thursday under a deal that has stalled due to fears the Rohingya will face persecution on their return. But by the afternoon none had returned amid reports of intimidation and fear among the refugees, who do not want to go back without citizenship, security and property guarantees. As the summit wound up on Thursday evening Mahathir told AFP Suu Kyi was regularly pressured by her fellow leaders on the Rohingya and their return throughout the meetings. "They all were indirectly critical and they were concerned," he said. "They hoped that this return of the Rohingya will be safe." Suu Kyi's defenders say her hands are tied by a power-sharing deal cut with the army that allowed civilian elections in 2015 but granted the military full control over all security matters. A spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) defended the party leader against the mounting flak in Singapore. "If their pressure (on Suu Kyi) is because of 'Bengali' repatriation... we have already agreed to accept all who have lived in Myanmar," Myo Nyunt said. Suu Kyi still draws widespread support inside Buddhist-majority Myanmar. But from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson, she has shed friends in international circles over her intransigence on the Rohingya crisis. And even gatherings in Asia -- where discretion and non-interference in perceived 'internal matters' of another country is a shibboleth of diplomacy -- no longer come with a guaranteed rock-star welcome. "Her star has undoubtedly dimmed," another ASEAN diplomat told AFP, also requesting anonymity. "Her reception is not as warm as... (when) she still had that aura." Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has refused to speak up for the Rohingya, a stateless, persecuted Muslim minority driven by violence into Bangladesh in huge numbers Suu Kyi has refused to speak up for the Rohingya, a stateless, persecuted Muslim minority driven by violence into Bangladesh in huge numbers Suu Kyi's defenders say her hands are tied by a power-sharing deal cut with army that allowed civilian elections in 2015 but granted the military full control over all security matters Suu Kyi was castigated by Malaysia's premier Mahathir Mohamad at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet, a forum better known for platitudes than admonishments US Vice President Mike Pence told Suu Kyi the 'violence and persecution' against the Rohingya was 'without excuse' Russia warned France on Thursday that it must put aside "parochial national interests" and recognize its peace efforts in the Central African Republic as negotiations continued on a contentious UN Security Council resolution. France has presented a draft resolution that takes aim at recent Russian efforts to broker peace deals in CAR by specifying that an African-led initiative is "the only framework" for a solution. "We are pro-actively helping the CAR, knowingly with the support of the people and we would like our efforts to be duly reflected in the French draft," Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanski told the council. "In the CAR, there will be work for all to genuinely help the country get back on our feet," he said, adding that it was time to "set aside historical complexes, egotism and parochial national interests." Working with Sudan, Russia in August convened talks in Khartoum of Central African militias who signed a preliminary agreement, drawing criticism from France of unhelpful meddling in its former colony. Russia has sent military trainers and equipment to the Central African Republic, and a security adviser is working with President Faustin-Archange Touadera, under a bilateral agreement. French diplomats and some UN officials have complained that the Russian peace initiative has complicated diplomatic efforts, sending mixed messages to the parties. "There must be no ambiguity about the central role of the African Union initiative, as asserted in our draft resolution," French Ambassador Francois Delattre told the council. The Central African Republic is struggling to recover from the bloodletting that exploded in 2013 after the ouster of leader Francois Bozize, a Christian, by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Touadera controls only a fraction of the country, most of which is overrun by militants who claim to protect either the Christian or Muslim communities. France also faced objections from the United States over a plan for UN peacekeepers in CAR to support newly-trained national forces as they deploy across the war-scarred country. But agreement was reached over language that specifies that the new task given to the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission will not lead to additional costs. The Security Council unanimously voted to extend for a month MINUSCA's mandate. The mandate was due to expire at midnight Thursday. A new vote will be held before December 15. Delattre said he hoped to win unanimous backing for the draft resolution to shore up peace efforts in the Central African Republic. France, Russia and the United States are struggling to overcome differences at the UN Security Council on renewing the mandate of the MINUSCA peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic Eight United Nations peacekeepers were killed in an operation against a rebel militia in eastern DR Congo, the UN Security Council said on Thursday. One Tanzanian and seven Malawian peacekeepers were killed, the council said, raising the toll from an earlier count. The deaths mark the biggest loss by the large UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the rebels killed 15 troops nearly a year ago. Earlier Thursday, General Bernard Commins, deputy head of the MONUSCO peacekeeping force, said a joint operation had been launched with DRC troops on Tuesday against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadi group blamed for bloody attacks on civilians. The offensive aimed at Kididiwe, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Beni, a city of between 200,000 and 300,000 inhabitants, said Commins. "We are holding Kididiwe at present, after violent fighting with an armed group. At present, we are evacuating wounded Congolese troops and Blue Helmets," he told AFP. He added he was unable to provide any information about reports at that time of fatalities. Malawi's armed forces confirmed earlier that four of its soldiers with MONUSCO -- a sergeant and three privates aged between 29 and 38 -- had been killed on Wednesday. The military "has lost courageous, hardworking and disciplined soldiers who were always ready to serve to ensure that peace prevails," the Malawi Defence Force said in a statement. It gave no further details on where or how they died. Commins described Kididiwe as a "major stronghold" of the ADF. A Congolese officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the town had been used as a springboard for militia attacks on Beni's suburbs this year. On Wednesday, Commins said MONUSCO had deployed attack helicopters against ADF forces threatening UN troops in the Mayangose area, northeast of Beni. The region is also battling an Ebola outbreak that has left more than 200 dead. Insecurity is hampering efforts to contain the disease, the UN spokesman said. In its statement the Security Council "underlined that deliberate attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law." The Council called for a swift investigation from Congolese authorities and warned that attacks against UN personnel constitutes a basis for sanctions. - Notorious militia - The ADF is an Islamist-rooted group that rose in western Uganda in 1995, led by Jamil Mukulu, a Christian turned Muslim. Forced out of Uganda, it operates in the border area in the DRC's North Kivu province. It has been blamed for recruiting and using child soldiers, killing hundreds of civilians since 2014, as well as 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers, who died in an attack in December 2017. Those fatalities were the biggest loss of life in a UN peacekeeping force since 1993 when 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Somalia during clashes with a local warlord. On Monday, MONUSCO's head, Leila Zerrougui, sounded the alarm over violence in the eastern DRC, saying it cast a shadow over the country's elections on December 23. "I have grown increasingly alarmed over the situation in Beni in recent months, where we continue to face major challenges in implementing our mandate," she added. "There is a potential for armed group interference in elections in specific areas throughout eastern DRC," she said. MONUSCO has around 17,000 members, making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations. Created in 1999 during the Second Congo War, it has an annual budget of $1.153 billion (1.02 billion euros). The eastern DR Congo is also battling an Ebola outbreak and the UN said insecurity is hampering efforts to contain the disease MONUSCO has around 17,000 members, making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations Map locating Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where UN peacekeeping troops have been killed in fighting with a rebel militia Tanzanian soldiers in the UN's peacekeeping force in DR Congo, on patrol in Beni A group of United Nations human rights experts said Thursday they had suspended a trip to Hungary after the government denied them access to sites where migrants are being held. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions had been invited by Budapest to visit the country this week. Committee member Setondji Roland Adjovi told AFP in an email that Hungary was aware the experts intended to visit the Roszke and Tompa "transit zones", two sites implicated in potentially illegal detentions. Hungary was "fully on notice, through various means before and during the visit, that the Working Group considers (the two sites) as places of deprivation of liberty," he added. Adjovi said the committee habitually carries out both announced and unannounced visits during country missions. Hungarian authorities were not informed about the timing of the visits to Roszke and Tompa, he added. "The Working Group showed up at those two locations simultaneously (on Wednesday) and was not allowed to enter," he said. The experts then told the government they would not continue the mission. "Unimpeded access to all places of deprivation of liberty including these transit zones must be guaranteed to independent international, regional and national organisations," the experts said in a statement. The terms of reference for visits by the group require states to guarantee freedom of inquiry, especially concerning "confidential and unsupervised contacts with persons deprived of their liberty," the statement said. The group said it "hoped that the Government of Hungary would enter into a constructive dialogue to enable the delegates (to) resume their visit in the near future." Hungary under anti-migrant Prime Minister Viktor Orban has had an increasingly tense relationship with UN human rights bodies. In a September speech at the UN Human Rights Council, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused "pro-migration" UN officials of "spreading lies" about the country. Former UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein in May accused Orban of being a "racist." Hungary's Tompa "transit zone", seen here in April 2017, is implicated in potentially illegal detentions Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will likely meet again after New Year, the US vice president said Thursday, but insisted his government would not repeat past mistakes where "promises are broken." The US president and the North Korean leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. North Korea has taken some steps since then -- forgoing nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a missile test site and promising to also break up the country's main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions. But progress has generally been slow, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. Trump has said he hopes to have a second meeting with Kim early next year, but talks between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official planned for last week, partly to prepare for the meeting, were cancelled. The US said the North axed the talks because they weren't ready, and Trump insisted he was in "no rush". Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still "ongoing". "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," he told reporters. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of prior administrations -- frankly both political parties have made over the last several decades -- where promises are made, sanctions are lifted and economic support comes and then promises are broken." His comments came after a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a summit attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. - Maximum pressure - Pence urged other countries at the meeting to keep up sanctions pressure on the North amid signs that Pyongyang's traditional trading partners, China and Russia, have eased enforcement. Seoul has also said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. US officials insist on the complete, verified and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled on the pressure in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), insisting sanctions should be fully enforced. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship-to-ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". Pence also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. But with the US retreating behind protectionism under the Trump administration, China has stepped into the space it has vacated as the champion of global free trade. Chinese Premier Li, who was also in Singapore, beat the drum for the world's largest free trade deal -- which excludes the US -- but sweeps in nearly half of the globe's population including all of the 10-country ASEAN bloc. Southeast Asian leaders welcomed the "substantial progress" made towards completing the RCEP, as the deal is known, which is forecast to be signed and enacted next year if sticking points including over market access can be surmounted. "We are very close to the finish line," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong said in a closing speech of the 16-nation deal, which also includes India, Japan and Australia. US Vice President Mike Pence wants sustained pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year The heartwarming story about the homeless man that gave his last $20 to a New Jersey woman who ran out of gas on I-95which raised $401,921 for him through a GoFundMe set up by the woman and her boyfriendturned sour when it emerged that the couple had apparently been keeping funds from the homeless good Samaritan and spent it all on themselves. Now the story has another twist: NBC 10 says that the couple and homeless man concocted the story together, and it's believed the trio will be charged with conspiracy and theft by deception. Last year, Katelyn McClure recounted on GoFundme about being stranded on the highway. "Thats when I met Johnny," she wrote. "Johnny sits on the side of the road every day, holding a sign. He saw me pull over and knew something was wrong. He told me to get back in the car and lock the doors. A few minutes later, he comes back with a red gas can. Using his last 20 dollars to make sure I could get home safe." After that, McClure said she repaid him, plus would stop by to give him a few dollars or winter gear, "I wish that I could do more for this selfless man, who went out of his way just to help me that day. He is such a great guy, and talking to him each time I see him makes me want to help him more and more." So she launched the fundraising campaign, which went viral after a local NJ paper wrote about it. McClure, her boyfriend Mark D'Amico, and Bobbitt gave interviews about "paying it forward" and Bobbitt's future. This past summer, Philadelphia news outlets reported that Bobbitt was homeless once again, and that he was worried that McClure and D'Amico were funding their suddenly lavish lifestyle with the GoFundMe money. The couple, in turn, claimed that they had to ration the money so Bobbitt wouldn't spend it on drugs and insisted they were innocent. The authorities searched their house, and their lawyer said he thought the couple would be indicted. GoFundMe even promised that Bobbitt would get all the funds. A source told NBC 10 that McClure and D'Amico turned themselves into prosecutors on Wednesday, while Bobbitt's whereabouts are unclear. Update: Bobbitt was arrested in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. The station also reports, "A complaint obtained by NBC10 alleges that the three conspired with one another to make up a false story in order to raise more than $400,000. Investigators say the three deliberately prevented donors for their GoFundMe campaign from gaining information 'that would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort.'" The Burlington County Prosecutors Office is expected to make an announcement today. A woman is on life support after a plastic surgery procedure she attempted to have done overseas went tragically wrong. Laura Avila traveled from Texas, US, to Juarez, Mexico, to have plastic surgery done on her nose, because the procedure is far cheaper than in her home country, according to a report from New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU 6. The woman had complications and suffered a heart attack after she was given anesthesia, so doctors refused to continue with the surgery, her sister Angie Avila said on a GoFundMe page she started to help fund her sisters medical bills. Laura Avila is on life support after a plastic surgery procedure she attempted to have done overseas went tragically wrong. Source: Laura Avila / Facebook She was then placed into a medically induced coma to prevent further damage to her brain that was caused by the complications she experienced during anesthesia, Angie wrote. Doctors recently started to slowly take Ms Avila out of the coma, but its too soon to know the state she will be in from the damage she has sustained until she awakens. Ms Avila suffered brain swelling that caused brain damage, and is currently having seizures. She had been in an Intensive Care Unit in Mexico for six days before we were allowed to get her back to the US, Angie reported. In the event that she wakes up, it is likely she will need to begin physical therapy and rehabilitation for an unforeseen period of time. The family is hoping to raise more than $200,000 to help pay for Lauras medical bills. Laura Avila traveled from Texas, US, to Juarez, Mexico, to have a nose job, because the procedure is far cheaper than in her home country. Source: Laura Avila / Facebook Elective surgery overseas a bad idea A recent study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery identified 78 patients over seven years who had medical complications from travelling overseas for elective surgery and needed follow-up care in the US. The Centers for Disease Control acknowledges on its website that medical tourism is fairly common, but points out that there are risks. In order to do it safely, they recommend making sure your current medical conditions are well controlled before undergoing surgery, checking the qualifications of the person who will be performing the surgery as well as the facility where it will take place, taking copies of your medical records with you and bringing back copies of your medical records. Story continues If you have a good result after travelling abroad for surgery, then its not a bad idea, Craig Vander Kolk, MD, director of cosmetic medicine and surgery at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, told Yahoo Lifestyle. The problem is that you risk having a bad complication. We never recommend it. Dr Vander Kolk acknowledges that plastic surgery in an accredited centre with an accredited doctor in the US can be costly, but he says its worth it. Laura Avilas sister is trying to raise $200,000 to help with the womans medical bills. Source: Laura Avila / Facebook Advice for choosing surgeons abroad When it comes to finding a good surgeon, Dr Vander Kolk recommends relying on word of mouth, along with making sure youre using a board-certified plastic surgeon. Also, listen to your gut and shop around. I tell people to see as many doctors as you feel comfortable with, he said. If a surgeon isnt going to answer all your questions and you dont have a good feeling, dont do it. As for getting surgery abroad, just know youre rolling the dice. Ive seen some good results, but its risky. We always think its a bad idea, Dr Vander Kolk said. The death of a woman who plunged from the upper deck of a cruise ship is reportedly being investigated as a potential murder case. A 52-year-old American woman aboard Princess Cruises Royal Princess ship sailing in the Caribbean on Tuesday fell to her death onto a lifeboat below. The woman had previously been seen in an altercation with a male passenger where she was allegedly being choked, Aruba news outlet Diario reported. The woman fell from the ships upper deck onto a lifeboat below. Source: CruiseMapper Aruba-based MasNoticia.com revealed investigators are looking into whether the womans death was murder. Princess Cruises confirmed the womans death on Tuesday onboard the ship which was travelling to Aruba from Curacao, off the coast of Venezuela, yet said the cause of death was not yet known. We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected, a statement from the company said. Police boarded the vessel as it docked in Aruba with passengers unable to leave until authorities arrived, one witness told NBC 9News. If you picked up Wednesday's print edition of The Citizen or looked inside your home delivery or e-edition copy, you hopefully saw a special section devoted to comic strips that was called "Bubbles," a play on the dialogue and thought clouds so commonly associated with newspaper strips. This was the second time we've published this special section, and this version's content evolved from the feedback that our parent company, Lee Enterprises, gathered from readers here in the Cayuga County area and throughout the United States. These sections have a few purposes. First and foremost, Lee supports all of its newspaper markets with this type of premium special section content as a way of adding value to the products we can provide. Another important purpose for this particular section is to use the feedback gathered to inform our decisions about which comic strips we should be publishing in our regular daily and Sunday editions. I urge our readers to enjoy this new edition of "Bubbles" and be on the lookout for an emailed survey about what you liked and didn't like. One strip that has emerged as being especially popular with readers in today's hectic and often turbulent times is called Macanudo. Check out page 23 of this week's "Bubbles" section for a sample. Readers of The Citizen will begin to see Macanudo appear in the Dec. 23 edition. It will be replacing Intelligent Life, which is switching to digital-only publication at the end of the year. Macanudo is the creation of an international artist named Liniers, who hails from Argentina and has generated a massive following in South America. Earlier this year, he signed with American syndicator King Features to bring his work to the United States. Liniers' work has appeared in The New Yorker magazine, and numerous award-winning comic collections and picture books. He was honored for his career achievement with the Inkpot Award at this years San Diego Comic-Con. Liniers brings such a fresh voice and vision and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome him to the King Features family, said King Features President C.J. Kettler when the company launched Macanudo in early September. His unique work has made him a household name in Latin America and captivated people around the world, and we feel there is amazing potential in the U.S. and other countries to put Macanudo in front of more audiences and into other mediums. Here's a synopsis of Macanudo that King provided: Macanudo is a strip that speaks to both adults and children alike, showing us a world of imagination, wonder and unfailing optimism. There is no ongoing storyline to keep track of since each comic represents a different corner of Liniers fantastical mind. Youll meet all kinds of weird and wonderful characters, like Henrietta, a little girl with big ideas, and her teddy bear, Mandelbaum. Youll also meet Martin and his best pal, a blue monster named Olga who resides in his imagination. Youll meet whimsical gnomes and penguins, businessmen, furry creatures, artists and dreamers, and we know youll be very happy to make their acquaintances! Liniers is now living in Vermont and completing a fellowship with the Center for Cartoon Studies and teaching at Dartmouth College. Executive editor Jeremy Boyers column appears Thursdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at (315) 282-2231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @CitizenBoyer Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New York City has been selected as a location for one of Amazon's new office complexes in a deal that promises to create 25,000 new jobs. But we're not the only ones questioning why New York is giving the company more than $1.5 billion in tax breaks. We're all for job creation, but there is simply no precedent for this blockbuster giveaway of state tax dollars, and while New York City stands to benefit immensely from this development, upstate is still waiting for its turn at bat. The upstate/downstate divide was not lost on state Sen. Catharine Young, who lamented that at the same time the Amazon deal was being announced, New Era Cap reported that it will be closing its Erie County manufacturing facility that employs more than 200 people. While upstate awaits "strategic economic development efforts ... to assure its long-term survival," Young said, New York is handing over the largest financial incentive in state history to a "global corporate giant valued at nearly $1 trillion." The National Federation of Independent Businesses in New York said that while incentives for one of the biggest corporations in the world were being celebrated Tuesday, "the state's hundreds of thousands of small business owners and real job creators are again left out in the cold." And this deal puts yet another spotlight on the fact that the executive branch (specifically Gov. Andrew Cuomo) has far too much power to decide where state resources are directed and the fuzzy math that is sometimes used to justify spending vs. long-term benefit for the taxpayer. True to form, Cuomo on Tuesday said that the Amazon deal "costs us nothing" and will generate $27.5 billion in new tax revenue. Throwing money at economic development is nothing new for Cuomo, who also has a habit of quoting terrific job-creation numbers that don't stand up to scrutiny. Some economists said that what Amazon needs most to support its new ventures is a large pool of skilled employees, so it probably would have settled on the locations it did without getting any incentives at all. We understand that Amazon required a certain density of population and related infrastructure to accommodate its campuses, so the company couldn't be expected to build in the middle of field in a rural part of upstate. But we do question such a massive outpouring of state dollars going to support a New York City-area development when upstate continues to have economic development needs of its own. The Citizen editorial board includes publisher Rob Forcey, executive editor Jeremy Boyer and managing editor Mike Dowd. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 "The news media is our friend, not our enemy. Trump is wrong to vilify the press." Sen.-elect Mitt Romney, R-Utah (USA Today 11/11/18) Wow! Look at that, John Katko. A Republican challenging Trump! Three days earlier Romney said, "Mueller's Russia investigation should continue." (Salt Lake Tribune, 11/8/18) Did Romney miss Trump's threat: "I destroy disloyal Republicans." Buckle up, Mitt. Romney believes it is more important to stand up for truth than blind loyalty to Trump or tribal obedience to Republicans ... stand up for our democracy/Constitution ... do what's best for our country/all Americans ... lead with ethical values rather than hateful/divisive scare tactics. John Katko, you voted for Trump more than 90 percent of the time. You obviously hold Trump and his values/behaviors in very high esteem. Or does Trump own you? What do you say to children who ask, "Is it now OK for me to lie? Our president does it all the time." (5,000 lies in 601 days; 8.3 lies per day; during 9/3-9/12/18 he averaged 32 lies/daily; on 9/7/18 he told 125 lies, according to Fact Checkers) What do you say to children who ask, "Is it now OK for me to make up any answers I want on a school test? And then is it OK for me to call my teachers stupid and attack their intelligence when they criticize my answers? That's what Trump does." (Trump calls those who oppose/question him stupid, especially mocking his black critics' intelligence. CNN 11/11/18; Washington Post, 11/9/18.) John Katko, buried on page six of your website you write, "I remain steadfast in my support for the Mueller investigation and believe it must continue to run its course without impediment." Oh really? Who is supposed to see that conveniently hidden message? (Ivanka certainly didn't.) So, starting in January 2019, when there is a House vote to protect the Mueller investigation, I trust you will vote "Yea," right? Are you going to stand up and vote for justice? Or continue to cower and support Trump 90 percent of the time? Here's an idea: Why don't you organize a group of your fellow Republicans to finally uphold your Constitutionally mandated responsibility to impose checks/balances on a rogue president? And while you're at it, please condemn his hateful lies, behaviors, racism, language and divisiveness. Don't worry, there is safety in numbers. You boys can call yourselves, "The Republican Coalition to Make America a Democracy Again." I'll buy the hats. Laurie Roberts Aurora Love 13 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The CEO of internet and telecommunications giant AT&T, a company that once sued to block Obama-era net neutrality regulations from taking effect, called this week for Congress to pass nationwide net neutrality legislation. At the same time, Randall L. Stephenson, 58, (pictured above) condemned state-level net neutrality laws such as the bill passed in August by the California legislature as a total disaster. The Obama-era regulations that guaranteed equal treatment by internet service providers for all online traffic were ditched by the Republican-controlled FCC this year, after being in place only since 2015. Since the regulations were repealed effective June 11, several states instituted their own net neutrality measuresmost notably, a California law that passed on August 31 and was seen as offering the strongest open internet protections in the country. But as soon as the bill was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, the Donald Trump administration sued to stop it, and at the end of October, Californias attorney general Xavier Becerra agreed to delay implementation of the net neutrality law until a court decision comes down in a similar case, brought by open-source web-browser maker Mozilla. That process could take another year. "There are a number of states that are now passing their own legislation around privacy and, by the way, net neutrality," Stephenson said at a tech conference this week. "What would be a total disaster for the technology and innovation you see happening in Silicon Valley and elsewhere is to pick our head up and have 50 different sets of rules for companies trying to operate in the United States." Stephenson added that he wants to see "legislation, not regulation," but critics say that may be because a congressional bill would give AT&T and its powerful lobbyists the opportunity to shape the law to their own benefit. When AT&T supported a national pro-net neutrality day of action protest last year, according to the news site The Verge, AT&T hid the fact that it opposed the very regulations that the protest aimed to supportthe same regulations that were repealed by the FCC under Trump-appointed chair Ajit Pai this year. Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T want Congress to make a net neutrality law because they will write it, The Verge wrote at the time. Internet service providers are coincidentally united today in calling for Congress to actand thats because theyve paid handsomely to control what Congress does. Photo By Robert Scoble/Wikmedia Commons Just hours after the California State Bar Association cleared him of professional misconduct allegationsallegations filed in March days after he filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump on behalf of AVN Hall of Famer Stormy DanielsDaniels lawyer Michael Avenatti was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles on suspicion of domestic violence, according to multiple media reports. NBC News, however, reported that Avenatti was detained in the process of taking an incident report, which appears to contradict reports that he was placed under arrest. UPDATE: NBC News has since updated its report to confirm that Avenatti was arrested, and the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed via its Twitter account that, "LAPD Detectives arrested Michael Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available." The Hollywood Reporter wrote that it had confirmed Avenattis arrest, and that a Los Angeles Police department spokesperson said that the report accusing the high-profile attorney and outspoken Donald Trump critic of domestic violence was filed on Tuesday. According to the celebrity gossip site TMZ, which first reported the arrest, Avenatti had a confrontation with an unidentified woman on Wednesday at a high-end apartment building in the exclusive Century City district of Los Angeles. TMZ reported that sources described the womans face as swollen and bruised. TMZ had initially reported that the woman was Avenatti's estranged wife, but later updated the story to say that the alleged victim was a different woman. While Avenatti has not yet commented publicly on the arrest, TMZ reported that during the Wednesday confrontation he was heard declaring, She hit me first! But the details reported by the gossip site have not been independently confirmed as of Wednesday afternoon. Earlier on Wednesday, the California Bar announced that it had completed an investigation into allegations of professional misconduct stemming from Avenattis ownership of a coffee shop chain, Tullys Coffee. According to a letter posted by Avenatti on his Twitter account, the Bar Association declared the matter closed with no further action to be taken. I said at the time that the accusations were politically motivated and baseless. And I was right. I was just cleared, Avenatti wrote on Twitter. Photo by Showtime Network 'The Circus'/Wikimedia Commons LOS ANGELESCalExotics and sister company Jopen have each won a 2018 Creativity International Award for their popular collections California Dreaming and Pave. Each collection was recognized for their outstanding packaging design in the health and beauty category. It is truly an honor to receive this prestigious award, said Susan Colvin, Founder and CEO of CalExotics. The beautiful packaging of California Dreaming and Pave is some of our best work, and we are thrilled to receive these awards. Entries came from 25 countries, one Canadian Province and 14 U.S. states. CalExotics and Jopen were recognized along with many well-known companies such as PepsiCo and MTV. Since 1970, Creativity International Design Awards celebrates exceptional graphic design. Winning entries are selected for their quality and impact. The awards are open to both students and professionals around the world. The company has been awarded a Creativity International Award seven times. CalExotics keeps the California spirit alive with the bold, California Dreaming collection. The packaging evokes the true California Dream of sun, surf, and sand. The bright colors of the toys and packaging are reminiscent of the bold California natives themselves and the famous California sunsets. We wanted the colors of the California Dreaming collection to be bright, fun, and full of personality, just like the people that live here, Colvin said. The range of colors mimics the beautiful California Beach sunsets that take out breath away. Named after classic Hollywood stars and iconic royalty, Pave will take your breath away. The products are adorned with a diamond-like setting; this collection is unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. Each Pave product comes in a unique jewel-shaped box which is sure to stand out on shelves and catch the attention of luxury-seeking customers. The beautiful, jewel shaped box invites customers to live out their most glamorous fantasies. Senior Graphic Designer for CalExotics Christina Gonsowski said, As designers, we put our heart and soul into our work. It is incredible to see our work in the adult novelty space being recognized globally. View California Dreaming and Pave in the Winners Gallery now. To see a full list of the 2018 Creativity International Award Winners, click here. To learn more about CalExotics, visit b2b.calexotics.com. For more information about upcoming products and other exciting news follow CalExotics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Keith Raniere, the self-appointed "self-help" guru who stands accused of branding women and forcing them to trade various sex acts for entry into his alleged cult, would prefer not to await trial behind bars. Raniere has requested release on a $1 million bond in an elaborate plea penned and submitted by his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo. The last time Raniere attempted to secure a similar bail arrangement, Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis shot him down, on the grounds he presented a high flight risk. (Authorities first tracked him down in Mexico, and as Judge Garaufis noted, his utter lack of personal wealth meant Raniere had nothing to lose.) Still, Agnifilo laid out his renewed argument in 13 pages of footnoted court filings, with an evidence appendix for additional support. Basically, it boils down to this: Nxivum and Raniere, its purported "Vanguard," have been fundamentally, even willfully, misunderstood. "Just as Socrates challenged the young people of Athens to question sacrosanct beliefs of the time, and indeed was executed for his disruption of a closed-minded system of government, Nxivm challenges participants to question, rather than blindly accept, the fundamental content of their lives," Agnifilo writes. "Nxivm is interesting to certain people because it challenges their existing belief systems, and even what it means to believe something." If you read that damning NY Times article from 2017which probed what sounds like a practice of dangling a program of professional advancement in front of women, brainwashing them, and inducting some into a secret sub-sorority wherein "slaves" were branded with a symbol resembling Raniere's initials, and often coerced into sexthen you might be inclined to believe that Raniere is dangerous. You might also view his post-Nxivm relocation to Mexico as somewhat suspicious. Agnifilo has explanations: Raniere moved to Mexico with the mother of his child when her U.S. visa ran out. And as for the sex stuff, all that was consensual, he told Gothamist. "The branding was something that some women in DOS chose to do as a gesture of their commitment to it. It wasn't required," Agnifilo wrote in an email. "Some women joined DOS and chose to not brand themselves." Additionally, he continued, "There was never sexual servitude or sex trafficking in DOS. The government has heard from multiple women in DOS that the group had nothing to do with sex whatsoever." Further, he explained in the filing, Raniere isn't violent: "There are no physical injuries, no black eyes, no bloody noses, no fists, punching, slaps or pulling hair," he argued, painting Nxivm as an essentially peaceful operation. "However, there is one feeling that apparently has afflicted a certain number of people: regret." Yet some former Nxivm members left with physical scars. Sarah Edmondson showed the Times her brand, situated near her pelvis, and recalled: "I wept the whole time. I disassociated out of my body." While Raniere has denied that his group qualified as a cult, experts roundly disagree, noting the way Raniere allegedly used sex to cement his self-imposed power and exert control over his followers. Raniere was arrested in March, and indicted on charges of sex trafficking and forced labor conspiracy in April. His reported right-hand, Smallville actor Allison Mack, faces the same charges. In July, authorities took Raniere's cofounderNancy Salzmanand her daughter into custody, along with Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman (who allegedly bankrolled the group) and bookkeeper Kathy Russel, on a raft of racketeering charges. Agnifilo contends that, however wealthy his acquaintances (Bronfman posted $100 million in bail), the defendant himself has no personal assets. He does, however, have three unnamed benefactors willing to front the $1 million for a bond that would let him await trial in home confinement in Clifton, New York. Agnifilo has promised Garaufis that his client would submit to electronic monitoring, surrender of passport, and minimal computer access. Judge Garaufis now gets to decide what he wants to do with this very philosophical plea. Either way, Raniere and Mack will be tried in March. Incoming Supreme Court Justice Earls represented plaintiffs in another redistricting lawsuit N.C. Supreme Court Justice-elect Anita Earls, then an attorney for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, spoke with reporters in July 2017 outside the U.S. courthouse in Greensboro. (CJ photo by Dan Way) The results of this month's legislative elections haven't been certified. Yet Common Cause, the N.C. Democratic Party, and 22 individual plaintiffs are seeking a court order to overturn some of those General Assembly districts.The parties filed the lawsuit Tuesday, Nov. 13, in Wake County Superior Court. The lawsuit challenges legislative maps drawn in 2017 and seeks new voting maps for 2020.N.C. Republican Party Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse said in a written statement.plaintiffs claim in the lawsuit . RepublicansAmong other state constitutional claims, the lawsuit says Republicans' 2017 court-ordered redistricting plan, affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, violated North Carolina's Free Election Clause because it gives Republicans a partisan electoral advantage.Plaintiffs argue the N.C. Constitution prohibits partisan gerrymanders and provides greater equal protection guarantees than the U.S. Constitution. No matter how the U.S. Supreme Court resolves partisan gerrymander questions under the U.S. Constitution, the court should view the complaint under N.C. constitutional protections, toss out the 2017 plans, and order new maps for 2020, they argue.This is the latest action in a wave of litigation filed in state and federal courts the past several years, all seeking to void or blunt Republican-created voting maps.Newly elected state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls represented plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit, Covington v. North Carolina , which involved racial gerrymandering.The lawsuit filed Tuesday raises complaints heard in previous court cases. But it focuses mainly on the claim Democrats aren't represented fairly in the General Assembly. Democrats cast almost as many votes statewide as Republicans yet they win a lot fewer seats in the legislature.the lawsuit says. It noted Democratic candidates won a majority of the statewide votes cast in the 2018 elections, but Republicans still won a substantial majority of seats in each chamber.Joseph Kyzer, spokesman for defendant House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, told Carolina Journal.Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, a co-defendant, did not respond to a request for comment. Other defendants include the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement and its individual members.The lawsuit says General Assembly Republicans will control the next round of redistricting. State and congressional boundaries they draw will be in place for the succeeding 10 years. Although Democrats broke the Republicans' veto-proof majority in the Nov. 6 general election, the governor has no veto power over redistricting in North Carolina.the suit stated.Plaintiffs didn't contemplate the possibility Democrats could win majorities in 2020.the lawsuit says.In addition to partisan gerrymanders affecting Democrats' political fortunes, the lawsuit claims Republicans are becoming more ideologically conservative. They don't vote for the interests of Democratic constituents, and rarely cast crossover votes, denying Democrats the ability to influence legislative outcomes.The 2017 redistricting plan burdens the plaintiffs' state-guaranteed freedom of speech and freedom of assembly based on their identity, viewpoints, and content of their speech, thus making their votes less effective. Money spent by the Democratic Party on candidates for messaging is less effective because of the gerrymanders.The lawsuit further alleges the 2017 maps reduced the Democratic Party's representation and ability to elect a majority. That violates plaintiffs' rights of association by making it more difficult to register voters, attract volunteers, raise money in gerrymandered districts, campaign, and turn out the vote.Participatory democracy, public funding of elections, and other measures that encourage accountable government are also diminished by the partisan maps, the lawsuit says. On Tuesday, Amazon announced that it would split its much-ballyhooed HQ2 between two cities: New York and Crystal City, an area just outside Washington, D.C. New York is obviously heavy Democratic territory; the headquarters will be located in Queens, for whom the congressperson is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez . And Northern Virginia is a similarly Democratic area.So, what goodies did Democrats give Jeff Bezos and Amazon for the privilege of hosting their new headquarters? According to Jim Geraghty of National Review, the state of Virginia will give Amazon some $573 million to produce some 25,000 jobs, and Arlington will give Amazon $23 million over 15 years. As Geraghty points out, "Arlington is raising taxes in order to pay Amazon to locate there." Meanwhile, New York opened its goodie bag as well, with Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill De Blasio grinning through the announcement that the state would give Amazon some $2 billion in tax credits and other incentives. They will receive direct incentives of $1.525 billion for creating 25,000 jobs - an average of $61,000 per job created. As The New York Times reports:The state also offered a capital grant to the company that could total as much as $500 million that Amazon can use to build new offices. It will also apply for additional incentives through existing city programs available to any company, Amazon said. Tax experts said those programs, for hiring workers in boroughs outside Manhattan and for commercial development, could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.Both New York and Washington, D.C. can also expect rising housing prices, strained public services, and additional spent tax dollars on Amazon.So, it turns out that crony capitalism is alive and well in Democratic areas like New York and Washington, D.C. This used to be called corruption. Now it's just "drawing business." It's rather hilarious that the same politicians who recognize that they need to create special incentives to draw businesses from foreign climes refuse to acknowledge that the regulations and taxes they place on their own homegrown businesses drive those businesses away. But economic liberals have never been known for the consistency of their viewpoint.All of this drove Ocasio-Cortez to tweet about her opposition to crony capitalism:This prompted right-wingers to claim Ocasio-Cortez as one of their own. But as Philip Wegmann of the Washington Examiner points out, this is nonsense: Ocasio-Cortez is fine with crony capitalism so long as she gets to pick the big winners. Her website explicitly calls for "the electrification of vehicles, sustainable home heating, distributed rooftop solar generation, and the conversion of the power grid to zero-emissions energy sources." That can only be attempted through massive subsidies and taxes.This is the dirty little secret about crony capitalism: democratic socialists love it, because crony capitalism is just another form of top-down economics in which the government chooses winners and losers. But it's bad business for taxpayers no matter how you slice it. For almost a year now, New York tenants who live in select ZIP codes have been entitled to a free lawyer if their landlord tries to evict them, thanks to a law passed by the City Council in 2017. But you might not know it from walking into the Bronx Housing Court on the date of your court appearance. Only one sign on each of the buildings five floors lists the ZIP codes that are currently covered as the five-year rollout of the law continues. These signs are handwritten in marker, and two of them were inaccurate on a recent November afternoon. If you went straight into the courtroom and waited for your case to be called, you still might not know: the two judges assigned to the covered ZIP codes in the Bronx only announce the existence of the right-to-counsel program once a day. Today, the city will hold the first public hearing on the the right-to-counsel law, which took effect in January after a broad coalition of organizers spent years pushing for its passage. Lawyers, tenants, and advocates who spoke with Gothamist ahead of the hearing said the implementation of the program thus far has been promising, but uneven. Court-appointed lawyers have started to transform the predatory environment of housing court, resulting in fewer evictions, but some eligible tenants still slip through the cracks, and implementation has been more successful in some boroughs than others. Before the hearing, the citys Human Resources Administration released a report showing that nearly one third of tenants who appeared for eviction cases this year were represented by lawyers, up from only 1% of tenants in 2013. According to the citys analysis, this new representation prevented over 22,000 evictions across the five boroughs. By 2022, legal services will be available to anyone in New York who makes up to double the federal poverty level $30,000 for an individual, or $50,000 for a family of four. For a Bronx tenant named Pamela, who asked that we withhold her full name due to her ongoing legal proceedings, the mere fact of having a lawyer on her side made all the difference. Her landlord took her to court claiming she didnt send rent checks that she says were cashed. With the help of her Legal Aid lawyer, she pushed for an adjournment, and the court subpoenaed the landlords financial records in order to investigate who cashed the checks and when. If I didnt have a lawyer, I dont know what I would have done, she said. I would have been stressed out, headaching, trying to figure out what I can do to get the truth out. And you know, Im a fighter, but that doesnt mean I can do it all on my own. The climate in these courtrooms has changed significantly, said Andrew Scherer, a lawyer who co-chairs the New York City Bar Associations civil justice task force, which formed earlier this year to evaluate the rollout of the right-to-counsel law. People are more aware of their rights, and theres a lot more actual litigation going on. Still, Scherer says hes observed some hiccups in the rollout, most noticeably in the Bronx. In that borough, lawyers contracted by the city to provide free counsel are based not out of an enclosed office, but off a counter in the third-floor lobby where they process around 50 new cases a day, a much higher load than other boroughs. The caseload and the chaotic arrangement of space make it very difficult for the service providers to have private, substantial conversations with their clients. Capacity is a huge issue there, said Scherer. These facilities were inadequate when there was half the current amount of litigation. Owing to the chaos, many tenants end up advocating for themselves against the professional lawyers hired by their landlords. On a particularly busy Thursday, one man, Wilfredo Guillermo, had been waiting for more than an hour to speak with Legal Aid when Gothamist interviewed him. Guillermo said he was considering dealing with his case on his own. The landlord for an apartment where he no longer lives, he said, had taken him to court over rent that his former spouse, who still lives there, hadnt paid. For so long, housing court has been a collection agency for landlords, said Judith Goldiner, the Legal Aid attorney who has overseen the organizations right-to-counsel contract with the city, hiring dozens of new lawyers to meet the demand. Its understandable that tenants dont think it could actually work in their favor, she said. Were making it into a real court. Affordable housing advocates rally at City Hall in September of 2016 support of a right-to-counsel bill. (Steven Wishnia / Gothamist) When facing unrepresented tenants, attorneys representing landlords often try to end cases before they even begin: they pull tenants from the courtroom into a crowded hallway, present them with a stack of paper, and telling them they can leave court immediately if they sign on the line and agree to a deal offered by their landlord. Sometimes these lawyers will even approach tenants and try to hash out deals without revealing who they work for. Whats more, Goldiner said, many tenants fear backlash from their landlords if they choose to take a lawyer, and some landlords lawyers threaten to revoke settlement deals if the tenant takes a lawyer. But the biggest hurdle Legal Aid has faced thus far in the Bronx, she said, is simply making sure tenants are aware that counsel is available. According to the citys data, 56% of tenants in the eligible ZIP codes claimed their free counsel this year. At Housing Court in Brooklyn, things are relatively more organized. When tenants visit the clerk to get their case ticket, the clerk is supposed to tell them if their ZIP code entitles them to a lawyer; if the clerk doesnt, two employees of the nonprofit Housing Court Answers wait at a table in the screening room to inform them of their rights. As eligible tenants proceed to their cases, they are processed again by employees from the citys Human Resources Administration, which oversees the right-to-counsel program. When their cases are called, the supervising judge, Marc Finkelstein, reminds them of their rights again. David Burton, a lawyer who mainly represents landlords in Brooklyn, said the right-to-counsel law has contributed to an increase in what he called unnecessary motion practice. Represented tenants, he said, tend to file more motions for delay and adjournment, which stretch out cases that might formerly have been opened and closed with a single appearance. The attorneys do drag things out, which is unfortunate, he said. But Burton also claimed many cases still proceed as they used to because the facts in many eviction disputes are on the side of the landlord. Getting evicted in New York is like failing a test, he said. You have to try really hard to fail a test, and you have to try really hard to get evicted. But to tenants like Elizabeth Johnson, who was at court in Brooklyn the same day to fight an eviction, the systems in place at housing court all seem designed to disadvantage tenants. Her landlord, she said, illegally evicted her from her apartment before the date by which the court told her she had to leave. They called the police into the apartment and kicked us out, she said. Then they changed the locks so we couldnt get back in to get our stuff. But with the help of her lawyer, she said, she was negotiating that day for time to return to her apartment and retrieve her belongings. With the launch of Universal Access to Legal Services last year, New York City became the first jurisdiction in the nation to guarantee legal assistance to all low-income people facing eviction, said Steven Banks, commissioner of the Department of Social Services in a statement. Now, one year later, this initiative has provided thousands of New Yorkers the fighting chance they deserve to avoid eviction and harassment, having a positive impact not only for those who are able to remain in their homes but for the City overall. And even despite the challenges involved in rolling out such an ambitious program, some advocates and legislators want to expand right-to-counsel even further. The free representation offered by the city does not cover appeals, for instance, or Section 8 disputes. Mark Levine, a City Council member who represents Upper Manhattan, has also introduced a bill that would expand the range of incomes covered under the lawit currently covers those who make at most twice the federal poverty standard, but Levines bill would expand that to four times the standard. Scherer also noted that the passage of right to counsel laws in New York had inspired the passage of a similar law in San Francisco; he also said hes consulted with lawmakers working on similar legislation in cities including Chicago and Philadelphia. There are going to be hiccups, of course, he said. There was no way we were going to be able to represent tens of thousands of tenants overnight. But were fundamentally changing the culture of the courts. Its a big disruption. A federal judge has rejected a federal consent decree that was supposed to reform New York Citys troubled public housing authority. The agreement between federal prosecutors and the city came about after a scathing report accused NYCHA of attempting to conceal the deplorable conditions inside the hundreds of public housing developments it manages. This case is about the disastrous human toll resulting from a complete bureaucratic breakdown of the largest public housing agency in the United States, Judge William Pauley wrote in his decision. As part of the consent decree, the city agreed to provide NYCHA with more than $1 billion for repairs, plus an additional $1 billion in capital funds to NYCHA over the next four years. And a federal monitor was expected to develop a reform plan and then set the requirements for the housing authority to meet. The judge pointed out that it has been five months since the decree was announced and no monitor has been found. He also noted that theres no cap on the amount the monitor would be paid and said the government could provide no estimate other than to say it would be a substantial amount. (The housing authority has $17 billion in unmet capital needs, and is responsible for paying the monitor.) He also called out the two sides for fighting over the role the monitor would play, and noted that at the rate funding was being allocated, NYCHA wouldn't have its needs met until the year 2166. This decision will not affect the record investment Mayor de Blasio has dedicated to reversing decades of divestment and mismanagement of public housing, said the Mayors press secretary Eric Phillips. For the sake of NYCHAs residents, this Mayors reformsincluding those outlined in the consent decreewill not stop and will not slow down. In his 52 page decision, Judge Pauley saved a large part of his criticism for how the Department of Housing and Urban Development was left out of the agreement. He said Congress has given HUD the power to crack down on troubled housing authorities and the agreement sidelines the federal agency. Pauley wrote that it was striking how HUD abdicated its responsibilities given all of the Governments allegations regarding the deplorable conditions of NYCHA housing and NYCHAs deliberate attempts to pull the wool over HUDs eyes. Judge Pauley basically says, 'I dont see how I as an individual judge am the one that should be overseeing this instead of HUD who has the authority to run public housing and put in a receiver if things are going badly,' said attorney Nicole Gueron from Clarick Gueron Reisbaum. Her firm represents tenant leaders who opposed the consent decree and who want a stronger role in how any reforms play out. They know when the heat isnt working and when the power goes out because theyre living it. They know it sooner than any inspector and they should have a meaningful role and be included so that their voices are heard, she said. Federal prosecutors and the New York City Housing Authority are expected back in court in mid-December. In a written statement, Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District said, We are reviewing the decision of the Court and will respond within the time frame set forth by Judge Pauley. The well-being of the over 400,000 NYCHA residents continues to be our paramount concern. HUD did not respond to our request for comment. Cindy Rodriguez is the urban policy reporter for New York Public Radio. You can follow her on Twitter at @cynrod. This resource is no longer available This resource is no longer available. Return to previous page. On September 12, 1967 Ralph Axtell, of the Biology Department of Southern Illinois University, called the Smithsonian Institution using the teletype connected to his time-shared computer and asked for a [computer] program for the calculation of standard deviations. The Smithsonian then sent him two computer programs. This demonstrated that, using data communications equipment and telephone lines, it is fast, practical, and feasible to exchange programs in the BASIC language, written for use by biosystematists, between institutions in the United States. A revolution had begun that would transform museums, research, systematics and science. The following day, Dr. James A. Peters produced the inaugural issue of the MUDPIE (Museum and University Data Program and Information Exchange) Newsletter. MUDPIE newsletter documents many early events in the adoption of computers and timesharing computing in museums and universities, and was founded and produced by Dr. Peters, the only editor in the newsletters publication history. Twenty-six issues of MUDPIE were produced and distributed over a five-year period, between September 1967 and September 1972. All issues are now digitally available at the Biodiversity Heritage Library thanks to the Smithsonian Libraries. The length and contents of each MUDPIE issue varied depending on the amount of information available; it was published irregularly from two and eight issues per year; one to seven pages per issue. Peters name appeared infrequently; however some MUDPIE articles were signed with his initials (JAP). The publication of the MUDPIE newsletter ceased with his untimely death. Dr. James Arthur Peters (June 13, 1922 December 18, 1972), biologist and herpetologist, held two positions in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Division of Reptiles and Amphibians at the Smithsonian Institution, first as Associate Curator (19641967), and later Curator (19671972). Dr. Peters clearly stated his aspirations in the first issue: MUDPIE represents an attempt to keep everyone up to date on the development of time-shared computing in museums and universities engaged in systematic research. Several individuals receiving this first copy had written asking the same questions, and this is a quick way of answering them. There was a tremendous temptation to set it up so that it could be received only through the teletype and computer but that proved to be a little too advanced for the present! This newsletter was a pioneering example of electronic networking between people. It foreshadowed the development of Usenet newsgroups, mailing lists, Listserv software, BITNET, and Internet Forums. Two years later Dr. Peters wrote (p. 4) under the heading Participation in the Making of Mudpies: There seems to be a genuine interest in the continued existence of this Newsletter, to judge from the number of people in the natural history museum business who have requested to be placed on the mailing list. We will continue to put it together and get it out at irregular intervals, but we have no objection at all to any of you who have something that you think might be of interest to others and send it in for inclusion to MUDPIE. We have had no indication of specialized programs written for use by systematists, for example, in the last few issues, but it is quite likely that such work is being done. Caroline A. Bull interviewed Dr. Peters on April 25, 1969, and provided an independent assessment (p. 47): Museum and University Data, Program and Information Exchange, known by its acronym MUDPIE. There are six institutions which participate actively in the exchange. Each has computer access and cooperation ranges from the exchange of [paper] tapes to actual direct access to storage units. The direct access capability occurs only between the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Since these two [organizations] share the same central computer at C.E.I.R.[1] in Silver Spring, Maryland, each may tap into the others data bank and exchange messages and data directly. These two form the nucleus for a major network, which could involve other Institutions on the Northern Atlantic Seaboard. In addition to its computerized information exchange, MUDPIE circulates a monthly newsletter to some 100 individuals and institutions. The period 1967-1972 was well before the development of personal computers and major advances in data communications. The Teletype Model 33 ASR (Automatic Send and Receive) was the likely computer terminal of choice for time-sharing computing activities by MUDPIE members during this time-period. The Teletype was an electromechanical device which stored data and computer programs on punched paper tape in ASCII code. A Teletype Model 33 terminal that was used at the Smithsonian was connected to a telephone line using an acoustic modem, see illustration in Peters and Collette [2]. After Peters death George R. Zug [3]wrote: James A. Peters died on 18 December 1972 of liver cancer. With his death, we have lost the most ardent supporter of a low cost museum and university time-sharing computer network. He had seen the concept of computer networks gain wider acceptance and had just participated in the first general working seminar on a National Science Computer Network in mid-November. Jim established MUDPIE in 1967 in order to promote the use of time-sharing and the establishment of a computer network among the major American natural history museums. The scope of MUDPIE gradually broadened to encompass the use of time-sharing in all types of museums and for the analysis of all types of data, including systematic data. No copy of the MUDPIE mailing list is known to have survived. However, among Dr. Peters papers in the SI Archives[4] is a folder labeled MUDPIE Letters. This includes more than 120 items of correspondence largely related to MUDPIE memberships, but also includes some requests for reprints of publications listed in MUDPIE issues. In this folder there is a handwritten list of 24 names, labeled MUDPIE #1, which appears to be the initial newsletter distribution list. In April 1969, Bull and Shank, (p.47) reported that the membership was 100 individuals and institutions. Requests to be added to the mailing list could have been received verbally in person, by telephone, etc. The MUDPIE Letters folder is certainly not a comprehensive list of names and organizations. As word of MUDPIE newsletter spread and interest in computers grew, membership increased also. Bruce Collette[5], (p. 390) observed that, The mailing list for MUDPIE was over 250, an indication of how much effect the interest and dedication of one man can accomplish. Outcome This free interchange of data and computer programs probably seemed like a utopian dream for these early visionary of 1960s, but has become the norm today with the adoption of open computer systems, open data standards, standardized software, high speed data communication networks, and of course, the Internet. The MUDPIE newsletter represents an important historical record of the early exploration of and developments in computer technology and its application in museums and systematic biology. A special thank you is extended to the Smithsonian Libraries staff, particularly Martha Rosen of the National Museum of Natural History Library and its Smithsoniana Collection, who was a persistent advocate for preserving and improving access to the newsletter. And to the Preservation Services staff Katie Wagner, Don Stankavage, and Michael Keeling for their review, repair, and rehousing of the original MUDPIE newsletters. Thanks also to Discovery Services staff Erik Bergstrom and Dana Feil for their review and re-cataloging, and for providing item-level description for the newsletters. And a final thank you to the Digital Programs and Initiatives staff Jacqueline E. Chapman and Daniel Euphrat for coordinating this process, digitizing the newsletters, and including them in the BHL corpus. [1] CEIR or the Center for Enterprise Information Research was a commercial company which operated several computer data centers and provided, among other things, dial-up computer time-sharing service. [2] Peters, James A. and Bruce B. Collette. 1968. The role of Time-share computing in museum research. Curator 11(1):65-75. [3] George R. Zug, a colleague of Peters and Curator at the National Museum of Natural History. [4] Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7175, Peters, James Arthur, 1922-, James A. Peters Papers, and Records of the Division of Reptiles and Amphibians, box 37, folder 8. [5] Collette, B. B., James A. Peters, Copeia, 1973 (2):388-390. If you were living in Massachusetts a few years back, you might remember that Comcast was offering what seemed to be a screaming deal: a $99 lock-in rate plan. I say "seemed to be," because Comcast's advertised $99 price didn't include the cost of renting equipment and the fact that, as we're talking about Comcast here, there were a number of additional fees that could (and often did) appear on a subscriber's bill at the end of the month, for reasons only Comcast understood. Did I mention that escaping the rate plan set folks back $240 for killing their contract with the company early? No? Well, it totally did. The state's Attorney General, Maura Healey, felt that this was bullshit of the first order. Her office did something about it. From Gizmodo: Comcast will cancel the debts of more than 20,000 customers and pay back $700,000 in Massachusetts as part of a settlement with the state's Attorney General over deceptive advertising. Back in 2015 and early 2016, the cable giant advertised a $99 lock-in rate for plans that didn't include equipment costs and had additional fees that could be jacked up at any time. As part of Comcast's settlement with the state, they'll be forced to fork over refunds to anyone who paid the $240 early termination fee. They'll also be forced to forgive all outstanding unpaid early termination fees and related late fees that Massachusetts consumers incurred between January 2015 and March 2016. Comcast fully cooperated with the AG's investigation. So, if any of this sounds like something you were submitted to, you can feel a little better about the world knowing that you've got some money coming your way. Image by Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA Comcast, CC BY 2.0, Link We are watching Facebook unravel in real time. I hope. From the New York Times, a story I can hardly believe had to read some grafs twice: When Facebook users learned last spring that the company had compromised their privacy in its rush to expand, allowing access to the personal information of tens of millions of people to a political data firm linked to President Trump, Facebook sought to deflect blame and mask the extent of the problem. And when that failed as the company's stock price plummeted and sparked a consumer backlash Facebook went on the attack. While Mr. Zuckerberg conducted a public apology tour in the last year, Ms. Sandberg has overseen an aggressive lobbying campaign to combat Facebook's critics, shift public anger toward rival companies and ward off damaging regulation. Facebook employed a Republican opposition-research firm to discredit activist protesters, in part by linking them to the liberal financier George Soros. It also tapped its business relationships, persuading a Jewish civil rights group to cast some criticism of the company as anti-Semitic. Excerpt: You're gonna want to read the whole thing. This story has been 6 months in the making. It started with a question: What happened inside Facebook over the last 3 years, and what did top executives, Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, do in the wake of crisis after crisis battering the company? https://t.co/N6kaDNqfj6 Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) November 14, 2018 As a guy who's been lied to and about by Facebook in the past, and remained fair and tried to give them credit when due anyway, I'm just aghast. Hiring someone to claim your protesters are paid by Soros is just beyond the pale disgraceful corruption.https://t.co/Vwr3dC8v1c Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) November 14, 2018 hard to think of any single action that would be better for the health of our democracy than just dissolving facebook entirely Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) November 14, 2018 Joel Kaplan, who resisted the publication of Facebook's findings on Russian misinformation, also hosted a confirmation celebration for Brett Kavanaugh after the vote. He sat behind Kavanaugh when he testified in the Blasey Ford hearing https://t.co/N67J1nvOlR pic.twitter.com/bihuB5ilvx sarah jeong (@sarahjeong) November 14, 2018 Chuck Schumer, who's daughter works for Facebook, personally asked Warner to back off his criticism of the company. Avi Asher-Schapiro (@AASchapiro) November 14, 2018 There's so much in here between the Pod Save America guy running Facebook-backed campaigns against Soros, FB using the ADL to criticize left-wing protesters, and Chuck Schumer running interference on behalf of Sandberg directly noah kulwin (@nkulw) November 14, 2018 maybe this is an uncharitable reading of the massive, super impressive piece by @sheeraf and the NYT butsure seems like Sandberg is at the center of much of what's ailed facebook in responding to unprecedented crises! https://t.co/kCGeKfKhic Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) November 14, 2018 This is a damning bombshell of a story. What a total mess.@facebook is a hive of influence and hate and the insatiable hunger for cash. Advertisers should back away from it immediately lest they get blamed for funding this shitshow with their ad dollars https://t.co/PZP3KSYPVO Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) November 14, 2018 In July, Chuck Schumerwho has raised thousands from Facebook employees and whose daughter works theretold Mark Warner to back off of the company. "Mr. Warner should be looking for ways to work with Facebook, Mr. Schumer advised, not harm it." https://t.co/3Q2SKLHtKg Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) November 14, 2018 The reporting by @sheeraf @nickconfessore & @ceciliakang shows in this piece. This leapt out: "@Facebook lobbyists were kept abreast of @SenSchumer's efforts to protect the company." Senator, the public needs you to stand up for transparency, not a tech company. pic.twitter.com/44Jm81lxtK Alex Howard (@digiphile) November 14, 2018 Great, so Facebook is actually using Kremlin propaganda narrative to protect itself. That explains a heck of a lot https://t.co/NJL9Y8GJUO Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) November 14, 2018 Michael Avenatti has been arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of domestic violence. We can confirm that today LAPD Detectives arrested Michael Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available. LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 15, 2018 Avenatti is best known as the spotlight-thirsty and Trump-baiting attorney for Stormy Daniels, in a matter involving President Donald Trump. Avenatti is a perennial cable news guest, and until today, an aspiring Presidential candidate making the political rounds. He is currently in Los Angeles police custody as of Wednesday afternoon. A report on the incident in the Century City area was taken on Tuesday, said Los Angeles police. News of Avenatti's arrest was first reported by TMZ. "Avenatti's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment" by BuzzFeed News. News: Michael Avenatti has been arrested for felony domestic violence and is currently in LAPD custody, @CJRosenbaum reports Jon Passantino (@passantino) November 14, 2018 LAPD officers in West Los Angeles have responded to an incident involving Michael Avenatti, where he is detained during the process of taking an incident report, sources tell @NBCNews @anblanx NBC News (@NBCNews) November 14, 2018 Sorry, let me translate this Michael Avenatti tweet: What this means is he's been detained, but probably hasn't been formally booked yet, which is why they aren't officially confirming. He's not in sheriff's jail locator either. https://t.co/J2Ue8Q5DBV James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) November 14, 2018 From TMZ: Our sources say the alleged incident occurred Tuesday, but there was a confrontation Wednesday between the two at an exclusive apartment building in the Century City area of L.A. We're told during Wednesday's confrontation the woman ran out of the apartment building and was on the sidewalk on her cellphone with sunglasses covering her eyes, screaming on the phone, "I can't believe you did this to me." We're told security brought her inside the building and Michael showed up 5 minutes later, ran into the building, chasing after her. He screamed repeatedly, "She hit me first." We're told he angrily added, "This is bulls***, this is f***ing bulls***." A law enforcement source says on Tuesday, Avenatti "kicked her out of the apartment" and that's presumably when the alleged domestic violence occurred. We're told she went back to the apartment on Wednesday to retrieve her belongings and called police to stand by in case things got heated. They've been married since 2011. He filed for divorce in 2017. We're told Avenatti is currently in custody. Is Avenatti going to represent himself? That that sounds exactly what he'd do. Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) November 14, 2018 "I think [the 2020 Dem nominee] better be a white male." Michael Avenatti Ain't gonna be you, Sweetie. Charlotte Clymer?? (@cmclymer) November 14, 2018 Donald Trump fired Jeff Sessions and replaced him with Matthew Whitaker, a giant tool who thinks Biblical law should prevail in America's courtrooms. He's also a scammer. Back in 2014, Whitaker joined the advisory board of a Miami Beach scam company called World Patent Marketing (they were later shut down and fined $26,000,000 by the FTC) (the company is under investigation by the FBI). World Patent Marketing charged inventors to help them bring their products to market, accepting bizarre patents for unworkable products that were never actually manufactured, bilking their customers out of thousands of dollars each. Whitaker actively defended World Patent Marketing against its critics, citing his credentials as a former US Attorney as a reason to trust that World Patent Marketing was on the up-and-up (Whitaker denies any knowledge of the company's wrongdoing). Among the products that World Patent Marketing marketed were: a "masculine toilet" for guys with giant dicks, designed to keep their fantastic members from coming into contact with the porcelain; a time-traveling Bitcoin-based commodity ("Time Travel X"); and sasquatch dolls whose marketing campaign included an assertion that "DNA evidence collected in 2013 proves that Bigfoot does exist." Whitaker served on World Patent Marketing's advisory board alongside a mixed-martial artist, a failed Central African Republic politician, and other motley characters. Whitaker used his status as a former US Attorney to intimidate the company's critics, sending them threatening letters promising legal retribution if they continued to speak out against the company's fraudulent business-practices. Key Democrats in the incoming House of Representatives have announced their intention to investigate Whitaker. Whitaker remained on the advisory board as allegations mounted that the the company was engaging in fraud. In January 2015, ripoffreport.com posted an account from a user who claimed to be an ex-employee of World Patent Marketing. The user accused the firm of duping customers into paying thousands of dollars for "invention royalty analysis" and other fees while promising them millions of dollars in returns they had "no chance" of getting. In December 2016, the company was hit with a class-action lawsuit accusing it of fraud. (The case is on hold while the Federal Trade Commission action moves forward.) The company's founder, Scott Cooper, used Whitaker's status as a former US attorney to burnish the firm's reputation and intimidate critics. (Cooper and his wife each donated the maximum $2,600 to Whitaker's failed Senate bid in 2013.) Responding to disgruntled customers online and by email, Cooper repeatedly cited "former US Attorneys" on his advisory council, though Whitaker appears to have been the only ex-US attorney involved. In an August 2015 email, Whitaker invoked his status as a former US attorney to threaten a man who was planning to file a Better Business Bureau complaint against the company. "There could be serious civil and criminal consequences for you," Whitaker wrote in the email, first reported by the Miami New Times. The acting attorney general helped an alleged scam company hawk bizarre products [Dan Friedman/Mother Jones] (via JWZ) (Image: Dirtyboxface, CC-BY-SA) Coming back from the dead is a tabloid staple just ask Elvis, Michael Jackson and Princess Diana, all still alive and well, hiding in plain sight, according to the rags. But this week sees the most exciting return from beyond the grave: tabloid title The Sun reappears on American newsstands with such sensational tales as UFOs invading the Arctic, a baby born with its grandfather's forearm tattoo, and a brown bear that can read books "at third-grade level." Part of American Media Inc's tabloid stable along with the National Enquirer and the Globe, The Sun, last published in 2012, shuttered as the public's appetite for outrageously improbable "news" faded. Perhaps we can credit President Donald Trump's passion for fake news with the revival of The Sun, which breathlessly tells us that John the Baptist's sandals have been found, curing blindness and baldness! And of course, there's the inevitable story that's crazy-but-true: "Worms from Hell!" have been discovered two miles beneath the earth's surface. Okay, so they were discovered by scientists in 2011 living in cracks between the earth's crust (the worms living in the cracks, not the scientists), but for tabloids that often recount decades-old yarns, this counts as fresh news. The Sun, which beneath its title carries the words "God Bless America," devotes its cover to the exclusive: "U.S. Scientists Transplant Monkey Head And It Can Be Done on Humans Now." Yes, it's another ancient story: American neurosurgeon Robert J. White transplanted heads on four monkeys back in 1970. Chinese researchers repeated the surgery more recently, and maverick Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero has plans to transplant a human head. But it won't be happening any time soon in America, where bioethical concerns now ban such experimentation. Yet that story comes dangerously close to accuracy for The Sun, which currently has been revived as an insert in the National Examiner magazine, but hopefully will be propelled by public demand into a rejuvenated fully-independent magazine once again, so that we can look forward to tales of aliens visiting the White House and the Loch Ness Monster being caught by fishermen. The venerable tabloids don't disappoint this week, with a plethora of dubious fact-challenged stories, many of them old but dusted off and presented as new yet again. Lee Harvey Oswald's widow "demands new JFK murder probe . . . Insists he was framed by CIA & Mob," reports the Enquirer, quoting a JFK conspiracy expert who wrote exactly this in his 2008 book, so the story is only a decade old positively fresh by Enquirer standards. "I'm Marilyn Monroe's Secret Daughter!" 72-year-old Florida woman Nancy Maniscalco Miracle tells the Enquirer. Miracle, who claims she was given up for adoption by Monroe and her lover Vincent Bruno, realized her true origins in 1985, and her claim has been publicly known at least since The New Yorker reported on her in November 1997 (resulting in a well-documented defamation lawsuit). So this story, which remains unverifiable and unsubstantiated, is a hefty 21 years old. Happy birthday! "Prince Andrew rocked by new teen sex slave scandal!" tells the Enquirer. Actually, it's the same old sex scandal exposed in 2015. What's new? Former alleged sex slave Virginia Roberts is now allegedly writing "a sizzling tell-all." But wait . . . Roberts claimed to be writing a tell-all back in February 2015. So what's new here? Roberts now lives with her husband in Cairns, Australia, where a local bartender provides the one fresh quote of the piece: "They're both really lovely, especially her." Great reporting. The Enquirer devotes a page and a half to Barbra Streisand's "$400m Divorce" from James Brolin, which seems to be a regular filler when they are desperate for old stories to recycle. It's an allegation they run repeatedly, though when they first floated this in November 2013, it was under the headline: "Barbra Streisand $390m Divorce Bombshell!" Glad to see that she's earned an additional $10 million in the intervening five years. The Globe gleefully reports that Michael Jackson buried a treasure trove of kiddie porn beneath the Peter Pan tree in his former home at California's Neverland Ranch. The gloved one supposedly "blabbed" to friends about incriminating material buried at Neverland. Despite identifying no source for this story, the Globe speculates that this must refer to "photos and video he may have made of him abusing kids," and imagines that the entertainer kept a "hidden vault" somewhere on his sprawling estate. And where better to hide this cache than "beneath his favorite tree, which he loved to climb while acting out fantasies that he was Peter Pan." If anyone bothers to dig up the earth beneath the tree, the Enquirer can at least claim to have reporting that is literally ground-breaking. Fortunately we have the crack investigative team at Us magazine to tell us that Kendall Jenner wore it best (doesn't she always?), that Atlanta actor Brian Tyree Henry admits: "I hate the idea of ironing" (presumably he hates ironing, as well as the idea of it), that actress Emma Kenney carries gift cards "that I pass out to homeless people" along with a Kabbalah red string and reading glasses in her Clove + Revel backpack, and that the stars are just like us: they carry groceries, get caught in the rain, and pump their own gas. Wonders never cease. Onwards and downwards . . . Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's $50,000,000 Calabasas, California mansion was spared from last week's wildfires thanks to the actions of private firefighters working on behalf of insurers who've written policies on about 1,000 of California's priciest homes. Public firefighting has been part of America since its inception, a repudiation of the English custom of firefighting services provided on the basis of wealth, usually by insurance companies. But since Reagan's first wave of cuts and privatizations, America has grown to rely ever more on private firefighting contractors, both for public lands (an industry association claims to be responsible for protecting 40% of America's wild lands) and private homes. The project of privatizing firefighting is a libertarian darling, much-loved by think-tankers, who see firefighting as the most emblematic of public services, and thus any evidence of the efficacy of private firefighting can be held up to prove that the state is unnecessary and can be replaced by markets. Climate change is increasing the rate and severity of wildfires, even as neoliberal policies and inequality are reducing the budgets for public fire-suppression and increasing the use of private firefighting by the wealthy. Carp, the Brooklyn College CUNY historian, expanded on the collectivist case, drawing in other prominent examples of areas of life that have undergone or could undergo privatization. "If we allow schools, libraries, policing, and firefighting to become a two-tiered system (with one tier for the elite and another tier for everyone else)," Carp said, "then that threatens the democratic-republican ideal of everyone contributing their fair share for the greater needs of the commonwealth." Even in the early days of the American city, when volunteer and private fire companies were dominant, in the case of an emergency, every citizen capable of helping was expected to do so. "If we don't fight fires together, then someday we'll all burn together," Carp concluded. Kim Kardashian's Private Firefighters Expose America's Fault Lines [Alexis C. Madrigal/The Atlantic] (Image: Alexis, CC-BY) Data breaches keep happening, they keep getting worse, and yet companies keep collecting our data in ever-more-invasive ways, subjecting it to ever-longer retention, and systematically underinvesting in security. Why does this keep happening? Because it's affordable. In 2014, Home Depot breached more than 50,000,000 credit-cards; in 2016, they paid less than $0.34/customer in restitution. There are longer-term reputational costs associated with breaches, but these are not generally factored into the quarterly-earnings-focused mindsets of corporate execs and strategists. An awful lot of change could be made simply by adjusting the law, and it needn't even be something as far reaching as the European General Data Protection Regulation: even establishing a set of statutory damages that people caught in breaches were entitled to collect, and banning the use of binding arbitration clauses to escape these liabilities would go a long way. The statutory damages should reflect the cumulative nature of breaches: how a breached dataset can be combined with other breached datasets to build up devastatingly effective attacks the kind of thing that can cost you your whole house, even. If companies were paying out damages commensurate with the social costs their data recklessness imposes on the rest of us, it would have a very clarifying effect on their behavior insurers would get involved, refusing to write E&O policies for board members without massive premium hikes, etc. A little would go a long way, here. If you live in the United States, there's almost a 50 percent chance your personal data was lost in the giant Equifax data breach a year ago of 143 million records. Google had its own data breach in October this year that exposed data on as many as 500,000 accounts. Or the most recent Facebook breach of data from 29 million users. Or, over the last five years alone, major breaches at Anthem, eBay, JPMorgan Chase, Home Depot, Yahoo, Target, Adobe but you get the point. If it's day that ends in "day," there must have been another major data breach that keeps criminal hackers gainfully employed by selling your information. Bad guys keep getting smarter, experts say. Why not corporations? The short answer is, because it's not worth their trouble. Sense About Science (previously) is a UK group that advocates for evidence-based policy; as part of that mission they give out the annual Maddox Prizes for people who brave political and social retaliation to infuse difficult public policy debates with factual evidence. There were two Maddox winners this year. The first is Professor Terry Hughes, whose work on the intensification of coral bleaching was the subject of a smear campaign orchestrated by Australian politicians, tourist industry lobbyists, and public figures, all of whom insist (despite the evidence) that pollution, industrialization, and climate change will not have a devastating effect on the Great Barrier Reef. The second is Britt Hermes who trained as a naturopath and then, after investigating the science behind naturopathy, began to aggressively expose the lack of evidence behind naturopathy's many claims, attracting person attacks and even an ongoing libel suit brought by an American naturopath (here's her defense fund). Britt Hermes: "I was a naturopath, until I looked at the evidence and decided to speak up about the dangerous therapies used in naturopathy, especially those to treat cancer. Walking away cost me my friends. I am harassed and being sued for defamation. I am honoured to be recognised by the scientific community for changing my mind." Professor Terry Hughes: "It is a privilege to receive this prize and to express my gratitude not just for me, but more importantly for future generations, who have the most to lose if we fail to act on anthropogenic climate change." Maddox Prize 2018 [Sense About Science] Amazon's new headquarters will be split between northern Virginia and parts of Queens, New York, and will net the company billions in corporate welfare, branded as "incentives." In New York alone, the company among the richest in the world will receive $1.5 billion in subsidies. Amazon attained these stonking payouts by playing cities off against each other, luring their municipal leaders into degrading and debasing stunts designed to tempt the company. Much of this bidding took place in secret, with Amazon requiring cities to give up vital demographic, planning and economic data that it can now use to attain a competitive edge in its logistics and other business activities. But the billions in subsidies and the strong-arm tactics are backfiring. They've provided rhetorical weapons for the likes the newly elected Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders (who has already found political glory in using Amazon as a stand-in for everything wrong with late-stage American capitalism). New Yorkers rallied in the streets to object to the giveaway and to voice their concern that Amazon's new HQ2 will displace working families and local businesses, raising rents and creating jobs that will go to newcomers who will be able to outbid locals on rents. It's not just the left who object, either: Koch-affiliated think-tanks publicly denounced the move as "wasteful corporate welfare" that was detrimental to the "public good." The protests have gone viral, and some have called it the beginning of the end for this kind of handout, as public moods shift. LeRoy says Amazon has indeed inadvertently highlighted public subsidies, which corporations have been able to negotiate largely in the dark. "I think Amazon is not winning a lot of love from corporate America for that," he says. Deals between governments and other tech companiesand the secrecy surrounding themare receiving scrutiny, too. Two nonprofits are suing San Jose, California, over a $67 million deal to sell government land to Google for new office space. The organizations argue city officials illegally signed nondisclosure agreements with the tech giant. Why Amazon's Search for a Second Headquarters Backfired [Louise Matsakis/Wired] New Yorkers protest Amazon HQ2: 'We should be investing in housing not in helicopters' [Monica Nickelsburg/Geekwire] Koch-backed groups blast carveouts to corporations after Amazon announcement [Naomi Jagoda/The Hill] Live from New York, it's the anti-Amazon subsidy rally [Dave Colon/Twitter] In Milton, West Virginia, concerned citizens called police to report rabid raccoons but it turns out that the animals (the raccoons that is) were more likely just drunk. "We have had calls [of] suspected rabid raccoons twice over the last two days," the Milton Police Department wrote in a short Facebook post. "Turns out they appear to be drunk on crab apples." From Newsweek: It wouldn't be the first time an animal has made the headlines for public intoxication. In 2015, footage of a squirrel seemingly drunk on fermented crab apples hit YouTubeand attracted millions of views. National Geographic has previously captured footage of drunken monkeys. National Geographic said in its own 2015 article that research found that animals definitely did get drunk, and listed such examples as butterflies, moths and moose. Don Moore, associate director of the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., told National Geographic that deer that had eaten fermented apples in orchards were known to get "pretty sleepy, even stumbly." Those who commented on the Milton Police Department's post seemed to appreciate the update. One person joked, "Public intoxication, pretty serious. Thanks for putting him back in the woods." Another Facebook user said, "I have one on my porch right now you can have." Remember when they caught the Golden State Killer by comparing DNA crime-scene evidence to big commercial genomic databases (like those maintained by Ancestry.com, 23 and Me, etc) to find his family members and then track him down? It's not just him. If you're an American of European descent, there's a 60% chance that you can be identified from genomic database searches, because even if you've never signed up for one of these junk science services, your stupid cousins have. That's the conclusion of a group of computer science, computational biology, genomics, and public health researchers from Columbia, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who published their findings in the journal Science: Identity inference of genomic data using long-range familial searches (Sci-Hub mirror). They also predict that in the "near future," "nearly any US individual of European descent" will be identifiable from commercial genomic databases. The researchers propose a mitigation technique for avoiding nonconsensual genetic profiling: "DTC providers should cryptographically sign the text file containing the raw data available to customers (fig. S6). Third-party services will be able to authenticate that a raw genotyping file was created by a valid DTC provider and not further modified. If adopted, our approach has the potential to prevent the exploitation of long-range familial searches to identify research subjects from genomic data. Moreover, it will complicate the ability to conduct unilaterally long-range familial searches from DNA evidence. Consumer genomics databases have reached the scale of millions of individuals. Recently, law enforcement authorities have exploited some of these databases to identify suspects via distant familial relatives. Using genomic data of 1.28 million individuals tested with consumer genomics, we investigated the power of this technique. We project that about 60% of the searches for individuals of European-descent will result in a third cousin or closer match, which can allow their identification using demographic identifiers. Moreover, the technique could implicate nearly any US-individual of European-descent in the near future. We demonstrate that the technique can also identify research participants of a public sequencing project. Based on these results, we propose a potential mitigation strategy and policy implications to human subject research. Identity inference of genomic data using long-range familial searches [Yaniv Erlich, Tal Shor, Itsik Pe'er and Shai Carmi/Science] (Sci-Hub mirror) (via Schneier) - Barend "White Wolf" Strydom went on a shooting spree in Pretoria on 15 November, 1988 - He claimed the lives of 8 black people and wounded 16 others - He was sentenced to death, but was released 4 years later as part of the negotiation process PAY ATTENTION: Click "See first" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly News on your newsfeed! On 15 November, 1988, a 23-year-old man stunned South Africa when he went on a killing spree of black people in Pretoria. Barend "White Wolf" Strydom shot dead eight people and seriously wounded 16 others, all of them blacks. The incident happened at Strijdom Square, now Lilian Ngoyi Square. Barend was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to death. The government however introduced a moratorium on the death penalty in 1990, Briefly.co.za gathered. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app In 1992, Barend was among prisoners released as part of the negotiation process between the African National Congress (ANC) and the National Party (NP). The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) granted him amnesty during the post-1994 reconciliation process. He is now 53 years old. READ ALSO: Patrice Motsepe's new bank offers free transactional accounts Bradley Hawk Steyn, who attempted to stop Barend during the spree, told City Press that he asked Barend why he was shooting black people. Barend reportedly responded, Im doing this for the future of white South Africa. Before committing his heinous crime, Barend had been a policeman. He was born on 15 July, 1965 in KwaZulu-Natal. READ ALSO: Land expropriation a done deal; only a few formalities left Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly.co.za - President Cyril Ramaphosa assured the European Parliament that land expropriation without compensation will be done without violating the constitution - He said it will be executed in adherence to the constitution and without disrespecting the human rights of South Africans - An expert said investors' confidence has taken a knock in the country due to uncertainties about land reform PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! On Wednesday, while speaking at the European Parliament, South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa said the constitution won't be violated when enacting land expropriation without compensation. Ramaphosa said land expropriation will be executed in adherence to South Africa's constitution and with respect for the human rights of citizens. Ramaphosa told the parliament: This problem of land will be resolved through adherence to the rule of law and adherence to the constitution. To address racial inequality in land ownership, the ANC wants to change the constitution to permit land reform without compensation. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app However, the ANC's plans have cause a decline in investors' confidence in the country. A group executive from the World Bank indicated the ANC's plan to expropriate land without compensation has unnerved investors, Eyewitness News reported. With the 2019 elections around the corner, the ruling party has acceleration of land reform a key issue. But, the ANC also vowed their plans will not threaten the country's food security. Sergio Pimenta, the deputy president for the Middle East and Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Banks private investment arm, told Reuters that if uncertainty of some aspects of your environment is created, and land tenure is one of them, investors will look at it. Briefly.co.za gathered that he said investors are looking for certainty. He added the land expropriation subject is complex, but said it's important that South Africa creates an environment that is not only reliable, but certain too. READ ALSO: 7 politicians who have admitted to meeting the controversial Gupta family The country's public hearings into land reform attracted large crowds and were often filled with emotional testimonies. A parliamentary committee will consider the testimonies, as well as other contributions, before it suggested if the constitution should be changed or not to permit land reform without compensation. Meanwhile, Pimenta said South Africas economic outlook in the long term looked positive, adding that the bank invested about $2 billion through the IFC over the last five to six years. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly.co.za Former Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, has resigned as a Member of Parliament. The news was confirmed on Thursday morning by the Speaker's office. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! On Thursday morning, the speaker's office received a letter from President Cyril Ramaphosa. The letter pertained to the Public Protector's report into whether Gigaba violated the executive ethics code. Baleka Mbete, the National Assembly Speaker, referred the letter and the Public Protector's report to the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interests. It's believed these will now fall away after Gigaba's resignation as MP. Moloto Mothapo, the parliamentary spokesperson said: "With the subsequent resignation of the former minister as a Member of Parliament this time, the Ethics Committee will have to make its own decision with regards to the referral." Briefly.co.za reported that Gigaba stepped down as the Home Affairs Minister on Tuesday afternoon, a day before President Cyril Ramaphosa was set to take action against him. On 13 October, news broke that embattled Malusi Gigaba sent the head of state a letter of resignation. According to a report by BusinessLIVE at the time, the president was set to take action against Gigaba, who had a rough couple of weeks, on Wednesday. Opposition parties pressed for Gigaba to step down or be sacked after the public protector found that he had violated the constitution by lying to the court about the details surrounding the Fireblade Aviation situation. However, Gigaba stressed that his resignation as the minister was not an admission of guilt. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Despite his resignation, and the several controversial happenings of the past few weeks, the ANC said it still wants Malusi Gigaba to be play a vital part in the ruling party. According to eNCA, Gigaba said he decided to resign after a long period of sustained 'and vitriolic public attacks' on his integrity. The former minister added: "I wish to state that my resignation is not an admission of guilt on my part. Meanwhile, Pule Mabe, the ruling party's spokesman, said Ramaphosa did not convince Gigaba to resign. READ ALSO: 7 politicians who have admitted to meeting the controversial Gupta family In October, Briefly.co.za reported that Business tycoon and South African billionaire, Nicky Oppenheimer accused Gigaba of lying. Recently, Oppenheimer and his son, Jonathan, appeared before the Home Affairs Committee where they explained their operations at their privately-owned Fireblade Aviation terminal at OR Tambo International Airport. Their dealings led to a massive fight with Gigaba. Oppenheimer told Parliament he was stunned that the minister went back on his word. This, after a meeting at his Pretoria office in 2016, where Gigaba allegedly gave them permission for international passengers to pass through the terminal. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly.co.za Tweeps are not fans of Kamina on The Queen, however, no one could deny the fact that she looked absolutely gorgeous in her wedding gown as she prepared to walk down the aisle to tie the knot with Kagiso. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Fans have had an uneasy feeling about Kamina ever since she magically appeared in the series, claiming to be Kagisos baby mama, but they pushed their thoughts aside for the bachelors sake. Briefly.co.za learned that Kamina fell out of favour with tweeps when she took down Trevor all by herself and its unlikely that they will ever forgive her from robbing them of the eye candy that is Bohang Moeko. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app While Kagiso and Kamina are preparing to get married, tweeps are actually dreading the whole ceremony because when Diamond is involved, things can only go wrong. Kamina has been trying to get her revenge on Diamond (who isnt) and it seems like everything is going to go down on what should be the happiest day of their lives. READ ALSO: Nomsa Buthelezi accused of using LGBTQI community for attention Fans of the show know that Kamina is only stringing Kagiso along and they really feel for the guy, but they know that the truth will catch up with her. ZAlebs reports that tweeps had to swallow their pride and admit that she looked breathtaking because she really did. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly.co.za Social media has been in a buzz recently after word got out that a doll had been made to look like British actor, Idris Elba, however, tweeps thought that it was a little difficult to see the resemblance. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! While Mzansi has the infamous artist, Rasta who has created some questionable portraits of local icons, a British crafter has become an internet sensation for all the wrong reasons. Empris, the makers of the doll, wanted to honour the accomplished actor but according to tweeps, they missed the mark completely. Pictures of the doll have been floating around the internet and tweeps still cant believe that the doll is meant to be modelled after Idris Elba, the man who was chosen as People Magazines Sexiest Man Alive. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Briefly.co.za learned that tweeps have found better matches for the doll and the best likeness goes to actor Romany Malco who stars in Think Like A Man. But trust tweeps to come up with some crazy reactions to the doll debacle. READ ALSO: Heavy K wants to raise R2 million to look after son with cerebral palsy According to TimesLIVE, even Mzansi got a shoutout when a social media user pointed out that it bears a resemblance to Muvhango actor, James Motsamai. Even Idris had a say on the matter: Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly.co.za The controversial Gupta family would no longer be able to hide in Dubai after the National Assembly signed off on an extradition treaty on Thursday. PAY ATTENTION: Click "See first" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly news on your News Feed! South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ratified two important treaties, one of which is an extradition agreement. This means the Guptas could finally have their day in court. Many believed Zuma's alliances fled the country to Dubai, to hide from any legal action in SA. Since fleeing the country, opposition parties have placed a lot of pressure on the government to solidify the extradition treaty with UAE, which has been in the works since 2010. The treaty means the Gupta family could be extradited to South Africa, where they would face several charges, including corruption. Eyewitness News reported the Hawks revealed to parliament that they have already discussed their probe into the Gupta family with UAE. READ ALSO: Finance intern suspended for saying he wanted to sexually assault a 10-year-old girl Will the Guptas finally face the music? SA and UAE ratify extradition treaty. Photo credit: TimesLIVE Source: Facebook PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Briefly.co.za learned the two key treaties were concluded in UAE in September, but it was solidified on Thursday after the National Assembly signed off on it. The EFF's Ntombovuyo Mente welcomed the treaties and added the UAE government should now act swiftly to take "those criminals" into custody so that they could be returned to SA to face their crimes. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly.co.za News / National by Staff reporter Members of the Mines Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Monday threatened not to pass the Mines ministry budget if Mines minister Winston Chitando continued to ignore previous recommendations to do with the mining sector.Chitando had appeared before the committee to give oral evidence on issues relating to Hwange Colliery Company when the Temba Mliswa-chaired committee reminded him that he had not yet implemented recommendations on matters raised during the Eighth Parliament."Minister, we did two reports during the eighth session of Parliament, where we made recommendations on different issues, including Hwange (Colliery), but these were not implemented and yet the first thing that you were supposed to do as minister was to go through these reports," Mliswa said."We have no choice, but to say that this was never done, and if you do not stick to the Mines Committee recommendations, then we will not support the Mines ministry budget."The recommendations included that Hwange Colliery must reclaim its market share lost to Zambezi Gas and Liberation Mine, both which were now supplying coal to the Zimbabwe Power Company.The committee also recommended that Hwange Colliery Company should approve the sale of its houses to current and former employees in order to reduce debts owed to employees."Requirements for foreign currency by Hwange Colliery must be prioritised at the same level as fuel and other national priority projects. Hwange Colliery must keep its own coal-rich concessions and not just give them away, as they are strategic assets to Hwange," Parliament recommended."All concessions must be reviewed and all unused or underperforming concessions must be recalled on the use-it or lose-it principle. The Hwange Colliery board, which is heavily undercapacitated through lack of numbers and experience, must immediately, be reconstituted. Management is not experienced in the mining sector and Hwange Colliery, therefore, requires an individual with vast mining experience to be appointed to manage it."Chitando's response was that, as a way forward, his ministry would give updates every two weeks on progress made in implementing the committee's recommendations. News / National by Staff reporter FORMER Harare magistrate Memory Chigwaza and her two alleged accomplices, who are facing $155 000 fraud charges after they sold non-existent residential stands to unsuspecting home seekers, were last week further remanded to November 22, pending finalisation of the investigations.Chigwaza (48), Everson Luni (38) and Davison Zvomarima (65), who appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, are out of custody on $200 bail each.The trio's accomplice Michael Kawanzururwa, who had been on the run, was arrested and appeared in court on Friday.Allegations are that the trio and Kawanzururwa hatched a plan to swindle landseekers of their money and they placed an advertisement in a newspaper offering residential stands under Maizview Projects at Strathaven, selling at $25 per square metre.Zvomarima allegedly obtained a fake identity card document in the name of Gabriel Kabanda and was made one of the directors of the purported Topmark Stationers (Pvt) Ltd Company using a fake CR14 document. The real Topmark directors are Abel Zhuwao and Rumbidzai Mapfumo.Luni and Kawanzuruwa allegedly hired their agents, Topmark Stationers, and showed them the stands for sale in Strathaven armed with fake title deeds.The State alleges that on September 27 this year, Sonboy Mapanzure responded to the advertisement and proceeded to Maizview offices in Eastlea, Harare and transferred $25 000 into the form's CBZ Bank account. Thereafter, he was referred to Chigwaza's offices at Chikore and Chigwaza Law Chambers where an agreement of sale was prepared by Chigwaza, who never bothered to establish the authenticity of the title deeds to the property.It is alleged Zvomarima presented himself as Kabanda, who was representing Topmark and as a result the complainant lost $25 000.The State alleges that on September 26, another complainant Benjamin Manungo responded to the same advertisement and paid $40 000.On October 3, Manungo paid another $5 000 and an agreement of sale was again prepared by Chigwaza. As a result, he lost $45 000 and nothing was recovered.It is further alleged that on October 4, third complainant Peter Manyoni responded to the advert and paid $55 000 through a transfer into Maizview Projects' bank account.Chigwaza allegedly prepared an agreement of sale again. On October 5, again, fourth complainant Jacob Kasumba paid $25 000 and nothing was recovered.The State alleges the accused persons received the money and entered agreements of sale with the complainants using fake title deeds. Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State. News / National by Staff reporter THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s bid to revive corruption charges against five Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) bosses yesterday hit a snag after the Supreme Court threw out the State's appeal against their acquittal.Messrs Precious Murove (director administration and human resources), Simon Taranhike (finance director), Shadreck Matengabadza (finance manager), Stephen Matute (accountant) and Givemore Tendai Kufa (regional engineer) were last year cleared of criminal abuse of office.They were accused of fraudulently engaging third party companies to source foreign currency on the informal market on behalf of Zinara.The prosecution sought leave to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court, but Justice Mary Anne Gowora yesterday struck the application off the roll.The prosecution accused the executives of transferring $2 940 558 into the bank accounts of Access Finance (Private) Limited, Grayriver (Private) Limited and Caudless Trading without authorisation from the Zinara board of directors. High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga on April 24 this year cleared the five of any wrongdoing."All five accused persons are found not guilty of abuse of public office in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Code and are acquitted," ruled Justice Tsanga then.The court found that the five's actions had the blessings of their bosses. The boss, Ms Nancy Masiiwa, was blasted for lying to the court that she was not aware of the transactions."We are in no doubt that they acted with the full knowledge of their CEO, Mrs Nancy Masiiwa, whose responsibility it was to bring the issue to the full board," said Justice Tsanga."We were satisfied that the finance director did report to the CEO both in her capacity as CEO of Zinara and her concomitant position in Ifralink about the payments that were made which she knew about. "It was a simple lie that she was not aware of what was happening."Justice Tsanga said it was unfair for the State to prosecute the juniors when the superiors were aware of the transactions."There is no basis upon which the accused persons should be held to be the ones responsible when what they did was with the full blessings of their ultimate superior under the circumstances where they were acting in good faith."Targeting juniors as scapegoats in an alleged fight against corruption lends itself to selective justice and cannot be countenanced."The court heard that sometime in 2011, Zinara was granted a loan of $206 million by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for the construction and rehabilitation of the 823km-long Plumtree-Mutare Highway.NMB Bank was nominated by DBSA to facilitate the loan repayment on a quarterly basis and all revenue in hard currency collected from Zinara's operations was given to NMB Bank, which would remit it to DBSA.In May last year, Matute, Kufa, Murove, Taranhike and Matengabadza allegedly sourced foreign currency from the parallel market through Access Finance (Pvt) Ltd and Grayriver (Pvt) Ltd directors, after paying them a total of $2,94 million stating that the payment was a reimbursement to DBSA on behalf of Zinara's part payment of its loan obligation with DBSA. News / National by Staff reporter HARARE mayor Herbert Gomba has disclosed that government recently approved plans by the local authority to retrench non-performing senior managers and staff, with "substantial" funds set to be put aside in next year's budget for the exercise.Gomba told a residents meeting in Avondale at the weekend that Local Government minister July Moyo had given council the green light to fire non-performing employees, and that no political cover would be availed to them."In the past, we used to have a challenge as council whenever we fired a senior official. They would rush to central government for cover and the ministry would then instruct us to reinstate them. But this time around, things have changed. The minister has given us powers to fire those who are not working," he said.In the past, senior council managers, notably town clerks, used to have the backing of line ministers, making it difficult to enforce disciplinary measures against them."What happened last year when we suspended four senior managers should have taught our people that the regime has changed. We hear of district officials who are not working, but busy doing other things in offices, that time has gone," Gomba said.Some of the decisions that senior managers have made which irked residents include the purchase of expensive vehicles for themselves using part of the $144 million Chinese loan meant for the refurbishment of Morton Jaffray Water Works. News / National by Staff reporter BINGA South legislator Gabbuza Joel Gabuza (MDC Alliance) has appeared before a Hwange magistrate charged with undermining the authority of, or insulting, President Emmerson Mnangagwa after he allegedly accused the Zanu PF leader of failing to fix the country's economic crisis.Gabbuza Joel GabuzaGabuza, who is represented by human rights lawyer Thulani Nkala, pleaded not guilty to the charges of undermining the authority of or insulting the President as defined in section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act when he appeared before Hwange magistrate Livard Philemon on Monday.The magistrate granted him $200 bail and remanded the matter to December 13.Gabuza was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at his given address until the finalisation of the case.The court heard that on October 23, Gabuza was at John Bwansula Mumpande's home in Manzasiya village in Binga, where villagers had gathered for a funeral.It is alleged that while addressing mourners, he spoke in the local Tonga dialect, claiming that the people gathered at the funeral had chosen a dog that could not manage the country as shown by shortages of fuel and medication.Gabuza allegedly claimed that he had to travel to Zambia to source the fuel that was used during the funeral.This did not go down well with one of the villagers, who went to file a police report at Binga Police Station on October 29, accusing the legislator of insulting Mnangagwa and his government. This led to Gabuza's arrest. News / National by Staff reporter A FORENSIC auditor engaged by Hwange Colliery to investigate financial impropriety has fingered Mines and Mining Development minister Winston Chitando, who he said was likely in cahoots with shady characters and was stealing coal from the struggling miner.Reynolds Tendai Muza, a forensic auditor and investigator with Ralph Bomment Greenacre and Reynolds, on Monday asked Parliament to invoke the Prevention of Corruption Act in order to investigate Chitando and Shepherd Tundiya, who was allegedly masquerading as a State spy agent and using President Emmerson Mnangagwa's name to kidnap and threaten Hwange Colliery board members.The forensic auditor suspected that Chitando was linked to a company from his constituency in Gutu, which was transporting the bulk of the coal in Hwange."There is a company whose head office is in Gutu, and it is probably the largest haulage company ferrying coal to the mine," Muza said."As an investigator, I found that this company, Inducto Save, is doing 68% of its work in Hwange and I wondered why it is based in Gutu. Its directors are named as Solomon Matsa, whose address is given as residing in South Africa, and another director, Shelter Madanhire. And Inducto Save headquarters is PO Box 119, Matsa Stores in Gutu. But further investigations show that these people are based in South Africa."Muza said it was shocking that at Hwange Colliery, several companies performed incompatible functions of loading coal instead of the company repairing conveyor belts, which will cost them $2 million and save money."Loading of coal is being done by a company called Feel Cool Investments, which is directed by Wilfred Tundiya (Shepherd Tundiya's brother), and another company that loads this coal using front end loaders on contract called AVIM whose directors are Tundiya (Shepherd) and someone else," he said.Muza said Hwange Colliery received directives from Tundiya."Feel Cool and AVIM are linked and are doing the lifting of the coal into the trucks and delivering it to other places without using weighbridges. It creates room that while Hwange is mining, someone is eating their produce because the ICT systems at Hwange are not functioning properly, and there is no completeness of records," he said.Muza said documentary evidence showed that Tundiya's companies were looting coal from Hwange."Tundiya's companies are stealing coal. Some of the findings right now is that Tundiya owes Hwange Colliery $481 000 in advance payments for coal that was never delivered," he said."When Tundiya was busy stealing coal at Hwange Colliery, Chitando was still the board chairperson of Hwange. He even passed a board decision that Tundiya must be given more business so that he is empowered to pay back the $481 000 he owes."The investigator told MPs that the relationship between Chitando and Tundiya now needed further investigation."There is need for a forensic investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act which will be focused on Chitando and Tundiya, because if the investigation is done under this Act, it can even be focused on their families, as well as the investigations on the death threats to the company secretary Allen Masiye and internal auditor Gilbert Mudenda," he said.He alleged Tundiya masqueraded as someone connected to Mnangagwa as well as a CIO to instil fear to Hwange Colliery bosses.Muza said a lot of coal had been stolen from Hwange Colliery by so-called transporters due to weak ICT and security systems."On January 2018 the opening stock of coal was 16 015 tonnes, and then they also mined 48 905 tonnes of coal which means that the mine had not sold anything and they were supposed to have a stock pile of 64 920. However, when the surveyor went to do stocktaking he established that there was only 23 438 tonnes left," he said."Of the coal which was ferried, Inducto Save ferried 68,59% of the coal. Hwange Colliery needs $2 million to repair conveyor belts and $2 million to repair the continuous miner, but it looks like someone was interested in seeing trucks ferrying the coal instead of conveyor belts." News / National by Mandla Ndlovu A British journalist Jason Burke has claimed that he survived the 1 August bloody election violence that left 6 civilians dead when the military was dispatched to restore law and order in the streets of Harare.Writing on micro-blogging site Twitter Burke said, "Zimbabwean generals on oath deny troops shot dead 6 protesters. Which is just extraordinary. I was there, and took cover as soldiers, yes, military servicemen with automatic weapons, opened fire, then cleared streets at gunpoint."Burke was commenting on the statements by the Zimbabwean military Generals who are denying that the army shot any bullets directly to the protestors."I do not believe that any of the soldiers fired. Yes, they fired in the air, but I do not believe any could have aimed shots at the civilians. I have no reason to believe that one of the soldiers could have shot and killed those people," said Zimbabwe Defense Forces Commander Gen. Philip Valerio Sibanda, during the nationally televised hearing.The tactical commander of the military unit, Gen. Anselem Sanyatwe, told the commission he suspected militant opposition activists who deserted from the army could have shot at protesters, a claim repeated by Sibanda.When presented with a photo of a kneeling soldier who appeared to be aiming at protesters, Sanyatwe said "the man took that position because he was avoiding missiles that were being thrown at him."Jason Burke is the author of several non-fiction books. He is a correspondent covering Africa for The Guardian, he is currently based in Johannesburg, having previously been based in New Delhi as the same paper s South Asia correspondent. News / National by newzimbabwe POLICE say they have instituted investigations into the killing of six civilians during the August 1 post-electoral violence in what could further rile the opposition which claims a government cover up plot of state excesses.The civilians were killed by what is widely believed to be soldiers deployed on the streets of central Harare on the day to quell wild protests by alleged MDC supporters angered by the erratic announcement of the July 30 election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.Both the military and police have distanced themselves from the killings after President Emmerson Mnangagwa opened an inquiry into the skirmishes.Now over three months since the widely condemned killings, Zimbabwean police say they have opened their own investigations into the killings, with all the cases treated as murder.Police investigations only started some three weeks ago, according to Detective Inspector Edmore Runganga of the CID Law and Order Section who was testifying before the Kgalema Motlanthe led Commission of Inquiry into the disturbances.Runganga said initially, police were using first post-mortem results but second post-mortem results came and showed the victims were shot from a rifle."We now have final post-mortem results of the six and these show that victims died as a result of projectiles by fires. We are now investigating cases as murder," he said."For now, we have suspects in connection with the violence but we will charge people in connection with the death of the six as we identify each individual's case."It is part of the investigations on who shot them but there are no dates or time frames on investigations on the murder cases."We will try to speed up the investigations."The new twist into what has been widely believed to be army shootings on civilians could be a fresh source of worry to the opposition which fears a state backlash as authorities pull all the stops to distance the Zanu PF led regime from the killings while pinning the blame on MDC.On Tuesday, former MDC legislator and now Zanu PF apologist, Gabriel Chaibva went to great lengths to tell the seven member probe team that his former MDC colleagues were responsible for two of the six deaths that occurred on the day.Commander of the Presidential Guard, Brigadier General Anselem Sanyatwe also told the Commission that some of the deaths may have been caused by the militant MDC youth group commonly known as the Vanguard in which he claimed were some rogue army deserters.President Emmerson Mnangagwa is keen to emerge from the investigations cleaner as he tries to convince a skeptical world he was the right man to pull the country out of its bitter past and back on to a peacefull and prosperous one. It all happened so fast. Tuesday afternoon, Jennifer Basu and a group of friends met at Vancouver International Airport to welcome the refugee they'd sponsored to come to Canada. Basu said she'd been thinking about sponsoring someone for a while, but it didn't seem like it would be possible for years. But then she learned that nearly $3.5 million had been donated by philanthropists in the U.S. and Canada to help community groups like hers cover the cost of sponsorship. With that financial help, Basu was able to assemble a group of eight sponsors and bring over a refugee from the Middle East within just two months. "It's really exciting," Basu told CBC. "There's so many people who are refugees in the world and who need a place to live and are being persecuted. Just knowing that I can contribute and help one person to be in a safe place, for me that's kind of emotional." The new arrival is one of 685 refugees who will arrive in Canada by the end of the year thanks to the donations. Thirty-seven of those will settle in B.C. They're part of the Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) program, which allows Canadian sponsor groups to bring in refugees identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. More than 1,000 unfilled spaces The program has been around for a few years, but, in 2018, there was a real possibility that hundreds of spaces in the program would go unused. At the beginning of the year, the federal government opened up 1,500 spaces for refugees through BVOR, but by August, fewer than 500 of those spaces had been filled. Any empty spaces would disappear once the year was out. That's when Vancouver's Giustra Foundation, along with the U.S.-based Shapiro Foundation and the University of Ottawa Refugee Hub and Jewish Family Services, stepped in and created a fund to help community groups cover the cost to sponsor refugees. The aim of the fund was ensure that no spaces would go unfilled because of lack of money. It costs about $18,000 for a private sponsor to welcome a family of four through BVOR the rest of the price tag is covered by the federal government. Story continues With the $3.5 million raised by eight philanthropists, including Vancouver's Aquilini Group and local residents Brian Paes-Braga and Harald and Sharlene Ludwig, groups in 49 communities across the country were able to sponsor refugees. Vancouver businessman Frank Giustra, founder and president of the Giustra Foundation, said he was "incredibly proud" of the effort. In a written statement, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen thanked the donors for stepping up. "We have seen how the generosity of Canadians has changed the lives of refugees for the better and the success of this initiative is a testament to that generosity," Hussen said. By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro chose an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump's conservative nationalism as his top diplomat on Wednesday, while escalating tensions with communist Cuba over a medical aid program. Bolsonaro's pick of career diplomat Ernesto Araujo, 51, underscored Brazil's sharp turn to the right and the reversal of nearly a decade and a half of diplomacy under leftist Workers Party governments that focused on alliances with South American allies and ideological partners - including Cuba. "Brazil's foreign policy should be part of this moment of regeneration that Brazil is living right now," Bolsonaro, a longstanding Trump admirer, wrote on Twitter. In another sign of Brazil's new foreign policy direction under Bolsonaro, the former army captain announced he would grant asylum to any Cuban national who asks for it. That came after Cuba said it would pull thousands of its doctors from Brazil after Bolsonaro questioned their training and demanded changes to their contracts. Araujo, a career diplomat, is currently head of the foreign ministry's United States and Canada department. Last year, he raised eyebrows in the foreign ministry with an article that stated Brazil has a chance to recover its "Western soul" by embracing Trump's brand of nationalism and pursuing its own interests instead of being tied to blocs of countries. The article, entitled "Trump and the West," won the attention of Bolsonaro, who has promoted the mid-level diplomat to lead Itamaraty, as the foreign ministry is known. Araujo shares Bolsonaro's view of the need to rethink membership of the South American trade bloc Mercosur, which he and others in the president-elect's camp see as holding back Brazil's commercial interests. Announcing the appointment with Araujo at his side, Bolsonaro said the diplomat's mission will be to promote trade with all nations without any left-wing ideological bias. Araujo said he would make sure Bolsonaro's election brought a change of course at the foreign ministry that puts Brazil first, "an effective policy based on national interest, a policy for an active, happy and prosperous Brazil." Araujo argued in his article that, unlike European leaders, Trump is saving western Christian civilization from radical Islam and "globalist cultural Marxism" by standing up for national identity, family values and the Christian faith. Bolsonaro, who takes office on Jan. 1, is reconsidering some of his campaign foreign policy stances, such as copying Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Accord on climate change and moving Brazil's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The latter proposal has already soured ties with Arab nations that are valuable markets for Brazilian meat. But he has stuck to his criticism of a program that brought 14,000 Cuban doctors to practice in poor and remote parts of Brazil, slamming the "slave labor" terms under which Cuba's communist-run government gets 75 percent of their salaries. Bolsonaro has also insisted that Cuba allow the doctors' families be allowed to join them in Brazil for the program to continue. "Unfortunately, Cuba did not accept," Bolsonaro said in a Twitter post announcing the end of the program after the Cuban health ministry said it was pulling its doctors out of Brazil due to his criticism. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle and Mateus Maia in Brasilia and Marc Frank in Havana; Editing by Dan Grebler) Shares in California's electricity and natural gas utility are being hammered after the company revealed it doesn't have enough cash and insurance to cover losses stemming from the devastating wildfire that may have been sparked by some of its equipment. Pacific Gas & Electricity lost 25 per cent of its value on Wednesday after the company was named in a lawsuit brought on behalf of victims of the so-called Camp Fire, the massive blaze that has already killed 48 people and destroyed 7,600 structures in Northern California. According to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, the company reported an incident to state regulator the California Public Utilities Commission on November 8, after they discovered a power failure on one of their transmission lines in Butte Country, the area roughly 300 kilometres north of San Francisco where the blaze began. The transmission problem was uncovered at around 6:15 a.m. local time, the company says in the filing. Later that afternoon, the company also reported damage to a transmission tower near the town of Pulga, close to where the fire is believed to have begun some time that day. Pulga resident Betsey Ann Cowley says the company contacted her in the days before the November 8 to request access to her property to repair transmission lines because "they were having problems with sparks," she said the company told her in an email. Peter Banda/Associated Press State records show the first reports of a fire in the area came at around 6:30 a.m. that morning. So far the fire has consumed 125,000 acres and is 30 per cent contained. Fire officials don't expect it to be fully under control until the end of the month at the earliest. Prior to the 8th, the company had also been warning customers that it may shut off gas and electricity services in the region as a precaution, because the risk of fire was so great. But the company elected not to go ahead with the shut down in Butte County and other areas, citing poor weather conditions. Story continues According to the lawsuit launched by Northern California Fire Lawyers in the San Francisco County Superior Court on Tuesday, the company is liable for the damage that ensued, which most recent estimates peg at more than $15 billion US. "Despite its own recognition of these impending hazardous conditions, on the day of the Camp Fire's ignition, PG&E ultimately made the decision not to proceed with its plans for a power shutoff," the lawsuit says. Matthew Henderson Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey told KRCR television on Wednesday that attributing the fire to PG&E at this point was "speculative." "It's important to remember that the cause (of the Camp Fire) has yet to be determined," PG&E said in a statement. "Right now, our primary focus is on the communities, supporting first responders and getting our crews positioned and ready to respond when we get access, so that we can safely restore gas and electricity to our customers." The company did warn investors on Tuesday, however, that it had tapped into a $3.3 billion credit facility to shore up cash, and added it is covered for up to about $1.4 billion in liability insurance. But those figures combined could be nowhere near enough to cover the costs of the massive blaze if the company is found liable in any serious way. "While the cause of the Camp Fire is still under investigation, if the utility's equipment is determined to be the cause, the utility could be subject to significant liability in excess of insurance coverage," the company said in the filing. Bloomberg untility analyst Kit Konolige said the bill could be for more than the company is worth. "Unless mitigated by regulators, we expect PG&E's write-offs could exceed the company's total equity," Konolige said. That sent shares plunging. The company was trading at $48 a share the day before the fire started. On Wednesday, those same shares were changing hands at almost half that, barely over $25 each. In mid-November 1968, a team of cardiologists at St. Michael's Hospital received a call they had been waiting on for months. An 18-year-old man had been badly injured in an accident, they learned. He was ruled brain dead, but his heart was still beating. It was a tragedy that set into motion the first successful heart transplant in Canadian history, which marks its 50th anniversary on Saturday. "We never had any hesitation," said Dr. John K. Wilson, now 93. "We were ready. The team was ready." A year earlier, in 1967, Wilson had identified a potential recipient for a heart transplant, Charles Perrin Johnston, who had been suffering from heart failure and appeared headed toward an early death. "I told him at the time, almost facetiously, 'Hey, maybe we can give you a new heart in a year's time,'" Wilson remembers telling Perrin Johnston. Tina Mackenzie/CBC The golden age of cardiology In December 1967, the South African doctor Christiaan Barnard performed the world's first human-to-human heart transplant an earlier transplant had been attempted using a chimpanzee heart though the recipient lived for just 18 days after the surgery. In Canada, several hospitals were jockeying to become the first to replicate the operation, though early attempts were met with fast deaths or incapacitated patients. In May of 1968, Albert Murphy became the first Canadian to receive a new heart, though he died within hours of the operation, performed at the Montreal Heart Institute. In the following months, Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals also attempted heart transplants, though none of the patients recovered. In the wake of multiple failures and amidst a growing media frenzy around the race between the three Toronto hospitals, the team at St. Michael's took their shot at the potentially life-saving operation on Nov. 17, 1968. The transplant was to be performed by Dr. Clare Baker, with Wilson providing support during Perrin Johnston's recovery. Story continues St. Michael's Hospital "We had to have confidence. And if anybody gave the image of being a confident performer, a confident surgeon, a capable surgeon, it was Dr. Clare Baker," Wilson remembered about his colleague, who died in 2010. That confidence and preparation ultimately translated into a successful surgery. "He left the operating room like any other patient, with a beating heart," Wilson said. Perrin Johnston went on to live six years with his new heart. At the time of his death, he was the longest lived male heart transplant recipient in the world. When doctors later asked him how they did it, "maybe we said more prayers at St. Michael's Hospital," Wilson would say with a laugh. Surgery inspired future doctors Shortly after Perrin Johnston's transplant, Dr. Robert Chisholm arrived at St. Michael's as a medical student. He says the experience of watching Dr. Wilson and Dr. Baker during their breakthrough years altered the course of his career. "That two month experienced changed my life," said Chisholm, who started his tenure at St. Mike's without a medical specialty. He has now worked as a cardiologist at the hospital since the 1970s. "It was a very exciting time because the world was kind of watching us," he added. "We had pretty good success in those early days." St. Michael's Hospital While the techniques used in cardiology have advanced considerably since the 1960s, Chisholm says the approach taken by Wilson and Baker should serve as a powerful lesson to their modern contemporaries. "The key to their success, I think, was judgment," he said. "And that still applies today." Failed surgeries following breakthrough Following Perrin Johnston's surgery, Baker, Wilson and the St. Michael's cardiology team travelled around the world, sharing their findings at medical conferences filled with doctors still struggling to perform the operation. In total, Wilson and the team carried out five heart transplants at St. Michael's, though the last two were unsuccessful. They stopped performing transplants after those failures, due to advancements in other areas of cardiology and a need for anti-rejection medications that were not yet developed. Still, Wilson looks back fondly on his years at the cutting edge of the specialty, knowing that his team's success informed the work of doctors around the world, and elevated the profile of his hospital as a result. "We were pretty proud that we were able to present a successful transplant," he said. "We showed that it can be done." According to the latest figures from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 170 Canadians received heart transplants in 2015. Canada is experimenting with a new method of spending millions of dollars in foreign aid: handing cash directly to people in poverty-stricken or war-torn countries, two senior officials with Global Affairs Canada said. Global Affairs, the government department responsible for Canada's $5.6 billion annual aid budget, couldn't provide a breakdown of how much money Canada is spending on direct cash transfers. But interviews with experts, including charities that receive money from Global Affairs for unconditional cash transfer programs, as well as a review of funding commitments to the UN and aid groups show the government has been spending tens of millions of dollars annually on these programs. "Direct cash transfers have become a key element of humanitarian response and development in the last two to three years," said one of two senior aid officials with Global Affairs who spoke with CBC by phone on condition they not be quoted by name. "It is much more efficient to deliver assistance this way. There is no middleman to decide what the needs are. In humanitarian projects, it is being considered the default approach now." Efficiency questions The officials said the money is being spent in around three dozen countries, although they could not provide a full breakdown, as direct cash transfers are usually intertwined with other aid programs. Refugees in Jordan and Ethiopia are some of the people receiving cash aid from Canadians, officials said. Supporters of giving cash directly to poor people overseas said the transfers help reduce overhead expenses by cutting out high-priced foreign aid consultants, shipping costs and some of the bureaucracy. Hohetemisrak Samuel/Oxfam Supporters of this type of aid said that recipients, especially women, know what they need more than outside experts. And giving people particularly refugees cash to buy their own food, clothing and other essentials helps stimulate local economies in host countries. It also has the potential to reduce local animus toward the new arrivals. Story continues 'Kickstart' Critics said there isn't enough data on this strategy to properly gauge its long-term effectiveness in reducing poverty and helping poor countries to develop. "This type of a thing is good as a kickstart, almost like a jump, but not as a ladder to fundamentally lift people out of poverty," said Aniket Bhushan, a Carleton University professor who leads the Canadian International Development Platform, a research group focused on aid policy. "The real question is sustainability: What happens after the fact?" As for reduced bureaucracy and overhead, Bhushan said, governments and large aid agencies still need to send their experts to set up, administer and evaluate the programs. Cash transfers don't "offer enough of a short-circuit to drive up efficiency," said Bhushan. Others question whether more Canadian tax dollars should be given away overseas. According to an Angus-Reid poll released in March, 72 per cent of Canadians believe the country is spending either the right amount or too much on foreign aid. Only 28 per cent support an increase. Still, aid groups said the new tactic has been well received. "I haven't come across any political blowback over cash disbursements," said Gregory Queyranne, manager of Oxfam Canada's humanitarian unit. "If you are dispersing cash, you save on the overhead The reality is if you want impact, you need to include cash in your approaches." Refugee investments Nyatlak Nyiet, 30, a South Sudanese refugee living in a camp in western Ethiopia, is one of the people receiving direct cash transfers under a program run by Oxfam and partially financed by the Canadian government. Nyiet ran a tea shop in South Sudan before she was forced to flee last year amid civil conflict. When she arrived in the camp, Nyiet, a widow, gave birth to her sixth child, who was severely malnourished. "It was not possible for me to breastfeed. I had only [a] small [amount of] milk, so the baby kept crying," she told Oxfam researchers in June, in an interview shared with CBC. Karin Laub/Associated Press Nyiet's only source of income for food in the camp was collecting firewood to sell at a market. "We used to go in groups, but we still did not feel safe," Nyiet said. "We fear getting bitten by a snake or raped." She was approved for the unconditional cash transfer program, which normally amounts to roughly $30 per month, Oxfam Canada's spokesperson said. Along with using the cash to buy food, cooking oil and clothes, Nyiet invested some of it in four chickens (including a rooster), corn and okra seeds. "Sometimes, we eat the eggs that the hens lay, but I am planning to let the eggs hatch, so that I could sell roosters for emergencies," she said. One size doesn't fit all Government officials acknowledge there are plenty of cases where direct cash transfers don't work. After a major earthquake, for example, there often isn't food or medicine available for purchase amid the rubble. "Giving people money to procure health services in the absence of health services doesn't help too much," a Global Affairs official said. The same is true for conflict zones. In northern Mali, where Canadian troops are working on a UN peacekeeping mission, "markets often don't exist," the official said, so cash transfers wouldn't be effective. There, the government is delivering traditional aid. Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press To combat corruption and double-dipping, the UN's World Food Program, in an initiative partially funded by Canada, uses iris scans and digital cards to transfer cash to some Syrian refugees living in Jordan. One of the officials who spoke to CBC said the "digital revolution happening across the developing world" has made cash transfers a more efficient tactic for giving out aid in the last three years, although the strategy "hasn't reached the level of maturity yet." That is in part why Carleton's Bhushan remains skeptical. For the few cases where long-term data exists, the impact of the transfers on poverty reduction is "sanguine," he said, citing a study from Uganda that compared two groups over nine years. Members of one cohort initially received $400 in unconditional cash transfers, and the others didn't. At first, savings and consumption rose markedly for the beneficiaries. But within a decade, the two groups had mostly levelled out in terms of employment income and overall economic well-being. Back at the refugee camp, Nyiet and other women told researchers that they're thankful for the cold, hard cash, regardless of the broader economic theory behind the program. "Now, we cook and eat three times a day," Nyiet said. Rumble Bait balls are an incredible sight for scuba divers. They are nature's way of helping small fish avoid predators. Small fish school tightly to confuse larger fish and sea lions if they cannot hide in vegetation or coral. The enormous mass of moving, silvery bodies makes it impossible for predators to track the movements of individual fish. This makes it hard for a predator to follow and capture one specific fish. A bait ball is a last ditch effort of the smaller fish to evade a larger animal. They large school provides more eyes to watch for an ambush and any reaction to a threat will be perceived by all of the other fish in the bait ball. They will move rapidly away from any threat. But many predatory fish, mammals, and birds have developed sophisticated methods of attack that allow them to successfully feed on the fish within the bait balls. Swordfish slash through bait balls at high speed, slicing or stunning the prey. Whales lunge feed by charging and opening their mouths as they reach the school. Sea lions herd the fish to the surface and work together to charge through the dense ball of fish. These divers saw the dark cloud of salemas approaching and they were mesmerized by the beauty of the swarm as it engulfed them. The fish in these swarms are so densely packed that they block most of the light and it is almost too dark for a scuba diver to see around them. The diver with the camera is Solon Intriago, a seasoned scuba guide with more than 30 years of experience and almost 15,000 dives under his belt. He shows us here what happens when air bubbles are released into the bait ball from beneath. The fish move out of the way as if they don't want the bubbles to touch them. They quickly close in again, engulfing the divers once more. The divers soon learned why the salemas had formed the bait ball when they saw a sea lion hunting at the edge of the school. The beauty and wonder of the underwater world has to be seen to be believed. These scuba divers were overjoyed to spend this time surrounded by such a gigantic school of fish. Imprisonment in an Ethiopian prison cell. That was the singular thought racing through Ahmed Abdulkadir's mind as he returned to his home country for the first time in more than 30 years. The Edmonton man feared he would be arrested the minute he stepped off the plane in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. Instead, he helped broker a peace deal which marks the end of the oldest arms struggles in Ethiopia. Back at home, Abdulkadir remains humble about his role in the historic negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a separatist rebel group. The two sides were locked in a violent conflict for decades until a peace agreement was reached last month. "It was combination of luck and time," Abdulkadir said in an interview with CBC Radio. Abdulkadir's family fled Ethiopia in 1991, when a conflict between the government and ONLF rebels erupted into renewed violence. Formed in 1984, ONLF had been fighting for more than three decades for the rights of ethnic Somalis living in eastern Ethiopia to have self-determination rights, including the option of secession. In 2007, Ethiopian forces launched a large-scale offensive against the group after the rebels killed 74 people in an attack on a Chinese-run oil facility. The conflict made war part of his family's life for generations, Abdulkadir said. Recent political changes, including the appointment of new prime minister Abiy Ahmed, suddenly made peace between the two groups a possibility. 'Window of opportunity' Ahmed, who took office in April, is presiding over a push to shake the Horn of Africa nation of 100 million people from decades of security-obsessed rule. He has acknowledged and condemned widespread abuses by the security forces, likening the situation to state terrorism. He has also worked to forge peace with Eritrea. Addis Ababa has been locked in a military standoff with Eritrea since a 1998-2000 border war in which 80,000 people are thought to have died. Story continues Ahmed has attempted to broker peace with ONLF, a group the government previously outlawed as a "terrorist group." "He said they are not terrorists anymore," Abdulkadir said of Ahmed. "He said he would treat everyone fairly and he wanted every Ethiopian to come back to the country. "That was the window of opportunity that we took on." 'A fragile peace' It was during this shift in the political landscape that Abdulkadir executive director of the Ogaden Somali Community of Alberta Residents and a longtime advocate for peace in Ethiopia was called upon to help. At the invitation of ONLF members, Abdulkadir flew to Addis Ababa on Aug. 4. He spent months attending more than 100 meetings and acting as a middle man between the two sides. The trip marked the only time he had returned to his home country since 1991. Watching the conflict from afar in Edmonton, Abdulkadir said he's had many sleepless, tearful nights over the years, feeling helpless and restless. When the call came, he was keen to help. It seemed the country's best chance for peace in decades, Abdulkadir said. "That's what made me made go back, expecting that I would be put in jail when I landed there," he said. After months of tense negotiations, an agreement was finally signed on Oct. 21. It stipulates that both sides end hostilities and that the ONLF would "pursue its political obligations through peaceful means." Abdulkadir's optimism for his home country is restrained. "I'm pessimistically hopeful," Abdulkadir said of the prospect of long term peace. "I'm grateful that this peace deal took place but it's fragile. "It depends on how long this prime minister stays in power which is sad and how the international community enforces this peace." Iqaluit's largest grocery store is preparing to open on Saturday after a fire last week that destroyed its warehouse. Northmart has started restocking its shelves, after health and building inspectors toured the main store on Tuesday. "People have been in there cleaning non-stop, day and night," said Alex Yeo, president of Canadian retail for the Winnipeg-based North West Company. "We've also been working with the city and the government to expedite all approvals. We're following all the processes to make sure." The fire burned for 22 hours, destroying much of the warehouse behind the store, which had recently been stocked with supplies brought up on cargo ships to last through the winter. Iqaluit is not connected to the rest of Canada by road, so supplies are shipped up before the ice in Frobisher Bay freezes and flown in throughout the year. Yeo says the company will not raise prices in the short term to compensate for the loss. Until the store reopens, the Northmart pharmacy one of two in the city has its phone lines up and running to transfer prescriptions to Valupharm, the other pharmacy in the city. Warehouse rebuild planned Yeo says plans are already underway to rebuild the destroyed warehouse. "We need to build the warehouse in time for sealift. So we're hoping for approvals by the end of this month," Yeo said. A 17-year-old facing arson and disregard for human life charges related to the fire will having a bail hearing on Nov. 23. The youth appeared in court Tuesday and remains in custody. The Canadian Press OTTAWA Members of Parliament have returned to the House of Commons for the first time in five months, and are being told they have until just before the holidays to OK a new round of pandemic aid. Government House leader Mark Holland says a bill to approve billions in new aid for businesses still hurting from COVID-19 is one of four pieces of legislation the Liberals want passed by the middle of next month. Of the remaining three, one bill would approve 10 days of paid sick leave for federally Nova Scotia's biggest polluter, Nova Scotia Power, will get almost half the credits available to companies participating in the cap-and-trade program the province is setting up and which will begin in January. The goal of the program is to force polluters to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions by decreasing the number of credits in years to come. Companies will either have to lower their emissions or buy credits if they can't meet their targets. To begin with, the province announced Wednesday, 13,683,000 emission credits will be mostly available free of charge in 2019. Nova Scotia Power will receive 6,334,000, or 46 per cent them. Most of the rest will be divvied up between almost two dozen other companies whose emissions are bad enough to warrant their inclusion in the greenhouse-gas reduction program. In addition to Nova Scotia Power, they include the Lafarge Canada cement plant in Brookfield, Irving Oil and other gasoline importers, companies that produce or import furnace oil, as well as natural gas distributors. The market The Nova Scotia government estimates those free credits equate to about 90 per cent of Nova Scotia Power's needs. It means the utility will have to reduce emissions and buy additional credits through government auctions. The province has set a $20 per credit floor price. Fuel suppliers will receive for free about 80 per cent of what they will need. The Ecology Action Centre on Wednesday welcomed some aspects of the plan, including putting money raised at credit auctions into a new Nova Scotia Green Fund that could generate between $25 million and $30 million a year for "low-carbon programming." But the Halifax-based group also criticized the province's emissions reduction targets from cap-and-trade, saying they aren't strong enough in the face climate change. Smaller market Unlike other jurisdictions, the credits generated in Nova Scotia can only be traded within the province, which is why the government is restricting how they can be exchanged and setting limits on how many can be traded. All told, the regulations published Wednesday run 47 pages. Story continues Jason Hollett, the executive director of climate change with the Department of Environment, said those rules were needed because of Nova Scotia's unique system. "It's important primarily because we understand that the market in Nova Scotia is a lot smaller than what you would see in other cap-and-trade markets," he said. "So the limitations that are placed on purchasing and the regulations are meant to ensure that there are enough greenhouse-gas allowances for all participants in the province." Credits will decrease The number of available credits will decrease by roughly one per cent over each of the four years of the program. Companies will be expected to lower their emissions year over year, but those that don't meet their targets will be expected to buy credits from those that do as compensation. Those trades happen through private transactions between program participants or confidentially through a Nova Scotia government auction. According to the regulations posted Wednesday, there will be a minimum of two auctions a year, starting in 2020. The Nova Scotia government has previously said it expects consumers to pay about a penny more a litre for gasoline and heating oil, and about the same amount per cubic metre of natural gas. There's also a potential increase of about one percent on Nova Scotia Power bills starting next year. There are no restrictions on credit trades between companies, but Nova Scotia Environment Minister Margaret Miller does have the power to limit trades, cancel deals and block companies from participating in auctions if he feels those companies are not playing by the rules or are trying to manipulate the price of credits. The province has set a $20 per credit floor price, but has set aside a percentage of credits in a strategic reserve that can be made available, as a last resort, to companies that need credits but can't find a company willing or able to trade. Those credits will cost $50 each. Young people, from around the world, have been invited to speak at a TED-Ed event in New York City this weekend, but only one of the conference's 13 presenters will be Canadian. Staecey-Merveille Ngabire, a 19-year-old University of Windsor student currently in her second year of civil engineering, found out she would be a TED-Ed presenter back in May when she received a phone call from one of her former high school teachers. "She said, 'I just received an email that says that you were invited to come and say your TED Talk in November in front of an audience in New York City.' So they told me right away to apply because we had to submit that I accepted the invitation," said Ngabire. School speech turned TED Talk Ngabire said she first learned about TED Talks when she was a student at St. Joseph's Catholic High School in Windsor, Ont. "Every week, we would watch a TED Talk that would motivate students to overachieve, step out of your boundaries, take the risk, face your challenges." The school eventually ran a TED-like conference, which both Ngabire and her older sister signed up for. There were no restrictions on the subjects they could choose just as long as it was engaging. "It could be funny. It could be educational. It could cover all aspects, but I went into the motivating aspect." From Burundi to Canada Ngabire is a native of Burundi, a small country in East Africa. Her family fled to Windsor when she was eight years old, because of the dangers of surrounding conflicts. Her TED Talk discusses the challenges and risks of moving from Burundi to Canada. She said the main message she wants audiences to come away with is that "self-determination will always be with you." "Even though people are not on the same journey as I am, everyone has their own different journey," said Ngabire. "So then I tell them and I motivate them to take the risk, face the challenges." Story continues Tap on the player below to watch a portion of Staecey-Merveille Ngabire's interview on the CBC's Windsor Morning: Ngabire's family recently celebrated 11 years since first arriving in Canada. She, along with her mother and two sisters, became Canadian citizens two years ago and said that was the "best day of our lives." "We ultimately felt safe. We ultimately felt like we belong to Canada because it has provided so much for us," she said, adding she has no desire to return to Burundi "at the moment" because of ongoing tensions. "I will stay in Canada, get my education, give back to the community and then, after that, I will come back to Burundi and help them out." Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown comes out swinging in a new tell-all memoir, claiming the province's current finance minister, Vic Fedeli, has also been the subject of a sexual misconduct allegation. Brown's new book also contains allegations that his former party spied on him as far back as 2015. Entitled Takedown: The Attempted Political Assassination of Patrick Brown, the book follows Brown's rise in politics, starting with his nine-year-old self writing a letter to then-prime minister Brian Mulroney and ending with reflections on his life after his abrupt resignation as Progressive-Conservative leader earlier this year, following allegations of sexual misconduct. "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," Brown told CBC News in sit-down interview, describing the night he was forced to resign. "It's like being run over by a truck. You can never be prepared for that." Evan Mitsui/CBC Brown, who recovered from the scandal and was elected mayor of the City of Brampton in October, takes aim in the book at a number of PC caucus members and former staffers, and claims he was stabbed in the back by those in his inner circle. Brown is in the midst of an $8-million defamation lawsuit against CTV News for publishing the original story detailing the allegations against him, which he has always denied. CTV has filed a statement of defence. The case has not yet been heard in court. Allegation against Fedeli In the book, Brown directs a series of blows at current Finance Minister Vic Fedeli, accusing him of once being the subject himself of an allegation of sexual misconduct. Brown writes that in December 2017 not long before he was ousted as leader of the party he received a handwritten letter on his desk from a female staffer accusing Fedeli of inappropriate behaviour. CBC News has not seen the letter. The allegations aren't detailed in the book and neither is the name of the staffer. But while he was still PC leader, Brown said he informed Fedeli that he would look into the matter. In the book, Brown claims that when Fedeli became the interim party leader, the woman was let go for undisclosed reasons but kept on the legislative payroll. Story continues In the days following Brown's resignation, Fedeli was a harsh critic of the former party leader. "We watched in shock and horror and disappointment and sadness at these allegations," Fedeli told CBC News at the time. "This is just plain and simply horrible." Evan Mitsui/CBC A month later, Fedeli wrote to the party president saying that Brown didn't have the confidence to be a party candidate in his Barrie riding. "I was surprised at Fedeli's cavalier, holier-than-thou attitude, given that he knew full well that he may have dodged a bullet," Brown writes in the book, referring to Fedeli's remarks about him after he resigned. "Queen's Park smells of hypocrisy right now," he says of the Ontario Legislature. CBC News has independently verified the allegation was made against Fedeli. The allegation has never been tested in court. 'Categorically false,' Fedeli says Fedeli dismissed the accusations on Wednesday. "These accusations from Patrick Brown are categorically false and without any merit. Facts relating to Mr. Brown's lack of credibility are well documented and on the public record, as are his motivations in using his book to pursue old grievances, Fedeli said. He added he has "retained legal counsel" and is "prepared to take whatever action is necessary to hold any person making these false allegations accountable." NDP deputy leader Sara Singh called for Fedeli's removal from cabinet. "I assume that [Ontario Premier] Doug Ford will be immediately ordering a fully independent investigation, and be removing Mr. Fedeli from cabinet while that investigation takes place," Singh said in a statement. But Ford is standing by Fedeli, calling him "one of the most honourable, ethical, and decent individuals I have ever had the privilege of knowing and working with." "I stand behind him completely from this disgusting smear campaign. He has my full support," Ford said on Twitter. Nathan Denette/Canadian Press Brown claims in the book that in the weeks following his resignation, he hired a private investigator to look into who may have been behind his "setup." In the process of that investigation, Brown said he learned he himself had been surveilled in 2015 and 2017. Brown claims the person who hired investigators was a lawyer with ties to the PC party, and that this individual paid the firm $118,000 for the surveillance work. Brown believes it was for nefarious purposes, but told CBC he still isn't clear what the motive may have been. "I never thought that politics in Canada could be reminiscent of House of Cards or a movie, but some of the stuff that I've gone through is frankly out of a movie." Brown said. 'Less and less relevant' In the years prior to Brown's resignation, there were questions within the PCs about his ability to lead them to an election victory in 2018. In the book, Brown frequently describes himself as a "red conservative." He writes that he felt disliked by the party for his more progressive stance on issues such as gay marriage, climate change and the carbon tax. At one point in the book, Brown offers advice to the new premier. "I would say to Ford that the social conservatives are dinosaurs who are becoming less and less relevant every single day," Brown writes. Supplied Asked what he hopes will be the key takeaway from his book, Brown said he wants to expand people's views on the current form of conservatism. "I believe you can be a proud, progressive conservative who cares about gay rights and cares about the environment and have a social conscience," said Brown. "I believe there is a place within conservatism for that Bill Davis style of politics. I hope that we'll see some champions for that in the future." Additional reporting by Nicole Brewster and John Lancaster Canada's territories are spending the most per capita on costs related to substance use, according to a report released Thursday. In 2014, Nunavut spent about $96 million related to substance use; in the Northwest Territories that number was $102 million, and in the Yukon, it was $71 million. The study, a collaboration between the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction (CCSA), was funded by by Health Canada. The costs are associated with the criminal justice system, lost productivity, health care, and other "direct costs," like fire damage or substance use studies. The researchers used large databases of information, including the number of people admitted to hospitals, visits to general practitioners, and prevalence of substance use. 6 provinces over $1B The cost of substance use per person in Nunavut for 2014 was $2,652; comparatively, the highest cost in a province was Newfoundland and Labrador at $1,373 per person. The lowest cost per person in Canada was in British Columbia, where final figures came in at $1,050 per person. Master1305/Shutterstock Overall, six provinces spent upwards of $1 billion related to substance use in 2014, with Ontario spending the most at $14 billion. The numbers for Quebec are not all in yet, as the researchers only recently received some necessary information on hospitalizations. Tim Stockwell, the director of CISUR, said the high costs are mostly related to the use of legal substances: tobacco and alcohol. "The main lesson I think is that despite the terrible opioid crisis we're having, it's still the case that the great majority of harms are from our legal drugs," said Stockwell. He said the territories have a higher cost associated with substance use because of a higher prevalence of alcohol and tobacco, and a higher cost of living. "Those are really costly substances that create an awful lot of harm both in the health sphere and the crime sphere, for alcohol at any rate," said Stockwell. Story continues According to the report, substance use led to $54 million in health-care costs in the Northwest Territories in 2014, $46 million in Nunavut, and $32 million in Yukon. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction/Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research The goal of the study is to help shape policy, said Stockwell. "We need to put substantial attention at the highest level to reduce harms from our use of legal substances," he said, adding that it needs to be in tandem with a continuous effort to combat the harms associated with opioids and other illicit substances. He said that CISUR recommended imposing a minimum cost of $1.50 before taxes, per dose of alcohol for one ounce of liquor, or for one regular sized beer at liquor stores. It's incredibly important that these trends are monitored going forward. - Tim Stockwell, CISUR director Stockwell says he also sees issues in the way legal substances are advertised, in particular on social media. CISUR plans to release another report in 2019 examining alcohol implementation strategies, with one focus being firmer regulation on alcohol advertising over Facebook. Stockwell said that right now, promotions on Facebook and Instagram promote unhealthy and inappropriate use of alcohol, because they are not regulated in the same way as TV and radio advertisements. He also said that he expects cannabis-related costs to decrease with legalization, in particular when it comes to the justice system. University of Victoria The next phase of this project will be to release substance use data for 2015 and 2016, as well as launch an online tool that the public can use to access the most current data on substance use, which Stockwell says he expects to have live by early 2019. Stockwell said the 2015 and 2016 numbers should be interesting because "2014 is the beginning of many things," including alcohol deregulation, the development of tobacco alternatives, the opioid crisis, and the legalization of cannabis. "It's incredibly important that these trends are monitored going forward," he said. By Stephen Kalin, Marwa Rashad and Tuvan Gumrukcu RIYADH/ANKARA (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five suspects charged in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as the kingdom tries to contain its biggest political crisis for a generation. Khashoggi, a royal insider turned critic of Saudi policy, was killed in the country's Istanbul consulate on Oct. 2, after a struggle, by lethal injection, deputy public prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan told reporters on Thursday. Shalaan said that de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggi's body was dismembered, removed from the building and handed over to an unidentified "local cooperator". The whereabouts of Khashoggi's remains are unknown, he said. His family is planning a weekend prayer service without his body. Following Shalaan's account, the latest of Riyadh's shifting explanations, the U.S. Treasury will announce sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing, including Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Prince Mohammed, and Istanbul Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, a source familiar with the plan told Reuters. Turkey, however, reacted with scepticism and a U.S. senator said it was unbelievable that the killing could not have been carried out without orders. France's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said the investigation was proceeding in the right direction. The case has sparked a global outcry and tarnished the image of Prince Mohammed. Shalaan said Khashoggi was murdered after "negotiations" for his return to the kingdom failed, and that the killing was ordered by the lead negotiator after he decided it was unfeasible to remove him from the consulate. Shalaan said the order to repatriate Khashoggi came from former deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Asiri, who was sacked last month. He said Prince Mohammed "did not have any knowledge" of the killing, a stance reiterated by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who accused Turkey of ignoring Saudi requests for information. SANCTIONS Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the order for the operation came from the highest level of Saudi leadership but probably not King Salman, putting the spotlight instead on his 33-year-old heir. U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested ultimate responsibility lies with the prince as de facto ruler and has warned of economic sanctions. Asked about that possibility, Jubeir said a distinction should be made between individuals who committed crimes and the government. Riyadh initially denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's disappearance, then offered contradictory explanations including that he was killed in a rogue operation. U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Coons dismissed that idea as "utterly incredible" and called for a U.S. investigation using information from Turkish intelligence and other sources. "We should reach our own conclusions, rather than letting the Saudis come up with a different version of events," he said on CNN. Some details provided on Thursday again contradicted previous versions, none of which mentioned a drug-induced death and one of which called the killing premeditated based on information provided by Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the measures announced by Saudi Arabia were "positive but insufficient", and repeated Ankara's demand that the 15-man team be tried in Turkey. An adviser to Erdogan accused Riyadh of trying to cover up the murder. "I don't believe the real perpetrators will be found through Saudi Arabia's investigation," Yasin Aktay said. DEATH PENALTY Without naming them, Shalaan said the Saudi prosecutor had requested the death penalty for five individuals "charged with ordering and committing the crime, and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals". He said 11 of 21 suspects have been indicted and will be referred to court, while investigations of the remaining suspects will continue. He said a travel ban had been imposed on Qahtani, who coordinated with Asiri, meeting the operatives ahead of their journey to Istanbul to brief them on Khashoggi's activities. Qahtani has already been fired from the royal court, but four sources based in the Gulf have told Reuters that he is still at liberty and continues to operate discreetly. A senior government official previously identified the head of the negotiating team as Maher Mutreb, an aide to Qahtani who has appeared in photographs with Prince Mohammed on official foreign visits this year. Six weeks after the murder, Turkey is trying to maintain pressure on Prince Mohammed, releasing a stream of evidence that undermined Riyadh's early denials. Turkey says it has recordings related to the killing which it shared with Western allies. One Turkish official told Reuters that officials who heard the recordings, which include Khashoggi's killing and conversations leading up to the operation, were horrified but their countries had done nothing. Last month, two intelligence sources said Qahtani gave orders over Skype to Khashoggi's killers. More recently, a government source said Qahtani featured prominently throughout the recordings. Erdogan has said Turkey also played the recordings to Saudi officials, something Shalaan declined to confirm or deny. He said Riyadh asked Ankara to share witness testimonies and hand over Khashoggi's phones. (Additional reporting by Maha El Dahan and Asma Al Sharif in Dubai, Doina Chiacu in Washington, John Irish in Paris; Writing by Tuqa Khalid and Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Dominic Evans/Mark Heinrich) The president of Astronomy North says tourists don't have to wait for solar maximum to see the northern lights in communities across northern Canada. James Pugsley held public workshops on space weather training at the 2018 NWT Tourism annual general meeting last week. He taught tour operators about space weather and how it affects the northern lights. Pugsley said regardless of how much magnetic energy is being produced by the sun during solar maximum, there will always be a solid display in northern centres such as Yellowknife, Churchill, Iqaluit and Dawson City. "We have to raise awareness of that so we don't have too many people travelling here at the peak of the solar cycle ... because the auroras are beautiful regardless if it's solar minimum or solar maximum," he said. What is a solar maximum? A solar maximum occurs every 11 years. It defines the period when there is highest amount of magnetic energy on the sun's surface. The next solar maximum could happen as early as 2023, said Pugsley, adding an increase in magnetic turbulence during solar maximum usually draws a bigger crowd to the North for the lights. "Ambient solar wind sweeping across Earth and interacting with the magnetic field creates conditions that are right for the northern lights, whether the sun is active or not," he said. University professor weighs in Astronomy North has partnered with the Canadian Space Agency and the University of Calgary, collecting data on the northern lights. David Knudsen is the head of the astronomy and physics department at the University of Calgary. He said it's definitely possible to see some "cool stuff" outside the solar maximum, but it's also possible to track the frequency of the really intense storms using the solar cycle. "The solar cycle has a huge effect on the intensity and the frequency of the aurora," said Knudsen, adding people in Calgary usually see the lights once a month. Story continues The sun is unpredictable Pugsley said scientists are trying to better understand what is goes on in our star, every day. Michael Hugall/CBC "It's so important that we understand studying of the sun will lead to a better enhanced awareness of the impacts on the environment," he said. "The conditions we see today were not being monitored hundreds of years ago, so this is in some ways a new area of study." In 2006, scientists created a panel to predict what would happen during the last solar cycle. Early predictions told the public this cycle was going to be the strongest in 50 years, said Pugsley. He said as time went on, predictions were modified. "It ended up being one of the weakest solar cycles," he said. "What that tells us is even the experts are trying to better understand this issue." The next solar cycle is expected to begin in April 2019, early predictions from scientists indicate the upcoming cycle is going to be similar to the last one, but maybe a bit stronger, said Pugsley. A forester from Bancroft, Ont., says the province could be doing much more to deal with an insidious disease that's killing beech trees across Ontario. Svetlana Zeran called in to CBC's Ontario Today Monday to say beech bark disease is a major concern on the nearly 400,000 hectares of forest her company manages. "We have been dealing with beech bark disease for about a decade," Zeran said. "Now that it is here on the [Canadian] Shield, it is moving very rapidly and we are seeing the disease come in and infect the trees and they are dead within two to five years." The disease begins when an insect bores holes in the bark, allowing a red fungus to invade the tree and slowly weaken it from the inside out. Infecting young trees Zeran said as mature trees die saplings rise in their place, but the young trees are also susceptible to the disease and crowd out other potential new growth. 'It is a self-perpetuating cycle. I call it the sort of zombie forest.' - Svetlana Zeran, forester "It will keep re-infecting those young saplings that will never reach maturity, will never produce beech nuts," she said. "It is a self-perpetuating cycle. I call it the sort of zombie forest." Zeran said her company would like support to go into the forest and removed dead or dying trees to potentially limit the spread of the disease. She said so far, the government has not been receptive. "It's been a struggle just trying to get the funding to get the people to do the work," she said. "I think it should be a priority to start removing it from the forest." No way to halt disease, ministry says Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski said unfortunately, there really is no way to control the disease. "There is no insecticide or fungicide that can be applied to kill the beech scale insect or the canker fungus. Such treatments are not practical in a forest setting anyway," she said in an email. Kowalski said removing trees can help from a safety perspective, but it isn't a long-term solution to the problem. "Removing trees that are diseased is a good idea from a safety standpoint, as they tend to break and fall over in wind storms, but it will not reduce disease levels in the forest." A woman from Texas is on life support after suffering from complications of a plastic surgery procedure she attempted to have done abroad. Laura Avila traveled to Juarez, Mexico, to have plastic surgery done on her nose, because the procedure costs much less in Mexico than in the U.S., according to a report from New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU 6. Avila had complications after she was given anesthesia, and doctors refused to continue with the surgery. Laura suffered a cardiac arrest for four minutes, her sister, Angie Avila, wrote on a GoFundMe page she started to help fund Lauras medical bills. She was then placed into a medically induced coma to prevent further damage to her brain that was caused by the complications she experienced during anesthesia. Doctors recently started to slowly take Laura out of the coma, but its too soon to know the state she will be in from the damage she has sustained until she awakens, Avila wrote. Laura had brain swelling that caused brain damage, she said, and is currently having seizures. She had been in an Intensive Care Unit in Mexico for six days before we were allowed to get her back to the U.S., Avila continued. In the event that she wakes up, it is likely she will need to begin physical therapy and rehabilitation for an unforeseen period of time. The family is hoping to raise $150,000 to help pay for Lauras medical bills. This isnt the first case of someone suffering serious complications while attempting to have surgery performed abroad. One unidentified woman traveled to the Dominican Republic to have a tummy tuck and ended up with massive open sores and an antibiotic-resistant infection that left her with a deformed abdomen, per the Chicago Tribune. A recent study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery identified 78 patients over seven years who had medical complications from traveling abroad for elective surgery and needed follow-up care in the U.S. Story continues Of course, that doesnt mean that plastic surgery in the U.S. is perfect. Plenty of people have suffered from complications and even died during or after surgery, including Joan Rivers, and Kanye Wests mother, Donda West. The Centers for Disease Control acknowledges on its website that medical tourism is fairly common, but points out that there are risks. In order to do it safely, they recommend making sure your current medical conditions are well controlled before undergoing surgery, checking the qualifications of the person who will be performing the surgery as well as the facility where it will take place, taking copies of your medical records with you and bringing back copies of your medical records. If you have a good result after traveling abroad for surgery, then its not a bad idea, Craig Vander Kolk, MD, director of cosmetic medicine and surgery at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. The problem is that you risk having a bad complication. We never recommend it. Vander Kolk acknowledges that plastic surgery in an accredited center with an accredited doctor in the U.S. can be costly, but he says its worth it. You can always try to get something for less, but Ive had patients get silicone implants that are off-label, those who develop infections, or get sick after traveling abroad for surgery, he says. Some surgeons arent OK with fixing these. All surgery comes with risks, including plastic surgery, Peter LePort, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Center for Obesity at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., tells Yahoo Lifestyle. You have major complications that can occur even with the most minor surgery, he says. Those complications can be as simple as an allergy to whatever medication or anesthetic is being used. Allergies, if youre very hypersensitive, can lead to severe pulmonary, lung and heart problems, and even death. Surgery can also be mentally and physically stressful, and thats something that doctors need to take into account, LePort says. Your body has to be able to handle whatever that stress is, he says. Most physicians will be able to understand and work out whether a patient can take it, but if theyre not experienced, they may not. When it comes to finding a good surgeon, Vander Kolk recommends relying on word of mouth, along with making sure youre using a board-certified plastic surgeon. Also, listen to your gut and shop around. I tell people to see as many doctors as you feel comfortable with, he says. If a surgeon isnt going to answer all your questions and you dont have a good feeling, dont do it. As for getting surgery abroad, just know youre rolling the dice. Ive seen some good results, but its risky, Vander Kolk says. We always think its a bad idea. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Words: Elizabeth Di Filippo Carrie Doles/mediadrumworld.com Warning: This post contains graphic images. A Chicago woman is speaking out about the danger of tanning beds after skin cancer left her with a hole in her face. Carrie Doless tanning habit began during her college years. She would take daily trips to the tanning salon after her and her friends had finished classes. It was euphoric I guess, Doles told Illinois news station WFLD. It became an addiction. If I missed a day I would become depressed. After graduation, the Illinois native said she noticed a spot on the back of her leg and visited a dermatologist. A biopsy revealed she had basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer often attributed to sun exposure. Doctors removed the spot, and warned Doles to stay out of the sun and tanning beds, an order Doles says she didnt take seriously. Carrie Doles/mediadrumworld.com I didnt heed his warning, I didnt think it was that big of a deal, I was always told that the basal cell cancer was the good kind of cancer, if youre going to have a skin cancer, so I continued to tan after that, she admitted. When she was 26, Doles noticed a spot on the side of her face but says she didnt think anything of it until she went to have it checked out before her wedding. What began as a small sore suddenly began to spread. It was nauseating, the now 34-year-old mother-of-two recalled. It was pure shock. Doctors confirmed it was skin cancer once again, and shortly after she tied the knot, scheduled surgery. I heard them cutting into my skin, Doles said. When they finally said that the cancer cells were removed, I was left with a huge hole on the side of my face. In total, Doles has received three skin cancer diagnoses, and shes preparing herself for more. Im more than likely going to have another couple bouts of skin cancer, Doles said. Now that Ive had it, my risks are very high. Carrie Doles. Image via Facebook. Its reported that an estimated 15,400 new melanoma skin cancer cases diagnosed in the United Kingdom each year. According to the Cancer Research UK, any history of indoor tanning increases your risk of developing skin cancer by between 16% and 20%. Story continues Although highly treatable with early detection, BCC should not be ignored. Early warning signs for BCC include persistent non-healing sores, red or irritated patches of skin, the appearance of new bumps that look like moles, pink growths or scar-like white or yellow patches. As for Doles, she now does her best to prevent another diagnosis by wearing sunscreen everyday and staying out of the sun. Its not worth it, she said. Its not worth dying over having a tan. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. Read more from Yahoo Style UK: Tan-obsessed mum shocked when facial mark is diagnosed as skin cancer Men now have a higher rate of skin cancer deaths than women heres why How to relieve sunburn, from the best natural remedies to after sun treatments we love This year's Red Cross Young Humanitarian credits much of his involvement in volunteer projects to growing up in a village. Austin Henderson is from Salisbury, a community of about 2,200 outside Moncton. Growing up, he said, many of his peers believed small towns didn't have anything to offer. "It was actually an attitude that I actually believed at one point," said Henderson, now 20. "I found myself complaining about the [high] school but not doing anything about it." Henderson left J. M. A. Armstrong High School for a high school in Moncton for one semester. When he returned to Salisbury, he decided to try to make a change by getting his school involved in activities the Moncton school participated in. "I would credit a lot of the things that I do now to being from a small town. Because I think that, although people see it a certain way, the reality is that small towns are a typical New Brunswick experience and it's basically what you make of it." Submitted by Austin Henderson The NB Young Humanitarian award is given each year by the Canadian Red Cross to a young New Brunswicker to recognize humanitarian efforts. Henderson is being recognized for his work pushing for youth empowerment, immigrant integration and gender equality. "The experience that Austin has at such a young age and the causes that he is so passionate for were so closely in line with what the Red Cross stands for," said Red Cross provincial director Bill Lawlor. Henderson said he's drawn to many of the volunteer activities he participates in because of experiences he's had. For example, his work with UNB Spring, a student-led mentorship program that matches volunteers with children who have disabilities, is inspired by growing up with a deaf foster brother. His family also ran a group home when he was younger. Henderson also volunteers with Imagine NB, a New Brunswick Multicultural Council program that offers leadership courses for immigrant youth. Story continues He said this experience combines his passion for youth leadership with an interest in immigration that was piqued by an internship with a federal immigration committee in Ottawa. "I've always been a traveller and that's opened my eyes to a lot of things," he said. Henderson's family also hosted foreign exchange students while he was growing up. Henderson said he recommends any young person looking to make a change to "start local." "What makes you uncomfortable, what makes you frustrated, what makes you mad? Because usually there's something behind that." Henderson is studying at the Renaissance College at the University of New Brunswick. 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. . ..Gatestone Institute..15 November '18..If the United States is worried about imposing harsher sanctions on Iran, it should not give those concerns a second thought. Being unpopular with people who do not wish you well is probably the price of true leadership.Those who are worried, and should be worried, are Iran and its Palestinian allies and friends.The US administration has decided to reinstate the sanctions against Tehran that were removed under the 2015 "nuclear deal." These sanctions are part of Washington's effort to curb Iran's missile and nuclear programs and diminish its influence in the Middle East.Iran has two major allies in the Palestinian arena: Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Islamist groups that control the Gaza Strip and do not recognize Israel's right to exist. Were it not for Iran's financial and military support, these two Palestinian groups would long ago have lost their grip on Gaza. CBI member, ABB has announced plans to invest $150 million in an advanced robotics factory in Shanghai where robots will make other robots. The new plant is expected to begin operations by the end of 2020 and will incorporate an onsite R&D centre to pursue innovations in artificial intelligence and automating production lines. ABB Chairman, Peter Voser said that, the decision to invest in the robotics factory was influenced by growing automation needs across industries. [] what will be driving the industries of the future is going to be automation, [and a shift] towards autonomous manufacturing. For that you need robots, but its not just the robot itself as a product you need also end-to-end solutions for manufacturing. Shanghai was chosen as the location of ABBs new factory, over other leading robotics centres such as those in Japan, because ABB believe that China will become the worlds largest market for robotic manufacturing. Whilst Tokyo may have the jump on domestic robotics and robotics which can assist in the healthcare industry, for example, it is in China where ABB expects manufacturing robotics to take off since the China manufacturing sector has a great need to automate. ABB are making this investment in alignment with Beijings push for Made in China 2025, the Chinese Governments ambitious industrial policy that aims to develop local industry to a point where it is at least on-par with Western rivals. In line with this industrial plan, last summer the Chinese government called on domestic firms to manufacture and incorporate more robots in their production lines. President Xi has called on companies in manufacturing to bring about a robot revolution, and seeks to autotomise close to 80% of industrial manufacturing jobs. Having already localised much of its production to China, ABB is well placed to get behind such an initiative. According to Voser, [ABB] manufactures and sells locally. The company produces up to 90% of the products it sells in China within its borders. Manufacturing in China has been developing at a rapid pace. At the Tianjin meeting of the World Economic Forum in September, two other factories in China - and belonging to CBI members (Bosch & Siemens) - were identified as the most advanced in the world because of their efforts to integrate AI systems and autotomise production. Out of 9 factories identified by WEF as technologically world leading, 3 are in China a statistic which supports ABBs prediction that China will be at the fore-front of autonomous manufacturing. Chinas manufacturing sector has a real need to shift to autonomous manufacturing. Following decades of economic growth, wages are rising and jobs in the factory are starting to appear far less attractive. The impact rising wages has had on profits and bottom lines has pushed many companies to leave China, and re-position their manufacturing hubs where labour is cheaper, such as in Southeast Asia. However, an AI-manufacturing industrial revolution could tilt the scales back in Chinas favour. Please read more here. I was privileged to attend a fantastic primary school growing up as a child. There were a lot of things that I loved about this school, but none more so than our kapa haka group. We practiced every week, learning waiata and haka, and would hold powhiri whenever someone visited the school, complete with a quartet of ten-year old girls giving the karanga. While the vast majority of students and staff were pakeha from upper-class backgrounds, it was a great environment to learn and I grew to love this beautiful culture in Aotearoa. So when I moved onto high school, I didnt blink an eye when it came to choosing te reo Maori as one of my subjects. I loved everything about what we were learning and soon became one of the top in the class. But my feeling of belonging in that class bothered me. I was one of three pakeha girls in my class of thirty, and I began to feel very quickly that this language, this culture, was not mine to learn. No matter how much I loved what I was learning and no matter how much the teacher and other girls in the class encouraged me, I couldnt shake the sense of not quite fitting in. As a shy thirteen-year-old still trying to figure out my place in the world, I didnt have the courage to keep going, so the next year I dropped te reo Maori as a subject. I have regretted it ever since. Fear of the other It seems that as much as we try to embrace the other, our natural human instinct is to avoid and to run. This was something that I hadnt been exposed to yet as an innocent ten-year old, but as a teenager I learned this very quickly. Even though we may talk about appreciating diversity, theres nothing quite like a group of people who look, think, and believe the same things as you to make you feel comfy. Theres been a recent resurgence in fear of the other. Political parties in particular are drawing incredibly passionate levels of support through this kind of messaging, which we see in the United States of America, England, France, and even Australia. Were seeing increasingly extreme political policies when it comes to immigration. Alarming numbers of terrorism attacks are all targeting specific groups that look or believe differently to them. Surely when you drill it down, the root cause of all of this is fear? But this is not the way of Jesus or his Kingdom. The way of the Kingdom Jesus loved the other with a fierce and fearless passion. When everyone else turned away, he turned toward with open arms, loving the other without condition. While the Pharisees refused to believe that salvation was possible outside of following their strict laws and becoming like them, Jesus showed that he was the way to salvation for all, through faith in him and his death on the cross. Galatians chapter 3, verse 28 says, There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. This doesnt mean that everyone is identical and looks, sees, or thinks the same. There are still both male and female people in the body of Christ of course, as there are people of different cultures, but Jesus binds us together in unity despite our differences and diversity. It is through embracing the richness of our diversity that we can be unified. Cultural knowledge Ive been challenged over the past few weeks about how I embrace diversity, not just by my words or to tick a token box, but by my actions. I think the best way to genuinely embrace other cultures is through understanding them and increasing cultural knowledge. The Oxford Dictionary defines other as a person or thing that is different or distinct from one already mentioned or known about. If you know about something, its no longer considered other. I recognise that my cultural knowledge is currently very limited, but I want to know more. Its not just about knowing other languages, although thats part of it, but its about understanding different cultures core values and beliefs, their history and how they react in different situations. Its about being aware of and valuing the things that make people different to you. Counter-cultural church The Church is called to be counter-cultural, to live in the world but not of it. When the world around us rejects the other, this without a doubt should be one area where the Church stands out from the crowd for our fierce passionate love for people different to us. Because seriously, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain by embracing the other. Rebecca Howan is from Wellington, New Zealand, where she works as an Executive Assistant in the humanitarian sector. She worships and serves at The Salvation Army, and is passionate about music, travelling the world and building community. 2018 marked a year of anniversaries in the cigar industry. Many different companies and brands have different ways of commemorating such occasions. One denominator that is common to many of them is the release of a commemorative cigar for an anniversary. 2018 is a big year for Joya de Nicaragua. Its the company that has the oldest factory in Nicaragua, and has very closely tied its brand to the history and culture of Nicaragua. Late last year, Joya de Nicaragua announced plans for how it would commemorate its 50th anniversary. It was a year-long celebration that included several cigars and even a book. The centerpiece of the celebration would be the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas. Cinco Decadas means five decades and is the most premium release by Joya de Nicaragua to date. Today, we take a closer look at the Cinco Decadas in the El General (Double Corona) size. The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas will have an ongoing limited production of 5,000 ten-count boxes. 3,000 boxes will be available in the U.S. market for Drew Diplomat Retailers. 2018 has been one of the busier release cycles for Joya de Nicaragua. In addition to the Cinco Decadas, the company has also released the Joya Silver, the re-packaged Joya Clasico, and Joya de Nicaragua Antano Gran Reserva Presidente for the TAA. SPECIFICATIONS Blend and Origin Joya de Nicaragua has not disclosed the blend components in the Cinco Decadas: Wrapper: Not Disclosed Binder: Not Disclosed Filler: Not Disclosed Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua SA Vitolas Offered There are two sizes of the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas. Joya de Nicaragua has said these vitolas are the first ones created at its factory. Diadema: 6 x 54 El General: 7 x 50 Appearance The wrapper of the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas El General had a dark cinnamon color to it. Upon closer examination, some mottling could be seen on the surface. There was a light coating of oil. The surface of the wrapper contained some visible veins and visible wrapper seams, but it still had an elegant look to it. The band features a glossy antique white background with red and gold accents. A red and gold Joya de Nicaragua logo is on the upper center the band with the leaf having a slight holographic effect. Below the logo is the text CINCO DECADAS in red font with the second C also having a holographic effect. Surrounding the leaf going clockwise from the upper left is the text 1968, 2018, IN ESTELI, and HANDMADE in gold font. The right side of the band contains a red background. In landscape mode is a large gold 50 with the text 1968 and 2018 surrounding it in a smaller gold font. Just below that is the text ANIVERSARIO in gold font. The band is finished with a gold trim with some holographic accents. There is text on the back of the band with a short mission statement on the Cinco Decadas cigar. PERFORMANCE Pre-Light Draw The cigar experience of the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas El General was kicked off with a straight cut to remove the cap. From that point, the pre-light draw ritual was commenced. The dry draw had notes of rich natural tobacco and a slight cherry cream soda-like sweetness. There was also a touch of cedar and pepper spice present. I considered this to be an excellent pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to move on to the smoking phase and see what the Cinco Decadas El General had in store. Tasting Notes The Cinco Decadas El General started out with a slight spurt of black and white pepper. The pepper receded into the background and notes of natural tobacco, earth, and the cherry cream soda-like note surfaced. The combination of the natural tobacco and cherry-cream moved into the forefront. The earth joined the pepper in the background. During the first third, the pepper occasionally had short spurts of intensity and could be more prominently detected. There were also times the earth note made its way to the forefront. Meanwhile, there was an additional layer of black pepper on the retro-hale. During the second third, the cherry-cream note began to diminish in intensity. The natural tobacco remained grounded in the forefront. Concurrently the earth notes increased in intensity. By the midway point, the earth joined the natural tobacco in the forefront. The cherry-cream sweetness settled into the background with the pepper. It was also around the midway point where a cedar note surfaced and began to increase in intensity. By the last third of the Cinco Decadas El General, the earth notes took a slight edge in terms of being the dominant flavor. There was more of an increase in spice as the cedar notes closed in on the forefront. Concurrently there still were notes of pepper and cherry-cream. This is the way the Cinco Decadas El General came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature. Burn The burn of the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas El General had moments where there was a slight bit of waviness on the burn line, but this didnt result in any excessive touch-ups and the cigar had no problem maintaining a straight burn path. The resulting ash had a slight firmness to it and it wasnt prone to any flaking. The ash itself had a light gray color. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both were ideal. Draw As for the draw, the Cinco Decadas El General performed extremely well. This cigar had a touch of resistance. At the same time, this was a low maintenance cigar to derive flavor from and there was a decent amount of smoke production. Strength and Body From a strength perspective, this was a cigar that didnt knock you down with nicotine. This cigar actually starts out as mild to medium before progressing to medium in the second half. The strength leveled off in the second half, remaining right in the middle of the spectrum. Meanwhile, the body of this cigar started out medium. There was an increase of body as well, but it never crossed into medium to full territory. Like the strength, the increase in the intensity of the body leveled off in the second half. In terms of strength versus body, I found the body maintained the edge throughout the smoking experience. OVERALL ASSESSMENT Final Thoughts Joya de Nicaragua had a very high profile 50th-anniversary celebration throughout 2018. All eyes were going to be on the Cinco Decadas, which was the signature release of the celebration. The cigar made its debut at the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show and among many media members, it was one of the cigars that garnered talk of being the cigar of the show including this author. With the Cinco Decadas El General, Joya de Nicaragua delivers a cigar that excels in the most important category flavor. Its a cigar that can also be enjoyed by a wide range of both novice and experienced cigar enthusiasts. At $18.95, its a pricey cigar and one certainly in the ultra-premium category. Its one that performs at a high level and its one Id easily reach for again. In my book, this cigar earns box worthy consideration. Summary Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Cherry-Cream, Earth, Pepper, Cedar Burn: Excellent Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium Plus Strength: Mild to Medium (!st Half), Medium (2nd Half) Body: Medium Finish: Very Good Rating Value: Box Worthy Consideration Score: 92 References News: Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas to Launch at 2018 IPCPR Price: $18.95 Source: Drew Estate (Distributor) Brand Reference: Joya de Nicaragua Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains the fourth biggest killer in the United States. But only a fraction of the millions of people who could benefit from post-hospital rehab for COPD are doing so, new research shows. COPD is a progressive, debilitating and incurable respiratory illness, often tied to smoking. Many patients require supplementary oxygen to live normal lives. As explained by researchers at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., pulmonary rehabilitation aims to give patients exercise training, self-management advice, nutrition counseling and emotional support. It's been shown to boost patients' physical and mental health, and overall quality of life. But far too few may be receiving it. In the new study, researchers reviewed the records of nearly 224,000 Americans hospitalized for COPD in 2012. The investigators found that only 1.9 percent received pulmonary rehabilitation within six months of being discharged from the hospital. And by one year after hospital discharge, that number had risen only slightly, to 2.7 percent, the team reported. The findings were published online Nov. 12 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Of the patients who started pulmonary rehabilitation, more than half completed at least 16 sessions, the study found. Medicare will typically pay for up to 36 sessions. A 'critical' part of care "Unfortunately, many patients face multiple barriers to participating, such as family responsibilities or transportation, and participation rates are especially low among vulnerable populations," said study lead author Kerry Spitzer, a clinical researcher at Baystate. "We have a lot to learn about how hospitals can help address these challenges," she explained in a journal news release. Pulmonologist Dr. Ann Tilley noted that "the findings of this study are really distressing -- enormous numbers of patients with COPD, who would benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation, are not receiving it." According to Tilley, who practices at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and was not involved with the study, "Pulmonary rehabilitation is a critical component of care for COPD patients and is something I spend a lot of time talking to my own patients about. I would say to COPD patients, if your doctor recommends a pulmonary rehabilitation program, strongly consider going!" In the study, whites, males, younger patients and those on home oxygen were among those patients likely to receive pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients were less likely to receive the rehabilitation if they were smokers; lived more than 10 miles from a pulmonary rehabilitation program; were poorer; or had other chronic diseases and prior hospitalizations. Tilley said it's true that in her clinical practice, "the farther patients live from a pulmonary rehabilitation program, the less likely they are to attend. We in the healthcare community need to do more to remove barriers like this." Dr. Theodore Maniatis is a pulmonologist and medical director at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. Reading over the study findings, he said there are numerous complex reasons why uptake of COPD rehab is so low. One could be problems financing new rehabilitation centers, he suggested. "Medicare reimbursement for services does not mean that it is easy or profitable to set up a pulmonary rehabilitation center, because there are a critical number of patients needed to make such a program sustainable," Maniatis said. Pulmonary rehabilitation typically requires three visits per week over several weeks. If enough patients cannot or will not engage in these programs, centers can't remain financially viable, he said. Maniatis stressed that there's been no clear evidence that these programs actually extend the lives of people with COPD. But "what is much clearer is that participation in such a program does reduce fatigue and shortness of breath, and increases in exercise tolerance. And it improves quality of life," he said. Life-changing benefits "Pulmonary rehabilitation means the complete rehabilitation of the pulmonary disease patient, including changing lifestyles," Maniatis said. "That includes discontinuation of smoking, using oxygen when necessary, understanding and utilizing medications to prevent exacerbations of lung disease and changing the medication treatment when exacerbations of lung disease do occur." Exercise aimed at bolstering patients' ability to move and breathe is also key. Other components of rehab focus on the mental well-being of patients, "by fostering a sense of independence and socialization with other patients" facing the same challenges, Maniatis said. The program can really pay off, he believes. "Pulmonary rehabilitation programs have been shown to decrease the number of exacerbations and therefore readmissions to hospitals," Maniatis added. For her part, Tilley said more patient outreach is key. "It's probably true that some doctors fail to recommend rehab, and that some patients decline to go when it is recommended," she said. "If your doctor doesn't recommend rehab to you, ask her about it," Tilley said. "The benefits can truly be life-changing." And don't give up too easily, she said. "I recommend that my own patients give it at least two sessions before deciding if it's not for them," Tilley noted. The study was funded by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. More information The COPD Foundation has more on pulmonary rehabilitation. WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Wild monkeys in South America carry the Zika virus, which can then be transmitted to people via mosquitoes, researchers report. The scientists said the finding suggests it may be impossible to eradicate the virus in the Americas. "Our findings are important because they change our understanding of the ecology and transmission of Zika virus in the Americas," said senior study author Nikos Vasilakis. He's a professor in the department of pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. "The possibility of a natural transmission cycle involving local mosquitoes and wild local primates as a reservoir and amplification host will definitely impact our predictions of new outbreaks in the Americas, because we cannot eradicate this natural transmission cycle," Vasilakis said in a university news release. After the carcasses of wild monkeys in Brazil were found to be infected with Zika, the researchers infected four monkeys with the Zika virus in a laboratory. They found that levels of the virus remained steady over time, suggesting that monkeys are a reservoir of the virus in tropical areas of the Americas. Senior study author Dr. Mauricio Lacerda Nogueira is a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Sao Jose do Rio, a medical school in Brazil. "This is a game changer for people involved with disease control -- including vaccine developers, public health officials and policymakers," he said. Zika is a virus that's relatively harmless to most people, but can lead to tragic birth defects for women infected while pregnant. Mosquitoes are the prime transmitters of the disease. The study was published recently in the journal Scientific Reports. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the Zika virus. THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Coffee's bitter taste shouldn't be a selling point. But a genetic variant explains why so many people love the brew, a new study suggests. Bitterness evolved as a natural warning system to protect people from harmful substances. That means they should want to spit out coffee, the researchers said. But their study of more than 400,000 people in the United Kingdom found that the more sensitive people are to the bitter taste of caffeine, the more coffee they drink. The sensitivity is caused by a genetic variant. "You'd expect that people who are particularly sensitive to the bitter taste of caffeine would drink less coffee," said study author Marilyn Cornelis, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. But people with an increased sensitivity to the bitterness of coffee/caffeine have learned to associate "good things with it" -- which would be the stimulation provided by caffeine, Cornelis said in a university news release. "Taste has been studied for a long time, but we don't know the full mechanics of it," she added. "We want to understand it from a biological standpoint." The study appears Nov. 15 in the journal Scientific Reports. More information The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about caffeine. Exclusive: OKCoin Enters Latin America, Sees High Demand The crypto market is about to welcome even more traders, as OKGroup, the owner of the major crypto-to-crypto exchange OKEx, is entering Latin America via its fiat-to-crypto exchange OKCoin, which offers its services in more than 110 countries. Source: iStock/simonmayer According to the company, starting today, traders in Argentina can deposit Argentine peso (ARS) in exchange for cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Litecoin, Ripple, Cardano, Stellar, Zcash and 0x, with more being added soon. OKCoin plans to open an office in Buenos Aires and build up a team to support its business throughout Latin America. Pablo Magro. Source: OKCoin "We chose to expand to Latin America because of the high demand from traders looking to get in on the fast growing cryptocurrency markets. Latin American traders tend to be very savvy when it comes to the crypto markets, and they want to have a lot of options aside from Bitcoin and Ethereum, which is exactly what we can bring them," OKCoins Latin American representative, Pablo Magro, told Cryptonews.com. Moreover, the fact that fiat currencies tend to be more volatile in this region brings "a tremendous opportunity for adoption across the region," Magro added. ______ ARS / USD rate: Source: Google ______ "We decided to start with the Argentine peso in part because Argentina is a relatively advanced market in the world of cryptocurrency and also because the Argentine peso has experienced a lot of volatility. As the value of Argentinas fiat currency remains uncertain, our hope is that we can help bring some stability to the countrys economy by providing Argentines with an array of cryptocurrency options," the OKCoins representative said, without elaborating what other Latin American fiat currencies will be added on the platform in the coming months. He declined to give estimates for trading volume in the region. "One of the biggest challenges is to provide the market with the tools to be able to buy/sell digital assets with different payment options. Given that more than 50% of the Latin America population is unbanked, this is crucial to contribute in the growing adoption of this market. Weve had success with other markets and look forward to offering similar capabilities to the LatAm region," he said. According to Magro, there are crypto exchanges covering the LatAm region, but none of them compete head on with OKCoin. "We bring a unique set of products and services that have been battle tested in other parts of the world. Furthermore, no exchanges offer the liquidity that we do in pairs that are not currently available in the market. We are also the only exchange in the country to offer margin trading at this time, and were the most reliable exchange in terms of funding and withdrawal times," he said. Meanwhile, on the peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange LocalBitcoins.com, all the Latin American countries listed are showing increasing volumes and some of them are reaching new all-time highs. Weekly LocalBitcoins, a peer-to-peer bitcoin marketplace, volume (in bitcoin) in Venezuela: Source: coin.dance As the economic cycle continues and the United States continues to raise their interest rates, they put pressure on the emerging market economies, but as we can see, people are getting smarter, the global economy is getting freer, and we now have the tools to protect ourselves from poor monetary policy, Mati Greenspan, senior analyst at eToro, a social trading platform, commented. Kerala: Families of missing fishermen wallow in despair by Manoj Viswanathan November 15,2018 | Source: The New Indian Express It has been three months since Oceanic, a trawler boat, collided with a tanker vessel and sunk into the depths of the Arabian Sea with 14 fishermen, off Kochi coast. Two crew members were rescued and the bodies of five others were recovered by rescue workers. However, families of the seven missing fishermen are in deep despair. They have lost hopes of performing the last rites on the bodies of their loved ones. The loss of the sole breadwinners has pushed these families into penury. The hopes of getting a compensation from the government are dimming as the fishermen are natives of Tamil Nadu and they worked in Kerala. The leaders of fishermen blame the navy for the plight of the families. To receive compensation from the government the bodies of the fishermen need to be recovered from the sea. However, the Navy abandoned the search operations a week after the mishap, saying that they have no expertise in recovering bodies from deep sea. According to the navy, the sunken boat was located by their under-sea scanning equipment. However, the boat and bodies could not be lifted as the sea was 75-m deep. "The navy has not been reliable in rescue operations both during the Ockhi disaster and the mid-sea collision on August 7. There has been a serious lapse on the part of the navy rescue team. As the focus shifted towards the floods that unleashed destruction across the state, the navy abandoned the search for the missing fishermen," said Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi state president Charles George. The relatives of the fishermen, whose bodies are recovered, will get Rs 10 lakh from the state government and another Rs 10 lakh from the insurance scheme. But the families of the missing fishermen are running from pillar to post for compensation. "We discussed the matter with minister Mercykutty Amma on Sunday and she as assured to take up the matter with the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister will write to Tamil Nadu government urging to help the families," he said. "We have given multiple representations to the government seeking intervention to help the families of missing fishermen. As the bodies have not been recovered there are difficulties in providing compensation. Among the missing people, six are from Tamil Nadu and one is from West Bengal," said P V Sivan, owner of the ill-fated boat Oceanic. Fishermen leaders point out that it is difficult to fight the case for compensation against M V Desh Sakthi, the ship owned by Shipping Corporation of India, as the boat has not been lifted. The police had arrested Captain of the ship B S Ahluwalia, Second Officer Nand Kishore Garu, and seaman Rajkumar in connection with the mid-sea collision. They have been released on bail. Lawyers for Ramos had argued that he wasnt aware of his rights under an international treaty, and therefore didn't receive proper legal counsel during his trial and sentencing. Texas executed Robert Moreno Ramos by lethal injection on Wednesday evening, amid his lawyers continued pleas up until the final hour that the case be re-examined for legal violations from 25 years ago. Ramos, 64, was convicted of capital murder in March 1993 for the February 1992 killings of his wife, Leticia, 42, and their two children, Abigail, 7, and Jonathon, 3, in Hidalgo County. Ramos, a Mexican national, beat his wife and children with a miniature sledgehammer, and then buried them under the bathroom floor in the familys Progreso home, according to trial evidence. Ramos case had been a point of contention in both district and federal courts for years, due to requirements of an international treaty. The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations mandates that when an immigrant is arrested and held in detention, he has the right for the consulate to be notified so that the foreign government can provide legal representation. Lawyers in Ramos case had argued in appeals since 1996 that Ramos wasnt aware of his rights, and therefore didnt receive sufficient legal guidance that they say could have made a difference in his sentencing. His current lawyer, Danalynn Recer, wrote in a 2015 filing that Ramos was instead represented by court-appointed, incompetent counsel who was poorly trained and failed to present mitigating evidence at his conviction and sentencing that disregarded Ramos brain damage and history of severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder, as well as his upbringing marked by shocking brutality and desperate poverty. On Feb. 7, 1992, a neighbor reported that she had heard screams coming from the Ramos home. For nearly two months after the murders, Ramos dodged questions regarding his wife and childrens location, until his sister-in-law reported Leticia Ramos and the children as missing. In court records, it is noted that Ramos was having an affair and had married the woman three days after the killings. Police questioned Ramos at the end of March about his familys disappearance. After providing contradictory statements saying first that his family was in Austin, then San Antonio and Mexico Ramos was later arrested on traffic violations and brought to the police station. Police obtained permission to search the house on April 6. They found traces of blood throughout the home. After another round of questioning on April 7, Ramos admitted that he buried the victims under the bathroom floor, where police eventually excavated the bodies from underneath newly installed tiling. During Ramos sentencing, his 19-year-old son testified against him, detailing harrowing accounts of growing up under his fathers physical and verbal abuse. Another woman testified that Ramos was likely responsible for the disappearance of her daughter, who married Ramos in 1988 in Reynosa and who had not been seen by her family since 1989. Ramos was found guilty and sentenced to death in March 1993. The Mexican government eventually filed a case against the United States in 2003 that bundled Ramos with more than 50 other Mexican immigrants sentenced to death in the U.S. who did not receive consulate-sponsored representation under the treaty. The case went to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, which determined in 2004 that the U.S. government had violated the treaty. However, after the decision, President George W. Bush announced that it would be up to the state courts to review and reconsider details of the cases. Ramos sought relief under the international courts ruling, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed his appeal, and the Supreme Court denied a review of the decision. In a statement released Tuesday, the United Nations called for a halt to Ramos' execution based off the treaty violations. Any death sentence carried out in contravention of a Governments international obligations amounts to an arbitrary execution, the U.N. statement read. We call for his death sentence to be annulled and for Mr. Ramos Moreno to be re-tried in compliance with due process and international fair trial standards. In an early Wednesday press release, Recer Ramos' Houston-based attorney reiterated that the case is an example of a "freakishly improbable injustice," building on a filing from last week arguing that Ramos will die without having received even one full and fair review of the constitutionality of his death sentence at any stage of the process in any state or federal court. Recer filed a last-minute plea for a stay of execution to the U.S. Supreme Court in the hours leading up to the execution scheduled for 6 p.m. Central time. The plea was denied shortly before 9 p.m. Ramos gave a final statement before being pronounced dead at 9:36 p.m. "I am very thankful for all the hard work the Mexican consulate put in a fight over my death sentence if there was a reason or not. I am thankful for the humane treatment that I was given here at the two prisons that I was at. I am getting my gold watch that it took the Governor 30 years to forge. Thank you God, Lord send me a chariot. I'm ready." Ramos was the states 11th execution in 2018, the nations 21st. Mexican citizen executed in Texas for killings of wife, kids HUNTSVILLE, Texas A Mexican citizen on death row in Texas was executed Wednesday night for the sledgehammer killings of his wife and two children more than 26 years ago. Roberto Moreno Ramos was condemned for the 1992 deaths of his 42-year-old wife Leticia, 7-year-old daughter Abigail, and 3-year-old son Jonathan at their home in Progreso, located along the Mexico border. When asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Ramos thanked the Mexican consulate for assisting with appeals in his case and said he was grateful for the humane treatment I got in prison in Texas. Im getting my gold watch that it took the governor 30 years to forge, he said without elaborating. Thank you God. Lord, send me a chariot. Im ready. As the lethal dose of the powerful sedative pentobarbital began taking effect, the 64-year-old Ramos took a couple of deep breaths, sputtered once and began snoring. Within seconds, all movement stopped. Eleven minutes later, at 9:36 p.m. CST, Ramos was pronounced dead. He became the 21st inmate put to death this year in the U.S. and the 11th given a lethal injection in Texas, the nations busiest capital punishment state. No friends or relatives of Ramos or his victims witnessed the execution. Mexican officials had called for his execution to be stopped, arguing he was part of a group of Mexican citizens condemned in the U.S. who were never told when first arrested that they could get legal help from the Mexican government. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday night cleared the way for the punishment when it denied two appeals seeking to halt the lethal injection. Ramos attorney on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to stop his execution, arguing that Ramos constitutional rights were violated as lower courts refused to fully review his claims that his trial lawyers failed to present any evidence about his mental illness and abusive childhood that could have persuaded jurors to spare his life. Three retired justices who had served on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals filed court documents with the Supreme Court on Wednesday in support of stopping the execution. The ex-judges alleged the appeals court appointed an incompetent appellate attorney who early in the post-conviction process failed to investigate Ramos case. Also Wednesday, a federal judge in Austin dismissed Ramos request to temporarily block the execution. The request had been part of a lawsuit Ramos filed against the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals a day earlier. The suit alleged the appeals court had not allowed Ramos to present claims he had ineffective trial and appellate lawyers. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had previously turned down requests to halt Ramos execution. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday declined to recommend either a commutation of his sentence or a six-month reprieve. In court documents, Ramos appellate attorney, Danalynn Recer, had argued Ramos suffered from bipolar disorder most of his life, including during the time of his familys killings, as well as brain damage that affected his ability to control his impulses and regulate his emotions. Recer said Ramos was also brutally beaten as a child by his father. Ramos was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and grew up in Guadalajara and Tijuana before his family moved to the United States in 1970. No fact-finder or decision-maker entrusted with Mr. Moreno Ramos life has ever been provided with evidence of (his) diverse human frailties to assist them in dispensing the most severe punishment under law, Recer said. But the Texas Attorney Generals Office said Ramos death sentence was appropriate due to his violent and dangerous nature. Authorities said Ramos bludgeoned his family members and then buried them underneath his homes bathroom floor so he could marry the woman he was having an extramarital affair with at the time. In court filings, the attorney generals office highlighted testimony from Ramos then-19-year-old son, who told jurors at Ramos 1993 trial that his father would continue to commit criminal acts of violence. In 2004, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, found Ramos was part of a group of 52 Mexican citizens awaiting execution in the U.S. who werent advised of their consular rights under the Vienna Convention when first arrested. It recommended they be tried again to determine if consular access would have affected their cases. Then-President George W. Bush directed states to reopen the cases. But the Supreme Court in 2008 overruled Bushs directive, saying only Congress can require states to follow the international courts ruling. Including Ramos, six Mexican citizens have been executed since being named in the international court ruling and all the executions were carried out by Texas, according to the Mexican government. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde US officials insist on the final, fully verified denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. (Photo: File) Singapore: Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday took America's "pressure campaign" against North Korea to a summit of world leaders, as concerns mount over Pyongyang's key allies easing sanctions imposed over its nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. But there has been little progress since, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. The isolated, impoverished North is under heavy sanctions imposed over its atomic weapons programme, which it has pursued in violation of UN resolutions. Washington insists they must be maintained until the North denuclearises. But US officials acknowledge enforcement of the sanctions by the North's traditional trading partners China and Russia has eased. Meanwhile, Seoul has said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. In remarks at the opening of a meeting with Southeast Asian leaders, Pence said America's regional "partnership also includes our pressure campaign regarding" the North. The meeting in Singapore is also being attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in. "We will very much be talking about the need to maintain the pressure programme," a senior US official said. "It is what got Kim Jong Un to the table. It is incredibly important that the pressure stays on." 'Steadfast, enduring' US officials insist on the final, fully verified denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. While Trump has struck an optimistic tone in public, there are indications Pyongyang is not moving quickly enough towards abandoning its nuclear weapons. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". "In all that we do the United States seeks collaboration not control," he said at the meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. He also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure your nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land and at sea." Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, even areas approaching the coastlines of other countries, and has been establishing military installations on disputed outcrops. After Singapore, Pence is heading to Papua New Guinea for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. But I dont want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you cant help that," said the Cat: "were all mad here. Im mad. Youre mad." "How do you know Im mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldnt have come here. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland With freedom comes responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt Shipping containers are seen at a port in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo by Shutterstock/Igor Grochev Vietnams Jan-Oct trade surplus was the highest in eight years at $7.2 billion. FDI firms dominated this performance. The January- October trade surplus of $7.2 billion was a significant increase over last year, when Vietnam had a trade deficit of $2 billion, according to Vietnam Customs. Both exports and imports posted double-digit year-on-year growth. Exports were worth over $202 billion, up 15.2 percent, while imports were worth $194.8 billion, up 12.4 percent. Most of the export value was created by foreign direct investment (FDI) businesses, contributing $142.8 billion, or 70.7 percent of total export value, up 14.9 percent year-on-year. However, experts and lawmakers have constantly expressed concerns that Vietnam was overly dependent on foreign businesses. Tran Anh Tuan, acting-principal of the HCMC Institute for Development Studies, said most foreign companies import materials from home countries to manufacture in Vietnam, taking advantage of the cheap labor costs to export. "Vietnam can only gain low added value in this process. Foreign firms high exports and imports only benefit other economies, not Vietnam," he said. Truong Trong Nghia, a HCMC deputy of the National Assembly, said that major foreign companies were still dominating exports, and this could hurt Vietnam. With FDI businesses accounting for over 70 percent of total exports, Vietnam will suffer when they leave the country, he said. Other experts proposed that Vietnam pays more attention to local companies and help them improve their export capabilities. Nghia asked: "What will the economy be left with when these companies are gone?" Vietnams top three export items in the first 10 months remained phone components, textiles and electronics, all of which are mostly manufactured by FDI firms. Phone export value grew 12.6 percent year-on-year to $41.4 billion, with imports to the biggest buyer, the EU, growing 9.5 percent year-on-year. Textile exports increased 17.1 percent to $25.1 billion with the U.S. leading the buyers list with imports of $11.4 billion, up 12.3 percent year-on-year. Electronics, the third largest export item, went up 15.8 percent to $24.42 billion. China was the largest importer in this category with purchases worth $6.9 billion, up 28.1 percent year-on-year. The U.S. was Vietnams biggest export market with a turnover of $39.42 billion, up 14.2 percent year-on-year. The EU came in second at $34.81 billion, up 9.8 percent. China was the third largest importer at $33.48 billion, up 26.8 percent, the highest growth rate among all export markets. The World Bank had previously forecast Vietnams exports of goods and services to grow at more than 13 percent annually between 2018 and 2020, driven by rising FDI in manufacturing. A Cambodian man has been detained in Ho Chi Minh City for allegedly possessing and selling ecstasy pills, the police said Wednesday. Kouch Pheng Leng, 43, has been taken in for questioning. He is facing charges for "illegally trading narcotic substances" and "trading precursors for illegal manufacture of narcotic substances," crimes punished by up to life in jail. Cambodian suspect Kouch Pheng Leng. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy On Monday the Binh Tan District police to the city's west had raided a hotel on Ma Lo Road and found Leng in possession of almost 2,000 ecstasy pills and foreign currency bills. Leng allegedly confessed to having bought the drug in Cambodia from an unidentified Chinese man at VND100,000 ($4.31) per pill. He brought them to Saigon and sold them for VND150,000 ($6.46) each. He admitted to often renting hotel rooms in the city to deal drugs to avoid detection. The investigation is continuing. Ecstasy pills and foreign currencies seized by the police as evidence in a Saigon hotel. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy Vietnam has some of the worlds toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or cocaine or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine could face capital punishment. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death. Also in Saigon, last week a Vietnamese Australian man received a life sentence for being part of a ring that had trafficked over 3.1 kilograms (6.8 pounds) of heroin from Vietnam to Australia. Five Vietnamese accomplices were sentenced from 30 years to life for the same crimes. Airport officials are at a loss. A foreigner with no identification papers in deteriorating health is on a hunger strike. The man, apparently 32 years old, has been an unwanted guest at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City for nearly two months now. He had flown to Japan from HCMC, but was sent back after being denied entry for using fake passport. He had entered Vietnam with a valid visa, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City on a Vietnam Airlines flight from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on August 18. Two weeks later, he boarded an AirAsia flight to Japan, transiting via Thailands Bangkok. However, Japanese immigration authorities denied him entry after discovering he was using a fake passport. The authorities reportedly confiscated all his counterfeit personal papers. On September 26, he was deported from Japan and sent back to Tan Son Nhat Airport, his point of departure. Without a valid passport and international travel documents, the man was refused entry into Vietnam and has stayed in detention at the airport since. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the man has said that his name is Masena Bokang Jon. He is 32 years old and a citizen of the Kingdom of Lesotho near South Africa. He has also told authorities that he has a history of stomach cancer. Since his detention at the airport, he has abstained from solid food. He doesnt have money to buy other food, and his health is slipping as a result. On October 30, he was hospitalized after going into convulsions. He was taken back to the airport after his condition stabilized, but has been on a hunger strike for the last 10 days. Its not clear whether he is protesting the meals of nothing but bread provided by AirAsia or if he has other demands. Aviation officials have sought help from immigration authorities and the foreign affairs ministry to deal with this unprecedented situation, but no solution has apparently been found so far. Initial findings are that Jon had successfully boarded international flights to many countries including Indonesia, Nigeria, the Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Vietnam with his fake passport before being found out by Japanese authorities. A diplomatic agency of the Kingdom of Lesotho based in Malaysia said his passport number was actually that of a woman. Since he is not recognized as an official resident of the Kingdom of Lesotho, it is difficult for Vietnamese authorities to identify his personal status. "Several Vietnamese airlines are willing to take him home, but he had no personal identification papers or international travel documents," said an unnamed airport official. The mans stay has some parallels to famous Hollywood movie "The Terminal" wherein a foreign national is stuck in a New York airport for months. A 5G sign is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 28, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Yves Herman To move up in global telecom rankings, Vietnam should be among the first to launch 5G services, says the nation's information minister. Nguyen Manh Hung said at a Wednesday meeting that Vietnam should test the 5G network next year and ensure nationwide coverage by 2020. Vietnam used to be ranked among the top 20 in the world by the International Telecommunication Union for mobile-broadband subscriptions, thanks to the application of 2G mobile networks in 1993, just three years after its global entry. But it lagged far behind the world in launching its 3G and 4G services, and Vietnam's rank plummeted to 115/193. 3G networks showed up in the world in 2000, but it was not launched in Vietnam until a decade later. The 4G service has been in vogue for 10 years, but so far, the network in Vietnam is still far away from the qualified speed. "5G is coming, and this is the chance for Vietnam to climb up in the ranking. And for this change to happen, Vietnam should be one of the first to launch the network, at least in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City," Hung said. The Ministry of Information and Communications aims to test 5G networks next year and launch it in 2020, local media reports have said. "5G is not only an opportunity for connection services and going up the telecommunications ladder, but also an opportunity for developing the countrys information and communications technology (ICT) industry," Hung said. Like the 4G networks currently widely available, 5G is based on radio frequencies, the same used for television broadcasts, walkie-talkies, wifi signals or garage door remote controls, according to AFP. It will use a higher radio frequency that is not in use yet and can move data at a much faster speed. But since higher radio frequencies don't travel as far as lower frequencies, it will rely on denser arrays of small antennas and artificial intelligence to offer data speeds up to 50 or 100 times faster than current 4G networks, the report said. 5G will allow people to send texts, make calls, and browse the web as always - but will dramatically increase the speed at which data is transferred across the network. This will make it easier to download and upload Ultra HD and 3D videos and allow smartphones to run more complex mobile internet apps. 5G will also make room for thousands of internet-connected devices to enter the everyday world. Most European operators have targeted 2020 for rolling out their 5G services. Vietnamese students attend a U.S. education fair in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Consulate in HCMC Despite the administrations hardline immigration policies, the U.S. remains a popular overseas study destination for Vietnamese students. The number of Vietnamese students in the U.S. has grown for the 17th year in a row with 24,325 attending American colleges and universities in the 2017-2018 academic year, a 8.4 percent pickup from the previous year, new data shows. Of this, 69.6 percent were undergraduates, 15.2 percent graduate students, 8.6 percent enrolled in Optional Practical Training, and the remaining 6.6 percent were pursuing non-degree programs, according to a Wednesday report from the U.S.-based Institute of International Education. Vietnamese students spent nearly $881 million on studying in U.S. colleges and universities last year, the annual report said. Vietnam ranked sixth globally in the list of countries and territories sending students to study at U.S. higher education institutions in the last school year. China topped the list, followed by India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada. The rest of top 10 comprised Taiwan, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. However, the number of international students entering U.S. colleges and universities has fallen for the second year in a row, amid efforts by the Trump administration to tighten restrictions on foreigners studying in the U.S., Reuters reported. New enrollments for the 2017-18 school year slumped 6.6 percent compared with the previous year, according to an annual survey released by the Institute of International Education, which also said visa and immigration policy changes by the Trump administration have deterred some international students from enrolling. Some immigration policy experts and college administrators have noted that the foreign students are discouraged by the Trump administrations drive to restrict immigration and an overall sense of the U.S. political climate being hostile to immigrants and foreigners. Vietnamese families are spending as much as $3-4 billion each year on sending their children abroad to study, Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha told the National Assembly session in Hanoi last June. Last year, there were around 130,000 Vietnamese studying abroad at all levels, and their top five destinations were Japan, the U.S., Australia, China and the U.K., according to government data. Modern constructions enhance Vietnams natural appeal Several modern constructions have added to Vietnams long list of attractions, winning international awards and public acclaim. In fact, some of them have acquired such high profiles in a short time they are playing as important a role in attracting tourists to Vietnam as historical monuments like old forts, citadels, villages, pagodas, etc. Perhaps the most recent such construction that has achieved worldwide renown in the shortest time is the Golden Bridge in Da Nang. Hands of the Gods The spectacular bridge held up by two giant hands that reach to the sky from the ground was an immediate hit when it opened in June at the Ba Na Hills in the central city of Da Nang. In August, a Google search with key words "Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills" produced 160 million results in 0.95 seconds, while the "Eiffel Tower" in France came up with half that number in 0.65 seconds. It was named one of the worlds most striking pedestrian bridges by UK newspaper The Guardian. Another UK newspaper, The Independent also listed the Golden Bridge in their top 10 list of the worlds most incredible bridges. Other major publications like the BBC, AFP, Reuters and CNN have also complimented the bridge. Modern constructions enhance Vietnams natural appeal 'Giant hands of Gods' hold up Vietnamese bridge The bridge is designed to make visitors feel like they are taking a walk across the hands of gods. According to Indian Times, the government of India is planning a similar construction after being impressed by tourism mileage that Vietnam has extracted from the Golden Bridge. A panorama view of the Golden Bridge Flying bamboo complex, Vinh Phuc This unique complex won the gold medal for "Building of the Year" from the Architects Regional Council Asia at the Arcasia Awards for Architecture in 2014, making it one of the first constructions in Vietnam to win an international award. Located in a resort in Vinh Phuc, a northern province neighboring Hanoi, this complex was built in 2009 to host big events. Famous Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia and colleagues designed the whole complex. The World Architecture website describes the Bamboo Dailai Complex as a pure bamboo cantilever structure "flying over the sky." This 12-meter-wide structure balances itself on one leg and realizes free space without any columns on its edge, meeting the function of the cultural center to hold fashion shows, music concerts as well as conferences. The openness of the building, thanks to its structure, helps people inside feel as if they are living in nature. "Bamboo and stone are abundant natural resources near the area. The hall achieves its originality and special atmosphere by using these local materials in plenty. Consequently, the building becomes a friendly accompaniment to nature," architect Vo Trong Nghia said about his work. Photo by Shutterstock Consistent top pick The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula is the only resort that has received Asias Leading Luxury Resort prize at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years, from 2014 to 2018. The resort has continued to win prizes in other categories this year, most notably Asias Leading Green Resort 2018, Asias Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2018 and Vietnams Leading Luxury Resort 2018. "Scattered from the lush hills of the Son Tra Peninsula nature reserve down to the sandy shores of the East Sea, the resort which opened in 2012 has become one of the top picks in the country for relaxing getaways, " wrote US travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler while naming it one of the best resorts in the world. The resort, which has attracted many celebrities and international VIPs among other guests, combines modern architecture and traditional cultural values. Photo by Shutterstock Cool skyscraper Located in the heart of the Ho Chi Minh Citys District 1, Bitexco Financial Tower was chosen as one of most famous 25 skyscrapers by CNN in 2013. Thrillist.com called the Bitexco Financial Tower the #2 Coolest Skyscraper in the World in 2015. The 262 meter-tall tower has 68 floors and is the third-highest construction in Vietnam. With its design inspired by the lotus, Vietnam's national flower, the tower has a smooth curved shape and is covered by 6,000 glass panels. Theres a heliport that thrusts out on the 52nd floor, made with 250 tons of steel. On the 47th floor, visitors can get a 360-degree view of the city from the buildings Saigon Skydeck. "It's ambitious and in your face, much like its host city. No surprise, given it was designed by award-winning Ecuadorian architect Carlos Zapata," CNN wrote. Fire breathing Dragon Bridge The Dragon Bridge spans the Han River in Da Nang. It won the Grand Prize at the 2014 Engineering Excellence Award in the U.S. The bridge opened to traffic on March 29, 2013, marking the 38th liberation anniversary of Da Nang and cost VND1.5 trillion ($88 million) to build. It is 666 meters long, 37.5 meters wide and has six lines for traffic. This modern bridge provides the shortest road link from Da Nang International Airport to other main roads in Da Nang City, and a more direct route to beautiful beaches like My Khe and Non Nuoc on the eastern edge of the city. The bridge was designed and built in the shape of a dragon. It breathes fire and water every Saturday and Sunday night at 9 p.m., and makes the city shine in the night with 15,000 LED lights. CNN commented: "The opening of the bridge not only gives Da Nang an instantly recognizable landmark, it's done much for the city's development in a remarkably short time." Photo by Shutterstock World's longest cable car With a total length of almost 8000 meters, the Hon Thom cable car on Phu Quoc Island was recognized as the longest non-stop three-rope cable car by Guinness World Records when it opened on February 14, 2018. The cable car connects An Thoi Town and three islands - Hon Loi, Hon Dua, and Hon Thom. Phu Quoc is Vietnam's largest island in the southern province of Kien Giang. An Thoi is a small town at the southernmost end of Phu Quoc Island. The entire cable car system has two terminals and six cable posts, of which the largest has a height of 174 meters. The car runs at a maximum speed of 8.5 meters per second. It has 69 cabins, each of which can accommodate up to 30 people. It has helped reduce the amount of time for tourists traveling from An Thoi Town to Hon Thom Island to 15 minutes. The cabins have Wi-Fi and night lighting systems. The cable care also uses the latest technology that is also considered the safest. Passengers can hardly feel any shaking while in the cabin. In bad weather, the system will automatically shut down and inform all the tourists. The cabins offer great views of the ocean, islands, beaches and forests clusters in Phu Quoc. Photo by Shutterstock U.S. and Chinese flags are seen before Defense Secretary James Mattis welcomes Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Wei Fenghe to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., November 9, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Yuri Gripas China has delivered a written response to U.S. demands for wide-ranging trade reforms, three sources said Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on the list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the two countries. China has responded with import tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Argentina at the end of November and in early December. The U.S. president has repeatedly railed against Beijing over intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, Chinese entry barriers to American businesses and the U.S. trade deficit with China. Three U.S. government sources told Reuters on Wednesday that China had sent a response to U.S. demands on those and other issues. The sources gave no further details on the content of the response. It was unclear if the response contained concessions that would satisfy Trumps demands for change. A U.S. team led by Treasury Under Secretary David Malpass discussed trade issues with a Chinese team via videoconference on Tuesday, a U.S. Treasury spokesperson said on Wednesday. The United States had said it would not start negotiations on trade until it saw concrete proposals from China to address its concerns. Earlier this month, after a phone conversation with Xi, Trump said he thought the United States would make a deal with China on trade but stood ready to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods if no progress is made. The tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1. Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports, about $267 billion worth, if Beijing fails to address U.S. demands. The two countries resumed talks after the call between the two leaders, ending a three month hiatus that saw relations deteriorate as the U.S. accused China of interfering in U.S. domestic politics and seeking to undermine Trump. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday said Beijing needed to change its behavior to avoid a new cold war with the United States. Sugar exports from Ukraine skyrocket in Oct As of November 14, Ukrainian sugar refineries processed 9.2 million tonnes of sugar beets and produced 1.2 million tonnes of sugar. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter What do you think about our new website? Share your opinion Test train from Budapest arrives in Ukraine's Mukachevo The train was operated by Hungary's MAV-START nemzetkozi utazasok. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Customs at Boryspil Airport seize 12,000 smartphones declared as "personal belongings" The declaration claimed personal belongings were part of a cargo batch. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine not planning to sell Yanukovych's Mezhyhirya residence The property has been transferred to the management of the national agency. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine in talks with Turkey on purchase of UAVs Turchynov Turchynov said Ukraine had already launched production of tactical UAVs of various modifications and specifications If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine may boost agri-exports to record US$18 bln in 2018 UCAB Agri-food shipments abroad in January-October 2018 grew by almost $140 million year-over-year. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter IMF expects Ukrainian authorities will increase heating tariffs Experts predict that Ukraine is able to raise up to $8 billion in funding from international partners thanks to a new program with the IMF. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine's government approved the issue of five-year eurobonds by Naftogaz on October 24. JSC Naftogaz of Ukraine has announced it has decided to postpone a eurobond issue worth up to US$1 billion because of volatile market conditions and elevated funding levels. "We do not believe it is reasonable for Naftogaz to borrow at the current pricing levels. We are grateful for the high investor interest and look forward to returning to the market in future," CEO of Naftogaz Andriy Kobolyev said in a statement on the company's website. Read alsoNaftogaz should work with end consumers of gas, not with intermediaries Kobolyev Naftogaz will continue to monitor the markets and will consider re-engaging with investors as conditions improve. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the issue of five-year eurobonds by Naftogaz on October 24. Citi and Deutsche Bank are appointed joint lead managers on the deal. UNIAN memo. Naftogaz is the national oil and gas company of Ukraine. It is 100% state-owned and subordinated to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The group is a major player in extraction, transportation, storage and refinement of natural gas and crude oil. In 2017, Naftogaz group supplied 17.4 billion of cubic meters (bcm), produced 16.4 bcm, imported 8.7 bcm, transmitted 93.5 bcm of gas and extracted 1.9 mt of crude oil. Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia 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 Google Ad 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 Google Ad Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases 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 Farmak plans to boost exports to 40% of total sales in coming five years, PJSC Farmak CEO Volodymyr Kostiuk has said, speaking about the company's entrance the Australian market at the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Forum in Kyiv last week. According to him, in 2015, negotiations were held with representatives of an international company with the office in Australia. And in 2017, Farmak shipped the first batch to this country. "It took us a little time to enter this market [Australia]. After all, our products meet the high requirements that are needed to deliver products to this region... Having a certificate from the Australian regulator facilitates access to other markets. Our goal is to increase exports in the sales structure up to 40% in the next five years," Kostiuk said, adding that the company's closest horizons are the EU countries (Germany, the U.K.), the United States, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. According to the company's press service, the share of sales to the regions of Australia and Oceania in Ukrainian exports of pharmaceutical products is only 0.3%. This is due to the fact that the Australian market is considered well regulated - at the level of the United States, the EU, so few Ukrainian companies can ship their products to Australia. Farmak is a member of the Association Manufacturers of Medications of Ukraine (AMMU). The European Business Association (EBA) has criticized the bill approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on the abolition of the upper limit of the accrual of a social security tax, stressing that instead of the unshadowing effect it proposes to introduce an additional burden on bona fide taxpayers. "The EBA appeals to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the president with the request not to support the initiative to increase burden on labor payment, which in its proposed form is a dangerous, one-sided and selective action rather than a comprehensive solution to the issue," the business association said in a press release. According to association experts, such a proposal by the Ministry of Social Policy will not have the desired effect on the unshadowing of wages but can create a chain reaction of negative consequences. Among those is the growth of business expenses. "The Ministry of Social Policy expects to receive an additional UAH 10 billion in a social security tax - accordingly, business expenses for mandatory payments will increase by this amount," the EBA explained in a statement. "Outrage is caused by the fact that the lion's share of these additional revenues should be provided by taxpayers who are already legally paying wages. In fact, under the slogans of unshadowing wages, it is actually proposed to introduce additional taxation for bona fide taxpayers who do not work in the 'shadow'," the report says. Ukraine's Ministry of Infrastructure, following the results of negotiations with Ukrzaliznytsia, has defined Mykolaiv railway station as a possible concession object within public-private partnership, the press service of the ministry informs. "We need to unite efforts and decide how this concession will be: either with the local authorities or we are looking for a private partner. If we are looking for a private partner, then how will it be and what the terms and vision of this complex are," Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan reported. The minister also noted that after the completion of electrification of the railway to Mykolaiv, trips in this direction will become faster and cheaper. At the same time, he noted the unsatisfactory condition of the station complex. "It's shameful when they make panic repairs before the minister's arrival, break up the toilets, while the director of the station "resigns," formalizes medical leave and so on not to see the results of his "work" for a year," Omelyan stressed. At the same time, the minister noted the significant infrastructure potential of Mykolaiv region and stated the need to launch Mykolaiv airport, as well as the need to restore the shipbuilding industry. Russia has returned to Ukraine previously paid court expenses, a government source has told Interfax-Ukraine. The source did not specify the amount of funds, while it noted that the entire amount payable was received. As reported, Ukraine in December 2015 defaulted on eurobonds bought by Russia in December 2013 for the money of the National Wealth Fund (the issue itself worth $3 billion and $75 million in the last coupon payment). Kyiv offered Moscow debt restructuring under the terms common for commercial creditors, while Russia refused to discuss this option, insisting on the sovereign nature of the debt. The debt was due to be repaid before January 1, 2016. However, in December 2015 Ukraine imposed a moratorium on servicing this debt and by January 1, 2016 failed to pay a total of $3.075 billion for the repayment and servicing of eurobonds owned by Russia. Archbishop Eustraty (born Zoria), head of the information department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, has said publications in the media that the date for holding a unification assembly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine has allegedly been chosen are just rumors. "The date of the assembly will be officially announced. As long as it has not been announced officially, in fact, it does not exist. The same applies to the draft tomos, which has long since been compiled; however, it is to turn into a document only after it is officially adopted and disseminated," Archbishop Eustraty wrote on Facebook in the early hours of November 15. He said, "different sources, especially the Kremlin-funded fake media in Ukraine, have been disseminating rumors about the Assembly's date with only one goal: if, for any reason, the Assembly doesn't take place on the date announced by them, say, more time will be needed for the arrangements, they will create a 'high treason' tsunami." "Therefore, there is no need to hope against hope to avoid any 'high treason' waves as a result. A wreath is placed on one's head, not on one's foot. When the date of the Assembly is finally announced, it will mean that the arrangements have been completed. And now the arrangements are underway," the spokesman for the Kyiv Patriarchate wrote. Earlier, the media repeatedly reported that the unification assembly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine will take place on November 22. On November 15, an announcement was published that Metropolitan Emmanuel of the Greek Orthodox Metropole of France, a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, will arrive in Kyiv on November 15. Kyiv police launch investigation into Molotov cocktail attack on St Andrew's Church, criminals facing up to 10 years in prison The Kyiv police have launched two investigations into the March 15 morning incident when unidentified persons threw Molotov cocktails at the doors of the foundation building of St Andrew's Church in Kyiv, which is now under renovation. The police said the criminals will be facing up to 10 years in prison for those crimes. Also, the police said they had found a backpack near the church, which most likely belongs to the thugs. Andriy Kryschenko, chief of the Kyiv Police, said during a live talk at 112.Ukraina TV Channel that, according to the latest reports, "no fewer than four persons" were involved in the commitment of the crime. Also, he said that the police discovered a few more cocktail bombs inside the backpack. Russian occupation forces in eastern Ukraine opened fire 16 times on positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past 24 hours, wounding one soldier, the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has said. "Occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms at the defenders of the towns of Schastia and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Stariy Aidar, Krymske, Verkhniotoretske, Pisky, Novoselivka Druha, Hranitne, Pavlopil, Hnutove, and Lebedynske. The enemy also resorted to using a ZU-23-2 towed 23-mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon and 82-mm mortars, shelling Ukraine positions near the village of Vilny. The same type of mortars was employed near Schastia, Krymske, and Stary Aidar. "Since Thursday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted two attacks on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Shumy and Pivdenne. The enemy used 82-mm mortars in both cases, as well as 120-mm near Pivdenne. No casualties among Ukrainian troops have been reported since the start of the day," the report said. UN General Assembly to consider two resolutions in Dec: on human rights violations in Crimea, on militarization of Azov Gerashchenko The United Nations General Assembly will consider two resolutions on Ukraine in December: one that focuses on the violation of human rights in Russia-occupied Crimea and the other on the militarization of the Sea of Azov, Verkhovna Rada First Deputy Chairperson Iryna Gerashchenko, the Ukrainian president's envoy for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas, has said. "As part of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in December, two very important resolutions are to be passed. One deals with the violations of human rights in the occupied Crimea, and the other is about the militarization of the Black Sea basin and of the Sea of Azov," Gerashchenko told reporters in Kyiv on November 15. At the same time, she said Russia is trying to create one more area of instability in the Sea of Azov. Deputy Minister for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tuka, has said that the government does not have data on the real number of IDPs. "We have lost control over the real number of internally displaced persons. This does not give us the opportunity to predict further government actions," he said at an international conference in Kyiv on Thursday. He said according to estimates by the Donetsk Military Civil Administration, the number of registered people differs from the real number of IDPs by 30-40%. At Ukraine's request, Latvian law-enforcement officials have detained public joint-stock company City Commercial Bank (City Commerce Bank) President Reynis Tumovs, who was on the international wanted list. National Police of Ukraine investigators collected evidence of the involvement of managers of this financial institution and commercial structures to withdraw and assign assets of the bank. The National Police's press service said on Thursday the amount of damage is almost UAH 300 million. "During the investigation it was established that during 2013-2014 officials issued loans to fictitious companies, and funds were legalized through commercial structures under their control. In particular, fictitious enterprises were provided loans to secure property whose value was overestimated tenfold," the press service said. Bankers were served notices of suspicion: The president and one of the owners of City Commercial Bank under Part 3 of Article 27-h and Part 5 of Article 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of official position) of Ukraine's Criminal Code, as well as under Part 3 of Article 209 (legalization [laundering] of proceeds from crime). Chairman of the Board of bank was served under Part 5 of Article 191. The leaders of fictitious enterprises were also served with suspicion notices under Article 205 (heading a fictitious enterprise) of Ukraine's Criminal Code. The heads of the bank were put on the international wanted list in 2017. In October 2018, Latvian law-enforcement officials detained the president of City Commercial Bank, remanding him to pretrial custody for one year. "It has also established that the chairman of the board of the bank, having received Russian citizenship, left for the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," the press service said, adding that the police are preparing materials to extradite the bank's president. Workers at the beleaguered Iran National Steel Industry Group (INSIG) in the city of Ahvaz, southwest Iran, marched for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, November 14, to protest against the management for disregarding their "rightful" demands. For years the company has suffered from mismanagement and lack of capital, which have rendered many productions lines idle. INSIG workers are demanding production to be restored, injection of raw material for production and disclosing the identity of individuals who are responsible for their factorys failure. Workers at the manufacturing plant have also gone on strike numerous times in recent months to demand overdue wages. In June, many workers were rounded up by security forces and freed only when other workers launched protests. INSIG, based on a steel mill founded in 1963 during Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavis reign, was privatized in 2010 in a highly mysterious manner and sold to a notorious Iranian tycoon, Mah Afarid Khosravi, aka Amir Mansour Arya, described at the time as the richest man in the country with more than $1 billion net worth. In 2014, INSIG was taken over by the Islamic Republics Judiciary after Khosravi was executed for financial fraud. The state-run Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA), INSIG has nearly 4,000 employees who have not been paid for months. The Islamic Republic Foreign Minister's recent comments on "many individuals" who "benefit from money laundering" in Iran have triggered a wave of enraged responses from the conservative camp controlling most of the state apparatus. Mohammad Javad Zarif had earlier lambasted "many" unnamed individuals of blocking the passage of the bills related to money laundering, to collect more benefits. "The amount spent for creating an atmosphere against these bills is equal to the Foreign Ministry's budget, Zarif was cited as saying November 11 on the local website Khabar Online. The foreign minister went on to accuse state organs, that he refrained from naming, of mounting the campaign against the Palermo Bills. "We cannot challenge the scenes set by these wealthy and mighty state-organs, he said. Following the remarks, some members of the Iranian Parliament (Majles) described his comments as "spiteful" and "unsubstantiated." Commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Friday Prayer Leaders across Iran, and other figures appointed by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly opposed the passage of UN-sponsored conventions against financing international terrorism and money laundering. The wave of enraged responses to Zarif's comments prompted the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi (Qasemi) to defend his boss. Lambasting the critics, Ghasemi said on Wednesday, November 14, that Zarif's remarks are neither "new" nor "revealing". According to Ghasemi, "Several officials had already talked about the problem and stated that finding a solution to the issue of money laundering has been emphasized by the Islamic Establishment." Describing Zarifs remarks as a "realistic approach" to the side effects of money laundering, Ghasemi accused the opponents and critics of using financial resources to create psychological pressure against the legal measures by the governmentto promote financial transparency. Ghasemi added, "The fact that some Iranian or international criminal gangs are involved in money laundering is an undeniable reality. Meanwhile, Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iranian Parliament, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, said the issue will be addressed next Sunday, November 18, with Zarif present. A number of lawmakers have reacted to the foreign ministers remarks on money laundering and have requested the documents to prove such comments, the state-run Mehr news agency (MNA) cited Falahatpisheh as saying. Four Bills proposed by President Hassan Rouhani's government would pave the way for Tehran to meet the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC), Combatting Financing Terrorism (CFT), and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) -- in the hope of reducing international pressure on Irans already troubled economy. Originally proposed by President Hassan Rouhani in November last year, the bills have met staunch resistance from hardliners, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who says the agreements have been cooked up by foreign enemies. The FATF has given Tehran until February to either endorse the UNTOC or be added to its blacklist of countries refusing to cooperate in the fight against money laundering and financing terrorism. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging Tehran to adopt the bills before the deadline set by FATF. The outspoken chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) Aerospace Force says around eighty operations planned by terrorist groups have been detected and foiled in Iran since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year, (March 21). Only 3 to 4 percent of the terrorist operations were successful in the current year and all the others were foiled due to timely moves by intelligence and security forces" local news outlets cited Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh as saying November 14, on the sidelines of a conference in northern Iranian province of Qazvin. "Since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year, about 80 operations plotted by terrorist groups to destabilize Iran have been neutralized" Hajizadeh reiterated. Meanwhile, Hajizadeh accused the US and its regional allies of pursuing three plans against Iran, including the economic war, the military confrontation, and internal destabilization. "They aim is to implement a destabilizing plan in Iran like the ones they carried out in Iraq and Syria. Nevertheless, Iran has managed to take preemptive measures, and targeted the think-tanks of the terrorist groups which led to the failure of most of the terrorist operations", IRGC's Aerospace Force commander maintained. The commander's remarks echo comments made earlier by the Intelligence Minister, mid-ranking cleric Mahmoud Alavi on discovering and annihilating dozens of terrorist cells in different parts of Iran. In recent years Iranian intelligence and judicial officials have often claimed to have uncovered terror or spy networks, without presenting any details or concrete evidence. Public trials of such cases have been rare. Despite claims of vigilance by Iranian officials, gunmen, disguised as IRGC forces killed 25 people at a military parade in the city of Ahvaz, in Khuzestan province, on September 22. Islamic State militants and an Iranian ethnic Arab opposition movement took responsibility for the attack, but neither claim provided convincing evidence. At least 10 Iranian security personnel including Revolutionary Guards were kidnapped on October 16, on the border with Pakistan. A Sunni separatist group said it had captured them as revenge for the oppression of Sunni Muslims. However, weeks after the deadly attack in Ahvaz, capital of the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps ground operations chief Morteza Mirian claimed on Thursday, October 11, that "more than 1000 terrorist conspiracies have been thwarted within a month." This sounded like an incredible scenario. If 1,000 operations were being planned, it would have probably involved thousands of terrorists, which would mean many of them were already in Iran. In such a case, how did they enter the country and who has such a large force focused on Iran, Radio Farda reported at the time. ajizadeh claimed a week before the terror attack in Ahvaz that IRGC had been able to infiltrate the US military command and control centers in recent years. On another occasion, referring to the US GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), commonly labelled as the "Mother Of All Bombs", which the US Air Force first used it to pound tunnels in Afghanistans Nangarhar province this April, Amir Ali Hajizadeh boasted of Iran's success in developing a bigger bomb and dubbed it as the Father of All Bombs. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: On November 2, 2018, First Class Hospitality Company held a business breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Tashkent hotel with top travel agencies of Uzbekistan dedicated to the presentation of the Ukrainian luxury hotel Edem Resort & Medical Spa. The presentation of Edem Resort & Medical Spa is a story about the unique resort that receives tourists from all over the world in one of the most beautiful parts of Ukraine, Lviv. On the territory of Edem Resort Medical & SPA there is a Health Recovery Center. It offers longevity, recovery and detoxification programs: Detox, Re-energy, Anti-stress SPA Weekend, Fithealth. The speakers at the meeting were representatives of Edem Resort & Medical Spa - Evelina Trinchuk and Aleksey Bashkirtsev, and a representative of First Class Hospitality. This event was organized with the support of Avrud Travel. First Class Hospitality (FCH) is the first and only PR&Marketing agency that offers representative services for hotels, tourist regions and DMC in Azerbaijan, as well as in the countries of Central Asia. First Class Hospitality is currently a member of the group of companies Prime Management & Consulting and the exclusive representative of the Edem Resort & Medical Spa in Azerbaijan and the region. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: The 1st Caspian International Realty and Investment Fair, Caspian Realty, will be held from the 20th to the 22nd of February 2019 at Baku Expo Centre. The aim of the exhibition is to provide a new impetus to the development of the real estate market of Azerbaijan, to attract local and foreign investments in the sector, to build new international cooperation and to exchange experiences, to demonstrate a number of interesting projects in our country and especially in the capital, to create a unique business environment, and to use this unique opportunity for the exchange of international experience. The exhibition enjoys the official support of the State Committee on Property Issues of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The event will be attended by both local and foreign companies that build and sell real estate, and provide financial, legal, consulting and design services; among other attendees the exhibition will welcome highly qualified specialists from various real estate sectors, as well as investors and government representatives. Caspian Realty 2019 will present commercial, residential, trade and rural real estate, including various investment projects and design services. Participating companies will find a wide range of opportunities to bolster their income potential; the exhibition serves as a venue where participants can meet with potential customers during three days and establish direct contact with key decision makers. The exhibition also provides a unique opportunity to benefit from data on construction projects in both Azerbaijan and abroad. Within the framework of the exhibition, it is planned to organise a rich event program, effective sessions and conferences, as well as organizing "B2B meetings between participants and their target audience. The exhibition invites representatives of investment companies, design and architecture bureaus, real estate agencies, construction companies, government agencies, financial organisations, banks, consulting and IT companies, as well as brokers and private entrepreneurs to visit its debut event. Caspian Realty creates a wealth of lucrative opportunities for market professionals and independent investors, as participating companies will make use of a single platform to present the maximum number of profitable and reliable offers to suit the needs of potential buyers. Detailed information is available on the exhibition website: www.caspianrealty.az. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Azerbaijan buys military equipment from Belarus and this has been causing psychosis fits in Armenia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. President Aliyev made the remarks at a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Azerbaijan Gennady Akhramovich. We buy military equipment from Belarus and are very pleased with its quality and performance, the president said. Belarus demonstrates a very high level in the sphere of military industry as well, and we intend to continue cooperating in the military-technical field. As you know, however, this has been causing psychosis fits in Armenia, so to speak, which is extremely surprising because Azerbaijan buys weapons not only from Belarus. The biggest supplier of military equipment to Azerbaijan is Russia, he added. We also acquire large quantities of weapons and equipment from Turkey, Israel, Pakistan and European countries. It is therefore surprising that claims are leveled exclusively against Belarus. I believe that this is a manifestation of an inferiority complex in Armenia in relation to Belarus, and the reasons are quite simple both Belarus and Armenia gained independence at the same time, President Aliyev added. Today, Armenia is one of the poorest countries in the world, it is at the very bottom, and vivid evidence of that is the fact that the government, which exploited its people and looted it for 20 years, has been swept away by the Armenian people. In the meantime, Belarus, despite the sanctions imposed on it earlier, has successfully developed, and this is the result of the wise policy of President of Belarus Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, he said. Belarus has become a powerful state with a developed industry, a developed agriculture and a high level of social protection. As someone who has often visited your country, I say this completely objectively and sincerely. Therefore, it seems to us that the unfounded claims that are being voiced to your country by Armenia are based precisely on this factor. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: It would be probably difficult to find a sphere where the Azerbaijan-Belarus relations would not develop, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Azerbaijan Gennady Akhramovich said. Akhramovich made the remarks in the meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The trade between our countries has increased by more than three times, the ambassador said. Azerbaijans export to the Republic of Belarus exceeds the indicators of last year, which was also a year of progress, by 50 percent. I absolutely agree with you that it would be probably difficult to find a sphere where our relations would not develop from industry and agriculture to high technology. There is a good momentum in humanitarian cooperation. There is mutual growth in tourism, sport and cultural exchanges. Azerbaijani and Belarusian actors often perform in the most prestigious theaters and concert studios of each other. We are getting ready for your visit to Belarus, he added. Preparations are well underway and are in the spotlight of our governments. I think that the agreements and projects prepared for signing will give a new impetus to our cooperation. Belarus and Azerbaijan are open to cooperation with each other, Akhramovich said. I am pleased to note that you, Mr. President, and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko are always guided by the principle that our cooperation, both bilateral and multilateral, should have a constructive beginning and not be aimed against other countries or blocs. Both you and the president of Belarus always strive to ensure that the development of relations with other countries should be based on the norms and fundamental principles of international law, that all conflicts are resolved in a constructive spirit, progressively and peacefully. I am pleased to note that there are certain advances in this direction. We can always count on the support of our Azerbaijani friends, including international formats, he said. Similarly, we always support Azerbaijan at various international platforms through the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe. Therefore, we will be very glad to see you in the Republic of Belarus. I think that the visit, especially at a time of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, will give an even stronger impetus to the ongoing development of our bilateral relations. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Chile intends to open an embassy in Azerbaijan, acting spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva told Trend on Nov. 15. According to a diplomatic note addressed to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry by the Foreign Ministry of Chile, the embassy of Chile will open in Baku soon as a sign of the importance attached to the development of bilateral relations. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: The Parliament of Azerbaijan instructed the government until Nov. 23 to consider proposals put forward during the discussions of the draft state budget for 2019, the Speaker of the Parliament Ogtay Asadov said on Nov. 15. The speaker said that the discussion of documents included in the budget package has already been completed. The speaker added that on Nov. 23 at a meeting of the Parliament, the government will express its attitude to the proposals put forward. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: The 6th meeting of the joint Azerbaijan-Russia demarcation commission was held in Moscow on Nov.13-15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Nov. 15. Further continuation of the demarcation of the state borders between Azerbaijan and Russia were discussed during the meeting and the 2019 plan of activity of the commission was approved. The next meeting of the joint commission is planned to be held in Azerbaijan. The time of the meeting will be agreed through diplomatic channels. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.15 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Decisions on cooperation between the Caspian states are being fully implemented, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a press conference Nov. 15. She was answering Trends question on the progress in implementation of the agreements reached during the Caspian Sea Summit in August. We note with satisfaction the dynamic development of the five-sided cooperation on the Caspian Sea, she said. This is mainly conditioned by the significant results achieved during the fifth Caspian Summit in Aktau Aug. 12. In the Caspian states, procedures have started to ratify the convention, she said. A meeting of the high-level working group, established to monitor various aspects of cooperation on the Caspian Sea, is being prepared. The first such meeting in this format will be held soon in Baku. On Aug. 12, the heads of five Caspian states signed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea at the 5th Summit of the Heads of Caspian States in Aktau. The Convention is a historic document for the region, the work on which has been carried out for two decades since 1996. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Frances constant double standards approach makes Azerbaijan reconsider its ties with that country, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry told Trend Nov. 15. The ministry was commenting on the visit of the head of the separatist regime, created in occupied Azerbaijani territories, to France. Bako Sahakyan's visit to France, presenting himself as the head of the separatist regime established in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, is another unsuccessful attempt to encourage that puppet entity at the international level, the Foreign Ministry said. France, which created conditions for that visit and accepted "representatives" of the illegal regime, by this step not only violates the spirit of bilateral relations and the signed agreements, but also demonstrates disregard for supremacy of norms and principles of international law and the undertaken obligations, reads the statement. Frances providing conditions for the propaganda of the separatist regime, created in occupied Azerbaijani territories, makes question Frances objectivity and impartiality as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the statement says. The ministry stated that Frances allowing to hold a solemn reception for the persons directly involved in the occupation of Azerbaijans territories and the bloody ethnic cleansing against hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis seriously undermines the authority of France in the Azerbaijani public. Azerbaijan will issue a diplomatic note of protest to the French side, the Foreign Ministry said in the statement. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: France has run out of its capacities as an OSCE MG co-chair, therefore, Azerbaijan has the right to raise the issue of excluding that country from the Minsk Group, independent expert Tahir Sabitov told Trend commenting on the illegal visit by the head of the separatist regime, created in occupied Azerbaijani lands, to France. Sabitov noted that frequent visits by the Karabakh separatist, Bako Sahakyan, demonstrate that France is traditionally conducting pro-Armenian policies. There is a strong Armenian lobby in France, as well as Armenian oligarchs sponsor presidential and parliamentary elections in that European country, said the analyst. Armenians hold key positions in state authorities in France; they have certain levers of influence inside the country. The fact that the French president, during his last visit to the region, arrived in Armenia, took part in the Francophonie Summit and didnt pay a visit to Azerbaijan is an indicator of double standards policy. This is while France, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, should maintain a balance in relations with both sides of the conflict." "In fact, supporting the policy of the occupying country, France casts great doubts on its presence as an international mediator in Minsk Group - an organization meant to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the expert said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova Details added (first version posted on 19:58) Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Frances constant double standards approach makes Azerbaijan reconsider its ties with that country, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry told Trend Nov. 15. The ministry was commenting on the visit of the head of the separatist regime, created in occupied Azerbaijani territories, to France. Bako Sahakyan's visit to France, presenting himself as the head of the separatist regime established in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, is another unsuccessful attempt to encourage that puppet entity at the international level, the Foreign Ministry said. France, which created conditions for that visit and accepted "representatives" of the illegal regime, by this step not only violates the spirit of bilateral relations and the signed agreements, but also demonstrates disregard for supremacy of norms and principles of international law and the undertaken obligations, reads the statement. Frances providing conditions for the propaganda of the separatist regime, created in occupied Azerbaijani territories, makes question Frances objectivity and impartiality as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the statement says. The ministry stated that Frances allowing to hold a solemn reception for the persons directly involved in the occupation of Azerbaijans territories and the bloody ethnic cleansing against hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis seriously undermines the authority of France in the Azerbaijani public. Azerbaijan will issue a diplomatic note of protest to the French side, the Foreign Ministry said in the statement. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: Within the framework of the event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic entitled as "Lands inherited from our great ancestors", a film was presented about the historical lands of Azerbaijan with the participation of public figures, scientists and representatives of youth organizations, the Chairman of the Baku Club of Political Scientists Zaur Mammadov told Trend. Mammadov said the speakers noted that the territories of Western Azerbaijan, like the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent areas, are historical Azerbaijani lands. "Head of the Department at the Academy of Public Administration, Associate Professor Firdovsiya Ahmadova, Director of the short film entitled as IREVAN: Memories and Confessions Telman Gasimov, the Chairman of the Public Association for the Social Welfare of Citizens Irada Rzazade, Chairman of the Return to Western Azerbaijan Association Rizvan Talibov, Executive Director of the Public Association for the International Cooperation of Disabled People Javid Rahimov, editor of Goyc.az portal Ilgar Ismayilov, representative of the Club of Young Experts and Reporters of Azerbaijan and Russia Araz Dovlatov, Deputy Chairman of the Tatar Diaspora Emin Ramazanov made speeches at the event," Mammadov said. He also noted the importance of implementation of discussions and workshops with participation of representatives of the younger generation. The event was organized with the support of the Head of the Youth House of Surakhani district Natavan Rustamova, the Chairman of the Baku Club of Political Scientists Zaur Mammadov, and the creator of the idea to hold the event, Sabir Rustamov. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Rector of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) Elmar Gasimov held a meeting with Country Director of the British Council in Azerbaijan Summer Xia. It was attended by other British Council representatives including English and Education Programs Manager Nargiz Husseynova and Exams Service Manager Nargiz Akbarova, and the BHOS key staff members. Welcoming the guests at the BHOS premises, Rector Elmar Gasimov emphasized that the British Council plays an important role in promoting wider knowledge of the English language and implementing various educational programs. As the language of instruction at BHOS is English, all IELTS language tests for the students completing the foundation course are conducted with the support of the British Council office, he told. The British Council Country Director Summer Xia said that he is aware of high commendations received by the Higher School. In his words, the BHOS undergraduates participating in the British Councils internship programs differ from other interns in terms of English language proficiency and possession of other skills. Summer Xia invited the BHOS representatives to attend Going Global, an international conference on education to be held in Germany next year. New fields of the bilateral cooperation were also discussed. They cover, among others, conducting computer-based IELTS tests at the Higher School campus, which has the most modern technology equipment, and other British Council projects and initiatives including workshops, conferences and other events with participation of the BHOS students and staff members. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: A vehicle, which attempted to illegally bring medicine to Azerbaijan, was detained at the Khanoba customs post of the border between Russia and Azerbaijan, the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan said in a statement Nov. 15. The report said the vehicle - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter- belonged to Azerbaijani citizen. Over 2,300 packages of medicinal preparations, syringes, medicine bottles, ampoules of various purposes were found in the baggage compartment, passenger compartment and behind door lining during the search of the vehicle. The investigation on the case has been launched. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: A significant increase has been recorded in gold mining due to the optimization of operational processes on the part of AzerGold CJSC, the company said in a statement Nov. 14. In particular, for the first ten months of 2018, the gold production amounted to 36,632 ounces, thereby exceeding the last year's figures. In general, the AzerGold CJSC is planning to extract 45,000 ounces of gold by the end of this year, which is 33 percent more than similar indicators for the last year. Currently, the mining operations are carried out in accordance with the plan. The large-scale geological prospecting work is being carried out in order to increase the reserves of the exploited sites and to commission new deposits. Currently, the drilling of 32 exploration wells with a total depth of 6,000 meters has been completed, which has been carried out with the purpose of increasing the reserves of sulphide ores of the Chovdar deposit of the Dashkesan region. The information collected in the framework of exploration work will be used by the international consulting company Micon International in developing a feasibility study for the project. The check and appraisal drilling operations have been carried out starting from June of the current year, on the basis of the positive results obtained from the potentially promising Agyokhush site discovered by geologists of AzerGold CJSC. The geophysical work is undergoing on the Narchala-Agyokhush site, situated on the far flanks of the Chovdar deposit. The surficial geophysical studies on the Kapaz site, situated on the territory of the Goygol district, will be carried out next year. An agreement has been signed with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in order to conduct joint drilling operations at the Tulallar gold-bearing site in the Goygol district, and the drilling work is already underway. The intensive drilling operations have also been carried out since July on the gold-bearing and potentially copper bearing Ortakend-Khanaga site situated on the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. A preliminary appraisal document on the Filizchay poly-metallic deposit situated in the Balaken region and being of strategic importance not only for Azerbaijan but also for Europe, will be prepared by the influential international consulting company SRK Consulting before the end of this year. Presently, the prospects for the development of the nearby Mazimchay, Katsdag, etc. deposits are being considered in the framework of the Filizchay project. The commissioning of the new deposits will allow for significant enhancement of production volumes in the coming years. According to preliminary estimates, only the operation of the Filizchay deposit, as well as the oxide and sulphide phases of the Chovdar deposit will bring to the country's economy a revenue in the amount of more than 10 billion manats. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.15 By Sara Israfilbekova Trend: Azerbaijans non-oil growth will gradually increase from around two percent today, to about three to four percent by 2023, IMF Mission Chief for Azerbaijan Mohammed El Qorchi, said in an interview with Trend and AzerNews. El Qorchi said that the non-oil economy has reported solid growth in the service sector, particularly in the communication, transport and tourism, adding that however, the construction sector is still feeling the effects of the slowdown in public investment. "Potential growth in the non-oil economy will be relatively sluggish without implementation of structural reforms. This would include stepping up broad based governance reforms, working to attract non-oil FDI (foreign direct investment), and focusing on greater human capital development through needed investments in health and education. Joining the WTO would help to increase Azerbaijans connectivity and expand non-oil exports," he noted. Answering the question on which projects implemented in Azerbaijan does the IMF support the most, the Mission Chief stressed that the Fund has provided technical assistance on the main macroeconomic policy areas. "This has included advice and recommendations on monetary and exchange rate policies; fiscal policies, bank supervision; and national income accounting, fiscal, and monetary statistics," El Qorchi said. Further, he noted that the 1.3-percent growth forecast is the best estimate of real GDP growth in 2018 based on available information as of September. "Through the first 9 months of this year, growth was 0.8 percent. So, we think our forecast is still in line with current indicators," the Mission Chief explained, adding that in general, economic reforms affect long-term economic growth and take a while to have an impact. In January-September 2018, the volume of GDP produced in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan increased by 1 percent compared to January-September 2017, while in the oil and gas sector there was an increase of 0.5 percent. During the reporting period, the sphere of transport and storage grew by 7.7 percent, accommodation of tourists and catering - by 7.6 percent, information and communication services - by 7.7 percent. The construction sector decreased by 15.9 percent. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 15 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and His Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed opportunities for further expanding mutually beneficial relations between the two countries in a phone conversation, the Turkmen government said in a message. The promising areas include the industrial sector and the agro-industrial complex. The two sides noted the impressive potential of multifaceted partnership. The legal framework that has significantly strengthened in recent years is powerful foundation for implementing new large-scale joint projects that meet the goals of economic prosperity of both countries and the region as a whole, the Turkmenistan State News Agency reported. The presidents noted the significant role of the joint commission in enhancing and developing effective mechanisms for cooperation in various sectors of the economy, increasing the volume of mutual trade, encouraging investment and strengthening business contacts. Recently, communications between the border areas of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan received a new impetus, the report said. The two countries are actively cooperating in the development of transit-transport corridors along the East-West and North-South routes. The parties exchanged views on topical aspects of international issues of mutual interest. It was emphasized that Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan act as responsible partners in shaping their approaches to solving priority issues on the regional and global agenda, primarily relating to ensuring global peace and security and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the report said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: The Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers can not do customs clearing for medicine to be imported to Uzbekistan, the Association of Employers' Organizations of the Medical and Microbiological Industry of Ukraine (OORMMPU) said in a statement, Podrobno.uz reported. "Pharmaceutical products have been at the customs for several weeks now, but the customs service of the Republic of Uzbekistan does not explain why it is not carrying out registration," the OORMMPU said. The pharma products of such Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers as Yuria-Pharm, Farmak JSC, Lekhim JSC, Farmhim, etc. are listed as having problems with the customs registration. To address the issue, the Association turned to Stepan Kubiv, First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, with a request to intervene in this situation and to hold a working meeting in order to work out ways to resolve this issue with the involvement of representatives of the Association and other relevant organizations. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: In January-October 2018, the number of Turkish citizens arrived in Azerbaijan through the Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR) in search of work fell by 80.88 percent compared to the same period in 2017, ISKUR told Trend on Nov. 15. During the reporting period, 26 Turkish citizens visited Azerbaijan through the Employment Agency, which is 110 people less compared to the same period of 2017. In September 2018, four Turkish citizens arrived in Azerbaijan via ISKUR. In October 2018, via ISKUR, a total of 3,373 Turkish citizens went abroad searching for work. According to the agency, in January-October 2018, 20,155 Turkish citizens left the country via ISKUR, which is 18.23 percent more compared to the same period in 2017. In October 2018, 123,870 Turkish citizens were provided with work in Turkey, which is 9.2 percent more compared to the same month 2017. In Turkey, in October, among those provided with jobs, 65 percent accounted for men, while the number of women accounted for 35 percent. Among those employed in October 2018, 99.2 percent accounted for the private sector. In January-October 2018, as a whole, 991,407 people were provided with jobs in Turkey. A total of 3.215 million people were registered as unemployed in Turkey in October 2018. Fifty-two percent of them are women and 48 percent are men. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Kazakh cement producer, SAS-Tobe Technologies, has increased its exports to Uzbekistan, Podrobno.uz reported. The company, engaged in the production of cement and lime, is the first Kazakh manufacturer accredited at the Uzbek Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange. In almost two months, the cement sold through the exchange reached 1,500 tons. The company plans to export more than 50 percent of its products to Uzbekistan, which is about 250,000 tons of cement annually. In recent meetings with Uzbek manufacturers of building materials, preliminary agreements for supply of about 10,000 tons of cement per month were concluded with five concrete producers. Also, as a test project, 2,000 tons of cement will be purchased by the Uzbek company KTS Drilling, which is engaged in the road and housing construction. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend: The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) treats cryptocurrencies very conservatively and believes such financial instruments involve great risks, first Chairman of the CBA Alim Guliyev told reporters in Baku Nov. 15. He said that given the risks, the CBA doesnt plan to issue its cryptocurrency. Speaking about risks, he said that cryptocurrency is often used for money laundering. In February, Chairman of the CBA Elman Rustamov urged the Azerbaijani population to be careful in operations with cryptocurrencies. In his opinion, investments in cryptocurrencies are very risky and dangerous. The cost of Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency in the world, fell on Nov. 15 morning by more than 10 percent, reaching a minimum since October 2017 - $5,623 (according to CoinMarketCap). The cost of other biggest cryptocurrencies fell by an average of 20 percent. The cryptocurrency market capitalization is about $183.74 billion. Bitcoin accounts for more than 50 percent of the cryptocurrency market. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: On Nov. 14, 2018, Uzbek Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Sahib Saifnazarov met with Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Manlio Di Stefano, Uzbek media reported quoting the press service of the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Trade. The sides exchanged views on the state and prospects of bilateral trade and economic relations. The Uzbek side proposed to jointly develop the institute of the Uzbek-Italian intergovernmental working group, as well as holding business forums and exhibitions to establish and strengthen relations between representatives of the business circles of the two countries. Manlio Di Stefano noted that Italy can offer many opportunities for cooperation in a number of spheres, including the textile industry, fruit and vegetable processing, tourism, information technology and communications, telemedicine and other areas. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Ten bridges will be built in Istanbul, as part of the construction of a shipping channel, Turkish media reported referring to the Transport and Infrastructure Minister of the country Mehmet Cahit Turhan on Nov. 15. Turhan noted that the construction of the shipping channel will begin in 2019. The minister also noted that the project is one of the most important and priority projects in Turkey. The intention to implement the project of construction of the Istanbul shipping channel was announced for the first time in 2011 by the current President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The length of the shipping channel in Istanbul will be 43 kilometers, and in the framework of the construction project, a special authority will also be created in order to control the operation of the channel after its commissioning. The purpose of the construction of the Istanbul channel is to reduce the burden of shipping on the Bosphorus Strait, as well as to prevent the threat of environmental and man-made disasters on one of the most intense sea routes in the world, the ministry said. The width of the Istanbul channel, according to plans, will be 400 meters, and its depth - 25 meters. The channel will be able to let pass 150-160 vessels per day. Currently, the Bosphorus is used by an average of 150 vessels per day, of which about 30 are oil tankers. Annually about 150 million tons of oil and oil products are transported through the Black Sea Straits, while the throughput capacity of the Bosphorus is estimated at 200 million tons. The Istanbul channel will run parallel to the Bosphorus, will actually make the European part of Istanbul an island and finally separate it from Europe. The channel will pass from the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea through the Kucukcekmece Lake. On the banks of the artificial channel, it is planned to build new residential complexes, which will be connected with other areas of the 15 million metropolis thanks to modern transport infrastructure, including metro and high-speed trains, as well as with the third airport in Istanbul. As part of this project, the construction of a new port is also expected. It will be possible to use tankers with a length of 275 meters, a width of 48 meters and a capacity of 14,500 DWT on the Istanbul shipping channel, which is being built as part of the governments Vision 2023 plan. The construction of the navigable channel will continue for five years and the minimum service life of the canal will be 100 years. The official exchange rate for November 15 is 5.4724 TL / USD. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: In January-October 2018, the volume of agricultural exports from Uzbekistan to new markets of China, Vietnam and Pakistan increased 4.5-fold and totaled 85,800 tons worth $60.9 million, Uzbek state enterprise Uzagroexport told Trend on Nov. 15. If in the first 10 months of 2017, only 14,000 tons of agricultural products worth $10.5 million were exported to China, in 2018 exports reached 42,100 tons worth $30 million. Supplies to Vietnam increased from 2,600 tons ($1.7 million) to 22,100 tons ($14.2 million), to Pakistan from 1,900 tons ($1.3 million) to 21,600 tons ($16.7 million). Overall, during the reporting period, exports of fruits and vegetables from Uzbekistan exceeded one million tons and reached $732.5 million, which is 43.3 percent more than the same period last year. The main foreign trade partners of Uzbekistan in the supply of agricultural products were Kazakhstan (502,100 tons worth $343.1 million, 46.8 percent of the total), Russia (200,500 worth $139.3 million, 19 percent) and Kyrgyzstan (76,800 worth $69 million, 9.4 percent). Uzagroexport added that exports of fruits and vegetables, grapes, melons, legumes, as well as dried fruits and vegetables are growing as a result of expanding the country's export potential and geography in new markets. Earlier it was reported that in January-October 2018, Uzbekistans foreign trade turnover amounted to $25.76 million, which is 15.8 percent more than in the same period last year. In the total value of the foreign trade turnover, exports accounted for $10.25 million (a 4.1-percent decline), and imports accounted for $15.51 million (a 34.4-percent growth). The foreign trade deficit reached $5.25 million. The share of CIS countries in Uzbekistans foreign trade turnover in January-October 2018 increased to 38.3 percent. The main foreign trade partners of Uzbekistan are still China ($5 million), Russia ($4.56 million), Kazakhstan ($2.36 million), Turkey ($1.74 million) and South Korea ($1.53 million). In the structure of exports, the share of goods reached 75.4 percent (energy resources and oil products accounted for 19.9 percent, food products accounted for 9 percent, chemical products and items thereof accounted for 7.3 percent). --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Azerbaijan is a reliable and serious partner for European countries, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov said. He made the remarks Nov. 15 at a business meeting on the topic Railways and digitalization. How artificial intelligence and big data will change the railway industry held with the organizational support of the Austrian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (ATAZ), Azerbaijan Railways CJSC said in a message. The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) Andreas Mattha, Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Christoph Matznetter, members of the ATAZ, businessmen and representatives of the press. Matznetter touched upon similar features between Azerbaijan and Austria and noted that both countries are important for the region. He said that the routes passing through Azerbaijan are important in the overland connection of the Chinese market with Europe, as well as in the implementation of cargo transportation in both directions. Gurbanov spoke about the work done in Azerbaijan on the further development of the railway transport system, which is one of the priority areas of the non-oil sector. It was noted that the wide use of the capabilities of modern information and communication technologies in order to increase the safety of transportation and increase the competitiveness of transport corridors passing through Azerbaijan is one of the main priorities. He also spoke about the role that the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the North-West, the North-South and the South-West transport corridors can play in cargo transportation to Europe. Tehran,Iran, Nov.15 Trend: Head of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Es'haq has refuted the Reuters report regarding the exchange of Iranian gas for Iraqi food supplies, ILNA reported. We made more than six billion dollars worth of export to Iraq in the initial seven months of the year, and are willing to import some stuff in return; however, importing food supplies from Iraq is an inaccurate an unfounded lie. As a matter of fact, quite contrarily, Iran is the one providing Iraq with food supplies and not the other way around, he was quoted as saying. According to the controversial report, two Iraqi officials have talked about Irans agreement to receive food and humanitarian items in return for local gas and energy supplies. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: The Uzbekneftegaz JSC and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have signed a framework agreement, UzDaily.uz reported. The parties signed the document within the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). On the grounds of this document, the ADNOC company will offer consultations to the Uzbek company in the area of mining and processing operations. According to the report of the British Petroleum (BP) company on the world energy sector, the proven reserves of oil in Uzbekistan in 2015 amounted to 0.1 billion tons (0.6 billion barrels) and the proven reserves of gas to 1.1 trillion cubic meters. Tehran, Iran, Nov.15 Trend: A member of Iranian Parliament Abolfazl Musavi Biuki believes that under the present circumstances, with Japan exempted from Washingtons oil sanctions, Iran can easily benefit from this situation, by purchasing planes in exchange for oil, and renew its aviation fleet, ICANA reported. Musavi Biuki said that government is currently focused on buying new airliners, no longer planning to consider used ones. The parliament member added that as per Iran Civil Aviation Organizations new approach toward renewal of the air transport fleet, certainly all countries and airliner producers will be taken into consideration when making the call to properly equip and renew the fleet. He pointed to the fact that at the moment most of the fleet is old and in bad shape, so government and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development should reequip both passenger and cargo airliner fleets. He mentioned the governments planning and negotiations to purchase airliners from foreign companies such as the Chinese ARJ, Japanese Mitsubishi, and even the Russian Sukhoi. The airliner fleet has up until now provided supplies from the Eastern Bloc; however, Russian planes failed to yield favorable results, leaving unpleasant memories of used Tupolevs in peoples and officials minds, said Musavi Biuki. The main criterion for buying planes is their quality; therefore, officials should take all conditions and priorities into account when negotiating with other countries, he concluded. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Taleh Mursagulov Trend: The share of cash payments in Azerbaijan will fall from 74 percent to 40 percent, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Alim Guliyev said at the 3rd International Banking Forum in Baku on Nov. 15. Annually the volume of non-cash payments will grow by seven percent, he said. The expansion of the use of non-cash payments and the digitalization of the economy are on the agenda. "Today, there is a decrease in the mediation function of the financial and banking sectors, Guliyev added. This is an obstacle to control the money supply. There are problems related to transparency, as well as problems in the tax sphere. All this has a negative impact on economic growth." He stressed that the implementation of the program on the digital economy, along with the elimination of the abovementioned problems, also contributes to the formation of monetary and economic stability. The two-day 3rd International Banking Forum "Non-cash Economy: Transition from Traditional to Digital Banking", organized by the Central Bank, Azerbaijans Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FIMSA), the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication and the Azerbaijan Banks Association, kicked off in Baku on Nov. 15. About 100 representatives of local and foreign financial organizations of Europe, the US, Japan, China and the CIS, including Citibank, Commerzbank AG, Yandex.Money, Raiffeisen Bank International AG, Deloitte, Standard Chartered Bank, Moody's Investors Service and others, participate in the event. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: Zurich hosted signing of a 200 million euro loan agreement between Uzbekistan's National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity and Credit Suisse on Nov. 13, Uzbek media reported. The agreement envisages cooperation in joint financing of investment projects implemented in Uzbekistan, under a guarantee from export credit agencies, without a state guarantee. The agreement's key advantage is the possibility of financing the projects that involve the supply of equipment and technologies from Switzerland, Europe, South Korea and China. The National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan has been successfully cooperating with Credit Suisse in trade financing and payment transactions since 1993. The signed document is one of the first agreements of this kind between the Uzbek bank and the bank of Switzerland. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: DELL will share experience in building IT infrastructure for school institutions in Uzbekistan, the press service of the Ministry of Public Education announced. According to the information, the delegation of DELL headed by the Director General of the company in Kazakhstan and Central Asia Nurlan Sadykov visited the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan. During the meeting, the parties discussed cooperation between in the digitalization and development of information technology in schools of Uzbekistan. Out of about 9,700 schools in Uzbekistan, only 35 percent have modern computer equipment and only about 10 percent have access to high-speed internet. The president of Uzbekistan set the task to equip all schools of the country with computers and provide access to the internet within three years. Sadykov touched upon the experience of DELL in the implementation of electronic classes and libraries, as well as in the creation of an intranet for students in Kazakhstan. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to work out issues of establishing cooperation for the creation of a modern IT infrastructure in schools of Uzbekistan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 Trend: IBM announced work underway with leading European companies to continue to innovate with blockchain, progressing projects from proof of concept to production environments. The attributes of blockchain technology are ideally suited to large networks of disparate partners. A distributed ledger technology, blockchain establishes a shared, immutable record of all the transactions that take place within a network and then enables permissioned parties access to trusted data in real time. By applying the technology to a variety of business processes, a new form of command and consent can be introduced into the flow of information, empowering multiple partners to collaborate and establishing a single shared view of a transaction without compromising details, privacy or confidentiality. The hallmark of IBM's blockchain business has been the ability to convene broad groups of network participants to embrace a collaborative platform approach to blockchain adoption. Clients are capitalising on the opportunity for greater trust and transparency using blockchain across a variety of industries, for example to better manage the reconciliation of international mobile phone roaming charges, securing digital identity for citizens, and complying with new European banking directives on customer communications. With more than 500 blockchain projects globally, IBM is engaged across all industries, where European projects in particular are on the rise, where, according to IDC, "blockchain spending in Europe is now growing faster than anywhere else." "From large enterprises to start-ups, across multiple industries, businesses across Europe are selecting IBM Blockchain," said Andrew Darley, IBM Blockchain Platform Leader, Europe. "Clients are attracted by the production-readiness of the IBM Blockchain Platform, allowing them to run highly secure networks in any environment of their choosing, on premise, via IBM Cloud, or an increasing number of other industry cloud providers." European clients are continuing to work with IBM to drive blockchain innovation in their industries: Telefonica and IBM are collaborating in the development of a proof of concept (PoC) based on IBM blockchain technology to help solve one of the major challenges of communications service providers, the management of international mobile phone call traffic. The project helps to resolve the veracity and traceability of information generated by different service providers when they route an international call. Using a decentralized network that provides participating members secure access, fraudulent behaviors and discrepancies between the information recorded by each provider are significantly reduced. The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan and IBM are developing a Digital Identification System based on Hyperledger Fabric, A Linux Foundation framework, to verify the reliability of the documents related to both individuals and legal entities for use with banks, credit providers and similar organizations. The new system will simplify and automate the "Know Your Customer" validation process, and will be used by both clients and credit organizations serving citizens of Azerbaijan. Finnish retail cooperative S-Group is testing their Pike-perch radar solution, which is based on IBM Blockchain technology, as part of the retail group's strategy to improve customer experience. Customers in Finland can trace a fillet of pike or perch freshwater fish back to its home waters using the QR Code on the package of "Kotimaista-kuhafile" fish, or by logging in to a tracking website. PKO Bank Polski has implemented a blockchain-based "durable medium" platform built together with KIR (Krajowa Izba Rozliczeniowa S.A. - Polish automated clearing house) in partnership with IBM and Accenture, to help the bank achieve compliance with the European Union Payment Services Directive related to customer communication. Now the client documents and communications sent digitally to more than 5 million customers of the bank will be held in a highly secure blockchain-based repository. The Central Securities Depository of Poland (Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartosciowych, KDPW) has implemented their eVoting solution, designed to encourage greater retail shareholder participation in company Annual General Meetings (AGM), and ensure transparency to regulators on the history of AGM agendas, and voting results. The network is in production. Startup software developer Comgo.io, with support from IBM, is digitizing the entire donation and spend process for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) using Hyperledger Fabric. NGO donors can see in real time what money has already been spent and the activities supported. For example, when charity workers in Indiapurchase hygiene products for the street children they support, the payment is tracked on a mobile phone, and written to the blockchain, allowing approved network participants to see the transactions, and triggering the NGO responsible to verify that the children did actually receive the products. The application enhances transparency to build a deeper connection between the donors and the charity, and helps donors to understand more about the work of the NGO. Comgo.io is implementing the application with 7 NGOs: Fundacion Recover; Orden de Malta; Fundacion Exit; Farmaceuticos sin Fronteras; KUBUKA; Itwillbe, and homelessentrepreneur. Much of the momentum can be attributed to the ease of use of the IBM Blockchain Platform and the open nature of the Linux Foundation's Hyperledger Fabric blockchain framework, underscored by IBM's deep blockchain and industry expertise. Services and developer resources throughout Europe help support clients through IBM Client Centres and Blockchain Garages in London and Boblingen; IBM Client Innovation Centres in Paris, Nice and Gronningen; an Industry Solution Centre in Montpellier; IBM Food Trust network cloud center in Frankfurt. IBM Research centres in Zurich and Dublin focus on cryptography, innovations in AI and optical imaging to help prove the identity and authenticity of objects, detect anomalies and support preventative maintenance in industrial environments. At the Watson IoT Center in Munich clients are engaged on projects to explore the convergence of IoT and blockchain, and how clients can automate business processes, gain competitive advantage, and create new business models, by embedding end point and sensor data into blockchain networks to trigger smart contracts. Clients can also benefit from the availability of IBM Blockchain Starter Plan on IBM Cloud, starting from approximately 500 a month. This is helping developers, startups and enterprises build blockchain proofs-of-concept quickly and affordably with an end-to-end blockchain development experience, a secure test environment, suite of education tools and modules and one-click network provisioning. IBM Blockchain Platform was named "Best Blockchain Platform" by Juniper Research in their Future Digital Awards. About IBM Blockchain IBM is recognized as the leading enterprise blockchain provider. The company's research, technical and business experts have broken barriers in transaction processing speeds, developed the most advanced cryptography to secure transactions, and are contributing millions of lines of open source code to advance blockchain for businesses. IBM is the leader in open-source blockchain solutions built for the enterprise. Since 2016, IBM has worked with hundreds of clients across financial services, supply chain, government, retail, digital rights management and healthcare to implement blockchain applications, and operates a number of networks running live and in production. The cloud-based IBM Blockchain Platform delivers the end-to-end capabilities that clients need to quickly activate and successfully develop, operate, govern and secure their own business networks. IBM is an early member of Hyperledger, an open source collaborative effort created to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. For more information about IBM Blockchain, visit https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/ or follow us on Twitter at @ibmblockchain. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: As many as 46,092 citizens of Azerbaijan visited Kazakhstan in January-June 2018, Tourism Industry Committee of Kazakh Culture and Sport Ministry told Trend. The committee noted that in order to increase the tourist flow, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan take part in international cultural events and tourism exhibitions held in both countries. Thus, in April this year, Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AZTA) took part in the Kazakhstan International Tourism Fair (KITF 2018) in Almaty, where the tourism potential of Azerbaijan was presented. Similarly, the Kazakh side took part in the annual Azerbaijan International Tourism and Travel Fair (AITF 2017) in Baku, where it presented medical and health tourism of Kazakhstan. "In addition, cooperation continues within the framework of international organizations such as CAREC, Turksoy, CIS and others," said the message. It is also worth noting that the 4th meeting of the Ministers of Tourism of the Turkic Council member states (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey) was held on August 8 this year, where the parties discussed the main issues of preparing the launch and commercial implementation of the Turkic Council Modern Silk Road joint tour package project. "The proposed mechanism will allow overcoming obstacles to the transnational tourism product (visa, customs and border barriers when tourists cross the borders of neighboring countries), as well as opening new air routes between the cities of the countries," the committee noted. Moreover, on October 31 Astana hosted the 15th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, where various aspects of deepening cooperation in tourism, including the development of cruise tourism in the Caspian Sea, were considered. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid China International Import Expo 2018, the 1st international Chinese exhibition of import goods and services, was held in Shanghai from 5 to 10 November, kabar.kg reports. Five companies from Kyrgyzstan took part in it with the support of the ITC (International Trade Center) program Trade Promotion in Kyrgyzstan, funded by the Government of Switzerland. These are the Dayry Association of Craftsmen, Tumar, the Saima art group, the Bukon art studio and Dilbar fashion house. The total exhibition area exceeded 240 thousand square meters. The last achievements of 172 countries, regions and international organizations from five continents, as well as goods and services of 3,600 companies, were presented at the Expo. At the same time, the total number of visitors to the exhibition, as stated by the organizers, reached about 400 thousand people. Head of Dilbar fashion house Dilbar Ashimbayeva told that the event itself made an indelible impression on the participants from Kyrgyzstan. The scale of the exhibition was huge, it was held under the patronage of the President, with large-scale advertising, a very serious level of organization, with great attention from the government and the business community of China. We received a very good response, we showed ourselves to a lot of people. China is a huge comprehensive market in which there is a customer for each product. And we, of course, would like to find our place there. Without the help of ITC, this would have been almost impossible to do. We dreamed about China for so many years, but we didnt know how to get there. And it was this exhibition that gave us this opportunity, Dilbar Ashimbayeva said. The designer also said that exhibitors from Kyrgyzstan managed to establish contacts with various companies, and plans for future cooperation appeared. So, one of the best companies in China that produces cashmere products of the best quality was very interested in Kyrgyz companies. And in the future, the fashion house plans to create a joint collection with them. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 35 million dollars grant to reconnect Tajikistans electricity system to the Central Asian Power System (CAPS) through interconnection with the Uzbekistan system, according to the ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM), news.tj reports. This will help expand regional energy trade and improve regional energy efficiency among countries connected to CAPS. ADB, through the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program, actively promotes regional power trading among central Asian countries and the expansion of power exports to Afghanistan and Pakistan from the region. An interconnected power system in central Asia will benefit all countries, optimize power use, enhance regional energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CAPS is a regional electricity transmission network created during the Soviet Union era, and its operation today is coordinated among Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. In recent decades, power exchange within CAPS has been in progressive decline, and Tajikistans disconnection from Uzbekistan in 2009 limited the effectiveness of an interconnected CAPS. But the signing of a power trade agreement to restart the electricity trade between the two countries in March this year is a step forward for a renewed regional energy network. This project will enable Tajikistan to export summer surplus electricity to Uzbekistan and allow for more efficient use of regional energy resources, said ADB Finance Specialist Mr. Yuki Inoue. This re-connection signifies a major step towards a full parallel operation with Uzbekistans electricity system and CAPS. The project will install and upgrade modern relay protection equipment for synchronizing Tajikistan and Uzbekistans electricity systems, expand interconnection points, and strengthen Tajikistans capacity for stable parallel operation. The total cost of the project is 40 million dollars, with the Government of Tajikistan providing 5 million dollars. The project is expected to be completed in 2022. ADB is celebrating 20 years of development partnership with Tajikistan in 2018. To date, ADB has approved around 1.7 billion dollars in grants, concessional loans, and technical assistance to the country. ADB and Tajikistans development partnership, which began in 1998, has restored and built the countrys new transport and energy infrastructure, supported social development, expanded agricultural production, and improved regional cooperation and trade. Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 67 members48 from the region. In 2017, ADB operations totaled 32.2 billion dollars, including 11.9 billion dollars in cofinancing. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 15 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: A meeting was held in Ashgabat between Turkmen officials and Fujiya Koji, Director General of the Central Asia and the Caucasus Department of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said. The sides discussed the priorities of bilateral cooperation in the areas of agriculture and health care. The importance of training programs in JICAs activity and their effectiveness for the training of specialists in various sectors of the economy and social sphere were stressed at the meeting. Earlier it was reported that JICA expressed interest in cooperation with Turkmenistan on social projects. The Turkmen government and JICA have been working together in the field of seismology for a long time. The cultural committee that has been formed as part of the Iran-Russia Cooperation Commission has brought new opportunities for both countries to expand cultural relations, Abbas Salehi told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Salehi departed Tehran for Moscow on Wednesday to take part in the VII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, due to be held in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, November 15 17. He expressed hope that the talks to be held with Russian cultural officials and figures during his visit will usher into new events. Iran and Russia hold long-lasting ties and have drawn new frameworks for cooperation over recent decades, which have resulted in fruitful cultural agreements and exchanges, he stressed. The forum will be attended by the ministers of culture from many countries, high-ranking political officials, representatives of international organizations, activists and scholars from across the globe. Salehi is to deliver a speech at a specialized meeting on preserving antiquities and will also meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky and other officials attending the conference. The forum consists of 15 different sections, including education, tourism, cinema, art and museology. The international event will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia's cultural capital, from 15 to 17 November . Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Thursday welcomed U.S. Treasury sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their role in the killing last month of Jamal Khashoggi, and said Canada was weighing similar action, Reuters reported. Canada welcomes the U.S. action, Freeland told reporters today after touring a factory in Port Colborne, Ontario. Canada will be actively considering similar sanctions in coming days, she added. French President Emmanuel Macron deepened his stand against US foreign policy in Europe Wednesday, saying that being America's ally "does not mean being a vassal state," Sputnik reports. "The United States of America is our ally and it will continue to be, but being its ally does not mean being a vassal state, we must not depend on them," he said Wednesday. Macron echoed a phrase used by his finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, in May, when US President Donald Trump announced his country's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a seven-nation deal signed to lower economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for that country ending its nuclear weapons program. "Do we want to be vassals who obey decisions taken by the United States while clinging to the hem of their trousers?" Le Maire asked on Europe-1 radio on May 11. "Or do we want to say we have our economic interests, we consider we will continue to do trade with Iran?" Since late last month, the French president has been pushing for a more independent European path, portraying US policy as being unstable and incongruent with the best policy for Europeans, especially in terms of defense. "We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," Macron said on Europe 1 radio last week. "When I see President Trump announcing that he's quitting a major disarmament treaty which was formed after the 1980s euro-missile crisis that hit Europe, who is the main victim? Europe and its security," he continued, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which banned a type of nuclear weapon and from which Trump threatened to withdraw. "We have to look at the vision of one day creating a real true European army Europe must take its fate in its own hands," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on November 13, echoing Macron's call for a military structure separate from the US. The spat with Trump deepened over the weekend during the commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I, with Trump and Macron exchanging heated words over social media. "Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the US, China and Russia," Trump tweeted on Monday. "But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the US came along. Pay for NATO or not!" The question of returning sanctions against Iran has become a point of major contention between the US and Europe. Full economic sanctions returned against Iran on November 5 but only by the United States. France, the UK, European Union, Russia, Germany and China, the deal's other signatories, have all remained in the deal with Iran because they do not believe that Iran has violated the terms of the deal, as Trump claimed. Because the primary method by which the US enforces the trade sanctions on Iran is through SWIFT, the Belgium-based bank wire transactions service, the other JCPOA signatory nations have voiced interest since May in alternatives to SWIFT, in order to continue their business with Iran independent of US interference. On November 2, the US announced it would sanction SWIFT if it didn't cut off payments to Iranian institutions, which it finally did on Monday, Sputnik reported. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Berlin on August 28 that it was "high time we reassess the transatlantic partnership in a sober, critical and even self-critical way," so as to "strengthen the autonomy and sovereignty of Europe in trade, economic and financial policies," Sputnik reported. "It will not be easy, but we have already begun to do it. We are working on proposals pertaining to payment channels and creating a payment system independent of SWIFT to establish a European currency fund," Maas noted. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.15 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: The Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will meet at the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki on November 23, 2018, said a message from PACE. Finland begins its six-month chairmanship of the Council of Europes ministerial body from November 21, 2018 till May 17, 2019. On the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25), the PACE President and Speaker will launch a Europe-wide initiative to combat violence against women in parliaments. The parliamentarians will hold an exchange of views with Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Timo Soini, who will chair the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers for the next six months. Discussions will focus on Finlands priorities during its chairmanship and other issues in the framework of the Assemblys ongoing political dialogue with the ministerial body, said the message. Currently, Croatia chairs the ministerial body of the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europes statutory decision-making body. Its role and functions are broadly defined in Chapter IV of the Statute. It is made up of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of member States. The Committee meets at ministerial level once a year and at Deputies' level (Permanent Representatives to the Council of Europe) weekly. The conduct of meetings is governed by the Statute and Rules of Procedure. The Ministers Deputies are assisted by a Bureau, rapporteur groups, thematic coordinators and ad hoc working parties. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn It would be best for Israel to go to an election as soon as possible, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said in a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, The Jerusalem Post reports. In the current situation, the right thing for the citizens of Israel and the Israeli economy is to go to an election as soon as possible, Kahlon said. According to Kahlon, the stability necessary at this time is unattainable as long as there is political uncertainty, and going to an election in order to form a new, strong and stable government would be the most responsible thing to do. Kahlon also offered to coordinate the official dissolution of the Knesset and selecting a date for the national election. Earlier Thursday, Liberman tendered his resignation from the Defense Ministry in a letter to Netanyahu. His resignation will take effect in 48 hours, and Netanyahu will automatically retain the portfolio, unless and until he appoints someone else as defense minister. Liberman submitted the letter the morning after a press conference in the Knesset, in which he announced he and his Yisrael Beytenu party would be leaving the coalition, following a ceasefire with Hamas that he said cannot be interpreted in any way other than a capitulation to terrorism. This will severely harm our security in the long run. The response that we gave to the 500 rockets shot from Gaza was not enough, to say the least. The South should come first. Our weakness is being broadcast to other fronts, he said. Following the resignation, the coalition will be left with a one-seat majority. Bayit Yehudi demanded that Education Minister Naftali Bennett be appointed defense minister, or they too will leave the coalition, triggering an election. On Wednesday, Netanyahu began speaking to the heads of all coalition parties, in an attempt to try to keep their alliance stable. With Libermans resignation, Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky will automatically be removed from the Knesset. She became a legislature 2.5 years ago as part of the Norwegian Law, by which a minister may resign from the Knesset, allowing someone to take his or her place, but if the minister leaves the government, he or she gets a seat in the Knesset again, removing the newcomer. Also Thursday, Likud MK Jacky Levy resigned from the Knesset, after being elected Mayor of Bet Shean. He will be replaced by Osnat Mark, bringing the number of women in this Knesset up to a record 36. Intel Capital, the investment arm of US technology giant Intel Corp., has invested in Israeli startup Habana Labs, a maker of artificial intelligence-based processors and chips, timesofisrael.com reports. The investment was made as part of a 75 million dollars series B funding round for the startup led by Intel Capital. Other investors in the round were WRV Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Battery Ventures and existing investors. Since its founding in 2016 Habana Labs has raised a total of $120 million, the Israeli startup said in a statement. The funds will help the firm grow its activities. Habana Labs uses artificial intelligence to improve the processing performance of chips and lower their costs and power consumption. The processors are aimed at the specific needs of training deep neural networks. The company designs the chips and outsources their manufacturing. It has offices in Tel Aviv and San Jose, California, and employs 120 people worldwide, according to its website. We are humbled by the trust deposited in us by such a dream team of investors, including the worlds leading semiconductor company, Intel, said David Dahan, chief executive officer of Habana Labs. The funding will be used to continue the development of its chips and training solutions, including the firms next generation 7nm AI processors, to increase its sales and customer support teams. The startups first processor, Goya, is already being sold to customers worldwide, and the firm is planning to release a training processor solution for testing in the second quarter of 2019, the statement said. The Goya processor has already set two industry records for efficiency, by delivering 15,088 images/second throughput, and power efficiency, with 151 images/second/watt, offering a performance that is one to three times better than solutions commonly used in data centers today, the statement said. Habanas team has a proven track record in the industry, said Wendell Brooks, senior vice president of Intel Corporation and president of Intel Capital. Habana Labs innovation and execution on their vision will help drive the next evolution of Artificial Intelligence. Artificial intelligence is paving the way for a significant wave of new semiconductor companies, and venture firms are heavily investing in AI-focused chip startups, said Lip-Bu Tan, founding partner of WRV Capital, an international venture firm focusing on semiconductors and related hardware, systems, and software. Among all AI semiconductor startups, Habana Labs is the first, and still the only one, which introduced a production-ready AI processor. Intel Capital invests in startups targeting artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, datacenter and cloud, 5G, next-generation computing and a wide range of other technologies. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested 12.3 billion dollars in 1,544 companies worldwide, and more than 660 portfolio companies have gone public or participated in a merger. In October, Intel Capital invested in a 30 million dollars series A funding round raised by Netanya-based StarkWare, a maker of blockchain technologies. This month the US firm invested in a 12 million dollars series A funding round raised by Tel Aviv-based SAM Seamless Network, a maker of a home Internet of Things network security system, and in gaming technology firm Overwolf, which raised 16 million dollars in a series B funding round. Intel Capital, which makes both strategic and financial investments in startups for Intel Corp., started investing in Israel in 1997 and had invested more than 375 million dollars in some 80 Israeli startups as of the first half of 2018. The investments include Alcide, a developer of data center security; Anobit, a developer of flash memory controllers, which was sold to Apple in 2012; OrCam, a developer of wearable vision system to help visually challenged people; and Moovit. Intel Capital made six investments in Israel in 2017. In May, Yair Shoham, who is part of a team of three in charge of investments for Intels venture capital arm in Israel, told The Times of Israel that Intel would be stepping up its investments locally, and they would be significant in size. The investments in high-risk, early stage startups in Israel is Intels strategy to be at the forefront of innovation, he said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed at bilateral talks in Singapore to expand cooperation between the defense ministries, Japanese Foreign Ministry's press secretary Takeshi Osuga told a briefing on Thursday, TASS reports. "What concerns cooperation between the defense ministries, the two leaders reached an agreement to further facilitate measures to increase trust between the ministries and to develop cooperation in the sphere of responding to non-traditional security threats," Osuga said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Putin and Abe agreed to activate Russian-Japanese talks on a peace treaty on the basis of the 1956 declaration. Abe told reporters that he will visit Russia at the beginning of 2019 and expressed hope that they will be able to resolve a territorial dispute and sign a peace treaty. Talks with Japan over a peace treaty based on the 1956 Declaration require serious groundwork, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after his visit to Singapore, TASS reports. "Yesterday, indeed, during our meeting, Prime Minister [of Japan Shinzo Abe] said that Japan was ready to resume talks on the basis of the 1956 Declaration. But this certainly demands separate, additional and in depth analysis, given that not everything is clear in that Declaration, as you heard Ive just said about that," Putin said. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday that Turkey was making efforts to get the U.S. Congress to drop bills targeting Ankara, Xinhua reports. Turkey is working to keep economic ties with the U.S. without being impacted by political issues, Cavusoglu said in his speech text at a parliamentary committee. The U.S. Senate initiated to block sales of F-35 jets to Turkey unless U.S. President Donald Trump certifies that Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems is not threatening NATO. "In 2019, we have the will to realize normalization of our relations with the U.S. and we will make progress as our constructive attitude corresponds (by the U.S.)," Cavusoglu said. He added that Turkey is in close cooperation with the U.S., the EU and other parties to decrease the negative impact of U.S. sanctions on its relations with Iran. The U.S. reinstated sanctions on Iran's oil sector on Nov. 5 after Trump pulled his country out of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal in May. Turkey was among the eight countries exempted temporarily to keep importing Iranian oil. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: From early 2018 to date, 87,838 operations have been carried out against the PKK terrorist organization in Turkey, Turkish media reported referring Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu on Nov. 15. Soylu noted that 289 PKK terrorists were killed during the operations carried out in the period in Turkey. The minister also noted that in 2017, the PKK terrorists planned 965 attacks, while this figure dropped to 677 in 2018. "In 2017, 380 PKK terrorists and in 2018, 343 terrorists surrendered to Turkish law enforcement agencies," Soylu said. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The fact that Jamal Khashoggi's body has not yet been found raises a number of questions, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Cavusoglu noted that the statements the Saudi authorities made on Nov.15 are very important, but not sufficient, Turkish media reported on Nov. 15. The minister also noted that Turkey, as before, insists that Khashoggi's murderers should be convicted in Turkey. On Nov. 15, the prosecutor general of Saudi Arabia reported that 21 suspects have been detained under the Khashoggi murder case. Only 11 of them have been indicted so far. The Saudi prosecutor is seeking death penalties for five out of 11 suspects, while the rest will be punished according to Sharia laws. The prosecutor general also disclosed new details of the case. He said the head of the special group, which was engaged in returning Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, ordered to eliminate the journalist in case of failure of the operation. On Oct. 2, Khashoggi, known for his criticism of the policies of Riyadh, disappeared when he visited the consulate general of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul, where he came to obtain documents for registration of marriage with a Turkish citizen. A few days later, the Turkish police launched an investigation into his disappearance. On Oct. 20, the Saudi authorities reported that Khashoggi was killed as a result of a conflict in the Consulate General. Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Khashoggi's murderers must be convicted in Turkey. Erdogan noted that Turkey has a lot of new facts regarding the murder of the Saudi journalist, but, at the same time, Turkey considers it premature make all the information public. Erdogan noted that Jamal Khashoggi's murder is not an ordinary crime. The president also noted that 18 people are suspected of murdering Khashoggi and the Saudi authorities should investigate the case. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah met in Washington to discuss the Trump administration's proposal to create an Arab security alliance, the State Department said in a press release on Wednesday, Sputnik reports. "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Khalid Al-Attiyah," the release said. "The Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister discussed working toward a Middle East Strategic Alliance, anchored by a united GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), to advance prosperity, security, and stability in the region." President Donald Trump's administration has proposed creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, an Arab security pact widely referred to as an "Arab NATO," made up of the six Arab states of the GCC along with Egypt and Jordan. The goal of creating such an alliance of Sunni Arab states would be to counter the growing influence of Iran in the Middle East, US officials have said. Similar US initiatives to establish a collective Arab security pact have failed in the past. The Trump administration's efforts to create the alliance have been hampered by an ongoing rift between Qatar and the other Arab states in the GCC. In June 2017, GCC members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Egypt, severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terrorism. Qatar has firmly denied the accusations. During their talks in Washington, Pompeo and Attiyah also discussed regional security and stability, bilateral ties and other mutual interests in the region, as well as the upcoming US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, the release said. The two officials also spoke about an ongoing project to expand Qatar's Al-Udeid Airbase, the largest military facility used by US forces in the Gulf region. The project to expand the base, which hosts more than 10,000 US and coalition forces, was launched in July. The military base is home to the US Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) and serves as major communications and operational centre for the coalition fighting against the IS terrorist group in the region. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told leaders of Southeast Asian nations on Thursday that there is no place for empire and aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, a comment that may be widely interpreted as a reference to Chinas rise, Reuters reports. Pence did not mention China in his remarks at the opening of a summit with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore, but stressed that small countries as well as large ones should be allowed to prosper in the Indo-Pacific. Like you, we seek an Indo-Pacific in which all nations, large and small, can prosper and thrive secure in our sovereignty, confident in our values, and growing stronger together, he said. We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific. He said Washington had taken action to promote this vision, including steps to spur private investment in infrastructure and a pursuit of trade that is free, fair, and reciprocal. The vice president also highlighted the United States pressure campaign on North Korea, its commitment to uphold the freedom of the seas and skies and determination to ensure that Southeast Asian nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land, and at sea in the digital world. Pences comments follow a major speech in October in which he flagged a tougher approach by Washington toward Beijing, accusing China of malign efforts to undermine U.S. President Donald Trump and reckless military actions in the South China Sea. The United States has conducted a series of freedom of navigation exercises in the contested South China Sea, angering Beijing, which says the moves threaten its sovereignty. Chinas claims in the South China Sea, through which some $3 trillion of shipborne trade passes each year, are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Beijing and Washington are locked in a trade war in which they have imposed increasingly severe rounds of tariffs on each others imports. The U.S. Treasury Department announced a round of sanctions against 17 Saudi Arabians Thursday, in response to the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The sanctions fall under an executive order implementing the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, CBS News reported. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions. The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi's fiancee, children, and the family he leaves behind. The government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists." The sanctioned Saudis are: Saud al-Qahtani; Maher Mutreb; Salah Tubaigy; Meshal Albostani; Naif Alarifi; Mohammed Alzahrani; Mansour Abahussain; Khalid Alotaibi; Abdulaziz Alhawsawi; Waleed Alsehri; Thaar Alharbi; Fahad Albalawi; Badr Alotaibi; Mustafa Almadani; Saif Alqahtani; Turki Alsehri; and Mohammed Alotaibi. Khashoggi's death prompted international outrage, and President Trump's reluctance to criticize the Saudis was criticized by observers. The president has expressed that he doesn't want to disrupt the financial relationship the. U.S. has with the Saudis. "I don't want to lose all of that investment being made into our country. I don't want to lose a million jobs, I don't want to lose $110 billion dollars in terms of investment," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Monday. "But it's really $450 billion if you include other than military. So that's very important." It's unclear whether the U.S. will take any further action to punish the Saudis. Saudi Arabia warns against "threats" after Trump's comment on missing journalist Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey last month. The Saudis initially said he left the embassy, before ultimately acknowledging that he died inside, after what Saudi officials described as a brawl gone wrong. The Trump administration is looking for ways to remove exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen from the United States in order to appease Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sputnik reported citing MSNBC. The White House asked federal law enforcement agencies to look at legal ways of removing Gulen from the United States in order to persuade Erdogan to ease pressure on the Saudi government over the death of columnist Jamal Khashoggi, two senior officials and two others briefed on the requests told MSNBC. The report indicates directives were issued to both the Justice Department and FBI to reopen Turkey's case for Gulen's extradition, as well as a request for information from the Department of Homeland Security about Gulen's legal status. Gulen has lived in a compound in a rural area of the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999. President Donald Trump will travel to California on Saturday to meet with residents of the state impacted by the wildfires there, White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters said in a press release on Thursday, Sputnik reported. "The President will travel to California this Saturday to meet with individuals impacted by the wildfires. We will keep you updated on details as they are available," Walters said. At least 56 people have died as a result of the wildfires and as many as 130 are missing, according to Butte County Sheriff's Office. Since last week, California has been struggling with several huge fires, which have already destroyed over 8,000 structures. One of the blazes, the so-called Camp Fire, has already been dubbed by many as the most destructive fire in the state's history. Local residents blame the fires on a local power supply company due to its alleged failure to properly maintain power lines, according to media reports. KYODO NEWS - Nov 15, 2018 - 20:47 | World, Urgent, All A Japanese fishing boat collided with a South Korean one in the Sea of Japan on Thursday morning, with all 13 personnel aboard the latter rescued and all 21 aboard both vessels unhurt, the Japan Coast Guard said. The collision occurred at around 9:35 a.m. about 230 kilometers northwest of the Noto Peninsula near fertile fishing grounds. The 164-ton Japanese squid fishing boat from Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, had eight people -- four Japanese and four Indonesian trainees -- aboard, while the 48-ton South Korean boat, which was inundated with water, had South Korean and Vietnamese crew members, according to the coast guard. [Getty/Kyodo] The coast guards of the two countries are looking into the cause of the collision. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference in Tokyo he had been informed that the Japanese boat sustained minor damage and a Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel had arrived to provide assistance. The accident occurred around waters called Yamatotai in Japan's exclusive economic zone. The waters are known as fertile fishing grounds for squid and other types of fish. KYODO NEWS - Nov 15, 2018 - 21:40 | All, World Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the sovereignty of two islands that would be transferred to Japan on the conclusion of a peace treaty is subject to future negotiations. A day after holding talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Singapore, Putin noted that a 1956 joint declaration, which will serve as the basis for the forthcoming talks, does not specify the islands' sovereignty. The declaration "does not say on what grounds and whose sovereignty they will fall under," Putin was quoted as saying in Singapore by Russia's Interfax news agency. "This is the issue to be scrutinized." Putin has acknowledged the legal validity of the declaration. But his remarks indicate it will not be easy for Japan to realize the return of Shikotan and the Habomai islet group as stated in the document, even though Abe has apparently altered Tokyo's approach to the territorial issue to one that focuses on first regaining control over them and agreed to step up talks on the treaty. In the document meant to restore diplomatic ties, Moscow agreed to hand over the islet group to Tokyo once a peace treaty is concluded. Putin said the revival of talks based on the declaration, signed by the Soviet Union and Japan in October 1956, came at the request of Abe. (Shikotan Island) Abe has been promoting joint economic activities on the Russia-held, Japan-claimed islands in the hopes of achieving a breakthrough in the dispute that has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty. The former Soviet Union seized the islands off the coast of Hokkaido following Japan's surrender in World War II in 1945. They are known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia Japan's fresh focus on the 1956 joint accord has led to the view that Tokyo will first seek the return of Shikotan and the Habomai islet group. That is a departure from its traditional position of regaining control of all of the islands, including Etorofu and Kunashiri. Still, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga dismissed such a view on Thursday during a press briefing in Tokyo, saying the government's position has not changed. "We have maintained our policy of flexibly dealing with the timing and conditions for the return (of the disputed islands)," the top government spokesman said. The latest agreement was reached in the 23rd summit between Abe and Putin, which took place on the sidelines of annual meetings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and major countries in the Asia-Pacific region. At least three more face-to-face meetings between the Japanese and Russian leaders are scheduled at present to move the negotiations forward. (Habomai islet group) Abe plans to meet again with Putin on the fringes of a Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires from Nov. 30, and arrangements are being made for his visit to Russia in late January, according to a Japanese government source. Abe is also exploring substantive discussions with Putin when Japan hosts the G-20 summit in Osaka in June next year. Numerous rounds of talks and several joint declarations have failed to bring the territorial dispute to a resolution. In 1993, then Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and Russian President Boris Yeltsin agreed to conclude a peace treaty by resolving the dispute over the four islands, in the Tokyo Declaration. The same stance was confirmed in 2001. By Noriyuki Suzuki, KYODO NEWS - Nov 15, 2018 - 16:50 | All, World A decades-old territorial row may be taking a new turn as Japan and Russia look set to uphold a 1956 joint declaration in which Moscow promised to hand over two of the disputed islands to Tokyo once a peace treaty was signed. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a summit Wednesday in Singapore that they will accelerate peace treaty talks based on the document, in which Moscow vowed to return Shikotan and the Habomai islet group. The dispute over the islands off Hokkaido, seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II in 1945, has long been a thorn in bilateral relations, preventing them from concluding a postwar peace treaty. (Photo shows a part of Shikotan Island) The latest agreement is seen as a change in Tokyo's stance to demand Russia return all of the islands and political analysts call it a "realistic" approach to break the gridlock. However, the Japanese government maintains Wednesday's agreement between Abe and Putin does not signal a change in Tokyo's policy of resolving the sovereignty issue of all the disputed islands before concluding a peace treaty. "Absent an agreement on the territory issue, there will be no peace treaty signed," a government source said. The outlook for quick and tangible progress is far from certain. Experts on Japan-Russia relations say it remains to be seen how serious Putin will be and that Tokyo will be required in forthcoming talks to maintain a delicate balance between Russia and the United States -- Japan's longtime security ally. "President Putin and I share a strong resolve that it be us who put an end to the issue that has been left unresolved for more than 70 years after the war," Abe told reporters Wednesday after what he described as an "in-depth" discussion with the Russian leader. Putin has acknowledged the legal validity of the 1956 declaration between Japan and the Soviet Union, which was meant to end wartime hostilities and restore diplomatic ties. "The importance of the agreement in Singapore is that it signals Abe's willingness to compromise on this issue. It shows that he is a supporter of the idea of 'two plus alpha,'" said James Brown, an associate professor at Temple University's Japan campus. Brown, an expert on Japan-Russia relations, said the tactic is aimed at recovering Shikotan and the Habomai islet group first and seek "some form of enhanced access" to the other two islands -- Etorofu and Kunashiri. They are known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia. But Brown believes it is a "fairy tale." "To receive the smaller islands, Japan needs to accept that the two larger islands have been lost forever," he said. The roughly 90-minute talks came after Putin abruptly proposed in September that the two countries conclude a peace treaty "without any preconditions" by year-end. While Japanese officials sought to discover the true intention of the Russian leader's message, Abe said a series of one-on-one meetings with Putin would be important. Wednesday's summit was their 23rd direct talks. Takashi Kawakami, a professor well-versed in security policy at Takushoku University, said the latest development reflects Putin's strategy to "drive a wedge" in the Japan-U.S. alliance. Russia is concerned about possible U.S. military presence on the islands if the handover of Shikotan and the Habomai group of islets materializes, so Tokyo and Moscow would also have to take up that sensitive and difficult issue in future negotiations, Kawakami said. Abe, who has been building a rapport with Putin, is promoting joint economic activities on the islands, even as the Russian leader's remarks in September were interpreted as his frustration over a lack of progress on the economic front. Russia, for its part, is critical of Japan's imposition of sanctions in response to its 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and vigilant against the planned deployment of U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore missile defense systems in Japan. Abe said he will visit Russia in early 2019 to advance bilateral talks. "For peace treaty talks to advance, Abe needs to put Japan's relations with Russia as well as those with the United States in the same equation," Kawakami said. "It won't be an easy task." According to an officer, the police had inspected the CCTV visuals from the hotel where the upcoming models took part in a DJ party before the fatal accident and noticed that the two models were cheerful. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has staed that no progress must be expected on recommencing peace talks with India before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was addressing mediapersons after a conference of Pakistans Senate Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.Qureshi stated that the issue of talks with India was discussed during the meet. As per Pakistan-based The Express Tribune, the board was also briefed by the government on the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia and China, apart from status of Pakistans association with neighbors India and Afghanistan. This move comes less than a month after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that anti-Pakistan rhetoric rakes in votes in India. He pointed that relationship with Pakistan is a poll issue in India. Imran Khan had also said that he would again extend a hand of friendship to India after the end of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader had made the statement while addressing media persons at the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh. Talking about Pakistans efforts to mend bonds with neighbours, Imran Khan stated that he had extended a hand of friendship to India soon after assuming power, but the same was snubbed by New Delhi. Finland is a very beautiful country. This year, Finland has been included in the list of the world's happiest countries. In the past, Finland was called "Land of Sorrow", but in the past 7 years Finland has made a lot of progress and changed its image and surprised the whole world. If you want to go somewhere, Finland can be a perfect option for you. Finland has been ranked first in the list of "Happy Indexes" this year. This makes it clear that Finland is one of the happiest countries. Finland is the most stable and safe country. In 2015, the rate of murder was just 1.28% on the population of one lakh. The police here are also very capable and trustworthy. Here the police and the Internet are ranked the second place in the world for their better connectivity. Finland's weather is also very beautiful. It is very cold here, yet the weather here is very pleasant. In the summer season it is dark at 12:00 in the night. At 10:00 in the night before, you will feel like an evening. In the cold days, it remains much darker here. The sun is visible for a short while in the afternoon. So get ready and pack your bags to go Finland. WORCESTER, Mass.--Christopher A. Williams, an environmental scientist and associate professor in Clark University's Graduate School of Geography and postdoctoral research scientist Huan Gu, Ph.D., worked with The Nature Conservancy and close to two dozen institutional partners to produce the most comprehensive national assessment to date of how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced and stored in forests, farmland, grasslands, and wetlands; their peer-reviewed study "Natural Climate Solutions for the United States," published November 14 in Science Advances. The new study highlights how, and which, natural solutions in the United States offer the most promise to help limit warming to 1.5 degrees Centigrade (approximately 3 degrees Fahrenheit). The study found that nature's contribution could equal nearly a quarter of the nation's current net annual emissions, by adjusting 21 natural management practices to increase carbon storage and avoid greenhouse emissions. The study is the first to include the climate benefits of coastal wetlands and grasslands in a comprehensive mix along with forests and agriculture. Of the 21 natural solutions analyzed in the study, increased reforestation (the planting of trees) emerged as the largest means to achieve greater carbon storage, equivalent to eliminating the emissions of 65 million passenger cars. Other high-performing forest solutions include allowing longer periods between timber harvest to increase carbon storage; increasing controlled burns and strategic thinning in forests to reduce the risk of mega-fire; and avoided loss of forests from urban sprawl. Almost a million acres of forest are being converted to non-forest every year, largely due to suburban and exurban expansion and development, which could be addressed through better land use planning. Professor Williams and members of his lab found that emissions of carbon dioxide could be avoided by circumventing forest conversion. "Clearing of forests with conversion to other land uses releases their carbon to the atmosphere, and this contributes to rising temperatures," said Professor Williams. "Land owners and land managers are thinking about how they might use their land base to slow the pace of climate change, but until now they lacked the data needed to assess this potential. "We estimated how much forest is being lost each year across the U.S., and the amount of carbon that releases to the atmosphere," said Professor Williams. "Turning these trends around can take a dent out of global warming, and now we know how much and where the potential is greatest." In October, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report called for global action immediately to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Centigrade (approximately 3 degrees Fahrenheit), to avoid the most damaging climate change impacts. "One of America's greatest assets is its land. Through changes in management, along with protecting and restoring natural lands, we demonstrated we could reduce carbon pollution and filter water, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and have better soil health to grow our food -- all at the same time," says the study's lead's author, Joe Fargione, director of science for The Nature Conservancy. "Nature offers us a simple, cost-effective way to help fight global warming." Lynn Scarlett, chief external affairs officer for The Nature Conservancy and former deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior says, "This study provides good news that making investments in nature will make a big difference, while offering the potential for new revenue to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and coastal communities at the same time." ### Along with publication of the Science Advances paper, a newly launched web interface shows state-by-state opportunities for climate mitigation. Visit http://crsite.s3-website-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, the organization creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. The Nature Conservancy works in 72 countries, and uses a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. Founded in 1887 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University is a liberal arts-based research university addressing natural, social and human imperatives from local to global scales. Nationally renowned as a college that changes lives, Clark is a transformative force in higher education today. LEEP (Liberal Education and Effective Practice) is Clark's pioneering model of education that combines a robust liberal arts curriculum with life-changing world and workplace experiences. Clark's faculty and students work across boundaries to develop solutions to complex challenges in the natural sciences, psychology, geography, management, urban education, Holocaust and genocide studies, environmental studies, and international development and social change. The Clark educational experience embodies the University's motto: Challenge Convention. Change Our World. http://www.clarku.edu Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. APD and Africas largest state-owned oil and gas company, Sonatrach, have inked two gas production and delivery deals worth $100 million. The deals will be conducted through HELIOS, the joint venture (JV) of the companies The deal enables Sonatrach to recover helium from two existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities GL1Z and GL3Z. The recovered gas will be delivered to HELIOS' existing liquid helium plant in Arzew. Notably, the facility is a vital part of Air Products' total global helium source portfolio. Per the company, the new feedstock will boost the amount of liquid helium produced by the plant. Per Air Products, the connection of the HELIOS plant to Sonatrach's other LNG facilities in Arzew further testifies how unlocking Algeria's helium potential can diversify the helium supply chain and improve the reliability of supply for customers in Europe and Africa. Another major component of the deal is that Air Products will design and build two new air separation plants in Algeria, which HELIOS will own and operate. One unit will be based in the Hassi Messaoud District and the other will be located in Arzew. Once operational, the plants will produce oxygen, nitrogen and argon. These gases will be supplied to the Maghreb and Algerian markets through Sonatrach's subsidiary COGIZ. Air Products shares have lost 5.6% in the past six months compared with the industrys decline of 16.5%. The companys net income in fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 (ended Sep 30, 2018) declined around 3.4% year over year to $452.9 million or $2.05 per share. However, adjusted earnings rose 14% year over year to $2.00 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Air Products projects adjusted earnings for fiscal 2019 in the range of $8.05-$8.30 per share, reflecting a 10% increase at the midpoint year over year. Moreover, it expects adjusted earnings in the range of $1.85-$1.90 per share for first-quarter fiscal 2019, up 5% at the midpoint year over year. The company also anticipates capital expenditure of $2.3-$2.5 billion for fiscal 2019. Story continues Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus | Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Quote Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider Air Products currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). A few other top-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are CF Industries Holdings, Inc CF, Methanex Corporation MEOH and The Mosaic Company MOS, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. CF Industries has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 6%. The companys shares have gained 24.5% in the past year. Methanex has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 15%. Its shares have rallied 20.8% in a years time. Mosaic has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 7%. The companys shares have rallied 58.9% in the past year. Wall Streets Next Amazon Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius. Click for details >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Methanex Corporation (MEOH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Mosaic Company (MOS) : Free Stock Analysis Report CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn looks over papers during the ballot-tabulation process for Maine's Second Congressional District's House election Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 Update Nov. 15, 5:30 pm EST: The Democratic candidate for Maines 2nd congressional district was losing after results came in on election night last week. But on Nov. 15, state officials announced he won due to the states ranked-choice voting. Maine became the first US state to deploy that system, which allows voters to essentially spread their vote across all candidates in races of three or more by ranking them in their order of preference. If the winning candidate fails to get more than 50% of the first-choice votes, an algorithm is used to reassign the votes of people whose first choice lost to their second choice. For Bruce Poliquin, the Republican in the race, that meant losing. He won 46.2% of the first-choice vote vs. his Democratic opponent Jared Goldens 45.5%. But when taking into account voters second and third choices, his share was 49.43% and Goldens 50.53%. For the recount, the two independent candidates in the racethey got around 8% of the first-choice votewere dropped off. The votes of their supporters went to their second choiceor their third, if the second wasnt Poliquin or Golden. Heres how the state explained the process to voters: Ranked-choice voting has been used in some cities in municipal elections; Maine is the first state to apply it to congressional races. Maine voters approved the system in a referendum in 2016, but it got caught up in legal scuffles and was rolled out for the first time this year. The process was challenged again, even before votes are fully re-tallied. Earlier this week, Poliquin filed a lawsuit in federal court against Maines Secretary of State, arguing that ranked-choice violates the Constitution and asking the judge to stop the recount. His request was denied, but Poliquin doesnt intend to drop the lawsuit. It is now officially clear I won the constitutional one-person, one-vote first choice election on Election Day that has been used in Maine for more than one hundred years, he said in a statement. We will proceed with our constitutional concerns about the rank vote algorithm. Story continues This story was updated Nov. 15 to include the election results released that day. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, November 15, 2018 - Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (ASH) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Composites business and the butanediol (BDO) manufacturing facility in Marl, Germany, to INEOS Enterprises in a transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion. The transaction is expected to close prior to the end of the June 2019 quarter, contingent on certain customary regulatory approvals, standard closing conditions and completion of required employee information and consultation processes. Ashland expects net proceeds from the sale to total approximately $1 billion and anticipates that proceeds primarily will be used for debt reduction. Prior to reporting its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2019, Ashland plans to update its outlook for both the first quarter and for the full 2019 fiscal year to reflect the impact of moving these businesses to discontinued operations. Ashland`s Composites unit is a global leader in unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and gel coats, while the BDO facility in Germany and related merchant products included in the agreement are part of Ashland`s Intermediates and Solvents (I&S) segment. Ashland`s Composites and Marl BDO facility have combined sales of more than $1.1 billion per year and approximately 1,300 employees. Ashland will retain its BDO plant in Lima, Ohio, to ensure consistent supply for the company`s internal needs. "Composites and Marl are outstanding businesses with strong market positions and high-performing teams," said Bill Wulfsohn, Ashland chairman and chief executive officer. "At the same time, the divestiture of these businesses is consistent with Ashland`s vision of becoming the premier specialty chemicals company. With a more streamlined and focused product portfolio, improved margins and reduced earnings volatility, Ashland will be better positioned to deliver sustained earnings growth and unlock significant value for shareholders. Over the past two years, we have taken specific actions to sustain and grow Ashland`s premium mix while also improving our competitiveness, particularly within Specialty Ingredients. These actions are driving strong earnings growth, as evident in our fiscal 2018 financial results." Story continues Privately owned INEOS is one of the world`s largest manufacturers of chemicals and oil products, with annual sales of $60 billion and approximately 20,000 employees. The London-based company operates 171 sites in 24 countries. "We believe that the Ashland Composites business will have great potential for growth under INEOS ownership and we are looking forward to working with a great team of people who are determined to meet the developing needs of our customers," said Ashley Reed, CEO, INEOS Enterprises. Citi is acting as financial advisor to Ashland, and Squire Patton Boggs LLP is acting as legal advisor. About Ashland Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (ASH) is a premier global specialty chemicals company serving customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including adhesives, architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, nutraceuticals, personal care and pharmaceutical. At Ashland, we are approximately 6,000 passionate, tenacious solvers - from renowned scientists and research chemists to talented engineers and plant operators - who thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com to learn more. C-ASH Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Ashland has identified some of these forward-looking statements with words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "estimates," "is likely," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts," "objectives," "may," "will," "should," "plans" and "intends" and the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. Ashland may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its annual reports, quarterly reports and other filings with the SEC, news releases and other written and oral communications. These forward-looking statements are based on Ashland`s expectations and assumptions, as of the date such statements are made, regarding Ashland`s future operating performance and financial condition, as well as the economy and other future events or circumstances. These statements include, but may not be limited to, its expectations regarding its ability to complete the divestiture of its Composites business and Marl BDO facility during the anticipated timeframe or at all. Ashland`s expectations and assumptions include, without limitation, internal forecasts and analyses of current and future market conditions and trends, management plans and strategies, operating efficiencies and economic conditions (such as prices, supply and demand, cost of raw materials, and the ability to recover raw-material cost increases through price increases), and risks and uncertainties associated with the following: the program to eliminate certain existing corporate and Specialty Ingredients expenses (including the possibility that such cost eliminations may not occur or may take longer to implement than anticipated), the expected divestiture of its Composites segment and the Marl BDO facility, and related merchant I&S products (including, in each case, the possibility that a transaction may not occur or that, if a transaction does occur, Ashland may not realize the anticipated benefits from such transaction), the impact of acquisitions and/or divestitures Ashland has made or may make, including the acquisition of Pharmachem (including the possibility that Ashland may not realize the anticipated benefits from such transactions); Ashland`s substantial indebtedness (including the possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive covenants may adversely affect Ashland`s future cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and its ability to repay debt); Ashland`s ability to generate sufficient cash to finance its stock repurchase plans; severe weather, natural disasters, cyber events and legal proceedings and claims (including product recalls, environmental and asbestos matters); and without limitation, risks and uncertainties affecting Ashland that are described in Ashland`s most recent Form 10-K (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the SEC, which is available on Ashland`s website at http://investor.ashland.com or on the SEC`s website at http://www.sec.gov. Various risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, projected or implied by any forward-looking statements. Ashland believes its expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. Unless legally required, Ashland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important Information In connection with the forthcoming solicitation of proxies from stockholders in respect of Ashland`s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Ashland will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the "proxy statement"), containing a form of white proxy card. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ASHLAND`S PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO AND ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD, FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN, OR WILL CONTAIN, IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ASHLAND. Certain Information Regarding Participants Ashland, its directors and certain of its officers, including William A. Wulfsohn, Brendan Cummins, William G. Dempsey, Jay V. Ihlenfeld, Susan L. Main, Jerome A. Peribere, Barry W. Perry, Mark C. Rohr, Janice J. Teal, Michael J. Ward, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, J. Kevin Willis, Peter J. Ganz and Seth A. Mrozek, will be participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in respect of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information regarding the ownership of the Company`s directors and executive officers in the company by security holdings or otherwise is included in Ashland`s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017, which was filed with the SEC on November 20, 2017, and its proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 6, 2017. To the extent holdings of Ashland securities have changed since the amounts printed in the proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Details concerning the nominees of Ashland`s Board of Directors for election at the 2019 Annual Meeting will be included in the proxy statement when it is filed by Ashland with the SEC. Stockholders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other relevant documents that Ashland files with the SEC on Ashland`s website at http://investor.ashland.com or from the SEC`s website at www.sec.gov. (TM) Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Investor Relations: Media Relations: Seth A. Mrozek Gary Rhodes +1 (859) 815-3527 +1 (859) 815-3047 samrozek@ashland.com glrhodes@ashland.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: Ashland Inc. via GlobeNewswire HUG#2225776 By Shanti S Nair (Reuters) - Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth posted a bigger-than-expected quarterly net loss on Wednesday as it ramped up spending in the run up to the legalization of recreational use of pot in mid-October, sending its shares down 9 percent. Marijuana companies in Canada have been pouring cash into their businesses to both fend off competition and open stores as the list of medical and recreational approvals for marijuana use globally grows. In the reported quarter, Canopy's operating expenses rose more than six times to C$180.6 million from C$27.7 million a year earlier. Canopy has the money after drawing a multi-billion dollar investment from Corona beer maker Constellation Brands in August, a reflection of investors betting broader legalization in the United States may also be in the pipeline. Chief Financial Officer Timothy Saunders said on a conference call with analysts that higher expenses are needed for brand recognition and for higher market share in the "new recreational market in Canada". Ever since Canada considered allowing adults to legally smoke recreational marijuana in April 2017, pot producers have been scrambling to keep up with anticipated demand. Canopy Growth said it sold 2,197 kg and kg equivalent of cannabis in the quarter at an average price of C$9.87 per gram. That is up from 2,020 kg and kg equivalents sold at an average price of C$7.99 in the year-ago period. Canopy Founder and Chairman Bruce Linton said the company has also been investing more on training over 650 customer service representatives about its marijuana-based products so as to ensure that "when you win, it's not a random lottery". But high investments led the company to report a bigger quarterly net loss of C$330.6 million ($249.77 million), or C$1.52 per share, in the quarter ended Sept. 30. Excluding items, Canopy lost C$1.50 per share and missed analysts' expectation of 12 Canadian cents per share loss. "I don't think analysts were wrong on the target number, but I think they were early on the quarter," Linton said on a conference call with analysts. Revenue rose 33 percent to C$23.3 million in the quarter, but the rate of growth was lesser than rivals Tilray Inc and Aphria Inc. Shares of the Smiths Falls, Ontario-based company were trading down at C$46.19 in Toronto Exchange. ($1 = 1.3236 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Shanti S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur) * Transition process will run throughout 2019 - SkyTeam * Subsidiary Xiamen Airlines to remain in SkyTeam * Oneworld member American Airlines owns China Southern stake * China Southern will consider joining oneworld in future - source (Adds comment by American Airlines, industry background on China, changes dateline previously SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE) By Brenda Goh and Tracy Rucinski SHANGHAI/CHICAGO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - China Southern Airlines plans to depart the SkyTeam airline alliance, it said on Thursday, opening the potential for the carrier to become a member of the oneworld group alongside strategic partner American Airlines Group Inc. Oneworld and SkyTeam are two of three global airline alliances that provide reciprocal benefits for passengers such as lounge usage and frequent flyer points and give airlines transfer passengers from partners in a boost to revenue. Star Alliance is the third. American spent $200 million on a minority stake in China Southern last year with an eye to growing in the booming Chinese travel market, but the benefits of the partnership have been stalled in part by the Chinese carrier's presence in rival alliance SkyTeam. China Southern said it will leave SkyTeam on Jan. 1 to develop its own strategy. It said it would strengthen its partnership with American, but did not specify any plans to join oneworld. "This news presents a great opportunity for us to continue to expand our relationship with the largest airline in China," American Airlines said in a statement. The two companies launched a reciprocal codeshare agreement earlier this year. One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that China Southern would consider joining oneworld in the future. Aside from American, members of oneworld include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas Airways , Japan Airlines and LATAM Airlines. "Our members will assess in due course the potential implications for oneworld of China Southern's announcement today that it is to leave SkyTeam," oneworld said in a statement. SkyTeam - which includes Delta Air Lines Inc and Air France KLM SA - has said it will work with China Southern to ensure a seamless transition for all customers and partners - a process that will run throughout 2019 and be completed by the year-end. Story continues SkyTeam already has another big Chinese carrier, China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd, as a member. It is unusual to have two rival carriers within the same alliance. Xiamen Airlines Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Southern that is also a SkyTeam member, has no plans to quit the alliance, Xiamen spokesman Qiu Dapeng said on Thursday. U.S. airlines have so far struggled to gain a foothold in China, scaling back routes amid tough competition from state-backed Chinese rivals that are aggressively expanding their fleets with cut-price tickets. Beijing plans to open its second international airport, Beijing Daxing International, in 2019. (Reporting by Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Tracy Rucinski in Chicago, Jamie Freed in Singapore, Stella Qiu and Yilei Sun in Beijing; Editing by Frances Kerry and Matthew Lewis) In an effort to expand its presence in Australia, data-center REIT Digital Realty Trust, Inc. DLR recently announced the opening of Digital Erskine Park II, the companys fifth data center in the nation. The company also announced the purchase of an additional 1.4-hectare land parcel to build out the next phase of the Erskine Park connected campus, adding 12 megawatts of capacity. In fact, the latest expansion efforts in Sydney bring the companys total investment in Australia to more than AUD $1 billion and raise its data-center footprint in the nation to six facilities. This is a notable step because the nation serves as a crucial market for not only the companys Asia-Pacific business, but also its global operations as well. Moreover, there is a solid demand for data and technology infrastructure amid fast growth of inbound business and regional digital economy. Per the company, the cloud-enabled facility comprises 7,000 square meters of space and will offer up to 17.4 megawatts of critical IT power capacity which will help several Australian and international customers. Additionally, the new facility will have connectivity through dark fibre to the existing facilities on the Digital Realty Erskine Park connected campus, thereby, enabling assembling of critical data center, network, cloud and connectivity providers under a single, secure environment for its customers. Notably, data-center REITs are experiencing a boom with growing popularity of cloud computing, Internet of Things and big data, as well as the use of third-party IT infrastructure by several companies. Also, the estimated growth rates for the artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicle and virtual/augmented reality markets will remain robust over the next five to eight years. In fact, demand has been outpacing supply in top tier data-center markets. These markets are absorbing new construction at an accelerated pace despite enjoying high occupancy. This, along with improved outlook for economic growth, will significantly propel growth of data-center REITs, such as Digital Realty, Equinix, Inc. EQIX, CyrusOne Inc. CONE, CoreSite Realty Corp. COR and others. Amid these, accretive acquisitions and development efforts are anticipated to boost top-line growth for Digital Realty. Last year, the company announced the completion of a merger with DuPont Fabros in an all-stock deal for an enterprise value of about $7.8 billion. This move enhanced Digital Realtys portfolio in the top U.S. data-center metro areas across Northern Virginia, Chicago and Silicon Valley. It helped it upgrade hyper-scale product offering and grow the companys blue-chip customer base. The company is also focused on expanding its footprint in Europe, Australia and Asia. Particularly, Digital Realty remains well poised to meet the demands of its widening customer base in Australia on the back of the companys expansion initiatives. In fact, the company enjoys ownership and operation of 198 properties across 32 global metropolitan areas. Specifically, the company has a significant presence in the Asia-Pacific region, operating a network of 12 data centers situated in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Melbourne and Sydney. Nevertheless, given the solid growth potential of the data-center real estate market, competition may intensify in the upcoming period from existing as well as new players. Amid these, an aggressive pricing pressure is anticipated as well in the data-center market. Digital Realty currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). However, shares of the company have slightly underperformed the industry it belongs to, in the past month. The stock has gained 1.5%, while the industry has rallied 3.9%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues Wall Streets Next Amazon Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius. Click for details >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) : Free Stock Analysis Report CyrusOne Inc (CONE) : Free Stock Analysis Report CoreSite Realty Corporation (COR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. A population of wild monkeys introduced into a Florida state park decades ago will double in the coming years, raising alarm among some conservationists because many of them carry a rare and deadly form of herpes virus called herpes B. In the 1930s, an operator of glass-bottomed tour boats at Floridas Silver Springs State Park purchased and released six rhesus macaques onto a small island in the park. The monkeys, native to Southeast Asia and skilled at swimming, soon escaped into the surrounding woods, so another six were released on the island. They escaped as well. After the population reached around 400 monkeys in the 1980s, Florida began trapping the primates and selling them to biomedical research facilities. That practice ended in 2012 after a public outcry. By 2015, the population stood around 176. The Wildlife Society estimates that the number of rhesus monkeys in the park will double by 2020 unless some of them are culled or sterilized. The monkeys are known to attack or fling feces at humans who get too close. And the Centers for Disease Control estimates that about 30% of the monkeys carry the herpes B virus, which can cause brain inflammation and lead to death in humans. Transmission of the virus from monkeys to humans is very rare, but can spread through the monkeys saliva, urine or feces. According to a story in National Geographic magazine, no humans are known to have contacted herpes B from wild monkeys, although one medical researcher died after getting the bodily fluids from a captive monkey in her eye. Steve Johnson, a professor at the University of Florida, told the magazine that the odds of catching herpes from a wild rhesus macaque are really, really low, but the consequence is really, really highsort of like the lottery. Florida officials are weighing their options of containing the growth of the monkey population in Silver Springs State Park, but some locals enjoy having them there and want them to stay, the magazine said. Huawei is developing its own voice assistant for outside of China, Richard Yu, CEO of the company's consumer business told CNBC. In China, Huawei has its own voice assistant called Xiaoyi but it only communicates in Chinese. A new voice assistant outside of China could pit Huawei against Google and Amazon. Huawei is working on its own voice assistant that works outside of China , potentially pitting it against software produced by Google GOOGL and Amazon AMZN . In China, Huawei has its own voice assistant called Xiaoyi which operates in its smart speaker called the AI Cube and its smartphones. But it is only for the Chinese market. Now the technology giant is working on a voice assistant that will work outside China. "We are using our own in China, in (the) future we will also have our own outside of China," Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business, told CNBC in an exclusive interview. "In the beginning, we are mainly using Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa" for its AI Cube and smartphones, he said. "We need more time to build our AI (artificial intelligence) services ... Later we will expand this outside of China." The CEO made clear that it will continue working in partnership with both Amazon and Google. However, any step outside China could put it in direct competition with the two U.S. tech giants, both of which have their voice assistants integrated with various hardware. Reached by CNBC, Google declined to comment. Amazon was not immediately available for comment. Yu did not say what language the voice assistant would use outside of China, nor when it would be available. Voice is seen by consumer technology companies as a key way for users to interact with products, particularly "smart" internet-connected gadgets. Many of the speakers on the market like the Amazon Echo or Huawei's AI Cube are seen as a hub in the home that connects to appliances that can be controlled by voice. More From CNBC imf central bank cryptocurrency With contributing reporting from Jimmy Aki. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), suggested a new course of action for central banks around the world: turn their fiat currencies digital. The IMF chair gave a speech at the Singapore Fintech Festival on November 14, 2018, titled Winds of Change: The New Case for Digital Currency. In it, Lagarde stated, I believe we should consider the possibility to issue digital currency. There may be a role for the state to supply money to the digital economy. She continued to laud the benefits of cryptocurrency payments, calling them "immediate, safe, cheap and potentially semi-autonomous" and saying that central banks should consider issuing digital assets so they can "retain a sure footing in payments. Her speech comes two days after the IMF released a research paper that highlights many of the talking points Lagarde hits on. Titled "Casting Light on Central Bank Digital Currencies," it details some of the benefits a state may see if it decides to issue digital currencies, including financial inclusion, consumer protection and privacy in payments. State sponsored digital currencies is not a new idea. Lagarde herself pointed out that the central banking authorities of Canada, China, Sweden and Uruguay were already considering the notion. However, she urged central banks to support digital currencies as a premise of the future, stating such currencies could satisfy public policy goals, such as (i) financial inclusion, and (ii) security and consumer protection; and to provide what the private sector cannot: (iii) privacy in payments. It should be noted that the IMF Chair referred to cryptocurrencies throughout her speech. The Chair espoused a nuanced view of crypto that, while not wholly supportive, showed the advancements of the industry were part of the IMFs new outlook. For their part, cryptocurrencies seek to anchor trust in technology. So long as they are transparent and if you are tech savvy you might trust their services. Still, I am not entirely convinced, Lagarde stated. Story continues For Lagarde, cryptocurrencies still require [proper] regulation of these entities so that they will remain a pillar of trust. While the IMFs view at this time is clearly for digitization of fiat currencies by central banks rather than through cryptocurrencies (it put out a paper to that effect), Lagarde asked these fundamental questions of central banking authorities: Should we go further? Beyond regulation, should the state remain an active player in the market for money? Should it fill the void left by the retreat of cash? The positive aspects of Lagarde's speech is in contrast with the IMF's opposition to the Marshall Islands' plan to float a sovereign digital currency. Criticizing the island's decision, the IMF stated that it feared the island's currency could be used by crime syndicates or businesses running illegitimate operations. This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). Well show how you can use China Suntien Green Energy Corporation Limiteds (HKG:956) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Based on the last twelve months, China Suntien Green Energys P/E ratio is 6.09. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 16%. See our latest analysis for China Suntien Green Energy How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for China Suntien Green Energy: P/E of 6.09 = CN1.88 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY ) CN0.31 (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2018.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each HK$1 of company earnings. That isnt necessarily good or bad, but a high P/E implies relatively high expectations of what a company can achieve in the future. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. When earnings grow, the E increases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. China Suntien Green Energy increased earnings per share by a whopping 46% last year. And it has bolstered its earnings per share by 20% per year over the last five years. With that performance, I would expect it to have an above average P/E ratio. How Does China Suntien Green Energys P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (11.9) for companies in the oil and gas industry is higher than China Suntien Green Energys P/E. Story continues SEHK:956 PE PEG Gauge November 15th 18 Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that China Suntien Green Energy shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. Since the market seems unimpressed with China Suntien Green Energy, its quite possible it could surprise on the upside. It is arguably worth checking if insiders are buying shares, because that might imply they believe the stock is undervalued. Remember: P/E Ratios Dont Consider The Balance Sheet The Price in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. That means it doesnt take debt or cash into account. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). How Does China Suntien Green Energys Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? Net debt totals a substantial 257% of China Suntien Green Energys market cap. This is a relatively high level of debt, so the stock probably deserves a relatively low P/E ratio. Keep that in mind when comparing it to other companies. The Bottom Line On China Suntien Green Energys P/E Ratio China Suntien Green Energys P/E is 6.1 which is below average (10.6) in the HK market. While the EPS growth last year was strong, the significant debt levels reduce the number of options available to management. If the company can continue to grow earnings, then the current P/E may be unjustifiably low. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold they key to an excellent investment decision. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Kuwait has temporarily suspended flights to and from its international airport due to bad weather and heavy rains that have impacted visibility. The state-run Kuwait News Agency says that incoming flights are being redirected to airports in Saudi Arabia's eastern city of Dammam and Bahrain's capital, Manama. Heavy rain is expected until Friday morning. The government ordered schools, colleges and ministries to close for a second day Thursday. Footage posted on social media shows torrents sweeping away cars as sewage systems failing to drain the heavy downpour. Elsewhere, the Saudi-aligned Al-Hayat newspaper quoted the kingdom's Civil Defense as saying 30 people have died in recent weeks across different regions of Saudi Arabia from floods there. Saudi emergency crews say around 1,500 people have been rescued and close to 4,000 evacuated. In this Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, photo, a rusting ferryboat is docked next to an aging industrial warehouse on Long Island City's Anable Basin in the Queens borough of New York. Across the East River is midtown Manhattan, top left. Long Island City is a longtime industrial and transportation hub that has become a fast-growing neighborhood of riverfront high-rises and redeveloped warehouses, with an enduring industrial foothold and burgeoning arts and tech scenes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) NEW YORK (AP) The Latest on Amazon's second headquarters (all times local): 12:55 p.m. Not everyone in New York and Virginia is happy about being chosen to become the spot for new Amazon headquarter locations. Some see the billions in tax breaks as corporate welfare while others are worried about home values and school overcrowding in areas where it's already a problem for many residents. New York State Senator Michael Gianaris and New York City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer in a joint statement asked why scarce public resources are being offered to one of the profitable corporations in the world. In Virginia, state representative Lee Carter warned that thousands will be priced out of their homes with the influx of high-paid tech workers. He also raised the issue of overcrowded schools and traffic. ___ 11:50 a.m. New York officials are cheering Amazon's decision to build a new headquarters in a quickly developing corner of the city. Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said he'd be willing to change his name to "Amazon Cuomo" to land the deal at one point, said the state should be proud for landing, "one of the largest, most competitive economic development investments in U.S. history." The state offered Amazon more than $1.5 billion in incentives if it creates 25,000 jobs in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. One-time mayor Michael Bloomberg said Amazon's arrival affirms New York City's long-term push to attract the nation's top tech talent. Bloomberg pushed aggressive development in Long Island City while he was mayor. The neighborhood is a jumble of massive construction cranes and work sites and brand new high-rises have reshaped the skyline. ___ 11:15 a.m. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam cheered Amazon's choice of Arlington as one of two new headquarters locations for Amazon. He says the state will continue to invest in infrastructure and education as a key part of the partnership. Northam is calling the state's proposal to land the headquarters a "new model of economic development for the 21st century." Story continues Amazon is set to invest about $2.5 billion in its new Virginia headquarters and the state has promised a raft of incentives, including infrastructure investment and tax breaks. Virginia plans to invest in college-level computer science and related fields along with investing $50 million over 20 years in tech education for grammar and high school students. ___ 10:15 a.m. Amazon has confirmed that it will split its much-anticipated second headquarters between New York City and Arlington, Virginia. Its New York location will be in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, while its Arlington offices will be located in an area called National Landing. Each site will get 25,000 jobs. In addition, the online retailer said it will open an operations hub in Nashville, creating 5,000 jobs. The decision ends an intense competition between North American cities to win Amazon and its promise of 50,000 new jobs. Some locations tried to stand out with stunts, but Amazon made clear that it really wanted incentives, like tax breaks and grants. The company received 238 proposals before narrowing the list to 20 in January. ___ 6:40 a.m. A person familiar with the plans say Amazon will split its second headquarters between Long Island City in New York and Crystal City in northern Virginia. The online retailer is expected to make an official announcement later Tuesday. The person was not authorized to speak publicly ahead of that announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. The decision will end an intense competition between North American cities to win Amazon and its promise of 50,000 new jobs. Some locations tried to stand out with stunts, but Amazon made clear that it really wanted incentives, like tax breaks and grants. Amazon also had sought to be near a metropolitan area with more than a million people, among other criteria. The company received 238 proposals before narrowing the list to 20 in January. ___ Alan Suderman reported from Richmond, Virginia. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a meeting at the Elysee Palace with French President Emmanuel Macron on the eve of the commemoration ceremony for Armistice Day, 100 years after the end of the First World War, in Paris, France, November 10, 2018. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to put pressure on oil producers to bring down prices. Oil prices have risen 45 percent since Macron took office in mid 2017 and his government is facing pressure on high prices from a grassroots movement protesting recent petrol tax hikes. "When I talked at length with Donald Trump on Saturday in Paris, we together took the decision to put pressure on Saudi Arabia and other producers to limit prices," Macron said in an interview with TF1 TV. "If you look at prices these last few days, oil prices are starting to fall and I hope that this fall will continue," he added. Oil prices rose nearly 2 percent on Wednesday, recovering some lost ground the previous day amid signs that OPEC and allied producers may cut output next month to boost prices. (Reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey, writing by Leigh Thomas; editing by Michel Rose) By Charlotte Greenfield and Colin Packham WELLINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping will showcase China's Belt and Road initiative to Pacific leaders at a regional summit on Friday, diplomats say, with Western countries watching warily for signs of Beijing's growing clout. The competition for influence between China and Western allies Australia, New Zealand and the United States, is likely to provide a strong undercurrent at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. "China is showing a desire for a bigger role in the region, and that is out in the open like it has never been before," said a senior British diplomat who declined to be named as she is not authorised to talk to the media. China has said it will announce "important measures for further cooperation" at the summit. Western diplomats believe that probably means formally extending its Belt and Road plans into the Pacific. First proposed by Xi in 2013, the initiative promotes expanding land and sea links between Asia, Africa and Europe, with billions of dollars pledged for infrastructure development. Western governments harbour suspicions that Beijing's professed desire to spread prosperity masks an underlying intention to become a more dominant power. Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva is one of several island nation leaders who will meet collectively with Xi, having already been asked by Beijing to sign up to the Belt and Road. "We're discussing that right now"," Lopeti Senituli, a political advisor to the Tongan premier, told Reuters. For Pacific nations, China may offer support for much needed infrastructure and development. Xi's vision to provide links to a bigger marketplace could also prove hard to resist for leaders of the remote, fledgling economies. WHOSE PATCH? For China, extending its influence into the Pacific would lessen the sense of maritime containment, and also potentially secure support from grateful, indebted governments at international forums, where numbers can count. Story continues Three sources familiar with the matter, including the British official, said that Western nations had been informed that Vanuatu, the Cook Islands and Niue have agreed sign onto Belt and Road. Niue and the Cook Islands did not respond to an emailed request for comment, but the Cook Islands' Finance Minister Mark Brown told Radio New Zealand last week that his government would be signing. Vanuatu's Prime Minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu said in a message on Twitter that he "did not believe" Vanuatu had committed to Belt and Road but he would check. China's official Belt and Road website reported that Fiji had made a commitment on Monday, joining the likes of Samoa and Papua New Guinea. China's footprint in the region has been growing in the past decade. Pacific governments now owe about $1.3 billion in concessional debt to China, raising fears in the West, that the region was becoming more susceptible to Beijing's diplomatic pressure. A senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday no country can block Beijing's cooperation with Pacific Island nations. Xi's meeting with the island nation leaders, which a U.S. diplomatic source said will be held without observers from the West, comes after a series of Western initiatives to shore up ties in the Pacific. Australia last week declared the Pacific "our patch" as it offered A$3 billion ($2.18 billion) in cheap infrastructure loans and grants. (Additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in SYDNEY and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Malaysia CopyCash ICO An initial coin offering (ICO) round launched with an aim to raise funds for an opposition political movement is raising eyebrows in Malaysia. Fahmi Fadzil, Lembah Pantai MP and PKP communications director, urged the government to practice caution while going ahead with the launch of Harapan Coin. The lawmaker said there is a need for the central bank and other financial authorities first to regulate the crypto space. Furthermore, there need to be proper guidelines concerning crypto-based political funding which happens to be the main feature of the Harapan Coin project. The anonymous nature of cryptocurrency may open us up to some issues, and we need to wait for guidelines from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in regard of cryptocurrency, he said while speaking to a lobby of reporters in the parliament Political Funding on Blockchain Launched by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad, Harapan Coin utilizes the concept of tokenized funding to raise donations for Pakatan Harapan political party. With elections only a year away, the minister is gearing up to submit his proposal to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for regulatory approval. Previously, he had also reached out to Malaysias Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council for their decisions on the ICO project. I have prepared a presentation to be presented to these important parties, said Samad. It may take a while to get the approval as the prime minister himself is occupied with tight schedules. And, this is not the main agenda as of now. But, I want to pursue this project. Samad echoed Fadzils opinion on precautions, supporting the need to set up a regulatory body that protects the Harapan Coin from manipulation from the outside. It is something that we will carry out, and this is something for the future, he added. As of now, the Harapan Coin project is live and has raised close to $674 against the $120 million funding target. Story continues Crypto Regulations in Malaysia The Malaysian central bank as of now neither recognizes nor bans cryptocurrency operations. Muhammad Ibrahim, the governor of BNM, said in February that it is the owners who should decide whether the decentralized assets like Bitcoin hold any economic relevance or not. Nevertheless, the bank reminded that they would take necessary action against people found to be indulged in any illegal operations. As for Harapan Coin, the project seems to be doing everything by the traditional books but a better look at the investor protection and coin security could raise its standards. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Malaysian Lawmaker Urges Govt to Delay ICO Launch in Call for Regulation appeared first on CCN. LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May should keep her word with a Brexit deal which preserves the integrity of the United Kingdom or face the consequences, the leader of the small Northern Irish party which supports her government said. "She has ... said that she will not break up the United Kingdom, there will be no difference between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom," Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, told journalists. "If she decides to go against all of that, then there will be consequences." (Reporting by Alistair Smout and Kylie MacLellan; editing by Stephen Addison) Investing.com - Oil bears seem to be fearing OPEC, finally, suggesting the brakes might hold on the longest selloff streak in crude. The U.S. government announced on Thursday the biggest weekly crude stock build in 21 months, a figure that came in three times above trader expectations. Yet, West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude futures rose, halting for a second-straight day the previous 12-day rout on the market triggered by unexpected U.S. waivers on Iranian oil sanctions and other oversupply concerns. U.S. WTI settled up 21 cents, or 0.4%, at $56.46 per barrel, extending the rebound from the previous session after Tuesday's 7% plunge that sent it a one-year low of $55.11. Despite the rebound of the past two days, WTI remains about 27% lower from four-year highs of nearly $77 hit in early October. Brent was up 50 cents, or 0.8%, at $66.62 per barrel by 3:00 PM ET (20:00 GMT). Like WTI, Brent also fell almost 7% on Tuesday, reaching an eight-month low of $66.67. With the recovery, it remains some 23% lower from its peak of nearly $87 six weeks ago. "No one's shorting the market at this point because everyone's looking at OPEC and at what the Saudis might do if the prices go any lower," said John Kilduff, partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital. "The Saudis have the power to rescue this market. They went from announcing a million barrels in cuts initially to 1.4 million barrels over a matter days. There's the stirrings of a reaction coming and no one wants to be caught on the wrong side." OPEC, which meets on Dec. 6 in Vienna for its policy-setting meeting, is widely expected to agree on cuts of around 1 million bpd or more from its current production of above 33 million bpd. Russia and other key allies are scheduled to hold talks with the cartel a day later to determine the wider alliance's contribution to any market-balancing strategy. The Saudis, who are "very angry" with U.S. President Trump for triggering the market's collapse by issuing generous waivers on Iranian oil sanctions, were pushing for cuts of as much as 1.4 million bpd with all the producers on board, Reuters reported Thursday. Story continues But Russia wasn't thrilled to go along with such a high output cut, Reuters said. Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to give a direct answer when asked by reporters in Singapore. That made some traders skeptical about Thursday's rebound. "We do expect it to be rather short-lived," said Tariq Zahir at Tyche Capital Advisors in New York. Crude inventories in the United States rose by nearly 10.3 million barrels last week, the most for a week since Feb. 15, 2017, data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed on Thurday. The market had been anticipating a build of just 3.2 million barrels in the latest week. U.S. crude stockpiles have risen by about 48 million barrels over the past eight weeks. At 442.1 million barrels in total, crude oil inventories stand about 5% above the five-year average for this time of year, the EIA said. September through October is typically maintenance season for U.S. refiners, explaining some of the builds. But the EIA said refineries were still operating at just above 90% of capacity, vs. closer to 100% earlier in the year. "It's a sign that perhaps low gasoline margins are causing refiners to rein in runs," said Matthew Smith of New York-based crude cargoes surveyor Clipperdata. Weekly stockpiles growth isn't the only thing worrying traders. Total U.S. crude production itself now stands at a record 11.7 million bpd, the EIA said, making the nation the worlds biggest oil producer ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia. Related Articles Gold Bugs in $1,200 Comfort Zone, Helped by Brexit U.S. shale surge boosts industry finances, puts deals in spotlight U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Rose by 10.27M Barrels Last Week: EIA More than two dozen fire victims who lost their homes in Californias deadliest and most destructive wildfire have filed a lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Co., blaming the company for the fire. The lawsuit filed in state court in San Francisco, California on Tuesday accuses PG&E of not maintaining its infrastructure and for failing to properly inspect and manage its power transmission lines. The plaintiffs say the fire was a direct and legal result of the negligence, carelessness, recklessness, and/or unlawfulness of the utility company and they are seeking compensation for losses and unspecified damages. Reuters reported a group of three law firms teamed up to file the lawsuit against the company. In a statement to FOX Business regarding the lawsuit, a spokesperson for PG&E said, "The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is our highest priority. We are aware of lawsuits regarding the Camp Fire. Right now, our primary focus is on the communities and supporting first responders as they work to contain the fire and getting our crews positioned and ready to respond when we get access, so that we can safely restore gas and electricity to our customers." The Camp Fire in Paradise, California has already claimed the lives of at least 48 people with more than 200 people still missing so far. In addition to the loss of life and missing persons, the fire has also burned more than 117,000 acres, destroyed 6,453 residences and 260 commercial buildings, and threatened another 15,500 as of Tuesday, according to state authorities. Whats more, according to a report by The Mercury News, the day before the Camp fire began, PG&E reportedly emailed a local landowner about problems with sparks and alerted her that workers will need to enter her property to work on power lines. Betsy Ann Cowley told the outlet that she was away on vacation when the email arrived. "Ive continuously tried to get in touch with [transmission line workers] but nobody is in charge and they suck at communication," Cowley told The Mercury News, noting that PG&E has ignored the power lines for years. Story continues Cowleys neighboring town is Paradise, which was destroyed by the fire. After the report, PG&E released a statement saying, We have not seen anything that includes a discussion with the customer in question about sparks and PG&E infrastructure. This is not the same line that PG&E identified in its Electric Incident Report on Nov. 8. Also, state officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire. But this isnt the first time PG&E has been under scrutiny and faced lawsuits over its role in previous large fires. Over the past year alone, it has been blamed for several destructive wildfires in Northern California, and in June, state officials blamed the utility giant for 12 of the roughly 170 wildfires that hit the state last fall. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the fires in question were caused by electric power and distribution lines, conductors and the failure of power poles. The departments findings could expose PG&E to billions of dollars in damages, The San Francisco Chronicle reported in June. State Sen. Jerry Hill of Redwood City has been a longtime critic of PG&E and released a statement to the Associated Press earlier this week. "If PG&E is found responsible for burning down the state again, at some point we have to say enough is enough and we have to ask should this company be allowed to do business in California? These fires take a spark, and at least in the last few years fires have been caused by negligent behavior by PG&E. We need to see how we can hold them responsible, or look at alternative way of doing business." Related Articles Rocket Lab raised $140 million in a new investment round led by Australia's Future Fund. "We're kind of graduating out of Silicon Valley and into the much larger pools of capital," Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck told CNBC. Rocket Lab's year began with reaching orbit, and the company has not slowed down since, doubling its workforce and opening multiple production and launch facilities. Rocket Lab expanded its lead on the budding industry of small rocket companies, announcing a $140 million investment round led by Australia's sovereign wealth fund. Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck told CNBC this was "a really important" moment for his 12-year-old company. "We're kind of graduating out of Silicon Valley and into the much larger pools of capital," Beck said. "These pools of capital aren't looking for startup companies with lots of risk. They're looking for stable and for assured growth and returns." Australia's nearly $150 billion Future Fund invested along with Rocket Lab's earlier backers including Bessemer Venture Partners, Promus Ventures, Khosla Ventures, K1W1, Data Collective and Greenspring Associates. New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation also invested for the first time. The company has now raised more than $288 million in total funding. It wouldn't disclose its new valuation, but said it is "soaring past its previous" appraisal of $1.2 billion. Adam Spice, Rocket Lab's chief financial officer, said the investment would give it "dry powder" to expand its role in the space industry. "The investors ... believe the opportunity is finally real." Rocket Lab builds small rockets, priced at about $5.7 million a launch. The company's Electron rocket is designed to launch spacecraft up to the size of a refrigerator, especially for the premium small satellite part of the rocket market. Launching affordably and frequently were the two priorities Rocket Lab had when designing Electron. "Almost everything in" Electron is "made in-house," Spice said. Story continues Small rockets like Electron can save customers months of time getting to orbit but come at a higher cost compared to flying as a "rideshare" on a larger rocket like the SpaceX Falcon 9 . But Rocket Lab is not trying to compete with those big rockets. Beck's company is targeting customers who wants to test new technologies very quickly, with an end goal of being able to launch on demand. The company is fresh off its first commercial launch on Saturday, which put seven spacecraft in orbit. With operations in New Zealand and California, Rocket Lab is increasing production as it tries to launch one rocket a month by next year and then one every two weeks, Beck said. Its factories "have been specifically designed to produce one rocket a week," Beck said @RocketLab: Rocket Lab's second orbital Electron mission #ItsBusinessTime. A successful launch and more payloads on orbit. We're opening access to space. Electron reached orbit for the first time in January. Despite an issue with one of the rocket's systems delaying its second orbital launch for several months, Rocket Lab has a sizable lead on the rest of the industry. Competitors Virgin Orbit, Vector and Astra Space are deep into testing programs but have yet to reach orbit. Beck estimates there are over 100 companies in total trying to catch up. Beck said this latest investment round shows that "Rocket Lab is maturing" and attracting Wall Street interest. While investment money is the "most accessible" among venture firms and sovereign wealth, Spice said he's "getting more calls" from the likes of J.P. Morgan. "We've got the biggest of the big names on the financial side kind of kicking the tires on participating," Spice said. Beck said it's too early to know when a Rocket Lab IPO would happen, as the company has "a few things we want to execute first." "We want to get the launch cadence right up there," Beck said. "There's a little bit more I need to achieve." Putting launch plans to action Rocket Lab's year began with reaching orbit, and the company has not slowed down since. The company doubled its global workforce to 330 employees, with Spice joining as CFO earlier this year after nearly 20 years in the semiconductor industry. He has done about 60 acquisitions in his career, which Spice said is one of the key reasons Beck hired him. The company opened an 80,700 square foot mass production facility in Auckland, New Zealand, in October. Rocket Lab also announced in October it will build its first U.S. launchpad at NASA's Wallops Facility in Virginia. Unlike its launchpad on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula, which is a private facility, the Virginia launchpad is on NASA property. "The U.S. launch site is really to serve government customers who require launch off U.S. soil," Beck said. Spice said Rocket Lab plans to use about one-sixth of this $140 million investment round to add second and third launchpads at the company's New Zealand facility "relatively soon." Mahia has a "strategic value" that Spice does not think many people understand. "It's the only privately-owned launch facility and that is a huge differentiator," Spice said. Rocket Lab is going to need multiple facilities if it is going to reach its goal of launching on a weekly basis. The company has a backlog of launches for the next year and a half, with 16 planned for next year. Beck said the company is "tracking around a $3 billion pipeline" in future launches. Another one-third of the $140 million will go to research and development. Beck said the company is beginning to work on three major R&D projects. And Rocket Lab is already preparing for its next orbital launch, set for December. Beck estimated Rocket Lab will soon be profitable, saying when the company completes "these couple of launches by the end of this year we'll be cash flow neutral." But the company is well aware of how difficult spaceflight can be. That mentality remained front of mind for Spice when thinking about how this new funding should be utilized. "We basically funded ourselves to survive a pretty lengthy shutdown on the pad if we have an anomaly, any unforeseen pricing pressure from well heeled competitors, and absolutely keep our foot on the gas from an investment perspective," Spice said. More From CNBC Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. NEW YORK / ACCESSWIRE / November 14, 2018 / Shares of United States Natural Gas were up significantly in Wednesdays session as natural gas prices and related ETFs went higher on reports that it would be a very cold winter. Shares of PG&E were sinking on news that the company may be to blame for Californias deadliest wildfire in its history. MER Initiates Coverage on: United States Natural Gas https://marketedgereport.com/report/UNG/ PG&E Corporation https://marketedgereport.com/report/PCG/ United States Natural Gas shares were up 18.90% on about 43 million shares traded yesterday. The stock hit a new high of $39.87. There was no news from the company but traders were celebrating the news that this could be a colder winter than expected which is a good thing for energy companies. Natural gas prices as well as related ETFs were soaring on Wednesday with the United States Natural Gas Fund moving 17.9% up and Nymex natural gas futures 16.6% up. "Overnight, there was another round of cold trends, and that kind of lit the fuse and everything exploded," said Jacob Meisel, chief weather analyst at Bespoke Weather Services, to CNBC. "Some of the later overnight weather models trended much colder...the six to 10 and 11 to 15 day [forecasts] both saw rather significant cold trends. It wasn't like we were looking at periods of very major sustained warming. We've just been continually trending colder and colder." It was also on Tuesday that natural gas futures for December closed at a premium of ~$1.14 to the December 2019 futures. On November 6th the futures spread was at a premium of $0.6. On November 6th through the 13th, natural gas December futures rose 15.4%. Access MER's United States Natural Gas Research Report at: https://marketedgereport.com/report/UNG/ PG&E Corporation shares were down nearly 22% on Wednesday on skyrocket trading volume of 53.5 million shares roughly. Average trading volume for the stock is just about 6 million shares. The big drop came after it was revealed that the utility company has been blamed for the 12 wildfires blazing in Northern California wine country last fall. The fires killed a total of 15 people. The cause of the fire blazing now in California which destroyed the city of Paradise, is under investigation. PG&E disclosed in a regulatory filing that it could face a significant financial hit if its equipment is found to be the cause of the blaze. The company has been accused of negligence for failing to properly inspect and manage its power lines and blaming it for the fire currently going on. An attorney for a group of victims of the fires has said there is "pretty overwhelming" evidence that PG&E was at fault for this fire now deemed the deadliest in California's history. Story continues Access MER's PG&E Corporation Research Report at: https://marketedgereport.com/report/PCG/ Our Actionable research on United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG) and PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) be downloaded free of charge at MarketEdge Report. MarketEdge Report We are committed to providing relevant and actionable information for the self-directed investor. Our research is reputed for being a leader in trusted, in-depth analysis vital for informed strategic trading decisions. The nimble investor can leverage our analysis and collective expertise to execute a disciplined approach to stock selection. MarketEdge has not been compensated; directly or indirectly; for producing or publishing this document. Disclaimer: This article is written by an independent contributor of MarketEdgeReport.com and Nadia Noorani, a CFA charter holder, has provided necessary guidance in preparing the document templates. MarketEdgeReport.com is neither a registered broker dealer nor a registered investment advisor. For more information please read our full disclaimer at www.marketedgereport.com/disclaimer. CONTACT For any questions, inquiries, or comments reach out to us directly at: Address: MarketEdge Report, Unit #901 511 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10011 Email: contact@marketedgereport.com CFA and Chartered Financial Analyst are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. SOURCE: MarketEdgeReport US and China rivalry for supremacy goes way beyond trade, says founder of world's largest hedge fund "The trade war, I think, can be worked out," says Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates. The two nations' polar opposite methods of governing is the broader, more difficult issue to reconcile, he argues. "History has shown there's a concept called the 'Thucydides Trap'" that indicates conflict, Dalio says. The dispute between the U.S. and China over trade deficits and surpluses is rather trivial compared to the broader philosophical differences between the world's two biggest economic superpowers, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio told CNBC on Thursday. "The trade war, I think, can be worked out," the billionaire investor Dalio said in a "Squawk Box" interview on CNBC. But he argued the conflict goes "way beyond the trade war." Dalio, co-CIO and co-chairman at Bridgewater, said the two nations' polar opposite methods of governing is the broader, more difficult issue to reconcile. "It goes back to Confucius in 500 B.C.," he said. "It's basically a top-down versus a bottom-up type of approach," said Dalio, whose China unit of Bridgewater last month launched its first onshore Chinese investment fund. "When you look at the 2025 plan in China, the government believes that they should have a plan for making China great" and will coordinate all aspects of public and private enterprise to achieve their goals, he said. "That type of activity is objectionable to the United States" in its free market economy. The China 2025 plan is a state-backed industrial policy that's provoked alarm in the West, and is core to Washington's complaints about Beijing's technological ambitions. Dalio appeared on CNBC from the Greenwich Economic Forum in Connecticut where he later spoke to the elite gathering of investment thought leaders. On stage, he expanded on his thoughts on the U.S.-China rivalry. "History has shown there's a concept called the 'Thucydides Trap,'" he said. "The idea is that, when you have an emerging country that's a competitive country, competing with an existing power, there is a risk of conflict." Story continues "In the last 500 years, 16 times that's happened. And in 12 of those times, there's war," said Dalio, in a cautionary tone, while reiterating his belief that the narrow trade dispute between the U.S. and China can be worked out. A step towards a trade deal could start with a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit of the Group of 20 leaders later this month in Argentina . Alleging a myriad of unfair trade practices, Trump initiated tariffs in March to pressure China to change its ways. In September, the White House imposed its latest round of levies focused on $200 billion of Chinese products. In response, China put tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. goods. Trump has also threatened additional tariffs of $267 billion, which would basically cover the rest of all Chinese imports into the U.S. CNBC's Fred Imbert contributed to this report. WATCH: CNBC's full interview with Bridgewater Associates' Ray Dalio More From CNBC FILE PHOTO: Cincinnati DoorDash worker Renee Shell delivers an order from Walmart in Cincinnati FILE PHOTO: Cincinnati DoorDash worker Renee Shell delivers an order from Walmart in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., July 1, 2018. REUTERS/Lisa Baertlein/File Photo By Daina Beth Solomon MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Cornershop, a Latin American grocery delivery app being acquired by Walmart, plans to expand into Canada early next year as a test market for the United States, an executive for the three-year-old mobile app said. Walmart is buying Cornershop, which offers deliveries in Mexico and Chile, for $225 million. The deal, one of Walmart's various global investments and tie-ups geared at helping the retailer compete with Amazon.com Inc, is slated to close by year's end. In the United States, Walmart is the largest seller of groceries but grapples with the challenge of swiftly delivering fresh food to the homes of online customers. The company has promised to make such deliveries in 100 U.S. cities by the end of 2018 and so far covers nearly 50 markets. In a race to meet its goal, the company is working with several small delivery companies including Doordash and Postmates after ditching partnerships with ride-share companies Uber and Lyft. Cornershop Chief Technology Officer Daniel Undurraga said in an interview on Tuesday that Cornershop plans to launch in Toronto in the first quarter next year. If it does well, Vancouver and Montreal would follow. If Canada is successful overall, Undurraga said, the United States could be the next target. "Canada is a good test market for launching a service in the U.S. It is very similar, but smaller," he said. Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Judith McKenna, chief executive of Walmart International, said in September that Cornershop was expected to provide a learning experience for Walmart's markets beyond Mexico and Chile. An English-language version of the app will roll out within a month as part of preparation for the Canada launch, Undurraga said. Cornershop still needs to partner with a local payments company and recruit workers in Canada. About 11,000 people currently work for Cornershop across 11 cities in Mexico and Chile. Story continues Apart from Walmart the platform also offers deliveries from various retailers, including Costco Wholesale Corp and Mexican chains Chedraui and La Comer. Undurraga said Cornershop is building firewalls so that Walmart cannot access customer data from other stores. The company will also consider raising delivery fees to account for higher labor costs in Canada and the United States. Cornershop generates other revenue through advertising, commissions from retailers and price mark-ups. The technology, however, is already in place. "We have our own tools for being able to do this without a lot of effort," Undurraga said. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; additional reporting by Nandita Bose in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) (Bloomberg) -- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo were all smiles Tuesday when they announced that Amazon.com Inc. will bring a new headquarters to the city with thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment. But a local backlash threatens to spur investigations into how the deal got done and whether it will benefit the city. About 250 people huddled against the cold wind in Long Island City Wednesday, near the East River site where Amazon plans to move in. Instead of cheering, they were there to express outrage over the deal, which included a non-disclosure agreement that kept much of the details secret. Despite the influx of investment and jobs, some economists and policy makers have warned that the giant project will raise housing costs, displacing residents, and increase already snarled traffic. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand later used a Twitter posting to join the chorus of critics. The gathering in Queens included dozens of elected officials, including City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents the district that includes Long Island City and who said hed been shut out of any negotiations and only learned the deal had been consummated by reading about it in the newspaper. Part of the deal involves a state takeover of land involved so that the City Council would have no zoning oversight. What weve seen here is a process that no American city should have to endure, Van Bramer said in an interview before the rally. A governor and a mayor who claim to be progressive Democrats throwing nearly $3 billion at the richest man in the world and then promising a secretive grease-the-wheels process that avoids messy public votes and hearings that might muck up the works. Now, a cadre of lawmakers is scrutinizing the transaction and the roles of the mayor and the governor in it, Van Bramer said. He vowed investigations at every level of government and said City Council lawyers are developing litigation strategies. Story continues Were looking at any and all ways in which we can reassert the citys and the peoples process here, Van Bramer said. It can not be that the mayor and governor and Jeff Bezos -- literally three men in a room -- can conspire to give him $3 billion and a helicopter pad, because who wants to struggle taking the subway? That can not be. Van Bramer and other public officials said they wanted the deal reopened to wrest commitments from Amazon to make specific pledges to help pay for improvements to mass transit, schools, parks, streets and new sewer lines. Amazon is opening a similar site in Arlington, Virginia. Gillibrand, a Democrat who represents New York in the Senate, criticized the incentives used to lure Amazon and faulted what she called a lack of community input in the decision-making process. In announcing Amazons intention to come to New York, Cuomo predicted the company would hire 40,000 workers within 25 years, instead of the 25,000 jobs Amazon has promised in the next 10 years. If that happened, Cuomo said, the city and state would have paid $3 billion in tax abatements and other incentives to reap as much as $27.5 billion in tax revenue from Amazon over the 25-year cycle. Complete malarkey, countered state Senator Michael Gianaris, who represents the area and joined Van Bramer to host the Wednesday rally. He said Cuomos calculations of tax revenue were based on a comparison as if the site would remain an empty parcel, when in fact, the site had already been planned for development that would have been subjected to land-use review. The senator drew cheers from the crowd when he said he would boycott Amazon unless the deal is rescinded. The mayor, who decried income inequality in winning control of City Hall in 2013, mused that the companys location near Queensbridge Homes, the largest public housing complex in the U.S., would create a synergy of opportunity, without providing details as to how that might be accomplished. Judging from the reaction of progressive activists, including U.S. Representative-Elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have denounced the agreement, de Blasios lead role in bringing the company here may hurt the mayor with the base of progressive Democrats he has sought to lead. When asked about the criticism, De Blasios office referred to comments he made Tuesday. The mayor said he measured success by how many everyday people benefit. Cuomo, in justifying the deal Tuesday, said New Yorks incentive offer was lower than many cities and states, including Newark, which had promised benefits worth $7 billion. (Updates with Gillibrands comments in the eighth paragraph.) To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at hgoldman@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net, ;Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, Molly Schuetz, Andrew Pollack For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2018 Bloomberg L.P. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL November 15, 2018 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Spirit Airlines, Inc. SAVE, EnLink Midstream, LLC ENLC, Phillips 66 PSX and Air France-KLM SA AFLYY. Here are highlights from Wednesdays Analyst Blog: 4 Top Stocks to Gain as Oil Enters Bear Market Oil recently saw its deepest plunge in more than three years in the international market, as fears of oversupply and a weakening demand outlook weighed on the market. But, the drop in crude oil prices has been a blessing in disguise for aviation and refinery companies. Brent Enters Bear Market, WTI Falls for 12 Straight Days Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down 7.6% at $55.69 on Nov 13, deepening the descent into bear market a drop of at least 20% from a recent peak. Brent futures, thus, have declined in 11 of the past 12 sessions. December West Texas Intermediate crude also settled 7.1% lower at $65.47 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, its sharpest one-day fall since September 2015. The U.S. benchmark has now fallen roughly 30% for 12 consecutive days. Key Factors Behind the Drop Oil prices are becoming increasingly chaotic, thanks to ramped up production around the globe and weakening demand, particularly from developing economies. Per the International Energy Association (IEA), the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had bumped up its production in September by 100,000 barrels a day to 32.78 million barrels of oil a day, which is a one-year high. In fact, output from OPEC members jumped by 127,000 barrels a day last month. But, OPEC recently lowered its output forecast for this year and next, citing lower-than-anticipated growth in demand in Asia and the Middle East. President Trump reiterated that Saudi Arabia, a major producer, said that it would trim its exports to boost oil prices and avoid swelling supply. However, Trump tweeted that hopefully, Saudi Arabia and OPEC will not be cutting oil production. Oil prices should be much lower based on supply! That unfortunately reversed what looked like a recovery for oil on Nov 12 after two weeks of slump. Story continues U.S. production, in the meantime, climbed by 400,000 barrels a day to a record 11.6 million barrels a day for the week ended Nov 2, adding to oversupply concerns. The supply-demand disparity, by the way, had already started to increase last month after the Trump administration decided to soften its sanctions on buying Iranian oil by granting waivers to eight buyers of Tehrans crude. This drove oil prices lower into what would turn into an unprecedented decline. Eugene McGillian, vice president of market research at Tradition Energy, perfectly summed up by saying that basically, weve gone from envisioning tighter supplies six weeks ago to now expecting excess supplies on the market, and demand is starting to falter. Needless to say, its just not oversupply thats disturbing. Weakening demand also gripped the oil market. After all, China, the worlds largest importer of oil and thus the largest driver of crude oil prices, is likely headed toward a massive recession. Chinese economy is in dire straits not just because of the trade war with the United States but also due to Beijings move to deleverage its financial system. Aviation, Refiners Poised to Gain Aviation stocks traditionally have an inverse relationship with the movement of oil prices. So, it isnt surprising that shares of aviation firms are rising after the sharp drop in crude oil prices. After all, fuel costs are a major part of the operating costs for aviation firms; thus, rise in oil prices will hit profit margins. Refineries also stand to gain from this decline in crude oil prices. Refineries buy crude oil as their raw materials. So, refineries net cash flow declines if crude oil prices rise. Meanwhile, their net cash flow increases when crude oil prices fall. 4 Solid Picks We have, thus, selected four such stocks from the aforesaid areas that are poised to make the most of the crude oil fall. These stocks also boast a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). Spirit Airlines, Inc. provides low-fare airline services. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings rose almost 8% in the last 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 9.9% compared with the Transportation - Airline industry expected decline of 5.8%. EnLink Midstream, LLC focuses on providing midstream energy services in the United States. The Company is involved in natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transmission, distribution, supply and marketing, and crude oil marketing. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings soared 91.7% in the last 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter is more than 100% compared with the Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry projected rise of 19.8%. Phillips 66 is an energy manufacturing and logistics company. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings rose 8.7% in the last 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 96.6% compared with the Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry expected increase of 8.6%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Air France-KLM SA provides passenger transportation services on scheduled flights. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings increased 2.8% in the last 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the next quarter is 30.3% compared with the Transportation - Airline industry estimated decline of 48.7%. 3 Medical Stocks to Buy Now The greatest discovery in this century of biology is now at the flashpoint between theory and realization. Billions of dollars in research have poured into it. Companies are already generating revenue, and cures for a variety of deadly diseases are in the pipeline. So are big potential profits for early investors. Zacks has released an updated Special Report that explains this breakthrough and names the best 3 stocks to ride it. See them today for free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Air France-KLM SA (AFLYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report EnLink Midstream, LLC (ENLC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Phillips 66 (PSX) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Our Mission The Foreign Press Centers support the Department's mission by deepening global understanding of U.S. policy, society, culture, and values through engagement with foreign media. The United States Department of State has Foreign Press Centers in Washington, D.C. and in New York, New York. We promote the depth, accuracy, and balance of foreign reporting from the U.S. by providing direct access to authoritative American information sources. *The FPCs are receiving journalists on an appointment only basis. For assistance, please contact a media relations officer or email the collective dcfpc@state.gov* Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 15 ordered an investigation into the death of a high-ranking police officer whose body was found dead in eastern Afghanistan. The body of Tahir Dawar was found by locals in Dur Baba district of Nangarhar Province near the Pakistani border on November 13, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Afghan authorities as saying. Dawar, 50, disappeared on October 27 in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. He had been serving as head of the Peshawar polices rural circle. Khan said he had ordered authorities to carry out "an inquiry immediately," while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had twice summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires in Islamabad to "seek clarity." Dawars abduction, move to [Afghanistan], murder and follow up behavior of [Afghan] authorities raise questions which indicate involvement or resources more than a terrorist organization in Afghanistan," Pakistani military spokesman Major General Asif Ghrafoor tweeted. Afghan officials were not immediately available for comment. Dawars body was delivered to tribal elders near the Pakistani border on November 15 before being taken to Peshawar. Pictures circulated on social media on November 13 appeared to show his badly tortured body with a hand-written Pashto letter placed on his chest, purportedly written by Wilayat Khorasan, a name used by the militant Islamic State affiliate that operates in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Pakistani Senate discussed the apparent murder in its session in Islamabad on November 14-15. Opposition parties criticized the federal government for failing to protect the police officers and claimed authorities did not investigate the case properly. Meanwhile, supporters of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) protested in several Pakistani cities to denounce Dawars apparent killing. The demonstrators also chanted slogans against the Pakistani army, which the group accuses of conducting heavy-handed operations in the militancy-hit tribal regions. With reporting by Reuters Head on down to Smiling Toad Brewery at 1757 S. 8th St. for what one Gazette reader called the best neighborhood brewery in Colorado! Biff Moorehead, the owner, and the brewers Fred and Mark are always friendly and willing to chat about beers. If craft beer is your passion, then a stop at The Smiling Toad is a real treat for you. Photo courtesy of Smiling Toad Brewery/Facebook A Florida company that acquires and manages apartment communities around the country is continuing its Colorado Springs buying spree, paying $51.1 million last week for a 310-unit complex on North Nevada Avenue. Priderock Capital Partners of West Palm Beach bought the Advenir at the Village Apartments, just north of the University Village Colorado retail complex, El Paso County land records show. The deal is Priderocks fourth acquisition in Colorado Springs since 2014 and brings its total investment in the local apartment market to nearly $156 million, according to land records. Priderock officials didnt return a telephone call seeking comment Wednesday. But the deal signals continued investor interest in Colorado Springs because of its surging economy, said Kevin McKenna, executive managing director in the Denver office of national brokerage ARA Newmark. McKenna and ARA Newmark director Saul Levy represented Advenir Living of Miami in its sale of the property to Priderock. Whats piquing their interest really is the job growth story in Colorado Springs, McKenna said. Depending on which stats you look at ... were at least 3, if not above 4 percent job growth. The economy is really getting more diversified and creates more demand for apartments. So I think theres a great story to tell about that, and the apartment market continues to be strong. Also, newly constructed apartments in Colorado Springs are filling up, a sign that the demand continues for existing properties even older ones, McKenna said. The Advenir at the Village was built in the mid- to late 1960s, land records show, and Priderocks $51.1 million purchase set a record per unit and per square foot price for Springs-area apartments constructed before 1970, he said. The Apartments.com website shows monthly rents at Advenir currently range from about $800 for a one-bedroom unit to as much as $1,348 for three bedrooms. Despite its age, the Advenir at the Village has a superior location, McKenna said. University Village, the nearby regional shopping center, has dozens of stores and restaurants. The property also is just south of the UCHealth Grandview Hospital, west of the fast-growing University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and backs up to Monument Creek and the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail. Its literally surrounded by everything youd want, McKenna said. Priderocks website says the company currently owns and manages more than 12,000 units in 16 states. In Colorado Springs, Priderock also owns the 240-unit Preserve at Hidden Creek Apartments, the 192-unit Ironwood at Palmer Park Apartments and the 220-unit Union Heights Apartments that it bought just three months ago. The local apartment market has been strong for the last several years, another incentive for buyers. In the second quarter, monthly rents averaged a record high of nearly $1,160, while the vacancy rate was 6.3 percent, according to the Colorado Division of Housing and the Apartment Association of Southern Colorado. A 14-year-old boy is accused of starting a fire Wednesday morning in a bathroom at Sand Creek High School that resulted in students being evacuated and then sent home early, police said. The boy, whose name was not released due to his age, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson, a felony, and interference of staff, faculty or students of an educational institution, a misdemeanor, police said. He was taken to Spring Creek Youth Services Center. The schools fire alarms went off about 10:30 a.m. after the blaze was started in the A-wing mens bathroom, police said. Ryan Jacobsen, a school resource officer, used a nearby fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Firefighters arrived to find a smoldering pile of toilet paper and plastic in the bathroom, Fire Capt. Brian Vaughan said. Students and staff were evacuated while firefighters assessed the damage and air quality, police said. Jacobsen then began to review security footage and identified a suspect. Police didnt say whether the boy is a student at the school at 7005 N. Carefree Circle. A spokesman for Falcon School District 49 did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening. Students were released early due to the fire and smoke smell that remained in the building, a D-49 statement says. District crews were working with a fire restoration company to clean up the area and ensure the building was ready for students Thursday. Rich Burchfield is the chief defense development officer for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. He may be reached at rburchfield@cscedc.com or cscedc.com. Colorados unaffiliated voters turned out for last weeks election in record numbers but turned their backs on Republicans by wide margins, a survey conducted by a GOP polling firm shows. Whats more, President Donald Trumps low approval rating among unaffiliated voters who outnumber Colorados registered Democrats and Republicans appears to have dragged down Republican candidates, who suffered historic losses up and down the ballot. Pollster David Flaherty, whose Louisville-based Magellan Strategies surveyed unaffiliated voters after the election, said the polls findings and the election results can only be described as extraordinary because in the past 20 years, never has one political party been so overwhelmingly rejected at every level of representative government by the electorate. The scale of the Democrats win in Colorado is hard to overstate: For the first time since 1938, the party will control every statewide elected office and both chambers of the General Assembly. Democrat Jared Polis won the governors race by 10 percentage points his victory fueled in part by overwhelming support from unaffiliated voters, with 59 percent voting for Polis compared with 25 percent going for Republican Walker Stapleton, the poll found. Unaffiliated women gave Polis a 45 percentage point margin, while unaffiliated men preferred the Democrat by 24 percentage points. One-third of unaffiliated voters said they were less likely to vote for Republicans because of Trump, who declared the midterms were a referendum on his presidency and campaigned throughout the country in the months before the election. Just 12 percent of unaffiliated voters said Trumps influence made them more likely to vote for Republican candidates. The telephone poll of 500 unaffiliated voters was conducted Nov. 7-9 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percent. The Democratic Party is viewed favorably by 45 percent of Colorados unaffiliated voters and unfavorably by 31 percent, the poll found. Only 25 percent of respondents view the GOP favorably, however, and 53 percent view the party unfavorably. Asked which party they typically support, 51 percent of respondents said Democrats, while 24 percent said Republicans. Among voters age 18-44, the gap was even wider, with 55 percent naming the Democrats and just 18 percent saying they tended to vote for Republicans. Not only did the states unaffiliated voters lean toward Democrats, but they voted in unprecedented numbers, Flaherty noted. For the first time in a Colorado midterm election, unaffiliated voters cast more ballots than either Democrats or Republicans, flipping historic turnout models on their head. Time will tell if the 2018 election was an acceleration of the Republican Partys waning ability to win statewide elections in Colorado, or a sobering period of clarity that sparked a new direction for the GOP, Flaherty said. Education and health care were the top two issues unaffiliated voters said had influenced their vote for governor and legislative candidates, the pollsters found. Asked why they supported Polis, respondents brought up his positions on education, health care and the environment. Some said they liked his business background and considered him more competent and qualified than Stapleton. Those who opposed the Democrat said they worried he would raise taxes, increase government spending and threaten the oil and gas industry. A handful said they didnt vote for Polis because he is gay. Unaffiliated voters who supported Stapleton said they liked his fiscally conservative positions on taxes and the state budget, and a few pointed to the his position on sanctuary cities and support for Trump. Many more unaffiliated voters who opposed Stapleton, however, cited his support for Trump and the administrations policies. Others said in transcribed, open-ended responses that they considered Stapleton a liar, dishonest and untrustworthy, with some bringing up his campaigns attacks against Polis. Flaherty characterized Trumps upside-down job approval rating with unaffiliated voters as toxic, with 31 percent approving of his performance and 62 percent disapproving. Asked whether they would support Trump or a Democratic candidate for president in 2020, 55 percent picked an unnamed Democrat, and 23 percent went with Trump. TMAs Largest Individual Donor Gift to Support Art Education TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) announced that it had received a $1.5 million art education gift from longtime museum benefactors Alice and Paul Baker. It is the largest individual gift dedicated to nurturing and expanding TMAs art education program, and funding renovation of TMAs Education Center. The Bakers also intend to donate all, or a substantial portion, of their pre-Columbian and Latin American art collection. Both of these generous gifts will support the TMA/100: A Vision for the 21st Century fundraising campaign. To honor this historic gift and recognize Alice Baker's long-term commitment to TMA, the Education Center will be re-named the Alice Baker Center for Art Education, said Jeremy Mikolajczak, Chief Executive Officer of TMA. According to Mikolajczak, Alice Baker is an emeritus member of the museums Board of Trustees, serving for more than 27 years, and is also a vocal advocate for arts education. The Bakers commitment to TMA has spanned beyond three decades. In 2001, the couple supported the founding of the Palice Pavilion, the museums first gallery dedicated to Latin American art. The Baker gift of pre-Columbian and Latin American art will merge with the museums existing collection and join the I. Michael Kasser Collection, a merger that will establish TMA as a regional leader for pre-Columbian and Latin American art. Paul and I are deeply connected to Tucson and take joy in sharing a bigger vision for arts and culture in our city, Alice Baker said in a statement. At the heart of all museums is education. We hope that the renovated Education Center at TMA, in addition to the gift of our Latin American art collection, will inspire new generations of art lovers and support TMAs award-winning outreach programs. This is a transformative gift, said Frank Hamilton, President of the Board of Trustees. We are immensely grateful to Alice and Paul for their remarkable generosity and investing in education, a core TMA commitment to our community. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I thank Alice and Paul for their extraordinary longstanding support of Southern Arizonas oldest visual arts institution. The renovated Alice Baker Center for Art Education will include four new classrooms, a state-of-the-art auditorium, a new research library, conference room, new exterior finishes, and renovated administrative offices. A groundbreaking is planned for early spring, with completion and opening in early summer 2019 renovation work will not impact existing art education programs or TMAs summer arts camp. About TMAs Latin American Art Collection The Latin American art collection encompasses more than 1,000 works of art including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and decorative arts. The collection encompasses pre-Columbian art of Mexico, Central America, and South America; art of the Hispanic Vice-regencies and Spanish Colonies; 19th century art of Latin American Nations (Republics) inclusive of the Caribbean; and Modern and Contemporary works from Latin America and the United States. The Tucson Museum of Arts pre-Columbian and Latin American art collection was started with generous gifts from distinguished scholar and museum curator Frederick R. Pleasants. Early in his career, Pleasants was one of about 345 men and women who worked to protect and save art and cultural treasures in war-ravaged Europe during World War II. These men and women are known today as the Monuments Men. In 2015, the museum announced it received a gift from the estate of Jeanette H. and Bernard L. Schmidt to endow a Curator of Latin American art position at the museum, which the museum intends to fill by early 2019. About the TMA/100: A Vision for the 21st Century Campaign TMA/100: A Vision for the 21st Century is TMAs fundraising campaign that reflects the museums belief that a community deserves access to exceptional exhibitions and education programs that share our passion for art, culture, and history of Tucson and Southern Arizona. A portion of the funds raised will be used for physical improvements and expansion, while the remaining balance is reinvested in the museums endowment. TMA wants to ensure that future generations will have a place to explore and create for years to come. In the fall of 2017, Phase I of the multi-phased campaign was completed, raising more than $1.5 million by private donors in less than a year. Launched in early 2018, Phase II of the project seeks to raise more than $5.5 million for an expansion of the existing main museum building and the renovation of the education and administration center. The Baker gift is the latest in significant contributions to the Tucson Museum of Art in support of sustaining its vision, exhibitions, and programs for the future. In April 2018, the Kasser Family committed to a $2.5 million gift to support the construction of a new wing for Latin American Art at the museum and the loan of a 250-piece collection. To-date, TMA has raised 72% of Phase II of TMA/100: A Vision for the 21st Century, a fundraising campaign with a goal of $5.5 million by 2023. About the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Blocks mission is Connecting Art to Life. The Museum was founded in 1924 in the El Presidio Historic District of downtown Tucson. It is Southern Arizonas premier presenter of fine art and art education programs. The Museum features permanent and traveling exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary, Native American, American West, Latin American and Asian art. The 74,000-square-foot Museum offers guided tours, education programs and studio art classes in a contemporary building. The Museums Historic Block of 19th and 20th century adobe and Mission Revival-style buildings, encompassing a four-acre city block, includes the John K. Goodman Pavilion, the highly acclaimed museum restaurant Cafe a la CArt, and additional exhibition and studio spaces. For more information, please visit TucsonMuseumofArt.org or call (520) 624-2333. Follow the latest events on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TMA is a private 501(c)(3) charitable arts and education organization. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c4f66f9-781d-4636-8a80-2bb4848d6218 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/254cc76c-689f-4937-b10f-bfd6243b5ca1 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8cd52791-473a-476d-9a1d-fad9a36588ac http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7353b243-1df6-4c14-a1ea-fc454fbe4048 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ICC International Cannabis Corp. (CSE: WRLD) (FWB: 8K51) (OTC: KNHBF) ("ICC" or International Cannabis or the Company) is pleased to announce it has successfully completed its Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) Cannabis inspection. The ICA aims to contribute to the sustainable development of Colombias agricultural, livestock, fishery and aquiculture sectors. The ICA administers Colombias seed certification system, as well as oversees agricultural research and development with the objective of protecting people, animal and plant health, while optimizing trade conditions. Eugene Beukman, Chief Executive Officer and a director of International Cannabis stated: ICC is proud to report it has passed the ICAs Cannabis inspection with flying colours. Successful completion of the ICAs Cannabis inspection is a significant achievement for International Cannabis and further emphasizes the Companys mandate to become a global cannabis producer of recognized quality standards. As ICC prepares to welcome renowned industry growers, geneticists and service providers to its Colombian Cannabis Centre of Excellence, it will continue to build on its mutually beneficial relationship with the ICA. COLOMBIAN CANNABIS OPERATIONS International Cannabis holds licences to cultivate, produce, hold, sell and export cannabis and its by-products. Colombia has become a highly sought-after jurisdiction for cannabis cultivation activities as it has a world-leading combination of broad public and private sector acceptance, ideal growing conditions, and a massive addressable market. International Cannabis previously acquired 13 hectares of optimal agricultural land located in Funza, the heart of the Bogota savanna, which is also one of the safest areas in Colombia. It is conveniently located within a 20-kilometre drive to Bogota's international airport. The lease on this land has been prepaid for a period of 10 years. International Cannabis has commenced construction of its Colombian Cannabis Park, highlighted by a one-hectare, polycarbonate greenhouse. The Companys Colombian Cannabis Park is forecasted to produce between 25,000 and 40,000 kilograms of dried Cannabis flowers per year. Once fully optimized, ICC's Colombian assets are projected to generate up to 500,000 kilograms of dried Cannabis flower per annum. ON BEHALF OF THE ICC INTERNATIONAL CANNABIS CORP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Martinz Michael Martinz President, Director +1 (604) 687-2038 info@intlcannabiscorp.com Learn more about ICC by visiting our website at: https://intlcannabiscorp.com/ Stay up to date with everything happening at ICC by following or liking us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ICCWRLD/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ICC_WRLD LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/icc-wrld/ THE CSE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. 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: political changes in Canada and internationally, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis in Canada 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. 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. English German Sika Peru has opened new headquarters in the metropolitan area of Lima and introduced a modern plant for the production of concrete admixtures, mortar products, and acrylic liquid applied membranes (LAM). With this new plant, Sika is tripling its production capacities and strengthening its market position in Peru. At the new site in Lucumo, Sika has commissioned a modern plant for mortars and admixtures. The acrylic LAM manufacturing equipment has also been moved to the new site from the existing plant in Lurin, and further modernized. The new factory and supply center will result in a threefold increase in overall capacity. Optimal production processes and efficiency are key features of this new production plant. The new headquarters, with modern laboratories as well as new training facilities, will improve the customer experience and demonstrate the innovation power of Sika. Future expansion plans envisage the addition of facilities for the manufacturing of polymers for high-performance concrete admixtures, and waterproofing solutions for building structures. Christoph Ganz, Regional Manager Americas: "With the new site, we have laid the foundations for further expanding our activities in Peru and sharpening our competitive position. With a population of 11 million, the greater Lima area is Peru's social and economic powerhouse and has a flourishing construction industry. In Latin America our strategic focus is on big cities and metropolitan areas, and our aim is to fully unlock the potential of the growing market through our investment." Construction industry with strong growth forecasts Substantial investment in the mining sector and in infrastructure projects is driving Peru's construction industry. In autumn 2017, the Peruvian government launched an investment program with a volume of just under USD 9 billion. This program encompasses the construction of more than 7,500 kilometers of roads, 46,000 houses, and the renovation of drainage systems in several cities. Growth of 4.5% is expected for the construction industry in 2018. CONTACT Dominik Slappnig Corporate Communications & Investor Relations +41 58 436 68 21 slappnig.dominik@ch.sika.com SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 101 countries around the world and manufactures in over 200 factories. Its more than 18,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 6.25 billion in 2017. The media release can be downloaded from the following link: The new Singapore Centre of Excellence for component repair and overhaul combines engineering knowledge to improve productivity and performance Collaboration demonstrates Bombardiers commitment to raising local rail capabilities and focuses on delivering advanced services solutions BERLIN, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Note to editors: To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1c9cd4a-c8fe-4f88-9d3b-9542cb5db668 Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation and ST Engineerings Land Systems arm are proud to announce a new strategic partnership to build a Singapore Service Centre. As part of the partnership agreement, Bombardier and ST Engineering will combine their respective strengths in transportation design, manufacturing, engineering knowledge, maintenance, repair and overhaul expertise to drive cost-effective localized component repair capabilities for customers in Singapore, as well as regionally. These measures will improve the overall Service offering for Bombardier customers while strengthening its portfolio and providing customers greater options in support of their operations. Mr. Tan Peng Kuan, President of Commercial Business, ST Engineerings Land Systems arm, said The Singapore Service Centre is a step towards strengthening Singapores capability in rail maintenance and support services, and is testament to ST Engineerings deep engineering capabilities. ST Engineerings advanced diagnostics and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) expertise not only ensures that there is reliable in-country support for transport operators in Singapore, our complementary capabilities in robotics and simulation systems also offer innovation engineering applications for improving efficiency and reliability to rail operations. Commenting on the partnership, Jayaram Naidu, Vice President of Southeast Asia, Bombardier Transportation, said, We are pleased to expand our presence and deepen our investment in Singapore with this state-of-the-art center which will help us to develop and deliver our services capabilities. This new service centre reflects our commitment to developing local talent and technical skills, key to constantly innovating and improving the solutions we provide. We understand the importance that our customers place on passenger safety and system performance, and we will further add value by improving total train performance for operators moving millions of passengers safely. Over the last 20 years in Singapore, Bombardier has made significant contributions to improving mobility in Singapore. To date, it has delivered 276 driverless BOMBARDIER MOVIA metro cars for Singapores Downtown Line and 13 BOBMARDIER INNOVIA APM 100 automated people mover cars for the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. Earlier this year, a new asset replacement contract was awarded to supply 19 new BOMBARDIER INNOVIA APM 300 cars, to retrofit 13 existing APM 100 cars, as well as to deliver a signalling system upgrade for 13 stops on the Bukit Panjang LRT Line. In addition, a new contract was recently awarded to supply 396 MOVIA metro cars for the high-capacity North-South (NSL) and East-West (EWL) Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines. The new order brings the number of MOVIA vehicles in Singapore to 672, making it one of Bombardiers largest metro fleets in the world. About Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation is a global mobility solution provider leading the way with the rail industrys broadest portfolio. It covers the full spectrum of solutions, ranging from trains to sub-systems and signalling to complete turnkey transport systems, e-mobility technology and data-driven maintenance services. Combining technology and performance with empathy, Bombardier Transportation continuously breaks new ground in sustainable mobility by providing integrated solutions that create substantial benefits for operators, passengers and the environment. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Bombardier Transportation employs around 39,850 people and its products and services operate in over 60 countries. About Bombardier With over 69,500 employees across four business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in 28 countries across the segments of Transportation, Business Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft and Aerostructures and Engineering Services. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, Bombardier posted revenues of $16.2 billion US. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier . About ST Engineering ST Engineering is a global technology, defence and engineering group specialising in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. The Group employs about 22,000 people across offices in Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, serving customers in more than 100 countries. Its employees bring innovation and technology together to create smart engineering solutions for customers in the defence, government and commercial segments. With more than 500 smart city projects across 70 cities in its track record, the Group continues to help transform cities through its suite of Smart Mobility, Smart Security and Smart Environment solutions. Headquartered in Singapore, ST Engineering reported revenue of S$6.62b in FY2017 and it ranks among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. It is a component stock of the FTSE Strait Times Index, MSCI Singapore, SGX ESG Transparency Index and SGX ESG Leaders Index. The Land Systems sector offers advanced and customised land systems and security solutions which have been proven to meet the stringent operational requirements of its customers. We design, manufacture and distribute armoured, autonomous and specialty vehicles, munitions and weapons, as well as robotics and unmanned systems. For more information, visit www.stengg.com Notes to editors For news, related material and photos, visit our newsroom at www.rail.bombardier.com/en/newsroom.html . Please subscribe to our RSS Feed to receive press releases or follow Bombardier Transportation on Twitter @BombardierRail . Bombardier MOVIA and INNOVIA are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. For information Media relations, India, Southeast Asia Harsh Mehta +91 98 2080 2228 harsh.mehta@rail.bombardier.com Global media relations +49 30 98607 1687 press@rail.bombardier.com TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INV Metals Inc. (INV Metals or the Company) (TSX:INV) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Sunny Lowe as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Lowe is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Ms. Candace MacGibbon, CEO, commented, On behalf of management and the Board of Directors, we are pleased to welcome Sunny to the executive team. Ms. Lowe joins INV Metals from Kinross Gold Corp., where she most recently held the role of Vice President, Finance. The Company continues to build its executive team with relevant experience to execute our development strategy for Loma Larga. As the Company transitions from the completion of the Feasibility Study to permitting, financing and construction, Sunny brings a wealth of experience to lead our efforts in external reporting, financing, tax planning and compliance, enterprise risk management, operational financial management, and internal audit and controls. Ms. Lowe joined Kinross Gold Corp. in 2013 as Vice President, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk Management. Prior to Kinross Gold Corp, Ms. Lowe worked at Inmet Mining where she held leadership roles of increasing responsibility across functions including Enterprise Risk Management, Global Taxation and Compliance, and Business Systems and Controls. Ms. Lowe obtained her CPA designation while working at Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. MacGibbon, added, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Kevin Canario for his contribution to INV Metals over the past 7 years. Mr. Canario will assist in the transition over the next few months and we wish him very well in his future endeavours. About INVTM Metals INVTM Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and base metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INVTM Metals primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold property in Ecuador; and (2) its 100% interests in exploration concessions in Ecuador, including Las Penas, Tierras Coloradas, La Rebuscada and Carolina. For further information, please contact: Candace MacGibbon Chief Executive Officer Phone: (416) 703-8416 E-mail: cmacgibbon@invmetals.com Johnston, RI, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation (NACEPF), a nonprofit focused on supporting education and lifelong learning, and buildOn, a nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education, broke ground on the first of 10 new schools in developing countries in the Caribbean, Central America, Africa, and Asia. After successfully building 10 schools over the last year, NACEPF and buildOn have pledged to build 10 more together over the next year. Katherine Messier, Director of Development for NACEPF, said, We believe that education is a basic human right. Over the past 29 years, NACEPF has focused on meeting the technology needs of schools both in and out of the classroom across the United States. We also have a long history of supporting charitable programs all over the world. This has made us keenly aware that in many parts of the world, children have no access to formal education at all or have to overcome extreme obstacles just to attend class. After an introduction to buildOn from a family member who went on Trek to build a school in Nicaragua, we discovered buildOns mission and ethos perfectly aligns with NACEPFs commitment to changing our world through education and service. We are honored to continue this strong partnership to make a long-lasting impact." The new schools will enhance educational conditions for students in areas facing obstacles such as illiteracy, poverty, insufficient school structures, and dangerous environmental conditions making it difficult to travel to school. These 10 new schools will be completed by the Summer of 2019, providing access to educational resources and improving the lives of more than 1,300 students. The partnership between NACEPF and buildOn will make educational opportunities available to thousands of children and adults worldwide. "Through our continued partnership with NACEPF and their dedication to buildOn's mission, together we have worked with rural community members across three different continents to build schools, Jim Ziolkowski Founder, President and CEO of buildOn said. By building 10 schools across Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mali, Nepal, and Senegal in 2017/18 we have brought the power of education to 1,326 primary school students -- 713 of those students being girls. With education, comes equality. We could not be more thrilled that NACEPF has decided to continue to partner with buildOn by again committing to build another 10 schools in 2018/19. NACEPFs impact is tremendous. We are honored to call NACEPF not only a partner, but part of the buildOn family." Last year, NACEPF funded the building of 10 schools throughout Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Haiti, Mali, and Nepal, which helped improve the lives of 1,326 students and will continue to do so for many years. These new schools give students the ability to learn in a secure and safe environment. Since its existence, buildOn and other partners have built more than 1,334 schools around the world. If you wish to learn more about NACEPF or buildOn, please visit their websites, http://www.nacepf.net/ and https://www.buildon.org/. ### About NACEPF: North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation, Inc. (NACEPF) is a Rhode Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the second largest Educational Broadband Service (EBS) licensee in the United States. NACEPFs broadband service, religious and educational programming, and advocacy efforts support education at every level. NACEPFs worldwide philanthropic efforts focus on providing access to the resources essential to human development and well-being. This includes access to healthy food, clean water, safe housing, education, healthcare, and faith-based services. NACEPFs wholly-owned subsidiary, Mobile Beacon, broadband service to educational, nonprofit, and community anchor institutions throughout the United States. To learn more, visit www.nacepf.net. About buildOn: At home or abroad, buildOn's goal is to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education. Across the U.S., buildOn empowers urban youth to transform their neighborhoods through intensive community service -- working with senior citizens, the homeless, and younger children. These same students help build schools in some of the economically poorest countries in the world. Our students have contributed more than 2.2 million hours of service in the U.S., and have helped build over 1,351 schools in Burkina Faso, Haiti, Nicaragua, Nepal, Senegal, Malawi, and Mali. For more information, visit www.buildon.org. buildOn has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Luxury Clothing Brand a Fit for Aspen Locals and International Travelers TONGANOXIE, Kan., Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peruvian Connection , a luxury clothing brand famous for its original, artisan-made designs using the highest quality Andean fibers, announces the opening of a new retail store in Aspen, Colorado. The doors open on Thursday, November 15, 2018, with a grand opening celebration to take place on December 6, 2018. The store is located at 205 South Mill Street in Aspen and sits right on the corner of South Mill and East Hopkins. The 1,400 square foot space is in a prime location in the heart of downtown Aspen, one block from the historic Hotel Jerome, and shoppers will be delighted by window displays along Mill and Hopkins streets. It is the first new retail location for Peruvian Connection in three years, but a space that has been a long time in the making. Ive been collecting antique furniture and fixtures for this space long before we had a physical address, said Annie Hurlbut, founder of Peruvian Connection. It has been a dream of mine to open a store in Aspen for years. Its this special place where both international travelers and those that live in the area full-time will appreciate the luxury and affordability of our artisan-made designs. Like all Peruvian Connection stores, the Aspen location will feature relics from Peru and many antique pieces, including an Art-Deco era chandelier. Founder, Annie Hurlbut, personally curated the antiques and designed the store to reflect her love of global art and culture. Peruvian Connection will celebrate the opening of the newest location with an invite-only grand opening celebration on December 6, 2018. The grand opening event will be a fundraiser for the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet . Peruvian Connection also has a retail store in Santa Fe and the partnership was a natural fit. Peruvian Connection is a physical display of art as fashion, said Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. The Aspen community is extremely excited to welcome them and we are honored they chose the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet as a partner. The Aspen location opens just in time for the busy ski and holiday seasons and Peruvian Connection looks forward to being part of the community for many years to come. Other Peruvian Connection store locations include: New York, London, Chicago, Santa Fe, Boston, Washington D.C., and Kansas City. About Peruvian Connection Peruvian Connection was founded in 1976 by Annie Hurlbut and her mother, Biddy. An anthropologist by trade, Annie was fascinated by the extraordinary hand-woven pieces she found in the markets while studying in the Andes. After giving her mother a luxurious Peruvian alpaca sweater coat trimmed with long-haired alpaca fur, friends and family wanted to purchase the design as well. They started importing a few sweaters, then created a catalog and more than 40 years later Peruvian Connections collections are available in the brands retail stores, online and by catalog. Today, each piece is created by an extraordinary group of designers, then made by artisans in Peru from Andean luxury fibers, including the finest alpaca and pima cotton. Peruvian Connection releases five internationally renowned collections each year. For more information please visit PeruvianConnection.com . Follow us at facebook.com/peruvianconnection1976/ and on Instagram @peruvianconnection . Media Contact: Jenn McFerron Sloan 816-468-6802 jenn@commodditiesinc.com English Latvian Preliminary consolidated results of JSC Olainfarm for October 2018 show that companys sales have reached 12.78 million euros, which represents an increase by 34% compared to the same period of 2017. Over the ten-month period, sales of the Olainfarm Group have increased by 7%, in comparison with the corresponding period of 2017, and reached 101.8 million euros. In the ten months Olainfarm Group has sold its products in 52 markets. Consolidated data The biggest sales increase in October was achieved in Kazakhstan, where sales grew by 447%. Significant growth was also reached in India and Belarus where sales grew accordingly by 330% and 189%. The three major sales markets of Olainfarm Group during the October 2018 were Russia, Latvia and Belarus. In October Olainfarm Group sold its products in 35 countries worldwide. October 2018, consolidated sales Sales, thsnd. EUR Changes to October 2017 Share in total sales Russia 3 900 14% 31% Latvia 3 374 23% 26% Belarus 1 498 189% 12% Ukraine 1 147 NA 9% Kazakhstan 510 447% 4% Uzbekistan 409 NA 3% Spain 276 NA 2% Lithuania 231 70% 2% India 206 330% 2% Poland 174 -20% 1% Other 1 060 -9% 8% Total 12 784 34% 100% In ten months of 2017, according to the preliminary results, the consolidated sales of JSC Olainfarm reached 101,8 million euros, which represents an increase by 7% compared to ten months of 2017. The biggest sales increase during this period was achieved in Belarus, where sales increased by 52%. Sales to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan increased by 45% and 43% accordingly. Minor sales reduction by 5% took place in Russia. The major sales markets of Olainfarm Group during the ten-month period were Russia, Latvia and Belarus. 10 months of 2018, consolidated sales Sales, thsnd. EUR Changes to 10 months of 2017 Share in total sales Russia 30 261 -5% 30% Latvia 28 704 18% 28% Ukraine 12 463 52% 12% Belarus 9 331 9% 9% The Netherlands 2 779 2% 3% Kazakhstan 2 023 45% 2% Germany 1 607 3% 2% Uzbekistan 1 561 23% 2% Lithuania 1 259 3% 1% Poland 1 184 43% 1% Other 10 622 -19% 10% Total 101 794 7% 100% Unconsolidated data According to unconsolidated preliminary results, sales of JSC Olainfarm in October 2018 were 9.8 million euros, which represents the growth by 28% compared to October 2017. The biggest sales increase was achieved in India, Kazakhstan and Belarus where sales grew accordingly by 330%, 255% and 142% vs. the October of 2017. Biggest sales reduction in October was experienced in Germany, where sales shrunk by 31%. All the major markets of the JSC Olainfarm (Russia, Latvia and Belarus) had performed with plus sign in October and had a positive impact on total sales results. During October 2018 JSC Olainfarm sold its products to 33 global markets. October 2018, unconsolidated sales Sales, thsnd. EUR Changes to October 2018 Share in total sales Russia 3 393 8% 35% Latvia 1 609 11% 16% Belarus 1 255 142% 13% Ukraine 1 147 2% 12% Uzbekistan 409 NA 4% Kazakhstan 331 255% 3% Spain 276 NA 3% India 206 330% 2% Lithuania 183 60% 2% Germany 163 -31% 2% Other 819 -9% 8% Total 9 800 28% 100% According to preliminary unconsolidated results, sales of JSC Olainfarm in ten months of 2018 reached 77,41 million euros, which represents an increase by 2% compared to the ten months of 2017. The biggest sales increase during this period was achieved in Tajikistan, where sales grew by 46%. Sales to Uzbekistan increased by 45%. Biggest sales reduction was experienced in Russia, where it shrunk by 10%. The core sales markets of JSC Olainfarm during the ten-month period were Russia, Latvia and Belarus. In total in ten months of 2018, JSC Olainfarm sold its products to 46 countries worldwide. 10 months of 2018, unconsolidated sales Sales, thsnd. EUR Changes to ten months of 2016 Share in total sales Russia 26 200 -10% 34% Latvia 14 068 17% 18% Belarus 10 347 27% 13% Ukraine 9 181 10% 12% Uzbekistan 2 023 45% 3% Kazakhstan 1 870 NA% 2% Germany 1 592 4% 2% Lithuania 1 439 37% 2% Tajikistan 1 164 46% 2% Poland 921 -6% 1% Other 8 608 -20% 11% Total 77 415 2% 100% Results of The Largest Daughter Companies Sales of pharmacies of SIA Latvijas Aptieka in October 2018 were 2.16 million euros remaining at the level of the previous year. Sixty-nine pharmacies were operating during October. Sales of SIA Silvanols in October 2018 were 0.7 million euros, which represents a growth by 75% compared to the same period of 2017. Combined sales of SIA Tonus Elast and Elast Medikl in October reached 1 million euros, which represents an increase by 61% vs. to October 2017. Combined sales of healthcare companies Diamed and Olainmed in October reached 0.25 million euros, but sales of NPK Biotest in October 2018 - 0.20 million euros. Sales of pharmacies of SIA Latvijas Aptieka in 10 months of 2018 reached 19.4 million euros, which represents an increase by 10% compared to the ten months of 2017. Sales of SIA Silvanols during the reporting period of 10 month reached 4.8 million euros, which represents an increase by 12%. Combined sales of SIA Tonus Elast and Elast Medikl in ten months reached 8.1 million euros, that is for 19% more then in the corresponding period of 2017. Combined sales of healthcare companies Diamed and Olainmed in ten-month period reached 2.1 million euros, but sales of NPK Biotest 1.9 million euros. According to the estimates of JSC Olainfarm, the unconsolidated turnover of the company in 2018 could reach 96 million euros, while the consolidated turnover - 130 million euros. According to these preliminary sales numbers, in the ten months of 2018 the company has met 80,6% of the annual target for unconsolidated sales and 78% of the annual target for consolidated sales. JSC Olainfarm is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Latvia with more than 45 years of experience in production of medication and chemical and pharmaceutical products. A basic principle of company's operations is to produce reliable and effective top - quality products for Latvia and the rest of the world. Products made by the Group are being exported to more than 60 countries of the world, including the Baltics, Russia, other CIS, Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BCs Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services report today recommends once again that PST be applied to sugary drinks. This is a step in the right direction. There is a strong scientific consensus that excessive sugary drink intake is a major risk factor for the development of obesity in both children and adults. Having obesity increases ones risk of chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke and 13 different cancers. Sugary drink overconsumption is also an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart disease, regardless of weight status. Sugary drink consumption in BC is estimated to trigger health care costs of 130 million dollars per year, says Dr. Tom Warshawski, pediatrician and chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation. However, sugary drinks are not subject to the PST, the major source of provincial revenue used to pay health care costs. This product is clearly not paying its fair share of the health care costs it triggers. Its time to remove the special status sugary drinks unfairly enjoy and apply the PST to these products. This measure would also be a useful step in discouraging the consumption of sugary drinks, adds Dr. Warshawski. For many years the Childhood Obesity Foundation has been calling on the government of British Columbia to extend the PST to include sugary drinks by removing the exemption this product currently enjoys. The Childhood Obesity Foundation believes that this measure will reduce consumption, facilitate personal responsibility and would garner, at minimum, over $30 million in revenue. Proceeds from taxing sugary drinks could partially recover the health care costs triggered by excessive sugary drink consumption. The Childhood Obesity Foundation recommends that proceeds be used to fund health promotion initiatives in BC. About the Childhood Obesity Foundation The mission of the Childhood Obesity Foundation is to lead a societal shift toward healthy eating and active lifestyles to promote childhood healthy weights and the resulting physical and emotional benefits. The vision of the Childhood Obesity Foundation is children and youth of Canada free of chronic disease that ensue from unhealthy weights. childhoodobesityfoundation.ca For more information or interviews with Dr. Warshawski, please contact: Childhood Obesity Foundation 604-251-2229 info@childhoodobesityfoundation.ca orthographic observation are were anger for repeatedly raising the issue over and over again and preventing the raw wounds from earlier battles from ever beginning to heal. On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be the rate that trees grow the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and southern Indian alphabets. Thank you Daagh for your time on GMAT Club and all your contributions! Thank you for everything you did! Your work will remain a great tribute to you here on GMAT Club ! -bb -bb Signature Read More Among the skills tested on the standardized tests given to military pilots are orthographic imagination, the name given to the ability to visualize the appearance of objects from different angles.rishab:The way to read this inverted sentence is: Orthographic imagination are among the skills tested on the standardized tests given to military pilots, the name given to the ability to visualize the appearance of objects from different angles.Now you may see whyis incorrect. So imagination is the subject and not the entire clause before the verb 'are'.Other examples:1. Among the emotions on display in the negotiating room(A) were anger for repeatedly raising the issue over and over again and preventing the raw wounds from earlier battles from ever beginning to heal(B) was anger for repeatedly raising the issue and preventing the raw wounds from earlier battles from ever beginning to heal(C) were anger over repeatedly raising the issue and preventing the raw wounds from earlier battles to begin healing(D) was anger about the issue, which was raised over and over, and preventing the wounds from earlier battles, still raw, to begin healing(E) were anger about the issue, which was raised repeatedly, and preventing the raw wounds from earlier battles to begin to healAnswer B2., as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks.A. On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be the rate that trees growB. On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are, it is believed, the rate of tree growthC. On Earth, the rate at which trees grow is believed to be among the surest indications of sunspot cyclesD. Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles, believed to be the tree growth rateE. Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles is believed to be the rate at which trees growAns: E.3. The Achaemenid empire of Persia reached the Indus Valley in the fifth century B.C., bringing(A) the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and(B) the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the(C) with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the(D) with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and(E) with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern andAns: C._________________ Re: Anyone wishing to be considered for the position should send [ #permalink Ozmba wrote: 69. Anyone wishing to be considered for the position should send in their resumes before the deadline on October 10. A) send in their resumes B) send their resumes in C) send in their resume D) send their resume in E) send in his resume Please post your explanation with the answer.. Thanks Anyone is Singular Pronoun. So you can't use their. Only choice left out is "E" evidence of evidence of evidence that evidence of evidence of evidence that evidence that that a star that was as bright as the full moon exploding into view 340,000 years ago, emitting of people initially registering emotions like sadness or anger in much the same way as I was recently asked about the difference between "evidence of" and "evidence that", and whether "evidence of" can ever be logically correct. So here's the take on these terms!Evidence of should be followed by a noun, and this noun should be the entity whose existence has been proved by the evidence. For example: Astronomers have discoveredlife on Mars. CORRECT Scientists have discoveredthe dinosaurs being herbivores. INCORRECT Scientists have discoveredthe dinosaurs were herbivores. CORRECTIn the first sentence above, astronomers discovered evidence about something: about life on Mars. This meaning is logically correct. But in the second sentence, evidence is followed by the dinosaurs. Now, scientists did not discover evidence that proved "the dinosaurs". The evidence they discovered showed them that the dinosaurs were herbivores. This meaning is not brought out precisely in this sentence, since being herbivores is a modifier for dinosaurs. While this kind of usage is quite common in everyday use, official questions are very precise, and the correct answers are extremely unlikely to allow this imprecise use of an idiom. So, the third sentence makes the intended meaning far more precise by replacing evidence of with evidence that, and following it up with a clause that conveys the meaning clearly.Here are some more typical ways in which evidence of and evidence that are used: Experts examining the power plant found noleaks. The economy has showna slowdown in the recent past. The government has insisted that there is nothe recent employment cuts were targeted at specific industries. Geologists have discoveredsome of the glaciers in the Arctic have survived previous eras of global warming.Examining how these sentences are constructed, we can see that evidence of is typically followed by a noun, whereas evidence that is followed by a clause. So the usage of these terms depends on the intended meaning of the sentence. If we mean that we have found evidence of a noun, we use evidence of. If we mean that we have found evidence of a particular action, we use evidence that followed by a clause.Try applying this understanding to these official questions:1. Astronomers have uncovered evidencedazzling radiation that could have disrupted Earth's protective ozone layer and sunburned our Stone Age ancestors.A. that a star that was as bright as the full moon exploding into view 340,000 years ago, emittingB. that a star as bright as the full moon exploded into view 340,000 years ago, emittingC. of a star that was as bright as the full moon exploding into view 340,000 years ago and that it emittedD. of a star as bright as the full moon, exploding into view 340,000 years ago and emittingE. of a star as bright as the full moon that exploded into view 340,000 years ago and that emitted2. Scientists have found new evidenceheartburnby monitoring what's going on within their bodies.A. of people initially registering emotions like sadness or anger in much the same way asB. of people initially registering emotions such as sadness or anger much the same as experiencingC. that people initially register emotions such as sadness or anger in much the same way as they experienceD. that a person initially registers emotions such as sadness or anger much the same way as experiencingE. that a person initially registers emotions like sadness or anger much the same asI hope this understanding helps!Meghna_________________ IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. Photo by Lee Milner ALPLM director Alan Lowe, left, testifies Tuesday alongside state historian Sam Wheeler. A stovepipe hat that purportedly belonged to the Great Emancipator isnt the only artifact at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum that needs further research to flesh out provenance, museum officials acknowledged Tuesday under questioning by state lawmakers. Eleven years after an appraiser raised questions about the authenticity of the hat and other items that were part of a $23 million purchase of artifacts by the museums private foundation from a member of the foundations board, ALPLM director Alan Lowe and state historian Sam Wheeler said that the institution has not studied the provenance of a clock that purportedly was in Lincolns law office and a fan that Mary Todd Lincoln allegedly took to Fords Theater. Prior to the 2007 purchase, appraiser Seth Kaller in an email to foundation and museum officials predicted, correctly, that provenance questions would be raised about the hat, the clock and the fan. Quoting from Kallers email, State Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, on Tuesday asked those questions when officials from the foundation and the ALPLM appeared before the House Tourism, Hospitality and Craft Industries Committee. Im just very curious about what youve done further and whether or not this collection is as authentic as its supposed to be, Ives said. Wheeler said that the museum has spent two months researching whether the hat is authentic, with inquiries extending as far as the National Archives in Washington, D.C. He said that his staff has read through thousands of newspapers in a so-far unsuccessful attempt to prove the hat actually belonged to Lincoln. When its going to be completed, I dont know, Wheeler said. Were really early in the process. The hats authenticity was publicly called into question five years ago, when the Chicago Sun-Times reported that a story of Lincoln giving the hat to a political supporter in Washington, D.C., was dicey because there was no evidence that the recipient had been in the nations capital while Lincoln was president. Provenance questions heated up last summer, when WBEZ radio in Chicago reported that DNA testing on the hat and an evaluation by historians, both done quietly, failed to prove the relic ever graced Lincolns head. Wheeler and Lowe said that the museum plans to further study the provenance of the clock and fan. Mary Todd Lincoln gave the fan to someone who lived near her in Chicago, Wheeler asserted during the hearing. More research, frankly is warranted there, Wheeler told lawmakers in reference to the clock, which was assigned a value of $325,000 in an inventory of nearly 1,500 documents and artifacts that the foundation bought from Louise Taper, who was then on the foundation board, in 2007. Unable to pay off a bank loan used to purchase the items, the foundation is asking the state for more than $9 million to settle the debt. After the hearing, Lowe said that the museum will further study provenance of both the fan and the clock, but the hat comes first. We will proceed to those next two after we do what we can do with the hat, the museum director said. Why has it taken more than a decade after Kaller raised questions for the institution to closely examine provenance issues? In large part, thats because we run a very busy institution, Lowe answered. Every day, were running a museum and library. Sam (Wheeler) and his staff have a ton of other things to do in terms of overseeing the research and collections at the library. We focused first on the hat. We will turn to the clock and fan. Thats part of what we do, but its not the only thing we do. Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, criticized the museum foundation for what he said has been a lack of transparency. He also blasted a visit to the museum by FBI agents who conducted DNA testing on the hat. According to the WBEZ report, the 2015 visit was kept under wraps. Lowe has said that he wasnt informed about the DNA testing until this year, and he has criticized the foundation for not telling him sooner. I have tried to be helpful, Butler said. What has happened in the last several months is an absolute shame. Contact Bruce Rushton at brushton@illinoistimes.com. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ About Me William Kelly I am a freelance writer, journalist and historian whose major interests are music and history, with a special emphasis on the assassination of President Kennedy. View my complete profile Blog Archive A recent Guardian article, Terrorist, cultists or champions of Iranian democracy? written by Arron Reza Merat and published on November 9th is one such example. Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former European Parliament president and current head of the In Search of Justice committee representing 4,000 MPs across the globe, wrote the following in his letter in responding to the Guardians bogus allegations against the MEK: The Guardians November 9th piece, Terrorists, cultists or champions of Iranian democracy? The wild wild story of the MEK, is a disgraceful example of western media serving the interests of the religious, terrorist dictatorship ruling Iran. Dr. Vidal added: Devoting three pages of a paper once admired as the voice of dissidents and freedom fighters to a barrage of stale and absolutely false allegations is a stain on Europes free press. Former MEP Struan Stevenson, known for his expertise on Iranian affairs and especially MEK history in Iraq and now Albania, has also written to the Guardian saying: Actually, Arron Merat, the author of the article is a well-known advocate of the clerical regime and its president Hassan Rouhani, and an activist against the PMOI/MEK. Furthermore, a letter written by a number of MEP responding to the Guardians lies against the Iranian opposition MEK reads in part: Demonizing and defaming opposition forces on behalf of dictatorships is a well-known tactic and is nothing new. However, surprising is Guardian and Arron Merat providing services and whitewashing the face of the religious fascism ruling Iran, by parroting the most hideous allegations against the MEK, an organization that has been struggling against two dictatorships for more than 50 years. Arron Merats sources in the Guardian piece are individuals described as MEK defectors. It is worth noting that to this day many institutions in the U.S. and Europe have published numerous reports on recruiting methods used by the Iranian regimes Ministry of Intelligence & Security to absorb MEK defectors, to ultimately use them against the opposition. Of course, Arron Merat has made it clear that he knowingly and under orders has cited certain individuals to publish what the MOIS has ordered. Mr. Stevenson writes in another portion of his letter: The author also relies only on Iranian individuals abroad with known ties to the regime and its Intelligence Ministry to accuse the Iranian opposition of atrocities and confirm them. Mr. Stevenson added: For example, one of the individuals who has been quoted in the article is Ms Batoul Soltani. She left Camp Ashraf, the home of PMOI / MEK members in Iraq, in 2006 and went to the temporary camp controlled by the US forces. She was contacted at the venue by Irans Intelligence Ministry (MOIS) and returned to Iran in January 2008 through the Red Cross. Colonel Leo McCloskey (retired), who was the commander of the U.S. temporary camp outside Camp Ashraf (JIATIF) at the time (2008). In a speech in Paris on 24 March 2012, Colonel McCloskey revealed that Ms Soltani had returned to Iraq and Camp Ashraf with an Iranian passport adding that she was there at the behest of Quds Force as an agent of the Iranian government. Stevenson further observes: This reality disqualifies her as an independent and objective source, which the author chooses not to mention for the readers so that they can form an information view. Arron Merat accuses the MEK of terrorism while the highest courts in the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, France and other countries have ruled these allegations as baseless and ordered the MEKs delisting. On May 11, 2011 the French court described the MEK as being involved in a justified struggle for freedom. Legal rulings issued by international courts provide the utmost legitimacy for the MEK as a just resistance movement against the religious dictatorship ruling Iran. As a reminder, the Iranian regime is described as the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism. The terror allegations raised against the MEK are now heard only from the religious dictatorship ruling Iran. Of course, the Guardian and Arron Merat have added their voice to Tehrans mullahs. While the mullahs president Hassan Rouhani unsuccessfully pleaded with his French counterpart to restrict the MEK activities and Iranian Regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the MEK as the main force behind the Iranian uprising, Arron Merat in his Guardian piece has gone even further than the mullahs dictatorship and claimed the MEK lack any support inside Iran. If the MEK truly lacked any support inside Iran, the question is why are Irans mullahs so utterly terrified of the MEK and why has Guardian sent its reporter to Albania to find MEK defectors and publish a 6,700-word report about an isolated Iranian group? Of course, the answer is clear. The assigned article relays MOIS against the PMOI / MEK, repeatedly parroted for the past four decades. The persistence of these lies cannot be attributed to lack of knowledge in regards to facts about the MEK, especially given that a PMOI / MEK press spokesman addressed most of the despicable allegations on the 2nd of October and 1st of November in letters addressed to senior editors of The Guardian. Mr. Stevensons letter to the Guardian also reads: Building on such deceptive foundation, the author goes on to level one baseless allegation against the PMOI after another omitting the fact that these disinformation have long been spread by the Iran regimes Intelligence Ministry and have been debunked on many previous occasions by both the PMOI, independent researchers and parliamentarians in UK and EU, including in letters by the late Lord Slynn, the late Lord Corbett and former Home Secretary, the late Lord Waddington to name a few. Reza Arron Merat conveyed an unwritten conclusion to The Guardian that clearly seeks to legitimize a crackdown and massacre of the PMOI / MEK. Ali Fallahian, the regimes notorious former MOIS minister, said in a TV interview on 9 July 2017: The MOIS needs cover for its efforts to gather intelligence inside and outside the country. We would not dispatch an intelligence agent to Germany or the United States who would say I am from the MOIS. A trader or journalist cover is required. Reza Merat is a known advocate of the regime in general and Hassan Rouhani in particular, and he appeases the regime by expressing hysterical opposition to the PMOI / MEK. It is clear that the mullahs religious dictatorship in Iran is facing a definite overthrow. The Iranian people have launched an uprising against this regime in its entirety, and this movement has continued non-stop. The protesters objective is to overthrow the mullahs regime and placing a popular government in power. The Iranian Resistance and the MEK have been able to inspire hope, resistance and perseverance in Irans youths against this regime, and literally become the engine of Iranian protesters. In addition to support inside Iran, the MEK enjoys vast international support and is recognized as a democratic alternative to the dictatorship of the mullahs. The Iranian regime has lost the golden opportunity provided through three decades of appeasement, and especially during the Obama years. The mullahs conspiracy to completely annihilate the MEK in Iraq failed miserably with the MEK members full relocation to Albania and other European countries in 2016. Washingtons Iran policy has changed and the appeasement era is over. Crippling sanctions imposed by Washington are targeting the Iranian regime and the mullahs are facing a devastating impasse. The efforts placed by pro-appeasement policy supporters in Europe will no longer provide the remedies the Iranian regime so desperately needs. With each passing day more foreign companies are leaving Iran. While the Iranian regimes economy is based on oil exports, oil buyers are severely cutting back on their on their imports due to U.S. sanctions. This regimes days are numbered. The MEK alternative, more powerful than ever before, enjoys the support of the Iranian people and protesters inside the country. Iran, in contrast to other Middle East countries, has a democratic alternative with a certain agenda for the future that is supported by thousands of dignitaries from across the globe. This is exactly why the Iranian regime is facing a dead-end and is resorting to any measures to relay a message claiming it has no such alternative. In line, the mullahs are paying huge amounts of money to buy the services of various reporters and media outlets who still yearn for the appeasement era and doing business with this regime. Tehran is guiding a demonizing campaign against the MEK. Pro-appeasement figures are falling in line against a firm policy on Tehran and are parallel to the Iranian regime in demonizing the MEK. Guardian and Arron Merat are trampling the basic principles of democracy and human rights, and are repeating allegations directed by the MOIS, considered the most notorious Iranian regime institution. The period of providing life ropes to the religious dictatorship ruling Iran through vicious and immoral attacks against the MEK democratic opposition launched by paid reporters and media outlets, and wash the mullahs bloody hands has come to an end. Of course, Iranian regime state media has republished the Guardians ridiculous lies to pave the path for the domestic crackdown of ongoing protests and justifying the massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, mostly MEK members and supporters. However, the Guardian and its anti-MEK writer must understand that the Iranian peoples uprising against the mullahs religious autocracy will have the final word. Devoting three pages of a paper once admired as the voice of dissidents and freedom fighters to a barrage of stale and absolutely false allegations is a stain on Europes free press. Joseph Goebbels once famously said, Tell a lie thats big enough, and repeat it often enough, and the whole world will believe it. Apparently, author Reza Arron Merat has taken a page out of Goebbels playbook. The timing of this hit-piece also conveys its sinister intentions. The Tehran regime is stuck in the mud and sinking fast. Its terrorist plots in Albania, France, the United States and Denmark were foiled in March, June, August and October, respectively. One of its diplomats is jailed in Belgium, three diplomats have been expelled from France and the Netherlands, and the terrorist arrested in Denmark has been exposed as being a bosom buddy of the mullahs ambassador in Norway. There have been ongoing protests across Iran since the beginning of the year. The mullahs president unsuccessfully pleaded with his French counterpart to restrict the activities of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/EMK), the movements acknowledged coordinator, while Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the MEK as the foot soldiers of the uprising. Meanwhile, the regimes scandalous manipulation of Facebook and Twitter to further its repression and censorship has become the talk of the town. It is in this context that The Guardian stepped forward to throw Tehrans religious dictatorship a lifeline. But its too little, too late; The Guardian has only entangled itself. In two letters, on Oct. 2 and Nov. 1, 2018, the MEKs press spokesman replied to virtually all of the lies and fabrications in the Nov. 9 piece. Those letters had been sent to the editor and other top brass in The Guardian by members of parliament, who had been approached by Merat. An iota of journalistic integrity would have prompted the publication of those letters as a rebuttal to Merats 6,500-word hit-piece. Better late than never, of course. If The Guardian wishes to portray itself as even minimally impartial it should publish this letter in its next issue. Otherwise, people may well wonder whether theres any connection between The Guardians financial woes and its publication of a classic case of yellow journalism, essentially a propaganda statement by the Iranian regime to demonize its legitimate alternative. Merats narrative of the foiled terror plot against the major gathering of Iranians in Paris on June 30 clearly demonstrates the biased nature of the piece. He writes: One day, after the conference, the MEK accused Tehran of plotting a bomb attack against the event, following the arrest of four suspects including an unnamed Iranian diplomat in Belgium, Germany and France. Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, rejected claims of Irans involvement and described the accusations as a sinister false flag ploy. The distortion is blatant. It was the Belgian Federal Prosecutors Office and Police, which first issued a statement on July 2 two days after the event, announcing the arrest in Belgium of two terrorists who were planning to bomb the Paris gathering. The statement added that an Iranian diplomat had also been detained in Germany. Such an obvious inversion of truth aims only to whitewash a potentially major massacre at an event attended by 100,000 people, thereby clearing the grounds for further attacks. As Bertolt Brecht once observed, If you dont know the truth, you are just stupid. If you know the truth and call it a lie, you are a criminal. Documents on the history of collaboration with Irans Intelligence Ministry by individuals cited by Merat as former members of the MEK have been published on multiple occasions. In October 2017, the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ) published a detailed report about these characters, including Batoul Soltani, who left Camp Ashraf in December 2006 and went to the U.S. forces stationed in TIPF: During her time in TIPF, she was gradually recruited by the Iranian intelligence ministry (MOIS). Soltani was finally transferred from Iraq to Iran on 14 Jan 2008 under International Red Cross supervision. Astonishingly, only three weeks later, she was able to get an Iranian passport and entered Baghdad airport on 10 Feb. 2008. (A copy of her passport has been posted online.) Former U.S. Colonel Leo McCloskey, who was the JIATF Commander at Camp Ashraf in 2008, later testified about Soltanis connection with Irans terrorist Quds force (a branch of Islamic Revolutionary Guards IRGC), the ISJ report wrote. McCloskey has also exposed other Intelligence Ministry operatives involved in the demonization campaign against the MEK and quoted by Merat in his piece. The preposterous statements by the female agents of the regime whom Merat interviewed reflect the Iranian regimes rage at the role of MEK women in the struggle. The women whom I have met in Camp Ashraf in Iraq, Albania, France, Belgium, Germany and many other countries, and the hundreds at various ranks within the Resistance to whom I have privately spoken, are remarkable embodiments of courage, patriotism and responsibility. In my adult life, as a professor, as a party leader and as the vice president of the European Parliament, I have never seen such a collection of women with such cohesiveness and dignity. The Guardian has stabbed the free press in the back with its helping hand to the religious fascism which 80 million Iranians are determined to overthrow. It has attacked Irans militant and freedom-seeking women with the same gutter lexicon uttered by the mullahs. This is as shameful as a British paper acting as a mouthpiece of Adolf Hitler in the 1930s and 1940s. I close by recalling the apt words of Mahatma Gandhi: An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it. Alejo Vidal-Quadras was vice president of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2014. He was the honorary president of Friends of a Free Iran intergroup in the European Parliament and is currently the president of the Brussels-based International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ). Source: The Daily Caller Thursday, November 15, 2018 ABQ GOP Senators: Could They Suffer Same Fate As Their House Counterparts? Plus: Jennings Back To Roundhouse? And: The New Doctor In The House After the Election Night rubble was cleared away observers were startled to see that BernCo now has only one GOP state representatives in its delegation. Could the same happen to the R Senators in '20 with an energized Dem Party and Trump seeking re-election? And if so, what can they do to get ahead of the curve? A discussion with GOP consultants led to a couple of tips for these possibly at risk lawmakers: --Vote for the proposed constitutional amendment that would tap a portion of the state's $18 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund for early childhood education. The amendment would be sent to the voters for their approval so the senators could argue that they are not voting for the amendment at the ballot box but that the people have the right to make the final decision. That could reduce the risk considerably, if the blue wave starts rolling again. --Another safe vote the GOP advisers said the four could make is to increase teacher pay. The argument being that a pay increase is not going to generate much emotion but votes against an increase could get the Dem juices flowing in the ABQ area districts. It will be interesting indeed to watch the votes of the "BernCo GOP Four" in the 60 day session that kicks off in January. A JENNINGS RETURN? While in Santa Fe last weekend speaking to Jennings, defeated by the Gov. Martinez political machine in 2012, is an old Senate hand who might be able to smooth relations between the Fourth Floor and conservative Dems. On the other hand he could be perceived as outdated and distrusted because he is an original member of the conservative coalition that so displeases many House Democrats who have newfound muscle. They may want the Governor to turn the page on Jennings and start a new chapter since voters empowered so many new faces. WHO'S THE CHIEF? At the Dem caucus there was scuttlebutt about the as of yet unknown individual many of the lawmakers will be dealing with most in the executive branch--the new Governor's chief of staff. We've previously blogged that Lawrence Rael, a longtime ABQ City Hall administrator and a former member of Senator Bingaman's staff, is one name being mentioned. But there are others, including THE DOCTOR IS IN Bill Pratt State House members attending their recent post-election caucus were extra curious about one of their newest members--82 year old retired physician He came to the meeting with a walker because he has nerve damage but he is not in pain and is really as sharp as a tack. He obviously enjoyed being there. Pratt upset Republican Bob Godshall in a traditionally Republican House district in the ABQ NE Heights. Will he be up for running for re-election in 2020 and if so can he win again? No one is going to count him out this time. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018 Was the 2018 Blue Tsunami in Big Bernalillo County a warning for the ABQ area GOP state senators in 2020 when they will be up for re-election? Caution argues that Senators Mark Moores, Sander Rue, Candace Gould and Bill Payne treat it that way.After the Election Night rubble was cleared away observers were startled to see that BernCo now has only one GOP state representatives in its delegation. Could the same happen to the R Senators in '20 with an energized Dem Party and Trump seeking re-election? And if so, what can they do to get ahead of the curve?A discussion with GOP consultants led to a couple of tips for these possibly at risk lawmakers:--Vote for the proposed constitutional amendment that would tap a portion of the state's $18 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund for early childhood education. The amendment would be sent to the voters for their approval so the senators could argue that they are not voting for the amendment at the ballot box but that the people have the right to make the final decision. That could reduce the risk considerably, if the blue wave starts rolling again.--Another safe vote the GOP advisers said the four could make is to increase teacher pay. The argument being that a pay increase is not going to generate much emotion but votes against an increase could get the Dem juices flowing in the ABQ area districts.It will be interesting indeed to watch the votes of the "BernCo GOP Four" in the 60 day session that kicks off in January.While in Santa Fe last weekend speaking to Journey Santa Fe talk was in the air of a possible return to the Roundhouse of former longtime Dem Roswell State Senator Tim Jennings. This time it would be as the Governor' s liaison with the Senate. That drew mixed reviews.Jennings, defeated by the Gov. Martinez political machine in 2012, is an old Senate hand who might be able to smooth relations between the Fourth Floor and conservative Dems. On the other hand he could be perceived as outdated and distrusted because he is an original member of the conservative coalition that so displeases many House Democrats who have newfound muscle. They may want the Governor to turn the page on Jennings and start a new chapter since voters empowered so many new faces.At the Dem caucus there was scuttlebutt about the as of yet unknown individual many of the lawmakers will be dealing with most in the executive branch--the new Governor's chief of staff.We've previously blogged that Lawrence Rael, a longtime ABQ City Hall administrator and a former member of Senator Bingaman's staff, is one name being mentioned. But there are others, including James Jimenez who headed the Department of Finance under Gov. Richardson and also served as his Chief of Staff. ABQ Dem State Rep. Deborah Armstrong, a BFF of MLG's, is not under consideration for the position, according to legislative insiders. But another woman could surface as a favorite.State House members attending their recent post-election caucus were extra curious about one of their newest members--82 year old retired physician Bill Pratt . We get this from one of them:Pratt upset Republican Bob Godshall in a traditionally Republican House district in the ABQ NE Heights. Will he be up for running for re-election in 2020 and if so can he win again? No one is going to count him out this time.This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Links HOME E-MAIL ME About Joe Google News Real Clear Politics Huffington Post Drudge Report The Politico NM TV stations Gov. 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November 11th, 2018 Article Source There are two types of synagogues: those that believe in G-d and those that believe in government. After the mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, the government synagogues turned to the government with calls for gun control. And those that believe in G-d, turned to the Almighty. And then, trusting in the Almighty to stand with them against danger, they went out and got their guns. Morning services at the synagogue these days begin and end with guns, with talk of tactical courses, firing ranges and concealed carry permits. If someone comes to kill you, get up early to kill him first, the Gemara, the Babylonian Talmud, that massive encyclopedic work codifying Jewish law, advises. In synagogues across America, the teachers, actuaries and small businessmen rising early for morning prayers are preparing for a mass shooting attack. Every synagogue I have been to lately has members who carry concealed firearms. Members are attending security courses, training to identify, disarm or kill active shooters, while also preparing for the ugly aftermath of another synagogue massacre. CPR courses. Stop the bleed. Triage. While one faction of American Jews, the noisesome lefty one, shouts about gun control, the quieter, religious one, is choosing self-defense over gun control, and preparing to face another attack. ....... On 11/7/18 we reported on a significant increase in the uptake of training requests within the Jewish community - almost entirely as a response to the terrible synagogue murders of 10/27/18. Greenfield astutely observes that there are two distinct camps when it comes to Jews and self defense - those who are believers and those who 'worship' government, the latter being the groups who refuse to accept anything that might involve taking up arms as a means of protection. The divide will continue but it does seem for some that sensibility may prevail. Back to Top - PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde wants Ang Probinsyano to take action in his complaints - The police official called out the show for its bad portrayal of PNP - Albayalde said he will write a letter to MTRCB and the producer of the teleserye PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The countrys top-rating show Ang Probinsyano is once again under fire for the alleged bad impression that it gives to the name of the Philippine National Police (PNP). KAMI learned that the said teleserye featured both ordinary and high-ranking officials of the armed forces who are involved in corruption and rampant use of power for their own interests. Because of this, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde expressed in a press briefing that what is shown in the drama series is unfair for the policemen in the country. He also claimed that that the activities of PNP featured in the teleserye do not really happen inside the organization. Masyadong hindi na pangkaraniwan na nangyayari and it gives us a bad impression actually. Its a bit unfair sa PNP when you portray yung mga ganung activity that doesnt really happen sa organization namin, the police official quipped. Its very disturbing and para kasing ang nakikita ng mga tao na parang instant yung justice, parang its okay. Its not. We are a nation of laws, not of men, he added. Since the images of the fictional PNP Chief and President of the Republic in Ang Probinsyano are evil and cold-blooded ones, Albayalde said it ruins how people see the supposedly respected offices in the Philippines. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! Due to his complaints, the high-ranking official disclosed that he plans to take action and write to both the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTCRB) and the producer of the teleserye. "In fact, even the president there naapektuhan, e. In fact, even the Office of the President naapektuhan, "We had a previous letter to MTRCB already last September. Now we will be writing both the production outfit and the MTRCB, Albayalde revealed what exactly he wants to happen to ensure that there will be no unfairness in the show. He stated that he wants a more realistic portrayal of the roles of policemen especially in the case of the fictional PNP Chief. We want to probably have an audience and probably kung hindi man nila matigil yun, e, mabago man lang yung pagpoportray sa PNP. Yung the Chief PNP himself is a villain hindi naman po siguro kailanman nangyari sa amin. In reality, well hindi pwedeng mangyari 'yan, he explained. "Lets be realistic. Kung 'yan ay isang teleserye na pwedeng mangyari sa pangaraw-araw medyo malayo naman yung chief PNP himself na siya yung kontrabidang lumalabas, he added. In a previous article by , a netizen called out the top-rating teleserye for using the family photo of Marian, Dingdong, and Zia Dantes in its episodes. Ang Probinsyano is a drama series aired in ABS-CBN that features some of the major problems in the society. It has been airing for 3 years already and it is currently on its third book which is the political arc. POPULAR: Read more news about Ang Probinsyano! Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! The topic of this episode is a day we are waiting for the whole months. Yes, Im talking about the PayDay in the Philippines. Have you ever promised yourself to start making savings? Click Play to watch our hilarious expectations vs. reality video about PayDay in the Philippines. on HumanMeter! Source: Kami.com.ph G-d and Guns in the Synagogue By Daniel Greenfield. November 11th, 2018 Article Source There are two types of synagogues: those that believe in G-d and those that believe in government. After the mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, the government synagogues turned to the government with calls for gun control. And those that believe in G-d, turned to the Almighty. And then, trusting in the Almighty to stand with them against danger, they went out and got their guns. Morning services at the synagogue these days begin and end with guns, with talk of tactical courses, firing ranges and concealed carry permits. If someone comes to kill you, get up early to kill him first, the Gemara, the Babylonian Talmud, that massive encyclopedic work codifying Jewish law, advises. In synagogues across America, the teachers, actuaries and small businessmen rising early for morning prayers are preparing for a mass shooting attack. Every synagogue I have been to lately has members who carry concealed firearms. Members are attending security courses, training to identify, disarm or kill active shooters, while also preparing for the ugly aftermath of another synagogue massacre. CPR courses. Stop the bleed. Triage. While one faction of American Jews, the noisesome lefty one, shouts about gun control, the quieter, religious one, is choosing self-defense over gun control, and preparing to face another attack. After the Pittsburgh shooting, the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco recycled a gun control tract from 1999 warning that, "14 young people below the age of 20 are killed by guns in this country every day". That talking point about inner city gang violence had nothing do with the mass shooting of unarmed Jewish worshipers, but establishment politics tend to run on lefty autopilot. But meanwhile in South Philly, far from San Fran, but all too close to the Pittsburgh massacre, religious Jews were going out and buying guns. I'm a daughter of a Holocaust survivor, a 61-year-old Jewish woman was quoted as saying. I lost all my aunts and uncles in the Holocaust, and I'm going to go down fighting. I'm not walking into a gas chamber. I'm not going to stand there like a sitting duck and get shot at. I refuse. Yonatan Stern, an IDF veteran running tactical training courses at Cherev Gideon (Gideons Sword), suggested that the demand is coming from the more politically and religiously conservative Jews. Meanwhile at a lefty protest in Philly, Rebecca Hornstein, a member of the If Now Now anti-Israel hate group, who backed anti-Semites like Keith Ellison and Linda Sarsour, claimed that nobody wanted guns. But quite a few real Jews did. The debate over firearms in synagogues has reached into Jewish communities from New York City to Philadelphia, and from Chicago to Colorado Springs, where Mel Bernstein of Dragon Arms offered local Rabbis in the area free handguns or AR-15s, along with training and ammunition. You have to have the tool to fight back, and this is the tool, the Jewish gun store owner said. The local ADL branch was unhappy with Bernsteins offer, claiming that armed clergy sent the wrong message. Five local rabbis however thought that it sent the right message and took him up on it. The 97-year-old Holocaust survivor did not have good people that carry firearms during the Holocaust. But there are good people that carry firearms in American now, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, the former head of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement, declared. They should bring them inside with them to protect the people who are there. If you are a Jewish police officer and you are off duty, when you come to worship, you should come with your handgun. If you are a Christian police officer, when you are off duty, he urged in a press conference outside a Jewish institution, come with your handgun. "No. No. No," Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted. "This is not how we heal and move forward." Assemblyman Dov Hikind, an Orthodox Jewish politician from Brooklyn, however endorsed Adams' message and announced, "I am registering immediately for a gun license. And I encourage other Jews to do so to protect their institutions and synagogues." David Pollock, the director of public policy and security at the New York Jewish Community Relations Council, however insisted that guns wouldn't work. "Having armed guards is not a panacea." Rabbi Gary Moskowitz, a former NYPD officer and martial arts expert, who offers firearms training to Rabbis, has urged every congregation to arm its members. They tell me, Its not the Jewish way, he argued. How can the rabbis say that its not the Jewish way when we just need to look at the Bible to see how David fought the Philistines? When Moskowitz had previously proposed allowing congregants in New York City to carry guns, he met with a cold response from local Democrats. We need fewer, not more, guns on the street, period, City Councilman Mark Levine had insisted. This would make us less safe, not more safe. But after Pittsburgh, unarmed synagogues increasingly dont feel safe. In Chicago, Jonathan Burstyn, the son of a volunteer policeman, guards his synagogue on the Sabbath and provides firearms training through Chi-Defense. A photo posted by Burstyn at the 2018 NRA Annual Meeting shows a group of Orthodox Jews touting some serious artillery. In Virginia, Edward Friedman, the editor-in-chief of the NRA's Shooting Illustrated magazine, carries a concealed weapon to a Chabad Orthodox synagogue with the permission of the Rabbi. Its something thats incredibly important to me, and I think it should be to every single practicing Jew who goes to synagogue, Friedman said. At Temple Sholom, a small Reform synagogue in Springfield, Ohio, Rabbi Cary Kozberg took down the gun-free-zone sign. Some realized that a gun-free zone can be an invitation. Im so not advocating that every Jewish person who goes to synagogue walk in with a gun, he said. But there are people who are OK with that, and those people need to be listened to. While an out-of-touch secular establishment still claims to speak for Jews on gun control, the growing number of religious Jews are far more comfortable with firearms. And after Pittsburgh, more places like Temple Sholom are willing to question the suicidal fanaticism with which the Left clings to gun control. The choice between self-defense and gun control is at also a choice between dependency and independence. Its the quintessential dilemma out of which the United States of America was born. And more Jewish organizations are stepping forward to advocate for the Second Amendment. With all due respect, singing songs, lighting candles and posting the phrase 'Never Again', regardless of the number of exclamation points, is not going to stop anyone from killing Jews, Doris Wise, the founder of Jews Can Shoot, wrote. Fear of being shot by armed Jews. Thats what will stop them. Self-defense is a God-given right. Here in America - all of America - we have the very good fortune to have the Second Amendment. Honor it, yourselves and all good people by making use of it. Jews Can Shoot is one of a number of rising Jewish organizations that connect Jewish civil rights to the right to bear arms. The idea is not new to Jewish history. Zionism began not with irrigating the desert, but with arming vulnerable Jewish populations. Its a story that traverses Jewish history and goes back all the way to the very dawn of the Jewish monarchy. When Shaul was anointed as the first Jewish king, the Philistines had disarmed the Jewish population leaving them without even a blacksmith, worrying, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears (1 Samuel :13:19), until King Shaul and his son, Yonatan, were said to have received spears from heaven. Then they led the rebellion against Philistine rule and created the first Jewish kingdom. After the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile, the Book of Nehemiah relates that when the Arabs came to besiege Jerusalem vowing to kill the returning exiles and end the rebuilding of the Second Temple, the Prophet Nehemiah assembled the people behind the wall with swords, spears and bows. And as they built the Temple, of which the present synagogues are only lesser models, struggling to raise the wall against the Arab invaders, they worked with one hand, and held their weapon with the other. Today, the synagogues that believe in G-d, Jews are taking the prophets advice. "Do not fear them, remember the Great and Awesome G-d, fight for your brethren, for your sons and daughters, for your wives and your houses." (Nehemiah 4:8) And after morning prayers, the men leave still talking of active shooter training and firing ranges. Daniel Greenfield is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. This article previously appeared at the Center's Front Page Magazine at the above link. Click here to subscribe to my articles. And click here to support my work with a donation. Back to Top - DepEd announced 10 public schools that will be teaching Korean language - Over 700 students from Grades 7 to 12 will be learning the language - However, DepEd denied the connection of this to the exclusion of Filipino subjects in college PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Department of Education (DepEd) has announced 10 public schools that will be teaching Korean language starting this semester. KAMI learned from GMA News that almost 700 students will be learning the foreign language for the meantime. Here are the 10 schools as tweeted by DZBB Super Radyo: Las Pinas National High School Jose Abad Santos High School Kalayaan High School Pasay City National Science High School San Bartolome High School North Fairview High School Maligaya High School Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School Lagro High School Marati High School The 10 schools will be teaching students in Grades 7 to 12. DepEd has signed a memorandum of agreement with Korean Embassy so that their language will be included in the Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL). PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! DepEd has started to include foreign languages such as German, French, Mandarin, Nihonggo and Spanish in some schools since 2009. Like any other foreign languages, the program aims to equip our 21st century learners with 21st century skills, to be multi-lingual, because we all know for a fact that language is a very good tool for a person to be able to sell himself or herself, stated by Patricia Santos of SPFL-Korean language of DepEd. Photo from Koreaboo Source: Facebook DepEds recent decision came at the same time the Supreme Court has lifted the temporary restraining order on Commission on Higher Educations (CHED) memorandum. As previously reported by KAMI, CHEDs memorandum excluded Filipino subjects such as wikang Filipino, Panitikan and Constitution as part of core subjects in college. However, Santos said there is no connection between the movements. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Filipinos Street Quiz: Philippines tricky questions - can you answer these tricky questions? Today we are going to ask the Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! These individuals from the Philippines have their answers on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph The perpetrators assaulted a priest, the report says. St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv was targeted in a foiled arson attack in the early hours of Thursday, Nov 15. "This morning, at about 07:20, two unidentified persons tried to set fire to St. Andrew's Church, namely they threw bottles with an inflammatory mixture. It did not work out [the mixture] did not set off. After their fiasco, the young men fled toward Peyzazhna Alley," the Kyiv Operative online community wrote on Facebook. Press-secretary for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Yevstratiy Zorya, confirmed the incident, adding that no damage was inflicted to church property. However, he added that a priest "was injured as a result of the perpetrators' actions" as the latter assaulted and pepper-sprayed him. We're seeing that Moscows henchmen are trying through such 'transparent hints' to 'scare off' representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarch, to whom St. Andrews church is being transferred to set up a representation headquarters, Zorya said. Read alsoUkraine's parliament hands over Kyiv-based St. Andrew's Church to Ecumenical Patriarch The search for culprits is under way, the National Police say. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on October 18 passed presidential bill No. 9208 on transferring Kyiv-based St. Andrew's Church to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for permanent use. On November 3, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I thanked Poroshenko for the transfer of the church's building to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Ukrainian president on November 7 signed the bill into law to enact the transfer of St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for permanent use. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) announced on November 13 it would not partake in the creation of a new, autocephalous church in Ukraine, as the council of UOC-MP bishops considers that granting the so-called tomos of autocephaly is artificial and forced from outside. The man had reportedly been driving under influence. A visibly intoxicated man who had introduced himself as a prosecutor's office employee allegedly caused a serious traffic incident, resulting in several cars being smashed on a slippery road in a Kyiv suburb. "A road accident occurred on Brovarsky Avenue last night. A tipsy driver of a Toyota Camry drove into the oncoming traffic and collided with a Range Rover SUV, which span from the hit and collided with a Peugeot and a Hyundai," Kiev Operative wrote on Telegram. The driver refused to pass alcohol tests. "There were no driver's license or registration on him, but as soon as he got out of the car, he shouted very loudly that he was from the prosecutor's office. It is not clear yet whether it's the military, general or local prosecutor's office," reads the report. The Range Rover driver sustained injuries and was rushed to a hospital. Srinagar: Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Thursday reached to native village Dooru Sopore, his first visit to the area after a gap of eight years, to meet his bereaved daughter. Hurriyat sources said that Geelani left at around 1 pm from his Hyderpora residence Geelanis son-in-law Ghulam Hassan Makhdoomi died in SKIMS Soura on Tuesday night, but he could not attend the funeral prayers owing to ailing health and bad weather conditions. Shafeeqa, eldest of his daughters lives in Dooru village of Sopore, also his ancestral village. Geelani, who is undergoing detention at his residence in Hyderpora area of Srinagar since 2010, was allowed by the authorities to visit his bereaved sister today. Addressing the mourners, Geelani reiterated his demand for self-determination and said that despite oppression, the youth are sacrificing their lives to end the Indian occupation. He said as per two nation theory, two countries India and Pakistan came in to existence, however, Kashmir was illegally occupied by India by sending its troops. Geelani said that over one lakh people in Kashmir have sacrificed their lives for the just cause of self-determination.(VMS) Citizens, not subjects Criticising the government and expressing dissatisfaction is our right 8th Annual Black College Summit at Holman Church The 8th Annual Black College Summit paired close to 400 eager high school, community college, and four-year college students with school representatives from numerous Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), at Holman UM Church on Thursday, November 8. The goal was to connect community college and high school students with HBCU recruiters providing on-site acceptance, admissions and scholarship information, and other resources. According to event chair, E. Elaine Moore, admissions officers from 18 HBCUs attended, where college information and on-site admissions was offered to eligible students. As part of the Holman United Methodist outreach ministries, the Summit was organized by the Bridges-to-HBCUs committee, which is chaired by Moore. The annual goal is to inform and provide admissions opportunities to the community. I believe that education is the pathway to a better life. Gaining a college education can lead to a better job, a higher standard of living, better health, and can provide people of color more opportunities to help others and give back, said Moore. ADVERTISEMENT Gregory Delahoussaye is executive director of Educational Student Tours/Black College Tours Program, a non-profit corporation that organizes and conducts tours to HBCUs for high school and California community college students. According Delahoussaye, the purpose of the Black College Summit to increase awareness of our historically Black colleges and university. To a great extent, our youth are not aware of HBCUs and their value. They dont realize that that they have a real opportunity to become a part of an educational environment in which they are the center of the universe, exclaimed Delahoussaye! Admissions officers from 17 HBCUs attended were coming off of an 11-day caravan that visited Community Colleges from Sacramento to San Diego, in an effort to recruit and inform students, as part of the Chancellors Office California Community College Transfer Guarantee to HBCUs Program, which guarantees admissions for community college students with a minimum of 30 transferable units and 2.5 GPA. African Diaspora Film Festival Takes on Who is Black in America? The 26th annual installment of the African Diaspora International Film Festival promises to tackle the topic: Who is Black in America? The popular festival, which showcases black filmmakers, actors, directors and producers all over the world, runs from Friday, Nov. 23 to Sunday, Dec. 9, at venues that include Teachers College at Columbia University, the Cinema Village, MIST Harlem, the Dwyer Cultural Center, and the Riverside Theater. Theres a lot new this year, said Reinaldo Barroso-Spech, an educator in foreign languages and Black literature who created the festival with his wife, Diarah NDaw-Spech, a financial consultant and university budget manager. ADVERTISEMENT An opening night panel discussion and reception will focus on Who is Black in America. Panelists, who include director Marisol Gomez and poet Yvette Modestin, plan to dissect whether the film Black Panther has contributed to a better understanding of the Black experience and theyll also explore what steps are needed to improve understanding, acceptance and acknowledgment of the diversity of the Black experiences in America. The festival will also host screenings like Gomezs Angelica, which deals with racism in Puerto Rico. The film depicts Angelica, who has spent her whole life escaping from her mixed racial identity, but a family crisis forces her to return to Puerto Rico and rethink her life. Festival-goers will also have an opportunity to watch Scattered Africa: Faces and Voices of the African Diaspora, Sons of Benkos, and Cimarronaje en Panama, documentaries that examine the contributions of Africans and their descendants to the wealth and power of the Americas and portrays elements of African culture that characterize everyday life throughout North America today. Scattered Africa is based on director and anthropologist Sheila Walkers experiences of discovering the origins of her own African American culture in Africa and her relationships with other Afro-descendant cultures in the Americas, including her individuals who were her teachers and cultural guides. Directed by Silva Lucas, the Sons of Benkos counts as an entertaining documentary that explores the African culture of Colombia through music while Cimarronaje en Panama director Toshi Sakai expolores a time where two centuries before George Washington or Simon Bolivar dreamed of liberation from European tyranny, enslaved Africans in Panama fought for and gained their independence. ADVERTISEMENT Finding refuge in the vast forests, they reclaimed their lives and formed free African communities throughout the isthmus. Additionally, Black Mexicans/La Negrada, counts as the first Mexican feature film about the Afro-Mexican community and was filmed entirely with individuals from different towns around the Costa Chica in Oaxaca. A women of color filmmaker competition will also take place and feature the panel discussion and the screening of, No Shade, which explores the hardships of the modern dating world through the dysmorphic presence of colorism as well as the fetishization of black women in a way that organizers say is tactful and honest. Jade is both effervescent and relatable as a 28-year old single woman of dark complexion who just cant seem to get it right, let alone liberate herself from her unrequited love for the repressive and colorist Danny. The world through her eyes is both a quirky and tumultuous obstacle course of courtship catastrophes and heart-gripping silences. Despite Jades line up of Tinder flops and her challenges in the friend-zone, she is easy to engage with and adorable, according to the films notes. Jades charisma, quirk, beauty, vulnerability and perseverance throughout the film make her a thoughtful heroine with a twist of comedic spunk in the end. From its inception, the festival has always showcased great films that explore the black British experience, Barroso-Spech said. Click here for a complete list of films and schedule for the festival. Baltimore Officer Accused of Planting Drugs Found Guilty A Baltimore police officer charged with planting drugs at a crime scene has been found guilty, according to sources within the Baltimore City States Attorneys Office. The guilty verdict for Officer Richard Pinheiro Jr. came on the afternoon of November 9 and he was given a six-month suspended sentence. Pinheiro had pled not guilty to charges of fabricating evidence, which is a misdemeanor that carries up to three years in prison and misconduct in office, which the court was free to choose any penalty. During his testimony in Baltimore Circuit Court on Nov. 8, Pinheiro testified in his own defense that the body cam footage, which appeared to show him planting drugs actually depicted him attempting to recreate the crime scene. ADVERTISEMENT Pinheiro, 30, testified that he forgot to turn on his body-worn camera when he initially found the drugs in a Southwest Baltimore alley in January 2017. He testified that when he returned to the alley, he activated his camera and retraced his steps to document how he found the evidence. However, when he re-enacted the discovery of the drugs in a baggie inside of a soup can, he acted as if he had found the drugs for the first time. Big studies give mixed news on fish oil, vitamin D Taking fish oil or vitamin D? Big studies give long-awaited answers on who does and does not benefit from these popular nutrients. Fish oil taken by healthy people, at a dose found in many supplements, showed no clear ability to lower heart or cancer risks. Same for vitamin D. ADVERTISEMENT But higher amounts of a purified, prescription fish oil slashed heart problems and heart-related deaths among people with high triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, and other risks for heart disease. Doctors cheered the results and said they could suggest a new treatment option for hundreds of thousands of patients like these. Up to 10 percent of U.S. adults take fish oil . Even more take vitamin D , despite no major studies to support the many health claims made for it. Those who peddle it promote it as good for everything, but in this definitive test, vitamin D showed a big nothing, said Dr. James Stein, a heart specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He had no role in the studies or ties to the companies involved. Results were revealed Saturday at an American Heart Association conference in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. ABOUT FISH OIL These oils, also called omega-3 fatty acids, are found in salmon, tuna and certain other fish. They reduce triglycerides and inflammation and may have other effects . There are different types, including EPA and DHA. ADVERTISEMENT One study tested 4 grams a day of Amarin Corp.s prescription Vascepa, which is concentrated EPA, in more than 8,000 patients with high triglycerides and a greater risk of heart problems for various reasons. All were already taking a statin such as Lipitor or Zocor to lower cholesterol. Half were given Vascepa and the rest, mineral oil capsules as a comparison. After five years, about 17 percent of those on Vascepa had suffered one of these problems _ a heart attack, stroke, heart-related death or clogged arteries requiring medical care _ versus 22 percent of the others. That worked out to a 25 percent reduction in risk. Looked at individually, heart attacks, heart-related deaths and strokes all were lower with Vascepa. Only 21 people would need to take Vascepa for five years to prevent one of the main problems studied _ favorable odds, Stein said. Side effects may be a concern: More people on Vascepa were hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat _ 3 percent versus 2 percent of the comparison group. Doctors say thats puzzling because other research suggests fish oil lowers that risk. The concern with the heart rhythm problem is that it can raise the risk of stroke, but there were fewer strokes among those on Vascepa, said study leader Dr. Deepak Bhatt of Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. Vascepa costs around $280 a month; many insurers cover it. Amarin sponsored the study and some study leaders work or consult for the company. A BROADER TEST The other study tested a lower 1 gram daily dose of a different type of fish oil _ an EPA/DHA combo sold as Lovaza or Omacor and in generic form _ in 26,000 people with no prior heart problems or cancer. After about five years, rates of a combined measure of heart attacks, strokes and other problems were similar for fish oil users and a comparison group. Cancer rates and deaths also were similar. There were fewer heart attacks in the fish oil group _ 145 versus 200 in the comparison group. The study leader, Dr. JoAnn Manson at Brigham and Womens, called that a substantial benefit, but several independent experts disagreed because of the way the study was set up to track this and certain other results. These findings are speculative and would need to be confirmed in a separate trial, said the Cleveland Clinics Dr. Steven Nissen. FISHY COMPARISONS? Both studies share a problem: the oils used for the comparison groups, which may not have been true placebos. The Vascepa study used mineral oil, which interferes with statin drugs, raises cholesterol, and might have made the comparison group fare worse and made Vascepa look better than it truly was. The other study used olive oil, which might have helped that comparison group do better, possibly masking any benefit to the others from fish oil. Leaders of both studies say any effect from the comparison oils isnt enough to alter the main results, and independent experts agreed. But Nissen, who is leading another fish oil study, is using corn oil as a comparison. THE `SUNSHINE VITAMIN Mansons study also tested vitamin D, which the skin makes from sun exposure. Its tough to get enough from foods like milk, eggs and oily fish, though many foods now are fortified with it. Some studies have found that people with lower levels of D are more likely to develop cancer, but its not known if supplements alter that risk. Study participants took 2,000 international units of D-3 (the most active form of vitamin D, also called cholecalciferol) or fake vitamin pills for five years. Vitamin D did not affect the odds of having a heart attack or stroke or developing cancer. After excluding the first two years of use, researchers saw fewer cancer deaths among those on the vitamin _ 112 versus 149 in the placebo group. Cancer can take years to develop so a difference may not show up right away, Manson said. This looks promising and people will be studied longer to see if the trend holds up, she said. Several other experts said these numbers just hint at a possible benefit that needs more study. These `positive results need to be interpreted with caution, Dr. Clifford Rosen of Maine Medical Center Research Institute and Dr. John Keaney Jr. of the University of Massachusetts wrote in a commentary in the medical journal. CFPB Neglects Duty to Enforce Military Lending Act Although predatory lending often conjures up images of an economically blighted Urban America, seldom does the image of an enlisted man or woman come to mind. But just as check cashing stores, along payday and auto title loan shops focus on communities of color, Americas military is also a frequent target. For years and near military installations across the country, a profusion of predatory lenders plied their wares, capturing our service men and women into the same web of debt trap loans that ensnared Black and Latino civilians. By 2006, a Department of Defense (DoD) report that delved into predatory lending practices against the nations armed services shared how the financial stress wrought affected military readiness. The report shared how predatory lending resulted in multiple negative effects. From undermining troop readiness and morale, to even the revocation of security clearances essential to military operations. ADVERTISEMENT In part the report stated, Most of the predatory business models take advantage of borrowers inability to pay the loan in full when due and encourage extensions through refinancing and loan flipping. These refinances often include additional high fees and little or no payment of principal. In reaction, to the DoD report, Congress enacted with bipartisan support the Military Lending Act (MLA). Drawing from the reports recommendations, new military protections assured: a 36 percent interest cap for all costs associated with lending; included both military members and their families; and banned extensions of payday and auto title loans, or other types of predatory credit. By 2010 the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the newly-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) gave the nation for the first time, a full-time consumer cop on the block, dedicated to financial fairness over a wide range of services and products. In 2012, the National Defense Authorization Act authorized the CFPB to enforce the MLA. That legislative move enabled CFPB to use its authority to protect servicemembers. Soon thereafter, veterans, military members, and their families took more than 72,000 lending complaints to the direct attention of the CFPB. Under the leadership of the Bureaus first director, CFPB returned more than $130 million to the military community. For several years, the CFPB conducted proactive supervision to verify that financial companies were honoring their obligations under the MLA to not rip off our troops. Furthermore, the MLA itself was strengthened by DoD policy, which closed loopholes that lenders had been exploiting to rip off our servicemembers. Despite this multi-year drumbeat of consumer concern at the federal level, this year the current Acting Director of the CFPB recoiled from Dodd-Franks statutory duty to veterans. Instead of continuing its inclusion of MLA in CFPB supervisory examinations, earlier this year Mick Mulvaney, CFPBs Acting Director claimed that the agency has no such legal authority. ADVERTISEMENT In reaction, a bipartisan contingent of 33 state attorneys general (AGs) directly expressed their concerns regarding CFPBs abdication of duty to the armed services. Representing coast-to-coast diversity in geography as well as economies were AGs who wrote on behalf of consumers from New Englands Vermont, to the mid-Atlantics North Carolina, the Midwest heartland of Illinois and Ohio, the Deep Souths Mississippi, westward to Colorados Rocky Mountain, and the most populous state, California. [W]e are perplexed by reports indicating that the CFPB has determined that it needs further statutory authority in order to conduct examinations for MLA violations, wrote the AGs. We are also disappointed to learn that CFPB did not consult the Defense Department in developing its new examination policy, even though Congress specified that the Defense Department not the CFPB is the primary federal agency responsible for interpreting the MLA. By eliminating the proactive examination of compliance to correct problems before they affect servicemembers, however, your proposal will limit the CFPBs protection of servicemembers to reactive enforcement when servicemembers submit complaints, added the AGs. Nor were governmental officials the only ones to speak up in defense of the MLA. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA), an association of nonprofit interests that together have used a combination of education, research and advocacy to protect consumers since 1968, released a report that challenges CFPB to Protect Those Who Protect America. Written by Christopher L. Peterson, CFAs Director of Financial Services, it rejects Mulvaneys interpretation, and itemizes specific directives and requirements that together pose a legal argument that would be difficult to deny or disprove. For some inexplicable reason, the Trump Administration is directing the CFPB to overlook illegal, usurious lending to our troops within supervisory exams, said Peterson. Americas military families deserve the protection from predatory lending offered by the Military Landing Act not to be abandoned by the CFPB. Veterans are also expressing their own heartfelt concerns about the unexpected reversal of consumer protection. In a recent blog, Melissa Bryant, a member of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans also spoke up. We know that servicemembers are four times more likely to be targeted by predatory lenders and are in desperate need of stringent oversight and protection measures from fraud, said Bryant. If you need further proof, just look down the main drag of any street leading into a military post, full of payday lenders and car dealerships who prey upon young troops with little or no credit, but a steady paycheck to spend. And in a recent town hall convened by CFPB in Baton Rouge, a Commander with the states branch of the American Legion faced off with Mulvaney. Speaking on behalf of veterans, Ricky Griffin told the Acting Director, Both the Pentagon and the American Legion are extremely worried about your proposal to pull back on enforcing the Military Lending Act. . . With the military currently unable to make its recruitment numbers this year, I think it is wrong for your agents to back off of any enforcement of the Military Lending ActWhy single out military service members? Mr. Griffin and all of Americas military deserves an answer. Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lendings Communications Deputy Director. She can be reached at [email protected] Charm City Screening Features Provocative Panel Close to 150 people attended the Election Eve special screening of Charm City at the Museum of Tolerance. Charm City, a film by Marilyn Ness, delivers a candid portrait of citizens, police, community advocates, and government officials on the frontlines during three years of unparalled, escalating violence in Baltimore. This film highlights the positive actions undertaken by groups and individuals, optimistically offering humanity as a common ground. The panel discussion following the screening sparked lively and timely conversation on a wide range of intersecting topics including policing, trauma, economic disparities, gun control, racism and the role the entire community plays in stemming violence. The pivotal role everyone plays in building trust as we move forward in the world was underscored several times by panelists. Joining director Marilyn Ness were Alex Long and Major Monique Brown, whose stories are among those featured in the film. Also participating in the discussion were Brian K. Williams, executive director, Los Angeles County Sheriff Citizen Oversight Commission, who moderated the panel discussion; Patti Giggans, executive director, Peace Over Violence; Anthony Robles, Youth Justice Coalition, and Nason Buchanan, Los Angeles Mayors Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development. ADVERTISEMENT The stark reality is that everyone becomes less safe when police and citizens cannot overcome decades-long pervasive distrust and despair, said Marilyn Ness. Its essential to tackle complex questions and to build empathy where currently there is opposition. When asked why this is so important now, Major Monique Brown, featured in the film, a native of Baltimore and an 18-year police veteran, said we have to get it right now. I have a son and am a grandmother, and now is the time we have to do it right. We cant incarcerate our way out of the problem, said Anthony Robles from Youth Justice Coalition said. We have to deal with the root causes. As the conversation turned to solutions, panelists were asked what can be done now to stop the epidemic of violence. Patti Giggans, executive director, Peace Over Violence said, listen more. Robles added, shift five percent of the budget spent on policing to youth development programs. Alex Long, who is featured in the film and leads Safe Streets, a community-based violence prevention and interruption program, said continue to do what you can do, whether its big or small, to improve someones life. Major Brown added, we need to get back to being a true village, like we once were. We must collaborate and be accountable on every level; as well as continue the dialogue, concluded Nason Buchanan. Charm City is structured around a small constellation of memorable people community members, local elected officials, and law enforcement personnel living and working in Baltimore during a period of shar increase homicides. Similarities between the stories of the people depicted in this film and people living in Los Angeles was striking and not lost on the audience. For more information about this critically acclaimed film and to learn about upcoming screenings, go to www.charmcitydoc.com. The documentary is scheduled for a PBS broadcast on Independent Lens in the spring of 2019. Colorado Votes to Abolish Slavery, Finally While many spent Tuesday and early Wednesday celebrating midterm election wins, Colorado celebrated freedom. With four of the five precincts reporting, slavery in all forms was abolished in the Centennial State. The Secretary of States Office said the amendment to Colorados Constitution received 65 percent of the votes already counted. ADVERTISEMENT The margin is such that there is no doubt, Lynn Bartels, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Secretary of States Office, told reporters. Abolish Slavery Colorado, a group that has crusaded for the abolishment, posted on its Facebook page, Its official! Amendment A passes! Over 15 state constitutions in the United States permit slavery as a way of legal punishment for those whove committed a crime, despite the 13th Amendment being ratified in 1865. The current and unclear wording in Colorados constitution means slavery and involuntary servitude may not be fully unconstitutional according to the states ACLU chapter executive director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, via the Atlanta Black Star. Article II, Section 26 of Colorados constitution reads that there shall never be in this state either slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. Voters on Tuesday seized upon the opportunity to change the language. ADVERTISEMENT Going forward, the Constitution will read: There shall never be in this state either slavery or involuntary servitude. Jumoke Emery of Abolish Slavery Colorado told CNN that voters almost got the amendment to pass two years ago, but blamed the legislators terminology for the outcome of the vote. I hope that this puts forth the message that our past doesnt have to be our future, that by and large we as Americans are interested in fixing our mistakes and that theres hope for our future, Emery told the news outlet. Those who are against amending the constitution say its not necessary because Colorado already bans slavery. They also argued that certain prisoner programs could be affected. Since the 1860s, courts have interpreted the 13th Amendment as it plainly reads. Once individuals have been duly tried, convicted, sentenced, and imprisoned, courts will not find 13th Amendment violations where prison rules require inmates to work. The compensation of prison labor today reflects this history. In Georgia and Texas, the maximum wage in dollars per day is $0. In Nevada, prisoners make $0.13 an hour. The average wage is between $0.93 a day and $4.93 a day less than an hour of work at minimum wage. Conservative estimates put the value of output from prison labor at $2 billion annually. Removing the wording from the Colorado constitution closes the door on the possibility of future abuses, and it also sends a positive message in a time of great division in our nation, said Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, the executive director of the ACLU. DSP Shyam Rai released on bail DSP Shyam Rai of the Metropolitan Police Circle, Boudha, who was caught red-handed with bribe money, was released after posting a bail amount of Rs 140,000 on Thursday. Countys Hate Crimes Report Cites 15% Rise in Anti-Black Attacks African Americans were victims of 50 percent of hate crimes in Los Angeles County in 2017 with anti-Black assaults rising by 15 percent over 2016, from 112 to 129. The troubling statistics were revealed in the annual Hate Crimes Report issued by the L.A. County Human Relations Commission. The data was compiled from information collected from the law enforcement agencies in the county as well as some colleges, school districts, community-based organizations and victims. ADVERTISEMENT A total of 503 hate crimes were reported in 2017, a five percent increase over the 482 incidents tallied in 2016. In fact, hate crimes in the county have grown by 32 percent since 2013. Blacks were attacked at a rate far exceeding their nine percent population in the county in regards to racial, homophobic and anti-transgender crimes. Also, Blacks have consistently been the most targeted group over the past ten years, according to the report. We are truly alarmed at the continued over-representation of African Americans in racial hate crimes and the extremely high rates of violence directed against gay men, lesbians and transgender victims, said Commission president, Jarret Barrios. Several summaries of actual hate crimes against Africans Americans were cited in the report. They ranged from a Black male discovering his home burglarized with swastika graffiti on the walls to a Black teen approached by two Latinos in Lakewood, who hollered, F*** n*****s! Get him! While running away, the victim heard gunshots, but wasnt hit. Another incident, which occurred in May 2017, mentioned a Black school employee locking the parking lot gate when a young Latino male brandished a gun and shouted Get out of here before something happens to you, n*****! The employee drove away in his car. Reviewing the ethnicity of victims and suspects, the report noted that the aggressors in crimes against African Americans were committed by Latino/as in 49 percent of the incidents and by Whites in 43 percent. Conversely, Blacks targeted Latino/as in 50 percent of the confrontations followed by Whites in 44 percent. ADVERTISEMENT As for anti-Asian hate crimes, Whites were the perpetrators in 42 percent of incidents, Blacks in 33 percent and Latinos in 17 percent. Other significant findings detailed in the report include: Hate crimes against Latinos: crimes increased 16 percent, from 62 to 72 with suspects using anti-immigrant slurs in 40 percent of the cases. Anti-LGBTQ attacks fell 2 percent, but comprised 21 percent of all hate crimes. Religious crimes numbered 101 with 72 percent described as anti-Jewish. The rate of violence declined from 61 percent to 56 percent, but aggravated assaults rose 47 percent. Nine hate crimes were reported where suspects referenced President Donald Trumps name. Hate crimes occurred throughout Los Angeles County, but the largest number took place in the San Fernando Valley, followed by the Metro region that stretches from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights. The highest rate of hate crimes occurred in the Metro region, followed by the western part of the county that includes a number of affluent beach cities. Putting an end to hate crimes is a top priority for the county of Los Angeles, said board of cupervisors chair, Sheila Kuehl. We live in one of the most culturally diverse places in the world with more than 200 languages and cultures enriching the region. Hate violence, white nationalism, misogyny, and all forms of intolerance are not welcome here. To view the complete report, visit wdacs.lacounty.gov or lahumanrelations.org. CSUN Fails its Faculty and Students in Terms of Safety Most colleges and universities are pleased by media attention for what they have accomplished. One local institution may be getting some attention for what it has not accomplished in terms of the safety of its faculty and students, according to a few university professors. California State University, Northridge (CSUN) professor of Africana Studies, Karin Stanford says she was the target of threats and harassment last year by White supremacists and Donald Trump supporters because of a question on a final exam she gave to students in her class. An article on the issue appeared online on Campus Reform, a conservative website that claims it exposes liberal bias on college campuses. Commenters on the article spewed racist vitriol at Stanford, including re-posting her university office address and saying she should be shot in the face. ADVERTISEMENT Stanford went out on sick leave after the incident, concerned for her safety and that of her students, because she says the university did nothing to address her safety concerns. The university only met with me around this issue after my union representative forced them too, said Stanford via phone. And to date, they still have not told me what their plan is regarding safety for myself and my students in order for me to return to teaching on campus. Aimee Glocke, an associate professor of Africana Studies at CSUN, says she is not surprised at the universitys lack of zeal to protect its populace. In 2013, I had a student at CSUN threaten to kill me. The CSUN police department launched an investigation immediately, but CSUN administration did not take it seriously, she stated to the Sentinel via e-mail. In fact, I was only placed under police protection on campus after my department chair demanded it. Since then, I have also had N***** and F*** You written on my car on two separate occasions, and no student was ever prosecuted for it. This is why I know firsthand that CSUN administration is slow to act on incidents of White supremacy and racism on our campus, especially when it involves the safety of the faculty. Professor James Simmons, also in CSUNs African Studies department, says that what is currently happening on campus inaction by university officials is nearly identical to the situation recently faced by Democratic analyst, Rochelle Ritchie, who received threatening tweets from alleged serial bomber, Cesar Sayoc last month. In a letter to the Daily Sundial, CSUNs student newspaper, Simmons requested the paper investigate the allegations of professors regarding their lack of safety. According to Simmons, in the case of alleged bomber Sayoc, Twitter took no action to address the threats, initially saying that Sayocs veiled threats to kidnap and kill Ritchie did not violate its policy against threatening posts. The tweets were deleted by Twitter only after Sayocs arrest for sending over a dozen parcel bombs to those he perceived to be critics of President Trump. ADVERTISEMENT Stanford noted that the universitys response to recent mass shooting incidents in the U.S. was more developed than the response she received. Ian David Long is the man police say is responsible for the most recent mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, on Nov. 7, in which 12 people died, including the 28-year-old Long. Long, a former CSUN student, targeted a bar that was frequented by other college students. Stephen Paddock is also a former CSUN student, having graduated in 1977. The 64-year-old Paddock killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 others when he opened fire at a country music concert in Las Vegas, Nevada, in October of last year. The universitys response to both mass shootings was to cooperate with police in releasing both its former students information and sending campus wide e-mails to students and staff. our hearts, thoughts and sympathies are with the victims, survivors, first responders and loved ones impacted by the horrific mass shooting that occurred in Las Vegas, wrote CSUN president Dianne F. Harrison after both Paddocks 2017 massacre and Longs Thousand Oaks shooting spree. In 2017, Harrison alerted the campus community that workshops on workplace violence/surviving an active shooter incident and maintaining a proactive approach to personal safety would be held. After Longs shooting Harrison asked that campus faculty and supervisors be supportive and considerate of anyone who has been touched by this tragedy, and that university counseling services were available for those that need it. While police say they have not determined a motive for Longs actions in Thousand Oaks, both Long and Paddock were White men. In other words, part of the demographic that is responsible for the majority of terror attacks and mass shootings on U.S. soil; more than any immigrants, Muslims or what the FBI has labeled Black Identity Extremists. That demographic is also responsible for the threats and harassment of numerous other college and university professors in other parts of the country as well. George Ciccariello-Maher, formerly of Drexel University; Keenaga Yamahtta-Taylor of Princeton; Trinity Colleges Johnny Williams; Prairie View A&Ms Tommy Curry; University of Memphis professor Zandria Robinson and Boston Universitys Saida Grundy have all faced harassment, threats of physical violence and threats to their employment by white racists/Trump supporters. Most recently, professor Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused current Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, has had to move four times and pay for a private security detail to keep her and her family safe. She has not been able to return to her job at Stanford University. In Dr. Stanfords case, none of the university administrators spoke to her regarding the online harassment or issued a statement of support, even months later when stalking online commentators sought to find out when she would return to class. Out of concern for herself and students, Stanford had been utilizing her sick leave and requested online teaching assignments so she will not have to be present on campus. Now that her sick time has run its course, Stanford will eventually return to class. She told the Sentinel, All I can do is hope that the online threats remain online since, in her words, the university apparently has no plan to keep her or its students safe in these types of situations. In response to the aforementioned mass shootings, while CSUN president Harrisons actions still fall short of a safety plan, Stanford says the university response was still more substantive than what she got. The university had an opportunity with my case, long before this latest incident, to develop a response that shows their concern and value for the safety and lives of faculty, staff and students, said Stanford. And they have failed. Calls to the office of CSUN president Harrison were not returned by press time. Deep South States Take a Long-Overdue Step out of the Jim Crow Past Today it is perfectly legal to discriminate against criminals in nearly all the ways that it was once legal to discriminate against African Americans. Once youre labeled a felon, the old forms of discriminationemployment discrimination, housing discrimination, denial of the right to vote, denial of educational opportunity, denial of food stamps and other public benefits, and exclusion from jury serviceare suddenly legal. As a criminal, you have scarcely more rights, and arguably less respect, than a black man living in Alabama at the height of Jim Crow. We have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it. Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow The Urban League Movement congratulates two states in the Deep South that took a step out of the dark Jim Crow past by passing major criminal justice reforms on Election Day. ADVERTISEMENT In Louisiana, voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state constitution that will require unanimous jury verdicts to convict on felony charges. Until now, Louisiana was one of only two states, along with Oregon, that allowed non-unanimous jury verdicts for felonies, and only Louisiana allowed them for murder. And more than a million previously incarcerated Floridians have had their voting rights restored. Florida was one of 13 states that bar those convicted of felonies from voting even after their sentences have been served. Both laws had their roots in the post-Reconstruction-era crackdown on civil rights for Black Americans, more than 150 years in the past. They have rightly been consigned to the ash heap of history. Drafters of the 1898 Louisiana state constitution aimed to perpetuate the supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon race in Louisiana, scrubbing from the rolls nearly all 130,000 Black registered voters. By law, they couldnt simply ban Black people from voting or serving on juries, so they devised a system that would invalidate the votes of the few African Americans who might make it on to a jury the votes of only nine of 12 jurors would be counted. In its 1972 Apodaca v. Oregon ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court validated non-unanimous verdicts in state courts but not federal ones. At a Constitutional convention the next year Louisiana lawmakers changed the number of jurors required for a verdict from nine to 10. The laws racist intent carried into the present day. Roughly a third of Louisianans are Black, but two-thirds of state prisoners and three-fourths of inmates serving life without parole are Black. ADVERTISEMENT An analysis of convictions by The Advocate newspaper found that 40 percent of all convictions in Louisiana came over the objections of one or two holdouts. When the defendant was Black, the proportion went up to 43 percent, versus 33 percent for White defendants. In three-quarters cases analyzed, the defendant was Black. Those convicted of felonies have been banned from voting in Florida since the ratification of a new state constitution in 1872. According to Florida lore, lawmaker WJ Purman reportedly boasted he had prevented the state from being n***erized. At the time, so-called black codes laws that restricted Black peoples right to own property, conduct business, buy and lease land, and move freely through public spaces criminalized a staggering proportion of the African American population. Within a few years of the end of Reconstruction, an estimated 95 percent of convicts in the south were Black. A century and a half later felony, disenfranchisement has left more than one in five Black Floridians unable to vote. Voters in Louisiana and Florida recognized not only the racism, but anti-American spirit inherent in non-unanimous jury verdicts and felony disenfranchisement, and were eager to bring their states laws into line with most of the rest of the country. We call on other states with similar laws remaining on the books to follow their example. Film Review: Nobodys Fool Classy and Trashy Sisters Square Off in Fish-Out-of-Water Comedy Danica (Tika Sumpter) and Tanya (Tiffany Haddish) may have been raised by the same mother (Whoopi Goldberg), but theyre still as different as night and day. The former is a successful businesswoman who was recently promoted to vice president of a leading, Madison Avenue advertising firm. By contrast, the latter has spent the last five years behind bars while her sis was climbing the corporate ladder. Against her better judgment, Danica decides to take Tanya under her wing when shes paroled. So, she not only lets the hot, ghetto mess move into her upscale crib but helps her land a gig as a barista at a trendy coffee shop. Trouble is, the prison-hardened Tanya is so rough around the edges that she has no idea how to behave in polite society. Consequently, she can often be found cursing, flirting, menacing and hurling racial slurs behind the counter indiscriminately. ADVERTISEMENT Tanya should thank her lucky stars that her gentlemanly boss, Frank (Omari Hardwick), has a crush on her sister. Otherwise, her job might be in jeopardy. Too bad Danicas already in a relationship with a shady character (Mehcad Brooks) shes never met and has only interacted with over the internet, or she might give Mr. Right a chance. Thus unfolds Nobodys Fool, a fish-out-of-water comedy written and directed by Tyler Perry. Tylers films invariably feature a sassy, trash-talking sister, whether played by him in drag as Madea or, as in this case, by an actual actress, the irrepressible Tiffany Haddish. Haddish has been hotter than a pistol since stealing every scene in Girls Trip a year ago. Since then, shes hosted Saturday Night Live and co-starred in Uncle Drew, The Oath and Night School. The problem with Nobodys Fool is that it feels like Tiffany briefly parachuted in to do her crude shtick and split without worrying about developing any chemistry with the rest of the cast. Yes, she is the comedienne of the moment and, if all youre looking for is her coarse act, theres plenty of that lowbrow fare to enjoy. But when Haddish is not lighting up the screen with her over-the-top antics, whats left is just a predictable, poorly-plotted, Tyler Perry morality play. Fair (1 star) ADVERTISEMENT RatedR for sexuality, drug use, ethnic slurs and pervasive profanity Running time: 110 minutes Production Studio: Tyler Perry Studios / BET Films / Paramount Players Studio: Paramount Pictures To see a trailer for Nobodys Fool, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTxSbKLVnvQ Florida Election Recount Continues Amid Tensions, Litigation Mishaps, protests and litigation dominated Floridas first day of recounting the vote for pivotal races for governor and Senate, bringing back memories of the 2000 presidential fiasco. Much of the drama on Sunday centered on Broward and Palm Beach counties, home to large concentrations of Democratic voters. ADVERTISEMENT In Broward County, the recount was delayed for several hours Sunday morning because of a problem with one of the tabulation machines. That prompted the Republican Party to slam Browards supervisor of elections, Brenda Snipes, for incompetence and gross mismanagement. Broward officials faced further headaches after they acknowledged the county mistakenly counted 22 absentee ballots that had been rejected. The problem seemed impossible to fix because the dismissed ballots were mixed in with 205 legal ballots and Snipes said it would be unfair to throw out all of those votes. By the end of the day, Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for Senate, filed suit against Snipes in a circuit court. He sought a judges order that law enforcement agents impound and secure all voting machines, tallying devices and ballots when not in use until such time as any recounts. The lawsuit accused Snipes of repeatedly failing to account for the number of ballots left to be counted and failing to report results regularly as required by law. Juan Penalosa, the executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, accused Scott of using his position to consolidate power by cutting at the very core of our democracy. Meanwhile, in Palm Beach County, the supervisor of elections said she doesnt believe her department will be able to meet the states Thursday deadline to complete the recount, throwing into question what would happen to votes there. The developments added up to a tumultuous day in Americas premier political battleground state. More than half of Floridas 67 counties began a recount process thats unprecedented even in a state notorious for settling elections by razor-thin margins. State officials said they werent aware of any other time a race for governor or U.S. Senate required a recount, let alone both in the same election. ADVERTISEMENT The recount in other major population centers, including Miami-Dade and Pinellas and Hillsborough counties in the Tampa Bay area, was ongoing without incident Sunday. Smaller counties are expected to begin their reviews in coming days. Unofficial results showed Republican former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis led Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by 0.41 percentage points in the election for governor. In the Senate race, Scotts lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson was 0.14 percentage points. State law requires a machine recount in races where the margin is less than 0.5 percentage points. Once completed, if the differences in any of the races are 0.25 percentage points or below, a hand recount will be ordered. As the recount unfolded, Republicans urged their Democratic opponents to give up and let the state to move on. Scott said Sunday that Nelson wants fraudulent ballots and those cast by noncitizens to count, pointing to a Nelson lawyer objecting to Palm Beach Countys rejection of one provisional ballot because it was cast by a noncitizen. He is trying to commit fraud to win this election, Scott told Fox News. Bill Nelsons a sore loser. Hes been in politics way too long. Nelsons campaign issued a statement Sunday saying their lawyer wasnt authorized to object to the ballots rejection as Non-citizens cannot vote in US elections. In Fort Lauderdale, Gillum appeared at a predominantly African-American church Sunday evening, telling an overflow crowd that voter disenfranchisement isnt just about being blocked from the polling booth. He said it also includes absentee ballots not being counted and ballots where the `w in their signature may look different today than the `w in their signature yesterday, that a volunteer may have the option of looking at that ballot and deciding that vote is null and void. The fact that Trump and Scott are fighting like you know what to stop the vote count, that ought to tell you something, Gillum said. They dont get to shut down the process because theyre not winning. Gillum and Nelson have argued each vote should be counted and the process should take its course. Both the state elections division, which Scott runs, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have said they have found no evidence of voter fraud. That didnt stop protests outside Snipes office, where a crowd of mostly Republicans gathered, holding signs, listening to country music and occasionally chanting lock her up, referring to Snipes. A massive Trump 2020 flag flew over the parking lot and many members of a Bikers For Trump group wore matching shirts and carried flags, mingling among a crowd that included a protester wearing a Hillary Clinton mask. Registered independent Russell Liddick, a 38-year-old retail worker from Pompano Beach, carried a sign reading, Im not here for Trump! Im here for fair elections! Fire Snipes! He said the offices problems dont make me feel very much like my vote counted. Florida is also conducting a recount in a third statewide race. Democrat Nikki Fried had a 0.07 percentage point lead over Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell in the race for agriculture commissioner, one of Floridas three Cabinet seats. The recounts might dredge up memories of the 2000 presidential recount, when it took more than five weeks for Florida to declare George W. Bush the victor over Vice President Al Gore by 537 votes, thus giving Bush the presidency. But much has changed since. In 2000, each county had its own voting system. Many used punch cards _ voters poked out chads, leaving tiny holes in their ballots representing their candidates. Some voters, however, didnt fully punch out the presidential chad or gave it just a little push. Those hanging and dimpled chads had to be examined by the canvassing boards, a lengthy, tiresome and often subjective process that became fodder for late-night comedians. Now the state requires all Florida counties use ballots where voters use a pen to mark their candidates name, much like a student does when taking a multiple-choice test. And how counts proceed is now clearly spelled out. Those ballots are now being run through scanning machines in each county for a second time under the watchful eye of representatives of both parties and the campaigns. Any ballot that cannot be read for any of the recounted races will be put aside. Gen X Pastor Aims to Draw Traditionalists and Millennials to Christ The Rev. Marvin McKenzie aims to draw all ages to Christ and doing that, he says, takes out the box thinking. As the new pastor of Walker Temple AME Church in Los Angeles, McKenzie believes multiple generations will come to know the Lord if he incorporates that creative philosophy to spreading the Gospel. I want to grow the membership of the church by trying things that have never been done before, says McKenzie. I think of the four men who brought their crippled friend before Jesus. These men were not able to bring their friend through the front door via traditional methods and so they had to be creative and they tore a hole in the roof and lowered their friend before Jesus. ADVERTISEMENT I believe that todays pastor must think like these four men and think outside the box, if we continue to do what has always been done, we will continue to get the same results, he notes. My goal in this first year is a 20% growth in membership. While McKenzies goal may sound ambitious, especially considering that he is a first-time pastor, he is convinced it can be achieved by applying his ministry motto of serving God with excellence. And as a 39-year-old Gen Xer, he feels that he is in a good place to reach both younger millennials and older baby boomers and traditionalists. Following the advice of his father in the ministry, Pastor Clyde W. Oden of Bethel AME Oxnard, McKenzie says his first step will be to love the people and do everything with excellence based on the example I saw in Dr. Oden. He also intends to build on the spiritual legacy left by Rev. Dr. Rosalynn Brookins, who was appointed pastor of Parks AME in Oakland. Walker Temple is known for its dynamic and spirit-filled worship. When I preached my first sermon there, I preached as hard as I possibly could and for as long as I could, he recalls. Afterwards, a few members asked me if all of my sermons would be so short. Although this made me smile, I saw that the members expect a mighty Word from God. Describing the ideal pastoral situation, he adds, I want to be in a church where I know the names of each member and Im able to sit and have private conversations. My greatest joy as a pastor comes in the moments when Ive prayed with a person or counseled them during a crisis in their life. I want to always be able to have real relationships with the members of my church. ADVERTISEMENT Another focus of McKenzies is young people. He and his wife, Esthela, are the parents of Aniah, age 19; Justice, age 15; and Michelle, age 7. He says the Walker Temple congregation has agreed to dedicate 10 percent of the churchs income to youth activities. We believe in putting our money where our mouth is and making the investment in our youth. My children are members of Generation Y and Z, so I have a personal investment in reaching these generations. I understand the struggles that they face in this fast paced world and so I first give them a voice and a safe place where they can express themselves, says McKenzie. Although this is first pastoral appointment, McKenzie has lots of experience in the church. He served 10 years as a trustee and was the assistant pastor at Bethel AME Oxnard for four years. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he also earned a Bachelors degree in business management and a Masters degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix, a Masters of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a graduate certificate in executive leadership from Cornell University. With the help of God, McKenzie says his background will be an asset and will assist in attracting others to the Lord. People want a place where they can be encouraged and reminded that there is hope, he insists. People also want a place where they can receive life skills and support beyond spiritual matters. Jefferson County, Alabama Elects Its First Black Sheriff Theres a new sheriff in Jefferson County, Alabama. Democrat Mark Pettway defeated longtime Republican incumbent Mike Hale, making Pettway the first African American sheriff in the county whose largest city is Birmingham. We have a plan to fight crime and to make sure the cities are safe, Pettway said after receiving a concession call from Hale. ADVERTISEMENT Pettway won more than 52 percent of the vote, according to unofficial tallies on Tuesday. In addition to his many supporters, Pettway credited for his historic victory to the help of the Purpose P.R. Firm in Alabama and its head, Andrew Wyatt, who helped spread Pettways message of freedom, justice, equality and inclusion and the importance of Jefferson County in the Civil Rights Era. Pettway also said he was grateful to the National Newspaper Publishers Association, whose member papers didnt shy away from carrying his message. Thank you, Wyatt said to the Black Press on behalf of Pettway. The history of Jefferson County, particularly Birmingham, is unmistakable as the flashpoint of the Civil Rights Movement where the city saw much bloodshed and strife as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others fought for freedom, justice and equality. The Birmingham historical society notes that the city today offers a sobering and reflective experience for anyone interested in this important era of American history. ADVERTISEMENT Until last year, the sheriffs department was under a federal consent decree because of its unfair hiring and promotion practices and Pettway, a longtime sergeant, said hed seen a lot of discrimination and other problems during his 18-year tenure in the department. The consent decree was issued as part of a 1970s-era consolidated lawsuit that alleged the County, City of Birmingham, Sheriffs Department, and the Personnel Board of Jefferson County discriminated against Blacks and women in their hiring and promotions. Birmingham and the Jefferson County Personnel Board, which provides employment services for the county and cities, were ultimately released from their decrees. Last year a U.S. District Judge finally released the Sheriffs Department from the decree. Still, Pettway said, not much has changed, which counted as the primary reason he ran for sheriff. It didnt get any better. Were still not where we should be and after watching other activists in action, I decided it was time for me to rise up and do something, Pettway said. That Birmingham, Alabama still resembles in some ways its racist history should be alarming to residents and voters, Pettway said. Hale who transferred to the Sheriffs Department in 1976, is expected to help make Pettways transition smooth. I asked him to help with the transition, Pettway said after receiving the congratulatory phone call from his opponent. This is a very important and historical election and its an opportunity for change. Its a chance for us to have a seat at the table where we can make those changes and where the hiring practices can be better for people of color and for women and where a [minority] can say, hey, I can be Sheriff one day, too, Pettway said. A lifelong Jefferson County resident, Pettway grew up in a working-class neighborhood not far from Birminghams Legion Field Stadium. The son of the late Retired Army Sgt. First Class Officer Ed Pettway, and Jefferson County School Teacher Camilla Satisfield, Pettway said he began to realize his potential as his parents provided him with something far greater than material wealth. Specifically, they instilled in him strong moral principles, a robust work ethic and a burning desire to excel. Given his ability to implement this rare yet useful combination of gifts, many said its no surprise he learned the value of hard work and determination at an early age. Pettway began his professional career in 1991 at the Birmingham Police Department, where he served as a Correctional Specialist. In 1993, he joined the Fairfield Police Department as a police officer, where he helped to strengthen the law enforcement system by responding to calls, making arrests, issuing citations, and testifying in court cases. In 1999, he joined the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office as a deputy. In 2008, he was promoted to detective and has earned a number of commendations from Hale. He said community policing and criminal justice reform top his agenda. We have to bridge the gap right now between law enforcement and the community. Right now, theres no trust and we need body cameras and dashboard cameras and, under my watch, we will be transparent, Pettway said. I will implement accountability and the community will know their officers. The officers will get out of their cars and the community will know them by their names, he said. Pettway said the revolving doors of prison must stop. We dont want to send people home the same way they came in. We want to educate them and no more of people profiting from others going to jail. Pettway said. We have to stop the privatization of prions and start teaching inmates skills that are necessary to become employed when they get out. Jones-Patten Uses Nursing Career to Serve Black Community Being an amazing nurse fulfills a long held goal for Alexandria Jones-Patten. Although shes only 30-years-old, her passion for the field started as a youngster and increased through high school, college and graduate studies. Currently a nurse at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Orange County, Jones-Patten aims to make a difference by educating the African American community about the importance of health care. I feel its important to the Black community to have providers who look like them and can bridge the gap in barriers to accessing quality care in whatever way possible, said Jones-Patten, who frequently appears at health fairs in South L.A. to share information about self-care and preventing medical conditions such as high blood pressure. ADVERTISEMENT I grew up extremely poor, and saw how much mistrust there was about the healthcare system and doctors, especially in the African American community. My family members used to take medication, and wouldnt be educated on why, she explained. So, I want to invest in programs that help African Americans in L.A. Jones-Pattens enthusiasm for nursing has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, she received the National Black Nurses Associations 45 Under 40 award. She was also selected to outline the National Institute of Health All of Us Research Initiative to her colleagues in the Council of Black Nurses. The NIH program is a partnership with NBNA to involve people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or medical condition, in medical research to obtain insight on the variety of health conditions affecting those from all walks of life. The idea is to be as inclusive as possible, said Jones-Patten. The NBNA felt that the Council of Black Nurses would be a great chapter to spread the word about this research. Being involved in research projects is enjoyable to Jones-Patten, who counts among her memorable experiences the opportunity to be a co-investigator for a pilot study as a nursing school student. I discovered I wanted to conduct research in addition to obtaining a nurse practitioner license, she said. What better way to serve my local community than to be an expert on a medical condition and bring the latest research to the community as Im discovering it? ADVERTISEMENT As Jones-Patten grows more knowledgeable about nursing, she acknowledged that many people have helped in her career. Some of her NBNA mentors that have provided invaluable guidance are Dr. Rebecca Harris-Smith, one of her nursing school instructors who Jones-Patten said is very supportive of the newer generation of nurses coming onto the scene; along with L.A. Chapter president Chad Ricks, who she noted, I can call on him for pretty much anything and he provides advice or just an ear to listen. When it comes to her future in nursing, Jones-Patten credited NBNA national president, Dr. Eric Williams, for helping her to really look down the road at my career and to start thinking about all that I can accomplish. Those accomplishments include adding to her education. She already holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration. Her next step is obtaining a Ph.D. in nursing and a nurse practitioner license. As a nurse practitioner, I would have more say in the patients plan of care. As a researcher, I can bring my knowledge on medical conditions I choose to study to my community and use those findings from my research to provide more adequate care to my patients, said Jones-Patten. Nursing is a beautiful, challenging field to be in. I cant imagine being anywhere else. Jordan Davis Mom Lucy McBath Wins Close Congressional Race Underdog gun control advocate Lucy McBath won a Georgia House Seat against GOP incumbent Karen Handel. Handel beat Democrat Jon Ossoff in last years special election. On Wednesday, November 8 midday, McBath declared victory in the very tight race. Handel did not concede until Thursday morning. After carefully reviewing all of the election results, it is clear that I came up a bit short on Tuesday, said Handel. Congratulations to Representative-Elect Lucy McBath & I send her only good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath has been fighting for common sense gun laws since 2012 when a White man (Michael Dunn) fatally shot her black 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, in Jacksonville at a Gates gas station on Baymeadows road. He was angry that the teen and his friends were playing loud rap music. Dunn lied under oath that he feared for his life after yelling at the teens about the music. He said he thought one of them had a gun and was about to kill him. He sought protection under Floridas Stand Your Ground law. A jury of his peers convicted him of first-degree murder. ADVERTISEMENT Judge Orders Georgia to Protect Provisional Ballots in Abrams-Kemp Race A federal judge has ordered Georgia take steps to ensure provisional ballots arent improperly rejected and to wait until Friday to certify the results of the midterm elections that include an unsettled race for governor. In a ruling late Monday, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg ordered the secretary of states office to establish and publicize a hotline or website where voters can check whether their provisional ballots were counted and, if not, the reason why. And, for counties with 100 or more provisional ballots, she ordered the secretary of states office to review, or have county election officials review, the eligibility of voters who had to cast a provisional ballot because of registration issues. Totenberg also ruled that Georgia must not certify the election results before Friday at 5 p.m., which falls before the Nov. 20 deadline set by state law. ADVERTISEMENT State elections director Chris Harvey testified at a hearing last week that the state had planned to certify the election results on Wednesday, a day after the deadline for counties to certify their results. He said that would allow preparations to begin for any necessary runoff contests, including one already projected in the race for the next secretary of state. Current unofficial returns show Republican Brian Kemp leading by a margin that would make him the governor-elect. But Democrat Stacey Abrams insists that enough outstanding votes remain to be counted that could pull Kemp below the majority threshold and force a Dec. 4 runoff. Totenberg acted in response to a lawsuit filed Nov. 5 by Common Cause Georgia. The suit accuses Kemp, the states top elections official until he resigned as secretary of state last week, of acting recklessly after a vulnerability in Georgias voter registration database was exposed shortly before the election. Kemps actions increased the risk that eligible voters could be illegally removed from the voter registration database or have registration information illegally altered, the lawsuit says. Sara Henderson, executive director of Common Cause Georgia, said in an emailed statement that the ruling helps increase voter confidence in elections. The secretary of states office was reviewing the order and considering its options, spokeswoman Candice Broce said in an email. ADVERTISEMENT Totenbergs order doesnt change the Tuesday deadline for counties to certify their results. But Abrams campaign filed a lawsuit Sunday asking a federal court to push that deadline to Wednesday, while also requiring that elections authorities count certain provisional and absentee ballots that have been or would be rejected for arbitrary reasons. I am fighting to make sure our democracy works for and represents everyone who has ever put their faith in it. I am fighting for every Georgian who cast a ballot with the promise that their vote would count, Abrams said in a statement explaining her refusal to end her bid to become the first black woman elected governor in American history. Kemps campaign retorted that Abrams latest effort is a disgrace to democracy and ignores mathematical realities. Clearly, Stacey Abrams isnt ready for her 15 minutes of fame to end, said Kemp spokesman Ryan Mahoney. As of Monday evening, a hearing had not been scheduled for arguments in the case, but Abrams campaign was expecting a federal court in Atlanta to set a Tuesday hearing, given the time sensitivity. Unofficial returns show Kemp with a lead of about 60,000 votes out of more than 3.9 million cast; Abrams would need a net gain of about 21,000 votes to force a Dec. 4 runoff. NBC has rated the race too close to call at this time. The Georgia race, along with Floridas gubernatorial and Senate matchups that are requiring recounts, are among the final measures of a midterm election cycle that already has allowed Democrats to deal serious blows to President Donald Trump. Democrats already have won the House, flipped seven governors seats and reclaimed more than 300 state legislative seats in statehouses around the country. The GOP maintained its Senate majority, and could still expand it. But its looking to hold the governors mansions in Florida and Georgia to deny Democrats important gains in presidential battlegrounds ahead of the 2020 election. Republicans have been governor in Georgia since 2003 and in Florida since 1999, and Trump has put a premium on the two states, endorsing both Kemp and Floridas GOP nominee Ron DeSantis when they were in competitive GOP primaries and then campaigning in person for them ahead of the Nov. 6 election. Georgias interim Secretary of State Robyn Crittenden on Monday directed county officials to count some provisional ballots that had been rejected because of voters failure to provide their year of birth, provided the voters identity and eligibility was still established. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the State Election Board asked Crittenden to send a letter instructing county election officials how to handle absentee ballots. Republican Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Crittenden to replace Kemp, who resigned last week after declaring victory in the governors race. He called his margin 50.3 percent of the vote clear and convincing, but said he wanted Georgians to have confidence in the certification process. Crittendens directive was in line with one form of relief sought by the Abrams campaign lawsuit but rejected another. When casting absentee ballots, voters have to sign an oath and have to write their address and year of birth. The lawsuit asked the judge to order that county election officials accept any absentee ballots on which there was missing or insufficient oath information as long as that doesnt substantially obstruct officials from verifying the absentee voters identity. The lawsuit says that at least 1,095 qualified voters who cast absentee ballots in Gwinnett County had them arbitrarily and unlawfully rejected because of missing or insufficient information. Under Georgia law, any issues causing a voter to cast a provisional ballot must be remedied within three days of the election Nov. 9 for this election. The lawsuit asks that county election officials be required to consider evidence proving eligibility through Wednesday at 5 p.m. Crittendens guidance to the counties noted that the Nov. 9 deadline for verifying the eligibility of provisional ballots was set by state law. The lawsuit also asked that provisional ballots cast by a voter registered in another county be counted as if the voter had shown up at the wrong precinct. The lawsuit says that of the 1,556 provisional ballots Fulton County reported having rejected by Nov. 9, nearly 1,000 were disqualified because they were cast by voters whose registration records showed them registered in another county. Further, the Abrams campaign is asking that any of the courts orders in the case be applied retroactively to counties that already have certified their returns, meaning those counties would have to reopen their counting process using any new standards and then submit updated returns to the state. Give me some truth The government has disregarded the courts and lied with regard to transitional justice L.A.-Area Ministries Highlight Thanksgiving Events In the midst of several calamities recently hitting the Southland, congregations of all faiths still retain their trust in God. No doubt the Thousand Oaks killing of 12 people, the massive destruction by fire of homes and businesses and the ongoing violence gripping many communities has led to suffering and sadness, yet belief and dedication to the Almighty hasnt wavered and has led many churches and ministries to host Thanksgiving services and events to express their gratefulness to the Lord. The following lists some of the faith-based Thanksgiving activities occurring in the area that are open to the public. Brookins-Kirkland AME Church, 3719 W. Slauson Ave., in Los Angeles, plans a one-hour Thanksgiving Day Worship on Thursday, Nov. 22, at 9 a.m., said Pastor Mary S. Minor. The service will include a sermon by Pastor Swayne Cofield of Rose of Sharon AME Church. For information, call (323) 296-5610. ADVERTISEMENT Church On The Way, 14300 Sherman Way in Van Nuys, will sponsor a Thanksgiving Service on Thursday Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. To learn more, call (818) 779-8000 or visit thechurchontheway.org. Faithful Central Bible Church, 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., in Inglewood will hold Thanksgiving Day Worship on Thursday, Nov. 22, at 9 a.m., said Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, pastor. For details, call (310) 330-8000. First United Methodist Church, 304 E. Spruce Ave., in Inglewood, host Thanksgiving Worship on Thursday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m. Pastor James Stevenson, Sr. of Scott United Methodist Church in Pasadena will preach. The service is sponsored by the California-Pacific Conference Black Methodists for Church Renewal where Latanya Cunningham serves as chairperson. Grace United Methodist Church, 4112 W. Slauson Ave., in Los Angeles, will distribute 500 meals to people living on skid row in downtown L.A. on Friday, Nov. 23, said Pastor Cedric D. Bridgeforth. To donate food items or volunteer for the event, call the church office at (323) 294-6653. Love, Peace and Happiness Family Christian Church, 4951 S. Figueroa St., in Los Angeles, will hold an hour of power Thanksgiving Day Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m., said Bishop Leon and Dr. Jacqueline Martin. Praise songs, testimonies and message by Bishop Martin will be presented. Also, a bottle of anointed oil will be distributed to each attendee. For information, call (800) 757-6552. West Angeles Church of God in Christ hosts a Thanksgiving Community Dinner to bless those less fortunate on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at its North Campus sanctuary, 3045 S. Crenshaw Blvd., in Los Angeles, said Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., COGIC presiding prelate and pastor. At 11 a.m., a worship service takes place followed by dinner in the Crystal Room. To volunteer or donate non-perishable items, call (323) 733-8300, ext. 1789. Thanksgiving Day Service will be held at 10 a.m. Media Calls Out Trump for Insults to Black Reporters Why do I have among the highest poll numbers with African-Americans? Why do I have my highest poll numbers, was a defensive question posed by President Donald Trump, last week where he recently called out a Black reporter during a press conference for being racist. The confrontation comes during a recent, seemingly, whirlwind of insults hurled at Black leadership across the country. The latest journalist was among three that Trump hurled insults at, like loser and stupid. The question was related to previous remarks at a rally in Houston, where the president declared himself a nationalist. The reporter, Yamiche Alcindor, White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour, asked whether that declaration has encouraged and emboldened White, nationalist rhetoric and activity across the nation. Trump did not answer the question during the press conference, but did respond by calling the question racist. I dont know why you would say that, Trump said. Thats such a racist question. ADVERTISEMENT So what, say his supporters. He attacks everybody. However, said Adia Harvey Wingfield, a sociology professor at Washington University in St. Louis, who writes frequently about race and gender, theres also a clear commonality in the attacks he levels against people of color and Black professionals. These are straight out of historic playbooks about Black workers and professionals in particular not being qualified, not being intelligent or having what it takes to succeed in a predominantly White environment. President Trumps verbal assaults against Black reporters, candidates and lawmakers have renewed criticism that the president employs insults rooted in racist tropes aimed at making his African American targets appear unintelligent, untrustworthy and unqualified, writes David Nakamura for the Washington Post. While at another press conference where reporters asked Trump a variety of questions about acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, African American reporter Abby Phillip for CNN asked if Whitaker would rein in the special counsels ongoing Russia investigation. What a stupid question that is, Trump irritably replied. ADVERTISEMENT Thats a stupid question, but I watch you a lot, you ask a lot of stupid questions. He is a classic example of a backlash politician: a leader who exploits real or perceived White anxieties by exhibiting a flamboyant hostility to the political and economic demands of Black Americans, writes CNN commentator Errol Louis in his commentary, Trumps Insults of Black Americans Are Disgusting and Dangerous. Weve had a string of such politicians since the civil rights movement, and that is neither surprising nor coincidental: Like many social revolutions, Americas expansion of civil rights in the 1960s and 70s gave rise to a potent counterrevolution. Trump knows the code, Louis added. The prelude to his presidential run was his gleeful hyping of birtherism (questioning if former President Barack Obama was an American citizen), a multiyear campaign of conspiracy theories and obvious lies that served no purpose beyond calling into question the legitimacy of Barack Obamas presidency. Trump has never renounced, or even acknowledged, the obvious racism of his birther falsehoods, and he never will. Birtherism like talking about states rights in Mississippi was a quick, convenient way to attract people ready to push back against Black advancement Michelle Obama memoir is next pick for Winfrey book club Michelle Obamas Becoming, already expected to sell millions of copies, now has the official backing of Oprah Winfrey. This book is everything you wanted to know and so much you didnt even know you wanted to know. I believe its going to spark within you the desire to think about your own becoming, Winfrey, who on Monday told The Associated Press in a statement that she had selected Becoming for her book club. Its so well-written I can hear her voice; I can hear her expressions; I can feel her emotion. What she allows us to see is how she was able to discover, define and then refine her voice. In Becoming, Obama shares such deeply personal revelations as suffering a miscarriage and sharply criticizes President Donald Trump for promoting the false birther rumor that Barack Obama was not a U.S. citizen. The former first ladys book comes out Tuesday and is among the most anticipated political memoirs in years, topping Amazon.coms best-seller list throughout the weekend. On Monday, Barnes & Noble announced that pre-orders for Becoming were the highest for any adult book since Harper Lees Go Set a Watchman, which came out in 2015. Winfrey, publishings most established hit maker, knows the Obamas well, to the point where Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres once teased each other over who was closer to her. Winfrey was a prominent backer of Barack Obamas candidacy in 2008 and has interviewed both Obamas over the years. She is scheduled to be onstage Tuesday night with Michelle Obama at Chicagos United Center, the first stop on Obamas promotional tour. ADVERTISEMENT Thank you, Oprah! Obama tweeted Monday. Ive been so grateful for your friendship and advice for so long. And now Im honored to join your amazing book club! Winfrey already has taped an interview with Obama, which airs Thursday on the OWN network, and excerpts of the book will appear in O, the Oprah Magazine and in Elle. A two-part podcast will run Thursday and the following Monday, Nov. 19. Becoming is Winfreys first pick by an author from the political world since she started her club in 1996, although Obama has said repeatedly she has no interest in running for office. Winfreys previous picks have ranged from novels such as Colson Whiteheads The Underground Railroad and Tayari Jones An American Marriage to Anthony Ray Hintons memoir The Sun Does Shine. NAACP Calls Mississippi Candidate Hyde-Smiths Hanging Comments Sick The NAACP issued the following statement regarding Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith recent statement on being invited to a public hanging. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smiths shameful remarks prove once again how Trump has created a social and political climate that normalizes hateful and racist rhetoric. Weve seen this in Florida from Ron DeSantis and others during this election season and denounce it. Hyde-Smiths decision to joke about hanging, in a state known for its violent and terroristic history toward African Americans is sick. To envision this brutal and degenerate type of frame during a time when Black people, Jewish People and immigrants are still being targeted for violence by White nationalists and racists is hateful and hurtful. Any politician seeking to serve as the national voice of the people of Mississippi should know better. Her choice of words serves as an indictment of not only her lack of judgement, but her lack of empathy, and most of all lack of character. Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO ADVERTISEMENT Our Vote: More Than A Desire for History, The Very Strides to Make It The midterm election was nothing short of historic and yet again, our community is leading the United States of America towards progress. According to a CNN exit poll, 90 percent of African Americans voted for a Democrat in Congressional races across the country last Tuesday, propelling the Democratic party to our first majority in the House of Representatives since 2009. In Georgia, 97 percent of Black women who voted, voted for Stacey Abrams to become the states first Black female governor. It wasnt just our desire to make history in Georgia that drew us to Staceys campaign. It was our collective understanding that a vote for Stacey Abrams was a vote to raise the voices of Georgians that have been suppressed for far too long. It was a vote for a new Georgia, and in turn, a new America. ADVERTISEMENT But all progress is fought for. Like Stacey said on election night, there are people that tried very hard to keep certain voices quiet. I firmly believe that if this election had happened in a country with a developing democracy and there existed a similar scenario one in which one of the candidates was in charge of overseeing the very election he was running in the United States would rush to monitor the election to shine a light on this obvious conflict of interest. Such a contradiction by itself is worthy of scrutiny, especially if that scenario is playing out in a country, or a state, with a rich history of voter suppression on the basis of race. But what happened in Georgia wasnt just about job titles. This was about the misinformation that Staceys opponent peddled throughout the campaign and how he took advantage of his taxpayer-funded position to help run his campaign. On the Sunday before the election, Staceys opponent, equipped with no evidence at all, announced that Democrats were under investigation for attempting to hack Georgias voter registration files. Just over a week ago, a federal judge ruled that Georgia would be forced to change parts of its exact match protocol, a voting requirement that came under scrutiny leading up to the election when it was revealed that more than 65 percent of the voter registrants whose applications were rendered pending as a result of the law were African American. This coupled with remarks from Trump threatening that any illegal voting would be met with maximum criminal penalties less than 24 hours before the first polls opened only further revealed a coherent strategy of voter intimidation. But whats redeeming about the democratic process is that voices will be heard one way or another. Once again, our community led the way towards progressive change in Florida and Louisiana, rebuking Jim Crow-era laws designed to strip our constitutional right to vote. ADVERTISEMENT In Florida, we voted to restore the voting eligibility of millions of Floridians with past felony convictions. As a result, more than 1.4 million Floridians who were not allowed to vote in this past election will be able to in the next one. As of 2016, there were more than 400,000 Black people unable to vote due to felonies. Imagine the impact these voters will have in 2020. In Louisiana, we passed a proposition eliminating another Jim-Crow-era law that allowed juries to convict someone without a unanimous decision. Researchers claim this is a back door created to make it easier to put Black folks in jail in the South. That law is no more. This is the change we bring when we vote. Taking back control of the House of Representatives is one thing but making history while doing it is another. The United States House of Representatives will have more than 100 women Members of Congress for the first time ever. It will have two Latina Congresswomen from Texas for the first time ever. It will have an African American Congresswoman from Massachusetts and Connecticut for the first time ever. It will have two Native American Congresswomen for the first time ever. It will also have two Muslim Congresswomen for the first time ever. This will also be the first time that there will be a check on this President and his administration. This is the change we bring when we vote. We now have a House of Representatives that will focus on restoring our voting rights and putting justice back into the criminal justice system. Its time to make the history weve always desired. We now have a House of Representatives that will fight for the people. Karen Bass is a community organizer from South Los Angeles who became the first ever African American woman to serve as Speaker of any state assembly in 2008. She was recently re-elected to a fifth term in Congress. Racial Pride Enhances Collaboration Black Lives Matter. The name itself tends to debunk the myth that America is race-neutral. Similarly, the Black Lives Matter Movement is s helping to expose the nations refusal to acknowledge racism and white privilege that is reflected in the fabric of this country from its inception. There has always been talk among liberals, human relations specialists and others about the damaging effect of identity politics on inter-ethnic cooperation. Even though identity politics, racial politics and ethnic politics are never clearly defined, they are nonetheless characterized as a negative to be universally shunned. Proponents of ethnic neutrality tend to minimize or deny the importance of racial and ethnic identity politics. They rarely spell out their objections or define their derisive terms. This is no minor oversight since the philosophical, moral and legal basis for human relations include, and in fact celebrate race and ethnicity. ADVERTISEMENT However fervent the cries for downplaying race, they do nothing to alter its continuing significance in virtually every aspect of U.S. society. Cries for racial neutrality in a nation still anchored in racism serve to obscure the issues and prolong concrete solutions to the growing problems surrounding diversity. The significance of race and ethnicity should never be understated. They are the cornerstones of successful collaboration. Intra-group relations remain the foundation for building cross-racial/ethnic partnerships. Racial neutrality proponents pontificate about what does not constitute a valid paradigm for ethnic cooperation. In fact, few people would abide leaving racial, ethnic or religious identity at the door while working with others to develop new methods of inter-group relations. Another question for proponents for racial neutrality is whether their objections to emphasis on race or ethnicity extend to white ethnic groups or religious, civil rights or ethnic-oriented organizations such as the NAACP, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Asians Advancing Justice or the American Jewish Committee? Absent clear definitions of the much maligned racial and ethnic politics, the political appropriateness of such organizations can be called into question. Race-neutral advocates apparently believe that racial/ethnic politics only serve to polarize communities. However, they do not tell us at which point a person or group crosses the line and becomes racially or ethnically unacceptable. It is virtually impossible to factor out race in any serious discussion of inter-group polarization or racial or ethnic collaboration. Proponents of ethnic neutrality, when pressed, usually cite examples of so-called extremist leaders, individuals and groups as the basis for their own extremist contention of race neutrality. Denigrating race and ethnicity also raises the specter of a double standardone for whites, another for people of color. For instance, few would deny that race was, and is, pre-eminent in the history and development of this nation and that color remains indelible so long as racism exists. Celebrating race should be applauded because it is an entree, not a barrier to successful, intergroup collaboration. Minimizing the reality of race only makes racial and ethnic collaboration all the more difficult. Suggestions that diversity and multiculturalism are attainable without fully accounting for race and ethnicity are foolhardy. People know when, where and how their best interests are being served and still many buy the Pollyannaish notion that individual group strength is enhanced by denying or dodging race and ethnicity. Primary group interests, by definition, is not sublimated in collaborative efforts. Primary interests enhance, not detract from successful, cooperative efforts to improve race relations. People know from long experience that parties to successful collaborations must each have strong, clear positions. Anything less enhances the potential for an uneven playing field, i.e., uneven bargaining power at the table. ADVERTISEMENT Proponents of racial and ethnic neutrality recommend identifying and nurturing programs that advance us beyond the basic level of racial politics. This sounds fine, but what does it actually mean? How can this approach be implemented without actually spelling out what racial politics is and perhaps and, more importantly, what it is not. Otherwise, we are dealing mostly with rhetoric. Race neutrality advocates also lament, There is far too much emphasis in celebrating our differences. Why must celebrating our differences be negative? Is not pride and strength in ones own racial or ethnic group a bedrock ingredient for racial healing? Racial neutrality proponents blanket condemnation of identity politics is misguided and counterproductive. It actually reduces the likelihood of racial harmony, not the other way around. As long as society continues to dole out rewards and punishment on the basis of color (and class), African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and others of color will continue to suffer injustice and inequities disproportionately. Far from being xenophobic, racial and ethnic solidarity are the only real avenues for creating new effective models for intergroup cooperation. Organizations seeking to strengthen racial and ethnic cooperation should explore methods that unapologetically acknowledge race and ethnicity as central to sustainable collaborative efforts to improve race relations in this country. [email protected] Sojourner For A Season: Truth-Speaker For Life This is in rightful sankofa remembrance and raising up again our foremother, Sojourner Truth, fearless truth speaker who declared with great courage and conviction that she would not run away and hide from the devil but face him. And defeat his evil intentions and enslaving impositions on her and her people and open up righteous ways to move forward in the interest of history and humankind. There is no written or reliable record on the day of her birth, but we do know the date of her transition, November 26, 1883; and we know too some central themes of the sacred narrative of her second coming-into-being, her rising from the killing ground and human grave of the Holocaust of enslavement, and her towering above and beyond the context and conditions of her time. They had given her the strange name Isabella, as both a sign of ownership and enslavement and as a way of erasing her original identity and alienating her from her language and culture. But when she decided to free herself and become the African woman she was destined and determined to be, she re-named herself and called herself into being again as Sojourner Truth. It was a name which reflected the new life of social action and service she had decided to live. Indeed, she said, I only count my age from the time I was emancipated. Then I began to live. Self-named with Divine inspiration, she would be a sojourner, staying in a place for a season or short while, preaching and speaking the truth, agitating for change and moving on, serving as a sign and symbol of the possibility and promise of freedom. As she noted, she saw herself called to travel up and down the land, showing the people their sins and being a sign unto them. And what greater and more savage sin could be exposed and shown than the killing fields and the swollen blood-red rivers of human suffering in the Holocaust of African enslavement? ADVERTISEMENT For her, as an ardent abolitionist, there was no greater sin than the Holocaust of enslavement, given the savagery against humans and humanity it embodied and imposed. Indeed, she often asked Oh Lord, what is this slavery that it could do such dreadful things? She was a witness and victim of its physical, psychological and sexual violence from both male and female enslavers. She had known personally the daily degradation and deprivation, the brutal beatings, maiming, and the cruelty and indignity of the auction block, being bought and sold as an object of labor and varied physical and sexual uses and seeing her parents and children suffer a similar fate. It is in this context of sustained savage treatment that she prayed often for Divine retribution in double measure against the ruthless and unrepentantly unrighteous, drawing on biblical texts. Sojourner was also relentless in her criticism of White Christian hypocrisy, i.e., their being enslavers of fellow human beings and claiming to be Christians, and of Northern Whites for wanting to reduce the problem to a regional Southern one and exempt the North and whole nation from the moral indictment it deserved and the radical reconstruction it required. And she resisted the so-called Christian mobs that disrupted meetings, refusing to run and hide, asking rhetorically, Shall I run away and hide from the devil? Me, a servant of the living God? Reinforced in her faith, she said I felt as if I had three hearts and went forth courageously, carrying the day. Grounded in the African spirituality of her parents and ancestors, she embraced a faith that found its fulfillment in good deeds on earth, in deep and mindful meditation, and in constant conversation with the Divine. Thus, she believed strongly in the spiritual, the good and the triumph of right, contending that Goodness never had any beginning; it was from everlasting and could never die. But evil had a beginning and must have an end. And it is the obligation of good and righteous people to put an end to it. Thus, she said to enslavers and racists, Well have our rights . . . and you cant stop us. You may hiss as much as you like, but its coming. Sojourner was also clearly a womanist, a tireless advocate of womens rights defiantly embodied in her speech and practice. In her signature speech at the Ohio Womans Rights Convention in Akron, 1851, she challenged the elite and general White womans conception of womanhood, dismissed mens claim to superiority, insisted on male/female equality and posed a critical role for women in setting an upside down world right side up again. As a womanist, Sojourner was committed to the struggle of her people as a whole, emphasizing the rights of women as a defining feature of Black and human freedom, refusing to separate race and gender and rejecting racist ideas advanced by some White feminists about Black men and women. She struggled for Black emancipation in its fullest form as part and parcel of an overall freedom. Indeed, she reminded White feminists, I come from another field the country of the slave, where in spite of talk of emancipation, it was a case of slavery partly destroyed, not entirely. Thus, she said, I want it root and branch destroyed. Then we will all be free indeed. Like Anna Julia Cooper, she saw the universal benefit and value of what we call womens liberation now, stating it is for the benefit of the whole creation, not only the women, but (also) for all the men on the face of the earth . . . She suggested that the conceding of the equality of women should be an unproblematic almost natural process. Therefore, she says, we are now trying for a liberty (freedom) that requires no blood that women should have their rights not rights from you; but what belongs to them. That is to say, as an equal, inalienable and Divine endowment. ADVERTISEMENT But again, as a womanist, she could not and would not forget or reduce concern for her whole peopleboth women and men, dedicating herself to the cause of getting land for (them), where they can work and earn their own living, an economic base on which to build and rebuild their lives. She had anticipated current arguments for reparations, saying: We have been a source of wealth of this republic . . . Our unpaid labor has been a stepping-stone to its financial success. Some of its dividends must surely be ours. Elsewhere, she had said, White people owe the colored race a big debt and if they paid it all back, they would not have anything left for seed. And although they cannot repay it all, they could repent, ask forgiveness and share the wealth created in common. Sojourner Truth looked forward to the day, she said, when Black people would truly own their soul and body and enjoy freedom, justice and economic security. In such a context, a truly human community of various peoples could be created in which, in her words, the equality of feeling, the liberty of thought and speech and the largeness of soul would be natural and normative. Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture and Introduction to Black Studies, 4th Edition, www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org. Statement from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Regarding His Trip to Iran and Message to Iran and America I am not and have never been an enemy to America, nor the people of America. However, I love America enough to speak unpleasant truths that are in the best interests of an erring nation that perhaps she may change her conduct and course. I have an abiding love for the right to free speech, the right to a free press and the right every human being has to hear the truth. It is only truth spoken in season that can bring us what we desire of freedom, justice, equality and, ultimately, peace. I was invited to Tehran University to speak to students and engage in a dialogue with Iranian students. I was also invited to meet with other members of Iranian society for discussions about their concerns for their nation and concerns about world affairs, in particular the sanctions placed on Iran by President Donald Trump and his advisors. I never led a chant that called for the death of America or Israel, contrary to misreporting in U.S., British and Jewish publications and the intentional, malicious and false reinterpretation of my words. There is nothing more important than truth today. The truth of anyone and anything is enough to condemn any individual or institution. But to make media mischief by altering my words from their places is a betrayal of the right to free speech, the blessing of a free press and a violation of the peoples right to know. It is wrong and shameful that journalists and news organizations that should seek the truth would traffic in such lies. ADVERTISEMENT I never led a chant calling for death to America. To say otherwise is a blatant falsehood and an attempt to paint me as an enemy in a very dangerous time as tension rises between America and Iran and nations around the earth reject unjust sanctions and heavy-handed U.S. foreign policy. I asked a question about how to pronounce the chant in Farsi during my meeting with Iranian students and an examination of the video shows just that. My point was to engage students in a talk about what gives a nation perpetuity versus that which undermines and destroys a nation. Evil, falsehood and violation of divine law doom nations to destruction, and the holy books of the worlds three greatest monotheistic religions warn us of such. So if Iran is moving as a nation to obey Gods law, to respect and educate women and to pursue righteousness, she is on a right course. And, if America has violated the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the indigenous people and destroyed them, and if she has done the same for the Black and the Poor, America has not only violated Constitutional principles, she has disobeyed divine law and stands to be judged by God for her wrongdoing. And, American democracy, unfortunately, has always leaned toward and protected the interests of the White, the Rich and the Powerful. So to stand with Iran against unjust sanctions and mass punishment is to stand in the proper place. To warn America that these sanctions-which have been rejected by the European Union, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, China and other countries-are wrong is to stand in the proper place. I am trying to help America face the error of her ways and see the enmity she is sparking across the globe alongside a growing loss of friendship. This is not good for America, nor the world and only marches us steadily to acrimony, conflict and the final war of Armageddon spoken of in the bible. America can no longer act unilaterally in the world and be successful. Success can only come from righting old wrongs and purposing just and progressive policies. Some 40 years ago, Iranian students threw off the yoke of American domination through the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, a brutal dictator and tool of U.S. foreign policy. While the Iranians have problems to solve, as do every nation and people on earth, they are a proud and independent people. They do not wish to be under the thumb of America again. As I said several times in Tehran, the U.S. sanctions are a mistake. And, while dialogue should be a good thing, the U.S. has a history of lying and breaking her commitments. To survive, America must turn away from yesterdays policies, go forward in a new spirit and seek a new direction. America will never be undone by the angry chants of Iranians, or others who suffer under U.S. foreign policy. No foreign enemy will destroy America, but she faces divine judgment from God Himself. She faces an internal rot with her huge fiscal deficits, her fractured political system, her ugly political and public discourse, her frayed social networks, her rejection of spiritual values and a penchant for violence and mass shootings. She is a troubled nation. Her leadership is spiritually blind to the hour at hand and it appears as though they have the hearts of beasts. Despite U.S. efforts to foment disunity and rebellion inside of Iran, the Iranian people may not be as gullible as America believes. Iranians have the right to resolve their own problems without outside interference, just as the U.S. has claimed its right to conduct elections free of Russian influence. Self-determination is a right of every nation. The Muslim World needs unity and must find the path to reconciliation despite efforts to pit Muslims against one another. Satan seeks to divide Muslims and wants them to kill each other, while Allah God tells us in the Quran to be united. ADVERTISEMENT It is also shameful that my visit to Iran was used by political hucksters and cynics to try to affect the recent political elections in the United States. The demonization of Louis Farrakhan will not solve serious U.S. problems and will not heal serious political and social divisions. So despite Donald Trump Jr.s call for Democrats to disavow me and unjust criticism of me from some Democrats who reject me based on lies and political expediency, America needs a clear warner, who will speak the truth without compromise and without fearing the censure of any censurer. I am neither Right, Left nor Center. I stand on the side of Truth and wherever the Truth may be found. No political party or political leader has an exclusive lock on the Truth. They should stand for Truth whatever the Truth brings. Standing on truth is what will bring America perpetuity and if she refuses to change, she is destined for days of suffering and sorrow. When God raises a Warner in a powerful nation, it is a blessing and a mercy. But rarely do the powerful rulers of such nations see the Warner or the Warning as valuable until it is too late. May Allah bless the powerful ones in America and those who control America to heed this warning. Medicine often has a slightly bitter taste but when taken in the proper dosage medicine can bring about a healing. The United States, a sin-sick nation, needs a healing and Allah God is offering a healing today provided that His guidance is followed and his Warner is heard. The choice, however, remains with the American people and those who are in leadership. May Allah God bless this people and nation to make the proper choice. Success On The Way Ask Dr. Jeanette: Sowing and Reaping the Harvest Thanksgiving and Daylight Savings Time are time buddies. I sought to know how slavery was progressing in related time frames. The custom of giving thanks for the annual harvest is one of the worlds oldest celebrations and can be traced back to the dawn of civilization. We can find some times are determined Biblically by stating events, e.g. harvest time American Thanksgiving tradition dates back to 1621;not repeated until many years later1789 George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on Thursday 26 November that year setting the precedent making it the last Thursday in November. Thanksgiving became a nationwide holidayPresident Lincoln proclaimed the last 1863 Thursday in November a national day. Congress sanctioned it a legal holiday in 1941. Sarah Josepha Hale, writer of Mary Had a Little Lamb, led a 17 year campaign to get Thanksgiving declared a national holiday sending letters, which were ignored, then a letter to Abraham Lincoln convinced him to declare Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. [Progression of slavery: June 3 1621: Dutch West India Company chartered and granted a monopoly to trade in the Caribbean. (Dutch slave traders had been operating with varying degrees of success since about 1600.) African History website maintained by: [http://www.brycchancarey.com Amazon] When the pilgrims gave thanks for their first bountiful harvest in Plymouth Rock. March 24, 1789: Publication of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African. ADVERTISEMENT May 12, 1789: William Wilberforce delivers first major abolition speech before the House of Commons. August 1782. Publication of The Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African, (1729-1780) was said to have been born a slave on a ship crossing the Atlantic from Africa to the West Indies. His origins were African..his earliest memories were of Greenwich, near London, and forced to work as a child slave; persuaded the powerful Montagu family to employ him as their butler, before retiring to run a grocery shop in Westminster a music composer, appeared on the stage, entertained many famous figures of literary and artistic Londonfirst African we know of to vote in a British election,..wrote a large number of letters which were collected and published in 1782, two years after his death. He was thought of in his age as the extraordinary Negro, and to eighteenth-century opponents of the slave trade he became a symbol of the humanity of Africans. In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in the life and works of Ignatius Sancho. [Daylight Savings Time dates bear some correlation.] Many sources credit Benjamin Franklin with being the first to suggest seasonal time change during his sojourn as an American delegate in Paris in 1784 its to make better use of daylight. I like DayLight Savings time better! Dr. Jeanette is Superintendent/Founder of Todays Fresh Start Charter School 4514 Crenshaw BL. LA, CA 90043; 323-293-9826 Author: Will You Marry Me? Inquiring Minds Want To Know; all rights reserved [email protected] Thirty Youth From NSBE Jr. of Southern California Attend the NSBE Fall Regional Conference in Las Vegas With more than 500 chapters and 16,000 members in the U.S. and abroad, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest student-governed organizations based in the United States. Special to the Sentinel On Friday, November 9, 2018, the Southern California chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers left South Los Angeles to attend the Fall Regional Conference (FRC) in Las Vegas. The theme of the FRC is Explore. Engineer. Elevate. With sponsorships from Best Best & Kreiger LLP and the West Basin Metropolitan Water District, NSBE Jr. of So Cal was able to sponsor twenty-eight young people, ages 9 to 17, to the FRC where they will compete in a math and science competitions as well as the following STEM workshops: Catapult Design Coding 101 The Imposter Syndrome hackNSBE Hack-a-Thon HydroBattery FRC will also feature tours of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and the LINQ, the Worlds largest observation wheel and an engineering wonder. The conference will conclude on Saturday evening with an awards banquet and NSBEs annual Carnival Night. ADVERTISEMENT The mission of the National Society of Black Engineers is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. We are honored to have the support of organizations like BB&K and the West Basin Metro Water District because it demonstrates their commitment to a diverse community of engineers, mathematicians, and inventors in the future, said Christine Wood, Executive Director of NSBE Jr. of Southern California. Locals bet on highway to bring riches With the construction of the Mid-Hill Highway in full swing, Tehrathum locals residing at the periphery of the under-construction road are building hotels and lodges around it. According to locals, they are expecting an influx of customers in the long run as the highway is a national pride project. Victims Dad, NAACP Criticize Handling Of Black Mans Death The father of a Connecticut lawyer found shot to death in an overturned SUV is trying to obtain DNA samples from first responders as he seeks to disprove the police conclusion that his son killed himself. Dr. Abraham Dabela has subpoenaed several Redding police officers and firefighters for DNA samples as part of a lawsuit against police. He says he is trying to determine the source of DNA found on his sons gun at the crash site. Thirty-five-year-old Gugsa Abraham Abe Dabela was found dead near his Redding home in April 2014. The police investigation has drawn criticism from the state NAACP chapter, which is also reviewing the death in the affluent, mostly white suburb of Redding. ADVERTISEMENT First responders are asking a federal magistrate judge in Hartford to reject the subpoenas. A court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13. When Trump was afraid of the weatherand other insults to veterans November 11, 2018 was not an insignificant date. It was not just another Veterans Day. One hundred years prior The Great Waras World War I was referencedwas ended with a cease-fire or armistice. Thus, November 11th was known originally as Armistice Day. A war that should never have happened but took place because the great powers at the time were fighting largely over colonies, ended up costing the lives of millions. The USA, which only entered the war in 1917, nevertheless suffered major losses, including well after the war as victims of poison gas suffered and slowly died. A great-uncle of mine was one such victim of World War I. Over the November 11th weekend leaders from around the world converged on France to commemorate the end of World War I. Donald Trump was to be one of the leaders and he had the special duty of visiting the mass graves for US soldiers buried at the Aisne-Marne cemetery adjacent to Belleau Wood not far from Paris. Belleau Wood was the site of a major battle between US Marines (long with their British and French allies) and the Germans in which there were more than 9700 casualties. In US Marine history, Belleau Wood holds iconic status. President Trump chose not to visit the cemetery due to the weather. Instead he Tweeted a congratulations on the birthday of the US Marine Corp. ADVERTISEMENT I am not a militarist and generally find myself in opposition to US foreign policy. But there is something that I find absolutely obscene about Trumps attitude towards US soldiers and veterans. US soldiers should not have been engaged in World War I but the fact of the matter is that they were deployed and suffered horribly. They, along with soldiers on both sides of the endless no-man lands separating trench systems occupied by opposing fighters, experienced a living hell. There were no hotels to which to retreat; no television or warm meals; no warm baths. There was the ever-present threat of poison gas and the zing of bullets flying by or into ones head. And there was the sound of the whistle being blown signaling for the troops to leap out of the trenches and march forward into the machine gun fire unleashed by those in the opposing trenches. With this bit of history in mind, Trump could not find it in himself to get a little wet and honor the lives of men who would never return home? Instead his actions ring of contempt for those who were not rich enough or powerful enough to avoid the conflict. Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the former president of TransAfrica Forum. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and www.billfletcherjr.com. Read his new novel The Man Who Fell From the Sky from Hardball Press. WLAC Is 1st California Community College To Launch Climate Change Studies Degree As legislators and activists continue to debate and sound the alarm over global warming and extreme weather, West Los Angeles College has launched a Climate Change and Environmental Studies Associate of Arts Degree program. We believe this is the first degree of its kind offered by a California Community College, said Dr. James M. Limbaugh, College President. Establishing this program at West has been a personal goal of mine, he continued. In their recent report, the IPCC [Intergovenmental Panel of Climate Change] explicitly states that we are at a critical juncture. It is vitally important that our students understand the long-term implications our actions have on our environmentand on our future. I applaud the leadership shown by our science faculty in creating this important degree program. While other institutions offer programs that center on the environment, Wests new program aims to specifically study climate change making predictions based on comparing and contrasting the long term averages of conditions for a region including temperature records, precipitation records, fire hazards, drought susceptibility, species range shifts and more. The program will provide a broad background in the science of climate change, but also has components in disciplines such as humanities and social sciences, explained Jennifer Cole, assistant professor of Earth Science. Cole has an expertise in paleoclimate and earth surface processes. She received her B.A. from Rutgers University and Ph.D. from State University of New York at Stonybrook. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The Earth Institute at Columbia University. Were focusing on one issue which is climate change but you can see how history, economics and biology can interact, Cole said. ADVERTISEMENT Dr. Limbaugh wanted to make sure that this program was not a science major exclusively, but also that it had a good foundation in societal impacts as well. You could take that knowledge of how things interact and use it to apply to a huge variety of career paths and majors. With the evolving global changes, explained Cole, has come an increased demand for environmental and climate control jobs. Opportunities include researchers, technicians, sustainability coordinators, policy lobbyist, science writers and more. We have a creative group of people that live here, Cole said. So this degree offered here in Los Angeles has the potential to really link people who want to have a bit of a science background, but also want to make an impact in terms of how to improve society for the present and for future generations. According to NASA, increased carbon dioxide and the release of other human-made emissions into the atmosphere have been largely responsible for the planets average surface temperature rise of about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century. An IPCC press release says their October 2018 Global Warming of 1.5Co special report urges the world community make rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of societyWith clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5C compared to 2C could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society. It continues, The report highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5C compared to 2C, or more. For instance, by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5C compared with 2C. The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with global warming of 1.5C, compared with at least once per decade with 2C. Coral reefs would decline by 7090 percent with global warming of 1.5C, whereas virtually all (>99 percent) would be lost with 2C. Here in California, Cole elaborated, as people move into wild lands and replace native, fire-resistant plants with exotic plants, there could be increased wildfire risk. The state will also continue to see changes with water availability, and is expected to experience longer, more severe droughts and sea level rise. But the future need not be grim, Cole continued. Humans are different from any other species because we are innovators, we can solve problems and we can adapt, she said. Weve made tools and other kinds of technology that allow us to not just live but also do well in any kind of environment. We dont want to think selfishly. If we could just remember that were part of this whole planet together and our actions impact a lot of people, then I think we could actually make it so that its not all doom and gloom. We need better education to help people recognize how connected we are as people and how connected we are to this planet as a whole. Core classes for the new Associate degree are Global Climate Change, Environmental Ethics and Statistics. Students will then work with Cole and/or an academic counselor to select courses which emphasize science, humanities or business to achieve the degree. West Los Angeles College is located at 9000 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230. The college is a ACCJC accredited community college providing full-time, part-time and online paths to university transfer and career preparation. Wednesday, November 14, 2018 On Tuesday, Louisiana voters overwhelmingly voted to abolish the practice of allowing non-unanimous jury verdicts in felony cases (e.g., a defendant could be convicted of manslaughter based on a 10-2 jury verdict [10 guilty, 2 not guilty]). In the wake of this vote, Oregon's House majority leader Jennifer Williamson plans to introduce two bills in 2019 in an effort to overturn Oregon's non-unanimous jury law... The first would seek a legislative fix to the law that allows juries in most felony cases aside from murder to convict defendants with a 10-2 vote, she said. The second would refer the issue to voters, who would then decide whether to overturn an amendment in the state constitution enacted more than eight decades ago. In the last few days, the reporting has focused on Oregon being the last state that allows non-unanimous jury verdicts in felony cases. In one sense, this is true. In another sense, this is false, and it could mean that innocent people have been and will continue to be executed. The other state that allows for non-unanimous jury verdicts is Alabama. Now, Alabama doesn't allow for non-unanimous jury verdicts at the guilt-innocence phase of trial. But, Alabama does allow for a 11-1 or 10-2 vote at the sentencing phase of a capital case. In other words, if only 11 or even 10 jurors want to impose the death penalty, the judge can decide that the defendant should be executed. Alabama law was actually worse a couple of years ago. It used to be that judges could override a jury's decision to impose life imprisonment and instead impose the death penalty. But the ability of judges to override was eliminated by the passage of SB 16. That bill eliminated the possibility of judicial overrides but still allowed for death sentences based on 11-1 or 10-2 jury votes. That makes Alabama different from every other death penalty state because every other state requires a unanimous jury vote. Indeed, there's a good argument that Alabama's practice is unconstitutional based upon the Supreme Court's recent opinion in Hurst v. Florida.* And there's good reason that Alabama's practice should be unconstitutional: "all five of the exonerations from Alabama's Death Row over the past several decades had either been the result of an override or the result of a non-unanimous recommendation." You might have heard about one of these exonerees on election day. AL.Com did a story about Anthony Ray Hinton voting after 28 years on death row. In 1986, he was given the death penalty after a 10-2 jury vote; in 2014, the Supreme Court later vacated his conviction, with the DA dropping the charges in 2017. SB 16 was introduced by State Senator Dick Brewbaker. There's a lot of momentum behind ending non-unanimous jury verdicts in Oregon in the wake of the Louisiana vote. Maybe we can get some momentum behind ending Alabama's death penalty law as well. _________________________ *The Supreme Court recently refused to grant cert in a 11-1 Alabama case that would have resolved the issue. -CM [Update: (1) Senattor Brewbaker did not seek re-election; but (2) "Rep Chris England (D Tuscaloosa ) who carried the judicial override bill in the House last year" has said he is "interested in introducing a bill in the upcoming session."] https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/evidenceprof/2018/11/on-tuesday-louisiana-voters-overwhelmingly-voted-to-abolish-the-practice-of-allowing-non-unanimous-jury-verdicts-in-felony-c.html The head of Bangladeshs refugee commission announced on Thursday that plans to start sending Rohingya Muslims back to Myanmar has been cancelled. An estimated 700,000 Rohingya are living in refugee camps in Bangladesh. But they are unwilling to return to Myanmar, officials said. Refugee Commissioner Abul Kalam told the Associated Press that officials cant force them to go. But he said officials will continue to try to persuade the refugees to leave. The announcement came after about 1,000 Rohingya demonstrated against returning to Myanmar. Another Bangladeshi official went to the Unchiprang camp, near the city of Coxs Bazar. It is one of the largest refugee settlements in Bangladesh. The official spoke to the refugees over a loudspeaker. He said we have arranged everything for you, we have six buses here, we have trucks, we have food. We want to offer everything to you. If you agree to go, well take you to the border, to the transit camp. However, hundreds of refugees refused the offer. Bangladesh had attempted to start the return of the refugees to Myanmar, although United Nations officials had said they should wait. A U.N. negotiated deal with Bangladesh and Myanmar states that the Rohingya cannot be forced to return. The countries had planned to send a first group of 2,251 people back in the middle of November, followed by about 150 each day after that. Large numbers of Rohingya started fleeing Myanmar in August of 2017. That was when security forces launched a campaign against the group after rebels attacked guard stations. The size and violence of the operation caused many nations and U.N. officials to accuse Myanmar of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Myanmar has a Buddhist majority. Most people there do not accept the Rohingya as a native ethnic group. They are considered Bengalis who illegally entered the country from Bangladesh. Most Rohingya are Muslim. Almost all Rohingya in Myanmar have been denied citizenship. They are unable to attend schools or get medical care. Human rights activists say it is not yet safe for the refugees to return. Bill Frelick is with the New York City-based group Human Rights Watch. He said in a statement that nothing the Myanmar government has said or done suggests that the Rohingya will be safe upon return. The group said 150 people from 30 families were to be sent to a transit camp on Thursday, but the camp was empty except for security guards. Bangladeshi officials said they have been working with the United Nations on a list of those who want to return to Myanmar. At the Jamtoli refugee camp, 25-year-old Setara said she and her two children, age four and seven, were on a return list, but her parents were not. She said she never asked to return to Myanmar. They killed my husband; now I live here with my parents, she said. I dont want to go back. Setara said others who were named on the governments list had fled to other camps in hopes of disappearing. Earlier plans to start sending the refugees back to Myanmar last January also were called off because of reports of continuing violence. Im Mario Ritter. Julhas Alam reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story arrange v. to organize the details of something before it happens transit adj. related to the act of moving people or things from one place to another We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. For nearly 130 years, the worlds scientists have used a singular small, metal cylinder to define the exact weight of a kilogram. But that is about to change. The cylinder was made in 1889 of platinum and iridium metals. It is called the Grand K. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures, or BIPM, keeps the object at its headquarters near Paris. Many safeguards protect the Grand K. In fact, it takes three specially chosen people to open the container that holds the cylinder. They must each release separate locks at exactly the same time to do so. The Grand K has served as the official world measurement tool for weight in kilograms. All modern mass measurements have been based on the Grand K. There are seven main units of official measure. These include the meter for length, and the second for time. Other units measure things like electrical current or amounts of a substance. Currently, the kilogram is the only measure based on a physical object. The meter used to be represented by a singular metal stick. In 1983, scientists decided that a meter would be defined by the speed of light. Light speed is constant. Light always takes the same amount of time to travel one meter. The Grand K was only rarely and always extremely carefully removed so that other kilos sent from around the world could be compared to it. But even such rare contact does not fully protect the Grand K and its mass. It is still affected by its environment. This can be a problem when using it as the single exact weight measurement tool. Ian Robinson is an engineering specialist at Britains National Physical Laboratory. He told Reuters that pollutants in the atmosphere can easily add weight to the historic measuring tool. When you just get it out of the vault, its slightly dirty, Robinson said. But the whole process of cleaning or handling or using the mass can change its mass. Now, officials at the BIPM believe the time is right to change the kilogram standard, to make it fit better in todays technology-driven world. So on November 16, scientists from around the world will gather in Paris to approve replacing the Grand K with a new standard. BIPMs director, Martin Milton, told the Associated Press he does not see the event as a sad development, but as a moment of celebration. He says this is because it will be the last world measurement standard to finally be replaced by new innovation. The Grand K is to be replaced by a new definition based on a complex physics formula called Plancks constant. This process can measure the mass of an object using electromagnetic force. The method will permit scientists to correctly measure an exact kilogram without comparing it directly with the weight of a physical object. Milton says changes in drug and chemical production now require new ways to measure much smaller amounts of material. He says a kilo is fine for weighing things like potatoes, where extreme exactness is not necessary. But it's not the right weight for many applications in demanding science and industry, he said. Scientists have spent years developing the new definition to make sure the change goes smoothly. Although the time has finally come to change the Grand K, Milton says the system has served humanity well and proved mans ability to unite for science. Its been called a great work of peace, actually, because its one of the areas where all of the states of the world come together with absolutely the same objective. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Quiz - Historic Kilogram Weight Measure to Be Replaced Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cylinder n. a circular object lock n. device used to close a door that requires a key to open unit n. measure used to express an amount or quantity constant adj. happening a lot or all the time vault n. a special room where valuable objects are kept innovation n. new idea or method that is being tried for the first time, or the use of such ideas or methods formula n. a set of letters, numbers, or symbols used to express a mathematical or scientific rule accuracy n. how correct or exact something is application n. the way in which something can be used for a particular purpose scalable adj. able to grow or be made larger absolutely adj. completely, without question About 100 people are still missing in the deadliest wildfire in Californias history. Officials have released the names of the missing people. Many are older people, in their 80s and 90s. The fires, near both ends of the state, have claimed the lives of at least 51 people, with 48 dead in Northern California and three in Southern California. Friends and relatives seeking information about loved ones posted messages and photos in the Northern California town of Chico. I hope you are okay, read one note. Another had a picture of a missing man: If seen, please have him call. Sol Bechtold is searching for his 75-year-old mother, Joanne Caddy. He said some of the missing people are not on the list released by the government. Caddys house burned down along with the rest of Magalia. The area is just north of Paradise, a town of 27,000, that was completely destroyed by the fire last week. Bechtold said he spoke with the sheriffs office Wednesday morning. They confirmed they have a missing persons case on his mother Caddy. But Caddy, who lived alone and did not drive, was not on the list. Greg Gibson was hoping to find information about his neighbors in Paradise. He wondered if they had tried to escape or had stayed a few minutes too long. Gibson said, It happened so fast. He spoke from the Neighborhood Church in Chico. The church serves as a shelter for some of the more than 1,000 who escaped from the fire. Harold Taylor is a 72-year-old Vietnam veteran. Walking with a cane, he said he received a call Thursday morning to leave immediately as the fire was coming up behind his house. We didnt have 10 minutes to get out of there, he said. It was already in flames downtown, all the local restaurants and stuff, he said. Along the way, he asked his neighbor to get in his car and leave with him, but the neighbor chose not to. Taylor does not know what happened to that person. Before the Paradise fire, the deadliest single fire on record in California was in 1933 in Los Angeles Griffith Park that killed 29 people. In Southern California, firefighters have made progress against another huge fire in Malibu. That fire has killed two people and destroyed over 400 structures. Im Mario Ritter. The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story flame - n. the hot, glowing gas that can be seen when a fire is burning Lumbini hosts international prayer for peace, brotherhood A three-day International Tripitaka Recitation programme has commenced in Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha, from Wednesday. LINGUIST List 29.4524 Wed Nov 14 2018 Confs: Historical Linguistics/Germany Editor for this issue: Everett Green 14-Nov-2018Grete Dalmi Predicative Possession in a Cross-Linguistic PerspectivePredicative Possession in a Cross-Linguistic PerspectiveDate: 21-Aug-2019 - 22-Aug-2019Location: Leipzig, GermanyContact: Iliyana KrapovaContact Email: < click here to access email > Linguistic Field(s): History of LinguisticsMeeting Description:(Session of 52nd Annual Meeting of the Societas Linguistica Europaea)We hereby announce the following workshop call on Predicative Possession on Slavic and Finno-Ugric for SLE 2019 to be held at the University of Leipzig on 21st-24th August 2019. Originally planned as a one day workshop, the convenors will be happy to turn it into a two-day workshop if proper interest is shown.Predicative possession is realized in various ways cross-linguistically. Stassen (2009) establishes four major types of predicative possession: locational BE-possessives, BE WITH-possessives, topic possessives and HAVE-possessives. While in Germanic and Romance languages HAVE-possessives are predominantly used, Uralic languages employ locational BE-possessives with the possessor taking a more prominent VP-internal position and bearing oblique case. In the Slavic language family, West Slavic uses HAVE-possessives while East Slavic has locational BE-possessives. Old Church Slavic displays locational BE-possessives, which is replaced by HAVE-possessives in present-day Bulgarian. In Baltic Slavic the two types co-occur with some semantic restrictions on the possessee. These areal and lexical distributions raise the question whether the choice between HAVE-possessives and locational BE-possessives is the syntactic reflex of parametric variation or whether the two forms are more intrinsically related.The derivationist approach relates BE-possessives and HAVE-possessive to copular sentences. This view goes back to Benvenistes (1966) claim that possessive sentences are nothing but inverted copular sentences. which is also reflected in Kayne (1993), Den Dikken (1997), Jung (2011) and Myler (2016).Under the lexicalist approach, BE-possessives and HAVE-possessives are structurally distinct constructions. Both sentence types have two participants, the possessor and the possessee (see Paducheva 2000, Partee & Borschev 2008, Blaszczak 2007, 2010). BE-possessives share a whole range of syntactic and semantic properties with BE-existentials, The Definiteness Restriction in affirmative sentences, GEN NEG in Slavic negated possessive and existential sentences, binding relations, verb agreement and case marking on the possessor and the possessee are important issues that cannot be ignored in connection with predicative possession.Program:Potential participants and titles1. Genitive of Negation in Polish possessive and locative existential sentences: A testing tool for Case Overwriting, Case Projection and the PIC (Jacek Witkos, AMU Poznan)Polish Genitive of Negation (GoN, cf. inter alia Przepiorkowski 1999, Baszczak 2001, Witkos 2003), applies to all Accusative-taking transitive verbs, including both the possessive construction and the locative construction. The chapter examines properties of GoN from the perspective of current approaches to case theory, mainly case overwriting (Pesetsky 2013, Bailyn 2014) and nano-syntax (Starke 2001, Caha 2009). Both theories successfully deal with the manifestation of the superior case with respect to case hierarchy (Blake 2004), where {Gen > Acc > Nom}) but they provide very different answers as to why Gen cannot supersede other cases, such as Dat or Inst. Both also need to face the challenge of Long Distance GoN, where main clause negation forces Genitive on the object of the infinitive.2. The historical development of predicative possession in Bulgarian (Iliyana Krapova, Ca Foscari, Venice)Bulgarian is a language with have-possessives only, while Old Bulgarian/Old Church Slavonic had be-possessives: a) be+P +genitive, b) be+dative (Latin mihi est), also used in existential sentences. In this talk, I will draw a crucial distinction between these two structures, which has to do with their semantics: the prepositional genitive was used to encode temporary possession of concrete, countable possessa, while the possessive dative had part-whole semantics and could only be used with inalienable possessa, kinship relations and abstract states and concepts (McAnallen 2011). This combination of properties played a crucial role in reanalyzing be-possessives as locations in the history of Bulgarian, while have-possessives emerged from a reanalysis of the possessive dative into a have-possessive/existential along the lines of Kaynes (1993) approach to the underlying structure of have as BE+P.The idea that clausal possession has a DP-source has been exploited in numerous studies starting from Szabolcsi (1983, 1994). However, as rightly pointed out by Boneh&Sichel (2010), no distinction is usually made between Part-Whole and Temporary Location.3. Predicative possession in Belarusian, a mixed BE/HAVE language (Egor Tsedryk, Saint Marys Halifax, CA)This paper offers a morpho-syntactic analysis of possessors used with the existential BE and possessive HAVE predicates, comparing a predominantly BE-system language (Russian) with a mixed BE/HAVE system language (Belarusian). According to Bjorkman & Cowper (2016), the core semantic feature of predicative possession is [INCL]: it encodes a relation of inclusion/containment (understood broadly). In East Slavic, this feature is realized as a locative u at + GEN (genitive) in the specifier of an applicative head (Appl) bearing [INCL]. Assuming a realizational view of morphology (post-syntactic insertion), I hypothesize that mac and byc in Belarusian are both instances of v that may or may not bear an accusative case feature. That is, availability of ACC on v is the hallmark of a mixed BE/HAVE system found in Belarusian. A case feature on v purportedly blocks the locative realization of [INCL] in the specifier of Appl and forces the spell out of the head itself, assuming that v is incorporated into Appl.4. Predicative possession as a clause type in Finnish (Maria Vilkuna, Helsinki)In this paper Finnish possessive sentences are discussed in the framework of Construction Grammar. As in Finnic and Saamic languages in general, Finnish canonical predicative possession represents the BE-possessive, more specifically the Locational type as defined by Heine (1997) and Stassen (2009), given a broad definition of location. The Finnish pattern is generally seen as a crystallized subtype of so-called existential sentences, which display an inverse encoding of figure-ground relations (Creissels 2014). Both types challenge most notions of subjecthood, but this is even clearer in the possessive pattern. Although canonical instances of the possessive and existential patterns are distinctive enough, their exact borders are hard to draw, and on the other hand, the possessive sentence has subtypes that can, themselves, be seen as separate constructions. This paper attempts to clarify the criteria for drawing these lines.5. The argument structure of BE-possessives in Hungarian (Grete Dalmi, BME, Budapest)This paper discusses the argument structure of BE-existentials and BE-possessives in Hungarian. In contrast to the traditional view (see Kayne 1993, Szabolcsi 1992, 1994, Den Dikken 1997), according to which BE-possessives and HAVE-possessives resemble copular BE-sentences in that the verb takes one single argument (i.e. the small clause) in them, the paper argues that existential/possessive BE, just like possessive HAVE, selects two arguments. While existential and possessive sentences show the Definiteness Restriction in several languages, copular sentences never do. This and a whole range of syntactic and semantic properties justify the segregation of existential and possessive BE-sentences from copular BE-sentences. The paper relates existential and possessive BE in Hungarian to psych-predicates of the piacere-type (Belletti & Rizzi 1988, Grimshaw 1990, Harley 2002).6. Types of predicative possession and possessors in Meadow Mari (Alexandra Simonenko, University of Ghent)This paper is concerned with BE-existentials and BE-possessives in Meadow Mari based on original fieldwork data and a tree-bank of Meadow Mari. The theoretical focus of the chapter is two-fold. First, it discusses the syntactic status of the possessor DP in predicative possessive constructions viz. the possibility of analysing it as an external possessor which has raised out of the possessee's DP. It has been established for these languages that genitive possessors have a greater syntactic freedom compared to other nominal dependents, in particular, they can be separated from the possessee by any other constituent. At the same time, they trigger the appearance of the so called possessive suffix on the possessee. The second locus of interest lies in the semantics of BE-existentials and BE-possessives with regard to the so-called Definiteness Effect. If possessors are analysed as base-generated inside the DP, as discussed in the first part of the chapter, this opens up a series of interesting questions concerning the effects of raising on presupposionality, since (at least some) DP-internal possessors seem to trigger an existential presupposition, which has been proposed to lie at the root of the Definiteness Effect.7. BE-possessives in two Permic languages (Nikolett F. Gulyas, ELTE, Budapest)This paper discusses BE-possessives in two Permic languages (Finno-Ugric, Uralic), Komi-Permyak and Udmurt. Both BE-possessives and BE-existentials will be introduced from a typological point of view (Stassen 2009). With respect to attributive possession, a distinction is made between alienable and inalienable possessees and also to some extent between animate and inanimate possessors (Bartens 2000, Edygarova 2010, Ponomarova 2010). These differences will be examined in predicative possession, using elicited data from native consultants.8. Predicative possession in Selkup (Beata Wagner-Nagy, Hamburg University)In this paper predicative possessive constructions in Selkup (Samoyedic, Uralic) will be surveyed.Selkup knows only one verb which can be used in locational and existential sentences: the BE-verb qo. Thus, in both sentence types this verb is the connecting element between the locational part and the theme. Existential verbs of the type present in Northern Samoyedic are unknown in Selkup. Locational and existential sentences only differ from each other in word order (see Wagner-Nagy 2015) as there is no explicit morphological marking for the definiteness of the theme. This topic will be examined using corpus data as well as elicited materials. Sangam Prasain is Business Editor at The Kathmandu Post, covering tourism, agriculture, mountaineering, aviation, infrastructure and other economic affairs. He joined The Kathmandu Post in October 2009. Regional security and the strengthening of ties with Japan and the U.S. will be high on the agenda for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison when he meets leaders from both countries amid continuing concerns about the growing influence of China in the Asia-Pacific. Morrison will meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tomorrow, when Abe makes a flying visit to Darwin between a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore and the weekends meeting of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Papua New Guinea. Abe will become the first Japanese leader to visit Darwin since the bombing of the northern Australian city by Japanese forces in World War II. Morrison will then hold meetings with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during the APEC meeting in Port Moresby. Pence will use the northern Australian city of Cairns as his base for those meetings amid concerns over security in Papua New Guinea. Its expected several other APEC leaders will also stay in Cairns. Trade and investment will be a major focus of Morrisons meetings with Abe, who will use his Darwin trip to also visit Japans biggest ever foreign investment, the USD40 billion Ichthys gas project in which Japanese firm Inpex is the majority shareholder and operator. The project, which pipes offshore gas from the northwest Australian coast to Darwin, began its first shipments of liquefied natural gas to Japan last month. Morrison said he and Abe would also acknowledge those who served in World War II, in a pointed gesture in the northern port city that was bombed by Japanese forces in 1942, with the loss of 250 lives. Prime Minister Abes visit is deeply symbolic and significant and it will build on our two countries strong and enduring friendship as well as our economic, security, community and historical ties, Morrison said in a statement. The meeting comes at a time when a key topic for Australia, its second-largest trading partner Japan and other Asian and South Pacific neighbors is how to respond to the growing influence of China, Australias biggest trading partner. Australia and Japan are expected to reach agreement in Darwin to facilitate larger and more regular joint military exercises, part of a strengthening of defense and economic ties amid growing uncertainty about American involvement in Asia under the Trump administration. Negotiations began in 2014 for the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which would make it easier for Japanese and Australian forces to visit either country with equipment for military exercises. An official from Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Australian Financial Review newspaper this week that the two countries were at the final stage in discussions on the agreement, set to become the first pact on visiting forces Tokyo has signed outside of its arrangement with the U.S. Japan is also expected to welcome Australias new foreign policy shift toward the southwest Pacific announced last week. Canberra will set up a 2 billion Australian dollar ($1.4 billion) fund to support infrastructure projects in the region, which fits with Japans call for alternative sources of investment to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Morrison will also meet Pence in Port Moresby, where the vice president is expected to deliver a speech at the APEC CEO Summit on Saturday morning continuing Washingtons push against Chinas growing influence. Pence is due to talk just minutes after an address to the forum by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Morrison will also address the gathering As the U.S. trade war with China continues, Pence is expected to maintain a hard line against Beijing, following a speech he delivered last month accusing China of stealing U.S. intellectual property, meddling in American elections and suppressing human rights. Pence is also expected to increase pressure on China over its militarization of the disputed South China Sea, the need to maintain pressure on North Korea to denuclearize and on the fight against terrorism. Pences press secretary Alyssa Farah said he would deliver the message that authoritarianism, aggression, and the disregard for other nations sovereignty by any nation in the Indo-Pacific will not be tolerated by the United States. The vice president is also expected to set out Washingtons rival vision for the Indo-Pacific, promoting private investment over state-controlled funding to build regional infrastructure, in reaction to Chinese involvement in the South Pacific in recent years. In an opinion piece for the Washington Post last weekend, Pence wrote: The United States will work with like-minded nations from India to the Pacific islands to advance our shared interests. Together, we will stand up to anyone who threatens our interests and our values. The United States seeks collaboration, not control. Trevor Marshallsea, Sydney, AP Nepal-India panel report awaits Modis attention The much-anticipated report of Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India Relations is unlikely to be submitted to the prime ministers of both countries ahead of the general elections in India next year. The Legislative Assembly (AL) passed three debate motions on topics concerning the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) yesterday. The three debates were proposed by Agnes Lam, Leong Sun Iok, and a joint proposal by Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San. All the debates will be conducted in the same session of the AL, advised the Assemblys president, Ho Iat Seng. Agnes Lam proposed to debate whether the government should suspend or change the LRT project. Ng and Aus joint proposal called on the government to publicize the detailed procedures behind all kinds of difficulties, mistakes and changes within the LRT project, as well as to clarify the LRTs development plan. Leongs debate motion asked the Transportation Infrastructure Office to disclose the overall plan and budget of the LRT before the office conducts the next phase of construction. Leong says that the LRT risks becoming the biggest white elephant of the century. During yesterdays plenary session, lawmaker Pereira Coutinho supported Leongs proposal. The proposal was very well presented by lawmaker Leong Sun Iok. The projects budget passed from MOP4.2 billion [in 2007] to MOP14.2 billion [in 2012]. I was told that with MOP8 billion you could go to the moon, he ironized. Also yesterday, a proposal by Pereira Coutinho to refuse the proposed location of the hazardous materials depots was rejected. Four Seasons Hotel Macao hosted a charity event, Cocktails for a Cause, on November 9, with the aim of raising funds in a fun and engaging fashion. Local socialites and personalities gathered at Splash of Four Seasons to raise funds via a friendly competition of creative cocktails among seven guest bartenders. More than 800 cocktails were served on the celebrated evening. After three hours of friendly competition and rallying for their creative cocktails, Manuel Pires, Chairman of the Executive Committee of TDM, won the title of Champion Bartender of Cocktails for a Cause. The seven guest bartenders raised over MOP100,000 combined, and the funds will be donated to Four Seasons annual Run of Hope charity run program. The charity run event has a Superhero theme this year in celebration of its tenth year benchmark, and to applaud the everyday heroes in the on-going fight against cancer, including cancer patients and their families, and medical professionals. Participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superheroes and will have the chance to win best costume prizes. SJM theodore racing by prema joins SJM in visit to local community SJM Theodore Racing by Prema, amidst their heavy schedule preparing for the Macau Grand Prix, visited the Kam Pek Community Centre in Macau on Tuesday to spend time with the local community, according to a statement from SJM. SJM Theodore Racing by Prema CEO Teddy Yip Jr, racing drivers Guanyu Zhou, Ralf Aron, Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman visited the Kam Pek Community Centre in the Inner Harbor area, and spent quality time with over 100 members of the Macau Association of the Hearing Impaired and of Macau Special Olympics at the Hi! My Racing Heroes! charity event. Organized by the SJM Volunteer Team, the event aims to inspire the children, as well as to bring laughter to the members by playing games together. The participants also received autographed postcards from the drivers. We are delighted to spend a wonderful time with the members of the Association of the Hearing Impaired and of Macau Special Olympics. Our appreciation also goes to SJM and their volunteer team for the invitation, which enables us to have the opportunity to give something back to the local community while racing in Macau, making our trip in Macau a very meaningful one, said Teddy Yip, according to the statement. The Executive Council (ExCo) has concluded the discussion over the bill that aims to establish the legal regime of the temporary housing and trade housing units, a bill that will now sent immediately to the Legislative Assembly (AL). The ExCO spokesperson, Leong Heng Teng, said yesterday at a press conference that the bill is instrumental to the establishment of urban renewal plans in several areas of the city. The proposal reportedly follows studies undertaken by the Urban Renewal Council and includes inputs from the public consultation. There will be a series of restrictions to the applications. As Leong explained, these restrictions aim to allow access to a temporary house or a trade housing units for those that really need those housing units. From the bill, and as a first restriction, all the cases where the owners of the housing units are commercial companies will be excluded, as the application of the law is exclusively directed to individual people. Additionally, the bill applies to those that require temporary housing while their unit building is being rebuilt (in the cases where the rebuild is possible in the same location). When this is not possible, to such property owners, property owners will be compensated and given the possibility of acquiring a house in a different location. Restrictions were also enforced in what concerns the number of houses that can be acquired or rented under this law. In this sense, one person can only be allocated one unit for trade, regardless of the number of units that he or she possessed and which would be affected by urban renewal projects. The same applies if two house owners are married. One of the most anticipated outcomes regarding the bill was the pricing for both the rentals and the sales of the trade units, a fact that was far from being clarified. As the spokesperson explained, This is a matter to be decided by the Urban Renewal Council and that requires a further and more complex study as well as in what concerns the value of the compensation to [be awarded], he said, noting that the bill has now been sent to the AL. He also noted that such amounts would be proportionate to market prices for the units of the same kind and in the same area, values that would be then set by a dispatch of the Chief Executive. Regarding the Pearl Horizon buyers, as in the other cases, each unit owner (independently of how many units it was promised they would acquire from the Pearl Horizon development) would be able to acquire only one unit from these government- built projects. It is proposed by the ExCo that this law will enter into force on the day immediately following its publication in the Official Gazette. Heritage buildings with updated information and detail The Executive Council (ExCo) has concluded discussion over the administrative regulation that promotes changes to the list of heritage classified buildings and protection areas. As the governments spokesperson Leong Heng Teng noted yesterday, the Council has concluded the analysis of the project, which aims to provide more detail as well as to clarify the information regarding the building and sites. Leong noted, the project for administrative regulation did not add any new items, but the list [of the 128 classified buildings] was properly updated according to the established criteria and current situation. Most of the changes promoted had to do with the designation of the buildings and sites, both in their Chinese and Portuguese names. In this chapter, a total of 90 changes were performed to the Chinese names and 82 to the Portuguese designations. In addition to these, a total of 22 graphic representations of the sites and buildings in the cartographic records were updated. The vice president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leong Wai Man, said that the changes have the purpose of clarifying and avoiding confusion with other buildings and places with the same name. [] We also added more information, such as the former use of the building or the service which is being provided there at the moment. Examples of such changes could be seen, for instance on the Saint Pauls Ruins that from now on will be classified as Ruins of the Saint Pauls College (old Church of Mater Dei, churchyard and staircase). It is proposed by the ExCo that the new list of names and information will enter into force from January 1, 2019. For North Korean factory managers, a visit by leader Kim Jong Un is the highest of honors and quite possibly the most stressful event imaginable. The chief engineer at the Songdowon General Foodstuffs Factory had looked forward to the visit for nearly a decade. His factory churns out tons of cookies, crackers, candies and bakery goods, plus dozens of varieties of soft drinks sold around the country. In its showroom, Kwon Yong Chol proudly showed off one of his best-sellers, a nutrient soup made with spirulina, a blue-green microalgae superfood. Ever since construction began everyone here had wanted the leader to visit, and this year he did. His visit was the biggest thing that could happen to us, Kwon, smiling broadly, said of Kim Jong Uns visit in July. He ate our instant noodles. He said they were delicious. Not all managers have been so fortunate. Theres a lot on the line for North Korea these days. And Kim means business. INSPECTION TOURS Though the international spotlight has been on his denuclearization talks with Washington, the North Korean leader has a lot riding domestically on his promises to boost the countrys economy and standard of living. His announcement in April that North Korea had sufficiently developed its nuclear weapons and would now focus on building its economy marked a sharp turn in official policy, setting the stage for his rapid-fire meetings with the leaders of China, South Korea and the United States. It also set in motion an ambitious campaign of on-the-spot guidance trips to rally party officials, factory managers and military troops. After the announcement of the new strategic line and his first round of summits, including his meeting in June with President Donald Trump, Kim embarked on nearly 20 inspection tours around the country in July and another 10 in August, all but one of them to non-military locations. The military inspection rounds are instead being handled by the countrys premier, Pak Pong Ju, who has gone on 18 inspection tours from July, mostly to military facilities. On-the-spot guidance tours are a tradition Kim inherited from his father and grandfather, the late eternal General-Secretary Kim Jong Il and eternal President Kim Il Sung. They date to the late 1940s, when Kim Il Sung began gradually institutionalizing the visits to demonstrate his hands-on leadership and, as invariably portrayed by the Norths media, his deep care and concern for the well-being of the people. Factories, farms and important industrial facilities are the usual destinations. But Kim Jong Uns focus on them this year marks a break from excursions in 2017 to nuclear weapons facilities and missile sites. Reflecting the gravity of his current mission, Kim has shown little patience for cadres who come up short. On his July tour in the northern part of the country he lambasted officials at a factory that produces backpacks for students, saying their attitude was very wrong and has no revolutionary spirit. He then dressed down officials at a power plant that has been under construction for 17 years, criticized people in charge of a hotel project for taking too long to finish plastering its walls and slammed the authorities responsible for building a recreational campsite. Looking round the bathroom of the camp, he pointed out its very bad condition, saying bathtubs for hot spring therapy are dirty, gloomy and unsanitary for their poor management, said an official report of the visit. THE RESPECTED MARSHAL Most inspection tours, however, go like Kims two-hour visit to the Songdowon processed foods factory. With a gaggle of cameramen in tow the tours are always top news in North Koreas media the sites senior manager generally serves as the guide. Members of Kims entourage frantically take notes as he suggests tweaks of this or that and offers praise or encouragement. Many factories put up red and gold plaques to commemorate the event. Some have special wall displays made afterward that show the exact path the leader took in little LED lights that can be turned on at the press of a button. At Kwons factory, which has 300 employees and is located on the outskirts of the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, Kim advised managers to improve operations on an automated, unmanned and germ-free basis, holding aloft the banner of self-reliance. Before the obligatory group photo session, the Norths official news agency reported, Kim voiced his expectation and conviction the factory would produce more quality foods and thus more fully demonstrate the honor of being a factory loved by the people. But Kim also had a broader point to make. He told the factory management that they must be prepared to work in a more competitive environment, to modernize and cut the fat. These are special times and they, and basically all managers throughout the country, need to step up their game. The Respected Marshal Kim Jong Un pays much more attention to the quality of a product, Kwon said. When he came to this factory he gave instructions to maintain a high level of hygiene because food is closely associated with the health of the people, and to keep the highest level of quality of products that people like. He said we must produce products that are world class, and produce a lot of foods that people like. Kwon said the pressure isnt just coming from above. The people demand more quality, he said. When people look at the product, they must feel like they want to have it. So we are designing things in line with that. We have to satisfy the demands of the people. Eric Talmadge, Wonsan, AP Leaders of Southeast Asian nations have pushed back yet again an agreement on a pan- Asian free trade deal amid a whirlwind of diplomacy yesterday at their annual summit. In convening talks among the leaders of countries participating in the plan, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said a final agreement on the deal, which is expected to encompass nearly half the worlds population and 40 percent of world trade, will be pushed back until 2019. Lees comments confirmed earlier expectations that the 16 countries in the plan, called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, would not meet their goal of finalizing the accord this year. The trade talks followed scores of bilateral meetings among the leaders and talks on other issues such as regional security, how to keep peace in the South China Sea and the crisis over hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar to escape violence. During the meetings in Singapore, Lee has championed the regions commitment to free trade and a multilateral approach to sorting out the issue in contrast with President Donald Trumps American First preference for bilateral trade deals and distrust of international institutions. We are meeting at a critical time. Protectionism and anti-globalization sentiments are on the rise. This can have a devastating impact on the regional as well as the global economy, and business confidence in Asia is already being affected, Lee said. Its important that we redouble our economic integration efforts and maintain a free, open and rules-based multilateral trading system which has underpinned our growth and prosperity, he said. Trump withdrew from a Pacific Rim trade initiative, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, just after taking office last year. That trade pact is due to take effect on Dec. 30. The U.S. is not part of the RCEP initiative, which includes China, India, Australia and most other Asian economies. Lee said participating countries had finished five of seven chapters in their agreement and shown strong political will in finishing it. He warned that further delays in reaching an agreement would damage the RCEPs credibility. We are now at the final stage of negotiations. With a strong momentum generated this year, I am pleased to note that the RCEP negotiations are poised for conclusion in 2019, he said. The 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Earlier earlier, the ASEAN leaders met with their counterparts from Australia, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan. Managing conflict in the South China Sea is a perennial concern; China is pitted against its smaller neighbors in multiple disputes in the sea over coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves. While in Singapore, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has sought to reassure Chinas neighbors. We have found the way to properly manage and defuse differences, for example, on the issue of the South China Sea in the past years, Li said, adding that the situation was moving toward greater stability with progress toward a single draft text on a code of conduct in the sea. He reiterated Beijings hope to have a final agreement within three years. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said such a code was needed at all cost to prevent dangerous miscalculations. AP Britain and the Republic of Ireland have signed a deal giving Dublin a role in Northern Ireland for the first time in more than 60 years. Britains Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said it brought new hope of ending the violence in Northern Ireland. But Treasury minister Ian Gow one of Mrs Thatchers closest political allies has resigned in protest at the deal which is also opposed by the Ulster Unionists. In a letter, Mr Gow told Mrs Thatcher the governments change of policy on Northern Ireland would prolong and not diminish the agony of Ulster. The Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed by Margaret Thatcher and Irish Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald at Hillsborough Castle in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sets up a framework for regular conferences between British and Irish ministers to discuss matters affecting Northern Ireland. However, if a devolved government were established in Northern Ireland, matters transferred to its power would no longer fall under the remit of the conferences. That is being seen as an inducement for unionists who want to remain part of the United Kingdom and keep Dublin at bay. But, for the first time, the British Government has officially committed to promoting legislation for a united Ireland if a majority is in favour. The deal has been met with anger and bitterness by the majority loyalist community in Northern Ireland. The 15 Ulster Unionist MPs have accused Mrs Thatcher of treachery and have said they will resign unless a referendum is held on the agreement. However, opposition leaders at Westminster have pledged their support and the government seems certain to secure a big majority when the deal comes up for approval. Irish MPs also have to approve the agreement which will be reviewed after three years. Courtesy BBC News In context Thousands turned out for demonstrations led by unionist MPs against the agreement. Ian Gow was among Conservatives who set up an anti-agreement group in 1986 to fight the case for keeping the status quo in Northern Ireland. In July 1990 Mr Gow was killed by a bomb planted at his home in Sussex by the IRA. The Anglo-Irish agreement followed a failed attempt in 1973 to set up a power-sharing executive of nationalist and unionist politicians and an all-Ireland Council. No deal accepted by all sides was reached until the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998 which created the Northern Ireland Assembly and new cross-border institutions. The latest Michelin guide for Thailand expanded the list of starred restaurants in Bangkok and recognized one in Phuket for the first time, but none won the top accolade of three stars. Suhring, which serves modern German food in the capital, moved up from one to two stars, joining Indian restaurant Gaggan, French eatery Le Normandie and European restaurant Mezzaluna in the latter category. Some 23 restaurants achieved or retained one star, including PRU in Phuket and Bangkok street food vendor Jay Fai. A debut Michelin guide to Thailands best restaurants was rolled out last year for Bangkok, long a food-lovers paradise for everything from street stalls to fine dining. The latest version goes beyond the capital to assess eateries in the southern tourism hot spots of Phuket and Phang Nga, part of the countrys efforts to keep attracting visitors. The goal is to cover the whole nation by 2021 under a five-year agreement with Michelin, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said in July. While tourism growth has waned recently after a slide in Chinese holidaymakers, the industry still makes up about a fifth of the economy. We have to get away from mass tourism and promote whats unique about us and thats food its art, Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor for international marketing at the tourism authority, said yesterday at a briefing in Bangkok about the latest guide. Indian restaurant Gaggan, which was set up by Kolkata- born chef Gaggan Anand, has also been voted Asias best restaurant for the past four years. French tiremaker and publisher Michelin introduced the guide in Thailand as part of a broader effort to boost the companys appeal in Asia, judging that the popular restaurant reviews will help position its brand as high quality. Cities in Asia such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul, Shanghai and Singapore also get the Michelin treatment. The companys reviewers anonymously award stars based on criteria such as quality of ingredients, flavor, cooking techniques and the personality of the chef in the cuisine he or she creates. Three stars are given to restaurants where the food is exceptional and worth a special journey, two stars are given to those worth a detour, while one star is awarded to establishments considered to be good restaurants in their category. Siraphob Thanthong-Knight, Bloomberg British Prime Minister Theresa May will try to persuade her divided Cabinet that they have a choice between backing a draft Brexit deal with the European Union or plunging the U.K. into political and economic uncertainty. May called a special Cabinet meeting after negotiators from Britain and the EU broke a months-long logjam and reached agreement on divorce terms, including a plan to keep the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland open after Brexit. Pro-Brexit lawmakers in Mays Conservative Party including some members of the Cabinet say the agreement will leave Britain tethered to the EU after it departs and unable to forge an independent trade policy. Mays supporters argue that the deal is the best on offer, and the alternatives are a chaotic no-deal Brexit that would cause huge disruption to people and businesses, or an election that could see the Conservative government replaced by the left- of-center Labour Party. Former Foreign Secretary William Hague warned ardent Brexiteers that if they shoot down Mays deal, it could lead to a change of government and a new referendum and Brexit might never happen at all. Failure to secure Cabinet backing will leave Mays leadership in doubt and the Brexit process in chaos, with exit day just over four months away on March 29. If Cabinet supports the deal, it needs approval from the EU at a summit in the next few weeks. Then May will need to win backing from Parliament no easy task, since pro-Brexit and pro-EU legislators alike are threatening to oppose it. The main obstacle to a withdrawal agreement has long been how to ensure there are no customs posts or other checks along the border between the U.K.s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland after Brexit. Britain and the EU agree that there must be no barriers that could disrupt businesses and residents on either side of the border and undermine Northern Irelands hard-won peace process. The proposed solution involves a common customs arrangement for the U.K. and the EU, to eliminate the need for border checks, with some provisions that are specific to Northern Ireland. The solution is intended to be temporary, but pro-Brexit politicians in Britain fear it may become permanent, hampering Britains ability to strike new trade deals around the world. Pro-Brexit former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the agreement would make his favored option, a loose Canada-style trade deal with the bloc, impossible. He tweeted: Cabinet must live up to its responsibilities & stop this deal. Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Mays minority government, said it would oppose any deal that leaves Northern Ireland subject to different rules to the rest of the U.K. after Brexit. DUP chief whip Jeffrey Donaldson said the proposed deal threatens the constitutional and economic integrity of the U.K. That is not something we can support, he told the BBC. May also faces growing opposition from pro-EU lawmakers, who say her proposed Brexit deal is worse than the status quo and the British public should get a new vote on whether to leave or to stay. Jill Lawless, London, AP Nepal to explore prospects of sending workers to Japan The Government of Nepal is exploring possibilities to send its migrant workers to Japan through a government-to-government deal. Nepali handmade items will be given priority Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada has said that the government would accord priority for the promotion of Nepali handmade products that utilise local resources and generate jobs. New Consumer Protection Act meek and full of flaws Consumer rights activists have said that the on-the-spot cash fines launched by the government were full of flaw and reflects favoritism and leniency towards unscrupulous traders. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Antibiotic prescribing by doctors is influenced by team dynamics and cultures within hospitals. This is the finding of a new study, led by Imperial College London, which highlights the need for understanding contextual differences in antibiotic decision making amongst medical and surgical teams. The work, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, the Economic and Social Research Council, and Public Health England, involved spending over 500 hours with medical and surgical teams and observing and documenting team and individual behaviours around decision making for antibiotic prescribing and infection management. The researchers also interviewed 23 staff to get further insight of the challenges faced when prescribing antibiotics. This work is part of larger research programme that also considered patient outcomes of the differences in decision making across specialities, by following a group of patients in medicine and surgery. Dr. Esmita Charani, senior pharmacist and leading the study, Imperial's Department of Medicine, said: "This research builds on our existing work, which focuses on trying to understand how human behaviours influence medical decision making. Understanding culture and context is highly relevant when trying to understand how and why interventions and policies fail to be implemented as expected. "Antibiotic management in surgery is complex not because there is less attention to infection management in surgical teams, but rather because of the different way in which surgical teams prioritise the care of their patients. Antibiotic prescribing in surgery is driven by a need to prevent infections following a surgical intervention. Understanding how surgical and medical specialties determine risks associated with infection management can lead to developing more tailored solutions which can optimise antibiotic prescribing and improve patient outcomes" International collaboration The study found that risks associated with infections are assessed differently across the specialties and this drives decision making, and there needs to be more focus on addressing antibiotic use in the surgical pathway. The findings of this research have led to an international collaborative research programme: Optimising antibiotic use along surgical pathways: addressing antimicrobial resistance and improving clinical outcomes in India, England, Scotland, South Africa, Rwanda. In early 2019, Imperial will co-host their first Social Science Research Methodologies workshop: tackling Antimicrobial Resistance. Professor Alison Holmes, from Imperial's Department of Medicine and Principal Investigator of the research, explained: "Between 30-50 per cent of patients in hospitals undergo surgery. Therefore addressing behaviours related to antibiotic use across the surgical pathway (before, during and after surgery) is key to tackling important drivers of antimicrobial resistance. Our current programme of research is investigating how we can improve infection prevention behaviours and optimise antibiotic use in surgery across different healthcare settings.' Explore further Experts issue urgent call to action for surgeons on antibiotic overuse More information: E Charani et al. The Differences in Antibiotic Decision-making Between Acute Surgical and Acute Medical Teams: An Ethnographic Study of Culture and Team Dynamics, Clinical Infectious Diseases (2018). Journal information: Clinical Infectious Diseases E Charani et al. The Differences in Antibiotic Decision-making Between Acute Surgical and Acute Medical Teams: An Ethnographic Study of Culture and Team Dynamics,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy844 Credit: Viacheslav Nikolaenko via Shutterstock Bibliotherapy the idea that reading can have a beneficial effect on mental health has undergone a resurgence. There is mounting clinical evidence that reading can, for example, help people overcome loneliness and social exclusion. One scheme in Coventry allows health professionals to prescribe books to their patients from a list drawn up by mental health experts. Even as public library services across Britain are cut back, the healing potential of books is increasingly recognised. The idea of the healing book has a long history. Key concepts were forged in the crucible of World War I, as nurses, doctors and volunteer librarians grappled with treating soldiers' minds as well as bodies. The word "bibliotherapy" itself was coined in 1914, by American author and minister Samuel McChord Crothers. Helen Mary Gaskell (1853-1940), a pioneer of "literary caregiving," wrote about the beginnings of her war library in 1918: "Surely many of us lay awake the night after the declaration of War, debating how best we could help in the coming struggle Into the mind of the writer came, like a flash, the necessity of providing literature for the sick and wounded." The well-connected Gaskell took her idea to the medical and governmental authorities, gaining official approval. Lady Battersea, a close friend, offered her a Marble Arch mansion to store donated books, and The Times carried multiple successful public appeals. As Gaskell wrote: "What was our astonishment when not only parcels and boxes, but whole libraries poured in. Day after day vans stood unloading at the door." Gaskell's library was affiliated to the Red Cross in 1915 and operated internationally with depots in Egypt, Malta, and Salonika. Her operating principles, axiomatic to bibliotherapy, were to provide a "flow of comfort" based on a "personal touch." Gaskell explained that "the man who gets the books he needs is the man who really benefits from our library, physically and mentally." Her colleagues running Endell Street Military Hospital's library shared similar views about the importance of books in wartime. On August 12, 1916, the Daily Telegraph reported on the hospital, calling the library a "story in itself." Run by novelist Beatrice Harraden, a member of the Womens Social and Political Union and also, briefly, the actress and feminist playwright Elizabeth Robins, the library was a fundamental part of the treatment of 26,000 wounded between 1915 and 1918. "We learned," Robins wrote in Ancilla's Share, her 1924 analysis of gender politics, "that the best way, often the only way, to get on with curing men's bodies was to do something for their minds." The books the men wanted first were likely to be by the ex-journalist and popular writer Nat Gould, whose novels about horseracing were bestsellers. Otherwise, fiction by Rudyard Kipling, Marie Corelli, or Robert Louis Stevenson rated highly. In the Cornhill Magazine in November, 1916, Harraden revealed that the librarians' "pilgrimages" from one bedside to another ensured what she called "good literature" was always within reach, but that the book that would "heal" was the one that was most wanted: "However ill [a patient] was, however suffering and broken, the name of Nat Gould would always bring a smile to his face." The literary caregivers at Endell Street worked responsively, and without judgement, a crucial legacy. Library on the frontline Literary caregiving also took place closer to the front. Throughout the war, the YMCA operated a network of recreation huts and lending libraries for soldiers. After losing his only son, Oscar, at Ypres, the author E. W. Hornung offered his services to the YMCA. Hornung a relatively obscure figure now, but a literary celebrity then authored the "Raffles" stories about the gentleman thief of the same name. Arriving in France in late 1917, Hornung was initially put to work serving tea to British soldiers. But the YMCA soon found him a more suitable job, placing him in charge of a new lending library for soldiers in Arras. Dispensing tea and books to soldiers helped him process his grief. Hearing soldiers talk about their favourite books played a key role in his recovery but he also sincerely believed that reading helped soldiers keep their minds healthy while they were in the trenches. Hornung wrote in 1918 that he wanted to feed "the intellectually starved," while "always remembering that they are fighting-men first and foremost, and prescribing for them both as such and as the men they used to be." Writing a new future Present-day veterans encounter the potential of reading and writing in equally participatory ways as interventions with the charities Combat Stress UK (CSUK) and Veterans' Outreach Services demonstrate. In CSUK, we read widely from contemporary work before undertaking writing exercises. These were designed to help provide detachment from the internal repetition of traumatic stories that some with PTSD experience. The director of therapy at CSUK, Janice Lobban, says: "Collaborative work gave combat stress veterans the valuable opportunity of developing creative writing skills. Typically, the clinical presentation of veterans causes them to avoid unfamiliar situations and the loss of self-confidence can affect the ability to develop creative potential. Workshops within the safety of our Surrey treatment centre enabled veterans to have the confidence to experiment with new ideas." Another approach, in workshops with Veterans' Outreach Support in Portsmouth in 2018, explored the role of writing in training veterans to become "peer-mentors" of other veterans wanting to access VOS services, ranging from physical and mental wellness to housing benefits to job-seeking. The results show that veterans responded positively to opportunities for imaginative writing. Trainee peer-mentors responding to a questionnaire told us that the exercises helped them to write fluently about their own lives. For people who spend so much time filling out forms to access various benefits, the opportunity to write creatively was seen as a liberating experience. As one veteran put it: "We are writing into ourselves." For 100 years now, reading and writing have helped veterans build relationships, gain confidence and face the challenges of their post-service lives. Our current research charts the influence of wartime literary caregiving on contemporary practice. Explore further Rare Elizabeth Gaskell manuscripts go digital for the first time This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Children exposed to diesel-dominated air pollution in London are showing poor lung capacity, putting them at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, according to a study led by Queen Mary University of London, King's College London and the University of Edinburgh. The research, published in The Lancet Public Health journal, shows that whilst traffic pollution control measures have improved air quality in London, they still need significant strengthening to protect children's health. Air pollution is a leading cause of global mortality, with the World Health Organization estimating over four million deaths annually caused by outdoor air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable and at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, asthma attacks, chest infections and earlier death. Professor Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary University of London said: "Despite air quality improvements in London, this study shows that diesel-dominated air pollution in cities is damaging lung development in children, putting them at risk of lung disease in adult life and early death. "We are raising a generation of children reaching adulthood with stunted lung capacity. This reflects a car industry that has deceived the consumer and central government which continues to fail to act decisively to ensure towns and cities cut traffic." Low Emission Zones (LEZ) restrict or penalise vehicle entry into urban areas to encourage the uptake of lower emission technologies. London introduced the world's largest city-wide LEZ in 2008, roughly contiguous with the M25 orbital motorway and encompassing around 8.5 million residents. But up until now, there has been little evidence on whether LEZs improve air quality or public health. 2,164 children aged 8-9 were enrolled into the study from 28 primary schools in the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Greenwich and the City of London (all areas which fail to meet current EU nitrogen dioxide limits). The research team monitored children's health and exposure to air pollutants over five years, covering the period when the LEZ was introduced, and found: Children exposed to air pollution showed significantly smaller lung volume (a loss of approximately 5 per cent in lung capacity). This was linked to annual exposures of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and other nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which are in diesel emissions, and particulate matter (PM10). ) and other nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which are in diesel emissions, and particulate matter (PM10). Following the implementation of London's LEZ, there were small improvements in NO 2 and NOx levels, but no improvements in PM10 levels. and NOx levels, but no improvements in PM10 levels. Despite these improvements in air quality, there was no evidence of a reduction in the proportion of children with small lungs or asthma symptoms over this period. The percentage of children living at addresses exceeding the EU limit for NO 2 fell following the LEZ introduction, from 99 per cent in 2009 to 34 per cent in 2013, but they were exposed to higher levels when at school, many of which were next to busy roads. fell following the LEZ introduction, from 99 per cent in 2009 to 34 per cent in 2013, but they were exposed to higher levels when at school, many of which were next to busy roads. Significant areas of inner and outer London still remain above the EU NO 2 limits. The researchers warn that, at the current rate of change of pollution levels, full compliance with EU limits for NO2 for London remains distant, unless there is significant tightening of current emission controls. In the meantime, they say clinicians should consider advising parents of children with significant lung disease to avoid living in high pollution areas, or to limit their exposures. Dr. Ian Mudway from King's College London said: "There is an urgent need to improve our air quality, especially within our congested cities. Policies such as the Low Emission Zone strive to do this, but their effectiveness needs careful and objective evaluation, not only in terms of whether they improve air quality, but more importantly, whether they deliver better health. As the evidence base grows demonstrating that air pollution impacts on the health of children born and growing up in our cities, so the justification for decisive action increases." Dr. Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, said: "It is disappointing that the Low Emission Zone in London has not helped to improve children's lung capacity and shows that a piecemeal approach to reducing air pollution does not work. If children's lungs don't develop properly as a result of air pollution it can increase their likelihood of developing asthma, leaving them coughing, wheezing and at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. The Government needs to tackle toxic air by putting in place a new Clean Air Act to keep everyone, especially children, safe." Professor Frank Kelly from NIHR Health Impact of Environmental Hazards HPRU said: "These new findings linking air pollution and children's lung growth provide further support for the introduction of the ultra Low Emission Zone in London early next year." Explore further Polluted city neighborhoods are bad news for asthmatic children More information: 'Impact of London's Low Emission Zone on air quality and children's respiratory health' by Ian S. Mudway, Isobel Dundas, Helen E. Wood, Nadine Marlin, Jeenath B. Jamaludin, Stephen A. Bremner, Louise Cross, Andrew Grieve, Alex Nanzer, Ben M. Barratt, Sean Beevers, David Dajnak, Gary W. Fuller, Anna Font, Aziz Sheikh, Robert Walton, Jonathan Grigg, Frank J. Kelly, Tak Lee, Chris J Griffiths. Lancet Public Health. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30202-0, www.thelancet.com/journals/lan (18)30202-0/fulltext Journal information: Public Health 'Impact of London's Low Emission Zone on air quality and children's respiratory health' by Ian S. Mudway, Isobel Dundas, Helen E. Wood, Nadine Marlin, Jeenath B. Jamaludin, Stephen A. Bremner, Louise Cross, Andrew Grieve, Alex Nanzer, Ben M. Barratt, Sean Beevers, David Dajnak, Gary W. Fuller, Anna Font, Aziz Sheikh, Robert Walton, Jonathan Grigg, Frank J. Kelly, Tak Lee, Chris J Griffiths. Lancet Experimental inhibition of this prostanoid led to increased migration of defense cells and production of antimicrobial peptides, resulting in decreased bacterial numbers in the colon. Credit: comparison between microscopic images of distal colonic tissue from C. rodentium-infected mice and indomethacine-treated mice/ PNAS The treatment of intestinal infections caused by some strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli, present in unsanitized or contaminated foods, may have a new ally. A study published in PNAS reports that the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a lipid mediator released during the process of infected cell clearance (efferocytosis) in the intestine, enhanced the ability of mice to combat infectious colitis. "Tissue cell death is intense during a bacterial infection. Many immune cells recruited to the site of the infection also die. We found that during the removal of dead and infected cells, a process called efferocytosis, there was an increase in the release of proteins and of the lipid mediator prostaglandin E2. However, the presence of PGE2 impaired the differentiation of Th17 [or T helper 17] cells, lymphocytes that play a key role in the resolution of intestinal infections," said Alexandra Ivo de Medeiros, a professor at Sao Paulo State University's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF-UNESP) in Araraquara, Brazil, and principal investigator for the study. To prove this hypothesis, the researchers inhibited the production of PGE2 using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and ibuprofen. The inhibition of PGE2 resulted in increased differentiation of Th17 cells. "Th17 cells play a key role in resolving bacterial intestinal infection by promoting the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the production of natural antibiotics," Medeiros told. The study funded by Sao Paulo Research Foundation -FAPESP also showed that blocking only one PGE2 receptor, EP4, reversed the suppressive effect of PGE2 on the differentiation of Th17 cells. Different functions "Prostaglandin E2 can perform different functions depending on the type of cell and receptor involved. Our use of the EP4 prostaglandin receptor antagonist enhanced the resolution of infectious colitis," said Naiara Naiana Dejani, first author of the article. Dejani earned her Ph.D. with a scholarship from FAPESP. Another finding of the study was that inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis or signaling by treatment with the EP4 antagonist L-161,982 favored the expression of defensins, which are considered natural antibiotics, in the colon. "The use of a specific antagonist of the PGE2 receptor, such as the EP4 receptor antagonist, offers advantages in terms of an auxiliary proposal for the treatment of infectious colitis. Nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as indomethacin and ibuprofen, are inexpensive but can cause adverse events that have been well described in the literature," Dejani said. Despite the protective effect of Th17 cells in bacterial infection, these same cells may cause chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease, so while the discovery points to an important potential ally of antibiotics in treating infections, a buildup of Th17 cells in the intestine could result in future complications. Infection In the experiment, mice were orally infected with a bacterium (Citrobacter rodentium) that mimics infection by E. coli in humans. After 24 hours, they began receiving a one-week treatment. Indomethacin was administered every two days to one group, while a second group received a daily dose of L-161,982 (the EP4 antagonist). Controls were given an innocuous substance. Analysis of the intestine in all groups at the end of the treatment showed that the use of an EP4 antagonist may be a promising strategy for the auxiliary treatment of infectious colitis. However, further research is required to show whether combining the EP4 antagonist and antibiotic therapy improves the resolution of this bacterial infection. Explore further Combination therapy boosts antiviral response to chronic infection More information: Naiara Naiana Dejani et al, Intestinal host defense outcome is dictated by PGE2 production during efferocytosis of infected cells, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Naiara Naiana Dejani et al, Intestinal host defense outcome is dictated by PGE2 production during efferocytosis of infected cells,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1722016115 Circular phylogenetic tree of Bartonella Credit: Frank, et al. 2018 Bartonella bacteria are disease-causing, blood-borne pathogens found in various mammal species. A study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases by Hannah Frank and colleagues at Stanford University, California suggests that humans play an important role in disease risk, infection patterns, and distribution of Bartonella, advancing current understanding of Bartonella's evolutionary history and how the bacteria may be transmitted between humans and other animal species. Cross-species Bartonella transmission poses a threat to public health, wildlife, and domestic animals. However, the evolution of Bartonella strains and mechanisms of cross-species transmission are not well understood. To determine the bacteria's evolutionary history and global distribution, researchers constructed global phylogenies using sequences accessed from public databases and built models to test their hypotheses. Additionally, they analyzed instances of Bartonella spillover from animals to humans using genetic isolates and case data collected from scientific literature. The authors note that "phylogenetic inferences about the origin of infections should be interpreted with caution as they are heavily influenced by available data and the taxa that have been sampled." More data are needed to verify findings and fill in remaining knowledge gaps. However, their study advances scientific understanding of human impacts on the spread of infectious disease: "In thinking about disease transmission between animals and humans, we often focus on the animals as the source of new human infections and not the role of the humans in influencing their own risk. Our findings suggest that humans play a significant role in changing infection patterns not only for ourselves but for our domestic animals and wildlife, too." Explore further Vampire bats found to carry infectious bacteria at high rates More information: Frank HK, Boyd SD, Hadly EA (2018) Global fingerprint of humans on the distribution of Bartonella bacteria in mammals. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 12(11): e0006865. Journal information: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Frank HK, Boyd SD, Hadly EA (2018) Global fingerprint of humans on the distribution of Bartonella bacteria in mammals.12(11): e0006865. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006865 Scan one shows the brain of a healthy baby, while scan two shows that of a baby with brain damage. Compared to scan one, scan two shows abnormal brightness in the deep nuclei (in the centre of the brain), which indicates damage. Credit: Imperial College London A 15-minute scan could help diagnose brain damage in babies up to two years earlier than current methods. In a study of over 200 babies at seven hospitals across the UK and the USA, researchers found the brain scan, called magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, predicted damage with 98 per cent accuracy. Brain damage affects around one in 300 births in the UK, and is usually caused by oxygen deprivation. However, currently doctors are unable to accurately assess the extent of a newborn baby's brain damage. Any child suspected of having some type of damage is given an MRI scan shortly after birth. This allows doctors to look at black and white pictures of the brain see if any areas of the brain look lighter than others, as this may suggest damage. Doctors then use this information to give parents an estimation of the extent of the damage, and the possible long-term disabilities their child may face. However, this method is only between 60-85 per cent accurate, and relies heavily on the radiologist's individual judgement, meaning the prognosis can vary depending on who assesses the scan, and where the scan is done. Hence health professionals can only confirm if a child has lasting brain damage when they reach two years old, by assessing whether a youngster has reached their development goals such as walking and talking. In the new study, led by Imperial College London, scientists used MR spectroscopy to assess the health of brain cells in an area called the thalamus, which coordinates a number of functions including movement, and is usually most damaged by oxygen deprivation. The scan specifically tests for a compound called N-acetylaspartatehigh levels of which are found in healthy brain cells, called neurons. A level of 9-10 is found in healthy neurons, whereas a level of 3-4 indicates damage. The technology used is the same as that needed for an MRI scan, and only requires the baby to spend an additional 15 minutes in the scanner. In the new trial, published in the journal Lancet Neurology, the scan was performed at the same time as the routine MRI scan when a baby was between four and 14 days old. The scan does not carry any additional cost to the NHS, and the data can be easily analysed using special software by any radiographer. Dr. Sudhin Thayyil, study author and Director of the Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience in Imperial's Department of Medicine said: "At the moment parents have an incredibly anxious two-year wait before they can be reliably informed if their child has any long-lasting brain damage. But our trialthe largest of its kindsuggests this additional test, which will require just 15 minutes extra in an MRI scan, could give parents an answer when their child is just a couple of weeks old. This will help them plan for the future, and get the care and resources in place to support their child's long term development." In the trial, funded by the National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council, all of the babies had received so-called cooling therapy immediately after birth. This is now a routine treatment for newborns with suspected brain damage, and involves placing a baby on a special mat that reduces their body temperature by four degrees. Evidence has shown that cooling the body can help reduce the extent of brain damage, and reduce the risk of long term disabilities. Scan one shows the brain of a healthy baby, while scan two shows that of a baby with brain damage. Compared to scan one, scan two shows abnormal brightness in the deep nuclei (in the centre of the brain), which indicates damage. Credit: Imperial College London The babies then had their brain scan soon after this therapy, and detailed developmental assessment at two years of age. The results suggested the MR spectroscopy at two weeks accurately predicted the level of toddler's development at two years old. Dr. Thayyil added that the scan may also help scientists develop new treatments to tackle brain injury in babies: "At the moment, when doctors are trialling a new therapy that may boost development of children with brain damage, they must wait two years until they can assess whether the treatment is working. They also need to study a large number of babies. But with this new scan, they'll be able to assess this almost immediately, with a much smaller number of infants." He added that the next step is to roll out the scan in more hospitals in the UK as a clinical tool. "Most NHS hospitals already have the facilities and software to perform this scan, it's just a case of increasing awareness and training." "I remember the terror when we didn't hear a cryChristine's story Christine Reklaitis gave birth to her daughter Georgiana in 2016, and took part in the trial at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London. She said: "I had a healthy pregnancy, but during labour my midwife struggled to find Georgiana's heartbeat, and she was born shortly afterwards via emergency c-section. I remember the terror when we didn't hear a cry after she was born, but thankfully she was breathing, and was whisked away to intensive care, and placed in an incubator. The doctors told us they were going to cool her down, which we thought sounded unusual, but were told it would reduce her risk of brain damage. We were asked to take part in a trial and quickly agreed. We felt our daughter's treatment benefitted from past studies, so we wanted to help develop future treatments. After the first scan we were told the levels of a compound in her brain cells were low, but were incredibly relieved when a scan a few weeks later showed the levels had increased to normal levels. She has since hit all her development goals, and is a normal two-year-old, and full of energy. We joke the cooling treatment stayed with her, as she never wants to wear a coat when we go outside. We are so pleased we took part in this trialand hope the research helps other families." Explore further Addition of MRI after 20-week scan could provide more certainty in diagnosing fetal brain abnormalities Niramalas parents fall ill during sit-in Parents of Niramal Pant, the 13-year-old girl from Kanchanpur who was raped and murdered some three and a half months ago, have fallen sick during their indefinite sit-in. Norovirus. Credit: CDC Outbreaks of norovirus in health care settings and outbreaks caused by a particular genotype of the virus are more likely to make people seriously ill, according to a new study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Based on an analysis of nearly 3,800 U.S. outbreaks from 2009 to 2016, the research confirms several factors that can make norovirus outbreaks more severe and may help guide efforts to develop a vaccine to prevent this highly contagious disease. Each year in the U.S., norovirus causes an estimated 19 to 21 million cases of vomiting and diarrhea, between 56,000 and 71,000 hospitalizations, and 570 to 800 deaths, with much of the disease burden falling on young children and older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disease spreads through direct contact with an infected person, consuming contaminated food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces. In the new study, researchers linked, for the first time, data from a national outbreak reporting system and a laboratory surveillance network that collects data about norovirus genotypes associated with confirmed outbreaks. Their analysis, the largest of its kind, included 3,747 norovirus outbreaks affecting more than 100,000 people from 2009 to 2016. Severe outcomes, including hospitalizations and deaths, were more frequent in outbreaks caused by a specific genotype of norovirus, genogroup II type 4 (GII.4), and in outbreaks in health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient facilities. In a related editorial commentary that appears with the study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, MD, of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York, noted that research of this kind helps advance our understanding of norovirus and the outbreaks it can cause. "Their data confirm that the notion of noroviruses simply being 'a cruise ship virus' or an occasional foodborne winter vomiting illness is outdated," Dr. Weinberg wrote in the commentary. The findings confirm previous research about the severity of GII.4 norovirus outbreaks and suggest that future vaccines against norovirus should include these genotypes, said the lead author of the study, Rachel M. Burke, MPH, Ph.D., of CDC. The study results also suggest that targeting these vaccines for use in people in health care settings may help reduce hospitalizations and mortality associated with norovirus. Although there is no currently available vaccine that protects against norovirus, several candidate vaccines are in the development pipeline. "Linking data from these two different sources gives us a really powerful tool, a different way to look at norovirus outbreaks in the U.S., and a better understanding of some of the interactions between what is going on with the virus versus the host versus the environment," Dr. Burke said. Fast Facts Norovirus, a highly contagious virus, is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute gastroenteritis in the U.S. An analysis of norovirus outbreaks found that severe outcomes, including hospitalizations and deaths, were more frequent in outbreaks caused by a specific genotype of norovirus, genogroup II type 4 (GII.4). Severe outcomes were also more common in outbreaks occurring in health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient facilities. These findings may help guide efforts to develop and use vaccines that effectively protect against norovirus disease. Explore further Asymptomatic infection helps norovirus to spread in Indonesia Pancreatic Cancer Across Europe: Taking a united stand. Credit: United European Gastroenterology Pancreatic cancer death rates in the European Union (EU) have increased by 5% between 1990 and 2016, a report launched today reveals. This is the highest increase in any of the EU's top five cancer killers which, as well as pancreatic cancer, includes lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer. 'Pancreatic Cancer Across Europe', published by United European Gastroenterology (UEG) to coincide with World Pancreatic Cancer Day, examines the past and current state of pancreatic cancer care and treatment, as well as the future prospects, such as targeting the microbiome, for improving the prognosis for patients. Whilst lung, breast and colorectal cancer have seen significant reductions in death rates since 1990, deaths from pancreatic cancer continue to rise. Experts also believe that pancreatic cancer has now overtaken breast cancer as the third leading cause of death from cancer in the EU. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival of all cancers in Europe. Responsible for over 95,000 EU deaths every year, the median survival time at the point of diagnosis is just 4.6 months, with patients losing 98% of their healthy life expectancy5. Often referred to as 'the silent killer', symptoms can be hard to identify, thus making it difficult to diagnose the disease early which is essential for life-saving surgery. Percent change in pancreatic cancer death rates across EU28 (1990-2016). Credit: United European Gastroenterology Despite the rise in death rates and dreadfully low survival rates, pancreatic cancer receives less than 2% of all cancer research funding in Europe. Markus Peck, UEG expert, explains, "If we are to take a stand against the continent's deadliest cancer, we must address the insufficient research funding; that is where the European Union can lead the way. Whilst medical and scientific innovations have positively changed the prospects for many cancer patients, those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have not been blessed with much clinically meaningful progress. To deliver earlier diagnoses and improved treatments we need to engage now in more basic as well as applied research to see real progress for our patients in the years to come." Microbiomethe key to turning the tide? After forty years of limited progress in pancreatic cancer research, experts claim that new treatment options could finally be on the horizon as researchers investigate how changing the pancreas' microbiome may help to slow tumour growth and enable the body to develop its own 'defence mechanism'. The microbial population of a cancerous pancreas has been found to be approximately 1,000 times larger than that of a non-cancerous pancreas and research has shown that removing bacteria from the gut and pancreas slowed cancer growth and 'reprogrammed' immune cells to react against cancer cells. Pancreatic cancer crude incidence rates per country (2018). Credit: United European Gastroenterology This development could lead to significant changes in clinical practice as removing bacterial species could improve the efficacy of chemotherapy or immunotherapy, offering hope that clinicians will finally be able to slow tumour growth, alter metastatic behaviour and ultimately change the disease's progression. Professor Thomas Seufferlein, pancreatic cancer expert, comments, "Research looking at the impact of the microbiome on pancreatic cancer is a particularly exciting new area, as the pancreas was previously thought of as a sterile organ. Such research will also improve our understanding of the microenvironment in a metastatic setting and how the tumour responds to its environment. This will inform the metastatic behaviour and ultimately alter disease progression." "With continued investment in pancreatic cancer research, we should have new, important findings within the next five years and, hopefully, find that targeting the microbiome as well as tumour cells will significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce death rates", adds Professor Seufferlein. Explore further Breath tests may allow for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer More information: View the report: View the report: www.ueg.eu/publications/pancre ancer-across-europe/ References: 1. Pancreatic Cancer Across Europe: Taking a united stand (2018). Published by United European Gastroenterology. 2. Ferlay J., Partensky C., Bray F. More deaths from pancreatic cancer than breast cancer in the EU by 2017. ACTA Oncologica, August 2016. 3. Our World In Data, Cancer death rates by type (per 100,000), world. Available at: ourworldindata.org/cancer 4. European Cancer Information System (ECIS), Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in 2018, for all cancer sites. Available at: ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/explorer anc$X1_8-3$X1_9-AE28 5. Pancreatic Cancer Europe, 10 things you need to know about pancreatic cancer. Available at: www.pancreaticcancereurope.eu/ eness-and-diagnosis/ Provided by United European Gastroenterology Credit: CC0 Public Domain When deciding not to resuscitate patients in cardiac arrest, ethical issues arise. Nurses and physicians conflicting perspectives often cause frustration. In a new doctoral thesis from Uppsala University, Mona Pettersson examines clinical and ethical perspectives on "DNR orders" in cancer care. Sometimes, when a patient is so ill that performing cardiopulmonary rescue (CPR) would do more harm than good, a DNR order is issued. Sometimes they are issued very late, perhaps even after CPR has been initiated. Sometimes they are unclear, and sometimes contradictory. Performing CPR on a patient at the end of their cancer can also be experienced by caregivers as the opposite of good caregiving. This can cause stress among the medical staff. From a physician's perspective, there is often hope for the patient's survival even when the cancer has progressed very far. The physicians sometimes choose not to inform the patient that a DNR order has been issued. Often with the patient's best interest in mind. They do not want them to lose hope. If the decision is made close to the cardiac arrest, this can make it harder to inform the patient. Nurses have close and daily contact with their patients. If the patient, and perhaps also their family, is informed about the DNR order, nurses can support them and answer their questions. Some nurses wish physicians would make DNR decisions sooner, for them to be able to do so. According to the Swedish Patient's Act, patients have the right to take part and be informed in their treatment. But both the Patient's Act and the National Board of Health and Welfare's recommendations underline the importance of adapting the information to the individual. Physicians and nurses have a responsibility to handle decisions and information with the patient's best interest in mind. This could mean not to inform, if it could do more harm than good. Guidelines from the Swedish Society of Medicine, the Swedish Society of Nursing and the Swedish Resuscitation Council support this. The difficulty lies in assessing whether the information does more harm than good for patients and their families. This is where nurses and physicians have different perspectives. At many haematology and oncology wards, there are experiences of DNR orders and the frustration they can cause. A majority of the nurses and physicians who took part in Mona Pettersson's research express that it is important for patients and their next-of-kin to be involved in or informed about decisions made. But few of them think this can become the reality of their workplace. Mona Pettersson's thesis shows that it is important for nurses and physicians to understand each other's perspectives. To avoid conflicts between them, communication and ethical competence is crucial. "Nurses and physicians share the responsibility of communicating with one another. For a common understanding they need insight into each other's perspectives on DNR orders," says Mona Pettersson. She hopes her research will lead to such an understanding between nurses and physicians, to patients receiving the same information from all parties and to safer end-of-life care. Explore further Video recordings spotlight poor communication between nurses and doctors More information: COMPETENCE AND COMMUNICATION: Do Not Resuscitate Decisions in Cancer Care: COMPETENCE AND COMMUNICATION: Do Not Resuscitate Decisions in Cancer Care: uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2 %3A1253103&dswid=-1699 Students who receive sexuality education, including refusal skills training, before college matriculation are at lower risk of experiencing sexual assault during college, according to new research published today in PLOS ONE. The latest publication from Columbia University's Sexual Health Initiative to Foster Transformation (SHIFT) project suggests that sexuality education during high school may have a lasting and protective effect for adolescents. The research found that students who received formal education about how to say no to sex (refusal skills training) before age 18 were less likely to experience penetrative sexual assault in college. Students who received refusal skills training also received other forms of sexual education, including instruction about methods of birth control and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Students who received abstinence-only instruction did not show significantly reduced experiences of campus sexual assault. "We need to start sexuality education earlier," said John Santelli, MD, the article's lead author, a pediatrician and professor of Population and Family Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. "It's time for a life-course approach to sexual assault prevention, which means teaching young peoplebefore they get to collegeabout healthy and unhealthy sexual relationships, how to say no to unwanted sex, and how to say yes to wanted sexual relationships." The findings draw on a confidential survey of 1671 students from Columbia University and Barnard College conducted in the spring of 2016 and on in-depth interviews with 151 undergraduate students conducted from September 2015 to January 2017. The authors found that multiple social and personal factors experienced prior to college were associated with students' experience of penetrative sexual assault (vaginal, oral, or anal) during college. These factors include unwanted sexual contact before college (for women); adverse child experiences such as physical abuse; 'hooking up' in high school; or initiation of sex and alcohol or drug use before age 18. Ethnographic interviews highlighted the heterogeneity of students' sex education experiences. Many described sexuality education that was awkward, incomplete, or provided little information about sexual consent or sexual assault. The research also found that students who were born outside of the United States and students whose mothers had lived only part of their lives or never lived in the U.S. had fewer experiences of penetrative sexual assault in college. Religious participation in high school did not prevent sexual assault overall, but a higher frequency of religious participation showed a borderline statistically significant protective association. "The protective impact of refusal skills-based sexuality education, along with previous research showing that a substantial proportion of students have experienced assault before entering college, underlines the importance of complementing campus-based prevention efforts with earlier refusal skills training," said Santelli. Explore further New research identifies need for Title IX tune up on college campuses More information: John S. Santelli et al, Does sex education before college protect students from sexual assault in college?, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE John S. Santelli et al, Does sex education before college protect students from sexual assault in college?,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205951 Newsletter Subscribe now to get updates from armenian media & videos... Via @MahoneystheName TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Department of State, which oversees elections, has asked federal prosecutors to look into faulty forms sent to voters in at least four counties that may have caused them to miss the deadline for fixing problems with their mail-in ballots. Emails released by the department show that the forms appear to have been sent by the state Democratic Party. In a post-midterm season that is bubbling over with lawsuits and allegations of rampant voter fraud, this is the first instance in which state officials have flagged a possible violation of elections law. The investigation was requested in a letter, sent Friday Nov. 9 from Bradley McVay, the departments general counsel, to the U.S. attorneys for the northern, middle and southern districts of Florida. Despite the letters sent date, it was only released to news outlets Tuesday. The issue: Voters in at least four counties Broward, Citrus, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa received cure affidavits, or forms used to fix defects in the mail-in ballots, such as a missing or mismatched signature on the original ballot. But those forms listed the wrong due date: Thursday, Nov. 8 instead of Tuesday, Nov. 6. Altering a form in a manner that provides the incorrect date for a voter to cure a defect ... imposes a burden on the voter significant enough to frustrate the voters ability to vote, McVay wrote. Click here to read the rest. PM Oli once again urges ministers to not divulge Cabinet decisions Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has once again urged the ministers to not make public Cabinet decisions to mediapersons on the same day. Anup Ojha is a reporter for The Kathmandu Post primarily covering social issues and human interest stories. Before moving to the social beat, Ojha covered arts and culture for the Post for four years. Deepak Thapa has been a fortnightly columnist with The Kathmandu Post since 2009, writing on a range of topical social and political issues. NOTICE: TO BE CLEAR: WE HAVE OUTLINED UNDER OUR RECORD MAINTENANCE POLICY WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A FAIR PROCESS FOR ALL. SIMPLY PUT: IF THE COURT SAW FIT TO EXPUNGE YOUR RECORD,SO WILL WE, FREE OF CHARGE. ARRESTS DO NOT IMPLY GUILT AND CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS,EVERYONE IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW AND CONVICTED. 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OUR CONTENT REVOLVES AROUND CRIME, ARRESTS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. WE BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PUBLISH UNPOPULAR SPEECH. OPEN RECORD LAWS WERE WRITTEN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC; BY INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF ARRESTS AND TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ARRESTEES. MOST OF, IF NOT ALL MUGSHOT LAWS WERE CRAFTED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM FEES FOR REMOVAL OF ONLINE MUGSHOTS AND TO FURTHER PROTECT THE PRESS FROM THOSE VERY SAME "MUGSHOT LAWS".WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR REMOVAL OF ARREST INFORMATION AND/OR BOOKING PHOTOGRAPHS. MORE... Hartford, CT - With the help of a petite East Hartford detective, state police said they set up a sting on a businessman who was seeking a young girl for slave training in his private dungeon. Simon Hessler, 46, owner of the Baymont by Wyndham hotel in Manchester and another business in Vernon, is charged with attempting to set up two days of limitless sex with a person he thought was a 10- to 12-year-old girl, but was actually the creation of a state police detective posing as a pimp and human trafficker, according to an arrest warrant released Wednesday. Facing charges that include attempted trafficking in persons, Hessler was being held on bail of $1 million after his appearance at Superior Court in Manchester. He is due back in court on Dec. 12. Hesslers name surfaced in October during state police Det. Samantha McCords ongoing investigation into child prostitution and trafficking, the warrant said. Using the email address, Daddydomboss@baymontct.com, Hessler had sought photos of young Mexican girls to set up a casting couch interview, the warrant says. McCord began communicating with Hessler on Oct. 10, mentioning that her online persona and Hessler, who lives in Ellington, shared an interest in young girls, police said. Hessler responded by writing, Show what you speak of and price, the warrant says. McCord sent him a photo of a female law enforcement officer taken when she was under age 16, the warrant says. Hessler complained that the girl was too old, police said. The conversations continued and Hessler revealed that he had a dungeon for slave training, attaching photos of what McCord described as an elaborate sado-masochism room with multiple beds with whips and chains and handfuffs on the wall. One photo showed a heavy metal cage with a padlock. Police said they later found that Hesslers dungeon was located in the Vernon business he owns, New England Hospitality Management, Inc., 615 Talcotville Road. A search warrant was served there on Wednesday, police said Hessler asked that McCord bring a 12-year-old DCF/foster kid so he could train her at his slave quarters and have sex with her, the warrant says. He said a camper-trailer in the parking lot of the Manchester hotel on Taylor Street could be used for the drop-off and that money would be left there for the person who delivered the girl, the warrant says. At one point, Hessler began to get inpatient, the warrant said. He wrote to McCord that he would be picking up three sisters, ages 6, 8 and 12, for sexual slavery from a man in New York if the promised young girl was not delivered, the warrant said. Hessler also said that he had been training slaves for 20 years and had many customers between New York City and Boston, the warrant said. McCord scheduled a drop-off of a sixth-grade girl at the trailer on Tuesday. The agreed-upon price for two days of limitless sex (but no bruises) was $500, police said. The girl was to be handcuffed, gagged and blindfolded with equipment Hessler left in the trailer and a photo sent to him once that was done, the warrant said. When he received the picture, Hessler wrote in an email, he would reveal where the money was hidden in the trailer, the warrant said. McCord enlisted the help of a very petite narcotics officer from East Hartford. At about 12:50 p.m., she sent Hessler a photo of the handcuffed detective wearing a black hood and lying in a fetal position on the trailer floor, the warrant said. Hessler immediately texted back that the money was above the kitchen sink, the warrant says. He was arrested after he drove up in a pickup truck, got out and approached the trailer, police said. Hessler admitted to detectives that he had instructed the person he thought was delivering a sixth-grade girl to handcuff and gag the girl, but insisted that he did not plan on having sex with the girl, the warrant says. Later that afternoon, police contacted Hesslers wife, who asked immediately if he had done something with underage girls, the warrant says. The woman later called back, saying she found 11 flash drives in their bedroom in Ellington. Police later retrieved the flash drives, the warrant says. Nepal Army team defuses IED found in Nepalgunj (Update) A bomb disposal squad from Nepal Army has defused the improvised explosive device (IED) that was placed at Pushpalal Chok in Nepalgunj on Thursday. Vodacom continues to upgrade its network infrastructure and capacity in preparation for the rollout of 5G technology. 5G promises everything from ultra-low latencies to lightning-fast speeds, allowing for the launch of new product offerings. One of the most promising of these at least for the initial period of 5G rollout is fixed-wireless access connections which deliver fibre-like speeds over the wireless technology. These connections would offer speeds and latencies which are competitive with physical fibre connections, and would require far less infrastructure investment. Vodacom recognises the potential of these services and plans to roll out products to customers when they become available. Fibre-like services Speaking in an interview with MyBroadband, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub said that 5G can mirror the capabilities of fibre connections. On 5G, you can emulate what you will do with fibre, and that will be one of the big use cases for the technology, Joosub said. But to do fixed-wireless before that, you still have to have the technology in place. He added that implementing fixed-wireless access on the currently-available technologies doesnt necessarily make sense as mobile is always a contended service. In the future however, Joosub believes that fibre and 5G or 4G would be used interchangeably to deliver high-speed Internet access to separate coverage areas. My view is that you will have for example, 3 million homes covered by fibre then you would have 5G and 4G to cover the rest, he said. Over time, 5G will cover everything. Competitive pricing Vodacom CTO Andries Delport previously told MyBroadband that their solution would be one of the first 5G offerings on the market. Once the company launches the technology and obtains the requisite spectrum to bring down the cost of data, it plans to offer 5G fibre-like services. Additionally, Delport said he suspects 5G mobile data services will be similarly priced to their counterparts on older technologies: 3G and 4G. The rollout of 5G technology to mobile users remains far away for most, however, with several steps required to improve capacity and test the technology across local networks. Vodacom has already deployed a live 5G network in Lesotho, though, with one of its customers opting to replace their fibre offering with a 5G solution demonstrating the potential of the technology as a fibre-like service. The SA Post Office is still struggling to clear the backlog of parcels and letters which is causing huge delivery delays. It was previously reported that most of the backlog was created by a two-and-a-half week strike and a one week go-slow that preceded it which ended on 18 July. In August, SA Post Office CEO Mark Barnes said he was confident the backlog will be cleared by the end of September and that normal operations will resume. The Post Office did not meet this deadline, and Barnes then moved the backlog clearing date to the end of October. This deadline was also missed, and he has now stated they hope to resolve the issue by the end of November. The reasons behind the backlog In an interview with Radio 702s Joanne Joseph, Barnes said they have brought down the backlog from 46 million to 4.9 million items over the last six months. This means that the backlog started in May long before the strike which the SA Post Office faced in July. Barnes explained they did not pay their logistics transport providers in April, and they stopped pitching up in their trucks and stopped pitching up with their forklifts. Apart from operational problems like the strike and not paying their service providers, the Post Office has also seen a big increase in international mail. We have a lot of low-value items that require high maintenance work like going through customs and checking invoice values, said Barnes. Barnes said the SA Post Offices international mail volumes have increased by 400% over the last year, but that they have not invested in the systems capabilities to match this increase. The Post Office is investing in these capabilities now, which should resolve many of these problems. He added that they have decentralised control of this problem by beefing up regional management. This change in organisational structure and approach is starting to work, he said. MyBroadband SA Post Office test Joseph then questioned Barnes about tests conducted by MyBroadband, which showed that letters take very long to be delivered or are not delivered at all. She was referring to a recent MyBroadband Post Office letter delivery test where community members sent letters from across South Africa to the Lyttelton Post Office. MyBroadband logged all the sent letters and tracked them to see how long it takes for a letter to arrive in its postbox. The results showed that the Post Office failed to meet a single of its ICASA delivery requirements, and after more than three months some of the letters have still not been delivered. Barnes said he was not aware of the test conducted by MyBroadband and accused Joseph of making very sweeping statements. Joseph highlighted that the test results were in the public domain and reported on, and it can therefore not be viewed as a sweeping statement. The telephone connection with Barnes was then lost, and the interview could not continue. No email response from the Post Office Barnes also told Radio 702 that every email that gets sent to me or the business gets followed up on. Every single email. So, if there is an experience which one of our customers have that gets brought to our attention, we send people chasing after it because thats our job, he said. However, if this was true, Barnes would have known about the tests conducted by MyBroadband and the problems mentioned by Joseph. MyBroadband contacted the SA Post Office on 1 August regarding its letter test, but no feedback was received. MyBroadband then followed up with the test results on 14 August, but again the company did not respond. MyBroadband also contacted Barnes directly on two previous occasions, but there was no response from Barnes or any other company representative. Post Office test results The graphic below provides an overview of the results of MyBroadbands recent Post Office Test. Philip Morris International Inc. will open a flagship store in Johannesburg as it tries to stoke demand in Africa for its alternative cigarette known as iQOS, which heats rather than burns tobacco to give users their nicotine kick. The Marlboro maker plans to use the shop as a springboard to expand in the rest of the continent, according to spokesman Alessandro Poggiali. South Africa is the only African country in which Philip Morris distributes iQOS, but more are slated to follow, he said. In many countries weve developed a dedicated point of sale, a touch point, where we can interact with the consumer, Poggiali said in an interview in Johannesburg. Philip Morris has 70 iQOS shops in 23 countries, echoing a wider trend of tobacco companies including British American Tobacco Plc and Japan Tobacco Inc. investing in smoking alternatives to drive new revenue streams. Traditional cigarettes are under pressure from regulators the world over and have declined in popularity as more people become aware of their inherent health risks. South Africa has 7 million smokers, or about an eighth of the population, according to a report by the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. The World Health Organization estimates about 80 percent of the worlds 1.1 billion smokers live in low and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. A South African footprint will help the Philip Morris build the case for iQOS with regulators and consumers in other markets in the region, Poggiali said. About 10,000 smokers are converting to the device daily, the company estimates. The company is still awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration to sell them in the U.S. MTN and Ericsson have partnered to launch the first 5G customer trial deployment in South Africa. The trial will begin with the deployment of a 5G fixed-wireless access site at Netstars headquarters in Midrand. The field deployment in Midrand, situated between Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria), is part of Ericssons continuing efforts to deliver end-to-end 5G capabilities to support MTN South Africas growth as well as 5G and enterprise ambitions, MTN said. The 5G solution deployed operates on the 28GHz band with a total operating bandwidth of 100 MHz, using Ericsson trial antenna integrated radio units and Intels 5G Mobile Trial Platform to provide a 5G access point in the Netstar premises. Netstar employees can connect to this 5G network through a number of different WiFi access points. MTN said that following this field deployment, it is also planning to test other 5G consumer use cases. MTN South Africa CTIO Giovanni Chiarelli said the company has been working with Ercisson on 5G for lab tests, field trials and now customer tests. Our aim is to build a network to cater for current and future required services, Chiarelli said. He added that the current discussion regarding the imminent release of much-needed additional spectrum, should also include 5G spectrum in the primary 3.5 GHz band. Access to 5G spectrum will see our nation able to actively participate on the cutting edge of the digital economy and we cannot afford to fall behind the 4th Industrial Revolution, Chiarelli said. We will not support the electronic ... The Napa Valley Film Festival has brought celebrities into Napa, including actor, filmmaker, and musician Billy Bob Thornton. Best known for his roles in Sling Blade, The Man Who Wasnt There, Armageddon and Bad Santa, Thornton was honored on Nov. 8 at the Celebrity Tributes program at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville. He received the Caldwell Vineyard Maverick Award alongside fellow actors Alice Eve and Laurence Fishburne, who received the Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer and Charles Krug Legendary Actor Awards, respectively. While Thornton and his fellow actors were walking the red carpet outside the theater, this writer got a chance to ask him a few questions about his career and his passions. A transcription of the interview is printed below: Zak Fennie: How are you doing? Billy Bob Thornton: Im doing awesome, bud! How are you? ZF: Im doing wonderful, thank you! I was curious, what do you find most engaging about film-making? BBT: Well, its a way to live in a world that you dont live in every day, you know. For a few weeks, months, year, or whatever, you just disappear into a world that youre not usually in and you get to explore things that maybe you havent studied. Ive played everything from Davy Crockett to the head of NASA, and you just get to learn so much. ZF: Thats awesome! I know you just got off a tour with your band (The Boxmasters). I was wondering, how do you manage being both a musician, actor, and filmmaker? Does one stimulate you more than the other? BBT: Well, I grew up as a musician, and when I came to California I accidentally became an actor (laughs). I love both mediums equallyI came to acting later, but I still love them equally. The tour we just got off was 43 shows in 50 days, so it was pretty brutal. The first show of the tour was actually right here in this theater! ZF: Thats super cool, youve come full circle! And how are you enjoying being in Napa so far? BBT: Oh we love it! We come up here quite a bit. Both my family and my wifes family love it up here quite a bit, so we bring our daughter up here a lot. ZF: Glad to hear it. Thank you for your time, Mr. Thornton. BBT: Thank you, bud! On Tuesday, the FBI released its annual report on the number of hate crimes committed in the United States. The tally for 2017, 7,175 hate crimes, is the highest figure recorded in a decade, according to one analysis, and represents a 17 percent increase from 2016. The data show hate is intensifying nationwide. But it's even more prevalent than FBI numbers suggest. Some of last year's most widely reported hate crime charges - the confessed assailant who said "get out of my country" before killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas; the death of Heather Heyer, allegedly by a white supremacist who ran her over in Charlottesville, Virginia; and the train stabbings in Portland, Oregon, during which the accused attacker was overheard yelling racist slurs - are not recorded in the FBI report. Under the 1990 Hate Crime Statistics Act, the Department of Justice is required to compile data on "crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity." The job falls to the FBI, which releases an annual report. But the FBI depends on a huge range of law enforcement organizations to tell it when this has happened - and they are completely unreliable. The problems begin with the way agencies collect the information: As ProPublica reported last year, only 12 states require police to learn how to identify and investigate hate crimes during the academy, and few agencies provide training after officers leave the academy. A longstanding federal training program that used to send experts around the country to teach police how to respond to hate crimes was abandoned during the Obama administration because local authorities wanted to concentrate more on Islamist violent extremism rather than white supremacist violence. In some cases, trainers with racist agendas have filled this void. For example, individuals affiliated with the Islamophobia industry - junk scientists and think tanks that promote dangerous falsehoods about Muslims - have been training law enforcement on how to engage with Muslim communities for years. These trainers are well funded and connected to organizations like the National Sheriffs' Association. The result is that police officers don't have a full understanding of what constitutes a hate crime and are unlikely to accurately track them. Perhaps this is why the 2016 murder of Khalid Jabara by his next-door neighbor, a white supremacist known to police, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was not reflected in the FBI's 2017 hate crime report. Even when police officers document and report hate crimes to local and state authorities, they often don't make it into the FBI report. A study by the Associated Press, for example, found that about 17 percent of all city and county law enforcement agencies didn't bother to submit a single hate crime report from 2009 to 2014. ProPublica found that of agencies participating, 88 percent disclosed no hate crimes in 2016. Encouragingly, the number of agencies that reported for the 2017 report rose 6 percent There is no single explanation for this problem. Authorities are sometimes confused by the patchwork of state and federal hate crime laws and don't know when to report; others mistakenly believe that an incident has to be prosecuted as a hate crime to count as one; and still others make tabulation errors, sometimes exacerbated by the use of outdated reporting methods, having not yet implemented the National Incident-Based Reporting System. Sometimes the reasons are more nefarious - agencies don't report hate crimes, or they lie about them, because officials want to mask the racism and bigotry that exist in their communities. As I traveled the country in the wake of the 2016 election to document hate crimes, survivors, advocates and community organizations repeatedly expressed this sentiment. Congress, meanwhile, continues to look the other way and fails to provide responsible oversight. Hate crime reporting by local authorities remains voluntary not mandatory, and that will not change, unless Congress acts. There is currently no penalty for failing to report, and so the actual number of hate crimes committed in the United States is many times greater than what the FBI reports. According to the Justice Department's National Crime Victimization Survey, the annual number is closer to a quarter-million hate crimes each year. That's the figure that community organizations and affected communities generally use, and the press should follow their example. Some survivors already choose not to report because they fear surveillance, deportation if they are undocumented or revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity. And since many local police departments clearly don't treat hate crimes as priorities, the belief is widespread among survivors that authorities can't be trusted, I found in my reporting. Instead ,many survivors have responded to the spike in hate by creating neighborhood watch programs, building hate free zones and taking self-defense classes. In December 2016, for instance, the Providence Youth Student Movement didn't call the police after a hate crime targeted their office. They introduced a buddy check-in system and enrolled their staff in self-defense training. Clearly police departments are capable of collecting and using big data. They routinely rely on criminal histories and location information to generate threat scores and identify hot spots as part of predictive policing programs. Some law enforcement agencies share arrest and detention records of undocumented immigrants with ICE to assist in detention requests. A few agencies have embraced surveillance technologies, such as license plate readers and closed-circuit TV cameras, to monitor and track the daily movements of citizens. When it comes to policing and targeting vulnerable communities, data are elixirs. When it comes to protecting vulnerable communities, data are impediments. Still, data alone won't save us. Authorities must meaningfully take on white supremacy. The greatest threat facing this country is homegrown white supremacists, not Muslims or refugees. A joint FBI and Department of Homeland Security 2017 intelligence bulletin warned that white supremacist groups had already carried out more attacks than any other domestic extremist group over the past 16 years and were likely to carry out more attacks over the coming year. Perhaps an attack like the tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue could have been averted, if these warnings were heeded. Many of us know and agree that the Trump administration has emboldened and incited hate across this country. The rhetoric and policies stigmatize and threaten vulnerable communities everyday. And yet the FBI report, and its glaring omissions, show that the problem is much worse than many realize. Arjun Singh Sethi is a community activist, civil rights lawyer and adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University. He is the editor of "American Hate: Survivors Speak Out." World Bank gives Nepal $155.7 million in financial assistance The World Bank on Wednesday provided financial assistance of $155.7 million to the government to invest in the construction and maintenance of safe, resilient and cost-effective bridges in Nepal and improving food security of vulnerable households and communities. Armenia National Academy of Sciences Physiology Institute wins Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's grant Armenian military servicemen score medals at championship in Iran Armenian soldier who died in Armenia's Gegharkunik Province was Yezdi by nationality, was in army for a year Taliban want to establish 'fraternal' ties with Turkey Letter addressed to UN Security Council President about Azerbaijani attack published as SC official document Armenia, India to end process of mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates soon Syrian mercenaries who fought on Azerbaijani side during 44-day war complaining about not having received 'salaries' Armenia Ombudsman: Videos about captured Armenian servicemen being explored, translated from Azerbaijani and identified Armenian MFA on news about Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker receives ARF-D Lebanon Central Committee member Hagop Pakradouni Armenia MOD: Conscript dies after Azerbaijani soldier's gunshot fired in Gegharkunik Province Did the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan speak about 'the liberated territories'? Armenia PM appoints new head of Vedi village Armenian army's General Staff chief holds working consultation, presents current situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Armenia Deputy PM receives Eurasian Economic Union's minister in charge of integration and macroeconomics Armenia's new Ambassador to Iran presents credentials to FM Aysor.am: Armenia MOD: Exchange of fire began near Norabak village on border with Azerbaijan Ambassador to Baku: United States makes persistent efforts for Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders' tete-a-tete meeting Azerbaijan's special detachment soldiers conducting exercises under Turkish specialists' supervision in Nakhchivan Armenian movement leader: If Armenian parliamentary opposition can't do anything, why is it in parliament? Armenia MP to protesters: Our sovereign territories can't be transferred illegally and behind people's backs Iranian FM, Azerbaijani Deputy PM discuss situation in Caucasus Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of another serviceman found in Varanda region Armenia Parliament Speaker meets with French Senate President Richard Ferrand Yerevan protesters demand to declassify content of Armenian-Azerbaijani document G7 FMs to discuss human rights protection issue in Liverpool Exchange rates in Armenia Level of Armenia's Lake Sevan drops by 2 cm in one week Armenia is interested in Russia's Ka-52M and Mi-28NE attack helicopters Azerbaijan President invites South Korean companies to work in Nagorno-Karabakh's occupied territories Opposition 'Armenia' faction MP: Azerbaijanis built customs terminal in Nakhchivan, will try to obtain road Armenia PM, Belarus President hold phone talks Syria Ambassador to Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker: Turkey's actions are fully targeted against regional stability Armenia applies to ECHR for ensuring fundamental rights of Armenian soldiers captured on Nov. 16 Armenian Ombudsman presents Azerbaijani aggression facts to US Congressman Adam Schiff More than 40 people killed in heavy rains in southeastern India Opposition 'Armenia' faction MP Armen Charchyan greeted with applause in courtroom Australia, UK and US sign first agreement under AUKUS Armenian PM to hold online Q&A conference Tuesday Armenia opposition member says Azerbaijani ex-FM expresses gratitude to Pashinyan Gas prices in Europe drop below $1,000 per 1,000 cubic meters Erdogan and Turkish ministers to discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border Citizens who blocked one of Yerevan avenues are apprehended Defense ministry: Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable U.S. Embassy in Israel advises diplomats not to visit Jerusalem's Old City Covid-19 in Armenia: 30 new deaths 18 citizens are apprehended for participation in Yerevan protests Russian peacekeepers ensure control in Nagorno-Karabakh Carbon monoxide causes death in Yerevan In Yerevan, citizens block main streets to draw attention to the situation at the border El Salvador plans to build the world's first Bitcoin city Canadian portal publishes list of countries with strongest Air Force on Earth Japan announces self-destruction of COVID-19 delta strain Israel to sign solar energy agreement with Jordan in UAE Japan concerned over joint air patrols of Russia and China near country's borders In Mexico, 600 migrants were found in two trucks Europe protests against coronavirus restrictions Commander of Russian airbase in Armenia: Ready to perform tasks as intended US is going to build a nuclear power plant on the moon Biden's son helps Chinese company buy mine in Africa China lowers level of diplomatic relations with Lithuania Russia and US confirm their intentions to send joint mission to Venus Putin and Pashinyan discuss situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and measures to stabilize it Honored Art Worker of Armenia, composer Ruben Altunyan passes away 492 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Armenia Armenian Foreign Minister and Otto Luchterhandt discuss Nagorno-Karabakh settlement Armenian contract soldier dies amid violation of rules for handling weapons Man, 29, jumps from Yerevan bridge Armenia MFA confirms PM Pashinyan's readiness to meet with Azerbaijans Aliyev on December 15 Quake shakes coast of Vanuatu State minister: Nationwide quarantine, specific restrictions planned to be imposed in Karabakh Artsakh President convenes National Security Service consultation Opposition MP: Armenia FM stated that Turkey has proposed new precondition: corridor Armenia military expert: US Embassy warns its citizens to avoid Karahunj-Davit Bek, Kapan-Chakaten road sections Armenia opposition MP: Air carrier operating flights from Syunik Province cannot have any security guarantees Singapore is good example for Armenia, says President Sarkissian Iran seizes foreign ship in Persian Gulf 2 Azerbaijanis injured in anti-tank mine explosion at Karabakh conflict zone US, Turkey presidential advisors discuss situation in South Caucasus 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 Senator Lindsey Graham called Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unstable and unreliable and said he and other senators were discussing sanctions against the longtime U.S. ally in the wake of a Saudi columnists murder, Bloomberg reported. An influential policy hawk in Congress who frequently advises President Donald Trump, Graham said he and other like-minded colleagues dont yet have a plan of action, but lambasted the leadership of Saudi Arabias 33-year-old de facto ruler, widely known as MBS. Prince Mohammed has been unstable and unreliable and I dont see the situation getting fixed as long as hes around, Graham said. Asked if he was calling for a new crown prince to be named, Graham said it was up to Saudi Arabia to determine its leadership. I am of the opinion that the current leadership, the MBS leadership, has been a disaster for the relationship and the region, and I will find it very difficult to do business as usual with somebody whos been this unstable, he said. Graham, a top critic-turned-ally of Trump, has taken a much more strident tone against the prince than the U.S. president since Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. An authoritative Republican voice on relations with the Saudis, hes previously said the royal is a toxic figure who can never be a world leader on the world stage but his latest comments go further. The South Carolina Republican is among a number of U.S. lawmakers, from both Democratic and Republican parties, who have pushed for action against Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi and other concerns. Khashoggi, a longtime insider who was critical of Prince Mohammeds policies, was murdered during a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. The crown prince and Saudi officials initially said they had no knowledge of Khashoggis whereabouts. But as international pressure mounted, the kingdom said he had died in an interrogation gone awry. Arpan Shrestha is a national reporter for The Kathmandu Post. Before joining the Post in 2018, he was a freelance news and documentary producer and a former editor of Republica's The Week. Shrestha has a background in media production and programming. 1. Yes. Nonprofit youth organizations are underfunded in the city. Its a good decision. 2. Yes. In conjunction with city-run programs, it will provide needed opportunities. 3. No. The money should be used to benefit all residents, not just the citys youth. 4. No. The funds should be invested in the area where the project is being developed.. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say whether its an appropriate use of the money. Vote View Results Czech Embassy in Armenia organized on Thursday the event that commemorates the work and life of Milan Kundera, one of the most prolific Czech writers who has been living in France since his emigration from Czechoslovakia in 1975. The event is also organized to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Czech velvet revolution, Czech Ambassador to Armenia, H.E. Petr Mikyska told reporters. This event is organized to commemorate and bring to attention to the Armenian readers to the person of Milan Kundera, who is Czech writer, who has been living in France, since he was expelled from Czechoslovakia during the previous regime. And we tried to organize this event also to commemorate one of the important anniversaries, which is the 29th anniversary of the Czech velvet revolution, the envoy said. Milan Kundera was expelled from Czechoslovakia as he was very critical of communist regime. The writer was also deprived of the Czech citizenship. The writer, translator and expert in French literature, Shushanik Tamrazyan, has translated Milan Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being into Armenian. By Moses Kyeyune. Bank of Uganda has withdrawn earlier documents submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises. The decision has been announced by the committee chairperson Abdu Katuntu at the opening of the meeting this morning. The committee has realized that fresh submissions have been made with slight differences. The Bank of Uganda Governor Prof Emmanuel Mutebile says that the new submission changes have no fundamental departure. He says that the new submissions have been made to match queries raised in the auditor generals report that faulted the Central Bank for irregular action during the liquidation of the banks. The committee meeting flopped last week after BoU officials failed to present inventories regarding the closure of the 7 defunct banks. By Ritah Kemigisa. Members of Parliament have expressed disappointment over the delay in implementation of the World Bank funded Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Program in Jinja town. MPs were annoyed by recent media reports alleging that the contractor abandoned work in Jinja Municipality due to non-payment yet the project is fully funded by the World Bank. The Bunyole West MP James Waluswaka told parliament that allegations indicate that that during the selection of contractors, PPDA guidelines were not followed adding that the contractor was using substandard materials. However the Minister of State for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Chris Baryomunsi confirmed the allegations but said government had taken all the necessary steps to address the situation. He says studies were commissioned on the said materials using two private laboratories and the test results confirmed that the materials were genuine and up to standard. Baryomunsi adds that Government has since instructed Jinja Municipality to pay the contractor for works to resume. The World Bank funded USMID Project is implemented through Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development in 14 municipalities of Uganda with a major component in infrastructure development. By Ritah Kemigisa. Government is set to roll out registration and issuance of national identity cards to prison inmates. This has been revealed by the minister of state for internal affairs Obiga Kania after members of parliament on the defense committee asked him to clarify on whether they had plans of registering them to have national identity cards. Kania was appearing before the committee together with the prisons commissioner general Johnson Byabasaija to present their quarter one performance for the year 2018/2019. Obiga said the law does not bar government from issuing IDs to prisoners and that they are waiting for the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to finalise issuing national identity cards to school children and Ugandans abroad. However some of the mps were not satisfied with governments decision to start with Ugandans abroad and exclude Prisoners. However Obiga said registering prisoners has a lot of modalities that need to be followed. However the prisons commissioner general Johnson Byabashaija said they will need to first sort out those without IDs since some are imprisoned with nationals IDs. Aluminum Parts and supporting businesses for manufacturing. Manufacturing blog for Kinetic Die Casting for post regarding manufacturing aluminum parts and for other products that support the manufacturing industry. Some production parts are made by other materials and some posts will be for supporting businesses. #AStarIsBorn cinematographer Matthew Libatique has been charged with assaulting public officials in Poland https://t.co/Fd6cWF8txY Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) November 14, 2018 A Star is Born's cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, has been arrested for assault in Poland.Libatique was attending the Camerimage International Film Festival, where ASIB is competing. The incident occurred at his hotel, where his drunk ass was seen staggering about. When paramedics were called, Libatique lost it, attacking them and using offensive words. One paramedic had a tooth broken. He even went after the cops after they arrived. He was arrested and sent to a local hospital before being charged with assaulting public officials.If convicted, he could spend up to three years in prison. I have yet to listen to this song. Edited at 2018-11-15 01:40 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Be glad. It sounds like shes saying bacon eggs every time she says thank you next. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link maybe if you have a lot of earwax or some other obstruction goin on..... Reply Parent Thread Link omg, i kept wondering why she kept saying bacon and eggs and then I was all o_O You are not alone lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Literally how Reply Parent Thread Link same tbh i dont really know any of her music lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Why do rappers do that fake laugh shit in their music ? I dont get it. Men are annoying. Reply Thread Link cuz one man did it and got hits now another man wants to get hits so he gonna do it... monkey see monkey doooo Reply Parent Thread Link Lmfao I replayed it just to hear it Reply Parent Thread Link Its so cringey lmao Reply Parent Thread Link men gonna men Reply Parent Thread Link Youre probably a female Reply Thread Link My exact reaction Reply Parent Thread Link ok this really made me laugh, it's spot on Reply Parent Thread Link MTE Reply Parent Thread Link this comment with your icon is killing me lol Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO Reply Parent Thread Link lol right Reply Parent Thread Link I agree with the others - this in combination with your icon is killing me! lololol Reply Parent Thread Link mfte Reply Parent Thread Link Same Reply Parent Thread Link MTE Reply Parent Thread Link Nailed it! Lmaoooo! Reply Parent Thread Link LOL Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO m t e valar morghulis Reply Parent Thread Link mte, way to show your whole ass Reply Parent Thread Link mte kermit Reply Parent Thread Link fuck Reply Parent Thread Link MTE Reply Parent Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao mte Reply Parent Thread Link Did she actually say this?? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmfaoooo Reply Parent Thread Link Lmfaooo mte. Reply Parent Thread Link Omg dead Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lmaooooo right? one of my male coworkers made a comment along the lines of "because you're a female" and omggggg when i say that every woman on that floor swiveled at breakneck speed to glare at him, i mean it. it was magical watching him try to backpedal from that one. Reply Parent Thread Link Dead Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao I'm dying at all those periods "i hope youre ...... okay" Reply Thread Link teas it's giving meteas Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i quote this all the time Reply Parent Thread Link Same hahahaha Reply Parent Thread Link Why are men? Reply Thread Link ^ this comment should be a trending hashtag. Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao mte Reply Parent Thread Link memorize your rap, fuckboi Reply Thread Link Lmao men are fucking trash. Jeeeeez Reply Thread Link Justice for Break Free and Into You! Reply Parent Thread Link Into You should've had that spot Reply Parent Thread Link "you're probably a female" "baby let's be real you need to get some work done" fuck offfffff forever please thank u, next. Reply Thread Link "Youre probably a female" Reply Thread Link Lmaooooo Reply Parent Thread Link Yessss lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lmaooooo yes Reply Parent Thread Link lmfao Reply Parent Thread Link this is really just another demonstration of how when women speak a little, men feel like women are speaking OVER them. this is kind of a not really adjacent point but it does bear repeating that men have been allowed to sing about every type of woman since before the beginning of time but when ariana grande does it or alanis morisette or taylor swift, suddenly it's a huge fucking spotlight big deal. there are entire pop punk bands who's entire discography of lyrics are about one girlfriend but we frame that as expression and art instead of petty and vindictive. also oops i wanted to hate thank u next but i actually loved it and i hate her for putting out decent music tbqh. Reply Thread Link iawtc!! its crazy, getting mad at girls tweeting and jamming to "thank u, next" when the song is about self empowerment and how exes taught them something which is at most shady but not a straight diss track or anything. yet his whole rap is completely attacking his exes, telling them they need to get work done, they're bitches, hoes, etc.. jesus men are so weak and fragile Reply Parent Thread Link So true. When I listened to the song it didn't come across as petty AT ALL to me. All I was left with was 'OK that's good for Ari, she's viewing her relationships as something to learn from, nice message for the fans'. THE END. Good lord men are so scared that women will view them in any other way than the sole objective of their lives. Reply Parent Thread Link i want to frame this comment tbh Reply Parent Thread Link Reminds me of the bicycle dude meme "Waaah the females made me do it!" Right? it's all bitch, females, whore until they receive the slightest bit of push-back and then it's all self-victimisation from then on lmaoReminds me of the bicycle dude meme"Waaah the females made me do it!" Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you. Anything that isn't licking mens asscracks is IMMEDIATELY a problem and gets a million bitter men making ~their own versions~ Remember the huge backlash against TLC's No Scrubs?? Men SEETHED over that song. It happens every single time-every single time we get anything close to something truly relatable. Reply Parent Thread Link preach sis Reply Parent Thread Link mmhmm Reply Parent Thread Link it's da truth thankfully this dude is a nobody Edited at 2018-11-15 05:32 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link It's like when TLC came out with No Scrubs. Men had to have their own version of the song too, No Pigeons. They are so sensitive. Reply Parent Thread Link And Ari's song isn't even negative about her exes. Men are so weak. Edited at 2018-11-15 11:16 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Every goddamned time, man. I'm old enough to remember the outrage and "diss" tracks that came after TLC's "No Scrubs" came out. Destiny's Child got a lot of crap for "Bills, Bills, Bills," too. Men are free to come for women in their music as much as they like but when a woman does it? All bets are off. Reply Parent Thread Link Probably a female Shut up Shut up Reply Thread Link lol you kill me with this gif. it speaks to immature me so much considering i used to do this often with friends instead of rolling my eyes at them. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol ngl it's my mental go-to reaction when most people (men) talk :x Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao Reply Parent Thread Link mte ryan Reply Parent Thread Link i'm a shaniac but i still want ryan to fuck me Reply Parent Thread Link he's no Frankee Reply Thread Link my roommate last year introduced me to this song and its iconic counterpart Reply Parent Thread Link lol my first thought Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao Reply Parent Thread Link ICONIC Reply Parent Thread Link OMG Reply Parent Thread Link thank you for reminding me of this gem Reply Parent Thread Link this bop Reply Parent Thread Link yo sex was whack lmaoooooooo Reply Parent Thread Link OMG this throwback Reply Parent Thread Link fuck yes, i love this song. Reply Parent Thread Link i don't trust men who call women females. something about it really rubs me the wrong way idk why. Reply Thread Link It really sounds terrible, like were less than or objects they can dismiss Reply Parent Thread Link It's virtually always a red flag. Reply Parent Thread Link using females instead of women sounds clinical and dehumanizing Reply Parent Thread Link I have never been able to explain it or describe the ugly feeling it gives me but every girl I know feels the exact same way. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yep Reply Parent Thread Link It's incredibly dehumanizing and they know it and get off on making women angry when they rightfully call them on it. Reply Parent Thread Link i think its a universal rule that any man that says females when talking about women is automatically trash Reply Parent Thread Link same. I also cringe when I read a job listing and at the bottom where it states the company is an equal opportunity employer they write "females" instead of "women". Reply Parent Thread Link I've seen so many men use the words "females" and "men" in the SAME sentence. Speaks volumes. Reply Parent Thread Link When men say "females" I feel they look at us as just objects or don't deserve human decency. Reply Parent Thread Link for me, i find it dehumanizing. animals are "females" but only humans can be women. they don't see us as human, therefore, they can't bear to call us women. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link same Reply Parent Thread Link I have literally never met a single guy who used "females" who wasn't a complete ass. Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously. Giant red flag. Reply Parent Thread Link yep, it's dehumanising and makes my skin crawl. i don't trust any man who says it. Reply Parent Thread Link it depends. like, saying "we need more women co-workers" doesn't sound as correct as "we need more female co-workers" but to refer to women as females as a noun is bs Reply Parent Thread Expand Link it's dehumanizing. makes me think of livestock. Edited at 2018-11-15 05:09 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously, it says all I need to know about them. Reply Parent Thread Link all you need to explain it is knowing that most of thos guys never say MALES in the same context. It's always "men and females." Reply Parent Thread Link It's as if they view being a woman like some sort of ailment Reply Parent Thread Link 9 out of 10 times when someone is using the word female, it is in a sentence about something women are doing wrong. Reply Parent Thread Link Ikr. That album still wrecks me every time I listen to it. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't know how she does it, but it's a dagger through the heart. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yasss Reply Parent Thread Link What a mess. They should know better. Can't wait for Maria Grazia's contract to end. They should have hired Mexican models bc no @ that list of celebs Reply Thread Link Bracing myself for her I love tacos statement. Reply Thread Link shes going to eat a taco salad Reply Parent Thread Link *Taco Bowl Reply Parent Thread Expand Link still trash Reply Thread Link I dont think Phoebe Robinson is Mexican or Latina. It would be better to include their voices on this issue. Reply Thread Link Was Eve Mendez not available? She would have looked lovely in these clothes. Salma, too. Reply Thread Link Eva Mendes is Cuban. Reply Parent Thread Link Damn, that's right. :( I would still rather see a Latino than Jennifer Lawrence, but because of the clothes history it would be much better to have a Mexican star model the clothes. Tired of people getting inspired by different cultures yet not using them; that's not how transculturalism is supposed to work. Reply Parent Thread Link Salma is married to the CEO of Kering, LVMH's (which owns Dior) biggest competitor so that was never gonna happen Reply Parent Thread Expand Link if they wanted a white person they should have gotten Montserrat Oliver to model their clothes because at least she's actually mexican Reply Parent Thread Link Or Eiza Gonzalez, she's pretty up and coming Reply Parent Thread Link Could have hired Eiza Gonzales. Even if just to be alongside Jennifer. I get that Jen loves to ride horses and comes from the state that has a city that proclaims itself the Horse Capitol of the World but gooooooorl. She tries so hard to show shes inclusive or sensitive to racial issues and then does this stupid shit. Shes the face of Dior handbags, she can demand better Id think? Reply Parent Thread Link Dior is white feminism in a nutshell, they wanted this. They know what they're doing. Reply Thread Link can any fashion house be feminist in general tho LOL I certainly wouldn't think so. Reply Parent Thread Link not any of the major ones no Reply Parent Thread Link Someone once said that Jennifer is Dior's idea of diversity because so many of their other celeb ambassadors are like size 0, ethereal and mysterious sad eyed goddesses and Jen talks about having diarrhea. I wish I could remember who said it because it was honestly so dead on. Anyway, this sucks but it's not shocking because all these big fashion houses love stealing from the cultures of people they'd never let through their fucking doors to use the restroom. Reply Thread Link lord then what size is jennifer? she's so thin Reply Parent Thread Link Shes like a 2-4 which in Hollywood means shes curvy Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Her contract with Dior it's for life or what? Reply Thread Link ah, the classic "we love your culture, but not you" see also: white girls who get mehndi tattoos and the millenial obsession with native headdresses at music festivals Reply Thread Link Mis pensamientos exactos. White folk love our food and culture, just not us criminals even if were you know, actual American citizens. Reply Parent Thread Link As per usual, Americans love to celebrate Mexican culture but call anyone of Mexican decent dirt and all sort of dehumanizing names. Reminds me of when Tucker Carlson had a mental breakdown as he tried to claim tacos as American food like bitch you WISH. Jennifer and Dior can keep this modern basura. The caucasity to not even include Mexican women in this nonsense. Reply Thread Link tried to claim tacos as American food like bitch you WISH. Lol, that's amazing. HOW. Side note: I've been going to a Spanish language meetup here and I was chatting (badly, because my Spanish is woeful) to a student who'd deliberately come from Mexico to Sydney to study, rather than go to anywhere in the USA. She'd experienced enough racism there to opt for famously racist and more expensive Australia, which seems nuts but there you are. Reply Parent Thread Link "he tried to claim tacos as American food" PFFFF, ya quisieran. Reply Parent Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link I'm blanking on the name but it's also like that gov official who went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner after the Trump administration was exposed for taking immigrant kids away from their parents at the border. Reply Parent Thread Link Are you talking about Mitch McConnell and his cabinet member wife when they were in Louisville? It was last month, so wasnt around the time of the caged children break, so maybe a different time, but like 3 people yelled at him and one person took his leftovers and dumped them on the street lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Could have included some actual Mexican women alongside Jennifer, at least. That being said, most times it's cringey when non-Latinos talk about these issues, because then we get criticism towards "rich white women" to later suggest... Karla Souza. I appreciate the feeling, but girl. Reply Thread Link Lol yeah when I saw Karla Souzas name I was like Like I guess if we want Dior to do the literal bare minimum... Reply Parent Thread Link re: your second point, lmao, exactly what i was thinking. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't know anything about her, but just went to her wiki page and she has a Chilean father and Mexican mother and was born in Mexico. Why would she have been a bad choice? Reply Parent Thread Link Because it's contradictory to criticize a campaing for featuring a rich white woman and then offer another rich white woman as an alternative. I imagine she meant "non-Mexican rich white woman," but that's the thing, many people forget that Latino is not a race, and the only difference between JLaw and Karla is their country of birth. Also, having a white Mexican woman in a campaing like this wouldn't be a good look either. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link They want to "celebrate" Mexican riders yet you have Jennifer Lawrence shooting in California LMAO okay Reply Thread Link Look, put her in lederhosen or get a Mexican model. Oddly I'm ok with them shooting in California given the state's demographics lol. Reply Thread Link I dont mind them shooting in CA but her saying that theres no better venue she can think of to showcase the clothes and Im like GIRL GURL. GURRRRRL. Reply Parent Thread Link This woman says and does the dumbest shit year after year and gets away with it cause shell give puppy eyes and go I didnt mean it in a bad way but she is peak clueless celeb. Reply Thread Link Didnt she also desecrate a Native spiritual site or something or am I misremembering this? Reply Parent Thread Link The long losing streak in oil prices over the past two weeks was the result of U.S. policies and soaring American oil production, Ed Morse, head of commodities research at Citigroup, told Bloomberg in an interview. Relentlessly rising American oil production, coupled with the U.S. granting waivers to eight Iranian oil customersincluding Tehrans biggest clients China and Indiaadded to the oversupply concerns on the market. On the demand side, the U.S.-China trade war has been hurting global economic and oil demand growth prospects, according to Morse. All these factors combined, along with U.S. President Donald Trumps latest tweet aimed at OPECHopefully, Saudi Arabia and OPEC will not be cutting oil production. Oil prices should be much lower based on supply!were the reasons behind the oil price plunge into a bear market. The oversupply in the market is a made-in-America phenomenon, Morse told Bloomberg. Its the unexpected consequences of American policy and the unintended impact of technological changes that made this historically unprecedented arena for production growth blossom, Citigroups head of commodities research said. The EIA estimates that U.S. crude oil production was 11.6 million bpd in the week to November 2, the highest ever weekly production estimate. Over the past months, production at the leaders of the OPEC/non-OPEC production cut dealSaudi Arabia and Russia, respectivelyhas also increased. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and few Arab Gulf nations with spare capacity have been pumping more since June to offset in advance expected steep losses from Iran once the U.S. sanctions snapped back. Irans oil exports did fall, but not as much as analysts and market participants were expecting. OPEC and Russias October production more than offset losses from Iran and Venezuela, while demand in some developing countries has been slowing, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday. Surging supply from the U.S. and OPEC production compensating for Iran and Venezuela point to an oversupply in the market next year, if we assume that OPEC will continue to compensate for its troubled members, the IEA noted. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the largest producers within OPEC, is undergoing a dramatic transformation. ADNOCs CEO has made several statements suggesting that the NOC is set for a more diversified future, in which downstream and natural gas will become a major priority. The NOC aims to not only challenge the leading IOCs such as Shell, Total and ENI, but also compete with the major downstream and gas giants. Until now ADNOC has been heavily focused on oil, as Abu Dhabis gas reserves were limited. Last years success in setting up operations and production at the Al Hosn field, a giant sour gas field, has helped to change that. New deals presented during ADIPEC 2018, which is still ongoing, further highlight the growing role of natural gas in the country. ADNOC announced two major new gas deals with Italian oil and gas major ENI and French compatriot Total. The main focus of these two deals is to utilize and access the vast unconventional gas reserves of the country. At the same time, ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber indicated that his company is seeking new investment opportunities in LNG. The main driver here will be to diversify not only the companys portfolio and capabilities, but also to utilize its national and international subsidiaries. Sultan indicated that there is a need for a more international strategy in the downstream sector. There will be more initiative (gas) plans, Al-Jaber said in an interview in Abu Dhabi. We are not going to expand beyond our borders in upstream. We dont need to. We have access to vast, vast oil and gas reserves, he said. The main international focus will be downstream, focusing on Asia. This approach will likely include cooperating with its main Arab compatriot, Saudi Aramco. The two giants are already stepping up cooperation in India and other Asian targets. This week, Aramco and ADNOC have signed a framework agreement targeting investments in natural gas and LNG. As Sultan Al Jaber stated the combination of Aramco and ADNOC will set up a powerhouse of unknown order in the market, possibly changing part of the total environment for IOCs in the future. The energy cooperation between the two NOCs is partly based on the direct links between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Abu Dhabis Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, as the two are coordinating on a long list of international and regional projects. Related: Its Time For Big Oil To Start Spending With Total, ADNOC has signed an agreement granting the French major a 40 percent stake in the Ruwais Diyab unconventional gas concession. The latter has been set a production target of 1 Bcf per day by 2030. A more interesting deal has been signed with Italian IOC ENI, granting the Italians a 25 percent stake in an offshore ultra-sour gas project. The ultimate goal of all these gas agreements is to achieve gas self-sufficiency and possibly become a net gas exporter. These options are feasible, as the UAE holds the seventh-largest proven reserves of natural gas in the world, at slightly more than 215 trillion cubic feet, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. At present, the UAE is still a net gas importer as demand grew in 2008 to levels that internal production could not supply. This spike in demand comes from both electricity production and increased oil production (which requires gas injection). While gas production is set to be a central focus for Abu Dhabi, oil has not been forgotten. At ADIPEC, ADNOC stated that it will invest $1.4 billion in upgrading and expanding its Bu Hasa field, targeting a production increase of 100,000 bpd in order to hit 650,000 bpd by 2020. The EPC contract was awarded to Spanish company Tecnicas Reunidas and is expected to take around 39 months to be implemented. ADNOC has officially set an overall oil production capacity target of 4 million bpd by 2020 and 5 million bpd by 2030. ADNOC has also signed a framework agreement with UAE investment company Mubadala Investment, one of the major SWFs, to explore downstream investment opportunities across the globe. ADNOC downstream director Abdulaziz Al Hajri stated that this agreement is a natural evolution of the close relationship between ADNOC and MubadalaIt will ensure that, in partnership, we continue to maximise value from our hydrocarbon resources, in line with the leaderships directives of stretching the value of every barrel of oil we produce. ADNOC and Mubadala have agreed that there is huge potential for the processing of crude oil and other hydrocarbons supplied by ADNOC, as well as potentially utilising technologies owned by Mubadala with product offtake by other ADNOC companies. The general view at ADIPEC 2018, one of the worlds largest oil and gas conferences and exhibitions, is that NOCs are stepping up their rivalry with IOCs in the latters main markets. Investments by ADNOC, Aramco and others, are openly targeting new marketshare in downstream and gas sectors. The combination of Aramco and ADNOC should not be underestimated. A fully integrated strategy could bring two of OPECs leading producers together, able to dwarf investments and production in upstream and downstream from the likes of Shell, BP and ExxonMobil. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: There is no need to take any action to halt the decline of oil prices that started a month ago, even though it accelerated sharply yesterday, with both Brent and WTI shedding 7 percent and more inside a day, Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak said, as quoted by Reuters. Novak was speaking at an industry event in Singapore and said, The market is quite volatile today. We remember that the oil price was sharply rising in the same way, now it is going down. We have to look into long-term development, into how the price will be stabilized. The officials comments come after Saudi Arabias Khalid al-Falih said that the Kingdom planned to cut crude oil exports next month by half a million barrels daily to stop the slide in oil prices, adding that OPEC should cut its combined production by 1 million bpd. The Saudi ministers latest statement was a stark change in rhetoric following signs of weaker demand and growing supply, the classic combination that served a blow to bullish traders, with benchmarks slipping into a bear market inside a month. Also, it followed reports that Saudi Arabia was discussing cuts with Russia. Novak told media in Singapore that Russia had been pumping less oil since the beginning of the month after a record-high production rate of 11.41 million bpd last month, with the daily cut at 20,000 barrels. Washington recently granted waivers to eight Iranian oil importers, and global oil demand forecasts suggest that the market could be in for oversupplyboth factors that substantially contributed to the dive oil prices took, as did rising U.S. production. It may well be the case that Moscow is not opposed to lower oil pricesas it has indicated earlier as wellas they would eventually come to bite into U.S. shale drillers performance. U.S. shale drillers are the biggest production factor that OPEC and Russia cannot control, after all. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In just one month, everyone stopped talking about $100 oil. In six weeks, oil prices slid into a bear market from four-year highs in early October and booked their steepest one-day plunge in three years on Tuesday. Early on Thursday, Brent Crude was just above $66 a barrel and WTI Crude was at $56, down about $10 from the average price in Q3. Big Oilwhich boasted soaring third-quarter profits on the back of stronger pricesnow may have to show if it can continue the growing cash flow and profit trend with its conservative $55-65 oil price assumptions and breakevens for positive cash flows at around $50. Oil prices are $10-15 above most of the biggest oil companies stated breakevens, but the price slide over the past month may put to the test the years of cutting costs and bringing project breakevens to as low as possible. Breakevens at all oil majors may be lower than the current Brent Crude price, but the lower the price of oil, the less wiggling room Big Oil has to rake in more cash and reward shareholders. Higher volatility means they will continue to review if their economics work in a more bearish environment, Christyan Malek, head of the European, Middle East, and Africa oil and gas research desk at JP Morgan, tells Bloomberg. According to JP Morgan estimates, the break-even oil price for BP is $46 a barrel, for Total its $55, for Shell $58, for Equinor $48, and for Eni $59. Relaed: Significant Crude Build Weighs On Oil Markets Judging from comments of Big Oils top executives in recent months, $50 a barrel seems to be the watershed for most oil majors. As oil prices stay up over $50 a barrel, we will be surplus free cash as we go into 2020, and 2021. And, of course, we have said our breakeven goes down to $35-40 a barrel by the end of 2021, unless we chose to distribute to shareholders, BPs CFO Brian Gilvary said on the Q3 earnings webcast. Total said in its strategy presentation in September that it had more than halved its post-dividend breakeven to $50 a barrel now, compared to 2014. The Group resolutely maintains its programs to improve operational efficiency and reduce the breakeven to remain profitable in any environment, Total said in its Q3 earnings release. Shell is aiming for its projects to be able to break even at $40 oil, CFO Jessica Uhl said at the Q3 earnings call. Norways Equinor said in May that it expects to be free cash flow positive in 2018-2020 even at oil below $50 a barrel. Eni has halved its cash neutrality pointthe point at which it will be able to fund capex and dividendfrom $114 a barrel in 2014 to $57 a barrel, the Italian major said in its 2018-2021 strategy presentation earlier this year. In the Q3 earnings release, Eni confirmed its cash neutrality for 2018 is at $55 per barrel oil. Related: Russias Most Powerful Oilman: We're Fine With Any Oil Price In June, Eni said that its new upstream projects in execution, which account for 65 percent of the development investments in the segment, have a break-even lower than $30 a barrel. Across the Atlantic, ConocoPhillips says it can break even at $40 oil. And so weve just really locked in our plans and said regardless of what the cycle is, and weve locked in a plan that says we can do this in a sub-$50 world. We can breakeven in a $40 world, Chairman and CEO Ryan Lance said at a conference in May. Big Oils cost-cutting efforts of the past few years have positioned the companies to make profits and generate cash at around $50-60 oil. With Brent at $66, the oil majors are still comfortably above breakevens, but further slides may really test their ability to continue raising profits and shareholder returns in a bear market in oil. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: At least three tankers loaded with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russian LNG facility Yamal have arrived in the United States recently, according to Russias Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Oddly enough, with all this visible public flow of negative rhetoric [towards Moscow] from Washington, Russian liquefied natural gas is successfully being supplied to the US. Recently, at least three tankers with liquefied natural gas from the [Russian] Yamal LNG field on board have reached the US coast, Sputnik quoted Zakharova as saying at a news briefing on Thursday. These cargoes are not the first Yamal-originated LNG supply to have reached U.S. coasts. In January this year, just one month after Yamal started operations, the Gaselys tanker carrying the first LNG produced by Yamal arrived in Boston. Yamal LNG, the US$27-billion project in the Arctic, is majority owned by Novatek in partnership with Frances oil and gas major Total. Yamal began operations in early December 2017 and the first cargo was shipped on December 11. The first cargo of Novateks Yamal LNG was initially loaded on the Christophe de Margerie tanker by Total, which shipped it to Britain where it was transferred to the Gaselys. Engie told Bloomberg at the time that it had bought the cargo on the spot market earlier in January as it tackled stronger LNG demand in New England because of the harsh winter weather. Related: Could Brazil's Oil Sector Trigger An Economic Miracle? While Yamal cargoes arrive in America, the U.S. has been looking to sell more of its growing LNG supply on the European market, to help Europe to reduce its dependence on Russias gas giant Gazprom which holds around a third of the European gas supply. Earlier this month, U.S. officials and LNG developers expressed confidence that abundant supply and falling costs are making U.S. LNG increasingly competitive on the European market. Last week, U.S. Cheniere signed a 24-year LNG deal under which it will deliver growing volumes of LNG to Polands PGNiG. Polandone of the most vocal opponents of the controversial Gazprom-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline project and Russias dominance on the European gas marketwill start importing regular supplies from the United States as early as next year. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: South Korea did not import any Iranian crude oil in October, the second month in a row one of the worlds top oil importers has abstained from buying Iranian crude ahead of the U.S. sanctions against Tehran, which entered into effect on November 5. Reuters reported the data, citing information from the South Korean customs authorities, adding the country had stopped buying Iranian crude in September for the first time in six years as it was not certain it would score a waiver with the U.S. Department of Treasury. It did, however, score the waiver, along with seven other large Iranian oil importers. The waivers,. However, are temporary, for six months, after which Washington has suggested it would expect a reduction to zero again. Reuters also reported that between January and the end of August South Korea imported 7.15 million tons of Iranian crude, half the amount it had imported a year earlier as it prepared for the sanctions. Now, according to unnamed sources, South Korea could buy up to 200,000 bpd of Iranian condensate. Meanwhile, in October, the country compensated the lack of Iranian barrels with more imports from Saudi Arabia, its top supplier. These rose twofold to 4.17 million bpd. Earlier this month, S&P Global Platts reported South Korea would resume Iranian crude oil purchases after the sanctions went into effect, according to information from unnamed sources. While continuing to look for alternative suppliers of the commodity, the sources said, the worlds fifth-largest oil importer would buy some 4 million barrels of Iranian crude monthly. In this and other transactions with Iran, South Korea will pay in its national currency instead of U.S. dollars, PressTV reported recently, citing South Korean media. Iran has been actively promoting trade in national currencies with its international allies to reduce its exposure to sanction-tied dollars. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Two Chilean tourists who killed a Malaysian man in a fight in a hotel lobby shortly after they arrived in the country on holiday were sentenced to two years in prison Thursday. Fernando Candia, a 32-year-old chef, and Felipe Osiadacz, 28, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide over the August 4 death in the capital Kuala Lumpur. The two Chilean men were initially charged for murder which in Malaysia still carries the death penalty -- if found guilty they would have faced execution by hanging. But prosecutors Wednesday offered a lesser charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder over the death of 27-year-old Yusaini Ishak who died from "compressive asphyxia", where pressure on the chest interferes with breathing. Defence lawyers had argued that the dead man had tried to "extort" money from the Chilean men, and that they defended themselves when he came to the hotel and attacked them. "It will be in the public interest to send them back. They are victims of circumstances. They were attacked first," defence lawyer Venkateswari Alagendra had said. In court Thursday, the two Chileans accepted the lesser charge and pleaded guilty. Judge Mohamad Nazlan Mohamad Ghazali sentenced the pair to two years in jail, effective from their arrest last August. The accused were "genuine tourists" with no previous convictions, he said, adding that they that they had no intention to commit murder. When the sentence was read out both the men cried and hugged their family members and friends. Before the judgement was read out, a tearful Osiadacz apologised to the dead man's family and expressed remorse. "I would like to apologise to his family. I have plans to go and live in Spain with my beautiful girlfriend. We are not criminals," he said. Candia also spoke to the court through tears, saying that the incident had flared up "suddenly". "I want to marry and live a normal life," he said. Venkateswari said the two Chileans could be out of prison by the end of the year. My clients are happy... very happy. They should go home before Christmas since they will enjoy a discount of eight months," she told reporters. Next to the billboard reading Welcome to Papua New Guinea outside the arrivals hall of Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby stood an advertisement for China Construction Bank. The sign of the state-owned Chinese bank stood alongside those of other major funders of Beijings signature international infrastructure strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative: China Railway Group, China Railway Construction and China National Building Material. The vivid presence of Chinese investment in the Pacific country a former colony of Australia, its closest neighbour has prompted an alarmed response in Canberra as its battle for influence with Beijing has gained steam in the past year. What we can do is offer alternative options for countries beyond belt and road that is not the only source of infrastructure financing available, Australias Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in June, calling Chinas US$900 billion initiative a vehicle for China to push its strategic interests. Concern in the Australian capital was further amplified when Xi Jinping scheduled his maiden state visit to Papua New Guinea as Chinese president this Thursday and Friday to meet his counterpart Peter ONeill. Scheduled ahead of the weekends Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Port Moresby, the visit is expected to finalise and extend Chinese investment deals. The annual regional economic summit in Papua New Guineas capital will gather heads of state in the poorest member country among Apecs 21 nations. Both China and Australia accelerated aid to help the host country prepare after the location was selected in 2014. We have several hundred initiatives here [at Apec] and a number of those are Chinese, said Alan Bollard, executive director of the Apec Secretariat, on Wednesday. Troops pour into Port Moresby as Papua New Guinea prepares for Apec meeting With US President Donald Trump absent, Australia has stepped up its efforts to provide for the summit to counter Beijings eagerness to fill the leadership vacuum. Story continues Specifically for Apec, Australia has sent to Moresby military assets including its navys landing helicopter dock HMAS Adelaide, two patrol boats and about 1,500 personnel from the tri-service Australian Defence Force. Earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met ONeill in Sydney to complete a deal to build a joint naval base on Papua New Guineas Manus Island, reflecting Canberras long-term security interests there. Meanwhile, China provided 62 military vehicles worth US$5 million last year, which PNG officials said would be used for Apec security operations. Long-term investments, too, have been flooding in from both sides and look likely to escalate as Australia and China look to forge closer relations through the regional meeting. COMPETING TO INVEST Chinese investment in the region mostly in infrastructure projects such as building roads and ports grew to US$2.46 billion last year, a significant rise from 2016s US$860 million, according to data compiled by China Global Investment Tracker. Zhang Baohui, a professor of political science and director of the Centre for Asian Pacific Studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, said that although PNG is not a big player in Chinas diplomatic sphere, it could act as a barometer of its belt and road ambitions. Chinas growing role in South Pacific nations cannot be stopped, says vice-minister Zheng Zeguang China does want to build infrastructure there to further its belt and road strategy, Zhang said. Some in Australia worry that China is trying to build a sphere of influence in Papua New Guinea. To counteract Beijings growing clout in the region, Australia Papua New Guineas largest foreign donor has vowed to up its aid to provide an estimated A$572 million (US$412 million) in official development assistance (ODA) to PNG in 2018-19, according to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Canberra provided estimated ODA of A$541 million in 2017-18. Australia has concerns about Papua New Guineas capacity to repay its debts to China, and the potential consequence of greater Chinese influence in its backyard that could limit its own strategic clout. Pacific islands new diplomatic battleground for China and the West Canberras support has included the maintenance and reconstruction of 1,981km of roads across 10 provinces and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Australia is concerned about Chinas growing influence and we may see a long-term Australian strategy to compete with China here, Zhang said. Graeme Smith, a fellow in the Pacific affairs department at Australian National University in Canberra, said Canberra had both security and bureaucratic concerns. [Security concerns include] the medium-term prospect of China looking to set up a military facility in PNG, Smith said. For the foreign affairs bureaucracy, it would be the apparently negative impact of some Chinese companies on governance in PNG, particularly Huawei in the telecoms sector and various state-owned contractors in the construction sector. POWER PLAYS Electricity, the infrastructure need most urgently requiring foreign support in PNG, has become the hottest battleground between China and Australia. According to the latest World Bank data, only 22.9 per cent of PNGs population had access to the national electricity grid in 2016, leaving millions of people without electricity. China and Australia both stepped in to tackle the energy problem, with China investing in two hydropower plants in PNG: the Edevu and Ramu 2 projects. Edevu is a US$190 million project in the mountain region in Central Province that is aimed at providing an additional 50 megawatts enough to power about 37,500 homes to Port Moresby by 2020. PNG Power Board, the company running the project, got a loan from Chinas state-backed Exim Bank. Australia plans naval base in Papua New Guinea to curb Chinas Pacific influence In the countrys Eastern Highlands, the US$2 billion Ramu 2 project expected to be agreed during the Apec summit aims to generate 180MW of energy when completed in 2024. Australia was an early player in tackling Papua New Guineas electricity problem, through solar panels. The Canberra-aided Lighting Papua New Guinea project promises to provide solar recharging and light products for over 1.2 million people in the country by the end of this year. Locals who spoke to the South China Morning Post generally welcomed investment from both countries. Papua New Guineas purchase of 40 Maseratis for Apec raises eyebrows in poverty-hit country It does not matter where the money comes from as long as it comes to this country and helps us to develop, its welcomed here, said one of them, Dickson Dick, who has lived in Port Moresby for 15 years. I am not particularly concerned about Chinas investment. Yes, it may bring some political implications, but it cant change our political system. We are, and we will remain to be, a democratic country; Chinas money wont change that. WHO HAS THE BANDWIDTH? China and Australia have also developed an apparent rivalry over telecommunications services in Papua New Guinea. In August, Canberra had already blocked plans by Chinese telecoms giants Huawei and ZTE to provide 5G technologies in Australia over security concerns. Then, in September, Canberra said it would build a 4,000km Coral Sea internet cable connecting PNG, the Solomons and Australia an alternative to a deal that was agreed by Huawei in 2016. Australias allies the United States and Japan said they would join Australia in building the network. The Chinese company had promised to build a 5,457km marine network to cover 55 per cent of the population and provide more than 70 per cent of PNGs domestic bandwidth requirement. Its project would be paid for by a loan from Exim Bank. Australia blocks Chinas Huawei, ZTE from 5G development on security grounds Asked whether Beijing saw Australias moves as countering its influence in the Pacific, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Chinese aid and investments were without any political conditions. The Solomons government had signed a contract with Huawei in 2017 for it to build the cable, but backed out to opt for an Australian-backed solution. Although Australia refused to confirm this was to counter security concerns posed by the Chinese company, the US Charge dAffaires to Australia, James Carouso, gave a blunt answer when asked in September about the network by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. At Apec, therell be no escaping Chinas growing influence in the Pacific Its up to the PNG government at the end of the day, he said. But the whole idea is to give alternatives. This is not to say dont do business with China. Chinese offers are on the table. Its up to us to be competitive. The existing China-Australia rivalry in Papua New Guinea could spill over into other industries, such as sea mining. The most likely outcome is long-term competition, and an emerging area of competition is likely to be deep-sea mining, Smith said. There are many fault lines already present, particularly the lack of clarity around who owns the resources and unresolved boundaries between different nations. It is potentially extremely lucrative and its an area Chinese investors have been interested in for some time encouraged by the Chinese state. This article China-Australia rivalry surrounds Apec summit in Papua New Guinea first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. What does Chinas trade war with the United States have to do with the Boxer rebellion a century ago? A Chinese state media rallying cry in support of a failed uprising against foreign aggression more than a century ago fell flat online, with many internet commenters ridiculing the official narrative. In a commentary on Tuesday night, Xinhua lauded the 1900 Boxer rebellion as a key element in the anti-imperialist patriotic movement in Chinas modern history, saying it showed the determination of the Chinese people to unite to resist foreign aggression. The Boxers, practitioners of martial arts and known as yihetuan in Chinese, spearheaded an uprising against the Japanese and Western powers in northern China, killing missionaries and Chinese Christians and destroying property deemed to be Western. They believed they could withstand bullets and were supported by the Qing government but were defeated by a coalition of eight foreign powers. The commentarys description of the Boxer movement is in line with the narrative taught in the Chinese education system, where high school history textbooks frame the rebellion as a brave battle with the aggressor and an attempt to prevent a plot by foreign powers to divide China. The commentary did not appear to be tied to any anniversary and it was not clear what prompted it. But a historian said the article seemed to be an attempt to rally patriotism as the country grapples with slowing economic growth and a trade war with the United States. However, a flood of commenters were quick to criticise the official line. Come on, its already the 21st century. We already know that you cannot win a battle when enemies are armed with guns and you only have bare hands. We know the Boxers black magic does not work. The key for Chinas development is still about technological advancement, one commenter said. Another WeChat user said: The true way to love China is to learn the best from the West and make China better, not by pouring dogs blood all over yourself and believing that you will be become bulletproof. Story continues Liu Siyao, a prominent historian online, said the Boxers did not have a positive reputation among internet users, with the movement often associated with blind opposition to everything foreign, ignorance and arrogance. Jilin University finance professor Li Xiao said the Boxers way of thinking remained an influence today, as commentators urged the country to strike back in the trade war with the United States at all costs. In todays era of economic globalisation, in an era of economic development and deepening reforms, what do they meant by at all costs? Should we return to the era before the reform and opening up? Li said. Shall we, the Chinese people recognise the huge gap between China and the United States with a cool head and continue to learn from the United States with humility, or stick to the anti-American path of populism, like the Boxers? Nanjing University deputy research fellow Li Yuehua said Boxer-like sentiment surfaced in some domestic media at the start of the trade war, with calls for the country to fight an epic battle. But after the ZTE incident, they were muted, he said, referring to the Chinese telecommunications giant that was almost brought to its knees by US threats to cut off access to some technology. This article What does Chinas trade war with the United States have to do with the Boxer rebellion a century ago? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 15, opposed any military drills in the disputed South China Sea, saying it would only sow conflict among sea claimants."No," Duterte said on the PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 15, opposed any military drills in the disputed South China Sea, saying it would only sow conflict among sea claimants. "No," Duterte said on the sidelines of the final day of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits in Singapore, when asked if he favors any conduct of military drills in the contested waters. Duterte, who currently serves as coordinator of Asean-China dialogue relations until 2021, said it would be better to avoid any actions that may aggravate tensions in the South China Sea and prompt Beijing to go to war. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.2'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Members of the media conduct an interview with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore on the third day of his participation to the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits on November 15, 2018. #ComfortableLifeForAll #PartnerForChange * * * Posted by Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 He maintained that the Philippines would also keep a distance from the possible conflict that may arise amid the unresolved overlapping claims in the disputed waters. "I said China is already in possession. It's now in their hands. So why do you have to create frictions [by conduct] military activity that will prompt a response from China," the President said. "I do not mind everybody going to war, except the Philippines is just beside those islands. And if there's a shooting there, my country will be the first to suffer. That's my only national interest there, nothing else," he added. Story continues Duterte issued the statement a day after he said that he would "at all cost" push for the early completion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, a binding pact that seeks to ensure peace and stability in the busy waterway. On Tuesday, November 13, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed hope that Beijing's consultations with Asean member-states on a COC in the South China Sea would be completed in three years. The President reiterated that he would exhaust all efforts to ensure the swift completion of the sea code that will settle disputes in the hotly-contested waters. "You know, I'm the country coordinator for Asean-China [dialogue relations]. I will try my best. I made a very strong statement yesterday about the urgent need for a COC so that everybody will know," he said. Duterte said other nations should concede that most features of the South China Sea are already under China's control. He added that the only solution was to look for ways to keep peace and order in the region. "When you claim an ocean, the whole of it, then that is a new development in today's world. So in any sense, it would also change -- radical changes in the laws of governing international waters, particularly the right of free passage or the right of innocent passage," Duterte said. "And all of these things, China is there. That's a reality and America and everybody should realize that they are there. So if you just keeo on creating friction, a little friction, one day, a bad miscalculation could turn things -- Murphy's Law. If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong," he added. (SunStar Philippines) "WHAT'S wrong with my nap?" President Rodrigo Duterte posed the question on Thursday, November 15, a day after skipping four events of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) "WHAT'S wrong with my nap?" President Rodrigo Duterte posed the question on Thursday, November 15, a day after skipping four events of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits in Singapore. Duterte said he had to skip four Asean engagements on Wednesday, November 15, to take a "nap" that would give him the "endurance" to attend all the regional bloc's scheduled meetings on Thursday, the third and last day of the annual summit. "[My nap was even] still not good enough, but enough to sustain the endurance for the last day's [engagements]. Why?" the President told reporters in Singapore. "What's wrong with my nap? You know, I don't eat. I don't eat breakfast and I'm sure you do know that," he added, before gracing the first Asean event on the last day of the summit. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.2'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Members of the media conduct an interview with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore on the third day of his participation to the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits on November 15, 2018. #ComfortableLifeForAll #PartnerForChange * * * Posted by Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 On Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte had to take "power naps" in between summits since the Chief Executive had little sleep on the first day of the annual event. Panelo also clarified that Duterte's absence had "nothing to do with his physical health and well-being, which have been the subject of speculation." Story continues Panelo added that Duterte was poised to attend Asean meetings with India and the United States, 21st Asean Plus Three Summit, 13th East Asia Summit, and the closing ceremony of the 22rd Asean Summit and Related Summits. The President, however, hinted that he might not attend the 6th Asean-US Commemorative Summit. Quizzed if he would attend the Southeast Asian leaders' conference with the US, the President said he would still have to decide. "Am I supposed to meet the US? I'll see," said Duterte, who was critical of Washington after former US President Barack Obama criticized his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs. (SunStar Philippines) The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), together with Walt Disney Philippines, launched a new program designed to spread the Christmas cheer across the Metro, Disney-style. Dubbed Mickey Lights Up Manila, the new program involves the decoration of 90 select traffic signal lights with the iconic Mickey Mouse logo, which comes in the shape of the beloved cartoon characters head. The Mickey ear traffic lights re-live the Mickey-legacy of fun and laughter, bringing-out the child in all of us as we reminisce the joy that Mickey once brought in our lives when we were young, said MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim. This partnership will somehow provide a traffic relief especially in this time of the year where traffic is becoming heavier and heavier as everyone is on a rush preparing for Christmas. Mickey is an icon of fun, laughter, and optimism and is one of the most enduring personalities for all ages, said Walt Disney Philippines Country Head Veronica Cabalinan. We feel privileged to be able to share a smile and spread happiness through Mickey to all Filipino kids and families during this festive season across Manila. The 90 traffic lights are meant to represent the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. With the program, both the MMDA and Walt Disney Philippines hope to promote a festive atmosphere and make road users smile. The decorated stoplights are spread across the cities of Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Quezon City, and San Juan. facebook.com/MMDAPH The post MMDA Teams with Disney PH for Mickey Lights Up Manila appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. A hotel development sunk into a disused quarry in China opened its doors Thursday to deep-pocketed clientele. Preventing the 88-metre-deep (290 feet) pit from flooding was among the chief challenges for engineers working on the swanky 336-room InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland -- part of a $288 million development that also includes a theme park. The hotel, which is one of a growing number of bold architectural designs springing up in China, hugs one side of the pit wall, with a waterfall cascading down the opposite face. The subterranean 17-floor hotel is about an hour's drive from the centre of Shanghai, with room charges starting at 3,394 yuan ($490) a night. There is a floor of suites below the water level, but don't expect to gaze directly into the depths of Shenkeng Quarry -- the windows are instead buffered by large fish tanks. "Why do we say there is nothing in the world that compares to the quarry hotel project?" Chen Xiaoxiang, chief engineer with the real estate giant, Shimao Property, said to AFP. "Its a project that's completely new, a project we have never encountered before. "There were no references, cases or experience we could learn from to solve all the difficulties," he said. That meant engineers were met with unexpected problems. Before construction started in 2013, for example, heavy rainfall caused a nearby river to overflow into the quarry, filling half of it. "If something like that had happened after construction was complete, it would have been a devastating blow," Chen said. Designers built an embankment around the edge of the pit to prevent that happening in future, when hundreds of well-heeled guests are sipping cocktails on the deck far below. A pump house is used to help regulate water levels. - 'Totally unique' - The waterfall is one of the development's most eye-catching features. Adventurous guests can also indulge in rock climbing. The project's masterminds talk up its environmental bona fides, saying abandoned quarries often become landfills. "This was a totally unique idea, to really do something special with a site that was forgotten and nobody knew what to do with, and to give it new life," said Martin Jochman, a British architect with the project since it started 12 years ago. "I never lost my belief that it would be done one day, but it is here now, and I am really excited and amazed by the whole thing," he said. China's rapid economic growth has been accompanied by a construction boom that often throws up outlandish designs. The Beijing headquarters of state broadcaster China Central Television has been nicknamed "The Big Underpants" because it resembles a giant pelvis. A skyscraper built this year in southwestern China features a 108-metre waterfall tumbling down one side. Diplomatic niceties have been in short supply for Aung San Suu Kyi at a summit in Singapore, where the one-time rights champion has been publicly chastised over her handling of the Rohingya crisis, compounding a dismal week for Myanmar's de facto leader. Suu Kyi has refused to speak up for the Rohingya, a stateless, persecuted Muslim minority driven by violence into Bangladesh in huge numbers. Her reticence on the issue has cut her adrift from the global rights community including the United Nations, whose investigators say last year's Myanmar army campaign amounted to genocide. Many of the honours previously showered upon Suu Kyi for her stoic, peaceful resistance during years of house arrest by Myanmar's junta have been rescinded. This week the bad news got worse. On Monday Amnesty International, whose campaign to free Suu Kyi galvanised global recognition of her democracy struggle, stripped her of its highest honour over her "indifference" to the atrocities against the Rohingya. One day later at a regional summit in Singapore, criticism replaced the garlands she has received on the global stage since steering her party into government in 2016. Suu Kyi was castigated by Malaysia's premier Mahathir Mohamad at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet, a forum better known for platitudes than admonishments. "Someone who has been detained before should know the sufferings and should not inflict it on the hapless," the forthright Mahathir told reporters on Tuesday shortly before the summit opened. "But it would seem that Aung San Suu Kyi is trying to defend what is indefensible," he added, ploughing through the summit's tradition of politeness. Dialling up the awkwardness, Mahathir spent the entire summit next to Suu Kyi at photocalls, roundtables and dinners -- thanks to the alphabetical proximity of Malaysia and Myanmar. "You can sense (her reception) is not the same as before," a Southeast Asia diplomat told AFP, requesting anonymity. "Everyone was expecting more from her." The diplomatic siege deepened on Wednesday when US Vice President Mike Pence told Suu Kyi the "violence and persecution" against the Rohingya was "without excuse". In reply Suu Kyi, who appeared wrong-footed by the directness of the public critique, retreated behind her usual position: the Rohingya crisis is an internal Myanmar affair. "In a way, we can say we understand our country better than any other country does," she said. The Nobel Laureate insists impartial domestic probes will establish any evidence of army abuses. But Rohingya refugees say Myanmar will never provide real justice. - Fallen star - Myanmar's army has driven the Muslim minority out in waves and denies them citizenship and self-identification as "Rohingya", instead labelling them "Bengalis" -- illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. More than 720,000 Rohingya were forced to cross the border by a Myanmar army kickback against Rohingya militants last year. They joined crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, one of Asia's poorest and most populous countries. The first families in an initial group of 2,000 were due to be repatriated on Thursday under a deal that has stalled due to fears the Rohingya will face persecution on their return. But by the afternoon none had returned amid reports of intimidation and fear among the refugees, who do not want to go back without citizenship, security and property guarantees. As the summit wound up on Thursday evening Mahathir told AFP Suu Kyi was regularly pressured by her fellow leaders on the Rohingya and their return throughout the meetings. "They all were indirectly critical and they were concerned," he said. "They hoped that this return of the Rohingya will be safe." Suu Kyi's defenders say her hands are tied by a power-sharing deal cut with the army that allowed civilian elections in 2015 but granted the military full control over all security matters. A spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) defended the party leader against the mounting flak in Singapore. "If their pressure (on Suu Kyi) is because of 'Bengali' repatriation... we have already agreed to accept all who have lived in Myanmar," Myo Nyunt said. Suu Kyi still draws widespread support inside Buddhist-majority Myanmar. But from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson, she has shed friends in international circles over her intransigence on the Rohingya crisis. And even gatherings in Asia -- where discretion and non-interference in perceived 'internal matters' of another country is a shibboleth of diplomacy -- no longer come with a guaranteed rock-star welcome. "Her star has undoubtedly dimmed," another ASEAN diplomat told AFP, also requesting anonymity. "Her reception is not as warm as... (when) she still had that aura." (L-R) Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez with United States Defense Secretary James Mattis. Courtesy: Philippine Embassy in Washington DC During his speech at the Veterans Remembrance Ceremony at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, United States Defense Secretary James Mattis formally announced the turnover of the historic Balangiga Bells to the Philippines. The Secretary just simply said in not so many words, Ambassador, these bells are now officially going to return to the Philippines, said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez who was present at the event. US Defense Secretary Mattis showed Romualdez the well-preserved state of the bells and the engravings on it. The memorial marker states that the Balangiga bells are church bells taken as war trophies by the US Army from the town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar, Philippines. The ringing of the bells signaled the attack of the bolo tribesmen which led to the massacre of Company C of the 9th US Infantry Group. After 117 years, the US government will finally return the historic bells to its original home in Samar. President Rodrigo Duterte first made mention of the bells to Mattis last year during the Defense Ministers Meeting at Clark Air Base. They needed to change the 2017 National Defense Appropriation Act which will allow the return of the bells. That took some time. Shortly after, there was a 90-day period before Congress could actually change that. But that one went very quickly, said Ambassador Romualdez. Romualdez thanked the Legislative and Executive branches of the US government; several officials from the United Nations and a number of Filipinos and Americans who contributed in the effort to return the Balangiga bells to the Philippines. JL Asayo | UNTV News & Rescue The post US Govt to return Balangiga bells to the Philippines appeared first on UNTV News. East Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to extreme weather and climate events and to variability and change in climate. It is also one of the hardest regions to find good climate data on. Now, thanks to recently published research from UNU-FLORES, decision-makers in hot spots in East Africa will be able to more accurately assess the impact of climate change and plan adaptation measures. Analysing several accessible data sources in East Africa in his Ph.D. research, Solomon H Gebrechorkos identified the most suitable sources of high-quality climate and hydrological data for data sparse and remote areas in East Africa. The data from these sources can be used to identify hot spotscommunities that are vulnerable to significant change in climate and climate extremes and require immediate attentionand plan adaptation and mitigation measures at much finer spatial scale than previously possible. According to the recently published report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global warming is expected to reach 1.5C in as early as 12 years, resulting in a continued increase in extreme weather events and climate variability. Such events and changes cause a wide range of impacts on the local society and environment and pose serious challenges to environmental and resources management. In the past, the necessary long-term data to identify, understand, and react to these developments has not been readily available in East Arica. On the one hand, there is a problem of accessibility: the traditional sources follow data sharing policies that make it difficult for modellers to gain access to the data. On the other hand, if made available, the data are often of poor quality. Gebrechorkos findings are central to addressing this problem. Instead of investing considerable efforts in collecting and evaluating the quality of data, now experts and modellers developing adaptation measures for this region can get straight to the work. These results are the culmination of his research for the Joint Ph.D. Programme of the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) and the Technische Universitat Dresden, Faculty of Environmental Sciences. Under the supervision of Dr. Stephan Hulsmann of UNU-FLORES and Prof. Christian Bernhofer from TU Dresden, Gebrechorkos used several approaches to evaluate multiple climate data sources from national meteorological agencies (e.g., Ethiopia) and international databases and to assess the accuracy of multiple climate data products on daily, 10-day, and monthly time scales. The research, published in the journal of Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, revealed that the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (rainfall) and Observational-Reanalysis Hybrid (Tmax and Tmin) are the most suitable data sources in the region, when data from meteorological stations is not available. "The ability of communities in East Africa to prepare, mitigate, and adapt to climate change depends heavily on their ability to predict and understand climate and weather developments. In the past, this was particularly challenging, because the data being put into models was of poor quality. If you put bad information in, bad information comes out," Gebrechorkos explains. "Now, thanks to this study, we can easily find the best available climate data source, and ensure quality data is being used." How useful this high-quality data can be was demonstrated in the study Gebrechorkos and colleagues published in the International Journal of Climatology. Analysing trends in extreme values in temperature and precipitation in East Africa, they were able to develop high-resolution maps that accurately detected changes at local scalesomething not yet possible in the region. These maps successfully identified hot spots and provided information that enable for much more targeted adaptation and mitigation measures than previously possible. Now, when countries discuss how to increase their efforts to combat climate change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland in December, appropriate strategies can also be identified for East Africa. Using the identified sources and the resulting high-resolution maps, decision-makers in agriculture, energy, water, and many more sectors will be able to pinpoint hot spots and develop adaptation measures, improving the water, food, and energy security of millions of people living in East Africa. Explore further Google searches reveal where people are most concerned about climate change More information: Solomon Hailu Gebrechorkos et al, Evaluation of multiple climate data sources for managing environmental resources in East Africa, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (2018). Solomon Hailu Gebrechorkos et al, Evaluation of multiple climate data sources for managing environmental resources in East Africa,(2018). DOI: 10.5194/hess-22-4547-2018 Gebrechorkos, Solomon H., Hulsmann, Stephan and Bernhofer, Christian, (2018). Changes in Temperature and Precipitation Extremes in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. International Journal of Climatology, collections.unu.edu/view/UNU:6604 Lotte Card CEO Kim Chang-kwon, fourth from left, shows an MOU agreement for business partnership with Vietnam's VTV Cab Chairman Hoang Ngoc Huan, fourth from right, at Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Nov. 9. / Courtesy of Lotte Card By Jhoo Dong-chan The nation's credit card firms are tapping into the Southeast Asian market to overcome their deteriorated profitability and the government's pressure to lower the transaction fees. Not only financial group-affiliate card firms but also business-affiliate card firms are establishing a foothold in the region as their future growth engine. Choosing Vietnam as the firm's first overseas market, Lotte Card, retail giant Lotte Group's credit card unit, acquired Hanoi-based Techcom Finance from Techcombank to become Korea's first credit card company entering the Vietnamese market in March. On Nov. 9, it also signed memorandum of understanding with a local cable VTV Cab in a bid to facilitate the firm's advance into the market. The partnership between the two firms includes small-loan service and sales advertisements. Fully owned by state-run broadcasting station VTV, VTV Cab operates 70 analog cable channels, including 30 HD channels, with about 4.5 million paid-up views. "Lotte Card and VTV Cab will jointly develop a business model to maximize synergy through the partnership," said Lotte Card CEO Kim Chang-kwon. "Lotte Card will look into various business opportunities based on its existing networks in Vietnam, including Lotte Department, Lotte Mart, Lotteria, Lotte Hotel, Lotte Cinema, and Lotte Members." BC Card CEO Lee Mun-hwan, right, and LienVietPostBank Chairman Nguyen Dinh Thang hold up an agreement to develop a platform for digital transactions at an event in Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov. 12. / Courtesy of BC Card Credit: CC0 Public Domain The influence of having a black teacher can make a monumental difference in a black student's life, and the effect begins early in an education. Having just one black teacher in elementary school not only makes children more like to graduate high school it also makes them significantly more likely to enroll in college. Black students who'd had just one black teacher by third grade were 13 percent more likely to enroll in college and those who'd had two were 32 percent more likely. The findings, from researchers at UConn, Johns Hopkins University, American University, and the University of California-Davis, were published recently in a working paper titled "The Long-Run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers" from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Another, related working paper by the same team titled "Teacher Expectations Matter," also published today by NBER, found teachers' beliefs about a student's college potential can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Every 20 percent increase in a teacher's expectations raised the actual chance of finishing college for white students by about 6 percent and 10 percent for black students. However, because black students had the strongest endorsements from black teachers, and black teachers are scarce, they have less chance to reap the benefit of high expectations than their white peers. Both papers underscore mounting evidence that same race teachers benefit students, and demonstrate that for black students in particular, positive outcomes sparked by the so-called role model effect can last into adulthood and potentially shrink the educational attainment gap. "Black student students often don't have parents or other black adults in their lives who have gone to college and gotten professional jobs," says Joshua Hyman, an assistant professor of public policy at UConn, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Educational Leadership in the Neag School of Education. Hyman co-authored the papers along with researchers from the three other universities. "All it takes is one black teacher to influence a student," he adds. "They see someone like them in their classroom and start to believe they can go to college too, and get a good job." The paper appears to be the first to document the long-term reach of the role model effect. The researchers previously found that having at least one black teacher in elementary school reduced their probability of dropping out by 29 percent for low-income black students and 39 percent for very low-income black boys. The latest findings are based on data from the Tennessee STAR class size reduction experiment that started in 1986 and randomly assigned disadvantaged kindergarten students to various sizes of classroom. The researchers replicated the findings with similar data for North Carolina students. The study found that black students who'd had a black teacher in kindergarten were as much as 18 percent more likely than their peers to enroll in college. Getting a black teacher in their first STAR year, any year up to third grade, increased a black student's likelihood of enrolling in college by 13 percent. Black children who had two black teachers during the program were 32 percent more likely to go to college than their peers who didn't have black teachers at all. "What's very interesting about this paper is that it looks later in a student's life," says Hyman. "It's impressive that the impression of having a black elementary school teacher last that long. It helps reduce the race gap." Additionally, students who had at least one black teacher in grades K-3 were about 10 percent more likely to be described by their 4th grade teachers as "persistent" or kids who "made an effort" and "tried to finish difficult work," the researchers found. These students were also marginally more likely to ask questions and talk about school subjects out of class. Although enrolling in college is a positive outcome, one concern, according to the researchers, is that the main enrollment effect is driven by students choosing community college, where degrees aren't as lucrative as those from four-year colleges. It's also unclear because of incomplete data how many of the students from the study who enrolled in college eventually graduated. Despite clear benefits for black students from same-race teachers, diversifying the education workforce so that every black student in the United States could have one would mean doubling the current number of black teachers, the researchers say. To put this into context, that would require 8 percent of all black college graduates to become teachers. Given low teacher pay, if that many black college graduates went into education, it would cut roughly one billion dollars from the already languishing cumulative black income. Regarding teacher expectations, the authors previously found that when evaluating the same black student, white teachers expected significantly less academic success than black teachers. Now the researchers show compelling evidence that these biases affect whether students make it to college, graduate, and begin their adult life focused on a career. "One of the lingering issues of this paper is that we have to entice black people to enter the teaching areas," says Hyman. "In schools where there is a large black population, that has to be addressed." Explore further Black students who have at least one black teacher are more likely to graduate More information: The Long-Run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers. NBER. DOI: 10.3386/w25254 The Long-Run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers. Teacher Expectations Matter. NBER. DOI: 10.3386/w25255 Smoke from the Camp Fire is affecting air quality in California and is visible from space. Credit: NASA It never rains in California, so instead it burnsoftenwith prime fire conditions likely to persist until rainstorms arrive. Meantime, deadly wildfires in California also impact USC as noxious smoke affects students and faculty, heightening concerns about impacts to environment and health. Economics student Thomas Columbus said smoke crashed a beach party he and friends held last weekend, prompting people to leave early. "It's unhealthy air outside," he said. "It's really bad, you can smell it, it gets in your lungs and makes you cough." More than a nuisance, smoke from wildfires is a health threat. It can smear lungs with soot similar to how it sullies blue skies. It afflicts the most vulnerable populations, the elderly and children. Yet vigorous adults comprise an at-risk population, too. Smoke is no respecter of persons. California wildfires studied by USC experts At USC, faculty experts have been studying California's environment, air pollution and public health for years. Across disciplines and decades, they've amassed insight into why wildlands burn so much and how smoke harms people. Kiros Berhane, professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has witnessed urban smog recede over the last two decades due to regulations and technology. He's part of a massive, ongoing epidemiological project called the USC Children's Health Study. "The air is actually getting cleaner, but that doesn't mean there may not be spikes from time to time in local sources or wildfires," Berhane said. "The concern about the recent trend in wildfires is that as fires gain in intensity and severity, they could lead to losses of some of the gains we've made in the past." Children are especially vulnerable to smoke. Their organs are growing rapidly and they inhale disproportionately larger doses of pollutants than adults. Said Berhane: "Smoke is a big deal for children. Our research shows that if they're exercising in a polluted environment, there's a higher probability of developing asthma or other respiratory symptoms." Other sensitive populations include elderly people and those with preexisting conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When Santhi Iyer Kumar ran her own outpatient clinic, she recalled increases in patients during smoke or air pollution episodes. She's an assistant professor of clinical medicine and director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Keck Hospital of USC. "Elderly people with lung disease are at especially high risk. They have more chronic diseases and they don't have as much lung reserve as a younger person, so they should take all their meds and see their doctor if their condition gets worse," she said. Smoke can be harmful to active adults, too. A jogger inhales about three- to five-times more air than someone at rest; a laborer or athlete under heavy exertion inhales about 10 times more air. That means much more smoke deposited in the lungs, said Ed Avol, professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine. The immediate health concern caused by California wildfires Smoke itself is a noxious brew of chemicals. Of immediate concern are the microscopic particles, products of incomplete combustion, that are tinier than the width of a human hair and able to bypass the body's defenses and lodge deep inside the lungs. Also mixed up in smoke are industrial chemicals. "There's lots of other chemicals in the smoke," Avol said. "It's not just wood burning, but homes and structures, plastics and shingles, asphalt and insulation, and it all goes in the air. There's hundreds of thousands of chemicals people may be inhaling during a fire event." Wildfires are different now. They occur more often, burn hotter and affect more people. That's because there are more people and houses, and vast swaths of wildlands with accumulated fuel due to fire-prevention practices of the past century and tinder chaparral due to drought and heat. Some of California's biggest, deadliest and most destructive wildfires have occurred in the past few years. Three major fires are raging throughout California this week, forcing evacuations and leaving a destructive path. During the past week, fires near Chico, Camarillo and Malibu have claimed at least 44 lives with dozens more still missing, some 14,000 homes and structures and about one-quarter million acres consumed. "California's chaparral has had massive wildfires since records have been kept," said Travis Longcore, an urban ecologist and professor at the USC School of Architecture and the Spatial Sciences Institute at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. "The fires correlate with drought, extreme weather and ignition sources. Increasing number of fires is caused by more people and infrastructure on the landscape resulting in more ignitions. A changing climate with lower rainfall increases the intensity and size of these fires." As the winds blow Winds are fire's fickle friend, sweeping wildfires down canyon slopes, sloshing smoke back across the Los Angeles basin and carrying smoke into your body. The worst fires typically occur in autumn due to offshore winds that coincide at the end of long, hot summers. Coastal communities like Malibu and Santa Barbara sit precariously at the end of the bellows, below chaparral-cloaked cliffs and wedged against ocean. Coastal communities are often epicenters of destruction during blazes. Sam Atwood, spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, reported an unusual spike in smoke advisories for the metropolis that includes USC. More than 20 such advisories have been issued this year, including five consecutive days this month, as air has been deemed unhealthy due to smoke. For the first time, the AQMD distributed 2,000 disposable N95 respirator masks to community centers, animal shelters and senior- and assisted-living locations last weekend, he said. Five ways to stay safe from smoke Check for smoke advisories The South Coast Air Quality Management District issues daily advisories for communities where smoke reaches unhealthy levels. Advisories include fire details, meteorological conditions and preventive measures to protect people. Avoid exertion It's a bad idea to do strenuous outdoor play or work when it's smoky; it's a good idea to shelter indoors, limit physical activity and wait for blue skies. Buy a mask The so-called N95 half-face respirator mask blocks particles from entering your airways. Ordinary paper masks don't do much good. Trust your senses If your throat burns, your eyes sting or your nose itches, your body is telling you smoke is affecting you. Trust the sniff test and take precautions. Adjust your auto A/C When driving, you can avoid smoke by setting air conditioning to recirculate, which employs filters. Explore further Fires overwhelming British Columbia; smoke choking the skies The Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef proposed an alternative way of looking at progress by proposing society use the fulfilment of human needs as a measure of progress instead of economic growth or GDP. Credit: Gibran Vita, NTNU The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sent a clear message to the world with its last report, issued in early October in South Korea: the world needs to act immediately to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The report says that human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) need to fall by about 45 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030, and by 100 per cent by 2050. "Limiting warming to 1.5C is possible within the laws of chemistry and physics but doing so would require unprecedented changes," said Jim Skea, co-chair of IPCC Working Group III, in a press release issued with the report. Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Industrial Ecology Programme say that making "unprecedented changes" in the global economy could be much easier if society radically changes the way it looks at economic growth. "Society has to go to zero emissions pretty much overnight. Whether we like it or not, this challenge won't be met without the corresponding (overnight) changes in society," says Gibran Vita, a Ph.D. candidate in the program. "We need to start thinking, "Is the carbon footprint that comes from different economic activities actually worth it in terms of societal outcomes?" There is potential to live fulfilling lives with much less environmental impact." They suggest that satisfying fundamental human needs with the minimum environmental cost should be the main focus of economiesnot growth. Vita and his colleagues have just published an article about their research in Environmental Research Letters. More consumption doesn't necessarily mean happier people Vita and his colleagues decided to look at the carbon footprints that would result from meeting people's fundamental needs. They used a system developed by the Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef, who established categories of physical, emotional and intellectual needs, such as subsistence, freedom, identity, leisure and creation. What's different about this approach is how it differs from conventional assessments of prosperity, which generally measure money flows, such as GDP. "But people don't necessarily benefit from more of everything, all the time," Vita says. "A driving belief is that focusing on external prosperity through consumption equals progress. But that isn't working so well for the poor who suffer many other types of deprivation, or for the rich in terms of mental health, or for the environment." So the researchers looked at the goods and services consumed to meet people's needs based on Max-Neef's categories and then calculated the footprint of each need. Then, to evaluate how well these "carbon investments" pay off in terms of quality of life, they used 35 objective and subjective indicators to measure how well people in different countries felt that eight different needs were met. For the "subsistence" need, for example, they used indicators including good health, standard of living, and child survival rate. For the category "protection," they looked at access to sanitation and health care quality, among others. Calculating carbon footprints and needs To do their calculations, the researchers used an open access database called EXIOBASE 3, which contains information on economic activity and associated greenhouse gas emissions and resources for 200 goods in 44 countries and five rest-of-the-world regions. The 44 countries represent the world's largest economies and make up 91 per cent of global GDP with 65 per cent of the world's population. They then used this information to figure out what the carbon footprint might be for different countries for different needs. Not all needs were equally polluting, the researchers found. Meeting subsistence and protection needs took half of the global carbon budget, while leisure, identity, creation and freedom took most of the other half. Understanding and participation were the most modest, taking up less than 4% of global carbon emissions. The researchers then wanted to see if they could determine if it was necessary to emit as much carbon as was being emitted to meet those needs. To figure this out, they had to find a way to objectively and subjectively assess how well fundamental human needs were met for the different countries. Here they used data sources such as the World Bank Indicators, the Central Intelligence Agency, the OECD Labour Force and Time Use, and the Human Development Report from the UNDP. The combination of 12 databases allowed the researchers to calculate percentages that reflected how well citizens felt their human needs were satisfied in the 44 countries that were assessed. The researchers then combined these two calculationsthe percentage of the population for which a need was met in each country and the carbon footprint that resulted from meeting that need for each countryto plot graphs and compute statistics. For example, for access to sanitation or modern energy, which was one of the indicators under the "Protection" need, their assessment showed that places such as Norway, the United States and pretty much all Western countries had completely met this need. However, the carbon budget used to meet this need in these countries stretched far beyond the point of observable social benefits. Much more carbon emitted than was needed On average, the researchers found, meeting all of person's physical needsfrom affordable housing and having good health to drinking clean waterrequired per-person carbon emissions of just one to three metric tons a year. But when they compared this number to how much carbon countries actually emitted per person to provide protection and subsistence, they found many, many differences. Some countries, like the United States and Australia, emitted more than six to eight metric tons per capita to meet physical needs. In contrast, the average that low-income nations used to meet these needs was near one ton per capita. Nevertheless, Vita said, the numbers show potential for people in wealthy nations to be at least as happy and healthy as they are now with much lower carbon emissions. "It means we are overdoing it in a way," he said. Objective versus subjective One important aspect of this assessment is that the researchers measured needs by combining subjective and objective information. For example, subsistence depends on good health, which is a subjective measurement, while child survival is an objective measurement. So when the researchers looked at the different graphs for the different needs, they found a pattern. When it came to objective measurements that were based on something physical, like electricity access, they found a threshold above which more carbon emissions didn't make a difference in the overall outcome. What that meant was "more consumption didn't match with greater satisfaction after a certain point," Vita said. These are thus areas where countries could easily cut their carbon emissions without negatively affecting people's health and well-being. These are also areas where a little bit of more carbon has much more benefit for the very poor. In total, 14 of the 35 indicators the researchers used to define needs showed this relationship. For 20 indicators, however, they found no relationship at all. Most psychological and emotional measures of needs did not correlate with their carbon footprints, meaning that they are most likely linked to other factors that are not related to consumption, such as having free time, strong social relationships and enjoying daily activities. The researchers interpreted this finding as meaning that many aspects that contribute to a person's quality of life are not improved by putting more material resources into them. "We could only discover this pattern by looking at 'human progress' in terms of specific needs rather than by looking at traditional measures of progress, like higher GDP," Vita said. "If we are going to make the fundamental changes called for in the IPCC report, this type of needs-centered view has to permeate institutions, businesses, households and individuals." Rethinking society So if the challenge of this century is to cut emissions while allowing people to thrive in their lives, what are the options? "Beyond technology fixes, the safest and probably quickest option is to be mindful of what we are using all of this carbon for," Vita said. "Policy makers could heavily incentivize sustainable lifestyles in order to cut carbon emissions without negatively affecting how people perceive their lives." Vita pointed out that making this kind of fundamental change will be easier for wealthy countries, since they have already invested in housing, infrastructure and other basic needs that less-well-off countries don't yet have. But emerging countries could learn from the mistakes that wealthy countries have made, he added. "The science points to the fact that we need to rethink society as soon as we can...both for the planet and for our species," he said. "Emerging countries have the golden opportunity to leapfrog directly to a more sustainable vision of development -and escape ending up locked-in to emitting carbon where no one gets a (well-being) bang for their (carbon) buck." Explore further Economic development does mean greater carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions More information: Gibran Vita et al, Connecting global emissions to fundamental human needs and their satisfaction, Environmental Research Letters (2018). Journal information: Environmental Research Letters Gibran Vita et al, Connecting global emissions to fundamental human needs and their satisfaction,(2018). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/aae6e0 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Alarming examples of the dangers from chemical weapons have been seen recently in the use of industrial chemicals and the nerve agent sarin against civilians in Syria, and in the targeted assassination operations using VX nerve agent in Malaysia and novichok nerve agent in the UK. The threat of future chemical attacks is exacerbated by the current unstable international system and also by the potential misuse of developments in science and technology. The States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention gathering in the Hague on 21st November for their 4th Review Conference must ensure the prohibition regime is fit to meet these challenges. This argument is set out by three academics from the University of Bradford in a Policy Forum article titled 'Preventing chemical weapons as sciences converge' in the present issue of the internationally recognised journal Science Volume 362, Issue 6416. In the article Dr. Michael Crowley, Dr. Lijun Shang and Professor Malcolm Dando address key scientific aspects of the issues that the Conference will have to address to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons during this period of very rapid scientific change. Dr. Michael Crowley said: "The unstable international security environment and the changing nature of armed conflict could fuel a desire by certain States to retain and use existing chemical weapons, as well as increase interest in creating new weapons. Tomorrow's weaponeers may well seek to harness the revolutionary advances in the chemical and life sciences and associated disciplines such as nanoscience and neuroscience for their malign ends. The international governmental and scientific communities must collectively review, update and strengthen the global measures in place to protect us all from chemical attack." Professor Malcolm Dando said: "One area of growing concern has been State interest in the aerosolised application of a range of toxic chemical agents potentially including pharmaceutical chemicals, bioregulators, and toxins that attack the central nervous system of those targeted. Ostensibly promoted for use in extreme law enforcement scenarios, such as large scale hostage situations, to incapacitate an individual or a group rapidly and completely without causing permanent disability or fatality, their use in practice poses grave dangers to health and well-being of all those affected. Furthermore, research and development in this area potentially opens up the door to new forms of chemical weapon and warfare." Dr. Lijun Shang said "It is important to emphasise that scientists' work on the detection, protection and treatment of chemical weapons is important in the overall effort to prevent the misuse of toxic chemicals, but scientists also need to be more aware of the possible misuse of their benignly-intended work." In their article the authors conclude that chemical and life scientists, health professionals and wider informed activist civil society need to play their part in protecting the prohibition of poison and chemical weapons. They must work with States to build effective and responsive measures to ensure that the rapid scientific and technological advances are safeguarded from hostile use and are instead employed for the benefit of all. Explore further How chemical weapons became taboo and why they still are More information: M. Crowley el al., "Preventing chemical weapons as sciences converge," Science (2018). Journal information: Science M. Crowley el al., "Preventing chemical weapons as sciences converge,"(2018). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.aav5129 The experiment on La Palma: The laser beam (yellow) generates an artificial guide star in the mesosphere. This light is collected in the receiver telescope (front left). The laser source and the receiver telescope are eight meters away from each other. Credit: Felipe Pedreros Bustos The mesosphere, at heights between 85 and 100 kilometers above the Earth's surface, contains a layer of atomic sodium. Astronomers use laser beams to create artificial stars, or laser guide stars (LGS), in this layer for improving the quality of astronomical observations. In 2011, researchers proposed that artificial guide stars could also be used to measure the Earth's magnetic field in the mesosphere. An international group of scientists has recently managed to do this with a high degree of precision. The technique may also help to identify magnetic structures in the solid Earth's lithosphere, to monitor space weather, and to measure electrical currents in the part of the atmosphere called ionosphere. Astronomers have been using lasers to generate artificial stars for the past 20 years. A laser beam is directed from the ground into the atmosphere. In the sodium layer, it strikes sodium atoms, which absorb the energy of the laser and then start to glow. "The atoms emit light in all directions. Such artificial stars are barely visible to the naked eye but can be observed with telescopes," explained Felipe Pedreros Bustos of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). In connection with the work on his doctoral thesis, the Chilean-born physicist has spent four years working on the project, which besides JGU involves the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the University of California, Berkeley and Rochester Scientific in the USA, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF-OAR), and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. The artificial guide stars help astronomers to correct the distortions of light that travels through the atmosphere. The light from the artificial guide star is collected on the ground by telescopes, and the information is used to adjust in real time state-of-the-art deformable mirrors, compensating the distortions and allowing astronomical objects to be imaged sharply, down to the optical resolution, the so-called diffraction limit, of the telescope. The precession of sodium atoms reveals the strength of the magnetic field The participants in the collaborative project are using laser guide stars to measure the Earth's magnetic field. An ESO LGS unit dedicated to Research and Development is housed in the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, the westernmost Canary Island. The availability and use of the LGS unit has allowed to perform the reported joint experiments, which also aim at increasing the brightness of laser guide stars. The Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, located on the rim of an extinct volcano at 2,400 meters altitude in the island of La Palma, provides adequate conditions to perform the experiments described. Credit: Felipe Pedreros Bustos From the observatory, a laser beam is directed at the sodium layer which excites and spin-polarizes the atoms making most of their atomic spin point in the same direction. Due to the effect of the surrounding magnetic field, the polarized atomic spins rotate around the direction of the magnetic field similar to the motion of a gyroscope that is tilted from the vertical, a phenomenon known as Larmor precession. "A guide star becomes brighter when the modulation frequency of our laser coincides with the precession frequency of sodium," explained Pedreros Bustos. "As the Larmor frequency is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field, we can use this method to measure the Earth's magnetic field in the sodium layer." The detection scheme is similar to a stroboscope. Hence, the group has succeeded in using a well-studied, fundamental laboratory technique to observe the natural world. It fills a gap in our knowledge of the Earth's magnetic field by allowing us to make ground-based observations of the mesosphere, which was previously difficult to access. Up to now, the magnetic field could only be directly measured on the ground, from airplanes, from balloons in the stratosphere, or from satellites. In May 2018, a US-American research group had published similar findings. However, these latest measurements are much more precise, and scientists hope to improve them still further by using higher-energy lasers. "We can also use the technique to estimate atomic processes in the atmosphere, for example, how often sodium collides with other atoms such as oxygen or nitrogen. This is something that hasn't been done before," said Pedreros Bustos. This artificial guide star measuring technique will be particularly useful in geophysics. It will make it possible to determine changes to the magnetic field of the Earth's ionosphere caused by solar winds. In addition, observation of oceanic currents and large-scale magnetic structures in the upper mantle would be feasible by means of continuous surveillance of the Earth's magnetic field at altitudes of 85 to 100 kilometers. Explore further Scientists develop a new way to remotely measure Earth's magnetic field Credit: The Ohio State University It is an idea for repairing our broken political system that is so promising that new members of Congress will learn about it before taking office in January. It is an idea tested with actual representatives and their constituents, with intriguing and positive results. Now the question is: Will more members of Congress adopt it? The idea is "deliberative town halls," which are conducted online between representatives and randomly selected constituents. They are designed to discuss a single issue in depth, avoiding scripted talking points and rancorous outbursts. The idea and the research supporting it is detailed in the new book Politics with the People: Building a Directly Representative Democracy (Cambridge University Press), written by three political scientists. "People feel like politics is not going well in the United States, particularly political dialogue," said co-author Michael Neblo, associate professor of political science at The Ohio State University. In the book, the authors point to low approval of Congress, as well as recent retirement speeches by politicians like Charlie Dent and John Boehner that mention our broken political system as contributing to their decisions. "We believe we have a way to help us dig out of this mess," Neblo said. Neblo wrote Politics with the People with Kevin Esterling of the University of California, Riverside, and David Lazer of Northeastern University. Their idea of town halls is nothing like the typical ones that you see on YouTube, which are generally either informercials or free-for-alls that attract mostly strong supporters and people with specific grievances. In their studies, the researchers recruited randomly chosen constituents that ended up being more representative of eligible voters in their districts than were actual voters. They drew people into the process, rather than just having self-selected political enthusiasts attend. For one study, the researchers set up 19 online town halls with 12 members of the U.S. House of Representatives (seven Democrats and five Republicans) and groups of about 30 of their constituents. They also conducted a similar study with then-Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan, and about 175 of his constituents. There have also been more recent events. These town halls, organized by a neutral moderator, tackled hot-button issues like immigration and terrorism policy. "They created a direct connection between elected officials and their constituents," Neblo said. "There is no middle man, there isn't a script, and there is no shouting. Just people talking about the issues, passionately but civilly and substantively." Analysis showed that citizen participants increased their knowledge about the issue under discussion. In addition, 97 percent were interested in participating in another session and 95 percent thought the town halls were "very valuable for democracy." Representatives reaped benefits, too. Members of Congress saw their ratings on trustworthiness, empathy, competence, and other attributes go up 10 percent or more among people who participated in the town halls. Most remarkably, the researchers found a 10 percent increase in the likelihood that constituents who took part actually voted for their representative in the next election four months later. "Representatives can do well for themselves by doing right," Neblo said. But can these town halls have a real impact when they have these relatively small groups of constituents? Neblo said they can. "With the evidence we have right now from the session with Sen. Levin, if every member of Congress spent two hours a week doing directly representative outreach, they could engage up to a quarter of the eligible electorate every six yearsthe term of one senator," he said. Two hours a week may seem like a lot of time to members of Congress, Neblo said, but they spend even more time on traditional town halls and other forms of engagement. The potential that directly representative practices have to help fix our democracy makes it worth it, he said. The authors will have the opportunity to make their case for deliberative town halls directly to members of Congress. They have been invited to present their ideas and give a copy of the book to all new members of Congress at their orientation in December. Neblo is hopeful that this idea can make a difference. "I'm not saying this is going to completely transform American politics. But it is a very real reform possibility," he said. "It is like changing the course of a supertanker by a few inches. It doesn't seem like a lot at the time, but when you travel far enough, that couple of inches puts you on a different path." Explore further To improve our political climate, change the questions we ask A fast new way of checking nutrient levels in grasslands allows farmers to quickly monitor changes in pasture nutrients and adapt their animals' grazing methods accordingly. By cutting the analysis time from around 16 hours to less than a minute, this relatively cheap and easy approach will greatly improve the sustainable management of grasslandsthe main form of agriculture in many parts of the world, and a cheap and affordable source of nutrients for ruminant livestock that in turn provide meat and milk for people. Using this new method, researchers publishing in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems show that overgrazing pasture to below 7cm significantly reduces the amount protein and digestibility of the grassland. "Real-time nutrient monitoring can provide a more timely and adaptive pasture management than is currently feasible for farmers and should lead to productivity gain," says Matt Bell, lead author of this study and Assistant Professor at the School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK. "Using this new method of checking nutrient levels, we show that over-grazing or over-harvesting pastures will significantly reduce protein levels and its digestibility, which will be detrimental to the productivity of the land." In many parts of the world, grassland is the dominant form of agriculture and it is also one of the largest ecosystems, covering around 40% of land on Earth. Changes in pasture nutrients over the growing season are not typically monitored but doing so may help farmers make best use of this natural resource. Bell and his team of colleagues at Nottingham University recognized this problem and have been working on a solution. He explains, "Grass provides a cheap and affordable source of nutrients for ruminant livestock, which in turn produce milk and meat for humans. To manage pasture most effectively, we need a tool for frequently monitoring pastures across fields and over a spring/summer growing period that is quicker, easier and cheaper than traditional laboratory methods. To do this, we calibrated a handheld near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device to measure nutrients in pasture." This process involved the comparison of pasture nutrient levels obtained by traditional laboratory methods, which require the use of large specialized equipment, to the readings given by the relatively quick and simple hand-held NIRS device. The NIRS technique measures the spectrum of energy reflected from a sample illuminated by white light, providing information on different nutrient levels. It reduces the time taken for analysis from around 16 hours to less than a minute. Using this new method, Luca Mereu, co-author of this research on an Erasmus Internship in the UK from Italy, collected samples at the University of Nottingham farm to assess changes in pasture nutrients and the factors that may have caused these changes. The results showed that a decline in the height and cover of pasture were associated with lower digestibility and reduced concentrations of protein. "Intensively grazed pastures should avoid going below a height of 7cm, otherwise nutrient intake by the animals will be limited. Below this height the composition of the grass is more stem and residual plant material than vegetative plant material," explains Bell. He continues, "Our study confirms that this new hand-held NIRS technology can be used to inform better grassland management decision making and the utilization of pastures for sustainable production." This new approach to nutrient monitoring will also lead to exciting new areas of research. Bell explains, "We wish to investigate other factors potentially influencing changes in pasture nutrients such as botanical composition, different grazing animals and variability within a day. This may help farmers to decide the optimum timing for grazing by sheep and cattle, as well as silage management." Explore further Cropping into kikuyu could benefit livestock, soil carbon The German government is to ease air pollution laws aimed at curbing diesel vehicle use in urban areas The German government will ease air pollution law so as to spare cities that only slightly exceed limits on harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from diesel vehicle bans, ministers agreed Thursday, sparking sharp criticsm by environmentalists. Major cities like Hamburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart have put in place or are preparing exclusion zones for older diesel vehicles in order to bring NO2 levels under the EU-wide annual average limit of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre, with more towns on the way. Judges have ordered some of the bans, while politicians in other urban areas moved to preempt the courts. Underscoring the pressure on the government, a court in North Rhine-Westphalia state ruled Thursday that stretches of a major motorway in Essen must be closed to older diesels. Such measures have outraged diesel drivers, who complain that affected vehicles are set to lose a massive chunk of their resale value as a result. The car industrythe heart of the German economy and politically well-connectedhas escaped at home the tens of billions in fines it has had to pay out in the United States over diesel emissions cheating. It has also avoided any binding obligation to refit older cars to meet the latest emissions norms. In measures still to be approved by parliament, Berlin wants to soften the threshold for implementing a ban from 40 to 50 microgrammes per cubic metre. Ministers also want to allay fears among owners in the most-polluted cities still subject to bans. They will further alter the law to allow cars meeting the older Euro 4 and 5 standards and emitting less than 270 milligrammes of NO2 per kilometre to enter the zones. "The government is obviously in panic mode. Otherwise there would be no explanation for its rushing through an update to the law that infringes in several ways EU law," said Juergen Resch, head of environmental pressure group DUH. "We will secure the right for clean air in all cities in 2019, the courts will ignore the weakening of the thresholds," he added. DUH plans to sue the federal government for breaking EU law if it presses ahead with the changes. Explore further German court orders diesel bans in Cologne, Bonn 2018 AFP The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence is training an artificial intelligence system with data from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. This approach can improve the method of land classification. Credit: German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence As ESA's -week continues to provoke and inspire participants on new ways of using Earth observation for monitoring our world to benefit the citizens of today and of the future, it is clear that artificial intelligence is set to play an important role. Taking place at ESA's Centre of Earth observation in Frascati, Italy, on 1216 November, -week has drawn hundreds of people from numerous disciplines to explore innovation, new technologies and cross disciplinary cooperation to see how satellite data coupled with new technologies such as artificial intelligence can bring benefits to science, business, the economy and society at large. One might initially associate artificial intelligence and machine learning with robots and science fiction. However, it is, without question, seeping into our everyday lives through, for example, digital advertising, speech recognition tools and innovations such as Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa. Artificial intelligence is fundamentally the simulation of human intelligence by computer systems. Before it can work, it has to learn by being trained. Not only does it have to acquire information essentially it has to acquire the rules for using the information correctly. With availability of such a vast amount of satellite data Earth observation satellites operated by ESA alone provide about 150 TB of data every single day it is a challenge to make use of it all effectively. Artificial intelligence and computing, however, have the power to unlock the full potential of these satellite data and make full use of missions in orbit. Applying artificial intelligence to Earth observation is expected to make it easier and quicker to provide users with the information they need. This is particularly relevant for dealing with environmental disasters and climate change, but also for making headway in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At -week, Patrick Helber from the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, talked about how they are training an artificial intelligence system with data from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission to help address global challenges such as those highlighted by the SDGs. Credit: European Space Agency Dr. Helber said, "Take for example the SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. It is expected that 95 percent of urban expansion over the next decades will take place in the developing world. There will be obvious issues relating to public health, clean water and so on. "As a first step towards helping those people, we need to be able to map these growing urban environments. "It is clear that you cannot manually analyse hundreds of terabytes of data every day, we need an automated approach, which is where artificial intelligence comes in. "Through our research, we can, for example, run over a Copernicus Sentinel-2 image with trained artificial intelligence and the type of land is automatically classified. "This, in turn, allows changes in land-use, such as urban growth to be monitored automatically." This is just one of the topics related to coupling Earth observation with artificial intelligence being discussed at the -week. With the huge potential that this field has to offer, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes Josef Aschbacher noted, "We believe that artificial intelligence is set to take us into a new era for Earth observation and this can only benefit society. "While I expect this will be a matter of routine in the years to come, my personal dream is to fly a small satellite that carries an artificial intelligence chip to provide information in a more 'intelligent' way. "And in fact, we already hope to launch a small experiment of this nature next year to see how it would work." Explore further MIT unveils new $1 bn college for artificial intelligence Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) demonstrated for the first time that raw human excrement can potentially be converted to a safe, reusable fuel and a nutrient rich fertilizer, solving two major worldwide issues in advance of World Toilet Day on November 19. According to the groundbreaking pilot study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, researchers at BGU's Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research have refined a process using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) to heat raw solid human waste in a designated "pressure cooker" and convert excreta into hydrochar: a safe, reusable biomass fuel resembling charcoal. The BGU researchers conducted similar research last year on poultry excrement. The discovery addresses two challenges prevalent in the developing world: sanitation and growing energy needs. While access to waste treatment worldwide has expanded significantly in recent years, approximately 2.3 billion people still lack basic sanitation services, according to the World Health Organization. Of those, 892 million peoplemostly in rural areasdefecate in the open. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sees sanitation as a major world health issue and has launched the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge & Expo to address this problem. "Human excreta are considered hazardous due to their potential to transmit disease," says Prof. Amit Gross, who is the newly appointed director of the Zuckerberg Institute. "While it is rich in organic matter nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, human waste also contains micro pollutants from pharmaceuticals, which can lead to environmental problems if not disposed or reused properly." Energy scarcity is also a challenge in these regions. Approximately two billion people worldwide use solid biomass, especially wood, which is converted into charcoal and then used for cooking and heating. But these practices also leave a footprint on the environment: air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and soil erosion. "By treating human waste properly, we can address both of these issues at once," Prof. Gross says. In the study, the researchers subjected the raw waste through HTC to three temperatures (180, 210 and 240 C) and reaction times (30, 60 and 120 minutes). The solids become dehydrated, creating a combustible solid substance known as hydrochar, as well as a nutrient-rich aqueous phase liquid. The researchers, including doctoral candidates Reut Yahav Spitzer and Vivian Mau, said the reaction that creates the hydrochar sterilizes the waste material, so it becomes safe to handle. The "coals" can potentially be utilized for household heating and cooking, while the liquid byproduct (the aqueous phase) could be used as fertilizer. Explore further Poultry excrement could partially replace coal as a renewable energy source, study says More information: Reut Yahav Spitzer et al, Using hydrothermal carbonization for sustainable treatment and reuse of human excreta, Journal of Cleaner Production (2018). Journal information: Journal of Cleaner Production Reut Yahav Spitzer et al, Using hydrothermal carbonization for sustainable treatment and reuse of human excreta,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.126 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. Credit: University of Seville Although the presence of humpback whales in the Mediterranean has been considered unusual, it is known that their visits have increased in the last 150 years. Until now, there had been no clear reason, with various hypotheses being considered, including disorientation, the migratory routes of other species, etc. However, a recently published study by experts from the University of Seville and the Biological Research Area from the Seville Aquarium indicates that the actual motivation is the search for food. This species travels long migration routes from feeding areas at the poles (both North and South) to the Equator. "In spring of 2016, a single young humpback whale was detected alongside a boat used from sighting cetacean mammals in the area. For almost a month, it was possible to follow the animal within the bay of Algeciras, taking exhaustive data, accompanied by photographs for photo-identification and future tracking of the animal, as well as for checking that the animal did not have any kind of problem," says Jose Carlos Garcia-Gomez, direct of the Marine Biology Laboratory at the University of Seville. The whale was observed for two periods of consecutive days that coincided with spring tides, but was not observed during the period of neap tides. During the periods of observation, the whale exhibited feeding behaviour, diving while surrounded by ferries, cargo ships, and commercial and recreational activities. In addition, some of this species' possible prey was detected (both living and stranded on the coasts of the area), such as sandy swimming crabs (Liocarcinus depurator), northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) and spotted lanternfish (Myctophum punctatum), which can rise to the surface to capture their prey. "This gave us a clue as to the reason for the presence of this species of whale in this sea," the researcher states. In the study, the experts thoroughly revised the sightings of humpback whales in the Mediterranean and the exhaustive analysis of satellite cartography databases of chlorophyll concentration (and the inference from that of areas of primary production). This has allowed them to argue that humpback whales come into the Mediterranean to feed. The fact that the majority of animals reported are young (apart from a historic sighting of a mother and calf) and also alone indicates that these whales probably come from the North Atlantic, with two Atlantic reproduction areas in the south, DPS1 and DPS2, toward which they migrate. "In recent years, there have been changes both in climatic conditions and in the temperature of the sea, something which has been verified by many studies. If we add the exact coincidence of krill blooms in the Strait of Gibraltar with the presence of these whales, this could perhaps tell us that, in the near future, sightings of this species could increase in the Mediterranean. For this reason, it is considered imperative to implement preventive contingency and conservation plans for the species in this sea," adds Jose Carlos Garcia. Explore further Watching whales from space More information: R. Espada Ruiz et al. Humpback whale in the bay of Algeciras and a mini-review of this species in the Mediterranean, Regional Studies in Marine Science (2018). R. Espada Ruiz et al. Humpback whale in the bay of Algeciras and a mini-review of this species in the Mediterranean,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2018.08.010 Credit: CC0 Public Domain A Deakin researcher is investigating how the media shapes the way we perceive "community" in rural areas. With population resettlement to rural and regional areas on the rise, it's crucial that regional people feel connected to their communities. Dr. Kristy Hess, a Senior Lecturer in Communication at Deakin University, argues that the current crisis in the news media has significant potential to affect community connection in remote areas. "Traditional print papers are struggling to be viable, are closing down or becoming centralised," Dr. Hess said. Along with other colleagues at Deakin, she is working on developing a project to assess the sustainability of local newspapers in Australia in the digital era, with support from Country Press Australia and other potential funding sources. "We are gradually shifting into digital news practices, but there does appear to be a continued demand for printed newspapers in rural and regional Australia," she said. Dr. Hess is also designing a project to explore how community newcomers use different media platforms (from social media to radio and newspapers) to develop a sense of connection when they move to rural and regional areas. She hopes both of these projects will contribute to greater understanding of the need to sustain quality journalism in rural Australia and how it improves connection, which leads to improved mental health and, ultimately, less anti-social behaviour. "Local established media seems to play an important role in building cohesion and a sense of community, but it's unknown how this will be maintained in the digital space," she said. Her research will investigate how newcomers adapt to a locality and forge connections through the media to the place, organisations and people in their new locality. "Part of the research will investigate what everyday people recognise as a quality news platform and how the level of quality relates to the ability to connect to people," she said. "There have been a number of senate enquiries and government papers on this topic. Of particular concern, the ABC has withdrawn resources from regional news, resulting in news gaps in isolated areas. While research suggests there's an increasing demand for niche news (news that provides information not easily accessed elsewhere), local journalism is facing a range of issues and threats." Dr. Hess's previous research with Deakin colleague Associate Professor Lisa Waller shows that more needs to be done to sustain rural and regional communities and their media landscape. "Unfortunately, local news outlets, particularly those owned by Fairfax or Newscorp, have centralised local news resources and, as a result, starved some newspapers of local knowledge," she said. "When local news outlets close down, an external source tends to step in and fill the gap but it's unknown how reliable and high-quality that information is. "In some cases, metropolitan journalists don't understand the specifics of a particular country town, even though they are asked to write headlines for that area. Recently the Australian Government made the future of public interest journalism a national priority, acknowledging the need for increased support for rural and regional news services. "I, among many other scholars, have ascertained that local media really does help to facilitate social capital and build connection. The government supports this for these reasonswe need quality information to lubricate the wheels of democracy," she said. Dr. Hess worked as a journalist in regional Australia for 10 years before joining Deakin, where she is academic director of the Country Press Australia / Deakin University Community Journalism Program. This program educates practicing rural and regional cadets across Australia, through a three-year degree (post-cadetship). Kristy Hess is one of Australia's most highly-regarded communications researchers. Her research on media and journalism has been published nationally and internationally and she was recently named as Australia's leading communications researcher by "The Australian" newspaper. "The Australian" and the "League of Scholars" collected publicly-available data across more than 250 research fields to identify leading researchers and universities on the basis of length of time in academia, number of citations and how often their work appeared in the Top 20 Google Scholar journals. A true journalist and sceptic, she said: "It's wonderful recognition, but there are always limitations with big data. It's important to note that big data has implications, in both journalism and academia." A man walks past in front of a SoftBank shop in Tokyo, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. American office space-sharing company WeWork has obtained $3 billion in funding from Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. The new funding comes in addition to the $1 billion raised from SoftBank last quarter, WeWork spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka said Thursday. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) American office space-sharing company WeWork has obtained $3 billion in funding from Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. The new funding comes in addition to the $1 billion raised from SoftBank last quarter, WeWork spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka said Thursday. WeWork, which targets startups, is operating not only in the U.S. but also India, China, Peru, Israel and other nations, as well as Japan, where real estate is relatively expensive, allowing WeWork an opportunity to grow. SoftBank confirmed the investment but referred queries to WeWork. SoftBank has been scrutinized for the funding it has received from Saudi Arabia. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey last month. SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son, has been partnering with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and about half of his $100 billion Vision Fund, established in 2016, comes from the kingdom. The fund has been investing in various companies, solar projects and artificial intelligence. In a sign the company has other sources of funding, SoftBank is carrying out an initial public offering of its Japanese mobile subsidiary, set for Dec. 19. It's likely to be one of the world's biggest IPOs. The Tokyo Stock Exchange approved the listing of 1.6 billion shares this week at 1,500 yen ($13) a share, which would potentially raise more than 2 trillion yen ($20 billion). People walk past in front of a SoftBank shop in Tokyo, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. American office space-sharing company WeWork has obtained $3 billion in funding from Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. The new funding comes in addition to the $1 billion raised from SoftBank last quarter, WeWork spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka said Thursday. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) In addition to WeWork, SoftBank has been investing globally, including in U.S. wireless company Sprint, British IoT company ARM, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and U.S. ride-sharing service Uber. WeWork has opened 11 locations in Tokyo, and has a few more in other cities in Japan. The buildings are spacious, although they are broken into smaller cubicles for lesser paying clients, and have nice interiors. The spaces come with wireless and other office services, and have communal areas for networking and meetings, designed to make renting attractive to ventures. 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 program is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years The Pentagon on Wednesday announced it had awarded Lockheed Martin a $22.7 billion contract for 255 F-35 fighter jets. Of the aircraft, 106 are destined for the US military: 64 F-35As for the Air Force, 26 F-35Bs for the Marines, and 16 F-35Cs for the Navy, while the rest are destined for foreign customers, the department said in a statement. A major Pentagon supplier, Lockheed Martin will receive a $6 billion advance for the order, due to be completed in March 2023. Most of the work on the jets will be performed in the US, with some will be carried out in countries including Britain and Italy. Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 program is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years. Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion. According to Pentagon figures from early October, 320 F-35s have been delivered worldwide, including 245 in the US. The Pentagon also announced it ordered eight MH-60R helicopters from Lockheed Martin for $382 million. Explore further Lockheed Martin wins $7.2B Air Force satellite contract 2018 AFP Credit: CYTO-WATER The EU-funded CYTO-WATER project has developed an innovative onsite analytical system capable of rapidly detecting different microorganisms in water. The analytical process, which takes no more than two hours, was validated for the detection of the microorganisms Legionella and Escherichia coli but can easily be adapted to detect other microorganisms. Rapid detection means that decisive action can be taken; a crucial element in ensuring that any potential disease outbreak is contained. "Infectious diseases caused by microorganisms are the most common and widespread health risk associated with water, drinking and bathing," says the technical director of the project, Dr. Vicente Catalan, from Labaqua in Spain. "Reducing the risk of waterborne diseases will improve the reputation and competitiveness of businesses such as water distribution companies, hotels, food and beverage industries and chemical plants." Rapid results The new platform works by automatically concentrating a water sample, labelling each microorganism under investigation automatically as well. Using a fluorescence image cytometer, each specific labelled microorganism in the sample is detected and counted. "This imaging cytometer is like a kind of microscope without a lens that identifies the presence of a microorganism based on the fluorescence being emitted," explains Dr. Catalan. One of the main advantages of the system is that it can be implemented onsite, avoiding the need for sending samples to the lab and having to wait days for the results. In the case of Legionella, traditional methods based on culture isolation can take up to 12 days, whereas the CYTO-WATER (Integrated and portable image cytometer for rapid response to Legionella and Escherichia coli in industrial and environmental waters) platform provides conclusive results in just two hours. "This is a disruptive advantage in the rapid diagnosis of quality threats to environmental and industrial waters," says Dr. Catalan. Another advantage is that each of the three modules involved in sampling, labelling and counting pathogens can be sold individually, opening up a potentially far wider market. The automatic labelling module for example could be adapted to the workflow of laboratories of different sectors such as hospitals and universities. "CYTO-WATER is a universal platform with applications for any waterborne microorganism," underlines Dr. Catalan. There is huge potential here, from monitoring Pseudomonas and Mycobacterium in hospital facilities to spoilage and pathogen detection in food and beverage plants." High specifications To get to this point, the CYTO-WATER project team had to successfully overcome a number of key technical challenges. For example, water samples must be concentrated in order to improve the detection of pathogens, and the imaging cytometer has to be sensitive and robust enough to meet stringent regulatory standards. Different modules of the platform were adapted and validated individually to make sure they met with market specifications. "Another challenge was integrating the technologies involved in the concentration, labelling and detection of pathogens within a miniaturised analytical system," adds Dr. Catalan. Operational performance under real conditions was then evaluated. An environmental and economic comparison with traditional spot sampling indicated that CYTO-WATER was more environmentally efficient for Legionella detection, and is less costly due to the need for less personnel and transportation. Following official completion of the project in May 2018, new business and exploitation plans are being drawn up to consider how manufacturing costs can be further refined. Commercial analyses will also be conducted to determine the level of customer demand for the platform and its individual modules. "The results we achieved in detecting Legionella and E. coli demonstrate the technical capabilities of the system," says Dr. Catalan. "However, market studies for other applications still need to be conducted, to fully assess the business potential." Explore further Fast, reliable test for microorganism contamination Credit: ChiccoDodiFC, Shutterstock Efforts to prevent urban flooding have often resulted in costly and complex systems based on rainfall forecasts which are often inaccurate. A new approach offers more agility, at a fraction of the investment. There are several Real-Time Control (RTC) sewerage systems in European cities. These systems comprise networks of sensors and control hardware. Control decisions are centralised, driven by network models and rainfall radar data. The systems have high capital cost and demand high levels of expertise for operation. The EU-funded CENTAUR (Cost Effective Neural Technique for Alleviation of Urban Flood Risk) project developed a market-ready, decentralised, autonomous system. CENTAUR has shown that it is possible to get additional urban flood protection from existing piped networks. Introducing intelligent data driven controls The CENTAUR system works by installing a flow control device (FCD) upstream of a flooding location in a section of the piped drainage network which would have spare capacity if the downstream network was flooding. The FCD is fitted directly into an existing manhole and uses wireless based communications to dynamically respond to water level measurements in the local drainage system. The water level monitoring system identifies high water levels in a flood prone site and available capacity upstream. The operating algorithm can then take the decision to close the FCD and store water, reducing flow and so water levels at the flood prone locationminimising the likelihood of flooding. As the communication system is solar powered and can be attached to nearby infrastructure, such as lamp posts, it is very agile and so quickly deployable. Crucially, the CENTAUR system can be operational without the need for structural changes to the existing drainage and sewer system. As Prof. Simon Tait, project coordinator, explains, "Urban areas can benefit from additional flood protection without the need to build expensive new structures, such as storage tanks. Focusing locally means that interventions can be implemented with more limited finances and quickly, without waiting to obtain the large capital sums and for the permissions necessary for new construction." "Another major advantage of the technology is that its autonomous design means that it can be scaled to cover increasing flood prone locations in a network. As each system works autonomously, they do not depend on each other; in contrast to existing RTC approaches which frequently optimise whole system performance. "As CENTAUR is data-driven, flow control decisions are made based on actual measurements of water levels at the flood prone site and at locations upstream of the flow control device and not based on uncertain model predictions, as in previous large scale RTC systems," says Prof. Tait. Both the pilot in Coimbra (Portugal) and the demonstrator in Toulouse, (France) have proven that the technology works. In the Coimbra pilot over 60 storms were controlled, with the downstream flow rate and depth reduced by up to 37 percent and 19 percent respectively. The Toulouse demonstrator is still collecting data and its performance is being evaluated. Flexibility for wide implementation CENTAUR contributes directly to meeting the requirements of the EU's Floods Directive and the system's web-enabled visualisation dashboard offers water utilities the opportunity to display how the system is protecting citizens and property. Additionally, in the future the local dynamic control of sewer networks offers the potential to control intermittent discharges from combined sewer overflows into watercourses, supporting the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the Water Framework Directive. "Often in urban areas when drainage and sewer systems fail, the same properties get repeatedly flooded. The rapid, cost effective CENTAUR solution means that effective flood protection can now be offered to locations that see only flooding in only a small number of properties," Prof. Tait adds. CENTAUR's SME partners have started marketing the system at the project target price of under EUR 100 000, compared to a small centralised RTC system in excess of EUR 1 million. The team are currently looking to investigate the use of the CENTAUR system at multiple locations in a sewer or drainage network for flexible, adaptable control over a wide area. They are also exploring usage of CENTAUR for better management of combined sewer overflows to reduce the impact on receiving waters, and also to see if manipulating sewer network flows can reduce pumping and treatment costs (energy and chemicals) within wastewater treatment plants. Explore further Ghana must move from coping with floods to adapting for them Willow warbler. Credit: Kristaps Sokolovskis Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have studied flight routes to determine how far willow warblers migrate in the autumn. The results show that the willow warbler holds a long-distance migration record in the ten-gram weight category with the small birds flying around 13,000 kilometres or longer to reach their destination. The recently completed study investigated willow warblers that breed during the summer in north-east Russia. Biologists at Lund University together with Russian researchers from Magadan, close to the Kamchatka Peninsula, managed to get a good overview of the route and distance travelled by the small birds during their autumn migration. The measurements were taken by small data loggers attached to the backs of the birds. The next year, the birds were recaptured and the researchers downloaded and processed the data. From their breeding habitats in eastern Siberia, the willow warblers fly to staging areas located in south-west Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. From there, they continue to their winter destinations, located in Kenya and Tanzania a distance of around 13 000 kilometres. "Our measurements show that they migrate 13 000 kilometres, but we have not been able to measure the entire distance because the data logger batteries ran out. My guess is that they fly at least another 1 000 kilometres to south-east Africa," says Susanne Akesson, professor at the Department of Biology at Lund University. Other studies have shown that there are birds that migrate farther, but they looked at larger birds that weigh more. Willow warblers weigh 89 grams during the breeding period and about 10 grams when they migrate. "I think it's fascinating they are so small and migrate at least 13 000 kilometres one way. There are no other studies that show that birds of that size can migrate that far. Even more impressive perhaps is that they make the journey alone in their first year of life," says Susanne Akesson. In addition to the record for long-haul migration, the study is also the first to show where the most easterly willow warblers spend the winter in east Africa. Moreover, the researchers compared alternative compass routes with the routes the birds actually take. Based on this, they identified two alternative mechanisms that the willow warblers can use during their long migration a solar compass that compensates for time shifts during the migration, and a magnetic compass based on the assumption that the birds can measure the inclination angle of the Earth's magnetic field. Explore further Birds' migration genes are conditioned by geography More information: Kristaps Sokolovskis et al. Ten grams and 13,000 km on the wing route choice in willow warblers Phylloscopus trochilus yakutensis migrating from Far East Russia to East Africa, Movement Ecology (2018). Kristaps Sokolovskis et al. Ten grams and 13,000 km on the wing route choice in willow warblers Phylloscopus trochilus yakutensis migrating from Far East Russia to East Africa,(2018). DOI: 10.1186/s40462-018-0138-0 Commuters beware: New York and Washington's clogged streets and creaky subway systems are about to feel more pain as 50,000 more people descend on the two metro areas when Amazon opens its second headquarters there. Not everyone will be hurting. Amazon won the rights to a helipad at its Long Island City, Queens, location, allowing some senior executives to get through rush hour in style. Still, it won't be every day. Amazon had to agree to limit landings to 120 per year. An expansion of that scope in a major city such as New Yorkwhere the regional subway, bus and commuter lines move more than 8 million people every daysounds like something a transit system should be able to absorb. Not so, some experts say. "Congestion will get worse. Buses will probably get a little bit slower. There are going to be more people traveling at a specific time of day to a specific place," said Eric Guerra, assistant professor of city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania. "But at the same time, they will create a lot of jobs where people are." Long Island City, the New York City neighborhood Amazon chose for one of its two East Coast headquarters, sits across the river from the busy world of midtown Manhattan. The growing neighborhood is crisscrossed by subways and buses and surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Amazon's other headquarters will be in the Washington suburb of Arlington in northern Virginia, a part of the country known for its mind-numbing traffic. There's time. Amazon said hiring at the two headquarters will start next year, but it could take a decade or more to build out its offices. Still, the complaining has already begun. "For the city and state to greenlight a helipad for the wealthiest man in the world and one of the richest corporations in the world is a slap in the face to all New Yorkers, but particularly the people in Queens who have to fight to get on the 7 train in the morning," said City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, a Democrat who represents Long Island City. "And furthermore, if there were 25-to-30,000 Amazon employees in Long Island City, that fight to get onto the train is going to get a lot more intense." Frustration levels already are high among the New York City's subway riders. More than a quarter of New York City residents spend more than an hour getting to work, and 57 percent ride public transit to commute, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A key subway line that runs through Long Island City has been often criticized for delays, though long-awaited upgrades to allow trains to run more frequently are on track to finish as soon as this month, and a new ferry connection to Manhattan opened in August. Still, Van Bramer insisted the area is not sufficiently well served, and there are complaints about noise pollution from helicopters and sea planes. "The entire city is in a mass transit crisis and nothing that I've seen about this deal makes me think it will help," New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said at a press conference Wednesday. "Western Queens transit infrastructure is already strained and the 7 train in particular is a mess every morning, so this definitely adds to existing transportation concerns." New York City commuters have been clamoring for subway improvements for years, and some on Wednesday tweeted photos of packed subway stations near Amazon's proposed new office and reported having let several overcrowded trains go by before they were finally able to squeeze into one. Some see the dire warnings about New York's transit system as premature. "Even as stressed as our system is right now, an investment in growth of this magnitude doesn't overwhelm the transportation network because it's such a robust and large system," said Tom Wright, president and CEO of the Regional Plan Association, an urban research and advocacy organization. Washington, D.C.'s subway system, which will serve Amazon's headquarters in Arlington's Crystal City, is at capacity on many lines and has serious maintenance problems, said Tom Rubin, a transportation consultant based in Oakland, California. Repair work to the subway station closest to Amazon's new office resulted in a disastrous commute last week as people missed flights and stood in long lines for buses that never arrived, said Thomas Cooke, professor of business law at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. In fact, fires have broken out so many times in Washington D.C.'s Metro system that a developer created a Twitter account to automatically tweet suspected fires in stations. "We have an embarrassing metro system here that I hope will benefit by this relocation," Cooke said, adding that taxpayers will be footing the bill for the transit improvements that Virginia agreed to in its deal with Amazon. Development along major highways in Northern Virginia and Washington have led to "unreasonable traffic delays on a daily basis" in the past few years, with drive times that used to take 40 minutes ballooning to up to 90 minutes, Cooke said. In the nation's capital, more than a third of commuters ride public transit and most commuters spend at least a half-hour getting to work, according to the Census Bureau. Commuters in the suburbs surrounding Washington face even longer commute times. Elsewhere, companies use van pools and private buses to entice talented employees who want to live in hipper neighborhoods away from their offices. Google and Yahoo began running private buses from downtown San Francisco and elsewhere to their headquarters in Silicon Valley more than a decade ago. In the Los Angeles area, Disney, Nickelodeon and Warner Bros. run shuttle buses to carry employees from public transit stations to their Burbank studios, said Keith Millhouse, a transportation consultant and principal at Millhouse Strategies. Some hoped Amazon would invest in transit upgrades as part of the deal. But it's hard to imagine Amazon volunteering to chip in for transit improvements with so many cities competing for the company's second headquarters, Guerra said. "If anything, they're getting benefits out of it," Guerra said. "They're unlikely to be paying for new services." Explore further Amazon opens new outposts in New York, northern Virginia 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Many voters would have forgiven David Cameron if he had failed to deliver on his campaign promise to hold an EU referendum, a study suggests. Mr Cameron would not have been seen as less competent by the electorate if he had failed to give them a say on Britain's EU membership, according to the University of Exeter research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Just 28 per cent of people questioned in a survey said their view of Mr Cameron would have been significantly diminished if he hadn't held the referendum, while 70 per cent said his reputation would have been untarnished. The results suggest Mr Cameron could have effectively justified a decision to not go ahead with the referendum by citing internal or external political pressuresthe survey found 30 per cent of participants would not have thought of him as less competent if he had put forward those reasons. Dr. Catarina Thomson, a member of the research team, said: "Failed promises, backing down on threats or flip-flopping on policy positions are often assumed to lead to a loss in support. But in the case of David Cameron, going back on his campaign promises meant this loss could have been manageable." The experts conducted a survey just after the 2015 UK general election, almost six months before the EU Referendum Act was approved in the House of Lords, to test people's responses to a scenario put to them where Mr Cameron didn't go ahead with the referendum. The results show that less than 30 per cent of participants would not have approved of the decision, regardless of the justification used to not hold the referendum. Dr. Gabriel Katz, another member of the research team, said: "Although it is impossible to know what the actual effects might have been, how Cameron's Eurosceptic backbenchers would have reacted or whether the government could have successfully managed to control how backing down was framed, the immediate political costs might not have been necessarily substantial. "Choosing to hold the referendum ultimately cost Cameron his job, but our main finding is simple: had Cameron backed down from his campaign pledge to carry out the EU referendum, the costs might have been manageable." Professor Dan Stevens, from the research team, said: "The results of our study suggest governments can mitigate the risk of going back on their promises if they are able to justify why they have done so, especially when the blame can be placed on factors outside their control." Dr. Travis Coan, also part of the team, added that, "Our results do indicate that had the external pressure justification remained part of the discourse, the negative impacts might have been mitigated." The survey was carried out online with 1,830 British citizens drawn from 571 constituencies throughout England, Scotland and Wales. They were asked about their class, political identification, media consumption habits, political knowledge, attitudes towards immigration and party identification. A control group was told that the pledge to hold an EU referendum would likely be honoured as promised, while people in three other groups were told the new government was likely to renege on the party's campaign promise. Participants in one of these three groups were given information which blamed the internal political opposition faced by the Tories. Another group were told the reason was because of external opposition, and that the vote was unlikely to be held due to the strong objections of other EU members. A third had information blaming the new government, explaining that it did not intend to hold the referendum and that the pledge was seen as an attempt to attract potential UKIP voters before the election. All participants were then asked if they approved of the action David Cameron was about to take, and their assessment of this competence. Their responses were coded on an 11 point scale. A little justification goes a long way: audience costs and the EU referendum is published in the International Journal of Political Science. Explore further Referendum effect could spell trouble for Tories More information: Susan Banducci et al, A little justification goes a long way: audience costs and the EU referendum, Acta Politica (2018). Susan Banducci et al, A little justification goes a long way: audience costs and the EU referendum,(2018). DOI: 10.1057/s41269-018-0117-x Mgr Marcuzzo praised Egypt and Jordan for their mediation in achieving a fragile truce in the Gaza Strip. The two sides are far apart and violence has become a regular occurrence. The UN Security Council is paralysed. For Israeli expert, Hamas sought to capture Israeli soldiers as bargaining chip. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) The truce between Hamas and Israel is the fruit of Egyptian and Jordanian mediation. Fortunately, the two countries acted quickly to de-escalate the situation in the face of an absent international community, said Mgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, patriarchal vicar of Jerusalem. Speaking about the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, after days of violence in the Gaza Strip, he noted that at present, we do not see any forward-looking vision" to achieve a "lasting peace". The two sides are diametrically opposed, and violence is "unfortunately, a regular occurrence". They "fight, then accept a truce to reorganise, bury the dead, and then resume the fight, the clergyman noted. Now, "we can no longer speak of a peace process", but of a difficult truce "that is not enforced. We fight each other, then we stop for a while, then start again ... We lack a long-term vision." Yesterday, Egypt got Hamas and Israel to agree to a ceasefire, stopping violence after only two days of fighting, a first. People in southern Israel have come out of the shelters, after being holed up as a result of rockets fired from Gaza, which began falling last Sunday. However, the end of hostilities was greeted differently depending on which side of the border people were. In the Strip, people celebrated the victory over Israel". In southern Israel residents were angered by the end of the military action. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council met yesterday behind closed doors to discuss the escalation of violence but could not find an agreement to guarantee a lasting truce and reconciliation between the two sides. According to the Palestinian representative Riyad Mansour, the 50-minute meeting showed the Councils state of paralysis and its inability to take responsibility for ending the violence. The main culprit of the impasse is the United States, which is preventing any action that could blame Israel. With no agreement between the Councils 15 members, no declaration on the situation in Gaza was possible. On the sidelines of the meeting, Israels ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said that Israel will not accept a call for both sides to exercise restraint. There is one side that attacks and fires 400 missiles at civilian populations, and there is another side that protects its citizens. Despite the upsurge, violence has not affected pilgrimages, nor the security situation in the most visited sites in the Holy Land, said Mgr Marcuzzo, especially now during Advent. However, Israel and Hamas "remain diametrically opposed". Real peace will not be possible "if there is no justice and nor a solution that is right for both parties. Whilst problems remain unresolved at present, the two sides could look at Saint John XXIIIs 'Pacem in terris', he said. For Yedidia Sermoneta, an Israeli expert, the truce was unavoidable after days of tensions, but it is not likely to last long. The flare-up followed an "undercover Israeli operation deep into the Strip aimed at stopping the rockets". This sparked Hamass reaction directed at "capturing Israeli soldiers and use them to get the release of Palestinian prisoners, like in the past. They did not succeed and this has upset them, hence the attack" against southern Israel. We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jpownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips. 11 hours ago The Buckle, Inc. Goes On Sale For The Holidays! Its Not Quite Time To Buy The Buckle, Inc Yet The Buckle, Inc (NYSE: BKE) posted a fantastic Q3 earnings reports but it wasnt enough to overcome the massive wave of selling that was triggered by the news. 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Confront caravan LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 460914 11-15-2018 08:07 PM Post: #1 Mexico First! Confront caravan Advertisement https://twitter.com/PolishPatriotTM/stat...8223437825 Mexican Nationalist confront caravan LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 460914 11-15-2018 08:09 PM Post: #2 RE: Mexico First! Confront caravan https://twitter.com/sorenemile/status/10...5635424256 freaky post Hundreds of caravan people are missing and they think they were sold. freaky postHundreds of caravan people are missing and they think they were sold. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 370703 11-15-2018 08:13 PM Post: #3 RE: Mexico First! Confront caravan Maybe they should build a wall to keep invaders out of their country.. we lop guest User ID: 473582 11-15-2018 08:18 PM Post: #4 RE: Mexico First! Confront caravan bet u won't see that on cnn Lakeofmarch ~Piper at the Gates of Dawn User ID: 472139 11-15-2018 08:19 PM Posts: 18,847 Post: #5 RE: Mexico First! Confront caravan https://es-la.facebook.com/tizayucatv/po...6244546688 With information from Eli Rosas, Tizayuca TV (said city being an hour north of Mexico City). I had a terrible experience when I went to attend the migrant caravan, and I want to share the other side that isn't being told. They are being given a lot of help, I was sent to carry out dental cleanings by the Mexico City government, they are also being given medical, psychological, and legal help, and they are given a laminated card displaying their rights, basically in this card it says that the receiving government must provide them with all services necessary for them to be as comfortable as possible. I must admit I was afraid to go work with them, I had never been working in such precarious situations which were such a great risk to my health, but those who knoe me know I am very careful as a dentist and that I do everything in the most ethical and pleasant manner; so the attention I provided was ethical and with all respect on my part. When I got to the place I noticed it was very dirty, partly easy to understand because of overpopulation, I also noticed that scent of marihuana and glue, I am not scared because we are in Mexico, so far everything was normal. When we got the things down from the buses and we loaded them on the assigned tarp, the people, on seeing the huge black bags, walked up asking what we were giving away, when we cleared up that it was a service they were disappoined and walked away annoyed. At one point they walked up demanding toothpaste and toothbrushes, which I later noticed they exchanged for cigarettes (of a very specific brand). More than being on a journey where they are making an effort to have a better life, the migrants looked like they were on vacations, all of them wearing sandals, the men without shirts and the women showing off their midriff, like a water park. I even heard that they would prolong their stay because the government was giving them everything. They are people who are not polite (I mean their manners), who spit, lay down, defecate, and throw trash anywhere. The shout out "catcalls" every time a woman walks close by, few of them say "Thank you" and nobody says "Please". They are people who are demanding things from all sides. They have a big tarp with all the donated clothes, they were given too much clothes, most of it new, but they do not care if it's new, they want brand clothing; "If it's not Nike shoes I don't want them", I heard one man say. Whatever clothes they do not want they throw by the wayside and step on it like it was nothing. They throw away the food they are given and they wander off to buy pizzas, they go to the market to get a full meal, to the taco stand across the street (where they are given a special migrant price). On Friday there was one Mexican guy, living in the street, asking them for whatever food they did not want, since he had not eaten in days, they did not give it to him. Two coworkers of mine had material stolen, they broke into the tarp and took out two bags of cavitrons, gloves, and low-speed dental bits. Behind the carp they left all the destroyed bags, the broken boxes, all of it torn apart; in the same way, just behind the tarp, close by where I was working with people they went to defecate. The event coordinator (on behalf of the Mexico City government) didn't care one way or the other and asked us to continue attending people. Everything they are given is in good faith, with the intention of helping, they do not care about the effort and the expenditure involved, they only want more and demand it. And the only thing they are doing themselves is getting drugged, getting drunk, playing cards and feeling that they are on holiday. I so wish! Here's my most recent update, seen I admit third or fourth hand, about what's really going on. No idea if one can even make the locations overlap at this point. Pics at link.With information from Eli Rosas, Tizayuca TV (said city being an hour north of Mexico City).I had a terrible experience when I went to attend the migrant caravan, and I want to share the other side that isn't being told. They are being given a lot of help, I was sent to carry out dental cleanings by the Mexico City government, they are also being given medical, psychological, and legal help, and they are given a laminated card displaying their rights, basically in this card it says that the receiving government must provide them with all services necessary for them to be as comfortable as possible. I must admit I was afraid to go work with them, I had never been working in such precarious situations which were such a great risk to my health, but those who knoe me know I am very careful as a dentist and that I do everything in the most ethical and pleasant manner; so the attention I provided was ethical and with all respect on my part.When I got to the place I noticed it was very dirty, partly easy to understand because of overpopulation, I also noticed that scent of marihuana and glue, I am not scared because we are in Mexico, so far everything was normal.When we got the things down from the buses and we loaded them on the assigned tarp, the people, on seeing the huge black bags, walked up asking what we were giving away, when we cleared up that it was a service they were disappoined and walked away annoyed.At one point they walked up demanding toothpaste and toothbrushes, which I later noticed they exchanged for cigarettes (of a very specific brand).More than being on a journey where they are making an effort to have a better life, the migrants looked like they were on vacations, all of them wearing sandals, the men without shirts and the women showing off their midriff, like a water park. I even heard that they would prolong their stay because the government was giving them everything.They are people who are not polite (I mean their manners), who spit, lay down, defecate, and throw trash anywhere. The shout out "catcalls" every time a woman walks close by, few of them say "Thank you" and nobody says "Please". They are people who are demanding things from all sides. They have a big tarp with all the donated clothes, they were given too much clothes, most of it new, but they do not care if it's new, they want brand clothing; "If it's not Nike shoes I don't want them", I heard one man say. Whatever clothes they do not want they throw by the wayside and step on it like it was nothing.They throw away the food they are given and they wander off to buy pizzas, they go to the market to get a full meal, to the taco stand across the street (where they are given a special migrant price). On Friday there was one Mexican guy, living in the street, asking them for whatever food they did not want, since he had not eaten in days, they did not give it to him.Two coworkers of mine had material stolen, they broke into the tarp and took out two bags of cavitrons, gloves, and low-speed dental bits. Behind the carp they left all the destroyed bags, the broken boxes, all of it torn apart; in the same way, just behind the tarp, close by where I was working with people they went to defecate. The event coordinator (on behalf of the Mexico City government) didn't care one way or the other and asked us to continue attending people.Everything they are given is in good faith, with the intention of helping, they do not care about the effort and the expenditure involved, they only want more and demand it. And the only thing they are doing themselves is getting drugged, getting drunk, playing cards and feeling that they are on holiday. terebess.u/english/tao/wu.html - NS "Snow Crash",CC "Eagle's Gift" - secretsun.blogspot.com Son Calenda/Fudo Myoo - Axte Incal, Axtuce Mun - het-report.nl http://www.sirbacon.org/dick.htm absolutoracle.com -NO8DO- The Great Tao is universal like a flood. How can it be turned?terebess.u/english/tao/wu.html - NS "Snow Crash",CC "Eagle's Gift" - secretsun.blogspot.comSon Calenda/Fudo Myoo - Axte Incal, Axtuce Mun - het-report.nlabsolutoracle.com-NO8DO- LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 459261 11-15-2018 08:36 PM Post: #6 RE: Mexico First! Confront caravan LoP Guest Wrote: (11-15-2018 08:09 PM) https://twitter.com/sorenemile/status/10...5635424256 freaky post Hundreds of caravan people are missing and they think they were sold. Slavery is alive @ Libya's sea port, thanks to 0. Slavery is alive @ Libya's sea port, thanks to 0. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 473582 11-15-2018 09:03 PM Post: #7 RE: Mexico First! Confront caravan Lakeofmarch Wrote: (11-15-2018 08:19 PM) I so wish! Here's my most recent update, seen I admit third or fourth hand, about what's really going on. No idea if one can even make the locations overlap at this point. Pics at link. https://es-la.facebook.com/tizayucatv/po...6244546688 With information from Eli Rosas, Tizayuca TV (said city being an hour north of Mexico City). I had a terrible experience when I went to attend the migrant caravan, and I want to share the other side that isn't being told. They are being given a lot of help, I was sent to carry out dental cleanings by the Mexico City government, they are also being given medical, psychological, and legal help, and they are given a laminated card displaying their rights, basically in this card it says that the receiving government must provide them with all services necessary for them to be as comfortable as possible. I must admit I was afraid to go work with them, I had never been working in such precarious situations which were such a great risk to my health, but those who knoe me know I am very careful as a dentist and that I do everything in the most ethical and pleasant manner; so the attention I provided was ethical and with all respect on my part. When I got to the place I noticed it was very dirty, partly easy to understand because of overpopulation, I also noticed that scent of marihuana and glue, I am not scared because we are in Mexico, so far everything was normal. When we got the things down from the buses and we loaded them on the assigned tarp, the people, on seeing the huge black bags, walked up asking what we were giving away, when we cleared up that it was a service they were disappoined and walked away annoyed. At one point they walked up demanding toothpaste and toothbrushes, which I later noticed they exchanged for cigarettes (of a very specific brand). More than being on a journey where they are making an effort to have a better life, the migrants looked like they were on vacations, all of them wearing sandals, the men without shirts and the women showing off their midriff, like a water park. I even heard that they would prolong their stay because the government was giving them everything. They are people who are not polite (I mean their manners), who spit, lay down, defecate, and throw trash anywhere. The shout out "catcalls" every time a woman walks close by, few of them say "Thank you" and nobody says "Please". They are people who are demanding things from all sides. They have a big tarp with all the donated clothes, they were given too much clothes, most of it new, but they do not care if it's new, they want brand clothing; "If it's not Nike shoes I don't want them", I heard one man say. Whatever clothes they do not want they throw by the wayside and step on it like it was nothing. They throw away the food they are given and they wander off to buy pizzas, they go to the market to get a full meal, to the taco stand across the street (where they are given a special migrant price). On Friday there was one Mexican guy, living in the street, asking them for whatever food they did not want, since he had not eaten in days, they did not give it to him. Two coworkers of mine had material stolen, they broke into the tarp and took out two bags of cavitrons, gloves, and low-speed dental bits. Behind the carp they left all the destroyed bags, the broken boxes, all of it torn apart; in the same way, just behind the tarp, close by where I was working with people they went to defecate. The event coordinator (on behalf of the Mexico City government) didn't care one way or the other and asked us to continue attending people. Everything they are given is in good faith, with the intention of helping, they do not care about the effort and the expenditure involved, they only want more and demand it. And the only thing they are doing themselves is getting drugged, getting drunk, playing cards and feeling that they are on holiday. Wow, take all afternoon to read all that made me dizzy , condense to 20 words or less. Wow, take all afternoon to read all that made me dizzy , condense to 20 words or less. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 473582 11-15-2018 09:09 PM Post: #8 RE: Mexico First! Confront caravan LoP Guest Wrote: (11-15-2018 09:03 PM) Lakeofmarch Wrote: (11-15-2018 08:19 PM) I so wish! Here's my most recent update, seen I admit third or fourth hand, about what's really going on. No idea if one can even make the locations overlap at this point. Pics at link. https://es-la.facebook.com/tizayucatv/po...6244546688 With information from Eli Rosas, Tizayuca TV (said city being an hour north of Mexico City). I had a terrible experience when I went to attend the migrant caravan, and I want to share the other side that isn't being told. They are being given a lot of help, I was sent to carry out dental cleanings by the Mexico City government, they are also being given medical, psychological, and legal help, and they are given a laminated card displaying their rights, basically in this card it says that the receiving government must provide them with all services necessary for them to be as comfortable as possible. I must admit I was afraid to go work with them, I had never been working in such precarious situations which were such a great risk to my health, but those who knoe me know I am very careful as a dentist and that I do everything in the most ethical and pleasant manner; so the attention I provided was ethical and with all respect on my part. When I got to the place I noticed it was very dirty, partly easy to understand because of overpopulation, I also noticed that scent of marihuana and glue, I am not scared because we are in Mexico, so far everything was normal. When we got the things down from the buses and we loaded them on the assigned tarp, the people, on seeing the huge black bags, walked up asking what we were giving away, when we cleared up that it was a service they were disappoined and walked away annoyed. At one point they walked up demanding toothpaste and toothbrushes, which I later noticed they exchanged for cigarettes (of a very specific brand). More than being on a journey where they are making an effort to have a better life, the migrants looked like they were on vacations, all of them wearing sandals, the men without shirts and the women showing off their midriff, like a water park. I even heard that they would prolong their stay because the government was giving them everything. They are people who are not polite (I mean their manners), who spit, lay down, defecate, and throw trash anywhere. The shout out "catcalls" every time a woman walks close by, few of them say "Thank you" and nobody says "Please". They are people who are demanding things from all sides. They have a big tarp with all the donated clothes, they were given too much clothes, most of it new, but they do not care if it's new, they want brand clothing; "If it's not Nike shoes I don't want them", I heard one man say. Whatever clothes they do not want they throw by the wayside and step on it like it was nothing. They throw away the food they are given and they wander off to buy pizzas, they go to the market to get a full meal, to the taco stand across the street (where they are given a special migrant price). On Friday there was one Mexican guy, living in the street, asking them for whatever food they did not want, since he had not eaten in days, they did not give it to him. Two coworkers of mine had material stolen, they broke into the tarp and took out two bags of cavitrons, gloves, and low-speed dental bits. Behind the carp they left all the destroyed bags, the broken boxes, all of it torn apart; in the same way, just behind the tarp, close by where I was working with people they went to defecate. The event coordinator (on behalf of the Mexico City government) didn't care one way or the other and asked us to continue attending people. Everything they are given is in good faith, with the intention of helping, they do not care about the effort and the expenditure involved, they only want more and demand it. And the only thing they are doing themselves is getting drugged, getting drunk, playing cards and feeling that they are on holiday. Wow, take all afternoon to read all that made me dizzy , condense to 20 words or less. oh yeah, sounds about right . Then they'll jump the border and eventually get ebt cards snap housing medical dental free school for there kids if they get hired somewhere that is tax free.. that's why they come they get more here for free than what they get there to work . Quit helping them and the word will get out and they will stop, our area in minnesota is plastered on trees on posters in the middle of nowhere and on poles and businesses come here free free free minnesota freee freee , no is to vote now either. and they have sanctuary churches everywhere. oh yeah, sounds about right . Then they'll jump the border and eventually get ebt cards snap housing medical dental free school for there kids if they get hired somewhere that is tax free.. that's why they come they get more here for free than what they get there to work . Quit helping them and the word will get out and they will stop, our area in minnesota is plastered on trees on posters in the middle of nowhere and on poles and businesses come here free free free minnesota freee freee , no is to vote now either. and they have sanctuary churches everywhere. Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers recovered in September 2018, rising by 2.3 percent to $2.237 billion from $2.186 billion a year ago, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Cyd Tuano-Amador said Thursday. The 2.3-percent expansion was a turnaround from a 0.9-percent decline a month ago. The figure brought cash remittances in the first nine months to $21.294 billion, up 2.5 percent from $20.781 billion on year. However, the $2.237-billion value of remittances in September was the lowest in a year since $2.186 billion in the same month of 2017. Over the nine-month period, cash remittances from both land-based [$16.8 billion] and sea-based [$4.5 billion] workers grew by 2.2 percent and 3.5 percent year-on-year, respectively, Amador said. Over 79 percent of the total cash remittances in the first nine months came from the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Japan, United Kingdom, Qatar, Canada, Germany and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the countries that contributed to the increase in remittances in September were Canada, the US and Taiwan. Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, also rose by 2 percent in September to $2.490 billion from $2.442 billion a year ago. This brought personal remittances in the first nine months to $23.713 billion, up 2.4 percent from $23.164 billion on year.Amador said the growth in personal remittances during the first nine months was backed by inflows from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, which grew 2.2 percent year-on-year. Similarly, the growth in personal remittances was complemented by flows from sea- and land-based workers with contracts of less than one year, which rose by 3.5 percent year-on-year, Amador said. Money sent home by overseas Filipinos in 2017 reached a record $28.06 billion, up 4.3 percent from $26.90 billion a year ago and exceeding the Bangko Sentrals conservative 4-percent growth target for the year. The higher cash remittances in 2017 was supported by the increase in transfers from both land-based and sea-based workers by 4 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively. This year, Bangko Sentral projected a conservative 4-percent growth for remittances. Light Rail Manila Corp., the joint venture of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., signed a P650-million contract with First Balfour Inc. and MRail Inc. for the rehabilitation of 11 rectifier substations along the 21-kilometer line of LRT Line 1. As they power our trains, the substations are absolutely critical to providing reliable electricity supply and efficient operations of trains, LRMC president and chief executive Juan Alfonso said. The rehabilitation of the substations will take two years to complete and involves the replacement of major substation equipment, such as the critical switch gears, rectifiers, transformer, cables, the enhancement of the supervisory control and data acquisition system which allows the real-time monitoring of faults at the substations, and the modernization of fire detection and suppression systems. Some of these substations are 30 years old and need to be modernized to ensure reliability and efficiency of electric supply to our trains, Alfonso added. The project is part of the ongoing LRT-1 system improvements, which include the rehabilitation of trains, renovation of the 20 stations, as well as the structural enhancements of the parapets. The upgrade has increased the number of trains from 77 to 112 in its first three years, enabling LRMC to increase trips and accommodate more passengers.LRMC in February this year signed a P450-million contract with Voith Digital Solutions Australia GmBH and Co KH to rehabilitate and upgrade the trains of Light Rail Transit Line 1. The monthly ridership on LRT-1 hit a record high of 14 million in August this year. LRMC won the bidding for the 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension project and took over the operation of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12, 2015. The Cavite extension will connect into the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran station and will extend to Niog, Bacoor, Cavite. Governments have been talking about state-backed digital currencies for at least a year, but 2018 has seen the idea gain significant momentumif only because crypto is a reality that central banks cant ignore. But in a way, it would be the death of crypto in its original form because it essentially centralizes an idea that was all about decentralization. Now, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) seems to be jumping on the band wagon, saying it may indeed be time for the worlds central banks to start seriously thinking about state-backed digital currencies. I believe we should consider the possibility to issue digital currency. There may be a role for the state to supply money to the digital economy, IMF head Christine Lagarde said in a Wednesday statement that follows an IMF paper, Winds of Change: The Case for New Digital Currency. Lagardewho has headed up the IMF since 2011says we are at a historical turning point, and the fintech revolution questions our traditional forms of moneycoins and commercial bank depositsand it questions the role of the state in providing money. Still, the IMF head is not entirely convinced in the trust expected to be put into crypto, calling for proper regulation. While the IMF paper examines the pros and cons of a state-back digital currency, the bigger picture, as far as Lagarde is concerned, is that central bank crypto could satisfy public policy goals, such as (i) financial inclusion, and (ii) security and consumer protection; and to provide what the private sector cannot: (iii) privacy in payments. The paper itself notes several central banks are actively investigating the possibility of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) [] which would be a widely accessible digital form of fiat money, intended as legal tender. One day, it could fully replace physical cash. In fact, the IMF says, it seems to be a natural next step in the evolution of official coinage. So, while the IMF is calling on all central banks to roll out a state-backed digital currency, it is saying that its time to start seriously considering the move because whether anyone wants it or not, digital is the reality in which we live. And if the world of money is going to be fully digitized, leaving it in the hands of private firms, says the IMF head, is inviting disaster because they do not measure the full cost to society of a payment failure, when it comes to cyber-attacks, glitches or bankruptcies, people remain unprotected. Related: New A.I. Virtual Assistant Gives Traders An Edge It may even have reached a critical point, especially for rural populations, says Lagarde. Cash may no longer be an option soon, and if the majority of people adopt digital forms of money, the infrastructure for cash would degrade, leaving those in the periphery behind. Of course, not everyones on board. Switzerland, which has always been crypto-friendly, is waffling. Earlier this year, Thomas Moser, board director of Swiss National Bank (SNB), told a blockchain conference that CBDCs were of dubious usefulness, comparing existing blockchain to the innovation of Compact Discs. He said enthusiasm has slowed again because of the implications it would have for financial stability. And crisis-ridden Venezuelas state-backed crypto isnt a shining example of how this is supposed to work. But, as Lagarde pointed out, Canada, China, Sweden and Uruguay are already seriously considering a state-backed digital currency, as indeed is the IMF. By David Craggen for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: The Department of Transportation on Thursday assured the public the impending truck holiday pushed for by small, independent trucking groups regarding the phaseout of trucks based on year model will have a minimal impact on port operations. A leader of the truckers said the truckers would go on a holiday for six days next week in protest against the phaseout of 15-year-old trucks. Mary Zapata, president of the Aduana Business Club Inc., told radio dzMM in an interview beamed only 20 percent of trucks nationwide would remain operational if the policy was not modified. These small groups of truckers plan to hold a nearly week-long Day of Rest on Nov. 19 to 24 , in protest against Department Order 2017-09, which reinforced the earlier DO 2002-030 on the mandatory 15-year age limit for buses- and trucks-for-hire covered by a certificate of public convenience. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra III said that it was already agreed upon that truckers, even with units older than 15 years, may continue with their current franchises during the transition period. These units, regardless of year model, will be allowed to operate during the transition period, should they pass the roadworthiness test of the Motor Vehicle Inspection System being procured by the Land Transportation Office [LTO], Delgra said.Additionally, the DoTr wants to clarify to the public that big trucking companies are not involved in the planned protest. Trucking groups such as the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations [ACTOO], the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. [CCBI], and the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines, Inc. [CTAP] have issued separate statements that they are not supporting the planned protest, and their respective operations will continue on those dates. They will not support this truck holiday, DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Fernando Juan Perez said. The DOTr is grateful to these groups for continuing their scheduled deliveries during the small truckers planned truck holiday, and for putting public interest first. The DOTr and its attached agencies will continue to push for the modernization of public vehicles for the safety, security and comfort of the Filipinos. Through modernization, vehicles will be made to comply with higher standards of roadworthiness, travel efficiency, and environmental sustainability. On November 5th, the United States put into effect the harshest round of sanctions on Iran to date, scaling back Tehrans ability to do business with foreign entities significantly. As a result of these sanctions, and mounting pressure from the U.S., Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), the international payments facilitator, has cut off services to the countrys Central Bank. Though SWIFT is a Belgium-based company, some of its biggest clients are in the United States, making it exceedingly difficult not to take American threats seriously. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin explained that SWIFTs move was the right decision to protect the integrity of the international financial system. The sanctions, which were part two of the U.S. campaign stemming from the withdrawal from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have been met with criticism from other world powers. China and Russia, for their part, have stated that they will continue to do business with Tehran, buying and selling goods in euros instead of dollars. European countries, however, are largely reliant on SWIFT, and without it, lack a sustainable means to make or receive payments from Iran. Leading up to the latest round of sanctions, however, both the European Union and Iran had proposed two wildly different solutions to this conundrum. A New SWIFT Germany has been the most vocal about the new sanctions, with Heiko Maas, German foreign minister saying, Europe should not allow the US to act over our heads and at our expense. For that reason its essential that we strengthen European autonomy by establishing payment channels that are independent of the US, creating a European Monetary Fund and building up an independent Swift system. Related: How To Play The 5G Revolution Frances Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, joined the call to action, stating, With Germany, we are determined to work on an independent European or Franco-German financing tool which would allow us to avoid being the collateral victims of U.S. extra-territorial sanctions, adding I want Europe to be a sovereign continent not a vassal, and that means having totally independent financing instruments that do not today exist. Though little progress has been made towards a SWIFT alternative, its clear that the European Union is getting fed up with U.S. overreach in the geopolitical space and getting more aggressive in its plans to move away from the U.S. dollar and U.S. controlled payment instruments. Germany is also facing off against the U.S. over Russian plans to build a new natural gas pipeline, which the U.S. has repeatedly threatened to sanction, suggesting instead that the EU purchase more expensive LNG from American sources. Irans State-Sponsored Cryptocurrency On the other side of the table, Iran is scrambling for its own solutions. Despite its harsh stance against bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the past, Tehran has announced that it will be moving forward with plans to create its own state-sponsored cryptocurrency, much like Venezuelas el petro. The Informatics Services Corporation (ISC) has already developed the countrys new rial-backed currency, however hurdles still remain. Due to the complexity of the endeavor, the still-unnamed digital rial requires the approval from the countrys Central Bank. Seyyed Abotaleb Najafi , CEO of the ISC explained, "In order to realize renovation and create new infrastructure in our banking system, banks' back end processes which is still in paper and traditional way should be changed and evolved. Conclusion The value of the Iranian rial has already plummeted, along with its crude oil production, leaving both the citizens of the country and buyers of Iranian crude caught between a rock and a hard place. The need for a solution is palpable and its becoming increasingly clear that the U.S. is unwilling to back down from its sanctions ploy. While the EU scrambles to figure out its own solutions on the matter, Iran is rushing to complete and approve its state-sponsored cryptocurrency, which still requires a willingness from other parties to accept. Iran risks running into the same problems as Venezuelas el petro in this regard. President Maduros coin has yet to have any real impact on global trade, and due to its numerous failures, is unlikely to ever truly take root. By Michael Kern via Crypto Insider More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: Italy had until Tuesday this week to respond to the European Commissions demands over its outsized budget, and it hasnt disappointed its new populist-leaning voters: Scoring another political capital coup, Romes far-right government has defied Brussels and vowed to spend, spend, spendno matter the consequences. The rest of Europe is worried that Italy will drag it down with it, and an economic crisis would be infectious. So much so that it made an unprecedented move to warn Rome that if it failed to adjust its budget to something more realistic, it would face penalties and fines. After all, Italy is the EUs third-largest economy. If it falls, it wont do so without hostages. Italys national debt is at 132 percent of GDP and its got one of the slowest growth rates in the euro zone, with unemployment at 11.2 percent. Still, Italian Finance Minister Giovanni Tria said the deficit target for the 2019 budget would remain at 2.4 percent, with a growth forecast of 1.5 percent. Italy is hoping to reduce debt by using funds from privatization equal to 1 percent of GDP. The EUs main problem with Romes budget was that it wouldnt have seen debt fall enough. However, the 2019 budget still envisions an increase in the structural deficit, according to Reuters, by 0.8 percent of GDP. EU requirements are that structural deficit be cut by 0.6 percent of GDP. Brussels is also taking issue with Romes growth figures, which it finds unrealistic. Still, Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini insists asset sales will be increased, while spending will be monitored. Investors fear that Rome is on a destructive path that will see it take on more debt than it can handle, with dangerously rising bond yields, which have almost doubled this year. That means higher borrowing costs putting pressure on the countrys banking system. Indeed, Italian government bond yields rose to a three-week high on the news, prompted by fears that the 2019 budget will raise borrowing costs further. The 10-year bond yield hit 3.55 percent, while Italys five-year credit default swaps rose 7 basis points from Tuesdays close, Reuters cited HIS Markit as reporting. At the same time, yields on higher-rated euro zone bonds fell in part on Italys renewed volatility. Related: Why Are Wall Street Banks Fighting Over Gamers? "Continued pressure on Italian government bonds could spark a major debt crisis, which could easily spread across the region," media quoted David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK, as saying. Pascal Blanque, the head of Amundi, Europes biggest fund manager, told Reuters that Italian bond spreads could go even wider before a solution is found. We are in a critical phase between today and the European parliamentary elections (in May 2019). In terms of positioning, we err around neutrality, he told the Reuters Global Investment Outlook Summit. In the meantime, Rome shows no sign of backing down. As Bloomberg puts it, Salvini is essentially daring investors to sell Italian bonds until the yield spread over Germany reaches 400 basis points. That hasnt happened yet because credit ratings agencies havent downgrade Italy to junk. Nor is Italy under much public pressure at home to bow to Brussels. As weve mentioned before, Italians are tired of living under austerity, and the age of fiscal irresponsibility has firmly taken hold. In fact, support for the far-right government has increased since its made a show of taking on the European Union and not backing down from its defiance. Whats next? On November 21, the European Commission will be giving an opinion on Romes revised 2019 budget draft. Rome isnt worried. We have not changed our targets because our major commitment is to give growth to the Italian economy, said Davide DAntoni, a spokesperson for Italys 5Stars party in Brussels, as cited by Politico.eu. We believe that expansionary fiscal policies, financed by increasing deficit spending, will lead to higher economic growth and better public finances. This stance is not defiance, he said, adding the Italian government wants to continue its dialogue with Brussels. Politico.eu cited two people familiar with the discussions as saying that Italy believes sanctions can be avoided. By Josh Owens for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: A group of adventurous travelers and Linda Johansen just recently returned from an amazing two-week trip to Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. The extraordinary culture mixed with the sweet, humble nature of the Japanese people made for a relaxing zen experience compared to some of our other trips we've taken. Read this recap of their trip and go globe-trotting with Linda Johansen. Education Reporter Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe. The United States, through the US Agency for International Development, has extended a P595-million grant to the Mindanao Development Authority intended to bankroll projects that enhance governance, expand economic opportunities, provide infrastructure, and strengthen the foundation of peace in conflict-affected areas in the Southern Philippines.The GRANT is covered by the extension of the Mindanao Peace and Development Assistance Agreement, the bilateral accord between the USAID and MinDa, which was signed on Nov. 13. Acting USAID mission director Patrick Wesner and MinDA chairman Datu Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto signed the extension of the agreement, which brings the total US government support to the partnership since 2007 to over P7 billion. The US Embassy in Manila said the extension funded opportunities for people affected by the Marawi siege to improve their economic conditions, and will strengthen community cohesion among the displaced population. Today, the US government reaffirms our commitment to walking alongside you and offering support as we relentlessly pursue our shared vision of prosperity and peace in Mindanao, Acting USAID mission Director Wesner said. At the ceremony, MinDA officials presented results from a U.S.-sponsored assessment on water, food, energy, and land resources in Mindanao.Insights gained from the study will guide a robust and evidence-based strategy for advancing resilience and economic growth in the region. Through this agreement, USAID and MinDA have partnered to upgrade airport runways, water systems, bridges, and roadways, as well as build water systems, boat landings, bridges, market centers, and farm-to-market roads, improving infrastructure in 800 barangays over the past 11 years. USAID has also partnered with local governments and civil society organizations throughout Mindanao to promote local governance good practices, increase community cohesion, facilitate dialogue, and decrease community conflict. As a result, according to Wesner, more than 170,000 residents benefit from civil society and local government use of social accountability tools. Additionally, the partnership has provided job training to more than 28,000 former combatants to enable them to pursue productive livelihoods, and has improved the capacity of more than 630 rural banks to provide financial services for microenterprise clients, he said. " " Firing off gunshots into the air can be extremely dangerous to bystanders. AleksandarGeorgiev/Getty Images The saying "What goes up must come down" is an appropriate starting point. If you fire a gun into the air, the bullet will travel up to a mile high (depending on the angle of the shot and the power of the gun). Once it reaches its apogee, the bullet will fall. Air resistance limits its speed, but bullets are designed to be fairly aerodynamic, so the speed is still quite lethal if the bullet happens to hit someone. In rural areas, the chance of hitting someone is remote because the number of people is low. In crowded cities, however, the probability rises dramatically, and people get killed quite often by stray bullets. Here's one example: On New Year's Eve 2017, Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives Armando Martinez, stepped outside a home and suddenly felt as if he'd been struck with a sledgehammer. After he was rushed to the hospital, it turned out that he'd been struck on the top of the head by a falling .223-caliber bullet. A fragment of the round penetrated the top of his skull and lodged itself in the top layer of his brain, requiring surgery to remove it, according to CNN. Advertisement Martinez, who recovered from his injury, became another victim of the strange custom of celebratory gunfire, in which revelers fire bullets into the air that eventually fall back to Earth and occasionally hit other people. There aren't good statistics on how often this happens across the U.S., but news reports describe numerous fatalities over the years. This 2015 article from The Trace, for example, describes two cases of children killed by falling bullets apparently fired during Fourth of July celebrations in 2011 and 2012. A 2004 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day of that year, bullets from celebratory gunfire caused 19 injuries and one death. Thirty-six percent of the victims were struck on the top of the head, with feet (26 percent) and shoulders (16 percent) the next most common injury sites. A 2017 Miami Herald article cites numerous instances over the years, ranging from at least 20 people killed in Iraq in 2003 by celebratory gunfire after the death of Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay. So How High Will a Bullet Go? Aside from the perplexing question of why such a reckless, potentially lethal practice remains so popular, you may also be wondering, what actually happens to a bullet that's fired straight up into the sky? How high does it go? What stops it and sends it falling back to Earth? And when it descends, when and where does it land? Those aren't necessarily simple questions to answer. Ballistics researchers have spent a lot of time studying the performance of bullets fired horizontally, because that's useful information for improving the accuracy and range of shooters. But when it comes to firing straight up in the air, which isn't something that soldiers, police officers, hunters or target shooters normally would do, there's not nearly as much data. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Julian Hatcher, who apparently was curious and had some time on his hands, did experiments in Florida in which he fired various weapons ranging from rifles to machine guns up into the air, and tried to measure how long it took for the bullets to come down, as well as where they landed. As he noted in his 1947 volume "Hatcher's Notebook," he calculated that a standard .30 caliber bullet fired from a rifle pointed straight up would rise to an altitude of 9,000 feet (2,743.2 meters) in 18 seconds, and then would return to Earth in another 31 seconds, and during the last few thousand feet would attain a "nearly constant" speed of 300 feet (91.4 meters) per second. But ballistics researcher James Walker, who holds a doctorate in mathematics and is department director of engineering dynamics at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, says that the altitude attained by a bullet fired straight up would depend upon the type of weapon and projectile, just as it does when fired horizontally. A handgun, which has a shorter barrel than a rifle and fires ammunition with a smaller cartridge that doesn't contain as much powder, isn't going to send a bullet soaring as high as a rifle will. Different types of rifles and ammunition vary as well. "With a .22, which isn't a big-game rifle, the cartridge is the same diameter as the bullet," Walker explains. "It doesn't have that much powder, and that bullet doesn't go fast. Rifles like the .30-06 have a much larger cartridge, which will go faster because there is more powder to burn." When fired horizontally, bullets tend to slow down rapidly due to air drag, so that a rifle bullet may be down to half of its initial speed by the time it gets to 500 meters (1,640.42 feet), Walker says. "If you choose to shoot it up, it will slow down faster because of gravity, not a whole lot." For altitude estimates, Walker pointed to this chart on the website of Close Focus Research, a ballistics testing company, which shows that a .25 caliber ACP handgun bullet might reach a maximum height of 2,287 feet (697 meters), while a .30-06 rifle bullet would rise to 10,105 feet (3,080 meters). What Goes Up... But no matter how high a bullet goes in the air, however, eventually it will decelerate until its velocity reaches zero, at which point it will begin to fall back to Earth, as detailed in this 2018 article on falling bullet injuries in the Journal of Neuroscience Rural Practice. "Again, the height up is a non-issue as to the speed down, as the bullet (if no longer spin stabilized) will hit a terminal velocity based on its shape, orientation, and whether or not it is tumbling," Walker explains in a follow-up email. And most importantly, a bullet is unlikely to fall straight down, as wind can alter its path, Walker says. That makes it difficult to predict where a bullet will land. Back in Texas, Representative Martinez sought to keep others from being hit by falling bullets, by introducing legislation raising the penalties for discharging a firearm without an intended target, according to The Monitor. So far, he hasn't been successful, but he reportedly plans to try again in 2019. Now That's Disturbing This 2007 article in Annals of Thoracic Surgery describes the unusual case of a 47-year-old man who was struck in the chest by a bullet that fell from the sky, and suffered cardiac and abdominal injuries as a result. Doctors eventually found a .45 caliber bullet inside his stomach. Though the damage required nine hours of surgery to fix, the patient eventually recovered. Advertisement Originally Published: Apr 1, 2000 Senior German officials are making pressure on the government to exclude Chinese firms from building the countrys 5G infrastructure. Many countries are going to build 5G infrastructure, but the approach of the government is completely different. Italian politicians seem to completely ignore the importance of 5G infrastructure for the growth of the country and the potential effects on national security, while senior German officials are planning to exclude Chinese firms such as Huawei from the tender because worried of potential compromise of national security. Germany is not the first country to ban Chinese firms from the 5G auction, Australia and the US already announced the same decision. There is serious concern. If it were up to me we would do what the Australians are doing, one senior German official involved in the internal 5G debate in Berlin told Reuters. Officials in the German foreign and interior ministries were informed by Australian and American peers of the risks of using Chinese suppliers like Huawei in 5G infrastructure. A heated debate is growing in the country and experts fear that this could cause a delay in the implementation of the infrastructure that is planned for 2019. Officials fear possible interference of the Chinese intelligence that is also allowed under Chinas National Intelligence Law, approved in 2017, which states that Chinese organisations and citizens shall, in accordance with the law, support, cooperate with, and collaborate in national intelligence work. Experts believe that companies like Huawei could support the Chinese government in cyber espionage activities or that Chinese intelligence may be able to compromise Huaweis equipment. Cyber security has always been our top priority and we have a proven track record of providing secure products and solutions for our customers in Germany and around the world, A Huawei spokesman told Reuters. Huawei believes that the decision to ban it from 5G auctions is politically motivated and based on a mistaken and narrow understanding of Chinese law. Last week, after The Australian newspaper published a story saying Huawei staffers had been used by Chinese intelligence to obtain access codes to infiltrate a foreign network, the company denied that it had ever provided or been asked to provide customer information for any government or organisation. added the Reuters. Following Australias decision to exclude the Chinese from their 5G network, there is huge angst at Huawei, said a senior industry official who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. They fear a domino effect. If it stops with Australia it is not such a big deal. But if it continues its serious. A 5G setback in Germany could ripple across Europe. Pierluigi Paganini ( Security Affairs 5G infrastructure, China) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Chinese TEMP.Periscope cyberespionage group targeted a UK-based engineering company using TTPs associated with Russia-linked APT groups. Attribution of cyber attacks is always a hard task, in many cases attackers use false flags to masquerade their identities. Chinese hackers have targeted a UK-based engineering company using techniques and artifacts attributed to the Russia-linked APT groups Dragonfly and APT28, according to security researchers. Threat intelligence experts from Recorded Future discovered that Chinese threat actor TEMP.Periscope was using TTPs associated with Russian APT groups in the attempt to make hard the attribution. The same campaign that targeted the U.K.-based engineering company also hit a freelance journalist based in Cambodia, attackers used a command and control infrastructure that was used in the past by the TEMP.Periscope APT group. Employees of a U.K.-based engineering company were among the targeted victims of a spearphishing campaign in early July 2018. The campaign also targeted an email address possibly belonging to a freelance journalist based in Cambodia who covers Cambodian politics, human rights, and Chinese development. reads the analysis published by Recorded Future. We believe both attacks used the same infrastructure as a reported campaign by Chinese threat actor TEMP.Periscope (also known as Leviathan), which targeted Cambodian entities in the run-up to their July 2018 elections. Crucially, TEMP.Periscopes interest in the U.K. engineering company they targeted dates back to attempted intrusions in May 2017. The attackers used the domain scsnewstoday[.]com as C2, the same that was used in a recent TEMP.Periscope campaign targeting the Cambodian government. The spear-phishing messages were sent by using the popular Chinese email client, Foxmail. It is interesting to note that attackers employed a unique technique used in the past by Dragonfly APT group in attacks aimed at critical infrastructure. The attackers used a file:// path in the in the spearphish calling out to a malicious C2 to steal SMB credentials. A unique technique documented as a Dragonfly TTP in targeting critical infrastructure was used in the attack. The technique attempts to acquire SMB credentials using a file:// path in the spearphish calling out to a malicious C2. continues the analysis. The attack probably made use of a version of the open source tool Responder as an NBT-NS poisoner. APT28 used Responder in attacks against travelers staying at hotels in 2017. The same UK engineering company was already targeted by TEMP.Periscope in a May 2017, months later the hackers also hit the US engineering and academic entities. Recorded Future expects TEMP.Periscope to continue to target organisations in the high-tech defence and engineering sectors, concludes the report. The Chinese strategic requirement to develop advanced technology, particularly in marine engineering, remains an intense focus as China looks to dominate the South China Sea territory. We believe TEMP.Periscope will continue to use commodity malware because it is still broadly successful and relatively low cost for them to use. They will continue to observe trending vulnerabilities to exploit and use techniques that have been publicly reported in order to gain access to victim networks. We have to understand and tackle the underlying economic ecosystem that enables, funds and supports criminal activity on a global scale to stem the tide and better protect ourselves. By better understanding the systems that support cyber-crime, the security community can better understand how to disrupt and stop them. Pierluigi Paganini ( Security Affairs TEMP.Periscope, hacking) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On "The Time Frame Challenge to Retributivism" | Main | "Eight Keys to Mercy: How to shorten excessive prison sentences" I received an email today alerting me to this interesting new report titled "Roadblock to Reform" authored by Megan Stevenson and Jennifer Doleac. This webpage provides a video and a summary of the full report, and here are excerpts therefrom: How do state court judges political incentives affect their willingness to employ criminal justice reforms? This report, Roadblock to Reform, looks at how judges in Kentucky and Virginia have adopted risk assessment tools to inform incarceration decisions. It considers whether judges willingness to use risk assessment tools is related to how the judge is selected. The study shows that, in both states, reforms aimed at reducing incarceration for low-risk offenders had little to no impact on incarceration rates. While these tools clearly recommended less incarceration for a large share of defendants, they had little effect on judges incarceration decisions. However, there is tremendous variation among judges in how closely they follow the risk assessment recommendations. Even in jurisdictions that require the use of these tools, the effectiveness of the risk assessments relies on how judges use the information provided to them. As is outlined in Roadblock to Reform, reforms that seek to reduce incarceration rates for low-risk offenders had little to no impact on incarceration rates in Kentucky and Virginia.... Researchers decided to study Kentucky and Virginia because their reforms occurred at the statewide level instead of at the county level which ensures that there are many observations on which to base our analysis. In addition, both states began using algorithmic tools to aid in criminal justice decision making early on. Kentucky has used some sort of algorithm to aid in the pretrial custody decision since the 1970s and made it mandatory in 2011. Virginia piloted risk assessment in the late 1990s and adopted it statewide in 2002. Finally, both states adopted risk assessment with the explicit goal of reducing jail and prison populations. The key findings of Roadblock to Reform reveal that many judges ignore the recommendations associated with the risk assessment tools. As critics have pointed out, risk assessments are not perfect, but the report serves as an important warning that the pressures placed on judges by politicized selection and retention systems are a barrier to any meaningful criminal justice reform. We will never truly fix the criminal justice system unless we get politics out of the ways judges get and keep their jobs.... If Kentucky judges had followed the recommendations associated with the risk assessment in all cases, the pretrial release rate among low- and moderate-risk defendants would have jumped up by 37 percentage points after risk assessment was made mandatory. Instead, the pretrial release rate for low- and moderate-risk defendants increased by only 4 percentage points, from 63% to 67%. SINGAPORE (Nov 15): Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong has been invited, and will attend, Chinas second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2019. A joint statement between the governments of Singapore and China was issued on Wednesday during Premier Li Keqiangs official visit to Singapore from 12 Nov to 16 Nov. Aside from reaffirming positive relations between the two countries, both sides notably agreed that co-operation along the Belt and Road initiative is a new highlight of Singapore-China relations. The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic ConnectivityNew International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and a third party collaboration project will be new highlights in the bilateral cooperation. Both sides have also agreed to strengthen connectivity across all modes of transport in support of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as strengthen legal & judicial exchanges and cooperation in view of the importance of a rules-based business environment to support the Belt and Road, added the statement. That being said, Premier Li thanked the Singapore Government for the warm reception during his ongoing visit, and invited PM Lee to visit China for the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2019. PM Lee accepted the invitation. The announcement comes after last years news headlines of PM Lee being noticeably absent from Chinas first One Belt One Road (OBOR) summit, as he was reportedly not invited to what was touted as Chinas most important diplomatic event in recent years. Singapore was instead represented at the May 2017 event by National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, who at the time said the Republic did not have any specific projects that may have been part of the OBOR initiative. See: Why Singapore was sidelined at Chinas OBOR Forum and what it means for us PM Lees absence from the first OBOR summit was widely viewed by international media as a snub, leading to speculation of strained bilateral relations between Singapore and China. Students hold Korean Unification Flags during a pro-unification rally ahead of the upcoming summit between North and South Korea in Seoul, South Korea April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Jorge Silva By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - Thae Yong Ho, one of the highest profile North Koreans to defect in recent years, had hoped to visit New York last month to speak on a United Nations panel, meet U.S. envoys, and discuss human rights in the reclusive Asian nation. Only a year ago, Thae testified before a congressional committee, while other defectors met U.S. President Donald Trump, who highlighted several of their stories in his state of the union speech in January. This time, however, Thae said the Americans told him they would not provide him with the security protection he was provided in the past, prompting him to cancel the trip. "I just wanted to talk about the human rights issues, which are being neglected in the face of North Korea's charm offensive, and that's all I can do," Thae told Reuters. Human rights have been almost completely absent from this year's flurry of diplomatic negotiations between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and leaders in South Korea and the United States. As living examples of some of North Korea's worst abuses, defectors have long been the public face of campaigns to pressure Pyongyang to change its ways. But amid international efforts to reduce military tensions and improve ties with North Korea, many of the 32,000 North Korean refugees in South Korea say they feel like political pawns suddenly discarded. 'HUMAN SCUM' Thae was North Korea's deputy envoy to the United Kingdom and, after his high-profile defection in 2016, South Korea's intelligence agency gave him a job at its affiliated think tank. But as Seoul pushed for a thaw in ties with the North, Thae left the think tank in May, saying he did not want to be a "burden". Soon after, Thae criticised Kim Jong Un during a press conference at the National Assembly, prompting Pyongyang to cancel high-level talks and blast the South for allowing "human scum" to speak. One activist involved in planning Thae's aborted New York trip said it was a political decision. Story continues "If Thae goes there, Kim's image would surely get tarnished, and that will most likely come back to Trump who said he trusts Kim." The U.S. State Department did not respond to Reuters' request for comment, but officials have previously said they remain committed to human rights as an issue with North Korea. Other defectors say they have also experienced a drop in support as South Korea and the United States seek to improve ties and officially end the 1950-53 Korean War. The South Korean government has cracked down on defector groups who use balloons to send contraband and anti-Kim leaflets into North Korea. One veteran journalist at the Chosun Ilbo, a major South Korean newspaper, was last month denied access by the South Korean government to cover a round of negotiations with North Korea because he was a defector. An official at the newspaper referred to an editorial saying the ban on the journalist was part of the government's censorship and maltreatment of defectors for the sake of the inter-Korean thaw. The Unification Ministry said the ban was "inevitable" to ensure smooth talks, and it would make efforts to create conditions for defectors to resettle better. Minister Cho Myoung-gyon has said he would make the same decision if the situation recurs. And Choi Sung-guk, a defector who now draws cartoons about the life in North Korea, said he was asked to leave a radio show at TBS, a Seoul City-owned network supportive of the Moon administration, less than five minutes after criticising Kim. "They asked how I felt about Kim coming to the South, and I said we should not be deceived by him because I don't think he has changed," Choi said. "But then my air-time was suddenly cut to one first sentence from what would have been a regular one hour otherwise." An official at TBS said Cho was not replaced because of his remarks but the network's decision to air "better content". UNCERTAIN FUTURE Under Kim, North Korea has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including public executions, torture and prison camps where the United Nations estimate up to 120,000 people are held. Defectors risked their lives to cross the border in a journey that may entail persecution and slave labour, if caught and repatriated. Pyongyang rejects those allegations. "The Moon administration is even, unfortunately, cutting support for these marginalized groups and even trying to censor their voices," said Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at the New York-based Human Rights Foundation, who met dozens of defectors during a visit to Seoul last month. Controversy over the fate of 12 North Korean waitresses, several of whom say they were tricked by South Korean intelligence into defecting and now want to return home, has made some in the refugee community concerned about being forced to return to North Korea. Seoul's Unification Ministry has said the defection was voluntary, but said later it would consider "various aspects" of their defection, when asked if it would return the waitresses to North Korea if they wanted to. South Koreans, including defectors, must seek government approval to visit the North. Some defectors have sneaked in via China and appeared on North Korean TV to criticise the South. Another defector, Heo Seong-il, sought asylum in the United States in August, after facing years of what he says was harassment by the South Korean government, including a three-year jail term on espionage charges he says were false. There was no immediate comment from the National Intelligence Service. Heo hoped for a better life after Moon was sworn in, only to realise things could get worse for defectors as the president pushed for peace with the North. "When I was in the North, the South was my emotional support, and I didn't know it is a country where the government... can completely ignore a citizen's life," Heo, 36, told Reuters from the United States. "I would rather live like a hobo here. I don't see a future in South Korea." (Editing by Josh Smith and Lincoln Feast.) Retired Army major general Jovito Palparan stays in jail. This after Malolos judge Alexander Tamayo rejected Palparan Jr.s appeal against his conviction for his alleged involvement in the serious illegal detention and kidnapping and disappearance of two student-activists in 2006. Tamayo, of Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 15, is the same judge who last month sentenced Palparan and two of his co-accused soldiers to reclusion perpetua after finding them guilty in connection with the abduction and disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. The two students remain missing 12 years after their abduction. Palparan co-accused in the case were Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio. The three were ordered to indemnify the family of the missing with P100,000 in civil damages and P200,000 as moral damages.In denying Palparans motion for reconsideration last Oct. 19, Tamayo said the former Army general failed to raise new arguments to outweigh the settled position of the court. The retired Army officer is currently detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after a Bulacan RTC ordered his immediate transfer from the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. According to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the Malolos, Bulacan RTC, Branch 15, junked the motion of Palparan seeking to defer his commitment in the national penitentiary pending resolution of his motion for reconsideration on his conviction. With the court ruling, Guevarra said that there is no more reason for Palparan to stay with AFPs custody. I have personally discussed the matter with AFP chief of staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., who assured me that the AFP custodial center will immediately comply without prejudice to the resolution of any further judicial review, the Justice secretary said. SUNGAI BULOH: Police have investigated the claim that the late Cradle Fund CEO Nazrin Hassan received a death threat via a phone call three months before he was found dead at his home in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Selangor police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor confirmed that there was a report on the threat and an investigation revealed that the phone call was made by his close relative. We have investigated this matter but its not part of the murder investigation at this moment. Nazrin had also withdrawn the report, he said in a press conference after attending the Sungai Buloh police chief handover ceremony today. Commenting on the second post mortem report on Nazrin, Mazlan said he was still waiting for the results which are being completed by the medical officer of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), after the second post-mortem was conducted on Oct 8. The report might take a long time to complete and we dont want to rush or disturb their work. Let them refine the report and make it perfect, he said. On Oct 8, Nazrins body was exhumed from the Kota Damansara Muslim Cemetery in Seksyen 9 for a second post-mortem after the Court of Appeal dismissed the application by Nazrins widow Samirah Muzaffar to postpone it. The three-panel judge led by Judge Datuk Mohtarudin Baki unanimously made the decision after rejecting the appeal by Samirah, 43, and retained the Shah Alam High Courts order to give the authority to the police to conduct the second post-mortem to identify Nazrins cause of death. Nazrins death was re-classified as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code after traces of petrol were found on Nazrin's head, bedframe and his mobile phone. New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd A draft new constitution for Cuba that paves the way for same-sex marriage as well as the right to private property was ready to go before lawmakers on Thursday for fine-tuning ahead of a referendum next year. The government on Thursday formally wound-up three months of consultative debates in town halls, workplaces and universities across the Communist-run island of 11 million people. "The people can be proud of having built a constitution," said the head of the state council, Homero Acosta, one of the architects of the project. A commission of Communist Party experts will submit an amended text to the National Assembly for approval in December, ahead of a referendum on February 24. The hottest topic in the town hall debates was the text's definition of marriage as a union "between two persons" -- not a man and a woman as specified in the Soviet-era constitution drafted in 1976. The change effectively provides a gateway for same-sex marriage during the term of the first post-Castro president, elected in April, Miguel Diaz-Canel. That would mark a sea-change on the island where sexual minorities were stigmatized in the wake of the Castro revolution in 1959. Homosexuals were harassed and some were sent to re-education camps, after which they were excluded from any public appointment. Evangelical churches have campaigned against the proposed change. Diaz-Canel has backed same-sex marriage since taking office and said the change "responds to the problem of eliminating all types of discrimination in society." It has also been championed by Raul Castro's daughter, Mariela Castro, who has been a staunch supporter of gay rights in Cuba. - Diversion - Abraham Jiminez, head of online media company El Estornudo, said he's in favor of "marriage for all," but believes the focus on the constitution's Article 68 which redefines marriage was "a diversion to disguise all the other problems" in the text. The right to private property is being enshrined in the constitution for the first time, though with many restrictions. "I think that's it's one of the weakest and most ambiguous points in the text, because it talks about wealth but without stating clearly at what moment one is deemed to be wealthy." The new constitution also officially recognizes the role of foreign investment, although this has been part of a move towards a more market-oriented economy over the past decade under the rule of Diaz-Canel's predecessor Raul Castro. The new draft says foreign investment is "important for the economic development of the country." On his weekly TV program, popular comedian Panfilo has made a habit of mocking the way local entrepreneurs are harassed with cumbersome regulations while the red carpet is rolled out for investors from around the world. "It's enough to make you want to leave," he said. Maykel Galindo, who owns a guest house in Havana, has similar concerns. "I ask myself, if we are looking for millions (for the Cuban economy) why don't we look inside the country?" "Why are they not interested in people like me who honestly wants to develop the country?" - 'Hard-core problem' - The unusually open debate around the constitution has also sparked calls for direct election of the president, who is currently chosen by the one-party state's National Assembly. "It's been a demand of the Cuban people for a long time," said Julio Antonio Fernandez, a constitutional lawyer. "Maintaining the indirect poll is one of the hard core problems of the project and I don't think that's about to change," Fernandez told AFP. In broad terms, "the constitution is already written," said media entrepreneur Jiminez, adding that he expects "small changes" in the final version. Is Donald Trumps no-show at Asia summits a sign of waning US influence in region? US President Donald Trumps absence from two high profile Asian summits has raised questions as to Americas right to be a leader in the region, but analysts remain uncertain on whether China is ready to supplant it. If Asia matters to America, why is your leader President Trump not here? Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh asked his American counterparts of the US leaders decision to skip the East Asian Summit hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea. US Vice-President Mike Pence is representing America at the two events. To Asians, turning up for a meeting is significant, Koh, a lawyer and ambassador-at-large at Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at an event on Wednesday in the city state. Koh said also that many of his counterparts in Southeast Asia were uneasy about the United States Indo-Pacific strategy, whose primary aim was to contain China. Is it intended to exclude countries in the region which are not democratic? he asked. Is the strategic intent of this concept targeted at excluding China from the family? If so we are not comfortable. While Koh said he was speaking in a personal capacity and that his views did not represent those of the Singaporean government, his concerns resonated throughout the region at a time of uncertainty regarding a shifting world order and struggles between major powers. Trump missing [from the two meetings in Asia] is a missed opportunity, said Huong Le Thu, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. It looks like he is not committed in the region something that contradicts the purpose of the Indo-Pacific strategy. To me, I think it looks like Asia policy is left to Pence, Mattis, Pompeo but does not reach to Trump, she said. Story continues Meanwhile, Beijing is working hard to make headway in the region. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said at the Singapore summit that China would continue to push for a code of conduct for the South China Sea and hoped to reach consensus within three years. But its efforts to conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership a free-trade deal between Asean and six other Asia-Pacific nations, including China was postponed until next year, mainly due to Indias reluctance to open up its markets to Beijing highlighting resistance to a China-led trade order. And while Trumps absence from the Asia summits has drawn scrutiny, others have pointed to the continued absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Watch: Despite trade war, US and China now communicating at all levels It is worth noting that the Chinese president has never attended the East Asia Summit, said Aaron Connelly, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. Southeast Asian countries have always viewed this as a snub, intended to signal Beijings refusal to acquiesce to Aseans leading role in the regional institutional architecture. Under President Xi Jinping, who has consolidated so much power to the detriment of Premier Li Keqiang, it must be particularly disappointing, he said. Following a speech at the Hudson Institute last month that was unusually critical of China, Pences mission to Asia was likely designed to reassure Washingtons allies and partners of the USs continued presence in the region and to offer of alternative to Beijings global infrastructure drive. We seek an Indo-Pacific where every nation is free to follow its own path and pursue its own interests, where the seas and skies are open to all engaged in peaceful activity, and where sovereign nations grow stronger together, Pence said at a news conference in Tokyo. Patrick Murphy, principal deputy assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs, said at the event in Singapore that Pences attendance was an indication of US continuing commitment to the Indo-Pacific region with three pillars of cooperation on economy, security and governance. There is not a region where any single country should dominate, coerce, bully, or design the rules. The rules are already there, he said. This article Is Donald Trumps no-show at Asia summits a sign of waning US influence in region? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. More from South China Morning Post: Not one Rohingya refugee crossed back into Myanmar from Bangladesh on Thursday under a disputed repatriation programme, officials said, with Yangon blaming Dhaka for bungling efforts to start returning the stateless minority. Bangladeshi officials waited hours at a border transit point where the first returnees were expected to cross into Myanmar, despite the United Nations warning the displaced Muslims risked fresh persecution if they went back. But not a single Rohingya from the 720,000 estimated to have fled a Myanmar military crackdown in August last year came forward, with hundreds instead staging a demonstration shouting "We will not go". "No one turned up voluntarily," Bangladesh refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam told AFP, adding they were awaiting instructions from the foreign ministry as how to proceed. With the UN and international aid groups also fighting the controversial plan, Rohingya leaders said many on a Bangladesh repatriation list of 2,260 people had gone into hiding. Bangladesh expected 150 refugees to volunteer to return Thursday, with five buses waiting to carry them to the border. But they remained empty, and instead about 1,000 Rohingya men, women and children protested against repatriations, shouting "We want justice". Tajul Mulluk, 85, who is on the repatriation list, said: "They killed two of my sons. I escaped to Bangladesh with two others. Please don't send us back. They will kill the rest of my family." "We can't go back," added Mohammad Amin, 45, who was among the protesters. - Violations risk - "They (Myanmar) have tortured us, killed our people. If we go back without any justice, they will repeat the same thing. That's why we protested today." The United Nations had urged Bangladesh to suspend the programme, with rights chief Michelle Bachelet saying it would send the Rohingya "back to the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades." Many of the Rohingya who fled Myanmar last year have recounted horrific tales of murder, rape and razed villages. The UN has said a genocide investigation is warranted. Kalam, the refugee commissioner, said his team was "completely ready" to start sending back Rohingya but stressed that only volunteers would go. "If we get anyone willing to go, we will carry them to the border point with respect and dignity." Kalam cknowledged that the UNHCR refugee agency had found no family ready to go. "None feels safe to go back now," Kalam told AFP. On the other side of the border Myanmar officials also waited all day, said Myint Thu, permanent secretary at the foreign ministry. "We will continue waiting on our side and will be on standby," he told reporters. But he lashed out at Bangladesh for being "weak regarding the logistical arrangements" and accused the UN refugee agency of interfering with the process. "We think the UNHCR should not be a barrier for those who really want to return," he added. - 'Reckless' - The two countries agreed in November last year to start repatriations but the plan never took off. With Myanmar refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing in its treatment of the Rohingya, the operation faced mounting opposition abroad and stoked anxiety in the refugee camps. US Vice President Mike Pence told Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a summit on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse". He added Thursday that securing justice for the victims of "atrocities" in Rakhine state was a condition for better Myanmar-US relations. The most recent influx of refugees joined the roughly 300,000 Rohingya who had previously fled violence in Myanmar for camps around the Bangladesh city of Cox's Bazar. It has left the poor South Asian nation struggling to cope with about one million Rohingya. UN agencies say they have received only a fraction of the billion-plus dollars needed to pay for their operations for the year. As the deadline day for repatriation loomed, Rohingya leaders said nearly all those on the returnee list had gone into hiding. A confidential UNHCR document seen by AFP said the agency would only provide aid if returnees were allowed back to the villages they had left or to other locations chosen by them. Amnesty International on Wednesday called the planned repatriation "reckless". Human Rights Watch had also called on Bangladesh not to send back the Rohingya. "The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar," said Bill Frelick, HRW refugee rights director. burs/np/mtp Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday made light of his penchant for daytime dozes after his office said "power naps" had caused the gruff leader to miss a number of key meetings at a Singapore summit. Duterte is attending the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting alongside a string of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin, Japan's Shinzo Abe, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and US Vice-President Mike Pence. But on Wednesday, the mercurial leader missed four of the eleven meetings he was slated to attend, as well as a gala dinner hosted by Singaporean leader Lee Hsien Loong. "What's wrong with my nap?" the 73-year-old told reporters as he arrived at the summit venue on Thursday morning for another long day of meetings. Asked if he felt fully rested he replied: "Still not good enough, but enough to sustain the endurance for the last days." Duterte's no-shows on Wednesday prompted a statement from his office explaining he had only had three hours of sleep the night before. "He took power naps to catch (up) on sleep," presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said, adding that "some quarters are making a big fuss of the president skipping a few meetings." "We assure the nation that his aforementioned absence has nothing to do with his physical health and wellbeing which have been the subject of speculation," he added. The outspoken leader remains popular at home even as he pursues a deadly drug war that has seen thousands killed and horrified western allies. But he has regularly prompted theorising about his health by skipping events or discussing his ailments in public since taking power in 2016. Duterte has said previously that he suffers from daily migraines and ailments including Buerger's disease, an illness that affects the veins and the arteries of the limbs, and is usually due to smoking. Despite his deadly crackdown on drugs, he also revealed in 2016 that he used to take fentanyl, a powerful opiate painkiller, because of a spinal injury from previous motorcycle accidents. He is the oldest person ever to be elected president in the Philippines, but he is far from the most veteran world leader attending ASEAN. That accolade goes to Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is 20 years older than Duterte and currently the world's oldest leader. The Guardian As a boy, the Tamil director saw movies made in the market where he worked. Now hes Indias choice for awards glory Chellapandi as the son and Karuththadaiyaan as his father in Pebbles, Indias Oscar entry, directed by PS Vinothraj. Photograph: Handout As a child labourer working in the flower markets of Madurai, there was nothing more exciting for PS Vinothraj than when the film crews would descend. He would put down his sacks of petals and look up in awe at the camera operators who sat atop c A Duterte ally in the House of Representatives on Thursday rallied behind the possible extension of military rule in Mindanao beyond end-December 2018 if and when recommended by the military top brass and the Palace. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, vice chairman of the House Committee on National Defense and Security, said. I am inclined to support a third extension of martial law in Southern Philippines once such a recommendation is made by the military leadership. He issued this statement after Armed Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said the military might seek an extension of martial law following such a request from many local government units across the island. Galvez was quoted as saying that LGU officials in Mindanao want to ensure that the island will be cleansed of terrorist groups that are sowing fear and violence. Maraming mga LGUs and government officials that are looking for the extension, Galvez reportedly said. Party-list Representatives Jericho Nograles of PBA and Makmod Mending Jr. of Anak Mindanao said Congress could still act on the martial law extension in the event the Palace request for it, despite the fact the May 2019 elections is fast approaching. Despite the Christmas rush and election fever, Members of Congress will respond and act immediately on any concern of national significance. Should there be any debate on the extension of martial law, Congress will be there, said Nograles, a deputy majority leader. In my opinion, martial law in Mindanao has not hindered economic growth. In fact, the feeling of security has increased and gave businessmen a more stable economic environment, Nograles said. Mending, a member of the House national defense and security committee, agreed with Nograles. If the President asks for it, I am sure it will be acted upon. Earlier, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said that President Duterte last week convened the executive committee (EC) of the NSC to determine if there is a need to seek congressional approval for another extension of martial law in the South. Villafuerte said the clamor of various groups to extend military rule for the third time on the island should be considered by the Congress in deliberating on whether to grant the extensionif and when the military and Malacanang asks for it. We should give more weight to the inputs of the people living in Mindanao in considering a request for the extension of martial law on the island. Mindanaoans are the ones experiencing what its like to live under martial law for a year-and-a-half now, so they would have a better grasp of what is an acceptable option for them for continued peace and security, Villafuerte said. He cited, for instance, the observation of Ozamiz Archbishop Martin Jumoad, who said that crime incidents in Mindanao have declined since martial law was enforced. The Catholic leader also said military rule helped enforce discipline among the people in the South, with law enforcers performing their duties in a professional and respectful manner. Jumoad also noted that unlike the Marcos-era martial law, the freedom of expression and freedom of the press are still very much alive in Mindanao.Villafuerte said the people have no reason to be apprehensive over the possible extension of martial rule in Mindanao, considering that there have been no reports of widespread violations by the military or police on the island ever since it was first imposed in May last year. President Duterte first ordered martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after local terrorists laid siege on Marawi City. He asked for a five-month extension that lasted until Dec. 31, 2017 after the 60-day declaration lapsed in July. A second extension was granted by the Congress continuing the period of martial until Dec. 31, 2018. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, said it has yet to receive any documented human rights violations or complaints amid the implementation of martial law in Mindanao. AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo made the statement in an interview with reporters Wednesday, noting that martial law in Mindanao is being implemented with respect for human rights. Martial law (is being) implemented (with respect) for human rights, we enforce it with adherence to existing laws (and) so far wala tayong nakukuhang dokumentadong mga reklamo sa ginagawa nating pag-iimplement ng martial law (we are still to receive any documented complaints regarding our implementation of martial law), Arevalo said. Earlier, the AFP spokesperson said the military is inclined to recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao. Well, yun nga ang sinasabi natin, successful yung ating conduct ng security (operations). (As we said, our conduct of security operations are successful) but we have to sustain those gains and even yung (the) local governments, marami sa kanila ang nagpahayag ng kagustuhan, sa pamamagitan ng mga statements na in-issue nila (many of them expressed desire through their statements which they issued), some have issued resolutions wanting to continue the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, so kinakalap natin lahat itong mga inputs na ito para ating pag-aralan upang sa ganun makakuha tayo ng conclusive additions dun sa mga (we are collecting all these inputs which we will study so we can obtain conclusive additions to the) reasons if we are to extend martial law , he added. But more likely, the AFP will recommend its extension base dun sa mga initial na nabanggit ko (from what I have initially mentioned), said Arevalo, who declined to give a specific timeframe on its extension. Malacanang earlier said it would depend on the recommendation of the AFP on whether martial law will be extended after the end of the year. Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017 following attacks launched by the Maute Group in Marawi City. The House of Representatives, in a special joint session in July last year, granted the extension of martial law until Dec. 31, 2017 at the Presidents request. The Senate and House of Representatives, convening in a joint session early December, subsequently granted President Rodrigo Dutertes request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a period of one year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018. The three-month programme will help SMEs refine their business models and adopt digital solutions particularly those in online sales and marketing The FinLab, a fintech and innovation accelerator under United Overseas Bank (UOB), has announced the launch of Smart Business Transformation Programme (SBTP) to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand to transform their business through digital solutions. The three-month programme will help participating SMEs refine their business models and adopt digital solutions particularly those in online sales and marketing. Mentors from The FinLab, UOB (Thai) and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) will also guide participating SMEs to identify the unique issues they face in their business and equip them with the tools and knowledge needed to innovate. The SMEs will then be matched with a suitable technology solution provider to address their concerns and to pilot the implementation of the solution. SMEs in the F&B, FMCG, construction, logistics, retail, wholesale, and travel industries can apply. They should already have an annual turnover of between THB 25 million (US$760,000) and THB 1 billion (US$30M) and are looking to go regional. Applications will be accepted until January 2019, and the SBTP will commence in April 2019. SBTP comprises workshops, mentoring sessions and meetings with various technology solutions designed to catalyse the SMEs digital transformation. Apart from gaining a better understanding of how different technologies can be integrated into their businesses, the SMEs can deepen their digital capabilities by piloting solutions which harness technologies such as data analytics, AI and IoT. Also Read: The FinLab wants to bring SMEs into the accelerator circuit It will also provide an opportunity to co-create with the selected SMEs to strengthen their product-market fit and widen their product offerings, as well as the potential for networking, increased exposure and business growth in the ASEAN region. Story continues Global technology companies and startups can also participate in the programme as solution providers. The value of this upcoming SBT Thailand programme comes up to THB 910,000 (US$27,700) per participating SME. This covers the cost of professional trainers, mentors, media coverage and events organised around this programme. Thailand is the first market outside of Singapore where The FinLab offers the SBTP. In August 2018, 11 Singapore-based SMEs graduated from the programme. According to the findings of an online survey by The FinLab, Thai SMEs said their top two business growth strategies were to enter new markets (54 per cent) and to use online marketing (51 per cent). Social media marketing (62 per cent) and digital marketing (61 per cent) were their preferred methods to increase sales and to improve customer engagement. However, while Thai SMEs were keen to tap digital solutions to enhance their online presence, they were concerned about the cost (67 per cent) and complexity (44 per cent) of implementation. The post FinLab expands its SME accelerator programme into Thailand appeared first on e27. IN PHOTO: The Department of Transportation (DOTr), with the help of the French Government, jumpstarts the feasibility study for an urban cable car project in Metro Manila, in a program held at the DOTr Clark Office in Pampanga today, 14 November 2018. MANILA, Philippine The Philippines and the French government has begun the conduct of a feasibility study on the proposed cable car system for Metro Manila. Representatives from both governments kicked off the first technical meeting for the 450,000 (P27M) transport project on Wednesday (November 14) at the regional office of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in Clark, Pampanga. Based on the initial discussions, the technical working group proposed the construction of the cable car system in Metro Manila. Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, however, suggested that the cable car system be established in La Union-Baguio route or in Caticlan-Boracay route. UNTV News and Rescue The post France funds study on proposed Metro Manila cable car system appeared first on UNTV News. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking at the Asean summit press conference on 15 November, 2018. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman/Yahoo News Singapore) The America First policy means the US would engage the Indo-Pacific region with an emphasis on a fair and reciprocal relationship, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (15 November) at the end of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Singapore. As such, the region has to get used to the shift in the US policy, Lee said during the summits press conference held at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Lee noted that the superpower has been generous in opening its market, making investments and providing regional security. But now they say, thats not good enough I want every deal to count. And that will mean a very different relationship and we have to get used to it if the US decides that this is the direction they would go in the long term. Responding to a question by a reporter on the absence of US President Donald Trump at the summit, Lee stressed that these things happen, citing former US President Barack Obamas absence at a previous summit. I have no doubt that (US Vice-President Mike Pence) conveys his Presidents intent and has conveyed accurately what his presidentwanted him to register (at the summit), said Lee. Pences presence at the summit underscored the emphasis that Trump gives to the region, he added. Major powers influence in the region Earlier on Thursday, Pence told leaders of Southeast Asian nations at the summit that there was no place for empire and aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, in a veiled reference to Chinas growing military strength. While Pence did not mention the country in his remarks, he noted that small countries, as well as large ones, should be allowed to prosper in the region. Lee stressed that Southeast Asian countries did not want to take sides when they are pulled in different directions by the major powers. But circumstances may come when Asean may have to choose one over the other, Lee said. I hope it does not happen soon. Story continues It is the easiest not to take sides if everyone is on the same side. But if you are friends with two countries which are on different sides, sometimes it is possible to get along with both, sometimes it is more awkward if you try to get along with both, he added, without mentioning any countries. Enormous impact of Chinas economy On Chinas economy, Lee said he hoped the country would maintain its open trade policy with the world. Singapore businesses have participated in Chinas development in a big way and at the national level, Singapore has been involved in a modest way in government-to-government projects, such as those in Tianjin and Chongqing. Given its progress, China has to consider the enormous impact its economy has on the world. Consequently, it would need to look at updating arrangements that are politically tenable and acceptable in many countries, Lee noted. In response to a question on Chinas ties with Asean, Lee referred to the Asean-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, approved at the 21st China-Asean summit on Thursday. And if you look at it in context, it is a direction which is compatible with China continuing to open up and engage with the world, on the basis that it is win-win, which will help other countries to welcome Chinas continued growth and emergence as it takes its rightful place in the world, he added. During the summit, leaders from Asean Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam met their counterparts from China, the US, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Many of them will head to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Papua New Guinea this weekend. Asean will hold its 34th summit in the Thai capital Bangkok next year. Related stories: Rohingya crisis besieges Suu Kyi at Singapore summit Is Donald Trumps no-show at Asia summits a sign of waning US influence in region? Pence says empire and aggression have no place in Indo-Pacific Three things we learnt from: Dr Ms visit to Singapore Leave if you are not happy, Qantas Airways CEO Alan Joyce said in response to renewed threats by Qatar Airways to quit a global airline pact amid a brewing dispute over the Gulf carriers expansion plans. The head of the Australian airline told the Post earlier this week that nobody should be in an alliance where they believe its not working for them. Both companies are part of Oneworld, a grouping of some of the worlds top airlines, including Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific Airways. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has threatened for years to pull out of the pact. He revived the warning last month, then reiterated his comments on Tuesday, citing a letter allegedly sent by Qantas to its staff attacking the Gulf airlines push into Australia. Al Baker, who has defended the expansion as being done at the invitation of the Australian government, said he doesnt see any point staying in the alliance. In his first public comments since the rift made headlines, Joyce said: Our view has been very simple, were after fair competition. He said this was what Qantas wanted from the Australian governments bilateral discussions with other nations on aviation, adding: Nobody could say there is anything wrong with that. Elaborating on what he meant by fair competition, Joyce said the general thinking was that companies were economically independent and not cross-subsidised by a government. If aviation was governed by the World Trade Organisation, there would be some dumping cases against people for going in well below cost to force people off routes and markets. We think those rules should apply to aviation markets, he added. Oneworld, which has 13 core members, is one of the big three global airline pacts. The others are Star Alliance, whose top members include Singapore Airlines, and Skyteam, which counts Delta Air Lines among its leading carriers. Customers of member airlines share perks and benefits across the wider grouping, including air miles for flights and access to facilities such as airport lounges. Story continues Among the big draws for travellers on Qatar Airways are its low prices for long-haul destinations, particularly in business class, often as low as US$1,000 for a return ticket between Europe and Australia. Qantas CEO said, however, that the companys customers would not lose out as a result of the dispute, as its pact with Emirates Qatars arch-rival along with Air France and KLM would allow it to replace any lost destinations only served by the Doha-based carrier. Weve plenty of other alternative mechanisms, which is the way our network is designed, Joyce said. People have a lot of choice on the Qantas-coded network to get to the same European points that they had been using Qatar. As for the threat to quit Oneworld, he said: If they decide to leave, it is because it is no longer working for them. Nobody should be in an alliance where they believe its not working for them. If Qatar feel they do better outside of Oneworld, that is up to them. Oneworld said it was keen to see its members resolve their differences quickly. Like any family, there are times when our members have differences on specific issues. We hope they can be resolved quickly so that all parties can focus fully on what is important for us all delivering great service to customers, a spokesman said. Willie Walsh, CEO of British Airways parent International Airlines Group (IAG), told Londons financial community two weeks ago it was highly likely Qatar Airways would leave, in the first independent comments that validated the exit warnings. Al Bakers comments were a genuine threat, but such a move would not impact BAs business relations with Qatar Airways, Walsh said, as the two companies had discussed the implications of an exit on each others business. Qatar owns a 20 per cent stake in IAG and has a 10 per cent stake in Cathay Pacific and LatAm, the pan-Latin American carrier. Its stakes in foreign carriers were evidence Qatar doesnt need to be in an alliance, Al Baker told the audience at an International Air Transport Association conference in Spain on Tuesday. I dont see any point in us continuing to stay a part of Oneworld when other partners see us as a threat, the CEO said at the event, according to a Bloomberg report. The Post reached out to Qatar Airways for comment but did not receive a reply. This article Leave if youre not happy, Qantas CEO tells Qatar Airways in response to Oneworld exit threats first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. The wife of Malaysia's toppled ex-leader was hit with two new corruption charges Thursday for allegedly accepting bribes worth 189 million ringgit ($45 million) to help a firm secure a government solar power contract. Rosmah Mansor -- widely reviled in Malaysia due to her penchant for lavish overseas shopping sprees -- has already been charged with money laundering and tax evasion related to a billion-dollar scandal that helped topple her husband's government at polls in May. Court documents showed the new charges related to Rosmah seeking and receiving payments in connection with a solar project in schools in the eastern state of Sarawak in 2016 and 2017. Rosmah, 66, pleaded not guilty to both charges and was freed on a 1 million ringgit bail. The court will fix the trial dates on December 10. Rosmah, who has already been hit with 17 charges of corruption and money-laundering, had faced fresh questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday. She faces up to 40 years in jail if found guilty of the two new charges. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her. In a separate case Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, a former minister close to Najib, was charged with corruption Thursday for improperly receiving 3 million ringgit related to land deals in 2013 and 2016. Tengku Adnan pleaded not guilty and was freed on bail. He will reappear in court on December 12 when trial dates will be fixed. Allegations of corruption swirling around Rosmah and her husband, former prime minister Najib Razak, contributed his coalition's shock election loss in May. Najib and his cronies are accused of plundering billions of dollars from state investment fund 1MDB to buy up super-yachts, Van Gogh artwork and finance a Hollywood blockbuster. He has also been arrested and hit with a barrage of corruption charges. He denies any wrongdoing. Since 2014, about 200 members of the religious group have arrived each year on Jeju Island, off southern South Korea. China has banned the sect as an evil cult. For the South Korean government if claimants can prove religious persecution, they can remain; otherwise they have to leave. The relatives of some asylum seekers demand South Korea send them back, claiming they were brainwashed. Seoul (AsiaNews) Hundreds of members of the Church of Almighty God, a sect established in China, have asked the South Korean government for political refugee status claiming that they are persecuted by Chinese authorities. The members of the group, which China considers an evil cult, want to remain on Jeju Island, off the southern coast of South Korea, where they arrived months ago. In the case of some asylum seekers, relatives have called on the South Korean government to send our family members back as soon as possible claiming they were brainwashed. The Church of Almighty God has about 4 million members and a complex history. The religious group was founded in the 1990s, has some vague Christian elements (mixed with Taoism), and claims that Christ was reincarnated in a woman from the Chinese province of Henan. The government outlawed the group about 12 years ago when some members began to have apocalyptic visions of the end of the world and urged their comrades to "slaughter the red dragon", a clear reference to the Communist Party. The sect is one of the cults deemed "evil" by Beijing, its members accused of violence and subversive activities. In 2015, two of them - allegedly members of the sect - were executed for the murder of a woman. Following the incident, hundreds of sect members were arrested. In China, the government claims the right to differentiate between "evil", "good" and "authorised" cults. For a long time, several academics and lawmakers have called on the authorities to adopt a law on religious freedom, curbing the power of the state in strictly religious matters, whilst granting them powers to prosecute criminal actions. Often, as in the case of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, persecution and of "evil cult" status have purely political motivations. Many in the military are in Falun Gong and the government fears that the "cult" could lead to the overthrow of the communist system. With respect to the Jeju Island applicants, Kang Young-woo from the local Immigration Office told The Korea Times that about 200 asylum seekers have arrived each year since 2014. "We evaluated their refugee applications strictly based on the Korean Refugees Act," Kang explained. "The laws state that those at risk of government persecution for religious reasons can be granted refugee status. "Most of the applicants, however, didn't provide detailed, credible explanations on how they were actually persecuted in China. They just claimed they had concerns that they might be persecuted had they stayed there." RINGIN TO BE HOME. The Balangiga bells of the Philippinestwo from Wyoming and one from the US base at Camp Red Cloud in South Korea, taken as war trophies during the bloody Philippine-American warare marking time for their arrival back after 117 years, their echoes raising the spirits of Filipinos excited about the homecoming expected to hasten the diplomatic and historical healing between the two allies. Photo by DFAs Elmer Cato READ: Balangiga plaza to transform into memorial The Spize Restaurant outlet at River Valley Road is suspended amid a gastroenteritis outbreak. (PHOTO: Spize @ River Valley Facebook page) The gastroenteritis outbreak at the River Valley outlet of popular Asian fusion restaurant Spize saw its first fatality on Wednesday (14 November). Fadli Salleh, 38, had been in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Sengkang General Hospital after eating bento-box meals prepared by Spizes River Valley outlet for an event on 6 November. Fadli was married with two young children. A total of 72 people suffered gastroenteritis inflammation of the stomach and intestines allegedly after consuming food from Spize, growing from an initial news report of 49 cases. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday that nine people remained in hospital in stable condition, while 36 had been discharged. Food was for Deepavali celebration The food was catered for a Deepavali celebration organised by security company Brinks Singapore, and held at its premises in Kaki Bukit. Fadli attended the gathering as he had been deployed to Brinks Singapore as an employee of Sats, the chief ground-handling and in-flight catering service provider at Changi Airport. The event itself did not involve Sats. A Sats spokesperson said that the company is providing support to his family during this sad and difficult time, while Brinks Singapore also said, We are deeply saddened to know that the employee of our business partner has passed away. This is a tragic situation, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family. He was a loyal colleague with a strong work ethic and dedication to serving our customers and his colleagues. We will miss him. We keep working closely with public health authorities as they investigate the cause of the illness. Several hygiene lapses were observed MOH, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) were first notified of the cases on 7 November, and conducted a joint inspection of the restaurants premises on the same day. A joint statement by the three authorities on 9 November said, Several hygiene lapses were observed, including leaving ready-to-eat food uncovered in a chiller, not providing soap for hand-washing (soap dispenser was faulty) and slotting knives for preparing ready-to-eat food in the gap between the food preparation tables. Story continues Spize, which serves Asian and Mediterranean food, had supplied 88 bento sets to Brinks Singapore. Its co-owner, Haresh Sabnani, told The Straits Times that on that day, 221 bento sets were sent to six different locations, but only that one location was affected. He added that he had reached out to Fadli and his family, but we received an email from Sengkang General Hospital asking us to respect the familys privacy. So, we will be giving him and his family space. Licence suspended until health risks addressed Haresh, 40, founded Spize with his brother Anil, 43. They have three other outlets, in Bedok, Rifle Range Road and Siglap. With effect from 9 November, NEA has suspended the licence of Spize Restaurant at River Valley Road. The suspension will be in place until NEA is satisfied that the public health risks have been addressed. Related story: Spize Restaurant at River Valley suspended amid 49 gastroenteritis cases "Please enjoy your meal," says Nepal's first robot waiter, Ginger, as she delivers a plate of steaming dumplings to a table of hungry customers. The poor Himalayan nation is better known for its soaring mountain peaks than technological prowess, but a group of self-taught young innovators are seeking to change that. Local start-up Paaila Technology built Ginger, a 1.5 metre (five-foot) tall robot, from scratch and programmed her to understand both English and Nepali. The bilingual humanoid robot -- named Ginger after a common ingredient in Nepali cuisine -- can even crack jokes like Apple's Siri or Amazon's Alexa. Three 'Gingers' work at Naulo restaurant in the dusty capital Kathmandu, where pot-holed roads and crumbling buildings still bear the scars of a powerful earthquake that hit more than three years ago. "This is our testing ground. We are fine tuning it with responses from our customers," Binay Raut, CEO of the company, told AFP. The team of 25 young engineers -- Raut is the oldest at 27 -- worked for months to build the robot, welding and moulding the prototype by hand in their tiny three-roomed office. What Nepal lacks in tech infrastructure the engineers made up for in ingenuity -- Ginger's sleek-looking plastic body was painted in a neighbourhood car workshop. Naulo opened its doors four months ago and their robot waiters have been a big draw, attracting curious customers of all ages. Ginger, who is able to sense movement and obstacles, deftly navigates the crowded restaurant carrying trays laden with food. Customers order via a touch screen menu fitted into the tables, and Ginger is called to the kitchen when dishes are ready. "It was a completely new experience," said 73-year-old Shalikram Sharma, who was born before televisions were available in Nepal. Ginger has become quite a selfie-star and is often distracted from her work by children keen to get a photo with the sleek robot. "They look so good. I could not believe they were made in Nepal," said Neelam Kumar Bimali, a diner enjoying an evening meal with his family. With its eyes on the global market, Paila Technology is in the process of patenting its design to sell at home and abroad. The World Economic Forum recently predicted that by 2025 more than half of all jobs will be performed by robots -- almost twice as many as today. That is a trend Ginger's creators are banking on. At present, a few human waiters help Ginger but an upgrade is in the works that should make Naulo entirely robot-run. In Pakistan's bleak Thar desert, the roar of trucks is constant at a massive Chinese-backed coal power project the government sees as an answer to chronic energy shortages, but which activists warn is an environmental disaster. Machines are running round the clock to finish the mine and coal power plant, a flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) plan that has seen Beijing provide billions of dollars in financing to its southwestern neighbour. Much of it is for infrastructure and power in a country where blackouts have infuriated citizens and hamstrung the economy for years. And while coal is going out of vogue in most other parts of the world because of its environmental impact, it will fuel nine of the 17 proposed CPEC power plants. The one in Thar in southern Sindh province sits atop 175 billion tonnes of coal -- one of the largest deposits in the world. Discovered in 1992, it has remained unexploited until now, but is expected to yield 3.8 million tonnes a year when fully operational. A few kilometres away, towering chimneys emerge from the sand dunes as Pakistani and Chinese workers toil away on a 660-megawatt power plant which will burn coal from the mine. After struggling for years to upgrade its power infrastructure, Pakistani leaders have touted CPEC as a "game changer" that will help lift the ailing economy, dismissing concerns that Chinese financing will lead to unsustainable debts and that the projects are boosting Beijing's interests at Islamabad's expense. "We are five months ahead of schedule," said Shams Shaikh, director-general of the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), a joint China-Pakistan venture that has invested around 1.7 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in the Thar mine-and-plant project. Experts say the site should be able to produce 200,000 MW of electricity over the next hundred years -- a boon for the energy-starved country where demand increases by eight percent each year, according to official statistics. - Water warning - Despite the fanfare and government assurances, the project has triggered concern about its impact on the environment. The type of coal in Thar is lignite, notorious for its poor energy efficiency and high carbon dioxide emissions. Project officials insist its operations will comply with national and international environmental laws. But mining coal and burning it for power are water-intensive activities, and villagers in this impoverished, vast stretch of desert say the project is playing havoc with local supplies. Underground rivers which previously flowed into the mine have been diverted, and residents of Gorano, a small village some 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the coal project, claim their pastures have been transformed into a salt lake due to water diversions and the dumping of waste. "It's complete chaos," said Raja who goes by one name, while another local, Yameen Bhatti, added: "The (diverted) water has attracted mosquitoes, which spread diseases." SECMC says it has given 950 million rupees ($7 million) to the community as compensation, but after the floodwaters recede, experts warn the residents will probably continue to struggle as the thirsty power project will consume a huge amount of ground water. Environmental concerns about Pakistan's coal spree go beyond the villages of Thar. The UN has warned that the country risks an "absolute" water shortage by 2025, and activists have warned about the impact of such industries on increasingly scarce water supplies. Officials have said that the country's new coal plants will use the most efficient technology available to minimise pollution. - Coal vs renewable energy - Pakistan's push to build coal-fired plants comes amid a global drive to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy like solar and wind. "While the rest of the world is abandoning coal, we are throwing ourselves into this disaster," said Omar Cheema, an environmental expert. Some experts and officials have also suggested it would be cheaper to invest in renewables as the price of solar and wind is dropping, and several international studies have also shown that coal is no longer competitive. Irfan Yousuf, director of renewables at the Ministry of Energy, estimated the per-kilowatt price of solar power at 4.8 rupees, compared with 8.5 rupees for coal. But Pakistani authorities argue that using local coal would help cut fuel imports, saving precious billions in foreign exchange, and would also provide reliable power round the clock, unlike fluctuating output from renewable sources. Some have compared Pakistan with neighbouring India, which has announced ambitious plans to invest in renewable energy. But India is heavily dependent on coal, which provides more than 75 percent of its electricity. In Pakistan, it accounts for less than one percent. The Pentagon will trim the number of US troops deployed across Africa as it concentrates more on countering threats from "Great Power" competitors Russia and China, officials said Thursday. Currently, about 7,200 US military personnel are based in dozens of African nations, with notable footprints in places like Somalia, Nigeria and Libya. Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Candice Tresch said that figure would be reduced by about 10 percent over the next few years. Tresch did not say which countries would see a draw down, but said the Pentagon would not lose capability across the continent and efforts would in some instances shift more to training and advising local forces. "We will preserve a majority of our US security cooperation, partnerships and programs in Africa that strengthen our partner networks and enhance partner capability and ongoing programs," Tresch said. "We will realign our counter-terrorism resources and forces operating in Africa over the next several years in order to maintain a competitive posture worldwide." The move comes as the Pentagon works on implementing President Donald Trump's sweeping National Defense Strategy (NDS), which highlights a new era of "Great Power competition" with Moscow and Beijing. On Wednesday, a bipartisan congressional panel that reviewed the NDS said America's focus on counter-insurgency operations this century has seen its military advantages slip in other warfighting areas. The US military presence in Africa gets little attention in America, but was thrust into the spotlight last year when four American soldiers and four members of Nigerien partner forces were killed in a jihadist ambush. WASHINGTONThe state of Texas executed a Mexican man who was sentenced to death after being convicted of killing his wife and two small children. Roberto Moreno Ramos, 64, was put to death by lethal injection in the penitentiary at Huntsville, Texas, the state corrections system said. He was sentenced to death in 1993 for bludgeoning his wife and two of their children, aged seven and three, with a sledgehammer in 1992 in the town of Progreso, near the Mexican border, where the family had been living for several years. Ramos hid the bodies under the tiling of the bathroom in their house and three days later married his mistress, who had no idea he was married. The bodies were found two months later. During his 25 years on death row, Ramos lawyers have argued in vain that he suffered from brain damage and is bipolar. Mexico and human rights groups have long maintained that Ramos was not informed that he could have access to legal aid from the Mexican consulate, a right guaranteed by the 1963 Geneva Convention of which the US is a signatory. His execution would constitute a flagrant violation of human rights and international law, the Mexican government said Monday. After the execution, the Mexican government government issued a statement condemning it.The death penalty is a grave violation of human rights and cruel and inhuman sanction, it said. UN experts have said the execution would be arbitrary while the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on Texas to fully respect its international human rights obligations. In 2003, the Mexican government took Ramos case, and those of 50 other Mexicans on death row in the United States, to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The court agreed that they had been denied their consular rights and ordered their cases to be re-examined. But the US Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that US states were not obliged to implement decisions of the ICJ. Since then, five Mexican nationals have been executed, all of them in Texas, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Twenty people have been executed so far this year in the United States, 10 of them in Texas. Eight United Nations peacekeepers were killed in an operation against a rebel militia in eastern DR Congo, the UN Security Council said on Thursday. One Tanzanian and seven Malawian peacekeepers were killed, the council said, raising the toll from an earlier count. The deaths mark the biggest loss by the large UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the rebels killed 15 troops nearly a year ago. Earlier Thursday, General Bernard Commins, deputy head of the MONUSCO peacekeeping force, said a joint operation had been launched with DRC troops on Tuesday against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadi group blamed for bloody attacks on civilians. The offensive aimed at Kididiwe, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Beni, a city of between 200,000 and 300,000 inhabitants, said Commins. "We are holding Kididiwe at present, after violent fighting with an armed group. At present, we are evacuating wounded Congolese troops and Blue Helmets," he told AFP. He added he was unable to provide any information about reports at that time of fatalities. Malawi's armed forces confirmed earlier that four of its soldiers with MONUSCO -- a sergeant and three privates aged between 29 and 38 -- had been killed on Wednesday. The military "has lost courageous, hardworking and disciplined soldiers who were always ready to serve to ensure that peace prevails," the Malawi Defence Force said in a statement. It gave no further details on where or how they died. Commins described Kididiwe as a "major stronghold" of the ADF. A Congolese officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the town had been used as a springboard for militia attacks on Beni's suburbs this year. On Wednesday, Commins said MONUSCO had deployed attack helicopters against ADF forces threatening UN troops in the Mayangose area, northeast of Beni. The region is also battling an Ebola outbreak that has left more than 200 dead. Insecurity is hampering efforts to contain the disease, the UN spokesman said. In its statement the Security Council "underlined that deliberate attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law." The Council called for a swift investigation from Congolese authorities and warned that attacks against UN personnel constitutes a basis for sanctions. - Notorious militia - The ADF is an Islamist-rooted group that rose in western Uganda in 1995, led by Jamil Mukulu, a Christian turned Muslim. Forced out of Uganda, it operates in the border area in the DRC's North Kivu province. It has been blamed for recruiting and using child soldiers, killing hundreds of civilians since 2014, as well as 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers, who died in an attack in December 2017. Those fatalities were the biggest loss of life in a UN peacekeeping force since 1993 when 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Somalia during clashes with a local warlord. On Monday, MONUSCO's head, Leila Zerrougui, sounded the alarm over violence in the eastern DRC, saying it cast a shadow over the country's elections on December 23. "I have grown increasingly alarmed over the situation in Beni in recent months, where we continue to face major challenges in implementing our mandate," she added. "There is a potential for armed group interference in elections in specific areas throughout eastern DRC," she said. MONUSCO has around 17,000 members, making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations. Created in 1999 during the Second Congo War, it has an annual budget of $1.153 billion (1.02 billion euros). Students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong used their graduation ceremony on Thursday to protest against the jailing of local democracy activists and an incoming law regulating use of the national anthem. Youngsters from the social sciences department stood up and chanted: We reject political prosecution, release all political prisoners, during the event at the universitys Sha Tin campus, which was attended by about 4,500 students. Just before university vice chancellor Professor Rocky Tuan Sung-chi began a speech, another group staged a demonstration against national anthem legislation. A small number held up placards and a black banner which read: Anthem law today, Article 23 tomorrow. Hong Kongs legislature will soon begin scrutinising a bill that stipulates anyone who distorts or insults the Chinese national anthem could face a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,380) and a jail sentence of up to three years. Article 23 refers to the section of the Basic Law, Hong Kongs mini-constitution, that says the city must enact legislation against treason, sedition and subversion. Tuan appeared unswayed by the protests as he continued his speech. He urged graduates to stay focused on their ambitions. Dear students, I call on you to cherish and remain true to your aspirations, and to not forget the pure and simple reasons that motivated you at the outset, Tuan said. He recalled a childhood experience that had inspired him to become a biomedical scientist, saying a crab on a beach ignited his curiosity for biology. Such a small organism, but it has such a great ability to adapt to nature, Tuan said. The vice chancellor left Hong Kong in the 1960s for the United States, where he attended high school and later earned a PhD in life sciences from New Yorks Rockefeller University. He took on the leading role at Chinese University last year after the departure of his predecessor, Joseph Sung Jao-yiu. Story continues He did not meet the media after Thursdays ceremony. Student Cheung Chin-kiu, 22, lamented after the event that a number of local pro-democracy activists had been jailed in recent years, including 13 protesters who stormed the Legislative Council complex in 2014 during a demonstration against the governments development plans for the rural northwest New Territories. Professor Chan Kin-man will also face trial this month, Cheung said. Chan is an associate professor in sociology who gave his last lecture at Chinese University on Wednesday. He was one of three founders of Hong Kongs 2014 Occupy movement, which culminated in pro-democracy protests blocking major roads in the city for 79 days. Cheung said the graduation ceremony protest had been carried out in the most gentle way. We only stood to raise a banner and took a moment of silence, he said. Asked for his opinion on Tuan, Cheung said the vice chancellor had rarely spoken to students directly since taking office at the start of the year. This article Students at Chinese University of Hong Kong use graduation ceremony for protest against activist jailings first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. University in Hong Kong surprised as mainland Chinese judges hold Communist Party meeting on its campus Hong Kongs City University has asked a college run by mainland Chinas top court not to host Communist Party meetings on its campus after it was surprised to learn judges pursuing its courses were given a party lecture last month. Eyebrows were raised after local media discovered the National Judges College under the Supreme Peoples Court had uploaded an article to its website about a meeting held by temporary branches of the Chinese Communist Party on October 20 at CityU in Kowloon Tong. The article said those who attended included dozens of mainland judges who were taking doctoral and masters courses at the university. CityU has been running an advanced programme for senior mainland judges for more than a decade. The article, since deleted, said Huang Wenjun, president of the National Judges College, gave a party lecture during the meeting. It said Huang had made four demands on the temporary branches and party members, including the need to talk politics unequivocally, learn socialism with Chinese characteristics in President Xi Jinpings new era, and be brave in fighting incorrect thoughts and actions. Judges were also urged to stick to party discipline and have a good learning attitude. Professor Lin Feng, associate dean of CityUs law school who liaised with the college in organising the courses, said the lecture had caught the faculty by surprise. The faculty did not participate in the meeting, he said. From my discussions with the mainland side, it was like a class meeting, which was mainly about judges discipline while studying in town and being mindful of the nations image, Lin said. But they should also respect one country, two systems, he added, referring to the policy under which Hong Kong is governed. Thats what the rule of law is about. Lin said he had urged the college to avoid hosting party meetings in Hong Kong in future. I have communicated with them that the study in Hong Kong is about professional legal training. Im sure they will avoid doing so in future, Lin said. Story continues He said it should make little difference for a party meeting to be held before or after judges visited Hong Kong. It may also risk going against the spirit of the Basic Law, Hong Kongs mini-constitution, if the judges operated like a party locally or recruited new members, he said. CityU said students were not allowed to use its campus and facilities for political activities. The university maintains political neutrality, it said in a statement after the incident came to light. Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun questioned whether Communist Party branches operating in the city needed to register with the government under the Societies Ordinance. To also said the incident showed party members were operating in different sectors of Hong Kong. Veteran China journalist Bruce Lui Ping-kuen said the party lecture was a key component of party meetings and not just a normal class. He said branches of the party in Hong Kong traditionally operated in private and the incident should cause alarm. Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok urged mainland judges to get in touch with Hongkongers to learn about their way of life and values. I hope these judges can experience the merits of Hong Kong and the importance of freedom of speech and association, Kwok said. If they only want to set up a branch of the party, why come to Hong Kong? Pro-establishment legislator Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, an associate law professor at CityU, refused to comment. I am not in a position to comment, and I was not aware of the arrangement, she said. This article University in Hong Kong surprised as mainland Chinese judges hold Communist Party meeting on its campus first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. SINGAPOREVice President Mike Pence on Thursday took Americas pressure campaign against North Korea to a summit of world leaders, as concerns mount over Pyongyangs key allies easing the sanctions over its nuclear program. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearization. But there has been little progress since, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. The isolated, impoverished North is under heavy sanctions that were imposed over its atomic weapons program, which it has pursued in violation of UN resolutions. Washington insists they must be maintained until the North denuclearizes. But US officials acknowledge the enforcement of the sanctions by the Norths traditional trading partners China and Russia has eased. Meanwhile, Seoul has said it is mulling over lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. In remarks at the opening of a meeting with Southeast Asian leaders, Pence said Americas regional partnership also includes our pressure campaign regarding the North. The meeting in Singapore is also being attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in. We will very much be talking about the need to maintain the pressure program, a senior US official said. It is what got Kim Jong Un to the table. It is incredibly important that the pressure stays on. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also stressed in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations the need to fully enforce sanctions. He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship to ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel, said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. US officials insist on the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted.The North has rejected demands for what it calls unilateral disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washingtons stance is undermining confidence. While Trump has struck an optimistic tone in public, there are indications Pyongyang is not moving quickly enough towards abandoning its nuclear weapons. Trump has skipped this weeks Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organized by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted Americas commitment to the region was steadfast and enduring. In all that we do the United States seeks collaboration not control, he said at the meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. He also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with the rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific, Pence said. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure your nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land and at sea. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, even areas approaching the coastlines of other countries, and has been establishing military installations on disputed outcrops. After Singapore, Pence is heading to Papua New Guinea for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Baybayin is just one of at least 16 different writing systems that were used in pre-colonial Philippines. Illustration by ELLE BATTUNG Excerpts from the article by Chang Casal , CNN Philippines It is believed that there were at least 16 different types of writing systems present around the Philippines prior to our colonization. Baybayin is just one of them, which was said to be of widespread use among coastal groups such as the Tagalog, Bisaya, Iloko, Pangasinan, Bikol, and Pampanga around the 16th century. One theory is that Baybayin got its name from the word baybay, or seashore in Tagalog. When the Spanish arrived, they studied and used Baybayin to communicate with early Filipinos and teach them Catholicism. This could be why Baybayin is arguably the most popular and heavily documented of scripts. As Filipinos began to learn the Roman alphabet from the Spanish, the use of Baybayin, especially in lowland areas, began to disappear. But in upland areas and remote villages that were difficult for colonizers to reach, some scripts remained intact. There are only two places left in the Philippines that have preserved their ancient syllabic scripts: Mindoro, where the Hanuno'o-Mangyan and the Buhid-Mangyan simply call their scripts Surat Mangyan, and Palawan, where the Tagbanua and Palawan groups share a writing system they simply call surat a word meaning writing. Some ethnolinguists and advocates argue that suyat and surat are the best neutral term to use as a general descriptor of our writing systems. Meanwhile, small groups around the country are making initiatives to popularize scripts that are no longer in use, like the Kulitan script of the Kapampangans. Two of the last scripts that remain in use today belong to the Mangyan group of Mindoro, who simply called their writing system "surat." Illustration by ELLE BATTUNG Surat Mangyan The Northern Script of the Hanuno'o Mangyan and the Southern Script of the Northern Buhid remain in existence today likely due to the Mangyans relative isolation in the mountains of Mindoro. Dutch anthropologist Antoon Postma, who lived with the Hanuno'o Mangyan for many years, is also credited for helping document and preserve their scripts. There are 18 basic syllables: three vowels (a, i, u) and 15 consonants followed by the vowel a. In Hanuno'o, a diacritic or kudlit written either at the top or on the right of the symbol changes the vowel to i and u respectively. The scripts of the Hanuno'o and Buhid Mangyan have likely remained in existence until today due to the groups' relative isolation in the mountains. Illustration by ELLE BATTUNG A cutting-off symbol, or pamudpod, was introduced by Postma to eliminate the vowel or indicate a final consonant. Hanuno'o is written vertically from bottom to top and left to right, though it can be read from left to right in horizontal lines. In Buhid, the accent is placed above or below the symbols and is written left to right horizontally. These scripts are traditionally engraved on bamboo with the use of a small pocket knife, and can also be found on wooden objects like tobacco containers, lime containers, house beams, and musical instruments, which are used to accompany the incantation of traditional poems written in the scripts: the ambahan and urukay. These poems are used by Mangyan parents in educating their children, by young people during courtship, and by a host greeting a visitor, among others. They tell of the experience of birth and infancy, parental love and the intimate ties of the family union, of death and decay. These poems are, according to Mangyan poet and National Living Treasure Ginaw Bilog, the key to the Mangyan soul. Postma wrote that the writing system helped the ambahan stay alive, while the existence of the poetry provided the script with sufficient reason (and material) to be used over and over again. Thus, the syllabic script and poetry have mutually assisted each other not to become extinct and forgotten. Tagbanwa/Tagbanua/Apurahuano is the writing system of the Tagbanua group residing in Palawan. Illustration by ELLE BATTUNG Tagbanua and Palawan Similar to the surat Mangyan, the script of the Tagbanua (also known as Tagbanwa) and Palawan groups is a syllabic alphabet consisting of three vowels (a, i, u) and 13 consonants accompanied by the letter a. The script also makes use of a kudlit written above and below the symbol to indicate a change in vowel. Tagbanua script is written in vertical columns from bottom to top and left to right, and read from left to right in horizontal lines. A small knife called pisaw is used to write the script on wooden slabs and bamboo. The script is believed to have originated among the Tagbanua people, who then introduced the writing to the Palawan when Tagbanua workers were taken to Brookes Point in Palawan before the second world war. Both groups are said to have recalled the use of their script in relaying messages and asking for basic goods from friends and family in far off places, as well as in signing legal documents, casting their vote during local, provincial, and national elections, and in writing ownership on animals and trees. Tagbanwa kinship terms from Fletcher Gardner and Ildefonso Maliwanag's "Indic Writings of the Mindoro-Palawan Axis." In English, these words translate to "sibling / cousin / second cousin / the mother / the father / my aunt / uncle / my grandchild / my older sibling / my younger sibling / my relative / my child." Illustration by ELLE BATTUNG The scripts were also reported to have been used in the planting and harvest ritual called lambay it init bau uran, which is done to induce the sun to shine and for the rain to fall during the harvest and planting seasons, and in the pagbuyis, which is done to protect the community from epidemics. The ritual is performed on a large ceremonial platform which a bamboo pole is erected next to and inscribed with syllabic scripts near the top. Today, in contrast to the Mangyan of Mindoro, the Tagbanua and Palawan script is preserved as a cultural relic rather than a communication tool. *** *** Since 1989, Pangilinan and Edwin Navarro Camaya, another Kapampangan cultural advocate, have been corresponding in Kulitan and writing about the script in order to make it more relevant outside of the mystic ways, while Surat Mangyan and the Tagbanua script were declared National Cultural Treasures in 1997 by the National Museum, and were officially inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 1999. Since 1989, Pangilinan and Edwin Navarro Camaya, another Kapampangan cultural advocate, have been corresponding in Kulitan and writing about the script in order to make it more relevant outside of the mystic ways, while Surat Mangyan and the Tagbanua script were declared National Cultural Treasures in 1997 by the National Museum, and were officially inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 1999. The National Museum and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), along with organizations such as the Mangyan Heritage Center, have also worked towards preserving these scripts by establishing schools and other initiatives, encouraging the youths in these communities to learn the scripts of their ancestors. President Donald Trump and his supporters keep using a particular strategy because it works for them: repeat alarmist phrases so many times that they enter the mainstream conversation. Now that the Democrats have regained some congressional oversight by winning the House of Representatives, the Trump administrations new buzzwords are presidential harassment. Mitch McConnell threatened last week that the Democrats will have to decide just how much presidential harassment they think is good strategy. Im not so sure itll work for them. Trump has already codified the term with a grammatically questionable tweet. Advertisement The prospect of Presidential Harassment by the Dems is causing the Stock Market big headaches! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luckily The Daily Show is here to help you make sense of a linguistic landscape where bragging about sexual assault is locker room talk but investigating whether the president of the United States has colluded with a foreign power is harassment. Correspondent Michael Kosta explains in a PSA with warnings like, Dont try to touch the presidents intimate areas, like his tax returns. Thats a private area thats reserved for the presidents wife and his Russian investors. How can the most powerful man in the world be the victim? asked host Trevor Noah. This is like complaining about God being bullied. They said I looked like Santa and thats why I sent the volcano! But if we do want to talk about presidential harassment, how about all those years Trump spent questioning Barack Obamas birthplace in an effort to undermine his presidency? Dumbo began life in the late 1930s as a prototype for a novelty device called Roll-A-Book, which presented illustrated childrens stories on a long scroll, like a portable moving panorama. The authorship is somewhat contested, but three people were involved to some degree in the creation of Dumbo, the Flying Elephant: Helen Aberson Mayer, Harold Pearl (Mayers husband at the time), and illustrator Helen Durney. Animation historian Michael Barrier has traced the storys path to the screen from there: Fred OHara, who ran a Norwich knitting mill that had made a killing selling licensed Mickey Mouse sweatshirts, bought the rights to the story along with the Roll-A-Book device. He then tried to sell the gimmick to Disneys merchandising guru Herman Kamen, who passed it along to story editor John Clarke Rose, who brought it to Disney. Disney passed on the Roll-A-Book, but bought the rights to Dumbo, the Flying Elephant. It wasnt long enough for a feature, but golden age animators Joe Grant and Dick Huemer padded the story out, and supervising director Ben Sharpsteen worked with a team of four other sequence directors to get it on screen. Anyway, heres the first trailer for one-time Disney animator Tim Burtons upcoming live-action remake, which comes from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger that is based on the creative work of hundreds of people, from toy inventors to knitting mill magnates, most of it done decades before Burton was born. Or, as the trailer has it, From the imagination of Tim Burton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burtons possessory credit is just another example of the way Hollywood studios will trash their own history if they think theres a dime to be made from it, and OH MY GOD WHAT DID THEY DO TO THAT ELEPHANT? Is that supposed to beis that CGI? If that elephant is a puppet that exists in the real world, someone should set it on fire. Did the original Dumbo have throbbing veins in his ears? Why do the circus backgrounds look worse than Red Dead Redemption 2? Have they been testing shampoo on Dumbos eyes? WHAT HAPPENED TO DUMBOS EYES? GIVE HIM BACK HIS EYES!!! Advertisement Advertisement In light of the trailer, and specifically Dumbos appearance in the trailer, I would like to retract my earlier complaint about Tim Burton taking too much credit, and extend a personal apology to the families and estates of Helen Aberson Mayer, Harold Pearl, Helen Durney, Fred OHara, Herman Kamen, John Clarke Rose, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, and Ben Sharpsteen for arguing that their names should be associated in any way with the devil creature flapping his way down into the uncanny valley in that trailer. By way of eye-wash, heres the Pink Elephants on Parade sequence from the original Dumbo. An animated portrait of the mental state of an underage elephant on an accidental bender, its the strangest sequence in a very strange movie, and every single frame has more imagination on display than the entirety of the trailer for the remake: Advertisement Advertisement As for the new Dumbo, Tim Burton, its all yours. The stage show turned TV series Fleabag is now heading stateside. Fleabag originated at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival when Phoebe Waller-Bridge delivered a funny, frank one-woman show about sexual desire and grief, earning her multiple Edinburgh Festival Fringe awards. Waller-Bridges play was then expanded into a six-part BBC Television series, in partnership with Amazon in 2016. And as of next year, a version of the original one-person show will debut off Broadway at SoHo Playhouse. Fleabag, the series, follows Waller-Bridges protagonist, a woman named Fleabag, and her life running a failing bakery in London while mourning the death of a friend. The TV version added an ensemble of narcissistic and misguided characters, but pieces of Waller-Bridges original monologues remain in Fleabags frequent asides to the camera, which ring so genuine and raw that they never feel like a gimmick. The off-Broadway version of the show will open March 7, 2019, with previews starting on February 28. In a statement, Waller-Bridge called it a dream come true. Listen to Culture Gabfest No. 529 with Dana Stevens, Laura Bennett, and Stephen Metcalf with the audio player below. Get More Culture Gabfest Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to the Culture Gabfest Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. Or find the Culture Gabfest via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. On Slate Plus, the hosts discuss Ariana Grandes viral single Thank U, Next and their favorite breakup anthems. Go to Slate.com/cultureplus to learn more about Slate Plus and join today. This week, Steve, Dana, and Laura discuss Can You Ever Forgive Me?, a literary biopic that marks a radical departure for star Melissa McCarthy, and how it approaches its unapologetically terrible characters. Next, the critics unpack the appeal of Big Mouth, an animated series about middle-schoolers and their hormone monsters. Its sexual politics are more progressive than other gross-out comedies, but is it appropriate for the teens whose stories it tells? Finally, the gabbers are joined by Slates own Jamelle Bouie to reflect on the legacy of Stan Lee, how he changed our image of superheroes, and why he came to be seen as one himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Links to some of the things we discussed this week: Can You Ever Forgive Me? Marielle Hellers The Diary of a Teenage Girl Can You Ever Forgive Me? Reveals a New Side of Melissa McCarthy by Dana Stevens in Slate Employee of the Month Live in Brooklyn Big Mouth Big Mouth Is So Good It Almost Makes You Miss Middle School by Jack Hamilton in Slate Critics Praise Big Mouth Planned Parenthood Episode. Conservatives Freak Out. by Emily Shugerman in the Daily Beast Big Mouth, reviewed by Inkoo Kang in the Hollywood Reporter RIP Stan Lee, the Man Who Made Comics Cool by Adam Rogers in Wired A History of Stan Lees Cameos in His Comics by Douglas Wolk in Slate Advertisement Stan Lee Was Many Wonderful ThingsSo Please Stop Calling Him Creator of Marvel by Mark Peters in Slate Stan Lee Is Being Remembered by His 1968 Column Condemning Racism by Marcus Jones in BuzzFeed News Fantastic Four (1961) No. 1 Endorsements: Dana: A Final Cut for Orson: 40 Years in the Making and This Is All Trump Has Left by David Roth in Deadspin Laura: Steve Kornacki and Jen Chaneys tribute to him, In Praise of MSNBCs Steve Kornacki Steve: How the War in Yemen Became a Bloody Stalemateand the Worst Humanitarian Crisis in the World by Robert F. Worth in the New York Times Magazine Delacroix at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gracies Luncheonette in Leeds, New York Outro: Felix Johansson Carne (Drum Track) You can email us at culturefest@slate.com. This podcast was produced by Benjamin Frisch. Our production assistant is Alex Barasch. Follow us on Twitter. And please like the Culture Gabfest on Facebook. Every week, Danny Ortberg and Nicole Cliffe discuss a Prudie letter. This week: the angry neighbor. Nicole: KEEP YOUR SON OFF HIS PROPERTY He is clearly unstable!!! He hasnt done anything illegal, so far your seven-year-old should not be wandering solo into yards. Danny: yeah I feel a lot of sympathy for the LW because this guy sounds awful and its deeply troubling that hes describing serial killers to your seven-year-old Nicole: for sure Advertisement Truly an awful dude! Danny: but theres a really obvious solution here And that is to keep your kid out of this guys yard Nicole: He is not approaching kids in their own spaces Danny: especially since it doesnt sound like this neighbor seeks your kid out or tries to hassle him when hes just like, walking home from the bus stop Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole: yep! your son should not be afraid to cross the street but also you need to pay attention to where hes at and make it clear that this place is a no go Danny: right, and it sounds like he complained to you at first, and your son kept going over to his house Advertisement which again, does not justify his saying cruel things to your child, just that the solution here is simple Nicole: Absolutely. there is no solution where you magically convince or threaten him to ignore your child wandering around his property Danny: I know you cant watch your kid like a hawk 24/7, but if you need to keep a closer eye on him until he seems really clear on not being able to go to that guys house, then thats what you should do for what its worth, we edited this one for length, and the serial killer the neighbor described was Albert Fish Nicole: JESUS okay on the off chance he eats your kid PLEASE SUPERVISE HIM Advertisement Danny: yeah. So that is a definite escalation. Id certainly mention it to the other parents in the neighborhood. Nicole: Yeah, I think talking to them about it is reasonable Advertisement Danny: how do you deal with the kids nightmares? [an hour passes] ahoy-hoy Nicole: I have given you ENOUGH. Danny: ahahhaha Nicole: nightmares are hard!! make sure he knows theyre not real and he can come to you whenever hes scared, I wish I had better advice for that one. Danny: yeah its hard because nightmares arent real but serial killers are and There arent very MANY of them can only get you so far Nicole: [nothing] Danny: This is kind of a dark note to end on. I have no children, and Nicole has three, so I was really hoping shed have some great answer for addressing the pains and uncertainties of life for children. But in addition to letting your kid know he can come to you when hes scared, I think it will be helpful to reassure him that hes safe at home with you, that youre looking out for him, and that the serial killer in question lived a long time ago and was caught. Ok we gotta go to print with this one so I will just assume you agree!!! I love This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here. Names in this story have been changed. When Molly Murphy walked into her second school in as many years, she was walking in as just another little girl who likes playing with Shopkins and jumping on trampolines. But that ease didnt last long: After spotting a new classmate at a local pride parade in Californias Bay Area, 7-year-old Molly decided it was time to tell that classmate that shes transgender. Advertisement Her parents cant help but worry what happens each time this happens. What if her friends cant respect her privacy? What if their daughters gender identity becomes the hot topic on the playground, spread through the whisper network from child to child? We dont want to enter new anxiety for her, but we want her to understand what it means if she tells people, Mollys mom, Lisa Murphy, tells me. Once its out of the bag, its out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risk of a secret being shared beyond the confines of a friendship is one kids take every day, but for most, the only danger that lies ahead is a healthy dose of embarrassment. For kids who identify as LGBTQ, the dangers of their gender identity or sexual orientation being shared without their explicit consent are much higher. Theres the bullying that more than one-third of LGBTQ kids face on school property, for example, and the growing number of homicides and other hate crimes against the LGBTQ community. And theres the fact that one in four LGBTQ kids are thrown out of their own homes just for coming out to their parents. Advertisement When I sat down to ask Lucas Smith, a transgender gay teen from New York state, what troubled him most about the rumors passed around his high school about his gender identity and sexual orientation, he shared this statistic, one that followed him through his last two years at high school post-transition: One in 12 transgender people risk being killed just leaving their homes, Lucas told me. (I found this figure repeated in literature from Trans Student Educational Resources, which notes its specific to transgender women.) Advertisement Lucas is in college now, but he recalls being afraid when his school bus pulled into his rural high school parking lot each morning, knowing that other students were driving to school with guns locked and loaded in their pickup trucks. It was never a specific person, he tells me. It was mainly the statistic and the fact that the people who go to that school are small-minded and dont put any effort into learning about what they dont understand. Also, a day didnt go by when some hick didnt talk about hunting or their guns, which added to the paranoia. Advertisement Advertisement Kids talking about him behind his back, spreading the story of his sexuality and gender without his consent and singling him out as that gay trans kid wasnt just a matter of safety. It was also just plain annoying, Lucas mom, Allison, said. He just wanted to be himself. He didnt want to be a freak show or a science experiment that people had to analyze, Allison told me. Its not who he is. Yes, being transgender is obviously part of his makeup, but thats just a small part of who he is. It was none of their business, Lucas added. Advertisement When most ally parents sit their kids down to talk about gender and sexuality issues, the focus of the conversation is on acceptance. The kids should be accepting of friends who identify on the LGBTQ spectrum, and hey, Johnny or Susie, if you happen to be anything other than cisgender or straight, Mommy and Daddy love you and support you too. Its the sort of talk I had with my daughter a decade ago, long before she came out to me as omnisexual. I wanted her to know shed be safe and loved no matter who she was. I wanted her to provide the same open arms to her friends. Advertisement It wasnt until she actually opened up to me in the front seat of our car one summer afternoon, asking if it was OK that she liked boys and girls, that I realized the usual talk about acceptance is only half of the puzzle. I was thrilled for her self-recognition and relieved she felt safe talking to me, but also afraid: How would other people handle this development? Id prepared my daughter to be open with me about her sexuality, but I hadnt talked to her about what to do when a friend comes out to you. I should have explained that coming out is a personal process, and being trusted with someone elses story does not mean you have the right to repeat it. What happened if all the other parents had similarly failed? What if they hadnt prepared their kids to help keep mine safe? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An estimated nine in 10 LGBTQ youth say theyre out to their close friends, and 64 percent are out to their classmates. Its the latter number that may give parents like meparents of LGBTQ kidsthe most pause. Are those kids keeping our kids stories close? Have their parents told them that its not only good to accept their friends, but also important to respect their right to choose who knows their identity? I live in the same rural area where I grew up, where my own childhood best friend stayed closeted until we both left for college in New York City. I remember the moment he told methe cold stone of the Washington Square fountain piercing the cotton of my T-shirt, my uh, yeah expression. Wed been best friends since the third grade. I knew who he was but knew, too, that in our town, talking about it was dangerous. Advertisement It was a secret important to keep in a small town where nowin 2018the high school parking lot is filled with vehicles bearing Trump 2020 bumper stickers and Confederate flag license plates. Since the election of Donald Trump as president, anti-gay sentiment hasunsurprisinglyaccelerated in towns like mine and cities all across America. Survey data released by GLAAD show that in 2017, for the first time in four years, Americans were found to be less accepting of LGBT people than in years past. Less accepting of kids like Molly and Lucas and my daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Today, talks about gender and sexuality continue in my house, but Ive taken them several steps in another direction. Acceptance is always there, but so is caution. I remind my child she has to be careful with her own story and careful with those of her friends as well. If they come out to you, I told her, thats their business. Keep it close. You dont know whom they might need to hide it from. It could be their classmates. It could be their own parents. Advertisement Advertisement For the Murphys, Mollys gender identity being a need-to-know-only secret is not the ideal. But moving her to a new school and allowing her to start over was the only way to regain the happy little girl they once knew. After shed announced her new name and pronouns at her first school, shed encountered bullying and rampant misgenderingsome accidental, some purposeful. Several parents went to the school principal to protest, and one belligerent dad got in Mollys dads face over his daughters right to use the girls bathroom. I thought for a moment that [he] was going to punch me, Kevin recalled. Advertisement Molly took to begging regularly to leave the country, to threatening suicide at just 6 years old. The change to a new school quieted that. Only a few staff know about Mollys gender identity, and none of the children or their parents were clued in until Molly came out to her one pal. Her privacy and control over who knows her story has restored her ability to play Monopoly games and ride roller coasters with the reckless glee we expect from 7-year-olds. Advertisement The Murphys hope that one day Molly will be able to talk more about her gender identity with more friends, and that those friends will understand that this story is hers and hers alone to tell. When Lisa recently asked Molly what it would mean to her if her friend were to share her gender identity story without her permission, the 7-year-old was matter-of-fact. If I tell a friend, and she tells someone else, its kind of like shes just telling them whats in my underpants, and why would you do that? she asked. Good question. Just one day ago, it looked like Britain might finally have a deal for exiting the European Union. Now, it looks just as likely Britain could end up with a new prime minister before this latest round of Brexit chaos subsides. Whats happened so far: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May presented a draft agreement to her Cabinet, establishing the terms for Britains withdrawal, which is due to take place on March 29. After a contentious five-hour meeting, the Cabinet reluctantly approved the agreement, which still must be approved by Parliament. But today, two Cabinet ministers resigned over the agreement, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and several junior ministers. Current Environment Minister Michael Gove, the most prominent pro-Brexit voice remaining in the Cabinet, is thought to be in line to take Raabs job, but according to the BBC, he will take it only if he can renegotiate the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pro-Brexit members of Mays Conservative Party as well as the opposition parties have been trashing the deal in Parliament today. Hard-line Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has called for a vote of no confidence in May, as have up to a dozen other Tories. If 48 Conservative members of Parliament submit letters, it will trigger a vote. May can then either fall on her sword and resign, or try to win the vote. Even if she survives, the breadth and vehemence of the opposition to her deal from both sides of the aisle today suggests she will have a tough fight getting it approved in Parliament, where her coalition has only a very narrow majority. Whats the problem with the agreement? Advertisement The 585-page document, the product of months of negotiations with EU leaders, resolves a number of key issues, including Britains financial obligations to the EU and the rights of EU citizens currently living in Britain and British citizens currently living elsewhere in Europe. A final trade agreement between Britain and the bloc would be negotiated during a 21-month transition period. The most contentious issue in negotiationssurprisingly, given that it was barely discussed in the lead-up to the Brexit referendum in 2016is the status of Northern Ireland. This is the only part of the United Kingdom that has a land border with the EU, meaning that goods crossing it would somehow need to be checked for EU standards and tariffs. Neither side wants to impose a hard border with customs checks, which, it is feared, could imperil the regions hard-won peace. The EU has insisted on whats been called a backstop, an agreement that will keep Northern Ireland in a single market for goods and customs union with the rest of Europe if the two sides cant resolve the issue by 2020. Since this would essentially involve creating an economic border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., it is anathema to British conservativesand even more so to the Democratic Unionist Party, the right-wing Northern Irish party that May has depended on for her parliamentary majority since calling an ill-advised general election last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All this has created whats been called the trilemma. Britain wants to leave the EUs single market, avoid a hard border in Ireland, and keep the country economically united. You can have two of those things, but you cant have three of those things, Amanda Sloat, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions Center on the United States and Europe, told me. Mays agreement includes the backstop, and also keeps Britain as a whole within the EU customs union during the transition period, meaning Britain would not be able to negotiate trade agreements separately from the EU. This is only supposed to be a temporary measure, but Brexiteers fear it could lock Britain into the customs union indefinitely. The deal also appears to give the EU veto power over whether Britain can leave the backstop. Sensing blood in the water, Britains opposition parties arent any more supportive of the deal, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn calling it a leap in the darkan ill-defined deal by a never-defined date. Advertisement So what happens now? Even if May survives todays leadership challenge and then defies the odds by getting her agreement approved by Parliament, the Irish trilemma isnt going away, and no one seems to have a good idea of how to solve it. There are hopes that technological solutions could be put in place to track goods crossing the border without customs posts, but currently this tech, as one official recently put it, is either untested or does not exist. But at the very least, the backstop would buy Mays government some more time to figure out a solution. Advertisement If May is forced to resign by her own party nowor if Parliament rejects her deal, which could lead to her resignation and new general electionsthen its anybodys guess what happens next. Theres little time left to negotiate a new deal with Brussels, and EU leaders have indicated they have little interest in going back to the table. An emergency session of the 27 EU member states is likely to be held later this month to sign off on the current deal. Advertisement Advertisement The prospect of an economically disastrous no deal Brexit is growing steadily. Speaking to Parliament last night, May gave a glimmer of hope to those hoping Brexit might still be avoided altogether, saying, We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated, May told the House of Commons (emphasis mine). Polls suggest voters might now favor a new referendum, though Corbyn has been skeptical of the idea. Whatever happens, the debate will only rage on. Ironically, those who backed Brexit in hopes of removing the EU from British politics have ensured that their leaders will spend the next few years talking about little else. The midterm elections did not give Democrats a singular leader to rally behind, nor did it settle ideological divides in the party. But the results can tell us a lot about the mood among Democratic voters, and what they might be looking for in a 2020 presidential nominee. First, much hay has been made about the choice between progressives on one hand and moderates or centrists on the other. You could read the midterms results as vindication for the latter; outspoken progressives like Kara Eastman in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District and Leslie Cockburn in Virginias 5th Congressional District fell short, while a large number of self-described moderate Democrats flipped Republican-held seats in contests across the country. Advertisement A few facts complicate that analysis. First, aggressive, left-wing candidates had huge success in toppling Democratic incumbents in House and statewide primaries, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New Yorks 14th Congressional District and Rashida Tlaib in Michigans 13th Congressional District, to Andrew Gillum and Ben Jealous in the Florida and Maryland gubernatorial races.* Given the choice between establishment Democrats and progressive insurgents, many Democratic voters chose the latter in their primaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, candidates like Stacey Abrams of Georgia and Beto ORourke of Texas may have fallen short, but the progressive energy behind their campaigns pulled other Democrats in those states across the finish line. Base expansion and mobilization may not have been enough to win in 2018, but those candidates closed substantial gaps and have set the stage for future success. Advertisement Democratic voters are leaning into the multicultural and multiracial nature of their coalition, facing the presidents exclusionary rhetoric with a spirit of inclusion. Theres also the question of moderation itself. Moderate is a relative term; its placement depends on the larger, constantly moving picture. Democrat Max Rose ran as a moderate in his successful bid for the 11th District of New York, which includes Staten Island and went for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Rose emphasized his military servicethe 31-year-old is a veteran of Afghanistanand distanced himself from national Democratic leadership, going as far as saying he wouldnt support Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House. He rejected Medicare for all. But his centrism reflects a Democratic Party that has moved to the left since it last held the House of Representatives. Roses top priorities for health care include a public option for insurance and a Medicare expansion that lowers the eligibility age to 55. Had he served in the 111th Congress, which passed the Affordable Care Act, this position would have put him to the left of the median Democrat and in line with the views of the House Progressive Caucus. While progressive candidates may have lost races on Election Day, Democratic voters have clearly moved to the left, and they expect their candidates to do the same. Advertisement Advertisement Democratic primary voters are still moving in the two directions shown in their choices in the 2016 presidential race. Reflecting the influence of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, they want unambiguously progressive policies. The incrementalism of Hillary Clintons campaign has not worn well in the face of a radical, right-wing Republican presidency. And yet, Democrats still want to make history and elevate candidates from marginal and underrepresented groups. Instead of reacting to President Trumps misogyny and racism by favoring male candidates, Democratic voters are leaning into the multicultural and multiracial nature of their coalition, facing the presidents exclusionary rhetoric with a spirit of inclusion. Advertisement Democrats desire for diversity is increasingly apparent. Democratic voters nominated an unprecedented 180 female candidates in House primaries, as well as 133 people of color, including Native American and Muslim American candidates. Democrats also nominated 21 openly LGBT candidates for Congress. For the first time in the partys history, white men were a minority in the House Democratic candidate pool. And while election officials are still tallying votes in several states, the Democrats incoming class of House members reflects the diversity of their candidate pool. Advertisement This thirst for diversity extended to statewide races. Democrats nominated black candidates for governor in Florida, Georgia, and Maryland, for lieutenant governor in Michigan, for attorney general in Nevada and Illinois, and for Senate in Mississippi. The incoming senator from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema, is openly bisexual, and the governor-elect of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham, is Latina. In CNNs exit polls, 65 percent of voters who valued electing racial and ethnic minorities and 66 percent of voters who valued electing women backed Democratic candidates. It helps explain the striking success of nonwhite candidates in predominantly white districts, like Lauren Underwood of Illinois, Lucy McBath of Georgia, or Antonio Delgado of New York. Advertisement All of this brings obvious takeaways for the 2020 presidential race. Calls for Democrats to nominate Beto ORourke, former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, or Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown make sensethese are talented, charismatic politicians who might improve the partys appeal with downscale whites. But they ignore or dont take seriously the clear preference for diverse candidates among Democratic primary voters. Assuming they run, their odds of winning arent lowSanders was the runner-up in 2016 and Biden is a popular figure in the partybut they arent as high as they might appear either. Advertisement Advertisement The opposite is true for the cohort of white women and people of color who are clearly in the race for president. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren may have stumbled with her attempt to settle questions about her heritage, but shes still in the running. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota may be unknown on the national stage, but they are skilled politicians with demonstrated appeal to rural and working-class whites. The same is true for Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who hasnt made the same moves toward running as her peers but who might appeal to Democratic primary voters for her progressive politics, clear appeal to working-class whites (she won 60 percent of white union households in her re-election bid this year), and history-making potential: She would be the first openly LGBTQ president. Advertisement Advertisement If theres anyone who sits at the intersection of what Democratic voters seem to want in a candidate, its Sen. Kamala Harris of California. A nonwhite woman, she looks like the most active and loyal parts of the Democratic base. A black woman with South Asian heritage, she would make history as president. Shes close to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party (but not so progressive that she doesnt have real opposition on the left, tied to her controversial record as state attorney general) and has built herself up as a tough, unapologetic opponent of the administration (although she has voted for some of Trumps nominees). Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, likewise, would satisfy an apparently strong desire from Democratic voters to elevate a candidate of color to the White House. (This desire is why you also shouldnt dismiss former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who is also considering a bid for the nomination and has support from top Obama allies.) Advertisement Advertisement With all of that said, the very fact of a President Donald Trump should inspire humility about our ability to forecast or predict electoral outcomes. The midterm elections offer strong signals about what Democratic primary voters might want in a presidential nominee, but theres no way to know how these candidates will perform once they hit the trail. Indeed, theres no way to answer the only question that really matters for the 2020 racewho can beat Trump? Listen to Slates The Gist: Get More Gist Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to The Gist Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. Listen to The Gist via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. On The Gist, whos running in 2020? Should we even speculate yet? Time for another segment of Mike debates Slate. Staff writer Henry Grabar is here to discuss Amazons choice of New York City, why people seem to keep misunderstanding what subsidies are, and how the benefits of Amazon moving to Long Island City outweigh the costs to the city. In the Spiel, Jim Acostas White House press credentials and asking multipart questions at press conferences. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at Slate.com/gistplus. Join the discussion of this episode on Facebook. Email: thegist@slate.com Twitter: @slategist Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Pierre Bienaime. It has happened before: the interim appointment of a man unknown and unqualified, except for his open loyalty to the president, to one of the top law enforcement jobs in the federal government. It was May 1972 when President Richard Nixon abruptly elevated Patrick Gray III, a Justice Department official as colorless as his name, to the directorship of the FBI following the sudden death of J. Edgar Hoover. The announcement came as a shock. The conventional wisdom, both outside and inside the bureau, was that one of Hoovers hand-picked executives would run the FBI when he no longer could. The naming of Gray, even on an acting basis, was widely criticized. The president has chosen a highly political and professionally unqualified crony to direct this powerful and semisecret police agency, the New York Times editorialized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a parallel between Donald Trumps selection of Matthew Whitaker to be the acting attorney general, replacing Jeff Sessions, and Nixons appointment of Gray. Both appear to be efforts to personalize law enforcement if not justice itself. Yet there are also marked differences between the two situations that make Trumps brazen selection of Whitaker more disturbing in its implications than Grays appointmentand nearly every other maneuver, legal or political, that Nixon tried in his desperate effort to survive the Watergate scandal. To begin with, Gray was not appointed in the midst of an investigation that threatened to reach inside the Oval Office. The genuine reason for naming him acting director was pedestrian and born out of political caution. For the first time, an FBI director would have to be confirmed by the Senate, with its comfortable Democratic majority. Nixon wanted to avoid at all costs a damaging confirmation battlepossibly even a defeatin an election year. The president regarded the directorship as important as the nomination of a chief justice to the Supreme Court and intended to wait until after the November election to make his final choice. Gray was promised full consideration if he performed creditably, but no more. Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, when the Watergate burglars were apprehended inside the offices of the Democratic National Committee on June 17a month after Grays appointmentthe president was initially comforted by the thought he had installed his own man at the bureau. But that consolation didnt last long. A large corporate donation to Nixons campaign had been laundered through Mexico before ultimately landing in the bank account of one of the burglars, Bernard Barker. The White House wanted Gray to block this aspect from being probed on the specious grounds that it involved CIA equities. Yet he soon proved to be a combination of incapable and/or unwilling to cordon off this portion of the scandal from the FBIs burgeoning investigation. Were having problems with the bureau, White House chief of staff H.R. Bob Haldeman told the president on June 30. Gray doesnt know how to turn them off. Advertisement Advertisement What appeared to be, despite the initial criticism, a neat and tidy political solution in May, in fact, had turned problematic by late June. Gray wanted the permanent appointment, and that put him between a rock and a hard place after the break-in. To win Senate confirmation, he had to let the FBI investigation proceed unimpeded. To get the presidents nod in the first place, however, he had to be as helpful to the White House as possible. That is why he bowed to the request of White House counsel John Dean to disclose to him the results of the bureaus investigation as it proceeded, under the presumption that Dean was acting in an ethical capacity rather than as the desk officer of the cover-up. For the same reason, Gray acceded to the request from Dean and White House domestic adviser John Ehrlichman that Gray take custody of some papers unrelated to the burglary found in the White House safe of E. Howard Hunt, one of the masterminds of the break-in. Both decisions to cooperate eventually proved disastrous mistakes in judgment, though far short of criminal. Advertisement Advertisement The last factor that made for the FBIs annus horribilis under the hapless Pat Gray was leaksspecifically, leaks to Time magazine and the Washington Post in the summer and fall of 1972. Nixon had not foreseen that his determination to have an outsider run the bureau, after 48 years of J. Edgar, would incite a rebellion in the executive ranks led by W. Mark Felt. In this regard, the break-in was an unexpected gift. Leaks about the highly sensitive investigation, Felt promptly realized, would destroy whatever faith the president had in Gray and probably have the added benefit of persuading Nixon that only an insider could be entrusted to run the bureau. Gray, utterly naive about the pestilential waters he was attempting to navigate, never caught onto Felts perfidy. Indeed, the acting director aided Felt in his design by effectively recusing himself from operational involvement in the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Much more could be said about the contours of Grays role in Watergate, including his infuriating (to the White House) Senate confirmation hearings in March 1973. For the first time, Grays testimony focused attention on John Deans role and, by doing so, helped unravel the cover-up. But the marked differences between the circumstances and context of Grays appointment and Matthew Whitakers ought to be clear enough. Who thinks Trump, having already skirted the normal line of succession at Justice, would not have the audacity to nominate Whitaker? If it is possible to be less qualified and credentialedand more partisanfor a senior post than Gray was for the directorship, then Whitaker is a case in point. Following an undistinguished stint as a U.S. attorney in Iowa, he became involved in a Florida company deemed a scam by the Federal Trade Commission. His signal contribution seems to have been invoking his former federal title to bully complaining customers into submission. Afterwards he became executive director of the Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust, one of those pseudo good government nonprofit organizations that thrive in Washington while pursuing a strictly partisan agenda. Advertisement Unlike Gray, Whitaker has been appointed in the midst of scandal, and for the apparent purpose of bringing a duly constituted investigation to heel. Pat Gray made no secret of his loyalty to and admiration for Nixon prior to becoming director. But he did not audition on television for the directorship via a series of prejudicial statements about an ongoing investigation, making claims calculated to win the presidents attention and approbation. It would be one thing if Whitaker regularly offered up sober comments about prosecutorial overreach and otherwise applied legal brakes to overheated speculation. Instead, he acted the part of a cog in the Trump-wing talking-points echo chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Gray tried to appease several masters and ended up disserving and disgracing everyone, from the president to the bureau on down to himself. By contrast, Whitaker seems to have no expectation of being a serious candidate for the permanent nomination. This leaves him politically unbound and free to serve no ones interests save Trumps. The timing and possible duration of Whitakers appointmentTrump doesnt have to send a nomination to the Senate for 210 daysalso give the acting attorney general maximum opportunity to wreak havoc. Even more ominously, if Whitakers ambition is whetted for the permanent appointment, he doesnt have to worry about currying favor among Democrats in the Senate, given how that body has largely behaved over the past two years. Without the ability to filibuster, Democrats could not stop a Whitaker nomination from going through if Senate Republicans held ranks. Advertisement Advertisement Who thinks Trump, having already skirted the normal line of succession at Justice, would not have the audacity to nominate Whitaker? The acting appointment is already a naked power play, rivaled only by Nixons infamous Saturday Night Massacre, in which the president ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox rather than turn over the secret tape recordings that implicated the Oval Office in the cover-up. Advertisement The acting attorney general poses a direct threat not to special counsel Robert Muellers investigation per se, but to the fruits from that probe, if not justice itself. Already Whitaker may be disclosing to the presidents lawyers, a la Pat Grays back channel to John Dean, the evidence investigators and the grand jury have accumulated. He might also attempt to thwart Muellers work far beyond premature disclosure. Now that he has apparently wrested internal oversight away from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Whitaker could try to impede distribution and/or publication of Muellers final report on spurious grounds. Whitaker might refuse to give needed sanction to further steps Mueller wants to take on the basis of the investigation, ranging from a presidential subpoena to more indictments. With the Senate remaining impeachment-proof, the overriding concern of the White House has to be the possibility that Mueller would seek permission to indict the president and/or members of his family. The acting attorney general can quash that effort, though not in secret. Still, if Watergate and the ill-conceived appointment of Pat Gray teaches us anything, it is that Matthew Whitaker may have as much difficulty running the Justice Department as Gray had directing the FBI, especially if career officials perceive Whitaker as hell-bent on removing the blindfold from Lady Justice. Beyond that, the law of unintended consequences often prevails in Washington. Personnel decisions dictated by sheer self-interest have a way of exploding in a presidents face. On Wednesday, in an Office of Legal Counsel memo, the Justice Department made its argument for why Matthew Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general is legal. Heres that argument, in a nutshell: The Constitutions text doesnt really matter; the Framers didnt mean what they said; and an acting attorney general who served without Senate confirmation for six days in 1866 provides the historical precedent to justify Whitakers claim to the office. In other words, Matthew Whitaker appears to be in serious trouble. Advertisement The memo was prepared by Steven Engel, assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel. Engel is neither a hack nor a Donald Trump crony. But his job is to help the attorney general provide legal advice to the president, and its no surprise that he chose to tell his new boss he isnt breaking the law. What is surprising is just how weakhow reliant on a living constitution, how riven with ambiguity and errorthe OLC memo is. If this is the best the Trump administration has, it should expect rough sledding in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engel puts forth two main arguments to bolster the legality of Whitakers appointment. The first is statutory: Engel claims that the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA) controls here, rather than the Attorney General Succession Act (AGSA). Are your eyes glazing over already? Dont worry, this argument is actually straightforward. Both of these laws dictate how the attorney general should be replaced if he leaves office, but they provide different paths. The FVRA says that the president can authorize an acting official to perform the functions and duties of any office, and Whitaker, who previously served as Attorney General Jeff Sessions chief of staff, seems to qualify. The AGSA, by contrast, says that the Deputy Attorney General may exercise all the duties of the attorney general in his absence. That would mean Rod Rosenstein is the true acting AG, and Whitaker is an interloper. Advertisement Which law applies? In a motion filed Tuesday, Maryland argued (quite plausibly) that the AGSA takes precedence over the FVRA. Why? Because the FVRA states that it is not the exclusive means for filling a vacancy when a different statutory provision expressly designates an officer to step in temporarily in an acting capacity. The AGSA does precisely that, assigning the deputy attorney general the duties of the attorney general. So, Maryland says, the AGSA should make Rosenstein, not Whitaker, the acting AG. Advertisement Engel responds to this claim claiming that the president gets to choose which law to follow. The heart of his argument is that the AGSA cross-references the FVRA, citing a provision of the statute providing for the designation of an acting officer. This cross-reference, Engel writes, signals that the laws work in tandem. The deputy attorney general may fill the AGs role, or the president can select somebody else. Advertisement There is a problem with this reasoning: It is incorrect. The AGSA cannot cross-reference the FVRA because it was passed before the FVRA. Engel asserts that the AGSA was designed to work in conjunction with the FVRA, but it was passed decades before. As Fordham law professor and Slate contributor Jed Shugerman noted on Wednesday, you cannot cross-reference a law that did not yet exist. Advertisement But theres a second, deeper problem with Engels insistence that the FVRA supersedes that AGSA: If its true, then the FVRA has been unlawfully applied. The attorney general, like any Cabinet member, is a principal officer in constitutional parlance: He runs a federal agency and answers directly to the president. Under the Constitutions Appointments Clause, a principal officer must be confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker has not received Senate confirmation for any high-level position in the Justice Department. How, then, can his appointment possibly comport with the Constitution? Advertisement Advertisement Engels response rests on a decidedly loose mode of interpretation under which historical practice can override the plain meaning of the Constitution. As Noah Feldman points out in Bloomberg, its a tactic typically adopted by liberal justices eager to square rigid constitutional commands with the contemporary realities of a sprawling, messy government. Engel writes that just because the attorney general is a principal officer, it does not follow that an Acting Attorney General is, too. He cites a series of examples, from the founding era through today, that involved a government official taking on the duties of a principal officer without Senate confirmation. Look closer, however, and youll see that Engels historical evidence isnt nearly as compelling as he implies. Yes, presidents have repeatedly appointed acting principal officers without the Senates advice and consent. But many of these officers served on an ad interim basis, meaning they were simply filling in until their bosses returned. And this practice peaked in the 19th century, when obtaining Senate approval was, as a practical matter, much more difficult. (Senators couldnt exactly fly back to Washington to confirm new Cabinet members.) Lets get more specific: How many times has a president appointed an individual to serve as acting attorney general, the nations chief law enforcement officer, without Senate confirmation? Once, in 1866, when J. Hubley Ashton held the office for six days. That was four years before the Department of Justices creation. History hardly provides a slam-dunk case that Whitakers appointmentwhich could stretch beyond 210 daysis legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engel also cites an 1898 Supreme Court decision, United States v. Eaton, to shore up his position. In Eaton, the court permitted the interim appointment of a vice-consul in Thailand without Senate confirmation because the consul got sick. It explained that, due to the special and temporary conditionsthe consuls illness and the distance to Thailandthe vice-consul could perform the consuls duties for a limited time and was not transformed into the superior and permanent official. Similarly, Engel writes, Whitaker can step into the attorney generals role until Trump secures a permanent replacement. But what special and temporary conditions exist here? Trump demanded Sessions resignation: The attorney general didnt suddenly fall ill or quit. And there are multiple Senate-approved officers in the Justice Departments top ranks, including Rosenstein. Why not appoint one of them instead? As John Yoo (John Yoo!) notes in the Atlantic, Alexander Hamilton seemed to anticipate, and oppose, Trumps shortcut here. Senate confirmation of principal officers, he wrote, would be an excellent check upon a spirit of favoritism in the President, preventing his from appointing unfit characters due to personal attachment or private inclinations. Does that sound like anyone we know? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most conservative lawyers would value the words of Hamilton over the example of J. Hubley Ashton. Justice Clarence Thomas certainly would: He wrote in 2017 that any principal officer must receive Senate confirmationeven if they serve on an acting basis. I do not think, Thomas scoffed, the structural protections of the Appointments Clause can be avoided based on such trivial distinctions. Engel sides with Ashton over Hamilton and Thomas because his job compels it. I highly doubt that a whip-smart, right-leaning attorney like Engel would draw the same conclusion absent the obligations of his current gig. Maryland has already asked a federal court to rule that Whitaker is acting illegally and Rosenstein must replace him. Its motion stands a good chance of success. Engel has done a fine job marshaling every possible argument to vindicate Trumps selection, and its not his fault that the arguments just arent very good. Trumps OLC did the best it could, but it cant change the fact that, as a matter of law, Matthew Whitaker is not the acting attorney general. A funny little magic trick happens when a womans husband runs for office: Her CV all but disappears. Even Hillary Clinton, who was promoted as a valuable add-on in the two-for-one deal of Bills presidential campaign, had to reassure voters that while she was an accomplished attorney and advocate, she still knew her way around the kitchen. Michelle Obama, too, had an impressive career trajectory before she joined the ranks of first ladies, women who will forever be defined by their husbands. Many Americans probably know the broad strokes: corporate attorney, mayors office liaison, nonprofit head, university administrator, hospital executive director. But the specifics of those roles and the threads that connected themracial justice, community outreach, equitable access to resourceswere inessential to Baracks political narrative, so they never made it into Michelles. I worried that as my visibility as Barack Obamas wife rose, the other parts of me were dissolving from view, she writes in her new memoir, Becoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obamas autobiography is a welcome corrective to the blurring and dimming of her pre-presidential life. Becoming is a loving history of a working-class South Side Chicago family striving for financial stability and educational attainment in the midst of white flight. Its an account of the self-sustaining communities people of color build within the white-dominated elite institutions Obama entered after high school. Its the honest testimony of a conscientious woman struggling to meet the competing demands of her work, her children, and her marriage to a man whose intellectual growth and career would always take top priority. And, as the insipid tone of its marketing campaign suggests, its a heartwarming tale of personal growth that mostly sidesteps sharp critiques of the political and systemic forces that uphold the inequities it details. Advertisement Becoming also serves as a book-length explanation of why Baracks campaign didnt try harder to establish Michelle as a leader in her own right. For one thing, she was never quite sold on political life, so portraying her as a Hillary-esque adviser to her husband wasnt an option. But more importantly, the ferocious racist and sexist harassment that hounded her from the moment she stepped into Baracks spotlight forced Obama to limit how much of herself she shared with the public. Some of Becomings most emotional segments are those that describe Obamas treatment by the press and Baracks right-wing political opponents. Its remarkable how a stereotype functions as an actual trap, she writes. How many angry black women have been caught in the circular logic of that phrase? When you arent being listened to, why wouldnt you get louder? In an uncharacteristically confrontational moment, she calls out a few offenders by name, among them Maureen Dowd, who accused Obama of emasculating her husband by ribbing him about his domestic deficiencies, and Christopher Hitchens, who in this very magazine worried about the radical black leaders she admired and wrote that her senior thesis was not only unreadable but not written in any known language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even in these parts of her memoir, even though shes no longer in the White House and no one in her family is running for office, even in this era of resurgent white nationalism, Obama displays a frustrating tendency toward conciliation and moderation. Of the controversy surrounding the provocative anti-racist sermons of Jeremiah Wright, the pastor who married the Obamas and baptized their children, Obama writes, The whole affair was a reminder of how our countrys distortions about race could be two-sidedthat the suspicion and stereotyping ran both ways. This very fine people on both sides takeaway sidesteps the core truth of racism in America: Only one side has long held a disproportionate share of power and defended it with violence. The other has good reason to be suspicious. In moments like these, Becoming functions as both explanation and evidence of the double binds and exacting standards of restraint a black first lady must accommodate if she hopes to retain her considerable influence, as Obama clearly does. Advertisement Still, readers will come away from the memoir admiring Obamas ability to sketch how privilege works in every corner of American society. She feels uncomfortable when people applaud her for achieving traditional markers of success, as if there werent a strange and cruel randomness governing which kids from her neighborhood ended up earning an Ivy League degree or getting a fresh-out-of-law-school job that pays six figures, as Obama did, and which ones never went to college or made more than minimum wage. When she worked in city government and built a nonprofit, Obama discovered that most people who made their careers in public service could afford to be there, their virtue discreetly underwritten by inherited wealth. Advertisement Advertisement Many, perhaps most, prominent U.S. politicians have benefited from such underwriting, their paths to power greased by family connections and financial support. Barack Obama didnt. But Becoming illustrates a different kind of advantage he enjoyed, without which he never would have become president: a wife who made his home function and his children healthy and happy, an equal intellectual partner who was nonetheless prepared to tamp down her life outside the home for the sake of his. Id numbed myself somewhat to my ambition, Michelle writes, plaintively, of the years after Barack entered the Illinois state Senate. Before Becoming, I had never really thought about the timelines of the Obama childrens lives and Baracks political career, which started out with him living in Springfield four days a week, then living in D.C. for most of the year, then traveling the country for two different presidential campaigns. Michelle Obama was not just Sasha and Malias primary parent. For most of their lives, she was their only parent at home, surviving on little sleep while balancing a career and child care. Advertisement Advertisement Even in this era of resurgent white nationalism, Obama displays a frustrating tendency toward conciliation and moderation. Barack was mostly in Springfield when Michelle was giving herself daily injections to prepare for the in vitro fertilization procedures that yielded both pregnancies. Before that, she was alone for five weeks after their honeymoon, when Barack took off on a honeymoon with himself, hunkering down in a cabin in Bali to write his first memoir. By the time Barack decided to run for president, hed completed five political campaigns in 11 years. Each one had put a little dent in my soul and also in our marriage, Obama writes. Barack pushed forward anyway. Advertisement Its hard to read some of Becomings anecdotes about Barackhis decision to press advisers and donors about his presidential ambitions before asking his wife, his habit of saying hes almost home to have dinner with the family when hes actually on his way to the gymwithout concluding that hes a bit of a selfish self-promoter. Michelle takes pains to describe what a great father Barack was when he was home, but hes still one of the few people she dares to directly criticize. Advertisement Becoming wouldve been much stronger had Obama been willing to direct the emotional and analytical energies at work in the books family sections toward the political injustices she points out elsewhere. While she is an astute observer of inequity, she avoids laying blame at any individuals feet, even when its well-deserved. The Bush family gets a glowing review for their graciousness in welcoming the Obamas to the White House; when Michelle confronts the macabre consequences of George W.s dead-end war in her work at Walter Reed, she never stops to examine the deadly conflicts roots. Obamas time in the White House occupies less than one-third of the book, and almost all of it is depoliticized, mainly concerned with the accomplishments of her initiatives around childhood obesity and military families, the difficulties of life under the thumb of the Secret Service, and her efforts to safeguard Sasha and Malias childhoods. She gets a bit more forthright toward the end of Becoming, when she embarks on a hasty reckoning with Trumps ascendance. Michelle falls short, though, when she uses the HOPE messaging of her husbands first presidential campaign to tie Americas future into a neat little bow. No matter how much obstructionist Republicans discourage her, no matter how furious she gets with Trumps misogynist and xenophobic administration, she writes on the penultimate page, she tries to remain connected to a force thats larger and more potent than any one election, or leader, or news storyand thats optimism. Optimism, she continues, has powered her heroes lives: I saw it in my father, in the way he moved around as if nothing were wrong with his body, as if the disease that would someday take his life just didnt exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obamas father, readers learn in the first half of Becoming, died at age 55, just a year older than Obama is now, after resisting his familys persistent pleas to seek medical attention for his multiple sclerosis. At the end of his life, his feet were so swollen that he couldnt walk, and his throat was so engorged that he was almost suffocating. He wouldnt see a doctor until he was forced to visit an emergency room; he died in the hospital several days later, having never returned home. As Obama tells it, her dads refusal to confront his illness wasnt due to optimism so much as a wariness of doctorsthey had never brought good news and therefore were to be avoidedand a reluctance to seem self-indulgent or burdensome by talking about his problems. In this reasoning, readers might see the well-founded distrust for medical authorities among many black Americans and a tendency among men to neglect health issues so as to avoid the appearance of weakness. It seems doubtful, then, that Obamas father believed he would recover without medical care. He was more likely dealing with a painful truth the only way he knew howby ignoring it. Advertisement Optimism that refuses to account for an unavoidable truth, whether it be the progression of MS or the sadistic, antidemocratic horrors of the Trump era, isnt an optimism that will fix Americas ills. Becoming makes it clear, if it were ever in doubt, that Michelle Obama has a reliable moral compass. If her goal is to lead the country in the right direction, she needs to be more willing to point out whats ailing us. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. The U.S. militarys deployment to the southern border seems to have climaxed, more than a week after the midterm elections and long before the bulk of the Central American migrant caravan is expected to arrive at the U.S. border with Mexico. The mission once dubbed Operation Faithful Patriot (but not anymore) is scheduled to run for another month, which the commander in charge, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, described as a hard date. He also told Reuters that he has no indications that CBP is going to need us to do our work for longer than that. He also said that he thought troop levels had reached their peak and that while we might increase by a hundred here or there, they probably wouldnt. About 6,000 troops are deployed at the border in California, Arizona, and Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The militarys role at the borderlimited by U.S. lawis not to actually stop or apprehend migrants who are crossing illegally but instead to support border authorities, largely by constructing barriers. While the bulk of the caravan is hundreds of miles to the south, some migrants have arrived in Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, and they intend to try to enter the United States and apply for asylum at a border crossing. Meanwhile, almost half the U.S. troops are 1,500 miles away in Texas. The apparent reduced scale of the militarys mission is out of step with the dramatic rhetoric Trump and other Republicans were using to describe the supposed threat from the migrant caravan, especially before the midterm elections last week. When Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited the troops Wednesday in Texas, Mattis, in response to questions from the assembled troops, could offer little concrete rationale for what they were doing there. Advertisement This is a mission thats nontraditional because its here in our country. Generally, we do homeland security overseas, Mattis said, according to BuzzFeed News. When asked what the goals of the deployment were, Mattis said, Short term right now, you get the obstacles in so the border patrolmen can do what they gotta do, referring to the now-famous concertina wire Trump praised as beautiful. Longer term, its somewhat to be determined. He did say, echoing the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, that the mission was absolutely legal. The only historical parallel he could identify was when troops were deployed in the United States and then into Mexico itself in 1916 to deal with Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary who controlled vast swathes of Mexican territory and launched raids into the United States. Following House Democrats first full meeting with both their departing members and incoming members-elect, reporters asked Ohio Rep. Tim Ryanwhos organizing a suddenly serious opposition to Nancy Pelosis bid for speakerwhether he and his allies would really follow through with the effort thats driving such a rift within the caucus, on its first day in charge, during its first vote. Yes, he said. He didnt miss a beat. Ryan claims that his group has members numbering in the mid-20s who are adamant that they would not support Pelosi in a floor vote for speaker. Of those known publicly, its about an even split between incumbents whove sought to overthrow Pelosi for years and new members who ran on a pledge not to support her. Since Pelosi can only suffer about 15 or 17 defections, and if this groups resolve is as firm as its generals insist it is, she would not have the votes. On Tuesday night, Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, one of Pelosis most persistent thorns, said with 100 percent confidence that Pelosi would not have the numbers to become speaker, as did Texas Rep. Filemon Vela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At some point prior to the Nov. 28 caucus vote determining the partys nominee for the post, the rebels plan to release a public letter with the signatures of members who would not vote for Pelosi. (An early copy of the letter, obtained by HuffPost Wednesday, already had 17 signatures with more in the wings.) Ideally, they say, Pelosi would see the writing on the wall, bow out of the contest before the caucus vote, and allow House Democrats to nominate someone else who could get 218 votes, thereby avoiding an embarrassing spectacle on the floor. Minds can changebut those close to Pelosi say that she will never do that. Pelosi has been clear shes taking this to the floor, one senior Democratic aide said. She just elected the [most] diverse House of Representatives in history, and shes not going to be deterred by five white guys. Her strategy is to win the closed-door caucus nomination on Nov. 28, present the choice as a binary between her and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, and turn the pressure to a boil, daring Ryans group to block her on live television. Advertisement With each side expressing 100 percent confidence in their ability to succeed, the first House Democratic majority in eight years is headed toward a game of chicken that could play out on the House floor. Just how a majority loves to kick off a fresh congressional session in power. Advertisement Though she may dismiss her opposition with a flick of the wrist in public, the flood of emails pouring out from the Pelosi press office suggests that the insurgents have her attention. The leader has blasted endorsements out to reporters, including those from key committee chairmen; unions like the AFL-CIO, United Steelworkers, and the Service Employees International Union; NARAL; and, for some reason, former President Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. Pelosi has made appearances with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus this week, and shes throwing multiple dinners and receptions for new members who are in town for orientation. As Politico reported, shes gotten Democrats like Andrew Cuomo, John Kerry, and Al Gore to call specific members. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton cant be too far behind. The pressure is ramping up. Incoming members, who were all smiles to reporters as they showed up for their first day of orientation on Tuesday, have begun to wear a familiar look of terror and pick up their pace when they see a pack of pain-in-the-ass reporters ahead of them, ready to bug them about their first impossible vote. Advertisement Advertisement Ryan and company have had their hands full swatting away what they consider lies or smears from Pelosis camp. The opponents take issue with Pelosi supporters endlessly repeated creed that you cant beat somebody with nobodyi.e., that the rebels inability to line up a direct challenger dooms them. While some coup-curious members would like to have an idea of who would replace Pelosi before signing on, theres truth to the rebels counterargument: You can, indeed, beat somebody with nobody if the somebody cant get a majority of House votes. In 2015, after Speaker John Boehner was forced out, Kevin McCarthy was defeated by nobody: When it became clear that he couldnt win the House Freedom Caucus votes, he bowed out of the race, and eventually Paul Ryan was persuaded to step up. Advertisement Advertisement That talking point about the five white guys trying to oust a woman from her speakership riles up Pelosis antagonists, too. The group is broader than Ryan, Moulton, and a few other white guys. Reps. Kathleen Rice and Marcia Fudge are among the steadfast Pelosi opponents, while incoming members like Mikie Sherrill, Elissa Slotkin, Haley Stevens, and Abigail Spanberger have also said, to varying degrees, that they would not support Pelosi. For now, both sides seem interested in destroying each other. Im a woman, and a lot of our new members are women, and they should not be made to feel that they are anti-woman if they dont want to vote for Nancy Pelosi, Rice said. We have an enormous number of talented women in the caucus. An enormous number of women. So its not Nancy Pelosis the only woman or were not going to have a woman. Its just not right. Ryan indicated that he, too, would like to see a woman become speakerthere are plenty of competent females able to do the job, in his wordsand rattled off names like Fudge, California Rep. Karen Bass, and Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos. Advertisement Advertisement The incumbents challenging Pelosi argue that theyre trying to help Democrats hold the House majority beyond a single election cycle by allowing members who ran against Pelosi to keep their word. Advertisement The untenable situation that we are giving all of these new members, Rice said, is saying to them, You either violate the caucus rule, of supporting the partys speaker nominee during the floor vote or you keep your campaign promise. And I just think that thats wrong. I think we have to do everything we can to keep all of these new members here. Ryan also dismissed another option that Pelosi has been exploring: convincing some new members to vote present on the floor, which would lower the vote threshold Pelosi would need to win. Advertisement Thats a very dangerous proposition, because not only are you going back on your word, youre getting cute, Ryan said. And the last thing voters want in this environment is someone trying to get cute. Pelosi supporters have a different argument for how, in fact, theyre the ones trying to protect new memberswhile its the incumbent challengers who are making things difficult. If the dozen or so incumbent rebels, most of whom won their re-elections comfortably, were willing to cut a deal with leadership for their votes, that would free the new members to vote against Pelosi while avoiding the humiliating floor spectacle and leadership void. For now, though, both sides seem more interested in destroying each other. Temperatures would have to cool before any deals are discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pelosi is far from finished, even if some of her public supporters, in private, are beginning to speculate about whether she can pull it off. She has six weeks left to apply her full arsenal of pressure tactics. In the worst-case scenario, she could also attempt to persuade some Republicans to either vote for her or vote present, something that seems difficult to envision but is under discussion. Advertisement One Pelosi ally, with an air of confidence that wasnt particularly persuasive, told me that the letter Ryan, Moulton, and others are preparing to release will actually be helpful for Pelosi, since it will show her which members she needs to whip. I asked Ryan what he thought about that. So you want to flip one of our own who has promised their constituents, who just voted for them, in a huge election, Ryan said, [and] your goal is to get them to lie in their first act in Congress? They will not have been in Congress more than an hour, and our leaders are asking them to lie? I just think thats not the way we should be doing business around here. Saudi Arabia and its ally the United States have a problem: How do they respond to the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi without implicating the countrys Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite some of his closest advisers apparently being involved in the operation? Both countries took some action Thursday against those they said they suspected of being responsible for Khashoggis brutal murder and dismemberment . The U.S. Treasury Department slapped sanctions on 17 Saudis who it said had targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States. The people were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Treasury Department said. The sanctions ban Americans from doing business with the 17 Saudis and allow the U.S. to freeze any of their assets under its jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those sanctioned was Saud Al-Qahtani, a former adviser to Prince Salman before he was caught up in the Khashoggi killing. The U.S. Treasury Department said he was part of the planning and execution of the operation that led to the killing of Mr. Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, 2018. But Al-Qahtani may have more serious problems at home. A Saudi prosecutor identified Al-Qahtani as one of the Saudi officials who helped plan what he described as an attempt to bring Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi public prosecutors report on the slaying, released Thursday, said that Khashoggi was killed when an operation to move him from Turkey to Saudi Arabia went wrong. The prosecutor, according to the Washington Post, said that Prince Salman did not know about the plan. But Khashoggi had, before his fatal trip to Istanbul, gotten a call from Al-Qahtani hinting that he could get a job with the crown prince if he returned to Saudi Arabia. Eleven people were indicted for being involved in the killing, and five could get the death penalty. The Saudi prosecutor did not identify those indicted and said that the decision to kill Khashoggi was made on the ground in Istanbul. How does that explain the presence of a forensic autopsy expert in the operation? For the purpose of removing evidence from the scene in case force had to be used to return the victim, the report said. Whatever glimmering opulence Amazon brings to its new campuses in Queens, New York, and Crystal City, Virginia, will be paid for with more than Prime memberships. The e-commerce giant will have paid for them with its size and influence. Critics of the company and these deals may see Amazons retail and real estate practices as separate issuesone of market concentration, the other of runaway corporate welfare. In fact, theyre both issues of monopolistic power. Amazon secured its lavish, taxpayer-funded agreement to open East Coast headquarters in Queens and Arlington by flexing the same bargaining muscle the company has used for years to crush rivals and snatch market share. Advertisement Critics see a strong antitrust case in the way the worlds largest online retailer has wielded its power against merchants and manufacturers. They can add local governments to the list. Amazon expects to dictate terms to everybody, says Stacy Mitchell, the co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and a longtime Amazon critic. That includes sellers, suppliers, and now cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Amazons yearlong, ostensibly public quest to find a second headquarters, the company relied on its power to extract coffer-scrubbing concessions from local governments. In total, New York and Virginia will give Amazon upward of $2.8 billion in handouts, grants, and other concessionsincluding money to help build the new corporate campuses. Amazon hardly had to ask for these multibillion-dollar concessions. Trained by a culture of generous corporate-relocation incentives, local leaders instinctively knew they had to heave money at Amazon if they wanted any chance of landing its new offices. Advertisement At the onset, Amazon promised to create a corporate campus that was a full equal to [its] Seattle headquarters. Anxious about losing well-paid technology workers to other cities and states, government officials rushed to show exactly how much money and control they would give away to land Amazon. They revealed this information enthusiastically to one of the worlds most aggressive data collectors without so much as an inkling that Amazon might choose their region for its second headquarters. In the end, Amazon took taxpayer handouts twice and gave each city only half of what it initially promised to deliverall while gleaning exactly what governments across the country were willing to part with to get a piece of the companys business. The next time Amazon wants to build a new warehouse or data center anywhere in America, it knows exactly what local governments can and will offer. Advertisement The next time Amazon wants to build a new warehouse or data center anywhere in America, it knows exactly what local governments can and will offer. If Amazon wields this kind of immense power when negotiating with American citiespowerful, populous economic centersantitrust officials can surely understand what its like to be a retailer trying to compete with Amazon on Amazons own platform. Take the apparel industry. Amazons pitch to name-brand fashion labels was simple: Sell your shoes and clothes in the Amazon marketplace and we will deliver your products to tens of millions of customers captured by their Prime memberships. With brick-and-mortar retailers struggling and the Amazon marketplace bombarded by shady third-party sellers, brands caved into the companys massive retail power and struck deals to sell their full product lines on Amazon; by 2014, an industry report found that companies that partnered with Amazon, including Levis, Burberry, and others, secured better placement in the online marketplace and succeeded in curtailing third-party sellers of their brands. Advertisement Advertisement Amazon provides those companies with a much-needed platformbut in exchange, it takes a cut of their sales and collects troves of data about what customers are shopping for. As it struck those deals, Amazon has quietly started using the data gleaned from those sales to steer customers toward its multiple in-house clothing brands, including fast fashion label Lark & Ro, which doubled its sales over 2017. Advertisement Savvy clothing moguls knew the threat when they saw it. [Amazon] is going to be massive in apparel over time, Levis chief executive Chip Bergh told a trade publication, according to the Financial Times. Their real power, over time, is going to be the data theyre able to collect on their consumer. Its just a question of time. Advertisement Mitchell says its all part of a pattern. Industry by industry, she says, it became clear that they were not here as a partner. They are here to eat your lunch. While host cities and states obviously mean something different to Amazon than sellers who use its retail platform, the companys tactics are much the same: Amazons immense power proves too tempting for its potential partners to resistand once the company gets what it wants, it collects the data and the concessions, then delivers far less that what it promised. On Tuesday, Open Markets Institute, a think tank pushing for stronger antitrust enforcement, called for an investigation of the companys HQ2 search process. Matthew Stoller, policy director at the institute, argued that Amazon has now shown clearly that its power can sway governments as well as commerce. Increasingly it has a new weapon, which is size, he said. At this point, the company is so large that, as we can see with this HQ2 scam, it is beginning to use politics itself as a competitive weapon. There are scant few other American companies whose presence can promise such fortune for the city and state in which it resides. Amazon was wrong to abuse that promise. Without intervention from Americas trustbusters, the public should fear what abuses the companys power might permit in the future. Amazon announced Tuesday that it would be building headquarters in New York City and northern Virginia, ending a dizzying and showy selection process that at one point included 238 candidate cities. Amazon will also build a third, smaller hub in Nashville. The prospect of a company worth over $1 trillion setting up shop and stimulating economic growth motivated cities and states to offer billions of dollars in tax subsidies and infrastructure renovations for the chance to host the so-called HQ2. Advertisement New York and Virginia collectively promised more than $2 billion in incentives, which it turns out was fairly modest compared with some of the offers that Amazon received from losing candidates. While most local governments have been cagey about their entreaties to Amazon throughout the processPhiladelphia and Pittsburgh in fact fought open records requests to release their proposalswe now have a better sense of what many of the wishful cities were promising. Heres a quick look at what we know about the various incentive packages, along with estimates of their total worth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montgomery County, Maryland: $8.5 Billion Maryland lawmakers approved a $6.5 billion tax incentive package for Amazon in April. Gov. Larry Hogan called the deal the PRIME Act, which included a $10 million yearly grant from Marylands Sunny Day fund and tax subsidies for wages and sales of construction materials. Advertisement The state also pledged $2 billion to renovate infrastructure and transportation in Montgomery Countys White Flint Mall, which Amazon had picked as a finalist for its headquarters. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: $5.7 Billion The Pennsylvania state Department of Community and Economic Development offered Amazon $4.6 billion in financial assistance over a 25-year period and an additional $100 million to improve transportation around the proposed headquarters. Philadelphia, the states largest city, also promised to pitch in around $1.1 billion in tax increment financing, which is essentially a development subsidy. Chicago, Illinois: More Than $2 Billion Illinois offered Amazon $1.32 billion in EDGE tax credits, which are meant to lure businesses that create jobs, over 17 years; $172.5 million in waivers for sales and utility taxes; and $450 million in transportation infrastructure investment. Advertisement The EDGE tax credits assume that Amazon would have employed 2,500 residents in the first year and 50,000 residents in 17 years, and are equivalent to around half of employees income tax withholdings. Chicago and Cook County promised $61.4 million in property tax discounts, reducing the typical 25 percent tax to 10 percent in the first three years, and to 20 percent by the fifth year. Advertisement Atlanta, Georgia: More Than $2 Billion The state of Georgia offered Amazon $1.3 billion in mega project tax credits, a $100 million investment into the headquarters site, and a $320 million exemption for sales taxes accrued through purchasing construction materials. The city of Atlanta volunteered $87 million in local tax credits, $2.2 billion in infrastructure investments for areas around potential headquarters sites, and a $25 million grant from the local economic development department. Advertisement Advertisement Local governments also offered a number of perks that didnt have price estimates, the most striking of which was the Amazon Georgia Academy. The proposed academy wouldve offered a 24-week training program for staffers and university students. The city also offered a car exclusively for Amazon personnel on Atlantas mass transit system and 50 free parking spots and a lounge for Amazon executives at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Newark, New Jersey: $7 Billion New Jersey offered Amazon $5 billion in tax incentives over a 10-year period if the company produced 50,000 jobs. Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, also promised a property tax abatement worth an estimated $1 billion, and another $1 billion in waived local wage taxes for Amazon workers over the next 20 years. Columbus, Ohio: $2.8 Billion Columbus pledged to give Amazon a 15-year tax exemption for property within the city limits, equaling about $2.28 billion. The city also offered a maximum $400 million in income tax waivers, a 25 percent income tax break to reimburse Amazon for the cost of development worth a maximum of $75 million, and a maximum $7.5 million transportation infrastructure fund. Columbus further included dark fiber-optic broadband capacity as a perk. When Kurt Luther walked into Pittsburghs Heinz History Center in 2013 to attend an exhibition about Pennsylvania during the Civil War, he didnt expect to be greeted by his great-great-great-uncle. A computer scientist and Civil War enthusiast, Luther had been drawn to researching his own familys connection to the conflict, gradually piecing together information over years and years. But his searches had always failed to turn up a photograph, and Luther was ready to give up on the possibility of ever seeing his ancestors faces. It was only through sheer happenstance that, walking through the History Center that day, Luther had spotted an album of portraits of the men of Company E, 134th Pennsylvaniahis great-great-great-uncles unit. Laying eyes on his relatives face for the first time, he later wrote, felt like closing a gap of 150 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five years later, Luther launched Civil War Photo Sleuth, a web platform dedicated to closing the gap a little further. Together with Ron Coddington (editor of the magazine Military Images), Paul Quigley (director of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies), and a group of student researchers at Virginia Tech, Luther crafted a free and easy-to-use website that applies facial recognition to the multitude of anonymous portraits that survive from the conflict, in the hopes of identifying the sitter. When a user uploads a photograph, the software maps up to 27 distinct facial landmarks. Users are further able to refine their searches by adding filters for uniform details that could offer clues about rank. (Three chevrons and a star, for instance, indicates a rank of ordnance sergeant for both the Union and Confederate armies, while shoulder straps with an eagle were worn by Union colonels.) From there, the program cross-references the photo with the other images in CWPSs growing database. The final search results present an array of possible matches (and possible names) for consideration. Advertisement Over the four-year course of the Civil War, photography was a crucial medium for capturing both the shifting tides of the conflict and the individuals caught up within them. Mathew Bradys searching portraits and Alexander Gardners unflinching views of the dead at Antietam helped make the war real for both civilians at the time and those of us at a century and a halfs remove. In an interview with Military Images, Coddington said, I once calculated that there were 40 million photographs of Union soldiers taken during the Civil War. Even if only 10 percent survive, there are 4 million images out there today. Yet we have names for few of them: David Wynn Vaughan, a premier collector of Confederate soldier images, estimates that no more than 10 or 20 percent of the images hes seen during his more than 25 years of collecting are identified, Bob Zeller, president of the Center for Civil War Photography, writes on the organizations website. Advertisement Advertisement The iconic facial hair sported by many at the time helps human photo sleuths but hinders software. The ambitious goal of Civil War Photo Sleuth, Luther says, is to get that number to 100 percent. If its a task that seems daunting at the outset, its one Luther says will get easier with time. The beauty of CWPS, he says, is that the more people use it, the more information gets added, leading to more identificationsits a virtuous cycle. In the sites first month alone, CWPS logged 88 reported identifications, of which 75 were probably or definitely correct (and since not all users choose to publicize their identifications, Luther thinks that the real number of matches may have been higher). Given that IDs like this are otherwise rare enough that they make national news when they occur, this is a massive leap forward. Advertisement One particularly memorable ID occurred the night before CWPSs launch in August, as Luther was searching for a sample image for the next days demo. After selecting an unidentified portrait from the Library of Congress to demonstrate how to upload and tag photos, Luther ran it through the program. The very first result was a perfect match. More digging turned up yet another portrait of the same sitter, this time with an autograph: Francis Marion Eveleth, assistant surgeon in the 7th Maine Infantry. When Luther presented the match at the launch event the next day, Tom Liljenquist, the man who had donated the photograph to the Library of Congress, was in attendance. Advertisement Identifying figures in historic photographs poses a number of challenges. Given that the photography of the time was in black and white or sepia, potentially helpful information about skin tone and eye color is lost. Technological tools developed with modern photos in mind can also run into problems when faced with antiquarian material. Profile views, which were fashionable in the 19th century, are tricky for many facial recognition systems. Similarly, the iconic facial hair sported by many at the time (the word sideburns is an homage to Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside of the Union Army) helps human photo sleuths but hinders software because beards and mustaches can block the features the program is trying to map. While digital tools are extremely useful for drastically narrowing the field, human users still do better when it comes to weighing up several potential matches. Advertisement Advertisement Luther and collaborator Quigley have worked on other applications of digital technology to Civil War history as well. Together with fellow Virginia Tech professor David Hicks, they created a project called Mapping the Fourth of July, which allows users to explore primary sources related to how Independence Day was celebrated while the nation was at war. Nor are they the only historians applying digital tools to glean new insights into material from the period. In January, the Boston Public Library launched a web platform crowdsourcing transcribers for its tens of thousands of abolitionist letters, newspaper articles, handbills, and more. Advertisement Identifying photos through programs like CWPS can have a sizable economic impact for collectors. Portraits with names attached almost always command a higher value, benefiting museums and private individuals alike. Beyond monetary factors, of course, knowing who is in a photograph can have a powerful effect on how we perceive the past. As the recent search to identify Sheila Minor Huffthe only black woman amid a sea of white men at a scientific conference in the 1970sillustrates, projects like this can help recover the presence of those who are frequently overlooked in the historical record. For Luther, part of what motivates him in his work is the human desire to remember and memorialize. Its important to give names to these faces, he says. Images are powerful, and they humanize these people who might otherwise just seem like names on a list or numbers in a casualty report. The leaders of Facebook can no longer pretend they are special people running a special company. Facebook is now just another normal sleazy American company run by normal sleazy executives, engaged in normal sleazy lobbying and corporate propaganda. Thanks to some deep reporting by a team of New York Times reporters, we now know that CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent the year after the 2016 presidential election largely checked out and clueless about the monster he had created. And we know that COO Sheryl Sandberg, in the face of growing scrutiny of the company, was so desperate to repair the leak in the price of Facebook stock that she went into cahoots with a number of suspect figures across American politicsincluding a right-wing opposition research shop dabbling in the PR dark arts as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who ran interference for the company within his party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past three years, Facebook has been outed for abusing the trust of its users, sharing personal data with third parties like Cambridge Analytica, unwittingly hosting Russian-backed propaganda intended to undermine American democracy, amplifying calls for religious and ethnic violence in places like Sri Lanka and Myanmar, and promoting violent authoritarian and nationalist leaders like Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines and Narendra Modi in India. As these stories piled up and public trust eroded, the Times reports, Zuckerberg consistently exempted himself from crucial discussions with the Facebook security team and acted generally baffled that anyone would question his baby. After all, didnt he just want, in his words, to bring the world closer together? The Times report makes clear that Zuckerberg and Sandberg played no-cop-bad-cop while troubles rolled across their screens and into their board meetings. Advertisement Sandberg, a veteran of the Clinton administration and a thoroughly connected member of Americas corporate and cultural elite, called in all the favors she could and appealed to some of the baser instincts of potential allies. Crucially, Sandberg brought on Republican lobbyists like Joel Kaplan, last seen lending public support to his old friend, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, during his fraught confirmation hearings. Advertisement Kaplan reportedly led the charge internally to water down Facebook reports about the breadth of Russian attacks on American democracy for fear of angering President Donald Trump and conservative power brokers. Sandberg consistently backed Kaplan, denying the American public a full account of a hostile foreign powers attempts to influence an election and, just as important, the fundamental vulnerability of Facebook to being hijacked by almost any small but determined force. Advertisement Sandberg also reportedly unleashed a propaganda campaign that leveraged the right-wing meme machinethe same machine that so deeply pollutes Facebook with misinformation and disinformation about life in America. Perhaps the most disturbing allegation in the Times report is that Facebooks right-wing agents tried to link some high-profile Facebook critics to financier George Soros. Given that Soros is the go-to boogeyman in many recent anti-Semitic campaigns, we should be shocked that Facebook stooped so low. All the while boasting of transparency and concern for the health of our communities, Facebook clandestinely played with the very villains who regularly warp and pollute our culture and politics. Advertisement After months of stalling and dodging and under intense pressure from Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking minority member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Facebook finally revealed in late October 2017 that Russian propaganda had reached at least 126 million American Facebook users. Because of Facebooks propensity to algorithmically amplify content that generates strong emotions, University of Pennsylvania professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson concludes in her new book Cyberwar that Russian activity in the 2016 election not only infected the news agenda but also tilted the balance of discourse in battleground states against the Democratic Party nominee. Advertisement Advertisement Warner, one of the few in this drama who comes off as more concerned about the fate of the republic than the prospect of Facebook campaign contributions, has been such a strong and consistent interrogator of Facebook that his party leader, Schumer, felt compelled to defend his old friend Sandberg. (As the Times also points out, Schumers daughter is a marketing director at Facebook.) The Times reports that he told Warner to back off from his scrutiny of Facebook and that Mr. Warner should be looking for ways to work with Facebook, Mr. Schumer advised, not harm it. Schumer has always been a transactional politician. But Facebook has not always been just a regular, sleazy company. Its become one lately, largely as a result of the rush of trouble that has rendered Zuckerberg verbally stunned and Sandberg morally stunted. Advertisement For most of its history, Facebook made too much money to care about money and had too strong a reputation to care about its reputation. It was golden. Just as Zuckerberg and Sandberg graced the covers of magazines, Facebook scaled the peaks of the stock market and the public imagination. What explains the cravenness of Facebooks leadership now? They must realize, as social media scholars have been warning for many years, that Facebook is vulnerable by design. All of the scandals and crises the company has facilitated in recent years are examples of Facebook working as it was supposed to. Advertisement Advertisement The three features that make Facebook Facebook also make it the ideal platform for working on behalf of dangerous and violent forces. The first is scale. Facebook gathers posts from more than 2.2 billion people in more than 100 languages. The second is algorithmic amplification. Facebook promotes extreme content like hate speech and conspiracy theories over thoughtful, balanced, deliberate work. And the third is the best advertising system ever created. Facebook can put an ad in front of exactly the type of person who might respond to a sales pitch or a call to political action and ignore those who might not. Advertisement Zuckerberg and Sandberg cant fix Facebook because to fix Facebook is to scrap one or more of these essential attributes. The problem with Facebook is Facebook. We are stuck in the world Facebook made. It was a terrible idea in the first place, but as long as advertisers, authoritarians, and Chuck Schumer protect it, Facebook will face little significant pressure in most of the world. All Zuckerberg and Sandberg need to do is ride out this moment, boast about making a good effort to clean the thing up, and keep those campaign contributions flowing. Facebook will be just fine. Democracy will not. A New York Times investigation into how Facebooks leadership has handled a series of crises over the past three years revealed that the company hired a Republican opposition-research firm to covertly sway public opinion against activists and competitors. The firm tried to create media narratives linking activists protesting Facebook to billionaire liberal donor and philanthropist George Soros and spotlighting unsavory business practices at other tech companies. In October 2017, amid a growing scandal over Russian social media meddling, Facebook began working more closely with Definers Public Affairs, an opposition-research firm based in Washington that was founded by prominent Republican operatives. Definers had originally been hired to keep tabs on press coverage, but the tech giant soon began adopting the firms strategy of improving its corporate image by disseminating positive news about itself and negative news about its competitors and critics, the Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public outrage at Facebook grew in March, when The Times and The Observer/Guardian published an extensive expose on Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm that had improperly accessed data from 87 million Facebook users to boost Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. At around the same time, a conservative news site associated with Definers called the NTK Network began pushing out stories critical of Apples data collection practices. Apple CEO Tim Cooks criticism of Facebook during the scandal reportedly angered Mark Zuckerberg. (Definers claims that another tech company has been funding its Apple campaign. Zuckerberg reportedly ordered his management team to use only Android phones.) Other NTK Network articles blasted Google and attempted to downplay the extent of Russian meddling on Facebook. NTK pieces are often recirculated by more popular conservative outlets like Breitbart, the Times reported. Advertisement Definers also attempted to spread information to damage the reputation of activists and policy experts who have been attacking Facebook. Over the summer, the firm circulated research to reporters alleging that Soros was funding much of the opposition against Facebook. Soros, often the subject of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories from the far right, had criticized Facebook and Google as monopolies during a speech at the World Economic Forum. Advertisement Definers urged journalists to investigate financial ties between Soros and activist groups that are aligned with Freedom from Facebook coalition, such as the racial justice organization Color of Change.* The firm also spread opposition research on other prominent Facebook critics like Diamond and Silk, pundits who have condemned the platform for allegedly silencing conservative viewpoints. Advertisement The Times piece reported that Facebook executives had exhibited a pattern of ignoring signs that the platform was being abused to spread misinformation and hateful propaganda. Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg reportedly glossed over red flags due to distractions from personal projects and had subordinates handle security and policy matters. They continued to be hesitant to deal with the platforms problems as people within the company began uncovering mounting evidence of abuse. When the Russian meddling and Cambridge Analytica scandals came to a head, Facebook then minimized the extent of the issues and relied on lobbyists and allies in Congress to pressure Senators to lighten their criticisms of the company. The FBI released its annual report on Hate Crime Statistics on Tuesday, covering incidents occurring in calendar year 2017, and heres the gist: It appears to be a pretty hateful, hate-filled time to be American. The latest numbers indicateor perhaps confirmthat bias-based offenses have been on the rise. In 2017, 7,175 such incidents were reported to the bureau from across the countrythe highest number since 2008, continuing what is now a three-year rise. That upward trend also appears to be consistent, broadly speaking, with recent, anxiety-provoking tallies made by local jurisdictions and by nonprofit groups such as the Anti-Defamation League. Indeed, the notion that were being pulled beneath a cresting hate crime wave has been prominent in recent headlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is that notion accurate? The truth is that we dont really know. Theres no doubt the hate crime numbers out Tuesday capture something real about the countrys mood: Gallup polls find that people are increasingly inclined to say theyre afraid of being the victim of a hate crime; with that proportion rising from 16 or 17 percent in the early 2000s to a high of 22 percent in the years since President Donald Trump took office. (For comparison, the number of those who worry over getting murdered has held steady at around 18 percent.) Still, its not clear whether this anxiety matches up with any higher real-world risk. It could be that causation works the other way: Hate crime tallies may be biased upward by the fact that weve grown ever more attuned to hateand more likely than before to report bias-related incidents and details to the police. The resulting brume confounds debate and makes it hard to say whether any seeming rise in hate crimes might be genuine. Advertisement Its true the FBI numbers out on Tuesday show weve hit a nine-year hate crime high in absolute terms. But we also know these stats are deeply flawed. For one thing, they surely undercount the total by a wide margin. To get a sense of this errors potential magnitude, one need only consult the National Crime Victimization Survey, a rolling study of teenagers and adults from about 100,000 American households. The results of this research, also run by the Department of Justice, extrapolate to an average of about 250,000 hate crime incidents every year across the country, including those that never get called in to the police. (According to the study, slightly more than half are not reported.) The sources for the numbers from the FBIas in, which law enforcement agencies are reporting themalso changes year to year, complicating any attempt to look at trends. Advertisement Advertisement Its true the FBI numbers out on Tuesday show weve hit a nine-year hate crime high in absolute terms. But we also know these stats are deeply flawed. That the measurement of hate should be so uncertain even now, as politicians wallow in divisive rhetoric and press reports of hate-fueled violence and intimidation pile up, is altogether maddening. Not just because it complicates efforts to acknowledge (and then, one hopes, reverse) what really does feel like a rising tide of hate-related crimes, but also because we should be better at this by now. The same conundrum turned up 30 years ago, when the federal government faced an apparent resurgence of white supremacist violence. It wasnt clear, back then, how bad the hate crime problem really wasor whether it was really getting worseand this uncertainty was used to parry calls for legislation to address it. Eventually, in 1990, Congress passed the Hate Crime Statistics Act to codify the records kept by law enforcement agencies, so that the hate crime problemwhatever its scopecould be fully tracked and understood through yearly FBI reports. Weve gotten these in every year since 1992, and yet the data remain somewhat unenlightening. Advertisement Efforts to improve hate crime accounting have long been driven by the sense we have today that such incidents are in the midst of a rapid and remarkable proliferation. That same dread was pervasive in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and helped inspire the Anti-Defamation League, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the National Gay and Lesbian (now LGBTQ) Task Force, among other groups, to start counting up incidents of bias crimes via hotlines or by scouring the press. The widespread fear of growing racial and religious violence also led police departments in major cities such as Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York to start totaling their hate crime stats around the same time. Advertisement In December 1980, Rep. John Conyers Jr. convened a hearing on the growing risks posed by neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan, and by systematic racism in the military and law enforcement. California College of the Arts assistant professor Maxwell Leung has done an excellent job of tracing out the odd, extended story of this hearingcalled Increasing Violence Against Minoritiesand the push for federal hate crimes legislation that it helped inspire. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights followed with a 1983 report on racial and religious intimidation and violence, which noted that the problems scope had been obscured, to some extent, by competing hate crime data sets that were based on different methodologies. Some agencies and groups would draw distinctions between acts of speech and violence, for example, while others didnt. Certain data sets would also count attacks on poor and homeless people as hate crimes, and there were major differences over whether to include the targeting of women or LGBTQ groups. That helps explain why the commissions first recommendation was that the government develop an accurate and comprehensive way to measure hate crime in America under the direction of the FBI. This idea would be picked up by Congress a few years later, with Conyers leading efforts to standardize and centralize the collection of statistics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An incident in the Howard Beach section of New York City made the calls for better data more pressing. In December 1986, several black men were beaten by a group of whites outside a Queens pizzeria, and one of the victimsMichael Griffithwas subsequently chased onto a highway, where he was struck by a car and killed. The attack seemed to cause a rapid spike of hate crime in the city: The NYPD reported that its numbers doubled in the year after the attacks. Nationwide, advocates and the media claimed the upward trend in bias-motivated violence extended well beyond New York. Hate Crimes on Rise in U.S.: Racial attacks, gay bashing burgeon, the Boston Globe would say in a front-page story a few years later. Advertisement Yet there was also widespread disagreement over basic facts. In New York City, officials warned that hate crime numbers might only seem to be on the rise because people were paying more attention. I think anytime you focus attention on anything like hate crimes, you tend to get an increased level of reporting, the police commissioner said. The same official also wondered whether crimes were getting tagged with racial motivations even when they would have been committed either way: Some hoodlums who would snatch your gold chain before will now snatch it and say, Remember Howard Beach, he said. Clearly, racial bias among cops could affect reporting, too. Advertisement Advertisement On the national level, the Reagan administration came out against new record-keeping legislation on the grounds that it would be burdensome to law enforcement and probably unnecessary. Theres no hard evidence to indicate that hate crimes are on the increase, said a DOJ spokesman at the time. There have been a few well-publicized cases, but we dont know about a broader pattern. Advertisement Advertisement When the Hate Crime Statistics Act was finally signed into law by George H.W. Bush in 1990, it was meant to cut through years of this uncertainty and dithering. By that time, the measure had nearly universal, bipartisan support in Congress. (Sen. Jesse Helms led a small group of dissenters, who claimed that the effort to track hate crimes based on sexual orientation would be a Trojan horse for the homosexual and lesbian legislative agenda.) Better data were supposed to help prove that violent racist acts were common in America andalmost as importantlythat they were on the upswing, too. The truth is that our stats remain unsound, even decades after all these fights to make them more definitive. That latter focus, the spikes and jumps and surges in the hate crime stats (rather than the naked totals), continues to this day, as an end in itself. The feeling of acceleration, the notion that things are always getting worse, offers leverage to antihate crime activists and provides them with a way to press for better policies. Advertisement Advertisement Its also useful simply because its hard to get your head around each years total on its own: Is 7,175 a lot of hate crimes for 2017, or not that many, or about what youd expect? How much more should we be doing to control whatever hate crime problem that number represents? Laying out the same statistics over time perhaps allows us to convince ourselves that were getting answers to more pressing questions: Is this awful problem getting worse? If it is, then who or what might be to blame? But the truth is that our stats remain unsound, even decades after all these fights to make them more definitive. The FBI reports required by the 1990 legislation dont really help us measure long-term trends with any certainty or nuance; instead they function more as broad, symbolic figures of the problem. If you talk to experts in the hate crime field, theyll tell you that, to some extent, the Hate Crime Statistics Act has fulfilled its promise: Each crime the bureau counts and puts into its data set represents one we know has been reported, investigated, and confirmed. As such, the FBI reports can be a vital baseline measure of the hate crime problem if not the encyclopedic standard for its analysis. When we say, At least 7,175 hate crimes occurred throughout the U.S. last year, it means that we have concrete proof of bias-based violence and intimidation as a real, ongoing threat to American life. That is obviously worthwhile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet experts are also quick to say the FBI numbers are deeply flawed. Yes, they show that hate crimes happen, but they grossly underestimate the problem. The lowballing isnt really systematic, either. Since the reporting of hate crime statistics by law enforcement agencies is optional, and not particularly incentivized, many either choose not to track their hate crime numbers and report them to the FBI, or else they averimplausibly, impossiblythat no hate crimes of any kind have been committed in their jurisdiction. Sizable American cities including (but not limited to) Honolulu; Miami; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Arlington, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Newark, New Jersey, have all, at one or many points during the past few years, furnished exactly zero incidents to the national total. According to an Associated Press report from 2016, at least 2,700 police and sheriffs departments have never filed a single hate crime report, while ProPublica reports that 120 federal agenciesincluding, yes, the FBI itselfalso fail to send in hate crime data for the annual FBI report. Advertisement Yet despite this broadening of categories, and larger pool of potential hate crime victims, the FBI data actually suggest that numbers have drifted downward over time. Thats not to say one cant find some meaning in these gaps, or use them as impetus for action. When a major city claims it had zero hate crimes for the year, for example, activists or officials may then know to treat it as a problem spot, where for whatever reason, police arent really working hard to track the problem. These, in turn, may be the jurisdictions where the local government should be prodded or cajoled to greater action. Advertisement But on the whole, when it comes to understanding trends in hate crimes over time, these gaps are a disaster. You cant even expect the data shortfall will hold steady in its scope from year to year, eitherit turns out that the percentage of agencies reporting incidents varies widely over time. And to make things more confusing, Congress and DOJ have changed the rules for tracking hate crimes at several points. The original law called for counting any attack showing evidence of bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. In 1997, after further legislation, the FBI added categories for incidents showing bias against those with disabilities. And with the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act in 2009, the bureau also started tracking crimes influenced by gender bias and those involving juveniles. Other changes along the way may also have influenced the numbers: Following the 2012 massacre at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, for example, the Obama administration decided to split out the totals for bias crimes against Arabs, Buddhists, Hindus, Jehovahs Witnesses, Orthodox Christians, and Sikh Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Yet despite this broadening of categories, and larger pool of potential hate crime victims, the FBI data actually suggest that numbers have drifted downward over time. (The main exception is a sharp, temporary increase driven by anti-Muslim incidents in 2001.) The most recent total out today, of 7,175 for 2017, does represent a nine-year high in absolute termsbut its also smaller than almost every single tally from 1995 to 2008. Meanwhile, if you normalize the numbers based on how may law enforcement agencies participate each year, the 2017 figurewhich amounts to 0.44 hate crimes per jurisdictionmatches up pretty closely with the average across the past decades worth of data. And the victim survey, which (as mentioned above) extrapolates numbers of hate crime incidents based on a repeated sample survey, reports no statistically significant changes in the overall number between 2004 and 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, any trends that one might find in FBI reports are highly suspect, if not spurious. According to American University criminologist and hate crime scholar Janice Iwama, you can get more useful information on how current events and ongoing policies affect hate crime totals when you look in greater detail at smaller units of analysis. For example, one could try to understand how the presidents rhetoric on immigration relates to hate crimes against Latinos across a handful of local communities of varying demographic characters. Activist groups have also tried to push the government for better tracking of these crimes. One month after the Unite the Right rally and associated murder in Charlottesville, Virginia, dozens of organizations signed a letter to the Department of Justice calling for stronger policies in addressing hate-based incidents, including 10 specific ways that federal data collection might be improved. Law enforcement agencies should be incentivized to report their numbers, the letter argued, and DOJ should undertake a comprehensive study of the reasons why some jurisdictions continue to hold back. Advertisement Advertisement Thats the right idea. After 30 years of sketchy data, its time for something better. The mere feeling that were living through a major surge of hate-fueled violence may be useful in that it can be used to justify better antihate crime legislation. We dont need stats to tell us that the racist rhetoric emanating from the White House will continue to cause real and lasting harm. But if the numbers from the latest FBI report reinforce this anxious feeling, its only in a vague, symbolic way. We still dont know the truth about the state of hate and whether it makes sense to think that things are getting much, much worse. That ignorance is irresponsible. Listen to If Then by clicking the arrow on the audio player below, or get the show via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. Get More If Then Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to If Then Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. On todays show, host Will Oremus will talk about the employee uprising at Google and the changes that it and other tech companies have made to their sexual harassment policies in response. Joining him is Caroline ODonovan, senior technology reporter for BuzzFeed News, who was there to cover the employee walkouts in person and has continued to report on the fallout. Advertisement And then, a story that has been making headlines for months and finally reached its culmination this week with a big announcement. That would be Amazons HQ2 contestor maybe now its HQ2.5, or HQ2 and 3, HQ2a and HQ2b. Whatever you call it, well talk about the companys decision to open not one but two new headquarters. One will be in Arlington, Virginia, just outside D.C. And the other in Long Island City, just across the East River from Manhattan. That, of course, prompted an outcry from critics around the country, not to mention all the cities that werent chosen. Here to help Will make sense of all this will be Tim Bartik, a senior economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Hes done some fascinating research on the incentives that cities offer to companies to try to get them to locate thereand whether it really pays off for their residents in the long run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2:47 - Interview with Caroline ODonovan 14:32 - Interview with Tim Bartik 32:00 - Dont Close My Tabs Stories discussed on the show: Slate: Why Social Medias Social Media Problem Will Never Be Fixed BuzzFeed News: Google Women Are Sharing Stories of Harassment During a Massive Walkout BuzzFeed News: Despite Changes to Sexual Misconduct Policies, Google Walkout Organizers Say Theres More to Be Done The New York Times: How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the Father of Android Slate: Amazon Did Exactly What Every Company Does. What Was the Point? W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research Dont Close My Tabs: The Atlantic: The Problem With Feedback GoFundMe: How to Help Those Impacted by the Fires in California Advertisement Chico, California, Enterprise-Record: How You Can Help Camp Fire Victims Twitter: Martha McSally for Senate (Concession Video) Podcast production by Max Jacobs. If Then plugs: You can get updates about whats coming up next by following us on Twitter @ifthenpod. You can follow Will @WillOremus and April @Aprilaser. If you have a question or comment, you can email us at ifthen@slate.com. If Then is presented by Slate and Future Tense, a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate. Future Tense explores the ways emerging technologies affect society, policy, and culture. To read more, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter. Japans new cybersecurity minister has never used a computer before. It appears that he also doesnt know what a USB drive is, either. Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, has come under fire for admitting to his technological ignorance during a parliament session Wednesday. Among other things, Sakurada is in charge of overseeing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, tasked with making sure the country is safe from hacking activity during the event. Since I was 25 years old and independent I have instructed my staff and secretaries, he said in response to a question from independent lawmaker Masato Imai. I have never used a computer in my life. According to Kyodo News: Advertisement Flabbergasted by Sakuradas comments, Imai responded, I find it unbelievable that someone who is responsible for cybersecurity measures has never used a computer. But Sakurada said, Its a matter that should be dealt with by the government as a whole. I am confident that I am not at fault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sakurada also failed to answer basic technology questions. When a lawmaker asked whether USB drives can be used at nuclear power plants, Sakurada redirected the question to other experts, as he did not know details well. But surely he must be knowledgeable about other basic issues regarding the Olympics, right? Apparently not. Sakurada has previously failed to answer how much the event would cost or whether North Korean officials will be allowed to attend, the Washington Post reported. He had an excuse for that, too. (Because no one had told him the questions in advance.) Advertisement Sakurada was appointed as a cybersecurity minister in October by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, following Abes re-election as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and reshuffling of the cabinet. Sakurada has a history plagued with controversy. For example, in 2016, he used extremely offensive language used to describe South Korean comfort women who were forced to work in Japans military brothels before and during World War II. Sakurada called the women prostitutes by occupation, claiming that propaganda had created a misconception that these women were victims. Sakurada later apologized and retracted his statement. There are plenty of digitally illiterate politicians here in the U.S. as well, though not quite to the same extent as Sakurada. For instance, Rep. Kevin McCarthy once complained that conservatives were being censored on Twitter. It turns out he was looking at a retweet flagged with containing potentially sensitive content, something he can easily reverse by tinkering with his account preferences. Some politicians arent a huge fan of email, either. I dont email, Sen. Lindsey Graham said, according to the Washington Post. No, you can have every e-mail Ive ever sent. Ive never sent one. Late Sen. John McCain Pat Roberts and Richard C. Shelby also admitted to either rarely using email or not using it altogether. But at least they arent in charge of cybersecurity policy for the entire country. Human Rights Watch and local Rights groups in Tunisia on Tuesday said anal tests and phone searches are being used to identify gay men in Tunisia. According to civil society organizations, more than 70 gay men were jailed by Tunisian authorities last year. Mounir Baatour, lawyer and president of the Tunisian LGBT association Shams, said that while the 2011 revolution had given greater freedoms to civil society groups, this had been accompanied by a rise in discrimination. Human Rights Watch and Shams said anal examinations to determine sexual orientation should be banned. The United Nations called on Tunisia in June 2016 to stop the practice, which Physicians for Human Rights call a form of rape. The decriminalization of homosexuality was one of several progressive changes recommended to Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebi by the countrys Individual Freedoms and Equality Committee (also known by the acronym COLIBE). The 230-page proposal detailed the lack of equal rights for many groups in the country. Groups that were highlighted in the proposal included women, gay men and the wider LGBT community. The committee also recommended abolishing the death penalty, giving women more rights and dismantling patrilineal citizenship and inheritance. The Tunisian authorities have no business meddling in peoples private sexual practices, brutalizing and humiliating them under the guise of enforcing discriminatory laws, said Amna Guellali, Tunisias director for HRW. Last week, the National Rifle Association sent out an aggressive tweet in response to an article from the Annals of Internal Medicine that had called for evidence-based, Second Amendmentcompliant gun control regulation. The tweet in question: Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane. Half of the articles in Annals of Internal Medicine are pushing for gun control. Most upsetting, however, the medical community seems to have consulted NO ONE but themselves. Doctors immediately tweeted back with pictures of blood-drenched scrubs, heartbreaking stories of having to tell parents that their child had not survived a gun shot, reviews of the enormous numbers of gunshot wounds that even one emergency department doctor sees in a career. Eventually, one doctors profanity laced response yielded the birth of a new hashtag: #ThisIsMyLane (and #ThisIsOurLane), and back and forth it continued to go. In fact, its still going. Both sides are sure they are correct and sure that this argument is new. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But of course, its not a new argument. This kind of argument has happened before, over and over. In fact, it happens almost every time theres a new public health intervention. And that means I think I know whos going to win, eventually. Lets start with cars. Americans learned to drive in the 1920s and, like most new drivers, immediately learned to crash. As cars became more widespread, death tolls rose sharply. Newspaper articles would frequently describe the scenes of motor vehicle crashes as carnage. For about 40 years, automobiles themselves were never considered responsible for the safety of their passengers or drivers, as the automotive industry largely promoted a narrative that it was unsafe driversnot the technology they drovethat was the problem. It was, essentially, cars dont kill people; people kill people. Belting yourself or your children into a vehicle seemed madness: Where was the freedom? Where was the personal responsibility of the driver? Regulations like that were considered infantilizing and unnecessary. And so the U.S. failed to pass any effective legislation for decades, and people continued to die in large numbers in motor vehicles. Advertisement Until one day, the discussion changed. We no longer talked about car accidents, a phrasing that implied driver error. Instead we used a name more consistent with what they often were, the shattering of human bodies within high-velocity vehicles: a car crash. And legislation started to pass (most notably the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966) mandating the creation of safety equipment within cars: seat belts, child-safety restraints, airbags. Now we have the world we live in today, where it takes me a full 10 minutes to get my kids into or out of the car. All this safety gear is a palpable restriction on my freedom (and, my children frequently argue, theirs as well); and yet, it would never occur to me to step on the gas until each kid (and adult) is immobilized into their seat. Advertisement Advertisement Heres whats interesting: Public health doctors and policies cross this boundary into individual liberty all the time, and it almost always creates backlash. When that boundary is crossed, its not always the right wing that is fighting off the onslaught. For example, in the 1990s, when public health recommendations in both the U.S. and the U.K. recommended that all women of childbearing age take folic acidregardless of their plans for pregnancythe backlash arose as planned, only this time, it was from populations we would usually associate with the left. It happens almost every time theres a new public health intervention. And that means I think I know whos going to win, eventually. Folic acid is a vitamin that can prevent serious birth defects, but for a forming embryo to benefit from its presence, the folic acid needs to be in a womans body extremely early in gestation. To work, this vitamin needs to be present even before a woman misses a periodbefore a woman can possibly know shes pregnant. Thus, asking all women to take folic acid throughout their childbearing years makes a lot of sense, especially when we consider how many pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned. Advertisement From another perspective, though, asking all women to take a pill for a significant portion of their life is an incredible overstep from public health officials. And indeed, the recommendation met with a lot of outrage from communities who felt that treating all women as potential vessels of life was both demeaning and objectifying. The pro-choice community worried that extending concern for fetal well-being into the pre-conceptual period would eventually translate into further limitations on abortion or other reproductive options for women. Additionally, the move increased focus on expectant womens personal accountability for birth outcomes and served to intensify both anxieties during pregnancy and feelings of guilt for anyone who had a disabled baby. (Similar recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016 against alcohol intake for all women of childbearing age have met with similar controversy: that these paternalistic recommendations extend too far into much of a womans life, infringing on her body and rights in the name of a theoretical and currently nonexistent future embryo.) But in the end, those recommendations stood, and they still stand today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is all to say that weve had the #NotYourLane fight before, and well have it again; the argument happens with the right, and with the left, and sometimes with everyone in the middle. This fight doesnt always result in public health legislation, though it often does. But even when it does, the path to policy can take decades. Its a long, often ugly, often multiple-front fight. But today, we have seat belts, and airbags, and car seats, and cant imagine not having them. We no longer want to remove them; were even grateful for them. Similarly, we have recommendations about pre-conceptual vitamin supplementation that nobody is planning to repeal. Because it turns out that many parts of your life, and mine, are in the lane of public health. Our attempts to best regulate that have always led to controversy and backlash. But generally it eventually comes down to this. However much we love our individual freedom, at some point we love something else more: our lives, or our kids lives, or the ability to go to school, or a bar, or a concert, or a yoga class without assuming that every loud noise is a massacre in progress. With gun control, I think that point is coming soon. This gun control lane, it seems to me, will shortly be a public health highway. Thanks to Deborah Levine, Ph.D., associate professor of health policy and management, Providence College, for help with background and history. Update, Nov. 15, 2018: Kadyrovs account has been blocked again. An Instagram spokesperson told Slate by email, this account was mistakenly restored and has now been removed. Original post: Hes back! After almost a year, the Instagram account of Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov appears to have been unblocked as of Wednesday, and the social mediasavvy strongman celebrated with a lengthy ode to his pistol, which he refers to as his friend, brother and unpretentious comrade. This is pretty tame for Kadyrov, who uses a picture of his mentor and hero Vladimir Putin as his avatar on Instagram. The Chechen leader became famous for posting photos of himself shaking hands with white tigers and posing with famous friends like Gerard Depardieu and Floyd Mayweather. In 2016, he was mocked by John Oliver for using his account to ask citizens for help finding his missing cat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kadyrovs accounts on Instagram and Facebook were blocked in December shortly after he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Magnitsky Act, a human rights law. Facebook, which owns Instagram, said it had a legal obligation to disable the accounts. Kadyrov is accused of widespread extrajudicial killing and torture of his political opponents, a brutal crackdown targeting gay and bisexual men, and links to political assassinations including that of former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, an opponent of Putin. Kadyrov responded to his blocking by announcing that he would be switching to a new Chechen network called Mylistory, which would be as good as foreign ones. Mylistory is currently available for download in Apples app store, and senior officials including Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have accounts. Advertisement While human rights advocates certainly werent sorry to see Kadyrovs Instagram go, some did raise questions about the lack of transparency and consistency around the ban. (Other prominent targets of U.S. sanctions, including Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Iranian Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, are still active on U.S.-based social media networks.) Those questions are likely to return now that Kadyrovs account is back online, and the timing is odd given that just last week, Instagram disabled another Kadyrov account, which the Chechen government said was set up by his supporters. Hes certainly done little in the past year to improve his behavior. Computers. Phones. Car and machine parts. Steel. China is a well-known manufacturing giant, with a seemingly endless list of goods it exports around the world. But, increasingly, the nations been pushing some more questionable products on some of its foreign buyers: high-tech tools for monitoring and tracking individual behavior. Tools that, critics say, are intended to aid authoritarianism and oppression. That seems to be the case in Venezuela, where, as a Reuters investigation published Wednesday reveals, the Chinese telecommunications company ZTE has been helping the countrys autocratic government construct an advanced citizen surveillance program. Advertisement The Reuters report provides a detailed look into the development and rollout of Venezuelas new smart ID cards known as fatherland cards, which President Nicolas Maduro debuted in late 2016 with the help of ZTE. It also looks into the ways the government has increasingly been linking the cardwhich more than half of the countrys 31 million citizens already haveto individuals voting records, use of social programs like subsidized food and health care, and other personal behavioral data, all of which it stores in its centralized fatherland database that it hired ZTE to build. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The card does not quite duplicate Chinas infamous social credit system, a highly advanced network of surveillance tools that assigns each citizen a fluctuating, credit scorelike number that it uses to incentivize or punish certain tracked behaviors. But, according to Reuters, it appears Chinas system did provide inspiration and some of the infrastructure for what is now happening in Venezuela. Advertisement And, unfortunately, Venezuelas not the only destination for Chinas cutting-edge authoritarian tools. As Daniel Benaim and Hollie Russon Gilman explained in a Future Tense piece in August, other governments, too, have reportedly been working with Chinese firms to develop high-tech programs to collect data on their citizens: building a large-scale facial recognition project in Zimbabwe, equipping law enforcement officers with body-worn cameras with A.I.-powered facial-recognition technology in Malaysia, and constructing a highly surveilled smart city in Egypt. Though most of these projects involve Chinese corporations doing business that bolsters these autocratic regimes, their connections to the Chinese government cant be ignored. Take ZTE, the telecom company behind Venezuelas fatherland cards. Though technically a publicly traded company, it, like other China-based enterprises, has significant ties to the regime. As Reuters points out, a Chinese state company is its largest shareholder and the government is a key client. In the U.S., ZTE has also stirred controversy for violating sanctions and export laws by selling technology to North Korea and Iranand racked up heavy fines and penalties for doing so. Advertisement Venezuelas card system and the governments partnership with China have been a long time coming. As the Reuters report details, Venezuelan government officials first met with representatives from ZTE in April 2008, at the behest of then-President Hugo Chavez. There, they learned about Chinas system for tracking citizen behaviorrevelations that, according to a member of the delegation quoted in the report, changed everything. Advertisement After years of deliberations and a few bumps in the process, the fatherland cards and a corresponding database for storing the collected card data were born. For Venezuelansand, really, for anyone who cares about human rightsthere are lots of reasons to be concerned. ZTE employees developing the database and system are currently embedded within the state telecom company. Interviewed by Reuters, a ZTE representative said the company did not support the Venezuelan government and was simply acting out of market interest. Advertisement According to Reuters, ZTE is continuing to help the Venezuelan government build out the database, which already stores such details as birthdays, family information, employment and income, property owned, medical history, state benefits received, presence on social media, membership of a political party and whether a person voted. The government has also hired ZTE to help build a mobile payment system to link to the fatherland cards, to create a centralized state video surveillance system, and to build a handful of emergency response centers for monitoring major cities, Reuters notes. Advertisement Its still too early to know the full power autocratic regimes might be able to draw from these high-tech surveillance exports. But Venezuela offers some hints. In the October following the rollout of the fatherland cards, the country held regional elections. As Michael Penfold explained in a report for the Wilson Center: Advertisement With a tight political race looming, the government realized it needed to mobilize its base and flip some opposition supporters. Therefore, it decided to link the election to a mechanism guaranteed to mobilize vast swaths of the population: the update of the fatherland card. Days before the election, the government positioned food subsidy renewal stations (Red Points) next to polling stations. They were equipped with wireless internet connections that allowed voters to renew their fatherland card or access [food rations] as they voted. As some voters explained, this created a clear impression that the renewal of their cards was conditional on their turning up to vote (even though voting is not mandatory in Venezuela). Advertisement Seven months later, in the May 2018 presidential elections, Maduro promised voters who scanned cards at similarly placed stations that they would receive a really good prize. The promised prize seemed to have been an empty ruse but one that likely succeeded in its aim of mobilizing many citizens to go to the polls, especially the many Venezuelans left in desperate financial straits by the countrys decline. Advertisement Advertisement The government has not only offered incentives related to IDs but also threats. In August, Maduro announced that only Venezuelans holding cards would continue to receive fuel subsidies. The latest Reuters report also said there are indications that the government has started denying subsidized food boxes to citizens without the card. For Venezuelansand, really, for anyone who cares about human rightsthere are lots of reasons to be concerned about China exporting these technological tools of control. As Benaim and Russon Gilman argue: China is now exporting internationally a suite of surveillance, facial recognition, and data tools that together equip governments to repress citizens on a scale and with a ruthless algorithmic effectiveness that previous generations of strongmen could only dream of. Whereas yesterdays strongmen were constrained by individual informants and case-by-case sleuthing, tomorrows authoritarians will, like China, be able to remotely identify thousands of specific individuals in public via cameras, constantly track them, and use unprecedented artificial intelligence and computing to crunch surveillance information and feed it back into the field in real time. This technology is still being imperfectly and inconsistently applied, but China is working to close the gaps. And even the perception of surveillance where it doesnt exist has been shown to shape behavior. And as these tools migrate, theyll only get betterand more tempting for would-be authoritarians around the globe. On his Twitter account Wednesday morning, Maduro said the card has promoted the protection, social equality, socialism, happiness and peace of the Venezuelan people. But in reality, this new kind of surveillance technology seems designed to promote the protection and happiness of only one Venezuelan: Maduro. Corporations operating in developing nations are often involved in large infrastructure developments and commercial venturessome high-risk regions present opportunities to create or protect market shares. These environments and risks are making security management practitioners and their expertise increasingly sought after. Whether the threat to foreign corporations in individual developing nations is real or only perceived, unique challenges exist for the expatriate security professional. It is located not far from Bratislava. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled More information about travelling in Slovakia Please see our Please see our Spectacular Slovakia travel guide A new lookout tower on Velka Homola hill near Modra is now accessible to the public. The town of Modra built it on the site of the former wooden tower that no longer meets security parameters, according to structural engineers. Construction took five months. It is named after Alexander Filipek. He was a forester in Modra forest park and is regarded as the father of tourism in this area, said Miroslava Kisonova from the tourist-information office in Modra, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Marked routes from Pezinok and Modra lead to the tower. The route is not hard and is suitable for families with children. It is possible to see the surroundings of the Small Carpathians, the area around Nitra and part of the Austrian Alps, said Kisonova, describing the views from the tower, as cited by TASR. The upper lookout platform is at a height of 20.4 metres and 120 stairs lead to the top. The lookout tower is open all year round and admission is free. Marek Stevcek will replace Karol Micieta, who has served as the rector two terms. The University of Economics has re-elected the incumbent rector. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Lawyer Marek Stevcek defeated physician Jozef Masarik in the rectorial election at Comenius University (UK), the TASR newswire reported. I want to be the rector who unites, not divides, Stevcek said shortly after the results were announced, as quoted by TASR. He promised to do his best to keep the university united from the very start of his office term. Stevcek will take over as the leaving rector Karol Micieta has been in office two terms. The law did not allow him to run for the third time in a row. Civil law expert and rector in one Stevcek will officially assume the office on February 1, 2019. Before that, President Andrej Kiska will have to appoint him as the new Comenius University rector. His term of office will end in January of 2023. Stevcek currently works at the UKs law faculty where he serves as the vice-dean for legislation. From 2012, he also chairs the commission for recodification of private law at the Justice Ministry where he will continue working, although he is to serve as the rector. Thanks to him, the Civil Code will be undergoing the biggest change in the last 50 years, said Justice Minister Gabor Gal, who regards Stevcek as one of the best civil law experts, as quoted by TASR. University of Economics re-elected the rector Ferdinand Dano, the current rector of the University of Economics in Bratislava, has been re-elected to his second term of office, the university informed on its website. My main goal for the next term is to build up a modern university with a strong international dimension, based on quality education and science, Dano said, as quoted on the website. He was the only one to run for the post. His term starts on February 1, 2019. Presidential candidate Caputova wants to stand up for decency, humanity, and justice. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Zuzana Caputova, who will run for president in next years election, has won the support of the personalities that steered communism to its end during the Velvet Revolution in November of 1989, the TASR newswire reported. Weve gotten used to a president we can rely on when it comes to ethics and modern development, said sculptor Peter Tatar, as quoted by TASR, adding that Caputova can be such a president. In addition, Czech Michael Kocab, Anton Popovic and Mikulas Huba have embraced Caputova at the November 14 press conference in Bratislava, TASR reported. She was only 16 when communism fell When these men fought for change in squares three decades ago, Caputova was just a sixteen-year-old teenager. Precitajte si tiez: Precitajte si tiez: Men who have not announced their candidacy top presidential poll Read more I was too young to help you but sensitive enough to understand what was at stake, she said, as quoted by TASR. Im one of those who could enroll in university and graduate. Thanks to these men, Caputova could also express her opinions, explore the world, and live freely without being persecuted for her views, she told the journalists. Therefore, she underlined it is necessary to fight for decency, humanity, and justice, TASR reported. Again, were going back to intimidation and bullying of young people, who pointed to the evil, and their pure convictions, Caputova said, as quoted by TASR, hoping to continue these mens work as the president. She wants to build up the country the changemakers from 1989 dreamed of in the past. It has been the fastest quarterly growth since 2015, observers say. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Slovakias gross domestic product in constant prices grew by 4.6 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2018. After seasonal adjustment, the economy went up by 4.5 percent in annual terms and by 1.1 percent in quarterly terms, according to the data published by the Statistics Office on November 14. As for current prices, GDP grew by 7 percent y-o-y in the third quarter. It has been the quickest growth in quarterly terms since the end of 2015, according to Katarina Muchova, analyst with Slovenska Sporitelna. The economic growth in the third quarter came as a positive surprise, Lubomir Korsnak, analyst with UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia, wrote in a memo, adding that unlike most of the eurozone members, the growth dynamics did not slow down. Household consumption and investments contributed to the growth Though the Statistics Office will publish the detailed results on December 7, Muchova predicts that the growth was driven mostly by domestic demand, particularly household consumption and investments. Read also: Read also: Automotive and engineering production are at a similar level Read more The strong household consumption was positively impacted by a favourable development in the labour market, including the drop in the unemployment rate and growth in employment and salaries, which contributes to the increase in the disposable income of households, Muchova wrote in a memo. Moreover, the acceleration in the construction output in the third quarter of 2018 implies the positive impact of investments on the economic growth, Muchova added. Korsnak predicts that the Slovak economy benefited from the continuing restart of the automotive industry, which grew at a two-digit pace. However, the industry as a whole brought inconsistent results, Korsnak wrote in a memo, explaining that most of the industries reported a drop in production. Employment up too As for employment, the Statistics Office reported 2.4 million employed people in the third quarter of the year, up by 1.9 percent y-o-y. After seasonal adjustment, the total employment rose by 2 percent compared to the third quarter of 2017 and by 0.4 percent compared with the second quarter of 2018. New jobs are created mostly in western Slovakia, where the available labour force reserves are nearly used up and need to be saturated by the import of a workforce from abroad, Korsnak wrote in a memo. Outlook Read also: Read also: Slovakias GDP grew by 4.1 percent y/y in Q2 2018 Read more Korsnak predicts that they will probably revise their prediction for the whole year, but wants to wait for the detailed structure. However, he still points to the potential risks for the growth, like the disparities in the Slovak industry that was driven mostly by the automotive sector. There are certain risks too, though. The key position in the structure should have domestic demand, particularly household consumption and investments, Muchova predicts, adding that the foreign trade contribution will not surpass domestic demand. We expect more significant impact on net exports regarding the production of a new carmaker near Nitra. There are also risks in external environment, including global protectionism and the threat of a hard Brexit. Another danger lies in the low growth numbers posted by the eurozone members, analysts say. The daily analysed the thesis identical to that of Parliament's Speaker Andrej Danko to find it was copied from textbooks. Danko does not plan to resign, he wants to wait for the stance of a special commission. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The thesis that Parliament Speaker Andrej Danko wrote for JUDr. title is a mere compilation of texts from five textbooks. Danko submitted the thesis in 2000 and subsequently received the JUDr. title from Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica. When media showed interest in his thesis, he ask the university to bar public access to his thesis. Following public pressure, Danko removed the ban and the university library allowed the public to see the thesis, but not take pictures of it. Dennik N reporters analysed the text of another thesis that they found to be identical to that of Danko, including misspellings. This thesis was written by Daniel Pisak, a Bratislava-based attorney, and submitted one year after Danko's. Copy-paste work The thesis of Pisak, much like that of Danko, contains little more than a one-page introduction, after which follow 25 pages with text from a textbook by Dusan Hendrych. Dennik N analysed the thesis page by page and found it was compiled from copied texts from five textbooks. The copied pieces are up to 25 pages each. The textbooks the text is copied are all from the 1990s and their authors are: Michal Gaspar (book from 1992), Dusan Hendrych (1992), Peter Skultety et al. (1997), Jozef Prusak, Peter Skultety and Sona Capkova (1997), and Katarina Tothova et al. (1992). The texts in the thesis are not cited in line with the then-rules of Matej Bel University and most pages give the impression that they are the author's own work, Dennik N wrote. The names of the supervisor and the opponent of the thesis are not publicly known either. Moreover, the thesis does not contain basic sections like the conclusion and the bibliography. Special commission will look at possible plagiarism "If the author does not clearly and unambiguously separate their own text from citations, it is presumed to be the original text of the author, even though the author is using others' thoughts, pretending that belong to him or her," expert on academic texts, Dusan Katuscak, told Dennik N. "This is considered plagiarism and the author is a plagiarist." Dennik N wrote that even in 2000 the violation of copyright classified as a crime punishable with a prison sentence. If investigation confirms that Danko violated the law, the statute of limitations has already expired and the perpetrator can no longer be prosecuted for the crime. Matej Bel University announced on November 14 that they have put together a special commission to evaluate the theses of Danko and Pisak over plagiarism concerns. The results of their investigation should be available at some point in January 2019. Danko does not admit to plagiarism Even though at first, Danko did not want to respond to questions and his spokesperson, Tomas Kostelnik, told the media he would comment only after the commission had checked his doctoral dissertation, he later held a press conference on November 15, and is refusing to step down from his post. I want to reiterate that I wrote my doctoral dissertation, to the best of my knowledge and conscience, in accordance with the regulations and technical possibilities of that time, Danko said. He also admitted that there are problems within the coalition. At the same time, he stated that the SNS will support the summons for a non-scheduled parliamentary session to discuss his resignation. I have no other choice than to try to win coalition trust again, he added. While his coalition partner Smer supports Danko, claiming that he is the legitimate Speaker of Parliament as has emerged from free democratic elections, as reported by the TASR newswire, Most-Hid is more critical. It called on him to make a personal decision, TASR wrote. Opposition calls for resignation too Meanwhile, several opposition parties have called for Dankos resignation from his post as Speaker. If he does not step down voluntarily, they will collect signatures to summon a special parliamentary session where they will attempt to remove him from his post. Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) called on Danko to pull out of public life and remove any mention of his law degree from all public parts of parliament where it has been published. The Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO) asked Danko to disprove the suspicions or return his degree and resign from his position as Speaker of Parliament. Politicians step down because of plagiarism in normal countries, OLaNO wrote in a statement, as quoted by TASR. We have seen several cases in the Czech Republic. Boris Kollar of Sme Rodina (We Are Family) said that a person like him (Danko) should not even be in parliament, while non-parliamentary political parties the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Spolu Obcianska Demokracia (Spolu Civic Democracy) and Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia) have supported the call for Dankos resignation. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Morocco this Thursday at the invitation of King Mohammed VI, who will chair the inauguration of the high-speed train linking Tangier and Casablanca. The Moroccan Sovereign and the French Head of State will travel aboard the TGV to depart from the Tangier railway station to Rabat. The Sovereign will host on board the train, dubbed Al Boraq, a luncheon in honor of the French President. President Macron will be accompanied by the CEOs of the French companies that were involved in carrying out the project, namely Alstom (supply of trains), Ansaldo-Ineo consortium (signaling and telecoms), Cegelec (electrical substations) and the Colas Rail-Egis Rail consortium (track layouts and catenaries), as well as the French railways company, SNCF, which provided project management assistance to the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF). Meanwhile, the police cancel planned hearings of people behind For a Decent Slovakia initiative. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Ethics watchdog Fair-Play Alliance has submitted a criminal complaint over the recent statements of ex-prime minister Robert Fico in an interview with the Czech weekly Echo24. In the interview, Fico for example said that they already know that the organisers of the For a Decent Slovakia gatherings held after the murder of Jan Kuciak came from organisations funded by George Soros, and that we know well who met with whom, and what role they were playing at that time. He also indirectly suggested that the state could have been monitoring the organisers. Fair-Play Alliance based its complaint on the fact that Fico was not lying and really knew certain information about the organisers of the gatherings. Somebody had to gather this information (or receive it), the watchdog wrote on Facebook on November 14. Legal or illegal activity? If the information was gathered by state institutions, they should have done it either legally or illegally. In the former case, the information should have been classified and their disclosure, including the fact that the gathering actually took place, could be classified as a crime. Read also: Read also: UPDATED: Police investigate protest organisers over Soros allegations Read more In the latter case, powers could have been abused, Fair-Play Alliance continued. Of course, not the state but somebody else could receive the information, the watchdog wrote on Facebook. But in this case it was certainly illegal and it needs to be investigated. To increase the chance that the police will deal with the case, they submitted a non-anonymous complaint, addressed directly to Peter Hrasko, head of the National Criminal Agency (NAKA). With this step, they responded to the fact that NAKA has invited several members of the For a Decent Slovakia initiative for hearings based on an anonymous criminal complaint, suggesting that they were involved in organising a state coup and financed by Soros. NAKA cancels further hearings Meanwhile, the representatives of For a Decent Slovakia stated on Facebook that NAKA cancelled the hearings planned for November 15. So far, Juraj Seliga, Karolina Farska, Katarina Nagy Pazmany, Tana Sedlakova and Veronika Brunckova have been called in by the police. We were informed today in the afternoon that the matter was passed on based on the prosecutors decision, they wrote. Read also: Read also: We refuse Fico's attacks against journalists Read more However, the initiative has no further information about the next steps of NAKA or the prosecutors office. Neither do they know whether the hearings will continue. We believe that this unfounded criminal complaint will be dismissed, the initiative wrote. Prestigious gallery hosts photos by Slovak photographer Ladislav Bielik, in memory of 1968. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The iconic pictures by Ladislav Bielik, capturing images of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact troops in August 1968 can now be seen at the prestigious MAMO gallery in Marseille, France. The first-ever exhibition was officially opened on November 12 and will be held for more than two weeks. With this exhibition, we close the year of anniversaries ending with an 8, including the events of 1968, said Slovak Ambassador to France, Igor Slobodnik, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Up until now, the events have seemed rather academic, but this is the first time that art has been dedicated to the anniversary. The Exhibition was organised in cooperation with the Slovak Institute in Paris and the graphics team from Camera Obscura, led by Boris Melus. It is their first cultural presentation in the south of France, TASR reported. A unique space and unique events The combination of the strong photos by Bielik and the strong events they depict, combined with the unusual space provided by the building designed by architect Le Corbusier, bring additional value to visitors. The exhibition should provoke the interest of the French public in the events of 1968 that were completely different for France than for Czechoslovakia, Slobodnik said. He points out that the resistance by the Czechs and Slovaks against the occupiers created the moral ethos that later defined Slovak society. Slobodnik also thinks that the French were aware of what was happening but primarily connect it with the Prague Spring, with the result that for them everything is located in Prague. The most significant photo by Laco Bielik is linked to Bratislava, said Slobodnik, as quoted by TASR. The exhibition is free and open to the public until December. There were around 130 visitors in the first day. We are here with Bieliks photos and a message that exceeds the borders of Czechoslovakia, said Jakub Urik, director of the Slovak Institute in Paris, as quoted by TASR. Freedom is fragile and currently we do not need tanks and armies for propaganda, the internet is enough, he added. More than 300 workers participated in the training held at a Korean research centre. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The newest model of the Kia ProCeed has rolled off the production line of the carmakers plant in Teplicka nad Vahom, close to Zilina. The third generation of the ProCeed model has already had its premiere at the Paris motor show, while European customers will be able to buy it in the first quarter of 2019. For us, the launch of the newest Kia ProCeed model is a successful conclusion to this years efforts, said Dae-Sik Kim, president and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia, as quoted in a press release. The car was designed in Germany Read also: Read also: New Kia ProCeed revealed as shooting brake estate Read more The new ProCeed inherited its name from the previous generation three-door Kia pro_ceed coupe that also used to be produced at the Teplicka nad Vahom plant. There were more than 190,000 made in the first two generations. The new model was designed at the European design centre in Frankfurt am Main under the supervision of Gregory Guillaume, the main designer for Kia Motors Europe, and Peter Schreyer, president of design and the main designer for the company. We started preparations for serial production of the ProCeed model in our plant at the end of last year by modifying the production lines, said Roman Kralovansky, chief of production for Kia Motors Slovakia, as quoted in the press release. Training in South Korea More than 300 workers participated in the training at the research centre in Namyang, South Korea focusing on the launch of the serial production of the new model. Their important task was to reveal in advance possible shortages that could occur during serial production. Kia Motors Slovakia intends to continue with its investment activities with plans to spend almost 200 million. Besides launching new car models, Kia Motors Slovakia has opened its own healthcare centre in the plant compound where employees may use modern equipment to help prevent professional diseases. In 2018, the concept of service with a smile is changing. While many have grown accustomed to the hospitality model of going above and beyond to please the customer, some cafes are taking steps not only to serve individuals but to honor whole communities. The Potters House, a historic bookstore-cafe in Washington, DCs Adams Morgan neighborhood, has been around since the 1960s. Founded by Gordon Cosby, the cafe and 501c3 non-profit first opened with loosely faith-based roots. While the cafe today strays quite far from any sort of religious affiliation, the team at The Potters House tries to respect its original identity as a gathering space and a safe place for marginalized and housing-unstable people to come for a cup of coffee or a needed meal. The shop also faces a few challenges: a changing neighborhood, a widening demographic, and expectations placed on them as a historic gathering space. The Potters House aims to be many things to many people, including its own staff. With a simple, spacious layout, liberally curated books, and a no-frills Counter Culture coffee menu, it may be hard to believe that The Potters House has undergone several different identities prior to a revamp in 2015. Most notably, the cafe was a crucial gathering point for the Civil Rights Movement after the assassination of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. We were one of the spaces that stayed open to be a rallying space, a community space to talk through what this upheaval meant for the community and how we look after the community in an intentional way, says Mike Balderrama, General Manager and Coffee Director of The Potters House. We are constantly engaged in so many different things. In the 70s and 80s, The Potters House remained a central meeting space to tackle the issues of mental health and homelessness in America. After Reagan shut down several mental health facilities in his term, the Adams Morgan neighborhood became a birthplace for social programming and non-profit operations, many of which were conceived of within these cafe walls. When The Potters House changed hands in 2015, the team had to ask itself how to maintain this historic identity. Balderrama said the focus became upholding as much of the principles of the past and thinking what we can do while also offering really good food, really good coffee, and books that promote ideas and thought. Today, The Potters House honors its roots with an abundance of programming and books that speak to its past. Guests can expect to find a huge range of left-leaning reading material that ranges from ethnic cookbooks to self-help guides, liberal-themed graphic novels, memoirs from POCs, and more. In addition to poetry readings and open mic nights that focus on social justice and equality, the cafe also partners with a lot of local organizations and hosts community-centric events like Mindful Monday Yoga and monthly prison-letter-writing eventsa chance for the incarcerated to connect with others on a human level. The Potters House is connected to the D.C. coffee community too; the gang is always excited and ready to host a Thursday Night Throwdown when the opportunity presents itself. However, Balderrama hesitates to laud The Potters House as specialty coffee cafe. We are a shop that sells specialty coffee, but I wouldnt necessarily call us a specialty coffee shop, because more than anything were a community shop and I think theres a lot of weighted language that comes from the concept of a specialty cafe, Balderrama says. I want to engage with people in the community moreI want to make sure they have a cup of coffee that they like, have a pastry thats good, have food that they enjoy and keep coming back for, and when they enjoy and their curiosity is piqued enough, Im ready to talk coffee with them. Community to me, in general, is super important because community is what keeps people in coffee in my opinion, says Adam JacksonBey, a Potters House barista who also serves as a member of the Barista Guild of Americas executive council. Youre drawn to it for many reasons, like the need for a job and customer service, but from all the coffee folks that I talk to, community is what keeps them there. The community at The Potters House is different because youre not just dealing with the greater, national coffee community or the D.C. coffee communityboth of which I love dearlybut also with a community in D.C. that has been around for almost 60 years, so it feels great to be a part of something that large, says JacksonBey. JacksonBey says that the cafes goal to provide meals to those who need them is much of why he finds meaning in his work at The Potters House, where hes worked for two years. Weve been serving the community since the 60sserving people who didnt have enough food, or couldnt pay for it that week. Social workers know to come find some of their clients here. Its a really beautiful thing to see and work with, says JacksonBey. However, keeping the doors open to a wide variety of faces can occasionally leave the doors open to conflict as well. To this end, Balderrama forgoes 911 on speed-dial at The Potters House, encouraging baristas instead to take de-escalation, bystander, and first aid training classesbut to also be welcoming resources for Adams Morgan. People think they are entitled to a very long laundry list of expectations when they come into our space and a lot of us is saying no, this is actually what our program is, and I think sometimes sitting in that discomfort is better than over-accommodating someone or having to move people around, Balderrama explains. The things we do have control over and consistency over is the coffee that we make, the food that we make, those kinds of things. Everything else is negotiable in a way. Everything else, that isexcept community. Katrina Yentch is a Sprudge contributor based in New York City. Read more Katrina Yentch on Sprudge. Today, Lenovo Malaysia has officially launched three new laptops for the Malaysia market. Introducing the newest family member of the Lenovo Yoga series, the Yoga S730 made its first debut at the event starting from RM3859 and will be available on 1 December 2018 across Malaysia. The Yoga C930 2-in-1 was also present and it's already on sale starting from RM6044. As one of the latest Yoga member, the 13.3-inch S730 model is as sleek as you can imagine and it features up to 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processing unit with Windows 10 Pro OS, an Intel HD 620 graphics card, memory can go as much as 16GB LPDDR3 and packs up to 1 TB PCIe SSD. While the battery life can stay up as long as 10 hours, it has a cool Rapid Charge technology that allows the laptop to charge up to 80% within an hour. There are two USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 ports and supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos Speaker System and more which you can find here. Just your typical laptop design here, there's a fingerprint sensor on the right side there However, it is incredibly thin for a laptop. It measures at 307 x 210 x 11.9mm weighs 1.1kg only! The two Thunderbolt USB-C ports there Simple and clean on the cover The Yoga C930 in tent mode, you can see the rotating Sound Bar there and it's on both sides On the other hand, the 13.9-inch Yoga C930 also features up to 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processing unit, Intel HD Graphics 620, up to 16GB DDR4 memory, up to 1TB PCIe SSD, 4K Dolby Vision resolution and even a rotating Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos Speaker System. Battery life can support up to 14.5 hours (FHD model), as well as using 2 x Thunderbolt USB-C ports and many more. You can check out the full tech specs over here. The Yoga Book C930 price and availability was not announced, but it is slated to be in Malaysia at the end of 2018. Lastly, the company is also in collaboration with Nerdunit as a reward to their customers with special offers. For a period of time, there will be an art installation involving the latest Yoga series at the Nerdunit's flagship store in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur on level 5. That's all about the Lenovo news, stay tuned for more of them at TechNave.com. Overview of representative expenses incurred by the Georgian government in 2013-2017 Responding to high public interest in government spending, Transparency International Georgia looked into representative expenses of the last 5 years, i.e. official receptions and dinners, parties and events, excursions and cultural events. The public and the media frequently question whether these expenses are justified. In 2013-2017, public institutions under the Georgian Dream government incurred representative expenses of more than GEL 49.2 million. The largest amount, more than GEL 12 million, was spent in 2017. During the 5 year period, public institutions spent an average of GEL 27 thousand per day on representative activities. Following a dip after 2012, representative expenses started increasing in 2014 and exceeded the 2012 mark in 2017. Among public institutions that disclosed the requested public information, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had the highest representative expense. Top five spenders include the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Georgian National Tourism Administration, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tbilisi City Hall. The amount spent by the above 5 institutions is more than half of the total spent on representative activities.TI Georgia studied data from 117 public institutions. Information was requested from 142 institutions, of which 18 refused to disclose their data, while 7 had not incurred any representative expenses.We would like to state as a disclaimer that the provided data may not reflect the full amount of spending on representative activities, since several large public institutions refused to disclose their data: Government Administration, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Energy. Transparency International Georgia has taken these cases to court.While conferences and forums are important, related expenditures must be thoroughly analyzed in order to prevent the inefficient spending of the state budget. The government must also explain the reasons behind the continued increase in spending in this area.In a period of 5 years from 2013 to 2017, public institutions under the Georgian Dream government spent more than GEL 49 million on organizing various official events and guest receptions. Following a dip after 2012, the expenses started increasing in 2014 and exceeded the 2012 mark in 2017.The Ministry of Internal Affairs incurred the highest representative expenses, followed by the Georgian National Tourism Administration, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tbilisi City Hall. In 2016, the Ministry of Education spent more than GEL 182 thousand on representative activities, far exceeding the previous yearly maximum of GEL 82 thousand. The Ministry did not specify the cause for such a sharp increase during the parliamentary election year. In 2017, the National Center for Assessment and Examination spent more than GEL 400 thousand on representative activities, 100 times more than the GEL 4 thousand it spent the previous year, and almost as much as the total expenditure of the Ministry of Education in 2013-2017. The amount spent in 2017 far exceeded the previous yearly maximum of GEL 86 thousand as well. The Center covered the 2017 expenses from the funding it received from the Millennium Challenge Fund. The Innovation and Technology Agency of the Ministry of Economy spent more than GEL 253 thousand in 2016, compared to the previous yearly maximum of GEL 136 thousand. The Agency spent GEL 98 thousand on New Year guest receptions alone. In 2016, the Ministry of Education spent more than GEL 182 thousand on representative activities, far exceeding the previous yearly maximum of GEL 82 thousand. The Ministry did not specify the cause for such a sharp increase during the parliamentary election year. In 2017, the National Center for Assessment and Examination spent more than GEL 400 thousand on representative activities, 100 times more than the GEL 4 thousand it spent the previous year, and almost as much as the total expenditure of the Ministry of Education in 2013-2017. The amount spent in 2017 far exceeded the previous yearly maximum of GEL 86 thousand as well. The Center covered the 2017 expenses from the funding it received from the Millennium Challenge Fund. The Innovation and Technology Agency of the Ministry of Economy spent more than GEL 253 thousand in 2016, compared to the previous yearly maximum of GEL 136 thousand. The Agency spent GEL 98 thousand on New Year guest receptions alone. I am ready to start heading towards the AMTA National Conference! This has been a long week of anticipation, making lists, and getting myself ready for interactions with lots of music therapists, but I think I have everything I need (once I shut down the laptop and put it in my bag). I have the addresses of TWO In-N-Out Burger locations (I can taste that goodness already). I am ready to go. Conference is always a good vacation from my job. It is also one of the most stressful times of the year for me, but I continue to go. Lots of people talk about the cost and the inconvenience, but I have always made this interactive time a priority in my life, so I don't see it as an inconvenience. I guess perspective has lots to do with perception. I don't go on fancy vacations. This is it for traveling to new places for me on a pretty regular basis. In fact, other than going home every so often, I haven't taken a "real" vacation in about 13 years. Now, don't get me wrong. I do take time off, and I go places, but I don't really travel other than going to conferences or going home for a visit. I don't plan on trips to Belize or other popular destinations for folks my age (I guess - do people my age go to Belize lots?? Seems like it around here). I don't shy away from opportunities to go places, but I also don't insist on going places. I enjoy time at home, and I like being here, so I do the whole "stay-cation" thing most often. Conference is my big chance to travel every year, so it is what I save for, plan for, and cherish. I will be heading out into the cold morning here in just a bit to hop in my car and make my way to the conference world. I have everything that I want to take with me ready to be placed into my two (small) bags, and I'll be on my way. See you soon? I hope so!! Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacation by Mathias Hariyadi Choirs from across Indonesia competed in Ambon (Maluku). Government officials, civil society groups and the Bishops Conference were part of the organising committee. "Let us build together national unity and take care of a pluralistic society, said Bishop Suharyo. Jakarta (AsiaNews) "All Indonesians celebrated brotherhood and national unity" at the National Catholic Religious Music Festival (Pesta Paduan Suara Gerejani-Pesparani), held in Ambon between 27 October and 2 November), said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo during his meeting with 39 bishops two days ago at the Presidential Palace in Bogor (West Java). The bishops were not alone at the meeting. Government officials were also present, including Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin; Eusebius Binsasi, director of the Directorate General for Catholic Community Guidance at the Religious Affairs Ministry; Maluku Governor Said Assagaf; and Presidential Chief of Staff General Moeldoko. During the meeting, Widodo said that "it is not important who won the Pesparani," but the values that the event promoted. "From the many voices in the choir we learn to exercise self-control and put into practice social tolerance, the president added. Sometimes you need a soprano; in others, a contralto, a bass or a tenor. Each participates as 'one voice' and nobody must be dominant." Mgr Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, archbishop of Jakarta and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Indonesia (KWI), thanked the government for its support for the festival. "The message sent by Ambon is clear: 'Let us build together national unity and take care of our pluralistic society, the prelate said. The visit ended with the winning choir, which hails from East Kalimantan province (Indonesian Borneo), performing for the president. The bishops then left for Bandung, where their annual assembly ended yesterday. (Photo credit: State Palace's Information Bureau) 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 [] Ooc Om Bok Festival, or the Festival of Worshiping the Moon, is poised to begin in the southern province of Soc Trang this Friday, featuring a wide variety of activities to celebrate the traditional Khmer festival. The highlights of the November 16-22 event include a moon-offering ritual, lantern-release ceremony, photo exhibition, Khmer traditional dance festival and trade and cuisine fair, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Another must-see activity of the week-long festival is the Ngo boat race, taking place on November 21 and 22, which will see competition between 48 teams from Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Hau Giang and Vinh Long, all Mekong Delta provinces. The Ooc Om Bok Festival is held in a bid to preserve and promote traditional values of Khmer people while popularizing local strengths in economy, culture and tourism, the Vietnam News Agency quoted Danh Phuong, deputy head of the board for ethnic minority affairs of Soc Trang province, as saying. Ooc Om Bok is among the three main festivals, besides Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay, Khmer people celebrate every year. It begins around 7:00-8:00 pm on the evening of the 14th of the tenth lunar month when the moons position is high in the sky. Observed either at home, outdoors or at Khmer pagodas, the festival involves Khmer people praying for good luck, happiness, good weather and bumper crops. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc discussed matters in the East Vietnam Sea during his meeting with United States Vice-President Mike Pence in Singapore on Wednesday. The conversation was conducted on the sidelines of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings in the city-state, according to the Vietnam News Agency. PM Phuc said Vietnam wants to lift the bilateral comprehensive partnership with the U.S. to new heights on the basis of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, and each sides political institutions. Vietnam will continue improving its business environment, raising intellectual property protection capacity, ensuring cyber security and safety, and abiding by international financial and monetary standards, the premier continued. He proposed that the two countries further facilitate their bilateral ties in trade and investment for the benefits of both peoples. Vietnam welcomes the U.S.s support for ASEANs stance on the East Vietnam Sea issue, as well as negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) for the maritime area in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Phuc continued. Vice-President Pence stressed that the U.S. supports a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam, and is willing to cooperate with the Southeast Asian country in multiple fields. He agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations in the coming time, especially on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relationship. The leader highlighted common interests in maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he supports the efforts of China and ASEAN in developing their foundation of connectivity in terms of mutual trust, physical connection, and human connection. The Vietnamese head of government made the statement at the 21st ASEAN-China Summit held in Singapore on Wednesday, as part of the 33rd ASEAN Summit framework. The event also celebrated 15 years of strategic partnership between the two sides. PM Phuc underlined ASEAN and China should increase dialogue efforts and collaboration, as well as build mutual trust and uphold international law, contributing to the formation of codes of conduct for an open, transparent, and rules-based regional structure, according to the Vietnam News Agency. The Vietnamese premier said the East Vietnam Sea issue remains complex, causing concern for all sides involved and possible negative impacts on regional stability. He underscored that ASEAN and China should continue upholding the principles they had agreed upon, which involve boosting dialogues, building mutual trust and respecting international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the peaceful settlement of disputes. The two sides should also avoid the militarization or complication of the situation, developing an effective and substantive code of conduct (COC), and fully and seriously implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC). At the summit, ASEAN and Chinese leaders reiterated the importance of their partnership and acknowledged the strong growth of their ties based on mutual trust, understanding, and respect, according to the Vietnam News Agency. The leaders lauded positive outcomes achieved in the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation 2018 and agreed to work together for an effective ASEAN-China Media Exchange Year 2019. China has for years been ASEANs biggest trade partner and top foreign investor, a political and economic organization whose current members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang underlined that the positive results of cooperation between ASEAN and China have laid solid grounds for the partnerships expansion, while speaking highly of the bloc's international role and position. He affirmed that their principles have encouraged mutual respect for shared benefits and the boosting of win-win cooperation. The Chinese leader said both sides should strive for stronger economy-trade-investment connection toward the goals of US$1 trillion in bilateral trade and $150 billion in foreign direct investment in 2020. He also urged the sides to focus on upgrading and effectively implementing the ASEAN-China free trade agreement and to support a multilateral trade system of openness, transparency, and rule of law. China announced its plan to add an additional $10 million to the ASEAN-China cooperation fund and invite 1,000 ASEAN youths to visit China. Li also stated that China will continue working with ASEAN in completing the COC within the next three years and in fully implementing the DOC, contributing to peace, stability, safe and free navigation and overflights, and free trade in the East Vietnam Sea. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out todays leading news stories: Society -- The car driver implicated in a Tuesday accident that killed one instantly and injured four in Ho Chi Minh City attributed the episode to his heedlessness and failure to run in the right lane. His vehicle rear-ended four motorcycles before mounting the curb and careening down a canal. -- The rate of overweight women between 15 and 49 years of age in 2017 was on the rise, according to the nutrition center under Ho Chi Minh Citys health department. -- Around 50,000 out of 250,000 Vietnamese people who contracted HIV were unaware of their infection, the Ho Chi Minh City administration said in a report. -- The last body of two gold miners trapped in a cave in the northern province of Hoa Binh, south of Hanoi, was found on Wednesday, ten days after reports of their situation. Business -- Vietnam is scheduled to start testing 5G networks next year, hoping to be amongst the first adopters when the fifth generation of mobile Internet technology becomes available worldwide by 2020, the head of the countrys Ministry of Information and Communications said Wednesday. -- Renowned domestic and international brands will offer their products at heavily discounted prices during Vietnams fifth Online Friday, to take place on December 7, the organizers announced on Wednesday. Education -- A Vietnamese teacher won a grand prize in a national education contest for creating a picture-sound-expressive system to facilitate the learning of children with Down syndrome. The system consists of a projector or television set as the output, a computer with a special program, and a cobble-mounted carpet with sensors. -- Vietnams real estate giant Vingroup started the construction of VinUni, expected to be a nonprofit university that meets international design standards, in Hanoi on Wednesday. VinUni had signed cooperation contracts with the United States Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Hanoi administration has come under widespread criticism after lining a public road with red poles in a presumably well-meant attempt to create a more beautiful, livable city. Many believe the project highlights the administrations unwillingness to learn from the shortcomings of a similar project which ultimately turned out to be a bust when it was implemented along another thoroughfare. Locals described the 200 bright red metal poles along Dinh Thon Street in Nam Tu Liem District as an eyesore and nuisance in the already congested area. The primary goal of the project was to give shop owners a place to hang signs and billboards uniformly at the same height and to create space for the government to display national flags and lanterns during major holidays and events. Motorbikes run on Dinh Thon Street in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre The poles are just the first stage of a three-phase plan to beautify the residential area along Dinh Thon Street. When the street was originally upgraded from a village road during a larger project to urbanize Nam Tu Liem District, city planners did not include space for sidewalks, designing the width of the road to reach just inches from shop and restaurant entranceways. Now, the tiny space separating the street and buildings is filled with the new red poles, which tower just under the tangled web of electric wires covering the street. At just five meters wide, Dinh Thong street is often busy with vans, cars, bicycles, vendors carts, and pedestrians. Due to the mishmash of vehicles and lack of sidewalks, disorder often rules the activity on the street. The poles are unevenly spaced along a one-kilometer section of the street and shop signs jut out perpendicularly, though the government originally wanted them to face the road. The entrance to the Dinh Thon residential area in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Just days into the project, locals are already voicing their complaints. Local resident Nguyen Van Hung called the poles an eyesore on an already messy street. Now the whole road is red all year round, as if its having a festival, he said. Architects and urban planners were also quick to criticize the initiative. Le Viet Ha, director of Urban Initiatives Hub, said the idea is unsound. The poles composition and material are only suitable for short-term use. I wont comment on if they are beautiful or not, but theyre bound to hamper pedestrian movement and obstruct views, Ha said. Architect Tran Huy Anh said the project portrays the local governments incompetence in modernizing the city. The red poles are a piecemeal approach to modernization. They make the entire process more chaotic without even touching on more central issues, Anh said. He mentioned the failure of a similar project aimed at creating visual uniformity on Le Trong Tan Street in Thanh Xuan District two years ago, in which shop owners were required to have all signage in only red and dark blue. Architect Ngo Doan Duc said the authorities should instead be spending public budgets on widening sidewalks, putting power lines underground and improving the sewage system. Officials should not assume the job of experts if they do not want adverse consequences, said Nguyen The Son, a visual artist at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. Here are other photos taken by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper of Dinh Thon Street: Shop signs along Dinh Thon Street in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A former detention officer in the northern Vietnamese province of Hoa Binh has been sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the death of an inmate earlier this year. The provincial Peoples Court on Wednesday began the trial of Nguyen Van Bao, 33, a former officer at the Thanh Xuan detention facility in Phu Lao Commune, Lac Thuy District. Bao was charged for using corporal punishment upon an inmate. According to the indictment, Bao was tasked with supervising prisoners as they entered and exited their cells for daily labor. At around 7:00 am on March 14, Bao discovered that Cam Van Chun, 44, had violated the facilitys regulations by consuming alcohol. Chun was serving a jail time for drug trafficking. The officer reminded Chun of the rules but was answered in a disrespectful manner, aggravating him to slap the inmate. The slap caused Chun to fall backward and hit his head on the concrete floor, leaving a bloody wound on the back of his head. He later succumbed to the wound despite medical treatment. Doctors stated the inmate had suffered traumatic brain injury. Bao pleaded guilty at the trial and received a nine-year jail sentence. He was also required to pay VND115 million (US$4,958) to Chuns family as compensation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your browser does not support the audio element. A massive railway project in northern Vietnam faces an unclear future, having been deserted since 2011 due to a lack of capital, after consuming VND4,556.4 billion (US$195.93 million) funding from government bonds. In May 2005, the Ministry of Transport kicked off the Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan railway project with a total of VND7,665 billion ($329.6 million) earmarked for investment by the government. Designed for trains to run at 120 km/h, the project was expected to become a key component in the development of the economy in the northern region, particularly in connecting two corridors and an economic belt between Vietnam and China. The whole project was meant to span 131km, starting from Yen Vien Station in Hanois Gia Lam District, running through a number of northern provinces, including Bac Ninh and Hai Duong, and ending at Cai Lan Port in Ha Long, the capital of the northern province of Quang Ninh. Forty-three kilometers of the railway was planned to be newly built while 88km was meant to be comprised of upgraded and renovated tracks from the existing Kep - Ha Long railway line. The project was also expected to provide passengers with a significantly faster alternative to the seven-hour Yen Vien - Kep - Ha Long route. Journeys for Yen Vien to Ha Long on the new route were set to take 1.5-2 hours for passenger trains and 3-4 hours for freight trains. The Yen Vien - Kep - Ha Long and Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long railway routes are seen in this map. Photo: Tuoi Tre Construction ruins The project was initially scheduled to be put into operation in 2011 but developers fell short of the deadline. Construction was eventually completely suspended the same year, in line with a government resolution to cut public investment. Now, seven years later, remnants of the project are covered in moss and beginning to decay. An overpass of the railway crossing the Hanoi - Bac Giang expressway remains only halfway completed, stopping just in the middle of the air due to the halt to construction. The road crossing a field to Hap Linh Ward, Bac Ninh City in the namesake province, not far from the aforementioned overpass, is now a dyke covered in greenery. In the same ward, the overpass crossing the National Highway 38 at the Tien Xa area stands tall without two ends. An overpass of the railway crosses the Hanoi - Bac Giang expressway. Photo: Tuoi Tre I heard that the construction of this railway project was stopped due to lack of money, said a street vendor selling drinks at the Tien Xa area, near the work of a railway bridge in the project. So much money had been wasted here now that its all abandoned. But the most wasteful work component in the project is the railway bridge spanning more than one kilometer across the Luc Dau Giang River, connecting Duc Long Village in Que Vo District, Bac Giang Province with Pha Lai Ward in Chi Linh Town, Hai Duong Province. Construction was almost completed on this railway bridge, with just the rails left to be installed and one end lacking in Chi Linh. Over the past seven years, as no one has been to the site, the temporary quarters for construction workers involved in the railway project have been dismantled, leaving only a few shanty rooms. The once-crowded area is now used as a grazing yard for local livestock. The one-kilometer railway bridge spans across the Luc Dau Giang River. Photo: Tuoi Tre Unclear future The Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan railway project is divided into four sub-projects, namely Yen Vien - Lim, Lim - Pha Lai, Pha Lai - Ha Long, and Ha Long - Cai Lan. Lim is a townlet in Quang Ninh, while Pha Lai is a ward in Ha Long. After five years of construction, only the last sub-project, a 5.6km link connecting Ha Longs center and Cai Lan Port in Quang Ninh, was completed and put into use in October 2010 In other words, passengers who want to travel from Hanoi to Ha Long City by train still have no other choice but to board the traditional Yen Vien - Kep - Ha Long route for 7.4 hours, despite the completion of the Ha Long - Cai Lan Port sub-project. As of September, the modern Ha Long Station, serving the Ha Long - Cai Lan route, only welcomes two trains one passenger train and one freight train each day. This is a huge waste as the terminal is designed to meet international standards, and its six-lane road system is meant to receive six to seven pairs of trains per day, with the capacity to be upgraded to between ten and 11 pairs per day by 2020. The modern Ha Long Station serving the Ha Long - Cai Lan railway route is seen in this photo. Photo: Tuoi Tre According to the Ministry of Transport, it would cost an additional VND6,000 billion ($258 million), apart from VND4,556.4 billion already allocated, for the project to be completed. Thus, the total investment of the project will amount to VND10,556 billion ($453.91 million), compared to VND7,665 billion approved in 2005. The increase is attributed to changes in the prices of materials, labor, site clearance, and compensation for relocated families. Over the years, the Ministry of Transport has had little success in seeking government funding and private investment for the project. The ministry, therefore, has to report to the government to continue postponing this project, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong. The constructed work items and purchased supplies can only be preserved to avoid damage, Dong said in October. While the completion date of the Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Cai Lan - Ha Long railway is still uncertain, the Ha Long - Hai Phong expressway has completed its connection with the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway, shortening the travel time from Hanoi to Ha Long to just one and a half hours. The appeal of taking the highway, combined with the small number of train passengers on the Yen Vien - Ha Long railway route, is said to make attracting further investment in the railway project more difficult. The temporary quarters for construction workers involved in the railway project are seen in this photo. Photo: Tuoi Tre An overpass of the railway crosses the Hanoi - Bac Giang expressway. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A woman was shot multiple times before being fatally stabbed while she was selling tofu at a market in the northern Vietnamese province of Hai Duong on Wednesday. The victim, D.T.N.A., 26, was a tofu seller at Ben Tam Market in the namesake ward, Chi Linh Town, Vu Dinh Thach, chairman of the Ben Tam Ward administration, confirmed. A. was working at the marketplace when Chu Dang Khoa, 36, approached her at around 9:00 am and shot her with a handgun at least twice. After the victim collapsed, Khoa pulled out a knife and stabbed her to death. The man then attempted to kill himself with the same knife but his self-inflicted wound was non-fatal. Khoa is now being treated at the hospital. Eyewitnesses said the incident escalated so quickly that they did not have time to react. Preliminary information obtained in the investigation showed that Khoa is a known drug addict who recently finished a prison sentence. According to Dan Tri online newspaper, police found a total of three pistols at the scene. Khoa previously had feelings for A. but the woman rejected him as both Khoa and the victim are already married with children. Police are continuing their investigation into the case. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Doctor Who is getting a New Years Day special in the UK, instead of a Christmas special this year, written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Wayne Yip. As the New Year begins, a terrifying evil is stirring from across the centuries of Earths history. As the Doctor, Ryan, Graham and Yaz return home, will they be able to overcome the threat to planet Earth? Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, says: Were delighted the Doctor and her companions will be welcoming BBC One audiences into 2019 with this exciting new episode. The Doctors fans are in for a special treat on the first day of the new year. Showrunner Chris Chibnall says: Were thrilled to be starting the New Year with a bang on BBC One, as Jodie Whittakers Doctor and friends face a terrifying alien threat in an action-packed, hour-long special adventure for all the family. ABC is yet to announce Australian broadcast details, likely to land on Wednesday January 2. Networks have spoken about their different approaches to mergers with other media, this week at annual AGMs. Nine is awaiting Fairfax shareholders to vote on a takeover next Monday. If they vote in favour a week later it heads to court for approval. The combining of the two companies publishing businesses will include brands such as The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Nine.com.au, 9Honey, CarAdvice, Pedestrian and Future Women. Peter Costello, who will chair the combined company, said, Youve got to remember this; Fairfax the company has a suite of assets, so were not just buying print. Were merging in order to get an interest in Domain (digital), Stan (digital), mastheads (digital and print), radio and then community newspapers and New Zealand. Print is an important part, but we think we need to go heavily into digital if were going to be a profitable company in the future. Well really be focusing on all of the digital properties which will include digital mastheads. He added, We still compete with Seven. We compete very strongly with Seven. We compete very strongly with News, but thats not our only problem. Here are our big competitors. Netflix: global behemoth. Google: global behemoth. Meanwhile at Seven West Medias AGM Chairman Kerry Stokes took the view that opportunities will arise for them, and the company will be able to use its market position to take advantage of them. Theres a lot of talk about whether we should get married or not married, he said. Nine have this wonderful program which is called Married at First Sight. And maybe thats not necessarily a good responsibility for a corporate citizen, to get married at first sight. We certainly wouldnt want to do that, and they seem to have chosen to do that, and I hope it works out for them long term, because they are two important companies. We wish them nothing but the best. Source: WA Today, AFR, BandT Many people will remember the heart-warming story in 2017 about a homeless veteran giving a stranded woman his last $20 for petrol so she could get safely home. The story led to a viral GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the homeless man and give him a home and a job. In fact, the campaign raised hundreds of thousands from generous donors. Now it turns out the whole thing may have been a get-rich-quick plot between Mark DAmico, Kate McClure and the homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt Couple and homeless vet in a get-rich-quick scheme NBC in Philadelphia reported on Wednesday that prosecutors believe that DAmico, McClure, and Bobbitt conspired to make the fake campaign to raise money for themselves. That report says the couple has handed themselves in to police, but that Bobbitt is still at large. Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt Jr along with Kate's BF Mark D'Amico will be indicted for Conspiracy and Theft by deception for making up their story which pulled on the heartstrings of 14,000 people on a GoFundMe page to the tune of $402,000. #TheScumOfTheEarth pic.twitter.com/7IUca2MxKo Rocco 's (@G12Rocco) November 15, 2018 NBCs source told them they have a copy of the criminal complaint, adding that all three persons will likely face charges of conspiracy, for creating the ruse, and theft by deception, for robbing the generous donors. An announcement is said to be expected on Thursday by the Burlington County Prosecutors office in the case. The New York Post attempted to get a comment from the prosecutors, but their call was not returned. They also tried to contact a representative of the couple and homeless man, without success. Prosecutor to make announcement in Johnny Bobbitt 'GoFundMe case' https://t.co/D4miE3a7XI pic.twitter.com/nF77qgfIn3 Action News on 6abc (@6abc) November 15, 2018 How the ruse began It was in November last year that DAmico, 39, and McClure, 28, told the media that a homeless veteran, Johnny Bobbitt, had given McClure his last $20 to fill her petrol tank after she ran out of petrol on I-95 near Philadelphia. They claimed in their GoFundMe page that they wanted to help the homeless man for his generosity and the campaign soon went viral, with tens of thousands of dollars raised by donors in just a few days. The campaign ultimately raised over $400,000 (313,252), allegedly for the homeless man. McClure said at the time that the GoFundMe campaign had changed her outlook on people, as so many strangers generously made the donations. As prosecutor's announcement expected today in #GoFundMe case, here's a look at how drama surrounding a #SouthJersey couple and homeless Samaritan has unfolded -> https://t.co/8GBHch9F0p #JohnnyBobbitt pic.twitter.com/g7IAm7EXzS Courier-Post (@cpsj) November 15, 2018 GoFundMe plot goes wrong However, the couples plans went wrong in August 2018, when Bobbitt sued the pair, claiming they were keeping funds raised in the campaign from him. He claimed they were living the good life, while he was still without money. In response, the couple claimed Bobbitt was taking drugs and that they wouldnt pay him until he came clean. Now it sounds like Bobbitt was also a victim of the couples scam. The couples lawyer had said in September that they were both facing indictment for their part of the scam, but now it has been revealed that the homeless man was involved in the plot. The headquarter of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is seen in London, Britain, November 22, Britain 2016. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - A report from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on Tuesday warned that perceived transparency in government policymaking in its 38 economy bloc had not improved since the start of the decade. The development bank's annual 'transition" report which scores the progress of countries in six key areas from competitiveness and resilience to the way they are governed, made for mixed reading. "Although the perceived regulatory burden declined in many of the economies where the EBRD invests (between 2010-17), the perceived transparency of government policymaking did not generally improve," the report said. There were some exceptions such as Kazakhstan, Romania and Ukraine, but there were concerns about the ability of some countries' courts and firms to be able to legally challenge domestic regulations having an impact on their businesses. The EBRD was set up in 1991 to help former Soviet bloc countries convert to capitalism, but growing eurosceptism in parts of eastern Europe has raised questions about reversals in the process. Poland, where the ruling PIS government has been criticised by the European Commission for forcing top judges to retire [nL8N1WZ4G7], saw its annual policymaking score cut as did others including Egypt and Jordan as well as Latvia and Estonia. In the longer-term picture, youth unemployment has declined, particularly in south eastern Europe, but it remains a key challenge for many countries. Flexibility in hiring and firing practices appears to be declining in various countries and significant challenges also remain with critical infrastructure such as heating and telecoms in poorer regions. IMMIGRATION AND POPULISM The rest of the report looked at huge changes taking place in employment, demographics and migration in the EBRD's region, which stretches from Morocco to Mongolia in one direction and Estonia to Egypt in the other. By 2040, labour force growth is expected to exceed population growth in only 20 percent of the worlds emerging markets and EBRD countries such as Turkey could see their old-age dependency ratio rise from around 12 percent now to about 25 percent in 2040 in that time. Story continues On top of that, in nearly all EBRD economies, the probability of jobs being automated is higher than the OECD average of 48 percent. In Slovakia, the median probability of automation is as high as 62 percent and the report estimated that 13 percent of a drop in employment in 11 central and south eastern Europe between 2010 and 2016 was due to "robotisation". There was also analysis of immigration's role in the rise of populist politics in the EBRD's bloc. Looking at 510 elections in 19 countries since 2001, it found that a 1 percentage point rise in immigrants share of the population since the previous election was associated with a 6 percentage point weakening of support for left-wing populist parties. There was an even starker 7 percentage point decline in the combined vote share for non-anti-immigrant populist parties at given elections. "The magnitude of that impact is substantial," the report said. (Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Richard Balmforth) The chief executive of the owner of Patisserie Valerie has resigned a month after it revealed a multi-million pound black hole in its finances. Paul May, Patisserie Holdings (LSE: CAKE.L - news) said, had quit with immediate effect and been replaced with Steve Francis - an executive with a "proven track record of rapid operational performance improvements". The company's statement was unusual in that it offered no word of thanks following Mr May's 12-year tenure as chief executive. But sources told Sky News that Mr May - a long-time business partner of the company's chairman Luke Johnson - had decided to go. The statement said: "Since 2005, Steve has completed four successful operational turnarounds of multi-site, international businesses with revenues ranging from 2bn to 200m. "Steve was recently CEO of Tulip Ltd, the UK's largest integrated farmer and producer of pork, where he led the rapid return from significant losses, rebuilt the management team and completed a major growth acquisition." Following a further list of his achievements, Mr Johnson said: "I am delighted to welcome Steve Francis as new CEO at Patisserie Holdings PLC. "He has a strong track record of restoring value in turnaround situations, especially in the food industry, and the board looks forward to working with him in the revival of the business." Mr Johnson had told shareholders just two weeks ago that the company was "three hours" from bankruptcy as it rushed to fill a gap in its accounts. He added that he and Mr May were reducing other work commitments to concentrate on the chain's recovery full-time. The entrepreneur provided 20m in new loans to keep the business going as the Serious Fraud Office continued to investigate the circumstances of the cash crunch. The company's finance director at the time, Chris Marsh, was arrested on suspicion of fraud and released last month. Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in Patisserie Holdings, which employs almost 2,500 staff at 200 shops, remain suspended. As Brexit chaos reigns supreme in Westminster, here are answers to the top questions on Brexit that people in Northern and the Republic of Ireland have asked Google in the last four hours. What is Brexit? Brexit is a slang term for Britains exit from the European Union. After a referendum on Thursday 23 June, 2016, the vote by the UK to leave the EU won by 51.9% to 48.1%. The referendum turnout was 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting. Under Article 50 of the Lisbon Agreement, the UK has two years to agree with the EU on how to leave. What percentage of the population in Northern Ireland voted in Brexit referendum? The majority of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU. The results saw the remain side gain 56% of the votes. Constituencies which voted to remain included Foyle, West Tyrone, West Belfast, South Belfast, North Belfast, North Down, East Derry, South Down, Mid Ulster, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Newry and Armagh. Leave voters polled strongly in East Belfast, Lagan Valley, North Antrim, Strangford, East Belfast, East Antrim, South Antrim and Upper Bann. When does the Brexit transition period end? Theresa May triggered this Article 50 on March 29, 2017, meaning the UK is scheduled to leave at 11pm UK time on Friday March 29, 2019. Prime Minister Theresa May and Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA) What is the backstop in Brexit? The backstop is an assurance that Ireland will be able maintain an open border if the UK leaves the EU without securing a deal. The backstop solution is an arrangement between the UK and Ireland that will apply to the Irish border in order to keep it open and trading goods and services between the two jurisdictions with few restrictions. How will Brexit affect Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said Ireland is one of the countries that would be hit by the economic effects of Brexit the hardest. According to them, the loss in economic output for Ireland could be as much as for Britain itself. Story continues The Oireachtas Finance Committee report also said lower exports would lead to lower spending by companies would hit employment and government revenues. The analysis suggests employment levels could be 40,000 lower after 10 years and the unemployment rate could be close to two percentage points higher. In Northern Ireland, some report Brexit is expected to have a disproportionate impact on the economy which is reliant on exports to the EU. Some economists have also warned of a drop-off in foreign direct investment. Brexit will also end the 3.5 billion euro in farm subsidies and structural grants received by Northern Ireland in the 2014-2020 period. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill and SDLPs Colm Eastwood say the group of Northern Ireland representatives in Dublin today represent the majority of Northern Ireland on a cross-community basis. They meet with Leo Varadkar along with reps from Alliance and NI Green Party this morning. pic.twitter.com/RXQsgciBZi aoife-grace moore. (@aoifegracemoore) November 15, 2018 What are the benefits for Ireland if Britain leaves the EU? Some commentators argue post-Brexit Ireland will take on a more significant role in Europe as companies looking to expand are unlikely to consider the UK for European headquarters. As the sole remaining larger English-speaking member with a similar legal system and cultural outlook as the UK, Ireland could arguably benefit from an absent UK in negotiations concerning trade and business. For Northern Ireland, some argue their special geographic position could prove beneficial if the border remains open. Should the border remain how it is currently, Northern Ireland would be the only part of the UK with no physical border to the EU. Combined with a highly educated population, lower average wages than Britain and plans to reduce corporation tax from the UK rate of 19% to 12.5% this could significantly enhance Northern Irelands appeal for businesses planning to relocate. What is the Brexit deal? British and European Union negotiators agreed on a draft Brexit deal on Tuesday. The agreement includes commitments over citizens rights, a proposed 21-month transition period after the UKs departure and UK-wide. This will legally obligate the UK to pay a divorce settlement of at least 39 billion to cover payments to the current EU budget and other outstanding financial commitments. If there is no trade deal in place by the end of the transition period, the backstop will mean Northern Ireland would stay aligned to some EU rules on things such as food products and goods standards. It would also involve a temporary single customs territory, effectively keeping the whole of the UK in the EU customs union. What will UK farmers do without CAP? The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) runs for a seven-year period in line with EU budget cycle. The current CAP agreement and funding runs until 2020. The UK Government has pledged to maintain the same cash funds as currently for CAP until the end of the Parliament, under the expectation that this will be 2022. What will happen to interest rates if there is a no deal Brexit? The Bank of England has previously warned that there is no guarantee it will slash interest rates in the wake of a no-deal Brexit. It is hoped that it would repeat its decision to reduce borrowing costs after the Brexit referendum in June 2016, but it has argued that a no-deal Brexit would affect the economys supply which may lead to disruption at borders and companies moving overseas. Its governor, Mark Carney has previously suggested that interest rates may rise if there is a no-deal Brexit. YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) Cameroon's military has killed at least 30 separatists in two days of intense fighting in the turbulent English-speaking North West region, a military spokesman said Wednesday. The military freed people held by separatists during its two-day operation, military spokesman Col. Didier Badjeck said Wednesday. Fighting was intense in the Mayo Binka area near Nkambe, he said. While no soldiers have been killed, he said the death toll for armed separatists may increase, as fighters escape into the bush. In a separate incident, the mayor of Nwa, a local council in the same region, was found dead Wednesday and he is believed to have been killed by separatists, said Emmanuel Bunyui, the mayor of the nearby town of Ndu. Many mayors in English-speaking regions have been targeted by armed separatists demanding an independent English-speaking state, which they call Ambazonia. "When we hoist the Cameroon flag in the council premises, we are targeted by the armed men who insist that we should instead display their blue and white flag," Bunyui said. These incidents have highlighted the separatist unrest in Cameroon, which began in 2016, when English-speaking teachers and lawyers in the northwest and southwest staged demonstrations calling for reforms, criticizing what they called the marginalization of the Anglophone population, which accounts for about one-fifth of the country's 25 million people. Violence increased after factions of separatists armed themselves following a government clampdown on protests in 2017. Armed separatists have vowed to destabilize the regions and hundreds of civilians have been killed and dozens of schools have been burned and teachers threatened. In the past year, more than 1,200 people including separatists, police, military and gendarmes have been killed in the fighting, according to military spokesman Badjeck. Recently 79 students and three staff were kidnapped from a school by suspected separatists, and they have all now been released. Story continues More than 100 civilians have escaped the violence and fled to the capital, Yaounde. "I am just going to nowhere. I am afraid," said Kenneth Kongyu, 19, who joined 75 other people who walked 60 kilometers (37 miles) for two days to escape violence in Ndu, Bunyui's town. "When they come to the market, they shoot from every angle." Tatah Oscar, 17, said he is a former fighter. He said many young Cameroonians are joining the separatists because their families have been killed by military "so they don't have somebody to count on again ... I am pleading on the government to try and solve the problem so that we the youths we can go back to school." Col. Badjeck, however, said "Most of the time the terrorists operate and hide among civilians and the world has an impression that civilians are being killed, but our military is professional." In November last year, Cameroonian President Paul Biya declared the crisis a war. Biya was re-elected to his seventh term in October, although few votes were cast in war-torn Anglophone regions. Politicians have repeatedly called on Biya to initiate dialogue to stem the violence. The 85-year-old president, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, has repeatedly stated that Cameroon is one and indivisible and that he is not ready to negotiate. The conflict poses a serious challenge for Cameroon, a close U.S. security ally in combating extremism and a new member of the U.N. Human Rights Council. The United Nations have condemned both the Cameroon military and separatists for using unnecessary and excessive force and Amnesty International criticized the "horrific escalation of violence" in English-speaking regions. Nearly a quarter-million more people have fled the ongoing violence, many leaving their homes on foot with their belongings teetering on their heads. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark, Tanzania's second-biggest donor, said it would withhold $10 million worth of aid money due to concerns over human rights abuses and what it called unacceptable homophobic comments made by a government official. The decision came on the same day that the World Bank said it had scrapped a plan to loan Tanzania $300 million after the country reaffirmed its policy of banning pregnant girls from school and made it a crime to question official statistics. In the last few weeks, President John Magufuli's government has been criticized by rights groups and foreign governments for what they say is growing intolerance and rising attacks on human rights. The government rejects the criticism. Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tornaes told Reuters on Thursday that her government is also considering diverting 40 million Danish crowns ($6.06 million) to NGOs and other partners instead of giving it to the Tanzanian government directly. "Currently, about half of our cooperation goes through the government. I will look at changing that, so we dont work directly with a government leading a politic that goes in the wrong direction on human rights issues," she said. "I am worried about the development weve seen in Tanzania in the last three years, which has culminated in the recent homophobic comments." Tornaes said that she has postponed a trip to Tanzania scheduled for this month because of the latest developments. Denmark will now withhold 65 million Danish crowns ($9.88 million) in aid to Tanzania, Tornaes said on Twitter on Wednesday. The European nation provided 349 million crowns in foreign aid last year. The comments in question were made by administrative chief of the capital Dar es Salaam, Paul Makonda, who this month announced an anti-gay crackdown in the city, a spokeswoman for the Danish minister said. Reuters was not able to reach Tanzanian government officials for immediate comment. The foreign ministry has previously said Makonda's anti-gay campaign represented his own views and not the official government position. Story continues However, Magufuli's government has also been criticised by opposition politicians and international rights groups for what they say is growing authoritarianism and intolerance of dissent. The government rejects the criticism. ($1 = 6.6 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen and George Obulutsa in Nairobi; Additional reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Jason Neely and Raissa Kasolowsky) BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Former Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski has submitted an asylum request in Hungary asking for refugee status, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office said on Wednesday. Gruevski fled to Hungary this week six months after he was sentenced to two years in prison on corruption-related charges, Macedonia's interior ministry has said. Macedonian police issued an arrest warrant on Monday for Gruevski, who resigned in 2016 after 10 years in power, after he failed to show up to begin his sentence following a Nov. 9 court ruling against his motion for a reprieve. "The Immigration and Asylum Office will conduct the asylum assessment procedure in accordance with both Hungarian and international law," Orban's office said in a statement. It said Macedonia was an important ally and Hungary considered the assessment of Gruevski's asylum request "to be solely a legal issue." "Given that he was prime minister of his country for ten years, for security reasons the Hungarian authorities have allowed Mr. Gruevski to have his asylum request submitted and heard at the headquarters of the Immigration and Asylum Office in Budapest," Orban's office said. Gruevski's application puts Orban into a difficult situation. Orban had supported Gruevski in the run-up to Macedonia's elections in 2017 and praised his party's efforts to halt migrants passing through the Balkans to Western Europe. Gruevski's party and Orban's right-wing Fidesz are members of the European People's party, the centre-right conservative grouping in European Parliament. Last month Macedonia's parliament approved a proposal to change the country's name, bringing a decades-old dispute with Greece one step closer to resolution, That move could unblock its bid to join NATO, something Moscow opposes. Gruevski had opposed any name change. According to the website of the immigration office, the Hungarian authority has 60 days to decide on an asylum application but there is an option for an accelerated procedure. (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg) Firefighters rescued victims of flash flooding in Kuwait on Wednesday, November 14. These videos, captured by members of the Gulf states fire service, show fire crews taking people to safety in and around Kuwait City. In one clip, a firefighter gives a piggyback to a man, who became stranded after floodwaters submerged his car. The Ministry of the Interior warned residents to stay indoors due to the heavy rainfall, the Arab Times reported. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) suspended work at all of its companies on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Kuwaiti Public Works Minister Hussam Al-Roumi resigned on Friday due to the damage caused by the floods, the report said. Credit: Kuwait Fire Service Directorate via Storyful Johannesburg Afternoon Express presenter Jeannie D expressed her disappointment after a FlySafair employee made an inappropriate remark about her flight being delayed, on Thursday. The TV personality's flight from Durban to Cape Town was reportedly delayed by two hours. Jeannie tweeted; "So Durban @FlySafair flight to CT delayed by 2hrs... airline staff laughs at me and says, 'what can we do? This is Africa'." The tweet has since been deleted. Jeannie D told Channel24 that her intention with the tweet was not to get anyone in trouble. "I just want to get back to Cape Town for a shoot," she said. Replying to a fans comment on her tweet, Jeannie said; "I know but it happens all the time and Im not one to moan, its just frustrating that theres no accountability for bad service delivery and mediocrity is just laughed off." This tweet has also since been deleted. Speaking to Channel24, Kirby Gordon, head of sales and distribution at FlySafair, confirmed that there had been a delay with regards to Jeannie D's flight, saying it was due to a "late inbound aircraft." "It pains us to delay any of our customers as being on time is one of our core focus areas," he said, adding; "Jeannie and the other passengers on her flight were unfortunately delayed today by 55min." According to Gordon the stars flight was due to depart at 09:30 but had been pushed to 10:25. Addressing the above mentioned employees alleged "This is Africa" comment, Gordon said the remark was "unacceptable." "FlySafair is a proudly South African company. Safair has been in operation for 35 years now and we have held the South African flag high in the world of international aviation. The implied view here is not one that is held by the company, but we absolutely accept that this individual is representing us. As we respond this individual is being addressed by the Durban Airport Manager on this unacceptable comment," he said. FILE PHOTO: French flag, British Union Jack flag and European flag fly on the Amiens city hall during a Franco-Britain summit in Amiens, northern France, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer By Michel Rose and Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - France on Thursday led calls among European Union states for changes to the draft agreement on Britain's exit from the bloc, adding to uncertainty over the fate of the deal as British Prime Minister Theresa faced an uproar at home. May's cabinet on Wednesday endorsed the draft to end Britain's four decades in the bloc, a nearly 600-page, dense legal text that is far from certain to pass in the UK parliament and prompted several British ministers to resign on Thursday. The other 27 EU states staying on together after Brexit plan to rubber-stamp the draft at a Nov. 25 leaders' summit. But France spearheaded a group of states in raising objections to what has so far been agreed on fishing between the EU and UK after Brexit, diplomatic sources and EU officials said. "On the draft agreement, several member states will ask for improvements on fishing," a diplomatic source close to the negotiations said, listing concern about the issue in France, Denmark, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Finland and Ireland were also worried about future fishing arrangements, other diplomatic sources told Reuters. Britain's rich fishing waters are currently available to other EU states under mutual access arrangements with set quotas. While the EU has wanted to safeguard that scheme after Brexit, Britain wants to take unilateral control of its waters. In the end, the draft Brexit deal leaves the case without a firm resolution at this stage. It says the two sides would try to agree on the future of fisheries by July 2020, during the transition period after Brexit, to form part of an eventual new EU-UK trade deal. The draft leaves fisheries outside of the single EU-UK customs zone that could be triggered if the sides find no other way to ensure an open Irish border - the so-called "backstop" mechanism that has long held up an overall deal. "Not all member states were very happy with that," an EU official said, adding that it would not be easy to agree on the future fishing schemes. Story continues Conceding access to its waters was highly disputed around the time Britain joined the then-European Community in 1973. Territorial clashes between French and British fishermen have flared sporadically in the past decades, most recently last August when French vessels rammed British trawlers off the coast of Normandy in the so-called "Scallop Wars". A separate political declaration on future relations between the EU and UK - which forms a package with Britain's withdrawal agreement but has no legal authority - says the two sides should also take conservation into account in their future fish deal. CAN IT GET ANY BETTER? Some other EU diplomats, however, expressed doubt that the bloc would bring down the whole deal over fisheries. They said France's opposition was tactical and that member states concerned with fisheries could still seek more reassurances in the declaration on future ties - which is now being discussed among the 27 member states - rather than demand changes to Britain's formal withdrawal deal. The draft agreement has infuriated hardline eurosceptics in May's Conservative Party and the Northern Irish party that props up her minority government by tying the country's economy closely to the EU for years ahead and hence potentially limiting Britain's scope to forge its own trade deals around the world. As May's critics at home cried betrayal, the EU side has said that was the best agreement possible given the existing red lines from both sides, namely that May's government decided to leave both the EU's customs union and single market through Brexit while keeping open the border between Britain's Northern Ireland province and EU member state Ireland. The EU official suggested the draft deal could not be improved without a considerable change in this basic approach. "We think we have on both sides exhausted the margin for manoeuvre under our respective mandates," the person said. Some other sources in Brussels, however, stressed more negotiations could not be ruled out as the political situation in Britain was changing by the hour. (Additional reporting and writing by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Mark Heinrich) CAIRO (Reuters) - Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has suspended work at all of its companies on Wednesday due to the extreme weather which has hit the country in recent days. Kuwait's Minister of Public Works, Hussam Al-Roumi, resigned on Friday because of the extensive damage to public property caused by heavy rains and floods. Kuwait Oil Company lifted a state of emergency on Saturday following the flooding, in which one person died, and said that facilities were operating normally. However, Kuwait Oil Company said in a statement that Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) had suspended work at all its companies after Kuwait's cabinet decided on Tuesday to suspend work in all government institutions on Wednesday, including ministries and schools. Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has also given its employees a day-off on Wednesday, except those whose jobs require them to be in their work places. Kuwait Banking Association said in a statement on Tuesday that it had also suspended work in all its banks on Wednesday. These banks include National Bank of Kuwait, Gulf Bank, Ahli United Bank, and Kuwait International Bank. The decision was made in coordination with Kuwait's central bank. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Alexander Smith and David Evans) See Also: MAGALIA, Calif. (AP) The Latest on wildfires in California (all times local): 10:20 p.m. An out-of-state firefighter battling a massive Southern California blaze has been struck by a truck. But authorities say his injuries aren't life-threatening. KIRO-TV in Seattle reports that 46-year-old Terry Geiselman of Gig Harbor, a lieutenant with South Kitsap Fire & Rescue, was hit Thursday as he slept in a field near a firetruck at the Woolsey fire in Malibu. The California Highway Patrol says a Los Angeles man driving a passenger truck on private property struck Geiselman, who's being treated for crush injuries to his chest and left side. The accident's under investigation. The CHP says drugs or alcohol aren't suspected. Firefighters from many states are helping battle the Woolsey blaze, which has destroyed nearly 550 homes and other buildings in a week. Three bodies have been found in the fire zone. ___ 7:30 p.m. Two men's basketball games in the Bay Area have been called off because of poor air quality from wildfires in Northern California, and the status of the Big Game between Stanford and California is in doubt. Cal canceled its basketball game against Detroit Mercy on Thursday night because the Air Quality Index was well over the threshold of 200 the very unhealthy range. A significant amount of smoke infiltrated Haas Pavilion leading to the cancellation. San Francisco postponed its game Friday night against Arizona State because of unhealthy air quality as well. The schools are working on finding alternate plans for the game. Cal says no decision has been made about the football game Saturday in Berkeley against Stanford. Officials are monitoring air quality in the area. ___ 7:15 p.m. Authorities say that 631 people are still unaccounted for after last week's deadly wildfire in Northern California. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said he believes there are people on the list who fled the blaze and don't realize they were reported missing. He said authorities were making the list public so people could see if they're on it, and let authorities know they are safe. Story continues Honea announced the increased count at a news conference Thursday, after having said a day earlier that 130 people were unaccounted for. He said the first figure was a partial count, and after authorities went back through all 911 calls and other reports of missing persons from the past week they came up with the new number. The Nov. 8 fire killed 63 people, destroyed 9,700 homes and displaced 52,000 people in the town of Paradise and nearby towns. ___ 6:40 p.m. Authorities have reported seven more fatalities from a blaze in Northern California, bringing the total number of fatalities so far to 63 in the deadliest wildfire in state history. The announcement came Thursday as authorities continued to search the devastated town of Paradise for human remains. More than 5,000 fire personnel were battling the blaze that started a week ago and has displaced 52,000 people. Authorities also raised the number of homes destroyed by the wildfire to 9,700. ___ 5:40 p.m. San Francisco's iconic open-air cable cars have been pulled off the streets because of choking air wafting in from a wildfire in Northern California. The city's transportation agency said Thursday that because of the poor air quality, "all cable cars will be pulling back into the cable car barn." The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency made the announcement on Twitter, saying buses would provide service for the remainder of the day. The deadly wildfire started a week ago in the Northern California town of Paradise that's about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of San Francisco. It has sent smoke across the region. Schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and elsewhere have announced they will be closed Friday because of the poor air quality. ___ 5:30 p.m. The University of Southern California and UCLA are canceling their usual bonfires before Saturday's football game at the Pasadena Rose Bowl out of respect for those who lost homes and lives in devastating California wildfires. The rival teams announced Thursday that they'll forego the traditional fires at their pre-game spirit rallies. Wildfires in Northern and Southern California have killed nearly 60 people and burned thousands of homes. ___ 4:30 p.m. An informal camp for wildfire refugees in a Walmart parking lot in Northern California is going to be closing. Volunteers who helped bring in free food and clothing said Thursday they are phasing out amenities. More than 75 tents have popped up at the Chico store to house people evacuated from the fire that destroyed the town of Paradise and surrounding area. Volunteers say they want people to go to shelters, so clothing, food and toilets will be removed by Sunday. Betsy Totten, a Chico city spokeswoman, said it's unclear what will be done if people don't leave, but officials don't plan to kick them out. The site has been popular with evacuees who can't find a hotel and can't stay at shelters because they have pets. ___ 4 p.m. Most schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and Folsom will be closed Friday as a deadly wildfire in Northern California send smoke into the Bay Area. School districts announced the closures Thursday as the region experienced some of the worst air quality since the fire started a week ago about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of San Francisco. An Environmental Protection Agency website says the air quality in Sacramento is "hazardous" Thursday and San Francisco's is "very unhealthy." Many people walking around the cities wore face masks. Several Northern California universities had announced closures earlier Thursday. The wildfire that started a week ago has killed dozens of people and charred nearly 220 square miles (570 square kilometers). ___ 3 p.m. A utility facing severe financial pressure amid speculation that its equipment may have sparked a deadly California wildfire asked U.S. energy regulators last month for permission to raise its customers' monthly bills. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in October that it wants the increase to harden its system against wildfires and deliver a sizable increase in profits to shareholders. The company says it faces a higher wildfire risk than other utilities and would have trouble attracting investors without a higher profit. The San Francisco-based utility made the request a month before the Camp Fire broke out Nov. 8 in Northern California and became the nation's deadliest wildfire in 100 years. No cause has been determined, but PG&E reported an outage around when and where the fire ignited. ___ 2:15 p.m. A man was shot and killed after a high-speed chase with a police officer in one of the evacuation zones of the deadly Northern California wildfire. The Butte County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Thursday that the shooting happened at about 11 a.m. Television stations KHSL/KNVN in the city of Chico reported that the shooting happened in an area near the town of Concow, which is in the zone where more than 50,000 people evacuated. The sheriff's office says the shooting is under investigation but no other details were provided. At least 56 people were killed in and nearby the town of Paradise, which was leveled by the fire. Concow is next to Paradise. ___ 1 p.m. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is giving $300,000 to help the victims of California's deadly wildfires. The organization best known for creating and organizing the Golden Globe Awards on Thursday announced the donation to four organizations that also include money for victims and families of last week's mass shooting in Southern California. The funds will go to the victims of the fires in Northern and Southern California. The fires started last week and together have killed at least 59 people, destroyed thousands of homes and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands. The association formed in 1943 and started the Golden Globes a year later. It frequently hands out grants, usually to organizations related to the entertainment industry. ___ 12:30 p.m. President Donald Trump will travel to California on Saturday to meet with victims of the deadly wildfires that have scorched the state. The White House announced Thursday that it is still arranging details of his trip to California, but that visit people who have been impacted by the fires. The fires in Northern and Southern California started last week and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and the destruction of thousands of homes. At least 56 people were killed in and nearby the Northern California town of Paradise, which was leveled by the fire. Two people were killed by the Southern California fire and a third death in that fire zone is under investigation as possibly linked to the fire. ___ 11:55 a.m. Pacific Gas & Electric's stock price continues to get pummeled on Wall Street amid concerns about potential losses related to a devastating fire in Northern California. The stock, which was on course Thursday for a six-day losing streak, was the biggest decliner in the S&P 500 index. It was down 29.5 percent to $18.04 in afternoon trading. Investors are concerned over whether the power company can weather potential losses related to the blaze that devastated the town of Paradise, killing at least 56 people. PG&E is facing a lawsuit claiming it is responsible for the blaze that started Nov. 8 and has charred nearly 200 square miles. The company's stock price has plunged 60 percent since then, wiping out $15 billion of its market value. Another utility, Edison International, is down about 30 percent in the same period as a separate wildfires burns in Southern California. ___ 11 a.m. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is warning that Southern California mudslides are a risk in the vast area charred by a week-old wildfire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Zinke says federal officials will work with state and local authorities to try to reduce the risk. He spoke while touring the burn zone of the so called Woolsey Fire that prompted the evacuations of more than 200,000 people, including the entire seaside community of Malibu. Zinke appeared with California Gov. Jerry Brown, who said he was told by President Donald Trump that the state will get federal support to handle costs associated with the fire. Zinke also says officials will play close attention to toxic sites that burned to make sure hazardous materials don't get into the watershed. The fire is 57 percent contained after scorching more than 153 square miles (396 square kilometers). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection chief Ken Pimlott says heavy winds that fan fires are easing but that extremely dry conditions are persisting. ___ 10:10 a.m. Classes have been canceled for tens of thousands Northern California university students as smoke from a deadly wildfire continues to drift south, choking the air in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. Air quality officials said Thursday the region will experience some of the worst air quality in the eight days since the fire about 90 miles (130 kilometers) north of Sacramento started last week, destroying the town of Paradise. The wildfire has charred nearly 220-square-mile (570-square-kilometer) since Nov. 8 and is 40 percent contained. Officials from six Northern California universities say classes are canceled Thursday. Some of the colleges are closing all of their buildings. Cal Estate East Bay says its libraries, health centers and dining halls will remain open. Bay Area Air District executive officer Jack Broadbent says in a statement that smoke from the fire continues to blanket all nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. __ 7:55 a.m. Southern California firefighters are battling a new wildfire but there is much less wind than the region experienced over the past week. The fire burning Thursday near the Ventura County city of Santa Paula is northwest of the huge area scorched by the so-called Woolsey Fire that started last week. The new blaze is estimated at between 75 and 100 acres (30 and 40 hectares). Although winds are greatly reduced, conditions remain very dry. In the Woolsey Fire area that affected many suburbs of Los Angeles, some evacuation orders remain in effect but many areas have been repopulated. The fire area is now measured at more than 153 square miles (396 square kilometers) and estimates of destroyed structures top 500. Authorities continue to investigate a body found Wednesday in a completely burned home. Two other people were found dead in a burned-out car earlier during the fire. A firefighter assigned to the Woolsey Fire was struck by a private vehicle early Thursday and hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening. ___ 7:45 a.m. Cool weather is helping fire crews increase their containment of the Northern California deadly blaze that razed a town and killed at least 56 people. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday the wildfire that destroyed the town of Paradise is now 40 percent contained, up from 30 percent Wednesday morning. The blaze has charred nearly 220 square miles (570 square kilometers) since it started Nov. 8 in hills east of Paradise, swept through the town and neighboring communities. Butte County Sheriff's Kory Honea told reporters Wednesday night that 130 people are on a missing list. More than 450 people had now been assigned to comb through charred debris in the search for human remains. ___ 12 a.m. Many of the missing in the deadly Northern California wildfire are elderly residents in Magalia, a forested town of about 11,000 north of the destroyed town of Paradise. More than 450 people have been assigned to comb through charred remains in search of the 130 people who are still unaccounted for. Already, at least 56 people have been confirmed dead. A week after the fire struck, police teams drive around Magalia searching for those still in their homes, checking if they need any food and water. With the death toll at 56, it is the deadliest wildfire in a century. There were also three fatalities from separate blazes in Southern California. By Phil Stewart BASE CAMP DONNA, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis defended the deployment of thousands of troops to the border with Mexico as he travelled there on Wednesday, saying the mission was "absolutely legal" and justified, and that it was improving military readiness. President Donald Trump's politically charged decision to send U.S. troops to the Mexico border came ahead of U.S. midterm congressional elections last week, as Trump sought to strengthen border security as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration. Trump's supporters, including Republicans in Congress, have embraced the deployment. But critics have assailed it as a political stunt to drive Republican voters to the polls. They have scoffed at Trump's comparison of caravans of Central American migrants, including women and children, to an "invasion." Mattis, speaking to reporters travelling with him, rejected criticism and said the deployment was the right thing to do. "It's very clear that support to border police or border patrol is necessary right now," Mattis said, noting that that was the assessment of the Department of Homeland Security. He added the deployment was deemed legal by Trump administration attorneys and was improving readiness by giving troops more experience in rapid deployment. The visit took Mattis near the Texas town of Donna, where U.S. troops have set up a base camp near a border crossing point with Mexico. General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of U.S. Northern Command, greeted him as he landed. Mattis said U.S. soldiers were making rapid progress erecting barriers along the border and estimated the first, construction phase of the U.S. military effort could be completed within 10 days. "I would anticipate with what weve been asked to do so far, probably within a week to 10 days, well have done whats needed," Mattis told the reporters. "Of course, it will be a dynamic situation and there will be new requests coming in." Story continues Mattis said the troops were also rehearsing helicopter operations to help support U.S. border personnel, potentially flying them to new locations if the caravans of migrants shift direction. The deployed U.S. troops are not expected to directly interact with migrants, most are unarmed, and they are only assigned tasks that support U.S. border personnel, including building temporary lodging. In the past few days up to 1,000 migrants linked to the caravans have arrived in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, with a similar number expected to arrive in the next day or so. Thousands more could arrive in border towns over the coming days as the bulk of the caravans arrive. "We didn't come here to steal or cause problems; it's a shame they think we are criminals," said Placido Cruz, a day labourer from Honduras, who arrived in Tijuana this week as part of a group that splintered from the caravan and went on ahead. He said he was worried about the deployment of the military against migrants. "They should leave that for war; we come in peace. Nobody should be harmed for wanting to protect their family." Standing alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, Mattis told troops their job was to back up Nielsens agency, and to ignore the media. "You just concentrate on what your company commander, your battalion commander tells you," Mattis said. "If you read all that stuff, youll go nuts ... You know what your mission is here. Youve had to deploy on short notice to a nontraditional location and do your jobs. So you focus on doing that." SCRUTINY FROM CONGRESS Trump's Democratic opponents have threatened to investigate the matter once they take control of the House of Representatives early next year after gaining a majority in the House in the midterm elections. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, told Reuters that Trump had used the military "as a prop to stoke fear and score political points." "We will soon be finally able to conduct oversight of this gross abuse and the Presidents many failed border security policies," said Thompson, who is expected to lead the committee when the Democrats take control of the House in January. It is unclear how long the deployment will last. Mattis initially authorized it through mid-December but it could be extended. Mattis estimated about 5,900 troops were participating in the border mission. The U.S. military has offered a breakdown accounting for 5,600 of them, estimating about 2,800 troops in Texas, 1,500 in Arizona and another 1,300 in California. Asked whether troops' families should expect their loved ones to remain deployed through Thanksgiving or even Christmas, Mattis declined to speculate, or to estimate costs of the deployment until he had better data. Trump railed against illegal immigration to win the 2016 presidential election and has shown no signs of easing up on the issue in the wake of last week's vote. Last week, he effectively suspended the granting of asylum to migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, seeking fresh ways to block thousands of Central Americans travelling in caravans from entering the United States. Mattis compared the mission to past deployments, largely comprised of U.S. National Guard, during Democratic and Republican administrations. "We determined that the mission was absolutely legal and this was also reviewed by Department of Justice lawyers. Its obviously a moral and ethical mission to support our border patrolmen," Mattis said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart.Additional reporting by Lizbeth Diaz in Tijuana.; Editing by James Dalgleish) By John Geddie SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday President Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2019 and will push for a concrete plan outlining Pyongyang's moves to end its arms programs. The United States and North Korea have been discussing a second meeting of their leaders after a June summit in Singapore to lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear standoff between the old foes. "The plans are ongoing. We believe that the summit will likely occur after the first of the year, but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," Pence told reporters after meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Singapore. In a separate interview with NBC News, Pence said the United States would not require Pyongyang to provide a complete list of nuclear weapons and locations before the second summit but that the meeting must produce a concrete plan. "I think it will be absolutely imperative in this next summit that we come away with a plan for identifying all of the weapons in question, identifying all the development sites, allowing for inspections of the sites and the plan for dismantling nuclear weapons," Pence said. In prepared remarks for the plenary session of the East Asia Summit, Pence said it was essential that international sanctions pressure be maintained on North Korea until its complete denuclearisation was achieved. "Chairman Kim agreed to this and we must hold North Korea accountable," he said. North Korea had been angered by Washington's refusal to ease sanctions and has warned it could resume development of its nuclear programme if the United States did not drop its campaign. A U.S. think tank said on Monday it had identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons programs. Story continues North Korea had entered into agreements with regional powers in 1994 and in 2005 to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for economic benefits and diplomatic rewards, but those deals broke down after Pyongyang clandestinely continued to pursue building weapons of mass destruction. With scant sign of progress on negotiations since the June summit and recent high-level meetings cancelled, Trump said last week he was now in "no rush" but still wanted to meet with Kim for a second time. "We're going to keep the pressure on. We're going to keep the sanctions in place," Pence told NBC. "President Trump continues to be very hopeful that in that next summit, we'll come out with a plan for actually implementing and achieving denuclearisation." U.S. officials argue that sanctions forced North Korea to the negotiating table but North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the world's biggest powers. Pence told reporters that Moon agreed to work closely with the United States towards the second U.S.-North Korea summit, as Washington maintains its "maximum pressure" against Pyongyang. Asked if China, which has been the North's main economic benefactor, was doing enough to maintain sanctions pressure, Pence said Beijing has done more than they have ever done before and Trump was grateful for that. A U.S. congressional commission said on Wednesday China appeared to have relaxed enforcement of sanctions on North Korea as Pyongyang began to engage with the United States this year. Trump is expected to speak more about enforcing sanctions when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina late this month and the unique role that China can play in ensuring the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, Pence said. North Korea has not tested a nuclear device or ballistic missile since last year, and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site, with plans to dismantle several more facilities. In Washington, South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon told the Wilson Center think tank it was important to provide North Korea with motivation to denuclearize, but added, "until we see actual progress on denuclearisation, sanctions will be maintained." Cho, who is expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, said it was important to have patience and to continue dialogue. He said it was still possible that North Korea's Kim could make a first ever visit to Seoul this year, for what would be a fourth summit with Moon, and such a meeting could help facilitate a second U.S.-North Korea summit. Cho reiterated Seoul's support for a declaration to end the 1950-53 Korea War, saying this would help Kim convince hardliners it was safe to denuclearize. Moon has been keen to agree such a declaration by the year-end, but Washington has linked it to progress on denuclearisation. (Reporting by John Geddie in Singapore; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Bernadette Baum and James Dalgleish) Russian cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab is moving key parts of its business out of Moscow in a bid to address the risks arising from its exposure to the Russian intelligence services. Last year, the US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) and the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued warnings regarding the use of Kaspersky software on critical government systems, citing legal powers in Russia, allowing the state to exert control over private companies. The warnings left Kaspersky Lab needing to reassure customers that their data was handled properly in what it has called a global transparency initiative. Crucial parts of its customer data processing and software production are being relocated to an automated data centre in a secured facility in the privacy haven of Zurich, where they will be open for inspection and audit by trusted third parties. None of Kaspersky Lab's R&D staff will be based in Switzerland however. The company's vice president of public policy, Anton Shingarev, explained to Sky News that only certain automated parts of its infrastructure were being moved there - being hosted by the NYSE-listed Interxtion. :: What and why is Kaspersky Lab moving to Zurich? Despite NCSC's statement that it was working with Kaspersky Lab to develop a plan to prevent any UK data being captured by the Russian state, the company has instead offered, Mr Shingarev said, "a framework which is suicidal for us in case of abuse". "If anything happens, it's going to be found sooner or later. And we intentionally - by ourselves, with our hands - [are creating] such a system." This does not meet the standard of 100% proof that any transfers would be prevented, the VP (LSE: VP.L - news) acknowledged, but he claimed it did meet the NCSC's standards for a risk-based approach towards the company's software. Robert Pritchard, who formerly worked for the UK government and has since founded the Cyber Security Expert consultancy, noted that Kaspersky Lab's products weren't being criticised in general and were well-thought of in the community. Story continues "I think it was a shame that the NCSC's announcement was misinterpreted," he told Sky News, adding that on non-sensitive networks the company's products were not an issue. That said, he added: "I have worked with clients who have very good reason to fear they're being targeted by Russian foreign intelligence, and I would encourage them to not use Kaspersky." At a launch event celebrating the beginning of European customers' data being processed in Zurich, Mr Shingarev denounced what he saw as growing "tech nationalism" around the world with products being banned because of their country of origin, but said Kaspersky Lab would have to find a way to overcome it regardless. The company's infrastructure, which has been moved, was implicated in media reports alleging the firm's anti-virus product was used by the Kremlin (IOB: 0Q8D.IL - news) to steal secret US hacking tools from the computer of a National Security Agency employee who had illegally taken them home. By moving them to Zurich and keeping an audit record of all of Kaspersky Lab's Moscow-based staff's interactions with them, the company aims to preclude allegations that the Russian state could secretly interfere with its business. Saying that the data cannot be accessed in secret is not same as saying it cannot be got at at all, and it is not clear how reassured the company's government customers will be by the proposed transparency facility. Mr Shingarev told Sky News: "How can [the code review] guarantee that there is no GRU, GCHQ, CIA (LSE: 25754.L - news) - name them - spies in our company? It's almost impossible to have a 100% guarantee. !Of course we've got all these checks, of course we've got audits, of course we've got all these matters, but there is no simple fast solution to remove the risk," he added. "That's why in the risk-based paradigm we are trying to reduce the risk by a few measures. Reviewing the source code is one of the measures that helps, an independent audit another measure, data centre here another measure. "Having all these measures we are trying to reduce the risk, reduce the window of opportunity for abusers, and to guarantee as much security as possible." Saudi Arabia has called for the death penalty for five suspects in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi (Getty) Saudi Arabias top prosecutor has called for the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Al-Mojeb told journalists in a rare press conference in Riyadh that Mr Khashoggis killers had set in motion plans for the killing on September 29, three days before he was killed inside the kingdoms consulate in Istanbul. The prosecutor says the highest-level official behind the killing is Saudi former deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri, who has been fired for ordering Mr Khashoggis forced return. Saudi Arabias top prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb is recommending the death penalty (AP) Saudi Arabia has said 11 suspects have been indicted over the murder inside the embassy in Istanbul (Getty) The prosecutor says 21 people are now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial. Turkey has blamed the highest ranks of power in Saudi Arabia for Mr Khashoggis brutal death, saying the kingdom sent an assassination squad for him. The calls for the death penalty come after Mr Khashoggis fiancee said the evil criminals and their cowardly political masters should be held to account for his death. MORE: Philippine President skipped summit meetings because he was taking power naps MORE: Paedophiles using Fortnite to lure children into sending them explicit pictures and perform sexual acts Hatice Cengiz said: I believe that the Saudi regime knows where his body is. They should answer my demand, for this is not only the demand of a fiancee, but a human and Islamic demand, from everyone, every nation. A Turkish prosecutor said that Mr Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate, as part of a premeditated killing. A Turkish prosecutor said that Mr Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate, as part of a premeditated killing (Getty) Saudi officials describe the killing as a rogue operation carried out by Saudi agents who exceeded their authority (Getty) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that recordings related to the killing of Mr Khashoggi had been passed on to the UK, US, Saudi Arabia and other powers. Saudi Arabia had insisted for weeks after Mr Khashoggi disappeared that he had walked out of the consulate, before changing its account to say he died in a brawl. Saudi officials describe the killing as a rogue operation carried out by Saudi agents who exceeded their authority. By Fiston Mahamba GOMA, Congo (Reuters) - At least seven U.N. peacekeepers were killed in clashes with militias in an area that is at the centre of the Democratic Republic of Congo's worst Ebola epidemic, United Nations and diplomatic sources said on Thursday. "Our peacekeeping colleagues tell us that six peacekeepers from Malawi and one from Tanzania who are part of the U.N. peacekeeping operation in the DRC ... were killed yesterday, in Beni territory, in North Kivu," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York. Eastern Congo has been plagued by banditry and armed insurrections for more than two decades since the fall of military ruler Mobutu Sese Seko, but the past year has seen a surge in violence around North Kivu. Beni and the surrounding villages are also suffering an Ebola epidemic that has infected over 300 people and killed two-thirds of them. This makes it the third worst outbreak ever, after a 2013-2016 outbreak in West Africa, when 28,000 people were infected, and in Uganda in 2000, when there were 425 cases. Repeated armed attacks by at least two rebel groups are hampering international efforts to contain the virus, by preventing medical workers getting to Ebola victims. A U.N. spokesman said that Secretary General Antonio Guterres "calls on all armed groups to stop their destabilising activities, which continue to add to the suffering of the population and complicate the response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak". (Reporting by Fiston Mahamba in Goma, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and David Lewis in Nairobi; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Eritrea is in for congratulations from its neighbour Ethiopia after the UN removes sanctions on Asmara, nine years after they were brought in. Also, Cameroon's military cracks down on English-speaking militants in the northwest and claims that over two dozen separatists have been killed in recent clashes. And twelve months since Zimbabwes former long-time leader Robert Mugabe was forced out by the military, many citizens are disappointed with the new president, Emerson Mnangagwa. [November 15, 2018] President of Peak Logistics Gary Sooch Joins LiteLink Technologies as Strategic Logistics Advisor VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LiteLink Technologies Inc. (LiteLink) (CSE:LLT) (FRANKFURT:C0B), a technology leader utilizing artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to move enterprises into a digital-forward world, is pleased to announce Mr. Gary Sooch as its third Logistics Strategic Advisor. Mr. Sooch will assist LiteLink in pilot customer strategy growth, as well as developing the third party logistics go-to-market plan within the 1SHIFT Logistics platform. With over 12 years of experience in supply chain management across all modes of transport, Mr. Sooch has developed his knowledge base in logistics and distribution by managing projects with complex logistical requirements. Early in his career, Mr. Sooch had extensive involvement in coordinating shipments for one of North Americas largest producers and global suppliers of steel wire and wire related products. His experience accumulated over this time naturally lead him to establish Peak Logistic Solutions, which saw significant growth year over year since it began in 2010. As a member of the Strategic Advisory Board, Mr. Sooch will bring leadership, industry knowledge, and growth strategy to 1Shift. The future of logistics, like many industries, will involve cutting-edge technology. Logistics is still in its infancy in regards to the impact technology can have on the industry, and those that dont adapt will be left behind. New technologies will aid logistics in efficiency and transparency in the years ahead, and I believe that LiteLink has the perfect team to disrupt the logistics space. Im excited to bring my experience to the realm of technology and logistics at LiteLink Technologies, said Mr. Sooch. About LiteLink Technologies Inc. LiteLink Technologies provides enterprise level solutions utilizing artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to solve the logistics industrys fragmented and outdated technology problem. LiteLink Technologies is creating a unified communications platform for tracking shipments, disputes, and errors to increase efficiency and reduce costs for 3PLs, carriers, and shippers. Find out more about the Company at litelinktech.com and the 1Shift Product at 1shiftlogistics.com . About Peak Logistic Solutions Ltd. Since 2010, Peak Logistic Solutions has been operating as a premier third-party logistics provider working with companies across various industries to manage their logistics requirements. Peak handles a wide array of shipments from LTL, FTL and Specialized project freight. The company prides itself on giving a personalized customer service experience and providing in-depth logistics expertise, so customers can successfully attain their business objectives. Find out more about the company at www.plsfreight.com . For further information, contact Bronson Peever at 604.351.2085 or [email protected] Forward-looking Statement This news release may contain certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the nature of the business of LiteLink, and other factors or information. Such statements represent LiteLinks current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimate that, while considered reasonable by LiteLink, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. LiteLink does not intend and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 15, 2018] Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform, Receives DevRel and DevPortal Awards for Excellence in Developer Relations HOLMDEL, N.J., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of business cloud communications, has been awarded "Best Developer Relations Program Overall" for Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform (Nexmo) at the inaugural DevRel Awards . Nexmo has also been honored by the DevPortal Awards for "Best Onboarding," "Best Support and Maintenance," and "Best Reference Documentation." Organized by the developer relations consultant firm Hoopy , the DevRel awards were created as part of the DevRelCon hosted in London to honor the best of developer relations, developer experience, and developer community, highlighting those teams and individuals making the biggest difference in the industry. The DevPortal Awards were announced as part of the corresponding API the Docs event and focused on recognizing outstanding developer user experiences. Nexmo provides APIs and SDKs that enable developers to embed contextual, programmable communications via messaging,chat, social media, video, voice, and more into mobile apps, websites and business systems. Leveraging Nexmo, businesses can rapidly and easily innovate the way they engage with their customers in real time, anywhere in the world, through their preferred channels to create deeper relationships and improve customer loyalty. With an ever-growing platform of nearly 700,000 registered developers, Nexmo APIs integrate emerging technology including bots, artificial intelligence, and deep data analysis into new and existing communications solutions. The Nexmo developer community tears down the barriers to entry so that any developer can reach a global audience from day one. "It's fantastic to be recognized by our peers. We are where we are today thanks to our fellow developer relations professionals and the developer communities we've been welcomed into and that we've had the honor to support over the years," said Phil Leggetter, Director of Developer Relations for Nexmo. "Thank you to the developer relations community and to everybody at Vonage for the continued support we see every day." Both the DevRel Award and DevPortal Award applications were reviewed by independent panels of developer relations experts from across the tech world. Submissions were evaluated based on how the program or individual worked to achieve the goals of building awareness, adoption, and community among software developers, and to provide the best possible developer experience. About Vonage Vonage (NYSE:VG) is redefining business communications. True to our roots as a technology disruptor, we've embraced technology to transform how companies communicate to create better business outcomes. Our unique cloud communications platform brings together a robust unified communications solution with the agility of embedded, contextual communications APIs. This powerful combination enables businesses to collaborate more productively and engage their customers more effectively across messaging, chat, social media, video and voice. Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform, provides tools for voice, messaging and verification, allowing developers to easily embed innovative programmable communications into mobile apps, websites and business systems on a global scale. The Company also provides a robust suite of feature-rich residential communication solutions. Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Israel. Vonage is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing LLC, owned by Vonage America Inc. (vg-a) View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexmo-the-vonage-api-platform-receives-devrel-and-devportal-awards-for-excellence-in-developer-relations-300751225.html SOURCE Vonage [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] On Wednesday, November 14, the attorney Micheal Avenatti, who represents adult film star, Stormy Daniels, was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly acting in violence against a woman. The lawyer denied the allegation saying he has never acted in violence against any woman. The LAPD police department arrested Avenatti on Wednesday but did not book him until Thursday morning. The lawyer was booked for an act of domestic violence. He simply denied the allegation saying he has never hit a woman and can "never hit a woman." After appreciating the police for properly discharging their duty, he said, "I wish to thank the hard working men and woman of the LAPD for their professionalism. They were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me." he said. The forty-seven-year-old lawyer went on to say that he cherishes and respects his two daughters so much, and could never rough-handle any woman. Then he urged the police to go on with their investigation to prove his innocence. Though he posted bail on Wednesday, he was scheduled to appear in court on December, 5. Mr. Avenatti has been against president Trump since became popular after representing the film star Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump over an illicit affair. She claimed to have been paid $130,000 before the 2016 election to close up the affair she had with the United States President over a decade ago. The entrepreneur and Legal commentator, says he is a decent man and did not hit his ex-wife. His ex-wife and his estranged wife both spoke in his defense saying they know him as a decent man, who would never be violent towards anybody. His first wife stood up in her ex-husband defense and stated that the lawyer has been a wonderful man, a loving and caring father to his children, who has been good to his family and never would like to hurt anybody. Discuss this news on Eunomia According to the Los Angeles police department, his bail was set at $50,000. His case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for prosecution. Avenatti seems to be very concerned about his reputation as a father, a lawyer and a businessman, he also has shown a lot of confidence in law enforcement, believing they would ensure that justice prevails. Throughout the episode, the attorney maintained his stand that he has never acted in violence against any woman and he strongly believes the police would conduct proper investigations which would prove his innocence. ''This Is Us'' resumed after a fortnight-long hiatus and it brought some intense scenes at the party. According to ew.com, Episode 7 'Sometimes' shed some lights on Zoe's childhood and her strange relationship with her father. According to refinery29.com, Kevin learned a shocking truth about his girlfriend. It seems that Zoe was sexually abused by her father while being just a child. The other side of the swing had Rebecca and Jack and how their early-days as a couple unfolded. Starting from their trip to Los Angeles, and wrapping it up with their journey back home to Pittsburg, the narrative helped us to understand why Rebecca was so into Jack since the get-go. And, of course, there is Jack and his brother during the War in Vietnam in what seems to be a tense relationship. Jack decided to live a second life once he met Rebecca Sleeping together during their trip to Los Angeles, gave Rebecca the chance to observe Jack's in-sleep behavior closely. Therefore, she expressed her concerns about Jack having nightmares and Jack did a brave thing by stating that he's not willing to talk about what he did and saw back in Vietnam. Basically, Jack decided to put together a fresh new life with Rebecca. Still, Rebecca got to see Jack's soft side the minute she started to sing in the car. Jack can barely keep his emotions in line as tears are about to drop from his eyes. In that very moment, Rebecca seems to have understood the burden Jack has been carrying on his shoulders and why it's important to move on without digging the past out. That piece of advice should be injected into Kevin's mind as he is already in Vietnam trying to track down any hint that might help him learning Jack Pearson's entire story. Discuss this news on Eunomia The episode left an unresolved item as Jack's brother ends up being transferred to Jack's unit but he seems totally untouched by the change. Vietnam investigation leads to Zoe's secrets With just a picture and a necklace as the base to his investigation, Kevin takes Zoe on an investigative trip to Vietnam with the sole purpose of unearthing Jack's story, he thinks. While roaming around the streets of Hanoi he learned a painful truth; that necklace he has been wearing around his neck has zero uniqueness as the streets are full of similarly-crafted souvenirs. As Kevin's frustration mounted up, he turned to Zoe asking her to be a bit more open about her past. His wishes come true and in the wake of a food poisoning incident, Zoe confessed that her father sexually abused her and that her relationship with her father is a thing of the past. The good part is that his whole Vietnam quest is gluing them together even more. This week, representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and companies across the drone industry met at Virginia Tech to work on developing standards for unmanned aircraft. They were on campus for a meeting of the F38 committee of ASTM International, an organization that works with volunteer technical specialists all over the world to develop consensus standards that support public health, safety, and consumer confidence. More than 12,000 ASTM standards regulate the safety and performance of everything from work boots to child-resistant packaging to the epoxy-coated steel bars that reinforce concrete. Committee F38 is responsible for standards related to the design, performance, and safety of unmanned aircraft systems; this was the second year in a row it has met at Virginia Tech. The need for technical standards for unmanned systems, on a whole variety of topics, is greater than its ever been, said Mark Blanks, the director of the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership and chair of F38s subcommittee on unmanned aircraft flight operations. Sometimes figuring out what those standards should be and how they can work together is half the battle, Blanks said. The conversations that unfolded this week helped solidify individual standards, but they also gave us a better sense of the whole ecosystem. Thats instrumental in guiding the work the committee does after the meeting is over. Drones are being tapped for everything from delivering food and surveying real estate to airlifting defibrillators to accident scenes and inspecting powerlines. But for all that to be feasible in practice, diverse aircraft performing a variety of tasks will have to interact smoothly with human beings and with each other. That presents a whole set of formidable challenges to solve simultaneously, a Rubiks cube of engineering and regulation. In that morass, industry standards function as a kind of common language. When youre introducing new technology in a field as heavily regulated as aviation is, industry standards are the fastest way forward for determining how systems should be designed, built, and maintained, Blanks said. For example, one of the meetings major topics was remote identification, technology that would allow law enforcement and the public to access certain information about drones flying in their immediate vicinity. Remote ID is considered a linchpin of drone integration for its ability to enhance safety and security and bolster public trust. But remote ID wont be practical unless it works in a variety of circumstances. Industry standards will help make that possible, ensuring that different aircraft and different users can all interact with the software consistently. Standards also help mitigate the risks inherent in any new technology. Commercial drone operations are currently governed by federal regulations, which include provisions limiting their altitude and prohibiting flights over people and beyond the pilots visual line of sight without a special waiver, restrictions that have largely segregated commercial drone traffic from other aircraft and from human beings. But drone technology is advancing and demand is rising, pushing operations beyond that narrow envelope. As we start to operate in an unsegregated manner, we have to ensure that the systems wont fail or that theyll fail in a safe way, Blanks said. You need a proven benchmark to measure new technology against. Standards provide that. The meetings ambitious agenda focused on keystone technical and regulatory issues at the center of drone integration, including unmanned traffic management and detect-and-avoid technology. Blanks led a strategy discussion on developing standards for flights beyond the operators visual line of sight operations that are indispensable for most viable commercial applications but come with their own suite of interconnected technical and regulatory challenges. Reaching consensus on topics like these is nontrivial; final standards can take years to develop. ASTM meetings, where technical experts come together to work through the thorniest problems face-to-face, move the process forward. These are challenging problems, and it helps to have everyone in the same room, Blanks said. Amid the three days of discussion, demos by companies, including DJI, Wing, and WhiteFox, showcased the technology that Committee F38 is working so assiduously to usher in including three different remote-ID demonstrations that showed off multiple approaches to the techs challenges. Virginia Tech, where the universitys Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership operates an FAA-designated test site for unmanned aircraft systems and manages Virginias team in the federal UAS Integration Pilot Program, was a natural setting for work so vital to the industry. The partnership has a track record of assembling the right technical and regulatory elements to pull off precedent-setting operations; in the last few months alone, theyve been involved in seminal work in package delivery and disaster response. The research Virginia Tech is doing can inform almost every standard thats being developed, Blanks said. Weve been pushing for so long, and now were at a point where were going to have to break this barrier to see the industry reach its potential. A retail giant primed for expansion needs tomorrows best people, today. When Amazon decided to base one of its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, it sought a region with an available workforce and an existing ecosystem proven at producing top-notch talent. Virginia Techs track record of molding future leaders, thinkers, and innovators with disciplinary depth complemented by interdisciplinary know-how provided that assurance, and made the Commonwealth of Virginias proposal a winning one. The landmark result is the creation of Virginia Techs Innovation Campus, a 1 million-square-foot graduate campus located less than two miles from Amazons new location. Amazons challenge provided the catalyst to accelerate a plan that we already had in place, said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, by bringing together Virginia leaders who are committed to the vision to transform and sustain the commonwealth as a leading magnet for tech talent and innovation with room to grow, adapt, and evolve. The Innovation Campus will produce new graduates in computer science and related fields to meet the growing industry demands. Such disciplines might be the first to come to mind in relation to Amazon, but they are far from an all-inclusive list of opportunities with an e-commerce pioneer, which relies on workers of all backgrounds who cross disciplinary boundaries in ways that are already staples of the Virginia Tech learning environment. At Virginia Tech, were already bringing together technology and creativity to explore and innovate at the boundaries of the sciences, engineering, the arts, and design, said Ben Knapp, founding director of the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT). If you look around the state, we are the only university with the faculty and facilities to provide students with the cross-disciplinary education necessary to succeed in a company like Amazon. ICAT provides an example of Hokies learning in situations that mirror those of real-world companies. The university's thematic institutes and transdisciplinary communities, the Destination Areas, also boast of environments that immerse students in the types of academically diverse situations that replicate the working world. These efforts merge such disciplines as art, design, and humanities with STEM concentrations to produce graduates capable of working across those same disciplinary boundaries. This experiential-driven learning means Hokies of all disciplines are poised to step out of the university setting and into the type of workforce Amazon requires to thrive. And likewise, the cross-disciplinary demands of the global leading retailer will fuel the university culture producing that workforce. Virginia Tech has expanded its ability to graduate students prepared to solve society's most complicated public health challenges by establishing Virginia's first accredited Bachelor of Science degree in public health (BSPH). The program was approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in September and added as an accredited degree by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in October. Public health is all about protecting, promoting, and improving the health of populations, said Kerry Redican, professor of public health administration in the Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the BSPH program. Most of the health advancements over the past 50 or so years that have resulted in increased life expectancy for Americans, eradication or reduction of many infectious diseases, and improved health status have been largely due to public health efforts. There are still many challenges ahead: obesity, opioid dependency, reemerging infections, health disparities, and many others. The solutions to these challenges are, in part, dependent on the work of a well-trained public health workforce. The degree will be offered through the public health program in the Department of Population Health Sciences in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. The program currently hosts both master's (M.P.H.) and graduate certificate programs in public health through a partnership with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. The BSPH is the veterinary colleges first undergraduate degree program. The degree is designed to provide students with a core of public health courses in line with the public health education domains approved by CEPH. In addition to the 42 credit public health core, students will have the opportunity to choose 33 hours of electives that will be strategic to their career goals. Students can use these elective hours to double-major or minor. In addition to classroom-based training, students will engage in hands-on learning opportunities to serve community needs and improve public health through the programs partnerships with local health departments, medical and veterinary organizations, communitybased organizations, and other public health and private institutions. Graduates will be public health workforce ready and prepared to pursue careers in public health. Public health, especially in our interconnected world, requires innovative ideas from many disciplines. Improved sanitation, really led by engineers and health educators rather than those in medicine, has tremendously decreased infectious disease. People who create policy, communicate in other languages, devise molecular tools, design new equipment or structures, or study world history can major or minor in public health to bring fresh solutions to world health challenges, said Laura Hungerford, head of the Department of Population Health Sciences. This new degree option complements other undergraduate majors currently offered at Virginia Tech and gives students the flexibility to complete coursework that brings a health focus to their career interests. The public health program is grounded in a One Health approach, which recognizes the dynamic interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health and encompasses the interdisciplinary efforts of professionals from a wide range of specialties to protect, promote, and improve health. This is exciting new territory for the college as we add an undergraduate degree to our professional and graduate degree offerings, said Gregory B. Daniel, interim dean of the veterinary college. With a culture that embodies the One Health approach to wellness and service, our college provides an ideal learning environment for aspiring public health professionals who aim to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities across the commonwealth, the nation, and the world. Applicants will have the opportunity to be admitted directly into the BSPH program as a part of their undergraduate application. In addition, Virginia Tech undergraduate students can transfer into the program. The program will admit its first cohort of students in fall 2019 and has a projected enrollment of approximately 100 students per class for the first four years. On November 15th 2018, Naval Group participates in the 30th edition of NIDV, the Netherlands Industries for Defence & Security exhibition held at Rotterdam AHOY. At NIDV, Naval Group showcases its capabilites and vision to the Dutch industrial partners in the context of the Walrus replacement program as well as cutting-edge concept products. On November 15th 2018, Naval Group participates in the 30th edition of NIDV, the Netherlands Industries for Defence & Security exhibition held at Rotterdam AHOY. At NIDV, Naval Group showcases its capabilites and vision to the Dutch industrial partners in the context of the Walrus replacement program as well as cutting-edge concept products. Naval Group image Vision on the Walrus-class replacement program On November 15th 2018, Naval Group participates in the Netherlands Industries for Defence & Security (NIDV) exhibition in Rotterdam at booth N 2.640. The company outlines its vision and capabilities on submarines to its Dutch industrial partners in the context of the Walrus-class replacement program. This project will be a strategic long-term cooperation opportunity for all parties involved. Naval Group foresees to closely work together with more than 70 Dutch companies, knowledge and research centers on the design, construction and the maintenance of a new generation of submarines in the Netherlands. declared Mark von Rooij, Chief Executive Officer of Naval Group Netherlands. A sustainable global player supporting world navies Building on its 400 years long experience in supporting the French Navy, Naval Group is the partner of choice for many international navies, including several NATO allies. For example, in this capacity, Naval Group has designed and is building the first units of the Barracuda family. It has been developed to respond to the needs of first-rank navies and to specifically respond to evolving threats. The Barracuda family of submarines brings unmatched oceanic potential to the market and offers uncompromised performance in acoustic discretion, special operations, stealth and striking power. It is able of supporting a variety of complex mission scenarii including coalition and NATO operations. In 2016, within the Sea Future Program, Australia has selected Naval Groups Barracuda family to renew its submarine fleet with 12 new units. A rich and diversified submarine expertise Naval Group is committed to be at the forefront of the latest technological developments and therefore continuously innovate. Over 10% of Naval Group turnover is dedicated to R&D projects. At NIDV, the visitors may see the state-of-art naval defense solutions created for modern navies, demonstrating Naval Groups capabilities in modern submarine building along with high tech solutions for systems. As an example, the anti-submarine warfare system CANTO-S will be presented on the booth as it constitutes a breakthrough in the field of anti-torpedo defence. Based on dilution/confusion concept, this combat system is the only solution capable of protecting submarines against both the most advanced and the previous generation torpedoes. Concept submarine: meeting the operational needs of the next decades To meet the operational needs of the next decades, Naval Group presents a disruptive submarine. Naval Group innovates to push the technological thresholds and reach unequaled performances with the SMX31 Electric, the totally stealth, enduring and invulnerable fully electric submarine. It has new sensors, a new coating and is specially adapted for the use of unmanned vehicles. The Electric can help navies gather and share valuable intelligence without ever being detected thanks to the powerful acoustic, optronic and electromagnetic sensors. It is capable of acting firmly using powerful new generation weapons. It presents several assets including the extreme stealth when submerged, the increased invulnerability against modern weapons, the energy autonomy and its endurance. This innovative initiative is part of Naval Groups identity. Naval Group presents its concept ship building on decades of experience in conventional and nuclear powered submarine design. The precious know-how and unique expertise passed on from generation to generation thanks to the continuous development of submarine platforms over the years is celebrated at NIDV. Are you lost in the wild? Sorry, but the page you're looking for has not been found Try checking the URL for errors, goto home or try to search below. Jonathan Jong in The New Atlantis: The line primus in orbe deos fecit timor fear first made gods in the world appears in at least two Latin poems in the first century. Earlier it was expressed with great aplomb in Lucretiuss poem On the Nature of Things. For Lucretius, as for many thinkers since, what terrifies us is nature the fickleness of seed and season, the wrath of storm and sea. At least since Freud, however, the fear of death, or cessation of the self, has been a more common theoretical fascination Mans tomb is the sole birthplace of the gods, according to Ludwig Feuerbach. I picked up the idea from a group of psychologists working on what they called terror management theory, an attempt to explain human behavior in terms of responses to the fear of death. They in turn had picked the idea up from Ernest Becker, an American cultural anthropologist working in the Sixties and early Seventies. Beckers book The Denial of Death won the 1974 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction just two months after he died of cancer, aged forty-nine. The book advanced the theory that the knowledge and fear of death is humanitys central driving force, underlying civilization and all human achievement. According to Becker, we are unique among animals in our awareness of our mortality. This knowledge leads us to construct systems of values theological, moral, political, cultural, scientific through which we can deny our finitude. All endeavors within these systems are attempts to obtain immortality, whether literal or symbolic. The terror management theorists turned Beckers sweeping analysis into a scientific theory amenable to empirical testing. One experiment in a 1989 study involved twenty-two municipal court judges who were asked to set bail in the case of a hypothetical woman charged with prostitution. The judges were given identical prosecutors notes describing the case, but half of the judges, randomly selected, also received instructions to imagine and write about what dying would be like and how these thoughts about death made them feel. The other half were spared any prompted thoughts about mortality. While the judges in the neutral condition set bail at an average of $50, the judges who were asked to contemplate death set bail at $455, over nine times higher. The researchers concluded that this showed that thinking about death made the judges more punitive against someone accused of violating a moral norm, confirming the idea that strengthening moral norms is part of what we do when we are anxious about our finitude. More here. Presentation College football team leaves it all on the field Elixir Petroleum Limited ( ASX:EXR ) is pleased to provide an update on operational activities underway with respect to the Mongolian CBM PSC.- Field work continuing in Nomgon IX CBM PSC further defining Permian coal outcrops in preparation for May 2019 seismic acquisition- Seismic contractor selection process underway with preferred contractors identified- Environmental impact assessment (EIA) process underway with Mongolian specialists in archeology and paleontology currently covering over 7 million acres within the PSC area- Golden Horde (GOH) local representatives held cooperative meetings with regional government officials prior to commencement of exploration activities in the PSC area- Maiden prospective resource report for the Nomgon IX PSC expected to be completed within the next weekElixir is providing interim funding to GOH to allow it to undertake the necessary EIA and field work prior to the onset of the northern winter. The field work has been completed and the EIA work is currently underway. These field operations will assist Elixir in finalising its planned 2D seismic acquisition programme over the most prospective areas whilst avoiding any important archeological or paleontological sites.Local government involvement is an important part of the process and meeting with representatives is crucial to ensure the Company secures and retains a social license to operate in the PSC area. Meetings to date have been positive with local content and employment opportunities during field operations being an important topic in any discussion.The maiden prospective resource report for the Nomgon IX CBM PSC is nearing completion and is expected to validate the prospectivity of the area (over 7 million acres) and the potential it has for a world class CBM project. This is one of the key milestones for the Company and will independently demonstrate to shareholders the potential size of the resource, something that has not been done in the past. Elixir looks forward to publishing the results of this prospective resource report within the next week.The acquisition of GOH is expected to be completed in early December, following Elixir shareholder approval to be sought at the Company's Annual General Meeting to be held on 28 November 2018.Managing Director, Mr. Dougal Ferguson commented:"Subject to Elixir shareholder approval, the Board expects to complete the acquisition of GOH and continue to progress the exploration effort currently underway in Mongolia.Mr. Neil Young, who is currently leading the effort in Mongolia, will join the Company in early December and will be responsible for taking this large, highly prospective project forward. It is pleasing to finally see the initial operational activities underway that are necessary to prepare the Company for the commencement of its CBM gas exploration program next year in an area neighboring gas hungry China."To view figures, please visit:About Elixir Petroleum LimitedElixir Petroleum Limited (ASX:EXR) is a gas exploration company focused on the 100% owned Nomgon IX coal-bed methane (CBM) production sharing contract (PSC) located in the South of Mongolia, proximate to the Chinese border. The 30,000 km2 PSC was executed in September 2018 and has a 10+ year exploration period. Contact Dougal Ferguson Managing Director T: +61-8-9226-2111 Dougal FergusonManaging DirectorT: +61-8-9226-2111 Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Albuquerque and three other cities say the state of New Mexico is mishandling the collection and distribution of tax revenue depriving municipalities of money they depend on to operate, according to a lawsuit filed in state District Court. They are asking a judge to order the state Taxation and Revenue Department to compensate them for lost revenue caused by unauthorized adjustments to their tax revenue. An analysis completed for the four cities found that they could be owed over $10 million altogether in gross receipts taxes, said William Fulginiti, executive director of the New Mexico Municipal League. If were not getting the right amounts, he said, it really has a tremendous impact on our budget and our ability to provide services. A spokesman for the state Taxation and Revenue Department said the agency hadnt received the lawsuit yet but that its committed to handling the money responsibly. The legal dispute centers on gross receipts taxes, or taxes that businesses pay to the state when they sell most goods and services. Its similar to a sales tax, usually paid by the consumer, and the revenue makes up about 75 percent of what cities spend on basic operations. The state of New Mexico collects the money and sends the revenue back to cities and counties. The state also handles refund requests by businesses that say they overpaid their taxes. But the new lawsuit alleges a host of problems with the states work. The cities say the state makes adjustments to their revenue without much of an explanation, and they want an accounting of how the money has been handled. They also accuse the state of automatically granting refund claims filed by businesses, triggering a reduction in revenue to cities. Some refund requests are invalid or theyre only partially justified and theres no truing-up process to ensure the cities get their money if the refund is denied, the lawsuit says. The cities Artesia, Farmington, Moriarty and Albuquerque accuse the state of other violations, too. Kevin Kelley, a spokesman for the Taxation and Revenue Department, said the agency is committed to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and proper distribution of tax dollars. TRD has not been served with a complaint and cannot speculate about potential litigation. The lawsuit, filed last week by attorney Dalva Moellenberg, doesnt estimate how much the cities believe they are owed. But Fulginiti said an initial analysis estimated it could be $10 million to $12 million for all four cities. Alicia Manzano, a spokeswoman for Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, said the city relies on gross receipts tax revenues to maintain roads, fund emergency services, and build the foundation for thriving local economies. Were taking action, she said, to ensure Albuquerque families are not being shortchanged by the State Tax and Revenue Department, so we can fulfill our obligations to our communities. Other cities are expected to join the litigation. Santa Fe city councilors late Wednesday approved plans to join the lawsuit, and Santa Fe City Attorney Erin McSherry said as many as 10 to 20 other local governments may get involved. Millions of dollars are at issue for Santa Fe, she said. EL PASO, Texas The U.S. Customs and Border Protection office that oversees West Texas and New Mexico is warning travelers that wait times at ports of entry in the region could get longer. Officials said Wednesday that specially trained officers from the El Paso and Tornillo ports in Texas and New Mexicos Santa Teresa port are being deployed to California and Arizona in preparation for the arrival of an approaching caravan of migrants. El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha says the deployment will have an effect on the agencys travel and trade operations in West Texas and New Mexico. Some lanes at the ports will close and processing times are expected to increase. Thousands of Central American migrants are speeding their journey to the U.S. border. The first group reached Tijuana on Tuesday. WASHINGTON Brett Kavanaugh must have been smiling as the returns came in on Election Day, because it is now clear that the Democrats campaign to destroy him will go down as a massive blunder. It failed to keep Kavanaugh off the court. It cost Democrats their chance to regain control of the Senate. And it gave Republicans an expanded Senate majority that will allow them to confirm an even more conservative justice next time around. Today, Kavanaugh sits on the Supreme Court hearing cases. Meanwhile, Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, N.D., Joe Donnelly, Ind., and Claire McCaskill, Mo., are packing up their Senate offices thrown out by voters furious over their partys brutal campaign of character assassination against Kavanaugh. Sen. Joe Manchin, W.Va., was the only Democrat who voted for Kavanaugh, and he survived but just barely. Two weeks before Election Day, Manchin was leading by double digits, but on Tuesday night he won by just over three points. Had he voted against Kavanaughs confirmation, he would likely have been toast as well. The Democrats smear campaign also cost them the chance to pick up GOP seats. In Tennessee, Rep. Marsha Blackburn was trailing former Democratic governor Phil Bredesen by five points in a CNN poll before the Kavanaugh hearings. She ended up winning by just under 11 points, as the Democrats mistreatment of Kavanaugh united Tennessee Republicans behind her. The Kavanaugh smear no doubt also played a role in energizing GOP voters in Arizona, where Republican Rep. Martha McSally (ultimately lost in a tight race), and in Texas, where Sen. Ted Cruz defeated Rep. Beto ORourke by just 2.6 points in one of the reddest states in the union. None of that might have been possible had it not been for the Democrats horrific treatment of Kavanaugh. As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put it, the failed effort to stop Kavanaugh was like an adrenaline shot for the GOP base. Republican voters were outraged to see a good man accused, without a shred of corroboration, of sexually assaulting a teenage girl, exposing himself to a college classmate and participating in gang rapes in high school. They were disgusted by Senate Democrats insistence the burden was on Kavanaugh to prove he didnt do it and by Democrats blatant disregard for the presumption of innocence. They were energized by Kavanaughs willingness to fight back and declare his treatment by Democrats a national disgrace. And they punished the perpetrators of that disgrace at the polls on Nov. 6. Now Republicans have not only an expanded Senate majority but also a pro-life majority. Reports indicated that Trump was close to nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic and mother of seven, to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. Barrett became a folk hero among religious conservatives after Diane Feinstein, Calif., ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, grilled her over her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearings as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit last year. The dogma lives loudly within you, Feinstein told Barrett, suggesting that her faith disqualified her. That outraged conservatives, who rightly castigated Feinstein for applying an unconstitutional religious test on Trumps nominee. As Harvard Law School professor Noah Feldman explained, Feinstein insinuated an anti-Catholic stereotype that goes back at least 150 years in the U.S. that Catholics are unable to separate church and state because they place their religious allegiances before their oath to the Constitution. Barrett was confirmed for the Circuit Court. But when it came to the Supreme Court, Trump calculated that with a razor thin-GOP majority he needed what was supposed to be a safer pick and went with Kavanaugh instead. Now, with an expanded, pro-life Senate majority, Trump no longer has to worry about losing a few GOP votes next time around. At every stage of recent Supreme Court fights, Democrats have miscalculated. Their mindless decision to filibuster Neil Gorsuch paved the way for Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees which made it possible to confirm Kavanaugh by simple majority. And if Barrett ever makes it onto the Supreme Court, Democrats can thank their horrific, defamatory treatment of Kavanaugh. The lesson for Democrats should be clear: Character assassination does not pay. Quite the opposite, it backfired big-time. Twitter, @marcthiessen. (c) 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group. The general election was more than a week ago, and Florida is still re-counting ballots and trying to determine who prevailed in its Senate and governors races as the candidates raise the specter of a stolen election. Georgias governorship is still up for grabs in the midst of a federal lawsuit. Arizonas southern Senate seat was barely decided this week. Closer to home, we had an election glitch of our own with the 2nd Congressional District contest. Republican Yvette Herrell was thought to have prevailed on Election Night and even gave a victory speech after several media outlets, including the Journal, called the race for her. But that lead disappeared when the results of some 8,000 Dona Ana County absentee ballots were added in roughly 24 hours after polls closed. And while Democrat Xochitl Torres Small, a Las Cruces water lawyer, emerged victorious, Herrell has refused to concede and in fact moved to have the ballots impounded this week. The back-and-forth in each of these races makes for riveting television, but it undermines the publics confidence in our election systems that, especially in the digital age of 2018, is unwarranted and unacceptable. The idea that were once again waiting for results from a Florida election is absurd. Who could forget the hanging chads debacle that played out there in 2000 with the presidential election hanging in the balance? Only this time, were hearing about illegal emailed ballots, 22 rejected absentee ballots that were mistakenly counted and mixed in with legitimate ballots, requested mail ballots that never arrived or arrived too late for voters to use, and filled-out ballots that appear to have been delivered to election offices late. In New Mexico, the Secretary of States Office finally alerted the media to uncounted absentee ballots in Democrat-heavy Dona Ana County after 1 a.m. the morning after the election. For all the issues and delays, The Associated Press reports that bipartisan experts agree voter fraud is a rare phenomenon across the U.S. Nevertheless, President Trump cant help but throw fuel on the fire and make unsubstantiated claims that unethical behavior and fraud have taken place when the more likely culprit is incompetence. As with Florida, the Dona Ana County Clerks office has had more than its share of election debacles over the years, everything from ballots surfacing in a locked bathroom to miscalculated absentee votes. Given that history, Dona Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Haskin and New Mexicos Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver should have done more to avoid any glitches. Officials are blaming a combination of factors for the delay in counting the 8,000 absentee votes, including a shortage of poll workers, understaffing in the Clerks Office and an unusually high number of absentee ballots. And the previous county clerk resigned abruptly Aug. 29, with Lopez Haskin appointed less than a month before absentee voting started. New Mexicos top election official, Toulouse Oliver, has pledged to encourage Dona Ana County to begin processing absentee ballots earlier in the next election cycle and to hire more poll workers. Its too bad Toulouse Oliver, who ran Bernalillo Countys elections smoothly for years, didnt think to send more election help to Dona Ana County in time to ensure the same there this year. It was common knowledge this would be a close race in the national spotlight, and Toulouse Oliver should have known a brand new clerk was in charge in Dona Ana County. But hindsight is 20/20. Now, the over-heated rhetoric needs to be in the rear-view mirror. Its time for all involved to solidify these midterm results and ensure that everyone learns from the too-numerous mistakes so were not experiencing deja vu two or yet another 20 years from now. Because no matter their political party, all of those who take the time to vote deserve to have faith that their ballots are being counted properly and promptly. 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. PHILADELPHIA A passenger on Southwest Flight 1380 described the sudden noise when the engine blew as like a marble hitting glass. Then, a roar as the plane depressurized. Flight attendants trying to ensure passengers were receiving air through emergency masks that dropped from the ceiling recalled the noise, coupled with the sudden pressure drops effect on their ears, leaving them nearly deafened. Because of the pressure in her ears, she could barely hear anything, according to documents federal safety officials released Wednesday, describing the experience of flight attendant Rachel Fernheimer that morning over Pennsylvania, April 17, 2018. The cabin was loud and windy. Fernheimer tried to remember her training and walked along the aisle, holding hands, telling passengers they would be OK, saying the plane would land. She couldnt know that, though. Over the noise, she couldnt hear anything from the flight crew. She checked on passengers oxygen masks, some of which had air hoses that had come loose. She reconnected those tubes to the oxygen supply, and showed other passengers how to wear the masks properly. When she reached Row 14 of the two-engine jet, a horrifying sight greeted her. The upper body of the passenger in Seat 14A had been sucked through the broken window. As flight attendants Seanique Mallory and Fernheimer struggled to keep Jennifer Riordan, 43, inside the plane, a passenger reached out the window and pulled her back into the plane. Injuries to Riordan, a well-known Albuquerque businesswoman and mother of two, would prove fatal. New details about the Boeing 737-700 that lost an engine about 50 miles from Philadelphia emerged from a trove of documents released by the National Transportation Safety Board before a 9 a.m. hearing Wednesday in Washington. The jet carried 144 passengers and five crew. Its left engine blew after a fan blade broke while spinning at 5,149 rotations per minute and shredded the engine and its casing. Pilot Tammie Jo Shults one of the first female fighter pilots in the Navy was able to land the aircraft, which had taken off from New York Citys LaGuardia Airport and was headed to Love Field in Dallas, about 20 minutes later at Philadelphia International Airport, with all those on board except Riordan surviving with minimal injuries. During the first half of the NTSB hearing Wednesday morning, questions focused on the testing that titanium fan blades undergo and the engine casings ability to contain a catastrophic event. The NTSB documents note that, for pieces of the inlet, which directs air into the engine, and cowling to break free due to the fan blade failure was unexpected, as was the damage to the window. The safety agency took testimony from officials from Southwest, Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration, and CFM International, the engines manufacturer. Southwest officials stated during the hearing that the CFM56-7 engine on Flight 1380 did not need to undergo intensive testing under the standards at the time of the incident. Fan blades experience enormous strain during a flight, drawing thousands of pounds of air into the engine. The amount of use a fan blade can have without inspection has been halved since the Philadelphia incident, but during Wednesdays hearing, Bella Dinh-Zarr, a member of the NTSB board, asked whether fan blades should have a mandated age at which they are pulled from use. It was something that officials were looking into, said Christopher Spinney, who testified for the FAA. Eight blades have been pulled from service due to the discovery of cracks since the Philadelphia incident, the NTSB reported at the hearing. Also under investigation is why the inlet and the cowl that surrounds the engine didnt contain the damaged engine, and didnt prevent debris from spraying forward into the fuselage. A virtually identical fan-blade failure occurred on another Southwest flight, over Pensacola, Fla., in 2016, but no one was injured. Investigators are looking at whether the angle of impact of the fan blade on the casing was the reason the Philadelphia incident turned deadly, and whether further testing and precautions are needed to secure the parts surrounding an engine. In a statement Wednesday, CFM International noted that it had moved aggressively to address the concerns raised by the accident. All of the CFM56-7B fan blades targeted by the various Airworthiness Directives were cleared by mid-August 2018, ahead of the August 31 deadline, the company said. CFM International is a cooperative between the French company Safran Aircraft Engines and General Electric. Pieces of the plane rained down on Berks County, some of them small fragments of metal, others large sheets torn from the ruined engine. All the recovered parts landed in Bernville, a community of about 1,000 people. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal State officials announced Wednesday a steady decline since 2012 in the number of college-bound students taking remedial courses in college, a sign that they say points to an improving educational system. In 2012, half of all New Mexico high school students entering a state higher education institution enrolled in remedial below college level courses, according to data from the state Public Education Department. At the end of 2017, 33 percent of students took those courses, according to PED Secretary Designate Christopher Ruszkowski. He made the announcement Wednesday morning at northeast Albuquerques Public Academy for Performing Arts, a high-performing charter school. In the K-12 and Higher Ed space, that is a significant indicator, perhaps the most significant indicator of the progress that a system can make, Ruszkowski said in an interview with Journal reporters and editors after the announcement Wednesday. The data tracks with an increase in standardized test (PARCC) proficiency rates, at least since 2015, based on PED data. Ruszkowski described the decrease in remediation rates as a culmination of PARCC implementation and rising proficiency rates, increased teaching standards, New Mexicos Common Core standards and other factors. We at the PED are saying look, this is what happens when we raise the bar, Ruszkowski said The remediation data does come with some caveats, though, said Secretary of Higher Education Barbara Damron, who joined Ruszkowski at the Journal meeting. It counts only students who attended in-state institutions. Also, there are inconsistencies in how higher education institutions code, report and name their remedial courses, which Damron said the department is working to standardize across each of the 31 schools under its purview. And some colleges have not consistently offered remedial courses since 2012, Damron said. Theres also the matter of ongoing declining enrollment across the state in colleges, due in part to the recovering economy. High school graduates who choose to work instead of going to school would likely be those who would need remedial courses, Damron said. But Ruszkowski reiterated that the data correlates with PARCC proficiency levels and demonstrates the tests superiority over the old one, the Standards-Based Assessment (SBA). When you look at students who were proficient on the SBA and compare them to students who are proficient on the PARCC, students who are proficient on the PARCC are much less likely to need remediation than students that were proficient on the SBA. Ruszkowski added that remediation rates will begin to be factored into PED school grades, starting next year. Eric Lanphere was a knowledgeable lawyer, an exceptional trial attorney and down to earth, recalled his friend and former law partner, state Rep. Jim Dines Lanphere, who attended Amherst College and the University of Michigan Law School, died on Nov. 9, after a lengthy illness. He was 81. A service in his honor will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, at Hope Evangelical Free Church, 4710 Juan Tabo NE. Cremation has taken place and a private family burial will be conducted at a later date. We practiced and handled cases and trials together for a number of years at Johnson and Lanphere. I joined the firm in 1979 and was there until 1987, when he left and I went off to start my own law firm, Dines said. Eric was an exceptional trial attorney, in fact one of the more gifted trial attorneys that I knew. He was extremely bright and always brought a practical approach to cases, along with an ability to speak to people directly. Further, Lanpheres mastery of the law was unparalleled. He was, perhaps, one of the most knowledgeable attorneys that I have encountered in my career, Dines said, but he coupled that with being down to earth. He and Lanphere often traveled around the country together in connection with legal cases. He was a fun guy to be around. He liked to tell jokes, he laughed a lot and he enjoyed getting out and meeting people. An inside joke the two men shared concerned Lanpheres love of red chile and his inability to get it all in his mouth. If he was wearing a new tie, he always wound up with the chile on his tie, Dines said. As part of his legal repertoire, Lanphere was also the general counsel for the Albuquerque Journal for many years, preceding Dines, who later served as the newspapers general counsel. Mike Gallagher, a longtime investigative reporter for the Journal who worked with Lanphere on several projects, said, Eric was always a gentleman and a strong believer in the First Amendment and the role of newspapers in our society. Outside of his legal career and his stellar reputation in the legal community, Lanphere was a dedicated family man. He and his wife, Carolyn, were married for 48 years. He is also survived by his son Eric Lanphere and Erics wife, Debbie; stepdaughter Kimberley Lang; grandchildren, Daniel Lanphere, of Corrales; twins Brittany Lang and Maggie Lang, of San Diego, Calif.; and Geneva and Giles Kirshner, of Thousand Oaks, Calif. Lanphere was preceded in death by his only brother, Lloyd Lanphere, his stepdaughter Marcelle Kirshner, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and grandson Tommy Lang, of Albuquerque. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions please be made to Hope Evangelical Free Church. TIJUANA, Mexico More buses of exhausted people in a caravan of Central American asylum seekers reached the U.S. border Thursday as the city of Tijuana converted a municipal gymnasium into a temporary shelter and the migrants came to grips with the reality that they will be on the Mexican side of the frontier for an extended stay. With U.S. border inspectors at the main crossing into San Diego processing only about 100 asylum claims a day, it could take weeks if not months to process the thousands in the caravan that departed from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, more than a month ago. Tijuanas robust network of shelters was already stretched to the limit, having squeezed in double their capacity or more as families slept on the floor on mats, forcing the city to open the gymnasium for up to 360 people Wednesday. A gated outdoor courtyard can accommodate hundreds more. The citys thriving factories are always looking for workers, and several thousand Haitian migrants who were turned away at the U.S. border have found jobs and settled here in the last two years, but the prospect of thousands more destitute Central Americans has posed new challenges. Delia Avila, director of Tijuanas family services department, who is helping spearhead the citys response, said migrants who can arrange legal status in Mexico are welcome to stay. Tijuana is a land of migrants. Tijuana is a land that has known what it is to embrace thousands of co-nationals and also people from other countries, Avila said. Mexican law enforcement was out in force in a city that is suffering an all-time-high homicide rate. A group of about 50 migrants, mostly women and children, walked through downtown streets Thursday from the city shelter to a breakfast hall under police escort. As buses from western and central Mexico trickled in overnight and into the morning, families camped inside the bus terminal and waited for word on where they could find a safe place to sleep. One shelter designed for 45 women and children was housing 100; another designed for 100 had nearly 200. Many endured the evening chill to sleep at an oceanfront park with a view of San Diego office towers and heavily armed U.S. Border Patrol agents on the other side of a steel-bollard fence. Oscar Zapata, 31, reached the Tijuana bus station at 2 a.m. from Guadalajara with his wife and their three children, ages 4, 5 and 12, and headed to the breakfast hall, where migrants were served free beef and potatoes. Back home in La Ceiba, Honduras, he was selling pirated CDs and DVDs in the street when two gangs demanded protection money. He had already seen a colleague gunned down on a street corner because he couldnt pay. He said gangs called him and his wife on their cellphones and showed up at their house, threatening to kidnap his daughter and force her into prostitution if he didnt pay. When he heard about the caravan on the TV news last month, he didnt think twice. It was the opportunity to get out, Zapata said. Zapata said he hopes to join a brother in Los Angeles but has not yet decided on his next move. Like many others, he planned to wait in Tijuana for others in the caravan to arrive and gather more information before seeking asylum in the United States. Byron Jose Blandino, a 27-year-old bricklayer from Nicaragua who slept in the converted gymnasium, said he wanted to request asylum but not until he could speak with someone well-versed in U.S. law and asylum procedures. The first thing is to wait, Blandino said. I do not want to break the laws of any country. If I could enter in a peaceful manner, that would be good. To claim asylum in San Diego, migrants enter their names in a tattered notebook held together by duct tape and managed by the migrants in a plaza outside the entry to the main border crossing. On Thursday, migrants who registered six weeks ago were getting their names called. The waiting list has grown to more than 3,000 names and stands to become much longer with the caravans. Francisco Rueda, the top deputy to Baja California state Gov. Francisco Vega de la Madrid, said that if all migrants from the caravan currently in Tijuana were to register to seek asylum in the U.S., they would likely have to wait four months in Mexico at current processing rates. For that reason, the state has asked Mexican federal authorities to encourage others in caravans to go to other border cities. Rueda reported that about 1,750 migrants from the caravan had now reached Tijuana. Private shelters can house about 700, and the city-owned gym and sports complex has a capacity of 1,000 with the potential to expand to 3,000. This is not a crisis, he told reporters, while allowing that this is an extraordinary situation. There are 7,000 jobs available in the state for those who can obtain legal status in Mexico, Rueda said. He touted Tijuanas integration of Haitian migrants over the last two years and the states relatively low unemployment rate. The migrants have met some resistance from local residents, about 100 of whom confronted a similar-size group of Central Americans who were camped out by the U.S. border fence Wednesday night. Youre not welcome and Get out! the locals said, marching up to the group. Police kept the two sides apart. Vladimir Cruz, a migrant from El Salvador, shook his head and said: These people are the racists, because 95 percent of people here support us. It is just this little group. They are uncomfortable because were here, Cruz said. Playas de Tijuana, as the area is known, is an upper-middle-class enclave, and residents appeared worried about crime and sanitation. One protester shouted, This isnt about discrimination, it is about safety! There are real questions about how the city of more than 1.6 million will manage to handle the migrant caravans working their way through Mexico, which may total 10,000 people in all. No city in the world is prepared to receive this number of migrants, said Tijuana social development director Mario Osuna, adding that the city hopes Mexicos federal government will start legalizing these people immediately so they can get jobs and earn a living. Dozens of gay and transgender migrants in the caravan were already lining up Thursday to submit asylum claims, though it was unclear how soon they would be able to do so. The caravan has fragmented somewhat in recent days in a final push to the border, with some migrants moving rapidly in buses and others falling behind. On Thursday, hundreds were stranded for most of the day at a gas station in Navojoa, some 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from Tijuana. We were dropped here at midnight in the middle of nowhere, where supposedly some buses were going to come pick us up, but nothing, Alejandra Grisel Rodriguez of Honduras told The Associated Press by phone. We are without water, without food. After about 12 hours seven buses began arriving to collect the migrants, Rodriguez said, but they quickly filled up. We would need at least 40 or 50, she said. Jesus Edmundo Valdez, coordinator of firefighters and civil defense in Navojoa, said Wednesday that authorities were providing food, water and medical attention to migrants there. His phone rang unanswered Thursday. ___ Associated Press writer Maria Verza in Culiacan, Mexico, contributed to this report. Backlash is brewing against taxpayer-funded incentives offered to Amazon.com by Virginia and New York, with some lawmakers pledging action to block the subsidies. Amazon, in announcing its second and third headquarters locations Tuesday, outlined about $2.2 billion in expected direct incentives for the initial phases of its expansion, predicated on the creation of 25,000 high-wage jobs in each location. That total includes $102 million related to a 5,000-job operations center in Nashville, Tenn. But Good Jobs First, which tracks economic-development subsidies, suggested that the company could receive much more, particularly as it avails itself of New York City programs meant to spur job growth in places like the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. Greg LeRoy, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based group, suggested that Amazon was trying to obscure just how lavishly it is being subsidized. Part of the discrepancy between LeRoys estimate of subsidies in excess of $4.6 billion and Amazons stems from what is considered a subsidy. LeRoy counts the $1 billion that Virginia Tech pledged to develop a new graduate campus near the companys Arlington County headquarters location, but presumably the education provided there would benefit students and other employers, not just Amazon. Other subsidies will directly benefit Amazon, but there are questions about their value. New York City projects that could benefit Amazon include existing economic-development programs including one focused on spurring job growth outside Manhattan to the tune of $897 million through 2038, though it was not immediately clear what level of employment or investment that projection was tied to. The city, in a news release, said the company could be in line for property-tax abatements related to real-estate development worth $386 million. Amazon, in a news release, said it intends to apply for those incentives, but did not quantify them. New York state offered $1.2 billion in tax credits through a program called Excelsior, tied to the creation of at least 25,000 new jobs and $2.3 billion in Amazon investment. A further $505 million capital grant was offered should Amazon grow to 40,000 new employees there over 15 years. New York City cites economic-impact studies suggesting that Amazons expansion there will generate more than $27.5 billion in new city and state tax revenue over 25 years. Amazon has sought to downplay the importance of incentives to its headquarters-expansion process, saying that access to a talented workforce was paramount a position it reiterated in a statement Wednesday when asked about the discrepancies between its estimates of tax incentives and the numbers provided by New York City and cited by Good Jobs First. Amazon said the incentives are performance-based, meaning they materialize only if the company creates the jobs and makes the investments. Thats providing little shield from critics, including New York state legislators, who decried the incentive packages as unnecessary corporate welfare and criticized bashing the states Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, for negotiating the secretive deal. Ron Kim, a Democratic state assemblyman representing a legislative district a few miles east of Long Island City, said he will introduce legislation that would block the states Amazon subsidies, though how to do that was unclear. Other lawmakers, including New York state Sen. Michael Gianaris, raised the prospect of legal action to undo the deal. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., also raised concerns about the lack of community input and the incentives that Amazon received to persuade them to bring these jobs to New York. One of the wealthiest companies in history should not be receiving financial assistance from the taxpayers while too many New York families struggle to make ends meet, Gillibrand said. One close observer of Amazons HQ2 process and the broader landscape of corporate-location strategy said the mounting scrutiny of incentives has the potential to weigh on the companys brand. Amazon is a consumer company. It depends on the allegiance of its customers. Its brand is everything, Richard Florida, a professor of urban studies currently at the University of Toronto said on Twitter. Amazons top leadership needs to wake up and see the damage this is doing, and simply say no to incentives. That seems unlikely. While the subsidies Amazon would collect in New York and Virginia are large, they are nowhere near the largest extracted from governments, nor were they the largest offered to the company by other localities competing to win its next headquarters. 2018 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. UPDATE 12:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 2018 - Action News Now reporter Christina Vitale spoke with FEMA representatives who told her that Pleasant Valley Baptist Church will not be the permanent location for its intake center. FEMA set up there for evacuees that are already at the shelter. They are currently working on finding a permanent location for the intake center. They ask that people not go to the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church location. Those needing assistance should call the hotline at (800) 621-3362 or register online. --- CHICO, Calif. - FEMA representatives have set up at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Chico to help Camp Fire victims. President Trump signed the major disaster declaration on Monday, following Governor Jerry Brown's request, which provides federal emergency aid to California. FEMA opened its doors on Wednesday at 9 a.m. to Camp Fire victims and will be available until 4:30 p.m. Anyone who has experienced disaster or destruction as a result of the Camp Fire can register with FEMA. Even if you do not know the status of your home due to the fire, you can still register with FEMA. However, it's important to know that when you do know the status of your home, you need to communicate that with FEMA. You can also call and speak with FEMA representatives at 1 (800) 621-3362. President Xi Jinping recently described myopia as an epidemic affecting China's younger generations. There are now an estimated 720 million Chinese citizens with uncorrected poor vision, according to Dr. Xun Xu at the Shanghai Eye Hospital. Short-sightedness increases dramatically with age; it affects over half of children aged 10, 80% of 16-year-olds and over 90% of university students in China. Africa Asia Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade China Continents and regions East Asia Eastern Africa Eye testing Health and medical Health care Medical diagnostics, screening and testing Medical fields and specialties Ophthalmology Optometry Public health Rwanda But the Chinese government has the resolve -- and a five-year plan -- to eradicate poor vision and preventable blindness by delivering "universal medical eye care for all." It is a huge undertaking but worth doing, as treating myopia is more than just a health issue. Myopia costs the global economy around $3 trillion a year in health costs and lost productivity, according to a 2010 report. By 2050, nearly 50% of the world's population is predicted to have myopia, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Vision is the golden thread by which many of the UN's sustainable development goals can be achieved, including quality education, decent work and economic growth, and gender equality. China should draw on the experiences of countries that have set an example on the issue. Learning from Rwanda In Rwanda, during my tenure as minister for health and thereafter, we executed a plan that has provided all 12 million citizens with the option of accessing glasses. The glasses cost as little as $1.50 and are provided free for the poorest 20%. Rwanda's history sets a precedent for such policy, not only in its ambition but also in its feasibility. The key strategy was training nurses at regular health centers to deliver sight tests and prescribe glasses. In Rwanda, between 2012 and 2017, a three-day course trained about 2,800 nurses to perform eye exams nationwide and provide appropriate eye care, meeting a critical shortage of trained specialists to diagnose eye conditions. Restrictions that had previously prevented other health workers from carrying out vision tests were removed so testing was not merely confined to ophthalmologists. These professionals, working in Rwanda's health centers, have now distributed over 150,000 affordable glasses to those in need. Between October 2016 and February 2018, about 103,500 of those who had their vision tested by nurses were referred to a hospital to receive custom glasses, have surgery or simply be given eye drops. Of those, about 34,500 were up to 14 years old, and 92,150 were 15 and above. Rural problems As in China, consistency of health care between rural and urban parts of Rwanda was an issue. To address this, the government set up 502 health centers with good access to all 15,000 villages across Rwanda. In each health center, four general nurses were upskilled to provide basic vision testing and eye care, alongside their other duties. China faces a significant discrepancy between eye care in the urban areas, where most ophthalmologists practice, and the rural regions where approximately 42% of the population lives; people there often live 50 miles or farther from the nearest town or city. Like Rwanda, China can also expand the types of providers who can deliver these screening programs in the countryside. In nine out of 10 cases, all it takes to treat poor vision is a simple pair of glasses. According to Euromonitor, China is the largest manufacturer of eye glasses in the world and so is well positioned to make those gains; unlike Rwanda, it wouldn't need to import. There could be economic benefits in doing so. Tea farmers in a plantation in Assam, India, became 20% more productive when they wore a simple pair of reading glasses, according to a recent study by Clearly, an organization trying to tackle uncorrected poor vision across the world, which was published in the journal Lancet Global Health. And for those employees over the age of 50, their output increased by no less than 31% -- a larger productivity increase than has been recorded by any other health intervention known featured in peer-reviewed research. Video gaming to blame? Xi's recent focus on the myopia issue has caused some to suggest that children's obsession with video games, which keeps them indoors, is to blame. Although there is mixed evidence for whether near work itself leads to myopia, one factor in the development of myopia is the amount of time spent outdoors in the sunlight. While all potential causes of myopia should be examined and prevention is important, the challenge for China at this juncture is to get eye testing and affordable glasses to all those who need them. The potential for China -- one of the fastest-growing and most technologically advanced economies in the world -- is immense. The country's commitment to this eye care revolution will translate into benefits well beyond the health sector and will help to promote literacy, education, the economic empowerment of families and the country as a whole. As we implement and sustain these programs, Rwanda should continue to share its experience and learnings with China. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - Cal Fire has not yet determined an official cause of the Camp Fire but thats not stopping people from already filing lawsuits against the power company. A coalition of law firms known as Northern California Fire Lawyers filed a suit against the company on Tuesday, claiming that the utility company was negligent in failing to maintain infrastructure. It also claims that PG&E has a long history of safety lapses, causing injury and death. This law firm also represented more than 200 families in the 2015 Butte Fire. While there is no official cause of the fire, there are still many unanswered questions. Betsy Cowley lives near where the fire started in Pulga. She said that the company sent her an email saying that they were worried about sparks from their transmission system near her property. Cowley claims the company went to check the equipment Wednesday, the day before the fire started. "If this is their fault, they need to be held accountable and they need to do more than just jack up their rates," Cowley said. "They need to help, or they need to go and we need to go solar." Action News Now reporter Stephanie Lin spoke with a PG&E representative about the emails sent to Cowley. "It [the email] was about future plan work on a transmission line in the area," said Blair Jones, a spokesman for PG&E. "So that's what that communication was about. We have not found any indications of sparks related to equipment. Again, it was about future plan work on a different transmission line in the area." PG&E also claims that the transmission line was de-energized at the time the fire broke out. "In fact, this transmission line was de-energized at the time that the Camp Fire started," Jones said. PG&E did report an incident to the California Public Utilities Commission at a transmission line near where the fire started. Cal Fire said that its investigation could take months. PG&E's shares plunged more than 20 percent in trading on Wednesday after they filed the report. In the filing, PG&E said it had liability insurance of $1.4 billion for wildfire events through July 31 of 2019. The utility warned that the costs could exceed the insurance coverage and have a material impact on its financial condition. PG&E's stock trading is at its lowest level in more than a decade after losing about half its value in the past four days. Known for his commendable acting and ineffable personality, RajKummar Rao recently seen in Stree once again managed to win several hearts with his performance. He donned the role of Vicky a lovelorn tailor.Stree is a distinctive combination of horror and comedy, it also addresses male chauvinism and gives the social message to protect and respect women. Sharing his excitement for the world television premier of Stree, he said Stree is a very unique movie and moreover it was great fun to shoot for it. The film garnered immense love as it delivers shocks and laughs in equal measure. Horror-comic genre is not very common in Indian cinema and it feels beyond amazing to be a part of something like this. During the course of the film, I even learned sewing, stitching and a new accent. It is also backed with a strong social messaging which adds to the impeccable story and script. The experience was enthralling He further added I am truly excited for the World Television Premiere of Stree only on StarPlus Its difficult to make people laugh and scare at the same time and Stree maintains this balance and manages to do it efficiently. It was one year ago, in November 2017 that Wavermaker, GroupMs billion-dollar revenue, media, content and technology agency created from the merger of MEC and Maxus, opened for business in India. Wavemaker India opened with a team of 700+ professionals and a portfolio of clients that included FMCG giant ITC and LOreal, among others. Headquartered in Mumbai, with offices in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Thrissur and Kochi, Wavemaker India is helmed by Kartik Sharma, CEO - South Asia. During the year, Sharma not only got big clients such as Mondelez on board, but also cemented various new divisions such as digital and content. We are on the right path. Going into 2019, we will continue to grow the business, Sharma told Adgully. In its first year of operations, Wavemaker India was adjudged Agency if the Year at the Emvies 2018, while its client Vodafone was declared Client of Year. In conversation with Adgully, Kartik Sharma traces Wavemaker Indias journey in its first year, challenges, major client acquisitions, industry accolades and more. Excerpts: How has Wavemakers first year been in India? It has been an incredible journey. We launched Wavemaker to help brands grow their business. We achieve this through our Rapid Growth Planning framework, underpinned by the worlds largest consumer journey study, called Momentum. Momentum has covered over 700,000 journeys across 70 countries and 35 categories. Early this year, we launched a first of its kind Content Effectiveness Lab in collaboration with Ogilvy. In 2018, we deployed artificial intelligence-based analytics product which helps us optimise marketing investment to deliver higher ROI. We are also deploying a lot of technology solutions in the area of performance marketing. Overall, it has been a fantastic first year for us. What were the merger challenges and how were they overcome? We did not face any major challenges during the merger. MEC and Maxus have been two strong, well established legacy brands. We got great advice from our global teams on how to manage the merger. We restructured our teams to deliver better for our clients. This restructure had to undergo a few changes basis client feedbacks. One of the major highlights of the restructure was to strengthen our product stack. We have senior leaders managing our product offerings across analytics, content, performance marketing, e-commerce. This has immensely helped us deliver to our clients. Could you take us through Wavemakers team structure today? The basic frame structure of our team is based on three important pillars: viz. Media, Content and Technology. Basis this we have a very strong and experienced leadership team in India. We have senior leaders managing our Mumbai, Delhi and South operations. These office heads area ably supported by a team of senior strategists and media buyers. Our diversified services such as analytics, performance marketing, and e-commerce are headed by a Chief Product Officer and our content practice is managed by a Chief Content officer. In all, we have very seasoned professionals each part of our business. What have been the key business challenges in the first year of operations? As I said earlier, we had the benefit of two strong, well-established agencies under MEC and Maxus. Fortunately, we did not have major challenges. We got great advice from our global teams on how to manage the merger. We restructured our teams to deliver better for our clients. One of the major highlights of the restructure was to strengthen our product offerings. We have senior leaders managing our product offerings across analytics, content, performance marketing, e-commerce. This has immensely helped us deliver to our clients. What have been the major account wins and client retentions? We have had remarkable wins this year. We won close to Rs 1,000 crore of new business with brands like Mondelez, Eureka Forbes Ltd, Bisleri International, Mother Dairy, Dream 11 and many more. We have also been successful in retaining clients like Tata Sky, Perfetti Van Melle and Policybazaar. What, according to you, contributed most to Wavemaker winning Agency of the Year at the Emvies 2018? The win has been a great moment for all of us. The entire credit goes to our teams who worked relentlessly in making this happen and to our clients for trusting us as their partners. But, like I always keep saying, awards are a by-product of good work done for clients. Getting recognition and awards at industry platforms like the Emvies is proof of the good work done by the teams during the year. How is the Effectiveness Lab set up along with Ogilvy shaping up? This was our initiative in the Content Effectiveness space in collaboration with Ogilvy. We have commissioned a couple of studies and we will soon be publishing the results from the first study. What have been the key learning and findings of Effectiveness Lab, especially regarding the content ecosystem? One of the key finding is that creating great content requires the same level of inputs and hard work that goes into creating great advertising. Therefore, great care is required in creating great content. Where do you see media planning and buying headed in an era of programmatic ads and emerging technologies? I think the media business constantly keeps evolving, and the evolution largely comes on three fronts: the way the consumer choices keep evolving, the way media and technology is evolving and lastly, the evolving agency eco-system. All of them go hand-in-hand. Consumers today are exposed to a lot of technological changes which have practically taken over our lives. A well-known case in point is the mobile revolution. The mobile is no longer a device for communicating, the mobile is also a computer replacing laptops and tablets. And that has really revolutionised the way in which we consume media. From the media side, global media changes are felt locally too. India now is a separate topic for many global media companies due to the sheer size and opportunity that the country offers. Indians are as aware of any of our global counterparts and are also expecting more from media brands. India by and large is a value driven market, therefore, media owners have to customise their offerings to appeal to that need without compromising on quality. Are media agencies ready to take the next leap or will we see them morphing into different entities in the future? I am an eternal optimist and my belief is that good progressive agencies will make the right changes which will help them morph as per the needs of the market and clients. 876 cases of measles. How many of these new cases were in individuals who had been vaccinated against measles? This number was given as a fact in support of a decline in the number of individuals being vaccinated against measles. Give the full information underlying this number and then allow individuals to decide if such could be a factor or not. I am the worlds leading expert on human exposure to aluminium. I have been working in this field since 1984. The majority of vaccines include an aluminium salt as an adjuvant. We have been researching the mechanism of action of aluminium adjuvants for about 10 years. Our research along with that of many other reputable scientists across the world has highlighted the toxicity of aluminium in vaccines and its role in many of the serious adverse events reported in individuals following vaccination. The frequency of such adverse events (data from the vaccine manufacturers) is acknowledged to be as high as 2.5% which for vaccines which are given to millions of individuals equates to 25000 well people per 1 million recipients becoming ill following vaccination. Fears about vaccines are well-founded. They are not fabrications of the so-called anti-vax movement, they are medical facts based upon hard science. We who are working to improve the safety and efficacy of vaccines are doing what we can to reduce collateral damage from vaccines and we very much resent the suggestion by your programme, its presenter, reporter and guests that we are somehow ill-informed conspiracy theorists who are trying to scare individuals into refusing vaccines. The clear and unambiguous message that Newsnight appears to wish to put across in this piece is that all vaccines are 100% safe and only ill-informed individuals think otherwise. The view that not all vaccines are 100% safe is portrayed as only being held by individuals who are not sufficiently educated to know otherwise. They are somehow slaves to internet scare stories. The message is given that doctors are aware of facts which demonstrate that all vaccines are 100% safe. No facts of any sort are given or discussed. The three chosen experts have no background in either science or vaccine safety. The two in the studio are charged in their everyday lives (jobs) with the responsibility of assuring individuals that vaccines are 100% safe. The third guest appears to have no relevant expertise in vaccine safety beyond the opinion that vaccines are safe and only individuals that believe in conspiracy theories think otherwise. The only other individual interviewed (by Grossman) is the discredited journalist Brian Dear. Note: We would like to acknowledge the suffering in California is reaching many friends and families of AofA, including Del Bigtree, who lost his home to the blaze. We are very sorry. Below John's introduction are the complaint by Professor Exley and the response from Newsnight. The language used to vilify those who question vaccine safety is becoming more chilling by the moment, as civility and discourse seems to have diminished on both sides of the pond. By John Stone Only the other day Del Bigtree* was commenting on HighWire that the United States had become country with news services that the populace could not take seriously like China or Iran: the same is undoubtedly true of the United Kingdom and particularly its increasingly embarrassing BBC news service. This was highlighted in a recent exchange of letters between Prof Chris Exley and BBC complaints director Colin Tregear, following a toe-curling Newsnight presentation about measles and vaccine safety. Exley complained about bias in the presentation and simply pointed out that the claim that vaccines were safe was unfounded. The manufacturers acknowledged significant levels of serious adverse effects, the scientific literature does not support safety, the problems are real. It is simply not telling the truth to say vaccines are safe. The tenor of Tregears reply was essentially that the BBC only has to listen to health officials, the WHO etc.: in other words they have bureaucratic concept of truth. He defends the reporter who declared the doubts expressed in social media as being a "virus". Fundamentally this is hate talk. It is not to be condoned if people who have different experiences want to talk about it, if people - many of them well educated - want to read and comment: these people are themselves apparently a disease to be eradicated. Professor Exley's Letter: 02:20 Define irrational fear in this context. You are suggesting that all vaccines are 100% safe in all recipients. However, many individuals, approximately 2.5% using vaccine manufacturers own data, suffer a serious adverse event following vaccination. So, the facts as Newsnight are keen to highlight, show that 2.5% of vaccine recipients become ill following vaccination. Adverse events following vaccination include everything from a sore arm to death. Is this an irrational fear? 04:59 Medical science does not have to counter just one type of virus. Grossman likens any hard peer reviewed science that reports safety implications of vaccines as a virus. Does he also consider the lists of serious adverse events recorded on patient information leaflets provided by manufacturers as a virus? I consider it not only in bad taste to refer to vaccine safety concerns as a virus but also highly ill-informed or simply plain ignorant. 05:25 The studio guests are neither scientists nor do they have any specific expertise in vaccine safety and yet this is what they are then questioned on by Emily and this is what they seem perfectly happy to express their opinions about. Where is the expert on vaccine safety among these picked for purpose individuals? 05:55 Regarding the much touted theory of herd immunity, for how long do vaccine manufacturers advise that their vaccines remain effective. Most give estimates of 2-5 years, how does this equate with the herd immunity argument which suggests that 95% of individuals should be covered by a vaccine? 10:09 The inference here by Emily is that all experts say that all vaccines are 100% safe. At no point does she point out that there are many highly credible scientists working on vaccine safety because they know that vaccines are not 100% safe, they (vaccines) are far from this expected goal. 10:34 The arrogance of the ordinary consumer. These consumers have read the patient information leaflets and they have read the high quality peer reviewed science that shows that vaccines are not 100% safe. The arrogance is in the invited, so-called, expert and not in the consumer. 12:02 But these concerns which all contributors to this programme liken to a virus are concerns emanating from hard science and so-called vaccine safety trials carried out by vaccine manufacturers, their own data are sufficient for everyone to have serious concerns about vaccine safety. 12:45 But based upon what is being said you are not up to date by any means and you are not providing individuals with the latest research, you are presumably just towing a government line on this issue which is that all vaccines are 100% safe. 13:08 Emily says, create a public health scare which clearly suggests that there are no public health issues associated with vaccines, something which is completely wrong. 13:20 The expert suggests that anyone who suggests that vaccines are not 100% safe are part of a conspiracy theory. 13.55 Having a view that vaccines are not safe is creating public scares. I am not against life-saving, effective and safe vaccines. I am against vaccines with high levels of collateral damage where perfectly healthy individuals are made ill by a vaccine. I am always against obfuscation of science-based facts relating to medicine and human hea lth and it is highly concerning that Newsnight, having responsibly raised many such important issues in the past seem in this instance to be blind to the damage being caused by some vaccines. Professor Christopher Exley PhD FRSB The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG c.exley@keele.ac.uk https://www.keele.ac.uk/aluminium/ The Response from Newsnight: (see the full pdf here: Download Newsnight Executive Complaints Unit Finding) Thank you for your email of 5 November and the detailed explanation of your complaint about the item on vaccination which was broadcast on the above edition of Newsnight. I have now had an opportunity to watch the programme and carry out some additional research into the issues you have raised. I understand the reason for your concerns but having considered the content of the programme I do not believe there are grounds for me to uphold your complaint. I hope I can explain the reasons why I have reached this decision. I should begin by explaining the remit of the Executive Complaints Unit is to consider whether the content of the item in question breached the BBCs editorial standards, as set out in its Editorial Guidelines. The guidelines on Accuracy and Impartiality refer to the concept of due accuracy and due impartiality where the term due means adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation. The guidelines on Impartiality also make it clear Due impartiality is often more than a simple matter of balance between opposing viewpoints. This is set out in more detail in Section on Due Weight (4.4.2) which says: Impartiality does not necessarily require the range of perspectives or opinions to be covered in equal proportions either across our output as a whole, or within a single programme, web page or item. Instead, we should seek to achieve due weight. For example, minority views should not necessarily be given equal weight to the prevailing consensus. As you know the item on the programme considered why there has been a continued fall in the number of people receiving the MMR vaccination and why there appears to be an increasing scepticism towards vaccinations for other diseases that can be lifechanging or even fatal. As the presenter, Emily Maitlis, said in the introduction: we are going to ask why the anti-vaxxers, as they are known across the pond, seem to be regaining the upper hand in telling us when facts can simply be dismissed. Have we had enough of experts or do we genuinely believe science is now up for debate? In practice, the guidelines I have set out above mean I have to take account of where the weight of informed scientific opinion lies in this debate when considering whether the scope of the discussion and the choice of contributors met the requirements for due impartiality. My understanding is all the leading authorities and bodies responsible for public health support the use of vaccination, and say there is no evidence for the kind of public safety concerns outlined by Ms Maitlis in her introduction. Vaccination is not completely risk free but the side effects tend to be mild; serious side effects are extremely rare. Medical professionals around the world therefore agree the benefits far outweigh the risks. The NHS, for example, has a page on its website about vaccination benefits and risks which says: All medicines have side effects. However, vaccines are among the safest and the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the risk of side effects. When you're considering a vaccination for yourself or your child, it's natural to focus on the potential side effects. But a better approach is to try to balance the benefits of having a vaccine against the chances of harm. Most side effects from vaccination are mild and short-lived. I think it is also reasonable to say leading health bodies around the world have expressed concern about the growing number of websites which question the safety of vaccination or suggest the potential side effects are greater or more harmful than the medical community believes. I note, for example, the World Health Organisation says: Due to the success of immunization, some diseases are no longer perceived as a threat. Certain groups have even questioned the utility of vaccination in spite of its proven success in controlling disease. In recent years, a number of web sites providing unbalanced, misleading and alarming vaccine safety information have been established, which can lead to undue fears, particularly among parents and patients. Acknowledging the above-mentioned issues and urged by governments, key non-governmental organizations and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), WHO initiated, in 2003, the Vaccine Safety Net Project (VSN). I am therefore satisfied it was reasonable and appropriate to select the contributors who took part in this discussion. I do not share your view that it was necessary to include a contributor who had a background in either science or vaccine safety bearing in mind the topic of the discussion (Have we had enough of experts or do we genuinely believe science is now up for debate?) and the weight of informed opinion about the safety and potential side effects of vaccines. I accept there are some, including yourself, who are concerned about the ingredients which are used in vaccines, such as aluminium. I also appreciate you and others have conducted research which suggests a correlation between aluminium in vaccines and conditions such as autism. However, I am unaware of any studies which have demonstrated a causal link and I have to take account of the fact the vast majority of scientists in this field take the view vaccines are safe and consider appropriate measures are in place to investigate reports of suspected serious side effects. The Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, for example, issued a report into vaccine safety in 2013. The associated website says: Vaccines are among the most safe and effective public health interventions to prevent serious disease and death. Because of the success of vaccines, most Americans today have no firsthand experience with such devastating illnesses as polio or diphtheria. Health care providers who vaccinate young children follow a schedule prepared by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Under the current schedule, children younger than six may receive as many as 24 immunizations by their second birthday. New vaccines undergo rigorous testing prior to receiving FDA approval; however, like all medicines and medical interventions, vaccines carry some risk. Driven largely by concerns about potential side effects, there has been a shift in some parents attitudes toward the child immunization schedule. HHS asked the IOM to identify research approaches, methodologies, and study designs that could address questions about the safety of the current schedule. This report is the most comprehensive examination of the immunization schedule to date. The IOM committee uncovered no evidence of major safety concerns associated with adherence to the childhood immunization schedule. Should signals arise that there may be need for investigation, however, the report offers a framework for conducting safety research using existing or new data collection systems. In conclusion, I do not believe the choice of contributors or the manner in which the discussion was conducted led to a breach of the BBCs Editorial Guidelines on Impartiality. I have also considered the specific aspects of the debate which you said were Displays of lies or at best ignorance and assessed whether they were materially inaccurate or would have left the audience with a misleading impression. I propose to address each one in turn, following the chronological order of the list you sent on 5 November. 1. The figure for 876 laboratory confirmed cases of measles in England came from Public Health England. The Head of Immunisation at PHE said The measles outbreaks we are currently seeing in England are linked to ongoing large outbreaks in Europe. The majority of cases we are seeing are in teenagers and young adults who missed out on their MMR vaccine when they were children. I therefore do not believe it was materially inaccurate or misleading to cite the figure since it is clearly the informed view of PHE that non-vaccination is a significant contribution to then increase in confirmed cases of measles. 2. I think the most reasonable inference to be drawn from the use of the phrase was that it was irrational for people to fear the thought of injecting themselves with a disease supposedly to inoculate them against something else when the evidence demonstrates the risk of possible side effects from vaccines is far outweighed by the benefit of protection against fatal diseases such as small pox. I therefore do not believe viewers would have understood the reporter, David Grossman, to suggest all vaccines are 100% safe. 3. The use of virus in this context was clearly a play on words and has to be judged accordingly. Mr Grossman began his report as follows: This is the story of a virus and how it has spread round the world affecting countless millions. This is not though a biological virus but an idea that is now blamed by some doctors for the deaths and illness of children on every continent. When he went on to say its clear then that medical science doesnt have to counter just one type of virus. There are those which affect our bodies and those which affect our minds this was referring back to the original idea that ill-informed members of the public believe they know more than medical experts. In this context, I see no reasonable basis for concluding the audience would have assumed there were no grounds to be concerned about vaccine safety. 4. I addressed this point in my response to the due impartiality of the discussion. 5. Helen Donovan from the Royal College of Nursing spoke about a small decrease in vaccinations and said one of the reasons this was significant was because We know that the WHO recommend that we need to have 95% of all our children immunised against all of our vaccines. It seems to me reasonable to cite an international body such as the WHO when explaining why a fall in vaccination is regarded as a cause of concern. I do not see a requirement to explore this in more detail in the context of a discussion about an increasing [public] scepticism towards vaccinations. 6. Professor Michael Patrick Lynch was talking about what he perceived as the danger of social media sites which provided news and information tailored to the preferences of users. He expressed concern this can reinforce the sense that we can be our own experts on almost any topic. Ms Maitlis followed up by asking So is it because we feel smarter or is it because authority has let us down? We dont have the same sense of deference; we dont want to believe the experts anymore? Her questions clearly went beyond just the safety of vaccines and so I do not share your impression of what viewers would have understood Ms Maitlis to be saying. 7. Professor Lynch was expressing a professional opinion about why public attitudes towards experts appeared to be shifting. He was not talking specifically about vaccine safety and I think it is reasonable to assume viewers would have understood the broad point he was making about arrogance on the part of the ordinary consumer, arrogance of a certain type that we know it all. 8. I did not share your impression the concerns which Dr Pauline Paterson identified were emanating from hard science as you suggest. As I mentioned in Point 7 above, the discussion was about the spread of information and the idea that everyone can be seen as having equal weight when its in cyberspace. Dr Paterson clearly stated anyone can be seen as an expert on social media, on the internet, and also concerns can spread very quickly with the internet, with social media. Viewers would, I think, have understood she was making a far broader point than one about scientific evidence and was referring to the spread of opinion dressed up as evidence. 9. Helen Donovan was making the point that nurses are generally regarded as trusted and so it was important they were as up to date with all the information thats out there. I appreciate you think the current information from the NHS, WHO, NAS etc. is misleading but I imagine the audience would have understood Ms Donovan was simply expressing the view that nurses need to have the latest information to allow them to respond to questions or queries from the public. 10. All the leading medical bodies take the view vaccinations are an essential public health intervention to prevent serious disease and death. The benefits to human health are considered to outweigh by far any potential risks. I therefore do not believe it is inaccurate or misleading to suggest those who try to push the public away from vaccination are responsible for creating a public health scare. 11. Professor Lynch was expressing a professional view rather than an incontrovertible fact and the audience can be expected to judge his comment accordingly. 12. As in Point 11, Professor Lynch was expressing a personal view. In conclusion, I do not believe there are grounds for me to uphold your complaint. I should explain there is no provision for further appeal against this decision within the BBCs complaints process but I would be happy to consider any comments you may wish to make about my finding. I would be grateful if you could let me have any such comments by 26 November. Alternatively, if you do wish to take your complaint further, you can ask the broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, to consider your complaint. You can find details of how to contact Ofcom and the procedures it will apply at the following website: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/how-to-report-a-complaint. You can also write to Ofcom at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA, or telephone either 0300 123 3333 or 020 7981 3040. Yours sincerely Colin Tregear Complaints Director BATH Master Sgt. Robert Key had a simple but powerful message Wednesday for students at Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School: Be the blessing. Key, who grew up in Windsor, spoke at LBC's annual Veterans Day program, which featured tributes to America's service men and women in music, song and spoken word. More than 30 veterans attended. Throughout life, be the blessing, not the one who is distracting the blessings of others, Key told the students. You see it every day. Turn on the TV, and somebody got shot for no apparent reason other than someone else said I don't like life. But if you love your life and you love what you're doing, you can look forward to living an abundant life, a blessed life. That's my whole message. Key, who served eight years on active duty in the U.S. Army and 31 years in the Reserves, said being the 10th of 12 children helped prepare him for his career in the military. When I got there, I didn't have a problem taking orders saying, yes, sir, and no, sir, and yes, ma'am, and no ma'am, said Key, who trained at Fort Jackson in Columbia. When drill sergeant told us to move, the answer was: where to? And when he said, go: they answer was how far? Once you learn to love what you do, it's no longer a job it's a career. And careers help you through life. Everything is interactive. What these students are learning in school will carry them in life. Knowledge is power. Sarah Johnson, who has been a member of the Area 3 Advisory Council for 42 years, said Key hit on all parts of life that the children should direct their lives in. It was wonderful. He wanted to put all the children on the right track, she said. I told him he was born a good, country boy. Every school in Area 3, which includes the Midland Valley and Graniteville areas, honored veterans with special programs this year, spacing them out over several days to allow the veterans and area residents to attend as many as they could, Johnson said. Every one was packed, she said. I'm so thankful that all the children got to see this part of life, and they need it yearly so they never forget. I love Area 3, and I love how our teachers and principals our mothers and daddies they are forming their children to appreciate what they've got on this Earth. Principal Paul Spadaro said veterans are a big part of the Area 3 community, adding that Derrick Parker, LBC's band director, is a U.S. Army veteran. We're going to continue this tradition as a great way to honor them, he said after the program. Maybe one day, this program will have an impact on some of our students' lives, and they will want to go into the armed services, serve our country and, one day, return as a veteran. Just as the Pilgrims invited their Native American neighbors to the first Thanksgiving in 1621, USC Aiken invited its new neighbors, the Aiken Scholars Academy, to its annual One Table feast Thursday. The 50 ninth-graders in the academy's first class, along with their families, shared the traditional fall holiday meal with USCA students, faculty and staff in the Student Activities Center. A collaboration between Aiken County Public School District and USCA, the Aiken Scholars Academy opened in August as the district's newest high school in USCA's Ruth Patrick Science Education Center. The academy offers some of the county's brightest and most gifted and talented students opportunities to excel in an academically challenging and rigorous collegiate environment. We're calling this our Phoenix Feast, Aiken Scholars Academy Principal Martha Messick said, referring to the academy's mascot, the Phoenix, a mythological bird that renews itself and symbolizes the characteristics of the academy's students: future-focused, visionary and risk-taking. Messick said sharing a meal brings the Aiken Scholars Academy family and the USC Aiken family together. The relationship and partnership with USC Aiken has been amazing, she said. The kids are really excited. They've been wanting to come over and check out the cafeteria. They get traditional public school food every day. They're excited to be able to go back for seconds and thirds. They're teenagers, so they like to eat. Christian Medders, an assistant director of Student Life at USCA, said inviting the Aiken Scholars Academy celebrates one campus community. It's a way to come together at one table, have Thanksgiving lunch, share what we're thankful for and just spend time together, he said. While USCA and the Aiken Scholars Academy shared a Thanksgiving meal Thursday, the price of admission will help feed some Aiken County Public School students over the long Thanksgiving break next week. To participate, diners donated two canned goods. A backpack and 10 cans of food admitted six. USCA students packed 185 backpacks with the donated food and will deliver them to students at Warrenville Elementary on Friday. We coordinated with Patrick Newsome, the assistant principal at Warrenville and a USCA alum, Medders said. They have a Back Pack Buddies program. Now, the students won't have to worry and can spend time with their families and friends. I am very proud of how our campus community has come together and to provide these students with food over their Thanksgiving break. +41 USC Aiken's One Table USCA and Aiken Scholars Academy students, faculty and staff celebrate Thanksgiving at their One Table annual campus wide event. USCA also participated in a month-long canned food drive with Golden Harvest Food Bank. It's another way we can help people who might not have access to food, Medders said. Executive chef Rob Harper said his staff started cooking Wednesday for Thursday's feast, making pumpkin pie, green bean and sweet potato casseroles and other traditional Thanksgiving dishes and preparing almost 200 pounds of turkey and about 160 pounds of ham. Harper gave much of the credit to Geraldine Padgett, a night cook who has worked at USCA about 25 years. If you ask the students, she hooks things up, Harper said. We have standard recipes we're supposed to go by, but I let Geraldine do her thing. She really does a great job, and I think the food this year is the best it's ever been. Harper said he looks forward to One Table every year. It's fun, he said. Everybody's here, and that's what Thanksgiving is all about inviting everybody in and giving thanks and really enjoying everybody. It's great. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Panalpina has obtained Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification for its new logistics centre in Singapore. The GDP quality assurance standard includes stringent requirements for the handling, storage and distribution of pharmaceuticals. The number of Panalpina locations globally with GDP certification now stands at 32. The GDP certificate was issued by Singapores Health Sciences Authority (HSA) following inspection. To be granted GDP certification in Singapore, companies must demonstrate compliance with HSA GDP guidelines. With the new GDP certification, Panalpina is authorised to store, handle and distribute medicines in the local market and to ship them abroad on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. The pharmaceutical sector in Singapore has developed enormously since 2000 and the companies are increasingly outsourcing the logistics for their highly sensitive products, says Gino Marzola, Panalpinas managing director for Singapore and Malaysia. Healthcare supply chains have a zero-fault tolerance, and the GDP certification for our brand-new facility demonstrates that we can meet that requirement. We also give pharmaceutical companies access to a global, quality distribution network for their products. Share this story The Donald Trump administration today took the unprecedented step of sanctioning several Saudi officials for their suspected role in murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. But Congress, which set in motion today's action by pushing for a federal probe under the Global Magnitsky Act last month, isnt satisfied. These sanctions are an appropriate response to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, but todays action does not put this issue to rest, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., who is likely to assume control of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in January, said in a statement. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration has determined who is responsible for this horrific incident. Until responsibility is confirmed, this matter is unresolved and deserves Congress scrutiny. Engel also accused the Trump administration of initially trying to sweep this incident under the rug. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, also tweeted that this announcement looks like a coordinated attempt to sweep this case under the rug. I expect full accountability and will work to ensure it. Why it matters: The 17 sanctioned individuals are largely officials whom Riyadh has already blamed for killing Khashoggi. They conspicuously omit Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite reports alleging that he personally directed Khashoggis murder. Several Democratic senators and at least one Republican who first launched the federal probe into Khashoggis murder have called for sanctions on higher level officials, implying that Prince Mohammed himself is liable. It is difficult for any reasonable person with knowledge of Saudi Arabias government to believe such high-level officials would conduct a plot of this significance without the direction of the crown prince, said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the architect of the human rights law used as the basis for the sanctions. Cardin called for accountability at the highest levels of the Saudi government. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., accused the Trump administration of following the Saudi playbook of blaming mid-level officials and exonerating its leadership. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said the list is clearly not comprehensive. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was less aggressive, but nonetheless urged the Trump administration to hold accountable anyone else linked to this heinous crime, including those at the highest levels of the Saudi government. Dont forget Yemen: Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., went a step further, threatening to fully end US support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The only acceptable response is to halt all offensive weapons sales and military support for the Saudi-led coalitions war in Yemen, Murphy said in a statement, vowing to introduce a resolution doing so in the coming weeks. Whats next? It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will yield to bipartisan pressure for tougher action or stick with Saudi Arabias latest narrative. NBC News reported today that the White House is considering extraditing exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen to Turkey to convince President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to loosen the pressure on Riyadh. Know more: Read congressional correspondent Bryant Harris report last month on how an overwhelmingly bipartisan group of lawmakers launched the federal probe that led to todays sanctions. And read diplomatic correspondent Laura Rozens piece for more on who is and isnt sanctioned under todays measures. -Bryant Harris The United States announced sanctions on 17 Saudis today for their alleged involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Notably, the list of designees does not include Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commonly known by his initials MBS, who the Donald Trump administration has cultivated as a key ally in its Middle East endeavors. Nor does it include MBS handpicked deputy intelligence chief, Gen. Ahmed al-Asiri, who previously served as the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen. The list does, however, include the crown princes propaganda chief, Saud al-Qahtani, who has sometimes been described as the Saudi Steve Bannon, as well as Maher Mutreb, whom the Treasury Department described as Qahtanis subordinate who coordinated the Khashoggi assassination. The Treasury Department also sanctioned the diplomat who was serving as the Saudi consul general in Istanbul at the time of Khashoggis murder, Mohammed al-Otaibi. Saud al-Qahtani is a senior official of the government of Saudi Arabia who was part of the planning and execution of the operation that led to the killing of Mr. Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2, 2018, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said in a press statement. This operation was coordinated and executed by his subordinate Maher Mutreb, and involved participation of at least 14 other Saudi government officials. Why it matters: The Trump administration has seemingly sought to try to take minimal, mostly symbolic actions in response to Khashoggis murder, while trying to do enough to keep Congress from forcing its hand. The Trump administration has put US-Saudi ties at the centerpiece of its policy toward the Middle East, from fighting terrorism to imposing maximum economic pressure on Iran, while not having gas prices go up, especially before the midterm elections. But in the past two weeks, there have been growing signs that the Trump administration, in coordination with the British, are making concerted efforts to push the Saudis and Emiratis toward a de-escalation of the war in Yemen and toward supporting UN-backed peace talks, which UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths now aims to convene, likely in Sweden, by the end of the year. But why Asiris absence from US sanctions list? Perhaps we want to be able to continue working with him, former US Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein told Al-Monitor. If he remains in a senior intel position, then sanctioning him may make it difficult to keep working with the [General Intelligence Directorate]. The Asiri strategy if I'm right may not work, but we can see that the administration is going to do its damnedest to get this problem behind them, Feierstein, now with the Middle East Institute, said. Whats next: Mnuchin suggested that more people may be targeted for sanctions as more information is obtained. The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggis fiancee, children and the family he leaves behind, Mnuchin said. The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists. Know more: Al-Monitors Turkey Pulse has the latest on Ankaras efforts to keep the pressure up on Riyadh, and see columnist Bruce Riedels piece on how the Saudi palace is looking to rally support domestically as it deals with the international crisis. - Laura Rozen Tehrans city council selected 55-year-old Reformist politician and architect Pirouz Hanachi as the capitals third mayor in 18 months on Nov. 13. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, conservative politician and Tehrans longest serving mayor, left office in August 2017 after Reformists swept the city council elections that year. He was followed by Mohammad Ali Najafi, who held the office for just eight months and left after health concerns. Mohammad Ali Afshani held the position since May 2018 but was forced to resign after a new law forbiding retirees from holding public office. Hanachi will have a tough road ahead of him in uniting Reformists and putting his seal on a city that was dominated by conservatives. One particular advantage for Hanachi is that he seems to have the backing of the Hassan Rouhani administration. Hanachis rival for the mayoral office was former Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi, who resigned and attributed the countrys economic crisis to the Rouhani administration. It was also rumored that former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami had supported Hanachis candidacy, though his office quickly denied this. After 18 months of uncertainty and political infighting, Hanachis work experience and history appear to make him well suited for the position. He has a Ph.D. in architecture and served as a deputy for architecture and urban development at the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development from 2001 to 2005. He served under Najafi as deputy of technical and development affairs of Tehran municipality. He is knowledgeable of the unique challenges of this sprawling capital of nearly 9 million people, and there is hope he will approach the office with a technical mindset rather than a partisan one. Some of the issues that Hanachi has vowed to address are: not relying solely on public and government funds for the citys budget; improving public transportation to reduce traffic and pollution; and taxing unoccupied property, with the assumption being that wealthier individuals are sitting on multiple real estate holdings. That conservatives have not opposed Hanachi yet is a positive sign that there will at least be a honeymoon era before they interfere or sabotage his policies. Amir Hamza Nejad wrote in conservative Jahan News that Hanachis election must be taken as good news. However, Hamza Nejad wrote that all of Hanachis previous executive positions were relatively minor compared to that of being mayor and it is not clear whether he was a deputy who merely supported the policies of his bosses or is an independent manager. Hamza Nejad added that Hanachis liberal policies and rumored support of Khatami raise concerns. In the Iranian context, Reformists have been proponents of liberal economic policies. He also criticized Hanachis previous support of traffic tolls. Hamza Nejad also touched on another topic, possibly even more damaging than conservative sabotage: the division within Reformists. The two leading candidates were both Reformists, the city council is dominated by Reformists and the final vote was 11 to 10, which shows deep division among Reformists, according to Hamza Nejad. The criticism is not unwarranted. Despite throwing their support behind Rouhani, and even occupying various positions in the administrations, even taking over the city council, Reformists have not been able to bring about a stable leader for one of the most important positions in the country. If they continue to play musical chairs with this vital seat, as Irans economy continues to falter, Reformists in Tehran may be out of power once again. Iraqs draft federal budget for 2019, which parliament has yet to pass, ignited major disapproval among the countrys political parties, as well as in the governorates and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The southern governorates, mainly Basra, believe that the budget allocations are unfair, particularly since the Basra governorate is desperately in need of services. The Iraqi governorates that have been liberated from the Islamic State (IS) and that continue to witness the effects of such devastation have also firmly opposed the budget allocations. Following dwindling oil prices, the war against IS and the subsequent years of austerity, the proposed budget for 2019 is considered explosive due to the huge sums involved: It amounts to nearly $107 billion, with an estimated deficit of $19 billion. Iraqs oil revenues cover 88% of the draft budget. Oil prices are estimated at nearly $56 per barrel, and Iraq exports an average of 3.8 million barrels per day from its oil fields, including those located in the Kurdistan region. Such a figure is huge compared to previous budgets, particularly since important aspects of reconstruction and infrastructure development are overlooked in the draft budget, Iraqi parliamentarians said. Most of the political blocs, with their various religions and ethnicities, have rejected the draft budget, stating that it has not taken seriously the provision of services to citizens. Sabah al-Uqaili of Muqtada al-Sadrs Sairoon Alliance said, The northern and southern governorates, as well as the Kurdistan region, disapproved of the draft budget. He told Al-Monitor that the draft budget did not reflect the identity of the new government, led by Adel Abdul Mahdi. It was drafted while Haider al-Abadi was ending his term. Based on that, it does not include the program of the new government which won parliament vote. In fact, Abadis government prepared the federal budget for 2019. After Abdul Mahdis new government won the parliamentary vote, the latter submitted the draft budget to parliament on Oct. 28 for a vote. It was soon rejected. Rebwar Taha, a member of parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, also stated that the draft budget does not serve the new government's program. The program of Abdul Mahdis government cannot be put into action with the current draft budget, he said. Taha said there is a key defect in the budget and pointed out that it is an operational budget rather than a budget focusing on investments and the provision of services to citizens and on easing tension in the street. The shares of the governorates and the Kurdistan region are unbalanced and illogical compared to the population, he added. Similar to the past year, Kurdistan's share of the federal budget for 2019 has remained at 12%, causing resentment among the Kurdish blocs, particularly since it amounted to 17% for years in the past. In contrast, the Basra governorate, which did not previously earn the petrodollars, namely $5 per barrel sold from the Basra fields, believes that the federal budget continues to be unfair. This is true particularly since the provision of services in Basra has never been worse. Over the summer, the tension climaxed in the streets, generating violence and mass protests. The budget allocations have furthermore created a feeling of injustice in the governorates that have been freed from IS, such as Ninevah. Destruction hit between 60-80% of the governorate, which was not allocated more than 1% of the draft federal budget for 2019. Ahmad al-Jarba, a member of parliament for the Ninevah governorate, said, The people of Ninevah make up about 10% of Iraqs total population. Based on that, the members of parliament for the Ninevah governorate demand that [the governorate] be allocated 10% of the draft budget for 2019. He noted, No political attention is given to the Ninevah governorate, adding that the afflicted governorate is being deliberately neglected. Jarba belives Abdul Mahdi has two options: The first is that parliament adds amendments to the federal budget and demands that the prime minister approves it instead of challenging it in the federal court. The second is that parliament refers back the draft budget entirely to the government and prepares a new budget based on Abdul Mahdis government program, which parliament approved. Both Uqaili and Taha agreed that another solution would be to form a joint committee between parliament and the Cabinet to amend the draft budget. Uqaili said, There is a tendency to form a joint committee between the parliament and Cabinet to examine the Iraqi budget for 2019 and add new items in a way that is in line with Abdul Mahdis government program. He said, The shares of the Ninevah, Anbar and Basra governorates of the budget for 2019 are being debated to be altered, adding that failing to address the allocations crisis will trigger major reactions in parliament" from Ninevah and Basra parliamentarians. Relations between the Abdul Mahdi government and parliament are being tested for the first time. The same applies to the governorates lacking services. In case the government decides to remain committed to the 2019 draft budget, major crises with parliament await. After a long, tumultuous night of protests in his town, Sderot mayor Alon Davidi stood before the cameras the morning of Nov. 14 and tried to relay how frustrated he felt about the cease-fire with Hamas reached the night before. Davidi is no hothead. He identifies with the right and maintains close ties with quite a few members of the government. Nevertheless, his message was clear. He was disappointed with a government that left the people of his town hostages of Hamas. I have a lot of respect for the government, but in this case, it is wrong, he told Keshets morning show. Hamas needs to receive a devastating blow It is a terrorist government and its people should be targeted. Like all residents of the south, Davidi expected Hamas' audacious attack, in which almost 500 rockets were fired in 48 hours, to result in a devastating counter-attack. He and the people of his town were prepared to spend many long days and nights in their protected spaces. But then on Tuesday night, they learned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet had negotiated a cease-fire. It was a repeat of what happened after the brief round of fighting in August. Once again, Israelis, particularly residents of the south, first heard the news from the media. The prime minister did not bother to make a public statement, nor did any member of his security cabinet. They were not prepared to explain their decision. The residents of Sderot responded to the news with a spontaneous demonstration at the main intersection leading into their town. After two long days, they felt neglected, and for good reason. They chanted against the government, with Netanyahu bearing the brunt of their attacks. Wake up! they called, and there were even chants of Bibi go home! and We deserve to give our children a normal childhood! The fact that most people in Sderot identify with the right and that the town is considered a bastion of the Likud only underscored the intensity of their frustration and disappointment with the most right-wing government in Israels history. The demonstrations continued into Wednesday and are planned to continue outside the governments offices such as the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv. It is too early to tell how the protest in the south will impact the countrys political leadership, particularly the prime minister. No one expects Israel to launch an operation in Gaza as a result of these demonstrations. The protests are intended to put pressure on the government before the next round of fighting and there will be a next round, sooner or later. Some sources claim that the protests were one of the reasons that prompted Avigdor Libermans resignation from his position as minister of defense. Even if not, the protests certainly influenced his decision indirectly. Liberman visited the south frequently over the last few months. He was in constant contact with the local residents and could feel their disappointment. He also knew how the situation could affect his public standing, or in more practical terms, how it might affect him electorally. At the Nov. 14 press conference in which he announced his resignation, Liberman made a point of speaking about the residents of the south, saying that had he continued as defense minister, he would no longer be able to look them in the eyes. Even if this move doesnt win Liberman any votes, he was nonetheless able to divert the fire from himself. Furthermore, the drama surrounding his resignation validated the protests, with the defense minister himself calling the governments policy weakness. There is another side to Libermans resignation. It also leaves Netanyahu on his own to face the public outrage. As long as Liberman stood shoulder to shoulder with him in the campaign against Gaza, it was Liberman who came under fire most and who was subjected to the most ridicule. The man who promised to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh within 48 hours of his appointment as defense minister if Hamas did not return the bodies of Israeli soldiers was sucked into a policy of containment and restraint, even in the face of many long months of terrorism from Gaza. Now Netanyahu stands all alone on the front, exposed to public criticism and southern rage. People will demand answers from him and him alone. Netanyahu was in charge of government policy for the past nine years, including its policy toward Gaza. After Operation Protective Edge, Netanyahu promised that he would open new doors to the Arab world to stabilize the region and find a diplomatic solution to the Gaza problem. Four years later, Gaza was once again playing a major role in the lives of Israelis in the south while Netanyahu made Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas irrelevant. It was also during his watch that Qatar began to funnel money into Gaza, sending $15 million in cash directly to Hamas. As a result, the protests of the local residents have a single, clear target. But the question put to Netanyahu should not be why didnt he lead Israel into another operation in Gaza, but why did he waste four years without striving to reach a diplomatic solution and without taking advantage of Israels achievements in Protective Edge and the quiet that followed to create a new reality along the Gaza border? Netanyahu fully realizes that he is publicly vulnerable, and that the recent Gaza saga could become a major issue in the next election. It will certainly be Libermans banner issue. By the time rumors of Libermans resignation began to spread on Wednesday, Netanyahu was participating in the annual memorial to Israels first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. In an attempt to reduce the political damage, he strongly suggested there that there were certain factors that he could not reveal: Leadership also means standing up to criticism when you know things that are classified and which you cannot share with the public that you love, he told residents of the south. The News Company conducted a poll immediately after Libermans resignation and released its findings on Wednesday night: Netanyahu does have reason to worry. The poll gave the Likud a record-low 29 seats (compared with 35 only a few months ago), while Liberman got a little stronger with seven seats. Surely Netanyahu hopes that this decline in support is a fleeting sentiment. Before Avigdor Liberman even stepped into the defense ministers shoes in May 2016, he announced that if he were to receive the Defense Ministry, the first thing hed do would be to inform Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh that he has 48 hours to return the bodies of the slain Israelis as well as the live Israeli citizens held in Gaza. If not, then he Liberman would issue an order for Haniyehs elimination. But on Nov. 14, it was Haniyeh who had the last laugh. Its been two and a half years since Liberman received the Defense Ministry, and Haniyeh is alive and kicking while Liberman has just quit his job. He made the official announcement at a press conference that day. This was on the background of the military confrontation this week between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas, which Liberman himself qualified as weakness. Hamas hurried to publish a merry victory announcement after Libermans resignation, despite the fact that they absorbed quite a few strikes from Israels air force in recent days. Thats how it goes in the Middle East: Everythings topsy-turvy and nothing ever really ends. An alert Hamas man in Khan Yunis detected a small, covert IDF unit doing its thing deep in the Gaza Strip, and this caused a chain reaction that led to the resignation of Israels defense minister. One minute Israel and Hamas were a handsbreadth away from an arrangement and a graduated end to the violence, and the next minute a military confrontation erupts between them. Immediately afterward, Liberman returned his keys and resigned all of this in four days. Libermans resignation violated Israels most famous political rule, as formulated in the past by Ariel Sharon: Always remain on top of the ships helm. Sometimes the helm will be up and sometimes down, but never leave it completely because theres no way back. Sharon meant that better to stay part of the government, on good days and on bad ones, rather than leave it for the opposition benches. Liberman had been on top. The head of the Defense Ministry holds one of the most powerful positions in the country, with the exception of the prime minister. The minister is the official sovereign over the West Bank and is in charge of the most powerful defense system in the Middle East. Nevertheless, Liberman decided to give it up. He hopes that his resignation wont take him away from the ships helm, on the contrary. In his resignation announcement, Liberman also called for elections as quickly as possible. Thus, Liberman beat his hated rival, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, as the one to leave a weak government that allegedly lacks the power to inflict a real military strike on Hamas. And now, Bennett is held captive in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. His party, HaBayit HaYehudi, rushed off to demand the defense portfolio for Bennett immediately after Liberman resigned. Netanyahus circle just as quickly announced that Netanyahu will adopt the portfolio himself. HaBayit HaYehudi threatens to dismantle the coalition if Bennett doesnt get the defense portfolio, but this may also be a historic mistake: When the right in Israel brings down a right-wing government, the country may end up with a left-wing administration instead. Libermans famous endurance failed him between Nov. 9 and Nov. 13. It all began when a Qatari gift of three large suitcases filled with dollars $5 million per suitcase reached the Gaza Strip. Liberman called this capitulating to terror, and he actually may be correct. Its like protection money, Liberman said in a meeting this week, according to a political source speaking on condition of anonymity. We pay cash to the terrorists in exchange for some peace and quiet. The money is funneled directly to the families of those who tried to harm IDF soldiers. Actually, were funding the terror directed at ourselves. Then came the complications regarding the IDFs special force unit in the depths of the Strip, which set the territory on fire within seconds and resulted in the death of a top IDF officer. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and additional factions launched close to 500 rockets at Israel, while the Israeli air force destroyed infrastructure targets and Hamas buildings while trying not to kill people. The Cabinet convened on Tuesday night, where Liberman found himself in the minority again. Netanyahu had coordinated in advance with the Likud ministers and army heads not to wage war, but to return to routine life. Liberman made his decision in the course of the Cabinet meeting. He was no longer willing to serve as the punching bag of the right-wing electoral public. He knows that 2019 is an election year and that Netanyahu is inching closer to the end of his political life. He prefers to leave the Defense Ministry with his head held high rather than continue to crawl in Netanyahus shadow. He threw the keys back at Netanyahu without any advance warning. This is the second time hes done that the first time was in 1998 when he resigned from the role of CEO of the Prime Ministers Office (that was also under Netanyahu). As opposed to what has been recently disseminated, including here, Netanyahu is at the moment the last person to want swift elections. Yet despite this, Libermans actions may force elections on the prime minister against his will. Now everything depends on Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who is sick and tired of this term of office and ready for elections. It also depends on HaBayit HaYehudi chairman Naftali Bennett, who is determined to inherit Libermans seat in the Defense Ministry. If that doesn't happen, Bennett has no reason to try to keep Netanyahus 61 Knesset member slim majority coalition alive. But if indeed Netanyahu calls for early elections, Bennett would start his campaign at a disadvantage in light of the fact that Liberman was the first to resign in protest against the failings of the defense system and its weak anti-terror policies. In any case, Netanyahu will have to use all his political talents to keep the government together and enter 2019 weakened but not yet a lame duck. Israel is entering an era of political chaos that will continue over the next few weeks. This tumult is taking place parallel to numerous machinations of the political system, headed by the new party that former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz is expected to create with the goal of carrying off all those who oppose Netanyahus regime. The prime minister can reshuffle all the cards by offering Gantz the Defense Ministry now. Such a course of action would neutralize Gantz as a political threat and cause much dismay among Netanyahus numerous rivals. It would be hard for Gantz to turn down the offer, though Gantz is surrounded by people who would recommend that he not accept such an offer. Netanyahu will have to make dramatic decisions in the very near future. His maneuvering space has narrowed considerably, and we have not even spoken about the recommendations of the attorney general that are approaching on whether to indict him. Nevertheless, Netanyahu is well-known for his knack of emerging intact from hopeless situations. It is impossible to detect any damage inflicted on Israels deterrent or offensive capabilities by the Nov. 14 resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman. If anything, Israels deterrence and security stand to benefit from his departure. His most recent contribution to Israels defense was his irresponsible Oct. 12 decision to cut off the fuel supply to the Gaza Strip. Until violence in the Gaza Strip stops entirely, including the launching of incendiary balloons and the burning of tires near Israeli communities, the supply of fuel and gas will not be renewed, he said. Libermans position was diametrically opposed to the advice of military and defense agency chiefs, who have repeatedly warned that a further deepening of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip would only result in more violence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu learned of Libermans move from the media. A few days later, he ordered the resumption of fuel and gas supplies to Gaza. The security cabinet also banned Liberman from halting humanitarian aid to Gaza without the approval of the governments top defense and diplomacy forum. While Libermans resignation does not constrain the military options of the Netanyahu government, the departure of Libermans party, Yisrael Beitenu, from the governing coalition does limit the governments room to maneuver. Netanyahu is left with a narrow coalition of 61 Knesset members, and now the extortion capabilities of Naftali Bennett, chair of the right-wing Habayit Hayehudi, have skyrocketed. The current education minister is eyeing the newly vacated defense portfolio. His partys Knesset faction has already announced that unless Bennett is named defense minister, the party will also quit the coalition. The seat would probably not be the partys final demand. Holding the parliamentary balance of power in an election year is a surefire recipe for populist and irresponsible legislation. Anyway, how long can a government coalition survive at the mercy of Knesset member Oren Hazan, the Likud wildcard? It does not take a great political genius to understand that naming Bennett defense minister would be repeating and even compounding the mistake of placing Liberman in the post in 2016. The two men spent the past two years competing for the title of Mr. Aggressive toward Hamas, courting right-wing voters and inciting them against the containment policy adopted by the government of which they are members. Speaking at a press conference in Paris on Nov. 11, Netanyahu promised to do everything he can to avoid an unnecessary war in Gaza. But one cannot make such a promise and then hand over the defense portfolio to hard-liner Bennett, who objected the cease-fire with Hamas as capitulation to terror and calling for military action. The combination of the cease-fire reached on Nov. 13 with Hamas and Libermans resignation provides an opportunity for change in Israels policy on Gaza and for a government reshuffle. Changing Israels policy on Gaza means admitting that Israels policy of separation differentiating between Gaza and on the West Bank has failed. Instead of dealing with the symptoms that repeatedly wound innocent bodies and souls by reaching patchwork, temporary arrangements of various sorts with the Palestinians, Israel should deal with the root cause of the disease. Time will not heal the wounds. Absent a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the victims condition will deteriorate. According to a UN diagnosis issued in September 2015, the previous summer's Israel-Gaza war, known as Operation Defensive Shield, left Gazas economy in ruins, effectively wiped out what was left of its middle class and relegated virtually the entire population to poverty and dependence on international aid. The authors of this gloomy report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development warned that unless Gazas economic decline is halted, by 2020 the Strip could be declared uninhabitable. In the three years since, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated further. Unemployment is at a record high, the water is brackish and the rate of households suffering food insecurity is nearing 80%. The $15 million disbursed by Qatar last month to pay the salaries of Hamas officials are a mockery and will not prevent thousands of young Gazans from risking their lives by storming the border fence with Israel and exposing themselves to sniper fire. Unable to make a living due to Israeli restrictions on fishing areas off the Gaza coast and confiscation of their boats, Gazas fishermen spend their days in the mosques. The herbicide sprayed by Israeli planes on lands bordering Gaza not only damages the meager crops of the Palestinian farmers across the fence, it also poisons their childrens minds with hatred of Israel. The latest round of violence with Hamas and its allies erupted this week after a botched undercover operation by Israeli special forces in the Gaza town of Khan Yunis. Similar mishaps and a renewed flare-up in the south are only a matter of time and luck. According to data shared by Al-Mezan human rights center in Gaza with the Israeli human rights organization Gisha, Israeli troops conducted 51 incursions into Gaza in 2017, an average of once a week. To maintain a stable cease-fire, Israel will have to abstain from such raids and clashes. A long-term agreement with Hamas would require the opening of the border crossings between Gaza and Israel for the passage of people and goods. The long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that President Donald Trump promised to unveil in the coming months is supposed to serve as a platform for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on a two-state solution and on the fate of the Gaza Strip. But even if Netanyahu agrees to launch serious negotiations on a permanent arrangement for the territories Israel conquered in 1967, the current coalition will tie his hands. When late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided in 2005 to withdraw Israeli settlements and troops from the Gaza Strip, he took leave of the radical political right and established the Kadima party along with senior Labor leaders such as late President Shimon Peres, Haim Ramon and Dalia Itzik. If Netanyahu decides to complete the job Sharon started, he will have to send Bennett and his colleague Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked packing. The opposition Labor leader Avi Gabbay, his Zionist Camp co-leader Tzipi Livni and chair of centrist Yesh Atid Yair Lapid will not turn down Netanyahus invitation to fill those shoes. The Foreign Ministry has been awaiting a full-time minister ever since Netanyahu assumed the title in 2015. Now the Defense Ministry is also waiting. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip A truckers strike has paralyzed the movement of commercial goods into and out of the Gaza Strip. Work at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the only commercial crossing into the Gaza Strip, has been suspended since Nov. 5, when the Land Transportation Association announced the suspension of work in response to the Palestinian Authority's decision to increase taxes by 30 shekels (about $8) on each truck bringing in goods. "We can't afford this increase, as it will be taken out of the drivers pockets, Land Transportation Association Secretary Jihad Salim told Al-Monitor. He said negotiations are ongoing with the crossing's management in an attempt to end this crisis. Some 450 to 550 trucks typically use the crossing each day, according to Salim. Driver Saed Sharafi told Al-Monitor he bristled at the decision by the PA's Crossing and Borders Authority to raise taxes, but expressed the truckers' desire to resume work once the matter is resolved. When the PA split violently in 2007, Hamas took over the administration of the Gaza Strip and Fatah under PA President Mahmoud Abbas retained control in the West Bank. However, the PA still holds the purse strings of both Palestinian territories. As part of a reconciliation effort, the parties agreed to form a unity government in October 2017. In that arrangement, Hamas turned over control of the border crossings to the PA the following month. The PA briefly suspended the crossings' fees and taxes, but reimposed the charges in January 2018. Now, according to Salim, the PA wants even more money. But Raed Fattouh, head of the Presidential Committee for the Coordination of Goods at the Crossing and Borders Authority, said the PA is not imposing any new fees, but just restoring them to what they were before the PA split in 2007. Fattouh blamed the transport association for obstructing the work at the Kerem Shalom crossing, warning that it would cost Palestinian merchants heavy losses. If the strike continues, it could worsen the already-lopsided trade deficit, he said. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Gaza's 2017 exports amounted to just $8.3 million, while imports stood at $530 million. The Strip's exports made up only 0.78% of the total Palestinian exports for 2017. That year, Palestinian exports exceeded the $1 billion mark for the first time ever. Israel is the top destination of Palestinian exports at 82%. Maher Tabbaa, public relations and information director at the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted the Kerem Shalom crossing is vital for commodities such as petroleum products. Like Fattouh, he warned that closing the crossing for long will lead to a crisis affecting the daily lives of Gazans. He noted that the current stoppage will especially hurt clothing exports. The Gaza Strips clothing merchants are getting ready, with the onset of winter, to send their shipments to Israel, he said, explaining that Palestinian merchants will face heavy losses if they have to pay for storage in Israeli warehouses at the crossing or at Israeli ports. House Republicans today quashed a Democratic bid to force a vote requiring the Donald Trump administration to end US support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels. In a rare move, Democrats had attempted to use a Vietnam War-era law to force a floor vote on the conflict. But Republican leaders stripped the bill of its expedited status as part of a procedural vote on unrelated legislation concerning wolves. In the end, the House voted 201-187 to kill the resolution, which would have directed the president to remove US forces from all Houthi-related hostilities in Yemen. The unprecedented vote shields Trump from congressional oversight over his Yemen policy at least until Democrats take control of the House in January. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., enjoyed the support of key Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. While the bill boasts 81 co-sponsors, only four are Republicans. Last week, the Department of Defense announced they would no longer support the aerial refueling of Saudi planes used to bomb targets in Yemen, Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday. This step alone does not come close to addressing our concerns or stopping the carnage. The United States has continued to provide additional support to Saudi forces in Yemen, even as they have waged a war of staggering brutality and devastation. Republican leadership forestalled a similar gambit from Khanna last year, though he did not enjoy the backing of Democratic leadership at the time. While much of the discussion around the bill has focused on how it would end US midair refueling support for Saudi coalition warplanes, the Trump administration ended that support last week, claiming that the coalition has become self-sufficient in its refueling efforts. A House Democratic aide told Al-Monitor that the definition of hostilities includes targeting assistance, logistical support and the deployment of US troops on the Saudi-Yemeni border to fight the Houthis. Supporters of the legislation could use the bill to try to force the Trump administration to end all of these activities. Stopping the midair refueling is a good step forward, but theres a lot that were still doing in support of this war, the aide told Al-Monitor. A recent report in Yahoo News, for example, revealed that the Defense Department is conducting a classified operation to assist the Saudis in Yemen, which could potentially involve US troops on the ground. This week we saw classified missions happening in Yemen, so we dont know the totality of operations, said Stephen Miles, the director of Win Without War, a coalition of anti-war activists that supports the Khanna bill. It may be Congress saying: Youre not telling us what youre doing, so were going to tell you what not to do. The war in Yemen has also increasingly worried Republican hawks. But most remain unwilling to end US support. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., for example, called the end of US midair refueling support an important step in the right direction in a statement this weekend. But he added that other assistance to the Saudi coalition will need to continue, given the ongoing threat from al-Qaeda, [the Islamic State] and the Houthis. (The Khanna resolution does not affect US operations against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.) Democrats will have the opportunity to pass the resolution when they take control of the House in January. But it will likely become more difficult to pass in the Senate, where Republicans are expected to expand their margin of control. Nonetheless, Senate Republican leaders have less power to block a War Powers Act resolution than their House counterparts. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has already vowed to introduce the same resolution in the upper chamber later this month. Senators already voted to kill the resolution 55-44 when Sanders forced a vote earlier this year. But Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., warned that the Sanders resolution could gain further traction unless Trumps Cabinet fully briefs Congress on all US activities in Yemen as well as the US response to Riyadhs killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Senators are going to want to express themselves in a negative way about Saudi Arabia, Corker told reporters on Tuesday. Since there are privileged things that could happen, people are likely to express themselves negatively on other things relative to Saudi Arabia that have nothing to do with the journalist. Although Corker vociferously opposed Sanders past effort to force a vote on the resolution, he vowed to stay out of the way this time even if he doesnt particularly care for it. I laid on the railroad tracks on the last effort, Corker said. I can assure you I will not do that again. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has also introduced a resolution blocking the sale of precision-guided munitions to Bahrain, a close Saudi ally participating in the anti-Houthi coalition. And Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has used his authority as the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee to block arms sales to Riyadh on account of the Yemen war. Some Republican hawks in the Senate are also turning to nonmilitary avenues to take their frustration out on the Saudis. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a staunch supporter of the US-Saudi military relationship, joined Paul and three other Republicans last month in threatening to block a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Riyadh. And Iran hawk Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters on Tuesday that he and other senators are discussing sanctions on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the architect of Riyadhs Yemen campaign, for his alleged role in Khashoggis murder. RAMALLAH, West Bank The Palestinian Authority and Russian Federation have their given bilateral commercial and economic ties a major boost. Palestinian Minister of National Economy Abeer Odeh and Russian Minister of Labour and Social Protection Maxim Topilin signed a protocol Nov. 7 at the third meeting of the Russian-Palestinian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation held in Ramallah. The protocol includes agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in a number of sectors. The two countries signed MoUs on energy, customs and employment at the end of the meeting, which Al-Monitor attended. The meeting sought to spur Russian energy companies to invest in the Palestinian territories and discuss the possibility of setting up Russian industrial zones and joint factories in the Palestinian territories. Another MoU offering customs exemptions to Palestinian exports to Russia is expected to be signed. Odeh said in her address at the meeting, The commission meeting reflects hours of work by the joint commission and diplomatic channels to conclude business partnerships on the ground and improve bilateral trade. She praised work toward granting the Palestinian products preferential treatment to enter Russian markets, increasing trade volume between the two countries by encouraging direct Russian imports to Palestine to achieve economic growth in both countries and implementing joint industrial zones projects. Odeh expressed a Palestinian desire to promote economic, educational, cultural and industrial relations with Russia as well as bilateral ties in the tourism, energy and communications sectors. She said these efforts will open up new horizons for cooperation between the two countries private sectors and promote Russian investments in the Palestinian territories next year. Odeh went on, Palestine is proud of [its] skillful labor force," saying, "The Palestinian and Russian Labor Ministries signed a cooperation agreement to help create jobs for Palestinian youths in Russia in light of the elevated unemployment rate in Palestine. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics indicated in its Nov. 8 report that unemployment has hit 31.7% in the Palestinian territories (54.9% in the Gaza Strip and 17.3% in the West Bank). There are no official figures on the Palestinian labor force in Russia, but its presence is so far minimal. Topilin said in his own address, This is the third time that the joint commission has convened, which affirms that bilateral ties are an important factor for our foreign policy. We are currently active in promoting political and commercial relations, he added. Russia emphasizes cooperation between the two countries, the quest for peace and economic growth in Palestine, he stated. Via the joint commission, both the Palestinian and Russian sides concluded important agreements, including the Russia-Palestine Agreement on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments signed before 2017, which will help Russian and Palestinian businessmen promote bilateral cooperation, he added. Topilin indicated that it is important to activate industrial and economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly setting up industrial zones in Palestine. During the session, disparate figures emerged on trade between the two countries. While Palestinian statistics indicated that trade exchange volume ranges between $10 to $15 million, Russian figures put it at about $4 million. The two sides signed an agreement standardizing trade data collection. Topilin said, We invite Russian and Palestinian businessmen to make direct contacts for the execution of joint projects, particularly since trade exchange volume is climbing every year and surged by 60% in the past eight months. Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told Al-Monitor, The commissions key goal is to heighten and advance trade exchange between the two countries, with the aim of establishing a free trade zone through which specified goods and products enter without being subjected to custom duties. He added, The joint commissions meeting affirms the willingness of both countries political leaderships to facilitate cooperation and friendship in all fields and proves that there is genuine potential for economic cooperation between the two countries. He indicated that the Palestinian efforts to promote bilateral ties with Russia come upon the directives of President Mahmoud Abbas, who desires to make economic relations as strong as political relations. Abbas received Topilin Nov. 6 at the presidential headquarters, where he stressed the importance of the special bilateral relations in the promotion of economic and trade relations and Palestine's keenness to strengthen them in a way that serves the interests of the two countries," Wafa reported. One of the most promising sectors is that of the energy. Nofal disclosed that the Palestinian side will propose the idea of setting up a Russian power plant and cooperating in gas field exploration. Zafer Melhem, the acting chairman of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority, told Al-Monitor that the intergovernmental commission's joint committee on energy is designed to promote cooperation in the energy sector, such as developing renewable and traditional energy technology, cooperating in oil and gas exploration, providing the Palestinian labor force with training and exchanging knowledge and experience in a way that serves both sides. Melhem said that he will visit Moscow in the first quarter of 2019 to discuss implementation mechanisms. He noted that there will be cooperation in the exploration of oil and gas fields, citing our need for geological studies and land and aerial survey of Palestine. Russia has a great experience in this field, he added. The Saudi and American governments are desperately trying to protect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from accountability in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Both are trying to use the members of the hit team sent to Istanbul as scapegoats. The Saudis announced that the trials of 11 individuals involved in the murder are ready, and five of them will be charged with the death penalty. The announcement is another change of story by Riyadh. First it denied Khashoggi was dead and insisted that he had freely left the consulate on Oct. 2. Then it claimed that he died in a fistfight. Then it was characterized as a premeditated murder ordered by the deputy chief of Saudi intelligence. Now it is supposedly a rendition attempt that went amiss and that Khashoggi was deliberately given an overdose of drugs. The team then lied to the deputy chief of Saudi intelligence to cover up their botched mission. An unnamed local collaborator assisted in disposing of the body. None of these accounts add up, especially the latest. They dont explain why the hit team brought bone saws and other devices to dismember a body devices that were reported on in the Turkish press. They dont explain why the head of the hit team called the royal palace to report the murder another report leaked by the Turkish authorities. They dont explain why a supposedly rogue team of assassins could commandeer a Saudi Consulate to conduct a murder. They dont identify the mysterious collaborator. The Saudi accounts reflect a government that is desperately trying to protect the heir apparent. The Khashoggi murder is only the latest in a long line of reckless decisions by the crown prince, starting with the disastrous intervention in Yemens civil war that has created the worst humanitarian catastrophe of our time. It is a farcical attempt at a whitewash. The United States Treasury Department has sanctioned 17 Saudis for involvement in the murder. Those sanctioned include a top aide to Prince Mohammed, Saud al-Qahtani, and Consul General in Istanbul Mohammed Otaiba. The deputy intelligence chief, Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri, was not included on the Treasury list. Nor was Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who has responsibility for everything that happens in a Saudi diplomatic facility. Since none of the 17 are ever likely to leave the kingdom again, the sanctions are not likely to ever be enacted. The Treasury announcement follows the nomination of retired Gen. John Abizaid as ambassador to the kingdom. Abizaid is an experienced hand in Middle East politics. The administration is hoping that he can bring some stability and oversight to the Saudi decision-making process. That remains unlikely as long as Prince Mohammed is in office. The Saudis have said that their indictments mean the Khashoggi murder investigation is now complete and the curtain is closed. Jubeir bizarrely blamed Qatar for keeping interest in the case alive. The Saudis have consistently hinted that Khashoggi was a dupe for the Qataris. The Saudi boycott of Qatar, which has all but destroyed the Gulf Cooperation Council, is another one of Prince Mohammed's foolish decisions. A stable Saudi Arabia is crucial to the stability of the region, which is wracked by civil wars, failed states, terrorism and Iranian mischief. For the last 50 years, the kingdom has been a bedrock of stability and predictability. Successive American presidents have relied on Saudi kings to help keep order in the region, albeit at the cost of suppressing democratic reforms in Bahrain, Egypt and elsewhere. Since Prince Mohammed began his ascent to the throne, that has changed for the worse. Behind a facade of promoting limited social change, the prince has been a reckless, impulsive and dangerous decision-maker abroad and an increasingly despotic dictator at home. Repression in Bahrain and other Saudi client states has increased. The region and the kingdom are more unstable. The Democrats will bring much greater scrutiny to Washington's relationship with the Saudis next January. For now, the Republican House leadership is protecting the Saudi war in Yemen and Prince Mohammed. They want to limit any sanctions to mostly symbolic actions like ending midair refueling of Saudi warplanes. In any case, it is clear that Turkey will not cease investigating the murder. Ankara has a profusion of evidence to reveal and the motivation to do so. Time will tell if justice is served. ALEPPO, Syria The Morek crossing is open once again to traffic between areas controlled by the Syrian regime and those held by the armed opposition. Commercial traffic began using the crossing Nov. 2 for the first time in three months, and civilians were allowed to enter beginning Nov. 8. Dozens of public transport buses crossed from both sides between regime-controlled areas and opposition-held ones in the northern Hama countryside," Mohammad al-Sayyed, an official with the media office of the Morek City Council, told Al-Monitor. "Civilian movement is going smoothly. The majority are elderly people crossing into regime-controlled areas to visit their relatives or get to hospitals. Some students are making their way into universities in regime-held areas. Opening the crossing aims to alleviate the suffering of northern Syria residents. Allowing civilians to cross has positive effects and facilitates the movement of people between the regimes areas and those of the opposition in northern Syria," Sayyed said. "It has helped families reunite on special occasions, and students from both sides now have the chance to complete their studies. This has a great role in activating the economic movement in opposition-controlled areas in particular." The armed opposition controls the town of Morek in rural Hama, south of Idlib governorate. At present, the Morek City Council is in charge of that side of the crossing and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) a coalition of Islamist factions provides protection. The Russian military police, in cooperation with the regimes customs police, supervises administration of the regimes side. Abdul Rahman Aswad, a crossing official, told Al-Monitor, The crossing reopened after negotiations between local merchants in opposition-controlled areas and the Syrian government. Commercial, food and health goods are allowed to enter opposition-held areas. This is supposed to leave a positive impact on these areas, increase commercial activity, and revive the various productive sectors. Materials allowed to enter the crossing from either side include commercial goods, food, medicines, sugar and more. Traders can export some goods produced in opposition-controlled areas to those held by the regime, such as oil, olives, fruits and vegetables, foodstuffs and medicine. Aswad added, The Russian military police and the regimes customs police impose large fees on trucks entering the opposition-controlled areas. The taxes reach 100,000 Syrian pounds (about $200) per truckload, which is why goods are sold for hefty prices. Officials at the crossing refrained from talking about the taxes imposed by the opposition. However, a local source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, On the oppositions side, the crossing administration imposes taxes on commercial trucks only. The value of the tax varies for each truckload. At most, it reaches 50,000 Syrian pounds per truckload heading toward regime-controlled areas. A large sum of these taxes is HTS share. The remaining taxes collected go to crossing staff salaries and to Moreks local council to provide city services. The crossing opening comes about two months after both sides signed an agreement forged by Turkey and Russia. Ankara, which supports the opposition, and Moscow, which backs the Syrian government, had agreed to create a demilitarized buffer zone between the two sides at Idlib and nearby areas. The crossing is within that zone, which is 15-20 kilometers wide. The pact, signed in September, also stipulates that transit traffic will be restored on the M4 (Aleppo to Latakia) and M5 (Aleppo to Hama) roads by the end of 2018. The Morek crossing is on the M5. There are still some kinks to work out in the agreement, however. HTS is one of the hard-line Islamist organizations that Russia said had to withdraw from the area by Oct. 15 under terms of the agreement. Once HTS leaves if it indeed leaves it will eventually be replaced by the Turkish army. This way, the Morek crossing can be directly supervised by Russia and Turkey. Capt. Youssef Mamdouh, a military commander in al-Motacem Brigade of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army in rural Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, "HTS certainly will not have a presence at the crossing," even though it's currently making money there. "It will be eventually forced to withdraw under Turkish pressure." Also, the cease-fire hasn't been entirely successful. After the crossing opened Nov. 8, it was forced to close again for two days beginning Nov. 10, when especially heavy fighting erupted in the area between regime forces and armed factions. More than 40 fighters were reported killed. Fighting has broken out erratically throughout the cease-fire. Yet that arrangement helped stave off a massive attack regime forces had begun planning in August against Idlib, the last stronghold of the opposition. That operation threatened hundreds of thousands of civilians. It was then that Russian military police took over the crossing's management from the regime and shut it down. It had been closed since. At a time when many soldiers paced around Europe in tanks, John Abizaid first made a name for himself in the Army by ordering his troops to hot-wire bulldozers into makeshift tanks in Grenada and fighting to establish a no-fly zone to protect Iraqs Kurds after the 1991 Gulf War. He wasnt in the big tank-on-tank engagements in the first Gulf War, said David Barno, a retired Army lieutenant general who served with Abizaid in Grenada and later in Afghanistan when Abizaid was the US Central Command chief. He didnt serve in the big mechanized or armored units. He was in the other part of the Army. Now, Abizaid, a Lebanese-American Arabic speaker who commanded US forces in the Middle East from 2003 to 2007 and once championed overture with Iran, faces another difficult assignment after President Donald Trump tapped the retired general on Tuesday to serve as US ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The United States wants Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to get to the bottom of journalist Jamal Khashoggis death and wrap up the Saudi-led air war in Yemen, while using Riyadh as the centerpiece of a military alliance to check Iran. Its not a simple matter of saying that were going to embrace them or were going to slap them, said Douglas Feith, a former undersecretary of defense during Abizaids tenure in US Central Command. Theyre doing some things that are positive and important toward US interests like confronting the Iranians, and theyre doing other things that are deeply troubling. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asked Iran to curtail its ballistic missile program and Shiite proxies in the region before the United States agrees to talks. And national security adviser John Bolton has said that 2,200 American troops will stay in Syria until Iranian forces leave. But Abizaid comes into the post with a track record of seeking engagement with Tehran, which runs counter to the Trump teams maximum pressure strategy centered around sanctions after the United States left the 2015 nuclear deal in May. In 2003, the CENTCOM chief called for meetings with Iran to avert an unintended conflict over opposition from the George W. Bush administration, according to "The Twilight War," a history of US war with the Islamic Republic. He even reportedly suggested that the United States could provide military training as an olive branch. He wont have much success in pushing those views, and I suspect he wont try, said James Dobbins, a former US ambassador to the European Union who worked with Abizaid as a lieutenant general. My guess is he wasnt chosen for that reason, and I would be surprised if that proves an important aspect of his tenure. Abizaid said in 2007 that the United States would have the power to deter a nuclear Iran, while Bolton once suggested the United States bomb Iran to prevent that eventuality. Abizaid also correctly presaged that the US invasion of Iraq would leave an opening for Iran-backed Shiite militias. One former diplomat, who did not serve with Abizaid, said the generals reputation for blunt criticism in uniform would serve him well as a diplomat. I think the administration is wise to appoint someone with some experience in the region to Riyadh now after the government's murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Robert Ford, a former US ambassador to Syria, told Al-Monitor in an email. The administration needs someone who can deliver clear, tough messages but knows how to do so in ways that do not alienate the messenger from the Saudi government. Abizaid has spent the past decade mostly out of government at Stanfords Hoover Institution and on a fellowship at Dartmouth University, serving stints as an adviser to the Barack Obama and Trump administrations on Ukraine. Previously, he oversaw US troops in the Middle East from 2003 to 2007. A former US official in the region told Al-Monitor that Abizaid never gave the impression that he had distinct relationships with Middle East leaders to draw upon, unlike former CENTCOM commanders such as Marine Gen. Tony Zinni and now-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. He was wholly consumed with the Iraq war, the former official recalled. I just didnt have the impression that he enjoyed special access of any kind. The former official said Abizaids selection fits a pattern of the United States nominating political appointees to serve as ambassadors at Riyadhs request since the nomination of foreign service officer Edward Gnehm was nixed in 1992 under Saudi pressure. Without an ambassador in Riyadh, the current US administration has leaned on Trumps son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner as a relay to Prince Mohammed. But the Saudi king-in-waiting has expanded Riyadhs foreign policy ambitions beyond Washingtons reach and consolidated power by forcing the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, expanding the Yemen war and cracking down on the royal family and dissidents such as Khashoggi. I think there was an assumption they didnt really need anyone because they had the Jared channel, the former official added. Look at how well thats turned out for them. ISTANBUL Five months ago, Selahattin Demirtas, a popular Kurdish politician jailed for his fiery speeches targeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, staged an unlikely challenge from his prison cell to unseat Turkeys ruler, finishing a surprise third in the historic vote. Now, Demirtas spends his days writing fiction or preparing his defense in the dozens of prosecutions he faces as he marks his second year in prison this month. His Twitter account, from which he staged virtual campaign rallies and poked fun at this confinement, is silent for weeks at a time. In his absence, his Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), the parliaments third-biggest grouping, has chosen new leaders but struggled to make its voice heard amid a media boycott and after thousands of its activists were arrested. A European Parliament report this week counts Demirtas jailing among the human rights violations that should halt European Union membership negotiations with Turkey. Chances for the countrys long-running bid to join the EU have become even more remote in the wake of a failed military coup in 2016 and the ensuing clampdown. Demirtas, his co-chairwoman Figen Yuksekdag and seven other former and current lawmakers have been in prison since Nov. 4, 2016, charged with terrorism-related offensives stemming from their political speeches. Erdogan accuses them of aiding the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) after a peace process the HDP helped the government broker collapsed in 2015, unleashing the deadliest violence in two decades. As a very effective politician, Demirtas absence has created problems for the HDP. But thats one of the primary reasons why he is being held in prison: because he was able to so persuasively convey the HDPs goals, said Irfan Aktan, a writer with the independent Gazatte Duvar who has covered the Kurdish political movement for more than a decade. The HDPs trouble goes beyond the imprisonment of Demirtas and the other [lawmakers]. With thousands of party members in jail, the party is under siege, he told Al-Monitor. The party may not be legally banned, but the sheer number of arrests has de facto made it a forbidden party. The HDP and a sister party in the mainly Kurdish southeast have also seen 53 elected mayors jailed and a total 93 dismissed from their posts. Some 6,000 party officials and members have also been arrested, the HDP says. The PKK took up arms against Turkey in 1984, and the HDP, whose base is chiefly Kurdish, denies links with the militants. In local elections in March, the HDP hopes to deliver a rebuke to the governments policy of replacing its mayors in the southeast with technocrats and has called for an alliance among regional parties to take back mayoral offices. But pressure on the party remains intense. Just this week, the chief prosecutor in the capital Ankara sought to strip Pervin Buldan, the HDPs current chairwoman, and three other lawmakers of the immunity from prosecution that members of parliament enjoy. He wants to prosecute them on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda for their political speeches and posts on Twitter. Demirtas returned to court on Wednesday via closed circuit television for a hearing in one of the 28 separate trials he faces. Should he be found guilty, he faces almost 500 years in prison, the HDP has said. In September, a court handed down his first guilty verdict, sentencing him to nearly five years. The HDPs woes are part of a wider stifling of political activity in Turkey. Since the coup attempt, hundreds of civil society groups and media outlets have been banned, and public protests are rarely allowed. More than 50,000 people have been jailed in connection with the botched putsch. The HDP has not been implicated in the coup attempt. Erdogan won re-election in June to a new supercharged executive presidency, removing parliamentary oversight under constitutional changes. In a weakened parliament, the HDP is being even further marginalized as a nationalist discourse dominates and few mainstream news organizations cover its speeches or legislative initiatives. In the current political climate in Turkey, where people are prosecuted for even small shows of criticism of Erdogan and his policies, its not practical to expect massive demonstrations by HDP supporters for anything, let alone Demirtas, Aliza Marcus, an expert on Turkeys Kurds and the author of Blood and Belief, a history of the PKK. Simply by continuing their work, the HDP is showing that it protests the jailing of not just of Demirtas, but of the thousands of other HDP activists. A former human rights lawyer, Demirtas headed the HDP and its predecessor party since 2010, gradually drawing non-traditional supporters with his progressive politics, promise to negotiate an end to the three-decade Kurdish insurgency and his sense of humor during campaigns. He led his party to a record finish in a 2015 general election, depriving Erdogans ruling party of a majority for the first time since 2002. Within weeks, the peace process with the PKK was over, and bloody street battles in the largely Kurdish southeast killed almost 3,000 people. Erdogans party retook power in a re-run election in late 2015, and the HDPs message of a political reconciliation has been overshadowed, even as the clashes largely ended. In June, Demirtas ran for president, seeking to galvanize voters to turn out for the HDP in a simultaneous parliamentary ballot. He drew a surprise 4.2 million votes, or 8.4%, and the HDP narrowly cleared a 10% vote threshold to return to the legislature. Demirtas has written a collection of short stories in prison, and Aktan, who recently interviewed him, says he is at work now on a novel. No longer head of his party or a candidate for office, he is just one among thousands in jail for many in the Kurdish political movement, Marcus said. The HDP has always been a party that isnt tied to one individual. Rights observers and foreign officials sporadically draw attention to Demirtas case. The report submitted to the European Parliament on Wednesday called on the commission in Brussels to immediately suspend accession talks with Turkey, outlining a litany of rights violations that include Demirtas imprisonment. It also called for his immediate and unconstitutional release. The European Court of Human Rights, to which Demirtas applied in June, must deliver a ruling in his case without delay, it said. The report also called on the Turkish government to reinstate the elected mayors in the southeast before local elections and expressed concern over the serious allegations of human rights abuses, especially since the collapse of the Kurdish settlement process in 2015. In an interview last month, the EUs Turkey rapporteur Kati Piri, who authored the report, acknowledged that blame also lay with the EU for failing to press the issue of Demirtas and the other jailed parliamentarians with the Turkish government more forcefully. The whole Kurdish question and the prolonged detentions have fallen off the radar of European capitals, she said. It has always been a top priority, but with so many new things being added on top a lot of Kurdish people feel their case has been forgotten by the EU. Piri also noted that the HDP likely overwhelmed by so many of its members in jail appears to be advocating for Demirtas less vigorously since the election. When the party released a video last month to mark the sixth anniversary of its founding, Demirtas and Yuksekdags images barely appeared, prompting a backlash on social media. Aktan said party officials have told him they remain as committed as ever to Demirtas cause but ask, What more can we do? We didnt arrest him, the state did. With another election coming the HDP may feel it is necessary to focus on the problems they can solve. Is the four-year-old union between the United States and Kurds against the Islamic State in Syria approaching a messy divorce or a second honeymoon? Ankara is quite concerned with the answer, feeling Washington is stalling to avoid a breakup with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara is trying to pressure Washington to make up its mind, but doesn't want to ruin its own relationship with the Americans. The most discussed question in Ankara nowadays is whether a dialogue or military pressure would be more effective to persuade the United States to terminate its military cooperation with the YPG. Turkey is anxious to pursue operations against the Kurds east of the Euphrates River. At the moment, however, Turkeys best commando, armor and special forces elements are engaged in numerous operations: inside Turkey, in northern Iraq, in the northwest Syrian territory it controls in the Afrin area and at de-escalation outposts around Idlib in western Syria. This gives the impression that the Turkish military is overstretched. Without ending one of those fronts, it's very unlikely that Turkey would take on a corps-level, cross-border ground operation east of the Euphrates one that would surely last more than six months. If it did, the Turkish army would launch a two-pronged operation from Kobani and Tell Abyad along Syria's northern border, linking up at Ain Issa. To do this, Turkey would need double the number of soldiers on standby at the border. Considering the current force projection of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) at home and abroad, this would be impossible. Moreover, unless the US military the sole ruler of the air space east of the Euphrates would allow access, a military operation would be much too long and costly. The most important lesson Turkey has learned from its Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations is this: Dont undertake an operation in northern Syria without ensuring close air support. But Ankara appears to be keeping an eye on potential military developments. For example, on Oct. 28, the YPG and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) positions at Zor Maghar, east of Kobani, were hit heavily with Turkish s and 203 howitzers. Ankara is uncomfortable with the defensive fortifications, tunnels and barriers the YPG is constructing in this area and especially resents the defensive preparations YPG is undertaking under the supervision of US soldiers with military engineering equipment provided by the United States. The situation on the ground is so complex, it's almost impossible to comprehend the US-Turkey relationship east of the Euphrates. Are they partners or adversaries? On one hand, the planned coordination center and an expansion of the fusion center in Ankara haven't yet materialized. This shows the countries have a low degree of trust at the strategic-political level. On the other hand, there are signs that the ice is melting between Ankara and Washington. In the latest example, the two started joint patrols Nov. 1 at Manbij west of the Euphrates, in the area separating the US-supported YPG and Turkish-supported Free Syrian Army. These joint US-Turkish patrols were agreed on in June. Why is Manbij so important? It's pure economics. Oil tankers coming from Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa are entering Turkey not through the Akcakale border crossing opposite Tell Abyad, but through Manbij. Every day, the hundreds of tankers that go through Manbij border customs produce a major revenue source of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Today, this money ends up in YPG coffers. Also, Manbij has a critical role in linking Turkey and the reconstruction of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. Any force that dominates Manbij will benefit from post-conflict reconstruction contracts and capacity building in northern Syria. There are two main underlying reasons for Ankaras lack of confidence in US aspirations in northeast Syria. The first is the United States' unwillingness to end military relations with the PKK-affiliated YPG, even though it's been months since combat with IS ended. In its official documents, US Central Command defines everything it does in northeast Syria as Kurdish governance and stabilization efforts. It's no wonder Ankara perceives US actions there as state-building efforts. The other cause of Ankaras lack of confidence is that as Washington is supposedly setting up an anti-IS front, it's disregarding the political boundaries between Iraq and Syria. America's revisionist tendency to ignore existing political borders magnifies Turkey's perception that the United States is stalling at Manbij. Washington must have noticed Turkeys waning patience. On Nov. 6, following a visit to Ankara by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer, Washington authorized a bounty up to $5 million for information on Kurdish leader Murat Karayilan, $4 million for Cemil Bayik and $3 million for Duran Kalkan the PKK's top strategic decision-makers. Why did the United States take this action? Ankara feels Washington was trying to prove its contention that the PKK and YPG are two distinct organizations. In other words, in return for hardening its attitude toward the PKK, Washington will ask Ankara to soften its position on the YPG. No wonder Ankara is confused by the move. Will Manbij and the area east of the Euphrates be key to US-Turkish cooperation in northern Syria or a bomb to blow up their strategic partnership? No doubt Moscow and the Kurdish leadership at Qandil are waiting and watching closely for an answer. Turks have a saying for occasions when they receive unexpected gifts that leave them suspicious about the givers motives rather than delighted: Its not a holiday, so why did my brother-in-law kiss me? This was the feeling among Turkish government officials after US Deputy Secretary of State Matthew Palmer announced last week that the Americans had put bounties on the heads of the leaders of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is outlawed by Turkey as a terrorist organization. Palmer, who was in Ankara for talks, said the United States would offer up to $5 million for information leading to the identification or location of PKK leader Murat Karayilan, and up to $4 million for Cemil Bayik and $3 million for Duran Kalkan, his deputies. Contrary to expectations on the American side, the unexpected announcement was met with caution in Ankara. Defense Minister Hulusi Akar called it a positive development, but lamented that it was too late in coming and repeated Turkeys demand that the United States sever its ties with the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria. The PKK and YPG are one and the same for Ankara, which has also designated the YPGs political wing the Democratic Union Party (PYD) a Kurdish terrorist organization. The United States has banned the PKK as a terror group but refuses to do the same with the YPG and PYD. It is not possible for us to accept putting a reward on the PKK leaders on the one hand and sending trucks of tools, weapons and ammunition to the YPG on the other, Akar told the official Anadolu news agency. Remarks by Jim Jeffrey, Washingtons special envoy for Syria, only hours after Palmer's announcement left many in Ankara feeling justified in their suspicions about Washingtons unexpected gift. Jeffrey told Turkish reporters by teleconference that the United States has no intention of severing its ties with the YPG in northern Syria. Washington is working closely with these groups in a large swath of northern Syrian territory east of the Euphrates River that the YPG captured from the Islamic State with US military support. Jeffreys attempt to assure the Turkish side that the United States would not allow any security threats to Turkey from northern Syria failed to mollify Ankara. The Turks are concerned that the United States is digging in for the long haul in Syria to secure a region for the Kurds from where it can maintain its military foothold with a view to containing Iran. Turkey remains opposed to any suggestion of autonomy for Syrian Kurds, fearing the effect such a win would have on its own restive Kurdish minority. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heightened Ankaras concerns when he told the Washington-based Jewish Institute for National Security of America last month that the Syrian Kurds (meaning the YPG and PYD) have been great partners, and added that Washington would make sure that [the Kurds] have a seat at the table. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly warned that Turkey will rid the whole of northern Syria from the YPG with or without US support by sending in its army. Meanwhile, the Turkish military has started tactical shelling of minor YPG positions east of the Euphrates to demonstrate Ankaras resolve. Flying back earlier this week from Paris, where he attended the Armistice Day centenary, Erdogan told reporters accompanying him that Turkey would not be duped by Washingtons ploy to legitimize the PYD by distinguishing it from the PKK. Burhanettin Duran, the director of the government-funded Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research, summed up the mindset in Ankara in his column for the pro-government Sabah. Duran argued that Washingtons policy on the YPG had not changed since the Barack Obama administration. The goal was always to separate the YPG from the PKK in order to turn it into a proxy that can be used as required, Duran maintained. He added that Washingtons intention was to legitimize the YPG as the true representatives of the Syrian Kurds so that it can participate in negotiations for a Syrian settlement. These developments come against the backdrop of efforts by Ankara and Washington to normalize their ties following Turkeys release last month of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained on multiple terrorism charges. Washington rejected the charges as ridiculous and slapped sanctions on Turkey, leading to unprecedented strains between the two countries that once prided themselves on their strategic partnership. A number of gestures by Washington since Brunsons release contributed to the impression that ties were set to improve. They included the lifting of the US sanctions associated with the Brunson affair and a temporary waiver from oil sanctions imposed on Iran. Expectations were high that the planned meeting between Erdogan and President Donald Trump in Paris over the weekend would help to iron out remaining issues. The differences over northern Syria, however, remain very much in place and may have become more intractable after Jeffrey effectively gave notice to Turkey that it will have to come to terms with the US-YPG/PYD alliance. Turkey may have secured a higher profile for itself in Syria recently, especially after working out a cease-fire for Idlib with Russia and Erdogans hosting of an international Syria conference attended by the leaders of Russia, France and Germany. Nevertheless, Ankara still has to come up with a response to the US position on northern Syria. Turkey has welcomed recent statements out of Moscow accusing the United States of trying to divide Syria by using the Kurds east of the Euphrates. Even though they are cooperating closely to counterbalance the US influence in Syria, the positions of Turkey and Russia regarding the Syrian Kurds and the YPG/PYD are not in line. It is doubtful that Russia would come to Turkeys assistance in clashes between Turkish forces and YPG fighters, especially if they have the potential to drag in US forces. Moscow is more likely to refrain from acts that would further escalate its own military tensions with Washington. Another disturbing fact for Ankara is that Russia has not outlawed the PKK, let alone the YPG or PYD. Moscows problem is not with the YPG as such, but with the US presence east of the Euphrates. Otherwise, it is not opposed to seeing the Kurds involved in efforts to hammer out a new constitution for Syria. Yalcin Akdogan, a deputy from Erdogans Justice and Development Party, believes that the PYD and YPG have become the Washingtons prime allies in Syria. He argued in his column for the pro-government Star, The same PYD that they supported initially against the [Bashar al-] Assad regime has now become the essential actor in [US] efforts to redesign the region. Akdogan also believes that the shelling of YPG positions by Turkey has disrupted US plans for northern Syria. However, there are developments that suggest this shelling has merely strengthened Washingtons resolve to shield its Kurdish allies. A case in point was the joint patrols US forces mounted recently with YPG fighters along Syrias border with Turkey. It has also not escaped the attention of analysts that the United States has an inordinately large number of soldiers deployed with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) along Syrias border with Turkey. The SDF was set up by the United States and is made up mainly of YPG fighters, although it has Arabs, Assyrians and even Turkmens in is ranks. Ankara believes the SDF is another US ruse to shroud its close military ties with the YPG. The absence of a coherent policy regarding the Syrian Kurds one not predicated solely on trying to curb their aspirations may have painted Turkey into a corner in Syria. There is no indication as yet that Turkey is going to try to address this situation by means of more realistic policies. For the moment it prefers to issue angry threats that many believe it will be unable to carry out in the end unless, that is, it is prepared to risk a direct or indirect confrontation with an apparently equally determined United States, in which event it could find itself without any international support. The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles will no longer consider early parole for inmates guilty of the most serious felonies involving serious physical injury under a corrective action plan ordered by Gov. Kay Ivey. The board released the plan it sent to the governor and Attorney General Steve Marshall today. On Oct. 15, Ivey ordered the board to come up with a corrective action plan within 30 days after she and Marshall met with the three board members to discuss concerns raised by victims advocates and prosecutors. In an executive order issued that day, Ivey said the board was giving early parole consideration to hundreds of violent offenders without justification. Ivey placed a moratorium on early paroles. The corrective action plan, signed by Board Chairman Lyn Head and Associate Board members Cliff Walker and Dwayne Spurlock, said, The Board is committed to fulfilling its public safety role. Specifically, we expect our employees to be responsive to crime victims, law enforcement, inmate families, and all stakeholders; and we expect employees to perform their duties with the highest professionalism. The governor and attorney general said they are reviewing the plan and would discuss it internally before further action or comment. Last month, the governor and attorney general did not give a list of specific parole cases that caused concerns. But one case stood out. An inmate who was paroled last year was charged with murdering three people in Guntersville in July. Parole board rules set guidelines for when prisoners are eligible to be considered for parole. Inmates guilty of some of the most serious crimes must serve at least 10 years or one-third of their sentence, whichever is less, to be eligible. Those convicted of the worst offenses, including murder, rape, first-degree robbery and some others, have to serve longer, 85 percent of their sentence or 15 years, to be eligible. But the parole boards rules have allowed exceptions to those standards for mitigating circumstances, meaning that inmates can come up for parole consideration earlier. Todays corrective action plan takes that possibility away for some. It says inmates convicted of Class A felonies involving serious physical injury must serve 85 percent of their sentences or 15 years, whichever is less, to be eligible for parole, regardless of any mitigating circumstances. Sex offenders whose victims were younger than 12 will also be required to serve 85 percent or 15 years before parole eligibility without exception. And the same new restriction applies to inmates convicted of manslaughter who received a sentence of more than 15 years. The parole boards plan also notes that in August it established a new rule that early parole could not be considered more than three years before the standard eligibility date. Before that, there was no limit on how early parole could be considered, the board said. Todays corrective plan also calls for more training and better communications with victims' families and law enforcement. It calls for additional reviews to ensure accurate calculations of parole eligibility. The plan says protocol will be improved to ensure that victims receive accurate and consistent information. The plan also notes some of the challenges facing the agency. It says the offender-to-parole officer ratio has risen over the last 10 years to 165-to-1, far above a goal of 75-to-1. It says funding has been available to hire more officers but the agency has struggled to find qualified candidates who can pass the physical agility and other requirements. Also, it says the entry-level salary is not competitive with other law enforcement agencies. The U.S. has seen a drop in the violent crime rate, even as its population grows. A recent analysis by 24/7 Wall Street shows that as U.S. population increased by 2.3 million from 2016 to 2017, the number of violent crimes fell by approximately 2,400 incidents. Not every area of the country has seen a substantial drop in violent crime, however. 24/7 Wall Street recently reviewed the 2017 violent crime rate for all 50 states with data from the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting Program to determine the most dangerous areas in the U.S. The violent crime rate consists of the number of murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. Alabama landed at number eight on the list of most-dangerous states. Alabamas violent crime rate was 524 incidents per 100,000 residents, including 404 murders in 2017, the 17th highest in the country. Alabamas imprisonment rate was 1,080 adults per 100,000 residents, the fifth highest figure in the country. Heres what 24/7 Wall Street had to say about Alabamas spot on the list: Alabama has a higher incidence of murder and assault than nearly any other state. There were 8 homicides and 388 aggravated assaults reported per 100,000 Alabama residents in 2017, the seventh highest murder and sixth highest assault rate of any state. Anniston was deemed to be the states most dangerous city. Anniston is the most dangerous city of at least 10,000 people in both Alabama and the country as a whole. Located approximately midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, the towns violent crime rate of 3,434 incidents per 100,000 people is the only one in the nation above 3,000 incidents per 100,000 residents and nearly nine times the national violent crime rate of 394 incidents per 100,000 Americans, the site noted. The 10 most dangerous states were: 1. Alaska 2. New Mexico 3. Tennessee 4. Louisiana 5. Nevada 6. Arkansas 7. Missouri 8. Alabama 9. Arizona 10. South Carolina The 10 least dangerous states were: 1. Maine 2. Vermont 3. New Hampshire 4. Virginia 5. Kentucky 6. Idaho 7. Connecticut 8. New Jersey 9. Rhode Island 10. Wyoming A former state trooper shot Greg Griggers, the district attorney for Alabamas 17th Judicial Circuit, in the face Thursday afternoon in Demopolis, according to Michael Jackson, district attorney for Alabamas 4th Judicial Circuit. After he shot Griggers, the former trooper was shot to death, reportedly by a law enforcement officer. Griggers got shot in the face and they killed the ex-state trooper who shot him, Jackson told AL.com Thursday afternoon. Demopolis Police Chief Tommie Reese confirmed during a press conference Thursday afternoon that Griggers was shot, but would not say where on his body. Griggers was released from the hospital late Thursday afternoon. Reese called his injuries minor. He wouldnt say what type of weapon was used to shoot the DA. During the press conference, Alabama State Bureau of Investigation Capt. Jason Roberts said the suspect opened fire on Griggers ambush-style as he was in his vehicle on his way back from having lunch with several other law enforcement officers. The incident happened about 1 p.m. Jackson said the shooter has been identified as Steven Smith, Jr., a former state trooper who was previously questioned in connection with a 1996 incident in which someone used a shotgun to shoot up the home of Sumter County Circuit Judge Eddie Hardaway, the first black judge to preside over Sumter, Marengo and Greene counties. It is the same trooper [from] all those years ago. My agents with the [4th Judicial Circuit] drug task force have been down there for a few hours and they say its definitely him, Jackson said. I asked them if they were 100 percent sure its him and they said they are. Roberts said Smith was hired as a state trooper in February 1982 and was fired sometime in 1996. He would not say why Smith was fired. Griggers, who serves as district attorney of Greene, Marengo and Sumter counties, was transported to a hospital and is expected to survive, according to Jackson. They say hes going to recover, Jackson said. I got an investigator going down there [to Demopolis] right now, and theyre going to give me updates. Clint Sumlin, commander of the 17th Judicial Circuits drug task force, told AL.com that Griggers was being treated at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital in Demopolis. Sumlin said he was with Griggers at the hospital for security purposes, and that Griggers was doing ok" as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured in the 1996 shooting at Hardaways home, and the resulting case was ultimately dismissed in 1997 after a special grand jury that was convened to consider charges connected to the shooting was dismantled. Smith, who was fired from his position as a state trooper after he spoke to reporters about the case, reportedly owned a white Mitsubishi that matched witnesses' descriptions of the car driven by the shooter. Smith also testified before the special grand jury in the case. Jay E. Town, U.S. Attorney for Alabamas Northern District, issued a statement about the shooting Thursday afternoon. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Greg and his family, Town said. "District Attorney Griggers is a dedicated public servant and an honorable man. This serves as yet another reminder of the perils and dangers that law enforcement at every level face daily. Reese also asked the community to remember Griggers and his family during this time. Keep the DA in your thoughts and prayers at this time. His family is very important to us and he is important to our circuit, he said. Chelsea Barton, a reporter with WVUA 23 in Tuscaloosa, shared additional information via Twitter Thursday afternoon: UPDATE: An SBI Investigator on the scene confirms Griggers was sitting in his vehicle outside his office in downtown Demopolis when he was ambushed. Another law enforcement officer shot the suspect. The suspect is dead on the scene. https://t.co/ioko2DgvNV Chelsea Barton (@ChelseaBarton_) November 15, 2018 This story will be updated as more information is made available. Some survivors remained hospitalized this morning following Wednesdays Mississippi bus crash that killed two north Alabama women. Six people were being admitted to Regional One Health, a trauma center in Memphis, Tennessee, a hospital spokeswoman said. Ten patients were transferred to Regional One from other area hospitals, said Angie Golding, director of communications. Golding said four patients were expected to be discharged. Four people were in stable condition at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, said Ayoka Pond, a hospital spokeswoman. Of the 44 people injured in the crash, 26 were taken to Baptist Memorial campuses in DeSoto County and Collierville, Tennessee. Pond said 22 had been released as of this morning. At Methodist Olive Brach Hospital, five people remained in stable condition, a spokeswoman said. Other survivors were taken to, St. Francis in Germantown. A representatives of Germantown didnt immediately return calls for comment. The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. on Interstate 269 in DeSoto County, Mississippi, where roads became icy. There were 46 people on the bus, including two Huntsville, Alabama women, who died. The authorities identified the women as Cynthia Hardin and Betty Russell. Sgt. Joey Miller, a spokesman for the Mississippi Highway Patrol, said the bus was traveling from Huntsville to Tunica, a town thats known for casinos. The bus was operated by Teague VIP Express, an Anniston, Alabama company. Our prayers and our hearts go out to the families, a Teague spokeswoman told AL.com by phone Tuesday evening. Right now, our concern is the people who were on the bus. As of Tuesday, the company had a satisfactory rating from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The rating is based on reviews that happened in 2017, the federal records state. However, the company was cited for 15 violations during 2017 reviews. Those violations were not considered critical, according to the FMCSA. The violations included an oil and/or grease leak, inoperative or defective turn signals, windshield wipers and lighting, failure to maintain driver records for the previous seven days of duty status, defective or missing axle parts, a cracked or broken wheel rim, and worn, welded or missing steering system components. Teague vehicles havent been involved in any prior crashes, federal records state. Roads were becoming icy earlier today in DeSoto County, where sleet and snow were falling, according to the sheriffs office. The cause of this crash is weather related, Miller said in an emailed statement.\ Updated with more information at 11:21 a.m. Nearly 60 percent of Americans said theyd like to see someone other than Donald Trump in the White House in 2020, a new poll shows. Only 36 percent of the respondents in the Monmouth University poll said theyd like to see Trump win a second term. Those who want to see someone new in the Oval Office in 2020 includes 92 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of independents, as well as 16 percent of Republicans, the presidents own party. The poll has Trumps overall approval rating at 43 percent with 49 percent disapproval, results that are in line with presidential approval since January. Its interesting that the number of Americans who feel Trump deserves re-election is actually smaller than the number who give him a positive job rating. It seems that some Americans are okay with Trump as president now but feel that four years might be enough, said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. While most said they didnt want Trump to win the White House in 2020, few feel the president should be removed from office. Just 36 percent said that Trump should be impeached and removed from office; 59 percent disagreed. These results are in line with prior polls over the past year when Monmouth has posed the same question. The Monmouth University Poll was conducted by telephone from Nov. 9-12 with 802 adults in the U.S. The margin of error was 3.5 percent. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating after a young woman died in an industrial accident in northwest Alabama Tuesday night. On Wednesday, officials identified the woman as 21-year-old Angel Foster. Emergency workers responded to the rail car plant in the Barton community of Colbert County around 9:30 p.m. Foster was rushed to Helen Keller Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Colbert County Sheriffs Office is investigating the death. OSHA officials also confirmed they are investigating the incident. In a statement Wednesday morning, FreightCar America confirmed the fatality. The matter is currently under investigation, the statement says. FreightCar expresses its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased employee and our continued thoughts and prayers are with her family. OSHA inspection reports available online list two serious violations investigated at the plant in February and April. The inspection reports claim the plant exposed employees to recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees by exposing employees to slip and fall hazards and struck-by hazards. OSHA lists struck-by hazards, which involve an employee being struck by heavy equipment, falling or flying objects or heavy walls, as a leading cause of construction-related deaths. The reports say on April 2, employees were exposed to slip and fall hazards when conducting welding work on top of the roller bed platform. On Feb. 28, a report says assembly line workers were exposed to a struck-by hazard from failure to ensure an end wall panel weighing approximately 400 pounds was securely attached to the floor sheet of the rail car during assembly. Both violations are under contest with OSHA. Further details werent immediately available. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell are asking again for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to add a polluted neighborhood site to the agencys National Priorities List, a move they said would open up additional resources for the cleanup operations, which have been ongoing for several years. Woodfin and Sewell had previously asked the EPA to add the site to the NPL, but renewed their calls this week after a former Alabama environmental commissioner and his business partner -- now a regional administrator for the EPA -- were indicted in Jefferson County on ethics charges related to work they performed as consultants to oppose the proposed NPL listing and efforts to expand the site into Tarrant and Inglenook. The primary concern at the site, which is surrounded by multiple heavy industrial operations, is contaminated soil, which testing showed had potentially unsafe levels of substances including arsenic, lead or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. W. Scott Phillips, a former Alabama Environmental Management Commission chair, and Onis Trey Glenn III, who currently heads the EPAs Southeastern regional office, are charged with multiple violations of Alabamas Ethics Act, including soliciting a thing of value from a principal, lobbyist or subordinate, and receiving money in addition to that received in ones official capacity. The full indictments have not yet been released. Phillips and Glenn were paid as consultants for Drummond Company and law firm Balch and Bingham in the efforts to oppose the NPL listing while Phillips was a member of the AEMC, the board that oversees the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and votes on environmental regulations in Alabama. Woodfin and Sewell said after the indictments, and the conviction of a Drummond executive and Balch lawyer earlier this summer on charges that they bribed a state lawmaker to oppose the listing, the EPA should re-evaluate the north Birmingham site. The corruption has destroyed the publics confidence in the process to determine whether the 35th Avenue Superfund Site should be added to the National Priorities List, Woodfin said in a news release. Corruption clearly hijacked the decision-making and now the people of North Birmingham deserve a transparent process to determine the resources needed to make their neighborhoods whole. The EPA has pledged to complete the cleanup in north Birmingham whether the site is listed on the NPL or not. As of Aug. 22, the agency had removed contaminated soil from 390 properties in the Birmingham neighborhoods of Collegeville, Fairmont and Harriman Park, with 127 additional properties having tested over the agencys removal limits for harmful substances and awaiting removal. An additional 500 properties within the site boundaries have not been sampled because the owners could not be located or did not give their consent. The cleanup so far has cost more than $20 million. This weeks indictment is a step in the right direction for residents of North Birmingham who were the victim of corruption and hazardous pollution, Sewell said. We still have work to do seeking justice for families whose homes and communities have been contaminated. "The charges brought against Trey Glenn provide additional evidence that the EPAs initial review of the North Birmingham site was undermined by a misinformation campaign, and that North Birmingham should be reconsidered for the National Priorites List. No family should have to live with a contaminated backyard, and no community should be left to clean up decades of industrial waste. We must continue fighting for a full cleanup of North Birmingham until our whole community is made safe. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones has also said the site should be added to the NPL, and his office this morning said he maintains that position. While the EPAs decision not to place the North Birmingham Alabama 35th Avenue Superfund site on the NPL was disappointing to many in the community, it was perhaps understandable given the strong vocal opposition with the state, Jones wrote in an August letter to EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. However, it is now abundantly clear, as evidenced by the July 19, 2018 convictions of a former state legislator, a business executive and attorney on a number of federal charges including conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery, that the EPAs initial public review process was undermined by an illegal misinformation scheme to prevent the North Birmingham site from being added to the NPL. An Environmental Protection Agency administrator and a former Alabama Environmental Management commissioner who were recently indicted on ethics charges turned themselves into the sheriffs office early Thursday. Region 4 administrator of the EPA Trey Glenn and former commissioner Scott Phillips were booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Thursday and released on bond. Glenn was booked into the jail at 6:18 a.m. and released at 7:31 a.m., while Phillips was booked in at 6:45 a.m. and released at 7:35. Both posted bonds of $30,000 each. Court records do not show any initial appearances have been set. Glenn and Phillips co-owned a company called Southeast Engineering and Consulting that worked with law firm Balch & Bingham and its client Drummond Company to fight the EPA efforts to test and clean up soil in north Birmingham neighborhoods and in the city of Tarrant from 2014 through 2017, records show. They provided consulting at the same time Phillips served on the environmental commission. The men are charged with multiple violations of Alabamas Ethics Act, including soliciting a thing of value from a principal, lobbyist or subordinate, and receiving money in addition that received in ones official capacity. Under Alabama ethics law, it is illegal for a lobbyist or a lobbyists client, called a principal, to give a public official a thing of value, including a job. This summer, former Drummond VP of Government Affairs David Roberson and former Balch partner Joel Gilbert were convicted on six federal, criminal charges related to the scheme intended to stop the Superfund expansion into Tarrant and thwart cleanup efforts. A former state legislator, Oliver Robinson, pleaded guilty to his part in the crime and testified for the government against Roberson and Gilbert. Roberson and Gilbert were sentenced to federal prison in October; Gilbert was sentenced to five years followed by a supervised release period of two years, and Roberson was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Each were ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and complete 100 hours per year of community service while on supervised release. Both men are appealing their convictions, and Roberson has been allowed to remain on bond during his appeal process. Mayor Randall Woodfin said he was saddened by the deaths of two Birmingham children this week. Madison Maddie Whittsett, 9, died Monday after her mother found her hanging in her closet on Friday in an apparent suicide. KeAnthony Jelks Jr., 2, died in a Collegeville apartment Wednesday morning from a gunshot wound to the face. Family said he found a gun and shot himself, but police said they have not determined how the both was shot. There are no words to express the overwhelming grief a community endures when it loses one of its youngest and most vulnerable. This week, we mourn the passing of a 2-year-old boy from Collegeville and a 9-year-old girl from Roebuck, Woodfin said. My heart goes out to both families in these tragic cases. I am heartbroken, and I urge all of you to join me in uplifting these childrens families, friends and their communities, the mayor said. Their deaths come as we approach the holidays, which is when many families and young people gather. Lets take extra measures to ensure their safety. Our children are our most precious commodities. Maddie arrived home from school Friday afternoon and quickly learned her mom had made plans for the two of them to go to Chick-fil -A for some mommy-daughter time. Maddie loved Chick-fil-A and she was running through the house, said her stepfather, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Lt. Jimmie Williams said. Her mom called me, and we talked for a second. Then one of her friends called and they were talking. Maddies mom then yelled for Maddie to get ready, they were going to leave shortly. She glanced outside - in the front yard and on the deck but didnt see her. Eugenia Williams went back to her daughters bedroom and saw the television was on. She looked in the bed and didnt see Maddie and thats when she noticed a crack in Maddies closet door. The little girl didnt like for her closet to be open, so her mother immediately went and looked inside and thats when she found her daughter unresponsive. Still on the phone with her friend, she dropped the phone, got Maddie down, screamed for her friend to call 911 and then started CPR on Maddie. Maddie was taken to St. Vincents East to get her stabilized and a helicopter was brought in to transport her to Childrens, but the weather prevented the air flight. Maddie was later transported to Childrens where she remained on life support until Monday. Lt. Williams said the family is shocked by Maddies suicide. It came out of left field, he said. Her mother agreed. She was so alive, energetic, funny, loved dance, she said. Maddie had ADHD and received one-on-one help at school. There had been incidents, Lt. Williams said, where other children had called her stupid and dumb. It had happened last year, but Maddies parents met with the principal and said it had been taken care of. I felt like we took care of it, he said. The family didnt want to publicly identify the school Maddie was attending. The school has been very supportive, Lt. Williams said. We talked to one of her friends and Maddie had apparently had a bad day. The friend said Maddie was bullied and she looked sad while she was being bullied, Lt. Williams said. It must have really worn her out that day. The Williams want others to keep a closer eye on their own children. Maybe you can see if anything is going on. Look for changes in attitude. Changes in behavior, he said. Support them and be there for them. They also want children to be aware of the dangers of bullying. Lt. Williams said its important for children to know that not only should they not bully others, but if they see someone being bullied, they need to let an adult know. Like they always say, If you see something, say something. KeAnthony was killed about 10 a.m. Wednesday in the 3000 block of 31st Street North shortly after 10 a.m. His great-grandmother, Angela Jelks Gilliam, said the child somehow got hold of the gun and fatally shot himself. Birmingham North Precinct Capt. James Jackson said they are not yet confirming the boy shot himself. As of right now, the death is unclassified at this time. "We cant confirm that right now,'' Jackson said. "Were trying to determine the details of what happened. " Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to the apartment, but left without transporting the boy. Multiple family members are on the scene, visibly upset by what happened. Gilliam said her great grandson was home with his parents at the time. "My daughter called me and told me her grandbaby was dead,'' Gilliam said. Family described KeAnthony as outgoing and loved by all. "He was like an old man in a babys body,'' Gilliam said. Its heartbreaking for all of us, for those who have kids for those and for those who dont have kids,'' Jackson said. We can put ourselves in their situation, the familys situation. Its touching for all of us. Its a sad day for this community. " For those who carry guns, we ask them to be safe. Make sure you know how to use a gun, make sure you have the gun in a safe place,'' the captain said. Were asking people to be safe with guns, especially when there are kids in the home. The mayor said both deaths remain under investigation. A convicted serial robber sought in heists at banks in Florida and Alabama over the past month was captured on Thursday. Myron William Ernst, a 60-year-old South Carolina man, has been identified as the suspect in a holdup at Regions Bank in Montgomery last week and Regions Bank in Hoover last month. The FBI in Florida, also last week, announced a $5,000 reward to help solicit leads on his whereabouts after they say he robbed two banks there, also in October, and the agency noted his accused crimes in Alabama. Ernst has been on the run since September when, according to federal documents, he cut off his electronic monitoring device while on probation in a string a bank robberies a decade ago. FBI officials said he was captured Thursday afternoon in Lakeland, Fl. The Montgomery robbery last Wednesday at the Atlanta Highway branch. According to Montgomery police, the suspect entered the bank about 11 a.m., produced a threatening note demanding money and then fled on foot. Central Alabama Crime Stoppers identified the suspect as Ernst and said he was last seen wearing a red shirt and blue jeans. The Hoover robbery happened Oct. 22 holdup at Regions Bank on Montgomery Highway. Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said police officers arrived at the bank that Monday within two minutes of the Hoover 911 Center receiving the alarm, but the suspect had already fled. Police said the white male now identified as Ernst - presented a note to the teller, demanding money. He implied that he had a gun, though one was not displayed. He took an undetermined amount of cash and was last seen on foot walking southbound. A warrant for his arrested charging him with first-degree robbery was issued Oct. 23 and police and federal authorities have been searching for him since then. Ernst was released from federal prison in August after pleading guilty in 2010 to robbing six banks, including heists in Charleston, Orange Park, Fla., Huntsville and Montgomery, Mobile and Panama City. Since then, according to court records and authorities, Ernst is believed to have picked up where he left off after heading to the big house eight years ago. In addition to being accused in the Montgomery robbery, Ernst also is sought in an Oct. 12 bank robbery in Polk County, Fla., an Oct. 9 holdup in Clay County, Fla., and at least one more. Ernst was not wearing any disguise and doesnt appear to have done so in any of his previous holdups. The Clay County, Fla. robbery happened about 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at Bank of America in Orange Park, a suburb of Jacksonsville the same bank he robbed 10 years ago. He fled in a vehicle. Clay County sheriffs officials said they worked with other law enforcement agencies to quickly identify and issue a warrant for Ernst. They cautioned the public that he might be armed and warned anyone who saw him no to approach him. The Polk County Sheriffs Office says Ernst robbed the TD Bank in Lakeland at 12:54 p.m. that Friday, Oct. 12, approaching a teller and passing her a note that demanded money and implied he was armed. Again, he fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. In that crime, Ernst was seen getting into a charcoal gray Ford F-150 truck, last seen leaving the north exit of the shopping plaza, and then heading south on US 98. The truck was possibly occupied by a female. He was wearing a green shirt that read "Levi Strauss & Co" on it, blue jeans, and sneakers. Ernst in 2010 pleaded guilty to holding up six banks. All of them, including the July 31, 2008, holdup of a Regions Bank on Airport Boulevard in Mobile, were transferred to the federal court in Charleston, S.C., where he was arrested in August 2008. He was identified after FBI agents found his fingerprints on a stickup note left during a Regions Bank robbery in Charleston. South Carolina federal Judge P. Michael Duffy sentenced Ernst to 11 years and 5 months in prison and ordered him to make $11,000 in restitution. Ernst was released from federal prison on Aug. 10,2018, but still was on a three-year probation and was only allowed to leave his home between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of going to work. According to federal court records, Ernst was living in South Carolina and, as part of his probation, working at Origin Point Brands, a manufacturer and distributor of steel and aluminum. His electronic monitoring device showed he left his home between Sept. 22 and Sept. 26, however his probation officer learned he had been fired from his job on Sept. 21. Additionally, records state, the device monitoring center on Sept. 26 notified the probation office of a strap tamper at 10:17 a.m. that day. Authorities conducted a home visit to the Inn Towne Suites where Ernst was living and learned the motel staff had found the electronic monitoring device in an elevator. In late September, federal authorities in South Carolina filed a motion to revoke Ernsts probation and issued a warrant for his arrest. HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - It's the fickle nature of tornadoes that makes them so mysterious - and so dangerous. [More pictures from 1989 tornado] After every devastating storm, stories quickly emerge of papers blown miles from their starting points and items left undisturbed inside a destroyed home. The F4 tornado that struck Huntsville in 1989 was no exception. When touring the devastation early on Nov. 16, 1989, as a young reporter, I was most shocked by the massive metal utility poles all bent at the same angle and the cars tossed into piles like toys. I was shocked to see my old stomping grounds from my days at Grissom High School nearly unrecognizable. It wasn't until years later, when I was writing my 2010 book, "A History of Alabama's Deadliest Tornadoes" that I realized the long-term effects of that day. I interviewed dozens of old friends and people who experienced the tornado first-hand and gathered a few tales that almost defy belief. As we approach the 25th anniversary of the tornado, strange tales continue to emerge. For instance, AL.com reader Steve Owens of Madison wrote that he had taken a seasonal job and was working at Golbro Jewelers when the tornado struck. "I cleaned glass out of my ears for two weeks," he said, "and would become terrified when I heard the slightest wind noise." Owens added: "Nov. 15, 1989 changed my life, made me value life more." Here are a few of those stories I gathered of oddities of the storm, along with some I gathered from a book published by The Huntsville Times, "Huntsville Tornado, November 15, 1989, 4:37 p.m.: A Diary of Destruction": Alabamas sixth largest and fastest-growing county ushered in a new era Wednesday with the swearing in of three new county commissioners to the four-member board. But for the Baldwin County Commission, the lone county in Alabama with four commissioners, it could be the last time in which only four people are saying an oath to a new, four-year term. An effort is afoot to add one more commissioner, boosting the total to five, who would serve as the permanent and full-time commissioner chairperson. Of Alabamas 67 counties, 48 of them are governed by a five-member commission. The next most popular commission consists of six members, which exists in only seven counties. We are as jumbled as any state in the country, said Sonny Brasfield, executive director with the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA), noting that a handful of counties include seven, three and seven member boards. Only Shelby County is governed by a nine-member commission. If I had my druthers and we were starting from scratch, I think our association would advocate for one structure so all counties are structured the same, said Brasfield. But we are not starting from scratch and I dont hold out any hopes that when I retire, well have everyone in one system. Greater voice For Baldwin County, the prospects of adding a fifth commissioner recently surfaced with the election of former Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott to the Alabama State Senate. Elliott, who represents District 32 in Baldwin County, said he wants to back local legislation to add a fifth commission who is elected county-wide. The new position, which would also be elected concurrently every four years with the rest of the group, would be a full-time and non-rotating chairmanship. He said the new position would be compensated for full-time work, and not as a part-time elected official that exists in most county governments in Alabama. He said the salary could be around $120,000 annually, and reflect a county chief executive who oversees a $150 million annual budget. Baldwin County commissioners are currently paid $33,600, according to ACCA records. The chairperson receives $5,000 extra each year. You are running a big and fast-growing county, said Elliott, who said the salary would attract qualified applicants, though the voters would ultimately choose who gets elected. In most counties where the commission chair is paid a salary more than $100,000 annually, that person is also serves as the countys probate judge. Alabama counties were once ruled by probate judges, and an overwhelmingly majority of counties had them serve as chairpersons at one point in time. Its whittled down to only 13 now, said Brasfield. Fayette County is an exception. The countys probate judge, starting in January, will also serve as the chair of the county commission. The chairman is one person who is voted countywide, so it gives the person a greater voice, said Fayette County Probate Judge William Oswalt, who is retiring and wont be taking over as commission chair. Twenty-six counties in Alabama have a full-time county chair, and 16 counties determine who serves as their chairperson whether in a full-time or part-time roll through elections. Brasfield said the lack of uniformity among county commissions in the state fuels the need for the Alabama Legislature, during each spring legislative session, to dedicate time to approve local legislation. Better uniformity among county governments, he said, would lead to more efficient governance. Philosophically, based on my experience, it would be easier for us to propose broad-based solutions to problems rather than this constant use of local legislation, said Brasfield. One of the reasons we have many local laws passed every session is because its hard to pass a general law affecting counties because they are so different in structure. Non-rotating chairman In Baldwin County, standard practice has been to rotate the chairmanship among the four commissioners. Charles Skip Gruber, who is the only commissioner to be re-elected to the board this year, was appointed chairman on Wednesday. His term will last one year, at which time another commissioner takes the position. The county needs a full-time, non-rotating chairman, said Elliott, who said the annual rotations of the position leads to other concerns such as consistency with membership on other quasi-governmental boards and in negotiating business with other government bodies. He also said within Baldwin Countys governmental structure, appointed department heads, such as the countys solid waste director, have to report to four bosses. Its tough and its tough for them and from a government standpoint, said Elliott. Baldwin County wasnt always a four-member commission. The county, from 1988 to 2004, was served by a seven-member board elected within single-member districts. From 1931 to 1988, the commission was organized through its current format, which is a four-member board in which all members are elected at-large. The seven-member commission was selected by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson in response to a voting rights lawsuit filed in 1986. Thompsons decision set off a 16-year legal battle to determine the future make-up of the commission, which he concluded should be a four-member commission elected at-large but residing in different parts of the county. Elliott said hes not in favor of returning Baldwin County to single-member districts, even though most counties in Alabama are represented by officials from geographically-defined areas. Amber Smith, who ran as a Democrat for one of the Baldwin County Commission seats on November 6, said she believes single-member districts could enhance the chances of a Democrat winning a race in a county considered one of the most conservative in the state. Smith, a Daphne resident, said the prospects for Democratic win exist in the countys Eastern Shore area where she resides. Smith and her Democratic colleagues, however, lost overwhelmingly in the general election and few consider the county despite its fast growth turning shades of purple anytime soon. Not everyone in Baldwin County is a Republican, said Smith. We should have someone representing us so we can have checks and balances. We dont have that in Baldwin County. Elliott said he had not thought about the partisan ramifications between an at-large or single-member district commission. Practically, I dont think you can draw a district in Baldwin County without putting nine members on the commission that is small enough to find Democratic pockets, said Elliott. In the two contested commission races, the Republicans scored more than 75 percent of the vote. Pro and con Elliotts proposal will require support from his Baldwin County legislative colleagues, and already some skepticism has surfaced. Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Gulf Shores, said he isnt sure why another elected official is needed on the county commission. I dont know what useful purpose it would serve, he said. McMillan said if there was a demand for a professional executive overseeing the county business, the commission should consider hiring a full-time manager or administrator. Currently, Ron Cink has served in the role of budget director and administrator since David Brewer left in 2014. Elliott said he would rather see that position elected, instead of appointed. He said he envisions it in a different manner than what was recently shot down in Fairhope, in which voters defeated a referendum on November 6 asking if the city should alter its form of government from council-mayor to council-manager. Proponents of the Fairhope change advocated for a professional city manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city. Joe Davis, newly-elected to the county commission and who had previously served on the Daphne City Council, said he believes a fifth member is worth considering. Four is a very unusual number because a lot of good projects can end up laying on the table on 2-2 votes, said Davis. He was sworn in with commissioner newcomers James Jeb Ball and Billie Jo Underwood. Gruber, of Elberta, was first elected to the commission in 2006. I think five makes sense, Davis said. There is a widely accepted idea among some Americans that Trump does not reflect American values. They are wrong. In an erudite and timely piece for the New York Times, published just a few days before the midterm elections in early November 2018, my distinguished Columbia University colleague Andrew Delbanco wrote a poignant essay about The Long Struggle for Americas Soul. In this learned piece, Professor Delbanco writes passionately about the long US history of human suffering that had come before the cruel behaviours and policies of the democratically elected President Donald Trump, focusing specifically on slavery. Even free black people in the North we learn in this piece, found their lives infused with terror of being seized and deported on the pretext that they had once belonged to someone in the South. The Fugitive Slave Act forced them to dread every footstep on the stairs and every knock on the door. As for the millions still in bondage in the South, it deepened the despair of the already desperate. Delbanco also points to some crucial events in the later history of the United States, such as Abraham Lincolns call for re-adoption of to the Declaration of Independence, the New Deal of the 1930s, and the Civil Rights Movement as attempts to right the terrorising wrongs of slavery. His excellent essay and his recent book from which it is drawn, The War Before the War: Fugitive Slaves and the Struggle for Americas Soul From the Revolution to the Civil War (2018), seem to rest on the assumption that the American Soul is something quintessentially good and even noble, sublime, and beautiful to behold, and yet there are dark forces trying to take it over and spoil it. But with due diligence and persistent struggle and perhaps even the grace of God, so this assumption goes, Americans will someday get there and win the noble battle for the American Soul. Might the opposite be true? This widely accepted idea of the benign essence of the American soul, however, has never been questioned and the opposite assumption that it is not intrinsically good has never been critically examined. So might it be that exactly the opposite proposition is true: That this American soul might, in fact, be precisely what we now see in Trump and Trumpism, institutionalised not just in the heinous history of slavery but even earlier than that in the genocidal history of American conquest and slaughter of native peoples? And that the whole sustained history of US thuggish militarism on almost every continent on planet earth, waging wars, toppling regimes, instigating military coups is its natural manifestation? We may, in fact, be hard pressed to find a single moment in American history when hateful racism, sexism, militarism, and xenophobia have not been entirely definitive to this American soul. Could this American soul perhaps be something entirely diabolical, perturbed, vicious, vindictive, monstrously greedy from the get-go? With far less historical erudition and far more political rhetoric liberal politicians ranging from Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders keep telling Americans what Trump is doing is not what America is all about. Campaigning against Donald Trump during the midterm elections, Obama went out and loudly declared: We helped spread a commitment to certain values and principles like the rule of law and human rights and democracy and the notion of the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. Really? Is that what the US has done around the globe? Who exactly is this We? Would that We include the US president who gave billions of dollars to Israel to slaughter Palestinians with ease and to the Saudis to commit war crimes in Yemen; and would it include the president before him who left Iraq and Afghanistan in ruins? We seriously need to examine this American soul business and wonder what makes it so murderously detrimental to world peace, and while we are at it rediscover what is this America really about. Not just Democrats and former and current officials but human rights organisations also believe Trump is antithetical to American values. Trump Abandons American Values at UN, this according to Human Rights Firsts Senior Vice President for Policy Rob Berschinski. But Trump and Trumpism are as American as mom and apple pie and an entire racist and xenophobic history of the US is there to verify it. And if the structurally corrupt Democratic Party under the leadership of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer are supposed to be the alternative to that truth, then the Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, and Yemenis brutalised identically under both Republicans and Democrats may have something to say about the matter. Disunited states? Soon after Professor Delbancos learned essay, the Democrats gained control of the House while the Senate remained in the solid command of the Republicans. The hardcore Clintonite Nancy Pelosi and her comrade, the even more morally compromised Chuck Schumer, were now the revolutionary icons of resistance to Mitch McConnell and his club of 50 plus racist firebrand elite protecting the wealthy and the powerful 1 percent for the foreseeable future. We were led to be happy that the deeply corrupt Democrats had a modest victory over the corrupt Republicans. So where does this American soul reside these days: In Trumps White House, in Mitch McConnells Senate, in Nancy Pelosis House, or in Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court? Despite the liberal medias insistence to contrary, this midterm elections in no way, shape, or form was a repudiation of Donald Trump or any so-called blue wave or anything of the sort. It was a very basic and in fact dismal and cliche midterm swing historically integral to US elections. It is crucial for us not to fall into the trap of thinking the enemies of the Trumpian loonies are the friends of any progressive politics. In the US you run away from neo-con Trumpian terror and you find yourself in the bosom of the neoliberal Clintonite cabal. One quick look at the red-blooded electoral map of the US after the midterm elections shows this, in fact, is certainly not as liberals love to say a divided country. It is a solidly and unmistakably racist, sexist, xenophobic and violent country obsessed with domestic gun violence and foreign conquest with a few pockets of wishy-washy liberal resistance here or there. From Brazil to Saudi Arabia to Israel to the racist, xenophobic, proto-fascist parties in Europe they all have a solid ally in all the three branches of the US government. From the earliest stages of the rise of Donald Trump I have argued that contrary to the liberal contingencies of opposition to his brand of blunt and fascistic politics he is the real deal: American politics stripped to its bare essence, shorn of all its democratic pretensions and neoliberal niceties. For eight years Barack Obama was the face of the duplicitous politics of shedding public tears for schoolchildren being shot in the US, before retiring to a back room at the White House to send more arms to Israel and Saudi Arabia to slaughter Palestinian and Yemeni children. The liberals are very happy as they should be that a few moderately progressive women, a couple of Muslims and new immigrants among them, have joined the Congress. No doubt, if this trend continues maybe in 150 years or so, we might even have a Muslim version of Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton! This kind of cathartic identity politics will blind us to the real issues facing us globally. Breaking through the cliche bifurcation The two Americas are on a collision course today, declared the headlines of a typical essay on the midterm elections. On one side stand young people and minority voters and unusually broad resistance among college-educated white voters, especially women. That threatens Republicans with widespread losses in well-educated, often racially diverse, suburbs in major metropolitan areas around the country. Good to know. What about the other side? On the other side, Trump retains strong support among evangelical, rural and non-college-educated white voters, including women. The very epistemic foundation of this bifurcation, which is now very popular among pollster and public opinion pundits, assumes that the proclivity of those voting against Trump does not see anything beyond the Obama-Clinton axis which has an equally horrid history of militarism abroad and corporate corruption at home. There is nothing in the DNA or blood of any people, Americans included, that makes them constitutionally susceptible to latent and blatant fascism. Millions upon millions of Americans gathered around the most progressive figure in recent US politics, Bernie Sanders, in the hope of liberating themselves from the shackles of this gridlock of corrupt corporate politics. But the Democratic party machinery made sure Sanders did not have a chance to be the Democratic nominee for the 2016 presidential race. Right now, two years into the calamity called Trump, there are talks of Hillary Clinton running for the White House again in 2020. She and the entirety of the Democratic party establishment never heard of the word shame. Unless and until much wider horizons of political possibilities are opened to the left of Bernie Sanders and beyond, the US will remain exactly in the combined image of Donald Trump at the White House, Mitch McConnell at the Senate, Nancy Pelosi at the House, and Brett Kavanaugh at the Supreme Court and the mob of racist white supremacists that Steve Bannon and Steven Miller have mobilised for them. For if history has any lesson to teach, that until further notice is what America is really about, and that indeed is the very quintessence of the American soul. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The $2.4bn project will halve the travel time between Tangier and Casablanca but has also drawn criticism. Moroccos King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron have inaugurated what has been described as Africas fastest train, with a trip from the northwestern city of Tangier to the capital, Rabat. The railway, known as the LGV, will significantly reduce the travel time between the industrial and commercial hubs of Casablanca and Tangier to two hours and 10 minutes, instead of four hours and 45 minutes, according to officials. The project was completed after seven years of work in a 22.9bn dirhams ($2.4bn) project joint-funded by France, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Morocco bought 12 double-decker, high-speed trains from French group Alstom, to be operated by the state-owned railway ONCF, which expects six million passengers to use the new service annually. {articleGUID} The king and the French president on Thursday boarded the train at Tangier after they were handed tickets by the Director General of Moroccos National Railway Office, Mohamed Rabie Khlie, according to state news agency MAP. Last year, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had called the railway the fastest train on the African continent during a visit to Morocco to sign a loan deal between the ONCF and the French Development Agency. Authorities have said the project is part of a larger rail plan aimed at upgrading Moroccos transportation system and boosting the economy. However, the new line has not been without its controversies. The high cost has drawn criticism, with some saying the project was not a priority and the money would have been better spent on health and education. Critics also say it has flagged disparities in spending between the north and the south of the country vast southern regions and major cities such as Agadir are without a basic rail service. A derailment in October near Kenitra, 15km north of Rabat, which killed seven people and injured 125 others, sparked further criticism and calls for increased funding to improve safety and infrastructure as well as the punctuality of basic railway services. The United Kingdoms Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, have resigned along with two junior ministers over the draft European Union (EU) withdrawal agreement. The move comes as a huge blow to British Prime Minister Theresa May. Raab was appointed the Brexit secretary only in July after David Davis resigned in protest against a business-friendly deal to leave the EU. The two junior ministers who also resigned on Thursday are Suella Braverman and Shailesh Vara. I regret to say that, following the Cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal, I must resign, Raab said. Mays plan threatened the integrity of the UK, he said. I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust, he said in his resignation letter, published on his Twitter account. McVey, a Brexit hardliner, was the second senior minister to quit over Mays draft agreement. The deal you put before the cabinet yesterday does not honour the result of the referendum, she told the prime minister in her resignation. EU leaders will meet on November 25 to endorse the divorce deal that has been stalled over lack of consensus. May will set out the terms of the draft withdrawal agreement on Thursday to the House of Commons, which must approve the deal before the UK leaves the EU on March 29. The prime minister secured the backing of her cabinet for the draft agreement on Wednesday, after a five-hour meeting. The collective decision of the government was that the cabinet should agree to the draft agreement and the outlying political declaration, May said on Wednesday. This is a decisive step, which allows us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead, she added. These decisions were not taken lightly, but I firmly believe they were in the national interest. The main opposition Labour Party has also criticised the draft deal, saying it breaches the prime ministers own red lines. This government spent two years negotiating a bad deal that will leave the country in an indefinite halfway house, Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, said. Central African Republic calls on Russia to train its army The army is helpless as it deals with an arms embargo and 14 militia groups fighting for control. Internet watchdog wants data as part of an effort to curb dissent and stop people using online space to organise. Chinas cyber watchdog said on Thursday it will require internet firms to provide detailed logs on users as part of a new policy designed to curb dissent and online social movements. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said as of November 30 it will require assessment reports from any internet platform that could be used to socially mobilise or lead to major changes in public opinion. As part of the assessments, which include on-site inspections, companies must show they are logging information including real names, usernames, account names, network addresses, times of use, chat logs, call logs and the type of device being used. The CAC, in its policy notice posted on its website, did not name specific companies affected, but listed a wide range of services, including chat functions, blogs, public accounts, webcasts, video sites and news providers. Companies with those functions include Tencent, which operates the WeChat messaging service, Alibaba Group, Baidu and Apple, which hosts its message service in China. President Xi Jinping has tightened control of the internet as the ruling Communist Party seeks to crack down on dissent in the booming social media landscape. In Chinese cyber policy, content that undermines social stability or runs counter to the government line on history or politics is deemed a cybersecurity risk, comparable to financial and terrorist cyber threats. Accounts deleted According to the terms and conditions of social media services, including the Twitter-like service Weibo and WeChat, tech companies are already required to share information with the government on request, but there is little transparency on the exact process. Companies have increasingly introduced new features to boost government influence over platforms and quash viral content to avoid fines, suspensions, and in some cases permanent closure. On Tuesday, the CAC said it had removed 9,800 social media accounts from independent news providers deemed to have posted sensational, vulgar or politically harmful content. The new policy comes amid a spate of protests from grassroots movements ranging from labour rights to #MeToo protests. On Wednesday, students at the prestigious Peking University were warned against taking part in demonstrations after 12 labour activists, most of them students, went missing from cities across the country over the weekend. At least one was taken from the universitys campus. China is stepping up censorship as US tech giants expand, including Apple and Google, which has been criticised over secretive plans to launch a censored search engine in China. Prime minister defends her draft Brexit deal as several ministers quit amid threat of vote of no-confidence against her. British Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to fight for the terms of her draft divorce deal with the European Union, despite a string of ministerial resignations and a revolt within her party putting her job at risk. In a press conference on Thursday, a defiant May insisted her proposed agreement on Britains departure from the bloc put the the national interest first and was the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit. The leader of Britains Conservative party said rejection of her Brexit deal would put the country on a path of deep and grave uncertainty and went on to reiterate that a second referendum would not take place. In a June 2016 referendum, 52 percent of Britons chose to leave the EU, while 48 percent voted to remain. Mays comments came as she faced mounting criticism from all sides about the draft deal, as well as the threat of a no-confidence vote from within her own party. Earlier in the day, two cabinet ministers, including the head of Brexit negotiations, and two junior ministers quit the government in protest against the proposed agreement over Britains EU exit on March 29, 2019. In his resignation letter, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who oversaw Brexit negotiations under May, said Mays plan threatened the integrity of the UK. I regret to say that, following the cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal, I must resign, he said on Thursday. I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. Esther McVey, the secretary for work and pensions, said the draft deal does not honour the result of the referendum in her own resignation letter. The 585-page draft aims to ensure a smooth divorce from the EU after more than four decades of membership and outlines a transition period for both sides to adjust to the break. Key provisions seek to avoid a hard border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland, protect citizens rights and settle Britains last bill. Speaking earlier on Thursday before a hostile parliament, May told legislators the choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated, May told the House of Commons. https://twitter.com/Jacob_Rees_Mogg/status/1063048829036052480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Meanwhile, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who leads a group of anti-EU Conservatives, submitted on a letter of no-confidence in the prime minister saying that it would be in the interest of the party and the country if she were to stand aside. At least 48 such letters from Conservative MPs are required to trigger a vote of no-confidence in the party leader, and a majority of the partys 315 legislators would have to vote against May in order for her to be removed. Al Jazeeras Paul Brennan, reporting from London, said it was a bruising session of parliament for May, adding that there was little hope for her proposed Brexit deal. There is a sizeable contingent within parliament now that thinks reversing the whole process might be the only way out of this crisis, Brennan said. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Jonathan Lis, deputy director of British Influence, a pro-EU group, was similarly sceptical, saying Brexits car has met realitys wall today. Amid the political turmoil, the pound plunged on currency markets, falling 1.7 percent to $1.27, its second-biggest drop after it fell 1.73 percent against the US dollar in September. Preparing for no-deal The results of the referendum two years ago triggered international shock and questions as to how Brexit could be implemented the economies of the UK and EU are intertwined, as is their territory. May told legislators that they will have to consider the British peoples will when parliament is asked to vote on a final Brexit agreement, which could potentially happen in December. One of the most complicated issues is the prospect of a hard border in Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the UK but shares a border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state. There were concerns about Brexit endangering the Good Friday Agreement, which provided a framework for the peace process in Northern Ireland. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday an agreement that avoids a hard border and endangering the Good Friday Agreement even in the event of a no-deal Brexit had been reached, according to The Guardian. EU leaders will meet on November 25 to endorse Mays divorce deal, although the British prime minister acknowledged that a number of obstacles remained before Brexit could be finalised. We have been preparing for no-deal and we continue to prepare for no-deal because I recognise that we have a further stage of negotiation with the European Council and then that deal when finalised has to come back to this House, she told parliament. But politicians on all sides told May that there was no way the proposed EU withdrawal agreement could pass their approval, with arch-Brexiteers and EU loyalists alike insisting it was already sunk. After two years of bungled negotiations, the government has produced a botched deal that breaches the prime ministers own red lines and does not meet our six tests, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour party, told parliament. Corbyn has said Labour will vote against any deal that does not meet its tests, which include delivering the same benefits Britain currently has as a member of the EU customs union and single market. The government is in chaos, Corbyn said. Their deal risks leaving the country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say. The government simply cannot put to parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit secretary and his predecessor have rejected. Diabetes affects over a quarter of Pakistanis Scientists say inter-family marriages are the main reason why 80,000 Pakistanis die each year from diabetes. Indigenous groups call on government to halt development projects in Amazon, saying they threaten food, land and water. Quito, Ecuador More than 1,500 indigenous protesters had a clear message as they march through Ecuadors capital Quito on Wednesday: Stop mining on, or near, indigenous territory. We need to fight together, said Alexandra, a Kichwa indigenous woman who walked more than 600km in traditional sandals from the southern Amazonian province of Zamora Chinchipe to Quito. She was one of about 80 indigenous protesters who set out from their native lands on November 3 with the goal of ensuring the protection of their water and territory. Hundreds more from other indigenous groups joined them along the way. Its just not possible that the government and transnational companies want to keep destroying our forest, our lakes, our paramos, Alexandra told Al Jazeera. The protesters demanded a meeting with President Lenin Moreno, which he agreed to hold on Thursday, without setting a time. Yaku Sacha Perez Guartambel, president of the Confederation of Peoples of the Kichwa Nationality and one of the leaders of the march, was pleased but remained sceptical, saying previous talks with the government have not advanced anything. Weve had to leave our homes Zamora Chinchipe has been one of the provinces most affected by the countrys mining industry. It is located in the Condor Mountain Range (Cordillera del Condor), home to several indigenous communities, an area particularly rich in biodiversity, surrounded by dense cloud forest. But the region is also rich in minerals, where small-scale gold miners and Ecuadors largest open pit mines operate. This includes the Chinese-owned Mirador copper mine, the regions first open pit mine. Theyre still in the construction phase and the environmental impacts are very severe, Carlos Mazabanda, Amazon Watchs Ecuador Field Coordinator, told Al Jazeera. More than 1,200 hectares of primary forest were clear-cut for the mine, which has affected rivers, aquatic life and indigenous communities access to water, he added. Thats why [the march] left from this region, demanding that more projects like this not be developed, Mazabanda said. Hundreds of protesters joined the dozens who marched more than 600km to Quito [Kimberley Brown/Al Jazeera] Tension between indigenous communities and the mining industry in the Cordillera del Condor reached a peak in 2016, when the Ecuadorian army evicted the Shuar community from the town of Nankits to make way for the San Carlos Panantza open pit copper mine. The community tried several times to retake the territory, which ended in an aggressive standoff with authorities and the death of one police officer. The former government of Rafael Correa responded by calling the indigenous resistors terrorists and putting them on a blacklist, but they have since been removed. The Chinese-owned mine is currently under development. Its been really hard at times more than anything because the government doesnt listen to us, and some of us dont have a place to live. Weve have to leave our homes because of mining projects, Alexandra said. Last year, indigenous communities marched for nearly two weeks from the Amazonian city of Puyo to Quito to demand an end to oil extraction in the rainforest. President Moreno, who met protesters, agreed to stop all new oil and mining concessions that failed to receive the prior and informed consent of local communities. The move was praised by environmentalists and considered a small win for indigenous rights. But months later, the government continued with plans to auction off plots of land in the Amazon for oil exploration, despite objections by local communities. The government is expected to release a list of qualifying companies in December and sign contracts in March of 2019. The protesters demanded a meeting with President Lenin Moreno [Kimberley Brown/Al Jazeera] The government also continues to promote foreign investment in its mining sector, aiming to double its mining GDP by 2021. Both initiatives, according to the government, are meant to boost Ecuadors economy, which is still struggling since the drop of international oil prices in 2014 that also caused major divestment in its oil industry. Juan Pizar, a Kichwa protester from the southern province of Canar, said land near his community of Tambo has been concessioned, but the group was not consulted. We dont want it, he told Al Jazeera. An Indigenous woman from the Amazon region, talks to a couple of police officer during a peaceful occupation of the entrance to the headquarters of the state petroleum enterprise PetroEcuador [Dolores Ochoa/AP Photo] Mazabanda says indigenous communities have been planning many more initiatives to put increasing pressure on the government to comply with its promises. On Tuesday, a small group of Amazonian indigenous women occupied the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, refusing to leave until they speak with Minister Carlos Perez and present him with a list of demands namely that oil drilling in the Amazon stop. As of Wednesday night, the women were still in the ministry. Oil will remain under the ground because we want to protect human life. Lets all go out to defend life, wrote Gloria Ushigua, one of the occupiers from the Zapara nation, on her facebook page while inside the ministry. The European Unions ambassador to Tanzania was forced to leave the country after facing government pressure, bloc says. The European Union says it is launching a comprehensive review of its policies towards Tanzania after government pressure forced the blocs ambassador to leave the country. The EU announced on Thursday it would resume dialogue with Tanzanian authorities once the review was complete and called on the authorities to refrain from exerting undue pressure and limitations on diplomatic missions. In a statement from EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, the member states said they were concerned about recent political developments in Tanzania, citing restrictions on the media and political parties, as well as threats against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals. Over the past years, the European Union and its member states have noticed a shrinking of public space in Tanzania through the tightening of restrictions on the activities of civil society organisations, the media and many political parties. Respect for human rights and the rule of law has been repeatedly undermined, the statement said, adding that the EU is deeply concerned about what it calls the deteriorating situation for LGBTI people. {articleGUID} The bloc said its ambassador was forced to leave the country in early November following pressure from the Tanzanian government. This unprecedented attitude is not in line with the long established dialogue and consultation between the two parties, which the EU deeply regrets, the statement read. The EU is Tanzanias main development partner and one of the countrys top trade and investment partners, according to the statement, which said that structured political dialogue with the countrys government would resume after the review is completed. Totally unacceptable homophobic statements Thursdays announcement comes a day after Denmark, an EU member, said it would withhold a large percentage of the aid money it gives to Tanzania amid human rights concerns. Very concerned about the negative development in Tanzania. Most recently, the totally unacceptable homophobic statements by a commissioner. I have therefore decided to withhold 65m kroner ($9.8m) from the country. Respect for human rights is absolutely essential for [Denmark], Development Minister Ulla Tornaes said on Twitter on Wednesday. She has also postponed a planned trip to Tanzania, according to Danish broadcaster DR. The decision by Denmark, Tanzanias second largest aid donor, came as the World Bank said it had scrapped a plan to loan the East African nation $300m after the country reaffirmed its policy of banning pregnant girls from school and made it a crime to question official statistics. Meget bekymret over den negative udvikling i Tanzania. Senest helt uacceptable homofobiske udtalelser fra en kommissr. Jeg har derfor besluttet at tilbageholde 65 mio kr til landet. Respekt for menneskerettigheder helt afgrende for DK #dkpol #dkaid https://t.co/Ih9hFqDUua Ulla Trns (@Ulla_Tornaes) November 14, 2018 Editors note: See in-text translation above In October, Paul Makonda, the commissioner for Tanzanias commercial centre, Dar es Salaam, urged the public to report suspected gay men to the police and said he would establish a surveillance squad to identify homosexuals. The countrys government said at the time that Makondas comments did not reflect official policy, which it said would continue to respect and uphold all human rights as provided for in the countrys constitution. However, homosexuality is illegal in the country, where it is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. {articleGUID} Last year, Hamisi Kigwangalla, the countrys deputy health minister, defended a threat to publish a list of names of suspected homosexuals. The minister, who is a trained doctor, said that homosexuality was a social construct engendered by an urban lifestyle. In early November, 10 men were arrested on the island of Zanzibar after authorities received a tip-off from the public. According to Amnesty International, the men were arrested for allegedly conducting a gay marriage, with police saying they found the men sitting in pairs two by two. The Tanzanian government had not responded to the EU or Danish decision by the time of publication. Initial results show ruling FijiFirst party has 52 percent of votes as main opposition SODELPA trails at 38 percent. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is set to win re-election, with a provisional count showing his FijiFirst party holding a comfortable lead in the general elections. Over 500,000 Fijians were eligible to vote in Wednesdays vote, according to the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) website, but some voting has been delayed due to bad weather and heavy rains in the South Pacific nation. Authorities said around 8,000 voters were affected. Bainimarama has held power in the island nation since 2007 when, as military chief, he led a bloodless coup. In 2014, he resigned from the military and became prime minister in a landslide victory at the first poll since the coup. Results posted on the governments Twitter account on Thursday morning showed FijiFirst leading with nearly 52 percent of the 367,350 votes counted. Opponent also an ex-coup leader The party of Bainimaramas main opponent Sitiveni Rabuka, who is also a former coup leader and has served as a prime minister for a long time, is in second place. The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) has 38 percent support, according to partial results. FijiFirst supporters say it has helped heal racial divisions by introducing equal rights for Indian-Fijians, a sizable minority brought in to work on sugar plantations during British colonial rule. {articleGUID} It has also overseen a prosperous period for the tourism-driven economy, which is growing by more than three percent a year. On Thursday, the Campaign Blackout period was extended because of the delayed voting, but the media were allowed to report the preliminary results, Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) chairperson Ashwin Raj said on Wednesday. Polling has been rescheduled for November 17 at the booths where voting was delayed, the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, announced on Thursday. Return to democracy Fiji was isolated diplomatically after the 2006 coup, but its return to democracy has seen it welcomed back into the international community. Initially branded a dictator by regional powers such as Australia and New Zealand, Bainimarama has gained international acceptance since the 2014 election. {articleGUID} He has campaigned on the global stage for climate change action, chairing the United Nations COP 23 talks on global warming and highlighting the plight of island nations threatened by rising seas. However, Amnesty International says Bainimaramas government is yet to fully restore freedoms that were suspended for several years after the 2006 coup. Since the last general elections in 2014, the human rights situation in Fiji has remained under attack, it said ahead of the vote, pointing to police brutality, curbs on freedom of assembly and media, as well as persecution of rights advocates. As deadline for machine recount draws near, more than 4,000 voters given time to correct signature issue on ballots. A federal judge is giving thousands of Florida voters until the end of Saturday to fix their ballots if they havent been counted due to mismatched signatures. US District Judge Mark Walker ruled early Thursday that current Florida law on mail-in ballots places a substantial burden on voters. The ruling comes as Florida wraps a recount in three statewide races. Walker did not go along with a request from Democrats to count all ballots with mismatched signatures. Instead, he ordered that local election officials give voters until 5pm local time on Saturday to correct the problem so that their ballots can be counted. State officials testified in court that nearly 4,000 ballots have already been rejected because local canvassing boards decided the signature that was mailed in did not match the signature on file. Walker rebuffed arguments from lawyers representing the state that allowing people until Saturday evening to fix their ballots would disrupt the recount process and the deadlines to report results. The deadline for hand recounts is Sunday. I dont understand why its going to completely bring Florida to its knees, Walker said. He said that, divided among 67 counties, the number of ballots would be only a handful per county, and theyd be considered while the elections supervisors are still counting overseas ballots. Walker asked: What are the possibilities that all 5,000 are going to show up? if people are given an opportunity to correct their signatures. I can tell you the odds: Zero. Bitter struggle The state is the scene of a bitter struggle between Republican and Democrat politicians over the results of the Senate and governor races during last weeks midterm elections. Republican candidates saw their leads whittled down after election night as ballots from urban areas, which lean Democrat, were counted. Margins fell to within the levels needed to force recounts in both the governor race, between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum, and the Senate race between current Republican Governor Rick Scott and Democrat incumbent, Bill Nelson. Authorities ordered machine recounts of the votes last weekend, with a Thursday deadline to finish the recount. The Republicans have openly accused the Democrats of trying to steal the election despite presenting no evidence to support the claim. President Donald Trump also added to the grumblings about the recount by arguing without evidence that some people unlawfully participated in the election by dressing in disguise. When people get in line that have absolutely no right to vote and they go around in circles, Trump said in an interview with The Daily Caller published Wednesday. Sometimes they go to their car, put on a different hat, put on a different shirt, come in and vote again. The state elections department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, both run by Republican appointees, have said they havent seen any evidence of voter fraud of this sort. Trump has floated other conspiracy theories about the Florida count without presenting any evidence to back up his claims. This week a number of Democrats called on the president to stop bullying and threatening officials over the Florida recount. Attempts to bully, threaten and cajole officials into not counting every vote is a large and dangerous step away from the democracy we all cherish, Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the Senate, said in a press conference. James Mattis visits troops stationed at US-Mexico border US Defence Secretary James Mattis visited troops near the US-Mexico border a little over two weeks after President Trump dispatched thousands of active-duty forces in anticipation of a Central American migrant caravan. Flights were diverted to nearby Manama, Dubai and Dammam airports as another round of rains battered the Gulf nation. Flights have resumed at Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait Airways said in a tweet on Thursday, a day after bad weather forced a suspension of air traffic. Earlier on Thursday, Kuwaits civil aviation authority had said air traffic at the airport would remain suspended until 4pm local time (1300 GMT) as another round of severe weather battered the Gulf nation. On Wednesday, Kuwait had halted all departing flights from the airport and redirected those landing to nearby Manama, Dubai and Dammam airports. Rains overnight on Wednesday submerged main passages at the airport, resulting in diverting several incoming flights to Dubai, Bahrain and Dammam airports, said the head of Kuwaits civil aviation, Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah. Heavy rain has been lashing the country for the past two days, with the national meteorological department reporting 98mm rainfall. This is far more than the 18mm of rain usually seen in the month of November and is approaching the expected annual rainfall figure of 116mm. The Kuwaiti government ordered public offices and schools to close on Wednesday and Thursday as authorities stood on high alert and urged people to stay at home. The deluge has flooded roads, damaged a number of buildings and has affected the neighbouring countries of Saudi Arabia and Iran. In the Saudi city of Hafer Al-Batin, near the Kuwaiti border, 46 people had to be rescued from a bus after they were stranded due to a flash flood. This is the third time this month that Kuwait City has suffered flooding. The capital was inundated on November 5 and 10. The flooding on November 10 had killed a man as he tried to rescue his family from their submerged home. In an urgent session held on Wednesday, the Kuwaiti parliament accused the government of failing to take measures to protect civilians and infrastructure. Last week, the government had fired two top public works ministry officials. Public Works Minister Hussam Al-Roumi had submitted his resignation over the issue. Mike Pences comments at Asia summit seen alluding to China and its aggressive claims over the disputed South China Sea. US Vice President Mike Pence told leaders of Southeast Asian nations on Thursday there is no place for empire and aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, a comment seen as a reference to Chinas rise. Pence did not mention China in his remarks at the opening of a summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore, but he stressed all countries in the region should be allowed to prosper. Like you, we seek an Indo-Pacific in which all nations, large and small, can prosper and thrive secure in our sovereignty, confident in our values, and growing stronger together, he said. We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific. Free, fair and reciprocal Pence said Washington had taken action to promote this vision, including steps to spur private investment in infrastructure and the pursuit of trade that is free, fair, and reciprocal. The vice president also highlighted the United States pressure campaign on North Korea, its commitment to uphold the freedom of the seas and skies, and determination to ensure that Southeast Asian nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land, at sea, and in the digital world. Pences comments follow a major speech in October in which he flagged a tougher approach by Washington towards Beijing, accusing China of malign efforts to undermine US President Donald Trump and reckless military actions in the South China Sea. The United States has conducted a series of freedom of navigation exercises in the disputed South China Sea, angering Beijing, which claims the sea as its own. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim parts of the maritime region, which is thought to be rich in natural resources and is a major global shipping route. China rising Pences comments came as a US report on Wednesday said Chinas armed forces could match the United States by 2050. Beijing has made significant advancements in hypersonic weapons, cyber abilities, and space defence, said the report. China increased its military budget this year to $175bn, an 8.1 percent increase compared with 2017. Congress tasked the National Defence Strategy Commission to look at Trumps sweeping National Defence Strategy (NDS), which highlighted a new era of Great Power competition with Moscow and Beijing. The panel found just as the US military faced budget cuts and diminishing military advantages, nations such as China and Russia are pursuing build-ups aimed at neutralising US strengths. {articleGUID} Americas military superiority the hard-power backbone of its global influence and national security has eroded to a dangerous degree, the commissions report said. The US focus on counterinsurgency operations has resulted in it slipping in other warfighting areas such as missile defence, cyber and space operations, and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict, the commission found. It might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia. The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously. Though the Pentagon this year has a budget of more than US$700bn far more than Russia and China combined the commission said the sum is still clearly insufficient to meet the goals laid out in the NDS. Planned expulsion may not go ahead as Rohingya go into hiding while aid agencies warn return is too dangerous. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who fled Myanmar, citing rape, murder and arson, will not be forcibly repatriated, Bangladeshs Rohingya Relief and Repatriation Commissioner has said. No one will be forced back to Myanmar, Abul Kalam told Al Jazeera. Bangladesh is scheduled to send back an initial group of 2,260 Rohingya from 485 families, in line with a bilateral plan agreed by the two governments in October. But the move has been opposed by the United Nations refugee agency and aid groups who say the long-persecuted minority cannot be forced back, causing confusion over whether the repatriations would go ahead. Ghumdhum border crossing from where the refugees were to be repatriated had a deserted air [Faisal Mahmud/Al Jazeera] They survived atrocities so its natural they fear to go back, Kalam said. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh last year to escape a brutal army crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine state last year, accusing government soldiers and local Buddhists of massacring families, burning hundreds of villages and carrying out mass gang rape. Myanmar denies the allegations, saying security forces were battling armed rebels. When asked whether the Rohingya the majority of whom reside in sprawling refugee camps in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar would be guaranteed a safe and dignified return, Kalam said: Everything is done as per the agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar. I hope the Myanmar authority will keep their words. The terms of the repatriation deal, however, have never been made public. People do not want to go back to Myanmar due to safety concerns Foyazullah, Rohingya refugee The plan to begin returning the Rohingya to Myanmar comes just days after UN investigators warned of an ongoing genocide against the largely Muslim minority. Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, said beyond mass killings, the conflict included the ostracisation of the population, prevention of births and widespread displacement in camps. Earlier this week, Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, urged Bangladesh to halt the repatriation plan, saying it violated international law. Bangladesh is scheduled to send back an initial group of 2,260 Rohingya [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] We are witnessing terror and panic among those Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazar who are at imminent risk of being returned to Myanmar against their will, she said. Forcibly expelling or returning refugees and asylum seekers to their home country would be a clear violation of the core legal principle of non-refoulement, which forbids repatriation where there are threats of persecution or serious risks to the life and physical integrity or liberty of the individuals. Rohingya flee camps to forests List of Rohingya demands sent to Aung San Suu Kyi Our ethnic identity Rohingya must be recognised as an official ethnic group as before 1970s. Our return to our homeland in Rakhine State must be protected by international observers. International protection must be placed in our homeland before we return. Our houses in original villages must be rebuilt before we return. We seek compensation and reparations for lives lost, injuries inflicted and harm caused. We seek compensation and reparations for the properties we lost and we demand the return of confiscated lands since 1992. All Rohingya prisoners in various prisons must be released. All internally displaced persons in Sittwe and other towns must be able to return to their original places and homes. Appropriate compensation and reparations must be given and, not least, their full citizenship must be restored before we agree to return to our homeland. Innocent Rohingya must be removed from the terrorist list arbitrarily made by Myanmar authorities. Full citizenship of Rohingya must be restored and all restrictions must be lifted. Issuing National Verification Card must be stopped, and this system must be abolished. The Rohingya themselves have said they are terrified of returning to the Buddhist-majority country. People do not want to go back to Myanmar due to safety concerns, Foyazullah, a 43-year old Rohingya living in a refugee camp in Coxs Bazar. The people in charge of the camps are harassing people. As a result, many families have fled and are hiding in nearby forests. In an open letter to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi late last month, a group of Rohingya refugees listed 10 demands, including receiving compensation and reparations, and said the beleaguered community would return only when its conditions were met. Once hailed as a champion in the fight for democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi has faced intense scrutiny over her response to the Rohingya crisis. She has been stripped of a series of international honours, with the latest coming on Tuesday when Amnesty withdrew its highest award citing her indifference to the plight of the Rohingya. Imtiaz Ahmed, a professor at Dhaka University, told Al Jazeera that there was mounting concern the Rohingya were still not welcome on Myanmars soil. I have seen reports that say conditions in Myanmar are still not suitable for return, he said. This obviously raises concern. In the days leading to Thursdays expulsion, Human Rights Watch reported that Bangladesh had deployed its army to the camps, heightening the refugees fear of return. The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harms way in Myanmar, Bill Frelick, the groups refugee rights director, said in a statement. That Dhaka deployed its army into the camps is a red flag that this terrified community is not willing to return. Myanmars government has trumpeted every occasion where a Rohingya family has returned, however many fear returning to the country without guaranteed rights such as citizenship, access to healthcare and freedom of movement rights that were denied to them long before last years crackdown. The Rohingya are not considered one of Myanmars 135 official ethnic groups and have been denied citizenship since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless. Ro Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist, said Myanmar was trying to forcibly relocate the Rohingya to avoid being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). In September, the ICC ruled it could prosecute Myanmar for alleged crimes against humanity against the Rohingya, an unprecedented decision that could expose the countrys politicians and military leaders to charges. They think that allowing people back to Myanmar will help them, Nay San said. However, they are not fulfilling any demands made by the refugees. Additional reporting by Faisal Mahmud in Coxs Bazar Several DRC soldiers also killed or wounded in joint operation targeting Allied Democratic Forces fighters in northeast. The United Nations says seven of its peacekeepers have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in a military operation with government forces against rebels in the countrys Ebola-hit northeast. Several DRC soldiers were also killed or wounded in Wednesdays joint operation targeting Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the Beni region, North Kivu, according to Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesperson. Ten UN peacekeepers were wounded and one was still missing, he added. An unknown number of ADF fighters were also killed or wounded. Dujarric said six of the killed peacekeepers were from Malawi and one was from Tanzania. The DRCs volatile east is home to many armed groups, including ADF, vying for control of the mineral-rich region. The ADF originated in Uganda as a rebel force against the government and carried out deadly bombings in the 1990s. A military campaign forced them to relocate to eastern DRC. The WHO has been reaching out to mothers to address the Ebola outbreak crisis [WHO/Junior Kannah/Handout via Reuters] Since October 2014, ADF rebels have been accused of killing more than 1,500 people in the Beni region. UN investigators have blamed the ADF for carrying out the deadliest single assault on the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC in almost 25 years. That attack on December 7, 2017 at a base in Semuliki near Beni killed at least 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers, wounded 43 others and left one peacekeeper missing. In recent attacks, ADF rebels have also killed civilians and abducted children in the Beni region. The rebel attacks have forced suspension of crucial efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in some areas. Peter Salama, the emergencies chief for the World Health Organization, predicted earlier this week that the outbreak, which has killed more than 200 people, would last at least another six months. He said makeshift health facilities offering both traditional and modern treatment have become major drivers of the current, deadly transmission and are believed to be linked to more than half of the cases in Beni, the largest city affected by the current outbreak. Salama said the current Ebola outbreak is arguably the most difficult context that weve ever encountered, pointing to activities of two armed rebel groups in the region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all armed groups to stop their destabilising activities and disarm immediately, Dujarric said. He also urged DRC authorities to apprehend and bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks against civilians, national security forces and UN peacekeepers, the spokesperson added. Guterres gave strong backing to peacekeepers from Malawi and Tanzania who continue to operate in an exceptionally difficult environment to protect local populations against the attacks of the ADF and other armed groups, Dujarric said. Doha, Qatar About 2,000 healthcare professionals, government officials and innovators from more than 100 countries gathered to discuss medical innovation in areas such as viral disease, mental health and human-centred redesigns of global healthcare systems. The gathering took place on November 13 and 14 as part of the 2018 World Innovation Summit for Health, (WISH), a component of Qatar Foundations mission to foster evidence-based ideas and practices in the medical field. In one of the main sessions, panellists discussed innovative ways to redesign healthcare systems and the relationship between care provider and patient. The approach seeks to redefine the relationship between healthcare institutions, doctors and patients to create more compassionate human-focused services where patients can participate and co-manage their own chronic diseases or health issues. The panellists spoke of current healthcare systems where doctors assume an all-knowing role while patients are relegated to being ignorant and not having the chance to manage their own illnesses. The WISH Summit innovation hub [Paul Cabellon] Unlike many healthcare systems that view patients as mere revenue streams, the new design aims to approach them as human beings. Aaron Sklar a cofounder of Prescribe, a company that focuses on healthcare design told Al Jazeera its important that regions such as the Middle East and Africa dont replicate the same broken pieces of some Western medical systems. Stacy Chang, executive director of design at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, said empowering patients with knowledge about their conditions would benefit everyone. Patients who can read and have better access to information and can better challenge their physicians would actually lower the costs, said Chang. Discussions on healthcare at the 2018 WISH Summit in Doha [Al Jazeera] In a session about viral Hepatitis B and C, a leading global health threat affecting hundreds of millions of people annually, panellists outlined the progress to eliminate the disease by 2030. A report said the main barriers to meeting the goal of eliminating the disease is limited financial resources and lack of political commitment. Detecting counterfeit drugs Global Good, a sister organisation to the Bill Gates Foundation, showcased a handheld spectrometer used to analyse and detect counterfeit medication. Maurizio Vecchione, executive vice president, told Al Jazeera his organisation works as a translational medium, facilitating technologies and health laboratories to priority countries such as Nigeria, Uganda and Ethiopia in Africa and others in Asia. The spectrometer, one of Global Goods technical innovations aimed at addressing health needs, makes it easier to identify fake and substandard drugs that kill tens of thousands of people every year and contribute to the spread of endemic diseases in poor countries. A spectrometer that detects fake drugs [Al Jazeera] A pill is placed on top of the portable device, which communicates with an associated mobile phone to compare the medication to a stored database of drug properties. The test takes seconds, after which the user knows whether the medication is genuine or counterfeit. Vecchione said Global Good uses a number of different business models to deliver its devices to the countries that need them, at times they use local manufacturers, which stimulates local businesses and jobs in countries with its healthcare services. What Bill [Gates] would often tell us is that we should look at the social impact and the need and not the budget, said Vecchione. Speakers in Doha included several high-profile personalities such as American gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps, who discussed mental health issues, and HRH Princess Muna al-Hussein, the mother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland. Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @Ali_reports US forces took the church bells after a brutal counterattack that killed anywhere from hundreds to thousands. US Defense Secretary James Mattis formally returned church bells to the Philippines that were taken as war trophies over a century ago following gruesome clashes, seeking to close a contentious chapter in the two allies shared history. The decision to return the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines ends a decades-long quest by Manila, including by President Rodrigo Duterte, and is expected to bolster US-Philippines relations. But it has upset some US veterans and Wyoming states delegation to the US Congress, which uniformly opposed returning bells that were a memorial to the 45 American soldiers killed during a surprise attack on September 28, 1901, in the central town of Balangiga. Two of the three bells have been on display at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The third bell is at a US Army museum in South Korea. Bells mark time Mattis, speaking at a ceremony at the air force base attended by the Philippines ambassador to the United States, said the Philippines has proven itself as a great US ally in conflicts over the century since that clash. He said the sacrifices of US forces would not be forgotten. To those who fear we lose something by returning these bells, please hear me when I say: Bells mark time, but courage is timeless, Mattis said. It does not fade in historys dimly lit corridors. In Manila, the Philippines foreign affairs department cheered the move. Today is a time of solemn remembrance as we pay tribute to all those who gave up their lives during the Filipino-American War, it said. Wyomings Congressional delegation, which did not attend the ceremony, issued a terse statement. We continue to oppose any efforts by the administration to move the bells to the Philippines without the support of Wyomings veterans community, Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Representative Liz Cheney said in a statement. All three bells will be restored and handed over to the Philippines as early as December, said Joe Felter, deputy assistant secretary of defence for South and Southeast Asia. Howling wilderness The 1901 attack in Balangiga, on the Philippine island of Samar, was seen as perhaps the worst routing of US soldiers since the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, also known as Custers Last Stand. According to historians, one or more of the church bells were rung to signal the attack in Balangiga. US forces took the bells after a brutal counterattack that killed anywhere from hundreds to thousands of people in the Philippines, historians say. One US general was said to have directed his troops to make the interior of Samar a howling wilderness. Some Wyoming veterans, like Cheryl Shannon at Veterans of Foreign Wars, said they were fine with the decision to return the bells. Were tired of it always being an issue, said Shannon, an Iraq war veteran. But Hank Miller, a veteran with the VFW who wanted to keep the bells in Wyoming, said broader support for his position had faded as it became clear Washington would return the bells. I was advised to stop fighting a losing battle and stop beating a dead horse as the bells were going back, Miller said. Riyadhs latest account dismissed as inadequate by Turkey as US sanctions 17 Saudis it said were involved in killing. Authorities in Saudi Arabia say they will seek the death penalty for five people who have been accused of carrying out the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdoms consulate in Istanbul. The latest Saudi account on Thursday was almost immediately dismissed as inadequate by Turkish officials, while the United States moved to sanction 17 Saudis it said were involved in the October 2 killing. Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Shaalan al-Shaalan, Saudi Arabias deputy public prosecutor, said the incident began on September 29 when a former deputy chief of intelligence ordered the leader of the mission to bring back the victim by means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force. While the prosecutors office did not give names, General Ahmad al-Assiri, who was fired as deputy head of intelligence in the wake of the killing, has been implicated in the killing. {articleGUID} The mission leader also not named then put together a 15-member team to return the journalist from Turkey. The team included a forensics expert for the purpose of removing evidence from the scene and a local collaborator tasked with securing a safe house in case force had to be used to return the victim. Al-Shalaan said that on the morning of October 2, the leader of the negotiating team saw that he would not be able to force Khashoggi to return, so he decided to kill him in the moment. The 59-year-old then died from a lethal injection the official cause of death is listed as a drug overdose and his body was dismembered and taken out of the building, he said. The body parts were delivered to the local collaborator and another man put on Khashoggis clothes and posed as the journalist exiting the consulate. According to Saudi investigators, the cameras inside the consulate were disabled during the drugging and dismemberment of Khashoggi. Al-Shaalan said 21 people were now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial, adding that Saud al-Qahtani, a former adviser to the royal court, had been banned from travelling and remained under investigation. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for five officials who gave the orders and oversaw the execution of the murder. Al-Shaalan said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, was not implicated in the gruesome murder that has triggered global outrage. Later on Thursday, Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabias foreign minister, reiterated that the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with Khashoggis death. Turkish dismissal, US sanctions Khashoggi, a critic of MBSs supposed reform programme, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain a document certifying his divorce. {articleGUID} Saudi authorities had initially stated the journalist left the consulate, before backtracking and admitting on October 20 he was killed by rogue operatives. Turkish officials have said it is unlikely Khashoggi could have been killed without the knowledge of MBS, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying the orders came from the highest levels of the Saudi government. According to the New York Times, a member of the Saudi team that killed Khashoggi made a phone call shortly after his death, instructing someone in Saudi Arabia to tell your boss that the assassination had been carried out. The Saudi announcement on Thursday failed to appease Turkish officials, who insist the killing and its cover-up were carried out by the highest levels of government. Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkeys foreign minister, criticised the Saudi announcement as insufficient and insisted the killing was premeditated. Turkish law is applicable in this case, even though the murder took place in the Saudi consulate, he said, demanding that all the suspects be extradited and tried in accordance with Turkish law. Later on Thursday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their role in the killing. Among those sanctioned were Saud al-Qahtani, who has been removed from his position as a top aide to MBS, as well as the Saudi Consul-General Mohammed al-Otaibi and members of the 15-member team. No faith in Saudi judiciary Bill Law, a journalist and Middle East analyst, told Al Jazeera that despite not being implicated, there was enormous pressure accumulating on MBS, and Turkey could demand an international probe into the journalists murder. Just yesterday, Lindsey Graham described him [MBS] as unreliable and unstable. Graham, a senior Republican senator, and Bob Corker, the chair of the foreign relations committee, have called for an immediate end to the arms deals that the US has [with Saudi Arabia] in the Yemen war and has also said that as far as hes concerned, Mohammed bin Salman is the person responsible, Law said. [Erdogan] will keep up the demand for an international investigation. It is clear that no one has any faith in the Saudis investigating effectively, Mohammed bin Salman investigating himself nor in the Saudi judicial system. Its a pressure point that Erdogan can continue to push on and I think he will do that. Air and ground offensive have stopped as the alliance says it backs UN-proposed talks to end the weeks of fighting. The Saudi-UAE military alliance says it is halting its offensive on the western Yemeni city of Hodeidah, after nearly two weeks of fierce air and ground assault to push out Houthi rebels from the strategic city. A source in the military alliance told the Reuters news agency on Thursday that the coalition has instructed forces on the ground to halt fighting inside Hodeidah which is the port of entry for most food, aid and commercial goods. A non-military source with knowledge of the decision said the coalition was responding to international requests for a ceasefire to ensure the Houthis attend planned peace talks. Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow, reporting from neighbouring Djibouti, said there had been limited reaction from the Houthis but the armed group was prepared to continue fighting. So far, theres been a lull in fighting. The Houthis have not confirmed the ceasefire but have said that both sides are keeping to their positions. Between November 3 and 12, there had been more than 200 air attacks on the city, with the fighting killing at least 600 Houthis according to an AFP tally. A number of countries had recently called for a cessation ahead of renewed UN-led peace efforts to end the war which has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. Among them were the United States, Britain and France, three countries that provide the coalition with military equipment, intelligence and logistics. The UAEs Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, said the Emirates supported UN plans to hold peace talks in Sweden by the end of the year. We welcome early convening of UN-led talks in Sweden, Gargash, tweeted. He said the coalition would urge all parties to take advantage of [the] window of opportunity to restart the political process at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday. We welcome early convening of UN-led talks in Sweden. At UNSC meeting on Friday, Coalition will urge all parties to take advantage of window of opportunity to restart political process. We look forward to hosting Martin Griffiths this week in Abu Dhabi. . (@AnwarGargash) November 14, 2018 Yemens president vows to liberate city Yemens exiled president said late on Wednesday that he backed UN-proposed talks to end the fighting but vowed to liberate the port city regardless of the peace process. A spokesman for the president said via the official Saba news agency that Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has issued directives to back all efforts that guarantee the interests of Yemen in reaching sustainable peace based on UN resolutions. {articleGUID} The battle of the Yemeni people to liberate Hodeidah is inevitable, whether through peace or war, the statement said. The conflict in Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country, began when the government slashed fuel subsidies in the summer of 2014, prompting angry protests and forcing thousands onto the capitals streets. The Houthis seized the opportunity and marched south from their stronghold of Saada province to the capital, Sanaa, where they toppled Hadis government. The US-backed Saudi-UAE military coalition intervened in 2015 with a massive air campaign aimed at reinstalling Hadis government. Since then, data collected by Al Jazeera and the Yemen Data Project has found that more than 18,000 air attacks have been carried out in Yemen, with almost one-third of all bombing missions striking non-military sites. Weddings, funerals, schools and hospitals, as well as water and electricity plants, have been targeted, killing and wounding thousands. Review team adopts recommendation that makes possible the expropriation of land without compensation. A parliamentary committee in South Africa has backed a recommendation to amend the constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) aims to change the constitution to allow for the new legislation to address racial disparities in ownership that persist more than two decades after apartheids demise in 1994. Its legislators on the Constitutional Review Committee, along with those of the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters voted in favour of the proposed change on Thursday. The amendment was rejected by the main opposition Democratic Alliance. South Africans have spoken, loud and clear, and we listened to their cry, Lewis Nzimande, co-chairperson of the committee, said in a statement. This has truly been a massive project. We have seen people queuing for long periods, just to make sure they have a say on the matter. The review teams recommendation will now go to the national assembly for consideration. The panels conclusions are likely to be challenged in court before a full vote by legislators to change the constitution. STATEMENT OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE ON LAND EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION pic.twitter.com/trDJtIwHs3 African National Congress (@MYANC) November 15, 2018 {articleGUID} AgriSA, an association of agricultural associations, criticised the committees recommendation, saying the amendment of section 25 of the constitution would be diametrically opposed to the protection of property rights and would gravely harm the economy. Dan Kriek, Agri SA president, said his organisation would challenge the recommendation, which it termed reckless and populist, through its legal team. The proposed amendment is politically motivated and will cause large-scale damage to the South African economy, he said. "We shall do everything in our power to oppose an amendment." Ernest Pringle, Chair of Agri SA Centre of Excellence: Land.#AgriSA will roll out the next phase of its tactical plan against expropriation without compensation #EWChttps://t.co/q7tPIVOtsO Agri SA (@AgriSA1904) November 15, 2018 The legacy of apartheid The issue of land remains among the most sensitive and divisive in the country. At its core, apartheid was a discriminatory system that left black South Africans either dispossessed or denied access to land, infrastructure and resources, while their white counterparts were given preferential treatment and access to the economy. President Cyril Ramaphosas ANC aims to change the constitution to allow for the new legislation to address racial disparities in ownership that persist more than two decades after apartheids demise in 1994. It is estimated that white South Africans, who make up around nine percent of the population, own around 73 percent of the commercial agricultural land. As it stands, black people own more than 50 percent of agricultural land in just two of the countrys nine provinces. The ANC faces tricky elections next year as its support has declined steadily since Nelson Mandela led it to victory in the 1994 poll. The ruling party has made the acceleration of land redistribution a key issue ahead of the elections. Ramaphosa took office in February and has pledged to revive the economy and restore the partys popularity after the nine-year reign of his scandal-tainted predecessor Jacob Zuma. Dozens of MPs fought and some who fell on the floor were kicked by rivals amid governmental vacuum in the country. Sri Lankas parliament descended into chaos with MPs swinging punches and throwing projectiles a day after legislators voted the prime minister out of office. Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya said the country had no government as parliament re-convened on Thursday, a day after the no-confidence vote against newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The motion passed with the backing of 122 MPs in the 225-member legislature. Jayasuriya said there was no prime minister, neither Rajapaksa nor his rival whose ousting in late October started the crisis. {articleGUID} Dozens of MPs fought and some who fell on the floor were kicked by rivals. Some of Rajapaksas supporters threw water bottles and rubbish bins in the parliament. The Speaker then adjourned the proceedings. Rajapaksa said the no-confidence vote should not have been a voice vote, calling for fresh elections. President Maithripala Sirisena in a letter to the Speaker said he cannot accept the no-confidence vote as the Speaker appeared to have ignored the constitution, parliamentary procedure and traditions. Sirisena, who triggered the crisis by firing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Rajapaksa, a controversial former president, to the job late last month, dissolved parliament last week and ordered elections as a way to break the deadlock. Supreme Court overturns decree However, the Supreme Court overturned that decree on Tuesday until it had heard petitions challenging the move as unconstitutional. It is difficult to say who is in charge in Sri Lanka. Now we are left with a power vacuum, Al Jazeeras Bernard Smith, reporting from Colombo, told Al Jazeera. {articleGUID} The United States, European Union and other members of the international community have raised concerns over the crisis. Only China has recognised the appointment of Rajapaksa, who during his decade as president until 2015 relied heavily on Beijing for diplomatic and financial support. Protocol-busting move follows a falling out reportedly linked to a dispute over seating arrangements on a plane. An angry Donald Trump removed a senior adviser after his wife demanded her sacking, with more heads set to roll in a White House reshuffle triggered by infighting and setbacks in the midterm elections. Aides said Mira Ricardel clashed with First Lady Melania Trumps staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. The protocol-busting move followed a falling out that press leaks say was partly linked to a dispute over seating arrangements on the plane that took the first lady for a tour of African countries in October. Ricardel was also reportedly blamed for negative news coverage of Melania Trump. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying: It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under his administration. No replacement was named. Transition role An ally of national security adviser John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. Ricardel will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. Sanders did not elaborate on what Ricardels new job would be. The start to the second half of Trumps first term is enveloped in gloom as the president surveys the damage from the midterms, tension with some of the United States closest allies, and now turmoil inside the administration. On Wednesday, he was quoted by right-wing website The Daily Caller saying that a wider reshuffle is coming. A lot of people want to come in, a lot of politicians who have had very successful careers want to come in, he said. Adult in the room The biggest name on the chopping block, according to multiple US media reports, is chief of staff John Kelly. A retired Marine Corps general, he has often been referred to as the adult in the room during Trumps drama-prone administration, even if critics say he has done little to temper the presidents most damaging outbursts. Now Kellys days are numbered, according to the unconfirmed but mounting leaks to US media. His position, tenuous for months, has been undermined further by reports that he also clashed with Melania Trump a relatively backstage first lady who has rarely made her influence so obviously felt as this week. Melania Trump was angry that Kelly had refused to promote some of her aides, reports say. Another expected reshuffle casualty is Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, a Kelly ally who oversees the politically sensitive task of carrying out Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration. Trump told The Daily Caller hell make a decision on homeland shortly. The president has been in a funk since last weeks midterms that saw Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives, ending the Republicans dominance of both chambers of Congress. While the Republicans held their Senate majority, the Democratic win means the president will for the first time face an opposition that has teeth. Democrats vow to use their control of powerful House oversight committees to go after Trumps nebulous personal finances and to protect an explosive probe into whether his 2016 election campaign colluded with Russian agents. Pressure is mounting from the probe as the special counsel Robert Mueller digs ever more deeply into the presidents inner circle. Vatican delays taking action on sexual abuse by priests Conference of Catholic Bishops told to wait until next year to ensure more oversight and accountability. What is America to me? A name, a map, or flag, or a certain word, democracy? One of the great lines in American movies is that from The Man who Shot Liberty Valance: "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the portrait of Shakespeare's Henry V played by Laurence Olivier as the paragon of English patriotism and chivalry, commanding and celebrating one version of England's "finest hour." In fact, he and his troops, "noblest English whose blood is fet (derived) from fathers of war-proof," were ruthless. At the crucial battle of Agincourt in 1415 his troops hacked French soldiers to death and executed prisoners taken during the battle. Was this behavior patriotic or nationalist, similar in nature to the appalling nationalism of the past, with Napoleon, Stalin, Hitler, and the countries in World War I? The question of patriotism and nationalism has now become a conspicuous political issue because of the remarks of French President Emmanuel Macron on November 11, 2018 at the 100th Armistice anniversary ceremony in Paris. In a speech alloyed with implicit comments critical of policies of President Donald Trump, he was concerned with the increase of nationalism in the U.S. and in European countries. After World War I, humiliation, the spirit of revenge, economic and moral crises, dislike of elites, immigration from the Middle East, fed the rise of nationalism and authoritarianism. War returned twenty years later came to ravage the path of peace. Certainly in view of developments, Serbian nationalism in Bosnia in October in 2018, in Germany (AfD), Austrian coalition, Sweden Democrats, FN in France, and Brexit, Macron's complaint is justifiable, since almost all of these movements are associated with the political far right. But Macron's remarks were also aimed at Donald Trump's speech in Houston on October 22, 2018. Patriotism, Macron asserted, is the exact opposite of nationalism. He defines nationalism as "putting our nation first, and not caring about the others." By saying our interests first, and not caring about the others, "we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential, its moral values." There are two interrelated issues. One involves the distinction between the two terms patriotism and nationalism, abstract terms that can be defined in different ways whether emphasis is on territory, people, race, religion, or language, or enemies. How is one to interpret, "Allons, enfants de la Patrie" -- as patriotism or nationalism? How is the extraordinary outburst of emotion displayed when the Marseillaise is sung, drowning out the Nazi song, in the film Casablanca to be construed? The second issue is the call for European military and political detachment to some extent from the U.S., and stress on the ability of France and Europe to defend itself against aggression, such as cyberattacks, in independent fashion. It's curious that President Macron, most of whose previous years have been involved in global finance, should also be influenced by past and present philosophy. Some studies have shown that his thinking has been influenced not only by giants of the past but also by Paul Ricoeur, whom he helped write the work, Memory, History, Forgetting, published in 2004. From Ricoeur he took the ideas of rejecting political utopia and the need to accept compromise solutions to problems. Macron, at least in theory, maintains belief in individual autonomy, reason, progress, and universal laws, enabling people to be the master of their own destiny. Politically, this has meant faith in the effectiveness of markets, and the need and ability of government to empower individuals. More important, Macron as a multiculturalist and pro-European, and as an opponent of and concerned about the spread in Europe of populism has denounced nationalists. Yet, there are two problems. One is that the denunciation of nationalists has strong overtones of opposition to Trump's rhetoric of America First. The other is that the proposed alternative of European collaboration is to be based on strengthening European military forces, and on the ability of Europe to defend itself alone, without relying on the U.S., in a more sovereign manner. One can ask, is this a form of European nationalism? If nationalism means loyalty and devotion to one nation, and exalting that nation above all others, putting primary emphasis on the promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups, this formula might be applicable to a European entity that is supposed to defend itself alone, though NATO exists for that purpose. In this regard is Macron wearing the face of a nationalist? The second issue is reminiscent of the policy of Charles de Gaulle fifty years ago. Although there were changes in his rhetoric throughout the years relative to changes in France and in international politics, de Gaulle's outlook was largely nationalistic, from his speech in London on June 18, 1940 to his later calls for the restoration of France, its self-reliance and sovereignty, and the need for sacrifice if necessary. A champion of the politics of grandeur, his policy was based on French national independence. In practice, this meant the June 1966 withdrawal from NATO's military integrated command, and the launching of an independent nuclear deterrent, though France remained politically within the organization. He called for France to lead a Europe of Europeans, not one under Americans. France did not return to the NATO military command until 2009. The comment of Richard Nixon was apt; de Gaulle's assertiveness vis a vis the U.S. caused American presidents never to take France for granted. The essential Gaullist argument was voiced by Macron at the Armistice gatherings in Paris and at Compiegne where the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918 between the Allied powers and Germany. Noticeably, German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined the position of Macron, wanting closer defense co-operation between EU member states and creation of a "real" or "true" European army. Part of their argument is that Trump policy, "America First," makes the case for European self-reliance more pressing. Already, there are preparations to create a European joint intervention force for military operations, with 17 projects of cooperation in military logistics, and proposals for development of joint weapons systems. In the analysis of the two terms, patriotism and nationalism, an essay Notes on Nationalism by George Orwell written in May 1945 has been influential. He identified nationalism as the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Patriotism he saw as devotion to a particular place and way of life which one believed to be the best in the world, but has no wish to force on other people. He concludes that patriotism is of its nature defensive both militarily and culturally. Nationalism is inseparable from the desire for power. Yet this is not the whole truth. Orwell was writing about Hitler and Mussolini. Nationalism can also be a spur and unite peoples. Contemporary nationalists, such as Narendra Modi in India, Shinzo Abe in Japan, and Benjamin Netanyahu, of whom criticisms can be made, do not fit this Orwell category. Nor would Mohandras Gandhi , with his doctrine of swaraj, self-rule, and nationalism that was realistic, a uniter of peoples, Hindus and Muslims. Love of one's country can take different forms. Perhaps the most eloquent eulogy of one's country is that of John of Gaunt in Shakespeare's Richard II, "This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England," but two things are forgotten -- that he was French-speaking; and that in real life Gaunt was in favor of peace negotiations with France. Up until about now, I've been against the idea of firing Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. She's said the right things and any hampering of her duties seems to have been largely been the work of leftwing lawyers and mob protestors. I'm not so sure of that anymore. The news has been out for days, that the caravan migrants making their way up from Mexico would be entering the U.S. illegally through Tijuana. Not just any place from Tijuana, but a very specific place, Playas de Tijuana, where the land touches water so it's exceptionally easy to pinpoint on the vast 1,954-mile stretch of the U.S. Mexico border. It's where the organizers of the caravan, Pueblo Sin Fronteras, have a known base of operations. They used it for the April operation and now they are using it for the current one. You can read all about it in the San Diego Union-Tribune's report three days ago, describing how Tijuana was "bracing" for the caravan, and where outraged Tijuana locals are rather unhappy about the caravan setting up camp in their upscale neighborhood again. Last night, they actually got into a confrontation. It was right at that point that the caravaners put on a show, climbing the U.S. border fence as U.S. Border Patrol agents watched, waving their arms, yelling victory. And at least one jumped over before jumping back, consequence-free, having his fun as the U.S. agents stood by. We all know who won in that one. Image credit: Fox News / San Diego Union-Tribune video screengrab Here is the entire Fox News-San Diego Union-Tribune video. What they did, for them, was Mission Accomplished. They were able to demonstrate that the U.S. is a paper tiger as far as the border goes, and there is no reason to fear jumping the border illegally. The border in fact, remains a joke and the U.S. in fact is powerless. That was the purpose of the show. They demonstrated for the TV cameras that they can jump the border any time they like and there's not a thing the U.S. can do to stop it. Which is what we saw. Two big pieces of incompetence stand out for me: Where was the much-reported razor wire the U.S. military was supposedly installing? I watched television programs and looked at news photos and I could not find any. The Department of Homeland Security had days of intelligence, printed right there in the newspapers and news broadcasts, that the caravaners were headed to Playas de Tijuana, which would be the most logical place to string the wire. Yet they didn't string the wire. Oh, there was some belated stringing of wire, done by neither the military nor the DHS, but the news videos said it was done by contractors. And it was done late, reactively, after the first news accounts of the border spectacle made the news. No strategic estimates there about exactly where such wire would be needed, apparently it might've just been strung up in Arizona, where Gen. Mattis and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen made a show of visiting troops a couple days earlier. Talk about being caught flatfooted. Here's another thing: The Department of Homeland Security's website doesn't seem to think the caravan's arrival is a big event, either. Their last notation about it, posted two weeks ago, posts 'myth and fact' about the caravan. That's a little old. Their Operation Faithful Patriot link goes to what it calls 'b-roll' which is background news, not 'a-roll' headline news. The border security link features a big item on security at the U.S.-Canadian border. This doesn't sound like they consider this whole matter any big thing. As for the concertina or razor wire that was belatedly strung, look at how bad it is - this is a DHS screengrab: It goes right to the beach water level and stops right there. Afte that, no concertina wire and just a low level fence. If you were a caravan illegal trying to get through to San Diego, a fit young man of military age who had just swam a border river on Mexico's south, and walked and hitched truck rides thousands of miles from Honduras, would that fence be much of a physical problem for you? The only thing you'd do is walk over to the beach side with your feet in an inch or two of beach water and jump over to the U.S. from that point because it's a no-brainer. You'd land in the soft sand and get your feet wet which would be a heckuva easy thing given the border fence you busted through, the bridges you jumped down and the rivers you swam back in Mexico. I just don't see any seriousness from the U.S. about this, despite the big press buildup about troops to the border and increased security as the caravaners announce their intention to break in in mass numbers. Apparently, it doesn't bother anyone, other than President Trump, that the migrants are making a big show of U.S. incompetence. Now let's go to the border visit, which got a big buildup in the press, what with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visiting the troops. The press accounts that ran in San Diego never quite mentioned where this visit was, but if you listen closely to one of the longer videos, the soldier explains to Mattis that the border reinforcement at Nogales in Arizona was the priority, even as he seems to know that the illegals may "punch through" to Tijuana. From this video, I simply don't understand how with that knowledge the two U.S. agencies had, they didn't put two and two together and reinforce the Tijuana end. Mattis almost beclowns himself by making a reference in this video here about all of these ineffective border actions being 'environmentally' correct, focusing on that instead of whether the entire operation was effective, which doesn't speak well for a general who up until now has been known as "mad dog" for his focus on results. He seems more interested in process than results. As for Nielsen, there she is, in a big huge black coat with an old lady pin attached and aviator glasses, looking for all the world like Teresa May, and just as ineffective, largely saying nothing, passive and afraid to engage because it didn't seem to be her show. She looks grim most of the time and then manically laughs at one point. All I can say is I'm unimpressed. I'm totally open to other explanations as to what went on in that border visit, perhaps they were reinforcing Arizona because the cartels were looking to take advantage of the migrant attention in Tijuana as a good opportunity to move their "loads" without lawmen attention, but if so, someone should have said something. This looks like incompetence and the migrants are flashing the victory sign because they have changed the terms of battle to the propaganda front, they have gotten the camera attention and the message they wanted out and the U.S. is incapable of stopping them. That concertina wire should have been up. I think it's time for Nielsen and maybe Mattis to go. Australia appears to be backing away from a proposal floated last month to move that nations embassy to Jerusalem. Why? Pushback from Indonesia, which is negotiating a free trade pact with Australia. New.com.au reports: Fairfax Media reported a Morrison Government minister had quietly reassured Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita that the proposal - which has become the sticking point holding up a $16.5 billion free trade agreement between the two countries - had a slim chance of going ahead. Asked today what the chances were the embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Mr Morrison told reporters in Singapore: All I have said is that we will consider the matter. The Prime Minister has copped a backlash over the idea from Indonesia, Palestine and other predominantly Muslim countries, as well as the federal Opposition, since he floated the idea the week before last months crucial Wentworth by-election. The Guardian reports: Scott Morrison will attempt to rescue the Australia-Indonesia free trade agreement in his first meeting with Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Singapore. Indonesias trade minister, Enggartiasto Lukita, has confirmed there will be no deal while Australia considers moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It can be signed any time but when you will sign it depends on Australias position [on the embassy], he told Indonesian media in Singapore on Tuesday, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. Indonesia the worlds most populous Muslim country and a strong supporter of Palestine is furious at the potential relocation, which was announced during the Wentworth byelection. This is very regrettable. I am sure that Australia wants to increase its trade with Indonesia, which is a population giant compared to Down Under, and which has a growing economy. But backing away does not augur well for future relations between the two nations. President Trump was willing to take backlash: Photo credit: Flickr but with Australias Liberal government (in fact, the conservative party) in trouble and facing elections, courage may be in short supply in Canberra. Hat tip: John McMahon Frances president Emmanuel Macron has got more to be worried about than his disastrous lack of public support in polling. He is facing a grass roots spontaneous, massive disruption of French highways this weekend, and he sounds a bit scared. Consider what is brewing for the weekend in France. I have found no coverage in American media. From France Bleu, via Google Translate: Collective of citizens have called for demonstrating and blocking roads this Saturday, November 17 everywhere in France against rising fuel prices. What are the places blocked by yellow vests? Where are the disturbances planned? Here is map of the planned blockages (so far) (hat tip: L. Gardy LaRoche) The movement has adopted the name yellow vests, wearing the fluorescent safety vests worn for protection against road accidents, and using social media to organize. One Facebook page features this picture of a crows of yellow vested protesters. The fact that this movement is entirely spontaneous is the scariest aspect for Macron and the entire French establishment. High taxes on fuel make it far more expensive than the prices Americans complain about: Spontaneous, protean and unframed, the elusive movement of "yellow vests" worries the executive, who has already warned against blocking roads Saturday . On the other hand, this movement destabilizes the parties that are trying to position themselves, at the risk of accusations of recovery. The magnitude of the movement remains difficult to predict. Will it coagulate the discontent accumulated around purchasing power in general? At the beginning of November, 78% of French people said they were supporting the mobilization against rising fuel prices, according to an Odoxa-Dentsu survey conducted for franceinfo and Le Figaro. That may well be why Macron has just escalated his rhetoric against President Trump by invoking a term from feudalism, as Reuters reports: President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told Donald Trump that France was the United States' ally and not a vassal state after the U.S. president attacked him in a series of tweets that demonstrated how much their relationship had soured. (snip) Asked in an interview on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier whether he was offended by Trump's tweets, Macron talked at length about the long military alliance between the two countries, from America's War of Independence onward. "At every moment of our history, we were allies, so between allies, respect is due," Macron told TF1 television. As Paul Bonicelli noted in the Federalist: when you are a former world leader and now only a middling power, and not very economically strong at that, and you have an overweening desire to lead other countries, you have to do something. So you take on what you say is the worlds problem child (hyperpower is the usual French derogatory term), led by a man you say evokes the specter of dangerous nationalism, and hope for the best Macrons frame of reference is seriously out of date, and not just on feudalism. Mark Thiessen pointed out I the Washington Post (non-paywall version) American conservatives have always been nationalists, but while European nationalism is based on blood and soil, ours is a creedal nationalism built on an idea the idea of human freedom. That is why America can make the audacious claim that we are an exceptional nation. While a family of immigrants can live in France for generations and still not be accepted as French, when immigrants jump into the Great American Melting Pot they become indistinguishable from any other American within a generation. European nationalism is inherently exclusive; American nationalism is inherently inclusive. And there are millions across the world who are already Americans in their hearts, even though they have not arrived here yet. It is more pleasant for Macron to pick a fight with Trump than confront his angry citizenry. Greed, thy name is Michelle Obama. So goes an excellent expose of the whole fake tour of the former first lady being fed to us in the press, from New York Post columnist Maureen Callahan. She starts with the price, writing: On Tuesday night, the former first lady kicked off her 10-city North American book tour, which more closely resembled a cult-of-personality-propaganda-rally, at the United Center in Chicago. (Dates have been added in London, where scalped tickets are going for over $90,000 each, and Paris.) A sliver of the 20,000 seats available for the Chicago event were priced at $29.50, and those sold out within five minutes of going on sale in September. What remained were tickets ranging from $500 to $3,000. The cheapest ticket I could find, five days after the on- sale date, was for $920.81, and that came with no extras: No meet-and-greet, no signed book, no free book, no T-shirt or tote bag or even a food court coupon. Just the privilege of sitting on an uncomfortable folding chair for three hours as Michelle Obama engaged in the kind of sleazy cash grab/ego stroke normally the province of Hillary Clinton. Not exactly a woman of the people. She's gone full celeb, actually, which includes the capacity to shut herself off from the public except for the carefully choreographed and styled silver screen moments. What's worse is the content of the phony show - fake poverty. Callahan gets her good for that: Even more dispiriting: The first third of Obamas memoir Becoming part of a $65 million joint book deal that includes her husbands forthcoming memoir is all about her childhood of poverty and dispossession on Chicagos South Side. She writes, movingly and without self-pity, of the cramped one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment she and her brother were raised in, sleeping side-by-side in the living room, the young Michelle dreaming of a house with stairs. Her grandfather had no teeth. Her mother brought their own food to the drive-in. Pizza was a luxury. In summer, the family would stretch a single pint of ice cream for days. Her parents never went out to dinner and her family never took a vacation. It's fake, of course, a Hollywood movie-set type of poverty, because Michelle grew up the daughter of a Chicago ward heeler who knew how to dole out the political favors with political muscle. He ensured the family lived better than other families. Grosser still, she's hailed as the ultimate American success story, complete with Katy Perry anthems. Lest that seem an exaggeration, note that the audience was subjected to a full hour of adulatory video packages set to female hero anthems Katy Perrys Roar, Alicia Keys Girl on Fire, Kelly Clarksons Stronger depicting Michelle Obama as the American Woman Nonpareil, with testimonials from students, veterans, teachers, celebrities, late-night hosts, even her own media-shy daughters. This is a dangerous exercise in hagiographic narcissism, one too easy for the subject to believe. Its impossible to imagine any figure on the right getting such a pass from the media, let alone praise for it. Callahan wonders what the heck the woman really wants with this money- and adore-me fest beyond the money. Obama has artfully depicted herself as she is, both groundbreaking historical figure and a celebrity. She may be running for president, or may be #becoming a lifestyle guru. These days, such career paths are interchangeable. Sounds like a pretty good analysis. Michelle positioning herself to be the next Oprah, her fellow Chicagoan. I imagine Oprah might not like that, given her own markets, but let's see what happens. What remains disturbing is that so many people are willing to buy it. Read the whole thing here. I am one of the signatories to a GoFundMe appeal (see below) to Americans for financial support of Sharyl Attkissons lawsuit against the Department of Justice over spying on her computer that took place following her honest reporting on activities of the Obama administration. This is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment's protections. Sharyl is one of Americas premier investigative reporters, and the actions taken against her are the best measure of her effectiveness. Please go to the GoFundMe page and donate whatever you can to get to the root of the corruption about which she reported. https://www.gofundme.com/sharyl-attkisson-4th-am-litigation For those who have forgotten, here are some reminders from that page of what happened to Sharyl Attkisson. As CBS News reported on August 13, 2013: [A] cybersecurity firm hired by CBS News 'has determined through forensic analysis' that 'Attkisson's computer was accessed by an unauthorized, external, unknown party on multiple occasions in late 2012. Evidence suggests this party performed all access remotely using Attkisson's accounts'. As The Daily Caller reported November 21, 2014: Newly released documents show the White House and Justice Department targeted investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson in hopes of thwarting her reporting for CBS News on the secretive government operation called Fast and Furious. To date, five independent forensics exams have uncovered various aspects of the unauthorized remote surveillance of Sharyl's computers. Expert analysts found software used in the remote intrusions is proprietary to a U.S. federal government intelligence agency. Forensic analysis uncovered government Internet Protocol (IP addresses) used in the operation. Additionally, software installed remotely monitored Sharyl's keystrokes and activated her computers microphones to listen in on conversations. Analysts tracked the path of exfiltrated data from Sharyls home to the FBI center in Quantico, Virginia. Three classified government documents were found planted in Sharyls computer, and her social media accounts and phones were also compromised. When Sharyl recently spoke at a legal seminar on Fourth Amendment surveillance abuses, some of the attending lawyers were stunned to hear that not a single journalism group or civil liberties organization has stepped up to become involved in the case, or help pay for Sharyls legal fees. Sharyl and her family are financing this litigation out of their own pockets, and to see this case to the end could cost upwards of $1,000,000. One reason Sharyls case is so important is because there are likely more cases like hers that have gone undiscovered. Internal emails at the shadow CIA company Stratfor, and disclosed by WikiLeaks, imply a larger effort: Obama Leak Investigations (internal use only - pls do not forward) Brennan is behind the witch hunts of investigative journalists learning information from inside the beltway sources. Note -- There is specific tasker from the WH to go after anyone printing materials negative to the Obama agenda (oh my.) Even the FBI is shocked. The Wonder Boys must be in meltdown mode Stratfor, Sept. 21, 2010 If these violations go unanswered and unpunished, government attacks on journalists and citizens will be left, unchallenged, to expand. Sharyls lawsuit has important Constitutional and freedom implications for every American. She is courageously proceeding -- really on behalf of all Americans. The Department of Justice, first under Obama and now under Trump, has failed to launch appropriate efforts to learn who is responsible for the intrusions and to remedy the violations. Instead, the agency is spending taxpayer funds and public time -- all unlimited, unlike Sharyls resources -- fighting her lawsuit and obstructing attempts to discover the facts. This has exacerbated the damage caused by the intrusions in terms of emotional distress, professional distraction and financial cost. Sharyls case is perfect for a GoFundMe account, but she felt uncomfortable about setting one up for herself. So we, the undersigned, have stepped in to help her, with all proceeds going directly to Sharyl for her lawsuit. Please donate what you can: $10, $25, $100, $250, $500, or whatever your best gift may be. Our goal is $400,000. And please share this on your social media pages, and forward this GoFundMe link to friends. This is an extremely important case about the limits and consequences of government spying on Americans personal and work computers, and is being watched by many. It is in the public interest to seek accountability. It is at our own peril that we give up on the old fashioned free press and privacy notions set forth in our Constitution. Lastly, we urge you to contact the U.S. Department of Justice and the Trump administration today through social media or any other means at your disposal and tell them to stop using taxpayer money to fight Sharyl Attkisson -- a highly respected, principled journalist who was spied upon by the U.S. government. Signed, (Organizations/affiliations named for identification purposes only) Jim Babka President DownsizeDC.org, Inc. Bob Barr, Chairman, Liberty Guard Former Member of Congress William Binney Former NSA Technical Director Morton Blackwell Conservative Leadership PAC L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center David Bozell President ForAmerica Floyd Brown Publisher Western Journal Errol Copilevitz, Esq. Copilevitz & Canter Roger Craver Editor-in-Chief The Agitator The Honorable Ken T. Cuccinelli II Former Virginia Attorney General Mark J. Fitzgibbons, Esq. President of Corporate Affairs American Target Advertising, Inc. David Kirby Independent investigative journalist and author Thomas Lifson Founder and Publisher American Thinker Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund Alberto A. Martinez Professor of History University of Texas at Austin Michael McCray National Spokesman ACORN 8 Mark Crispin Miller Professor of Media, Culture & Communication New York University Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Partner Foley & Lardner LLP William J. Olson, Esq. Free Speech Defense and Education Fund Kathleen Patten President/CEO American Target Advertising, Inc. George Rasley Editor ConservativeHQ.com Marcel Reid Co-organizer Whistleblower Summit for Civil & Human Rights Alfred S. Regnery Chairman Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund Mark Tapscott Member, Freedom Forums Freedom of Information Hall of Fame Richard A. Viguerie Chairman FedUp Political Action Committee The far left group Antifa, who justifies violence against their political opponents as a means to combat "fascism," received a direct warning from Donald Trump in an interview with the Daily Caller. The Hill: "They better hope that the opposition to antifa decides not to mobilize, Trump told the conservative outlet The Daily Caller in an interview. "Because if they do, theyre much tougher. Much stronger. Potentially much more violent." "And antifas going to be in big trouble," the president continued. "But so far they havent done that and thats a good thing." The left-wing antifa movement is known for its direct protests of events and figures that supporters accuse of spreading white supremacist and fascist ideals. The loosely-affiliated network of groups have participated in public protests of multiple Trump administration and GOP figures. Critics have slammed its members for inciting violence at events they organize and attend. Trump identified Antifa's opponents as the "police," "the military," and "a lot of "tough people." The president wasn't specific about which "tough people" he was talking about, but it's safe to assume he was referring to far right, violent white supremacists and neo-Nazis who often clash at Antifa protests. Antifa groups describe the use of violence as necessary to combat authoritarianism. They have participated in brawls with right-wing groups across the country, including the white nationalist demonstrators during the deadly rally in Charlottesville, Va., last year. The Anti-Defamation League describes the antifa ideology as "rooted in the assumption that the Nazi party would never have been able to come to power in Germany if people had more aggressively fought them in the streets in the 1920s and 30s." Antifa's platform of "anti-fascism" is a smokescreen. Their real agenda is to overturn the established order, destroy capitalism, curtail liberty, and punish those who oppose them. Any 5 year old knows that the gaggle of half wits in the white supremacist and neo-Nazi movements have no chance in a billion years of coming to power in America - any more than Antifa thugs and their associated extremist organizations could ever gain power. But both sides find it convenient to manufacture threats to convince the gullible that they are "fighting" fascism or communism. Trump's statements about Antifa's violence being turned on them may have been stating the obvious, but his opponents won't see it that way. They will accuse the president of "enabling" the far right and encouraging them to commit violent acts against Antifa. The nutcases on the far right need no encouragement from anyone to start a fight, nor do Trump's statements enable anyone to do anything. But if Trump is once again trying to stir the pot and rile up his supporters while enraging his opponents, perhaps he should look at the results of the recent mid terms. Every time Trump does something like this, he may energize his base, but the GOP ends up losing supporters. The GOP is getting smaller and smaller, even as his base becomes more fervent in their support. Is this a recipe for victory in 2020? If Democrats, as expected, nominate a far left kook, this strategy may look like genius the day after the presidential election. The fate of a beautiful, avant-garde mosque in the Iranian capital Tehran hangs in balance as the city decides what to do with the partially completed structure. The new Vali-e-Asr mosque that was supposed to open last summer has drawn the ire of Iranian hardliners who are refusing to recognize it as a mosque because it does not have a minaret or a dome. The daring mosque was designed by Iranian architects Reza Daneshmir and Catherine Spiridonoff, co-founders of Fluid Motion Architects, who won the commission for its design way back in 2008. Because the new mosque was set to stand next to Tehran's City Theatera spectacular tiled circular structure built before the 1979 revolutionthe architect couple picked a modern design which they thought would blend harmoniously with its older neighbor. A curvaceous roof sweeps from the ground towards the Qibla, located in the direction of Mecca, while narrow slit-like windows embedded on the wave-like structure allows light inside. The building doesnt have any of the traditional architectural elements of a mosque, such as minarets and domes. Photo credit: Deed Studio We tried to create an interaction between the mosque, which has a cultural essence, and the City theatre. We wanted to make it a cultural project that would be in harmony with its surroundings the mosque should respond to the needs of its own time, the architects said. Our biggest source for this project was the Quran itself, they said. We tried to design this mosque with modesty, simplicity and good faith, and not a mosque which would get its pride from its structural height. Reza Daneshmir and Catherine Spiridonoff are a new generation of Iranian architects who are keen to follow in the footsteps of a pre-revolutionary avant garde, pushing the boundaries of traditional Persian architecture by using traditional elements in modern designs. Related: The Glittering Mausoleum of Shah-e-Cheragh The Vali-e-Asr mosque was designed to co-exit with the City Theater and not overshadow it, by making the mosque deliberately shorter than the theaters heighta fact that religious Muslims are offended with. A conservative newspaper reported that the mosque was sacrificed for the City theatre, and described its postmodern design as insulting and empty of any meaning. The Vali-e-Asr mosque doesnt have a minaret, nor a dome; neither did the first mosque, the architects said in a statement. A mosque is a place for worship, and the Quran doesnt dictate a special structure for it. Its what it contains that is important. But now the mosque might not even be completed, even as it was shortlisted for this years World Architecture Festival award. Funding was cut due to the controversy and the interior of the building now lies unfinished. The mosque was supposed to have big prayer halls, cultural centers, and an imams residence. Now some media reports suggest that the authorities intend to turn it into an Islamic cultural center, with possible physical alterations. The City Theater in Tehran, next to which the Vali-e-Asr mosque sits. Photo credit: eFesenko / Shutterstock.com Photo credit: Deed Studio Photo credit: Deed Studio Photo credit: Deed Studio Photo credit: Deed Studio A British holidaymaker died after contracting rabies in Morocco, reports the Telegraph quoting the Public Health England (PHE). No human cases of rabies from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902 (Public Health England has information on what to do if you're bitten by a bat). Health workers in Morocco and those close to the victim, who has not yet been named publicly, are being assessed for the disease and offered vaccinations if required. It said health workers and close contacts of the deceased were being assessed and offered vaccination where necessary. As is the case here, rabies is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal. However, five Britons contracted rabies overseas from animals between 2000 and 2017. A single case of human rabies acquired from a bat was reported in 2002 in Scotland; this individual had sustained a number of bat bites. According to the World Health Organization, the disease occurs in more than 150 countries and causes tens of thousands of death every year, mainly in Asia and Africa. Rabies, which is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, is an infectious viral disease which affects the brain and central nervous system. "This is an important reminder of the precautions people should take when travelling to countries where rabies is present", said Dr Mary Ramsay, the agency's head of immunizations. The infection is not found in United Kingdom animals expect in a small number of wild bats. It does not spread from human to human. The last recorded case before this one was in 2012 - the individual was bitten by a dog in South Asia. The National Travel Health Network and Centre's website TravelHealthPro has information on the risk of rabies on its country information pages. Rabies is a "zoonotic" infection of the brain and nerves. Earlier symptoms can include headaches, high temperature (38C or above), generally feeling unwell or anxious. At the time, Mr Macrae's death marked the first case of a rabies-induced fatality in Britain for 100 years. Within days, other symptoms including confusion and aggressive behaviour, muscles spasms, foaming at the mouth, an inability to move and hallucinations, may appear. Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is almost always fatal. If the condition is diagnosed before symptoms have appear, however, treatment is very effective. Googles official G Suite Twitter account was hacked on Tuesday, having started promoting a Bitcoin scam. Google is giving 10 000 Bitcoin (BTC) to all community, the poorly worded tweet read, falsely claiming G Suite now also supports making payments with the worlds most popular cryptocurrency. The tweet also contained a link to a scam masked as a giveaway, claiming anyone who sends between 0.1 and 2 Bitcoin will receive somewhere in the range of one and 20 Bitcoin back. The tweet went out to all 822,000 followers of the G Suite Twitter profile, though its presently unclear how many of them actually saw it and possibly fell victim to the scam. Google noticed the issue and removed the tweet in question within approximately fifteen minutes, one Ernst Mulders told TNW. Earlier today, Google said its investigating the incident in collaboration with Twitter, confirming the original tweet was not only unauthorized but also promoted. Its unclear how much money the scammers managed to invest in promoting the tweet before the tech giant took it down. While Google representatives use the G Suite Twitter account to respond to user-reported issues on a daily basis, the profile ceased all activity following the Tuesday incident. Background: This Tuesday, retail juggernaut Target fell victim to a similar attack, tweeting out a link to a Bitcoin giveaway scam. The firm wasnt as quick to respond to the debacle as Google, with that particular tweet staying live for some half an hour, users report. Earlier this week, Twitter vowed to conduct a coordinated crackdown on breaches of its platform associated with cryptocurrency scams, with the announcement being made mere minutes prior to the G Suite account hack. The San Francisco, California-based microblogging platform is also working with Target, though its currently unclear whether it suspects the perpetrators to be the same in both cases. Several politicians and other public figures had their Twitter accounts breached in a similar manner, with their followers consequently being greeted by tweets promoting fake Bitcoin giveaways. Elon Musk was among the people whose accounts were compromised as part of the malicious efforts which also affected the Twitter profiles of the European filmmaking juggernaut Pathe and Indian national disaster agency NDMA. Advertisement As of today, 10,000 Bitcoins that the attackers falsely claim theyre giving away are worth some $60 million. All of the misleading tweets are accompanied by hundreds of responses from supposed participants claiming they already received their rewards. The accounts themselves are believed to be bots and werent given a chance to take over the response section to the now-removed G Suite tweet from yesterday, presumably because Google managed to pull it in a matter of minutes. Account hijacking is not a new issue on Twitter but is one that became more pronounced in recent weeks, especially with the surge of cryptocurrency scams that are now primarily being promoted using such means. The ordeal is naturally attracting negative publicity to Twitter but the actual mechanics of the attacks remain unclear. Whats equally unclear is whether Twitter is any closer to preventing such hacks in the future than it was several days back, before the latest influx of the attacks. The nature of contemporary cryptocurrency makes scams such as the ones promoted by the newly emerged Twitter hackers irreversible once users send their Bitcoins to the attackers, that money is gone forever. Similar scams have been promoted throughout the World Wide Web for years now, ever since cryptocurrencies took off, though usually through obscure websites built for the sole purpose of online fraud. However, with over 326 million monthly active users as of the third quarter of the year, Twitter represents a large pool of potential victims malevolent individuals could take advantage of, especially if theyre promoting their scams under the guise of verified, credible accounts. While Facebook is a significantly larger social media network with close to five times as many users, cryptocurrency scams seemingly arent as prominent on that platform, though the fact that any kind of crypto advertising has been banned from Facebook for a significant portion of this year may be related to that. Advertisement Twitter has a much clearer stance on cryptocurrencies as its founder and Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey also established Square, a currency exchange platform that started accepting Bitcoin earlier this year. Dorsey is one of the most famous crypto advocates and is understood to be against any kind of ban on associated advertising, with the industry veteran recently even boldly proclaiming Bitcoin will replace all of the worlds currencies within the next ten years. While hes still successfully balancing his two jobs, that split is still concerning some analysts and investors. Twitter itself is also exploring the possibility of implementing blockchain technologies into its platform, according to recent reports. Google also had a ban on cryptocurrency advertising in place until late September and has recently changed its terms of service from Android developers to prevent them from using the Play Store in order to distribute and promote their mining apps. Numerous insiders previously claimed the company is also looking into the blockchain space but the influx of illegitimate initiatives such as shady initial coin offerings and scams such as the newly reported one demonstrate that the industry is still in its infancy. Impact: Twitters stock is currently unaffected by the ordeal and is still trading at above $33 as of Wednesday noon PST, which is in line with its late October value which is when the company published its quarter-three financial report. However, with the number of hacking attacks aimed at promoting cryptocurrency scams on Twitter rising, the microblogging platform may soon find itself in a world of hurt and negativity less it manages to crack down on those incidents in a swift manner. The cryptocurrency world itself also isnt benefitting from these scammers that are just the latest malevolent individuals seeking to take advantage of peoples naivety and the inherently anonymous nature of blockchain, thus attracting bad publicity to the technology as a whole. Regardless, the blockchain revolution isnt likely to stop as an increasing number of industries continue to embrace digital ledgers across a variety of use cases. A relatively small subset of Google Pixel 3 owners have reported that their devices are randomly deleting some or all of their SMS and MMS messages, and Google has now acknowledged the issue and stated that a fix will be rolling out to affected users in the near future. The issue has seen affected devices delete entire message histories or single messages at complete random, with no clue as to whats causing it. Unfortunately for affected users, all that can really be done at this point is to restore any manual backups you may have made, and just sit tight and wait for Google to issue its promised fix. Background: This mysterious problem seems to only be affecting Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL units for the time being. Scattered user reports all have the common thread of text messages going missing, but thats mostly where the similarities end. At least one user has reported that the sync function that syncs together their Google account and their phone is to blame, as it continually wipes manual backups that are loaded. Other users in places like Reddit have reported only a few stray messages going missing. Some are reporting the problem affecting them no matter what app they use for SMS and MMS messaging, and others have said that potential fixes like clearing app data for Android Messages if theyre using it has worked for them. The recent and fairly limited nature of the problem makes it difficult to research in any real depth. Impact: The subset of affected units among the grand number of early Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL adopters seems fairly small, but this is a rather grievous issue to have, all the same. SMS and MMS messaging is a fairly primary communication method among the vast majority of smartphone owners these days. Its worth noting that scattered reports thus far do not seem to indicate that this problem exists with RCS messages sent and received through the Android Messages app. Since the problem exists across apps among the set of users putting out reports, its likely safe to say that something that SMS and MMS messaging have in common is involved in the bug, and other forms of messaging, such as data-based Hangouts and Facebook Messenger communications, will not be affected. One part of the issue thats especially troubling is the fact that many of the users that this is happening to may not have a manual backup to fall back on, and are in some cases losing years of collected SMS and MMS messages that may have been synced from older phones that no longer work or are no longer in the users possession. In these cases, while Google can issue a fix to prevent the phones from wiping future text messages, its quite likely that these users will never see those cherished old messages again. Since the automatic backups happen on Googles servers, of course, its also possible that Googles fix will include helping users to retrieve their old messages. Night Sight is now in the process of rolling out to all Google Pixel phones by way of an update to the Google Camera app which is due to arrive on all devices over the next few days. Google confirmed the availability of the new feature during a blog posting while also taking the opportunity to explain in more detail how the new feature works and what owners of a Pixel phone can expect once the update arrives including the ability to use Night Sight on not just the rear main camera, but also for selfies thanks to the front-facing camera support. Night Sight is somewhat of a revolutionary smartphone camera feature as its sole purpose is to ensure shots taken in less than ideal lighting conditions are better than they would be in the absence of Night Sight. In no uncertain terms, the feature looks to add light where this is none. Differently, to say how a flash physically adds light to a scene, Night Sight does not require a flash or even look to emulate one to improve the lighting. Instead, the magic occurs through the use of machine learning by the camera app spending additional time capturing as much light as it can from a scene both before and after the photo is captured. While that simply sounds a lot like the use of a longer exposure, thats not exactly the full story here as Night Sight is taking multiple frames and then merging them together to produce the single image end result. The principle is the same, but the methodology not so much, and this is not the only example of how machine learning is in effect, as similar smarts are also being employed to reduce motion blur and noise, and also to ensure colors of target objects in view are real to life. Most impressively, Night Sight is doing all of this without the need for newer or upgraded hardware resulting in the compatibility with older devices. Background: Google technically announced Night Sight during its October hardware event where it also introduced the latest additions to the Pixel line the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. Since then, a number of users and outlets did actually manage to get a better look at the feature and how it works thanks to an early version of the app that became (unofficially) available. At the time, however, it remained unclear as to when the full version of Night Sight would launch, or for that matter, whether Google would make it available to all Pixel owners at the same time (in spite of the pre-release versions ability to be installed on older devices) or opt to push the feature to Pixel 3 phones first. Especially considering the Pixel 3 was initially used to showcase the new camera feature along with other camera Pixel 3-specific software improvements, including Top Shot and Super Res Zoom. Evidently, its now clear that Google has opted to make the feature available to all Pixel phones, although its worth noting owners of the original Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones should expect shorter exposures overall, due to that generations lack of optical image stabilization. In addition, while the feature is expected to work fine on both the first and second-generation Pixel phones, Google does note the feature works best on Pixel 3. One of the reasons given for this is the learning-based white balancer was trained in relation to the Pixel 3, and is therefore likely to be less accurate on the older Pixel phones, according to Google. Advertisement Impact: Night Sight is likely to be a feature owners of any Pixel phone will want to get to grips with quickly, as it is in many ways a game-changing feature. Google has explained that once the update arrives locally, Night Sight will be available to call upon at any point to improve low-light capturing. In fact, when a user finds themselves attempting to take a photo in less than ideal lighting conditions, the app itself will prompt the user to turn on Night Sight for better results. At which point the user can simply tap on the suggestion to launch the feature. Alternatively, following the update Night Sight will be present in the Camera apps settings and can simply be turned on by heading to the More section and tapping on the new Night Sight icon. Once activated, it will be just a matter of hitting the shutter button to take a photo and trying to hold still while Night Sight does its work. As taking an image through Night Sight does take a little longer than capturing the same image without the feature activated. This also means the scene will need to compensate in much the same way. For example, Google advises that those who are taking a photo of someone else should ensure the target person also stays still for a couple of seconds before and after the photo has been taken shutter button pressed. As while the software will look to offset against user and target movement, the more still the user and target remains during the process, the greater the results that can be expected. Night Sight is a prime example of where Google is going with its Pixel line in general. While Google has often received criticism for the lack of year-on-year hardware changes including the perceived lack of difference between the main camera on the Pixel 3 line compared to the Pixel 2 line Google has always placed a greater focus on what its smartphones can do when coupled with better software. Night Sight personifies this perfectly as it not only adds a feature to the Pixel phones that compensates for the lack of better hardware, but it is effectively a feature that you wont find on other smartphones that do come equipped with better camera hardware. This is all the more impressive when you consider Night Sight is backwards-compatible with the companys smartphones dating back to 2016. For a better understanding of just what Night Sight brings to the table, check out the video below. The video actually uses the previously available pre-release version of the software although the results are just as crazily impressive. HTC has posted its quarterly earnings for the third quarter of the year, and its another loss, this time its NT$2.6 billion (or around $84.7 million USD). That is a slightly larger loss than the previous quarter when it reported a NT$2 billion loss. This shows that HTC is still having a hard time competing with the likes of Samsung, Apple, LG and other smartphone makers. According to HTCs press release today, the company had revenues of NT$4.04 billion, with a gross margin of 4.7-percent for the quarter. Operating loss was NT$2.79 billion with an operating margin of -68.9-percent. And finally, the net loss after taxes was NT$2.62 billion or NT$3.18 per share. Not an ideal quarter for HTC, but it is something that investors saw coming, especially since HTC does release their revenue numbers monthly now. Gross margin was up, however, about two-percent year-over-year. In the quarter, HTC did continue to see some major developments in other businesses it is in. Including Vive, it released the Vive Wireless Adapter in the quarter. It also launched improvements to Viveport with an expansion for Oculus owners, and also Vive Wave. HTC also debuted the EXODUS 1, which is the companys first blockchain smartphone. It also grew the U12 lineup with the U12 Life that was announced at IFA back in September. Vive Studios also announced 7 Miracles, the worlds first feature-length cinematic VR experience. And that film won the Spirit of Raindance award at the Raindance Film Festival in London recently. HTC isnt giving up, and it is still launching products to its consumers, in different areas of its business, whether thats VR, blockchain or its traditional smartphone market. The press release for these quarterly earnings was pretty short, and that typically indicates that there wasnt a whole lot of good news to share for the quarter, with investors for HTC. Background: HTC has been struggling for many years, and that actually sounds like a broken record these days. HTC hit its peak for smartphones market share back in 2011, when it had 10.7-percent of the market. Now, in 2018, according to multiple firms including IDC and Strategy Analytics, the companys market share is one-percent, and in many markets in the world, it is below one-percent. Strategy Analytics executive director of wireless practice, Neil Mawston stated that HTCs smartphone market share remains not far from zero in most of the entire world. Which means that HTC is selling very little smartphones, and its likely that most of those that are sold are returned. Part of the reason for HTCs numbers falling in this quarter is that smartphone shipments are expected to fall 1.3-percent across the board this year. And when a company is already struggling to sell smartphones, seeing a slowdown in the market definitely does not help. This is the first time that smartphones will see a drop in shipments, and that is because smartphone prices are rising and forcing many to keep their smartphones longer. Mawston also noted that HTC has been making devices with new future technologies, instead of focusing on its core problems, of limited distribution channels, a deflated sales force and a shattered brand name. Advertisement As with any company that is looking to get out of the red, HTC has been looking to cut back on spending and also diversify its revenue stream. And thats where Vive comes in. Vive has been a breath of fresh air for HTC, but virtual reality is still a very new technology, and that means that there isnt much demand for it. Additionally, once someone buys Vive, theres little reason to spend more money on Vive, as there is no newer headset, like there would be with smartphones. And the same thing goes for the EXODUS 1, their new Blockchain smartphone that debuted last month. While the phone is mostly the same as the U12+ that it debuted over the summer, it does have Blockchain technology, which is also a very new technology, and not in high-demand yet. HTCs problem isnt so much with smartphones though, its the fact that the company was only making smartphones for much of its existence. While other companies like Sony and LG, who are also losing big on their respective mobile divisions, are staying afloat because they have other divisions that are doing well. Like TV, Cameras and PlayStation for Sony, and TVs for LG. HTC doesnt have that, though many will argue that Vive is that for HTC, but not quite at that level yet. Impact: It seems that every quarter, HTC is losing more and more cash. And when it reports its monthly revenue, sales have dropped by double-digit percentages, and often times its close to 50-percent. That leads one to wonder, how long can HTC truly keep this up before theres nothing left of the company? The answer. Not much longer. HTC has already laid off hundreds of people, and even ended up selling a portion of its business to Google the portion that was working on Pixel, Google acquired last year. At the beginning of this year, HTC had nearly 7,500 employees, which itself was a pretty low number compared to recent years. And in July, it announced it was laying off another 1500, bringing the total below 5,000. HTC really started to struggle in 2011 when Samsung started its ad campaign targeting the iPhone, which is when Samsung started to really take over the Android space. Since then, HTC has tried numerous things to really turn around its business, and nothing has really worked so far. It has managed to get a few quarters out of the red, though that was mainly from selling off stakes in other companies it had, like Beats Audio, before Apple purchased it. HTC has tried limiting the number of smartphones it makes, it has also tried making more mid-range and budget smartphones (where most companies make their bread and butter), and they have tried to go all in with virtual reality and Vive. But none of it has paid off yet. HTC has said that they will continue to invest in future technologies, which does include Vive as well as the EXODUS 1 and other blockchain technologies. A Motorola-made device thats believed to be the Moto G7 was certified by the United States Federal Communications Commission earlier this month, with the regulatory agency revealing a number of specs indicative of a mid-range Android smartphone. As first spotted by Nashville Chatter, the device is 156.86 x 75.4mm in size and has a 166.9 mm screen diagonal, with those dimensions suggesting a notched 6.57-inch display surrounded by minimal bezels and an elongated 19:9 aspect ratio. Shortly following that development, the handset also ended up being leaked online as part of a seemingly official press render, revealing a waterdrop-style notch and a dual-camera setup on the back. The image that can be seen above also confirms the existence of a dual-LED flash and a glossy black variant of the device, in addition to revealing a lack of a physical home button. The device is still likely to feature a fingerprint scanner and presumably has one integrated into the batwing logo on the back. Its overall design is slightly rounded and the rear-facing camera module protrudes from the back by some margin, though the handset is still somewhat similar to Motorolas other recent Android smartphones, primarily due to its use of metal and glass. The new smartphone lineup will be labeled by the model number XT1965, with the XT1965-1 and XT1965-2 being scheduled for a release in North and South America, respectively. The Lenovo-owned original equipment manufacturer will be releasing both a single- and dual-SIM variants of the Moto G7, with both being expected to feature Qualcomms Snapdragon 660 chip, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage space. While the memory configuration of the Moto G7 is comparable to that of its direct predecessor, Motorolas system-on-chip of choice suggests the company will be looking to position the upcoming device in the upper mid-range segment of the market. The change is significant and indicative of a more general product strategy shift that may see the company cut down on the number of models it releases on the verge between the entry-level and mid-range market in the near future. While the Moto G6 Plus also featured a Snapdragon 600-series chip, the regular Moto G6 used Qualcomms Snapdragon 450, a low-end piece of silicon. Advertisement No Motorola smartphone to date used the Snapdragon 660, a popular choice in the middle of the smartphone price bracket. The upcoming series may also include models known as the XT1952 and XT1955, both of which were spotted in other certification databases several weeks back. The former has been listed with a 3,000mAh battery, though its presently unclear how closely related they are to the devices that have now been certified by the FCC. The Moto G7 Plus is expected to utilize a 3,500mAh cell with fast charging support. The latest certification also confirms the presence of NFC support which was also part of this years Moto G6 series. Background: While Lenovos smartphone business in general isnt doing great right now, Motorola itself has been growing in a steady manner over the last several years and remains one of the fastest-growing unlocked brands in North America. Following a leadership change from earlier this year, Motorola said it will be cutting down on the number of smartphones it releases on an annual basis as it concluded its existing strategy resulted in a number of underperforming models too similar to one another. The companys current approach to product development also saw it exist the flagship market this year as it decided against releasing a successor to the 2017 Moto Z2 Force. Instead, Lenovos subsidiary invested in a number of niche features such as 5G compatibility, with the recently released Moto Z3 debuting as the first 5G-upgradeable handset in the world. Motorola also remains committed to its modular ecosystem, having already confirmed its Moto Mods will continue to exist beyond the Moto Z3 series. Furthermore, Motorola is presently rumored to be working on a phone-to-PC solution comparable to Samsungs DeX and Huaweis P20 and Mate 20 tech allowing the phones to be connected to external monitors for a desktop-like computing experience. Advertisement The companys existing product release cycle suggests the Moto G7 series will be announced in early 2019, most likely at the next iteration of Mobile World Congress which is starting in late February in Barcelona, Spain. The new handsets will almost certainly run a custom implementation of Android 9 Pie, with Motorola having an established track record with relatively lightweight takes on Googles mobile operating system that are somewhat similar to stock Android. While its presently unclear whether the FCC-certified devices are the lineups base models or the absolute best Motorola will have to offer, recent rumors pointed to four variants of the Moto G7 being in the works. The latest leak is in line with some previous depiction of the Moto G7, with one of them suggesting Motorola is also working on a glossy red version of the device. A silver Moto G7 model is also rumored to be coming, with that particular color being a staple of the companys contemporary Android smartphone lineups. Not all color variants are expected to be available globally, as indicated by the manufacturers existing product practices. Previous rumors pointed to the possibility of Qi-based wireless charging being part of the package, together with 16- and 5-megapixel rear cameras. The front-facing sensor is said to be a 12-megapixel affair with real-time face mask support. Impact: Motorola appears to be going all-in on its bezel-less design language with the next generation Moto G-series devices. Coupled with a move to the more capable Snapdragon 660, the Moto G7 series should represent the pinnacle of the companys efforts in the mid-range segment of the market. Should the Lenovo-owned phone maker be able to continue with its aggressive pricing strategy in spite of those annual upgrades, it may have another winner on its hands and be able to compete even in the worlds most competitive markets such as the U.S. and India. Whether that same product philosophy trickles down to Motorolas entry-level devices remains to be seen, though thats a highly probable scenario in the long term. Amazon is dropping the price of the Samsung UH750 28-inch 4K QLED Monitor, bringing it down to just $349. That brings it down to a new all-time low price, beating the last all-time low by around $20. For a 4K monitor, this is an excellent price, especially since this is using Samsungs new QLED technology, which offers a really bright and contrasty image. This monitor from Samsung is a perfect fit for anyone that works from home, or any gamers out there. Its a brilliant 4K display, that is 28-inches, making it the perfect size for most people. Its not too big, but not too small either. Samsung offers picture-in-picture here, so you can watch a video while you are doing other things on your computer. Now its not a wide screen monitor like what LG and ASUS are offering these days, but it is still a good option. With all of the details that a 4K display adds, gaming will never be the same. This Samsung monitor is available right now from Amazon for just $349, and it wont be available for that price for long, so youre going to want to pick it up soon. You can pick it up using the link below. Verizon stated in a recent announcement that it achieved the first 5G data transmission in the world on an actual smartphone over the 5G New Radio (5G NR) network. During the test, Verizon used a unit of the Moto Z3 equipped with the 5G Moto Mod, an accessory that allows the handset to support 5G networks. The Moto Mod houses the Snapdragon X50 modem and the QTM052 mmWave antenna modules from Qualcomm, and it also contains a 2,000mAh battery, which the smartphone may need due to the additional power consumption required by the 5G connectivity feature. The connection was established over the carriers 5G network, which utilizes the 28GHz mmWave spectrum and uses the network equipment supplied by Samsung Electronics. Verizon did not provide additional details regarding the 5G network performance of the Moto Z3, although the carrier noted that the successful test will help widen its lead over its rivals in the testing and deployment of 5G networks. Background: Verizon has partnered with several companies to test the capabilities of the service providers 5G service. In the last few months, the carrier partnered with network equipment suppliers Nokia and Samsung for a variety of 5G tests, which focuses not only on the data speeds achievable on the 5G network but also on the use cases made possible by the cellular technology including virtual reality and fixed wireless broadband. The investments made by Verizon in the research and development of 5G networks and devices allowed the carrier to claim a number of worlds first in 5G. Verizon is currently offering the first 5G-upgradeable smartphone, the Moto Z3, which the service provider unveiled back in August 2018. The carrier also launched the worlds first commercial 5G network, which powers the companys fixed wireless broadband service known as the 5G Home. The availability of this service is currently limited to four cities across the United States, including Houston, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis. However, this network does not comply with the 5G New Radio standard, and it instead uses the 5G Technology Forum standard. Nonetheless, the carrier noted that it will replace existing equipment with standards-compliant equipment once these devices become available. Advertisement Aside from Verizon, the other major carriers in the United States are also actively involved in the development of their respective 5G services. AT&T recently claimed that it completed the worlds first mobile 5G browsing session over the mmWave spectrum, although unlike Verizon, AT&T used a mobile hotspot from NETGEAR to conduct its test. Meanwhile, T-Mobile recently signed a multi-year deal with Ericsson to build out the carriers 5G network, while Sprint is developing its first 5G smartphone in collaboration with the South Korean tech giant LG Electronics. Impact: The recent testing conducted by Verizon ensures that there will be a device that consumers can use to take advantage of the fast data speeds and reduced latencies offered by Verizons 5G service once it launches. The carrier plans to launch its mobile 5G network in the first half of 2019, although the coverage of the network will likely be limited to selected urban areas in the near future. Speaking at a vigil for Asia Bibi organised in Vianen near Utrecht by the foundation Persecuted Christians, which covered the costs of her nine-year long legal battle in Pakistan, the lawyer said he would file a written request with the appropriate authorities in the next few days. "We are in discussions with the Pakistani government", Trudeau said in an interview with Agence France Presse in Paris, where he attended a ceremony marking the end of the First World War. The latest reports indicate that the family is now together in an undisclosed location. The Citizengo petition reads: "We at CitizenGO wish to help take Asia Bibi and her family out of the country and give them a better life". After SC's October 31 judgement that acquitted Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman, in a blasphemy case, TLP launched a countrywide protest, bringing several cities to a standstill for almost three days. Mother-of-five Asia Bibi, 53, is in hiding after Pakistan's supreme court acquitted her almost two weeks ago. Bibi has consistently denied the charges and her prosecution rallied global rights groups, politicians and religious figures. Aasia was convicted of blasphemy by a lower court and sentenced to death by hanging in 2010, and the conviction was upheld by the Lahore High Court. The Indian news broadcaster WION News reported that communications within the Pakistani embassy suggested that the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) Party, the radical Islamist Party responsible for most of the protests calling for Bibi's death, had planned an attack on the Dutch ambassador, though not related to Bibi. Ms Bibi's ordeal dates back to 2009 when she went to fetch water for herself and fellow farm workers. Her lawyer, Saiful Mulook, fled to the Netherlands soon after the verdict, citing death threats. The women later said Ms Bibi had insulted the Prophet Mohammed, and she was charged with blasphemy. Bibi, a Christian mother of five, was acquitted by a three-member Supreme Court bench last month in a blasphemy case. Hardline Muslims protested at her release, demanding she is hanged. The United Nations warned of "terror and panic" among Muslim Rohingya refugees facing repatriation to Burma, as the country's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faced blunt criticism from world leaders at an worldwide summit meeting. She and her Buddhist-majority government have been widely criticized for the way they have treated the Muslim Rohingya. Pence also said Washington wanted to see a free and democratic press in Myanmar, and the jailing of two journalists previous year was "deeply troubling" for millions of Americans. Pence and Suu Kyi met briefly on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore on Wednesday. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, responding to Pence, said: "Of course people have different points of view, but the point is that you should exchange these views and try to understand each other better". "Amnesty International can not justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you", it said in a letter to Suu Kyi. "I look forward to speaking with you about the premium that we place on a free and independent press", he said. Pence also urged Suu Kyi to pardon the imprisoned journalists. A Bangladesh official said Wednesday that authorities are ready to begin repatriating more than 2,200 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. United Nations officials have urged Bangladesh to move cautiously on the repatriation plans, saying such a move would endanger their lives. Meanwhile, the UN's human rights head warned that the sufferings of the persecuted Rohingya would increase if Bangladesh and Burma proceeded with their repatriation plans. Bachelet's office said it continues to receive reports of rights violations in Rakhine state, "which include allegations of killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests". While many Rohingya want to return home, they said, they fear doing so without protections like citizenship and those responsible for the slaughter being held accountable. The UN refugee agency UNHCR has also advised against the returns, saying safety should be assessed first, but it did not call for a halt to the repatriation plans. More than 723,000 Rohingya have fled state-sponsored violence against their communities since August 2017. "We are witnessing terror and panic among those Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar who are at imminent risk of being returned to Myanmar against their will", Bachelet said in a statement, adding that two men have attempted suicide. Officially inaugurated by His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and the Chairman of BIAS Supreme Organising Committee, the fifth edition of the show witnessed attendance from 187 companies and saw a number of strategic announcements being made that would further Bahrains position as a major transportation hub in the Middle East. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications extended his congratulations to His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the launch of the fifth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow, a firmly established global aerospace event and the fastest growing airshow in the Middle East. He also praised the success of BIAS on the first day, which adds to the Kingdoms achievements under the wise guidance of His Majesty the King. He also stressed on the ongoing success of BIAS due to growing regional and international participation, and the pivotal role it plays in contributing to the national economy Ahmed Mohammed commented, "We are pleased to have 11 of the top 15 global aerospace businesses in participating in this edition of the show where a number of announcements and high level meetings with international civil and military delegations were conducted which we expect to see more of during the next two days. Most significantly of these was Bahrain Airport Companys signings with three companies. The first signing was for the design and renovation of the Civil Aviation Affairs building with Gulf Engineering House which will transform it into a private aviation terminal to cater to VIPs and business leaders. The new, state-of-the-art facility is expected to be completed by 2020 and will offer various services to meet the needs of private jet owners and users travelling through Bahrain International Airport (BIA). The second signing was the award of a catering contract for all four of its lounges to Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), and the third was for the operation of the new Passenger Terminal Buildings airport clinic which was awarded to Bahrain Specialist Hospital that will allow for healthcare professionals to be on hand 24/7 to provide various medical services to passengers and airport staff at the new facility. Gulf Air and Etihad Airways also signed an MoU which covers a scope to introduce joint codeshare operations between Abu Dhabi and Manama. Additionally, Saudi Aramco announced its agreement at the value of $700 million US dollars for the provision of 26 helicopters. Alongside this, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications also signed Air Service Agreements with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brunei, and Brazil. HE the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications also met with Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport Nusrat Ghani where His Excellency praised the strong bilateral relations between the Kingfom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom. The show also highlighted developments for the Bahrain space sector. As the responsible Minister for the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), HE the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications signed an MOU with the UAE Space Agency and Khalifa University that would see the organisations working together on a two-year study programme to develop nano-satellites. SaudiGulf Airlines currently operate a fleet of six A320 aircraft from their hub in Dammam. The carrier commenced operations in 2016 serving domestic destinations across the Kingdom prior to expanding to international routes. In October 2018 the airline launched its second international destination with flights to four destinations in Pakistan. Sheikh Tariq Abdulhadi Al Qahtani, Chairman of Al-Qahtani Aviation andSaudiGulf Airlines, said: As a premium service boutique airline we are excited to be adding the A320neo to our fleet. This expansion is in keeping with our intention to see the Saudi aviation sector continue to develop and grow in support of the Saudi Vision 2030. The A320neo family represents a natural evolution of our current fleet of A320 aircraft and will contribute significantly to our network expansion in the region as well as internationally, added Samer Majali, President & Chief Executive Officer of SaudiGulf Airlines.This order will be complemented with additional A320neo aircraft from the leasing market. he continued. We are honoured to expand our partnership with SaudiGulf Airlines, as we are adding more A320s to our customers all Airbus fleet, said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. The A320neo family, with its lower operating cost, greater fuel efficiency and superior passenger comfort, will surely support SaudiGulf Airlines to achieve its ambitious growth plans. Do it yourself if you can We accept in principle that private equity can deliver (somewhat) excess returns over most other asset classes. But there are a lot of qualifications attached to that, and most of them are very relevant to whether and how pension funds should invest in private equity. The operator also faces another $2 billion tax bill emanating from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. Apart from the refund of various amounts as fines totalling N5.87 billion, the CBN asked the telecoms firm to reverse the $8.13 billion (about N2.5trillion at N306.15 to $) allegedly repatriated illegally out of Nigeria. The growth according to the NIBSS is a reflection of interest Nigerians are gradually showing in mobile money just a few years after it was launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). If granted a licence, MTN would launch the service in a country where 115 million Nigerians, or 60 percent of the population, does not have a bank account, according to the World Bank. Rivals Airtel, a unit of India's Bharti Airtel, as well as privately owned Globacom and 9mobile, are also expected to apply for licenses. "The problem is they are being held hostage by this $10.1 billion demand because their business is too big to leave". Nigeria has recorded a 50 per cent increase in the volume of mobile money services between January to September this year. He did not give details about MTN's plans to relaunch mobile money in South Africa, a market that has proved hard to crack because around 80 percent of the population already has access to traditional bank accounts. "UNISOC has been in the African market for over 10 years and every year more than 100 million mobile phones powered by UNISOC chips are sold in Africa." said Adam Zeng, Executive Vice President of Unigroup and CEO of UNISOC., "UNISOC is glad to partner with MTN, China Mobile and KaiOS, and together we will continue to invest more to fill in the gaps in the mobile communications and IoT fields in African markets". "This has always been a big challenge for MTN that we have got a very well implemented mobile money strategy across the group but it has not been in our two tier-one markets". The smart feature phone will be an MTN branded device available for MTN consumers, will have a price tag of $20 (R290) and be ready to purchase in the first quarter of 2019. The pledge is a clear sign MTN is committed to Nigeria into 2019 and beyond, despite a run of disputes that's cut its market value in half over the past three years. Nigeria, is MTN's biggest market, however the group is now in negotiations to secure a deal with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over an order to repay $8.1 billion it allegedly took out of the country. But for now, that doesn't appear to be on the table. "We're convinced China knows where we stand", Pence said in the interview. He later added "We are here to stay". The US president has repeatedly railed against Beijing over intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, Chinese entry barriers to American businesses and the US trade deficit with China. "I think Peter very badly misspoke". Mr Pence said: "We seek an Indo-Pacific where every nation is free to follow its own path and pursue its own interests, where the seas and skies are open to all engaged in peaceful activity, and where sovereign nations grow stronger together". Given that Liu canceled a trip in September when it looked like the U.S. was not ready to negotiate, a visit from the top economic advisor to Xi would be a clear sign there is confidence that Trump is ready to consider some form of agreement. "They know what our administration's position is". Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports, about $267 billion worth, if Beijing fails to address United States demands. Aside from trade matters, Pence also told Rogin that Washington is expecting Beijing to make concessions on "rampant intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, restricted access to Chinese markets, respect for worldwide rules and norms, efforts to limit freedom of navigation in global waters and Chinese Communist Party interference in the politics of Western countries". The president has frequently criticized China for treating the U.S. The U.S. does not have a claim in the South China Sea, but the navy has conducted what it calls freedom of navigation operations, known as FONOPs, in the waterway. He has often pointed to alleged currency manipulation, arguing that Beijing's policies hurt the USA financially. If Beijing does not produce proposals that satisfy Washington, the United States is prepared to increase economic, diplomatic and political pressure on China, Pence told the newspaper. The late November meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina is unlikely to bear any fruit, Jude Woodward, author of "The US vs China: Asia's New Cold War", told Sputnik. If Washington is not satisfied, there will be "an all-out Cold War", according to Rogin. "As a senior career member of our intelligence community recently told me, what the Russians are doing pales in comparison to what China is doing across this country", Pence said in early October. CVT MPGe In a statement to GM Authority , the crown jewel of General Motors confirmed that alternative fuel vehicles remain a part of our future product portfolio. By 2023, the automaker plans to introduce no less than 20 EVs, some of which will be Cadillac models.Sweetening the deal even further, Cadillac will continue to serve as the technological spearhead for Super Cruise and V2X within General Motors. In other words, it was wrong to combine a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with an electric motor and e-in a full-size sedan, let alone import it from the Middle Kingdom.The model is still listed on the Cadillac website, retailing at $75,095 . Capable of 62on the combined cycle, the 335-horsepower sedan boasts an electric range of up to 31 miles. Using a 240-volt charging station, the lithium-ion battery is recharged in as little as 4.5 hours.Standard features include 18-inch aluminum wheels with Sterling Silver pockets, UltraView panoramic power sunroof, satellite navigation, heated and ventilated driver and front passenger seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and Regen On Demand paddle shifters. Cadillac even throws in Night Vision and the Surround Vision Recorder, along with the Rear Seat Infotainment System.The closest competitor to the CT6 Plug-In is the BMW 740e iPeformance with xDrive, priced at $91,250. Audi hasnt come up with a similar powertrain option for the A8, and Mercedes-Benz dropped the S560 Plug-in Hybrid in the United States. The eco-friendly model starts at 96,065 in Germany, translating to $108,530.When Cadillac introduced the CT6 Plug-In three years ago, Johan de Nysschen said the platform is ideal for electrification. Turns out that wasn't the case, not when the demand was so abysmal. Nowadays, the all-new XT4 and upcoming XT6 promise to take Cadillac above and beyond, along with the all-new Escalade. The car wearing VIN 001 will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction on January 19, 2019, in Scottsdale, Arizona, with all the proceeds to go to United Way for Southeastern Michigan.Deciding to sell a GT at an auction is a bold step for Ford, a company that has tried ever since the GT was reintroduced to keep a close watch of who gets one.The model that will go under the hammer two months from now comes painted in the baby-blue-and-orange scheme originally featured on the GT40 back in late 1960s, when the model was king of the Le Mans circuit.Back then, Ford managed to become the unchallenged king of the French endurance race thanks to the GT40, winning the race four consecutive times. The last two wins, in 1968 and 1969, were achieved by the same car, a GT40 with chassis number 1075 which became the only post-war car to win the race twice in a row.Aside for the special paint, the Heritage Edition comes with carbon fiber A-pillars, 20-inch aluminum wheels in high-gloss dark stainless with black lug nuts, orange calipers, and silver rearview mirror caps.At the interior, the GT comes with seats wrapped in Alcantara. The same material is used to dress the instrument panel, pillars, headliner and steering wheel, while contrasting blue and orange stitching is to be seen on the seats and steering wheel.The buyer of this special GT will also receive a unique serialized identification plate, plus exposed matte carbon fiber door sills, air register pods, and center console.No estimate on how much Ford expects to get for the model was made. SUV AMG HP We'll be honest with you guys: the normal 2020 GLE is not the best-looking thing in the world. If the A-Class is a pebble washed up on the beach, thisis the boulder that fell and crushed your house.However, thebody kit seems to work perfectly, adding smoothness and muscle just where it was needed. The most expensive version of the GLE is also the best looking: why are we not surprised?Mercedes has already said goodbye to the old 5.5-liter AMG engine and has replaced it with the 4.0-liter. The soundtrack hasn't suffered much, and if the E63 S is any indication, neither will performance.We're expecting this GLE 63 S, the one in our latest German spy video, to have the same output: 612and 850 Nm of torque. Sure, it's going to lug around about 2.3 tons, but with more power and less weight than the G63, performance will b great.The test prototype has camo in all the right places, accentuating its new bumpers and fender flares. It's got wider tracks, bigger tires and a lower stance than a normal GLE. You can also bet your insurance money that air suspension will keep this behemoth cornering flat.You know what else has a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that's hand-built by AMG? The GLC 63 Coupe . You can see one in the Walko spy video that was taken the same day as the GLE. Changes aren't what you'd call dramatic, just the usual headlight and bumper revisions.The GLC will receive similar updates to the C63, such as a revised gearbox, drive models controlled via a sexy steering wheel knob and optional carbon interior trim. If you buy the GLC over the larger GLE, you'll surely miss out on the MBUX system. But with a more car-like platform, the little guy is lighter and just as fast at big brother. The trend is coming from Gulf states and is now hitting France and other European countries. Just this week, French police arrested a Lamborghini driver in Paris, on the famous Champs-Elysees, with a 2-month lion cub on the dashboard, ABC News reports.The bust happened during a traffic stop, with police pulling the driver over when they noticed the feline in the front of the bright green car. Consequently, the driver was arrested, the car impounded and the lion rescued by 30 Million Friends, the report notes.Its name is Putin and it is in relative good health, though a checkup revealed a minor issue with one of its rear paws and a broken tail. Still, 30 Million Friends notes, it would have died soon from improper care because the man who bought it didnt do it because he wanted to care for it as a pet. Lion cubs and other feline cubs are the hottest commodity in selfie-bling, the organization says.Rich people are buying them from circuses, which are breeding the animals to have a constant supply of cubs. Ironically, theyre cheaper than a dog with a pedigree: anyone can get one for as little as 300 euro, provided they have the right connections or the time to do a little digging around on the Internet. The cubs are used for photo-ops in flashy cars while theyre still young and cuddly, and later abandoned when they become too much of a hassle.Only this month, 30 Million Friends rescued 3 cubs used like this, the report says. In a previous lawsuit brought by the organization against one such owner, a judge sentenced the man to 6 months in jail for importing an exotic animal. They hope Putins owner gets the same, once they have filed the papers and the trial is set in motion. Image: Aurora Flight Sciences Boeings Aurora Flight Sciences revealed a new solar-powered, autonomous high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) concept on Wednesday. As seen in the video below, the Odysseus is designed to be an ultra-long-endurance platform capable of performing research, communication, connectivity and intelligence missions. The company says the aircraft will have a payload capacity of 55 pounds and be capable of staying aloft almost indefinitely. Its first flight is scheduled for next spring. Aurora was founded by the idea that technology and innovation can provide powerful solutions to tough problems that affect all of humankind, said Aurora CEO John Langford. Odysseus offers persistence like no other solar aircraft of its kind, which is why it is such a capable and necessary platform for researchers. Some key features of Odysseus include the ability to persistently and autonomously remain on station, provide a greater year-round global operating zone than other vehicles in its class, and receive payload and hardware options and be quickly customized, re-tasked and relocated. According to Aurora, Odysseus was inspired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Daedalus project, which was led by Langford and other founding members of Aurora. Daedalus set distance and endurance records for human-powered aircraft in 1988. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association will accelerate its efforts to work with European regulators to promote the development of electric VTOL aircraft, the association said this week. Thirty eVTOL experts from eight countries met with EASA, the European Commission and industry representatives over two days in Cologne and Brussels to discuss the future of the technology. I think there is tremendous potential for Europe and beyond, said Dorothee Br, the German Federal State Minister for Digitisation. Urban air mobility will become part of our daily life. Discussions focused on the regulatory framework needed for safe and sustainable integration of eVTOLs into Europes airspace, including topics such as certification, maintenance, operations, licensing and airspace management. Its great that the industry is getting together proactively to liaise with EASA on common standards, Br said. GAMA said its focused on prioritizing the safe introduction of these new systems and technologies whilst making flying more accessible to the general public. Illustration: Aida Amer/Axios In the U.S., there are warnings for tornadoes, floods and hurricanes but the nearly 30,000 residents of Paradise, California got no official warning through the National Weather Service that an explosively growing wildfire was headed for their community on Nov. 8. Why it matters: This was the deadliest wildfire in California history, and with more than 130 still missing, the toll is expected to rise. That so many people could perish in a single disaster due in part to the lack of warning means something is clearly wrong with how we're handling fire emergencies. The big picture: Weather forecasters knew, and had clearly warned many days in advance, that conditions would be extremely conducive to wildfires in Northern California on Nov. 8. Butte County, which includes Paradise, was designated as being in a zone of "extremely critical" fire weather risk, the most severe category. However, knowing that the conditions are right is one thing. It's another to learn that a wall of flames is actually barreling toward your house. barreling toward your house. For wildfires, unlike severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, the journey from forecast to warning delivery is set up in a convoluted way, and it's costing lives. There is such a thing as a fire warning, though they have seldom been issued, according to Robyn Heffernan, National Fire Weather Science and Dissemination Meteorologist at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The National Weather Service describes it as "an urgent message issued at the request of local officials to share detailed evacuation information with people threatened by wildfires." But there's a catch: such a warning must be requested by someone outside of the National Weather Service, such as an emergency manager, rather than being initiated by Weather Service staff themselves. That's the rule even if forecasters can see on Doppler radar or by looking out the window that a fire is headed for a populated area. Its really up to the emergency management community, Heffernan said of the fire warning product, which she says has been used at least once by the NWS forecast office in Norman, Oklahoma, in response to requests from officials in that state. But if it originates outside the government, then the fire warning depends on awareness that it exists. Private sector meteorologists, including one in Northern California, told Axios they did not know that there is an option for such a warning, although it's on a weather.gov website. Partly as a result of the spate of deadly fires in California, Heffernan said discussions are underway about changing the way such a warning works. Everythings on the table right now, including having such warnings being issued from within the NWS or worded in different ways. Science I dont think anymore is a challenge to us," Heffernan said of the NWS' role in wildfire warnings. For example, NOAA already operates sophisticated satellites that can spot heat signatures from space of wildfires starting at nearly the moment they ignite. What is holding the NWS back, Heffernan said, is the sprawling nature of the wildfire community, which involves multiple federal agencies with competing interests. Outside researchers who are trying to improve fire forecasts also cited this factor in conversations with Axios. Because the community is so spread out, there's the absence of a concerted voice to advocate for research funding, according to Adam Kochanski, a research professor at the University of Utah. The bottom line: The disaster in Paradise isn't just a weather warning problem. It's unclear if or when any other agency, including local police and fire departments, initiated a reverse-911 system or other warning network in Paradise as the flames approached. But someone needed to sound the alarm. Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that the National Weather Service disseminates fire warnings, but is not the agency responsible for issuing them on their own. As Facebook navigated security, privacy, and hate-speech controversies after the 2016 election, a new investigation from the New York Times found that the company pursued a "delay, deny and deflect" approach while top executives orchestrated a counterpunching campaign against critics, rivals and proponents of regulation. The big picture: The Times report exposes the company to new criticisms from its employee base, more primed than ever to protest over the companys political actions. Most striking for outsiders is the storys depiction of CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg as evasive or sometimes asleep at the switch. But even through the worst moments in the last year, both have held ironclad job security and Zuckerberg still controls 60% of the company but neither has previously been subjected to inside-the-room leaks this negative. What the Times said: Zuckerberg and Sandberg "stumbled." "Bent on growth, the pair ignored warning signs and then sought to conceal them from public view. At critical moments over the last three years, they were distracted by personal projects, and passed off security and policy decisions to subordinates, according to current and former executives. The New York Times Taking the offensive: The Times story adds new details to what we know about Facebook's work with a PR consultant called Definers Public Affairs that helped the company steer an aggressive approach. "Founded by veterans of Republican presidential politics, Definers specialized in applying political campaign tactics to corporate public relations an approach long employed in Washington by big telecommunications firms and activist hedge fund managers, but less common in tech." Definers later orchestrated a series of articles critical of Facebook competitors posted on a conservative news site it is affiliated with, the NTK Network." The New York Times George Soros: According to the Times, Definers also circulated a document about financier George Soros, a proponent of global democracy who has spoken out against both Facebook and Google and who has also become a focal point for conservative and anti-Semitic attacks. Soros was cast in the Definers memo as "the unacknowledged force behind what appeared to be a broad anti-Facebook movement," the Times said. According to the Times, Definers also circulated a document about financier George Soros, a proponent of global democracy who has spoken out against both Facebook and Google and who has also become a focal point for conservative and anti-Semitic attacks. Soros was cast in the Definers memo as "the unacknowledged force behind what appeared to be a broad anti-Facebook movement," the Times said. Friends in high places: In one incident, the Times story recounts how Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) confronted Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), one of Facebook's most vigorous critics on Capitol Hill: "Back off, he told Mr. Warner, according to a Facebook employee briefed on Mr. Schumers intervention. Mr. Warner should be looking for ways to work with Facebook, Mr. Schumer advised, not harm it. Facebook lobbyists were kept abreast of Mr. Schumers efforts to protect the company, according to the employee." New York Times story Almost four years into the war, there has been an increase in global pressure to end the fighting in Hodeida, whose docks are the entry point for some 80 per cent of food imports and humanitarian aid into impoverished Yemen. The Sunni Muslim alliance led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates renewed its offensive on Hodeidah, a lifeline for millions of Yemenis, as Washington and London called for a ceasefire amid renewed U.N. -led peace efforts. It's unclear whether the Donald Trump administration, which made a full-court press for the cease-fire late last month, will make a further push for a broader peace deal, but the news could change the UN's timetable as the world body had postponed talks until December. "The fighting must stop, a political debate must begin and we must prepare a massive humanitarian response to avoid the worst next year", he said. "I leave the region encouraged by these signs of progress, and I am determined to do what it takes to convert this into a lasting peace for the people of Yemen". The worldwide community fears that an attack on Hodeidah port would disrupt its operations and endanger millions of civilians as it remains the main source of Yemen's food imports as well as humanitarian aid. Yemen's Saudi-backed loyalists have suspended their offensive on the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, field commanders said on Wednesday. The UN is pushing for peace talks by the end of the year. "Diplomacy and negotiation remain the only path to ending the conflict and I am encouraged that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have shown their support for the United Nations peace process, led by Special Envoy Martin Griffiths", Hunt added. Griffiths is due to brief the Security Council on the situation in Yemen on November 16. Monday's strikes, in which port staff said four rebels were killed and four wounded, was the first to hit the docks in 12 days of intensified bombardment and ground fighting in the Red Sea coastal city of some 600,000 people, many of whom have fled or now fear a siege. The deal has held for the past 24 hours after 150 people died in daylong clashes in the port city, which handles 70% of aid entering the war-torn country. There were no comments yet from the coalition on the Houthi's claim. Asked by AFP, coalition spokesman Saudi Colonel Turki al-Maliki said he was going to check. He said three guards had been wounded. "There is only one entrance left into the port, and that is the main gate that leads to Mina Street that trucks use", one employee, who requested anonymity, told AFP. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday against the "catastrophic" consequences of a possible destruction of the port of Hodeida. U.S. lawmakers of both parties have lamented the mounting death toll and humanitarian crisis in Yemen's civil war, where civilian casualties have surged more than 160% in recent months and famine imperils 14 million. Yet little-noticed procedural votes in the House this week will prevent Congress from having to debate Americas continuing role in the conflict. Why it matters: The House votes foreclosed debate on a bipartisan attempt to invoke the War Powers provision, which would have halted all U.S. support to the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels. The murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi has amplified pressure for a re-evaluation of the U.S.-Saudi relationship, but these votes have revealed that questioning the war in Yemen remains a red line for House Republicans. Whats next: The presumptive leaders of the incoming Democratic majority in the House have indicated they intend to expand foreign policy oversight, including over U.S. involvement in the Yemeni conflict. This will increase pressure on the Trump administration, which has supported Saudi Arabia's foreign policy objectives and cultivated a close relationship with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. The bottom line: Americas role in the Yemeni conflict will be one of the first big tests of how closely the administration intends to stick by the Saudis. There are already signs of its response to new pressures: Last week, the administration announced an end to U.S. refueling for coalition raids in Yemen. Jeff Prescott is executive director of National Security Action, where Ned Price is director of policy and communications and Rebecca Brocato is director of legislative affairs and strategy. Go deeper: Former national security officials call for an end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition The Saudi government announced that it will seek the death penalty for at least five of the 11 people indicted in connection with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reports the Washington Post. The big picture: More than a month after Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Saudi government released the findings of its investigation. The Saudis claim an operation to kidnap Khashoggi was ordered by former deputy head of intelligence Ahmed al-Asiri, who they say did not receive a directive from his superiors, and that the head of the negotiation team decided to kill Khashoggi after concluding it would be too difficult to bring him back alive. They confirmed his body was dismembered and given to a "local collaborator" for disposal. The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on 17 people under the Magnitsky Act for their alleged involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, CNBC reports. Details: Among those sanctioned are Saudi Consul General Mohammad Alotaibi, who oversaw the Istanbul consulate, and Maher Mutreb, a senior Saudi official who allegedly coordinated the attack. The news comes one day after Saudi Arabia announced that it would seek the death penalty against five people who allegedly played a role in the killing. President Trump announced his support for the bipartisan criminal justice reform bill in the Senate Wednesday, urging members of Congress to pass the bill and saying he "looks forward to signing it." Why it matters: Trump's endorsement is a promising sign for reform advocates like Jared Kushner, Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who have been pushing to get a bill passed in the Senate for the past several months. The Senate version of the bill would lower certain mandatory minimum sentences and allow some prisoners to go home early. Support for the bill from large law enforcement groups over the weekend and earlier this week has been key to moving the bill forward, as Trump noted during the announcement. from large law enforcement groups over the weekend and earlier this week has been key to moving the bill forward, as Trump noted during the announcement. A slimmer version of the bill sponsored by Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), which did not include reforms to federal sentencing guidelines, passed the house with strong bipartisan support in May. The addition of sentencing reforms in the Senate has stoked opposition from some hardliners such as Sen. Tom Cotton. What's next: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated he will gauge support for the bill and bring it to the floor if it's likely to win enough votes. The timing is still unclear. "We dont have a whole lot of time left, but the first step is to finalize what proponents are actually for... And then well whip it, see where the vote count is, and then see how it stacks up against our other priorities going into the end of the session." McConnell told reporters on Wednesday What to watch: Some conservative opponents of the bill are likely to highlight provisions that would allow certain sex offenders to earn time off of their sentences, according to one person closely involved in the process. President Trump renewed his attacks on the credibility of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in a series of Thursday morning tweets, using his oft-repeated refrain of "WITCH HUNT." The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and dont care how many lives the ruin. These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They wont even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY! Why it matters: Mueller's office has not issued any new indictments since July 13, when 12 Russian military intelligence officers were charged with conspiring to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. Now that the midterms are over, Mueller is again expected to begin filing indictments, according to CBS News. Roger Stone associate and former Infowars contributor Jerome Corsi said Monday he expects to be indicted by Mueller for perjury. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he didn't know about Facebook's relationship with a Washington-based opposition research firm that The New York Times reported Facebook was working with and that those DC-based opposition research tactics are "not the kind of thing we want to be involved with here." Why it matters: The event was intended to unveil new content policies and procedures, but Zuckerberg spent much of the call addressing questions about the Times story and Facebook's relationship with Definers Public Affairs, the research firm. It's a defensive position that Zuckerberg and his company have been stuck in since last year. The details: Zuckerberg made it clear that this scandal wouldn't displace him as the head of the company and that Facebook is aiming to address these problems. Zuckerberg said he wouldn't step down as Facebook board chairman. "I dont particularly think that that specific proposal is the right way to go." He wouldn't confirm if anyone would get fired based on the Times report. He said he won't talk about performance and management publicly, but that the company is evaluating roles as part of an ongoing process and it "will certainly keep doing that." He defended Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who was painted as the person responsible for many of these problems in the New York Times piece, saying Sheryl "was also not involved" with the Definers relationship, and that "she learned about it at the same time I did." He said he respects George Soros. Zuck acknowledged that he knew that "Freedom from Facebook," an advocacy group that has ties to the anti-monopoly Open Markets Institute, was behind an anti-Facebook campaign. He said Facebook's intention in working with a Washington opposition research firm was not to target Soros, whose foundation has given to the Open Markets Institute but not the Facebook campaign, but to show that the group was not a grassroots movement. He denied Facebook instructed the outside research firm to spread misinformation. Asked if the opposition research firms actions were comparable to the kind of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" that Facebook is trying to eradicate, Zuckerberg said, that isnt true... We certainly never asked them to spread anything that's not true and we don't have any detail now that would suggest that they have. Facebook is building a new appeals process. In a separate blog post, Zuckerberg wrote (and verbally addressed on the call) that Facebook is planning to create a new way for people to appeal content decisions to an independent body, whose decisions would be transparent and binding, next year. Facebook denied reading any people's messages. When asked if the company monitored any journalists' accounts, Zuckerberg said, "absolutely not." He defended his leadership of the company: When youre building something at this scale, solutions take a good amount of time. I dont think me or anyone else can come in and have these issues resolved in a quarter or half year." As he has before, he compared the challenges Facebook is facing today with its "existential" effort nearly a decade ago to catch up to the transition to mobile content consumption. Between the lines: Zuckerberg reiterated that these problems (hate speech, election meddling, divisive behavior) are systemic within society, and thus "they are not issues you ever fix." He said the company is learning to be more transparent in how it's managing them. "The biggest lesson from this year that we've learned is that when you connect more than 2 billion people, you're going to see all the good and bad of humanity." Zuckerberg Go deeper: Tax authorities have accused Armenias national gas distribution owned by Russias Gazprom giant of evading millions of dollars worth of taxes. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) announced the launch of criminal proceedings against the Gazprom Armenia operator on Wednesday. The SRC claimed that the company inflated its expenditures and underreported its earnings in 2016 and 2017. It said that translated into several billion drams in unpaid taxes. No Gazprom Armenia executives have been formally charged yet. The head of the SRCs investigative division, Eduard Hovannisian, told RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) on Thursday that tax inspectors are still ascertaining the scale of the alleged tax evasion. The criminal investigation has only just started, he said. Gazprom Armenia strongly denied the accusations. I insist that they are baseless, its chief executive, Hrant Tadevosian, told a news conference. Our company has repeatedly received SRC certificates of a law-abiding taxpayer, most recently in September, he said. Tadevosian also accused the government agency comprising the Armenian tax and customs services of damaging the gas operators business reputation. He claimed that the criminal case has called into serious question Gazprom Armenias plans to obtain a multimillion-dollar loan from a Russian commercial bank. The SRC brought the tax fraud case amid ongoing negotiations between the Armenian government and Gazprom on the price of Russian natural gas delivered to Armenia. The most recent Russian-Armenian gas agreement set the price at $150 per thousand cubic meters. It expires in December. The government hopes that Gazprom will cut the tariff or at least keep it unchanged. The Russian gas monopoly has given no such indications so far. Haykakan Zhamanak says the upcoming parliamentary elections will be significantly different from past Armenian elections not just because there will be no more vote buying and abuse of administrative resources but also because they will lack a political component. The paper edited by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians wife says that campaign platforms of the election contenders will hardly of interest to voters this time around. It says this will be especially true for the former ruling Republican Party (HHK). Also, it says, Armenians supporting Pashinians My Step bloc will not really care about its election manifesto. They will vote for My Step simply because they pin great hopes on Nikol Pashinian, according to the paper. Past notes that a number of well-known parties have decided not to participate in the December 9 elections. They claim to be thus giving Pashinian and his team a chance to live up to the popular expectations. The paper laughs off these explanations, arguing that none of these parties can win more than 1 percent of the vote at the moment. These forces and politicians need to realize that if they give someone a chance then that someone is themselves, it says. By not participating [in the elections] those forces are getting a chance not to vanish from the political arena and to take part in future political cycles. Zhoghovurd reports that Belaruss ambassador to Azerbaijan has briefed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on recent developments relating to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The paper views this as a further manifestation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenkos pro-Azerbaijani stance. (Lilit Harutiunian) By Sara Israfilbekova Azerbaijans non-oil growth will gradually increase from around two percent today, to about three to four percent by 2023, IMF Mission Chief for Azerbaijan Mohammed El Qorchi, said in an interview with AzerNews. El Qorchi said that the non-oil economy has reported solid growth in the service sector, particularly in the communication, transport and tourism, adding that however, the construction sector is still feeling the effects of the slowdown in public investment. "Potential growth in the non-oil economy will be relatively sluggish without implementation of structural reforms. This would include stepping up broad based governance reforms, working to attract non-oil FDI (foreign direct investment), and focusing on greater human capital development through needed investments in health and education. Joining the WTO would help to increase Azerbaijans connectivity and expand non-oil exports," he noted. Answering the question on which projects implemented in Azerbaijan does the IMF support the most, the Mission Chief stressed that the Fund has provided technical assistance on the main macroeconomic policy areas. "This has included advice and recommendations on monetary and exchange rate policies; fiscal policies, bank supervision; and national income accounting, fiscal, and monetary statistics," El Qorchi said. Further, he noted that the 1.3-percent growth forecast is the best estimate of real GDP growth in 2018 based on available information as of September. "Through the first 9 months of this year, growth was 0.8 percent. So, we think our forecast is still in line with current indicators," the Mission Chief explained, adding that in general, economic reforms affect long-term economic growth and take a while to have an impact. In January-September 2018, the volume of GDP produced in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan increased by 1 percent compared to January-September 2017, while in the oil and gas sector there was an increase of 0.5 percent. During the reporting period, the sphere of transport and storage grew by 7.7 percent, accommodation of tourists and catering - by 7.6 percent, information and communication services - by 7.7 percent. The construction sector decreased by 15.9 percent. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Parliament of Azerbaijan instructed the government until Nov. 23 to consider proposals put forward during the discussions of the draft state budget for 2019, the Speaker of the Parliament Ogtay Asadov said on Nov. 15. The speaker said that the discussion of documents included in the budget package has already been completed. The speaker added that on Nov. 23 at a meeting of the Parliament, the government will express its attitude to the proposals put forward. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Washington has been ramping up pressure on Beijing in recent years, imposing tariffs on Chinese goods and lately accusing China of interfering in United States domestic politics. China has accused Trump and his administration of having a "cold war mentality" toward Beijing. The two countries resumed talks after the call between the two leaders, ending a three month hiatus that saw relations deteriorate as the United States accused China of interfering in USA domestic politics and seeking to undermine Trump. One person said that talks between the world's two largest economies are continuing and constructive. US President Donald Trump has said he will have a "good meeting" with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires later this month. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Xi's main economic emissary, Liu He, spoke last Friday for the first time in months. Since then, lower-level discussions have been held and Larry Kudlow, the head of Trump's National Economic Council, on Tuesday said the two capitals were in touch "at all levels". And Mr Navarro said a deal with China agreed under pressure from Wall Street would bear a "stench". "If there is a deal to be had with China it's a deal that has to be in America's interests...." "They are not close to a favourable deal on trade". Mnuchin is seen as an advocate within the administration of a deal, while others such as Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative, have been pushing to continue raising pressure on Beijing to try to push for more meaningful reforms. "I think the two sides remain at an impasse". A top White House economic advisor on Tuesday publicly rebuked a fellow aide over firebrand speech attacking Wall Street's involvement the US-China trade war. While two industry sources familiar with the contents of the response said it was largely a restatement of previous Chinese commitments, it was seen as a necessary starting point for continued negotiations. In an interview with Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin in which Pence focused on the White House's Indo-Pacific policy, the vice president said his trip to the region "is meant to show the United States has no intention of ceding influence or control" to Beijing. -With assistance from Sharon Chen and Miao Han. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement at a press conference held following a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger in Moscow are quite significant in terms of their essence since they can facilitate progress on Karabakh settlement. In his speech, Lavrov stressed that Russia welcomes agreements reached in Dushanbe. However, he stated that until the current somewhat tumultuous domestic political processes in Armenia are complete, it will hardly be possible to discuss in real earnest specific options for overcoming this crisis and ensuring a full Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. Simultaneously with the statement of Lavrov, the Russian co-chairman Igor Popov, while on a visit to the region, refused to go from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, in other words, he did not meet with the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. A group of pro-Armenian Russian experts associated this with technical issues. However, we should not forget that Popov met in Baku with representatives of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh. Therefore, the unwillingness to visit occupied Karabakh lands should be viewed as something more than just a technical issues. It is rather a political step showing that Russia demonstrated support to Azerbaijan, which is understandable and logical in view of recent developments in Armenia and its aggressive policy. Worsening relations with Russia, after Pashinyan came to power, is not surprising. Russia, which has its own interests in the region, has long viewed Armenia as its true ally, but the country is reconsidering this at the moment. Prior to becoming the prime minister of Armenia, the then oppositionist Pashinyan made a number of anti-Russian statements, urging the Armenian authorities to leave the alliance with Russia, in particular, the Eurasian Economic Union. Armenians perceive the current position of Russia as not corresponding to their interests. From the point of view of Azerbaijan, this is a step towards objectivity, the norms of international law. 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. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova OSCEs Ministerial Council meeting will be held in Milan on 6-7 December under the Chairmanship of Italy. The event is an important opportunity to assess the security situation in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian region and the activities of the organization in other areas. The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers will meet to negotiate the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the meeting. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys acting spokeswoman Leyla Abdullayeva said that Azerbaijan always declared its readiness for meetings with the Armenian foreign minister for the purpose of holding substantive negotiations aimed at achieving result, not only within international events, but also outside their format. The Azerbaijani side supports the proposal of the co-chairs on promoting peace negotiations and inviting Armenia to take a constructive position in this process. The focus on OSCE's role in protracted conflicts in the area of Europe is in the top of Italys priorities. The Minsk Group, which seeks for peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since 1992, has yet failed to find peace to the long-lasting conflict. There is hope for better results from the meeting in terms of realizing an idea of "reviving the Helsinki spirit", that Italy has voiced in the capacity of OSCE chairman-in-office early 2018. The meeting will particularly focus on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, other protracted conflicts, Transnistria, Abkhazia and Ossetia, challenges in the Mediterranean and new transnational threats such as terrorism, cyber security, illegal trafficking and other issues. The last meetings of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia took place in New York in September and in Brussels in July through mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group. The meetings yielded no result for settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict because of Armenia's non-constructive position. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The main problem, if there is a problem in the CSTO, is Armenia itself and the problems it has created, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. President Aliyev made the remarks at a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Azerbaijan Gennady Akhramovich. Of course, we are observing the situation in our region, the president added. We also closely observed the CSTO summit recently held in Kazakhstan. We are not indifferent to this, which I think is quite understandable because Armenia is a country that has occupied the territories of Azerbaijan. Of course, we are not indifferent to the issue of who, a representative of which country, heads the CSTO, which is a military-political organization. The discussion of these issues between partners and friends is natural, President Aliyev added. We are discussing other issues of international politics. This should not cause any manias in Armenia. We consider the recent statements of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as completely inadmissible in international practice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot comment on the actions and words of the president of another country, especially since it is considered an ally, and describe them as being incorrect. The President said that such behavior of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is incorrect, as it allows itself such escapades. Apparently, this is the result of a wrong perception of the world and its own place on the world map. At the same time, as you know, the Armenian side has stated that there is a problem in the CSTO. Maybe, they are right in that, the president said. First of all, these problems are Armenia itself and the problems it has created. Of course, we were a little wary of the appointment of a representative of Armenia to the post of secretary general of the CSTO. First, because this state conducts a hostile policy against Azerbaijan, and second, due to the identity of the candidate who was prosecuted for his actions. We have no doubt, so to speak, about the qualities this character possessed and still possesses. Suffice it to recall his shameful behavior during the battles between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armies, which ended in a bitter defeat for the Armenian army, the army led by the former CSTO secretary general, he added. In other words, the very appointment of this person to such an important international organization as the CSTO somewhat discredited the organization. And the way this man was expelled with criminal prosecution is quite unique in international practice when an international clerk was brought to justice like that without sending any notification to member countries. So, I want to say again that the main problem, if there is a problem in the CSTO, is Armenia itself and the problems it has created. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order appointing Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov as Azerbaijans plenipotentiary representative in the High-Level Working Group for the Caspian Sea. The Cabinet of Ministers has been tasked to resolve issues arising from the order. Also the order instructs the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry to send notifications to the Caspian countries that Deputy FM Khalaf Khalafov has been named Azerbaijans plenipotentiary representative in the High-Level Working Group for the Caspian Sea. On August 12, 2018, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed and the Communique of the Fifth Caspian Summit was adopted in Aktau. According to these documents, a decision was made to create a mechanism for regular five-sided consultations of plenipotentiaries of the Caspian countries. Thus, under this decision, foreign ministers of the Caspian countries created the High-Level Working Group for the Caspian Sea. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Azerbaijani Embassy in Belarus has held a conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus, the Embassy said in a statement Nov. 14. The Deputy Chairwoman of the Upper Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Marianna Shchetkina, the Deputy Chairman of the Lower Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Boleslav Pirshtuk and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Andrei Yeudachenka made speeches as special guests at the conference. The event was also attended by the ambassadors of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine to Belarus, Russia's permanent representative to the CIS, the first deputy chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, rectors of leading universities of Belarus, scientists and culture figures, representatives of the public. Opening the event, Ambassador Latif Gandilov described the participation in the conference of high-ranking representatives of the state and government of Belarus as an indicator of great respect for and attention to Azerbaijan. Assessing personal friendly relations between heads of state as an important factor in bilateral relations, Latif Gandilov noted that these relations are a good example of interstate cooperation. The ambassador stressed that the heads of state, thanks to their wise policy, eliminating the difficulties of the transition period, turned their countries into the states that deserve respect in the world, raising the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. The Deputy Chairwoman of the Upper Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Marianna Shchetkina and the Deputy Chairman of the Lower Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Boleslav Pirshtuk noted in their speeches that the relations between the two states in all spheres, including the inter-parliamentary relations, are at a high level. In connection with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the embassy also organized a presentation of the book titled "The 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Belarus" and a silver memorial sign. For their merits in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus, Gandilov awarded the first ambassador of Belarus to Azerbaijan Nikolai Paskevich, the First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Yeudachenka, and the Head of the Belarus-Azerbaijan Friendship Group in the Parliament of Belarus, Chairperson of the Standing Commission of the Lower Chamber of the Parliament of Belarus for National Security Valentin Mikhnevich with silver memorial signs. For their merits in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus, other representatives of state agencies and governments of Azerbaijan and Belarus will be awarded with memorial signs. After the event, a reception was arranged for the conference participants. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The European Parliament Member Eleni Theocharous has exchanged European values for extremism and separatism, head of SES Media Holding, political expert Bahruz Guliyev told Trend Nov. 14. He said the Azerbaijani public knows Theocharous very well. "The member of the European Parliament from Cyprus, known to many people for her unlawful visit to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, for being included to Azerbaijan's list of undesirable persons and for a criminal case against her under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, has made a hype again," the expert noted. "This time, Theocharous, because of her speech full of extremism and hatred, and threatening the Albanian constitution, security and order in that country, was declared an undesirable person by the joint decision of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Albania, he said. The extremist, nationalist speech of the MEP containing territorial claims against the southern lands of Albania was regarded by Albania as an attempt to violate its territorial integrity and constitution, and a decision was made - of course, this decision of Albania is not surprising, Guliyev said. Guliyev added that Theocharous can get the status of the first member of the European Parliament placed on an international wanted list based on appeals from a number of countries. It is also worth adding that Eleni Theocharous has close ties with Kaspar Karampetyan, who is involved in diamond trading. It is clear that Theocharous has exchanged the European values for extremism and separatism, and the philosophy of her political activities is to spread extremism on the European continent," the expert added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Chile intends to open an embassy in Azerbaijan, acting spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva told Trend on Nov. 15. According to a diplomatic note addressed to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry by the Foreign Ministry of Chile, the embassy of Chile will open in Baku soon as a sign of the importance attached to the development of bilateral relations. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Azerbaijan is one of the countries where mud volcanoes are most widespread. Over 350 mud volcanoes are located in the Absheron peninsula and the Caspian Sea. Mosto volcanoes are active throughout the year and only 43 of the mud volcanoes are protected by the state. For security reasons, the admission of people there is prohibited. Some of the volcanoes may pose a threat to the people and their homes located nearby. Bozdag Gobu and Keyreki volcanoes located on Absheron peninsula may cause serious threat to the people living around it, the head of the mud volcanism department of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of ANAS, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Adil Aliyev told Trend. He noted that mud volcanoes received the status of natural monuments in 2002 in accordance with the law Specially Protected Areas and Districts and the order on the Establishment of the State Natural Reserve of Mud Volcanoes in Baku and Absheron Peninsula was signed in 2015. Thus, destruction, pollution of the volcanoes and the construction of residential buildings in the nearby territories were prevented. Unfortunately, at present there is a large residential area in the protected area of the Keyreki volcano, near the Binagadi settlement, whereas there were just three individual homes in 2001. Aliyev also mentioned that the Keyreki volcano is active and frequently erupts. He recalled that the same volcano erupted last time in 2017. The carbon dioxide itself is very damaging to the health of the people living there, although the volcano eruption does not cause an ignition, he explained. Aliyev noted that the same situation has occurred near Bozdag Gobu volcano as the number of houses near the crater has increased. Earlier, Aliyev said that an eruption of six mud volcanoes is expected in Azerbaijan in the next months and in 2019. There is the likelihood of an eruption of the Bozdag Gobu volcano on the Absheron peninsula, the Bahar volcano in the Alat village, the Shekikhan, Nardaranakhtarma, Ayazakhtarma and Shikhzerli volcanoes in Gobustan, he said. The activity of mud volcanoes is closely linked to the seismicity of the Azerbaijani territory. Mud volcanoes are one of the key points for the discovery of oil and gas fields. In the 1920s, a prominent researcher, Professor D.V. Golubyatnikov called the mud volcano free exploration well. According to geologists, mud volcanoes are formed as a result of extreme pressure of hydrocarbon gases accumulated in oil fields. Volcanic water is widely used in the treatment of a number of diseases-nervous system, skin diseases, radiculitis, urology, gynecology and etc. Clays of mud volcanoes are considered to be minerals. Fluid of mud volcanoes is used as raw materials in chemical and construction industry, as well as in pharmacology. There are 1,400-1,500 mud volcanoes on Earth. Mud volcanoes appeared on the territory of the present Azerbaijan Republic 25 million years ago. Mud volcanoes are located far from populated areas. Most of these territories are under protection, and it is strictly forbidden for people to enter there without special permission. Otherwise, everyone will face a large fine - for individuals the amount is 400-600 manats, and for officials 2,000-4,000 manats. These bans have several reasons. Firstly, in this way the territory of the volcanoes is protected from possible contamination by people, secondly, possible attempts to carry away the mud from the territory of the reserve are prevented (this mud can be used during construction). And finally, the main reason is that each eruption volcano is a danger to human life. Volcanic eruptions have occurred on the territory of Azerbaijan many times. The first eruption of the volcano occurred in 1828. It was located 15 km from the capital Lokbatan volcano, and it has erupted 17 times since then. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova An event dedicated to the World Diabetes Day was held in Baku on November 14. The main purpose of the event, held with the organizational support of the Danish company Novo Nordisk and the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, is to draw public attention to the fight against diabetes and educate people to lead a healthy lifestyle. The event was attended by guests from Italy, Denmark, Iran and other countries, Trend reported. Addressing the event, the head of the international relations department of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Soltan Mammadov gave a brief information on social projects implemented by the Foundation over the past period. In his speech, Mammadov stressed that since 2004, as part of the program to provide care for diabetic children, the Foundation regularly provides assistance in the provision of insulin and syringes. With the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, psychosocial rehabilitation is also organized for children suffering from diabetes and in need of social assistance. It is gratifying that today, as a result of successful economic and social policies implemented in our country, everyone suffering from diabetes receives the necessary services, which is proof of our country's care for its citizens, he said. Deputy Minister of Health Elsevar Agayev noted that World Diabetes Day has been celebrated since 1991 in 145 countries around the world. The United Nations supported World Diabetes Day by adopting a special resolution in 2007. Elsevar Agayev noted that such a broad celebration of this day is not accidental. He brought to the attention that that among the diseases that lead to disability and death, diabetes ranks third after cardiovascular and oncological diseases. "No matter how much we call this a way of life, we see that diabetes has very serious consequences. Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in the world," the deputy minister said. Azerbaijan became the first country to adopt a law on combating diabetes in the post-Soviet space. At the same time, the deputy minister added that currently treatment of some diseases in Azerbaijan is financed through state programs. One of these programs is associated with diabetes. Agayev noted that after 2006, three state programs on diabetes were adopted. The latest state program covers 2016-2020. Today more than 1600 children are dependent on insulin. For many years, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been taking care of these children. On behalf of the medical community, I would like to thank the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, its head, First Vice President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyev, who has exceptional merits in implementing these programs in Azerbaijan, said Agayev. Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Health Musa Guliyev said that joint activities will help overcome diabetes and make people healthier. He also stressed that the state attaches special importance to the health of the Azerbaijani population and treatment of socially significant diseases is financed from the state budget through 16 programs. Guliyev added that after Azerbaijan gained independence, the budget allocated to health care is expected at the highest level next year. In 2019, health care expenditures amounted to 309 million manats, which is 32 percent higher than the expected expenses this year. The focus will be on treating diabetes and preventing disease. Compared to 2018, the state budget provides for an increase in expenditures for these purposes by 8.5 million manats. We believe that this is not enough, and in the coming years, these costs will increase. But an increase of about 30 percent compared with previous years is the success of our joint activities, said the deputy. Notably, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation joined the World Diabetes Campaign in 2007. The Foundation is implementing various projects aimed at drawing public attention to diabetes and expanding efforts to prevent it. In particular, support is provided for providing children with diabetes with quality medical care. Novo Nordisk is a world-famous company with a history of almost 50 years that uses the latest technology in the treatment of diabetes. The company supports millions of people with diabetes worldwide, and people at risk. Novo Nordisk, one of the leading drug companies, also contributes to improving the quality of life of people with diabetes. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan also violates UNESCO's values and principles grossly, said Elnur Sultanov, Ambassador-at-Large, Secretary General of the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO. He was speaking at the session of the Forum "Through the eyes of UNESCO member states" in Seoul on November 13. Speaking about Armenian aggression against Azerbaijani people, Sultanov said that all historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan was destroyed as a result of the policy of cultural cleansing in the occupied territories and urged the international community to increase its efforts in this issue. He also spoke of Azerbaijan-UNESCO relations and said that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with the organization. He also informed about the "Baku Process", underlining that the "Baku Process", which was founded in 2008 by the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, has become a global platform for the promotion of intercultural dialogue. This year Azerbaijan celebrated the 10th anniversary of the "Baku Process". The UNESCO Strategic Forum of 2018 was held in Seoul on November 13, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and the National Commission for UNESCO. Elnur Sultanov represented Azerbaijan at the forum. UNESCO's future action strategies and cooperation with member states were discussed at the forum. Azerbaijan is sensitive to the issue of preserving the countrys cultural heritage. Armenia deliberately destroys cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and occupation of Azerbaijani territories, the Armenian aggressors destroyed 1,200 historical and architectural monuments, looted 27 museums, while over 100,000 items were exported to Armenia. Moreover, the Armenian occupiers destroyed 152 religious monuments and 62 mosques, 4.6 million books in 927 libraries, including the Holy Quran and rare Islamic manuscripts. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Despite the police department's near-certain explanation for the raccoons' behavior, some animals exhibiting similar symptoms could be sick. "Ptl Scarberry made his first apprehension today, taking this masked bandit into custody with assistance of Sgt Collins and several neighbourhood residents", the Milton Police Department wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. Officers said they had received a pair of calls about potentially rabid raccoons in the town of Milton. The same thing you do with a drunk human: stick 'em in a jail cell until they sober up. While it may sound unusual, it is possible for animals to get "drunk" off of fermented berries and other food items. Rather, it seems the creature just had too much to "drink". At least two raccoons found themselves a little disoriented and were staggering around in a West Virginia town, according to a Facebook post from the Milton Police Department. Turns out, the birds were inebriated; reportedly intoxicated by berries that had fermented sooner than usual due to an early frost. Both animals were released near a wooded area "unharmed", authorities said. The department noted that if you happen to stumble upon one of these drunk idiots, you should not approach them. By Trend As many as 123,870 Turkish citizens were provided with workplaces in Turkey in October 2018, which is 9.2 percent more than in the same period last year, the Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR) told Trend on Nov. 14. Out of the total number of the employed, 35 percent are women and 65 percent are men, according to ISKUR. "Among the jobs provided in October 2018, 99.2 percent accounted for the private sector," ISKUR said. "A total of 3.215 million people were registered as unemployed in Turkey in October 2018," ISKUR said, adding that 52 percent of them are women and 48 percent are men. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Iranian Guardian Councils remarks about the Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) bill will be considered in the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Ardeshir Nourian, a member of the Commission, said in an interview with IRNA. He said the Guardian Council considered the Parliament's decisions, including four FATF bills, whether they are in conformity with Sharia law and the Constitution, and voiced its remarks regarding 23 provisions. Nourian said the Guardian Councils remarks will be considered on Nov. 18 at an extraordinary session. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Nobody will destroy what Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has built, head of the Israel-Azerbaijan International Association AzIz Lev Spivak told Trend on Nov. 14. He was commenting on the resignation of the Israeli defense minister because of disagreement with the decision on a ceasefire regime in the Gaza Strip. Spivak said that Liebermans resignation in the current situation was absolutely expected. Just imagine that 400 rockets suddenly fall on you in two days from the neighboring country to which you have recently donated $15 million in cash, and in response you received such a gift, he said. As far as I know Liebermans position as a politician, as a person, and, not to mention his position as minister of defense, he had no other options than resignation after the authorities announced the truce with the Palestinian militants, Spivak said. He added that it would be difficult to replace Lieberman because not every politician, and even a professional military man, would agree to take the post of defense minister in the current circumstances. Spivak stressed that no matter who will be appointed Israeli defense minister, Liebermans resignation will not lead to changes in military-technical cooperation with Azerbaijan or the rejection of any contracts. "Everyone understands the importance of this cooperation, he said. Over the past years, Lieberman managed to bring the importance of ties with Azerbaijan to almost all Knesset members attention. Nobody will destroy what Lieberman has built because everyone understands that this is good and right." The armistice agreement between Israel and Palestine was concluded on Nov. 13 after severe aggravation of the conflict since 2014. In response, Lieberman announced about his resignation and called the truce and the beginning of negotiations with HAMAS capitulation to terror, he added. "Lieberman added that now, as a country, we are buying short-term rest, and long-term harm to national security will be the payment for this," Spivak said. In turn, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he agreed to HAMAS proposal for ceasefire as it is necessary to make "difficult but correct decisions". Netanyahu said that "the enemies begged for ceasefire," BBC Russian Service reported. On Nov. 12-13, the Palestinians fired 460 missiles at Israel, the Israeli military attacked and hit 160 targets in the Gaza Strip. As a result of mutual shelling, eight people were killed. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and His Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed opportunities for further expanding mutually beneficial relations between the two countries in a phone conversation, the Turkmen government said in a message. The promising areas include the industrial sector and the agro-industrial complex. The two sides noted the impressive potential of multifaceted partnership. The legal framework that has significantly strengthened in recent years is powerful foundation for implementing new large-scale joint projects that meet the goals of economic prosperity of both countries and the region as a whole, the Turkmenistan State News Agency reported. The presidents noted the significant role of the joint commission in enhancing and developing effective mechanisms for cooperation in various sectors of the economy, increasing the volume of mutual trade, encouraging investment and strengthening business contacts. Recently, communications between the border areas of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan received a new impetus, the report said. The two countries are actively cooperating in the development of transit-transport corridors along the East-West and North-South routes. The parties exchanged views on topical aspects of international issues of mutual interest. It was emphasized that Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan act as responsible partners in shaping their approaches to solving priority issues on the regional and global agenda, primarily relating to ensuring global peace and security and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the report said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Head of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Es'haq has refuted the Reuters report regarding the exchange of Iranian gas for Iraqi food supplies, ILNA reported. We made more than six billion dollars worth of export to Iraq in the initial seven months of the year, and are willing to import some stuff in return; however, importing food supplies from Iraq is an inaccurate an unfounded lie. As a matter of fact, quite contrarily, Iran is the one providing Iraq with food supplies and not the other way around, he was quoted as saying. According to the controversial report, two Iraqi officials have talked about Irans agreement to receive food and humanitarian items in return for local gas and energy supplies. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Talks with Japan over a peace treaty based on the 1956 Declaration require serious groundwork, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after his visit to Singapore, TASS reports. "Yesterday, indeed, during our meeting, Prime Minister [of Japan Shinzo Abe] said that Japan was ready to resume talks on the basis of the 1956 Declaration. But this certainly demands separate, additional and in depth analysis, given that not everything is clear in that Declaration, as you heard Ive just said about that," Putin said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend In January-October 2018, the number of Turkish citizens arrived in Azerbaijan through the Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR) in search of work fell by 80.88 percent compared to the same period in 2017, ISKUR told Trend on Nov. 15. During the reporting period, 26 Turkish citizens visited Azerbaijan through the Employment Agency, which is 110 people less compared to the same period of 2017. In September 2018, four Turkish citizens arrived in Azerbaijan via ISKUR. In October 2018, via ISKUR, a total of 3,373 Turkish citizens went abroad searching for work. According to the agency, in January-October 2018, 20,155 Turkish citizens left the country via ISKUR, which is 18.23 percent more compared to the same period in 2017. In October 2018, 123,870 Turkish citizens were provided with work in Turkey, which is 9.2 percent more compared to the same month 2017. In Turkey, in October, among those provided with jobs, 65 percent accounted for men, while the number of women accounted for 35 percent. Among those employed in October 2018, 99.2 percent accounted for the private sector. In January-October 2018, as a whole, 991,407 people were provided with jobs in Turkey. A total of 3.215 million people were registered as unemployed in Turkey in October 2018. Fifty-two percent of them are women and 48 percent are men. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Great Wall Motor's premium SUV brand WEY is about to unveil the WEY P8 GT at the upcoming 2018 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, according to local media. According to the spy shots exposed before, the WEY P8 GT retains the overall design of the P8 in the exterior. At the front face, the large-sized polygonal intake grille filled with a net-like structure resembles a hauberk dressed on a medieval knight and is likely to create rich and interesting lighting effects in the sunlight. The headlights outlined by sculptural lines and the protruding lines on the hood make the vehicle looks more masculine. Looking from the rear end, the P8 GT has two dual exhaust pipes in total with one pipe on each side. The eagle eye-shaped taillights, along with the clean-cut rear bumper, properly fit the vehicle's SUV position. We can see the badge of P8 GT and (Chinese character of WEY) on the left and right side of the trunk lid. The WEY P8 GT, measuring 4,790 in length, 1,940mm in width and 1,672mm in height, is larger than that of the existing P8. However, both models feature the same size of 2,950mm in wheelbase. The P8 GT is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine code-named GW4C20A that pumps out 224hp (165kW) and the lithium ion battery pack developed by CATL. It read in part, "Early this morning, a photo that was taken last spring of some Baraboo School District students who appear to be making extremely inappropriate gestures began circulating on social media". Some members of a Wisconsin community are rallying to give a message of love in response to a photo that appears to show several high school students flashing a Nazi salute. Not all of them saluted, and one boy in the front made the "OK" hand gesture, which can be construed as a symbol of white power. We are particularly concerned with the prevalence of bigotry within schools; more than 25 percent of all the recorded anti-Semitic incidents in Wisconsin past year took place among students or on campus. Not every boy is saluting in the picture, however. One looks uncomfortable and did not raise his arm. "We are investigating and will pursue any and all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to address", a representative said in a statement. Baraboo police are also investigating. In a Twitter post Monday, Mueller added: "The photo of students posted to #BarabooProud is not reflective of the educational values and beliefs of the School District of Baraboo". "I was quite shocked that the photo was posted online last May and no one really objected", Suzdalstev said. He says he will be in contact with Baraboo school officials and "intolerance and bigotry must never be tolerated, in our schools or anywhere else". Baraboo, about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee, is a mostly white city - 93 percent of its residents identify as "white only", according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The official Auschwitz Memorial Twitter account released a statement over the weekend saying "It is so hard to find words". Suzdaltsev tweeted that he was quickly flooded with reactions, comments, and anecdotes from other alleged Baraboo students and alumni who said they wanted to share their own experiences with district bullying and hate speech and what they encountered when they attempted to report these incidents to school authorities. The memorial stressed that "we need to explain what is the danger of hateful ideology rising", and that the Baraboo school district should "know more about what can be the extreme result of normalization of hatred". "To anyone that was hurt I sincerely apologize", Gust wrote on his website. You can reach Sam Morgen at 661-395-7415 or smorgen@bakersfield.com. You may also follow him on Twitter @smorgenTBC. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected this Thursday in Morocco, where he will attend the inauguration by King Mohammed VI of the Tangier-Casablanca high-speed train, the first in Africa. The French President will be accompanied by the business leaders who participated in the implementation of the TGV project. King Mohammed VI and the French head of state will be aboard the train making its inaugural trip from Tangier to Rabat. The high-speed train linking the city of Tangier to Casablanca, the countrys economic capital, will halve the journey time between the two cities to just over two hours down from 4 hours 45 minutes currently. The TGV has set the target of transporting 6 million passengers a year with departures every hour from Casablanca and Tangier. The average occupancy rate is expected to reach 70%. The TGV line could be extended later towards Marrakech and Agadir, two major tourist cities. According to economists, this new railway line, linking the two economic and industrial poles, falls within the framework of Moroccos global strategy to upgrade infrastructures and promote an efficient and modern rail transport system. Investments in Moroccos railway sector grew sevenfold to stand at 34 billion dirhams in the 2010-2015 period. Only words but no action. That sums Algerias attitude towards any initiative to reinvigorate the Maghreb. Algeria, which maintains borders closed with Morocco despite calls from Rabat to normalize relations, went further in its obsession of containing Morocco by adopting self-defeating strategies in the Sahel. Governing behind the curtain of a dead-living president, the deep state in Algiers has seen in Moroccos economic inroads in West Africa a threat to their hegemonic ambitions. After squandering the countrys petrodollars during the era of expensive oil, the rulers in Algeria cannot explain to their ordinary citizens how Morocco, without oil and gas, has an active private sector that is a key actor in the countrys economic diplomacy across the continent. They instead persist on maintaining a rent economy and a foreign policy pegged on the price of the barrel. When the price is up, handouts domestically and abroad increase and when it is down, social peace at home is at risk while diplomacy fanes. An illustration of Algerias inability to compete with Morocco is the decision to open a border crossing with Mauritania with the aim to export fruits and vegetables to the desert country that imports the bulk of its food needs from Morocco. The Algerian press voiced the concerns of Algerian truck drivers and agricultural operators who have stopped exporting fruits and vegetables to Mauritania due to the long distance that can span 3500 kilometers, bad quality of road but most of all the expensive price of diesel which was not offset by state subsidies. Only few weeks after the opening of the border crossing, Algerian fruits and vegetables could not compete with Moroccan produce, which are exported from the agricultural hub of Agadir through the road that crosses the Sahara. In two days, fresh products from Agadir can be sold in the markets of Nouakchott making it hard for Algerian exporters to compete. Not to mention quality in Morocco which has a far more advanced agricultural sector than Algeria. Before trying to compete with Morocco, Algeria has first to proceed to domestic reforms to boost private investments and promote free competition which is only conceivable as part of an integrated regional grouping, the Maghreb. Tess Poland, RN, MSN, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care's senior vice president of accreditation services, weighed in on the importance and significance of AAAHC's advanced orthopaedic certification in the increasingly crowded ASC market in an interview. Here are the insights Ms. Poland shared with Becker's ASC Review: Note: This article has been slightly edited for style and clarity. Interested in participating in a Q&A with Becker's ASC Review? Email Rachel Popa at rpopa@beckershealthcare.com. Question: With more total joint procedures moving to the outpatient setting, why are certification programs like the advanced orthopaedic certification important? Tess Poland: The advanced orthopaedic certification indicates an organization has undergone a rigorous review on all aspects of their specialty care. The certification recognizes an organization's efforts to foster better outcomes for [patients during] total joints and spine. The program is designed around improving outcomes, so the certification signifies the organizations commitment to providing high quality specialty patient care. Q: What was the process like for developing the certification? TP: The first thing we did was put together a technical panel [composed of] people who represented the industry. There were 16 members who had expertise in total joint and spine, including physicians, nurses, payers, physical therapists and administrators. They met weekly to develop the standards and conducted a comparative literature review to reinforce the standards The impacts on patient outcomes was the biggest focus. Q: How can the certification can be a differentiator in an increasingly crowded market? TP: The certification demonstrates high reliability, and a culture driven toward excellence, that in itself creates a competitive advantage over other ASCs. It also provides assurance to patients paying for services in the industry. Q: Can you elaborate on the advanced orthopaedic certification survey being an "educational experience" for ASCs? What do you hope ASCs will learn from the program? TP: What we've found based on feedback from organizations we have surveyed is the act of preparing for certification promoted team cohesiveness as staff worked toward earning that specialty certification. The standards lend themselves to greater consistency in care as it requires a systematic approach to service line delivery. I hope ASCs will learn from the program the level of excellence that can be achieved and how facilities can improve patient outcomes as a result of these standards. The standards force ASCs to look at the episode of care, including post discharge, as well as the continuum of care. What we hope to achieve through the educational process is having a look at the whole episode of care through prescreening, into the OR, to discharge back and then back into the community. Managing that whole continuum as it relates to the impact on patient outcomes [is important]. Q: Why do you think so many AAAHC-accredited ASCs expressed interest in the program? TP: ASCs were seeking verification [to show] they provide an excellent level of service and care for patients undergoing total joint and spine procedures. The ASCs in our community that are accredited were requesting a certification that would enable them to demonstrate their level of excellence in providing care for specialty patients. Another driver that has increased interest is payers. Advanced orthopaedic certification is preferred or required by payers. As an example, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association recently announced AAAHC advanced orthopaedic certification as a requirement for participation in its Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement program for ASCs. Q: What advice would you give to ASCs seeking the certification? TP: Start by reviewing the eligibility criteria. The criteria ensure a few things, [including] if the facility is in good standing with AAAHC because certification builds on accreditation. So you want to make sure the facility is compliant with accreditation standards. Part of the eligibility criteria is that the facility has completed 20 total joint and/or spine procedures. That ensures proficiency with nursing policies, and demonstrates a level of proficiency within the care team. Another criterion is that [ASC] physicians have a median average of 50 procedures that have been completed, and they may be both within the ASC or in inpatient settings. Second, identify who your core leaders are. At minimum, it must include a medical director and a clinical resource person that oversee the facilitation of the certification process that are both involved with reviewing policies and developing protocols. Third, is to share the workload, and assign different tasks to your core leaders to oversee. Also, make sure you can pass a comprehensive assessment of your processes, policies and procedures, as well as anything else related to the certification standards. Once you've done that, develop an action plan, and commit to weekly progress meetings until compliance in all standards has been achieved. That's important because this program raises the bar for quality of care and patient outcomes. Pacira Pharmaceuticals CEO David Stack spoke at the Jeffries London Healthcare Conference Nov. 14 and discussed the company's growth, as well as where Pacira, and it's Exparel product, are headed in the future. Looking ahead to 2019, CMS recently released the 2019 payment guidelines which included separate payments for non-opioid postsurgical pain management, including Exparel, in the outpatient setting. Mr. Stack said he sees the move to outpatient surgery as an important driver for the company's success in the future. The company estimates around 70 percent of surgeries are done in hospitals and 30 percent are done in ASCs; however, over the next 10 years Mr. Stack projects that will flip to 70 percent of surgeries performed in an outpatient or ambulatory setting and 30 percent in the inpatient hospital. "The payers have seen the value of providing improved care at a 40 percent reduced cost [in the ASC]," said Mr. Stack. "With the advent of [enhanced recovery after surgery protocols] and physician-owned surgery centers, physicians want to work there and payers want surgeries performed there." To learn more about the new CMS rule as well as hear from ASC owners, administrators and leaders in ASC billing and coding on their experiences with Exparel, register for this webinar titled "CMS Reimburses Non-Opioid Postsurgical Pain Management in the ASC: Review of the New CMS Rules and Opportunity for ASCs" on Dec. 4, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Evidence in the literature shows the opioid-reduction effect Exparel can have on surgical patients. Studies show Exparel can help arthroscopic rotator cuff repair patients lower opioid consumption and reduce pain, and similar results were found for total knee replacement patients. Spine surgeons can also use Exparel in procedures. "If you are treating spine patients, you want to get them out of the PACU and mobile as quickly as possible," said Mr. Stack. "If we can [achieve this] without opioids, you can make spine an outpatient procedure." Mr. Stack emphasized that Exparel can be used in a multimodal pain management approach as part of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. Partnerships will also be a focus for Pacira in the future. The company is currently partnered with Aetna to examine separate payments for Exparel in select Florida- and New Jersey-based ASCs as a pilot program that could spread to other geographies and payers. "We have other pilots not disclosed with several other payers," said Mr. Stack. "I'll go back to patient satisfaction and physician satisfaction; they would like to be outside of the hospital environment if possible. The payers would like to reimburse outside of the hospital, so this [transition] is taking place in real time." Benton County, Iowa, touts the lowest colorectal cancer incidence rate in the state, which Vinton Today attributed to the efforts of Vinton, Iowa-based Virginia Gay Hospital. Here's what you should know: 1. Iowa has the fifth highest rates of CRC-related incidence and death in the nation. However, Benton County touts the lowest CRC incidence rate in the state and lower incidence rates for all types of cancer compared to other counties. 2. The hospital integrated colonoscopy services into primary care, which is what Brian Meeker, DO, said contributed to the decline. 3. "We've made this a priority for 25 years, Dr. Meeker said, and our data shows that our record of safety is much better than the national average and that we are extremely effective in finding the polyps that eventually cause colon cancer. Now, we know we've helped achieve the lowest incidence of colorectal cancer in Iowa because of everyones hard work over such a long period." 4. The hospital's team-based approach also helps, Dr. Meeker said. He said physicians often reach out for other opinions if they have any doubt. "See something, say something is the motto," Dr. Meeker said. To read the whole feature, click here. Glendale, Calif.-based Chevy Chase Surgery Center physicians traveled to the Stepanakert Republican Medical Center in Stepanaker, Negorno Karapagh, for a medical mission trip, Asbarez reports. Here's what you should know: 1. The physicians organized the trip with help from Armenia Fund USA and Glendale-based Adventist Health. 2. The nine Chevy Chase Surgery Center physicians received medical equipment and supply donations from Avedis Tavitian, MD, and Ara Tavitian, MD. 3. The surgical team performed gastroenterology, ophthalmology and general surgery procedures. The physicians completed 35 eye surgeries, 56 endoscopies, 56 colonoscopies and 19 general surgeries during the mission, which took place Sept. 27 to Oct. 5.. 4. Chevy Chase Surgery Center Administrator Raffi Sarkissian said, "Supporting institutions such as the Stepanakert Republican Medical Center will ultimately enable them to provide better healthcare to the people of Artsakh. We have already started planning our next year's mission by adding two or three specialties to its work scope. I also want to thank Armenia Fund and Adventist Health for their continued support of the project." CMS' 2019 physician fee schedule includes potentially misvalued codes for total hip and knee arthroplasty, according to the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. Here are the key details to know: 1. CMS identified seven high volume current procedural terminology codes as potentially misvalued, including those for total hip and knee arthroplasty. CMS requested the Relative Value Update Committee of the American Medical Association re-evaluate the work for these procedures. 2. A subcommittee of the RUC found there wasn't a reason to re-evaluate the total hip and knee codes in October 2018. AAHKS said physician-led initiatives have created significant quality improvements in total hip and knee procedures, leading to increased value. 3. Specifically, the AAHKS said the cost of a 90-day episode of care has been reduced by 50 percent without affecting quality, and the organization does not believe the codes should be reviewed by RUC. 4. Lowering the value of the codes would add to the supply-side crisis and threaten access for patients, the AAHKS said. "Our members have worked very hard over the past decade to improve the quality of care they provide for patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty while simultaneously partnering with payers including the federal government to lower costs. Given the high societal value that these procedures provide, penalizing the surgeon for improvements in care seems unfair, misguided and may threaten access to care," said AAHKS President Craig J. Della Valle, MD, in a release. 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. Children's Hospital & Medical Center-Omaha (Neb.): Seeks a senior software architect 2. Mercy Health Network (Des Moines, Iowa): Seeks a decision support analyst 3. Methodist Hospital of Southern California (Arcadia): Seeks a clinical IT analyst 4. Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor): Seeks an applications programmer Cerner 1. Christiana Care Health System (Newark, Del.): Seeks a senior systems engineer 2. Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (St. Petersburg, Fla.): Seeks a project manager 3. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital (Los Angeles): Seeks a lead ambulatory applications analyst 4. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.): Seeks a core integration manager Epic 1. Englewood (N.J.) Hospital and Medical Center: Seeks a senior security analyst 2. Henry Ford Health System (Detroit): Seeks a senior applications analyst 3. NorthShore University HealthSystem (Evanston, Ill.): Seeks an applications director 4. University of Pennsylvania Health System (Philadelphia): Seeks a senior applications analyst Meditech 1. Aventura (Fla.) Hospital & Medical Center: Seeks an advanced clinical applications director 2. Grand View Health (Sellersville, Pa.): Seeks a chief medical information officer 3. Hendersonville (Tenn.) Medical Center: Seeks a clinical informatics director 4. Prime Healthcare (Ontario, Calif.): Seeks an IT project manager Below are 15 hospitals or health systems that recently announced or completed construction projects worth more than $300 million in the last three months, reported by Becker's Hospital Review. 1. Georgia approves $1.5B Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital: 3 notes Georgia approved Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's certificate of need application to replace the 325-bed children's hospital in Atlanta with a larger one containing 446 beds, also in Atlanta. 2. California hospital opens $340M emergency pavilion Washington Hospital in Fremont, Calif., opened its $340 million emergency and critical care pavilion Nov. 12. 3. Banner University Medical Center opens 16-story tower Phoenix-based Banner University Medical Center opened its 16-story, $417.9 million patient tower Nov. 6. 4. Hackensack University Medical Center to break ground on $714M expansion next year Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center is on track to begin its $714 million expansion in the first quarter of 2019. 5. City approves part of UPMC's $2B expansion plan The Pittsburgh Planning Commission approved on Oct. 23 UPMC's plan to build a vision and rehabilitation hospital in Pittsburgh as part of the system's $2 billion expansion. 6. Santa Barbara hospital completes $820M renovation Santa Barbara (Calif.) Cottage Hospital completed a series of renovations Oct. 10 that totaled more than $820 million. 7. U of Maryland Shore Regional Health plans $350M replacement hospital Baltimore-based University of Maryland Shore Regional Health filed a certificate of need for a $350 million hospital to replace Shore Medical Center in Easton (Md.) 8. $738M Coney Island Hospital renovation advances Brooklyn, N.Y.-based NYC Health + Hospitals-Coney Island's $738 million renovation plan will move forward after receiving a key approval from the state. 9. Maine Medical Center advances $525M expansion project Portland-based Maine Medical Center is moving forward with the final phase of its $525 million expansion project, a six-story building with 64 inpatient beds. 10. Mayo Clinic invests nearly $800M to expand in Florida, Arizona In an effort to meet rising patient demand, Mayo Clinic will invest nearly $800 million to expand its campuses in Arizona and Florida. 11. New York health system gets $180M loan for $480M expansion Utica, N.Y.-based Mohawk Valley Health System secured the last piece of funding to finance its $480 million expansion project. 12. University Health System advances plans for $452M expansion San Antonio-based University Health System is moving forward with its $452 million hospital expansion, which includes building a 302-bed tower. 13. Essentia Health seeks bonds for $800M campus upgrade Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health is looking to secure $800 million in bonds to fund its campus upgrade. 14. Rural South Carolina hospital fears nearby $325M facility will wipe it out: 5 things to know The Medical University of South Carolina, based in Charleston, got the greenlight from regulators to build a $325 million hospital in Berkeley County an approval Orangeburg, S.C.-based Regional Medical Center says will threaten its viability as a rural healthcare provider. 15. JPS Health Network seeks $800M toward $1.2B in campus upgrades Fort Worth, Texas-based Tarrant County Hospital District, which does business as JPS Health Network, is seeking voter approval for an $800 million bond proposal that would fund more than $1.2 billion in hospital upgrades. Middletown City officials received a 62-page letter and petition opposing Dayton, Ohio-based Kettering Health Network's expansion plan. The letter was signed by 740 staff, physicians, board members, volunteers and community supporters of Middletown, Ohio-based Atrium Medical Center, according to the Journal-News. The petition was received Nov. 13, just one day before the Middletown Planning Commission votes on a rezoning request from Kettering Health Network. If the rezoning request is approved, Kettering Health would be able to provide an expanded scope of medical services, including overnight patient stays, which are now prohibited. Kettering Health's facility is less than a mile from Atrium Medical Center. "We are responding to requests for choice from our patients," Daniel Tryon, executive director and administrator of Kettering Health Network Middleton told the Journal-News. "Patients regularly have to leave the Middleton medical complex because they need care for more than 24 hours. Rezoning would allow patients to stay closer to home for care. In the letter, Atrium employees outlined several reasons for opposing Kettering Health's expansion, including the healthcare industry's ongoing shift to the outpatient setting, the risk of adding duplicative services and ongoing staffing problems as shortages of local healthcare workers persist. "Our present concerns have nothing to do with competition but instead center on the implications of adding unnecessary inpatient beds to the Middletown community at a time when demand for inpatient services continues to shrink," the letter states. The commission voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning request on Nov. 14. However, the final decision will come from the full Middletown City Council. The city council is scheduled to vote Dec. 18. The African Union on Wednesday called for a sanction regime against member states that would fail to make their annual financial contributions. African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat announced the new measure in a speech at the 20th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, focused on the continental reform agenda, a necessity for the continental organization to achieve peace and development. According to Faki Mahamat, in the face of ferocious global competition, declining multilateralism and the existence of multiple conflicts in the continent, Africa has to strengthen itself in all forms. The situation demands that we increase our performance, he said. Much of the budget of the cash-strapped pan-African organization comes from international donors, with 30 out of the 55 member states defaulting either partially or completely on their contributions. In 2017 alone, 73% of the AUs $782 million budget came from international partners, with member states contributing only $212 million, or 27% of the total budget. Based on the 2016 decisions of the member states, Rwandan president and AU acting chairman Paul Kagame had submitted the reform roadmap to the leaders for the implementation of Agenda 2063 the continents economic, social and political blueprint. To increase self-reliance and support peace operations, the AU is suggesting a 0.2% import levy on eligible goods, which officials hope, will raise up to $400 million by 2020. As a reminder, the European Union has recently decided to reduce its contributions by 20%, while the US administration is reducing the share of its national budget allocated to Africa. Ellwood (Pa.) City Medical Center witnessed its fourth payroll delay in roughly two months with latest incident occurring just two days after the hospital's owner told employees the facility's finances were stabilizing, according to the Ellwood City Ledger. Here are four things to know: 1. Hospital employees contacted the Ellwood City Ledger and said the paychecks they had been expecting to receive by 4 p.m. Nov. 9 were delayed until 6 p.m., when most banks had already closed. On Nov. 14, some employees told the publication their paychecks were still being bounced or that their banks refused to process them. 2. The publication reports this is at least the fourth time the hospital has reported payroll issues within the past two months. However, one employee told the Ellwood City Ledger issues have occurred during the past six consecutive payrolls. 3. Grant White, CEO of Americore Health in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which owns Ellwood City Medical Center, did not respond to the Ellwood City Ledger's requests for comment Nov. 14. Mr. White had previously attributed payroll issues to the hospital having to switch bank accounts and upgrade equipment to be compatible with those accounts. However, the equipment was in place in October, Mr. White said, according to the report. 4. Mr. White addressed some employees' and city officials' concerns during a public forum Nov. 7. He said the hospital remains committed to its employees and improving care services to meet the community's health needs. Mr. White also said the hospital, which has been losing approximately $1 million per month, is projected to make a profit in November, according to the report. To access the full report, click here. Here are healthcare industry leader responses to the midterm elections and thoughts on where health IT is headed. Dean L. Smith, MD. Chief Medical Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Relations of GlobalMed: I don't foresee a significant change in the continued growth trajectory of virtual care technologies, such as telemedicine, following the recent midterm elections. Although there are legislative risks associated with a divided Congress, the demand for affordable healthcare access coupled with continued improvements in networks remain strong drivers for adoption of virtual care. Ron Wince. Founder and CEO of Myndshft: In general, we won't see dramatic changes in the ACA due to the changing of the guard in the House of Representatives to the Democrats. There are a few areas where there is bipartisan support for making changes. Lowering drug prices is an area where both parties and their constituents seem to agree that there is a need to take some action, but what those changes might be are still unknown. In most other healthcare areas, we'll see a continuation of the current state. Preexisting conditions are safe for now and there likely won't be any progress toward "Medicare for All." Expanded Medicaid coverage and other aspects of Obamacare should also remain unscathed until the next election cycle. Lory Olsson. Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at Zynx Health: The continuation of escalating costs, shrinking reimbursements and the increase in patients accessing Medicare and Medicaid is creating a tremendous strain on this country's healthcare providers. Most health systems are in the midst of transitioning away from long-entrenched processes and workflows that reward and reimburse based on volume and production, to newer models that incent providers to focus on patient outcomes and delivering high quality and cost-effective care. Regardless of what political party holds the office, healthcare providers will continue to struggle to address these challenges in the communities they serve. It's important for our political leaders to understand the current healthcare landscape and support clinicians and providers in their critical need for technology solutions that drive efficiencies and advance quality of care efforts. For example, clinicians require tools that incorporate evidence-based interventions into existing workflows, measure utilization at the individual patient level and educate clinicians of best practices based on evidence. Furthermore, clinicians need solutions to help identify gaps in care, understand the clinical and financial impact of the treatments they choose and that promote behavior changes that are supported by evidence-based care. With the right information available at the point of care, health systems will be better equipped to accelerate their transition to value-based, high-quality, reliable patient care. Dr. Michael D. Abramoff. Founder and CEO of IDx: In the wake of the midterm election results, we can now focus even more on bipartisan issues, including the safe introduction of autonomous artificial intelligence in healthcare. Developing policies that support both patient safety and reimbursement of autonomous AI in healthcare is critical. As a leader in the space, our expertise has been sought after by the FDA, White House and the Federal Trade Commission. We are hopeful that the midterm results are conducive to implementing policy changes, so that we can realize the enormous potential of autonomous AIs to lower healthcare costs and improve quality and accessibility. Hossein Fakhrai-Rad. Founder and President of BaseHealth: After the dust settles from the midterm elections, an increasingly divided government will continue to struggle with healthcare reform. What will be more interesting to study and impactful for providers in the next couple years is the effect of recent acquisitions by major players and the entrance of consumer companies into healthcare. The key to adapting and thriving in the changing landscape will be strong, data-driven decision making about patient populations. G. Cameron Deemer. President of DrFirst: The midterm elections proved healthcare is top-of-mind for millions of Americans and for the candidates that were campaigning to win their votes. What's most important about this moment in our nation's history is that the political focus on solving the healthcare crisis is stronger than ever before. Both on the state level and in the national arena, leaders have expressed a profound commitment to transforming the current environment. The promise to improve healthcare for all constituents is an important first step toward solving our most pressing healthcare issues, including the high cost of coverage, the lack of access to affordable care and the opioid epidemic. By both prioritizing and humanizing healthcare, progress can be made. We encourage legislators to remain dedicated to this essential cause by collaborating with one another to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of care for all Americans. Elizabeth Marshall, MD, MBA. Director of Clinical Analytics at Linguamatics: Overall, disease is not biased in favor of any political party or socioeconomic group. Regardless of which political party is in power, we must work together to fight our common enemy: poor and/or declining health. One weapon that will help us win this battle is the effective use of clinical data. By leveraging the vast amount of available clinical data from EHRs, drug studies, public databases and more, we can advance quality-of-care initiatives, accelerate drug discovery and implement precision medicine initiatives. I encourage lawmakers to keep healthcare a top priority and support technology solutions that can help us become a healthier nation. Jay Anders, MD. Chief Medical Officer of Medicomp Systems: The midterm elections showed that healthcare was a top concern for voters. Despite that call-to-action for newly elected officials, we won't see much progress in the next two years, not only because of the now divided Congress, but also because the Trump administration will be consumed with immigration reform and almost any other issues to avoid addressing the complex, much needed changes to healthcare policy. While the opioid crisis will likely receive a substantial amount of funding because of the 'state of emergency' in America, Medicare funding and funding for Obamacare will not see much, if any, change. Similarly, standards for interoperability will plod along at its current, painstakingly slow pace and will not receive significant enough funding at the federal level to move the bar. Jennifer Mathieu. Senior Manager of Healthcare Policy and Government Relations at Lumeris: With the newly elected Democratic House and a Republican Senate, we can expect two years of gridlock, as probably no new major healthcare legislation will succeed in this Congress unless uniformly bipartisan. Republican efforts to impact the ACA, Medicaid and Medicare may be blocked by Democrats, while Democrats' new oversight power translates to healthcare investigations and hearings. Democrats will put forth healthcare legislative proposals in an attempt to unite the party around a single agenda; however, chances at it becoming law will be slim. Each party's efforts over the next two years will provide insight into their priorities for 2020 and beyond. Healthcare progress will be most visible at the state level, as evidenced by the success of Medicaid expansion ballot initiatives in Idaho, Nebraska and Utah. Scott McFarland. President of HealthBI: When three red states vote by ballot to expand Medicaid, take the hint Americans want this program and they want it to succeed. It's an issue that now truly crosses party lines. Arizona, another so-called red state, actually foreshadowed this in October when it launched integrated physical and mental healthcare for the state's Medicaid members. I expect 2019 will be the year of Medicaid, as providers, policy makers and the healthcare industry at large work to deliver on a clear voter mandate to strengthen and expand this increasingly popular program. On Nov. 12, private equity firm Veritas Capital and Evergreen Coast Capital, an affiliate of hedge fund Elliott Management, revealed plans to buy athenahealth. The agreement comes roughly six months after Elliott kicked off questions over whether athenahealth would remain independent or be acquired, offering the company an unsolicited takeover bid worth almost $7 billion in May. Here's a breakdown of the events that led to athenahealth's acquisition, beginning more than one year ago when Elliott first purchased a stake in the company: May 18, 2017: Elliott purchased a 9.2 percent stake in athenahealth, raising questions about the company's future. Elliott is an investment management firm known for "rebooting management and selling companies," CNBC reported at the time. Aug. 1, 2017: Athenahealth's board of directors and management team unveiled plans to restructure the company's senior leadership. Under the plan, athenahealth cofounder Jonathan Bush who had served as CEO, president and chairman of the board would maintain his role as CEO. However, the board would establish a separate president role and recruit an independent chairman. February 7, 2018: Jeff Immelt, former chairman and CEO of General Electric, joined athenahealth as chairman. At the time, athenahealth leadership said Mr. Immelt's appointment was part of a series of initiatives launched in 2017 to create a more "focused and efficient company, drive increased levels of profitable growth, and enhance shareholder value." The company has yet to appoint a president. May 7, 2018: Elliott made an all-cash offer for athenahealth at $160 per share, according to a letter the hedge fund sent to athenahealth's management team. The proposed deal would be worth roughly $7 billion, including debt, according to CNBC. In the letter, Elliott wrote that "despite all of [athenahealth's] promise, [the company] has not worked for many years." May 7, 2018: Athenahealth released a statement confirming its board of directors would "carefully review the proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interest of the company and athenahealth shareholders." The statement characterized Elliott's bid as an "unsolicited acquisition proposal." May 14, 2018: Elliott wrote to athenahealth's board of directors revealing frustration that the company hadn't engaged in acquisition talks in the week since the firm had made its offer. The hedge fund said neither athenahealth nor the company's advisers had reached out to Elliott's leadership, despite multiple messages. May 15, 2018: Janus Henderson Group, athenahealth's largest shareholder, told the company's board of directors that initiating a formal sale process would be in the best interest for the company's shareholders, arguing: "It is in the best interest of [athenahealth's] shareholders to engage with third parties making offers for the [company], and to open up a broader sales process." May 24, 2018: Athenahealth released a statement confirming that its board is undertaking a "thorough and deliberate analysis of Elliott Management's proposal," adding it would "continue to take the time necessary to complete this review notwithstanding Elliott Management's attempts to publicly pressure the board and management team." June 6, 2018: Athenahealth issued a statement that the company's board of directors had initiated a process to consider "strategic alternatives" for the company, which might include a sale or merger. Fall 2018: Numerous companies reportedly expressed interest in acquiring athenahealth in the wake of Elliott's unsolicited bid, including Cerner and UnitedHealth Group. However, though both of these companies were reportedly two of the second-round bidders to express interest in athenahealth, they opted to pass on the opportunity, bankers told the New York Post in September. Sept. 18, 2018: Shares of athenahealth dropped 11 percent after the New York Post reported Elliott had rescinded its original $7 million or $160-a-share takeover bid. In response to Elliott's move to retreat from its earlier offer, athenahealth extended the final bid deadline to Sept. 27, 10 days past its original timeline. Sept. 27, 2018: Athenahealth reportedly received multiple offers from organizations interested in acquiring the company, including two unnamed private equity firms and one unnamed strategic buyer, sources told CNBC. Bloomberg later reported that at least five firms, including Elliott, had expressed interest in acquiring athenahealth, with interest above $135 per share and final bids due in October. Nov. 12, 2018: Private equity firm Veritas Capital and Evergreen Coast Capital, a private equity subsidiary of Elliott, agreed to buy athenahealth for an estimated $5.7 billion in cash, or $135 per share. Veritas and Evergreen plan to combine athenahealth with Virence Health, a value-based care business Veritas acquired from GE Healthcare earlier in 2018. After the close of that transaction, the combined company will operate under the athenahealth brand and be headquartered in Watertown, Mass. What's next? The companies expect to close the transaction in the first quarter of 2019, subject to approval from shareholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society will offer a three-day educational program on data practices at Boston-based Harvard Medical School in 2019. Here are four things to know about the program: 1. The program, which runs Jan. 22-24, is listed as an "advanced" class targeted toward mid- and senior-level IT managers and clinical executives employed by healthcare provider and supplier organizations. It is offered through the executive education program at Harvard Medical School. 2. Titled "Data, Insights and Strategies for the Health Enterprise," the program aims to provide participants with strategic and technical skills to apply data and analytics to healthcare operations and care delivery. "HIMSS has created this initiative recognizing that in today's complex healthcare environment, executive leadership faces a multitude of challenges and opportunities across administrative, financial, operational and technical aspects when delivering patient care," HIMSS wrote in a blog post. 3. Educators and clinical leadership from Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals including Partners HealthCare and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, both based in Boston will lead sessions at the program. 4. Participants will receive a certificate of completion from Harvard Medical School upon completing the program. HIMSS will also provide a separate certificate of completion noting the participant completed 16 Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems or Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems continuing education credits. To register for the educational program, click here. Communication is key for effective care collaboration, but hospital workers face many challenges to seamless communication. The top three challenges hospital workers cite are: (1) communication overload, (2) lack of standardized processes and (3) dissatisfaction with existing communications tools, according to a 20108 HIT Consultant report. However, technology can help knock down each of these barriers. More than 80 percent of millennials the next wave of employees entering the healthcare workforce agree that workplace technology influences their decision to take a job, according to the Lenovo. To attract and retain top talent, healthcare organizations must reconsider their technology offerings and assess whether current tools positively affect employees' workflows by improving care collaboration and care delivery. On day two of the three-day Becker's Virtual Health IT Summit sponsored by Lenovo Health and Intel Nov. 6-8, two health IT experts Andy Nieto, health solution manager at Lenovo Health, and Wendy Bohner, health and life sciences solution architect at Intel joined Atlanta-based Resurgens Orthopaedics CIO Bradley Dick to break down the communication challenges clinicians face and discuss how technology can solve these problems. For years, healthcare organizations have been undergoing a digital revolution as the health IT sector continues to roll out more advanced technology products. A huge advantage of digitizing clinical workflows is the plethora of data it enables organizations to collect, Ms. Bohner said. This data holds promise for predictive modeling and could be used to identify high-risk patients and route staff to timely, appropriate care needs. Similarly, this data can be used to predict no-shows so that hospitals can forecast and allocate appointments or hospital beds more efficiently. During the summit, Mr. Dick said his organization is starting to reap some of the benefits of the technology transformation and the subsequent increase in available data. He emphasized the importance of gathering the right data and getting it to the right person at the right time. "Now that we've gotten everybody on EHRs, now the big thing is provider burnout and there's nothing that will burn your provider out more than having them have to do these administrative tasks of reconciling seven different charts from three different episodes of care," Mr. Dick said. "It's great that we can dump data from setting to setting but a big data dump is only as valuable as what can be distilled and synthesized from it to be relevant to care." The next wave of technology will be driven by clinicians' expectations, especially as workplace tech becomes a greater influence in the jobs employees take, Mr. Nieto explained. Healthcare organizations must work with clinicians to ensure their needs are met and the technologies they use better position them to excel at care delivery. "As this digital transformation has taken place, we see the opportunity of care coming back to the hands of physicians," Mr. Nieto said. "Whatever they are comfortable using becomes their [go-to] tool and frees them up to spend their time focusing on the patient." Mr. Nieto said the eventual goal is for the technology to be "transparent from the patient's perspective so instead of seeing the back of a physician's laptop, what they are seeing is the physician's attention." Moreover, technology design increasingly considers the clinician, so organizations must also revisit their providers' workflows. Mr. Dick noted it's not feasible to try to "fuse the same workflows you've been using in your clinics for years with the paper system and then try to implement a digital system to work like the paper system," he said, adding that the digital transformation is forcing his organization to identify areas where it could be more efficient. The way Resurgens Orthopaedics approaches its technology strategy is to have a portfolio of technology offerings clinicians can select from based on what would be most effective for their workflow, Mr. Dick explained. This may mean clinicians choose to use a tablet when seeing a patient for a follow-up visit and then later opt to use a wall-mounted, all-in-one computer device when discussing a complex treatment plan with another. "By trying to pigeonhole every single provider into a small subset of specific ways to see the patient, it really hindered their performances," Mr. Dick explained. "So, we give them several different options [so they can choose] whatever works best for them It's [about] flexibility, and that's what technology enables us to do." Ms. Bohner described other ways hospitals are deploying technology to improve care collaboration such as radio-frequency identification, or RFID, to track patients' movements throughout their hospital stay. For example, this technology can help care teams know exactly when the patient left the operating room, so cleaning crews can come in to prepare for the next patient. Hospitals are also using augmented reality and virtual reality for workflow collaboration, Ms. Bohner noted. These tools enable care teams to plan out complex surgeries in which they can see and interact with a patient's anatomy to determine exactly how the procedure would pan out. "Even the patient can [use VR] to get a real sense of what is going to happen," she said, adding that the approach helped increase the surgical conversion rate because "[surgeons] have a sense of what is going to happen [so they] won't back out as often." The three speakers largely agreed: When hospitals design technology strategies with clinicians in mind, staff members experience higher satisfaction. Workplace technology transformation doesn't just improve clinicians' satisfaction, but it supports the organization's overall shift to value-based care models with superior data collection. Since risk underpins value-based care, the more data and information hospitals have on patients, the better these organizations are able to understand the scope of risk and mitigate it. To access the webinar recording, click here. To learn more about Lenovo Health, click here. John Schon, CEO of Dickinson County Healthcare System in Iron Mountain, Mich., will resign effective Dec. 31, according to a statement released by the system Nov. 13 and obtained by TV 6 News. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, Mr. Schon will move into a consulting role with the health system to assist officials with the executive transition as part of a post-retirement consulting agreement, according to UPMatters.com. It is unclear how much Mr. Schon will be paid in his consulting role. Mr. Schon's resignation came amid public outcry over his and the DCHS board's alleged mismanagement of the health system, UPMatters.com reports. DCHS leaders motioned to begin the process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, roughly one week after a sale deal with Marquette, Mich.-based UP Health System fell through. However, the system met with representatives from a law firm shortly after who said DCHS does not need to file for bankruptcy. "DCHS exemplifies a culture of hard work, quality and compassion. Our employees embody that culture and are essential to our future success. I look forward to the next chapter in my and my family's life," Mr. Schon said in a statement obtained by UPMatters.com. "I want to thank the employees of DCHS, both past and present, for the incredible job they did and continue to perform on a daily basis even during times of uncertainty, unparalleled challenges, and an ever-changing healthcare environment. It is the rank and file employees of DCHS that have earned our hospital the top rankings and awards. The teamwork and dedication of DCHS employees will ensure the continued success of this organization and the delivery of award-winning healthcare services," he added. Editor's note: This article was updated on Nov. 15 at 9:25 a.m. to include additional information. Executives from Cambridge (Mass.) Health Alliance met with the husband of Laura Levis, who died in 2016, on Nov. 13 and apologized, admitting "multiple failures" at the hospital contributed to the patient's death, The Boston Globe reports. Here are five things to know: 1. CHA President and CEO Patrick Wardell apologized to Peter DeMarco about the events that led to his wife's death in 2016 during a meeting at The Boston Globe headquarters Nov. 13. Mr. Wardell also said he took "personal responsibility for [Ms. Levis' death]," the report states. 2. Mr. DeMarco published a story in The Boston Globe Magazine Nov. 3 about the death of 34-year-old Ms. Levis, who suffered an asthma attack Sept. 16, 2016. The article details the hospital's communication errors, overburdened staff and lack of fail-safes that affected first responders and caused Ms. Levis to suffer cardiac arrest just in front of Somerville (Pa.) Hospital's ER. Ms. Levis spent seven days in the hospital's intensive care unit before dying Sept. 22, 2016. 3. During the two-hour meeting, Mr. DeMarco kept a framed photograph of his wife beside him and repeated his promise not to sue the hospital, stating he only wanted to learn the truth. He pressed Mr. Wardell on the circumstances of his wife's death. CHA had previously declined to comment on the issue; however, Mr. Wardell told Mr. DeMarco, "It certainly seems to me that if even some of the things we described as being issues hadn't occurred, then your wife would be here." 4. CHA officials presented Mr. DeMarco with a two-page list of hospital errors and steps Somerville Hospital has since taken to prevent those mistakes from happening again. They also added that they did not reprimand individual hospital employees involved in the incident, but said officials are committed to sharing the lessons learned in Ms. Levis' death. 5. Mr. DeMarco told The Boston Globe after the meeting that he was disappointed with some of the answers he received and still had questions about his wife's death, but added that he was grateful to hear directly from CHA executives. To access the full report, click here. Hospitals and health systems, like Boston-based Partners HealthCare, Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare and others represent the biggest employers in 13 states, according to data obtained by Visual Capitalist. Visual Capitalist cited data from 24/7 Wall St., which reviewed media releases, government data, business journals and other sources to analyze employment figures for nonprofits and privately and publicly held companies. Here are 13 states in which healthcare providers represent the largest employers: Alaska Providence Health & Services (Renton, Wash.) Utah Intermountain Healthcare (Salt Lake City) Oregon Providence Health & Services Idaho St. Luke's Health System (Boise) North Dakota Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.) South Dakota Avera Health (Sioux Falls) Minnesota Mayo Clinic (Rochester) Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Delaware Christiana Care Health System (Wilmington) Connecticut Yale New Haven Health System Rhode Island Lifespan (Providence) Massachusetts Partners HealthCare (Boston) Vermont University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington) To access the full report, click here. Licensed practical nurses at Chicago-based University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics went on strike Nov. 15 amid contract negotiations, according to a Chicago Tribune report. The 35 nurses, who are represented by the Illinois Nurses Association, said they seek job protections and fair pay, according to the Tribune. Registered nurses are not striking. "We provide hands-on care, we are advocates for these patients, we care about these patients, we go above and beyond, and we do all we can to provide safe and effective care toward our patients," Ramona Morales, a licensed practical nurse with the system and a union steward, told the Tribune. "It is a slap in the face, not just to us, but to these patients and communities, the way UI Health is responding to this." The strike comes after about a year of unsuccessful talks at the bargaining table. University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics CEO Mike Zenn told the Tribune that the hospital prepared for the walkout "to ensure patients' continued care and safety." "We value the critical role LPNs play in providing patient care, and we are committed to continue working to reach a mutually acceptable agreement," Mr. Zenn said. Editor's note: This article was updated Nov. 19. More articles on human capital and risk: Massachusetts union regroups after defeat of nurse staffing initiative Southcoast Health hires consulting firm amid unionization push Hospitals and unions: 8 recent conflicts, agreements Philadelphia's spike in opioid overdoses has contributed to an increase in organ donations, according to CBS Philly. Research cited by the local news station shows more organs are being donated from overdose victims. The United Network for Organ Sharing, found donations form overdose victims have nearly doubled from 635 organs in 2014 to more than 1,300 in 2017. "For the people involved, the organ donation, it can be a little of a silver lining in an awful situation," David Klassen, MD, chief medical officer at Richmond, Va.-based UNOS, told CBS Philly. Philadelphia has one of the highest overdose rates in the country, according to Rick Hasz, vice president of clinical services at Philadelphia-based Gift of Life Donor Program. "Weve had a tremendous increase in donations over the last number of years," Mr. Hasz told CBS Philly. "Theyre able to donate a lot of different organs because of their age." When someone overdoses, their breathing stops and their brain will die, Mr. Hasz said, but in most cases their other organs are left intact. More aricles on opioids: Pharmacies fall short on stocking naloxone despite anti-overdose initiatives Facebook partners with University of Alabama to end online drug sales Michigan patients only take 27% of prescribed opioids King Mohammed VI of Morocco and French President Emmanuel Macron were the first passengers to board Thursday the brand new Moroccan high-speed train at the revamped railway station in Tangier. The two heads of state have made a journey to Rabat aboard the TGV, baptized Al Boraq, inaugurating thus Africas first high-speed train, a landmark achievement, which reflects the sound Moroccan-French friendship and gives the example of the win-win North-South partnership. The TGV project, launched in 2007 following the deal sealed in Morocco during a visit paid by the then French President Nicolas Sarkozy, will halve the travel time between Casablanca and Tangier to 2 hours 10 minutes compared to 4 hours 45min by a regular train. President Macron was accompanied by the heads of the French companies that were involved in carrying out the project. These include Alstom (supply of trains), Ansaldo-Ineo consortium (signaling and telecoms), Cegelec (electrical substations) and the Colas Rail-Egis Rail consortium (track layouts and catenaries), as well as the French railways company, SNCF, which provided project management assistance to the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF). The Casablanca-Tangier 200 km-long high-speed line is the first phase in a project that will stretch through 1500 kilometers to connect Tangier to Marrakesh and Agadir, two of Moroccos tourist hubs. The high-speed railway was built at a cost of 2.1 billion (about 23 billion dirhams). France offered 51% of the funding while the rest was provided by Morocco and several Arab funds, namely of Saudi Arabia (144 million), Kuwait (100 million), Abu Dhabi (70 million) and the Arab Development Fund (86 million). The TGVs initial capacity of 523 passengers will later be increased to 1,064 passengers after the construction of a double-track line. When the project reaches its cruising speed, the Moroccan state-owned railway operator, ONCF, expects to operate 15 daily departures to and from Tangier and Casablanca. According to the ONCF, the number of passengers would grow to 5 to 6 million a year after three years of operation, with an average occupancy rate expected to reach 70%. This new railway line, linking the two economic and industrial poles, falls within the framework of Moroccos global strategy to upgrade infrastructures and promote an efficient and modern rail transport system. Since King Mohammed VI took the throne in 1999, some 70 billion dirhams were spent to develop Moroccos railways and investments in the sector grew sevenfold just in the 2010-2015 period to stand at 34 billion dirhams. Michigan's Medicaid program received approval from CMS to enter into value-based care arrangements with drugmakers, CMS administrator Seema Verma announced during a speech at a biopharma conference Nov. 14. The proposal grants the state's Medicaid program permission to pay for drugs based on their efficacy. Here are five things to know: 1. The agreement allows Michigan's Medicaid program to take a rebate from drug companies. The amount of the rebate depends on patients' outcome after taking the medication. 2. Under the proposal, drug companies and the state would have to agree on the outcome measure, how the measure is calculated and the population to which the measure would be applied. 3. "Michigan's waiver will empower the state to demand results from drug manufacturers in exchange for paying for medicines," Ms. Verma said during the speech. 4. The new value-based care arrangements could decrease the amount Michigan Medicaid pays for prescription drugs. It remains unclear how the value-based care arrangements would affect out-of-pocket costs for consumers. 5. This is the second proposal of its kind approved by CMS. Oklahoma's Medicaid program received approval to enter into value-based care arrangements with drugmakers earlier this year. In a blow for the U.S. drugmaker, Pfizer lost a yearslong patent battle for its blockbuster pain drug Lyrica after the U.K. Supreme Court ruled against it Nov. 14, according to Reuters. Lyrica, a $5 billion per year drug for Pfizer, originally was approved to treat epilepsy but further research revealed it could help patients suffering from neuropathic pain. These patients became the main, lucrative market for the drug While its basic patent on the drug was set to expire five years ago in Europe, to prevent generic competition from entering, Pfizer secured a secondary patent that extended the exclusivity period for Lyrica. This second patent only applied to the neuropathic pain market. Once the basic patent expired, generic drugmakers launched cheaper versions of Pfizer's medicine that had a "skinny label," meaning the drug could only be marketed as an epilepsy treatment. Pfizer sued the generic companies, arguing that those versions would be prescribed to treat pain despite the skinny label. Those companies took the case to the U.K. Supreme Court, and during the legal fight Pfizer's secondary patent expired, making the case more a point of principle for Pfizer. The Supreme Court ruled Nov. 14, that the secondary patent claims relevant to neuropathic pain were invalid, handing Pfizer a loss. As part of a U.S. restructuring effort, biopharmacutical company Sanofi will cut 160 jobs at its facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The affected jobs, which include positions in marketing, sales, research and development and some support functions, will move to New Jersey as the drugmaker reorganizes its consumer healthcare business. Employees laid off in Chattanooga can can apply for the positions in New Jersey. "Given the ever-changing self-care market, this will allow us to more effectively serve the consumers who rely on our products," a Sanofi spokesperson told The Chattanoogan. The drugmaker will keep its manufacturing presence and 650 jobs in Chattanooga. "We will continue to maintain a significant presence in Chattanooga with our manufacturing operations, which is not affected by these changes," Sanofi spokesperson Ashleigh Koss told the Times Free Press. Kevin Burns, CEO of e-cigarette maker Juul Labs, released an action plan to curb teenage use of its nicotine products, effective Nov. 13. The move follows a recent request from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, who asked e-cigarette makers to propose steps to restrict youth use of these products in September, according to The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Gottlieb is expected to announce a ban on most flavored e-cigarettes for stores that don't have areas restricted to adults in the coming weeks, which would effectively remove these products from most convenience stores. In a Nov. 13 blog post, Mr. Burns claimed teenage use of Juul's products stood in contrast to the company's mission. "We want to be the off-ramp for adult smokers to switch from cigarettes, not an on-ramp for America's youth to initiate on nicotine," he wrote. "We won't be successful in our mission to serve adult smokers if we don't narrow the on-ramp." One of the steps Mr. Burns outlined in his action plan involves minimizing the company's social media presence. Juul shut down its Facebook and Instagram accounts Nov. 13, and Mr. Burns said the company plans to confine its Twitter presence to "non-promotional communications only." Juul imposed a 21-plus age restriction on its YouTube page, which posts product testimonials from former adult smokers. Juul also plans to monitor user-generated posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, and work with social media companies to remove "youth-oriented social media content" that promotes underage use of its products. "There is no question that this user-generated social media content is linked to the appeal of vaping to underage users," Mr. Burns wrote. Dr. Gottlieb acknowledged Juul's steps in a Nov. 13 tweet, but hinted at future regulatory actions. "We're deeply concerned about the epidemic of youth use of e-cigs," he wrote. "Voluntary action is no substitute for regulatory steps FDA will soon take. But we want to recognize actions by Juul today and urge all manufacturers to immediately implement steps to start reversing these trends." Juul, which launched in 2015, has been particularly popular among teenagers. Juul's social media posts tended to pose the company as a "cool lifestyle accessory" for those in their 20s and 30s, according to WSJ, and user-generated social media posts that "glamorized" its products have played an integral role in the company's rapid growth. Other steps in Juul's action plan include restricting the sale of its flavored nicotine liquids, so that mango, fruit, creme and cucumber flavors are now only available on its online store, at least temporarily. The four flavors are no longer available in retail stores. To read Juul's action plan, click here. The parents of two children who died from acute flaccid myelitis the rare, polio-like illness affecting children across the U.S. allege the CDC failed to publicly report their children's deaths, according to CNN. Here are six things to know: 1. Five-year-old Carter Roberts lost his two-year battle with AFM in September, and 6-year-old Alex Bustamante died from the illness in May. Both boys contracted the illness in 2016. 2. Carter and Alex's parents are accusing the CDC of hiding their sons' deaths to intentionally downplay the severity of the illness. "I feel like they're just sugar-coating this," Alex's mother, Katie Bustamante, told CNN. "It eliminates my trust in the CDC." 3. Ms. Bustamante said a physician reported Alex's death to the California Department of Public Health, but she does not know if the information reached the CDC. Federal paperwork about Carter's death was sent to the Virginia Department of Health, where an epidemiologist confirmed Carter's information reached the agency, according to Sanjai Rao, DO, assistant professor of pediatric neurology at Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, who treated Carter. 4. Neither set of parents know whether the CDC ever accepted their sons' illnesses as official AFM cases in 2016, according to CNN. The agency does not list any deaths linked to AFM on its surveillance page. However, Nancy Messonnier, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a recent press conference that the agency knew of one death in 2017. 5. Anne Schuchat, MD, principal deputy director of the CDC, said she could not comment on the boys' specific cases, but said there could be a lag in reported cases reaching the CDC. "I think we want to catch up with the backlog. Even the past week we've expanded the number of disease detectives on the program," she told CNN. "I certainly want to make sure the information that we have is shared as quickly as possible." 6. At present, the CDC has confirmed 90 AFM cases this year across 26 states. The agency is investigating another 162 potential cases. The exact cause of the illness is still unknown. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: AHRQ releases toolkit to help pediatric PCPs avoid diagnostic errors HHS declares California wildfires a public health emergency OB-GYN professor: What hospitals can do to curb maternal deaths After the Pennsylvania Department of Health cited Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) General Hospital for inadequate nurse staffing and other violations found during a surprise review Sept. 10-14, the hospital has implemented a plan of correction to address the issues, according to the Times Leader. The review was launched after registered nurses of the Wyoming Valley Nurses Association submitted a packet of "documented patient care and staffing concerns" at Wilkes-Barre General, which is owned by Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems. The union's statement details staffing shortages found during the review period, saying the health department found hospital management "failed to schedule a sufficient number of RNs and/or ancillary staff on the nursing units for 81 of 148 shifts reviewed." Additionally, the report found 91 open RN positions, while the hospital relied on an excessive use of overtime. State investigators cited the hospital for 19 violations of state and federal health regulations, which included patient rights and emergency services violations, according to the union. Wilkes-Barre General has implemented a plan of correction to address the issues, a hospital spokesperson said. The health department accepted the plan after a follow-up survey found the hospital to be compliant in meeting required care standards. The investigation came amid ongoing contract talks between the union and CHS. State officials placed Wanaque (N.J.) Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation on "immediate jeopardy" due to infection control issues at the facility, where 10 children have died from an adenovirus outbreak, reports the North Jersey Record. Here are three things to know: 1. The state ordered the facility to cease all admissions Nov. 14 until further notice and said infection control deficiencies posed an "imminent and serious risk of harm" to patients, according to the report. The facility could lose CMS funding if it does not take actions to correct these deficiencies. 2. Health inspectors first detected inadequate hand hygiene practices among employees during an Oct. 21 investigation. Subsequent inspections on Nov. 9, 11 and 13 revealed "evidence of continuing noncompliance," Gene Rosenblum, director of the New Jersey health department's office of program compliance, wrote in a letter to Wanaque leaders cited by North Jersey Record. "We decided to act when we saw serious deficiencies for patient safety reasons," State Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal, MD, told the publication. The state's final inspection of the facility is still in progress, but the infection control issues were so urgent, the health department "could not wait for the ongoing assessment to be completed," Dr. Elnahal added. 3. At present, the adenovirus outbreak has sickened 33 children and one employee. While the state placed a communicable disease expert at the facility Nov. 5, additional cases are still occurring. The state is now requiring the center to hire a certified infection control practitioner and a physician specializing in infectious diseases by Nov. 16 to work full time at the facility. Wanaque Center said it expects to declare the outbreak over Dec. 7. Four spine surgeons weigh on the ongoing mergers and acquisitions in the orthopedic and spine device field. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses. Next week's question: What are you most thankful for this year? Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m. CST. Question: What impact will device company M&A have on the industry? Do you see this as a positive or negative trend? Vladimir Sinkov, MD. Spine Surgeon at New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center (Nashua): Recent M&As have been both positive and negative. If two large device companies merge, it limits the overall competition and drive for innovation for the industry as a whole. This will, in turn, result in more expensive and lower quality products and ultimately does not promote better patient care. On the other hand, many smaller, more aggressive and very innovative companies are driven to do what they do with the final exit strategy of being acquired by a larger company with more capital for marketing and much larger distribution networks. This type of M&A activity only encourages further improvement in quality and efficiency of patient care. Christian Zimmerman, MD. Spinal Neurosurgeon at Saint Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Hopefully, one of the implied positives will be cost awareness and containment that ultimately is passed on to hospitals and patients alike. As many institutions scrutinize all orthopedic and neurosurgical instrumentation, constriction of costs within finite margins are annual negotiating tools between materials management, physicians and health systems. The 'positives' derive savings which ultimately lower cost and boost quality, but insurer abstinence from approvals portend the direction of complex spinal care in this country, which ultimately has its ill effects as all of us are acutely aware. Brian R. Gantwerker, MD. Founder of the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: This is never good. One does not have to be an economist to understand larger corporations create less competition and higher prices. Some may laud it, citing the scaling of production and more money toward R&D, but let's be honest, less is never more when it comes to this marketplace. J. Brian Gill, MD. Spine Surgeon at Nebraska Spine Hospital (Omaha): Mergers and acquisitions are inevitable in the medical industry field. While they can create better efficiencies through competition, the selection of vendors in the respective marketplace can diminish. Innovation needs to continue to happen despite ongoing mergers and acquisitions. New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery signed a lease for three floors in another New York City building, according to Commercial Observer. HSS created its own private entrance to the building, which is designated specifically for medical use. The Durst Organization granted Hospital for Special Surgery permission to operate in the building. "HSS [is] trying to get closer to where people live [and] work to make it convenient," Thomas Bow, executive vice president and head of commercial leasing at Durst, told Commercial Observer. "It's all about concierge service making it easier for people to utilize the service." John Lubicky, MD, performed the first robotic-assisted pediatric spinal surgery in the state at Morgantown-based West Virginia University Medicine Children's using the Mazor X. Here are three things to know: 1. Dr. Lubicky performed the procedure to treat a patient's neurofibromatosis and severe scoliosis. 2. He loaded a preoperative CT scan into the Mazor X robotic system to safely navigate the patient's anatomy to insert pedicle screws. "In this case, it would have been [otherwise] impossible to safely place the pedicle screws that anchors the rods to stabilize the patient's spine," said Dr. Lubicky. 3. Dr. Lubicky is the chief of pediatric orthopedics at WVU Medicine Children's and a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon. He received his medical degree from Philadelphia-based Sidney Kimmel Medical College, then known as Jefferson Medical College, and underwent spine surgery fellowship training at Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center. Moroccos high-speed line, the first of its kind in Africa, that has been inaugurated Thursday by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, is a milestone rail achievement in the region. Also, it reflects the long-standing Moroccan-French friendship and stands out as an example of a win-win North-South partnership. Dubbed Al Boraq, this brand-new TGV, which cost the North African kingdom over $2 billion, will deliver high-speed journeys from the Northern city of Tangier, Moroccos gateway, to the cities of Kenitra, Rabat, and Casablanca. The high-speed trains will travel up to 320km/h reducing the journey duration from Tangier to Casablanca, Moroccos economic capital, to 2h 10min, instead of 4h 45min. After three years of service, these trains are expected to transport up to six million passengers. The project, launched in 2007 after the deal was sealed during a visit to Morocco by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was completed after eleven years of Moroccan-French cooperation, an appropriate transfer of know-how, and the upgrading of engineering and advanced technical skills training. In this connection, and in order to ensure the maintenance of the high-speed trains, Morocco opened a national academy for railway engineering in Rabat in 2016 in coordination with the French railway operator, SNCF, to provide technical training to the staff of Moroccos state-owned railway operator ONCF. LInstitut de Formation Ferroviaire (IFF) also provides training to railway engineers and workers from France as well as from other countries in the region. Part of the project, the North African kingdom had bought 14 high-speed trains from France s train manufacturer, Alstom. Moroccos state-owned railway operator ONCF and French national operator SNCF created a joint venture, La Societe Marocaine de Maintenance des Rames a Grande Vitesse. The joint venture will maintain ONCFs fleet of Alstom Duplex high speed trains for a 15-year period under a contract worth 175 Million. A 15-year package of after-sale support worth 90 million had also been signed by the two parties. During the construction works, a new generation of engineers were trained and thousands of jobs were created. According to official figures, during the implementation phase, the project helped create 30 million days of direct and indirect employment, while in the exploitation phase, the Moroccan TGV is expected to generate 1,500 direct and 800 indirect jobs. Also part of the project, at least four state-of-art railway stations have been built. Spaciously designed with a modern architectural touch, the platforms offer passengers and commuters huge parking lots with all necessary amenities and services from ticketing, to restaurants, coffee shops to newsstands, information desks, Live Departure & Arrival digital boards, access to internet, Wi-Fi This high-speed rail line provides the greenest, safest and most efficient forms of transport. The investment injected will help give a new momentum to business and the economy as it has already contributed to the creation of jobs and stimulated economic activity in the country, helping unlock its huge untapped potentials. Besides, the experience acquired by Morocco in this area could be shared, particularly with African countries, in the framework of the South-South cooperation strategy, spearheaded by King Mohammed VI. A business incentive scheme dubbed "RHI on steroids" by environmental campaigners could lead to payments of more than a billion pounds to UK investors over the next 20 years. And the possibility has now been raised that up to seven huge agricultural companies could be milking the subsidies, over-claiming by as much as 38m for the installation and running of anaerobic digestion plants. According to Friends of the Earth, payments which are made following the granting of a renewables obligation certificate (ROC) to a facility are four times higher in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK. An FOI request by the environmental group confirmed 179 anaerobic digestion units have planning permission in Northern Ireland, with 69 currently in operation. They convert slurry into methane gas, creating energy which is fed back into the main electricity grid. Based on information available on gas and electricity regulator Ofgem's website, campaigners estimate each unit will be entitled to around 900,000 per year in ROC payments with around 1.24bn set to be paid out on the 69 currently running over two decades. Investigative website SourceMaterial this week named several companies they believe are making multiple claims for a single facility under different company names. Director of Friends Of The Earth Northern Ireland, James Orr, said: "This is looking very serious. It's RHI on steroids and there must be an enquiry." An increase in large factory pig farms is part of the government's Going For Growth strategy and Mr Orr said the environmental, social and financial impact across the country makes it a "much bigger scandal". "This growth of already profitable farms is being further bolstered by these massive financial incentives for anaerobic digesters," he said. There has been a long-running campaign against a plant operating in Newtownabbey and another against plans for a similar scheme in Limavady. Energy watchdog Ofgem said: "We take allegations of this nature very seriously. Any allegation of fraud is referred to our counter-fraud team. "In addition to assessing projects against the scheme's eligibility requirements, Ofgem runs an auditing programme of current or prospective scheme participants. Audits are undertaken by independent assessors who can make site visits any time after an application for accreditation has been received. "In the event of any potential non-compliance, error or fraud being identified through the audit programme, new information or other regular checks, Ofgem investigates thoroughly and, where appropriate, can withdraw accreditation and revoke or withhold certificates awarded. If there is evidence of fraud we also contact the police." The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has not yet responded. Prime Minister Theresa May has worked hard to get the Brexit negotiations to the point where there is enough agreement to launch a proposed deal in Parliament. The EU negotiators have given some ground to keep alive the hope that, eventually, a new relationship for the UK with the EU (of 27 states) can be agreed. At this stage, the written deal has not been published. Only senior ministers have had a chance to see the detail. However, the expectations are that the crisis of 'no deal' can be avoided, unless Westminster now rejects the draft deal. There should be little doubt that no deal would impose costs and hardship on a large scale. Avoiding no deal is worth paying the costs of some of the disadvantages of the compromise now being offered. For Northern Ireland, the compromise deal should be assessed from different perspectives. First, the nature of the impact on the whole of the UK economy and second, the specific separate subsidiary issues affecting Northern Ireland. The full deal allows an exit from the EU to be phased and much less disruptive than what might have happened. While the UK will have the flexibility to develop new trading and support arrangements with other countries (not being tied to EU deals), the expectation is that for continuing normal trade in manufactured goods, sticking to a common rule book trade between the UK and the EU can continue on a near seamless basis. The UK will aim, if it suits its interests, to maintain regulatory alignment with the evolving EU. Of course there are hundreds of specific economic and social relationships between the EU states and these must be converted into separate agreements. No doubt some will be tricky, others may be easily converted into changed but undamaged new relationships. Aviation agreements to allow intra-European flights can be transitioned. The specific Northern Ireland issues may prove difficult unless there is an improved understanding of what the London and Brussels negotiators hope to achieve. The starting ambition is to make sure that there is no serious disruption of the benefits that have developed over the last 40-plus years from the extensive social and economic inter-changes which have become part of everyday life across this island. The ambition of proponents of 'backstops' is to avoid the costs and disruption of a return to the cross-border arrangements of the 1950s. Enhancing the present level of cross-border integration is a legitimate objective. For neither the UK or Irish Governments is this a constitutional policy. Avoiding cross-border obstacles is a positive gain whether in this island, Gibraltar or in Cyprus. The retention of the high degree of social and economic integration can only be assured if there are administrative procedures to regulate and monitor some events whether on grounds of animal health, implementing VAT or excise duties, or regulatory alignment. On a political level, that will usually be interpreted as routine administration. Classifying the steps to minimise the trading impact of a national border as a constitutional event is an unintended consequence. Mrs May has tabled what seems to be a difficult compromise. Faced with the absence of any other practical option, her deal does not deserve to be deemed unacceptable. Under-pressure regional airline Flybe is in talks about a possible sale of the group just weeks after warning over profits. Belfast City Airport's anchor airline Flybe could be heading for a possible merger or takeover, raising questions over the future of some of its Northern Ireland routes. Just weeks after issuing a profit warning, the Exeter-based carrier confirmed yesterday that it is in talks about a possible sale. The airline currently flies to 15 UK destinations from Belfast City Airport. Last month Flybe announced it will axe its Belfast to Liverpool route at the end of December because of low passenger numbers. Despite initially saying that it will increase the number of flights on its Belfast to Glasgow route as a result, the carrier said yesterday that it is looking at cutting further costs and flight capacity as it battles challenging conditions in the industry. A recent study of Flybe's most profitable bases by independent consultancy Aviation Analytics puts Belfast City Airport down the list at number 20, assessing its profit-per-seat ratio as "marginal". It's likely that a takeover or merger will result in changes to Flybe's services, opening up the possibility that more of its marginal or loss-making routes will face the axe. Yesterday it emerged that Flybe is in talks with a number of "strategic operators" about a potential sale and has hired Evercore as adviser to help with the review and sale process. The airline's recent profit warning came in the wake of falling demand and a 29m hit from rising fuel costs and the weak pound. The alert sent shares tumbling by more than a third on the day, and nearly 75% has been wiped off its stock market value since last December. But shares lifted by 6% after news of the sale plans. Expand Close Chief: Christine Ourmieres-Widener / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chief: Christine Ourmieres-Widener Stobart Group walked away from a bid for Flybe in March after the two firms failed to agree terms. Flybe has 78 planes and carries around eight million passengers a year. In half-year results also announced yesterday, Flybe saw cost-cutting help lift underlying pre-tax profits to 9.9m from 9.2m a year earlier. Statutory pre-tax profits for the six months to September 30 more than halved to 7.4m from 16.1m a year earlier. Group revenues also fell 10% or 2.4% on an underlying basis to 409.2m after it cut capacity by 9%. Passenger numbers edged 0.6% higher to 5.2 million. Chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener said the group continued to see improvements in the third quarter and added that cost savings had already helped to drive progress in boosting profits. Education campaigner: Michelle chatting with high school seniors at Whitney Young Magnet High School, which she attended as a girl World at her feet: Michelle Obama with husband Barack and daughters Malia and Sasha It's been two years since Michelle Obama left the White House, giving cameras that meme-worthy side-eye at the inauguration of her husband's successor, Donald Trump. Since then, she's delivered the odd blistering public speech. Some were in support of Trump's election rival, Hilary Clinton, prompting cries about a dream-ticket candidate for the 2020 presidential election. Other were seemingly delivered by Melania Trump, who has been accused of plagiarising speeches previously delivered by Michelle. In any case, the holiday is officially over for the former first lady. And to say she is back with a bang is putting it mildly. Last March, she and husband Barack signed a record book deal worth a reported $65m - among the biggest in history - the first fruits of which have now come to light. Michelle's highly anticipated memoir, Becoming, hit shelves this week, with Oprah waxing rhapsodical: "This book is everything you wanted to know and so much you didn't even know you wanted to know. "I believe it's going to spark within you the desire to think about your own becoming. It's so well-written, I can hear her voice; I can hear her expressions; I can feel her emotion. What she allows us to see is how she was able to discover, define and then refine her voice." The memoir sees the former first lady, somewhat surprisingly for a former White House denizen, in tell-all mode. Once frustrated for being tagged as an angry black woman, Michelle has delivered a powerfully human book. As the title suggests, it charts her trajectory from being a highly accomplished lawyer in Chicago - arguably, the true rising star in her marriage - to a glorified public servant, via life as a devoted mother and wife. Michelle was always studious and ambitious, but she admits it took a while for her husband to move off the professional blocks. "Barack fooled around in high school," she said on a recent talk show. "He didn't take school seriously in high school. He barely got his work done. He was a bum! And it took him a second. He had to grow up a little bit." It was only in his second year of Columbia University that he got seriously ambitious. In Becoming, Michelle writes about arriving in Washington DC with her husband, then a new and ambitious junior senator, some years ago. Later, Michelle quit her job as a high-powered hospital executive to take on the mantle of first lady. Famously, she previously noted that the pressure of being the first African-American president and first lady was unprecedented: "We did not have the luxury to make mistakes". "I'd been Mrs Obama for the last 12 years, but it was starting to mean something different," she writes in the book. "At least in some spheres, I was now Mrs Obama in a way that could feel diminishing, a Missus defined by her Mister." In the second section of the book, Michelle explores her relationship with Barack, from the ecstasy of first love to the inevitable rough patches of marriage. She writes of being a "working, full-time mother with a half-time spouse" - something that those on the outside might not have picked up on. The pair attended couples counselling - under duress, on Barack's part - so as to avoid the derailment of their marriage. There are other significant challenges to their union written about with startling openness, among them a protracted wrestle with infertility and a miscarriage, as well as the conceiving of their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, via IVF. The oafish coarseness of the current US President, not to mention the glacial indifference of his wife, has many already nostalgic for Brand Obama. By turns refined and relatable, Barack and Michelle were nothing if not a united front. Where Melania lands herself in hot water for wearing jackets emblazoned with 'I really don't care', it wouldn't have been unusual for Michelle as first lady to shoot hoops with youngsters in New York or hug schoolgirls in London. All in all, perfect conditions under which to release a memoir. Yet where Michelle's personal brand has always been relatability, there's little denying the hefty sprinkle of stardust that comes with the release of Becoming. Oprah's glowing testimony aside, Michelle's book tour has been criticised by fans for the "Beyonce-like" admission prices. Clocking in at $29.95 for general admission to $3,000 for a VIP package, the tour, run by Live Nation, is deemed exclusionary for many, despite the supposed inclusionary vibe. Also in the frame for the promotional circuit are Michelle's decidedly starry pals Tracee Ellis Ross, Sarah Jessica Parker and Reese Witherspoon, signed on to act as moderators for the book tour's live dates. The cosy showbiz factor aside, Becoming has been praised for its lyrical and assured prose, almost certainly paving the way for Michelle to pen another best-selling title. Which of course begs the big question, where to next for Michelle? In addition to the release of Becoming, there have been announcements of high-profile social initiatives on voting and girls' education. The Global Girls Alliance is designed to help educate millions of young American women who didn't finish their secondary education. Michelle is also playing a leading role in the development of the Obama Presidential Center, due to open in Chicago in 2021 within walking distance from her childhood neighbourhood. Michelle may be part of the highly bankable A-list, but the pressing social issues that matter to her are evidently close to hand, too. Barack is reportedly enjoying a life free from the constraints and responsibilities of the presidency. And Michelle, too, was evidently glad to see the end of her husband's reign (the two waved off eight years in the White House with an extended holiday in Italy before hanging out in Polynesia with famous pals like Tom Hanks, Oprah and Bruce Springsteen). Suffice to say, Michelle isn't keen on a return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. She said recently that she never wanted to be a politician: "As a woman, you understand where your voice works best... I want to serve, I want to do work. I want to be out there, but there are so many ways to make an impact. Politics is just not my thing. It's as simple as that." On this book tour, Michelle is likely to hear suggestions from fans that she should become the Democrats' candidate in the 2020 presidential elections. Yet between various social initiatives, the book publicity and a Netflix deal with her husband, it's safe to say that between then and now, there won't be many dull moments in the former first lady's diary. How the Cabinet voted in the EU referendum Leo Varadkar has said the draft Brexit agreement could present economic benefits for Northern Irish business. Speaking at a special Press conference last night, the Taoiseach said that if the trading arrangements envisaged in the draft agreement were embraced, they could "represent a genuine economic opportunity for Northern Ireland businesses, with unfettered access to both Great Britain and EU markets". He added that the trading arrangements proposed in the draft text during the transition period are very welcome for all Irish businesses trading with the UK, with the UK land bridge facilitating the route from Ireland to mainland Europe. Earlier yesterday, during Leader's Questions, Mr Varadkar moved to reassure unionists, noting it was a "difficult time" and saying he was dedicated to restoring a power-sharing Executive in Stormont. He added later that the Irish Government was no threat to their identity and was keen to solidify relations. "We both want to build ever deeper bilateral relations and to help secure the restoration of power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland," the Taoiseach said. "I want to repeat my message of earlier today to unionists - our approach is not intended in any way as a threat to you, or to your identity. "Our goal is simply to protect the peace and the Good Friday Agreement from any unintended or undesirable consequence. "The draft withdrawal agreement states in black and white that Ireland and the EU fully respect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom, and that this can only change if the majority of people in Northern Ireland want it." Mr Varadkar acknowledged that he had not spoken to DUP leader Arlene Foster yesterday, but said he was aware of her earlier statements in Westminster in which she labelled the Irish Government "aggressive". "There are sensitivities there and I certainly heard what Arlene had to say today," he said. "The DUP is the DUP, it's a unionist party, it's not going to be told what to do by the Irish Government, but the door is always open and the phone is always on. "I am always willing to speak to her or anyone in the DUP to offer any clarifications or any assurances that they may wish to have." Mr Varadkar is to meet with Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and the Green Party today. Meanwhile, Michel Barnier has said the UK and European Union have already got the basis for a future trade deal, as he welcomed a "decisive, crucial step" in the Brexit talks. The EU's chief negotiator set out the proposals thrashed out in protracted talks with the UK, including measures aimed at avoiding duties and quotas through a customs deal. The envisaged close future relationship would make it "feasible" to strike a quick trade deal, he suggested. At a news conference in Brussels, Mr Barnier also set out the contentious Northern Ireland backstop aimed at avoiding a hard border with Ireland if there is no wider deal: If there was no final agreement at the end of the transition in 2020, there would be an "EU-UK single customs territory". Northern Ireland would therefore remain in the same position as Britain, avoiding a customs border in the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland will remain aligned to the single market rules that are essential for avoiding a hard border. The UK would apply the EU's customs code in Northern Ireland and would allow Northern Ireland businesses to bring goods in to the single market without restrictions. Mr Barnier said the draft agreement made clear Northern Ireland would retain "unfettered market access to the rest of the UK". "For competition to be open and fair in such a single customs territory we have agreed provisions on state aid, competition, taxation, social and environmental standards," he said. "This will guarantee that both EU and UK manufacturing will undoubtedly compete on a level playing field. "An essential condition for the single customs territory to cover fisheries and aquaculture products will be to agree between the European Union and the UK on access to waters and fishing opportunities." Turning to the declaration on the future relationship, Mr Barnier said it proposed an "ambitious partnership, which we want, which is a free trade area based on regulatory and customs co-operation, in depth and with a level playing field". "Our objective is to abolish customs duties and quotas for all goods based on what we are proposing in the withdrawal agreement - a single customs territory," he said. There would be a new agreement on fisheries and sectoral agreements in transport and energy. The future relationship would also cover justice, security and foreign policy co-operation. He indicated it could be possible to agree the final trade deal within the transition period, due to expire at the end of 2020, although it may be possible for that to be extended. "I don't think that these agreements will need as much time as were needed for other trade agreements with countries which were much further away in regulatory terms, in terms of standards, and also geographically," he said. "I think that it is feasible to construct the essentials of this future partnership within this short transition period, because we have got the basis." Mr Barnier said it was an "option" for the transition period to be extended by common agreement, but "we haven't fleshed out" how that could be done. Mr Barnier refused to be drawn on what would happen if MPs rejected the Brexit deal. "The British discussion is very stimulating but I won't make any comments," he said. "Mrs May said this is the best possible agreement in the current circumstances." The Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and minister Esther McVey have both resigned from the Cabinet. Mr Raab, in his resignation letter, said: "I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons. First, I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom. Read More "Secondly, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit." Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 Mr Raab added that the backstop amounted to a "hybrid of the EU Customs Union and Single Market obligations". "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement," he said. "That arrangement is now also taken as the starting point for negotiating the Future Economic Partnership. If we accept that, it will severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations against the UK." Read More Mr Raab said he could not reconcile the terms proposed in the deal with the promises the Conservative Party made in its manifesto at the last election. "This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust," he added. Cabinet minister Esther McVey, in her resignation letter to Mrs May, said: "The deal you put before the Cabinet yesterday does not honour the result of the referendum. Indeed, it doesn't meet the tests you set from the outset of your premiership." She added: "It also threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom, which as a Unionist is a risk I cannot be party to. "The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the referendum when it is obvious to everyone it doesn't. "We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal." Earlier this morning I informed the Prime Minister I was resigning from her Cabinet pic.twitter.com/ZeBkL5n2xH Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) November 15, 2018 In response to Mr Raab's resignation, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: "This is now an incredibly serious situation. The Prime Minister's Brexit deal has fallen at the first hurdle. "When Theresa May makes her statement to Parliament this morning she can't stand up and say 'nothing has changed'. She needs to urgently to rethink her approach." Expand Close Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has resigned PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has resigned Mr Raab's resignation came after Northern Ireland Office minister Shailesh Vara quit on Thursday morning, saying Mrs May's agreement, "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". Nigel Dodds response to Raab resignation The resignations came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations will be finalised and formalised. Westminster is braced for further resignations, amid widespread expectations that the Prime Minister may face a challenge to her position from Conservative MPs submitting letters of no confidence in her leadership. The Cabinet has just had a long, detailed and impassioned debate on the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration on our future relationship with the European Union. These documents were the result of thousands of hours of hard negotiation by UK officials and many, many meetings which I and other ministers held with our EU counterparts. I firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop, but the collective decision of Cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration. This is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead. These decisions were not taken lightly but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest. When you strip away the detail, the choice before us is clear: this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our Union; or leave with no deal, or no Brexit at all. I know that there will be difficult days ahead. This is a decision which will come under intense scrutiny, and that is entirely as it should be and entirely understandable. But the choice was this deal, which enables us to take back control and to build a brighter future for our country, or going back to square one with more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the referendum. It is my job as Prime Minister to explain the decisions that the government has taken and I stand ready to do that, beginning tomorrow with a statement in Parliament. If I might end by just saying this: I believe that what I owe to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest. And I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of our entire United Kingdom. The people of a port town that is home to one of the main ferry crossings between here and Britain have "switched off" from the Brexit debate, it has been claimed. For decades Larne has been one of the main entry points to Northern Ireland for passengers and freight, with its position just over 30 miles across the Irish Sea from Scotland. On a clear day the British coastline is visible from the town, which is part of DUP MP Sammy Wilson's East Antrim constituency. In recent years Belfast and Warrenpoint have lightened the loads coming into Larne. However, it remains one of the region's main harbours and is currently the only approved port of entry for livestock imports. In the event of a border down the Irish Sea, those existing checks could potentially be extended to include meat and dairy produce. Speculation over this possibility was heightened earlier this month when Larne port was one of a small number of locations Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab visited during a flying visit. However, as debate over Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal with the European Union dominated news headlines, many people in Larne said they had switched off. Iris Brown, owner of a flower shop on Main Street, summed up the feeling of many others in the town. She explained she had stopped following the minutiae of the political debate, but at the same time was concerned about what might happen. "I have switched off, but I'm also worried. I'm just not sure what is going to happen, and we won't know until it happens." Ms Brown's flowers come from a wholesaler who sources them from within and without the European Union. "They come in from places such as Israel and Colombia as well as Europe," she said. "But in terms of my trade, it is mostly local." Ellis Cahoon, who runs a flooring and bathroom shop, said the Brexit debate reminded him in some ways of the headlines before the new century. "It is a bit like the millennium, everyone was worried about what was going to happen, but then nothing happened," he said. "I get a lot of my products from Scotland and the south of Ireland, but I know ultimately a lot of stuff from the wholesalers comes from overseas. "They don't seem too worried, they are not stocking up just in case, which they would have the capacity to do if they felt they needed to." Mr Cahoon said his trade also remained steady. "Most of my customers are local and I haven't noticed any change," he said. "And I am the same, life is going on as normal." Ronnie Brown, a fruit and vegetable shop owner, simply said: "We'll just have to wait and see." Larne Ulster Unionist councillor Andy Wilson, who works in the office of local MLA John Stewart in the centre of the town, said most people had switched off from the Brexit debate due to the jargon and uncertainty. "Brexit is not exactly a major conversation starter in the pubs and clubs and breakfast tables of Larne," he added. "In fact, quite the contrary. People have long ago become lost in the detail and jargon of backstops and frictionless borders. "However, whether you voted Leave or Remain, no here wants to see extra restrictions on trade between here and GB." DUP MP Nigel Dodds has accused Theresa May of breaking promises on the future of Northern Ireland in her Brexit deal, while Labour MP Kate Hoey said the Prime Minister had "sold out" the people of the province. The DUP has expressed fury that the deal, agreed between the EU and UK on Wednesday evening, treats Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the UK in order to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland. Read More Mr Dodds, speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, said: "I could today stand here and take the Prime Minister through the list of promises and pledges that she made to this house and to us privately about the future of Northern Ireland and the future relationship with the EU. But I fear it would be a waste of time because she clearly doesn't listen. "Can I say today, that this house now has a clear choice and every member in it. This house has been left in a position where the choice is subjection to the rules and laws of others who may not have our interests at heart and for Northern Ireland and our precious union. "Five of those today who have resigned have all talked about the threat to the integrity of the union and I congratulate them for what they have said and done, and their strong actions. The choice is now clear. Stand up for the whole of the United Kingdom or vote for a vassal state with the break up of the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/UOPPSyZIiF Nigel Dodds (@NigelDoddsDUP) November 15, 2018 Mr Dodds added: "The choice is now clear. We stand up for the whole of the United Kingdom, the integrity of the United Kingdom or we vote for a vassal state and the break up of the United Kingdom- that's the choice." Labour former minister Kate Hoey later added: "Outside this House when people read these hundreds of pages of eurospeak, they will realise that in any way we are being sold out, we've been sold out by our negotiators who have allowed the EU to take the lead. "Will she not accept that at this stage not only are we all being collectively sold out, but the people of Northern Ireland are being sold out absolutely?" Mrs May responded: "I do not agree with her in relation to the suggestion that in some sense the EU Commission, the European Union has given nothing away to the UK during these negotiations, these have been tough negotiations, this is a complex matter." DUP MP Jim Shannon told Theresa May Northern Ireland will not be her sacrifice for a "despicable and shoddy" Brexit deal. He said: "She is telling us to trade our children's, grandchildren's and constituents' birthright for a despicable and shoddy deal. "Prime Minister, we will not be your sacrifice and we will not agree to give the backstop controls to the EU or to the Republic of Ireland. Never." Inconceivable. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images In 2009, the Malaysian government set up a development fund with the ostensible aim of attracting foreign direct investment, and thus increasing domestic economic growth. But in time, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) (allegedly) came to serve a slightly different purpose namely, funneling $4.5 billion out of the Malaysian governments coffers and into the hands of former prime minister Najib Razak, prominent businessman Jho Low, and the U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs, among many others. This multibillion-dollar, globe-spanning corruption scandal toppled Najibs government, undermined Malaysias economy, and, most regrettably, helped finance Martin Scorseses The Wolf of Wall Street. Also, earlier this month, it compelled Donald Trumps Justice Department to charge multiple former Goldman bankers on money-laundering charges, and secure a guilty plea (on similar charges) from another. In said plea agreement, onetime Goldman Sachs partner Tim Leissner confessed to illegally bribing various foreign officials, and conspiring to launder billions in embezzled funds. The revelation that Goldman Sachs of all places could have gotten itself involved in a fraudulent investment scheme, involving billions of dollars shocked and outraged the banks current CEO David Solomon (better known as DJ D-Sol). As Bloomberg reports: David Solomon had a message for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. employees shaken by the firms involvement in a multibillion fraud scandal: This isnt us. I am personally outraged that any employee of the firm would undertake the actions spelled out in the governments pleadings, the firms chief executive officer said in a voicemail left with employees on Wednesday. The behavior of those individuals is reprehensible and inconsistent with the good work and integrity that defines work that 40,000 of you do every day. No one would ever question the sincerity of a Goldman Sachs CEOs visceral hatred of financial crimes or suggest that the firms employees are less shaken by the firms involvement in a multibillion fraud scandal than by the plunging value of its shares. Nevertheless, there are a couple of flaws in Solomons analysis. For one thing, there is reason to doubt that the Goldman employees who got the firm entangled in the 1MDB scandal were rogue actors: According to Bloomberg, former Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein attended a 2009 meeting between Jho Low and Tim Leissner, at which they laid the groundwork for the banks involvement in 1MDB. For another, engaging in multibillion-dollar fraud schemes isnt that inconsistent with the kind of work that Goldman is known for doing. For example, in April 2006, Goldman Sachs provided investors with a bullish report on Countrywides high-quality mortgage loans loans the bank had helpfully packaged into AAA-rated mortgage-backed securities, thereby offering those lucky clients a low-risk way of profiting from Americas housing boom. When the banks head of due diligence saw the report, he typed a four-word email to his colleagues: If only they knew Ten years later, Goldman reached a $5.1 billion settlement with state and local authorities to make recompense for defrauding investors during the lead-up to the subprime-mortgage crisis. Analysts from Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. expect Goldman to face up to $2 billion in fines for its role in the 1MDB scandal a sum that they regard as ultimately manageable for the firm. A $5 billion penalty might not have been sufficient to persuade Goldman to cease defrauding its ostensible clients. But a $2 billion fine (when combined with Solomons impassioned voice-mail) surely will. DUP leader Arlene Foster said she had a "frank meeting" with the Prime Minister lasting almost an hour last night after Theresa May secured Cabinet approval to proceed with her deal on UK withdrawal from the EU. It came after an "impassioned" five-hour meeting featuring dissent from a number of ministers. Reports suggested as many as a third of the 28 ministers attending voiced doubts about the draft agreement drawn up by UK and EU negotiators after 19 months of talks in Brussels. Read More No vote was taken, but Cabinet backed the 585-page document - along with a shorter outline political declaration on future EU-UK trade relations - by consensus. However, the PM faced a backlash from Tory Brexiteers, with Jacob Rees-Mogg saying he could not support it and hoped other Tory MPs would follow suit. Read More The DUP expressed deep reservations that the deal crossed its "red lines" throughout the day, and East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said his party will not back the "poor deal", which he controversially compared to a "punishment beating". Read More After Mrs May announced Cabinet approval outside 10 Downing Street, it is understood she met Mrs Foster and her deputy Nigel Dodds privately for around an hour. Mrs Foster described the meeting at the Prime Minister's office in the House of Commons as "frank". "She is fully aware of our position and concerns," the DUP leader added in a terse tweet later. It is understood that after the meeting Mrs Foster held a short meeting with Belfast-born Labour MP Kate Hoey, an ardent Brexiteer. Mr Dodds was said to have been "in deep conversation" with Tory MP Steve Baker, a leading figure in the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG), for around 25 minutes at around the same time. One of the key elements the deal covers is the so-called 'backstop' intended to ensure there is no return to the hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic if negotiations on the future relationship have still not been completed. The deal will create a single EU-UK customs territory with the UK continuing to follow EU tariffs and customs rules, avoiding the need for checks between the EU and UK - including between Northern Ireland and the Republic. However, Northern Ireland will be required to remain aligned with what the EU calls "a limited set of EU rules that are indispensable for avoiding a hard border". These include some EU single market rules, including legislation on VAT and excise in respect of goods, agricultural production, veterinary controls and state aid rules. This crosses one of the DUP's red lines, and the party is expected to vote against the deal in Parliament. Mrs Foster, whose party props up Mrs May's minority administration in the Commons, had earlier warned the PM there would be "consequences" if her deal treats Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the UK. Mrs May described the debate around the Cabinet table as "long, detailed and impassioned", in a clear indication her proposals had come under intense challenge from ministers. There were no threats to resign during the meeting, which ended with ministers toasting the agreement with red and white wine. Rumours of possible walkouts continued to swirl around Westminster, however, and the level of Brexiteer discontent has raised expectations of further letters of no confidence in Mrs May from Tory MPs. Sources said the delivery of letters to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady was "imminent", with a total of 48 needed to trigger a vote on Mrs May's position. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker issued a statement that "decisive progress" had been made, clearing the way for a special summit for leaders of the remaining 27 EU states to give their stamp of approval, probably on November 25. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street minutes after the crunch Cabinet meeting concluded, Mrs May acknowledged she faced "difficult days ahead" as she prepares to seek the backing of the House of Commons in what is expected to be the toughest vote of her parliamentary career. She said: "I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United Kingdom." The text approved by the Cabinet will provide the basis of a legally binding treaty. It covers the future rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, the UK's 39bn "divorce" settlement, as well as protocols on Gibraltar and the UK sovereign base areas in Cyprus. It also provides for a transition period after the UK leaves in March 2019 running to the end of 2020, with the option of a one-off extension if more time is needed to conclude an agreement on the future relationship. Senior UK Government officials said the final text of the withdrawal agreement featured important gains for the UK on the backstop arrangements to be implemented if no trade deal can be reached. The outline political declaration - which will be subject to further negotiation over the coming weeks - expresses an ambition to achieve zero tariffs and no quotas in EU-UK trade, something the officials said no other major economy had achieved. The facilitated customs arrangements and "common rulebook" proposed in Mrs May's Chequers plan are replaced by the concept of a "sliding scale" of commitments and market access, which means the UK would not be tied to an off-the-shelf deal of the kind previously offered to countries such as Canada. "We are for the very first time opening up a world where we can do the sort of trade deal the EU has never done before," one UK official said. Under backstop arrangements designed to keep the Irish border open, if no trade deal is agreed by the end of the transition period in December 2020, a temporary "EU-UK single customs territory" would be established. This could be terminated only by mutual consent of Brussels and London but each side would be legally bound to make "best endeavours" to bring it to an end by sealing a permanent deal on their future relations. There will be a provision to allow the two sides to extend the transition to a fixed date rather than activate the backstop. A five-person arbitration panel, with two representatives of each side and one independent member, will be set up to rule on disputes, with the chair chosen by drawing lots if members cannot agree. Mrs May described the deal as "the best that could be negotiated". She added: "When you strip away the detail, the choice before us is clear - this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our Union, or leave with no deal or no Brexit at all." But arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg wrote to Tory MPs calling on them not to support Mrs May's plan, arguing the UK would "hand over 39bn to the EU for little or nothing in return". The deal is "unacceptable to unionists", will "lock us into an EU customs union and EU laws" and is "profoundly undemocratic", Mr Rees-Mogg said. Those of a certain age will probably remember some of the many Hollywood films from the 1960s when someone was drawn deeper and deeper into quicksand and eventually disappeared. There was the 1962 classic Lawrence Of Arabia, and there were also many western films where one of the characters was sucked down into the quicksand, somewhere in an American desert. Then too the Vietnam War became known as the 'quicksand war' before it was compared to a quagmire. Getting into the war was one thing, but getting out was another, and in many ways it is a picture of what has happened with British membership of the European Union over the past 40 years. The United Kingdom has been drawn deeper and deeper into the quicksand that is the European Union. That is why getting out of the quicksand is so difficult. However, getting out of the quicksand or the quagmire is always a good idea. There was no People's Vote, or as we called it then a referendum, when the UK agreed to an accession treaty in January 1972, or when the European Communities Act (1972) went through Parliament. However, the UK joined the European Communities on January 1, 1973. We didn't have a People's Vote, or as we used to call it a referendum, on continued membership of the European Community (Common Market) until 1975 and it was sold to the electorate as something that would be good for business. The Whitehall mandarins knew that there was a ceding of British sovereignty and so too did senior politicians at Westminster, but this was denied by the Europhiles and as a result the majority of the voters backed continued membership. After that 1975 People's Vote the United Kingdom was firmly locked into the European project, which has a final destination of a United States of Europe. In the midst of all the frenzied debates, the endless speculation and the repetitive 24-hour news coverage of every detail of every document, that is often forgotten. The creation of the euro as a European currency was simply one step in the journey of European harmonisation and integration towards a United States of Europe. Indeed, the project is generally advanced in that way, one step at a time, with little mention of the ultimate goal. Nevertheless in 2005 Guy Verhofstadt, a Belgian MEP and former Belgian Prime Minister, did write a book with the title United States Of Europe. Verhofstadt advocated the creation of a European army as part of his vision for a United States of Europe, and we heard more about that within the last few days when Angela Merkel backed Emmanuel Macron's vision of a European army. Speaking to the European Parliament, the German Chancellor called for "a real, true European army". This was not something that was simply being floated by a Brussels bureaucrat - it was a serious proposal from the leaders of two of the most powerful countries in the EU, Germany and France. That is why there is a growing sense that our sovereignty and identity are being eroded and gradually replaced with a European sovereignty and a European identity. Indeed, it was one of the main factors in the People's Vote in June 2016, when 17.4 million people voted to leave the EU. Since then we have seen the ineptitude of the British Government and the intransigence of the EU. We have also seen a ferocious and febrile campaign by militant Remainers who refuse to accept the will of the people. Theresa May wasn't helped by the fact that David Cameron had made no real preparation for the People's Vote in 2016. Cameron and George Osborne never imagined that the majority of the people who voted would dare to disagree with them. The degree of arrogance shown by the Cameron Government was breathtaking, and so was the degree of incompetence. Unfortunately the arrogance and the incompetence did not end with Cameron. The current Conservative Government is running them a very close second. However, we must not allow that to subvert the will of the people or undermine the sovereignty, the unity and the identity of the United Kingdom. Primary school pupils in Newtownards are certainly feeling the love as they put friendship first in the classroom. Londonderry Primary School has come up with an innovative way for P1 classmates to greet each other in the morning. The teachers set up the cheery morning activity to encourage positive interactions between the youngsters. For the past week the 60 pupils have been choosing which greeting they would like from a list on the classroom door. They simply pointed to it and their teachers Louise Weir and Lorraine Hutton give them that greeting - a fist-pump, high-five or hug. But now the pupils are fetting in on the act, with a different child being chosen to stand and give classmates their greeting of choice. Principal Jillian Wallace says the school learned about the greeting system from a school in the United States and decided to give it a try. "Every morning our two P1 teachers always stood outside their classroom to say good morning to the children by name and asked them to say it back to them," she said. "P1 is all about friendship and every child feeling safe, loved and welcome as soon as they enter their classroom. "Sometimes with P1s the teachers are like their mummies by coming up and giving them a wee hug. "So they drew up the chart and got the ball rolling last week, but soon the children were asking if they could be the greeters instead. Since the start of this week, a different child has been chosen to be the greeter to every other child. However, Mrs Weir and Mrs Hutton are still available for their morning greeting as usual. A heart-warming video posted on the school's Facebook page shows the children starting their day with a smile by greeting each other in fun ways. It has already been viewed more than 100,000 times. Ms Wallace says the new system is proving to be a huge hit with staff and students, as well as parents. "We have our greeting time every morning," she said. "The person who is the greeter changes each day on our job chart. "There have been a few fist-pumps, lots of high-fives, but mostly the pupils are hugging it out. "The excitement this has generated has been great and it is so funny, but lovely to watch, in the mornings. "The pupils seem to really love our new greeting time every morning. "Our P1s are definitely feeling loved and cared about, which is the most important thing." Protesters at Belfast City Hall hold up banners featuring thongs and the message this is not consent (Rebecca Black/PA) Thongs and placards were held aloft in Belfast on Thursday in solidarity with protests in the Irish Republic earlier this week over how rape trials are conducted. A recent case in Co Cork sparked outrage after a defence barrister referred to the 17-year-old complainants underwear during the trial, in which a man was acquitted of rape. During the protest in Belfast, which follows other protests in cities across Ireland, thongs were attached to a number of the placards along with the words this is not consent. The case was brought to wider public attention on Tuesday when Irish politician Ruth Coppinger held up a thong in the parliament chamber to highlight the outrage felt by some sections of the public. The handling of a high-profile trial of Ulster Rugby players in Belfast earlier this year also sparked public debate and protests across Ireland. Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted of rape. The case led to an independent review led by retired appeal court judge Sir John Gillen into how the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland deals with serious sexual offence cases. #ThisIsNotConsent protest underway at Belfast City Hall pic.twitter.com/Go6bQZFruv Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) November 15, 2018 A popular social media campaign was sparked by the fall-out from the Cork case with women from Ireland and abroad posting pictures of their underwear with the hashtag #Thisisnotconsent. On Thursday up to 100 women and men gathered during the lunch hour at Belfast City Hall to take part in chants including: My little black dress does not mean yes. The event, organised by a number of feminist organisations including ROSA, includes speeches from seven female speakers. Compere Cerys Falvey opened speeches urging the building of a movement. We have seen protests across Ireland saying this is no longer acceptable so what we need to do now is build a movement and fight back. Anne Orr of ROSA said it was correct for the protest to take place to show anger at what happened in Cork. She added: Yesterday people also took to the streets of Dublin and Cork and across the south to show that this is not okay, peoples underwear is not consent, what we wear is not consent, it has nothing to do with consent. It is not just here, people internationally are getting angry and rightly so. Expand Close A protester holds up underwear on a banner during the demonstration (Rebecca Black/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A protester holds up underwear on a banner during the demonstration (Rebecca Black/PA) Eleanor Crossey-Malone said many wonder why they dont hear of mens underwear being shown during trials. Today we are all reminded of the Ulster Rugby rape trial, when at that time we wondered, why is it never his underwear that is brought out in court, she said. Carmel Gates of the trade union Nipsa said there cannot be silence on the issue, adding: It is unfortunate that we are here again talking about womens underwear as an issue in the courts, and it is an absolute disgrace. We cannot stay silent, some people ask me whats the point in protesting, there is every point in protesting because if we are not here on the streets to shine a light on the injustice, then the injustice continues. We need to be fighting it in protest, we need to be fighting it in action and struggle in our workplaces, our students union, everywhere we have a voice we need to fight and struggle to change the system. People Before Profit representative Fiona Ferguson also said: What message are courts sending out to victims of sexual assault, the court in Cork, what message are they sending to sexual assault victims. Sexual assaults are on the rise but prosecutions are still shockingly low, why would any woman be encouraged to report, to have her underwear paraded around a court room. Cairns was released on bail before his sentencing next month (stock picture) A man who wounded his wife has been warned that he faces a possible jail sentence - although he was released on bail while pre-sentence reports are compiled. Roy Cairns, from Cloona Glen in Dunmurry, was to have gone on trial at Belfast Crown Court accused of threatening to kill his wife Lillian. He is also charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding her with intent to do her grievous bodily harm in September last year. The 65-year-old was rearraigned on the wounding charge yesterday, pleading guilty. Prosecutor Gareth Purvis then asked for count one, threatening his wife, to 'remain on the books'. Cairns was released on bail before his sentencing next month. However, the Belfast Recorder, Judge David McFarland, warned that the fact Cairns was being released could not be taken as an indication of the sentence he will receive. Ms Bradley denied the Brexit deal was dead and also rejected the suggestion Northern Ireland had been sold out (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The Northern Ireland Secretary has urged Conservative party colleagues to back the Prime Minister, insisting there is no better person for the job. Karen Bradley, a long-time ally of Theresa May, offered a stout defence of the under-pressure Tory leader after briefing business leaders in Belfast on the details of the draft Brexit deal. I support the Prime Minister there is no better person to do this job, she said. I supported for her leadership in 2016 because this is a woman that gets the job done, this is a woman who has gone out and negotiated hard. She called on MPs to vote in the national interest and back Ms Mays deal, insisting people across the UK just wanted politicians to get on with it. Addressing the media after the meeting with the business figures, Ms Bradley was pressed on whether the Governments confidence and supply deal with the DUP was now in real danger. She declined to be drawn when asked if the 1 billion investment for the region that is part of the parliamentary agreement was also at risk. The confidence and supply is a matter for the chief whips of the two parties, she said. Asked for her response to the DUPs angry reaction to the Brexit text, she added: This is something for cool heads now. People need to understand this is the deal on the table this is the deal that the 27 member states are prepared to sign up to. Northern Ireland will not be in the Single Market, it will not be in the Customs Union, it will be leaving along with the whole of the United Kingdom on the 29th of March next yearKaren Bradley Ms Bradley denied the Brexit deal was dead and also rejected the suggestion Northern Ireland had been sold out. She said: Northern Ireland will not be in the Single Market, it will not be in the Customs Union, it will be leaving along with the whole of the United Kingdom on the 29th of March next year. Commenting on her discussions with business leaders, she added: Its very clear from the conversations that I have just had that actually what businesses and people in Northern Ireland want is politicians to come together and do the right thing, think about the national interest and support the deal so we can leave the European Union on the 29th of March next year in a measured, organised, co-ordinated way that is right for the United Kingdom and the people of Northern Ireland. In the press conference, the Conservative MP was asked if the events at Westminster resembled a car crash. I wouldnt describe it that way at all, she replied. I would describe it as a very difficult decision and Government takes difficult decisions and this is probably one of the most difficult decisions that Government faces. She said: Its not easy, nobody ever said this would be easy, but the Cabinet has decided and those people who served very, very well as secretaries of state and ministers who have decided they cant support the deal, well quite rightly collective responsibility requires them to support the deal and therefore they have to leave Government. But the majority of the Cabinet is behind it, the remaining members of the Cabinet are absolutely behind this deal and what we need to do now is get behind the Prime Minister and get that deal sorted in the November (European) Council. Ms Bradley briefed members of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber). Afterwards John Healy, vice-president of NI Chamber, said: It is clear that businesses recognise the huge efforts made by the Prime Minister and across Government to reach this milestone and it is NI Chambers opinion that any deal is better than no deal for business. After two-and-a-half years of uncertainty, businesses need clarity and precision on the specific terms of trade they will face in the future, many of which are still to be agreedJohn Healy, NI Chamber However, with peoples livelihoods and the future prospects for many companies in the balance, more time is required to deliberate the real-world implications of this agreement over the coming days. After two-and-a-half years of uncertainty, businesses need clarity and precision on the specific terms of trade they will face in the future, many of which are still to be agreed. The avoidance of sudden or multiple changes to trading conditions is crucial to business investment and confidence. Our members raised a number of questions to the Secretary of State, specifically around migration, VAT, the backstop and any bureaucracy it may bring whilst also seeking a guarantee from Government that businesses here will still have unfettered access to the rest of the UK. NI Chambers priority is to now assess the implications of these proposals, working closely with members over the coming weeks. Britain First leader Paul Golding appeared in court in County Antrim on Thursday to face charges of 'stirring up hatred'. He is charged with two counts of possessing written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting, intending to stir up hatred' and one count of displaying written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting intending to stir up hatred. A fourth charge accuses him of publishing written material 'intending to stir up hatred'. The 36-year-old whose address was given as Shore Crescent in Belfast appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court. The charges follow his arrest on Wednesday 24 October in connection with alleged incidents relating to the Ballymena area on October 20 and October 24. Golding had visited Ballymena at the time in relation to the Far Right group which he leads. Britain First has held rallies in the town. Golding spoke at the first rally but his police bail conditions prevented him from attending the second rally. Britain First came to the town at a time when tensions had increased regarding aspects of foreign migration to Ballymena. Golding had a number of supporters with him at court and police officers were present in and around the building. The defendant stood in the dock, first with his hands behind his back and later with his hands clasped in front. He confirmed his name and listened to the charges. A police officer said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges. A prosecution lawyer said a full file has been requested from police and asked for the case to be adjourned for four weeks. A defence lawyer said because of bail terms police had to be emailed every time the defendant wished to travel to mainland UK. The police officer said it was "only way we have of keeping track of Mr Golding". The defence lawyer said his client also has an address in the London area and resides between both there and Northern Ireland. District Judge Nigel Broderick released the defendant on 500 bail with conditions which include not being allowed within 500 metres of any parade, protest or public demonstration in Northern Ireland. He is also barred from Ballymena apart from attending court and is not to be at Dunsilly car park near Antrim between 5-10pm on Saturdays. That is believed to be a reference to a bus service from Romania which had a drop off point there. Golding is not to be in possession of any material which could stir up hatred and is not to distribute any such leaflets. He was bailed to the address at Shore Crescent and has to report to police once a week and he is allowed to travel to England if he contacts police in advance. The case was adjourned until December. A co-accused, with a different address at Shore Crescent in Belfast, was also in court. Lee Daniel Brown (28), is charged with displaying written material intending to stir up hatred and two further charges of distributing written material intending to stir up hatred in the Moat Road area of Ballymena. He was also released on bail. Yes she May? Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Earlier this week, the United Kingdom and European Union (finally) reached a preliminary agreement on the terms of their divorce and, in so doing, plunged Theresa Mays government into a trial separation. On Wednesday afternoon, the British prime minister announced that, after hours of vigorous debate, she had persuaded her cabinet to support her Brexit deal. Shortly thereafter, the E.U.s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, praised the draft agreement as a decisive step, telling reporters, if nothing extraordinary happens, the deal would be finalized by months end. Hours later, something extraordinary happened (by Barniers ostensible definition, anyway): Mays Brexit secretary Dominic Raab the member of her cabinet most directly responsible for the terms of the deal resigned in protest. Three other cabinet members followed him to the exits. Mays deal received a similarly chilly reception in Parliament. Tory backbenchers, Mays coalition partners in Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party, and the Labor opposition had all blasted the deal from the moment it was announced. And actually reading (or skimming) its 585 pages of text did not soften their objections, while the cabinet resignations ostensibly fortified them. May told the House of Commons that the choice is clear: We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all at which point, the remainers in the chamber expressed their enthusiasm for the latter proposition or, May continued, after the cheering subsided, we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated. Theresa May: "We can choose to leave with no deal... risk no Brexit at all... or unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated" PM defends draft #Brexit deal in the Commons Live updates: https://t.co/x82eDksQEU pic.twitter.com/zQqIDuSDDV BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) November 15, 2018 If the U.K. does not reach an agreement over customs and border rules by March 29 when Britain will cease to be an E.U. member it will (almost certainly) see its currency plunge in value, its ports descend into chaos, and its economy slow to crawl. Mays best hope is that the specter of a no deal nightmare will ultimately force her dissenters to fall in line, for the good of the country (and perhaps their own sterling-denominated investments). The core obstacle to such a development is simple: There is no viable version of Brexit that will not leave Britain worse off than it is under the status quo and thus, it is in virtually no ones political interest to endorse any actually existing Brexit agreement. Torys far-right Brexiteers would much rather deride any deal that doesnt allow the U.K. to retain all the benefits of E.U. membership (and that fails to restore Britains dominion over the Suez Canal) as a betrayal of the one true Brexit while Labor has no interest in simultaneously antagonizing its remain contingent, disappointing its pro-Brexit faction (by exposing it to the grim reality of its position), and strengthening Theresa Mays grip on power. In more granular terms, the most intractable problem in negotiations between the U.K. and E.U. has been the status of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Free movement and trade between the two nations was a cornerstone of the Good Friday Agreement, and thus, a pillar of peace in the region ever since. Thousands of people cross the border daily for work, and many companies have built business models and supply chains that depend on the maintenance of seamless commerce between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Thus, many in Mays Tory Party insist that any Brexit deal must keep that border open. But Ireland is not leaving the E.U. And the E.U. is, among other things, a single market and a customs union. As a single market, E.U. members synchronize their consumer, labor (including immigration), and other commercial regulations; as a customs union, they apply synchronized tariffs on goods produced outside of the union. Thus, if Britain exits both the single market and customs union, then Ireland would be forced to impose tariffs on products produced in Northern Ireland, and check them at the border for compliance with the E.U.s regulations. Now, the U.K. could leave the E.U. while remaining in the customs union, and/or single market. But staying in the former would bar the U.K. from brokering its own bilateral trade agreements, while staying in the latter would oblige it to subordinate many of its regulatory and immigration policies to E.U. directives. Thus, many Brexiteers in Mays party insist that any Brexit deal must include the U.K.s withdrawal from both. Her governments draft agreement with the E.U. does not satisfy that demand. Instead, according to NBC News, the deal would keep the whole of the U.K. in the customs union but not the single market while leaving Northern Ireland subject to the rules of both. May hopes that she can get her parliamentary allies to swallow this bitter pill by providing them with a quarter-teaspoon of sugar: The deal describes these arrangements as a mere temporary backstop, until a more mutually satisfying solution can be worked out. But the deal does not put an expiration date on said backstop. And its unclear how the U.K.s simultaneous demands for an open border with Ireland and total sovereignty over its trade and regulatory policies could ever be reconciled. Thus, Mays partners in Northern Irelands DUP find the deal repulsive. After all, they are a unionist party and the deal would effectively create a regulatory border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. And, of course, hard-line Brexiteers cant very well accept their great nations indefinite subjugation to the tyranny of tariff schedules dictated by Brussels. Mays Tory dissenters are now pushing to evict her from leadership through a vote of no confidence. For the moment, though, they dont appear to have the votes. Which makes sense: While it is hard to see why any of Mays rivals would want to support her Brexit deal, its even harder to see why they would want to be in her shoes (before March 29, anyway). Darryl Thompson died after being hit by a car on Saturday night The sister of a Co Tyrone man who died in a motorway accident last weekend has paid tribute to her "much-loved brother and best friend". Darryl Thompson (22), from Kilcam Road in Beragh, was killed after being hit by a car on a section of the M1 between junctions 14 and 15 near Dungannon at around 10.20pm on Saturday. He had been returning home from a car event in Tamnamore and died at the scene. A past pupil of St Conor's Primary School and Sacred Heart College in Omagh, he worked as a digger driver with construction company Mills Contracts Ltd, which is also based in the town. Mr Thompson is survived by his mother Edwina, sister Katie (21), brother Jack (5), stepfather Keith Clarke and wider family circle. The small village of Beragh, around eight miles from Omagh, has been shaken by the news of another young life lost. His death is the third road tragedy to hit his family. His father Tony Thompson (38) died when his motorbike collided with a lorry on the Mulvin Road outside Newtownstewart in July 2006. Fellow biker Colin Thornton (43) was also killed in the collision. His uncle Dermot Loughran (36) from Carrickmore died in similar circumstances when his motorbike collided with a car near Dromore in September 2009. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph ahead of Mr Thompson's funeral tomorrow, his sister Katie said: "Darryl was beautiful with a beautiful soul. "He was the life and soul of our entire family and home. "He had the most contagious laugh and was always happy. "He lived life to the full and nothing was ever a problem to him. "He loved cars and country music. "He was always out in the garage fixing cars and was big into all sorts of machinery, along with farming. "He was always keeping himself busy and was never idle. "Darryl was loved by so many people. "He was very close to our wee brother Jack. "He idolised Darryl and you would very rarely have seen one without the other. "We are all heartbroken and will miss Darryl so much, but heaven is so very lucky to have him now." Mr Thompson's funeral will leave from his late residence at 10.15am for 11am Requiem Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Beragh. This will be followed by interment at the adjoining graveyard. The family has requested that donations be made to the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance following the tragic death of another young friend from Omagh recently. Kyra McKinley (21) died following a two-vehicle collision on Deverney Road in the town on August 18. Her family have since been fundraising for the Air Ambulance as a thank-you for attending the crash scene and prolonging her life so that her organs could be donated. Katie added: "A great friend of ours is Kyra's boyfriend, Matthew Allen. "The charity really helped her family so it's close to all of our hearts and a good cause for people to donate to." Police are appealing to anyone who was on the M1 on Saturday at approximately 10.20pm and witnessed the incident to contact the collision investigation unit on 101, quoting reference number 1477 November 10. Dominic Raab has sensationally quit as Brexit Secretary, in a massive blow to Theresa Mays Brexit plans. Mr Raab, who only took over in the summer after David Davis resigned in protest over the Prime Ministers withdrawal strategy, said he cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. His surprise departure on Thursday came amid a furious backlash from Brexit-backing Tories to the deal agreed by UK and EU negotiators four months ahead of the UKs scheduled withdrawal on March 29. Hours earlier Shailesh Vara had quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying Mrs Mays agreement, leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation. Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Raab said the deal represented a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom because of provisions for Northern Ireland. He also said he could not accept an indefinite backstop arrangement for the Irish border. With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) November 15, 2018 He said: No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Mr Raab added: Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. The resignations came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations will be finalised and formalised. Westminster is braced for further resignations, amid widespread expectations that the Prime Minister may face a challenge to her position from Conservative MPs submitting letters of no confidence in her leadership. Mr Raab had been a surprise choice as Brexit Secretary when Mr Davis, along with foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit minister Steve Baker, resigned in protest at Mrs Mays Chequers plan in July. As the UKs ministerial point man in negotiations he made repeated trips to Brussels for talks with EU negotiator Michel Barnier as he and civil servants tried to hammer out a workable withdrawal agreement. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The pound fell heavily against most major currencies after his resignation. Sterling dropped 1.1% to 1.28 US dollars and was 1.2% lower at 1.13 euros. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said the Government was falling apart before our eyes as, for a second time, the Brexit Secretary has refused to back the Prime Ministers Brexit plan. This is the 20th minister to resign from Theresa Mays Government in her two-year premiership, he said. Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her Cabinet, let alone Parliament and the people of our country. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Remain-supporting Tory MP Anna Soubry added on Twitter that Mr Raabs resignation marks the end of PMs Withdrawal Agreement and possibly her premiership. Ms Soubry added: No PM deserves to be so badly treated. Raab signed up to her Withdrawal Agreement allowing her to make her statement after Cabinet knowing hed resign in time for the 9am News bulletins the next morning. Shameful. Mrs May now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs as well as some Remainers lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. In a resignation statement, North-West Cambridgeshire MP Mr Vara who was promoted by Mrs May as recently as July said: We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better. Expand Close Mr Tusk pledged that he would make the UKs EU withdrawal as painless as possible for the British people (Rick Findler/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Tusk pledged that he would make the UKs EU withdrawal as painless as possible for the British people (Rick Findler/PA) Mr Vara, a former Conservative vice chairman who has served as a whip and on the frontbenches for the bulk of his career since entering Parliament in 2005, backed Remain in the 2016 referendum. In Brussels, Mr Tusk was handed a copy of the 585-page withdrawal agreement by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Ministers and ambassadors of the remaining 27 EU states will work to finalise by next Tuesday the political declaration on future relations with the UK, published in outline form on Wednesday, he said. Welcoming the UK Cabinets collective agreement to accept the withdrawal document, Mr Tusk said: Of course, I do not share the Prime Ministers enthusiasm about Brexit as such. Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and our negotiations are only about damage control. And he sent a message to the British people: As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us. A DUP councillor charged with sexually assaulting a nursing colleague allegedly told her he would "grope anything", a court heard on Thursday. Ian Stevenson is accused of squeezing the woman's breast after asking for a hug at a care home in Co Antrim. The 49-year-old former mayor of Ballymoney categorically denies any wrongdoing over the encounter in April 2017. It also emerged that he has since been dismissed from his nursing post. The alleged victim told Belfast Magistrates' Court he had requested a hug while they were talking on a corridor on the night in question. She claimed that after she raised her arms Mr Stevenson, of Headlands Avenue in Ballymoney, grabbed her breast. "He actually squeezed when he did it," the woman said. She allegedly responded by pushing him away and telling him "no", adding that the encounter left her shocked and frightened. "He just basically tried to laugh it off and made the joke 'You know me, I would grope anything... well, not anything'." The court heard the woman later sent Mr Stevenson a Facebook message, expressing her "disgust" at what allegedly happened. Asked by Jennifer Lindsay, prosecuting, how the incident has affected her, she replied: "It makes me nervous that somebody in that position could take such an advantage." But defence counsel put it to her that the allegations were inconsistent and false. "It's completely unbelievable that Mr Stevenson, a councillor, a public figure, a nurse of 22 years standing, would do this in the middle of a care home when somebody could just walk round the corner," the barrister said. The defendant, a representative on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, has reportedly been suspended by the DUP pending the outcome of the case. He claimed it was the woman who offered him a hug when he told he was going to lay a wreath on a friend's grave. "It was given to me freely, I didn't ask for it," he insisted. "I didn't think I would end up in a court of law on account of a hug." At no point did he grab or touch her breast, Mr Stevenson told the court. Questioned about his alleged comments to the woman, he said: "Anybody that knows me, anybody in the political sphere, knows that I have never cursed in my life, which might seem a bit incredible, and I certainly would not say anything like that." Under cross-examination, however, the prosecution claimed he had overstepped the boundaries by grabbing her breast. "You took a chance with this lady and thought she will not do anything about it, she will be alright," Mrs Lindsay contended. Mr Stevenson responded: "It's not my nature, it's not me." He disclosed during the hearing that he has since been dismissed from his nursing home position - an action which is to be challenged at a tribunal. Reserving judgment on the sexual assault charge, Mrs Henderson said she wanted time to consider all evidence. Pauline Kilkenny was found dead at her home in Cornacully Road between Belcoo and Garrison The family of a murdered shop worker from Fermanagh described their "beautiful, vibrant daughter" and extended their thanks to the local community for its support. In a short statement issued through the PSNI on Thursday evening, the family of Pauline Kilkenny expressed their gratitude. "We would ask that our familys privacy is respected during this difficult time as we come to terms with the devastating loss of our beautiful, vibrant daughter, sister, aunt and friend," the statement said. "Our time will be spent remembering Pauline for the incredible personality she was and feeling so grateful to have lived her life with her. "We would like to thank the community for their love, support and continued co-operation with the police and their ongoing investigation." The body of Belcoo woman Pauline was discovered at her home at around 1pm on Tuesday by her sister. Concerns were raised after she failed to show up for work at Lilley's Centra and Topaz on Enniskillen's Lough Shore Road, where she worked as a member of the deli team. Police said the contents of the 59-year-old's handbag and her car had been removed and appealed for anyone with information to contact them. Two people have so far been arrested in the investigation into the murder. Four men have been arrested on a number of drugs-related offences following a police operation in Belfast. Acting on information from the public, police stopped a car on the Malone Road in the south of the city and arrested three men just before 10pm on Wednesday. A 40-year-old man and a 38-year-old man were arrested for drug and driving offences and a 34-year-old man was arrested for drug offences. The PSNI then carried out follow up searches of four properties. Nothing of note was found in searches of two properties in north Belfast. Suspected controlled drugs were seized during the search of a property in Deerpark Road area of North Belfast. During the search of a fourth property in the Downhill Ave area of south Belfast, a 32-year-old man was arrested on a number of drug offences, and a quantity of suspected Class A drugs and other drug paraphernalia were seized during the operation which is still ongoing. A housing complex near Sandy Row in south Belfast has been evacuated after the discovery of a suspicious object. Ulidia House provides sheltered accommodation. It has been evacuated while police examine the object. Donegall Road, one of the main arterial routes through the centre of the city, has also been closed in both directions. There are not further details at present. Two Leave-backing ministers including the man in charge of the UKs withdrawal negotiations have sensationally quit the Cabinet in a massive blow to Theresa Mays Brexit plans. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab who only took over in the summer after David Davis resigned in protest over the Prime Ministers withdrawal strategy said he cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Esther McVey announced she was resigning as Work and Pensions Secretary as she could not defend a deal which meant the UK handing over control to the EU. Mrs May paid tribute to the pair as she faced MPs in the House of Commons to deliver a statement on her plans. Delivering Brexit involves difficult choices for all of us, said the Prime Minister. We do not agree on all those choices, but I respect their views. To laughter from opposition benches, Mrs May insisted that her deal would allow the UK to leave in a smooth and orderly way on March 29. She said the deal offered a future relationship with a breadth and depth of co-operation beyond anything the EU has agreed with any other country. In a swipe at her Brexit-backing critics, she said the EU would never accept any agreement which did not involve a backstop arrangement to ensure the Irish border remains open. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiatedTheresa May Mrs May said it would be entirely irresponsible for the Government to have simply torn up the backstop. The Brexit talks are about acting in the national interest and that means making what I believe are the right choices, not the easy choices, she said. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on her to withdraw this half-baked deal. The shock departures of Mr Raab and Ms McVey came within little more than an hour of one another, amid a furious backlash from Brexit-backing Tories to the deal given the collective approval of Mrs Mays Cabinet in a stormy five-hour meeting at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday. Their resignations were followed by a second Brexit minister, Suella Braverman, while Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced she was quitting as an unpaid parliamentary aide in the Department for Education. Earlier, Shailesh Vara quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying Mrs Mays agreement, leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation. With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) November 15, 2018 The developments threaten to derail the Prime Ministers Brexit strategy ahead of a crucial EU summit on November 25, with just over four months to go until the UK is due to leave on March 29. Labour said the Government was falling apart before our eyes and the pound dropped sharply after Mr Raabs resignation. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Raab said the deal represented a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom because of provisions for Northern Ireland. He also said he could not accept an indefinite backstop arrangement for the Irish border. Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 He said: No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement. Ms McVey, who was promoted to the Cabinet by Mrs May in January, was reported to have been close to tears as she tried to force a vote on the Brexit deal in Wednesdays Cabinet. In a letter to the PM, the Tatton MP cited concerns over the future of the Union and a lack of control over money, law, borders and trade policy under a deal she felt kept the UK too close to Brussels. Earlier this morning I informed the Prime Minister I was resigning from her Cabinet pic.twitter.com/ZeBkL5n2xH Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) November 15, 2018 The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesnt, wrote Ms McVey. We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. The resignations came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations is due to be finalised and formalised. Westminster is braced for further resignations, amid widespread expectations that the Prime Minister may face a challenge to her position from Conservative MPs submitting letters of no confidence in her leadership. Mr Raab had been a surprise choice as Brexit Secretary when Mr Davis, along with foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit minister Steve Baker, resigned in protest at Mrs Mays Chequers plan in July. As the UKs ministerial point man in negotiations he made repeated trips to Brussels for talks with EU negotiator Michel Barnier as he and civil servants tried to hammer out a workable withdrawal agreement. The pound fell heavily against most major currencies after his resignation. Sterling dropped 1.1% to 1.28 US dollars and was 1.2% lower at 1.13 euros. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said the Government was falling apart before our eyes as, for a second time, the Brexit Secretary has refused to back the Prime Ministers Brexit plan. This is the 20th minister to resign from Theresa Mays Government in her two-year premiership, he said. Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her Cabinet, let alone Parliament and the people of our country. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Remain-supporting Tory MP Anna Soubry added on Twitter that Mr Raabs resignation marks the end of PMs Withdrawal Agreement and possibly her premiership. Ms Soubry added: No PM deserves to be so badly treated. Raab signed up to her Withdrawal Agreement allowing her to make her statement after Cabinet knowing hed resign in time for the 9am News bulletins the next morning. Shameful. Mrs May faces a battle to get the deal through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs as well as some Remainers lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. In a resignation statement, North-West Cambridgeshire MP Mr Vara who was promoted by Mrs May as recently as July said: We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better. Expand Close Mr Tusk pledged that he would make the UKs EU withdrawal as painless as possible for the British people (Rick Findler/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Tusk pledged that he would make the UKs EU withdrawal as painless as possible for the British people (Rick Findler/PA) Mr Vara, a former Conservative vice chairman who has served as a whip and on the front benches for the bulk of his career since entering Parliament in 2005, backed Remain in the 2016 referendum. In Brussels, Mr Tusk was handed a copy of the 585-page withdrawal agreement by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Ministers and ambassadors of the remaining 27 EU states will work to finalise by next Tuesday the political declaration on future relations with the UK, published in outline form on Wednesday, he said. Welcoming the UK Cabinets collective agreement to accept the withdrawal document, Mr Tusk said: Of course, I do not share the Prime Ministers enthusiasm about Brexit as such. Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and our negotiations are only about damage control. He sent a message to the British people: As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us. Simon Coveney said he had faith that Theresa May could navigate the difficult days ahead (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Irelands deputy premier has rejected claims the Irish government is portraying the draft Brexit deal as a victory. Simon Coveney denied ministers had indulged in triumphalism in the wake of the agreement between the UK and EU negotiators. Mr Coveney was challenged in the Dail by main opposition party Fianna Fail on the language his administration has been using to describe the latest Brexit developments. Fianna Fails Darragh OBrien suggested it would be better if ministers remained silent amid the turbulence in Westminster, suggesting comments made in Dublin could be counterproductive in London. Expand Close Tanaiste Simon Coveney, left, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar gave a press conference on the draft Brexit deal in Dublin on Wednesday night (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tanaiste Simon Coveney, left, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar gave a press conference on the draft Brexit deal in Dublin on Wednesday night (Niall Carson/PA) Mr OBriens comments came after a number of national newspapers in Ireland proclaimed the draft deal a victory or win, as they referenced upbeat quotes from Taoiseach Leo Varadkars late-night press conference in Dublin on Wednesday. Mr Coveney insisted he and Mr Varadkar had not characterised the deal as a victory. That has not been happening, he said. Yesterday we were very careful not to comment when it wasnt helpful to do so. But we do have an obligation to explain to the Irish people what has been agreed. He said ministers could not remain silent. Because there are many people out there who are very sceptical that it was possible to get this deal done and it is the role of government to explain to people in appropriate language why this deal is no threat to nationalism or unionism in Northern Ireland, he said. Why it is no threat to the sovereign integrity of the United Kingdom but instead this is a practical compromise on all sides to allow for a managed, sensible Brexit to move forward in a way that protects core Irish interests and ensure we are not collateral damage from an unmanaged Brexit deal that doesnt take into account the interests of Britains neighbours, as well as Britain itself. The Tanaiste added: The Irish government needs to be careful not to be pretending that we can influence British politics and not to try to do so publicly either, because we might well find that it would have the opposite effect. There is a British political system that needs to tease through the detail of this text, that will happen in the coming days and weeks and therell be a vote at the end of that. The time for victory and celebration is when this draft agreement is accepted and ratified by allFianna Fail TD Darragh O'Brien Mr OBrien said it was not the time for triumphant language when there was a sensitive and volatile situation in the UK. Thats irresponsible and I think you should desist from doing that, he said. He added: Theres no triumph in negotiating something that cant be delivered, so we all need to be mature about this and I would say further that the time for victory and celebration is when this draft agreement is accepted and ratified by all. Every statement being made in Ireland is being scrutinised and we should be aware of that. During Dail questions, Mr Coveney was asked whether the deal was already doomed, given the developments in London. The Tanaiste said he had faith that Prime Minister Theresa May could navigate the difficult days ahead. Of course there are challenges to selling any package in the United Kingdom and Westminster, he said. Many people would say there isnt a majority for any way forward in the House of Commons and so the British Prime Minister said last night that she faces difficult days ahead, and Im sure she does, but shes resilient and shes shown a remarkable capacity to get things done in difficult circumstances. Mr Coveney, Irelands minister for foreign affairs, said the deal involved compromise and flexibility on both sides. What we have is a deal and text that follows through on the commitments that have been made and does so in a way that protects Irelands core interests now and into the future in a way we can all stand over, I hope, he said. Expand Close Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty accused the DUP of incendiary, rash and ostentatious rhetoric on the draft deal (Niall Carson/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty accused the DUP of incendiary, rash and ostentatious rhetoric on the draft deal (Niall Carson/PA) During the exchanges in Leinster House in Dublin, Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty criticised the DUP for using incendiary, rash and ostentatious rhetoric in regard to the draft deal and claimed the unionist party represented a minority narrow view in Northern Ireland, where 56% of people voted Remain. Mr Coveney said he did not want the debate north of the border to break down to majorities versus minorities. I hope its not going to be about a majority versus a minority in Northern Ireland trying to win the argument against each other in the weeks ahead, he said. We need to ensure that majorities as well as minorities in Northern Ireland are reassured that any wording of a legal treaty relating to Brexit is not a threat to them and we can try to protect, where possible, the status quo on this island, where neighbours and people with very different backgrounds and very different ideas and dreams for the future of their country can actually live together, understanding that we are protecting the core interests of everybody, which is what we are trying to do here. So for anyone to take absolutist positions has been and continues to be unhelpful in terms of trying to find a way forward. Mr Doherty had also called on Mr Coveney to publish the Irish governments legal advice on the permanence and certainty of the border backstop position outlined in the draft text. The Tanaiste pointed out the advice was EU advice, not the governments. Wreaths and poppies damaged at soldiers' memorial at Narrow Water bombing. Pic: Memorial to the Narrow Water Facebook page Wreaths and poppies damaged at soldiers' memorial at Narrow Water bombing. Pic: Memorial to the Narrow Water Facebook page Wreaths and poppies damaged at soldiers' memorial at Narrow Water bombing. Pic: Memorial to the Narrow Water Facebook page Wreaths and poppies damaged at soldiers' memorial at Narrow Water bombing. Pic: Memorial to the Narrow Water Facebook page A 44-year-old man is to appear in court over an attack on the Narrow Water memorial to soldiers killed in an IRA ambush. Poppy crosses, wreaths and floral tributes were destroyed in the incident on Wednesday, October 4. It was thought to be the fourth attack in the past year. Police treated the incident as a hate crime. The memorial marks the 1979 IRA double bomb attack which killed 18 soldiers. It was the biggest single loss of life for the military during the Troubles. The man has been charged with criminal damage and will appear in a Newry court on Thursday. As is usual procedure all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. A man has died following a house fire in Co Antrim. A man in his 50s has died and five firefighters have been injured following a house fire in Co Antrim on Wednesday evening. The incident took place on the Carlane Road near Tommebridge. The blaze started around 8pm. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), police and ambulance workers attended the scene. Two fire appliances from Magherafelt Fire Station and one fire appliance from Antrim Fire Station tackled the blaze. A Fire Service spokesperson said that firefighters encountered a severe fire on the first floor. Wearing breathing apparatus they entered the property and worked in intense heat and heavily smoke logged conditions in an attempt to rescue the man. Firefighters carried the man down to the ground floor where he was treated at the scene by both firefighters and ambulance personnel. He was taken to Antrim Area Hospital and later died from his injuries. Five firefighters were injured while carrying out the rescue. Four firefighters sustained minor burns and were treated at the scene by ambulance personnel, one of them required hospital treatment and was later discharged. The fifth firefighter was taken to hospital with a concussion due to fallen debris inside the property. He was kept overnight and has since been discharged. An NIFRS spokesperson paid tribute to the firefighters for their rescue efforts. NIFRS would like to commend the Breathing Apparatus team for their valiant efforts in rescuing the man from the fire. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and will be subject to investigation, in liaison with the PSNI. There was a smoke alarm fitted in the property and part of the investigation will consider if it sounded." Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China's vehicle sales in October reached 2.38 million units, edging down 0.6% over the previous month, while evidently dropping 11.7% from a year ago, according to the data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). For the first ten months, China saw its year-to-date (YTD) vehicle sales slightly decline 0.1% year on year (YoY) to 22.871 million units, presenting YoY downturn for the first time of the year. Gasgoo hereby rounded up the sales data released by corresponding Chinese automakers as below. SAIC Motor was crowned the Oct. sales champion while still faced a YoY drop of 8.4%. Dongfeng Motor Group, Changan Automobile and JAC Motors all came across double-digit YoY decline in Oct. sales. Great Wall Motor, having YoY drop for 3 consecutive months within the third quarter, saw its Oct. sales edge up 1.93% over the year-ago period. SAIC Motor SAIC Motor reported a YoY drop of 8.4% in sales with 601,877 vehicles delivered in October. For the first ten months, the automaker delivered 5,748,433 vehicles in total, a YoY increase of 4.9%. The top 3 subsidiaries by October sales were SAIC-GM, SAIC Volkswagen and SAIC-GM-Wuling. All three companies failed to gain better sales performance than that of a year ago. In addition, SAIC Maxus, Naveco and Sunwin Bus saw their sales in October fall 10.6%, 15.2% and 51.7% over the year ago period. SAIC Motor PV's monthly sales still kept rising with 60,003 units handed over in October. SAIC-GM's deliveries shrank 9% over a year earlier in October, while climbed 3.5% YoY for the first ten months. SAIC Volkswagen saw its sales decline 7.1% over the year-ago period to 180,000 units. However, it still achieved a YoY increase of 1.8% in terms of year-to-date (YTD) sales. Affected by the overall economic climate and the internal competition, SAIC-GM-Wuling sold 161,833 vehicles with a YoY drop of 15.8% last month. Dongfeng Motor Group Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited (Dongfeng Motor Group) reported a YoY decrease of 14.64% in sales with 267,720 vehicles delivered in October. For the first ten months, the group's YTD sales fell 4.82% from a year ago to 2,462,040 units. Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL) gained a YoY increase of 6.37% with 1,225,892 vehicles handed over through October. It is noteworthy that all units under DFL achieved positive YoY growth in YTD sales. Although Dongfeng Venucia and Dongfeng Nissan's monthly sales shrank 6.61% and 7.96% from the previous year, their respective Jan-to-Oct sales still represented YoY growth of 2.21% and 6.15% thanks to the favorable performances in previous months. Three major joint ventures, namely, Dongfeng Honda, Dongfeng Renault and Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA), all suffered YoY decline in terms of cumulative sales this year. Dongfeng Honda's sales in October jumped 28.1% from a year earlier. However, two Sino-French joint ventures, Dongfen Renault and DPCA witnessed their Oct. sales plunge 61.4% and 56.79% from the previous year. GAC Group GAC Group announced that its sales in October reached 181,601 units with an apparent year-on-year (YoY) growth of 13.24% and the Jan-Oct sales climbed 6.99% from a year ago to 1,757,068 units. GAC Motor attained a YoY growth of 1.58% with its Oct. sales reaching 46,168 units. By the end of October, the automaker has fulfilled 62.97% of the 700,000-unit annual sales target with a total of 440,760 vehicles sold so far this year. GAC Honda's year-to-date (YTD) sales rose 9.42% from the year-ago period to 68,867 units with 79.46% of the 750,000-unit sales goal completed already. According to the sales data from Honda China, the Accord, the Fit and the Vezel were rather popular among consumers with their sales reaching 18,562 units, 11,962 units and 12,548 units respectively in October. GAC Toyota saw its Oct. sales soar 67.11% from a year earlier to 55,508 units. A total of 477,362 vehicles were sold from January to October, with 82.30% of the 580,000-unit sales target finished. The eighth-generation Camry had an Oct. sales volume of around 14,400 units, somewhat less than that of the previous month. Changan Automobile Changan Automobile said that its Oct. sales plunged 35.2% over a year ago to 170,575 units, the sixth straight month facing year-on-year (YoY) drop. For the first ten months, the automaker delivered 1,818,191 vehicles in total, a relatively steep YoY decline of 21.7%. The sales of Changan Automobile's self-owned brand exceeded 1.2 million units during the first 10 months among which over 800 thousand units were passenger vehicles. As to the performance of joint ventures, Changan Ford had a sales volume of 26,938 units in October, tumbling 67.3% over the year-ago period and sliding 18.4% over the previous month. In addition, its Jan-Oct sales were nearly halved compared with the same period a year ago. Changan Mazda posted a YoY decrease of 18.1% with its Oct. sales reaching 15,155 units. By the end of October, a total of 143,649 vehicles were delivered for the Sino-Japanese automaker, a YoY decline of 7.3%. Geely Auto Geely Auto announced that its sales (including the Lynk & Co brand) in October edged up 3% from a year ago to 128,986 units, among which 8,101 units were NEVs and electrified vehicles. For the first ten months, the automaker sold 1,265,844 vehicles in total, achieving an impressive YoY growth of 33%. By the end of October, 80% of the 1.58 million-unit sales goal has been completed for the vehicle maker. Speaking of sedan segment's performance, the sales of the Geely Emgrand in October faced an evident YoY drop of 24.7% with 20,349 units delivered. Besides, the monthly sales of the Geely Borui and the Borui GE aggregated 3,558 units, 32.7% less than that of the previous month. The Geely Binrui, hitting the market on August 30, has already had sales up to 12,609 units within two months. The Geely Boyue still remained its leadership among the automaker's SUV products. Its sales totaled 219,048 units from January to October, edging down 2.6% compared with the same period a year ago. The Lynk & Co brand had a sales volume of 15,207 units last month, up by 2.2% compared with the September. The sales of the Lynk & Co 01, 02 and 03 were 8,476 units, 5,766 units and 965 units respectively. Great Wall Motor Great Wall Motor posted a YoY sales growth of 1.93% with 110,088 vehicles delivered in October. However, its Jan-Oct sales fell 3.29% from a year earlier to 786,756 units among which the sales of Haval and WEY brands were 552,094 units and 116,381 units. By the end of October, 67.82% of the 1.16 million-unit sales target has been fulfilled. The company saw its SUV sales rise 2.02% YoY in October to 95,840 units, while slide 5.91% YoY for the first ten months to 668,475 units. The Haval Oct. sales grew 4.05% over the previous year, the first time in 2018 that achieved YoY positive growth in monthly sales. The premium SUV brand WEY suffered a YoY drop of 32.68% in October, while its year-to-date (YTD) sales soared 160.84% from the year-ago period to 116,381 units. Last month, the sales of the WEY VV7, VV5 and VV6 (hitting the market on August 27) reached 2,552 units, 4,004 units and 4,017 units respectively. The WEY P8 plug-in hybrid SUV had a monthly sales volume of 311 units. Chery Holding Chery Holding saw its sales in October grew 13.5% from the previous year to 63,703 units, achieving evident year-on-year (YoY) increase for 8 consecutive months, according to the sales report released by the automaker. Last month, the group's NEV (new energy vehicle) sales skyrocketed 379.1% over the year-ago period to 10,205 units. Meanwhile, it exported 8,829 vehicles, 14.1% more than that of the previous month. For the first ten months, Chery Holding's year-to-date (YTD) sales rose 15.2% from a year earlier to 592,514 units. A total of 107,342 vehicles were exported with a YoY jump of 20.2%. Besides, its cumulative NEV sales soared 249.3% to 69,884 units. BYD BYD delivered 48,497 new vehicles in October, which made its Jan-Oct sales grow to 400,068 units, according to the company's sales report. Last month, BYD sold 20,830 fossil fuel-powered vehicles, among which 3,583 units were cars, 7,231 units were SUVs and 10,016 units were MPV. BYD said the sales of the Song MAX skyrocketed 148% year on year (YoY) to 10,016 units, exceeding 10,000 units for 12 consecutive months. For the first ten months, the company saw its fuel-burning vehicle sales aggregate 228,983 units. The NEV sales were 27,667 units in October, among which 26,066 units were new energy PVs with an impressive YoY jump of 121%. The hottest seller should be the BYD Tang whose sales reached 10,049 units last month, topping 10,000 units for 3 months in a row. In addition, the sales of the BYD Qin family were 7,226 units in October and totaled 150,000 units since it hit the market. The e-platform-based Yuan EV360 has cumulated sales over 21,490 units after it went on sales at the end of May. JAC Motors JAC Motor's Oct. vehicle sales slumped 24.38% YoY to 33,536 units. Especially, the SUV monthly sales were almost halved over a year earlier to 5,486 units. The automaker's cumulative sales through October chalked up 395,095 units with a YoY decline of 7.49%. To be specific, the YTD sales of SUVs and MPVs amounted to 78,516 units and 49,968 units, shrinking 22.37% and 8.58% respectively compared with a year ago. Many CV segments came across evident YoY drop as well. The sales of the medium-duty trucks and heavy-duty trucks presented YoY fall of 31.31% and 20.19%. A total of 44,631 all-electric passenger vehicles were delivered for the first ten months for JAC Motors, showing a YoY leap of 115.17%. Evangelical minister Andrew Brunson prays with, or at least in the vicinity of, Donald Trump in the Oval Office shortly after the administration secured his release from Turkish captivity. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images One of the more remarkable phenomena in contemporary U.S. politics is the fidelity of white Evangelical voters to the Republican Party, despite (or even, some say, because of) its heathenish present leader. A look at the 2018 exit polls (not perfect, of course, but significant nonetheless) shows that hasnt much changed. For one thing, it seems this voting bloc faithfully shows up at the polls in all kinds of political weather; white Evangelicals were an identical 26 percent of the electorate in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Their support level for Republicans is uniformly high, but does vary somewhat according to the overall results of a given election. In U.S. House races, white Evangelicals were reported to have given Republicans 78 percent in the strong pro-GOP midterm election of 2014, and a lower 75 percent in the strong pro-Democratic midterm of 2018. In 2016, a very close race in which white Evangelical leaders were outspokenly pro-GOP, their rank and file gave Donald Trump 80 percent, and Republican House candidates an amazing 84 percent. The perception that white Evangelicals are especially happy with Trump was reinforced by their voting behavior in some of the key 2018 Senate races where POTUS was heavily involved. In Indiana, where Trump campaigned twice during the last week of the midterms (alongside his conspicuously Evangelical Hoosier vice-president Mike Pence), white Evangelicals rose from 39 percent of the electorate in 2016 to 41 percent, and gave GOP Senate nominee Mike Braun 72 percent of their vote (three points higher than winning Republican candidate Todd Young in 2016). Braun won. In Missouri, Trump also made a late appearance for GOP Senate candidate Josh Hawley. The percentage of the electorate represented by white Evangelicals rose from 35 percent to 38 percent, and Hawley got 75 percent of it, a higher percentage than winning GOP candidate Roy Blunt in 2016. In Florida, Trump campaigned for Senate candidate Rick Scott and gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis. The white Evangelical share of the vote there rose by an amazing nine points, from 20 percent in 2016 to 29 percent this year. Scott won 80 percent of this elevated vote, and DeSantis won 77 percent (not quite as much as the otherworldly 84 percent won by Marco Rubio a particular Evangelical favorite during his easy 2016 win, but still an impressive showing). In some states white Evangelicals were already so wildly pro-Republican in 2016 that matching or beating their performance in that landmark year was a nearly impossible goal. In Georgias very close gubernatorial election, white Evangelicals represented just over a third of the electorate, and gave 88 percent to Brian Kemp four points less than the 92 percent Trump won in that demographic in 2016. In Texass very close Senate race, where white Evangelicals were just over a fourth of the electorate, Ted Cruz got 81 percent of this vote again, four points less than Trumps 85 percent in 2016. These are all astounding numbers for a group of people that spans every income and educational level, and a lot of religious denominational differences as well. Perhaps the best way to capture the impact of white Evangelical Republicanism is to look at the partisan leanings of the rest of the electorate. In the 2014 midterms again, a solid Republican year nonwhite Evangelicals, representing nearly three-fourths of the electorate, went Democratic by a 55/43 margin. In the 2016 presidential election, nonwhite Evangelicals went for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump 60/34. And in the election that just occurred, Democrats won the three-fourths of the electorate that is outside the white Evangelical ranks including all Catholics, Jews, Eastern Orthodox Christians, African-American Christians, mainline Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists and the nonreligious by a 66/32 margin. The extent to which this involves an Evangelical/non-Evangelical split, instead of one (as Evangelical leaders often claim) that is strictly between the religious and the irreligious, can be illustrated by a fascinating exit-poll finding from the Georgia governors race. Among Georgia voters who say they attend religious services monthly or more, Kemp led Abrams by a single point, 50/49. Among those who say they attend religious services less than monthly (or not at all), Abrams led by two points, 50/48. On electoral Tuesdays more than church-service Sundays, white Evangelicals live in their own world, and Donald Trump and his allies rule it. The DUP has been accused of "a monumental error of judgment" that will have "a devastating long-term impact" on Northern Ireland, the leader of the Ulster Unionists has said. Robin Swann MLA also said the DUP "owe an apology and an explanation to the people who voted for them" after the Prime Minister secured Cabinet agreement on her Brexit deal. Mr Swann said it is "absolutely crucial" that his party has time to analyse the deal before coming to conclusions. "It will be on that basis that the Ulster Unionist Party will make its decisions rather than on leaks and presumptions," he said. "The Prime Minister has stated that the draft withdrawal agreement, as accepted by the Cabinet, protects the Union and is in the best interests of the entire United Kingdom, but the proof will be when we have had time to study all the documentation. "If the words in the draft withdrawal agreement confirm the speculation, this has been a monumental error of judgment on behalf of the DUP which will have a devastating long-term impact. "People were told to put their trust in the DUP. The DUP will owe an apology and an explanation to the people who voted for them on the basis of 'More votes. More seats. More influence. More for Northern Ireland'. "Well what exactly were they doing with their influence? "A stark example is that Northern Ireland will remain aligned to a limited set of rules which includes VAT and excise in respect of goods and state aid rules, so rather than the prospect of being the best of both worlds, this would restrict any potential opportunity." Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill accused the DUP of using "reckless language" and added: "The backstop is the only insurance policy we have. This has been a mess, a debacle. There is no good to come from Brexit. There is no magic deal sitting waiting to be done. "My message to Theresa May is simple and clear. We, the four main pro-Remain parties, speak for the majority of people in the north. The DUP do not speak for the majority. "We need to protect our economy and that is about staying in the Customs Union, the single market. That is about the backstop being permanent, there unless or until something better comes along." SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MLA called on Arlene Foster and the DUP to "cut the hysteria" and "act on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland". Mr Eastwood said: "The reaction to a reported Brexit deal by the DUP is both flippant and irrational. "I would remind Arlene Foster that her first priority is to defend political stability and the economic future of our people here. It's time for cool heads, not kneejerk reactions. "The best Brexit deal is no Brexit at all but this draft agreement seeks to protect Ireland from a hard border. There is a proper backstop that protects citizens and businesses here. "The Good Friday Agreement is protected, including the principle of consent. Unionists should be comfortable that there will only be constitutional change when a majority votes for it. This agreement is about protecting and enhancing our economy and protecting our peace process." Alliance leader Naomi Long also said while she is relieved a potential agreement between the EU and UK is closer, there remains no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit. Mrs Long said Alliance's preference remained a People's Vote on the deal. "We are relieved there is a potential agreement between the EU and UK on a Withdrawal Agreement, including a backstop which meets the conditions set out in Joint Report from December 2017 and which is supported by representatives of the majority of people in Northern Ireland," he said. "The backstop is not a threat to the constitutional position here. Rather it is an insurance policy based on existing precedents, and helping us to better survive Brexit. "However, there is nothing to celebrate because there is no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit. The backstop is a last resort safety net, the bare minimum to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to avoid a hard border. But only as insurance against a much worse fate. Practically, it is a third party fire and theft policy rather than a fully comprehensive one." Snow and ice could cause problems The road has been closed. Follow the latest updates from our travel feed below The Dobbin Road in Armagh has been reopend folowing an earlier crash. Diversions are in place and traffic is being diverted onto the Vicarage Road, delays are expected. Our live updates from across Northern Ireland are compiled by @TrafficwatchNI, @BBCNITravel and @PSNITraffic. Grainne Teggart (third right) Northern Ireland campaigner for Amnesty International with Sinn Feins Louise OReilly, Megan Fearon and members of the Alliance for Choice (Niall Carson/PA) Irelands Health Minister gave further assurances on Thursday that women from Northern Ireland will be able to access abortions in the Republic. Simon Harris made the commitment during a meeting with Amnesty International, Sinn Fein and a number of other pro-choice groups from Northern Ireland. Mr Harris said it is a matter of great regret that women on the whole island of Ireland cannot access healthcare in relation to crisis pregnancy. Mr Harris first made the commitments to Northern Ireland in August, just months after the landslide abortion referendum in the Republic, saying: I intend to ensure women from Northern Ireland can access such services in the Republic, just like they can access other health services here. Sinn Fein hosts delegation from the north to meet with Minister on All-Ireland access to abortion - @mfearonsf @loreillysf @JOBrien_SF https://t.co/65RDJdpcBG pic.twitter.com/rwrME8LnNh Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) November 15, 2018 It is hoped the new Irish legislation will come into effect by January, to begin allowing for terminations for women both sides of the border, however women from Northern Ireland will be required to pay. Grainne Teggart, Amnesty UKs Northern Ireland campaigns manager, said that women in Northern Ireland should not be forced to travel for reproductive care. We welcome the ministers commitment to ensure access to abortion services for women from Northern Ireland, she said. However, it serves to underscore the absurd situation we find ourselves in, where women from Northern Ireland will soon be able to travel by train to have an abortion, but still wont be able to access safe and legal abortions at home. We call on the Northern Ireland secretary and UK Government to prioritise womens healthcare, decriminalise abortion and ensure a framework for access is put in place. Sinn Fein representatives Megan Fearon and Louise OReilly hosted the delegation which included Alliance for Choice, Royal College of Midwives, and The Family Planning Association Megan Fearon said: The meeting with the minister for health was very constructive for us and for the campaign groups and service providers. The campaign groups outlined their concerns to minister Harris and the minister reiterated his commitment to ensuring access for all women on the island to abortion care. Sinn Fein will continue to keep this issue to the fore, north and south. We will work hand in hand with campaign groups and service providers to ensure access to quality and safe abortion care for all women on this island. The Alliance Partys Paula Bradshaw likewise gave a cautious welcome to the news, adding there was no excuse for not legislating to clarify the law in Northern Ireland. Abortion is a conscience issue for Alliance but I welcome the clarification from the Republics Health Minister, Simon Harris TD, that from next year women will be able to travel across the border to seek an abortion within the laws which will come to apply there, albeit with a charge, Ms Bradshaw said. Nevertheless, regardless of our personal views on the topic, the issue remains the law in Northern Ireland lacks clarity and is recognised to be in breach of global human rights standards. Abortion is currently illegal in Northern Ireland unless there is a serious risk to a womans life or health. Last year, at least 919 women from Northern Ireland travelled to England and Wales to access abortion services The principal of a west Belfast primary school has paid tribute to one of his teachers for her "commitment to her children" ahead of her funeral tomorrow. Mother-of-one Fionnuala Kennedy (28) passed away in hospital on Monday afternoon surrounded by her family. She died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall at her home in Lisburn on Saturday. Originally from west Belfast, she was a past pupil of St Dominic's High School and St Mary's University College. She was a Year Two teacher at St Oliver Plunkett Primary, where head Paddy McCabe said the school community had been left heartbroken by the tragedy. He told the Belfast Telegraph: "Fionnuala's commitment to her children, her parents and the whole school family will live long in the memory, but not as long as her smile and infectious laugh. As a school family we are devastated for Fionnuala's family. "The shock we are feeling as a school community pales into complete insignificance compared to the grief of her family. Words cannot begin to express our sense of loss, our anguish and confusion, as this was a life taken too soon; a life so full of vitality, of love; a caring and considerate young woman." There has also been an outpouring of support for Ms Kennedy's family and colleagues on social media. Hundreds of tributes have been posted online by colleagues and parents, who described her as "a beautiful, caring girl" and "gifted teacher". Mr McCabe said a book of condolence for Ms Kennedy has been opened at the school as staff have been "so taken with the comments on the school Facebook site". The book will be passed on to her family. Her death is also being mourned at neighbouring St Teresa's PS, where her partner Ciaran Hughes is a P5 teacher and her young son Lorcan is a pupil in the P3 class. Ms Kennedy's remains are currently lying in repose at her late home at Linen Green in Lisburn. Her funeral will leave from there tomorrow at 10.15am for 11am Requiem Mass in St Teresa's Church followed by burial at Blaris cemetery in Lisburn. She is survived by her Ciaran, Lorcan, parents Fiona and Paul, sisters Caoimhe and Eimer, brothers Paul and Eamonn, niece Rioghnach and the wider family circle. The PSNI may now be forced to carry out an audit of all the relevant breathing masks (stock photo) Lawyers for a police officer fighting the PSNI ban on facial hair have told an employment tribunal that the force's breathing masks are five years out of date. The case centres on whether the respiratory masks used in certain police units can be safely used with a "well-trimmed" moustache. On the third day of the tribunal yesterday, lawyers for the constable in the Armed Response Unit (ARU) who is taking the case said they had learned the filters on some masks had long expired. They argued this meant action taken against the constable for not shaving was unfair. This included being told he would be temporarily redeployed and could face disciplinary action. With most officers in the ARU being male, they added that enforcing the ban discriminated on the grounds of gender. The PSNI may now be forced to carry out an audit of all the relevant breathing masks. A lawyer for the PSNI accused the claimant of "making this up as he goes along" and said the new evidence was an attempt to distract the tribunal panel. "It's unacceptable at this stage to introduce this attack," she said. The employment judge on the panel called it "less than satisfactory to introduce it at this late stage". The constable's legal team said they only became aware of the issue on Tuesday, after a sergeant giving evidence told them the filter on his own breathing mask was five years out of date. After checking, the constable said his mask's filter also expired around 2013. "We will be pursuing our application for additional evidence to be produced," the constable's lawyer said. "The canisters and filters were out of date and therefore we would seek to argue as a consequence this is entirely relevant to the proportionality of discrimination case that's advancing. "You make the case my client needs to be clean-shaven because of health and safety," he added. "The police haven't even been ensuring these things are in date... it shows a major flaw in the consultation process and undermines the decision to enforce the policy against men in this unit." On Tuesday the tribunal was told that a police officer would need a moustache "like a walrus" to interfere with the breathing masks. The remarks were made by businessman Richard Gates, the director of a UK company that sells safety equipment. The PSNI's corporate appearance and protective equipment policy was introduced at the start of this year, following consultation with a range of stakeholders including the Police Federation, the organisation that represents rank and file officers. On Tuesday the constable accused the federation of being "asleep at the wheel" when it backed the policy. He added that many officers were unhappy with the new rules and had not been properly consulted. The case was adjourned until February 25. Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the hardline pro-Brexit European Research Group of lawmakers speaks to the media outside the Palace of Westminster in central London on November 15, 2018 Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaking outside the House of Parliament in London after he handed in his letter of no-confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has submitted a letter of no confidence in Theresa May, as the Prime Minister reels from the loss of four ministers including two from her Cabinet in protest at her Brexit plans. Mr Rees-Mogg, who chairs the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tories, said he expected the threshold of 48 MPs letters to be passed, triggering a vote on Mrs Mays future. But he denied mounting a coup and said he was not putting himself forward as her successor. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey sensationally walked out of the Government the morning after Cabinet agreed a draft EU withdrawal agreement in a stormy five-hour meeting. Two more junior ministers Suella Braverman at the Brexit Department and Shailesh Vara at Northern Ireland also quit along with two parliamentary aides. In a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Mr Rees-Mogg said Mrs Mays deal has turned out to be worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation by the Prime Minister, either on her own account or on behalf of us all in the Conservative Party manifesto. His move is expected to be matched by other members of the ERG, hugely increasing the chances of Mrs May facing a vote of no confidence in her leadership. It is not known how many letters Sir Graham has received so far. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Mrs Mays deal came under a hail of criticism in the House of Commons, where only a handful of Tories spoke in favour of an agreement thrashed out in 19 months of intensive negotiations. There was laughter from opposition benches when the PM said her deal would allow the UK to leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way on March 29. Mrs May insisted the deal was in the national interest and offered a future relationship with a breadth and depth of co-operation beyond anything the EU has agreed with any other country. I firmly believe with my head and my heart that this is a decision which is in the best interests of our entire United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/dsOaFAcDgj Theresa May (@theresa_may) November 14, 2018 In a swipe at her Brexit-backing critics, she said the EU would never accept any agreement which did not involve a backstop arrangement to ensure the Irish border remains open. Mrs May said it would be entirely irresponsible for the Government to have simply torn up the backstop. The Brexit talks are about acting in the national interest and that means making what I believe are the right choices, not the easy choices, she said. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on her to withdraw this half-baked deal. But chief whip Julian Smith later told reporters Mrs May would not be budged. The Prime Minister is moving things on in the best interests of the country, he said. The Prime Minister will not be bullied and will not change course. The shock departures of Mr Raab and Ms McVey came within little more than an hour of one another as Mrs May prepared to face MPs. Their resignations were followed by Anne-Marie Trevelyan quitting as an unpaid parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Education and Ranil Jayawardena leaving the same post in the Ministry of Justice. Earlier this morning I informed the Prime Minister I was resigning from her Cabinet pic.twitter.com/ZeBkL5n2xH Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) November 15, 2018 The developments threaten to derail the Prime Ministers Brexit strategy ahead of a crucial EU summit, which European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed would take place on November 25, if nothing extraordinary happens. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Mr Rees-Mogg said he believed the letters needed to trigger a vote of no confidence would be submitted, but declined to say how soon. If Mrs May was ousted as leader, a contest to choose a successor could be completed not in months, but weeks, he said. He refused to name his preferred successor, but he identified Mr Raab, Ms McVey, Boris Johnson, David Davis and Penny Mordaunt as potential candidates. This is nothing to do with the ambition of Brexiteers, he said. It is everything to do with the ambition of Brexit for this country. Dismissing Mrs Mays plan, he said: This is not Brexit. It is a failure of Government policy. It needs to be rejected. Expand Close Jacob Rees-Mogg spoke to reporters outside the Houses of Parliament (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jacob Rees-Mogg spoke to reporters outside the Houses of Parliament (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Former Brexit minister Steve Baker a senior member of the ERG said: Weve tried everything to change policy, but not the Prime Minister, but it has not worked. It is too late. We need a new leader. Labour said the Government was falling apart before our eyes and the pound dropped sharply as the turmoil in Westminster sparked doubts over whether the PM could force her deal through Parliament. Sterling dropped 1.5% to just below 1.28 US dollars and was 1.4% lower at 1.13 euro. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Raab said the deal represented a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom because of provisions for Northern Ireland. He also said he could not accept an indefinite backstop arrangement for the Irish border. Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 He said: No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement. Ms McVey, who was promoted to the Cabinet by Mrs May in January, was reported to have been close to tears as she tried to force a vote on the Brexit deal in Wednesdays Cabinet. In a letter to the PM, the Tatton MP cited concerns over the future of the Union and a lack of control over money, law, borders and trade policy under a deal she felt kept the UK too close to Brussels. The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesnt, wrote Ms McVey. We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. In Brussels, Mr Tusk was handed a copy of the 585-page withdrawal agreement by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Ministers and ambassadors of the remaining 27 EU states will work to finalise by next Tuesday the political declaration on future relations with the UK, published in outline form on Wednesday, he said. Welcoming the UK Cabinets collective agreement to accept the withdrawal document, Mr Tusk said: Of course, I do not share the Prime Ministers enthusiasm about Brexit as such. Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and our negotiations are only about damage control. He sent a message to the British people: As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us. Royal Mail bosses have said the driver of a van which weaved in and out of a funeral cortege in Ballymena has been "spoken to". The firm launched an investigation after the grieving family were left angered by the incident which happened last month, as relatives were taking their loved one - a mother and grandmother - for Requiem Mass at All Saints Church. Dash cam footage from one of the cars in the cortege was posted on social media. Declan Stephens, who was driving behind the lead car with some of the deceased's closest family members, said the cortege was travelling around 10 to 15mph when the Royal Mail vehicle appeared. He said he was overtaken by the van and forced to evade it just as he was about to exit the roundabout on the Cushendall Road and the driver proceeded to pass the lead car and then the hearse. Mr Stephens said: "It's upsetting enough having to bury somebody without having the upset of an aggressive idiot driver. "It's just ignorance, total disrespect for the family, for the mourners and for other road users." Royal Mail said it took road safety responsibilities "very seriously" and apologised for any distress caused. Following an investigation, a spokeswoman added: "Royal Mail has investigated this matter and the appropriate action has been taken in this case, with the driver spoken to about the manner of his driving. "Royal Mail apologises if this behaviour caused distress. "We will also be speaking to the customer directly," she added. An inquest into the killing of ten people in Belfast almost 50 years ago has heard emotional testimony from the families of three of them. Several broke down in tears as they recalled their loved ones who lost their lives during shootings in the west of the city in August 1971, an incident which has become known as the Ballymurphy massacre. Fresh inquests were directed into the deaths following claims that the original coronial probes were inadequate. They are the latest in a series of new inquests into incidents which took place during Northern Irelands troubled past. The Ballymurphy shootings took place as the Army moved in to republican strongholds to arrest IRA suspects after the introduction by the Stormont administration of the controversial policy of internment without trial. Soldiers have long been held responsible for the Ballymurphy killings between August 9 and 11 1971, but the accepted narrative became clouded earlier this year when former members of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force came forward to claim their organisation was also involved. On the fourth day of hearings on Thursday, Alice Harper, daughter of Danny Teggart, 44, who was among those killed, told the inquest how soldiers mocked her, singing wheres your papa? as she and her family searched for him. She described ringing hospitals with her mother, trying to find him, before going to an army post. They just said no, we hadn't time for arrests, we only had time for killing - and that was their wordsAlice Harper I asked did you arrest my father? They just said no, we hadnt time for arrests, we only had time for killing and that was their words, she told the inquest. I was shocked and started walking away, they started singing that song chorus, Wheres your papa gone, Wheres your papa gone. Mrs Harper was 23 when she identified her fathers body at the morgue. She said the last time she had seen him, he had asked her to cut his hair. Little did I know that I would later identify him in the morgue by those same black curls, she said. He left my house that day and that was the last time I seen my father alive. Mrs Harper said the shock of it caused her to lose her hair. Almost 50 years later, Mrs Harper said she wants to find out the truth. No-one came to our door to inform us or even investigate my fathers death, we were burdened with doing that ourselves also. What we want is the truth, that is it, and to know why they were killed, she said. They said he was a gunman, not just my father, all the ones that were killed that night, including the priest Father Mullan. It was very hurtful, they branded them gunmen and a gunwoman, they took their good names and blackened them. I want my fathers name cleared. Eileen McKeown, daughter of Joseph Corr, 43, a machinist at the Shorts factory in Belfast, said her family had been in the process of moving to Australia when her father was shot. He died after 16 days in hospital. Mrs McKeown was just nine years old and she told the inquest she remembers screaming when she was told her father was dead. Her mother received hate mail after he died from some Shorts workers after he had been labelled a gunman. It said may your sub human husband and his pals roast in hell, she told the inquest. I want my daddys name cleared, I want the true facts in the history books. I want my daddy's name read out, I want 'Joseph Corr was an innocent man' read out for everyone to hearEileen McKeown I want my daddys name read out, I want Joseph Corr was an innocent man read out for everyone to hear. Because of what the media put out, his work mates all think that he was an IRA gunman, and I want them to know that he wasnt, and I want them to regret what they did and what they put my mammy through, because getting that letter, it really did nearly kill her, because this is what his work mates thought of him. Kathleen McCarry, a sister of Eddie Doherty, 31, said her family was torn apart by grief after he was shot dead on August 1971. She said her mother died of a broken heart seven years later. She went from this strong woman who washed the dead, delivered babies, did amazing things, to a woman who was lost, she said. Eddie was labelled an IRA gunman. Mrs McCarry added: If Eddie had of died of natural causes we wouldnt be the way we are, the fact is there is an injustice and Eddie was labelled what he was labelled, and we have had to fight for all of our lives and were not going to rest until we have achieved his innocence. The inquest continues next week. Prime Minister Theresa May has said that no Brexit deal can be agreed with the European Union that doesn't include a backstop agreement to stop a hard Brexit in Ireland. The Prime Minister held a press conference on Thursday evening after a hectic day in which a number of cabinet ministers resigned and multiple Tory MPs submitted letters of no confidence in her leadership. Read More Mrs May said that she believed the draft EU withdrawal agreement was the best deal for the whole of the UK with "every fibre of my being." She accepted that some MPs disagreed with her and said that they must "do what they think is right". The Prime Minister said that the draft deal met all the conditions promised before the Brexit referendum and said the British public wanted the government to "get on with it". She said that the EU would not agree to a deal without a backstop in place for Northern Ireland. "Nobody has produced any alternative proposal that delivers on the referendum and delivers no hard border in Ireland," Mrs May said. "There is no deal that can be agreed that does not include a backstop, reneging on that would break a promise to the people of Northern Ireland and collapse hopes of a deal." The backstop is intended to prevent the return of a hard border in Ireland if there is no agreement in place on the future relationship between the UK and EU. It would create a single EU-UK customs territory with the UK continuing to follow EU tariffs and customs rules, avoiding the need for checks between the EU and UK including between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Expand Close Prime Minister Theresa May holds a press conference at 10 Downing Street, London, to discuss her Brexit plans. Photo credit: Matt Dunham/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prime Minister Theresa May holds a press conference at 10 Downing Street, London, to discuss her Brexit plans. Photo credit: Matt Dunham/PA Wire In addition however, Northern Ireland would be required to remain aligned with some EU single market rules. The agreement makes clear the arrangement is meant to be temporary, but sets no final end date. Ending the arrangement would be by mutual agreement by both sides. The Prime Minister said that a no-deal Brexit would plunge the country into a "path of uncertainty", with nobody being sure what would happen. When asked about a potential challenge to her leadership Mrs May said that she was determined to see the Brexit deal through. "Leadership is about taking the right decisions not the easy ones, my job is to bring back a deal that delivers on the vote of the British people," she said. The Prime Minister rejected calls for a second referendum and said that she had a "busy day" and had not yet decided on any potential replacements in her cabinet. Pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister with a number of Tory MPs confirming that they have submitted letters of no confidence in Mrs May. There will need to be 48 letters of no confidence submitted to trigger a formal vote of confidence in Mrs May's leadership. She would then need a majority of Tory MPs to back her leadership to remain Prime Minister. The DUP have accused the Prime Minister of breaking promises agreed as part of their confidence and supply agreement. In a statement on Thursday evening, the party's East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said an "impossible hard border" had been used as a "bargaining chip" by the EU. "The Prime Minister should have nailed this right at the outset. There is no circumstance and no possible fall-back whereby a 'hard border' would have been put in place," said Mr Campbell. "With three hundred crossing points, no matter who would have tried to locate checkpoints or infrastructure at the border, it would have been circumvented by everyone with ease and regarded with ridicule. The inordinate waste of time and resources negotiating to prevent something that was never going to happen is deplorable but has been used by the EU as an enormous bargaining chip." Deputy leader Nigel Dodds said that the deal treats Northern Ireland differently than the rest of the UK. "The choice is now clear. We stand up for the whole of the United Kingdom, the integrity of the United Kingdom or we vote for a vassal state and the break up of the United Kingdom- that's the choice," he said. The Prime Minister rejected claims that she has betrayed the DUP and said that she believed the draft deal was the best solution of the whole of the UK. Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has submitted a letter of no confidence and called for the Prime Minister to stand aside. Mr Rees-Mogg, who chairs the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tories, said he expected the threshold of 48 MPs letters to be passed, triggering a vote on Mrs Mays future. But he denied mounting a coup and said he was not putting himself forward as her successor. He refused to name his preferred successor, but he identified Mr Raab, Ms McVey, Boris Johnson, David Davis and Penny Mordaunt as potential candidates. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey sensationally walked out of the Government the morning after Cabinet agreed a draft EU withdrawal agreement in a stormy five-hour meeting. Two more junior ministers Suella Braverman at the Brexit Department and Shailesh Vara at Northern Ireland also quit along with two parliamentary aides. McCarthy finally wins the top House GOP position, though it came without the Speakers gavel. Photo: Susan Walsh/AP/REX/Shutterstock California Republicans, who had a really bad midterm election, did get one good piece of news today, as Kevin McCarthy was elected House Minority Leader in a surprisingly easy 159-43 victory over conservative leader Jim Jordan of Ohio, a founding member of the ever-fractious House Freedom Caucus. McCarthy, previously the second-ranking House Republican, will succeed retiring Speaker Paul Ryan as leader of a diminished GOP band in the lower chamber. The win gives McCarthy some measure of vindication or maybe even revenge, as Politico notes: The victory seals McCarthy years-long drive to rise to the top of the House Republican Conference, an effort that had been derailed by Jordan and the House Freedom Caucus in 2015. At that point, McCarthy was running for speaker, but ran into opposition from the hard-line Freedom Caucus and withdrew his name for consideration. That cleared the way for Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to become speaker. According to some accounts, some intrigue involving none other than Donald Trump may have greased the skids for McCarthy. NEW: Trump has nudged Kevin McCarthy to make JIM JORDAN the top Republican in the Judiciary Committee which would put Trumps fiercest loyalist in position to defend him against investigations and impeachment.https://t.co/VMyDNDqp8U Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) November 14, 2018 This would require some juggling that might upset other House Republicans, as Politico notes: The rare and unexpected presidential foray into internal House politics could scramble what, until now, had been a fairly low-key fight over the position. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) is the leading contender to become the ranking Republican on Judiciary though Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), a veteran of the Clinton impeachment battle, is also running. Jordan could instead be given the ranking minority position on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, another likely investigatory hotbed in the new, Democratic-controlled House. That would provide the Ohioan with an opportunity to strut his Trumpy stuff outside the more legally fraught venue of the Judiciary Committee. House Republicans quietly lifted Steve Scalise to the No. 2 leadership position (he retains the same title, Whip), while electing Liz Cheney you-know-whos daughter to the No. 3 position as chair of the House GOP Conference. Police arrested two men in connection with the incident. Two men have been arrested after a man was beaten during an aggravated burglary in Belfast on Wednesday night. At approximately 9.20pm police received a report that the male occupier of a flat had answered a knock to the door and two males entered his property. The two men proceeded to assault the occupier and he was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries. Police arrested two men, aged 23 and 24 in connection with the incident. Detective Sergeant Corrigan would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident to contact detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1357 14/11/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which give people the power to speak up and stop crime. Anti Brexit billboards on the northern side of the border between Newry in Northern Ireland and Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) As Brexit chaos reigns supreme in Westminster, here are answers to the top questions on Brexit that people in Northern and the Republic of Ireland have asked Google in the last four hours. What is Brexit? Brexit is a slang term for Britains exit from the European Union. After a referendum on Thursday 23 June, 2016, the vote by the UK to leave the EU won by 51.9% to 48.1%. The referendum turnout was 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting. Under Article 50 of the Lisbon Agreement, the UK has two years to agree with the EU on how to leave. What percentage of the population in Northern Ireland voted in Brexit referendum? The majority of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU. The results saw the remain side gain 56% of the votes. Constituencies which voted to remain included Foyle, West Tyrone, West Belfast, South Belfast, North Belfast, North Down, East Derry, South Down, Mid Ulster, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Newry and Armagh. Leave voters polled strongly in East Belfast, Lagan Valley, North Antrim, Strangford, East Belfast, East Antrim, South Antrim and Upper Bann. When does the Brexit transition period end? Theresa May triggered this Article 50 on March 29, 2017, meaning the UK is scheduled to leave at 11pm UK time on Friday March 29, 2019. Expand Close Prime Minister Theresa May and Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prime Minister Theresa May and Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA) What is the backstop in Brexit? The backstop is an assurance that Ireland will be able maintain an open border if the UK leaves the EU without securing a deal. The backstop solution is an arrangement between the UK and Ireland that will apply to the Irish border in order to keep it open and trading goods and services between the two jurisdictions with few restrictions. How will Brexit affect Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said Ireland is one of the countries that would be hit by the economic effects of Brexit the hardest. According to them, the loss in economic output for Ireland could be as much as for Britain itself. The Oireachtas Finance Committee report also said lower exports would lead to lower spending by companies would hit employment and government revenues. The analysis suggests employment levels could be 40,000 lower after 10 years and the unemployment rate could be close to two percentage points higher. In Northern Ireland, some report Brexit is expected to have a disproportionate impact on the economy which is reliant on exports to the EU. Some economists have also warned of a drop-off in foreign direct investment. Brexit will also end the 3.5 billion euro in farm subsidies and structural grants received by Northern Ireland in the 2014-2020 period. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill and SDLPs Colm Eastwood say the group of Northern Ireland representatives in Dublin today represent the majority of Northern Ireland on a cross-community basis. They meet with Leo Varadkar along with reps from Alliance and NI Green Party this morning. pic.twitter.com/RXQsgciBZi aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) November 15, 2018 What are the benefits for Ireland if Britain leaves the EU? Some commentators argue post-Brexit Ireland will take on a more significant role in Europe as companies looking to expand are unlikely to consider the UK for European headquarters. As the sole remaining larger English-speaking member with a similar legal system and cultural outlook as the UK, Ireland could arguably benefit from an absent UK in negotiations concerning trade and business. For Northern Ireland, some argue their special geographic position could prove beneficial if the border remains open. Should the border remain how it is currently, Northern Ireland would be the only part of the UK with no physical border to the EU. Combined with a highly educated population, lower average wages than Britain and plans to reduce corporation tax from the UK rate of 19% to 12.5% this could significantly enhance Northern Irelands appeal for businesses planning to relocate. What is the Brexit deal? British and European Union negotiators agreed on a draft Brexit deal on Tuesday. The agreement includes commitments over citizens rights, a proposed 21-month transition period after the UKs departure and UK-wide. This will legally obligate the UK to pay a divorce settlement of at least 39 billion to cover payments to the current EU budget and other outstanding financial commitments. If there is no trade deal in place by the end of the transition period, the backstop will mean Northern Ireland would stay aligned to some EU rules on things such as food products and goods standards. It would also involve a temporary single customs territory, effectively keeping the whole of the UK in the EU customs union. What will UK farmers do without CAP? The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) runs for a seven-year period in line with EU budget cycle. The current CAP agreement and funding runs until 2020. The UK Government has pledged to maintain the same cash funds as currently for CAP until the end of the Parliament, under the expectation that this will be 2022. What will happen to interest rates if there is a no deal Brexit? The Bank of England has previously warned that there is no guarantee it will slash interest rates in the wake of a no-deal Brexit. It is hoped that it would repeat its decision to reduce borrowing costs after the Brexit referendum in June 2016, but it has argued that a no-deal Brexit would affect the economys supply which may lead to disruption at borders and companies moving overseas. Its governor, Mark Carney has previously suggested that interest rates may rise if there is a no-deal Brexit. The Irish Health Minister has confirmed that women from Northern Ireland will be able to access abortions in the Republic of Ireland following the introduction of new legislation. TD Simon Harris said that he believed the Irish government had an obligation to provide the service. Read More Abortion is currently illegal in Northern Ireland in all but the most extreme cases and as a result on average 28 women a week travel to England for terminations. Campaigns for abortion legislation to be introduced in Northern Ireland have ramped up in the wake of the successful Abortion Referendum in the Republic of Ireland. The Republic overwhelmingly voted to repeal its strict abortion laws in May. A bill is currently making its way through the Irish Parliament to formally legalise abortion and it is expected to come into effect from January. Last month an amendment to a bill by Secretary of State Karen Bradley by Labour MPs Stella Creasy and Conor McGinnn calling on Mrs Bradley to issue guidance on abortion law in Northern Ireland was passed in the House of Commons. Women from Northern Ireland would have to pay to access abortions in the Republic of Ireland, they are currently available for free on the NHS in the rest of the UK. A Dublin Airport boss has warned a no-deal Brexit scenario could lead to the UK falling out of aviation agreements without a parachute. Managing director Vincent Harrison said the European Union had negotiated all of the bilateral arrangements between European countries in recent years. So technically if the UK leaves without a deal they fall out of that arrangement without a parachute, he said. Mr Harrison made the comments at a Dublin City University (DCU) Brexit Institute seminar being held at Grant Thornton offices on Thursday. However, Mr Harrison said that new assurances this week that a reciprocal arrangement could be made between the UK and EU to ensure flights were not grounded in the event of a no-deal scenario were a source of optimism for those in the aviation industry. Amid a draft Brexit agreement being reached this week between the EU and the UK trying to prevent a hard exit, the European Commission separately published a contingency plan of how flights could continue between the EU and UK. Mr Harrison said: Weve probably got to a situation where that first, worst case scenario instead of an ash cloud, weve a lack of paper keeping flights on the ground that thats been averted. But beyond that theres considerable uncertainty. Expand Close Dublin to London is the busiest international route in Europe and second busiest in the world (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dublin to London is the busiest international route in Europe and second busiest in the world (Niall Carson/PA) Aviation Regulation Commissioner Cathy Mannion said unless an aviation agreement was in place post-Brexit the UK carriers would not be able to benefit from any agreement entered into by Europe. She said it could have a very significant impact on airlines and fights, depending on the airline concerned. Ms Mannion said planning for the world post-Brexit was particularly important for Ireland because 38% of all traffic from Irish airports was to the UK. For a third of all flights in Dublins case, and elsewhere in the country, that figure was 60%. It compares to 12% for rest of Europe to the UK. Attendees at the conference heard Ireland proportionally was much more affected as Dublin to London is the busiest international route in Europe and second busiest in the world. DCU aviation lecturer Cathal Guiomard said aviation was burdened by an archaic set of international rules going back to end of the Second World War. The default setting is that nobody can fly anywhere without the permission of the neighbouring governmentCathal Guiomard, DCU aviation lecturer The default setting is that nobody can fly anywhere without the permission of the neighbouring government, he said, adding that was why aviation agreements were so vital. The former chancellor of Austria told attendees Brexit was a lose-lose situation for all concerned in Europe and in the UK. Dr Wolfgang Schuessel added: Nobody will win, nobody. We lose the perspective of the British we lose the openness and the spirit of free trade. As Theresa May faced a difficult day in Westminster, Dr Schuessel paid tribute to the British Prime Ministers resilience, saying it must have something to do with her stubbornness. Dr Schuessel said: [Brexit] is not easy. Its remarkable that Theresa May came as far as she did. This was not self-evident. It has something to do with her stubbornness, and her energy, and her strength for this, and also her ambition to get a deal. He said a no-deal scenario would cause dramatic problems for all concerned, adding: The Brits will learn how difficult it is to go. Meath TD Peadar Toibin has resigned from Sinn Fein after 21 years as a member, claiming he has been censored by party chiefs. The deputy handed in a resignation letter on Thursday with a heavy heart. Read More He had been suspended from party activity for six months after going against the partys decision to back legislation allowing for abortion. In a letter to the party, Mr Toibin said he had secured a deal with the leadership in November 2012 which stated the party would treat me equally and would not marginalise me due to my views on the right to life as long as I also gave the party view. This deal worked well for four years at no cost to the party. However, he said over the past 18 months the arrangement was binned unilaterally by the party. I have lost speaking rights, spokespersons positions, portfolios and have been significantly censored in my engagement with the media. These actions have prevented me from fully representing my constituents. Mr Toibin went on to say that he raised the issues with the management and leadership of Mary Lou McDonalds party but with no success. I have strived in every way I know how simply to make space within the party for people with a different on this one issue. For a United Ireland to be achieved, the party must be flexible, broad and inclusive, he said. Finally he wrote to Ms McDonald and others in the party hierarchy two weeks ago, seeking to know if he had a future in the party. This email was never replied to. That may be an answer in itself, his resignation letter concludes. Theresa May's Cabinet has backed the Prime Minister's Brexit deal after a five-hour Cabinet meeting. Mrs May said she believed the draft text was "the best that could be negotiated". Read More She said there had been a "long, detailed and impassioned debate" on the Brexit deal. Speaking outside Number 10, the Prime Minister said: "I firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. "The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop, but the collective decision of Cabinet was that the Government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration." Mrs May announced she will make a statement to the House of Commons tomorrow and concluded: "I firmly believe, with my head and my heart that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United Kingdom." Read More Below is how the day unfolded: Paul Hind, 38, who has been jailed for 14 months at Newcastle Crown Court, after posting offensive messages on Facebook tribute pages to four dead people, causing heartache to their families. (Owen Humphreys/ PA) An internet troll who tormented the families of dead young people by posting sickening messages on Facebook tribute pages has been jailed for 14 months. Paul Hind, 38, called Olivia Burt, a Durham University student who was found dead outside a nightclub, a sex worker and prostitute, an earlier hearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates Court was told. He also targeted a Facebook page in memory of Hannah Witheridge, a 23-year-old who was killed on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. Just over four years ago Hannah Witheridge sadly lost her life in a brutal murder on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Today, Thursday 15 November 2018, Paul Hind received 14 months in prison after trolling her family online earlier this year. Full info: https://t.co/xw34lgFQDf pic.twitter.com/p9HDAM2wm5 Norfolk Police (@NorfolkPolice) November 15, 2018 The other two memorial pages were to Joe Tilley, 24, who was found dead at the bottom of a waterfall in Colombia in May and 19-year-old Duncan Sim, whose remains were found at West Sands in St Andrews earlier this year. Hind, of Wark in Northumberland, admitted at an earlier hearing to four counts of sending a communication conveying false information, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. He was jailed for 14 months at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday. Expand Close Hind admitted trolling relatives of young people who died in tragic circumstances (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hind admitted trolling relatives of young people who died in tragic circumstances (Owen Humphreys/PA) Sharon Elves from the CPS said: While others were offering words of comfort and condolence, Paul Hind instead posted cruel messages and images, which were seen by parents still grieving for their children. While it is difficult for anybody to understand Hinds motivation, the undue distress caused by his actions has been made painfully clear. Laura Witheridge, sister of Hannah Witheridge, said outside court that the trolling incident was one of the most callous and cowardly I have had to endure. In a statement issued by Norfolk Police, she said: Losing someone you love, suddenly, in tragic circumstances is the most painful thing imaginable. I dont believe that, unless you have been in such a position, you can truly comprehend how torturous and unbearable it is. Back in March, for the first time ever, I was told something could be done. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that today offers some justice for my family, and all of the other families involved in this case and I hope it sends a strong message that sitting in a dark room, hiding behind a computer screen does not make you untraceable. I hope today serves as an example that crimes of this nature do come with consequence. Nigel Burt, the father of Olivia Burt, said after Hinds conviction that the defendants actions were a desecration of his daughters memory. Speaking outside an earlier court hearing, Hind said he was deeply sorry for his actions and that he had done them for attention. Collusion. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Back in April, Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee united behind legislation intended to safeguard Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to bring the bill to the floor, arguing that doing so would be a waste of time because, in his estimation, there was no reason to believe that Donald Trump would ever fire the special counsel. Last week, Trump forced Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign after publicly complaining (for months) about Sessionss failure to protect him from Muellers investigation into his campaign. Then, in a constitutionally dubious move, Trump replaced Sessions with a man best known for disparaging Muellers investigation as a witch hunt and speculating that a new attorney general could sabotage his probe by denying it funding in commentary for CNN. So, on Wednesday, with the midterms in the rearview mirror and a potential crisis of the rule of law rapidly approaching Republican senator Jeff Flake and his Democratic colleague Chris Coons tried, once again, to persuade McConnell to allow a vote on the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. Hes said nobodys been fired and the special counsel is not in danger. That is not the case now, Flake reasoned on Monday evening. But, in a shocking development, the Senate Majority Leader refused to provide the unanimous consent required to advance the bill Wednesday afternoon a move that raises the harrowing possibility that Mitch McConnell is not always honest about the motivations behind his procedural machinations. In the past, Flake has responded to McConnells betrayals with nothing more threatening that a solemn headshake, or sanctimonious speech. But on Wednesday, the lame-duck senator actually vowed to use the powers of his office to obstruct McConnells goals until his bill received a vote. Flake says: "I have informed the majority leader I will not vote" for 21 judicial nominees pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee or vote to confirm 32 judges awaiting confirmation on floor Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 14, 2018 Alas, no other Republican senators echoed this threat (and even if they did, it would only modestly delay the confirmation of the impending judges until a larger, Flake-less GOP Senate majority is sworn in next year). Flakes gesture might force Mike Pence to make a bunch of inconvenient trips to the Senate floor this fall in order to break tie votes on Trumps judicial appointees. But it (almost certainly) wont accomplish anything else. The vote will take place in the House of Commons (Andrew Matthews/PA) Theresa May said difficult days lie ahead as she announced her Brexit deal had been approved by the Cabinet. One of the chief obstacles could be the House of Commons, where a simple majority of MPs will need to vote for the blueprint for the deal to be given the green light. The magic number is 320, a majority of the 639 voting MPs in the Commons which excludes suspensions, the Speaker, three Deputy Speakers and seven Sinn Fein MPs who abstain from attending the UK Parliament. The Parliament website lists 93 MPs who are ministers of Government and would therefore be bound to support Theresa Mays Brexit plans owing to collective responsibility. In the past, ministers or Cabinet members who do not support the Prime Minister have resigned, as was the case with Boris Johnson over the Chequers deal and his brother Jo over disillusionment with the Brexit strategy. In addition to that, loyalists to Mrs May and the Government would vote in favour of the deal, as well as a number of Brexiteer MPs who may have been spooked by the PMs message that it was this deal, no deal or no Brexit. If all opposition parties voted against the deal, and they were joined by up to 40 Conservative rebels, the Government would be as many as 44 votes short of the 320 they need. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The Liberal Democrats, Greens and Plaid Cymru have said they are opposed to a deal, and it seems unlikely the Scottish National Party would support it given Nicola Sturgeon said the agreement would be a bad one for Scotland. The Democratic Unionist Partys stance on the Brexit deal is uncertain. Arlene Foster has said the Prime Minister is fully aware of our position and concerns over Northern Ireland being treated differently to the rest of the UK. There is division within the Conservative party too, with the European Research Group, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, claiming it has 80 MPs ready to vote against what it sees as Mrs Mays capitulation to Brussels. Opponents suggest the number would be whittled down under a concerted offensive of arm-bending by the Tory whips, so it may finally be considerably less. This means Mrs May could need to find up to 100 votes but perhaps more realistically somewhat less from elsewhere. So the Prime Minister may well need to extend an olive branch to Labour, which also has its own divisions between those like Chuka Umunna who oppose Brexit, those like Caroline Flint who support it reluctantly because their constituents voted to leave, or those like Kate Hoey who are ardent Brexiteers. If the Government was able to persuade as many as 40 Labour MPs to back the deal, and limit the number of Tory rebels to around 20, this could be enough to reach the magic number of 320. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The question is how many of Jeremy Corbyns MPs are prepared to defy him and support the Prime Minister, reasoning that a no-deal Brexit, which they fear could bring about an economic disaster, would be a worse outcome. Less than a fifth of school food in Scotland is from Scotland, according to new analysis (Chris Radburn/PA) Less than a fifth of food served in schools is from Scotland, according to new figures. Chicken from Thailand, turkey from Brazil and pears from China are among the items served up in school dinner halls across Scotland. Scottish Conservative analysis of data obtained through a freedom of information request found Scotland Excel, the shared national procurement service, spent just 16% of its budget for school food on food sourced in Scotland between July 2017 and June 2018. A further 15% of school food was sourced elsewhere and then manufactured here. These figures show that a substantial amount of school food is still travelling thousands of food miles before reaching a childs plateBrian Whittle, Scottish Conservatives The Tories said Scotland Excel spent 42.5 million on school food on behalf of councils, meaning it spent 6.7 million on school food from Scotland, and 6.4 million on school food that is manufactured in Scotland. They are calling for changes to the way food is procured, to support Scottish food producers and to reduce food miles. Brian Whittle, Scottish Conservative spokesman for sport and wellbeing, said: We ask our farmers to produce the highest quality produce; we charge them with custodianship of the countryside; with paying the living wage and with the highest standards of animal welfare. Yet when it comes to public food procurement it is clear that our farmers are not being supported in the way that they should. These figures show that a substantial amount of school food is still travelling thousands of food miles before reaching a childs plate. One of the key elements in tackling health inequalities and the stubborn attainment gap surely should be ensuring the high quality food produced right here in Scotland makes its way to the Scottish schools dining halls. That is evidently not the norm and needs to change, to support our childrens health and wellbeing, to support our food producers, and to cut back on an unnecessary carbon footprint. While not all school food is purchased through Scotland Excel, 28 of the 32 local authorities do use the procurement service, the Tories said. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Scotland has an outstanding natural larder and we want everyone to make the most of the food and drink produced on our doorstep. While it is for local authorities to decide how they buy food that is healthy, nutritious, affordable and to the highest standards, we have been working hard with the Scottish food industry, Scotland Excel, and local authorities, with good progress being made to source locally. The Food for Life Programme is operating across 11 local authorities in Scotland, supporting the provision of more locally sourced, healthier food being served to the local schools. We are now investing 400,000 to expand the programme to reach more schools and target all 32 local authorities. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn took time out from a tumultuous day of Brexit activity to join a delegation of MPs and Peers celebrating the Prince of Wales 70th birthday. Charles welcomed the group from across the political spectrum to Clarence House and received a portfolio containing a humble address from each of the Houses of Parliament. The presentation came after a string of ministerial resignations and calls for Mrs May to be ousted as Prime Minister in a backlash over her Brexit plan. Expand Close The Prince of Wales received delegations from both Houses of Parliament to mark his 70th birthday (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prince of Wales received delegations from both Houses of Parliament to mark his 70th birthday (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The address from the Commons sent a message to the prince to offer His Royal Highness the warmest good wishes of the House upon the occasion of his 70th birthday, expressing the gratitude of the nation for his lifetime of service to the country and the Commonwealth and praying that His Royal Highness may long continue in health and happiness. MPs debated the message on Wednesday and made their own tributes to the heir to the throne, who celebrated his birthday with a Buckingham Palace party hosted by the Queen that evening. Peers followed a similar procedure. There has been two major fires in the space of four years at the Glasgow School of Art (@banpo_money/PA) Glasgow School of Art bosses have said they have no regrets about safety decisions taken on the Mackintosh building despite fire risks being highlighted over a decade before it burned down for a second time. The building was engulfed in a second major fire in four years in June this year, shortly before it had been due to reopen after a 49 million rebuild following the first blaze in 2014. Muriel Gray, chair of the board of governors for the GSA, told MSPs on the Culture Committee that the school takes full responsibility for the fire, however it doubts whether decision-making could have been improved. She said: We keep asking ourselves, could we have done this better? Is there something we missed? Is there a lesson that weve learned that we can take forward? So we are very self-critical and continue to do so. I dont have any regrets about the process. I have massive regrets that these things happened but no, I cant in all consciousness say theres something that I would have done differently. Prof Irene McAra-McWilliam, GSAs deputy director (Innovation), told the committee she agrees with the assessment that safety concerns had been addressed sufficiently before the second fire. Expand Close Work has been carried out in an effort to restore the art school after the fire in June (Andrew Milligan/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Work has been carried out in an effort to restore the art school after the fire in June (Andrew Milligan/PA) MSPs raised concerns that a number of preventative measures were not effectively implemented. Committee convener Joan McAlpine referenced a federal report into fire safety at the GSA, published in 2006, which highlighted six areas that were deemed to present either a medium or high risk. The issues were: Likelihood of a fire occurring in the building (medium to high risk); potential for fire to remain undetected (medium to high risk); potential for fire to grow/spread beyond item first ignited (high risk); potential for fire to grow beyond room of origin (high risk); hazard posed by fire (high risk); consequences in the event of the fire spreading (high). Businesses were forced to close and residents were not allowed to access their homes following the incident in June, and several people affected were in attendance at the committee. Ms Gray also confirmed plans for the art school to be rebuilt exactly as it was designed 100 years ago. She said: Our intention is to bring it back exactly as (Charles Rennie Mackintosh) designed it. That will be unique because over the years, theres been all kinds of bits and pieces done to the Mackintosh that have rendered it not in its original state. But now we know exactly how he designed it, what a thrill for the people involved in that, and again the community, to do that from scratch. So thats rather exciting. We are envisaging an absolute Mackintosh building as he designed it. As well as the restoration of the building, the art school has proposed extending on to Sauchiehall Street. MSPs urged GSA chiefs to listen to the views of members of the community, having admitted that initial communication was poor. Ms Gray said: I really cant tell you the kind of suffering that some of the residents have explained and we are massively sympathetic to that. Scottish Labour MSP Pauline McLean said: I think you are deluding yourselves if you think that you have a good relationship with this community. If you want to rebuild your relationship with this community, you really need to start telling immediately what your plans are. A paedophile who was suspected of child grooming offences joined the police force to target vulnerable victims and went on to rape a 13-year-old girl. Selfish and cruel police constable Ian Naude was warned to expect a significant jail sentence as he was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday of raping and sexually assaulting the teenager, who he met while on duty, in the back of his car. The 30-year-old, of Market Drayton in Shropshire, started working for Cheshire Police in April 2017 despite being named as a suspect in cases in neighbouring forces in the months leading up to his appointment. The court heard the internet groomer, who was also found guilty of four charges of attempting to arrange commission of a child sex offence and one charge of arranging commission of a child sex offence, was obsessed with taking the virginity of teenage girls. He would blackmail and threaten vulnerable victims over social media, persuade them to send pictures of themselves undressed, tell them to call him daddy and send them videos of himself masturbating. Owen Edwards, prosecuting, told the jury Naude, who admitted a further 30 offences including inciting children to engage in sexual activity and misconduct in a public office, joined the force to gain the keys to a sweet shop. Expand Close Naude was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Naude was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) Cheshire Police said the father-of-ones appointment was delayed from January 2017 to April because he was alleged to have raped a woman in Staffordshire. No further action was taken in the case and Naude was allowed to join but reports of child grooming in Staffordshire and West Mercia which named him as a suspect in January and February 2017 were not picked up by Cheshire Police until after his arrest in November that year. The court heard Naude, who previously served in Afghanistan as a machine gunner with the Royal Irish Regiment, was called to a domestic incident at his rape victims house in October 2017 and contacted her on Facebook days later. After exchanging sexual images and messages over social media, he took her out in his car and raped her, filming parts of the assault on his mobile phone, the jury heard. He claimed the sex was consensual and said the girl seemed to be enjoying it. Police began to investigate after the victims family contacted them, but an email revealing the plan to arrest Naude was accidentally sent to him. When his phone was seized 756 images had been deleted from it. Other devices, including a laptop and another phone, were later discovered in a field in Market Drayton after he gave a hand-drawn map of their location to his cellmate. The court was told the student officer, based at Crewe police station, would gain the trust of young girls by posing on social media as a 15-year-old boy called Jake Green. He also had an account under the name of Bruce Ian Wayne, an apparent reference to the superhero Batman, and a Snapchat account named King Of The North. Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC adjourned the sentencing to December 13 to allow a report on Naude to be prepared. MSPs voted on Tuesday to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland (Jane Barlow/PA) The Scottish Government has been urged to be more ambitious in plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility. MSPs approved proposals in principle to raise the age from eight to 12 in a vote in Holyrood on Tuesday. Scotland currently has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world at eight. If passed, the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill would increase the age to surpass that currently in place in England at Wales, which is 10. But the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child this week published its draft revised guidance recommending that the minimum acceptable standard should be 14, which is the age already required by the Council of Europe. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child is consulting on a revision of General Comment No. 10 (2007). This includes the Age of Criminal Responsibility - it is expected they will reiterate the need to raise it well above 12 @scotgov https://t.co/xsZVeQSxEe Bruce Adamson (@Bruce_Adamson) November 14, 2018 In a letter to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, the commissioner for children and young people in Scotland, Bruce Adamson, urged ministers to go further. Mr Adamson said: Setting the age of criminal responsibility at 12 was never intended to be a progressive standard to aim for, rather it was the absolute minimum in 2007 for those states who were worst performing in human rights terms. The UN is now clarifying its position in line with the Council of Europe that 14 is the absolute minimum, and that progressive countries should be going much higher. Criminalising children does not guarantee non-repetition in fact it creates the risk of more harm. The commissioners call came days before Mikiko Otani, a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) visits Scotland to attend the Childrens Parliament and meet with ministers. Moving the Bill on Tuesday, the Scottish Governments Childrens Minister Maree Todd said: We should be very honest with ourselves as parliamentarians only a few years ago, we wouldnt be here with a consensus right across this chamber that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised. Now our discussions are about what age to raise criminal responsibility to and on what safeguards and other issues need to be addressed. That is a significant and welcome shift. Police returned to the scene of Owen Hassans murder a week on (Andrew Milligan/PA) Police investigating the murder of a man near his mothers pub in Glasgow have been encouraged after returning to the scene a week after the death. Owen Hassan, 30, died in hospital after he was seriously injured in Greenview Street, Shawlands, at about 10.30pm on November 7. Detectives said Mr Hassan suffered an extremely violent assault but managed to make his way back to the nearby Old Stag Inn, where his mother and customers tried to help him. Police returned to the scene on Wednesday night to speak to drivers and people who are regularly in the area. Expand Close Owen Hassan was killed in an extremely violent assault (Police Scotland/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Owen Hassan was killed in an extremely violent assault (Police Scotland/PA) Detective Chief Inspector Martin Fergus said: This was a worthwhile exercise and I have been encouraged by the response from the public. Around 50 people were spoken to and we are currently assessing the information they provided. Everyone was very co-operative and understood the importance of this operation and I would like to thank them for their assistance. Our investigation into Owens murder is progressing and we have been encouraged by the results of various lines of inquiry, including CCTV footage and house-to-house inquiries. The team remain focused on tracing the two men responsible for this crime, but we cannot do it alone. We need the publics help. Mr Hassan had met a friend for dinner in Oro in Kilmarnock Road last Wednesday and left around 5.30pm. Police are trying to establish what the 30-year-old did between leaving the restaurant and arriving at the Old Stag Inn at around 10.20pm. He left the pub shortly afterwards and was chased by two men who attacked him. Mr Fergus said: Again, I would like to reiterate my appeal to the public for information. I am sure that there are people who hold details on this murder who have not yet come forward. Please dont wait for the police to visit you at home, do the right thing and come forward. Anyone who has not yet spoken to police and has information in connection with any aspect of this crime is asked to contact the investigation team through 101, quoting reference number 4167 of November 7. If, for whatever reason, people are reluctant to contact officers, they should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained. The Queen attends the Anglo-Norse Society centenary reception at the Naval and Military Club in central London (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The Queen has described the Prince of Waless 70th birthday celebrations as a great party. Looking sprightly after Wednesday nights Buckingham Palace bash honouring Charles, the Queen gave her verdict as she attended an event marking the close links between Norway and Britain. When the Queen arrived at a reception celebrating the centenary of the Anglo-Norse Society, she told council member Angela Christophersen: Last night we had a great party for my son. Expand Close The Queen and King Harald V of Norway at the Anglo-Norse Society centenary reception (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Queen and King Harald V of Norway at the Anglo-Norse Society centenary reception (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The Queen was joined at the event by King Harald V of Norway, who welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Oslo earlier this year. He praised Britains monarch, telling the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation: Queen Elizabeth, shes really in good shape for her age and it was very nice to see her, after all we are family. Theres a long standing bond between the two countries consolidated during the Second World War when the English welcomed so many Norwegians coming across the North Sea, including my own family. Expand Close The Queen chatted to 92-year-old Tulla Gobey (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Queen chatted to 92-year-old Tulla Gobey (Dominic Lipinski/PA) At the birthday dinner attended by Charless family and close friends, the Queen paid a heartfelt tribute to her son, describing him as a dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history. The head of state rarely makes public comments about her children but she used a black-tie dinner staged in Charless honour to praise him as his own man, passionate and creative. She added that he was a wonderful father. The King and his wife Queen Sonja were among the guests at Charless birthday celebrations but Sonja was missing from the event at The In & Out, Naval and Military Club in central London. It is thought Norways queen missed the event due to ill health. Some of the women at the reception were in Norwegian national dress which varies from region to region in the Nordic country. The Queen briefly chatted to Tulla Gobey, 92, who was also in her national costume and who had met her husband through the society. Police Scotland are searching for the van which failed to stop after the collision (Andrew Milligan/PA) Police are searching for a driver who knocked down a mechanic in a hit-and-run crash as he repaired a vehicle at the roadside. The 39-year-old man was taken to hospital but was later released with no serious injuries following the incident on the A75 near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway at around 9.30pm on Tuesday. The recovery worker was assisting a broken down vehicle when he was struck by a white van travelling east. Police said he was knocked to the ground but the van failed to stop. Constable Lee-Ann Hawker said: This man has had a very lucky escape in this incident. I am appealing to anyone who may have been on the A75 around the area to call us if they can assist in identifying the vehicle or driver of the white coloured box van. The lorry which was being used in the recovery of the car was also slightly damaged in the collision. Callers can contact police on the 101 number and should quote the reference number 3956 13/11. Ian Paisley has taken a swipe at the UUP, calling it "cheap in the extreme" for party leader Robin Swann to "engineer attacks against the DUP". The DUP's Ian Paisley has hit out at attacks on his party by Ulster Unionist, describing criticism from party leader Robin Swann "cheap in the extreme". Mr Paisley was speaking out after a hectic day of discussion about a proposed Brexit deal between the UK and the EU, which both sides have agreed upon and which includes a backstop to maintain alignment on a certain set of customs rules between Northern Ireland and the EU if alternative agreement is not reached. The deal has faced stinging criticism from unionist, including the DUP and UUP, for tying Northern Ireland to the EU on an indefinite basis and opening the door to a potential future weakening of the United Kingdom. On Wednesday Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann called on the DUP to apologise and give an "explanation to the people who voted for them" and added his party would analyse the deal before deciding whether or not to support it. "People were told to put their trust in the DUP. The DUP will owe an apology and an explanation to the people who voted for them on the basis of 'More votes. More seats. More influence. More for Northern Ireland'," said Mr Swann. "Well what exactly were they doing with their influence?" Responding to the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr Paisley said it was time for unionists to come together and that the party's supporters did not wish to see "a petty squabble". At a time when unionists throughout the United Kingdom are standing together, it is cheap in the extreme for Robin Swann to engineer attacks against the DUP," he said. "Unionism in Northern Ireland should also stand united against a deal which is bad for Northern Ireland. Grassroots unionism does not want to see such a petty squabble when the real focus should be on the proposed Brexit deal. "The DUP will work with those from all sides of the House of Commons and all parts of the UK to oppose a deal which weakens the Union. If the UUP is prepared to set their own petty agenda aside, they could play a constructive role in that process. The future of the Brexit deal and Theresa May's premiership remained clouded in uncertainty on Thursday evening, following a day in which two senior members of Cabinet resigned. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson earlier compared the draft agreement to the campaign of terror by the IRA. "We fought against a terrorist campaign to stay within the UK," he told the BBC. "We are not going to let the EU break Northern Ireland just like we didn't let the IRA." Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel holds up a placard of a suspected Iranian atomic site while delivering a speech at the United Nations. Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman abruptly resigned his post on Wednesday, withdrawing his Yisrael Beiteinu party from the governing coalition and leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a slim one-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Shortly thereafter, the Jewish Home party threatened to pull its eight seats out of the coalition, collapsing the government entirely and forcing early elections, unless its chairman, education minister Naftali Bennett, was appointed to replace Lieberman. The precipitating factor in this existential crisis for Netanyahus fourth government was not, say, any of the multiple corruption investigations in which the prime minister might be indicted early next year, but rather a cease-fire agreed upon Tuesday between Israel and armed Palestinian factions in Gaza to halt an escalation in violence that was threatening to become a repeat of the disastrous 2014 war. The escalation began with a raid by the Israeli military into Gaza on Sunday, described as a botched intelligence operation, which killed Hamas commander Noor Baraka and at least six other Palestinians, while an Israeli lieutenant colonel was also killed in the mission. The incursion set off a wave of retaliation in the form of 460 rockets fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza, to which Israel responded in turn with over 160 air strikes. The reported death toll from the exchange of fire included one person in southern Israel and six in Gaza. The violence forced Netanyahu to hurry home from Paris, where he was just telling reporters there was no diplomatic solution to Gaza, as Hamas could not be negotiated with as long as it rejected Israels right to exist, but that he was trying to avoid any unnecessary wars. His government had nonetheless been working toward a longer-term deal with Hamas, the armed Islamist faction that rules Gaza, to get Hamas to crack down on demonstrations at the border in exchange for some economic assistance. Netanyahu has faced pressure to take a harder line on Gaza from the most hawkish elements in his government, including Lieberman and Bennett, as well as Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, another member of Bennetts religious nationalist Jewish Home party and architect of the infamous Jewish nation-state law passed by the Knesset earlier this year. As part of the negotiations over a long-term cease-fire (most emphatically not a peace treaty) with Hamas, Netanyahu last week allowed Qatar to transfer millions of dollars to Gaza to cover the salaries of civil servants in the cash-strapped Hamas government and provide aid to poor families. The prime minister faced harsh criticism from his coalition partners over this decision, which Bennett described as paying protection money to criminals. The beleaguered Netanyahu has protested that his policy toward Gaza has been aimed at protecting southern Israel from rocket fire while averting humanitarian catastrophe in the strip. Declining to further punish the people of Gaza for the latest round of violence, which Israel started, was clearly a bridge too far for ultrahawks Lieberman and Bennett. In his melodramatic resignation announcement, Lieberman called the cease-fire a capitulation to terror and claimed he would not be able to look residents of southern Israel in the eye if he remained part of the government. Lieberman has argued that there are no innocent people in the Gaza Strip, but Bennett has sought to cast even him as too soft on Palestinian terrorism. Last month, the Jewish Home leader declared that if he were defense minister, he would order the army to shoot to kill any Palestinians who attempt to cross into Israel from Gaza, including children, and summarily bulldoze the homes of terrorists. Netanyahus hawkish attitudes and contempt for the Palestinian national movement have been hallmarks of his entire political career. In recent years, his reliance on the so-called national camp of Yisrael Beiteinu, the Jewish Home, and the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism to form his Knesset majorities has exacerbated some of his worst instincts, as has his alliance with President Donald Trump; his latest so-called peace plan involves forcibly coercing the Palestinian leadership into essentially abandoning their goal of national self-determination entirely. For all that, however, Netanyahu isnt acting irrationally. He knows he cant preside over mass starvation in Gaza and hope to get away with it. He also knows that wiping out Hamas entirely is both practically and politically impossible, seeing that conflicts like the one in 2014 cant be won only avoided. Its easy for Naftali Bennett to say he would order indiscriminate killing at the border when he doesnt actually have to make that call, justify it to military leaders who actually understand what a bad idea it is, and live with it on his conscience. Netanyahu cant afford to be so bloodthirsty, even if he wants to. Its a sad commentary on the state of politics in Israel today that Netanyahu, the destroyer of the Oslo Accords who has practically embodied the right-wing position toward the Palestinians since the 90s, is now too much of a softy to survive within his own government. Then again, this is what happens when you shift the Overton window so far to the right that extremists become accepted in the mainstream (an effect Americans are now coming to know all too well). With the Israeli left on the back foot and the center struggling to hold, Netanyahu has anchored his premiership by making common cause with an increasingly angry and violent nationalist movement, using anti-Palestinian sentiment and Jewish chauvinism as the glue to hold together a coalition of secular and religious parties that disagree vehemently on a variety of other issues. In spite of the corruption investigations and various other controversies, Netanyahu remains popular in Israel, even though those who dont like him really cant stand him. His Likud party is considered likely to win by large margins in national elections that have to happen by next year anyway, and if he wins a new electoral mandate, it will be harder for the attorney general to move forward with indicting the prime minister in the corruption probes or removing him from office. By forcing him to call early elections, Lieberman and Bennett may even be doing Netanyahu a favor. In theory, the collapse of Netanyahus coalition could create an opening for Israels main center-left parties, the Zionist Union and Yesh Atid, to make gains in the next elections and, if not form a government themselves, force Netanyahu into a centrist coalition instead of an ultranationalist one. Yet support for the Zionist Union has collapsed, and opinion polls show the right-wing majority holding, including in the first poll conducted after the cease-fire was announced. Barring some miracle cure for the chronic malaise of the Israeli left, the next national elections will likely be a replay of the last two, with Likud leading the same coalition and perhaps with Netanyahu forced to adopt even more hard-line positions as concessions to his right flank. If Netanyahu is felled by his corruption scandals, say, and new leadership comes to the fore in Jerusalem, it is much more likely to be a young right-wing nationalist star like Bennett or Shaked than anyone progressive American Jews can feel good about. Netanyahu is bad, but the way things are going, what comes next is probably going to be even worse. Scottish Secretary David Mundell has given his backing to the draft Brexit deal, claiming it will deliver for the fishing industry. All 13 Scottish Conservative MPs had written to the Prime Minister to raise their concern over fishing rights after leaving the EU. They said they would not support an agreement which would prevent the UK from independently negotiating access and quota shares. I was content to move to the next stage of the process on the basis that Brexit will deliver for our fishing industry - as I and colleagues set out in our letter - and on the basis that arrangements for Northern Ireland will not undermine the economic or constitutional integrity of the UKDavid Mundell Now, Mr Mundell has said he is satisfied their concerns were met and he could give the deal which was given its blessing by the Cabinet after more than five hours his support. He said: I was content to move to the next stage of the process on the basis that Brexit will deliver for our fishing industry as I and colleagues set out in our letter and on the basis that arrangements for Northern Ireland will not undermine the economic or constitutional integrity of the UK. I hope there will be agreement at the European Council later this month and we can move to a vote in Parliament. The worst possible outcome for Scotland and the whole of the UK would be a no-deal departure from the EU. However, industry leaders are seeking clarity from the Prime Minister on the proposed new fisheries agreement within the Brexit settlement. They have concerns about a link between access for EU vessels to UK waters and tariff-free access for UK seafood suppliers to the EU market. The industrys priority has always been taking back control of decision-makingBertie Armstrong, Scottish Fishermen's Federation Scottish Fishermens Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: The industrys priority has always been taking back control of decision-making over who catches what, where and when in our waters, so that we can end once and for all the grossly unfair situation where 60% of our stocks are taken, gratis, by boats from other EU nations. That would mean the UK becoming a fully independent coastal state with its own seat at all the relevant international fisheries negotiations from December 2020 on and regaining its proud status as one of the worlds major fishing nations. Negotiations over trade terms for seafood products would follow on from this. Any linkage between access and trade contravenes all international norms and practice and is simply unacceptable in principle. Therefore we have asked the Prime Minister for assurances that the establishment of a new fisheries agreement as laid out in the Brexit arrangements does not imply that EU vessels will be guaranteed continued access to our waters in return for favourable trade terms. The Government must win the backing of MPs in Parliament in order to pass its Brexit plan. Last month, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Mr Mundell indicated they could resign if a Brexit deal introduces different arrangements for Northern Ireland. Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw said MPs will now be able to fully examine what is on offer in the deal. He added: On fishing rights, as all Scottish Conservative MPs have made clear today, we are seeking assurances that Britain will have control over our waters and quota shares after the transition period ends. Its always been the case that European vessels will continue to fish in our waters, but Britain needs to be in charge, with the ability to negotiate annually. Theresa May is braced for a furious backlash from Tory Brexiteers as she presents her deal on Britains EU withdrawal to the Commons. The Prime Minister cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers finally approved the draft terms of her agreement with Brussels at a stormy five-hour meeting on Wednesday. But she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs as well as some Remainers lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. Following the release of the 585-page agreement document, Jacob Rees-Mogg the leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group wrote to all Tory MPs urging them to vote against it. Rumours continued to swirl at Westminster that the tally of Conservative MPs who have submitted letters of no confidence in Mrs May is about to reach the 48 threshold needed to trigger a vote on her position. Mr Rees-Mogg said that he was not among those MPs who had written to the chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, but suggested he could be very close to doing so. Certainly this has dented my confidence, he told ITVs Peston programme. Politics depends on trust and this document is shattering to trust. While the Cabinet agreed to collectively support the agreement, there was speculation that some ministers were so unhappy that they could still quit in protest. Reports suggested as many as a third of the 28 ministers attending the meeting in No 10 voiced doubts about the deal. I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United KingdomTheresa May Nick Timothy, Theresa Mays former chief of staff, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Parliament will surely reject the proposal. The proposal presented to Cabinet is a capitulation, he wrote. Worse, it is a capitulation not only to Brussels but to the fears of the British negotiators themselves, who have shown by their actions that they never believed Brexit could be a success. This includes, I say with the heaviest of hearts, the Prime Minister. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey was said to be particularly upset amid reports she was shouted down after she tried to press for the agreement to be put to a vote. Mrs May described the debate around the Cabinet table as long, detailed and impassioned, in a clear indication her proposals had come under intense challenge from ministers. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street minutes after the meeting concluded, she acknowledged she faced difficult days ahead as she attempts to win round critical MPs. I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United Kingdom, she said. Expand Close Letter from Jacob Rees-Mogg to members of the European Research Group of eurosceptic Tory MPs (PA Wire) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Letter from Jacob Rees-Mogg to members of the European Research Group of eurosceptic Tory MPs (PA Wire) At the same time she warned Brexiteers that if they failed to back her plan they risked ending up with no Brexit at all. Chief Whip Julian Smith has said he is confident the Government will get the support of Parliament for the deal. But with the DUP whose 10 MPs prop up Mrs May in the Commons voicing their unhappiness at the agreement, and the prospect of a significant Tory backbench revolt it is hard to see how ministers can make the numbers add up. Jeremy Corbyn again made clear that Labour was unlikely to come to the Governments rescue. I dont believe that the deal that Ive heard of so far is in the national interest. It doesnt meet the interests of all parts of Britain, it doesnt give us a security of our trading relationship with Europe in the future, he said. I have just sent a letter to @eucopresident recommending to the #EUCO #Article50 to find that decisive progress has been made in the negotiations on the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. #Brexit pic.twitter.com/7twf2adwkO Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) November 14, 2018 Meanwhile European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker issued a statement that decisive progress had been made, clearing the way for a special summit for leaders of the remaining 27 EU states to give their stamp of approval, probably on November 25. Senior UK Government officials said the final text of the withdrawal agreement featured important gains for the UK on the so-called backstop arrangements to be implemented if no trade deal can be reached. The outline political declaration which will be subject to further negotiation over the coming weeks expresses an ambition to achieve zero tariffs and no quotas in EU-UK trade, something the officials said no other major economy had achieved. The facilitated customs arrangements and common rulebook proposed in Mrs Mays Chequers plan are replaced by the concept of a sliding scale of commitments and market access, which means the UK would not be tied to an off-the-shelf deal of the kind previously offered to countries such as Canada. Under backstop arrangements designed to keep the Irish border open, if no trade deal is agreed by the end of the transition period in December 2020, a temporary EU-UK single customs territory would be established. This could be terminated only by mutual consent of Brussels and London but each side would be legally bound to make best endeavours to bring it to an end by sealing a permanent deal on their future relations. There will be a provision to allow the two sides to extend the transition to a fixed date rather than activate the backstop. A five-person arbitration panel, with two representatives of each side and one independent member, will be set up to rule on disputes, with the chair chosen by drawing lots if members cannot agree. Theresa May was dealt a blow on the morning after Cabinet agreed her Brexit plan, as a minister resigned from her Government saying that the British people deserve better than the deal on offer. Shailesh Vara quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Mrs Mays agreement, which he said leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation. His resignation came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations will be finalised and formalised. Mr Varas departure comes amid a furious backlash from Brexit-backing Tories to the deal agreed by UK and EU negotiators four months ahead of the UKs scheduled withdrawal on March 29. Westminster was braced for further resignations, amid widespread expectations that the Prime Minister may face a challenge to her position from Conservative MPs submitting letters of no confidence in her leadership. The Prime Minister cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers finally approved the draft terms of her agreement with Brussels at a stormy five-hour meeting on Wednesday. But she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs as well as some Remainers lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. Expand Close Shailesh Vara quit as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office (Liam McBurney/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shailesh Vara quit as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office (Liam McBurney/PA) In a resignation statement, North-West Cambridgeshire MP Mr Vara who was promoted by Mrs May as recently as July said: We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better. Mr Vara, a former Conservative vice chairman who has served as a whip and on the frontbenches for the bulk of his career since entering Parliament in 2005, backed Remain in the 2016 referendum. With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) November 15, 2018 In Brussels, Mr Tusk was handed a copy of the 585-page withdrawal agreement by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Ministers and ambassadors of the remaining 27 EU states will work to finalise by next Tuesday the political declaration on future relations with the UK, published in outline form on Wednesday, he said. Welcoming the UK Cabinets collective agreement to accept the withdrawal document, Mr Tusk said: Of course, I do not share the Prime Ministers enthusiasm about Brexit as such. Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and our negotiations are only about damage control. And he sent a message to the British people: As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us. Expand Close Mr Tusk vowed to make the split as painless as possible for the British people (Rick Findler/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Tusk vowed to make the split as painless as possible for the British people (Rick Findler/PA) Mr Barnier had ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and secured the vital interests and principles of the 27 member states and of the European Union as a whole, said Mr Tusk. As Mrs May prepared to make a statement on the Brexit agreement to the House of Commons on Thursday, the precariousness of her position was underlined as a Brexit-backing Tory claimed that the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady may already have received the 48 MPs letters needed to trigger a vote of no confidence in the leader. Anne Marie Morris told BBC2s Newsnight: My belief but it is a belief without evidence, because Graham keeps it close to his chest is that we do have the 48. What depends on whether or not they can be used is whether or not those members who have put them in give him the go-ahead. He has them, but subject to (approval). Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg the leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group has written to all Tory MPs urging them to vote against Mrs Mays deal when it comes before the Commons, probably in early December. Expand Close Jacob Rees-Mogg said the document was shattering to trust (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jacob Rees-Mogg said the document was shattering to trust (Aaron Chown/PA) Mr Rees-Mogg said he had not written to Sir Graham, but suggested he could be very close to doing so. Certainly this has dented my confidence, he told ITVs Peston programme. Politics depends on trust and this document is shattering to trust. While the Cabinet agreed to collectively support the agreement, there was speculation that some ministers were so unhappy that they could still quit in protest. Reports suggested as many as a third of the 28 ministers attending the meeting in No 10 voiced doubts about the deal. I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United KingdomTheresa May Nick Timothy, Theresa Mays former chief of staff, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Parliament will surely reject the proposal. The proposal presented to Cabinet is a capitulation, he wrote. Worse, it is a capitulation not only to Brussels but to the fears of the British negotiators themselves, who have shown by their actions that they never believed Brexit could be a success. This includes, I say with the heaviest of hearts, the Prime Minister. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey was said to be particularly upset amid reports she was shouted down after she tried to press for the agreement to be put to a vote. Mrs May has acknowledged she faces difficult days ahead as she attempts to win round critical MPs. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street following the crunch Cabinet meeting, she insisted the deal was in the best interests of the United Kingdom and warned Brexiteers that if they failed to back her plan they risked ending up with no Brexit at all. Expand Close Letter from Jacob Rees-Mogg to members of the European Research Group of eurosceptic Tory MPs (PA Wire) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Letter from Jacob Rees-Mogg to members of the European Research Group of eurosceptic Tory MPs (PA Wire) Chief Whip Julian Smith has said he is confident the Government will get the support of Parliament for the deal. But with the DUP whose 10 MPs prop up Mrs May in the Commons voicing their unhappiness at the agreement, and the prospect of a significant Tory backbench revolt, it is hard to see how ministers can make the numbers add up. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told ITVs Good Morning Britain the deal was a miserable failure of negotiation and it was a second-rate document. He said: Its a chaotic ending and the root cause is the utter division on the Conservative benches. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock said MPs should back the plan because the alternatives of a no-deal Brexit or a second referendum are ugly. Mr Hancock told the BBC that anybody in any compromise negotiated document can pick out individual parts that they would prefer were written differently but insisted that a vote for the deal was nonetheless in the national interest. Senior UK Government officials said the final text of the withdrawal agreement featured important gains for the UK on the so-called backstop arrangements to be implemented if no trade deal can be reached. Under backstop arrangements designed to keep the Irish border open, if no trade deal is agreed by the end of the transition period in December 2020, a temporary EU-UK single customs territory would be established. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson made clear his anger on the draft agreement, saying his party could not support it. The text was published on Wednesday evening after Theresa May secured Cabinet backing for the plan. Read More It will see Northern Ireland aligned with EU rules and remain part of the single market with checks on some goods coming in from the UK to Northern Ireland, if the Brexit backstop is implemented. During the transition period which comes into force after March, the entire UK will remain within a customs union in the UK until 2020, although that could be extend in order to get a trade deal. We had a frank meeting tonight with the Prime Minister lasting almost an hour. She is fully aware of our position and concerns. Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) November 14, 2018 DUP leader Arlene Foster said she had a "frank" meeting with the Prime Minister lasting almost an hour. "She is fully aware of our position," she tweeted. Theresa May still has to convince Parliament of the merits of her deal with the EU, as well as the Lords and the EU27 still have to sign off on the text. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson made clear his party could not support the government with with it has a confidence and supply agreement. Read More He hit out at the Prime Minister saying what was on offer was a deal she had said she could never agree to saying people would be "appalled" by her words. He claimed the deal would constitutional divide Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. "We fought against a terrorist campaign to stay within the UK," he told the BBC. "We are not going to let the EU break Northern Ireland just like we didn't let the IRA." "We have reached a satisfactory outcome on all key Irish priorities" says Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar Follow live reaction to the Brexit agreement here: https://t.co/hDmztN9Q6g pic.twitter.com/aoxT6Hle7G Sky News (@SkyNews) November 14, 2018 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said an agreement "reached a satisfactory outcome on all key Irish priorities" and could present economic benefits to Northern Ireland. "We both want to build ever deeper bilateral relations and to help secure the restoration of powersharing institutions in Northern Ireland," he said. "I want to repeat my message of earlier today to unionists - our approach is not intended in any way as a threat to you, or to your identity. Read More "Our goal is simply to protect the peace and the Good Friday Agreement from any unintended or undesirable consequence. "The draft withdrawal agreement states in black and white that Ireland and the EU fully respect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom, and that this can only change if the majority of people in Northern Ireland want it." Mr Varadkar acknowledged that he had not spoken to DUP leader Arlene Foster on Wednesday, but said he was aware of her earlier statements in Westminster in which she labelled the Irish government "aggressive". "There are sensitivities there and I certainly heard what Arlene had to say today," he said. "The DUP is the DUP, it's a unionist party, it's not going to be told what to do by the Irish government, but the door is always open and the phone is always on. "I am always willing to speak to her or anyone in the DUP to offer any clarifications or any assurances that they may wish to have." Mr Varadkar is to meet with Northern Ireland parties Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Alliance and the Northern Ireland Green Party on Thursday. What the papers say November 15 A busy 24 hours in Westminster and Brussels lead the bulk of Thursdays papers after a Brexit deal was signed off by the Cabinet but Theresa May could still face a revolt from within her own party from MPs unhappy with the deal. The Times writes that Mrs May has papered over the cracks and forced her draft deal with the EU through a divided Cabinet. The paper adds that Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey is believed to be on the verge of quitting after being shouted down during a five-hour meeting. Tomorrow's front page: May papers over the cracks #tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/1vqMkvjPeR The Times (@thetimes) November 14, 2018 The Daily Telegraph reports Mrs May has been accused of railroading the deal through Cabinet and says 11 of the 29 ministers spoke out against the proposed deal. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph 'There will be difficult days ahead' #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/PATcT767WM The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 14, 2018 The Guardian leads on splits, saying the Cabinet, party and nation are all divided on the plan, while reporting on Mrs Mays speech in which she said her deal was the best one for Britain and the alternatives are no deal, or no Brexit. The Guardian front page, Thursday 15 November 2018 | May Brexit plan: a split cabinet, a split party and a split nation pic.twitter.com/RGtqjg0m8E The Guardian (@guardian) November 14, 2018 The Financial Times says the Prime Minister is braced for backlash. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 15 November https://t.co/MCrVYdS1xb pic.twitter.com/vzZnzB7cys Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) November 14, 2018 The Metro carries the headline Back May or Sack May, reporting that rebels are plotting a no-confidence vote in the Prime Minister. The i reports the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, is deciding whether to end their deal with the Conservative party. Thursday's front page: Cabinet split on whether to back Theresa May as she declares: 'This deal, no deal, or no Brexit' #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/tVDrGsOkxa i newspaper (@theipaper) November 14, 2018 The Daily Mirror calls Mrs May embattled, adding that the PM squared up to her opponents in a make-or-break showdown. The Suns headline appears to suggest the paper is not happy with the proposed deal, with the paper saying Britain is in the mire. The Daily Mail says the Cabinet meeting was bruising and that there is the threat of a coup which could topple the Prime Minister. The Daily Express runs with the warning Mrs May issued to rebel MPs, saying Britain could remain in the EU if they vote against her. Meanwhile, the Daily Star leads with a story on the Queen opting to eat bananas with a fork. Two raccoons have been causing alarm in a town in West Virginia, where residents were worried the animals had rabies. Officers from Milton Police Department were called out twice in consecutive days to what people thought were cases of rabid raccoons but the truth turned out to be far less scary. In fact, the police determined the animals were drunk, which caused behaviour similar to the symptoms of rabies. So, Ptl Scarberry made his first apprehension today, taking this masked bandit into custody with assistance of Sgt... Posted by Milton Police Department on Monday, November 12, 2018 In a post on Facebook, Milton police wrote: We have had calls on suspected rabid raccoons twice over the last two days. Turns out they appear to be drunk on crab apples. They added: Both coons were released near the woods unharmed. If you see a staggering and disoriented raccoon please do not approach it. It could be sick so call us and well take care of it. This is by no means the first time fermented fruit has caused animals to get a little tipsy. Just last month, for example, police in a town in Minnesota revealed they had received reports of drunken birds flying into windows and acting confused. The behaviour was blamed on fermented berries. A US judge has admonished the lawyer for Mexican drug smuggler El Chapo after an opening statement that angered Mexican presidents by accusing them of taking bribes. Prosecutors at the New York trial had asked the judge to throw out the defences opening statement at the trial of Joaquin Guzman. The judge stopped short of that on Wednesday, but warned lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman to stick to the evidence. Expand Close Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, waves to his wife (Elizabeth Williams/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, waves to his wife (Elizabeth Williams/AP) Mr Lichtman had called the US governments motion entirely without merit. Mr Lichtman said his client was not the real leader of a cartel that sent tons of cocaine into the US. Mr Lichtman blamed another reputed trafficker who he said evaded capture with bribes. Former Mexican president Felipe Calderon and a spokesman for current president Enrique Pena Nieto vehemently denied the claims. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. Photo: Steve Pope/Getty Images Acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker looks kind of like a comic-book villain, and according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, he sometimes behaves like one too. Both papers ran reports Wednesday about Whitaker threatening the publisher of the website Ripoff Report after an anonymous user accused the company World Patent Marketing Inc. of fraud. Whitaker, who served on the firms board until last year, reportedly called the sites founder, Ed Magedson, after the accusations were posted in 2015. He demanded that the claims be taken down and he wasnt nice about it. He threatened me, using foul language, Magedson told the Post. He threatened to sue and to ruin my business if I did not remove the false reports. Speaking to the Journal, Magedson added that Whitaker said he would have the government shut me down under some homeland security law. The complaints made on Ripoff Report comport with those found by the FTC, which went after World Patent Marketing last year. The company, the FTC said, was little more than an invention-promotion scam that has bilked thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars. It pulled off the con by telling people it would help them promote their inventions things like a fried chicken and waffle sandwich and nursing pillow. The company took their money and then pocketed the cash. Magedsons isnt the only accusation of Whitaker working as muscle for the company. The FTC obtained an email in which Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney, responded to a complaining customer with threats of serious civil and criminal consequences if the customer complained to the Better Business Bureau about World Patent Marketings scam. The new reporting, combined with the FTCs findings, make it increasingly hard to believe Whitakers claim that he was unaware of any fraudulent activity at the company while he was on its board. But the Justice Department is sticking with that. In a statement, spokesperson Kerri Kupec called Magedson a liar: Acting attorney general Matt Whitaker has said he was not aware of any fraudulent activity. Any stories suggesting otherwise are false. Democrats signaled Wednesday that they intend to use their newfound majority in the House to get to the bottom of Whitakers role at World Patent Marketing, CNN reports: House Democrats are kicking off their investigations into the Trump administration by probing acting Attorney General Matt Whitakers connections to a Florida company that was shut down by the Federal Trade Commission over what court documents called a scam that has bilked thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars. The top Democrats on the House Oversight, Judiciary, Intelligence and Energy and Commerce Committees jointly sent seven letters requesting documents and briefings about Whitakers role on the advisory board of the company The FTC was itself looking into Whitakers time at World Patent Marketing and whether he played a role in helping the company silence critics by threatening them with legal action, the Post reports. But when Whitaker was subpoenaed last year, he told investigators he was too busy to comply. Before the FTC could double back with him, the firm began negotiating a settlement, letting Whitaker off the hook. At least, for now. Several thousand of demonstrators gather to demand resignation of Andrej Babis (Petr David Josek/AP) Thousands of Czechs are rallying in Prague to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Andrej Babis over a fraud scandal. Babis faces charges that he has misused EU subsidies for a farm he transferred to his family members, including his son, Andrej Babis Jr. Babis denies wrongdoing. The Czech leader has been under increased pressure this week after his son told an online news portal he was deliberately kept in Crimea to avoid being questioned in the case. Expand Close Andrej Babis faces allegations that he has misused EU subsidies (Petr David Josek/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andrej Babis faces allegations that he has misused EU subsidies (Petr David Josek/AP) Babis denies that, saying his son, who lives in Switzerland and is mentally ill, was there voluntarily. More protests are scheduled for Saturday. Babis coalition government will face a confidence vote in parliaments lower house over the scandal. Parliaments upper house on Thursday asked Babis to step down until the investigation was completed. Only one thing is certain today on Brexit - it is that uncertainty is guaranteed, not just for a few weeks or months, but probably for years, particularly as regards Northern Ireland. So far we have a draft agreement between officials in London and Brussels. At the time of writing, there is uncertainty whether Mrs May will get the full support of her Cabinet. After that, it has to be approved by Parliament, and then by the other member states of the EU. If it is approved, how long will the UK remain part of the EU's Customs Union to ensure a frictionless border in Ireland? What will happen at the end of that period? With all eyes on the border, the real impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland is ignored; this is not what happens on the border, or in the middle of the Irish Sea. A re-erected border would be regrettable and would provide a tempting target for dynamiters currently in retirement, but would it lead to widespread violence on anything like the scale of the Troubles? Probably not, unless a radical change in the situation led Sinn Fein to see a future in resumed violence. The real impact of British withdrawal from the EU - effectively from the whole post-war European integration project, as Mrs May reaffirmed yesterday - is that it changes the context within which progress was being made in Northern Ireland, and within which it made some sort of sense, in the Belfast Agreement, to define the problem in terms of two national identities, both of which were part of a wider European identity, and hope that they would be able to reach some accommodation in that context. But in the event, the Agreement - both in its institutions and its implementation - made the political issue into a zero-sum game to be settled by a one-off referendum in which winner would take all. Not surprisingly, it soon led to a rush to the extremes and the near destruction of both moderate nationalism and moderate unionism. The current deadlock is a conflict of national identities - Sinn Fein's assertive Irishness, seen it its exaggerated claims for the Irish language and talk of a border poll, and the DUPs ultra-British nationalism with its contempt for most things Irish and unquestioning demand for Brexit. The divide is wider than ever, with the European identity, far from being a bridge, now adding a new dimension to the gulf in Northern Ireland between Irishness and Britishness. Those of us who went along last Friday to Queen's University to hear two of the most articulate and intelligent Remainers at Westminster, Lord Adonis of Labour and the Tory MP Dominic Grieve, hoping to hear some sense made of the current chaos, were disappointed. Both are advocates of a second referendum, but neither could offer any convincing scenario for a referendum being called, nor for their confidence that if it were held, it would reverse 2016. Opinion poll figures suggesting this were quoted, but then most polls predicted defeat for the Brexiteers in 2016. Mr Grieve said the 2016 poll had shown "irrationality" in the debate and in the voting, but he did not say why there would not be a similarly irrational debate and decision this time. Already the drums of British nationalism are beating to the tune of the gallant Brits defying the tyrants of Brussels. It was disappointing that two experienced and much-admired parliamentarians were advocating a second referendum without any discussion of the incompatibility of referendums with a system of parliamentary democracy which has as its fundamental principle the supremacy of parliament. It was an ill-considered referendum that plunged us into this mess. Why should we pin our hopes on another referendum getting us out of it? In times of national crisis in a parliamentary democracy, it is to Parliament that the country should look. Following Mrs May's "Brexit is Brexit", the Commons timidly voted overwhelmingly to support the process of withdrawal, despite the evidence that a clear majority of them were, or had been, convinced Remainers. What had changed, according to several frontbenchers on both sides, was that 'the people' had spoken, instructing Parliament to take the country out of the EU. So much for the sovereignty of Parliament. Will MPs find the courage to remember that they belong to a sovereign Parliament, and exert that sovereignty by saying no to Brexit? Dennis Kennedy is a writer on Irish and European affairs. From 1985 to 1991, he was head of the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland, and later a lecturer in European Studies at Queen's University, Belfast 'There are many who contend it is not the backstop but Brexit itself which threatens the break-up of the UK and has fuelled the debate on a united Ireland' (stock picture) In the midst of the political turmoil surrounding the closing stages of the Brexit negotiations, there are certain things of which we can be sure. The first is that the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better, whether or not we leave the European Union. The second is that the serious questions being asked about flaws in the way the referendum was funded and operated will continue to be debated for months, if not years, to come. The third is that the constitutional confusion created by any UK withdrawal will shake the foundations not only of the UK but also the EU, including Ireland, for years, even decades, in the future. So, what can we salvage from this potential shipwreck of a situation from which there looks to be little means of escape? Leaving aside my genuine belief that the UK should have remained in the EU for reasons which are more and more obvious as the negotiations continue, the push for a People's Vote is becoming irresistible. The European Movement Northern Ireland, of which I am honorary president, has put its weight behind the excellent work being done on this by young people in particular in the People's Vote, Our Future Our Choice, Derry Girls Against Borders and many other groups battling against the negative impact of Brexit in Northern Ireland. But, without a People's Vote, possibly changing the will of the people based on a more informed debate and new knowledge and understanding of what Brexit actually means, the only choice left for Northern Ireland is to hold tight to every lifeline thrown. The biggest and best in these sorry circumstances must be the backstop which surely offers the best of both worlds. By possibly staying in the single market and the customs union, Northern Ireland could become the envy of the British Isles, attracting foreign direct investment from far and wide in its position as a gateway to Europe, the UK and the rest of the world. Is it any wonder Scotland wants the same lifeline? The backstop must be recognised as a generous concession offered to Northern Ireland by the EU coming from a sincere commitment to ensure the border remains seamless, the peace process is protected and the Good Friday Agreement is upheld. Any argument that the backstop threatens the UK constitution by treating Northern Ireland differently must be countered by two important points. The first is that Northern Ireland has been treated 'differently' from the rest of the UK since we joined the EU. As an 'objective one' region, Northern Ireland got more EU funding than any other UK region and the EU's unique PEACE Programme has invested 2 billion in cross-community and cross-border projects, thanks to former EC president Jacques Delors. I don't remember anyone objecting to that at the time. Also, when serious infection was threatening our cattle maybe because the UK didn't follow the EU directives, we were more than happy to change our trade rules to protect animal health and the economy. Finally, the Good Friday Agreement states that the constitutional position of Northern Ireland is guaranteed by the principle of consent so, backstop or no backstop, Northern Ireland will remain in the UK as long as that is the will of the people. There are many who contend it is not the backstop but Brexit itself which threatens the break-up of the UK and has fuelled the debate on a united Ireland. The logic in a position which pushes Northern Ireland into a place where divided loyalties become more entrenched and separation grows is quite frankly beyond me. But Brexit is about much more than a marketplace or a line on a map. Not having had the opportunity to read the draft withdrawal treaty before going to press, I wonder how many lines in those 500 pages are actually devoted to the rights of Northern Ireland citizens to full rights as EU citizens? In other words, according to the Good Friday Agreement, it is quite possible that all 1.8 million NI citizens may have the birthright to all the freedoms and benefits offered by the EU even after Brexit, no matter what passport we chose. This could mean we can still retire to the Costa del Sol and get our pension and European health card, our children can work, study and travel at their leisure in any EU member state, and our grandchildren can have the future they deserve as Europeans. 'Mrs May's Cabinet victory could be the most pyrrhic since David Cameron trumpeted the backing of colleagues for his masterly EU referendum plan' One hundred references to Northern Ireland in the Draft EU withdrawal agreement, but virtually none to please the DUP. Northern Ireland businesses trading across the border may take a much more positive view, and the local Remainer majority - most nationalists and non-aligned, along with a sizeable unionist minority - will like what is on offer. The Scots (62% Remain vote, remember) might look on with envy. The Irish Government can quietly celebrate the attainment of its goals, as promised by the EU from the outset. Northern Ireland's economy could potentially thrive via continuing unfettered access to two big markets: European and UK. Regulatory divergence, in the short-term, is not a problem. There is none between GB, Northern Ireland and the EU at present to disrupt access to either market. Longer term may be different. The text contains few surprises. The DUP's tests are all failed. By virtue of continuing alignment to the EU single market, Northern Ireland will operate on different terms from the rest of the UK. There is no check-out time for the EU's unwilling - in the view of the DUP - guest. And the guest can only leave the hotel/prison (delete as appropriate) with the joint permission of the UK and European proprietors. Northern Ireland will undoubtedly be closer to Ireland politically by dint of a near-common EU status - by far the most significant step towards a united Ireland since partition . The alternative mooted last December, that alignments with the single market will be subject to Northern Ireland Assembly approval, has disappeared from view, like the Assembly itself. While the EU states that Northern Ireland will remain aligned to the single market only for those items necessary to avoid a hard border, that's virtually anything and everything. Yet all sides said they were not interested in creating a hard border, which has not been defined in any case. So, the alignment is to avoid a scenario which everyone said could not happen anyway. Confused? You ought to be. What about the DUP's fears of a border in the Irish Sea? Article 7, Page 313 (just in case you missed it) promises an EU-UK Joint Committee to operate "with a view to avoiding, to the extent possible, controls at the ports and airports of Northern Ireland". Cue huge rows about what constitutes "to the extent possible". What happens if there is disagreement between the two sides over what constitutes what is possible? And the EU remains dominant in terms of regulatory rules. The penultimate paragraph of Article 8 declares that "the United Kingdom may not initiate objection" to EU technical regulations. Mrs May's Cabinet victory could be the most pyrrhic since David Cameron trumpeted the backing of colleagues for his masterly EU referendum plan. It was never about winning over the likes of Mordaunt and McVey. The key battle was always going to be in Parliament, from the moment that the Government conceded a meaningful vote on the deal. Can the deal achieve a parliamentary majority? Only with Labour support or abstention, and Corbyn wasn't offering either at PMQs yesterday. His Remainer MPs might be influenced by May's 'This deal or no deal' approach from here on. But they might gamble on downing the deal and getting a second referendum. With zero chance of DUP support for the deal, RIP the confidence and supply arrangement. Jeffrey Donaldson might physically struggle to tear up the 585-page deal the way he once demolished John Major's Frameworks Document, but he may try. So on non-Brexit legislation the Government - regardless of the Prime Minister's own political fate - will struggle to pass measures. In 134 days we leave the European Union. This offer does not apply to Northern Ireland. Photo: Steve Pope/Getty Images The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess, tweeted President Trump this morning. But why would the president have access to the inner workings of the Mueller investigation, which is supposed to be firewalled away from his influence? Theres a strong chance Trump is just making this up, of course. On the other hand, over the last week, the Mueller investigation has been supervised by acting attorney general Matt Whitaker, who would have access to the investigations inner workings. It might be the case that Trump actually has access to the inner workings of the Mueller investigation because he finally has somebody running the Justice Department who is pliant and unethical enough to give it to him. There has been a persistent disbelief among many observers throughout the Trump presidency that the underlying reality is as bad as it appears on the surface. But the scumminess of the arrangement is increasingly naked. Here, lying about in plain sight, is Trumps response yesterday to a question from the conservative Daily Caller, which asked, Could you tell us where your thinking is currently on the attorney general position? I know youre happy with Matthew Whitaker, do you have any names? Chris Christie? In response Trump embarked on a rant about the Mueller investigation: I knew [Whitaker] only as he pertained, you know, as he was with Jeff Sessions. And, um, you know, look, as far as Im concerned this is an investigation that should have never been brought. It should have never been had. Its something that should have never been brought. Its an illegal investigation. And you know, its very interesting because when you talk about not Senate confirmed, well, Muellers not Senate confirmed. Trump is all but confessing that he hired Whitaker to stop the illegal Mueller probe. Whitaker may not have the opportunity to squelch the Mueller probe. He has to clear two legal hurdles: First, the constitutionality of his appointment is being challenged it is not clear whether a president has the authority to install an acting attorney general without Senate confirmation. Second, Whitaker might be required to recuse himself from the Russia investigation, since he knew and worked closely with Sam Clovis, a member of the campaign and a subject the of the investigation. But what is almost certainly not going to stop Whitaker is any inherent sense of professional ethics. Whitakers history includes a stint with World Patent Marketing, a scam firm that was shut down by the Federal Trade Commission, and is currently under FBI investigation. Its basic business model appears to have consisted of finding people with ideas for inventions, persuading them that World Patent Marketing could turn the idea into a commercial success, and bilking them for large payments, in return for which they would get nothing. Whitakers role at the firm involved using his legal and political connections to threaten the defrauded customers. The Washington Post goes deeper into the scam. The story confirms that, despite the Departments official claim that acting attorney general Matt Whitaker has said he was not aware of any fraudulent activity, he was made aware of complaints of fraud at the time. FTC investigators found that Whitaker received complaints about the company in his role as an advisory board member, reports the Post. If your assumption that somehow this will work out rests on the belief that Whitaker will conform to the ethical norms of the legal profession, you need to think about the people he has worked with in the past. You also need to consider what his future might bring. Matthew Whitaker is nobodys idea of a bright young legal mind. He might make a nice living hosting a show on Fox News about the the Democrats who should be locked up and the Republicans who are being unfairly investigated. His career incentive is to do Trumps bidding. A married couple went on trial Thursday, charged with involvement in the back-to-back suicide bomb attacks on three churches and a police headquarters that killed 24 people in Indonesias second-largest city in May. Agus Satrio Widodo, 35, a suspected leader of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) militant group in Jombang, East Java, and his wife, Damayanti, are accused of hiding some of the unused explosives intended for the attacks. Agus faces the death sentence, while Damayanti could be sent to prison for up to 20 years, if found guilty of involvement in criminal conspiracy to conduct an act of terrorism, according to the indictment read out by prosecutors at a West Jakarta court. The defendants feel there are errors in the indictment, Faris, a lawyer for Agus and Damayanti, told BenarNews. He did not elaborate. After the bombings, anti-terror officers raided the couples rented house in Sidoarjo, near Surabaya, and found seven pipe bombs and 40 cups of explosive materials, according to the indictment. Agus and an alleged accomplice, Ilham Fauzan, who was killed in the police raid, tried to disassemble the bombs, while Damayanti cleaned up materials such as bolts, screws and fuses and put them in a plastic bag, prosecutor Amril Abdi said during the trial. The Surabaya bombings killed 14 bystanders, as well as 10 members of two families who were blamed for carrying out the bombings. Authorities blamed the East Java-based militant group JAD for the attacks. The trial was the first for suspects accused of involvement in the bombings that spurred the Indonesian parliament to introduce new anti-terror laws. Affiliated with Islamic State Agus and Damayanti were arrested by members of the Densus 88 anti-terrorism unit on May 14, hours after the church bombings and before the attack on the police headquarters in Surabaya. The sucide attack at the gate of the police headquarters was carried out by Tri Murtiono, his wife and three children. One of the children survived after being thrown by the force of the explosion. A day earlier, Dita Supriyanto, his wife and their four children blew themselves up outside three Surabaya churches. Authorities said Dita was the head of JAD for Surabaya. "The acts of terrorism carried out by Dita and Tri were part of JADs mission in East Java," prosecutor Amril told the court. In July, the South Jakarta District Court declared JAD an outlawed organization after ruling that it was affiliated with the Islamic State (IS). The hearing marked the first time in a decade that Indonesia had prosecuted a terror group. The verdict would make it easier for law enforcement officials in the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation to arrest suspects connected to the organization or to prosecute other terror groups, analysts said. JAD militants have carried out a series of attacks in the country since 2014, including one that killed four people in January 2016 in Jakarta. That attack in the nations capital was the first terror strike claimed by IS in Southeast Asia. Alleged terrorists Syamsul Arifin (left) and Agus Satrio Widodo talk to their attorneys during trial in the West Jakarta District Court, Nov. 15 2018. [Lutfi A.B/BenarNews] Accused of pledging allegiance to IS According to the indictment, Agus pledged allegiance to IS in Batu, Malang during a 2015 JAD meeting that was also attended by Zainal Anshori, who was then the JAD chief for East Java. Zainal was later appointed as JADs national-level leader, replacing Abu Musa, who left for Syria, court documents said. Zainal is serving a 7-year prison term after being convicted of involvement in terrorism in February. JADs main ideologue, cleric Aman Abdurrahman, was sentenced to death by a Jakarta court in June for his role in the terrorist attacks carried out by the group. A third defendant on trial in the same courtroom, Syamsul Arifin, who is the alleged head of JAD for East Javas Blitar regency, was charged with conducting armed training and a conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts. Syamsul, who could also face death sentence if found guilty, conducted physical training and encouraged members to carry out terror attacks, the prosecutor said. Syamsul held military training several times during 2015 in several locations in East Java, according to the indictment. "The defendant was told by Zainal Anshori about plans to form a special team tasked with carrying out acts (of terrorism) silently like Kopassus (the Indonesian army special forces)," the prosecutor said. The team was to receive training from Saiful Muthohir, 43, an alleged bomb expert. But such a team never materialized because Saiful, alias Abu Gar, was arrested and sentenced to nine years in prison in November 2016, the indictment said. Flanked by her lawyer and court officials, Rosmah Mansor (center) walks to a hearing at Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, Nov. 15, 2018. The wife of ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak pleaded not guilty Thursday to new graft-related charges, which accuse her of seeking and receiving a bribe to influence the approval of a 1.25 billion ringgit (U.S. $299 million) education-related energy project. Prosecutors alleged that Rosmah Mansor asked for 187.5 million ringgit ($44.8 million) from Jepak Holdings, a company that sought a contract with the education department for a solar project and to maintain and operate diesel generators for 369 rural schools in Sarawak state, between March and April 2016. She also was charged with allegedly receiving 1.5 million ringgit ($358,000) on Sept. 7, 2017, from the company for the project. If found guilty, Rosmah, who already faces 17 money laundering and tax fraud charges, could be sentenced to up to 20 years and ordered to pay a fine of not less than five times the amount of the alleged bribe. In May, Malaysian police raided a former office and residences linked to Najib and Rosmah, removing 567 designer handbags, hundreds of Swiss-made watches and dozens of suitcases containing cash and 12,000 pieces of jewelry. Authorities said the seized cash totaled 114 million ringgit ($28.75 million), while the items seized were valued at as much as 1.1 billion ringgit ($273 million). Najib, who faces 38 corruption charges including many tied to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, was present in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to see Rosmah charged. U.S. Department of Justice officials allege that almost $4.5 billion was embezzled and laundered through real estate and other assets from 1MDB, which was established by Najib in 2009 to fund development projects in Malaysia. Judge Azman Ahmad set Rosmahs bail at 1 million ringgit ($239,000) and set Dec. 10 as the date for the next session in the case. Based on the defense appeal, the court allowed for the bail to be paid in stages 500,000 ringgit ($119,500) today with the remaining to be paid within seven days, he said. Isham Jalil, a former special officer to Najib, criticized the new government, claiming it was trying to ruin the couple by forcing them to pay so much to stay out of jail. Both had accumulatively paid 13.6 million ringgit ($3.24 million) for all previous charges, Isham said, arguing the court should require token bail instead. In a different courtroom, Rosmahs former aide, Rizal Mansor, who is not related, was charged with four counts of graft related to the same solar project. He was accused of asking for 189 million ringgit ($45.2 million) on behalf of Rosmah and 25 million ringgit ($6 million) for himself from the same company in March and April 2016. Rizal also was accused of receiving a 5 million ringgit ($1.19 million) bribe on behalf of Rosmah and another 500,000 ringgit ($119,000) bribe for himself in December 2016. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years and face a fine of five times the amount received if convicted. Deputy public prosecutor Khairul Bahrin Omar told the court a motion would be filed for Rosmah and Rizal to be tried together. Judge Rozina Ayob set Rizals bail at 1 million ringgit and reminded him to not contact any witnesses. Rozina also ordered Rizal, who made bail, to surrender his international passport and any diplomatic passports. Land deals charges Former minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor pleaded not guilty to charges related to allegedly accepting 3 million ringgit ($715,600) in bribes relating to land deals. Tengku Adnan was accused of accepting 1 million ringgit ($238,500) and 2 million ringgit ($477,000) from two businessmen for two development projects while serving as the federal territories Minister. Judge Azman set bail at 1 million ringgit ($238,500), ordered Tengku to surrender his passports and scheduled the next session for Dec. 12. Property tycoon Tan Eng Boon, the alleged source of the bribe, was charged as well. He was released on 700,000 ringgit ($167,000) and instructed to report monthly to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Chinese leaders gather for the annual ASEAN-China Summit being held in Singapore, Nov. 14, 2018. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called for a code at all costs to regulate behavior of nations in the South China Sea and wanted China, which has set up military bases in the hotly disputed waters which it fully claims, to set a route for the region to take. So you are there, you are in possession, you occupy it, tell us what route shall we take and what kind of behavior, Duterte told China on the sidelines of a summit of East Asian nations in Singapore where overlapping claims in the waterway was a key topic of discussions. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the meeting that Beijing hopes a South China Sea Code of Conduct will be finished in three years time. The 10 members of ASEAN and China adopted a broad pact the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002 to exercise self-restraint and prevent non-militarization within the contested waters. But efforts to pin down a specific sea code have been dragging on since then amid escalating tensions among South China Sea claimants. Duterte, who is preparing to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Manila this month, said he discussed overlapping claims to the potentially mineral rich region during dinner with his counterparts Tuesday night at the summit hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Four of 10 ASEAN member states Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam are claiming parts of the resource-rich South China Sea together with Taiwan and China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea and has built up several small atolls and constructed military bases on them. The U.S. military has conducted regular patrols in the South China Sea challenging Chinas claims of sovereignty by sailing near or flying over the reclaimed islands, triggering tensions with Chinese military vessels. Last week, the top defense officials and diplomats of both countries met for talks in Washington to stanch rising tensions. The U.S. then called on China to withdraw its reported missile systems it had allegedly placed in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, who accompanied Vice President Mike Pence to the summit, said Washington would oppose any agreements between China and other South China Sea claimants that limit free passage to international shipping, the Wall Street Journal reported. On Tuesday, Bolton said the U.S. will step up patrols and increase both military spending and the level of engagement with other countries in the region to reinforce its position. Boltons remarks served as a warning particularly for the Philippines, which is in talks with Beijing about jointly exploring natural resources in the contested area, the report said. In meetings to develop the code of conduct, China has tried to secure a veto over Southeast Asian nations hosting military exercises with other countries in the disputed waters and could raise the potential to limit U.S. military engagement with countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, it said. Duterte hinted that a current dispute between the U.S. and China was weighing on the security situation in the region. Everything has been excellent between China and the rest of the ASEAN except for the fact there is a friction between the Western nations and China, Duterte told reporters, according to transcripts of the brief exchange released in Manila. He said that China and ASEAN should work to finalize the code in the South China Sea because any miscalculation in the disputed area could lead to confrontations. The United States is bound to the Philippines by a mutual defense treaty. Because of the treaty, Id like to tell China, that is why at all costs we must have a COC (code of conduct), Duterte said. ASEAN and China will continue to maintain a conducive environment for future rounds of negotiations of the COC, said Duterte, whose country co-chairs the negotiations for the code. In the meantime, he said both sides would continue to keep the peace, stability and freedom of navigation and overflight. Also at the summit, ASEAN and China agreed to sign a Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 which outlines a roadmap for a partnership through the next decade. Dream a little dream. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images For more than two years, Donald Trump was responsible for stalling long-in-the-making bipartisan criminal-justice reform legislation addressing some of the excesses of the War on Drugs and other tough-on-crime efforts of the last century. For the moment, at least, that obstruction seems to have ended. Just when a real bipartisan juggernaut seemed to be forming in the Senate to enact reforms in mandatory sentencing laws in 2016, Mitch McConnell put it off because it seemed to collide with the Trump campaigns law-and-order rhetoric. After being elected, Trump appointed one of the Senates most outspoken opponents of criminal-justice reform, Jeff Sessions, his attorney general, and conservative obstruction of legislation got more obdurate. Eventually the presidents son-in-law, minister without portfolio Jared Kushner, took up the cause, and helped design a much less sweeping House bill that was less controversial to conservatives, as I explained earlier this year: Kushnerwas reportedly drawn to the subject by his fathers experience (after convictions including for tax evasion) from the wrong side of the bars in the federal correctional system. But Kushners angle on reform, flowing from his assignment as a sort of government efficiency czar, was inevitably focused on the more limited issue of prison operations and prisoner release policies, not sentencing. And so, with the Trump administration and its closest allies still unwilling to undertake a broader initiative, a Kushner-inspired prison reform bill a half-loaf at best in the eyes of most criminal-justice reformers was just approved by the House (by a 36059 margin). This First Step Act (a label that referred to its provisions for newly released prisoners, but which also described its relationship to more comprehensive criminal-justice reform initiatives) attracted some liberal opposition due to its underwhelming scope. But to his credit, Kushner huddled with the bipartisan Senate sponsors of the earlier legislation (notably Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley and Democrat Dick Durbin) and worked out a compromise adding four key sentencing-reform provisions to the prison-reform bill, as explained at the time by The Hill: The proposed compromise would lower lifetime mandatory minimum sentences for people with prior nonviolent drug felony convictions to 25 years and reduce 20-year mandatory minimum sentences for similar offenders to 15 years. But in an effort to reach common ground, that reform would only apply to new sentences and not to people already in jail. A third reform would apply the Fair Sentencing Act, which Congress passed in 2010 and reduced the disparity between cocaine- and crack-related offenses, retroactively. The final reform would expand exceptions to the application of mandatory-minimum sentences to more people with criminal histories. This deal largely quelled progressive opposition to the measure, and left as its only public opponents loudmouthed law-and-order senators like John Cornyn, Ted Cruz, and most of all Tom Cotton, famous for claiming that America had an under-incarceration problem. Kusnher worked on his father-in-law to overcome such opposition, but in the end Trump agreed with political advisers who pushed for putting the whole thing off until after the midterms, presumably to keep the GOPs message as savagely pro-punishment as possible in order to excite the partys MAGA base. Today Kushner finally got Trump across the finish line in a media event in which POTUS endorsed the First Step Act and encouraged Congress to enact it. He apparently insisted on delaying the endorsement until more law-enforcement groups signed on, and the bills sponsors also made some late-minute concessions to Republican senators that kept certain offenders connected with fentanyl trafficking from benefiting from its provisions. Democratic co-sponsors also probably didnt appreciate Trumps remarks suggesting the legislation was needed because his economic policies had created so many job opportunities for ex-cons, or his pointed reference to the Clinton Crime Bill (e.g., the bipartisan omnibus crime legislation of 1994) as having created many of the problems the bill addressed. The First Step Act must still get through both houses of Congress since the more limited House-passed version has been changed in the Senate. And thanks to stubborn GOP opposition, Mitch McConnell is still cautious about moving the bill, even with Trump supporting it, as Politico noted today: The GOP leader has been loath to move the prison and sentencing reform bill for months because the sentencing reform aspect divides his caucus painfully between reformers like Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) and the opposition of Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who calls it a jailbreak bill. So even though advocates hope Trump will endorse the bill as early as Wednesday afternoon [which he did], McConnell is laying out a steep path to passage in the Senate. In addition to Cottons scorched earth campaign against the bill, Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana has criticized his states Democratic governor for pursuing criminal justice reform there while weighing his own run for the office. Yes, Sessions is gone, and yes, this legislation is supported by a coalition that ranges from the Koch brothers to the ACLU. But Trump could yet decide Jareds handiwork isnt worth the trouble, and the bill will at least temporarily expire if its not passed during the lame-duck session. So todays event was, at most, a tentative if welcome step toward First Step. Tehran A mystery trip with dubious meetings! Sigmar Gabriel (59, SPD) has travelled to Tehran with a German economic delegation (15 owners of medium-sized businesses). The politician was welcomed by high-ranking representatives of the regime. He travelled to Iran on the invitation of his fellow former foreign minister, Javad Zarif. The schedule includes, among other things: meetings with the head of the central bank, the energy minister, and the parliament speaker (who, in 2007, called the existence of the Holocaust an open question). Also at the reception: Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. His responsibility in Iran is to support Palestinian terror groups. The trip was organized by the Nah- und Mittelost-Verein (Near and Middle East Association). The foreign office was informed about the trip in advance, but did not contribute to the expenses. It claims that the local Iranian embassy has supported the preparations and accompanied the delegation to the official events. According to the Iranian news agency, Gabriel appearing all statesmanlike reaffirmed that Berlin would keep fulfilling its nuclear deal obligations. He disapproves of new sanctions against the regime: It will be very important that the EU makes good on its promise to oppose the sanctions policy of the US, and to support the companies that still want to do business in Iran, Gabriel told BILD. Bijan Djir-Sarai (FDP) comments: I suppose that Gabriel is following Gerhard Schroders example and utilizing his position as former foreign minister to make economic contacts. For Immediate Release, November 15, 2018 Contact: Elise Bennett, Center for Biological Diversity, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org Debbie Doss, Arkansas Watertrails Partnership, (501) 472-6873, Ddoss@conwaycorp.net John Kelly, (314) 479-7375, kellyjj1@gmail.com Arkansas Curtails Commercial Trapping of Wild Turtles, Orders Study Protections Limit Some Killing, But Stronger Rules Needed LITTLE ROCK, Ark. In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and Arkansas-based environmental organizations, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission today unanimously adopted regulations to restrict commercial trapping of wild freshwater turtles and study the effect of commercial trapping on wild populations. The new regulations ban commercial harvest of all turtles in the Gulf Coastal Plain and the St. Francis River in Greene and Clay counties. They also ban the harvest of razorback musk turtles statewide. The regulations also create new reporting requirements for commercial dealers and trappers, which are intended to ensure more accurate self-reporting of the number and size of turtles trapped. The commission will conduct a three-year study from 2019 to 2021 to determine the effect of commercial trapping on wild turtle populations in the Delta region, where the majority of trapping occurs. During the study period, the sale of commercial turtle harvest and dealer permits will be capped at 150 permits per year. Arkansas is making progress by limiting unsustainable commercial turtle trapping and looking at impacts on wild populations, but stronger protections are badly needed, said Elise Bennett, a Center attorney dedicated to protecting rare reptiles and amphibians. A ban on trapping is vital for ensuring a future for Arkansass wild turtles. The new regulations are a step in the right direction. Before the new regulations, trappers could legally collect unlimited numbers of 14 types of turtles from roughly half the state to sell domestically or export to foreign food, pet and medicinal markets. The new regulations would still allow commercial collection of 13 types of turtles, but with additional geographic limitations. Its great that our native turtle species will have more protections from the dangers of commercial harvesting and that Arkansas will soon have a study of our own native populations, said Debbie Doss, director of the Arkansas Watertrails Partnership. Studies from surrounding states have shown how sensitive these animals are to any reduction in numbers. It is my hope that this study will lead to better and more informed protections in the future. I am grateful to all who commented in favor of the new rules. Arkansans clearly love their turtles! Turtle harvesting has proven to be a universally unsustainable practice, and Arkansas is no exception, said John Kelly, a biologist and teacher who completed his masters study on Arkansass turtle populations. The Natural State has the choice to reverse the harmful and permanent impacts harvesting has had on freshwater turtles and the beautiful rivers and wetlands they live in, but it needs to do so quickly and decisively. The new regulations get us moving in the right direction. Scientists have repeatedly documented that freshwater turtles cannot sustain any significant level of wild collection without population-level impacts and declines. One study of common snapping turtles demonstrated that a modest harvest of 10 percent per year for 15 years could result in a 50 percent reduction in population size. And an Arkansas study found that turtles from populations in heavily harvested areas were significantly smaller than those from areas where harvesting is not permitted. Conservative records show that more than 1.3 million wild turtles have been harvested from Arkansass waters over the past 13 years. Most of these were large, reproductively mature turtles important to the survival of wild populations. A growing number of states have already dedicated themselves to protecting wild turtles. In February Missouri banned commercial turtle trapping, and in August Texas followed suit. In 2017 New York ended commercial trapping of diamondback turtles, Nevada halted commercial reptile collection, and Iowa reined in trapping with new harvest limits. In the past decade, Florida and Alabama have completely banned commercial turtle trapping, and Georgia and Mississippi have approved stronger regulations on the industry. The petition to end unlimited wild turtle trapping in Arkansas was submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity, Arkansas Sierra Club, Arkansas Watertrails Partnership, Audubon Society of Central Arkansas, Environmental Resources Center, Kory Roberts and John Kelly, a biologist who recently studied Arkansass turtle harvest. In October the commission voted to deny the petition to ban commercial turtle trapping but proposed the regulations that were adopted today. With the rapid growth of technology, device manufacturers are now going beyond just hardware. The medical devices industry in India is estimated to be over six billion dollars and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8%. Strikingly, 70-75% of the medical devices are imported, while only about a third is indigenously produced. The market is witnessing rapid growth and represents a vast opportunity for import substitution for local medical device manufacturers who provide cost-effective medical devices that are aligned to the local needs. The Make in India initiative has opened avenues for local manufacturers and entrepreneurs to develop, manufacture and distribute technology that is both cost-effective and reliable. Moreover, companies can benefit from being able to establish their R&D and manufacturing locally to optimize costs and leverage the enormous talent pool of engineers. Further, with the relaxation on FDI in the medical equipment sector, the government has signaled its intent to strengthen the med-tech industry in India. Today, indigenous Med-tech innovations are developing technologies that assist diagnosis in resource-poor regions, last-mile care delivery (telemedicine solutions), and increased patient safety in referral and tertiary care centres. Technology can be deployed effectively in areas where healthcare workforce is sparse, or there is a death of skilled providers. After-all technology is agnostic to geography! Indeed, locally developed low-cost technology such as portable electrocardiogram machines, IoT ophthalmic equipment, blood glucose monitors, vitals monitors, breast-screening equipment is assisting caregivers in remote locations. The rapid penetration of cellular connectivity in lower-tier cities and rural areas has opened up these markets for indigenous players. With the rapid growth of technology, device manufacturers are now going beyond just hardware. Device manufacturers are now leveraging the masses of data that is being generated to develop artificial intelligence solutions that can bridge our gap in the skilled workforce in difficult to reach areas. Forus Health, an indigenous med-tech innovator in the ophthalmic space, has partnered with Microsoft to provide integrated services in ophthalmology screening using artificial intelligence. This partnership is expected to allow Forus to deploy AI with edge devices to bring healthcare to the last mile. 3nethra is the portable, telemedicine-enabled that can be used by minimally trained technicians to screen patients in remote locations. Trained ophthalmologists can review patients scans remotely and only those patients that need specialized surgery can be advised treatment at tertiary care hospitals in the metros. Another startup, NIRAMAI, uses thermography and artificial intelligence for the screening and early detection of breast cancer. It has portable hand-held devices with cloud connectivity, which can be deployed remotely to screen for breast cancer in remote outreach programs. Indian medical devices are poised for rapid growth over the next decade. However, only those solutions that can navigate this fragmented industry to deliver localized solutions will survive and thrive. With this rapid growth of technology access to reliable screening, diagnostic and patient surveillance systems is rapidly increasing in rural areas and lower tier towns. Healthcare providers and hospitals in these lower-tier towns have been presented with a significant opportunity to implement technology and provide reliable patient care services that have previously been restricted to the metros. These providers stand to significantly improve their revenues and deliver better outcomes to patients if they are willing to invest in the booming cloud-connected device ecosystem. For the aam aadmi living in the lower tier towns, not having to take days off to travel to the city for specialist consultation is a significant cost saving. Not only can technology provide this common man the latest technology at their local hospital, but it is also now not burning a hole in their proverbial pockets! Dr. Roheet Rao, VP-Sales, Stasis The app allows patients to find products, anonymously contribute and access reviews within the community, track personal dosages and document outcomes. Gofire, a Denver-based digital healthcare company, has released a groundbreaking app and scannable DoseCode technology as part of its comprehensive health suite for plant-based medicine. The app allows patients to find products, anonymously contribute and access reviews within the community, track personal dosages and document outcomes. The Gofire DoseCode is a branded QR code attached to exclusive plant-based medical products found in hundreds of retailers across Colorado. After downloading the Gofire app, patients use their phone to scan a DoseCode on edibles, topicals, tinctures and extracts, which pulls the chemical profile of that product validated from a third-party testing lab. The patient rates how each dose worked for their relief, anonymously tracking every session to discover trends and create a consistent, repeatable experience. When patients download the Gofire app, they join a community of like-minded individuals searching for a similar type of relief. The app gives patients access to education and anonymous product ratings from other community members. This enables them to determine which products and dose sizes will work best for their needs and then drives them to a map where they can find specific products at retailers in the area. Study may help understand molecular basis of infection & has implications in designing drugs to treat Chikungunya. Indian Institute of Technology Mandi researchers has identified dark regions in the proteins of Chikungunya Virus. The Study could help understand molecular basis of infection and has implications in designing drugs to treat Chikungunya. The research undertaken by Dr. Rajanish Giri, Assistant Professor of Biotechnology, School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi, is aimed at understanding the structure and action of the Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) through computational studies. Assisted by his research scholars, Ankur Singh, Ankur Kumar and Rakhi Yadav, Dr. Giri collaborated with Dr. Vladimir Uversky from University of South Florida in unravelling the un-structural biology or the dark proteome of the virus through computational studies. Further the group has also identified the molecular recognition features of the virus (MoRF). These findings by Prof. Giris work has recently been published in the Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group) and the Royal Society of Chemistrys open access journal, RSC Advances. Classical virology is built on isolation and culture of the virus itself, which is often difficult, given the prevalence and variety of viruses known. With the advent of the silicon revolution in the latter part of the Twentieth Century, the field of virology has come to be aided by computational studies and bioinformatics, the amalgamation resulting in a new area of research - computational virology/viroinformatics. Computer simulations are now being used in inter-disciplinary laboratories worldwide to probe the structure and chemical nature of virus. Such studies afford better understanding of the nature in which the virus infects hosts, which, in turn, provides handles for therapeutic design. Speaking about the importance of this Research, Dr. Giri said, The pathogenic mechanism of arthropod-borne CHIKV is not fully understood as yet because of the sacristy of information about the structure and non-structure of the viral proteins. Our Research seeks to fill this gap in knowledge. Further, he added, We believe that the analysis of the MoRF-based interactions of CHIKV proteins could help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the pathogenicity of this virus. The team used multiple computational tools to identify the MoRFs in the proteins of the CHIKV. The team found that all CHIKV proteins have at least one MoRF crucial for signaling events during survival and pathogenesis of the virus. Dr. Giri is hopeful that once all the molecular mechanisms of CHIKV proteins are deciphered and protein-protein interactions are understood, there would be a better path towards design of specific drug molecules that can act against this virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 1.5 million deaths worldwide are caused by viral infections every year. Given that there are 320,000 mammalian viruses that can potentially infect human beings, mans hope of preventing and treating virus-borne diseases hinges on rigorous research enterprise. The understanding of viruses has come a long way since its description by the Dutch microbiologist Martinus Beijerinck as contagium vivum fluidum (contagious living liquid) in the late Nineteenth Century. Scientists are now aware that viruses are infectious agents that cause a plethora of human illnesses. Chikungunya Virus is a mosquito-transmitted pathogen that has caused epidemic outbreaks in Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and the Americas in recent years. Chikungunya, the word meaning to become contorted in the Kimakonde language of Tanzania and northern Mozambique, causes severe joint and muscle pain (hence to become contorted), rashes, and fever. The Chikungunya virus is made of a shell of protein that envelopes a single stranded RNA. The RNA encodes for four non-structural and five structural proteins. Almost all these proteins interact with the proteins of the host that the virus infects and hence, it is important to understand their nature. CHIKV has higher percentage of dark proteome. The dark proteome defined as proteins not amenable to structure determination by conventional methods, such as x-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. Dark proteins break the rule of conventional proteins i.e., the function of a protein depends critically on its fixed three-dimensional structure; for example, protein binds to specific ligands because their shapes match perfectly, as stated in the lock-and-key model proposed by chemist Emil Fischer in 1894. Most of the dark proteome are hybrid proteins containing ordered domains and Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Regions (IDPRs), which show specific functions without being folded into unique 3D structure under physiological conditions explained by numbers of scientists world-wide. The team has analyzed the abundance and functionality of IDPs/IDPRs in CHIKV proteins, by using various computational tools. These proteins are involved in replication and maturation of CHIKV. The CHIKV proteins have been shown to contain variable levels of intrinsic disorder that can interact with many unrelated partners, and these interactions are frequently accompanied by a transition from a disordered to ordered state. The corresponding sub-regions of IDPRs are acknowledged as molecular recognition features (MoRFs). The focus of Dr. Giris team is the identification and analysis of the MoRFs in the viral proteins of this alpha-virus. This will enable the students to get hands-on experience on various techniques. Eppendorf India and Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for training students of Biotechnology on various modules. Eppendorf is committed to skill development by offering tailor made training programs for those students. The Training facility at Ambattur, Chennai encompasses state-of-the-art laboratories with conference and classroom facility. A team of Eppendorf Experts handle these activities by offering training program for students on modules such as Good Liquid Handling Practices, Art of Spinning (Centrifugation), Quantify in a new light (Detection of Biomolecules), Advanced PCR and Cell Culture. This will enable the students to get hands-on experience on various techniques. The Memorandum of Understanding also aims at faculty development programs to keep them up to date with latest technologies. You know you trust me. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images The 2018 American Institutional Confidence Poll, sponsored by Georgetown University and the Knight Foundation, asked Americans about 20 institutions in American life, from the military to the Executive branch of the federal government to Google to religion. The survey found Amazon was Americas second-most-trusted institution, trailing only the military. Such a favorable view might seem a little surprising when you consider all the political criticism Amazon has faced over the last few years. Democrats have dinged Amazon for its pay and labor practices, avoiding sales taxes, and for being a suspiciously large, arguably monopolistic player. And the Republican president has pursued a vendetta against the company, accusing it of taking the postal service for a ride and killing shopping malls. Yet the public doesnt just like Amazon; they love it. Democrats rated Amazon their most-trusted institution. Republicans ranked it third just ahead of the Executive branch, which Donald Trump runs. This is worth remembering as you watch the political and media blowback over the very rich subsidy deal New Yorks mayor and governor have offered to Amazon. Conservatives hate the deal; leftists hate the deal. The Wall Street Journal editorial page and Democratic Socialist congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez agree: Amazon is getting something it doesnt need or deserve. You should not assume the broad, Amazon-loving public will share their objection. Why is Amazon so popular? Because it does what it says it will do. It tells you it will get products to your door within two days, and then they appear, at a reasonable price. In a time of widespread institutional failure when political parties promise things they know they cant deliver; when banks fail and bring the economy down with them; when the church cant follow its own moral standards; when other tech companies are consumed by scandal Amazon stands out as a huge entity that keeps its promises, or at least its promises to consumers. And that is overwhelmingly how the public interacts with and thinks about Amazon: not as workers, and not as ideological planners evaluating how the whole economy should work, but as consumers. That doesnt mean necessarily that people want the government to just hand Amazon big sacks of cash as a thank-you for not failing in the same way so many other institutions do. But thats not how the subsidy deal is framed. As I wrote on Tuesday, I think the argument for the subsidy package is ultimately wrong, but its not crazy. Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have a theory of the case: By bringing Amazon to Long Island City, they hope to build a New York tech cluster to rival Silicon Valley, create a true commercial office core in Queens that will produce tax revenues for decades to come, and diversify the city away from the financial sector. And its not just Amazon thats popular. Cuomo and de Blasio are popular, too, and as with Amazon, their popularity runs counter to the media narratives you often hear about them. Cuomos positioning as a subsidy-doling pro-business Democrat hasnt pleased the right or the left, but New York voters have rewarded him with three landslide elections. De Blasio, the seemingly hapless, late-sleeping mayor who never got the national profile he craves and could hardly have a worse relationship with the tabloids, in fact has a solid record of policy accomplishment that allowed him to win a landslide reelection after his landslide election. These popular figures got together with Amazon and have proposed a shiny project that allows them to tell an optimistic story about the future of New York. They all seem to know something about public attitudes that you do not. Do not assume they have made a political mistake. One of the three main tools that Karp uses for promoting infant sleep in his books and DVDs is swaddling, in addition to the use of white noise and motion. Swaddling gives the baby a sense of security and prevents their arms from flailing about and startling themselves awake. But theres an art to swaddling safely and correctly: You need the arms very securely down, but you also need the hips to be open and relaxed. You also dont want to overheat the baby or for the blanket to get unraveled. While you can use a regular blanket to create a swaddle, it may take a little bit more skill and practice, according to Karp. Parents and caretakers may find it easier to wrap up an infant with a specially made swaddle, like Happiest Babys Sleepea 5-Second Swaddle. Not only does it have an internal band that easily secures the arms, it has a quiet Velcro, vented panels, is made from organic cotton, and a zipper that unzips from the top and the bottom. And according to writer Julia McVeigh: If youre a sleep-deprived parent of an infant, you need the good news first: This swaddle is magic. Significance Of 'Saat Phere' Or The Seven Vows Faith Mysticism oi-Sanchita Chowdhury Marriage is a social as well as a spiritual institution. It is a union of two people in which they take a pledge to be with one another for the rest of their lives. Though the concept of marriage is more or less the same across cultures, the rituals are different for every culture throughout the world. A Hindu marriage especially has a whole lot of rituals which have to be followed closely for the marriage to be deemed complete. Not just the bride and the bridegroom participate in it, the entire families of both of them are involved in the ceremony and have significant roles to play. Every member of the family has to become a significant part of one or the other ritual. Among the popular rituals of a Hindu marriage are the sindoor daan, wearing of the mangalsutra by the bride and the most important of all, the Saat Phere. Saat Phere is the most significant ritual of Hindu marriage. In this ritual, the couple walks seven rounds around the sacred fire and takes seven most sacred vows which both the bride and groom must follow for the entire life. A Hindu marriage is not considered solemnised without following this ritual of Saat Phere. Like the seven notes of music, seven colours of the rainbow, seven seas and seven islands, etc. the couple seeks to be together for the next seven births by taking these seven rounds, the 'Saat Phere'. Here is what is the significance of 'saat phere' or the seven vows in a marriage. Read on about the elaborate meaning with mantras of saat phere. | Astro Tips for Happy Marriage | Boldsky First Phera Groom - Om Esha Ekapadi Bhav Iti Prathamam Bride - Dhanam Dhanyam Pade Vadet In the first round or Phera, the groom promises the bride that he would take care of her nourishment and provide happiness and food for her and their children. He will take care of their family in every possible way. The bride promises to share this responsibility of her husband by helping him in looking after the home and his food along side managing the finances at home. Second Phera Groom - Om Orrje Jaraa Dastayaha Bride - Kutumburn Rakshayishyammi sa Aravindharam In the second round, the groom promises the bride that they both will protect the house and the children. The bride also promises that she will encourage her husband in all his ventures and support him at his every step in life. That she would always encourage him and be his strength. Third Phera Groom - Om Rayas Santu Joraa Dastayaha Bride - Tava Bhakti as Vadedvachacha In the third round, the groom prays that they should become wealthy and their children should also be able to get good education and they should have a long life.The bride promises that she will love the groom devotedly and all other men will be secondary to him for her. Fourth Phera Groom - Om Mayo Bhavyas Jaradastaya ha Bride - Lalayami Cha Pade Vadet In the fourth Phera, the groom thanks his bride for making his life sacred and beautiful and prays that they may be blessed with obedient children. The bride promises the groom that she will fill his life with joy and happiness. Fifth Phera Groom - Om Prajabhayaha Santu Jaradastayaha Bride - Arte Arba Sapade Vadet In the fifth round, the groom tells the bride that she is his best friend from hence forth, may the God bless her, for she is his dearest well wisher. The bride vows to love her husband till the time she lives; she would always trust him, his happiness would be her happiness. She promises to trust him. Sixth Phera Groom - Rutubhyah Shat Padi Bhava Bride - Yajna Hom Shashthe Vacho Vadet In the sixth Phera, the groom asks that since she has taken six steps with him and thus given him happiness, will she always do that for him? The bride then promises to stand by his side forever, and keep him happy in the same way. Seventh Phera Groom - Om Sakhi Jaradastayahga Bride - Attramshe Sakshino Vadet Pade In the last round the groom prays for the longevity of their marriage and lifelong friendship. He says that he is now her husband and she his wife. The wife, accepting the words of her husband says that with God as the supreme witness, she becomes his wife and that they both would now cherish a happy married life. 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Photo: Courtesy Snowe Home With so many bedding start-ups promising premium-quality, hotel-style sheets at direct-to-consumer prices, it can be hard to know whats what. And with the rise in popularity of linen sheets, its easier than ever to achieve that laid-back, rumpled, yet still intentional look for your bed. To help us wade through the many styles and fabrics out there a crisp cotton percale, a silky sateen, or something in between we reached out to design experts and tastemakers for their recommendations on the best bedsheets to buy, from classic, white Egyptian cotton to ecofriendly linen to completely bespoke sets. (And if you want to look at even more sheets, we found the best-reviewed bedsheets on Amazon, too.) Most of the options on this list are sold in sets that come with a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and two pillowcases, but weve noted if pieces are sold separately. And all prices listed are for queen-size sheets unless otherwise specified. Finally, a note about thread count, which weve listed for cotton percale and any other sheets that provide it in their name. Generally speaking, the higher the thread count (or the number of threads per square inch of fabric) means sheets will be softer and more durable and, often, more expensive but the experts say that sheet shopping shouldnt rest on thread count alone. The quality of the yarn and manufacturing also play important roles, so make sure to consider all those aspects in making a decision. Matouk was by far the most recommended brand by our experts, with seven designers calling it their favorite company for beautiful, high-quality sheets. All of the percale sheets shown are made of 350 thread-count, long-staple cotton, which is considered to be among the most premium yarns. My favorite sheets are Matouk, mostly because everythings customizable, from the color of the threading to the monogram and the ruffles, says designer Sasha Bikoff, who told us Matouks scallop embroidered sheets are one style she always comes back to. Theyre very Hollywood Regency and kind of Miami-influenced, too. Designer Lindsey Coral Harper also loves Matouks assortment of scalloped edges, saying that Matouk bedding is a good option if you want something classic with a modern twist. Harper adds that the percale fabric is one of my favorites to sleep on, and the sheets mix and match very well. Matouks Sierra percale sheets are also the go-to options for interior designers Anne Hepfer and Elizabeth Gill. Matouks Sierra cotton percale sheets are a beautiful, classic base that can pair with any bedding, says Hepfer, who opts for Matouk sheets when shes looking for the ultimate luxury in quality and feel. Meanwhile, interior designer Vicente Wolf prefers the Meridian sheets, which he says are his go-to style for most projects. Theres something uniquely versatile about them theyre sophisticated enough for city life, but even in a country home they work perfectly against a more rustic backdrop, he says. I never second-guess these sheets. Matouks linens are also among designers Ariel Okin and Cara Woodhouses favorites as well. Its the company that I personally use the most because of its quality as well as the luxurious feel of everything it makes, says Woodhouse. Matouk sells its sheets and pillowcases separately, but this allows you to mix and match styles, as our designers have noted. Matouk Pomegranate Flat Sheet $324 $324 Georgia-based interior designer Elaine Griffin, meanwhile, suggests this pomegranate pattern. Its one of her favorites because its fresh enough to say new traditional without being matronly. This set is a collaboration between Schumacher and Matouk, based on an 18th-century design they found deep within Schumachers archive. And Griffin thinks the collaboration was so successful that design history was made. $324 at Matouk Buy Marimekko Ajo 200 Thread Count Cotton Sheet Set (Queen) $80 $80 According to Alessandra Wood, the VP of style at online interior-design service Modsy, cotton percale sheets are great if you run hot when you sleep. She says that while the thread count is lower in these sheets, they are still crisp, cool, and breathable. Wood prefers patterned sheets to solids, which is another reason she pointed us to this striped set from Finnish design house Marimekko (which, as weve written before, is beloved for its eye-catching prints). $80 at Nordstrom Buy Snowe Percale 500 Thread Count Sheet Set $220 $220 Like the Matouk sheets above, Snowes percale sheets are also made of long-staple cotton, and have a slightly higher thread count of 500, making this set particularly well-priced when you consider that Matouks sheets are sold separately. Theyre recommended by Kai Avent-deLeon, the owner of Sincerely, Tommy. I really liked Snowes dinnerware, so I started using their sheets, too, and Ive found that theyre really good-quality and decently priced, she says. Theyre cotton, which is the only material I buy now, and theyre really soft, kind of plush. Theyre breathable and low-maintenance, so I dont have to constantly clean them even though I buy an off-white color. $220 at Snowe Buy Parachute Percale Sheet Set $129 Parachutes percale sheets are similarly made from long-staple Egyptian cotton (and are crafted in Portugal). Theyre interior designer Kate Lesters favorite sheets because theyre both lightweight and durable, and actually get softer and softer the more she washes them. While she says shes a stickler for a crisp and classic high-quality white cotton sheet, she loves the brands really chic range of other hues, including this on-trend clay color. $129 at Parachute Buy West Elm 400 Thread Count Organic Cotton Percale Sheet Set $140 $140 If youre looking for something slightly more affordable, Courtney McLeod, the founder and principal designer of New York Citybased Right Meets Left Interior Design, recommends this set of percale sheets from West Elm, which she says are excellent quality for the price. Theyre made from 100 percent organic cotton in fair-trade-certified facilities and, in addition to the white shown, they also come in a cool silver color. You can even get them monogrammed, for an extra fee. The sheets are also made from fabric that is Global Organic Textile Standardcertified (GOTS certification is the leading standard for textiles made of organic fibers). $140 at West Elm Buy Frette Hotel Classic Sheet Set, Queen $500 $500 Of course, you cant talk fancy sheets without mentioning Frette, which was recommended by two of our experts. It comes as no surprise that Frettes also happen to be the most-recommended sheets by hotel insiders, too. Says Michael Shome, the visuals director at Architectural Digest: My absolute favorite sheets are the hotel classic from Frette, which are kind of like the fantasy version of Upper East Side hotel-bed linens. Theyre Italian-made in this Egyptian cotton thats just the softest and butteriest fabric to laze around in. I love the chic and simple double-line embroidery, too. Frette sheets are also what Okin turns to when shes looking for something classic. According to Frettes website, their percale sheets have a thread count of between 200 and 240. $500 at Frette Buy D. Porthault Lilas Pink/Lavender Bed Linens $2,750 $2,750 To Griffin, nothing confers instant and irrefutable chic like seeing one of these iconic prints on someones bed. The blue lilac print she favors is currently sold out, but its available in a pink-and-lavender lilac pattern thats just as fresh. For the ultimate bedscape, she suggests getting the matching duvet cover to complete the look. It makes climbing under the covers feel like springtime in Paris, she says. Griffin notes that it is investment bedding at its finest, but if you hit their twice-yearly sales, youll easily avoid having to take out a second mortgage to afford them. $2,750 at D. Porthault Buy Best linen sheets Brooklinen Linen Core Sheet Set $242 $269 now 10% off $242 Linen sheets, which are made from the natural fiber of the flax plant, are generally more expensive than cotton sheets because of their more involved manufacturing process and their durability. Theyre said to get better and softer over time, too, making them a nice long-term investment. If youre looking to explore linen sheets for the first time, Brooklinens Luxe Hardcore set is a good place to start. According to former Strategist senior writer Lauren Levy, Brooklinen made me fall in love with linen sheets. She says that theyre so cozy and so soft and have an immediately worn-in feel that only gets softer over time and with each wash. Wood also loves this set, saying it makes for a bit of an unexpected look in the bedroom. $242 at Brooklinen Buy Linoto 100% Pure Sheet Set, 14 Inch Standard Depth, Queen $349 $349 According to former Strategist senior editor Margaret Rhodes, Linotos linen sheets felt heavier and more like the idea of an heirloom sheet than any other Ive encountered. Thats because, she explains, theyre all made in upstate New York without using chemicals or an enzyme prewash that many other linen sheet manufacturers rely on for that lived-in feeling. And interior designer Leah Alexander is a fan, too: Theyre beautiful and made Stateside for a palatable lead time, which is saying something these days, she says. All of Linotos fabric is sourced from mills in Italy and Belgium, and Rhodes says that these have the right ratio of soothing to crisp qualities you want in a good set of linen sheets. Forbes and Masters loves these linen sheets, calling out that theyre available in a whopping 25 different colors. $349 at Linoto Buy Cultiver Linen Sheet Set $385 $385 Theyre on the pricier side, but these linen sheets from Cultiver come highly recommended by interior designer Tali Roth, who loves their effortless crushed and casual look and notes that they also come in a gorgeous assortment of colors. Interior designer Tina Rich agrees, saying the Cultiver sheets instantly create a cozy, relaxed vibe. I always suggest Cultiver to my clients and also use them in my own home. She adds that the sheets are supersoft and great quality. While shown in white, if youre looking to try a colorful pair, Richs favorite options are dusk, smoke gray, and sage. After testing lots of different linen sheets, our editors agree that these are as soft as the experts say and come in some of the most unusual colors you can get. $385 at Cultiver Buy Architect and designer Maria Augusta Louro told us about Bella Nottes linen bedding (and the brand is mentioned elsewhere on this list by experts who love its sheets made of other fabrics). Louro says that while sleeping on 500-thread-count Egyptian cotton is nice, theres nothing like sleeping on linen, which to her feels so fresh. While Bella Nottes linens dont come cheap, you can buy each piece separately. She especially loves the lace detailing on the Frida pillowcase and says that the collection is elegant, delicate, made under humane conditions, colored using low-impact dyes, and contains the lowest possible levels of toxins. Bella Notes Frida flat sheet has that same lace detailing on its edges, and you can also buy an unembellished linen fitted sheet from the brand as well. My go-to and most beloved collection of bed linens is produced by a company named Linge Particulier, says Jenny Dina Kirschner, the principal of JDK Interiors. The soft, ecofriendly sheets are made of 100 percent biodegradable washed linen, and come in an array of rich, earthy tones that she calls the most beautiful, vivid colors. Though the brand is expensive, she loves how low maintenance these are: They can be washed and tossed in the dryer and do not ever require ironing, unlike a more traditional crisp, cotton duvet and sheeting that wrinkles after one night of use. Linge Particulier also sells a matching linen pillowcase for $50. Avocado Green Mattress Organic Linen Sheets $409 $409 If youre looking for organic linen sheets, consider these from Avocado Green Mattress that interior designer Lauren Ashley Allan swears by. Theyre loomed in France with 100 percent GOTS organiccertified linen and are available in white and natural. We mixed these into one of our projects in Los Angeles and absolutely loved them, she says. They have a relaxed, carefree look but are still so chic. Theyre also breathable, durable, and sustainable, according to Allan. They can pair with their beautiful linen duvet cover if you want a matching set, she adds. $409 at Avocado Mattress Buy Best sateen sheets Pure Beech 100% Modal Sateen 400 Thread Count Sheet Set $100 $100 Thanks to their weave, sateen sheets, like these 100 percent modal sheets from Pure Beech, have a silkier feel than percale and these, which come recommended by Okin, are super comfy, according to her. Another fan of these sheets is interior designer Sheila Bridges, who told us she has 20 or so sets of sheets in her closet and that these are the softest, by far. Bridges describes them as feeling almost feel like flannel, but very lightweight, so theyre not as warm just really soft and comfortable to the touch. At $100 for a queen-sized set, the price is reasonable enough that you can get a couple pairs, should you never want to go without them on your bed. $100 at Bed Bath & Beyond Buy Pottery Barn Dream Brushed Organic Cotton Sheet Set $149 $149 Woodhouse often turns to Pottery Barn for sheets, noting that the company has some great sheets and deals on bedding that offer a designer feel and look. She specifically loves this 300-thread-count sateen set because its made of a brushed organic cotton that she says is supersoft and gives a cozy, earthy look and feel. $149 at Pottery Barn Buy Threshold 400 Thread Count Solid Performance Sheet Set $49 $49 Target sells these sateen sheets as part of its in-house Threshold line, and Forbes and Master recommend them for being great quality for a great price. They add that these sheets come in a nice range of colors, including blush (shown here), rose, rust, cream, and dark purple. Made of 100 percent cotton, the 400-thread-count sheets are wrinkle-, pill-, and shrink-resistant for easy upkeep. $49 at Target Buy Ikea Nattjasmin Sheet Set $40 $40 McLeod recommends this even more affordable set of sateen sheets from Ikea. The silky sheets have a lustrous finish and are made from a blend of lyocell and sustainably grown cotton. According to the product description, the fabrication helps to draw and absorb moisture away from your body as you sleep, keeping you dry through the night. McLeod notes that the extra-deep fitted sheet works well with thicker mattresses, adding: You cant beat this option for the price. $40 at Ikea Buy Hill House Home Savile Quick Snooze Sheet Set $250 $250 Interior designer Hilary Matts favorite sheets are these Saville sheets from Hill House Home, a brand Okin also loves for luxurious sheets. I love the crisp and clean hotel look they have when your bed is made up, she says. They feel good and are supersoft and luxurious. This set, made from a 100 percent brushed cotton sateen, allows you to add a pop of color in its lovely piping detail, which you can get in emerald green, black, or white. To add even more character, you can customize Hill House Homes sheets with your initials, a feature that Matt appreciates. $250 at Hill House Home Buy I never knew luxury sheets until I experienced Sferra, says Tiffany Cobb, founder of Tiffany Rene Interior Design, whos pick is Sferras Giza collection. Though theyre an investment, Cobb swears as soon as you feel them, youll understand the appeal. Theyre made from cotton grown in the Nile River Valley, then woven in Italy. For something slightly more affordable, consider the Sereno line, which Gill recommends. Sferra Sereno sheets are elegantly finished with a tone-on-tone hemstitch and are smooth to the touch, Gill adds. Frette Links Embroidered Sheet Set $1,475 $1,475 And then, of course, theres Frette, which Cobb says is no stranger to taking a classic style and kicking it up a notch. Theyre pricey, yes, but theyre beloved by many interior designers, hoteliers, and celebrities for their literal hotel-quality feel. And while many of our experts recommended the brands cotton sheets, Cobb thinks this sateen set is particularly special. I love the updated style of the embroidered chain design on this sateen sheet set, she says. $1,475 at Frette Buy Best alternative-fiber sheets BedVoyage Bamboo Rayon Sheet Set (Queen, Ivory) $165 now 10% off $148 I recently used bamboo linens for a large project and I will definitely be using them more going forward, says Anishka Clarke, co-owner of Ishka Designs. Bamboo is one of the strongest and hardest natural materials, and yet when you feel the fibers on these sheets, its just incredibly soft. Softer than youd imagine. Supersoft like, baby-soft on your skin. And since they are made of this strong bamboo, she adds, the sheets are extremely durable they generally lasts about two times longer than cotton sheets. Bamboo sheets are usually more expensive, but overall quality and durability makes the fabric a hands-down winner. $148 at Amazon Buy $148 at Amazon Buy Oasis Fine Linens Island Bamboo Collection, Blue Moon (Full) $99 $99 These bamboo-rayon sheets from Oasis Fine Linens are Decorilla designer Devin Shaffers personal favorite when it comes to bedsheets. Shaffer, who has pets, notes that bamboo has the added benefit of naturally resisting odors and bacteria. Hes gone through two sets of these in five years and says theyre perfect. While this specific set does not list a thread count, Shaffer notes that bamboo linens feel as soft as sheets whose thread counts reach up to 2,000. Bamboo sheets are also great for night sweaters, as their excellent moisture-wicking and insulating properties help regulate body temperature. $99 at Amazon Buy $99 at Amazon Buy Comphy Sheet Set $152 Photo: Retailer For years, Ive been using Comphy as my go-to for wrinkle-free, supersoft sheets, says interior designer Caitlin Murray, the founder of Black Lacquer Design. These sheets are made from a microfiber twill that, according to the website, is comparable to 600-thread-count sheets. Comphy started as a hotel-spa line, so the sheets are extra-durable and stain-resistant, Murray adds. Bonus: Theyre also recyclable. $152 at Comphy Buy While Comphy makes her go-to sheets, Murray says that when it comes to super-fancy ones, Bella Notte is my favorite luxury bedding brand. She particularly loves their silky Madera sheets, calling them seriously divine. Theyre made from Tencel, a sustainable fiber that is soft and breathable like cotton. She typically goes with white for her sheets, but notes that Bella Notte has a curated selection of beautiful colors that are small-batch and garment-dyed. Like Bella Nottes linen sheets, each piece is sold separately. Best jersey sheets Coyuchi Organic Jersey Sheets $178 $178 If sustainability is a priority for you, Adelson recommends trying this jersey sheet set from Coyuchi, the maker of some Strategist-approved bath towels and linen sheets. While these sheets are on the pricey side for jersey sheets, you can sleep easier knowing that they are made from 100 percent organic cotton without the use of toxic bleaches, dyes, and other chemicals. When youre done with them, you can send them back to be renewed, recycled, or upcycled (and kept out of landfills) as part of Coyuchis 2nd Home program and receive 15 percent off on your next purchase. $178 at Coyuchi Buy Best silk sheets Unlike satin sheets that just feel silky, sheets made of actual silk are the real deal. But like anything made of silk, they come at a price, which is why starting out with a silk pillowcase could be a good toe-dip before investing in a whole set, according to Zoe Mac, the founder of Zoe Mac Design. You dont end up with as many pillow creases, its gentler on your skin, and your hair isnt as frizzy when you wake up, Mac says of the benefits of silk pillowcases. While Mac thinks most of the silk pillowcases on the market can be really tacky, these, from Kumi Kookoon, are an exception. They have this range of incredible colors. I use a really deep indigo-navy and its a dream to sleep on. Theyre so soft and I really notice the difference when I wake up. My hair is not as crazy-bedhead in the morning and my skin feels better. If you like the pillowcases and want to sleep fully enveloped in silk, you can splurge on one of Kumi Kokoons flat silk sheets and fitted sheets, which come in over 30 colors. Additional reporting by Lauren Levy The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best comforters, bath towels, mattress toppers (twice), pillows for side sleepers, weird kneeling chair, and sleep accessories. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. PR Newswire GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 15, 2018 GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GAC Motor, China's leading automaker, has been active in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets over the last two weeks, opening a sales and service center in the United Arab Emirates on October 31, launching the GAC Motor GS7 in Kuwait on November 2, and debuting the GAC Motor brand in Saudi Arabia on November 4 and in the Philippines on November 8. GAC Motor's UAE sales and service center opened in Dubai on October 31. Distinguished guests participated in an opening ceremony and unveiled the GS7 and GA8, two of the most attractive models offered in the UAE. GAC Motor has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Gargash Group, a famous company in the UAE, to jointly explore the UAE market. On November 2, GAC Motor released its GS7 in the Kuwaiti market. One of GAC Motor's star products, the GS7 meets Kuwaiti consumers' demand for a mobile life with its excellent quality and exceeds expectations for value. GAC Motor has been in Kuwait for five years, and with the help of its Kuwaiti partners, has taken root and sprouted with its excellent quality, effective sales channels and after-sales service network, colorful marketing events and efficient brand promotion, becoming the top Chinese brand in terms of market share. Mr. Cheng Yongru, Economic & Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of China in the State of Kuwait, said in his speech at the press conference that he was very glad to see more Chinese products achieving good results in Kuwait. As a very excellent automobile enterprise in China, GAC Motor is also worthy of recognition for its emphasis on brand construction, product quality and after-sales service. On November 4, GAC Motor launched its brand in Saudi Arabia and set up a sales service and experience shop in the country, bringing numerous star models to the Saudi market. An agreement with powerful Saudi dealer Aljomaih Automotive Company (AAC) to build four sales network and service points in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam will further expand local operations, enrich the vehicles in the local market for customers and provide considerate services. In his speech, Shaikh Ibrahim Aljomaih, Vice Chairman & CEO of AAC, pointed that the entry of GAC Motor into the Saudi market and the level of quality and specifications that GAC Motor cars offer will play a big role in changing people's perspectives about Chinese cars. GAC Motor has ranked first among all Chinese brands in J.D. Power Asia Pacific's China Initial Quality Study (IQS) for six consecutive years, which makes it a strong competitor among many well-known international brands in the Saudi market. Mr. Yu Jun, President of GAC Motor, commented, "Just as our ancestors brought the best silk and porcelain thousands of years ago, GAC Motor has introduced high-quality products to Saudi Arabia: the GS8, GA8, GS4 and GA3S. These models have undergone rigorous quality tests in terms of space, power, reliability, air conditioning and smart network connection, which will give customers in the region the best quality and service. On November 7, GAC Motor held a brand listing event in the Philippines. During the launching event, the brand unveiled a wide range of luxury vehicles: the GA4 sedan, GS4 subcompact SUV, GA8 executive sedan, GM8 premium seven-seater minivan, and the flagship GS8 large SUV. After years of cultivation, GAC Motor has obtained breakthroughs in the Middle East. At present, GAC Motor has successfully exploited the market in eight countries, built a total of 21 sales service centers in the region, and successfully built a mid- to high-end brand image in the market. This year, GAC Motor is also entering the Philippines to explore Southeast Asia. GAC Motor has received positive market feedback, being rated as the "Best Chinese Car Brand" in many overseas markets. About GAC Motor Founded in 2008, Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor CO., LTD (GAC Motor) is a subsidiary of GAC Group which ranks 202nd among Fortune Global 500 companies. The company develops and manufactures premium quality vehicles, engines, components and auto accessories. GAC Motor has now ranked first among all Chinese brands for six consecutive years in J.D. Power Asia Pacific's China Initial Quality Study SM (IQS), demonstrating the company's quality-centric strategy from innovative research and development (R&D), manufacturing to supply chain and sales & services. For more information, please visit: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GACMotor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gac_motor Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/gac_motor Media Contact: Sukie Wong+86-186-8058-2829 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gac-motor-opens-new-regional-showrooms-releases-new-models-and-enters-new-markets-300750952.html SOURCE GAC Motor Canada NewsWire OTTAWA, Nov. 14, 2018 OTTAWA, Nov. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Kapwani Kiwanga, representing the Ontario region, is the winner of the 2018 Sobey Art Award, confirming her position as a rising star in the Canadian contemporary art scene. The award was announced at the annual Sobey Art Award gala held Wednesday evening at the National Gallery of Canada. Upon receiving the award from Ursula Johnson, last year's winner, Kapwani Kiwanga said: "The Sobey Art Award is a humbling encouragement to continue to make work that asks us to look anew at society and its past while allowing us to imagine unbounded possibilities. The award affords me the opportunity to create conditions which will allow me to focus more intently on my work and push it further in the years to come. I am honoured to be included amongst this group of talented artists whose strong voices remind us of art's potential to both move and challenge. I am thankful to all those who have believed, encouraged, supported, called into question, trusted, taken issue, pushed, shared, disputed, and cared." Kapwani Kiwanga is the fifteenth Canadian artist under 40 to win the distinguished annual award, which is valued this year at Can$100,000. The four other finalists: Jordan Bennett, representing the Atlantic region; Jon Rafman, from Quebec; Joi T. Arcand, representing the Prairies and the North and Jeneen Frei Njootli from the West Coast and Yukon; each take home Can$25,000. The 2018 Sobey Art Award Jury was impressed with Kapwani Kiwanga's critically engaged and visually compelling work. "The jury noted how Kapwani Kiwanga creates a visual language to reconsider complexities and peripheries of history. She points to fissures in our human narrative. Using archival materials and referencing anthropology, agriculture, and urban design, among other sources; she reveals global effects of the colonial project. In so doing, she addresses hidden authoritarian structures, institutional devices, and power imbalances to help us see the world differently." The members of the 2018 Sobey Art Award jury, chaired by Josee Drouin-Brisebois, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Canada, are Heather Igloliorte, Independent Curator and Concordia University Research Chair in Indigenous Art History and Community Engagement, for the Atlantic Provinces; Jean-Francois Belisle, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Musee d'art de Joliette, for the Quebec region; November Paynter, Director of Programs, Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada, for the Ontario region; Kristy Trinier, Executive Director, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, for the Prairies and the North region; Melanie O'Brian, Director, Simon Fraser University Galleries, for the West Coast and Yukon; and international juror, Seamus Kealy, Director, Salzburger Kunstverein. The Sobey Art Award aims to promote new developments in contemporary Canadian art and provide much needed financial support for artists as they grow their practice and develop their international network. This year, a total of Can$240,000 in prize money was awarded: the $100,000 for the overall winner, the $25,000 given to each of the four shortlisted artists, as well as $2,000 was awarded to each of the remaining twenty longlisted artists. In addition to the cash awards, three nominees from the longlist will take part in the Sobey Art Award Residencies Program international art residencies funded by the Sobey Art Foundation. Rob Sobey, Chairman of the Sobey Art Foundation, congratulated the 2018 winner on behalf of the Foundation at the gala event: "We are delighted to welcome Kapwani Kiwanga into the alumni of Sobey Art Award winners," he said. "This has been another amazing exhibition and I'd like to thank all of the five shortlisted artists for their hard work and commitment to this process and especially to this exhibition." The first Sobey Art Award was presented in 2002 and awarded biennially until 2006, after which it became an annual award. The prize has had an undeniable impact on the careers of young Canadian contemporary artists including Brian Jungen (2002), Jean-Pierre Gauthier (2004), Annie Pootoogook (2006), Michel de Broin (2007), Tim Lee (2008), David Altmejd (2009), Daniel Barrow (2010), Daniel Young and Christian Giroux (2011), Raphaelle de Groot (2012), Duane Linklater (2013), Nadia Myre (2014), Abbas Akhavan (2015), Jeremy Shaw (2016) and Ursula Johnson (2017). On Thursday, November 15 at 6 pm, Kapwani Kiwanga, joins Mary Lynk, award-winning journalist and producer for CBC radio's IDEAS program, for an on-stage conversation. The event is in English with simultaneous French interpretation and admission is free. For more information please visit Sobey Art Award lectures and Talks on the Gallery's website. The 2018 Sobey Art Award exhibition showcasing the work of all five shortlisted artists is on view at the National Gallery of Canada until February 10, 2019. SOURCE National Gallery of Canada PR Newswire NORTHFIELD, Ill., Nov. 15, 2018 NORTHFIELD, Ill., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- When Baptist Health signed a five-year prime vendor distribution agreement with Medline in 2014, Kentucky's largest not-for-profit health system expected a significant return on its new breadth of medical products. The self-manufactured product portfolio not only delivered flexibility but rapidly sparked buzzworthy savings nearly $8.2 million to date and growing. "Everything we do in supply chain is for the patient," says Cindy Gueltzow, Baptist Health's executive director of supply chain services. "When we reduce our expenses and meet our budgetary goals, it's easier for us to procure capital equipment such as MRI's and upgraded cardiac cath labs. Reducing costs by removing unnecessary clinical variation not only helps us meet our budget, it improves our delivery of care." Patients, System Win with New Savings Strategy Baptist Health, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., works with patients across the state, plus parts of southern Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee. The system's acute care hospitals offer 2,700 licensed beds and more than 300 points of care including outpatient services, urgent care, physician offices, occupational medicine, physical therapy, home care and diagnostics. "Medline and Baptist Health teams are constantly challenging each other to find new ways to drive behind-the-scenes savings to support clinicians and patients," says Senior Vice President of Acute Care at Medline Brian Motter. "Baptist Health has an evolving patient base and some demographic differences amongst its facilities. Our goal is to use the nimbleness of Medline to find even more ways to help the system over the next five years." Smart Solves for Everyday Obstacles Advanced supply chain logistics played a major role in the savings when the system implemented Medline Supply Chain Optimization solutions. Par optimization has been implemented at 90 percent of nursing floor storerooms at Baptist Health Louisville, the system's largest hospital. This helps ensure clinicians have the right amount of supplies based on actual demand. Additionally, Medline's Put-Away-Ready Program for low unit of measure cart supply delivery, is being utilized at Baptist Health Lexington, Baptist Health Louisville and Baptist Health Richmond hospitals. The ability to remove touchpoints from the distribution process and streamline delivery times across far-flung facilities has saved Baptist Health millions in spending on non-clinical items, which will be reallocated toward patient care. "The improvement in inventory management over the past few years has been remarkable," said Steve Oglesby, Baptist Health's chief financial officer. "A key benefit is improved customer service to our physicians and other clinicians by ensuring access to the right supplies at the right place, at the right time, at the right price. Accomplishing this requires efficient and effective daily management. The system has also benefited from lower inventory carrying costs as expired, damaged or lost items are reduced, as well as better expense-revenue matching, which improves financial statement reporting and cost accounting data." Co-Create for Future-State In addition to announcing the results to date of the partnership with Medline, Baptist Health also announced the next step of its supply chain transformation will focus on physician preference items traditionally difficult and costly for systems to manage. Baptist Health will implement non-traditional distribution using Medline's PriorityPath Physician Preference Item 3PL service. "We plan to inventory physician preference items at Medline's warehouse for daily hospital distribution, which is projected to save $500K-$1M annually in shipping and acquisition costs while enabling physicians to select specific tools and products they prefer," says Gueltzow. "We are excited to see what future, creative supply chain efficiencies Medline can help us realize. Baptist Health is well on its way to achieving a best-in-class supply chain." See how Medline and Baptist Health are working together to improve patient care through supply chain solutions at https://youtu.be/JmyizfmcXsg. Learn how Medline tailors solutions across the entire continuum of care as a strategic partner at https://www.medline.com/pages/supply-chain. About MedlineMedline is a global manufacturer and distributor serving the healthcare industry with medical supplies and clinical solutions that help customers achieve both clinical and financial success. Headquartered in Northfield, Ill., the company offers 550,000+ medical devices and support services through more than 1,600 direct sales representatives who are dedicated points of contact for customers across the continuum of care. For more information on Medline, go to www.medline.com or http://www.medline.com/social-media to connect with Medline on its social media channels. About Baptist HealthFounded in 1924 in Louisville, Ky., Baptist Health is a full-spectrum health system dedicated to improving the health of the communities it serves. The Baptist Health family consists of nine hospitals (eight owned and one managed); employed and independent physicians; more than 300 points of care in 75 Kentucky counties, seven counties in Illinois, six counties in southern Indiana and two counties in Tennessee, including: outpatient facilities, physician practices and services, urgent care and retail-based clinics; outpatient diagnostic and surgery centers; home care; occupational medicine and physical therapy clinics; and fitness centers. Baptist Health's eight owned hospitals include more than 2,400 licensed beds in Corbin, La Grange, Lexington, Louisville, Madisonville, Paducah, Richmond and New Albany, Ind. Baptist Health manages Hardin Memorial Health, a 300-bed hospital in Elizabethtown, which is expected to become part of the Baptist Health family in December 2018. Baptist Health employs more than 20,000 people in Kentucky and surrounding states. Baptist's physician network, Baptist Health Medical Group, has about 1,100 employed providers, including about 600 employed physicians, plus more than 2,000 independent physicians. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-than-medical-supplies-how-baptist-health-transformed-supply-chain-strategy-to-enhance-patient-care-300751831.html SOURCE Medline New day of falls in the European stock markets. The Ibex 35 has dropped 0.36%, far from the lows of the session (9,018), in a day in which the resignations of several ministers of Theresa May have filled the market with doubts. In addition, the uncertainties about Italian budgets and what happens between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the end of the month continue to weigh on investors. In the Ibex 35, companies with interests in the United Kingdom have led the falls this session. IAG has been the most bearish value, with losses of 4.7%, followed by Sabadell, which has dropped 3.07%. ACS has been another of the values that has fallen the most, a 2.34%, after presenting its quarterly results yesterday, despite gaining 14.6% more in the quarter to September. In green, DIA was the most bullish with increases of 2.67%, although it is still trading at 0.7 euros per share. The rises of Cellnex (+ 1.96%) and Repsol (+ 1.23%) also stood out. In the Continuous Market, OHL returns to be protagonist after collapsing another 19%, which adds to the losses of 18% of the session on Wednesday. The company presented very negative results at the close of the market, with losses of 1,335 million, and analysts recommend selling their securities. BREXIT, THE POUND AND OIL "As expected, the British Prime Minister won the support of her Cabinet for her agreement with Brexit, Theresa May said it was a 'collective' rather than a 'unanimous' decision, suggesting that some ministers were against it." , emphasize the experts of Danske Bank. The latest information suggests that up to 10 members of the Government have shown their reservations to the text, so more resignations could come. Both the Spanish stock market and the rest of the Old Continent's stocks have been behaving erratic and ill-defined for many days, with more desire to fall than to go up. In this session, the stock markets have turned lower, with the Ibex as the least bearish index although falls of 0.7% for the CAC 40 or 0.6% for the Dax 30. This, after Wall Street it will close with cuts close to 1% in the last session and that in Asia the green numbers have clearly predominated. Also very attentive to the collapse of the pound, which is around 1.5% both against the euro and against the dollar. Throughout this session, investors have also been pending other issues. Oil continues to be news, which is rising 1% on Thursday after the latest crashes. The drops in crude oil are an element of added pressure for the bags today. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS "Now we can say that the bullish gap on Wednesday from a week ago has been filled almost entirely," explains Jose Maria Rodriguez, technical analyst of 'Bolsamania'. The expert adds, however, that "if it does not close, the truth is that the trading bias, despite the side of the last few days, is still more bullish than bearish". Another thing would be, according to the analyst, if it closes, and for this the Ibex should close below 8,989 points. Above, the bearish guideline passes through the 9,400 points, "control zone that will not be easy to overcome", according to Rodriguez. "In the shortest term it is observed that the Ibex is reacting somewhat better than its European neighbors," adds the expert. From the lows of October, the Ibex accumulates a 5% increase compared to 3% from the Dax 30 and the Euro Stoxx 50. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have shown commitment to quickly conclude the discussion around Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, but this partnership agreement can derail his yet to take off Make in India programme. The partnership will have an impact on sectors such as steel, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, food processing, agriculture, intellectual property, and food security. PM Modi especially wants to develop some of these sectors in the domestic market. So, the biggest challenge in RCEP negotiations is to seek markets for global majors in such a way that it doesn't promote shifting the manufacturing base. Once concluded, this multilateral agreement will cater to half of world's gross domestic product (GDP) (half of the world's population) and will be the next biggest trade pact after the agreement on Arthur Dankel's draft to upgrade General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Apart from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), other RCEP signatories include China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. The progress of the partnership is being closely monitored by most trade observers globally, especially when considering the US-China trade war. The other RCEP members want New Delhi to sign the draft and look for an early conclusion. But PM Modi can ill-afford this in an election year, especially at a time when the macroeconomic indices are showing a grim picture. The current account deficit (CAD) touched 2.8 per cent of GDP, and the agreement in the present state of negotiations would mean forgoing a substantial part of the revenues. This further implies that the government needs to be confident on the GST numbers so that it can compensate for the loss. Apart from most trade pundits in New Delhi, BJP's ideological parent RSS is vehemently opposed to signing the deal, calling it a 'suicide trap'. There are reports from Singapore suggesting a substantial conclusion to the deal, but New Delhi is confident that 'this seems unlikely'. PM Modi's presence in Singapore at this juncture means he is exerting pressure on member countries to further accommodate India's apprehensions. The presence of China creates apprehensions, especially when it is well documented that the country enjoys manufacturing surplus and is already dumping its products across the world, including in India. Apart from China, India is also losing out to financial and technological hub of Singapore, agriculture and dairy majors Australia and New Zealand, plantations of South East Asian countries, and pharmaceutical trade with China and the US. With e-commerce as part of the discussion, the Indian resistance at WTO of not letting the discussion on digital trade will weaken. India floated the e-commerce policy draft, but it will not help PM Modi's regime bring in changes if e-commerce multilateral agreement (part of RCEP negotiations) is signed. Many of these RCEP countries are also resisting India's offer on export of services. They want India to accept provisions on domestic regulations in services. The free movement of investments will benefit investors in the US, Singapore, Japan and China, but very few Indians will be taking advantage of this. At RCEP too, the elephant in the room is China's manufacturing surplus. China already accounts for half of India's total trade deficit. In fiscal year 2017/18, the trade deficit with China was $63 billion. China poses a great threat to not only existing industrial goods manufacturers, but also the country's small and medium entrepreneurs. India made a suggestion to offer 74 per cent of the goods at zero tariff to RCEP members. However, the reports coming in from Singapore suggest that China, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea along with some ASEAN countries are pushing India to improve this offer. There are some valid concerns. Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director at Jindal Stainless -- India's biggest stainless steel manufacturer -- is already jittery that New Delhi may agree on zero tariff on steel import. "This move will open flood gates of Chinese imports into India," he said. He is not wrong. The entire steel industry is lobbying to plug holes in the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Korea and Japan, which hurts their balance sheets. They say that these agreements were envisaged to promote trade between the two countries, but trade remained largely one-sided. The current government's agenda is to develop India into a manufacturing hub, to not only boost the economy, but also create jobs. But the present structure of RCEP puts agriculture, horticulture, dairy and food processing in a vulnerable situation, especially from imports from New Zealand and Australia. New Delhi is also worried that the RCEP will open backdoor negotiations and may lead to the country losing out on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreements. This may result in giving way to global majors in agriculture seed and pharmaceutical manufacturing. India has the world's biggest generic drug manufacturing capacity. Here, India is getting support of several ASEAN countries. New Delhi is confident that at present, protecting the interest of Indian entities with 'essential and passive' protectionism is the path ahead and PM Modi must endeavour on this. Canada Post has tabled what it calls a significant offer with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers after more than three weeks of rotating strikes, including a one-day work stoppage in Brandon. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/11/2018 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Canada Post employees picket outside the Canada Post facility on Douglas Street in Brandon on Oct. 29 as part of rotating strikes across Canada organized by their union. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) Canada Post has tabled what it calls a "significant offer" with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers after more than three weeks of rotating strikes, including a one-day work stoppage in Brandon. The "time-limited four-year offer" a copy of which was provided to The Brandon Sun Wednesday afternoon is worth approximately $650 million, according to Canada Post, and would include a two per cent pay increase each year, new job security for rural and suburban employees, a $10-million health and safety fund and a new proposal for overtime, job security and a move to one uniform for all delivery employees. Canada Post is also proposing sending a matter on the handling of mail to arbitration. The offer will expire on Saturday at 11:59 p.m. "This measure is to ensure we can reach a just-in-time resolution and deliver for Canadians ahead of the holiday rush," Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton said in a statement. The deal would affect 90 members of CUPW Local 708 in Brandon, which took part in a 24-hour long rotating strike on Oct. 29. CUPW Prairie Region education and organization officer Todd Jarema said that while he hasnt had time to look at the offer in great detail, at first glance it seemed a lot of the main issues brought forward by the union had not been addressed, including the "plethora" of parcels, multiple-bundle delivery, and access to equal pay and benefits for rural units. "At the end of the day, were still looking at the same issues that we had right when we started negotiations a year ago and there hasnt been a lot of movement on that," Jarema said. "Its disappointing that theyre still not willing to address some of the major issues that are out there for us." When contacted Wednesday afternoon, CUPW spokesperson Emilie Tobin provided an email response saying the union had just received Canada Posts offer. "The negotiating committee is currently reviewing the offers and we wont have any comments until the review is complete," Tobin said. A letter signed by the unions chief negotiators, Nancy Beauchamp and Sylvain Lapointe, and posted to the CUPW website said the negotiating committee is analyzing Canada Posts proposal and would be putting out a more detailed bulletin. "It is more important than ever for all of you to show your support for your demands. Show Canada Post that you are united and determined to achieve the collective agreements that you deserve," the letter said. Canada Post and CUPW have been negotiating for nearly a year, most recently with the help of a federally appointed mediator, whose mandate expired this week. The union has been calling for an end to forced overtime, equal benefits for rural and suburban mail carriers, better staffing to accommodate the growth in parcels, and better safety measures to prevent workplace injuries. Canada Post, meanwhile, has experienced a backlog in parcel deliveries due to the strikes, Hamilton said, which could affect the retail economy if not addressed, particularly on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as charities and not-for-profits. Hamilton said Canada Post delivers two-thirds of the countrys online shopping, 25 per cent of which comes in November and December from thousands of small businesses and medium-to-large retailers. "With our size and network, there is no other shipping option available for the majority of our customers, especially at this time of year," he said. "Without a quick return to normal operations, backlogs will rapidly increase and cause significant impacts to the Canadian retail economy, especially to smaller retailers." The delays have also drawn the ire of certain corporations, with The Canadian Press reporting that the head of eBay Canada sent a letter to the prime minister late Tuesday urging him to force an end to the labour dispute. mlee@brandonsun.com Twitter: @mtaylorlee The defence counsel of a landlord accused of routinely letting himself into his tenants home and molesting a woman residing there told the court on Wednesday that the victims testimony was peppered with inconsistencies and illogical statements. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/11/2018 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us The defence counsel of a landlord accused of routinely letting himself into his tenants home and molesting a woman residing there told the court on Wednesday that the victims testimony was peppered with inconsistencies and illogical statements. There is no physical evidence in this case, there is no corroborative evidence this is a he-said, she-said case, defence lawyer Ryan Fawcett told the Brandon Court of Queens Bench during counsels closing arguments. Her evidence has changed at several points and sometimes it doesnt even make sense. Jogel David Calix Ramires pleaded not guilty before a trial in January to multiple counts of breaking and entering into a dwelling house and sexual assault. The victim testified during trial that she and her roommates were consistently late on their rent from March to June of 2016, so her landlord, Ramires, would routinely let himself into their house under the guise of collecting rent and make sexual advances toward her. The victim, who came to Canada in 2014 to attend school, told the court she did not know landlords couldnt come into a house without the tenants permission, and was also afraid the authorities wouldnt believe her. The woman described Ramires entering the house on his own, despite the door being locked, multiple times and making sexual advances toward her that escalated over time from caressing her face and telling her she was beautiful to rubbing her breast and touching her vagina over top of her underwear. Ramires adamantly denied the womans accusations during the trial, testifying he never assaulted her nor did he enter the home on his own accord. Speaking through a translator, Ramires said he tried to evict the group of tenants numerous times after they failed to pay their rent. Ramires said he entered the house in June 2016 under the impression they had left, but he never spoke with the woman, only her roommate. The womans testimony regarding how many times her breasts were touched varied from what she had previously told police, Fawcett noted, and didnt tell police she was touched in other places that she mentioned at trial. She claimed that her hair being touched was more memorable than any of those other supposed incidents where she said that the accused touched her breasts. Id say thats inconsistent and illogical, Fawcett said. The woman also contradicted herself during her testimony, Fawcett said, such as saying she always laid on her stomach while on the couch, but also that she usually laid on her back. She also testified that Ramires touched her vagina over her clothing, but had told police earlier that Ramires had touched her bare buttocks, Fawcett said. While the woman was an evasive witness, Fawcett said, there was no evidence that Ramires was lying or being untruthful. When police were called, Mr. Calix Ramires remained on scene, Fawcett said. I would respectfully submit that an individual who had actually done these things would have fled in the acknowledgement of guilt, but here we have a frustrated landlord who thought the police would have actually helped him because of the unpaid rent. Crown attorney Brett Rach argued the woman testified in a straightforward, detailed and direct manner. She did not embellish her evidence in any regard she was being careful as to what she was testifying to, Rach said. She was testifying only to what she could clearly remember. There was also no evidence to establish the woman had made the allegations up, Rach said, adding she didnt downplay the issues regarding overdue rent and told the court she could have moved somewhere else but was staying there out of obligation to the other tenants. Ramires, however, minimized his interactions with the woman, Rach said, remaining adamant he never talked to her despite her being a tenant of his. When challenged on comments he told police he made about the womans hair, the man said he was misinterpreted in his statement to police, Rach said, which called into question his credibility. Justice Robert Cummings will deliver his decision at a later date. edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy CARBERRY Many Manitoba potato farmers are suffering unprecedented losses from a brutally difficult harvest this year. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/11/2018 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us CARBERRY Many Manitoba potato farmers are suffering unprecedented losses from a brutally difficult harvest this year. During its fall advisory council meeting earlier this week, Keystone Agricultural Producers members were told some 5,200 acres of potatoes were left in the ground to rot. The provinces onion crop was decimated. Carberry-area farmer Terry Bailey holds a frozen potato that was left in the ground after an unusually wet and cold harvesting season. (Bud Robertson/The Brandon Sun) Manitoba farmers plant approximately 62,000 acres of potatoes each year. Carberry and Portage la Prairie-area farmers were hit the hardest, said Keystone Potato Producers Association president Chad Berry. "Weve had tough harvests before, but this was definitely one of the tougher ones," said Berry, who farms in the Glenboro area. "Most guys have never seen a year like this," Berry said. McCain Foods' Carberry plant has been forced to import some of its potatoes from Alberta this year. (Bud Robertson/The Brandon Sun) For many it will be "a huge loss," he said, adding that, on average, farmers can expect to reap $3,000 an acre from their potato crops. Adding to the losses is the cost of irrigation that has gone to waste, Berry said, noting his losses were minimal compared to many others. Even with potatoes that were harvested, they have to be the right colour to satisfy McCain Foods potato contracts or they wont be accepted, he said. "There will be more losses, I think." Berry said the loss of potato crops is also having an effect on McCains Carberry plant, which has been forced to import some its potatoes from Alberta. A spokesman for McCain Foods could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The Simplot plant near Portage la Prairie is believed to have enough potatoes for production, Berry said. Terry Bailey is a third-generation farmer who grows potatoes southeast of Carberry. Neither he nor many of his neighbours can remember a worse year. "It was just a combination of everything," Bailey said. The weather went from wet to cold and snowy and back again, he said, and it never recovered. The harvest in the Carberry area normally begins the first week of September. "It was terrible," said Bailey, who was one of the lucky ones: he lost only 90 of the 693 acres of potatoes he planted this year. As for crop insurance, farmers generally do not receive payments until the crop has been harvested, said KAP president Bill Campbell. If its still in the ground, it is considered zero production, he said, adding potatoes are not a salvageable crop. Manitoba is Canadas second-largest potato producer, behind Prince Edward Island. brobertson@brandonsun.com Twitter: BudRobertson4 China working out financial support package for Pakistan: Chinese delegation ISLAMABAD: China on Wednesday said it is working out a financial support package for Pakistan which will be bigger than that offered by Saudi Arabia during a recent visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan to Riyadh. The financial support package for Pakistan is currently being worked out it will be more than what extended by Saudi Arabia in terms of financial grant, Deputy Head of Mission at Chinese Embassy Zhao Lijian told a select group of reporters here along with a visiting five-member delegation comprising Chinese scholars and economic experts. The visiting delegation included Rong Ying, vice president at China Institute of International Studies; Zhang Zhixin, counselor at Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Zhu Caihua, vice president at International Trade Research Center, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; and Ye Hailin, director at Center for South Asia Study, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Zhao said following the recent successful visit to China by Prime Minister Imran Khan, various follow-up actions were being taken to bring Pakistan out of the current economic crisis. He said China stands by Pakistan in overcoming the prevailing financial difficulties as well as any future socio-economic challenges. A Pakistani delegation led by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua held follow-up talks in Beijing after the PMs visit wherein modalities were discussed to overcome the economic deficit through the central banks of two countries. Zhao said Chinese commercial banks were setting up credit lines for their Pakistani counterparts to help improve the countrys foreign reserves situation. About the third-party participation in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Zhao said it is an open-ended and inclusive development program and that any country can take part in it. The Belt and Road Initiative is not a China Club, rather it relates to all the countries that have joined it. It is being carried out through mutual consultations and joint ventures, he asserted, adding that CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) will meet by December this year and take up the matters relating to third-party participation in the initiative. He said Pakistan was the main beneficiary of Chinas direct foreign investment (FDI) which is around 20 per cent of the total amount being invested in the BRI countries. Members of the visiting Chinese delegation said China as a time-tested and all-weather friend wanted to help Pakistan enhance its capacity and strength to handle the prevailing economic difficulties. However, it will be mainly up to Pakistan to manage its economic situation, they asserted. Earlier in his opening remarks, Rong Ying said their visit to Pakistan was aimed at studying the latest developments taking place in the country. In this connection, we had very fruitful interaction with Pakistani officials and scholars. There was a consensus between the two sides to work jointly to improve the living conditions of the people under the BRI and CPEC, he said. It was agreed that Pakistan and China should carry forward their strategic partnership to address the common problems relating to peace and stability in Afghanistan and their cooperative partnership on counter-terrorism, he added. Terming Imran Khans recent visit to China productive and fruitful, Rong said it led to some important bilateral agreements to push forward the bilateral strategic socio-economic partnership. It was agreed that the CPEC will remain centre of bilateral cooperation for the socio-economic development, he added. Ecnec approved six development projects ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday approved six development projects worth about Rs660 billion, five of them from the water and power sector. The meeting presided over by Finance Minister Asad Umar jacked up the costs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insafs signature transport project for Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) by 38pc and that of Diamer-Bhasha dam project by 1pc. The meeting approved a proposal of the Ministry of Water Resources to include Tangir Hydropower in the Diamer-Bhasha dam project that increased its cost by about Rs5bn from previously approved cost of Rs474bn to new revised cost of Rs479.68bn. Informed sources said the additional cost for 15MW Tangir Hydropower Project was approved at the request of the Water and Power Development Authority to meet energy requirements during construction period of the Diamer-Bhasha dam. Wapda had estimated the cost of the small hydropower project at Rs6bn. But, the sources said, the Planning Commission had raised serious objections over the cost of the project, saying it was almost three times as costly as a normal hydropower project. The Wapda management is reported to have taken up the issue with Prime Minister Imran Khan and told him that power supply from the national grid to Diamer-Bhasha over seven to eight years of construction period was estimated to cost about Rs10bn. The Ecnec was updated on the Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Project with a request to increase its cost by Rs38pc as referred by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) last month. The meeting approved the revised cost of the project of Rs66.43bn, with June 2019 as the stipulated month of completion of the project. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government reported that some funds would be required for a soft opening of the project, to be held in March next year. The project envisages construction of 27.37km dedicated signal-free BRT corridor, out of which 11.85km will be on ground, 12.26km elevated and 3.25km through underpasses. In addition to the main BRT corridor, additional elevated structures having total length of 2.1km will be constructed. The CDWP had referred the Peshawar BRT project to Ecnec with a revised cost estimate of Rs67.95bn and with an advice for its cost rationalisation, which was now approved at Rs66.43bn against original approved cost of Rs49.3bn. The project aims at building high-quality mass transit for Peshawar to trigger urban development, activities and density along the BRT corridor improving economic growth besides giving access into the city. The project, originally planned to be executed in 12 months, is already beyond schedule and is expected to facilitate 472,000 people per day in its initial phase. It starts from Chamkani on G.T. Road and terminates at Karkhano Market on Jamrood Road. It was launched in December 2017 for completion in one year, but is now expected to be completed in March next year. The meeting also approved a transmission line project for power evacuation from hydropower projects of 870MW Suki Kinari in KPs Mansehra district, 1,124MW Kohala in Muzaffarabad district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 590MW Mahal in Bagh District in AJK, at a cost of Rs79.92bn. The main objective of the project is construction of 500kV transmission network involving a total distance of more than 750km up to Lahore to provide interconnection facilities for evacuation of electricity from the above mentioned projects being constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Ecnec also approved Sind Solar Energy Project at a cost of Rs12.84bn. The project aims to support the scale up of solar power in the province and increased access to electricity. The project is expected to also improve energy security and fulfil Pakistans international commitments on climate change. The meeting directed the power division to furnish a report covering all facets relating to power production, its effective evacuation/transmission and distribution. The report, Ecnec observed, would help set a direction for undertaking power projects in future. The council also approved the Balochistan Water Resource Development Project (Zhob and Mula river basins) at a cost of Rs16.453bn. The project will benefit districts of Muslim Bagh, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Khuzdar, Jhal Magsi and part of Kalat. Ecnec also approved rehabilitation project of Dargai hydroelectric power station in Malakand, KP, at a cost Rs4.050bn. Completion of the project will help enhance the capacity of the power station to 22 MW. The experts predict that a defeat may be snatched from the jaws of victory, with logic lacking in the Brexit negotiations. From local concerns to the international outlook, Eamon Quinn, Geoff Percival, and Padraig Hoare report on this weeks Brexit progress. There is no end in sight to the horror ride for sterling, Irish exporters, and the Dublin and London stock markets. The warnings were first raised when the UK voted over two years ago to leave the EU. This weeks breakthrough in the talks between the EU and the UK over the first of the separation terms have done little to boost optimism that any sort of hard Brexit will be avoided. Thats because it is not clear whether British Prime Minister Theresa May can get the agreement through parliament. Irish firms have much to lose. To the surprise of many, they navigated an unprecedented slump in the value of sterling against the euro since the June 2016 referendum. Irish food firms, in particular, who employ large amounts of people, are in the frontline. The IMF reminded the UK about the high stakes: It warned yesterday that a no deal would cost the country about 6% of its GDP. That would also mean a lot less business for Irish companies and exporters. Sterling fell from 76p on the eve of the vote to trade as low as 91p in August. The scale of the slump could have wiped out the profit margins of many SMEs selling across the Irish Sea into Britain. Stock-market companies, including Bank of Ireland through its tie-up with the British post office, building products firm Kingspan, Ryanair, and ferry group ICG, also have a lot to lose from any form of hard Brexit. Their shares have already been hit hard by the drop in sterling because they have significant exposure to the UK market. Sterling yesterday traded at 88.4p, and Irish shares had a volatile ride: ICG shares ended 2% lower, while Paddy Power surged 5%. Fexcos David Lamb summed up the feelings of uncertainty best: After two years of potholed progress, Britains Brexit negotiations are approaching the end of the road. Expectations, and heartbeats, are accelerating but its still not clear if what lies beyond is a smooth exit lane or an abyss. Irish business concerns Edgar Morgenroth, professor at DCU Business School, and one of the countrys leading Brexit experts, said Irish business concerns over a hard Brexit will remain elevated. A former associate professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute, Mr Morgenroth believes that time will have all but run out if the UK parliament rejects the agreement. He said the mooted deal last autumn should have been implemented to allow everyone time to road test and think through the Norths backstop for the prospective food and industry trade deals the UK plans to strike with third-party countries such as Brazil. Seamus Coffey, chair of the budget watchdog the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, said the outcome remains as uncertain as ever. Its too uncertain and too early to know the outcome, he said. Darren McKinley, senior equity analyst at Merrion, said the current deal would be the best outcome in terms of boosting economic growth in Britain and Ireland. But with the likelihood of the hard Brexiteers killing the deal, the chances have increased of the hardest of hard Brexits, in which the UK reverts to the World Trade Organisation trade regime. That outcome increases the cloud over the shares of Irish companies and their shares which generate significant earnings in Britain, said Mr McKinley. Economic uncertainty Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy welcomed the progress but warned that significant hurdles remain. An agreement that potentially keeps all of the UK aligned to the EU customs union will help minimise disruption to business. However, big political hurdles remain. Any political problems that emerge around ratification will heighten economic uncertainty and force more businesses to activate no-deal contingency plans, he said. Isme chief executive Neil McDonnell said a no-deal or hard Brexit will hit many Irish SMEs hard, including firms in the food, agri-business, and financial services industries. This is really just the W in the WTF (withdrawal, transition, and framework for future relationships). This is just the withdrawal aspect and the fear is it falls in the House of Commons, he said. When you have pro-remainers on both sides opposing it, the deal looks very challenged. The question is whether there is anyone capable of doing a better deal than Theresa May has done and, even if so, could they do so before March 29 with House of Commons support? It is unlikely. Still, when the UK is staring down the barrel of a no-deal Brexit, what are its choices? Fexco Corporate Payments head of dealing David Lamb said that with the fate of the agreement going to parliament, sterling is behaving like a cat on a hot tin roof leaping to a month high on Tuesday before sagging on Wednesday as the DUPs reservations about the governments Brexit gambit emerged. Mr Lamb said that traders who typically spend their days poring over economic data have morphed into political pundits as views on the next UK rate hike take a back seat and markets try to guess how the handful of DUP MPs will respond to what is being billed as the governments final offer on Brexit. After two years of potholed progress, Britains Brexit negotiations are approaching the end of the road. Expectations, and heartbeats, are accelerating but its still not clear if what lies beyond is a smooth exit lane or an abyss, he said. Brian Keegan, director of public policy and taxation at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said: The entire Brexit process has been bedevilled by uncertainty to date. While the events of the last 24 hours promise to bring some clarity to the future trading situation on this island, there is still not enough concrete information available to allow business to plan. Cork-based construction consultants Linesight regional director Niall Greene said the currency fluctuations will likely continue to affect the cost and value of goods and services flowing between Ireland and the UK. However, we continue to see a further positive uplift in potential investments from UK developers, funds and firms into the Irish market, he said. High level of uncertainty A survey by Deloitte of chief financial officers (CFOs) across 20 European countries taken before this weeks political developments showed Irish CFOs rated the level of uncertainty at a high level of 71%, the highest of all European countries. The Bundesbank added its own warning. It said banks cant be complacent and must still be ready in case the UK fails to reach a divorce agreement with the EU, according to the German central banks vice-president Claudia Buch. Each market participant should make sure that his or her business model is also sufficiently resilient with regard to a hard Brexit, she told Bloomberg TV. Local reaction Cork Chamber public affairs director Thomas McHugh said: The Cork business community is planning for Brexit, yet the current multiple scenarios make planning a challenge for small business in particular. We hope for increased certainty in the coming days. PwC Cork partner Ger OMahoney said: The key point is that we simply need certainty now, whatever it is. The guillotine has to be brought down on all the talking and agreement made. We need something that gives business time to plan for the long-term. UCC economics lecturer Declan Jordan said: This would actually create a soft Brexit and it looks like the EU is saving Britain from itself. But one thing absent so far in this entire process has been logic. I can see a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. If this deal isnt agreed, there will be a new referendum, a general election, or a hard Brexit none are particularly appealing. No deal means free trade Leading business Brexit proponent Tim Martin, chairman of British pub group JD Wetherspoon, which has a number of bars in Ireland, insisted that a no-deal Brexit is the best option for Britain in striking trade deals with the rest of the world. If you take the decision to leave the EU, you have to opt for no deal. No deal means free trade. As countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore have done, you can slash the 12,651 import tariffs on items like oranges, coffee, new world wine, and childrens clothes. This will reduce shop prices, making consumers better off and the government loses no money since tariff income is currently sent to Brussels. He continued: Another big advantage is regaining control of fishing, helping coastal towns. By doing this, under WTO rules, imports from Ireland and other EU countries would continue to be tariff-free. Theresa May, who never wanted to leave the EU, is getting tied up in knots in negotiation. Wetherspoon`s decision not to sell Guinness in Ireland is a good model stay friends, dont negotiate, go your own way. Dermot OLeary, chief economist at Goodbody, said: We get the impression that there is plenty more to play out, with an agreed deal, no deal, and another referendum all being possibilities. Its too close to call between these three. He warned: If the view is shared by a majority of the UK parliament, the current deal being voted through is very difficult to see. Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online broker IG was more upbeat: UK investors and many around the globe will be transfixed by the Brexit drama, as a new chapter unfolds. Theresa May must now get her cabinet into line, a simple task perhaps when viewed alongside the need to get the deal through parliament. But those predicting her demise have been wrong repeatedly over the past two years, and may well remain so. A whiskey product owned by Conor McGregor has sold out in just one month, with plans in place to restock in time for Christmas. Proper No. Twelve sold 'hundreds of thousands of bottles', a stock which the company believed would last six months of sales in Ireland and the United States. The team is working to bring more bottles to market, and the company says first wave solutions are in place for early December in Ireland and the United States. McGregor has apologised to customers who missed out on purchasing a bottle of alcohol. "I dont usually see reason to apologise but in this case I want to take this chance to apologise to absolutely everyone for our out-of-stock situation. You have shown great support for Proper No. Twelve," he said. He said the company will change its shipping methods to bring the items to customers faster. "I was at the distillery last week and we have plans in place to be back in stock in Ireland and the United States in early December and onward. We are producing many hundreds of thousands of bottles now. We will ship via air instead of by sea to deliver in time for the holidays for the many loyal customers who are asking for Proper No. Twelve for celebrations and gifting. Plans are also in place to expand Proper No. Twelve and launch in more countries next year, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and Canada. Ann O'Loughlin A development company has been ordered to provide 400,000 security for legal costs should it lose a High Court action over the sale of a 25% interest in the Burlington Plaza commercial building on Dublin's Burlington Road. The 25% interest was sold by Lington Developments Ltd to Davy Target Investment plc (DTI) for 51m in 2017. Coolbrook Developments, which was a 75% owner of the property and had offered in excess of 49m, claims the sale was in breach of an owners' agreement. Coolbrook brought proceedings seeking to have the sale rescinded. It claimed against Lington, among other things, that Lington was in breach of the owners' agreement requiring any sale to be to an "arm's length third party". Coolbrook says DTI was a connected entity to Lington. It is also claimed Lington failed to allow Coolbrook participate further it the sale process in accordance with the owners' agreement or to market the property properly or at all. Against DTI, Coolbrook claims it unlawfully combined or conspired with Lington to prevent it from acquiring the 25% interest. Lington and DTI deny the claims. Lington and DTI then asked the High Court to direct Coolbrook to provide security for the costs of its action. Coolbrook offered, should such an order be made, to lodge 250,000 in an escrow account pending determination of proceedings. Lington and DTI, who claim Coolbrook will not be in a position to pay their costs if unsuccessful, argued the court has discretion to direct full security. The court was not bound by any rule or practice that one-third of total costs be lodged, which Coolbrook argued should be the case, the defendants argued. Mr Justice David Barniville ordered that security for costs in the amount of 400,828 should be provided by Coolbrook. A stay is placed on its action until the money is provided. The judge said it was unclear where the 250,000 sum offered by Coolbrook came from The evidence was that Coolbrook would be unable to provide that sum from its own resources and the company had chosen not to disclose the source of those funds. That sum would anyway be insufficient to provide security for the costs of the Lington and DTI, he said. By Joe Dermody Farmer groups have welcomed the timely roll-out of GLAS scheme payments to 33,000 participants, adding that it is essential that the remaining 16,000 farmers are also paid without delay. ICMSAs farm and rural affairs committee chair, Denis Drennan, said farmers appreciate getting the pay run two weeks earlier than the corresponding, initial pay run in 2017. The Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is the agri-environment scheme funded under the Rural Development Programme, 2014 2020. It has been an extremely difficult year, when so many factors outside the control of farmers whether weather, fodder or Brexit just went against us and placed us in a very tight corner, in terms of cash-flow and running our families and farms, said Mr Drennan. The ICMSA has urged, in the event of any delay for remaining participants, that the Department must write to the individuals concerned immediately, explaining the delays and what they must do to remedy the problem. The IFA has called upon the Department of Agriculture to address any outstanding issues related to 2016 and 2017 GLAS payments, and to ensure that the final 15% for 2018 is paid out as soon as possible. IFA rural development chairman, Joe Brady, said: This 85% advance payment, worth 116m, is coming at a vital time, with farm incomes under severe pressure, following this most difficult year. Mr Brady reminded farmers yet to submit documentation related to nutrient management plans (2093), commonage plans (11% of comanages/approximately 600 farmers), rare breeds and low emissions spreading to send it in immediately, or risk having their payment delayed. Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, noted that 7,000 more participants have been paid in the initial tranche, versus the 2017 GLAS payments run. Minister Creed said: This GLAS payment, when added to the advance BPS payment and the ANC payments, brings the total issued to Irish farmers in the last six weeks to some 1.1bn. This is a significant boost to on-farm cash-flows and, once again, marks Ireland at the forefront of EU member states, in making advance payments on this scale. The Department is hosting an advice helpline on GLAS payments, with extended hours, 9am to 7.30pm on weekdays, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, until the end of November: 076-106 4451. See www.agriculture.gov.ie for full details. By Ben Hirschler Pfizer has lost the final round in a long-running patent battle in the UK after the countrys highest court ruled against it in a case involving its 4.4bn-a-year pain drug Lyrica. The Supreme Court decision is a blow for the US drugmaker which had sought to affirm a secondary medical use patent for the product and a win for generic drug companies Actavis, now renamed Allergan, and Mylan. Lyrica, known generically as pregabalin, was originally developed for epilepsy but further research showed it could also help patients suffering from neuropathic pain, which soon became its main market. In a bid to protect this lucrative section of the market, Pfizer secured a secondary patent, valid beyond the life of the original one. The Supreme Court, however, ruled the secondary patent claims relevant to neuropathic pain were invalid. For Pfizer, the legal fight had become a point of principle, following years of battles in lower courts, since its key secondary pain patent has now expired in Europe. Pfizer said it was disappointed by the ruling and the decision would have a significant impact on incentives for innovation in public health. The period that a medicine is under patent is a critical phase in its lifecycle that fuels innovation as science evolves and knowledge grows, patients increasingly benefit from ongoing research into new uses for existing medicines, the company said. As situations such as these are expected to become more common, its important for patients that pharmaceutical companies are able to protect patents, including second medical-use patents, it said. The expiry of the basic patent on Lyrica five years ago had allowed generic drugmakers to launch cut-price versions of Pfizers medicine, which carried a skinny label limiting their use to epilepsy and general anxiety disorder. Pfizer sued, arguing it was inevitable that the copycat versions would be dispensed for pain as well as other conditions. The US drugs company took the case to the Supreme Court after an appeal in the case was rejected in 2016. In the US, by contrast, Pfizer is only expecting generic competition to Lyrica in 2019. Pfizer is one of Corks largest employers, and may soon employ 1,000 in the area. The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases. Pfizer said it was too early for it to determine or comment on any possible next steps. Its shares have gained about 27% in the past year, valuing the company at $251.5bn (223.4bn). - Reuters. Additional reporting Irish Examiner A dancer from Cork has spoken of her delight after landing a role in the new John Lewis Christmas ad - her first TV job. Molly Ward, 23, who is originally from Mallow in Co Cork but now based in London, said she has been overwhelmed by messages of support since The Boy and the Piano ad featuring Elton John was unveiled today after weeks of speculation. Speaking to the Irish Examiner during a break in rehearsals for the Everyman Theatres pantomime, Cinderella, Molly said: We had to sign confidentiality agreements and waivers because they didnt want any details of the ad leaking in advance. But its great now that its out. My phone has been hopping all morning with messages of support. Its just lovely to be back home for Christmas to experience the reaction at home. The British department store chains festive TV ads have become part of the Christmas tradition over the last decade with a list of emotional ads pulling at heartstrings around the world. But the chains marketing gurus turned to good old-fashioned star-power and have featured Elton John in this years offering. The ad shows the Rocket Man sitting alone at his piano playing Your Song on his grandmother's piano while moments of his life are played out, flash-back style, for the audience. As the years roll back, he is seen performing in a stadium, on a private jet, recording the song in a studio, and as a teenager, playing piano on stage at school, with his mother looking on from the audience. Molly Ward Molly, who attended St Marys Secondary School in Mallow, and who studied ballet under Sinead Murphy at the Cork School of Dance before studying musical theatre for three years in Bird College in England, features in a segment showing a young Elton John playing the piano at a Christmas gathering, with family and friends gathered around the piano. Molly is seen standing at the edge of the piano, dancing with an older man as the young Elton belts out a tune. She told RedFM News earlier there was incredible secrecy surrounding the entire process audition and production process. All we knew was that it was called Project X. I went to the audition and was asked to do some improv 60s-style dancing, she said. My agent rang me sometime later to say I got a job but we didnt know anything about the client, the ad, or any of the details. I only got the contract on the day of the shoot. It was absolutely amazing to be involved in this. She thanked her parents, Eddie and particularly her mum, Sylvia, for driving her to dance school several times a week when she was a teenager. Meanwhile, while the ad runs on TV over Christmas, Molly will be on stage as part of the ensemble for the Everyman and Cadas presentations of Cinderella, which opens on December 1 and runs until January 13. Here is this year's John Lewis Christmas ad in full: Ann O'Loughlin A company has launched a High Court action aimed at preventing a hotel in Co Leitrim from being used to house refugees. The action has been brought by Paradub Limited, which wants to develop the Shannon Key West Hotel at Rooskey on the Leitrim/Roscommon border into a tourist hotel, against businessman James Kiernan, who owns the 39-room property. The company claims it has an agreement to buy the hotel, which closed in 2011, from Mr Kiernan, which they allege he has failed to complete. In recent days the company discovered from local media reports that a plan has been put in place to use the property to house refugees. The company claims this breaches the purchase agreement and is an attempt to frustrate the sale of the property. In its proceedings, Paradub seeks orders including an injunction restraining the defendant from entering into any agreement to lease, transfer and dispose of the property to any other person other than the plaintiff. Paradub also seeks an order restraining the defendant from carrying on works at the property pending the determination of the proceedings. The case was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds today. The judge, on an ex parte basis, granted Paradub permission to serve short notice of the proceedings on the defendant. The case will come back before the court next Tuesday. Richard Kean SC, said his client had brought proceedings aimed at compelling the defendant to specifically perform the sale agreement for the hotel. It had recently learned that the hotel. which his client wants to redevelop, is to be used for other purposes which the company seeks to block. In a sworn statement Ashton Doherty a director of Paradub said that in 2016 an option agreement for the sale of the hotel was entered into between the company and Mr Kiernan of Glenart Avenue Blackrock, Co Dublin for almost 600,000. The allegedly agreed option was to be exercised by December 2017. When the company decided to exercise the option in October 2017 it claims Mr Kiernan ignored their requests to issue draft contracts. This resulted in the company initiating legal proceedings against Mr Kiernan in 2017, and it issued a Lis Pendens, an official notice to the public that a lawsuit involving a claim on a property has been filed, against the hotel. Mr Doherty said that earlier this year it appeared Mr Kiernan was attempting to enter into a lease agreement with another party who was applying to the Department of Justice for the purpose of using the hotel to house refugees. However, Mr Kiernan, it is claimed, gave an interview in March to local radio stating he was not going ahead with the plan to use the property as a centre to house asylum seekers and that he fully intended to sell the property, but was frustrated with the pace of the sale. Despite this interview, Mr Doherty said Mr Kiernan did not communicate with the buyers, who he said had funding available to complete the purchase. Despite the assurances given last March Mr Doherty said the company became aware in recent days that the plan to use to the hotel to house refugees had been resurrected. This left the company with no option other than to seek relief from the High Court. Ann O'Loughlin A Dublin property, described as being "a tinderbox" where up to 20 people are believed to be squatting cannot be used for residential purposes, the High Court has ordered. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan today granted Dublin City Council orders directing that persons living at 414 North Circular Road, Dublin 7 must immediately vacate the premises due to fire safety concerns. The property, which Dublin City Council (DCC) fire safety officers say represents a risk to life if a fire broke out, is a mid terrace three storey building, with three bedrooms on the first floor and two rooms on the top floor. DCC represented by Conleth Bradley SC said it believed that between 15 and 20 foreign nationals had been squatting in the building. Counsel said following a complaint from a member of the public earlier this year DCC inspected and served a fire safety notice on the property. Arising out a recent inspection Counsel said the DDC fire safety officer said that any fire in the building would spread rapidly. DCC also says there are no adequate means of escaping the building, no fire extinguishers, and rubbish and combustible material were stored inside the property. Counsel said DCC's most recent inspection of the building revealed that a camping stove was being used for cooking, and that the building's electricity supply was from an unknown source- although a car battery was observed by a safety officer. In the event of a fire starting the risk to the lives of those residing in the house counsel said was so great the premises should be immediately evacuated, counsel said adding that the premises was a "tinderbox". Counsel said the building is registered in the names of Lily Kilroy, who died in 1997, and Eileen Doorly who died in 2006. Counsel said it is DCC's case that Mrs Doorly's son who is Ms Kilroy's nephew, Edward Doorly is a person who has control of the building and the appropriate person who orders can be made against. Counsel said that DCC had corresponded with Mr Doorly, who informed them that his mother and aunt died intestate and that no grant of administration had been applied for. Mr Doorly had told DCC officials the premises had been unoccupied for some time, but squatters had moved in and he had endless problems with them. Mr Doorly said last May he had the electricity to the premises cut off and indicated he was taking legal measures to have the squatters removed from the premises. Counsel said despite indicating an intention to do so Mr Doorly had not taken any legal steps against the squatters. Ms Justice Noonan said after considering the DCC evidence to the court that he agreed the premises was a "tinderbox". In the circumstances he was satisfied to grant the injunctions, on an ex parte basis, sought against Mr Doorly by DCC, requiring the premises to be vacated by persons residing there. The Judge who said the orders should be posted at the premises. The case will come back to court next Tuesday. Update 1.20pm: Politicians here have been reacting to the fallout from a dramatic morning of Brexit developments. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has defended the Irish governments welcoming of the UK cabinet deal last night, following criticism from Fianna Fail: Simon Coveney has been taking Leaders Questions on an eventful day for Irish, UK and European politics. Amid a string of ministerial resignations in the UK, Mr Coveney defended the Taoiseach last night who commented after the UK cabinet agreement for saying that it was one of the better days in politics. "There are many people out there who were very skeptical that is was possible to get this deal done and it is the role of government to be able to explain to people in appropriate language why this deal is no threat to nationalism or unionism," he said. Fianna Fails Brexit spokesperson, Lisa Chambers says the Irish government needs to calm down: "Our own government now needs to calm down, needs to give the UK government space," she said. I think it's unhelpful to have the Taoiseach coming out last night and this morning in a very self-congratulatory tone. Northern leaders of Sinn Fein, SDLP, The Alliance Party and the Green Party earlier met with the Taoiseach to discuss the deal. Sinn Feins leader in the North, Michelle ONeill says the future remains unclear. "I think it's a very unpredicatable situation," she said. "I don't think any of us have a crystal ball and can guess what's going to happen throughout the course of the next number of days, but I think for our part what has been achieved has been significant for the people of the North. There's no good to come of Brexit. I think it's a day for a glass half full. Digital Desk Earlier: FF hit out at Varadkar for claiming victory on Brexit deal By Elaine Loughlin Update 11.52am: Fianna Fail have hit out at Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who "couldn't help himself" in claiming victory on the Brexit deal last night. With British prime minister Theresa May coming under intense pressure as she continues to address the House of Commons, Fianna Fail warned that a deal has yet to be ratified and the Irish Government should still be planning for a no-deal Brexit. Fianna Fail Brexit spokesperson Lisa Chambers criticised Mr Varadkar who last night said he felt "pretty good" about the deal and added that it was "one of the better days in politics". Speaking outside the Dail, Ms Chambers said: "I think our own Government need to be far more aware that their actions, their self-congratulations, their patting themselves on the back here in Dublin absolutely negatively feeds into what's happening in the Commons today." Calling for calm she said: "What we have seen last night from the Taoiseach saying that what they have achieved now is even stronger than last December, that's extremely unhelpful because right now Theresa May and her Cabinet are dealing with a very challenging situation. "Our Government, while they maintained 24 hours silence up until the 9pm news last night, they simply couldn't help themselves and found that they were quick off the mark to try and congratulate themselves on their own perceived victory, that's unhelpful." She said the resignation of senior ministers in the UK this morning is very concerning and the UK parliament needs to be given "space" to ratify the withdrawal treaty. "We absolutely have to have a plan B, we need to prepare for all possible eventualities including the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, that's still possible," Ms Chambers said. Imran Khan addressed 1st CIIE PM Imran Khan addressed the opening ceremony of 1st China International Import Expo as the keynote speaker. He said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will cut costs and distances and make markets more competitive. He thanked Chinese President Xi for inviting Pakistani exporters in the CIIE and expressed his desire for close relations between China and Pakistan businesses and CIIE to be a massive success. On the other hand, Mr. Chen Siqing, the chairman of the Bank of China visited Pakistan pavilion allocated to exporters from Pakistan. He was accompanied by Dr. Li Tao, Country Head and CEO, Bank of China Pakistan Operations along with other senior members of Bank of China management. During CIIE, a three-day matchmaking conference was organized by Bank of China to bring Chinese importers and exporters from around the globe on one platform. A total of 900 international exporters and 15,000 Chinese importers attended the BOC matchmaking conference. Mr. Younus Dagha, Federal Secretary for commerce and Mr. Wang Zhihua, Economic and Commercial Counselor of China in Pakistan also witnessed the event. Bank of China Pakistan Operations with the help of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) played a central role in enrolling 53 Pakistani exporters for the conference. Over 200 meetings and presentations were organized between Chinese and Pakistani companies during the BOC matchmaking conference. Chinese importers particularly showed interest in textile, agricultural and leather products of Pakistan. Bank of China arranged a dedicated conference hall for exhibitors to display their presentations. About 22 pairs of Sino-Pak companies expressed willingness to extend their business relationship and 10 pairs signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the conference. By Ann O'Loughlin A High Court Judge has expressed his surprise that a dispute over the purported expulsions from school by two students who posted videos on social media of another pupil snorting a white powder substance during class has not gone to mediation. The remark was made by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, who said while the school "may or may not be within its rights" to expel the students it seemed "extremely harsh" to put the students out of school "in their Leaving Cert year." The incident occurred during the course of a lesson unknown to the teacher who was present. The videos were posted on social media. The school was made aware of the incident by one of the boy's mothers, out of her concerns for her son and other student's safety. Details of the incident, which the court heard involved the snorting of sugar, were published in an Irish daily newspaper. Earlier this week the students launched legal against the school's board of management arising out of their purported expulsions from the school. Today, counsel for the school's board of management Feichin McDonagh SC said the students had not been expelled but had been suspended pending a final decision by the board, which is due to take place on November 23. A "preliminary view" had been taken by the board that they should be expelled, counsel said, adding that the school had followed the practices as set down under the Education Act in respect of the matter. Seeking time to respond to the student's actions counsel said the proceedings were premature, and the final decision will not be finalised until the meeting. If the board opted not to expel them that would make the action moot or pointless counsel said. Counsel said there had also been an engagement with a facilitator, which the board will consider. Lawyers for the students urged the court to list the case for hearing as soon as possible, Derek Shortall Bl for one of the students said his client was challenging his suspension as well as the decision to expel him. Counsel said the process had been "poisoned from the outset" given it was another student had induced his client to video him, and that the school had got his client to sign a confession after telling him he would not be in trouble. Andrew Whelan Bl for the second student said that there was an additional urgency in his client's case as he has special education needs, which he has not received since he was put out of school several weeks ago. Mr Justice Noonan after considering the submissions said he was fixing the hearing of an application by the two students to be allowed back to the school, pending the outcome of the full hearing, to Tuesday of next week. In their action, the students, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, claim the board of management of the secondary school had decided they should be excluded from the school they attend. The board found the students had behaved in a manner that posed a serious threat to the good order and discipline of the school after a classmate asked them to record him ingesting the white powder on their phones. The boys claim the board's decisions breach fair procedures and constitutional justice, are disproportionate and their expulsions fly in the face of common sense. The board also failed to take into account the fact the school principal recommended they not be expelled, it is claimed. It is also claimed the students were told by the school to make statements without being warned the statements would be used against them in a disciplinary process leading to their expulsion. In an effort to make the students provide a statement of the incident it is also claimed they were told they would not be in any trouble, it is claimed. In their proceedings against the school board of management, the boys seek various orders including an order quashing the decision made last month to expel the boys and that they be readmitted to the school. Ann O'Loughlin St Lukes General Hospital, Kilkenny has apologised in the High Court to the family of a 68-year old woman who died of a heart attack two days after she was admitted to the hospital. Mother of eight Bridget Tallis had a heart pacemaker inserted six days before she was admitted to St Lukes Hospital Kilkenny three years ago with what was claimed were symptoms of fluid building up in the sac around her heart. But the High Court heard there was an alleged failure to diagnose perforation of the right ventricle of her heart which is a known complication of pacemaker implantation and she died of cardiac arrest on March 27, 2015. The family's counsel Patrick Treacy SC told Mr Justice Anthony Barr an initial diagnosis of sepsis was made but if an echocardiogram had been performed the fluid buildup - cardiac tamponade- would have been diagnosed and the fluid could have been drained. If this had occurred on March 25 or 26, counsel said it is likely Mrs Tallis, who has 13 grandchildren, would have survived. The apology was read to the court as part of a 250,000 settlement of an action by the family of Bridget Tallis, Lacken Drive, Kilkenny over the circumstances of her care at the Kilkenny hospital when she was brought to A&E vomiting. John Tallis, son of the late Bridget Tallis, accompanied by his siblings leaving the High Court in Dublin today. Photo: CourtPix St Luke's Hospital said it accepted responsibility for the circumstances leading to the death of Mrs Tallis and it "sincerely apologised" to the family members and their respective families. The statement added: "The staff in St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny are truly sorry for the failure to diagnose the true cause of Mrs Talliss ill health during the period March 25 to March 27, 2015 and this is deeply regretted by all involved The incalculable distress and grief that has been caused to you and to the members of your respective families by these shortcomings is sincerely regretted by all the persons who were involved in the care of the late Mrs Tallis during these dates. The hospital said it wished to confirm that steps had been taken in relation to the recommendations handed down with a verdict of misadventure at the inquest into the death of Mrs Tallis. Those recommendations included a review of the Tallis case with input from a cardiologist and a review of access to the hospital wards and emergency incidents due to the delay in access to the ward in this case. "It is hoped these steps arising from the untimely death of the late Mrs Tallis now serves to significantly reduce the risk of the tragic circumstances giving rise to her from occurring again," the statement concluded. Outside court Bridget's son John Tallis on behalf of the family said "a timely and appropriate intervention" would have prevented her death following admission post pacemaker insertion. "The apology and admission of liability from St Luke's Hospital is a positive step for our family. We hope the hospital learns from this mistake and implements the findings so that no other family has to endure the suffering and loss we have had", he said. John Tallis, Lacken Drive, Kilkenny had sued on behalf of all of his family members the HSE over the circumstances of her care in the days before she died. John Tallis outside the Four Courts today. Photo: Collins Courts Bridget Tallis underwent implantation of a permanent pacemaker in an operation at a Dublin hospital on March 19, 2015. The procedure was conducted without negligence but Mrs Tallis suffered perforation of the right ventricle which is an acknowledged complication of pacemaker implantation. It was claimed she developed symptoms of a build-up of fluid around the heart because of the perforation and attended A&E at St Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny on March 25, 2015 and was admitted. It was claimed her recent history was known from the time she attended A&E but it is alleged St Lukes General Hospital failed to diagnose and or investigate the possibility of a perforation of the right ventricle of her heart. As a result, it was alleged her condition remained untreated and she suffered cardiac arrest and died. It is claimed had Mrs Tallis' condition been correctly diagnosed in an expeditious fashion, drainage could have been performed successfully and she would have survived the complication that arose from her pacemaker surgery. The family claimed they have suffered mental distress as a result of the death of Mrs Tallis. It was alleged that a diagnosis of sepsis was made to the exclusion of other possible diagnoses when there was allegedly no objective evidence of sepsis and when the hospital knew the recent medical history of Mrs Tallis. Liability was admitted in the case last week and it was before the court for assessment of damages only. Approving the settlement Mr Justice Barr said he hoped the court proceedings had brought closure for the family. By Anne Lucey The TD Michael Healy-Rae has been refused planning for apartments in a vacant public house in Tralee, with the planning inspector describing what was proposed as substandard and meeting only the minimum requirements. Mr Healy-Rae who represents Kerry is already the Dails biggest landlord with up to ten rental properties However his proposal for the part conversion of Nancy Myles Pub, opposite the old army headquarters of the Munster Fusiliers in Tralee has met with strong local opposition The original application was for change of use of most of the ground floor and extension to Nancy Myles Public House to nine residential units. Following a revised application permission for four apartments was given by Kerry County Council. Over a dozen residents of Ballymullen and surrounding areas lodged appeals and observations. The nearby residents said the redevelopment would injure their amenities and devalue their properties. They also said there was a lack of clarity about future plans for the remaining part of the pub and two storey building. The building was subject to flooding, they also claimed. Invasive Japanese knotweed was present on the site and there was not adequate parking. However Mr Healy-Rae, through his agents, said the target market was professional people working in the nearby hospital and renovating the vacant property would actually enhance the Ballymullen area. He also said though there was flooding in the area, the building itself had not flooded in the past. Bord Pleanala inspector Kevin Moore who visited the site said that although the zoning was residential, there are serious concerns about the nature and extent of development for this site.He noted significant works were being carried out in clearing the whole building. The original application sought to convert the ground floor to nine bedsits. This proposal was seriously substandard for human habitation purposes in terms of space, light, amenity, parking, etc, the inspector said of the proposal for nine bedsits.. The council permission was for four apartments to the rear of the public house at ground floor level. This means that the public house at ground floor level immediately forward of apartments one and two is to remain a public house.It also means that the upper floor of the building are to remain in residential use, although it is not known from the appeal file if this is to be one or more residential units. The serviceability of all uses cannot be facilitated on this site while seeking to provide a basic standard of accommodation for residents of the structure, the inspector said of the various uses. The totality of what is proposed was clearly overdevelopment of a restricted site, he added. He seriously called into question the viability of the proposed apartments as living spaces that would have a standard of amenity to permit habitation in a satisfactory manner. I note that the proposed apartments each just meet the very minimum floor area standards, the inspector said. Only partitions would divide two of the units from the pub and there must be serious concerns about noise and disturbance and he questioned the adequacy of amenity space. Designating separate private amenity spaces around a yard area and designating another area with the yard as communal amenity space, each of which is corralled in by car parking which lines the back end of the yard..will not produce functional, meaningful amenity spaces for occupants of the proposed apartments, the inspector said. This development will provide a substandard form of accommodation for the occupants of the proposed apartments and would most likely have serious adverse consequences for the functioning of the remainder of the building in terms of meeting basic standards for residents and the needs of a public house, the inspector, Mr Moore, concluded. The board ruled in accordance with their inspector saying it had regard to the restricted nature of the site, the fact the front of the building was to remain a commercial area but its future was unresolved other than its established use as a public house. The board was not satisfied that the architectural response and design was of a satisfactory standard to meet the needs of future occupants of the proposed and existing residential units, it said. Peadar Toibin is to travel around the country to establish an alternative political organisation after resigning from Sinn Fein after 21 years in the party. The Meath West TD had been on a six-month suspension from the party after he voted against legislation to allow for the introduction of abortion services in this country. In his letter of resignation Mr Toibin, a strong pro-life advocate, said he had not received a response to an email in which he asked if there was "a future" for him or other members who are against the rollout of termination services. Speaking after his resignation, Mr Toibin said: "I have been getting a lot of contacts from people from a Fianna Fail background, from a Sinn Fein background who are really frustrated with regards the direction the leaderships are going and the lack of space for different views. "So over the next month it is my objective to go around the country to meet people who have similar views as myself from different political backgrounds and see if we can fold those people into a tight organisation that can actually represent those views and work hard for those objectives of a united Ireland and economic justice for people." Reacting to the resignation, Sinn Fein president, Mary Lou McDonald, said her party is a "home to a diversity of views". The people voted to repeal the eighth amendment. There is a responsibility on all Sinn Fein TDs to give effect to the peoples vote and to represent Sinn Fein policy. "Unfortunately, Peadar was unable to do this and was suspended from the party and has now taken the decision to resign. I wish Peadar and his family well for the future," she said. But Mr Toibin said there "are clear problems in the organisation and those clear problems need to be resolved" adding "if they don't fix them, I won't be the last" to step down. He ruled out ever returning to Sinn Fein. By Louise Roseingrave A 61-year-old reclusive man was found dead in his home months after he was last seen alive, an inquest heard. Dublin Coroners Court heard that James Plunkett of Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin died in early January 2017 but his body was not discovered until April 8 2017. The court heard that the man began a reclusive lifestyle following the death of his mother and changed locks at the house preventing family members gaining access. It was not unusual for him not to open the door, the mans sister Pauline Fox told the court. She last saw him alive at the end of November 2016 and she spoke to him on the phone on Christmas Day. A neighbour alerted her upon seeing flashing blue lights outside the mans home on April 8, 2017. She went immediately to the scene where she was told her brother was deceased. Gardai were alerted by a call on that date and went to the address to investigate. They called Dublin Fire Brigade to gain access to the house via the back door. Mr Plunkett was found slumped against the front door in a badly decomposed state. Gardai found a ladder on the floor next to him and a blood stain next to the body. The call came from a concerned neighbour who reported that they had not seen him for some time, Garda Lauren OShea of Dun Laoghaire Garda Station told the court. Family members arrived and reported that the man had secluded himself from the rest of his family, Gda OShea said. The call that came in was anonymous but neighbours said it wasnt unusual for them not to see him. The last reported sighting of him by neighbours was before Christmas, Gda OShea said. The man was a recipient of social welfare and regularly collected his payments. However records showed that the last payment he collected was in early January. Gardai used dental records to make a formal identification and a post-mortem was conducted. The autopsy revealed the man had sustained a subdural hemorrhage. This is bleeding over the top of the brain and it happens if you hit your head, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane explained to the family. Speaking from the public gallery a family member said the fuse box for the house was located high up in the hallway and he may have used the ladder to reach it. "He fell off that ladder and hit his head and that is what tragically brought about his death. The timing is difficult to establish but this may have happened in early January," the coroner said, returning a verdict of accidental death. Ann O'Loughlin An elderly woman who requires 24-hour care as an alleged result of alleged negligence in her care and treatment after she suffered a knee injury has secured a 600,000 settlement of her High Court action. Mary Sheehan, now aged 78, was a very active and "remarkably independent" woman wholly responsible for the care of one of her adult children, who has special needs, before the alleged negligent events, her counsel Oonagh McCrann SC said. Now Ms Sheehan, a widow, is a person of unsound mind who is cared for at home on a full-time basis by her six children, counsel said. The settlement for Ms Sheehan, of Kilcoran, Cahir, Co Tipperary, is against the Health Services Executive and Dr Imran Yousuf Sharif, an orthopaedic surgeon who performed an arthroscopy procedure on her left knee at the Hermitage Clinic, Co Dublin. It was claimed the arthroscopy procedure of July 1, 2014 was unnecessary and inappropriate and should not have been carried out for reasons including Ms Sheehan had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure and was on multiple cardiac medications. The case against the HSE, brought over her care at various hospitals, was that alleged septic arthritis in the left knee was not diagnosed in time. The claims were denied. Today, Ms McCrann said the cause of Ms Sheehan's injuries was strongly disputed for reasons including she had suffered an out of hospital cardiac arrest on July 6, 2014. The settlement offer, which represented about half the value of the claim, was recommended primarily because of an anticipated major battle over causation, she said. There were also issues about life expectancy. Margaret Sheehan, a daughter of Ms Sheehan, told Mr Justice Kevin Cross the family understood the matter was very complex and were accepting the offer. "We have lived through it and have tried to do the best we could," she said. Her mother, she added, "is incredible, anyone else would have died". The judge praised Ms Sheehan, a nurse, and the family for the excellent care provided by them and said he would approve the settlement. An application will be made later to have Ms Sheehan made a ward of court. The case arose after Ms Sheehan, then aged 74, suffered a fall in February 2014. She fell to the ground and injured her nose and two knees and, over the following weeks and months, the pain in her left knee got worse. Ms McCrann said she attended a doctor who decided she needed septoplasty and possibly treatment for her left knee. The doctor also decided, because of her pre-existing conditions, Ms Sheehan was not a candidate for general anaesthetic and there was no issue about that. She later attended Dr Sharif who advised she required an arthroscopy of her left knee which was performed by him on July 1, 2014. She was discharged home the next day but was taken by ambulance to South Tipperary General Hospital (STGH) four days later after a daughter found her unwell and unresponsive at home. She had suffered cardiac arrest. Ten days later she was transferred to Cork University Hospital, transferred back to STGH in early August and on August 8 from the STGH to the Hermitage clinic. After an aspirate of the left knee was performed by Dr Sharif, she was transferred back to STGH. In late August, a left knee aspirate at STGH revealed an infection and, following other reviews and hospital transfers, a consultant orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon told her in October 2014 her left knee, specifically the bone, was infected. His recommendation to remove the infected bone, followed by fusion surgery, was endorsed by another consultant and she had that surgery in November 2015 at University Hospital, Waterford. After convalescence at another hospital, she was discharged home about December 22, 2015 where she required 24-hour care. It was alleged her care and treatment was not appropriately managed by the defendants and, as a consequence of the alleged negligence, she suffered injury, loss and damage. The claims were denied. Ms Sheehan cannot be left alone, needs a walking stick/frame to mobilise and a modified wheelchair for outside the home, has significant psychological difficulties and feels isolated and depressed, it was claimed. With the white smoke turning to blinding fog, it is far from clear where the Brexit deal goes from here. Five options face British prime minister Theresa May, and all carry as many benefits as pitfalls: Push the deal through This is Ms May's preferred option after she stared down the first wave of open rebellion against her on tonight. If the British prime minister drives on with the deal, it will be signed off on at an EU summit on Sunday week before a Westminster vote next month. However, even if this happens, with an open Conservative Brexiteer revolt, ministers dropping like flies, DUP and Scottish National party opposition and Labour officially opposed to the deal, the odds are stacked against it passing parliament. Scrap the deal and crash out Ms May firmly ruled this out during a detailed press conference today - but the prime minister may not be speaking for her government anymore. If the deal is scrapped and the EU declines to re-negotiate, Britain will crash out of the EU next March without any deal and without any safety net - a disastrous scenario for all involved. Remove May in a no confidence vote and re-negotiate the deal This is what hard-line Brexiteers like Jacob Rees Mogg, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove insisted today in their own studious way - with more than one eye on their own future leadership ambitions. To do this, 48 Conservative MPs will have to send letters saying they no longer have faith in Ms May to their party's 1922 committee. The figure is well on the way to being reached in part due to a ministerial meltdown of resignations, paving the way for a potential no confidence vote next week, cancelling the EU summit in the process. However, while removing Ms May - who faced down opponents last night - could be possible, re-negotiating the deal is less likely, with European Council president Donald Tusk adamant this will not happen. When asked if she will fight a vote of no confidence, Theresa May responds "Am I going to see this through? Yes." Watch the Prime Minister's address live here: https://t.co/W92ACmhIrd pic.twitter.com/0zyRt8LS0g Sky News (@SkyNews) November 15, 2018 A snap British general election Should Westminster vote down the deal or Ms May face a no confidence motion next week, this is firmly on the cards. The reason is because Ms May could seek an election on a "this deal or nothing" basis to shore up her support if parliament rejects it, while it is an obvious move for her internal party opponents if they remove her from power. A second referendum Asked directly about a re-run of the June 2016 Brexit referendum on Thursday night, Ms May said clearly "as far as I am concerned there will not be a second referendum". However, the key words here are "as far as I am concerned". Ms May does not want a re-run, but the the calamity in Britain has resulted in ongoing calls for a people's vote on the deal - something that would get quite a number of ambitious politicians out of short-term jail. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes No clue found about Maulana Samiul Haq secretary RAWALPINDI: The police investigating the murder of Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Samiul Haq have written a letter to his missing secretary, Syed Ahmed Shah, and sent it to his house, asking him to record his statement about what happened the day Samiul Haq was killed. Mr Ahmed is considered the most important witness in the murder case. The police have also recovered a knife thought to be the murder weapon from the crime scene, almost two weeks later, and sent it to a laboratory. The police have collected samples for people who were supposed to be with the late JUI-S leader and sent them to the laboratory for DNA matching. According to sources, investigators suspect that the murderer was alone. The police found a bloodstained kurta from the crime scene which turned out not to be the former senators. The police are yet to establish who hung up the kurta in the bathroom. According to a senior police investigator, Syed Ahmed Shah is not being treated as an eye witness but his written statement under section 161 of the CrPC has been vital in the murder case and needs to be recorded. The police investigating officer has legal authority to summon any witness and record their written statement or in some cases an account recorded on video may be used in the court of law as evidence, he said. He said Mr Shah should not have been allowed to go with the body by the police and that he should only have been allowed to go once his statement was recorded as he is the most important witness in the case. Syed Ahmed Shah was staying with Maulana Samiul Haq in his Safari Villa in Bahria Town. He said he had gone to get drinking water from a nearby filtration plant and locked the main gate from outside. He said when he returned some time later, he found the gate open and the late JUI-S leaders body in his room. Sources said the police have been trying to contact Mr Shahs family to join the murder investigation but he has been missing from his house in Akora Khattak for some days now. When the Akora Khattak police was contacted, they said they had not received any complaint about Syed Ahmed Shah going missing. The police have been questioning all those who had been in contact with Ahmed Shah or Maulana Samiul Haq during a specific period. Four people were initially picked up by the police from Ratta Amral, Ghauri Town and other parts of the city for questioning. Theresa May was dealt a blow on the morning after Cabinet agreed her Brexit plan, as a minister resigned from her Government saying that the British people "deserve better" than the deal on offer. Shailesh Vara quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Mrs May's agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". His resignation came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations will be finalised and formalised. Mr Vara's departure comes amid a furious backlash from Brexit-backing Tories to the deal agreed by UK and EU negotiators four months ahead of the UK's scheduled withdrawal on March 29. Westminster was braced for further resignations, amid widespread expectations that the Prime Minister may face a challenge to her position from Conservative MPs submitting letters of no confidence in her leadership. The Prime Minister cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers finally approved the draft terms of her agreement with Brussels at a stormy five-hour meeting on Wednesday. With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) November 15, 2018 But she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs - as well as some Remainers - lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. In a resignation statement, North-West Cambridgeshire MP Mr Vara - who was promoted by Mrs May as recently as July - said: "We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. "We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better." - Press Association No possibility of talks with before Indian elections: Shah Mehmood Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that there is no possibility of resumption of peace talks with India before the upcoming general elections in the neighbouring country. He was speaking to the media after attending a meeting of the Senates Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed in Islamabad on Wednesday. Responding to a question, the foreign minister underlined the continued commitment of the government to strengthen the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Qureshi said he briefed the committee on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) governments foreign policy. The participants of the meeting strongly condemned atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces in the Occupied Kashmir. Prime Minister Imran Khans recent visits to Saudi Arabia and China and Pakistans bilateral relations with India and Afghanistan were also discussed during the meeting. Dismissing all rumours, Foreign Minister Qureshi said Asia Bibi had not left the country. He, however, added that the case should not be discussed in the media for being sub-judice at the Supreme Court. The foreign minister also avoided commenting on a question regarding Superintendent Police (SP) Tahir Dawars abduction and alleged murder in Afghanistan. The meeting was presided over by its Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and the members of the committee expressed satisfaction over the detailed, comprehensive and informative briefing given by the foreign minister. During the meeting, the foreign minister also mentioned that economic diplomacy would be the top priority of the Foreign Office. The Committee was also updated on the case of Dr. Afia Siddiqui and in this regard Foreign Minister referred to his meeting with sister of Dr Afia Siddiqui the other day. The committee members expressed their strong view that the government should make all-out efforts for the release and repatriation of Dr Afia Siddiqui. On the issue of the international non-government organizations (INGOs), the Foreign Affairs Committee directed the Foreign Office to prepare a policy and present it before parliament for approval. David Solomon had a message for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. employees shaken by the firm's involvement in a multibillion fraud scandal: This isn't us. Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon. Credit:Jessica Hromas "I am personally outraged that any employee of the firm would undertake the actions spelled out in the government's pleadings," the firm's chief executive officer said in a voicemail left with employees on Wednesday. "The behaviour of those individuals is reprehensible and inconsistent with the good work and integrity that defines work that 40,000 of you do every day." The bank's stock has suffered since prosecutors implicated a trio of Goldman Sachs bankers in a multibillion-dollar Malaysian fraud early this month. On Monday - when the country's finance minister said he would seek a full refund of all the fees it paid for 1MDB deals - Goldman's shares tumbled the most in seven years. Steven Lowy has said he will retire from the board of the Scentre Group next year, ending a near-six decade association between the Lowy family and the retailer. Steven Lowy has retired from the Scentre Group. Credit:Louise Kennerley In 2014 Scentre was spun out of the Westfield retail giant, which his father Sir Frank and John Saunders founded in 1960. Mr Lowy said he considered it was the right time to step down. He will retire at the Scentre AGM in 2019. ''It has been a privilege to serve on the board of Scentre Group since it was established following the restructure of the Westfield Group in 2014, Mr Lowy said in a statement. Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney has hit out at the "unreasonable" pressure from investors, analysts and journalists on Australia's listed companies to deliver short-term profit growth, saying it contributed to the unconscionable and illegal behaviour detailed at the banking royal commission. He made his comments as the retail conglomerate defended its plan to spin off its Coles supermarket business, which shareholders will vote on Thursday afternoon, and its unusual decision to retain a 15 per cent stake in the new, separately listed company. Mr Chaney told shareholders at Wesfarmers' annual general meeting in Perth on Thursday that the company felt no pressure to buy new businesses to fill a perceived "earnings hole" after the $20 billion spin-off of Coles, its largest asset. He said the conglomerate had potential to grow its existing businesses including Bunnings, Officeworks, Kmart and Target, and its industrials arm. "I am always somewhat bemused when I read newspaper reports suggesting that the Wesfarmers board and/or CEO are under some sort of pressure to make an acquisition," Mr Chaney told the meeting. Occasionally those of us who are not C-Suite executives get a glimpse into the world of halls of mirrors that appear to be most boardrooms. C-Suite refers to any job title prefixed with chief, such as chief executive and chief information officer. What it definitely does not refer to is communication. There is nothing sweet about the way these people express themselves. This week on the television screen, we were treated to a bit of he-said, she-said from two recently departed ABC executives. Former ABC chairman Justin Milne and ex-managing director Michelle Guthrie. Credit:Four Corners The former chairman, Justin Milne, admitted to using euphemisms such as external career development opportunities to mean sacking. Looking at what students with similar HSC courses have gone on to do at university could stop high school leavers from making the wrong choice, reduce attrition rates and raise scores. The Universities Admissions Centre has developed a machine learning tool that uses data on past applicants' HSC subject choices, ATARs and university course decisions to recommend the fields of study best suited to individual students. UAC has developed a tool to help year 12 students make better post-school decisions. Credit:Louie Douvis The course compass tool, made with data from more than 110,000 school leavers who have applied to universities through UAC, has been released this week to help year 12 students make better post-school decisions. "Not everyone's certain about what they want to do and no one wants to set students up for choices that will result in them dropping out or having a HECS debt that they can't repay," UAC's general manager of marketing and engagement Kim Paino said. The Berejiklian government has rejected claims it gagged scientists due to address an Australian Academy of Science conference on the damage caused by feral horses in the Kosciuszko National Park, including wrongly claiming a key researcher was away in China. Organisers of the Kosciuszko Science Conference say they only learned a day prior to the November 8 gathering that David Eldridge, a senior principal researcher with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, was overseas and unable to co-present a global analysis of feral horses. Professor David Eldridge, a senior research scientist with the NSW government and UNSW, was denied the chance to speak at the Kosciuszko Science Conference. It is understood Dr Eldridge, who is also a professor at the University of NSW, had been in discussions for weeks with senior OEH staff about removing words from his abstract, such as "invasive" because they deemed it "emotive", and to prefer "wild" over "feral". Professor Eldridge was also not to answer questions after his talk. However, OEH eventually told the ecologist he couldn't attend. A staff member then rang the academy to say he was still in China - a country he had recently visited. Following the successful intervention in the onion vis-a-vis sausage on a slice of bread incident by Bunnings, the division is issuing the following guidelines to be acted upon by operatives nationwide, effect immediately. We would like to applaud the store for its initiative and repeat here the words of chief operating officer Debbie Poole: "Safety is always our No.1 priority and we recently introduced a suggestion that onion be placed underneath sausages to help prevent the onion from falling out and creating a slipping hazard." Bunnings has advised its sausage providers to change their onion distribution method. The following guidelines have been workshopped by a committee of expert and lay people, then vetted by a sub-committee of division managers before being given the go-ahead at senior level in the department. Tomato sauce on a pie. This is no longer deemed a safe practice. The sauce must be placed into the pie. Controlled experiments were carried out into the consequences of applying the sauce on top, around the crust, and in varying amounts. Notwithstanding the tradition of this application, it has been decided that the safety of the apparel of those using this method comes first. Following the onions incident, of which we are sure you all are aware, the dripping of sauce is a health hazard. If a fellow Australian can slip on an onion, they can slip on something more fluid, such as sauce. This week feels bitter-sweet for Michelle and Rhonda Redfern, who met online in the dark old days of dial-up internet and cemented their 18-year relationship with a wedding in March. On November 15, 2017 a year ago today the results of the postal vote on marriage equality revealed that 61 per cent of Australians were in favour of allowing same-sex people to marry each other. Rhonda, left, and Michelle Redfern. Credit:Eddie Jim The Melbourne couple considered the plebiscite divisive and were unsure if it would deliver a yes vote but agreed that if marriage equality was legislated they would consider getting married. And so, a week after the results were revealed, Michelle opened her office door to find Rhonda and a man dressed in a crimson-and-white Santa suit. Brisbane City Council has joined the growing ranks of public agencies across Australia requesting consumers metadata from telecoms companies, prompting calls of "Big Brother" from the council's Labor opposition. According to the telecoms industry, Australias biggest local authority is among more than 100 bodies making thousands of requests for details of numbers called by phone users, their location, the length of calls, email addresses and other information telcos are obliged to keep for two years under national security laws passed in 2015. Brisbane City Council says it only accessed metadata to assist police. Credit:Chris Hyde The bodies making requests include the Queensland Office of Fair Trading and Queensland Transport as well as a range of state departments across Australia and the Bankstown, Fairfield and Rockdale councils in Sydney. They appear on a list provided to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security this week by industry peak body the Communications Alliance. A Brisbane coroners investigation into the unsolved 2016 Inala hit-and-run of 50-year-old man Van Phuc Nguyen has published its findings in the hope the case might finally be solved. Mr Nguyen was hit by an unknown car on the evening of May 24, 2016, while walking home from Inala Shopping Centre. Van Phuc Nguyen, 50, was captured buying groceries at the Inala Woolworths prior to his death in a 2016 hit-and-run. Credit:Queensland Police Service He was hit by a car driving along Shelduck Street, throwing him about 15 metres head-first into a gutter, causing critical head injuries. The unknown driver sped off and, despite extensive police efforts, has never been identified. Queensland Police have refused to be drawn on the impetus for offering a $250,000 reward to find the people who killed ex-KGB colonel Gennadi Bernovski at his home on the Gold Coast nearly two decades ago, saying it was simply a bid to crack a cold case. Mr Bernovski died in a hail of bullets outside his luxury Benowa Waters home on July 25, 2000. Detective Inspector Mark Hogan and Police Minister Mark Ryan Credit:Staff reporter Police were asked if the former Russian operative was an Australian citizen at the time of his murder, but declined to say. Some family members of Mr Bernovski are understood to be living in Australia at undisclosed locations. A family is in hospital after an incorrectly installed pool heater flue leaked carbon monoxide, leaving some of them unconscious. The two adults and two children were found by emergency services at a Hawthorn home about 8am on Thursday. Metropolitan Fire Brigade Commander Anthony McCoy said it was a "close call for the family". "It's a timely reminder for all community members to ensure gas appliances are properly installed and maintained," Commander McCoy said in a statement. Firefighters used specialist air-testing equipment and found traces of carbon monoxide. An Islamic centre in Melbourne's north that has been linked to the Bourke Street attacker and Christmas Day terror plot is seeking council approval to accommodate up to 500 people at once as its community grows. The Hume Islamic Youth Centre in Coolaroo has sought planning permission from Hume Council to increase its capacity for worshippers who attend services on Friday afternoons, its busiest time. During a wide-ranging interview on Thursday, the centre's head, Sheikh Mohammed Omran, disputed the centre was linked to four terrorists connected to the 2016 terror plot, despite the group's ringleader telling police he had attended the centre every second day for five years. Sheik Mohammed Omran at the Hume Islamic Youth Centre on Thursday. Credit:Justin McManus He also rejected reports that Hassan Khalif Shire Ali who killed Melbourne restaurateur Sisto Malaspina and stabbed two others in Bourke Street on Friday before being shot by police had attended the mosque. Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad has defended meeting with a short-listed bidder for Cross River Rail at a cash-for-access Labor event. Ministerial diary notes reveal Ms Trad and ministerial staff met with the Plenary Group on September 1, during this year's Labor state conference. Jackie Trad: 'There was... no discussion with anyone in relation to the Cross River Rail project." Credit:Darren England/AAP Plenary Group is part of a consortium which has been short-listed for the Cross River Rail's tunnel, stations and development contract. During question time in Parliament, LNP leader Deb Frecklington accused Ms Trad of breaching probity rules, and said the meeting appeared to be held without a probity officer being present. Cue even more tabloid hysteria and apocalyptic warnings from Brexiteers such as former foreign minister Boris Johnson, who has described the deal as turning Britain into a vassal state because it will continue to pay cash into the EU budget and suffer the jurisdiction of some European courts. After more than two years of tabloid hysteria since Britain voted to leave the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a draft deal that is fairly similar to what everyone expected: a soft Brexit in which Britain will remain subject to many EU laws and, in exchange, retain a lot of access to the EUs market. In some ways, the real battle has just started. Mrs May has a deal with the EU and has secured reluctant backing from her cabinet, which includes many who, like Mr Johnson, would have liked to cut all ties with the EU. But Mrs May is certainly not guaranteed a majority on the floor of Parliament, where Tory rebels and many MPs in Jeremy Corbyns anti-globalisation Labour Party will reject it. Mrs May will struggle to secure the votes of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. The Protestant loyalists will be worried that the deal gives the six counties a different status to the rest of Britain. Northern Ireland will not stay in the EU and Mrs May does not argue it should. The debate in the Commons will be bitter, and it is highly unlikely to end the decades of soul-searching about Britains relationship with Europe. Even if the deal passes with a narrow majority, the country will still be bitterly split between those who accept this muddling compromise, the little Englanders who demand a diamond-hard Brexit and the 54 per cent of voters who think this is all a bad dream and wish Britain could just have stayed inside the EU. Misty-eyed Australian Anglophiles such as John Howard, Tony Abbott and Alexander Downer who want Britain to throw off the shackles of the Continent and do Brexit hard should ask themselves why Mrs May has ignored their gratuitous advice and opted for continuing ties with the EU, even at the expense of a loss of sovereignty. Mrs May has taken a pragmatic approach that acknowledges that after 50 years Britain is inextricably bound to the EU economy, and that the EU is not as bad as British jingoist tabloids paint it. Australias interests may well have been better served had Britain voted to remain within Europe, given our interest in having a free-market, liberal country and a close ally inside the councils of the EU. Australia is negotiating a free-trade deal with the EU in which it is pressing for cuts to EU agriculture subsidies. If Britain leaves, Australia will lose a voice to oppose the power of the French farm lobby. When Gruevski was in power, Orban cast aside concerns about corruption to embrace the Macedonian leader. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wraps himself in the flag on his way to three successive terms. Credit:AP Istvan Hegedus, chairman of the Hungarian Europe Society, said Orban has tried to have it both ways for years reaping the benefits of membership in the European Union while cozying up to Russia and other non-democratic nations for support when needed. "This sort of dance between east and west, between dictators and Brussels, it cannot work forever," he said. "As a leader, you are forced to make decisions." Now Orban faces a tough decision. He can grant asylum to Nikola Gruevski, the Macedonian leader who escaped to avoid starting a two-year prison term for abuse of office, and further erode his image among Europe's mainstream political elite. Or Orban can reject it and abandon an ally he campaigned for and possibly anger Russian President Vladimir Putin. Loading "It'd be embarrassing for Orban at home and abroad to grant the asylum request to a convicted Balkan politician," said Attila Juhasz, an analyst at Political Capital in Budapest. "There's nothing that would explain it, except for the Russian influence." In this case, Macedonia again finds itself in the middle. The small Balkan nation is in the final stages of a wrenching political battle to change its official name to satisfy a decades-old dispute with Greece and set a path to joining NATO. Moscow has long opposed the expansion of NATO and Gruevski's party, VMRO-DPMNE, had opposed the deal to change the country's name. Loading Hegedus and other outside observers said that they would not be surprised to see Gruevski disappear from Hungary only to re-emerge in Russia or some other country from which it would be harder to have him extradited. "It would be incredibly cynical, but Orban might make a human rights argument, saying that other asylum-seekers have chosen to leave the country and that is their right," he said. "Which would be incredibly unfair given that most of those seeking asylum are stuck in shipping containers on the Serbian border." Marta Pardavi, co-chairwoman of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights group dedicated to helping refugees, said it is "completely unrealistic that a former prime minister of another country would arrive to Hungary without the prior knowledge of the Hungarian authorities." Loading Pardavi, whose group has been a frequent target of the Orban government, said that technically, Hungary's interior minister has the discretionary power to grant asylum even if someone can't be considered a refugee under normal circumstances. "It's hypocritical that this extraordinary exception is only made for somebody who is a great ally of Prime Minister Orban," she said. The Hungarian government denied that it played any role in facilitating Gruevski's flight from Macedonia. Pressed on why Gruevski was not forced to go to one of the transit centres created by Orban to seek asylum, the Hungarian leader replied dismissively, telling reporters to "ask the lawyers." Earlier in the day, however, Balazs Hidveghi, communications director of Orban's party, Fidesz, pointed to a familiar figure to explain why the former Macedonian leader might deserve asylum. "Nikola Gruevski is persecuted and threatened by the current Macedonian government, which is under the influence of George Soros," he said. There is no evidence to suggest the Hungarian-born American philanthropist has anything to do with Gruevski's legal troubles. In fact, the US government played an instrumental role in helping establish the office of the special prosecutor in Macedonia that eventually brought charges against Gruevski. The State Department, in a statement, said Gruevski had been convicted after a "thorough and transparent legal process." "We believe it is appropriate for the Macedonian legal process to proceed and for Mr. Gruevski to be held accountable within the Macedonian justice system," the department said. During the trials of Gruevski and his associates, audio recordings and documents revealed how the former prime minister ran the country as a mafia state, ordering surveillance on opponents, rigging elections and reaping the spoils. The trials were viewed as a big step forward in a country that has been plagued by corruption since it declared independence from the former republic of Yugoslavia in 1991. While Gruevski still faces a variety of charges, he was recently convicted of abuse of power in a case having to do with the purchasing a new armoured vehicle for official use while he was prime minister. He lost his final appeal on November 9 and was scheduled to start his jail sentence Monday. He never showed up. The reaction in Skopje was swift. Public shock and anger were stoked by rumours and suspicions that quickly took on a life of their own online. Social media where most people in the country get their news was rife with anonymously sourced speculation about plots and conspiracies. Some people said Gruevski escaped by dressing as a woman and travelling with false papers. Others saw the hand of Russia. The Albanian Interior Ministry said late Thursday that Gruevski escaped through Albania, somehow making his way to the Hungarian Embassy in Tirana, and then driven in a diplomatic vehicle to Montenegro. It remained unclear how he was able to exit Macedonia and how he made it from Montenegro to Budapest. Some in Macedonia said they suspected the complicity of the Macedonian government itself, claiming without evidence that the administration of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev had secretly agreed to let Gruevski escape in order to secure the votes needed to reach an agreement on renaming the country. Still others pointed to the Macedonian government itself, claiming without evidence that the administration of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev had secretly agreed to let Gruevski escape in order to secure the votes needed to reach an agreement on renaming the country. Zaev said such speculation was nonsense. "I strongly reject all speculations about some kind of political deal with Gruevski. Nothing such has been done," he said. "We will investigate how he escaped, but I am convinced that Gruevski will be returned and he will face his sentence." He then said he was confident in the core values of the European Union. "What kind of motivation would other countries have to join the EU if an EU country allows convicted criminals to escape from justice?" he asked. Latest News AFG signs deal with Open Banking platform Frollo New partnership could see loan application times slashed for the broker channel MKM hires Royden D'Vaz Channel veteran to take over as head of distribution at lender Just a couple of days until its annual national conference on the Gold Coast, the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) has announced its new state presidents and councillors for 2019 as well as its new board members. Felicity Heffernan is the newly elected president for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, bringing 30 years of finance experience to the role. Heffernan said she is eager to give back to an industry that has been good to her for many years and have a voice that helps shape the broking industry now and into the future. The president for Victoria and Tasmania is Brendon Kurtz, who in 2011 bought into independent aggregator Outsource Financial. He said his main objective for 2019 is to continue bringing high quality professional development to both metropolitan and regional areas of Victoria and Tasmania. Christine Green has been reappointed president for Queensland and Northern Territory for the fourth year, bringing more than 20 years experience in banking and finance. South Australian president Joff OShannessy is back for the fifth year. He has been a finance broker for more than 23 years, running his own business for 18 years. Trent Carter has been reappointed Western Australian president, and is aiming to have wider reach across the local industry by having council representatives from residential, commercial, asset, regional, licence holders and new to industry members. Carter said he is excited to develop more frequent, smaller events targeted to industry niches, delivering locally relevant content. Peter White, managing director of the FBAA congratulated all elected state presidents and state councillors for 2019, and is looking forward to the diversity of already established and newly elected individuals. He said, This new team consists of champions and advocates of the finance broking sector, inspiring brokers around the country. The FBAAs recent AGM also approved Whites name change to managing director, as well as new board members. The group said while Whites role remains similar, his title change is reflective of greater focus on industry-wide strategy rather than day to day operations. The AGM confirmed the appointment of Tony Carter as chairman taking over from Jan Kirstein who is the new director responsible for state presidents. Chris Szigeti remains vice chairperson and DRS chairperson. John Mulcair has stayed as treasurer, Kim Szigeti was reappointed as company secretary, and Rick Nieuwenhoven and Steve Rasmussen were both renominated as directors. White welcomed the changes and the appointment of new governance committee member and director on the board Angus Gilkeson, who has spent 19 years in financial business development and product development. White added, This is a well-established team who know our members and the industry, and I am confident new appointment Angus Gilkeson will slot in with ease. He also thanked retiring founding member Stan Millar, and said his contributions will be missed and we are grateful for his incredibly long service to the FBAA and our members. He added, The extensive finance and broking experience on our board highlights the strength of our organisation and this is why we have grown so significantly in recent years." 2019 state councillors: QLD/NT - Bruno Klos, Graham Dossel, David Randall, Amarpreet Kaur Virk, Angelo Lauro, Neil Hart, Maree Blakemore NSW/ACT - Miro Marinkovic, Greg Hart, Vache Vartanian, Matt Attia, Nicholas Wormald, Janel McClelland, Rocco Massaria VIC/Tas - Olive Carrington, Sadish Visvalingam, Kim Fang Chen Wen, Kirsty Dunphey (Tas), Emmanuel Guingard, Bernard Desmond, Hari Maragos SA - Kym Russell, Richard Foggo WA - Nicole Kennedy, Yania Busch, Mary Kowalski From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Hail to the new chief! Schneps Community News Group is proud to announce that Brooklyn Paper Deputy Editor Anthony Rotunno, who joined our newsroom in Americas Downtown in May 2017, is taking the reins as the Papers new editor-in-chief. We are thrilled to have Anthony leading our Brooklyn editorial team. His experience, vision, and passion will help us continue to improve, and be the leading source of local news across multiple platforms now and in the future, said CEO and co-publisher Joshua Schneps. Rotunno, also a co-host of Brooklyn Paper Radio, will oversee the editorial team in its print and digital operations, with a focus on growing the latter by expanding online coverage and social-media presence in order to deliver hyper-local news to even more readers around Kings County. Brooklynites for more than 40 years have turned to the Brooklyn Paper for its singular coverage of issues that matter in their neighborhoods, including local politics, real-estate development, and, of course, dog-fashion shows, Rotunno said. And I look forward to ensuring locals can find that coverage for the next 40 years and beyond, whether they read it in print, on our website at their desktop computer, or via Twitter on an iPhone aboard the subway. The 32-year-old was among the editors whose punny copywriting earned the Paper its 2017 first-place award for headline writing from the New York Press Association. And his work with reporters Julianne Cuba and Colin Mixson on the Papers Blind Spots series, which spotlights the shortfalls of the Vision Zero initiative, has been cited in such national publications as the New York Times and the Washington Post. In addition to serving as the Papers top editor, Rotunno, who lives in Bushwick, will also oversee the editorial operations of SCNGs four Courier Life newspapers in the borough, the Park Slope Courier, Mill-Marine Courier, Bay News, and Brooklyn Graphic. Prior to joining our newsroom, Rotunno spent roughly a decade at media companies on the distant isle of Manhattan, working for such firms as Conde Nast and Time Inc., and publications including Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, Departures, and Du Jour. He was also founding editor of website The Thick, a digital style and culture publication. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Brooklynites headed into Manhattan during the morning and evening rush can now hop in yellow cabs at half off via the taxi-hailing app Waave. The new discount, which Waave is offering indefinitely, is meant to boost business for the roughly 8,000 taxi drivers who store their cars in Brooklyn and often head directly into the outer borough to start their shifts, according to the apps creator. For the first time, taxi drivers wont be forced to kick off their shifts with a rider-less, multi-borough trip, said Waave Chief Executive Officer Daniel Iger. Commuters can get into Manhattan quickly and inexpensively, and we can all enjoy the benefits of less crowded streets and subways. Locals headed to the distant isle can hail a discounted ride between the hours of 6 and 10 am, and 5 and 8 pm, every day. Waave provides customers a set fare up front, like other ride-hailing apps such as Lyft and Uber, whose drivers brought the number of for-hire vehicles on city streets from 50,000 in 2011 to just less than 120,000 in 2018, according to statistics from the citys Taxi and Limousine Commission. And as a result, the city in August put a temporary halt on issuing any new licenses to for-hire drivers, leading Uber bigwigs to offer their own bargain-basement rates to Brooklynites. A less-positive consequence of the rise of vehicles for hire, however, is the free fall in values of city taxi medallions permits required to operate a yellow cab in the five boroughs which plummeted from $1.3 million per medallion in 2013 to just $160,000 per medallion this year, the New York Post reported. That drastic drop left some cab owners with crippling debt, and four taxi drivers died by suicide since November 2017, including a Queens man who killed himself on Wednesday, according to Taxi and Limousine Commission officials. In total, eight for-hire vehicle drivers took their lives since last November, according to Commission data. Tension is mounting at Aflao between the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the indigenes, following the closure of unapproved routes. Consequently, the GIS has beefed up its patrols along the south-eastern border by engaging the services of armed police and military detachments. The Chronicles investigations have revealed that the closure of the unapproved routes, technically known as beats or pillars, has incurred the wrath of the natives who think their source of livelihood is being taken away from them. However, these unapproved routes, according to the papers investigations, are used as conduits to ferry (in most cases) contraband and undesirable elements into Ghana, without the scrutiny of the rightful authorities. The Chronicle was told that between Beat O South, where the current Customs Barracks is situated, and 13, known as Cemetery Lagoon, Northward, the only approved pedestrian crossing is at Beat 9, where personnel of both the GIS and Customs are joined by other state security details to perform their duties. The Togolese side of the border, The Chronicle gathered, has been fenced with barbed wire, yet some unscrupulous people have managed to cut part of it, through which they enter Ghana during odd hours with contraband goods. To help check these nefarious activities, Ghana then decided to seal all the unproved routes which are mainly footpaths, but this has incurred the wrath of the citizens staying along the border. During a phone-in programme on a locally-based radio station, Holy FM, callers were heard inciting the indigenes to rise against the GIS for denying them their means of livelihood. Not even the intervention of the Ketu South Municipal Chief Executive, Edem Elliot Agbenorwu, could calm down the people. The DCE went on air to plead with the people that the security of the state supersedes the individual interest of the people, but they would simply not listen to him. On October 23, 2018, at about 21:06 hrs, The Chronicle had a report that a GIS patrol vehicle, driven by one Peterson Baah, which was parked at Beat 6 was attacked by angry residents of the area. The following day, the rear tyres of a Border Patrol Unit (BPU) pick up with registration number GI 202 were deflated, so as to render the team immobile. Having succeeded, the youth physically attacked the men, but the timely arrival of armed police personnel saved the GIS staff. Similar attacks were recorded in the Aflao area, and in all cases, the District Police Command went to rescue the frontier personnel. On the 27th of October, 2018, for instance, officers on patrol were escorting three Nigerian nationals they had arrested to the border for further action. On reaching Beat 11, they saw a group of travelers being kept in a house. The travelers ran away upon seeing the officers, but one was arrested. However, a local resident prevented the personnel from sending him to the main border. The GIS personnel mobilised and made an attempt to arrest the said resident, but he managed to escape through the barbed wire into Togo. This, The Chronicle gathered, the infuriated local residents, who invaded the scene holding offensive weapons such as machetes and clubs. Those at the Togolese side also pelted the officers with stones, injuring Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASl) Paul Kelvinson, leader of the patrol team, in the process. A warning shot was fired to disperse the angry crowd and calm was subsequently restored. Sources at the scene told this reporter that as the drama unfolded, the security personnel at the Togo side of the border also looked on unconcerned when the attackers were fleeing Ghana and crossing into Togo. Investigations established that as the situation became tense, the GIS called the Interior Ministry, which also contacted the military for assistance. Parliament, a few years ago, passed a law which enables personnel of GIS to carry weapons at duty points, but that is yet to happen. Information gathered from a top security set up in Accra indicated that the government is making frantic efforts to construct patrol routes on the Ghanaian side of the border with Togo to facilitate the easy movement of border security personnel. The source intimated that already personnel of the 49 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have been visiting the ground and conducting feasibility studies for the border patrol route construction. The Interior Minister, Ambrose Derry, who is currently touring the Volta Region, is expected to visit the troubled spot today to acquaint himself with developments on the ground. Source: The Chronicle Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Lenders of insolvent Amtek Auto will look to invoke Section 74 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to prosecute the London-based Liberty House if it defaults on its final payment due on November 22. The London-based group had won the race to acquire Amtek Auto for Rs 44 billion in July this year but failed to make any payments to the banks. The company has already missed the payment of 15 per cent of the total bid amount to an escrow account. We are not hopeful that it (Liberty) will be able to make its payment on November 22. If they fail, we will invoke ... Chinese officials have outlined a series of potential concessions to the Trump administration for the first time since the summer as they continue to try to resolve a trade war, according to three people familiar with the discussions. The commitments, for now, fall short of the type of major structural reforms that President Donald Trump has been demanding, two of the people said, cautioning that a long road lies ahead in negotiations. One person said that talks between the worlds two largest economies are continuing and constructive. As a result, one of the people said, ... The Company (IHCL), which owns the Taj brand of hotels, narrowed its consolidated net loss to Rs 5.21 crore during the quarter ended September, against a loss of Rs 57.67 crore in the year-ago period. Total income of the company grew by 13.53 per cent to Rs 981.15 crore, against Rs 864.18 crore in the same quarter of last fiscal, the firm said in a filing Wednesday. The better numbers could be attributed to the one-time income from the sale of its Visakhapatnam property for an undisclosed sum. IHCL managing director and chief executive officer described the quarterly performance as "momentous" as the company could retain the iconic Taj Mahal, (Taj Mansingh) and renewed its long-term agreement for Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. The hospitality group signed 15 new hotels this year resulting in a 90 per cent growth in pipeline over last year, the company said. "We have shown marked improvement across all financial parameters with a significant margin and EBITDA expansion for the second quarter as well as the half year," said Chhatwal. The company said its associate firm Oriental Hotels (OHL) sold The Gateway Hotel Beach Road Visakhapatnam, while retaining the management contract with IHCL, in line with its asset monetisation strategy. "The money generated from the sale is being used to reduce debt in OHL," it added. The company's scrip ended the day 0.31 per cent higher at Rs 130.75 apiece on the BSE, against a marginal 0.01 per cent drop in the benchmark. IndiGo is looking at starting a flight to London and to other European cities through a single stop. The airline is in discussion with the airports in Tbilisi (Georgia) and Baku (Azerbaijan). The plan is to start the route by March. The airline will operate the route with an Airbus A321 aircraft and will use the airport it lands at on the way as a technical stop, the term for a landing to refuel, with passengers not allowed to disembark. The airline is also in discussion with Istanbul airport but it has high landing charges. So, Baku or Tbilisi is likely to be the airport ... Chipmaker Intel on Thursday inaugurated design house 'SRR4' at its Bengaluru campus that has been built with an investment of about Rs 11 billion. The design facility, which will expand Intel's R&D presence in India, has been built with an investment of approximately Rs 11 billion and is located at Intel's 44-acre campus in Bengaluru, a statement said. It has 6.2 lakh sq ft of space, including 1 lakh sq ft of lab infrastructure and will house technologists who work on cutting-edge engineering across hardware and software, the statement added. The facility was inaugurated by Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha and Bob Swan, CFO and interim CEO of Intel Corporation. ALSO READ: CCI orders an investigation against global chip maker Intel Corp "This year Intel celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking a half-century of innovation that has profoundly changed the world... has grown tremendously over the past 20 years to become a strategic site and a key growth engine for Intel as it transforms into a data-centric company," Swan said. The inauguration of the new research and development (R&D) facility reinforces Intel's commitment to India, he added. " plays a strategic role in Intel's growth by making significant contributions to Intel's technology and product portfolio in areas such as cloud, client, graphics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G and advanced driver assistance system," Nivruti Rai, Country Head of and VP of Data Centre Group at Intel Corporation said. The company is excited "about the opportunities to innovate, collaborate and contribute towards a better India and a better world, especially the work we are doing in the area of urban and rural connectivity, AI and enabling the manufacturing ecosystem in India," Rai further said. The company has also collaborated with the Indian government to institute national-level awards named in honour of former President and eminent scientist, late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. These annual awards have been introduced with the intent to recognise and celebrate the pioneering work and contributions made by distinguished scientists and innovators across three categories -- Product Innovation, Technology Advancement, and Research. Tata Sons Ltd is in pursuit of a controlling stake of debt-laden Jet Airways Ltd, a purchase which could transform India's largest conglomerate from airline fringe player into the country's dominant, full-service international carrier. Tata is weighing up the economic viability of a deal which would make it Jet's decision-maker, necessitating the departure of the airline's founder, people aware of the talks have told Reuters. Tata declined to comment on the matter. "There are compelling reasons but any deal with Jet is opportunistic," one of the people ... In the first formal step towards a possible acquisition of Jet Airways, Tata Sons will on Friday take up the proposal at its board meeting. Sources close to the group said the discussions would focus on achieving scale in Tatas aviation business through investments in rival Jet. They pointed out that a deal would hinge on Jet founder Chairman Naresh Goyal relinquishing his board position even if he was to retain a minority stake in the business. It is also learnt that since the Tatas are looking at extending the reach of Vistara (a joint venture with Singapore Airlines), the ... Tata Sons Ltd Chairman N Chandrasekaran is expected to present to the board on Friday a business viability plan on a proposed acquisition of cash-strapped Jet Airways, the Times of India reported, citing people close to the development. This is the clearest sign yet that talks are gathering steam to seal a deal that could transform India's largest conglomerate from airline fringe player into the country's dominant, full-service international carrier. Tata's businesses are as varied as IT services and car-making. In aviation, it runs the Vistara full-service carrier ... Senior officials of India, Australia, and the met at on Thursday and held consultations on regional and global issues of common interest, amid flexing its muscles in the strategic region. The discussions focused on cooperation in areas such as connectivity, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and maritime and cyber security, with a view to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected region that the four countries share with each other and with other partners, the said in a statement in The participants -- officials from the (MEA), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of and Department of State of the of America -- reaffirmed the ASEAN centrality as the cornerstone of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, it said. The US has been pushing for a broader role by in the strategically important region. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region. In November last year, India, the US, and gave shape to the long-pending Quadrilateral coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of Chinese influence. claims almost all of the resource-rich Sea and has also laid claims on the Senkaku islands under the control of Japan in the Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and have counterclaims over the The US is periodically deploying its naval ships and fighter planes to assert freedom of navigation. In the meeting on Thursday, all the four countries agreed to partner with other countries and forums in the region to promote a free, open, rules-based and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific region that fosters trust and confidence, the MEA statement said. They committed to strengthening connectivity and quality infrastructure based on sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of all nations, as well as transparency, economic viability and financial responsibility, it said. The officials also exchanged views on recent developments in the regional situation and agreed to continue the consultations, the statement added. Some Maoist leaders were conspiring to assassinate Prime Minister and planned to procure arms and ammunition to wage a war against the country, Pune police claimed in its charge sheet in the Elgar Parishad case filed Thursday. The police also said that the are trying to mobilise and incite Dalits and the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune last December was part of this strategy. The Maoist-backed conclave "aggravated" the violence at on January 1, the chargesheet said. The over 5,000-page chargesheet named 10 persons, including activists Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhavale, all arrested on June 6. Besides, it named five Maoist leaders believed to be underground: Dipak alias Milind Teltumbade, Kishan Da alias Prashant Bose, Prakash alias Rituparn Goswami, Deepu and Manglu. "Maoist leaders including...Rona Wilson and fugitive Kishan Da were conspiring the assassination of Prime Minister and waging war against the country for which they were planning to procure arms and ammunition," it stated. The police cited several documents seized from the Maoist leaders to make the claim on Modi's assassination plan. The larger conspiracy of CPI (Maoists) was to overthrow the democratic system in the country, and the accused were working in that direction, the chargesheet claimed. The chargesheet, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC, was filed in the court of District & Sessions Judge Kishor D Vadane here. The Elgar Parishad had been organised with "inspiration, money and directions" of Maoists, it alleged. "It is the policy of the CPI (Maoists)... to mobilise Dalit community's sentiments and mislead them and provoke them to take violent path against the system," it said. "As a part of this strategy, Sudhir Dhavale and other members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM, a cultural group) spread hatred by giving inciting speeches, presenting distorted history and staging provocative skits and songs," it said. On the directions of CPI (Maoists) Dhavale and KKM, under the banner of Bhima-Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerana Abhiyan, galvanised Dalit organisations and organised Elgar Parishad on December 31, the chargesheet said. "During the conclave, inciting speeches were made, inflammatory songs and street plays were played...all these things aggravated the violence on January 1, 2018 at Bhima Koregaon (in Pune district) during 200th commemoration of Bhima Koregaon battle," it said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar, the investigating officer, said Pune Police recorded the statement of surrendered Maoist leader Pahad Singh. "Singh gave details of Milind Teltumbade's role. He revealed that Teltumbade has the responsibility of spreading Maoist network in urban areas and he is particularly involved in mobilizing the Dalit community for Maoist activities," he said. Singh's statement is part of the chargesheet. Vishrambaug police here had initially registered a case on the complaint of Tushar Damgude who alleged that "provocative" speeches at Elgar Parishad led to violence at Bhima Koregaon in which one person was killed. In August, Pune Police arrested rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj, Telugu poet Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Gautam Navlakha in the case. The chargesheet does not name them. Dalits at a commemoration event of the Bhima Koregon battle -- in which the forces of the Peshwa, ruler of Pune, were defeated by the British East India Company -- came under attack on January 1. While Dalits see the victory as an assertion of their identity as the British forces included Mahar (a formerly untouchable caste) soldiers, some Hindu right-wing organisations were opposed to the celebration. Tata Sons-Jet Airways deal only if Naresh Goyal gives up board seat In the first formal step towards a possible acquisition of Jet Airways, Tata Sons will on Friday take up the proposal at its board meeting. Sources close to the group said the discussions would focus on achieving scale in Tatas aviation business through investments in rival Jet. They pointed out that a deal would hinge on Jet founder Chairman Naresh Goyal relinquishing his board position even if he was to retain a minority stake in the business. It is also learnt that since the Tatas are looking at ... Kerala Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac on Thursday said that the Sabarimala issue will impact the state's finance and the rebuilding activities of the state, which recently witnessed the worst natural disaster in the last 100 years. Speaking to the media, he said that there is a campaign that nobody should put money into Hundials. "This could bring down the income of these temples. This will increase the financial burden of the state government, as it has to meet the financial requirements of the temples," he said. Besides, the visiting pilgrims usually spend one ... The largest annual fair held in the Capital, the 38th edition of the IITF, is having to make do with only five pavilions, down from an average of 12 till last year. This, coupled with the fact that central ministries cornered large swathes of available exhibition space, has led to a drop in private business participation, an official from the India Trade Promotion Organisation, which conducts the fair, ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor There is no doubt that the Prime Minister Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is the biggest effort ever by any government anywhere in the world to provide health cover. To begin with, the scheme provides assurance up to Rs 500,000 to more than 500 million beneficiaries in the country. There is no limitation of family size. This goes well beyond the cover of Rs 30,000 and family size limited to five under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) launched in 2007. The government has also put in place an extremely competent team to implement the scheme that has the potential of transforming ... Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to take part in the 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Breakfast Summit, followed by the 13th in Singapore on Thursday. "The ASEAN meetings, they are annual meetings and they are very integral part of our diplomatic calendar. It is where India engages with the ASEAN countries essentially because we have a very active Act East Policy, we have continued engagements with our Eastern neighbours," Vijay Thakur Singh, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) had said at a media briefing on November 12. The 13th will be held in two segments on Thursday- the East Asia Lunch Retreat followed by the EAS in a plenary setting. Prime Minister Modi will emplane for India after the EAS' conclusion. The EAS is a leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region comprising all 10 ASEAN member states- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam- and its eight dialogue partners, India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia. This will be Prime Minister Modi's fifth engagement with EAS since the summit's inception in 2005. The leaders of the member nations are slated to discuss international development issues like ICT, Smart Cities, Maritime Cooperation, Education, Finance, Food Security, Environment and Energy at the EAS. The Prime Minister became the first head of government to deliver the keynote address at Singapore Fintech Festival on November 14, where he shared India's financial inclusion story that has transformed governance and delivery of public services. He then launched the Application Programming Interface Exchange (APIX) with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore T. Shanmugaratnam. Prime Minister Modi also visited the India Pavilion at the Fintech festival, following which he met the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and exchanged views on cooperation in financial technology, enhanced connectivity, and regional economic integration. "Prosperity through partnership. PM @narendramodi had a warm meeting with @VP of United States Michael Pence in #Singapore. Productive discussion on all aspects of global strategic partnership based on growing convergence of interests on regional and global issues," Raveesh Kumar, MEA's Spokesperson had tweeted after Prime Minister Modi met with US Vice President Mike Pence. During a day full of diplomatic engagements, Prime Minister Modi further met with Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia and Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Prime Minister of Thailand in separate meetings to discuss areas in inter-country relations. Prime Minister Modi also attended the second Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit. "Shaping the agenda for regional cooperation. PM @narendramodi attended the 2nd #RCEP Summit in Singapore with 16 member states. PM reiterated that India was committed to an early conclusion of high quality comprehensive and balanced regional economic partnership agreement," Kumar tweeted on Wednesday. Lastly, Prime Minister Modi attended the gala dinner hosted by Loong, before calling it a day in Singapore. India and ASEAN celebrated 25 years of their engagement in 2017, which culminated in the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit on January 25th this year. The summit was followed by the participation of all ASEAN leaders in India's Republic Day celebrations as chief guests. Lauding governor for staunchly defending the autonomy of the central bank, industry doyen on Thursday said government should not force its decisions on the Reserve Bank by invoking the never-used Section 7. He hoped that at the forthcoming board meet of the central board of the RBI next Monday (November 19), the regulator and government will reconcile by ceding some space, but made it clear that if Section 7 is invoked, Patel has no other option but to resign. "If government wants to stick (to its guns), then the matter will heat up. If RBI or Urijit Patel also sticks (to his own stand), and if government invokes Section 7, then it means, according to me, Patel has to resign," he told reporters. "Why did Section 7 come up if you two agree? If they are not listening to you, then you (Patel) should go. I am not against Patel at all," he said while speaking on the sidelines of the annual Jamnalal Bajaj Awards instituted by the group to recognise the work of individuals in diverse social and cultural fronts. Patel's recent posturing also came up for appreciation from the veteran industrialist. "The point is he (Patel) has shown some spine at last. It was not there earlier," he said and noted that Patel succeeded Raghuram Rajan. As part of the reconciliation process, each side will have to cede a bit, he said, adding RBI should make concessions on two of the most contentious issues by giving more money to small businesses and liberalising the prompt corrective action framework on 11 state-run banks. Underlining that the central bank's autonomy is paramount, Bajaj said, "nobody across the world disputes the need for autonomy and independence of the regulatory bodies. (But) that does not mean India can go to the dogs! (by starving the industry of funds)". Wading into the debate started by finance minister Arun Jaitley, Bajaj said the elected Parliament is "supreme" and therefore, there is a talk of invoking Section 7, which has never been used in the RBI's over 83-year-old history. "I very much hope the independence of RBI will be retained, and Section 7 will not be resorted to," he said, adding there cannot be 100 per cent agreement at the board on certain aspects. Bajaj said the "rightist and pro-government" S Gurumurthy, who is reportedly triggered turf war between the two, is "very knowledgeable and sensible", even though one may not agree with all his views. Relations between RBI and finance ministry soured in the past month, after North Block started consultations under the never-used Section 7 of the RBI Act which allows government to direct RBI to undertake certain measures "in public interest". According to sources, government has sent three letters to RBI on October 10, with nearly a dozen demands, which were replied to within a week by the central bank. Government primarily wants RBI to help the struggling non-bank lenders get some liquidity support, liberalise the prompt corrective action norms on 11 banks and undertake other steps which will help spur growth, while RBI is said to be taking a conservative view on most of it and avoiding any bad precedents. RBI's perceived excess capital is also a contentious issue, with reports saying government is eyeing Rs 3.6 trillion of the over Rs 9.7 trillion of its reserves. Denying any such demand, economic affairs secretary SC Garg had last week said the attempt was to have a discussion on the "appropriate economic capital framework" for RBI. The central bank took its reservations on various issues public in a speech by deputy governor Viral Acharya on October 26, wherein he warned of investors' wrath if RBI's autonomy is compromised. The speech was delivered after an allegedly tumultuous RBI board meeting on October 19. After reports of invocation of under Section 7 came up, government had tried to ease tension by stating that autonomy is "essential" and an accepted governance requirement. However, Garg had also mocked the "wrath-of-the- markets" remark by Acharya, pointing out to the improvements in financial markets since the speech. About his expectations from the forthcoming general elections, Bajaj said we need a strong government and also a united Opposition. He also welcomed the work done by NDA government on various fronts, and decried those who criticise it for advertising its work. Bajaj said despite its best intentions, the UPA regime could not eradicate poverty or end other social issues on multiple fronts, including gender and added that such work takes time. Addressing the awardees, Bajaj lashed out at the rising inequalities in the society, stating that it is worse than poverty and warned that the bitterness that comes in a person struggling to get his day's meal on seeing an opulent wedding will lead to a "revolution". Bajaj also made his displeasure at the laws created following the fleeing of willful defaulters and fraudsters by Sebi and the corporate affairs ministry. Kokadi (Raipur, Chhattisgarh): Less than a hundred kilometres from Chhattisgarhs capital, a firman has been issued in Kokadi, a village of less than 2,000 people. All residents have to attend the Govardhan Puja a day after Diwali. Everything else now takes a back seat for the villagers. Attendance is compulsory and assigned functions have to be performed. No one goes to work either as hired labour or in her own ripened paddy field. Any transgression by an individual or family is at the cost of being ostracised by the rest of the community. What does this have to do ... State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar on Thursday quelled fears of liquidity crunch in the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and said all of them have rolled over the debt that were set to mature till date. All of them (NBFCs) have been able to meet their commitment as far as roll overs are concerned, Kumar said, on the sidelines of the 25th World Congress organised by the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute, SBI and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard). Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor India's top hedge fund is exploring opportunities in state-run banks, a sector shunned by most investors till now, as valuations turn attractive and the backlog of bad loans that have riddled lenders start to dwindle. State-run banks will also benefit if the economy continues to grow at about 7 per cent, Andrew Holland, chief executive of Avendus Capital Public Markets Alternate Strategies LLP, said at the Reuters Global Investment 2019 Outlook Summit. Bad loans at Indian banks reached a record $150 billion at the end of March with state-run banks accounting for the ... A week after being freed from jail, -- a Pakistani Christian woman on death row for eight years for blasphemy -- remains in limbo, with negotiations apparently under way to allow her to leave the country despite objections from Islamist hardliners demanding her execution. Since the Supreme Court overturned Bibi's conviction last month, Pakistan has been rattled by violent protests from Islamists calling for her beheading, for mutiny in the armed forces and for the murder of the country's top judges. Blasphemy is a massively inflammatory issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam and Prophet Mohammed can lead to lynchings and murders. Earlier this month, the government struck a deal with the demonstrators after days of street protests saw large swathes of the country paralysed. But questions remain over Bibi's whereabouts, the court's decision, and how hardliners may react to further developments. Here's a brief rundown of where things stand and what might happen next. Rumours are rife in Pakistan that she has already left the country, with fake reports claiming she met with Pope Francis in the Vatican. AFP has debunked the reports of Bibi meeting the pontiff. The has repeatedly stated that Bibi is being held in a secure location in Pakistan after being released from a prison in central Multan last week, though her exact whereabouts are unknown. She is not being allowed to leave the country as her case is subjected to a final review. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi reiterated the government's position again in Islamabad on Wednesday, saying: "We have clarified earlier and we clarify it again. She has not gone abroad. She is here. There is no controversy." Pakistani Prime Minister initially spoke forcefully against the protests, and vowed to confront any violence. Since then he has stayed largely quiet about Bibi's fate. The ruling from the Supreme Court is in the process of being reviewed following a petition request. The petition essentially checks to see if any procedural or clerical errors were made by the court during its final ruling. If there were not, then the decision will stand. The chances of the apex court's acquittal being overturned are slim, according to Bibi's lawyer. Where will she go next? No one knows. However, it does appear that a deal may be in the works to move Bibi out of the country. Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government was holding talks with Pakistan over potentially offering asylum. "There is a delicate domestic context that we respect which is why I don't want to say any more about that, but I will remind people Canada is a welcoming country," Trudeau told AFP. The Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party, which led the violent demonstrations after Bibi's release, slammed Trudeau's comments. "We strongly oppose even her release. And this is a view of millions of Pakistani Muslims," said TLP spokesman Ijaz Ashrafi. Of course, a big concern for any country that opens its doors to Bibi will be the potential blowback from hardliners in Pakistan. Earlier this week, the Netherlands embassy pulled staff members from Pakistan over persistent threats, reportedly from hardliners angry over anti-Islam tweets by the far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders. Finally, 595 days after Theresa May informed the EU of the UKs intention to leave, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel, in this case, is Brussels-speak for the intense round of Brexit meetings between senior civil servants. Their work done, British politicians now have to give their verdict on the technical policy details enshrined in the 585-page draft withdrawal agreement. Now the deal has been agreed by cabinet, it needs the approval of UK MPs and each EU member state. The politics of getting the deal through parliament are immensely ... China's Commerce Ministry says high-level trade talks between Beijing and Washington have resumed. A ministry spokesman, Gao Feng, said on Thursday the two sides are "maintaining close contact" following a November 1 phone call between President and President The two sides have raised tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods in a dispute over Beijing's technology policy. Gao said: "High-level contacts between the two sides on economics and trade have resumed following the November 1 conversation between the Chinese and American heads of state." Gao gave no details of the talks or of which officials were conducting them. Xi and Trump are due to meet this month at a gathering of the Group of 20 major economies in Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Thursday rejected Turkey's demand for an inquiry into the murder of in his country's consulate in Istanbul. Adel al-Jubeir said had its own "investigative body" and would "reject" an independent investigation into the killing of Khashoggi who had been "heavily drugged" before being dismembered. ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia admits Jamal Khashoggi was dismembered in Istanbul consulate (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Wednesday announced it had awarded Martin a $22.7 billion contract for 255 F-35 fighter jets. Of the aircraft, 106 are destined for the US military: 64 F-35As for the Air Force, 26 F-35Bs for the Marines, and 16 F-35Cs for the Navy, while the rest are destined for foreign customers, the department said in a statement. A major supplier, Martin will receive a $6 billion advance for the order, due to be completed in March 2023. Most of the work on the jets will be performed in the US, with some will be carried out in countries including Britain and Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 program is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 in the coming years. Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion. According to figures from early October, 320 F-35s have been delivered worldwide, including 245 in the US. The Pentagon also announced it ordered eight MH-60R helicopters from Martin for $382 million. Prime Minister will visit next week where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. The Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Khan would be accompanied by a high-level delegation during his official trip to on November 20-21. This would be Khan's first bilateral visit to Khan and Malaysian Prime Minister will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks. The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Khan's visit "would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit," the statement said. Pakistan was facing a $12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the Monetary Fund by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials here believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide $6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a $6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. Meanwhile, Malaysia's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ikram Bin Mohammad Ibrahim called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here and discussed a wide range of issues. Qureshi briefed the High Commissioner about Prime Minister Khan's upcoming visit to Malaysia. He also highlighted that the prime minister's visit would help further strengthen bilateral relations between two countries and open new avenues of bilateral cooperation. The Malaysian diplomat assured his government's full support to enhance bilateral relations with Pakistan and said that the Malaysian leadership looks forward to Khan's visit. Russian President said on Thursday that the price of oil at $70 per barrel "suits" Moscow, while promising to "cooperate" with Saudi Arabia's call to cut output in an effort to bolster prices. "The situation as it is now, at around $70 (per barrel), suits us completely," Putin said at a summit in Singapore. "As you know, we have a budget expenditure based on $40 (per barrel)," he added. have shed a fifth of their value over the past month due to oversupply and signs of a softer-than-expected impact from sanctions on Iranian crude exports. The price of oil fell below $70 on Friday for the first time since the beginning of April and stood at around $66 at 1100 GMT on Thursday. This week Saudi Arabia's energy minister called for a global output cut of one million barrels per day to re-balance the market, as Riyadh unveiled plans to cut production by 500,000 bpd from December. "So far I cannot say if production should be limited -- we have to be very careful, every word is significant here," Putin said. "But the fact that we need to cooperate (with the Saudis) is obvious," he added. US President Donald Trump has pressed to produce more oil to offset the impact of sanctions on Iran. This week trimmed its global oil demand forecasts for this year and next. Doubts over plans to begin repatriating the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who fled Myanmar last year escalated on Thursday as Bangladesh's refugee commissioner said none wanted to return and that they would not be forced to go. Terrified refugees, who arrived in Bangladesh with a testimony of murder, rape and arson after they escaped a military crackdown last year, went into hiding as authorities insisted they would proceed despite UN warnings. But Bangladesh's refugee commissioner cast doubt on whether the plan to send the first batch of 150, from a preliminary 2,260 slated for return, could go ahead as scheduled for Thursday. "According to the UNHCR voluntariness assessment, none of the 50 families interviewed expressed their willingness to go back under the present circumstances. None feels safe to go back now," Mohammad Abul Kalam told AFP. Kalam would not say if the planned repatriations for Thursday were cancelled. But he said: "We cannot force them to go back against their will." More than 720,000 mostly Muslim Rohingya sought refuge from a Myanmar military crackdown launched from August last year that UN investigators say amounted to ethnic cleansing, joining some 300,000 already in Bangladesh. Rohingya refugees currently reside in vast camps in southeastern Bangladesh, including a massive settlement in the border district of Cox's Bazar, where community leaders said most of those marked for repatriation had headed to the hills. "98% per cent of the families (on the list) have fled," community leader Nur Islam said on Thursday. He and other community leaders said that an increase in the number of Bangladeshi soldiers at the camps in recent days had stoked anxiety. "Everyone is tense, the situation is very bad," Abdur Rahim, another leader, told AFP in Cox's Bazar. "There is a lot of army and police inside the camps. They are checking the ID cards of Rohingya." A local police chief, Abul Khaer, played down reports of additional security, saying nothing in terms of personnel had changed in recent months. The UN refugee agency has publicly cautioned against the repatriation going ahead and, in an internal briefing paper seen by AFP, laid out stringent conditions under which it would offer humanitarian assistance to anyone who ends up returning. In the confidential document dated November 2018, UNHCR said it would only provide aid if returnees were allowed back to the villages they had left or to other locations chosen by them. Bangladesh authorities have insisted only those who volunteer will be returned but UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Tuesday that many refugees are panicking at the prospect of being sent back against their will. "With an almost complete lack of accountability -- indeed with ongoing violations -- returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar at this point effectively means throwing them back into the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades," Bachelet said. She said that the violations against the Rohingya "amount to the worst atrocities, including crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide". Amnesty on Wednesday called on Bangladesh and Myanmar authorities to "immediately halt" their plans, saying it was a "reckless move which puts lives at risk". "These women, men and children would be sent back into the Myanmar military's grasp with no protection guarantees, to live alongside those who torched their homes and whose bullets they fled," said Amnesty's Nicholas Bequelin. Human Rights Watch echoed the concern on Thursday, asking Bangladesh to "immediately halt" the planned repatriation. "The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar," said Bill Frelick, HRW refugee rights director. US Vice President Mike Pence told Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse", adding pressure to Myanmar's civilian leader. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor on Thursday exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the murder of journalist but have requested the death penalty for five people who they say were involved in murdering. A spokesman for the public prosecutor's office denied Prince Mohammed had any knowledge of the killing inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, in response to a journalist's question. The spokesman said the deputy chief of Saudi intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, had given an order to force Khashoggi home -- and "the head of the negotiating team" that flew to Istanbul had ordered his murder. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and vocal dissident, died after being drugged by the five accused and then dismembered, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office said in the first Saudi acknowledgement of the manner of his killing. The journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds, the spokesman said. Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to fight for her draft divorce deal with the European Union on Thursday after the resignation of her Brexit secretary and other ministers put her strategy and her job in peril. Just over 12 hours after May announced that her Cabinet had agreed to the terms of the deal, Brexit minister Dominic Raab and work and pensions minister Esther McVey resigned. Eurosceptics in May's Conservative Party said they had submitted letters calling for a vote of no-confidence in her leadership. "Am I going to see this through? Yes," May told ... Violent scenes were witnessed in the Sri Lankan Parliament on Thursday as agitated lawmakers loyal to President and Prime Minister surrounded the Speaker in his chair after the premier, who lost a floor test, demanded fresh elections to resolve the political turmoil. Trouble erupted when Speaker Karu Jayasuriya agreed to a request from ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party that a vote be taken on a statement made by Rajapaksa demanding fresh polls. Jayasuriya had allowed Rajapaksa to make a statement as a member of parliament after stating that he does not recognise the claim of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader who lost a no-confidence motion on Wednesday. "I was the president and premier, so this prime minister's post is not important," Rajapaksa said. "I urge all 225 members to join me in calling for a fresh election. We want a general election," he said, adding that a fresh election was the best way to resolve the crisis. UNP legislator Lakshman Kiriella urged Jayasuriya to take a vote by name, showing the loss of confidence over Rajapaksa's remarks. Jayasuriya asked the House if it agreed and with resounding voices of 'Aye' he proceeded to take the vote. He was immediately surrounded by Sirisena and Rajapaksa's MPs who were protesting against Jayasuriya's decision to take the vote. "I am the Speaker and I decide," Jayasuriya told the angry lawmakers as UNP MPs formed a ring around the Speaker's chair to shield Jayasuriya. "They are trying to assault the Speaker," UNP legislator Harsha de Silva tweeted from the House. Objects were thrown at the Speaker's chair and at least one MP was seen leaving the chamber bleeding, an official said. The commotion continued for about half an hour before Jayasuriya adjourned the House. "We are the lawful government and we will sit in the government benches today," Ajith P Perera, a senior UNP legislator said earlier. The UNP had sat on the opposition benches during the no-trust vote. Rajapaksa's side has disputed the no-trust motion, saying proper procedure was not followed and accused Jayasuriya of bias towards his own party. Since the Speaker had ruled that Rajapaksa had no majority, Wickremesinghe remains the lawful premier, the UNP claimed. The UNP said they would boycott a meeting called by Sirisena with political parties which backed the motion against Rajapaksa on Wednesday. This was after a strongly-worded letter from Sirisena to Jayasuriya last night. Sirisena, in response to an official communique by Jayasuriya on the vote in parliament, told the Speaker that a prime minister does not necessarily require a parliamentary majority, that Jayasuriya had violated parliamentary procedures and standing orders of parliament in conducting the no-trust motion against Rajapaksa, and that he as president was the sole authority in appointing a prime minister. Parliament on Wednesday passed the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa who was installed by as premier by Sirisena in a controversial move, after the Supreme Court overturned the presidential decree to dissolve the House and hold snap polls on January 5. Amid raucous scenes, Parliament on Wednesday met for the first time since October 26, when Sirisena sacked premier Wickremesinghe, installed Rajapaksa in his place and suspended the House, plunging the island nation into an unprecedented Constitutional crisis. The vote of no confidence against Rajapaksa has further complicated the political crisis as the former strongman has rejected the outcome of the floor test. It is not yet clear whether Rajapaksa will resign or whether the ousted Wickremesinghe, who has the support of 122 lawmakers, will return to power. The passing of the no-confidence motion comes as a major blow to Sirisena and is a victory for Wickremesinghe. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/war-made-chinas-military-what-it-today-36102 The PLAs performance in the 1979 war was so bad, even Vietnamese commanders were surprised, according to some sources. This was a result of its reliance on Korean Warstyle infantry assault tactics, due to the operational inflexibility and stagnation of military thought in the PLA. United States Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells will visit Singapore from November 14 to 16. A press release from the US Department of State stated that Wells is scheduled to take part in bilateral engagements with other partners on the margins of the East Asia Summit (EAS). Wells along with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs W. Patrick Murphy will represent the United States at the US-Australia-India-Japan Consultations to reaffirm a shared commitment to maintain and strengthen an Indo-Pacific region based on clear and transparent rules, with respect for international law. US Vice President Michael R Pence is also in Singapore. Pence held multiple bilateral meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar Chancellor Aung San Suu Kyu on the sidelines of the EAS 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IAS officer Ashish Kundra has been appointed as the new Chief Election Officer (CEO) of Mizoram with immediate effect replacing SB Shashank. "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 13A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950), the Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Mizoram hereby nominates Ashish Kundra, IAS, (AGMUT: 1996) as the Chief Electoral Officer for the State of Mizoram with immediate effect and until further orders in place of SB Shashank, IAS," the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in an official statement. "Ashish Kundra while functioning as the Chief Electoral Officer, Mizoram shall not hold any additional charge whatsoever under the Government of Mizoram except that he should be designated Secretary to the Government in charge of Election Department in the State Secretariat," the statement added. Earlier, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding Shashank's removal following the sacking of Principal Secretary (Home) L Chuaungo. Shashank had complained to the ECI about the state government's interference in the ensuing elections. He also brought to the notice of the Commission of Chief Minister Chuaungo's alleged involvement in the revision of the electoral rolls and using the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). The people of Mizoram had protested against Shashank, alleging that he was biased in conducting the elections due on November 28. Results of the elections would be declared on December 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) on November 13 organized multiple events in Balochistan and abroad to commemorate Baloch martyrs who struggled and sacrificed their lives for a free, peaceful and democratic Balochistan. These meetings were held in several countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Canada. The Baloch people have been commemorating November 13 as ' Remembrance Day- Baloch Martyrs Day' for the past couple of years. This day's significance goes back to November 13, 1839, when the British forces attacked Balochistan and killed Baloch ruler Mir Mehrab Khan Baloch and his comrades. The British then occupied and divided Balochistan into three parts by drawing arbitrary Gold Smith and Durand Lines which the Baloch nation never accepted as international borders and continued their struggle to regain independence of united Balochistan. The Baloch activists paid tribute to Mir Mehrab Khan, who instead of surrendering before the enemy forces had resisted in defense of his motherland Balochistan. Prof Hasan Janan Baloch, who also attended an event organized to remember Baloch martyrs, said, "Mehrab Khan and thousands of other Baloch men, women, elderly and children have sacrificed their lives for the bright future for our next generations. We should continue the mission of our martyrs." In Germany's Bielefeld City, the FBM activist started their event with two minutes of silence in memory of Baloch martyrs of the freedom struggle. The speakers at the event were of the view that "November 13 is not only a day to remember the martyrs but also a day to pledge that they all will continue the great mission of all those fallen ones who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Balochistan." If one looks closely, FBM has been regularly raising their voice for free Balochistan. On September 24 this year, the organization held a demonstration during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City against Pakistani and Iranian terrorism in Balochistan. During the protest, the FBM activists also highlighted China-Pakistan nexus, wherein both states are involved in the exploitation of Balochistan's natural resources in the name of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pune Police on Thursday filed a chargesheet against the five accused - advocate Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale and Rona Wilson - in Pune Sessions Court in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case. In August, the five accused were arrested from various cities for their alleged involvement in the violence that erupted earlier this year during the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle. One person was killed and many were injured in the clashes which took place on January 1, 2018. Earlier, the Maharashtra government, in an affidavit, told the Supreme Court that the activists were "members of banned terrorist organisation Communist Party of India (Maoist)". Earlier this month, the Pune Sessions Court had rejected the bail plea of Shoma Sen, who is an accused in the case. Apart from this, five activists, namely poet Vara Vara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj, activists Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, and Gautam Navlakha, have also been put under house arrest since August 29 for their alleged involvement in the violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cyclone Gaja has started making landfall in the south of Nagapattinam, with strong winds and rainfall being witnessed in the region. The cyclonic storm will take one hour to fully cross from sea to land, Chennai's Meteorological Department (MeT) said on Friday. The department further said that the intensity of the wind will be less when the eye of cyclone falls on land, but will increase again gradually. "Gaja Cyclone now lies at about 80 km southeast of Karaikal, moving at a rate of 16 kilometres per hour. It is expected to cross between Vedaranyam and Nagapattinam between 12 am-3 am. Within the next 1 hour, the eye of the cyclone is expected to touch the land. Winds speed is 100-120 kilometres per hour," Chennai MeT department Director Dr. S Balachandran told ANI. However, the Tamil Nadu government has put its machinery in full alert in vulnerable districts to face the effects of the natural calamity. "Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had instructed district administration, and so they are on alert at all places. There has not been a single incident. Cuddalore district has seen so many cyclones, so our preparation is very good," said Tamil Nadu minister MC Sampath. He further revealed that around 29, 000 permanent cyclone shelters have been made and food is being provided to those who are residing in it. "There are 29,000 permanent cyclone shelters, 233 shelters made in schools, colleges and marriage halls. More than 5000 people are present in these shelters, food is being provided to them," the minister added. The Indian Navy has also been put on alert for relief efforts. Two Indian Naval ships - Ranvir and Khanjar - are on standby to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, and logistic support, including the provision of medical aid. In an attempt to mitigate damage to properties and human lives, the Palaniswami administration has planned to evacuate around 20,000 people residing on the coastal line and moving them to relief camps. On Wednesday, Cuddalore District Collector V Anbuselvan, who visited the possible affected areas, had said all private and government schools in Cuddalore would remain closed due to the cyclonic storm. Apart from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh is also bracing for the impact of the cyclone, which is likely to bring heavy downpour and strong winds to several parts of the region for the next couple of days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday said that the 'severe cyclonic storm' 'GAJA' is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore, around Nagapattinam in the evening today. "It is very likely to move west-southwestwards and cross Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore, around Nagapattinam during late evening of today, the 15th November, 2018 as a Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph," the IMD said. Sharing details of the cyclonic storm's location as of Thursday afternoon, IMD said, "The Cyclonic storm 'GAJA' over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved further west-southwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past six hours, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of 15th November, 2018 over Southwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 11.3N and longitude 82.6E, about 320 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 300 km east-northeast of Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu)." Informinf about the weather condition, K. Nagaratnam, Scientist 'D', Meteorological department, Hyderabad said that due to the cyclonic storm, there would be a bad weather condition over South Tamil Nadu. He further said that heavy to very heavy rainfalls is likely to occur at many places including Pamban, Kallur, Nagapatnam, Tiruvallur and adjoining districts. North Tamil Nadu may also receive moderate rainfall. Nagaratnam added that few districts of Andhra Pradesh are also likely to be affected by strong wind. "In next 24 hours, during the crossing of cyclone, few districts in Andhra Pradesh like Nellore, Chittoor and Prakasam are likely to be affected by strong wind and light to moderate rains. One or two places will receive heavy rainfall," he said. Earlier in the day, Cuddalore Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) MC Sambath held a review meeting with Collector V. Anbuselvan and Disaster Managment Incharge Gagandeep Singh Bedi along with rescue teams in Cuddalore. The state administration has formed as many as 19 interdepartmental zonal teams for rescue and relief operations, comprising officers from key departments of police, fire, Public Works Department, electricity department, etc. The Indian Navy has also sent its ship to the coastal region to help the rescue teams. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Union (EU) published the draft Brexit deal after the British Cabinet backed the draft, and held a press conference where Michel Barnier, EU's chief negotiator, gave an outline of the draft deal. The draft withdrawal agreement includes 185 articles, 3 protocols, and several annexes, and is 585-pages long. Barnier outlined five crucial subject-matters that the draft deal contained, including the rights of the citizens of both the parties, financial regulation, intellectual property rights, governance of the withdrawal agreement and the agreement of a transition period. "European citizens living in the United Kingdom and British citizens living in a Member State of the Union before the end of the transitional period can continue to live their lives as before in their country of residence. They will be able to continue to live in their country of residence, to study there, to work there, to receive allowances, or to bring their families there, for the duration of their lives," Barnier mentioned, allaying confusion regarding the fate of the citizens. Next, he noted that financial commitments made by the UK and the EU would be honoured by both the sides. Barnier remarked that the draft agreement had also found solutions to European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) issues, the protection of existing intellectual property right, and the use and protection of personal data exchanged before the end of the transition period. Highlighting that the draft agreement creates a framework "with a first step" for the resolution of disagreements, Barnier stated that it is imperative for both sides to properly implement the agreement. Confirming that the United Kingdom will leave the EU and all its institutions on March 29 next year, Barnier also said that the "current" situation would be maintained between the sides as far as the internal market, the customs union and European policies were concerned for a period of 21 months- from March 30, 2019 to December 31, 2020. This will enable citizens, administrations, and businesses to prepare and adapt to the change, he said at the press conference. Barnier further mentioned that the sides could "foresee" a possibility of extending the transition once for a limited period through a joint agreement. He also highlighted three protocols in the draft deal regarding the crucial regions of Gibraltar, Cyprus and Ireland and Northern Ireland. Underscoring bilateral agreements signed by Spain and the UK regarding Gibraltar, the chief negotiator stated that the protocol established the bases for administrative cooperation on several subjects including citizen's rights, taxation, cooperation in police and customs matters amongst other areas. Pronouncing the second protocol, Barnier said, "This Protocol allows the continuation of pre-existing arrangements between Cyprus and the United Kingdom, notably to enable the 11,000 Cypriot citizens established in the territories under sovereignty to continue to live like today." Announcing the third protocol, Barnier stated that both the sides had agreed to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, while Northern Ireland will continue being a part of the United Kingdom. However, both the sides will conclude a final agreement before the end of the transition period regarding the region by July 1, 2020. An extension in the transition period can be sought if a final agreement is not reached, with the establishment of a single EU-UK customs territory as a backstop solution as an alternative. "The creation of the single customs territory includes the corresponding level playing field commitments and appropriate enforcement mechanisms to ensure fair competition between the EU27 and the UK," a release issued by the European Union stated. However, Barnier highlighted that the backstop situation is not meant to be used as the objective is to positively reach a new agreement between the EU and the UK before the end of the transition. The chief negotiator's last point regarding the content of the draft deal brought the framework of the future relationship to the fore. "Today, through this draft joint political declaration, we are laying the foundations for the ambitious partnership we want. A free trade area based on extensive regulatory and customs cooperation and a level playing field. Our goal is to achieve a zero tariff and quota for all goods, based on what we propose in the withdrawal agreement for a single customs territory. It will obviously remain, as the European Council has given me the mandate, the condition of a new fisheries agreement," he said. He also mentioned that both sides would work together in sectoral cooperation, Cooperation on internal security, police and judicial cooperation, and on foreign policy, external security and defence. Barnier mentioned that further work will be done regarding this with the 27 member states of the EU and that he would be working with the European Parliament on November 15 (local time). Underscoring that a lot of work is yet to be done, Barnier concluded his speech by stating, "We have never negotiated against the UK but always with the UK. Today, in my capacity as the EU's chief negotiator, I consider that we have achieved decisive progress in the Brexit negotiations. The UK will remain our friend, our ally and our partner, " according to Meena Andreeva, the Deputy Chief Spokeswoman of the European Commission. The Brexit draft deal was agreed on by negotiators from both the UK and the EU on November 13 (local time), following which UK Prime Minister Theresa May successfully got the British Cabinet's approval for the draft agreement on November 14 (local time) after a five-hour meeting. On June 23, 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom had voted to leave the EU after which the UK had formally notified the European Council of its exit by evoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on March 29, 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday confirmed that Maratha community would get the reservation in the government jobs and in admissions in academic institutions from December 1. After receiving the report by the Maharashtra State Backward Commission, which had come to the conclusion that Marathas fall under each of 25 categories of backwardness, Fadnavis while addressing a rally here, said, "There is a good news that we have received a report on Maratha reservation from the Backward Commission today." "We will complete all legal formalities in the month of November itself and the Maratha reservation will be announced soon. I request everyone to stop protesting and celebrate on December 1," said the Chief Minister. "This is not an issue of taking credit. Everyone should come together and see how we can do better for the entire community. We assure that there will be no changes in the present reservation policy for other classes. The SC, ST, OBC, and VJNT will be untouched, while we grant reservation to the Maratha community too," Fadnavis added. The Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission has suggested 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community, stating that the community is socially and economically backward. In September, the Maharashtra government had apprised the Bombay High Court that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission was likely to submit its report on social and economic conditions of the Maratha community by 15 November. On August 9, as many as 194 people were detained by the Pune Police for rioting and arson after a protest, seeking the reservation for the Maratha community, turned violent. The Maratha community, which accounts for 33 per cent of the state's total population, had been agitating since 2017 demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. The community members also sought a waiver of farmer loans, justice in Kopardi rape case of 2016, and a permanent solution to the growing cases of unemployment in the state. In 2014, the then Congress-NCP government had announced 16 per cent reservation for Marathas and five per cent reservation for the Muslims. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The next time you open Google Maps to look for the directions to a restaurant, you will also be able to chat with its executive and book a table on-the-go. Google announced the new feature through its blog, explaining that messages with the businesses users connect with via Business Profiles will be visible within the Google Maps app. The feature will be available on both Android and iOS version of the app. The catch, however, is that the local business listed on the Google Maps requires the company to have enabled messages. Those who have enabled, will have a 'message' button on Business Profiles on Google Search and Maps. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google on Friday marked the 44th anniversary of the Arecibo message by dedicating a unique doodle. The Arecibo message is a 1974 interstellar radio message carrying basic information about humanity and Earth sent to globular star cluster M13 in anticipation that extraterrestrial intelligence may receive and decipher it. The transmission, made from Puerto Rico, consisted of a simple, pictorial message, aimed at our putative cosmic companions in M13. This cluster is roughly 21,000 light-years from us, near the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, and contains approximately a third of a million stars. The broadcast was particularly powerful because it used Arecibo's megawatt transmitter attached to its 305 meter antenna. The latter concentrates the transmitter energy by beaming it into a very small patch of sky. The emission was equivalent to a 20 trillion watt omnidirectional broadcast, and would be detectable by a SETI experiment just about anywhere in the galaxy, assuming a receiving antenna similar in size to Arecibo's. The message consists of 1679 bits, arranged into 73 lines of 23 characters per line (these are both prime numbers, and may help the aliens decode the message). The "ones" and "zeroes" were transmitted by frequency shifting at the rate of 10 bits per second. The total broadcast was less than three minutes. Dr. Frank Drake, then at Cornell University and creator of the Drake equation, wrote the message with help from Carl Sagan, among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the office of US First Lady Melania Trump issued a statement calling for Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) Mira Ricardel's ouster from the White House, the top aide has been transferred from her position. "Mira Ricardel will continue to support the President as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the Administration. The President is grateful for Ms Ricardel's continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities," read a statement issued by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. Quoting an official, CNN reported that US President Donald Trump was angry - "Yes, he's pissed - at damn near everyone," the official said. The deputy NSA's ouster was called for by Melania on Tuesday, following which Trump had decided to relieve Ricardel from her duties, a White House official confirmed. Ricardel, a longtime government official has served stints at the departments of State, Defense, and Commerce. A former Bush-era defense official who also worked for Boeing, Ricardel advised Trump's transition team on defence issues in late 2016 and early 2017, reported the Wall Street Journal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 209 candidates are contesting the Mizoram assembly elections. Election to the 40-member state assembly is slated to be held in a single phase on November 28. Of 209, the ruling Congress has fielded 40 candidates while opposition parties in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mizo Front (MNF), are contesting in 39 and 40 assembly seats respectively. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is contesting from two seats - Serchhip and Champhai South. The last day of withdrawal was yesterday. The Congress has been in power in the state since 2008. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After details of a proposed plan to build a tall statue of Mother Cauvery were reported, Karnataka Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday asserted that it is not just a statue but a tower which will be developed as a tourist destination. The Karnataka government has reportedly proposed to erect a 125-feet tall statue of Mother Cauvery at the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir in Mandya district of the state. Shivakumar and Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh on Tuesday held a meeting with senior officials on the proposed project. Along with the high statue, as per the plan, the government also proposes to build a museum complex and two 360-feet tall glass towers which will provide a bird's eye view of Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir. A bandstand, an indoor stadium and a replica of historical monuments are also proposed to boost tourism in the region. After the proposed project started to draw comparisons with the recently inaugurated Statue of Unity in Gujarat, Shivakumar clarified that the proposal is not exactly a statue. He said that the plan is in initial stage to create a 'tourist destination'. Speaking to ANI on Thursday about the proposed project, Shivakumar clarified that the structure which is being proposed is a tower and not exactly a statue. "No, see it is a plan. This is not a statue. The project is in its initial stage." "We are coming out with an amusement park like a Disney land. We want the people of the entire country and the world to look at it. We want to have a tourist destination, so we are planning for it," he added. Shivakumar informed that no government fund will be invested for the project and it will be made through public-private participation. "We are not investing any money for any statue. We are not involving any government funds for this. The land is ours. It is public-private participation. We are asking investors to come and invest. We want to boost tourism in the state and create employment." India currently is home to world's tallest statue, Statue of Unity. Located on Sadhu-Bet Island in Gujarat, the 182-metre tall Statue of Unity occupies over 20,000 square metres and is surrounded by a 12 square kilometre artificial lake. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the statue on the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. A few days ago on November 7, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also announced that a statue of Lord Ram will soon be built in Ayodhya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over the poll preparedness in Madhya Pradesh and asked authorities to take suitable measures to maintain law and order in the state. Addressing a press conference post the visit, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat reiterated the polling body's commitment to conduct a free and fair election. A delegation of the election commission during its two-day visit to the state met various stakeholders and representatives of political parties to review poll preparedness. The Chief Election Commissioner said that Madhya Pradesh election officials have been strictly directed to ensure compliance of the Model Code of Conduct and take action against any complaint regarding its violation. As per the Election Commission, a total of 1,54,437 cases have registered and action has been taken against 1,44,863 persons in the state till now. Apart from this, special security arrangements have been made in Naxal-affected states ahead of the assembly polls. The state will go to polls on November 28 to elect 230 members of the legislative assembly. The results will be declared on December 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government at the Centre had given a tremendous boost to financial inclusion. "Just 4-5 years ago we were living in a system where 48 per cent of our population, that is, nearly 600 million people had never seen a bank in their life and were not connected to the banking system. Today, they have bank accounts," he said while addressing the World Congress of Saving and Retail Bank (WCSRB). Jaitley said: "The first task was to bring them into the banking system. So, 330 million accounts were opened in a matter of a few months. It was a massive exercise. It was mainly the public sector banks who reached out to every village through their banking correspondents." "Financial inclusion has seen an unparalleled headway during the NDA government. Millions of poor people are now a part of the banking system," he added. He said that the whole exercise of financial inclusion started with the zero balance account as 78 per cent of people had no money in their accounts. "To incentivize them, we said you can get small overdraft in your account. We offer them life insurance on payment of a token amount of one rupee a month, that is, equivalent to 0.13 US dollar," said Jaitley. "141 million people have insured themselves for accidental benefits, while another 55 million on payment of a slightly higher amount associated have opted themselves for life insurance," he added. He also highlighted and praised MUDRA loans and other financial schemes of the government for small and medium entrepreneurs. "India took an experiment which is unique, where every Indian has a biometric identity. Each Indian has got a unique identification number linked with his bank account," said Jaitley, stating that now the financial benefits of all welfare schemes are directly credited into the poor people's bank accounts under the 'Direct Benefit Transfer' scheme. Talking about the demonetization, the Finance Minister said that the move led to formalizing the economy by bringing money back into the banking system. "To formalize the economy, we have to take some very difficult steps. We went for demonetizing our high-value currency, which compelled the people to deposit their cash into the banking system," said Jaitley. "We have brought in a new taxation regime-Goods and Services Tax (GST)-where we have combined multiple taxes into one. Our tax laws have become completely online. Talking about electrification, Jaitley said: "By December 31, 2018, not a single house would be left in an Indian village which does not have an electricity connection," said Jaitley. "Four years ago rural India had rural sanitation coverage of only 39 per cent. In four years, this 39 per cent has gone up to 92 per cent," he said. "50 million families were still depending on conventional methods of cooking by the use of wood or coal, which was detrimental to the ladies' health, more particularly in rural areas. So we incentivize them and gave them initial connections at the state's cost. We targeted at 50 million and revised it to 80 million and have already covered 60 million," said Jaitley. "We want to use growth as a mechanism to pull the maximum number of people out of poverty, improve upon their quality of life, but we are conscious of the fact that the dangers of development and progress benefiting a few and leaving many others out of the inclusion system are also there. Therefore, the penetration effect of growth will certainly take place but would be a slow process. Aspirational societies are not willing to wait for indefinitely," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an effort to infuse hope and the sense of belongingness among poor students hit hard by the menace of terrorism, the Northern Command of Indian Army celebrated Children's Day with them. Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, Army Commander of Northern Command, interacted with the terror affected children, studying in the Army Public School, Udhampur, at his residence. These children are from the economically poor segment of society and are adversely affected by terrorism. As a part of its welfare initiative, the Northern Command has taken the responsibility of of these children and is bearing all their expenses including boarding, lodging, stationary, clothes and so on. These welfare initiatives are undertaken under "Operation Sadbhavna," a flagship programme of the Army, which has been operational for the last two decades. Under this programme, the Indian Army provides facilities of education, medical assistance, infrastructure development, vocational training and many other specific needs of the people of a particular area. "Operation Sadbhavna" has been instrumental in building a bond of trust and respect between the soldier and the people of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) American cinematographer Matthew Libatique has been charged and arrested on grounds of assault while he was attending a film festival in Poland. Libatique, who was the cinematographer for Lady Gaga-Bradley Cooper-starrer 'A Star Is Born', was reportedly charged with assault after an altercation with the police and paramedics at Bydgoszcz city. According to The Hollywood Reporter, an ambulance was brought in for the Oscar-nominated cinematographer, visibly inebriated, who was said to have been seen "staggering and an altercation occurred." During the altercation, which reportedly took place on Tuesday, Polish media reported that one of the paramedics who had arrived to treat Libatique sustained injuries and suffered a broken tooth. The filmmaker is slated to appear in court on Thursday and, if convicted, could face a prison sentence of up to three years under Polish law. "Mr. Libatique was involved in an alleged incident that led to his detention and is being held on a potential charge of assaulting a police officer and a paramedic here in Bydgoszcz. This is now a legal matter that the EnergaCamerimage Festival is not in a position to discuss. We can make no further comments at this time," Kazimierz Suwala, festival office manager for Camerimage, told The Hollywood Reporter. Libatique, whose last project was 'A Star Is Born', was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010 for his work in on Darren Aronofksy's 'Black Swan'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal which was scheduled for next month has been cancelled, an Indian Mission source in Nepal told ANI. "Less than a month is remaining for his expected visit to Nepal but we haven't received any internal memos and directives as of before which is very unusual and now we have been informed that his visit has been cancelled," the source from Indian Embassy in Kathmandu informed. As per the source, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Nepal was cancelled due to his busy schedule and increasing election fever in India for next year's general election. "There used to be briefing and allotment of the embassy staffs to field for preparations and set out all the events on the place before a month of visit. This time there was no such events and we had suspected of high-level visit cancellation which is confirmed today (Thursday) only," the source added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to visit the Himalayan Nation on the occasion of Bibah Panchami on 12th of December bringing on Barat from India to Janakpurdham, the birthplace of Sita on the newly upgraded railway of Nepal. The Government of Nepal also had planned to write to the Indian Prime Minister inviting him for a state visit at the time when he also was expected to inaugurate the Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a four-day official visit to Vietnam from November 18 to 21. President Kovind will address the Assembly of Vietnam. Apart from him, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been the only foreign leader to address the Assembly till now. Vietnam's Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau said that India is a long-standing friend of Hanoi. Earlier in August this year, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had visited Vietnam and several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries during her visit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan Parliament on Thursday witnessed a chaotic session as members got into fistfights and hurled objects at each other following the ouster of newly-sworn in Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. In the first session, after President Maithripala Sirisena prorogued the Parliament, Speaker of the House Kara Jayasuriya asserted that Sri Lanka has no Prime Minister or cabinet. He reiterated that neither Rajapaksa nor Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was ousted by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, was the Prime Minister of the South Asian island nation. Following Jayasuriya's remark, Rajapaksa insisted on making a speech in the House. After the conclusion of Rajapaksa's statement, Member of the Parliament Lakshman Kiriella moved a motion of no confidence against it. The House was disrupted when the Speaker asked the members if they wanted to vote on the no-confidence motion. This comes a day after Rajapaksa was voted out in the Parliament as the lawmakers showed no confidence in his government and the Prime Minister. The no-confidence motion was passed in the Parliament after 122 members voted against Rajapaksa in the 225-member House. Sri Lankan Parliament was trashed as the supporters of Rajapaksa threw water bottles and dustbins in the House. The South Asian island nation has been in a political turmoil after Sirisena sacked former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and replaced him with the now-ousted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26. Sirisena had also ordered the dissolving of the Parliament following which the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued an interim order staying the proclamation issued by Sirisena to dissolve the country's Parliament. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood actor Salman Khan has upped the curiosity of his fans with the first look from his upcoming film 'Bharat'. The 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' star posted a still from the film on his Instagram account. In the picture, Salman and his leading lady Katrina Kaif are seen standing at the Wagah Border. Previously, the duo was seen seen in action movies like 'Ek Tha Tiger' and 'Tiger Zinda Hai' where they played spies from India and Pakistan. 'Bharat' is also director Ali Zafar's third collaboration with Salman after the 2016 film 'Sultan' and 2017's 'Tiger Zinda Hai'. In the film, Bollywood's Bhaijaan will be seen sporting five different looks spanning over 60 years, including a crucial part which will showcase the actor in his late 20s, looking much leaner and younger. Katrina Kaif was roped into the movies after Priyanka Chopra decided to walk out of the film. The film also stars Tabu and Disha Patani in pivotal roles and is slated to hit the big screens on June 5, 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been named as an accused in a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the Delhi Police on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit chief and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari in connection with the scuffle that took place during the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge. On November 4, Tiwari got into a brawl with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and the Delhi Police at the event after which he wrote to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North- East Delhi and filed a complaint against AAP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Amanatullah Khan, Kejriwal and unknown persons. Khan was caught on camera shoving Tiwari during the inauguration ceremony of the Signature Bridge. In a video footage of the incident, Tiwari was seen standing at the edge of an elevated platform when Khan, an AAP MLA from Okhla, pushed the BJP's Delhi unit chief, nearly causing him to fall. A large number of police personnel and AAP workers were also present on the occasion. While speaking to ANI after the scuffle, Tiwari had claimed that the entire incident took place in front of Kejriwal. He had alleged that he was stopped by the police and AAP supporters from attending the event. The bridge was inaugurated on November 4 and was opened for the public the next day. It was inaugurated by the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Announced in 2004, the 575-metre bridge over the river Yamuna aims at reducing travel time and traffic congestion between the north-eastern and northern parts of the capital, and is the first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day parade here, sources said. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended an invitation to US President Donald Trump, but he expressed his inability citing "scheduling conflicts." Cyril Ramaphosa will be the second leader from South Africa to attend India's Republic Day parade as the chief guest. Former President Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at the 1995 Republic Day parade. South African President Ramaphosa is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. A few months back, he led as many as 5,000 people at the annual 'Gandhi Walk' event organized at Lenasia, a few kilometers away from Johannesburg in an attempt to promote fitness and community awareness. India and South Africa are making efforts to develop bilateral relations in order to boost trade and investment relations. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg. During the meet, the two-state heads signed MoUs in the areas of defense, trade, culture, agriculture, and dairy cooperation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members and supporters of United National Party (UNP) on Thursday took to streets in protest as the political and constitutional turmoil grew in Sri Lanka. Supporters of former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe protested against his ouster and demanding restoration of the democracy in the country. Former Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister Harsha de Silva tweeted, "Massive crowds at protest rally at Lipton Circus. @MaithripalaS please note that we have power both inside and outside the House. #FakePM better listen to the people and respect democracy. You have no confidence in the Legislature. Go for God's sake Go! #CoupLK" Addressing the rally at Lipton Circus in Town Hall, Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka requested the government to hold both the General Election and the Presidential Election together. Daily Mirror Sri Lanka quoted Ranawaka as saying, "We would defeat both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa will be defeated by more than 7 million of votes this time. For the first time in the history, a president has changed his political camp. We will respond to this next time." Challenging President Maithripala Sirisena and the now-ousted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said, "We are not afraid of guns or ammunitions. We will win through democracy. All they know is how to oppress the people and issue threats." Sri Lanka tumbled into a constitutional crisis after President Sirisena ousted then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister. Sirisena further suspended the country's Parliamentary proceedings until November 16. Sirisena on November 5 announced to reconvene the Sri Lankan Parliament on November 14, amid rising demands by legislators of the state to end the political crisis in the island nation as soon as possible. On November 14, the Sri Lankan Parliament passed a no-confidence motion against the government of the newly-sworn Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Following which the Sri Lankan Parliament on Thursday witnessed a huge ruckus as members got into fistfights, hurled objects at each and even tried to attack Speaker Karu Jayasuriya following the ouster of newly-sworn in Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested additional district judge of Ranga Reddy court Vaidya Vara Prasad and remanded him to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a disproportionate assets case. Prasad has been remanded to Chanchalguda central prison till November 28 following ACB recovering assets worth Rs 3 crore belonging to him during a raid conducted on November 14. According to Telangana's ACB Director General J. Purnachandra Rao, on the orders of the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad on November 13, a case of disproportionate assets to his known sources of income was registered against Prasad under Sections 13(1)(b) r/w 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. As part of the investigation, the ACB conducted searches at the residences of Prasad at Saroor Nagar, Kondapur. The agency also searched the residences of Prasad's associates at four places in Hyderabad, three places in Sircilla and two places in Maharashtra. During the raids several documents related to assets and huge expenditure were unearthed, said the Director General adding that it revealed Prasad along with his family made several foreign trips incurring huge expenditure. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ruling out the possibility of a second referendum, UK Prime Minister Theresa May strongly defended her draft Brexit agreement in front of the British Parliament and in a press conference held in the wake of resignations by prominent ministers including Dominic Raab, who served in May's government as the British Brexit Secretary. "This is a Brexit that delivers on the priorities of the British people. In achieving these objectives, I'm also determined to protect the things that are important to us. Protect the hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs that put food on the tables of working families right across the UK. Those jobs rely on cross-border trade in goods with parts flowing easily in and out of the UK, allowing for integrated supply chains. This agreement protects that. Protects the close security cooperation that keeps us safe-this agreement does that. Protect the integrity of the United Kingdom and peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland by leaving the EU as one United Kingdom and having no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland," May said at a press conference. She completely ruled out the possibility of a second referendum at the presser on the same day that she faced the British parliament, where calls for no-confidence against the Prime Minister were led by Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. Rees-Mogg launched a tirade against May and her draft at the British Parliament, submitting a letter of no-confidence against the Prime Minister. Four UK ministers holding key posts such as UK's Brexit negotiator Raab handed in their letters of resignation on Thursday citing differences with the draft deal. Quoting two reasons, Raab tweeted that he "cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU," alongside a copy of his resignation. "First, I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat the integrity of the United Kingdom. Second, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. The terms of the backstop amount to a hybrid of the EU Customs Union and Single Market obligations. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement. That arrangement is now also taken as the starting point for negotiating the Future Economic Partnership. If we accept that, it will severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations against the UK," the British negotiator said while telling the Prime Minister that she deserves a British Secretary "who can make the case for the deal you are pursuing with conviction." Esther McVey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, Shailesh Vara, Minister for Northern Ireland and Brexit Minister Suella Braverman resigned along with Raab, just a day after May confirmed her Cabinet's support for the draft deal agreed on by negotiators from both sides on November 13. The European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier had held a press conference after the EU published the entire draft agreement on November 14, reaffirming that the "UK will remain our friend, our ally and our partner," after highlighting key clauses and protocols of the draft deal. On June 23, 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom had voted to leave the EU after which the UK had formally notified the European Council of its exit by evoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on March 29, 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's first inter-state tiger translocation project has been suspended temporarily after a male tiger brought from Kanha Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha's Angul district was found dead on Wednesday. Tiger Mahavir was one of the two Royal Bengal Tigers. Anup Nayak, ADG, Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirmed the same. According to a statement of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, on November 14 at 1 pm, tiger monitoring team reported about the mortality of translocated male tiger. The incident occurred 500 meters from Raigoda to Nuagada forest road inside the Nuagarh reserve forest of Athagarh forest division which has been proposed to be included in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, the statement added. The statement further stated that on Prima facie investigation of the carcass, "a deep lacerated and five-day-old maggotted infected wound was observed in the dorsal neck region of the tiger which may be the cause of the mortality". It, however, added that the exact reason of the death and time of incidence will be ascertained after conducting a detailed post-mortem examination. "The disposal of carcass through incineration will be carried out in presence of the veterinarian team and others by following NTCA protocol," Satkosia Tiger Reserve said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UNESCO MGIEP (Mahatma Gandhi Institute of for Peace and Sustainable Development) in association with Government of Andhra Pradesh conducted a High-level Policy Forum on 14th November 2018. The distinguished group gathered to discuss the commencement of a dialogue on the development of guidelines for digital learning resources. The discussion brought together policy makers, domain experts from AI, education, neuroscience, developmental psychology, data scientists and legal experts; digital instruction designers, game designers; industry representatives from technology companies and Ed. tech startups. The High-level Policy Forum acted as a prelude to TECH 2018, specifically targeting policymakers. It was chaired by the former President of Kyrgyzstan and MGIEP Board Member, H.E Roza Otunbyueva. Some of the other dignitaries participating in the discussion included Madam Emmalin Pierre, Minister of HRD Grenada; Prof. Dr. Yasser Refaat Abdel Fattah Mohamed, Vice Minister of Higher Education; Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Deputy Minister of Ghana; Shri Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Minister of HRD Government of Andhra Pradesh; Dr. J S Rajput, Representative of India to UNESCO; Mr. Dominic Marcotte, Director Quebec Bureau India; Mr. Eric Falt, UNESCO Director and Representative for India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Its key objective was to commence a collective dialogue on the development of Ed. Tech guidelines on the design and implementation of digital learning products. UNESCO MGIEP believes that with the global market set to touch two billion USD in India, and over 250 billion USD in the Asia Pacific region by 2022, it is time for some broad guidelines that countries can use for evaluating the quality and inclusiveness of digital educational content. Furthermore, with the massive influx of digital learning systems and solutions such as games, it has become extremely difficult for teachers, parents, and school leaders to assess products and monitor learning outcomes. A new learning ecosystem is needed to prepare students to understand, critique, and positively transform the social and cultural conditions they live in to enhance well-being for all. The conference aims to adapt all efforts in this direction towards placing socio emotional skills at the centre of these new developments. Prof. Anantha Duraiappah, Director, UNESCO MGIEP emphasized, "The 21st century learner is a digital native, who needs to be both intellectually and emotionally resilient and it is time that our education system addresses this reality and adapts itself." The High Level Policy Forum discussed the Vizag declaration that calls for UNESCO MGIEP to initiate a process to develop the guidelines and present them to the 2019 UNESCO General Conference in Paris, France. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Representative Kevin McCarthy of the Republican party was elected as the minority leader of the House on Wednesday. McCarty will succeed Paul Ryan whose term ends in January 2019, reported CNN. McCarthy won with the vote count of 159-43 after facing a fierce battle against his rival Representative Jim Jordan. As Ryan's term comes to an end, McCarthy is now number 2 House Republican and had long been viewed as a strong contender for minority leader in the new Congress. He will hold the highest-ranking Republican leadership post with Republicans in the minority after losing control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections. Earlier in April this year, Ryan had announced that he would not seek re-election and had endorsed McCarthy to be his successor. "We will work with anybody across that aisle if they are there to work to move America forward. But let me be very clear, if their agenda is simply investigations, impeachment, and not focused on the hardworking American public, we will be there to defend the American public," said McCarty as quoted by CNN. In a letter announcing his bid, he wrote, "We need to lay the groundwork to regain the majority so that we can continue working alongside President Trump to fulfill our promise to fundamentally change Washington. I helped build a majority from a deeper hole than this and I have what it takes to do it again. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States President Donald Trump announced his support for the FIRST STEP Act, a bipartisan agreement for prison reform, at the White House on Wednesday (EST). "Today, I'm thrilled to announce my support for this bipartisan bill that will make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time. So important," Trump remarked at White House's Roosevelt Room. Urging the Congress to pass the prison reform bill, Trump stated, "I urge lawmakers in both the House and Senate to work hard and to act quickly and send a final bill to my desk. And I look very much forward to signing it. This is a big breakthrough for a lot of people. They've been talking about this for many, many years." "We're all better off when former inmates can receive and reenter society as law-abiding, productive citizens. And thanks to our booming economy, they now have a chance at more opportunities than they've ever had before. It is true. Our economy is so strong, that when people are getting out of jail, they're actually able to find jobs," the US President said while sharing that the American job market is at its best in over 50 years. Underscoring significant reforms in the legislation, Trump said, "First, it will provide new incentives for low-risk inmates to learn the skills they need to find employment, avoid old habits, and follow the law when they are released from prison. These incentives will encourage them to participate in vocational training, educational coursework, and faith-based programs that reduce their chances of recidivism, and, in other words, reduce their chances of going back to prison substantially." "Second, this legislation will allow federal inmates to be placed closer to their home communities in order to help facilitate family visitation - so important - because we know that maintaining family and community ties is key to successful reentry into our society," Trump highlighted. "Third, the bill includes reasonable sentencing reforms while keeping dangerous and violent criminals off our streets. In many respects, we're getting very much tougher on the truly bad criminals - of which, unfortunately, there are many. But we're treating people differently for different crimes. Some people got caught up in situations that were very bad," the US President mentioned while citing the example of former inmate Alice Johnson. Trump further stated that he had rolled back some of the provisions of crime laws from Bill Clinton's time that harmed the African-American community. He also shed light on the fact that seven major police organisations have fully endorsed the bill, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Police Chiefs. "Americans from across the political spectrum can unite around prison reform legislation that will reduce crime while giving our fellow citizens a chance at redemption. So if something happens and they make a mistake, they get a second chance at life," he said. "Today's announcement shows that true bipartisanship is possible. And maybe it'll be thriving if we're going to get something done. When Republicans and Democrats talk, debate, and seek common ground, we can achieve breakthroughs that move our country forward and deliver for our citizens. And that's what we're doing today. And I have great respect for the people standing alongside me," Trump stated while calling on the Congress to pass the bill. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Headline indices of the Australian share market closed higher on Thursday, 15 November 2018, as rebound in energy stocks helped to offset losses in financials and materials sectors. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index inclined 3.25 points, or 0.06%, at 5,736.02 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index added 2.93 points, or 0.05%, to 5,825.21 points. Shares of energy companies closed higher, on the back of slightly higher oil prices. Woodside Petroleum was up 1.5% to A$33.06, WorleyParsons rose 4.3% to A$14.79, Santos advanced 2.5% to A$6.21 and Beach Energy added 3.7% higher to A$1.68. Shares of banks and financials were lower, with Commonwealth Bank led the fall, closing 0.5% lower at A$68.86, Westpac fell 0.4% to A$25.34, NAB slid 0.2% to A$23.88 and ANZ closed flat at A$25.39. Shares of materials companies were down, with heavyweight BHP Billiton fell 0.2% to A$32.04, Rio Tinto closed 0.8% lower at A$77.84 and South32 slid 0.6% to A$3.33. Among individual stocks, GrainCorp shares fell 1.4% to A$7.80 after the grain handler warned tough times were still ahead. On Thursday, the company reported its net profit after tax had slumped to $71 million, down almost 44% on the previous year. Aveo Group closed 4.4% lower at A$1.63 after Macquarie and Morgans downgraded their recommendations on the stock. The retirement operator declined to provide earnings guidance at its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday despite saying residential markets were negative. G8 Education shares surged 11.6% to A$2.69 after the childcare centre operator said it intended to offload up to eight loss-making childcare centres. The company also signalled an improving outlook, with better occupancy rates in the outer suburbs of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. ECONOMIC NEWS: Australia Jobless Rate Steady At 5.0% In October --Australia jobless rate came in at a seasonally adjusted 5.0% in October, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday, unchanged from the September reading. The Australian economy added 32,800 jobs last month to 12,671,500, following the addition of 7,800 jobs in the previous month. CURRENCY: Australian Dollar was up against greenback and other major currencies on Thursday. The Australian dollar was quoted at $0.7236, up from $0.7219 on Wednesday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mr Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Industries, Government of Odisha made a strong pitch to the defence Industry to tap the opportunities that Odisha had to offer in the aerospace and defence sectors at the 'Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing Session' at the 'Make in Odisha' Conclave 2018 here on Tuesday. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is the industry partner for the event. Mr Chopra briefed the industry on the comprehensive ecosystem in place and the policy measures that have been initiated, including the recently announced Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy aimed at creating a robust defence industrial base. Mr Ravin Kulshrestha, Director Planning and Coordination, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, reaffirmed Government of India's support to the defence industry and spoke about the initiatives by the Government of India and the opportunities that are available in the defence sector. Mr Kulshrestha detailed the enabling factors for MSMEs to contribute to India's defence production. Maj Gen PS Bhatia VSM, Commandant Army Air Defence College, Indian Army, emphasised on collaborative approach on the part of the user, industry and academia to cater to the needs of the armed forces. He added that in the last two years industry and academia have come out with path-breaking solutions to the problem statements of Indian Army and mentioned that further strengthening the user-industry-academia interface will be a win-win situation for all. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C) of Housing and Urban Affairs, has said that in this new era of RERA, we are witnessing positive transformative changes in the industry. In the 2nd year of the implementation of RERA, all the States/UTs have notified Rules under RERA except for 6 North Eastern States and the state of West Bengal. The Minister was delivering the inaugural address at the 3rd regional workshop on RERA-a new era of transparency and accountability in Real Estate-2 years of implementation and Way. Puri noted that recently, a separate deliberation with all the north-eastern states was organized by his Ministry, wherein all the clarifications were given. He hoped that RERA will be implemented in all the states of north eastern region very soon. Puri pointed out that till the year 2016, there was no regulator for real estate and construction sector, which is the largest employer after agriculture and housing. He said, in a landmark move, the central government, in the form of RERA, gave the real estate sector its first regulator w.e.f. from 1st May, 2016. He highlighted that to bring uniformity, professionalism, and standardization in the real estate sector, RERA provides for mandatory registration of Agents and Projects. So far 33,750 projects and 26,018 Agents have been registered pan India and Maharashtra has the highest number of project and agent registration. In Maharashtra, total 18,392 projects and 17,188 Agents have been registered. The Minister emphasised that the full benefits of RERA would be realized only when the provisions of RERA are implemented in letter and spirit. The Minister said that all the stakeholders need to make aware about the powers and other provisions of RERA, as the Act also mandates under section 33 that the Authority shall take suitable measures for the promotion of advocacy, creating awareness and imparting training about laws relating to real estate sector and policies. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 20 Islamic State (IS) militants have been killed over the past 24 hours as a result of US-led airstrikes on the IS-held areas in eastern Syria, a war monitor group reported on Wednesday. The IS militants were killed as the US-led coalition has been pounding the IS-held areas in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province as a prelude to a campaign to dislodge IS from its last strongholds in eastern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is a Kurdish-led group, is bracing to launch a second wave of attacks against IS in the last IS-held pocket on the eastern bank of Euphrates River near Iraq. The airstrikes have recently intensified as the Kurdish-led group's attack on IS seems imminent after a failing attempt that has dragged on since September 10. In the process, civilian casualties have fallen, with tens of civilians reportedly killed earlier this week by the US-led strikes. The Syrian government has for long questioned the intentions of the US-led coalition as the area in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour is a strategic one due to its proximity to the Iraqi border and the oil-rich fields. Earlier on Wednesday, Syria's state news agency SANA said the US-led warplanes are targeting residential areas in eastern Deir al-Zour with cluster bombs and white phosphorus. The Syrian Foreign Ministry renewed in a statement Saturday calling on the UN to form "an independent international mechanism" to investigate into the "crimes of the Washington coalition" and punish the perpetrators. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 209 candidates, 67 higher than in 2013, are contesting the November 28 Mizoram Assembly polls, officials said here on Thursday. According to the officials of Mizoram Election Department, of the 209 candidates, 15 are women. In 2013, only six women contested the elections but none were successful. "The Congress and the Mizo National Front (MNF) have fielded 40 candidates each, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated 39 candidates," Mizoram's Joint Chief Electoral Officer Zorammuana told IANS. In the 2013 assembly polls, 142 candidates contested for the 40 assembly seats in the Christian-dominated state. The BJP, which has undertaken intensive efforts to oust the ruling Congress after having formed governments on its own or in alliance with allies in the six northeastern states, excluding Sikkim, had fielded 17 candidates in 2013 and secured only 0.37 per cent of the votes. Last time, the MNF, a regional party, which ruled the state for two terms (1998-2003, and 2003-2008), fielded candidates in 31 seats, and won five seats. The MNF is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). Political experts predict that after the polls, the MNF might forge an alliance with the BJP to form the government. Meanwhile, the ruling Congress, which has been in power except for ten years -- 1998 to 2008 -- since it became a full-fledged state in 1987, has suffered a major setback during the past two months with five of its leaders, including Home Minister R. Lalzirliana and Assembly speaker Hiphei, quitting the party and resigning from the house. Besides Lalzirliana and Hiphei, three other sitting legislators, Lalrinliana Sailo, Buddha Dhan Chakma -- both former ministers, and Hmingdailova Khiangte have also resigned from the party. While Lalzirliana and Sailo joined the opposition MNF, Hiphei and Chakma joined BJP, and Khiangte would contest the polls as an independent. With these resignations, the Congress' strength in the 40-member house has been reduced to 29. Like the previous elections, women voters once again outnumber the men in Mizoram. Of the 768,181 voters, there are 393,685 women and 374,496 men. --IANS sc/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ABVP on Thursday suspended Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) President Ankiv Baisoya from its membership, pending the inquiry against him on charges of submitting a fake degree to get admission in Delhi University. Baisoya is under the scanner for submitting fake documents from Thiruvalluvar University at Vellore in Tamil Nadu to secure admission in the Delhi University where he is a student of Buddhist Studies. On Thursday, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the RSS, asked Baisoya to resign from his post and also suspended him from all responsibilities in the ABVP till the enquiry against him gets over, ABVP spokesperson Monica Chaudhary said. The ABVP also urged Delhi University to conclude its inquiry against Baisoya at the earliest. "This incident is continuously tarnishing the image of DUSU and also raising questions on the students' mandate. So we request DU administration to complete the verification process as soon as possible and produce the result in public domain," ABVP State Secretary Bharat Khatana told IANS. "If Ankiv is found guilty, he must face all the legal action expected in this case," he said. Baisoya's matter is pending at the Delhi High Court, which has asked the university to conclude its probe and submit its report to it. Hearing the case on Monday for the first time, the court posted the hearing for November 20. Baisoya was elected the DUSU President in September. The ABVP won three of the four seats against the Congress-backed National Students Union of India (NSUI). --IANS vn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The counterintelligence wing of Police on Thursday put the state on high alert about the presence of at least half-a-dozen terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based group (JeM) in the state and said they could be moving towards the capital. The reports suggest that the terrorists entered from the international border in Ferozepur area. A letter issued by the Counter Intelligence Inspector General said: "At least six to seven terrorists are reportedly in (possibly Ferozepur area) and planning to move towards from side." The note advised the authorities to step up security, especially along the border, and checking across the state. "There is a need to review and strengthen the second line of defence along the Indo- border and to coordinate closely with BSF and other police/defence establishments in your areas," it added. The intelligence alert came just a day after four persons snatched a taxi at gunpoint near Madhopur area, sparking fears of a Pathankot airbase-like attack that took place in 2016. The taxi, a silver-coloured Innova, was initially hired by the four men from Jammu. They had booked it for Pathankot. Near Madhopur, they forced the driver of a car out at gun-point and drove off, the police said. The taxi driver, with the help of passers-by, later informed the police. The Pathankot airbase of the (IAF) was attacked by terrorists, suspected to be from on January 2, 2016. Seven people were killed in that attack. Prior to the terrorist attack on the IAF base in 2016, suspected Pakistani terrorists had carried out an attack on Dinanagar town in neighbouring Gurdaspur district. The Dinanagar terror attack took place on July 27, 2015 when three Pakistani terrorists entered from the border belt. Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has successfully saved the prints of most of his films, an expert said on Thursday. Founder and Director of Film Heritage Foundation Shivendra Singh Dungarpur said Bachchan asked the producers to give him the prints of his films. "When we approached Bachchan, we found it interesting to note that he used to ask the film producers to give him a copy of a subtitled print and another print. In that process he maintained most of his films," Dungarpur said at the 24th Preservation and Restoration Workshop's opening at KIFF. He said film restoration is the need of the hour. There has to be awareness about it, as there was a need for trained archivists. "I am really glad with such concerted efforts for restoring great works of Bengali cinema. We are celebrating the centenary of Bengali cinema. So saving our work is of utmost importance," said KIFF chairman and leading Bengali actor Prasenjit Chatterjee. Bachchan is the brand ambassador of the initiative. He shared a video message wishing it great success. "West Bengal produced some of the greatest filmmakers of Indian cinema such as Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwick Ghatak and so on. I would thank the government for supporting the initiative, so the future generations would be able to see these works, " Bachchan said. At least 100 Bengali classics have been identified for restoration. --IANS bnd/ssp/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While New Delhi and other Indian cities choke amid worsening air conditions and half-hearted government measures, neighbouring China -- the world's largest polluter -- is slowly winning its war against pollution. Over a dozen Indian cities today are where their Chinese counterparts used to be some five years ago. Until 2009, 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities were in China. This year, the first 14, including New Delhi, are in India, and only the last four -- minus -- are in China. China is notorious for pollution and it's not just an offshoot of four decades of furious industrialisation. The problem stretches back centuries when dynastic leaders ignored the environmental costs of development. China had no environmental institution until 1972, six years after which the country went into an almost four-decade-long economic frenzy that saw smoke-billowing factories sprout across its landscape. The government woke up to the problem only in late 2013 when a severe smog descended on -- dubbed "airpocalypse" -- and an eight-year-old girl in Jiangsu province was diagnosed with lung cancer attributed to air pollution, making her the youngest cancer patient in the country. This triggered a huge public outcry and, surprisingly, the state-owned media joined the chorus. "That was a watershed moment. People were angry. It was then that the government decided to monitor PM (particulate matter) 2.5 in 74 cities and make the data public," Ma Jun, Director at the Institute of Public Environmental Affairs, a Chinese NGO, told IANS. The stability-obsessed Chinese government also realised that merely disseminating data was not enough and announced an ambitious plan to wage a "war on pollution". Green activists say although China has a long way to go to curb pollution, its efforts have begun to pay off. The Chinese Environment Ministry said in September that over half of some 650 cities saw air quality improve year-on-year. Now the skies over are blue -- and on some days exceptionally clean. "Political will and ambitious targets set by the government in 2013 have delivered very impressive gains, but the level of determination going forward needs to be reaffirmed," Lauri Myllyvirta, senior global campaigner, coal and air pollution, Greenpeace, told IANS. "Of course, things could still change this year if the first month or two of the winter period show negative progress," he added. China is the world's largest coal producer and burns half of it itself, causing severe air pollution. But over the years, China has shut many coal-fired power plants and shifted to natural gas heating. This leaves many homes outside Beijing and other provinces extremely cold in winter but reduces smog. In a bolder decision this October, the Chinese government said it will switch another 1.18 million residential households in the country to natural gas heating this winter. "If you look at Beijing, the capital's coal consumption has dropped from 22 million tonnes in 2012 to five million tonnes this year," said Ma. "Beijing's 2.5 PM has dropped from 90 to 58 in 2018." The Chinese standard for PM 2.5 is 35. China has also cracked down heavily on polluting factories, shutting tens of thousands of them. It has a "green police" which has the power to send its inspection teams to any part of the country, a privilege enjoyed only by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. In 2017, 18,000 companies for were punished for pollution and fines worth $125 million were levied. The green police also has the power to sack officials for being lax in controlling pollution. Last year, 12,000 officials were disciplined. Setting off crackers is completely banned in 444 cities, including Beijing. The glut of cars in Beijing is responsible for 30 percent of the city's air pollution. And to tackle this, the government has placed a limit on license plates of cars. Car rationing is implemented with ease when pollution shoots up. In another major decision last month, the Chinese market regulator decided to set up a system to recall vehicles that violate the country's pollution and emissions standards. Besides, China has the most number of electric vehicles in the world and it subsidises their manufacture. The country is, in fact, spending heavily on -- more than twice the amount invested by the US. "More actions are needed. The coal consumption has stagnated but we need to reduce it further," Ma said. "There are many cities in China's coal-belly, Shanxi, which still cannot meet the modest air quality standards. Things have improved, but we have a long way to go." The World Health Organisation has acknowledged China's efforts in curbing pollution and reckons that India can take a cue from it. A Bangladeshi court on Thursday granted bail to veteran photojournalist Shahidul Alam, who was arrested in August on charges of spreading anti-government propaganda. Alam, 63, was arrested on August 5 after he spoke to international broadcaster Al Jazeera about student protests demanding greater road safety in the country and has been in custody ever since. "The court granted bail to Shahidul Alam without setting any pre-conditions. We are expecting him to be released as soon as the order reaches the jail authorities," Alam's lawyer Jotirmoy Barua told Efe news. Barua said the process to release Alam from prison could take a day or two. The veteran photographer, whose arrest had sparked outrage in the country and globally, was accused of defaming the government and spreading rumours on social media regarding the student demonstrations. Alam was arrested under the controversial Information and Communication Technology Act, widely criticized by journalists and human rights organizations, who say the government uses the law to target dissidents. On September 19, Bangladesh had passed another controversial law -- the Digital Security Act -- also denounced as a tool for cracking down on freedom of expression. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh confirmed on Thursday that it was ready to begin the repatriation process of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar as scheduled. The first phase of their return to Myanmar was due to begin on Thursday, according to an agreement signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar on November 23, 2017. "We are completely ready for the repatriation to proceed as planned. So everything is set, our logistics and other facilities are in place," the Bangladeshi relief and repatriation commissioner Abul Kalam told the media in Cox's Bazaar near the border with Myanmar. Over 723,000 members of the mostly Muslim minority fled to Bangladesh escaping a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state in August 2017, reports Efe news. International observers, including the UN, have urged Bangladesh to halt the plan, warning that the repatriation would violate international law and put the lives of the Rohingya at serious risk. Rohingya community leaders have echoed those concerns, saying it is too soon to start the repatriation. "This repatriation is not going to be sustainable," Abdur Rahim, a leader of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, told Efe news. "They (the Myanmar authorities) are going to keep people in camps," he said. Another community leader, Dil Mohammad, said the situation in Myanmar was not yet conducive for the refugees' return. "We will go back only if the security of our life and livelihood is ensured," he said. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boeing was facing mounting pressure over last month's Indonesia plane crash as the owner of the doomed jet joined a US pilots' group in alleging that the company failed to warn pilots about potential hazards of a new safety feature. Zwingli Silalahi, Lion Air's operational director, told CNN on Wednesday that the manual for Boeing's 737 MAX 8, the model that crashed into the Java Sea last month killing all 189 on board, did not include a warning about a critical feature that could cause the plane to dive. Zwingli said the manual did not tell pilots that in certain situations, the plane's stall-prevention system could automatically trigger a response, such as lowering the airplane's nose, to prevent or exit a stall. "We don't have that in the manual of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. That's why we don't have the special training for that specific situation," he said. Investigators were examining whether a sensor on the outside of the plane transmitted incorrect data that could have triggered the stall-prevention system. The airline's claims come after Boeing was similarly accused on Tuesday by the Allied Pilots Association (APA) of withholding information about the potential danger of the plane's new features. Lion Air Flight 610 crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta on October 29. Investigators believe the MAX 8 plane may have experienced problems with several sensors. Boeing said last week that a safety bulletin issued to aircraft operators in the wake of the crash was merely meant to reinforce existing procedures. Both Lion Air and the APA have now rejected the company's assertion. Zwingli added that Boeing's safety bulletin did not suggest additional training for pilots operating that aircraft. "We didn't receive any information from Boeing or from regulator about that additional training for our pilots," he told CNN. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and China have agreed to step up more military exchanges and interactions at defence talks held here. At the 9th India-China Annual Defence and Security Dialogue on Wednesday, both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between the two ministries of Defence as well as between military commands. "Joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon," the Indian Embassy said. Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, implementing the consensus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping and specific additional confidence building measures at the operational level. The two sides also had an exchange of views on regional and global issues. The dialogue was attended by India's Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Lt. General Shao Yuanming, Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of Central Military Commission of China. India and China have a vexed 3,448 km long boundary dispute over which they went to war in 1962. The two countries nearly came to blows last year in Doklam, a contested territory between China and Bhutan close to India's arterial road in the northeast where Chinese were building a road. Beijing and New Delhi underlined the importance of this dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on defence and security matters. They emphasised the need to further strengthen military-to-military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries. --IANS gsh/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stepping up the attack on the Modi government over the Rafale fighter jet deal with France, the CPI-M on Thursday alleged "mega corruption" in the acquisition and demanded a Supreme Court- monitored SIT probe. The party also accused the Modi government of mismanaging the economy, saying that corruption and institutionalization of cronyism under the government had driven the Indian economy to hit its lowest point. Addressing a press conference here, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said: "New facts are coming out on the irregularities of the government in clinching the Rafale deal. And for the first time we are hearing that." He said the most sensational of these was the government's own admission in the Supreme Court that "there is no sovereign guarantee from the French government but only a letter of comfort" which is not legally enforceable to ensure the delivery of this high value contract. "It's not just economics causing harm but is also a grave threat to India's security," Yechury said, adding that the whole idea about buying the aircraft was for the Air Force. "And as guarantee is not there there would be difficulty in getting international arbitration," he said. "Why was the deal done in such manner?" On the price of the Rafale aircraft, the CPI-M leader said: "The government stated in March 2018 that the cost of the basic aircraft is Rs 670 crore per aircraft but, in September 2016 the government had pointed out that it was Rs 60,000 crore for 36 aircraft including all additions or modifications making it Rs 1,600 crore per plane." Even the Dassault CEO Eric Trappier had stated that price of 36 fly away aircraft was now equal to 18 flyaway jets ordered in MMRCA deal earlier. "These figures obviously do not corroborate. Dassault CEO in March 2015 had stated that deal was nearly complete with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) in line with the requirements. And it is now crystal clear that the deal was announced by the Prime Minister in Paris in April 2015 while the Defence Procurement Council met and finalized it in May 2015. "This is apart from the revenue of Rs 284 crore already paid to the inactive Reliance defence account. Thus this needs to be investigated by nothing less than a Supreme Court monitored SIT probe that can bring out the truth and fix accountability," he said, adding that it was a mega scam. He also demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee over the manner in which demonetization was implemented in the country. Yechury said that the declared objectives of the move were never designed to be achieved and questions now arose as to who benefited. He also accused the Modi government of undermining the independence of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The CPI-M leader also said that the immediate gains that the Prime Minister and the BJP was looking at through this complicit crony capitalism is "corporate funding" for electoral benefit. "Therefore we demand the provision for unlimited and anonymous corporate funding of political parties must be nullified forthwith, by withdrawing the electoral bonds," he said. --IANS aks/vsc/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The severe cyclonic storm Gaja, which lay centred about 126 km east of Karaikal in Puducherry, is expected to cross the Tamil Nadu coast near Nagapattinam on Thursday night, Indian Meteoroligcal Department (IMD) said. According to IMD, Gaja is expected to cross the coast south of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu by 11 p.m. Thursday with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph. The IMD officials said the outer rim of the Gaja cyclone is touching Karaikal and strong winds have already started blowing in the coastal districts. Rains have started in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Thiruvarur districts. The IMD predicted rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy at a few places over Tamilnadu and Puducherry. Extremely heavy rain measuring about 20 cm at isolated places is also likely over Cuddalore, Nagappattinam, Karaikal, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts, IMD said. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has set up relief centres in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur and Thiruvarur. People in living in low-lying areas have been shifted to relief centres. Universities and colleges have postponed their exams slated for Friday. Similarly, schools and colleges in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Thiruvarur will be closed on Friday. According to the AIADMK government, telecommunication companies have said they would have oil stocked for a minimum of five days in the cyclone-expected zone and for 15 days at their headquarters. The mobile telephone companies also assured the government of moving their mobile telecom towers or cell on wheels to Nagapattinam and Cuddalore. According to a statement from the state government, arrangements have been made to send bulk SMS to mobile subscribers warning about the weather issued by the emergency control centres. The Indian Navy is also on high alert and is ready to render any assistance, a statement said. Two Navy ships - Ranvir and Khanjar - are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid, distress relief, evacuation, and logistic support, including proviging medical aid, the Navy said. Additionally, aircraft from Naval Air Stations Dega, Rajali and Parundu and patrolling boats from naval detachments in Ramnathapuram, Nagapattinam have been warning the fishing vessels about the approaching storm, the Navy said. Naval aircraft are also standing by to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty, evacuation and air drop of relif material to the stranded. --IANS vj/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court will hear on November 19 a plea of Dalmia Bharat group-owned Rajputana Properties Private Ltd (RPPL) challenging the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) giving its nod to UltraTech's bid for the debt-ridden Binani Cement. The NCLAT had on Wednesday approved UltraTech Cement's Rs 7,900 crore revised bid for the debt-laden Binani Cement. The NCALT decision comes after the Supreme Court had in July transferred the case to the Delhi-based appellate tribunal from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Kolkata. The Dalmia Bharat group-owned Rajputana Properties Private Ltd (RPPL) had moved the Supreme Court challenging Kolkata NCLT's order asking the Committee of Creditors (CoC) to consider the revised bid by UltraTech Cement. UltraTech Cement's revised offer was at Rs 7,900 crore, against its earlier bid of Rs 7,200 crore. The Aditya Birla Group company was earlier the second-highest bidder but later proposed an improved offer. --IANS pk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte missed several meetings at the because he was taking "power naps", the presidential office said on Thursday. Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President missed four scheduled events on Wednesday and had "worked late and had only less than three hours of sleep", the BBC reported. Duterte and other world leaders are in Singapore attending the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) meeting. When asked if he was fully rested, Duterte added that the naps were "still not good enough, but enough to sustain the endurance for the last days". Panelo also clarified that Duterte's absence had "nothing to do with his health". The 73-year-old defended his actions, saying: "What's wrong with my nap?" Duterte has previously missed events at other summits as well as in the Philippines. His health has been a constant source of speculation over the year, and he revealed in October that he had a cancer scare. But Duterte wasn't the only official caught napping at this year's Asean meetings. A Washington Post columnist captured a picture of South Korean president Moon Jae-in, in which he appeared to be asleep. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for enhanced multilateral cooperation while reiterating India's vision of an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region during the 13th East Asia Summit here. "At the East Asia Summit in Singapore, I shared my thoughts on enhancing multilateral cooperation, economic and cultural ties among member nations," Modi tweeted after the summit. According to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, Modi reiterated India's vision of a peaceful, open and inclusive Indo Pacific region, strengthening maritime cooperation and commitment to a balanced Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The East Asia Summit is a premier leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region comprising the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam - and its eight dialogue partners -- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Russia. Since its inception in 2005, it has played an important role in reviewing political, security and economic developments in the Indo-Pacific region. India has been stressing on the centrality of Asean's role for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement between the Asean member states and the six countries with which this regional bloc has existing free trade agreements -- Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. Earlier in the day, Modi reaffirmed India's cooperation in the maritime domain during an India-Asean Breakfast Summit here. "Reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain and centrality of trade and investment towards prosperity of Indo-Pacific," the Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson tweeted following the meeting. Under New Delhi's Act East Policy, India has been increasing its engagements with the Asean regional bloc. In January 2018, India hosted the Asean-India Commemorative Summit to celebrate 25 years of dialogue partnership, 15 years of summit-level interaction and five years of strategic partnership. In an unprecedented gesture, all 10 Asean leaders attended the Commemorative Summit and graced the Republic Day celebrations as chief guests. According to a report in the Straits Times, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged India to join Asean in a push to create the RCEP, the world's largest free trade area, next year. "I am glad that we have made tremendous progress this year to advance the RCEP negotiations," Lee said during the Asean-India summit. "We are now close to the finishing line, although further work remains to finalize the remaining details." Stating that all effort should be made to bring the RCEP negotiations to conclusion in 2019, Lee said: "Together with the Asean-India Free Trade Area, we hope that this will help us reach the Asean-India trade target of $200 billion in total trade by 2022." --IANS ab/soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The morale of employees at Facebook has hit an all-time low as the social network giant grapples with data breaches amid top-notch executives leaving the company, the media reported. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday citing an internal survey at Facebook, just over half of Facebook employees (52 per cent) have said they were optimistic for the future of the social networking platform -- down by 32 per cent last year. Only 53 per cent of Facebook employees said the company was making the world better, which is 19 per cent lower than last year. According to the report, Facebook's "difficult year is taking a toll on employee morale, with several key measures of internal sentiment taking a sharp turn for the worse over the past year". "It has been a difficult period, but every day we see people pulling together to learn the lessons of the past year and build a stronger company," a Facebook spokesperson was quoted as saying. ALSO READ: Facebook accounts shut for meddling in US polls may be linked to Russia Facebook shares have tumbled substantially this year after the social media network's revenue and user growth fell short of investor expectations. The firm is facing backlash for its handling of fake and privacy and election interference from Russia-based groups in the 2016 US presidential elections. There have been several high-level resignations at Facebook. Instagram founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom have resigned from the Facebook-owned photo-sharing app that has over one billion users. Founded in 2010, Instagram was bought by Facebook for $1 billion in 2012. ALSO READ: Facebook blocks more accounts for malicious activities WhatsApp co-founders Brian Acton and Jan Koum have also quit over, with Acton alleging that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to undermine the instant messaging app's encryption technology. Acton started WhatsApp with Koum. Facebook acquired the messaging service about four years ago for $22 billion. Acton quit Facebook a year ago, and Koum left the company in April this year. Facebook reported $13.5 billion in revenue with a net income of $5.1 billion ($1.76 per share) in the third quarter that ended September 30. It currently has 2.27 billion monthly active users and 1.49 billion daily active users. The European Union (EU) will hold an extraordinary leaders' summit on Brexit on November 25, President of the European Commission Donald Tusk said on Thursday. Tusk was addressing reporters in Brussels after the British government presented a draft agreement on Wednesday night on the UK's withdrawal from the EU, reports Efe news. "We have always said Brexit is a lose-lose situation and these negotiations were always about damage control," Tusk said. He praised the efforts of the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who was also present at the press conference. "First, you ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and second you secured the vital interest and principles of the 27 member states and of the EU as a whole," Tusk said. He added that "if I weren't confident that you did your best to protect the interest of the 27, and I familiar of the essence of the document, I would not propose to formalise this deal" at the summit later this month. British Prime Minister Theresa May had announced on Wednesday night that her cabinet had backed a proposal after a meeting she described as a "long, detailed and impassioned debate", adding that the deal was "the best that could be negotiated". May said the agreement was the result of "thousands of hours of hard negotiation by UK officials" and was reached after a key obstacle - the border between the Republic of Ireland, which will remain a part of the EU, and Northern Ireland, that will remain a part of the UK - was overcome. The goal of both EU and UK Brexit negotiators has been to avoid a "hard border" in Ireland that would likely hurt the economy on either side and could undermine Northern Ireland's peace process. --IANS ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Thursday cast doubt on the possibility to ratify a draft Brexit deal after a series of resignations by ministers made hard for British Prime Minister Theresa May to sell the divorce accord with the EU. "The current political situation in Britain fuels uncertainty over the ratification of the accord," Philippe said during a visit to Dunkirk, Xinhua news agency reported. "Nothing allows us at this stage to know if the agreement ... will ultimately be adopted. Therefore, we must be prepared for the hypothesis of a no-deal exit, which is still on the table and that we do not wish," he added. Late on Wednesday, May said she won the backing of her senior ministers for the draft EU withdrawal deal which represented a technical breakthrough after months of tense negotiations between Britain and the EU on how London can leave the regional bloc on March 29 next year. Hours later, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work, Pensions Minister Esther McVey, as well as two junior ministers quit, saying they could not support the draft deal. Their departure plunged Britain into a political crisis in which May could lose her leadership. The British Prime Minister was set to speak in the Parliament later on Thursday to sell the new "divorce deal". Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she saw no reason for further Brexit negotiations with the UK given that the draft proposal on the country's withdrawal from the EU had already been approved by both sides. Speaking at a ministerial meeting on digitalization in Potsdam, Merkel expressed her full confidence in the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. "We have a document on the table approved by the UK and the 27 remaining members of the EU," said Merkel, the current leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union party, which governs in coalition with the Social Democrats. "The worst and most disorderly case would be precisely if we had no deal and we have to take this alternative into account and ask whether what we have now is a foundation, and for that reason I hope it is a foundation," she added. The EU has called an extraordinary Brexit summit for November 25. --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday directed the Director General of Police R. Chandranathan to provide security to frontline women rights activist Agnes Kharshiing and her aide Amita Sangma who were brutally attacked recently. On the other hand, the Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment will ask Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police in-charge East Jaintia Hills to appear before it on November 26 in connection with the attack on the two activists. Sangma has filed a petition in the High Court demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the murderous attack on her and Kharshiing by some coal mafia at Tuber Sohshrieh, a coal belt area in East Jaintia Hills district on November 8. In his order, Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir noted that the petitioners have prayed for a CBI probe as they apprehend a threat to their life from the same assailants. The petitioner has pleaded that the investigation is not being carried out in the real spirit giving rise to their apprehension, the Court order stated. Moreover, the Court has asked the investigating officer to file the latest status of the investigation and to remain present in the Court along with the case diary on November 27. Following the attack, Kharshiing and Sangma were admitted at North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) hospital. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said that he will consult his cabinet colleagues whether the murder attempt on Kharshiing warrants a judicial or a CBI probe. --IANS rrk/pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a relief to the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the Delhi High Court in an interim direction on Thursday ordered that status quo should be maintained until November 22 at the Herald House here from where the National Herald is published. Justice Sunil Gaur's order came on a plea filed by AJL challenging the Centre's October 30 direction that the Herald House be vacated. The AJL alleged that the Centre was "illegally, unconstitutionally, arbitrarily and in a deliberate attempt" trying "to suppress and destroy the legacy of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru". The Urban Development Ministry had said that the Herald House's 56-year-old lease to AJL had ended and asked the AJL to vacate the premises by November 15. The central government on Thursday assured the court that it would not take possession of the premise but only initiate legal proceedings to have the building vacated. The AJL told the court that it had been publishing the National Herald newspaper for decades. There was a brief temporary suspension due to financial trouble but the newspaper and its digital media operations had been fully resumed. The weekly 'National Herald on Sunday' was resumed on September 24, 2017 and it is published from the Herald House. On October 14, the AJL resumed its weekly Hindi newspaper. The government reportedly inspected the premises a few months ago and found that the area allotted to AJL was not being used for the publication of the newspaper for the past 10 years, the court was told. AJL said that those who came for inspection did not visit the rooms where the printing press was installed along with stocks of papers. --IANS akk/in/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eddie Redmayne is having a successful run in Hollywood, but there are days when he wonders if he will get employed again. The Oscar-winning actor says he still remembers all the rejections that he faced and that is what keeps him grounded. "You never forget the rejections. You never forget the years of being told no. It is quite deeply in us. It is why lot of actors are neurotic and nervous," Redmayne told IANS in an exclusive interview while promoting his film "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" here. "I remember reading an interview of Rachel Weisz saying that she never believes that she will be employed again. That time I was a young and struggling actor and I was like 'You are Rachel Weisz. You are gonna be fine'. "But now even though in some ways, I have had a successful run, I still feel the same. I really do feel the same. My concern is that I hope people enjoy this film and I hope I get to make another one of these films," added the actor on a candid note. "That is what keeps you working hard." Do you also wonder whether you will be employed again? "Yes, frequently," said Redmayne, who grew up in London and worked as a waiter and at a pub before pursing his dream to become an actor. "The worst job was being a waiter at the British Soap Awards. There were many actors. I was about 21 and I had to take empty glasses and they had put many champagne glasses and that thing just crashed and I was laughed at. And I was like 'Maybe I will try to be an actor one day'." He walked into the industry with a career-breaking role in "Twelfth Night" at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in 2002, but got his ticket to the filmy world with his role in "My Week with Marilyn" back in 2011. He showed off his acting and singing skills in "Les Miserables" in 2012, and since then, his career trajectory has been growing upwards. But it was his role as Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything" which took him to the next level. He won an Oscar, Bafta, Golden Globe, and SAG for his heart-rending performance. Next came, "The Danish Girl" which also made noise at the Oscars, and Redmayne earned applauds from all quarters for bringing forwad the complexities of a man going through identity crisis with conviction. At the moment, he is basking in glory for his role as magizoologist Newt Scamander in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise. "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" -- the second in the planned five movies spin-off franchise from the "Harry Potter" films -- will release in India on Friday. The Warner Bros Pictures project will release in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Redmayne, 36, says winning an Oscar has not changed his way of picking a project. "What is interesting is that when you are starting out, you get a script with details that this director is making this film with this actor. This is where it starts and you are there for this part. "But sometimes, which is more complicated, is that when you are the first person to be sent the script and you have to decide kind of by yourself whether the film will be good or not, rather than having people lean on, like the talent involved." But the truth of the matter, as Redmayne puts, is that there is only one rule or process through which he picks a role. "And that is by instinct and gut feeling." (Sugandha Rawal was in Los Angeles at the invitation of Warner Bros. Pictures. She can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/rb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday ordered an immediate inquiry into the murder of a police officer who was allegedly kidnapped in Islamabad and was later killed in Afghanistan. Khan made the announcement on his Twitter account, saying that he followed the "shocking tragedy" of the murder of Superintendent of Police Tahir Khan Dawar who was chief of Peshawar police's rural circle. The Prime Minister ordered the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province government to coordinate with Islamabad police in holding an inquiry immediately. According to reports and officials, Dawar was kidnapped in Islamabad on October 26 and his body was found in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Tuesday. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that the tortured body found in Nangarhar was certainly that of Dawar, a police officer renowned for his armed encounters with militants. According to Dawn online, the slain officer's body had been handed over to Pakistani authorities in Afghanistan on Thursday, which would be transported to Peshawar for the funeral. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor condemned "the brutal murder" of "a brave police officer", and suspected the involvement of an entity "more than a terrorist organisation". No group has claimed the incident yet. The DG ISPR also urged "Afghan security forces to cooperate in border fencing" to "deny use of Afghan territory against Pakistan". --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Morocco signed three major agreements, including in the areas of legal and judicial cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, during the course of Moroccan Minister of Justice Mohamed Auajjar's ongoing visit to India. According to a statement issued by the Moroccan Embassy, Aujjar, who is visiting India from November 11 to 18, met Minister of Law, Justice, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on November 12. During this meeting, Auajjar and Prasad signed the Agreement on Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters between Morocco and as well as a Joint Declaration of Intent between the two ministries, according to the statement. The same day, Auajjar met Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju following which the two sides signed the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. On November 13, Auajjar met Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh. "During this meeting, the two Ministers signed the Extradition Agreement between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of India," the embassy statement said. This was followed by a meeting between Auajjar and the Attorney General K.K. Venugopal. During the course of his visit, the visiting Moroccan minister will also attend the 19th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World being held in Lucknow from November 14 to 20. --IANS ab/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reaffirmed India's cooperation in the maritime domain during a India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Breakfast Summit here. "Reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain and centrality of trade and investment towards prosperity of Indo-Pacific," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting. Under New Delhi's Act East Policy, India has been increasing its engagements with the Asean regional bloc. The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. In January 2018, India hosted the Asean-India Commemorative Summit to celebrate 25 years of dialogue partnership, 15 years of summit-level interaction and five years of strategic partnership. In an unprecedented gesture, all 10 Asean leaders attended the Commemorative Summit and graced the Republic Day celebrations as chief guests. --IANS ab/soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Driven by demand for a skilled workforce in emerging technologies such as cybersecurity, Internet of things (IoT) and Big Data, India will generate over 1.4 million new IT jobs by 2027, a Cisco-led study said on Thursday. This represents a whopping 46 per cent growth in jobs primarily driven by essential digital transformation skills that organisations are seeking today, said the global networking giant Cisco who commissioned International Data Corporation (IDC) to conduct this study. According to the findings, jobs like social media administrator, (ML) designer and designer are among the most in-demand job roles in the country in the coming years. "Nearly 89 per cent of hiring managers reported a higher level of trust on candidates having certifications, while 88 per cent of customers experienced an improvement in the level of service and support to end users," showed the study. "Witnessing the growing importance in a rapidly changing technological landscape, nearly a fifth of employees self-funded their certification courses while about 50 per cent of them underwent some training in 2017," it added. According to the study, as skill sets required in this digital age change for most industries, it's also transforming how and where people work. As a result, IT organisations might find it difficult to fill these niche roles which calls for upskilling the employee skill sets through certification programmes. "Cisco, being a leader in certification courses, offers some of the most sought-after IT courses which were one of the pre-requisites for the 5.9 million new job postings in 2017," according to the IDC "InfoBrief" study. A Nasscom report in July highlighted the fact that nearly 1,40,000 jobs are vacant in the (AI) and Big Data Analytics segment across various sectors in the country, out of the total demand of 5,10,000 employees. Of the total demand, 3,70,000 jobs are filled, it said. By 2021, the employee deficit would increase to 2,30,000, as the total demand goes up to around 800,000 employees, as per the report. Officials of the quad, revived last year comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, met in Singapore on Thursday on the sidelines of this year's East Asia Summit. According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, the four sides held consultations on regional and global issues of common interest. "The discussions focused on cooperation in areas such as connectivity, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and maritime and cyber security, with a view to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected Indo-Pacific region that the four countries share with each other and with other partners," the statement said. Reflecting India's view, the participants reaffirmed the centrality of the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc as the cornerstone of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. In his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a Track I annual inter-governmental security forum organised by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank in Singapore in June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India does not see the Indo-Pacific region as a strategy or as a club of limited members. "It includes all nations in this geography as also others beyond who have a stake in it. Southeast Asia is at its centre. And, Asean has been and will be central to its future," Modi said. The Indo-Pacific region extends from the eastern coast of Japan to the eastern coast of Africa. According to Thursday's ministry statement, the four sides "agreed to partner with other countries and forums in the region to promote a free, open, rules-based and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific that fosters trust and confidence". "They committed to strengthening connectivity and quality infrastructure based on sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of all nations, as well as transparency, economic viability and financial responsibility," it said. The meeting assumes significance given China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific and its belligerence in the South China Sea region. The quad officials also exchanged views on recent developments in the regional situation. The four sides agreed to continue the consultations, according to the statement. --IANS ab/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand was declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) on its Statehood Day on Thursday and seven districts were announced to be fully electrified. The main function of the 18th foundation day was organised at Morabadi ground here. On the occasion, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das handed over appointment letters to 2,318 candidates. The appointments included 1,385 teachers for plus two schools and 713 Revenue Department employees. He said: "Jharkhand has achieved the ODF mission one year ahead of the national target. Seven districts have been fully electrified. Now one can boast proudly of being a Jharkhandi. Jharkhand is ranked fourth in Ease of doing business." --IANS ns/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to boost jobs creation and achieve food security along with providing homes and low cost healthcare, Kenya is keen on Indian investments in the four strategic areas of manufacturing, agriculture, housing, healthcare sector, an envoy said here on Thursday. "The Kenyan government has decided to focus on four strategic areas for foreign investment. The country wants investments in agriculture as it seeks food security. The country is encouraging investments in manufacturing as this will create jobs," said Willy K. Bett, High Commissioner of Kenya in India. He said the east African country is interested in investments in housing, particularly in low cost homes, as Kenya needs one million homes. Bett, in an interactive session with members of Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the country was seeking funds for healthcare system as it had a large number of people below poverty line. According to him, the investors should take advantage of the "political stability of the country" in the East African region, an area which has at times been unstable. According to the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), India is the second largest investor in Kenya. Over 60 major Indian companies have invested in various sectors including manufacturing, real estate, pharmaceuticals, telecom, IT & ITES, banking and agro-based industries. India is the third largest source of inbound tourists to Kenya. Over 60,000 Indian tourists visited Kenya in 2017. Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has launched a marketing campaign in major Indian cities to increase tourist arrivals from India. Many Kenyans visit India for medical treatment. --IANS bdc/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi prosecutors said on Thursday that they have pleaded for the death penalty for five people who they say were involved in murdering Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country's consulate building in Istanbul in early October. At a press conference here, Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the assassination of Khashoggi, saying that a total of 11 people -- the five accused by the kingdom of directly ordering and executing the crime and six others -- were charged in the crime, according to a report in CNN. Turkey, meanwhile, said it was "unsatisfied" about the Saudi prosecutor's explanation. The Saudi prosecution shared details of the journalist's murder, saying Khashoggi was killed on October 2 following "a fight and a quarrel" at the kingdom's consulate in Turkey. He had gone there to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Prosecutors said Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of the Crown Prince Mohammad, was tied up and injected with an overdose of a sedative that killed him. His body was later chopped up and given to a local collaborator. The Saudi Public Prosecutor's office added that former Saudi deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri ordered a mission to force Khashoggi to go back to Saudi Arabia and formed a team of 15 people. They were divided into three groups, it said: A negotiation team, an intelligence team and a logistical team. According to the prosecution, it was the head of the negotiating team who ordered the journalist's killing. The prosecution also revealed that the Royal Court adviser, Saud Qahtani, was banned from travelling pending the investigation into the murder. Qahtani led the communications team of the Crown Prince and was removed from his role last month following Khashoggi's death. Following the Saudi move, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his country was not satisfied about the Saudi prosecutor's explanation in the murder case. "I want to say personally that the explanation is unsatisfying. The real instigators need to be revealed. We will follow this issue," Cavusoglu said in a televised speech, as quoted by state-run Anadolu Agency. On Wednesday, Cavusoglu called for an international investigation into the case, reiterating that suspects of the murder should be tried in Turkey. The Saudis had presented conflicting stories about the journalist's death, initially denying any knowledge before arguing that a group of rogue operators were responsible for his death. After the kingdom admitted that Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Turkey, five high-ranking officials were dismissed, including Bin Salman's chief and the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence service, and 18 people were arrested. --IANS soni/sed (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood's dancing diva Madhuri Dixit Nene will take Bollywood fans on a nostalgic trip as she pays tribute to her contemporary of the 1980s, the late Sridevi, at the third edition of Lux Golden Rose Awards. This year's event, to be held on Sunday, has extended its support to the UN's HeForShe cause and will see Bollywood's stalwarts lend their support for the initiative, where the men pledge to stand in solidarity with women and face gender inequality together. Madhuri will dance on superhit tracks of veterans Hema Malini and Rekha, but the highlight of the performance is scheduled to be a heartfelt tribute to Sridevi, a statement said. "When I was approached to do this performance, it left me both overwhelmed and excited. Given that the Awards are supporting the HeforShe movement, I thought it was also time for the women, especially in Bollywood, to celebrate each other and express solidarity with each other. "The Lux legends are truly iconic and inspirational, and my performance is purely to take fans down memory lane while reveling and celebrating their magic," Madhuri said. Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor and her "Dhadak" co-star Ishaan Khatter will put on an act inspired by their film at the event, to be co-hosted by Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawan. Janhvi said: "This stage is special to me because my mother was a Lux superstar. I am glad to be performing for my first ever awards night with my favourite co-actor and friend Ishaan, since he has always supported me up to this stage in my career. "Since this is my first performance, I am working extra hard on perfecting my moves and I hope the audiences will shower us with lots love again." Shah Rukh is looking forward to celebrate cinema's beautiful ladies. "Hosting for this very special audience has always thrilled me and continues to fill my heart with lots of love for these superwomen," he said. Varun said: "It is humbling and delightful to be chosen to host for the ladies. This ye'r's theme HeForShe is something I want to take a stand for. Shah Rukh Khan is the God of hosting and to get a chance to applaud the divas alongside him is a dream come true. I have coveted his title of the 'King of Romance' and 'Ladies Man' for a long time, and if I am able to live up even to half of his legacy, I will call myself fortunate." Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has also pledged his support to HeForShe, along with TV actors Nakuul Mehta and Mohit Malik. Ayushmann said: "As a part of the industry, it is our responsibility and not a choice to make the space we work in safe, equal and encouraging for growth for one and all. HeForShe states just that - standing in solidarity for positive change. "In my personal experience I have seen the kind of honesty and hard work my female co-actors have put in and if they are not given due credit then it is a pity for us and the industry as a whole." --IANS rb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced the foundation of a new university for the Matua community here. Matuas are primarily Hindu refugees from Bangladesh and are considered to be Bengal's second most influential scheduled caste community, with an estimated population of nearly 30 lakh. The university, to be named after Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur -- the founding fathers of the sect, would be built on 8.1 acres of land in North 24 Parganas district's Chandpara, five km from the headquarters of All India Matua Mahasangha, the representative body of the community, Banerjee said at an event marking the birth centenary of Dalit Matua community matriarch Binapani Debi, better known as 'Baro-ma'. "The land has been identified and given to the Education Department for constructing the university," she added. "The Mahasangha has played a vital role in protesting against the atrocities on the poor. It has always promoted and believed in unity among all communities. The university is our gratitude for their contribution. We have also created Matua Sangha Vikash Parshad (welfare board)," the Chief Minister said. Banerjee also said she has instructed the state Tourism Department to build two gates for the 'Thakur-bari' -- the residence of the founding family -- and aesthetically decorate the premises. Accusing the Maharasthra government of stopping certain facilities given to the backward classes, Banerjee claimed the scheduled castes and minorities in Bengal are treated with respect and equality. "In Maharastra, many facilities for the scheduled caste community have been withdrawn. They are also not getting the caste certificate. That is not the case in Bengal. Here, our brothers and sisters of the scheduled castes, Matuas and minority communities stay together," she added. The Matuas have been a big political force behind Mamata Banarjee's win in the 2011 and 2016 legislative assembly elections in Bengal. --IANS mgr/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has asked the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to probe the sexual harassment cases from the All India Radio (AIR) stations across the country. Maneka's letter comes in response to reports that the women working as casual announcers in AIR's stations are being sexually harassed. "I would like to submit that the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act is equally applicable to a woman employee irrespective of her being a permanent, temporary or a casual employee," the Minister wrote in the letter. She also said that despite the women complaining to the appropriate authorities, no action has been taken so far. "I understand that an organisation would have a natural tendency to dismiss a casual woman employee the moment she reports sexual harassment. But this is not good. A responsible organisation must provide justice to each and every woman if she complains of sexual harassment," she added. --IANS som/mag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filmmaker Milan Luthria has been roped in to direct the debut film of actor Suniel Shetty's son Ahan. A tweet from the official account of Nadiadwala Grandson welcoming Luthria read: "A great journey is about to begin! Another step for Ahan Shetty's debut, welcoming the new member Milan Luthria to the NGE Family." Luthria is known for directing films like "The Dirty Picture", "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai", "Kachche Dhaage", and "Baadshaho". Ahan will make his debut with the remake of Telugu hit "RX 100", which will release in 2019. It is being bankrolled by Sajid Nadiadwala. The Telugu version of "RX 100", a drama film, stars Kartikeya Gummakonda and Payal Rajput in the lead. Other details about the film are still under wraps. --IANS dc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of sabotaging country's interest to favour his "crony capitalist friends" and claimed the agreement to purchase the 36 French Rafale jets from France was in violation of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). Reiterating its demand for a JPC probe into the controversial deal, the opposition party also sought to know from the Prime Minister why he set a higher "benchmark price" and waived the bank guarantee or French government's sovereign guarantee. "The Prime Minister enhanced the benchmark price for Rafale by Euro 3 billion (Rs 22,743 crore). Why did he set a higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62,166 crore) from Euro 5.2 billion (Rs 39,422 )? Why did he waive the sovereign guarantee requirement," Congress spokeperson Randeep Singh Surjewala asked at a press conference. "The Prime Minister has gone as far as to sabotage the nation's interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends," he said. The Congress leader said the only forum to investigate the acts of "omission, commission and corruption" in the "biggest defence scam" of India is to have a Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) probe. Surjewala, later, in a statement said the negotiating team had a serious dispute on the fixing of benchmark price, which was referred to the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. "Parrikar as the head of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and the three armed forces chiefs also didn't agree and decide on the higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 billion (Rs 62,166 crore). DAC referred it to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by PM Modi and he in CCS accepted the higher benchmark price," he said. Surjewala also sought to know why National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was allowed to negotiate with the French, and not the negotiations committee of IAF and the Defence Ministry. "Did PM Modi ask him to do so and for what reason?" he asked. --IANS bns/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samsung India on Thursday introduced Samsung Data Center solid-state drive (SSD) line-up for Small and Medium Business (SMBs) in the country. The price of the new line-up ranges between Rs 9,599 and Rs 2,01,299 and will be available at retail outlets across India. "SMBs want solutions which are value for money and the right fit to their specific business needs. With our strong legacy in technology innovation and OEM engineering expertise, we have brought this simple yet optimised SSD line-up," Sukesh Jain, Senior Vice President, IT and Mobile Enterprise Business, Samsung India, said in a statement. The new SSD portfolio promises to raise the efficiency when compared to legacy storage systems, thus requiring fewer servers and reduced power and cooling for a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Samsung's new SSD line-up has the "860 DCT" which is designed for servers that require SSD-levels of sustained performance and is suitable for various applications including content delivery networks. The "883 DCT" is designed for servers used to safeguard critical data, including power loss protection and end-to-end data protection. The "983 DCT" is a high-performance solution for servers using a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) interface, which allows for fast speeds and high responsiveness while the "983 ZET" is a cache memory solution that offers a new level of performance with ultra-low latency and breakthrough speeds and high reliability. --IANS ksc/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Of the 162 BJP candidates, announced so far in two instalments for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly polling for which is due on December 7, one absence the observers have marked is of any Muslim candidate, strengthening the perception that the party is playing the Hindutva card. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, who comes from Alwar, strongly denies the Hindutva slant, yet there are others in the party who say the BJP knows it well that Muslims in Rajasthan don't constitute a vote bank. One of the sitting MLAs, Habibur Rehman from Nagaur, on Wednesday joined the Congress when he failed to find his name in the list released on Sunday. Rahman said the BJP is playing the Hindutva card in Rajasthan. Another state minister Yunus Khan too failed to find his name. But, unlike Rehman, Khan has expressed his loyalty to the party. Soon after the BJP released its first list of candidates, general secretary of BJP's Minority cell M Sadiq had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his concern as to how party members would reach out to the community if Muslims don't get the party nomination. The BJP in 2013 had fielded four Muslim candidates. Two of them were elected: Habibur Rehman from Nagaur seat and Yunus Khan from Deedwana. "The BJP is a democratic party unlike the Congress where a board decides a candidate. The candidates are selected keeping in mind a variety of factors, including candidates' strengths," said Mahesh Sharma. Avinash Rai Khanna, BJP's Rajasthan election in-charge, said party candidates are shortlisted after 'raishumari' in consultation with grassroots workers as well as top leaders. He said the final BJP list is yet to come and until then no conclusion should be drawn on the composition of candidates based on caste and religion. Rajasthan Congress vice-president Archana Sharma said, "The BJP could not perform in the state. Now they are trying to polarise the situation. But this won't work... Rajasthan is no Uttar Pradesh." Salawat Khan, General Secretary, BJP Minority Morcha, said in the last elections, the party gave four tickets to Muslims. "So far we have not been given any party nomination. We are still hopeful that the party would consider candidates from the community," he said. In 2013 polls, the BJP had swept 163 of 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan. (Archana Sharma can be contacted at arachana.g@gmail.com) --IANS arc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yes Bank on Thursday said that former Chairman of State Bank of India O.P. Bhatt has resigned as an external expert of the 'Search and Selection Committee' which has been set up to find a successor to the company's MD and CEO Rana Kapoor. The committee has been mandated to evaluate both internal and external candidates and make suitable recommendations to the Board of Directors within stipulated timelines for Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) final approval. Last month, RBI had reaffirmed that a successor to Yes Bank's MD and CEO Kapoor should be appointed by February 1, 2019. "We would like to inform that Mr. 0.P. Bhatt has tendered his resignation from his duties as an external expert of the 'Search and Selection Committee' ('S&SC') with immediate effect citing that there may be a potential conflict of interest," the bank said in a regulatory filing on Thursday. "The 'Nomination and Remuneration Committee' of the bank while accepting Mr. Bhatt's resignation has recognised his guidance and inputs during his association with the S&SC as an external expert." On Wednesday, the bank had said that its non-executive independent part-time Chairman Ashok Chawla has resigned. "Yes Bank announces that Shri Ashok Chawla, non-executive independent part-time chairman, has tendered his resignation from the Bank's Board, with immediate effect, mentioning that during the current transition period, the bank would need a Chairman who could devote more time and attention," the private lender said in a BSE filing on Wednesday. --IANS rv/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha on Thursday launched a Biotechnology Policy 2018 with the aim of providing attractive incentives to stakeholders to invest in the state. "We assure investors full support of the state government for the whole life cycle of the project. By collaborative efforts, between the state government and private stakeholders, we aim to make Odisha a top biotech investment destination in the country," said Science and Technology Minister Badri Narayan Patra at the ongoing Make in Odisha Conclave. He said the development of the biotechnology sector in Odisha will be based on three key pillars - innovation, entrepreneurship and investment. "We will provide our full support for the development of this sector by forming public-private partnerships, bio incubation centres and biotech finishing schools. We will collaborate with various international organizations to provide cutting-edge technology in the biotech sector," the Minister said. As per the policy, all biotechnology units shall be allotted land at a concessional rate as per the Industrial Policy Resolution of the state government. Besides, an additional subsidy of 25 per cent shall be available to reputed anchor tenants. "Biotechnology is one of the emerging technologies that has excellent potential to grow in Odisha. We have seen how IT has transformed the country and the world, biotech is another such emerging technology and we in Odisha should take full advantage of this sector," said Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi. "Our new policy will take care of many matters and will support entry-level and later stage product development in the biotech sector in Odisha," he added. Krishna Ella, founder of Bharat Biotech, expressed his intention of a Rs 500 crore investment in the biotechnology park near Bhubaneswar. He said that Odisha's biotech policy was the best in the country. --IANS cd/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CPI-M on Thursday said the issue of the Prime Minister among the non-BJP parties would be decided after the general election. "As in democracy we select the government, just like that we will elect our prime ministerial candidate," Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told a press conference in the capital. Asked about the opposition leaders' meeting in Delhi on November 22, Yechury said, "(Andra Pradesh Chief Minister) N. Chandrababu Naidu has not told me about this. And in the last three days, I have met several leaders of opposition parties. They too are unaware, so I don't know who is saying this." Yechury also accused the BJP and its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of polarising the people before the eletions on the issue of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "They raise Ram temple issue before elections. They don't have any isue left with them. They do polarisation before elections for their vote bank " He also slammed the BJP and the Congress for not attending the all-party meeting called by the LDF government in the national capital to find some ground to settle the Sabarimala temple issue. "Today an all-party meeting was called by the LDF government -- it is reflection of our desire to have some sort of negotiation, settlement and understanding so that these contentions should not escalate. This has been rejected by both the Congress and the BJP, which is unfortunate." He said both of the parties have hailed the Supreme Court decision to give equal right to women to enter the temple. "But in Kerala they (Congress and BJP) are taking opposite stand," he said. "The RSS and BJP are trying to raise passions in Kerala like they do on Ram temple. Communal polarisation is their objective," he said. He assailed the BJP President Amit Shah for his remarks that saffron party workers will uproot the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala if it continues to arrest Ayyappa devotees who protested in the state against women's entry into the Sabarimala temple. "The BJP President has threatened that if the state government implements the Supreme Court order, then they will topple the government. Can anything be more anti-democratic than this?" Yechury questioned. The CPI-M leader also accused the BJP of appeasing the Muslim women over triple talaq. "They brought a legislation in the Rajya Sabha and we said that it should be sent to a select committee to make it a good law," he said. "But instead, they brought a legislation to convey to the country that BJP is pro-women's rights and equality. The equality for the Muslim women on triple talaq is correct, but equality for Hindu women to enter the Sabarimala temple isn't correct," he said. "Whom is the BJP appeasing now? Muslim women. Why double-speak. It is clear that they want to create troubles," he added. --IANS aks/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 600 undocumented immigrants were detained along the Arizona- border in the last 48 hours, according to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Most of them are groups of families or unaccompanied juveniles from Guatemala, who, totalling to 654 immigrants, voluntarily surrendered to CBP agents in different operations on Monday and Tuesday, the federal agency said on Wednesday. However, these migrants have no connection with the caravan that, coming from Honduras, currently travels through Mexico, Efe news reported. They entered the country illegally near the border crossing of San Luis, where, according to the federal agency, there is an "outdated" border wall infrastructure that allows migrants to cross. CBP further said that "larger numbers have started to illegally cross shallow portions of the Colorado River near Yuma". The statement added that "at approximately 8.30 pm Monday night, a group of 55 Central Americans waded across the river near County 9th Street and surrendered to agents after walking around vehicle barriers. The area lacks infrastructure that would deter pedestrian entries." Detentions of groups of immigrants continue to be made at the Arizona- border although the administration of announced last week new regulations that would prevent those who enter the country illegally from seeking political asylum. Those who want to request this type of protection must now present themselves at the ports of entry along the border with Currently, in the border town of Nogales, Arizona, there are more than 60 families waiting their turn to apply for political asylum. CBP indicated that during the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, arrests within the Yuma Sector were up over 150 per cent, compared to the same date in the previous fiscal year. OYO Hotels on Thursday announced the appointment of Aditya Ghosh, who headed the budget carrier IndiGo as its President until July, as the company's CEO for India and South Asia, with effect from December 1. "Aditya is entrusted with the responsibility to oversee and grow OYO Hotels business in South Asia, which will include India, Nepal and the other upcoming markets in the region," OYO Hotels said in a statement. The company said he will report to Ritesh Agarwal, founder and Group CEO, OYO Hotels and Homes. Agarwal said: "As we grow our business, we feel it is essential to continue to invest in building one of the most influential leadership teams and bringing in professionals with an entrepreneurial mindset and from diverse backgrounds, that can help lead the next wave of growth at OYO Hotels." --IANS rrb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Kabali" director Pa. Ranjith is excited to trace the life of freedom fighter Birsa Munda on the big screen and says the film will appeal to Indian as well as international audiences. After the release of "Beyond The Clouds", producer duo Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishor Arora are collaborating with Ranjith for the biopic on the life of the tribal leader, who was an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. "When I first read about Birsa seven years back, in Mahasweta Devi's 'Aranyer Adhikar' ('Jangal Ke Davedar' in Hindi), I knew that one day I will narrate this story," Ranjith said in a statement. "When Namah Picture's Shareen, Kishor and I met to discuss Birsa early this year, we realised that we shared the same passion to narrate this inspiring story that will make a brilliant feature film, which will appeal to the Indian audience as well as the international audience. "I am happy to be working with Namah and excited by the commitment that they have expressed towards telling Birsa's story. Birsa's life transcends time and I am sure it will inspire the audience, as it has all of us," he added. On the occasion of Munda's birth anniversary on Thursday, the makers announced the film. The makers have also acquired the rights of "'Jangal Ke Davedar". Kedia said: "The life and times of Birsa Munda are an inspiration and it's a remarkable story that needs to be told. There are very few parallels in history of so much being achieved at such a young age. "We at Namah Pictures feel privileged to bring this story to screen and are excited to collaborate with Pa.Ranjith to direct the film." --IANS sug/rb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Mike Pence on Thursday reiterated Washington's firm commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) during the bloc's annual summit here. Describing Asean as an "irreplaceable and indispensable" strategic partner, Pence said the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region was "steadfast and enduring", reports Efe news. "In all that we do, the US seeks collaboration, not control," he said. Pence, who attended the summit in the place of US President Donald Trump, emphasised the security principles that his country shares with the group, including freedom of maritime navigation and border guarantees. "We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said in an apparent reference to the territorial disputes that China has with four Asean members (Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines), as well as Taiwan, over islands in the South China Sea. Asean, comprised of Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, has been holding its annual leaders' summit in the city-state, as well as staging meetings with some of its main partners, including the US, China, Japan, Russia, Australia and India. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended their greetings to the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day on Thursday. "Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on Statehood Day. The state is blessed with vast natural resources and a rich culture that we are all proud of. May Jharkhand go from strength to strength in the years to come," the President tweeted. Jharkhand celebrating its 18th foundation day. The Prime Minister in his congratulatory tweet, wished for progress in the state that has been at the centre of Maoist insurgency. "Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day. With the blessings of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, may this state scale new heights of growth and glory in the coming years," he said. Jharkhand celebrates Statehood Day commemorating the birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda, who was an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. --IANS mg/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rockwell Automation will aim to double design engineers at its Bengaluru centre in the next few years, in order to meet global demand for better designed products, according to a top official of the largest global provider of industrial automation. John Watts, Regional Marketing Director, Asia Pacific at Rockwell, told a small group of visiting Indian journalists here that the country was the second-most important one in the region after China in growth prospects. The company's design centre in Bengaluru, with about 600 people, was set to double in strength in the next five years as demand for product design, global certification and life-cycle design is growing, informed Watts. He said the Rockwell design operations group looks at what products need to be brought to market for the future and then assigns the work to engineers who come up with innovations and robust designs as products are typically expected to last 25 to 30 years on the factory floor. Malwaukee, US-based Rockwell, with a turnover of $6.7 billion and 23,000 employees, is the largest company in the world dealing in industrial automation. Responding to quality of the workforce, Watts said India had great engineering talent and he had read somewhere that a jumbo jet load of engineers land in the Silicon Valley of the US every day from India. However, sometimes when consultants come in to decide which product would be developed, it often ended up in a "vicious cycle" of discussion, which sometimes holds up innovation, he added. Talking about the changes in the life science industry, including pharmaceuticals, Chandramouli K.L., Manager-Technology and Strategic Alliance at Rockwell Automation India, said that many of the products that one hears about lately may have been designed in India, from its offices in Delhi-NCR. He said that in India, the ratio of early adoption of technology as compared to life-cycle stage would be "fifty-fifty". Chandramouli informed that he had seen some of the fastest adoption of technology happening in India since many companies also set up offices and factories outside -- in Malaysia or in the US -- and are keen to adopt the latest technology. Much of the latest automation happens to be in bio-processing products, he added. According to Patrick Powers, Head of Government Affairs in APAC for Rockwell, it was in every company's interest to use proven systems as "each of them in India wants to be a global brand". The officials, however, were reluctant to provide any financial numbers about India, including the market share, saying it was against their company policy to give out such numbers, but Watts said that their aim was to grow "1x or 2x" of the market size at present. Watts said that although small and medium companies in India were unable to adopt automation across the board because of small plants and not-so-significant revenues, the equipment manufacturers were at the cutting edge, providing high-quality equipment to companies around the world. "They always want the latest automation and latest information solution as they work globally," he noted. According to him, the mining industry was one of the major focus areas for Rockwell and the industry is moving to adopt automation in a major way worldwide. He spoke about companies in Australia setting up remote units to monitor and control mining activities as it was expensive to fly managers to distantly located mines. This, though, was not the case in India where mines were generally located relatively near population centres. According to Chandramouli, some of the private miners had become adept at using the latest technologies, and there were recent examples where they had adopted the best mining practices from South Africa. Watts said that in India, mine companies were "getting there" in using automation and the safety aspect of mining was also being look at since Rockwell products could help them "work away from dangerous areas in mines and make dangerous areas less dangerous." Mentioning that the rising middle class in India meant that demand for consumer products -- and the technology related to manufacturing such products - was growing, Watts said that growth was also seen in other verticals like automotive sector, life sciences and oil and gas. He said that completion in India was "tough" as there was insistence on looking at upfront costs rather than efficiency of life-cycle costs, which was Rockwell's particular expertise. "But we are not holding back. We know how to deal with it and are holding our own in the industry," Watts emphasised. (Hardev Sanotra is in Philadelphia at the invitation of Rockwell Automation. He can be reached at hardev.sanotra@ians.in) --IANS hs/na/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A newly recruited Australian woman intelligence officer had stopped one of the biggest Islamic State inspired terror attacks ahead of Christmas 2016 in Melbourne, a top spy officer said. The information was revealed only after the Supreme Court of Australia on Wednesday lifted a suppression order on the trials of three men who plotted the attack on iconic Melbourne landmarks, Xinhua news agency reported. The officer who had then joined the agency only a week back as an analyst, noticed the men "performing in an unusual way", Director General of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Duncan Lewis said. "The Christmas crowds were gathering and she noticed this group going to a chemist's shop very late in the night," Lewis said. "They were in fact picking up the precursors for explosives. That was all the lead we needed." Prime accused Ibrahim Abbas, pleaded guilty to all charges in February and gave evidence against his brother Hamza Abbas, 23, cousin Abdullah Chaarani, 27, and another Ahmed Mohamed, 25, revealing that they planned to use knives, explosives, vehicles and suicide vests to attack large crowds gathered in the city ahead of Christmas. All four face lifetime in prison after the court heard that they purchased pre-cursors for explosives as well as machetes as part of their planned attack on Melbourne Central Business District (CBD). Lewis made the comments during a speech to military officials at the Land Forces conference in Adelaide in September but the information could not be made public until the trial and appeals were concluded. The four men, all Australia born, were arrested on December 22, two days after they carried out a reconnaissance mission and have been charged with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir on Thursday insisted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "absolutely" had nothing to do with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Al-Jubeir made the statement at a press conference in Riyadh, hours after Saudi Public Prosecutor requested death penalty for five key suspects involved in Khashoggi's murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, Xinhua reported. The kingdom is committed to holding those involved in the murder accountable through the judiciary, and investigations into journalist's killing will continue until all questions are answered, Al-Jubeir said. He highlighted that the defendants and the victim in the Khashoggi case are Saudis and that the incident took place on Saudi land. The top Saudi diplomat said that there has been an attempt to politicize Khashoggi's case, which is regrettable. "The Qatari media has launched an organized campaign against Saudi Arabia and are exploiting Khashoggi's case," Al-Jubeir noted. Riyadh has cut ties with Doha since June 2017, citing Qatar's support to terrorism and extremism and close ties to Iran, Saudi's top rival in the region. Earlier Thursday, Saudi Public Prosecution revealed the details about the murder of Khashoggi, saying that he was murdered with an injection of a drug and his body was dismembered, after an altercation with a group of Saudi agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a journalist for The Washington Post and a strong critic of Saudi government, disappeared on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get documents for his marriage, sparking an investigation by the Turkish government and international pressure on Riyadh to reveal his whereabouts. After initial denials, Saudi authorities admitted late last month that Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate and 18 individuals in relation to the case were arrested. Asked about possible international sanctions on Saudi Arabia for the Khashoggi case, Al-Jubeir said there is a difference between imposing penalties on those accused and holding the Saudi government responsbile. At the same time, US Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions on 17 Saudi officials over the murder of Khashoggi. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a series of directions to eight high courts and state governments on the appointment of judges to the vacant positions in the subordinate judiciary, including infrastructure and court staff in a time-bound manner. The states included Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Goa, NCT Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya. The hearing saw the court pulling up the Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and other state governments for their lackadaisical attitude in providing infrastructure and manpower for the functioning of the subordinate court. Uttar Pradesh, with more than 1,000 vacancies in the subordinate and higher judiciary, was directed to complete the process of appointment in a time-bound manner by adhering to the time-lines given to it for the filling of vacancies, court infrastructure, supporting staff and accommodation for the judges. The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Krishan Kaul and Justice K. M. Joseph took a dim view of the way the things were progressing in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The court asked Delhi to state on affidavit indicating difficulties it was encountering and the possible solutions. The court order came as Delhi said it faced with serious financial constraints. The court was broadly satisfied the way things were progressing in Maharashtra and Assam. The today's proceedings saw Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi making it abundantly clear that top court wants vacancies in subordinate judiciary to be filled up coupled with required infrastructure for their functioning. "We need judges, we need court rooms and the staff", declared CJI Gogoi. Making it clear that it would not let the proceedings be hostage to reports, proposals and recommendation of the committees, CJI Gogoi said: "We will ensure that posts of judicial officers are filled up and it was incumbent upon the state governments to provide both the infrastructure and the manpower to run the courts." --IANS pk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong handed over the presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-ocha at the conclusion of an annual summit on Thursday. Lee handed a baton to Prayut to symbolize the handover of the rotating Asean presidency during the summit's closing ceremony, Efe news reported. In accepting the 2019 presidency, the retired Royal Thai Army general officer said his country would prioritize the bloc's stability, development and economic growth through "trust, respect and mutual benefit". Among the challenges the bloc faces will be concluding negotiations on a free trade agreement with Australia, China, South Korea, India, Japan, and New Zealand, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP, a free trade pact being negotiated since 2012, which is expected to be finalized by 2019, seeks to bring almost half of the world's population, 40 per cent of world trade and more than a third of global GDP under the umbrella of a single trade zone. The first draft of the newly-proposed South China Sea code of conduct will also be discussed during Thailand's Asean presidency, an agreement which aims to reduce tensions arising from territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Brunei, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam have competing territorial claims to islands in the South China Sea. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While strangers pose the majority of threats online, a new study from tech giant says people are now at more risk of being bullied, getting unwanted contact and receiving unwelcome sexual images and messages from immediate family and social circles. The study showed that more than 60 per cent of risks were sourced from strangers and people whom respondents knew only But, 28 per cent of risks came from family and friends. The respondents who had met their abuser in real life were almost twice as likely to experience an online risk, said Jacqueline Beauchere, Chief Online Safety Officer in a blog post. More disheartening were indications that people were targeted because of their personal characteristics, namely gender, age and physical appearance, Beauchere added. The commonly experienced hoaxes, scams and fraud risk was led by false and misleading information. Fake news and internet hoaxes were the most common type, far outpacing fake anti-virus scams. Compared to data from 2017, negative experiences from family, friends and acquaintances were up by four per cent, seven per cent and two per cent, respectively. In 2018, a new classification of perpetrators -- colleagues and co-workers -- accounted for nine per cent of people's unpleasant interactions online, Beauchere said. Bullying like name-calling, purposeful embarrassment topped the behavioural category, followed by repeated unwanted contact experienced by more than four in 10 respondents. In the sexual risk category, receipt of unwelcome sexual imagery and messages dominated, with nearly four in 10 experiencing repeated attempts to start a romantic relationship. The findings are based on attitudes and perceptions of teenagers and adults in 22 countries including India, Canada, France, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and Vietnam, among others, about the online risks they face and how their interactions impact their lives. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman met Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey, with Rahman calling it an "inspiring" meeting. Shah Rukh on Wednesday evening shared a photograph with Dorsey. The two are seated in a yogic position with their eyes closed. The "Dear Zindagi" star captioned the image: "Today Jack made me realise with his calm demeanour and composed, nearly meditative mindset 'that all work and no pray, would make Jack a dull boy'. Thanks for dropping in and also team Twitter for a lively evening. Have a happy stay in India." Rahman posted an image of Dorsey and himself and wrote: "Had an inspiring meeting with Jack." The meeting between the Bollywood personalities and Dorsey took place after the Twitter official met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dorsey on Monday met Congress President Rahul Gandi and also addressed students at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi where he spoke on several issues, including the spread of misinfomation on Twitter. Dorsey also met Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. --IANS dc/rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Interactions with an unfamiliar land, nudging reminders of a 'different' space and time and an interplay between word and images melt together in artist Aishwarya Sultania's solo show here that kicked off on Thursday as part of an Indo-French art series. Titled "Unwarping Time", the show of over 16 prints and photographs was created over a period of 14 years, starting 2004. Most of them are part of eight years of studio work after 2010. Taking place at the Alliance Francaise de Delhi, the show opens the cultural centre's "Inview" art exhibition series that seeks to promote young Indian artists with a French connection. Sultania, who believes that "language is just a layer and one has to unpeel it to go beyond it", studied art at Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux in Paris in 2010. Some of her exhibits bring out not just her encounters and negotiations with the French culture and language but how she was affected by a foreign land. Recalling an initial "hesitant and unfriendly" nature of the French people, Sultania pointed to an installation she made of a grand icon immediately recalled as French, the Eiffel Tower. "I made an Eiffel Tower, and I roamed around the city with it. It's a performance. The moment they (the French) saw something familiar, they came at me like childhood buddies," the 34-year-old told IANS about her "Wooing Paris" work. On another level, this time a linguistic one, is a series of five 'curtains' where Sultania has printed a self-written poem in Hindi, French and English, along with two illegible digital languages. The poem, she said, asks why people can't go "between and beyond" the language barrier and discover their inherent humanness that binds them together. What is interesting is the interplay between imagery and words, and as Sultania says, gradual unpeeling of the language layers. As the viewer encounters the first curtain of the installation, the inability to decode a digital language is vexing. However, on putting two and two together, the motive behind the installation is 'unpeeled' -- all foreign scripts look just like images till one learns them. "Bangla looks a little like Hindi, but not quite Hindi. Malayalam looks like a bunch of spirals and curves. You can't decode the meaning until you learn what the script signifies," said the show's curator, Shruthi Issac. Threaded together by more instances from her life in the French capital, the show proves to be a resource on an artist's find of the familiar in the unfamiliar. "I never wrote in Hindi before Paris happened. Questions of identity look like insignificant cliches till you're in a foreign land, but they hit you once you are. You tend to reconnect to your roots more strongly," Sultania, who has studied visual and performing arts in London, Chandigarh and Sardarshahar (in Rajasthan) said. As the curatorial note explains, a 'rencontre' with an unfamiliar culture and language result in abstractions of word-image and of memory-time that enrich the artist's practice. The exhibition is open for public viewing till November 27. Entry is free. --IANS sj/mag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death toll from the two massive wildfires affecting California climbed to 51 on Wednesday after another body was found in the south of the state, while more than 100 people have been reported missing in the Camp Fire, north of San Francisco. The spokeswoman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Nicole Nishida, announced that a charred body was found at a home in Agoura Hills, increasing the death toll of the Woolsey Fire to three, which has affected the wealthy enclaves of Malibu and Calabasas, Efe reported. Meanwhile, the Camp Fire, which has become the deadliest blaze in California's history, continues to ravage the northern part of the state. On Tuesday, authorities announced the discovery of the remains of six people killed in the Camp Fire, increasing the massive wildfire's death toll to 48. The Butte County Sheriff's Office published on Wednesday a "partial" list with the names, ages and places of residence of 103 missing persons. Authorities on Tuesday requested that 100 National Guard troops join rescue workers to search for the missing persons, who are mostly from Paradise, a town of 26,000 residents that was completely engulfed by the blaze. The Camp Fire is not only the deadliest in the state's history, but also the most destructive, as it has destroyed nearly 9,000 structures, including some 7,700 homes. The two wildfires have continued to advance, though at a slower pace than last week. The Camp Fire is 35 percent contained, while the Woolsey Fire is 47 percent contained. Although the origin of the Camp Fire remains under investigation, some of the people affected by the blaze presented a lawsuit against utility Pacific Gas & Electric. PG&E told regulators last week that it detected a problem in a high voltage transmission line just before the fire broke out in the vicinity. On Monday, US President Donald Trump approved an expedited request for a major disaster declaration for California, which provides financial assistance from the federal government to the affected communities. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former US First Lady, Michelle Obama is distressed by the "behaviour and political agenda" of US President Donald Trump but has "no intention of running for office", she has stated in her just published memoir. Her recent return to the public eye with quite a few social initiatives on voting and girls' education had left many wondering if the former First Lady was planning to run for President in 2020. She has responded directly in the epilogue of her memoir "Becoming", a copy of which is with IANS. "Because people often ask, I'll say it here directly: I have no intention of running for office, ever. I've never been a fan of politics, and my experience over the last ten years have done little to change that," she has stated. She elaborates that she continues to be "put off by the nastiness", expressing uncomfort at "the tribal segregation of the red and blue, this idea that we are supposed to choose one side and stick to it, unable to listen and compromise, or sometimes even to be civil". She acknowledges that politics, "at its best", can be an instrument of positive change but maintains that this (political) arena is "just not for me". Obama, an American lawyer, university administrator, and writer who was the first African-American First Lady, however, asserts that her unwillingness to run for office is not to suggest that she does not care deeply about the future of her country. "Since Barack (Obama, her husband and the 44th U.S. President) left office, I've read news stories that turn my stomach. I've lain awake at night, fuming over what's come to pass." She says that "the behaviour and political agenda of the current president" has been "distressing" for her as it has led to many Americans doubting themselves and fearing one another. "It's been hard to watch as carefully built, compassionate policies have been rolled back, as we've alienated some of our closest allies and left vulnerable members of our society exposed and dehumanised. I sometimes wonder where the bottom might be," she adds. Notwithstanding her distress, she quips that she is not going to allow herself to be "cynical". "In my most worried moments, I take a breath and remind myself of the dignity and decency I've seen in people throughout my life, the many obstacles that have already been overcome." She describes "optimism" as an "antidote to fear" and reminds her readers that everybody plays a role in American democracy. She presses on the "need to remember power of every vote". "Becoming" is part of the two-book agreement -- one by Barack Obama and one by Michelle Obama -- that has reportedly earned a $65 million advance. --IANS ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, Nov 15 (IANS/AKI) The UN World Food Programme on Thursday appealed for an end to the devastating three-and-a-half-year civil war in Yemen, where a full-blown famine looms in what is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. "What Yemen needs is peace," said WFP executive director David Beasley. "Only then will it be possible to re-start the economy, get the currency under control and start paying public salaries, so people can have the money they need to buy food and other basics." In the face of rapidly escalating hunger, WFP is preparing to scale up to provide food and cash-based assistance for as many as 12 million people whose lives have been torn apart by the conflict, Beasley said. WFP is already reaching 7-8 million people with food assistance every month, he stated. "My heart is breaking after what I saw at the hospital in Hodeidah," said Beasley, referring to Yemen's main port city,where the Saudi-led coalition last month launched an offensive against Iranian-aligned Shia Houthi rebels. "Small children, so malnourished they're little more than skin and bone, lying there with hardly the strength to breathe. In the name of humanity, I urge all warring parties to put an end to this horrific war. Let the children live and let the people start to rebuild their lives," Beasely said. Eighty percent of food imports to impoverished Yemen pass through Hodeidah. Almost 18 million people are considered hungry and 8.4 million severely hungry in Yemen, whose population is 29 million. The cost of basic food items increased by 35 per cent since last year, leaving many families unable to feed themselves, according to WFP. --IANS/AKI pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US former Secretary of State Joh Kerry tore into President Donald Trump on Thursday for skipping a visit to a military cemetery in France, calling him a "truculent child". Kerry was visiting the UK to promote his book. "People are tired of the embarrassment of what took place in Paris in the last few days," Kerry said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "We cannot have a truculent child president. We need something serious." Trump has been hit with criticism for backing out of a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in Belleau, France, last weekend while he was there to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the end of World War I. "Every country is feeling the pressure of this nationalistic populist and in some cases very frightening rightwing advance," the former top official said. The White House said Trump was unable to visit the military cemetery due to inclement weather. On Tuesday, Trump tweeted he was urged to back out of the visit by Secret Service because a motorcade would cause a disturbance. "I was appalled that rain drops prevented the President from going to pay honour to those that died in rain, gas, snow and mud. That was the reason he came to Paris," said Kerry. Despite his personal criticism of Trump, Kerry urged his party to avoid becoming so obsessed with Trump by calling for his impeachment. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives should do whatever was appropriate, Kerry said, but added: "The Democrats should not even be talking about impeachment right now. We should be talking about the alternatives that might make life better for the people in our country." Kerry during the BBC interview addressed speculation that he might launch a presidential bid in 2020, saying he was not "actively running". He added that the potentially crowded Democratic field is likely to be a "mish-mash". The only specific names he mentioned were former Vice President Joe Biden and the former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but added there was a lot of talent in the party, according to the Guardian. Speaking on the UK Brexit debate, he said: "Suffice it to say both President (Barack) Obama and myself, as Secretary of State, came here to Britain before the referendum and we both were remainers." When asked if he supported a second referendum, he replied: "I said President Obama and I were, and are, remainers." --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States' government on Thursday sanctioned 17 Saudi Arabian officials for their alleged role in the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul early last month. Among those sanctioned by the US Treasury Department is Saud al-Qahtani, one of the chief advisers to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Efe reported. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi (on October 2). These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was quoted as saying in a press release. "The government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists," he added. The US Treasury Department accused al-Qahtani of helping to plan and execute the operation that led to the killing of Khashoggi. The other people hit with sanctions are Saudi Arabia's consul general, Mohammed al-Otaibi; al-Qahtani's subordinate, Maher Mutreb, who allegedly coordinated and executed the operation; and 14 others who purportedly participated in the crime. "As a result of these designations, any property or interests in property of the individuals designated today within or transiting US jurisdiction is blocked," Thursday's press release said. "Additionally, US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with blocked persons, including entities 50 percent or more owned by designated persons." The sanctions were handed down after Saudi Arabia's attorney general, Saud al-Mojeb, said Thursday that he would seek the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects charged in connection with the journalist's death. In a press conference in Riyadh, the top prosecutor said the crown prince had not had any prior knowledge of the operation. Al-Mojeb said the investigation had shown that Khashoggi, a government critic and Washington Post columnist, died after being restrained and injected with a tranquilizer following a fight inside the consulate. His body was then dismembered and handed over to a Turkish collaborator, the attorney general said. Al-Mojeb said the then-deputy head of intelligence, Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri, had masterminded the operation that was intended to get Khashoggi back to the kingdom. He added that the order for the killing was given by the head of the delegation of agents that had traveled to Turkey, although he did not name that individual. Khashoggi, long a part of the Saudi establishment, became estranged from Riyadh as a result of his criticism of the crown prince and had been living in self-imposed exile in the US since 2017. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Thursday raised its Rafale 'scam' pitch, accusing Prime Minister Modi of sabotaging country's interest for the sake of his cronies and alleging he fixed a higher benchmark price for the French fighter jets. A day after the Centre conceded that there was no sovereign guarantee by the French government backing the deal but only a letter of comfort, Congress President Rahul Gandhi took on Modi, saying the "Chowkidar (watchman) has sold out". "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the Rafale cupboard: No guarantee by the French government backing the deal. But, our Prime Minister says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful! That's enough to call this a government-to-government deal," Gandhi tweeted, adding "#BikGayaChowkidar" (watchman sold out). Congress' fresh attack comes amid Attorney General K.K. Venugopal admitting before the Supreme Court that there was no sovereign guarantee by the French government backing the deal but only a letter of comfort. Later in a media conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala questioned why Modi set a higher "benchmark price" and waived the bank guarantee or French government's sovereign guarantee. "The Prime Minister enhanced the benchmark price for Rafale by Euro 3 billion (Rs 22,743 crore). Why did he set a higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62,166 crore) from Euro 5.2 billion (Rs 39,422 )? Why did he waive the sovereign guarantee requirement," asked Surjewala. "The Prime Minister has gone as far as sabotaging the nation's interests in favour of his capitalist cronies," he said. The Congress accused Modi of "overruling" then defence minister Manohar Parrikar and the defence acquisition council and "ignoring" the advice of the Law Ministry and the air acquisition wing of the Air Force to insist on a sovereign guarantee from France. "Parrikar as the head of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and the three armed forces chiefs also didn't agree and decide on the higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 billion (Rs 62,166 crore). DAC referred it to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by PM Modi and he in CCS accepted the higher benchmark price," he said. "These revelations further expose brazen corrupt practices in Rafale scam. The entire spectrum of deception lies at the doorstep of Modi," said Surjewala wondering why National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was allowed to negotiate with the French, and not the negotiations committee of IAF and the Defence Ministry. Reiterating its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)probe, the party said it was the only forum to investigate the acts of "omission, commission and corruption" in the "biggest defence scam" of India. --IANS and/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dismissing a media report that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ordered his management team to use only Android phones after his tiff with Apple CEO Tim Cook, the social media network on Thursday said the decision to use Android is because it is the most popular operating system in the world. The New York Times on Wednesday said that "after Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, quipped in an interview that his company did not traffic in personal data, Mr. Zuckerberg ordered his management team to use only Android phones". In a statement on Thursday, Facebook said Zuckerberg's disagreement with Cook is only over the business model. "Tim Cook has consistently criticised our business model and Mark has been equally clear he disagrees. So there's been no need to employ anyone else to do this for us," Facebook said. "And we've long encouraged our employees and executives to use Android because it is the most popular operating system in the world," the social networking giant added. In a Recode and MSNBC interview in March this year, Cook had called for increased regulation of social media, and questioned the practice of monetising user data on free platforms by selling ads that allow advertisers to target specific groups. The Apple CEO was asked how he would handle the crisis Facebook is facing. "I wouldn't be in this situation," he said. "The truth is, we could make a ton of money if we monetised our customer... If our customer was our product,... We've elected not to do that." Reactig to Cook's remarks, Zuckerberg had said his remarks about the social networking giant were "extremely glib". Zuckerberg said that Facebook remains free to use because it's focused on connecting people and many people can't afford to pay, therefore, "having an advertising-supported model is the only rational model that can support building this service to reach people". --IANS ksc/na (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A week-long workshop kicked off at Kolkata International Film Festival on Thursday bringing together 58 students from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar to attend and experts from abroad. "India's cinematic heritage has been considerably enriched with Bengali cinema. How can you forget icons like Hiralal Sen, P. C. Barua, Bimal Roy and so on? Sadly very little of this rich heritage survives, we felt workshop is the ideal way to start a movement to save what remain of these films," Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder of Film Heritage Foundation said at the inauguration of 4th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India. The mixed bag of students will learn preservation and restoration techniques for celluloid film and photographic material like posters, lobby cards, song booklets and photographs. Global experts like David Walsh and Camelle Blot Wellens from International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), Kieron Webb from British Film Institute, Marianna de Sanctis from L'Immagine Ritrovata, Dawn Jaros of Academy of Motion Picture, Dana Hemmenway from Centre of Creative Photography will be a part of the esteemed faculty. Goutam Ghosh, an acclaimed Indian filmmaker, said the 'Western people care for preservation', it is in their culture. "Here everything is Maya, it is great philosophy but one needs to be practical. I believe one needs certain kind of madness to preserve one's heritage," Ghosh said. Ghosh went on to mention about Bengal government's proposed academy that will teach film preservation and restoration, requesting Dungarpur to be the chief advisor. "Public-private entrepreneurship is very important because the government will support us but we need experts to create the niche," Ghosh added. The program will also have practical sessions for scanning archival films with the latest world-class scanner. The foundation has already restored around 300 films in India. At least 100 Bengali classics like aKabuliwala' by Tapan Sinha, aDevdas' by 'P. C. Barua have been identified for restoration. A restored version of Satyajit Ray's 'Apu Triology' along with 12 other films is being screened at the festival. Asked about the number of Bengali films restored, Dungarpur said it 'is just the beginning' and mentioned that the cost depends on the condition of the available material. "Original camera negative is very important for restoration. If it the film is shot in digital format then the restoration people look for separation colour master," he added. --IANS bnd/ssp/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Breaking all barriers of society, a daughter-in-law in Beawar in Ajmer recently carried her mother-in-law's body for her last rites, in keeping with her last wish. Yalpana Bhati was joined by her two daughters to perform the last rites of their grandmother in the absence of a male member in the family. According to Yalpana, her mother-in-law, Neelam (70), died on Sunday night. On Monday, she carried her on her last journey along with her daughters Pranjal and Priyanshu. "My mother-in-law always treated me like her daughter. I am proud to have fulfilled her last wish," she said. Neelam Bhati's husband passed away soon after her marriage. Later, her only son, Gajendra Bhati, too, died 15 years later. --IANS arc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YouTube Premium, the paid streaming subscription service and YouTube Music Premium is being rolled out to seven new countries, taking the services to 25 and 21 global markets, respectively. Initially launched in June and formarly known as "YouTube Red", YouTube Premium gives users access to advertisement-free video streaming. The new countries are Chile, Colombia, Japan, Peru, Portugal, Switzerland and the Ukraine. India is yet to get the YouTube Premium services. "If you want ad-free access and offline streaming, you can get Music Premium. The more all-encompassing YouTube Premium gives you the same benefits as Music Premium plus an ad-free experience across all of YouTube's videos and access to exclusive content," Android Police reported late on Wednesday. YouTube Premium includes Music Premium but adds the full YouTube experience while adding background and offline playback along with exclusive YouTube original series. The subscription costs $11.99 per month. Charges for YouTube Music Premium are $9.99/month that bring the entire former Google Play Music catalogue and YouTube's exclusive mixes, covers and live performances. --IANS ksc/na/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Of late, the central government has come under strong criticism from various commentators for the decisions it made, namely, demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The government has been criticised for the dip in the growth rate caused by these two decisions. However, all said and done, credit must be given where it is due. The GST has been a monumental reform replacing all indirect taxes by a single tax. The experience of GST in other economies cannot be compared with the Indian experience for the sheer difference in the scale of implementation. The critics need to ... by Brother Sheldon DiasTHE GAMBIA, NOV 15, 2018: The Salesians of Don Bosco are known for their service to the youth and poorest of the poor around the world. The Congregation on October 28, made its presence felt in yet another country, by setting up base in the African nation of The Gambia, which is now the 136th nation to have a Salesian influence.Father Peter from Poland, Father Carlos from Peru, Father Peace from Nigeria, and Brother Sheldon from India are based in the Gambia and form an intercontinental community.The mission is a joint venture between the AFO & AFW provinces. The mission centre is in Kunkujang Mariama. It has a nursery, lower and upper basic school as well as a senior high school. Besides, it has a parish with 22 outstations.The modern-day Gambia was part of the Mali and Song High Empires. The first written records of the region come from the records of Arab traders in the 9th and 10th century A.D. The country was rich and blessed with many natural resources.A North African scholar and traveler visited the Gambia in 1352, and described the land, saying, they possess some admiral qualities, there is complete security in the country, and neither traveler nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers and men of violence. In the 16 century, the area began to suffer from continuous looting and invasions. By the end of the century, as the raids continued the empire collapsed and was conquered and claimed by Portugal.In 1588, English merchants purchased exclusive right to trade between the river of Senegal and Gambia for a period of 10 years. As many as three million slaves may have been taken from the region during the Atlantic Slave trade Operation.It is not known how many slaves were taken by Arab traders before the slave trade. Most of those taken were sold to European nations by other African nations, some were prisoners of inter-tribal wars, some were sold for unpaid debts, while others were kidnapped. The Gambia got independence on February 18, 1965. On April 24, 1970, it became a Republic. At present, it has the highest level of illegal immigration in West Africa.The Salesians of Don Bosco in the Gambia are assessing the situation of children and youth and are getting familiar with the local culture and people. They want to create a model centre for education formal and non-formal, a centre of spiritual animation, and a place where the young will feel at home. A total of 118 candidates filed 151 nominations in poll-bound Rajasthan on Thursday, including BJP leaders Arun Chaturvedi, Gulab Chand Kataria, BSP leader Navin Pilania and Congress hopefuls Pramod Jain and Dheeraj Gurjar. Apart from prominent names in Congress, many hopefuls have also filed their nominations even though the party was yet to announce its list of candidates. So far, 269 candidates have filed 343 sets of nominations, Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer Anand Kumar said. The last date for filing of nominations is November 19. Kumar said Chief Election Commissioner of India O P Rawat, election commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa would be on a two-day tour of the state to review poll preparations. He said the senior authorities would chair a meeting of administrative officials of Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur divisions in Udaipur city. On Saturday, a meeting is scheduled in the state capital with the district administrative officials of Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner and Jaipur divisions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The commerce ministry, for the third time, has extended the deadline till March next year for fourteen sea ports -- including JNPT, Kandla, Mumbai, Tuticorin and Vishakhapatnam -- to install radiation monitors and container scanner. Also, it also said that the ports which fail to meet the deadline will be derecognised for the purpose of import of un-shredded metallic scrap, with effect from April 1 next year. These 14 ports were earlier directed by the ministry to install and operationalise these equipment by October. In March 2017, the ministry had asked for the installation till March this year. "The period of installation and operationalisation of radiation portal monitors and container scanner in the designated ports is extended up to March 31, 2019," the directorate general of foreign trade has said Thursday. The 14 ports are -- Chennai, Cochin, Ennore, JNPT, Kandla, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip, Tuticorin, Vishakhapatnam, Pipava, Mundra and Kolkata. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The SIT on 1984 anti-Sikh riots Thursday sought death penalty for two persons convicted by a court here, saying that it was part of a "genocide" against members of a particular community and fell under the rarest of rare category of cases warranting the capital punishment. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey reserved for November 20 the order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh for killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of South Delhi during the riots. It was the first conviction in the cases reopened by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up in 2015. Delhi police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a SIT on the riots reopened it. The SIT demand was opposed by the counsel appearing for the convicts who sought life imprisonment for his clients, the minimum for the offence of murder. During the proceedings, the public prosecutor for SIT Surinder Mohit Singh said that it was "brutal murder of two innocent young persons aged around 25 each. It was a planned murder since the accused were carrying kerosene oil, sticks etc." It was not the only incident in Delhi and around 3,000 people were killed, he added. "People from only one community were targeted. It was a genocide. The incidents had an international effect and it took 34 years to get justice. A signal should go to the society to deter them from committing such horrible crimes. This is rarest of rare case which calls for death penalty," Singh said. However, the demand was opposed by advocate O P Sharma, appearing for the convicts, who said that the attack was not deliberate or planned but a sudden flare up. "The Prime Minister of the country was shot dead by her own bodyguards belonging to a particular community. What could be more wrong than that? She was warned and suggested to change her guards. Still she kept them. But she was betrayed and brutally killed. The present case was a sudden flare up. There was no pre-planning," the defence counsel said. However, his submission was opposed by senior advocate H S Phoolka, who appeared for the victims. "Every Sikh condemned the act of killing of the Prime Minister. It was tragic. But does that mean that Sikhs be killed? Does that give licence to kill? "Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was killed by Nathuram Godse. But did anything of that short happened against anyone? The accused were leading the mob. The whole world is watching that how we treat such cases," Phoolka said. Later, as the convicts were being taken to the lock up inside the Patiala House Courts premises after the proceedings, BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa slapped one of the convicts -- Yashpal Singh -- while slogans were raised against both the convicts. However, the police separated Sirsa, his supporters and the convicts. The case was lodged on a complaint filed by Santokh Singh, a brother of Hardev Singh. Delhi police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, an SIT formed in relation to the riots reopened the case. The court on Wednesday had convicted the two accused -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. The court held both the accused guilty under various sections including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC. Of the 650 cases registered in connection with anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, 267 were closed as untraced by the Delhi Police. Of these 267 cases, five were later taken up by the CBI. The SIT also scrutinised the records of 18 cancelled cases. The SIT found 60 cases appropriate for further investigation. It filed "untraced report" in 52 cases in the last one-and-a-half years. Out of the eight cases being investigated, charge sheets have been filed in five and three, in which senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is an accused, are pending investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two government engineers were arrested for allegedly taking bribes from a civil contractor in Rajasthan's Udaipur district on Thursday, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) official said. Executive engineer Mahaveer Jain and assistant engineer Prakash Bhanawat of the state Agriculture Marketing Board were arrested from Salumbar town after taking a bribe of Rs 34,500 and Rs 1,09,500 respectively from the complainant in lieu of clearing a construction work bill of Rs 17 lakh, said Narottam Lal, assistant superintendent of police, ACB (Jaipur Rural). A case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the officer added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two militants, who were arrested from Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, were part of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module and had come to the town to ferry weapons to the Kashmir Valley, a senior police officer said on Thursday. Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, Rajiv Pandey said a special investigation team (SIT) headed by a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) was formed to probe the case. Auqib Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Dar, both hailing from Pulwama district of south Kashmir, were arrested during a joint operation by police and the Army in Mendhar area of the border district on Wednesday. Two AK-56 rifles, two magazines, 60 rounds and four hand grenades were seized from their possession. "Prima facie, it was established that they were part of LeT module and were assigned the task to shift weapons from Poonch to the Kashmir Valley," the SSP told reporters. Presenting the arrested persons before the media persons, he said preliminary investigations revealed that they were not in the district to carry out any terror activity. "They are associates of militants and their only motive was to shift the weapons from Poonch to Kashmir," Pandey said. However, he said Poonch Police was in touch with its counterparts in the Kashmir Valley to probe the arrested persons' involvement in militancy. The SSP said police received specific information about movement of some suspected persons and accordingly established checking points which led to the arrest of the duo from Jaran Wali Gali and the recovery of the weapons, including four hand grenades, which were kept in a specially built cavity in the vehicle at their disclosure. "A case was registered against them and a special investigation team headed by SDPO Mendhar Neeraj Padyar has been formed to probe the case thoroughly," he said. The SSP said from where the weapons had come was yet to be ascertained. He said security agencies are on high alert in the district and have not lowered their guard. "The combing operation is going on in rural and forest area. We are conducting operation in every inch of Mendhar sub-division and elsewhere," Pandey said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigating Agency Thursday filed its reply to an application by 2008 Malegaon blast accused Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Purohit seeking documents related to the case in "untruncated" form. Purohit, in his application, filed earlier this week, had said documents supplied to him by the prosecution did not have names of witnesses and most of it were in truncated form. "By truncating the documents, the prosecution has deprived the accused his statutory rights to prepare for cross examination and defence," Purohit's application said. The NIA's reply was filed Thursday before special judge V S Padalkar by special public prosecutor Avinash Rasal. The special public prosecutor told court the accused had been provided with the documents in accordance with law. The judge adjourned the matter till November 19 for arguments on whether the accused is entitled to get documents in "untruncated" form. The special court had, on October 30, framed terror charges against Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and five other accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, setting the stage for their trial to commence. Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has told the Supreme Court that 23 states and Union territories (UTs) have developed the websites of their state disaster management authority (SDMA) in vernacular language also to make it easier for people to understand the issues. The Centre's submission came before a bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Deepak Gupta in a matter in which the apex court had in September this year said it was "disheartening" to note that websites of all SDMAs were not bilingual or in vernacular language. The government told the bench that if some more time was granted, all the states and UTs would comply with the suggestion to make websites of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and SDMAs multilingual or in vernacular language. "Four weeks' time, as prayed for, is granted. List the matter after four weeks," the bench said. The apex court had in May last year said that it would be advisable for the NDMA to regularly publish its annual report, to review and update all plans on the basis of experiences and to make its website multilingual so that all concerned may benefit. The court had criticised the lax approach of many states in taking adequate steps to prepare for disasters and had asked the NDMA to remain ever-vigilant and ready to deal with natural disasters. The court's order had come last year while disposing of a plea by advocate Gaurav Bansal who had sought implementation of provisions of the Disaster Management Act. Under Section 17 of the Disaster Management Act (DMA), "a state authority may, as and when it considers necessary, constitute an advisory committee, consisting of experts in the field of disaster management and having practical experience of disaster management to make recommendations on different aspects of disaster management". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 30-year-old married woman allegedly set herself ablaze at her in-laws' home in south west Delhi's Chhawla area on Thursday, police said. The victim stayed with her husband and in-laws at Shayam Enclave locality in Deen Pur, police said, adding they are missing ever since the incident occurred. The incident was reported to police at 11.50 am following which they reached the spot where the woman's family members were also present. The victim allegedly poured kerosene on herself and then set herself ablaze, police said. The victim was taken to Safdarjung Hospital where it was ascertained that the woman sustained about 20 to 25 per cent burn injuries on her legs and stomach, they said. The woman got married three years ago, they said, adding the sub-divisional magistrate has been informed about the incident. Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the cause behind taking such an extreme step by the woman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of 32 families of Bru refugess, who were repatriated to Mizoram, will be able to cast their votes in the coming assembly elections in the state, officials said Thursday. As many as 19 families were rehabilitated in Lunglai district in Mizoram after their repatriation from Tripura, 11 families were settled in Mamit district and two in Kolasib district of the state in the past two months. The total number of people in these families is around 150 and those who are eligible among them can cast their votes in the polls, a home ministry official said. Mizoram goes to polls on November 28. The Election Commission Thursday appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra as Mizoram's new chief electoral officer, replacing S B Shashank in accordance with the demand of some civil society groups. The groups were asking for Shashank's ouster over a row on allowing Bru voters lodged in Tripura relief camps to exercise their franchise from there. The agitation against Shashank was launched a fortnight back with the NGO Coordination Committee, the apex body of civil societies, and students' organisations in the north-eastern state, demanding that the officer be replaced as chief electoral officer and transferred outside the state. It also demanded that Bru voters in six Tripura relief camps be allowed to exercise their franchise at their respective polling stations in Mizoram and not in Tripura as committed by the poll panel in 2014. The agreement to repatriate the total 32,876 people belonging to the Bru community, who have been living in relief camps in Tripura was signed by the Centre and the governments of Mizoram and Tripura on July 3. The Bru people from Mizoram have been living in six relief camps in Tripura since they fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes. Mizoram civil society organisations have opposed the Election Commission's decision to conduct electoral revision of Bru voters in Tripura relief camps in the past too. They urged the EC to disenfranchise all Bru voters who chose to stay back in Tripura and did not return to Mizoram. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 43-year-old businessman who was apparently in a strained relationship with his wife and suffering losses in business allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol in south Delhi's Mehrauli on Thursday, police said. The incident occurred at 4 pm on Thursday, they said. Investigations revealed that Amit Gupta, a resident of Mehrauli, self-inflicted a gun shot on his temporal area following which he sustained two injuries on his head, they added. Gupta was taken to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj by his brother where he was declared brought dead, Additional Commissioner of Police (south) Vijayanta Arya said. She said that no suicide note was recovered from Gupta. However, police suspects that his strained relationship with his wife and losses in his business might have forced him to take this extreme step, they said. Police said Gupta was involved in business relating to building materials. The ACP said that a country-made pistol and a live cartridge was seized from the spot. Later in the day, police recorded the statements of Gupta's father, his wife and other family members, she added. The body has been preserved in AIIMS mortuary, police said, adding post-mortem proceedings have been initiated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Afghan officials on Thursday handed over the body of a senior Pakistani police officer to the Pakistani authorities, days after he was abducted from Islamabad and his corpse was found in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. Superintendent of Police (Peshawar) Tahir Khan Dawar left his residence in Islamabad for an evening walk on October 27 but did not return home. He was presumed abducted by militants in Islamabad - one of the safest cities in Pakistan. His mobile phone's last location was traced somewhere in Jhelum city of Pakistan's Punjab province. After being contacted, he said that he was fine and there was no threat to his life. However, his body was found in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan by the local people on Tuesday. Pakistani delegation comprising Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, Member of National Assembly Mohsin Dawar received the officer's body at Torkham point after negotiation with the Afghan officials and tribal jirga. The body of Dawar was taken to Landi Kotal from where it was airlifted to Peshawar for burial. His abductors had released a picture of him along with a letter of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's Khurasani group, claiming responsibility for the kidnapping and the killing. Tekreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Khalid Khurasani has denied his group's involvement in the kidnapping and murder of the officer. KP Information Minister Yusafzai said that Dawar was ruthlessly killed by his abductors in Afghanistan. He was in captivity for 18 days. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday ordered an "immediate inquiry" into the murder of Dawar. "Have followed the shocking tragedy of the murder of SP Tahir Khan Dawar and ordered Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to coordinate with Islamabad police in holding an inquiry immediately," Khan tweeted. He added that Minister of State for Interior Shahryar Afridi has been tasked to "oversee it with an urgency and present the report" to him. Earlier, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan in a statement on Thursday said the government should investigate and share details behind abduction and crossing of Tahir Khan Dawar and his abductors to Afghanistan. The abduction and killing of Dawar has raised questions over competency of security agencies, Asfandyar said. He alleged that the silence over National Action Plan (NAP) proves that non-state actors are getting support of state. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar should take suo motto notice over the incident, he said. During the weekly media briefing Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal earlier said Pakistan was in touch with the Afghan authorities to finalise arrangements for shifting the body of officer to Pakistan as early as possible. Faisal also said Pakistan actively participated in the Russian sponsored peace talks on Afghanistan to promote reconciliation process in that country. He said Pakistan wanted to achieve the objective of peace and stability in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre on Thursday told the Calcutta High Court that it was agreeable to the guidelines on safety of students in schools as proposed by the court-appointed amicus curiae. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Kaushik Chanda told the court that Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Act, 2009 already provides for security measures of school students, but the government was, nevertheless, agreeable to the Standards of Procedure (SOP) proposed by the amicus curiae as additional initiative. Appearing for the state, Additional Advocate General Abhratosh Majumdar also agreed to the SOP, while suggesting minor changes. Amicus curiae Firoze Edulji, who compiled the proposed SOP following consultations with a court-appointed panel of educationists, was directed by Justice Nadira Patherya to submit another report after including the views of the Centre and the state government. The court also said that it will pass an order in the matter on Friday. Justice Patherya, while hearing a case relating to alleged sexual misconduct against two physical teachers of a city-based school, had appointed lawyer Edulji as amicus curiae to assist him in the matter and formed a panel of educationists for suggestions. The panel included educationists from six leading schools in the city, the chairperson of West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) and representatives of UNICEF and National University of Juridical Sciences. The amicus curiae submitted a 100-page report to the court on Monday suggesting formation of a nodal body under the SCPCR, which would work for spreading awareness among school staff, sensitise parents and set up a syllabus for awareness of staff, students and parents. It also suggested stringent background check of a person before appointing him or her to any position in a school. On Wednesday, Justice Patherya asked the Centre and the West Bengal government to convey their views on proposed guidelines to prevent sexual offences against students in educational institutions affiliated to the central and the state boards. The ASG was asked to convey the views of the Centre to the court in this regard. The Additional Advocate General was also directed to communicate the views of the state government, which also has many school affiliated to its boards of secondary and higher secondary (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming farm loan waiver and free power supply as mere "temporary and populist" steps, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu Thursday made a pitch for long-term solutions like infrastructure support and cheap credit to improve the agriculture sector. Delivering the Laxmanrao Inamdar Memorial Lecture here, Naidu also called for suitable changes in the laws governing the cooperative sector in view of changed techno-economic and business scenarios to make the cooperative institutions "viable and vibrant". The University of Mumbai had organised the lecture to mark the birth centenary late Laxmanrao Inamdar, who was instrumental in the formation of Sahakar Bharati in 1979. "There are many challenges in the agriculture sector. You cannot have temporary solutions to agriculture. Loan waiver, free current ... they are temporary," he said. "What is needed is remunerative price, infrastructure support for agriculture and cheap credits. Unfortunately for political reasons, we move to populistic, temporary measures," Naidu said adding that the governments should rather focus on long-term solutions. He said since agriculture was becoming unviable, people were moving to urban areas from rural parts. "You cannot reverse urbanisation, even if you want to ... Even today, 56 per cent people depend on agriculture. "The best method of (improving) agriculture according to me is the strengthening of the cooperative movement. This has to be understood by all including the planners, NITI Aayog, political parties, Parliament, people and media," he said. "The prime minister promised to double farmers' income by 2022. This is a noble idea, but it is not simple. The government has raised the MSP of most of the crops. Cooperatives can help small and marginal farmers in taking the benefits of higher MSPs," he said. Terming India's cooperative movement as the "biggest" in the world, he said it has led to tremendous progress in several sectors of the Indian economy. "I am told 75 per cent of rural households have been covered through a network of over 8.50 lakh cooperatives with a membership of well over 25 crore," he said. Naidu, however, lamented that in recent years, the cooperative sector has faced structural challenges like dormant membership, lack of active participation of members in the management, politicisation of cooperatives and bureaucratic control. Similarly, low level of participation by women and youth is a challenge and needs to be addressed, he said. "Mounting dues in cooperative credit institutions, inadequate mobilisation of own resources, over-dependence on governmental and institutional support, lack of professional management have proved harmful to their growth. There have been instances of mismanagement and absence of monitoring," he said. "Probably, the time has come to bring requisite changes in the relevant laws governing the cooperative sector in the context of changed techno-economic and business scenario to make the cooperatives viable and vibrant enterprises," the vice president said. Naidu added that cooperatives can help in reducing the cost of production by sensitising farmers about the judicious use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, by encouraging and training them in the use of organic manure and efficient use of water and by collective procurement of capital-intensive equipment and inputs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Air Vice Marshal SK Jha has assumed command of the College of Air Warfare at Secunderabad here. Jha, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, assumed command of the College of Air Warfare Secunderabad, on November 12, a defence release said here Thursday. Commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on June 8, 1984, Jha has 2,900 hours of flying experience on a number of fighter aircraft. The officer served as Defence Attach in Nigeria from 2008-2011. His command assignments include that of a Mirage 2000 Squadron and a frontline fighter base. A Fighter Combat Leader, an Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner, Jha has served as senior instructor at his alma mater, DSSC and has held numerous prestigious appointments in his career including those at Directorate of Air Staff Inspection, Air Headquarters and at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, New Delhi. Prior to his appointment as Commandant of College of Air Warfare, he was the Air Officer Commanding at Advance Headquarters (Chandimandir), Headquarters Western Air Command, New Delhi, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Thursday reiterated that he was a victim of political vendetta and has done no wrong in the case involving allotment of a plot of land to Associated Journals Limited, which owns English daily National Herald. Hooda made the remarks on media persons' query on reports that Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya last week gave sanction to prosecute him in the AJL case. I have been maintaining that I am a victim of political vendetta, Hooda told reporters on the sidelines of a Congress workers' meeting. The former chief minister maintained that he has done no wrong. I have been saying this earlier too that political vendetta was being unleashed against me. This case was part of that vendetta and witch-hunt. Nothing wrong has been done during my tenure (as CM) and in this case too, the rules were followed, he said. The case of cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy, registered by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau against Hooda and AJL for alleged irregularities in allotment of a plot of land in Panchkula to the firm had been taken over by the CBI last year. Registered against former CM Hooda in his ex-officio capacity as Haryana Urban Development Authority chairman, the FIR also named HUDA's former chief administrator and JAL amongst others. The Haryana government's complaint, on the basis of which the case was registered, had alleged that AJL was allotted a plot in Panchkula in 1982 on which no construction took place till 1992. It prompted HUDA to cancel the allotment of the plot and resume it. The CBI FIR, quoting the Haryana government's complaint, said the AJL filed an appeal against the HUDA's decision before HUDA administrator, who dismissed the appeal on July 26, 1995. AJL subsequently challenged the HUDA administrator's decision before the Haryana's Town and Country Planning Commissioner who too set aside the appeal, the CBI FIR said. The FIR further alleged that abusing his official position as HUDA chairman and contravening HUDA's policies, the then Chief Minister Hooda went against the advise rendered to him by the officials and ordered re-allotment of the plot to AJL at original rates plus interest on August 28, 2005. The investigation carried out by the Haryana police after the BJP government came to power concluded that allotment was made in an "arbitrary manner" and in complete violation of the HUDA Act and against the advise of the officials due to which a wrongful loss was caused to the exchequer. The state government had referred the matter to the CBI because of the alleged involvement of persons in "high places" and the company having offices in number of states which would be beyond the working of the State Vigilance Bureau. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An all-party meeting on the Sabarimala issue here on Thursday saw the Kerala government sticking to its stand of being "duty-bound" to implement the order allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa temple, leading to a walkout by Opposition parties. The Opposition parties made a demand for putting off the implementation of the apex court order till January 22, when the review petitions against the verdict are slated to come up for hearing. Rejecting the demand, Chief Minister pointed out that since the court had not stayed its September 28 verdict, there was no other option but to allow women in the age group of 10-50 years during the upcoming pilgrim season. As no consensus emerged at the nearly three-hour-long meeting, Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the staged a walkout at the fag end of the crucial parleys, convened two days ahead of the temple's opening on November 17 for the two-month long pilgrim season. Frenzied protests by devotees and various Hindu outfit activists had prevented some women in the 10-50 age group from entering the temple, when it opened twice since last month after the apex court order. Speaking to reporters, Vijayan said the government had convened the meeting without any prejudice. "The government was not stubborn. But had no other option, but to implement the apex court verdict. If tomorrow the court takes another decision, the government will follow that," he said. The chief minister, however, said the government "is with the believers. There is no need for any concern," he said, adding the government will provide security to all devotees. The government can only obey the court verdict and all the believers should understand this, the Left leader said. Announcing the walkout, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the government was "adamant" in its stand to implement the court verdict and was not prepared for any compromise. "This is a challenge to the believers," he said alleging that the government was trying to "weaken" the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Attacking the government, state unit chief P S Sreedharan Pillai said the meeting was a "waste of time". Meanwhile, Vijayan will also meet representatives of the Pandalam Royal family, traditionally associated with the Sabarimala temple, and members of the 'thantri' (priest) family. The ABVP said on Thursday DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya has resigned from his post after it asked him to do so, and has also been suspended from the students outfit till an inquiry into allegations that he gained admission to the Delhi University on the basis of a fake degree. While the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) said the decision was taken to maintain the "genuineness" of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), the move drew criticism from the NSUI and AISA, which claimed it was done under pressure ahead of the high court hearing on November 20. In a Facebook post, Baisoya said he was resigning form the post of DUSU president because he respects the mandate of Delhi University students, who voted for him. Attempts to contact Baisoya over phone did not yield result, but the ABVP said he has tendered his resignation to the university's vice-chancellor. The ABVP, in a statement, said it asked Baisoya to step down as DUSU president and also relieved him of all responsibilities in ABVP till the Delhi University completes the verification process. It alleged that the NSUI and other student organisations started raising questions on Baisoya's degree "the moment ABVP won three of four posts in the DUSU elections". "The NSUI has been indulging in this propaganda ever since Ankiv Baisoya was elected the president of DUSU. "The ABVP has, time and again, reiterated its stand that the Delhi University has all the rights to verify documents to put an end to the rumours. The ABVP has always put students' welfare first and does not support fraudulent behaviour," it said. The RSS-affiliated student outfit's Delhi State Secretary Bharat Khatana said, " The ABVP believes in complete transparency and hence requests DU administration to complete the verification process and produce the result in public domain." "We urge the Delhi University to expedite the process and put all rumours to rest at the earliest. If Ankiv Baisoya is found guilty, he must face all legal consequences that would ensue." In a Facebook post, Baisoya said, "I was recently chosen as the DUSU president with my supporters' love and blessings. Immediately after my victory, the NSUI and other opposition parties hatched a conspiracy to tarnish my name by raising questions about my admission to the Delhi University.""I am tendering resignation because I respect the mandate of the Delhi University students who voted for me and the responsibility of the DUSU president's post. "I request the varsity administration to probe the allegations against me so that the issue is sorted soon. I assure everyone that I will prove all the charges against me are wrong. I hope you will support me in my fight ahead," the Facebook post read. But the Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) said this was a "face-saving attempt" by the ABVP. "We welcome the much-delayed decision by the ABVP to ask Ankiv Baisoya to step down as DUSU president. "This is clearly a decision under pressure and not on principle given the inordinate delay by the ABVP and in light of the upcoming HC order on the November 20, when it is near certain that Ankiv would have been disqualified anyway. This is a sorry face-saving attempt by the ABVP," AICC Joint Secretary and NSUI in-charge, Ruchi Gupta said. She said the ABVP "ably supported by a supine DU administration" waited for two months in an attempt to retain the DUSU presidentship with ABVP, instead of asking him to step down when the matter came to light. Gupta also said the ABVP did not set up any enquiry committee of its own at the time. The Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA) said the suspension comes very late, after the 60 days' time period for re-election is over. "Even if Ankiv Baisoya resigns, ABVP will still retain the president's post as Shakti Singh, current DUSU VP, who has been known to unleash violence on students of Zakir Hussain College, will take the position," the AISA said. The Delhi High Court on Monday gave the university time till November 20 to verify the authenticity of Baisoya's bachelors degree from a university in Tamil Nadu. The two-month period, within which a re-election could be held, ended on November 13. Baisoya was elected DUSU president in September. The NSUI and AISA have accused the Delhi University administration of deliberately delaying an investigation of the alleged fake degree of Baisoya. The high court is hearing the case on a plea of NSUI student leader Sunny Chillar, who has sought from the court that Baisoya's election be set aside after reports said the registrar of Thiruvalluvar University had "unambiguously and unequivocally" declared Baisoya's certificate "fake and forged". Chillar has also alleged that the DU was "deliberately delaying" the verification process as no fresh polls would be held for DUSU presidency in case Baisoya's election is set aside over the fake degree issue after expiry of the two-month period. According to Lyngdoh Committee guidelines on university elections, if a post fell vacant within two months of declaration of results, fresh polls would be held, his plea has said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday said the state government has accorded highest priority for education, particularly digital learning, to make it stress-free. Addressing delegates at UNESCO-MGIEP's Tech 2018 conference here, Naidu said the government has established 5,000 digital classrooms and 4,000 virtual classrooms in thestate and the number would be increased soon. Noting that his government has been utilising technology in a major way for transparency, accountability and corruption-free governance, the Chief Minister said technology was applied to all the government departments including agriculture sector. Claiming that his government was number one in using technology and 'ease of doing' business (in the country), he said technology has helped a lot in this regard. Later talking to reporters, Naidu said, in association with the UNESCO-MGIEP, the state government would establish I-Hub in Visakhapatnam to promote digital learning. He said the state government has decided to allocate land for the I-hub and asked the organisers to pursue the matter before the third edition of the conference scheduled to be held in 2019. "Learning is a continuous process.. we can learn many things by playing games also.. should be fun and not a punishment.. Digital leaning will help children to learn many things," he said. UNESCO-MGIEP has launched the second edition of Transforming Conference for humanity(TECH-2018) in collaboration with the Andhra Pradeshgovernment. Director of UNESCO-MGIEP, Anantha Duraiappah said Tech2018 will showcase the role of games and digital learning in enabling a shift from 'transmissive pedagogies' to 'transformative pedagogies' to create peaceful and sustainable societies. "Eventually the goal of all needs to be sustainable peace and development," he said. Nearly 1,000 delegates including educationists, researchers, policy makers and ministers from 62foreign countries took part in the three-day conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Thursday said the state has received tremendous support from the Narendra Modi government at the Centre in the tourism sector. He said this while inaugurating two new tourist circuits in the state at Tawang in the presence of Union Minister of State for Tourism K J Alphons. "Before 2014, the state used to receive meagre amount of Rs 8-10 crore. But now we can feel the difference. For the BhalukpongBomdilaTawang tourism project, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 50 crore. Likewise Rs 100 crore for Nafra SeppaSagaliZiroYomcha project," he said. The two new tourist circuits are Bhalukpong-Bomdila- Tawang project and Nafra-Seppa-Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota-New Sagali-Ziro-Yomcha, an official release said. The chief minister informed that the two projects were sanctioned in 2014-15 under Swadesh Darshan. He thanked Alphons for his kind presence in the inauguration ceremony. Khandu also thanked the Centre and Union Tourism ministry for development of Parashuram Kund tourism site in Lohit district and for their assurance to clear all pending issues regarding tourism in the state. The chief minister informed that Bollywood star Salman Khan will attend the Mechuka Adventure Festival to be held from November 22 next. Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Minister Jarkar Gamlin and Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal East Parliamentary constituency Ninong Ering were also present on the occasion, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission Thursday appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra as poll-bound Mizoram's new chief electoral officer, replacing S B Shashank. The order came after some civil society groups in Mizoram demanded Shashank's ouster over a row on allowing Bru voters lodged in Tripura relief camps to exercise their franchise from there. "The Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Mizoram hereby nominates Ashish Kundra as the chief electoral officer for the state of Mizoram with immediate effect," a notification issued by the EC said. The EC had earlier asked the Mizoram government for a panel of names to replace Shashank. Mizoram goes to polls on November 28. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh on Thursday called-off its plan to repatriate hundreds of Rohingya refugees in the country after they refused to return to Myanmar where the minority Muslim community feared for their lives. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since August last year after a brutal military crackdown was launched, dubbed by the UN as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" by international rights watchdogs, sparking a global uproar. On Thursday, Bangladesh began preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,000 Rohingya Muslims from 485 families to Myanmar, in line with a plan agreed with Myanmar in October. However, several thousand Rohingya instead staged protests declining to go back to Myanmar as four trucks and three buses have been stationed at Unchiprang camp in Cox's Bazar, ready to carry refugees who have been "approved" to a transit camp by the border but not one refugee has been willing to board them, officials said. "Nobody is willing to return to Myanmar, Rohingya repatriation will be called-off for the day if nobody volunteers by 4pm on Thursday," Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission's (RRRC) chief, Md Abul Kalam was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune. "The buses were ready and we readied three days of rations for those who were set to return, in the first batch but none boarded on the buses," an official of the relief commissioner's office at the scene said. The Rohingyas staged protest marches demanding realisation of a five-point demand as the precondition that included deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in the Rakhine State to ensure their safety and giving them the full citizenship status in Myanmar. "We want our security and dignity, we don't believe them (Myanmar authorities)," a Rohingya protestors told a private TV channel. Kalam earlier said none of the 50 families spoken to so far "expressed their willingness to go back under the present circumstances" and "We cannot force them to go back against their will." "We are waiting, we will start the repatriation if someone agrees to go back by 4pm," Kalam said. Bangladesh officials on Thursday held several rounds of meetings with the Rohingya in their effort to motivate them to return home but said they were at liberty to decide on their return. The authorities in Dhaka, however, are yet to make any announcement on the situation. The UN rights body chief Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday urged Bangladesh to halt the repatriation plans fearing that sending them back would put their lives at "serious risk". The date for the beginning the repatriation was set on October 30 in line with Myanmar officials talks with Bangladesh while they visited the crammed Rohingya camps in the country's southeastern Cox's Bazar visibly in their effort to start a process as Naypyidaw agreed to begin their repatriation by November. Bangladeshi officials said they so far provided Myanmar a list of 24,000 Rohingyas in two phases, while Myanmar said they verified 5,000 of them while media reports quoting Naypyidaw sources suggested they could return initially 2,000. Myanmar earlier announced a large-scale repatriation plan in November 2017 but Dhaka alleged the country took little steps to keep their promise. Myanmar, however, is still refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing in its treatment of the Rohingyas. The UN investigators said Myanmar's top military officials should be prosecuted for genocide but the country has rejected the calls, insisting it was defending itself against armed fighters. The UN has called on both governments to halt the "rushed" repatriation plans but the pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Bangladesh, however, tried to quell the panic by instructing NGOs it maintained its commitment to voluntary returns and that all NGOs should continue their work as usual. US Vice President Mike Pence told Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse", adding pressure on Myanmar's civilian leader. Bangladesh, which had been extending refuge to another 300,000 Rohingyas ahead of the fresh exodus since last year, demanded greater UN and global pressure on Myanmar for their safe and dignified return. Rohingyas who took refuge in Bangladesh said their movement was restricted in their homeland ahead of the cleansing campaign while "fear and mistrust" had exposed them to hardship and economic vulnerability. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh authorities said the repatriation of Rohingya Muslims who fled army-led violence in Myanmar will begin as scheduled Thursday if people are willing to go, despite calls from United Nations officials and human rights groups to hold off. Refugee commissioner Abul Kalam told The Associated Press that he and other officials would go to Unchiprang, one of the sprawling refugee camps near the city of Cox's Bazar, to urge some of the more than 700,000 Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh last year to go back to Myanmar voluntarily. Kalam declined to say what Bangladesh authorities would do if refugees refused to go, but according to a UN-brokered deal with Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Rohingya cannot be forced to repatriate. "If they agree, we will take them to the transit camp and give them three days' worth of food before handing over to Myanmar authorities," he said. The huge exodus of Rohingya began last August, after Myanmar security forces launched a brutal crackdown following attacks by an insurgent group on guard posts. The scale, organisation and ferocity of the operation led to accusations from the international community, including the UN, of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Most people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar do not accept that the Rohingya Muslims are a native ethnic group, viewing them as "Bengalis" who entered illegally from Bangladesh, even though generations of Rohingya have lived in Myanmar. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, as well as access to education and hospitals. Despite assurances from Myanmar, human rights activists said Thursday the conditions are not yet safe for Rohingya refugees to go back. "Nothing the Myanmar government has said or done suggests that the Rohingya will be safe upon return," Human Rights Watch refugee rights director Bill Frelick said in a statement. The group said 150 people from 30 families had already been taken to a transit camp in preparation for their return. Bangladesh authorities have said they've worked with the UN's refugee agency to compile lists of people willing to return to Myanmar. At the Jamtoli refugee camp, 25-year-old Setara said she and her two children, ages 4 and 7, were on a repatriation list, but her parents were not. She said she had never asked to return to Myanmar, and that she had sent her children to a school run by aid workers Thursday morning as usual. "They killed my husband; now I live here with my parents," said Setara, who only gave one name. "I don't want to go back." She said other refugee families living at the Jamtoli camp whose names have appeared on the Bangladesh government's repatriation list had fled to other camps, hoping to disappear amid the crowded lanes of refugees, aid workers and Bangladeshi soldiers. Negotiations for repatriation have been going on for months, but plans last January to begin sending refugees back to Myanmar's Rakhine State were called off amid concerns among aid workers and Rohingya that their return would be met with violence. Foreign leaders, including US Vice President Mike Pence, have criticized Myanmar's Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader Aung San Suu Kyi this week on the sidelines of a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore for her handling of the Rohingya crisis. But on Thursday, Pence said that US officials were "encouraged to hear that" the repatriation process would begin. In addition to those who arrived in Bangladesh last year, about 200,000 other Rohingya fled Myanmar during previous waves of violence and persecution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Thursday accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of "snooping" by installing a powerful CCTV camera atop a boundary wall of the CM residence near his bungalow. Leader of opposition in the state assembly, Yadav's 5, Desh Ratna Marg bungalow is just behind Kumar's 7, Circular road, house in Patna. The official residence of the chief minister is 1, Anney Marg. Posting a photograph of the CCTV camera on his Twitter handle, Yadav asked, "Why the chief minister felt the need for the camera only on the wall bordering his political adversary." The chief minister's residence has main roads on three sides and Yadav's bungalow is across the fourth boundary wall. "Bihar chief minister's residence is surrounded by main roads from three sides and leader of opposition's residence from the fourth side. "But, the chief minister felt the need for CCTV only on the wall bordering his political adversary's residence. Someone should tell him that these petty tricks will prove futile," Yadav, the younger son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, tweeted. In his tweets, he accused Kumar of "snooping and interfering with the privacy of a neighbour and having an obsession with luxury and grandeur besides using invectives like autocratic and insecure". The ruling JD(U) in Bihar hit back at Yadav, saying he "seems to be worked up over the possibility of his hobnobbing with criminals getting exposed". Yadav, was allotted the 5, Desh Ratna Marg, residence when he was deputy chief minister in the Grand Alliance government in Bihar. But, he continues to occupy it despite notices to vacate it in favour of incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. The Patna High Court has also dismissed Yadav's petition challenging the evacuation notices. Kumar after stepping down for a brief period after the drubbing in the last general election had been allotted the 7, Circular Road, house, which is adjacent to the Chief Ministers' official residence 1, Anney Marg. After returning as chief minister, the JD (U) chief, retained the bungalow on Circular Road. Reacting to the outbursts of the RJD leader, JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh said, "Tejashwi Yadav seems to be worked up over the possibility of his hobnobbing with criminals getting exposed." "There is no other reason why he should get so agitated over a CCTV camera being installed on a boundary wall. It has not been installed in his bedroom. "Moreover, he should try to acquire some knowledge so that he could at least come out with his own tweets. He has not even completed high school and we are certain that someone is ghost-writing on his behalf," he said. There has been no official word on why and upon whose instructions the CCTV camera was installed. Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, who recently joined the JD(U) and had a meteoric rise with elevation to the post of national vice-president within a month of being inducted to the party, also operates from this bungalow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bill on land rights to enclave dwellers of Cooch Behar will be placed during the brief winter session of West Bengal Legislative Assembly beginning Friday, Speaker Biman Banerjee said. An amendment bill on National University of Juridical Sciences, will also be discussed during the session, which will continue till November 29, the speaker told PTI. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had recently said that the government was working hard to give beneficiaries of the enclaves their due and had asked the Cooch Behar district officials to expedite the process of handing over land documents to the enclave dwellers. If necessary, an ordinance would be issued to speed up the process, she had said. Bangladesh and India had exchanged 162 "adversely held" enclaves on Aug 1, 2015, ending one of the world's most complex border disputes that had lingered for seven decades since Independence. In Cooch Behar 111 Indian enclaves, spread across 17,160 acres, became a part of Bangladesh territory and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves, comprising 7,110 acres, joined India. The enclave residents were allowed to either reside at their present location or move to the other country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Looking to retain power in Rajasthan, the has denied tickets to its 43 sitting MLAs, including four ministers, even as some leaders who have crossed over from other parties have been fielded for the upcoming assembly elections. The ruling party has released two lists so far of 162 candidates for the elections to be held on December 7 for 200 assembly constituencies. Names of more candidates are expected to be announced soon. The had released its first list of 131 candidates on November 11, while the second list of 31 candidates was announced on November 14. In the second list itself, the party denied tickets to 14 sitting MLAs and three ministers. In the two lists, a total of 92 sitting MLAs have been fielded again in the election. The had won 163 seats in the last 2013 elections, while its arch-rival could get just 21. Traditionally, these two parties have ruled the state one after another. So far, the saffron party has given tickets to 19 women candidates. Besides, four leaders who have joined the BJP from some other parties have also got the party ticket for the polls. These include Abhinesh Mehrishi, who would contest from Ratangarh seat after quitting BSP, leaders Ashok Sharma and Mahesh Pratap Singh (for Rajakheda and Nathdwara seats, respectively) and two-time independent legislator Gurdeep Shahpini (Sangaria seat). ALSO READ: Rajasthan polls 2018: Sachin Pilot files nomination from Tonk assembly seat Those having been denied a ticket include Gyandeo Ahuja, a sitting MLA from Ramgarh seat of Alwar. When contacted, Ahuja declined to comment on denial of ticket from his existing constituency. "I would comment only after meeting the office bearers of the RSS, Ahjua told PTI on Thursday. He said he has not met Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje so far on this issue. The BJP ministers who have been denied ticket by the party from their existing seats include Babulal Verma, Dhan Singh Rawat, Rajkumar Rinwa and Surendra Goyal. Goyal has resigned from the party and has announced he will contest the election independently. The denial of ticket to leaders like Gyandeo Ahuja and Dhan Singh Rawat has come as a surprise to many, even as they have been known for their hardliner comments that have often triggered controversies. Sheo constituency MLA Manvendra Singh has joined the while the Nathdwara assembly seat fell vacant after the demise of BJP legislator Kalyan Singh Chouhan. The saffron party has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate so far. It is also being keenly watched what would be the fate of Chief Minister Raje's close aide Yunus Khan, who was fielded from Deedwana Assembly seat in last election. The party has not announced any candidate from that seat so far. Also, there is no clarity so far on candidature of erstwhile royal family member Diya Kumari from Sawai Madhopur seat. The counting of votes for December 7 elections would take place on December 11, along with the same for four other state assemblies -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP chief Amit Shah Thursday said his party would trace and drive out infiltrators from the country after winning the 2019 general elections under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Addressing a poll rally, Shah said infiltrators were coming to India since 1971 and formed the "vote bank" of opposition parties like the Congress and TMC. Shah said after 40 lakh people were left out in the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, leaders like Congress president Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav "whined as if their granny had died". "All of them (objected to the NRC). As if their granny died. Why were they all in pain?" he said, accusing Gandhi of being more concerned with the human rights of "infiltrators" than victims of bomb blasts carried out by these "intruders". "Let the Congress cry, we are not going to stop. You elect Narendra Modi's government in 2019. It will trace and drive out infiltrators not only from Assam, but from the entire country," Shah said, adding national security was most important for his party. Shah also lauded the Modi-led government for the army's surgical strike on terror launch pads across the border post Uri attack in 2016, adding Gandhi did not understand the value of martyrdom of soldiers. The BJP chief also sought to underscore difference between the Modi-led NDA government and the previous Manmohan Singh dispensation at the Centre when it came to "doing justice" to Madhya Pradesh. The Singh-led government allocated Rs 1.34 lakh crore to Madhya Pradesh under 13th Finance Commission as against Rs 3.44 lakh crore given by the Modi regime under the 14th Finance Commission, he said. "I want to ask (Congress leaders Jyotiraditya) Scindia Maharaj, Diggy Raja (Digvijay Singh) and also Kamal Nath: Tell us why this injustice was done to Madhya Pradesh," he said. Shah said the Modi government brought out 129 schemes for welfare of farmers, backward classes, Dalits, poor, youth and women. "We brought 129 schemes. Rahul Baba (Gandhi) listen carefully, if you have ears and remove your Italian chasmha (spectacles)," Shah said, alluding to the origins of the Congress president's mother Sonia Gandhi. Seeking to underscore differences between the BJP and Congress, Shah said his party had already announced Chouhan as its face for the chief ministerial job. "Congress should tell who is its leader in the state?" he added. Shah said scams of over Rs 12 lakh took place during the 10-year rule of the Congress. "Rahul Gandhi neither speaks about the work his party did in Madhya Pradesh nor about his party's (poll) agenda. I don't understand if he is campaigning for Congress or BJP. He is suffering from Modi phobia," Shah said. Shah also reached out to tribals in the poll-bound state and informed them of several welfare measures being taken by the party-led governments at the Centre and in the state. "Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had opened a separate Tribal Welfare ministry which the Congress couldn't do before," Shah said. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is locked in a direct contest with the Congress, which is out of power for 15 years in a row. The elections to the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly will be held on November 28. Polls results will be out on December 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Press Council of India has decided against issuing a directive to the media prohibiting the use of the word "Dalit", saying a blanket ban was neither advisable nor feasible. In August, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued an advisory to all private satellite TV channels, urging them to refrain from using the nomenclature 'Dalit' for people belonging to Scheduled Castes in compliance with a Bombay High Court directive. The Press Council of India (PCI), in its decision, that was made earlier but ratified during a meeting on Thursday, said it had an in-depth deliberation on the order of the Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench. "It (the Council) opined that it is advisable not to issue direction/orders prohibiting the use of the word 'Dalit' in all circumstances," the order said. PCI chairperson C K Prasad, while replying to a question on the issue of the use of the term 'Dalit' during a media interaction, noted that the Bombay High Court directed the I&B ministry to consider issuing such a directive. "The order of the Bombay High Court was forwarded to us. The Council discussed that and has taken a decision that to prohibit the use of the word 'Dalit' in all circumstances will not be advisable. Maybe in a given case the use of the term 'Dalit' may be necessary, and therefore we have said absolute prohibition is not feasible, it is not advisable," he said. The court directive in June had come on a petition filed before the Nagpur bench of the high court. In its advisory, the I&B advisory also cited a Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment circular of March 15, advising the central and state governments to use the term 'Scheduled Caste'. The use of the term 'Dalit' has to be judged on a case by case basis, Prasad said. "We cannot have general guidelines that in no circumstances, the expression 'Dalit' can be used," he added. During the interaction on the eve of National Press Day, the PCI chief also talked about the paid phenomenon and asserted that the council takes complaints related to it seriously. However, he said, the benefit of the doubt always goes to the media. On a question about fake and paid gaining ground with elections approaching, Prasad said the Election Commission of India has written to them and has formed a committee in which PCI members have been included. On National Press Day Friday, veteran journalist and Hindu publishing group chairman N Ram will be presented with the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award for his outstanding contribution towards journalism. Awards in other categories will also be presented. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will inaugurate the celebrations in New Delhi on Friday. Delegates from neighbouring Press Councils of SAARC countries -- Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives will be present on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Luxury Experiential Journey to Chase the Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis Aurora Borealis, or popularly known as the Northern Lights, is a BlingBird Style signature holiday adventure that explores the country that truly knows how to celebrate winter. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/766899/Blingbird_Logo.jpg ) It takes the knowledge, research, local connections along with the taste & creativity that only the BlingBird 'wow factor' can offer to bring an exclusive holiday experience to discerning travelers. The guest list is limited to 10-12 members per journey, thereby privacy and personalized service is truly felt and expected. "Norway is the journey that has a mix of it all," states Puja Bansal, one of the founders of BlingBird. The alluring backdrop of snow frosted adventures, delectable Norwegian culinary experiences, rare marine interactions, road trips through the exotic Arctic landscape, and the iconic Hurtigurten cruise, along with an exclusive snow hotel experience is unforgettable. Add to that a king crab fishing expedition, private sail on a whale safari, and a midnight hunt to track the northern lights and one has just some of the signature itinerary experiences. "The BlingBird Norway Adventure has been designed by us in conjunction with our local expert tour directors, and promises to be an exclusive luxury experience that is impossible to match," says Vinita Gupta, one of the founders of the company. The journey is offered in three different styles of luxury - Noble, Elite, and Paragon. All set for departures in the month of February and March. The timing of the trip has been carefully selected for the best viewing of the northern lights, along with just the right amount of magic Arctic sunlight to enjoy every part of the Norway adventure. The navigated road trip on last day of the journey is a thrilling way to experience the fjords of Norway. Blingbird turns every journey into an experience that creates connections, adds joy to the travelers life, and changes their view of the world. On a BlingBird journey, one belongs. About Blingbird: Blingbird facilitates and proposes an exclusive set of experiential journeys in a year, to world's best and unique destinations. These journeys are offered and designed for today's premium travellers who are done with the ordinary and are hungry for more. In an unconventional style and away from the regular approach of travels offered in the market, Blingbird's experiential travel sets a whole new standard to experiencing a destination in total comfort and luxury. For more information, visit: https://www.blingbird.co/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/blingbird_luxurytravel/ Facebook- https://m.facebook.com/blingbird. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The expectations of people from leaders of Kisan Andolan have gone up manyfold Kejriwals third guarantee, every woman will get Rs 1,000 every month A new book unravels historical facts about how Radio Kashmir has over the past seven decades countered incessant malicious propaganda by various underground and FM stations that operate round-the-clock from across the border. Replete with rare pictures, transcripts and documents from the archives of Jammu and Kashmir, Radio Kashmir: In Times of Peace & War reveals how Radio Pakistan and its notorious Radio Trarkhal beamed vicious misinformation against India to create unrest in the minds of people of Kashmir while trifling with their sentiments and identity. It also says how under Operation Topac', the ISI launched more radio stations, mostly along the Indo-Pak border to bombard airwaves with hostile ranting. In addition to Jammu and Kashmir, Radio Pakistan had a meticulously planned coverage to target certain communities living in Indian cities, including New Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Bikaner, Ambala, Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Farrukhabad, and parts of Nepal, rousing anti-India feelings, the book says. And how Radio Pakistan and Azad Kashmir Radio acted as a bridge in establishing communication channels between the infiltrators and their masters. These messages, colloquially called Taranas, were most often in Gojri, Pahari, Urdu and Punjabi, spoken on either side of LoC and even in the Punjab province of Pakistan, according to the book. Brough out by Stellar Publishers, this book emanates from research, based on a doctoral study by author Rajesh Bhat (posted in the Policy Division of Directorate General, All India Radio), in terms of the pivotal function performed by a public service broadcaster like Radio Kashmir during the times of both peace and war since 1947. The book goes on to describe how Radio Kashmir performed an immensely significant role in safeguarding the strategic interests of both the government and the masses by addressing the core issues concerning the welfare and security of a nation. And also how industriously it has attempted to weave a cohesive social and cultural fabric in Jammu and Kashmir in the face of turmoil, unrest and proxy war being waged by seditious elements. Set up on December 1, 1947, with a makeshift studio in Sri Ranbir High School in Jammu, to countermand the specious rumours and fabricated information being disseminated to the refugees pouring in post-Partition, Maharaja Hari Singh inaugurated the station with his maiden broadcast to allay the fears of the people in the turbulent Valley. To fight on another fraught front, the state government set up another unit of Radio Kashmir at Srinagar on July 1, 1948, with the prime aim to speak to the people in their own language, and also maintain harmony and brotherhood through the broadcasts, while effectively and skilfully countering the Pakistan propaganda. The two wings of Radio Kashmir at Jammu and Srinagar, which initially started functioning under the J&K Information Department, continued to be under the control of the state government till April 1954 with this unique name, although they were relaying general programmes and from AIR, which was already functioning in the pre-Independence era. The name Radio Kashmir was purposefully chosen to give an impression that the station was indigenously manned and operated by the people of the state and whatever they felt was being voiced through broadcast in its exact format and version, the book says. This was deliberate since Pakistani media was operating its programmes through some underground and notorious stations. On the contrary, Radio Kashmir was operating under State Secretary, I&B, JN Zutshi, who was also designated as Director General. Thereafter, strategic broadcasts were planned and Radio Kashmir earned the unique distinction of serving people and the nation, in this conflict-ridden region, promoting and strengthening cultural and democratic institutions in the state, as also promoting people to people' contact between the citizens of the two countries through drama and music broadcast over Radio Kashmir in Urdu, Punjabi and Gojri languages. The author also draws attention towards the neglect of radio, especially during proxy war launched by Pakistan in 1989, when its propaganda machinery was at its peak in spreading anti-India canards in Kashmir. And hence, he pitches for the imperative need to have a concrete media contingency plan; a mechanism to plug the loopholes to restore the pristine glory of radio in Jammu and Kashmir amid numerous attacks on media men and media organisations in the state. Further on, this volume dwells upon certain tactical measures and techniques that could possibly mitigate that gnawing friction through this medium, and facilitate a more constructive and creative communication in bringing these two nations closer, more so, as India and Pakistan share a cultural lineage. As radio is a repository of rich cultural ethos with a mass base, it could and should ably lend a hand in border areas and tough terrains, to redefine the future relationship of India and Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A junior minister quit Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Thursday over the proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement, saying it failed to leave Britain as a sovereign nation. Shailesh Vara, a Northern Ireland minister, became the first member of the government to quit over the deal as May began trying to sell the draft accord to parliament. The agreement "leaves the UK in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation", he wrote in his resignation statement, which he published on his Twitter account. Vara backed Britain staying in the European Union in the 2016 referendum in which 52 per cent of Britons opted to leave the bloc. He said the vote had to be delivered upon. "With respect, prime minister, this agreement does not provide for the United Kingdom being a sovereign, independent country leaving the shackles of the EU, however it is worded," he wrote. "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. "We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better." Born in Uganda, Vara, 58, is a former vice-chairman of May's centre-right governing Conservative Party who has been a member of parliament since 2005. May won her cabinet's approval for the agreement during a five-hour meeting on Wednesday, an important step that helped allay growing fears of a disorderly divorce. However, she faces a mutiny in her own party, which does not command a majority in parliament's lower House of Commons. She will set out the terms of the agreement to the chamber, which must approve the deal before Brexit day on March 29. European Council President Donald Tusk meanwhile called a leaders' summit later this month to seal the deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Traders' body CAIT Thursday urged the government to launch an marketplace portal in partnership with trade associations where small traders, artisans and women entrepreneurs can sell their products in a 'fair and transparent manner'. The Confederation of All Traders (CAIT) said it has also sent a letter to Union Commerce Minister Thursday alleging "that the business in is highly vitiated and has been gripped by a few big companies who are indulging into predatory pricing, deep discounting and loss funding" against the FDI guidelines of the government. The commerce and industry ministry notifies FDI policies through press notes. Press Note 3, which was released in 2016, enlists guidelines for foreign direct investment in sector. "The government in association with trade associations should launch an e-commerce marketplace portal where small traders, artisans, women entrepreneur and others can sell their products in a fair & transparent manner," CAIT said to Prabhu. In the letter to Prabhu, the traders' body also demanded early announcement of an and formation of a Regulatory Authority to monitor the e-commerce business in Electioneering has gained momentum in Mizoram for the upcoming assembly polls with candidates trying to woo voters under the supervision of a church-backed election watchdog. Elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly will be held on November 28. Mizoram is the only northeastern state where the is in power and the is keen on making inroads in the Christian-dominated state. Mizoram Pradesh Committee (MPCC) leader Lalhruaitluanga Kawlni said that public meetings and door-to-door canvassing were being organised in villages under the close supervision of the local forums of the Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), the church-sponsored election watchdog. The standard mode of campaigning in the assembly elections in 2008 and 2013 was a common platform with all candidates of a constituency sharing a stage. However, this time, the MPF has relaxed the guideline and skipped the common platform. After consulting representatives of political parties, the MPF has agreed to door-to-door campaigning by the candidates, an MPF leader said. ALSO READ: Mizoram CM Lal Thanhawla declares moveable assets worth over Rs 10 mn But the candidates have to be accompanied by MPF leaders of the local units during their house-to-house campaigning to ensure that they do not use money power, the MPCC leader said. The MPF leaders were also chairing public meetings addressed by the contestants, the MPCC leader said. "Election observers, especially personnel of the surveillance team, are also maintaining a strict vigil and checking vehicles," he said. The display of flags of political parties and posters have also been minimised under the supervision of the flying squads and the MPF. Bio-data of the candidates and their appeals to voters were collected by the MPF leaders and distributed to the members of each household besides publishing them in the house journals of the churches, he said. Lallenmawia Jongte, the secretary of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), said that the front did not organise public meetings, except in some villages. "We convened party block conferences and unit meetings where candidates and star campaigners or party leaders delivered speeches to persuade the voters to vote in their favour," Jongte said. Door-to-door campaigns were being conducted in all the villages under the supervision of the MPF and the election watchdog was extremely particular about organising dinners, he said. Community feasts have been prohibited by the MPF and any political party organising such feasts as part of their campaign was being condemned publicly, he said. Election campaign offices have been opened in all the villages and more than one campaign office have been set up in larger villages and towns. Supporters of contestants were found visiting relatives in other villages for canvassing support for the nominees. Campaigning has also come of age in the state with the use of social media like Facebook and Whatsapp. With television and radio still being used by candidates and campaigners, social media is also being extensively used to woo younger voters. On the major poll issues, the ruling was banking on its flagship programme - the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) - which brought the party to power for two consecutive terms. The Congress also floated a new policy called New Economic Development Program (NEDP) as a convergence of the NLUP under which around Rs 100,000 each was disbursed to each beneficiary family. The opposition MNF promised assistance to the tune of Rs 300,000 to each family under the Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) and to close down liquor shops and impose prohibition again as wished by the powerful church. The MNF is banking on a non-Congress government at the Centre for funding its development projects. Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), the newly floated conglomerate of two political parties and five groups, which is contesting in 36 seats as a group of independents, promised crop insurance, purchase of the produces of the farmers and remunerative prices by earmarking fund in the annual budgets. ZPM leaders said that marginal farmers would be helped to better themselves with what they described as a "hand-holding policy". The main plank of People's Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) was combatting corruption and creation of jobs by way of opening venues for entrepreneurs. The in Mizoram, contesting in 39 seats, is riding on the development works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the National People's Party (NPP) is depending on its tribal and Christian centric image for the people of the northeast region. US Catholic bishops made clear their frustrations Wednesday as a national assembly focused on clergy sex-abuse neared its conclusion without strong new steps to combat the multifaceted crisis. Avoiding any direct confrontation with the Vatican, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops ended the public sessions of its three-day meeting without any vote on two major anti-abuse proposals that had been drafted weeks ago. On the eve of this week's meeting, the Vatican issued a surprise order for such action to be delayed until after a global meeting on sex abuse scheduled for February. "The decision of the Holy See to constrain us did allow a limited response," Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington, Vermont said. "All of us are disappointed that we weren't able to do as much as we wanted." The US Catholic church has been grappling with sex-abuse scandals for many years, but events this year have taken a heavy toll on the leadership's credibility. In August, a grand jury report in Pennsylvania detailed decades of abuse and cover-up in six dioceses, alleging more than 1,000 children had been abused over the years by about 300 priests. Since then, federal prosecutors and attorneys general in several other states have launched investigations. Bishops at this week's meeting appeared to be most angered and embarrassed by the scandal involving disgraced church leader Theodore McCarrick, who allegedly abused and harassed youths and seminarians over many years as he rose to be archbishop of Washington and a member of the College of Cardinals until his removal by Pope Francis in July. Several investigations, including one at the Vatican, are underway to determine who might have known about and covered up McCarrick's alleged misconduct. The US bishops expressed eagerness to learn details of the Vatican probe but defeated a motion Wednesday pressing for access to information uncovered in that process. "We have taken no official action to distance ourselves form the shameful behavior of one of our own," said Bishop Liam Cary, of Baker, Oregon. "What do people make of our silence?" Bishop Michael Olson, of Fort Worth, Texas, noted with regret that McCarrick has not been defrocked and would have been eligible to participate in this week's assembly. "He is not welcome," Olson said. "We should say that for his sake, and out of respect for those he has harmed." For much of Wednesday's session, the bishops discussed the two anti-abuse proposals that initially had been scheduled for votes. One would establish a new code of conduct for individual bishops; the other would create a nine-member special commission, including six lay experts and three members of the clergy, to review complaints against the bishops. Leaders of the conference said the Vatican intervened to ensure that steps taken by the US bishops would be in harmony with those decided at a Vatican-convened global meeting on sex abuse in February. They also said more time was needed to vet aspects of the US proposals that might conflict with church law. The head of the bishops' conference, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese, said a newly formed sex-abuse task force would work on fine-tuning those and other proposals ahead of the global meeting in Rome in February. One proposed step will be a national mechanism for publishing the names of clergy who face substantiated claims of abuse. "I opened this meeting expressing some disappointment I end the meeting with hope," DiNardo said. "We leave this place committed to take the strongest possible action at the earliest possible moment." In other action, the bishops approved a pastoral letter condemning racism, the first time they have spoken as a group on that issue since 1979. "Every racist act every such comment, every joke, every disparaging look as a reaction to the colour of skin, ethnicity or place of origin is a failure to acknowledge another person as a brother or sister, created in the image of God," the document said. It also denounced racial profiling of Hispanics and African-Americans and decried "the growing fear and harassment" of people from Muslim countries. According to Catholic Service, the committee responsible for the pastoral letter rejected a proposed amendment that would have included the Confederate flag as a symbol of hate, along with nooses and swastikas. The bishops also voted to endorse a campaign seeking sainthood for Sister Thea Bowman, a Mississippi-born descendant of slaves who became the first black member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and in 1989 the first black woman to address a national meeting of the bishops' conference. Among the bishops elected to USCCB posts was Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, who will head the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. Cordileone, an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, suggested Tuesday that the bishops commission a new study on whether there's a link between clergy sex abuse and the presence of gays in the priesthood. A church-commissioned study in 2004 determined there was not a link. Not far from the assembly venue, a Minnesota attorney who handles sex abuse cases nationwide and three men who say they were abused by clergy during their boyhoods gathered to announce a lawsuit against the bishops conference, accusing it of hiding the crimes of predator priests. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan lawmakers on Thursday exchanged blows and threw objects at each other, leaving at least one of them bleeding, as MPs loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena surrounded the Speaker in his chair after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who lost a floor test, demanded fresh elections to resolve the raging political turmoil. Trouble erupted when Speaker Karu Jayasuriya agreed to a request from ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) that a vote be taken on a statement made by Rajapaksa demanding fresh polls. Jayasuriya had allowed Rajapaksa to make a statement as a member of parliament after stating that he does not recognise the claim of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader who lost a no-confidence motion on Wednesday. "I was the president and premier, so this prime minister's post is not important," Rajapaksa said. "I urge all 225 members to join me in calling for a fresh election. We want a general election," he said, adding that a fresh election was the best way to resolve the crisis. UNP legislator Lakshman Kiriella urged Jayasuriya to take a vote by name, showing the loss of confidence over Rajapaksa's remarks. Jayasuriya asked the House if it agreed and with resounding voices of 'Aye' he proceeded to take the vote. He was immediately surrounded by MPs - loyal to Sirisena and Rajapaksa - who were protesting against Jayasuriya's decision to take the vote. "I am the Speaker and I decide," Jayasuriya told the angry lawmakers as UNP MPs formed a ring around the Speaker's chair to shield Jayasuriya. "They are trying to assault the Speaker," UNP legislator Harsha de Silva tweeted from the House. Objects were thrown at the Speaker's chair and at least one MP was seen leaving the chamber bleeding, an official said. A group of lawmakers attacked the Speaker, threw a waste paper basket at him while breaking his microphone and also hurled a book at him during the session, the online edition of the Sunday Times reported. The paper said MP Dilum Amunugama was hospitalised following a hand injury that he sustained when he broke Speaker's microphone. MPs Prasanna Ranaweera and Navin Dissanayake were reported to be among those who engaged in fisticuffs, the paper said. The commotion continued for about half an hour before Jayasuriya adjourned the House. Citing the Speaker's Office, it said the Speaker has decided to reconvene Parliament on Friday following a party leaders meeting. According to reports, the Speaker has requested for STF security around Parliament following the tense situation that arose at Thursday's session in Parliament. "We are the lawful government and we will sit in the government benches today," Ajith P Perera, a senior UNP legislator said earlier. The UNP had sat on the opposition benches during the no-trust vote. Rajapaksa's side has disputed the no-trust motion, saying proper procedure was not followed and accused Jayasuriya of bias towards his own party. Since the Speaker had ruled that Rajapaksa had no majority, Wickremesinghe remains the lawful premier, the UNP claimed. The UNP said they would boycott a meeting called by Sirisena with political parties which backed the motion against Rajapaksa on Wednesday. This was after a strongly-worded letter from Sirisena to Jayasuriya last night. Meanwhile, President Sirisena informed Speaker Jayasuriya that he has rejected the no-confidence motion and that Rajapaksa is still the premier. Sirisena, in response to an official communique by Jayasuriya on the vote in parliament, told the Speaker that a prime minister does not necessarily require a parliamentary majority, that Jayasuriya had violated parliamentary procedures and standing orders of parliament in conducting the no-trust motion against Rajapaksa, and that he as president was the sole authority in appointing a prime minister. Parliament on Wednesday passed the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa who was installed as premier by Sirisena in a controversial move, after the Supreme Court overturned the presidential decree to dissolve the House and hold snap polls on January 5. Amid raucous scenes, Parliament on Wednesday met for the first time since October 26, when Sirisena sacked premier Wickremesinghe, installed Rajapaksa in his place and suspended the House, plunging the island nation into an unprecedented Constitutional crisis. The vote of no confidence against Rajapaksa has further complicated the political crisis. It is not yet clear whether Rajapaksa will resign or whether the ousted Wickremesinghe, who has the support of 122 lawmakers, will return to power. The passing of the no-confidence motion comes as a major blow to Sirisena and is seen as a victory for Wickremesinghe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The security and wellbeing of the US are at a greater risk than at any time in decades, a report has said, acknowledging that China presents a "daunting" challenge to US' supremacy as Beijing coerces American allies like India and Japan to exert its "illegitimate" influence. A congressionally mandated panel tasked with examining and making recommendations with respect to the National Defense Strategy Commission (NDSC) said the rivals and adversaries are challenging the US on many fronts and in many domains. Observing that America's ability to defend its allies, its partners, and its own vital interests is increasingly in doubt, the report said that if the US does not act promptly to remedy these circumstances, the consequences will be grave and lasting. "The security and wellbeing of the United States are at greater risk than at any time in decades. America's military superiority the hard-power backbone of its global influence and national security has eroded to a dangerous degree," the NDSC said. Established by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the US is a panel of bipartisan national security experts appointed by Congress to make recommendations for the nation's defence strategy at the outset of an administration. The 12-member Commission, tasked with reviewing the current national defense strategy of the United States, including the assumptions, missions, force posture, force structure, and risks associated with the strategy, concluded that powerful authoritarian rivals China and Russia see the US leadership as a barrier to their ambitions. "These countries seek to overturn existing regional balances of power and re-create spheres of influence in which they can dominate their neighbours' economic, diplomatic and security choices. They are also seeking to project power and exert influence beyond their peripheries," it said. "The challenge China presents is particularly daunting," the report said. It is natural for China to exert greater influence as its power grows, and the rise of China would present challenges for America and the world even if Beijing pursued its interests through entirely legitimate means, it said. "Unfortunately, China is increasingly exerting influence in illegitimate and destabilising ways. China is using military, paramilitary, and diplomatic measures to coerce US allies and partners from Japan to India; contest international law and freedom of navigation in crucial waterways such as the South China Sea; undermine the US position in East and Southeast Asia; and otherwise seek a position of geopolitical dominance," the report said. It alleged that China was using predatory economic statecraft to weaken its rivals, including the US, and give it decisive strategic leverage over its neighbours. Meanwhile, China is reaping the fruits of a multi-decade military buildup. Beijing has invested in systems designed to counter American power-projection and thereby prevent the US from protecting its allies, partners, and economic interests. "China is also modernising its nuclear forces, developing sophisticated power-projection capabilities, and undertaking the most thoroughgoing military reforms since the founding of the People's Republic," the report said. "China already presents a severe test of US interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond and is on a path to become, by mid-century, a military challenger the likes of which America has not encountered since the Cold War-era Soviet Union," reported the NDSC. Russia, too, is pursuing regional hegemony and global influence in destabilising ways, the report said. Russia is seeking to create situations of military strength vis-a-vis America and its allies, and despite its limited resource base, it is having considerable success, said the report. The Commission warned that the US risks facing military defeat at the hands of China and Russia in the case of a war. US competitors and adversaries - particularly Russia and China are increasingly contesting American control of the maritime, space and cyber commons and improving their ability to strike the US homeland, it said. "If the United States had to fight Russia in a Baltic contingency or China in a war over Taiwan, Americans could face a decisive military defeat," it said. These two nations possess precision-strike capabilities, integrated air defenses, cruise and ballistic missiles, advanced cyberwarfare and anti-satellite capabilities, significant air and naval forces, and nuclear weapons a suite of advanced capabilities heretofore possessed only by the United States. According to the commission, the US military would face daunting challenges in establishing air superiority or sea control and retaking territory lost early in a conflict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has protested to South Korea over one of its universities clubbing the booth of Tibet with India at an international festival. The booth also displayed a flag which is a pro-independence symbol adopted by the "Tibetan government in exile" together with India's national flag, state-run Global Times reported. During the International Students' Festival of Korea University in Seoul on Wednesday, the school put China's southwest Tibet Autonomous Region and India in one booth, the report said. This has outraged Chinese students and netizens, the report said. Chinese students protested and asked the South Korean university to apologise. The Chinese embassy in South Korea also lodged a representation to Korea University and the South Korean government, it said. Tibet, the remote and mainly-Buddhist territory in China's southwest, is governed as an autonomous region of China. Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet and opposes any foreign interference in the remote Himalayan region's affairs. Korea University's International Students' Festival is an annual event to promote international students' cultures and bring together locals. Students arrange the booths to display cultural aspects of their home countries, the university said. An employee from the communications team of Korea University told the Global Times on Thursday that "Tibet and India were assigned to the same booth because the booths were assigned by region not by nation or political status". The employee said the university assigned booths according to the number of students from different countries and regions. Because there are not enough students from the Tibet Autonomous Region and India for each to have one booth, they grouped them together by region and distance, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bishop in eastern China belonging to the Vatican-aligned unofficial church has gone missing, sources told AFP on Thursday, despite a historic accord reached between Beijing and the Holy See barely two months ago. The September deal paved the way for a rapprochement between the Vatican and the Communist country. The pair broke off diplomatic ties in 1951. There are an estimated 10 million Catholics in China, divided between a government-run association whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party and the unofficial church which swears allegiance to the Vatican. But regardless of the warming ties, those who work closely with the unofficial church say a clampdown by local authorities is ongoing. They fear the repeated disappearance of Bishop Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou diocese in Zhejiang province is one sign of increasing governmental control on religious worship. Shao has not been reachable for at least a week, said a Chinese priest who previously worked in an underground church in China and returned to Rome last year. It is at least the fourth time Shao has gone missing this year. Such detentions -- usually lasting between 10 and 15 days -- often happen to clergy of the underground church, the Rome-based Chinese priest told AFP, though many within the Catholic fraternity had expected an end to this after September's deal. "I know Bishop Shao Zhumin personally but I haven't been able to contact him recently," Anthony Lam, a Chinese Catholic church expert at Hong Kong's Holy Spirit Study Centre, told AFP. Pope Francis recognised seven clergy appointed by China as part of the deal, which was signed after the recent clampdown on religion in China. Churches have been destroyed in some regions, crosses have been removed from church steeples, church-run kindergartens have been closed and authorities have clamped down on Bible sales. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alleging that genuine Muslim ticket aspirants have been ignored, senior Telangana Congress leader Abid Rasool Khan on Thursday threatened to quit the party if the minority community does not get "social justice". A former chairman of the state Minorities Commission, Khan said the Congress should give tickets to Muslims in one constituency each in the 10 old districts of the state where the party have chances to win. "Can they not do that much?" the state Congress vice-president asked in a poser to the party's central leadership. The Congress has so far announced candidates in 75 constituencies, which include four Muslims, for the December 7 polls to the 119-member state Assembly. The party has forged an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) to take on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Under the seat-sharing formula announced by the Congress, the TDP would contest in 14 constituencies, TJS in eight and the CPI in three. The Congress would field nominees in 94 segments. Khan said of the four Muslim candidates announced by the Congress, two have joined the party only recently and one was not even a member of the outfit. "We (Muslim leaders of Telangana) are very upset. Our president, Rahul Gandhi, has time and again said he will take care of genuine workers, and he will not allow paratroopers to enter the party and take out the cake. Things are totally happening on the other side (to the contrary)," he told PTI. Muslims constitute 30-35 per cent of the population in some of the district headquarters like Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Khammam, Khan said, adding that leaders of the Reddy community had established themselves there and "don't want to leave the seats at any cost, because Muslim votes come easily to them". The Congress leadership, he insisted, has to shift the Reddy community members from these towns and give tickets to Muslims. "They (Reddy community members) can win from anywhere, as they are strong financially, but Muslims cannot win from other seats." Khan added that if the Congress leadership was "so helpless", they should give a commitment that all nominated MLC (member of legislative council) seats would be given to Muslims and Christians. "You don't want to give us nominated positions, don't want to give us political opportunities, you just want our votes. What is the difference between our party and the BJP? "It is a party which says it is secular, but acts in a communal manner. They are saying they are secular, but they are acting in a communal manner. Really, we cannot differentiate," he said. "If Rahul Gandhi really wants to win Telangana for Congress, he should sit down and set right this anomaly immediately," he said, warning that the party would be in a bad situation in all the districts if the Congress chief do not act. "If things are not set right, as far as I am concerned, I am going to resign", Khan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the convicts in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case was Thursday assaulted by BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa in Patiala House Courts moments after a court reserved its order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to two persons for killing two men. The convicts were being taken by policemen to the lock up inside the premises where Tihar or other jail inmates are kept when they are brought for court hearings. Sirsa and his supporters, who claimed to have come in the solidarity with the victims of the riots and their families, had gathered around the courtroom and while both the convicts -- Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh -- were taken out after the court hearing, the BJP leader barged into the police ring around the duo and slapped Yashpal. The police personnel were quick to separate the convicts from Sirsa and his supporters. However, both the sides hurled abuses at each other. Thereafter, more police personnel were called in and the convicts were taken to the lock up in their presence. Senior advocate H S Phoolka, who appeared for the victims, condemned the incident, saying "these kinds of incidents are likely to adversely affect the case of the victim. Everyone should control their emotions and maintain peace within the court premises". Both the convicts were taken into the custody on Wednesday after the Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey held them guilty of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of South Delhi during the riots. The court Thursday heard the arguments on the quantum of the punishment for both the convicts and reserved its order for November 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP's city unit will write to the Home Ministry seeking an investigation into the recent visit of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Dubai, the party said in a statement Thursday. The BJP had earlier alleged that Kejriwal travelled to Dubai with a "hidden agenda". The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had, however, dismissed the charge as "outlandish". Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana Thursday said, "I will soon write a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh for an investigation into Kejriwal's Dubai visit." Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari questioned Kejriwal's silence on his Dubai trip. "Why the chief minister, who tweets to make public information about his visit to cinema in Delhi, about his illness and treatment in Bangalore, is not answering the questions on this tour?" Tiwari said in a statement. AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha had earlier said Kejriwal had gone "abroad" to attend a family function of his IIT batchmate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An additional district judge, who was booked in a disproportionate assets case by Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau, was Thursday arrested and sent to judicial remand. XIV Additional District Judge Vaidya Vara Prasad of Ranga Reddy district court was produced before an ACB Judge and remanded to judicial custody till November 28. He has been shifted to the Central Prison, Chanchalguda here, a top ACB official told PTI. The High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had received a complaint petition against the judge that he allegedly amassed huge assets and after due preliminary verification ordered the anti-corruption bureau to proceed against him. Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the judge for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to the known sources of income. As part of the investigation, ACB officials Wednesday conducted searches at the residence of the judge and also at the houses of his relatives and associates at six other places in Hyderabad, three places in Siricilla district of Telangana and two in Maharashtra. During the searches at the residence of the judge and his relatives and associates, several documents related to assets with a market value of about Rs 3 crore, huge expenditure and bank deposits were unearthed, ACB officials said. ACB officials said the raids also showed that the judge along with his family members had made several foreign tours, incurring huge expenditure. So far, during the searches documents related to three flats, bank balances and fixed deposits in various banks (worth Rs 38.16 lakh), two cars, household articles, and a two-wheeler had been unearthed, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Doctors have cited "severe malnutrition" as the reason behind the deaths of three minor girls in Mandawali in July this year, police sources said on Thursday. The family, hailing from West Bengal, was reportedly facing financial woes, and the doctors suspected that the three girls did not have food for days. The girls, aged eight, four and two years, were brought to a hospital by their mother and their father's friend where they were declared brought dead. The father of the three girls has been missing since the incident, and police are on the lookout for him. The Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, had submitted the viscera report to the Delhi Police which stated that "no external toxins" were found in the girls' bodies, thus ruling out any foul play in their deaths, the sources said. The FSL had also examined some medicines used to treat skin infection and some food items that were collected from the house where the girls were staying, but there were no toxins found in the collected items, they added. "The forensic report said no external toxins were found in the viscera of the three girls. Some undigested food was examined, and it did not have any external toxins. The report was sent to the GTB Hospital for a final opinion," said an official privy to the development. The GTB Hospital, in its final opinion, cited "severe malnutrition" as the cause of death. Police said they are looking for the father of the girls and despite their efforts, which included sending teams to his native village in West Bengal and neighbouring areas of Delhi ,there was no clue about his whereabouts. They said inquest proceedings are underway in the matter. A Delhi government magisterial probe report in July had sought "deeper investigation" into the conduct of the father of three girls, and had said he had given them some "unknown medicine". The report had said that the father, Mangal Singh, gave some "unknown medicine" to his daughters by "mixing it in hot water" during the night of July 23, and he has not returned since the morning of July 24. The conduct of the man "raises an element of doubt in the matter and requires further investigation", it had said. The report had also said that the "nutritional condition of the deceased children was not quite well" although they were getting "some food items regularly". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A suspected drug supplier carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 has been arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police, a senior police official said Thursday. The arrested person, identified as Ashfaq Khan, has been evading arrest since February, he said. The special cell has busted several drug cartels this year and seized huge consignments of heroin. Earlier this year, police had arrested three persons -- Ram Nath, Virender Pal Singh and Parvej Khan -- and seized five kg of heroin from their possession, the official said. A case was registered and during interrogation, the three arrested persons disclosed that they had brought heroin from West Bengal on the instance of Ashfaq, a native of Bareilly, he said. Based on a tip-off, a police team was deployed in Bareilly's Behra village on November 13 and Ashfaq was held. In Behra village, growing opium for medicinal purposes was legal, but after a ban was imposed on cultivation of opium in Badaun and Bareilly districts, Ashfaq started procuring heroin from drug dealers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the official said. He also procured heroin from Naxal-affected areas in Jharkhand and West Bengal, the official said, adding that he used to supply the same to drug dealers in UP, Delhi and NCR. Ashfaq used to receive big consignments of heroin from suppliers in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, he said. The accused was earlier arrested by Delhi Police's Crime Branch in 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 58-year-old woman died after being attacked by simians when she had gone out of her house to relieve herself at Thok Mohalla here, two days after an infant was killed by a monkey in the city. Bhoomi Devi was attacked Wednesday evening and was found with severe injuries. She was taken to a hospital where she died during treatment, police said. On Monday, a 12-day-old baby died after a monkey snatched him from his mother and left him bruised and bitten on the terrace of a neighbour's house in Kachhera Mohalla here. Devi's family members said, "She had lost so much blood that doctors could do nothing to save her." Following the elderly woman's death, locals took out marches and held a meeting Wednesday night, demanding monkeys be excluded from the list of protected species under the Wild Life Act of 1972. Currently, there are over 25,000 monkeys in the city, according to municipal corporation officials. During the meeting, which was attended by environmentalists and social activists, Satyamev Jayate, trustee, Mukesh Jain, said, "For over a decade we have been demanding permission to transfer monkeys to forested areas and also setting up of a facility to sterilise monkeys, but so far we have failed to get permission from government agencies." Social activist Shravan Kumar Singh said, "Each day the number of (incidents of) monkey bites is going up and citizens are dead scared to move out freely, roam on terraces.""Monkey attacks have become so frequent that women and children are reluctant to move around freely," he said. They also passed a resolution at the meeting, demanding adequate compensation to victims of monkey attacks. "It is the duty of the government to protect its citizens. If it cannot do that then compensation should be paid to the victim or his family," according to the resolution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exim Bank has provided a line of credit (LoC) of USD 30.8 million to South American country Suriname for improving transmission network and maintenance of copters, the RBI said Thursday. Besides, Exim Bank will give USD 2.5 million LoC to Madagascar for the financing of a fertiliser plant project. Of the total assistance to Suriname, USD 27.5 million has been provided for financing up-gradation of transmission network infrastructure. "Out of the total credit by Exim Bank under this agreement, goods and services of the value of at least 75 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India and the remaining 25 per cent of goods and services may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India," the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said. The USD 3.5 million LoC is for the purpose of financing the servicing and maintenance of three Chetak helicopters in Suriname, it said. Two separate agreements were entered between the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) in June this year for the LoC to Suriname. The agreement under the LoC is effective from October 23, 2018. Under the LoC, the terminal utilisation period is 60 months after the scheduled completion date of the project. The agreement with Madagascar was signed in May 2017 and which is effective from October 16, 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's exports rose by 17.86 per cent to USD 26.98 billion in October compared to the year-ago month, according to the commerce ministry data. Imports during the month also rose by 17.62 per cent to USD 44.11 billion, leading to widening of trade deficit to USD 17.13 billion. The deficit widened despite a steep decline of 42.9 per cent in gold imports to USD 1.68 billion during the month under review. The trade gap was USD 14.61 billion in October 2017. During the April-October period of the current fiscal, exports grew by 13.27 per cent to USD 191 billion. Imports were up by 16.37 per cent to USD 302.47 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 111.46 billion during the first seven months of the current fiscal. It was USD 91.28 billion in April-October 2017-18. Oil imports in October increased by 52.64 per cent to USD 14.21 billion. The non-oil imports rose by 6 per cent to USD 29.9 billion in the month. In September, exports had contracted by 2.15 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fashion designer and her domestic help were allegedly killed by her tailor and his two accomplices in her home in south Delhi's upmarket Vasant Kunj Enclave locality following a dispute over unpaid dues, police said Thursday. The bodies of 53-year-old Maya Lakhani, who ran a boutique called Tulsi Creations in Green Park, and her house help, 50-year-old Bahadur, a Nepalese national, were found with multiple stab wounds in the bungalow early Thursday. The accused looted jewellery and ransacked the house after killing the two, police said, estimating that the incident took place between 10 pm and 11.30 pm on Wednesday. Rahul Anwar (24), the master tailor who worked with Lakhani, his cousin Rahmat (24) and his friend Wasim (25) have been arrested in connection with the killings, a senior police officer said. Around 2.45 am, the three men went to the Vasant Kunj (south) police station and said they have killed two people in Vasant Kunj Enclave, following which officials rushed to the spot to verify the details. They found the bodies in a pool of blood. A case has been registered and the three accused have been arrested, Devender Arya, deputy commissioner of police (southwest), said. Police said Lakhani had set up a tailoring workshop in her home. During interrogation, the three said they had hatched a conspiracy to kill her. Anwar claimed Lakhani had not paid him for a couple of months and would pay in piecemeal. He was annoyed and hatched a plan 10 days ago to kill her, a senior police officer said. Anwar had been working under Lakhani for close to three years, he said. After committing the crime, the accused said, they stole valuable items, including jewellery, from the house and left in Lakhani's car, according to the police officer. Police said the accused had four knives with them which they had purchased from a weekly Sunday Bazar in Vasant Kunj. After killing Lakhani and her domestic help, the accused went to a pond behind Rangpuri Pahari area in Vasant Kunj to discreetly dispose of the knives and their clothes that had blood stains. The accused thought police would trouble their families if they ran away. So, they decided to surrender, the senior officer said. Police said Lakhani was single and had been living in Vasant Kunj for several years. Her sister lives in Gurgaon and her brother in Goa. The crime scene has been preserved and the bodies have been sent for a post-mortem, police said, adding that further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Since the launch of Firefox Monitor, a free service that notifies you when your email has been part of a breach, hundreds of thousands of people have signed up. In response to the excitement from our global audience, Firefox Monitor is now being made available in more than 26 languages. We're excited to bring Firefox Monitor to users in their native languages and make it easier for people to learn about data breaches and take action to protect themselves. When your personal information is possibly at risk in a data breach, reading and information in the language you understand best helps you to feel more in control. Now, Firefox Monitor will be available in Albanian, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English (Canadian), French, Frisian, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Malay, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish (Argentina, Mexico, and Spain), Swedish, Turkish, Ukranian and Welch. We couldn't have accomplished this feat without our awesome Mozilla community of volunteers who worked together to make this happen. We're so grateful for their support in making Firefox Monitor available to more than 2.5 billion non-English speakers. Introducing Firefox Monitor Notifications Along with making Monitor available in multiple languages, today we're also releasing a new feature exclusively for Firefox users. Specifically, we are adding a notification to our Firefox Quantum browser that alerts desktop users when they visit a site that has had a recently reported data breach. We're bringing this functionality to Firefox users in recognition of the growing interest in these types of privacy- and security-centric features. This new functionality will gradually roll out to Firefox users over the coming weeks. While using the Firefox Quantum browser, when you land on a site that's been breached, you'll get a notification. You can click on the alert to visit Firefox Monitor and scan your email to see whether or not you were involved in that data breach. This alert will appear at most once per site and only for data breaches reported in the previous twelve months. Website owners can learn about our data breach disclosure policy here. If you do not wish to see these alerts on any site, you can simply choose to "never show Firefox Monitor alerts" by clicking the dropdown arrow on the notification. For those new to Firefox Monitor, here's a brief step-by-step guide on how Firefox Monitor works: Step 1 - Visit monitor.firefox.com to see if your email has been part of a known data breachSimply type in your email address, and it will be scanned against a database that serves as a library of known data breaches. Step 2 - Learn about future data breaches Sign up for Firefox Monitor using your email address and we will notify you about data breaches when we learn about them. Step 3 - Use Firefox to learn about the sites you visit that have been breached While using the Firefox browser, when you land on a site that's been breached, you'll get a notification to scan with Firefox Monitor whether or not you've been involved in that data breach. Being part of a data breach is not fun, and we have tips and remedies in our project, Data Leeks. Through recipes and personal stories of those who've been affected by a data breach, we're raising awareness about online privacy. We invite you to take a look at Firefox Monitor to see if you've been part of a data breach, and sign up to be prepared for the next data breach that happens. Photo - https://photos.prnasia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five acres of land belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir government and the state industrial development corporation (SIDCO) was retrieved Thursday during a major anti-encroachment drive in Samba district of the state, officials said. An anti-encroachment team retrieved the land near Ballol nallah in Birpur village of Bari-Brahmana which was under illegal occupants, Samba Deputy Commissioner Sushma Chauhan told PTI. She said the SIDCO was given the possession of its retrieved land on the spot. "The drive will continue in the coming days," she said. Additional Deputy Commissioner Arun Manhas, who led the drive, said the team demolished an illegally constructed wall, over two dozen temporary and permanent structures including ramps, tin sheds and hoardings during the eviction drive. "A strong resentment was forced by the land mafia but the district administration has overcome all hurdles and successfully retrieved the land," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five people were killed when their car collided with a bus on East Coast Road near Mamallapuram Thursday, the police said. The five, all in their early twenties, were proceeding to Chennai from Puducherry, they said. "The incident took place at around 2 am. The driver seems to have attempted to overtake a four-wheeler, but ended up colliding with a bus," police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has directed the Union Home Ministry to sanction pension for the widow of a freedom fighter and slammed it for a delay of over three decades in considering the woman's application. Justice R Suresh Kumar said the attitude on the part of officials responsible for keeping the application pending for more than three decades is to be deprecated. Had the application of the petitioner decided in 1973 and disposed of either way, the petitioner would have been in a position either to get the fruits of the freedom fighter family pension or would have protested over the issue in the matter known to law, the judge said. The matter relates to L Kathayee Ammal, the widow of freedom fighter Lakshmana Thevar, who has been made to wait for 30 years for the pension. Ammal's application has been kept pending by the central government and the court wants to register its displeasure against all those responsible, the judge said in his order. The petitioner's husband was an ex- Indian National Army personnel who joined the INA in Malaysia and was captured by the British. After the Second World War, the petitioner's husband applied to the Tamil Nadu and central governments seeking freedom fighters' pension, but before the application was considered, he died in 1969. Then, his wife applied for the pension the state considered the plea but the Centre kept her application pending since 1973 only to reject it in 2003, and it has since been pending. The judge, who quashed the rejection order, directed the Centre to sanction the freedom fighters family pension to the petitioner from the date of her application, that is, from September 25, 1973. The arrears of the payment shall be calculated and be paid to her with interest at 6 per cent per annum from the date of due to till date of payment and shall continue to pay it till her lifetime, the judge said. The judge imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Home Ministry for the lethargic attitude and directed that the dues shall be paid within a duration of two months from the date of the receipt of the copy of the order. Observing that in any democratic set-up the rulers in governance would make policy decisions for the welfare of the people, the judge said, "The policy-makers always depend on the administrative machinery that has to implement such policies." While implementing the policies, the judge said, those at the helm of affairs in administrative hierarchy should go in unison with the policy-makers only then every policy decision of the government would reach people for their betterment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A House Committee of the Odisha assembly will submit its reports on the alleged breach of privilege by Delhi-based journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra to Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat on Friday. Abhijit Iyer Mitra was arrested by Odisha police on October 23 on the basis of FIRs lodged against his alleged "derogatory, mischievous and objectionable comments" on art and culture of Odisha, Lord Jagannath, legislators and the Odia community as a whole. House Panel chairman Narasingha Mishra, also the leader of opposition in the Assembly said, "The committee will submit its report tomorrow on the first day of the winter session of the Assembly." Mishra said the House Committee was formed as per the speaker's directive. Earlier, Iyer Mitra deposed before the House Committee for the third time and submitted an affidavit over his alleged remarks against legislators. He had also tendered an unconditional apology for his derogatory remarks on the Konark Sun Temple and comments on MLAs. Amat had on September 20 constituted a panel to probe into the journalists alleged derogatory remarks against the State and its lawmakers. The police had registered case against Iyer Mitra at Sahid Nagar Police Station under Indian Penal Code sections 294 (annoying others), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 153A (promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 500 (defamation), 506 criminal intimidation and section 67 (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act in electronic form) of Information Technology Act over his derogatory remarks against Odisha and Konark Sun Temple. Another case was also made against him at Konark Police Station. In September Iyer Mitra had posted a video on his Twitter handle where he criticised Odisha, its people, Lord Jagannath, Konark temple and also Odisha lawmakers. Presently, he is lodged at the special jail here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa unit of the Shiv Sena Thursday said it would support any amendment to mining laws to facilitate the resumption of the sector in the state. The mining sector in Goa has come to a standstill after the Supreme Court, in an order in February this year, quashed 88 mining leases and banned the extraction of fresh ore from March. "Shiv Sena would be like to re-assure people that all its MPs in Parliament will firmly stand by any amendment to the existing mining laws, moved by the Central government, to ensure the industry resumes," its Goa vice-president, Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik, said in a statement released here. "The Sena has always been with the people who are affected by the closure of mining industry in the state," she said, adding that the ban has left at least three lakh people in the lurch. "We expect that the BJP will keep their word of moving an amendment during the upcoming Parliament session," Naik said. Naik recalled that during the last agitation of Goa Mining Peoples Front, an umbrella body of mining dependents, the Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut had assured to even stall Parliament on this issue, if required. "Our central leadership has assured that they will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the mining industry resumes (in Goa)," Naik added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig B D Mishra (Retd) and Chief Minister Pema Khandu Thursday extended their warm greetings to the media fraternity of the state on the eve of National Press Day. The National Press Day is celebrated every year in November 16. The governor expressed hope that the occasion will reinforce the commitment of the people towards freedom of press. In his message, Mishra termed media as the 'fourth pillar of the democracy' saying that the media keeps the readers aware and abreast with the happenings around them as also obligates transparency and accountability amongst the public figures and the people. "Today, the media is actively playing positive role in all walks of life. It is involved in every details of public affairs encompassing all aspects of human behaviour, be it legislative, administrative, judicial, social, law or order," he said. The governor in his message said "the media, in our country has achieved very high standard of societal responsibilities and it is actively promoting the dissemination. Khandu in his message said "November 16 is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. This was the day on which the Press Council of India started functioning. Since its inception PCI has come a long way and proved its worth as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only the press maintain high standards expected from it..." The chief minister said that the press persons of Arunachal, despite several hurdles, have been working day and night to keep people informed and create opinion through their writings, reports, films and documentaries. Khandu hoped that the state media would continue to uphold the spirit of journalism ethics and educate the masses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government will give employers the salaries for seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leave for women earning more than Rs 15,000 a month, the Women and Child Development ministry announced on Thursday. The announcement, which covers the government as well as the private sector, comes in the wake of complaints that many companies were reluctant hire pregnant women after maternity leave was extended from 12 to 26 weeks and some were even firing women employees. WCD Secretary Rakesh Srivastava said it has been decided to utilise the funds lying in the labour welfare cess to pay the employers. "The utilisation of the labour welfare cess lying with the state governments has been very less. After talks with the Labour Ministry it has been decided that the seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leave for all women employees in the private and government sector getting more than Rs 15,000 a month would be paid from that fund," Srivastava told reporters here. The labour welfare cess has been given to state governments to ensure the welfare of workers. Maternity leave was extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks last year. According to Srivastava, there were complaints from women that they were getting fired from their jobs due to the increased duration of maternity leave. "The government has now decided that out of the 14 extra weeks, half of the amount of salary paid to the pregnant woman would be refunded to the employer from the funds of the labour welfare cess," he said. Till March 2017, there was Rs 32,632 crore in the fund. Of this, just Rs 7,500 crore has been utilised, he said. "We would be refunding the salary of seven weeks to the employer so women do not face problems upon returning to work," he said. "The labour minister has agreed to the proposal and we are now carrying it forward. There will soon be a notification from the Labour Ministry with further details," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Allahabad High Court Thursday sought the stands of the Union and state governments on two pleas alleging non-payment of compensation to the families of three 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims in Uttar Pradesh. A bench of justices Bharati Sapru and Jayant Banerji sought the governments' stands within a month on the pleas of Pyara Singh of Pilibhit and Harpal Singh of Bareilly. In his petition to the court, Pyara Singh said his wife and daughter were killed by a mob during the country-wide, anti-Sikh riots in the wake of assassination of the then Prime Minister India Gandhi on October 31, 1984 morning. In the second petition, Harpal Singh said his father fell victim to the mob frenzy following Gandhi's killing. The two petitioners said following the killings of their relatives, they had lodged FIRs and the government had given them an interim compensation of Rs 20,000 for each of the slain family members, but they never got the full and final amount of compensation under the government's rehabilitation policy for the riot victims. Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Dinesh Rai told the court that in January 2006, the Central Government had brought a rehabilitation policy under which a sum of Rs 3.5 lakh was decided to be given to the dependents of each of the deceased persons and Rs 1.25 lakhs to those injured in the riots. The compensation was subsequently enhanced to Rs 8.5 lakh in February 2015, he said, adding his clients have never got the final compensation despite lapse of 34 years since they suffered the tragedy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has upheld a provision in the anti-dumping duty (ADD) rules that fix a time-limit for investigation in connection with the dumping of goods in India by exporters of other countries. A division bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad passed the order on writ appeals by Saint Gobain India Private Limited, a manufacturer in India, challenging the notification issued by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties of the Union Ministry of Commerce on April 10, 2017 extending the period of review of anti-dumping duty. The bench said if the time taken for review under the provision (rule 22) was longer than the original investigation, "then it would allow the foreign exporter to dump goods into India, on the basis of provisional assessment, thereby affecting domestic industry". "Besides, the exporter can manipulate prices and create documents if the period of investigation under the rule was not shorter than the original investigation and the very purpose of imposing anti-dumping duty will be lost," it observed. The judges said this duty was introduced as the exporters of a country were flooding domestic markets with goods at a rate lower than that of goods normally sold in their country, resulting in a heavy loss to the domestic market. Referring to GATT, to which India is a party, the judges said the imposition of the duty was a result of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which recognised the damage caused by dumping of goods by exporters of other countries and sought to remedy it, the judges said. The GATT aims at balancing the rights of the exporters from other countries and at the same time protect the interest of the domestic markets, they noted. The Centre had issued a notification on December 11, 2014 fixing the anti-dumping duty at US dollar 123.6 per metric tonne for import of float glass from Pakistan. Tariq Glass Industries Limited in Lahore, Pakistan, filed an application to review the duty fixed for export of its float glass. The application was considered under rule 22 of the ADD by the authority concerned which decided to initiate the new shipper review with regard to the import of the glass from Tariq and the period of investigation was fixed between July 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. However, the investigation by Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties, under the Union Ministry of Commerce, did not get over by March 2016. Following this, Saint Gobain, a manufacturer in India, submitted various representations contending that the final notification should not be issued in favour of Tariq since the time-limit for the review was over. It also questioned the jurisdiction of the designated authority to continue the probe beyond the time-limit. However, on April 10, 2017 the Union Ministry of Commerce issued the notification after rejecting the application of Saint Gobain. Aggrieved, Gobain had approached the high court and a single judge on November 6, 2017 upheld the government notification. Hence, the present appeals were filed challenging the single judge order and the 2017 notification and the related orders. Allowing the appeals, the bench observed that the GATT agreement is the basis of the ADD rules. Therefore, the purpose behind that must be the guiding force while interpreting rule 22, which prescribed the time-limit. It said the single judge had erred in applying the literal rule of interpretation to come to the conclusion that to fix the time-limit as in rule 22 would amount to rewriting the rule. In this case, the procedure under rule 22 was initiated on September 23, 2015, and it culminated on April 12, 2017, after 18 months -- which is more than the time prescribed in rule 17 and rule 23. The review is clearly barred by time. Even in the absence of time-limit fixed in rule 22, a review undertaken under the rule is required to be completed on an accelerated basis, that is, before the time period prescribed in rule 17 or rule 23, the judges said and set aside the notifications and the orders of the single judge. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State Duma MPs endorse mitigation of punishment for extremism RIA Novosti 12:52 15/11/2018 MOSCOW, November 15 (RAPSI) The State Duma, Russias lower house of parliament, passed a bill mitigating punishment for extremism and incitement of hatred and enmity in the first reading on Thursday. The draft law submitted by President Vladimir Putin in October reads that criminal punishment would be imposed for extremist acts in public, on the Internet or media committed repeatedly within a year. A first extremist violation is to be punished as an administrative offence, in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offences, with fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($7,500) for companies; and fines of up to 20,000 rubles, community service for up to 100 hours or detention for up to 15 days for individuals. In September, the Supreme Court of Russia in its Plenum resolution explained that courts considering extremism cases should proceed from a level of public danger and hazard mode. The Criminal Code of Russia attracts a criminal sentence for incitement of enmity but not for reposts on social networks. If a publication is extremist, malice of the repost must be proven, the Supreme Courts Judge Vladimir Davydov said during the Plenums session. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova in turn stated that criminal sentence including imprisonment is disproportionately tough punishment for unintentional likes and reposts. Hindutva is a "political project" and its rise can not be blamed on Hinduism, senior journalist N Ram said here Thursday. Ram was speaking at a panel discussion on 'Hindu Hinduism Hindutva' at Tata Literature Live festival. "Hindutva is a political project and its founders made it clear. But don't confuse Hindutva with Hinduism," he said. "Hindutva can not be blamed on Hinduism. Hindutva is a political project and cynically used," Ram added. Former Rajya Sabha member and national spokesperson of Janata Dal (United) Pavan Verma, who was also part of the panel, said "a handful of people" have appropriated the right to speak for all Hindus. "There are many shades and aspects of Hinduism which can be used to counter Hindutva," Verma said. "There are handful of people who say to other Hindus that if you don't behave in a certain manner, you are not a Hindu in our definition," he said. The prime concern of most Hindus is their economic well-being, he said. Writer and founder and director of Literature Live Anil Dharker said that religion has been used by all parties. "Religion has been used for political means and has been used by all the political parties including Congress. Though BJP and RSS are using it in a very organised and aggressive way," he said. To a query, journalist Barkha Dutt, another member of the panel, said that India will never become "another Pakistan" as "ours is a genuine democracy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday asked his party workers to gear up for next year's polls to oust the Manohar Lal Khattar government from power. Hooda told the workers to be present in large number at the seventh phase of his 'Jankranti Yatra', which will start from Barwala in Hisar, on November 25. "(Lok Sabha) Polls are round-the-corner. It should not come as a surprise if they (the ruling BJP government) decide to opt for holding the Vidhan Sabha polls (due by October 2019) along with the parliamentary elections," he said. Hooda accused the BJP of not keeping its promises made to the people in Haryana. "The government has failed to fulfill its promises dashing hopes of the public. It has failed on all fronts and now people are eager to bring the Congress back to power," he said. "Prices of fertilisers and pesticides and diesel have risen, putting a burden on the farmers," the former chief minister said. Asked to comment on recent developments in the INLD and the Chautala family, he said he had always maintained that the main opposition party was ruling the BJP's "B team". "I don't want to comment on their family and internal matters. But the struggle for power which is out wide in the open has unmasked their true face which makes it clear that they only want to grab power and do not care about people's issues," the senior Congress leader said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Himachal Pradesh University Thursday sought the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry's intervention for restoration of rather "inactive" research wing of the Institute of Tribal Studies and Research under it. The Union ministry's intervention was sought by HPU Vice Chancellor Sikander Kumar in his meeting with Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram in New Delhi. Professor Kumar apprised Oram of various activities undertaken by the institute and discussed the issue of its rather inactive research facility and sought its restoration. The minister assured the VC that he would get the issue examined by his ministry and get issued the necessary directions for the purpose to the state government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) was committed to a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister said on Thursday as he called for enhancing multilateral cooperation, economic and cultural ties among member nations at the 13th in It was Prime Minister Modi's 5th (EAS). has been participating in the EAS since its very inception in 2005. "At the in Singapore, I shared my thoughts on enhancing multilateral cooperation, economic and cultural ties among member nations. Also reiterated India's commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Pacific region," the prime minister tweeted. The EAS consists of 10 (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. It was formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's vision of a peaceful, open and inclusive Indo Pacific region, strengthening maritime cooperation and commitment to a balanced (RCEP) pact, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. The RCEP, involving 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) as well as China, Japan, Australia, India, New Zealand and South Korea, would cover about half the world's population and a third of its GDP. Prime Minister Modi also interacted with leaders of other countries, including his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, before the East Asia Summit Retreat. Later, the EAS leaders posed for a customary group photograph. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi participated in the ASEAN- Breakfast Summit where he underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. "Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet," Modi tweeted. Prime Minister Modi also met with the NCC cadets who got the opportunity to visit as a part of a cadet exchange programme. "Wonderful moments with my young friends. Spent time with NCC cadets, who got the opportunity to come to as a part of a cadet exchange programme. They shared their memorable learnings and experiences with me," Modi tweeted. Prime Minister Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival. He also held separate bilateral meetings with US Vice President and the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. Before leaving for Singapore, Modi had said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolised India's "continued commitment" to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. Asserting that India has been and will remain a long-term partner of Afghanistan, the Afghan finance minister has said that Kabul has no secret deal with New Delhi while hoping that it can have a similar relationship with Pakistan. "India has been a traditional and long-term partner of Afghanistan spanning over a couple of millennia more. Culturally, commercially in so many things, we have so much common heritage, so many common elements. They have been a long-term partner. They will remain a long-term partner," Afghan Finance Minister Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi told a Washington audience this week. "Afghanistan has no secret deals with India. All of relationship that we have is based on trust, based on two countries, based on two sovereign governments, two people that have a long history," he said, responding to a question at the School of Advanced Studies of the Johns Hopkins University. India and Afghanistan will continue to have strong cultural, educational ties as well as commercial ties, he said. "Our hope is that we have a similar relationship with Pakistan. But I think it's Pakistan that has to decide what they would like to do as part of it in where they would like to be," the Afghan finance minister said early this week. Noting that Pakistan has the sixth largest population in the world, yet, he said, it has an smaller than Israel. So, the conflict is not in the interest of Pakistan, he said. For the betterment of the people of Pakistan, he said it would be helpful for Pakistan to have closer linkages and ties with India and Central Asia as a whole. He said the region is ripe for being a very functioning economic ecosystem but right now it is the least integrated region of the world economically. "It's not helping anyone," Qayoumi said. "We hope Pakistan can really see that as a way on how we can work together as a region, as equals, as sovereign nations, but also as a region that can have a future together successfully where economically and politically all areas can work together," he said. India Thursday handed over to Maldivian Coast Guard one of its ships after carrying out major refit on it, the Indian Navy said. Maldivian Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee successfully completed her refit at Naval Dockyard ,Visakhapatnam, and the ship was formally handed over to the island nation, a Navy spokesperson said The handing over of the ship comes two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays a day-long visit to Maldives to attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Modi's visit is seen as an indication of an attempt by New Delhi to mend bilateral ties, which nosedived during the outgoing Abdulla Yameen government. India-Maldives ties came under strain under Yameen and the relations deteriorated further after he imposed emergency in the island nation on February 5 this year. Maldives is an important country for India's maritime security and there have been concerns in India over China's growing influence over the country in the last few years. The Navy spokesperson said the four-month long refit of Huravee was part of an initiative by the Indian Navy to enhance its outreach to friendly foreign navies in the Indian Ocean Region. "The ship had arrived at Visakhapatnam on 12 Jul 18 and successfully completed her refit on Nov 14," the official said. "Major repairs were undertaken on the ship's hull, main propulsion and auxiliaries. In addition number of systems and equipment were upgraded for better performance and reliability," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May's leadership was in jeopardy after Secretary Dominic Raab, Indian-origin minister Shailesh Vara and two other ministers resigned Thursday from her divided Cabinet over UK's "half-baked" divorce deal with the European Union. Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, Prime Minister May was hit by a bigger blow as her Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the withdrawal agreement with the 28-member bloc. "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better," said Vara, Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) since January. He attacked the draft withdrawal agreement which would form the basis of the UK's exit from the EU by March, 29, 2019 as a "half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation". The UK and EU must agree an ultimate end date for the transition period by the end of next week. The transition period is due to end in 2020 and can be extended once by mutual agreement. The resignation of Raab, the man involved with the actual drafting of the agreement with EU counterparts, throws Prime Minister May's leadership in turmoil. Raab, who took charge as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU after his predecessor David Davis stepped down in protest over May's negotiations in July, said the proposed arrangement to avoid a post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". "I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to exit the arrangement," he said. Raab's resignation was followed by another pro-Brexit minister, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, announcing that she is resigning from the Cabinet over the issue. Another junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit over Brexit, shortly after her former boss Raab quit office. "It is with deep regret and after reflection that I have had to tender my resignation today as a Brexit Minister. Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working to support Brexit from the Backbenches. This has not been an easy decision," Braverman said in a tweet. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who defended the agreement. "I firmly believe that the draft Withdrawal Agreement was the best that could be negotiated, and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks," she said in her statement at the Downing Street doorstep after hours of talks with her top team on Wednesday. "The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop. But the collective decision of Cabinet was that the Government should agree the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the Outline Political Declaration this is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead," she said. There were already rumblings that while she claimed the Cabinet had collectively given its backing to her deal, many ministers had spoken out against it and were not entirely happy with the final text. The biggest sticking point remains over what is termed as a Northern Ireland backstop, which leaves the EU with the option of keeping the whole of the UK within a common Customs Union if a future trading relationship fails to be thrashed out during the 21-month transition period, set to run until December 2021. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, attacked Prime Minister May in his response to May's statement on Brexit to the House of Commons. He said May's negotiations that resulted in Wednesday night's draft Brexit deal with the European Union had ended in a "huge and damaging failure." Corbyn demanded that the government should withdraw the deal. "The government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected," he said. The markets also reacted sharply, with the British Pound falling heavily against most major currencies after Raab's resignation. Meanwhile, European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed November 25 as the date of an emergency summit where the remaining 27 EU member states are set to formally approve the withdrawal agreement. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up the minority Tory government, have also been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. DUP Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson led praise for Vara, who he described as "a man of his word" for taking the stand to step down as Northern Ireland minister. The fresh turmoil comes as Britain continues to try and thrash out the basis of its exit from the EU, after a referendum over its membership of the economic bloc resulted in a 52 per cent vote in favour of Brexit in 2016. As the chaos within government circles gathers momentum, calls for a second "people's vote" over the issue of Brexit is also gaining ground. British Prime Minister Theresa May's uneasy Brexit truce was shattered Thursday as Indian-origin Shailesh Vara became the first of the four ministers to resign over a "half-way house" divorce deal with the European Union. Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, Prime Minister May was hit by a bigger blow as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the withdrawal agreement with the 28-member bloc. "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better," said Vara, Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) since January. He attacked the draft withdrawal agreement which would form the basis of the UK's exit from the EU by March 2019 as a "half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation". Raab, who took charge as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU after his predecessor David Davis stepped down in protest over May's Brexit negotiations in July, said the proposed arrangement to avoid a post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". "I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to exit the arrangement," he said. Raab's resignation was followed by another pro-Brexit minister, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, announcing that she is resigning from the Cabinet over the issue. Another junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit over Brexit, shortly after her former boss Raab quit office. "It is with deep regret and after reflection that I have had to tender my resignation today as a Brexit Minister. Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working to support Brexit from the Backbenches. This has not been an easy decision," Braverman said in a tweet. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who is set to defend the agreement before MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday. "I firmly believe that the draft Withdrawal Agreement was the best that could be negotiated, and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks," she said in her statement at the Downing Street doorstep after hours of talks with her top team on Wednesday evening. "The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop. But the collective decision of Cabinet was that the Government should agree the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the Outline Political Declaration this is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead," she said. There were already rumblings that while she claimed the Cabinet had collectively given its backing to her deal, many ministers had spoken out against it and were not entirely happy with the final text. The biggest sticking point remains over what is termed as a Northern Ireland backstop, which leaves the EU with the option of keeping the whole of the UK within a common Customs Union if a future trading relationship fails to be thrashed out during the 21-month transition period, set to run until December 2021. The resignation of Raab, the man involved with the actual drafting of the agreement with EU counterparts, throws Prime Minister May's leadership in turmoil. "Raab's resignation marks the end of the PM's Withdrawal Agreement. This is very serious; the PM will clearly be considering her position. My own view is that we need a government of national unity and we need it now," Remain-backing Conservative MP Anna Soubry tweeted. The markets also reacted sharply, with the Pound falling heavily against most major currencies after Raab's decision to resign. Meanwhile, European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed November 25 as the date of an emergency summit where the remaining 27 EU member states are set to formally approve the withdrawal agreement. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up the minority Tory government, have also been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. DUP Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson led praise for Vara, who he described as "a man of his word" for taking the stand to step down as Northern Ireland minister. Vara was among the few Indian-origin junior ministers in the government, alongside fellow Leave supporters Rishi Sunak, who is a parliamentary under-secretary in the housing department, and Suella Fernandes Braveman, who is an under-secretary in the Department for Exiting the EU. Remain-supporting Alok Sharma is minister of state for employment. The fresh turmoil comes as Britain continues to try and thrash out the basis of its exit from the EU, after a referendum over its membership of the economic bloc resulted in a 52 per cent vote in favour of Brexit in 2016. As the chaos within government circles gathers momentum, calls for a second "people's vote" over the issue of Brexit is also gaining ground. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian citizens, who moved to Assam prior to 1971, will be included in the NRC if citizenship of such persons is ascertained beyond reasonable doubt while disposing claims and objections. This was part of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) submitted by State Coordinator of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) Prateek Hajela to the Supreme Court. The top court has fixed December 15 as the deadline for filing of claims and objections for inclusion of names in the NRC. While submitting the SOPs, the NRC coordinator said there have been instances where some people have not been able to provide documents to satisfactorily prove their residence in any part of India (outside Assam) up to March 24, 1971. As such, their cases will be dealt with under Rule 4 of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 and Clause 3(3) of its Schedule. They are as follows: Citizens of India who originate from other states in India and who do not have any origin in specified territory (Bangladesh) and have moved to Assam prior to March 24, 1971, or after, will be included in the NRC if the citizenship of such persons is ascertained beyond reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the authorities disposing of claims and objections, the SOPs, submitted on August 26, said. Cases of all such persons whether ordered for inclusion by the authority (disposing claims and objections) or for exclusion, will be examined first by the CRCR (Circle Registrar of Citizens Registration) and then by the DRCR (District Registrar of Citizens Registration), according to the SOPs. The final decision of inclusion or exclusion will be taken by the DRCR, who will record a speaking order issued under his seal and signature. The authorities examining the claim and the DRCR will exercise great caution to ensure that no illegal person's name is included taking recourse to the above provisions. Claims where only children (14 years or below) have been left out from the draft NRC while their parents have been included will be segregated and pre-claim verification undertaken by the CRCR to ascertain the shortcoming in linkage documents or any inconsistencies thereof, the SOPs said. The DRCR concerned will cause specific hearings for the composite family in respect of these minor children and oral or written evidences from parents will be admissible. This special consideration is required as adequate documentary evidence may not be available for children less than 14 years of age, it said. The Supreme Court had earlier directed that "in so far as clause 3(5) of the Schedule to the Rules is concerned, we clarify that Indian citizens, including their children and descendants, who may have moved to the State of Assam subsequent to March 24, 1971 would be eligible for inclusion in the NRC on adducing satisfactory proof of residence in any part of the country (outside Assam) as on March 24, 1971". The update of the NRC, the massive Supreme Court-monitored exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals living in Assam, excluded over 40 lakh people from the draft list published on July 30, creating a huge political controversy. The exercise is aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state that borders Bangladesh was carried out only in Assam, which faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century. When the NRC was first prepared in Assam way back in 1951, the state had 80 lakh citizens then. As per 2011 census, Assam's total population is over 3.11 crore. The process of identification of illegal immigrants in Assam has been widely debated and become a contentious issue in the state's politics. A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the AASU in 1979. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, in the presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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"Australia, don't think you are away from our attacks," read one poster, which showed a photo of a vehicle the Melbourne attacker set alight during his attack last Friday. The SITE Intelligence Group which monitors jihadist threats said the graphic was issued Wednesday by the Sunni Shield Media Foundation, which is aligned with the Islamic State. Another graphic posted online and distributed by SITE showed an image drawn from social media showing the Melbourne attacker, Hassan Khalid Shire Ali, trying to stab a policeman before he was fatally shot. A text overlay on the image says: "Melbourne today - What is the next city tomorrow??!" Shire Ali stabbed and killed one man during the incident and wounded two others before being killed by police. Australian police characterised the attack as "terrorism" and said the 30-year-old Somali-born Shire Ali was inspired by the Islamic State, but acted alone and had no known ties to the group. On the day of the attack, Islamic State (IS) said via its propaganda arm that Shire Ali was an "Islamic State fighter and carried out the operation", but provided no evidence to back its claim. Australia is a member of the US-led coalition that has been fighting IS in Syria and neighbouring Iraq since 2014. The jihadists took large swathes of Syria and Iraq that year, proclaiming a "caliphate" across land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of that territory to multiple offensives on both sides of the border. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Diversified conglomerate ITC is looking at portfolio expansion in its food division to achieve the stated vision of the company of achieving Rs 1 lakh crore turnover from FMCG. "The ambition set by our chairman and managing director of Rs 1 lakh crore by 2030 is something we are all working towards, with current categories as well as new categories that we are getting into," ITC divisional chief executive - foods division Hemant Malik told PTI. The food category, which drives the fast moving consumer durable industry, is expected to contribute around 60-65 per cent of its turnover by 2030. The revenue generated from ITC's foods business, is below Rs 9,000 crore although consumer spend is in excess of Rs 12,000 crore, with the difference due to seller discounts offered by the company. "We are looking at the dairy space. It is a huge space, and we have launched in a few markets. We will be launching dairy beverages in a couple of months. In the snack category also there are many areas where we haven't started operating in. We will be exploring health space in snacking shortly. In juices, we launched 100 per cent pomegranate and we will be adding more," he said. ITC recently announced it will augment its dairy portfolio by entering the paneer and milkshakes segments and is planning to launch paneer for the Kolkata market and milkshakes pan India within two months. While milk, ghee, paneer and curd would be sold under the 'Aashirvaad' brand, there will be a different brand for milk shakes. The Kolkata-headquartered company is also planning to sell millets. The company that acquired floor cleaner brand Nimyle, fruit beverage brand B Natural and antiseptic brand Savlon, reportedly backed out out of the USD 4 billion bid for GlaxoSmithKline's healthdrink brand Horlicks. Asked if the company would look at the inorganic route to fuel its growth, Malik said, "Every third day there is an offer on table which we have to study and then decide if it has any merit in our overall scheme of things. Sometimes evaluation could be too high and if its worth it at this price then its okay otherwise if that category is so interesting we might as well build it. We have built so many categories, we will build two more." ITC today tied-up with online grocery player Bigbasket to launch four new variants of its instant noodle brand Yippee. Malik said Yippee is a Rs 1000 crore brand at present today after being launched over seven years ago, enjoying a 22 per cent market share. He said online as a channel accounts for 1.4 per cent of the sales but it is growing at 120 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir Police Thursday asked the general public to desist from doing any kind of business with the Rural Development Multipurpose Co-operative Limited (RDMCL) as the society is operating without the RBI's permission. This is for the information of the general public that the crime branch, Jammu, is in receipt of complainants from a number of complainants and also from the registrar co-operative societies J&K regarding undertaking the business of banking or credit and the misappropriation of deposits of the public by the said co-operative, a spokesman of the crime branch said. He said the RDMCL is doing the business activities without obtaining a licence from the RBI, a prerequisite for such transactions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Classic Legends, a subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, Thursday relaunched iconic Czeck motorcycle brand Jawa in India, in three new models - Jawa Forty Two, Jawa and Jawa Perak. The motorcycles will be priced between Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh. "We have found a great fit to our two-wheeler business. This a brand (Jawa) very much aligned to Mahindra's values," Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra told PTI after the launch. Chairman and managing director of Rustomjee group, Boman Rustom Irani, and Phi Capital Management founder Anupam Thareja were also present at the launch. Both these companies have stakes in Classic Legends, which is 60 per cent owned by Mahindra group. An all-new 293-cc bikes are equipped with liquid cooled, single cylinder, double overhead cam engine within a double cradle chassis. "We are excited about the new Jawa Motorcycles that we have unveiled here today," said Thareja. The booking for the new bikes have began online from Thursday and they will be available to the customers from December 7, he said. "We are happy to bring Jawa back in India. This seems like the right timing to have come up with this range of motorcycles, as the Indian premium motorcycle market is not only growing but also evolving in consumer tastes and preferences," said Ashish Joshi, chief executive officer, Classic Legends. In 2016, Mahindra and Mahindra had struck a deal with the Czechoslovakia-based motorcycle company, which allowed Classic Legends to launch and market bikes under the Jawa brand name in the country and east Asian markets. Mahindra said that the company was not looking at volumes as the newly launched bikes are not for the mass segment. "It very very premium niche segment. Our job is to live up to the Jawa heritage. We are not fixated on the volumes right now," he said. Mahindra also said that the focus was on the domestic market at present, adding that there is good potential for exports as well. "Some time you expand the categories which is more important. So, if I had to only eat market share, then we are saying that the segment is small. In fact, we are going to expand the market instead," said Thareja. Moreover, it is a growing segment, he said, adding, "Volume is a function of product and distribution. We are in the process of of building both right now." The bikes are being produced at Mahindra's manufacturing facility in Pithampur near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. According to Thareja, the facility has a capacity to produce 0.5 million bikes annually. "Capacity is not a constraint. The listed capacity is more than half-a-million. But it is also product-dependent," he added. He said that the distribution of bikes will begin with 50 dealerships, and the company has already signed up 105 dealers across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Walking Dead" star Jeffrey Dean Morgan has slammed actor Armie Hammer who had questioned the celebrities on the way they honoured comic book legend Stan Lee. Lee, who revolutionized pop culture as the co-creator of iconic superheroes characters such as Spider-Man, Thor and The Hulk, died early Monday at the age of 95. Hammer, 32, in a now-deleted tweet, had disapproved the culture of posting selfies to commemorate the departed soul. "So touched by all of the celebrities posting pictures of themselves with Stan Lee no better way to commemorate an absolute legend than putting up a picture of yourself, he had tweeted. Morgan posted a reply to Hammer, saying, "Looks like you found a way to use others ways of mourning and their memories to draw some attention to yourself. You sound like a real a**hat. The 52-year-old actor has since deleted his reply. Among the big Marvel names who paid tribute to Stan Lee include "Captain America" actor Chris Evans, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds, Letitia Wright from "Black Panther", "X-Men" star Hugh Jackman, "Iron Man" actor Robert Downey Jr, and "Avengers Assemble" director Joss Whedon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seeking farmers' support to expedite work on the proposed Jewar airport, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration Thursday assured special efforts to ensure education and employment to children of the people whose land will be acquired for the Greenfield project. Top officials of the administration, including District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh, held a meeting in Greater Noida with the farmers who have consented to acquisition of their land in Jewar for the international airport, according to an official statement. The Uttar Pradesh government had on October 30 issued a notification for the acquisition of land for the airport under sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Now, the Section 15 of the Act, which allows for hearing of objections, if any, related to the acquisition of the land, is to be invoked and the process, as per the law, takes two months (60 days). "This is a very important project for the area. Therefore, all farmers should realise its significance and support the district administration in pursuing the project," Singh said, according to a statement. He said that the provision of Section 15 for the construction of Jewar airport is to be carried out within two months but if the farmers want this work can be done faster and it can be completed within one month only, according to the statement. He also assured continuous support of the administration to the farmers. "The administration will ensure special efforts for the education and employment of the children of the farmers who will be rehabilitated because of the airport project. Local industrial units, the MSME as well as builders associations have also come forward for this cause," he said. A total of 5,000 hectares of land is to be acquired for the green field airport estimated worth Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore. For the first phase of the airport -- the second in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) -- 1,334 hectare land is required. A total of 1,239 hectare land belonging to farmers from six villages (Rohi, Dayanatpur, Parohi, Kishorpur, Ranhera and Banwariwas) will be acquired by the state government and due compensation will be given to them, according to officials. The district magistrate also assured the farmers that all the proceedings will be completed by the officers at their homes and they will not have to visit government offices. ADM (land and acquisition) Balram Singh, Jewar Airport officer in-charge Abhay Kumar, Deputy Collector P L Maurya and Sub Divisional Magistrate Prasunn Dwivedi also attended the meeting. About 6.2 hectares land has been earmarked from Banwariwas village, 395 hectare from Dayanatpur, 171.1 hectare from Kishorpur, 108.4 hectare from Parohi, 124.9 hectare from Ranhera, and 433.1 hectare from Rohi, according to officials. A social impact assessment (SIA) study was carried out for the project by the Gautam Buddh University, which had submitted its recommendations to the state government. The SIA recommendations were approved by the government on October 10. According to the SIA report, 5,905 families will be impacted by the project and out of these 5,007 are farmers' families while 898 are landless families. During the first phase, 1,775 families are likely to be displaced, they said. Some landowners, including farmers and villagers, had initially resisted the land acquisition citing various reasons such as "inadequate" compensation amount and related benefits besides the resettlement policy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of infuriated traders protested at Sahibabad Police Station here on Thursday, demanding arrest of persons responsible for the looting of a jewellery store in Shyam Park area on Wednesday. The traders affiliated with Vyapar Mandal, Shyam Park (main), handed a memorandum to Acting Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar, demanding early arrest of the culprits. The acting SSP promised swift action in the matter. In support of the protest, shopkeepers in Trans Hindon area kept their shutters down on the day. Kumar suspended SHO Sahibabad Dinesh Yadav for dereliction of duty and for the "prevailing lawlessness" in the area. At around 1.00 pm on Wednesday, five masked men bearing arms looted a jewellery shop opposite Sahibabad police station in Shyam Park area. The culprits decamped with ornamental items and cash totaling to Rs 2 crore. SHO kavi nagar Rojant Tyagi was also suspended for not being able to arrest culprits in the looting of a jewllery showroom in Govind Puram on October 7, where four masked and armed men had robbed 30 kg gold ingots, 1/2 kg gold biscuits and Rs 4 lakh in cash. Six teams had been formed to crack the case, but little progress has been made thus far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A federal judge has refused to dismiss a special counsel indictment against a Russian company accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential election. The decision by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, an appointee of President Donald Trump, allows the criminal case against Concord Management to proceed. The company and two other entities were indicted in February for participating in an effort to sway American public opinion through social media posts ahead of the election. Thirteen Russians were also charged. Lawyers for the company argued, among other things, that the indictment failed to accuse the company of knowingly breaking the law. Friedrich rejected that analysis in a 32-page opinion Thursday, the latest legal conclusion by a judge to affirm charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US on Thursday placed punishing economic sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, including top aides of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The sanctions were declared after Riyadh's public prosecutor announced that five officials face a possible death sentence in the case but exculpated the prince. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. President Ram Nath Kovind urged agricultural scientists Thursday to assist in improving the lives of farmers who have helped India achieve food security and build its foreign exchange reserves through exports of farm produce. Addressing the first convocation of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University here, he linked the state of farmers with the overall prosperity of a nation. "It is only by improving farmers' lives that overall prosperity of a nation can be ensured. Those specialising in agricultural studies have to play an important role in achieving this goal," Kovind said. Agricultural scientists must also be mindful of the possible impact of climate change across the world and devise ways to protect productivity, he said. The president underscored the need to improve the nutritive value of farm produce besides new innovations to offset challenges posed by limited availability of land and frequent rainfall deficits. Kovind also fondly recalled his tenure as the Governor of Bihar and paid tributes to first President Rajendra Prasad, after whom the university has been named, and former Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, who hailed from this north Bihar district. Earlier, a state university, the institution was granted central status through an Act of Parliament in 2016. Addressing the function, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar spoke about the progress made in the field of agriculture in the state in the last one decade and the steps taken by his government to facilitate the same. He also recalled the contribution of American philanthropist Henry Phipps Jr in establishing the Indian Agricultural Research Institute here which led to the acronym PUSA (Phipps of USA), after which the locality in Samastipur came to be known and which is also the reason why the street in Delhi, where the institute was subsequently moved is known as Pusa Road. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh lauded the contribution of scientists associated with the university and assured them all central help for the betterment of the institution. More than 300 undergraduate and post-graduate students were awarded degrees at the convocation. Thirty three students, including 25 women, were given gold medals. The president reached Samastipur town from Patna, where he was received in the morning by Governor Lalji Tandon, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RLSP chief and Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, who has been targeting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Thursday dragged ally BJP into his campaign against the JD(U) chief, amid signs that he was drifting away from the ruling NDA due to unhappiness over seat sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha polls. Kushwaha raked up his allegation that Kumar had "insulted" him by using the word "neech, a charge denied by the JD(U), and asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "wrong" in his attack on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over her "neech rajnitii" (lowly politics) jibe against the saffron party. He stated this in a series of tweets Thursday in response to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi's defence of the chief minister. In an apparent dig at Kushwaha, Sushil Kumar Modi had tweeted on November 12 that Kumar had never used the word "neech" (lowly) but some people are trying to become "martyrs". Hitting back, the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) leader asked if, according to Sushil Kumar Modi, the prime minister was wrong in his interpretation of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks. During the campaign for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had used the term "neech rajniti" to attack the BJP. Narendra Modi, then his party's prime ministerial candidate, had invoked his backward caste origins to accuse her of targeting his background. "Sushil Kumar Modi should also then say that Nitish Kumar was right and Narendra Modi was wrong in the war of words between the two leaders over the 'DNA issue' during the 2015 assembly polls in the state," Kushwaha said. In 2015, when the BJP and the JD(U) were in rival camps, Nitish Kumar had built a campaign against the prime minister over his DNA barb at him, asking his partymen to collect samples of hair and nail to be sent to Delhi for verifying the DNA. Kushwaha, who is said to be unhappy with BJP president Amit Shah's proposal that his party contest fewer number of seats in 2019 than it did in 2014, also said Thursday that he will be discussing the seat sharing issue with Shah. The RLSP had fought three seats in 2014 and won all. "I am leaving Patna for Delhi. I will try to talk on the seat sharing arrangement in my meeting with BJP President Amit Shah," Kushwaha tweeted on Thursday. With the BJP going all out to keep the Bihar chief minister in good humour, political watchers believe it has not gone down well with Kushwaha, who has long had a bitter relationship with him. Kushwaha had joined the BJP-led National Democratic Allaiance (NDA) ahead of the 2014 election. The JD(U) had walked of the alliance in 2013 after 17 years. However, it returned to the NDA in 2017 after quitting the grand alliance with the Congress and the RJD. The state sends 40 members to Lok Sabha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stepping up his campaign against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his alleged 'neech' remark, RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha on Thursday sought to draw a parallel between his attack on the JD(U) chief and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's targeting of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in 2013. The Union Minister, who has accused Kumar of referring to him as "neech" (lowly) - a charge rejected by Kumar-led JD(U), took a dig at Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi over his defence of the chief minister over the issue. In a series of tweets, Kushwaha asked if Modi was "wrong" in his attack on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is sister of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, over her "neech rajnitii" (lowly politics) jibe against the saffron party during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. She had used the term "neech rajniti" to attack the BJP, and Modi, then his party's prime ministerial candidate, had invoked his backward caste origins to accuse her of targeting his background. Kushwaha upped the ante amid signs that he was drifting away from the BJP-led NDA due to his unhappiness over seat sharing arrangement in Bihar for the Lok Sabha polls. Referring to the bitter political slugfest between Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar over the 'DNA issue' during the 2015 Bihar assembly polls when the two leaders led rival camps, Kushwaha added that Sushil Kumar Modi should also then say that the Bihar chief minister was then right and the prime minister was wrong. Kumar had built a campaign against the prime minister over his DNA barb at him, asking his partymen to collect samples of hair and nail to be sent to Delhi for DNA test. As the RLSP leader accused Kumar last week of describing him as "neech", Sushil Kumar Modi had tweeted on November 12 that the CM had never used such a word but some people are trying to become "martyrs". Kushwaha, who is said to be unhappy with BJP president Amit Shah's proposal that his party contest fewer number of seats in 2019 than it did in 2014, also said Thursday that he will be discussing the seat sharing issue with Shah. The RLSP had fought three seats in 2014 and won all. "I am leaving Patna for Delhi. I will try to talk on the seat sharing arrangement in a meeting with BJP President Amit Shah," Kushwaha tweeted on Thursday. With the BJP going all out to keep the Bihar chief minister in good humour, political watchers believe it has not gone down well with Kushwaha, who has long had a bitter relationship with him. Kushwaha had joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2014 election. The JD(U) had walked out of the alliance in 2013 after 17 years. However, it returned to the NDA in 2017 after quitting the grand alliance which it had formed with the Congress and the RJD. The state sends 40 members to Lok Sabha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An accused in the murder case of Communist leader Govind Pansare was Thursday remanded in police custody by a court here. Sessions judge S S Raul sent Amol Arvind Kale (34) in the custody of a special investigation team (SIT) of Maharashtra Police till November 22. Kale was earlier arrested by Karnataka Police in connection with the September 2017 murder of journalist Gouri Lankesh. The SIT told the court that it wanted to probe Kale's alleged role in the murder of Pansare. Pansare, a rationalist thinker and leader of the Communist Party of India, was shot near his house here in February 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said his party has decided to continue with the governor rule in Jammu and Kashmir for some more time, National Panthers Party Thursday accused him of trespassing into the domain of constitutional authorities. The continuance or revocation of governor rule is the prerogative of constitutional authorities including the President of India and the state governor and it was not for the general secretary of a political party to take a decision on it," NPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh said. On the sidelines of a party function in Kathua district, Madhav told reporters Wednesday that the governor's rule would continue in the state till the middle of December and what happens next would be discussed then. He made the remark in reply to a question on possible proposal to dissolve the state assembly. "Such announcements provided yet another example of subversion of the constitution by the BJP He (Madhav) had no role to play in the conduct of the municipal and panchayat elections or other policy matters of the state which fell within the domain of governor and his team of advisors, he said. Cautioning the BJP general secretary to stay within his limits, Singh said the Constitution cannot be allowed to be held hostage to the political whims of a particular party. Asserting that the governor rule had no place for political adventurism and incursions, Singh said the BJP's undue interference in the governance of the state under the tutelage of Madhav was totally "unwarranted and unconstitutional". He called upon the governor to instruct the administration to act in the best interests of the state without bowing to the blackmail" by the BJP, which, he said, has lost the mandate to interfere in the policy matters of the state. He accused the BJP of making ambiguous statements and giving confusing signals to give a false impression about re-installation of the collapsed government. Accusing the Centre of keeping the state assembly in suspended animation "in blatant defiance of the constitutional provisions, norms, precedents and set protocols", Singh appealed to the President of India to intervene in the matter and uphold the Constitution and its mandate. The Central government is trying to rule the state through proxy and has deputed Madhav for the purpose who is blatantly interfering in the affairs of the state. Madhav did not only poke his nose in the internal functioning of the state during the BJP-PDP rule but has managed to penetrate into the present administrative set up as well and is frequently seen holding meetings with the Governor and other bureaucrats. A general impression is being conveyed to the public that Madhav is acting as de facto chief minister of the state with MLAs too being allowed to exercise their normal functions despite the assembly having been suspended in the state, he said. He appealed to the governor to ensure immediate dissolution of the assembly. The mandate of the Constitution must prevail in view of no political party being able to form the government in the state. Any delay is fraught with the dangerous portends of increased attempts of horse trading, given the Machiavellian skills of the opportunist BJP, the NPP leader said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An unidentified man has been booked for impersonating Thane Lok Sabha MP Rajan Vichare and MLA Pratap Sarnaik to demand donations for a non-existent Children's Day function, police said Thursday. The man called up some shop-owners on November 13 asking them to donate money to distribute wheelchairs to children at a function to be held the next day. "According to the complaint filed by a shopkeeper, on November 13, the accused identified himself as MP Rajan Vichare and demanded donation for a function in Masunda Talao area. He then called again identifying himself as (Ovala-Majiwada) MLA Pratap Sarnaik," an official said. The official said the complainant found out from local Sena leaders that no such function had been organised, nor had the two public representatives asked for donations. "A case was registered at Kasarwadavali police station under relevant sections of the IPC for cheating and other offences. We have the mobile number from which the accused called. Efforts are on to arrest the caller," the official informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leaders from Nanded have asked its Lok Sabha MP and Maharashtra unit chief Ashok Chavan to contest Assembly polls instead of seeking renomination for the 2019 general elections. According to Congress sources, the issue was raised by party leaders at the review meeting called by Chavan to take stock of the political situation in Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha seats. These sources said Nanded-based leaders asked Chavan, a former Maharashtra chief minister, to contest the Assembly polls scheduled later in 2019 instead of the Lok Sabha. Chavan, sources said, told these leaders that a decision in this regard would be taken by the party's central leadership. Sources said leaders from Nanded also told Chavan that his wife Ameeta Chavan, or either of his daughters, should be fielded from Nanded Lok Sabha seat. Chavan represented Bhokar assembly seat in Nanded in 2009 before winning Nanded parliamentary seat. The Bhokar assembly seat is currently held by his wife Ameeta. Chavan was MLA from Mudkhed in 1999 and 2004. Apart from Chavan, former CM Prithviraj Chavan, former ministers Balasaheb Thorat and Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan, Youth Congress president Satyajit Tambe, Mahila Congress chief Charulata Tokas and AICC secretary Ashish Dua were among those present. The day-long deliberations covered eight parliamentary seats in Marathwada and 12 in western Maharashtra. To a question on why the three-day meeting will cover all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, when the Congress is in alliance talks with NCP, a party leader said, "We are an independent party and need to know our strengths and weaknesses in all 48 seats, irrespective of whether we contest or not." AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to join the deliberations from Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that "dirty politics" is going on in the name of publication of the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam as names of genuine voters have been struck off the list. The Trinamool Congress supremo asserted that she was not against the Assam government, but she does not support NRC. "I still believe that dirty is being played in the name of the NRC. Names of genuine voters have been struck off the list. We do not support this," Banerjee said during her visit to Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. She was here to take part in the birth centenary celebrations of Binapani Devi Thakur, known as 'Boroma', the revered 'mother' of the Matua community. The community originally hailed from present-day Bangladesh and migrated to India over the past five decades. Banerjee has been very critical of the BJP-led government at the Centre since the publication of the final draft of Assam's NRC on July 30. She had accused the BJP of resorting to "divide and rule" in the country and the Narendra Modi government of trying to make millions of people "stateless" in Assam for political gains. The TMC supremo had warned that stripping the people of their citizenship could lead to "bloodbath" and a "civil war" in the country. "They (the Centre) are driving away Bengalis from Assam. In Gujarat they are trying to drive away Biharis. We never do this here in West Bengal. We have assured them (Bengalis in Assam) that we are beside them. They must not forget Bengal is also their home. "We are not against Assam (government). But in the name of the NRC, lakhs of people have been kept out of the list. It is not a crime to speak in Bengali?" the chief minister asked. Asserting that many people from erstwhile East Pakistan had come to India as refugees, she said, "All those who came to India before 1971 are very much Indian citizens. They have their name on the voters' list, have ration cards and caste certificates." "You are an Indian citizen and that is your identity. It cannot be taken away from you. Those trying to snatch it are doing a wrong thing," she said. A delegation from the Matua community of Assam was present at the programme. A huge number of people of the community did not find their names in the Assam NRC list. She said that Matua community member and TMC MLA Mamata Thakur, and seven other party leaders were not allowed to leave Silchar airport in Assam when they had gone there after the publication of the final draft of NRC. Names of over 40 lakh people were excluded from the citizens' register. Out of the 3.29 crore people who had filled their applications for the NRC, 2.89 crore found their names in the draft list. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An alleged drug peddler was arrested Thursday and three kg poppy straw was seized from his possession in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Kulbeer Singh, a resident of Chak Babral village, was arrested after police intercepted his truck, coming from Kashmir, at Mansar Morh and found the poppy straw hidden under his seat, a police spokesman said. A case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against him and further investigation was on, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An absconding man, who had allegedly duped several people by promising to double their money if they clicked on advertisements on a particular website, has been arrested by the Noida Police, officials said Thursday. Accused Shivdutt Sharma, 35, who was on the run for more than 16 months, was picked up from Bulandshahr by a joint team of Sector 58 Police Station and the Noida Cyber Cell, they said. Sharma along with his five partners Ajay Gupta, Deepak Rajput, Manoj Gupta, Naveen and Nirmit Gupta had floated a fake company whose office was set up in Sector 62 of the city, police said. "Sharma and his partners would tell gullible people about their company which doubled people's money in just two to three months. They told the targets that the method was simple and one was required to just click on advertisements on the website to earn the money," Station House Officer, Sector 58, Pankaj Rai said. "On one account there would be 70 clicks available and each click could earn them Rs 7. The money would get transferred into their accounts and there would be an additional bonus as well," he said, explaining the modus operandi of the crime. However, interested person would have to submit Rs 56,000 to open an identity account on the website and also get another two persons linked to the business, officials said. A complaint was filed at Sector 58 Police Station in June 2017 about the fraud when a woman accused the company and the five men of running away with her money. "The woman said she was lured into this 'double money' business by Sharma, whose son was known to her son. He and his partners spoke highly of their company and assured her that the money was in safe hands," officials said. The woman asked her relatives to join the scheme but when they approached Sharma for money, they were told to cooperate for some time because the owners were planning to relocate to Thailand to capture bigger markets and ensure more profits to investors, the woman's complaint read. After a couple of months, the accused told the complainant and other investors that they would be making payments in Bitcoins and not in Indian currency but within a few days they shut their Sector 62 office and fled, police said. "The woman said when she tried calling on the given phone numbers of the business they were all found switched off," police said, adding she then approached the police and an FIR was filed. Charges under the Indian Penal Code sections 420 (fraud) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) besides the Information Technology Act were pressed against the accused men, police said. Sharma has been arrested from Bulandshahr and remanded in judicial custody, while attempts were on to nab the others, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission submitted its report on the social and economic conditions of the Marathas on Thursday, with a government source saying that it has favoured quota for the community. The commission handed over the report to Maharashtra chief secretary D K Jain. "Appropriate decision will be taken after studying it," he told reporters later. According to a government source, the report has made favourable recommendations on the Maratha community's demand of reservation in government jobs and educational institutions without tampering with the existing quota for the OBCs. The politically dominant constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population. There was a widespread agitation for quota in July and August this year. "We have received the report. Now all statutory formalities will be completed in the next 15 days," Chief Minister told PTI. Earlier in the day, at a rally in Ahmednagar district, Fadnavis said some people had threatened to launch a fresh agitation for quota on November 26. "Why do you want to do such things to take credit? Instead of agitating, be ready for celebration," he said, indicating that the demand will be fulfilled. A senior BJP minister said the government could table the reservation bill during the winter session of the state legislature which will start next Monday. "The report will be tabled before the cabinet Sunday where the decision on reservation bill will be taken. Legal opinion will be sought as to whether a new bill should be introduced or the previous bill (ordinance) which was challenged in the HC and was stayed, should be amended," he said. According to a government source, the commission, headed by Justice N G Gaikwad (retired), went through two lakh memorandums submitted to it, surveys of about 45,000 families as well as empirical data on social, financial and educational backwardness of the The BJP minister said the party cannot afford to lose OBC votes, and therefore the quota for the Marathas has to be separate. "The government has to provide the 16 per cent reservation, not less. Currently, there is 52 per cent quota. So the total reservation will go up to 68 per cent," he said. The government is expecting those opposing to move the high court again, the minister said, adding, "If the court does not stay the decision, then we can go ahead with it. There will be a problem (for the BJP) if the court gives a stay ahead of the elections." Fadnavis had told reporters in Akola Wednesday that the government would complete all legal formalities by the end of November to grant reservations to the Maratha community. In July this year, the government had announced 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas in 72,000 government jobs, which was later stayed following protests. Before the 2014 Assembly polls, then Congress-NCP government had granted 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas and five per cent quota for the Muslim community through an ordinance, which was stayed by the State Congress chief said his party would extend cooperation to the government on the quota issue. "Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil met me and sought support. The Congress-led government had given 16 per cent reservation... Marathas should get the same (percentage of) reservation which we had given," he said. The government should make recommendations of the commission public and implement them immediately, he said, adding had a decision been taken earlier, 40 people would not have lost their lives during agitations. The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission submitted on Thursday its report on social and economic conditions of the Maratha community to state Chief Secretary D K Jain. According to a government source, the report has made favourable recommendations on the demands of the Maratha community for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, without disturbing the quota granted to Other Backward Classes (OBC). "We have received the report, which is based on the economic, social conditions of the Marathas. Appropriate decision will be taken after studying it," Jain told reporters at Mantralaya after receiving the report. A government source said the commission went through 2 lakh memorandums submitted to it, surveys of about 45,000 families as well as empirical data on the social, financial and educational backwardness of the Maratha community. "The commission went through old historical records, old verdicts, studied constitutional provision, writings by noted anthropologist, sociologist Irawati Karve and several organisations like Pune's Gokhale Institute of and Economics and others," the source said. The panel is headed by Justice N G Gaikwad (retired). A senior cabinet minister of the BJP, said the party cannot afford to lose their core base, the OBCs, ahead of the Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls next year. "The government has to provide the Maratha community 16 per cent reservation. We cannot go below that. However currently, 52 per cent quota is in place. Therefore, the total reservation will go up to 68 per cent," the minister said. He further said the government is expecting that those opposing the decision will approach the High Court, after the cabinet gives nod to the recommendations and tables it in the Legislative Assembly during its winter session. "If the court admits the plea, but does not stay the decision, like in the case of Tamil Nadu, then we can go ahead with it. Problem will rise if the court gives a stay order ahead of the elections," the minister said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had told reporters in Akola on Wednesday that his government would complete all legal formalities by the end of November to grant reservations to the Maratha community. In July this year, the government had announced 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas in 72,000 government jobs which was later stayed following protests. On June 25, 2014, months before the assembly polls, the then Congress-NCP government under then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had announced 16 per cent reservation quota in government jobs and in educational institutions for Marathas and five percent quotas for the Muslim community. However, on November 14, 2014, the Bombay High Court stayed the government decision and on November 18, 2014, the Supreme Court had declined to vacate the HC stay. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The main conspirator of the Chhawla bank dacoity-cum-killing was arrested on Thursday from Dwarka, police said Thursday. The accused has been identified as Lagan Sharma, a resident of Najafgarh, they said. On October 12, police received a call regarding a dacoity in Corporation Bank in Khaira village. They were told that six armed men entered the bank and fired at the cashier, Anto Alphonse, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), said. The accused looted Rs 3.16 lakh and fled with the gun of the guard, he said. The injured cashier succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. On Thursday, police received a tip off that Lagan Sharma, the mastermind of the crime, would come to Dwarka. They laid a trap and arrested him at around 2:30 pm from near Dhulsiras Chowk, the DCP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya High Court Thursday directed NEIGRIMS to provide all medical facilities to injured RTI activist Agnes Kharshiing and her aide Amita Sangma who are undergoing treatment at the hospital after suffering multiple head injuries due to attacks and assaults allegedly by the 'coal mafia'. The high court also directed that all medical expenses of Agnes and Amita be borne by the state government. Agnes and Amita were admitted to the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences after they were found unconscious at Sohshrieh area of East Jaintia Hills district on November 8. The high court was informed that Agnes and her aide suffered multiple head injuries due to attacks and assaults allegedly by 'coal mafia' and the petitioners also prayed that the matter be investigated by the CBI. Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir also directed the Director General of Police to ensure protection of both the injured persons in the hospital due to the apprehension that they might be eliminated by the 'coal mafia'. The investigating officer was also asked to file the latest status of probe and to remain present in the court along with a case diary on November 27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior national security aide to US President Donald Trump was forced to depart the White House on Wednesday, a day after the First Lady Melania Trump sought her exit. On Tuesday the office of the First Lady had gone public saying, deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel "no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House." Presidential spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement, "Mira Ricardel will continue to support the President as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the Administration". "The President is grateful for Ricardel's continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities, Sanders added. Ricardel is believed to have entered into confrontation with the first lady's staff during her trip to Africa last month. She was said to be close with John Bolton, the National Security Advisor. Ricardel had earlier served in previous Republican Administration. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, she had joined the White House in May this year. This is Trump's first firing after the mid-term elections which saw Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives, ending the Republicans' dominance of both chambers of Congress. The President is working on some major changes in his administration in the coming weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Michael B Jordan had created quite a stir when he made remarks about lack of black mythology and the "Black Panther" star has now clarified those comments. The 31-year-old actor told Vanity Fair last month that black community "don't have any mythology, black mythology, or folklore". The comments, however, did not go well with many on the social media. Jordan has now clarified his remarks, saying that such stories are not presented in the cinema. "I meant we don't have black mythologies and folklore that's on the big screen and small screen, period," he told GQ. "And I want to help bring those to the masses, the same stories, bedtime stories, that I was being told of Anansi the Spider and the story of Hannibal and Mansa Musa and all these historical figures!" Jordan added. The actor is currently waiting for "Creed II" which will hit the theatres in the US on November 21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission's move to replace S B Shashank as Mizoram's chief electoral officer was welcomed on Thursday by the civil societies that had spearheaded a movement to seek the poll officer's ouster. "We welcome anybody as state CEO, except Shashank, who was working against the interests of the Mizo people by making an all-out effort to register Bru voters in the Tripura relief camps without following established procedures," Vanlalruata, chairman of the NGO, Coordination Committee, told PTI. The poll panel announced in the morning that IAS officer Ashish Kundra was being appointed as the chief electoral officer of the state with immediate effect. The civil societies would cooperate with the new CEO if he was willing to work towards free, fair and peaceful polls, Vanlalruata added. The committee -- an apex body of civil societies and students' organisations in the northeastern state -- had sought Shashank's exit from the state shortly after the state election commission removed principal secretary (home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo. The agitation against Shashank was launched a fortnight ago, with the committee demanding that the officer be transferred outside Mizoram. It also demanded that 11,232 Bru voters in six Tripura relief camps be allowed to exercise their franchise at their respective polling stations in Mizoram, and not in Tripura as committed by the poll panel. Thousands of Bru community members had fled the state and took shelter in Tripura following ethnic clashes in 1997. They have since been living in six relief camps of the neighbouring state. The EC had earlier this month sent two high-level teams to assess the situation in the state, following an agitation by the civil societies outside the CEO office. After the visits, the poll panel had asked the Mizoram government to suggest names for the CEO's post. Shashank left Mizoram last week after being summoned by the chief election commissioner to Delhi. Election to the 40-member Assembly is scheduled to be held on November 28. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission's move to replace S B Shashank as Mizoram's chief electoral officer on Thursday was welcomed by political parties as well as the civil societies that had spearheaded a movement to seek the poll officer's ouster. The order came after a non-governmental organisation, Coordination Committee, the apex body of civil societies and students' organisations in the northeastern state, had launched an agitation demanding Shashank's ouster, following a row over allowing Bru refugees in Tripura to cast votes from there. "We welcome anybody as state CEO, except Shashank, who was working against the interests of the Mizo people by making an all-out effort to register Bru voters in the Tripura relief camps without following established procedures," Vanlalruata, chairman of the committee, told PTI. Earlier in the day, the EC announced that IAS officer Ashish Kundra was being appointed as the state's chief electoral officer with immediate effect. Vanlalruata added the civil societies would cooperate with the new CEO if he was willing to work towards free, fair and peaceful polls. Hailing the poll panel's decision, Lallianchhunga, the spokesperson the ruling Congress, said the EC took the right decision by removing Shashank. He, however, expressed disappointment over the fact that a non-Mizo was chosen for the post. "We welcome the decision of the Election Commission. It is just that the Congress had expressed its wish to see a Mizo IAS officer as the new CEO." The state government initially suggested the names of three Mizo IAS officers for the post, but the poll panel had asked for two additional names, resulting in the appointment of a non-Mizo, the spokesperson added. The Mizo National Front (MNF) said it was happy with the choice made by the EC. "Shashank was causing problems in the state and his removal was the need of the hour," MNF leader Zosangliana said. The Coordination Committee had sought Shashank's exit shortly after the state election commission removed principal secretary (home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo. Their demand was backed by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention into the matter. The committee also demanded that 11,232 Bru voters in six Tripura relief camps be allowed to exercise their franchise at their respective polling stations in Mizoram, and not in the neighbouring state, as committed by the poll panel. Thousands of Bru community members had fled the state and took shelter in Tripura following ethnic clashes in 1997. They have since been living in the six relief camps there. The EC had earlier this month sent two high-level teams to assess the situation in the Mizoram, following a massive agitation by the civil societies outside the CEO office in Aizawl. After the visits, the poll panel had asked the state government to suggest names for the CEO's post. Shashank had left the state last week after being summoned by the chief election commissioner to Delhi. Mizoram is set to go to polls on November 28. The results will be announced on December 11. There are 40 assembly seats with an estimated 7.6-lakh registered voters in the state, where the Congress has been in power since 2008. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mobile phones were allegedly seized from the possession of Diamond Power Infrastructure (DPIL) promoters Amit Bhatnagar and Sumit Bhatnagar and two others at the Sabarmati Jail here, officials said Thursday. The Bhatnagar brothers, arrested in a case of alleged bank fraud, are lodged in High Security Yard of the jail alongwith Mumbai-based jeweller Birju Salla and Kishorsinh Rathod, son of former MLA Bhavsinh Rathod. Senior jail official Aslam Qureshi said a surprise search was conducted Wednesday evening in their barrack. "We recovered two mobiles and four SIM cards from their possession. We also found two hands-free headphones and a memory card," he added. An FIR was lodged against the four accused at Ranip police station under IPC section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and under the Prisons Act, said inspector J G Patel. Special Operations Group (SOG) of City Crime Branch will probe how mobile phones found their way into the high-security jail, he said. Amit, Sumit and their father Suresh Bhatnagar were arrested by the CBI in April this year in connection with an alleged Rs 2,654 crore bank fraud. Suresh Bhatnagar got bail on health grounds recently. Birju Salla was arrested in October last year for allegedly creating a bomb and hijacking scare on a Jet Airways flight. He had allegedly put a hoax note in the plane's washroom. Rathod was arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad in January for alleged involvement in a racket supplying raw material for the banned party drug methamphetamine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU) Vice-Chancellor Arvind Kumar Agarwal who had resigned following a controversy over his academic credentials was relieved of his responsibilities on Thursday. Agarwal, who was under the government's radar over allegations for allegedly giving false information while applying for the post, will now be joining his parent department in the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala. "Consequent upon his request and further acceptance of his resignation by the Visitor to the University, as communicated by the HRD Ministry, Arvind Kumar Agarwal, has been relieved of the responsibility of Vice Chancellor to enable him to join his parent department," an official order by the university in Motihari said. The V-C of the Bihar-based central university had tendered his resignation last month. The HRD Ministry had forwarded his resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind, Visitor to the university, who had last week accepted his request. The ministry received complaints that Agarwal lied about a foreign to get the job. He did not pursue his Ph.D at a German institute as claimed, and actually got the degree from the University of Rajasthan, it was complained. When contacted, Agarwal refused to comment on the issue. He was appointed as the first V-C of MGCU in Motihari by the government in February 2016 from a panel of three names submitted by the search-cum-selection committee. Agarwal is the ninth central university head to come under the scanner ever since the NDA government took charge. The HRD Ministry had fired V-Cs of the Visva Bharati University, Pondicherry University and the Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University for academic, administrative and financial irregularities. Inquiries were initiated against heads of the Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, IGNOU, Tripura University and the Allahabad University, but were either closed or put on the backburner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Battle lines have been drawn for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh elections in which 2,907 candidates will be into the fray from 230 assembly seats. The deadline for a withdrawal of nomination papers for the assembly election ended on Thursday, an Election Commission official said. Stakes are high for the BJP as the Congress is going all out to wrest power from the saffron party, which has been ruling the state for 15 years. The highest number of 34 candidates will lock horns in Mehgaon constituency in Bhind district, while the lowest number of four nominees will battle it out in Gunnor seat in Panna district, the EC official said. ALSO READ: Congress finds it hard to appease rebel candidates in Madhya Pradesh polls The keenly-watched constituency will be Budhni, the home turf of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress has pitted former Union minister and former Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arun Yadav against him. According to the EC official, there are 1,102 independent candidates into the fray. Of the major parties, only the BJP has fielded candidates on all 230 seats. During one of his addresses last month, BJP chief Amit Shah had exhorted his party workers to strive to win over 200 seats. "The party had once registered a victory by winning 207 seats in Madhya Pradesh. So, we have given a slogan 'Abki bar, 200 par'. We are confident of achieving this target and forming the government for the fourth consecutive term," BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said. The Congress, which tried unsuccessfully to forge a pre-poll alliance with Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party and Akhilesh Yadav-led-Samajwadi Party, later joined hands with Sharad Yadav's Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) for the election. The Congress is contesting on 229 seats and has left one seat Jatara in Tikamgarh district for the LJD. Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi expressed confidence that his party would form the government this time. "There is anger against the BJP dispensation because of their fake promises. Congress will form the government by winning over 150 seats. The party has been highlighting the 15-year 'misrule' of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and reaching out to people," he said. The BSP has fielded 227 candidates and the SP is contesting on 51 seats. Madhya Pradesh BSP president Pradeep Ahirwar said there is a strong anti-incumbency wave against the BJP. He added that Dalit unity would work in the party's favour and help it win 32 seats. SP national spokesman Jagdev Singh Yadav claimed his party would win at least 10 seats. "The party has a strong presence in Bundelkhand, Chambal regions besides in Balaghat district," he said. The Aam Aadmi Party, contesting the Madhya Pradesh election for the first time, has fielded 208 candidates. In the last assembly poll, of the total 230 seats, the BJP had won 165 seats, Congress 58, BSP four and independents three. As per the final electoral rolls, the state has 5,04,95,251 voters, including 2,63,01,300 males, 2,41,30,390 females and 1,389 third gender voters. In addition, there are 62,172 voters who can exercise their franchise through postal ballots. AP Avoids Calling Farrakhan Comments "Anti-Semitic" | Main | New Yorker's Ostensible Accuracy on Gaza Fisherman November 15, 2018 Small Steps: Improved NY Times Language on Target of Hamas Rockets Earlier this week, we pointed out how a New York Times article about fighting between Israel and Hamas neglected to inform readers that Palestinian rockets were fired indiscriminately toward civilians in Israeli towns and cities. This was part of how the newspaper created a false equivalence between Hamas's rocket attacks against civilians, each one a war crime, and Israel's counterstrikes against Hamas assets in Gaza. Instead of being clear about where those rockets were aimed, the report said only that they were fired "into Israel" or "across much of southern Israel." It even suggested Israel's civilians were unintended targets: "On both sides of the Gaza border, wrote David Halbfinger, the newspaper's Jerusalem bureau chief, civilians caught up in the fighting said they felt terrorized by it. Israel's civilians weren't "caught up" in the fighting. They were targeted in the fighting. With an article published today, entitled "With Small Steps, Palestinians and Israelis Try to Tackle Gazas Ills," the same author took a small step in the right direction. This article makes clear, at least, that the fighting involved "hundreds of rockets raining down on Israeli cities." It might not sahre that Hamas is viewed internationally as a terror organization, or that indiscriminately firing into cities is a violation of international law. But rockets raining on cities is certainly more informative than rockets fired into Israel. Posted by at November 15, 2018 12:22 PM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment BJP chief Amit Shah reached out to tribals in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Thursday and informed them about the several welfare measures being taken by the party-led governments at the Centre and in the state. Speaking at a rally in Barwani, which comprises four tribal-dominated assembly seats, scheduled to go to polls along with the rest of the state on November 28, Shah also criticised Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress chief was "suffering from Modi phobia". He claimed Gandhi's speeches were leading to confusion that the Congress chief was addressing BJP rallies as he was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than his party's colleagues and leaders. "Rahul is chanting, Modi, Modi across the country and is suffering from Modi phobia. I heard a speech of Rahul baba, where, instead of speaking anything good or worthwhile, he chanted Modi, Modi," Shah told the crowd. He claimed the Congress had done no good for tribals but the BJP sanctioned the Indore-Manmad rail route for them. He said Modi, in his first speech after becoming prime minister, had said his government would be of tribals. "Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had opened a separate Tribal Welfare Ministry, which the Congress couldn't do before," Shah said. He alleged that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had said that minorities have a right over the country's resources but Modi had said tribals and the poor have control over the nation's resources. "Modiji has provided smoke-free stoves (LPG connections) to 5.5 crore tribal and poor women," he claimed, adding that the Centre was running 129 schemes for the poor and has taken a lead in giving land to tribals under the Forest Rights Act. At an election rally on Wednesday in Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, where the second and final phase of polling would be held on November 20, Gandhi had accused Modi of being arrogant and said India cannot be run by a single person or a party. The Congress chief had said the prime minister "doesn't understand that India has progressed due to the sweat and blood of the common man". He had urged the crowd at his rally to ask Modi, when he visits them, about the promises he made to people in 2014 after being elected. "He (Rahul) is suffering from Modi phobia. This is not his fault given that throughout the length and breadth (of the country), the public is chanting Modi, Modi," Shah responded Thursday. "Rahul Baba is throwing questions to Modi ji and seeking account of his four-and-a-half-year-old government. Instead, (he should) give an account of the work of 60 years of your four generations." Referring to former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh, the BJP president said during the rule of "bantadhar" (spoiler), there were no roads and electricity in the state. On the other hand, Shah claimed, the BJP government under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has turned MP from a BIMARU (laggard) state to a developed one. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) has said the stretch showcasing Nagaland's 'Hornbill Night Carnival' from December 1-10 will be a "plastic-free zone". The carnival is part of the International Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, an annual tourism promotion event of the state government. There will be a ban on usage of all forms of plastic and non-biodegradable materials, including mineral water bottles and thermocol, KCCI president Medozhatuo Rutsa told reporters on Wednesday. KCCI and Kohima Municipal Council would be providing alternate paper bags, while eateries can use washable dishes, he said, adding, defaulters would be penalised. The 10-day night carnival would be set up from 6 pm to 9 pm from Phoolbari junction to Razhu Point. The forms for opening of stalls will be issued from Thursday. The last date of submission of the forms is November 22, and declaration of stalls would be done on November 24. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The publisher of the National Herald newspaper, which was ordered by the Centre to vacate its premises here by November 15, got a last minute breather Thursday with the Delhi High Court directing status quo till November 22. Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of the newspaper, approached the high court on November 12 challenging the October 30 order of the Urban Development Ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises at the press enclave in ITO. In its petition, the AJL alleged that the proceedings by the Urban Development ministry were being initiated for the purposes of "scuttling the voices of dissent" and the voice of the largest opposition party in the country, a reference to the Congress. Without naming the BJP, the AJL further alleged that the order issued under pressure and directives from the ruling party at the Centre is vitiated by malafides, bias and had "oblique political motives". "It is evident that there are extraneous factors in the decision-making process and the entire exercise of passing the impugned order is only a political witch hunt aimed at dismantling and destroying the voice of dissent and opposition parties," the petition contended. When the matter came up for hearing in the high court, the central government gave an oral assurance it will maintain status quo till November 22. The assurance was given before Justice Sunil Gaur by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta after the court said if the government wanted the matter to be heard on another date "then maintain status quo till then". Mehta told the court he will not be able to argue post lunch as he has to be in the Supreme Court for another matter and urged the high court to hear the matter on another date. Senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for AJL, told the court that status quo ought to mean no taking over of possession as well as no initiation of proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971. To this, the court said "obviously" and added, "when the matter is sub-judiced, then that much courtesy they need to show to the court". The Land and Development Office (L&DO), which comes under the Urban Development Ministry, had ended the lease -- entered into with AJL on August 2, 1962 and made perpetual on January 10, 1967 -- asking the company to hand over the possession by November 15. The L&DO's order also said that failure to hand over possession would lead to initiation of proceedings under the Public Premises Act. During the proceedings, Singhvi told the judge that two officials of L&DO have entered the National Herald premises which ought not to have been done. This claim was refuted by Mehta and the court asked Singhvi to ask his clients to verify the submission. After a few minutes, Singhvi on instructions told the court that he has photographs of the two officials and said that their names were -- Gopal Rastogi and K R Rana. While Mehta said the matter would be looked into, the court said, "They (L&DO) cannot take possession like this. They have to proceed under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971". It was also argued on behalf of AJL that the digital versions of English newspaper 'National Herald', Hindi's 'Navjivan' and Urdu's 'Qaumi Awaz' have commenced since 2016-17. The weekly newspaper 'National Herald on Sunday' resumed on September 24 last year and the place of publication was the ITO premises, Singhvi said, adding that the Hindi weekly newspaper 'Sunday Navjivan' was also being published since October this year from the same premises. "The necessary licences and authorisations for the purposes of publication were also placed on record, in particular, the necessary licenses have been obtained by the petitioner (AJL)," the petition said. Singhvi said the first ground for eviction indicated in the L&DO order was that no press was running in the premises given on lease to AJL in 1962. He said this ground was raised for the first time in a June 18, 2018 show cause notice issued on the basis of an inspection carried out on April 9, 2018 and it was not mentioned in the earlier notice of 2016. "The requirement of running a press cannot mean that all press and printing related activities have to necessarily be conducted at the same premises, that is, demised premises. "The imperatives of prudent commercial business operations may necessitate that the company utilise the infrastructure or the premises at some other place as a supplement to their operations in the present premises," he said. Singhvi further said that a new printing press has been bought and installed. With regard to the allegation of transfer of the premises to Young Indian(YI), when it became a shareholder of AJL by taking over its debt, the senior lawyer said that change in shareholding does not lead to transfer of property. He further argued there was no clause in the agreement, which was converted into a perpetual lease on January 10, 1967, that L&DO's permission was required for change in shareholding and this requirement cannot be incorporated by interpretation. He said AJL continues to be the owner of the premises and YI was only the 98 per cent shareholder of the company. Singhvi said these two grounds were raised in the show-cause notice of June 18, 2018, in addition to two others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has hinted his party would participate in assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir if fresh elections to the state legislature were announced in near future. "You got the control of a handful of towns & cities because NC & PDP stayed away (and the Congress did such a poor job of putting up a fight). Do you really think we will give you a walkover in the Assembly polls?" Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle Wednesday. He was responding to BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who had asked the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party if they would participate in assembly polls if held in near future. "On one hand, they (NC and PDP) say they will not take part in elections to safeguard Article 35A, on the other, they demand dissolution of assembly and fresh elections. Tomorrow if assembly elections are held, will you will fight or go by your boycott?" Madhav said at a function in Kathua on Tuesday night. NC and PDP did not participate in urban local bodies elections held in the state last month after a gap of nearly 13 years due to the legal challenge to Article 35-A of the Constitution, which guarantees exclusive residency rights to people of the state only, before the Supreme Court. The two regional parties had asked the Centre to mount a strong defence of the constitutional provision before the apex court. They had remained non-committal to participation in future elections in the state. Jammu and Kashmir was placed under the governor's rule on June 19 this year after the BJP pulled out of its coalition with the PDP and no alternative front staked claim for government formation. However, the state assembly has been placed in suspended animation, leaving doors open for efforts for fresh government formation. As per the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, the state will go under direct President's Rule on December 19 if the present situation continues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Thursday wrote to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, seeking its intervention into recent complaints of sexual harassment at the All India Radio (AIR). The women's rights body also asked the ministry to submit a status report in one week. The letter said several cases of alleged mishandling of sexual harassment complaints have been reported from different AIR stations in the wake of the recent #MeToo movement. As part of this movement, scores of women have spoken out about sexual harassment at workplace. Sharma said the commission has received a complaint from the "All India Radio Casual Announcer and Comperes Union alleging sexual harassment at workplace of casual announcers and comperes working in different stations of AIR throughout the country". In the letter addressed to I&B secretary Amit Khare, Sharma asked for his "personal intervention" in the matter. "I am bringing (this) to your notice for your personal intervention in the matter and to keep the commission apprised about the status report within 7 days of the receipt of the letter," she said. The NCW chairman also wrote to Prasar Bharti CEO Shashi S Vempati and asked for a probe into the matter. She also asked for an action taken report within 15 days. Earlier on November 9, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi wrote to Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to ensure that a "sensitive and fair system" is put in place at the state-owned AIR to address the sexual harassment complaints. Gandhi said a responsible organisation must provide justice to each and every woman who complains of sexual harassment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national interest on the Rafale issue, with party chief Rahul Gandhi alleging that the latest skeleton to tumble out of the "Rafale cupboard" is that there is no guarantee by the French government backing the deal. The Congress also accused the prime minister of accepting in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by him, the higher benchmark price' of Euro 8.2 billion instead of Euro 5.2 billion for the 36 aircraft, despite objections by the defence acquisition council and the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar not approving it. The opposition party also charged Modi with waiving the condition of arbitration between India and France by converting it into an arbitration between the supplier company Dassault and Indian Government, as also changing the venue of arbitration from India to Switzerland. Gandhi asked if the Rafale jet deal can be called a "Government to Government" contract, as there is only a letter from the French government promising to be faithful. "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: No Guarantee by the French Government backing the deal. "BUT, our PM says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful. That's enough to call this a Government to Government deal?(sic)" he asked on Twitter, using the hashtag "BikGayaChowkidar". The government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The French government has, however, given a "letter of comfort" to India which would be good enough "governmental guarantee", Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court. Echoing his party president, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the only forum to investigate "acts of omission, commission and corruption in the biggest defence scam" of India is to have a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe. The government has denied any wrongdoing in the deal while the BJP has dismissed as "lies" allegations of corruption levelled by the Congress. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Surjewala alleged, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone as far as to sabotage his own nation's interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends" and added that the prime minister had waived the sovereign guarantee requirement in the deal. Surjewala claimed that new revelations further expose "brazen corrupt practices" in Rafale scam. "The entire spectrum of deception lies at the doorstep of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he alleged. "The bottom line is, Prime Minister Modi has gone as far as to sabotage his own Nation's Interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends," he alleged. "The new expose in Rafale scam. Why did PM Modi set a higher benchmark price' of Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62166 crore) instead of 5.2 Billion Euro (Rs 39422 crore). "Why did PM Modi compromise National Interests by waiving Bank Guarantee/French Government's Sovereign Guarantee' in violation of DPP," he asked. The Congress leader claimed that a senior official of the Defence Ministry has spilled the beans' indicting the Modi Government for "corrupt practices" in fixing a higher benchmark price'. Surjewala said on August 24, 2016, a day after the Law ministry raised objections on the sovereign guarantee, PM Modi in the CCS, accepted the Letter of Comfort' and waives off the condition of Bank Guarantee/French Government Sovereign Guarantee'. On the arbitration waiver, he said on December 11, 2015, the Law Ministry opined that India should be the venue of arbitration in case of a dispute and the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 be made applicable, but Modi Government agreed to arbitration with Dassault instead of French Government. "If the agreement is between Indian and French governments as stated, how can the arbitration be held between India and Dassault Aviation. Why has PM Modi compromised on national interests," he asked. Surjewala also alleged that the national security adviser was negotiating the Rafale deal, and not the Negotiations Committee' of IAF and the Defence Ministry. "Did PM Modi ask him to do so and for what reason. On January 12/13, 2016, NSA Ajit Doval negotiated the Rafale deal in Paris and then defence minister on March 7, 2016 recorded about a meeting held by NSA with the French side in Paris to negotiate the deal. "The simple question is, why was NSA Ajit Doval negotiating the Rafale deal in Paris and under whose authority," he asked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Thursday accused Prime Minister of compromising interests on the Rafale issue, with party chief alleging that the latest skeleton to tumble out of the "Rafale cupboard" is that there is no guarantee by the French government backing the deal. Gandhi asked if the Rafale jet deal can be called a "Government to Government" contract with Prime Minister saying there is only a letter from the French government promising to be faithful. "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: No Guarantee by the French Government backing the deal. "BUT, our PM says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful. That's enough to call this a Government to Government deal?" he asked on Twitter, using the hashtag "BikGayaChowkidar". The government told the on Wednesday that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The French government has, however, given a "letter of comfort" to which would be good enough "governmental guarantee", Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court. Echoing his party president, chief spokesperson said the only forum to investigate acts of omission, commission and corruption in the "biggest defence scam" of is to have a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe. "Prime Minister has gone as far as to sabotage his own nation's interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends," he said at a press conference, alleging that the prime minister had waived the sovereign guarantee requirement in the deal. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday distributed land rights to landless slum dwellers in Puri as part of the "Jaga Mission" which seeks to empower 18 lakh people in urban areas of the state. The chief minister distributed land 'pattas' to slum dwellers at a special programme held in the pilgrim town of Puri. "The Mission is aimed at bringing smiles on the faces of poor people," said Patnaik. Describing the programme as a unique move in the country, Patnaik said land patta had been provided to 6,500 families residing in 22 slum clusters of Puri. Two lakh families living in 2,000 slums spread across urban areas of the state would be provided with land rights under the "Jaga Mission," he said. Odisha government targets to provide land rights to around 18 lakh urban slum dwellers residing in Municipal Corporation and Notified Area Council (NAC) areas in the state as part of the "Jaga Mission", said an official. "Only landless people will be provided with land pattas in urban areas," said state's Urban Development Minister Niranjan Pujari. Under the programme, eligible beneficiaries will also get facilities including housing under AWAAS, pipe water supply, smart LED lights and toilets. The state government has allocated Rs 100 crore for the programme during 2018-19, sources said. Earlier, the chief minister's visit to Puri was opposed by BJP activists who staged a protest holding black flags. The demonstrators tried to take out a rally from VIP Road to Stadium Chhak but they were stopped by police. Opposition BJP hit out at the state government accusing it of having "failed" to record of rights to the permanent residents of Puri. BJP leader Golak Mohapatra alleged that the government was giving misleading information about the programme. While the number of beneficiaries was earlier put at 10 lakh in August and September, it has now suddenly been increased to 18 lakh, he claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha government Thursday announced a special package for the people hit by drought in nine districts in the state. The package was decided at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, officials said. Earlier, the state government had identified as many as 5,633 villages of 66 Blocks and 16 urban local bodies (ULBs) of nine districts - Baragarh, Bolangir, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh, as drought affected areas. The farmers in these districts have suffered crop loss of 33 per cent and above due to moisture stress. To give relief to farmers who have taken credit from different banks, the state government has decided to convert short term kharif loans in the affected areas during kharif 2018 having crop loss of 33 per cent into medium term loan, he said. Due date of Kharif short term loan advance in the affected areas will be extended up to September 30, 2019 to facilitate conversion of such loans into medium term loans, the official said. The Central government would be requested to provide interest incentive of 3 per cent for medium term (conversion) loans which is at par with crop loans for prompt paying farmers, he said. The government has also decided 100 per cent remission in respect of cess on land revenue and compulsory basic water rate will be given to farmers where the crop loss is 33 per cent or more, the official said. Similarly, it has been decided that school fees and school examination fees up to high school level in government schools shall be waived in the affected areas. In the agriculture sector, agriculture input subsidy will be provided to small and marginal farmers who have suffered crop loss of 33 per cent and above Rs 6,800 per hectare of land in rainfed/non irrigated areas, Rs 13,500 per hectare of land in areas under assured irrigation and Rs 18,000 per hectare for all types of perennial crops. Agriculture input subsidy will also be given to farmers other than small and marginal farmers at the same rate subject to a ceiling of two hectare per farmer. The assistance would be provided to actual cultivators. The agricultural input subsidy to any affected farmer will not be less than Rs 2000 for perennial crops and Rs 1000 for other crops. This apart, it has been decided to distribute 1,00,000 of pulses, 30,000 oilseed mini kits, and 20,000 vegetable seed kits to the drought affected farmers during Rabi 2018-19. The special package also includes work under MGNREGA by Panchayati Raj and Drinking water department to establish water harvesting structures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Electric vehicle maker Olectra-BYD said Thursday it has deployed its 10 electric buses for Sabarimala pilgrimage to take pilgrims to the hill-top shrine in zero-emission vehicles. It is the first company to deploy electric buses in Kerala under commercial operations in collaboration with the state road transport corporation, Olectra-BYD said in a statement. A total of 10 electric buses will be deployed for travel to the shrine, with five buses being flagged off Thursday in Thiruvananthapuram by state Transport Minister A K Saseendran, the company said in a statement. "We are sure that like other states, our 10 buses will repeat the success in Kerala as well. The eBuzz K7 has already proved its reliability as it has been successfully plying at a high altitude and steep gradient of 13,000 feet in Himachal Pradesh," Olectra Greentech Executive Director N Naga Satyam said. The eBuzz K7 electric buses are manufactured in India by Olectra Greentech (Formerly Goldstone Infratech) in a strategic tie-up with China's BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd. The 9-meter air-conditioned low-floor buses have a capacity of 32+1 (driver) seats. The lithium-ion battery installed in the bus enables it to travel up to 250 kilometres in a single charge based on traffic conditions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IT company Onmobile Global said Thursday it expects close to six-folds growth in its gaming business revenue to around Rs 500 crore in the next three years. "We are expecting an expansion of game business from USD 12 million (around Rs 86 crore) currently to USD 70 million (around Rs 504 crore) over three years," Onmobile Global Chief Financial Officer Ganesh Murthy said. The company last month signed agreement to acquire Sweden-based games and kids app clubs subscription services Appland AB. Appland provides premium games and kids apps as a white-labeled subscription service to more than 80 carriers in over 40 countries. "Looking at the current data trends, the gaming industry is expected to witness an annual growth in excess of 10 per cent over the next few years and a major part of this growth is expected from mobile gaming. OnMobile has made its foray in the gaming industry with the launch of ONMO Games where the users will have an access to premium and freemium games at an affordable subscription fee," Murthy said. The Bengaluru-based firm OnMobile claims to deliver over 575 million music plays daily to mobile customers worldwide at present. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vietnam Thursday was non-committal in backing the "Quad" or quadrilateral coalition among India, the US, Japan and Australia, saying it welcomes any initiative to bring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region but is opposed to the formation of any military alliance. Vietnam's newly-appointed envoy Pham Sanh Chau also emphasised on the need to maintain peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea, adding his country does not want the region to be a "theatre" of power-play by major powers. "Vietnam welcomes any initiative for maintenance of peace, security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. However, we do not want to see a military alliance formed because we believe that it is not conducive to the security environment in the region," he told reporters. The envoy was asked whether Vietnam supports the quadrilateral coalition among the four powers. "If any country wants to gang up, use force or trying to use force, then it goes against the position of Vietnam," he said. Chau's comments came three days before President Ram Nath Kovind begins a visit to Vietnam. He indicated that expanding defence and security cooperation will be one of the key focus areas of discussions during Kovind's visit to Vietnam. In November last year, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending "Quad" Coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. The move was seen as an effort to contain China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The US has been pushing for a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific which is seen by many countries as an effort to contain China's growing clout in the region. India is known to be reluctant in giving military shape to "Quad". Chau also made it clear that it was not his country's policy to ally with any country or bloc which may act against any country. Asked about situation in the South China Sea, he said there was a need to ensure the "full and effective" implementation of the international code of conduct by all parties concerned to maintain peace and stability in the region. Vietnam is one of the claimants to the South China Sea, a disputed region that has been witnessing increased Chinese military presence. Besides China and Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have overlapping territorial claims in the sea, known to be rich in hydrocarbons. China has been opposing India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) exploring oil in areas claimed by Vietnam in the South China Sea. Asked about China's objections to India's oil exploration there, the Vietnamese envoy said ONGC has been exploring oil in territories of Vietnam. "The cooperation between Vietnam's petroleum company and ONGC has been going on without any problem. There is no objection from a third country," he said. India has asserted that ONGC's exploration is a commercial operation and not connected with the dispute. Oil exploration in the South China Sea is a sensitive issue in Vietnam-China relations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Kaala" helmer Pa Ranjith will direct the biopic on the life of Birsa Munda, the tribal freedom fighter who led a religious movement in the modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand in the late 19th century. On the occasion of Munda's 143rd birth anniversary Thursday, the makers announced Ranjith would be making his Bollywood directorial debut with this yet-to-be-titled film. Birsa Munda single-handedly raised an army of tribals and fought against the British for their rights to ownership of land, a press release read. "When I first read about him seven years back, in Mahasweta Devi's 'Aaranyer Adhikar', I knew I will narrate this story. "When Shareen, Kishor and I met to discuss this, we shared the same passion to narrate this inspiring story that will make a brilliant feature film, which will appeal to the Indian as well as the international audience," Ranjith's said in a statement. Ranjith is well known for directing films such as "Kaala", "Kabali", "Madras" and "Attakathi". Producer duo Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishor Arora of Namah Pictures, who had produced Majid Majidi's "Beyond The Clouds", will back the biopic. Shareen said the life and times of Birsa Munda are an inspiration and it is a remarkable story that needs to be told. The makers have also acquired the rights of Mahasweta Devi's book "Jangal Ke Davedar", based on the life of Birsa Munda. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan certainly needs to do more in its fight against terrorism and the Trump administration expects Islamabad to act against terror groups like the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba in same way as it did against al-Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks, a top American official has said. State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Alexander Sales said during a Congressional hearing that the US was "very concerned" over the support for terrorism in any region of the world. "And I can tell you we have communicated to the Pakistani government at the highest levels that we expect them to do more just like we expected them to act with us after 9/11," Sales said on Wednesday. "Pakistan has in the past been a very effective counterpart in taking the fight to al-Qaeda. We need them to do the same thing with respect to the Haqqanis, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the other terrorist groups that are active in the region," he said. Sales said Pakistan "certainly needs to do more" in the fight against terrorism. His remarks came after several Congressmen expressed concern over the continued resistance by Pakistan to take satisfactory action against terror groups operating from its soil. The lawmakers alleged that Pakistan was not doing enough against the terror groups. "I think they're not doing the job, despite terrorism, because the terrorists come in from Pakistan into Afghanistan, do their mischief, and run back across the border. I think they've been doing that for years," said Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. "They take our money.million of dollars we give Pakistan every year. It befuddles me why we do that when they don't... and they allow a safe haven for terrorists in their own country that invade another country, namely Afghanistan," Poe alleged. He, however, praised the State Department for not giving Pakistan funds for counterterrorism. The State Department's Inspector General filed a report last year that found much of the antiterrorism assistance US had given to Pakistan was not being used, including dozens of courses not implemented. "I am pleased to hear the Bureau has since repurposed many of the resources that had been sent to Pakistan to other more worthwhile programs. We cannot afford to throw good money after bad. Effective monitoring and evaluation programs are crucial to spotting what is not working and making changes that do," he said. In his first tweet of the year, US President Donald Trump had expressed his dissatisfaction over Pakistan's reluctance in taking strong action against terrorists. "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" Trump tweeted. He had ordered to stop all security financial assistance to Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pardeep Narwal starred with excellent raids to guide Patna Pirates to a close 38-35 win over Dabang Delhi in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) match here Thursday. Pardeep led Patna with an excellent raiding performance as he scored 16 points and was ably supported by Manjeet (8 points). For Dabang Delhi, Naveen Kumar was the star performer as he scored 15 raid points and almost led his team to a victory. But Dabang Delhi would rue the missed opportunities as they were in control for most part of the match. Narwal opened Patna Pirates' account in the second minute with a successful raid. It was an evenly contested affair in the first 10 minutes with both the teams trading raid and tackle points. Dabang Delhi scored a raid point through Rajesh Narwal in the 10th minute as they trailed 7-8. Manjeet made a brilliant super raid as Patna Pirates led 11-7 and reduced Dabang Delhi to just two men. Dabang Delhi averted an all out as Naveen Kumar got a two-point raid and trailed 10-12. Patna Pirates finally inflicted an all out in the 13th minute to extend the lead to 16-10. In the last five minutes of the first half, Dabang Delhi fought back with their defence getting two tackle points as they trailed 15-17. Patna Pirates were reduced to two men as Dabang Delhi ended the first half trailing by just one point. Dabang Delhi inflicted an all out in the 21st minute to lead 21-19. Pardeep made a super raid in the 23rd minute to level the match at 23-23 for Patna Pirates. Dabang Delhi quickly took a three-point lead with tackles and raids as they led 26-23 after 26 minutes. Patna Pirates were being led ably by Naveen Kumar's raiding endeavours throughout the match. With less than seven minutes to go, Dabang Delhi led 30-26. Both Pardeep and Naveen Kumar kept picking up raid points to keep their teams into the match. Dabang Delhi held the edge as they led 33-31 with just over three minutes to go. Pardeep got another raid point in the 38th minute as Patna Pirates trailed 32-33. Patna Pirates defence made a critical tackle to send Naveen Kumar to the bench as they levelled the match at 33-33. Patna Pirates inflicted an all out with just two minutes to go and led 36-33. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will likely meet again after New Year, the US vice president said Thursday, but insisted his government would not repeat past mistakes where "promises are broken". The US president and the North's leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. North Korea has taken some steps since then -- forgoing nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a missile test site and promising to also break up the country's main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions. But progress has generally been slow, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. Trump has said he hopes to have a second meeting with Kim early next year, but talks between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official planned for last week, partly to prepare for the meeting, were cancelled. The US said the North axed the talks because they weren't ready, and Trump insisted he was in "no rush". Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still "ongoing". "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," he told reporters. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of prior administrations -- frankly both political parties have made over the last several decades -- where promises are made, sanctions are lifted and economic support comes and then promises are broken." His comments came after a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a summit attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Pence urged other countries at the meeting to keep up sanctions pressure on the North amid signs that Pyongyang's traditional trading partners, China and Russia, have eased enforcement. Seoul has also said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. US officials insist on the complete, verified and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled on the pressure in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), insisting sanctions should be fully enforced. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship to ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". "In all that we do the United States seeks collaboration not control," he said at the meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. He also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure your nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land and at sea." Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, even areas approaching the coastlines of other countries, and has been establishing military installations on disputed outcrops. After Singapore, Pence is heading to Papua New Guinea for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A photograph showing Adolf Hitler embracing a young girl who had a Jewish grandmother has sold at auction for more than USD 11,000. The Washington Post reports the black-and-white image taken by Heinrich Hoffmann and inscribed by Hitler in dark blue ink shows him smiling as he embraces Rosa Bernile Nienau in 1933 at his mountainside retreat. The paper reports the image was deployed as propaganda at a time when the Nazi leader was being presented to the world as a kindly figure. Alexander Historical Auctions of Chesapeake City, Maryland, sold the photo Tuesday for USD 11,520. The auction house said research showed Hitler became aware of the girl's Jewish heritage but chose to ignore it. Nienau, who was nearly 6 when the photo was taken, died of polio in 1943. Andreas Kornfeld, vice president of sales for the auction house, wouldn't identify who consigned the photograph or the person who placed the winning bid. According to James Wilson's book, "Hitler's Alpine Headquarters," one of Hitler's henchmen discovered the young girl's roots and forbade her and her mother from visiting the retreat. But Hitler wasn't told, and after a while, Hitler wondered what happened to his favourite child. Eventually, he learned she'd been blacklisted from the property and he was not happy, the book said. This wasn't the first time the auction house handled Hitler-related items. In February 2017, a telephone owned by Hitler has sold at auction for USD 243,000. Kornfeld said at the time the phone sold to a person who bid by phone. The red telephone includes a Nazi party symbol and Hitler's name engraved on the back. Occupying Russian officers gave the phone to a British officer during a visit to Hitler's bunker in Berlin. The phone was used in vehicles and trains as well as Hitler's field headquarters. Kornfeld said a porcelain figure of an Alsatian dog, also owned by Hitler, also sold to a different bidder for USD 24,300. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Thursday said complaints against erring police personnel should be filed before the State Police Complaints Authority or the District Police Complaint Authority. Interacting with men at Kalka in Panchkula district on Friday evening, Khattar said after receiving the plaints, the authority will take prompt action. The State Police Complaints Authority will comprise retired Judges, IPS officers and representatives of public with vast experience, he said. Earlier, the state cabinet had approved the Haryana Police (Appointment of Chairperson and Members of Complaint Authorities) Rules, 2018. As per the Rules, a committee under the chairmanship of the state chief secretary will be constituted to recommend the names of chairman and members of the State Police Complaints Authority. The other members of the State Complaints Authority would be advocate general, Haryana, and additional chief secretary of home department. The committee will invite applications for appointment of chairperson and members of the complaints authority and later recommend the names of the candidates to the state government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Embattled British Prime Minister on Thursday faced a possible "coup" after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Indian-origin minister Shailesh Vara and two other ministers resigned from her deeply divided Cabinet over a "half-baked" divorce deal with the Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, Prime Minister May was hit by a bigger blow as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the withdrawal agreement with the 28-member bloc. Amidst a spate of resignations, prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg directly challenged 62-year-old May in the House of Commons. He later submitted a letter of no confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party. May's opponents need 48 letters from Tory MPs to trigger the confidence vote. Rees-Mogg told reporters that "coup" is the wrong word, as he is following legitimate means to try and oust the Prime Minister. "Leaving the is the most fantastic opportunity for the United Kingdom." "It means we can have the opportunity of setting lower tariffs, cheaper food, clothing and footwear, helping the least well off in our society the most." "This opportunity is being thrown away," the Conservative lawmaker said. Earlier, Vara, the Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office since January, said, "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better." He attacked the draft withdrawal agreement which would form the basis of the UK's exit from the EU by March 29, 2019, as a "half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation". The resignation of Raab, the man involved with the actual drafting of the agreement with EU counterparts, throws Prime Minister May's leadership in turmoil. Raab, who took charge as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU after his predecessor David Davis stepped down in protest over May's Brexit negotiations in July, said the proposed arrangement to avoid a post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". "I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to exit the arrangement," he said. Raab's resignation was followed by another pro-Brexit minister, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, announcing that she is resigning from the Cabinet over the issue. Another junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit over Brexit, shortly after her former boss Raab quit office. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who defended the deal before belligerent MPs in the House of Commons. Making a statement on the withdrawal agreement, dubbed the Outline Political Declaration, at the heart of the intensifying rebellion, May said she respected the views of her Cabinet members who chose to resign but delivering Brexit involves difficult choices. "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated....," May said in her statement. "When I first became Prime Minister in 2016, there was no ready-made blueprint for Brexit. Many people said it could simply not be done. I have never accepted that. I have been committed day and night to delivering on the result of the referendum and ensuring the UK leaves the EU absolutely and on time," the defiant prime minister said. Though she claimed the Cabinet had collectively given its backing to her deal, many ministers have spoken out against it and were not entirely happy with the final text. The biggest sticking point remains over what is termed as a Northern Ireland backstop, which leaves the EU with the option of keeping the whole of the UK within a common Customs Union if a future trading relationship fails to be thrashed out during the 21-month transition period, set to run until December 2021. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, attacked Prime Minister May in his response to May's statement on Brexit to the House. He said May's negotiations that resulted in the draft Brexit deal with the had ended in a "huge and damaging failure." Corbyn demanded that the government should withdraw the deal. "The government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected," he said. The markets also reacted sharply, with the British Pound falling heavily against most major currencies. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which props up the minority Tory government, have also been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. The fresh turmoil comes as Britain continues to try and thrash out the basis of its exit from the EU, after a referendum over its membership of the economic bloc resulted in a 52 per cent vote in favour of Brexit in 2016. Amidst the chaos within government, calls for a second "people's vote" over the issue of Brexit is also gaining ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the 13th East Asia Summit in Singapore during which the leaders of the grouping discussed global and regional issues, including maritime cooperation. "PM @narendramodi at #EastAsiaSummit reiterated India's vision of a peaceful, open and inclusive Indo Pacific region, strengthening maritime cooperation and commitment to a balanced RCEP," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. It was Prime Minister Modi's 5th East Asia Summit. India has been participating in the East Asia Summit since its very inception in 2005. The members of EAS consists of 10 ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. The EAS was formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity. Prime Minister Modi interacted with leaders of other countries, including his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, before the East Asia Summit Retreat. Later, the EAS leaders posed for a customary group photograph. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit where he underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. "Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet," Modi tweeted. Prime Minister Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival. He held separate bilateral meetings with US Vice President Mike Pence and the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. Before leaving for Singapore, Modi had said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolised India's "continued commitment" to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for home on Thursday after a two-day visit to Singapore during which he attended the ASEAN and the East Asia Summits besides holding a number of bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including US Vice President Mike Pence. "PM @narendramodi departs for Delhi after a productive 36 hour visit to Singapore that highlighted our importance to East Asia Summit and ASEAN-led mechanisms to regional peace, prosperity & security," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Prime Minister Modi on Thursday participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit here and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Later, he attended the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) during which he reiterated India's vision of a peaceful, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and strengthening maritime cooperation. Modi also felicitated the winners of the first India-Singapore Hackathon, a platform for the youth of the two countries to harness and showcase their innovations. The prime minister, who arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, held extensive talks with Vice President Pence on a wide range of bilateral and global issues of mutual interests, including defence and trade cooperation, ways to counter terrorism and the need for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, where China is flexing its muscles. Modi on Wednesday also held bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. He also delivered the keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival - the first head of government to address the world's largest event on financial technology. It was Prime Minister Modi's 5th East Asia Summit. India has been participating in the East Asia Summit since its very inception in 2005. The EAS consists of 10 ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will crisscross poll-bound Madhya Pradesh from Friday starting with a public meeting in Shahdol district, over 500 kilometres from here, a senior BJP functionary said Thursday. The prime minister will address two public meetings, mostly on alternative days, starting Friday, state BJP chief Rakesh Singh said. After the rally at Shahdol Friday, Modi will be in Gwalior to address another rally before flying back to Delhi, Singh informed. He will return and address public meetings in Chhindwara and Indore on Sunday before returning to Delhi, Singh added. The prime minister will again visit Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday and address public meetings in Jhabua and Rewa districts. Three days later, on Saturday, Modi will return to the state and address public meetings in Mandsaur and Chhattarpur districts, Singh said. The next day (November 25), he will deliver speeches in Vidisha and Jabalpur districts, he added. MP BJP spokesperson Anil Soumitra said PM Modi was a charismatic leader and his visits to MP will immensely benefit the party which he claimed will win over 200 assembly seats out of 230 in the state. Meanwhile, MP Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi claimed Modis visit wont have any impact, adding that the state government was facing a strong anti-incumbency wave. He claimed the Congress was set to sweep the Assembly polls scheduled for November 28. The results will be declared on December 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre and the state governments have agreed to make it mandatory for thermal power plants to meet 5 per cent of their fuel requirement from paddy stubble pellets in Punjab and Haryana to check pollution caused by burning of farm waste, sources said. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Power Minister R K Singh and attended by chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The top brass of Central Electricity Authority and state-run power giant NTPC were also present in the meeting. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has been a major source of pollution in north India mainly in October-November when farmers clear their fields for sowing of rabi crops, according to System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research. "The respective states of Punjab and Haryana would issue an order to make it mandatory to meet 5 per cent of fuel requirement from paddy stubble pellets by thermal power plants. Some of the plants in Uttar Pradesh would also use the paddy waste as fuel. This was decided in a meeting chaired by Power Minister R K Singh here," a source said. The source further said that NTPC would do the hand holding for floating tenders to procure paddy pellets in the states and the auction would start immediately without further wasting time. The harvest season of paddy is almost over in Punjab and Haryana. Farmers are in the process of sowing rabi crops which would be harvested in April. The source also said that the proportion of pellets used as fuel would also be factored in the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) of these power plants. The RPO is mandated by state/centre regulatory commissions is applicable to power distribution companies, open access. They are under obligation to buy RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) from renewable energy producers to meet this norm. The source said that proportion of power producers using paddy pellets can be used meet their RPO which would encourage use of waste. The Centre has already conducted the pilot projects at NTPC's Dadri plant where up to 7 per cent of fuel requirement was met by paddy pellets. It is also established that the thermal power plants can meet upto 10 per cent of their fuel requirement using this waste. Across the globe, as many as 98 power plants use farm waste as fuel to achieve zero discharge and waste system. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The vice president (VP) of ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) is among five top-ranking officials who have been sent on "forced leave" following a complaint of sexual harassment by a former employee of the company, official sources said Thursday. A five-member committee, headed by a woman executive officer, is examining the case, an OTPC official said. "A high-level inquiry has been initiated into the complaint levelled by the former woman employee. All five accused officials, including a senior manager and the VP, have been sent on forced leave," he said. OTPC at Palatana in Kakrabon police station area of Gomati district is a 726-MW thermal power plant, catering to the entire northeast and neighbouring Bangladesh. Nabadwip Jamatiya, the additional superintendent of police of Gomati district, said the woman had filed a complaint earlier this month, following which the company was apprised of the matter. "We issued a letter to the authorities to tell them that the accused officials might influence the investigation if they were not removed from their posts," he said, adding that a probe is underway and statements of witnesses are being recorded. Giving details of the case, Naru Gopal Deb, the officer in-charge of Kakrabon police station, said the complainant had sent a mail to the district superintendent of police on November 3, following which a missive was sent to him to carry out investigation into the matter. The former executive served the OTPC from 2013 to 2016 before opting for voluntary retirement, he said. "All five officials have been asked not to leave the state. They have also been barred from entering the OTPC office complex for now," Deb added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind will pay a three-day visit to Vietnam beginning Sunday with a focus on deepening bilateral cooperation in key areas of defence and security, trade and in offshore oil exploration. Sharing details of the visit, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau said Kovind will address Vietnam's national assembly, and will become the second foreign leader to achieve the rare honour after Chinese President Xi Jinping. "We are looking at further bolstering the time-tested relationship between the two strategic partners," the envoy told reporters. Kovind's visit comes less than a month after Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong became the country's new president following the death of incumbent president Tran Dai Quang. Trong became the first leader to hold both the powerful posts since founding father Ho Chi Minh in the 1960s. Chau said both sides will aim to bolster cooperation in a number of sectors including defence and security, trade and investment, education, artificial intelligence, culture and tourism. He said a number of issues including India's offshore oil exploration in Vietnamese waters as well as defence cooperation may figure in the talks. Asked whether Vietnam was eyeing to procure Brahmos and Aakash missile systems from India, he did not give a direct reply but said "discussions are underway" between parties concerned on military purchases. The envoy said Vietnam was procuring 11 high-speed patrol vessels from India out of which five will be produced in India and six will be manufactured in Vietnam. He also said cooperation among the navies and air forces of the two countries are on an upswing and there was scope for further enhancing the defence ties. The issue of the South China Sea, where China has been showing increasing assertiveness, is likely to be discussed during Kovind's visit. On trade ties, Chau said the current volume of bilateral trade was USD 8.5 billion and it can increase significantly if the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP comes into force. "There is huge potential for trade to grow further," he said. Under RCEP, a grouping of 16 leading countries are trying create one of the largest regional trading bloc globally through an ambitious trade deal. The RCEP, comprising 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries -- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has sent the nomination of Neomi Rao, a prominent Indian-American attorney and academic, to the Senate to replace Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. If confirmed by the Senate, Rao, who is 45, would be able to serve a lifetime post on the D.C. court, largely considered the second highest court of the land and a training ground for future Supreme Court justices. If the Senate confirms her, she would be the second Indian-American judge in the D.C. Circuit Court after judge Sree Srinivasan, who was appointed during the previous Obama regime. Rao's nomination was sent to the Senate on Wednesday. Trump, during Diwali celebrations on Tuesday at the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House, announced the surprise nomination of the 45-year-old regulatory czar for the DC Circuit. Trump appeared delighted to jump ahead of Wednesday's planned announcement to nominate Rao, saying it was potentially the "biggest story" of the day. "We were going to announce that tomorrow," Trump told a crowd of Indian-American members of his administration at the White House. "And I said, you know, 'Here we are, Neomi, we're never going to do better than this.'" "She's going to be fantastic," Trump added. "Great person." Last month Kavanaugh, 53, was sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice. He has been embroiled in a bitter battle to stave off claims of sexual assault, which he denies. Rao, who currently serves as the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), is a vocal advocate of Trump's efforts to slash government regulations, crediting the reductions with stimulating job growth, The Hill reported. In her current role, Rao has played a key role in regulatory reform, which according to the White House saved American families and businesses USD 23 billion in fiscal year-2018 by getting rid of unduly burdensome and unnecessary regulation. As per the findings, released by the OIRA last month, Federal Agencies issued 176 deregulatory actions. Prior to her service as OIRA Administrator, Rao was a professor of structural constitutional law, administrative law, and legislation and statutory interpretation at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Rao founded the Law School's Center for the Study of the Administrative State and focused her scholarship on the political and constitutional accountability of administrative agencies and the role of Congress. She has previously served in all three branches of the federal government, and before taking on her current role in the executive branch, she was associate counsel and special assistant to the president for the George W Bush administration. She also served as counsel to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where she was responsible for judicial nominations and constitutional law issues. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School, Rao also worked in the private sector, in the international arbitration group of the London-based law firm, Clifford Chance LLP. Born to Zerin Rao and Jehangir Narioshang Rao, both Parsi physicians from India, Rao grew up in Michigan and did her schooling from Detroit High School. She is married to Alan Lefkowitz and the couple has two children. The South Asian Bar Association welcomed the nomination of Rao. "Congratulations to Neomi Rao on her nomination to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit," it said. The DC Circuit Court has served as a launching pad for other Supreme Court justices in addition to Kavanaugh, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas and the late Antonin Scalia. Due to its location, the court often hears cases challenging federal government actions, including agency rulemakings, US media reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jacob Rees-Mogg, an outspoken pro- MP, on Thursday submitted a letter of no-confidence in the leadership of Theresa May, putting her position as Prime Minister in further jeopardy. He said that the draft withdrawal deal she has finalised has "turned out to be worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation by the Prime Minister". The senior Tory party backbencher handed over his letter to the Conservative Party's influential 1922 Committee, which has the power to trigger a no-confidence vote in the party leader if it receives similar letters from a total of 48 party MPs. It remains unclear how many such letters have been submitted or may be on the way to Committee Chair Graham Brady. "It is in the interests of the party and the country if she (May) were to stand aside," Rees-Mogg, who chairs the pro- European Research Group, said in his letter. The letter came in the wake of resignations from ministers in her Cabinet, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and Indian-origin minister for Northern Ireland Shailesh Vara, in protest over the withdrawal agreement May has agreed to with the EU. The British PM made an impassioned defence of the deal in a statement in the House of Commons, declaring that the divorce deal she had struck was in the best interest of the UK. However, the biggest sticking point remains over Britain remaining within the EU Customs Union beyond the transition period. The draft agreement notes that in July 2020, both the EU and the UK will hold a joint review of the position before making one of the three choices: deciding a trade deal which supersedes the need for the backstop, a limited extension to the transition period or trigger the Irish border backstop. Brexiteers are infuriated by the lack of an independent review clause, which will allow the UK to unilaterally quit the backstop. "While some people might pretend otherwise, there is no deal which delivers the Brexit the British people voted for which does not involve this insurance policy," May said in her Commons statement. "The Brexit talks are about acting in the national interest - and that means making what I believe to be the right choices, not the easy ones. I know there are some who have said I should simply rip-up the UK's commitment to a backstop. But this would have been an entirely irresponsible course of action," she said. Rees-Mogg was among the MPs who confronted May during the Commons debate over the issue, asking her to give him a reason why he should not submit a letter of no-confidence over what he said were "broken promises" over Brexit. Soon after the parliamentary session, he went ahead with the move which may lead to further calls of no-confidence in May's leadership. Dismissing the idea that he was initiating a "coup" against the Prime Minister, the flambouyant MP for North East Somerset told reporters outside Parliament that he was simply following democratic procedures within the "I am not offering my name as leader. This is nothing to do with me," he said, naming a series of pro-Brexit MPs as potential leadership candidates Dominic Raab, who resigned as Brexit Secretary earlier; Esther McVey, who stepped down as work and pensions secretary; development secretary Penny Mordaunt; former foreign secretary Boris Johnson; and former Brexit secretary David Davis. Rees-Mogg expressed confidence that the required 48 letters will go into the 1922 Committee, even if it takes some time. "It is not much good if you lead and no one follows," he said. May's leadership was also rocked by Nigel Dodds, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader in Parliament, who told the Prime Minister that she had failed to listen to the Northern Irish party's concern and that her deal would leave the UK a "vassal state" of the EU. May relies on the DUP for her majority in House and she will need the draft withdrawal agreement to be passed by MPs after the final text is signed off by the remaining 27 EU member states later this month. Britain voted in favour of Brexit in a referendum in June 2016, which led to the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to set the clock on the country's formal exit from the 28-member bloc by March 29, 2019. The controversial withdrawal agreement is the result of months of negotiations on both sides and is crucial for the exit process to be completed on time. But unless both sides reach an amicable divorce arrangement, the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is expected to unleash further chaos. The SIT on 1984 anti-Sikh riots Thursday sought death penalty for two persons convicted by a court here, saying that it was a rarest of rare case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey reserved for November 20 the order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh for killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of South Delhi during the riots. The SIT demand was opposed by the counsel appearing for the convicts who sought life imprisonment for his clients, which is the minimum for the offence of murder. After the proceedings, while the convicts were being taken to the lock up inside the Patiala House Courts premises, BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa slapped one of the convicts Yashpal Singh. The case was lodged on a complaint filed by Santokh Singh, a brother of Hardev Singh. Delhi police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed in relation to the riots reopened the case. The court on Wednesday had convicted the two accused -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. The court held both the accused guilty under various sections including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Punjab Police is on alert after its counter-intelligence wing on Thursday informed that six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists are "planning to move towards Delhi" from the state. Police commissioners and district police chiefs have been put on alert following the input, according to a letter issued by the Punjab Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) office. The letter stated that "according to an input, a group of 6-7 JeM terrorists are reportedly in Punjab, India (possibly in Ferozepur area) and are planning to move towards Delhi from Punjab side." The letter has been sent to all police officials in Punjab. They have been asked to set up checkpoints at all important routes, conduct strict vehicle inspection and take suitable counter measures for all sensitive locations, it stated. The letter stated that police areas along the India-Pakistan border have been asked to coordinate with the Border Security Force (BSF). The officers have been advised to plan and implement precautionary measures to thwart any untoward incident, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exports of goods and services from Rajasthan rose to Rs 46,500 crore in 2017-18 from Rs 36,000 crore in 2015-16 to, a top state official said Thursday. Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), Rajeeva Swarup said that Rajasthan has experienced an exponential growth in local manufacturing and there has been a rapid improvement in the regulatory environment of business operations. He said that the share of industries in the state's economy presently stands at 27 per cent, registering an overall growth of 9 per cent in the last five years. Delivering a keynote address, special secretary and member (Customs), CBIC, Pranab Kumar Das said that the initiatives of the CBIC have resulted in paperless export and import clearances as well as digital customs. India has jumped 66 places in trading across borders and 23 places in Ease of Doing Business on the back of these efforts, he outlined. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress late Thursday night released its first list of 152 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections, fielding former chief minister Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpura and state party president Sachin Pilot from Tonk seat. Gehlot and Pilot had on Wednesday made their intentions clear that they would contest the assembly polls along with senior state leaders. Former National Commission for Women chief Girija Vyas will contest from Udaipur, while senior party leader C P Joshi will be party nominee from the Nathdwara assembly seat. The Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Rameshwar Lal Dudi, is the Congress's candidate from the Nokha assembly seat. AICC Secretary Harish Chaudhary will contest the polls from the Baytoo seat. Former BJP MP Harish Meena, who had switched over to the Congress on Wednesday, has been fielded from Deoli Uniara. The party's central election committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik released the list after hectic deliberations with senior state leaders and the party leadership. Sources said the list was reportedly delayed over differences on distribution of party tickets. The notification for the polls was issued on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- San Francisco based AI-enabled Unified Assessment and Interviewing platform, Talview, has hired Rajeev Menon as its new Chief Product Officer. Rajeev started his career as an accomplished sales professional and moved on to be a thought leader in assessments. He is a product innovation specialist who has been responsible for the creation of several behavior/personality assessments and tech enabled delivery platforms. He envisages that the Human Capital Measurement is set to undergo significant changes both in design and delivery and continues to draw best practices for assessments as the Chief Product Officer at Talview. "Our pioneering products have been our greatest asset all these years and fueled our strong growth even in face of much bigger competition. As Talview is embarking on its next phase of accelerated growth, having someone like Rajeev Menon to lead our product strategy will ensure that Talview maintains and gains on its lead in innovation as we continue to disrupt the global recruitment technology stack. Rajeev experience in global markets and being an early team member of one of the first HR tech companies out of APAC is an added advantage," stated Sanjoe Tom Jose, CEO of Talview. "Talent Management worldwide is undergoing never-before-seen changes as it faces the high uncertainties of the VUCA world, coupled with complex job roles and an entirely new GenZ culture bringing in the Gig Economy. Enterprise-grade intelligent hiring platforms that utilize the best of cutting-edge tech to help companies hire resources rapidly and accurately from anywhere in the world are the need of the hour. Having worked with Talview in a limited capacity over the past couple of years, I am convinced that it is wired correctly to provide the right solutions to meet this industry requirement. I am happy to come on board at Talview and help it realize its potential," said Rajeev Menon, Chief Product Officer, Talview. About Talview: Talview is a unified talent assessment and interviewing platform that helps large enterprises brings down the time to hire by up to 70% and significantly improve the quality of hire. This is enabled by our AI-enabled video interviewing, cognitive remote proctoring and advanced assessment solutions that leverage the best in class NLP, Machine Learning, Computer Vision and Video Analytics capabilities. Talview is transforming the global talent measurement industry by automating and modernizing the talent assessment process for some of the largest organizations in the world. Founded in 2013, Talview now processes over a million candidates each year for clients in more than 100 countries across the world. Talview is designed to cater to the mobile-first internet user of the 21st century who is accustomed to virtual methods of communication by providing an exceptional experience. Talview integrates seamlessly into most ATSs and LMSs to help reviewers and administrators automate repetitive tasks so they can focus on selecting the right candidates. Talview is funded by leading Silicon Valley-based VC funds. Currently operating out of the United States, Singapore, and India, with its headquarters in Palo Alto. For more details, please visit http://www.talview. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh, worried about their safety, on Thursday protested against "rushed" repatriation to Myanmar after Dhaka said it is fully prepared for the plan, opposed by the UN and aid agencies. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since August last year after a brutal military crackdown was launched, dubbed by the UN as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" by international rights watchdogs, sparking a global uproar. Four trucks and three buses have been stationed at Unchiprang camp in Cox's Bazar since Thursday morning, ready to carry refugees who have been "approved" to a transit camp by the border but not one refugee has been willing to board them, officials said. Several thousand Rohingya instead staged protests declining to go back to Myanmar as Bangladesh began preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,000 Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, in line with a plan agreed with Myanmar in October. "The buses were ready and we readied three days of rations for those who were set to return, in the first batch but none boarded on the buses," an official of the relief commissioner's office at the scene said. The Rohingyas staged protest marches demanding realisation of a five-point demand as the precondition that included deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in the Rakhine State to ensure their safety and giving them the full citizenship status in Myanmar. "We want our security and dignity, we don't believe them (Myanmar authorities)," a Rohingya protestors told a private TV channel. Bangladesh's refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam earlier said none of the 50 families spoken to so far "expressed their willingness to go back under the present circumstances" and "We cannot force them to go back against their will." "We are waiting, we will start the repatriation if someone agrees to go back by 4pm," Kalam said. Bangladesh officials on Thursday held several rounds of meetings with the Rohingya in their effort to motivate them to return home but said they were at liberty to decide on their return. The authorities in Dhaka, however, are yet to make any announcement on the situation. The UN rights body chief Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday urged Bangladesh to halt the repatriation plans fearing that sending them back would put their lives at "serious risk". The date for the beginning the repatriation was set on October 30 in line with Myanmar officials talks with Bangladesh while they visited the crammed Rohingya camps in the country's southeastern Cox's Bazar visibly in their effort to start a process as Naypyidaw agreed to begin their repatriation by November. Bangladeshi officials said they so far provided Myanmar a list of 24,000 Rohingyas in two phases, while Myanmar said they verified 5,000 of them while media reports quoting Naypyidaw sources suggested they could return initially 2,000. Myanmar earlier announced a large-scale repatriation plan in November 2017 but Dhaka alleged the country took little steps to keep their promise. Myanmar, however, is still refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing in its treatment of the Rohingyas. The UN investigators said Myanmar's top military officials should be prosecuted for genocide but the country has rejected the calls, insisting it was defending itself against armed fighters. The UN has called on both governments to halt the "rushed" repatriation plans but the pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Bangladesh, however, tried to quell the panic by instructing NGOs it maintained its commitment to voluntary returns and that all NGOs should continue their work as usual. US Vice President Mike Pence told Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse", adding pressure on Myanmar's civilian leader. Bangladesh, which had been extending refuge to another 300,000 Rohingyas ahead of the fresh exodus since last year, demanded greater UN and global pressure on Myanmar for their safe and dignified return. Rohingyas who took refuge in Bangladesh said their movement was restricted in their homeland ahead of the cleansing campaign while "fear and mistrust" had exposed them to hardship and economic vulnerability. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A male Royal Bengal Tiger, translocated from Madhya Pradesh, was found dead in the core area of Odisha's Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary, dealing a blow to the country's first inter-state, wild-to-wild translocation of big cats. Shortly after the incident, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) advised the Odisha government to temporarily halt the inter-state tiger translocation programme, till an investigation is completed and a thorough review conducted, a senior forest department official said. As part of the programme, six tigers were to be brought to Odisha from Madhya Pradesh and two of the big cats had already been procured by the state since June, he said. While the exact reason behind death of the three-year-old tiger, named 'Mahavir', could be ascertained only after a post-mortem, the state government on Thursday ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident after the carcass of the animal was spotted on Wednesday. "Ramasamy P, DFO, Satkosia Wildlife Division, has been appointed by the field director, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, as Investigating Officer to carry out a detail inquiry into the matter for initiating further course of action," an official statement released by the Reserve said. Odisha's Forest and Additional Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra confirmed the tiger's death and said the principal chief conservator of forests, wildlife, has rushed to the spot. He said a member of the NTCA would be in the team which would conduct the post-mortem. An investigation of the carcass showed a deep, lacerated wound in the dorsal neck region of the tiger, which could be the cause of the death, another official said. He said the wound might be due to fight with other wild animals or the tiger could have been caught in a snare net. "The site of the incident was not disturbed as per NTCA protocol. Hence, the exact reason of the mortality and time of the incident will be ascertained after a detailed post-mortem," Ramasamy said. The tiger was brought from Madhya Pradesh's Kanha Tiger Reserve on June 21 and released into the wild on July 7. A radio collar was fitted on its neck to keep track of the animal's movement. Signals from the radio collar had indicated on Wednesday the animal was immobile, forest department officials said. The other Royal Bengal Tiger, a female named 'Sundari', procured by the Odisha government has allegedly killed two people, prompting the state government to shift her to a special enclosure at Rayagada area in Angul district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Continuing its recovery momentum, the vaulted 34 paise to close at a two-month high of 71.97 against the US Thursday on robust foreign fund inflows amid low crude oil prices. Dealers said the strength in the was also supported by increased selling of the greenback by exporters and banks. Globally, and yen gained on Brexit-induced safe-haven buying. The British pound crashed more than 1.5 per cent after four UK ministers resigned over Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal. The euro, however, climbed to a two-week high. At the interbank forex market, the opened firm at 72.04 and rose further to 71.87 per US It touched a low of 72.18, before finally finishing at 71.97, up by 34 paise. The last time rupee breached the 72-level was on September 14, when it had closed at 71.84. The rupee had gained 36 paise to end at 72.31 against the US dollar Wednesday. The local unit has now gained 92 paise, or 1.27 per cent, in three sessions. "Drop in US 10-yr bond yield followed by gradual pick up in FII inflow to domestic market and slide in oil prices eased the concerns of liquidity," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, was trading marginally higher at $66.63 per barrel. Meanwhile, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 20.4306 billion Thursday, as per provisional data. The BSE benchmark Sensex ended 119 points higher at 35,260.54 while the broader Nifty went past the 10,600 mark on positive investor sentiment. A Russian man, who chopped off both of his wife's hands with an axe after accusing her of infidelity, was sentenced on Thursday to fourteen years in prison following a huge outcry in Russia. Last December, after dropping off their two children at daycare, Dmitry Grachyov took his wife Margarita to a forest outside Moscow where he tied tourniquets around her arms and chopped off her hands with an axe. Before hacking off her limbs he cut off her fingers. After that he drove the bleeding woman to a hospital, giving medics a shoebox containing her severed right hand. He then gave himself up. On Thursday, Grachyov was sentenced to 14 years in a high-security penal colony, said a spokeswoman for a court in the town of Serpukhov, located some 100 kilometres south of Moscow. The man was also ordered to pay more than 2 million rubles ($30,000) as compensation for moral damages. He was earlier stripped of custody of their two children. Margarita, 26, said she had wanted her ex-husband to be given life in prison. "No sentence would bring back my hands," said the woman, who has endured multiple surgeries. "I will have to live with this for the rest of my life," she said in televised remarks. Domestic violence is common in Russia and often goes unpunished but the young woman's ordeal shocked the country. Grachyov abducted his wife after the Russian authorities decriminalised some forms of domestic abuse such battery in a move that drew criticism from rights groups. Just days before he hacked off her hands police dismissed her complaints about his violent behaviour. Investigators say Grachyov, who claimed his wife was unfaithful, had carefully planned the crime buying an axe, tourniquets, bandages and iodine. Margarita had told journalists her ex-husband did not want to bleed her to death, hoping to get away with a short prison sentence. Doctors managed to save one of her hands after police found her left limb in the forest. Supporters helped her buy an expensive modern prosthetic device. In a October report titled "I Could Kill You and No One Would Stop Me", Human Rights Watch said that Russian women were especially vulnerable in the face of domestic abuse. The watchdog said it spoke to women who described being choked, beaten with wooden sticks and metal rods, burned, raped, pushed from balconies and having their teeth knocked out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) S African are increasingly enquiring about new areas of collaboration in India, following intensified efforts by the Indian High Commission and its consulates in the country as well as a drive by This emerged following a two-day interaction with local business leaders hosted by Invest India, at which Madhumitha Ramanathan, Co-Head of the Global Outreach Division of Invest India, shared the opportunities available and the new environment to make it easier to invest in India. is the country's official agency dedicated to investment promotion and facilitation. It has also been envisaged to be the first point of reference for potential investors. The huge India- Business Forum hosted in Johannesburg in April this year set the ball rolling to renew interest in investing in India, with the Ministers from both countries reminding the captains of business and industry from both sides of the special relationship between India and South Africa, Ramanathan told PTI. Since then, there has been tremendous interest shown in new areas from those in which have been involved for many years now, primarily in sectors such as banking, insurance, construction and mining, she said. This is my third visit here in the past six months, and we are seeing more and more South Africans now enquiring about other areas in which have not really shown interest until now. Ramanathan said she was pleasantly surprise to find interest from at least seven medium-sized companies in sectors that she had not expected them to. "They showed interest in sectors such as shipping, education, food processing and in holding companies, where they buy up significant portions of the company, manage it and run it to bring out the best, she said. Ramanathan said that one of the successes of the latest seminar was that South Africans now had a one-stop contact in if they had any queries in any area, and they did not necessarily have to visit India to get more details first. "I shared with them our website, which is extremely comprehensive and has a chatboard using to engage the person with multiple questions to find a sector expert right there on the website, just a phone call or message away, she said. Indian High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj urged the delegates to take advantage of the opportunities that the multi-award-winning India Invest team presented. They will ensure that they hold your hand right from the starting point to the finishing point. They will put you in touch with the right partners and guide you through the process.So, what once seemed very difficult, is quite simple now, Kamboj said. Invest India, founded in 2009, was set up as a non-profit venture under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The organisation's mandate is to facilitate investments in India. In addition to a core team that focuses on sustainable investments, Invest India also partners with substantial investment promotion agencies and multilateral organisations. It also actively works with several Indian states to build capacity as well as bring in global best practices in investment targeting, promotion and facilitation areas. Consensus eluded a crucial all-party meeting called Thursday to resolve the stand-off over permitting women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala shrine with the Kerala government firm on implementing the Supreme Court order and the Opposition walking out in protest. After the nearly three-hour long meeting, dubbed as a 'farce' by the Opposition, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said his government was duty bound to enforce the court's September 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to pray at the hill temple of Lord Ayyappa as it had not been stayed. The meeting was convened by him in the backdrop of state-wide protests by devotees after the Supreme Court ended an age-old ban on entry of women in the 10-50 age group. "The government has no other option as Supreme Court has made it clear that the September 28 verdict has not been stayed, which means women in the 10-50 age group have the right to visit the Sabarimala temple," Vijayan told reporters. Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP staged a walkout at the meeting, convened two days ahead of the temple's opening on November 17 for the two-month long pilgrim season when lakhs of devotees are expected to throng the shrine. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala accused the government of being adamant, while BJP state President P S Sreedharan Pillai said the meeting was a 'waste of time'. Meanwhile, the erstwhile Pandalam Royal family, associated with the temple, told Vijayan that there was no change in its stand with regard to rituals and traditions of the shrine and it was against entry of young women. The views were conveyed during talks held separately by the chief minister with the family member Sasikumar Varma and Tantri (head priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru on the issue. "We are against the entry of young women. There is no change in the stand", Verma told reporters adding Vijayan informed them about the limitations of the government vis-a-vis the court order. Kandararu Rajeevaru said "we can only appeal to young women not to come to Sabarimala". At the all-party meet, Vijayan rejected the demand that the government seek time from the court to implement its order since a bunch of review petitions are expected to come up for hearing before the apex court on January 22. The government cannot say that belief was above the Constitution, he said. It put forward certain suggestions, including setting apart certain days for young women to offer prayers, instead of all days, Vijayan said, adding these had to be discussed with all stakeholders. He said the CPI(M)-led LDF government was not adamant but was duty-bound to implement the court verdict. Chennithala said the government was "adamant" in its stand and it refused to accept the Opposition's suggestions. "We decided to walk out of the meeting after the Chief Minister's reply. The meeting was a farce, government was not ready for any compromise", he told reporters. UDF was with the believers and wanted peace and harmony in Sabarimala, while the government's aim was to "destroy" the pilgrimage, where lakhs of people from all over the world visit annually, he alleged. "This is a declaration of war" on the believers by the government. The Chief minister and the government would be responsible for any violence or untoward incident in Sabarimala, he added. BJP leader Pillai alleged Vijayan had come with a script prepared at the AKG Centre, the CPI-M's state headquarters, and that attempts were on to convert Kerala into "Stalin's Russia". "We will oppose the government's decision in a democratic manner", he said, adding an all-party meeting was called to elicit views of everybody and reach a solution, but the government snubbed the suggestions. The "new found love" of the LDF government towards the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala showed its "malicious intention to impose atheism in society", Pillai, a practising lawyer in the Kerala High Court, alleged. Varma said the talks were held in a 'cordial' atmosphere and the chief minister put forward certain suggestions. These have to be discussed with other members of their respective families, Verma and the head priest said. "We will examine it, hold discussions and take a decision", Varma added. The state had witnessed a string of protests by Congress, the BJP, RSS and right wing outfits against the LDF government's decision to implement the apex court verdict. Frenzied devotees had prevented at least a dozen women in 10-50 age group from entering the temple when it opened for five days last month and two days this month for monthly and special puja amid high drama. Social activist Trupti Desai has said she along with six other young women would offer prayers at the shrine on Nov 17 and sought protection from the state government. The outfits opposing the court order have said they would resist through "Gandhian means" any attempt by young women to enter the temple. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted orator and thinker Sunil P Elayidom, who strongly argues for implementation of Supreme Court verdict permitting entry of all women into Sabarimala temple, Thursday received threats from unidentified persons, police said. A complaint has been lodged alleging that danger marks were drawn in saffron colour on the doors of Elayidom's office at Kalady Sanskrit University. Besides, the nameboard of Elayidom, who is a Malayalam language professor at the university, was also found destroyed, they said adding a probe has been launched on the basis of the complaint filed by the University authorities. Elayidom alleged that he had been receiving threats and abusive messages through social media from members of rightwing Hindu outfits since he started speaking on public platforms supporting the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala women entry issue. Elayidom, who is a former leader of the Students Federation of India, said he has no plans to seek police protection in view of rising threats. "I have been talking against the Hindutva politics for the last four, five years. I am not scared", Elayidom told PTI. He said, "recently, a threat message, saying that I should be stoned to death was received on my Facebook page." "Then also, I did not file a complaint with the police. Later, I came to know that the police is probing the issue based on a complaint filed by a man in North Paravur," he claimed. This is the second such incident since Swami Sandeepananda Giri's Salagramam ashram in Thiruvananthapuram was attacked. Giri's ashram was attacked after he supported Supreme Court verdict on entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple. The state had witnessed massive protests from devotees at various places, including Sabarimala, Nilakkal and Pamba, against permitting women of all ages to enter the shrine when it was opened for monthly poojas from October 17-22 and a special pooja on November 5 and 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Noted orator and thinker Sunil P Elayidom, who strongly advocates implementation of Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple, Thursday received threats from unidentified persons, police said. A complaint has also been lodged with the police alleging that danger marks were drawn in saffron colour on the doors of Elayidom's office at Kalady Sanskrit University. Besides, the nameboard of Elayidom, who is a Malayalam language professor at the university, was also found broken, they said adding a probe has been launched on the basis of the complaint filed by the University authorities. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the "attack" on Elayidom's office. In a statement, Vijayan said Elayidom's office was "attacked as he took a strong stand against the communal agenda of RSS." He alleged that the outfit has adopted a "style of attacking and threatening" those who oppose them. Vijayan said police would initiate strong action against the culprits behind the incident. Elayidom has alleged that he had been receiving threats and abusive messages through social media from members of rightwing Hindu outfits since he started speaking on public platforms supporting the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala women entry issue. Elayidom, who is a former leader of the Students Federation of India, said he has no plans to seek police protection in view of rising threats. "I have been talking against the Hindutva politics for the last four, five years. I am not scared", Elayidom told PTI He said, "recently, a threat message, saying that I should be stoned to death was received on my Facebook page. Then also, I did not file a complaint with the police.""Later, I came to know that the police is probing the issue based on a complaint filed by a man in North Paravur," he claimed. This is the second such incident since Swami Sandeepananda Giri's Salagramam ashram in Thiruvananthapuram was attacked. Giri's ashram was attacked after he supported Supreme Court verdict on entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple. The state had witnessed massive protests from devotees at various places, including Sabarimala, Nilakkal and Pamba, against permitting women of all ages to enter the shrine when it was opened for monthly poojas from October 17-22 and a special pooja on November 5 and 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Saudi officials face the death penalty over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was drugged and dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, Riyadh's public prosecutor said on Thursday. Khashoggi, a Post columnist and vocal dissident, died after being drugged by the five accused and then dismembered, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office said in the first Saudi acknowledgement of the manner of his killing. The journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds, the spokesman said. "Enough is enough", said the Supreme Court on Thursday expressing displeasure over tardy approach of different high courts and state governments in filling up vacant posts for judges in lowers courts and providing proper infrastructure for them. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on its own had taken note of over 5,000 vacancies for judicial officers and directed all the 24 high courts and 36 states and UTs to apprise it of remedial measures. On Thursday, it took stock of the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and the North-Eastern states. "We want our judges. We want our judges to function. We want courtrooms, infrastructure and man power (support staff) for them. They say that there is pendency. Enough is enough...," said the bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. "Some part of the problem has to be dealt with. We will show them (government) that there is not adequate courtrooms, staffs and residences for judges," it added. The top court was particularly critical of the lack of progress in states like UP, Delhi and West Bengal. In day-long hearing, the bench first perused the responses of the UP government, UP Public Services Commission (UPPSC) and the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court on vacancies, the recruitment process and the aspects relating to man power and infrastructure for the judges. On being informed that there were around 1,000 vacancies of judicial officers in UP, the bench said, "We are going to ensure that these 1,000 posts (of judicial officers) are filled up." Senior advocate Shyam Divan, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, said that of the 1,000 vacancies in lower judiciary, 394 posts are in higher judicial services (HJS) in UP. He informed the bench that two separate recruitment processes were on to fill up vacancies of 125 and 239 posts of Additional district and sessions judges in UP. The bench directed that the processes should be completed by March 31 and July 31, 2019 respectively. The bench asked the UP government whether it was in a position top provide the courtrooms, support staffs and residences to the judges who would be appointed on the culmination of the recruitment process. The court, which was critical of lack of infrastructure for the judiciary, later took note of the undertaking by the Uttar Pradesh government that it was committed to providing adequate infrastructure for the judiciary. "If we succeed in filling up the vacancies then there will be no deficiency in providing any kind of infrastructure like courtrooms and support staffs," the bench said while taking note of the undertakings of the state government. The bench, which was told that the Allahabad High Court was also seized of the matter, said that it would continue to monitor the issue. It was informed that the state government has advertised 6,135 posts of grade III and IV employees who will be working as support staffs of the judges to be appointed. The Delhi High Court Registry and AAP-led city government were also at the receiving end when they told the bench that there were 201 vacancies in lower judiciary in the national capital, but it had advertised for 100 posts in two separate recruitment processes. "You have advertised 50 and 50 posts since 2017. Don't you need 100 other judicial officers. How do you explain? You do not want 100 other judicial officers," the bench asked. The registrar then said that there were problems with regard to courtrooms and other infrastructure. He said that the Delhi government had filed an affidavit setting out a time line of 3 years for completion of certain court buildings. "We cannot wait for three years," the bench said, adding that it may explore the option of running the court from rented premises. It also asked the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government to file an affidavit detailing position on construction of courtrooms in the national capital for new judges. The bench asked the Delhi High Court to conclude the recruitment processes to appoint 100 judges by January 31 and May 30, 2019 next year. It was critical of the fact that 50 posts were advertised yesterday only. "So you advertised yesterday and are telling us today. You are a judicial officer, are you not. This is your family too", the CJI told the Registrar General of Delhi High Court. The bench also noted the lack of infrastructure and staff for the judiciary in West Bengal and said that the court may summon the Chief Secretary if the need arises. "We will get the Chief Secretary and pin him down. The state government should tell us when it will provide courtrooms, residential houses for judges and support staff. Is it not the duty of the state to provide houses to judges," the bench asked. The bench, however, expressed satisfaction with progress made in Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh and some north-eastern states. The apex court has now posted the case for hearing on December 5 when it will take up case of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Kerala and would be assisted by senior advocate and amicus curiae K V Vishwanathan. 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Thursday agreed to hear on November 19 the plea of a Group firm challenging the NCLAT's order allowing rival to acquire debt-ridden Binani Cement. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal Wednesday allowed the group firm to acquire Binani Cement by approving its revised Rs 79.50 billion bid over an offer by Rajputana Properties. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi considered the submissions of lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Rajputana Properties, that the appeal against the order of the tribunal be heard urgently. "List it on Monday," said the bench, which also comprised justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. NCLAT approved UltraTech's resolution plan for Binani and rejected the resolution plan submitted by Dalmia Bharat's Rajputana Properties by terming it "discriminatory" and "unbalanced". The Group firm has not only paid the financial lenders of debt-ridden Binani but also its operational creditors. The panel had observed that the plan submitted by Rajputana discriminated between "equally situated" financial creditors and did not balance other stakeholders such as the operational creditors of Binani Cement. Rajputana had moved the appellate tribunal against the May 2 order of the Kolkata bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that allowed the Resolution Professional and Committee of Creditors (CoC) of Binani to consider UltraTech's revised offer while affording Rajputana an opportunity to revise its resolution plan. The CoC had earlier approved Rajputana's Rs 69.32 billion bid, but the decision was changed once UltraTech revised its offer. NCLAT observed that the amended offer of has got 100 per cent voting from the CoC and added that the intent of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was maximisation of the value of assets. "We approve the revised resolution plan submitted by which shall be binding on the corporate debtor (Binani Cement) and its employees, members, creditors, guarantors and other stakeholders involved in the Resolution Plan," the NCLAT order had said. NCLAT had also dismissed the plea of promoters of Binani Industries for termination of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process after settling the dues with lenders under section 12 A of the IBC, saying that the application did not have the requisite 90 per cent voting share of the CoC. "Binani Industries cannot take advantage of Section 12A nor can be allowed to settle the matter," said the NCLAT bench. UltraTech is the leading cement manufacturer of the country with an installed capacity of 96.5 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of grey cement. It is already merging the cement business of BK Birla Group company Century Textiles and Industries, which has a capacity of 11.4 MTPA. In its 44-page-long order, NCLAT observed that financial creditors such as "Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company, IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Bank of India and State Bank of India have been provided with 100 per cent of their verified claim" but the resolution applicant Rajputana Properties has given "lesser percentage to Export-Import Bank of India 72.59 per cent and State Bank of India-Hong Kong 10 per cent". On the other hand, the resolution plan submitted by UltraTech allows "maximization of assets of the Corporate Debtor (Binani Cement) while some amount of working capital has been infused (Rs 3.5 billion) and all the financial creditors and the Operational Creditors have been paid 100 per cent of dues except the related parties," the had order said. The CoC had also asked Rajputana Properties to revise its offer of Rs 69.32 billion. UltraTech Cement's revised offer was Rs 79.50 billion, against its earlier bid of Rs 72 billion. Police say 40 adults and children have been injured, five of them "very seriously," in a head-on collision involving two public buses in southern Germany. A spokesman for Bavarian police said the people injured in the Thursday crash outside Nuremberg included school children, but he couldn't immediately say how many. Bert Rauenbusch told The Associated Press that multiple helicopters were being used to airlift those with the most serious injuries to hospitals. He says police are investigating the cause of the crash, which also involved a third vehicle. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A joint team of police and Army conducted a massive search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri town and some adjoining areas on Thursday after receiving reports of suspicious movement. The operation was conducted in Rajouri's Bela colony and Kallar village and areas on the outskirts of the border town, senior superintendent of police Yougal Manhas said. Police had received information about suspicious movement in the area, he added. "The panchayat elections are around the corner and nothing could be left to chance," Manhas said. Security has been tightened across the district to maintain peace, he said. The search operation was concluded as nothing suspicious was found, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's services exports grew by over 19 per cent to USD 16.38 billion in September, data from the Reserve Bank showed Thursday. The services exports stood at USD 13.73 billion in September 2017. However, imports during the month also increased to USD 9.95 billion, up by 17.7 per cent over the year-ago period, as per the RBI data on 'India's International Trade in Services'. Cumulatively, the services exports by India during the first half (April-September) of the current fiscal stood at USD 101.07 billion. Imports of services during these six months were valued at USD 62.57 billion. However, the monthly data on services released by the RBI are provisional. It would undergo revision when the Balance of Payments (BoP) data are released on a quarterly basis, the RBI said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven people have been detained over the spilling of tonnes of toxic chemicals into seas off eastern China's Fujian province that left 52 ill, local authorities said. The incident happened in the early hours of November 4 when a tube transferring the chemicals from a wharf to a tanker broke, spilling 6.9 tonnes of C9 aromatics into the sea. C9 is typically used to produce adhesives, printing ink and paint, and is toxic. Three employees of the Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Company, which operates the wharf, and four crew members of the tanker were detained, the Quangang district government said in a statement issued on Wednesday. It added that 6,615 fishing rafts in surrounding waters had to be cleaned. The local bureau has been posting near-daily updates of chemical levels in the area, which they say are normal, after locals reported a strong smell lingering for days and fishermen complained of fish die-offs. Last week, residents near the coast who had come into contact with the C9 reported dizziness, nausea, and breathing difficulties. As of Wednesday afternoon, two remained in hospital for observation. The local government faced accusations it had attempted to cover-up or play down the incident. Posts about of the spill were rapidly taken down from China's Twitter-like Weibo social media platform, while searches of the term "Quangang carbon leak" were blocked. "The seven poor scapegoats, what about those on top who are in charge? Ageing and badly maintained facilities are the problem of the lowest workers?" one user wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The report for the 2017-2018 academic year (AY) shows that Vietnam remains the sixth leading country of origin for all international students in the United States, with 24,325 students, up 1,887 students since last AY 2016-17, an 8.4 percent increase. The data shows that 1,094,792 international students have come to the United States in the 2017-2018 AY, a 1.5 percent increase over last year. International students now make up 5.5 percent of all higher education students in the United States, up slightly from 5.3 percent last year. Of the 24,325 Vietnamese students in the United States, 69.6 percent were undergraduates, 15.2 percent were graduate level students, 8.6 percent enrolled in Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the remaining 6.6 percent were pursuing non-degree programs. The data also revealed that Vietnam is becoming a more popular destination for American students. In AY2016-17, Vietnam welcomed 1,147 students from the United States, an increase of 13.3 percent. Open Doors report is released annually during the International Education Week (IEW), a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi is celebrating IEW 2018 with an open house and various information sessions in Hanoi, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri provinces to promote study in the United States, provide information on student visas and U.S. government scholarship opportunities, reaching approximately 400 students and teachers in person, and around 1,200 online. The U.S Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City is marking IEW 2018 with a series of activities in Hue and at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City. The American Road Trip at Hue University and Quoc Hoc High School is helping to advise students on U.S. exchange programs, study in the United States, student visas, and soft-skill development. At the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City, an information session on November 15 at 2:00 pm will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed on standardized tests required for university entrance. A panel discussion with senior international banking executives on November 16 at 2:00 pm will help parents navigate the financial aspects of supporting their childrens overseas education. By UYEN PHUONG Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over the Rafale aircraft deal, the Shiv Sena Thursday said it has led to further "suspicion" among the people about something being amiss in it. The Sena sarcastically said people will now believe there was no Rafale scam in the Defence ministry like there was no irrigation scam in Maharashtra. The party claimed the Opposition had raised suspicion over something being hidden in the Rafale deal and over the government's intentions. "The prime minister has remained silent till the end and by placing details of the Rafale deal in a sealed enveloped and submitting it in the Supreme Court, it (the government) has given more room for suspicion. How will anybody know if the envelope contains the truth or is an empty one?" it questioned in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. The Centre Monday submitted price details of the Rafale fighter jets in a sealed envelope in the Supreme Court. Government sources said the Centre has submitted "all details" about the decisions taken with regard to the Rafale deal. While the opposition parties, led by the Congress, have continually alleged that the purchase of Rafale fighter jets from a French firm was a 'scam', the Centre has maintained that all rules and regulations governing such purchases were followed. The BJP's bickering ally, which is a constituent in the state and Central governments, claimed the irrigation scam cost the Maharashtra exchequer Rs 60,000 crore, adding that the ruling party had blamed NCP leaders like Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare for it. The Sena said even after four years of coming to power, no action has been taken against the accused. These leaders have refuted the allegations several times. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South African President is likely to be the chief guest at the celebrations on January 26, sources said. They said an official announcement on it may be made shortly. The government has zeroed on Ramaphosa weeks after US President Donald Trump declined India's invitation to be the chief guest at the parade, citing pressing engagements, including his State of The Union (SOTU) address. The sources indicated that India was not exclusively looking at Trump's presence at the celebrations and that various other options were also being explored. Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its celebrations. In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest whicthe h was his second visit to India as American president. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, the then French president Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014. The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac. Ahead of the much talked about board meeting of the central bank, RBI board member S Gurumurthy on Thursday said the stand-off between the government and the Reserve Bank was not a happy situation. The comment comes amid the ongoing rift between the Ministry and the RBI over several issues, including capital framework of the central bank and easing of lending norms for the NBFC sector. Delivering a lecture on 'State of the Economy: India and the World' at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) here, Gurumurthy also said imposition of tight provisioning norms for bad loans in one go created problems for the banking system. The stand-off between the government and the RBI is not a happy thing at all, he said. Gurumurthy further said India should not go beyond what has been prescribed in the Basel capital adequacy norms and made a case for enhancing credit for the MSME sector. Tensions between the RBI and the government have escalated recently, with the Ministry initiating discussion under the never-used-before Section 7 of the RBI Act which empowers the government to issue directions to the RBI Governor. The RBI's board is meeting on November 19. A statue of late chief will be unveiled here next month, the party announced on Thursday. level leaders of various political parties are expected to attend the function to unveil the life-size statue on December 16. It will be located alongside a refurbished statue of founder and late chief minister C N Annadurai at the party headquarters here, it said. "A life-size statue of Dr Kalaignar will be unveiled by all India leaders," the party said in a statement without elaborating further. Karunanidhi, who passed away on August 7 this year aged 94, was addressed as 'Kalaignar' by party workers and supporters. A group threw stones at the vehicle of a CPI-M leader and the Zilla Parishad chief of South Tripura district on Thursday at Belonia town in the state and 17 people, including 10 police personnel were injured when the force intervened to stop them, police said. South Tripura superintendent of police J S Meena said he is not aware whether the attackers belonged to any political party and the South Tripura zilla sabhadipati Himanshu Roy escaped unhurt. A group of about 100 miscreants pelted stones at the vehicle of the zilla sabhadhipati (parishad chief) at Belonia, about 110 km from here and police had to resort to lathi charge in which seven attackers were injured, he said. Ten force personnel were injured in the stone pelting, he said. The CPI-M has alleged that the attackers were ruling BJP activists and they attacked Roy with a political motive. "BJP-backed miscreants were behind the attack. The BJP is aiming to grab the South Tripura zilla parishad which is controlled by CPI-M and with this motive they are trying to created a fear psychosis", party secretary for Belonia sub-division Tapas Datta said. BJP spokesman Ashok Sinha said, We are yet to confirm what had happened. The SP said most of the injured were released from hospital after first aid and a few are still undergoing treatment at the hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Protests, broken windows and dignitaries forced to flee by helicopter -- Thailand's last stint as host of Southeast Asia's biggest summit was devoured by political chaos. But as the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) passed Thursday from Singapore to Thailand, Bangkok is hoping unrest will not spoil its year in the spotlight. The annual ASEAN summit has become a major stop on the diplomatic circuit, even drawing leaders from the US, China, Japan and Russia. Thailand's chairmanship means ASEAN will be hosted by a military dictatorship the same year it plans to hold elections. The kingdom is notorious for its fractious, disruptive and sometimes violent street Thailand's generals will be desperate to avoid a repeat of 2009 when protesters from the pro-democracy "red shirt" faction smashed their way into the summit venue in the resort city of Pattaya demanding elections. Pandemonium ensued, with a number of leaders having to be rescued from a hotel roof by Thai army helicopters while others fled by boat. "It was chaotic," one Southeast Asian diplomat who attended that cancelled summit told AFP. Back then Thailand was riven by political tensions that pitted the "red shirts" -- loyal to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra -- against their "yellow shirt" rivals, allies of the royalist and military elite in Bangkok. In 2014 a ultra-royalist military clique again seized power, ushering in the most autocratic government Thailand has seen for a generation. Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha risks lifting the lid on Thailand's political pressure cooker with elections slated for some time early next year. That could usher in a return of Thailand's traditional rambunctious party But Busadee Santipitaks, a spokeswoman at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country was ready to host world leaders regardless of the elections. "We expect to host more than 170 meetings at various levels next year in Thailand," she told AFP, adding "tentative dates" for the key summits were under discussion. A second Southeast Asian diplomat said the Thai government is unlikely to let a repeat of the 2009 debacle occur. "I don't think they will allow another such incident to mar their chairmanship," the diplomat told AFP. Historically ASEAN tries to avoid hosting summits in countries the same year they hold elections. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a veteran commentator, said the 2009 debacle was a "fiasco, the lowest point in respected and recognized Thai diplomatic annals." He said while political unrest could never be ruled out in Thailand, the junta could make their ASEAN hosting duties easier if they deliver a clean and timely election. "The junta has to ensure that the overall electorate is satisfied with the electoral process and timing," he told AFP. "If the junta manipulates at all costs to stay in power after the poll, it could elicit a popular backlash. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre Thursday informed the Madras High Court that the Tamil Nadu government has not understood properly the essence of its 'Groundwater Quality Report' released after assessing water quality in and around the area where the Sterlite Copper Industry was located in Tuticorin. The conclusions arrived at by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) has not ruled out pollution by the Sterlite Copper Smelting Plant nor does it, at any point contradict the findings of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board investigations, CGWB regional director C Paul Prabhakar said in a counter-affidavit. The state government had approached the court seeking quashing of the groundwater quality report released in July. A division bench of justices M M Sundresh and Krishnan Ramasamy, before which the counter was filed, posted further hearing of the matter to November 19. In his counter, Paul Prabhakar submitted that "As the scientific team could not enter the premises of Sterlite Copper Industry for collection of samples, it was not possible for them to establish a direct linkage between the ground water contamination and the effluent seepage from the plant as has been stated in the report." While undertaking the assessment of groundwater quality at Tuticorin, the CGWB never had any intention to prejudice or interfere in legal and other matters of the state government or to help any private organisation or entity. On the other hand, it was firmly believed that the said report, when considered in conjunction with the findings of the state government, would bring out more clarity on the groundwater situation in the area and will help the state government in taking necessary remedial and preventive measures, he added. Prabhakar said the state filing a plea before the court against the Centre was not maintainable and according to Article 131 of the Constitution, the state has to approach the Supreme Court. Therefore, the petition was not maintainable and liable to be dismissed, he contended. In case of any difference of opinion from the state government, the appropriate course of action was to express views for amicable resolution for healthy centre-state relations, he said. Prabhakar said the CGWB was the apex National Organization under MOWR, RD&GR mandated to monitor and implement national policies for sustainable development and management of the country's groundwater resources, including assessment of its quality. Accordingly, CGWB undertakes various investigations including regular monitoring of ground water level and water quality to facilitate scientific management of the resources. The reports were being shared regularly with the state governments for information and follow-up action, he added. The state government has rejected the report on groundwater contamination in Tuticorin, saying it was "absolutely vague" and seemed to support the Vedanta Ltd unit which was "totally unwarranted." Thirteen people were killed in police firing on May 22 and 23 after protests for closure of the plant over pollution concerns turned violent in the port city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A year after the Doklam standoff, top defence officials of India and China have agreed on the importance of maintaining peace in the border areas while implementing the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan. The ninth annual defence and security dialogue on November 13 was held over a year after the 73-day military standoff in the Sikkim sector. The talks were held between the two defence delegations headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and China's Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission Lt General Shao Yuanming, a press release by the Indian Embassy here said on Thursday. Asked about the outcome of the defence and security dialogue, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the two sides have exchanged ideas on the management of border affairs and upholding peace and tranquillity. "We believe the two sides will try to follow the consensus between the two leaders to ensure peace and tranquillity at our border areas and ensure stability of our bilateral ties," she said. At the talks, both sides agreed on enhancing defence exchanges and interactions at different levels between the two militaries, the press release said. After the talks, Mitra called on Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday, the release said. Mitra was accompanied by senior officials of the ministry of defence and Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The annual dialogue did not take place last year following the tense standoff between the two militaries at Doklam, which was triggered by the Chinese PLA's plan to build a road close to the narrow Chicken's Neck corridor connecting India's northeastern states in an area also claimed by Bhutan besides China. The standoff ended when Chinese troops stopped the road construction after which both countries stepped up efforts to normalise relations leading to the informal summit between Modi and Xi at Wuhan in April this year. The defence dialogue was also held ahead of the 21st round of border talks between the Special Representatives of the two countries in the Chinese city of Dujiangyan on November 23-24. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi are the designated Special Representatives for the border talks. Besides efforts to work out a solution to resolve the dispute on the border spanning 3,488 kms, the border talks also focussed on discussions on other aspects of India-China relations. The two militaries are due to hold the annual 'Hand-in-Hand' drills next month in China after gap of one year. During the dialogue, both sides also agreed on specific defence exchanges for 2019. "Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between the two ministries of defence as well as between military commands, joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon," the Indian Embassy release said. They reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas, implementing the consensus reached between Modi and Xi and specific additional confidence building measures at the operational level, it said. The two nations also had an exchange of views on regional and global issues. "Both sides underlined the importance of this dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on defence and security matters. They emphasised the need to further strengthen military-to-military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries," it said. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue at a mutually convenient time in India in 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has declared the adjective 'toxic' as the Word of the Year for what it says reflects the ethos, mood, or preoccupations in 2018. The Oxford Word of the Year is a word or expression that is judged to have lasting potential as a term of cultural significance, said in a statement. The word toxic was selected from a shortlist that included contenders such as 'gaslighting,' 'incel' and 'techlash.' The data shows that, after 'chemical', 'masculinity' is the most-used word in conjunction with toxic this year. "With the #MeToo movement putting a spotlight on toxic masculinity, and watershed political events like the Brett Kavanaugh Senate judiciary committee hearing sparking debate, the term toxic masculinity has well and truly taken root in the public consciousness and got people talking in 2018," the statement said. The adjective toxic is defined as 'poisonous' and first appeared in English in the mid-seventeenth century from the medieval Latin toxicus, meaning 'poisoned' or 'imbued with poison'. In 2018, toxic added became a descriptor for the year's most talked about topics. It is the sheer scope of its application, as found by our research, that made toxic the stand-out choice for the Word of the Year title, according to Oxford. The data shows that, along with a 45 per cent rise in the number of times it has been looked up on oxforddictionaries.com, over the last year the word toxic has been used in an array of contexts, both in its literal and more metaphorical senses. Words like 'environment', 'relationship' and 'culture' were habitually used alongside toxic. Beyond the more usual substance warnings, this year toxic chemical has had particular significance as the nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain sent shockwaves around the globe. Ongoing attention to the case, including rising concern over who has access to the world's toxic chemical stockpiles, ensured that 'chemical' topped the list of words most frequently seen alongside toxic in 2018. Similarly literal and deadly are toxic substance, toxic gas, and toxic waste, with the latter especially becoming a focal point as the US seeks to combat the spread of toxic waste in the wake of hurricanes. This burning of toxic waste, resulting in the release of toxic gases, has been identified as one of a number of causes of toxic air. Air pollution has rapidly become a prime public health concern, and global attention reached a high in October 2018 when the World Health Organization published its report into the quality of air breathed by children worldwide. The report described this pollution as toxic air, plainly and potently signifying its poisonous nature, and with the aid of media coverage, served to consolidate the association of toxicity and poor air quality. The term toxic environment itself, however, has been more frequently used in reference to harmful workplace environments and the toll this takes on the workforce's mental health. From overly demanding workloads to outright sexual harassment, many companies have been exposed as crucibles for such toxic culture this year, which has seen mass walkouts at Google, the fashion mogul Philip Green disgraced, and the Speaker of the House of Commons accused of misusing his official powers to cover up allegations of bullying in Westminster. Toxic relationships are not exclusive to the workplace, however, and whether its partners, parents, or even politicians, this year has seen so much discussion of 'poisonous' relationships across the society that 'relationship' is the sixth most-seen toxic topic for 2018. Three tiger cubs, aged less than six months, were crushed under a train in Maharashtra Thursday, forest officials said. The incident took place in the Junona forest range in Chandrapur district on Thursday morning, an official said. While two cubs were found dead by railway tracks in the morning, the carcass of another cub was found later. The cubs were apparently hit by the Balharshah-Gondia train between Chandrapur and Nagbhid stations, said Rishikesh Ranjan, general manager of the state-run Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra. Chief Conservator of Forests S V Ramarao said while two cubs were found dead Thursday morning, another dead cub was found half a kilometre away in the evening. Pug marks of a tigress, which could be the cubs' mother, were found in the vicinity, he said. Meanwhile, two cubs, believed to be those of tigress T1 (Avni), killed on November 3, were sighted for the first time in the region after their mother's death, the official said. The two cubs were spotted walking together, he added. Union Minister Maneka Gandhi had demanded ouster of Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mugantiwar over the killing of tigress Avni and dashed off a letter to state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, asking him to "consider removing" the minister. "I request you to fix responsibility for the illegal killing of the tigress and consider removing Mugantiwar from the responsibility of the Ministry of and Forest in the state government," Maneka had said Fadnavis in her letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He was speaking at a meeting with residents in An Khanh, Thu Thiem and An Loi Dong wards belonging to Thu Thiem new urban area plan in District 2. The meeting was attended by head of the Central Citizen Reception Committee Nguyen Hong Diep. It was Mr. Phongs third meeting with Thu Thiem people in recent months. At the meeting, Mr. Phong on behalf of HCMC government showed consideration for residents opinions, saying most of the meetings time was for them to raise their voice. After chairman of District 2 Peoples Committee Nguyen Phuoc Hung summarized ten supplementary policies to solve Thu Thiem land dispute; Mr. Hoang Thang Long, a resident in An Khanh ward, requested leave to speak. Still he did not comment about the ten policies, saying that the Government Inspectorates Announcement 1483 was not inspection conclusion. It does not refer to many problems which Thu Thiem residents have complained. Therefore, Mr. Long suggested the Prime Minister to establish an inspection team to comprehensively inspect residents complaints. Sharing the same view with Mr. Long, 77 years old Tran Thi My said that the Governments announcement pointed out violations of the citys authorities for the first time and the city has apologized residents. Thu Thiem new urban area plan has 160 hectares for resettlement of 45,000 residents subject to site clearance and relocation. Still, the city has arranged most of the area for projects investors and relocate residents 15-20 kilometers away from that, Ms. My analyzed. She questioned who will be held responsible for the disappearance of the resettlement land. Lot of other residents also required to return the 160 hectares of resettlement land to them. Mr. Nguyen Bao Son from An Khanh ward introduced himself as a soldier so he can keep calm when talking about Thu Thiem problems. However Thu Thiem residents have suffered much damage for the last 20 years, hence city leaders must be transparent and fair while solving residents rights, he suggested. We are willing to implement Thu Thiem plan together with the Government and HCMC. In the past, we believed in a victory day. Nowadays we believe that Thu Thiem will become a civilized modern urban area, said him. City hopes residents cooperation At the meeting, chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong hoped that Thu Thiem residents will cooperate with the citys government to solve Thu Thiem problem according to the law, ensure their rights and the citys development. Currently, HCMC is repairing limitations and shortcomings in site clearance of 4.3 hectares outside Thu Thiem new urban areas planned boundary, supplementing policies for residents and organizing meetings to listen to their opinions to improve policies. The city will continue listening to those who have disagreed with city polices to draw new suitable ones. HCMC has fully recorded other residents opinions, for instance the city should establish an inter-agency inspection team to launch overall inspection over the new urban area project, and four quarters aside from Quarter 1 in Binh An ward locate outside the planned boundary of Thu Thiem new urban area. They all have been reported to the Governments Inspectorate and the Prime Minister, Mr. Phong emphasized. Talking about 160 hectares resettlement area, Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong informed that the Government Inspectorate has set up a mission team to work with central ministries and agencies and HCMC Peoples Committee to specifically review and consider the problem. Any violation spotted must be remedied and relevant individuals must bear responsibility. By KIEU PHONG Translated by Hai Mien Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday inaugurated the sixth edition of North East Youth Festival at a children's park here and appealed to the participants to come forward to build a "new and prosperous India". Over 1200 youths from different parts of the northeast have arrived here to attend cultural programmes and sporting events at the four-day fest, hosted by the Tripura government. "The north-eastern region is rich in resources. The states here are taking giant strides on all fronts, including education, but we need more youths to build a new and prosperous country," Deb said in his inaugural speech. The children's park, with the presence of young people from the eight states in the region, looked like a "miniature" version of the northeast, he said. "Donning traditional dresses, youth from all over the region are participating in various musical programmes, competitions and sporting events at the fest here, making this place look like a miniature northeast," Deb said. The four-day extravaganza will also be attended by youngsters from other parts of the country, even though they might not take part in the events, official sources said. Altogether, youth from 22 states will be showcasing their traditional dresses, ornaments and cuisines at the festival here, they said. The chief minister, on this occasion, also announced a three-day international tourism festival here, beginning November 22. "From November 22, an international tourism festival will be held here, which will showcase to the world the pristine locales of the state," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey on Thursday said the Saudi statement over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "insufficient" and insisted that the killing was "premeditated." "We find all those steps positive but insufficient," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a televised speech. His comments came shortly after Saudi Arabia admitted that 59-year-old Khashoggi was drugged and dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last month. Riyadh's public prosecutor said the journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds and that five Saudi officials were facing the death penalty over the murder. "I want to say personally that I don't find some of the statements satisfactory," Cavusoglu said. "This murder was premeditated." Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen stepping into the doors of the Istanbul consulate to obtain paperwork for his marriage to a Turkish woman. Turkey has said he was murdered and his body was cut into pieces. After denials, Riyadh admitted that the man was killed in a "rogue" operation. On Thursday, a spokesman for the Saudi public prosecutor's office said the deputy chief of Saudi intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, had given an order to force Khashoggi home -- and "the head of the negotiating team" that flew to Istanbul had ordered his murder. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the order came from "the highest levels" of the Riyadh government, but stopped short of pointing the finger of blame at the Saudi crown prince. Cavusoglu said: "Those who gave the command as well as instigators should also be clarified and this process should not be covered up." He said Turkey would continue to do what was necessary "to shed light on this murder in all its aspects. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday faced a possible "coup" after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Indian-origin minister Shailesh Vara and two other ministers resigned from her divided Cabinet over UK's "half-baked" divorce deal with the EU even as she defended the draft despite a barrage of criticism. At a press conference in Downing Street, May said: "As far as I'm concerned, there will not be a second referendum". "I believe with every fibre of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for my country." she said. Amidst a spate of resignations, prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg directly challenged 62-year-old May in the House of Commons. He later submitted a letter of no confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party. Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, May was hit by a bigger blow as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the withdrawal agreement with the 28-member bloc. May's opponents need 48 letters from Tory MPs to trigger the confidence vote. However, Brexiter Tory MPs are nowhere near the numbers they need (158) to defeat May in a confidence vote, British media reported. Rees-Mogg told reporters that "coup" is the wrong word, as he is following legitimate means to try and oust the Prime Minister. "Leaving the European Union is the most fantastic opportunity for the United Kingdom. This opportunity is being thrown away," he said. "The problem is that the negotiations have given way on all the key points," the Conservative lawmaker said. Another Conservative MP, Henry Smith has also submitted his letter, requesting a vote of no confidence in May. Rory Stewart, a minister of state at the Ministry of Justice, attacked MPs attempting to trigger a leadership challenge against May, saying it "feels like a sort of coup d'etat taking place in Parliament." Earlier, Vara, the Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office since January, said, "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better." He attacked the draft withdrawal agreement which would form the basis of the UK's exit from the EU by March, 29, 2019 as a "half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation". The resignation of Raab, the man involved with the actual drafting of the agreement with EU counterparts, throws Prime Minister May's leadership in turmoil. Raab, who took charge as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU after his predecessor David Davis stepped down in protest over May's Brexit negotiations in July, said the proposed arrangement to avoid a post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". Raab's resignation was followed by another pro-Brexit minister, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, announcing that she is resigning from the Cabinet over the issue. Another junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit over Brexit, shortly after her former boss Raab quit office. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who defended the deal before belligerent MPs in the House of Commons. Making a statement on the withdrawal agreement, dubbed the Outline Political Declaration, at the heart of the intensifying rebellion, May said she respected the views of her Cabinet members who chose to resign but delivering Brexit involves difficult choices. "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated....," the defiant prime minister said. The biggest sticking point remains over what is termed as a Northern Ireland backstop, which leaves the EU with the option of keeping the whole of the UK within a common Customs Union if a future trading relationship fails to be thrashed out during the 21-month transition period, set to run until December 2021. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, attacked Prime Minister May in his response to May's statement on Brexit to the House of Commons. He said May's negotiations that resulted in Wednesday night's draft Brexit deal with the European Union had ended in a "huge and damaging failure." Corbyn demanded that the government should withdraw the deal. "The government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected," he said. The markets also reacted sharply, with the British Pound falling heavily against most major currencies after Raab's resignation. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up the minority Tory government, have also been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. The fresh turmoil comes as Britain continues to try and thrash out the basis of its exit from the EU, after a referendum over its membership of the economic bloc resulted in a 52 per cent vote in favour of Brexit in 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A landmark Kiev church was attacked on Thursday with Molotov cocktails, an official said, as tensions flare over a split between the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox Churches. Last month, Kiev voted to hand over Saint Andrew's Church to the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate, which earlier agreed to recognise the independence of the Ukrainian Church from Moscow. "Molotov cocktails were thrown at the doors" of the church, Kiev-loyal Archbishop Eustratius wrote on Facebook. The unknown assailants did not cause any serious damage to the building but they had used "force and gas spray" against a security guard, he added. Eustratius accused Moscow of being behind the violence. Kiev police said they were investigating the case. Built in the 18th century on a picturesque hill in the centre of the capital, Saint Andrew's is now a museum and has not been used for services since 2015. The Orthodox church in Ukraine is divided between a branch whose clerics pledge loyalty to Moscow and one overseen by the Kiev-based Patriarch Filaret that Moscow does not recognise. The split deepened after Russia annexed Crimea and a separatist uprising broke out in eastern Ukraine, a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014. In a historic decision in October, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide, agreed to recognise the Ukrainian Church's independence from Moscow. The decision was a huge blow to Moscow's spiritual authority in the Orthodox world. The Russian Church condemned the move and announced it would break ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate in protest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uruguayan lawmakers approved legislation Wednesday allowing eight US aircraft and up to 400 American military personnel and civilians into the South American country to provide security for a Group of 20 summit of world leaders in neighbouring Argentina. The law, which was passed by a large majority in the Chamber of Deputies, authorises the entry into Uruguay of three fuel cargo aircraft, two transport aircraft and three AWACS planes as well the crews and support personnel. The US deployment will "provided logistical support and security" to the US delegation, according to the legislation, which was needed under Uruguay's constitution to permit foreign troops into the country. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among the international leaders who attend the November 30-December 1 meeting in Buenos Aires. The G20 is composed of 19 countries and the European Union. While the bill easily passed, it divided Uruguay's ruling party. Many lawmakers spoke out against it, questioning the need to provide such support when Uruguay is not a member of the G20. "You don't organise a wedding and ask the neighbours to use their bathroom," lawmaker Alejandro Zavala said, even as he voted in favour of the law. "Argentina is quite large." The law had earlier been approved by Uruguay's Senate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump Administration is adding new names to a list of Cuban tourist attractions that Americans are barred from visiting. The 26 names range from the new five-star Iberostar Grand Packard and Paseo del Prado hotels in Old Havana to modest shopping centers in beachside resorts far from the capital. All are barred because they are owned by Cuba's military business conglomerate, GAESA. Travel to Cuba remains legal. Hundreds of US commercial flights and cruise ships deliver hundreds of thousands of Americans to the island each year. And nothing prevents the government from funding its security apparatus with money spent at facilities that aren't owned by GAESA and banned by the U.S. But the sanctions appear to have dampened interest in travel to Cuba, which has dropped dramatically this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top US lawmakers along with leading Indian-Americans from across the country celebrated Diwali at the US Capitol, pledging to further strengthen Indo-US relationship. Highlighting the contributions of Indian-Americans in the socio-economic development of the country and the rich cultural diversity they bring to their adopted land, a number of top American senators and congressmen celebrated the festival of lights, a day after US President Donald Trump commemorated Diwali. Speaking on the occasion, the top American Senators and Congressmen pledged to work to further strengthen the India-US relationship. "We are privileged to have your support. The Indian Embassy really feels very much comfortable on the Hill," Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Singh Sarna said, addressing the Diwali celebrations organised in association with top Indian-American organisations from across the country. "We find so much support, no matter which corridor we walked through, which door we knock on, we always get a warm welcome and great support," he said. "Frankly, we are the beneficiaries of all the hard work of the community that you see here. They Indian-American community which has been working its way steadily and hard and diligently into the right places in the society, the polity of the United States," Sarna said. Celebration of Diwali at the US Capitol, now an annual event, he observed, if nothing else, "is a recognition" of the position that the community has in the US and the position that India has in the of world view of the US. Diwali was celebrated across the world on November 7. A day earlier, Sarna shared the podium with President Trump at the White House Diwali celebrations. Last week, he was the chief guest at the State Department Diwali celebrations. "I think all of this shows the increasing familiarity with India and Indian culture. Diwali is a quintessentially Indian festival and I'm so happy that it is now being celebrated in such a wide way," Sarna said. Prominent among those attended the US Congress Diwali celebrations were Senators Tom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard, Pramila Jayapal, Grace Meng, and Norma Torres, and Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Pete Sessions and Keith Rothfus. The White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah also attended the Diwali event. "Happy Diwali! The Hindu Festival of Lights is a time to celebrate the light in our lives, rather than darkness. Let's carry tonight's joyous celebration within ourselves and share that light with others," Torres said in a tweet. Diwali celebrations at the US Capitol was co-hosted by several Indian-American organisations including Indiaspora, Hindu American Foundation, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha , Art of Living Foundation, Federation of Jain Association in North America, Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington, and US-Friendship Council with support from US India Business Council. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States is facing a national security and military crisis and could lose in a war against Russia or China, a bipartisan congressional panel warned in a report on Wednesday. Congress had tasked the National Defense Strategy Commission to look at President Donald Trump's sweeping National Defense Strategy (NDS), which highlights a new era of "Great Power competition" with Moscow and Beijing. The panel, run by a dozen former top Democratic and Republican officials, found that just as the US military faced budget cuts and diminishing military advantages, authoritarian nations like China and Russia are pursuing buildups aimed "at neutralizing US strengths." "America's military superiority -- the hard-power backbone of its global influence and national security -- has eroded to a dangerous degree," the commission said. In their report, the panel found America's focus on counter-insurgency operations this century resulted in it slipping in other warfighting areas such as missile defense, cyber and space operations, and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. "Many of the skills necessary to plan for and conduct military operations against capable adversaries -- especially China and Russia -- have atrophied," the report states. It lambasts "political dysfunction and decisions made by both major political parties," especially budget control measures implemented in 2011. "The convergence of these trends has created a crisis of national security for the United States," the report notes. While the NDS points the Pentagon in the right direction, it "too often rests on questionable assumptions and weak analysis." "It leaves unanswered critical questions regarding how the United States will meet the challenges of a more dangerous world," the report found. The commission also said that across Asia and Europe, American influence is being steadily eroded and military balances have shifted in "decidedly adverse" ways that have raised the risk of conflict. "The US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict," the commission found. "It might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia. The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously." Though the Pentagon this year has a budget of more than $700 billion, far more than Russia and China combined, the commission said the sum is still "clearly insufficient" to meet the goals laid out in the NDS. Commissioners made a series of recommendations including a 3-5 per cent annual increase in the defense budget. A two-member team of Delhi-based US embassy Thursday called on National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana here to discuss matters of mutual and bilateral interest, a party spokesman said. Minister Counselor for Political Affairs in the United States embassy in New Delhi, Lesslie Viguerie, accompanied by Senior Political Advisor A Sukesh met Rana at the latter's residence, the spokesman said. During their interaction, Rana spoke on the National Conference's role in strengthening democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing in land reforms, measures for female literacy, decentralisation of power, and involving people at the grass roots level in decision making processes, the spokesman said. "The spirit of inclusiveness is being promoted and sustained by NC president Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a vibrant state," the NC leader said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on 17 individuals of Saudi Arabia for serious human rights abuse resulting from their roles in the "abhorrent" killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The US designated Saud al-Qahtani, his subordinate Maher Mutreb, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, and 14 other members of an operations team for having a role in the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Police columnist. "This action was taken under the authority of Executive Order 13818, which implements and builds upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday. The Global Magnitsky Act empowers the US to take significant steps to protect and promote human rights and combat corruption around the world. As a result, all of these individuals' assets within the US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. "At the time of Khashoggi's killing, these individuals occupied positions in the Royal Court and several ministries and offices of the Government of Saudi Arabia," Pompeo said. The action is an important step in responding to Khashoggi's killing, he said, adding that the State Department will continue to seek all the relevant facts, consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Khashoggi. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. The government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists, he demanded. US Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, said the sanctions are an important, but insufficient step towards holding Saudi Arabia accountable for the state-sponsored murder of Virginia resident and journalist Khashoggi. "I am disturbed that following repeated Saudi lies about what happened to Jamal, the administration appears to be following the Saudi playbook of blaming mid-level officials and exonerating its leadership," Kaine said. Senator Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and lead author of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, described this as an important step. He had authored the Global Magnitsky Act. "Given the high-level officials designated by Office of Foreign Assets Control today, paired with indictments in Saudi Arabia, I remain concerned that the administration is enabling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its effort to protect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from accountability," he said. Cardin said that it is difficult for any reasonable person with knowledge of Saudi Arabia's government to believe such high-level officials would conduct a plot of this significance without the direction of the Crown Prince. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mr. Tat Thanh Cang wished the teacher good health and expressed his deep gratitude to the Associate Professor for his outstanding contribution to teaching and the citys development. Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Hoang also affirmed to contribute to the development of countrys education sector. On the same day, the delegation paid a visit to Associate Professor Dr. Vo Thi Ngoc Tuoi, former Deputy Principal of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang talks with Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Hoangs family. (Photo: sggp) By THU TAM Translated by Kim Khanh The White House Correspondents Association filed a petition in a US district court in support of the lawsuit filed by the CNN against the White House. CNN has sued the White House for the latter's suspension of the White House press pass of its top correspondent Jim Acosta. More than a dozen top American media organisations have come out in support of the CNN, which includes some of its rival cable networks like Fox On Wednesday, the Department of Justice argued that President Donald Trump has unbridled authority to pick and choose for any reason those journalists who might cover him. "The brief highlights the danger posed to all journalists, and to the American public, if the President's claim is permitted to stand," said Olivier Knox, WHCA president. CNN is seeking a temporary restraint on the White House decision to revoke the hard pass of its reporter. Judge Timothy J Kelly, who had an oral argument about CNN on Wednesday, has rescheduled the next hearing for Friday. The White House suspended his pass on November 7 after a heated argument with President Trump during a conference. The White House says his press pass has been suspended because of him putting his hand on the soldiers of a White House intern. Acosta has denied the allegation. Such a decision by the White House is seen as unprecedented. Days later CNN filed a lawsuit against the White House. CNN is now joined by all the top American media outlets against Trump's decision. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Papua New Guinea prepares to make its international summit hosting debut, there are lingering concerns about whether one of the Pacific's poorest countries can afford the cost, and if it is able to take advantage of its time in the sun. Barefoot betel nut vendors in Port Moresby's main market expressed confusion on Thursday about the political circus that has arrived on their shores, as guards cleared nearby roads for presidents and CEOs from around the Asia-Pacific region. Few of the capital's residents had the faintest idea about what will be discussed when leaders sit down for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Saturday and Sunday, or what will have changed by the time they leave. "Will APEC make us rich like other nations?" asked Harriette Jack, 68. "Comparing to other nations, we are not close." Aid from China helped build glistening convention centres and repave roads ahead of the meeting. Australia pitched in with military and police assistance that will help secure the summit. But despite promising an APEC on the cheap, the government also bought 40 Maseratis to ferry delegates around, underscoring the high price tag that comes with playing on the global stage. That outlandish expense comes at a time the developing nation of eight million people battles a polio outbreak and the resurgence of malaria, and struggles to pay its teachers. "It's a big risk to be taking to host this summit," Jonathan Pryke of Australia's Lowy Institute told AFP. "It has pushed the country to the limit in terms of the capacity of the bureaucracy, in terms of the cost." The government has declared a public holiday on the eve of the summit, but people in the Port Moresby suburb of Hohola say many children do not go to school anyway because their families cannot afford the expense. "We know that very big people are coming like... presidents and prime ministers so we are looking forward to some kind of improvement in our lives," schoolteacher Freddie Mupa told AFP. "It's crazy because there's a lot of money (spent)." Papua New Guinea agreed to host the summit five years ago, when the country was enjoying double-digit growth and was hoping for a windfall from high oil and gas prices that have since tanked. However, some Papua New Guineans are upbeat about the summit, milling outside the conference venues in their red, yellow and black national shirts. "It's once in a lifetime that (this) occurs so we are grateful I would say and blessed to have this event in our country," teacher Jesset Gilimusi told AFP, giggling with excitement. "There are a lot of issues that we have but when it comes to things like this, we have to put it aside." It is in the same vein that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill urged citizens and visitors on Wednesday to "forget about the Maseratis and possibly enjoy the country". The meeting will boost trade and investments that will benefit the nation, he added. On Friday, O'Neill will play host to his first visitor, Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country's investments in Papua New Guinea are making some locals nervous. "I think it will be a burden for us. If those are just fundings out of their good hearts then it's okay but if we have to repay them, then it's a lot," said land surveyor Otte James. As world leaders tackle the worsening tariff war between the US and China as well as a massive trans-Pacific trade deal, residents say many of the topics are far removed from their daily reality. Mupa, the teacher who laments not receiving his wages, says the summit's message of harnessing inclusive opportunities does not resonate with him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The World Bank on Wednesday provided over USD 155 million in financial assistance to Nepal to invest in strategic road networks and food and nutrition enhancement projects. The first project comprising a credit of USD 133 million will be mobilised in the country's strategic roads network, comprising of around 12,142 km of national highways, feeder roads and other roads of national importance. The second project in the form of a grant of USD 22.7 million will contribute to the government's capacity to deliver agriculture extension services at the decentralised levels and to diversify income opportunities for the rural poor, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. "These two projects are expected to ensure better livelihoods, access, and trade opportunities for thousands of Nepalis," Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada said. The first credit will finance improvement and maintenance programme targeting around 477 bridges along Nepal's strategic roads network. Similarly, the multi-donor Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) will provide a USD 22.7 million grant to support the Food and Nutrition Enhancement Project. The project aims to improve the health and livelihoods of around 65,000 direct beneficiaries, of which 65 per cent will target women. "We are deepening our collaboration with Nepal through the development and sustainability of key strategic bridges and enhancing food security and nutrition," said Hartwig Schafer, Vice President of World Bank for South Asia Region. "These contribute greatly to Nepal's development by addressing the need for connectivity, human capital development and shared prosperity," Schafer said. Two separate agreements were signed to this effect by Finance Secretary Rajan Khanal and the World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, Qimiao Fan, in Kathmandu on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Silver Jubilee year of the World Telugu Federation will be celebrated here on November 18, a WTF representative said Thursday. Central Vigilance Commission K V Choudhary will be the chief guest at the function, the federation local chapter chairman, Rama Vijayakumar told reporters. Prominent Telugu artistes, musicians and dancers will showcase their talents, she told reporters. Established in 1992, WTF was inaugurated by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao at New York in 1993, she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of Yes Bank fell over 7 per cent Thursday after the private sector lender's non-executive chairman Ashok Chawla stepped down with immediate effect. The shares settled 7.42 per cent lower at Rs 206 on the BSE. During the intra-day trade, it had plunged 9.07 per cent to a low of Rs 202.30. On the NSE, the stock closed at Rs 205.90, down 7.42 per cent from the previous close. During the trading session, it had touched a low of Rs 202.25 and a high of Rs 217.95. In a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges on Wednesday, Yes Bank announced that Chawla, non-executive independent part-time chairman, had tendered his resignation from the bank's board, with immediate effect, mentioning that during the current transition period, the bank would need a chairman who could devote more time and attention. The bank further said it would announce the appointment of a new chairman in "due course" post RBI's approval. The Reserve Bank has already asked the private sector bank to find replacement of founder MD and CEO by January 31. Last month, Yes Bank had said the panel looking for a successor to MD and CEO Rana Kapoor has finalised the potential candidate profile. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Tom DalySHANGHAI (Reuters) - India's refined copper consumption is set to more than double over the next eight years amid rising demand from the power, auto and consumer sectors, the chief executive of one of the country's top copper smelters said on Thursday.The nation's consumption of the metal is expected to rise to 1.433 million tonnes by 2026 from around 650,000 tonnes in 2018, Birla Copper Chief Executive Officer J.C. Laddha told delegates at the Asia Copper Conference in Shanghai. However, he added that this projection did not include the boost copper may receive from a boom in ... By Timothy GardnerWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to set up a side-event promoting fossil fuels at the annual U.N. climate talks next month, repeating a strategy that infuriated global-warming activists during last year's talks, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.As with the 2017 gathering in Bonn, Germany, the administration plans to highlight the benefits of technologies that more efficiently burn fuels including coal, the sources said.This year's talks in Katowice, Poland - located in a mining region that is among the most polluted in Europe - are ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China has delivered a written response to U.S. demands for wide-ranging trade reforms, three U.S. government sources said on Wednesday, a move that could trigger negotiations to bring an end to a withering trade war between the world's top economies. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping when the Group of 20 industrialized nations gathers in Argentina later this month.Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on the list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the ... By Jeff Mason and David ShepardsonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - China has delivered a written response to U.S. demands for wide-ranging trade reforms, three U.S. government sources said on Wednesday, a move that could trigger more formal negotiations to resolve a withering trade war between the world's top economies.U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on the list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the two countries. China has responded with import tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump is expected to meet ... By Patricia Weiss and Ludwig BurgerCOLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - German prosecutors are pressing criminal charges against a former employee of chemicals maker Lanxess for allegedly stealing trade secrets to set up a Chinese copycat chemical reactor.The case underscores fears among German officials and executives about industrial espionage in Europe's largest manufacturing nation.State prosecutors in the city of Cologne, where the company is headquartered, told Reuters they had brought criminal charges in June against a Chinese-born German national based on a complaint filed with police by ... Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on November 15, 2018 2018/11/15 Q: On November 14, the Second Leaders' Meeting on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was held in Singapore. The meeting issued a joint statement saying that the RCEP negotiations have achieved substantive progress and that all relevant parties expressed their determination to reach the agreement in 2019. What is your comment? A: With regard to Premier Li Keqiang's attendance at the Second Leaders' Meeting on the RCEP, we have issued the relevant information. The RCEP agreement is the most important free trade agreement of the largest scale which is under negotiation in the Asia Pacific. After its conclusion, the agreement will cover nearly half of the world's population and almost one third of the trade volume and the region it covers will become the most dynamic free trade area with the largest population and most diversified members. During this meeting, all relevant parties agreed that against the backdrop of the surging anti-globalization and protectionism, concluding the negotiations on the RCEP is of great importance in that it will help boost the confidence of various sectors as well as the positive prospects, send out the clear signal of upholding the rules-based multilateralism and free trade and greatly promote regional economic growth and economic globalization. Over the past year, under the guidance of ASEAN and the promotion of Singapore, the rotating chair of ASEAN, the RCEP negotiations have achieved substantive progress and all relevant parties have demonstrated their strong willingness to conclude the agreement. Just as Premier Li Keqiang pointed out, now the negotiations have come to a crucial stage and that all relevant parties should renew their efforts, sustain the positive momentum and wrap up the deal with the finishing touches. China stands ready to work with all relevant parties to advance the negotiations under the principles of mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation so as to strive to conclude the talks in 2019, reach a comprehensive, modern, high quality, and mutually beneficial agreement, promote regional economic integration and deliver benefits to the people in this region at an early date. Q: Fifteen ambassadors to China have presented a letter to seek an audience with Xinjiang's local authority and expressed their concerns over the situation in Xinjiang. Does China have any response to this? A: I just saw the Reuters' report on this. I don't know why you chose to publish this kind of story? Do you think that it is meaningful for 15 ambassadors to write such a letter? Xinjiang is an open area. You all know that over 100 million visits have been made to Xinjiang either over the past year or in the first three quarters of this year. If these ambassadors want to go to Xinjiang with goodwill, of course we welcome that. But if they want to go there to pressure the local government, then that would be problematic. Besides, that would also exceed their mandate under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. An ambassador is supposed to promote the mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation between the receiving state and the sending state, rather than raise unreasonable requests and interfere in the internal affairs of the receiving state based on hearsay. Maybe you could interview these ambassadors and ask them whether they have got all the facts straight before writing this letter. Do they know that we have another 54 ethnic minority groups besides the Han and the Uyghur? Do they know that China has more than 40 laws and regulations including the Constitution which have clear stipulations on ethnic minority groups' usage and development of their languages and cultures? Maybe you could ask these ambassadors whether the ethnic minority groups in their countries like the US and Canada, learn English? Is their learning of English also considered as an attempt by their governments to extinguish or assimilate languages and cultures of the ethnic minority groups? These ambassadors live in China. They should know that many of the well-known stars in our cultural and artistic sectors are of ethnic minority groups, including the Uyghur group. Therefore, I see no reason why they are concerned about the situation in Xinjiang and why they try to pressure the Chinese side by raising these demands in a co-signed letter. I think what they have done is very rude and unacceptable. We hope that they could fulfill their duties and obligations as ambassadors, work to help their countries learn about China in a truthful, all-around and multidimensional way, and play a positive and constructive role in enhancing mutual trust, friendship and cooperation between their countries and China. I would like to reiterate that Xinjiang as an open region welcomes those who go there with goodwill. Anyone harboring malicious intentions and prejudice and seeking to interfere in China's internal affairs will be firmly rejected. Q: US Vice President Pence said in an interview with the Washington Post that the US is leaving the door open for a deal with China during the G20 Summit in Argentina, but only if China is willing to make massive changes that the US is demanding in its economic, military and political activities and come up with concessions on issues the US is concerned about. He also said that China must respect international rules and norms. What is your comment? A: We have noted relevant reports. For some time, we have been hearing different voices of different people from the US. I don't know whether he was speaking on behalf of the US government or in his own personal capacity. The China-US relationship is now at a crucial juncture. Its sound and steady development along the right track relies on the right choices and concrete efforts made by the two sides, which serves the fundamental interests of people in the two countries and around the world and meets the common aspirations of the international community. China respects the US' sovereignty, security and development interests and hopes that the US could do the same and respect China's development path that is chosen by its people in accordance with its national conditions. As President Xi Jinping said early this month at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo, "after going through 5,000 years of trials and tribulations, China is still here! Looking ahead, China will always be here to stay!" On the issue of economic and trade negotiations, China's position is clear and consistent. We believe that the nature of China-US economic and trade cooperation is for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Negotiations based on mutual respect, reciprocity and mutual benefit make the only right way out of the current economic and trade issues. And on this issue, China owes no one, begs no one, and fears no one. The two heads of state expressed their wish to maintain the sound and steady development of China-US relations and expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation during their recent phone call. We hope that the US side could follow the consensus reached by the two heads of state during their recent phone call, focus on cooperation, remove disturbances, and engage in serious consultations on issues of mutual concern with good faith on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity and mutual benefit so as to reach a proposal acceptable to the two sides and bring into reality the aspiration of ensuring sound and steady development of China-US relations and expanding bilateral economic and trade cooperation. On the issue of demanding China to respect international rules and norms, I would like to say that when it comes to observing international rules and norms, China is always a role model. In case you missed it, Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zakharova spent almost 15 minutes at her November 1 press briefing enumerating the US' past record of violating or abolishing major international treaties that the US has participated in. It is time for certain people in the US to stop prettifying the US and accusing others. Q: Mike Pence said when in Singapore that he wasn't going to meet with any Chinese officials. Does China consider this as a snub or rejection? Was China hoping there would be a meeting with Pence in Singapore? A: I haven't seen any reports on these remarks by Vice President Pence. It is odd to consider the US having no plan to meet with China a snub or rejection. You may ask the US side whether the Vice President meant this when saying these words. China and the US are having a lot of exchanges and communication every day. Any meeting is arranged through consultations in accordance with the two sides' wishes. Q: On the issue of Xinjiang and the so-called "reeducation centers", are we to believe that China has no plans to allow any international observers to visit those places and improve their understandings of what China is actually doing there? A: You always refer to those places as "reeducation centers". Actually, during his interview with the media, the Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has said that they are vocational education and training institutions. First of all, I want to stress that like I said when answering the question raised by the journalist from the Reuters, Xinjiang is an open region and over 100 million visits have been made to Xinjiang either over the past year or in the first three quarters of this year. There is no problem for foreigners going to Xinjiang for sightseeing tours or normal exchanges and visits. However, if some ambassadors to China want to travel to Xinjiang to pressure or point fingers at the local government, just like the journalist from the Reuters mentioned in his question, we do not welcome that. You are welcome to learn about Xinjiang with goodwill. In fact, there has never been any problem for the western diplomats and reporters traveling to Xinjiang. The relevant people can surely go to Xinjiang for sightseeing tours or visits, but the precondition is that they must abide by the Chinese laws and regulations and refrain from meddling in China's domestic affairs. Certain western diplomats claimed that they would go to Xinjiang for the so-called "investigation on the human rights conditions" there. This is above and beyond the duties of a diplomat and exceeds their mandate under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. So we will by no means allow them to do so. Like we said before, you are welcome to go to Xinjiang for normal exchanges, visits and sightseeing tours with goodwill, but we reject the interference in China's internal affairs with malicious intentions. Follow-up: Our reporters have a very difficult time just going to Xinjiang, much less trying to report on anything. Why is that the case? Why can't foreign reporters just go to Xinjiang, travel around, look at what's happening and report back without any prejudices or bias? Why is it the case? A: Like I said just now, Xinjiang is an open region and there are many trains and planes going there on a daily basis. If everyone had difficulties in traveling to Xinjiang, just like you said, then how over 100 million visits were made to Xinjiang either over the past year or in the first three quarters of this year? You said that some journalists may encounter some problems in their reporting there. I am not aware of the specifics. But I think as long as they undergo the normal procedures, there should not be any problem. Like I said just now, you are welcome to travel to Xinjiang for sightseeing tours or visits, but the precondition is that you must abide by the Chinese laws and regulations and refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs. If you indeed encounter difficulties in your normal reporting there, you can tell us and we can help you contact the local government and offer needed assistance to you. Q: Also about the letter of the 15 ambassadors. Has China received it? A: I have seen your report, but I have not seen the letter you mentioned. Q: The officials from India and China held the 9th round of Defense and Security Dialogue from November 13 to 14. This was the first dialogue after last year's standoff in the Donglang area. What issues have been discussed? Can you just offer us some details of the dialogue? A: You may refer to the recent meeting between the senior representatives of the Chinese and Indian border troops in the east section of the China-India boundary. According to my information, the two sides exchanged views on properly managing differences, enhancing border control and upholding peace and tranquility of the border areas. I am not aware of the specifics and I may refer you to the military. But one thing is certain: we are willing to make concerted efforts with India to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two states and two militaries and uphold peace and tranquility of the border areas so as to ensure the sound and steady development of China-India relations. By Huw JonesLONDON (Reuters) - Britain and the European Union have agreed a deal that will give London's financial centre the same basic level of access to the bloc's markets after Brexit that is already offered to countries including the United States, Japan and Singapore.WHAT IS EQUIVALENCE?The deal is based around the EU's existing system of financial market access known as equivalence.The EU grants foreign financial firms market access if it deems their home rules "equivalent", or aligned closely enough with its own rules.It means foreign firms such as investment firms and clearing ... By Marco AquinoLIMA (Reuters) - For most of this year, Walter Aduviri, the governor-elect of Peru's Andean region of Puno, had been a fugitive.The indigenous activist, 38, went into hiding after losing a sedition trial last year over deadly protests he led against Canadian mining company Bear Creek in 2011.All that changed in October. His 7-year sentence was annulled and he was elected governor of Puno, home to deep deposits of gold, silver, uranium and lithium that miners plan to excavate through $2 billion of proposed projects.In his first interview with foreign media since his victory, ... TOKYO (Reuters) - IKEA plans to open its first store in central Tokyo in 2020 and has chosen a neighbourhood that draws young shoppers and tourists, in a departure from its usual suburban locations.The 2,500 square metre shop will open in the spring of 2020 in Tokyo's Harajyuku district, which is known as a mecca for youth fashion and also attracts tourists, IKEA Japan said on Thursday in a statement on its website.After decades of rapid growth, the world's biggest furniture brand is battling to adapt to the rise of online rivals such as Amazon and made.com, while also trying to maintain its ... By Colin Packham and Philip WenSYDNEY/BEIJING (Reuters) - When Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill flagged the possibility of China bankrolling a port development off his country's northern coast in June, the consternation in neighbouring Australia set off a lightening-fast response. Despite a change in leadership in Australia's government in August, a rival offer was swiftly formulated, government and diplomatic sources told Reuters, amid concern the strategically-located Manus Island port could regularly host Chinese military vessels.Canberra, a staunch Washington ally, said ... By Stephanie KellyNEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures rose on Thursday, steadying after this week's steep losses as fuel stockpile declines in the United States helped offset concerns about a potentially oversupplied market next year. Prices have also been supported by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries signaling possible output cuts in 2019.Brent crude futures gained 70 cents to $66.82 a barrel by 12:44 p.m. EST (1744 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 39 cents to $56.64 a barrel.Prices pared gains after data from the U.S. Energy Information ... By Rania El Gamal, Davide Barbuscia and Saeed AzharDUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco has approached banks to finance its $5 billion Amiral petrochemical project that the state-owned oil producer plans to develop with France's Total, five sources familiar with the matter said.Aramco, the world's largest crude producer, plans to boost investment in refining and petrochemicals in a bid to cut reliance on crude as demand for oil slows.Plans for the giant Amiral petrochemical complex in the Saudi city of Jubail were announced in April. It will be located next to the Satorp refinery, which is also ... By David ShepardsonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Air Line Pilots Association told U.S. safety regulators on Thursday the union was concerned about "a potential, significant aviation system safety deficiency" in the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, one of which crashed last month in Indonesia.Boeing Co and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued guidance about the 737 Max's aviation system last week after a Lion Air jet crashed in Indonesia on Oct. 29, killing all 189 people on board.But the pilots union's president, Tim Canoll, said in a letter to the FAA and National Transportation Safety ... A raft of profit warnings from Apple Inc suppliers this week has fuelled investor concerns that iPhone sales, in terms of volume, have hit a wall that could spell trouble for the company's plans to make services its main pillar of growth. For the past year, investors had largely been willing to overlook stagnating unit sales of the iPhone because average selling prices kept rising. But it now faces fierce competition from mid-priced phones from makers such as Xiaomi Corp. Apple has often stated its plan to increase its revenue from paid services, such as Apple Music and ... After Binny Bansal's sudden exit as CEO of Flipkart , a company he co-founded with Sachin Bansal in 2007, the recently altered Articles Of Association of the company has come to his rescue to secure his position in the board. According to documents sourced by private company signals platform Paper VC, the new constitution (Memorandum and Articles of Association) of Singapore-incorporated Flipkart Private Limited was adopted following a special resolution with effect from 25th September 2018. According to the filings, Binny Bansal can remain a director as long he satisfies the 'minimum ownership threshold'. The Constitution stipulates that till he owns at least 3,532,977 ordinary shares in the company, Binny Bansal will have the right to remain as a director. Only if there is any dilution by Binny below the number as per the regulation, Walmart gets to appoint another independent director on the board. Currently according to the regulation in the constitution, the company can have up to 9 directors, initially consisting of founder directors (Binny Bansal); Walmart appointed directors and key minority nominee directors. While Walmart has initially the right to, remove, replace its share of independent directors for a term of 2 years, it can be only after consultation with the founder (Binny) so long as he fulfils the minimum threshold criteria. Currently Lee Fixal is one such independent director on the board. Soon after his resignation, Binny Bansal in his email to employees said, "I will continue to be a large shareholder in the company and will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors" . Clearly, unlike the other co-founder Sachin Bansal who cashed out his stake, Binny Bansal has made his intentions clear by indicating he will hold on to minority stake in the company. So, to the question if Walmart can still find a way to remove Binny, legal experts say that there is very little the company can do. A senior advocate who did not wish to be identified due to professional relationship with Flipkart said, "If he is not an employee and just exercising his right as a shareholder then there is very limited option before the majority shareholder". He added that employment and directorship are two different issues altogether: "In case of senior employees, where there is a case of sexual misconduct, they will be generally asked to leave the company ,which seems to have been the case here. Directorship is altogether a different issue, it's not related to employment but shareholding". The much-lauded Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, which allowed women a 26-week paid leave after childbirth, unfortunately led to fewer women getting hired. After the Act was passed, a poll by LocalCircles had 11% businesses saying that they hired only male employees while another 46% said they hired mostly male and a few female employees. Similarly a study by TeamLease earlier this year estimated that there would be a net job loss of 11-18 lakh women in the current fiscal as a result of the new norms. There were several reported instances of employers trying to cut costs by asking female employees to quit after the maternity leave period was more than doubled or retrenching them on flimsy grounds before they went on leave. So, the government is now reportedly looking at ways to encourage hiring of women and work around the perceived maternity leave roadblock. A senior government official told The Economic Times that the Labour Ministry proposes to reimburse employers the salaries paid for seven of the additional 14 weeks of maternity leave for female employees in the Rs 15,000 salary bracket who have been EPFO subscribers for 12 months. This would cost the exchequer Rs 400 crore annually. "Much on the lines of Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana, the Labour Ministry now plans to give fiscal incentives to employers to retain female workers availing 26 weeks of maternity leave," said the source, adding that there have been several representations before the ministry on how the extended maternity leave has become a deterrent. The proposed policy will start on a pilot basis in New Delhi and Maharashtra and scale up across India subsequently. Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar yesterday chaired a meeting on incentives to help employers bear the extra financial burden and a policy in this regard is expected to be finalised soon. The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, protects the employment of women during their maternity leave and entitles them to benefits including full pay. The act is applicable to all establishments employing 10 or more people such as factories, mines, plantations, shops and other entities, as may be notified by the Central Government. To be eligible for maternity benefits, a woman must have worked in an establishment for at least 80 days in the past year. 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. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are always vulnerable in a challenging economic environment and the double whammy of demonetisation of big currency notes and the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) had only compounded their problems. There was no support from the banking industry. The reason being the banking system was facing its own asset quality challenges to indulge in safe lending, while RBI's clean-up exercise (for banks) further aggravated their challenges. Currently, the banks' MSME exposure stands around Rs 15 lakh crore as against the total lending of Rs 80 lakh crore. There is now a clamour for more sops for MSMEs, especially lowering the risk weights for the sector, which will release more bank capital for such funding. Similarly, the government wants Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to relax the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework norms, where 11 public sector banks (PSBs) are under intensive monitoring of RBI in terms of restricted lending. The MSMEs are always pampered by the government as they generate employment and helps in inclusive growth. But MSMEs pampered in the past could create assert quality issues in future. Take a look: 1. Defaulting MSME promoters allowed to bid for their own assets under the bankruptcy Code While the defaulting promoters of large companies like Essar, Jaypee are barred , the government amended the Section 29A of the bankruptcy Act to provide relief to MSME promoters. In June this year, MSME promoters, who defaulted on loans, were allowed to bid for their own assets under the bankruptcy code. Given the lack of investors' interest, the promoters will get back their company at a huge discount. 2. Forbearance and restructuring RBI has banned all restructuring schemes. In fact, a single day default of loans over Rs 2,000 crore calls for finding out a resolution within a time-bound manner else the door opens for bankruptcy proceedings. In February this year, the RBI had announced a special forbearance for GST-registered MSMEs by extending the NPA classification period from 90 days to 120 days. This facility was given to MSMEs with aggregate loan of Rs 25 crore. 3. Collateral free loans The banks are not allowed to take any collateral for loans up to Rs 10 lakhs. 4. Part of priority sector The MSME loans of less than Rs 25 crore are included in calculating the banks' priority sector exposure. This has resulted in increased lending to MSME sector. 5. Dedicated vertical For Resolution The Project Sashakt, which was created under the guidance of interim finance minister Piyush Goyal, has suggested banks to create a dedicated vertical for resolving the SME loans upto Rs 50 crore. It asked banks to create an empowered internal SME steering committee for validation of such schemes. 6. Specialized MSME branches The banks have been asked to set up at least one specialized branch in each district. By Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Nov 14 (PTI) Chinese tourist arrivals in Nepal have significantly increased by 48 per cent compared to last year, the visiting Chinese tourism minister said here on Wednesday. Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang, who is on a four-day visit to Nepal, stated this during his meeting with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, according to Nepalese foreign ministry sources. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal is increasing with every passing year. Nepal has welcomed 109,557 Chinese tourists till September. The growth has been attributed to increasing promotional campaigns in Chinese cities, designation of Rasuwagadhi entry point as international border crossing, increasing number of Chinese restaurants and other service providers, and easy availability of Chinese-speaking guides, among others. The Nepal government expects further arrival of Chinese tourists as the country is celebrating Visit Nepal Year in 2020 with various promotional campaigns. Luo also assured the prime minister that China would send the maximum number of tourists to Nepal during the Visit Nepal Year 2020. On the occasion, Oli said Nepal is marching ahead for achieving development and prosperity. "We are expecting generous support from our friendly nations including immediate neighbours to achieve the goal of prosperity," said Oli. The visiting Chinese minister also assured that his country would allow Nepal Airlines, the flag carrier, to operate commercial flights to Chinese cities during a bilateral meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Rabindra Adhikari on Tuesday. Adhikari requested the visiting minister for initiatives for allowing Nepal Airlines to operate flights to Guangzhou and Shanghai, among other Chinese cities. Luo assured him of needful steps, according to the tourism ministry. Nepal's ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation (MoCTCA) has been holding discussions with Chinese authorities regarding the plan to operate commercial flights to different Chinese cities. As China is the second largest tourist generating market for Nepal after India, increasing air connectivity with the northern neighbour will naturally boost Nepal's tourism sector. Nepal Airlines plans to operate wide-body aircraft to long-haul destinations including some Chinese cities, though it is yet to get the green signal from Chinese authorities. As many as four Chinese airlines are already flying to Nepal, while Nepal Airlines awaits permission to fly to China. Air China connects Kathmandu with Chengdu via Lhasa, while China Southern operates scheduled flights to Kathmandu from Guangzhou. Similarly, Sichuan Airlines flies between Chengdu and Kathmandu via Lhasa and China Eastern flies to Kathmandu from Kunming. Both sides have also agreed to organise tourism promotional events in the two countries to further increase the flow of tourists. Luo also attended the 'China Festival in Nepal' at the Army Officer's Club here. PTI SBP KUNKUN New Delhi, Nov 14 (PTI) IT company HCL Technologies on Wednesday opened a new office in Central Stockholm that can house over 60 employees. "The new office at HCL's Nordics headquarters in Central Stockholm has been inaugurated today only. Besides, the capacity of the office is more than 60," an HCL spokesperson said. The opening of the new office coincides with the company completing 10 years in the Nordic region. HCL employs more than 1,600 people in the Nordics representing 31 nationalities, with 55 large-scale clients including Volvo, Nokia, Vestas, Electrolux, DNB, Statkraft and Husqvarna, the company said in a statement.In whole of Europe, HCL employs more than 10,000 people and serves over 200 European clients, the company said. ************Statistics ministry organises conference of central, state agencies*The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is organising the 26th Conference of Central and State Organizations (COCSSO) from November 15-16 in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.The conference will be inaugurated by Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Vijay Goel on November 15, an official statement said.The theme of this year's conference is 'Quality Assurance in Official Statistics'. The conference is a major national forum for coordination between the central and state statistical agencies. PTI PRS KKS ABM New Delhi, Nov 14 (PTI) India is ready to share its expertise in renewable energy with small island nations, Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said Wednesday. "India has chosen the path of sustainable growth and we want to leave a green planet for our future generations. That is why our focus is on renewable energy. We are aiming for 100 per cent renewable energy in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep and India is ready to share expertise among other small island Nations, said Singh in a statement. Singh was addressing delegates of Know India Programme from various countries, including Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and South Africa here on Wednesday. Know India Programme is a flagship programme of Ministry of External Affairs for engagement with Indian origin youth (between 18-30 years) to enhance their awareness about India, its cultural heritage, art and to familiarize them with various aspects of contemporary India. The programme has been in existence since 2003.According to statement during their interaction with the officials of the Ministry of Power and MNRE, the delegates were exposed to various dimensions of Indias power and renewable energy sectors. They were informed that as a responsible Nation India has committed to increase share of non-fossil fuel based electric power generation upto 40 per cent by 2030. "India has already achieve over 33 per cent share of non-fossil fuels in the electric installed capacity and is likely to achieve this target much ahead of the deadline. Focused approach and ambitious aims will make India a world leader in the field of renewable energy, observed the Minister. Explaining the unique feature of the India Power system the delegates were informed about the country wide single grid that operates at single frequency.The minister further said that India has chosen a democratic federal system where freedom and equality is guaranteed by the constitution. He talked about the emotional bond that Indian diaspora shares with the country of their forefathers and wished the delegates for a better future. PTI KKS MR New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) India Thursday handed over to Maldivian Coast Guard one of its ships after carrying out major refit on it, the Indian Navy said.Maldivian Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee successfully completed her refit at Naval Dockyard ,Visakhapatnam, and the ship was formally handed over to the island nation, a Navy spokesperson said The handing over of the ship comes two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays a day-long visit to Maldives to attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.Modi's visit is seen as an indication of an attempt by New Delhi to mend bilateral ties, which nosedived during the outgoing Abdulla Yameen government.India-Maldives ties came under strain under Yameen and the relations deteriorated further after he imposed emergency in the island nation on February 5 this year. Maldives is an important country for India's maritime security and there have been concerns in India over China's growing influence over the country in the last few years. The Navy spokesperson said the four-month long refit of Huravee was part of an initiative by the Indian Navy to enhance its outreach to friendly foreign navies in the Indian Ocean Region."The ship had arrived at Visakhapatnam on 12 Jul 18 and successfully completed her refit on Nov 14," the official said. "Major repairs were undertaken on the ship's hull, main propulsion and auxiliaries. In addition number of systems and equipment were upgraded for better performance and reliability," he said. PTI MPB GVS Singapore, Nov 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday met his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong and the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including cooperation in financial technology and regional economic integration.Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by addressing the Fintech Festival, the world's largest event on financial technology.Modi became the first world leader to address the festival which was launched in 2016 and is in its third edition.Modi met Lee on the sidelines of East Asia Summit."PM Narendra Modi met with Prime Minister of Singapore lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines of East Asia Summit. Good exchange of views on cooperation in financial technology, enhanced connectivity and regional economic integration," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet. During his visit, Modi will attend the East Asia Summit, an ASEAN-India informal meet, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit and hold meetings with global leaders, including US Vice President Mike Pence. Before leaving for Singapore, Modi said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolised India's "continued commitment" to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members and with the wider Indo-Pacific region.Modi also said he was confident that his visit to Singapore would impart fresh momentum to New Delhi's growing partnership with ASEAN and East Asia Summit nations.Pence will participate in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi, the White House said Tuesday releasing the schedule of the Vice President on the eve of the meeting.India and Singapore are working to connect Indian and ASEAN small and medium enterprises, anchored on an Indian platform, and expand it globally, Modi said in his address on Wednesday.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising ten Southeast Asian countries, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other Asian states.PTI MRJ AKJ MRJ Although Jet Airways has consistently dismissed the buzz about a stake sale to the Tata Group as speculative, talks are reportedly picking up pace and a two-step transaction is being hashed out. The cash-strapped airline could merge with Tata SIA Airlines Ltd - the joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines that's known by the brand name Vistara - through a share swap in the first phase. Jet promoter Naresh Goyal, his partner Etihad, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines will then all become partners in the new company, The Economic Times reported. In the second step of the deal, Singapore Airlines could buy out the Goyal family's entire 51% stake in the new combined entity. While Etihad may choose to continue with the venture as minority shareholder (it holds a 24% stake), it will have an exit option too. "If Etihad needs an exit, we are ready to buy them out as well. Eventually, Tatas and Singapore Airlines will control the entity," a person with direct knowledge of the development told the daily. Media reports earlier this week suggested that the Tata Group had already started its due diligence process in order to pick up a controlling stake in Jet Airways, which recently reported its third consecutive quarterly losses for the quarter ending September. "The attempt is to work out a way where there would not be substantial cash payment involved in the buyout," a second source told the daily. "Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran is keen that a deal is quickly worked out that will strengthen the group's position in the aviation business and give it a much needed heft. Since Air India deal is not easily possible and the GoAir deal with the Wadias won't happen, Jet is our best bet," he added. Tata, along with its partner Singapore Airlines, are expected to infuse capital to enable the Jet-Vistara combine to function effectively. The deal in the works, if successful, will give the Tata Group's aviation plans a much-needed boost as it will secure Jet's landing rights, routes and related infrastructure amenities. "The buyout will give access to slot landings that Tatas are keen on and not the relationships that Jet has with various partners," a source explained. The profits of Tata's airlines business have been deeply impacted by its inability to have flights across the country. Significantly, the deal is expected to make the Tata Group India's second biggest airline operator after IndiGo in terms of market share, and third-largest in terms of fleet size. With Jet under its fold, the Tata Group-owned airlines, including AirAsia India, would reportedly have a combined market share of 23.6%, up from 8.2% as of September, as compared to 43.2% for IndiGo. The Tata-Jet discussions are being led by group chairman N Chandrasekaran and his mergers and acquisitions team with significant inputs and suggestions from chairman emeritus Ratan Tata. The sources added that talks between the representatives of the Tata Group, Singapore Airlines and Jet's management gathered pace after the latter's discussions with US-based private equity giant TPG Capital regarding a stake sale slowed down. Jet on Tuesday said that it is at various stages of discussions with multiple "interested parties" for capital infusion and partial stake sale in its loyalty programme Jet Privilege. Although various private equity firms, including Blackstone and TPG, had submitted bids for the frequent flier programme, the negotiations didn't advance much. The airline is scrambling for funds to tide over the liquidity crisis, which has resulted in delayed payments to some vendors and salaries to a 15% of its over 16,000 employees. In a post-earnings call on Tuesday Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer Amit Agarwal said that the airline had engaged the services of experts to help in the turnaround plan and enhance liquidity, adding that "six wide-body Boeing 777s have already been put on sale". According to analysts, Jet's earnings were a disappointment although it has been managing positive cash flow through delays in vendor payments/higher lease incentives. "These measures are not sustainable and will fall short, in any case any default on debt would lead to lenders dragging the company to NCLT," read a November 13 note by Edelweiss Securities, the daily reported. "Jet Airways' liquidity concerns are unlikely to dissuade a well-capitalised group like Tata, which has a track record of mega acquisitions a prospective deal may involve a notable control premium," the note to clients added. Meanwhile, the speculation of a takeover by the Tatas is spurring on Jet's stock, which is up 4% since yesterday. Last Monday, shares of the cash-strapped airline had soared 9.5% on reports of initiation of a second round of talks with the salt-to-software conglomerate. The stock has delivered 21.88% returns during the last one month. With PTI inputs Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has captured 27.3% share of the Indian market in Q3 with 117 lakh shipments. Samsung was a distant second with a 22.6% share, the International Data Corporation (IDC) said. Samsung has been continuously losing market share in India owing to the entry of several Chinese smartphone makers like Oppo and Vivo. Vivo has a market share of 10.5% and is placed at number 3 in the Indian market. Micromax and Oppo take the 4th and the 5th positions with the market share of 6.9% and 6.7% respectively. The Indian smartphone market witnessed total shipments of 426 lakh units in the quarter ending September 30, registering a year-on-year growth of 9.1%. Meanwhile, Xiaomi Redmi 5A and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro continued to be the most selling smartphones in India. Samsung is looking to get back the top slot with the introduction of its Infinity series smartphones and is banking heavily on phones like Galaxy J6, Galaxy J2 (2018), Galaxy J8, Galaxy J4 and the recently launched Galaxy J2 Android Go phone. The overall growth in the smartphone market, however, brings along a warning sign in the form of the sliding rupee and rising input costs. The retailers are expected to increase the prices in the next few months. Xiaomi has already hiked the prices of its budget smartphones Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh's wedding is all anyone would talk about now. And why not, fans have been waiting for the couple to get married for years. The couple's Lake Como wedding is befitting the wait - from the luxurious villa and the colour-coordinated attires to the sought-after destination, it seems nothing short of perfect. To make the wedding more special, the couple has asked their guests to not get them any gifts. Instead, they have said that they would appreciate if their guests made donations to her NGO - The Live Love Laugh Foundation that seeks to help people with mental illness. The NGO was founded by Deepika Padukone after she spoke out about fighting with depression in 2015. "The bride and groom have requested the guests to not shower them with gifts. If they wish to give them anything, they've requested that donations be made to Deepika's foundation that actively works towards creating awareness and removing the stigma around depression. Both Ranveer and Deepika are deeply committed to the cause and want to involve all their guests in the good deed," said a source as mentioned in a report in Mid-Day. The couple picked Italy's Laka Como as the wedding destination. Deepika-Ranveer tied the knot as per Konkani rituals on November 14 and will follow it up with another round of rituals in Sindhi style. The Lake Como wedding is a close-knit affair with very close friends and family in attendance. Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Farah Khan are amongst the few guests invited from the film industry. The wedding will be followed by two receptions. The first reception will be held on November 21 at The Leela Palace Hotel in Bengaluru. Deepika Padukone's parents have booked the Leela Palace's ballroom for the occasion. Close friends and extended family members will be invited for this event. The second reception will be held on December 1 at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai. Film industry members and Bollywood celebrities will be invited for this event. The small Northern Irish party propping up Britain's minority government will "certainly" vote against Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, a member of parliament for the party said on Thursday. Asked in an interview with BBC Radio Ulster whether the Democratic Unionist Party would vote against, Jim Shannon said "we certainly will...We feel very much betrayed." The DUP leadership has not commented on its voting plans since a meeting with May on Wednesday evening. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie It was announced today that Canadian restauranteur Pita Pit and Japanese eatery Musashi will join Krispy Kreme in occupying the newly redeveloped block at Irelands largest retail and leisure destination The Blanchardstown Centre. Both units will extend to approximately 170 sq m and will feature new outdoor seating and dining areas. Multi Ireland have spent the last 12 months redeveloping the block which had been vacant for several years. Pita Pits new Blanchardstown outlet will be its first in Ireland. Founded in 1995 as a healthy alternative to fast food, the company has over 500 outlets currently worldwide, mainly in the US and Canada. The final unit in the block will be occupied by Sushi and Noodle bar, Musashi. The Japanese eatery founded by Emma Pei and Bo Lang has five existing restaurants in Dublin and the new Blanchardstown outlet will be their first in a shopping centre environment. The announcement comes on the back of the opening of the first Krispy Kreme store in Ireland at The Blanchardstown Centre in September. The well-publicised Krispy Kreme opening was the most successful in the companys long history, easily beating all previous records in their entire global portfolio of 1300 restaurants. Apart from being the first Krispy Kreme here, it will also be the largest extending to over 500 sq m incorporating a childrens party area and interactive Doughnut Theatre where customers can witness the entire doughnut production process. Speaking this week, Head of Leasing at Multi Ireland, Simon Cooper said, "We are delighted to welcome Krispy Kreme and are particularly pleased that this is their debut Irish outlet and one of their top format Hotlight stores. This is a real coup for the Centre and along with the other new restaurants they will provide a real point of difference for Blanchardstown." Centre Manager at Blanchardstown Centre, Joe Gavin added, "Krispy Kreme, Esquires, Pita Pit and Musashi will enhance and compliment the already wide restaurant offering at Blanchardstown. They will also appeal to a broad demographic and provide a blend of specialist, fast casual and healthy dining experiences." Source: www.businessworld.ie news, latest-news It's moving fast from science fiction to the here-and-now in Canberra. James Ryan Burgess, the chief executive of Project Wing, which is planning a drone delivery service in the ACT, has spelt out the detail. The venture now has a warehouse in Mitchell as a base, from where it plans to offer deliveries to homes and businesses in nearby Gungahlin, Palmerston, Harrison, Crace and Franklin. If the experiment succeeds, the plan is to expand across Canberra and Australia and, according to the pitch by Mr Burgess, the rest of the world. Mr Burgess told a public meeting in Gungahlin: At the generally favourable meeting, Mr Burgess said the California-based company, an off-shoot of Google's parent company Alphabet, was looking at ways of delivering to high-rise buildings. "We are thinking about how that would work", he said. "Would it be roof-top access? Or some type of mail-box on people's balconies?" He conceded there had been community concerns about noise and his engineers were working to change the pitch and the volume of the engine noise to make it more like other sounds in the city. "We've actually chosen to redeploy our resources and we are working on a new version of our aircraft which reduces the sound but also changes the sound to make it a bit more familiar," Mr Burgess said. "Right now, it's a pretty unique sound. We can't help but hear it so we're changing the pitch and frequency to make it more familiar and blend into the background." He said the decision to keep the drones at seven metres above the ground when picking up and delivering was so there could be no interaction between the public and the machine. "We love airplanes, but most people are either indifferent or don't like them so much." At the meeting, a Bonython resident asked about impact of the drones on birds. Project Wing has been trialling the drone delivery system in the suburb since February and the woman said she had seen drones attacked by magpies three times. But Mr Burgess said he knew of no instance where a drone had actually hit a bird. "Birds, it turns out, are very good at seeing and detecting things and getting out of the way," he said. The drones fly up to 120 to 125 kilometres per hour. They use GPS but also have cameras that can sense changes in the landscape, such as colours or features in the terrain to work out where they are. Mr Burgess said it would be impossible for a malign outsider to take over the controls. He didn't completely answer on where information would be stored but indicated it would be in Google's data warehouses since it was part of the Google company. Privacy data would be deleted, though he didn't say what information would be considered sensitive and deleted by the system. The company's pitch is that the biggest killer of wildlife is cars and drones diminish the need for cars as delivery vehicles. The company is also making the point in its PR offensive that drones burn less fossil fuel than a car would to deliver a pizza. The thrust of his presentation was that the company wanted to develop the service step by step, trying out areas and techniques to make sure they work and that the system was safe. But Mr Burgess conceded there was a potential conflict: "Every time an aircraft flies, it's present there for many people on the ground and maybe not for consumers who ordered the package, and that's a challenge. "But every time an aircraft flies, it's actually meeting the needs of someone in the community. "We have shift workers or parents with young children who might need chemist items and who don't want to pack the children in the car." Initially, the trial involves businesses getting their goods to the company's premises and loading them on the drone there, but eventually the plan would be for drones to pick up from a company - say a pizza parlour or coffee shop - and take the goods straight to the person who ordered it. Mr Burgess estimated the delivery charge would be in "the low single of dollars". But the big unanswered question: will the pizza or coffee still be hot? /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/def14264-c2b9-49b3-960d-6d44cb5090e4/r0_91_4828_2819_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg comment Does the person who designed the space age structures at the new light rail stops live in Canberra? I guarantee you will never see him/her at one on a cold, sleeting, windy Canberra winter day. Based on what is visible at present and on images on Canberra Metro's website, there is no side protection from the elements and a flat open roofline to capture the wind and slanting rainfall. Not to mention minimal shade on hot days. Just wait for the reaction of miserable commuters to this design after work on a dark sleeting winter evening. The wind from the Brindabellas should fairly rattle down Northbourne Avenue now that those pesky trees providing wind protection (and shade) are gone. The minimal spacing between the new high-rise buildings should add to this wind funnelling. I'd love to see Shane Rattenbury, Andrew Barr and Meegan Fitzharris chained up there for a wet day next winter. John Mungoven, Stirling Rates and land taxes in Canberra seem much higher than in other Australian cities and something needs to be done about it. Some options are to rein in unaffordable government spending, diversify the revenue base, and reduce government costs more generally. One of the concerns must be the size of the ACT public service, which is proportionally many times larger than it was before self-government. Relying on the bureaucracy to downsize itself is not the answer. As we know from the federal experience, that means jobs disappear from the bottom and not from the top. What is clearly required is an independent review of how Canberra is managed in comparison to well-run similar-sized cities in other countries. Meanwhile, if you're a pensioner, you may be able to defer payment of your rates to give yourself more disposable income. The amount owed to the ACT government can then be recovered from the eventual sale of your property. C. Williams, Forrest Several articles in The Canberra Times, November 9, ("Morrison steps up in Pacific", "Australia must tread warily with China", "No new subs until 2035") raise a number of issues related to the big picture of Australia's geo-political and strategic environment up to 2035 and beyond. For example, in relation to Australia's vital strategic oil stockpile, what contingencies are in place or being developed to ensure that the flow of oil supplies to Australia is maintained during a major conflict? Will the entire capability of Australia's proposed defence forces and posture be able to adequately project forward, interdict and ultimately be able to successfully defend the Australian mainland from a determined hostile aggressor? In terms of proposed soft power strategies, the Australian government needs to step up and properly fund the ABC including Radio Australia and SBS, to ensure that those types of media content which will showcase Australia in the best light are able to be broadcast to our south and mid-Pacific neighbours. The excellent historical, cultural, indigenous, natural/environmental programs of these two government-funded channels surely would be more preferable than the first-world reality television programs which are the mainstay programming of the three commercial media channels. Finally, in pursuit of its new Monroe doctrine, Australia cannot ever again afford to engage in an action similar to the recent seabed rights challenge against Timor-Leste. Presumably the bureaucrats and ministers leading this challenge had no sense of the strategic role which Timor-Leste played during the Pacific war 1941-45. Ron Edgecombe, Evatt Scott Morrison pledges to "build a large naval ship that will cruise the South Pacific and help Australia's neighbours deal with natural disasters" ("Ship to patrol Pacific amid long view on PNG", November 9, p8). What are the plans for the "large naval ship" to combat climate change and sea-level rise, which will obliterate some Island nations. The Morrison government does not have an adequate domestic climate strategy, is not taking a leading international role on climate change mitigation and has no Pacific climate plan. Labor had a very good Pacific climate policy, which was abolished by the Abbott government. Not to worry, Morrison's naval ship will deal with this problem. Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor The debate about proposed ACT third party insurance changes continues. Most crashes involve ordinary people doing ordinary things; they simply make an error of judgment that results in a crash. However the smaller number of bad and decisive illegal behaviour in most crashes should not be "rewarded" by being eligible for compensation. In my view, those people who deliberately behave or participate in a considered and illegal way that results in a crash, should be excluded from any possible claim for compensation under the scheme. Such behaviours include, driving under the influence of illegal drugs, driving with high concentrations of alcohol (>0.08per cent), driving at excess speed (>15km/h above the speed limit), driving to evade police, driving without a licence, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving a stolen vehicle. These are all illegal activities that are the result of a considered decision by the drivers and passengers prior to taking a trip. Hence having decided to undertake these activities, in the event of a crash they should not be "rewarded" with any compensation. It may just result in a passenger saying "stop" to the driver and avoid the crash and could thus achieve about a 50per cent reduction in fatal crashes in the ACT. Small excesses in otherwise legal activities such as small errors of judgment over speed or over alcohol limit should still be covered by the scheme. Tom Brimson, Dunlop What I distil from Mr Bennett's letter (Letters, November 12) is that, while the ACTION bus fleet is necessary, the users are not paying enough and less than they used to. There is scope for riders to pay more as Mr Bennett implies. Taxpayers should note that the Gungahlin-Civic tram, with a projected subsidy of about $14 per passenger, will replace the rapid bus services at a subsidy of $8.60 per passenger (for ACTION network in 2017-18). The Rattenbury/Barr government thinks that's a great deal for taxpayers. Ideology trumps rationality and good city administration every time. M. Flint, Erindale Wrong solution Does our Chief Minister think that our city's vibrancy and character will be assisted by an outbreak of drones? Sue Dyer, Downer According to Dr Allan Orr, a "counter-terrorism and insurgency specialist" ("Shoot-to-injure plea by specialist", November 12, p1), federal, state and territory police forces should adopt a "shoot to injure" and not a "shoot to kill" response when confronting armed assailants. When in most instances one has only a fraction of a second to respond, what part of a person's anatomy does he propose to target? "Shoot to kill" is part of the formal training for two very good reasons: as there is generally no time to think under such circumstances, it becomes a purely reflex reaction, generally in the chest area, which offers the largest target. His proposal to form "commando"-style specialist response units to respond "within a few minutes" will not solve the problem. I would be very interested to find out how he would prevent anyone from driving a vehicle (with or without explosives) and deliberately mowing down pedestrians in crowded public areas. Regrettably, terrorism is here to stay, and the best we can aim for is to reduce such incidences, by increased covert surveillance, with appropriate decisive action to follow soon after. Mario Stivala, Spence I think we should all think about how it would feel to be convinced one was being chased by "unseen people with spears" ("Health system to the rescue", November 13, p18). In my humble opinion such a person is owed one-on-one care until his terrifying delusions are reliably over. We keep hearing economists suggest it is time to move to a service economy. If we had a spare $500million, why can't we employ people to offer individualised and tender care to those who suffer from mental illness? The art of making connections with other people is the one we need to foster and in which we urgently need to invest. How does calling a mentally ill person a "terrorist" help? Pellegrinis is on the right track offering visitors a coffee and, no doubt, a sharing of our communal grief. Jill Sutton, Watson Let's forget about putting monies on a terrorist watch. A better solution would be to change our law and have their Australian citizenship taken away from the terrorists and they are then deported back to whence they came or back to their parents' former country. Set a precedent and Australia will be safer place. For the do-gooders using the ol' chestnut, he/she had a mental problem and did not know what he/she was doing: how about you mob have some thought about the families injured or murdered. Mark Urquhart, Palmerston Thank you for Sally Pryor's excellent article about the return and entombment of the unknown Australian soldier at the Australian War Memorial. (November 10, p10). I need to let you know that contrary to the front-page headline "The untold story of the unknown soldier" the story has been told in some detail. On March 12 this year Brendon Kelson delivered the Canberra and District Historical Society's Canberra Day Oration at the National Library of Australia. His oration was titled "The Return of the Unknown Australian soldier, and reflections on the Centenary of Anzac". The full text of the oration has been published in the September 2018 edition of the Canberra Historical Journal. An item of interest relating to the AWM is that the society's collection includes a remarkable heritage-listed journal compiled by two porters at the Hotel Canberra between 1926 and 1931. One of them, George Jefferis, was a reasonable artist and he drew a coloured illustration of the AWM some time in that period, clearly from the available plans as the memorial was not completed until 1941. Nick Swain, Canberra & District Historical Society president, Barton The recent article "Drop in the gender pay gap, but it's not all good news" (canberratimes.com.au, November 13) as is now custom, completely distorts the real question, which is, what is the difference in pay rates? Not the difference in earnings because men continue to work longer hours which, in blue collar attracts penalty rates and in white collar attracts promotion. Actual pay rates (as opposed to earnings) show women trailing by a mere 4per cent. Incidentally, according to ABS data, based on personal diaries men still work longer hours when paid and unpaid hours are summed. John Coochey, Chisholm Yesterday the ACT government sent me an email with a glossy attachment containing an article exalting me to "Be Bushfire Ready" and giving advice on how to prepare my home. In the article I am advised to "Make sure you trim any overhanging trees and shrubs". I get this advice every year, and every year I wonder when the ACT government intends to come and prune the two large gum trees that overhang my house (so much so that they are in contact with the roof) that I have complained about on multiple occasions over the years. D Hoyles, Fadden That many instances of violence in ACT schools involve "students with complex needs" ("Fear in the classroom", November 8, p1) is code for co-occurring mental health and substance use. One should add parents with complex needs as well. Frustration that sparks senseless acts of violence is generally borne of alienation and marginalisation, hence school violence will not be effectively addressed unless all contributing factors are on the table. An Australian Education Union speaker at a forum we organised 17 years ago commented that the "experience of the AEU ... throughout Australia [is] that the question of substance abuse among young people is of growing concern." The recent Australia21 report points out drug laws are tearing apart Australia's social fabric. Their role in school violence and the perpetuation and intensification of disadvantage down generations demands our attention. Bill Bush, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform president, Turner MAKE UNIONS PAY For many years union business has been carried out in the Commonwealth public service departments on the taxpayers' dime. I believe it is about time this practice is stopped and the servicing of union members was done by union officials at union expense and in their own time. Dick Ashby, Numurkah, VIC SHAME ON PRIME MINISTER Shame on you, Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia. Instead of being statesman-like and reasoned, you are fanning the flames of racism and bigotry with your comments on the tragedy in Melbourne last Friday. MrTrump does this also to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Shame on you both. Jan Gulliver, Lyneham DIVIDE AND CONQUER It seems to be the flavour of the month to rule by dividing society against itself, and rule by fear and subterfuge ("Muslims 'must work closer with police"', November12, p4). Politicians seek empire-building opportunities by mendaciously conflating mental health with terrorism to aggregate state power for subversion. Albert M.White, Queanbeyan PLAYING THE FEAR CARD Scott Morrison's response to the shocking stabbings in Melbourne is to play the fear card of a Islamic radical let loose on the Australian public. I wonder what his response might be to the overwhelming number of criminals in our prison systems who are from a Christian culture? John Sandilands, St Marys, Tasmania PROMOTE THE POSITIVE A kind, generous 74-year-old died trying to help a stranger. A homeless man stepped up to help police and to help protect others. We need to hear more about heroism and less about terrorism Weneed leaders to unite the community, not divide it. Doug Steley, Heyfield, VIC CHANGE OF TUNE I find it deliciously ironic that Malcolm Turnbull, the prime minister who raged at the ABC chairman of the board about the ABC's bias and poor reporting, chose the ABC to present his case for his achievements while PM. I'm amazed that no one has mentioned this since his appearance last week on the special Q&A; session. Merrie Carling, Gungahlin GERMAN REVOLUTION Every year, I look forward to reading a considered article in the mainstream media examining or even just mentioning the role of the German revolution in hastening the end of "the war to end all wars". Every year, I am disappointed, although not surprised. After all, which capitalist outlet wants to publish material that suggests that a workers' uprising may have helped end the bloodshed that "the band of hostile brothers" imposed on the Western world? John Passant, Kambah Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message eld, not as an attached le. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610. Keep your letter to 250 words or less. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published). /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/72480406-4caa-403b-9d87-a6b383e8b1b5/r0_281_5472_3373_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg The Nov. 6 election saw several firsts for LGBT parents and our children, along with many other wins that may not have made national headlines. Heres a broad look at the winners from the more than three dozen queer parents--and one of our kids--who ran. Jared Polis, who in 2011 became the first openly LGBT parent in Congress, was elected governor of Colorado, making him the first openly gayand gay parentgovernor. He and his partner Marlonwhom he introduced after the election as Colorados first First Manare raising two kids, ages six and four. His website notes that he had wanted to name one son Helton, after Todd Helton, the Colorado Rockies former star first base player, but Marlon said no. Polis was not the first LGBT governor, however. That honor belongs to Kate Brown of Oregon. Brown, who is bisexual, came to office in a special election in 2016 and was reelected this Nov. 6 for a full term. She is stepmother to her husband Dans now-grown son and daughter, whom she helped raise. Angie Craig, formerly head of global human resources for a major state manufacturer, won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota, making her the first lesbian mom elected to Congress and the second LGBT parent after Polis. She and her wife Cheryl have three boys in college and one in high school. Like many LGBT parents, she had to fight to become one. In 1997, Craig and her then-partner Debra Langston tried to adopt when they were living in Tennessee. Although the birth mother of the child they hoped to adopt wanted them to do so, the birth mothers own parents tried to claim custody, not wanting him to be raised by a same-sex couple. A court battle ensued, which Craig and Langston ultimately won. Now, she wants to use that same fighting spirit to make things better for all Minnesotans. Kevin Lembo, elected Connecticut state comptroller, also had a personal legal struggle to create his family. A New York judge stopped him and his partner from adopting two children because of the mens marital status and sexual orientation. They successfully appealed to the New York State Supreme Court, and later adopted a third child. In Michigan, Dana Nessel was elected attorney general. Nessel, who is raising twins with her wife, has long fought for queer families. She brought the 2010 case in which a Michigan court first held that a non-biological parent in a same-sex couple could gain custody rights to their children. She petitioned for the first second-parent adoptions in two counties. Most notably, in 2012, she led the case challenging the states bans on adoption and marriage for same-sex couples, a case later consolidated into Obergefell v. Hodges, which won federal marriage equality at the U.S. Supreme Court. In state legislatures, Laurie Jinkins and Christine Kilduff will join the Washington State House, while Jamie Pedersen and Claire Wilson will be in that states senate. Other state winners were Lisa Bunker (New Hampshire), the only transgender parent to win this year; Jack Lewis (Massachusetts); Sean Patrick Maloney (New York); Rebecca Kislak (Rhode Island); Julie Johnson (Texas), and Todd Novak (Wisconsin) in their states lower chambers, along with Nickie Antonio in the Ohio State Senate. Novak was the only Republican LGBT parent running this year. And Zach Wahls became the first state or federal elected official with openly LGBT parents, winning a seat in the Iowa Senate. Wahls, a former Eagle Scout and state debate champion, rose to national recognition with his 2011 speech to the Iowa legislature about marriage equality and his two moms - the video of which went viral twice. Wahls, speaking to Family Equality Council on election night, said he was honored to be supported by voters from all kinds of families, and added, At this fragile moment, its critical for families with one or more LGBT parents to have strong advocates for our families in elected office. Im proud to be one of those advocates, and I always will be. On the local level, Jennifer Campbell was elected to the San Diego City Council; Adam Rogers to Californias La Habra City School Board; Liz Barrett to Marylands Frederick County Board of Education; and Shannon Baldwin, as a judge for Texas Harris County Criminal Court. And in an important but lesser-known role, Debra Shore was reelected as a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. There was disappointment for many of us LGBT parents, too, with close losses for LGBT and LGBT-friendly candidates in several key states. And while Democrats gained a majority in the U.S. House, Republicans retained the Senate - and of course, the White House. Its still going to be a contentious few years of political battles not only for legislation, but for what seems like the heart and soul of our nation. This election saw new ground broken in many ways, though, for LGBT candidates who are and arent parents: for Native American women, Muslim women, and many others, particularly women of color. And Massachusetts voters resoundingly defeated a referendum measure that sought to roll back protections for transgender people. By focusing here on parents, though, I hope to offer useful examples of combining family and service, and how sometimes our personal struggles lead to public dedication. These parents in office may also help more people to see LGBT parents and our children as part of the fabric of our nation. May they serve their families, communities, and country with equal integrity and compassion. Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory for LGBT parents. 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. On Thursday, Nov. 8, Carson Graham of TransInclusive moderated a panel discussion for four transgender veterans about their experience in the military at the Stonewall Museum in Wilton Manors, Florida. Transgender individuals have been allowed to serve openly in the United States since 2011. According to the U.S. government, there are approximately 15,000 transgender service members currently on active duty or in the reserves and over 150,000 transgender veterans. Kristy Golba had served 31 years in the Marines with multiple deployments all around the world, including, Bahrain, Suriname, Iraq, Norway, Japan. I joined when I was 18, Golba said. My family life was a bit distorted. My dad was a drunk, former marine it was a combination of things, getting away and changing my environment. Now, but now I want to focus on myself. After all the panelists introduce themselves, Graham asked, What advice do you have for future transmen or transwomen that would want to enlist? If they are already transitioning, then they cant, was Nicki Ruizs quick reply. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis released a 44-page memorandum earlier this year which proposed a policy that was deemed as extremely discriminatory by The American Psychological Association. Mattis expert panel from the Pentagon has been heavily criticized for skewing data from various research studies. There are three keys points that the Pentagons panel claims there is minimal success with mental health and when hormone therapy was introduced to transgender servicemen and women, they were more prone to depression and suicide. Secondly, the policy states, Transgender persons who require or have undergone gender transition are disqualified from military service. However, there is a bit of legal jargon following the statement, which allows the Pentagon the ability to make exceptions. Third, the policy also states that transgender persons should serve as their biological sex. I dont care if you are transgender, homosexual, heterosexual or what have you identify as, I would say no, said Champagne Boudreaux. I cannot recommend people to enlist. Its a lot of mental work. You see how we are all up here, speaking monotone? We were trained that way, they put us in this kind of environment. Our experiences, we relive it, we go there. It is a tough road to live, [you have to] think of every aspect of your private life. I did five years, I went to Kuwait for 6 months, and in 2016 I went to the countries surrounding Russia, said Nicki Ruiz. Bulgaria, Latvia, Jordan and Kuwait, it was hot, it was so fricken hot. If you can imagine standing outside, it was about 130 degrees, and [you have] about 60 pounds of [gear] on you and youre just raining [sweat] inside of your cap. I would say if youre transitioning, I would say wait, added Nicki Ruiz. Unless you have already had bottom surgery, the military wont give just one person any special treatment so you will end up sharing 5 showerheads with 30 people that were born your biological gender. Ruiz then reiterated, We are all one solider, we are all one sailor. Theres no room for special treatment. Step 1 Log on to the Gujarat Government official website. Step 2 Click the New Registration button. Step 3 The registration instructions will open. Read them carefully. Step 4 Click I Agree. Step 5 The registration form will open. Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 6 Upload your photo and signature. Step 7 Read the declaration and click on the Yes option box to agree. Step 8 Click Save and complete the registration process. Step 9 Go back to the home page and log in using your credentials to complete the application process. Sikkim Police has released an employment notification calling out aspirants to apply for the post of Constable. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 22,200 per month. The last date to apply for this government job is 12 December 2018. 2723 Vacancies Open In AP Police Recruitment 2018 Sikkim Police Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Constable Organisation Sikkim Police Educational Qualification Class 12 passout from a recognised board Experience Freshers can apply Skills Required Physical fitness Job Location Sikkim Salary Scale INR 22,200 per month Industry Police Application Start Date November 10, 2018 Application End Date December 12, 2018 Age Limit: 18 to 25 years Also Read: Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2018 For Assistant Commandants How To Apply For Sikkim Police Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for Sikkim Police Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the Sikkim Police official website advertisement. Step 2: Read the details of the advertisement carefully. Step 3: Scroll down to find the application form. Step 4: Save it to your computer and take a printout of it. Step 5: Enter your details in the application form. Step 6: Send it to Sikkim Police. Sikkim Police Recruitment 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of Constable" and send it to: Room No. 215, Office of DIG/CID, 1st Floor, Police Headquarters, Gangtok, Sikkim-737101. Follow the link - http://sikkimpolice.nic.in/Archive_Employment/2018_Recruitments/Delhi Police Recruitment for Sikkim Domicile 2018/4.ADVERTISEMENT AFTER AMENDMENT.pdf to read the detailed official notification. Liberty Mutual Insurance appointed four executives who will beef up the technology capabilities of its chief information officer. Hamilton Re hired away a Hiscox Re executive to fill a newly created position. Willis Towers Watson appointed an executive to lead its new, larger Kazakhstan office. *** Liberty Mutual Insurance appointed four executives to fill out the technology leadership team for Chief Information Officer James McGlennon. The technology leadership appointments include: Monica Caldas , as senior vice president and chief information officer for Libertys Global Retail Markets (GRM). Caldas leads GRMs global IT organization, strategy and services with a focus on driving business outcomes with technology by continuously innovating to better serve customers. Caldas will set the vision and establish the technology road map for the companys global portfolio of IT initiatives and systems with a focus on digital transformation and deeper usage of data and analytics. , as senior vice president and chief information officer for Libertys Global Retail Markets (GRM). Caldas leads GRMs global IT organization, strategy and services with a focus on driving business outcomes with technology by continuously innovating to better serve customers. Caldas will set the vision and establish the technology road map for the companys global portfolio of IT initiatives and systems with a focus on digital transformation and deeper usage of data and analytics. John Heveran , chief information officer of Global Risk Solutions. Heveran oversees and manages a team dedicated to delivering innovative technologies and expertise to Liberty International Underwriters, Liberty Specialty Markets, Liberty Mutual Surety, Ironshore and National Insurance. , chief information officer of Global Risk Solutions. Heveran oversees and manages a team dedicated to delivering innovative technologies and expertise to Liberty International Underwriters, Liberty Specialty Markets, Liberty Mutual Surety, Ironshore and National Insurance. Katie Jenkins , senior vice president and chief information security officer. Jenkins is responsible for Libertys global cybersecurity program, ensuring protection of company data, defense of the brand and minimizing business impact of cyber attacks. She leads enterprise cybersecurity policy, strategy and programs including cyber risk management, security-enabled cloud technology and employee awareness initiatives. , senior vice president and chief information security officer. Jenkins is responsible for Libertys global cybersecurity program, ensuring protection of company data, defense of the brand and minimizing business impact of cyber attacks. She leads enterprise cybersecurity policy, strategy and programs including cyber risk management, security-enabled cloud technology and employee awareness initiatives. Michael Willock, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Liberty Mutual Investments. Willock oversees the technology that facilitates Libertys global invested financial assets, generating income and creating capital for the company. Willock will develop a strategic road map for Investments technology, enhance its data and analytics capabilities, and create scalable front-to-back technology products and services *** Hamilton Re Ltd. hired David Roache to fill the newly created position of senior vice president, head of Risk XS. Hamilton Re is the Bermuda platform for Hamilton Insurance Group. Roache, who will report to Reinsurance Chief Underwriting Officer Tim Duffin, joins Hamilton Re from Hiscox Re, where he was head of Risk XS worldwide. Roaches 10-year tenure at Hiscox Re involved steady promotions to increasingly senior positions. Joining the organization in 2008 as a pricing/portfolio management actuary, he moved to underwriting in 2010. In 2015, he was promoted to head of Risk XS at Hiscox Bermuda and, in the following year, was given responsibility for overseeing risk excess globally. Roache began his career in the industry in 2004 when he joined Rosemont Re as an actuarial intern. He subsequently joined Ariel Re in 2005, which used Rosemont Res infrastructure to establish a new billion-dollar insurance and reinsurance company. He was one of 11 original members of Ariel Re. *** Willis Towers Watson named Omarkhan Tleugabilov as head of Willis Towers Watson Kazakhstan. He will be leading a team of five from their base in Almaty, helping to grow the newly established office for Willis Towers Watson. The new larger office enables Willis Towers Watson to offer more directly its full range of services and expertise to both local and global clients with an interest in Kazakhstan. Previously, the company operated in Kazakhstan through a smaller representative office. Source: Liberty Mutual, Hamilton Re, Willis Towers Watson Tonico Rocha (Alexandre Nero) will commit his first murder in In the time of the emperor. To cover up the... Ten days. Thats how long doctors told Glen Weinzimer he had left to live in 1993 when he was diagnosed with AIDS. More than 9,000 days later Weinzimer is not only still alive, but has become a well know activist and fundraising machine for HIV-related non-profits. Its safe to say HIV activism and awareness in South Florida would not be the same if the doctors had been right 25 years ago. This weekend Weinzimer celebrates 15 years of the Smart Ride, an annual two-day 165-mile bicycle ride from Miami to Key West that raises awareness and money for HIV-related non-profits. He launched the ride in 2003. It feels incredible from the standpoint of how much money weve raised over the years, he said. To be exact the ride has raised more than $9.3 million since 2003, which does not include this year. Once those numbers are added the total will likely top $10 million, an astonishing amount considering the last major AIDS ride in Florida actually lost money in its final year. HIV healthcare has changed though in the 25 years since Weinzimer was first diagnosed, and it has even changed in the 15 years since he founded the Smart Ride. The diagnosis is no longer a death sentence and for the most part its a manageable disease. Even so, Weinzimer said as long as there are people living with HIV, and new infections, there will be need for the organizations that the Smart Ride helps fund. So he has no plans to slow down. This is a completely preventable disease, but people are still getting infected. Miami and Broward are two of the top places in the country, he said. Florida is second in the nation when it comes to new HIV infections according to the 2016 Centers for Disease Control report, the latest available. How do you get to the younger generation? How do we get them to understand? What will resonate with them?, Weinzimer asked. Were in a transition. Those 45 and older remember the worst of the pandemic like Rock Hudson turning into a toothpick dying a horrific death. Today you dont see that. Hudson is an iconic American actor who died from HIV related complications in 1985. He was the first major celebrity to die from an HIV-related illness. Back then it was easier to scare people with the threat of an HIV infection, Weinzimer said. But now with so many more prevention options available, and the fact HIV can be treated relatively easy, educating carefree youth has become more difficult. But its the younger generation that is more at risk for HIV according to the CDC. The age group that leads the way in new infections is 20-24 year olds. Next is 25-29, then 30-34 year olds. Additionally, men who have sex with men are at more at risk for infection. Black and Hispanic communities are also more at risk. A new generation faces the same disease, but they see it different, he said. We need to figure out how to pass the torch along to the next generation and figure out what it looks like to them. This years goal is $1.5 million. Right now theyve already beat their best year by $100,000. Everyone seems pretty energized, Weinzimer said. Everyone is fighting. Unlike other charitable bike rides the Smart Ride gives 100 percent of the donations raised from the participants to other benefitting agencies. We dont use any of that money to produce the event, Weinzimer said. Or to pay any of the staffers, such as himself. Smart Ride has given away a lot of money over of the years. AIDS Help in Key West, Miracle of Love in Orlando, and Metro Wellness Community Center in Tampa have all received more than $1 million dollars. Some local recipients include Compass, South Beach AIDS Project, and the Children Diagnostic Treatment Center. Funds raised from The Smart Ride are crucial resources for our Care Coordinators and Support Workers. Every dollar raised can be quickly applied to help our families at the moment they need it most. Our patients never have to make the choice to forego medical care and set back their health, said Dr. Ana Calderon Executive Director of CDTC. The Smart Ride is an amazing resource for the CDTC and the community we serve. The lives of our patients are forever changed and are so much better thanks to the participants devotion and dedication to helping those in need and to finding a cure to this devastating disease. Last year the ride only raised $830,000 well short of their goal, because Hurricane Irma forced organizers to reschedule the ride until January of this year. But even that number is still amazing to Weinzimer, considering they only raised $169,000 in 2003. Weve averaged a million a year for the last four years, he said with pride. Weinzimer also notes that besides younger people still acquiring HIV in record numbers, long term survivors need help as well. There are so many people that expected to die that never did, he said. For instance Key West has an aging population of people who gave up their careers thinking they would die. There is still people with great need. Each benefiting non-profit helps people living with HIV in a different way. Each agency has a different focus, he said. About 6 years ago though Weinzimer realized there were a lot nonprofits that do HIV-related work that needed smaller grants for specific programs. In response they launched the 10% Lifeline taking 10 percent of the monies raised off the top and setting it aside to give throughout the year to an organization that needed help. For instance last year they granted $20,000 to Poverello for a generator so theyd be able to save their food in case they lost power. They also gave a grant to the World AIDS Museum so they could bring 800 school kids to the museum to learn about HIV. We wanted to educate the kids so they could make a decision about sex and hear a message that didnt come from their mother, but a third party, he said. How it all began It was 1995, two years after Weinzimer was told he had 10 days to live, when he participated in his first AIDS ride. I went along for the ride. I was really impressed, he said. So I started volunteering for them. I have a background in marketing, so it was natural for me. Floridas AIDS rides went through several iterations during those years, first as the Florida AIDS Ride, then the Walgreens Red Ribbon Ride and finally the Sunshine Ride for AIDS. The Sunshine Ride failed in 2002 because of the high costs of producing it. I was angry. Angry at the sponsors. Angry at the agencies, he said. It was crazy it wasnt working. Weinzimer wasnt the only one upset. I became pretty disenchanted after the abysmal failure of the Sunshine Ride, which actually lost money, Annette Yuratovac said. According to a Sun Sentinel article from 2002 that ride lost about $175,000. But the first three rides, 1999, 2000 and 2001, raised $1.2 million. Organizers at the time blamed it on the post-9/11 economy. Only 87 riders took part that year. Compare that to this years Smart Ride where 500 riders are expected. Weinzimer used his anger to fuel him to launch his own ride. He learned from the mistakes of other rides and was determined not to repeat them. Some of the big changes he made included giving a degree of control to the participants for where their money goes; making sure 100 percent of the money raised goes to charity; and lastly not letting any of the agencies own the event. Weinzimer wasnt looking to make a career out of the first ride he produced, or even to continue it. I only did it to prove a point, he said. At the closing ceremonies that year we didnt even announce another event. Many of the people, who had been paid in the past to work previous rides, agreed to volunteer for Weinzimers first Smart Ride. Yuratovac recalls Weinzimer asking who was in? I raised my hand without hesitation, and from that point forward have proudly been involved in every ride, she said. The ride continued. In year 2 they raised $279,000. In year 4 Weinzimer was ready to give it up and move on. He decided to turn the ride over to the benefiting agencies. They really couldnt agree on anything. Everyone had a conflict, he said. Eventually I realized we have to save this. I couldnt let this go up in flames. So we jumped back in. Mark Byrd remembers riding in the original Florida AIDS Ride in 1995. Hes also now been involved with all 15 Smart Rides and serves on its board. We wanted for the event to actually help people in need, and for the funds raised not go to production and administration fees, Byrd said. That first incarnation of the ride was called Bike It & B.E.A.R. (Because Education Achieves Results), which raised $169,000. The original benefitting agencies included Florida AIDS Action, Broward House, Sarasota CAN, South Beach AIDS Project and the Hug Me Program. Today the Smart Ride is the second largest AIDS bike ride in the country with more than 500 riders expected to participate this weekend. Producing the ride though is costly about $300,000. Since the annual ride takes place over two days the biggest expense is the overnight housing for the crew and riders costing about $80,000. Because every dollar raised goes to the benefiting agencies they have to find money elsewhere to covers the production costs. Our ride succeeds on sponsorships, Weinzimer said. One such sponsor is Macys. Macys is committed to Making Life Shine Brighter through service to our customers, our communities and our colleagues, said Jacqueline King, Macys spokesperson. We honored to be a partner with Smart Ride again this year to help raise awareness and make a difference in the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS. Each rider also pays a $95 registration fee that is used to offset the cost of the event. Each benefitting agency has to also help find sponsors, Weinzimer said. For the past 4-5 years Weinzimer has taken a salary and has two paid part-timers working for him. Turning 15 the ride may be aging, but for Weinzimer it doesnt get old. On year one during the closing ceremony on the stage in Key West while watching those riders, riding toward me, it was beyond overwhelming especially to think about how these people put their trust me, he said. As the years progressed that feeling hasnt faded. But now I just stand in awe as they approach watching the high fives, the smiles, the celebration. How pumped they are. I dont think they always grasp the magnitude of what they accomplished. Its more than just a celebration of two days, its the months of work, the training, the fundraising. But standing there is always my proudest moment. The Smart Ride takes place Nov. 16-17. To learn more about the annual bike ride visit TheSmartRide.org. Country Reports Chad. After a decade with no reported cases, Chad reported 10 indigenous cases in humans in 2010. Dracunculiasis was declared to be endemic again in 2012 (1,6). Chad reported 15 cases in humans (10 contained) in 2017 and 16 cases (nine contained) in 2016. During the first half of 2018, Chad reported three cases in humans (all contained), compared with eight cases (six contained) during the same period in 2017 (Table 1). One of 14 villages reporting a case in a human in 2017 and none of three reporting a case during JanuaryJune 2018 had reported a case in a human previously. In 2012, Chad reported Guinea worm infections in domestic dogs for the first time (6), primarily from communities along the Chari River. The Carter Center is assisting the Ministry of Health in implementing active village-based surveillance for human and animal infections in almost 1,900 at-risk villages. Because of previous investigations, a working hypothesis is that transmission in humans and dogs might occur without drinking contaminated water, perhaps through ingestion of fish or other aquatic animals that serve as transport or paratenic hosts (intermediate hosts in which the D. medinensis larvae live but do not develop). New infections can occur when humans consume inadequately cooked transport or paratenic hosts and when dogs eat such hosts raw (6). During 2017, a total of 817 domestic dog and 13 domestic cat infections were reported, 19% fewer than the 1,011 dog and 18% more than the 11 cat infections reported in 2016 (Table 2). This was the first observed reduction in infected dogs since 2012. However, during JanuaryJune 2018, there were 685 infected dogs and 11 infected cats reported, compared with 534 dogs and one cat during JanuaryJune 2017, representing a 30% increase. Since October 2013, Chads GWEP urged villagers to cook their fish well, bury fish entrails, and prevent dogs from eating fish entrails. Since June 2017, approximately 81% of households sampled monthly in at-risk communities were burying fish entrails. In February 2014, health educators began persuading villagers to tether (contain) infected dogs until the worms emerged to prevent water contamination. In February 2015, the program introduced a reward equivalent to US$20 for reporting and tethering an infected dog. Whereas 40%, 68%, and 68% of infected dogs were tethered in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively, 76% of infected dogs were tethered in 2017, and 77% in JanuaryJune 2018. Before 2010, Chad began offering a cash reward equivalent to US$100 for reporting a human dracunculiasis case. In areas under active surveillance, 80% of 885 residents surveyed during JanuaryJune 2018 knew of this reward, and 67% of 852 persons knew of the reward for reporting and tethering an infected dog. In July 2017, Chad launched a nationwide communication campaign to increase awareness of the cash rewards and knowledge about how to prevent dracunculiasis. As of June 2018, 77% of villages reporting cases in humans had at least one source of drinking water free of copepods. Given limited use of temephos (an organophosphate larvicide used to treat unsafe water) in large lagoons used for fishing and for drinking water, a novel technique for applying temephos to cordoned sections of lagoons has been used to protect 19, 29, 61, and 57 villages in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. Beginning October 2017, temephos also was applied monthly in small ponds in the villages with the most infected dogs, reaching 18 villages by December 2017 and 67 villages by June 2018. The Carter Center and CDC are supporting research to better understand the unusual current epidemiology of dracunculiasis in Chad, assess antihelminthic treatment of dogs to prevent maturation of worms, and study food sources and movements of dogs in an area of Chad with endemic disease. The International Task Force for Disease Eradication reviewed much of this work in October 2017 (7). In collaboration with researchers from the University of Georgia, this initiative has demonstrated that fish can serve as transport hosts for Dracunculus spp. in the laboratory (8) and that D. medinensis can use frogs as paratenic hosts (9,10). As further proof of the latter, a Dracunculus larva has been recovered from a wild frog in Chad (10). Anthelminthic treatments of dogs with avermectins have not been effective. Ethiopia. During JanuaryDecember 2017, Ethiopia reported 15 cases of dracunculiasis in humans (three contained), among residents from six villages in Gambella and Oromia Regions, all among migrant laborers from Oromia who drank water from a contaminated pond at a commercial farm in Abobo district of Gambella (Table 1). January 2017June 2018 represented the first time in several years that no case in humans was reported from Gambellas Gog district. Ethiopia reported 11 infected dogs (six contained) and four infected baboons in 2017, compared with 14 dogs and two baboons in 2016, all in Gog district. During JanuaryJune 2018, Ethiopia reported no cases in humans, eight infected dogs (four contained), no infected baboons, and two uncontained infected domestic cats, all in Gog district, compared with six infected dogs (three contained) and four infected baboons (none contained) during JanuaryJune 2017. Since 2017, The Carter Center has provided support to Ethiopian public health and wildlife authorities on a baboon-dog epidemiology and ecology project. The Ethiopian Dracunculiasis Eradication Program has 167 villages under active surveillance and is applying temephos monthly to most water sources used by humans or animals in the at-risk area of Gog district. In 2018, Ethiopia increased its cash rewards for reporting a human dracunculiasis case to US$360 (up from US$100 in 2014) and for tethering an infected animal to US$40 (up from US$20 in 2016). In 2017, approximately 83% of persons surveyed in active surveillance areas (Gambella Region and formerly endemic Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region) but only 22% of persons in Oromia knew of the rewards. Ethiopia launched a nationwide communication campaign to increase knowledge of rewards and dracunculiasis prevention in 2017. Mali. In 2017, Mali reported no human dracunculiasis cases for the second successive year and reported no cases during JanuaryJune 2018 (Table 1). Mali reported 11 infected dogs (eight contained) in 2016 and nine infected dogs (six contained) and one infected domestic cat (uncontained) in 2017. During JanuaryJune 2018, Mali reported three infected dogs (two contained), all detected in Segou Region, and no infected cats. Parts of Malis area of endemicity are inaccessible because of insecurity. Mali has 455 villages under active surveillance and offers a US$100 reward for reporting a case in a human and US$20 for reporting and tethering an infected animal. During 2017, Malian health staff members questioned 33,000 persons about dracunculiasis during immunization campaigns; 86% of persons living in areas of active surveillance were aware of the cash reward for reporting an infected person. During AprilJune 2018, 83% of 190 persons surveyed were aware of the reward for reporting cases in humans, and 71% knew of the reward for reporting infected animals. Mali has launched a nationwide communication campaign to increase awareness of the rewards and improve knowledge of preventive measures. South Sudan. During 2017, South Sudan reported no cases of dracunculiasis in humans for the first time (Table 1); only one infected animal has been reported (a dog in the same household as an infected person reported in 2015). After 19 consecutive months with no reported cases, the program discovered three cases in May and June 2018. All three patients were cattle herders from migratory communities in a recently pacified area of Western Lakes State that has suffered communal violence and displacements in recent years. In 2017, the program had 4,046 villages under active surveillance and increased the reward for reporting a dracunculiasis case to approximately US$139 and again to approximately US$400 in 2018. A 2017 survey of 50,612 residents in two counties of Warrap and Western Bahr Al Ghazal found that 72% of persons knew of the reward. In October 2017, South Sudan launched a nationwide campaign to increase knowledge of dracunculiasis prevention and awareness of the reward and in April 2018 established a National Committee for Documentation of Dracunculiasis Elimination. New plant considered for Montenegro 15 November 2018 A meeting of Montenegros Chamber of Commerce considered the construction of a new cement plant in Pljevlja, which would use the municipality's natural resources. Vlastimir Golubovic, president, noted that the country imported cement to the value of EUR39m in the 9M18, with product worth EUR41.14m imported in 2017. Mr Golubovic also stated that the country's Strategy for the Development of Civil Engineering foresees the building of cement capacity by 2020, in line with environmental standards. The proposed cement plant would bring economic benefits and use the by-products of the Pljevlja thermal power plant as a raw material, according to Vijesti. However, it was noted at the meeting that significant investment would be required to implement the project as well as a railroad route to enable the works to function. Published under 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. Jadaruis Menifee and Demonta Pickett have been arrested after they were identified as being involved in the armed robbery of victims who had been selling items through the Letgo app. Police said there were three such robberies in the past week. Menifee, 19, of 119 St. Marks Ave., is charged with aggravated robbery and theft over $2,500. Pickett, also 19, is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery. Two men said they were robbed at The Cookout on Brainerd Road on Saturday. They said they had been trying to sell an Xbox using the popular app. They got in contact with a man who identified himself as Scooter Dillians. The men said "Scooter" initially wanted to meet at Walgreens on Rossville Boulevard, but changed it to the 119 S. Marks Ave. address. One of the men said he drove by the house, but it seemed shady so he kept driving. He said they then agreed to meet at The Cookout. He said a red vehicle drove up and two black males got out. They walked over and asked about the Xbox. He said when he pulled out the Xbox that the men from the red car pulled guns and demanded all they had. One of the men with the Xbox said he then pulled out his own handgun, causing the pair to flee. Police said they associated the St. Marks address with Menifee. Meanwhile, the next day, there was a similar incident. A man using the Letgo app said he had been contacted by a Scooter Dillians. He said a man he later identified as Menifee met him off Highway 58. But he said Menifee "was acting shady and said there were too many cops in the area." He said he decided not to do any business with Menifee. Police said, "As a crime prevention measure, CPD reminds community members that the department has designated space in front of the Police Service Center at 3410 Amnicola Highway as a Safe Exchange Zone. The purpose of the CPD Safe Exchange Zone is to protect Chattanooga community members while swapping, trading, buying/selling items or during child custody exchanges. The designated location has several video cameras which record 24/7 to ensure a safe transaction. Anyone wanting to make a transaction does not need to check in at CPD, but should park in the designated Safe Exchange Zone area to complete their business. Joseph Akins will be doing a CD release show at Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse Sunday at 3 p.m. His newest CD is filled with 20 years of selected compositions. Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse is at 105 McBrien Road inside Christ Unity Church. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door. Review for Joseph Akins: Dr. Joseph Akins is a professor, composer, pianist and keyboard player, and has been deeply involved with music all his life. He performed professionally in his familys country-rock band as a child, toured with classic pop-rock bands after high school, and studied with the best jazz educators while in college. Since, Joseph has taught a variety of music and recording classes at the college level, has composed original music for multiple albums and films, and has performed hundreds of concerts from the smallest venue to the amazing Grand Ole Opry. Today, Joseph divides his time between teaching for the Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University, and composing, recording and performing his original music. As a tenured professor at MTSU, he teaches music production and film scoring, and as an award-winning billboard-charting recording artist, he promotes his seven self-released albums of instrumental music, which can be found at www.josephakins.com. Nominations are being take by the Chamber of Commerce for the M.C Headrick Free Enterprise Award and the Varnell Leadership Award. A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way, as attributed to John C. Maxwell, leadership expert, speaker, and author. Cleveland/Bradley County abounds with leaders who have a vision for this community, who are certain about what they want to happen," officials said. "Among those who clearly articulated his vision in the marketplace was M.C. Headrick, for whom the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce named its highest honor given." Each year the Chamber recognizes individuals who have a vision and who best demonstrate the principles of the late M.C. Headrick, said Chairman of the Board Kevin Moore, Waypoint Financial Partners. M.C. Headrick was a successful businessman who believed in the concept of free enterprise. Each fall we invite members of the community to nominate a person they feel best represents the ideals of the free enterprise system. John Hawk, Lubing Systems, was the 2018 recipient of the M.C. Headrick Free Enterprise Award. Nomination forms and a complete list of award criteria are available at the Chamber office or by calling 423-472-6587. In addition to the form, nominations must include a resume of the candidate and a cover letter detailing reasons the nominee is eligible for the award. "Additionally, the Chamber of Commerce recognizes those leaders whose quality is '. . . reflected in the standards they set for themselves' (Ray Kroc, businessman). One such individual was the late Robert W. Varnell, for whom the Chambers named their prestigious Leadership Award," officials said. One of the highlights of the Chambers Annual Meeting is recognizing an individual who best demonstrates the principles of the late Robert Varnell, said Mr. Moore. Robert Varnell is best remembered for his outstanding community leadership, and this award is presented to a person whose life represents the passion in business, church and community reflected in Robert Varnells life. Arthur (Art) Rhodes, Church of God Benefits Board and the Church Loan Fund, received the 2018 Varnell Leadership Award. Nomination forms and a complete list of award criteria are available on the Chambers website or by calling the Chamber office at 423-472-6587. Deadline for nominations is Dec. 10. The Chamber will present both awards at the 93rd Annual Meeting on Jan. 29, 2018. The Salvation Army has identified 75 needy families and registered them for Thanksgiving baskets. "McCallie School was made aware of this need and stepped up to assist the hungry and vulnerable," officials said. Both The McCallie Middle School and Upper School collected turkeys/hens, potatoes, vegetables, dressing and cranberry sauce for the local families, who might not otherwise have a complete Thanksgiving meal to cook at home. The Salvation Army truck will pick up all the food Thursday at 9 a.m. at The McCallie School, 500 Dodds Avenue in Chattanooga."I love that community service is a part of the McCallie educational experience and the students serve beyond their campus," states Major Mark Smith, area commander of The Salvation Army. "This teaches our younger generation so much more than what can be learned in the classrooms and we are so grateful McCallie is joining us in 'doing the most good'."The greater community is encouraged this holiday season to give their time just like these students. Volunteer opportunities can be found on www.csarmy.org or by callingThe Salvation Army at 423-756-1023.Monetary donations are also needed to assist with this year's increase in Christmas needs. Donations can be made by visiting www.csarmy.org , by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or can be mailed to: The Salvation Army, 822 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403. In observance of Veterans Day, Chattanooga State Community College honored 87 veteran students, faculty and staff with a luncheon in gratitude for their service to our country on Monday. At the end of World War I, Armistice Day was commemorated on Nov. 11, 1918, at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. This year marks the 100-year anniversary of this historic event. Known as Veterans Day in the United States, the day honors American veterans, both living and dead. Colors were presented by the ROTC unit from Central High School, followed by a performance of the National Anthem by the ChattState Concert Choir. Troy Garcia, ChattState Veterans Cub president welcomed attendees and thanked veterans for their service before introducing Chris Lawrence, a current student and veteran majoring in early childhood education. Mr. Lawrence, a retired CID special agent from the U.S. Army, spoke about his own personal trials and provided some encouraging words about living and enjoying life after the military. Brief remarks were made by Michelle Olson, director of educational outreach programs just prior to lunch being served. Chattanooga State is a certified Vet-Friendly Campus. For more information about available veteran services, TN Reconnect options, or to enroll in classes, contact Renee Kennebrew, veterans coordinator, at 423-697-2509 or visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/student-support/outreach-programs/veterans-affairs. An officer-involved shooting investigation in Grundy County by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a deputy, charged with voluntary manslaughter. At the request of 12th District Attorney General Michael Taylor, on Dec. 24, 2017, TBI special agents responded to an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 10:30 p.m. in Tracy City. During the course of the investigation, agents learned that Grundy County Sheriffs Deputy Toby Holmes had attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle, but the driver failed to stop. A pursuit ensued and the vehicle traveled to B Mine Road. The investigation revealed the driver spun the vehicle around, facing the deputy, and Holmes fired on the vehicle. Holmes continued firing as the vehicle drove past him. One of the projectiles ended up traveling through the vehicle, killing 20-year-old Shelby Comer, who was a passenger in that vehicle. The vehicle sped off and crashed off of the side of B Mine Road. When law enforcement officers arrived at that location, the driver was not present, and the victims body was found inside the vehicle. The driver was subsequently located and identified. He was charged by Grundy County officials. On Tuesday, the Grundy County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Holmes, 42. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon and booked into the Grundy County Jail on a $10,000 bond. If you missed Tuesdays meeting of the Association Of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) for Congressional District 3, you missed an entertaining and informative gathering with our featured speaker County Trustee Bill Hullander. Were you aware that our county trustee's office is known as the most efficient in Tennessee? Our present Hamilton County trustee was elected in 2010 and previously was a member of the County Commission for 12 years, Bill is also a current member of the Pachyderm Club. He couched his comments around true stories of sometimes funny, sometimes serious issues hes encountered since taking office. Primarily, the Trustee's Office collects property taxes, business taxes (personalty), hotel/motel taxes, as well as defend the interest of the county in Bankruptcy Court. Residential Assessment is 1/4 of the appraised value; Commercial assessment is 40 percent of appraised value; and the current tax rate is $2.76 per $100 of assessment. The assessor appraises the properties, the County Commission sets the rate, and the trustee sends out the tax bills in September/October. They are due by the end of February of the following year. They are due by the end of February of the following year. After two years, delinquent bills go to the clerk and masters office; more fees, interest and penalties are incurred; after another two years of non-payment, they are added to the list for the county tax sale in June; owners of affected properties are notified well in advance of this process. For the first time, this past years tax sale of some 300 properties was online and was very successful. Bill explained that any monies collected above the actual tax/penalties/fees owed are returned to the previous owner of the property; He also discussed the process of redemption, after the sale, of a property back to the owner. And every Tuesday Bill Hullander defends the countys interest in Bankruptcy Court. May is the biggest month for bankruptcy filings, because June is when delinquent properties are up for sale. Once bankruptcy is declared, the property cannot be sold. However, it seems the only thing you cannot go bankrupt on is property tax and student loans. Out of the $295 million total levied this past year, approximately 95 percent is paid in the first year. Bill then shared who were the top five taxpayers in Chattanooga.EPB, VW, CBL, TVA and McKee. He stipulated that companies coming into the county, even if they are exempted from property tax (by the commissions PILOT program), must pay the school tax. Since taking office, Bill has implemented big changes in the way the office is run. The Trustees Office gets two percent% for collecting the taxes; that money is used for everything (employees, office equipment, etc). With a mere 15 employees (including one full time attorney, which by itself has saved the county $100,000 plus per year over using contract attorneys) they have consistently returned unused funds back to the county, totaling $66 million over his eight-year tenure as trustee. In addition, Bill Hullander has changed the way trustees in Tennessee actually collect the taxesbefore, if you were a dollar short, nothing would be accepted. Now folks are allowed to make partial payments towards their tax bills. Surprisingly, cash is often given in payment for taxes. Previously, employees would have to carry cash in bags to the bankthat mental snapshot just wont work in todays environment. As a response, Bill arranged for Loomiss SafePoint to come on board. This is an advanced cash management ecosystem that cuts costs and improves efficiency by streamlining cash-handling processes, using smart safe technology. A clerk can put cash into this machine, which checks for accuracy, then it is immediately credited to the countys account at First Tenesseen Bank. The cash is securely locked inside, to be picked up in armored Loomis vehicles for transport. An appraisal of the entire county is $38 billion. Thats billion with a B, and that generates a revenue stream of $275 million with 155,000 real property parcels. Approximately 42 percent of property taxes are paid through mortgage companies? Once that mortgage is paid off, the trustees office has implemented ACH in order to help taxpayers meet their tax obligation. ACH is a process by which a taxpayer may choose to have monthly withdrawals of prorated tax payments taken directly from their bank account. Bill went on to explain about some of the challenges of collecting hotel/motel taxes. For example, when a room in a home is rented out for less than 30 days, four percent hotel/motel tax is due to the county; if that room is in the city, another four percent tax is due to the city. Bill Hullander contacted one of the largest companies which coordinate customers and owners, Airbnb. He negotiated with the Airbnb office in California for taxes to be taken out of monies owed, upfront, for all Hamilton County properties operating under the Airbnb agreement, and they eventually complied. Ninety0 properties were known to be liable for this tax; after the arrangement with Airbnb, we learned there are 600+ through Airbnb alone. Airbnb finally agreed to send lump sum taxes owed from Hamilton County properties directly to the trustees office, and as a result, were getting almost $1 million more in revenue. Other items discussed were the Tennessee Tax Relief Program, between the state of Tennessee and Hamilton County. If you are a 100 percent disabled (from war) vet or a citizen of 65 or + years old with a total income of less than $30,000 per year, youre eligible for a tax break. And the tax free. This one turns out to be a complicated issue. It seems implementation of a tax freeze may require taxpayers not included in the freeze to pay higher taxes, in order to balance out total revenue revenue. Needless to say, Bill Hullander is totally against it. Out of the 95 counties in Tennessee, he said 26 are participating in this program and all regret it. The good news is Hamilton County is growing. Tax revenue since 2011 has increased dramatically2011 was $233 million, 2016 was $249 million and 2018 was $275 million. As one who has tended to a dog since the age of four, and has slept beside at least one four-legged critter almost every night since, it was with unabashed joy I learned a new $13 million animal shelter for the Humane Education Society will be built in Hamilton County. The current facility on North Highland Park Avenue hasnt been humane since my grandfather was an infant and, when the County Commission approves it next week, a lot of dogs and cats tails will wag. Hamilton County finance genius Albert Kiser is a magician in the way he and his crowd discover the funding for so many needs and, while Im not sure what will happen as 2018 begins to slip away, put me down in the belief there is no greater testament to our county officials than the new animal center this year. Unfortunately, it is also another solid step towards blatant stupidity in our community. For the past several years, our citys McKamey Animal Center has been recognized in every list of the best animal centers in America. In case youve missed it, whenever there is a natural disaster, be it a hurricane bearing down on Texas or South Carolina, the wheels of Americas affection for mistreated, abandoned or ignored animals roll faster than the winds towards our McKamey beacon of light. And never -- not once has the world-class crowd that runs McKamey failed to leave the light on for the mangiest dog or the scruffiest cat. That said, what if we instead could channel this new-found cash to an even-greater cause? Bob McKameys dream has never dimmed to combining the separate city and county animal services. Aside from the childish animosities between our two local governments, the longer we refuse to combine and consolidate the two agencies is to handicap our community from becoming all that you and I want it to be. I am assured the biggest problem why the city and county animal control staffs will not merge is because HES president Tai Frederico says it wouldnt be a comfortable fit and would be unworkable. No, the biggest problem of all? Frederico, in the years I have watched him, has earned quite a due reputation among those most closely involved with animal control. Thats right Tai is recognized as the areas greatest ambassador for dogs and cats. If Dr. Frederico says the hurdles to consolidate are too great Ill happily and respectfully take him at his word. But in a world where it is now too easy to think of problems than discover solutions, if I were the King, I would immediately get Dr. Frederico and McKamey chair Lee Towery in a room with bread-and-water. Then Id get a rascally dog for Tai to pet and a fuzzy kitten for Lees lap and charge the two with one question: What is the greatest thing a county our size can do for an unfortunate animal? The taxpayers are overwhelmingly in favor of doing the right thing. Not a one believes two free-standing animal centers are in one countys best interest and it is reviling that McKamey and HES are in this spot with a wall between them that aint nothing but Gods air and mankinds folly. Yes, I can help you spot problems that include ego, discord, and the dumbbells that go with em but let me ask the both of you a personal question that may have an enlightening answer Tai, I know a little bit more about you than you suspect, and Lee you and I have a deep friendship that has nothing to do with your being the best caterer in Southeast Tennessee Did either of you two birds get to where you are, each with such a deep yearning to help animals that you each donate at least 50 hours every month by letting problems run you off! Look ahere weve got a check for $10 million and a promise of $3 more in pledges. The McKamey property was purposefully bought with a lot more land than it will ever use in the hopes that one day when our children and grandchildren can look beyond problems to find solutions, Hamilton County and every soul within it regardless of our internal boundaries and city limit signs, will do whats most right for every dog and cat. One more thing you know about those feral cats that suffer in our woods when its cold and are so skittish that they are dang-near impossible to herd? We are gonna drop off a new one at your houses on every new day until we can get your focus to where every citizens in this county should be: Solutions. And, yeah, we are going to take the cages theyll come in back with us. That way the cats can be happy and free all over your house. Did you ever shake a deep-clawed feral off your leg when you unsuspectingly got out the shower? Why, it wont be long at all before we can share the same way of thinking. ANY POLITICIANS GREATEST QUEST Its never been too early to do the right thing. * * * TO MAKE YEAR-END OR HOLIDAY DONATIONS * -- The McKamey Animal Center, 4500 North Access Road, Chattanooga, TN 37415 * -- Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga, 212 N Highland Park Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404 royexum@aol.com A man was injured early Thursday morning when a tree fell on his house. The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm around 3:30 a.m. and responded to 7317 Elaine Circle with several fire companies. Battalion Chief David Thompson Jr. said the department's Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR) was requested in case a rescue was needed, but the entire family, including two adults and several children, were already out of the house when the first firefighters arrived on the scene. Chief Thompson said the father was suffering from what appeared to be a broken arm. No one else was injured. Chief Thompson advised the family that they could not stay in the house until a building inspector surveyed the damage and the necessary repairs were made. However, with firefighters serving as escorts, family members were allowed back in the house briefly to get some essential items, such as medicine and school supplies for the kids. Governor Bill Haslam today announced Education Commissioner Candice McQueen will leave state service in January to become the CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), a non-profit organization that helps states, districts and schools attract, develop and retain high-quality educators. Governor Haslam appointed Comm. McQueen in January 2015, and while serving as commissioner, the state has experienced record high graduation rates of 89.1 percent and the best overall statewide ACT average and best overall ACT participation rate in the states history at 20.2 and 97 percent respectively. Comm. McQueen introduced a new strategic plan and vision for schools called Tennessee Succeeds, which has focused on increasing post-secondary and career readiness for all of Tennessees 1 million students. She has continued the states trajectory as one of the fastest improving states in the country in K-12 education, while adding historic gains in science, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, officials said. Candice has worked relentlessly since day one for Tennessees students and teachers, and under her leadership, Tennessee earned its first A rating for the standards and the rigor of the states assessment after receiving an F rating a decade ago, Governor Haslam said. Candice has raised the bar for both teachers and students across the state, enabling them to rise to their greatest potential. I am grateful for her service and know that she will continue to make an impact on education in Tennessee and across the country. Officials said, "Comm. McQueens work has touched students in all grade levels. She launched Read to be Ready, a multi-faceted initiative that is focused on improving students reading abilities in the early grades, which has already shown initial early successes. And a record number of high school students are now taking and earning credit for early college coursework." Serving as education commissioner has been the honor of a lifetime, and it has been especially significant to help lead Tennessees schools in partnership with a governor who has been incredibly focused on improving education for all of our students, Comm. McQueen said. I am proud to see what our students and educators have accomplished in these last four years and know we have laid a strong foundation for continued success. Through my new role with NIET, I will continue to be an advocate for Tennessees teachers and work to make sure every child is in a class led by an excellent teacher every day. Officials said, "Comm. McQueens entire career has been focused on teacher effectiveness first as an award-winning teacher; then as a faculty member, department chair and dean of Lipscomb Universitys College of Education; and for the last four years as Tennessees education commissioner. "In her new role as CEO of NIET, she will lead a national organization that works with schools, districts, states and universities to support teachers and school leaders, impacting more than 250,000 educators and 2.5 million students." Lee Universitys Department of Language and Literature honored Dr. Augustin Amevi Bocco as the departments 2018 Alumnus of the Year. Dr. Bocco received this honor during the department breakfast at Homecoming festivities. I consider Augustins arrival to our department as a gift from God, said Dr. James Wilkins, professor of French at Lee. He arrived with a mission: to study at a university, in peace, in order to become all God intended and gifted him to become. Dr. Bocco, originally from Togo, West Africa, graduated from Lee in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in French and receiving the Charles Paul Conn Award, which is given to the student who demonstrates the greatest promise of academic and professional achievement beyond the undergraduate level. He went on to receive his masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Tennessee, where he was awarded the Graduate Diversity Fellowship. Dr. Bocco is an associate professor of French at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tn., where he has received multiple awards, such as the Lockermiller Teacher of the Year Award and the Dean G. Hall Award, which is given to the faculty member demonstrating effective engagement with students, intellectual integrity, imagination in presentation of subject matter, and enthusiasm in the learning process. Dr. Bocco and his wife, Kossiwa, have three children, Joella, Samuel, and Jeremiah. CARTA's transit ridership remains down, but for the past month ridership was up on the shuttle, the Incline and Care-A-Van. Overall for October, ridership was 248,226, compared to 258,995 for the previous years. Overall ridership for the year to date is down from 560,170 to 494,099. CARTA Executive Director Lisa Maragnano said last month that transit across the country has declining ridership except for Seattle. The shuttle was up from 58,736 to 59,439. The Incline, which is a good money-maker for CARTA, surged from 45,526 to 51,354. Care-A-Van, providing service for the disabled, was up from 4,539 to 5,257. Ms. Maragnano said some encouraging signs include a rise in ridership on seven transit routes. The Hamilton Place stop remains a challenge with riders having to walk some distance to the bus. Ms. Maragnano said several new additions at the mall, including Cheesecake Factory, should help. She said CARTA took a hit when Virginia College close since the agency had a contract to provide rides to 1,400 students. She noted the building at Eastgate where it was located still has not been filled. CARTA's Philip Pugliese, said those taking part in a local survey want a broader range of transit services. A committee of the board praised the performance of Ms. Maragnano, who has been at CARTA for seven years, as well as Autumn Jewell, chief financial officer. The board accepted the recommendations for a raise for both. Ms. Maragnano requested that her increase not be more than the two and one half percent received by the CARTA union. So that will be the raise for the two. They opted to receive the increase in a lump sum, so their salaries will remain the same level. Ms. Maragnano is at $122,600. Her lump sum will be $3,090. Ms. Jewell is at $97,516. Her lump sum will be $2,437. Board member Ernie Hedgecorth, who headed the compensation committee, said their pay is at the lower end of the scale when compared to others in similar transit positions elsewhere. In November 2017, scientists pointed NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope toward the object known as 'Oumuamua -- the first known interstellar object to visit our solar system. The infrared Spitzer was one of many telescopes pointed at 'Oumuamua in the weeks after its discovery that October. 'Oumuamua was too faint for Spitzer to detect when it looked more than two months after the object's closest approach to Earth in early September. However, the "non-detection" puts a new limit on how large the strange object can be. The results are reported in a new study published today in the Astronomical Journal and coauthored by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The new size limit is consistent with the findings of a research paper published earlier this year, which suggested that outgassing was responsible for the slight changes in 'Oumuamua's speed and direction as it was tracked last year: The authors of that paper conclude the expelled gas acted like a small thruster gently pushing the object. That determination was dependent on 'Oumuamua being relatively smaller than typical solar system comets. (The conclusion that 'Oumuamua experienced outgassing suggested that it was composed of frozen gases, similar to a comet.) "'Oumuamua has been full of surprises from day one, so we were eager to see what Spitzer might show," said David Trilling, lead author on the new study and a professor of astronomy at Northern Arizona University. "The fact that 'Oumuamua was too small for Spitzer to detect is actually a very valuable result." 'Oumuamua was first detected by the University of Hawaii's Pan-STARRS 1 telescope on Haleakala, Hawaii (the object's name is a Hawaiian word meaning "visitor from afar arriving first"), in October 2017 while the telescope was surveying for near-Earth asteroids. Subsequent detailed observations conducted by multiple ground-based telescopes and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope detected the sunlight reflected off 'Oumuamua's surface. Large variations in the object's brightness suggested that 'Oumuamua is highly elongated and probably less than half a mile (2,600 feet, or 800 meters) in its longest dimension. But Spitzer tracks asteroids and comets using the infrared energy, or heat, that they radiate, which can provide more specific information about an object's size than optical observations of reflected sunlight alone would. The fact that 'Oumuamua was too faint for Spitzer to detect sets a limit on the object's total surface area. However, since the non-detection can't be used to infer shape, the size limits are presented as what 'Oumuamua's diameter would be if it were spherical. Using three separate models that make slightly different assumptions about the object's composition, Spitzer's non-detection limited 'Oumuamua's "spherical diameter" to 1,440 feet (440 meters), 460 feet (140 meters) or perhaps as little as 320 feet (100 meters). The wide range of results stems from the assumptions about 'Oumuamua's composition, which influences how visible (or faint) it would appear to Spitzer were it a particular size. Small but Reflective The new study also suggests that 'Oumuamua may be up to 10 times more reflective than the comets that reside in our solar system -- a surprising result, according to the paper's authors. Because infrared light is largely heat radiation produced by "warm" objects, it can be used to determine the temperature of a comet or asteroid; in turn, this can be used to determine the reflectivity of the object's surface -- what scientists call albedo. Just as a dark T-shirt in sunlight heats up more quickly than a light one, an object with low reflectivity retains more heat than an object with high reflectivity. So a lower temperature means a higher albedo. A comet's albedo can change throughout its lifetime. When it passes close to the Sun, a comet's ice warms and turns directly into a gas, sweeping dust and dirt off the comet's surface and revealing more reflective ice. 'Oumuamua had been traveling through interstellar space for millions of years, far from any star that could refresh its surface. But it may have had its surface refreshed through such "outgassing" when it made an extremely close approach to our Sun, a little more than five weeks before it was discovered. In addition to sweeping away dust and dirt, some of the released gas may have covered the surface of 'Oumuamua with a reflective coat of ice and snow -- a phenomenon that's also been observed in comets in our solar system. 'Oumuamua is on its way out of our solar system -- almost as far from the Sun as Saturn's orbit -- and is well beyond the reach of any existing telescopes. "Usually, if we get a measurement from a comet that's kind of weird, we go back and measure it again until we understand what we're seeing," said Davide Farnocchia, of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at JPL and a coauthor on both papers. "But this one is gone forever; we probably know as much about it as we're ever going to know." Reference: "Spitzer Observations of Interstellar Object 1I/'Oumuamua," David E. Trilling et al., 2018 Nov. 14, Astronomical Journal [http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/aae88f]. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Battling Anxiety and Busyness? Best-selling Author Shares Tips for Finding True Happiness Christian Post Contributor | 14 November, 2018 by Leah MarieAnn Klett Best-selling author Alli Worthington encourages Christian women to combat today's culture of busyness, stress and fear by inviting in God's best, most peaceful life, in her new book, The Year of Living Happy. Worthington, author of Breaking Busy and Fierce Faith, told The Christian Post that while "dark seasons" in life are inevitable, they can quickly wreak havoc on both our personal and spiritual lives. But God has a greater vision for His children: As Christians, we should be the "happiest people out there," she said. "Throughout Scripture, God continually tells us to be happy," she said. "We see commands such as 'rejoice,' 'do not be afraid,' 'be of good cheer,' 'give thanks.' The only reason happiness we'll ever have is living a life seeking God. When we follow His commands, we find the true recipe for happiness." In The Year of Living Happy, Worthington offers practical steps women can take to cultivate true happiness a word she defined as a "feeling of connection and contentment" in their lives. "For every person, two things lead to a happy life: Contentment and connections," she explained. "Contentment means choosing to be grateful for the blessings God has given you and mindful of the beauty around you. Connections means maintaining a relationship with God and investing in those around you." Every woman, she said, has an "inner critic" who continually tells them they aren't enough; that things aren't going to turn out well, and that they don't deserve happiness. "The best thing we can do for our happiness is take those thoughts captive, renew our minds and ask God what He wants to think," she said. "The loudest voice we hear is our thoughts, and when we change those from unhelpful to healthy, we're going to see our happiness grow on a daily basis." She speaks from personal experience: Despite being a successful business owner, wife and mother of five boys, Worthington revealed she has battled feelings of inadequacy, fear and anxiety. Happiness, she said, sometimes "feels like a hard-won battle." In modern Christian culture, the idea of being "happy" isn't necessarily popular, the author admitted. But after spending a year studying the idea of happiness, she discovered that science "consistently backed what Scripture said." "We often hear, 'happiness is a fleeting feeling, but joy is what we should have as Christians; if you're a Christian, you shouldn't strive for happiness,'" she said. "But there is nothing biblical about that statement. Happiness and holiness go hand-in-hand, and I think denying that hurts our witness." The misconception that joy and happiness are on opposite sides of the spectrum was invented just a little over a hundred years ago, the author said. She argued that many of the words our modern English Bibles use like 'joy,' 'gladness,' and 'delight' are synonyms for the original Hebrew and Greek words that mean happiness. Read more about true happiness on The Christian Post. 'Defecating on the Altar': Myanmar's Spiritual Assault on Kachin Christians Christian Post Contributor | 15 November, 2018 by Samuel Smith Kachin Christians in Myanmar are facing an "existential threat" and "will not be able to continue" in the next one or two generations amid an ongoing civil war between Kachin rebels and the Myanmar military, an activist has warned. Gum San Nsang, president of the United States-based international advocacy group Kachin Alliance, is calling on international governments to place targeted sanctions on the Myanmar military as over 130,000 Christians in the Kachin state have been forced to flee from their homes in the past seven years thanks to the military attacks on numerous civilian villages. "We have an existential threat. We as a people believe that we will not be able to continue within one to two generations," Gum told believers gathered for the fifth annual Night of Prayer for the Persecuted Church hosted by the nonprofit One Body in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. "That is an imminent threat to our identity. Because I can't practice my own language, my children will not have the capacity or ability to learn their own language. We are not able to construct a sanctuary or a church." Gum was one of several Christians speaking about the persecution in their homelands at D.C.'s Chinese Community Church, which is just a few blocks away from D.C.'s Calvary Baptist Church. According to Gum, it was the offerings from Calvary Baptist Church that sponsored a missionary to travel to Kachin to spread the gospel during the 19th century. As Burma is a predominantly Buddhist nation, Kachins are a small Christian minority in Burma's northern Kachin state that borders China. In Kachin, a majority of the population is Christian thanks to the impact of 19th century missionary work by American Baptist Adoniram Judson and other Western missionaries. "We came to the Lord because of the missionary work from the United States and just a few blocks from here. The offerings from the Calvary Baptist Church sent a missionary from our land and took us from bondage of animism to a newfound freedom," Gum explained. "This place is very sacred to us as a Kachin." But now the Christian community that American missionaries once harvested is in much need of humanitarian assistance as thousands are living as internally displaced people in Baptist churches throughout the Kachin state. While much attention has been given to military's assault on the majority-Muslim Rohingya communities in the Rakhine state last August that drove over 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, Gum told The Christian Post that the Myanmar military tried to do the same thing with the Christian Kachin civilian population but China would not let Kachin people enter into the country so they were forced to find refuge within the Kachin state. "Same case with the Karen [minorities] too. Back in the 90s, [Karen minorities] all fled to Thailand. This is a repetition, I would say it is like a Russian roulette," Gum said of the Myanmar military assault on ethnic and religious minority communities in the northern part of the country. "It has been for a seven decades of this kind of misery." But in the last seven years since the end of a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and Kachin ethnic rebels, Gum said over 400 villages have been destroyed. "The military is attacking non-combatants and the civilian population is not spared but used as a retribution and as a collective punishment for supporting these nonstate actors," Gum said. "This is more of a deliberate attempt to oppress and to persecute people. This is along ethnic and religious line. So, the state itself manifests itself through ethnic and religious-based violence." Gum said that in many cases, villages and churches are destroyed through aerial bombardment. "We have had systematically reporting of where you see destruction, ransacking, pillaging of our churches and desecration of our sanctuaries," he detailed, adding there have been reports of rape as well. "These are deliberate attempts to suppress the indigenous populations and Christian minorities." Gum added that the Myanmar military attacks on the Kachin Christians are more than just ethnically motivated because there have been cases where military troops have defecated on church altars or desecrated sacred objects. For Catholic churches, Gum said, troops have destroyed statues of Mary. "It is a reminder of second-class citizen sentiment," he told CP. "That is more of an attack against a spirituality." "These are all deliberate intents," he told CP. "You don't see that with the [Buddhist] pagodas. The Kachin population makes about 30 or 40 percent of the total state's population. However, the displaced population, meaning the people that have to flee because of war are predominantly Christians. That casts a state intent to drive out, displace or persecute people of a different religion." With over 130,000 displaced, Gum added that the government won't provide aid to the displaced communities and is blocking aid from United Nations and other international providers from reaching the troubled population. Although Myanmar has a civilian-led government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the government doesn't express much control over the military. Gum, though, said many had hoped that Aung San Suu Kyi would do more to "stand up" to the brutal actions of the Myanmar military. He wishes that she would use her platform to call to foster a "genuine reconciliation." "Reconciliation does not mean appeasement to the army," he stressed. Gum warned that the United States government has over the past several years taken a false view that there is a transition going on in Myanmar. "Around 2010, 2011, when Burma reported itself as a transition to Democracy, the U.S. literally opened its arms hoping that people had changed or rebuked a past of barbarism," he explained. "When Obama administration began its pivot to Asia, it said, 'If you unclench your fists, we will extend our hand.' It was under that premise that we began engagement. Then, the mill-to-mill training of human rights were taught because they wanted to transition and it was understood that they were going to transition to a better place and a better-standing army. After six, seven years of engagement, because they do not have a genuine desire to change, still they are committing these barbaric acts after these many years." Read more about Myanmar's Spiritual Assault on Kachin Christians on The Christian Post. New York State Episcopal Church Bishop Reaffirms Ban on Gay Marriage in Diocese 15 November, 2018 by Michael Gryboski , | A bishop of The Episcopal Church whose diocese is based in the capital of New York has announced that his churches will not perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Earlier this year, the Episcopal Church General Convention passed a resolution allowing for congregations to perform gay weddings even in dioceses where leadership objects. The new policy is scheduled to take effect on the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 2. This stood in contrast to a resolution passed by the General Convention in 2015 that allowed bishops opposed to same-sex marriage to maintain a ban on such unions within their diocese. Bishop William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany released a lengthy pastoral letter on Saturday officially stating that the gay marriage rites approved earlier this year "shall not be used anywhere in the Diocese of Albany by diocesan clergy (canonically resident or licensed)." "Jesus is calling the Church to follow His example. He is calling the Church to have the courage to speak His Truth in love about homosexual behavior even though it isn't politically correct," stated Bishop Love. "Sexual relations between two men or two women was never part of God's plan and is a distortion of His design in creation and as such is to be avoided. To engage in sexual intimacy outside of marriage between a man and women, is against God's will and therefore sinful and needs to be repented of, NOT encouraged or told it is ok." Love also stated that he believes that both his denomination and overall Western society "have been hijacked by the 'Gay Rights Agenda,'" and that pro-LGBT Episcopalians have been "received into believing a lie that has been planted in the Church by the 'great deceiver' Satan." "There is no doubt The Episcopal Church and now the Diocese of Albany are in the midst of a huge storm that can rip us apart if we are not careful. That is exactly what Satan wants," added Love. "We don't have to play his game. If we focus on what divides us, we will be destroyed. If we focus on what unites us our Lord Jesus Christ -- He will get us through to the other side. I pray the Lord will help us to see one another as He sees us; to love one another as He loves us; to forgive one another as He forgives us." At their triennial convention in Austin, Texas in July, the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops and House of Deputies passed Resolution B012, which allows same-sex couples to be married by clergy in eight dioceses that had previously not allowed marriage rites for same-sex couples. While the new resolution still gives clergy the right to refuse to perform gay weddings, bishops who oppose same-sex marriage rites must call on another bishop who does not oppose such unions to provide pastoral support for the couple and a clergy for the ceremony. In addition to the Diocese of Albany, the other impacted dioceses include Dallas; North Dakota; Springfield, Illinois; Tennessee; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and two of the denomination's Florida-based dioceses, the Diocese of Florida and the Diocese of Central Florida. Long Island Bishop Larry Provenzano, who proposed the B012, told Episcopal News Service in an interview earlier this year that he considered the resolution "a really important moment for the church." Read more about New York State Episcopal Church Bishop Reaffirms Ban on Gay Marriage in Diocese on The Christian Post. The widow of a missionary who was killed last month says she forgives the man who shot her husband. Stephanie Wesco said she has no bitterness in her soul against anyone. Stephanie was riding in a car with her husband Charles Truman Wesco when he was shot in the head during a firefight between separatists and soldiers in Cameroon. Wesco had eight children. "We've all lost a friend, haven't we?" said Pastor Randy King at a service for Wesco. "Charles definitely loved the people of Cameroon. So do we, having lived there with those precious people for 30 years. We love the Cameroonians. All of them, including the person who killed Charles. "We love them because Christ first loved us and came to save us from our sins," he continued. King said Stephanie and her family was praying for the man who shot Wesco. "We do not know the name of that man. But I pray as a missionary to Cameroon that I or her brother Ben Sinclair might one day have the opportunity to meet Charles' killer to express our forgiveness to him and in love, seek to lead him to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior that he might also receive God's forgiveness for what he did." In a message to family and friends, Stephanie said that her husbands life goal was to help others love Jesus and serve him. My prayer is that somehow someway Jesus will be glorified through my Precious Charles death and that God will not let his death have been in vain. He is receiving the Martyrs crown from his Lord, she wrote. Click here to donate to a Go Fund Me account that benefits the Wesco family. Photo courtesy: Kidnappers released this week the last of more than 80 hostages taken from a Presbyterian school in Cameroon amid an escalating crisis in the Central African countrys English-speaking regions. Just over a week after being captured at gunpoint, the principal, dorm warden, and two remaining students were freed Monday, while the rest of the victims, students ages 1117, were let go last week, Reuters reported. The Presbyterian-run boarding school in the regions capital, Bamenda, has been forced to shut down since the captors threatened further attacks. The incident represents the latest of at least four school abductions over the past two months, and about a dozen over the past year, as unrest over disparities between Cameroons English-speaking North-West and South-West regions and the nations French-speaking majority turns increasingly violent. Another 11 boys had been taken from the same school the week before. And the kidnappings, as heart-wrenching as they are, represent just a small portion of the violence that has left the Anglophone region on the brink of civil war. An estimated 400 civilians have died in the dispute, including an American missionary caught in the crossfire last month, just weeks after moving to Cameroon. More than a quarter-million people have fled their homes and villages, and many who remain are desperate for security and resources. Cameroons churches, whose cry for peace has intensified over the past few months, have suffered in the separatist conflict, with four church buildings taken over by military forces and at least 50 Christian-run primary schools, secondary schools, and hospitals affected, according to Gustav Ebai, information and communication secretary for the Council of Protestant Churches of Cameroon. We have failed God, he said in an interview with CT. There is no evil like the evil I have seen in my country. The instability in North-West and South-West dampened celebrations for the coastal nations 61st annual Presbyterian Church Day, held last Sunday. Given what the Anglophone community is passing through at this moment, we cannot really celebrate; feasting and enjoying ourselves while many of Gods children are being killed, living in pains, frustrated and others living as internal and external refugees, stated Fonki Samuel Forba, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC). He advised congregations in the PCCthe largest local English-speaking denomination, with over a million membersto keep observances low-key and to use the occasion to raise awareness about those impacted by the recent violence. More than 100 PCC pastors are believed to have fled the two regions as conditions worsen; in Bamenda, some residents fear that even traveling or attending typical gatherings could put them at risk of attacks. Ebai told CT that in many villages, the pastors were the last to leave. PCC leaders have helped coordinate counseling for displaced families who have moved in with friends or fellow church members in safer regions. Millions are in need of humanitarian aid as a result of the conflict. Those who are left in the Anglophone region tend to be the poorest and neediestthe ones without means to flee elsewhere. [M]uch emphasis should be laid on raising Mission Work Fund to enable the Church continue to attend to our displaced pastors and brethren affected by the armed conflict that has brought sorrow and suffering upon many, Forba stated. As we keep on praying and trusting that soon the Lord would turn our mourning to rejoicing and the flourishing of life in absolute peace and justice, remain inspired. The escalating violence in the Anglophone regions coincided with a tense election held last month, which re-elected 85-year-old President Paul Biya for his seventh term in office; he has ruled since 1982. Though Cameroons two languages and corresponding cultural differences date back to British and French colonial rule, the conflict has emerged more recently as English speakers in North-West and South-West began to protest against discrimination from the French majority in the national government about two years ago. The Anglophoneswho represent 3 million people and approximately a fifth of the nations populationdefended their place in local schools and courts in particular. Their protests eventually spurred an intense separatist movement when Biya responded by sending an elite military unit to the area. Because the education system has become a major point of contention between the two sides, the armed separatists have burned or taken over more than 100 schools in western Cameroon in the past year. Many Cameroonians suspect an unfair election and worry that there will not be a peaceful resolution for the English-speaking regions under Biya, since the affected areas are also a political stronghold for his opposition. Before, during, and after the presidential elections that just ended in Cameroon, Christians, and many believers of other faiths, prayed for this country. They prayed like they never did before, wrote Buma Kor Dickson, a Christian publisher based in Yaounde. The fact is that Cameroonians on both sides prayed for change, but the answer is still to come. God is not done with Cameroon, yet! At Presbyterian Church Bastos, in the capital city of Yaounde, Emmanuel Basam urged Christians to continue praying for peace, calling to mind the Presbyterian schools and hospitals threatened by attacks to the west. For over a year, Basam has addressed the Anglophone-Francophone conflict in his preaching, including sermons on loving your enemies, seeking unity, and praying for God to heal the land. The national Protestant council adopted Deuteronomy 19:10 as a theme verse earlier this year: Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed (NIV). Now, they have focused their prayers on restoration, based on 2 Corinthians 13:11: Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you (NIV). Ebai has urged churches to use the global coverage and attention around the recent kidnappings as an opportunity to double-down on their message, condemning the current violence and calling for peaceful discussion. We need to communicate it at all levels, at every church, every sermon, every Sunday, he said. If you are praying without action, how do you expect God to use you? Seeing the conflict as a humanitarian crisis, Christian denominational leaders have taken the initiative to promote dialogue between the government and the secessionists, Christian leaders told CT. Many of their own have fled the region for safer cities, or even left the country for neighboring Nigeria, as the threat of violence grew more severe. Ebai, whose family is from South-West, has taken in 15 relatives and visits family in the region at least once a month. Four of his cousins, including two in the military, have died in the fighting. Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Catholic clergy in the majority-Christian nation have partnered with Muslim leaders to offer to work as mediators, but officials feared political motives behind their efforts, Catholic newspaper La Croix reported. Earlier this year, Amnesty International condemned the indiscriminate killings, attacks, and abductions suffered by ordinary people living in North-West and South-West. American missionary Charles Wesco numbers among the civilian victims. The Baptist pastor and father of eight was killed on October 30, less than two weeks after his family moved from Indiana to outside Bamenda. We deplore the death of the missionary, Edward Njini, pastor of Nkwen Baptist Church in Bamenda, told Religion News Service. It is unfortunate they fired the guns and he was killed. I dont think he was a target. Wesco and a fellow missionary were driving into town when their vehicle was shot; both the separatists and the government forces blame the other side for the killing. Family members and fellow missionaries honored Wesco at a memorial service in South Bend, Indiana on Monday. They have been praying diligently for the man that took Charles' life, said Randy King, a pastor who served for 30 years in Cameroon. But I pray as a missionary to Cameroon that I might one day have the opportunity to meet Charles' killer to express our forgiveness to him and in love, seek to lead him to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior that he might also receive God's forgiveness for what he did. Catholic media report that a Catholic seminarian, Gerard Anjiangwe, was also killed last month, and a priest in the South-West town of Bomaka was shot in July. Meanwhile, Cameroons Far North region continues to suffer under the threat of Boko Haram terrorists. Christianity Today recently reported its November cover story from neighboring Nigeria on the relentless attacks the church there has faced from Boko Haram and militant Fulani herdsmen. Additional reporting by Ivanova N. F. in Yaounde. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Last month, I attended the Christian Media Summit in Jerusalem hosted by the Government Press Office. (GPO) The excellent Summit deepened my advocacy for Israel and provided a context for meaningful, new friendships and initiatives. Media professionals from 40 nations plus other Christian and Jewish leaders bonded around the theme of truth-telling to combat Antisemitism against Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Two leaders of Friend Ships, a Christian humanitarian organization, expanded my definition of friendship and gleamed as one of my most rewarding encounters! One morning during the summit, I walked into the plentiful breakfast buffet at our hotel, filled my plate, and wondered where to sit. I then noticed someone sitting alone at a table next to the sunny courtyard window. Feeling drawn there, I walked over asking if I might sit down. Her friendly "Yes" was the beginning of a wonderful conversation. I soon learned that Teri Shields served on the staff of Friend Ships which her parents, Don and Sondra Tipton founded. I was astonished and delighted! Why? I had followed their compassionate ministry on the Israel/Syria border for months. I also seriously considered applying as a volunteer for a few days at their Camp Ichay after the GPO summit. Then I read that they and the IDF had evacuated due to increased volatility on the border. After breakfast Teri invited me to enjoy Shabbat with them on the Golan Heights when the summit ended. That Friday evening inspired me and gave me another example about the strength and cooperation between Israelis and Christians. "Our Jewish friends helped our Christian team to help Syrian Muslims. We are one heart...God's heart, with the Israel Defense Forces when it comes to the Syrians." Sondra Tipton During and after dinner, I felt humbled to hear the team's stories, heartbreaks, and joys. They welcomed more than 8,000 traumatized Syrians during their ministry on the border. My first question of course, "How did a ship ministry end up on the Israel/Syria border miles away from an ocean?" I learned that Don Tipton founded Friend Ships in 1983. Previously his lifestyle included hanging out with famous stars in Beverly Hills and he lived next door to former President Ronald Reagan. He radically changed direction when his Christian faith became the bedrock of his life. He first founded the Friend Ships charity with Park West Polo & Hunt Club in Beverly Hills which reached out to battered and handicapped children. Then in 1985, the charity acquired a ship, outfitted it and now for decades a small fleet of Friend Ships has served the poor in nations worldwide. Today they also help communities in the United States devastated by natural disasters. At Friend Ships, headquartered in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Don and Sondra began to prayerfully consider how their ministry could help after hearing the horrific stories coming out of Syria. They already held a strong connection with Jewish people and Israel because of their Christian faith and regarded Judaism as the cradle of Christianity. And they, like Jewish communities worldwide, embrace the value of helping others regardless of religion or nationality. They began making inquiries first through contacts in Lebanon and Jordan. In both countries they learned that any humanitarian goods shipped in would likely be stolen before getting to those in need. With that door closed, the Tiptons turned to Ran Ichay, a close friend who is Director General for the Ministry of Jerusalem And Heritage. They had become friends through previous missions to Israel. Ran set up discussions with the IDF's military brass in charge of Operation Good Neighbor. The IDF had worked on the Israel/Syria border since 2016 covertly sending in humanitarian aid and providing medical help. Don and Sondra's prayers were answered when the IDF accepted their offer to set up an additional humanitarian outreach under the IDF's policies and protection. Friend Ships got to work beginning in early 2017 and by August, they opened the "doors" to their tents of mercy. For months the operation was undercover and that suited the Tiptons just fine. In their own ministry, they preferred to work in the background anyway and lift others up instead. The civilian team and their volunteers grew accustomed to bomb concussions, IDF nighttime operations delivering goods cross-border, and check points to first vet and then allow Syrians in for a day to get medical care, medicine, food, clothing, household goods and hugs from welcoming arms. Later, the IDF and Friend Ships operations became public. Their compassionate efforts appeared in Israeli news, USA Today, and teams coming to film their work from The Christian Broadcast Network, Trinity Broadcast Network and Fox News. The media exposure proved to be a boon for recruiting volunteers, humanitarian aid from Jewish citizens in the Golan Heights, and financial donations. Teri Shields commented, "Even the Jewish people in southern Israel living under years of terror rockets and now fires, sent two buses of volunteers with donated items." An older woman arrived with three small children. When she saw the playground she fell to her knees and cried. Through a translator she told me that her husband had left their home in Syria to look for food and never came back. Her daughter and two sons had been killed. Teri Shields After dinner, writing as fast as I could, I asked the team to share some of their thoughts. Seeing their sincerity and humility, my appreciation grew as I listened to these brave people. They managed a few laughs as they described working with an audio background punctuated with Assad's helicopters dropping barrel bombs and Russian jets streaking through the night delivering more death. But their joy in helping and their heartbreak in saying goodbyes to desperate Syrians came through louder and clearer. Here are a few of their insightful, inspiring quotes. Sondra reflected,"The Syrians knew we didn't have to be there. And the Jewish people have been through so much that they have a soft heart for others in need. Through translators Syrians have told us that Jews help them more than Arabs. And as my husband often says, 'We don't speak their language, but we do speak the language of love.'" (Don was in the US when I was at the team's Shabbat dinner) Jake and Jeanne-"When the Syrians arrived they were fearful not knowing what to expect from us. Seeing their transformation was amazing. By the time they left, they were kissing us on the cheek." Jeanne went on to say, "God gave us an opportunity to love them. And we were so touched with the big, beautiful hearts of the Jewish people who donated so much." Rebecca commented,"When we and IDF evacuated, they were crushed.The soldier's hearts bled for the children." Teri observed, "Many of the girls arrived dressed as boys because it was more dangerous for them to travel. Their fears dissolved with the children's laughter that hung in the air. It broke down the walls. Peace settled in." Josh shared, "I grew up in a missionary family in Ethiopia. There we could restore hope and dignity. Here we could try, but all hope is gone." Jonathan described the volunteers, "When they rolled through even for a few days they encouraged us for the long haul." What's next for Friend Ships? Although they have physically evacuated from the front lines of compassion, their hearts to help remain the same. The team is prayerful and meeting with Israelis to determine their next steps. Other outreach locations are in the mix, but one thing is clear. They remain devoted to others who are desperate for help delivered through hands of love instigated by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Visit www.friendships.org. Originally posted at timesofisrael.com Grassroots initiatives are key to solving Britain's knife crime problem - bishop The Bishop of St Albans has urged the Government to fund grassroots initiatives as part of its strategy to tackle Britain's knife crime problem. The Right Reverend Alan Smith's appeal in the House of Lords follows the release of alarming figures showing a 16 per cent rise in knife offences between March 2017 and March 2018. The bishop said the figures revealed a need for 'more effective policing' but also for more funding for community-based initiatives. 'We also need a long-term, consistent, grassroots focus on this problem, working not just with the statutory authorities but also with the voluntary sector,' he said. Bishop Smith has been an outspoken advocate for action to reduce knife crime in Britain. He has previously supported calls from the family of stabbing victim Dan Baird for bleed control kits to be made more widely available. He added that the most important thing was preventing stabbings from happening in the first place. 'We need concerted, consistent, coordinated action between statutory and voluntary services,' he said. Last week in the House of Lords, the bishop called on the Government to take a 'long-term public health approach' to the problem and ensure that it was properly funded. 'Behind these terrible, tragic stabbings, and the general rise in knife crime across our country not just in London lie countless human tragedies,' he said. 'Many families will never recover from the loss of a loved one through such a murder, and our sympathy goes out to them.' Liverpool Cathedral expands Christmas offerings to cater for increasing numbers of visitors Liverpool Cathedral is laying on more services and activities this Christmas to meet an increase in demand. The cathedral is just one of many enjoying a swell in the number of people attending over the Christmas season. It is one of the busiest seasons of the year for the cathedral, which welcomed more than 4,000 people through its doors on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2017 - a ten per cent increase on the previous year. It will be running two 'Carols for Christmas Eve' services after being filled to capacity last year. The Very Reverend Dr Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool said: 'Last Christmas Eve it was standing room only as our afternoon carol service was so popular. People were joking about having no room at the inn, liking it to the Christmas story. 'We are the spiritual heartbeat for so many and Christmas is a natural opportunity for people to reconnect and rediscover the Christmas story.' The cathedral will also be putting on a performance of the nativity, 'Hurry to Bethlehem', featuring 200 children from the Merseyside area. Recent figures from the Church of England show a significant increase in the number of people attending cathedral services, particularly over Christmas. Liverpool Cathedral has welcomed nearly 400,000 visitors since May 2018, with over 60,000 people coming to see Luke Jerram's artwork installation, Museum of the Moon, in one week in May. In total, Church of England cathedrals welcomed 135,000 people to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services in 2017 - up three per cent on 2016 figures. Dr Jones added: 'It's really heartening to see cathedrals showing such signs of growth and this is reflected at our own Cathedral.' Two years after missionary Jeff Woodke's abduction, locals plead for his release Local community leaders have called for the release of missionary Jeff Woodke, abducted from his home in northern Niger two years ago. Woodke, 57, was kidnapped by unknown assailants believed to be from an Islamist group who killed two security guards. On the second anniversary of his abduction local officials, aid workers, representatives of the Niger army and others came together in Abalak to make a statement paying tribute to Woodke, according to World Watch Monitor. In a video they confirmed their appreciation of his 'memorable work' and their respect for him as a 'community hero' and said they had come together 'to fulfil a moral mandate to Jeff: his freedom to help the Abalak population'. '[We] hope that the President of the Republic of Niger will fully invest in order to achieve the release of Jeff,' they said, speaking in French. Woodke had lived in the region since 1992 and had been running several development projects among the Tuareg people group, focusing on farming, health, literacy, primary-school education and improving access to drinking water. His wife Els released a video directed at her husband and saying: 'I want you to know that I'm doing everything I can to get you home. It's been two long years. You have not been abandoned. Not by God and not by those who help me... Do not lose hope.' Woodke's captors were tracked to Mali, but have not been located. In June, Niger's president, Mahamadou Issoufou, said Woodke and a German aid worker kidnapped in April this year were both alive. 'We have some news; we know they're alive... We continue to create the conditions for their release. Perhaps the contacts that are under way will help to achieve that goal,' he told TV channel France24. Winter weather was threatening in the evening sky on Wednesday (Nov. 14) at Dover Downs, but the young trotters contesting their first-round Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund events didnt seem to care. The first filly event was contested as a non-wagering event before the card. Bellas Party Punk (Super Punk-Nubella) driven by Art Stafford Jr. and trained by a jubilant Shae Vandervort won by half a length over Star Tume (bred by Marv Bachrad) in 2:04.2. The second filly division (race one) saw the Harrington winner Disco Soliel (CR Commando-CR Penny Lane) dance from gate to wire for driver Carlo Poliseno and owner Rod Allen in 2:03.4, half a length better than Dark Dutchess. In the first division for colts and geldings (race two), Rich N Royal (Yankee Royalty-Adore Eleanor) beat Dr Grinch by a neck to break maiden in 2:01.2 for trainer-driver Kim Vincent and owner Bart Cavanaghs Providence West of Media, Pa. Time was 2:01.2 and it was the Maiden win for Rich N Royal. The second split for colts and geldings went to Embrace The Grind (Keystone Activator-My Embrace), who beat Say Gesundheit by five lengths in 2:03 for driver Jonathan Roberts and owner-trainer Bobby Glassmeyer. It was his fourth victory in five starts. Round two will take place next Wednesday (Nov. 21), the night before Thanksgiving. The final will be contested on Nov. 29 in conjunction with Dover Downs's signature event, the Hap Hansen Progress Pace named for the late Brandywine Raceway president. (with files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund) Houston-based Cheniere Energy is poised to export its first shipment of liquefied natural gas from its complex near Corpus Christi. Crews wrapped up construction for Train 1 at the company's Corpus Christi LNG export terminal this summer and spent the past five months commissioning the equipment. RELATED: Cheniere LNG expansions continue with new Poland contract Under the company's business model, the South Texas facility will receive natural gas from the Eagle Ford Shale, Permian Basin and other sources via pipeline, liquefy the gas and use tankers to export it to customers in Europe, Latin America and Asia. It's not immediately clear where the first shipment from Port of Corpus Christ will go, but the export terminal's customers hail from three continents Europe, Asia and Australia. They include three Spanish companies, Endesa, Iberdola and Gas Natural Fenosa, Petamina of Indonesia, Woodside of Australia, the French company Electricite De France, and the Portuguese company Energias de Portugal SA. Cheniere's first export shipment was sent from its Sabine Pass LNG in Louisiana in February 2016. Since then, Cheniere has shipped 475 cargoes of LNG to 29 nations. Trading under the stock ticker symbol LNG, the Houston company endured years of losses while the Sabine Pass export terminal was under construction. Once the company started shipping LNG, the profits followed. ON THE COAST: LyondellBasell advances $3 billion in Gulf Coast projects The company said it earned a $65 million profit on $1.7 billion of revenue during the third quarter of 2018. A second processing unit at the Corpus Christi facility known as Train 2 is expected to be completed during first quarter 2019 and placed into commercial service by the second half of 2019. Crews with general contractor Bechtel started construction for a third processing unit known as Train 3 during the summer. Over the past year, Cheniere has landed long-term supply agreements with a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp. and Poland's state-run Polish Oil and Gas Company. The Rolling Stones are coming to Houston. Maybe. Mick Jagger will probably be seen getting coffee in the Heights. Keith Richards will show up at Voodoo Queen on the east end and scare all the punk rockers. Charlie Watts will roam the halls at the Museum of Fine Arts. Ron Woods will do whatever it is that Ron Wood does. COMING SOON: The Houston concert calendar through the end of 2018 and beyond Well, at least all signs are pointing to it. A few weeks back a handful of teasers that the Rolling Stones might be hitting the road in the U.S. in 2019 appeared at the Denver's Mile High Stadium and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The band's famous and salacious lips and tongue logo appeared in banner form outside both stadiums. On Wednesday afternoon an email sent from NRG Park included that Stones' logo at the end of an email with no further explanation. A Chron.com reader alerted us to the addition of the logo. NRG Park even liked the tweet by Eric Cohn from Snapstream. WHERE YOU THERE?: The best concerts in Houston history (so far) Either someone at NRG Park is a superfan celebrating Keith Richards' Dec. 18 birthday early or this was a sly way of telling us to start cashing out our 401K funds to afford tickets. Playing Houston sporadically since 1966, the Stones haven't played a concert here since the second George W. Bush administration. The band came to the Toyota Center on Dec. 1, 2005 and ran through their assorted hits and nuggets. On a tour previous to this the Stones played NRG Stadium in early 2003 with Ryan Adams as the opening act. One Stones fan site has a rumored partial schedule of shows putting the band here in Houston in April before playing Jazz Fest in New Orleans, a major get for the Crescent City's annual musical extravaganza. Stay tuned, everyone. Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message High-profile Houston chef Brandi Key will be leaving her position as culinary director for Lasco Enterprises at the end of the month. Both Key and Lasco CEO Jerry Lasco confirmed the separation, described as a "mutual decision" Wednesday afternoon. Key spent less than a year in her position overseeing the culinary workings of the hospitality group that includes Max's Wine Dive and The Tasting Room. During that time Key updated the menus at both concepts and was responsible for hiring chefs and kitchen staff. "I've got a lot of love for the Lascos and I very much enjoyed my time with them," Key said. "We were able to refresh things and put Max's in a new light. I'm very proud of the work not only I did but of the talented chefs and the support staff I worked with." When asked if she had a new job in the works, Key responded: "I'm not ready to share my next big move, but in the interim, I'm going to be doing a bit of consulting and high-end catering." She added that she will remain in the Houston culinary scene. Lasco praised Key's work. "We love Brandi and we think the world of her," he said. "She's incredibly talented and incredibly passionate." He said he did not foresee any changes to the menus she's installed at Max's Wine Dive or The Tasting Room. He added that there's no immediate plans to fill the position of culinary director. Key stepped into the roll as Lasco's culinary director in March, after years with Clark Cooper Concepts, where she oversaw the operations of existing concepts as well as new brands brought into the fold. Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture. A man attacking cars with a flagpole was shot and killed by a Houston police officer Wednesday night after he allegedly brawled with her near the Houston Baptist University campus, according to authorities. Witnesses saw the man waving the flagpole, which police said was adorned with an American flag, and hitting cars with it in the middle of Beechnut Street outside Husky Stadium, police said. The officer was working without her partner when she confronted the suspect. She tried stunning him first, but the Taser had "absolutely no effect, Houston police Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference. The suspect then attacked her, at one point causing her body camera to fall off. NEARBY: Armed robbery suspect in custody after SWAT standoff She managed to get away but he came at her again, Finner said. During the second attack, she opened fire and fatally struck the suspect once in the chest. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Finner identified the officer as Ashley Kelley, a two-year veteran of Houston Police Department. She received minor injuries, which officials described as scratches and a skin burn to her knee. Finner commended Kelley for giving the suspect several chances to back off before she ultimately pulled the trigger. Im very proud of how she handled herself, Finner said, adding that she was visibly shaken by the shooting. Before she encountered the suspect, Finner said he had already assaulted two people, one of whom was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Police did not immediately know who the suspect because he was not carrying identification. Officers at an unrelated standoff in southwest Houston were seen running for their cars at the time of the officer-involved shooting. Finner said at least two SWAT officer from that scene arrived and tried saving the suspect after he was shot. The shooting was off-campus but took place as HBU football players were practicing at Husky Stadium. Police said the school was not impacted by the investigation. 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 This already sounds like a juicy movie. Hard to believe that the story of painter Ida Ten Eyck OKeeffe has been almost entirely lost, considering that her iconic sister is so ubiquitous theres an entire museum devoted to her life and work. But here you have it: The Dallas Museum of Art is presenting Idas first solo museum show Nov. 18-Feb. 24 in coup of corrective art history. Escaping Georgias Shadow introduces more than 40 paintings, watercolors, prints and drawings by Ida, including six of seven lighthouse series paintings that have not been exhibited together since 1955. Idas mastery of color and composition caught the eye of critics back in the day, but she and Georgia had a complicated relationship. Ida was two years younger but died 25 years earlier, decades after they became estranged. Ida bested her sister in the education department, earning an MFA from Columbia in 1932; but her small triumphs caused competitive tension. While Georgia benefited from the early support of her famous husband, the dealer and photographer Alfred Stieglitz, Ida struggled. During the Great Depression, she taught across the Eastern Seaboard, the South and the Midwest to stay afloat. Ida OKeeffe: Escaping Georgias Shadow begins with paintings of the late 1920s and early 30s, when she used "dynamic symmetry, a compositional concept based on mathematics, to produce abstracted images. Those principles took a more regionalist, subdued and lyrical look by the late 1930s, influenced by her travels. She produced Star Gazing in Texas in 1938, a year that found her teaching in San Antonio. Also a printmaker, Ida used an electric iron as a press to make monotypes. Along with drawings and prints, the show includes photographs of her taken in the 1920s by Stieglitz, before the sisters split; plus an original short film focusing on Idas life. "Ida is fascinating not only because of the dynamics within her famous artistic family but also for the distinct and experimental approach of her work, which reflects a range of contemporary influences, such as American Modernism, Regionalism, and abstraction, said DMA curator Sue Canterbury, who led a team that devoted four years to researching Idas life and work. For your travel calendar: On Feb. 2, the DMA will present a half day of talks by experts exploring the lives and careers of Ida and Georgia OKeeffe. Other programs are scheduled throughout the run. After the Dallas showing, the Clark Art Institute in Willamstown, MA. will present Escaping Georgias Shadow July 6-Oct. 6, 2019. molly.glentzer@chron.com While Houstons museums have no lack of sprawling shows that could keep a family artfully engaged for an entire afternoon during the holidays, they also make it possible to just pop in for a quick fix. You may only need 30 minutes to enjoy any of these three terrific and buzzy exhibitions. Theyre meaty without overwhelming a quick escape from the craziness of the world for a few minutes, or a place to kill some time in between meals, shopping and all the rest. The University of Houston will build its medical college on campus, regents decided Thursday. UH regents selected a 43-acre tract of undeveloped land at the university's southeast corner over property in the Texas Medical Center for the planned school, which would be the first such new college in Houston in nearly half a century. The last to open, in 1972, was the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. The board approved the campus site without public discussion. The matter was among discussion items in a closed session that preceded the vote. The board left UH President Renu Khator to decide the exact location on property next to MacGregor Park and the METRO rail station, a few hundred feet north of the intersection of Old Spanish Trail and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The chosen property will house a 150,000-square-foot, four-story building and cost an estimated $65 million. The selection of the site is the latest step in UH's journey to create a medical school, a long-time dream. Plans call for it to focus on training primary-care doctors, half of them minorities, to practice in underserved areas, a huge need in Houston and the state. RELATED: UH's inaugural class of medical students' full tuition paid by donor UH in October received Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval for the school. It hopes to submit an application for accreditation to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in December. School officials are targeting fall 2022 for the building's opening, which would coincide with its third freshman class, assuming the liaison committee grants accreditation for the school to open in fall 2020. Until then, students would have classes in an existing UH building. Todd Ackerman covers medicine for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at todd.ackerman@chron.com or twitter.com/ChronMed. Oil notched its sixth straight weekly loss, weighed down by concerns over whether OPEC and its allies can reduce production enough to stanch a global supply glut. After bouncing between gains and losses on Friday, futures were unchanged at the close of New York trading, encapsulating the uncertainty in the market after a tumultuous week. U.S. oil prices plunged 7.1 percent on Tuesday, the most in three years, before recovering some ground later in the week. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is expanding the depth of output cuts under consideration in the face of a weakening demand outlook, offering a potential boost to prices. But in the U.S., stockpiles climbed the most in 21 months last week. "The odds are fairly good that OPEC is going to cut production again but none of us know for sure," said James Williams, president at WTRG Economics in London, Arkansas. "I don't think there's enough certainty that we can expect any stability or trend in prices until we have a better idea of what OPEC is doing." Oil is in a bear market after plunging from a four-year high in October amid a confluence of supply, demand and geopolitical pressures. The worldwide demand outlook remains uncertain amid trade tensions between the U.S. and China, and speculation is swirling over OPEC's strategy before it meets with Russia and other producers in Vienna next month. After the "remarkable" plunge in oil markets earlier this week, "the Saudis need higher oil prices to support their economy," said Trip Rodgers, who oversees $200 million at the Hennessy BP Energy Fund in Dallas. "OPEC will move to cut production." PREVIOUSLY: Oil snaps record losing streak as stronger OPEC cuts seem likely West Texas Intermediate for December was unchanged at $56.46 a barrel as trading closed on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Total volume traded was about 7.1 percent above the 100-day average. Brent for January settlement added 14 cents to $66.76 on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark crude traded at a $10.08 premium to WTI for the same month. While Saudi Arabia has promised more supply cuts, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that an oil price of "around $70 suits us completely." His energy minister, Alexander Novak, suggested earlier this week that the country is in no rush to act. EXPORTS: IHS: U.S. to be net exporter of petroleum by 2020s Meanwhile, U.S. crude inventories rose by 10.27 million barrels last week, almost three times the median forecast, according to a government report Thursday. Domestic production edged higher to a record 11.7 million barrels a day. --With assistance from Tsuyoshi Inajima and Grant Smith. 2018 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON - Senators warned President Donald Trump's pick to sit on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Thursday that they needed assurances of his impartiality in light of his work at the Department of Energy. Bernard McNamee, policy director at the Energy Department who previously served in top positions with Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has come under fire for questions around his role in crafting the administration's efforts to prop up struggling coal and nuclear power plants. He appeared before the Senate Thursday morning for his confirmation hearing. "FERC is an independent agency and must continue to function as such. The commission's decisions are never contingent on the Department of Energy's policy decisions," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "When I met with Mr. McNamee I stressed the importance of maintaining FERC's autonomy and a commitment to taking an independent role at FERC." SENATE TENSION: FERC nominee with Texas ties faces tough questions from Senate With everyone from oil companies to environmentalists lined up against Trump's efforts to bail out coal and nuclear plants, Republicans and Democrats alike questioned McNamee closely on his involvement in Energy Secretary Rick Perry's ongoing examination of whether the steady replacement of coal and nuclear power plants with gas plants and wind and solar farms poses a risk of blackouts. Asked by Murkowski about his role at the Energy Department, McNamee said last year, as deputy general counsel, he worked on Perry's proposal to raise power rates in an effort to "address what [Perry] perceived as the problems and challenges of fuel secure resources." "My role is primarily as a lawyer," McNamee said. "I will be an independent arbiter if the issues come before me at FERC. I think it's important to look at the law and the facts and base your decision on that." FERC continues to study the question of whether coal and nuclear plan closures represent a threat to the grid. Where McNamee will come down on the question of whether to do something to aid coal and nuclear power plants hung over the hearing Thursday. "Like many of my colleagues I have been troubled by this administration's persistent efforts to try and interfere with our electricity markets to try and subsidize high cost coal plants," said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., ranking member on the committee. "Fairly or not, Mr. McNamee's name has been associated with these efforts." Cruz, who spoke at the hearing Thursday, described McNamee as a highly experienced energy attorney committed to maintaining a free market system in the U.S. power grid. "Bernie is someone who appreciates passionately the importance of competition for lowering prices and benefiting consumers," he said. But McNamee did not entirely distance himself from Perry's plan either, pointing out repeatedly that while FERC rejected the proposal 5-0 earlier this year the body also elected to study the issue. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and other Democrats told McNamee he should recuse himself on the question of coal and nuclear plant closures if appointed to FERC. "[Perry's proposal] would benefit a handful of companies, mostly in the northeast, while jacking up ratepayers' costs by billions of dollars," Wyden said. "Now the president wants to put you on the commission that rejected the plan you wrote." McNamee declined to say whether or not he would recuse himself, saying he would need to consult with an attorney before answering. Cy-Fair ISD has formed a long-range planning committee to help determine items to include in a proposed 2019 bond referendum. In order to get a head start on the future of district, Cy-Fair ISD formed the committee of community members and staff to assess the needs of the students. The forming of the Long-Range Planning Committee was announced by CFISD during a regular board meeting held on Nov. 12. The committee will include 50 members of the Cy-Fair community including parents, students, businesses owners, community members and CFISD staff. Until they hold a bond election jointly with Harris County in May 2019, the committee will review district needs, financial impact, present a plan to the board of trustees and educate the community on the study process and the bond program. Superintendent Mark Henry said the LRPC will be headed by Community Co-Chair Julie Hinaman, who is also the Community Leadership Committee chair, and District Co-Chair Teresa Hull, who is also CFISDs chief of staff. Henry said the committee is planning for the current growth of Cy-Fair. One of the things I'm most proud of in this community is that we're looking out for the needs of students not just throughout the district, but for students that have certain different needs in their educational process, he said. The parameters are that we're looking to try to meet the needs of the district through the year 2025. That seems like a long time off, but it's really not. It'll be here before you know it. According to a presentation given by Hull, CFISD officials have had facility assessment walks before officially forming the committee. The newly formed committee has taken lessons learned from the last committee to create a more involved group, Hull said. For example, students will be included in the committee again and most of the committee will be non-CFISD staff members. We really kept the committee together and covered the information on all areas so that all of the committee members could make well informed decisions when they were prepared to develop that final recommendation, she said. We had included students in 2014 and felt that that was extremely valuable. We have limited staff on the committee. We have asked a principal from each level, high school, middle school and elementary, to participate as well as a teacher from each level. The LRPC plans to have a kick-off meeting on Nov. 27 before reviewing district facilities, including technology and security needs, starting on Dec. 3 and ending Jan. 15. chevall.pryce@chron.com After earning minor spoils in her three most recent outings, Kaitlyn Rae returned to her winning ways in the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Nov. 14). Kaitlyn Rae (Drew Monti) left with little opposition from Hey Kobe (Kevin Cummings), who was content to sit the pocket trip for the duration. Seeing no one coming, Monti tapped the brakes and strolled to the half in :59. That forced Susies Delight (Ray Fisher Jr.) to pull first-over for a bid that would fall short by the three-quarters. Heading into the final turn, Cummings tipped Hey Kobe to try and make a run. But after barely getting within a length, Kaitlyn Rae responded to a high-line and a couple taps of the shaft to pace away and win by a length in 1:56.1. It was the 61st career win and 13th victory of 2018 for Kaitlyn Rae ($6.30), who has now earned $71,021 for owner-trainer Riley Asher-Stalbaum. In the $8,800 distaff Open II, Tymal Luckynpink (Brad Jackson) doubled her pleasure by winning her second straight outing in gate-to-wire fashion in 1:57.3. The Ken and John McKeever-owned seven-year-old Camluck mare scored her seventh win of the year under the tutelage of trainer Brad Jackson. Drew Monti had a driving hat trick on Wednesday to lead all other reinsmen on the card. Besides Kaitlyn Rae, Monti also won with Scarlet N Silk (1:59.1, $8.80) and Honey Booboolina (1:57, $8.10). With those three wins, Monti pulls into a first-place tie with Kevin Cummings (who had two wins on Wednesday) for the dash driving title. Both drivers currently have 93 tallies this meet. There was no winner in the early Pick-5 on Wednesday and as a result, there is a $1,036 carry over and a guaranteed $3,000 pool for the early Pick-5 on Friday (Nov, 16). This will be a part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be made available on the USTA site courtesy of TrackMaster starting on Thursday under the "Handicapping" tab. Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday evening, with post time for the first race set at 6 p.m. (Batavia Downs) Heads up for anyone interested in Filipino cuisine, the vibrant Southeast Asian fare that is gaining more traction in Houston. This Sunday evening, four young Filipino cooks from three ambitious restaurant kitchens will collaborate on a Filipino feast at Poitin, the handsome industrial-look venue at Sawyer Yards. They're calling the celebration Alamat, the Tagalog word for "legend." Poitin chef Dominick Lee will host Niko Dalman of Helen Greek Food & Wine; John Degala and Sarah Cuneo of Poitin; and Cyrus Caclini of Kiran's. The quartet are planning cocktail bites, dinner and dessert, and their menu will include Filipino preparations ranging from quail to beef cheek, from fall squash to a pork adobo wrapped and cooked in caul fat. Lee's own kitchen crew is working on a smoked and fried chicken laing dish, a spicy affair involving coconut milk, Thai chiles and dried taro leaves. Out on Poitin's back dining deck, with its spectacular views of downtown, Lee and William Wright of Helen will be roasting a pig for lechon, the Filipino barbecue classic. If you're lucky, a train will rumble through in the background. Even saying the evening's dessert menu out loud sounds like music: ginatan, ube, bilo bilo, halo halo. It's exciting to see a new generation of chefs emerging in the wake of Houston's first high-level Filipino-inflected restaurant, Aqui, where both chef-owner Paul Qui and his chief lieutenant, Jillian Bartolome, have Filipino roots. On HoustonChronicle.com: Amid controversy, rare four stars for Aqui There are a couple of dozen casual Filipino spots spread widely over the Greater Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area, from buffets to fast-food places and bakeries, with even a burger joint in the mix. An event like Alamat, with support from established kitchen mentors like Lee and Wright, may point to the beginning (or at least the possibility) of a new wave. Tickets are $82.60 per person, including tax and tip, plus a handling fee of $11.92, for a total of $94.52. Book through Eventbrite. Alison Cook is the Chronicle's James Beard Award-winning restaurant critic. Follow her on Twitter, and keep up with Houston's latest dining and drinking news and reviews by subscribing to our free Flavor newsletter. Friendswood authorities charged a League City man, 22, with criminal mischief after he reportedly damaged his ex-girlfriends vehicle Nov. 7 on Castlewood Avenue. The incident began when he followed her as she attempted to go home, police said. Fearful because of past threats toward her family, she parked, according to the report. The suspect allegedly pulled on her drivers-side door handle until it broke, kicked the drivers-side door and window, climbed on the hood and kicked the windshield until it shattered. The victim drove away, called police and met officers in the 700 block of West Parkwood Avenue, according to the report. She also recorded the incident on her cell phone, police said. The suspect reportedly drove by as the victim spoke to officers. Police stopped and arrested him, and bond was set at $1,000. Burglary An antique Japanese sword and buffalo nickels were stolen from a home undergoing renovation after Hurricane Harvey in the 800 block of Penn Drive, according to a Nov. 11 police report. The burglary occurred sometime in the previous 30 days, police said. Theft More than $50 worth of gasoline was reported stolen Nov. 7 at THE H-E-B store at 701 W. Parkwood Ave., police said. A white, two-door Ford truck parked at the pump, and the suspect allegedly selected the option to pay the attendant but left without doing so. The passenger was described as blonde and female, according to the report. The attendant noted the suspects license plate number, but it did not correspond with a Ford truck, police said. Assault Police charged two men with disorderly conduct Nov. 6 after officers responded to two disturbance calls in one day at a residence in the 16900 block of Hibiscus Lane. During the first call, officers found three men intoxicated but made no arrests, according to the report. The second call was for an assault in progress, police said. Officers reportedly arrived to find a Friendswood man, 24, who claimed his 17-year-old neighbor assaulted him. The younger man answered the door to his residence and had a swollen eye, police said. Police charged a 16-year-old Friendswood girl with assault after she allegedly forced her way into a residence, slapped and struck her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend and kicked another man in the groin and sprayed him with pepper spray Nov. 11 in the 1900 block of Skip Rock Street. She also is accused of keying the ex-boyfriends car, police said. Police booked and processed her at the Friendswood jail before releasing her to her mother. Narcotics Police charged a Houston man, 29, with possession of marijuana and a controlled substance after a traffic stop for a tint violation Nov. 5 in the 1500 block of East Winding Way. The officer reportedly found a vape pen containing THC oil and marijuana during a vehicle search. A 39-year-old Pearland woman was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop for speeding Nov. 7 in the 100 block of Clearview Avenue, police said. She reportedly had a pipe with a small amount of marijuana. Police charged a Webster woman, 27, with possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop for a defective brake light Nov. 8 in the 2600 block of West Bay Area Boulevard. A passenger, she allegedly tossed a glass pipe into the vehicles backseat as the officer approached the driver. She exited the vehicle, refused to answer questions and pulled a bag of methamphetamine from her underclothing, police said. An officer found her purse, which contained Adderall, a meth pipe and marijuana, inside the vehicle, according to the report. A Santa Fe man, 32, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop for an insurance violation Nov. 10 in the 1700 block of South Friendswood Drive, police said. His license was suspended, and the officer found a scale with methamphetamine residue, syringes and small clear bags during a vehicle search, according to the report. The passenger, a 47-year-old Pearland woman, reportedly had a meth pipe hidden in her clothing and was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, police said. Police charged a Tiki Island man, 25, with possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop for an insurance violation Nov. 10 in the 700 block of West Parkwood Avenue. A vehicle search reportedly yielded a partially smoked marijuana cigarette, a grinder, rolling papers, a cigarette roller and marijuana. Driving while intoxicated Police charged an Alvin man, 54, with DWI after he allegedly failed to signal a turn Nov. 6 at the intersection of West Bay Area Boulevard and FM 528. The officer observed the vehicle as it drifted into an outside lane with its high beams on, according to the report. The driver failed a field sobriety test and refused a breath or blood test during a traffic stop in the 400 block of East Parkwood Avenue, police said. An Alvin woman, 42, was charged with DWI after a traffic stop for driving without headlights on Nov. 10 in the 1400 block of West Parkwood Avenue, police said. She reportedly failed a field sobriety test and agreed to provide a blood specimen. Police charged an Alvin man, 49, with DWI after a witness reported a reckless driver traveling west Nov. 10 on West Parkwood Avenue. Officers stopped the vehicle in the 2900 block of Mandale Road, where the driver failed a field sobriety test, according to the report. Failure to identify A traffic stop for a defective tail lamp Nov. 9 in the 2600 block of W. Bay Area Boulevard led to the arrest of a League City woman, 20, and Dickinson woman, 23, for failure to identify as fugitives from justice, police said. Both women reportedly provided false names and claimed to be from Louisiana. The officer obtained a photo of the vehicles registered owner, the League City woman, and identified her as having three outstanding warrants, according to the report. The Dickinson woman provided a second fictitious name before an officer was able to identify her, police said. She reportedly had an outstanding warrant as well. Fraud An officer took possession of counterfeit money Nov. 11 at Kroger, 3135 FM 528, police said. The suspect allegedly purchased two $200 gift cards with at least three counterfeit $100 bills. Public intoxication A 32-year-old Houston man was charged with public intoxication after an officer reportedly found him passed out in the drivers seat of a vehicle Nov. 10 at Shell, 4001 FM 2351, police said. The vehicles tires were flat, according to the report. Police charged a Friendswood man, 33, with public intoxication Nov. 10 after he reportedly was found lying in Beamer Road near Tall Ships Drive. His vehicle, found nearby, had flat tires, police said. Police charged an Alvin man, 40, with public intoxication after receiving a report about a suspicious man knocking on doors and windows Nov. 12 at a business in the 900 block of West Parkwood Avenue. Officers arrived to find the man sitting on the ground near the front door, police said. Traffic Police charged a Webster man, 27, with no drivers license and no insurance after a traffic stop for driving without license plates Nov. 7 in the 2800 block of FM 528. He reportedly tried to elude the officer by making several abrupt turns into a neighborhood before pulling into a driveway in the 17300 block of Herrnhut Drive. A 23-year-old Alvin man was charged with driving while license invalid Nov. 8 in the 2900 block of West Bay Area Boulevard, police said. Police charged a Houston man, 40, with driving while license invalid after a stop for expired insurance Nov. 8 in the 200 block of East Edgewood Drive. A Houston man, 29, was charged with no drivers license Nov. 10 in the 300 block of East Parkwood Avenue, police said. So many options, so little time. Get ready to feast at some amazing new Houston restaurants, all opening in Houston, from a burger joint in Westchase to downtown's Finn Hall. The massive food hall, opening December 3, features 10 chef-driven food concepts and a craft beer/curated wine bar on the first floor and an Art Deco cocktail lounge on the mezzanine level. A Houston graduate student said she was targeted for being a person of color when asked to leave a city facility in West University Place Nov. 13, but the city says the police officers who responded to the situation acted appropriately. In a police body camera audio recording released to the public Nov. 15 through a post made on the West University Place city website, Ashly Horace can be heard telling officers she was taken by surprise when a library worker called the police on her after she refused to leave the Scout House facility that the library rents for story time. "I used to work for the city of West University, for five years I taught dance here," Horace said in the police recording. "I was sitting in the back, I was not bothering anybody...I was just observing." The city states in the post that the five officers who responded to the incident acted appropriately and that the incident was considered a verbal disturbance. The officer can be heard on the recording trying to calm Horace, who sounds disturbed over the argument with library workers. "Any disturbance, especially where children are in proximity during school hours on a school campus, the response of 5 officers (1 supervisor, 3 officers and 1 trainee) was appropriate for the situation," the city stated in the post. NOVEMBER CRIMES: West University Place Police Department report Horace told police as part of her studies as a graduate student studying library science, she had been observing story times at local libraries. The officer in the recording tells Horace she is not in trouble and that "there's no criminal violation," trying to keep her calm. Library workers can be heard on the recording telling police Horace was asked to leave because she did not have a child with her and she was not an approved library student or intern. "Unless they are an approved library student or intern, we don't let them into story time," the library worker told police. "I said 'Ma'am, you have to go unless you have a kid you can't be in here' and she said "No, you're racist if I was white you wouldn't be doing this.'" According to the recording, Horace said she applied to be a story assistant volunteer for the West University Library's story time events last Wednesday. She said her resume was on the woman's desk who kicked her out. "I said, 'You know, why are you doing this? If my skin wasn't brown, you wouldn't be doing this.' And she kind of looked, like, shocked," Horace told ABC 13. Horace told ABC after the incident she was still confused and wants the library branch manager to be fired. Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message With utility customers around the country being targeted by scammers, CenterPoint Energy is continuing its efforts to raise awareness and educate customers about utility imposter scams. Posing as utility company employees, scammers are calling customers to tell them they are behind on their bills and have a short time to make a payment. The customers are told to pay with their credit card or purchase a Green Dot pre-paid debit card with Bitcoin or other type of reloadable debit card. The scammers then tell customers to load the cards with money and provide the serial number from the card to avoid having their service shut off at the meter. CenterPoint Energy is a member of Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), a consortium of more than 100 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas companies, and their respective trade associations that works with regulators, law enforcement and other telecommunications partners to educate and raise awareness to stop scams targeting utility customers. UUAS and its member companies have helped to shut down more than 2,200 Toll-Free Numbers used by scammers against utility customers. CenterPoint Energy is proud to be a member of UUAS and contribute to the mission of protecting customers from impostor utility scams, said Kevin Marquardt, Data Privacy Manager for CenterPoint Energy. We will continue to help spread awareness of suspicious behaviors and the evolving tactics that scammers use to target customers and we are a participating in this years third annual National Utility Scam Awareness Day. We also want to remind customers to report any suspicious activity and if they fall victim, contact their bank or other financial institution to report the incident. To avoid falling victim to any scam, CenterPoint Energy reminds customers of the following: Protecting personal and financial customer data is of utmost importance to CenterPoint Energy; CenterPoint Energy phone agents (whether inbound or outbound) will NEVER personally request banking or credit card information over the phone, but will instead transfer a customer to an Interactive Voice Response system to collect payment information for natural gas bills; If someone calls, texts, appears, or emails saying you must pay your bill immediately to avoid disconnection, tell them you would like to verify that they are a legitimate utility company representative by calling a verified number on the utilitys website or on your monthly bill. Verify the identity of the individual requesting information before sharing credit card numbers and any personal information; Contact 911 and report suspicious activity to the local police; Call and report the incident to the local utility provider and the Better Business Bureau; The Federal Trade Commissions website is a good source of information about how to protect personal information and educate yourself on the different types of impostor scams; and Visit UtilitiesUnited.org for more information and tips about how customers can protect themselves from impostor utility scams or follow along on social media: Twitter @U_U_A_S and Facebook @UtilitiesUnited. UUAS was recently awarded the Toll-Free Industrys Fraud Fighter Award in recognition of its advocacy and awareness campaign to stop scams that target electric, water, and natural gas company customers. UUAS was presented the award in October at the Toll-Free User Summit hosted by Somos, Inc., in Las Vegas. The Toll-Free Industry Awards were established to recognize individuals and companies that are at the forefront of innovation and thought leadership in the Toll-Free Industry. The Fraud Fighter Award is presented annually and is given to an individual or organization actively working to protect the public from fraudulent activities and scams. A teenager accused of killing a Texas City woman as part of a revenge plot over a stolen bank card will stand trial as an adult after being charged with murder on Monday, according to Galveston County court records. Judge Barbara Roberts approved prosecutors' request to transfer Cindy Ana Esquivel, 17, into criminal court to face a charge of murder after a court hearing on Monday. Galveston County prosecutors requested that Esquivel be charged as an adult for her alleged role in the killing of Lucia Bertrand inside a home on Vance Avenue in Texas City on the night of Aug. 8. TEEN MURDERED: High school student gunned down identified Prosecutors presented a psychiatric evaluation of Esquivel as evidence that she "did not possess any intellectual deficits 0r naivete as compared to other 17 year old adolescents," according to court records. Esquivel is being held at Galveston County jail, with bail set at $250,000. A trial date has not yet been set. Esquivel and her boyfriend, Cory McCray, 19, were arrested by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers on Aug. 15 after they were found on Interstate 37 between McCoy and Pleasanton in Atascosa County, south of San Antonio. A Galveston County grand jury indicted McCray on a murder charge on Oct. 23. He is currently in custody in Galveston County jail with bail set at $250,000. McCray's co-defendant, Amy Lynne Medina, 37, identified as Esquivel's mother, was arrested on Aug. 10, the day after Bertrand was found, and also charged with murder in Bertrand's death. Medina is also being held at Galveston County jail, with her bail set at $251,603. Police said Medina orchestrated a plan to rob and kill Bertrand as revenge for Bertrand having used Medina's bank card without permission. Relatives and acquaintances interviewed by Texas City Police detectives, including Esquivel's biological father, Daniel Reyes, say Medina plotted with McCray and Esquivel to break into Bertrand's home on the night of Aug. 8 while Medina was there with her to give the appearance of a home invasion. When Medina was arrested by police after Bertrand's death, she admitted to threatening Bertrand after finding that she had used her bank card to withdraw money, and told investigators she was in the home when Bertrand was killed. Medina told investigators that while she was laying on Bertrand's couch, two people dressed in black kicked in the door and attacked the two women, according to the complaint. Medina said the two attackers beat her and Bertrand, but that she eventually stopped fighting them while Bertrand continued fighting until the attackers killed her. Reyes, Esquivel's father, told investigators that Esquivel admitted to him that they killed Bertrand at Medina's behest, according to the police complaint. Reyes said that Esquivel told him she stabbed Bertrand while McCray beat her with a pistol. Esquivel told Reyes they were wearing gloves during the attack. Reyes told police that Esquivel and Reyes then fled Texas City and spent the night at a hotel in Houston before eventually being apprehended near San Antonio. Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com The city of Montgomery is working to finalize an animal ordinance that will limit the number of animals on a property. The city already has existing ordinances that address odor, barking, animal cruelty and sanitation that require citizens to make a formal complaint. However, the city does not have an ordinance that places a limit on the maximum number of animals on a property. The issue was prompted by an unusual circumstance. Montgomery Police have made four to five investigative trips to a residence in the 600 block of Worsham where a homeowner has more than 24 dogs on a residential property. While one neighbor had nuisance concerns, the homeowner complained about harassment due to the multiple police visits that found no violations. This has been going on and we need to get some resolution, Mayor Sara Countryman said in a previous report. City Administrator Jack Yates has outlined the various options the city can take to draft an animal ordinance that could limit the number of animals on a property. The city has received public input on the issue. Group A would provide a short answer to the citys current animal issue. It places a maximum number of dogs and cats on a piece of property at six, six chickens for less than one half of an acre, and 12 chickens for more than an acre with a one rooster maximum. Group B is a more expansive option of all the animals, which goes into the horses and cattle on the property and would require a bit more enforcement. Much of Group B is already covered by state law, Yates said. Group C was an ordinance prepared and presented three years ago, but was never implemented for a reason that was not shared. It also more expansive, including on the number of livestock and acreage of land there needs to be for cattle, horses, and mules. Yates said five comments were received from the public. Three of the five wanted option B more complete animal ordinance two wanted option B which is less comprehensive of the ordinance, he said. Yates is drafting the ordinance for the more-comprehensive Group B and the city council advised Yates to update the ordinance based on a recommendation from the public to provide one set of rules for a more densely part of the area and another set for a large acreage area, which was not originally part of the draft option. The council has directed Yates to work with the city attorney to complete the draft of the ordinance and post it to the citys website as soon as possible for additional public input. The public input will be considered by the council Dec. 11, he said. mellsworth@hcnonline.com An updated vote count in two razor-thin Texas House races yielded mixed results for a pair of Harris County Republican incumbents Wednesday night. Fresh tallies of absentee and provisional ballots narrowed state Rep. Dwayne Bohacs margin over Democrat Adam Milasincic to 47 votes, while incumbent Republican Mike Schofield of Katy trailed Democratic challenger Gina Calanni by 113 votes. Harris County Commissioners Court will make the results official Friday, according to the county clerks office. Candidates may request a recount if they trail by less than 10 percent of the total number of votes received by the leading candidate, meaning both races are well within the requisite margin. SO FAR, SO GOOD: Houston Republican Dan Crenshaw's next mission: 'Make conservatism cool.' As it stood Thursday, Bohacs lead amounted to less than one tenth of a percent, out of 48,417 votes. Calanni led by a more comfortable .17 percent, among 66,675 votes. Election night returns had showed Bohac leading by 72 votes and Calanni up by 97 votes. Either way, the results mark a dramatic shift from 2014, when Schofield and Bohac, R-Houston, last faced Democratic foes. That year, the two Republicans won by more than 30 percentage points, each roughly doubling their opponents vote totals. Schofield faced a libertarian in 2016 and Bohac ran unopposed. This year, libertarian Daniel Arevalo collected 1,106 votes in Schofields House District 132, nearly 10 times the margin separating Calanni and the incumbent. Each district included several hundred under votes, meaning voters cast ballots for other contests but did not check the box for any candidate in the two Texas House races. House District 132 runs from Katy to Cypress in west Harris County, bordered to the east by Bohacs District 138, which stretches to the 610 West Loop. Schofield first was elected to the Texas House in 2014, while Bohac has held his seat since being elected in 2002. If Commissioners Court certifies the totals without flipping the results, House Republicans would outnumber Democrats 83 seats to 67 in the 2019 legislative session, barring recounts and two other unsettled races. In the 108th House District, Democrat Joanna Cattanach requested a recount Wednesday, the Dallas Morning News reported. She trailed incumbent state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas, by 221 votes, according to Dallas County elections results updated Wednesday. In Collin County, state Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, led Democrat Sharon Hirsch by 391 votes in the 66th House District, according to the countys elections site. Hirsch had not conceded as of Thursday morning. jasper.scherer@chron.com Authorities investigated several narcotics-related incidents recently, including one involving a female student found in possession of a moderate amount of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana Nov. 5 at Pearland High School, 3775 Main St., police said. Police arrested a Pearland man, 23, for marijuana possession Nov. 5 in the 1900 block of Hillhouse Road. A Pearland man, 30, was taken into custody for marijuana possession Nov. 6 in the 1100 block of Main Street, police said. Police arrested a 30-year-old Stafford man for possession of a controlled substance and failure to identify as a fugitive Nov. 6 in the 1000 block of Main Street. A Vidor woman, 32, was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance Nov. 6 in the 2300 block of Main Street, police said. A Manvel man, 27, was arrested for marijuana possession Nov. 6 in the 4000 block of East Walnut Street, police said. Police arrested a 22-year-old Pearland man for possession of a controlled substance Nov. 7 in the 2900 block of Kingsley Drive. A Fresno man, 25, was arrested for marijuana possession and an outstanding warrant Nov. 8 in the 15400 block of Texas 288, police said. An Alvin man, 30, was arrested for marijuana possession and a warrant Nov. 9 in the 4700 block of Main Street, police said. Police took a 17-year-old Pearland man into custody for marijuana possession Nov. 10 in the 3200 block of Business Center Drive. Police arrested a Pearland man, 23, for marijuana possession Nov. 10 in the 3200 block of McLean Road. A 19-year-old Katy man was arrested for marijuana possession Nov. 11 in the 2600 block of Reid Boulevard, police said. Assault Family violence was reported Nov. 5 in the 2900 block of Whispering Winds Drive, police said. A Houston man, 31, received a citation for pushing a fellow employee Nov. 5 in the 2600 block of Broadway Street, police said. A student assaulted and threatened a teacher with serious bodily injury Nov. 6 in the 2500 block of Woody Road, police said. A male suspect assaulted a victim Nov. 6 in the 5400 block of Broadway Street, police said. Police filed a sexual assault report after students told administration about their concern for a classmate Nov. 6 in the 2200 block of North Galveston Avenue. A Pearland man, 38, received a citation for family violence Nov. 7 in the 1100 block of Glenda Street, police said. Assault was reported Nov. 7 in the 2200 block of Business Center Drive, police said. Assault, family violence was reported Nov. 8 in the 2500 block of Business Center Drive, police said. Police arrested a Pearland man, 20, for assault, family violence Nov. 11 in the 2500 block of Longwood Drive. Threats, harassment A male suspect harassed a female student between Sept. 10 and Nov. 6, according to a police report filed Nov. 6 in the 2200 block of North Galveston Avenue. A student told other students he planned to bring an AR-15 to school and shoot them, according to a police report filed Nov. 6 in the 2200 block of North Galveston Avenue. A student used his band instrument case to simulate shooting fellow students Nov. 7 in the 3300 block of Manvel Road, police said. A student took out a knife on a school bus Nov. 6 and told other students he was going to kill the bus driver, according to a police report filed Nov. 7 in the 2500 block of Woody Road. An 8-year-old student threatened a classroom Nov. 8 in the 2400 block of Shadybend Drive, police said. A woman told police she believed her husband made indirect threats to harm her, according to a report filed Nov. 9 in the 2200 block of Drake Falls Drive. Police filed a terroristic threat report Nov. 9 in the 3300 block of Manvel Road. Fraud, forgery Two credit card accounts were opened fraudulently between Nov. 1 and Nov. 5, according to a police report filed Nov. 5 in the 1300 block of Danielle Lane. A complainant believes a cashier video-recorded his debit card PIN and later tried to make four unauthorized withdrawals between Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, according to a police report filed Nov. 5 in the 10100 block of Broadway Street. A complainants debit card information was used to make unauthorized purchases between Nov. 3 and Nov. 6, according to a police report filed Nov. 6 in the 1800 block of Broadway Street. An unknown female suspect passed a counterfeit $10 bill between Oct. 29 and Nov. 6, according to a police report filed Nov. 6 in the 11600 block of Shadow Creek Parkway. Police filed a credit or debit card abuse report Nov. 6 in the 2800 block of Tranquility Lakes Boulevard. Credit card abuse occurred Oct. 26, according to a police report filed Nov. 6 in the 3000 block of Country Club Drive. Police filed a forgery report Nov. 7 in the 3100 block of Broadway Street. A complainant told police a business check he printed and mailed to a business was stolen and deposited into an unknown bank account between Oct. 23 and Oct. 31, according to a Nov. 7 report. A counterfeit dollar bill was used to make a purchase Nov. 8 at a Pearland middle school in the 3100 block of Manvel Road, police said. A complainant received a $20,709.29 check in the mail, deposited it into his bank account and transferred $14,573.82 into another bank account before learning the check was counterfeit, according to a police report filed Nov. 8 in the 2100 block of Crestwind Court. Identity fraud occurred between Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, according to a police report filed Nov. 9 in the 10200 block of Erin Glen Way. A complainant received a counterfeit check Nov. 9 at his residence in the 3900 block of Quail Run Drive for an item he was selling online, police said. An unknown suspect used a credit card for fraudulent purchases and refunds Oct. 3 in the 5000 block of Broadway Street, police said. A complainant told police someone tried to open accounts in her name between Oct. 24 and Nov. 10, according to a report filed Nov. 10 in the 2600 block of Sandstone Creek Drive. A complainants identity was used to open accounts fraudulently, according to a police report filed Nov. 10 in the 4100 block of Merlet Drive. A complainant discovered fraudulent charges on his bank account between Sept. 5 and Nov. 8, according to a police report filed Nov. 11 in the 1000 block of Sussex Trail. A complainant told police an unknown person acquired a loan using her identity, according to a report filed Nov. 11 in the 500 block of Silver Leaf Court. Theft Police filed a theft report Nov. 5 in the 3700 block of Helen Lane. A female suspect stole cash Nov. 6 from a store in the 10100 block of Broadway Street, police said. Theft of motor vehicle parts or accessories was reported Nov. 6 in the 3200 block of South Sam Houston Parkway East, police said. Police filed a shoplifting report Nov. 6 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street. Attempted theft of a motor vehicle was reported Nov. 7 in the 2700 block of Elm Hollow Street, police said. Police filed a motor vehicle theft report Nov. 7 in the 2300 block of Da Vinci Drive. Police arrested three Beaumont women, 21, 22 and 26, for shoplifting Nov. 7 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street. The 21-year-old woman also was charged with failure to identify, and the 22-year-old woman had a Harris County Sheriffs Office warrant, police said. Vehicle theft was reported Nov. 7 in the 2600 block of Pearland Parkway, police said. A vehicle was stolen between June 1 and June 30 in the 3000 block of Country Club Drive, according to a Nov. 7 police report. Theft occurred between Oct. 26 and Oct. 30 in the 11900 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, according to a Nov. 8 police report. Male suspects forced entry into a glass case and removed electronics Nov. 7 in the 1700 block of Broadway Street, according to a Nov. 8 police report. Shoplifting was attempted Oct. 9 in the 1900 block of Main Street, according to a Nov. 9 police report. Police filed a theft report Nov. 9 in the 9600 block of Broadway Street. A vehicle with stolen property related to a Houston Police Department investigation was seized Nov. 9 in the 7900 block of Broadway Street. Theft occurred between March 1 and Nov. 9, according to a police report filed Nov. 9 in the 11400 block of Easton Springs Drive. Two male suspects committed shoplifting Nov. 9 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street, police said. A complainant told police he unknowingly traded his vehicle for a stolen vehicle July 10, according to a report filed Nov. 10 in the 11100 block of Shadow Creek Parkway. Unknown suspects committed organized retail theft Nov. 5 in the 2700 block of Broadway Street, according to a Nov. 10 police report. Police arrested a Houston man, 30, for theft Nov. 11 in the 6500 block of Broadway Street. A 26-year-old Toledo, Ohio, woman also was arrested for theft, failure to identify as a fugitive and a Harris County warrant, police said. Police took a Houston woman, 23, into custody for shoplifting Nov. 11 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street. Burglary An unknown person burglarized a vehicle Nov. 5 in the 1800 block of Pearland Parkway, police said. Motor vehicle burglary was reported Nov. 7 in the 1600 block of Cypress Hollow Street, police said. Burglary of a habitation occurred Nov. 8 in the 2500 block of Business Center Drive, police said. Evading Police took a La Porte man, 21, into custody for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, evading arrest or detention and a parole violation warrant Nov. 11 in the 2100 block of Pearland Parkway. A Houston woman and man, both 22, were arrested for evading in the 1900 block of Pleasant Springs Lane, police said. Criminal activity Criminal activity was reported Nov. 7 in the 4500 block of South Magnolia Elms Drive, police said. Driving while intoxicated Police took a Pearland man, 45, into custody for DWI Nov. 8 in the 2800 block of Business Center Drive. A Houston man, 34, was arrested for DWI Nov. 10 in the 12800 block of Broadway Street, police said. Police arrested a 26-year-old Houston man for DWI Nov. 10 in the 1800 block of Main Street. Police arrested a Pearland man, 47, for DWI with a passenger under the age of 15 Nov. 11 in the 4000 block of Magnolia Road. A 36-year-old Pearland woman was arrested for public intoxication, police said. A Pearland man, 36, was taken into custody for DWI Nov. 11 in the 3000 block of Broadway Street, police said. Public intoxication Police arrested a Pearland man, 29, for public intoxication after a verbal disturbance Nov. 7 in the 4800 block of Campbell Drive. A Pearland man, 36, was arrested for public intoxication Nov. 8 in the 4200 block of West Walnut Street, police said. Police arrested a 49-year-old Baltimore, Maryland, man for public intoxication Nov. 8 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street. Criminal trespass Police took a Pasadena woman, 29, into custody for criminal trespass of a habitation and resisting transport Nov. 8 in the 1800 block of Long Oak Drive. Criminal trespass was reported Nov. 9 in the 11600 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said. Police issued two criminal trespass warnings Nov. 9 in the 2700 block of Leroy Street. Criminal mischief Police investigated two reports of vehicle window damage Nov. 5 in the 2800 block of Tranquility Lakes Boulevard. Criminal trespass was reported Nov. 5 in the 1900 block of Cripple Creek Lane, police said. Police filed a criminal mischief report Nov. 6 in the 3100 block of Manvel Road. Criminal mischief occurred between Nov. 2 and Nov. 5 in the 2900 block of Broadway Bend, according to a Nov. 7 police report. A criminal mischief report was filed Nov. 7 in the 11500 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said. Criminal mischief was reported Nov. 9 in the 3400 block of Windcrest Court, police said. Police filed a criminal mischief report Nov. 11 in the 3500 block of Broadway Street. Criminal mischief was reported Nov. 11 in the 3500 block of Broadway Street, police said. Failure to identify Police took a Pearland man, 34, into custody for Seabrook and Dickinson warrants and failure to identify as a fugitive after a traffic stop Nov. 8 in the 3400 block of Broadway Street. Disorderly conduct Police arrested a Pearland man, 43, for disorderly conduct Nov. 10 in the 2400 block of Lynn Drive. A 19-year-old Friendswood man was arrested for disorderly conduct Nov. 10 in the 1500 block of Meadow Wood Drive, police said. A weapons incident occurred Nov. 11 in the 12300 block of Evening Bay Drive, police said. Traffic Police arrested a Houston man, 55, for driving while license invalid Nov. 5 in the 8400 block of Broadway Street. Police took a Houston man, 38, into custody for driving while license invalid, failure to maintain financial responsibility and a Stafford warrant Nov. 7 in the 10700 block of Broadway Street. A Bay City woman, 30, was arrested for driving while license invalid Nov. 10 in the 16700 block of Texas 288, police said. The board of directors of Visit The Woodlands on Wednesday agreed to a $25,000 advertising partnership with the Inspire Film Festival. Officials with The Inspire Film Festival are currently in the planning stages for the festivals third iteration and is set to come to several locations around the Township from Feb. 14-18. The festival was a result of founder Jane Minarovics interest in documentaries that inspire viewers and initiate conversations about deeper topics. We at Inspire thank you so much for considering us, Minarovic said at the meeting. The board voted 6-0 board members Brian Boniface and Fred Domenick were absent to approve the plan for a third year. The Inspire Film Festival, Minarovic said, not only provides the planning committee with more resources to then pass on to special guests and the community, but helps with branding and promotion of the township as a tourist attraction. New this year at the festival are several elements and changes: another theater in the township event center will be utilized to accommodate the growing number of guests to the festival, there will be more panel discussions, a possible partnership with the Conroe Independent School District is being explored to bring students to screenings and a tent and adjoining food truck pad is slated, where guests can gather and decompress in between screenings. Its a place where the community can come together and discuss what theyve seen, Minarovic said of the food truck area. An especially big draw for The Woodlands, Minarovic said, will be the expected national and international attention brought by a screening of The Interpreters, a documentary on American soldiers and their assigned interpreters who helped them navigate the language and customs of Iraq and Afghanistan. Interpreters are incredible, loyal people and they (serve) along our soldiers, Minarovic said. Its amazing we dont know more about this story. The Inspire Film Festivals 2019 theme is Game Changers, and the partnership with Visit The Woodlands puts them that much closer to doing that, said Visit The Woodlands Chairman Bruce Rieser. I think its great, Rieser said. Im looking forward to the festival and it just keeps getting bigger. Im glad to be a part of it. Conference sponsorship The Visit The Woodlands board also approved a $15,000 incentive fund request from the Universities Space Research Association for their 50th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference scheduled for March 2019. The conference has been held in The Woodlands for a few years, Director of Sales Josie Lewis said, and covers advances in astronomy, geology, geophysics and geochemistry. The incentive would replace the $15,000 sponsorship that Visit The Woodlands has contributed in the past the 2018 conference took up 2,000 hotel rooms and brought in about $400,000 in hotel revenue. The incentive, Lewis said, is likely to spur more spending in the township by attendees to the conference. It seems like a pretty good investment to me, Rieser said. Website and meeting updates Visit The Woodlands is actively exploring a new format for its website, staff reported. An upgrade would include a new mobile user interface, a hotel booking engine and backend analytics for the staff to examine what is working and what is not. The board approved the schedule for Visit The Woodlands monthly meetings in 2019 and toyed with the idea of moving the meetings to later in the afternoon than the standard 11:30 a.m. start times, but took no acton to that effect. mrincon@chron.com Ratio Christi Chapter Sues Because University Demands Non-Christians be Allowed to Lead Christian Student Group ADF attorneys representing Ratio Christi challenge policy limiting students' free speech, association. INDIAN TRAIL, N.C., Nov. 15, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance 's chapter at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs filed a federal lawsuit yesterday against the University for forcing the group to accept members that don't support the group's purpose and officers that don't share the group's beliefs. The university refused to grant Ratio Christi registered status because it only allows those who share and personally hold beliefs consistent with the group's mission to serve as its leaders. As a Christian apologetics organization, Ratio Christi seeks to defend the Christian faith and explain how the Bible applies to various current cultural, ethical, and political issues. Its mission is also to equip students and faculty to give historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus Christ. Its 150-160 chapters at colleges and universities in the U.S. and internationally provide a friendly venue for atheists, skeptics, and adherents to any religion to investigate the claims of Christianity, discuss religious beliefs, and seek truth without fearing reprisal. Any student can attend Ratio Christi events. Any student of any faith or no faith can become a member of Ratio Christi, as long as he or she supports the group's purpose. But Ratio Christi requires that those who lead the Christian organization must share its religious beliefs. As a result, the university has denied it registered status, limiting its access to funding, meeting and event space, and administrative support. "Like any other student group at a public university, religious student organizations should be free to choose their leaders without the government meddling," said ADF Senior Counsel Travis Barham. "It would be absurd for the university to require the vegan student group to appoint a meat-lover as its president. Likewise, the University of Colorado shouldn't force Christian students to let atheists or other non-Christians lead their Bible studies in order to become a registered club." The lawsuit, Ratio Christi at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs v. Sharkey, challenges the university's policy which allows university officials to deny registered status to a group because the organization selects leaders that share and will advocate for the organization's religious or political philosophy. These policies also give school officials unlimited discretion to approve or reject student groups, even groups that meet all the published requirements. In addition, the lawsuit identifies ways in which the University of Colorado has treated Ratio Christi differently than other groups. For example, non-religious groups are allowed to select members who support their purposes. And the university allows fraternities that admit only men and sororities that admit only women to continue as registered student organizations, in contradiction to the university's policy against "discriminating based on sex." "Despite claiming inclusiveness and diversity as its core values, the University of Colorado is failing to foster real diversity of thought and is, instead, discriminating against a Christian group based on its beliefs," said ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom. "Today's university students will be tomorrow's legislators, judges, university presidents, and voters. The University of Colorado is teaching students the wrong message: that government can dictate who can lead certain student groups. It's vital that public universities model the First Amendment values they are supposed to be teaching to students." Last week, a Goodwill employee sifted through a large bin of donated clothes when they spotted a cute toy snake with bright-yellow scaly skin and a retractable tongue. Only it wasn't a toy. It was a 6-year-old boa constrictor named Toki that somehow made its way into a donation bin at the Goodwill Fort Worth Outlet. RELATED: Hard work pays off as Goodwill Industries reaches milestone The worker who found the snake initially thought it was some kind of toy, until they looked closer at the slithering tongue, said Rosemary Cruz, the vice president for donated goods and retail at the Fort Worth outlet. "She was like 'This cannot be happening. Is this a prank?'," Cruz said of the employee's reaction. The snake has since been reunited with its owner, 22-year-old Keller man Austin Pair, who at the time said the boa had been missing from his home for about four and a half months. Pair, who shared a house with four roommates in Saginaw, said the snake had been missing since he returned from vacation with his parents back in May. He couldn't find it after frantically searching the area, he said. "We tore every single thing apart and nothing," Pair told Goodwill workers in a video of the reunion. RELATED: Can you spot this snake before it bites you? Then, last month, Pair donated two couches and some clothing to the Goodwill in Saginaw. He and Cruz both guess that the snake made a home in a couch as it made its way to the Fort Worth outpost. The snake may have buried itself in the clothing bin to escape the cold, Cruz said. The worker discovered the snake on Friday, and another Goodwill employee with knowledge of snakes took care of the animal, she said. The owner had learned about the discovery through new reports and social media. "The owner was just ecstatic that he was reunited with his baby," Cruz 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 Preston Landon Marshall, the grandson of the late Houston business tycoon J. Howard Marshall, was found not guilty Wednesday after he took the witness stand and strongly denied head-butting and slapping his estranged wife during a domestic fight last year. Marshall was the star witness in his own defense in a three-day criminal trial that included lavish details of drunken meetings at the Petroleum Club, days at the River Oaks Country Club, exorbitant trips and cash allowances. Marshall conceded that he bit his estranged wife on the face, but he said it was in self-defense because she was biting him during a struggle. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE: Michael Avenatti arrested in LA She bit my hand, the 45-year-old told jurors in his trial on misdemeanor assault charges. I reacted and bit her on the jaw. Marshall, a former director of the libertarian Cato Institute, is an executive with Rusk Capital Management. He is the grandson of J. Howard Marshall, who died here in 1994 at 89. The elder Marshall gained nationwide notoriety after a 14-month marriage to 26-year-old model Anna Nicole Smith. The younger Marshall was involved in the well-publicized and extended lawsuits surrounding his grandfathers estate. Robert Scardino, a member of Marshalls defense team, said the alleged victims story simply did not hold water. There were too many inconsistencies in the complainants statement, the defense lawyer said after the verdict. Obviously the proof didnt reach the level of beyond a reasonable doubt. After the verdict, prosecutors said little besides expressing respect for the jurys decision. We genuinely appreciate their attention to the case and the details, Assistant District Attorney Heather Axline said. Marshall declined to comment. During the trial he explained how the couple, which has a history of pushing and shoving, were involved in a late-night altercation when 43-year-old Anastasia Marshall fell on to their bed and he fell on top of her, hitting her forehead with his forehead. However, prosecutors argued that Marshall came home drunk on May 12, 2017, and turned a verbal altercation into a physical fight. If you start the fight, you cannot claim self-defense, Axline said during closing arguments. He did not fall on her. He head-butted her, not once, not twice, at least three times. Defense lawyers for Marshall told the jury that his wife, a Russian-born immigrant who had been married once before, provoked a fight to get leverage in a divorce. She wants things, and she knows how to go about getting them and shes good at it, attorney Robert Scardino said. From Mother Russia to a multi-millionairess. And she gets complete control of those children. Another defense team member is former Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Charlie Baird, who scoffed at Anastasias story of continual abuse during their nine-year marriage. I dont know how anyone can claim to be abused when they have a $22,000 a-month allowance, Baird told jurors. I dont know how youre abused when youre taking trips to New York, to Moscow, to Disneyland; when youre part of River Oaks Country Club; when you go to the spa everyday. On the night on the fight, the oil and gas executive testified he had been drinking but contended he was not intoxicated when he got home from a dinner at the Petroleum Club. Dr. Beth Flowers, a retired doctor who sat next to him at the dinner, testified that Marshall arrived late and intoxicated to the formal reception for the board members and continued to drink during the evening. He reeked of alcohol, she told the jury about his arrival at 7:45 p.m. His words were slurred, and he could not maintain a coherent conversation. Flowers said Marshall was one of the honorees, and the dinner was postponed for 45 minutes until he arrived. She said he was heading toward the bar in the exclusive club when she left with her husband after the dinner. Marshall testified he came home around midnight and tried to say good night to his two sleeping daughters. It was a school night, he acknowledged, and his wife got upset. They started pushing and shoving each other, Marshall testified. They went to another part of the house and screamed at each other, he said. He said she grabbed his clothes, and he grabbed her hands. They ended up falling against the bed, hitting both of their heads. Then, Marshall said his wife bit him on the hand and he bit her on the face. Then, after Marshall accidentally head-butted her, they stopped fighting, agreed things had gone too far and resolved to go to counseling, he testified. That was on a Thursday night, he said. On Monday morning, she filed for divorce, which is pending. The misdemeanor trial, in visiting Judge Jim Andersons court, began Monday. An online retail company has launched a Lego-style line of toys dubbed "MAGA building blocks." Its first product being sold for $29.95 is an imitation of Donald Trump's promised border wall. It features a grey brick wall and a toy figure resembling the 45th president. To sell pre-orders of the toy, the Conservative online retail site warns of "a mob of 10,000 Central American migrants" heading towards El Paso, Texas. "The wall must be built," reads the toy's description at one point. "The wall will keep America safe and strong. Only then will we be able to help those in need." Keep and Bear, the makers of the toy, boast that it's a great Christmas gift for children. According to the New York Post, Keep and Bear originally began as a marketing effort for a documentary film about gun rights. The conservative website sells an assortment of other pro-Trump products as well. LATEST: Lawsuit seeks to block Trump from denying asylum to migrants crossing the border illegally News of the soon-to-sell toy set has already sparked backlash on social media, with many critics calling the Lego-style set racist. It's not the only building block set being sold by Keep and Bear. Another set features a figurine of Hillarly Clinton in an orange jumpsuit being "sent to prison for her many crimes!" 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. With the 86th Texas Legislature convening in January, lawmakers have filed hundreds of bills to debate and discuss during the upcoming session. So far, the bills range in everything from an increased minimum wage, LGBTQ rights, and medical marijuana. WASHINGTON While federal troops pour into Texas, border Congressman Henry Cuellar is raising the alarm over the deployment of 575 Texas U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to California to meet a caravan of asylum seekers from Central America who have started arriving in the border city of Tijuana. The move comes after President Donald Trump deployed thousands of active-duty troops to Texas and other border states ahead of last week's midterm elections, a move that critics have derided as a political stunt. Cuellar said he was told that the CBP deployment will be a temporary response to a migrant caravan that appears to be headed toward ports of entry in San Diego. Amid growing deployments of federal troops in the Rio Grande Valley, Cuellar noted a week ago that the immigrant caravan was headed for California, not Texas. INCOMING: Maps, charts show how drugs make their way across the border into Texas, US Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who has been critical of Trump's proposed border wall, renewed his concerns with CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan on Wednesday, the same day Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen met with federal troops in South Texas. "I made the Commissioner aware of my concerns regarding the potential impacts to Texas land ports," Cuellar said in a statement. "Commissioner McAleenan has assured me that CBP will do everything possible to minimize the impacts to trade, retail, tourism, and Paisano seasonal traffic at all Texas port of entries." Altogether, the Pentagon has said that approximately 5,900 troops have been deployed to the U.S. border with Mexico, and that significant increases are not expected. Trump announced before the midterms that he would deploy as many as 10,000 to 15,000 troops, a decision that critics denounced as a ploy to energize his conservative base in Texas and other states. Joining the critics was U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, who called the troop deployments a "stunt" on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Wednesday. Flake, who is retiring from the Senate, noted that many of the troops are not actually deployed at the border, but 90 miles away. "So I think you can't call it anything but a stunt here," Flake said. "And it's unfortunate that they're going to be away from family during the holidays coming up, and we just don't know what really for." Mattis, in remarks to the troops at Base Camp Donna on Wednesday, defended the deployment as "great training." He also told the soldiers to ignore news coverage of the operation or they would "go nuts." GOING TO COURT: Lawsuit seeks to block Trump from denying asylum to migrants crossing the border illegally Cuellar said he remains concerned that amid the build-up of federal troops in Texas, the reduction of CBP officers could hamper legitimate border traffic and commerce. "As a representative of the border, I understand the necessity behind sending additional personnel to California on a temporary basis, to make certain that CBP has the capacity to provide intending migrants with access to the asylum process in an orderly manner," Cuellar said. "However, we need to ensure that this movement does not adversely impact our economy and security. In Texas, especially during the holidays, we see a high influx of tourism and flow of commerce that ultimately mobilizes our economy. Additionally, the State of Texas conducts over half of all trade between the U.S. and Mexico." AUSTIN Six women are suing the Catholic Diocese of Austin alleging the church took no action after they reported that a priest sexually abused and harassed them for years. In the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Travis County state district court, the six unnamed women claim the Rev. Isidore Ndagizimana hugged, touched and groped them while he was at Austins St. Thomas More church. They claim he would hold women against their will and engaged in sexual propositions, comments and advances. Some of the women claim they reported the abuse to the Diocese but were silenced. The lawsuit was filed against Ndagizimana, the diocese and Bishop Joe S. Vasquez. The diocese said it is currently reviewing the lawsuit, but that is is difficult to respond to allegations because of the lack of specificity in the lawsuit. A response at this time would require the diocese to make assumptions about the allegations and the unnamed plaintiffs, said Christian Gonzalez, a spokesman for the diocese. Out of respect for all those involved, the diocese will respond to the allegations in its answer to the court after it is formally served with the lawsuit and had a reasonable time to investigate the claims. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas Catholic dioceses to release lists of priests accused of sex abuse Gonzalez said Ndagizimana has been on leave since August. Vasquez, the bishop overseeing the St. Thomas More church, was attending a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Upon being notified of the lawsuits filing, Bishop Vasquez authorized the extension of an invitation to meet with the unnamed plaintiffs, Gonzalez said. He also extends his prayers for the unnamed plaintiffs. Some of the women say that when they first reported the abuse, Vasquez told them to trust the diocese and have patience. The suit claims the diocese gave Ndagizimana some vacation time, but that he returned to work as the churchs pastor within a few weeks. At one point, Ndagizimana also attended therapy in Houston, but returned to the parish. Ultimately, the lawsuit claims, the diocese and the bishop decided to send Ndagizimana away for short counseling and then move him to St. Marys church in Brenham. But that response is no solution; it simply starts the abusive process over again, the lawsuit reads. The legal filing comes as allegations of sexual abuse continue to roil the church. In Texas, all 15 dioceses said they will release the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. The list, which is expected by Jan. 31, is part of the churchs effort to protect children and promote health and restoration of trust. Sean Breen, the attorney representing the six Austin women, said thats not enough because the church should also disclose credible accusations of sexual abuse of adults. A victim is a victim and both are bad, Breen said in an interview. The suit describes several instances of alleged abuse after Ndagizimana was appointed to the church in 2012. At least three women claim Ndagizimana groped them or made other unwanted advances while taking their confession. In one instance, a woman claimed that Ndagizimana forced her head into his groin area as she knelt for absolution. The filing does not include dates of the alleged abuse. The plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million in damages. Ten years after the great financial crisis, theres a sense that Wall Streets demons have been vanquished, and the Trump administration is trying to push the pendulum in a deregulatory direction. But an obscure fight buried in the bowels of the derivatives market shows why this complacency is dangerous. Some Wall Street experts see it as a possible harbinger of the next financial crash. The fight involves credit-default swaps, which provide a way for traders to insure themselves against the danger that a major institution wont repay its debts. In principle, these swaps are a healthy feature of the financial system. If Bank A fears Bank B might not repay it, then Bank A can buy credit-default insurance rather than dumping Bank Bs bonds and pulling loans. This avoids choking off Bank Bs access to credit, which in turn would force Bank B to cut lending to businesses and consumers, spreading the damage. To manage this insurance market, a 15-member determinations committee of banks and investors adjudicates the contracts. Its first job is to decide when Bank B has technically defaulted, just as home insurance relies on the police to certify that a robbery has taken place. Next, the committees role is to decide which bundles of debt are covered by the insurance. In the case of a robbery, the insurance company will check whether you really did insure your aunties antique jewelry. In the case of a complex bankruptcy, bonds issued by some parts of a bankrupt borrower may be covered by a credit-default swap, while bonds issued by other subsidiaries may not. Which leads us to the present worry. Last month, the retail giant Sears filed for bankruptcy, signaling that banks and hedge funds that had written credit-default insurance should get ready to pay out. But the real shock came last week, when intercompany notes - that is, debt that one part of Sears owes to another - showed up on a list of bonds that could be counted as insured. The notes got there because Sears asked that they should be included. If they remain, this would by some accounts be the first time that inside debt has been eligible for coverage by credit-default insurance. Unless the expert committee blocks use of the notes at a meeting Thursday, the $11 trillion credit-default market may become a ticking time bomb. Why? A company can secretly create intercompany notes in unlimited amounts at no cost to itself: Subsidiary A lends $100 million to Subsidiary B, which promptly lends $100 million back. If this shadowy confetti can be used to make a claim on credit-default insurance, the job of writing that insurance becomes impossible. A home insurer wont cover your house without asking about its contents. If you scribbled IOUs between you, your spouse and the chihuahua, and the courts upheld your right to large but unspecified payouts in the event of robbery, the home-insurance market would collapse. It gets worse. Suppose Bank A is worried about Bank Bs stability and buys credit-default insurance to cover itself. For further protection, Bank A demands that Bank B pledges additional collateral to secure Bank As loans. But now Bank B turns the tables on its tormentor. Seeing that Bank As credit-default insurance covers bonds issued by a particular Bank B entity, B threatens to use intercompany notes to create a so-called succession event whereby it shuffles its debts to a different part of its empire, rendering As insurance worthless. Rattled by this prospect, Bank A backs off its demand for more collateral and is left to contemplate the reality that credit-default insurance provides no real protection. Now consider the next domino. Because Bank As worries about Bank Bs stability are reasonable, Banks C through Z have also bought credit-default swaps to protect themselves. Pretty soon the word gets out that this insurance can be rendered worthless, and panic quickly mounts. Regulators demand that banks raise more capital to make up for the loss of effective default insurance, but with every bank scrambling to raise capital simultaneously, its cost shoots up. At a minimum, banks jack up the cost of loans to everyone from small businesses to home buyers. At a maximum, the freeze in an $11 trillion market creates another Lehman moment. Financial crises often begin with products that seemed reasonable at the outset: special mortgages for borrowers with weak credit, loans to promising emerging markets. Credit-default swaps are benign in principle; indeed, regulators encourage banks to buy them as protection from shocks. But the road leading off the cliff is paved with excellent intentions. If the expert committee makes the wrong call on Thursday, there is a disquieting possibility that the cliff may be in sight. Mallaby, author of The Man Who Knew: The Life & Times of Alan Greenspan, is the Paul A. Volcker senior fellow for international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributing columnist for The Post. In ancient Rome, the gates of hell were always open - a wise rendering of the inferno. The gates of hell are open night and day; smooth the descent, and easy is the way, the poet Virgils oracle tells his hero Aeneas, But to return, and view the cheerful skies - in this the task and mighty labor lies. For most, the effort of escape was too extreme - though an exemplary soul, such as Aeneas, could sometimes make it back to the land of the living, if they possessed appropriate courage and willpower. How little the Eternal City changes. Contemporary Rome now finds itself embroiled in a hell much of its own making, and its gates are wide open - if anyone has the moral fortitude to simply walk out. The events at this weeks meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore havent given much cause for confidence. The main subject of the convention was set to be the sex-abuse crisis, which has roiled the church anew since this summers revelations concerning Pennsylvania and disgraced Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The bishops had planned to vote on concrete measures to respond to the abuse crisis, but Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the conference president, was informed the night before the meeting that the Vatican had decreed there would be no such vote. Instead, the Vatican directed American bishops to await the worldwide meeting of church leaders set for February in Rome. Why? Some have speculated it saw canonical problems in the text; others have suggested that the proposals themselves were somehow deficient. If the trouble with the bishops resolutions were obvious and objective, they certainly didnt seem so to several American bishops, who continued agitating for the reforms even after the ruling was handed down. Maybe they realized that the effect of the sudden intervention was to instantaneously deflate a moment that some lay Catholics had dared look forward to. Dont stagnate [the reform process], or slow it down, Francesco Cesareo, chairman of the National Review Board monitoring bishops progress on the sex-abuse crisis, warned, adding that, if the process were to be dragged out and delayed, I fear for the future of our church. Fear is as rational a response as any at this point. While some American bishops seethed over the abrupt defanging of their meeting, others defended the actions of their colleagues over the past decades and bristled at the notion of creating so much as a third-party reporting mechanism for bishops suspected of abuse. Still, at least the Americans were addressing the problem itself, rightly or wrongly. The Vatican has remained airily removed since the eruption of disturbing revelations over the summer, with Romes ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, taking time after DiNardos announcement to warn bishops against a temptation on the part of some to relinquish responsibility for reform to others from ourselves, as if we were no longer capable of reforming or trusting ourselves. With Rome at odds with Americas bishops over whether and when to address the crisis concretely, strong trust within the institution was already strained. But what has been inflicted on the trust of ordinary Catholics by this bizarre episode is worse. Since the exposure of the sex-abuse crisis in Boston in 2002, the church has promised to enact real, actionable reforms to not only halt but also resolve the sex-abuse crisis - and some of those efforts have been indisputably successful. But 2002 still did its damage, and what Catholics got by on day-to-day was their own faith that the church to which they entrust themselves was working diligently to bring sexual abuses to a stop and to root out and expel those responsible for aiding and abetting sexual exploitation. What this summer showed us was that prelates responsible for the protection of abusive priests - such as Cardinal Donald Wuerl - were still in positions of high renown, and that at least one - McCarrick - had been allowed to enjoy stations of rank despite a long pattern of well-known, credible allegations of sexual abuse. It wasnt just that such actions were terrible that left Catholics reeling; it was the fact that the church had promised everything was being done to stop those exact offenses from happening again. The wind-up and collapse of this convention of bishops feel similar, and its dispiriting for the same reasons. Asking people for their trust is asking them to put their hearts on the line - to suspend cynicism and doubt and suspicion and a thousand other justified, well-earned barriers to faith, and to just believe. This is an exhaustible capacity. It has been drawn upon constantly since 2002, and now, again, the lay faithful are being asked to simply trust that, come a few months from now, things will finally be set aright - for real, this time. Its a lot of hope to demand of a community immersed in the darkness of this crisis, with little to be encouraged by in the political feuds and obscure backbiting of the clergy. Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light, John Milton wrote in Paradise Lost. If some of the lay faithful dont make it through as the scandal grinds on, it will have been their shepherds who abandoned them along the way. Bruenig is an opinion columnist at the Washington Post. Scottish social care charity Cornerstone has criticised workers union Unison for its hostile stance and misleading statements in negotiating a new pay deal for staff. The charity recently offered a new pay deal to workers after it introduced a new initiative which will see some carers taking on management responsibilities. Earlier this month Unison balloted its members employed by the charity, based in Aberdeen, and reported that some 92 per cent had voted to reject the offer. But now the charity has said that it estimates only 3 per cent of its workforce, 66 staff members, actually participated in the ballot. It said this is not representative of Cornerstones workforce and therefore disingenuous of Unison to claim the contrary. Edel Harris, chief executive of Cornerstone, said: Given we are a charity, delivering vital services to the most vulnerable in society in a challenging environment of ever-deepening cuts to public services, these statements by Unison are both misleading and unhelpful. "They have angered many of our employees and, more importantly, raised unnecessary concern among the parents and guardians of those for whom we care, which is unforgivable. "We are bewildered by Unisons hostile stance, particularly when we know they have accepted pay deals with other comparable organisations in the voluntary care sector which are lower than ours." The charity said it believes the current offer on the table is fair and all it can currently afford. However, a meeting between the charity and the union is scheduled for the end of the month where they will attempt to find a compromise. Deal on the table Earlier this month the union called for: A 3 per cent pay rise for staff who are not eligible for the Scottish Living Wage (not 1 per cent as proposed by Cornerstone) Pay for sleep-in shift workers at the Scottish Living Wage, currently 8.75, backdated to 1 April 2018 (not October as proposed by Cornerstone) Pay 12 per hour for all carers undertaking management responsibilities (not 10.10 per hour as proposed by Cornerstone) It has also called for an improvement to sick pay and a commitment to no compulsory redundancies. Earlier this month, CJR embarked on an experiment to convince people to take responsibility for the news they consume: we set up a newsstand in the middle of New York City, took out the real publications, and replaced them with fake titles featuring misinformation pulled from the internet. Then, we sat back and watched how people responded. You can watch a video of our experiment here: First, a bit of background on why we did this. For months, weve been frustrated by the rise of misinformation and the seeming inability of the big tech platforms to do anything about it. Now, Ive become convinced that its not so much they cant address the problem, but that they have simply decided it doesnt fit their business model. But as the news business has tried to shame Facebook and Twitter to address the problem, that problem has only grown, and its effects become more ominousfrom the tides of misinformation consumed by the people behind the mailing of pipe bombs and the massacre at a synagogue in the US to the spreading of lies on WhatsApp in the runup to the presidential election in Brazil. The news audience consumes bad information on the same platforms it encounters real journalism, and the fear is that people are having increasing difficulty differentiating the two. In this fight, real journalism is outgunned. The tedious, time-consuming business of fact-checking and documenting misinformation is dramatically slower, and its dwarfed in size, by the bad information journalism is trying to correct. So the onus has to be on our audience to take some responsibility for what they watch and read. Our readers, watchers, and listeners have to be the first line of misinformation defense. Sign up for CJR 's daily email That was the principle behind starting the newsstand, which we located outside of Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan. Working with TBWA/Chiat/Day, the ad agency, we stocked the newsstand with publications that at first glance seemed real enough, but whose headlines were absurd. Trump claims America should have never given Canada its independence, reads one; Texas now recognized as Mexican state, asserts another. (My favorite: Toddler fight club: Parents outraged after daycare got busted running kids fight club.) Theyre ridiculous in part because theyre pulled out of the dark reaches of the internet and made tangiblesomething you can hold in your hands. Seeing fake news transformed into what could be a real publication on a real newsstand makes us confront the nature of what were spreading. Our hope was that this one-day project would prompt all of us to be more thoughtful, and more careful, about the news and information we are seeing and sharing. All of the false titles we produced contained inserts to instruct people on how to recognize misinformation and, by contrast, to see the importance of real news produced by real journalists. So what did our experiment show? First, it was notable how many people slowed down, read the ridiculous headlines, and kept walking, assuming they were real. That was an unexpected, but telling, commentary on the news environment we live in. A handful of supporters of President Trump stopped to say that all news is fake, anyway. But the majority of people who engaged in the project did so thoughtfully, and were taken aback by the fact that the ridiculous publications we had mocked up were widely shared online. Most said the experiment forced them to think about the news, which was the point. And that is the challenge that this project has posed for all of us: think more carefully about the news you consume and where it comes from. Spend a moment figuring out where the information comes from. And seek out, amid all the noise, real journalism and real facts, as small and as slow as they have become. ICYMI: Facebook rocked by New York Times scoop Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Kyle Pope is the editor in chief and publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review. When Donald Trump slams journalists, which he does chronically and with gusto, Im reminded of the times my father, a deeply conservative Republican, would rant at the TV set when stories aired about urban riots, civil rights protests, campus revolts, and the Vietnam War. To him, the media were a bunch of lefties cheering on dysfunction and bent upon wrecking America. When CBSs anchor Walter Cronkite delivered his usual sign-off, And thats the way it is, Dad would shout: Thats the way it isnt, Walter. Not much has changed. For many Republicans, the existence of a liberal media bias is an established fact, like the temperature at which water freezes. Attacks by Donald Trump, like the one he made last week on CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta, resonate loudly with his base. Scores of opinion polls show that Republicans think journalists favor Democrats and oppose the GOP. A late-2017 Cato Institute survey found that 63 percent of Republicans believe that journalists are an enemy of the American people, reiterating a charge that first came from Trump. ICYMI: Newspaper investigates after veteran reporter accused of making up sources My father didnt want to hear any evidence that contradicted his views, and neither do todays Republican media haters. The hallmark of a prejudice is that you dont have to prove it: You just know it. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The seeds of the Republican media prejudice were planted in the 1950s, when Republican senator Joe McCarthy launched a campaign to discredit the US government as an institution infested with Communist spies. The press dutifully gave McCarthy a platform for his populist conspiracy-mongering until at last CBSs Edward R. Murrow exposed his lies, in a program in 1954. Afterward, in an attack that presaged the Trumpian line, McCarthy lashed out at Murrow, accusing him of Marxist affiliations, which were nonexistent. But McCarthys fervent supporters were nevertheless livid that the media had dragged him down. A decade later, at the 1964 Republican National Convention, former president Dwight Eisenhower got a rousing crowd reception when he condemned sensation-seeking columnists and commentators who couldnt care less about the good of our party. His reference was to media coverage of the extremist views held by the Republican nominee, Barry Goldwater, who called for making Social Security a voluntary program and proposed deploying nuclear weapons in Vietnam. Though Goldwater came across as much more amiable than the ever-seething Trump does today, and he didnt lash out at the press publicly, when he lost the election to Lyndon Johnson by a huge margin, his supporters were indignant at how the press had treated him. A few years later, the discord of the 1960s helped elect Richard Nixon, who ran on a law-and-order platform and championed the forgotten Americans, those who didnt burn their draft cards. The new Republican president had a built-in animosity toward newspeople, which started with stories about the Communist-baiting tactics he deployed as a congressional candidate in the McCarthy period. So he unleashed Vice President Spiro Agnew on the media. Agnew complained about TV networks instant analysis of Nixons addresses on Vietnam and derided journalists (among others) as impudent snobs. He repudiated the notion that reporters were neutral, calling it a mask for their liberal agendas. During the Nixon administration, several conservative watchdog groups formed to monitor the press, notably Accuracy in Media, founded by onetime Federal Reserve economist Reed Irvine. In 1971, TV Guide writer Edith Efron published The News Twisters, a book that purported to demonstrate liberal media distortion in the 1968 presidential contest by analyzing network mentions of the candidates. Unsurprisingly, she concluded that Nixon received a paltry amount of favorable coverage, while Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey had been bathed in positive mentions. Although her methodology was questioned, and Efron was the sole judge of what was positive and negative, the Right convinced itself that it had scientific proof of liberal bias. My father read The News Twisters with relish. As Watergate unfolded, he railed against the news medias coup against Nixon, a man who had won reelection in a landslide. For him and many like him, the media-fueled destruction of Nixon was the last straw. And from that point on, Republican pols have used the bases prejudice against the press to fire up the ideological troops. President George H. W. Bush put out a bumper sticker when he ran for a second term in 1992: Annoy the Media, Re-Elect Bush, it read. In her speech accepting the Republican Partys 2008 vice-presidential nomination, Sarah Palin won a rousing audience reception by saying, Heres a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: Im not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. And in a 2015 debate among Republican presidential candidates, Florida senator Marco Rubio wowed the crowd with his declaration that the Democrats have the ultimate super PAC; its called the mainstream media. ICYMI: What if the right-wing media wins? Academics and others have long sought to understand why this prejudice has taken root in the Republican worldview. Maybe its simply a case of blaming the messenger for bringing bad news. Maybe its to be found in historian Richard Hofstadters essay The Paranoid Style in American Politics. The piece, published in Harpers Magazine in 1964, during the Goldwater campaign, explored a tendency among some on the far right (and the far left) to identify all-powerful subversive conspiracies, usually involving elites. Today, Republican media haters dont want to hear about the bad press Democrats have received, or other evidence contrary to their position. To bolster this selective perspective, the haters frequently skew poll findings. For instance, the Indiana Universitys 2013 survey of journalists found that just 7.1 percent identified as Republican, versus 28.1 percent who identified as Democrats. The Media Research Center, a conservative organization highly critical of the news media, touts that four-to-one ratio as ipso facto evidence of bias. Never mind that 50.2 percent of the journalists surveyed in the Indiana University study self-identified as independents and another 14.6 percent claimed themselves as other.. But regardless of the precise breakdown, nearly all available data indicate that journalists are overwhelmingly not Republican. Does it then follow that they hate Republicans and cant report on the GOP honestly? In a time of increasing partisanship, where more and more Americans believe youre either with us or against us, lack of devotion to the Republican tribes line, as disseminated by programs like Fox & Friends, for instance, is perhaps proof enough of bias. For the media haters, at least, it is. One of the defining characteristics of the right is a sense of grievance. The success of Fox News demonstrates that the mainstream media seldom run stories appealing to this resentment. Most journalists tend to roll their eyes at, say, Foxs perennial year-end coverage of the supposed war on Christmas. The truth is that journalists, particularly at the most prominent outlets, are a highly educated bunch. And they mostly live in cosmopolitan places like New York and Washington, where support is not strong for allowing nativity creches on town-hall lawns and stopping immigrants from crossing the Mexican border. That doesnt make them Democrats shills or hostile to the right. But it might make them view some of its concerns as less important. My father, a combat veteran, believed anti-war protesters were traitors and couldnt understand how the media didnt scorn them as such. Is there any hope that Republican loathing for the media will abate? Perhaps when Trump leaves the presidency, some of the intensity will go out of it. But for GOP pols in general, media-baiting is such a good base rouser that its sure to continue. Heres the odd thing, though: Even though large numbers of Republicans think the news media are the enemy, their politicians, who deal with reporters in person, very often have a more nuanced stance, at least in private. In The Fourth Estate, a four-part documentary program about the New York Times produced this year by Showtime, alt-right firebrand Steve Bannon is shown at a political rally condemning the fake news media, in which he includes the Times. But then he shares a car ride with Times political correspondent Jeremy Peters, and its clear the two have an amicable relationship. Call it hypocritical, call it love-hate, call it pragmatic. For whatever reason, elite Republicansnamely, those in national office and their high-level staffersmostly court the media. Toward the end of his life, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Richard Nixon, the paradigmatic press hater, hosted small gatherings of reporters at his home in Saddle River, New Jersey. Nixon, a brilliant man with deep knowledge of world affairs, wanted to improve his Watergate-tarnished legacy. The dinners he held with reporters were tutorials in which journalists would ask the ex-president about matters of state. After all, Nixon must have considered, the news media set the stage for the history books. So maybe someday, like Nixon, Republicans will tire of press bashing. In the meantime, duck. ICYMI: A reporter asked for 20 years of lottery winner data. After analyzing the records, he noticed something unusual. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Larry Light is the markets editor of Chief Investment Officer. Follow him on Twitter @lightlawrence2. Until only a few weeks ago, Sunny Dhillon was a reporter with The Globe and Mail, Canadas national newspaper. Since 2010, hed worked out of the Vancouver office; in October, shortly after a civic election, he quit. He explained why in a piece for Medium, Journalism While Brown and When to Walk Away: in an article about the new city councilcomposed mostly of white womenDhillon wanted to focus on the lack of diversity (Vancouver is 45 percent Asian) but his bureau chief overruled him. The essay, on the challenges he and other journalists of color experience in predominantly white newsrooms, went viral online, and Dhillon received hundreds of responses. ICYMI: Facebook rocked by shocking New York Times scoop CJR spoke with Dhillon about the feedback to the essay, what he plans to do next, and what advice he would give to someone else in the same position. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. (I worked for The Globe and Mail as a summer staffer in 2016.) What has the reaction been like within and outside of the media industry? Ive heard from a lot of journalists of color, saying that experiences such as mine are very common, both in this country and outside it, in journalism and beyond. I did publish a follow-up piece of some of the responses I received from other journalists of color. Those journalists spoke of being told when and how they could talk about racism, feeling like their concerns about race werent being heard, or leaving jobs for reasons that were similar to the reasons why I left mine. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Its clear this is a widespread issue. How many journalists of color need to share the same stories before we do something meaningful about it? Whats the number that we need to hit? It seems like there could have been dozens, if not hundreds, of reactions that you could have posted in that follow-up. Theres a lot of it that I couldnt share because people didnt want it shared (in a public forum). But they did want to tell me their stories and discuss some of the frustration and real difficulties that theyve encountered. Some of the messages that have come in privately include those from J-school students who are just starting out and have already run into some of these challenges, people who are in the early years of their career, or mid-career and might have left jobs for reasons that are similar to the reason why I left. There are veterans who have really been at or near the top of their newsroom and are still running into the same hurdles I described. The answers have been from all over different career points and ethnic backgrounds. RELATED: Diversity as a Second Job I dont know if that is comforting or really depressing. Its absolutely both. I certainly didnt think I was alone in this. I know enough journalists of color, Ive read enough about the issue to know that this is not just me. At the same time, when the responses started coming in, seeing how many other people felt the same way, there was a level of comfort to it, but then there was also just a point where its just kind of infuriatingthe situations that people are put into and the decisions they sometimes have to make. Its hard to just describe my emotions to the to the responses that came in. It brought up so many different feelings. Was there anything about the responses that surprised you in terms of in detail, candor or even in terms of how far back this problem has existed in Canada and in newsrooms elsewhere? Just how how long it seems like these same issues have been raised without really any fixes. Ive heard from from journalists whove been in the industry for decades and have spoken to facing these same challenges decades ago. There were times when it seemed like we had more momentum in terms of diversifying newsrooms and having more people of color involved in decision-making and in prominent roles. The push for diversity in Canadian journalism specifically has been a very slow one. But at the same time, it is kind of surprising when you hear the first-hand accounts from people on these same struggles for so long and to know there hasnt been progress at the rate that people of color have wanted to see. By all accounts, you did everything right. You got to the major national newspaper, worked in a big city that is seen internationally as being really inclusive and diverse, gained lots of experience. But your piece indicated that all of that still might not provide enough standing to say We really need to cover this and this is really important, and have your editor listen to you. You fight and you fight to raise these other perspectives, to draw attention to blind spots, but how many times are you prepared to do it, and lose, and feel like youre not being taken seriously? How many times do you want to flag something of concern for an editor or an reporter and not see it changed? Or how many times can you ask what your publication is doing about diversity and make suggestions and not get responses that you consider satisfactory? Like I say in the piece, how many battles do you have in you? That is the situation that many journalists have color face and it seems to play into why some journalists of color choose to just leave the business or leave a job altogether. A lot of people are interested in hearing whether youre looking into jobs in other newsrooms; if youve been asked to help start something new, specifically for minority communities; or if youre looking at other opportunities that are not in journalism or media. Honestly, I dont know. [Laughs.] I think what Im going to do is take a bit of time to figure out what I want to pursue. I know what issues are important to me. Im going to try and sort out the best way to get at them. There have been some news outlets that have reached out and people who reached out with freelance opportunities or want me to participate in talks with groups theyre members of. It all played out very suddenlymy decision to leave and then my decision to publish the post. I didnt leave with a grand plan of what would come next. Have you heard from anybody who is currently working at The Globe and Mail, or who used to work there, about what your post said? Formally, I havent heard anything from the Globe. I write in the piece that Im not very optimistic about the push for diversity and Canadian journalism. It seems like weve been talking about the solutions for a very long time and theyre incredibly obvious, but we dont we dont seem to be getting there. I dont know if the Globe is meaningfully considering the point that Ive raised or if they havent given the issue a second thought. After I resigned, the union that represents Globe employees put out a bulletin and called on management to provide an update on recommendations the diversity committee made in 2015. The union said one of the 10 recommendations that the committee made had been acted on, and management needed to be held to account on the other nine. It also said the companys stated commitment to diversity and inclusion is vague. If someone were in a similar position to yours, what advice would you give about what its like to take this kind of jump? Ive thought about that and I dont have a great answer. Its clear to me, from journalists Ive heard from and from other things that Ive read, journalists of color quite often can feel isolated and theyre not supported, heard, or understood. Its a really personal thing to know when youre at the end of your rope. For some people, they might never feel that way. For other people, it might be quicker or it might hit at the same point of their career as me. Its a bit hard to tailor advice. But I would suggest speaking with other journalists of color about their experiences and perhaps trying as a group to raise any collective issues that you see within your newsroom. Consider whether there are ways to speak and be heard. ICYMI: A reporter attended a school board meeting for 3 hours, longer than other journalists. That ended up being a very good decision. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Karen K. Ho is a freelance business, culture and media reporter, based in New York. She is also a former Delacorte Fellow at CJR. Follow her on Twitter @karenkho. Hiring a Republican opposition-research firm to cast liberal critics as tools of George Soros. Lobbying the Anti-Defamation League to call other criticism anti-Semitic. Ordering top management to use only Android phones following public criticism from the chief executive of Apple. These were among the extraordinary details about Facebooks inner workings that The New York Times laid bare yesterday. In a five-byline scoop, Sheera Frenkel, Nicholas Confessore, Cecilia Kang, Matthew Rosenberg, and Jack Nicas unspool the disputes and dysfunction that have gripped the tech giant through cascading scandals and intensifying PR disasters in recent years. Frenkel tweeted yesterday that the piece took six months to complete. Facebook is notoriously difficult to report on, she said. The company offers highly curated, and controlled, access to journalists. ICYMI: A reporter asked for 20 years of lottery winner data. After analyzing the records, he noticed something unusual. Keeping a tight focus on Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, and Sheryl Sandberg, its chief operating officer, the Times reveals the lengths to which the company has gone to hide its blemishes. Bent on growth, the pair ignored warning signs and then sought to conceal them from public view, it says. While Mr. Zuckerberg has conducted a public apology tour in the last year, Ms. Sandberg has overseen an aggressive lobbying campaign to combat Facebooks critics, shift public anger toward rival companies and ward off damaging regulation. As the piece shows, Facebook conceived of its early problems as chiefly political. It punted when Donald Trump used the platform to spread anti-Muslim invective in 2015, worried that acting against his account would infuriate conservative critics. When staffers uncovered concerted Russian activity on the network around the 2016 presidential election, Sandberg and other executives reacted angrily, then opted to downplay the findingsworried, again, that Republicans would accuse the company of siding with Democrats as the polarizing debate over Russian interference blew up. Over time, however, criticism of Facebook has become increasingly bipartisan, and its woes more user-facing. Earlier this year, Zuckerberg was hauled before Congress following reports that Cambridge Analytica, a shady electoral research firm with links to Trumps presidential campaign, harvested masses of user data. In the months since, the company has had to reckon with the revelations, also in the Times, that it passed reams more data to device makers, and hackers stealing many users information in the companys worst ever security breach. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The Times piece ties these threads together. Questions around speech on the platform and Russian disinformation were excruciating for Facebookbut their complexity allowed Facebook to claim it was grappling in good faith to rectify them. More recently, that projection has become see-through. The Times has decisively exposed it for what it always wasa cynical front for a company that has been nowhere near willing enough to reform its flawed business model and product. On Twitter yesterday, even longtime Facebook-watchers expressed shock that the firm paid GOP-linked spinners to cast legitimate criticism as part of a Soros-backed campaigna move with ugly echoes of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that Facebook and other social networks have allowed to fester on their platforms. As its problems have stacked up, Facebook has had more than its fair share of the benefit of the doubt. As one more damning report emerges from behind the scenes, its critics are less likely than ever to be as generous going forward. ICYMI: Newspaper investigates after veteran reporter accused of making up sources Below, more on Facebooks new travails and past efforts to escape scrutiny: A tipping point? Democrats winning the House majority looks set to be another blow for Facebook. Reacting to the Times scoop, Democratic Congressman David Cicilline, who is expected to chair the House Judiciary Committees antitrust panel from January, tweeted, This staggering report makes clear that Facebook executives will always put their massive profits ahead of the interests of their customers. It is long past time for us to take action. Democrats winning the House majority looks set to be another blow for Facebook. Reacting to the Times scoop, Democratic Congressman David Cicilline, who is expected to chair the House Judiciary Committees antitrust panel from January, tweeted, This staggering report makes clear that Facebook executives will always put their massive profits ahead of the interests of their customers. It is long past time for us to take action. Trouble at the top? NBC Silicon Valleywatcher Dylan Byers had an interesting reaction to the Times piece. Whats so damning about this Facebook story isnt just what [the Times] learned, its who they learned it from, he tweeted. Many of the most damning details could only have come from high-ranking executives who were in the room at confidential meetings. That suggests real trouble in Menlo. NBC Silicon Valleywatcher Dylan Byers had an interesting reaction to the Times piece. Whats so damning about this Facebook story isnt just what [the Times] learned, its who they learned it from, he tweeted. Many of the most damning details could only have come from high-ranking executives who were in the room at confidential meetings. That suggests real trouble in Menlo. Trouble below decks: Even before the Times story landed yesterday, The Wall Street Journals Deepa Seetharaman reported that employee morale at Facebook is collapsing, with an internal survey showing 32 percent fewer staffers than a year ago are optimistic about the firms future. Even before the Times story landed yesterday, The Wall Street Journals Deepa Seetharaman reported that employee morale at Facebook is collapsing, with an internal survey showing 32 percent fewer staffers than a year ago are optimistic about the firms future. Disingenuous, I: Last week, Facebook released an independent report admitting that it did not do enough to combat the spread of hate on the platform in Myanmar, but insisting that its efforts were now on the right track. A United Nations report released on the same day, however, accused Facebook of continuing to hide the full extent of the problem, as CJRs Mathew Ingram pointed out. Last week, Facebook released an independent report admitting that it did not do enough to combat the spread of hate on the platform in Myanmar, but insisting that its efforts were now on the right track. A United Nations report released on the same day, however, accused Facebook of continuing to hide the full extent of the problem, as CJRs Mathew Ingram pointed out. Disingenuous, II: Its worth coming back to this story from Mya Frazier, who wrote for CJR in February that Facebook used pseudonyms to cut deals with public entities and insisted on reviewing freedom of information requests pertaining to the companya bid to evade routine journalistic scrutiny. The practice is reportedly common among tech giants: this week, it emerged that Amazon also won the right to review FOIAs as part of its deal to build a new base in Virginia. Other notable stories: A bevy of major news organizationsincluding Fox Newsfiled amicus briefs on behalf of CNN as the network sues the Trump administration for the reinstatement of Jim Acostas press credentials. At an eventful first hearing yesterday, a Justice Department lawyer told Judge Timothy J. Kelly that the White House can legally pull a reporters press pass for any reason it chooses (including unfavorable coverage), and a man told Acosta he should be lawfully hung as he entered the courtroom. Kelly is expected to rule today on CNNs request for a temporary restraining order which, if granted, would reinstate Acostas pass for now. As the White House doubled down on anti-media maneuvers at home, Vice President Mike Pence lectured Myanmars civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on her countrys press freedom failures at a summit in Singapore. Pence condemned Myanmars jailing of the Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo in public remarks, then again in a very candid private exchange, The Washington Posts Josh Rogin reports. Leaders of Italys anti-establishment governing Five Star Movement called journalists jackals and whores over their reporting of a corruption case involving the mayor of Rome, who was acquitted this week. Responding to the attacks, journalists unions in the country organized flash mobs in major cities, as well as in London and Brussels. For CJR, Larry Light writes that Republicans hatred of the news media is a long-term affair, tracing it back to Edward R. Murrows 1954 dismantling of Joe McCarthy. Not much has changed, Light says. For many Republicans, the existence of a liberal media bias is an established fact, like the temperature at which water freezes. Employees at the Capital Gazette newspaper group in Annapolis, Marylandwhere a gunman killed five staffers in Juneare joining with colleagues at The Baltimore Sun and Carroll County Times to unionize under the banner of the Chesapeake News Guild. As local news outlets dwindle, we know now more than ever that quality community news is a gift too precious to lose. But that important work grows more difficult each day because of decisions made by distant corporate owners on behalf of shareholders, organizers wrote. The papers are owned by Tribune Publishing, the distant corporate owners formerly known as tronc. The Financial Times has created a bot that warns editors when they are not quoting enough women, The Guardians Jim Waterson reports. And for CJRs latest print issue, Errin Haines Whack, National Writer on Race and Ethnicity at the Associated Press, wrote about her life on the race beat. As race is an omnipresent force in American life, race coverage, which requires the same sort of expertise as business or education journalism, is essential to reporting on who we are as a society, she says. ICYMI: CNN drops the gloves, sues Trump over Acosta press pass 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. ISCM, CAS Institute Launch New Education and Credentialing Program for Catastrophe Risk Professionals The International Society of Catastrophe Managers (ISCM), a professional association promoting catastrophe management professionalism within the insurance industry, and The CAS Institute (iCAS), a subsidiary of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) offering specialty credentials to professionals, announced the launch of a new education and credentialing program for catastrophe risk professionals. Having previously announced a partnership to develop educational tools and resources for catastrophe risk management professionals, the organizations today have introduced two new credentials that build upon knowledge and practice in this field and provide a benchmark for knowledge and skills in catastrophe risk: Certified Specialist in Catastrophe Risk (CSCR) a base credential that demonstrates a thorough understanding of essential catastrophe risk principles; and Certified Catastrophe Risk Management Professional (CCRMP) an advanced credential that recognizes the essential knowledge and mastery in the application of the principles and analytics in catastrophe risk management. The curriculum for the two credentials will be overseen by a Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC), comprised of leaders from ISCM and iCAS; specific learning objectives and exams or assessments for each credential will be developed by an expert panel of thought leaders in catastrophe risk. ISCM and iCAS will also provide a community of practice and opportunities for continuing education and collaboration to support catastrophe risk management professionals. Registration is now open for the first course and exam. Additional information about the credential requirements can be found at CatRiskCredentials.org. QBE North America Sells Farmers Union Insurance to National General Insurance QBE North America, an integrated specialist insurer, and National General Holdings Corp. announced that they have entered into an agreement through which National General will acquire QBEs Farmers Union Insurance business. The agreement will be effective in the first half of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. Farmers Union Insurance consists of the personal insurance and farm owner business, as well as the Telecommunications Insurance Program (TIP). The agreement enables QBE North America to focus on the businesses where it excels and can offer distinctive value to the market, including its specialty, core commercial, programs, crop, Westwood and reinsurance businesses. It also provides National General an opportunity to further its position in the personal insurance market and expand its distribution network. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor and Locke Lord LLP acted as legal counsel to QBE. ISO Launches Management Liability Insurance Program for Private Companies ISO has launched a new management liability insurance program to help insurers address the increasing risks faced by private companies, including sexual harassment. ISO is a Verisk business and a leading provider of forms, rules, and rating information for the property/casualty insurance industry. The program is designed to address the growth of private firms, which now account for more than 65 percent of all companies in the United States, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. At the same time, the risks faced by company directors and officers continue to grow. Public scandals during the past year have encouraged many victims to report sexual harassment and other workplace infractions. The programs proprietary rating model enables insurers to price worldwide coverage for private companies across several lines of business, including directors and officers, employment practices liability, and fiduciary liability. It also features a higher level of rating granularity, factoring in a wide range of classes and risk sizes for employment practices liability developed using the latest modeling techniques. There are also options to include coverages for crime as well as kidnap and ransom. To learn more about ISOs new management protection liability program, visit verisk.com/privco. A day before a deadly blaze destroyed a California town, the giant utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co. got in touch with Betsy Ann Cowley, saying the company needed access to her property because its power lines were causing sparks. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. What is known is that it started Thursday near Cowleys property in the tiny town of Pulga, incinerated the neighboring town of Paradise and killed at least 42 people. On Monday, fire investigators declared the area surrounding power lines on Cowleys property, in an oak-filled canyon, a crime scene. Security guards would not let PG&E inspectors pass. Cowley said she was on vacation last Wednesday when she got a surprise email from PG&E. Details of that exchange, described to The Associated Press, combined with the utilitys track record in California wildfire history has again brought the company under scrutiny. The email said that crews needed to come to her property to work on the high-power lines, Cowley said. PG&E told her they were having problems with sparks, she said. They visited her property but she said she wasnt there Wednesday and was not aware of their findings. Cowley was back at the property Monday and expressed gratitude at finding most of the 65 structures on it still standing, just a few hundred feet from the crime scene where investigators worked to determine what had happened to spark the massive fire. The former landscaper bought Pulga, an abandoned and decrepit historic gold prospecting town, in 2015 and embarked on a project that transformed it into a picturesque private destination. She cleared overgrown brush, patched up buildings and added new ones. With Bay Area artists and architects, she recreated a town, complete with a stage and school house. And then, a year ago, she opened for business, renting out Pulga for corporate retreats. As she reached the site of her own home, she raised her hand to her cheek. Its gone, she said. hats where all my stuff was, but its not there anymore. She paused and picked up a mug that somehow had survived the inferno. Its OK, Cowley told herself quietly. Its OK. PG&E declined to discuss the email it sent Cowley with AP, saying it has provided an initial electric incident report with state regulators and will fully cooperate with any investigations. Publicly, PG&E has said it experienced a problem on an electrical transmission line near the site of the massive fire, minutes before the blaze broke out. In its Friday filing to the state Public Utilities Commission, it said it had detected an outage on an electrical transmission line near the site of the blaze. It said a subsequent aerial inspection detected damage to a transmission tower on the line. The area where CalFire says the blaze started, and where PG&E says sparks were detected on Cowleys property is roughly the same, according to an AP reporter at the site. The utility, which has been criticized and sued in a number of other large and deadly fires across California, had announced before the blaze started that it might shut down power in nine counties, including Butte County where Pulga and Paradise are, because of extreme fire danger. But it never did. Later Thursday, PG&E said it had decided against a power cut because weather conditions did not warrant one. State Sen. Jerry Hill, a Redwood City Democrat and longtime critic of the utility, called the report of troubles on PG&Es lines in the area extremely worrisome. If PG&E is found responsible for burning down the state again, at some point we have to say enough is enough and we have to ask should this company be allowed to do business in California? Hill said.These fires take a spark, and at least in the last few years fires have been caused by negligent behavior by PG&E. We need to see how we can hold them responsible, or look at alternative way of doing business. California utility regulators are working with CalFire staff on their own, separate investigation into whether PG&E complied with state rules and regulations in areas that were torched in the fire. The California Public Utilities Commission will be evaluating PG&Es maintenance of their facilities, vegetation management and emergency preparedness and response, said commission spokeswoman Terrie Prosper. This is not the first time PG&Es management practices have come under question in the drought-stricken state. In 2014, regulators ordered the states investor-owned utilities to set priorities for inspecting and removing dead and sick trees near their power lines, warning that climate change has facilitated and exacerbated numerous wildfires that have damaged and threatened their facilities. But after a wildfire killed two people, destroyed 475 homes and scorched 70,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills the following year, homeowners and their attorneys questioned whether PG&E had done enough to clear dry trees flanking its power lines. In 2016, Cal Fire ultimately found PG&E was responsible for that fire, after tree maintenance by PG&E and its contractors led to a tree falling on a power line. Investigators have determined that PG&E equipment started several of the 2017 wildfires in Northern California wine country that killed 44 people. The company says it expects to pay more than $2.5 billion. (Burke reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writer Jocelyn Gecker also contributed from San Francisco.) Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AKRON, Ohio FirstEnergy Corp. President and CEO Charles Jones is scheduled to appear as a guest on Mornings with Maria on the Fox Business Network. The show airs at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 16. Jones has recently touted to investors and analysts a strong future for FirstEnergy with steady growth, despite losses from the companys coal and nuclear sectors. On Mornings with Maria, Jones will discuss FirstEnergys long-term growth strategy, its exit from the electric-generation business and the transition to a fully regulated utility, the company said in a news release. Airing on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Mornings with Maria features Maria Bartiromo and guests who discuss business news and the markets. The Fox Business Network website streams the show online. To view the program, register through your cable provider. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. The presence of the massive city of Los Angeles, parts of whose territory snake through the South Bay and Harbor Area, had great influence on street naming conventions in the region. CLEVELAND, Ohio City Council President Kevin Kelley on Thursday pledged that members would no longer caucus behind closed doors after cleveland.com questioned the propriety of a meeting held this week. The meeting, at which members discussed how to respond to a campaign to reduce the number of people on City Council and their pay, was held in private Monday and without public notice. In an interview with cleveland.com, Kelley said he believes the caucus did not violate of Ohios open meeting laws. But a legal expert contacted by cleveland.com said the section of Ohio law governing open meetings by local public bodies provides no exemption for a City Council caucus. Regardless, Kelley said its not worth the controversy to continue meeting in private. Since Ive been in City Council and since Ive been the council president, Ive resolved every situation in favor of transparency, Kelley said. I regret that were even having a discussion about this because [transparency] is a value I hold. What does Ohio law require? Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code states: All meetings of any public body are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times. State law requires that the open meetings section is to be liberally construed to require public officials to take official action and to conduct all deliberations upon official business only in open meetings unless the subject matter is specifically excepted by law. Clevelands charter also requires that all meetings of City Council be open to the public. Public bodies are required to establish a method for notifying the public of regular meetings and generally cannot hold a special meeting without providing at least 24-hour notice. City Council has a history of being transparent and posts notices of meetings and agendas both for committees and the full body well ahead of time. On Monday, for example, Kelley blocked legislation from moving through the Finance Committee and on to the full council because the Municipal Services Committee, which approved the ordinances, did not note to the public on its agenda that the legislation could be advanced. But there was no public notice posted for Mondays caucus. What is the legal debate here? Kelley cites a different section of the Ohio Revised Code that exempts political caucus sessions from being open to the public. That section, Kelley said, is one he has seen cited in training sessions for public officials. All members of Cleveland City Council are Democrats, although they are elected in non-partisan contests. Historically, Cleveland City Council met periodically in sessions that were billed as caucuses and were open to the public. During at least some of the sessions attended by reporters, council members used the sessions to discuss issues relating to city business. After first being elected council president in 2013, Kelley said he began to distinguish between those meetings that involved City Council business meetings he began to call Committee of the Whole and kept open, and those involving political discussions, which he refers to as caucuses. The caucus sessions, he said, afford members a chance to have private conversations on political issues, but do not involve the business before council. The open meetings statute defines public meetings as those that involve discussion of public business by a public body. Jonathan Entin, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University and an expert on municipal law, questioned whether the caucus language Kelley cited can be applied to a City Council. That language appears in a section of the revised code that lays out regulations for the Ohio General Assembly. The open meetings law that covers local public bodies makes no mention of a caucus exception. Determining whos right might require litigation. Maybe somebody could draw an analogy between local councils and the General Assembly, Entin said. I dont see how you could read that definition as applying to a county council or a city council. "I would be really surprised if the Ohio Supreme Court would read that the way the council has, Entin said. What was the closed-door meeting about? Two sources who attended the session told cleveland.com that discussions involved how to respond to a reform effort that would reduce the size of City Council and members pay. A group of Clevelanders calling themselves Cleveland First, and supported by Westlake businessman Tony George began a petition drive on Election Day asking Clevelanders to support two ballot issues. One issue would shrink City Council from 17 members to nine. The other would cut council pay from $80,133 a year to $58,000 a year. To get to the ballot, the group will need to collect about 6,000 signatures of valid Cleveland voters. What happens next? Leaders of Cleveland First have said they hope to get on the ballot in 2020. City Council itself could not legally campaign for or against an issue on the ballot. Its members, though, could oppose issue as individuals. If a campaign organization is established, it could only be supported with privately raised funding not with any public money. Meanwhile, Kelley said that regardless of how a court would rule on the caucus exception, he will keep all future caucuses open. I dont have anything to hide, he said. Im proud of what we do. CLEVELAND, Ohio The former executive director of the Collinwood & Nottingham Villages Development Corporation was arrested by federal authorities Thursday on accusations that she stole money from the CDC. Tamiko Parker, 46, of Cleveland is charged with theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. The CDC, a nonprofit on the citys East Side that develops and leases property, lost more than $172,000. She embezzled the money between 2014 and 2016, while she worked as the CDCs executive director, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek, whose ward the CDC serves, said Parker stole the money from a fund for a major housing development in the community and that she took advantage of the CDCs board members. He said the charge against Parker was the result of a lengthy investigation and her fraud was only discovered after she left the CDC on her own. When you steal that amount and you did what you did, and you knew damn well it was going to directly impact the neighborhood, you didnt care about the neighborhood, Polensek said. You didnt care about the people in it. Parker pleaded not guilty during an appearance on Thursday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough is asking for Parker to be held in custody while her case is pending. McDonough wrote in a motion that Parker, who has prior convictions for theft, forgery and misuse of credit cards, is a flight risk and danger to the community, and failed to appear in court for hearings in her previous cases. A federal magistrate judge will hold a detention hearing next week. She is represented by the Federal Public Defenders Office, which declined comment. Parker made unauthorized cash withdrawals, had checks issued to her and used credit and debit cards to make lavish purchases for herself, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. This included using the corporations debit card to make purchases at Harley Davidson, the Horseshoe Casino and Victorias Secret, as well as on trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, authorities said. Parker is also accused of using CDC money to buy appliances at Home Depot, as well as items from Sephora, T.J. Maxx and Pier 1. Parker also collected cash rental payments from tenants and deposited cash into her personal account, federal prosecutors say. This defendant betrayed the trust placed in her by a city and a community, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said in a news release. Instead of using her position to spur redevelopment, she used it as a personal piggy bank to gamble and travel. Parkers indictment by a federal grand jury comes about a year after Cuyahoga County prosecutors charged Parker and her ex-husband Lamont Johnson for the same scheme. State authorities dropped the charges against Parker and Johnson in January, allowing the FBI to further investigate the case. Johnson, 41, has not been federally charged. Polensek said he wasnt going to bet my life on Parker paying back the money the feds said she stole. Still, the councilman said he was happy to hear of Parkers arrest, and considered it a kind of gift, as his birthday was Thursday. I got a call this morning and said hot damn, thats what I wanted to hear, he said. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Dan Polster. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Thursdays crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio A Pennsylvania man captured by authorities near Mansfield in September after being on the run for three months from charges related to threatening President Donald Trump now faces a federal firearms charge. Shawn Christy, 27, was indicted in Ohio last week with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a fugitive from justice. Federal prosecutors charged him with having an AMT pistol and four rounds of ammunition on the day the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement found him in a wooded area in Mifflin Township. The charges are in addition to threat charges he faces in federal court in Pennsylvania. A federal judge there issued a warrant June 19 for Christy, a McAdoo resident, in connection to Facebook threats to the Northampton County, Pennsylvania district attorney, stating, "Keep it up (John) Morganelli, I promise I'll put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of President Donald J. Trump." Christy also posted a message on Facebook to Morganelli that said Your (sic) a dead man ... Lets play, according to a grand jury indictment. The now-captured fugitive also said he would use lethal force on any law enforcement officer that attempts to detain him on an outstanding arrest warrant, the indictment states. Christy was returned to Pennsylvania after his capture in Ohio. He pleaded not guilty to the threat charges on Oct. 26 and remains in jail. The Mansfield-area community was on high-alert for about a week in September as law enforcement looked for Christy. Some schools closed as a precaution and police encouraging residents to lock their homes, cars and sheds. Investigators on Sept. 21 found a camp site with items believed to be Christys, and a search team created a perimeter until they found him. Christy was armed with a loaded gun and a large knife, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. More than 200 state and federal police and agents were involved in the search. The firearms case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko in Cleveland. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Thursdays crime and courts comments section. LORAIN, Ohio A fire Wednesday evening destroyed a playground at a Lorain elementary school. Sarah Egan-Reeves, spokeswoman for Lorain City Schools, says in a news release that individuals suspected of setting the fire have been identified from surveillance video at Park Elementary School on East 34th Street. The video has been turned over to the Lorain Police Department. Egan-Reeves did not say how many suspects have been identified or if they are students. The fire was reported at about 5 p.m. Wednesday at the playground for students in grades one through five and was quickly put out by the Lorain Fire Department. There were no injuries. Egan-Reeves says the fire will not affect classes at the school. The playground equipment was a total loss, though, and will be replaced in the spring, she said. To comment on this story, please visit Wednesdays crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga Countys top jail official resigned late Wednesday, just months after six inmates died in a four-month span and days ahead of an expected report by the U.S. Marshals about how the jail is run. Ken Mills resignation also came days after a strong rebuke from all 34 Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judges who said Mills jail was unsafe and inmates were not getting proper medical or mental health care. Mills was hired in 2014 to spearhead Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budishs plan for regionalizing the countys local jails. He made $124,000 per year. Cuyahoga County spokeswoman Eliza Wing refused to say why Mills resigned. We appreciate Mr. Mills service to the county, especially his innovative initiatives to provide workforce training for inmates, Budish said in a statement. We wish him well. We will begin a search for his replacement immediately. The resignation was made in advance of an expected U.S. Marshals report about conditions inside the jail. Budish asked U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott to conduct a review of the jail after the sixth death. The marshals report is expected in the coming days. When asked if Mills resignation is related to the deaths or the marshals findings, Wing said: Were going to talk to you about the marshals report as soon as we receive it and the changes we are going to start making. Along with the marshals review, the FBI is looking into possible civil rights violations of inmates at the jail. Mills was in charge of day-to-day operations at the jail, where the six inmates died from June 22 to Oct. 2, including three by suicide. A day after the most recent death, Cleveland Municipal Judge Michael Nelson said he would no longer send non-violent offenders to jail because it was unsafe. This past week, all 34 Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judges issued a letter that accused Budishs jail administration of being indifferent to dangerous conditions at the jail. The letter, written by Administrative Judge John J. Russo, said the judges can no longer rely on the word of jail administrators, who have promised that changes are being made to improve conditions at the jail. The same day, the five Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judges who oversee the countys mental-health docket wrote a letter to MetroHealth CEO Dr. Akram Boutros alerting him to jail inmates failing to receive proper mental health care and medication. MetroHealth oversees medical operations in the county jail. Two former nursing supervisors at the jail previously accused Mills of constantly interfering in the administration of healthcare at the facility. One, Marcus Harris, accused Mills of mismanagement, endangering medical staff and depriving inmates of proper care. Another, Gary Brack, was ousted from his position at the jail after he spoke out against Mills at a Cuyahoga County Council meeting. This story was updated to reflect the positions and employment history of Harris and Brack. WASHINGTON, D.C. - California's Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that she has enough votes from her fellow Democrats to be elected Speaker of the House and said she'd welcome a challenge from Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge, who is considering a run. "I say it to everybody, come on in, the water's warm," Pelosi said when asked about Fudge's potential challenge. She also told reporters that she intends to win the speakership with Democratic votes when the legislative body selects new leaders in January, declaring the electoral wave that returned her party to power "almost a tsunami." "I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be Speaker of the House," said Pelosi. "Certainly, we have many, many people in our caucus who could serve in that capacity. I happen to think at this point that I am the best person for that." We strongly support and call on all members of the Democratic caucus to support @NancyPelosi for Speaker. Were it not for her skilled and effective leadership, the ACA would not be law today. Dems must reject attempts to defeat her and move caucus to the right. MoveOn (@MoveOn) November 15, 2018 Pelosi's desire to return to the speakership she held from 2007 through 2011 is complicated by opposition from a group of 17 Democrats who say Pelosi does not actually have the 218 votes she'll need to become Speaker, between opposition from Democratic incumbents and newly elected freshmen who told constituents they wouldn't vote for her. The group includes Fudge and Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, who argue Pelosi's brand has become a liability after more than a decade of being demonized by Republicans. Ryan ran against Pelosi for Democratic leader two years ago, losing by a 134 to 63 margin. They have been seeking an alternative candidate to run against Pelosi. Fudge, a former Congressional Black Caucus chair who also chaired the 2016 Democratic Convention, said Wednesday that colleagues have asked her to run against Pelosi for the top House of Representatives job and she's considering it. "I need to give it some thought and see if I have an interest," Fudge told cleveland.com on Wednesday. "I am at the very beginning of this process. It is just in discussion at this point." Congress needs a new leader. Period. Im hoping Marcia Fudge, my first (and arguably best) mentor in Congress will run for the next Speaker of the House. I have full faith in her ability to lead our new Congress to its fullest potential. Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) November 15, 2018 Fudge, 66, said voters backed Democrats because they wanted change, and Pelosi doesn't represent that. The former Warrensville Heights mayor is also dismayed that neither of the party's two top leaders, Pelosi and Maryland's Steny Hoyer, is a minority, and said an African American woman should be in leadership. "When you look at the people who support this party the most, they are women and African Americans and especially African American women," said Fudge, who has served in Congress since 2008. "We keep talking about diversity, but there is nothing diverse about the top of our ticket. We have to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk." As news of her interest in the job spread, Fudge shared her views with other media outlets. She told Huffington Post that people see Pelosi as an "elitist" because she's wealthy and raises money from other wealthy people. She also said she didn't co-sponsor a bill to extend civil rights protections to people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity because she disagrees with its mechanism of using the Civil Rights act to do so. "If it were a standalone, I'd vote for it today," Fudge told the publication, defending her record on LGBTQ rights. "The president of the United States is a racist, in my opinion. If we open up the Civil Rights Act, it's like opening up Pandora's Box." She told The Washington Post that she's been "overwhelmed" by support for her potential run for Speaker, and there are"probably closer to 30" Democrats who oppose Pelosi. She also said she hopes to quickly make a decision on a run. "I won't give myself a hard Friday deadline, but it'll be close to that," Fudge told the Post "Or, I'll go home for Thanksgiving and talk to my family." WASHINGTON, D.C. - Cincinnati GOP Rep. Steve Chabot wants to be the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee next year and may end up in a battle over the job with another Ohio Republican: Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan. Other possible candidates for the post include Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia and Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania. Chabot - who currently chairs the House Small Business Committee - says he's been contacting members of the GOP steering committee over the past several months to make the case that he's the most qualified person to succeed Virginia's Bob Goodlatte as the committee's top Republican. One reason he says he should get the job is the fact that he's one of the only Republicans left on the committee who played a role in its 1990s effort to impeach Democratic President Bill Clinton. Chabot says that experience would be "invaluable" as the Democratic base pressures the committee to conduct "investigations and impeachment ad nauseum" of cabinet officials, possibly a Supreme Court Justice, and President Donald Trump. Chabot also notes that he's drafted important legislation over the years - such as a bill that banned so-called "partial birth abortions." He said he also spent six years as chairman of the subcommittee where the incoming Democratic chairman of the committee, New York's Jerry Nadler, was the top Democrat, and knows "his strengths and weaknesses." "If there are legitimate things to investigate, I think we ought to be cooperative," said Chabot. "When they overreach, as I'm sure they will, then I think we should push back aggressively." When asked to respond to a Politico report that President Donald Trump was urging GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy to make Jordan chairman of the committee, Chabot insisted that he's better qualified than Jordan or anyone else. But he said the president is welcome to weigh in. "I have no problem with him coming in," said Chabot. Jordan - who lost a run for GOP leader to McCarthy on Wednesday, said he has not decided to seek the post or any other. In past years, he sought chairmanship of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, but was bypassed. The Politico report also suggested Jordan might become top Republican on that committee, noting that Collins is favored to chair the Judiciary Committee. "I saw that report in Politico," said Jordan. "On the Oversight and Judiciary Committees, I have fought hard to defend the truth. I look forward to serving, but whether it is as the ranking member on either one, I don't know. I haven't decided whether to run for either." Chabot says he expects to know about the job sometime after Thanksgiving. If he doesn't get the Judiciary Committee post, he is likely to remain top Republican on the Small Business Committee. "I am not term limited out of that, although my focus is Judiciary," said Chabot. "I feel confident, but not overconfident that we've got the best case to be the head Republican on that committee." CLEVELAND, Ohio A Cleveland police officer was arrested on misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, police said. Patrolman Mario Lozada, an officer in Clevelands Second District, was arrested Wednesday by the Garfield Heights Police Department. The Cleveland police department did not offer any information about the incident that led to the arrest. A Cleveland police spokeswoman directed questions to the Garfield Heights police department. Garfield Heights police did not immediately return phone calls Thursday afternoon. Lozada, who was hired in January 1992, will be placed on restricted duty until the Garfield Heights case is adjudicated, police said. This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available. To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page. I didnt go to my high school reunion. I only kept in touch with two friends after high school. Both Brittney and Nikki Delamotte also moved from Holland, Ohio, to Cleveland after graduation. And, on Monday afternoon, Brittney called me crying to say that Nikki died in a suspected homicide. That cant be, I said. Nikki had just posted something about tacos on Facebook Saturday morning. I met Nikki in the hallway behind the Springfield High School auditorium during her junior year. I was sitting on the floor with some other girls during a rehearsal of our drama clubs production of Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I remember it was as if she had just floated over. As Nikki was talking with another girl about an essay for Mr. Davidsons English class, I saw she radiated this light. She drew me in with her contagious giggle and charismatic personality. I had many chances to get to know her over the next two years. It wasnt difficult. She was someone everyone in school had in common. A grade younger than Nikki, I admired how she effortlessly navigated social circles. It seemed that she fit in wherever she went. She was probably friends with someone at every cafeteria table. And if they werent friends, she could go over, introduce herself, and talk or rather listen for hours. Nikki was popular in an unconventional, completely Nikki kind of way. Even in high school, Nikki was all of the things people have said the last few days, and more. Nikki was born a gracious soul. I remember running into her in the bathroom at Homecoming, when she was nominated for queen. She complimented every single girl in the bathroom, including another nominee. She brushed off compliments to her own black dress, and unlike so many other girls, she did not have French manicure or ringlet curls. She never put on an act or hid her emotions behind a mask. I dont remember who was crowned queen, but I knew Nikki embodied that crown. She was, above all, generous and eager to help. I had to ask her for a ride a few times. Im pretty sure it was out of her way to pick me up or drop me off, but she never let on. She didnt accept gas money, either. Nikki graduated in May 2006 but returned that fall to see the drama clubs production of The Sound of Music. I thought since she was a college freshman at Cleveland State, she would be too worldly to talk to me. I couldnt have been more wrong. Nikki greeted me with a wide grin and a tight hug. As we were talking about her life in the big city, a boy sheepishly approached. He asked me to take a picture with her. He was smitten. We reconnected after I moved to Cleveland. We randomly ran into each other at the Cleveland Flea, Heights Music Hop and Hingetown Hoedown. Whenever we did, the world felt a little smaller and a lot more kind. We were in our early 20s and coming into our own. Nikki was finding her passion, her people and her voice. Nikki was by default cool. I had always known that. I didnt realize how big of a deal she was until a former co-worker approached me at a Sofar Sounds concert and asked for an introduction. Nikki recognized Julie from Twitter. She had a knack for remembering people. I started following Nikki more closely on Facebook as she started writing for local media outlets. I noticed she would mark maybe or interested to several Facebook events, frequently double- or triple-booking herself. I once teased her about defying the laws of physics, and she said it was for work. Of course, it wasnt just work. She was pursuing her passion. Her enthusiasm for Cleveland was contagious, so I RSVPed, too. Nikki became my personal tour guide. She introduced me to many of Clevelands lesser-known gems like La Plaza Supermarket and Ingenuity Fest that I, in turn, introduced to others. Nikki wasnt just there for the good times. Earlier this year, I needed some advice and, if Im being honest, a confidence boost. Nikki gave one hell of a pep talk. She insisted on coming across town during rush hour to my neighborhood so she could buy me dinner. She would randomly check in on me, like my Instagram posts and compliment me on my work. And though she would never say she did anything special, the testimonies that have flooded Facebook prove otherwise. Nikki meant something to so many people whether they had read her work, met her once or, like me, were lucky enough to have called her a friend. She showed me by example what it means to live a full life, how to treat others and how to make a difference in peoples lives. A good part of who I am is because of the person Nikki was. If youd like to join friends of Nikkis: Thursday vigil: A candlelight vigil will be held at the Cleveland script sign at Upper Edgewater Park at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Close friends of Nikkis have asked to organize the event to collectively mourn and to celebrate the wonderful and beautiful life she lived. The band Ouster will give a small performance. Friday fundraiser: The event will be held 7 p.m.-midnight at The Side Quest, 17900 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood. 15 percent of profits will be donated. Baskets will be raffled off. Rotunda Rumblings Lame duck starts with a bang: The Ohio House began this years lame-duck session by passing a controversial stand your ground bill that also loosens gun-control rules. As cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer reports, the vote was held after Republican House Speaker Ryan Smith cut off the mic of Democratic Rep. Stephanie Howse, who tried to talk about the bills impact on minority communities. Howse continued by shouting at Smith that he was uncomfortable having a conversation about race. Heartbeat bill is next: The House is set to vote Thursday on a heartbeat bill that would ban most abortions from being performed in Ohio, cleveland.coms Laura Hancock writes. The final showdown: Both the stand your ground and heartbeat bills have been vocally opposed by outgoing Gov. John Kasich. That House Republicans are passing the bills at the start of lame duck indicates theyre allowing time to override Kasichs vetoes, if it comes to that. Legislature v. Kasich (part 3): Meanwhile, state lawmakers on Wednesday overrode Kasichs summertime veto of a bill that gives the Ohio General Assembly the last say in who OKs rules for state agencies. Senate actions: In addition to the veto override, Ohio senators passed Senate Bill 243, sponsored by state Sen. Matt Dolan, a Chagrin Falls Republican, which waives Medicaid co-pays for severely developmentally disabled and mentally ill Ohioans whose only source of income is Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. Headed to Kasichs desk is House Bill 329, a bipartisan measure that changes what schemes are in Ohio, so that pyramid schemes are included in the law. Crossing off Jordan: As expected, outspoken conservative U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio was soundly defeated in his underdog bid to become the U.S. House Republicans next leader, cleveland.coms Sabrina Eaton reports. The House Freedom Caucus co-founder lost to Californias Kevin McCarthy, who had the backing of outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan. Backup plan: Jordan is now looking to become the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, Politico reports. Capitol Hill speculation is that President Donald Trump will push for Jordan to land the job, as the committee is expected to launch investigations of the president when Democrats take control of the House. Jordan, however, told Eaton he hasnt decided whether to seek the post. But there might be a battle: Another Ohio Republican, U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, is also trying to land the top GOP spot on House Judiciary, according to Eaton. On the other side of the aisle: Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights is weighing whether to challenge Rep. Nancy Pelosi for the House Speakers gavel, Eaton reports. People are asking me to do it, and I am thinking about it, Fudge told Eaton. While fellow Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan also opposes Pelosi, Democrats Marcy Kaptur and Joyce Beatty back her. Whip it good: Ohio Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected Matt Huffman of Lima as their new majority whip, taking over for term-limited state Sen. Gayle Manning. According to two GOP senators in the room, Huffman defeated state Sen. Stephanie Kunze of the Columbus area for the job (vote totals, as usual, werent disclosed). Its an important win for Huffman if he hopes to run for Senate president in 2020 its rare for someone to be elected Senate president whos not already in leadership. Join us anyway: State Rep. Anne Gonzales, who has a razor-thin 329-vote lead over Democrat Tina Maharath in Senate District 3, was allowed to participate in the Senate GOP leadership elections even though theres a chance Maharath will end up winning once provisional and outstanding absentee ballots are counted. Sweeney succeeds Sweeney: Democrat Bride Rose Sweeney has been appointed to the Ohio House seat her father, recently appointed Ohio Lottery Commission member Martin Sweeney, resigned from last month. Bride Sweeney, 26, was elected Nov. 6 to the seat for a full term beginning in January, so this gives her a head start representing the 14th District. She is the first woman to represent the district, which includes parts of Clevelands West Side and several southwest suburbs. Dr. Feelgood: The Big 3 Northeast Ohio hospital systems Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth are not letting doctors on staff recommend medical marijuana, Hancock reports. Other large health networks across Ohio may also have similar prohibitions. FEC complaint filed: The Campaign Legal Center, a Washington-D.C. campaign finance watchdog, has filed an FEC complaint over Republican ads from Ohios U.S. Senate campaign, according to cleveland.coms Andrew Tobias. The complaint alleges MeToo Ohio, Republican consulting firm Majority Strategies, and Rep. Jim Renaccis Senate campaign, illegally coordinated when they launched ads in October calling attention to allegations from Sen. Sherrod Browns 1986 divorce. Officials with the three parties have denied coordinating, and Majority Strategies has said they have internal policies meant to prevent them from doing so. Bipartisan support: U.S. Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown both endorsed the nomination of Ohio appeals court Judge Matt McFarland as a federal judge in Dayton, writes the Dispatchs Jack Torry. McFarland, an Ohio appeals court judge and Capital University law school grad, still needs Senate confirmation. Prosecutor race could heat up: Republican Joe Deters tells the Cincinnati Enquirers Jason Williams that he plans to run for re-election as Hamilton County prosecutor in 2020. Some names being raised as his potential Democratic opponent include ex-gubernatorial hopeful Connie Pillich and Aftab Pureval, Chabots congressional rival this year. Full Disclosure Five things we learned from state Rep. Al Landis April 9 financial disclosure. Landis, a Republican from Tuscarawas County, is term-limited and recently won a seat on the county commission. 1. Last year, Landis received a pension from Greer Steel Co. of $10,000 to $24,999 and earned $67,393.93 as a state lawmaker. 2. He reported the following investments: Prudential and Raymond James 401(k) plans, the steel pension, an Ohio Public Employees Retirement System pension and an A.W. Tipka Oil gas well investment. 3. At some point last year he owed over $1,000 each to Huntington National Bank, DoverPhila Federal Credit Union and Citibank. 4. He received $4,349.28 in mileage reimbursement from the Ohio House for travel between home and Columbus last year. He accrued $528.99 in travel associated with the Council of State Governments. His campaign committee paid for $634.53 in travel. 5. He received gifts last year from the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee and Speaker Pro Tempore Kirk Schurings campaign committee. On the Move Former Cincinnati City Council member and mayoral candidate Yvette Simpson will become the next chief executive of Democracy for America, a national progressive PAC, on Jan. 1. She will be the first woman of color to hold an executive position with the organization. Judge Michael L. Mick Barr was sworn in Wednesday as the new Meigs County Court judge. He had been acting judge while his predecessor and friend, former Meigs County Court Judge Steven L. Story, was ill. Story died June 16. Gov. John Kasich appointed Jay W. Nixon of Mount Vernon to serve as a judge on the Knox County Juvenile/Probate Court for a term ending Feb. 8, 2021. Nixon will assume office on Nov. 19 and must run in the November 2020 election to retain the seat for the full-term ending in 2021. Nixon is replacing Judge Jennifer LeAnn Springer, who retired. Straight from the Source Republicans on the campaign trail: Well fix school funding, protect preexisting conditions, and combat the opioid crisis! Republicans back in the legislature: Okay, lets bust the unions, ban abortion, and decrease gun protections. Actions speak louder than words! - Spencer Dirrig, who managed Democrat Louise Valentines unsuccessful campaign for Senate District 19, in a tweet. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. COLUMBUS, OhioFor the second time in as many years, the Ohio House on Thursday passed a heartbeat bill that would create some of the strictest anti-abortion rules in the country. House Bill 258, which passed the Republican-dominated House by a mostly party-line vote of 60-35, seeks to make Ohio the fourth state to ban abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, except to prevent the mother from dying or being seriously impaired. That can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy in some cases, before a woman even realizes she is pregnant. Ohio lawmakers passed a similar bill in late 2016 that was vetoed by Gov. John Kasich on the grounds that the measure would almost certainly be halted in court, as has been the case with other heartbeat bills passed in Arkansas, North Dakota, and Iowa. Kasich did sign separate legislation banning abortions after 20 weeks. But unlike the 2016 bill, the House now has the 60 votes needed to override Kasichs veto, if it comes to that. Before the bill can reach Kasichs desk, though, it must first pass the Ohio Senate. The vote on the bill came after hours of speeches from both sides of the abortion issue -- though, as usual in floor debate, it didnt appear that any lawmakers' votes were changed by their words. State Rep. Christina Hagan, a Stark County Republican and the bills co-sponsor, said the measure would provide a more consistent and reliable marker for the courts to use when considering the constitutionality of abortion laws. We know when a heartbeat stops that we have lost a human life, said Hagan, who brought her newborn twin boys to the House floor during debate on the bill. State Rep. Candice Keller, a Middletown Republican, asserted that, contrary to the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 ruling in Roe. v. Wade, abortion is not a constitutional right. Theres not a word about it in the Constitution, Keller said, saying the heartbeat bill" could save 20,000 children per year in Ohio. This is determining the life of a human being -- the pain of a human being, Keller said. Several House Democrats spoke out against the bill. State Rep. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, noted the bill makes no exception for pregnancy resulting from incest or rape. Victims of rape should not have additional control of their bodies taken away from them, Antonio said. It should be a survivors decision to make. Stephanie Howse, a Cleveland Democrat who had her mic cut on Wednesday during a debate on a stand your ground bill regarding use of force in self-defense, noted that there are only 24 women in the 99-member House. I do not need anyone in the building telling me what to do with my body, Howse said. It is really, really, really unsettling that we have to tell people what to do with their body. Before approving the bill, House Republicans rejected a number of proposed Democratic amendments that would, among other things, provide free birth control to Ohio women who have been pregnant and encourage teaching about sexual education and contraception use in schools. EDITORS NOTE: The initial version of this story reported the initial House vote of 58-35. However, two additional House members recorded as not voting during the initial floor vote -- Republican Marilyn Slaby and Democrat Glenn Holmes -- later cast yes votes, bringing the vote total to 60-35 in favor of the bill. Realme launched its fully upgraded Brand Visual Identity system and Logo to provide a new visual experience and emotional connection with young consumers. The R logo in Realme Yellow designed by Eddie Opara, Partner and Chief Designer at world-renowned design consultancy Pentagram, is an artistic and impactful representation of both the Realme brand identity and its vision of being Proud to be Young, which the brand hopes will become a symbol of youth culture around the world. Realme will be rolling out its upgraded brand image across all channels starting from today. The Brand Visual Identity upgrading comes as Realme is poised to make a strong entry into more markets around the world, where it will reach out to younger groups and accelerate growth. Very soon, Realmes new R logo and smartphones will launch across Southeast Asian markets including Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, countries in South Asia, Middle East and North Africa. The new R logo will be a symbol of the brands powerful recognition of young peoples need for individualization and self-expression. It will differentiate Realmes experience in offering smartphones and will become an icon for young people around the world. The new Visual Identity is a people-oriented design featuring original aspiration and absolute self-expression. Upgrading the new Visual Identity and Logo, the brand has adopted a more concise and universal letter shape, which was inspired by the observation of human behavior and actions when they are using smartphones. It is a combination of a human-figure and the uppercase R from Realme which conveys one of the brands design concept as being people-oriented. In the design, there are merged circles, squares and triangles forming a nested uppercase R and lowercase r where the uppercase R signifies the original aspiration of Realme in providing the youth with quality products they need and lowercase r signifies young peoples true selves. This unique nesting and blending design conveys Realmes vision of sharing pride in being young with young people, while the hidden arrows point to the deep connection between Realme and young groups and their direct goals as well as absolute strength of taking challenges. The upgraded Visual Identity system and Logo are all based on vibrant golden yellow. This specific color, called Realme Yellow, represents power, style, modernity and youthfulness; as well as positive connotations in both Eastern and Western cultures, such as positivity, optimism, friendliness and emotional energy, wisdom, harmony, prosperity. The main auxiliary color, gray, represents professionalism, calmness, and inclusiveness; and will be used with other auxiliary colors including classic black and white, and a light gray tone, in Realmes overall brand Visual Identity. Showing his pleasure in rolling out the new Visual Identity, Sky Li, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Realme, said. As a global, youth-facing smartphone brand, Realme is continuing to introduce new products that feature stylish design and a powerful performance. At the same time, Realme hopes to create a symbol for young people through the new brand logo one they can identify with, and where they see a visual symbol of their emotional identity and belonging, Realmes new brand visual identity system and logo will be key to providing self-expression and satisfaction for young people around the world: we define this as unique, trend-setting, self-loyalty, and personalized consumption that meets emotional needs. He added. Sharing his thoughts on the new Visual Identity launch, Madhav Sheth, Chief Executive Officer, Realme India, said, As a young brand, Realme has witnessed a remarkable journey till now. We have always tried to connect with the youth of the nation by providing them the best of everything with Power meets Style moto. We believe that the new logo will be a major tool in connecting with the youth going forward with its classic combination of vibrant colors and unique style. Established in May 2018, Realme aims to provide young people around the world with smartphone products that combine powerful performance and stylish design. The brand gives young people experiences that integrate technology and style to recognize and satisfy their deep desires for personalization and self-expression. By November 2018, the half-year-old brand will expand its business to 7 countries in Asia. With 4 smartphone products launched globally, Realme is quickly building a strong Realme-realme- logo box-01.jpg community among young consumers. The brand is set to become the fastest growing brand which has already made 3 million sales in total. @Technuter.com News Service Electronic Tattoos Add Power to Wearable Computing November 14, 2018 Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering and the Institute of Systems and Robotics at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, have developed a simple, efficient method to make robust, highly flexible, tattoo-like circuits for use in wearable computing. The low-cost process adds a trace of an electrically conductive, liquid metal alloy to tattoo paper that adheres to human skin. These ultrathin tattoos can be applied easily with water, the same way one would apply a child's decorative tattoo with a damp sponge. Other tattoo-like electronics either require complex fabrication techniques inside a cleanroom or lack the material required for stretchable digital circuit functionality on skin. Carmel Majidi, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and director of CMU's Soft Machines Lab , and Mahmoud Tavakoli, director of the Soft and Printed Microelectronics Laboratory at the University of Coimbra, partnered to develop methods for direct printing of stretchable electronic circuits. The tattoos are being developed under the Strechtonics project, one of the Entrepreneurial Research Initiatives of the Carnegie Mellon-Portugal Program, funded by the Fundacao para a Ciencia Tecnologia (FCT) and coordinated by Professor Anibal Traca de Almeida. Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Carmel Majidi discusses electronic tattoos, which are circuits made of silver nanoparticles printed on the same film used for childrens tattoos. These electronic tattoos have applications that range from health care to personal electronic devices to gaming. "This is a breakthrough in the printed electronics area," Tavakoli said. "We showed for the first time that inkjet-printed patterns of silver nanoparticles can be sintered at room temperature using the gallium indium alloy. Removing the need for high temperature sintering makes our technique compatible with thin-film and heat sensitive substrates." In addition to low-cost processing, these tattoos provide other advantages. Because they have mechanical properties similar to lightweight fabrics, they remain functional under bending, folding, twisting and strains above 30 percent, which is the typical stretchability of human skin. They can conform and adhere to highly curved 3D surfaces, like a model of a human brain or a lemon. Applications for ultrathin, compliant tattoos include epidermal biomonitoring, soft robotics, flexible displays and 3D-transferable printed electronics. The findings were published in Advanced Materials in a paper titled "EGaIn-Assisted Room-Temperature Sintering of Silver Nanoparticles for Stretchable, Inkjet-Printed, Thin-Film Electronics." Things may be looking up for U.S.-China trade relations, which in turn is good for networking hardware colossus Cisco Systems, Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins told CNBC on Wednesday. "We're beginning to hear some positive sound bytes around this," Robbins told Jim Cramer in an exclusive "Mad Money" interview. "I'm optimistic that we'll get to some resolution that is good for both and really allows us to continue this global expansion of the economy that we've all been enjoying for the last few years." Robbins may have been referring to top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow's comments to CNBC's David Faber on Tuesday, which confirmed reports that U.S. and Chinese officials had restarted trade talks ahead of the G-20 summit at the end of the month. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet at the summit. "We're moving ahead on trade discussions," Kudlow said in the interview. Cisco's CEO admitted that his company was affected by the Trump administration's 10-percent tariffs on imports from China in its fiscal first quarter, reported after Wednesday's closing bell. "We implemented some price increases, as we said we would, and, frankly, we didn't see any difference in the momentum before we did that and the momentum we saw after that in the quarter," Robbins told Cramer. "Obviously, we would prefer that the tariffs don't get increased to 25 percent in January." Still, Robbins said his "belief all along has been that once we got through the midterms, that the administration would begin to really focus on this," and so far, that seems to be coming to fruition. In the meantime, Cisco is delivering "consistent" growth as more and more companies realize just how complicated it is to seamlessly and securely shift their operations to the cloud, a process that is now fueling Cisco's bottom line, the CEO said. Shares of Cisco fell amid marketwide declines on Wednesday, but rose nearly 5 percent in after-hours trading following the earnings beat. Blackstone Group LP: "I'm endorsing that. You got a nice yield and real smart guys. I think that that's a decent situation. A lot of people are always troubled by it not me." Microchip Technology Inc.: "A not-that-great semiconductor company with its whole world coming back down? We are not going to recommend that one at all. Don't buy." First Data Corp.: "That quarter was a bad quarter. It really shocked me. The stock's all the way back down at $17. Probably overdone, but you know what? Do we really need that when we get PayPal, Mastercard, Visa and Square?" Tellurian Inc.: "Now, I've got to tell you, one of the reasons why natural gas has spiked is we're sending off a lot of natural gas overseas. Tellurian's got a very good setup, but if you want to get income and growth, Cheniere Energy Partners yields 6.7 percent and I like that one more." Clean Harbors Inc.: "I think that [CEO] Alan McKim has done a remarkable job. I like the stock, it's anti-cyclical, and I say buy, buy, buy!" Democrat and first-time candidate Andy Kim is the apparent winner of New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District and will unseat Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur, according to NBC News. The race was one of the key contests in the Democrats' bid to seize the House majority. The campaign centered on the GOP congressman's support of tax cuts and Obamacare repeal, attracting national media attention weeks before the election. Millions of dollars in attack ads poured in from outside groups as the two candidates sparred in debates and traded jabs on Twitter. Kim's projected victory comes two years after an election where Democrats barely put up a fight, as MacArthur was so well-entrenched in his district. Kim has a background in national security and launched his campaign in reaction to MacArthur's central role in supporting a repeal of Obamacare. This swing district voted for former President Barack Obama both times and for President Donald Trump in 2016. The seat had been mostly held by a Republican for the past two decades. Political organizations rated the district a toss-up, and polling was mixed between both candidates showing a single-digit lead. Trump's unpopularity in the district made life harder for MacArthur, who voted in favor of the 2017 tax bill and took part in the GOP's effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. MacArthur argued that his votes on those two issues were just a part of a broader career built on bipartisanship, and that his work on local issues, such as financing for a military base in the district, will mean more than the political polarization coming from the Trump administration. Harley Rouda, Democrat running for California's 48th Congressional district seat in Congress, listens to speakers during his campaign rally in Laguna Beach, Calif., on May 20, 2018. Democratic candidate and businessman Harley Rouda is the apparent winner in a hotly contested race in California's historically conservative 48th Congressional District, unseating longtime Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, according to NBC News. Rouda ran a well-financed campaign and saw his support rise in the polls after he and Democrat-backed PAC ads attacked Rohrabacher's record and his pro-Russia views. The 15-term congressman from Orange County previously defended Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and gave Russia a pass on interference in the 2016 presidential election. "Congressman Rohrabacher has not conceded the race," Rohrabacher campaign spokesman Dale Neugebauer told CNBC in an email late Wednesday. He said there still are "200,000 ballots remaining to be tallied in Orange County." In the last few weeks of the congressional campaign, Rohrabacher tried to shift attention away from his ties to Russia by launching an ad casting himself as a health-care advocate and fighter of pre-existing medical conditions. Yet the incumbent was called out by the Rouda campaign for having voted more than a dozen times to get rid of protections from pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act. Rouda, who supports Medicare for all residents, raised nearly $3.2 million in the third quarter, or about 7 times the amount Rohrabacher collected, according to federal election records. Rouda, a real estate developer and attorney, spent about $1.6 million of his own money on the race and received more than $4 million in donations in the final weeks for ad buys from billionaire Michael Bloomberg, the former New York mayor. Republicans have a nearly 10 percentage point registration advantage in the district, but there have been changing demographics, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won there by nearly 2 points in 2016. The district runs along the Orange County coastline, from Seal Beach to Laguna Niguel. -Updated: Adds comment from Rep. Dana Rohrabacher campaign. Michael Avenatti, the attorney for Stormy Daniels, talks during a press conference outside federal courthouse in Los Angeles on July 27, 2018. Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Wednesday. LAPD Tweet Avenatti's arrest was on a felony allegation, multiple senior law enforcement officials told NBC News. The sources said they expect Avenatti to be booked into a local jail later Wednesday evening. The officials said officers in the West Los Angeles division took an incident report involving an allegation of domestic violence from an unidentified victim. In a statement from his law office, Avenatti denied ever being "physically abusive," and called the felony allegation against him "completely bogus." "I wish to thank the hard working men and woman of the LAPD for their professionalism they were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me," he said. "I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated." Avenatti's wife, Lisa Storie-Avenatti, denied reports that the alleged domestic violence incident pertained to her in a statement to Buzzfeed from her lawyers. "My client and I have reviewed the TMZ article alleging that my client, Lisa Storie-Avenatti, has been injured and that Michael Avenatti has been arrested as a result of some incident that occurred between them. This article is not true as it pertains to my client," the statement said. "Ms. Storie-Avenatti was not subject to any such incident on Tuesday night. Further, she was not at Mr. Avenatti's apartment on the date that this alleged incident occurred. My client states that there has never been domestic violence in her relationship with Michael and that she has never known Michael to be physically violent toward anyone." Avenatti has become one of President Donald Trump's most vocal critics, gaining visibility by representing adult film star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump over a 2016 hush money payment. Daniels did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Amid his rising celebrity, Avenatti has also said he's considered running for president against Trump in 2020. Avenatti, 47, has never held public office. In August, Avenatti started The Fight PAC, a political action committee that he said would raise money to help fellow Democrats. A representative for the PAC did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment regarding Avenatti's arrest. The lawyer's presidential ambitions were tested in October amid a slew of troubling headlines. A judged ruled that Avenatti would have to pay his former law partner $4.5 million in back pay. He was also harshly criticized for remarks he made in a Time magazine profile in which he said the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee should be a white man. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, also referred Avenatti and one of his clients, Julie Swetnick, to the FBI for criminal prosecution. Grassley alleged that Avenatti and Swetnick made "materially false statements" about Brett Kavanaugh during the Senate confirmation hearing for the then-Supreme Court nominee. Earlier Wednesday, The Seattle Times reported that the California State Bar recently cleared Avenatti of claims of professional misconduct during the period when the lawyer ran Tully's, a Seattle-based coffee chain. CNBC's Dan Mangan and Christina Wilkie contributed reporting. A Cal Fire firefighter monitors a burning home as the Camp Fire moves through the area on November 9, 2018 in Magalia, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images An attorney for a group of victims of the so-called Camp Fire in Northern California on Wednesday alleged that there's "pretty overwhelming" evidence that PG&E was at fault for the deadliest wildfire in the state's history. The blaze, which has burned an estimated 135,000 acres, has been blamed for at least 56 fatalities and the loss of nearly 9,000 structures. Cal Fire has stated that the cause of the fire remains "under investigation." "In this case we know an awful lot," said Oakland attorney Michael Danko, who represents a group of plaintiffs who lost homes and possessions in the town of Paradise and the surrounding area. He said information includes witnesses as well as a PG&E safety incident report made to the California Public Utilities Commission about problems with equipment near where the fire is believed to have started. The lawsuit against PG&E was filed in San Francisco Superior Court and accuses the utility of negligence in the destructive wildfire. The lawsuit includes about two dozen plaintiffs and seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial. The Camp Fire destroyed much of the town of Paradise as well as portions of nearby Concow and Magalia in Butte County. Authorities say 130 people remain missing. "Rather than spend the money it obtains from customers for infrastructure maintenance and safety, PG&E funnels this funding to boost its own corporate profits and compensation," according to the complaint. PG&E spokesperson Mayra Tostado said in an email Wednesday that the San Francisco-based utility giant is aware of lawsuits in connection with the fire and added, "It's important to remember that the cause has yet to be determined." The utility warned in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Nov. 9 it could potentially face "significant liability in excess of insurance coverage." PG&E's stock price has fallen nearly 50 percent in value since the Camp Fire broke out on Nov. 8. That includes Wednesday's drop of about 21 percent. "We have the neighbor who got the email concerning the sparking wires," Danko said. "We have the witnesses who saw the fire start on a transmission line. And most importantly, we have the report that PG&E was required to make by law to the CPUC, reporting an outage minutes before the witnesses saw the fire start under the transmission lines. So the evidence already is pretty overwhelming." An electric safety incident report filed Nov. 8 by PG&E indicated that the utility's transmission line "experienced an outage" that morning. Then in the afternoon PG&E "observed by aerial patrol damage to a transmission tower" located about "one mile north-east of the town of Pulga, in the area of the Camp Fire." SAP's $8 billion acquisition of SurveyMonkey competitor Qualtrics has breathed new life into the survey software space, Zander Lurie, the CEO of SurveyMonkey parent SVMK Inc., told CNBC on Wednesday. "SAP's a big company, and I think this $8 billion acquisition validated just how big this category is," Lurie told CNBC's Jim Cramer in an exclusive interview. "This is a multi-multi-billion-dollar global category. There are hundreds of thousands of organizations who need to buy enterprise software to measure the sentiment of their employees [and] their customers." Speaking after SVMK's third-quarter earnings report sent shares of the software provider up over 13 percent in Wednesday's trading session, Lurie added that he was "all in favor" of the price SAP paid for Qualtrics. Qualtrics, a direct SurveyMonkey competitor, was reportedly planning to go public at a value of roughly $6 billion before SAP stepped in. Now, Qualtrics' $8 billion price tag may make investors think twice about how to value SVMK, which currently has a $1.6 billion market cap. SAP declined to comment on this story. SAP's size also didn't seem to worry the SVMK chief, who said on "Mad Money" that even Alphabet's Google, which offers its own data-collection software, "is not a competitor." "If you look at our competitor [Qualtrics] here, they're going to be a division of SAP, a large European company," he told Cramer. "We're steering into where Microsoft and Salesforce and Adobe and Google have real market leadership. I think, from a cultural standpoint, it's going to be a real advantage for us." Salesforce Ventures invested in SVMK at the initial public offering price of $12 a share, close to where the stock closed on Wednesday. The support has proved lucrative for SVMK, which is "going to school on [Salesforce.com chief Marc] Benioff's playbook" and partnering with the cloud giant's customers on product development, Lurie said. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Alex Wong | Getty Images Just days before Amazon announced the big winners of its HQ2 sweepstakes, CEO Jeff Bezos had to address a separate but related concern among employees: Where is all this headed? At an all-hands meeting last Thursday in Seattle, an employee asked Bezos about Amazon's future. Specifically, the questioner wanted to know what lessons Bezos has learned from the recent bankruptcies of Sears and other big retailers. "Amazon is not too big to fail," Bezos said, in a recording of the meeting that CNBC has heard. "In fact, I predict one day Amazon will fail. Amazon will go bankrupt. If you look at large companies, their lifespans tend to be 30-plus years, not a hundred-plus years." The key to prolonging that demise, Bezos continued, is for the company to "obsess over customers" and to avoid looking inward, worrying about itself. "If we start to focus on ourselves, instead of focusing on our customers, that will be the beginning of the end," he said. "We have to try and delay that day for as long as possible." Bezos' comments come at a time of unprecedented success at Amazon, with its core retail business continuing to grow while the company is winning the massive cloud-computing market and gaining rapid adoption of its Alexa voice assistant in the home. But some employees are expressing concern about the pace of expansion. Amazon's workforce has grown by more than 20-fold in the last eight years to over 600,000 employees, and the stock price has more than quadrupled since 2013. The company has caught the ire of President Trump, who has employed personal attacks against Bezos, and is now catching flack for demanding that cities spend a year coming up with a roster of incentives attractive enough to woo Amazon's HQ2. This week, the company announced it will open offices in New York's Long Island City and the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., with plans to add 25,000 jobs in each location. This isn't the first time that Bezos has addresssed the issue of his company's scale with employees. In an earlier all-hands meeting in March, Bezos was asked whether tech companies like Amazon need to be more closely regulated because of their sizable market power and influence. "It's a fact that we're a large company," Bezos said, according to a recording. "It's reasonable for large institutions of any kind, whether it be companies or governments, to be scrutinized." Several Amazon employees, who agreed to speak with CNBC on condition that they not be named because they're not authorized to talk about the issue, said that government regulation and the potential for antitrust violations are big concerns among staffers as they look at the company's future. Amazon is expected to capture 48 percent of all online sales in the U.S. this year, up from 43 percent in 2017, according to eMarketer. Its AWS service is by far the leader in cloud computing infrastructure, capturing about 34 percent of the U.S. market, Synergy Research Group said in a recent report. An Amazon spokesperson didn't comment on the all-hands meeting. Regarding potential antitrust issues, the representative pointed to a Wall Street Journal interview with Jeff Wilke, Amazon's CEO of the worldwide consumer division, in which Wilke said the company is engaged in a diverse group of businesses and accounts for "less than 1 percent" of the global retail market. GoPaisa recently conducted a trend survey of online buyer behavior during the Festival Season Sale, which revealed a few interesting insights. Technology products and accessories registered the highest quotient of growth compared to 2017, along with home appliances, groceries and beauty products. As compared to the online sale period in 2017, smartphone sales have seen 100% growth during the corresponding period this year. With a high number of brands entering the segment with quality budget smartphones, many first time smartphone buyers have entered the market, expanding the consumer base substantially. Even other tech products, such as laptops have witnessed healthy growth, registering an upsurge of 150% as against the amount of sales during the same time last year. HP, Dell and Lenovo have been the most sought-after brands under the INR 30K price range. Another sector which saw an increase in online sales was groceries which registered a growth of approximately 200% as that of last year due the heavy discounting offered by top brands to capture the market share and increase sales numbers. It is also the most popular segment to attract first-time online shoppers or reticent customers. Home appliances and beauty products round off the list of popular product segments, growing by approximately 70% and 125% respectively, as compared to last year. In a city wise breakdown, it was observed that Hyderabad (9.5%), Bangalore (9%), Mumbai (8%), New Delhi (6.6%) and Pune (6.6%) were the top cities that contributed to purchases during this years festive sales. Further, tier 2 cities that contributed below 1% in 2017 have shown tremendous growth this year with Patna (3.4%), Kochi (2.6%), Indore (4.6%) and Sonipat (2.5%) being the areas of maximum increased traction. Commenting on the trends, Ms. Ankita Jain, Cofounder, GoPaisa said, The Great Indian Festive Season is always a time for a lot of purchases, and online buying has become the favourite new way to shop for the modern Indian buyers. The 3Cs-convenience, credibility and cashbacks have made e-purchases a household pastime. This festive season, tech products have again ruled the roost when it comes to popular purchases, as various platforms shower users with a lot of substantial discounts, deals and cashbacks to make the festival season all the more enjoyable! A startling trend that was reported was that although the usual age-group that shops the most is between 25-34 years, this year a spike was noticed in the shopping trends from the 55-63 year age bracket, indicating the fact that senior citizens are also quickly jumping onboard the online shopping juggernaut. @Technuter.com News Service Pro-EU protesters demonstrate against Brexit with flags outside the House of Parliament on November 13, 2018 in London, England. The former prime minister of Italy has told CNBC he fears for stability in Europe, and Italy in particular, should there be a chaotic outcome to Brexit negotiations. U.K. Prime Minister, Theresa May, outlined her draft deal to take Britain and Northern Ireland out of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday evening to her most senior colleagues. The proposal has triggered four resignations from her government, most notably Dominic Raab, the minister in charge of negotiating Brexit. Speaking to CNBC Thursday, the former Prime Minister of Italy, Enrico Letta, said an unruly departure by the U.K. from the EU could roil European markets and further destabilize his own country. "There is a link, because the Italian situation is a very unstable one, a very complicated one," Letta said before adding, "Frankly speaking I am scared of an unstable storm, a complicated situation from abroad that can bring instability to the markets and then to Italy too." Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks to the media from her Toronto office following President Trump's exemption for Canada and Mexico of steel and aluminum tarrifs. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Thursday welcomed U.S. Treasury sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their role in the killing last month of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and said Canada was weighing similar action. "Canada welcomes the U.S. action," Freeland told reporters after touring a factory in Port Colborne, Ontario, adding that Canada will be "actively considering" similar sanctions in coming days. Khashoggi was murdered at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, and the U.S. Treasury on Thursday announced sanctions targeting Saudi nationals, not the Riyadh government. The sanctions limit access to the U.S. financial system and freeze the individuals' assets. Freeland said Canada is considering the same kind of targeted sanctions implemented under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised there would be "consequences" for the murder, and he has said Ottawa is reviewing export permits to Saudi Arabia. Opposition critics and human rights groups say that if Trudeau is serious about standing up for human rights, he should cancel a $13 billion contract for armored vehicles built in Canada by U.S.-based General Dynamics. Florida Governor Rick Scott greets people as he makes a campaign stop at Chico's Cuban Restaurant where he received an endorsement from the Florida Police Chiefs Association on June 14, 2018 in Hialeah, Florida. The deadline for recounting ballots in three contentious statewide races in Florida has passed, yet the outstanding races for governor and senator have to yet to be decided. The Senate race, between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, is now headed to a hand recount. The state's 67 counties had until 3 p.m. Thursday to complete counting more than eight million votes. Officials were racing until the last minute to finish statewide recounts in the contentious governor and senate races by a Thursday afternoon deadline. A federal judge denied a request to extend the deadlines just hours before it approached. Earlier Thursday, a federal judge ordered that voters in Florida whose ballots were cast aside due to signature mismatches will have until Saturday to fix the problem. Affected voters are required to provide identification as well as affidavits. Scott's campaign said it would appeal the decision. In Palm Beach County, a heavily populated Democratic area, Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher said that votes were not counted in time. Bucher said that despite a "heroic effort," the states third largest county could not overcome faulty equipment. That will leave the county's results as of Saturday in effect. State officials ordered a hand recount in the tight Senate race between Scott and Nelson, the first in Florida history. A hand count is triggered if the margin is within a quarter of one percent. Scott was leading Nelson by less than 13,000 votes. In the governor race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum, DeSantis led by about 33,000 votes as of Thursday morning, about .41 percent. The recounts have attracted nationwide scrutiny in a state with a population of more than 20 million people. The electorally crucial southeastern state where a 2000 recount and subsequent legal battle determined the presidency is no stranger to high-profile recounts. In echoes of that 2000 fight, in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore, Republicans have accused Democrats of attempting to steal the race. President Donald Trump demanded on Monday that the tight races be called in favor of Republicans because an "honest vote count is no longer possible." Republican attacks escalated after the agency that oversees elections in Florida asked law enforcement to investigate allegations that the state Democratic Party had sent mailers with incorrect information to voters in four counties. It was not clear how many votes were affected. Dream retirements can vary, from relaxing on the front porch to swimming in a pine-circled lake. What most dreams don't include? Money worries. Yet that's a top anxiety in retirement, with most people concerned about paying for health care. But there's another way. Instead of staying home and trying to cut costs so you can survive, why not move overseas? You could save millions on your cost of living, according to a report from InternationalLiving.com, which surveyed several couples who found overseas bargains when they relocated. Cheaper housing. Cheaper health care. Cheaper meals out. Cheaper travel. And maybe best of all, cheaper luxuries. Cynthia and Edd Staton Source: Cynthia and Edd Staton Edd and Cynthia Staton say moving to Ecuador rescued their retirement savings, which had been crushed in the financial crisis of 2008. The Statons, who have written several books about their journey, live large in Cuenca, Ecuador. A weekly housekeeper is at the top of the list of luxury items that wouldn't have been affordable in the U.S. Their normal routine includes massages, facials and mani-pedis services many people use only for special occasions. They also found huge discounts on everyday costs. Housing is remarkably cheaper, Edd Staton said. The couple rents a 4-bedroom luxurious penthouse apartment with 4 bathrooms for $700 a month. Since the Statons are both over age 65, they pay 15 cents for local transportation (which would otherwise cost 30 cents), and a crosstown cab ride is between $2 and $3. They pay less than $60 for the month's utility bills, including electricity, water and sewer, and gas. Perhaps most surprising was that when costs do rise, it's by a tiny amount. "When a head of broccoli is 70 cents instead of 60 cents, that's a big percentage increase, but so what?" Staton said. Before you go Although it's possible to survive in many countries using just English, it's always a great idea to learn some basics of the language of your new home. You'll have a much better chance of integrating and feeling more at home, says the website Expat Info Desk. Your research should include looking into what type of visa would best suit your situation. Ecuador, for instance, has seven types of visas for permanent residents, according to the website Gringos Abroad. Finding good health care is a concern for most retirees. The website Live and Invest Overseas is a good resource for information on health-care systems and insurance access in more than 30 countries. If you want to check out local prices in cities around the world, visit Expatistan or Numbeo. Health care is a tremendous bargain. "Our $81 per-month health insurance premium is for 100 percent coverage with zero deductible and no restrictions for age or pre-existing conditions," Staton said. After a recent health issue, the Statons were surprised when the doctor stopped by their apartment to see how Cynthia was feeling. Since their monthly budget is less than $2,000, the Statons afford all this on their Social Security alone. They do not have to touch their savings, which allows interest to grow and compound. Another surprising advantage of living abroad is the generous return on investments. Using a local financial institution, "we have one-year government-insured CDs earning 9.5 percent per year," Staton said. "You can live for more or less than this, depending on the location and lifestyle choices," Staton said. "In any case it's important to have some amount of savings to draw on in case of emergencies or unexpected expenses." Tips on planning Amy and Bill Keane had long dreamed of a "see the world" retirement, since busy careers limited their vacation time. "We've been living that dream now for nearly seven years," Amy Keane said. The Keanes visited Ecuador twice before deciding to move to Cuenca. On each trip, there were meetings with realtors, visa attorneys, insurance brokers and other expats. They went grocery shopping for item-by-item comparisons. The trips weren't really vacations, but true research. Keane says she and her husband like having a solid game plan. "We try hard to get questions answered upfront." Ecuador was an easy transition the country uses the U.S. dollar with a low cost of living and a large North American community. Local Ecuadorians are very welcoming. But the Keanes missed the beach and got tired of the high altitude, so they moved on to Europe. More in Personal Finance: A Caribbean island retirement can cost as little as $24,000 a year Want to be rich someday? Do these three things The young and financially independent share their tips for retiring early Their European circuit of Spain, France and Portugal brought them to Cascais, also known as the Portuguese Riviera. Ecuador was a relative bargain, with $50,000 to $60,000 enough to support everything they like. "In Portugal, it's running 30 percent to 40 percent more over the past three years," Keane said, mostly because of euro-dollar exchange rate, and their high rental costs. The couple chose to live at the high end. Keane says it's likely other expats spend far less than they do, and others much more. "Cascais/Estoril is the No. 1 most expensive place to live in the entire country," Keane said. It's not easy to directly compare their living costs with what they spent in the U.S. seven years ago. For one thing, they were still both working. "I would imagine that health-care costs would be significantly more in the U.S., even with Medicare," Keane said. "We've toyed around with some what-if numbers, and it looked like we'd need to budget another 20 percent per year in the U.S. for a similar standard of living." The Keanes pay just more than 3,000 euros (about $3,400) a year for private health insurance. The coverage is excellent and complete. "You can't buy insurance like this in the States anymore," Keane said. "No pre-existing conditions and an outstanding network of doctors and hospitals. We pay for our limited drugs out of pocket they are that cheap." Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill April 11, 2018. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday said the company will establish an independent body to oversee user appeals of content removal, one day after a bombshell report that detailed how the company avoided and deflected blame in the public conversation around its handling of Russian interference and other misuses of its social network. The move could help Facebook avoid accusations of bias as it removes material deemed problematic, like fake news and hate speech. Some conservative groups and lawmakers have accused Facebook and other social media outlets of censoring politically conservative points of view, a charge that Facebook denies. "I have come to believe that we shouldn't be making so many important decisions on free expression and safety on our own," Zuckerberg said on a call Thursday. The independent body will make its decisions in a transparent and binding manner, Zuckerberg said in a post. The company will begin piloting the new body in early 2019 with the hope of establishing it in full by the end of next year. This body "will prevent the concentration of too much decision-making within our teams," Zuckerberg said in his post. Facebook does not yet know how members of the body will be selected or how it will ensure the body's independence. "There's still a number of important questions to work through here," Zuckerberg said on the call. Zuckerberg's comments come one day after a report by the New York Times that detailed how COO Sheryl Sandberg and other Facebook execs tried to downplay and spin bad news. Among other things, Facebook worked with Definers Public Affairs, a Washington-based public relations firm, which reportedly criticizing the business practices of rivals Apple and Google while downplaying concerns about Facebook's own problems. Facebook ended its relationship with Definers Public Affairs on Wednesday night, the company announced on Thursday. The company on Thursday also released its latest report outlining its effort to remove harmful content, such as fake accounts, hate speech and graphic violence, from its social network. Ford is road testing its autonomous vehicles in partnership with the city of Miami, as the legacy automaker hopes to capitalize on the emerging technology in ride-share and business delivery. The automaker has been testing a Ford Fusion equipped with autonomous vehicle tech, or AV, in Miami since February. It chose the city because of its congestion and the unpredictability of the traffic there. Tests are also being done in three other cities: Pittsburgh, Detroit and Washington, D.C. Ford has said it plans to begin selling self-driving cars by 2021, but it is also testing out ways it can use these vehicles to carry people and things. Sherif Marakby, CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles, told CNBC the company is focused on profitability and scalability. "We're laser focused on profitability," said Marakby, who said autonomous vehicles provide transportation at a lower cost than current vehicles. "While the vehicle is expensive, initially we're deploying it in service so the cost per mile for transportation for a person or a business is going to be lower and will be profitable for us," he said. Ford has said it plans to invest a total of $4 billion into AV technology through 2023. On Wednesday, the company announced a partnership with Walmart and Postmates to collaborate on a delivery service that will one day use autonomous vehicles. During a test ride with CNBC, Ford used a car that was autonomous, however, it did travel along a predetermined and pre-programmed route. Ford also manned the vehicle with a safety driver, whose hands hovered over the wheel, which the company said was a "precaution." French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire slammed pro-Brexit politicians in the U.K., claiming they lied to the public in the run-up to the 2016 referendum. Speaking to CNBC's Karen Tso at the Women's Forum in Paris on Thursday, Le Maire said that Brexit was a "historical mistake." "I think many British politicians have been liars and lied to British people by explaining that it was simple to go out of the European Union without having strong negative consequences on the current daily life of the British people," he said. "Now you are before the truth and the truth is that going out of the European Union, going out of the (EU's) single market, going out of one of the most important economic markets of the world is a mistake with very strong negative consequences," he added. Although La Maire didn't name any politicians by name, many other officials have pointed the finger at prominent Brexiteers like former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and current Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove. Both spearheaded the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum and were severely lambasted for marketing drives that promoted how much cash the U.K.'s health service could be given under a Brexit scenario. Both Johnson and Gove have previously denied they made false claims to the public and the former has directly defended the promises Vote Leave made on the health service in particular. A spokesperson for Johnson was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. On Wednesday, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said she had obtained enough support from her senior ministers for a draft Brexit deal to move forward. But market watchers say there are doubts over whether the draft withdrawal agreement will get parliamentary approval in the country. In short, the draft withdrawal agreement, which runs to 585 pages, envisages the U.K. and EU agreeing a trade deal by the end of 2020, during a 21-month transition period after Brexit although this can be extended if more time is needed. "When you are lying to the people, there always comes a moment when you have to pay and explain to people that it wasn't a right choice. I hope in 15 years British people will realize that it is in their interest to go back to the European Union," La Maire added on Thursday morning. He also said the U.K. wanted to exit the bloc but still hold onto the benefits of the Union. "If you want to go out, you go out, that's your sovereign decision, even if you regret it," he said. "From a personal point of view, I do not see the possibility of going back to a second referendum. In 10 to 15 years there will be a new referendum when British people realize that it is in their interest to face the competition of the United States and to face the competition of China, to be together with Germany, with France, with Italy, with Belgium to face the challenges of the new world." The president of George Soros' foundation blasted Facebook executives over allegations that the company had funded a Republican-opposition research firm to discredit Soros in part by leveraging anti-Semitic sentiment toward the billionaire liberal donor. The New York Times initially reported the allegations Wednesday evening as part of an investigation into Facebook's handling of data exposure through the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the spread of false information linked to Russia. According to the Times investigation, Facebook engaged Washington-based consultant Definers Public Affiars to help maintain its image as it trudged through a wave of negative coverage. The Times said reporters received a research document from Definers after the House hearing this summer that suggested Soros was behind a movement against Facebook. An official from Soros' foundation reportedly told the Times it had not supported the "Freedom from Facebook" group targeted by the company and had not made grants in support of campaigns against Facebook. Soros has long been a target by the political right and was one of the erecipients of a pipe bomb last month that were also sent to many liberal politicians. Following the Times investigation, Facebook ended its relationship with Definers, Facebook said in a blog post Thursday. In a letter addressed to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and copying CEO Mark Zuckerberg along with several Facebook investors and Washington politicians, Open Society Foundations President Patrick Gaspard denounced Facebook's alleged efforts to disparage Soros. "As you know, there is a concerted right-wing effort the world over to demonize Mr. Soros and his foundations, which I leadan effort which has contributed to death threats and the delivery of a pipe bomb to Mr. Soros' home," Gaspard wrote in the letter, which was also posted on his Twitter account. "You are no doubt also aware that much of this hateful and blatantly false and Anti-Semitic information is spread via Facebook." Gaspard said that beyond Soros, "Your methods threaten the very values underpinning our democracy," and asked to speak with Sandberg in person about how Facebook plans to move forward. In the blog post Thursday, Facebook said there were "a number of innacuracies" in the article and said that while it did hire Definers to look into who funded an anti-Facebook group, "To suggest that this was an anti-Semitic attack is reprehensible and untrue." Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. Here is the full text of the letter from Patrick Gaspard: The Huawei AI Cube on display at the IFA 2018 consumer electronics show in Berlin, Germany. Huawei is working on its own voice assistant that works outside of China, potentially pitting it against software produced by Google and Amazon. In China, Huawei has its own voice assistant called Xiaoyi which operates in its smart speaker called the AI Cube and its smartphones. But it is only for the Chinese market. Now the technology giant is working on a voice assistant that will work outside China. "We are using our own in China, in (the) future we will also have our own outside of China," Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business, told CNBC in an exclusive interview. "In the beginning, we are mainly using Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa" for its AI Cube and smartphones, he said. "We need more time to build our AI (artificial intelligence) services ... Later we will expand this outside of China." The CEO made clear that it will continue working in partnership with both Amazon and Google. However, any step outside China could put it in direct competition with the two U.S. tech giants, both of which have their voice assistants integrated with various hardware. Reached by CNBC, Google declined to comment. Amazon was not immediately available for comment. PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Elizabeth Marie Barhonovich, 29, stood before Judge Robert Krebs on Thursday afternoon and pled guilty to second-degree murder the death of her infant son after leaving him in a car experts say was 130 degrees inside on June 14, 2018. 10-month-old Kash Barhonovich was left in his mother's vehicle for an undetermined amount of time at their Arthur Avenue home in Vancleave, according to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell. Further investigation of the event showed investigators determined this was not an incident where the child was accidentally forgotten in the vehicle but found evidence that Barhonovich had been using drugs the day before and the day of the incident. According to jail records and Harrison County police logs, Barhonovich has an extensive history of encounters with law enforcement. In February 2012, she was arrested in Pascagoula for possession of paraphernalia, trespassing and petit larceny. In June 2013, she was arrested on DUI-1st offense, improper equipment and driving with a suspended license in D'Iberville. Three months later, Barhonovich was arrested again for DUI in D'Iberville. She was convicted on both DUI charges. March 2015, she was indicted on a burglary charge in Biloxi. Ultimately, she was convicted and given a seven-year sentence. That conviction is a holdover which Bahonovich was on parole at the time of the murder arrest, according to the JCSO. Judge Krebs asked Barhonovich if she was pleading guilty for no other reason other than for that reason to which she responded, "that's correct -- I did leave him in the car and bottom line, it is my fault." Barhonovich was sentenced to 20 years to serve in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, a fine in the amount of $1,000 and court costs. Her sentence will run consecutively to a prison sentence she is currently serving in Harrison County. According to District Atty. Angel Myers McIlrath, this was not a mistake made by Barhonovich. "We have a mother who was at the tail end of a days long drug binge and she chose drugs over her child and her child died for her addiction," McIlrath said. "Grief and remorse don't excuse the deadly decisions she made that day. This is tragic in every way, and it is a tragedy that could have been avoided." This Page has moved to a new address: Sorry for the inconvenience Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service Adnan Abidi | Reuters India is now the world's fastest-growing major economy, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won praise for shepherding that momentum. But the picture for the South Asian giant isn't all rosy, economists told CNBC: As impressive as the country's growth has been, it has not seen that prosperity evenly distributed. That's especially relevant for the prime minister, who is up for reelection in 2019, because inclusive growth had been a major promise during his 2014 campaign. "The Indian economy has shown sustained strong growth under the Modi government, with GDP growth of around 7 percent every year in fiscal 2017-18 and similar growth momentum forecast for 2018-19," Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at data firm IHS Markit, told CNBC. Rising inequality A 2018 report from international nonprofit Oxfam looked at different assessments from before and after Modi's administration to conclude that more and more of the country's income is going "to the top 10% and top 1% of the population." Overall inequality also appears to have grown, according to Credit Suisse's Global Wealth Report, which said the 2018 Gini coefficient for wealth in India rose to 0.854 from 0.83 in 2017 and 0.804 in 2011. The closer a country's Gini value gets to 1.0, the more unequally distributed is its economy. "On most indicators, India is now among the countries with the highest level of inequality. But the analysis also shows that unlike most countries which started with high inequality, inequality in India has continued to rise," Oxfam said. "In the context of the acceleration of growth rate of Indian economy, the rise in inequality raises issues of the distribution of gains from the growth." Oxfam separately reported that its online surveys showed 73 percent of respondents in India said "the gap between the rich and the poor needs to be addressed urgently or very urgently." Jayati Ghosh, professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at Jawaharlal Nehru University, blamed longstanding inequality in the country on a lack of political will and inefficient domestic policies: "Inequality is a political choice. The hold of the elites and powerful lobbies over government policy is very strong," she said. Modi, meanwhile, campaigned in 2014 on the slogan "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," which translates in English to "together with all, development for all." His party manifesto from that election year included some ambitious goals for improving the standard of living for all Indians by creating jobs, increasing profits for farmers, eradicating corruption, curbing inflation and more. Since coming to power, Modi has taken public steps toward keeping some of those promises and he's made some new ones along the way while others have seen fewer headlines. Here's how experts think the Indian leader has fared so far. Attacking 'black money' Modi made a promise to the electorate in 2014: "I will bring back every rupee stored away in foreign banks and ensure it is used for the rehabilitation of the poor." The prime minister took a huge step toward that goal in 2016 as he moved to demonetize the 500- and 1,000-rupee notes in order to tackle the problem of so-called black money. Undeclared, untaxed and potentially criminal money in the economy was believed to largely exist in big bills, and so the scheme was designed to draw that cash out of the shadows. The thought process was that many bills would not be exchanged, as criminals refused to declare their funds, and so those enterprises would lose out. Experts have been split on how successful the policy was in weeding out black money with some data showing India may failed in that regard and there have been questions about undesired consequences such as job losses and note shortages. "A major negative for PM Modi on the policy front was the demonetization debacle, with a poorly thought-out plan (which) was hastily implemented and created economic chaos for several months," Biswas said. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy estimated that about 1.5 million jobs were lost during January through April 2017, following the implementation of the policy in late 2016. Demonetization might not have been the right move for an economy that is largely cash based, according to Ghosh. "India is largely a cash-based economy. Many small businesses and people are cash dependent. Many ordinary Indian citizens lost their jobs due to demonetization. All while the billionaires with huge amounts of unaccounted money stashed away their money electronically," she told CNBC. The government has sought to highlight different reasons for yanking out 86 percent of the currency in circulation as evidence suggested the exercise did little to curb the amount of undeclared income in the country or stifle funding to terror groups. In recent months, government officials have cited a dramatic increase in online transactions in a traditionally cash-dependent economy as a notable achievement of the demonetization drive. On top of that, some have said the demonetization drive was not a total failure because it did bring some benefits to India's banking sector. Launching a new tax India's Parliament had for years been discussing the possibility of a Goods and Services Tax (GST) when Modi in 2017 passed a bill establishing such a levy. That move represented the prime minister keeping a promise: Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said in 2014 that it would overcome the bureaucratic deadlock and finally bring "on board all state governments in adopting GST." In addition to drawing in more government revenues, the measure hailed as the country's biggest tax reform in 70 years was also aimed at reducing illicit transactions. Although GST had been discussed for many years, "previous governments could not muster the political courage or will to implement this vitally important but politically challenging reform," said Prasenjit K. Basu, a Singapore-based economist and author of "Asia Reborn: A Continent Rises from the Ravages of Colonialism and War to a New Dynamism." Still, there have been criticisms about Modi's rollout of the new tax. Those center on how quickly the government implemented the GST in a business marketplace that was not well prepared to accommodate the procedural changes. For one, slow GST processes reportedly continue to hurt exporters, who are entitled to refunds. Exports in October declined 1.2 percent largely on account of the refund delays, according to an analysis posted on the website of the Reserve Bank of India. Although the Modi-led government had trumpeted the GST as a tax regime made efficient through digital platforms, it has suffered several hiccups on that front. For example, many exporters said they were unable to file refunds for input tax credit, which reportedly resulted in their funds being blocked in the initial months. "The GST policy was not implemented with the needed infrastructure in place. What would have taken other governments three years to gradually implement was rushed in India within months and that, too, to a less educated population," said Ghosh. Smaller local businesses were most vulnerable to bearing the taxes and additional costs from consulting accounting services, Ghosh added. If implemented well, however, the GST policy could ultimately bring benefits to the country. The tax regime "will help to boost Indian fiscal revenues over the medium to long term, as well as helping to improve industrial competitiveness by significantly lowering logistics costs for domestic manufacturing firms," Biswas said. Tax collections are rising as a share of GDP in the wake of demonetization and GST, according to both a government survey and private-sector analysis. Creating jobs The BJP said in its 2014 manifesto that it wanted to tackle the issue of joblessness and Modi reportedly promised that his administration would create 10 million jobs every year. Yet the labor market conditions have not charted a steady improvement under Modi: The country's unemployment rate reportedly hit a two-year high in October. Opposition politicians have seized on such issues to charge the prime minister with not fulfilling his promises on job creation. Modi, for his part, said earlier this year that the criticism was unfounded and he had succeeded in creating 10 million over a year. Opponents have argued about the validity of the prime minister's analysis leading to that figure. Unemployment in India has disproportionately hit young people. Despite 2015's overall unemployment level of 5 percent, 16 percent of youth and higher educated Indians were designated unemployed, according to a report by Azim Premji University. Modi's party's 2014 campaign manifesto had promised to boost labor-intensive sectors such as manufacturing to tackle the problem of employment. However, experts said the manufacturing sector has not been creating enough jobs and the industry faces foreign competition. The pressure Modi faces to create more jobs and fulfill his promise may increase as the rapidly growing youth population enters the workforce and as the manufacturing sector faces potential competition from other Asian giants. "Around 7.5 million young Indians will join the working age population each year over the next three decades, creating a tremendous policy challenge for the Indian government to generate sufficient new jobs to avoid rising unemployment and social unrest," Biswas said. Helping farmers The BJP made another 2014 promise to deliver inclusive development by improving infrastructure and boosting the farming sector in the rural regions of India. It said it would take steps to "enhance the profitability in agriculture, by ensuring a minimum of 50 percent profits over the cost of production." Modi had reportedly echoed that promise to raise the country's minimum support price (MSP) offered to farmers to 50 percent above the cost of production. However, months after being elected, the government reportedly argued it would not be able to enhance the MSP for agricultural produce to that level because prescribing such a high price was not possible and such a step would "distort markets" and "be counterproductive in some cases." Across the country, farmer protests have taken place demanding minimum income, minimum prices for crops and unconditional loan waivers. A man wearing PM Modis mask and beats a Tamil Nadu farmer during a play as part of protest seeking compensation for drought in the state, at Jantar Mantar on April 18, 2017 in New Delhi, India. Mohd Zakir | Hindustan Times | Getty Images Due to pressures from farmers and with the 2019 elections fast approaching the government substantially hiked the MSP for 14 summer-sown crops for the 2018-2019 marketing season. In October, the winter-sown crops saw their own minimum price hikes, with reports claiming that the move will ensure a minimum 50 percent return to farmers over the cost of production of those products. Recently, the prime minister reiterated his government's resolve to ensure MSP is 50 percent over the cost of production and forecast a doubling of farm incomes by 2022. Such pronouncements have been met with suspicion due to delays and the timing of such hikes a year before reelection. According to Ghosh, that's because farmers have been one of the group's most disappointed in the Modi administration. "The reason you are getting so many farmers protest is because farmers are possibly the worst cheated. It is the farmers and the youth that have been the most betrayed," she said. Boosting financial inclusion Other than promises in the agricultural sector, Modi also made pledged to push for greater financial inclusion: In August 2014, he promised greater access to financial services for Indians who did not have a bank account. That promise has seen real progress, observers said. Compared to mid-2014, when 60 percent of households did not have access to a basic bank account, the government has since extended basic banking services to a large portion of households that had never previously held a bank account. Experts praised that reform, noting that it allows government benefits to move directly into the millions of new accounts. "There could hardly be a more inclusive reform than this," Basu said. During a keynote address this week at the Singapore FinTech festival, Modi described India's progress in bringing financial inclusion to the most remote villages making it a reality for 1.3 billion Indians. Such a feat he described "was not easy in a country of India's size." Establishing 'Modicare' Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, the deputy chief of the government's cyber security strategy office has provoked astonishment by admitting he has never used a computer in his professional life. In a stunning admission, Japan's new minister in charge of cybersecurity has admitted that he has never used a computer. During a question and answer session Yoshitaka Sakurada told a Lower House cabinet committee meeting that he had never found the need to use one during his career. "I don't use computers because since I was 25 I have been in a position of authority where secretaries and employees handle such tasks for me," he said according to the Japan Times. The Associated Press added that the 68-year-old was equally uncertain when asked about cybersecurity at nuclear power plants, appearing to not know what a USB drive is. Lawmakers reportedly laughed at his replies, which were broadcast live on national TV. Sakurada has been in office just over a month after being appointed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as part of a cabinet reshuffle. For more on this story, please click here. WATCH: How the dark web became the platform for all things illegal Michael Avenatti speaks to the media outside the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division after being released from police custody following his arrest on a felony domestic violence charge, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Los Angeles. Porn star Stormy Daniels on Thursday said she is holding off on making judgments about the "serious and very troubling" domestic violence allegations that led to the arrest of her controversial attorney Michael Avenatti, and urged the rest of the public to likewise not rush to conclusions. But Daniels also warned that she will drop Avenatti as her lawyer if these allegations "prove true." Daniels' comments to NBC News came a day after Avenatti was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge by Los Angeles police. Avenatti, who became nationally famous for handling Daniels' legal issues related to her purported ex-lover President Donald Trump, on Thursday strongly denied he had ever been violent toward a woman as his first and second wives rallied to his defense. "I want to be clear: I DID NOT commit domestic violence nor have I ever committed domestic violence," Avenatti said in a tweet Thursday. "I did not strike any woman, nor have I ever." Avenatti's first and second wives said he had never been violent to either of them or to anyone else. Daniels, in a statement, said, "These are serious and obviously very troubling allegations, but right now that is all they are: allegations." "We should all reserve judgment until the investigation an investigation Michael has said he welcomes is complete, and that's what I'm going to do," Daniels said. "But of course I do not condone violence against women and if these allegations prove true I will be seeking new representation." Daniels gave a talk Thursday in England at the Oxford Union debating society at Oxford University. The Oxford Union, in its description of Daniels' appearance, said, "Her talk is entitled Sex, Guns & Other Fluff: How Porn Can Set You Free, and she will argue that stigmatizing the adult industry and people who work in it is bad for society." Tweet In his own tweet Thursday morning, Avenatti compared the allegation against him to a recent unsubstantiated claim by 20-year-old internet provocateur Jacob Wohl that special counsel Robert Mueller had committed sexual misconduct against a woman in 2010. Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election that sent Trump to the White House. Twitter Wohl's purported private investigative company Surefire Intelligence whose original phone number connected to the house of Wohl's mother tweeted Wednesday after Avenatti's arrest that "Surefire Intelligence strikes again." Tweet Trump supporter Wohl replied to Avenatti's claim Thursday morning by calling the lawyer "a SICKO" in a tweet for implying Wohl was somehow involved in Avenatti's arrest. Wohl told CNBC he contacted police to report "Michael Avenatti's criminal threats against me," and he provided CNBC with the number for that report. Irvine, California, police said they took a report with that same number Thursday. Mueller's spokesman, Peter Carr, last month said the allegations "that women were offered money to make false claims" about Mueller had been referred to the FBI for investigation. The 47-year-old Avenatti was booked by LA police Wednesday afternoon on a charge of felony intimate partner violence. Avenatti was released within several hours after posting $50,000 bail. Afterward, he said any accusations about him of physical abuse are "fabricated, and meant to do harm to my reputation." The attorney, who is considering a run for president in 2020, is due to make his first court appearance in the case on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles Superior Court. Police said an unidentified victim had made a complaint against Avenatti on Tuesday night in the Century City area of LA. Cops, who have called the case "an ongoing investigation," would not release any additional details about the incident on Thursday morning when CNBC inquired. The news site TMZ was the first outlet to report the arrest but erroneously stated that Avenatti's estranged wife, Lisa Storie-Avenatti, had filed the police report against him. Storie-Avenatti's lawyer said, "Ms. Storie-Avenatti was not subject to any such incident on Tuesday night. Further, she was not at Mr. Avenatti's apartment on the date that this alleged incident occurred." "My client states that there has never been domestic violence in her relationship with Michael and that she has never known Michael to be physically violent toward anyone," the wife's lawyer said. Storie-Avenatti told CNN: "I haven't seen Michael in months. It's a complete fabrication. It's a lie. It's all a lie." "He wouldn't hit anybody. Especially a woman. He's got two daughters," Storie-Avenatti said. Avenatti's first wife, Christine Avenatti-Carlin, said in a prepared statement, "I've known Michael for the last 26 years, we met when he was 21 years old and we were married for 13 years." "Michael has always been a loving kind father to our two daughters and husband [to me]. He has never been abusive to me or anyone else. He is a very good man." Avenatti began representing Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in early 2018 after reports that she had been paid money from Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen shortly before the 2016 presidential election in exchange for her agreement to keep quiet about an affair with Trump a decade earlier. The White House has denied any such affair. Cohen pleaded guilty in August to several crimes, including campaign finance violations related to the $130,000 payment to Daniels, as well as to a payment to another woman. Cohen has said that Trump directed him to make the payment to Daniels. Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen during a special parliamentary session at the Parliamentary complex, Colombo, Sri Lanka on 14 November 2018. Sri Lanka appeared to have ground to a political halt on Thursday with the Speaker of parliament saying there was no functioning prime minister or cabinet after Wednesday's no-confidence vote. His comments came after weeks of political turmoil in the island, off the southeast coast of India, culminating in noisy chaos of the floor of parliament on Thursday. Parliament passed the no-confidence motion against recently appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government on Wednesday, with the backing of 122 lawmakers from the 225-member legislature in a voice vote followed by a signed document. But President Maithripala Sirisena, in a letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, said he could not accept the no-confidence vote as it appeared to have ignored the constitution, parliamentary procedure and tradition. "We expect the Speaker to be an independent speaker and not a close friend of your party or the West," Rajapaksa told parliament. "We want a general election." He also alleged the previous government led by ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's was corrupt. "According to the no-confidence vote held yesterday, there is no prime minister or cabinet of ministers as of now as all those posts are invalidated by the vote," Jayasuriya told parliament. Sirisena, who triggered the crisis by firing Wickremesinghe and naming Rajapaksa to the job late last month, dissolved parliament last week and ordered elections as a way to break the deadlock. But the Supreme Court ordered a suspension of that decree on Tuesday until it had heard petitions challenging the move as unconstitutional. Soon after his speech, Rajapaksa's supporters poured on to the floor of parliament and disrupted proceedings. Then MPs from both sides gathered close to the Speaker's chair with a lot of shouting and hooting. The turmoil went on for almost 20 minutes after which the Speaker, failing to bring the house to order, left parliament without making any statement. After a meeting with party leaders, the Speaker agreed to convene the next parliament session on Wednesday, media reported. Mahinda Samarasinghe, a Rajapaksa supporter, criticized the Speaker for inviting foreign envoys to witness the proceedings, saying he was trying to destroy the perception of parliament. Rajapaksa, under whose rule Sri Lanka achieved its 2009 victory in a decades-long conflict against rebels from the Tamil minority, is seen as a hero by many among Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority. He has been accused by diplomats of human rights abuses during the war, which he denies. Irish skies are smiling. A social media war that porn star Stormy Daniels launched against Aer Lingus over her missing luggage ended with a Twitter kiss on Thursday. The Irish airline's luck took a turn for the worse early Thursday when Daniels who had flown to England for a speech at Oxford Union debating society announced to her more than 868,000 Twitter followers that "ALL of my bags" were lost by the airline. Tweet Tweet In another tweet, Daniels, using a very rude word, demanded again of Aer Lingus to know where her luggage was. Daniels suggested she would be unable to give her scheduled speech, saying that she "flew 10 hours to give a speech and cannot do that with any of my things." Aer Lingus quickly replied. Tweet And within hours, the airline had located Daniels' luggage, pleasing her greatly. Tweet And Daniels made her appointment at the Oxford Union, where she gave a speech entitled, "Sex, Guns & Other Fluff: How Porn Can Set You Free." Daniel gained national notoriety this year with her claims of having had an affair with President Donald Trump in 2006 and since-confirmed allegations that Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen, on the eve of the 2016 presidential election, had given her a $130,000 hush-money payment to keep quiet about their fling. Tweet After her speech, Daniels said on Twitter that "a very aggressive piece of s---- paparazzi shoved his camera up my skirt." Even before her kerfuffles with that photographer and Aer Lingus, Daniels was dealing Thursday with the firestorm of news surrounding the arrest Wednesday in Los Angeles of her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, on a charge of domestic violence. Police say Avenatti was accused Tuesday of violence by an unidentified person. The attorney has strongly denied the allegations, and pointed to statements by his estranged wife and first wife, who said he had never acted violently toward them or anyone else. Daniels, in a statement, said, "These are serious and obviously very troubling allegations, but right now that is all they are: allegations." "We should all reserve judgment until the investigation an investigation Michael has said he welcomes is complete, and that's what I'm going to do," Daniels said. "But of course I do not condone violence against women and if these allegations prove true I will be seeking new representation." Donald Trump announces his candidacy for the U.S. presidency at Trump Tower in New York City. U.S. President Donald Trump was notably absent when the ASEAN summit kicked off in Singapore this week a sign Washington may not be "as committed to Asia" as its regional allies would like it to be, said Alex Capri, visiting senior fellow at the National University of Singapore. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is representing Trump at the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and is expected to lay out details of America's free and open Indo-Pacific vision during his Asia tour. Trump's planned absence has raised questions about his commitment to Asia Pacific, as regional powers such as China, Japan and India seek to enlist support for a multilateral trading system. The no-show signals that "the U.S. is maybe not as committed to the region as some of its allies would like to seem it," Capri told CNBC on Thursday. "Optics are very very important and statements and symbolisms. Who comes, what's on the table, what's on the agenda," said Capri. "If Trump were to come out I think it would have been a much more symbolic that ... this was more important." Turkish cleric and opponent to the Erdogan regime, Fethullah Gulen, at his residence in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania on July 18, 2016. Thomas Urbain | AFP | Getty Images The Trump administration is seeking ways to extradite an enemy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, NBC News reported Thursday, citing two senior U.S. officials and two other people briefed on the requests. The effort is intended to get the Turkish leader to ease pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It is at least the second time the White House has sought to remove Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in exile in Pennsylvania. In President Donald Trump's first days in office, his administration asked the Department of Justice to look into the matter, NBC News has reported. Turkey has accused Gulen of participating in a failed 2016 coup plot. Gulen has denied involvement and to date the U.S. has not found Turkey's case compelling enough to warrant extradition. The first request was made under the short-lived tenure of national security advisor Michael Flynn, who came under scrutiny from special counsel Robert Mueller for an alleged plot to kidnap Gulen and deliver him to Turkey in exchange for millions of dollars. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators in a separate matter. The renewed efforts, however, come as Trump administration officials are seeking to placate Erdogan over Khashoggi's murder. Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally and its de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is close to White House advisor Jared Kushner, the president's son-in law. It is widely believed that the murder could not have been orchestrated without the approval of the crown prince, and Erdogan has said he has evidence that it was ordered from the "highest levels" of the Saudi government. Erdogan has not accused anyone by name. He has repeatedly said he does not believe King Salman was involved. Trump administration officials reportedly requested last month that the Justice Department and FBI reopen Turkey's extradition case for the cleric. The officials also asked the Department of Homeland Security for information about Gulen's legal status, including his green card, NBC News reported. In a statement, Justice Department spokesperson Nicole Navas Oxman said the department "has not been involved in nor aware of any discussions relating the extradition of Fethullah Gulen to the death of Jamal Khashoggi." The White House did not respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed, without offering any evidence, that "the inner workings of" special counsel Robert Mueller's "investigation are a total mess." "They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump said in a tweet, one of four blasting Mueller and his team. "They are a disgrace to our Nation" and "gang of Democrat thugs." Trump's remark about the "inner workings" of the Mueller probe come amid ongoing controversy over the president's firing last week of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Trump named Sessions's chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, as acting attorney general. Whitaker before joining the Justice Department as Sessions's chief of staff had been a critic of the Mueller investigation. He now has oversight over that probe and power to fire Mueller for cause. Trump's Twitter tantrum came as Democrats in Congress and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona called for legislation that would protect the former FBI Director Mueller from being fired before his investigation is finished. Trump has been angered since last year over Mueller's probe into whether Trump's presidential campaign colluded with the Russians to interfere in the 2016 election, and into whether the president obstructed justice by trying to impede that inquiry. Trump has repeatedly denied both claims. He also has highlighted the fact that a number of Mueller's prosecutors have been registered Democrats and contributed money to Democrats, although he does not mention that Mueller himself is a Republican. Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet The president had long blamed Sessions for Mueller's appointment, which was set in motion when Sessions recused himself from overseeing investigations into Russian interference because of his own contact with Russians during the campaign. Two days before Trump teed off on Mueller, NBC News reported that the president's legal team was close to finishing a series of written answers Mueller's team has posed to Trump. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., criticized Trump for his latest tweets, saying the president "continues to wage an all-out campaign to obstruct the Mueller investigation." And Pelosi accused Trump of putting Whitaker in charge of the Justice Department "for one purpose to end the investigation." Democrats, and some Republicans, have said that Whitaker could not legally be appointed acting attorney general because he was being elevated from a position that did not require Senate approval. The Justice Department disputed that argument in an opinion released Wednesday. Trump called that "a very strong opinion" in an interview Wednesday with The Daily Caller. In that same interview, the president linked Whitaker to Trump's longstanding critique of the Mueller investigation. Whitaker, Trump said, "is just somebody that's very respected." "I knew him only as he pertained, you know, as he was with Jeff Sessions," Trump told The Daily Caller. "And, you know, look, as far as I'm concerned this is an investigation that should have never been brought. It should have never been had. "It's something that should have never been brought. It's an illegal investigation. And you know, it's very interesting because when you talk about not Senate confirmed, well, Mueller's not Senate confirmed." US President Donald Trump (R) and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al-Saud take part in a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia pulled off a challenging U-turn in global oil market policy, convincing a fractious group of two dozen nations to hike output and undercut the oil market rally that was filling their coffers. The Saudis undertook this unpopular task at least in part to help its allies in the White House and for its troubles, the kingdom was rewarded with a series of blistering tweets from President Donald Trump and the biggest pullback in oil prices since the historic downturn of 2014. Oil market analysts say it now appears that Trump hoodwinked Saudi Arabia, fooling the U.S. ally into pushing the oil market into oversupply and sparking a roughly 25 percent drop in crude prices. That accomplished Trump's goal of driving down energy costs for Americans, but left nations dependent on oil income like Saudi Arabia with the prospect of shrinking revenues. The analysts say Trump essentially bamboozled the Saudis by threatening for months to implement sanctions against Iran so strictly, the Islamic Republic's exports would go into free fall. But when the administration's deadline for oil buyers to quit Iranian oil arrived on Nov. 4, Trump instead dolled out six-month exemptions to some of the country's biggest customers. "They got sort of tricked here," said John Kilduff, founding partner of energy hedge fund Again Capital. "The Russians and the Saudis in particular ramped up production, ramped up exports ahead of what was supposed to be severe sanctions on Iran, and when the administration gave the eight waivers to Iran's largest buyers, it undercut that whole equation." "So now we've tripped into an oversupply situation almost overnight because of the severe reaction by Russia and the Saudis to cover for Iran losses, which never materialized." To be sure, the sanctions have shrunk Iran's exports by about 1 million barrels per day. Few thought the Trump administration would actually achieve its stated goal of cutting its rival's shipments to zero. But the sanctions, backed by the administration's hawkish rhetoric, cut Iran's exports more quickly than many anticipated. The market also expected another big drop after the Nov. 4 deadline passed. That fear fueled a rally that sent oil prices to four-year highs. Over the last six weeks, that rally has unwound in spectacular fashion, with oil prices tumbling into a bear market. The pullback has several causes, including a weaker demand outlook for crude and a wider market sell-off, but analysts say OPEC's output hike earlier this year and the sanctions waivers play a major part in the oil price plunge. "In early October there was this expectation that a lot of Iran's barrels were going to come off the market, and so essentially Saudi Arabia was duped into increasing production," said Matt Smith, head of commodities research at tanker-tracking firm ClipperData. Smith says it's uncertain the situation has unfolded exactly as the Trump administration intended, but it has ultimately worked out in the president's favor though potentially at a cost to U.S.-Saudi relations. "They've really done a good job of decreasing that oil price, but it has been at the expense of some of those relations there, because surely the Saudis have got to be pretty unhappy with the way things have played out here." Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih acknowledged this week that Iran's exports didn't fall as much as expected. He also announced that Saudi Arabia will ship 500,000 fewer bpd in December and said OPEC and its allies may cut production by 1 million bpd next year. That decision could come in a few weeks when OPEC, Russia and other producers meet to review their current policy of easing output curbs that have been in place since last year. Trump took to Twitter a few hours later, tweeting, "Hopefully, Saudi Arabia and OPEC will not be cutting oil production. Oil prices should be much lower based on supply!" The president has previously used Twitter to blame OPEC for high oil prices and demand the group take action to cut costs. At the U.N. General Assembly this year, he told world leaders that OPEC is ripping them off. Analysts say Falih's comments this week might have pushed oil prices higher, if not for Trump's tweet. "I think the market is ignoring [the Saudis] because of Trump," said Helima Croft, global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. "I think if you didn't have the Trump tweet, there would not be this skepticism. Right now, there's a view that the Saudis will reverse course because of Trump. There's a sense that Trump really has them over a barrel at this point." The kingdom is in a precarious position after a Saudi prosecutor acknowledged that government agents killed journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last month, following earlier denials by the state. President Donald Trump will travel to California on Saturday to meet with victims of the massive wildfires currently burning in the state, the White House told NBC News on Thursday. The state is currently fighting two fires, one outside of Los Angeles and another far more deadly fire north of Sacramento. As of Thursday afternoon, authorities had confirmed 56 deaths in the northern California fire known as the Camp Fire, and another three deaths in the southern fire, known as the Woolsey fire. It was unclear Thursday precisely which area of the state Trump planned to visit. The White House said more information would be released in the coming days. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Brock Long visited California on Wednesday, where they met with victims, first responders and with California Gov. Jerry Brown (D). Preventing and combating wildfires is "not a Republican or Democrat issue," Zinke said at a press conference with Brown, "this is an American issue, and we should address it as such." Zinke's comments came just days after Trump had publicly blame California's Democratic state leadership for the fires and threatened to cut off federal aid to the state. "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," Trump tweeted on Saturday. "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!" It was unclear what, exactly, Trump was talking about, but the tweet was widely criticized. By Wednesday, the president had stopped criticizing California, and tweeted that he had spoken to Brown "to let him know that we are with him, and the people of California, all the way!" U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May persuaded most of her senior ministers to back the draft Brexit agreement that has finally been struck with the EU now all she has to do get it approved by a largely hostile Parliament. That will be no easy task and May could easily come unstuck; there is already talk that committed Brexiteers in Parliament are mounting a mutiny against the U.K leader and the draft agreement. By lunchtime Thursday, notable Euroskeptic lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg said that a number of letters of no confidence had been submitted which could potentially force a vote within the ruling Conservative Party on her leadership. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday, commenting on Twitter that he "cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU." That announcement was followed by the resignation of Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, also over the draft deal. Both ministers are keen Brexiteers. Sterling and London's FTSE 100 index fell on the news. Several junior ministers resigned earlier. "Theresa May has got a huge mountain to climb in Parliament," Kallum Pickering, a senior U.K. economist at Berenberg, told CNBC Thursday. "This is the deal that can probably keep her in government, keep her government in power and possibly get through the (House of Commons the U.K.'s primary chamber of Parliament) but that is not certain," he told CNBC's "Capital Connection." May held a five-hour meeting of her senior lawmakers (her Cabinet) on Wednesday and announced at the end that, "the collective decision of Cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," and said it was the best deal that could be negotiated. "When you strip away the detail, the choice before us was clear: this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs security and our Union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all," she said. In short, the draft withdrawal agreement, which runs to 585 pages, envisages the U.K. and EU agreeing a trade deal by the end of 2020, during a 21-month transition period after Brexit although this can be extended if more time is needed. If there is no trade agreement, the much-vaunted and controversial "backstop" could kick in, this would essentially mean the U.K. stays within a temporary EU-U.K. "single customs territory" for a limited (but unspecified) amount of time. The "backstop" is designed to prevent a hard border in Ireland, which no one wants to see. It also includes commitments over U.K. citizens' rights after Brexit, a 39 billion ($50.7 billion) "divorce bill" and more details about the proposed transition period after Britain's departure on March 2019. Courting MPs May made a statement to the country's politicians in Parliament on Thursday morning in which she gave a spirited defense of the draft deal and sought to calm nerves, saying it "puts us closer to a Brexit deal" but wasn't the final deal. She said delivering Brexit "involves difficult choices for all of us," adding that voting against the deal would put the country back to square one. "The choice is clear, we can choose to leave with no deal, risk no Brexit at all or choose to unite and support the best deal that could be negotiated," she said. She will have to fight harder to win over MPs (Members of Parliament) that are wavering on the deal, however. Parliament is expected to vote on the deal in December and May needs 320 votes out of a possible 639 votes (the House of Commons has 650 MPs but 11 of those do not take part in voting) to get the deal approved. May does not have a Commons majority, so she will have to rely on MPs from other parties to vote for the deal. With a small but influential group of MPs within her own party rebelling against the deal, and several other parties from all sides the staunchly pro-EU Scottish National Party, the largely pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland and the more equivocal Labour party voicing their disagreement with the deal. Although it's hard to gauge how individual MPs within those parties will choose to vote. Berenberg's Pickering said May would now be "courting" MPs from the Labour party and Liberal Democrats and her Chief Whip, whose unenviable job it is to ensure that members of the party vote as the party leadership desires, will be trying to persuade the Northern Irish DUP to accept the deal. The party has already expressed its opposition to the deal, which would see Northern Ireland stay aligned to some EU rules long term in order to avoid border checks. Smelling blood Some lawmakers have argued that the deal leaves the U.K. abiding with EU rules but without the power to have a say on them. As such, a rebellion is mounting against the deal but whether it's enough to topple the prime minister is debateable. Prominent members of Parliament and influential Brexiteers, the former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Rees-Mogg, have called the deal "as bad as it could possibly be" and "rotten," respectively. Berenberg's Pickering said that Brexiteers and opposition backbenchers, could smell blood. "They want to get rid of Theresa May, they think this deal will disappear if Theresa May disappears. So expect over the next few days a lot of talk against May and maybe a confidence vote," he said, adding that there was a "moderate" chance of such a scenario. The dispute between the U.S. and China over trade deficits and surpluses is rather trivial compared to the broader philosophical differences between the world's two biggest economic superpowers, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio told CNBC on Thursday. "The trade war, I think, can be worked out," the billionaire investor Dalio said in a "Squawk Box" interview on CNBC. But he argued the conflict goes "way beyond the trade war." Dalio, co-CIO and co-chairman at Bridgewater, said the two nations' polar opposite methods of governing is the broader, more difficult issue to reconcile. "It goes back to Confucius in 500 B.C.," he said. "It's basically a top-down versus a bottom-up type of approach," said Dalio, whose China unit of Bridgewater last month launched its first onshore Chinese investment fund. "When you look at the 2025 plan in China, the government believes that they should have a plan for making China great" and will coordinate all aspects of public and private enterprise to achieve their goals, he said. "That type of activity is objectionable to the United States" in its free market economy. The China 2025 plan is a state-backed industrial policy that's provoked alarm in the West, and is core to Washington's complaints about Beijing's technological ambitions. Dalio appeared on CNBC from the Greenwich Economic Forum in Connecticut where he later spoke to the elite gathering of investment thought leaders. On stage, he expanded on his thoughts on the U.S.-China rivalry. "History has shown there's a concept called the 'Thucydides Trap,'" he said. "The idea is that, when you have an emerging country that's a competitive country, competing with an existing power, there is a risk of conflict." "In the last 500 years, 16 times that's happened. And in 12 of those times, there's war," said Dalio, in a cautionary tone, while reiterating his belief that the narrow trade dispute between the U.S. and China can be worked out. A step towards a trade deal could start with a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping around the summit of the Group of 20 leaders later this month in Argentina. Alleging a myriad of unfair trade practices, Trump initiated tariffs in March to pressure China to change its ways. In September, the White House imposed its latest round of levies focused on $200 billion of Chinese products. In response, China put tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. goods. Trump has also threatened additional tariffs of $267 billion, which would basically cover the rest of all Chinese imports into the U.S. CNBC's Fred Imbert contributed to this report. The U.S. announced Magnitsky Act sanctions on 17 people Thursday for their alleged role in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The sanctioned individuals include Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, who oversaw the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where Khashoggi was allegedly killed, as well as Maher Mutreb, a senior Saudi official who is alleged to have coordinated the killing. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi's fiancee, children, and the family he leaves behind." Earlier Thursday, Saudi prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty for five individuals allegedly involved in the killing and charged six others who are facing lesser punishments. The prosecutor's office said that Khashoggi was killed following a fight in the consulate. He was injected with a lethal sedative and then his body was chopped up and provided to a local collaborator, according to the prosecution. Khashoggi's disappearance on Oct. 2 sparked an international incident. Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress have called for the ouster of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, a close ally of White House advisor Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law. Khashoggi was a contributor to The Washington Post and a U.S. resident. The aftermath of the killing threatened Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy. An array of influential investors dropped out of Saudi Arabia's annual investment conference in Riyadh last month amid questions about the crown prince's involvement in the killing. Mnuchin also declined to attend to the event. Saudi Arabia maintains that the crown prince did not order Khashoggi's execution. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged in a Nov. 2 article in The Washington Post that the killing was ordered at the "the highest levels" of the Saudi government, but has not directly named the crown prince. He said that he did not believe that the killing was ordered by King Salman. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that the Saudi prosecution of individuals alleged to be involved in the killing was a positive step but "unsatisfactory." Turkey has demanded that those involved be prosecuted under Turkish law. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping make joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 9, 2017. The top American trade negotiator for the White House has denied telling certain executives that planned tariffs are on a back burner. The Financial Times reported Thursday that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had told some executives the next round of China tariffs are on hold, citing a person familiar with the matter. Shares of Caterpillar, a big U.S. company that has been feeling the heat from tariffs, rose more than 4 percent as investors digested the report. But later in the afternoon, Lighthizer's office told CNBC, "Ambassador Lighthizer has made no representations to industry executives that future Section 301 tariffs are on hold." The statement said the plan for tariffs outlined in September "has not changed at all. Any reports to the contrary are incorrect." Switzerland has launched an investigation into a number of its financial companies, including big banks like Credit Suisse and UBS. WEKO, the country's competition watchdog, said Thursday that it will investigate some of the biggest financial firms for a suspected boycott of mobile payment solutions such as Apple Pay and Samsung. The list of firms to be investigated includes Aduno Holding, Postfinance, Swisscard and Swiss units of Credit Suisse and UBS, WEKO said. The competition watchdog also added that raids were carried out at offices of the companies being investigated. A Swiss flag flies over a sign of Credit Suisse in Bern, Switzerland FABRICE COFFRINI | AFP | Getty Images "We are surprised about this investigation and are convinced that the allegations will prove to be unfounded," Credit Suisse said in a statement. "We already offer to consumers in Switzerland access to Apple Pay and Samsung Pay through our subsidiary Swisscard, of which Credit Suisse owns 50%. In addition, we have been in talks with companies such as Apple, Samsung or Google for several months to discuss how their mobile payment solutions could be offered to our clients." A spokesperson for Credit Suisse also told CNBC Thursday that they will continue to work with Twint - a Swiss mobile payment app. "Credit Suisse is very satisfied with Twint. The bank will continue to work very closely with Twint." Local media reports suggest that the investigation is aimed at clarifying whether several Swiss financial institutions have reached an agreement to boycott mobile payment solutions from international providers such as Apple pay and Samsung. Authorities suspect that these institutions have jointly agreed not to release their credit card details for use with Apple Pay and Samsung Pay in favor of Twint. A sign of Swiss banking giant UBS is seen at a branch in Zurich on October 26, 2018. Fabrice Coffrini | AFP | Getty Images Peter Navarro, U.S. President Donald Trump's trade advisor and a hardliner on China, has been sidelined by the White House but prospects of a trade deal between the world's two largest economies remain bleak, experts told CNBC. The U.S. and China have engaged in a trade fight this year, with Trump repeatedly attacking China for intellectual property theft, barriers to U.S. companies operating in China, and a massive trade imbalance. The U.S. president is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G-20 summit in Argentina this month to talk trade. CNBC reported Wednesday that the White House has deliberately curtailed Navarro's public profile in the wake of an apparent dispute between him and top economic advisor Larry Kudlow. Neither Kudlow nor Navarro is expected to depart from the White House. With U.S. government officials currently engaged in high-level, preparatory talks with the Chinese government ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting, the U.S. administration is trying to manage its external communications to avoid derailing the upcoming bilateral talks Rajiv Biswas chief economist for Asia Pacific, IHS Markit But less visibility for Navarro isn't seen translating into more acquiescence on trade by the White House. "We weren't expecting any substantive breakthrough at the G-20, even if Navarro hadn't been sidelined," Nick Marro, an analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), told CNBC. "Remember that he isn't the only hawk in the administration: Robert Lighthizer, who drove the initial investigations used to justify the U.S. tariffs, is also a hardliner on China." "We expect Lighthizer to keep pressing China on its industrial policies, because at this stage, any trade deal is unlikely to resolve the issues at the heart of the dispute, such as forced tech transfer or intellectual property theft," Marro added. The White House didn't immediately reply to CNBC's request for comment on the dispute between the two advisors and its possible impact on U.S. trade policy. Navarro is easily one of the more aggressive White House advisors when it comes to China. He last week said that any deal with China "will be on President Donald J. Trump's terms. Not Wall Street's terms." Kudlow refuted that directly on Tuesday, saying the "remarks were way off base." But given how unpredictable the Trump administration can be, Navarro's status "could very easily change in a matter of days," noted Dane Chamorro, senior partner at Control Risks. Chamorro told CNBC that China would be "very cautious about what they trust coming from the administration." He pointed out that Beijing has been "burnt" before when Trump snubbed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's efforts to reach a deal with Xi's top economic advisor Liu He in May. Trump-Xi meeting at G-20 The more important trade signal is seen coming from the meeting between Trump and Xi, Chamorro said. If anything, sidelining Navarro is only helpful "from an atmospheric perspective," he said. "It probably helps because if you don't have someone constantly clamoring on the issue, that helps a little. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the underlying issues have gone away or the underlying position has changed." Now that high level talks between the two countries have started ahead of the meeting in Buenos Aires, the decision to lower Navarro's profile may have come about simply as a means of controlling the public message during a crucial period, said Rajiv Biswas, chief economist for Asia Pacific at IHS Markit. "With U.S. government officials currently engaged in high-level, preparatory talks with the Chinese government ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting, the U.S. administration is trying to manage its external communications to avoid derailing the upcoming bilateral talks," Biswas told CNBC. What's certain is the complaints that the United States and other countries have about China remain intact. "Only a significant degree of domestic reform in China" to address "thornier issues" such as forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft and market access could pave the way for both sides to reach a deal, said the EIU's Marro. CNBC's Eamon Javers, Jacob Pramuk and Thomas Franck contributed to this report. WATCH: How do tariffs work? Boeing was facing mounting pressure over last month's Indonesia plane crash as the owner of the doomed jet joined a US pilots' group in alleging that the company failed to warn pilots about potential hazards of a new safety feature. Zwingli Silalahi, Lion Air 's operational director, told CNN on Wednesday that the manual for Boeing's 737 MAX 8, the model that crashed into the Java Sea last month killing all 189 on board, did not include a warning about a critical feature that could cause the plane to dive. Zwingli said the manual did not tell pilots that in certain situations, the plane's stall-prevention system could automatically trigger a response, such as lowering the airplane's nose, to prevent or exit a stall. "We don't have that in the manual of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. That's why we don't have the special training for that specific situation," he said. Investigators were examining whether a sensor on the outside of the plane transmitted incorrect data that could have triggered the stall-prevention system. The airline's claims come after Boeing was similarly accused on Tuesday by the Allied Pilots Association (APA) of withholding information about the potential danger of the plane's new features. Lion Air Flight 610 crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta on October 29. Investigators believe the MAX 8 plane may have experienced problems with several sensors. Boeing said last week that a safety bulletin issued to aircraft operators in the wake of the crash was merely meant to reinforce existing procedures. Both Lion Air and the APA have now rejected the company's assertion. Zwingli added that Boeing's safety bulletin did not suggest additional training for pilots operating that aircraft. "We didn't receive any information from Boeing or from regulator about that additional training for our pilots," he told CNN. The deal is expected to take place on the secondary market through block deals, where it could be done at Rs 1,070 per share, a 5 percent discount to Wednesdays closing price of the banks shares. Dutch financial services company ING Group NV is likely to sell all its remaining stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank in a deal valued at Rs 7,600 crore, investment banking sources told The Economic Times The deal is expected to take place this week on the secondary market through block deals, said the report. The shares are likely to be sold at Rs 1,070 apiece, representing a 5 percent discount to Wednesdays closing price, the report said citing sources. Shares of Kotak Mahindra Bank fell 3 percent to close at Rs 1,130 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday. As on September 30, ING held 3.73 percent stake in Kotak, the report said, adding that ING sold its Indian lending business to Kotak in April 2015, as part of the stake monetisation plan by the Dutch lender. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Hi! I am an Assistant City Editor for the education beat, which means I help with breaking news and all things K-12 or higher education. Any tips or story ideas can be sent to me at hlht46@mail.missouri.edu or in the newsroom at 882-5720. Follow this search Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The department is planning to end both its Community Outreach and Downtown units. From 14 officers to what is now planned to be eight, the future for the community policing approach is in question. PM Modi impressed with passion and commitment of first India-Singapore hackathon winners Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated the winners of the first India-Singapore Hackathon, a fast-paced 36-hour competition to develop creative and innovative solutions focused on the theme Smart Campus. Students of both India and Singapore enthusiastically participated in the fast-paced event. The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) of India conducted the hackathon that included solving eight problem statements. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung taking a group photo with the participants, mentors and organisers of the Singapore-India Hackathon. Photo courtesy: NTU PM Narendra Modi met and felicitated the winning teams of India Singapore Hackathon, agreed to during the visit of PM to Singapore in June 2018," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Showcasing Solutions for Humanity PM @narendramodi met & felicitated the winning teams of #IndiaSingapore Hackathon, agreed to during the visit of PM to Singapore in June 2018. NTU in Singapore & AICTE in India conducted the hackathon that included solving 8 problem statements pic.twitter.com/lgqeapGBLP Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 15, 2018 Happy to have met innovators who won prizes in the first-ever Singapore-India Hackathon. They talked about their extensive work. I was impressed by their passion and commitment towards solving problems our world faces, Modi said. A boost to technology, innovation and youth power. Happy to have met innovators who won prizes in the first ever Singapore-India Hackathon. They talked about their extensive work. I was impressed by their passion and commitment towards solving problems our world faces. pic.twitter.com/GLRIAe4wRf Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2018 Twenty teams, each from both the countries comprising university and college students selected on a nationwide basis, participated in the event to harness and showcase the innovation potential of the youth. Each of these teams had three students and one mentor. The competition saw two top teams from India and Singapore with the most innovative solution presented with SGD10,000 (USD7,271) respectively, while the second and third prize-winners won SGD6,000 (USD4,363) and SGD4,000 (USD2,908) each. Singapore first prize winners Team Vandhe (NTU Singapore), with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, with (far left) AICTE chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, NTU President Prof Subra Suresh, and (far right) High Commissioner of India to Singapore Jawed Ashraf. Photo courtesy: NTU Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung presented prizes to the winners of the Singapore-India Hackathon at the Fullerton Hotel today. NTU President Subra Suresh and High Commissioner of India to Singapore H.E. Jawed Ashraf were also present on the occasion. From India, an 83-member delegation comprising 60 students, 20 mentors and three officials of the AICTE visited Singapore. India first prize winners IIT Kharagpur Team2s mentor Pratap Sanap, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, (far left) AICTE chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, NTU President Prof Subra Suresh, and (far right) High Commissioner of India to Singapore Jawed Ashraf. Photo courtesy: NTU Platforms like the Singapore-India Hackathon serve as excellent opportunities for our youngsters to showcase their work. They also serve as forums to learn about pioneering innovations by youngsters from other nations and institutes. A win-win for our students!" Modi said in a tweet. Platforms like the Singapore-India Hackathon serve as excellent opportunities for our youngsters to showcase their work. They also serve as forums to learn about pioneering innovations by youngsters from other nations and institutes. A win-win for our students! Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2018 Singapore second prize winners Team ZPJ (NTU Singapore), with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, (far left) AICTE chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, NTU President Prof Subra Suresh, and (far right) High Commissioner of India to Singapore Jawed Ashraf. Photo courtesy: NTU NTU president Professor Subra Suresh said, Hackathons and competitions are a great way to support innovation and creativity in our students. They enhance the innovation ecosystem by nurturing the creation of new products, processes and services. We are pleased to work with our Indian counterparts as we create this new powerful partnership to bring together highly talented students from both Singapore and India. Dr Lim Jui, NTUitive Chief Executive Officer, said, This has exceeded my expectations in terms of the quality and level of proposals. Obviously, they didn't have a lot of time, as they only had 36 hours to work on it. They were given a headstart with some of the problem statements, and it is evident that the winning teams actually worked on it the moment the problem statements were released. I think it's also interesting for the Singapore students to have some kind of benchmark internationally as to where they stand, and it's actually an eye-opener for them. India second prize winners Team NIT Trichy with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, (far left) AICTE chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, NTU President Prof Subra Suresh, and (far right) High Commissioner of India to Singapore Jawed Ashraf. Photo courtesy: NTU The hackathon is the first of its kind and it was suggested by Indian PM Narendra Modi during his official state visit to Singapore in June 2018. The hackathon had 20 teams of three university students each from India and Singapore, participating in a 36-hour challenge at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) from November 12 to 14. The High Commission of India in Singapore facilitated the Singapore-India Hackathon in collaboration with Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs of Singapore. The 20 participating teams competed to build innovative tech solutions that address the theme "Smart Campus". This includes presenting their own original ideas, such as on how to navigate a campus efficiently outdoors and indoors, how to enhance learning using technology, how to manage one's digital identity, and many more. The teams also proposed solutions focused on parking on campus, effective learning, event management, and personal security. The winners of the India-Singapore hackathon are following Singapore: 1st Prize: Team Vandhe (NTU), comprising Lim Sheng Rui Varick, Dhea Mariesta, and Mandy Wong Suping, proposed a community-based learning platform that encourages student collaboration and mutual learning, and offers professor-approved answers to solution sets for past year papers. 2nd Prize: Team ZPJ (NTU), comprising Liew Yi An Jordan, Tan Zhi Wei, and Tan Pin Da, came up with an app for users to find their way on campus by offering optimised walking routes and recognising locations based on landmarks. Singapore third prize winners Team Rakshacam (Singapore University of Technology and Design), with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, (far left) AICTE chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, NTU President Prof Subra Suresh, and (far right) High Commissioner of India to Singapore Jawed Ashraf. Photo courtesy: NTU 3rd Prize: Team Rakshacam (SUTD), comprising Nagaraj Lakshmana Prabhu, Rahul Parthasarathy and Rahul Bhattacharjee, presented a video analytics solution to track vehicles in carparks, and potentially provide users information regarding where their vehicles are located. India: 1st Prize: IIT Kharagpur Team2, comprising Pranjal Shankhdhar, Madhav Datt and Anurag Bharadwaj, came up with an Augmented Reality navigation app for users to find their way indoors, and which can also be integrated with Google Maps. 2nd Prize: Team NIT Trichy comprising Kartik Venkataraman, Deep Bhattacharyya and Arutselvan D, presented a smart solution that offers students a holistic learning experience by leveraging on mind mapping, keyword extraction and concept analysis. The system can also link students to external resources and subject experts. India third prize winners Team KillerKode with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapores Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, (far left) AICTE chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, NTU President Prof Subra Suresh, and (far right) High Commissioner of India to Singapore Jawed Ashraf. Photo courtesy: NTU 3rd Prize: Team KillerKode comprising Kunal Atul Khadilkar, Akanksha Surendra Kale, and Rahul Yashwant Barhate, proposed a novel parking management system that uses geotagging and "Sound QR" technologies. Later, PM Modi also met the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets today who were in Singapore as a part of a cadet exchange programme. Spent time with NCC cadets, who got the opportunity to come to Singapore as a part of a cadet exchange programme. They shared their memorable learnings and experiences with me, he said. Wonderful moments with my young friends. Spent time with NCC cadets, who got the opportunity to come to Singapore as a part of a cadet exchange programme. They shared their memorable learnings and experiences with me. pic.twitter.com/GmDXQfdsBx Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2018 Prime Minister Modi is in Singapore for the two-day visit to the country. He began his visit yesterday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Singapore Fintech Festival. He also held separate bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and Vice-President of USA Mike Pence and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. Alex Morton is Director of Policy at the Centre for Policy Studies, and was a member of David Camerons Downing Street Policy Unit. As you read this, MPs at Westminster will be ploughing through the 500-page text negotiated by Britain and Brussels, and deciding whether or not it is something they can sign up to. There is still a reasonable chance that the deal gets through. But if Parliament or the Conservative Party decide that they cannot live with it, something else will have to replace it. The first thing to say may sound like a statement of the obvious: the only options that arent on the table for the Conservative Party are a second referendum, or simply giving up and deciding to Remain. The 2015 manifesto promised to honour the referendum result, and the 2017 edition promised a hardish Brexit. Just one in five Conservatives think the decision to leave the EU was wrong. To go from a Leave referendum result to overturning it and remaining in the EU would split the party, as the Corn Laws did. It is also disingenuous to claim you are really concerned with EU control in areas such as goods regulation under Mays dealand should instead return to being one of 28 countries making decisions, and also sign up to ending the financial rebate, open borders, Eurozone membership etc. This leaves us with three real options, each of which have their own positive and negatives: Co-operative WTO exit. Hostile WTO exit. EEA membership or similar. Co-operative WTO exit A co-operative WTO exit would see the EU and UK co-operating to sign various side agreements to keep trade flowing and limit economic disruption on everything from planes to imports in key areas like foods and medicines. In effect, it would be a bit like Canada Plus, in that it would seek to rapidly nail down what was necessary and then over time flesh out the rest. EU nations have various reasons to go along with this rather than see a hostile WTO exit: A major EU/UK falling out would have major implications for the EU economy, and for global trade. Donald Trump is hostile to the WTO, refusing to appoint judges (which is slowly causing chaos in the organisation) and bending the rules. If the EU tried to pursue a hostile WTO exit, this would embolden Trump and destabilise multilateral trade. A EU/UK fallout would also have a strong knock-on impact on NATO. If the EU was genuinely attempting to slow or stop exports/imports to the UK, the UK would almost certainly feel obliged to take retaliatory action, such as removing troops from the East and North of Europe. If there is a Eurozone crisis in the next few years, with the City of London destabilised and alternative centres not yet having emerged, it would be a disaster for the Eurozones economy (something that everyone bar France realises). UK support for countries in the Mediterranean on everything from Syrian refugees to Royal Navy helping with the migrant crisis or in Libya would have to end. Potential turmoil in Northern Ireland. While the majority of the blame would fall on the British, it is unlikely that Ireland would welcome having to enforce a hard border. Most of all, if the EU acts as aggressively as possible it may destabilise the EU itself. Member states are still angry or upset that we voted to leave, but many of them also distrust the European Commission. They will grasp that if it bullies the UK today, it may turn on them tomorrow. Apart from the impact that even a co-operative WTO exit would have on UK businesses in terms of supply chains etc, an obvious drawback is many of our liabilities seem likely to fall payable regardless. In a Co-operative WTO scenario, we would probably end up paying a large amount to buy goodwill, as well as whatever it takes to help smooth over any costs associated with trade friction in Northern Ireland, in return for fewer checks on small-scale movement of goods and people. Even with a co-operative EU, there would still be a short-term shock to our economy, even if this, in the long run, is balanced by other gains. Hostile WTO exit Despite the points above, the EU may not be able to reach sufficient consensus around a co-operative WTO exit, in which case we face a hostile one. A hostile WTO deal is not an easy prospect, even if it is not as hard as some stop Brexit groups claim. The sloppy claim that the UK is Mauritania is incorrectly arrived at by going through the WTO database and seeing which countries have zero additional trade deals on top of WTO rules. But if country A only has one trade deal with country B, it still trades on WTO rules with the other 190-odd nations of the world. Further, many countries have only limited side deals but manage to trade quite widely with one another under WTO rules around this. There are also general global trade provisions around non-discrimination, and since our framework would be based on the EUs on day one, we could argue that interpreting the WTO treaty in a way that imposes additional burdens where our rules align is illegal and a hostile act. That said, wed have to accept that this scenario is very complicated, hire the best possible (expensive) people, and prepare for a fairly sizeable shock to the economy. A hostile WTO exit also risks spiralling out of control, with both sides reacting to the others moves in a chain reaction. All this is before you even get to practical issues, such as capacity at Dover. The much smaller Dutch economy hired a thousand extra customs staff months ago to cope with the potential consequences of Brexit. We need to press ahead with similar measures, co-ordinate essential supplies like food and medicine, and ensure that, however uncooperative the EU is, the most important goods and services will keep flowing. And time is short. This is not an ideal situation. It would have grave drawbacks for the EU, but would also cost the UK substantially. The EEA and a temporary, partial customs union The third option is the EEA either formal membership or, more likely, just replicating the relationship. This also probably entails at least a partial temporary customs union membership. Those such as Nick Boles argue for an EEA option by claiming that it would take us out of the growing political project while maintaining economic ties. No Eurozone. No European army. No common refugee policy. No fisheries and farming. Above all else, an end to ever closer Union. EEA and a parallel reduction in non-EU migration could have been enough for many Leave voters in 2016. In addition, some argue that this option could be a stopgap while we consider others. Yet for some Leave voters, it might not be enough to feel the vote in 2016 has been honoured, and it might not entirely resolve the Brexit issue for some Conservatives either. For the EU, this option would have the benefit of removing a troublemaker without the UK gaining total freedom. The UK would be mostly out rather than mostly in, but it would be hard to see it as a total victory for Leave. Immigration could be restricted (EEA is focused on workers movement, not all citizens), but not for most workers. Nor would we have control over areas covered by EU goods and services regulation as long as we were part of the regime we would be a rule-taker in some areas rather than a rule-maker, with restricted freedom to operate an independent trade policy. So where will we end up? None of these options are perfect and it may well be that the Prime Ministers deal gets through and attention turns back to domestic politics. But fairly soon, those opposing the deal need to nail their colours to the mast rather than just continuing to claim we can have the best of all worlds without Mays deal. They need to choose a direction even if, as the joke goes, they wouldnt start from here. And they need to be confident they can hold a Government together until March 29th, and persuade the Conservative Party and the wider country to back their proposal. We wait to see if enough MPs believe that to be the case. If we can congratulate Cabinet members on nothing else this morning, we can at least do so on their ability to speed read under pressure. In less than a morning, they somehow managed to master 585 pages of the Brexit Draft Withdrawal Agreement, all without recourse to independent legal advice. Plus the seven pages of the Outline Political Declaration a mere bagatelle by comparison. Yes, thats right. The Government wants us to hand over the best part of 40 billion for fewer than ten pages of unenforceable text. And our future negotiating leverage into the bargain. But lets stick for the moment to the Withdrawal Agreement. Dont judge it before youve read it, its backers said yesterday. That they were supporters betrayed that they had already made a judgement themselves. By the same token, they should have conceded that reading a document of that length takes rather more than a few hours. None the less, we will take their advice. Unlike a mass of newspapers and commentators, we do not pretend to have done so in full. So we will make no comment for the moment on whether the Northern Ireland backstop has survived, with its implications for Scotland and the Union. On the UK-wide or Great Britain backstop, and whether the latter can practicably leave it, de facto if not de jure, with all the consequences that has for our freedom to strike trade deals worldwide. On whether that seven page declaration points towards Chequers, Canada, Cheqada or anything bankable at all (and if there are any safeguards for the money). Above all, on whether the whole package leaves us, in that neat reversal of William Hagues famous saying, out of Europe, but run by Europe. And on, if you prefer George Osbornes brilliantly malicious assessment yesterday, whether or not the EU has Taken Back Control. We will pause to make only one observation. Theresa Mays claim that the agreement would allow us to take back that control of borders, law and money is already under siege, at least as far as its second part is concerned. Paul Waugh of the Huffington Post has found 63 references to the European Court of Justice in the draft. Ending its jurisdiction was at the heart of the EU referendum result. The Conservative Manifesto committed the Party to it, not that most of members needed any persuading. Where Waugh has trod, others will follow. As we write, Martin Howe will be pouring himself another cup of strong black coffee, surrounded by gutted candles and legal tomes. He will have laboured overnight to craft his assessment. So will others. By lunchtime, the Withdrawal Agreement will have been wrenched open, gutted, filletted, and its innards displayed to the world. One thing is certain: bits of it will not look very appetising. The Prime Minister will have passed them over in her statement yesterday evening. One senior ERG member told this site yesterday that the agreement is like a Budget that will unravel on day two. We are not at all sure that he is right. This morning, it looks rather more like one of those Budgets that went to pieces on day one. Todays splash headlines make bleak reading for Downing Street. How could they not, given the Cabinets verdict, which is all over them, and on the inside pages too? Dominic Raab was palpably unhappy. Geoffrey Cox compared the agreement to a life raft made up of oil drums and a plastic sail. Michael Gove thinks it is bad, but that no deal would be worse. Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt pushed at May to take if back to the EU for re-drafting. Liam Fox dislikes the backstop. Penny Mordaunt wants a free vote, so that she can oppose the agreement. Esther McVey actually called for a vote, clashing with the Chief Whip and the Cabinet Secretary. How on earth can any of the discontented third of the Cabinet, or more, look voters in the eye and claim they are content with it? How can they go out and sell it? It is significant that, yesterday evening, none of them were due to take to the airwaves this morning. One last point on that Cabinet meeting. Reporting of it has tended to divide members up into supporters and opponents of the agreement. This is understandable, but flawed. The Cabinet makes, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, collective decisions. And as McVey has discovered, it does not vote. Nor do its members shape the minutes. If they are unhappy, they must either wait to be cheered up, or resign. Those whose discontent spills over into opposition, like McVey, have not quit so far. Do they really intend to stay in office, hoping perhaps that the agreement collapses, or that the Commons votes it down, saying nothing about it at all? Such a position would be worse than dishonourable, in a manner of speaking. It would be ridiculous. By then, events may well have overtaken them. Perhaps Graham Brady will announce today that he has received 48 letters, and that a confidence ballot in Theresa May must be held. Maybe he will not. Perhaps it will come later, or not at all. But even if it does, and she wins it convincingly, her troubles will be far from over. As matters stand, it is very unlikely that the agreement can get through the Commons. Even if she survives a ballot, she might not be able to survive that. The combination of a future Commons vote on the agreement and aleadership contest, ushering in a new Prime Minister, would be like a cutting-edge experiment with two new chemicals. There is simply no knowing what it would bring. We believe that a Conservative Prime Minister, faced with this Commons, can carry through Brexit if intent on it even a no deal one, given the legislative state of play. But it is possible that the mix could blow the laboratory roof off. Our position on Mays leadership is well-known. Like our members panel, we believe that she should not lead the Party into the next election. Enraged Brexiteer MPs are itching to get her out now. The sum of their view is that there is a lie at the heart of her policy that she does not believe her own words; that no deal is better than a bad deal. For this reason, they say, we are not properly prepared. Downing Street and the Treasury have dragged their feet, and conspired to spring a new choice on the Cabinet yesterday: Mays Deal, a chaotic No Deal, or No Brexit. And for this she has lost the DUP, in all likelihood, and with it her majority. One doesnt have to take a view on the agreement before accepting their point. But they should reflect that changing the Prime Minister, in itself, would solve nothing. A new Conservative leader would face the same old Commons. He or she would need a new plan Canada, plus or minus those three pluses; Nick Boles Norway-for-Now; or perhaps a transition to No Deal, as proposed by some Cabinet Ministers. And given the numbers in the Commons, logic also points to a general election, sooner rather than later, to win a majority for change. That runs the risk of a Corbyn Government and, more pressingly as far as some Tory MPs are concerned, the loss of their seats. Some Leavers will be tempted to join many Remainers, and say that this humbling pass, this evident humiliation of Mays leadership and of British statecraft, is the inevitable consequence of Brexit. Our response is uncompromising. The British people are entitled to vote to leave the European Union. If they were now to be told that they cant, because our politicians arent up to negotiating it; or the commanding heights of our institutions are against it; or government is incapable of planning for it in short, that they must come to heel, in John Kerrs illuminating phrase what would that say to the British people about the state of our liberal demcracy and parliamentary government? The potential consequences are so far-reaching that there is no need to spell them out. Who would have guessed that an app designed to order massages straight to your door had both poor security and customers with perhaps some trouble keeping their hands to themselves? Urban, a popular London-based startup selling wellness that comes to you, accidentally leaked its entire customer database online, revealing email addresses, phone numbers, and names of all its 309,000 customers. Included in the database were also complaints from therapists about the specific clients who requested sexual services. Urban pulled the database offline after the website TechCrunch discovered it and contacted the company for comment. So theres probably no need to go into hiding if youre one of the offending customers, unless someone took a screenshot. House hunter A dentist in Missouri is out $90,000 after hackers successfully impersonated the real estate companies that he was already doing business with. Howard Ritchey Jr. was hunting for a new home last year and working with title, mortgage, and real estate companies to make the purchase happen. In the middle of the deal, he received an email from what looked like his title company which instructed him to wire $88,338 over to secure his desired house. But when he followed up in person with his lender, he was told the money didnt go to the home. The lender said it looked like hackers got into his email and stole his money. Ritchey is now suing the title company and other parties, alleging that hackers actually targeted their emails and failed to warn him about the impersonators. Ritcheys case isnt unique; the FBI says that similar complaints of real estate business impersonators are on the rise. Yet another reason not to wire money. Dunkin Donuts Joining a donut loyalty program may have seemed like the ideal way to make your troubles go away, but reality isnt so sweet. Dunkin Donuts recently informed holders of its loyalty Perks accounts that they should change their passwords to all of their other, non-donut-related accounts because their Dunkin Donuts passwords may have been stolen. Dunkin says that thieves tried to break into the loyalty program and may have gained access to consumers usernames and passwords in the process. Consumers are instructed to change their passwords to other accounts only if its the same password they used for the Perks program. Dell Every single person who has shopped for Dell online had their password reset in the online store and wasnt told why. The computer chain initially discovered it was hacked back on November 9 and changed passwords five days later. A source familiar with the incident says that Dell never informed consumers of the breach before changing their passwords on their behalf, according to a report published Wednesday in Reuters. Security experts say it's shameful on Dells part that consumers were never told why their passwords were automatically reset, explaining that the move leaves potential victims abandoned in the darkness and ambiguity. Amazon Consumers and researchers are scratching their head about a vague notice that shoppers received from Amazon shortly before Black Friday. The message says that users had their data exposed due to a technical error, but it does not specify much else, such as what type of data was exposed or how many people were affected. Asked for more details, Amazon has told reporters that there is nothing to add beyond our statement. Amazon also told users they already fixed the unspecified issue and that there is no need for consumers to do anything. So, do with that information what you will. Health records, again Healthcare hackers have struck again, this time targeting more than two million patients covered by Atrium, a North Carolina-based provider. The firm said an unauthorized third party accessed patient information between Sept. 22 and 29, but the company told patients that medical records and payment information remains safe. In July, the Paul Gauguin made the first visit to Vairao, in South Tahiti, another unique destination on offer in French Polynesia. It adds an additional port opportunity on the Windward Islands, said Bud Gilroy, president of the Tahiti Cruise Club. More airlift is some big news in Tahiti, with added service from United Airlines and French Bee. Meanwhile, a new cruise terminal is moving forward in Papeete. That cruise terminal will become the base of operations for ships in the area, as 2018 is looking to be a record season with 1,070 total calls and 140 turnarounds in Tahiti. Projections call for 15 percent more traffic in the first half of 2019. We have experienced continuous growth since 2012, Gilroy said. It's a very good season for Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea, but also for neighboring island calls, in Marquesas, Tuamotus or the Leeward Islands. Similarly, the entire South Pacific islands region, including New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti, now accounts for over three percent of world cruise activity, he added, noting that has doubled in the last six years. With numerous call opportunities sailing from Papeete, Gilroy said ships can have unique itineraries up to 21 days, and can keep their casinos open in port or at anchor. "The destination is ideally located at equal distances from the North American and Australian markets and can therefore offer an advantageous alternative for these important markets to Caribbean or Mediterranean destinations, he said. Four ports in Tahiti can take big ships, making them well suited to mix in on a repositioning voyage. However, most of our business has an average of 400 passengers per call. Ships, up to 1,500 passengers, are perfectly sized to operate turnarounds in Polynesia and operate from several weeks to several months in this navigation area, Gilroy added. The Tahiti Cruise Club works hard to harmonize berth schedules, working to avoid conflicts and ensure a smooth experience well in advance. The expected capacity growth will bring more ships to our region. With our future terminal, we will be able to handle turnarounds of ships with 2,400 guests, Gilroy continued. Our islands are also the perfect match to answer the demand of the smaller expedition and luxury vessels with islands that are still pristine and with so much to discover with the people and their culture. Color Line has officially started construction of the world's biggest plug-in hybrid vessel, the Color Hybrid. The hull is now in the dock hall at the shipyard, and several hundred yard workers are now busy with the ships completion before hand-over next summer. "The determination and the ability to adjust course has been one of the key drivers in the development of the company. In about half a year, this magnificent hull will be a flagship for the natural environment and for innovation for the Norwegian maritime industry," said Trond Kleivdal, CEO of Color Line. The Color Hybrid will be sailing the Sandefjord-Stromstad route starting next summer. Being a "green" vessel, the ship will switch to batteries when it reaches the fjord outside Sandefjord. The ship will then be powered by battery through the fjord, without noise or harmful emissions, according to a statement. When moored in Sandefjord, the vessel will be powered by a shore connection. Ponant has announced that the November 20, 2018, sailing of Le Soleal has been cancelled to assess damage and carry out any necessary repairs. "On Wednesday 14 November 2018, Le Soleal, which at the time was under the control of a Chilean pilot, onboard to comply with maritime regulations, suffered a technical incident as she was sailing through the Kirke Passage in Chile, and one of her propellers was damaged," the company said, in a statement. "Following this incident, which was not serious and had no impact on the safety of the guests and crew onboard, the ship made her way, by her own means and unaided, to Puerto Natales where it is currently moored. "The program of the cruise under way is currently being reviewed. Le Soleal will be taken out of service temporarily to assess damage and carry out any necessary repairs. To date, the cruise line plans to cancel one cruise: the one that was due to depart Ushuaia on November 20, 2018. All of the guests affected by this cancellation will be contacted by Ponant within 48 hours and will be offered alternatives along with goodwill gestures." The ship will be back in service on November 30, 2018 for a departure from Ushuaia. The top five finalists have been selected for the 2019 Bacardi Legacy Cruise Competition, and are now set to compete in the finals in Puerto Rico in February 2019. The competition is now in its 14th year and is the longest running event of its kind in the marine hospitality sector, Bacardi said, in a prepared statement. Since 2016 cruise has been a dedicated sector within the global Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Global Competition, Competitors benefit from increased training, experiences and international recognition, Bacardi said, in a statement. The global competition challenges bartenders to create a Bacardi rum cocktail. Being part of the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail global Competition, the finalists from cruise and ferry are required to build on their recipe developments skills and now develop their prowess in sales and marketing," said Zachary Sulkes, International Key Account Manager Cruise, Bacardi Global Travel Retail. A fundamentally important phase of the competition is the measurement of how well the bartenders get behind their creation and demonstrate its potential to become established in the drinks industry as a true classic," he continued. "This can only be achieved by securing trial, consumer and trade awareness and distribution. So our five finalists are now busy promoting their recipe direct to guests and sharing it with fellow bartenders in their company so as to get it listed and served across the fleet. These are incredibly useful business skills that we help them to develop but are theirs to keep enabling them to further develop commercial acumen. From over 1200 recipe entries, the final five and their cocktails are: Sanja Cvijetic Carnival Cruise Line (Pictured: Top, Right) Cocktail: Purple Sunset Recipe: 60ml BACARDI Superior 22ml Monin Lavender Syrup 15ml lemonade 15ml fresh lime juice Splash of MARTINI Rosemary bunch Narciso Archie Mariano Jr Holland America Line (Pictured: Bottom, Left) Cocktail: Velvet Fashionista Recipe: 30 ml BACARDI Ocho Anos 15ml Islay whisky 15ml ST. GERMAIN Elderflower Liquor 30ml espresso 15ml agave syrup orange zest for garnish Marc MacArthur from Norwegian Cruise Line (Pictured: Top, Center) Cocktail: Up, up and Away Recipe: 60 ml BACARDI Ocho Anos 30 ml espresso 20 ml cinnamon syrup 10 ml Fernet-Branca orange twist and coffee beans Siddhant Naik P&O Cruises Australia (Pictured: Top, Left) Cocktail: Bitter Blanca Recipe: 30ml BACARDI Superior 15ml ST.GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur 30 ml egg white 60ml grapefruit juice Garnish with grapefruit zest and cinnamon powder Mattias Nilsson - Tallink Silja Line (Pictured: Bottom, Right) Cocktail: Bring Back The Summer Recipe: 40ml BACARDI Superior 30ml ST.GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur 25ml fresh lemon juice 2 fresh strawberries 4 basil leaves 40ml MARTINI Prosecco All five finalists receive $1,000 and an all expenses paid trip to the finals in Puerto Rico. The 2019 Bacardi Legacy Cruise Bartender of the Year will go on to compete in the finals against 41 other finalists from different markets, in Amsterdam in May 2019 with a $4,000 prize at stack. If all goes according to plan, The Juice Shop Kitchen & Juicery will be the next New York City-based eatery to start franchising in Fairfield County. "It's something we have been thinking about for a few years now," said co-founder Eli Halali. "We are looking forward to the opportunity to bring our nutritious food and beverage offerings to guests in new markets, and Fairfield has a number of towns where we believe The Juice Shop will be received well. "We will also benefit from the synergy created by Fairfield's close proximity to New York City," Halali added. "Many Fairfield County residents who work in New York City have reached out to us about how lucrative a Juice Shop would be in their town." Established in 2014, The Juice Shop offers not only juices and smoothies the latter of which can feature kale, spinach, chia and hemp seeds, and nutrient-rich spirulina but also salads, toasts and bowls of the acai, kale and poke varieties. "What separates us is the food," Halali said. "Where other juice-centric concepts look at food as an auxiliary category, we offer chef-driven items that are both healthy and delicious." The firm has signed with Fransmart as its exclusive franchising partner to expand across the country. Fransmart is credited with helping to grow the likes of Five Guys Burgers & Fries, The Halal Guys and Qdoba Mexican Grill from their respective beginnings in Arlington, Virginia, Manhattan and Denver. "At a time when healthy fast casuals are exploding, The Juice Shop hits on all of the moment's most sought-after items: salads, smoothies, acai bowls and fresh juices," said Fransmart President and CEO Dan Rowe. "In addition to being attractive to consumers," Rowe continued, "The Juice Shop is ideal for franchisees looking for a concept that has over $1 million in average unit sales, average store size approximately 550-600 square feet, an inexpensive build out, lower cost conversions and higher franchisee returns on investment." The franchise fee for The Juice Shop is $30,000. The minimum liquid capital to invest is $250,000 while the required minimum net worth is $500,000. The concept operates six corporate-owned locations in New York City, including Brooklyn, and Short Hills, New Jersey. Within Fairfield County, Halali identified Bridgeport, Danbury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan and Westport as focal points. "We would consider any town in Fairfield for The Juice Shop as long as the real estate and operator conform with our standards." Halali declined to specify how many stores could ultimately open in the county, though he said he expects to begin announcing franchisees next year. If and when it does set up here, The Juice Shop will be the latest Manhattan-based eatery to expand to the county. Mexicue, which started life as a food truck before evolving into a restaurant chain, opened its first Connecticut store in February at Stamford's Harbor Point, while the Mediterranean-themed Hummus & Pita Co. opened its first Connecticut location in Brookfield in August. Boulder, Colorado-based Rush Bowls, another chain promising nutritious fruit bowls and acai bowls, has reportedly been considering a move into the Nutmeg State, although no official announcements have been made. Kevin Zimmerman is a reporter for the Fairfield County Business Journal. For more of his work and that of the journal, please visit westfaironline.com. Cal Fire reports crews have now reached 100% containment on the California wildfire known as the Georges Fire burning in Inyo County. RELATED: Full coverage of California Wildfires An automated Cal Fire evacuation announcement published at November 15, 2018 8:49 am declared that "Evacuations lifted for the Whitney Portal area, including campgrounds, residents, and the Whitney Portal Store. The Whitney Portal Road was opened under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff. The area was closed for the publics safety due to the fire. The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center and the Wilderness Permit Office have returned to normal business hours." Anyone in the area of the Georges Fire must monitor emergency alerts, Nixle and live radio or television announcements for updated real-time information if lives and property might be at risk. FAST FACTS: Last Updated: November 15, 2018 8:49 am - FINAL Date/Time Started: July 08, 2018 1:36 pm Administrative Unit: Inyo National Forest Service County: Inyo County Location: off Hogback and Whitney Portal Road, Alabama Hills Acres Burned - Containment: 2,883 acres - 100% contained *** This is not a CAL FIRE incident. Click the link for more information on this fire. Evacuations: Evacuations lifted for the Whitney Portal area, including campgrounds, residents, and the Whitney Portal Store. The Whitney Portal Road was opened under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff. The area was closed for the publics safety due to the fire. The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center and the Wilderness Permit Office have returned to normal business hours. Road Closures: Some closures still exist in the fire area. Please avoid the fire area for your safety and for our firefighters safety. Cause: Lightning Total Fire Personnel: 564 Total Fire Engines: 22 Total Fire Crews: 20 Total Helicopters: 7 Total Dozers: 3 Total Water Tenders: 4 Long/Lat: -118.21881/36.6734 Conditions: The incident transitioned out of Unified Command. The fire is being managed by SoCal Team 3, a Type 2 incident management team (assigned to the Inyo National Forest). Tomorrow, management of the fire will transition to a local Type 4 team, comprised of your local firefighters from the Inyo National Forest. Much of the fireline of the Georges Fire is in steep, inaccessible terrain. Firefighters cannot safely gauge if these areas are contained or if pockets of heat still remain. However, the monsoonal moisture has substantially diminished the fire activity. Crews will continue suppression repair, mop up, and collecting remaining backhaul. Firefighters will continue to patrol in the fire area. No structures have been destroyed, and no reportable injuries occurred. Precipitation is likely today with some potential for erratic downdraft winds likely. Thunderstorms remain in the forecast and will decrease over the weekend. The area burned is 82% U. S. Forest Service (2,364 acres), 12% Bureau of Land Management (345 acres), and 5% Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (154 acres). Visit Inciweb for future updates on this fire. Further information on the Georges Fire is available on the Cal Fire incident page. The map below provides an overview of where California wildfires are currently burning. For ongoing coverage of California firefights and investigations as well as tips on how to prepare your home for a wildfire, visit the SFGATE California Wildfires page. Editors' Note: This story and map were generated from automated reports published by Cal Fire. Emergency information is subject to change quickly, and people in the area must monitor real-time emergency alerts from authorities, Nixle, and live radio and television broadcasts for updated evacuation information. MILFORD Struggling against Wednesday mornings gusting winds and biting cold, Mike Lambert and a crew from his Connecticut Detailing in New Milford applied shrink-wrap to what was once The Milford Diner, prepping it for transport to a new life a third of the way across the country. Come Nov. 19, the more than 70-year-old building, once as well-known as other long gone city staples Harrisons Hardware, Glazers Furniture, Schperos Jewelers and Pauls Hamburgers will be hauled onto I-84 on its way to Kokomo, Ind., and renovation to its former glory. They made a breakfast to die for, recalled Judith Gemignani. Their home fries were out of this world. My sister, Helen, worked there and Id be there every morning. Among city gathering places, the Milford Diner was distinct. Built in the 1946 Silk City style by the Paterson Vehicle Co. in Paterson, N.J., it had the familiar red interior six red vinyl booths sitting four and 20 red vinyl stools lining the counter. The diner opened and closed earlier than the others, city residents recalled. Its speciality was breakfast and lunch; the restaurant wasnt open for dinner. The phone booth in front was a life-saver for me, recalled Jamie Howanec, who used it often to call her parents after a matinee at the long gone Capitol Theater once located around the corner. I can still see Lou (the late Iljas Memaj, who owned the diner) standing over the grill flipping burgers while not missing a beat in the back-and-forth banter with his regulars, said Larry Urban, who spent many a lunch hour there while working as an insurance agent downtown. The move to Indiana marks the latest chapter in the diners story since the Memajes retired and closed the restaurant in 2003. Over the years, theres been talk but little else about its future. One person was going to buy it and reopen it. Another group was hoping to raise $80,000 to turn it into a downtown visitors bureau. The city marked it for blight and was threatening to tear it done. It appeared there was too much work to be done to bring it up to code to keep it here, said Bill DaSilva, one of the owners of the SBC Restaurant near where the diner sat. If it never shut down and was kept running, it probably would still be a diner. Despite its rough condition including damage caused by a vehicle hit within the past few months DaSilva said he had probably gotten 20 calls on its availability before deciding to give the building to Danny Miller, who plans to renovate it once its in Kokomo. In a July interview with The Milford Mirror, Miller told writer Jill Dion he intends to re-open it as a working diner. Miller has owned a motor vehicle restoration business. Attempts to reach him were not successful Wednesday. More than two years ago, Miller created a Save The Milford Diner Facebook page with a link to a GoFundMe.com campaign. The page said the campaign seeks to raise $25,000 for transportation and restoration. As of Nov. 14, the 25-month account had raised only $160. Despite the lack of donations, the diner is now on the move. Tuesday, a crane lifted the diner atop a tractor-trailer owned by M and G Rigging and Hauling of Lancaster, Pa. Hauling diners is nothing new to M and Gs Mel Brandt, the trucking firms president. In the diner world, hes king of the road and the hauler to call. Ive done a lot of these, he said. Maybe 200 or so over the last 20 years. I moved one out of Willimantic. The key is to make sure its protected on the haul, he said. You dont want parts blowing away, Brandt said. On this one, the wood is weak, the screws are loose ...its going to take a lot of work to get it up and running. Richard J.S. Gutman, author of American Diner Then and Now, said Miller has his work cut out for him. To do a diner restoration correctly, the cost is probably closer to $200,000, said Gutman, who has worked on more than 100 such projects. The company that built this diner began by building wagons and later buses. If he has experience in restoring cars, he knows what he can do and what speciality trades he needs to help him ...But you have to be willing to spend the time and money. The history of diners in Milford is complex. Several diners have been known by similar names: The Milford Diner, for instance, is different from the Milford diner, once located on New Haven Avenue but shuttered and moved to Vermont in the late 1980s to make way for Jeffreys Restaurant. Jeffreys is now the Kimberly Restaurant operated by the Tsopanides Family. The Tsopanides family operated the Kimberly Diner, across from Colonial Toyota on the Boston Post Road for 43 years before being forced to close in 2013. That building was demolished the following year. And the name Milford Diner now sits atop a restaurant on 886 Bridgeport Ave. opened in 2017 by Moe Elhelw. In 2018, two diners remain in the city proper: the Flyer and the Athenian Diner III. During the diner heyday, there wasnt a lot of competition from other restaurants and fast food chains were nonexistent, Gutman said. Its not so easy nowadays, he said. Youve got to think ahead. Bring in the right people. Cater to the tastes of the community. While Gutman admitted its a tough road ahead for Miller, diners bring with them a certain aura and mystique. He suggests just looking to the south in Long Island. Diners are doing gangbusters business there, Gutman said. Im happy to hear its being renovated, Howanec said Wednesday. I miss it. I had such good times there. It was the place to go after a 99-cent Saturday matinee at the Capitol or after skating on the Duck Pond ice, she said. I can still taste the hamburgers, french fries and cole slaw the greasier the better. United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas, Connecticut Natural Gas and Berkshire Gas said Wednesday there have been various reports of scammers threatening customers for money. There were multiple reports of scams where callers threatened to disconnect gas or electric service to customers unless they made immediate payment over the phone using a prepaid debit card. While most customers recognize these calls as scams, a small number have been persuaded to make payments, a news release said. Its an old swindle with some new twists. Scammers figured out how to make the caller ID on customers phone show up as the utility company. In some cases, perpetrators seemed to have specific knowledge about the customers. Sometimes, the scammers gave a callback number with a recorded greeting similar to the energy companys customer service line. Those running the scam will often target restaurants, markets or sandwich shops just before their lunch or dinner rushes. But residential customers have also reported receiving calls. There are various red flags in terms of scams like these, untility companies say, including the most essential one none of the real companies linked to these scams demand payment from customers over the phone. If a customer even falls behind on payments, theyll get a notice with a specific disconnection date and have the chance to pay or enter a payment arrangement before the service is disconnected. When it comes down to making payments, utility companies accept a variety of types, including credit cards and bank transfers. But if a caller insists on payment by a prepaid debit card, the call is not legitimate. The best way to avoid becoming a victim, the companies said, is to check for employee identification on in-person visitors and protect all personal information. Anyone who becomes the victim of a scam should report it to the utility company, local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission. The Trump administration will not insist on a complete accounting of North Korean nuclear-related assets ahead of a second summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Vice President Mike Pence acknowledged Thursday. Pence was asked whether a "complete list" of North Korean weapons and facilities was a condition for a summit envisioned for early next year. "I think it will be absolutely imperative in this next summit that we come away with a plan for identifying all of the weapons in question, identifying all the development sites, allowing for inspections of the sites and the plan for dismantling nuclear weapons," Pence said in an interview with NBC News. The listing of nuclear weapons and related sites has been a holdup in talks between the United States and North Korea, which continues to develop its nuclear program despite what Trump has called a commitment to give up weapons. The White House has said the accounting is an essential first step toward what Trump claims is a shared goal of "complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Veterans of negotiations and administration critics say North Korea is unlikely to ever provide an accurate listing and to ever completely abandon its weapons program. Speaking in Singapore, where Trump and Kim first met five months ago, Pence said the next Trump-Kim summit must produce a "verifiable plan" to disclose sites and weapons. "Now we need to see results," Pence said. North Korea postponed scheduled meetings last week in New York, where Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was expected to press for the accounting. The Trump administration has criticized past U.S. administrations for reaching agreements that North Korea promptly broke after receiving economic or other concessions. Tough U.S. sanctions on North Korea will remain in place until there is more progress, Pence said in the interview. The administration denies that it is being strung along by North Korea in much the same fashion as previous U.S. administrations. A Center for Strategic and International Studies report this week claims there are an estimated 20 undeclared missile operating bases that Pyongyang has continued to develop since Trump and Kim met in June. Pence is attending the 6th ASEAN-U.S. Summit on the sidelines of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings on Thursday in Singapore. LONDON - After a five-hour meeting with her cabinet, and months of struggle and delay, Prime Minister Theresa May emerged from 10 Downing Street on Wednesday and announced that her ministers had approved her Brexit plan. The draft agreement, negotiated by British and European Union officials, is a decisive step toward finalizing Britain's departure from the European Union in March. The agreement, which has been compared to the world's most complex divorce settlement, lays out the billions of euros that Britain will pay to leave, what rights Europeans living in Britain will have after Brexit, and how a 21-month-long transition period will work. The agreement also promises a solution to the knotty challenge of avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Irish Republic, which will remain in the EU. The plan still requires endorsement by European leaders this month, which should be relatively easy, to be followed by a far more difficult vote in the British Parliament in December, where many members decry the draft deal as a weak capitulation that satisfies no one. The cabinet approval of May's package marked the end of a remarkable 24 hours in British politics - a true cliffhanger, with social media and the airwaves filled with speculation about whether the deal, and May herself, would survive. Even as May prepared to speak, British political reporters were tweeting that a challenge to her leadership might be underway. The prime minister looked exhausted as she faced the cameras Wednesday evening outside her official residence. Rather than celebrate a hard-won round in her fight for a workable Brexit deal, she sounded somber. "This is a decision that will come under intense scrutiny, but the decision was to build a future for our country or to go back to square one and fail on the promise of the referendum," May said, without elaborating on the details of the deal. She described a "long, detailed and impassioned debate" within her cabinet, whose ranks are balanced between those who, like May, voted against Brexit two years ago, and those who campaigned hard for it - ministers such as Michael Gove and Liam Fox, who are committed Brexiteers. May said the Brexit withdrawal agreement will protect jobs and the union. She did not say that it would make Britain great again. "I firmly believe with my head and my heart that this is a decision that is in the best interests of the entire United Kingdom," May said. The withdrawal agreement was published shortly after she spoke - 585 pages of EU -legalese. May will discuss it in Parliament on Thursday. For the past two years, the greatest debate over Brexit has not been waged between Brussels and London, but within May's fractious Conservative Party. Hard-line Brexiteers have pushed for a decisive split from European bureaucrats and courts, from EU rules and regulations, while others, led by May, have sought a softer Brexit, compromise package that keeps Britain more closely aligned with Europe to better protect the British economy. May got a taste of the disgruntlement of her own backbench on Wednesday, as fellow Conservative Party members heaped derision on a deal they had not yet seen - but that they feared gave too much away. Conservative member of Parliament Peter Bone warned May that she was "not delivering the Brexit people voted for." He said, "Today you will lose the support of many Conservative MPs and millions of voters across the country." Arch-Brexiteer Boris Johnson, who quit his job as foreign secretary over May's proposals in July, had urged cabinet members to reject it. "It's vassal-state stuff," Johnson said. "For the first time in 1,000 years, this place, this Parliament, will not have a say over the laws that govern this country." A Conservative member of Parliament who opposes Brexit, Anna Soubry, said Wednesday that British voters should be offered another chance to cast a ballot on whether to support May's deal or remain in the European Union. The best deal, Soubry told the BBC, "is the deal that we currently have with the European Union." Sammy Wilson, a member of Parliament for Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which May needs to prop up her minority government, told TalkRadio that May's plan "is not so much a deal as a double-cross." The DUP's chief whip at Westminster, Jeffrey Donaldson, said May's half-in, half-out plan "doesn't give the United Kingdom as a whole the opportunity to do free-trade deals and to take control of its own future." Most lawmakers in the opposition Labour Party are expected to vote against the plan if and when it reaches Parliament. Ahead of the release of the document Wednesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "From what we know of the shambolic handling of these negotiations, this is unlikely to be a good deal for the country." Outside Parliament, Nigel Farage - a top Brexit campaigner and a member of the European Parliament, called May's withdrawal agreement "the worst deal in history." In Europe, there was relief that May had won approval from her divided cabinet. "Green light!" Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen tweeted. "Relieved that the UK government has now approved the deal reached by our negotiators." "This agreement is a crucial step in concluding these negotiations," said the chief EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, in a late-night news conference in the EU capital of Brussels, where he triumphantly waved a copy of the 585-page agreement, which he said contained 185 articles, three protocols and a series of annexes. "We're practically there." He said European leaders had been united after what he described as Britain's "thunderclap" decision to leave the European Union and took pains not to inflame May's sticky political situation in London. But he confirmed that if negotiators fail to reach a second deal about Britain's future relationship with the EU in the coming two years, a fail-safe, politically painful insurance policy would kick in to prevent a border from springing up between Ireland and Northern Ireland. That insurance plan would keep Britain bound inside the EU customs zone, obeying EU customs rules and regulations but unable to shape them - the exact opposite of the stated goal of Brexit advocates. European officials say they, too, find the situation uncomfortable, since Britain would have tariff-free and quota-free access to the vast EU market without being subject to the same demands as other EU countries. In London, May's approach had few defenders. But among them was former Conservative Party leader William Hague, who asked his colleagues, "Did anybody really think you could leave the EU without a lot of compromises?" Hague urged skeptics to consider the "big picture." He told the BBC that the deal fulfills the mandate the British voters chose when they voted 52 percent to 48 percent in a June 2016 referendum to leave the European bloc. "If what you want is to deliver on leaving the European Union, and have frictionless trade in goods at the border for the next few years until a future free-trade agreement comes into force, and have control of our own immigration policy, and keep the United Kingdom together, all at the same time - well, then, a deal is going to look pretty much like this one seems to look like. It isn't going to be dramatically different from that," Hague said. --- The Washington Post's Quentin Aries and Michael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report. For those who love history, few experiences are more stirring than taking in the Renaissance-era monuments, grand, Gothic cathedrals, and medieval walled villages on the antique streets of Europe. But we've got news for you, Old World obsessives: Despite being a relatively young country, America punches way above its weight when it comes to historic cities. In the United States, history is very much a living thing. As Shakespeare said, past is prologue: Many of those events, battles, and social movements that altered the trajectory of the nationand sometimes the worldalso shaped the homes, neighborhoods, and cities we live in today. Some of our top metros retain historic districts from their formative days, filled with beautiful, older homes that connect the present day to the past. And that makes these places extremely attractive destinations for buyers fascinated by times gone by. Where can you find them? The realtor.com data team set out to find America's most historic cities. We looked at the 500 largest urban areas, focusing on the per capita number of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the number of National Historic Landmarks. (These are both federal destinations that deem historic sites to be preserved.) Finally, we looked at the property description of homes in these markets on realtor.com to calculate a share of historic homes. Hartford, Conn. comes in at number seven with 144 properties listed on the Historic Register and eight national historic landmarks. Scroll down to read more and click through the slideshow to see some of SW Connecticut's most historic buildings. Claire Widman These places include the ones you'll remember from history class, where the Revolutionary and Civil Wars were fomentedas well as lesser known ones that nevertheless played a crucial role in this country's past. So what are the advantages of living in a historic place? "Historic districts tend to hold their value better during economic downturns, and they appreciate more during upswings," says Tom Mayes, vice president for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC. Historic homes "come with a built-in character. They have a uniqueness and distinctiveness. ... They give you a sense of perspective in our own lives and help us to understand where we are on that [historic] timeline," says Mayes. But buyers need to do their research before snagging an old home, adds Mayes, also the author of "Why Old Places Matter." Many of these antique abodes require costly maintenance and updating. (A century-old plumbing system? Shudder.) And there are often restrictions on what sorts of changes can be made on homes in historic districts, such as the type of doors or windows that can be put in in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. This can add up to big bucks for homeowners. OK? Let's take a tour of America's past. Best of all, you didn't have to ace history to appreciate these historic cities. Median list price: $949,000 National Registerlisted properties: 209 National Historic Landmarks: 19 In the days of Colonial America, a handful of wealthy British aristocrats, known as Tories, built large Colonial, Queen Anne, and Italianate homes in Cambridge with the inflow of money from their plantations in the West Indies. But they didnt keep them for long. Soon these aristocrats were driven out of the country once a band of patriots won the American Revolution. Cambridge and its massive estates wouldnt sit empty for long. The growing upper ranks of American society would come to occupy the city that was home to Harvard University, which was founded in 1636. There were sections of the city that became enclaves for the working class, who toiled in nearby factories making everything from soap to machine parts. They mostly lived in multifamily homes made out of clapboard. But once World War II ended, the city went through a transformation. Industrial smokestacks would be replaced by corporate firms and startups that were sapping up grads from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also in Cambridge. "We have strong historic preservation here," says Charles Sullivan, executive director of the Cambridge Historical Commission. "We've had very little teardown culture. A lot of developers are focused on upgrading existing homes." The boxy, clapboard, three-story homes that the working class occupied have been rebuilt into upscale housing. These homes can easily exceed $1 million and attract wealthy financiers from nearby downtown Boston and affluent academics and techies from Harvard and MIT. Architecture enthusiasts may want to check out Tory Lane, near Harvard. Built by a handful of British aristocrats in the 18th century, it consists of about a half-dozen stately, three-story Colonial estates. Median list price: $305,000 National Registerlisted properties: 100 National Historic Landmarks: 33 Charleston, founded by English colonists in the 17th century, is known to history buffs for playing a starring role in the start of the Civil War. The conflict that would divide America was ignited when secessionists attacked Fort Sumter in 1861, shortly after President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated. Charleston had a vested interest in the outcome of the war: It's estimated that about 40% of slaves in North America landed in the city's port from their homelands. After losing the war, the city was deeply hobbled. It wasn't until the Charleston Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s that the area began seeing cultural and corporate growth again. The city's distinct eras each had an impact on its architectural landscape, ranging from Colonial and art deco homes to Georgian and Gothic Revival residences. Today that architecture, along with the town's beaches, seafood, and cobblestone streets, are big draws for its tourism industry. "The residents are invested in preserving their city, so we have many zoning laws and preservation initiatives in favor of saving that historical architecture," says Carl Borick, director of the Charleston Museum. "South of Broad Street in the historic district is our crown jewel. That was the heart of the original Charleston from all those years ago." But these older homes aren't cheapand neither is the upkeep. Median list price: $139,900 National Registerlisted properties: 251 National Historic Landmarks: 0 The most iconic building in Davenport, IA, on the Mississippi River, is its grand clock tower built in 1895 as part of City Hall. Local legend has it the roughly $90,000 price tag wasn't paid for by the city's most devout churchgoers, but by taxes on local brothels and saloons. Whether or not that's true, Iowa's third-largest city was indeed home to a plethora of rowdy speak-easies and dance halls in the Bucktown neighborhood, earning Davenport a rep as "Wickedest City in America." Bucktown, founded by German immigrants in the mid-1800s, has since been transformed with many of its older buildings and factories being turned into loft apartments. But Davenport's checkered past extends beyond speak-easies. Dredd Scott, a slave who sued for his freedom in 1846 and lost, lived for a time in a large, brick estate near downtown. The case, Dred Scott v. Sandford, led to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1857 that slaves didn't have the legal rights of American citizenship. It substantially increased tensions between the North and South leading up to the Civil War. Those who want to own a bit of history here can purchase one of the area's older homes dating to Davenport's industrial roots. Among homes for sale on realtor.com, 25% in the Davenport region are at least 75 years old. Many are two-story homes with front porches and hardwood floors priced under $100,000. Median list price: $174,900 National Registerlisted properties: 435 National Historic Landmarks: 17 Many Americans aren't aware of the rich history of St. Louis. In summer 1904, athletes from around the world ascended on St. Louis for the third-ever Olympic Games. It helped put this rising city, founded in 1764, on the world map. The city's growth was spurred in the early 20th century by industrial firms, including beer titan Anheuser-Busch. It brought a flood of immigrants, many of them German, who built up the city and the homes within it. Some of those older homes are hot commodities today. "Buyers like the fact that each historical house here has a story," says Mark Johnson, a real estate agent with Keller Williams. In neighborhoods such as Soulard, Lafayette Square, and Benton Park, buyers can find everything from brick bungalows built in the early 1930s to newer, three-story mansions. According to historians, the southeastern neighborhood of Carondelet has homes dating to the 1700s. Median list price: $496,500 National Registerlisted properties: 61 National Historic Landmarks: 7 Most Western cities are younger than their East Coast counterparts. But not Santa Fe, NM. The area was occupied by Native American tribes as far back as the 1100s and incorporated in 1610 by the Spanish. The Palace of the Governors dates to the 1600s and is the oldest continually used government building in the nation. The unique pueblo-style and adobe architecture of Santa Fe is inspired by the climate and available materials. The Spanish used mud and clay brick to build sandy-colored, boxy homes with flat roofs and small windows, designed to stay cool during the day and warm in the night. Over the years they've become a prime tourist attraction, Historic neighborhoods such as the Plazahome to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and much of the city's art scenehave seen home costs soar. Unfortunately this has priced out some of the city's original descendants, with lineage to the Spaniards. "They're not able to live in the areas in the historic places where their grandparents and parents lived," says Andrew Lovato, historian for the city of Santa Fe. Median list price: $599,000 National Registerlisted properties: 596 National Historic Landmarks: 71 After the American Revolution, Washington, DC, was created in 1790 from land donated from Virginia and Maryland. But the city's position as the U.S. capital was far from secure. It was almost moved after British soldiers invaded the city in 1814 and burned the White House to the ground. But the War of 1812 would soon pass and the capital remained where it was. Over the next 200 years many of the country's most significant events would take place herefrom Abraham Lincoln's assassination, to the Watergate break-in, to the Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage. In fact, it's hard not to find history in this city. History buffs should check out Capitol Hill, lined with beautiful 100-year-old Colonial row homes. The upscale neighborhood Georgetown, which has been the home to scores of famous Americans like Jack Kennedy, is packed with two-story brick homes built 150 years ago. And Brightwood, where Lincoln became the first sitting president to receive enemy fire, has gorgeous Colonial-style brick homes. Median list price: $224,900 National Registerlisted properties: 144 National Historic Landmarks: 8 Favorite son Mark Twain, who lived in Hartford from 1874 to 1891, wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn here. The Mark Twain House, a National Historic Landmark, looks like a brick medieval fortress and is built in American high Gothic style. And next door is the three-story cottage where Harriet Beecher Stowe lived for the last two decades of her life, another landmark. But these are far from the only historic homes youll find here. Neighborhoods such as Asylum Hill are lined with huge 19th-century Victorian houses priced under $300,000. Founded in 1636 by Puritans seeking religious freedom, the city finally made a name for itself nearly 200 years later, as a manufacturing juggernaut and one of the wealthiest cities in America. As one of the nation's oldest cities to boot, Hartford has the oldest publicly funded park (Bushnell Park) and the oldest continuously operated public art museum (Wadsworth). Median list price: $239,900 National Registerlisted properties: 170 National Historic Landmarks: 12 Roger Williams, a Puritan minister who was banished from the repressive Massachusetts Bay Colony, crossed the river and founded Providence, RI, in 1636. "Once he settled in, he built Providence without a central church, so residents could worship as they pleased," says Geralyn Ducady from the Rhode Island Historical Society. "So unlike most New England towns, there wasnt a church in the middle. All the homes were built along the river. The properties were built so that everything went straight back. Youd have your main house on the river, and behind that the carriage house, behind that the orchard, and behind that the family burial plot." After the Revolutionary War, Providence transitioned into an industrial city with factories popping up around town. Many of the spacious Victorian homes built during this period are still around, including the three-story William F. Sayles house, which was built in 1878 and now priced at $1.7 million. More than a few of these multibedroom homes have become popular options for cash-strapped students at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, sparking fears that they're driving up local housing prices. Local politicians have been looking at ways of limiting the number of undergraduates who can stay in the homes as a result. Median list price: $241,300 National Registerlisted properties: 263 National Historic Landmarks: 18 When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Richmond, VA, one of the country's largest slave trading hubs, became the capital of the Confederate States of America. Tredegar Iron Works, which produced military equipment and ship parts, was considered a backbone of the Southern war efforts. Long before the Civil War began, Richmond was already a historically significant city. The 1775 speech by Patrick Henry in which he declared Give me liberty or give me death was delivered at the still-standing St. Johns Church. Today Richmond has a number of historic neighborhoods oozing Southern charm. Jackson Ward is a historically black neighborhood that has become a pioneering mecca for jazz, ragtime, and swing music, and was once dubbed Harlem of the South. And buyers won't go broke buying a home in the area. This one-bedroom condo in a row house built in 1870 is priced at $229,000. Median list price: $199,900 National Registerlisted properties: 243 National Historic Landmarks: 5 The capital of Arkansas may be best known for one of the more shameful periods in American history. During the height of segregation, a group of nine black students enrolled at the all-white Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Gov. Orval Faubus called in the Arkansas National Guard to block the students from entering the school. The students, who came to be known as the Little Rock Nine, were finally able to enroll after President Dwight Eisenhower stepped in. "Race remains a prominent theme of life in Little Rock. A number of the neighborhoods and schools are [still] virtually segregated," says Jess Porter, chair of the History Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Things are improving, but progress is slower than most would like. Homes in the Little Rock Central High School District, where the famed school is located, tend to be bungalows, Victorians, Tudor Revivals, and Colonial Revivals, many of which are in need of some TLC. That's reflected in the neighborhood's median price of just under $90,000less than half of the median price tag in the city proper. Sources: realtor.com and the U.S. National Park Service Allison Underhill contributed to this report. The post National Treasures: Top 10 U.S. Cities Where You Can Live in a Piece of History appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Credit Union Magazine is celebrating the credit union movements heroesand you can be part of the nomination process. CUNAs monthly magazine is seeking candidates for its 12th annual Credit Union Hero of the Year Award. These individuals exemplify the credit union philosophy of people helping people, go the extra mile to make a difference in their communities, and demonstrate their service, advocacy, and commitment to the credit union movement. We seek to recognize those who are making significant contributions that advance the credit union movement, says Ann Peterson, CUNAs vice president of publishing. Were looking for people who have truly invested their hearts and souls into creating a lasting impression not only at their credit union, but on behalf of all credit unions. All-Star volleyball match to showcase top players in area The 35th Johnstown Area vs. Somerset Area All-Star Volleyball Match will be contested Wednesday at Somerset High School. The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. DELAWARE Firefighters often jump into action, even when they are off-duty and without access to tools and equipment. Tom Benson, an Aston Township Fire Department volunteer firefighter, was getting to leave his friends house in Prince County when he heard skidding sounds followed by the impact of a crash and continuous banging noises. Knowing a car was flipping, I yelled that while running out of the house. I ran to the corner to see smoke and something laying in the roadway, Benson said. Not knowing the accident was at least a quarter of a mile away, I ran as fast as I could while trying to dial 911. As I got closer I determined that thing lying in the roadway was a bumper that ended up getting hit by a car as I ran toward the accident. The crash involved two vehicles and a motorcycle. He found the first crash victim, wearing a motorcycle helmet, lying on the median strip and not moving. He checked for a pulse and the motorcyclist asked for his girlfriend. What Ive learned from training was to ask questions instead of assuming, Benson said, adding that he thought the girlfriend may have been on the motorcycle at the time of the crash. When asked, the motorcyclist responded that she was in the Jeep. Benson looked up and saw the Jeep in the woods and two people began to self-extricate. I promised I would find his girlfriend for him, Benson said. He ran to the Jeep and assessed the situation. He told another crash victim, a man with a huge gash in his hand to sit down, take off his T-shirt and use it to apply pressure because he was bleeding uncontrollably. Benson then asked about the whereabouts of the motorcyclists girlfriend, which was answered by unknown. He checked another car for potential patients, but no one was in the vehicle. Then I saw a body of a young lady lying in the field 150 yards away from the Jeep, Benson said. Fearing the worst, he ran to the woman and found her unconscious and barely breathing. The other driver remained on-scene with the Delaware State Police. Identifying himself as a firefighter, Benson told the trooper that there were four crash victims accounted for, and one missing. Believing that she too may have been ejected, Benson used the flashlight on his cellphone to search the wooded area for the girlfriend. At this point other Good Samaritans came up to the crash site and Benson asked two of them to stay with the woman in the woods as he searched for the fifth victim with help from his friends mom, Julie Wesley, an off-duty police officer. Another Good Samaritan yelled to them that there was a woman trapped in the jeep. The three of them began removing the mangled parts of the Jeep that covered and pinned the motorcyclists girlfriend under the seat. As Benson checked for her pulse, she regained consciousness. To keep her calm, Wesley stayed with her through the extrication process when the local fire department arrived. Benson returned to the woman in the field and initially held her hand until she became responsive. He then held her C-spine to protect her spinal cord until the first ambulance arrived to continue caring for her. The whole time he talked her through what was happening. I tried my best to keep this woman conscious and alert, talking to her about herself and who I was, Benson said. I held C-spine and talked to her until both helicopters landed and the victims were transported. Benson said everything happened so fast and it was a frantic incident with so many people injured. All of my training kicked in to where I was triaging people, trying to figure out who needed the immediate attention, said Benson, adding that in situations like that, firefighters immediately react to help those in need of the most care. The crash occurred back in July and Benson said he kept what he did low-key, but his fellow firefighters found out about it after he attended a fundraiser Saturday that raised money to help the victims with medical costs. He wanted to meet them and support their benefit. Some of those involved in the crash are still doing physical therapy. During the fundraiser they acknowledged his actions and posted about it on social media. To the man who tirelessly searched and never gave up until he was able to find me, check for my pulse, and made sure I was taken out of the vehicle with someone by my side, the motorcyclists girlfriend said on Facebook. She posed in a photo with Benson and continued, To the man who all five of us will forever be grateful for. The Aston Township Fire Department also acknowledged his actions with a Facebook post, crediting him for keeping the patients calm during a chaotic and traumatic event. Thank you, Tom, for not only volunteering with us but using your training and knowledge when not in turnout gear. Way to make a huge difference!!!! UWCHLAN What a better way to learn about a career than to meet someone in that field? Lionville Middle School Assistant Principal David Wiedlich recently coordinated the first Career Symposium series at the school in Uwchlan Township to offer an insight of STEM science, technology, engineering and math careers. More than 35 professionals attended the career day to inform the Lionville students of the Downingtown Area School District about their typical workday, unique experiences, as well as their career path and requirements. Lionville students typically have the opportunity to meet veterans and hear from active military service members through events held during the school year, and the presentation by Master Sgt. Charles Kelly proved to be a popular choice by the students. Kelly signed up for the National Guard in December 2000 when he was a senior in high school. I wanted to serve my country and go to college for free, Kelly said during his presentation. His first day of basic training for the infantry was on Sept. 11, 2001, the morning of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York. After he completed his training, he attended West Chester University and later was deployed, including assisting after Hurricane Katrina hit the states in 2005. He finished college and received a Bachelors degree in criminal justice before serving a year in Iraq. Kelly asked the students if they had ever tried a MRE (meal ready to eat) and if they liked it. When one student said he liked it, Kelly asked if he would enjoy eating it for three meals a day for 45 days, adding that it may not be uncommon to do so while deployed. Kelly showed students several training photos taken prior to his deployment. A day in the life for us in Iraq was to walk around on patrol for anywhere from eight to 12 to 18 hours, Kelly said. Our job was to watch and look for bad guys. When they werent on patrol, he said they played games just like kids do. He added that their days were exhausting and involved walking and carrying gear that weighs at least 105 pounds. He asked if anyone in the room weighed about 105 pounds, and when a student raised his hand, Kelly said it would be like carrying him on your back all day. Michael Kimble, an engineer with The Hankin Group, talked to students in the applied science and engineering pathway about the proposed housing development and relocation of the Downingtown Train Station on Route 322 in Downingtown Borough. He explained that for the demolition of the two smokehouses that the engineers had to determine where to place the explosive charges so that they would detonate the smokehouses to land in a safe area. A crowd had gathered in January to watch the demolition. I want to do that, one student said to another student at the conclusion of the video. Wiedlich said the objective of the inaugural series was for students to choose and take part in interactive sessions that would hopefully spark an interest, and help them to begin looking into a career pathway of their choosing. The pathways included, but were not limited to the following: Business, marketing, management; human resources and services; corporate and mathematical innovation/industrial/manufacturing; health science(s), medicine, and biology; applied science and engineering; environmental and agricultural systems; and technology, media/communications/arts. PHILADELPHIA Dozens of Amnesty International members recently gathered at the University of Sciences for the annual Amnesty International Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference. Members of the Owen J. Roberts High School Amnesty International Chapter also participated in the gathering. This conference gave students and others who may not do much with Amnesty an opportunity to become more involved in their causes and to learn more. From writing letters to Assistant Director Debbie Seguin about the proposal to allow children to be held in detention centers indefinitely, to signing up to get information to pass an I Welcome resolution in their community or school, which is a non-binding statement saying that their community or school welcomes refugees. The conference opened with a performance by City Love and a discussion about immigrating families and how policies are affecting them. Afterward, there were workshops that attendees could take part in, such as Getting Creative About Change: A Workshop in Posters, Branding, and More run by Amanda Alampi, social media strategist for Amnesty International USA. We can use creative means to tell stories all the time, Alampi said during the workshop. Amnesty International is globally known as a brand that uses art to promote activism. Alampi explained to attendees about Amnestys brand and their artwork, and then tasked them with creating posters based on a fictitious scenario that relates to current events. During the Youth Caucus later in the day, youth and student groups came together and discussed with each other challenges and successes they have had within their individual groups. Toward the end of the Caucus, Margaret Huang, the executive director of Amnesty International USA, stopped in and spoke to the students. After the Caucuses, Prachi Rao presented the 2018 Keeper of the Flame Award and Princess Blanding, sister to Marcus-David Peters and co-leader of Justice and Reformation, spoke to the attendees about her work. She explained the Marcus Alert that Justice and Reformation proposed, which would cause mental health professionals to be on-scene in the case of a confirmed or suspected mentally ill person. After listening to Blanding, attendees were able to go to a second workshop, such as Dont Build A Wall Build A Longer Table: Welcoming Refugees in Your Community. Here, Meagan Hume and Kit OConnor explained Amnesty Internationals I Welcome campaign and Amnesty International USAs Longer Table campaign and what people could do to become a part of it. The Longer Table initiative consists of three big ideas: events in support of refugees, non-binding resolutions, and community sponsorship. Their goal is to have over 100 events in support of refugees by the end of 2019. The non-binding resolutions are the I Welcome resolutions that are to be passed in communities and schools nationwide, and community sponsorships support refugees through volunteering, fundraising, and advocating. Afterwards, there was Resolutions, which is where groups and dues-paying members vote on resolutions that will be sent to the Annual General Meeting and debate about them and some create amendments, or changes to the resolutions. The conference concluded with a candlelight vigil and a reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amnesty International is a nonpartisan human rights organization that advocates for human rights across the globe per their list of human rights which is available on their website. The organization takes part in peaceful protests, letter-writing campaigns, and other forms of peaceful protests. If Democrats are trying to reassure anyone that they wont impeach President Trump, theyre arent doing a very good job of it. Just days after her party won control of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi made clear that Democrats might impeach the president even if Trump-Russia special counsel Robert Mueller does not find evidence to warrant charges against him. Recognize one point, Pelosi told the Atlantic. What (Trump-Russia special counsel Robert) Mueller might not think is indictable could be impeachable. Were waiting to see what the special counsel finds, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who will run the House Judiciary Committee, told CNN. And we will then have to make judgments. I certainly hope that we will not find the necessity for an impeachment. But you cant rule that out. Before Pelosi and her fellow Democrats turn down the road to impeachment, they might do well to listen to the last speaker of the House who tried to remove a president. Newt Gingrich famously led the Republican impeachment of Bill Clinton in 1998 and 1999. Today, he has regrets. In a recent interview at the Washington Examiners Sea Island Political Summit, I asked Gingrich about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells recent statement that the Republican campaign against Bill Clinton backfired on the GOP. The business of presidential harassment, which we were deeply engaged in in the late 1990s, improved the presidents approval rating, and tanked ours, McConnell said. I think McConnell is largely right, Gingrich told me. I think we mishandled the (Clinton) investigation and I think that we should have been calmer and slower and allowed the country to talk to itself before we reached judgment. Gingrich pointed to another House leader, Democrat Tip ONeill, who handled House action against Richard Nixon during Watergate. ONeill was better than I was at managing that process, Gingrich said. Gingrichs words and McConnells, too are extraordinary admissions of mistakes. Together, they serve as a warning to Democrats to be cautious when it comes to impeaching Trump. On the other hand, some might see Gingrich and McConnell as simply trying to scare Democrats away from pursuing a Republican president. In any event, though, they point out that impeachment can put a party in a very dangerous position. Of course the Trump and Clinton cases are different. Yes, Trumps job approval is nearly the same as Clintons was at this point in his presidency, according to Gallup. But Trump has been the target of relentlessly negative media commentary, while during the Clinton scandals much less of the commentary targeted the president, and a good portion instead targeted Republican investigators. Today, there is one group that really wants impeachment, and that is Democratic voters. According to an NBC News exit poll, 78 percent of Democrats who voted in the midterms say Congress should impeach the president, versus just 17 percent of Democrats who oppose the move. Outside of Democrats, 57 percent of independents are against impeachment, versus 34 percent who support it. And 94 percent of Republicans oppose it, versus 5 percent who support it. House Democrats will investigate Trump on a whole range of topics. But any impeachment would likely be based on the Russia affair. As Nadler suggested, Democrats will wait to take action until after special counsel Mueller reports his findings. But as Pelosi noted, Democrats reserve the right to impeach Trump even if Mueller does not uncover evidence of serious wrongdoing. What is extraordinary, given some Democrats appetite for impeachment, is how little a role the Russia investigation played in the midterms that brought Democrats to power in the House. Democratic candidates did not campaign on an elect-me-and-Ill-impeach-the-president platform. Indeed, in many races the issue never came up at all. Democratic strategists warned candidates against using the I-word, suggesting they instead pledge to serve as a check and balance on the president and hold him accountable. Now, however, with the elections safely over, impeachment talk is back. Democratic leaders know that nearly eight out of 10 of their voters want them to impeach Trump. Political leaders do not usually ignore the wishes of eight out of 10 of their supporters. Perhaps Mueller will produce some shocking new revelation that will turn overall public opinion toward impeachment. In the absence of that, though, it seems difficult to envision a Democratic impeachment attempt succeeding. Which means that, if Democrats plow ahead against the president, they might in the future, like Gingrich and McConnell today, regret the path they chose. (Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.) After a mammoth Cabinet meeting, Theresa May has avoided a mass walk-out over a Brexit deal. For now, the Government will present a united front to Parliament and the country. But there remain vast impediments unquestionably in Britain, and possibly in some EU countries to this deals acceptance. Over the coming weeks we will be bombarded with a maelstrom of conflicting arguments. Theresa May speaking outside 10 Downing Street after a crunch Brexit deal meeting with Cabinet ministers which ran late into last night Former Transport Secretary Jo Johnson speaks to Gary Lineker during a pro-remain rally which rejected the Prime Minister's deal We may assume that the majority of the parliamentary Labour Party will vote against. So, almost certainly, will a number of Tory Remainers, including characters such as the ambitious Jo Johnson, who resigned as a middle-ranking minister last week. Meanwhile, Scottish Tory MPs are concerned that the draft agreement may leave the United Kingdom bound by EU fishing rules. Mrs May will have to appease them if she is to count on their support. In the end, though, the outcome of the vote will largely depend on whether enough hard-line Brexiteer Tory MPs, as well as the ten Northern Irish members of the Democratic Unionist Party, are able to swallow their perfectly understandable reservations. I hope they will. I say this in the belief that this deal is seriously flawed. Above all, it apparently ties us into membership of the Customs Union for an unspecified period, and allows us to leave it only if the EU says we can. This is deeply unsatisfactory. But as former Tory leader William Hague pointed out yesterday morning on the Today programme, there is a very high probability that, if they reject this outline agreement, Brexiteers will find themselves with something which they like even less. Surely this is a time for realism. We may bemoan the way in which EU negotiators have often run rings around our own. We may chastise Mrs May for calling a general election which wiped out a Tory majority, and left the Government a less formidable partner in its talks in Brussels. Betrayed Yet we are where we are. There is no going back. Irrevocable mistakes have been made. But rather than bemoaning the inadequacies of this deal, Brexiteers should ask themselves how on earth they are going to get a better one. For it seems there are only three plausible alternatives to what Mrs May has come up with. One is a divisive second referendum, which might lead to our staying in the EU and, if so, would result in many millions of voters feeling bitter and betrayed. The second alternative is that we leave the EU without any deal, and therefore with unimaginable and conceivably disastrous consequences. Even stalwart Brexiteers seem queasy about this prospect, partly because they realise the Government has, to its discredit, made scant preparations for such an eventuality. The third choice is a Corbyn-led administration which would be more destructive of wealth creation, and more inimical to freedom, than any government that has ever existed in this country. The third choice: 'a Corbyn-led administration would be more destructive of wealth creation, and more inimical to freedom, than any government that has ever existed in this country' There are no other realistic outcomes at this stage of the proceedings. That may be regrettable, but it happens to be the case. And since politics is the art of the possible rather than the pursuit of perfection, Brexiteers would be wise to think in practical terms. And actually, even in an agreement deficient in some respects, there are several things that should please Leavers, and make them think the whole process has been worthwhile. All of us who voted for Brexit should take our minds back to the heady days of June 2016, and imagine what we would have thought then if we had been presented with this draft deal. I am sure that, like many others on our side of the argument, I would have been appalled by the idea of our being locked up in the Customs Union without any clear means of getting out. Control We would have been shocked that for as long as we remain in this state we will be a rule-taker, not a rule-maker. And we would have been disappointed that dreams of striking our own trade deals have been curtailed, if not extinguished. But I am certain most Leavers on that seemingly distant summers day would have been thrilled to learn that the Government has successfully negotiated an agreement which reportedly will give us back control of our own borders and so able to regulate immigration. Most Leavers would also have been delighted to learn that we will regain fishing rights over our own waters if Mrs Mays pledge yesterday in the Commons is to be believed and that the ruinously expensive Common Agricultural Policy has been successfully repudiated. We would also have been cheered that the Government has recovered direction of our foreign policy, and that we are no longer unwilling passengers on a bandwagon heading at ever increasing velocity towards European integration. And although I am sure most of us would have gulped at the prospect of HMG shelling out 39 billion of our money on a divorce deal, we would have been relieved that our annual net contribution of some 10 billion is coming to an end. In other words, although Brexiteers have cause to be disappointed by some aspects of this deal, they should not, in their somewhat overdone grief, forget that it delivers many of the benefits for which they have fought over long years. So this is my message to those who have campaigned for Brexit. This deal delivers much of what you want. Accept it. If you dont, you are likely to end up with something far worse which may well be nothing at all. There is one further important consideration. We Brexiteers always go on about the 17.4 million people who voted Leave. But we tend to forget the 16.1 million who backed Remain. The misgivings of such a large minority should be respected, even though they were on the losing side. It sometimes seems the most ideologically driven Brexiteers yearn for a resolution that takes no account of the reasonable fears of millions of their fellow Britons. This is their country, too. Boris Johnson cycles into Parliament yesterday as the Prime Minister prepared herself for crucial cabinet talks 'Knowing Boris Johnson quite well and Jacob Rees-Mogg a little, I cant believe that these liberal and essentially broad-minded men (yes, even Boris) really want to jettison pragmatism' What Theresa May has produced may be a muddle in some ways. But one of its virtues is that, because it is not an extreme version of Brexit, it should appeal to many of those harbouring doubts. Who knows, it might help heal our divided country. Shouldnt Brexiteers, who so often champion our values, cherish the British (perhaps I should say English) quality of compromise? Our great institutions Parliament, the monarchy, the Church of England may once have been steeped in blood, but they have flourished because they were able to compromise. Purist Knowing Boris Johnson quite well and Jacob Rees-Mogg a little, I cant believe that these liberal and essentially broad-minded men (yes, even Boris) really want to jettison pragmatism and good sense in favour of fighting in a ditch for a purist cause that is no longer achievable if it ever was. As for the DUPs MPs, I have no great insight into their possibly intractable minds, but its hard to think they really want to usher in the IRA-loving and wealth-destroying Jeremy Corbyn. Of course, I dont know whether this admittedly imperfect deal will be accepted. I just believe, with a slightly heavy heart, that it should be. And perhaps now we can slowly return to being a happier and more united people. Just before 5.30pm she strode through the double-doors upstairs at No 10 and insisted, with dramatic severity, that she was going nowhere. Black jacket, dark glowers, a wintry tone as she claimed she was not interested in her personal prospects. She was acting in the national interest and that was why her deal must be choked down by party and Parliament (and you lot, the people). The optics were good: Union Jacks, a lion and unicorn crest, polished wood and a prime minister visibly summoning her every ounce of statesmanship to maintain a facade of calm. Am I going to see this through? Yes! she said. Yet it was hard to square all this with the clattering cacophony of the preceding ten hours. Just before 5.30pm she strode through the double-doors upstairs at No 10 and insisted, with dramatic severity, that she was going nowhere Her stoicism, or stubbornness, was amazing (and she even found the strength to laugh). But at what point does it all become self-delusion? At what point does determination become dogmatic? It had been another of those mad, exhausting, somehow exhilarating days of Westminster crisis, when every text alert seemed likely to signify a ministerial resignation. Another matelot overboard! With each shuddering blow, each splosh as another departee was no longer able to swallow Mrs Mays Brexit capitulation, you sensed sea-water seeping through the caulk of a sinking ship of state. Of Mrs Mays physical stamina there was no doubt. She stood in the Commons for three hours of questions. At times it felt like 649 MPs versus one, for she received pitifully little support for her deal. Apart from a few vocal wobbles, perhaps as much from tiredness as emotion, she managed not to collapse into a sobbing heap. On TVs Top Gear they once tried to destroy a Toyota pick-up truck and subjected it to all sorts of ordeals, setting it on fire, submerging it, dropping it from a skyscraper. Each time its engine coughed back into life. Same yesterday with our seemingly indestructible PM: Toyota May. Yet she sustained terrible damage and you had to wonder if she was deep in some mental tunnel to stick so mechanically to a hated policy. She can not have had much sleep, her eyes now those of a lemur, the shoulders sloped. An hour before she was due in the Commons at 10.30am it was announced that Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab had resigned. A serious, proper figure, Raab. There was no dismissing him as a mere trouble-maker. Warp factor five, Mr Sulu. Raabs departure showed, again, the madness of Mrs May putting officials in charge of the negotiations and making them senior to elected politicians. We are seeing here a colossal tussle for survival by the technocracy. Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con, NE Somerset), with deadly politeness, noted that despite her long claims to be fighting for our sovereignty, her proposed deal now says otherwise At 10.20am a flashing motorcade whisked her from No 10 to Parliament in less than a minute. I hared downstairs to the Commons Chamber and got there in time to see her enter. She was short of puff and her fringe was windblown. Around her, ministers treated her with care-home kindness. The Treasurys Mel Stride shot her an encouraging wink. Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright tried to reassure her with a light-hearted remark. He was rewarded with a weak sort of smile. The danger in the Commons came not from Jeremy Corbyn (hopeless) but from her own side. Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con, NE Somerset), with deadly politeness, noted that despite her long claims to be fighting for our sovereignty, her proposed deal now says otherwise. Should he write a letter demanding her resignation? Mrs May gave a long, controlled answer but Anna Soubry (Con, Broxtowe) went loopy. You are a DISGRACE! she howled. Mr Rees-Mogg lightly touched the frame of his spectacles. Mrs Mays answers were their usual seamless spiel, repeating formulae like a machine, but they lacked the shimmering force of Nigel Dodds, the DUPs leader at Westminster. Nothing matches an angry Ulsterman for Biblical fury. Mrs May had reneged on private promises, he thundered. She was offering the country subjection to the rules and laws of others who may not have our interests at heart. Mrs May hoped that she and Mr Dodds would continue to have private meetings. Watching all this, one felt almost intrusive. It was all so personal, so passive-aggressive. Family row in a restaurant. The optics were good: Union Jacks, a lion and unicorn crest, polished wood and a prime minister visibly summoning her every ounce of statesmanship to maintain a facade of calm Sir Nicholas Soames (Con, Mid-Sussex) kept barking at Mrs Mays critics like a dyspeptic terrier. When Mark Francois (Con, Rayleigh & Wickford) pleaded with Mrs May to accept the political reality and accept that her deal was a goner, Sir Nicholas started exploding. What a twerp! Sit down! T**t! It was the same with Andrew Bridgen (Con, NW Leics) said it was now in the national interest for her to leave, perhaps following a short transition period. Sir Nicholas spat out various ruderies, his purple-socked, sneakered left heel swinging so fast on its moorings, it could have whisked a decent gin flip at the Savoys American Bar. One of the mornings resigners, Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara, was standing near the double doors. Other MPs patted him on the back and shook his hand among them Tory deputy chairman James Cleverly. Word broke that Mr Rees-Mogg was going to hold a Press-call outside Parliaments St Stephens entrance to confirm that he had written a letter seeking Mrs Mays removal. We sketchwriters rushed there to find a great throng including pro-EU protesters, TV cameras and armed police officers. Yet more chaos. Mr Rees-Mogg emerged, courtly as ever, the double-breasted buccaneer, to explain that he was not engaged on some coup attempt but was just following proper constitutional procedures to try to ensure that the peoples will on Brexit was honoured. Let it be noted, by the way, that Boris Johnson yesterday kept his powder dry and declined to say anything in the Commons. As I walked away from the Rees-Mogg scrum I bumped into Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan, a Europhile. I have known Alan for years and he is normally able to see the human comedy in even the most challenging moments. But yesterday his eyes were clouded, a yellow film of anger. Whatever happens to Mrs May, unity in the parliamentary Tory party has had it, possibly for years. A Houston woman will never let go after her new fiance staged an elaborate, romantic Titanic-themed proposal. Mori Madrid's favorite movie is Titanic so when her partner, Jeremy Brown, 35, was ready to pop the question this month, he planned a very special trip the the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There, he surprised her on an exact replica of the grand staircase that was on the ship and in the film and presented her with a replica of the Heart of the Ocean before getting down on one knee. Scroll down for video Unsinkable bond: Houston resident Jeremy Brown, 35, staged a Titanic-themed proposal for his bride-to-be, Mori Madrid Make it count: He arranged it at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which has a replica of the staircase that was on the ship (and in the film) Never let go: Mori was completely surprised as she walked up the staircase while My Heart Will Go On played King of the world! Jeremy had been planning the whole thing for months, and got Mori a dress to wear that looks like one Kate Winslet wore in the movie Like one of your French girls: He presented her with both a ring and a replica of the Heart of the Ocean necklace Mori had no idea what she was doing that night that he brought her to the museum. She'd been blindfolded, and was led to believe she was going dancing at a ball. Instead, Jeremy had her brought to the museum, and stationed right in front of their grand staircase. She was all dressed up for the occasion, too, with a maroon dress and white gloves he'd picked out for her, meant to look like the outfit Kate Winslet wore in the movie. Jeremy, meanwhile, wore a copy of Leonardo DiCaprio's tux. Still blindfolded, Mori was guided to the spot by Christina Collins, the museum's event and wedding planner executive. That's when the instrumental of My Heart Will Go on started playing, and Mori was told to remove the blindfold. Surprise Proposal - Jack and Rose style ** We do not own the rights to the Music** Posted by Titanic Museum Attraction on Friday, November 9, 2018 You jump, I jump! He did his best to recreate a scene from the movie, which she loves Surprise! Mori was blindfolded and led through the museum alone All the details: She opened a note that said, 'Meet me at the clock. Make it count' Magical: Once she said yes, the assembled crowd erupted in applause and the couple sealed the deal with a kiss Collins, who had started planning the proposal with the groom-to-be four to five months out, then passed Mori a note. It said: 'Meet me at the clock. Make it count.' The same words were found on the note that Jack slipped to Rose in the film. At that point, Mori was prompted to turn around, where she saw Jeremy standing halfway up the staircase at the clock. Clearly surprised and beaming she walked up the stairs to meet him, where he gave her replica of the Heart of the Ocean necklace. He then got down on one knee and proposed with a ring. Once she said yes, the assembled crowd erupted in applause and the couple sealed the deal with a kiss. Glitzy: He had a replica Heart of the Ocean necklace so his bride-to-be could look like Kate Whisked away: After the proposal, they had a private dinner in a secret dining room A different kind of ice: She showed off the glitzy ring online No cruise! They've set a date for the wedding, December 22, in Aruba Collins, who saw the whole thing play out, said Mori was totally caught by surprise. 'She was nervous,' she told Yahoo. 'She didnt know what to expect. She kept asking me, "Is Jeremy here?" I said, "Do you have any idea where youre at?" and she said, "No." She didnt even know what outfit he was wearing.' The museum has coordinated proposals before, but this one was more over-the-top than most. Typically, it will just involve a tour and a staircase proposal, to the tune of $100. But Jeremy wanted something more. After she said yes, they had a private dinner at a third floor secret dining room, during which they were serenaded with live music. They also left in a limo. The entire affair cost $1,300. Once they left, it's unknown whether Jeremy drew Mori like one of his French girls but they did set a date for the wedding, December 22, in Aruba. According to KHOU 11, the couple has even extended a wedding invitation to Kate and Leo. Kelsey Merritt has revealed the natural-looking makeup routine that not only keeps her looking flawless each day but also helped her nab a highly-coveted spot on the Victoria's Secret catwalk this year. Less than a week after the 22-year-old model made history by becoming the first Filipino model to walk in the lingerie brand's show, she is sharing her step-by-step beauty regimen with Vogue. Kelsey was born and raised in the Philippines, and in the nearly nine-minute clip she opens up about the effect her casting had on other members of the Filipino community. Scroll down for video Natural beauty: Kelsey Merritt has shared her step-by-step makeup routine with Vogue Foundation: The 22-year-old begins by mixing moisturizer and sunscreen to prep her skin Honor: Kelsey made Victoria's Secret history last week when she became the first Filipino model to walk in the brand's annual fashion show 'It means a lot to me and the people back home because they love Victoria's Secret so much and they've always been wanting a Philippine model to walk the show,' she explains. 'Its not just success for me its also success for them.' While her everyday makeup look is similar to the one she wore for her casting, she admits that she might have had on more products than she normally wears. Working for her: The makeup Kelsey wore to her Victoria's Secret casting (pictured) is similar to her everyday look 'I kind of put [on] too much makeup, but I wanted to look my best,' she says. Kelsey begins her routine by mixing moisturizer and sunscreen - both of which are from high-end brand La Mer, where a broad spectrum SPF 50 is priced at $95, while a facial moisturizer costs a whopping $325 - to prep her skin, explaining that 'skincare is so important.' She also happily points out that she - like anyone else - suffers from blemishes and zits, even taking the time to highlight the places where she can see some pimples. 'I'm breaking out. That's totally normal,' she admits. 'That is what makeup is for.' The model stresses that she always wears sunscreen because there are UV rays everywhere even indoors. As for moisturizer, she uses different kinds depending on how her skin is feeling. 'Just listen to your skin and see what it needs,' she says, noting that she also loves to rub coconut oil all over her body. If she has time the night before, she extracts some aloe from her aloe plant and rubs the gel on her scalp and the dry parts of her hair. DIY: If she has time the night before, the model extracts some aloe from her aloe plant and rubs the gel on her scalp and the dry parts of her hair Easy as can be: Kelsey also uses a wet washcloth to exfoliate her dry lips before adding lip balm Instant tan: The Filipino-American beauty says she loves to look bronzed and sun-kissed. She likes to use foundation that is a shade darker than her skin tone, and she contours her cheeks Candid: Kelsey doesn't shy away from pointing out her blemishes in the clip. 'That is what makeup is for,' she says before covering them with concealer That isn't Kelsey's only at-home spa trick. She also uses a wet washcloth to exfoliate her dry lips before adding lip balm; her current favorite lip product is the $19 Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Lip Enhancement Complex, which she praises for its 'amazing' smell, while noting that it 'gives you a little gloss', which she 'loves'. When it comes to her foundation, she does break the rules a bit. 'I love looking bronzed, and, you know, sun-kissed, so I usually use a shade darker than my skin tone and I blend it out,' she says. Kelsey has no problem using her hands to apply her Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($42), and she takes great care to make sure her freckles are still visible because they are her 'favorite part' of her face. She opts not to use face powder because she doesn't want her face to look cakey, explaining: 'I like it to look like [my] skin, and usually when I put powder [on], it looks cakey on me.' Instead, she moves straight on to contouring, which she notes is one of her favorite steps of her makeup routine. Smile: After applying all of her liquid makeup products, she adds powder blush on the apples of her cheeks and her nose Ouch! Although she curls her lashes every day, she admits she has clipped her skin a few times already Lucky girl: Kelsey has naturally thick brows and all she does is brush them up with brow gel For this, she uses the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Ibiza ($45) - which is actually another nod to the Victoria's Secret show, because British makeup artist Charlotte was the person behind all of the models' glowing beauty looks. The model applies the contour stick to the hollows of her cheeks, her hairline, and her jaw in thick lines, joking that it 'looks bad now' but will end up looking more normal once she's blended it out with a brush. Backstage: Kelsey says she learned a lot of tricks while watching professional makeup artists get her ready for shoots and runways 'I just think having a little color on your skin makes you look healthier,' she notes. Kelsey once again points out some of her pimples, which she uses concealer to cover up, while also explaining that she likes to apply plenty of conceal under her eyes to brighten them, revealing that she uses the Glossier Stretch Concealer ($18) because 'the finish is really sheer... and I like it to look like I don't have anything on'. At one point she brings out her 'heavy-duty concealer' for one blemish that she was struggling to cover up, managing to make it look just 'like a freckle' with her stick concealer. After applying all of her liquid makeup products, she adds powder blush - the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush ($29) - on the apples of her cheeks and her nose using a brush from Nars. Kelsey says she learned a lot of tricks while watching professional makeup artists get her ready for shoots and runway shows. She admits she is bad at doing eye makeup, so a makeup artist taught her that the easiest way to apply eyeshadow is to 'start in the middle and work your way up. The model uses a brown-toned cream shadow that is part of the Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color in Naked Bronze ($62). Next up is bronzer and highlighter, which give her a healthy glow. Once again Kelsey turns to a product from Victoria's Secret Fashion Show makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, pulling out her Filmstar Bronze & Glow ($68) to give herself a healthy glow. Trick of the trade: Kelsey also reveals that she keeps her hair in a low bun all day, so when she takes it down, it is curled Done: At the end of the clip, she completes her look with a nude lip 'So, I'm in a makeup chair a lot, and I love observing what makeup artists put on my face, so a lot of the things that I'm doing I learned through watching them,' she says of her highlighting technique, explaining that she has been taught to apply the product to her cupid's bow, the length of her nose, and on the high points of her brow bone. Kelsey has naturally thick brows and all she does is brush them up with brow gel, explaining that she has been told by makeup artists that her 'Asian genes' means that her eyebrow hairs naturally grow downward, so she counteracts that with the gel. 'I curl my eyelashes every single day [but] I get scared doing this cause I've clipped myself a couple of times already' she admits. Although she skips eyeliner, she does apply a few coats of Maybelline's Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara ($6.99) to her lashes. Towards the end of her routine, she sprays her skin with the Caudalie Beauty Elixir face mist ($49). 'I feel like this just makes my skin look hydrated,' she gushes. Kelsey also reveals that she keeps her hair in a low bun all day, so when she takes it down, it is curled. After completing her look with a nude lip from Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G. collection ($34), she reveals the easiest way to take her look from day to night is to add some glitter eyeshadow - the powder product from the same Tom Ford duo she used earlier in her routine. Instagram model Pia Muehlenbeck, 26, made headlines this week when it was revealed that she has asked her wedding guests to wear 'light, muted, earthy, natural tones' to her nuptials in December. The brunette beauty from the Gold Coast, Queensland, who is engaged to photographer Kane Vato, reportedly made the request on their password-encrypted website, kaneandpia.com. Now, other wedding guests on Reddit are coming forward to share the strangest dress codes they've been ordered to abide by. Scroll down for video Instagram model Pia Muehlenbeck, 26, (pictured) has asked her wedding guests to wear 'light, muted, earthy, natural tones' to her nuptials in December The brunette beauty from the Gold Coast, who is engaged to photographer Kane Vato, reportedly made the request on their password-encrypted website, kaneandpia.com '[We were asked to dress] prairie romance. And they included inspiration pictures of all these lace white dresses from the early 1900s,' one person wrote. Another said: 'I went to a wedding that was mountain festive. Sundresses and Birkenstocks.' A third spoke about one of her colleagues cousins who had a 'country barn wedding'. 'I've seen lots I can't interpret like "camping formal", "your mountain best" and "rubber boot cocktail" (my favourite... because they wanted everyone dressed up but were outdoors in wet weather),' said another What other wacky wedding themes have been used? * I've also seen 'camp classy'. I wore a casual maxi dress to that one, but attire ranged from jeans to cocktail dresses. * I went to one that was described as 'fun and funky'. It turned out what they meant was 'normal suit, but with a bright solid-colored tie' and non-black cocktail dresses. My (male) partner went too goofy and was mortified. * I attended a pirate wedding. We were asked to dress in pirate costumes. * My friend is a vegan activist. He and his wife had a very small, casual wedding, and asked guests to dress up as fruits and vegetables, which was their wedding theme. * My cousin's wedding was steampunk themed! It was so much fun dressing up and EVERYONE went all out! Their reception was amazing with acrobatics and aerialists. Advertisement 'But not like a Pinterest barn wedding. It was pretty redneck with tractors and such. A request from the bride was that all the female guests wore capri pants. What the f***,' they wrote. 'I've seen lots I can't interpret like "camping formal", "your mountain best" and "rubber boot cocktail" (my favourite... because they wanted everyone dressed up but were outdoors in wet weather),' said another. 'It wasn't too strange but I went to a wedding where the guests were asked to wear black and white. Obviously none of the women wanted to wear white, so lots of little black dresses... so many in fact that when we were standing outside the church after somebody asked who the funeral was for,' a commenter wrote. Other guests had been invited to ceremonies that involved wearing sporting team paraphernalia, Tim Burton themed costumes or dress as though they were attending an 'English high tea'. In comparison, Pia's guide to dressing seems positively normal. Other guests had been invited to ceremonies that involved wearing sporting team paraphernalia, Tim Burton themed costumes or dress as though they were attending an 'English high tea' 'We would love if everyone could adhere to this direction with their attire. Light, muted, earthy, natural tones,' Pia (pictured trying wedding dresses on recently) reportedly wrote on a private website for guests, the Daily Telegraph reports Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia in October, Pia gushed she's 'excited' for her big day which will be held in Byron Bay. 'It's going to be a few days of celebration, and the theme will be summery, natural, rustic and a Byron Bay sort of theme,' she revealed. With the big day just around the corner, Pia admits there's still a lot to do. 'Wedding planning is going! It's literally 64 days away, which feels like I should have planned that a lot earlier but I'm one of these last minute people,' she said at Fenty Beauty by Rihanna's first anniversary event in Sydney. 'But weirdly it's coming together quite nicely, I'm not stressed anymore, I'm excited about it!' Mel Mangan was preparing to marry her fiance and partner of three-and-a-half years, Pete, 37, in March this year. But at the last minute the couple, from Tamworth, New South Wales, were forced to postpone their nuptials so the 35-year-old registered nurse could have a life-saving kidney transplant. When they were able to finally tie the knot in September the couple released 14 Monarch butterflies to reflect the 14 years Mel had gained from two separate organ donations. Scroll down for video Mel Mangan was preparing to marry her fiance and partner of three-and-a-half years, Pete, 37, in March this year When they were able to finally tie the knot in September the couple released 14 Monarch butterflies to reflect the 14 years Mel had gained from two separate organ donations 'Our original date to be married was March 31, 2018. I got a call on March 8 and had my kidney transplant on March 9... my birthday is actually the 10th,' Mel told FEMAIL. In early 2005 Mel was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension, which is a form of high blood pressure in the lungs. 'It lead to heart failure and I needed a double lung transplant to survive,' she explained. 'Our original date to be married was March 31, 2018. I got a call on March 8 and had my kidney transplant on March 9... my birthday is actually the 10th,' Mel told FEMAIL In early 2005 Mel was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension, which is a form of high blood pressure in the lungs In July last year Mel became unwell again with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - a virus that causes respiratory tract infections - and needed to be placed on an extra treatment called ribavirin 'In October 2005, I received my lungs. Over the last 13 years my kidneys had unfortunately taken a battering with all the toxic anti-rejection medications I took to keep my lungs from rejecting.' In July last year Mel became unwell again with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - a virus that causes respiratory tract infections - and needed to be placed on an extra treatment called ribavirin. 'After this my kidneys couldn't cope anymore. I became extremely unwell in Tamworth and ended up needing over 18 blood transfusions as my body didn't want to make red blood cells anymore,' she said. 'After this my kidneys couldn't cope anymore. I became extremely unwell in Tamworth and ended up needing over 18 blood transfusions as my body didn't want to make red blood cells anymore,' she said Mel stayed in hospital for six weeks where she continued dialysis three times a week for four hour intervals. She described the experience as 'daunting' 'I became so unwell I ended up getting flown out of Tamworth and taken to St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney where I commenced dialysis.' Mel stayed in hospital for six weeks where she continued dialysis three times a week for four hour intervals. She described the experience as 'daunting'. After six weeks she returned home to Tamworth, with doctors believing her kidneys may 'bounce back', but that 'unfortunately didn't happen'. 'In December the doctors decided to work me up for a kidney transplant. They warned me that the wait could be up to six years or more and because I now have so many antibodies from all the blood transfusions I had received, the wait could potentially be longer as I would be harder to match,' she said. After six weeks she returned home to Tamworth, with doctors believing her kidneys may 'bounce back', but that 'unfortunately didn't happen' Mel said she now 'feels amazing' and is so grateful she was able to celebrate her love with Pete in September at Tamworth Jockey Club 'In late February I was listed and on March 8 I got the call for a kidney. I was so shocked it happened so soon. The kidney came from a recipient who had previously been really well and had built up next to no antibodies, so it was such a perfect match.' Mel said she now 'feels amazing' and is so grateful she was able to celebrate her love with Pete in September at Tamworth Jockey Club. The idea for the butterflies, which resemble endurance, change, hope and life, was an idea the pair came up with to celebrate not only their partnership, but the 13 extra years Mel has had since her lung transplant, and one year for her kidney. They played the emotional song 'You Are The Reason' by Calum Scott during the moment, and Mel said 'there wasn't a dry eye in the house' During the non-traditional ceremony they also walked hand-in-hand down the aisle together They played the emotional song 'You Are The Reason' by Calum Scott during the moment, and Mel said 'there wasn't a dry eye in the house'. During the non-traditional ceremony they also walked hand-in-hand down the aisle together. Mel hopes talking about her journey will showcase the importance of organ, tissue and blood donation and its role in saving lives - lives just like hers. 'It was a very, very emotional day,' she said. A devastated young mother has spoken candidly about her heartbreak of giving birth to her stillborn baby son at 32 weeks. Kristy Watson, from Victoria, was filled with joy when she finally fell pregnant with her 'miracle baby' after suffering three devastating miscarriages. But during her pregnancy, she started experiencing swelling in her face, hands and feet, blurry vision and crippling headaches that lasted for weeks. From 26 weeks, she met with doctors in and out of hospital to talk about her agonising pain - but she said she was sent home with Panadol and told her symptoms were just the 'normal' signs of pregnancy. However, at 32 weeks, the 20-year-old nearly lost her life after her pre-eclampsia was left undiagnosed until she discovered her unborn son Kaycen had died in the womb. Kristy Watson holding her baby son Kaycen after he tragically died in the womb at 32 weeks The 20-year-old was filled with joy when she finally fell pregnant with her 'miracle baby' after suffering three devastating miscarriages (pictured during her pregnancy photoshoot) What is pre-eclampsia? Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition of pregnancy, usually characterised by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and severe swelling. Most women with pre-eclampsia feel fine. That is why regular antenatal check-ups are vital. There is no cure for pre-eclampsia, except birth of the baby and delivery of the placenta. At its most serious, blood pressure can be very high and other body organs are affected such as the kidneys, liver, brain and blood. If left untreated, pre-eclampsia can lead to serious problems such as fitting or convulsions, kidney failure, liver failure, clotting problems or death. All forms of pre-eclampsia need to be treated. Source: Better Health Advertisement 'I had driven myself to the hospital that morning to find out two hours later that he had already passed,' Kristy told Daily Mail Australia. Her son was stillborn on July 27 this year after his death was caused by her severe pre-eclampsia - a serious condition of pregnancy that can threaten the lives of both the mother and unborn child. 'The worst thing about pre-eclampsia is that I didn't get told I had it until I had the nurse sat on the end of my bed at 32 weeks and tell me my precious little Kaycen no longer had a heartbeat,' she said. 'No words you ever want to hear, no words you ever imagine hearing so far into your pregnancy. I knew from 26 weeks something wasn't right. From the horrible swelling in my feet hands and face, the headaches that lasted weeks on end, the blurry vision, my blood pressure going up and down, I knew that this weren't just normal "pregnancy symptoms". 'But after numerous visits to doctors, being in and out of hospital - even trying to contact another hospital for a second opinion, I was told it was just normal.' The infant was stillborn, leaving his mother with a few moments to build memories of him in candid photographs The 20-year-old shared her heartbreak after tragically losing baby son at 32 weeks in July Kristy was left distraught when she discovered her unborn son tragically died (pictured of her late son Kaycen's funeral) But the cafe worker was left clinging onto her life after her serious condition was untreated for weeks. 'Mine was left too late, I had already lost my son before he got to chance to see the light of day - and my pregnancy almost killed me,' she said. My body was fighting so hard for too long to keep my boy alive that it took his life in order to keep mine 'A week later and my body's was still fighting for my life because when it was too late, I was told I had severe pre-eclampsia. My kidneys were failing, my blood pressure was so high it nearly caused me to have a stroke or seizure, my body was fighting so hard for too long to keep my boy alive that it took his life in order to keep mine. 'If only they had done an ultrasound that day to see that my placenta was failing, if only they had done my blood to see how toxic my bloods really were at that stage. It may not had changed the outcome of what happen but the thing is I will never ever know. 'I don't want to play the blame game but to be so neglected and feel like I wasn't listened to by people who I put in the hands of the life I was creating and to be let down as much as I was is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.' Kristy was really looking forward to motherhood after she finally fell pregnant earlier this year following three tragic miscarriages (pictured pregnant with her unborn son Kaycen) Three days leading up to the death, Kristy had an inkling about her symptoms. My blood pressure was so high it nearly caused me to have a stroke or seizure, my body was fighting so hard for too long to keep my boy alive that it took his life in order to keep mine 'I was in hospital again for the exact same things as every other time, I felt stupid, I felt like they were just thinking I was complaining about my pregnancy but in reality I knew something was just not right,' she said. 'They told me they were going to give me an ultrasound but the doctor was in a meeting and I had to wait two hours to be sent home once again with no blood or ultrasound done, just to take Panadol for my headaches. 'That was three days before I felt my son never move again. Three days before I got told that I had severe pre-eclampsia. 'Three days before I had to be induced and be in labour for 12 hours before I finally hold my breathless, lifeless son.' After his tragic birth, Kristy spent some time creating memories with her baby boy She wanted to encourage other mothers to fight for answers even if the hospital turns them away for trying. 'I had to go from having my whole lifeline, my world move around and be healthy in my belly to then be induced to deliver my sleeping baby,' she said. 'I had loss my gorgeous little boy due to the system letting me down and not listening to me when I knew something was wrong. I now go home empty handed with a heart so broken that it's going to take a long time to heal... and an empty cot that my son never get to lay in 'I want people to know my story so they know when their gut is telling them that something is not right to fight for answers... to make sure they are listened to because I now have to go home to a nursery full of everything I needed to raise my little boy now to an empty cot that my son never got to lay in, to books I never got to read him, to his favourite outfit I never got to dress him in all because I was not heard. 'I now go home empty handed with a heart so broken that it's going to take a long time to heal. 'I don't want this to be looked at as a blame on anyone. I want people to know what I went through and in any way help prevent such a thing happening to someone else. 'Please listen to your body.' By sharing her story, Kristy wanted to share her heartbreaking words in the hope of helping women who may find themselves suffering from pre-eclampsia By sharing her story, Kristy wanted to share her heartbreaking words in the hope of helping women who may find themselves suffering from pre-eclampsia. I know my little Kaycen will live on through me and everyone's hearts he touched 'I want to raise awareness so no mother, no family ever has to go through the pain, heartbreak and loss I've had to go through,' she explained. 'My body did amazing things and grew such a beautiful angel baby that didn't deserve to have his life taken so soon. He was my miracle baby. 'These little lives we create inside our wonderful bodies rely on us, we have to look after ourselves just as much and I couldn't imagine any other mother having to feel like they failed their child like I've had to. 'It's been rough but I know I'm doing what I can to make my little one proud. I know my little Kaycen will live on through me and everyone's hearts he touched.' Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam has been named the best self-tanning product in the Beauty Heaven Best in Beauty Awards 2018. The $24.95 formulation offers the promise of 'a sun-kissed Australian tan in an hour' and is said to start developing into a natural golden hue in as little as 30 minutes. The iconic tanning brand - which is completely Australian made - was launched on to the market in 2012. It's now stocked on the shelves of Priceline, The Chemist Warehouse, Coles, Woolworths and all major pharmacies. Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam has been named the best self-tanning product in the Beauty Haven Best in Beauty Awards 2018 According to Vogue, Bondi Sands, which has an extensive social media following, tops the list as a number one seller in both Australia and New Zealand. Its express tanning foam, a new addition to the range, hit the market in February this year, and as to be expected it quickly earned cult status among tanning aficionados. 'The success of our one hour tan has been great and from the reaction, we've had, the people who use it pretty much stand by it too,' the company's founder Blair James told Vogue. The tanning foam hit the market in February this year and as to be expected it quickly earned cult status among tanning aficionados The tanning product is easy to use and when applied with a specially designed application mitt, the formulation goes effortlessly resulting in a streak-free tan. The product boasts a 4/5 rating online, with one user describing the formulation as a 'lifesaver'. 'It's an affordable new product and if you don't have much time it can be a life-saver in delivering a nice glow to the skin,' the user wrote. The winner in the self tanning category: Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, priced at $24.95, (pictured left) and runner-up: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze, priced at $9.99 (pictured right) What was the runner-up to Bondi Sands? The runner-up: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Body Lotion, priced at $9.99. The moisturising formulation is said to develop into a natural glow with daily use, and will also leave skin soft and smooth. As well, the lotion is softly scented with cocoa, so there's no chance of being caught smelling of fake tan. The product boasts a 4/5 rating online. Advertisement 'Now I have been through every tan under the sun, and to put things short I haven't had the best luck with Bondi Sands previous products on my pale skin the formula turns to a green muddy mess,' they continued. 'But then Bondi bought this product out and I decided to test it out my God am I glad I did, this product is amazing, it took me a few times to get the right colour that I was happy with.' Another wrote 'this product is honestly revolutionary' before adding the scent of lotion didn't betray the fact it was fake tan. 'I do leave my tan on for almost two hours because I really like a dark dark tan, but even leaving it on for an hour gives me a tan that's super dark and I love it!'. Glamorous royals from across the globe jetted into London last night to help the Prince of Wales ring in his 70th birthday. Dripping in diamonds and pearls, the VIPs guests from Belgium, Jordan and Monaco were spotted arriving at Buckingham Palace ahead of a black tie reception and dinner held by the Queen. Princes, princesses and even a Maharaja joined the lavish palace celebrations which were also attended by Charles' friends and extended family. Prince Harry was spotted driving his pregnant wife to the birthday bash after Charles marked his big day yesterday by meeting 70 inspirational people also marking their 70th this year. During the black tie dinner, the Queen gave a heartfelt speech in which she told guests what a 'privilege' it was for her, as a mother, to honour Charles on such a momentous occasion. JORDAN: QUEEN RANIA Queen Rania of Jordan, 48, arrives at Buckingham Palace for the birthday celebrations of the Prince of Wales on Wednesday night. She arrived without her husband King Abdullah II Leading the VIP arrivals was Jordan's Queen Rania, 48, who appeared without her husband King Abdullah. Dripping in diamonds, the glamorous consort and mother-of-four looked immaculate for the birthday celebrations. A former marketing guru and Apple employee, Rania is known for her penchant for designer clothing and who wore clothes costing an estimated 237,000 in 2017 alone. The glamorous royal met her husband at a dinner party in 1993 and the pair wed just six months later. Rania is mother to Crown Prince Al Hussein, Princess Salma, Prince Hashem, and Princess Ima. Queen Rania has spoken in the past about how difficult it is when her children are away at school, and her excitement about having them home for breaks. Jordan became an independent sovereign state in 1946. THE NETHERLANDS: PRINCESS BEATRIX Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, 80, arrives at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday night. Beatrix, whose husband Prince Claus died in 2002, stepped down as monarch in 2013 The former Dutch Queen, who abdicated in 2013, was attending on behalf of her son, King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima. The 80-year-old royal looked the picture of good health, and while she didn't offer passersby a glimpse of her outfit she was wearing a swipe of purple eyeshadow and glittering diamond earrings. Glamorous Beatrix, whose husband Prince Claus died in 2002, stepped down as monarch in 2013 following a 33-year reign, taking the title Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands. She was succeeded by her son, King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, and now lives in the Drakensteyn Castle near the village of Lage Vuursche, occasionally undertaking official engagements. Willem-Alexander was officially sworn in as king of the Netherlandsm - the country's first male rule since 1890 - at a colourful ceremony in Nieuwe Kerk attended by 2,000 visitors from around the world. In an emotional tribute to Beatrix, he said:'Dear mother, today you relinquished the throne. 33 years moving and inspiring years. We are intensely, intensely grateful to you.' BELGIUM: KING PHILIPPE AND QUEEN MATHILDE King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium join VIP guests at Princes Charles' birthday. Mathilde, who has four children with her husband, was dripping in diamonds and pearls Belgium's reigning King and Queen were suited and booted for Charles' big night, with Mathilde donning pearl drop earrings and a sparkling diamond necklace. Queen Mathilde has been married to King Philippe of Belgium for 19 years, who ascended the throne following the abdication of his father, King Albert II, on 21 July 2013. They are parents to Princess Elisabeth, 17, Prince Gabriel, 15, Prince Emmanuel, 13, Princess Eleonore, 10 - with the eldest recently starting boarding school in Wales. Following the abdication of his father, King Albert II, Prince Philippe was sworn in before the combined chambers of parliament on 21 July 2013. This year marked five years since he was crowned the seventh king of Belgium. DENMARK: CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK AND CROWN PRINCESS MARY Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark arrive at Buckingham Palace. The couple share four children and spend much of their time in Copenhagen The heir to the Danish throne and his wife were among the glamorous arrivals at the palace last night. The love story between Princess Mary and Prince Frederick has been well documented, with the couple having met in a Sydney bar before Mary, born in Tasmania, moved to the northern hemisphere to be with Frederik. In December, in a candid interview with Australian Women's Weekly, the Crown Princess revealed that moving to the other side of the world was difficult. The mother-of-four said: 'I did experience a feeling of loneliness - short-term - when I first moved to Denmark,' she told the magazine. 'Moving to Denmark was a huge change in my life - a new culture, new language, new friends, and another way of life.' 'So, I see it as quite natural that at times I felt quite alone or a little bit like I was on the outside looking in.' SPAIN: QUEEN SOPHIA & GREECE: PRINCESS IRENE Spain's Queen Sofia, right, and Princess Irene of Greece, left, arrive at the palace last night. Despite her title, Irene has no official remit as a royal after the Greek monarchy was deposed and scrapped in 1973 Dripping in jewels and dressed in their finery, the two sisters arrived in the same car. Queen Sofia of Spain, 80, and Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, 76, are the daughters of of King Paul of Greece and his wife Princess Frederika of Hanover. Sofia's husband King Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son, now King Felipe VI, who is married to Queen Letizia. The royal couple did not attend last night's celebrations with Felipe on a three-day visit to Guatemala. Despite her title, Irene has no official remit as a royal after the Greek monarchy was deposed and scrapped in 1973. MONACO: PRINCE ALBERT II Prince Albert II of Monaco arrives at Buckingham Palace to ring in Prince Charles' birthday. His wife, Princess Charlene, was in France meeting the Macrons on Wednesday The reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco appeared without his former Olympic swimmer wife Charlene for Prince Charles' birthday. Albert is the son of Hollywood legend Grace Kelly and Rainer III, and has four children including twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. Known as a notorious ladies man, 60-year-old Albert long eschewed marriage, and many Monegasques had resigned themselves to forever having a bachelor prince before he married Charlene in 2011. The constitution was even modified to ensure the continuity of the Grimaldi line, one of Europe's oldest dynasties, in case Albert never produced an heir. The prince acknowledged having fathered two children out of wedlock, but only his legitimate offspring would be able to succeed him. His Zimbabwean-South African wife and the mother of the adorable twins was instead visiting Brigitte Macron in France on Wednesday. GREECE: PRINCE NIKOLAS AND PRINCESS TATIANA Prince Nikolas of Greece and Denmark and his wife Princess Tatiana leave Prince of Wales 70th party at Buckingham Palace. Greece's monarchy was officially deposed in 1973 Glamorous Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark wore a shimmering red number with a statement high collar, while her husband Prince Nikolas looked smart in a dinner jacket. Venezuelan-born Tatiana, 38, famously gave up her job as an events organiser for designer Diana Von Furstenberg soon after she married in 2010. In 2016, she put her name to an illustrated cookbook called A Taste of Greece: Recipes, Cuisine & Culture. The fashion-forward socialite is known for eschewing feminine floaty dresses in favour of loose-fitting androgynous suits. Tatiana says she dresses to 'suit her mood' and does her best to 'not follow trends', but tries to support designers from her native country and wears labels such as Carolina Herrera. Nee Tatiana Ellinka Blatnik, she is married to the exiled son of Constantine II, the last king of Greece, and his wife, Queen Anne-Marie. Greece's royal family have no official role since the monarchy was deposed and scrapped in 1973. NORWAY: KING HARALD V AND QUEEN SONJA Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja were among the royalty who attended last night's black tie dinner and reception at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Prince of Wales' birthday Norway's elderly King Harald V arrived with his wife Queen Sonja; his son Prince Haakon and wife Princess Mette-Marit were also reportedly in attendance, although they were not pictured. Harald took to the throne in 1991 after the death of his father Olav V of Norway. He and his wife Queen Sonja are parents to Martha Louise and Haakon who will take to the Norwegian throne ahead of his older sister due to the country's laws of succession. Harald, the son of King Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway, was born in 1937 and is therefore the second cousin once removed of King XVI Gustaf of Sweden. YUGOSLAVIA: CROWN PRINCESS ALEXANDER AND CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE The now-deposed Crown Prince and Princess of Yugoslavia arrive at Buckingham Palace last night to help Charles celebrate his 70th birthday. Crown Prince Alexander was born in the UK Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine were among the illustrious guests at Buckingham Palace last night. Alexander, 73, is the last heir-apparent to the now-defunct throne of the Kingdom of Yuogslavia and the Kingdom of Serbia. Serbia - formerly part of Yugoslavia - is now a republic but its once-exiled royal family have lived in Belgrade's Royal Palace since 2001. Having been born and raised in the UK, father-of-three Alexander is firmly pro-monarchy and enjoys a close relationship with Britain's royal family. Katherine, 74, is the second wife of Alexander and the couple married in 1985. BAHRAIN: CROWN PRINCE SALMAN Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain arrives at Buckingham Palace on Monday night to mark the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday at a black tie reception Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa , 49, is the country's official deputy king and often steps in for his father Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at international engagements. Currently unmarried, he was wed to the late Hala bint D'aij Al Khalifa until 2005 and the former couple shared four children - Isa, Mohammed, Fatima and Al Jude. BULGARIA: KING SIMEON II AND QUEEN MARGARITA King Simeon II of Bulgaria and his wife Queen Margarita arrive at Buckingham Palace At 81, King Simeon II is the last reigning monarch and former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, which became a republic in 1946 when Simeon was a boy-king. He was in London this week with his Spanish-born wife Queen Margarita - nee Margarita Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. JAIPUR: HH MAHARAJA SAWAI PADMANABH SINGH AND RAJMATA PADMINI DEVI HH Maharaja Sawai Singh of Jaipur and the Rajamata Admin Devi leave the Prince of Wales 70th party at Buckingham Palace following Prince Charles' birthday celebrations last night Jaipur's dashing 20-year-old Maharaja is the elder son of Princess Diya Kumari, but was officially 'adopted' as the heir of Brigadier Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh in 2002. His coronation ceremony was held in April 2011, and according to the royal family's official website he is 'an avid sportsman and equestrian, committed to keeping up the family tradition of playing polo while pursuing his education'. He was at Buckingham Palace with Rajmata Padmini Devi, who married Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh in 1966. Distraught Doctor Who fans have flocked to Twitter after it was announced that no episode will air on Christmas Day for the first time in 13 years. What viewers regarded as the 'traditional' Christmas Day special will this year air on New Year's Day, the BBC has confirmed. An official Doctor Who fan account shared the announcement online, prompting shocked viewers to reply mourning the loss of their favourite 'Christmas tradition'. A petition has now been set up by super fan Niall Moran from Portsmouth, calling on head writer Chris Chibnall to reinstate the show in its festive slot. The schedule change is a massive shake-up to the BBC's traditional Christmas schedule, with the annual special a staple in the channel's festive TV line-up since the series was revived in 2005. The BBC have announced that the staple Doctor Who Christmas special has been cancelled this year, with a New Year's Day episode replacing it for the first time in 13 years Taking to Twitter following Chibnall's announcement, the official Doctor Who fan account wrote: 'News Just In... The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine CONFIRMS there will be NO Doctor Who Christmas special this year, and it will instead move to NEW YEAR'S DAY!'. The tweet received over 2,000 retweets and comments, and fans were quick to voice their dismay in a thread which soon began trending online. Recalling that she has watched her daughter grow up with the tradition, one woman tweeted: ' No way it's SO NOT gonna be the same on Christmas Day. 'My little girl to her age, now 17. She snuggled on the sofa, getting so exited, shouting 'mum, quick it's nearly on'. It's a family thing. I hope there s a good reason, why oh why (sic).' Taking to Twitter following Chibnall's announcement, the official Doctor Who fan account wrote: 'News Just In... The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine CONFIRMS there will be NO Doctor Who Christmas special this year, and it will instead move to NEW YEAR'S DAY! 'It's not right!' The tweet received over 2,000 retweets and comments, and fans were quick to voice their dismay in a thread which soon began trending online Another agreed, writing of his annual tradition: 'Christmas Day Routine... Wake Up; Put Christmas Music On; Open Presents; Eat Bacon off the Turkey; Admire Presents; Eat Christmas; Dinner; Admire Presents More... Watch DoctorWho; Discuss #DoctorWho. Chibnall you've ruined my routine.' And one disappointed viewer tweeted: 'It's not Christmas without the doctor', while another said: 'Very sad - best part of the day for me'. 'It's the only present I look forward to on Christmas day..stuff the turkey bahh humbug',(sic) another disgruntled fan said. A petition set up on change.org has already received over 2,500 signatures from outraged fans. One disappointed viewer tweeted: 'It's not Christmas without the doctor', while another said: 'Very sad - best part of the day for me'. 'It's the only present I look forward to on Christmas day..stuff the turkey bahh humbug', another disgruntled fan said However some disagreed, with one viewer writing: 'Minority here....I prefer it New Years Day cos the family insist on talking during it on Christmas Day!' Charlotte Moore, BBC director of content, said: 'We're delighted the Doctor and her companions will be welcoming BBC One audiences into 2019 with this exciting new episode. 'The Doctor's fans are in for a special treat on the first day of the new year.' Showrunner Chris Chibnall added: 'We're thrilled to be starting the new year with a bang on BBC One, as Jodie Whittaker's Doctor and friends face a terrifying alien threat in an action-packed, hour-long special adventure for all the family.' A petition has now been set up by super fan Niall Moran from Portsmouth, calling for the Chris Chibnall, the showrunner of Doctor Who, to reinstate the show to its festive slot Recalling that she has watched her daughter grow up with the tradition, one woman tweeted: ' No way it's SO NOT gonna be the same on Christmas Day. However some disagreed, with one viewer writing: 'Minority here....I prefer it New Years Day cos the family insist on talking during it on Christmas Day!' Last month Jodie Whittaker's debut turn as the Time Lord in Doctor Who scored a huge ratings win for BBC One, with 8.2 million viewers tuning in to see her in action. The actress, 36, appeared as the 13th incarnation of the time-travelling Doctor and almost doubled the number of fans watching show when compared to the equivalent series opener in 2017. Last year's season - which saw Peter Capaldi as the lead role - opened with only 4.6million during its first episode. It's a hit! Jodie Whittaker's debut turn as the Time Lord in Doctor Who scored a huge ratings win for BBC One, with 8.2 million viewers tuning in to see her in action All the best qualities: One thing that fans commended Jodie on was how she was able to take the best qualities from her predecessors (pictured David Tennant, who played the 10th Doctor) Samantha Cameron, 47, dazzled in London last night, wearing a dress from her own Cefinn collection. She attended a VIP dinner hosted by Instagram fashion couple Tom and Alice Naylor-Leyland at top London hotel Claridge's. They were joined on the night by celebrity designers including Emilia Wickstead, a New Zealand-born fashion designer who regularly dresses Samantha, the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Duchess of Sussex. Samantha Cameron, 47, attends a VIP dinner at Claridge's Hotel and is joined by designer Kim Hersov and Australian style editor at Vogue Candice Lake The mum of three looked glamorous in her Isabel 3/4 Sleeve Maxi Dress, priced at 340, in Emerald Green. The belt accentuated her figure and she looked relaxed with her hair styled down. It's not the first time she's worn her own collection to an event, earlier this year she wore her own blue midi dress to the Wrinkle in Time Premiere in London. The mum-of-three showcases her own fashion label at a London premiere earlier this year Australian style editor at Vouge Candice Lake also joined them at Claridge's last night, as well as Emilia Wickstead's colleague Daniel Gargiulo, director of the brand. The dinner was a chance to celebrate the arrival of 'Malton In Mayfair' at Claridge's. The food brand, Made In Malton, has been created by local Tom Naylor-Leyland and was the basis for the dinner. The fresh local Yorkshire produce was used at the VIP dinner to create three courses and included local coffee beans to make martinis, local beef and brownies from a local bakery. The dinner at Claridges was a chance to celebrate the arrival of 'Malton In Mayfair' at Claridge's. The food brand, Made In Malton, has been created by local Tom Naylor-Leyland the basis for the dinner. Samantha's fashion label Cefinn, is named after the initials of her children Nancy, 13, Elwen, 11, Florence, six, and Ivan, who died aged six in 2009. Launching the brand in February 2017 the former prime-ministers wife had mixed reviews. But she comes with a background of fashion - a fine arts graduate she worked at luxury brand Smythson as creative director for a number of years. Charlotte Tilbury has described the Queen as her 'dream beauty icon' after meeting the monarch to receive her MBE this week. The makeup artist to the stars visited 'picturesque' Buckingham Palace for the investiture ceremony on Tuesday where she received the honour. Describing the experience, the 45-year-old told Elle: 'I felt full of pride, excitement and a little nervous to meet Her Majesty the Queen.' The beauty guru said that she felt particularly honoured to have had the Queen present her MBE and admitted she would love to give her a makeover. She continued: 'I felt especially honoured to have received my MBE from her as she is such an inspiring, incredible, graceful, courageous woman. Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury described the Queen as her 'dream beauty icon' after the monarch presented her with her MBE on Tuesday The beauty guru admitted that she had been nervous to meet the Queen and said she would love to do her makeup one day 'I would love to do her make-up one day, as she is also my dream beauty icon!' London-based Tilbury, who launched her eponymous makeup line just five years ago, wore a plunging LBD and hat from couture milliner Victoria Grant for the occasion - calling the accolade a 'dream come true'. She wore head-to-toe black, teaming an Alice Temperley 'Parachute' cocktail dress with a Lara Bohinc belt and Jimmy Choo shoes. Tilbury was accompanied by her husband George Waud and her parents, Patsy and Lance, for the ceremony. Tilbury has gone from makeup artist to bona fide businesswoman with her beauty range, which is now sold in cities across the globe. She has previously created a lipstick in honour of the monarch called The Queen inspired by Her Majesty's 'beautiful bold colour choices'. Speaking of her creation she said: 'I wanted to create a lipstick that honored the Queen and her enduring style she is such an inspirational woman, and makes me incredibly proud to be British, and even prouder to have founded a very British brand. 'This lipstick commemorates the beauty and the brilliance of our magical Queen, and Britain.' With 26 years' industry experience, well-connected Tilbury, 45, counts Kate Moss among her inner circle and is close friends with the likes of Edward Enninful and Cara Delevingne. Charlotte Tilbury receives her MBE at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 13 November. The beauty guru, who launched her eponymous makeup line just five years ago, has gone from makeup artist to bonafide businesswoman with her range which is now sold across the globe Charlotte Tilbury is made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 13 November Her makeup range has been worn by everyone from Amal Clooney to Lady Kitty Spencer, while the Duchess of Sussex is rumoured to be among her fans. Just this week, the brand was named as the exclusive makeup sponsor for the Victoria's Secret runway show in New York. And earlier this year Tilbury - who is widely regarded as the pioneer of the liquid eyeliner 'feline flick', was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2018 for services to the beauty and cosmetics industry. Charlotte Tilbury with supermodel Kate Moss in London, 2013. After working on some 100 Vogue covers, in 2013 she launched her beauty and skincare range in Selfridges, with the collection becoming the retailer's biggest-ever beauty launch for turnover In a statement on Tuesday, she said: 'Today has been one of the most magical days of my life. I am so delighted and thrilled to receive this honour, especially from Her Majesty, the Queen who has been an endless source of inspiration to me. 'She is not only an icon of this country, but of the world. To be recognized for my contribution to the beauty industry is a dream come true.' And in a short video message to fans this morning, she said: 'Darlings, it's an incredibly exciting day, a dream come true. I'm going to Buckingham Palace to get my MBE.' After working on some 100 Vogue covers, in 2013 she launched her beauty and skincare range in Selfridges, with the collection becoming the retailer's biggest-ever beauty launch for turnover. Earlier this year, her Pillow Talk lipstick a universally flattering nude shade loved by everyone from Alexa Chung to Mariah Carey was extended into eye and cheek products for the first time. The lip liner is such a global success that one of the cult products sells every six seconds around the world. A hard-hitting new short film released for Trans Awareness Week highlights the anxiety and struggles many trans teenagers face. The five-minute video, Listen, features five young trans actors and was directed by trans actor and writer Jake Graf, who is married to Britain's highest ranking trans soldier, Hannah Documenting some of the common struggles young trans people go through, the film sees one trans girl terrified of the onset of male puberty. Scroll down for video A young trans actor stars in a new short film by trans writer and director Jake Graf; the video, Listen, documents the realities of being a transgender teenager from being bullied at school to the onset of puberty One of the young actors highlights the trauma of puberty, with their character saying that without puberty blockers her body will change The film coincides with Trans Awareness Week and raises awareness on the struggles young trans teenagers face Another trans girl is enjoying the first flushes of romance but her boyfriend won't acknowledge her when he's with his friends. And a heartbreaking scene sees a trans boy trying not to eat or drink because he's terrified of using the toilet. A patron of Mermaids, the charity that supports families with transgender children, Graf said all of the actors in the film had themselves experienced bullying. He told Femail: 'As a patron for Mermaids, I see first hand the difference that support and understanding makes to a trans child's life. In another scene, a trans boy is seen resisting food and drink because he's terrified to go to the toilet And when a trans boy uses the girls' toilets, he faces ridicule and mocking Another child listens as her parents argue about her gender and says she's rarely asked how she feels about it Jake Graf says trans children 'know exactly who they are, and while you may not necessarily understand it, it's time to accept it' 'Listen' stars five brave young Mermaids kids playing trans roles, giving an intimate and often upsetting look at their day to day lives. All have experienced bullying, judgement and ridicule, yet all they quietly ask for is our respect and support. 'They know exactly who they are, and while you may not necessarily understand it, it's time to accept it. 'I hope that Listen helps the audience realise that we all deserve the right to simply be who we know ourselves to be.' Jake Graf and his wife Hannah Winterbourne, Britain's highest-ranking transgender soldier, married earlier this year and are both campaigners for better rights for trans people Jake is married to Hannah Winterbourne, Britain's highest-ranking transgender soldier. The couple wed at Chelsea Town Hall in London earlier this year. Both Jake, 40, and Hannah, 31, now campaign for better rights for transgender people. 'The current conversation around all things transgender, while focused largely on trans kids and their right to exist, has rather strikingly failed to include them. A trans girl happy with her boyfriend has to face up to the fact he won't acknowledge her when she's with her friends Graf says: 'I hope that Listen helps the audience realise that we all deserve the right to simply be who we know ourselves to be.' It was important to me to give a voice to these bright, articulate and hopeful young people, who only ask that they be heard and supported. We have listened to the arguments against simply allowing young people to be who they so desperately need to be, and now we need to pay attention to the kids themselves. The much anticipated Christmas campaign from John Lewis was launched today starring Sir Elton John and while it moved many, it failed to win first place in the festive ad ranks according to viewers. Twitter users claim that Sainsbury's trumped the department store this year with its school production advert thanks to an unlikely star. Fans have taken to social media to gush over the performance of ten-year-old Harrison Wilmot who plays the plug in the musical number. While Tia Isaac performs a festive take on the New Radical's You Get What You Give Harrison is seen dressed as the electrical appliance flinging himself into a socket to turn on the Christmas lights. Scroll down for video Twitter users claim that they prefer Sainsbury's Christmas advert to the John Lewis campaign all thanks to the ten-year-old boy who played the plug The schoolboy from Rugby, Warwickshire has won a legion of fans with many agreeing that his performance has outshined Sir Elton's, and has even been awarded his own hashtag #PlugLife. Following the release of the John Lewis advert today today one Twitter user wrote: 'To be fair it was gonna take a lot to beat the Sainsbury's plug this year... John Lewis failed.' Agreeing another added: 'I love Elton but this is not a John Lewis advert, it's an Elton advert. The Sainsbury's advert with Plug Boy is my favourite.' A third added: 'Sainsbury's ad over John Lewis for me #PlugLife' Schoolboy Harrison Wilmot took the role of the plug and has won a legion of fans on Twitter Many agree that they prefer his performance to Sir Elton John's who stars in the John Lewis campaign that was released today The ten-year-old boy has even got his own hashtag #PlugLife on social media Harrison is just one of 60 children to take part in the advert directed by Michael Gracey, who was behind The Greatest Showman. The schoolboy has thrown himself into amateur theatre having attended acting classes since he was seven and won his age category at the Nuneaton Festival of Arts. Speaking of his performance Harrison said: 'My costume's the plug and it's really cool when I saw it. I was like this is confusing I'm a plug. 'So I've got to get into a socket and it's really hard because you have to put your face on the socket kind of you're like "ugh!"' Several claimed that department store John Lewis had 'failed' and that Sainsbury's takes the crown for best advert this year His mother added: 'I didn't know really what to expect at all. I did think he was the most adorable little plug ever. Absolutely loved it, it was great.' Sainsbury's launched its Christmas advert on Monday with the notion that 'we give all we've got for the ones we love' is at the heart of Sainsbury's new marketing campaign, as the retailer calls on the nation to do just that this Christmas. The film also captures genuine emotional reactions from the audience, as some of the cast's parents are featured seeing their child perform the show for the first time. And while the touching advert is unique to the festive campaigns we have seen so far some viewers actually pointed out its similarities to a previous John Lewis campaign. Sainsbury's is the latest store to launch its Christmas advert featuring eight-year-old Tia Isaac (pictured) who performs rendition of the New Radicals' hit, You Get What You Give in a school production The advert is based a round a school production called 'The Big Night' and sees over 60 talented children take part At one point a youngster dressed as the Queen mimics Her Majesty's famous Christmas Day speech The film also captures genuine emotional reactions from the audience, as some of the cast's parents are featured seeing their child perform the show for the first time The 2018 Christmas ad has been compared to the John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners commercial which aired earlier this year. John Lewis, who unveiled its advert today, released the commercial in September which followed a similar format to Sainsbury's, seeing a group of school children in a production of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Pointing out the likeness on Twitter one viewer wrote: 'The advertising world equivalent of turning up to work xmas party in the same dress as a colleague.' A spokesperson from the supermarket told Metro.co.uk: 'We started work on this in January and the thing we were really inspired about is every single school up and down the country is doing a nativity play. 'That's really what this is about. I don't think you question it's from Sainsbury's. We've got black and white at the beginning, there's orange all the way through, so I'm not worried about it.' However, John Lewis' Christmas campaign is a far cry from the supermarket as it tells the tale of Elton John's career. The 7million advert tells the tear-jerking story of his rise to fame and fortune from humble beginnings in Pinner, north London, where he was brought up by his mother Sheila and grandmother Rita. It ends with a four-year-old Elton - then Reg Dwight - unwrapping his first piano on Christmas Day in 1951 then cuts back to the present say showing the emotional 71-year-old playing the same instrument in front of the tree. It is followed by the slogan: 'Some gifts are more than just a gift' and the retailer has today started marketing pianos for 800 - the first time it has sold them for decades. Proof Peter Phillips is dating an oil tycoon's daughter? Queen's grandson was joined by Zara's old school pal Lindsay Wallace at double royal christening Peter Phillips, 44, was accompanied by oil tycoon's daughter Lindsay Wallace , 40, as he drove to Windsor, yesterday for the joint christening of Zara and Mike Tindall's son, Lucas, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's son, August. Advertisement The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have made a surprise visit to the BBC to mark Anti-Bullying Week. Kate and William arrived at Broadcasting House, London on Thursday, just hours after celebrating the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday at a glittering black tie dinner and reception at Buckingham Palace. The couple are at the BBC today to learn about the work the broadcaster is doing as a key member of The Duke's Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying. The Duchess wore her second recycled outfit in a week, donning a 1,200 dress by Emilia Wickstead which she wore previously in 2014 and 2015, and is from the British designer's AW13 collection. She teamed the simple teal number, which boasted a stylish pleated skirt, with Asprey London leaf hoop earrings and black suede Gianvito Rossi pumps while debuting a subtle side parting. The couple made a surprise appearance on The One Show sofa where they joined Ellie, Eliza and Cameron from Wormholt Park Primary School for a discussion on the upcoming Kids Online Wellbeing app. Afterwards, they joined BBC director general Lord Hall and director of BBC Children's Alice Webb to try out the app for themselves. The couple, who were at Buckingham Palace last night celebrating the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday, appeared to be in good spirits as they chatted to BBC executives during their surprise visit to Broadcasting House on Thursday TV debut! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge make a surprise appearance on The One Show sofa where they join Ellie, Eliza and Cameron from Wormholt Park Primary School for a discussion on the upcoming Kids Online Wellbeing app Thrifty Kate strikes again! Wearing an old Emilia Wickstead dress, Kate arrives at Broadcasting House, London on Thursday, just hours after celebrating the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday with a black tie dinner and reception at Buckingham Palace The couple touch down at the BBC's London outpost this morning. The campaign was launched by the young persons' panel on the Taskforce and is now being run by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which is rolling out materials to thousands of schools across the country They will also meet young people who wrote and performed in a new campaign video for 'Stop, Speak, Support', which is a youth-led code of conduct to provide guidance on what to do when they witness bullying online. The campaign was launched by the young persons' panel on the Taskforce and is now being run by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which is rolling out materials to thousands of schools across the country. Kate and William, both 36, will also meet parents and children who have been helping guide the latest tech developments from the BBC to help young people online, and join BBC Director General Lord Hall as he announces the broadcaster's latest initiative. William and The Royal Foundation convened the Taskforce in May 2016, to support young people and their families affected by cyberbullying, with a focus on 11-16 year olds. Fresh from their evening celebrating the Prince of Wales' birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk with young people about online bullying during a visit BBC Broadcasting House in London The couple looked deep in thought as they discussed the effect of cyberbullying with young people at the BBC today. William has previously said of the issue of bullying: 'My work as a HEMS pilot has exposed me to the tragedy of suicide and the despair felt by those who have been subjected to cruelty and abuse' Kate and William could be seen chatting animatedly with their hosts about the effect of cyber-bulling which the Duke has previously called a 'personal' issue for him, as a father-of-three and as a former air ambulance pilot The couple share a laugh as they discuss anti-bullying initiatives at BBC Broadcasting House on Thursday. The couple's visit today marked the second official engagement in what is shaping up to be a busy week, after Kate and William visited South Yorkshire on Wednesday The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge join BBC executives Tony Hall (far right) and Alice Webb (far left) to try out a new app designed to combat online bullying during a visit BBC Broadcasting House in London on Thursday The couple join BBC Director General Lord Hall (far right) as he announces the broadcaster's latest initiative, an anti-bullying app. Kate was wearing an old favourite as she recycled a 1,200 teal Emilia Wickstead dress for the visit The couple chat to a group of youngsters on The One Show sofa. The Duchess wore her second recycled outfit in a week, donning a 1,200 dress by Emilia Wickstead that she wore previously in 2014 and 2015, and is from the AW13 collection The Duke brought together some of the world's most recognisable names in media and tech, as well as children's charities and parents, to work alongside a panel of young people to try and find a way forward. Together they set themselves the task of creating a safer and more supportive life online. Speaking at a Taskforce event last year, William said: 'For me, the issue of cyberbullying and its consequences are personal. My work as a HEMS pilot has exposed me to the tragedy of suicide and the despair felt by those who have been subjected to cruelty and abuse. 'Through my work on mental health, I have spent time getting to know parents and children for whom the impact of online bullying has been devastating. 'And as a parent myself, I understand the sense of loss and anger of those particular families who have lost children after they were the targets of campaigns of harassment. I feel a responsibility to do what I can to help.' Kate was sporting loose waves and appeared to have had some subtle highlights put in her hair. She teamed the teal number, which boasted a stylish pleated skirt, with diamond hoop earrings and black suede pumps Fresh as a daisy! There was no sign of tired eyes for the Duchess, despite being out last night for the lavish 70th birthday celebrations of the Prince of Wales last night. Kate was joined by royalty from Denmark, Norway, Spain, Greece, Serbia, Jordan and Jaipur at the black tie bash hosted by the Queen The couple arrive at Broadcasting House on Thursday. The Duchess wore her second recycled outfit in a week, donning a 1,200 dress by designer Emilia Wickstead that she first wore in 2015 The couple arrive at the BBC offices on Thursday after celebrating Prince Charles' birthday last night. Today they will meet young people who wrote and performed in a new campaign video for 'Stop, Speak, Support', which is a youth-led code of conduct to provide guidance on what to do when they witness bullying online Chaired by tech entrepreneur Brent Hoberman CBE, the Taskforce members include The Anti-Bullying Alliance, Apple, BT and The Diana Award. Also involved are EE, Facebook, Google, Internet Matters, Music.ly, NSPCC; O2, Sky, Snapchat, Supercell, TalkTalk, Three, Twitter, Vodafone and Virgin Media. The couple's visit today marked the second official engagement in what is shaping up to be a busy week, after Kate and William visited South Yorkshire on Wednesday. And just last night, they were spotted arriving at Buckingham Palace for a star-studded dinner and reception held in honour of the Prince of Wales' birthday. Kate, dripping in diamonds, was joined by royalty from Denmark, Norway, Spain, Greece, Serbia, Jordan and Jaipur at the black tie bash hosted by the Queen. By Trend The Azerbaijani Embassy in Belarus has held a conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus, the Embassy said in a statement Nov. 14. The Deputy Chairwoman of the Upper Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Marianna Shchetkina, the Deputy Chairman of the Lower Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Boleslav Pirshtuk and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Andrei Yeudachenka made speeches as special guests at the conference. The event was also attended by the ambassadors of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine to Belarus, Russia's permanent representative to the CIS, the first deputy chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, rectors of leading universities of Belarus, scientists and culture figures, representatives of the public. Opening the event, Ambassador Latif Gandilov described the participation in the conference of high-ranking representatives of the state and government of Belarus as an indicator of great respect for and attention to Azerbaijan. Assessing personal friendly relations between heads of state as an important factor in bilateral relations, Latif Gandilov noted that these relations are a good example of interstate cooperation. The ambassador stressed that the heads of state, thanks to their wise policy, eliminating the difficulties of the transition period, turned their countries into the states that deserve respect in the world, raising the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. The Deputy Chairwoman of the Upper Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Marianna Shchetkina and the Deputy Chairman of the Lower Chamber of the Belarus Parliament Boleslav Pirshtuk noted in their speeches that the relations between the two states in all spheres, including the inter-parliamentary relations, are at a high level. In connection with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the embassy also organized a presentation of the book titled "The 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Belarus" and a silver memorial sign. For their merits in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus, Gandilov awarded the first ambassador of Belarus to Azerbaijan Nikolai Paskevich, the First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Yeudachenka, and the Head of the Belarus-Azerbaijan Friendship Group in the Parliament of Belarus, Chairperson of the Standing Commission of the Lower Chamber of the Parliament of Belarus for National Security Valentin Mikhnevich with silver memorial signs. For their merits in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus, other representatives of state agencies and governments of Azerbaijan and Belarus will be awarded with memorial signs. After the event, a reception was arranged for the conference participants. Philip Schofield has complained of how 'cruel' women are to one another in a heated debate about whether older women should put away their cleavage on This Morning. It follows criticism of makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, 45, after she wore a dress with a keyhole neckline to receive her MBE investiture in front of the Queen earlier this week. During the debate on Thursday it was suggested by divorce lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt that Tilbury's LBD was 'inappropriate' attire in front of the monarch; whereas author Kathy Letter said that women should be able to wear what they want. Phillip chimed in as the discussion heated up following Charlotte's public scrutiny saying 'there is no one crueller to women than other women'. This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield chimed in in during This Morning debate on how old is too old for a plunging neckline following criticism Charlotte Tilbury received for her outfit she wore to her investiture with the Queen Charlotte Tilbury received her MBE at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 13 November. The beauty doyenne wore head-to-toe black, teaming an Alice Temperley 'Parachute' cocktail dress with a Lara Bohinc belt and Jimmy Choo shoes The London-based beauty guru had worn head-to-toe black, teaming an low-cut black Alice Temperley 'Parachute' cocktail dress with a Lara Bohinc belt and Jimmy Choo shoes, and a hat from couture milliner Victoria Grant for the occasion. Vanessa joked that the Queen had a 'birdseye view' and if she stepped any closer she would have 'fallen in', adding 'it was not appropriate'. Kathy said: 'Can I just say it's always women being judged,' adding, 'Why are the fashion police always putting women my age in sartorial Siberia?' Guest presenter Rochelle Humes, who is filling in for Holly Willoughby, agreed and pointed out that women are always quick to bring down other women, asking why people couldn't appreciate her for being a successful entrepreneur. Joining the discussion Phil said: 'Charlotte there was under the impression that she did look lovely, and she does look lovely, bearing in mind as a guy, a bloke nowadays I can't even mention her cleavage otherwise it would be deemed inappropriate. Author Kathy Lette, left, said that women should be allowed to wear what they want at whatever age. However, divorce lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt argued that Tilbury's dress was 'inappropriate' Phillip questioned why other women were so cruel to each other, saying that he thought Tilbury looked 'amazing' and shouldn't be criticised The majority of viewers were in agreement that women should be able to wear what they like no matter what their age 'As Rochelle says quite rightly, I have done this show for a long time and I have certainly come away with a feeling and I said this with Fern and I say this with Holly; there is no one crueller to women than other women. 'So you have that day taken away from her by other headlines. Congratulations to her she looks amazing.' Viewers appeared to be in agreement with the ITV daytime host taking to Twitter to share their thoughts. One wrote: ''At what age should you put your cleavage away?' NEVER GIRLS NEVER! Women should be allowed to celebrate themselves and have the choice to wear what they want'. Agreeing another added: 'honestly this woman expressing that older woman having cleavage out are desperate and unprofessional. However, some were in agreement with Vanessa and said that there is a time and a place for a plunging neckline Tilbury, who launched her eponymous makeup line just five years ago, has gone from makeup artist to bonafide businesswoman with her range which is now sold across the globe 'YOUR attitude is harming modern feminism beyond measure. Be confident and sexy at any age and in any setting. Never to old, curvy or professional to love your body! (sic)' A third said that while women should feel free to dress how they like, there are outfits that are more appropriate on certain occasions. She wrote: 'I believe any woman should dress how they want, if it makes them happy and they feel comfortable then go for it! But I also agree that you should dress for the occasion whatever that may be.' However, several agreed with Vanessa and said that the beauty mogul should have covered up. One wrote: 'I am a woman of 47 and have been known to have my cleavage out but i must admit if i was meeting the Queen i would cover up out if respect .' A second tweeted: 'Cleavage is not appropriate for the Queen or business dress.' Tilbury, 45, was accompanied by her husband George Waud and her parents, Patsy and Lance, for the investiture ceremony on Tuesday. She has gone from makeup artist to bona fide businesswoman with her beauty range, which is now sold in cities across the globe. With 26 years' industry experience, well-connected Tilbury, 45, counts Kate Moss among her inner circle and is close friends with the likes of Edward Enninful and Cara Delevingne. Her makeup range has been worn by everyone from Amal Clooney to Lady Kitty Spencer, while the Duchess of Sussex is rumoured to be among her fans. Just this week, the brand was named as the exclusive makeup sponsor for the Victoria's Secret runway show in New York. And earlier this year Tilbury - who is widely regarded as the pioneer of the liquid eyeliner 'feline flick', was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2018 for services to the beauty and cosmetics industry. This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30am The Duchess of Sussex swapped her high-end wardrobe for a high-street hero when she joined the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall last weekend, it has been revealed. Pregnant Meghan, 37, wore a 49.50 dress from Marks & Spencer for the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday night, it emerged today. The mother-to-be arrived wrapped up in a heavy black coat and limited photos from inside the theatre meant it was difficult to identify the dress beneath on the night. However M&S today confirmed the royal had worn its flattering Double Crepe Bodycon Dress for the occasion. Thrifty! Pregnant Meghan, 37, chose a 49.50 dress from Marks & Spencer for the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night, pictured, it emerged today High street hero: The versatile frock, pictured, which is still available in every size, boasts an elegant off-shoulder neckline with folds down the bust and falls to just below the knee The versatile frock, which is still available to buy in every size online, boasts an elegant off-shoulder neckline with folds down the bust and falls to just below the knee. Added stretch in the double crepe material is designed to hug curves - and might have given Meghan the flexibility she needed for her growing baby bump. The duchess, who is expecting her first child with Prince Harry next spring, paired the dress with classic black suede point toe pumps and a simple black clutch with gold chain detailing. The mid-length black coat provided the perfect outer layer as she made her way inside on the chilly autumn night. Under wraps: The mother-to-be arrived in a heavy black coat, pictured, and limited photos from inside the theatre meant it was difficult to identify the dress underneath on the night Practical choice: Added stretch in the double crepe material of the dress is designed to hug curves - and might have given Meghan the flexibility she needed for her growing baby bump Act fast! The wardrobe staple is still available to buy in every size on the M&S website Meghan joined husband Prince Harry, 34, the Queen, 92, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the event. The annual Festival of Remembrance in London, which commemorates the war dead, included performances from Sir Tom Jones, Sir Bryn Terfel and Sheridan Smith and was presented by the BBC's Huw Edwards. It is not the first time Meghan has worn Marks & Spencer for a public engagement. Smallest glimpse: Only the distinctive fold detailing of the top of the dress could be seen beneath Meghan's coat as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall with husband Prince Harry, 34 Glamorous: Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex arrive for the Festival of Remembrance The duchess sparked a shopping frenzy when she wore a 45 black jumper with bell sleeves from the high street stalwart to visit the studio of Reprezent 107.3 FM in south London in January. And in a clear demonstration of the style influence she already wields, the affordable knit had sold out on the store's website within hours of her stepping in front of the cameras on the arm of her Prince. Commenting on the latest outing, a Marks & Spencer spokesperson said: 'We thought Meghan looked beautiful in our M&S Collection dress. We are absolutely delighted she is a fan of M&S and the British high street.' High street shopper: It is not the first time Meghan has worn Marks & Spencer for a public engagement. She previously wore a 45 jumper from the label in Brixton in January, pictured Eagle-eyed royal fans think the Duchess of Cambridge wore a custom-made version of a stunning dress by Harvey Weinstein's ex-wife at Prince Charles' 70th birthday bash. Kate, 36, wowed in a one-shouldered gown featuring floral detailing on the shoulder, which she paired with dazzling diamond earrings. No photographs of the Duchess inside the party have been released, but the arrival pictures have led to speculation her dress may have been by US brand Marchesa, the company headed by Georgia Chapman, the ex-wife of movie mogul Weinstein. While Kate has worn the brand before, she has not previously been seen in the label since July 2017, before the Hollywood sex scandal broke. Royal fans believe the Duchess of Cambridge wore a custom-made version of a stunning dress by US brand Marchesa, co-founded by Harvey Weinstein's ex-wife, at Prince Charles' 70th birthday bash on Wednesday night Fans were quick to point out that the floral detailing was similar to that on a strapless creation from Marchesa's Resort 2018 collection (above) The Duchess was photographed being driven to Buckingham Palace by Prince William last night, wearing a pair of dazzling earrings which she previously wore at the BAFTAs in 2017. The earrings have never been identified as belonging to a particular brand, but they're thought to be part of the Duchess' own collection, rather than a loan from the Queen. Kate appeared to be wearing a one-shoulder Grecian-inspired gown, embellished with flowers on the shoulder. Fans were quick to point out that the floral detailing was similar to that on a strapless creation from Marchesa's Resort 2018 collection, while others drew comparisons with other one-shoulder dresses by the label. The Duchess of Cambridge teamed her pink gown with a pair of dazzling diamond earrings for Charles' 70th birthday bash KAate was photographed being driven to Buckingham Palace by Prince William, who looked dapper in a tuxedo, last night (above) One royal blogger posted 'My first guess is something Marchesa', while another added: 'Custom Marchesa based on this!' The What Kate Wore Twitter account added: 'I hadn't thought about Marchesa for tonight. It would be a fascinating choice!' The Duchess previously wore a 1,105 Marchesa Notte tulle gown, when she attended the opening of 42nd Street in the West End in April 2017. She also wore a daring pale pink lace gown by the brand in July last year, when she attended a Buckingham state banquet held in honour of King Felipe of Spain and his wife Queen Letizia in July last year. Kate previously wore a daring pale pink lace gown by Marchesa in July last year, when she attended a Buckingham state banquet held in honour of King Felipe of Spain and his wife Queen Letizia in July last year The Duchess previously wore a 1,105 Marchesa Notte tulle gown, when she attended the opening of 42nd Street in the West End in April 2017 (above) Kate fans quickly took to Twitter to suggest that the Duchess's pink dress at Charles' birthday dinner was by the American brand Marchesa Once a red-carpet favourite, Marchesa has become a controversial choice of designer since the Weinstein scandal broke in September last year. Actresses Scarlett Johansson was forced to defend her decision to wear the brand at the Met Gala earlier this year, as she became the first celebrity to wear the brand since the allegations against the media mogul were made. Explaining her choice, she said: 'I wore Marchesa because their clothes make women feel confident and beautiful and it is my pleasure to support a brand created by two incredibly talented and important female designers.' Priyanka Chopra also defended her choice to wear a strapless white gown by the American label at her bridal shower last month. Kensington Palace declined to comment. The Queen was on fine form today as she met up with the King of Norway, the morning after he attended her party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate Prince Charles 70th birthday. The pair greeted each other warmly at the The Naval and Military Club in St Jamess, London, with King Harald V kissing her on each cheek and then on the hand. He said: Thank you for a nice party yesterday . Im so glad, replied the Queen enthusiastically, and the pair chatted warmly about the previous nights events. The Queen was heard to say how much Charles had enjoyed himself. The Queen was straight back to work following Prince Charles' 70th birthday celebrations as she joined King Harald V of Norway at The Naval and Military Club on Thursday He looked like it, the king replied. His wife, Queen Sonja, who was also at the bash, had been due to accompany her husband to this mornings engagement. But he explained to his royal host that she simply didnt feel very well this morning and had decided to stay at home. A spokesman for the Royal Court of Norway also confirmed that she was unwell but said there was no cause for alarm. The Norwegian king had joined the Queen at Buckingham Palace for last night's celebrations and the monarch remarked that Charles had 'enjoyed himself' Her Majesty received a typically warm welcome from well-wishers who gathered outside the club to present her with floral tributes The pair greeted each other warmly with King Harald V kissing her on each cheek and then on the hand The royals were attending a reception to mark the centenary of the Anglo-Norse Society. Both Her Majesty The Queen and His Majesty King Harald V of Norway are joint Patrons of the Society. The Centenary Reception offered an opportunity to recognise members of the Anglo-Norse Society who have made a positive contribution to its community and culture over the past 100 years. Founded in 1918, it is a registered charity promoting understanding between Britain and Norway. The Queen chatted with Tulla Gobey, 92, (seen) at the Anglo-Norse Society centenary reception Both Her Majesty The Queen and His Majesty King Harald V of Norway are joint Patrons of the Society The Society hosts a programme of events, which include talks by British and Norwegian speakers on a wide variety of subjects, as well as film showings and excursions. The Society also supports scholarships for British students to pursue graduate and postgraduate study in Norway. Turning to her guides, the Queen said cheerfully: So whats the plan here? and was swiftly introduced to Rolf Christophensen, the vice-president. She was shown a commemorative almanac by committee member Angela Christophensen which included items commemorating her first ever state visit as Queen, which was to Norway, in 1955. The Queen looked typically elegant in a magenta coat and skirt which she, of course, paired with a hat in a matching shade Queen Sonja, the king's wife, had been due to join the pair but had been too unwell according to her husband Rather fun to do that, the monarch said of the book. The monarch was wearing a plum suit by Stewart Parkin with a matching Rachel Trevor Morgan hat and the large diamond Bow Brooch that she wore on her historic trip. Among those the Queen meet was a fellow 92-year-old Tulla Gobey, who her husband, Peter, at an Anglo-Norse event in 1958. The Queen seemed enchanted to learn that Mrs Gobey, who was wearing her national dress as she sat in her wheelchair, was sporting the Norwegian equivalent of the CBE - medal that had belonged to her late father, Leif Jensson, a well-known wartime broadcaster in Oslo. Michael Brooks, a British-born, Oslo-based lawyer, who is chairman of the Norway branch of the society, said it was an honour to have two royal families present. We would feel very proud to have present one member of the royal families but to be here with two is very special indeed, he said. Prince Charles' daughters-in-law Meghan and Kate pulled out all the stops last night as they decked themselves in glittering diamonds for his birthday celebrations. But they faced competition in the glamour stakes from other royal women of Europe, including Crown Princess Mary of Denmark who was on the gilded guests list for his 70th birthday bash at Buckingham Palace. An image posted on the official Instagram account for the Danish royal palace gave fans a proper look at the royal's party outfit, after she opted for a stunning one shoulder gown in a midnight blue velvet. Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway looked equally glamorous in a sparkling silver brocade floor length gown. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 46, stunned in one-shoulder velvet dress as she attended Prince Charles' 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace last night with Crown Prince Frederik Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the celebrations with her husband Crown Prince Haakon, 50, and his parents Harald V and Queen Sonja, both 81. Crown Princess Mary, 46, attended last night's festivities with her husband Crown Prince Frederik who looked dapper in a tux. The mother-of-four's velvet gown featured a belt that accentuated her trim waist, featuring a gold starburst detail. She completed the look with a pair of elegant drop earrings and a simple gold bracelet. Meanwhile, her Norwegian counterpart looked glowing in a long sleeved silver evening gown that shimmered as she walked. Mette-Marit ooked glowing in a long sleeved silver evening gown that shimmered as she walked, while her mother-in-law Queen Sonja was vibrant in purple Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the celebrations with her husband Crown Prince Haakon, 50, and his parents Harald V and Queen Sonja, both 81. The Norwegian Queen cut a striking figure in a vibrant purple gown with glittering detail on the top and a tiered ruffle skirt. Last month, the family announced that the Crown Princess is suffering from the lung disease chronic pulmonary fibrosis. Meghan was equally sparkling in 'borrowed' diamond drop earrings, recently seen at an official reception in Fiji during the royal tour, although Kensington Palace have not revealed the original source Kate, who was wearing a pink evening gown sported drop earrings featuring a pear shaped central stone surrounded by diamonds to Charles' 70th birthday party She is thought to be in the early stages of the disease in which scar tissue forms in the lungs. The disease can cause serious breathing problems and there is no known cure. The mother-of-three released her own statement following the diagnosis where she spoke of her determination to carry on as normal. She said: 'Although such a diagnosis in times will limit my life, I'm glad that the disease has been discovered so early. 'My goal is still to work and participate in the official programme as much as possible.' Mette-Marit is a particularly rare case as the disease normally occurs in people of the age 70-75 and is very rare for anyone under 50 to suffer from it. Queen Mathilde has wowed in a series of new portraits with King Phillippe - released a day after the Belgian royals attended Prince Charles' 70th birthday bash. Mathilde, 45, wore a glamorous pink off-the-shoulder gown by Armani Prive as she posed with husband Phillippe at the Royal Palace of Brussels. The mother-of-five teamed the stunning taffeta dress with a pair of dazzling diamond earrings, topped off with a tiara. Meanwhile, Phillippe, 58, looked dapper in his military uniform, which he wore with a purple sash for the portraits. Queen Mathilde wore a glamorous pink off-the-shoulder gown in a new portrait with husband Phillippe, taken at the Royal Palace of Brussels The photographs have been released by the Belgian royal family to mark Koningsdag, or the King's Feast. It has been celebrated every year on November 15 since 1866, but is not a public holiday in Belgium. Since 2001, the Belgian Parliament has held a ceremony in honour of the King to mark the day. This year's King's Feast comes just a day after Mathilde and Phillippe attended Charles' glitzy birthday bash at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday night. Mathilde teamed the stunning gown by Armani Prive with a pair of dazzling diamond earrings, topped off with a tiara, as she posed with husband Phillippe Phillippe, 58, looked dapper in his military uniform, which he wore with a purple sash. The portraits have been released to mark Koningsdag, or the King's Feast Mathilde was seen wearing a dazzling diamond necklace, along with a pair of pearl and diamond earrings as she and Phillipe left the banquet. A host of European royalty attended Charles' birthday dinner, including Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Prince Frederik. King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway were also at the banquet, along with son Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Others at the bash included Prince Albert II of Monaco, Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands. Mathilde wore a dazzling diamond necklace as she and Phillippe attended Prince Charles' 70th birthday bash on Wednesday night The search for Madeleine (pictured in a photo issued on October 16, 2013) has cost 11.8million, writes Janet Street-Porter Madeleine McCanns face remains one of the most poignant images of the past decade. Those trusting blue-green eyes and sweet smile are a poignant reminder that a perfect family holiday can suddenly end in tragedy. Eleven years on, the public, the police and her distraught parents still havent a clue what happened to this sweet three year old on May 3rd 2007, when she vanished from her bedroom in a holiday flat in Praia da Luz, Portugal while her parents were dining with friends a few yards away. Since then, the search for Madeleine has cost over 11.8million - and this week, the British government announced they are contributing another 150,000 to allow Scotland Yard to continue their investigation until next March. This is hardly a large sum of money but it begs the question - why should this case continue to attract funding at all, when there is clearly little chance of success? Why does the search for Madeleine attract more resources than investigating the thousands of other children and teenagers who have gone missing in the UK in the last decade? The mother of Charlene Downes, who vanished aged 14 in Blackpool in 2003, says 'all missing children need a voice' and reckons her daughter has been ignored because she came from a working class background. The next generation of young people need all the government's attention now, writes Janet Street-Porter. Jai Sewell, 15, was attacked and killed by four men outside a fried chicken shop in south east London earlier this month. This CCTV grab shows the attack on November 1 To be brutally honest - at a time when young men are being felled with knives in all our major cities - why are the police not diverting all their resources into tracking down the gang leaders and the drug barons who are ensnaring schoolchildren into acting as couriers? We need every penny available to arrest the evil people who are terrifying youngsters to such an extent that they are carrying knives for protection. Hundreds of poor inner city boys are being dragged into a wave of violent crime, many of whom come from single parent families where mum has to work bloody hard at more than one job to keep food on the table. These young men need support at school, counselling, and huge investment in their future. They need places to go and be safe after school, mentors and more police presence on their streets. They are not cute, blonde photogenic kids - but they are our future and deserve just as much help and funding as Maddie. Madeleine McCanns case attracted huge public sympathy and media attention from the outset. Her parents, Kate and Gerry, are highly articulate, devout Catholics, trained medics - shes a GP and hes a cardiologist. They brought in PR people, and set up Madeleines Fund, attracting huge donations from Sir Philip Green, J K Rowling, Simon Cowell and thousands of members of the public- over 1.8 million was donated in the first year alone. Janet Street-Porter pictured on September 13, 2017 The McCanns flew to meet the Pope, and story went around the world- the crime was unspeakable. To lose a child without any warning, a gorgeous, pretty, smiling little girl who had never harmed anyone. Who took Madeleine, and why? The Portuguese police did not handle the case well, and soon declared that the McCanns and Robert Murat, a local man were regarded as suspects. They alleged that Madeleine could have died as the result of an accident in the flat and her body taken elsewhere. There were stories of alleged sightings of two different men carrying a child. Holidaymakers claimed they were never questioned about mysterious men seen in the vicinity if the holiday complex in the days before Madeleines disappearance. Rumours spread like wildfire. Prince Charles was sent an email naming a former employee of the Ocean Club complex, where Madeleine had played in the swimming pool. The case was eventually closed by the Portuguese police in 2008. Since then, the McCanns have fought and succeeded in getting successive British governments to fund investigations into their daughters disappearance. In 2009, Home Secretary Alan Johnson authorized an inquiry, which produced the Gamble Report in 2010. The search had involved many different agencies from The Home Office, the Foreign Office, the Leicester Police, the Metropolitan police to the Serious Crime Agency. To streamline resources, Operation Grange was set up involving 29 detectives and 8 staff. By 2013, they had investigated 8,000 potential leads, and taken over 1,300 statements. In October 2015, the team was scaled back to 4. In April 2016, the Home Office gave another 95,000 to fund further work, and then another 85,000 in 2017. This week, another 150,000 went to the increasingly futile task of looking for Maddie. Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, are highly articulate, devout Catholics, trained medics - shes a GP and hes a cardiologist. They are pictured in Portugal on February 19, 2010 The McCanns and Robert Murat have fought libel actions and won considerable damages from media outlets who made allegations which could be seen as damaging to their reputations. They have regularly engaged expensive lawyers, private detectives and criminal investigators, to no avail. Gerry McCann told Vanity Fair magazine back in 2008 that he had decided to market Madeleine to keep her in the public eye. He has undoubtedly been highly successful in that respect, but his daughter remains missing. There were 1141 child abductions in England and Wales in 2016, the highest for 15 years. Around 380 people go missing every day in the UK, of which two thirds are under 18. I think of all the other gorgeous children who went for a bike ride or a trip to the sweet shop and have never been seen again. David Spence and Patrick Warren, who disappeared in 1996, aged 13 and 11. Ben Needham, who disappeared on holiday on the Greek Island of Kos, aged 21 months. April Fabb, who disappeared in Norfolk riding her bike, aged 13. Genette Tate, 13, vanished delivering newspapers, in Devon in 1978. In all these cases, a childs body has never been found. The parents, like the McCanns, do not have closure. Sometimes, police and politicians have to make tough, pragmatic decisions using their brains, not their emotions - thats why we elect them. The McCanns have consistently used emotional blackmail to ensure the government continues to fund a hopeless investigation at the expense of others. The next generation of young people need all their attention now. One of the many advantages of being royal is having a chauffeur to ferry you around, but at Prince Charles' birthday party last night some of the most important guests chose to drive themselves to the celebrations at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Cambridge drove himself and his wife Kate to the party as did Prince Harry, and it's certainly not the first time that senior royals have hopped behind the wheel to attend a family party. Prince Harry is reportedly abstaining from alcohol in support of his pregnant wife Meghan, and with three young children at home, including a seven-month-old baby, it's likely the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge keep their nights out low-key. However, according to etiquette expert William Hanson, the decision to drive has nothing to do with avoiding alcohol and is all about making a distinction between a private party and official duties. 'Modern royalty tend to drive themselves to private parties and engagements because it is exactly that - a private event,' he explained. Prince William drove his wife Kate to Prince Charles' 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace, but the decision had nothing to do with the busy parents avoiding alcohol Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was one of many members of the royal family who got behind the wheel to drive to the Queen's Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace with her daughter Lady Louise in December 2017 William and Harry's decision to drive last night was a subtle but significant way of putting aside their titles for one night and being two loving sons attending their father's milestone birthday celebrations. 'They are not attending specifically because of the titles and roles they play but because of their personal connection to the host,' William added. 'In this case they usually choose to arrive and leave with less fanfare than during their official "work" engagements. Royal fans will know of the familiar sight of a fleet of Range Rovers driving through the gates of Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Christmas lunch ever year. Prince Harry significantly drove his new wife Meghan to their evening reception at Frogmore House in May, as a way of indicating it was a private party event, rather than an official royal event Prince Harry drove his pregnant wife Meghan to Buckingham Palace last night, to show that the couple were attending his father's birthday party in a private capacity It's a private event which offers the monarch a chance to catch up with members of the extended family who won't be joining the royals for their traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham. Both Wililam and Harry also chose to drive their new brides to the private evening celebrations when they got married. The Duke of Sussex and his bride travelled to Frogmore House in an eco-friendly Jaguar adapted from a 1968 version to include a zero emissions electric motor and plug-in battery. Shop 'til you drop (all your cash): Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle site Goop published its 2018 holiday gift guide this year Once again, Gwyneth Paltrow has released an extensive holiday gift guide that can only be described as very, very, Goop. While the 46-year-old actress certainly includes affordable ideas in her shopping guide and even some suggestions for toys, books, accessories, and gadgets that a wide swath of the population might like she's also infamous for packing her lists with items that read simply as out-of-touch. This year's guide includes some outrageously-priced presents like trips, diamond jewels, and even a yacht as well as some that are just plain bizarre, like gold rolling papers and a hygge swing. The most noteworthy items in Gwynnie's gift guide aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest price tags but they are ones with price tags that seem inordinately high for what's being offered. That won't fit under the tree: It suggests a $3,000/a night stay at The Brando resort in Tahiti What everyone needs! There's a Seletti banana lamp for $340 and an $820 Apparatus incense burner Commercial? Yuck! There's also a Surf Air private plane membership starting at $1,950 per month It's safe to say, for instance, that few people would think $150 is a a reasonable amount to pay for a matchbox, even if it is made of pewter. Many of the strangest items are included in the appropriately-named list, 'Ridiculous but Awesome.' There, Gwyneth and her Goop editors recommend a $7,700 Hermes surfboard, a $240 Apparatus pill container, and the chance to be 'muse for a day' for Saatchi Art photographer Miss Aniela in London, to the tune of $150,000. There's also an Aston Martin (price upon request), an $820 Apparatus incense burner, Louis Vuitton pajamas, trips to Iceland and Everest, and even a yacht which is also price upon request, with the clear message being, if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Aquaman, is that you? These $30 Darkfin webbed gloves might not be expensive, but they will make any man look like a sea creature which is also pretty odd Splurge! Also for the men is a $260 set of 16 pairs of socks (left) and a $50 razor Just because! The Land Ark RV she suggests is an affordable (ha!) $139,900 Really? Many of the items make it hard to conceive who, exactly, needs these things, like a $225 Hygge swing (left) or a $7,700 Hermes surfboard (right) On the lower end are the no less outrageous Seletti banana lamp for $340, 24k gold rolling papers for $55, and even a vanity phone number (prices vary, with the most expensive 212 number currently going for $250,000). The shopping guide for 'collectors,' meanwhile, also has quite a few items that would make most non-multimillionaires wonder, 'Who would buy that?' There are $340 antique theater glasses, a $249 'luxury' game of Clue, those $150 Match Pewter matches, a $725 Wonder Valley cutting board and knife, and a $1,000 family crest. For $195, shoppers can buy a Chris Earl Tic Tac Toe set with wooden blocks, and $3,499 will buy a Stellina Smart Telescope. More expensive, unnecessary, and otherwise outrageous gifts pop up in each of the categories, which are broken down for kids, cooks, hosts, travelers, wellness junkies, guys, and 'one and onlys'. Couldn't even get a new one? This Hermes Birkin bag she recommends is $15,000 oh, and it's used Not complete without bling! There is quite a bit of jewelry in the guide, including a $20,900 Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet (left) and $22,560 Vram earrings (right) If you don't want jewelry: Why not wear your bling in the form of this $890 rhinestone-encrusted hoodie from No. 21 Got everything else? The 'Ridiculous but Awesome' guide features $55 24K gold rolling papers (right), while the $3,499 Stellina Smart Telescope (left) was suggested for 'collectors' This despite Gwyneth's claims that she learned to not be spoiled after her parents insist she make it on her own at 18. 'People think, "Shes just a rich kid." Until I was 18, I was. Then I was broke,' she told Glamour in 2016. 'Sometimes Ill get annoyed if someones like, "Goop is so expensive." Im like, "Have you looked at the website? Have you seen the range of price points? Cause we sell things that are $8,"' she went on. While that's true, it's the overwhelming presence of pricey pieces that have caught many readers' eyes and seem to stick out in this gift guide. For the traveler, Goop suggests a $1,700 Rimowa suitcase, a $180 Stow clear 'essentials' pouch for flying to use instead of a disposable plastic bag and a $70 eye mask. Hostess gift? As a thank you, she likes the idea of giving this $496 Kendra Scott serving tray More! Also suggested are this Grace Souky marble cake stand (pictured) and a $350 set of six La DoubleJ dessert plates are better ideas. The gift that keeps on costing: For fitness lovers, there's the $1,495 Mirror, a 'nearly invisible interactive home gym' that streams workouts with a trainer and gives live feedback. But that price is just for the piece of tech itself it also requires a $39/month membership There's also, naturally, a Surf Air private plane membership starting at $1,950 per month, and a Four Seasons Hawaii volcano adventure that costs $39,500 for four people. Other odd items to pop up include a $225 Hygge swing, a $3,000 a night stay at The Brando resort in Tahiti, a $126,888 private jet experience in Aman, Jordan, and a 10 oz truffle fro $195. Typically, gifts for a host or hostess are token items that don't cost too much, like a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates. But Goop thinks a $360 Grace Souky marble cake stand, a $496 Kendra Scott serving tray, and a $350 set of six La DoubleJ dessert plates are better ideas. So many of the items are so outrageous, in fact, that her lover's gift guide which includes lingerie, a whip, and five different vibrators feels like old hat. For men, she likes $30 Darkfin webbed gloves that will make any man look like a sea creature, a $260 box of 16 pairs of socks, and a $52 razor. Other odd items to pop up include a $126,888 private jet experience in Aman, Jordan and a 10 oz truffle fro $195 (pictured) See ya! There is one seriously big-ticket items for teenagers called 'High School in the Netherlands' starting at $10,690 There's plenty of clothing, too, with expensive cashmere scarves and sweaters and pricey pajamas and outerwear. Standing out among them are an $890 No. 21 hoodie, an $825 Ulla Johnson pullover, $425 Retrofete sequined pants, and a $15,000 secondhand Hermes Birkin. On the jewelry front, she likes a $20,900 Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet, $22,560 Vram earrings, and other pieces that cost thousands by David Yurman, Sara Weinstock, Bob's Watches, Nak Armstrong and Venyx. For fitness lovers, there's the $1,495 Mirror, a 'nearly invisible interactive home gym' that streams workouts with a trainer and gives live feedback. But that price is just for the piece of tech itself it also requires a $39/month membership. Luckily, items for kids are mostly appropriate, though there is one seriously big-ticket items for teenagers called 'High School in the Netherlands' starting at $10,690. While the name makes it sound like telling your kids at Christmas that you're sending them to an oversees boarding school, it's actually a short study abroad program for teens. Michelle Obama has never accidentally passed gas in front of a Secret Service agent but she's still had her share of embarrassing moments with them, thanks to the ever-present nature of their job. The former first lady, 54, has been making the rounds promoting her new book, Becoming, and on Thursday what may have been the most unconventional stop on her interview tour was released. Mrs. Obama sat down with comedians Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams for their popular podcast 2 Dope Queens, where the two women didn't shy away from asking her the tough and funny questions. Fun interview: Michelle Obama was interviewed by Jessica Williams (right) and Phoebe Robinson (left) for their podcast 2 Dope Queens Mixing it up: During the podcast, they discussed Michelle's most embarrassing White House moments, including an incident when she flashed a Secret Service agent at a rally in Asheville Oh no! She did not specify a date, but it's thought she was referring to a May 2008 rally where her skirt was blowing up in the wind (left). She later wore the same dress in Durham (right) One of the funniest exchanges on the podcast episode, which debuted Thursday, started when Phoebe, 34, began to talk about some of her own gastrointestinal issues. 'To open: I am a gassy person. Now stay with me, guys,' she said. 'But you spent your time in the White House, especially you were surrounded by Secret Service.' 'Yes, there were times I had gas,' Michelle admitted. 'No, I'm just kidding... No, not in eight years. Once I became first lady, gas left me. That's part of the, that's one of the benefits no more gas.' 'But you were constantly surrounded by people,' Phoebe went on, 'so did you ever have, like, any sort of, like, embarrassing sort of thing that happened, and like, the Secret Service was there, and you both sort of, like, clocked it, like, "We're not gonna talk about it but we both saw this happened"?' Michelle replied: 'Oh god, yeah. Theres a ton of stuff Not necessarily the gassy stuff, but you know, definitely tripping, falling, stumbling.' The mother-of-two then went on to detail one of her most embarrassing memories from her time as first lady, recalling a moment when she accidentally flashed one of her Secret Service agents during a rally in North Carolina. New plan: After the skirt incident, her team started planning outfits better based on the wind and weather Watch out! Despite their efforts, Michelle, seen left in 2016 and right in 2014, still struggled with the wind while disembarking Air Force One, which is known to be a hazard of the job Awkward! Although she admitted to a wardrobe malfunction, the former first lady said she hasn't passed gas in front of the Secret Service 'You know one time I was doing a big rally in, um, I think it was Asheville, college campus. And my lead agent was behind me, cause hes always behind me 'And my skirt blew up. The wind just blew it up and luckily there wasnt, like, a backstand. But he was there and he stepped right over, and I was like, thanks! Sense of style: In a quick Q&A she said she prefers her husband's pronunciation of 'karaoke' over his dad jeans 'I was like woo! It's one of those flouncy little cute skirts, and then we had to rethink that,' she added. Although the newly-published author did not specify when this incident took place, video of Michelle suffering a very similar wardrobe incident during a May 2008 visit to Asheville was posted online at the time. In the clip, she can be seen standing at a podium in a floral purple, white, and green shirt dress while the wind blows furiously around her. At several points during her speech, the full skirt of the dress can be seen blowing up in the blustery conditions. According to Michelle, the incident served as a key lesson for her and her team - and they began to re-think their outfit choices moving forward. 'That was another outfit learning moment!' she joked. 'If it's windy, don't wear flouncy things. Wear a pencil skirt, or wear some pants.' 'So we started checking weather, and wind. 'But I think I spent eight years going, you know, if you see me giving a speech at a big thing, at a convention, what I'm thinking about as I'm walking to the podium is, "Don't fall, don't trip, don't trip, don't fall.' Chat time: She also said she'd prefer a meal with Oprah over a Beyonce concert because 'I choose a conversation' 'Not because I don't love Beyonce concerts, as you know, I go to all of them, and I love watching my girl perform, but I choose a conversation,' she said (pictured at Beyonce concert) During the interview, Mrs. Obama also talked about more serious issues, like her work with educating girls, the different challenges that women in the public eye face, her experience with miscarriage and IVF, and 'going high' when others go low. But the light bits made the Q&A especially unique, and the comedians finished off by quizzing her with some either/or questions. When asked if she would rather go to a Beyonce concert or have lunch with Oprah, she chose the latter but not because she doesn't love seeing Queen Bey perform. 'I'd pick the brunch, not because I don't love Beyonce concerts, as you know, I go to all of them, and I love watching my girl perform, but I choose a conversation,' she said. 'A concert is cool and you're feeling the vibe, but I want to be like, "So, Oprah, girl, what's going on? What's really happening?" And you can't do that at a concert.' She also picked U2 over Billy Joel, and 'neither' when asked to choose between Harry Potter and Bilbo Baggins because Harry Potter belongs to Barack and Malia in her family. Book stop: Michelle has been on a book tour to promote her memoir, Becoming, and on Thursday she stopped by a Los Angeles school to surprise some children there Lesson learned! This time Michelle opted for a chic denim ensemble by Karen Walker while on reading from a book called Llama Llama Red Pajama. Support: The Para Los Ninos School describes itself as working to help 'under-served children' in the Los Angeles area Finally, Phoebe and Jessica asked her if she prefers her husband's dad jeans or the way he pronounces karaoke. 'I pick his pronunciation because it was ethnically correct, which probably tripped people out,' she said. The interview with Mrs. Obama was not only a major episode for 2 Dope Queens it was their last episode after four years recording and doing an HBO special. Other guests to have appeared on the podcast include Jon Stewart, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Connie Britton, Kevin Bacon, Fred Armisen, Illana Glazer, Tig Notaro, and Gabrielle Union. For Michelle however, it was the latest stop on what has been a whirlwind book tour; on Thursday, the former first lady surprised a group of children at the Para Los Ninos School in Los Angeles, California. Avoiding another fashion faux pas, Mrs. Obama selected a bold denim suit by Kiwi designer, Karen Walker. She struck the right note with the stylish ensemble that elongated her legs and cinched her waist. Michelle took the time to chat with the students individually, after reading to them from a book entitled Llama Llama Red Pajama; even giving a few of them a warm embrace during her visit to the school, which describes itself as working to help 'under-served children' in the Los Angeles area. People living in faraway areas to watch performances of the National Theatre free of charge, broadcast live at local indoor spaces Hellenic Parliament and the National Theatre of Greece signed a deal that aims to bring the theatre closer to people throughout the country, even those living in its remotest areas. Parliament Secretary General Konstantinos Athanasiou and National Theatre Artistic Director Stathis Livathinos signed an agreement launching an initiative called National Theatre live in cooperation with the Hellenic Parliament TV, which will enable people living in faraway areas to watch performances of the National Theatre free of charge, broadcast live at local indoor spaces. 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: Dimboukas License: CC-BY-SA Travelling provides a wonderful opportunity to expand your horizons and for you out of your comfort zone and into a totally new culture, filled with different traditions and behaviors. But those new experiences can also present some new challenges - particularly when it comes to learning, and adopting, local etiquette. In a country like Italy, for example, where food is such an essential part of the culture, there are many unwritten rules about the best practices for indulging in certain dishes and drinks. From picking the wrong kind of coffee to suit a certain time of day, to insisting on eating overdone pasta, tourists visiting Italy can unknowingly make a number of blunders during one single meal. So to ensure that your next trip to Italia goes off without a hitch - at least when it comes to your meals - FEMAIL has rounded up the most frequent mistakes being made by travelers visiting the country. From drinking coffee at the wrong time to eating its most famous dish as the wrong course with dinner, FEMAIL reveals the Italian food mistakes most tourists make without realising ORDERING COFFEE AT THE WRONG TIME No matter where in the world, coffee can act as a relief in even the most far flung destinations - especially Italy which pioneered much of its acclaim. But in certain coffee havens, the respite can cause some serious faux pas depending on which time of day it is enjoyed. According to News Corp, for many Europeans, a cup of liquid caffeine should be strictly reserved for the morning time - a view not shared by many of the continent's visitors. Other unwritten rules, in Italy in particular, are avoiding milky coffees at mealtimes and widening taste buds beyond the humble cappuccino. ADDING TOO MUCH PARMESAN The star of any dish should be just that, but this can easily be derailed when drowned in sauce - or, at the diner's request, Parmesan cheese. While it is acceptable to request more cheese, Italians use a light touch when sprinkling on the Parmigiano so as not to overwhelm all the other flavours in the dish. According to one American living in Rome, who previously spoke to MailOnline about correct pasta-eating etiquette, you should never ask for Parmigiano cheese to top seafood pasta cheese and fish are a rare combo up and down the country. Keep it bare! A prime Italian food faux pas, according to experts, is putting parmesan cheese on any pasta that contains seafood DITCHING LEFTOVER SAUCE Italians have perfected the pasta twirl without relying on a spoon to help craft each perfectly wound bite. For many nationals, only a fork and bread is needed to finish a bowl of pasta. In a move known as fare la scarpetta (which literally means: 'to make a little shoe'), a torn off corner of bread is dragged across the empty plate to catch every last drop of the not-too-heavy sauce. Think of it as a refined method for licking the plate clean - an act travellers may already be well acquainted with. ORDERING SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE Although it's possibly the dish most synonymous with Italy, many foreigners make a huge blunder when ordering spaghetti bolognese while in the country. According to News Corp, instead of requesting the famed pasta dish, diners should instead order the Tagliatelle al Ragu which out-performs the alternative. Instead, the Tagliatelle and sauce will see pasta-lovers able to demolish a more sophisticated egg dough spaghetti and beef belly-based meal. EATING PASTA AS A MAIN Pastas are considered primi - or first courses - so go ahead and order more in the form of a meat dish or something green. In Italy, vegetables and salads come after pasta rather than before or with the main course. Go along with the local timing of plates to avoid giving yourself away as a tourist. ASKING FOR PASTA TO BE COOKED MORE Overcooking pasta amounts to a cardinal sin to many of its homeland's residents. Italians live in fear of ordering their national dish while travelling internationally, rightly worried that the pasta will be scotta - limp, mushy and overcooked. Regardless of the type of pasta, it should always be cooked al dente or with a bit of bite. ASKING FOR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PASTA Spaghetti is far and away the most popular pasta overall, but there are literally hundreds of pasta shapes and sizes that come from Italy's many regions. However, not all pasta was created equal. The shapes are not interchangeable so give up on asking the chef to substitute one kind for another. Pastas are usually specifically paired with a particular sauce and as a general rule: the thinner the pasta, the thinner the sauce. Two years after his wife died of an asthma attack mere feet outside a locked emergency room door, the hospital has apologized in person to a bereaved Massachusetts husband. Patrick Wardell, CEO of Cambridge Health Alliance, told Peter DeMarco during a two-hour meeting at the headquarters of The Boston Globe on Tuesday that he was 'very sorry' for what happened. DeMarco's wife, Laura Levis, walked to CHA Somerville Hospital in the midst of a severe asthma attack, found one ER door locked, then collapsed while on the phone with a 911 operator, just outside the second door. After initially publishing an open thank you letter to the staff in the New York Times, DeMarco then learned the circumstances of Levis's death and wrote a devastating account of the failures that led to her death in the Boston Globe Magazine. Ten days after DeMarco published his heart-breaking account, he has accepted its apology, but was still left with unanswered questions. Patrick Wardell, CEO of Cambridge Health Alliance (left), met with Peter DeMarco (right) on Tuesday to apologize for his wife's death outside the doors of the company's hospitals (AP) 'I can understand the horrible pain that this has inflicted upon you,' Wardell said in the Tuesday meeting. DeMarco, a journalist, met with several hospital officials, including Chief Medical Officer Dr Assaad Sayah, of Somerville Hospital. 'It's hard to continue saying we failed, but we did fail,' Dr Sayah said at the meeting. DeMarco's heart-wrenching first-person account of the death of his wife, Laura Levis, appeared in The Boston Globe magazine. Levis, having an asthma attack, walked to Somerville Hospital's emergency room early on Sept. 16, 2016. She found the door locked. There were instructions posted on that door to use another entrance instead. Perhaps because she was panicking, she did not see or could not understand those instructions, or she just didn't make it in time. She sat down on a bench, called 911 and told the operator she was outside the hospital emergency room, couldn't get in and was dying. DeMarco and Levis were living separately when she died. He didn't know that his wife had tried to call 911 and waited 10 minutes for help until after she had been taken off life support Dispatchers for 911 calls ask callers where their emergencies are and use cell towers to ping phones to try to get locations. Levis tried the one entrance (A) but it was locked. She nearly made it to the second (B), but collapsed on a bench (star). Pings to her cell phone (red) suggested she was much further, at one of two far corners of the hospital's grounds The 911 operators and their geolocation technologies failed to find Laura, as did hospital staff. At one point, a nurse poked her head out of a door, looked for Laura outside for 12 seconds, but apparently didn't see her in the predawn gloom. Though DeMarco's moving account exposes a series of systematic failures on the parts of a number of institutions, that fact that that nurse missed the outline of Laura's body, so near to the door, has remained a sticking point for DeMarco. Laura was eventually found unresponsive by a firefighter on the bench 29 feet from main entrance. She died at another hospital days later. DeMarco said that although he accepted Wardell's apology, he was not satisfied with all the hospital officials' answers. Dr Assaad Sayah, chief medical officer of Cambridge Health Alliance, right, embraces Pete DeMarco Nov. 13, 2018 after a meeting where he and other executives answered questions about the death of DeMarco's wife, Laura Levis, in Boston (Boston Globe/AP) The mistakes that led to Laura's death were so unnecessary. For the hospital to own up to them couldn't have been more necessary,' DeMarco said in an email to The Associated Press. 'I was certainly disappointed with some answers, and disappointed to learn that Somerville Hospital's leaders have never spoken with the emergency room nurse who left Laura to die on a bench steps from the hospital's doors,' he said. DeMarco said he was also pleased with Wardell's pledge to share the story of his wife's death with other hospitals to help them learn from Somerville Hospital's mistakes. DeMarco has no plans to sue the hospital, which he said now keeps both emergency room doors unlocked. Hospital officials learned from their investigation into Levis' case and made several changes, including improving lighting, signage, video surveillance, and training for employees, Dr Sayah said. Wardell shook DeMarco's hand at the end of Tuesday's meeting. Dr Sayah and chief nursing officer Lynette Alberti both hugged DeMarco. Insomnia sufferers should rest easy as the largest ever study into the lack of sleep found it does not cause an early death. A review of more than 36million people revealed there is no evidence struggling to nod off or waking in the night affects mortality. But a critic argues that while the majority may be able to cope with a few sleepless nights, for some the health consequences can be devastating. The largest ever study into lack of sleep found insomnia does not cause an early death (stock) In the first review of its kind, researchers from Flinders University, Adelaide, analysed 17 studies investigating a possible link between insomnia and mortality. The studies were carried out all over the world for an average of 11 years. Most were made up of patients who self-reported insomnia, while some were officially diagnosed. Insomnia was defined as either being frequent - struggling to nod off on three or more nights a week - or ongoing - sleeplessness lasting more than a month. Results suggest that while insomnia may lead to everything from depression and anxiety to diabetes and dementia, it does not actually affect a person's lifespan. The study was published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews. The researchers, led by Dr Nicole Lovato, believe this should reassure those who toss and turn at night that they are not more likely to pass away prematurely. WHAT IS INSOMNIA? Insomnia means you regularly have problems sleeping. It usually gets better by changing your sleeping habits. You have insomnia if you regularly: find it hard to go to sleep, wake up several times during the night, lie awake at night, wake up early and can't go back to sleep, still feel tired after waking up Everyone needs different amounts of sleep. On average, adults need 7 to 9 hours, while children need 9 to 13 hours. You probably don't get enough sleep if you're constantly tired during the day. The most common causes of insomnia are: stress, anxiety or depression, excessive noise, an uncomfortable bed or alcohol, caffeine or nicotine. Insomnia usually gets better by changing your sleeping habits. For example, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, and only going to bed when you feel tired. Source: NHS Advertisement But, they stress, only 17 studies were analysed, which all had a relatively short follow-up time. Longer trials are therefore required to confirm the findings. They also note cognitive behavioural therapy, which aims to help insomniacs develop coping skills, correct attitudes about sleep and modify poor habits, remains the gold standard of treatment. But Dr Russell Foster, head of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford, argues insomnia can be serious for some. He told The Times: 'We recently did a study on teenage sleep. If you just took the average, you would think, "What is all the fuss about?". 'However, if you look at the spread of the data you can see 30 per cent are showing really poor sleep.' For these select few, insomnia may be extremely serious, he added. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, affecting between 10 and 30 per cent of people. It is generally defined as difficulty nodding off, staying asleep or feeling exhausted during the day. Previous studies have suggested a lack of sleep increases a person's heart rate and the time between beats, which was thought to lead to an early death. However, the current study's authors argue evidence supporting this is limited, with many studies being small and not adjusting for factors such as smoking or obesity. This comes after scientists discovered a 'sleep switch' that may be essential to a decent night's shut eye last month. A cluster of cells in the region of the brain responsible for sleep become activated as mice are nodding off, according to a study by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The blunder that saw thousands of women not receive smear test invites or results 'undermines' public confidence in screening programmes, the health minister has said. Steve Brine slammed the 'unacceptable' error - made by private firm Capita, which is paid 330million to provide admin services for the NHS in England. His comments come after it was announced this morning there will be a 'major overhaul' of NHS cancer screening programmes, following the latest failure. Professor Sir Mike Richards has been drafted in to conduct a top-to-bottom review of how they are undertaken, which may prompt changes to 'currently outsourced services'. It was only revealed yesterday that nearly 50,000 women did not receive cervical cancer screening invites, reminders or test results despite Capita knowing since August. The scandal came just months after it emerged 450,000 women were not invited for breast cancer screening, with dozens believed to have died as a result. Capita's error was only made public yesterday by the British Medical Association, which wrote to the head of NHS England calling for the firm to be stripped of its contract. Doctors warned 'lives are at risk' because of the blunder, which Capita branded 'shambolic' for its error - has accepted full responsibility for and apologised. Steve Brine slammed the 'unacceptable' error - made by private firm Capita, which is paid 330million to provide admin services for the NHS in England Professor Sir Mike Richards, the former chief inspector of hospitals for the Care Quality Commission, will lead a 'major overhaul' of the NHS's cervical, breast and bowel cancer screening services which have been blighted by controversy over the past year In his statement, Mr Brine confirmed the error was caused by files from Capita's call and recall operations team not being correctly sent and uploaded to its print and despatch services. He added: 'Incidents of this type are not only unacceptable in terms of the impact they have on the women affected, but they also undermine public confidence in our screening programmes as a whole.' About 43,200 women did not receive either an invitation or reminder letter to attend their screening appointment between January and June this year. A further 4,500 were not sent the results of the smear tests they had attended between January and October. Around 180 of them had abnormal results, putting them at higher risk of cervical cancer, and a further 252 women needed an early repeat screening test. However, Capita and Mr Brine have denied the women faced any risk of cervical cancer because they would have been told by their GP or contacted directly by a colposcopy clinic. Mr Brine confirmed no women have suffered harm because of the failure, however, he added every woman's screening record is being double checked. Capita has written to all the women who did not receive invitation or reminder letters and to those who did not get their normal result letter. WHO ARE CAPITA AND HAVE THEY MADE ERRORS BEFORE? Capita won a seven-year contract worth 330million in 2015 to run back-office services for the NHS in England, such as sending out invitation letters to people eligible for screening programmes. The firm, based in London, employees 70,000 people and specialises on administrative services for the private and public sector. Capita, whose chairman is Sir Ian Powell, had nearly 1billion wiped off its value in January as shares plummeted to a 15-year low. The fall came after bosses blamed weak sales and said the company had spread itself too thinly. Reports suggest the giant, listed on the London Stock Exchange, receives nearly half of its income from Government contracts. Capita was considered responsible for 12 out of 18 serious NHS data blunders between July 2016 and July 2017. Sacks of medical records were delivered to the wrong surgeries, emails sent to private firms and confidential details published on websites. At the time the British Medical Association's Dr Richard Vautrey said: 'This is yet another serious failure of a service run by Capita.' Capita is also responsible for collecting the BBC licence fee from households and running the London Congestion Charge. Last month, the Ministry of Defence acknowledged Capita, which has had the contract for Army recruiting since 2012, had 'underperformed'. The disclosure drew an angry response from MPs on the committee who warned the service was 'withering on the vine' and called for the contractor to be sacked. Advertisement The GPs of women affected have also been informed so they can offer support to their patients. Mr Brine added: 'The NHS cervical cancer screening programme saves an estimated 5,000 lives a year by detecting abnormalities of the cervix early and referring women for effective treatment. 'Our priority is patient safety and we will be assembling a clinical board that will provide oversight for the cervical screening call and recall service. 'This will ensure that every part of the process has an in-depth review.' The NHS sends women letters every three years after they turn 25 inviting them for a cervical screening test. This falls to every five years for women aged 50 to 64. Those over 65 are only offered a test if they have recently had abnormal test results. Around five million women in the UK are invited for smear tests every year. Around 850 die each year from cervical cancer in the UK. Around one in 20 women who have a smear test have an abnormal result, but only one in 2,000 have cervical cancer, according to The British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. In a follow-up statement today, Capita said: 'The risk to women of this incident is low and there is no current evidence of harm. 'But Capita nevertheless apologises to both the NHS and to the women whose correspondence was delayed.' Capita yesterday blamed human error for the failure and said disciplinary measures would be taken because the correct process was not correctly followed. The firm yesterday said the individuals responsible did not immediately escalate the issue to senior management upon discovery of the problem. It was revealed today that people working at Capita knew about the mistake for two months before they told the NHS, GP magazine Pulse reported. Some 48,500 women in England did not receive letters inviting them or reminding them to attend cervical screening tests, which can pick up on early warnings of cancer (stock image) 'It took me three weeks to find out I was okay' Kelly Swingler is one of the thousands of women who didn't receive their NHS cervical screening results Kelly Swingler is one of the thousands of women who didn't receive their NHS cervical screening results. The mother-of-two diligently attends cervical smears once every two years and regularly encourages her sister and friends to have them as well. But when Miss Swingler, from Peterborough, did not receive her results after her most recent test in May, she became concerned. She said: 'The results normally come back in three to five days. It took me three weeks to get through to my doctor who said everything was okay.' Mrs Swingler has had smear tests come back with abnormal results before, so she believes it is essential to keep up to date with screenings. The 38-year-old businesswoman added: 'I go every time I am reminded to. 'Because the results are usually so quick to come back, I did start to get concerned. There are many women that are not going to their screenings. But the ones that do go don't hear anything that is something you just don't need.' Mrs Swingler said of Capita, the contract company responsible for the blunder: 'They have a duty of care and responsibility. If that were any other company, if that were my company, we wouldn't still be in business. They are being paid a lot of money.' Advertisement Capita said an auditing team has been appointed to investigate the incident and more stringent checks put in place to try and stop it happening again. It added a 'senior executive' responsible for the contact had already left. Officials today announced Sir Mike will lead an investigation to advise NHS England and Public Health England on how they can improve cancer screening programmes and 'save more lives'. Sir Mike is the Department of Health's former cancer director. He also was the former chief inspector of hospitals for the Care Quality Commission. He said: 'There is no doubt that the screening programmes in England save thousands of lives every year. 'However, as part of implementing the NHS's long-term plan, we want to make certain they are as effective as possible. 'This review provides the opportunity to look at recent advances in technology and innovative approaches to selecting people for screening, ensuring the NHS screening programme can go from strength to strength and save more lives.' Sir Mike's review is expected to be complete by summer 2019 and may recommend 'changes to currently outsourced provision'. The review will look at the provision of cervical, breast and bowel screening, which are all given regularly in the UK. Smear tests pick up on abnormal cells on the cervix which, if caught early, can be removed in order to try and prevent cervical cancer (stock) The BMA yesterday announced it had wrote to NHS England about its 'extreme concern' that so many women did not get the letters because of the 'gross' error by Capita. 'This is an incredibly serious situation,' said the BMA's Dr Richard Vautrey, who added some women will now be 'extremely anxious' because of Capita's 'incompetence'. He added it was 'appalling that patients may now be at risk' of cervical cancer and said hundreds of women are likely to be 'extremely anxious' over the news. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) yesterday said women shouldn't panic but the NHS must answer for its failings. The body urged the health service to 'seriously review' its contract with Capita, suggesting pressure will grow on NHS bosses to cut ties with the company. Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, RCGP chair, said: 'This error has put patients at risk, and it will undoubtedly cause women more anxiety. 'It is vital everything is done as a matter of urgency to rectify the situation, and ensure all affected women are informed particularly those who have not received their test results. 'We urge women not to panic and to await further information - we understand that NHS England are already working to contact anyone who has been affected.' This is not the first time Capita has made an error while working for the NHS this year. The company won a seven-year contract in 2015 to run a back-office services contract for the NHS, in which it was required to crack down on 'ghost patients'. These are patients who don't exist in reality but are registered at GP surgeries and, since Capita took over, the number of them has risen from three million to 3.6million. Health leaders are furious with the company's failure to meet the high standard expected. 'Since it took responsibility for GP back room functions three years ago, Capita's running of these services has been nothing short of shambolic,' added Dr Vautrey. Capita, whose chairman is Sir Ian Powell (pictured), had nearly 1billion wiped off its value in January as shares plummeted to a 15-year low THE NHS BREAST CANCER SCREENING SCANDAL DATES BACK TO 2005 The NHS breast cancer screening scandal that cost up to 270 lives may actually go back to 2005 - four years earlier than first thought, it was revealed in May. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said around 450,000 women aged 68 to 71 had not been invited to their final routine screening due to a computer error dating back to 2009. But Professor Peter Sasieni, a cancer screening and prevention researcher at King's College London, said the problems could have started as early as 2005. Some 450,000 women have not been invited to crucial mammograms as a result of the IT glitches - and as many as 270 women are feared to have died. If the scandal actually dates back 13 years instead of nine, then 500,000 people may have missed scans and some may have died as a result. Advertisement 'And after repeated warnings from the BMA and government, this is now clear evidence that its failings have put patient safety and possibly lives at risk. 'It is ultimately NHS England that bears overall responsibility and it must now take this service back in-house. 'As the body which commissioned Capita to take on this work, despite clear warning signs that it was not up to the job, NHS England must shoulder the blame for this dreadful situation; you cannot outsource responsibility.' Dr Stokes-Lampard added: 'This is the second blunder of its kind this year, and we all need answers about why this has happened and assurance that it will not happen again. 'We will be asking NHS England to urgently and seriously review its contract with Capita this is the latest in a long line of serious errors made by the company, and it is clear to us that they have not properly understood the scope or complexity of the work they have bid to do to support primary care.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'Every woman's case is being reviewed, but there is no current evidence that this incident has led to harm to the women involved, and our priority now is to ensure that anyone affected by this incident is contacted, and knows how to get checked if they are due a cervical screen.' It comes after the NHS was engulfed in a similar scandal in May, which saw 450,000 women miss life-saving breast cancer screening scans because of a 'colossal' IT failure. The women, aged between 68 and 71, were never sent letters offering them routine breast screening because of an IT error lasting from 2005 to 2018. And then-Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said up to 270 of them developed breast cancer which shortened their lives. The chief of Breast Cancer Now, Baroness Delyth Morgan said at the time: 'It is beyond belief that this major mistake has been sustained for more than a decade.' The glitch wasn't even discovered until Oxford University researchers were setting up breast screenings as part of a study and found some women's were automatically cancelled because of their age. Mr Hunt first blamed a 'computer algorithm failure' but apologised, saying: 'For many years oversight of our screening programme has not been good enough.' Women are invited for routine breast screening on the NHS every three years between the ages of 50 and 70. It comes after the NHS was engulfed in a similar scandal in May, which saw 450,000 women denied life-saving breast cancer screening scans because of a 'colossal' IT failure Diesel fumes in London are so bad that children's lungs are becoming stunted as a result, a study has found. Tests on more than 2,000 eight- and nine-year-olds showed they had an average five per cent lower lung capacity than expected. This could put them at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, such as asthma and recurring chest infections, the researchers said. Their study also showed London's low emission zone - which since 2008 has meant lorries have had to pay a charge to enter the capital - has done little to improve children's health. The researchers, whose work was published last night in the Lancet Public Health journal, blamed the nitrogen oxides and sooty particles in diesel fumes. Tests on more than 2,000 eight- and nine-year-olds in the capital showed they had an average five per cent lower lung capacity than expected Professor Chris Griffiths, of Queen Mary University of London, said: 'Despite air quality improvements in London, this study shows that diesel-dominated air pollution in cities is damaging lung development in children, putting them at risk of lung disease in adult life and early death. 'We are raising a generation of children reaching adulthood with stunted lung capacity. 'This reflects a car industry that has deceived the consumer and central government which continues to fail to act decisively to ensure towns and cities cut traffic.' Medical experts are increasingly alarmed of the impact of traffic fumes on human health, including the risk of asthma, heart disease and cognitive development. More than 40,000 people are thought to die early every year in the UK because of air pollution. The figure worldwide is around the nine million mark. Earlier this year, scientists revealed they had found tiny particles of vehicle soot in the womb of pregnant women, suggesting even unborn babies are at risk. But the new research provides solid evidence that fumes are having a physical impact on children's health at a very early age. The scientists tracked 2,164 children from 28 primary schools in the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Greenwich and the City of London. The research team monitored children's health and exposure to air pollutants over five years. They found that after the low emission zone was introduced there were small improvements in levels of nitrogen oxides but no improvements in sooty particles. And despite these minor improvements in air quality, there was no evidence of a reduction in the proportion of children with small lungs or asthma symptoms. Dr Ian Mudway from King's College London said: 'There is an urgent need to improve our air quality, especially within our congested cities. POLLUTION LEVELS ILLEGAL IN MOST UK MONITORING ZONES The UKs air pollution was labelled a 'national embarrassment' in September. Figures for 2017 showed 37 out of 43 air quality zones across the UK had illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution, the same number as the previous year. Annual average levels of the pollutant from exhaust fumes fell in most places, figures from the Government and environmental law charity ClientEarth revealed. But levels are still more than double the legal limit in Greater London and also well over the limit in areas including South Wales, West Midlands, Glasgow and Greater Manchester. Brighton, Worthing and Littlehampton in West Sussex an area declared as legal in the previous year crept up to just below the threshold again, the statistics show. The UK has been breaching EU pollution limits for nitrogen dioxide, much of which comes from diesel vehicles, since the rules came into effect in 2010. Air pollution causes an estimated 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK and is linked to health problems from childhood illnesses to heart disease and even dementia. Advertisement 'Policies such as the low emission zone strive to do this, but their effectiveness needs careful and objective evaluation, not only in terms of whether they improve air quality, but more importantly, whether they deliver better health. 'As the evidence base grows demonstrating that air pollution impacts on the health of children born and growing up in our cities, so the justification for decisive action increases.' Dr Samantha Walker, director of research at Asthma UK, said: 'It is disappointing that the low emission zone in London has not helped to improve children's lung capacity and shows that a piecemeal approach to reducing air pollution does not work. 'If children's lungs don't develop properly as a result of air pollution it can increase their likelihood of developing asthma, leaving them coughing, wheezing and at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. 'The Government needs to tackle toxic air by putting in place a new Clean Air Act to keep everyone, especially children, safe.' The UK is notoriously bad at controlling air pollution, with 37 cities British cities persistently displaying 'illegal' levels of air pollution - which has seen the Government repeatedly hauled into court over the last few years. Diesel cars have been promoted since the 1970s as an environmentally-friendly choice because they emit less carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas which causes global warming. Tony Blair's Labour government, in particular, used generous tax breaks to persuade drivers to buy diesel cars. The tactic - which aimed to help Britain hit EU carbon emissions targets - contributed to the number of diesel drivers in Britain jumping from around 1.5million a decade ago to about 11million today. But in recent years scientists have realised that diesel also produces more of the tiny particles and nitrogen oxides that are damaging to human health. Researcher Professor Frank Kelly, also of King's, said the findings help bolster the case for the new ultra-low emission zone, which by 2021 will see drivers of old cars paid to drive within the north and south circular. Since last year older cars have faced an extra charge to drive within central London, but this is to be expanded over the next few years. A beekeeper with no medical training is stinging his 'patients' with the insects' venom in the belief it can cure a host of illnesses. Omar Abulhassan, 30, from Cairo, started keeping bees and using their venom as an alternative therapy after supposedly reading about the benefits in the Koran. Mr Abulhassan believes bee stings relieve pain, boost mental health and even cure illnesses, such as rheumatism. Omar Abulhassan, who has no medical training, keeps bees for their venom, which he then uses on his 'patients' as an alternative therapy. His keeps his hives on a rooftop in Cairo Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has described bee-sting therapy as 'pretty incredible'. She is pictured earlier this week at The Wall Street Journal's Tech D. Live event in Laguna Beach Mr Abulhassan treats around five people a month from his home. In a typical session, he uses six bees to sting patients in different parts of their bodies. Regular patient Mohamed Abdelfattah, 29, claimed the therapy improves his mood and makes him feel healthier. 'I constantly receive treatment using bees to increase my immunity and body strength,' he told Reuters. But the benefits of bee-sting therapy have not been scientifically proven, according to Mahmoud Abdullatif, an experienced beekeeper and member of the Arab Federation of Beekeepers. Mr Abulhassan is pictured 'treating' one of his patients at his home. A session typically involves stinging a person with six different bees on varying parts of their body Pictured treating another patient, Mr Abulhassan claims bee-sting therapy relieves pain, boosts mental health and even cures illnesses. Known as apitherapy, the form of acupuncture involves holding a bee by its head and pinching it until its stinger emerges Hollywood actor Gerard Butler admitted in October last year that he suffered a life-threatening reaction after being injected with the venom of 23 bees in an attempt to tackle muscular problems. He is pictured last month at the world premiere of Hunter Killer 'This needs studies and scientific equipment and research so that we can understand what the bee venom contains and how we can benefit,' he said. This comes after a 55-year-old unnamed woman died last March after undergoing a form of acupuncture that involves being stung by bees. After attending a session of apitherapy every four weeks for more than two years, she eventually suffered an anaphylactic shock to the venom. The women entered a coma and endured multiple organ failure. She passed away weeks later in Ramon y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid. Hollywood actor Gerard Butler admitted in October last year that he suffered a life-threatening reaction after being injected with the venom of 23 bees in an attempt to tackle muscular problems. Mr Abulhassan, a 'health practitioner', is pictured using smoke to calm the bees. The insects are then used to treat a variety of ailments and are kept on the roof of his home An Egyptian patient, who suffers from nerve problems in his back and neck, receives bee-sting therapy by Mr Abulhassan in the treatment room of his home Pictured: The street where Mr Abulhassan lives. He claims to treat around five people a month Pictured: A swollen red mark from a bee sting on the skin of a patient treated by Mr Abulhassan WHAT IS APITHERAPY? Apitherapy is the use of substances from honeybees, including honey, propolis and royal jelly. If their venom is used, the bee dies. It involves a therapist holding a bee by its head and pinching it until the bee's stinger emerges and punctures the patient's skin. Substances can also be injected. There is very little evidence to suggest apitherapy can treat any condition, despite claims it can cure arthritis, multiple sclerosis and stress. Hollywood actor Gerard Butler admitted in October that he suffered a life-threatening reaction to the bee sting therapy. And actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who has faced backlash for controversial health advice on her Goop website, has also tried the ancient health treatment. Advertisement Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who has faced backlash for her controversial health advice on her Goop website, has also tried the ancient health treatment. The Shakespeare in Love star told The New York Times in 2016 the 'painful' procedures produces 'pretty incredible' results. Apitherapy is the use of substances from honeybees, including honey, propolis and royal jelly. If their venom is used, the bee dies. It involves a therapist holding a bee by its head and pinching it until the bee's stinger emerges and punctures the patient's skin. Substances can also be injected. There is very little evidence to suggest apitherapy can treat any condition, despite claims it can cure arthritis, multiple sclerosis and stress. Doctors have called for patients to be 'fully informed of the dangers' before they undergo the procedure, which is common in Korea. It is also increasingly being used in the US and just starting to emerge in the UK. An Indian woman has given birth to Asia's first uterus-transplant baby after being donated the organ by her own mother. Meenakashi Walan, 28, underwent the procedure in May last year after her uterus became 'non-functional' following three abortions and a miscarriage. After being told her only hope of carrying a child was a uterus transplant, Mrs Walan's mother Sushila Ben Jayesh, 45, jumped at the idea of being a donor. Nearly a year-and-a-half after the transplant, Mrs Walan, from Vadodra, Gujarat in western India, conceived via IVF. Her and her husband Hitesh Bhai, 30, welcomed their daughter Radha, who was born via C-section weighing 3lbs 1oz, after just 32 weeks on October 18. Mrs Walan is recovering at Galaxy Care Hospital in Pune, where her daughter is expected to stay for the next few months. Baby Radha is the first infant to be born in Asia after a uterus transplant. Her mother Meenakashi Walan had the procedure in May last year after the organ was donated to her from her own mother. Radha was born at 32 weeks via C-section weighing 3lbs 1oz Mrs Walan is pictured left with her husband Hitesh Bhai. She was told her uterus was 'non functional' following three abortions and a miscarriage. Told a transplant was her only hope of carrying a child, her mother Sushila Ben Jayesh (pictured right in the right image) stepped up Speaking of her daughter's birth, Mrs Walan said: 'It is a miracle, an exceptional event that has not been heard or thought of before. 'I feel complete now. Being a mother is the most beautiful emotion in the world, it is something that has to be felt. 'All I am willing to concentrate on is my daughter's wellbeing and upbringing right now.' Dr Sailesh Putambekar, who performed the delivery, added: 'It was a complicated surgery because the vessels of the uterus were small. 'She didn't have any complications during the pregnancy. Both the mother and the child were healthy.' Mrs Walan married her college sweetheart nine years ago, with the pair now running a men's salon. The couple conceived their first child naturally but the infant tragically died within minutes of being born. Mrs Walan then became pregnant twice more, but both foetuses had to be aborted due to complications. The heartbroken couple consulted several gynaecologists before visiting specialists at Galaxy Care Hospital in 2016, who told them about the possibility of a uterus transplant. Radha is pictured at the Galaxy Care Hospital in Pune, where she was born and is expected to spend the next few months. Conceived via IVF, Mrs Walan has described her as a 'miracle' Mrs Walan is pictured after her C-section with the team of doctors who performed the delivery. Although her pregnancy went to plan, one of her surgeons, named Dr Sailesh Putambekar, described the birth as 'complicated' due to the blood vessels in her donated uterus being small HOW IS A WOMB TRANSPLANT PERFORMED? The first step involves doctors removing some of the patients' eggs in order to fertilize them in a dish to create embryos. These are then frozen, until they are needed. Secondly, a womb, complete with two major arteries and four veins, removed from a from donor in a three-hour operation. The donated womb is then implanted into the patient during an operation that typically takes around six hours. The woman is then, as all organ transplant patients are, prescribed powerful immune-suppressing drugs to stop the transplanted womb being rejected by the body. Around a year later, when doctors are confident the transplant is a success, one of the embryos is thawed and implanted into the donated womb. If the pregnancy is a success, doctors ultimately deliver the baby via C-section. Once a woman has successfully carried one or two babies, the transplanted organ is then removed. Advertisement Sushila Ben underwent numerous tests and medical procedures before her uterus was finally transplanted into her daughter on May 19 last year. 'I was heartbroken after her first newborn had died and then two abortions had scarred her uterus lining,' she said. 'When she told me that she can become a mother if she gets a uterus from me, I got excited.' Speaking of the procedure, Sushila Ben added: 'Both my daughter and I were next to each other in the operation theatre as it was a live transplantation. 'The doctor informed me about the crucial process before hand but I had full trust in him and strong faith in God. I knew things will certainly fall in its place.' After the operation, doctors waited 40 days for Mrs Walan to have a period before she was implanted with an embryo. 'I feel blessed, happy and humble as God has heard my prayers and medical advancements have done a miracle for Radha,' Sushila Ben said. 'I feel privileged that both my daughter and my granddaughter are born from my uterus. God has chosen me for this divine purpose.' Mrs Walan is now a keen advocate her uterus transplants, saying 'I feel uterus transplant is a noble cause - this is only alternative available for women who want to be mothers.' Staff at Galaxy Care Hospital are pictured celebrating after Radha's birth Only a handful of babies worldwide have been delivered following uterus transplants, with this being the first of its kind in Asia. In 2014, Malin Stenburg, then 36, from Sweden, became the worlds first woman to have a baby following a womb transplant after a 61-year-old family friend donated her organ. Nine live donor uteruses have since been transplanted in Sweden in total, with several also being completed in the US. It was announced last June three women are to become the first in Britain to have womb transplants. The procedures were said at the time to take place 'within the next few months using wombs donated by a mother or sister'. The treatment, which costs around 30,000 per patient, is being funded by the charity Womb Transplant UK because it is still too experimental for the NHS. Prior to surgery, the women will undergo IVF treatment so the embryos can be implanted six months after the transplant. The babies will need to be delivered by C-section because a transplanted uterus is likely to become detached during childbirth. All transplants are complicated and high-risk, but uterine transplants are especially so for the recipient. Like all transplants, a recipient has to take immunosuppressant drugs so she does not reject the new uterus. This raises the risk of an infection and can even leave a patient more vulnerable to cancer. A woman is forced to start immunosuppressant treatment before the transplant procedure and has to remain on the drugs while artificial insemination is attempted, throughout pregnancy and until she delivers a baby, at which point the uterus is removed through a hysterectomy. Transplants need to be removed to stop the need for aggressive anti-rejection medication. A baby born two months early with holes in her heart was brought back to life after dying in her mother's arms for 11 minutes. Ramaya Wilkinson was born at just 28 weeks via an emergency C-section after she stopped moving in her mother Emma Burns' womb. She weighed just 1lb 4oz when she entered the world and was given just a 20 per cent chance of survival. She spent weeks in intensive care. Ms Burns, 30, from Doncaster, who had already given birth to two stillborns before Ramaya, was unable to hold her daughters until she was three weeks old. And when they finally did meet, Ramaya's heart stopped beating in her mother's arms for 11 minutes, forcing doctors to perform emergency CPR. Ramaya pulled through once again, with Ms Burns and the youngster's father Jordan Wilkinson, 24, calling the now six-month-old their 'little miracle'. Emma Burns is pictured holding her daughter Ramya after the youngster previously 'died' in her arms when her heart stopped beating for 11 minutes. Ms Burns, who suffers from a disorder that causes blood clots, has suffered two stillbirths and thought she was losing another child Ramya is pictured being treated in hospital after her heart spontaneously stopped. Doctors were forced to perform emergency CPR to get the organ beating again. The youngster, now six months old, was born with holes in her heart and given just a 20 per cent chance of surviving Speaking of the ordeal, Ms Burns said: 'She was in my arms when she suddenly went limp and died in my arms. 'She went blue and I started screaming. I thought she was going to die. 'Doctors spent seven minutes getting her heart going again, it was terrifying, but she kept fighting.' To bring Ramaya back around, doctors performed emergency CPR, but were unable to get her little heart beating again. As a last resort, Ramaya was placed on machines to help her breathe and, after ten agonising minutes, her heart restarted. 'I can't describe that feeling. My whole body froze. I just wanted someone to save my daughter. I didn't want to have to bury another baby,' Ms Burns said. The youngster has since been diagnosed with apnoea, which can cause her to stop breathing randomly, as well as the holes in her heart. She is also deaf in her right ear, has sight problems and requires weekly check-ups to keep track of her development. Ms Burns, who is also mother to Tia, 14, and Pria-Louise, five, said: 'At six months old, she now weighs about eight pounds, a normal weight for a new born. 'It's like she shouldn't be here but here is she. To me she is amazing. It's hard to describe what we've been through but it's good to have her at home.' Ramya is pictured in intensive care, where she spent weeks after her traumatic delivery Pictured after Ramya pulled through, the youngster's heart stopped beating the first time her mother (also pictured) held her. The pair were only able to meet when the newborn was three weeks old due to Ms Burns developing sepsis following a traumatic C-section Pictured left in hospital, Ramya is deaf in her right ear, has sight problems and requires weekly check-ups. Weighing 1lb 4oz as a newborn, she could barely grasp the tip of a finger (right) WHAT IS ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME? Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) - also known as Hughes syndrome - is a disorder of the immune system that causes an increased risk of blood clots. Sufferers are more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis; artery clots, which can cause stroke or heart attacks; and blood clots in the brain, which can affect balance, vision, speech and movement. Pregnant women with APS are also more likely to miscarry, however, the exact reason why is unclear. APS is an autoimmune condition, which causes the immune system to produce abnormal proteins called antiphospholipid antibodies. These attach to fat molecules, which make blood more likely to clot. APS' cause is unclear but is thought to include genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. The number of sufferers in the UK and US is unclear, but three-to-five times more women have the condition than men. There is no cure but anticoagulant medication or even just aspirin can reduce the risk of clots forming. Most patients can live a normal life by taking these treatments. These drugs also boost the chance a woman will have a healthy pregnancy by around 80 per cent. In very rare cases, blood clots can form suddenly throughout the body, leading to multiple organ failure. Known as catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, this requires emergency hospital treatment. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Ms Burns suffers from antiphospholipid syndrome, which puts patients at a greater risk of blood clots and miscarriages. She became pregnant with Ramaya four weeks after the funeral of her stillborn, Mia, in October 2017. She also lost her daughter, Casey, at 23 weeks in 2006. Medics feared Ms Burns was in danger of suffering another miscarriage with Ramaya and recommended she have an abortion - but she refused. They became concerned at 28 weeks when they noticed the baby was not moving as it should be. But it was not until Ms Burns was taken ill last May that they discovered the foetus' heart rate had dropped. 'I was at my mum's and I just knew that something wasn't quite right. I couldn't bare the thought of losing another baby,' Ms Burns said. 'They told me her heart was stopping and I just started screaming "please save my baby". 'They told me that I had to have the baby now. I went down to surgery and I thought I'd wake up with no baby.' Describing the pain of losing two children, Ms Burns said: 'It's the most awful thing I've ever been through in my whole life. 'I had to give birth to a baby that had died. I was on a ward with all of the other mums and I could hear babies crying. I wanted to run away and never come back. 'After I miscarried, I didn't plan to have any more children but I went off the rails and struggled to cope with the grief. I found out I was pregnant five weeks later.' After spending five hours on the operating table at Doncaster Royal Infirmary severely bleeding, Ms Burns eventually gave birth to Ramaya. The mother-and-daughter pair spent a total of 11 weeks in hospital, including three weeks in a high-dependency unit. Ramaya was placed under constant surveillance to monitor her heart and underwent three blood transfusions after she was diagnosed as severely anaemic, which could otherwise have lead to heart failure. After defying expectations when she pulled through, Ramya has been called a 'miracle' Ramya is pictured as a newborn in hospital being held by her father Jordan Wilkinson People who are more sensitive to coffee's acrid, bitter taste ironically like it more. Bitterness is supposed to set off alarm bells for our body that something could be poisonous or dangerous. It means nobody should like coffee, which can vary in flavor depending on the bean but always has a sour undertone. And yet, somehow humans have learned to ignore our usual instinct - and scientists have found that those who are most sensitive to bitterness tend to like coffee even more. The conundrum all boils down to a bizarre genetic twist, scientists say: we have all learned that coffee triggers a happy buzz - and that understanding has been passed down through generations. People with genetic sensitivity to bitterness seemed to associate coffee with happiness more than others who were less sensitive Co-author Professor Marilyn Cornelis, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in the United States, said: 'You'd expect that people who are particularly sensitive to the bitter taste of caffeine would drink less coffee. 'The opposite results of our study suggest coffee consumers acquire a taste or an ability to detect caffeine due to the learned positive reinforcement, i.e. stimulation, elicited by caffeine. 'In other words, people who have a heightened ability to taste coffee's bitterness, and particularly the distinct bitter flavor of caffeine, learn to associate good things with it.' The study is one of the first and the largest to dig into the mechanics of taste. Taste has been studied for decades, if not centuries, but we are still largely in the dark as to how and why we react to certain tastes. Often, it's for evolutionary purposes - bitterness being one of the classic ones. Plenty of research has shown bitterness is a red flag to humans for poisoning. And that is what led this team from Northwestern, working with scientists at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, to be intrigued by coffee. 'We want to understand it from a biological standpoint,' Dr Cornelis said. The team applied Mendelian randomization - a technique commonly used to study disease - to test the causal relationship between bitter taste and beverage consumption. They looked at more than 400,000 men and women in the United Kingdom. The genetic variants linked to caffeine, quinine and PROP perception were previously studied during analysis of Australian twins. These genetic variants were then tested for associations with self-reported consumption of coffee, tea and alcohol in the current study. To their surprise, people with genetic sensitivity to bitterness seemed to associate coffee with happiness more than others who were less sensitive. Those people tended to drink a lot of coffee - and also consumed low amounts of tea (but that could just be because they were too busy drinking coffee, Dr Cornelis said). 'The findings suggest our perception of bitter tastes, informed by our genetics, contributes to the preference for coffee, tea and alcohol,' she said. It is not universal: many people sensitive to bitter flavors of quinine (found in tonic water) and PROP (similar to sprouts and broccoli) said they avoided coffee. Many of them, particularly those sensitive to PROP also drank less alcohol - and more specifically, tended to avoid red wine. IVF clinics may soon use a controversial screening technique to get rid of embryos which are likely to grow up with low IQs. A company in the US offering tests which can pick out 'mental disabilities' and, in theory, predict intelligence has confirmed it is in talks with fertility clinics. The news has stoked fears about a rise in designer babies, which could be created by parents wanting to erase undesirable traits from their children. Experts say it is 'repugnant' to think about terminating embryos because they are expected to have lower than average intelligence. Screening embryos created using IVF could be extended to singling out ones which are expected to develop mental disabilities in some clinics in the US, raising concerns that the tests will one day be used to choose those most likely to grow up with high IQs, experts say Genomic Prediction, based in New Jersey, can now offer tests to calculate the risk of complex conditions like heart disease, the New Scientist reports. This type of testing is more complicated than current tests for Down's syndrome, for example, because the risk is determined by numerous genes. In comparison, the current test for Down's syndrome is based on DNA in a single location. Genomic Prediction's test analyse a larger portion of DNA. This is because the risk of conditions such as heart disease is determined by larger parts of their DNA, which are difficult to measure. And whether or not they will have low intelligence could be predicted in the same way, the firm claims. The tests have not been used yet. While the company says it will only test embryos to find those at a high risk of serious medical conditions like breast cancer, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease it expects people to one day want IQ predictions. 'I think people are going to demand that,' said Genomic Prediction's co-founder, Stephen Hsu. 'If we dont do it, some other company will.' Genetic testing before birth began as a way to avoid children being born with deadly disabilities, but could one day allow parents to choose their babies' sex, appearance and intelligence level. Stephen Hsu, a co-founder of Genomic Predictions, said his company will use the genetic testing to evaluate embryos' risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer, but the same test could point out children likely to have very low IQs, and that people would one day 'demand' to know Genomic Prediction's new test raises huge ethical dilemmas and concerns about 'playing God', which have been simmering for years. For example, scientists revealed in April they could determine the sex of a baby from a pin-prick test just eight weeks into a pregnancy. FEARS SEX TEST COULD FUEL RISE IN SEX-SELECTION ABORTIONS Scientists sparked controversy in April after creating a pin-prick test that can determine the gender of a baby after just eight weeks of pregnancy. There were concerns the test could trigger a rise in sex-selective abortions, especially in countries like India and China where families desire boys over girls for cultural reasons. A government report in India found that the country has 63 million fewer women then it should because families choose to abort their female babies. The situation is much the same in China, where men outnumber women by 34million significantly more than the entire population of Australia. It is feared the new pin-prick test could fuel a 'genocide' of female babies in India and China as parents are given more time than previously to make a decision on whether to abort their babies. Advertisement Experts at the time worried there may be a rise in sex-selective abortions in countries such as China and India where cultures would rather have baby boys. And there have been concerns that allowing parents to control some aspects of their child could be a slippery slope towards parents one day ruling out traits which don't affect the child's health, like hair or eye colour. Campaigners against screening for Down's syndrome already argue an inclusive society should not be trying to erase people with disabilities. Lynn Murray, spokesperson for Don't Screen Us Out, told the New Scientist: 'If we consider inclusion and diversity to be a measure of societal progress, then IQ screening proposals are unethical. There must be wide consultation.' Genomic Predictions said it won't give parents enough information to get rid of embryos based on their predicted intelligence level. It said the testing is not accurate enough to actually predict intelligence, but could point out potential outliers those whose IQ is likely to be 25 points below average (90-110) and people with mental disabilities. Professor Peter Visscher, from the University of Queensland, said the idea of using the test to select babies with high IQs is 'repugnant'. The testing method Genomic Prediction uses analyses DNA to produce a polygenic risk score, determining how likely they are to get certain diseases. Screening for polygenic conditions can already be done on adults, but Genomic Prediction is set to be the first company to use them on unborn children. But there are concerns the genes for desirable traits like high intelligence may also cause unwanted effects which scientists don't know about. For example, past research has linked those genes to a higher risk of having autism. Professor Visscher added: 'You dont know what youre selecting for and what comes with it. 'But there are people who pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to have their dead pet cloned. Im sure there are people who would do this.' Greece has some real hidden gems when it comes to its authentic villages, greekreporter.comnotes in the following article: Where tourism has yet to spoil the terrain and tradition, you will find villages that are seeped in history and are a complete escape from it all. Here are some of the site's favorite picks for authentic Greek villages for you to explore: Zagori, Epirus In the Pindus mountains in Epirus, hidden by pine forests, you will encounter the authentic villages of the Zagori region. Here, 46 small villages which together comprise the Zagorochoria are linked by a network of roads and stone bridges dating back to the 18th century. The region is surrounded by two national parks filled with unique and endangered species, while not surprisingly, hiking and canoeing are favorite pastimes for those who visit here. Here you will find untouched villages, such as Vradeto, where a great activity is climbing the 3,937 feet of stone steps that until 1973 provided the only access to this village. Then, be sure to reward yourself with traditional Greek food at one of its family-run taverns. Monemvasia, Peloponnese The historic and magical ambience of the town of Monemvasia, as well as the surrounding area of Laconia, is a secret getaway that you have to see to believe. It is located just off the east coast of the Peloponnese. Even more enchanting is the story of how this small island came to be: the result of an earthquake in 375 A.D. The majority of the rock-island is made up of a large plateau, soaring some 100 meters above sea level. The charming town of Monemvasia overlooks Palaia Monemvasia bay and is made up of narrow, winding streets that are only traversed by foot or donkey. Pelion, Central Greece Mount Pelion is dotted with authentic villages. One of the best ways to submerge yourself in the culture of this area is to treat yourself to a train ride on the Moutzouris, the oldest railway in the country. You can enjoy a three-hour stroll through the foothills and stop at untouched villages such as Kala Nera and the totally traditional village of Milies. One of the best times to visit this area is in winter, where you will see this mountainous district transform to something like a fairy tale. There are plenty of short hikes you can take through olive groves and ravines to travel from one village to another. Chora, Folegandros Island Folegandros is a small, picturesque Greek island that remains virtually unknown to tourists. Only an hour by high-speed boat form the popular island of Santorini, Folegandros is for those who are looking to experience a more simple and unforgettable Greek experience. Known for its unspoiled landscapes, Folegandros was named after the son of King Minos. There are only three small villages on the island. The main village, Chora, is filled with houses painted in white with multi-colored doors and windows high in the cliff above the blue sea. There are quaint squares and taverns, so visitors will not run out of things to do when they are not enjoying the beautiful beaches, which are practically empty! Platanos, Aetolia-Acarnania Plantos means plane tree in Greek, and this small village is as authentic as it gets. The community of Platanos is subdivided into two villages, Platanos and Kato Platanos. Platanos had population of only 207 in Plantanos in the 2011 census, while Kato Platanos had 253 residents. The two villages are surrounded by wild, pristine nature and have charming, quiet town squares. Karytaina, Arcadia This village flourished in the Frankish period, and its castle was one of the most significant in its time in the Peloponnese region, an attribute that is evident from its architectural style. This is one of the most impressive historical Greek villages you will find. Located on top of a hillside with the Alpheus river traveling through its foothills, there is much to see in this authentic and hidden Greek village. Kalarrytes, Epirus When you arrive at Kalarryes, you will immediately be impressed by the dramatic scenery. The village is built on the edge of the steep canyon which leads to the Kalarrytikos river. It is some 1,200 meters in elevation and the village boasts traditional houses, narrow, winding roads and breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains. 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: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Skamnelis License: CC-BY-SA Inspectors have today urged the NHS to reduce the number of 'never events' made during the most common eye operation. Surgeons inserted the wrong lens during a cataract operation 21 times in 2016/17, according to the most recent yearly figures. The mistake is considered to be a 'never event', incidents believed to be 'wholly preventable' when proper precautions are taken. Nearly 400,000 people had their cataracts removed and an artificial lens implanted in the routine operation during the same year. Using the wrong lens was the fourth most common never event in that year, and lenses were the most common wrongly used implants. Putting the wrong artificial lens in during a cataract operation is one of the most common Never Event mistakes made by the NHS, according to an investigation by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) Cataract surgery is common and is done when the lens of someone's eye, which is normally transparent, develops cloudy patches and interferes with vision, usually because of ageing. The common procedure involves cutting out the natural lens and replacing it with an artificial one the Queen had it done in June this year. The warning was issued by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB), an independent team of safety investigators funded by the Department of Health. It launched a probe into the issue after an 86-year-old woman had an operation to remove a cataract from her left eye and to insert an artificial lens. She was told that after surgery she could expect to have good distance vision with little or no need for distance glasses. But the surgeon who operated on the woman used information regarding her right eye, instead of her left eye. It is unclear where she was from As a result, she had the wrong strength lens implanted into her left eye. However, her vision wasn't affected enough to warrant more surgery. Inserting the wrong lens during a cataract operation was the most common Never Event blunder committed by the health service in 2016/17 the last full year of data. WHAT IS A NEVER EVENT? Never events represent a fraction of the 4.6 million surgical procedures carried out each year and only occur in one in 20,000 cases of surgery. They include operating on the wrong body parts, mixing up organs and leaving surgical tools inside patients. Such incident have even led to deaths, including that of Frank Hibbard, who had undergone cancer surgery in October 2001 at Luton and Dunstable Hospital. Bungling medics left an 8cm-long piece of gauze inside his pelvis, which triggered a soft tissue cancer and led to the lorry driver's death, aged just 69. In 2015, Britain was called out for being one of the worst offenders for leaving items inside patients by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Advertisement It happened 21 times in that year, and 74 times between March 2015 and December 2017. Experts have said it is something 'any one of us could experience' and urged the NHS to reduce the number of errors made in eye operations. NHS Never Events are serious mistakes called this because they are believed to be 'wholly preventable' when proper precautions are taken, and should never happen. And cataract removal and implantation of an artificial lens is the most common surgery done by the NHS there were 396,317 in 2016/17. 'Having the wrong lens implanted during cataract surgery is something that any one of us or our family members could experience,' said HSIB chief investigator Keith Conradi. 'Data from national reporting shows that, despite existing procedures and guidance, the insertion of the wrong lens is still happening. 'We worked closely with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Department of Health and Social Care and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. 'We trust that our report provides strong evidence for those organisations to take forward at a national level and improve outcomes.' 'Despite the introduction of measures to improve safety, including computer software, this event continues to occur,' the report added. The HSIB's report has made a series of recommendations to help reduce the number of these incidents from occurring. Mikah Arvidson had been excited all month to go trick-or-treating dressed up as Master Chief from his favorite video game Halo. But, on Halloween night, the six-year-old was complaining that he wasn't feeling well and didn't want to go anymore. His parents, Blake and Aubrey, assumed their youngest son had caught a 24-hour stomach bug but, after three days of constant vomiting and Mikah complaining of abdominal pain, they rushed him to the emergency room. Doctors discovered 14 tiny magnets were inside his small intestines had perforated the lining and were leaking bile into his stomach. That's when the first-grader, from Sandy, Utah, told his parents he had been secretly playing with his brother's fidget toy - but when his brother walked in on him, he rushed to hide them in his mouth, inadvertently swallowing them. Two weeks on, Mikah remains hospitalized, unable to eat or drink anything and having undergone three surgeries as doctors work to repair the damage. Mikah Arvidson, six (left and right), from Sandy, Utah, started vomiting and complaining of abdominal pain on Halloween. After three days with no progress, his parents, Blake and Aubrey, took him to the emergency room After noticing what appeared to be a 'zipper' on an X-ray, doctors rushed him into emergency surgery. Pictured: X-ray showing the magnets in Mikah's intestine Aubrey told DailyMail.com that it was around 8pm on Halloween that Mikah vomited him for the first time. 'He kept saying: "I don't feel good, I don't feel good, my stomach hurts", ' she said. 'He kept vomiting every 30 minutes and then kept throwing up about once an hour through the next day.' Over the next three days, Mikah was complaining of pain his abdomen, unable to keep food or water down, and was too weak to walk. On November 3, realizing that he was dehydrated, his parents rushed him to the emergency room of Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. Doctors gave Mikah pain medication and started an IV, drew his blood and performed an X-ray. 'When they did the first X-ray, they were like: "Does he have a zipper on his pants because something is showing up on the screen?"' Aubrey said. 'So they redid the X-ray and it was still there, and the whole feeling in the room was of panic.' Doctors rushed Mikah into emergency surgery, where they discovered the 'zipper' was actually 14 magnets, each no bigger than the size of a pinhead. Surgeons discovered the 'zipper' was actually 14 magnets, each no bigger than the size of a pinhead, which had clumped together and perforated his small intestine. Pictured: Aubrey with Mikah in the hospital It turned out the magnets were neodymium magnets, which are small spheres that have been marketed as educational toys. Pictured: Mikah with his parents, Blake and Aubrey The magnets had clumped together in his small intestine and perforated it, leaking bile into his abdomen. It turned out the magnets were neodymium magnets, which are small spheres that have been marketed as educational toys. Aubrey and Blake had bought them as a fidget toy for their oldest son Kurtis, 11, who has ADHD. Mikah later told his parents that he had gone into his brother's room and was playing with the magnets. He had hid them in his mouth when his brother walked in. 'He told us he swallowed them but thought it was only or two and didn't think anything of it, so he just forgot,' Aubrey said. 'I was in disbelief that my six-year-old would swallow something and not tell me. We were in complete horror that they were sitting inside of him for three days.' Mikah has undergone three surgeries so far to repair the damage done to his intestines, hasn't eaten or drank anything since Halloween, and has had high fevers every single day. He also told his mother that he wanted to warn other children about his experience. 'He's told me: "Mommy I wish I could go back in time and ask my brother if I could play with his toys and I hope I can tell all the kids in the city not to do this",' Aubrey said. Aubrey recorded three messages from Mikah on her phone and posted them online. The magnets had been bought as a fidget toy for his oldest brother Kurtis, 11, who has ADHD. Mikah had swallowed them while trying to hide them from his brother. Pictured: Mikah in the hospital Mikah has undergone three surgeries so far to repair the damage done to his intestines, hasn't eaten or drank anything since Halloween, and has had high fevers every single day An investigation from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2012 found an increase in young children and teens ingesting the magnets since 2009. A lawsuit filed by the CPSC in 2014 resulted in the ban of Zen Magnets and a similar product, Buckyballs In November 2016, however, the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed the ruling in favor of Zen Magnets because only Buckyballs had ever issued a recall of their products. 'These magnets are dangerous and, with Christmas coming, we don't want these to become a stocking stuffer,' Aubrey said. Family friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help the family cover Mikah's medical bills. So far, more than $1,600 has been raised out of a $10,000 goal. A Colorado man says he was on chemotherapy and painkillers for five years to treat a rare cancer - only to learn he never had the disease at all. James Salaz, of Montrose, went to Montrose Memorial Hospital in 2012, where doctors performed numerous tests before they found two 'abnormalities' in his left lung. After performing an open lung biopsy, Salaz was told he had a rare form of cancer in which an excess of white blood cells caused tumors to form throughout the body. Despite immediately undergoing treatment, the abnormalities weren't going anyway - that is until he visited another doctor who told him he didn't have cancer, but rather a condition that causes inflamed blood vessels. James Salaz, of Montrose, Colorado, was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) in 2012 after experiencing pain in his left armpit and two abnormalities found in his left lung LCH is a rare form of cancer in which an excess of immature white blood cells cause tumors to form throughout the body 'I just started getting a pain under my armpit way deep, so I went to the hospital and they did some tests and then the doctor told me that they found two abnormalities inside my left lung,' Salaz told KKCO in an exclusive interview. He was diagnosed in 2012 with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare cancer that begins in LCH cells, white blood cells that help fight infection. The immature white blood cells multiply, which cause tumors called granulomas to form and can lead to organ damage. Although LCH is most often diagnosed in childhood, between ages two and three, it can appear at any age. According to the Histiocytosis Association, it is estimated to occur in one-to-two adults per million. Salaz also visited doctors in Delta, Denver, Grand Junction and Montrose whom all confirmed his initial diagnosis. 'They said that I was the only one in Colorado that had it,' Salaz told KKCO. Montrose, where Salaz lives, is in the southwestern part of the state located near the Rio Grande National Forest. After his primary doctor, Dr Choon-Kee Lee (pictured) was dismissed, Salaz was forced to find a new oncologist For years, he was on chemotherapy, pain medication and had a few open lung biopsies, but the abnormalities in his lung remained. When he went to visit his primary doctor, Dr Choon-Kee Lee at the San Juan Cancer Center, operated by Montrose Hospital, in 2017, the doctor was no longer practicing there. 'So Dr Lee got dismissed...and they didn't even tell anybody that he got dismissed. I was waiting in the waiting room for an appointment,' Salaz said. According to the Montrose Daily Press, Dr Lee was abruptly dismissed from his position in October 24. His attorney, Robert Korn, told the newspaper that no reason for the ousting was given aside from references to at-will employment. Korn did not return DailyMail.com's request for comment. Salaz was forced to find a new oncologist, but he was not expecting the news she told him. 'She called me and told me that I never had Langerhans,' he said. 'I have a thing called vasculitis, and she said that: "If we would've treated it five years ago, you would be good".' Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. The abnormalities Dr Lee had seen in Salaz's left lung were actually just inflamed veins, and not cancer. However, because Salaz had gone for so long without treatment, his vasculitis had progressed to a form known as Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). GPA occurs when the blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and kidneys become inflamed. The new doctor told Salaz (pictured) he never had cancer and that he was actually suffering from vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. The chemotherapy he was taking has also left him with pancreatitis that he will have to live with for the rest of his life Salaz was referred to a rheumatologist, but he was told he would be on a waiting list for a year before he could get an appointment. Pictured: Montrose Memorial Hospital Doctors are unsure of what causes GPA, but it often develops after an infection and mostly among peoples between ages 40 and 65. Without treatment, the inflammation can result in tissue and organ damage, and ultimately be fatal. 'They treated something that I didn't even have and that's kind of sadyou know and I think that somebody needs to be accountable for it,' Salaz told KKCO. Salaz said the doctor referred him to a rheumatologist but, when Salaz called and asked if the office had received the referral, he was told he would be on a waiting list for a year before he could get an appointment. DailyMail.com counted fewer than 10 rheumatologists in western Colorado. On top of his new diagnosis, Salaz says that the intense chemotherapy he was taking to treat his cancer has also left him with pancreatitis that he will have to live with for the rest of his life. Montrose Memorial Hospital released a statement to DailyMail.com which read: 'Montrose Memorial Hospital and the San Juan Cancer Center respect the unique and private relationship that exists between a patient and their care providers. We have no additional comment at this time.' BIOGRAPHY MONOPOLI BLUES by Tim Clark and Nick Cook (Unbound 10.99, 336 pp) This is the charming story of a man who took his teddy bear to war, tucked into his battle dress. After World War II, merchant banker Sir Robert Clark seldom spoke about his experiences. When he died, in 2013, his children knew little about his time at war, except what was written on six pages of notes scribbled down by his son, Tim, from snatches of conversation and that hed been honoured with the DSC. Oh yes, and that his threadbare teddy, Falla (pronounced fire), accompanied him everywhere from the year of his birth to his death. As a young boy, Tims curiosity was first piqued when he discovered his fathers naval uniform with a parachute badge on the sleeve. It was only on a family holiday in Italy in the Sixties that his parents revealed they had met in the Italian town of Monopoli, during the war. The area, Tim later discovered, was the HQ of No 1 Special Force, the Special Operations Executives (SOE) covert operation in Italy from 1943 to 1945. After WWII, Sir Robert Clark, pictured here with his wife Marjorie, rarely spoke about his experiences. His son, Tim, decided to try and uncover more about his experiences during the Special Operations Executives (SOE) covert operation in Monopoli, Italy, from 1943 to 1945 Tim doggedly pursued a trail across Scotland, Cornwall, Italy and Germany to uncover what his father had been doing in Monopoli (pictured). He found out his father was sent there as part of Churchills push into the soft underbelly of Europe, where he blew up railway lines and placed agents behind enemy lines by boat and submarine More scraps of information emerged over the years: his father had spent his 21st birthday in the infamous Le Nuove prison in Turin, where he shared a cell with a murderer; that day, he was given an egg by a nun, the best present he had ever received. Seventy years on, in an attempt to fill in the gaps left by these intriguing, but random, facts, Tim Clark has doggedly pursued a trail across Scotland, Cornwall, Italy and Germany. He has pieced together the story with the aid of his parents love letters, some unpublished memoirs of his fathers contemporaries and assiduous research in the SOE archives. As the story unfolds, we are treated to a stirring tale of derring-do and teenage love against the odds, but what never ceases to amaze is the sense of duty of the wartime generation. Clark met his future wife, Marjorie, an SOE radio operator, in Italy when they were both 19. The daughter of a Welsh mine owner, she had turned down a place at Oxford at 17 to serve in the war. (How could I have possibly gone to Oxford, when London was being bombed?) He discovered that his father had spent his 21st birthday in the infamous Le Nuove prison in Turin, where he shared a cell with a murderer Robert left Kings College, Cambridge, to join the Royal Navy (It didnt seem right to continue my personal education while the country was fighting for its very existence). Six months later, a chance encounter with a man from the ministry seeking people with sailing experience led Clark to join the SOE. Created to set Europe ablaze by carrying out sabotage and subversion in Nazi-occupied Europe, the SOEs byword was secrecy. For years, its activities were kept under wraps: no wonder Tim had such difficulty in eliciting information from his father. After training in Scotland, Clark was sent to Monopoli as part of Churchills push into the soft underbelly of Europe, where he blew up railway lines and placed agents behind enemy lines by boat and submarine. Parachuting into the Piedmont Mountains to work alongside the partisans, Clark was dropped miles from his target. He broke his ribs landing in a tree and was rescued by a 16-year-old partisan. But within three weeks, hed been betrayed by a local and imprisoned by the Germans, who subjected him to a mock firing squad. The romance between Clark and Marjorie, who was assigned to receive his secret radio messages from behind enemy lines, forms the soft underbelly of this story. It is the tear-jerking stuff of Hollywood movies. Offered the choice of being despatched to the Far East or going BLO (behind-the-lines operations), he stayed in Italy to be with Marjorie. After not hearing from him for some months during his incarceration, she received a radio message from him in plain English, instead of code: Bob sends love to Marjorie. The story is enlivened with indelible images: on arrival in Italy, Marjorie was greeted by German PoWs, holed up on the lower decks of the ship on which shed just sailed. They stuck their tongues out at her. She returned the compliment. In Le Nuove, red wine was used to dye chess pieces home- made from bread. And there are compelling insights into the SOEs modus operandi. When working behind the lines, the fact that the Germans did everything by rote was a huge advantage: Clark always knew that if a patrol passed, it would be back in exactly 30 minutes. What also comes across is the sheer tedium of war weeks of boredom punctuated by nights of pumping adrenaline (as captured in the wartime song from which this book takes its title: Ive got Monopoli blues, Monopoli blues, Oh Lord, Im bored and I dont like Monopoli booze.) When he went off to war, leaving King's College, Cambridge, to join the Navy, his father took this threadbare teddy, Falla (pronounced fire), with him, tucked into his battle dress. It went everywhere with him, from the year of his birth to his death You wont get bored reading this book, but you might gain a less laudable view of the Italians. According to Clark and his fellow operatives, Italians were more brutal than Germans. The Germans either killed you or imprisoned you, whereas the Italians tortured without pity. Clarks son adds two poignant postscripts. When his father revisited Le Nuove in the Sixties on a business trip to Turin, he found his old murderous cellmate still incarcerated there. He visited him and the man welcomed him with open arms. In 1991, Bob Clark received a letter from Sergio Curetti, asking if he was the same man he pulled from a tree nearly 50 years before. They met. Curetti recalled Clark as very tall, a giant and that he had coveted his underwear. It is a bit disconcerting that the protagonists are referred to throughout as Mop and Pop, but then, it reinforces what an intensely personal story this is. And its a pity that Falla, reputedly the only bear to have been captured by the enemy and held in prison, doesnt have more of a starring role. Clark says he decided not to refer to him throughout the text as he too remained silent until the end about his war. Never has a teddy bears silence been so eloquent. BOOK OF THE WEEK GENTLEMAN JACK by Angela Steidele (Serpents Tail 16.99, 352 pp) Just seven years old when his father inherited Shibden Hall, near Halifax, in Yorkshire, John Lister grew up surrounded by creaking curiosities: whale bones, tiger skins, a stuffed crocodile. But, once he became master of the Hall himself in 1867, he discovered the estates most thrilling secret lay in a mundane-looking pile of 24 diaries kept by his ancestor, Anne Lister. They were written in a secret code comprised of Greek letters, numbers and invented symbols. With the help of his friend, antiquarian Arthur Burrell, Lister broke her cipher by candlelight and was astonished to discover an intimate account of the lesbian practices among Miss Lister and her many friends; hardly any one of them escaped her. Every entry in Anne Listers diary begins with an evaluation of the previous 24 hours sexual activity. She recorded the names and the ardour of every women with whom she had shared a kiss. She documented the number and quality of her orgasms and those of her partners. Anne Lister, of Shibden Hall, near Halifax, was a 19th-century lesbian who kept a coded sex diary of her many affairs Her ancestor, John Lister, discovered her diary in 1867 and discovered they detailed an evaluation of every sexual encounter. He ended up hiding them, and they were rediscovered after his death when the hall became a museum - but were not published until 1988 because of their nature. Pictured: The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister Burrell found it all very unsavoury and advised John to burn the diaries. But Lister could not bring himself to destroy such extraordinary documents and instead hid them behind the wall panelling in Annes old bedchamber, which she had probably used as a study. They were discovered after Johns death, when the Hall became a museum, but the full content of the diaries was suppressed until the first uncensored edition was published in 1988. For those more interested in Anne Listers personal life than the politics of 19th-century Yorkshire, Angela Steideles scholarly new biography offers condensed insight into an extraordinary woman who defied convention at every turn. The author of several books about LGBTQ lives, Steidele was drawn to Listers admirable early form of gay pride but concludes that she was a beast of a woman. Anne Lister was born in 1791 into the down-at-heel branch of a family of minor aristocracy. Her father, Jeremy, was a soldier who fought the American rebels in the first War of Independence. He returned home with the defeated British in 1783 and went on to make a lifelong muddle of his finances. Annes mother was an alcoholic. While they squabbled, Anne wrote that she grew into an unmanageable tomboy. When my mother thought I was safe, I was running out in an evening. Saw curious scenes, bad women, etc. I was a curious genius and had been so from my cradle, a very great pickle. Sent to school early because they could do nothing with me at home. The Manor House School in York was where Anne fell in love for the first time. A brilliant pupil, excelling in unfeminine subjects such as mathematics, science and Latin, 15-year-old Anne was totally smitten by Madras-born Eliza Raine. The pair shared a room at the school, where they exchanged vows and rings. Thirty years and countless lovers later, Anne would still describe the dark-skinned, dark-haired Eliza as the most beautiful girl I ever saw. Eliza nicknamed Anne Welly after the Duke of Wellington, who had conquered India as Anne had conquered her. Certain that her sexual orientation was surely natural to me, Anne encouraged her lover to read ancient Greek and Roman poetry, which included the erotic details of same-sex relationships the girls would never have read about in respectable English. Her classical studies helped her to develop an impressive sexual frankness and her own quirky language to describe her intimate activities. Anne also eschewed the impractical and uncomfortable whalebone stays and stiffened petticoats she was expected to wear. A lover of long walks, she preferred a pair of strong shoes to an evening dress and soon resolved to wear only black to flatter her wiry physique. She wore a heart-shaped locket that may have contained pubic hair and styled herself as Gentleman Jack. However, she refused to apply the same emancipated attitude to other women, judging them harshly if she deemed their clothes or their manners unfeminine. I am not an admirer of learned ladies, wrote the learned Anne. I would rather have a pretty girl to flirt with. Soon enough, Anne was cheating on Eliza and conspired with the Raine family to have the poor girl committed to an asylum when it suited her. Angela Steideles scholarly new biography offers a condensed insight into an extraordinary woman who defied convention at every turn After this first relationship, Annes life became a tangled web of affairs in which she seldom gave serious thought to the feelings of others. Though complaining to her diary of painful venereal disease, which she was forced to treat with toxic mercury, she continued to pass it on to those she claimed to love, including the local doctors married daughter, Mariana Belcombe. Although the 2010 BBC dramatisation of Listers life (starring Maxine Peake) gave the impression of a deep commitment between Anne and Mariana, Steidele feels that the programme sugar-coated the truth. Its true the pair yearned to live openly together, despite Marianas marriage. But Lister broke faith in pursuit of wealth and her own social advancement. Lister was lucky to have a benevolent uncle who respected her intelligence and energy and allowed her to conduct her life according to her own stars. He left Shibden Hall to her not her father Jeremy when he died. She settled down (to some extent) with a younger woman called Ann Walker, whose income allowed Lister to maintain her crumbling home and travel the world. At a time when the fairer sex were expected to sit at home sewing, it is glorious to read of brave, bright Lister galloping through Russia, sleeping with a pistol under her pillow. Its also galling to learn that, although she made the first ascent of Vignemale (the second-highest mountain in the Pyrenees), her path was named after the man who followed her. But shes such a callous narcissist that readers wont feel too sorry when she dies of a fever (from typhus or malaria) in Georgia, aged 49. Ann Walker brought home her husbands embalmed body in a coffin. She intended to live out her days as a widow at Shibden Hall, until she realised Lister had frittered away much of her fortune. Anxious to get their hands on what cash remained, Walkers greedy family had her committed to an asylum ironically, the same one to which Eliza Raine was still confined. Both Listers first and last lovers were declared insane. Despite a barrage of tax and rule changes making it harder to make money in buy-to-let, there are still pockets of the country where investors can find attractive returns. The best is the North West, according to research by Shawbrook Bank, where a combination of low house prices and large student populations equals decent rental levels, so good yields and fewer void periods for landlords. The North West city of Liverpool tops the charts of Britain's towns and cities where houses are cheaper to buy, but rents are comparatively high, according to a separate study by Totally Money. Five of the UK's top 25 postcodes for rental yields are in Liverpool, a study says However, another report from LendInvest, which looks at both recent house prices rises and rent rises, says that Colchester, in Essex, is the number one most promising spot. It is followed by two North West locations, however, in Stockport and Manchester. As capital gains forecasts dampen in London, with house price growth in the capital worse than anywhere else in the country, investors are looking to other regions for the best returns. The average UK house price is currently 228,000, which is 43 per cent higher than the average house price in the North West, at 159,000, according to research from Shawbrook Bank. HOW REGIONS COMPARE FOR BUY-TO-LET RENTAL YIELDS Monthly Rents House Prices Yield North West 683 152,406 5.40% Scotland 630 142,267 5.30% North East 519 123,419 5.10% Yorkshire and The Humber 620 151,779 4.90% Wales 589 149,590 4.70% West Midlands 669 183,528 4.40% East Midlands 609 178,671 4.10% London 1,538 478,975 3.90% South West 794 245,180 3.90% East 895 283,225 3.80% South East 985 317,392 3.70% Source: Shawbrook Bank Shawbrook ranked Britain's regions by rental yield, which measures average rents that could potentially be achieved against average house prices. The North West leads the yield ranking with an average yield of 5.4 per cent, followed by Scotland with 5.3 per cent and Yorkshire and the Humber with 4.9 per cent. The South East comes in last place, with yields of 3.7 per cent, followed by the East at 3.8 per cent, while London is joint third last with the South West at 3.9 per cent Emma Cox of Shawbrook Bank said: 'Landlords have had a rough ride over the past few years with multiple tax changes, but our research shows that it's not all doom and gloom for potential investors in 2018. 'Lower rental yields in London and affordability constraints for investors has driven interest North, where borrowers are chasing the yield and heading to locations with lower average house prices.' What about rental returns and house price gains In a different report, Lendinvest's quarterly buy-to-let index looks not just at yields from rent, but also at capital gains from house price growth. Despite its high yields, rental price growth in Liverpool has actually fallen slightly over the past few months at 0.5 per cent, and while its capital gains growth is reasonable at 3.92 per cent, this isn't enough for it to feature in Lendinvest's overall top 10. It said that the Essex city of Colchester's rental price growth of 6.5 per cent over the past few months has increased its standing for investors. The town's rate of capital gain growth has dipped, however, to 3.61 per cent, having been one of the best in the country earlier in the year. On the flipside, the Kent city of Canterbury has seen the strongest capital gains at 7.83 per cent but rental price growth has been marginal at 0.64 per cent. Once the two elements of rental returns and capital gains are combined, Colchester comes out on top overall. Meanwhile, Stockport has climbed 18 places in Lendinvest's table to second place, benefiting from strong growth in capital gains and reasonable growth in rental prices. In Manchester, strong yields continue to underpin the strength of the market, with capital gains and rental price growth both remaining relatively strong. According to Lendinvest, the strength of the Manchester property market has driven growth in neighbouring postcodes, as is evident in Stockport's rapid climb up the table. Towns in the Midlands are also becoming increasingly attractive, with Birmingham securing its position in Lendinvest's top 10 for the third time. This quarter sees the regional capital joined by Wolverhampton, up 22 places from 21 in July's Index, and Peterborough, up eight places from 18 in July's Index. What makes Liverpool attractive to buy-to-let investors? Totally Money compiles a regular buy-to-let investment report on the top towns and cities for property investors, drilling down into postcodes. It says that not only does Liverpool's high student population make the city a dependable market for landlords, but its house prices are relatively cheap when compared to many other areas of the UK. With Totally Money's help, we dug further into the figures. Median sale values in the city's top five postcodes range from around 104,000 to 135,000, far below the UK average of 228,000. Of these postcodes, Landlords can expect rental yields of 7.4 per cent to 9.8 per cent. Although some landlords might be reluctant to rent to students, there are definitely a number of benefits in doing so especially if there's a mortgage on the property. 'One of the biggest blows to a landlord is an empty property,' said Totally Money's Mark Moloney. 'Void periods with a mortgage would not only dwarf any yields, but also require the landlord to stump up the cost of the repayment for each month the property remains empty.' This is less likely in areas where there's a high student population, due to the constant stream of tenants coming and going. Click image to read the full story (via TotallyMoney ). Liverpool has three universities the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, and Liverpool Hope University and a student population of approximately 70,000, meaning there are a wide pool of prospective tenants for landlords to choose from. What's more, the top yielding postcodes are all within close proximity to all three universities, so landlords can expect a steady flow of tenants. Both the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University are in L3, which takes fifth position, and Liverpool Hope University's Creative Campus is situated in L6, which takes third. The best postcodes in Liverpool for rental yields Postcode Coverage Rental Properties Median Rental Value Sale Properties Median Sale Value Yield L7 City Centre, Edge Hill, Fairfield, Kensington 149 941 79 115,398 9.8% L1 City Centre 116 923 404 118,754 9.3% L6 Anfield, City Centre, Everton, Fairfield, Kensington, Tuebrook 181 765 123 116,995 7.8% L5 Anfield, Everton, Kirkdale, Vauxhall 48 668 122 104,893 7.6% L3 City Centre, Everton, Vauxhall 208 836 817 134,803 7.4% L2 City Centre 65 854 294 150,663 6.8% L33 Kirkby 34 591 90 109,012 6.5% L8 City Centre, Dingle, Toxteth 131 723 258 134,363 6.5% L4 Anfield, Kirkdale, Walton 147 448 236 89,645 6.0% L13 Clubmoor, Old Swan, Stoneycroft, Tuebrook 81 500 268 106,220 5.6% L20 Kirkdale 114 454 194 101,062 5.4% L15 Wavertree 145 640 162 149,932 5.1% L9 Aintree, Fazakerley, Orrell Park, Walton 47 492 165 121,201 4.9% L25 Belle Vale, Gateacre, Hunts Cross, Woolton, Halewood 42 1,061 201 261,463 4.9% L21 Ford, Litherland, Seaforth 33 486 131 128,785 4.5% L17 Aigburth, St Michael's Hamlet, Sefton Park 80 708 159 212,337 4.0% L18 Allerton, Mossley Hill 72 1,065 171 330,367 3.9% L19 Aigburth, Garston, Grassendale, Mossley Hill 51 620 137 216,252 3.4% L34 Prescot, Knowsley Village 38 555 157 196,045 3.4% L23 Blundellsands, Brighton-le-Sands, Crosby, Little Crosby, Thornton 30 798 211 303,125 3.2% L39 Ormskirk, Aughton 36 791 186 374,815 2.5% Buy-to-let mortgage rates continue to fall Lenders are continuing to slash their buy-to-let mortgage rates in an attempt to lure in new business as tax changes continue to force landlords out of the market. Average rates in the buy-to-let sector have dropped significantly since changes were originally introduced in 2015 - indicating how keen lenders are to get new business onto their books as demand drops. TSB is currently offering a two-year fixed rate deal at 1.30 per cent with a fee of 1,971 with a maximum loan-to-value of 60 per cent. Sainsbury's Bank has a three-year fixed rate deal at 1.49 per cent with a 2,021 fee at 60 per cent loan to value. Click here to search for buy-to-let deals using our mortgage finder. You can also use our new and improved mortgage calculator to find the true costs of any mortgage deal. SOLD: The Financial Times's much-coveted Thames-side building Ex-Financial Times publisher Pearson has sold the paper's much-coveted Thames-side building, One Southwark Bridge, to investment firm M&G for 115million. It's another tidy piece of business for Pearson, having crowbarred 844million out of Japanese firm Nikkei for the FT three years ago. Nikkei are moving the Pink 'Un back to its original City premises, Bracken House, which Pearson sold in 1987 for a then unheard of sum of 143million. An FT source ponders: 'It's much smaller than our current offices so we're curious as to where we're all going to go.' They added nervously: 'If we are all going to go, that is.' Virgin Money chief Jayne-Anne Gadhia was named leader of the year at this week's Lloyds Bank business awards. Well deserved, I'm sure. Though I wonder if Lloyds might be softening her up as a potential successor to Antonio Horta-Osorio when the smoothie feels it's time to spend more time in his sun recliner. Sprightly Jayne-Anne is about to be jobless following Clydesdale's 1.7billion takeover of Virgin, albeit 1.8million richer. She's already politely turned her snout up at the vacant TSB job. A tech entrepreneur has paid 40,000 at a charity auction to have lunch with hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman. Impressive, but peanuts compared to 3million someone paid earlier this year to dine with legendary investor Warren Buffett. Ackman should have upped the bidding by offering to bring along his beguiling fiancee Neri Oxman who dated gormless-looking actor Brad Pitt following his Brangelina break-up. The original Annabel's spun its final Abba medley this week after the club moved to a bigger, glitzier site next door. A scattering of former regulars attended the last hurrah Oka founder Lady Astor, racehorse magnate Anthony Oppenheimer etc. Late Lonrho boss 'Tiny' Rowland's entrepreneur son Toby recalled: 'My parents used to love to come here and complain about Brigitte Nielsen.' 'Is Blackrock the new Goldman Sachs?' asks The Spectator, pointing to the investment behemoth's spiralling growth and growing fondness for big political hires such as George Osborne. Now, with an extraordinary $6.4trillion under management, it's a pertinent question. Royal Bank of Scotland has moved senior female banker Alison Rose into pole position to become its next chief executive. Rose, 48, has been appointed deputy chief executive of NatWest Holdings, which is RBS's main British retail banking business, signalling she is the leading internal candidate to take over from boss Ross McEwan. A mother-of-two, she has for some time been seen as the frontrunner. Alison Rose, 48, has been appointed deputy chief executive of NatWest Holdings, which is RBS's main British retail banking business If she succeeds McEwan, it would make her the first female chief executive of a Big Four bank. RBS said she would deputise for McEwan in the role, which she starts next month. She will combine it with her job running RBS' commercial and private banking business. McEwan said: 'Alison has been doing a fantastic job. 'Her commitment and focus on our customers will also be a strong addition to board discussions and decision-making and this appointment is a reflection of that.' The reshuffle comes as RBS strives for an exit from state ownership, a decade on from its 45.5billion Government bailout at the height of the 2008 crisis. Investors have speculated about when McEwan, appointed in 2013, might leave. He has played down the talk, stressing his commitment to plans through to 2020. Slump: British Land swung to a 42m loss in the six months to the end of September VALUE DIPS Meadowhall shopping centre owner British Land swung to a 42million loss in the six months to the end of September as the retail sector struggles. The value of its estate fell 6.3 per cent to 12.9billion. DIVI RISES Construction equipment firm Speedy Hire hiked its interim dividend by a fifth to 0.6p per share after group revenue jumped 6 per cent to 195million in the six months to September 30. BLACK FRIDAY Sales during the Black Friday weekend are forecast to grow 3.1 per cent to 10.4billion in the UK compared with a year earlier according to Globaldata. Fashion and beauty is expected to be the best performing sector. OFFICE INVESTMENT Office space firm WeWork is to receive 2.3billion from Japan's Softbank. The deal allows Softbank to buy shares in the US firm it values at 32billion. CUTS DRIVE Cost-cutting is to be stepped up at Deutsche Bank. The flagging German lender is to trim expenses by around 18billion over the next three years but is looking to save more. UNION WIN Luxury taxi firm Addison Lee has lost a fight over workers' rights. It said drivers were self-employed contractors, not workers, but the GMB union won a court case and yesterday that decision was upheld at a tribunal. BOSS NAMED South African Cornelius Louwrens has been appointed as the new boss of industrialist Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty Steel UK, replacing Jon Bolton. BANK DEAL Digital bank Starling has inked a deal to let customers withdraw and deposit cash at 11,500 Post Office branches. HQ SALE The Financial Times newspaper base in London has been sold for 115million to M&G Real Estate. Advertising giants WPP are set to lease One Southwark Bridge as the FT moves across the city. PROTEIN SWOOP Online nutritionists Science in Sport has bought PhD Nutrition, a protein powder maker, for 32million from the investment arm of Boots' owner Walgreens Boots Alliance. RENTAL BUYOUT Rented housing group Grainger is set to take control of the 696million property portfolio it was managing with Dutch pension fund APG. It will pay 396million to buy out APG. HBOS's then chief exec Andy Hornby is accused of knowing some of what was going on at the Reading branch Lloyds Banking Group has been forced into a humiliating settlement with a whistleblower who claimed executives covered up a notorious fraud. It yesterday apologised to Sally Masterton, who compiled a bombshell dossier about criminal bankers and advisers linked to its HBOS Reading unit. In a highly significant admission, the bank did a U-turn on its stance that she produced the 2014 report on her own initiative. It has now conceded that she wrote it after bosses had asked her to document her concerns. Masterton has been paid an undisclosed sum in compensation for her ordeal. Campaigners and MPs last night called for a full investigation into why Lloyds initially disowned her findings. Kevin Hollinrake MP, co-chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on fair business banking, said: 'Lloyds previously accused Sally Masterton of making unsubstantiated allegations and made her out to be a rogue employee. 'This proves that was not the case. There is a feeling that there was a conspiracy of silence and that people were hoping this would just go away.' Georgina Halford-Hall, of Whistleblowers UK, said: 'I hope the admission by Lloyds that they had misled the public and Parliament will be the catalyst for a full review into the conduct of the board and senior leadership at this bank.' Lloyds faces a Financial Conduct Authority probe into what HBOS and its executives knew of the fraud. Separately, retired judge Dame Linda Dobbs is carrying out a review for Lloyds of whether it properly probed the incident after acquiring HBOS in the financial crisis. The Serious Fraud Office is also understood to be taking an interest. Masterton's report claimed former directors, including then chief executive Andy Hornby, knew individuals linked to HBOS's Reading branch were wrecking small business customers' firms as long ago as 2008. They are also said to have sought to keep details private as the bank teetered on the brink of collapse and a rescue takeover by Lloyds was pushed through. The fraudsters, jailed last year for a total of almost 50 years, spent their takings on prostitutes, holidays and luxury goods. The scandal is thought to have cost Lloyds as much as 1billion. When details of Masterton's report emerged last year, Lloyds said her work was not requested or sanctioned and contained un-substantiated allegations. Masterton took leave from her duties at the bank, and left in 2014. Ford, a leading automotive company, said that its new F-Max tractor truck was recently named Truck of the Year in the 67th IAA Show in Hannover, Germany. The truck, which was launched in the European market, beat out truck models by other automakers to win the prestigious award, said a statement from the company. Selected by 23 international truck experts from 23 European countries, the award affirms the all-new Ford F-Maxs leading position within the truck category internationally, it said. It follows the successful launch of different types of trucks by Al-Jazirah Vehicle Agencies (AJVA) among the commercial sector in Saudi Arabia thanks to their quality, durability and advanced on-board technologies, it added. AJVA, the authorised Ford dealer in Saudi Arabia, offers the full range and very latest models of Ford trucks. The vehicles provide businesses involved in the transportation of heavy loads, as well as construction, contracting and maintenance services firms with a wide range of fleet solutions, in addition to its very popular Ford Transit Van line, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Energy giant SSE says its planned merger with Npower may be off Energy giant SSE says its planned merger with Npower may be off, claiming the Government's price cap on energy bills had thrown a spanner in the works. The tie-up to create the second-biggest energy company in the UK behind British Gas, was first thrown into doubt last week. SSE said then that it and Npower's owner Innogy were working on 'potential changes'. It blamed the delays on the Government's recently introduced plans to cap energy bills at 1,136 a year. That will mean suppliers like Npower and SSE will have to cut the prices they charge. Some analysts pointed out the cap was no surprise. The deal with Npower would have seen SSE's energy unit, which provides gas and electricity, removed from the main group, with SSE focusing on gas and electricity transmission. Rogue trader Kweku Adoboli has been deported from the UK, according to friends The rogue trader behind a 1.4 billion banking fraud has been deported to Ghana, despite a campaign to keep Kweku Adoboli in the UK. Adoboli has lived in the UK since the age of 12 and left Ghana as a four-year-old, but has been forced out of the country under rules that automatically deport foreign nationals sentenced to more than four years in jail. Friend Nick Hopewell-Smith said the 38-year-old was detained in Scotland on Monday and placed on a Kenyan Airways flight leaving Heathrow last night. Along with others he has campaigned to stop Adaboli being sent back to a country that has not been considered his home since before school age. Hopewell-Smith said: 'This is his home. Hes a Yorkshireman. He supports Leeds United. This is where he has his family life. 'Our campaign to keep Kweku will turn into a campaign to bring him home. We will be doing out best to get him back.' Adaboli was given a seven-year sentence in 2012 after he lost 1.4 billion when he worked in UBS in 2011, aged 31. The former trader admitted causing UBSs losses but claimed that he did so under intense pressure to take risks and make money for the bank. After being released early in 2015, Adaboli has spoken to students and businesses about the toxic risk-taking in the City and how the culture in the finance industry can lead traders to gamble away large sums and commit crimes. Since leaving jail, Adaboli has been living with a long-time university friend in Scotland, looking after two godchildren. Friends and campaigners have been trying to block the former trader's deportation, pointing out that the former public schoolboy and Nottingham University alumnus, has lived in the UK since he was a child. Hopewell-Smith said friends were 'appalled' and 'bereft' by the Home Offices decision to approve the deportation.. Adaboli was granted a last-minute injunction blocking his deportation in September and bailed in October after a group of school and university friends provided a surety of 120,000. A Home Office spokesman said the department did not comment on individual cases. 'All foreign nationals who are given a custodial sentence will be considered for deportation,' he added. 'Foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes in the UK should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them and we have removed more than 44,500 foreign offenders since 2010.' More than 130 MPs and MSPs signed an open letter to Home Secretary Sajid Javid asking him to block the deportation. Nearly 75,000 people signed a petition also calling for a halt to the deportation. Adoboli was found guilty at Londons Southwark Crown Court of two counts of fraud by abuse of position in 2012 and freed from jail in 2015. Donald Trump has nominated South African-born luxury handbag designer Lana Marks, a close friend of Princess Diana in the months before her death, as his new ambassador to Pretoria. Marks is a Mar-a-Lago member who was among the few women in Diana's inner circle prior to her death - and remains 'haunted' by the loss of her friend. Lana, 64, was due to go on vacation with Diana on the week she died in a Paris tunnel in August 1997. The friends had booked flights to Italy and had reservations at the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan for a five-day trip. Diana was excited to spend time with Lana and had not intended to spend that final week with her lover Dodi al Fayed. But the vacation was canceled at the last minute because Lana's father died suddenly following a heart attack. Fashion designer-turned-diplomat? Lana Marks is Trump's nominee to be the next US ambassador to South Africa, her home country Marks, 64, a handbag designer, was among the few women in Princess Diana's inner circle prior to her death. The two had planned to go to Milan, Italy for five days but their plans were derailed after Marks's father's death in August 1997 A source close to Lana (pictured right) told DailyMail.com: 'It haunted Lana for quite a while that in changing their plans, she inadvertently changed the course of history' Family: Lana Marks and her husband, Dr. Neville Marks, live in Palm Beach and are members of Mar-a-Lago According to A Royal Duty, by Diana's former butler Paul Burrell, that tragic event left the princess facing being at a loose end until her boys, William and Harry, returned to Kensington Palace on August 31 after a vacation with their father - and Dodi stepped in to fill the gap. 'She accepted Dodi's substitute offer to spend time with him on his yacht, the Jonikal, cruising around the French Riviera and Sardinia,' wrote Burrell. The princess and Dodi then made an unexpected detour to Paris, where the couple both died in a car crash caused by their drunken driver speeding through a tunnel, on August 31, 1997. An associate of Lana in Florida, where she lives, told DailyMail.com: 'It haunted Lana for quite a while that in changing their plans, she inadvertently changed the course of history. 'There was nothing Lana could do - her father passed away - but she kept going over all the what-ifs for months afterwards. 'She was distressed by the whole thing. 'The flights were booked. The hotel was booked. Princess Diana was looking forward to having those days away, but then everything changed. 'Lana thought they would be able to rearrange and spend some time together later that fall, but she'd never see Diana again. 'Anyone who knows Lana knows how much this played on her mind. 'She was a true friend to Princess Diana. Even though she was often in New York and Florida, she was always on the end of the phone. 'She even designed a handbag in Diana's name by way of a tribute.' Last year, on the 20th anniversary of Diana's death, Lana told The Sun: 'It was a terrible time. I was supposed to be on vacation with Diana in Milan right then. We were going to go to Lake Como before flying back. 'I felt bad because she was at a loose end. I still feel the pain of it all. I constantly think, 'What if she'd been with me?' All that might not have happened.' Diana instead accepted an invitation to France from her lover Dodi al-Fayed where the two died in a crash, caused by their drunken driver speeding The princess and Dodi made an unexpected detour to Paris en route to London and the couple both died in a car crash on August 31, 1997 Marks, a member of Trump's Mar-a-Lago club who lives in Palm Beach, Florida, is best known for her six-figure handbags, clutched by A-list celebrities like Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie and Kate Winslett. Born Lana Bank, she is married to British psychiatrist Neville Marks. It was when the couple were invited to a celebration of Queen Elizabeth's birthday on board the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1984 that she conceived the idea of a luxury lather goods business, because she could not find the bag she wanted to take with her. Four years later she launched her first design, and became a successful businesswoman with stores in Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, New York and Dubai. She is yet to comment on her nomination as envoy, which is subject to nomination by the Senate. However relations between South Africa and the United States have been tested this year after Trump said farmers were being forced off their land and many of them killed. The U.S. president was accused of telling untruths and fuelling racial tensions. White ownership of most of the farmland in South Africa is one of the most sensitive issues in the country's post-apartheid era. South Africa accused him of making 'alarmist' and 'misinformed' comments. A White House statement on Wednesday said she had attended university in Johannesburg and speaks two South African languages; Afrikaans and Xhosa. She has no diplomatic experience but follows in the footsteps of other ambassadors from the private sector nominated by presidents of both parties. The last ambassador to South Africa, Patrick Gaspard, is a member of the Democratic Party and since leaving the diplomatic service has been a harsh critic of Trump. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is pushing for radical land redistribution to tackle inequality, this month said he sat next to Trump at a UN lunch and exchanged pleasantries. Ramaphosa, who faces elections in 2019, has said expropriating farms without compensating their owners would 'undo a grave historical injustice' against the black majority. Monica Lewinsky details the events leading up to her first intimate encounter with Bill Clinton in the A&E docuseries The Clinton Affair. It It happened on November 14, 1995, in the middle of the government shutdown when Lewinsky had been called in to help with the phones. On that date there had been a surprise party for one of Clinton's staffers, and at one point Lewinsky realized her thong was exposed while Clinton was near her in the room. Lewinsky opted to keep her thong out as Clinton walked by, and a short while later when she walked by his office, Clinton smiled at her and motioned for her to come into the room. She soon admitted to Clinton that she had a 'crush' on him, and not long after the two were kissing in the dark room. Scroll down for videos Surprise: Monica Lewinsky shares new details about her first intimate encounter with Bill Clinton in the new docuseries The Clinton Affair (above) Gifts: She was called to the office with the promise of presents, and Clinton gifted her a hat pin and copy of Walt Whitman's Leave of Grass (Clinton and Lewinsky in 1997 just before their bathroom rendezvous) 'I don't talk about this very often and I still don't feel comfortable talking about it. It's one of those things where it's not as if it didn't register with me that he was the president. Obviously it did,' explains Lewinsky in a preview. 'But I think in one way the moment we were actually in the back office for the first time the truth is I think it meant more to me the someone who other people desired, desired me.' She continues: 'However wrong it was, however misguided, for who I was at that time, at 22 years old, it was how I felt.' Lewinsky went back to her desk after that first kiss and was then asked to return to the study later, when the two became more intimate. It was the start of a relationship that would find the two meeting in secret once a week for almost two years. Lewinsky also opens up about the grief and fear she felt when she was told that she would have to cooperate with the FBI investigation of Clinton, or face time in prison. 'In order to cooperate and avoid charges and I would have to make monitored phone calls which they would listen in to and record and I might have to wear a wire and go see people in person,' reveals Lewinsky in a preview for the upcoming A&E docuseries The Clinton Affair. It was too much for Lewinsky, who says that after a few hours she began to think about commiting suicide. Twenty years later, it still causes her to break down in tears. 'The ground completely crumbled in that moment. I felt so much guilt. And I felt terrified,' she reveals in the interview. An FBI agent involved in the case acknowledged this, saying that Lewinsky was 'alternating between being hysterical, being angry, being abusive.' Lewinsky admits that she was not cooperative at the time, believing she had t protect Clinton. 'They imagined that I would have flipped really easily. They had no plan in place for what would happen if i said no,' she reveals in the series. That then gave way to thoughts of ending her own life. 'There was a point for me somewhere within these first several hours where I would be hysterically crying and then I would just shut down,' she recalls. 'And in the shut down period I just remember looking out the window and thinking the only way to fix this is to kill myself.' Lewinsky, who up until that point had managed to hold back her tears, then bursts out sobbing. 'I just felt terrible ... and I was scared ... and I was mortified,' she says while trying to regain her composure. This all played out at the Ritz Carlton in January 1998, with the Office of the Independent Counsel getting Linda Tripp to set up a meeting with Lewinsky. She was then taken to a room and held by prosecutors until that night. Lewinsky admits that the thing that made this so difficult for her was the fact that she was still in love with Clinton. Tears: Moinca Lewinsky considered jumping out of a window at the Ritz Carlton in January 1998 when the FBI told her she would need to become an informant (above in The Clinton Affair) Apologize: Lewinsky also penned an essay for Vanity Fair revealing that she wished Clinton felt the need to apologize for the fallout from their relationship (Clinton above in 1998 denying the affair) Ahead of the show's premiere, Lewinsky opened up about the affair in an essay for Vanity Fair, in which she expresses her disappointment that Bill does not think he should apologize to his former intern as well as her desire to tell Hillary she is sorry. 'The process of this docuseries led me to new rooms of shame that I still needed to explore, and delivered me to Griefs doorstep,' writes Lewinsky. She then lists off the examples of grief, ending with: 'Grief for a relationship that had no normal closure, and instead was slowly dismantled by two decades of Bill Clinton's behavior that eventually (eventually!) helped me understand how, at 22, I took the small, narrow sliver of the man I knew and mistook it for the whole.' Lewinsky spoke about her disappointment with Bill over the comments he made back in June when asked if he owed Lewinsky a personal apology, and her disbelief that it took so long for someone to even ask that question. It was Craig Melvin who put Bill on the spot during an interview on Today, and the former president responded to the question by saying: 'No. I do not I have never talked to her. But I did say publicly on more than one occasion that I was sorry.' In response to that Lewinsky writes: 'So, what feels more important to me than whether I am owed or deserving of a personal apology is my belief that Bill Clinton should want to apologize. Im less disappointed him, and more disappointed for him.' She then adds: 'He would be a better man for it . . . and we, in turn, a better society.' That moment was a huge shift writes Lewinsky, and one that was a long time coming. 'If you want to know what power looks like, watch a man safely, even smugly, do interviews for decades, without ever worrying whether he will be asked the questions he doesnt want to answer,' writes Lewinsky. She is also quick to admit that she has some people to apologize to for her actions. 'My first public words after the scandaluttered in an interview with Barbara Walters on March 3, 1999were an apology directly to Chelsea and Mrs. Clinton,' writes Lewinsky. 'And if I were to see Hillary in person today, I know that I would summon up whatever force I needed to again acknowledge to hersincerelyhow very sorry I am.' Entourage: 'So, what feels more important to me than whether I am owed or deserving of a personal apology is my belief that Bill Clinton should want to apologize. Im less disappointed him, and more disappointed for him,' writes Lewinsky Lewinsky does not however address recent comments made by Hillary that dismissed her own statement that the relationship between the president and his intern was an abuse of power. At the time the affair began between the president and his intern in November 1995, Clinton was 49 years old and Lewinsky was a 22-year-old White House employee. Clinton would initially deny having sexual relations with Lewinsky in a sworn deposition back in January of 1998, going so far as to claim that the two were never even alone together in the White House. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Lewinsky had already revealed to Linda Tripp that the two were together nine times between that first encounter and March of 1997, and engaged in oral sex multiple times. The affair became public one day after Clinton's sworn testimony, at which point Tripp gave tapes of Lewinsky admitting to her relationship to Kenneth Star, who at the time was pursuing the Whitewater controversy and Clinton's alleged sexual harassment of Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state employee. Clinton continued to deny reports that he had relations with with the brunette from Beverly Hills even after the report broke, famously saying: 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky' in a nationally televised White House news conference.' Months later, he admitted to the affair and claimed that his definition of sexual relations differed from that of others. This resulted in the House voting to impeach Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice back in December of 1998, with the vote then moving to the Senate. The Senate then acquitted him of those charges when the Senate did not achieve the two-thirds vote necessary to remove Clinton from office. A second attempt at impeachment, on an additional perjury charge and abuse of power, never made it past the House. Tripp had worked in the Pentagon alongside Lewinsky when the former White House intern opened up to her about her affair with Bill Clinton. She taped their conversations for months it was later revealed and then handed the recordings over to Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr to avoid facing wiretapping charges. Prior to that she handed the tapes over to lawyers for Paula Jones, who was suing Clinton for sexual harassment at the time. Jones' lawyers then added Lewinsky to their witness list, but the judge ruled that her testimony would be immaterial to the case before tossing it out. A few months later, Clinton settled with Jones with $850,000. Roberto Moreno Ramos was executed Wednesday night for the sledgehammer killings of his wife and two children more than 26 years ago A Mexican citizen on death row in Texas was executed Wednesday night for the sledgehammer killings of his wife and two children more than 26 years ago. Roberto Moreno Ramos was condemned for the 1992 deaths of his 42-year-old wife Leticia, 7-year-old daughter Abigail, and 3-year-old son Jonathan at their home in Progreso, located along the Mexico border. When asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Ramos thanked the Mexican consulate for assisting with appeals in his case and said he was grateful for 'the humane treatment I got in prison in Texas.' 'I'm getting my gold watch that it took the governor 30 years to forge,' he said without elaborating. 'Thank you God. Lord, send me a chariot. I'm ready.' As the lethal dose of the powerful sedative pentobarbital began taking effect, the 64-year-old Ramos took a couple of deep breaths, sputtered once and began snoring. Within seconds, all movement stopped. Eleven minutes later, at 9:36 p.m. CST, Ramos was pronounced dead. He became the 21st inmate put to death this year in the U.S. and the 11th given a lethal injection in Texas, the nation's busiest capital punishment state. No friends or relatives of Ramos or his victims witnessed the execution. Mexican officials had called for his execution to be stopped, arguing he was part of a group of Mexican citizens condemned in the U.S. who were never told when first arrested that they could get legal help from the Mexican government. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday night cleared the way for the punishment when it denied two appeals seeking to halt the lethal injection. Ramos' attorney on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to stop his execution, arguing that Ramos' constitutional rights were violated as lower courts refused to fully review his claims that his trial lawyers failed to present any evidence about his mental illness and abusive childhood that could have persuaded jurors to spare his life. This undated handout photo from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, shows death row inmates Roberto Moreno Ramos Three retired justices who had served on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals filed court documents with the Supreme Court on Wednesday in support of stopping the execution. The ex-judges alleged the appeals court appointed an incompetent appellate attorney who early in the post-conviction process failed to investigate Ramos' case. Also Wednesday, a federal judge in Austin dismissed Ramos' request to temporarily block the execution. The request had been part of a lawsuit Ramos filed against the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals a day earlier. The suit alleged the appeals court had not allowed Ramos to present claims he had ineffective trial and appellate lawyers. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had previously turned down requests to halt Ramos' execution. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday declined to recommend either a commutation of his sentence or a six-month reprieve. In court documents, Ramos' appellate attorney, Danalynn Recer, had argued Ramos suffered from bipolar disorder most of his life, including during the time of his family's killings, as well as brain damage that affected his ability to control his impulses and regulate his emotions. Ambassador Jacob Prado Gonzalez, Director General for the Protection of Mexicans Abroad, speaks during a news conference about the case of Moreno Recer said Ramos was also brutally beaten as a child by his father. Ramos was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and grew up in Guadalajara and Tijuana before his family moved to the United States in 1970. 'No fact-finder or decision-maker entrusted with Mr. Moreno Ramos' life has ever been provided with evidence of (his) 'diverse human frailties' to assist them in dispensing the most severe punishment under law,' Recer said. But the Texas Attorney General's Office said Ramos' death sentence was appropriate due to his 'violent and dangerous nature.' Authorities said Ramos bludgeoned his family members and then buried them underneath his home's bathroom floor so he could marry the woman he was having an extramarital affair with at the time. In court filings, the attorney general's office highlighted testimony from Ramos' then-19-year-old son, who told jurors at Ramos' 1993 trial that his father 'would continue to commit criminal acts of violence.' In 2004, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, found Ramos was part of a group of 52 Mexican citizens awaiting execution in the U.S. who weren't advised of their consular rights under the Vienna Convention when first arrested. It recommended they be tried again to determine if consular access would have affected their cases. Then-President George W. Bush directed states to reopen the cases. But the Supreme Court in 2008 overruled Bush's directive, saying only Congress can require states to follow the international court's ruling. Including Ramos, six Mexican citizens have been executed since being named in the international court ruling and all the executions were carried out by Texas, according to the Mexican government. A bizarre and disturbing new trend sees the wealthy posing with illegally purchased tiger and lion cubs alongside supercars for Instagram photographs, animal rights campaigners warn. This week police in Paris found a lion cub in a Lamborghini during a traffic stop, revealing the unpleasant trend said to have spread from the Gulf states. The male cub named Putin is less than two months old and would have died of poor care had police not saved him on the Champs-Elysees. A bizarre and disturbing new trend sees the wealthy posing with illegally purchased tiger and lion cubs alongside supercars for Instagram photographs, animal rights campaigners warn This week police in Paris found a lion cub in a Lamborghini during a traffic stop, revealing the unpleasant trend said to have spread from the Gulf states Wealthy people in the Gulf pose with baby cubs and 'take photographs of themselves in the car,' she said. 'Once they grow up they're just thrown out' 'There are hundreds of babies going around like this illegally,' animal rights campaigner Reha Hutin, said on Wednesday. 'You can buy a cub for less than a dog. It costs 300 euros - roughly 260 - and so they buy them off circuses. It's really a disaster. They get these babies and they take selfies with them on social media.' Hutin believes the fad spread to France from Gulf countries. Wealthy people in the Gulf pose with baby cubs and 'take photographs of themselves in the car,' she said. 'Once they grow up they're just thrown out.' The potentially destructive trend is not confined to France. Another lion cub is adjusting to life in a Dutch big cat center after a jogger ran into it last month in a cage dumped in a field in the central Netherlands. The male cub named Putin is less than two months old and would have died of poor care had police not saved him on the Champs-Elysees Wealthy people in the Gulf pose with baby cubs and 'take photographs of themselves in the car,' she said. 'Once they grow up they're just thrown out' The NGO is calling for beefed-up government measures against the trafficking of wild animals and their use in French circuses In a separate case brought by Hutch's NGO, 30 Million Friends, a French court handed a 6-month jail term to another person found with a lion cub. 'We were very happy to get that. Maybe it will dissuade the others,' Hutin said. The Lamborghini cub is the third recovered in a month and the sixth wild cat in under a year. The Lamborghini cub is the third recovered in a month and the sixth wild cat in under a year One, a small lioness, was found by the customs brigade in a cage in a garage in the southern French port city of Marseille. The NGO is calling for beefed-up government measures against the trafficking of wild animals and their use in French circuses. 'It's the circuses that are breeding them, to have all these new cubs,' Hutin said. 'That's how these babies, these cubs, are found on (the) Internet ... It's really become a huge problem.' The Lamborghini cub is basically fine, although a health check by a vet found that it was in a weakened state, has a problem with one of its back paws and a broken tail, 30 Million Friends said. The cub is now in quarantine in a big cat wildlife park east of Paris and will later join the two cubs recovered by 30 Million Friends in October. The three will probably then be sent to a large park in South Africa, joining three other lions rescued previously in France. 'We have this plan to regroup them and really have a family,' Hutin said. 'We'll sort of have this little group of six babies, Parisian babies.' A suspect in the 2016 slaying of eight family members was seen in court on Wednesday sporting a white supremacist tattoo. George 'Billy' Wagner III, who was arrested after being found in a horse trailer in Lexington Tuesday, has agreed to return to Ohio following his arrest in Kentucky. The 47-year-old Wagner waived his rights to an extradition hearing in a brief appearance Wednesday in Lexington district court. Wagner was seen with a tattoo of a Valknot on his right arm. The Valknot, or 'knot of the slain,' is an old Norse symbol that has been adopted by white supremacists, according to the Anti-Defamation League. George 'Billy' Wagner III, who was arrested after being found in a horse trailer in Lexington Tuesday, has agreed to return to Ohio following his arrest in Kentucky. He was seen sporting a white supremacist tattoo on his right arm The Valknot, or 'knot of the slain,' is an old Norse symbol that has been adopted by white supremacists, according to the Anti-Defamation League Wagner is one of four members of his family charged with aggravated murder and other counts for the 2016 shooting deaths of eight members of the Rhoden family in a rural Ohio community. One of Wagner's sons, who is also charged, had a daughter with Hanna Rhoden, one of the slaying victims. Authorities have suggested a custody dispute over the girl as a possible motive for the killings. Leonard Manley is the child's great-grandfather, and the father and grandfather of Rhoden family members shot to death in 2016 in a rural Ohio community. Manley, of Pike County, tells the Cincinnati Enquirer his 4-year-old great-granddaughter is in state custody in neighboring Scioto County. The girl is the daughter of 26-year-old Jake Wagner, and Hanna Rhoden, who was 19 when she was shot to death. George 'Billy' Wagner III, 47; his wife Angela Wagner, 48; and their two sons, George Wagner, 27, and Edward 'Jake' Wagner, 26, were all arrested on Tuesday for the murders of the Rhoden family in Ohio in 2016 Authorities have suggested a custody dispute over the girl led to the massacre. The Wagner family have been charged with the April 2016 execution-style shooting deaths of seven members of the Rhoden family and a fiancee of one of the victims in Pike County. In announcing the first break in the more than two-year-old case, authorities said the Wagner family had allegedly organized an extensive plot to kill in four different crimes scenes and a cover-up that included the suspects temporarily moving to Alaska. George 'Billy' Wagner III, 47, his wife Angela Wagner, 48, and their two sons, George Wagner IV, 27, and Edward 'Jake' Wagner, 26 are each charged with eight counts of aggravated murder. The Wagner family (pictured is Edward 'Jake' Wagner, Angela Wagner and George Wagner) are seen here in July 2017 in Kenai, Alaska after moving 4,000 miles from Ohio The Wagner family lived near the scenes of the killings at the time but moved 4,000 miles away to a home (pictured above) in Kenai, Alaska, in June last year The Wagners, from the rural southern Ohio village of Peebles, were all charged with planning and murdering the Rhoden family who lived in the neighboring village of Piketon, 11 miles away Authorities have not publicly revealed a motive but suggested the primary intent of the killers was custody of a small child, whose father was a Wagner and mother a Rhoden. The victims included Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, 37; and their three children, Hanna, 19, Christopher Jr., 16, and Clarence, 20. Three other victims were Christopher Sr.'s brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; a cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38; and Clarence Rhoden's girlfriend, Hannah Gilley, 20. Jake Wagner was the long-time former boyfriend of Hanna Rhoden and shared custody of their daughter at the time of the massacre. The Wagner family lived near the scenes of the killings at the time but moved 4,000 miles away to a mobile home in Kenai, Alaska, in June last year. At the time, the family said they were moving to escape what they claimed was unfair speculation that were responsible for the murders. They had first vacationed in Alaska because their family friend - a pastor of a Resurrection Bay Baptist Church - lived there. They went there while investigators were searching their home in relation to the massacre. That pastor, Kelly Cinereski, told the Dayton Daily News he was shocked to hear news of the family's arrests. 'These people wept over dogs, I can't imagine them taking people's lives,' he said. Locals said the Wagner family kept a low profile while in Alaska and it is not clear what they did for work. The Wagner family returned to Ohio this past spring. The mothers of Angela Wagner and George Wagner also were arrested in Ohio and charged with misleading investigators. Hanna May Rhoden, 19, was the ex-girlfriend of one of those arrested, Edward 'Jake' Wagner. They shared custody of their daughter at the time of the massacre Both Jake Wagner and Angela Wagner previously told the Cincinnati Enquirer that they were not involved in the killings. Angela Wagner said in an email to the newspaper that what happened was devastating and Hanna Rhoden was like a daughter to her. Wagner also said that her husband, George, and Christopher Rhoden Sr. were more like brothers than friends. A message was left on Tuesday with John Clark, an attorney who has been representing the Wagners. Clark said a year ago that four of the Wagner family members had provided laptops, phones and DNA samples to investigators, and agreed to be interviewed about the slayings. Clark said at the time that the family was being 'harassed while the real killer or killers are out there'. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said on Tuesday that the Wagners had been suspects for a long time. 'There certainly was obsession with custody, obsession with control of children,' DeWine said. 'This is just the most bizarre story I've ever seen in being involved in law enforcement.' Investigators scrambling to determine who targeted the Rhoden family had conducted over 550 interviews and processed over 700 pieces of evidence and 1,100 tips. Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader said they ran down every single lead. 'We have been patient when it was painful to be, running down every lead, no matter how small,' he said. Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, and his ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37, were among those killed in April 2016 in Piketon in southern Ohio Clarence 'Frankie' Rhoden, 20, and his fiancee, Hannah Gilley, 20, were shot dead while sleeping with their child Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44, (left) and a cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38, were also shot dead. 'Members of one family conspired, planned, carried out and then allegedly covered up their violent act to wipe out members of another family. 'They did this quickly, coldly, calmly and very carefully. But not carefully enough. They left traces, they left a trail. The parts to build a silencer, the forged documents, the cameras, cellphones, all that they tampered with. And the lies, all the lies they told us.' DeWine said the Wagners studied the layouts of the victims' properties, as well as their habits, routines, sleeping locations and pets. The indictments accuse the Wagners of tampering with phones, cameras, a gun silencer, shell casings and parts of a home security system. During the investigation, authorities had refused to discuss many details about the slayings, saying they didn't want to tip their hand to whoever was responsible for the shootings. Investigators found evidence of illegal drug activity, cockfighting and the possible involvement of a Mexican drug cartel. Christopher Rhoden Sr. had 'a large-scale marijuana growing operation', which initially lead many to speculate that the killings were drug-related First mention of the suspects came in June of 2017, when authorities announced they were seeking information about the Wagners, including details on their personal and business interactions, and conversations people may have had with them. None was named a suspect at the time. Investigators also said they had searched property in southern Ohio sold by the Wagners. Jake Wagner was a long-time former boyfriend of Hanna Rhoden, one of the eight victims, and shared custody of their daughter at the time of the massacre. The daughter, now aged 5, was not with her mother on the night she was killed. Investigators scrambling to determine who targeted the Rhoden family had conducted over 130 interviews and processed over 100 pieces of evidence. Pictured above is one of four murder scenes The hearses carrying five members of the Rohden family are pictured above ahead of their funerals in April 2016 The girl had moved to Alaska with her father while police were investigating the murders. Jake Wagner has now also been charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for having sexual contact with Rhoden when she was 15 years old and he was 20 years old. Autopsy reports suggested the murders were calculated and brutal with the coroner saying all but one of the victims was shot more than once. Christopher Rhoden Sr. is the only victim who was believed to have been awake when they were shot. The father-of-three sustained nine gunshot wounds in his forearm, torso and cheek. Sharing a trailer with Christopher Sr. was his brother Gary, who was shot twice in the head and a third time in the face. His autopsy report says a 'muzzle stain' was left on his head, suggesting at one point a shot was fired while the gun was pressed against him. Dana Rhoden was carefully shot four times around her head and a fifth time from under her chin. She was sharing a trailer with Christopher Jr. and Hanna who were both shot in the head multiple times. Hanna was in bed with her five-day-old child at the time. Frankie Rhoden and Hannah Gilley were also shot in the head, but their six-month-old child, who was sleeping between the couple, was spared. Hannah was shot five times in total, with one shot hitting her left eye. Kenneth Rhoden was shot only once, with the bullet entering his right eye. Three funerals were held for the victims. A mother is facing an impossible choice after both of her twin daughters fell critically ill, but she only has money to treat one of them. The 11-month-old girls, Ma Yu and Ma Rui, were born to a farming family in east China's Dalian, and were diagnosed with leukaemia. Their mother, 40-year-old Song Lihua, was told by the doctors to prepare at least 600,000 yuan (67, 560) to save her children, which is an astronomical figure for her and her partner Ma Xinqiang. Scroll down for video Picture released by local Peninsula Morning Post shows Ma Yu and Ma Rui in their hospital ward in Dalian, China. The twins were both diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer A video released by Peninsula Morning Post shows Song Lihua, 40, holding one of her daughters. The mother-of-three vows to save both girls, and is hoping the public to help her Ms Song, seen in the Peninsula Morning Post video, has sold a house she bought with her partner in Zhuanghe to save her children. But the money is only enough for half of the cost In a bid to save the two daughters, Ms Song and Mr Ma have sold their house in Zhuanghe for around 300,000 yuan (33,790), but that was only half of the money needed. 'Some people told me to give up on one of them, others suggested I should let them draw the lots. But I have to save them both,' Ms Song told MailOnline. 'If I did let one go, I would not be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life,' added the devastated mother-of-three, who also has a 14-year-old daughter. Little Ma Yu and Ma Rui were born on November 23 last year in the Xinxing Village of Daxing Town. According to Ms Song, the babies were healthy at birth and her family were overjoyed by their arrival. On a fateful day in June, the younger sister Ma Rui had a high fever and was taken to the Dalian Children's Hospital. The doctor's diagnosis was a shock to the family - the baby had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare type of cancer that affects the white blood cells and requires immediate treatment. The twins' father, Ma Xinqiang, holds one of the girls in their ward in the Dalian Children's Hospital (left). The two babies have been hospitalised there since the diagnoses in June Song Lihua and her partner Ma Xinqiang (right) are pictured in the hospital with their babies WHAT IS ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA? Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells in the bone marrow. There are around 810 new cases in the UK every year. In the US, ALL affects approximately 1.7 adults per 100,000. Anyone can develop ALL, however, it mainly affects younger people. Many ALL symptoms are vague and flu-like, such as: General weakness Fatigue Fever Frequent infections Bruising or bleeding easily, including nosebleeds, heavy periods and blood in the urine or faeces Unexplained weight loss Bone or joint pain Breathlessness Swollen lymph nodes Feeling full Paler skin than normal Risks for developing ALL include exposure to radiation, smoking, being overweight and having a weak immune system. Research suggests being breastfed and exposed to childhood infections may reduce a person's risk. The main ALL treatment is chemotherapy. Patients may also have radiotherapy, steroids or bone marrow transplants. Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement The hospital suggested Ms Song should bring in the elder sister for a checkup as well, and unfortunately Ma Yu was found to have the same condition. 'The doctors said they were not born with the illness, and it was caused by their living environment,' explained Ms Song. Ms Song suspected her daughters fell ill because the twins' grandparents had wrapped up all of the windows of their house with plastic sheets last winter to ensure the rooms would be warm enough for the babies. According to Cancer Research UK, risks for developing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia include exposure to radiation, smoking, being overweight and having a weak immune system. Ms Song and her husband have spent about 250,000 yuan (28,260) treating the twins in the past five months, and she plans to carry on saving them no matter what. 'They suffered so much,' an emotional Ms Song said, referring to the chemotherapy the little girls have to undergo. The mother was recently informed by doctors that her daughters' condition was unstable. She hopes to take them to Beijing to seek better medical attention. 'The doctor said if they don't have transplants, the cost would be 600,000 yuan (67, 560) for two; but if they have transplants, it will cost 800,000 to one million yuan (90,080 to 112,600) each.' 'I will try my best. I will try my best,' the mother repeated. She made a plea for help through MailOnline: 'I hope the public could help me and my family to overcome the difficulties.' She added: 'Both babies need to be saved. I can't prefer one to the other.' The family come from a village on the outskirts of Dalian city (pictured) in eastern China Ms Song and Mr Ma have set up accounts on several Chinese fund-raising apps, such as Aixin Chou and Shuidi Chou, in a bid to gather donations. Their goal is to raise 300,000 yuan (33,790). Combined with the 300,000 yuan they had earned from selling their house, the donations would allow them to save both Ma Yu and Ma Rui. On their account on Aixin Chou, the family have so far received 40,480 yuan (4,560) from 1,231 donors. To help the family, please click here (in Chinese only). Advertisement An American man has been hauled off the Royal Princess cruise ship after a woman was allegedly choked and pushed off a top deck, severing her leg and killing her, after a volatile altercation during their Caribbean getaway. The man was hauled off the ship by investigators in Aruba on Tuesday morning in relation to the death of the 52-year-old woman, who was his partner, according to sources. The couple were on the Royal Princess, which had embarked on an eight-day cruise around the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 9. The man, described as being muscular, reportedly strangled the woman before tossing her from the ship's 16th deck. The woman crashed down onto a lifeboat and her leg was torn off, according to horrified passengers, who said the scene was gruesome with glass everywhere. Photos from the scene obtained by DailyMail.com show yellow tape cordoning off the area around and below the lifeboat. A man was hauled off a cruise ship after a woman was allegedly choked and pushed off a balcony, severing her leg after the couple reportedly had a volatile altercation during a Caribbean getaway. Pictured is the section of the ship which has been closed off by police. Circled are the police lines used to cordon off the crime scene The man, described as being muscular, allegedly strangled the woman before tossing her from the ship's 16th deck. Aruba investigators (pictured) are now performing an autopsy to establish if the woman was choked to death or died from the fall A spokeswoman for Aruban prosecutors confirmed to DailyMail.com that the man taken off the boat was the woman's partner and that the woman's death is being treated as unnatural. Local investigators have performed an autopsy to establish how the woman died. The FBI is also carrying out its own investigation. The name of the victim and the man taken off the boat have not been released. No arrests have been made yet. A source aboard the ship told DailyMail.com: 'We are sailing the southern Caribbean. It's the ship that [British TV station] ITV used for their show ''The Cruise''. It was two passengers they had a row in the casino that night.' 'The gossip on board is rife. We were all woken at 4.30am by a security alert by the captain. We will be at sea for two days from today heading to Fort Lauderdale.' A second source added: 'We can literally see the lifeboat from our room. Blood and broken glass all over it. Another passenger said: 'We are on this ship too. Ten police officers came aboard. The announcement was a criminal investigation was to be conducted before we are given clearance. Two couples were asked repeatedly to go to customer relations.' The fight reportedly began at the ship's casino, on the Lido deck on the 16th floor, around 10:30pm. The woman plummeted from the deck at 4am, landing on deck 7 on Lifeboat 2. The fight reportedly began at the ship's casino, on the Lido deck on the 16th floor, around 10:30pm. The woman plummeted from the deck at 4am, landing on deck 7 on Lifeboat 2 Princess Cruises said in a statement to DailyMail.com: 'Princess Cruises can confirm that a 52-year-old American female guest passed away early yesterday morning aboard Royal Princess as the ship was enroute to Aruba. 'It was reported to the local authorities who met and boarded the ship upon arrival. The cause of death is not yet known at this time. 'We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected.' Princess Royal departed Aruba at 10pm on Wednesday night, heading towards Kralendijk, Bonaire. It will return to Florida on November 17. The massive cruise ship has a guest capacity of 3,600 at double occupancy. At its launch in Southampton, England in 2013, the ship was christened by the Duchess of Cambridge, who became the vessel's 'godmother'. The Royal Navy has strict recruitment rules which ban tattoos that are visible on the throat and face - but now sailors will be allowed to have inkings on certain parts of their neck. A relaxation of the regulations also means they can have tattoos on their hands as well - but not on the fingers or palms. For centuries, sailors have enjoyed getting colourful markings to chronicle their sea-going adventures. Military chiefs say any other guidance on tattoos remains the same: it is still forbidden for artwork to depict politics, violence, any sexual act, racism, sexism or any reference to drugs. A Royal Navy spokesman told MailOnline: 'The only changes to the rules are relaxation of rules on tattoos above the collar (which must not be visible from front in an open-necked shirt) and tattoos on hands (not fingers or palms). The Royal Navy has strict recruitment rules which ban tattoos that are visible on the throat and face - but now sailors will be allowed to have inkings on certain parts of their neck. (File image) 'After a review, the Naval Service is changing its policy on tattoos. 'This move reflects the society from which we attract Naval Service personnel and is consistent with our Diversity and Inclusivity policies.' The Naval Service has a long history associated with tattoos and for some young sailors was seen to be a right of passage. The inkings that are prohibited are those that are offensive or obscene and depict any image of a sexual act, extreme pornographic behaviour, violence of any kind, drugs, racism, political views or sexism, such as the file image of a man with Nazi swastikas inked on to his hands. This guidance regarding unacceptable tattoos has been in place for many years Military rules on tattoos Any visible tattoos can stop people from being accepted into the military. The Army relaxed their rules on tattoos in 2014 allowing them on the back of a hand or back of a neck. Originally soldiers could only have them on the upper arm as they could be hidden by uniform. However, tattoos that are obscene, ie those that depict sex acts, violence or illegal drugs for example are a no-no. In 2013-14, the Army rejected 336 applications because of offensive or inappropriately placed tattoos, a Freedom of Information request showed. One in five Britons has a tattoo, according to research cited by the British Association of Dermatologists in 2012. Advertisement The change to policy is consistent with the Army's relaxation of rules in 2014, where they found no evidence to suggest the new approach has had an adverse impact on operational effectiveness. The main Royal Navy change is that tattoos on the neck are now acceptable providing they are not visible in a front-view passport photo while the subject is wearing an open-neck shirt. Tattoos on the hands are acceptable, provided they are not below the knuckle or on the palm of the hand. Navy chiefs stress most tattoos and piercings won't prevent recruits joining the Royal Marines providing they are not visible on a front-view passport. The tradition dates back more than 300 years when Captain Cook explored the Pacific and his crew copied the tattoos worn by natives as 'souvenirs'. Would-be recruits are told they will need to fill in a form describing their tattoos - and must also strip off to show them during the selection process. They will also be required to remove certain body jewellery before taking part in any physical activity. Racist and political imagery like the file images above making reference to far right political ideologies and racism would be banned under Royal Navy guidelines In 2013-14, the Army rejected 336 applications because of offensive or inappropriately placed tattoos, a Freedom of Information request showed (file image) Dubai will play host to the 87th International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) General Assembly 2018 from November 18 to 21. Held for the first time in the UAE, the Interpol General Assembly will bring together officials of public security departments and global experts to discuss vital safety and security issues. Delegates will identify the most important challenges, explore the future role of technology and artificial intelligence in the fight against terrorism and organised crime and discuss ways to enhance cooperation to make the world a safer place. Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri said that Dubai Police is keen to host international events such as the Interpol General Assembly that bring together police leaders and security experts from across the world to discuss security challenges and unite global efforts to combat transnational organised crime. We are delighted to welcome all the delegates of the Interpol General Assembly to Dubai. The international cooperation we have established to support Interpol objectives is a key element of our security strategy and our contributions to making the world a safer place, he added. He noted that with the rapid development of knowledge, science and technology, the security landscape is evolving rapidly and becoming more complex and globalised. In line with the UAE Centennial Plan 2071 launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Police is implementing AI technologies across its services. Dubai Polices Artificial Intelligence Strategic Plan seeks to anticipate future challenges, potential threats and crime trends. Maj-Gen Al Marri further said that Dubai Police has been an active member of Interpol: For the past few years, we have worked closely with local, regional and international police forces on various initiatives ranging from capacity building to drug seizure and prevention of crimes. Dubai Police, he said, has developed itself into one of the worlds best law enforcements organisations and gained a high reputation in combating organised crime both regionally and globally. He noted that the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) recently awarded Dubai Police the Platinum award for its outstanding results, making it the first police force in the world to receive the prestigious recognition. TradeArabia News Service Abattoir workers have been filmed using animal pens as toilets and throwing baby lambs around like toys in these shocking scenes exposed by a Spanish welfare group. The horrific footage secretly filmed in Segovia, north of Madrid, shows one worker talking on his phone for over a minute while a lamb dangles helplessly in mid-air in obvious pain. In another piece of footage a colleague appears to violate animal welfare rules by using his stun gun on the floor instead of on the animals to ease their suffering before they have their throats slit. Several lambs appeared to be near death or unable to stand up, when by law animals in their condition should be killed before reaching the abattoir. The horrific footage secretly filmed in Segovia, north of Madrid, shows one worker talking on his phone for over a minute while a lamb dangles helplessly in mid-air The animal rights group, Equalia, is pushing for mandatory CCTV in every slaughterhouse, similar to a law which took effect in England in May. The group said most of the dreadful images were filmed this year after an animal rights activist managed to breach security at the slaughterhouse and install hidden CCTV cameras. A worker can be seen talking on his mobile phone for more than a minute while a lamb dangles helplessly in mid-air - fully conscious and in obvious pain - before it is sent on for slaughter. Although the slaughterhouse has not been formally named by the NGO, it has been identified as the same one in the province of Segovia that last year was accused of fraudulently labelling meat. Silvia Mayorga, a spokesman for Equalia, said: 'We are disgusted at the treatment the animals receive and it worries us that some of the lambs that have entered the food chain are not apt for human consumption. 'We firmly believe that it is necessary that, by law and as happens in countries like England, every Spanish slaughterhouse has CCTV cameras in its installations to prevent cases of animal cruelty, guarantee greater security for workers and provide the transparency consumers deserve.' The group said most of the dreadful images were filmed this year after an animal rights activist managed to breach security at the slaughterhouse and install hidden CCTV Several lambs appeared to be near death or unable to stand up, when by law animals in their condition should be killed before reaching the abattoir Equalia said in a statement: 'The workers of this abattoir are not content with hitting, squashing, slapping and throwing the lambs. 'They also cause them terrible suffering by not always using stun machinery which is necessary to cause the animal less pain before they have their throats cut. 'It's scandalous to see how on occasions, one of the workers apparently pretends to stun the lambs by pressing his hand-held stun gun against the floor so it counts for real, therefore breaching European regulations relating to animal welfare and protection when it comes to their slaughter. 'In others, the machine where the lambs are placed before being slaughtered is left unattended with animals on them, prolonging their suffering and stress. 'Not only is this due to a mechanic failure because the video shows how an operator talks for more than a minute by mobile phone while a lamb is hanging fully conscious by one leg.' The animal rights group which took the footage, Equalia, is pushing for mandatory CCTV in every slaughterhouse, similar to a law which took effect in England in May Abattoir workers have been filmed using animal pens as toilets and throwing baby lambs around like toys in these shocking scenes Two men were given a year's suspended jail sentence in September 2016 for killing several pigs at a farm in Fuente Alamo in the south-eastern Spanish province of Murcia by beating and stabbing them. They were prosecuted after being filmed hitting the pregnant animals over the head with iron bars before digging dirty metals swords into their sides repeatedly. One of the men filmed played up to the camera as a pig writhed squealing and dying in front of them after he stabbed it repeatedly along with a colleague. He flexed his biceps as he stood over the animal after murdering it in the most savage way possible while a colleague joked out loud: 'Rest in peace.' The piglets inside the sows were pulled out of their mothers' stomachs alive after they were slaughtered. Four men were charged after the horrific footage was made public but arrest warrants were issued for two of them after they failed to attend trial. Stephen Prosser (pictured) is suing BA for sitting him next to an overweight passenger A company director is taking British Airways to court after claiming he suffered a pelvic injury from being wedged in next to an obese passenger on a 13-hour flight. Stephen Prosser, who is only 5ft 2in, is suing the airline after claiming that he was forced to sit crushed against the side of the plane by a 6ft 5in man weighing 23-stone who was sat in the middle. Mr Prosser, 51, claims BA staff refused to intervene and ask the man to move seats, during the flight from Bangkok to London Heathrow. He said that, as a result, he suffered nerve damage in his back and his pelvis was knocked out of alignment, forcing him to see a chiropractor for two years following the flight in January 2016. Mr Prosser, a freelance civil engineer from Tonypandy in South Wales, is seeking damages and loss of earnings claiming he had to limit his work for three months after the injury. The case will be heard on Friday at Pontypridd County Court. Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'I'd spent Christmas 2015 with some friends in Thailand and was returning home on January 10, 2016. 'I'd paid over 1,000 for the flight and usually I fly Thai Airways but because BA had a sale on and were cheaper I went with them. 'Just as the plane door was about to close, this 6ft 5in elk, weighing about 23-stone got on-board and sat between myself and another passenger who had the aisle seat. Mr Prosser (pictured in Thailand) says he is only 5ft 2in and he was wedged for 13 hours as a 6ft 5in male passenger weighing around 23 stone was sat in the middle seat next to him Mr Prosser, a freelance civil engineer from Tonypandy in South Wales, is seeking damages and loss of earnings from British Airways, claiming he suffered back and pelvis injuries on the flight 'He was a huge bloke, not just overweight but really big boned as well. He was a real lump. 'I felt discomfort as soon as he sat down because I was pinned against the side of the cabin. I'm only about 5ft 2in and weigh 10 stone. 'I suffered problems with my posture 12-years ago when I used to drive to Kent for work every week so I knew I was in trouble straight away. 'As soon as the plane had taken off and we were allowed out of our seats I took the matter up with the flight attendants. 'I asked whether they could move him or move me but it was a full flight and they decided not to move me to a crew member's seat because I'd have to keep on getting up to allow them to get to the galley. 'They said there wasn't anything they could do so I said I wanted to make a formal complaint which I did with the on-board customer services rep. 'But he went off to write a report on his iPad and I didn't see him again until an hour before landing. 'I had no choice but to go back to my seat and the discomfort at being squashed up against the cabin soon turned to agony. 'To be honest the big guy looked in pain himself as he had his knees wedged into the seat in front so I didn't want to bother him personally. 'I think it's up to the staff to take control of a situation like that and they should have asked the passenger on the aisle seat to swap with the larger man in the middle. 'But they didn't and I ended up doing a lot of damage to my back over the course of a nightmare 13-hours.' The father-of-two said he had to see a chiropractor after the flight and was unable to work for three months due to the injuries he says he sustained during the flight home from Bangkok Mr Prosser says he saw a private chiropractor when he returned home who said he had damaged his Sacroiliac Joints between his spine and pelvis. He also said that his pelvis was seven degrees out of alignment as a result. The father-of-two says he continued to see the chiropractor up until May this year. He added: 'I landed in London at about 7pm and drove the three hours home down the M4. 'When I got into work the following morning, people were commenting on my posture so I saw a local private chiropractor. 'He lay me flat down on the bed and noted that because my pelvis was out of alignment, my right leg was a few inches shorter than my left. 'During the flight my back had spasmed and my muscles contracted and pulled the pelvis up to protect it. 'For three months I was in a lot of pain but because safety is paramount in my job the sort of painkillers I can take are limited. 'The chiropractor worked on me for the best part of two years until about six months ago.' Mr Prosser said that he filled out an online complaint form on the BA website when he found out the extent of the damage to his back. However when he got no reply after a couple of weeks, he decided to email Troy Warfield, the then director of customer experience, directly. He added: 'British Airways shouldn't be able to get way with this so that's why I've gone down the legal route. 'I fly all the time and long-haul flights were absolutely no problem for me until this particular incident. 'For three months afterwards I had to limit the hours I worked because of the pain and as a freelance civil engineer, if I don't work I don't earn any money.' A spokeswoman for BA said that the company was resisting the claim, adding: 'However, as the case is subject to ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment.' The jihadi terrorist who blew up a ute and killed a beloved restaurant owner in an attack on Bourke Street in Melbourne worshipped at the same Islamic centre as the trio of men who plotted a Christmas Day massacre in the city's CBD. Hassan Khalif Shire Ali mounted a kerb, set his vehicle on fire and stabbed three people in a terrifying rampage on Bourke Street on Friday. Before carrying out the horrific acts of violence, Ali often prayed at the Hume Islamic Youth Centre in Coolaroo, 20km north of Melbourne. Hamza Abbas, 23, his cousin Abdullah Chaarani, 27, and Ahmed Mohamed, 25, also met at the centre just days before they hoped to massacre hundreds of people on Christmas Day 2016. Hassan Khalif Shire Ali (left) mounted a kerb, set his vehicle on fire and stabbed three people in a terrifying rampage on Bourke Street on Friday Before carrying out the horrific acts of violence, Ali often prayed at the Hume Islamic Youth Centre in Coolaroo, 20km north of Melbourne Hamza Abbas, 23, his cousin Abdullah Chaarani, 27, and Ahmed Mohamed, 25, met at the centre (pictured) on December 20, just days before they hoped to massacre hundreds of people on Christmas Day 2016 The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) began tracking the men at the 'eleventh hour' after a young female officer noticed them at a chemist shop late at night collecting materials to make bombs. A WhatsApp conversation between Chaarani and Mohamed mentioned the youth centre, as the group schemed to drive a vehicle into crowds at Federation Square on Christmas Day before jumping out and slashing people with knives. Despite ASIO being aware of Ali's radical tendencies, he was still able to mount the kerb on the busy shopping strip before launching into an ISIS-inspired attack. An ASIO spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the organisation does not maintain a 'terror watch list' but uses 'a range of prioritisation systems and review mechanisms... in relation to counter terrorism'. 'Consistent with long-standing practice, ASIO does not comment on individuals, intelligence or operational matters,' the spokesperson said. Extremists 'Jihadi Jake' Bilardi and suicide bomber Adam Dahman also had links to the Hume centre. Centre leader Sheik Mohammed Omran blamed mental health issues, rather than terrorism, for Friday's attack on Bourke Street. It is not suggested that Mr Omran in any way incited the carrying out of any illegal act, nor that he had any knowledge of any person carrying out or proposing to carry out any illegal act. 'Let's say they are coming here. Why not? This is the youth centre. If it is possible for me to get everyone from the street and put them here I will. This is my job, to bring people from the street, from the drugs, to the mosque,' he told The Australian. 'They came here and they came to hundreds of places. They gather in McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, they gather in so many mosques. The maximum authority we have is to call triple zero when we have something we think he is a suspect.' Mohammed Yusuf, a spokesman for Sheik Mohammed Omran, questioned why police were treating the incident on Bourke Street as terrorism. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) began tracking the men at the 'eleventh hour' after a young female officer noticed them at a chemist shop late at night. Pictured: Hamza Abbas Melbourne teenager, Adam Dahman, visited the youth centre before killing five people in a suicide bombing in Iraq 'One of the reasons for treating it as terrorism is the guy died, he said 'Allahu Akbar' OK? You know what Allahu Akbar means? ''Allah the greatest'', ''God is the greatest'',' Mr Yusuf told 3AW. 'Muslims say that in their prayers, they say it all the time and in fact your last word as your soul leaves your body.' Other terrorists with links to the Hume Islamic Youth Centre include 'Jihadi Jake' Bilardi, who dropped out of school in 2014 to become a jihadi. He told SBS he often visited the centre. After leaving Australia for the Middle East, pictures of Bilardi emerged showing the 18-year-old posing in front of an ISIS flag and holding a rifle. 'Jihadi Jake' Bilardi (centre) dropped out of school in 2014 to become a jihadi Materials for making improvised explosive devices were found at his home in Melbourne and he was linked to a suicide bombing in Iraq. Another Melbourne teenager, Adam Dahman, also visited the youth centre. He strapped a suicide bomb to himself and detonated it near a mosque in Baghdad, Iraq in 2014, killing five people and injuring 90 others. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack and hailed Dahman as a martyr. Australian military bases could soon have gender-neutral toilets for transgender and intersex personnel under a new push to be 'inclusive'. The Defence Force has ordered commanders to reevaluate facilities after concerns were raised there were no loos for those who did not identify as male or female. Briefs circulated to senior members called for gender neutral bathrooms to be made available to sex and gender diverse (SGD) members where it was 'feasible' to do so. Documents, accessed under Freedom of Information laws, suggested rebranding disabled toilets as an option. Taxpayers will be forced to fork out for the new facilities which would be rolled out across army, navy and air force bases across the country. Transgender and intersex members of the Army could soon have their own taxpayer funded gender-neutral toilets if an inclusive new policy is adopted by the Australian Defence Force 'The Chain of Command must consider how to accommodate SGD members in environments where ablutions may not be segregated and or private (such as some barracks ablutions, field toilets and open communal same sex showers),' one of the briefing notes read. 'Commanders are to manage SGD member use of ablutions on a case-by-case basis taking into account the facilities, nature of training or operations, and needs/requests of the relevant member(s) and their colleagues.' 'A number of units have commenced adapting or seeking to adapt their facilities to unisex in order to accommodate any combination of male, female or other gender(s) working within their units.' Briefings also stated a number of units had either planned to or begun their process of adapting existing facilities, but needed to meet potential costly specific requirements. Documents ordered command to make gender neutral bathrooms available to sex and gender diverse (SGD) members where it was 'feasible' to do so The move was slammed by Liberal senator Eric Abetz who said the ADF should prioritise keeping troops safe abroad rather than 'this kind of expenditure'. Senator Abetz labeled it an 'extraordinary waster of money' and said it was a clear show that 'highly paid bureaucrats had 'too much time on their hands'. He announced he would be looking into the project and finding out how much money the department was 'wasting'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Australian Defence Force for comment. Two teenage girls have been charged after $600 worth of sex toys were stolen from an adult super store. The 19-year-olds are accused of stealing four high-end vibrators from the sex toy shop Libido in Perth's Northbridge at 12.10am on Sunday. Police will allege the pair from Wanneroo removed packaging from the vibrators and left the store with the sex toys hidden in their clothing. Scroll down for video Two of the women, one wearing high-waisted lace pants and a crop top, allegedly removed packaging of high-end vibrators and left the store with the items hidden in their clothing Police released images of women caught on CCTV footage that they police can assist in the investigation The charges come after police released CCTV footage of a group of three girls they believed could help with the investigation. Two of the girls were charged on Wednesday, both with one count of stealing, a police spokesman said. They have been issued with a Criminal Code Infringement Notice. The third girl will not be charged. Libido owner Garry Smith told Daily Mail Australia four of his best-selling vibrators had been stolen. One of the vibrators, the Come Hither Rabbit, was valued at $280. Mr Smith had offered a $50 voucher to anyone who could identify the girls on the CCTV footage. A group of three women (pictured) were seen on CCTV footage entering the sex toy shop Libido in Perth at 12.10am on Sunday Speed cameras have raked in nearly $1 billion in revenue in the past six years from New South Wales alone as authorities plan to install more devices in 2019. About 650,000 motorists are pinged each year in NSW. In 2013/14, speed cameras raked in $150 million while in 2017/18 the figure rose to $200 million. Total figures for the six-year period from 2013 to 2018 came to $937 million, and it is estimated this now sits at more than $1 billion. Now a further 19 speed cameras are to be rolled out across Sydney next year. Scroll down for video Speed cameras in New South Wales have raked in nearly $1 billion in fines over the last six years, and authorities are installing 19 more in locations across the state next year Bernard Carlon from the Centre for Road Safety told 7 News they were putting more cameras in places they know people are being killed or seriously injured. Rooty Hill, Warwick Farm, Merrylands, Bass Hill and Silverwater in the Sydney area will have new speed cameras next year. Coffs Harbour, Charlestown, Towradgi and Nowra will also get new speed cameras as police extend presence in regional centres. Motoring expert Ian Luff told reporters the fines were like a 'speeding tax', and said more needs to be done. 'Rolling out speed cameras is not the answer, better education is the answer,' he said. His view was echoed by NRMA representative Peter Koury who said there was 'no point' in just collecting revenue from speed cameras. Bernard Carlon from the Centre for Road Safety told 7 News they are putting more cameras in places they know people are being killed or seriously injured 'Rolling out speed cameras is not the answer, better education is the answer': Motoring expert Ian Luff told reporters the fines were like a 'speeding tax', and said more needs to be done 'We want to change people's behaviours,' he said. Speeding fines and camera positioning rules differ vastly from state to state and according to Cars Guide, one motorist is fined for speeding every 20 seconds in Victoria. Victoria Road Safety Camera Commissioner John Voyage told reporters that motorists shouldn't know where speed cameras are located. 'If people don't know where the cameras are, they have to assume they could be anywhere, and then they have to stick to the limit at all times,' he said. NRMA representative Peter Koury said there was 'no point' in just collecting revenue from speed cameras Between July and September 2016, 12,862 speeding fines were issued in the state. The highest earning mobile speed camera spot in South Australia raked in a whopping $659,153 in 2015 and is located on Waverly Ridge Road, Crafters West. Revenue from speed cameras in South Australia over the past four years reportedly totalled $26.2 million. Over in West Australia, police are generally happy for drivers to be aware of speed camera locations, with mobile-camera locations published online every week. Speeding fines and camera positioning rules differ vastly from state to state and according to Cars Guide, one motorist is fined for speeding every 20 seconds in Victoria Roe Highway, Beckenham is the state's highest earning speed camera spot, with the top three locations bringing in $97 million between them in 2017. Queensland has 3700 approved mobile speed camera sites and in 2014-15, its highest earning spot Legacy Way Tunnel, Brisbane handed out 36,092 fines. Tasmania's highest earning speed camera location is Brooker Highway, Rosetta which caught 1970 drivers in 2015, with its total number of fines for that year hitting 5600. The retirement village operator that sacked its Poo Jogger executive for defecating in a neighbour's driveway has taken a hammering on the stock market. Aveo's share prices plummeted 10.4 per cent to $1.69 after it declined to back its earnings guidance at its shareholder meeting on Wednesday. A disappointing forecast and large protest vote against the company's pay practices also contributed to driving the share price down, The Australian reported. In June 2018, one of the company's senior mangers, Andrew Douglas Macintosh, 64, was outed as being Brisbane's Poo Jogger. He was charged with public nuisance after he was caught defecating while going for a jog. Former Aveo senior manger, Andrew Douglas Macintosh, 64, was outed as being Brisbane's infamous Poo Jogger HOW THE POO JOGGER SCANDAL UNFOLDED Mr Macintosh first had his reputation smeared in May, when a photograph surfaced of him squatting on the privately-owned footpath of an apartment block in Greenslopes, south-east Brisbane - evacuating his bowels. Residents claim the mysterious mess had been appearing on the pathway for months on end, with the culprit committing the act 30 times over the course of a year before he was finally caught one fateful dawn. The incriminating image - which definitively shows the culprit in the middle of the act: pants around his knees, staring straight into the camera - was later posted to Facebook in an attempt to identify the miscreant. The scandal came to a head in June, when the poo jogger was finally outed as none other than Mr Macintosh: the national quality manager of retirement village company Aveo. He resigned days later after seven years in the role, with Aveo Group saying they were 'distressed and disappointed at the alleged incidents concerning Mr Macintosh.' Advertisement But chief executive Geoff Grady blamed market conditions for not revealing the financial year earnings, The Financial Review reported. 'Due to current market conditions and uncertainty around future sales levels, management will not be confirming financial year 2019 earnings per share guidance today,' Mr Grady said at the annual meeting. 'Negativity around residential markets will however both constrain the number of sales able to be written and the time to affect settlement timeframes. This has been particularly noticeable in Sydney.' Aside from the Poo Jogger (pictured), the retirement village operator has made headlines for allegations of churning residents, fee-gouging and misleading marketing promises The retirement village operator that sacked its Poo Jogger executive for defecating in a neighbour's driveway has taken a hammering on the stock market (stock image) Mr Grady said due to the current market conditions there was uncertainty about future sales for the company, The Brisbane Times reported. In 2018, Aveo reported sales of 974 units, compared to 1242 units in 2017. On Wednesday, it was revealed the company had slashed its sales forecast for 2019 from 1,500 units to 1,150 as a result of the current number of sales across its villages. Aveo has also scaled back its development plans for 2020, with investors told the company planned to focus on selling stock already developed. Morningstar analyst Tony Sherlock said that while the whole property sector had stalled, the negative press Aveo received in 2017 hadn't helped its sales. While shareholders were told not to expect significant profits until the second half of the financial year, the company did insist it was 'cautiously optimistic' about the upcoming year. Aveo chairman, Malaysian billionaire Seng Huang Lee, told shareholders despite the uncertainty, the company still believed Aveo was significantly undervalued. 'It is our view that Aveo's current security price, which is trading at a discount of 52 per cent to net asset value, does not reflect the underlying value of our market-leading retirement business,' he said. A family is in mourning after their teenage daughter died from an allergic reaction to a meal. Edyn Rubena-Misilisi, 16, who managed anaphylaxis her whole life, only realised the dish contained traces of nuts when her body went into shock mode. She quickly excused herself and headed home before injecting herself with Epipen, a device which administers adrenaline in a bid to combat severe allergic reactions. Realising her reaction was worse than she initially thought, she then called an ambulance to her home in Auckland, New Zealand. Edyn Rubena-Misilisi (pictured) tragically passed away on Monday after an allergic reaction to a meal she enjoyed with friends recently The beloved teenager in hospital surrounded by her friends before she tragically passed away Minutes later, Bonita Rubena-Misilisi, Edyn's mum, discovered her daughter collapsed on her bed. A medic performed CPR before Edyn was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma for five days. On Saturday, doctors attempted to take her out of the coma to see if she could breathe on her own, but it was too late. Edyn Rubena-Misilini passed away on Monday. Manurewa High School principal Pete Jones described Edyn as an 'outstanding student.' 'She also fully involved herself in the life of our school and truly lived our values,' he told the New Zealand Herald. 'Edyn was always generous with her time and was always thinking of other people.' Doctors asked Mrs Rubena-Misilisi and her husband Morris if they would consider donating their daughter's organs. Edyn Rubena-Misilisi (pictured right) in a recent photo with family members After deciding to give away Edyn's liver, kidneys and heart, Mrs Rubena-Misilisi said her daughter will be remembered as a selfless lover of life. 'It was such a difficult decision to make, but I guess in the end it gave us a sense of calm to know that Edyn would be saving someone else which is exactly the type of person she was,' she said. 'To know that she might go on living in someone else gave us peace.' A Givealittle fundraising page has been established to help support the family. Terrorists found guilty of planning to kill Australians on Christmas Day exploited the arcade system of suppression orders in an attempt to hide their identities. Homegrown terrorists Abdullah Chaarani, 27, Ahmed Mohamed, 25, and Hamza Abbas, 23 - whose defences were each funded by Victorian Legal Aid - could be jailed for life for their roles in the plot to kill innocent people using machetes and and suicide vests. The attempt to use the legal system to suppress their identities came despite the men expressing disdain for the Australian justice system - laughing and joking when they were found guilty. The trio all applied to have their identities suppressed after being found guilty following a 10-week trial that would have already cost more than $1 million to run. A court sketch of the three terrorists as they stood trial in the Supreme Court Terrorist Ibrahim Abbas claimed he ordered his brother Hamza (pictured), cousin Abdullah Chaarani and friend Ahmed Mohamed, to cause 'high casualties' in ISIS' name, the court heard Despite Ibrahim claiming to be the main conspirer, his three sidekicks were found guilty of equal charges earlier this month after a 10 week trial (Ahmed Mohamed pictured) The appeal, bringing in the cost of not only the terrorists' legal teams, but judges, court staff and use of the building, would have run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Arrogant Mohamed and Chaarani laughed and chatted between the individual verdicts. Victorian Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto wants the laws around court suppression orders changed Last year, their supporters caused similar outrage during a preliminary hearing when they refused to stand for the magistrate. Opposition Attorney General John Pesutto said the suppression application was yet another example of the Victorian justice system's abuse of suppression orders. 'While there may be sound national security grounds for suppression orders in some cases, there is clear evidence of a massive overuse of suppression orders in Victoria,' he said. The trio fronted the Supreme Court in Victoria on Wednesday for staging a 2016 Christmas day attack in Melbourne's CBD (Abdullah Chaarani pictured) 'This means that Victorians are not being told the full truth about very serious crimes coming before our courts. The jury took just over six days to deliver their verdict on November 2, after a lengthy trial that heard the men had bought machetes, metal pipes, light globes and batteries to make explosives, and had tried to obtain guns. Hamza Abbas's brother Ibrahim Abbas was the key witness in the case. While the entire trial was open to public consumption, the men applied for a court suppression order upon the jury finding them guilty. The court-imposed gag order was denied by trial Judge Christopher Beale, but he suppressed the verdict to allow the men's defence lawyers time to appeal his decision in a higher court. And even the reasons for the suppression order cannot be reported. The appeal judges rejected the application to have the verdict suppressed. Mr Pesutto said the Opposition would open up the court system to bring it into line with other Australian jurisdictions - allowing 'greater transparency and scrutiny about just what goes on inside our courts'. The terrorists had planned to attack the centre of Melbourne, including St Paul's Church (above) and Federation Square In handing down its decision, the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal stated the public was already fully aware of what the men had been accused of doing. 'The trial has been fully reported and that genie cannot be put back in the bottle,' the court stated. 'That the trial has been fully reported gives rise to a separate consideration, of real significance. It is that the non-publication of the verdicts in a much-publicised trial would be likely to undermine public confidence in the system of criminal justice.' The court ruled a jury's verdict as 'the embodiment the expression of community participation in criminal justice'. 'Publication of verdicts is essential to the legitimacy of our system of jury trial,' the court stated. 'What is determinative is the fundamental importance of the open justice principle, coupled with the lack of a proven necessity for the making of suppression orders.' The appeal is the latest slap in the face in a long list of slaps to Victorians by the men and their supporters. During a pre-trial hearing for the men last year, their supporters refused to stand for the magistrate in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. Magistrate Peter Mealy lashed out at the time, telling the group that standing at the opening of a court hearing was a 'simple act of courtesy in this country'. 'It's a sign of respect for the law and justice,' he said. 'Some here today choose not to adhere to that simple custom.' An Alabama tour bus bound for a Mississippi casino overturned Wednesday on an icy highway, leaving two people dead and 44 others aboard with injuries, authorities said, as a pre-winter storm blasted parts of the South and lower Midwest. Killed were 70-year-old Betty Russell and 61-year-old Cynthia Hardin, both of Huntsville, Alabama, said DeSoto County Coroner Joshua Pounders. The injured were taken to Memphis-area hospitals, with at least three listed in serious condition Wednesday evening. The National Weather Service says snow and ice fell during the day across parts of Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. Snow and ice are predicted Thursday and Friday for areas ranging from Ohio and the Appalachian Mountains through Washington, D.C., New York and New England from the storm barreling toward the Northeast. Witnesses told Mississippi investigators that the bus driver lost control after crossing an icy overpass and the bus rolled over on its driver's side, coming to rest in median of Interstate 269 in Byhalia around 12:35 p.m., said Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Capt. Johnny Poulos. That Mississippi town is about 35 miles southeast of downtown Memphis, Tennessee. Betty Russell Storm, 70, (pictured) was one of the Huntsville, Alabama women killed in the Wednesday tour bus crash. Cynthia Hardin, 61, was also pronounced dead The tour bus flipped on its side in DeSoto County at I-269 and Route 78, causing two fatalities and multiple injuries in winter conditions Witnesses told Mississippi investigators that the bus driver lost control after crossing an icy overpass and the bus rolled over on its driver's side Law enforcement officers inspect the site where a tour bus carrying passengers overturned just after midday on Wednesday Officials said the group was bound from Huntsville, Alabama, to gamble at a casino in Mississippi's Tunica County, about 40 miles to the west. The red tour bus with white and gray stripes was later towed from the crash site, its windows mostly missing and a smell of gasoline lingering in the air. Large scratches and other damage were visible on the driver's side. Poulos said investigators hadn't yet concluded how fast the bus was traveling. He said because the road was icy, investigators have no skid marks to evaluate as part of their investigation. 'We can't really tell what the vehicle did,' said Poulos, adding more findings could be available Thursday. The bus was operated by Teague VIP Express, based in Anniston, Alabama. The company posted a message on its Facebook page that said: 'Our hearts and prayers go out to victims of this tragedy. Please keep everyone involved and families in your prayers.' The company has only three buses and three drivers, according to licensing information from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The agency gives Teague a satisfactory rating and lists no crashes in the last two years. However, agency records show Teague had three buses fail random unannounced inspections in February 2017. One bus was ordered off the road because of worn, welded or missing steering system components and a second bus was ordered off the road because of steering problems and defective or missing axle parts. A third bus was ordered off the road because of a cracked or broken wheel or rim, records show. A Teague driver was ordered out of service in September 2017 after an Alabama traffic stop found the driver didn't have the required duty status records, according to the records. There was no indication Wednesday's crash was related to the violations. The bus sits on a highway after it crashed in northern Mississippi, killing at least two people and injuring dozens on Wednesday A worker sweeps up debris from the scene of a bus crash that killed at least two people and injured dozens on Wednesday Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spokesman Willam DeBruyne declined to comment on Teague VIP's safety record. He said a bus is only ordered out of service because of an 'imminent hazard.' 'It's so egregious that the vehicle cannot be allowed to operate,' he said. The coroner declined to describe the causes of the deaths and no autopsies were planned. In Washington, National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway said the federal agency hasn't determined yet whether it will investigate Wednesday's crash. It was the second charter bus excursion to a Mississippi casino town to end in fatalities in two years. A bus carrying Texas senior citizens to a Gulf Coast casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, got stuck on train tracks and was slammed by a freight train in March 2017. The crash resulted in four deaths and 38 injuries. The NTSB found that the probable cause of the crash was the failure of a railroad and the city to work together to improve the safety of a sharply humped railroad crossing where it was well known that vehicles occasionally got stuck. Around the upper South, meanwhile, the storm spread scattered sleet and light snow. Flash flood watches were posted for parts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Freeze warnings were posted as far south as the Gulf Coast. And in Virginia, NASA said, the planned launch early Thursday of an unmanned cargo rocket to the International Space Station had to be rescheduled by one day because of the weather. The unmanned Cygnus cargo craft is now to lift off early Friday from Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore carrying with supplies and research materials for the astronauts aloft. The tour bus is towed away Wednesday after it overturned on an icy highway in northern Mississippi The crash came as a winter storm has been raking parts of the South. The county coroner, Josh Pounders, says two people are confirmed dead in the crash where Interstate 269 meets with Interstate 22 Riyadh Development Authority (RDA) previously The High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh - has awarded naming rights for eight Riyadh Metro stations to leading commercial organisations from Saudi Arabia and the region, generating a total of SR1.045 billion ($278.7 million) over the 10-year period of the contracts. The results of the station naming rights auction for the Riyadh Metro network was announced on November 14 at an event. Each of the winning bidders has been awarded a 10-year contract, which will see their brands featured as the name of a Riyadh Metro station in a naming rights sponsorship deal, said a statement. During a ceremony at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh, presided over by HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh, the new map of the Riyadh Metro network was unveiled, featuring the logo of the winning naming rights partners at their respective stations. The winning companies, the stations and the chosen station names are: * The Saudi British Bank - Olaya St./King Salman Rd - The Saudi British Bank (Line 1) * Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group - Olaya St./Anas bin Malik Rd.- Dr Sulaiman Al Habib (Line 1) * Alinma Bank - Olaya St./Musa bin Nosair St.- Alinma Bank (Line 1) * Bank Abilad - Olaya St./Prince Mohamed bin Abdulaziz St. - Bank Abilad (Line 1) * Saudi Telecom Company - Olaya St./King Abdullah Rd. - STC (Line 1 & 2) * Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls Company - King Abdullah Rd./Al Najah St. - City Centre Ishbiliyah (Line 2) * Sabic - Al Imam Mohamed bin Saoud Islamic University - Sabic (Line 4 & 6) * Granada Investment Center - Abi Jaafar Al Mansoor Rd./Eastern Ring Road (North of Granada Mall) - Granadia (Line 6) Among additional benefits, sponsors will also be entitled to retail space, advertising and signage within their stations, together with a range of other activation opportunities, allowing them to engage with the 3.6 million ultimate daily users of the Metro network, in a unique and innovative fashion. Todays event demonstrates the success of the Riyadh Metros first commercial initiative. Our programme has broken records and initially raised more long-term revenues than any other public transport naming rights programme globally, stated Tariq Al Faris, CEO of the Riyadh Development Authority. To have many of the kingdoms leading companies participate in such a programme demonstrates the important role they believe the Riyadh Public Transit Network will play in citizens lives, added Al Faris. All large companies meeting RDAs strict pre-qualification auction requirements, were given a fair and equal opportunity to bid on a shortlist of Riyadh Metro stations. The latter was awarded in each case to the highest bidder, with all accepted bids required to meet or exceed the set minimum bid prices, the statement said. We had stronger than expected interest in the naming rights opportunity and we are delighted to award eight of the 85 Metro stations to our new commercial partners, continued Al Faris. The companies will provide vibrant community hubs along the Metro lines through their presence, delivering convenience and unique brand experiences that will benefit network users. Moreover, the revenue generated from this initiative will be re-invested into the operation of the Metro system, to help keep its operational costs down, he concluded. This is the first in a series of commercial initiatives using private sector participation to generate non-ticket revenue, in line with Vision 2030. RDA will be tendering further commercial opportunities across the entire Riyadh Public Transit System - such as retail, advertising and telecommunication - as it moves towards network operations, it said. - TradeArabia News Service A private school teacher was left humiliated after an explicit video her husband sent to a 17-year-old boy was seen by her students. The man chatted to the teenager from his wife's private school in Sydney last year, referring to him as 'my little schoolboy' and sharing a clip of himself engaged in a sex act. The male student attended another New South Wales private school, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'Mmm perfect. I stroke your naked body as u nuzzle my chest and nipples. My warm groin against your skin as I cup your smooth butt in my hand. Take a video for me?,' were among the messages seen by a number of the teacher's female students. Explicit video and texts a teacher's husband sent from his wife's school to a 17-year-old boy have been uncovered by her students (stock) 'Take a video for me?,' were among the messages, which were seen by the teacher's female students A concerned parent is understood to have reported the matter to the police and the school, before its principal told parents the man 'will not be returning to the school grounds'. 'I would appreciate it if you do not discuss this situation amongst yourselves as I am sure that you very much value the privacy of our member of staff who is highly respected and much loved by the girls and their parents,' the principal wrote. One parent described the principal's letter as an 'insulting gag order'. 'Those girls who knew about it are still talking about it, especially with the current mixed messages of homosexuality and where the Sydney Anglican diocese stands on this subject,' the parent said. The school was among 34 Anglican schools to sign the Anglican 'religious freedoms' letter which was sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, requesting exemptions under the Sex Discrimination Act. The letter urged the federal government not to bow to pressure to overhaul anti-discrimination laws to protect gay teachers and students. The age of consent in New South Wales 16. A woman who was held captive in a basement dungeon spoke of her horrific ordeal as a prosecutor involved in the case said the scene was the worst thing you will see. Tamara Breeden, 36, was one of several people with a developmental disability who was held captive in squalid conditions in what became known as the Philadelphia House of Horrors. Linda Ann Weston, the ringleader and mastermind, was sentenced to life in prison plus 80 years in 2015 after Tamara and three others were found in a basement in the Tacony area of the city in 2011. Tamara Breeden (left) along with other people with developmental disability, was held captive for ten years in the basement of a Tacony home by Linda Ann Weston (right) The dank sub-basement room in Philadelphia where four weak and malnourished mentally disabled adults, one chained to the boiler, were found in October 2011 Federal prosecutor Richard Barrett, who was involved in the case, recalled that the basement 'was the worst thing you will ever see' such were the horrendous conditions inside. Weston and three co-conspirators were charged with stealing the identities of mentally disabled people and using their social security benefits for their own gains. At the time investigators said they believed there were more victims but there was no record of them being held there. In 2001, Linda Weston kidnapped Tamara Breeden, then 20, saying she was taking her to babysit. Instead Weston dragged Breeden to a basement and chained her to a boiler. She told NBC10: She hit me with a metal bat. I had to block my face, so she couldn't get to my face. 'I see my scars every time, but I say to God, I am still beautiful and I am still alive,' Breeden said. I kept praying to Jesus and praying to God that I could get back home to my family. I thought I was going to die there.' Breeden, who has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, was joined by other mentally impaired adults and their disability checks were stolen by Weston. She now focuses on her art and three children, two of whom were born in captivity. Her youngest child, Ava Olivia, lives with Breeden and Breeden's parents in Kensington. 'She means everything to me. My heart, my soul, and my love. Tamara Breeden shows the scars she sustained after beatings by Linda Weston Her face and body still bear the scars left by Linda Weston after several beatings by her Tamara Breeden, pictured with one of her daughters, (above) now lives for her children 'I feel nice and happy', she explained. At Weston's trial, Breeden had testified that she was forced to have children with another captive. She was also forced to drink her own urine. She testified that she was regularly beaten with bats, sticks and chains, shot with a BB gun, and held in a trailer where Weston brought 'older mans' to have sex with her. The woman told the court that she is working to build a relationship with her children, who found out in 2011 that she was their biological mother. Federal prosecutors Richard Barrett and Faithe Taylor, who were both involved in the case, argued that the heinous deeds constituted hate crimes because Weston and her partners targeted people with disabilities who could not care for themselves. Faithe Taylor told NBC10: 'If you were a man, she would be your girlfriend. If you needed a mother, she would be your mother.' Over the course of a decade, Weston moved her victims from a trailer in Texas to an attic in Virginia before eventually landing in Northeast Philadelphia. Prosecutors Richard Barrett (left) and Faithe Taylor (right) said it was the worst case they ever encountered and described the scene as 'the worst thing you could ever see' Gregory Thomas, 47, (left) and Eddie Wright, 49, (right) were also accused of stealing the victims' Social Security checks Weston's daughter Jean McIntosh was sentenced to 40 years in prison for her role in a decade-long plot to kidnap mentally disabled adults, enslave them and steal their government benefit checks Linda Weston's daughter, Jean McIntosh, 38, was also sentenced to 40 years in prison for her role in kidnapping, torturing and enslaving disabled adults in August 2018. Prosecutors counted at least a dozen victims throughout that time, including some who died in captivity. Others like Breedon gave birth in captivity as well. Some of the victims recount children they had that there is no record of,' Taylor said. They recount other victims we could not trace.' Authorities said Weston forced two female victims into prostitution to earn more money for the family when they lived in Texas and Florida. Two other women died while living with Weston, leading to murder charges that made her eligible for the death penalty. The sub-basement room in Philadelphia where four weak and malnourished mentally disabled adults were found being held against their will Victims were forced to lie on plastic mattresses and had little food in the House of Horros A police officer walks down the steps leading to the basement where the captives were held Authorities said Maxine Lee, a disabled Philadelphia woman, died of meningitis and starvation while living with Weston in Virginia in 2008. Another woman identified in court papers as DS died in Philadelphia in 2005 after prosecutors said Weston fed her drug-laced food while keeping her captive in a laundry room. Weston allegedly staged the death to look like an overdose. When the charges were filed, Weston had already served time for the starvation death of a man she locked in her Philadelphia apartment nearly three decades ago. In September, Weston pleaded guilty to 196 criminal counts, including kidnapping, racketeering conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, hate crimes, sex trafficking and fraud in exchange for prosecutors agreement not to pursue a death sentence. They instead recommended her current sentence. Weston has been in custody since October 2011, when a landlord found the four bedraggled adults locked in a squalid boiler room of a home in the Tacony section of northeast Philadelphia and called police. One man was found chained to a boiler. An evil step-father has admitted to repeatedly torturing and savagely beating two young girls - bashing one of them to death. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, subjected his two step-daughters aged 10 and 12 years old to sickening assaults at their home in the New South Wales Hunter Region. The 10-year-old girl was tied to a bed and beaten, hit over the head with a metal spoon, thrown to the ground, had her arm broken, punched in the ribs until they fractured and hit with a power cord, the Newcastle Herald reported. She was also subjected to a three-day long beating carried out by her step-father, during which he placed metal balls inside a necktie and whipped her. On the second day of the ordeal, she walked out of the room to find her family sitting around a dinner table eating McDonald's. An evil step-father has admitted to repeatedly torturing and savagely beating two young girls - bashing one of them to death (stock image) Despite the girl's serious injuries, her mother did nothing to stop the attacks and did not seek medical attention for her. The beatings have had such a physical and emotional toll on the girl that she was unable to provide a statement to be read in court, Justice Peter Hamill said. She was kept out of school for weeks at a time due to her injuries, and it was only after her sister's death that she saw a doctor. The girl has been separated from her extended family, and told her foster carer that she 'despairs that she will never be able to speak to her ''best friend'' again', Justice Hamill said. 'She misses her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins from whom she has been separated as a result of these events,' he said. 'She feels she will need ongoing psychological support for the rest of her life. She sleeps with the light on every night. 'She says ''Every day this is with me. This is my story and I wish it wasn't''.' The step-father also beat and killed the girl's 12-year-old sister, who was found dead in her bed in September 2015. The step-father is serving 37-year sentence in jail for her murder, and on Wednesday he appeared in Newcastle Local Court He is serving 37-year sentence in jail for her murder, and on Wednesday he appeared in Newcastle Local Court. He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and will be sentenced next year. He is eligible for parole in 2043 at age 59, when he will be deported back to Africa. The girls' mother pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to 'gross criminal negligence' and to failing to provide for a child causing danger or serious injury. Attorney Michael Avenatti has posted $50,000 bail and vowed to be exonerated following an arrest for domestic violence in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Earlier on Wednesday, an unidentified woman filed a criminal complaint against the lawyer with authorities in Los Angeles. The alleged incident took place on Tuesday at an apartment in the Century City section of Los Angeles. Law enforcement sources said that the woman's face was 'swollen and bruised' when she submitted her complaint to authorities, according to TMZ. Aventti's estranged wife, Lisa Storie, was initially said to be the alleged victim of the attack, but she denied any incident took place and defended her former husband. Storie told CNN: 'I havent see Michael in months. Its a complete fabrication. Bruises on my face? It is insanity. He wouldnt hit anybody. Especially a woman. Hes got two daughters' Speaking outside the LAPDs Pacific Division Station after his release on bail, Avenatti, who is porn star Stormy Daniels' lawyer, said: I have never struck a woman, I never will strike a woman, I have been an advocate for womens rights my entire career and I will continue to be an advocate. Scroll down for video Michael Avenatti, the attorney for Stormy Daniels, has reportedly been arrested for domestic violence. Avenatti is seen above speaking to the press after being released from custody on Wednesday following his arrest in Los Angeles Law enforcement sources told TMZ that the woman's face was 'swollen and bruised' when she submitted her complaint to authorities. Avenatti is seen above leaving the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division after posting bail on Wednesday I am not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing. I am a father to two beautiful smart daughters, I would never disrespect them by touching a woman inappropriately or striking a woman. I am looking forward to a full investigation at which point I am confident that I will be fully exonerated. I also want to thank everyone for their support that has reached out. You know my character, you know me as a man and I appreciate it. Thank you. Sources told TMZ that the duo had another confrontation on Wednesday. The unnamed woman was seen Wednesday running out of the apartment and screaming into her cell phone while wearing sunglasses to conceal the alleged bruises on her face. 'I can't believe you did this to me,' she reportedly yelled into the phone. Security guards then led the woman back inside the building, according to TMZ. Five minutes later, Avenatti showed up and ran into the building, chasing after her. 'She hit me first,' Avenatti is reported to have said repeatedly. 'This is bulls***, this is f***ing bulls***,' he angrily said. Avenatti was released from police custody after posting $50,000 bail on Wednesday He was met by a large contingent of reporters gathered outside the police station in Culver City Avenatti released a statement after his arrest on Wednesday denying the allegations Avenatti gained fame from his work with Daniels (seen left with the attorney in Hollywood, California this past May) Investigators told TMZ that Avenatti kicked the woman out of his apartment on Tuesday, which was when the alleged incident took place. She then returned to the apartment on Wednesday to retrieve her things and asked police to wait nearby in case things escalated. Avenatti was booked on Wednesday night and released on $50,000 bail. He has been barred from going near his alleged victim, who obtained an emergency protective order. Outside the police station he said: Im going to make this very brief and very succinct. First of all I want to thank the hard working men and women for their professionalism and their work today. They had no option in light of the allegations.' Speaking from the back of a Range Rover that drove him away from the police station, Avenatti told DailyMail.com the charge against him is completely bogus. I would love to comment on it and Im looking forward to the truth coming out, he said. Avenatti later tweeted: 'Thank you to everyone who has reached out with supportive messages and offers of assistance' Avenatti posted another tweet late Wednesday, saying: 'I want to be clear: I DID NOT commit domestic violence nor have I ever committed domestic violence' Avenatti later tweeted: 'Thank you to everyone who has reached out with supportive messages and offers of assistance. 'It means the world to me. 'I have always been an advocate of women's rights and equality & I always will be. 'I will not be intimidated into stopping my pursuit of justice and what is right.' Avenatti posted another tweet late Wednesday, saying: 'I want to be clear: I DID NOT commit domestic violence nor have I ever committed domestic violence. 'I did not strike any woman nor have I ever. I did not strike my ex-wife in the face nor did I hit anyone else in the face. 'I am a decent man & I look forward to being exonerated.' Initial reports indicated that the woman in question was Lisa Storie, Avenatti's estranged wife. But she released a statement saying she was not involved 'I havent see Michael in months,' Storie told CNN. 'Its a complete fabrication. Bruises on my face? It is insanity. He wouldnt hit anybody. Especially a woman. Hes got two daughters' According to the LAPD the incident occurred near the 10,000 block of Santa Monica Blvd. Officers took a police report, and Avenatti was arrested at 2.05pm at the same address Wednesday. He has now been booked and charged with 273.5APC intimate partner violence. It was an altercation between him and a victim, the LAPD spokesman said, but refused to confirm the identity of the woman or details of the alleged violence. We dont give those kind of details out because its domestic violence. We dont want to prevent future victims coming forward by releasing this kind of information. The court hearing will be given out by the District Attorneys office. Initial reports indicated that the woman in question was Lisa Storie, Avenatti's estranged wife. Avenatti filed for divorce from Storie last year. In court paper, Stories described her estranged husband as 'emotionally abusive', 'hot-tempered' and 'angry and vindictive'. But she released a statement on Wednesday saying she was not involved in the alleged incident. Avenatti's first wife, Christine Avenatti Carlin, also defended her ex-husband on Twitter 'I have known Michael Avenatti for over 26 years we met when he was 21 years old and we were married for 13 years,' she tweeted late Wednesday. 'Michael has ALWAYS been a kind loving father to our two daughters and husband to me. He has NEVER been abusive to me or anyone else. He is a good man' She also defended Avenatti, describing him as someone who would never hit a woman. 'I havent see Michael in months,' Storie told CNN. 'Its a complete fabrication. 'Bruises on my face? It is insanity. He wouldnt hit anybody. Especially a woman. 'Hes got two daughters.' Avenatti has denied the charges. 'I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night,' the lawyer said on Wednesday. 'Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated.' Storie's lawyer released a statement which read: 'My client and I have reviewed the TMZ article alleging that my client, Lisa Storie-Avenatti, has been injured and that Michael Avenatti has been arrested as a result of some incident that occurred between them. This article is not true as it pertains to my client. Ms. Storie-Avenatti was not subject to any such incident on Tuesday night. Further, she was not at Mr. Avenattis apartment on the date that this alleged incident occurred. My client states that there has never been domestic violence in her relationship with Michael and that she has never known Michael to be physically violent toward anyone. My client requests that the media respect her privacy and that of the parties young son. Avenatti's first wife, Christine Avenatti Carlin, also defended her ex-husband on Twitter. 'I have known Michael Avenatti for over 26 years we met when he was 21 years old and we were married for 13 years,' she tweeted late Wednesday. 'Michael has ALWAYS been a kind loving father to our two daughters and husband to me. 'He has NEVER been abusive to me or anyone else. He is a good man.' Avenatti became famous as Stormy Daniels lawyer and pursued the president and those close to him relentlessly for months, taunting Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and has sued to invalidate the confidentiality agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election that prevents her discussing it. She also sued Trump and his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, alleging defamation. The Vermont Democratic Party canceled events planned for Friday and Saturday, where Avenatti was scheduled to speak, and is refunding ticket sales. Alyssa Milano, the Charmed actress and liberal political activist who has appeared with Avenatti at anti-Trump rallies, said she is disavowing the lawyer after news broke of his arrest Alyssa Milano, the Charmed actress and liberal political activist who has appeared with Avenatti at anti-Trump rallies, said she is disavowing the lawyer after news broke of his arrest. 'Totally disgusting,' the Who's The Boss star tweeted on Wednesday in response to the original report of Avenatti's arrest. 'And before anyone asks me, yes, Im disavowing Avenatti. I do not care what side hes on.' She ended the tweet with the hashtag #basta, which is the hashtag that Avenatti frequently uses on his Twitter posts about Trump. Basta is Spanish for 'enough.' President Donald unloaded on south Florida county election official Brenda Snipes amidst the contentious recount battle, calling her a 'disaster' and bringing up slow returns in his 2016 race. 'She's a disaster,' Trump told the Daily Caller in an interview. 'She should have been removed I think she should have been removed in the middle of this mix-up,' Trump said. 'You look at her past, she's a disaster,' the president said. 'Even with me. I won Florida and you remember? That area, Broward [County], didn't come in. 'You can only put in so many votes, although she may change that system.' Trump did not call her incompetent and seemed to suggest her actions were a deliberate ploy to shape the results. 'When they call this woman incompetent, they're wrong,' Trump said. 'She's very competent but in a bad way.' Trump repeated his claim, first voice on Twitter, that officials should have gone with the result from election night, when the race was called based on network projections and data before all the votes had been counted. 'Well, many votes were added to that, and you know what's going on. And now they have mixed them up. They mixed the votes up and now you can't find the ones that were put in, they just put 'em in to a batch.' 'When they call this woman incompetent, they're wrong,' Trump said. 'She's very competent but in a bad way,' Trump said of Snipes He predicted wins both for Gov. Rick Scott in his race against Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, and Republican Ron DeSantis in his race against Democrat Andrew Gillum. 'Now they're trying to take votes away from him, it's a disgrace what's going on, but it looks like he's gonna be good and hopefully, Rick [Scott] is gonna be good. Maybe the machines are bad, now the machines are all smokey, they're all it's crazy. Honestly, it's a disgrace,' Trump said. Snipes is a former school teacher and administrator before Florida Gov. Jeb Bush named her to her post in 2003. Bush has since called for her to be removed. Her team accidentally included 20 illegal ballots with about 200 provisional ballots, and Republicans have howled at other irregularities and even charged her with committing fraud. Snipes hit back earlier this week after Trump accused her of fraud without providing evidence. 'I don't have a treasure trove for going out digging on the beach or somewhere to find any votes,' she told reporters. 'There's never been a deadline that we have missed,' she added, though she did not go so far as to accuse Trump, who in recent days has jousted with African American reporters, of attacking her because of her race. 'It's sort of hard to rule out race, but I won't say, 'Oh, I'm a black woman and that's why.' I'm not saying that,' she said, NBC reported. 'Jeb Bush did put me here in this position in 2003 and that was following the removal of another black woman,' Snipes said. 'It's unfortunate that we've had some issues that have gotten continuous. ... If that is Jeb Bush's opinion, then there is nothing I can do about it,' she added. Snipes has a checkered past in a Democratic-dominated county has been the target of protests and accusations, including by Trump, that something fraudulent is afoot. Lawyers for Scott, who is in a razor-thin Senate race with incumbent Nelson, have claimed that Snipes committed fraud without presenting any evidence. Trump has echoed those claims on Twitter. State monitors and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement say there are no indications of fraud in the county's vote. 'She's a disaster,' Trump said of Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes Bush appointed her to the post in 2003 when the previous supervisor was accused of malfeasance and now says Snipes should be removed. Snipes has been re-elected since then, and is unapologetic about her record. 'I've worked here for about 15 years, and I have to say this the first time that this office or I have been under such attacks,' Snipes told reporters Monday. 'There have been issues that haven't gone the way we wanted it. You can call it a mistake or you can call it whatever you want to call it.' On Tuesday, Snipes hinted to reporters that she might not run for re-election in 2020 - 'It is time to move on,' she said - but quickly added that no final decision has been made. In this Nov. 9, 2018 file photo Brenda Snipes, left, Broward County Supervisor of Elections, looks at a ballot with Betsy Benson, canvasing board chair during a canvasing board meeting in Lauderhill, Fla. Snipes is a target for the GOP, including former Gov. Jeb Bush, who appointed her to the post in 2003. Snipes, a Democrat, has been re-elected since then, and is unapologetic about her record 'I'll check with my family and they'll tell me what I'm doing,' she said. Since Snipes has been in office, there seems to be a long list of these mistakes. Earlier this year, for example, a judge ruled she broke election law by destroying ballots in a 2016 congressional primary race involving Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz without waiting the required 22 months. Also in 2016, a medical marijuana amendment didn't appear on some Broward ballots, and again that year results from primary elections were posted on the office's website before polls had closed. A week after the 2012 election, about 1,000 uncounted ballots were suddenly discovered. And in 2004, about 58,000 mail-in ballots were not delivered, requiring workers to hurry to replace them. Just last week, a judge found that Snipes had violated Florida open records laws by failing to quickly provide voting records to attorneys for Scott's Senate campaign. 'This is not a case about counting votes. This is a simple case about access to information that the supervisor of elections was required to have and required to provide,' said Scott lawyer Jordan Zimmerman. 'This is simply public information the public is entitled to.' Snipes, 68, a native of Talladega, Alabama, moved to Broward County in 1964 to begin what became a long career as an educator. She eventually rose to become an area director in the public school system, leading principals from 16 schools, according to the supervisor's office web site. In 2003 Bush appointed her to the supervisor's position after her predecessor, Miriam Oliphant, was removed from office because of numerous problems in the 2002 primary election. Now Bush is calling for Snipes to be removed after the ongoing recount . Scott has not commented on whether he would take such a step. However, in his nearly eight years as governor, Scott has only suspended or removed elected officials when they are charged with crimes. Snipes remains a target of Trump and other Republicans, including a cadre of protesters who have sometimes broken into chants of 'lock her up,' mainly because of their claims she is trying to tilt the elections for Senate and governor to the Democrats. Scott has a slim lead over Nelson and Republican Ron DeSantis is ahead of Democrat Andrew Gillum for governor. Elections experts, however, say it's not unusual for contested or provisional votes in 'blue' Democratic counties like Broward to mainly support that party. 'It is no surprise that Democrats gain votes later in the counting process in part because big cities tend to contain lots of Democratic votes, and given their population, cities take much longer to count,' said Richard Hasen, law professor at the University of California-Irvine and author of books on election controversies, in an opinion article Monday in Slate. 'Although nerve-wracking, there's nothing at all nefarious about any of this protracted counting,' he added. Snipes' attorney, Eugene Pettis, said 'people are going to scream fraud no matter what' and that the Broward process is moving forward in an orderly fashion. Snipes insists Broward will meet the Thursday deadline for all votes to be sent to the State Department. 'It takes time to go through those ballots. It should not be missed on anyone that state law permits until 12 o'clock four days after the election to submit your preliminary results. If it didn't take up to four days, the law wouldn't have put that in there,' Pettis said. A male model who built a career travelling across the globe posing for editorials and catwalks ditched the runway in favour of producing YouTube videos mocking politicians, reality TV stars and dole bludgers. Jordan Shanks, 29, worked as a part time model for eight years while studying international politics at the University of New South Wales. But he always knew modelling wasn't a career he wanted to pursue long term. Despite deals with the likes of Gucci and walking runways for Topman and True Religion, Jordan's burning passion was to work in radio and make a difference in the community. Using the alias 'Friendlyjordies', Jordan built a career and cult following around his skits and Youtube videos. Scroll down for video Jordan Shanks worked as a part time model (pictured in Brazil) for eight years while studying international politics at the University of New South Wales He now mocks socialites and political figures on his YouTube channel, which has nearly 200,000 followers He is now touring Australia with a live comedy show based on his version of a french aristocratic Malcolm Turnbull, selling out shows in Melbourne. But he says performing in front of the live crowd is nothing like he remembers from his heyday as a model. 'It's completely different. But I've always had a strong performing background. I've been doing it since I was five and I have very little understanding of what public shame is, I'm just an exhibitionist,' he told Daily Mail Australia. And live performances, as opposed to being holed up in a room filming content, are where he hopes to stay. 'Performing is obviously much better when its live, its not at all as fun doing it when you're by yourself.' 'I basically live in a cave all my life. I live the same life as Osama Bin Laden. Its nice to have some human contact for once.' Jordan is pictured here in a promotional advertisement for soft drink company Sprite The funnyman admits his jokes don't always land the way he hopes. 'Sometimes its the audience, but most of the time it's just the way you deliver the line.' 'Now I meditate and exercise before I go on stage. When a joke bombs and you haven't meditated your brain instantly freaks out.' 'When you've meditated and it happens you see that nobody enjoys the joke and you don't mind. How much better and cheaper is that than snorting coke? And it's the same effect.' He told the Warwick Fashion Group he spent hours analysing the top radio hosts in the industry when he was starting out, as well as comedic timing and content in addition to his exposure to the Australian political climate through his studies. According to his ModelMayhem profile, Jordan hasn't been active in the modelling community since 2015, which is about the time in which his Youtube channel, FriendlyJordies began to see meteoric success. With almost 200,000 subscribers as of 2018, Jordan's fanbase on the platform continues to grow. He provides his audience with a comedic and lighthearted interpretation of the media landscape He hopes to make politics entertaining but relevant for a younger generation He provides his audience with a comedic interpretation of the media landscape, as well as politics, dole bludgers and reality stars; often portraying several characters within one skit. 'I spend a lot of time learning how to be interesting,' he said in an interview in 2012. 'There are books out there that can teach you to become a walking talking Disneyland! That's what I want to be in life, I want to learn how to have fun. That's what I am in the process of learning to be as amusing as possible.' 'Literally everything in life is the same principle. You spend 7 years and 10,000 hours mastering a field and then at he end of that time, without exception you will be at the top of your field.' With his political skits in particular, he hopes to make politics cool and interesting for a younger generation With his political skits in particular, he hopes to make politics cool and interesting for a younger generation. But his wide viewership speaks to the scope of his content, which jumps from covering state and national elections to recaps of the Bachelorette series, drug use, working at tween fashion store Supre and Sydney's controversial lockout laws. His online success has drawn him back to the stage, no longer to promote other brands, but to perform his comedic act for a live audience. He currently has four tour dates in Victoria, one in Sydney and two in Queensland, with more dates and locations pending into the new year, where he will be delivering a brand new show. And while he definitely misses modelling, and the international travel perks, he told Daily Mail Australia he 'would be very happy to do this until I'm dead.' 'Its combining your natural skills with a public service. I think it's a good thing to do. It keeps you sane.' George Brooksbank, 72, passed away in the week of August's Baptism at the All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park, which was attended by the Queen. A royal insider told MailOnline: 'George had been in hospital with covid and had not been the same after that. He had been unwell for some time. It's been a difficult time for Jack losing his father before the Christening'. Another source said it had been a 'miracle' George survived Covid last year after five weeks on a ventilator and that it had been 'wonderful' that he had been alive to see August born. Mr Brooksbank's cause of death has not been confirmed. Buckingham Palace has been asked to comment. The tragedy hit the Royal Family just before the double Christening of the Queen's two great grandsons, August and his second cousin Lucas Tindall, the son of Zara and Mike Tindall. Despite the bad news, Jack and Eugenie decided the event should still go ahead. The couple both put on a brave face yesterday despite suffering the secret heartbreak of Mr Brooksbank's passing. He had been battling ill health having caught Covid last year and spent a period in ICU. Mr Brooksbank, a retired chartered accountant and company director, split his time with his wife of 36 years Nicola at their homes in Wandsworth, south London, and Bordeaux, France. He had suffered from poor health having been in intensive care with coronavirus at the start of the pandemic last April. Eugenie and Jack were warned to 'prepare for the worst' when Jack's father was put on a ventilator for five weeks. But he recovered from the life-threatening battle with the virus and left hospital last June. A manhunt is underway for two hooded men after an armed robbery at a petrol station last month. Police have released footage of two men wanted for questioning after a Puma petrol station in Preston, Melbourne, was held up at 9.15pm on October 23. In the vision, one man wearing a hi-vis jumper can be seen swaying like a zombie as he swaggers towards the petrol station moments before the robbery. His friend, wearing a grey hoodie, is alleged to have brandished a knife and threatened an attendant before demanding cash and cigarettes. An alleged thief's friend who was seen swaying like a zombie as he swaggered towards a petrol station is being pursued by police The man's associate (pictured in grey) allegedly robbed a Puma petrol station in Preston, Melbourne just before 9.15pm on October 23 One of the men, wearing a grey hoodie, allegedly brandished a knife and threatened an attendant before demanding cash and cigarettes Footage of the terrifying ordeal was caught on CCTV, showing the men approaching the petrol station before it was robbed. Both men were wearing sweatshirts with the hoods up covering the sides of their faces, with one of the men in high-visibility clothing. Dramatic footage showed the alleged thief pulling out a knife which was hidden up his sleeve and threatening an attendant. The man is handed items from the shop attendant before he walks away and leaves the petrol station. The robbery is being investigated by police, who are appealing for public information to try and identify the men seen in the CCTV footage. Dramatic footage showed the alleged thief pulling out a knife which was hidden up his sleeve and threatening an attendant A man whose pregnant wife was killed in a car crash is calling for harsher laws to punish those who kill unborn children. Bronko Hoang was the only survivor of the crash which killed his pregnant wife Katherine, the couple's unborn twins and another relative. Richard Moananu, 29, was allegedly four times over the drink-drive limit when he drove into the Hoang's car in Orchard Hills, Sydney, on September 28. Mr Hoang has now spoken out in support of a new law that would make it an offence to kill or harm an unborn child with a criminal act. Scroll for video. Richard Moananu, 29, was allegedly four times over the drink-drive limit when he smashed into the car carrying Bronko Hoang (pictured, right), his pregnant wife Katherine (pictured, left) and his relative in Sydney's West on September 28 Moananu faces 10 charges for the incident, but these do not include the deaths of Mr and Ms Hoang's unborn twins. Moananu (pictured) faces 10 charges for the incident, but these do not include the deaths of Mr and Ms Hoang's unborn twins. Current law states that loss of unborn babies count as an 'injury' to the mother. In a statement to 2GB's Ray Hadley, Mr Hoang said it was an 'insult' that his babies were not recognised by law. 'The driver of the other vehicle may indeed face manslaughter charges for the two adult deaths but how can grievous bodily harm charges for the loss of my twins be explained as an injury to my wife,' he said. 'I attended funerals to bury four people, not two. I did not bury my wife and two injuries, I buried my wife and my unborn twin sons.' Ms Hoang was 38 weeks pregnant and newly married when Moananu's car collided with theirs. Current law states that loss of unborn babies count as an 'injury' to the mother. In a statement, Mr Hoang said it was an 'insult' that his babies were not recognised by law Mr Hoang suffered injuries including broken ribs, a smashed leg and a fractured cheekbone and was in a coma for a short while following the incident. Newly married Ms Hoang was 38 weeks pregnant when Moananu's car collided with theirs. Mr Hoang suffered injuries including broken ribs, a smashed leg and a fractured cheekbone and was in a coma for a short while following the incident. He awoke to the news that his wife, babies and relative had passed away and was so distressed he had to be sedated. 'I attended funerals to bury four people, not two. I did not bury my wife and two injuries, I buried my wife and my unborn twin sons,' Mr Hoang said He still faces months of rehabilitation before he can go home. In October, detectives told Penrith Local Court they were carrying out tests to find out whether either of the twins drew breath after the crash, which would allow further charges to be laid against the alleged killer. Police will lay further manslaughter charges against Moananu if they can prove either of them took a breath before they died. The father of four was refused bail and remanded in custody. He had earlier pleaded for the right to send a remorseful letter to the victims' family, according to Channel 7 . 'The accused chose to get in his car and drive in an atrocious manner,' prosecutor Lisa Graham told the court. Ms Hoang was 38 weeks pregnant and newly married when Moananu's car collided with theirs. Mr Hoang suffered injuries including broken ribs, a smashed leg and a fractured cheekbone and was in a coma for a short while following the incident 'He was observed by witnesses to be driving erratically. Speeding, and weaving in and out of traffic.' The court also heard Moananu had been drinking at a pub from 10am in the hours leading up to the collision. Moananu said he plans on applying again to the New South Wales Supreme Court for bail in November. He is yet to enter a plea. Lucy La, a family friend of the victims, launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for the family. 'The money we raised will be given to both Katherine's family as they begin to make funeral preparations,' the page states. More than 800 people had donated to the page in eight days, raising close to $50,000. located body in the wreckage, with report to be prepared for the coroner The retired nurse quickly dialled 000, and was stunned at the delayed response A woman claims an emergency operator ignored her call about a truck crash which she believes cost the driver his life. Retired Queensland nurse Michelle Murray said her family were woken late on Tuesday night by a loud bang which shook the foundations of their house near the Logan Motorway at Tanah Merah. Along with her neighbours, Murray went looking for a crash site, initially finding nothing. The scene in Queensland where a 57-year-old truck driver lost his life this week - a local woman wants answers, claiming emergency operators ignored her call At 6am on Wednesday morning, a determined Ms Murray located the wreckage of the truck. Ms Murray said she immediately called 000, but Daily Mail Australia understands no authorities were instantly dispatched to investigate the accident scene. Queensland Police offered a different version of events when it came to the time they reached the scene. Acting Senior Sergeant Benjamin Reeve told reporters police were 'on attendance' about 9.30am on Wednesday. But the police media unit issued a statement saying officers only learned of the crash from another local resident at 10.40am. Ms Murray, who made her emergency call at 6.08am, wants answers and is likely to lodge a formal complaint with police. She is adamant the delayed response cost the driver - who could have been stuck in the wreckage of his truck overnight - his life. 'I'm quite shocked and dismayed by how people can just fob off something so serious,' she told ABC radio. Emergency crews look to free the driver from the wreckage - a 57-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene Queensland Police Media issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon. 'An investigation into the cause of the fatal crash is being conducted by the Forensic Crash Unit,' the statement read. 'The Ethical Standards Command is reviewing all circumstances surrounding the police response to the incident. 'We are unable to comment further at this time.' Police located the body of the 57-year-old in the wreckage. Saudi Aramco yesterday (November 14) hosted a visit by the Board of Directors of US-based National Oilwell Varco (NOV), a leading provider of technology, equipment, and services to the global oil and gas industry. The NOV delegation was led by its chairman and CEO, Clay Williams and included the companys executive leadership. On hand to receive Williams and the NOV delegation was Saudi Aramco president and CEO, Amin H Nasser and the companys senior executives including senior vice president of Upstream, Mohammed Al-Qahtani. In June 2018, Saudi Aramco and NOV announced the signing of the shareholder agreement to form a joint venture partnership to establish an integrated world-class on-shore rig and equipment manufacturing and aftermarket facility in Ras Al-Khair in Saudi Arabia. Per the shareholder agreement, Saudi Aramco will own 30 per cent of the joint ventures shares, while NOV will own the remaining 70 per cent. The visit of NOVs board today marks a further milestone in Saudi Aramcos partnership with one of the worlds leading equipment and service providers to the worlds oil and gas industry. Only recently, we had Frances Total committing to invest in a major petrochemicals project in Jubail, and we also have niche industry players like NOV expanding their presence in Saudi Arabia, which strongly demonstrates that the Kingdoms oil and gas sector continues to attract investments from companies across the energy value chain, said Nasser. It is estimated that the JV facility will create local employment when fully operational for around 1,100 people in multiple disciplines and levels of expertise. Moreover, the facility will contain a world class training centre installed with the latest equipment and simulators to provide the required training for Saudis as Saudization levels are expected to be at least 65 per cent at the facility. The joint venture is currently under formation and the construction of the facility is expected to commence by the end of the year. Moreover, the SAGIA Industrial, Service, and Trading Investment licenses have already been officially received. This JV will also increase the prospect for future growth of the oil and gas industry in the MENA region, creating new opportunities to meet local demand, and further strengthening exports from Saudi Arabia to the region. During the recent Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum in Riyadh, NOV was one of many international companies, which signed high-impact commercial collaborations with Saudi Aramco. Collaboration with companies such as NOV is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 by helping to diversify the local economy, add more value domestically, assist in Kingdom industrialization, promote job creation and pave way for Saudi Aramcos aspiration of achieving 70 per cent localization among its suppliers by 2021 under its flagship In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) initiative. TradeArabia News Service An Australian town's innovative rubbish filtering system is impressing people across the globe for its simple way of reducing river pollution. Two drainage nets were installed on a trial basis in Kwinana, 38km south of Perth, in an attempt to reduce waste seeping through the town's drainage system. Photographs of the bizarre-looking contraption have been posted online, with eco-activists hailing the project as 'genius'. Two drainage nets were installed on a trail basis in City of Kwinana, 38km south of Perth, in an attempt to reduce waste seeping through the drainage system and ending up in public areas One person called it a 'giant pollution tea bag'. 'This seems like an inexpensive solution,' another person said. However, some people were quick to point out its risks. 'Imagine if you were stuck in the sewage tunnels frantically being chased down and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.. only to get trapped in a huge a** net stuck with nasty a** garbage.' The nets were placed on the outlet of two drainage pipes, which were located between residential areas and natural areas. During the six month trial 370kg of rubbish and debris were trapped in the netting. Mayor Carol Adams told The West the drainage systems had been successful. 'The nets capture gross pollutants carried by stormwater from the local road network before those pollutants are discharged and contaminate the natural environment at the downstream end of the outlet area. Pictures of the contraption have been posted online and eco-activists have hailed the project as 'genius' 'This ensures that the habitat of the local wildlife is protected and minimises the risk of wildlife being caught in the nets.' The nets were able to be lifted and emptied by the city council's staff directly into a truck by machinery, she said. The waste was then transported to a sorting facility which processes the waste and converts the green waste to mulch and separates the recyclable and non-recyclable materials. The project cost $20,000 and included design, manufacturing and instillation. The council has identified three additional locations for more nets to be installed in future. A Muslim leader has slammed a talkback radio host for suggesting there's a link between radical Islam and terrorism. Melbourne radio 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell had suggested an extreme interpretation of Islam had inspired Somali-born terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali's Friday afternoon knife rampage on Bourke Street. 'I certainly wouldn't connect it to Islam. But radical Islam, yes. Obviously,' Mitchell told his listeners. A Muslim leader has slammed a talkback radio host for suggesting there's a link between radical Islam and terrorism (Islamic Council of Victoria's Adel Salman pictured) Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman took exception to that statement. 'The problem is Neil, when you call it radical Islam, you're basically saying that the religion of Islam, there are different versions and there is one particular version that we all have a problem with,' he said this week. 'I don't accept that premise. Islam as a religion cannot be associated with these forms of criminal acts.' Mr Salman, who is also the Sunni-dominated group's media spokesman, also suggested it was wrong to draw a link between Islam and ISIS, after Mitchell claimed 'radical Christianity' was linked to a 'perversion' of religion. Melbourne radio 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell (pictured) had suggested a perverted interpretation of Islam had inspired the Friday afternoon knife rampage on Bourke Street 'The religion of Islam cannot be connected with any form of violent acts,' Mr Salman said. 'That is just a nonsense from our perspective. 'ISIS may draw some of their justification from the religion of Islam. That does not make it a form of Islam.' The Bourke Street terrorist shot dead by police on Friday last week had reportedly contacted Sydney-raised ISIS fighter Khalid Sharrouf, who is believed to have been killed in Syria. The 30-year-old Melbourne murderer, who was shot dead by police, had also attended the Hume Islamic Youth Centre at Coolaroo, in the city's north, run by the hardline Salafist group, Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association. That mosque's spiritual leader Sheikh Mohammed Omran and Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed both blamed Australian security agencies for the Melbourne terrorist attack, claiming it was not linked to Islam. Hundreds of BBC presenters are facing huge tax bills after the corporation encouraged them to have their wages funnelled through private companies. Thousands of staff were employed off-payroll from 2007 to 2012, meaning they could cut their tax bills by thousands of pounds. Presenters say the BBC forced them to set up personal service companies so it could avoid paying millions in national insurance contributions. Last night, MPs accused the corporation of failing to fully untangle the mess caused by the special tax vehicles. Former BBC Look North presenter Christa Ackroyd, pictured, is facing a 420,000 tax bill after she was 'encouraged' to use a personal services company A National Audit Office report revealed that 800 presenters could potentially be asked to pay back tax and suggested the HMRC is investigating about 100 BBC freelance staff. In one case, regional presenter Christa Ackroyd, 61, has been ordered to pay almost 420,000 in unpaid tax after she was encouraged to set up a PSC. The broadcaster was the anchor of BBC Look North in Yorkshire for 12 years until inquiries into her tax affairs led to her being taken off air in 2013. MP Meg Hillier, chairman of the Commons public accounts committee, said: We raised concerns about the BBCs use of personal service companies six years ago. It is worrying that, six years on, the mess of clarifying the employment status for tax purposes of people the BBC hires through PSCs has not been fully untangled. MP Meg Hillier said the Commons public accounts committee raised concern about the use of personal service companies at the BBC more than six years ago With around 100 investigations into PSCs still outstanding, the BBC and HMRC must work together to ensure certainty for freelancers working for the BBC. Particularly for those freelancers who have been left in desperate circumstances. Last month, the Commons culture committee said the BBC must compensate presenters hit with huge tax demands after they coerced many into being paid through private companies. Several BBC presenters told the committee they were given no choice about setting up these companies. Others said they had suffered life-altering levels of stress and worry. Last nights NAO report concluded: By May, the BBC estimated that some 800 presenters, nearly 300 of whom were hired through PSCs, warranted further review as they were at risk of being challenged by HMRC. This could involve tax arrears for the BBC and for the PSCs. It added: Between April and September 2017, the BBC paid 8.3 million of tax (in advance) to HMRC to avoid any penalty charges for not paying tax that was potentially due. It has not yet fully recouped the money from freelancers, partly because of concerns raised by individuals. The report said that by June 2018, the corporation was yet to recoup 2.9 million. An HMRC spokesman said: Presenters are now increasingly paying the right tax and most do. Where presenters have not paid the right amount of tax it is right that we enforce the law so people are treated equally and fairly. A BBC spokesman said: As the NAO recognises, personal service companies are a legitimate way of contracting for services used by many across the media industry. We recognise there are still issues to address and remain committed to resolving them. It came as BBC director general Tony Hall condemned the utterly shameful and unacceptable threats made against journalists globally. Lord Hall said all too often journalists across the world were being targeted and even killed simply for doing their job. He also spoke out against the disgraceful anonymous threats many in the industry faced on social media. He called for rival news organisations to unite to tackle the issue, saying: Some of the material journalists have had to face is quite frankly disgraceful. It is an attempt to intimidate people and stop them doing their jobs. Lord Hall, who was speaking at the News Xchange international conference in Edinburgh, said it could feel like our profession right now is under siege. California residents affected by the deadly wildfires could finally have a little peace of mind heading into the Thanksgiving holiday as meteorologists are predicting rainfall across the state next week. According to Accuweather, California could see precipitation as early as this weekend or beginning of next week, which will provide much-needed moisture to the wildfire-struck region. Accuweather President Joel N. Myers said, however: 'While there is a chance for some meaningful rainfall next week, it is unlikely that we will see enough precipitation to end the fires across Southern California. 'There is a somewhat better chance for enough rainfall to diminish the fires in Northern California.' A pair of storms is currently forming across the Pacific Ocean. The Bay Area is expected to receive one inch of rain by next Friday, while areas of Southern California are could receive half an inch, according to Mercury News. The Weather Channel is predicting a 40 percent chain of rain for San Francisco and Los Angeles - with the rain expected to fall in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day and continue into Tuesday. In LA, the rain is predicted to fall Wednesday and last through Friday. Module credit: Tropical Tidbits Meteorologists are predicting rainfall across the wildfire-struck state for Thanksgiving. Tape marks a spot where sheriff's deputies recovered the body of a Camp Fire victim on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, in Paradise A cadaver dog searches through properties as search and rescue crews look for human remains in Paradise on November 14 Rescuers are seen working among debris after the wildfire in Paradise, California on November 13 A rescuer works among debris after the wildfire in Paradise, California on Tuesday Steve Anderson, forecaster with the National Weather Service, told Mercury News by mid-week there will likely be 'a change in wind direction ahead of the cold front.' Anderson said: 'The smoke should be blown out by then. The smoke will be blown to the northeast, to Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Canada. 'The amount of rain and where it will fall the most is still up in the air, but things are looking pretty good. 'The humidity will go way up - it will help lay down the fire and help the fire crews to make faster progress on it.' With scores of people still missing, National Guard troops searched Wednesday through charred debris for more victims of California's deadliest wildfire as top federal and state officials toured the ruins of a community completely destroyed by the flames. Maps released by NASA on November 13 show burned areas of California Woolsey and Camp fires Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke joined Governor Jerry Brown on a visit to the leveled town of Paradise, telling reporters it was the worst fire devastation he had ever seen. 'Now is not the time to point fingers,' Zinke said. 'There are lots of reasons these catastrophic fires are happening.' He cited warmer temperatures, dead trees and the poor forest management. Brown, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump's policies, said he spoke with Trump, who pledged federal assistance. 'This is so devastating that I don't really have the words to describe it,' Brown said, saying officials would need to learn how to better prevent fires from becoming so deadly. About 7,700 homes were destroyed when flames hit Paradise, a former gold-mining camp popular with retirees, on November 8. The death toll across the state has risen to 59. Wildfire burns in Oroville, California on November 13. The death toll across the state has risen to 59 James Bulger (pictured) was murdered when he was just two years old The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has said she is 'fuming' at a 'one-sided' documentary about her son's killers. Channel 5's James Bulger: New Revelations aired last night and explored the potential motives of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, promising 'startling new evidence'. At the age of 10, the children kidnapped two-year-old James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, before torturing him to death. Denise Fergus branded the documentary 'disgusting' as she took to Twitter to air her fury directly at the broadcaster and production company. 'I've had to watch the disgusting channel5_tv caravan__media documentary, to know what I'm having to deal with,' she wrote. 'I can honestly say I'm upset, fuming with the one-sided sympathy with the evil killers of my beautiful son who was only two.' The schoolboys abducted James in 1993 and walked him two-and-a-half miles before killing him. Their motive has always been a mystery as neither boy gave evidence at trial and their legal team offered no defence. The show revealed a statement from Robert Thompson, who detailed his 'shame and revulsion' in an appeal to the parole board in 2001. 'I am deeply ashamed of what I did, and of having played a part in this horrible murder,' he said. Denise (pictured with her son, James) slammed the documentary as 'disgusting' as it explored the motivations of her child's killers The killer said he was 'desperately sorry', adding that Denise and James's father, Ralph, would suspect his remorse was false. That year Thompson and Venables, who were then 18, were released on life-long licence and given new identities. Thompson said that he 'became aware Jon Venables had a little boy with him' when they left the Strand shopping centre. He said CCTV images of the youngster being led away make him 'very much regret that I did nothing to stop it at this time', adding: 'The sight of those photographs fills me with shame and revulsion.' Thompson denied that he and Venables sexually assaulted the toddler before killing him. 'Jon Venables and I did not speak to each other at all, as I remember, during the attack,' he said. 'And we didnt speak about it after we left James Bulger on the railway line.' The documentary aired on Channel 5 and explored the motive of Jon Venables (left) and Robert Thompson (right) His statement added: 'At that time of my life, I was completely out of control and spending time with a group of friends whose main occupation was committing crime and causing trouble. 'I was out of control because my life on the streets was better for me than my life at home there was nothing for me at home.' As he appealed to the board for freedom, he said: 'I do feel aware that I am now a better person and have had a better life and a better education than if I had not committed the murder. 'There is obviously an irony to this, but it is part of my remorseful feelings as well. I, personally, wish Mr and Mrs Bulger and their families to know that I am desperately sorry for what I did, and aware of the enormity of what I did. 'Mr and Mrs Bulger have made statements in the press indicating that they would view any statement of remorse by me as a cynical manoeuvre to secure my release. It is difficult, given that, to see how I could ever communicate my remorse in an effective way.' The documentary also claimed that Thompson was subjected to violence in his home life. It used 'new interviews and testimony from those directly involved in the case'. Little is known about Thompson's post-prison life since he was released at the age of 18. But Venables, now aged 36, was jailed for a second time for possessing images of child abuse and is now serving a 40-month sentence. Little is known of Thompsons life since he was released on license when he was 18. In February, Venables, 36, was jailed for the second time for possessing child abuse images. MailOnline has contacted Channel 5 for comment. Theresa Mays Tory Brexit critics claim they will soon have the 48 letters from Conservative MPs needed to force a vote of confidence in her. They believe that she would lose, be replaced by Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees-Mogg and all of Britains Brexit problems would be solved. Others say they are living in a fantasy world, it would solve nothing and risk putting Jeremy Corbyn into power. Brexit critics believe that Theresa May would lose a vote of no confidence Under Conservative Party rules, if 15 per cent of its current 317 MPs 48 write to Graham Brady, chairman of the partys backbench 1922 Committee, calling for a vote of no confidence in the leader, a contest must take place. He will not say how many letters he has received, prompting some of Mrs Mays critics to claim he is sitting on them out of loyalty. In theory, she needs to win a simple majority, 159, to survive. But it is not that simple. When her predecessor John Major was challenged by John Redwood in 1995, he won by 218 to 89. But most agreed if Redwood had scored 100, Major would have been finished. Despite Iain Duncan Smiths fighting talk that her days are numbered, it will not be easy for IDS and his European Research Group Brexiteer Tories to get her out. It is made up of around 80 Conservative MPs. If Mrs May lost, or failed to win by enough to cling on, a leadership battle would ensue. Johnson, Rees-Mogg, David Davis and Penny Mordaunt would be likely to throw their hats in the ring on hard Brexit platforms with Cabinet big-hitters Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt offering stability and Remainers Amber Rudd, Justine Greening and possibly Boriss brother Jo, standing with no real hope of winning, but determined to fly the pro-EU flag. The MPs would whittle the candidates down to two with a final vote by all Tory members. Davis could capitalise on Tory MPs mistrust of Johnson. One or the other could face Javid or Hunt in the party membership play off. There is one issue that unites Conservative MPs at present: fear of another General Election. However, some of Boris Johnsons supporters say that if he became Prime Minister, he could call a snap election on a no deal Brexit manifesto, and if he won, make a Churchillian stand against Brussels with the nation and a Parliamentary majority solidly behind him. There is one problem with this: when Mrs May called a snap election last year she very nearly handed the No.10 key to Corbyn. And Conservative MPs and voters fear that more than any or no Brexit deal. The Tory leadership tangle was summed up by Paul Goodman, editor of the influential ConservativeHome website. He said: Having a leadership contest could present more problems than it solves for the Party. However, he offered little comfort to Mrs May: It is easy to say Tories calling for her to go are like the boy who cried wolf. In the end, the wolf came. CAN Theresa May get the votes to pass her Brexit deal through Parliament? PM could need the support of more than FIFTY hardcore Tory Brexiteers AND Labour rebels If Theresa May gets Cabinet backing her deal will have to go to Parliament She can only be certain of around 230 votes but needs to get 318 MPs in favour PM needs to squeeze Tory rebels, win over the DUP and get some Labour votes BY TIM SCULTHORPE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE Theresa May has secured her deal in Brussels but her fight to get it actually in place in time for Brexit day is just beginning. If the Cabinet agrees to the deal the biggest hurdle will be the 'meaningful vote' on the plans in Parliament. This is expected to take place in December to ensure the deal is over its biggest hurdle before the end of the year. Theresa May will need 318 votes in the Commons if every single MP turns up. She can only rely on about 230 votes - meaning she will need to get back around half of the 80 hardcore Tory Brexiteer rebels and secure the support of the 10 DUP MPs, plus dozens of Labour MPs Theresa May has secured her deal in Brussels but her fight to get it actually in place in time for Brexit day is just beginning The Prime Minister needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes. The number is less than half because the four Speakers, 7 Sinn Fein MPs and four tellers will not take part. To win, Mrs May will need to get back around half of the 80 hardcore Tory Brexiteer rebels and secure the support of the 10 DUP MPs. Even then she will probably still need the help of dozens of Labour MPs to save her deal and possibly her job. This is how the House of Commons might break down: The Government Who are they: All members of the Government are the so-called 'payroll' vote and are obliged to follow the whips orders or resign. It includes the Cabinet, all junior ministers, the whips and unpaid parliamentary aides. How many of them are there? About 150. What do they want? For the Prime Minister to survive, get her deal and reach exit day with the minimum of fuss. Many junior ministers want promotion while many of the Cabinet want to be in a position to take the top job when Mrs May goes. How will they vote? With the Prime Minister. Brexiteers in the European Research Group (ERG) Who are they? Led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the ERG counts Boris Johnson, David Davis and other former ministers including Steve Baker and Iain Duncan Smith. How many of them are there? Estimates vary on how many members it has. It secured 62 signatures on a letter to the PM in February while Mr Baker has claimed the group has a bloc of 80 Tory MPs willing to vote against May's plans. The group's deputy leader Mark Francois said today there were at least 40 hard liners who would vote against the deal in all circumstances. What do they want? The ERG has said Mrs May should abandon her plans for a unique trade deal and instead negotiate a 'Canada plus plus plus' deal. This is based on a trade deal signed between the EU and Canada in August 2014 that eliminated 98 per cent of tariffs and taxes charged on goods shipped across the Atlantic. The EU has long said it would be happy to do a deal based on Canada - but warn it would only work for Great Britain and not Northern Ireland. The ERG say the model can be adapted to work for the whole UK. They say Northern Ireland can be included by using technology on the Irish border to track goods and make sure products which don't meet EU rules do not enter the single market. They also say it would give complete freedom for Britain to sign new trade deals around the world to replace any losses in trade with the EU. The group is content to leave the EU without a deal if Brussels will not give in. How will they vote: Against the Prime Minister. Led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the ERG counts Boris Johnson, David Davis and other former ministers including Steve Baker and Iain Duncan Smith Moderates in the Brexit Delivery Group (BDG) and other Loyalists Who are they? A newer group, the BDG counts members from across the Brexit divide inside the Tory Party. It includes former minister Nick Boles and MPs including Remainer Simon Hart and Brexiteer Andrew Percy. There are also many unaligned Tory MPs who are desperate to talk about anything else. How many of them are there? There are thought to be around 50 members in the BDG, with a few dozen other MPs loyal to the Prime Minister What do they want? The BDG prioritises delivering on Brexit and getting to exit day on March 29, 2019, without destroying the Tory Party or the Government. If the PM gets a deal the group will probably vote for it. It is less interested in the exact form of the deal but many in it have said Mrs May's Chequers plan will not work. Mr Boles has set out a proposal for Britain to stay in the European Economic Area (EEA) until a free trade deal be negotiated - effectively to leave the EU but stay in close orbit as a member of the single market. How will they vote? With the Prime Minister. Tory Simon Hart leads a group of Tory MPs committed to getting a pragmatic Brexit deal without pandering to ideological interests Unrepentant Remainers in the People's Vote Who are they? A handful of about five Tory MPs - mostly former ministers - who never supported Brexit and think the failure of politicians to get a deal means Parliament should hand it back to the people. The group includes Anna Soubry, Dominic Grieve and Justine Greening. What do they want instead? A so-called People's Vote. The exact timing still needs to be sorted out but broadly, the group wants the Article 50 process postponed and a second referendum scheduled. This would take about six months from start to finish and they group wants Remain as an option on the ballot paper, probably with Mrs May's deal as the alternative. There are established pro-Remain campaigns born out of the losing Britain Stronger in Europe campaign from 2016. It is supported by Tony Blair, the Liberal Democrats and assorted pro-EU politicians outside the Tory party. How will they vote? Hard to say for sure. Probably with the Prime Minister if the only other option was no deal. Anna Soubry is in a small group of unrepentant Remainer Tory MPs who want a second referendum on Brexit The DUP Who are they? The Northern Ireland Party signed up to a 'confidence and supply' agreement with the Conservative Party to prop up the Government. They are Unionist and say Brexit is good but must not carve Northern Ireland out of the Union. How many of them are there? 10. What do they want? A Brexit deal that protects Northern Ireland inside the UK. How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister if the deal breaches the red line, with the Prime Minister if she can persuade them it does not. The group currently says No. The DUP, led in Westminster by Nigel Dodds (right), have a deal with Theresa May but could still vote agianst her Brexit deal Labour Loyalists Who are they? Labour MPs who are loyal to Jeremy Corbyn and willing to follow his whipping orders. How many of them are there? Between 210 and 240 MPs depending on exactly what Mr Corbyn orders them to do. What do they want? Labour policy is to demand a general election and if the Government refuses, 'all options are on the table', including a second referendum. Labour insists it wants a 'jobs first Brexit' that includes a permanent customs union with the EU. It says it is ready to restart negotiations with the EU with a short extension to the Article 50 process. The party has six tests Mrs May's deal must pass to get Labour votes. How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister's current deal. Labour MPs who are loyal to Jeremy Corbyn and willing to follow his whipping orders are expected to vote against the Prime Minister Labour Rebels Who are they? A mix of MPs totally opposed to Mr Corbyn's leadership, some Labour Leave supporters who want a deal and some MPs who think any deal will do at this point. How many of them are there? Up to 45 but possibly no more than 20 MPs. What do they want? An orderly Brexit and to spite Mr Corbyn. How will they vote? With the Prime Minister. Other Opposition parties Who are they? The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Green Caroline Lucas and assorted independents. How many of them are there? About 60 MPs. How will they vote? Mostly against the Prime Minister - though two of the independents are suspended Tories and two are Brexiteer former Labour MPs. Bill Godbout, 79, died on Thursday when the wildfire burned down his Concow home and workshop A Silicon Valley microcomputer pioneer is among the casualties of the Camp Fire blaze that has scorched California. Bill Godbout, 79, died on Thursday when the wildfire burned down his Concow home and workshop, according to an obituary posted by the Vintage Computer Federation. The obituary stated that Godbout was 'a legend in the S-100 community for his 1970s-1980s work at Godbout Electronics and CompuPro.' 'For those of us who lived and did business in the East Bay during the opening years of the personal computer revolution Bill was a friend. He operated Bill Godbout Electronics from a Quonset hut on the margins of the Oakland Airport,' explained Silicon Valley's Lee Felsenstein. 'Bill was a friend and ally to the operators of the first generation of personal computer businesses that grew up in that early period.' 'Bill put on no airs he was always 'one of the guys' and dealt in a straightforward way this is worth noting for a time just after the opening gun when a new field often brings forth poseurs, popinjays, and pure phonies. Godbout was 'a legend in the S-100 community for his 1970s-1980s work at Godbout Electronics and CompuPro' A family friend has launched a GoFundMe for his wife and daughter 'Bill was none of those and we are all distraught to learn that he was taken from us in this terrible way.' A family friend has launched a GoFundMe for his wife and daughter. In addition to Godbout, Ernest Foss, 63, Jesus 'Zeus' Fernandez, 48, Carl Wiley, 77, Ellen Walker, Lolene Rios, 58, John Digby, 78, and Debbe Morningstar, 65, are the first eight Camp Fire victims to be publicly identified. Foss was a rock and roll musician who raised three children as a single father in San Francisco, where he built a recording studio in their small Bay Area home and taught music lessons. He moved to Paradise eight years ago to escape the rising costs of San Francisco. Ernest Foss, 63, of Paradise (left), and Jesus 'Zeus' Fernandez, 48, of Concow (right), both died in the Camp Fire in California John Digby was a retired postal carrier who had moved to the area from Southern California just a decade ago Angela Loo, Foss' daughter, said he was bedridden and had been living with advanced lymphedema for 10 years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. His body was found next to his beloved service dog Bernice outside his home, which he shared with a stepson and caretaker, near his minivan. Loo believes his stepbrother may have been able to get him into a wheelchair and near the car. Foss' caretaker, Andrew Burt, remains missing. John Digby was a retired postal carrier who had moved to the area from Southern California just a decade ago. He had been in his trailer as the flames engulfed him. Rios and her husband Rick, 69, had both relocated in Paradise after losing their home to another fire in Concow in the 1990s. The retired couple, like many in the town, only found out about the blaze when it was too late. Family members of Lolene Rios, 58, (right) have also identified her as another victim in Paradise. Her husband Rick Rios, 69, (left) barely made it out of their home alive Debbe Morningstar, 65, (pictured) was retired and lived in Paradise for more than 30 years. While she had evacuated her home during previous fires, she decided not to leave her home on Thursday Rick saw their neighbor's house up in flames and went on the roof, hoping he could still save their house by taking out any spot fires. Rios went to the basement as she began gathering the family's dogs. In moments, their house was ablaze. Rick was rescued by firefighters who pulled him off the roof. He is now recovering in the hospital with severe burns on his hands and face, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 'My dad is in a lot of pain,' Maria Rios said. 'He keeps saying, "I have no skin, no skin". As soon as he heard my voice, he broke down. He kept saying, "Everything is gone. Everything is gone.''' The Camp Fire is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in the state's history, killing at least 48 people and destroying more than 6,500 homes and 260 buildings as it burned through more than 160,000 acres Carl Wiley will be buried next to his wife in a cemetery in Magalia, which was also devastated by the Camp Fire. James Wiley said his father, a former tire recapper for Michelin, will share a headstone with his wife Mary Lee, who died of cancer nearly three decades ago. Fernandez, who also lived in Paradise, was remembered as the 'epitome of determination, respect, loyalty, and perseverance'. 'A tireless provider, a dependable and loyal friend, a considerate neighbor, and loving father, he will be sorely missed by all who knew him,' said family friend Myrna Pascua. The Woolsey Fire has killed three people - for a statewide total of 51 victims - and tore through more than 97,620 acres Morningstar was retired and lived in Paradise for more than 30 years. While she had evacuated her home during previous fires, she decided not to leave on Thursday. The Camp Fire is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in the state's history, killing at least 56 people and destroying more than 6,500 homes and 260 buildings as it burned through more than 160,000 acres. After six days, the blaze only remains 35 percent contained and more than 200 people are still missing. The Woolsey Fire has killed three people - for a statewide total of 59 victims - and tore through more than 97,620 acres. There are fears at least one snake is on the loose at a primary school after two students were taken to hospital with 'possible bites'. The children, understood to be Year 3 and 4 students, were playing on the grounds of Perth's Meadow Springs Primary School last week when it is believed the serpent - or serpents - struck. A snake catcher was called in to remove the reptiles, but failed to find them. 'I am writing to let you know that two students were sent to hospital today because of possible snake bites,' Principal Jacquie Cooper wrote in a letter to parents, supplied to Daily Mail Australia by the WA Education Department. There are fears at least one snake is on the loose at a primary school after two students were taken to hospital with 'possible bites' (stock image) Meadow Springs Primary School Principal Jacquie Cooper wrote this letter to parents on Friday 'Parents were immediately called and a snake expert was also contacted to assess the area. As a precaution students were also asked not to play on the oval at lunch time.' Ms Cooper assured parents the school had 'emergency procedures in place for these types of incidents' due to its close proximity to dense bushland. 'We have multiple specific snake bite first aid kits available on school grounds,' the letter read. 'We will continue to educate our school community about snakes and provide prevention and risk management strategies for students. The incident comes less than two months after 12-year-old Zoe Da Silba was hospitalised after being bitten by a non-venomous snake at the same school Zoe's suspected snake bite is pictured after she was taken to hospital in September this year 'Staff and students have received training by St John Ambulance on how to respond to any suspected snake bites.' An Education Department spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia anti-venom was administrated and the children were taken to hospital 'as a precaution' - but there were no confirmed bites. The incident comes less than two months after 12-year-old Zoe Da Silba was hospitalised after suspected bite, but no venom was found. The schoolgirl's mother claimed another student was bitten the previous year. A Muslim imam has discovered a Sharia law book advocating jihad and hostage taking in Melbourne international airport's Islamic prayer room. Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi, a Shia imam who campaigns against Islamic extremism, saw the Arabic language book shortly before boarding a flight. The Adelaide-based Shia religious leader and author made a video of himself flicking through the index, which featured references to jihad, 'taking hostages at war' and taxing 'infidel' non-Muslims. A Muslim imam has discovered a Sharia law book (pictured) advocating jihad and hostage taking in Melbourne international airport's Islamic prayer room Shortly before boarding his flight, he told Daily Mail Australia a fundamentalist Sunni Islamic law book had the potential to 'certainly radicalise someone'. 'It can turn a regular traveller or a frustrated, vulnerable traveller into an extremist,' he said, shortly after midday on Thursday. 'It goes against national security.' Sheikh Tawhidi said that while the book of Islamic jurisprudence was possibly planted by an activist, Melbourne airport needed to 'take action'. Several hours later, Melbourne Airport tweeted to Sheikh Tawhidi to confirm they had removed the Arabic language book, Fiqh us-Sunnah, by Egyptian Sunni Islamic scholar As-Sayyid Sabiq. 'Thanks for your message. We have a publicly accessible multi-faith prayer room open to travellers of various religions,' it said. 'The book has been removed for assessment of its suitability.' The book about the practices of the Prophet Mohammad was authored by a prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a pan-Sunni Islamist group campaigning for a global Islamic caliphate. Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi (pictured), a Shia imam who campaigns against Islamic extremism, claimed he saw the Arabic language book shortly before boarding a flight The Arabic language book (pictured) in the Melbourne international airport prayer room had sections on jihad and hostage taking Iranian-born Sheikh Tawhidi, who moved to Australia from Iraq in 1995 when he was 12, asked for his travel plans to be kept secret, following threats to his life from Islamic extremists. He has backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison's call for Muslim leaders to be aware of radicalised individuals who had visited their mosques, following Friday afternoon's Melbourne terrorist attack. 'I back the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was right: it was violent, it was radical, it was Islamic,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 'I will not accept any of these excuses of political correctness. Sheikh Tawhidi said that while the book was possibly planted by an activist, Melbourne airport (prayer room pictured) needed to 'take action' 'It's not a one-off matter. The Muslim community should use the liberties in Australia, the freedoms here, to side with the police against the radicals.' Somali-born terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, had attended the Hume Islamic Youth Centre, at Coolaroo in Melbourne's north, before he stabbed to death Italian-born cafe owner Sisto Malaspina on Bourke Street. The spiritual leader of that hardline Sunni mosque, Mohammed Omran, has blamed Australian authorities for failing to catch the murderer. The suburban mosque, run by the Salafist Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association, had also reportedly radicalised Melbourne teenager Jake Bilardi, who went to Iraq in 2015 to become a suicide bomber. The Samoan Prime Minister has been attacked at an Australian church by two men dressed as ninjas who hurled eggs, raw meat, rocks and a pig's head at him. Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi was in Logan, Queensland, on Wednesday to speak about a new direct flight route between nearby Brisbane and Apia. Two young Samoan men burst into the church about 7.30pm and called out the Prime Minister's name, swearing and screaming at him. Journalist Sioeli Alofaifo was in the audience during the incident, and said the men had hidden their faces in a 'ninja-like style'. Scroll down for video The Samoan Prime Minister has been attacked at an Australian church by two men dressed as ninjas who hurled eggs, raw meat, rocks and a pig's head at him 'Two men entered the building, one threw a pig's head and swore at the Prime Minister,' he told the Samoa Observer. The men then turned and ran out of the building. Mr Malielegaoi left Australia for Papua New Guinea on Thursday morning, but will return to Australia before travelling to New Zealand, TV1 Samoa reported. The Samoan Ministry of Police have reportedly contacted their Australian counterparts to organise increased security for the Prime Minister upon his return to Australia. An Australian Federal Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia they do not comment on security details for individuals. Queensland Police said they are investigating the incident. Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) and Majid Al Futtaim recently hosted an official foundation ceremony to further cement their partnership for the RO5-billion ($13 billion) Madinat Al Irfan, Muscats new City for the Future. The foundation ceremony, held under the auspices of Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al-Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of the Royal Court, featured the official reveal of the joint venture company between Omran and Majid Al Futtaim, named Madinat Al Irfan Development Company SAOC. The company, which has been established to oversee the development and delivery of the new city, has a newly formed board of eight members, chaired by Talal Al Rahbi, deputy secretary general of the Supreme Council for Planning in the sultanate. Speaking at the ceremony, Al Rahbi said: We are delighted to celebrate the establishment of the Madinat Al Irfan Development Company SAOC and highlight the progress taking shape on the first phase of the new city. The overall scale of the project is unprecedented and directly aligns with the governments vision to invest in sustainable developments to strengthen and diversify the economy. We believe that Madinat Al Irfans mixed-use offering will transform Omans economy with significant socio-economic benefits to the Sultanate. As the master developer of 4.9 million-sq-m of the core of Madinat Al Irfan, Majid Al Futtaim is currently crafting the first phase of the master plan which includes serviced plots available for commercial, residential, educational, healthcare, leisure and hospitality developments. Phase one of the city, consisting of approximately 250,000 sq m, will be developed over the next five years and will include public amenities. When complete, the first phase of the joint venture development will be a vibrant mixed-use community that will serve as the new urban centre for Muscat, integrating residential communities and places of commerce and leisure. Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Omran, commented: Our partnership with Majid Al Futtaim is in line with our strategic approach to bringing together the highest standards of expertise in quality development with genuine local heritage and passion. This partnership will strongly contribute to the strengthening and diversification of the national economy to support Omans Vision 2040 through pioneering tourism infrastructure and lifestyle development. By partnering with Majid Al Futtaim, I have no doubt that we will create a fantastic array of world-class experiences for the benefit of the local community and international visitors alike. Hawazen Esber, chief executive officer of Communities at Majid Al Futtaim Properties said: Our ambition is for Madinat Al Irfan to become a catalyst for economic diversification in Oman, and a benchmark in sustainability and urban design for the region. With a proven track record in developing successful mixed-use destinations and our unique approach to placemaking Al Mouj Muscat being a great example we aim to deliver a world-class destination in the heart of Muscat that is people-centric and truly is a city for the future. Placemaking represents an integral part of Majid Al Futtaims strategy in developing mixed-use communities. The company launched the regions first-ever neuroscience study, titled What Makes Great Places in 2017, to define the principles of placemaking and their significance in community development. This exciting project in Muscat is a unique opportunity to activate the master plan - embedding the key learnings from our projects across the region - and establish flexible development guidelines which can unlock further investment opportunities, from developers, operators and individual investors in Oman and from across the region, added Esber. With a strong presence in Oman for 17 years, Majid Al Futtaim has made other significant investments in the Sultanate, including City Centre Muscat, My City Centre Sur, the first community mall in the sultanate, and City Centre Qurum. In addition, the new Mall of Oman, set for completion in 2020, will be the biggest shopping destination of its kind in the sultanate hosting an estimated 350 outlets set on a retail space of over 135,000-sq-m area. - TradeArabia News Service Dodgy companies installing stone products such as kitchen benchtops have been ordered to stop operating until they overhaul their work safety practices. The blitz, enforced by the New South Wales government, comes amidst revelations a national crisis has been unfolding in the stone-cutting industry. Dozens of tradesmen in the stone industry have been struck down by a deadly and incurable lung disease called silicosis. Exposure rates to unsafe levels of silica dust from cutting engineered stone has seen an alarming rate of silicosis cases. Stonemason Anthony White was diagnosed with silicosis in 2017 after working for a Gold Coast company - his condition has become terminal Silicosis is a progressive and irreversible disease that is contracted by breathing in tiny particles of silica dust that settle in the lungs. SafeWork has carried out 358 inspections on businesses since October last year, Fairfax reported. It has issued 114 notices to businesses in New South Wales, most of which manufacture stone for products like kitchen bench tops, to stop operating and improve safety standards in a bid to improve processes. Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said SafeWork was taking a zero tolerance approach towards businesses. 'If they are doing uncontrolled dry cutting they will receive a prohibition notice to cease work immediately and improve their safety practices.' Dry-cutting is technically already banned under workplace laws around safe work practises, but the government has cracked down on the practise and will change the relevant laws to explicitly ban it. Mr White (pictured), 36, said he was grateful he didn't have children because he would hate to put them through the stress of watching his condition decline A five year plan has been developed by the government to combat the problem, this includes research, training resources and regulation reviews. Stonemason Anthony White was diagnosed with silicosis in 2017 after working for a Gold Coast company - his condition has become terminal. 'We need all stonemasons informed of the grave risk of inhaling this dust, and we need more than just the Queensland government committing to these important legal changes,' Mr White said. 'I'm lucky I don't have kids who won't have to see me suffer but my mates do and I really worry for them.' He's one of many across the country suffering from the silent killer. Engineered stone is becoming more common as a substitute for marble benchtops, but is made of around 90 per cent crystalline silica - a major cause of silicosis The illness is an irreversible lung disease caused by long-term exposure to silica dust, and can take up to 30 years to develop In September, WorkCover received 22 silicosis claims, six of which involved people who had been diagnosed as terminally ill, the ABC reports. A dramatic spike has been predicted before the end of the year, with senior occupational physician Dr Graeme Edwards, who is assisting the screening process, expecting an additional 300 people to be diagnosed in Queensland alone. The national emergency has been compared to devastation caused by asbestos at the peak of its impact in Australia in the 1990s. Engineered stone is becoming more common as a substitute for marble benchtops, but is made of around 90 per cent crystalline silica - a major cause of silicosis. A kayaker has relived the moment he was rescued by lifesavers when a 4.5 metre tiger shark knocked him out of his kayak. Kyle Roberts, 31, had been kayaking off Moffat Beach, near Caloundra, in the early hours of Thursday morning when the shark bit into his vessel, causing it to partially deflate. Mr Roberts was about 1.5 kilometres off shore and was knocked off his kayak but managed to climb back inside and radio for help Sunshine Coast man Kyle Roberts (pictured) was rescued by an after-hours emergency response group when a 4.5 metre tiger shark knocked him out of his kayak He said the monster shark tried to bite him as he got back into the kayak, which had fortunately remained partially afloat thanks to a trapped air bubble at the front. Coastguards received the call at around 5.45am and it took Surf Life Saving Queenslands after-hours emergency response group around 35-40 mins to reach him on jet skis. Once back on dry land, Mr Roberts was assessed by paramedics who said he had no physical injuries but was suffering mild shock symptoms. Mr Roberts, 31, had been kayaking off Moffat Beach, near Caloundra in the early hours of this morning when the shark bit into his vessel, causing it to partially deflate Mr Roberts has six years of kayaking experience and had taken all the recommended precautions including bringing a radio with him so he could call for help 'He was in a state of shock when we got there, as you can understand,' Surf Life Saving Queensland duty officer David Mclean told 7 news. 'He was starting to panic a fair bit, especially as the shark began to circle him.' Mr Roberts has six years of kayaking experience and Mr Mclean said he had taken all the recommended precautions including bringing a radio with him so he could call for help. Although he had been fishing from the kayak, Mr Mclean said there were no fish nor any blood in the water when the shark struck. 'There was nothing else to attract any sharks, it just came out of the blue and completely broadsided him,' he said. 'I think he's very lucky to be here.' Police officers picked up the kayak shortly afterwards - which had drifted roughly 2 kilometres off shore - and shark teeth marks were clearly visible along the bottom Speaking to The Courier Mail, Mr Roberts said the conditions had been relatively calm and there was 'zero warning' of the attack. 'I have had a very lucky day, that's for sure,' Mr Roberts said. Reiterating this, Queensland Police Sergeant Kyle Bates said: 'It probably wouldn't pay for him to buy a lottery ticket - I think he's used all his luck.' Police officers picked up the kayak shortly afterwards - which had drifted roughly 2 kilometres off shore - and shark teeth marks were clearly visible along the bottom. The incident was the seventh attack in Australia in less than two months. Sausage sizzle fans everywhere have taken to social media to mock Bunnings after the hardware store revealed its bizarre new rule about onions in sangas. The hardware giant announced on Tuesday that it was enforcing a new onion rule after customers said they'd slipped on spilled onions and hurt themselves. Under the controversial rule, those running charity BBQs must now serve onions underneath sausages so that they don't fall out and become a slipping hazard. Along with the fired-up commentary, were several oniongate-themed memes, ranging from 'how to construct the perfect sanga' posters to tripping hazard cartoons and advertisements for rebellious 'like your onions on top?' events One social media user posted a humorous comic that poked fun at onions being a 'tripping hazard' After the news was made public, many baffled and bewildered customers took to social media to weigh in on the issue under the hashtag 'oniongate'. While many laughed off the idea that such a rule could exist, others mocked the idea of taking such extreme safety precautions around running a sausage sizzle. 'Anyone got any stats on onion-related deaths and injuries at? Nope, didn't think so,' one person wrote on Twitter. 'I also want to see it become compulsory for cashiers to put the coins on top of my notes so people don't slip on my money,' another person said. A third person added: 'Nothing like a scandal to divide the nation.' Along with the fired-up commentary, were oniongate-themed memes, ranging from 'how to construct the perfect sanga' images to tripping hazard cartoons and advertisements for rebellious 'like your onions on top?' events. Even New Zealand rival company The Warehouse couldn't resist taking a dig at Bunnings and its customers' attitude towards the bizarre new rule. 'We're satisfied with our sausage safety standards,' the tweet stated. 'To be frank, our customers know onions are for eating, not dropping. Another customer took a political swipe at Bunnings by posting a composite that featured former Prime Minister Tony Abbott 'What do our customers expect to see at ground level on the daily? Our everyday low prices. They're real bangers.' Bunnings' decision to enforce the bizarre rule came after several customers sued the hardware store, including a Victorian nurse, who said her fall in February had a huge impact on her life. 'For me personally that one trip to Bunnings has nearly cost me my career as a theatre nurse, my home and at my darkest time when I could see no future, nearly my life,' the nurse said. Another customer from Queensland claimed that he suffered a painful fall after slipping on a caramalised onion at Gympie Bunnings. After the news was made public, many baffled and bewildered customers and businesses took to social media to weigh in on the issue under the hashtag 'oniongate' 'I walked into store and it happened so fast, I had leather boots on, I went down on my back,' the farmer told ABC News. After the fall, the hardware giant offered to call an ambulance but he declined, assuming he would be okay. But the following day, Trevor said he realised the extent of his injuries and became concerned about his new hip, which he had recently had replaced. He said he was forced to undergo an MRI to make sure it was not damaged. Sausage sizzle fans everywhere have taken to social media to mock Bunnings after the hardware store revealed its bizarre new onion sanga rule This pushed him to pursue Bunnings for the emotional stress caused by the accident. Trevor was compensated by Bunnings and signed a non-disclosure agreement. While the onion switch-up has been met with humourous commentary, Trevor is adamant the change is important. 'It is serious stuff, this onion thing,' he said. Trevor said he suffered a panic attack upon his return to Bunnings, and whenever he visits the store he is sure to check the floor for onions. This is the shocking moment a driver appears to intentionally veer towards a motorcyclist who was overtaking him at a set of traffic lights. The dashcam footage was captured on Majura Parkway, Majura, in Canberra, at 4.30pm on October 30. Traffic was backed up but the motorcyclist was driving between the banked up traffic - or filtering through - which has been legal in most of Australia since 2015. In the video the driver of the green Ford Falcon swerves just as the motorcyclist approaches, almost colliding with the rider. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) police have launched an investigation into the incident. In a statement, police alleged two separate motorcyclists were targeted by the driver of the same green Ford Falcon. ACT Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury told The Canberra Times he was urging all local drivers to call out dangerous behaviour, and report it to police when they see it, particularly if they have dashcam footage. 'The ACT government is committed to a Vision Zero view of road safety. Its quite simple: this means that no loss of life on our roads is acceptable.' A driver appears to intentionally veer towards a motorcyclist as they pass him while he is stuck in traffic Olympic gold medallist Chantelle Newbery has been sentenced to three months in jail for a string of stealing offences while in the grips of drug addiction. The 45-year-old, who won gold in the 10m platform diving event at the 2004 Athens Olympics, broke down in tears in Toowoomba Magistrate's Court on Thursday. Defence lawyer Robert Burns told the court Newbery's 'meteoric fall from grace' was partly due to an 'insidious' six-year drug addiction coupled with homelessness. Newbery pleaded guilty to six counts of stealing, and was released on parole, the ABC reported. Chantelle Lee Newbery (pictured), who won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, appeared at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court, Queensland Olympic gold medallist Chantelle Newbery was sentenced to three months in jail for a slew of stealing offences while in the grips of drug addiction and homelessness The court heard she had stolen a Woolworths trolley filled with $300 worth of groceries in June. On other occasions, the court heard she stole $509 worth of clothing, Christmas decorations from Myer, $434 worth of groceries from Coles and a collection of beauty products and medication from Priceline. Her lawyer argued all the items she stole were items she needed to live. The court heard how Newbery's drug addiction began in 2012, at around the same time she lost her mother to breast cancer. Newbery, who was her palliative carer, was supposed to administer morphine to her mother in the final stages of her life. It was during this time that the fallen Olympic legend fell into the grips of addiction. Her three month sentence was suspended on the spot, with mandatory weekly check-ins at Toowoomba Police Station Newberry (pictured), 41, made history in 2004 when she ended an 80-year medal drought for Australian divers by winning gold In 2014, Newberry escaped a drug possession conviction in a Queensland court after pleading guilty for failing to dispose of syringes and possession of meth. She has since begun treatment in a drug counselling program and has been drug free for several months, Mr Burns claims. The Australian gold medallist diver had two children with Robert Newbery before admitting herself into a psychiatric facility for severe depression in 2009. Magistrate Viviana Keegan said despite her sad story, it was just one of many in the court. 'The court is filled with tragic stories of people becoming addicted to drugs. 'There are factors of rehabilitation there that will be taken into account ... but a sentence needs to be a deterrence, not only to you, but for others out there considering committing similar offenses.' Her three month sentence was suspended on the spot, with mandatory weekly check-ins at Toowoomba Police Station. A nine-year-old girl has made a terrifying escape after she was confronted by a man who grabbed the handlebars of her bike as she made her way to school. The child was riding to class in Mernda, Melbourne's north-east, on Wednesday when the man stopped her and convinced her to walk alongside him. When the girl ran away, the man dropped the bike and fled the scene on foot. A nine-year-old girl has made a terrifying escape after she was confronted by a man Police want to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage shot in the area at about 8.30am. 'Detectives are seeking footage that shows a male wearing a blue coat or jacket especially in Skeeter, Sumner and Mernda Village drives,' police said in a statement. 'Investigators are also releasing CCTV footage of a male who they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.' Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A professional con woman is fleecing kind-hearted shoppers out of their hard-earned cash by telling a sob story about her sick mother. Dozens of people flooded social media with tales about the same woman working her scam throughout Bunnings and fast food car parks in Sydney's western suburbs. Dylan Kelaart said he encountered the middle-aged woman on Sunday in the carpark of a Hungry Jacks in Minchinbury. He said she asked him for money to pay for parking at a nearby hospital because her mother had just been rushed there - and he took the bait. Well-intentioned people claim to have been conned out of their hard-earned cash by this middle-aged woman peddling a sob story about her sick mother 'She was well presented and very convincing, which led me to believe she was genuinely in need,' he said. 'I honestly felt bad for her and felt the right thing to do was to help her with some money.' Mr Kelaart didn't have any cash on him so he got $20 from an ATM after his children finished their ice creams and drove to the next door Bunnings to meet her. As he arrived, he saw the woman accepting $10 from another stranger, but assumed she thought he wasn't coming back and asked someone else. 'I gave her the benefit of the doubt and gave her the $20. She was thankful, I wished her well and we parted ways,' he said. 'I felt good, I was actually quite happy that I helped someone in need, and a 20 was not going to be missed.' The wife of a man who claimed to have been conned got a photo of the woman's white Holden Commodore, which she gave to police However, his warm glow turned to fury when his wife Angela called him on Wednesday telling him the woman was at St Marys Village shopping centre using the same story to ask for more money. 'I was so disgusted,' he said. 'Not for me but there are kind people in this world that would gladly give money they cannot afford to help someone in this scammer's apparent position.' Ms Kelaart snapped a photo of the woman and told her to stop asking people for money, and claimed she was told to 'f**k off' before the woman ran back to her car. The alleged scammer then drove to Revolution Fitness St Marys and Ms Kelaart followed her and claimed to see her trying the same routine. 'The worst person in the world, is the one that preys on the kind nature of others, and that's what's most disturbing about this,' Mr Kelaart said. 'Scammers like this are the reason people don't help one another any more, because so many have been duped and they no longer trust.' Dylan Kelaart said he encountered the middle-aged woman on Sunday in the carpark of a Hungry Jacks in Minchinbury Mr Kelaart didn't have any cash on him so he got $20 from an ATM and drove to the next door Bunnings to meet her Mr Kelaart said his wife and a worker at the gym reported the woman to St Marys police station. The outraged father shared his story on social media and got hundreds of replies, many of which claimed to have also seen or been scammed by the same woman. 'My girlfriend gave her $20 at the twin servos on the M4, the exact same story but she needed to get to the Newcastle hospital,' one man wrote. 'She only asked for $5 but my girl is very empathetic and was heartbroken when she didn't use it for fuel but to buy smokes and Macca's.' Another wrote: 'She approached my 79-year-old dad at Centro Penrith. He didn't have cash on him but he said she had tears in her eyes and was very convincing.' But days later his wife called him to say the woman was at St Marys Village shopping centre using the same story to ask for more money Dozens of other alleged victims claimed to have seen the woman at Nepean Village shopping centre and other shops across western Sydney A third said they gave her $10 outside the Minchinbury Bunnings because they were told the woman's mother had been rushed to John Hunter Hospital. 'She explained that the reason she was at Bunnings was to return an item hoping to get money back but Bunnings said no and just gave her a credit voucher,' they said. 'I offered to buy the voucher but she said her partner had it and was in trying to sort it out with management.' Others claimed to have seen her in other locations across western Sydney, asking for either parking or petrol money to see her sick mother. Public begging is illegal and most Australian states but not in NSW unless the begger is breaking the law, behaving in an anti-social manner, or blocking a pedestrian thoroughfare. However, it was not clear if the woman would be breaking other laws with her alleged sales pitch. NSW Police said it did not believe a crime had been committed. A monstrous winter storm is expected to hit the middle and eastern parts of the United States throughout the later days of the week - and has already claimed two deaths. States from Arkansas and northern Mississippi into the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast have sent out advisory warnings in anticipation for Winter Storm Avery. Some 80 million people can anticipate being impacted by the storm on Thursday and Friday, according to USA Today. The Deep South received the early signs of chilly conditions on Wednesday, where snow was reported in Arkansas, Mississippi and even in Louisiana. Some 80 million people are expected to be impacted by the storm on Thursday and Friday States from Arkansas and northern Mississippi into the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast have sent out advisory warnings in anticipation for Winter Storm Avery In northern Mississippi, two people were killed and 46 passengers were injured when their tour bus flipped on its side due to slick conditions. Killed were 70-year-old Betty Russell and 61-year-old Cynthia Hardin, both of Huntsville, Alabama, said DeSoto County Coroner Joshua Pounders. The bus was operated by Teague VIP Express, based in Anniston, Alabama. The company posted a message on its Facebook page that said: 'Our hearts and prayers go out to victims of this tragedy. Please keep everyone involved and families in your prayers.' In northern Mississippi, two people were killed and 46 passengers were injured when their tour bus flipped on its side due to slick conditions Killed were 70-year-old Betty Russell (pictured) and 61-year-old Cynthia Hardin, both of Huntsville, Alabama The National Weather Service said that at least .1 inches of snow was recorded near the Monroe Regional Airport in Louisiana. That beat the current in-season record for snow fall by 10 days in the area, according to Weather.com. Ice storms are said to have the possibility to hinder power lines in the southern Appalachians. Around the upper South, meanwhile, the storm spread scattered sleet and light snow. Flash flood watches were posted for parts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The bus was operated by Teague VIP Express, based in Anniston, Alabama 'This has the potential to be a dangerous and destructive ice storm for the Shenandoah and New River valleys of Virginia,' said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda. Missouri - around the St. Louis area - is said to be a focal point for the storm and is expected to get up to four to seven inches of snow, according to Accuweather. Schools in the area - along with areas in southern Illinois - have already begun cancelling school. Parts of the northeast were reportedly going to get upwards to a foot of snow by late Thursday and early Friday. Parts of the northeast were reportedly going to get upwards to a foot of snow by late Thursday and early Friday Power outages and difficult travel are expected from northern Maryland to Maine during the storm. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast interiors could see between four and eight inches of snow on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Flight cancellations are also anticpated to be the norm on the east coast where there will be one to three inches of snow over the D.C. to Boston area. Avery is the first name on the list of winter storm names for the 2018-2019 season. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday President Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2019 and will push for a concrete plan outlining Pyongyang's moves to end its arms programs. The United States and North Korea have been discussing a second meeting of their leaders after a June summit in Singapore to lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear standoff between the old foes. 'The plans are ongoing. We believe that the summit will likely occur after the first of the year, but the when and the where of that is still being worked out,' Pence told reporters after meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in. President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 12, 2018 for the opening of nuclear talks; the next round will happen in 2019, Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday In a separate interview with NBC News, Pence said the United States would not require Pyongyang to provide a complete list of nuclear weapons and locations before the second summit but that the meeting must produce a concrete plan. 'I think it will be absolutely imperative in this next summit that we come away with a plan for identifying all of the weapons in question, identifying all the development sites, allowing for inspections of the sites and the plan for dismantling nuclear weapons,' Pence said. Pence and Moon were meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit hosted by Singapore. A U.S. think tank said on Monday it had identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons programs. North Korea had entered into agreements with regional powers in 1994 and in 2005 to dismantle its nuclear program in return for economic benefits and diplomatic rewards, but those deals broke down after Pyongyang clandestinely continued to pursue building weapons of mass destruction. With scant sign of progress on negotiations since the June summit and recent high-level meetings canceled, Trump said last week he was now in 'no rush' but still wanted to meet with Kim for a second time. 'We're going to keep the pressure on. We're going to keep the sanctions in place,' Pence told NBC. 'President Trump continues to be very hopeful that in that next summit, we'll come out with a plan for actually implementing and achieving denuclearization.' Pence emphasized that sanctions will remain in place against North Korea until it agrees to dismantle its nuclear program U.S. officials have said sanctions forced North Korea to the negotiating table and vowed to keep pressure until complete denuclearisation. But North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the world's biggest powers. Pence told reporters that Moon agreed to work closely with the United States towards the second U.S.-North Korea summit, as Washington maintains the 'maximum pressure' campaign by keeping the sanctions against Pyongyang in place. Asked if China, which has been the North's main economic benefactor, was doing enough to maintain sanctions pressure, Pence said Beijing has done more than they have ever done before and Trump was grateful for that. A U.S. congressional commission said on Wednesday China appeared to have relaxed enforcement of sanctions on North Korea as Pyongyang began to engage with the United States this year. Trump is expected to speak more about enforcing sanctions when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit late this month and the unique role that China can play in ensuring the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, Pence said. North Korea has not tested a nuclear device or ballistic missile since last year, and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site, with plans to dismantle several more facilities. But it has warned it could restart its nuclear program if the United States does not drop the sanctions regime. A man from Brooklyn was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering a mother-of-four and is separately awaiting trial for another brutal killing. Joseph Danclair, 40, was found guilty of killing Chrissy Bevelaqua, 34, from Staten Island at the Bushwick Hotel in East Williamsburg in July 2015. Bevelaqua, who was found on a bed with bruises on her head and neck, was killed by compression of her neck and chest, an autopsy determined. Joseph Danclaire (left) received 25 years in prison for killing Chrissy Bevelaqua in 2015 (right) Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Dineen Riviezzo handed down the sentence Wednesday, the New York Daily News reported. Danclair is also accused of killing Antoinette Marin, 43, on September 8, 2015, in the Manhattan Broadway Hotel in Midtown. He told police Marin never woke up after a night of drug use and rough sex. However an autopsy determined that she too died from compression of the neck and chest, officials said. That case is pending in Manhattan Supreme Court. In the Bevelaqua case, cops found Danclairs fingerprints and DNA in the hotel room. They also had video of him entering the hotel with her and leaving alone, prosecutors said. He also admitted to being in the hotel, according to prosecutors. Joseph Danclair was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering a mother-of-four and is separately awaiting trial for another brutal killing. Chrissy Bevelaqua (pictured), 34, from Staten Island, was found dead in a hotel room on July 23 2015 During both hotel stays, police said that when someone from the hotel knocked on the door because time was up, someone inside cracked opened the door and handed cash through the opening without ever showing his face. Although, in Marin's case, police said Danclair was captured on surveillance video checking in with her and leaving the hotel alone. At the time of his arrest, police said Danclair was wearing the same belt he was wearing in the surveillance video recovered from the hotel. It is understood that the women appeared to have willingly visited the hotels with Danclair. Bevelaqua, 34, was found dead in a room at the Bushwick Hotel on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn (pictured) Danclair has a lengthy criminal record, dating back more than 20 years. It includes 28 arrests, including drug charges, robbery and kidnapping. The New York Daily News also reported that Danclair faces charges of a criminal sex act and sexual abuse in an attack attack on a 34-year-old woman he picked up at a Starbucks in Union Square in August 2015. Sources told the Daily News that Danclair took the victim to an abandoned building on Blake Avenue in Brooklyn, where he forced her to disrobe, snort heroin and perform a sex act. When he fell asleep, the victim grabbed his phone, flagged down a cab and fled to the 73rd Precinct Stationhouse, sources said. The UAEs Federal Tax Authority said that the digital system for the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme will be ready to issue and process VAT refund claims for eligible tourists to recover tax incurred on their purchases as of November 18. The UAEs Federal Tax Authority (FTA) announced that the digital system for the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme will be ready to issue and process VAT refund claims for eligible tourists to recover tax incurred on their purchases as of November 18 at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah International Airports. The Authority revealed that preparations are underway for phase two of the Scheme, which goes into effect on December 16, 2018, allowing overseas tourists to claim refunds of taxes at all other UAE airports and land and sea ports that are taking part, reported state news agency Wam. At a press conference held in Dubai on November 14, Federal Tax Authority director general Khalid Ali Al Bustani revealed that the number of retailers linked to the electronic system has exceeded 4,500 stores, adding that the number of targets is expected to rise next month to include more retail outlets across the UAE as the Scheme enters its second phase. The company hired to operate the system, Planet, has completed all necessary tests to ensure the system is running efficiently and accurately. Al Bustani addressed the audience at the conference, which included officials from the FTA and the Operator, asserting that there has been a significant turnout among retailers to register for the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme. ''The Authority continues to collaborate with the operating company to organise workshops and seminars that introduce retailers to the simplified procedures and mechanisms to register in the system,'' he noted, adding that the Schemes digital system is the most advanced of its kind, and was developed following thorough studies to meet the highest quality standards and best practices, and to feed into the wider electronic tax system, which the UAE was one of the first countries to implement. "Cabinet Decision No. (41) of 2018 on Introducing the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme; FTA Decision No. (1) of 2018 on the Requirements for Retailers to Take Part in the Scheme; and FTA Decision No. (2) of 2018 on the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme have all set clear, transparent and accurate criteria for the procedures to be followed to reclaim VAT for tourists, which strengthens the UAEs status as a leading international tourist destination," Al Bustani added, reaffirming that the system resonates with the vision of the UAEs wise leadership to expand economic diversification policies and empower various sectors to contribute to the national GDP, which includes the promising tourism sector. He said: "The FTA is keen to contribute to increasing tourism attractiveness, encouraging domestic trade and establishing the country as a central trading hub in the region. Among the incentives offered by the new system is the refund of VAT on purchases of up to Dh10,000 ($2,720) in cash for every overseas tourist within every 24 hours, which is high compared to the values allowed to be refunded in cash in many countries of the world, while there is no maximum cap where amounts due for refund are paid to the tourist's credit card. The FTA Director General went on to add: "The Scheme includes integration to businesses registered with the FTA who wish to register for the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme as well as to entry ports around the UAE, which would allow eligible tourists to request refunds on taxes incurred on their purchases through a state-of-the-art digital system." He cautioned that only invoices issued by retailers who are registered for the Scheme and connected to the system are eligible for a refund by tourists, adding that these retailers can be identified by posters they should display clearly on their storefronts. The Authority had outlined several conditions for a tourist to be eligible for a tax refund, namely: The tourist needs to be at least 18 years old; they must meet the criteria specified in Cabinet Decision No. (52) of 2018 regarding the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. (8) of 2017 on VAT, whereby goods eligible for the Scheme are supplied to an overseas tourist who was on UAE soil when the purchase was made, and who intends to exit the UAE along with the purchased items within 90 days; the goods are actually exported out of the UAE by the tourist within 3 months of the date of supply. Bunnings' edict on how their famous $2.50 sausage sizzles are to be served at their stores will have wider implications for every hosting public barbecues, legal experts say. On Tuesday, Bunnings announced onions had to be served underneath sausages at all fundraising BBQs held at any of it's 294 stores from now on. The move comes after a Queensland man Trevor slipped on the popular topping, which had fallen from a person's sausage sandwich, damaging his new hip and causing him emotional distress. Trevor, who cannot be identified because he's signed a non-disclosure agreement, had sued the retail giant hoping they'd ban eating inside stores completely. And the 65-year-old's legal action is not the only one that has been filed - with a Victorian nurse also claiming she sued after slipping on an onion in the store - alleging her fall saw her almost lose her home and cost her a career as a theatre nurse. Changes to how Bunnings serve their sausage sizzle could affect how smaller fundraiser BBQs are run Bunnings said the latest directive handed out to those manning the barbie is intended to improve safety. But the hardware chain has been widely mocked and it's decision ridiculed, with many saying it's a rise in Australia's nanny state. But James Chrara, NSW general manager of Shine Lawyers, told Daily Mail Australia the Bunnings rule could hit every public sausage sizzle in the country. He warned everyone from schools to community groups risked being sued themselves if they did not take precautions. 'Fundamentally, the same rules apply to everyone in relation to the duty of care owed to customers who want to purchase sausages,' he said. 'If you've invited a group of people into an area to consume sausages, then you've got a higher obligation on ensure their safety.' Mr Chrara said regular inspections conducted every 15-20 minutes could reduce the chance of accidents as spills would be spotted sooner. However, this wouldn't apply to sausage sizzles held on grass and sand, where the chance of falling is less likely. 'Any time food spills to the ground and is in contact with concrete, it's very unforgiving. James Chrara, Shine Lawyers 'If you've got a sausage sizzle on grass, 15-20 minutes is not necessary because there's not a slip issue.' The upcoming state election in Victoria is a prime example of how the great Australian tradition could be affected. Primary schools across Victoria are now scrambling to work out if they could be at risk if they serve onions with their sausages on election day. Multiple schools told Daily Mail Australia they would be having a meeting ahead of the big day, though they all still intended to serve onions. 'We're only a little school... we'll have to put onions under our sausages,' she said. Onions must now be served below the sausage to reduce the risk of falls, after multiple people filed lawsuits because they slipped on a dropped piece of onion 'It's a safety issue I guess. I'm going to have to talk to the principal.' A spokesman from Democracy Sausage - a website that marks which polling booths will be selling sausage sandwiches on election day - told Daily Mail Australia they supported the move, but could understand the controversy. 'While we understand that sausage traditionalists may be skeptical of the changes, Bunnings does have a point,' he said. 'Its warehouses are filled with many very heavy, very sharp objects, and so we can believe that spilled onion on the floor does pose a safety concern. 'We suspect the same concerns are not necessarily present in other sausage fundraising environments, but it can't hurt to make sure. 'But once the sausage, onion, bread and condiments are in your mouth, it probably doesn't make a difference.' Lilly Boskovski, a principal public liability lawyer for Slater and Gordon, said Bunnings were right to change their policy in the wake of the lawsuits. Legal experts say the liability extends to all public BBQs, and inspections should be made every 15-20 minutes to check for spill risks when a sausage sizzle is held on concrete 'Anything that could increase the possibility or likelihood of injury is something a store like Bunnings or even a surf lifesaving club would have to try and reduce as reasonably as possible,' she told Daily Mail Australia. ONE BUNNINGS ONION VICTIM TELLS HER STORY 'I'm one of those people suing Bunnings over onion on the floor and a very nasty fall that I suffered because of it in February. This has had such a huge impact on my life, only those close to me will really ever know or understand. But in short, besides the pain, surgery and an unknown future, I was more offended by the laughter and comments over the whole issue than anything else. Yes it seems funny and stupid, but for me personally that one trip to Bunnings has nearly cost me my career (theatre nurse), my home and at my darkest time when I could see no future, nearly my life. So please before you say things and have a good laugh, just think of those many poor people out there that have really been affected by something so simple as a stupid little piece of onion that fell onto the floor while you were shopping.' Advertisement 'It's something supermarkets and shopping centre food courts do all the time because there are food substances there and the risk [of a fall] is a bit higher.' Ms Boskovski said she felt for Trevor, who required an urgent MRI after his fall, and said the case and subsequent media attention was a great thing for the wider community, who may not know their rights when it comes to getting injured in a public place. 'Because it seems like a trivial thing and it happens outside the working context, a lot of people don't know they have entitlements and rights to pursue these matters,' she said. 'For this poor bloke, MRI scans and specialists can be expensive, and when you don't have the luxury of waiting in the public system, those costs can add up. 'These treatments can cause a big financial burden to people who are injured, and they might be unable to go to work, so there would be a loss of income. 'For some people, there might even be an uncertainty they could even return to work and perform at the capacity they were prior to the injury. 'Even if it seems trivial or unusual there may in fact be rights or entitlements, and people should make that phone call to a law firm to find out if they can do anything.' A young American staffie-cross has suffered serious injuries after being shot in the eye and in leg. The injured dog, affectionately called 'Whattha', was found on Midge Point Road, south of Airlie Beach in Queensland, on Saturday afternoon. He was rushed to the Orchard Valley Veterinary Surgery in Cannonvale. A young American cross-staffie (pictured) was found with bullet wounds to his eye and leg The dog was rushed to the Orchard Valley Veterinary Surgery in Queensland Whattha lost an eye and remains under the care of staff. Whattha was initially believed to have been hit by a car, but a veterinary examination revealed the injuries were bullet wounds. The owner of the dog has not yet been found. RSPCA Queensland is pleading for assistance to find his rightful owner. 'How someone can do this is entirely unthinkable,' RSPCA Queensland Chief Inspector Daniel Young said. RSPCA Queensland is pleading for assistance to find his rightful owner The staffie-cross will be transferred to the RSPCA in Brisbane once he is more mobile. 'Whattha has a long road to recovery ahead of him, but he is certainly being well cared for and loved at present,' said RSPCA Queensland. 'We have high hopes Whattha will make a full recovery despite losing an eye in the process.' Animal cruelty reports can be made on a 24/7 hotline by calling 1300 264 625. Roger Stone, the longtime adviser to President Donald Trump, texted a friend about hacks into Hillary Clinton's campaign days before they were revealed by WikiLeaks, it has been reported. Stone sent text messages to radio host Randy Credico on October 1, 2016 - six days before WikiLeaks published emails hacked from the account of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, according to NBC News. 'Big news Wednesday,' Credico said in a text message to Stone on Oct. 1, 2016. 'Now pretend u don't know me.' Stone replied five minutes later: 'U died 5 years ago.' 'Great,' Credico responded. 'Hillary's campaign will die this week.' Stone provided the text messages to NBC in an apparent attempt to show that Credico was a source of information about WikiLeaks. Stone himself denies that he colluded with WikiLeaks to hack into the Democrats' emails. Credico communicated to Stone that he had inside information as to what WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, had planned. Roger Stone, the longtime adviser to President Donald Trump, texted a friend about hacks into Hillary Clinton's campaign days before they were revealed by WikiLeaks, it has been reported Stone sent text messages to radio host Randy Credico on October 1, 2016 - six days before WikiLeaks published emails hacked from the account of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta Stone provided the text messages to NBC News, apparently in an attempt to show that Credico was a source of information about WikiLeaks When reached by NBC News, however, Credico denied this. 'There's absolutely nothing there that I had any knowledge of anything that Assange was going to do because I didn't,' Credico said. 'Where's the smoking gun?' Stone, however, said the text messages prove that he wasn't in touch with WikiLeaks. 'These text messages prove beyond dispute that Randy Credico was the source who told me of the significance of the material that Julian Assange told CNN he had and would publish in June 2016 and that Credico's source was indeed a woman attorney who worked for WikiLeaks,' Stone said. 'If Randy said anything different to the grand jury, he perjured himself under oath.' Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, agreed. Several associates linked to Roger Stone (above) have been questioned by the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller Credico communicated to Stone that he had inside information as to what WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, had planned. When reached by NBC News, however, Credico denied this. Credico is seen above in Washington, D.C. on September 7 Stone himself claimed during the presidential campaign that he was in touch with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (above). In August 2016, Stone predicted that WikiLeaks would once again leaks thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic Party 'The texts provided to NBC News demonstrate that my client, Roger Stone, has been consistent for the past two years in his assertion that Randy Credico was the person who was providing him what limited information Mr. Stone had regarding WikiLeaks,' Smith said. The text messages show that Stone and Credico knew WikiLeaks had damaging information about Clinton months before they were released. 'Julian Assange has kryptonite on Hillary,' Credico texted Stone on August 27. On October 3, Credico texted Stone: 'I think it's on for tomorrow.' Forty minutes before that text was sent, Stone posted a tweet suggesting that he knew WikiLeaks was planning something big. 'I have total confidence that @wikileaks and my hero Julian Assange will educate the American people soon #LockHerUp,' read Stone's tweet. That same day, Credico texted Stone: 'Why can't you get Trump to come out and say that he would give Julian Assange Asylum?' A few hours later, Credico sent Stone another text which read: 'Off the Record Hillary and her people are doing a full-court press they keep Assange from making the next dumpThat's all I can tell you on this linePlease leave my name out of it.' Stone replied: 'So nothing will happen tonight?' Credico answered: 'tuesday.There is so much stuff out there There will be an announcement but not on the balcony.' A few minutes later, Credico texted Stone again, saying: 'And by the way your friend did not have a meeting with Julian Assange that's a complete lie.' 'How would u know, rummy?' Stone replied. The 'friend' referenced here is blogger Charles Ortel, who Stone mistakenly thought had met with Assange. 'Because I'm best friends with [Assange's] lawyer and leave it at that and leave it alone,' Credico replied to Stone. Credico was referring to Margaret Ratner Kunstler, who declined comment to NBC News. The next day, October 4, Assange announced that WikiLeaks would release emails related to the 2016 campaign. The actual email dump took place on October 7 - hours after The Washington Post leaked the so-called Access Hollywood 'p***ygate' tape. Earlier this week, Jerome Corsi, an associate of Stone, said he expects to be indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for lying to federal authorities in the Russia investigation. Corsi, a right-wing author who has espoused conspiracy theories about Barack Obama's place of birth and the September 11 attacks, said on his YouTube broadcast on Monday that he anticipates an indictment soon. He said that in the two months since he was initially questioned by FBI agents working for the Mueller investigation, 'the entire negotiations and discussions have just blown up.' 'I fully anticipate that in the next few days I will be indicted by Mueller for some form or other of giving false information to the Special Counsel or the grand jury... but I am going to be criminally charged,' Corsi said on his show. Corsi hosts a daily internet program. He has written books alleging that Obama was not an American citizen, John McCain had secret ties to Al-Qaida, and the government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. Jerome Corsi, a right-wing author who has espoused conspiracy theories about Barack Obama's place of birth and the September 11 attacks, said on his YouTube broadcast on Monday that he anticipates an indictment soon 'This has been one of the most frightening experiences of my life,' Corsi said on Monday. 'At the end of two months my mind was mush.' The 72-year-old Corsi said: 'I'm going to be indicted. That's what we've been told. Everyone should know that.' 'Trying to explain yourself to these people is impossible I guess I couldn't tell the special prosecutor what he wanted to hear,' he said. Corsi denounced Mueller and the Department of Justice, accusing them of politically persecuting him because of his support for President Donald Trump. 'The Department of Justice is run by criminals,' Corsi said. 'I think my crime really was that I supported Donald Trump. 'Now I guess I'll go to prison for the rest of my life, because I dared to oppose the Deep State.' Corsi is appealing to his supporters for help in funding his legal defense. He created a PayPal page where donors could contribute money. Corsi's entanglement in the investigation has been reported in recent weeks as Mueller has focused on associates of Stone. Stone has claimed that Corsi and Credico were his sources of damaging information about Democrats. Stone told The Washington Post on Monday that he and his lawyers have 'fully reviewed' all of his communications with Corsi. Stone himself claimed during the presidential campaign that he was in touch with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Mueller (seen above in 2017) has reportedly focused on Stone in recent weeks over his alleged ties to WikiLeaks In August 2016, Stone predicted that WikiLeaks would once again leaks thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic Party. 'I actually have communicated with Assange,' he bragged to a Republican group in Florida that month. A few weeks later, Stone tweeted that it would soon be 'Podesta's time in the barrel', seemingly referring to Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta. Six weeks later, WikiLeaks unleashed dozens of stolen emails from Podesta's account. With just two weeks left until summer begins, the east coast of Australia is set to be smashed with rain. Australians may also be in for a soggy Christmas, with December expected to be wetter than average. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is predicting a 65 per cent chance of above average rainfall next month - but warn some areas will receive more than others. Australians may also be in for a soggy Christmas with December expected to be wetter than average The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is predicting a 65 per cent chance of above average rainfall next month but with some areas receiving more than others Agata Imielska, a senior climatologist at the BOM, said the rain will come as a huge relief for drought-stricken farmers, with some areas expected to get up to 400 millimetres of rain. 'It's a pleasant surprise for areas especially for areas that have been quite dry,' she said. However, the BOM is not expecting the sudden rain bomb to break the drought. 'It would be nicer to see the signal across the entirety of the state and particularly west of the Great Dividing Range,' Ms Imielska said. 'Still better than seeing a dry outlook obviously.' Eastern, and south-eastern parts of the state, including Sydney, are more likely to see rain than western areas. NSW residents have been told to brace for extremely hot days and nights as above normal temperatures are predicted for the summer months. The BOM is also predicting an increased chance of heatwaves and a higher chance of bushfires - despite the rain. 'Sometimes that rainfall can actually stimulate some growth which can then dry out and actually pose a potential bushfire risk,' Ms Imielska said. Eastern, and south-eastern parts of the state, including Sydney, are more likely to see rain than western areas Almost all of NSW has received less than 20 per cent of its usual rainfall since January Almost all of NSW has received less than 20 per cent of its usual rainfall since January, and Australia as a whole just experienced its warmest and driest July in 20 years. ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes heatwave expert Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick told Weatherzone that Australians should be expecting extreme weather considering the dryness and warmth of the past few months. 'We are heading towards an El Nino summer, so we are more likely to have hotter and more extreme weather,' Dr Perkins-Kirkpatrick said. 'We should certainly be worried.' Despite the east coast set to be flooded by rain, the days are still expected to be warmer than average across almost off of Australia from December to February The Bureau of Meteorology announced the odds of an El Nino system forming this year are now twice as high as normal. El Nino events often result in severe droughts, bringing higher temperatures, lower than average rainfall and increased risk of bushfires, with the phenomenon lasting as long as two years. The system will reduce rainfall in northern Australia and parts of Western Australia, western Tasmania, central Australia and Queensland are also expected to be drier than a normal. Eastern NSW and eastern Victoria will likely to be wetter than average. For the rest of the week, Sydney will encounter temperatures as high as 22 with some rain For the rest of the week, Sydney will encounter temperatures as high as 22 with some rain. Melbourne will reach a high of 26 and enjoy a gorgeous time at the beach. Queensland is bearing the brunt of muggy temperatures high as 29 with sunny and rainy days. A high of 35 degrees is expected to reach parts of Western Australia, while Adelaide will reach a high of 33. Tasmania will endure lows of 17, while Canberra to enjoy slightly warmer temperatures reaching 26. The Northern Territory continues to bathe in warm temperatures, but should experience a few storms. A rape victim has released a desperate plea to keep her attacker locked behind bars four years after he was jailed for the historic rape. Paul James Carr, 51, brutally bashed and raped the 16-year-old victim in March 1987 at her Kalgoorlie home, in Western Australia. Carr, a convicted murderer with a lengthy criminal record, was arrested and charged over the cold case rape in 2013 - 26 years after the attack, WAtoday reported. He had already spent almost 20 years in prison for murder and served an additional five-year sentence for aggravated burglary. Paul James Carr (pictured in 2008), 51, brutally bashed and raped the 16-year-old victim in March 1987 at her Kalgoorlie home, in Western Australia At sentencing in 2015, Carr was handed an eight-year jail term for the Kalgoorlie attack, but will be eligible for parole on February 7. The victim told WAtoday she was hopeful Carr would be forced to serve the entirety of his sentence. 'I am hopeful that the parole board will see that it is the public's best interest for the entire sentence to be served,' she said. 'Every time he has been released from jail in the past he has hurt someone. I certainly feel safer knowing he is still incarcerated.' At his sentencing, a psychological report claimed Carr was a moderate to high risk of reoffending. The victim said her supportive family and counselling services have helped her to find fulfillment in life. Carr, convicted murderer who has a lengthy criminal record, was arrested and charged over the cold case rape in 2013, about 26 years after the attack (pictured: mugshot from 1986) '(But) trauma does have an impact on your life and mental well-being. Knowing what violent people are capable of is frightening,' she she. When Carr attacked in 1987, the teenage victim tried to escape and ran from the property. Carr, who was 19 at the time, dragged her back inside, where he sexually assaulted her and beat her with an iron. The woman survived the ordeal after police pulled up outside the home, scaring Carr away. He fled to New South Wales, where he murdered a man in September 1987. Carr was convicted for the murder and released from jail in 2007. He was jailed again in 2008 for aggravated burglary and wounding. A review of the Kalgoorlie rape case and new DNA evidence allowed WA detectives to link Carr to the attack, securing his conviction. A pregnant woman was shoved to the ground and robbed by a man in broad daylight on Wednesday. Kanika Thingra, 27, who is four months pregnant, was walking home from work while on the phone when she was pushed by a man in Dee Why, on Sydney's northern beaches, at 5.30pm. The expectant mother was approached from behind and was hit on her right shoulder at the intersection of Fisher Road, reports 9News. Scroll down for video Kanika Thingra (pictured), four months pregnant, was pushed to ground and robbed by a man 'It was like a tackle ... he just went past me and took my phone,' she said. The man is believed to have fled the scene on foot through the intersection in the eastern direction toward Campbell Parade. Ms Thingra reported the incident to Dee Why Police Station. She was assessed by paramedics, who confirmed her and the unborn baby were uninjured. Ms Thingra was walking home from work while having a mobile phone conversation before the incident unfolded Ms Thingra and her unborn baby were thankfully unharmed and assessed by paramedics Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command searched the area immediately but could not locate the man. Police have described him as being 165-170cm tall with a dark complexion and brown shoulder-length hair. He was wearing a grey and black jumper with rolled up covered sleeves during the attack. Malaysia has warned the controversial suggestion to relocate Australia's embassy to Jerusalem could fuel terrorism. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad made the pressing comment during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Singapore on Thursday. 'I pointed out that in dealing with terrorism, one has to know the causes,' Mr Mohamad told reporters. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (pictured) made the pressing comment during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Singapore on Thursday The Morrison (pictured) Government has come under increasing fire after announcing it would consider moving Australia's embassy from Tel Aviv in Israel to Jerusalem 'Adding to the cause for terrorism is not going to be helpful.' The Morrison Government has come under increasing fire after announcing it would consider moving Australia's embassy from Tel Aviv in Israel to Jerusalem. Palestine supporter Indonesia is furious about the potential embassy move and Jakarta for its part has put a major Indonesia-Australia trade deal on ice. After his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday, Mr Morrison suggested the matter would be reviewed before Christmas. The Australian Prime Minister has also clapped back at claims former trade minister Steve Ciobo said there was 'less than a five per cent chance' of the move actually happening. 'They don't reflect the views of the government and I'm not aware of him even having said that,' he said. Mr Morrison has also hit back at Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who slammed the whole ordeal. 'If he doesn't wish to consider the issue that's a matter for him,' Mr Morrison said. The Australian Prime Minister has also clapped back at claims former trade minister Steve Ciobo said there was 'less than a five per cent chance' of the move actually happening 'But Australia will determine our foreign policy issues and we'll consider those in our time frame on our terms.' Mr Shorten said the Prime Minister should not drag his feet and get on with the matter. 'I don't see why this nation has to wait until Christmas so Mr Morrison can climb off his high horse,' he said. 'Let's just get on with it. No shame in admitting you're wrong and let's just let get onto the next issue including improving our trade opportunities in our region.' Japan's newly appointed Minister for Cybersecurity has revealed he has never used a computer in his entire life. Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, also in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, told the Japanese parliament that he has 'directed staff and secretaries to do that kind of thing'. Taking questions from lawmakers yesterday, Sakurada also made comments indicating he has no idea what a USB port is. Computer says no: Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, told the Japanese parliament that he has never used a computer in his entire life but that he 'has directed staff to do that kind of thing' The minister made the admission at a parliamentary committee meeting, when asked by an opposition lawmaker if he was computer literate. 'I've been independent since I was 25 and have always directed my staff and secretaries to do that kind of thing,' Sakurada replied. 'I've never used a computer!' 'I give instructions to my aide and so I don't punch into a computer myself,' he said. 'But I am confident our work is flawless.' When asked about the power grid and malware, Sakurada said USB was 'basically never used' in the utility systems, appearing to not know what it might be. Lawmakers laughed incredulously at his replies, which were highlighted in Japanese media. Questioning and answers in Parliament are also carried live on national TV. New job: Sakurada was named cybersecurity and Olympics minister last month by Prime Minister Abe, having never held a cabinet position before during his 22 years in parliament Ministers in Japan almost always get parliamentary questions in advance. Often their answers are based on briefings from ministry bureaucrats. In Sakurada's exchange, bureaucrats were seen rushing over to give him sheets of paper with information. Ministers are tapped by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Sakurada was named to his position in the latest Cabinet reshuffle last month. Although the minister is not expected to have much hands-on responsibility in the handling of either cybersecurity or the Olympics, Sakurada's high-profile bungling is an embarrassment for Abe. Sakurada, a graduate of Meiji University, was first elected to parliament in 1996, representing Chiba prefecture, near Tokyo. His favorite issues are pushing for Japan's economic prosperity and supporting its culture. 'There is no genius that surpasses effort,' is his favorite motto. Advertisement British Prime Minister Theresa May whose future hangs in the balance after several key members of government resigned over her Brexit deal. She is pictured leaving Number 10 Downing Street on Thursday The British parliament is in chaos after Prime Minister Theresa May's controversial Brexit deal prompted the resignations of several key members of government which have left her clinging to her position. May unveiled the negotiated agreement on Wednesday, more than two years after the Brexit vote, to widespread controversy. Ministers have slammed it as a 'dog's dinner' and complain, among other things, that it binds the UK to strict EU trade rules which it has no say in making but must follow, largely due to the mutual desire not to have a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the UK whereas the Republic of Ireland is part of the EU. Neither the EU nor Britain wants to enforce a hard border which would slow down trade and potentially create friction between the two nations whose history is long and checkered with conflict. They have agreed on a 'backstop' which would separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK in terms of trade guidelines by keeping it, in the realms of trade rules and guidelines, subject to EU law. Critics of the deal say it in no way reflects what voters wanted when they chose to leave the EU in 2016. Among them is Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, who said the deal presented a 'very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom.' His resignation leaves her future and that of the party in serious doubt. Others have directly called for her to step down. If enough ask for a vote of no confidence, May could be ousted as Prime Minister. She is clinging on in spite of the challenges to her leadership and says the deal she presented is the 'best deal that can be negotiated'. At an afternoon press conference on Thursday, she vowed to carry on with her plan, paying little heed to the quickly spiraling chaos. 'I am sorry they have chosen to leave government and thank them for their service,' she said of the ministers who resigned. She remained confident in her plan, saying firmly: 'This is a Brexit that delivers on the priorities of the British people. 'Difficult and uncomfortable decisions have had to be made. 'I'm going to do my job of getting the best deal for Britain when the vote comes before the House of Commons they will need to consider the vote of the people. 'This is not an easy thing to do. This is a complex negotiation ... what we will deliver will be [most people's] interest. 'Am I going to see this through? Yes.' As the mayhem intensified on Thursday, the pound plummeted in value. It is now trading at $1.2829, a drop of 1.3 percent. To pass the deal, May needs 320 of the 650 lawmakers to approve it. May, who inherited the Prime Minister's office when David Cameron stepped down in opposition to Brexit, remained defiant in a speech to the House of Commons on Thursday. The pound fell sharply against the US dollar seconds after Dominic Raab's resignation 'The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated - this deal,' she said. Leading pro-Brexit lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg is among those to have resigned. He called for a no-confidence vote subsequently which, if it triggers others, could oust May. Under Conservative party rules, a confidence vote in the leader is triggered if 15 percent of Conservative lawmakers - currently 48 - write a letter to the party's 1922 Committee of backbenchers, which oversees leadership votes. Rees-Mogg said in his letter that the Brexit deal was 'worse than anticipated' and May had lost the confidence of her lawmakers. Only committee chairman Graham Brady knows for sure how many letters have been sent, but Rees-Mogg's letter is likely to spur others to do the same. Raab said in his resignation letter that 'I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU.' 'I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made.' Raab is the second Brexit Secretary that May has lost - David Davis, who like Raab backed Brexit in the U.K.'s June 2016 referendum on its membership of the EU, quit in July of this year. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey followed Raab out the door. She said in a letter that it is 'no good trying to pretend to (voters) that this deal honors the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesn't.' Before Parliament votes on the deal - the culmination of a year and a half of negotiations between the two sides - EU leaders have to give their backing. On Thursday, EU chief Donald Tusk called for a summit of leaders to take place on Nov. 25 so they can rubber-stamp the draft deal reached by officials earlier this week. May has supporters in her party, and they argued Thursday that the alternatives - leaving the trading bloc without a deal or a second vote on Brexit - were not realistic options. "''No deal' is not pretty,' Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Radio 4. 'A second referendum would be divisive but not be decisive.' Among those who resigned on Thursday was the Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and the Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey But May's chances of getting her deal through Parliament before the U.K. leaves the bloc on March 29 appeared to be shrinking. Her Conservative government doesn't have enough lawmakers of its own to get a majority, and relies on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland, which says it will not back the deal. The DUP leader in Parliament, Nigel Dodds, said the 'choice is now clear: we stand up for the United Kingdom, the whole of the United Kingdom, the integrity of the United Kingdom, or we vote for a vassal state with the breakup of the United Kingdom, that is the choice.' Boris Johnson was among prominent Conservatives who attended a meeting to challenge May's leadership on Thursday. He resigned as Foreign Secretary in 2017 in protest over her Brexit plans Opposition parties also signaled that they would vote against the agreement if it comes before them - most likely in December. Main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said May should withdraw the 'half-baked' Brexit deal. He said Parliament 'cannot and will not accept a false choice between this deal and no deal.' Ian Blackford, who heads the Scottish National Party in Parliament, said the deal was 'dead on arrival' and urged May to stop the countdown clock to Britain's exit, less than five months away. 'Do the right thing and we will work with you,' he said. 'Stop the clock and go back to Brussels.' Meanwhile in Brussels, Tusk heaped praise on the EU's Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, who had 'achieved the two most important objectives' for the bloc - limiting the damage caused by Britain's impending departure and maintaining the interests of the other 27 countries that will remain in the EU after Brexit. Addressing the British, Tusk said: 'As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible for both for you and for us.' The deal requires the consent of the European Parliament as well as the British one. The parliament's chief Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt, welcomed the draft deal as 'the best agreement we could obtain.' Verhofstadt predicted the EU Parliament could approve the deal at the start of next year, well in time of the March 29, 2019 exit. What happens if Theresa May's controversial Brexit deal fails to get the support of MPs? Theresa May is facing a revolt from all sides over her Brexit plans - leaving her premiership hanging by a thread. Furious Tory Brexiteers are sharpening their knives and threatening to trigger a no confidence vote. While Remainers are refusing to throw her a lifeline, and instead vowing to vote down her deal and force through a second referendum and keep the UK in the EU. This is what could happen if the PM does not manage to rally support to her deal: Theresa May abandons her deal Faced with a mutiny from her own MPs and the refusal of Labour MPs to come to her rescue, the PM could abandon her controversial Brexit plan. Mrs May could try to restart negotiations with Brussels - pleading for further concessions to get a deal which stands a chance of getting through parliament. But with the clock rapidly running down on Brexit day next March, Britain would look to be hurtling towards a no deal Brexit. With her deal in tatters and her authority hammered, it would be hard to imagine that Mrs May could limp on as Prime Minister, clearing the way for a potentially bitter Tory leadership election and potentially a General Election. Parliament votes down the deal: If the PM refuses to bow to pressure and sticks with her under-fire agreement, then it will go to a vote of Parliament early next month. But faced with overwhelming opposition from Tory Brexiteers, Labour Remainers and the 10 DUP MPs propping her up in No10, she simply does not look to have the numbers to win. If the deal is voted down, then Mrs May's authority would be shredded and she would almost certainly have to quit as PM. This would also trigger a potentially bitter Tory leadership contest just as Britain was heading for a no deal Brexit. It would also fuel calls for a second referendum to be held, as Remainers would warn that the political chaos gripping Britain means the public must be asked again if they actually want to leave the bloc. Theresa May is hit with a no confidence vote: Seething Brexiteers are busy circling to oust the PM and have warned that the rest of the 48 letters needed to trigger a no confidence vote could be sent in by the end of the day. If a ballot is triggered, then 158 Tory MPs would need to vote against Mrs May to oust her - firing the gun on a new Tory leadership contest just two years after the last one. Westminster is awash with rumours that Mrs May could trigger the no confidence vote herself - as she does a 'John Major' and asks her MPs to 'put up or shut up'. If she wins then Tory MPs will have to wait 12 months before they can mount another bid to oust her. Advertisement MAY'S BREXIT DEAL Irish border The documents confirm that the whole UK would be inside a customs union if no other solution could be found to avoid a hard line between Northern Ireland and the Republic by the end of a transition period in December 2020. 'Until the future relationship becomes applicable, a single customs territory between the Union and the United Kingdom shall be established ('the single customs territory'),' the agreement said. Britain and Northern Ireland will stay in the same customs territory under the backstop meaning no tariffs, quotas or checks on rules of origin across the Irish Sea. However, the UK will have to apply in Northern Ireland EU legislation on industrial, environmental and agricultural goods. This will be policed by UK officials but EU officials will be able to demand to be present. DUP fears that the province will still be treated differently from the rest of the UK appear well founded. The document says Northern Ireland would align with all single market rules so goods can circulate freely within the EU but with no influence over them. Where EU law is applied, the European Court of Justice will remain 'ultimate arbiter', Government notes on the deal say. The terms of the backstop say UK officials will be responsible for policing EU law that still applies in Northern Ireland after Brexit but EU officials can demand to be present. The laws are likely to regulation on products made in Northern Ireland and sold in the Republic. The European Court of Justice will be in charge of disputes about EU law that applies in Northern Ireland. Britain will take part in any cases at the ECJ as if it were still a member state, the document says. Both the EU and UK will have the right to say the backstop should end because a new trade deal makes it irrelevant. But neither side can act on it without agreement of ministers on both sides within six months. Transition period extension The Withdrawal Agreement confirms a Brexit transition period - during which EU laws will continue to have effect in Britain - lasting until December 31, 2020. However, the deal allows Britain to request an extension to the transition period 'at any time' before July 1, 2020. An extension could allow Britain and the EU more time to reach a final deal over the Irish border. In his press conference after Mrs May's announcement Michel Barnier said the transition period could only be extended once. The Northern Ireland backstop would only kick in if no final agreement had been reached at the end of the transition period, the Government said. During the implementation period EU laws made in Brussels will continue to apply to Britain and the UK will be bound by the EU's international agreements. The UK is also expected to 'make a contribution to the Union budget' in 2019 and 2020 and until the end of the transition period. In addition, decisions of the European Court of Justice will continue to have 'binding force' in Britain, according to the agreement. Exit clause Mrs May has won her bid for an independent panel a 'joint consultative working group' to decide on when the customs union backstop can end, to stop the UK being 'trapped'. Under Article 20 of the Protocol, the UK would notify the EU if it believes the backstop is no longer needed. Within six months, the panel would decide if the EU was not acting in good faith over a solution to the Irish border problem. Designed to ensure the EU could not unreasonably block the UK from leaving the backstop, it is still well short of the unilateral break clause many Cabinet ministers wanted. The panel will be made up of two representatives from each side plus an independent person likely to be judges. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox who proposed the solution reportedly suggested the solution is not legally watertight. However, senior government officials insisted there have been major changes to the text to ensure the backstop is temporary. Regulations The price the UK has paid for this customs backstop is to agree to swathes of EU rules designed to ensure a 'level playing field' and contained within a 'large annexe' to the agreement. Mrs May has said she wants the UK to follow a 'common rulebook' for goods and farm products in the trade deal. But the agreement is expected to cover many others including state aid rules subsidises for industry workers' rights, competition policy, environmental rules and tax, which Brexiteers, and some Remainers, warn means following Brussels regulations that we cannot influence. Divorce bill The UK will pay around 39billion, but payments will become due over time such as pension payments for EU officials. Half the cash pays for a 'transition' period between now and the end of 2020, when very little will change and the UK will stay within EU rules and institutions. Designed to avoid a Brexit 'cliff edge', this period will allow negotiations to resume on the future. Calls from Cabinet Brexiteers for the cash to be linked to the future deal appear to have failed. For the first time, the UK has accepted the transition period may have to be extended but only once before we move to the future relationship. Freedom of movement and citizens' rights Ending freedom of movement was a key demand for many who voted Leave, and will happen at the end of transition. Future immigration rules were not included in negotiations, so the UK has flexibility to set its own after that point, although the EU will push for preferential treatment in return for a better trade deal. The existing rights of the three million EU citizens living in the UK and the one million Britons living in Europe have been guaranteed. Fishing The deal on fishing is a win for Mrs May and will allow the UK to independently negotiate access to its waters and quota shares. Member states such as France and the Netherlands whose fishermen access UK waters demanded continued access. Instead, fishing terms will be negotiated separately during the transition. The EU will call for continued access in return for giving the UK market access to sell its fish products, where the British industry exports around 75 per cent of its haul. Thirteen Scottish Tory MPs including Scotland Secretary David Mundell said yesterday they could not support a deal that 'would prevent the UK from independently negotiating access and quota shares'. No agreement has been made on import tariffs, meaning the EU could hit UK fishermen with charges for selling on to the continent. Trade The deal is expected to contain only a brief 'political declaration' on future trade arrangements running to around five pages and which is not legally binding. Ministers hope this will be beefed up in the coming days before MPs are asked to vote on the deal next month. Both sides have agreed that there will be zero tariffs and quotas on trade between both sides, which No 10 says is a victory. One senior official said the UK would be 'the only major advanced economy' with that relationship with the EU. On security, an agreement has been reached to share number plate information, fingerprints and DNA records but not the data on wanted criminals. Financial markets The draft agreement gives London's financial centre only a basic level of access to the EU's markets similar to that enjoyed by US and Japanese firms. Under the terms of the deal would be based on the EU's existing system of financial market access known as equivalence a watered-down relationship that Brussels has said all along was the best arrangement that Britain can expect. Achieving equivalence is a regulatory and not a political issue, Government sources have insisted. Gibraltar The draft Brexit deal sets up a new cooperation framework between Britain and Spain to oversee the Rock. A six-part clause creates three UK-Spanish committees to supervise cross-border workers, smuggling, environmental protection, law enforcement and border control. An overarching committee of UK-EU officials means Brussels gets an oversight role on the new arrangement. ... And how is May defending it? Mrs May insisted to MPs today this is the 'best deal that can be negotiated' and rejecting it would mean a choice between 'no deal or no Brexit'. The PM said that the draft treaty agreed by Cabinet on Wednesday was not a final agreement, but brings the UK 'close to a Brexit deal'. There was laughter as she said that it would allow the UK to leave 'in a smooth and orderly way' on March 29. 'It takes back control of our borders, laws and money. It protects jobs, security and the integrity of the United Kingdom, and it delivers in ways that many said could simply not be done,' said the PM. 'We were told we had a binary choice between the model of Norway and the model of Canada, that we could not have a bespoke deal. 'But the outline political declaration sets out an arrangement that is better for our country than both of these - a more ambitious free trade agreement than the EU has with any other country. 'We were told we would be treated like any other third country on security co-operation. 'But the outline political declaration sets out a breadth and depth of co-operation beyond anything the EU has agreed with any other country.' The detail of the deal started to emerged as the full Agreement was published tonight after two years of tortuous negotiations. Brexiteers have already decried the plans as a betrayal of the referendum - and are threatening to stage a vote of no-confidence in a bid to oust her. A heartbroken soldier killed himself with a massive overdose of cocaine at his army base just weeks after he split up with the mother of his child. Father-of-one Jordan Corcoran, 28, changed out of his military uniform and took 60 times the lethal level of the drug after he asked a comrade to swap guard duties with him. The Kingsman was reported missing when he failed to turn up for parade the following morning and his body was found eight days later in undergrowth at Weeton Barracks, in Preese, Lancashire. Father-of-one Jordan Corcoran, 28, (pictured) changed out of his military uniform and took 60 times the lethal level of the drug after he asked a comrade to swap guard duties with him Tests showed Kgn Corcoran had 61.2mg of cocaine in his blood. Experts say just 1mg in someone's system can be potentially life threatening. In the hours before he disappeared the squaddie had posted a Facebook comment to his grandmother expressing 'low self esteem' about his life. An inquest heard Kgn Corcoran had served with the Duke of Lancaster Regiment since February 2014 and was deployed to Kenya in 2015, Cyprus between 2016 and 2017 and then the USA in October 2017. But back home he had relationship troubles with girlfriend Melissa Kitt - the mother of his three year old son - and he suspected she was having an affair. They split up in May this year, two months before his death in July. A heartbroken soldier killed himself with a massive overdose of cocaine at his army base just weeks after he split up with his girlfriend Melissa (both pictured) Det Insp Alicia Wilson told the Blackpool hearing: 'Melissa says they had a son together in 2015 but in April 2018 they began to argue as he thought she was cheating and living a separate life. He got paranoid and the relationship deteriorated. 'They separated in May and arrangements were in place for him to see his son but sometimes he didn't turn up. Things were nasty between them in the beginning but then they were working on their relationship. An inquest heard Kgn Corcoran had served with the Duke of Lancaster Regiment since February 2014 and was deployed to Kenya in 2015, Cyprus between 2016 and 2017 and then the USA in October 2017 'She was concerned about him because of the messages she got from him which seemed like he was depressed. He said he didn't know who he had become. He felt like getting signed off and didn't want to feel like this anymore, and said 'what was the point of being there every morning'. 'On the night before his death, he wanted to see his son, so Melissa and him did a Facetime call where he told his son he loved him. But Jordan had his thumb over his camera so he could not be seen. 'He was reported missing on July 4 and was regarded as a high risk missing person due to messages sent to his grandmother and his ex-partner which could indicate his mood was low. Melissa had been in contact with him until just after midnight on July 4. Facebook messages happened and then he was not in contact with anyone else. 'His roommate saw him on the phone at midnight and then returned to his room to change out of his uniform. CCTV footage shows him around the gatehouse that night. He hadn't used his bank card, account or phone since July 3. The army conducted a search of the barracks. 'At 7:30 on July 12 he was found in some woodland in the barracks, 20m North from the fencing where there is lots of vegetation and trees.' In the hours before he disappeared the squaddie had posted a Facebook comment to his grandmother expressing 'low self esteem' about his life Fellow soldier Nathan Button said in a statement: 'I knew Jordan had problems with his ex girlfriend but I didn't know what about. His ex had done something and I saw they had a heated argument. He would go round to hers to see his son. 'The problems with his ex were going on for 3-4 weeks. On July 3 he was due to be on gate duty. We had spoken that night about arranging our shifts around each other then at 11:50pm he came to me at the gate house. 'He said he would give me 50 if I did his hours for him. I said he didn't need to pay me, I would do it, but he could do my hour shift in the morning. He seemed stressed and said it was 'about her again'. I had no contact with him after that.' Lt Col Rob Singleton Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment said: 'There were welfare issues with Jordan and with access to his son. We were monitoring him, but we felt he was not at risk of harm. The inquest heard he had relationship troubles with girlfriend Melissa Kitt - the mother of his three year old son - and he suspected she was having an affair. They split up in May this year, two months before his death in July 'He had been seen arguing and stressed before duty on July 3 and then didn't report for duty. We didn't know where he was. We felt he may have left the main part of the barracks, which means he left work without permission. 'We have a zero tolerance to drugs and we do regular drug tests. He had eight drug tests over his service. 'He was clear on six of them and the other two could not be taken at the time but does not mean he had drugs in his system. There was nothing to say he was an active drug taker. 'We have the authority to search people as they come into the barracks and can be refused entry if they refuse. But I trust my soldiers.' Tests showed Kgn Corcoran had 61.2mg of cocaine in his blood. Experts believe just 1mg in someone's system can be potentially life threatening Recording a verdict of suicide coroner Alan Wilson said: 'Jordan did have issues with his emotional health. He was low in mood and had let his grandma know as he had a close relationship with her. 'He was particularly low and was thinking about how he was wasting his life and he experienced problems with his emotions. But he was at a level that didn't require more action by the army. 'He had a chaotic style of life and it got too much for him. People are making different claims about the days and events before his death, but overall his personal life was chaotic. He had a combination of issues with finance and child access. He was looking forward to being deployed in the summer which may have saved money for him. 'He had taken cocaine in gross levels and this would have affected his heart rhythm massively. He would have known that taking this level of cocaine would have been fatal. Things became too much for him. With extremely high levels of cocaine he intended to end his life.' Miss Kitt did not give evidence at he hearing. But in a post on Facebook she said: 'I will always be so super proud of Jordan. My heart ache continues everyday. Sleep tight soldier you've done us proud.' Budget carrier Air Arabia has selected Thales for its new Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system that allows pilots to operate efficiently in the cockpit with digital manuals and charts. The signing happened at the side-lines of Bahrain International Airshow taking place this week in Bahrain. Air Arabia had already implemented the Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag system years back that helped the airline reduces the amount of paper required to be carried on board while bringing robust efficiency into its operations. Thales Pads will now replace existing electronic devises on board ensuring latest technology is adopted. The new EFB, lighter in weight, includes enhanced features while and provides the highest level of reliability and performance on board. Adel Al Ali, group chief executive officer of Air Arabia said: Efficiency has been at the heart of Air Arabia operations since the carrier launched 15 years ago. Adopting the Thales Pads into our cockpit reflects Air Arabias innovative approach towards investing in technology and business intelligence to continue driving operational reliability and efficiency higher. We look forward to working with Thales to successfully implement this new project." Roger Daix, vice president Thales Middle East, said: "Thales is very proud to have been selected by Air Arabia, a longstanding airline carrier in the Middle East and we are honoured to equip the airline with the new Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag system. This selection represents a major win for Thales in the Middle East reinforcing our presence within the region. Thales is committed to supporting Air Arabia in driving innovation at the highest standards. These devices are planned to be progressively rolled out across the entire Air Arabia fleet starting April 2019. Air Arabia currently operates a fleet of 53 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving over 150 routes from four hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. The carrier is also expected to receive the delivery of five Airbus A321 neo LR in 2019. - TradeArabia News Service A federal judge slammed Florida on Thursday for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems, and said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. At the same time he ordered that voters must be given until 5:00 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they haven't been counted due to mismatched signatures. 'We have been the laughing-stock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this,' U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said in court. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers but also Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. Walker also said he's not happy about the idea of extending recount deadlines without limit. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision, by locking in procedures that don't allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in Tallahassee. Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson (left) and his challenger, Republican Gov. Rick Scott (right), are waiting for a series of legal squabbles to play out over which ballots are counted, a situation that a federal judge says has made Florida 'the laughing-stock of the world' Canvassing Board chair Judge Betsy Benson, left, and board member Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye, right, show political lawyers a damaged ballot at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office during a recount on Wednesday Florida's 67 counties have faced a 3:00 p.m. Thursday deadline to finish recounts that could determine the next senator and governor in one of America's top political battlegrounds. Republicans said they would immediately appeal. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signature on the envelope didn't match the signature on file. If these voters can prove their identity, their votes will now be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker gave voters until Saturday to resolve mismatched ballot signatures with election officials Meanwhile, the ongoing recount threatens to stretch into the weekend. The election supervisor in Palm Beach County, a Democratic stronghold, warned they may not meet Thursday's initial deadline. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Democrats want that looming deadline set aside, and other lawsuits could lead to more delays. More than a week after Election Day, an immediate resolution seems remote. Once the machine recount is complete, state law requires a hand review of races with margins of less than 0.25 percentage points. This almost certainly means another recount in the Senate race, with unofficial results showing Republican Gov. Rick Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.14 percentage points. Also, the election won't be certified until Tuesday, even though the machine recount may essentially bring a conclusion to the governor's race, where Republican Ron DeSantis leads Democrat Andrew Gillum by 0.41 percentage points in unofficial results. Nelson, a three-time incumbent, has defended his legal strategy that resulted in Walker's ruling, saying in a statement Wednesday that 'it remains the most important goal of my campaign to make sure that every lawful vote be counted correctly in this Senate race, and that Floridians' right to participate in this process is protected.' Republicans, however, say in their own lawsuits and motions that Democrats are trying to change the rules after the voting didn't go their way. 'We will continue to fight to defend Florida law and uphold the will of the voters,' said Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Scott. Nelson and Democrats had wanted Walker to order the counting of all mail-in ballots rejected for a mismatched signature, arguing that local election officials aren't handwriting experts. Walker said he could not go along with that suggestion. Susan Bucher, Supervisor of Elections (right) speaks to the elections office workers in Palm Beach County during a recount on Wednesday Employees at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office are recounting ballots, but not quickly enough to meet their deadlines 'Let this court be clear: It is not ordering county canvassing boards to count every mismatched vote, sight unseen,' Walker wrote in his 34-page ruling. 'Rather, the county supervisors of elections are directed to allow those voters who should have had an opportunity to cure their ballots in the first place to cure their vote-by-mail and provisional ballots now, before the second official results are fully counted. This should give sufficient time, within the state's and counties current administrative constraints, for Florida's voters to ensure their votes will be counted.' Lauren Schenone, a spokeswoman for Scott, called Walker's ruling 'baseless' and said they were 'confident' it would be overturned by the Atlanta-based appellate court. The developments are fueling frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Just when state officials will get recount results from all counties remains unclear. Tallying machines overheated earlier this week in Palm Beach County. That caused mismatched results with the recount of 174,000 early voting ballots, forcing staffers to go back and redo their work. The county's Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher said the machines underwent maintenance right before the election, but 'I don't think they were designed to work 24/7.' Theresa May squeaked a draft Brexit agreement past her bitterly divided cabinet yesterday - and the news has made headlines throughout Europe. Across the Union, papers declared that Mrs May had made a 'crucial first step' toward leaving but warned that her position is precarious and more challenges remain. Perhaps the most stinging critique came from Danish newspaper Berlingske, which wrote that with the 585-page agreement in front of them, the British 'are beginning to understand the EU is not a buffet' where you can pick and choose benefits at will. Theresa May brought her draft Brexit deal before her cabinet on Wednesday night and, after five hours of 'passionate' discussions, managed to secure their backing European newspapers all picked up the news, with Danish newspaper Berlingske saying that the British were 'beginning to understand the EU is not a buffet' The same newspaper said that May was fighting 'with her back against the wall' as opponents closed in from across the political aisle and within her own party. That was a sentiment echoed across much of the European coverage on Thursday, as newspapers questioned whether May would have the votes to get the agreement past Parliament, which will have the final say. But there was a markedly different tone in the German press, which warned that by forcing the UK into a difficult position, the EU is putting itself at risk. Sueddeutsche ran a comment piece penned by Gunter Verheugen, former Vice-President of the European Commission, under the headline: 'The EU will miss Great Britain.' In it, he writes that Europe will be poorer 'without the most experienced diplomacy in the EU' and says US relations will suffer. Portuguese newspaper Publico said May had passed a crucial first hurdle but that her fate still hangs in the balance as the deal comes before Parliament In France, Le Monde said the deal was a 'success' for May but said getting the agreement of parliament is 'very uncertain' and could spell the end of her political career The tone was different in the German press, and particularly newspaper Sueddeutsche, which said the EU would miss the UK and urged negotiators to take a softer approach He also warns that forcing the UK into 'a shunting yard', as he argues the current deal does, risks breaking up the bloc further by angering other members. His tone was not echoed around the rest of Europe, however, with the French-speaking Belgian newspaper Le Soir saying May's 'biggest obstacle remains'. Meanwhile, Le Monde in France says Mrs May has made 'heavy concessions' and that she is 'fighting for survival'. In Belgium, Het Nieuwsblad runs with a picture of Mrs May emerging from 10 Downing Street with the headline: 'The door opened and Europe said "oof".' De Standaard writes that Mrs May has passed 'the first hurdle', and the Gazet Van Antwerpen says there is 'pessimism over the Brexit deal'. Brexit chief negociator Michel Barnier (left) and European Council President Donald Tusk (right) met in Brussels on Thursday morning where they also approved the draft bill The largest paper in Finland, Helsingin Sanomat, leads with the straightforward headline 'May has received support for Brexit deal', adding that the agreement was struck 'in the face of fierce criticism'. Information newspaper writes that Mrs May 'has solved the first challenge but the drama is just getting started', while the deal also makes headlines in Politiken and Jyllands-Posten, which carries the headline 'Theresa May gets a yes for a Brexit deal'. Many papers in continental Europe have played the tale with a straight bat. Der Standard in Austria carries the headline 'Theresa May and the struggle for a Brexit deal', with the paper saying the agreement with Brussels was 'considered to be the easier part' for Mrs May in the 'thriller' of Britain's departure from the EU. Sweden's Dagens Industri runs with the headline 'Hard fight for Brexit deal' and Neue Zurcher Zeitung in Switzerland writes that the Brexit deal is tied to Theresa May, saying it 'holds and falls' with her. This is the shocking moment a Russian driver mows down several pedestrians - including a toddler - when he speeds through a city centre at 130mph, in a suspected 'deliberate' attack with intent to kill. Onlookers said it was a miracle no-one died in the horrific incident in Yekaterinburg, which left the toddler and his mother in grave conditions. Shocking video footage shows a Honda CR-V speeding on two wheels on the city centre pavement, sending pedestrians flying. Hit: An unsuspecting pedestrian was standing outside a shop when the car came speeding down the pavement in Yekaterinburg, Russia The footage shows the moment the man was hit by the Honda, allegedly driving at 130mph through the city centre After coming to a standstill when he crashed into a traffic light post at a crowded pedestrian crossing, the unhurt driver locked himself in his car 'to prevent a lynching by the furious crowd' who witnessed the crash. A two-year-old boy was thrown out of his pushchair some 12ft 'in the air' and suffered acute head injuries, said a bystander. He is now in a coma and his condition is 'grave'. The child's 29-year-old mother broke her spine and is in intensive care. A 36-year-old man suffered a broken leg and shoulder. The driver named only Vladimir P, 50, is under investigation for attempted murder, said law enforcement sources. Life-threatening: A woman sits with the two-year-old boy who was thrown into the air when the Honda hit him and his mother on the pavement After crashing into a traffic light post crossing, the unhurt driver - named as Vladimir P., aged 50 - locked himself in his car 'to prevent a lynching by the furious crowd' Injuries: A 36-year-old man, who was hit by the car and suffered a broken shoulder and leg, lies on the pavement 'On purpose': Russians have called for the death penalty after the alleged 'deliberate' attack with intent to kill 'The hit was so strong that the poor child flew more than three metres in the air,' said an eye witness. It was horrifying.' Another said: 'The driver first knocked over a man, then hit an entrance of a building. 'At the traffic lights he hit a mother with a pushchair. The toddler flew out of his pushchair and landed right next to the road. The little one moved his legs and we realised he was alive.' Anger: Vladimir P. claims he had mistaken the accelerator for the break, but witnesses have refuted this explanation Onlookers said it was a 'miracle' more were not hurt at the pedestrian crossing where there were 'dozens' of people. The man claimed he 'confused the accelerator and brake', say police. But investigators believe there was 'malice' in the attack and he intended to kill. Reports said his car had reached 130 mph on the pavement. It was unclear how the speed was calculated. Vladimir P. has been detained and is under interrogation. Locals posted that 'the man staged a deliberate attack, no-one speeds up like he did after "confusing pedals". 'A Honda CR-V takes quite an effort to speed up. He knew what he was doing.' There were calls for the death penalty. 'This kind of thing will go on until the perpetrators face execution,' said one comment. A soldier bought eight pints for his comrades who died in Afghanistan and left each one untouched and decorated with a poppy in a poignant Remembrance Day tribute. The unnamed veteran accompanied every beer with a photo showing one of his dead friends, and left them neatly assembled on an empty table surrounded by empty chairs. An image of the emotional tribute was first posted on Facebook and has since been shared thousands of times. The unnamed veteran accompanied every beer with a photo showing one of his dead friends, and left them neatly assembled on an empty table surrounded by empty chairs. Both where and when the photo was taken is unclear Help for Heroes fundraiser 'StCrad' posted it on Twitter with the moving caption: 'A soldier walks into a bar and buys 8 pints for his dead comrades in Afghanistan, drinks his pint and leaves the bar leaving photos of each mate at their glass'. The post was met with hundreds of responses by Twitter users touched by its personal message of remembrance. 'IPHawk' wrote: 'I have seen this before and it's heartbreaking. I offered to buy the drinks but he wouldn't let me.' 'Simon' commented: 'Moving, very moving indeed and we have so much admiration for this soldier and his comrades.' Another Twitter user said: 'This is so moving. This shows how much suffering a soldier lives with.' And one army veteran wrote: 'There is no bond like that of the military services, when you become a civvy even working in police, NHS or fire service, its not the same #proudtohaveserved.' Armistice commemorations at the Cenotaph on Sunday were led by Prince Charles, which the Queen watched on from a balcony with the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge The Prince of Wales led the nation on Armistice commemorations on Sunday as he took over the Queen's wreath-laying duties at the Cenotaph. In a historic act of reconciliation, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also laid a wreath during the ceremony in central London. The Duchess of Sussex watched the services from a balcony alongside the president's partner partner, Elke Budenbender. The Queen, Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall observed proceedings from another balcony nearby. Six alleged drug dealers were arrested over the weekend after police seized $40,000 worth of cocaine and thousands of dollars in cash. The alleged dealers - five men and a woman, all in their 20s or 30s - were arrested in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Saturday and Sunday. Ronald Jeffrey Heise and Benjamin Spinks, both 26, were pulled over in Bondi Beach at about 5.30pm. Police allege they found $3,255 in cash during the stop. The friends, who are both from Sydney's south-west, were charged with supplying cocaine and dealing in the proceeds of the crime. Benjamin Spinks (pictured) and his friend Ronald Jeffrey Heise were allegedly pulled over at Bondi Beach with $3,255 of cash Heise (pictured left) and Spinks were charged with cocaine supply and dealing in the proceeds of the crime A 25-year-old woman and two other men in their 20s were charged with drug supply after police seized 130g of cocaine and more than $10,000 of cash on Saturday. Barry Wooldridge, 31, was allegedly caught with GHB on Sunday. The Paddington man was charged with possession, reports The Daily Telegraph. Wooldridge was already on bail for previous drug supply and possession, the Parramatta Bail Court heard. He was granted bail because doctors had recently removed his right eye to stop an infection caused by pneumonia. Six alleged drug dealers were arrested after supplying $40,000 worth of cocaine in a day More police will be assigned to party hotspots in Double Bay, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction and Randwick this summer. Eastern suburbs crime manager Peter Glynn said many drug dealers came from the south and south-west of Sydney, as well as the north-western suburbs. Cocaine possession in Bondi Beach increased by nine incidents to 106 between June 2014 to June 2018, crime statistics reveal. A family have been left with a sink hole in their living room which is filling with water every day. Alison Evans has to return to her 80,000 home in Trebanog in Perth, Wales, during her working day to pump water from the hole in a bid to stop it flooding the rest of the property. The 51-year-old claims she has been left with nowhere to turn after the council, builders and water company said the source of the leak could not be located. Alison Evans is forced to live with a hole in her living room floor which is collecting water The council, builders and water company say the source of the leak cannot be located Mrs Evans' home in Trebanog has now been left with a gaping hole in the living room, leaving the rest of the property at risk of flooding Mrs Evans said: 'The hole has been there from the start of the year. I go to work and I don't know if there'll be water all through the house. 'I have tried everything - the insurance won't pay out until they know where the water is coming from. No one knows where it's coming from.' Ms Evans has resorted to living in other rooms of the house, while all her furniture has been crammed into the dining room. The factory worker said when the leak was first spotted, water was coming up through the floor in the living room and going through the corridor and dining room. She said the hole had to be dug so they could try and establish where the leak was coming from. Ms Evans has resorted to living in other rooms of the house, while all her furniture has been crammed into the dining room The hole is used to contain the water and Mrs Evans and her husband Keith are forced to empty it daily to ensure it doesn't spread to other parts of the house Now, the hole is used to contain the water and Mrs Evans and her husband Keith are forced to empty it daily to ensure it doesn't spread to other parts of the house. She added: 'There are days I have had to come home from work because my husband couldn't keep up with the water coming through. 'I come home from work sometimes and I have to get the pump out and I have to open all the windows and doors. 'It's not only us, it's the neighbours as well who can hear everything that's going on. They know about it but we have no privacy at all - it's really hard. The unsightly mess has blighted the property for nearly a year now 'It's hard to keep on top of things.Some days I just really want to go to work to have a break from it all. 'It's horrendous. I once came home from work and there was water coming through my dining room, the passage and through the kitchen. 'I need to know who can fix this as I really want my living room back for Christmas, which is my daughter's 18th birthday, and for my son to live in a normal house.' A spokesman for Welsh Water said: 'We were called to the property earlier this year after receiving reports of internal flooding. We fully investigated and found that the flooding is not linked to our system but instead is linked to the propertys own private pipework. 'While we appreciate the distress of the situation, any repairs to internal pipework is the responsibility of the property owner which we advised at the time. We also offered advice on potential next steps they could take to help resolve the matter.' Rhondda Cynon Taf council have been contacted for a comment. Michael Rogers (pictured) is being searched for by police over burglaries in the CBD and St Kilda areas as well as a breach of bail conditions The Bourke Street hero dubbed 'Trolley Man' is negotiating his surrender to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Michael Rogers, 46, is being searched for by police over a series of burglaries in the Melbourne CBD and St Kilda areas as well as a breach of bail conditions. Australia's most famous homeless man helped police take down the Bourke Street terrorist by pushing a trolley into him. A video circulated online of Mr Rogers attempting to try and stop Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, as the attacker repeatedly lunged at police officers with a knife. He has called police three times to turn himself in over the claims. Donna Stolzenberg, the founder of the Melbourne charity Melbourne Homeless Collective, told Daily Mail Australia she was currently with Mr Rogers, who was in contact with police. Ms Stolzenberg was behind a GoFundMe initiative that raised more than $140,000 for Mr Rogers following his heroic efforts on Bourke St on November 9. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Mr Rogers said he had 'contacted police and would like to do the right thing'. He said the offences were quite old and 'wants to do what's in his best interests'. Ms Stolzenberg told Daily Mail Australia Rogers repeatedly called police to negotiate his surrender after the news broke that he was wanted by police. 'So far they haven't called him back. He has called them again. Now trying a third time,' she said. A video circulated online of Rogers attempting to try and stop Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, as the attacker repeatedly lunged at police officers with a knife (pictured) Australia's most famous homeless man (pictured) helped police take down the Bourke Street terrorist by pushing a trolley into him While more than 4,000 people have donated to the online fundraising effort since it was launched, many were shocked to learn of his checkered past. 'This human has been in and out of jail for two decades on burglary and other charges,' one wrote online. 'He also has a drug addiction. Basically, this guy is a criminal and a deadbeat and you gave him $82K. Well done Australia.' Melbourne radio host Dee Dee Dunleavy also voiced her concern after initially praising Mr Rogers and the fundraising cause on social media. 'I was unaware when I tweeted this that he is a convicted criminal. The fact remains that he tried to help, but maybe direct funds to The Salvos instead,' she said. Broadcaster Neil Mitchell questioned how the money would be distributed and said 'great care' was needed. 'As has been reported, Michael has a criminal history, he did five years in jail for aggravated burglary so it must have been a bad one,' he said on 3AW Radio. 'He's got drug problems which he has talked about himself. Great care needed there in my view.' Melbourne Homeless Collective initially announced 'all funds donated to this campaign' would go directly to Mr Rogers to 'help get him back on his feet'. 'He's a hero in our eyes and he can do what he feels best with any funds he receives,' the charity said. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Mr Rogers (pictured) said he had 'contacted police and would like to do the right thing' 'He risked his own life that day for nothing in return and you can't put a price on that.' While a small minority argued the 'Trolley Man' wasn't entitled to the cash, thousands more slammed that suggestion and labelled him 'a hero' and 'a champion'. 'Maybe just don't define people as the sum of their greatest mistakes. Life isn't as black and white as ''good guys'' and ''bad guys'',' Melbourne-based author Jill Stark wrote. 'Trolley Man is everything great about Australia. He's not running away. He's helping in a crisis, and he's doing it in a ridiculous but effective way,' another posted online. He has no friends, only acquaintances, he told Daily Mail Australia. 'They're just associates. I've truly got no friends. I've got a lot of bad associates, but no good friends,' he said. Mr Rogers has come under fire for everything ranging from his criminal past to claims he wasn't homeless. Mr Rogers (pictured) has come under fire for his criminal past The shy and softly spoken hero has recounted the moments of madness that saw him charge at the killer with a trolley (pictured), and spoken about his lonely life on the streets Mr Rogers, who has pledged to go straight after a life of petty crime, has already gone out of his way to help more people since the attack and promised to donate thousands more to charity. 'I'm giving it away, as well as keeping some,' he said. While concern remains over exactly what Mr Rogers will spend the money on, the 46-year old longs for ordinary things most Australians take for granted. 'I love clothes. I love push bikes - that's my favourite. That's my passion,' he said. It was a passion that saw him breach his parole for aggravated burglary and wind-up back in jail. He had only been free for five weeks when the attack on Bourke Street happened. At least 23 suspected migrants have been detained by Border Force officials after trying to enter the UK by crossing the English Channel over the course of 12 hours. In three separate incidents yesterday, 23 migrants including a four-year-old children risked their lives travelling across some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world in small, open boats to reach Britain. It brings the number of migrants picked up by emergency services on the Kent coast to 47 in just 48 hours. The boat of migrants was intercepted by Border Force officials in a patrol vessel called Hunter At 4.30am yesterday, a four-year-old child and a woman among nine migrants rescued by a patrol vessel called Hunter off the Kent coast. The Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) was said to be found in 'distress in the south west shipping lane', close to Dover's Western Docks. All on board claimed they were Iranian. A dinghy found at 9.15am was the second vessel to be escorted into Dover by lifeboat. The 10 people on board said they were all Iranian. A Home Office spokesman said they will 'progress their cases in accordance with the immigration rules'. The latest pick-up happened at 2pm yesterday when a tanker called border force to say they had picked up five migrants in the Channel. Their condition is not yet known and the situation is ongoing. The boat was brought into Dover Harbour and the occupants have been handed over to Border Force officers. On Tuesday, a stolen French fishing boat was stopped as it entered the Port of Dover with 17 suspected migrants, including three children, on board. The number of migrants picked up by emergency services on the Kent coast to 47 in just 48 hours. Pictured: Dover border force On Tuesday, a stolen French fishing boat (pictured) was stopped as it entered the Port of Dover with 17 suspected migrants, including three children, on board Seven suspected migrants were found in a lorry arriving from France at Dover in a separate incident on Tuesday. One person needed medical attention. Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: 'These attempts to break into Britain are coming thick and fast and becoming more shocking by the day. 'That people would take the risk of crossing the Channel on a small open boat with a toddler on board shows just how desperate they are. 'It underlines yet again why we need to increase the number of vessels patrolling our border. Having just two cutters is simply not enough of a deterrent. 'The Home Office must act urgently to tackle this growing problem - and boost our borders budget.' A disgraced dentist has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his female patients. The dentist is also being investigated over the death of a patient at his practice in Dandenong, following the removal of their wisdom teeth. Nashaat Michael, 60, pleaded guilty to nine charges of indecent assault in Victoria's County Court on Thursday. Disgraced dentist Nashaat Michael (pictured, left) has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his female patients The assaults occurred between 1996 and 2015 at the Kingston Clinic in Cheltenham and Michael's own practice in Dandenong (pictured) Eight of his victims had been sitting in the dentist chair when they were assaulted, while one was a staffer at the practice. Michael, who was born in Egypt, had his registration suspended after a man died following wisdom teeth removal last August. A forensic pathologist linked the death to the dental surgery. The assaults happened between 1996 and 2015 at the Kingston Clinic in Cheltenham and Michael's own practice in Dandenong. Six of the victims were present in court. The court heard that in one case, Michael mouthed 'I love you' to one of his patients while feeling her hips and breasts. In another instance, Michael reached under the bra of a staff member to touch her breasts. He told two victims he was going to 'make you beautiful again'. He also twice put his hands in his victims' underwear. One of his victims told the court that she had felt 'stripped of her dignity'. The court heard that in one case, Michael mouthed 'I love you' to one of his patients while feeling her hips and breasts (stock image) 'I'm not sure I can ever get over what he has done ... the darkness follows me through every single day,' she said. Michael is also being investigated for the death of a man who died a day after having his wisdom tooth removed at Michael's Stud Rd clinic, the Herald Sun reported. The man died from 'severe surgical emphysema' after a high-speed handpiece was used 'inappropriately'. A coronial investigation continues. A Palestinian police chief has been suspended after he was photographed helping Israeli soldiers fix a flat tire in the West Bank. Colonel Ahmad Abu al-Rub was referred to an 'investigative committee' after an image of him kneeling down in front of an Israeli soldier caused outrage online. Al-Rub was accused of assisting the Israeli 'occupation' by helping the soldiers. Colonel Ahmad Abu al-Rub, Hebron district chief, has been referred to an 'investigative committee' after a picture showing him helping IDF soldiers fix a flat tire went viral It is not clear exactly when the incident took place, though images began circulating on social media earlier this week. Al-Rub, the Hebron district chief, had seen the vehicle blocking a road and went to order the soldiers to move it. When he got there he discovered the jeep was stuck after bursting a tire, and offered to help get it out of the way. Elsewhere, four Israeli border guards were injured near Jerusalem after a knifeman made his way into a police base. Israeli border police stand guard outside a base in annexed east Jerusalem after four officers were wounded during a stabbing attack inside on November 14, 2018 The assailant was seriously wounded as he was overpowered by officers during the rare attack inside a security force base late on Wednesday. The attacker, who was not immediately identified, had scaled a fence around the base between the Palestinian neighbourhood of Jabel Mukabar and the settler district of Armon Hanatziv before being spotted. Local media reported that one of the Israeli soldiers was injured by friendly fire, but police would not confirm or deny this. A wave of stabbing attacks against Israelis by lone-wolf Palestinian assailants erupted in 2015 but has since become sporadic. Gulf Air, Bahrains national carrier, and SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the world's largest aircraft leasing companies, today announced an agreement for the purchase and leaseback of six Airbus A320neo aircraft. This is SMBC Aviation Capitals first deal with Gulf Air and follows a competitive tender process, said a statement. The announcement was made at the Bahrain International Airshow. Delivery of Gulf Airs Airbus A320neo aircraft commenced from August 2018. The airline currently serves all its destinations with a combination of wide and narrow body fleet. It has orders for 39 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft with delivery having commenced in early 2018. Gulf Airs incoming fleet will see by end-2018 the arrival of five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in addition to one Airbus A320neo aircraft. Alongside this, in 2018 the airline continued to enhance its product and service offering, launched six new destinations and expanded its network to serve 47 cities in 26 countries. Gulf Air chief executive officer Kresimir Kucko said: We are delighted to begin a new relationship with SMBC Aviation Capital and successfully mark the financing of our six new A320neos as we diversify our financing relationship to support aircraft acquisition. These aircraft will allow us to greatly enhance our fleet, enabling us to deliver operational efficiency and an upgraded customer experience. The upcoming deliveries of our six new Airbus A320neo will support the airlines network expansion plans while affording us flexibility in our fleet planning allowing us to transport Gulf Air passengers more seamlessly across the Gulf Air network. Peter Barrett, CEO, SMBC Aviation Capital, added: We are very pleased to partner with Gulf Air to assist with the airlines ambitious fleet expansion plans. The A320neo incorporates the latest in aviation technology to provide our airline customers with a more modern, fuel efficient aircraft. As a new customer and our first entry into the Kingdom of Bahrain, we look forward to working alongside Gulf Air for the coming years. SMBC Aviation Capital currently has 20 A320neos in its portfolio and an order book of 129 A320neos. - TradeArabia News Service A father partially castrated a preacher he believed had carried out a sex attack on his nine-year-old daughter, a court in South Africa heard. Preacher Mase Malgas, 66, died after being attacked on September 30 by the girl's father, the East London courtroom was told. Constable Lundi Nqwelo was called as a witness by the state prosecutors and testified that the defendant had been told by his ex-wife that their daughter had been raped, and that Mr Malgas was the perpetrator. The defendant, his ex-wife and a friend of the couple then tracked down Mr Malgas, who was based at St Philips Church in Gompo, and burst into his home intent on revenge, the court heard. Preacher Mase Malgas, 66, died from the injuries inflicted on him on September 30 by the girl's father. He was based at St Philips Church in Gompo (pictured) Nqwelo said the accused, who cannot be named as it would also reveal his daughter's identity, then severely beat Mr Malgas and attempted to sever the preachers penis. He did not complete the castration, but left the man with 'grievous' wounds, the court heard. The trio then escorted him, by now in a life-threatening condition, to the Scenery Park Police Station, where they hoped he would be arrested. East London police officers immediately called for medical assistance, but Mr Malgas died in hospital. It has not yet been established whether Mr Malgas was the perpetrator, but medical reports confirmed that the defendant's daughter had been raped, Nqwelo said. The accused was denied bail and sent to a cell yesterday ahead of the resumption of his trial, in a case which has split the East London community and sparked an emotional debate on vigilante justice, The South African reported. The defendant was denied bail yesterday after East London bail magistrate Joel Caesar said the court could not sanction vigilante justice. The trial will resume at a later date The courts are waiting on DNA evidence which will prove pivotal in the case. If the preacher is found to be guilty, the defence case will be strengthened. East London bail magistrate Joel Caesar said the suspect was denied bail because the court cannot sanction vigilante justice, although he expressed sympathy with the daughter. The trial will resume at a later date. Daniel Brearley, 43, from Elland, West Yorkshire, was jailed for three years for the disgusting attack on a police officer Horrific footage shows the moment a drunken thug bites down on a policeman's finger causing him to scream 'stop biting me.' Daniel Brearley, 43, was jailed for three years for the disgusting attack on a police officer. His arrest came after Brearley was caught on CCTV smashing a pint glass into the face of his friend Ashley Dodd during an incident at a pub. The shocking footage shows Brearley restrained against a police car screaming obscenities at the two police officers at the scene. He is heard to shout, 'Have I spat?' The court was told he had spat at officers in the past. One officer has his hand on Brearley's face before Brearley suddenly pushes up and bites down on the officer's finger, which the court heard caused 'immense pain'. He is then pushed to the floor by both officers, as the officer who is being bitten screams 'stop biting me' and his colleague wearing the bodycam can be heard shouting, 'get off him now!' Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday that the officer was still waiting for the all-clear from blood tests taken after the attack in August. The officer is restraining Brearley as he has been known to spit as officers before. Brearley then bits down on his finger causing him 'immense pain' The officer is bitten and Brearley is immediately wrestled to the ground. At his trial at Bradford Crown Crown Court, Judge Rose said Brearley had acted 'like a savage' Brearley, from Elland, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to wounding and assault. The court heard he had 36 previous convictions for over 60 offences on his record and at the time of the two attacks in August he was already subject to two community orders. Prior to the incident with the officer, Brearley had been asked to leave a local pub in Halifax and his friend Mr Dodd was trying to calm him down when he hit him with a pint glass. The glass smashed but fortunately Mr Dodd only suffered a cut under his eye. PC Morgan Taylor posted shocking images of his bitten finger online. He had to undergo a treatment of antibiotics and get a tetanus shot Judge Rose said Brearley had acted 'like a savage' in biting the officer and custody could be the only outcome for those who attacked officers. Brearley, was jailed for 16 months for each attack with an additional four months imposed in place of the two community orders. Chief Constable Dee Collins, of West Yorkshire Police, said: 'You join the police force to protect others from harm but unfortunately we are increasingly seeing frontline officers and staff subjected to violent attacks as they work to keep our communities safe. The gruesome bite injury suffered by PC Morgan Taylor. After the incident the officer tweeted that his attacker was a Hep C sufferer. He said he would have to undergo treatment for three months and on Monday the court heard he had yet to hear whether he had been given the all clear 'It is estimated that nationally a police officer is assaulted every four minutes. This is simply unacceptable. Being spat at, wrestled, hit and kicked should not be part of the day job. 'The uniform shouldn't be seen as a reason to attack someone but, quite the opposite, it should be a reason not to. 'We strongly support the tougher sanctions that the 'Protect the Protectors' bill would put in place for those who attack police and other emergency services and urge MPs to give it their full support.' After the incident the officer tweeted that his attacker was a Hep C sufferer. He said he would have to undergo treatment for three months and on Monday the court heard he had yet to hear whether he had been given the all clear. West Yorkshire Police agreed to release the footage after a request from local paper the ExaminerLive. A mechanic popped the question with 'the most Geordie proposal ever' after taking his new fiancee to Greggs. Tony Brown went down on one knee in front of Rebecca English in Newcastle city centre, as the couple's two children watched on. And after Rebecca, 25, said yes, the couple celebrated by visiting the city's nearest Greggs bakery, near the Fenwick department store. Tony, 26, says the decision to go to Greggs was an impulsive idea as he was 'hyper and starving', and the pair enjoyed a Festive Bake. Tony Brown went down on one knee in front of Rebecca English in Newcastle city centre, as the couple's two children watched on The mechanic popped the question with 'the most Geordie proposal ever' after taking his new fiancee to Greggs He added: 'It had everything, Fenwicks, Greggs; unless Alan Shearer was there or something it couldn't have got more Geordie.' But he said he needed something to line his stomach after getting proposal butterflies and decided to go for a bake at Greggs. 'I was hyper and I was starving, and when I turned around there it was - Greggs.' But after plotting the perfect proposal for the last couple of years, he finally picked up the courage on a packed Northumberland Street last Wednesday. As the family gazed at 'The Snowman' theme, Rebecca turned around and caught her partner on his knee. 'Everyone was clapping and Daizy didn't know what was going on - she thought they were clapping her!' recalled Rebecca. The couple, from Hebburn in South Tyneside, is pictured with their two daughters Daizy, left, and Molly Pasty shenanigans included, she said it was the perfect proposal - although her other half only decided on the day. 'We are going to Seaham Hall later this month, and he was planning on proposing there,' she said. 'I don't know what exactly happened but he spoke to his barber that morning and he just suddenly decided today was the day. 'And the festive bake was totally typical of him - but I was expecting more than a Greggs afterwards, put it that way.' However, while Tony claims he was just hungry, Rebecca believes the pastry-proposal may have been influenced by a rather controversial marketing move. Greggs has been accused of hijacking the iconic window this year by displaying their sign backwards - so anybody looking at the winter scene can read its name. Tony's mother, Leigh, contacted the radio show to break the news and now the Hebburn couple, who met through mutual friends, are planning a wedding. A homeless man allegedly conspired with a New Jersey couple by making up a heartwarming story to scam donors into giving them $400,000 on GoFundMe. Kate McClure and her boyfriend Mark D'Amico, of Bordentown, New Jersey, made headlines after setting up a fundraising page for Johnny Bobbitt last year. She said Bobbitt came to her aid and gave her his last $20 when she ran out of gas on an Interstate 95 exit ramp in Philadelphia late one night last October. More than 14,000 people donated to the GoFundMe campaign McClure and D'Amico set up as a way to give back to Bobbitt. But now, it has been revealed that McClure, D'Amico and Bobbitt will all face charges including conspiracy and theft by deception, NBC10 reports. A couple and a homeless man are facing charges after allegedly making up a story that led to them raising $400,000 on GoFundMe. Pictured, Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt More than 14,000 people donated to the GoFundMe campaign McClure and D'Amico set up as a way to give back to Bobbitt They allegedly provided a false story in order to raise money for themselves, a source familiar with the case told the station. McClure and D'Amico turned themselves in to Burlington County prosecutors on Wednesday, the source said. It was not clear if Bobbitt had turned himself in as well. A complaint obtained by NBC10 alleged the trio conspired to make up a fake story to raise money. They deliberately prevented donors from knowing information 'that would affect their judgement about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort,' the complaint claims. After the GoFundMe campaign went viral last year, the trio appeared on shows like Good Morning America and conducted a number of interviews together. McClure, D'Amico and Bobbitt (pictured over Christmas last year) allegedly provided a false story in order to raise money for themselves But the relationship then went sour. Bobbitt accused the couple of using the fund to bankroll a lavish lifestyle and said the majority of the money didn't go to him. D'Amico and McClure repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or misusing any of the money. But Bobbitt sued the couple after claiming they mismanaged a large part of the donations raised for him on GoFundMe. The couple denied those claims, saying they were wary of giving Bobbitt large sums because they fear he will buy drugs. After the GoFundMe campaign went viral last year, the trio appeared on shows like Good Morning America and conducted a number of interviews together. Pictured, McClure (left) and Bobbitt (second from left) on a trip to New York But the relationship then went sour and Bobbitt (pictured) accused the couple of using the fund to bankroll a lavish lifestyle D'Amico has said Bobbitt spent $25,000 in less than two weeks in December on drugs, in addition to paying overdue legal bills and sending money to his family. But in August, a judge ordered McClure and D'Amico to turn over what is left of the cash. The couple also bought Bobbitt a camper with some of the funds and parked it on land McClure's family owns in Florence. But Bobbitt became homeless again after D'Amico told him in June that he had to leave the property. And when D'Amico appeared in court on unrelated traffic charges in September, he told a reporter that everything in the GoFundMe case would soon become 'crystal clear.' His and McClure's rural New Jersey home was raided by investigators executing a search warrant. Among other items, authorities hauled away a new BMW on a flatbed truck. A disabled man who used his mobility scooter as a 'battering ram' to knock over two elderly women on the pavement has been jailed for two years. Aaron Ali, 40, reversed over Doris Collins, 88, and Joan Benjafield, 90, while they were out shopping in Welling, south-east London. Shocking CCTV footage shows Ali driving off a number 96 bus on June 14 this year before suddenly reversing into his victims. He was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm after a two day trial at Southwark Crown Court in September and was handed a jail term today. Prosecutors have since applied to confiscate Ali's 12,000 wheelchair, claiming it is a weapon. Doris Collins, 88, and Joan Benjafield, 90, were sent crashing into the pavement when Aaron Ali reversed into them in his mobility scooter Victims Mrs Collins suffered cuts to her knee while Mrs Benjafield was left with bruises to her calf and ribs after the two women toppled onto the pavement. Describing the incident, prosecutor Mr Dean said: 'He hits the old lady nearest the kerb. She hits the ground. 'Ali stops and goes forward a short distance. Believe it or not he reverses again. The other lady is struck in exactly the same manner. She falls on the other lady.' Ali was also found guilty of harassing two jewellers in Woolwich in another incident in July 2017. Ali has been jailed for two years and could have his mobility scooter seized by authorities if it deemed to be a 'weapon' Roger Daniells-Smith, defending, said of his mobility scooter: 'The inmates at Wandsworth prison have been playing with it. They have been mucking about with it and it has been damaged.' Former psychiatric nurse Ali claimed he suffered a 'diabetic crash' before the incident, but he was convicted of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He told the court: 'That day I was not feeling well. I was having a diabetic crash. That was what was happening. Basically, I am on morphine, a 116 milligrams a day. 'Sometimes you would be moving and you would feel like you are sitting. I would knock thing over. It makes you clumsy like a drunk. 'I was scared people were going to attack me thinking I had done it on purpose. I drove in the opposite direction I was going in.' The judge, Ms Recorder Emma Goodall told Ali: 'You are assessed as having a high likelihood of reoffending and of being a danger to the public. 'This was disgraceful conduct that could have had serious and long lasting consequences. 'It is nothing short of remarkable that those two ladies were not more seriously injured.' The judge declined to make an order to confiscate the wheelchair today, as Ali will depend on it upon release from prison. A 59-year-old woman has been bitten to death by monkeys just days after a newborn was snatched and killed in the same Indian city. Sanjul Pandey went into a field near her home in the city of Agra to relieve herself when she was attacked and killed at around 11.30pm on Monday. Relatives found her collapsed from her injuries and rushed her to a nearby medical clinic where she bled to death shortly after. Bhuran Devi, 59, was attacked by monkeys on Monday night when she went into a field to relieve herself, before bleeding to death from her injuries (file picture) Locals reported the attack to police the following evening, causing outcry in the city. Monkeys are a protected species in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, meaning they cannot be moved from their habitat, sterilised or killed. Activists are calling for the animals to be moved to a sanctuary and for funds to be raised to pay for a sterilisation programme and to compensate victims. Pandey died days after a 12-day-old baby was bitten to death by another monkey. Mother Neha had been breastfeeding her 12-day-old son Arush when the animal came into her home on the outskirts of Agra on Monday, the Times of India reports. The victim's father Yogesh, an auto-rickshaw driver, told the newspaper that they chased the monkey. The animal eventually left the baby on a neighbour's roof but by then, it was too late. It comes days after 12-day-old baby Arush (pictured) was killed by a monkey after it snatched the infant from his mother's arms in India 'The main door of the house was open, and my wife was breastfeeding out son, suddenly a monkey barged inside our house and grabbed the child by his neck,' Yogesh told the Times of India. 'Before Neha could understand anything, the monkey took away our son. 'After a chase, the monkey left our son on a neighbour's roof but it was too late, Arush was heavily bleeding and had no pulse.' They took the baby to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead, the father added. Dhirendra Kumar, the baby's uncle, told the BBC: "There are too many monkeys in the area. We live in fear. We have told the administration so many times to help us but they haven't done anything. The mother of the baby is too distraught to even speak.' The infant was the couple's only child. They have been married for two years. Local residents reported the same monkey had tried to attack a 14-year-old girl around 15 minutes before snatching Arush. Police officer Atbir Singh told the Times that the baby sustained grave injuries to its skull and neck. He also said another infant had been attacked by a monkey in the area two months ago. That baby survived but remains in hospital. A wedding DJ stole 40 cards stuffed with cash on a couple's big day - forcing them to honeymoon in Butlins instead of jetting abroad. Lauren George, 26, from Bradford, tied the knot with Christian, 29, in July but said her big day was ruined when Tom Butterworth stole hundreds of pounds from them. The DJ even 'defaced' their wooden guest book frame by writing 'c***' and 'paedo' on two of the wooden hearts - something the couple found 'heartbreaking' as they are foster carers. Lauren George, 26, from Bradford, tied the knot with Christian, 29, in July (where they are pictured on the right) but said her big day was ruined when Tom Butterworth (left, in an undated photo) stole hundreds of pounds from them Butterworth, from Leeds, has since apologised and received a caution for the theft. He was also forced to repay 200 to the couple - an amount they claim is much lower than what was in the cards. Despite admitting to the brazen theft, Butterworth is still advertising his services as a DJ on his Facebook page through another company - though they claim to have not worked with him since the incident came to light. Mrs George described her shock at seeing Butterworth was still touting his services. 'To have that happen on our wedding was disgusting,' she said. 'Mentally, this has made me not want to trust another DJ. You'd expected to be able to trust someone like that. 'I felt like it was going to happen to someone else when I noticed he was still advertising as a DJ. I want to make sure no-one else gets the same treatment. I don't want anyone else to feel the same. The DJ even 'defaced' their wooden guest book frame (right) by writing 'c***' and 'paedo' on two of the wooden hearts - something the couple found 'heartbreaking' as they are foster carers. It is pictured after the July wedding in Bradford The incident was even harder to deal with for Mrs George because she was suffering a miscarriage throughout the ordeal. 'We actually had an early miscarriage on the day of our wedding - that was ongoing for a few days,' she said. 'It was terrible to go through that on my wedding day too. It was like everything hit me like a truck.' Mrs George had initially booked another DJ but was frustrated when he sent Butterworth as a last-minute replacement without warning them. Angry they hadn't been sent the original DJ they booked, the couple questioned why Butterworth was there as his replacement. The entertainer, who also works in the public sector, claims he felt threatened after wedding guests got too close to equipment and was worried about not being paid due to the dispute. Mr and Mrs George riding a car to their July wedding in Bradford Mrs George said: 'We had actually employed a DJ that we'd seen before, but he sent Tom instead without telling us. 'Tom waited until the party had finished and told the pub that my husband or one of my guests had started an altercation with him. He said he needed some security. The bar shut all the doors and locked him inside. 'We were just outside with all our guests at the end of the night and he went into the party room after the bar staff had cleared everything.' Butterworth was caught on camera stealing the cash from the cards before bundling the money into his rucksack. 'We lost about 30 or 40 cards,' Mrs George said. 'He also wrote on my guestbook frame c*** and paedo on two separate hearts. 'I'm a foster carer so it was heartbreaking to see he thought that was acceptable.' After losing the cards, one of which Mrs George claims contained a 200 cash gift from her father, she had the 'embarrassing' task of contacting guests and finding out how much they'd given for insurance purposes. Butterworth subsequently handed himself into police after claiming it was completely out of character and was given a caution. Butterworth subsequently handed himself into police after claiming it was completely out of character and was given a caution. He is seen here in an undated photo However Mrs George believes he 'got off too lightly'. 'He said to the police that there was only 180 cash in these cards and 20 in vouchers,' she said. I then had the embarrassing task of asking people how much they'd put in the cards. 'My dad alone put 200 in a card and I'm never going to see that again just because Tom was greedy. 'He'd been paid for his work and stolen my belongings. He's admitted it to the police and to me personally. Despite Mr and Mrs George (pictured during their July wedding day in Bradford) stating more money was in the cards, Butterworth claims this money was not in the cards he had stolen 'I'm already thinking of doing a wedding abroad, again. To me, it completely ruined the thoughtfulness of all my guests.' After being contacted regarding the incident, Butterworth admitted he had stolen the 200 in money and vouchers as well as writing the two offensive terms on their guestbook frame. Despite Mr and Mrs George stating more money was in the cards, Butterworth claims this money was not in the cards he had stolen. Butterworth said: 'I went to the police station. I gave the money back. The words written on the hearts was me. That was again, anger. I didn't really know how to respond. 'The amounts she's told you is all, I'm not going to say made up if people have told her that's how much they've put in, I don't know what they've told her. The DJ said Mr George approached him at the end of the night and said he wasn't going to be paid, sparking a confrontation. 'I did take the cards. I've never said I didn't,' he said. 'There was 180 in cash and 20 in vouchers. That money stayed in my car from that night until the day I went to the police station. 'I took them out of anger and adrenaline. It's not something I've ever done before, I've no record. I couldn't apologise enough to them the next day. I felt I was unprofessional by what I did.' A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police confirmed a man was given a conditional caution after admitting taking and damaging property. Two Kardashian-wannabe sisters from Toronto have detailed their top tips on how to date a billionaire after being locked up over allegations of extortion. Unemployed Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo own more than 70 pairs of designer high-heeled shoes and spend their days jetting to various sun traps around the globe to lounge on multi-million dollar yachts. The sisters have walk-in wardrobes in their paid-off Toronto condos lined with dozens of handbags and purses from brands like Hermes, Celine, and Saint Laurent - all of which they proudly boast they didn't pay for. They have three pieces of advice for anyone looking to find a man with deep pockets. Their number one rule is 'don't be greedy'. 'When he asks what kind of car you want, don't ask for a Rolls-Royce,' Jyoti told the New York Times. Kardashian wannabes Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo exclusively date richest men in the world The girls say if you date a billionaire it's important to dress conservatively before boarding their private planes - something they call 'jetiquette' If the billionaire gives you thousands of dollars for a luxury shopping trip, make sure you bring him back some change, they say Secondly, the girls say you must dress conservatively while travelling on the billionaire's private planes, something they call 'jetiquette'. 'You don't want to look like some guy hired a hooker for a weekend,' Kiran said. And finally, the Matharoos say, when the man hands you thousands of dollars for a luxury shopping spree, you must bring him back some change. This may reassure them that you're not in it entirely for the money. The sisters say the number one rule is not to be greedy. 'If he asks you what car you want, don't say a Rolls Royce,' they explain The unemployed sisters lounge on multi-million dollar yachts in their free time Here, Kiran relaxes on a gondola in Venice - paid for of course by one of her billionaire boyfriends The pair -who were born and raised in Toronto by middle-class parents who had immigrated from India - promote the 'billionaire boyfriend' lifestyle despite being 'kidnapped' in Nigeria. Their lifestyle almost backfired on them in Lagos in 2016, after flying to visit Femi Otedola, 54, a politically powerful oil tycoon worth a reported $1.8 billion. The sisters were accused of trying to extort Otedola by telling him they would reveal that he was cheating on his wife if he did not hand them money. The sisters were accused of trying to extort Femi Otedola (pictured)a billioinaire oil tycoon They sit in a Lagos court in 2016 after being accused of attempting to extort the businessman Both women were also accused of running the website 'Naijagistlive,' which was used to 'accuse several high-ranking men ... of cheating and patronizing prostitutes.' The sisters said they were driven in a van to another police station and thrown in a rat-infested cell with foam on the floors for beds and holes in the ground for toilets. The two girls signed a confessional statement - which they now say was coerced - admitting to running the website and threatening the wealthy businessman. It granted them their freedom, but their close-call doesn't seem to have deterred them from the billionaire boyfriend lifestyle. Health authorities in China are investigating after hidden camera footage uncovered unhygienic cleaning practices carried out at 14 five-star hotels, which charges as much as 427 per night in one room. Housekeeping staff were caught picking up used guest towels on the floor to wipe cups, cutlery, bathroom sinks, toilet bowls and showers in a 12-minute compilation video shot inside the various luxury hotel bathrooms. Some workers even used the uniform they were wearing to clean glasses and mugs. Seven five-star accommodations in Shanghai are implicated in the video, including Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and The Ritz-Carlton. Four hotels in Beijing including Conrad, Park Hyatt and The Peninsula are exposed as well. The remaining three hotels are in Fuzhou, Guiyang and Nanchang. A housekeeping staff member at Sheraton Guiyang filmed cleaning glasses with dirty towels. Health authorities in China are investigating after hidden camera footage uncovered unhygienic cleaning practices carried out at 14 five-star hotels A staff worker from The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai was seen soaking cups with shampoo and using guest bath towels to clean the mugs, showers and washbasin area The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong charges at least 1,803 yuan (203) per night for a room. It has since apologised for the lapse in services to guests in an official statement The clip, titled 'The Secrets of Cups' was produced and uploaded to Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo by a blogger under the username 'Hua Zong Diu Le Jin Gu Bang', who claims that he has stayed at more than 147 luxury hotels in China over the past six years. The shocking video has gathered more than 20 million views since Wednesday, sparking outrage among net users who slammed the hotels' poor management. A housekeeping staff member at Conrad Beijing was filmed picking up dirty towels from the floor and using it to clean cups, the washstand, the mirror and coffee mugs. A housekeeping staff member at Conrad Beijing was seen picking up used towels from the floor and using it to clean the sink, cups and washbasin Conrad Beijing, along with ten other hotels, has apologised for the lapse in services to guests The Conrad Beijing charges at least 1,500 yuan (169) per night, according to their website Similarly, a cleaner at Four Seasons Shanghai was seen using the same sponge to clean the shower and glasses in the bathroom while a worker at the Le Royal Meridien Shanghai was caught using bath towels to clean a toilet before placing a toilet brush and cleaning rag into the same bucket. She then used the same cloth to wipe the washbasin, teacups and toilet. A worker at Bulgari Hotel Shanghai was seen digging up the disposable lids of the glasses from the garbage bin, wiping them on his T-shirt and putting them back on the glasses for the next guest. A night at any of these hotels in Beijing and Shanghai cost between 1,300 yuan (146) to 3,800 yuan (427), according to their websites. 'This is just disgusting. You would never expect this from five-star hotels these big cities,' one comment on Weibo read. 'This is not the cleaners' problem, it's entirely the hotel management's fault,' another user said. A worker at Bulgari Hotel Shanghai was seen digging up the disposable lids of the glasses from the garbage bin, wiping them on his T-shirt and putting them back on the glasses A staff member from Shangri La Hotel Fuzhou was seen using guest towels to clean the sink Shangri La Hotel Fuzhou charges at least 700 yuan (79) per night for a room A clip shot in the bathroom of Four Seasons Shanghai shows a cleaner using the same sponge to clean the showers, cups, washbasin and toilet bowl Ten of the hotels including Conrad Beijing, Park Hyatt Beijing, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, Shangri La Hotel Fuzhou and The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong have issued apologies on their official Weibo accounts for the lapse of services and promised to provide additional training to their staff. MailOnline has contacted the remaining four hotels for comment. Li Yan, director of guest services at The Peninsula Beijing, told Beijing Youth Daily that all cups would normally been taken to the hotel's disinfection unit and replaced by sanitised cups. Staff are not allowed to clean the cups in the room. Tourism Development Committees in Beijing and Shanghai have launched investigations into the hygiene practices at the hotels, saying officials are in the process of verifying the videos and carrying out inspection work. 'The authority will actively coordinate with the law-enforcement department, and the hotels involved will be dealt with in a strict manner upon investigation,' the Shanghai tourism board told The Paper. A staff worker at The Peninsula Beijing was seen using dirty towels to clean the washbasin, glasses and teacups. Li Yan, director of guest services told Beijing Youth Daily that all cups would normally been taken to the hotel's disinfection unit and replaced by sanitised cups A cleaner in Sheraton Nanchang was filmed using the same cloth to wipe the facilities Park Hyatt Beijing was one of the 14 hotels exposed in the video. It has since apologised for the lapse in hygiene standards in the hotel bathrooms in a statement on Thursday Health officials in Beijing have collected samples from the four hotels implicated in the video for examination. Test results will be made public, according to a statement released by the board. 'I just hope that the hotel management would just do the right thing - fully sanitise all cups, mugs, cutlery, sinks, showers, toilets in the bathroom,' the Chinese blogger told MailOnline. He declined to reveal his name due to security reasons. This is not the first time that poor hygiene practices were revealed among China's luxury hotels. Last December, housekeepers at three luxurious hotels in Harbin charging up to 370 a night have been caught washing guests' tea cups with a toilet brush, wiping the bathroom floor with bath towels and folding duvets on the floor. They were caught on camera by journalists, who posed as trainee cleaners and were recruited by the hotels. They secretly filmed their senior colleagues who were apparently showing them the ropes at work. Saudi Arabia's Al Qahtani Aviation has signed an agreement with Airbus to acquire 20 A320neo/A321neo family aircraft worth more than $2.1 billion for its SaudiGulf Airlines. The deal, announced at the Bahrain International Airshow today, involves 10 firm orders and 10 options, said Tariq Abdul Hadi Al Qahtani, chairman of Al Qahtani Aviation/SaudiGulf Airlines. Fouad Attar, head of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Africa and Middle East, was present at the press conference announcing the deal. The agreement follows the decision of the board of directors of the company to introduce this type of aircraft to the fleet of SaudiGulf Airlines, at the rate of six to eight aircraft annually from the second half 2019, he said. The airline will initially lease aircraft from leasing companies, taking up to 20 aircraft in the next three years, before the delivery of the contracted aircraft from Airbus start being delivered, he said. SaudiGulf started domestic operations with four new Airbus A320 aircraft in October 2016 from its base at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Earlier this year, the airline launched international flights between Riyadh and Dubai. Two aircraft have been recently added to the fleet aimed at starting operations to four destinations in Pakistan Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Sialkot - from Dammam. - TradeArabia News Service Residents of the tiny channel island of Sark face the prospect of having no light, electricity, or even running water in just 15 days time. The 500 people who live on the quiet and peaceful island, where cars are famously banned, may be forced to evacuate after a bitter row between the island's sole electricity supplier and its government came to a head. In an ultimatum to the government - known as the Chief Pleas - Sark Electricity Limited (SEL) said it had no option but to cease selling electricity almost immediately because a price cut imposed by a commissioner would force it to make unsustainable financial losses. Residents have said they won't be 'forced out' but some may have little option if the supplier turns off the power - even water on the island is dependent on electricity to bring it up from an underground aquifer. An independent commissioner appointed two years ago to regulate the monopoly's electricity pricing hasordered the firm to cut prices from 66p per kilowatt hour to 52p. For comparison, SSE charges UK mainland customers around 18 pence per KWh. Sark's electricity firm boss David Gordon-Brown said he had no option but to stop selling electricity to the island's 500 residents But SEL Director David Gordon-Brown said the company would lose 20,000 a month if they complied, and requested a 250,000 grant from the government to cover legal costs to fight the proposal. His request was turned down. In a letter to customers, he said: 'So we no longer have any options. We have shown Chief Pleas an independent auditor's report that shows that we would lose over 83,000 by 31st December at the current electricity price. 'We needed to start on the legal work to overturn this judgment by the beginning of this month so mounting a lawyer-driven appeal against the commissioner's foolishness is no longer possible. 'As his price stretches on for two years, there is no possibility of surviving if we continue as we are so we must stop selling electricity. 'Although we will not be providing a general supply beyond the end of the month, we will work with the Medical and Emergency Services Committee to make sure that doctors and essential emergency services can function for another week beyond the end of the month to cover the transition period as everyone moves off the island.' The 500 residents of the picturesque channel island of Sark, nine miles east of Guernsey off the northwest coast of France, face the prospect of evacuation after their sole electricity supplier said it would turn out the lights on November 30 Tony Le Lievre, the chairman of Sark's chamber of commerce, told The Guardian: 'We hope and pray it won't come to that, but we're almost in a state of civil emergency. 'People are very concerned. It's not just that the lights will go out but we rely on electricity for our water supply. "We pump our water up from the aquifer. If the electricity goes we won't have any lights or any water.' He said he hoped cooler heads would prevail, adding: 'I hope someone with some common sense will get everyone to sit down, perhaps with a mediator, and work this out.' William Raymond, one of the members of the Chief Pleas, told the paper the government was drawing up contingency plans to make sure some buildings still had power, and to encourage residents to congregate there. Mr Raymond said: 'A wartime kind of mentality is developing. People are determined to make the best of it. It is bringing the community together.' Asked about evacuation, he said: 'I'm not going anywhere.' Cars are banned on Sark, where residents and tourists travel on foot and in horse-drawn buggies. Some say the power row has sparked a wartime mentality - ironic since the Channel Islands were the only part of the to be UK occupied by the Nazis during the Second World War The three-mile island, where residents and tourists get about by walking or taking horse-drawn buggies, remained without electricity until 1947. Then an engineer from neighbouring Herm installed a generator which had been used to power military searchlights, and his electricity company was taken over in 1969 by the family firm now called Sark Electricity Ltd (SEL). Rosanne Guille, an artist, told The Guardian: 'We are a tiny island, vulnerable but fiercely independent. The past decade in Sark has been tough economically. 'The thought now that our electricity supply might be turned off is worrying and I hope it will not come to that. 'The Sarkees have survived here 453 years: I'm sure we won't let something like this drive us out.' This is the moment a man opened fire on a sheriff's deputy who pulled him over in Arkansas for a traffic violation forcing a man driving along the same road to cower behind his truck as the pair exchanged fire. Luis Cobos-Cenobio, 29, had been told to pull over by a deputy while driving north on S. Barrington Road near Tontitown at around 12.45pm on Sunday afternoon. But he continued driving and turned onto Steele Road before eventually coming to a stop. When Washington County Corporal Brett Thompson exited his vehicle, Cobos-Cenobio got out of his car and immediately began shooting, Washington County Sheriff's Office said. This is the moment a man opened fire on a sheriff's deputy who pulled him over in Arkansas for a traffic violation Luis Cobos-Cenobio began shooting after being told to pull over by a deputy near Tontitown, Arksansas Thompson returned fire and numerous round were exchanged before Cobos-Cenobio jumped back into his car and drove off. After traveling a short distance, he let a female passenger out of the car before taking off again. She was captured on video being detained by Thompson. Julie Smithson said her husband Ryan was driving directly behind the patrol when the incident unfolded. She posted a video taken by her husband as he crouched behind his truck for protection on Facebook on Sunday. 'So thankful for God's protection over my husband, Ryan, this afternoon,' she wrote. After exchanging fire with the deputy, the suspect let a female passenger out of his car before fleeing 'He was directly behind the police officer's car when this started and was able to back up and take cover. Also thankful for our law enforcement and their quick response.' Authorities issued a 'Be On the Lookout' for Cobos-Cenobio and his vehicle a 2008 Saturn. Springdale police located his car near Shady Grove Road in Springdale a short time later. Officers exchanged fire with the suspect again, authorities said. Cobos-Cenobio told police he 'wanted to die,' KFSM reports. The woman was seen raising the hands up after Luis Cobos-Cenobio drove off without her She was captured on video being detained by Washington County Corporal Brett Thompson He led police on a pursuit into Fayetteville, where Fayetteville Police and Arkansas State Police assisted, and back to Springdale. There, he was eventually stopped at Don Tyson Parkway and South Thompson Street and surrendered to officers, Springdale police said. Cobos-Cenobio was transported to Northwest Medical Center for treatment for a gunshot wound to his left arm before being released into police custody. No police officers or deputies were injured. Arkansas State Police will investigate the officer-involved shooting. Cobos-Cenobio has been charged with attempted capital murder. Pictured, bullet holes in a police car Two Springdale police officers who fired shots at Cobos-Cenobio have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard protocol. Cobos-Cenobio, of Springdale, has been charged with attempted capital murder after allegedly shooting at several officers, KFSM reports. He was also arrested in connection with committing a terroristic act, fleeing, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Cobos-Cenobio has been jailed on $500,000 bond, and has had an ICE detainer placed on him. A gleeful Jeremy Corbyn seized on Theresa May's 'botched' Brexit deal today to claim it was so bad it would never pass the Commons and demand a snap election. The Labour Leader wants a new election that could install him in No 10 so he can reopen the negotiations with Brussels on his own version of Brexit. Mr Corbyn said the deal was a 'huge and damaging failure' that would leave the country in a 'half way house'. Without Labour votes and with Brexiteers on her own side furious and quitting the Government, Mrs May's deal looks dead on arrival. Labour sources have insisted to MailOnline the party is ready to fight an election 'tomorrow'. A gleeful Jeremy Corbyn (pictured in the Commons today) seized on Theresa May's 'botched' Brexit deal today to claim it was so bad it would never pass the Commons and demand a snap election The Labour Leader wants a new election that could install him in No 10 so he can reopen the negotiations with Brussels on his own version of Brexit Mr Corbyn told MPs: 'The Government is in chaos. Their deal risks leaving the country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say. What is Labour's Brexit plan? Labour says it would negotiate a 'jobs first Brexit' if it took over the talks. The party has accepted it would likely have to delay the Article 50 process for a short period to reopen negotiations. Crucially, Labour's official policy if it gets into power is not to hold a second referendum - it will only advocate this if it cannot remove Mrs May in an election. Jeremy Corbyn's party wants a 'comprehensive' new customs union with the EU. It admits this would limit trade deals but says it would negotiate the right for Britain to have a say on any new EU-wide deals. It also wants to access the single market by promising Britain will match EU rules on workers rights, product standards and environmental protections. Advertisement 'When even the last Brexit Secretary, who theoretically at least negotiated the deal, says ''I cannot support the proposed deal'', what faith does that give anyone else in this place or in this country? 'The Government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected. 'No deal is not a real option and the Government has not seriously prepared for it.' Mr Corbyn went on: 'The withdrawal agreement is a leap in the dark - an ill-defined deal by a never-defined date.' The Labour leader told MPs that the backstop 'insurance policy', as Mrs May put it, would create a 'de facto border down the Irish Sea'. He said: 'In fact the list of EU measures that continue to apply to the UK in respect of Northern Ireland runs to 68 pages of the agreement, this affects VAT declarations and rules of origin checks.' Mr Corbyn also said it was 'clear the Prime Minister's red line regarding jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice had also been torn up'. He said: 'By 2021 under the Prime Minister's plan, we will either be in a backstop or still in transition. 'It is utterly far-fetched for the Prime Minister to say this plan means we take control over our laws, money and borders.' Mr Corbyn and his shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer (pictured in Westminster today) said the Prime Minister's plans had 'fallen at the first hurdle' Mr Corbyn said last night the deal failed to deal properly with the Irish border and did not provide the permanent UK-EU customs union Labour say is essential for the economy. In response to Mr Raab's resignation, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'This is now an incredibly serious situation. The Prime Minister's Brexit deal has fallen at the first hurdle. 'When Theresa May makes her statement to Parliament this morning she can't stand up and say 'nothing has changed'. She needs to urgently to rethink her approach.' After meeting with the Prime Minister last night, Mr Corbyn said: 'If the Prime Minister cannot get this agreement through Parliament, and I very much doubt she can, then she has either got to go back to the European Union and say 'we're going to have to negotiate something more in keeping with the wishes of MPs on behalf of the electorate, or resign and have a General Election so that the people of this country can decide who they want to be in government.' Mr Corbyn insisted hew could negotiate a better deal because Labour would not be designing its position based on getting a 'sweetheart' deal with Donald Trump's US. He said: 'We're in a position where we want to see an expanding, investment-led growing economy with greater equality and opportunity for people all over this country, not one where we threaten to reduce standards and living conditions, not one where we constantly act as though we are at war with somebody else.' Sir Keir demanded the Prime Minister 'rethink her approach' after resignation of Dominic Raab as Brexit Secretary Mr Raab (pictured yesterday in Downing Street through the Brexit deal into chaos today by sensationally resigning because he could not support it Mr Corbyn is resisting pressure from his own party members to call a second EU referendum - insisting an election that installs him in No 10 is more important. At an event hosted by the Mirror last night he insisted it was 'not a priority' and putting him at odds with former party leaders including Tony Blair. Downing Street is hopeful that a number of his MPs will defy him and support the Prime Minister, reasoning that a no-deal Brexit, which they fear could bring about an economic disaster, would be a worse outcome. Labour MPs representing Brexit-backing constituencies, including Caroline Flint, Gareth Snell and Lisa Nandy, have suggested they could back an agreement that prevents the country from crashing out of the EU without a deal. However, the hard-Left faction Momentum is getting ready to launch an offensive to exert pressure on the MPs not to vote for the Brexit deal in defiance of Mr Corbyn. Pro-Brexit Labour MP Kate Hoey, who has previously backed the government in some key votes, has also signalled she would not back the deal because of concerns that it does not deliver on the referendum result. Tony Blair yesterday urged Labour MPs to reject the deal and back a second referendum, hitting out at Mr Corbyn's 'abject refusal' to 'lead the country out of the Brexit nightmare'. Yesterday at Prime Minister's Questions (pictured), Mr Corbyn claimed she had negotiated 'a bad deal that will leave the country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say' In a speech in London, Mr Blair said he had some sympathy with the Prime Minister who was faced with 'an impossible circle to square' in keeping a frictionless border with Ireland but extracting the UK from the single market and customs union. But he said: 'Nothing can disguise the nature of the deal she has chosen, if reports of it are true. 'This deal isn't a compromise, it's a capitulation. 'The withdrawal agreement will keep us tied to EU trade policy until there is an end established by 'joint consent' - in other words, the EU has a veto. 'It is coated in heavy fudge, but that is the inedible biscuit beneath the coating.' At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Corbyn denounced Mrs May's draft deal as a 'failure in its own terms'. He told MPs: 'It doesn't deliver a Brexit for the whole country... it breaches the Prime Minister's own red lines, it doesn't deliver a strong economic deal that supports jobs and industry, and we know they haven't prepared seriously for no deal.' Mrs May said Mr Corbyn was 'wrong' in his description and accused Labour of seeking to 'frustrate' Brexit. Tony Blair (pictured) yesterday urged Labour MPs to reject the deal and back a second vote, hitting out at Mr Corbyn's 'abject refusal' to 'lead the country out of the Brexit nightmare' She told the Commons: 'Time and time again he has stood up in this House and complained and said that the Government isn't making progress, that the Government isn't anywhere close to a deal. 'Now when we're making progress and close to a deal he's complaining about that. 'I think what that clearly shows is that he and the Labour Party have only one intention: that is to frustrate Brexit and betray the vote of the British people.' A senior spokesman for the Labour leader later said that the 'likelihood' was that the party would vote against the Prime Minister's plan. The spokesman said: 'We've set out what our priorities are and from what we know of it, it doesn't meet those priorities and it looks like a botched, half-baked deal that doesn't deliver for the country as a whole. 'Labour has an alternative plan for Brexit which includes a new and comprehensive customs union with a British say on future trade deals, and a new single market deal with full protections and guarantees on rights and standards and protections. 'We believe that package would command support in Parliament and unite Leavers and Remainers and has majority support in the country, and that is what should be negotiated.' Pub crawls, dressing as a centurion and drinking in the street will all be permanently banned in Rome under strict new laws designed to 'clean up' the historic city. Temporary measures including fines for swimming in fountains and eating in restricted areas will also become permanent. The new laws are part of a crackdown by Rome's council on the unpleasant habits of visitors and locals. Dog fouling, soliciting prostitution and even 'eating in a slovenly fashion' will all carry penalties, The Local reported. Under the new permanent measures, gladiators caught posing for photos with tourists face fines of up to 400 euros Mayor Virginia Raggi said: 'After 72 years of waiting, Rome has new urban police regulations. Today is a historic day.' The police will also be given more powers in the Italian capital and 500 new vigili urbani (city police) will be employed to enforce the local government rules by handing out fines and banning people from certain areas. For years, the city council in Rome has used various temporary measures in an attempt to improve the capital's cleanliness and reputation. Rome's Mayor Virginia Raggi called today 'a historic day' as she announced the new laws The strict ban introduced earlier this year on night-time drinking, which was due to expire in March 2019, has been extended indefinitely. The drinking of alcohol outdoors is forbidden in glass containers from 10pm and in any container at all from midnight. A 2am curfew has been imposed from which point no alcoholic drinks can be served at all, including at indoor clubs and bars. Violation of these laws carries a fine of up to 150 (130) for those drinking alcohol and 280 (250) for businesses selling it. Costumed 'gladiators' were also temporarily handed heavy fines following accusations of 'over-charging, harassing and pick-pocketing unsuspecting tourists', The Local reported. The recently restored Spanish Steps in Rome are subject to the new laws preventing people from eating on them The Trevi fountain in particular is known as a hotspot of bad tourist behaviour and people are now permanently forbidden from swimming in it and eating nearby Under the new permanent measures, gladiators caught posing for photos with tourists face fines of up to 400 euros. The council is also making permanent the fines imposed earlier this year on also people eating near or climbing on fountains - the Trevi fountain in particular is known as a hotspot of bad tourist behaviour - and other historical sites such as the Spanish Steps. Italians have been getting fed up in recent years with the 'disgusting' conditions in the capital, and many are in favour of a crackdown on mass tourism. The farmer who shot dead a teenage burglar has appealed to overturn his conviction, arguing he 'has a right to clear his name'. Tony Martin killed 16-year-old Fred Barras and wounded his accomplice Brendon Fearon, 29, when he found the pair attempting to burgle his Norfolk farm in 1999. Mr Martin, who lived alone and slept with a shotgun under his bed following a string of burglaries, was jailed for life for murder in April 2000, sparking a national debate about the rights of householders to defend themselves. But the eccentric vigilante later had his sentence reduced on appeal to five years for manslaughter after a public outcry and he was released in 2003. The 74-year-old has said he now wants to quash his conviction for manslaughter before he dies, adding: 'I want freedom for people who are decent.' Tony Martin (pictured here in April this year) has appealed to overturn his conviction for manslaughter Tony Martin (left), shot and killed 16-year-old Fred Barras (right) and wounded his accomplice Brendon Fearon, 29, Martin revealed how intruders tried to break-in to his derelict farmhouse (pictured), which he has not set foot in since he killed Fred Barras Mr Martin told The Mirror: 'Your home is your castle, it's about having the courage to be free. 'I want freedom for people who are decent. I have a right to clear my name - I'm not sure how much longer I've got left to live.' Having been repeatedly raided before the shootings, Mr Martin was lurking in wait for Barras and Fearon with a pump-action shotgun when they broke into his home on August 20, 1999. He fired three shots, hitting both in the leg and Barras in the back, killing him. Barras was later sentenced to three years in jail while getaway driver Darren Bark, 33, was jailed for 30 months. Earlier this week, Martin revealed how intruders recently tried to break-in to his derelict farmhouse, Bleak House at Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, which he has not set foot in since he killed Fred Barras. He claimed that a ladder which he found propped up against his old home was evidence that burglars had tried and failed to get in. He revealed details of the latest alleged break-in attempt in an interview with the Eastern Daily before the screening on Sunday of the Channel 4 dramatisation The Interrogation, based on transcripts of police interviews with him. Police at the scene of the crime in 2003, some four years after Fred Barras was shot and killed. Officers had established a mobile police station outside the farmhouse in the wake of reported threats on the farmer's life Martin also wounded Barras's accomplice Brendon Fearon, 29, pictured in 1999 ahead of his trial, with his unlicensed shotgun The house is overgrown with ivy with windows and doors covered by the algae-stained steel shutters that police put up to keep out intruders Mr Martin is being portrayed in the Channel 4 show by League of Gentleman star Steve Pemberton (left). It also stars Line of Duty's Daniel Mays, 40, as the policeman who interviewed him (right) Mr Martin is being portrayed in the Channel 4 show by League of Gentleman star Steve Pemberton. It also stars Line of Duty's Daniel Mays, 40, as the policeman who interviewed him. Prosecutors at Mr Martin's trial portrayed him as an angry man, with a vendetta against burglars. It was claimed that he booby-trapped his home and armed himself with an illegal weapon. The jury rejecting his claims of self-defence and agreed with the prosecutors who said he shot the pair in cold blood. DC Peters (Danny Mays), DS Newton (Stuart Graham) and Tony Martin (Steve Pemberton) The Channel 4 dramatisation The Interrogation is based on transcripts of police interviews with the farmer At his trial, prosecutors claimed Martin had booby-trapped his home and armed himself with an illegal weapon Mr Martin still works on his 300 acres of land on his farm, despite not setting foot in his farmhouse for 19 years. He said he has not ventured inside since the shooting because he fears he will 'react violently if burgled again.' Asked if he was troubled by the death of Barras, he admitted that he didn't give his victim a second thought because 'what goes around, comes around.' He added: 'When I was his age I lived with my grandparents - I didn't go breaking into bloody houses 16 miles down the road.' A picture of high school students being scanned by eight police officers outside their high school dance has sparked a fierce debate online. The photo shows police and drug dogs patrolling the teenagers outside Goulburn Workers Club, south-west of Sydney at 7pm on Thursday. Hundreds of people took to Facebook to express their anger over the controversial police visit after the image was posted on the 'Sniff Off!' page. Eight police officers and a drug dog were captured standing outside of a crowded high school formal 'If they need 8+ cops for a school formal then the police force is in desperate need of a herd thinning and standards raising,' one commentor wrote. Other users saw the incident as a 'joke' and a 'waste of tax payer money'. A number of comments implied the police were overly suspicious of young teenagers. 'Nice, destroy their chance of getting a job before they're old enough to get one. Good thinking,' another wrote. One joked saying the formal was attended by notorious Colombian drug dealer Pablo Escobar. The photo uploaded on Facebook sparked controversy among online users Many comments implied the police officers were overly suspicious of teenagers A New South Wales Police spokesperson said police supervision in large numbers was not standard practice. A spokesperson from Goulburn Police Station told Daily Mail Australia there were no criminal acts at the scene. 'Goulburn police officers were simply carrying out a routine operation,' the spokesperson said. The former husband of a mother shot with a crossbow and killed in front of her family has been remanded in custody. Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo is accused of murdering Sana Muhammad, a pregnant mother of five who was attacked in Ilford on Monday morning. Unmathallegadoo, of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Pentonville jail today charged with murder. Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Pentonville jail today charged with murder Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, left, is accused of killing his ex-wife Sana Muhammad, right Mrs Muhammad's husband Imtiaz had been going out to the shed (pictured) to put some tools away when he spotted the attacker Mrs Muhammad's unborn baby boy Ibrahim was removed by emergency caesarian section while the crossbow bolt was still stuck in her abdomen, but is expected to survive after doctors stablised his condition. Mrs Muhammad, 35, sadly died in hospital the day before her 50-year-old ex-husband was charged with murder. Wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit and glasses, he replied 'yes' when asked to confirm his date of birth and gave his nationality as British. The Recorder of London, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, remanded Unmathallegadoo in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on 6 February next year. Mrs Muhammad's husband, Imtiaz (right), said she was standing at the sink when the arrow hit An aerial shot shows a police incident tent pressed up against the window through which the killer shot Mrs Muhammad Father-of-three Imtiaz Muhammad shouted 'run, run, run' as the killer chased him into the kitchen and fired the weapon A two-week trial was also fixed to begin on 8 April. Mrs Muhammad's husband Imtiaz has told how he shouted 'run, run, run' after he saw a man hiding in the family's shed. Police were called to the house on Applegarth Drive at 7.40am where Mrs Muhammad was found with a wound to her abdomen. DCI Gary Holmes, of the Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: 'This is a tragic incident and our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends of the victim.' Five Saudi officials are facing the death penalty after being accused of murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Shalaan al-Shalaan, the kingdom's deputy public prosecutor, revealed on Thursday that 21 people are in custody over the killing and charges have been brought against 11 of them. Al-Shalaan requested the death penalty for five who 'are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals'. But he exonerated Saudi's de-facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman by laying ultimate blame for Khashoggi's killing at the feet of two lesser officials. Executions in Saudi Arabia are usually carried out publicly by beheading with a sword. Saudi Arabia will seek the death penalty against five men it accuses of carrying out the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul on October 2 Shalaan al-Shalaan, the deputy public prosecutor of Saudi Arabia, revealed that 21 people are in custody over the killing and 11 of them have been charged Shalaan said the highest-level official implicated in Khashoggi's killing is former deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri, who gave the order for him to be repatriated to Saudi Arabia from Turkey, where he was living in exile. He added that it was 'the head of the negotiating team' dispatched to seize Khashoggi who then gave the order to kill him, without naming the man. Shalaan denied that Salman had any knowledge of the killing. The Crown Prince has blamed it on 'rogue elements' of the Saudi state. That was a claim backed by foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir who said bin Salman has 'absolutely nothing to do' with the death. 'Sometimes mistakes happen... sometimes people exceed their authority,' he said before adding Saudi was taking steps 'to make sure this doesn't happen again.' Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has not been implicated in the killing after blame was laid at the feet of two lesser officials Meanwhile Turkey's public prosecutor said news of the charges was 'positive but insufficient'. Turkey has previously said it believes officials at the very top level of Saudi's ruling family are to blame for the murder, but stopped short of accusing bin Salman. Saudi Arabia added that it believes Khashoggi was given a lethal injection inside the country's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Top intelligence officer General Ahmed al-Assiri was fired in connection with the death, and is now facing charges His body was then dismembered and taken out of the building, Shalaan said, though admitted the kingdom does not not know where the remains are now. Investigations are ongoing to find the remains, the prosecutor insisted. Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancee who was with him at the consulate the day he died to retrieve documents allowing them to marry, has demanded the kingdom hand back his remains for a proper burial. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted in mid-October that Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound, but blamed it on a 'rogue' operation. The prosecutor has requested the death penalty for the five who 'are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals,' an official statement published by state news agency SPA said. It said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing, 11 of whom have been indicted with investigations to continue into the others. Turkey on Wednesday called for an international investigation into the murder. Ankara has already shared voice recordings linked to the murder with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States and its Western allies. Two members of the Saudi team which is said to have killed Jamal Khashoggi going through the scanners at Ataturk airport on October 2 where the contents of their bags were pictured X-ray images taken in Istanbul's Ataturk airport of the hit squad's luggage showed syringes and radios. Jamal Khashoggi was killed on October 2 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on the same day the 15-man squad flew in Another image purportedly showing one of the hit squad member's bags shows a pair of scissors Other scans also showed what appeared to be a pair of staple-guns and a taser in the luggage Khashoggi's killing has plunged the world's top oil exporter into its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals. After first insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, Saudi authorities said he was killed in an argument that degenerated into a brawl before finally accepting what Turkey had said virtually from the start - that he was killed in a premeditated hit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the order to murder Khashoggi came from 'the highest levels' of the Saudi government. The global fallout over the murder has tainted the image of 33-year-old Prince Mohammed - the de facto ruler and heir apparent - despite persistent Saudi denials that he was involved. Khashoggi's murder has also led to increased scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's role in the Yemen war, which has pushed the impoverished country to the brink of famine. The journalist went into self-imposed exile in the United States in 2017 after falling out with Prince Mohammed. A northern Indiana mother who hit and killed twin brothers and their older sister with her pickup truck as they crossed a highway to board a school bus pleaded not guilty on Thursday. Alyssa Shepherd, 24, appeared before a Fulton County judge on three counts of reckless homicide. The Rochester woman also faces one misdemeanor count of passing a school bus when an arm signal device is extended, causing bodily injury. Shepherd was driving a pickup truck before dawn October 30 when she struck four children who were crossing a two-lane road to board a Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. bus near Rochester. Scroll down for video Alyssa Shepherd leaves the Fulton County Courthouse in Indiana Thursday after pleading not guilty in last month's crash that killed three siblings boarding a school bus This family photo shows Alivia Stahl, center, and her twin brothers, Xzavier and Mason Ingle, who lost their lives on October 30 after being hit by Shepherd's pickup truck This is the car Shepherd was driving at the time. A witness said she did not appear to be speeding Six-year-old twin brothers Xzavier and Mason Ingle, and their 9-year-old sister, Alivia Stahl, were killed. Maverik Lowe, the 11-year-old who was severely injured in the crash, remains hospitalized in Fort Wayne. Shepherd told police she didn't realize that she was approaching a stopped school bus, despite the activated stop arm and flashing lights. Court documents show Shepherd told police she saw the lights but didn't recognize the vehicle as a school bus until the children were right in front of her. If convicted of the charges against her, Shepherd (pictured in her mugshot) could face up to 19 years in prison Alivia's father, Michael Stahl, attended Thursday's hearing in Fulton County Courthouse and said afterward that he prays for Shepherd's family. He asked that those who have made threats against her family to stop. 'It's not helping the situation. It doesn't help the prosecutors. It doesn't help the justice system. It doesn't help us. And it doesn't do my daughter justice or the other people who are affected by this,' he told WSBT-TV. Stahl said his focus is now his other daughter, who is 11 and was at a doctor's appointment on the day of the crash. He said she is struggling with emotions that no child should have to face. 'A child that age shouldn't have to grow up that fast,' he told the South Bend Tribune. At her probable cause hearing earlier this month, a witness said Shepherd appeared to be doing 45mph - within the 55mph speed limit- when she hit the group of children with her Toyota pick-up truck at 7.15am outside a trailer park. The driver of the school bus blasted his horn seconds before Shepherd's car made impact but it was too late. Shepherd stayed at the scene to talk to police and was later arrested. She was freed from jail after posting $15,000 bond. Shepherd, who is married and has two children of her own, is due back in court for a pretrial conference on February 5. If convicted of the charges against her, she could face up to 19 years in prison. Angela Merkel was seen struggling with a tangled assortment of wires this morning - as she attended a conference on the benefits of technology. It appeared British Prime Minister Theresa May wasn't the only leader in a twist as the German chancellor arrived in Potsdam, near Berlin, with a handbag overflowing with cables. Members of Merkel's coalition looked on in amusement as the 64-year-old Chancellor grappled with a web of charging cables for her various gadgets. Her British counterpart Mrs May is facing a tangle of her own today amid resignations en-masse from her government today over the emerging Brexit deal. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived for a two-day cabinet conference in Potsdam, near Berlin, holding a green handbag overflowing with charging cables German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (left) Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (centre) look on as the Chancellor struggles with the different cables she keeps in her bag for all her gadgets Germany's Grand Coalition ministers are in Potsdam to draft a strategy to turn the country into a world leader in digitalisation. But the chancellor was immediately forced to sort out a technology problem of her own. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz looked mildly concerned as she pulled out an iPad, what appeared to a portable charging device, a white plug with a wire attached and finally an iPhone charger. Eventually, she managed to untangle the mess and the summit was able to get underway. Digitalisation is the process of converting material or information into a digital form, and the German cabinet will spend two days in Potsdam engaging in special consultations on the subject. Members of the German cabinet meet for a two-day retreat to discuss the country's digitisation policy - but Merkel was having technology troubles of her own Merkel pulled out an iPad, what appeared to a portable charging device, a white plug with a wire attached and finally an iPhone charger from her green handbag German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and Chancellor Angela Merkel attend the federal cabinet meeting in Potsdam on November 15, 2018 to discuss policy on technology advancement in Germany Advertisement The backbreaking labour Britains miners had to endure has been recalled in a series of historical photographs from the turn of the twentieth century. The striking pictures show a miner chipping away at the roof of a thick coal seam in 1910, two young pit boys coming off their shift in 1906 and miners with a wagon of tin stuff in the shaft in 1900. Other images show miners working with the trucks in 412 fathom level at Dolcoath, Cornwall in 1900 and a miner scrubbing up in front of a kitchen fire after a shift in 1920. Black and white portraits also give us an insight into the life of Britain's female miners, who wore a uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a long ankle-length skirt and trousers underneath. Known as the 'Pit Brow Girls' or pit brow lasses, these were women who worked on the surface at British collieries across the north of England. A miner is pictured undercutting a coal seam on some date in 1906. Britain developed the main techniques of underground coal mining from the late 18th century onward, with further progress being driven by 19th century and early 20th century progress In a poignant photograph taken in 1920, a miner is seen washing his hands in a bowl heated by a campfire after a long and toiling shift working deep underground in the mines Miners pose for a photograph with a wagon of tin stuff while deep down in a shaft in Cornwall, 1900. From here it would be taken up the shaft to the surface, where women were waiting to sort the deposits The miners at Dolcoath, Cornwall get to work picking at the coal, which would then be transported to the surface with the help of carts mounted onto tracks (pictured right) Pictured left, two young pit boys are shown after coming off shift in 1906, while right, a coal miner is shown picking away at a coal seam with a pickaxe at some point in 1910 Other incredible images, revealed by website Retronaut, show miners working with the trucks in 412 fathom level at Dolcoath, Cornwall in 1900. You can also see a miner scrubbing up in front of a kitchen fire after a shift in 1920 and the North Wales Mines Rescue Team from the Westminster, Wrexham and Acton Collieries in 1914. The history of coal mining goes back thousands of years but became most important in the Industrial Revolution, when it was primarily used to power steam engines, heat buildings and generate electricity. Britain developed the main techniques of underground coal mining from the late 18th century onward, with further progress being driven by 19th century and early 20th century progress. However, oil and gas were increasingly used as alternatives from the 1860s onward. UK coal production peaked in 1913 at 287 million tonnes. The Denaby Main Mine Rescue Team pose for a photograph in 1912. The team was tasked with rescuing trapped miners in the instance of collapsed or flooded mines, whcih were both real dangers for those working inside the cravasses Pit Brow Girls working on a screen in Wigan, 1890. They worked on the pit bank (pictured) at the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the surface Women wait in the pay queue in Wigan, 1890. Known as the 'Pit Brow Girls' or pit brow lasses, these were women who worked on the surface at British collieries across the north of England Among the images are posed images of Pit Brow lasses (left), while other incredible images, revealed by website Retronaut, show miners working with the trucks in 412 fathom level at Dolcoath, Cornwall in 1900 (right) Until the late 1960s, coal was the main source of energy produced in the UK, peaking at 228 million tonnes in 1952. Ninety-five per cent of this came from roughly 1,334 deep-mines that were operational at the time, with the rest from around 92 surface mines. Why were they called 'broo-wenches'? Pit brow women or pit brow lasses were women who worked on the surface at British collieries. They worked on the pit bank (or brow) at the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the surface. Women and boys under the age of 10 were banned from working underground following the passing of the Mines and Collieries Act 1842. Advertisement After modernisation of underground mining, a deep shaft mine could produce 700 million tonnes annually. In 1986, Kellingley colliery achieved 404,000 tonnes in a single shift. Britain's miners led a mass strike in protest at the closure of collieries. The miners' strike of 1984-85 was a major industrial action to shut down the British coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. It was led by Arthur Scargill of the National Union of Mineworkers against the National Coal Board, a government agency. Opposition to the strike was led by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who called the strikers and organisers 'the enemy within'. Violent confrontations between flying pickets and police characterised the year-long strike, which ended in a decisive victory for the Conservative government and allowed the closure of most of Britain's collieries. At its height, the strike involved 142,000 mineworkers. The number of person-days of work lost to the strike was over 26million, making it the largest since the 1926 general strike. A large group of tin miners, ranging in a verity of ages and including several teenagers, are pictured posing for a photograph in Cornwall in 1900 The North Wales Mines Rescue Team from the Westminister, Wrexham and Acton Collieries are pictured posing for a group photograph in 1914. They are pictured wearing their rudimentary breathing apparatuses Pictured in a grinning selfie on his way home from raping a 13-year-old girl, this is a paedophile police officer who got his job despite being named in three sex investigations and now faces years in jail. Ian Naude, 30, met the child during a domestic incident at her house and began grooming her by exchanging sexual images and messages. He then took her away in his car, took her to a secluded spot, and attacked her in the back seat. On Thursday, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found him guilty of rape and sexual assault, as well as four charges of attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence and one charge of arranging a child sex offence, relating to five complainants aged between 12 and 15. The father-of-one started working for the police as a student officer in April 2017, despite being named in connection with two child grooming cases in neighbouring force areas and the rape of a woman. The trial also revealed another extraordinary official bungle, which saw Naude copied into a police email detailing plans to arrest him after the rape was reported. This gave him time to delete 756 images from his phone. Paedophile policeman Ian Naude posted a selfie (left) of himself driving a car in October 2017 after he had used it to pick up his 13-year-old victim from her home before taking the child to a secluded spot and raping her. He had a Facebook account under the name of Bruce Ian Wayne, an apparent reference to superhero Batman The court had been told the 30-year-old, who police believe may have more victims who have yet to come forward, had been acting on an 'ever increasing interest in young girls' over the past six or seven years. Sick PC was allowed to join the force despite being named in THREE sex cases Ian Naude was named as a suspect in three cases before he was appointed to the force, it has emerged. The father-of-one, who groomed teenage girls online, had been due to join Cheshire Police as a student officer in January 2017. The force said the recruitment process was put on hold following an allegation he had raped a woman in Staffordshire. But, when no further action was taken in the case, a decision was made by the vetting department to allow the process to continue and Naude was appointed to the force in April that year. When police began to investigate Naude following his arrest, they found he had also been a named suspect in two child grooming allegations - reported to Staffordshire Police and West Mercia Police in January and February 2017. Those two reports became part of the Cheshire Police investigation into Naude, which saw him plead guilty to 30 charges, including inciting children to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photos of children, and found guilty of rape, sexual assault and five offences relating to arranging the commission of a child sexual offence. Acting chief constable Janette McCormick, who has apologised to the family of the rape victim, said the case had prompted a lot of 'soul searching'. She said: 'In light of this case, the constabulary has looked long and hard at its own recruitment and screening programme for new recruits to see whether this type of incident can be avoided in the future.' Advertisement Prosecutor Owen Edwards said on day one of his trial that he had joined the force 'to get the keys to the sweet shop'. Earlier a colleague told the court Naude had shown an interest in the force's public protection unit, which deals with vulnerable children. He was still working as a student officer at the time of the rape in October 2017, and was described during the two-week trial as a 'selfish and cruel paedophile' who was obsessed with taking the virginity of teenage girls and joined the force with the intention of meeting vulnerable victims. Naude, who previously served in Afghanistan as a machine gunner with the Royal Irish Regiment, was warned by Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC he faces a 'very significant sentence indeed'. Summing up the case, Judge Goldstone said: 'The defence concede that this is a case which has fairly depicted the defendant as a cold, uncaring, selfish and cruel paedophile who has on occasion stooped as low as coercive and threatening behaviour, including blackmail of young girls, some of whom have been properly characterised as vulnerable.' He also admitted two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, 14 counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of taking indecent photos of a child, four counts of making indecent photos of a child, six counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of possessing indecent photos of a child. Naude denied that he had attempted to arrange to commit child sex offences, claiming that messages sent to girls asking them to meet were just fantasy. Naude, originally from South Africa, had been called to a domestic incident at the victim's house in October 2017 and contacted her on Facebook days later. After exchanging sexual images and messages over social media, he took her out in his car and raped her, the jury heard. Naude posted as a 15-year-old boy called 'Jake Green' while grooming his victims. Pictured is the first of four chat logs that have been released The court was told Naude, based at Crewe police station, would gain the trust of young girls by posing on social media as a 15-year-old boy called Jake Green. He also had a Facebook account under the name of Bruce Ian Wayne, an apparent reference to superhero Batman, and a Snapchat account named King Of The North - possibly aping a character in Game of Thrones. He would persuade his victims to undress and sometimes perform sexual acts on camera before sending them pictures and video of himself masturbating, the court heard. In some cases he then threatened to send the photos on to other people on their Facebook friends list and on one occasion told a victim he would harass her friends, including one who self-harmed, unless she sent him photos. Naude, who was working as a student officer for Cheshire Police at the time of the assault in October 2017, was described during the trial as a 'selfish and cruel paedophile'. Pictured in an undated mugshot The court heard after the rape was reported Naude was accidentally copied into a police email revealing the plan to arrest him. When his phone was seized 756 images had been deleted from it. Other devices, including a laptop and another phone, were later discovered in a field in Market Drayton after he gave a hand-drawn map of their location to his cellmate. Naude will be sentenced on December 13. An investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) into the vetting process and employment of Naude found there was no case to answer for misconduct for any individual officer. Acting chief constable Janette McCormick, who has personally apologised to the family of the rape victim, said the case had prompted a lot of 'soul searching' among officers. She said: 'In light of this case, the constabulary has looked long and hard at its own recruitment and screening programme for new recruits to see whether this type of incident can be avoided in the future.' Naude's Snapchat account was named King Of The North - possibly a reference to a character in Game of Thrones Ms McCormick said the force had changed its processes so if there was a delay in the recruitment process of more than three months further checks would be carried on national police systems. Checks on police systems and complaint records are also now undertaken for all officers completing the probation period of two years and training of new staff has been reviewed. She said: 'He didn't join to be a police officer, he joined as a predator.' Investigations into Naude, of Market Drayton in Shropshire, are ongoing and officers believe there may be more victims who have not yet come forward. Detective Chief Superintendent Aaron Duggan said: 'We do know that he has committed this offending for a considerable length of time and there may well be other people out there, other victims, who think they have been subjected to offending by Naude, not just as a police officer but before he joined the force.' Ms McCormick said officers had gone through records of all the contact Naude had with people as an officer and there were investigations continuing as a result. She said colleagues in the force had been 'rocked and shocked' as details of Naude's offending had been revealed. While grooming this victim, Naude asks how old she is before calling her 'sexy' and 'baby' The paedophile tells this girl she 'looks pretty and interesting' as part of his sick attempt to groom her in this excerpt In this chat log, Naude becomes threatening as the girl reveals she is on the brink of killing herself The senior officer added: 'I am disgusted, appalled, angry at the behaviour of Ian Naude, his predatory behaviour and how he groomed young girls. 'Thankfully, the bravery of that one girl to come forward meant that we arrested him the day after, we suspended him, we have disciplined him and removed him from the organisation.' An NSPCC spokesperson said: 'Naude preyed on the vulnerability of this young girl, using his trusted position as a police officer to commit the most horrific acts of abuse. 'The fact he tried to defend his actions claiming it was consensual is despicable, as a police officer he would know a child under 16 cannot consent. Naude's actions will have a lasting impact on all his young victims and they should be given every support to move forward. 'At the NSPCC, our Letting the Future In service works with young people who have experienced sexual abuse to help them understand what has happened to them and receive support to help them recover.' A young couple could have to pay a 240 fine after taking their children on holiday during term time. Kirk and Samantha Wheeler, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, were given the fine for flying to Turkey for a week with their two boys, Joshua and Leo, both eight-years-old. The couple are prepared to fight the fine in court and said they had 'absolutely no choice' as it was the only time they could get off work. Kirk and Samantha Wheeler said they had 'absolutely no choice' to take their children out of school during term time Following the holiday they were fined 60 each per child for taking their children out of Grimsby's Woodlands Academy. Mr Wheeler said: 'I just recently started a new job on the Immingham Docks, and work in a system where we are in six man gangs, and only one person can be off at any one time. 'Because of this, when I started the job I just was not able to get the time off work for the original time that we booked the holiday in October.' They went to the school before the holiday and submitted a holiday request, which was turned down. After deciding they had 'no other option' but to take the family on holiday when they did, the family also feel they are being 'punished for working'. The family took their children out of Grimsby's Woodlands Academy to go to Turkey Mrs Wheeler said: 'Our boys have never missed school regularly before, and we always make sure that their attendance is good. 'But in this unique circumstance we felt that we had no choice but to take them out of school, as the holiday had been paid for over a year ago. 'If I am honest, I think the boys learned more on holiday than they would have done in school, Leo had never been abroad before and now he has even learned how to swim.' The family believe they have a case to fight against their 'unfair fine' in court. Under the Department of Education guideline, a child can only miss school if they are too ill to attend or received planned permission from the school. Following the holiday they were fined 60 each per child for taking their children out of Grimsby's Woodlands Academy Headteachers have the ability to allow term-time absences but only if an application is made in advance and in exception circumstances, such as a parent's wedding, a religious festival, or if a parent is to be deployed in the Armed Forces. Woodlands Academy head teacher Rachel Green said: 'I do not wish to comment on individual cases. 'However, what I would say is the law states children must attend school on a regular basis and head teachers must only grant leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. 'Holidays are not classed as exceptional circumstances and this has been proven in law.' Advertisement Kenny G has put his luxurious farmhouse in California on the market for almost $4million. The American pop saxophonist bought the gated property in the foothills above Coldwater Canyon in Studio City for $2.85 million in 2007. But after more than a decade, 62-year-old Kenny G whose real name is Kenneth Bruce Gorelick has decided to sell up. Kenny G has put his luxurious farmhouse in Studio City in Los Angeles, California, on the market for almost $4million The American pop saxophonist bought the gated property in the foothills above Coldwater Canyon for $2.85 million in 2007 The musician, who is one of the bestselling artists of all time, mainly lives in his Malibu estate. So his four bedroom, three bathroom property, which lies at the end of a lengthy driveway, has been listed for sale for $3.955 million. A separate guesthouse with a vaulted ceiling and another bathroom has been outfitted as a soundproof recording studio. Inside the main property, there's a lavish living space and formal dining room with mahogany-toned wood floors. 62-year-old Kenny G (pictured) whose real name is Kenneth Bruce Gorelick has decided to sell up. The property has a guesthouse fitted as a soundproof recording studio (left) The four bedroom, three bathroom property, which lies at the end of a lengthy driveway, has been listed for $3.955 million Inside the main property, there's a lavish living space and formal dining room with mahogany-toned wood floors Realtor Matt Epstein describes the farmhouse as a 'one of a kind' property that provides 'privacy, natural tranquility and dynamic living spaces' A chef's gourmet kitchen (pictured) has a skylight overlooking it and there's also a library with a fireplace as well as a gym A separate guesthouse with a vaulted ceiling and another bathroom has been outfitted as a soundproof recording studio The musician, who is one of the bestselling artists of all time, turned the property's guest house into a soundproofed studio A chef's gourmet kitchen has a skylight overlooking it and there's also a library with a fireplace as well as a gym. The master bedroom suite also comes with a fireplace, a marble-floored bathroom and fitted walk-in closet. The property also boasts a stone bridge that arches over a babbling, waterfall-fed brook. A private deck outside is nestled into the surrounding trees and owners can also enjoy the pool, spa and putting green. Realtor Matt Epstein describes the farmhouse as a 'one of a kind' property that provides 'privacy, natural tranquility and dynamic living spaces.' The master bedroom suite also comes with a fireplace, a marble-floored bathroom and fitted walk-in closet The en-suite attached to the master bedroom is a lavish bathroom with dual vanities, and a separate tub Owners can enjoy luxurious baths in the deep soaking tub in one of the three bathrooms in the gated farmhouse A gym inside the main farmhouse, in Studio City, California, is kitted out with high-end exercising equipment The hillside property, in the foothills above Coldwater Canyon in Los Angeles, boasts a swimming pool and spa area A private deck outside is nestled into the surrounding trees and owners can also enjoy the pool, spa and putting green Shocking footage shows the moment armed police used a baton gun to take down a man waving a samurai sword on a busy street. John Taylor was seen waving a giant knife outside shops in Balisdon, Essex, on Saturday. The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon at Basildon Magistrates Court on November 12, and is due to be sentenced on December 10. A man brandishing a Samurai sword (pictured) in the street was Tasered by armed police this afternoon His appearance in court comes after London's murder rate in 2018 increased beyond the grizzly 118 tally for the year before - with still one month to go before the end of the year. It also follows six days of violence and bloodshed, from October 31, when five young men were stabbed to death on the streets of South London. Police in Essex shot Taylor with a baton gun, which fires circular, non-lethal plastic rounds, following a stand-off in front of anxious shoppers at around 2.30pm. He was filmed as he unsheathed the knife while police approached. The officers urged him to drop the weapon, only firing as he stood, arms wide, taunting them with it. Dramatic pictures show the man on the floor after being taken down, and police picking up the sword. A police cordon was put in place around the local pharmacy while police carried out an investigation. The shocking footage was filmed by CCTV camera at a Costcutters shop. A local shop worker was told by police to lock the door for safety reasons. Witness Rupan Shan told Essex Live: 'We saw a guy outside with a big sword. 'We called the police and they were here within minutes. We were told to lock up the shop by police so for our customers safety. We locked them inside too. Dramatic pictures show the man on the floor after being Tasered and police picking up the sword 'There were children here. We were all so shocked to see what we saw. Another witness said: 'It's scary I was just walking my dog and saw the cordons up. 'It must frighten the shopkeepers, thinking this is going on nearby. You have to have eyes at the back of your head.' A spokesman for Essex Police said: 'We were called at 2.35pm on Saturday, November 10 to concerns for the welfare of a man in the Rectory Road area of Pitsea who was reported to have a sword and was making threats. 'Officers attended and a man was detained.' The official Metropolitan Police tally for violent deaths in the capital has reached 121, but the figure also takes into consideration two cases which are being treated as self-defence. It means that with more than a month left to go until the New Year, the total is already above the 118 homicides seen in the capital in 2017. Earlier this month, London's streets saw five youngsters brutally murdered in a shocking six day crimewave. Two murder probes have already been launched this week, with 35-year-old Devi Unmathallegadoo, dying from a stomach wound in Ilford, east London yesterday. Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 50, has been charged with murder and will appear in court later today. On Tuesday, police announced a 62-year-old woman had been killed in Balham late last night and a 66-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder. Officers swoop in on the suspect lying on the floor following an intense stand-off Women's rights activists are baring their underwear in Ireland to protest a rape trial in which the 17-year-old victim's thong was used to help clear her alleged attacker. A 27-year-old man was found not guilty of rape in Cork after his lawyer suggested to jurors that the teenager's lacy underwear meant she was 'open to meeting someone and being with someone.' Since then, dozens of women have shared pictures of their knickers online under the hashtag ThisIsNotConsent to protest the case. Women in Ireland have been baring their underwear in protest over a 17-year-old girl who saw her alleged rapist cleared after her thong was mentioned in evidence Hundreds of women marched in Dublin on Wednesday carrying banners with the hashtag 'ThisIsNotConsent' on them, after an online campaign started the movement The protest was prompted after the accused rapist's lawyer mentioned the fact that the victim was wearing a lace thong, and said it showed that she 'was open to being with someone' Hundreds of people also took to the streets across Ireland brandishing thongs, including in O'Connell Street in Dublin (pictured) Hundreds of people also took to the streets across Ireland brandishing thongs while minister Ruth Coppinger held up a pair of frilly underwear in parliament. She told fellow lawmakers: 'Why is nothing yet being done to stop the routine use of rape myths in trials, and how concerned is this Government about the chilling effect this is having on victims coming forward? 'It might seem embarrassing to show a pair of thongs here in this incongruous of the Dail. But the reason I'm doing it: how do you think a... woman feels at the incongruous setting of her underwear being shown in a court? 'How heroic do you have to be to pursue a rape trial in this country?' Tweeting about her decision afterward, she added: 'I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in The campaign started online after women began sharing pictures of their underwear in order to 'dispel the myth' that clothing gives an indication of consent The protest began in a private Facebook group called Women of Ireland but soon spread to Twitter, where the hashtag went viral Dozens of women joined in with sharing hashtag before the demonstration took to the streets 'In courts victims can have their underwear passed around as evidence and it's within the rules, hence need to display in Dail. '#ThisIsNotConsent.' The protests started in a private Facebook group called Mna na hEireann - meaning Women of Ireland - after the case concluded. Susan Dillon, a member of the group who also runs the Twitter account I Believe Her, then helped promote the campaign to the wider world. Speaking to the Irish Independent, she said: 'One of the women in the group was angry at the comments made, as we all were. 'Irrespective of the other evidence no item of the complainant's clothing implied consent. Minister Ruth Coppinger also held up a pair of pants in the Irish parliament, asking the Prime Minister: 'How heroic do you have to be to pursue a rape trial in this country?' Coppinger later shared an image of the thong on Twitter, and also joined marchers on the streets of Dublin on Wednesday 'If a jury is a representative sample of the population, then it's clear we have some work to do to dispel this archaic myth that clothing invites rape.' At a march in Dublin on Sunday night, demonstrators held signs that read 'Stop victim blaming in courts' while chanting 'Clothes are not consent'. People Before Profit TD Brid Smith told the crowd that they must organise and fight back against injustice. 'Consistently we see in court where women's bodies have been violated and women are made to feel like it's their fault,' she said. 'Prejudice is at the heart of the system itself, no matter where you come from and who you accuse - there is a lack of justice in this country for women. 'This is a nasty unjust system - why are the government not bringing legislation forward to stop this happening in court?' A 13-year-old boy has died after collapsing on a high school oval. Emergency services were called to Townsville State High School, north-east Queensland, at 2.40pm on Thursday. Teachers worked on the unresponsive boy until paramedics arrived and attempted to treat him. A 13-year-old boy has died after collapsing on a high school oval in Townsville, QLD (pictured) Emergency services were called to Townsville State High School, north-east Queensland, at about 2.40pm on Thursday Paramedics continued to tend to the boy while he was transported to Townsville Hospital. Despite their efforts, police confirmed the 13-year-old died shortly after arrival. The boy reportedly had a medical episode. Police confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious and a report was being prepared for the coroner. Paramedics continued to tend to the boy while he was transported to Townsville Hospital where he died on arrival A Queensland Ambulance Services spokesperson confirmed they received at call that the boy 'became unresponsive' at about 2.40pm and then transported the patient to hospital, the Courier Mail reported. Emergency services were seen in the middle of the oval as students left school for the end of the day. According to witnesses, people who appeared to be family members were seen looking distressed. A mother has slammed a cafe after her five-year-old daughter suffered a life-threatening allergic reaction. Amelia was rushed to Perth Children's Hospital after suffering an allergic reaction from a cookie containing nuts purchased at a Perth Coffee Club. Her mother Rosee claims she checked with staff before buying the snack, but they told her it was nut free. A mother has slammed a cafe after her five-year-old daughter (pictured) suffered a life-threatening allergic reaction Amelia (pictured) was rushed to Perth Children's Hospital 'I asked them if it had any nuts, they said it was just a normal choc chip cookie,' Rosee told 7 News. Rosee said she took the staff member's word for it and put it in Amelia's lunch box. Later, Amelia suffered a serious allergic reaction and was taken to Perth Children's Hospital, where she was administered a shot of adrenaline. Her mother Rosee (pictured) claims she checked with staff before buying the snack, but they told her it was nut free The traumatic ordeal has prompted Rosee to call for better awareness about allergies among cafe staff. Rosee claims the labelled wrapper clearly stated the coolie contained pecans. 'My daughter could've died from what happened. Her face was swollen, her lips,' Rosee said. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Coffee Club for comment. A riding school mistress and a millionaire farmer's son who resorted to fraud after losing a bitter court battle over a 1.2 million farm have been jailed. Riding school owner Virginia Shirt and her husband Alan Shirt were devastated when Mr Shirt's farmer father Stanley cut them out of his will in 2006, over his dislike of his son's wife. In 2012, the couple lost a 'bitter and expensive' Appeal Court fight against Mr Shirt's brothers and sister over the 1.2m family farm, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. So in 2015, when another family struggle loomed over ownership of a 130,000 flat in Chesterfield, they took matters into their own hands. Alan Shirt (pictured left) and Virginia Shirt (pictured right) outside the London Appeal Court The 130,000 flat in Chesterfield, over which Alan and Virginia Shirt were jailed, having conspired to forge a will leaving it to Mrs Shirt's niece The couple entered into a criminal 'conspiracy' to forge a will, leaving the property to a member of Mrs Shirt's family, rather then the owner's two daughters. But they were convicted of conspiracy to defraud at Derby Crown Court in March, after expert handwriting evidence suggested the signature on the shop-bought will form was not that of the dead man. The following month Virginia Shirt, 55, was jailed for 18 months and Alan Shirt, 71, for 16 months. Two others who witnessed the will received suspended sentences. The couple claimed their trial was unfair, but the Criminal Court of Appeal last week rejected their complaints and condemned them to serve out their sentences. In the 2012 court battle, Alan Shirt said he was 'promised' 1.2m Syda Farm, in Holymoorside, by his late father Stanley Shirt in 1986, and told 'the farm is yours if you want to work for it.' The 1.2m family holding that Alan Shirt, 71, was cut out of by his father Stanley Shirt. It is thought his father cut him out of his will, after the pair fell out over, amongst other things, Stanley's 'antipathy' towards Virginia, Alan's second wife He said he 'worked day and night' for 40 years to keeping the farm going, without receiving proper wages. But his father cut him out of his will, after the pair fell out over, amongst other things, Stanley's 'antipathy' towards Virginia, Alan's second wife. When Stanley died in August 2011, aged 84, he split all he owned, including the farm, between his daughter Lynda Mayhall and two younger sons Geoff, and Jonathan. Alan lost the case after Appeal Court judges ruled that any promises Stanley had made were 'not in sufficiently clear terms' to be binding on him. The more recent dispute centred on a flat in Chesterfield, which had belonged to Mrs Shirt's sister, Kate Ashmore. When she died in 2014, the property was inherited by William Bond, her partner. Alan Shirt's siblings, Lynda Mayhall (pictured middle), Geoff Shirt (pictured right) and Jonathan Shirt (pictured left) outside London's Appeal Court. The siblings won a legal battle over ownership of the 1.2m family farm against Alan Shirt and his wife And, when he passed away too the following year, the flat looked set to pass out of Mrs Shirt's family to Mr Bond's daughters, rather than her niece, Jo Davidson. In early 2015, Mrs Shirt, who ran Holymoor Riding School, sent an email to solicitors voicing her fears that 'everything that Jo's mum and my mum worked for will go the wrong way, yet again.' After Mr Bond's death, Mr and Mrs Shirt produced a will which left the flat to Ms Davidson. But Mr Bond's daughters from a previous relationship smelled a rat and contacted the police about the fishy will which disinherited them. Family row over 130k flat that became fraud Alan Shirt, 71, and Virginia Shirt, 55, were convicted of conspiracy to defraud at Derby Crown Court in March. The dispute was over a flat in Chesterfield owned by Virginia Shirt's sister, Kate Ashmore, who had a daughter Jo Davidson. After Kate died in 2014 the property was inherited by her partner William Bond, who had two daughters from a previous relationship. When he died in 2015, the flat would have gone to his daughters rather than Virginia Shirt's niece, and Kate Ashmore's daughter, Jo Davidson. In early 2015, Mrs Shirt, sent an email to solicitors voicing her fears that 'everything that Jo's mum and my mum worked for will go the wrong way, yet again.' After Mr Bond's death, Mr and Mrs Shirt produced a will which left the flat to Ms Davidson- who had no knowledge of the couple's scheme Advertisement A handwriting expert said there was 'very strong' evidence that 'both the writing on the will and the signature which it bore were written by some person or persons other than the deceased,' although she was unable to say for sure who that might be. Mr and Mrs Shirt denied involvement in any conspiracy, insisting the will was genuine, but a jury found them guilty. Ms Davidson had no knowledge of the criminal plot to bequeath her the flat. In the Criminal Appeal Court, the Shirts argued that the jury ought not to have been told that the pair who witnessed the will had already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to defraud. It had prejudiced the jury against them and made them more likely to be convicted, they argued. But the trial judge had taken the right course, Sir Brian Leveson ruled. 'The judge recognised that the introduction of this evidence would detrimentally impact upon (Mr and Mrs Shirt's) assertion that the will was genuine,' he said. But there had been, 'other significant lines of potential defence' open to the couple, he added. The jury 'still had to be sure that Mr and Mrs Shirt were knowing parties to the conspiracy and that they were acting dishonestly in doing so.' 'We, like the judge, are not persuaded that the introduction of this evidence unfairly impacted on the interest of Mr and Mrs Shirt at trial,' he concluded. The appeal was dismissed. A Florida drug suspect has been ridiculed online for having an enormous neck after his mugshot was shared on Facebook. Charles Dion McDowell, 31, was arrested in northern Florida for allegedly fleeing from police and being in possession of drugs. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office posted the mugshot of Charles Dion McDowell on the department's Facebook page Tuesday afternoon. This mugshot of Charles Dion McDowell, 31, has attracted thousands of comments from social media users People poked fun at the drug suspect's unusually large neck (pictured in an old mugshot) 'Dude is up to his neck in charges,' wrote Dustin Gilland. 'That neck tattoo cost $6000. They charge per square foot,' joked Brian White. Nick Terri Jackson said: 'They caught him just in the neck of time.' McDowell was booked into the Escambia County jail and is now being held on a $57,000 bond. An arrest warrant was issued by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, which led to his arrest on November 11. According to the post, McDowell was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with an intent to sell, manufacture or deliver the drug, as well as possession of marijuana and possession of drug equipment. The serial criminal's older mugshots have now surfaced (pictured left and right), following the popularity of his most recent one He was taken into custody after attempting to flee police. The Facebook post attracted 195,000 comments from users who poked fun at his unusual physical trait. Moshae Elise commented: 'Somebody said he was neckligent.' McDowell was booked into the Escambia County jail and is now being held on a $57,000 bond The Facebook post attracted 195,000 comments from users who poked fun at his neck 'He's not from my neck of the woods,' wrote Heather-Jeremy Peoples Dallas Payne replied: 'What Snapchat filter is that?' Jamie Lee Bloodworth said: 'Looks like he was transforming into the Hulk but only his neck got angry.' 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. As she stood up to get off the bus a stop early on her way home from school, 11-year-old Ursula Keogh handed a friend a handwritten note in an envelope which read 'Do not open until after 6pm'. By the time the her friend had dutifully followed those instructions, Ursula was dead, having jumped 30 feet from a bridge into a rocky river below. In the note, the Yorkshire schoolgirl wrote that she had 'given up' and stopped fighting'. The heartbreaking revelation - along with news that young Ursula had been planning to take her own life for several months - was revealed at her inquest in Bradford yesterday. Senior coroner Martin Fleming ruled she had taken her own life in a pre-planned bid to jump from the bridge, adding Ursula's resolution in her actions was 'very difficult to reconcile in the case of such a little girl.' The inquest heard that Ursula Keogh, who lived in Halifax, died of a head injury at around 6.55pm on January 22, sustained from falling from a height. Ursula Keogh, 11, was reported missing by her mother on January 22 after she sent a troubling text which read 'I love you but so sorry' Ursula's body was found in the River Calder at Paris Gates in Halifax hours later The court heard she was a 'troubled young girl' who was 'struggling with the stresses and strains' of a breakdown of marriage between her parents. The Lightcliffe Academy pupil was reported missing in January this year, after her mother received a text which read: 'I love you, so so sorry'. On the day of her death Ursula went to school as normal, but her mother Nicola Harlow revealed in hindsight that she had been unusually affectionate, turning to say 'I love you' and giving her a kiss as she left for the day. Writer Nicola Harlow told her daughter's inquest that it was 'strange' behaviour from Ursula. At 3.30pm she texted her mum again, with the message : 'I love you, so so sorry'. When her mum rang her phone 14 minutes later it was picked up by a stranger who had just found it lying on the ground at the top of the bridge, close to a floral memorial to a previous victim. Several hours later her body was recovered from the River Calder at Paris Gates in Halifax. Teachers reported her behaviour as normal on the day she went missing - but after handing her friend the pre-written suicide note she got off the bus one stop early to walk to the bridge alone. No members of the public are known to have witnessed the Ursula fall but CCTV footage of it was found. A police investigation found no evidence of bullying or any foul play and senior coroner Martin Fleming ruled she had taken her own life in a pre-planned bid to jump from the bridge, which he said was 'very difficult to reconcile in the case of such a little girl'. Following her death, detectives from Calderdale CID found Ursula had been writing and looking at suicide information on Instagram and had been messaging someone in Indonesia about her intentions, some three months earlier. The National Crime Agency tracked the individual down who was cleared of having anything to do with inciting her tragic actions. Other documents and drawings indicating suicidal ideas were found in her room after her death. No-one saw her fall but members of the public were alerted by her phone and handbag, near the bridge's edge, a police statement said. Her body was found a mile downstream about three hours later. Police said Ursula was last sighted on North Bridge, near to where her mother hosts a radio show on local station Pheonix FM. Ms Harlow is also a full-time author and lectures in creative writing for the Open University. Ms Harlow and her partner, David Keogh, had lived with Ursula in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire before moving to nearby Halifax. Novelist Nicola Harlow (L) told Bradford Coroner's Court that it had been 'strange' to see her daughter Ursula (r) to turn back and say 'I love you' as she walked to school on the morning of her death In a statement to the inquest her mother said that Ursula was very bright and could beat adults at cards. She had played the violin since a young age and was excellent at maths. Coroner Mr Fleming heard lengthy evidence revealing that Ursula was above average intelligence and had managed to conceal her mental illness from school and health professionals. Mum Nicola said her youngest daughter had struggled with her divorce from her father David Keogh. She said Ursula had become more reluctant to spend time with her dad and revealed the gifted youngster had suddenly said she didn't want to play violin any more, something she had done since the age of three. The inquest heard the youngster has problems beginning last year, when it was discovered she had been looking at suicide sites on Instagram. She was later found to be self harming, ExmainerLive reported. Ms Harlow said Ursula had told her that she 'felt her friends were in a bubble of childhood and she was not', and that one day when Ursula was crossing North Bridge with her, the girl had she seemed fascinated by flowers left there. She added: 'Ursula seemed older than her years, very deep and sensitive.' West Yorkshire Police issued this handout photograph of Ursula (L) during their brief search for the girl, which ended in heartbreak for her mother Nicola (R) when her body was found Ms Harlow said in her statement: 'Her hormones were all over the place. She was spending more and more time in her bedroom. She didn't want to see her dad anymore. 'I'm not sure what had changed. I was advised that Ursula had been accessing suicide pages on Instagram. Her phone was then confiscated, which generated tension between us. 'In November we noticed marks on her arms.' Ursula's father said he had been unaware of his daughter's self-harming, but was worried about her social media use after she told him about a child's suicide note she had seen online. He said his daughter had known that the day of her birth was the happiest day of his life - he had told her 'so many times'. Coroner Mr Fleming criticised the family GP after hearing that Mr Harlow has been 'sent from pillar to post' between the GP and the school regarding her daughter's self-harming, and never had a face to face appointment. He told the doctor Ms Harlow was feeling 'fobbed off', adding: 'You're saying go to the school and the school is saying go to the GP. In that scenario people can fall through the net.' He said lessons must be learned, and that he would be writing to mental health chiefs to see if any lessons can be learned. The coroner heard that the surgery had since changed its protocol and will now offer face to face appointments as soon as reports of a child self harming are received. A counsellor from relationship counselling service Relate, who had seen Ursula, insisted she saw 'no red flags' and 'no presentation of suicidal intent'. Mr Fleming also urged Calderdale Council to act faster to make the historic 1871 built bridge safer. Richard Mills from the council said they had considered temporary fencing but ruled it out due to planning issues. He said a permanent higher fence would hopefully be in place by May and a new CCTV camera was due next week to allow closer monitoring of the bridge. Mr Fleming asked him to reconsider a temporary deterrent. He concluded the inquest by saying: 'It's clear that Ursula was a troubled young girl and was struggling with the stresses and strains of a break down in marriage. 'But she was giving her mother and father no cause to think she was harbouring such dark thoughts. 'Ursula went to that bridge with resolute and planned determination to jump, which is very difficult to reconcile in the case of such a young girl.' For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details. President Donald Trump complained on Thursday about news reports that his White House is in disarray, following a week that has saw him fire a national security aide at his wife's request, shove Attorney General Jeff Sessions out the door, and show signs of readying pink slips for his chief of staff and Homeland Security secretary. 'The White House is running very smoothly and the results for our Nation are obviously very good. We are the envy of the world,' the president tweeted. 'But anytime I even think about making changes, the FAKE NEWS MEDIA goes crazy, always seeking to make us look as bad as possible! Very dishonest!' A 36-year-old top aide to Vice President Mike Pence emerged on Wednesday as the leading candidate to replace White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. President Donald Trump tweeted his anger Wednesday at reporters who have written about chaos in the White House amid a flurry of high-level staff changes The president vented on Twitter that the press he loves to hate is angling 'to make us look as bad as possible' Kelly is thought to be on the chopping block because he feuded with first lady Melania Trump over staff promotions. Facing Trump's ire at the same time is Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, whom the president believes is too slow to implement his tough-on-illegal-immigrants border control policies. Kelly was Nielsen's mentor made her his chief of staff when he ran DHS, before moving to the West Wing where he brought her along before securing her appointment to his old job. His likely replacement is, Nick Ayers a young and politically astute operator with a reputation for successfully guiding Pence as both a loyal soldier and a hopeful successor with a mind of his own. White House Chief of Starr John Kelly (right) and his longtime protege, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen (left), are reportedly set to feel Trump's firing axe Trump said in an interview Wednesday with The Daily Caller that 'I will be making a decision on homeland shortly. I have not made decisions yet. I will be making changes on various things.' Separately, Melania Trump won a White House battle to decide the fate of Deputy National Security Advisor Mira Ricardel after an all-out pitched battle that pitted the West and East Wings against each other. Ricardel was fired Wednesday evening following a rare public rebuke from the first lady's office. Some of her enemies in the White House had accused her of leaking, and she reportedly tried to undermine Melania's recent trip to Africa. Nick Ayers (l), chief of staff to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, is topping the list of eventual replacements for John Kelly Melania Trump won a White House battle over the future of the president's deputy national security advisor; Mira Ricardel, a Trump aide who clashed with the first lady's office, was fired at the end of the day on Wednesday White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced in an end-of-day statement that Ricardel 'will continue to support the President as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the Administration.' The statement made no mention of Melania but said, 'The President is grateful for Ms. Ricardels continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities.' Communications Director Bill Shine declined to elaborate on Ricardel's reassignment, telling reporters, 'The statement speaks for itself.' A man has been arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a child before using a scalpel to stab a Good Samaritan who tried to stop the attack. A 54-year-old man allegedly sexually assaulted the girl, seven, in the toilet of a dance studio on Railway Parade at Kogarah, in Sydney's south, at 7.55pm on Thursday. After hearing a commotion a 46-year-old man rushed into the toilet and confronted the alleged attacker, only to be stabbed in the stomach and neck during a struggle. The bloodied man stumbled out onto the street where bystanders rushed to his aid before helping to detain the alleged offender until police arrived. A man has been arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a child at a dance studio, before stabbing a Good Samaritan who tried to stop the attack NSW Police Superintendent Julian Griffiths said the Good Samaritan was helping the girl's family to look for her. 'He was aware that the child could not be accounted for and was assisting others in locating her,' he said. Supt Griffiths said the alleged attacker was not associated with the dance studio and that he, the Good Samaritan and the young girl were not known to each other. 'It appears to be a random, isolated incident,' he said. '[He] will not be in a position to assist police inquiries until early next week or when we receive medical advice to confirm he's available to be spoken to.' The Good Samaritan was taken to St George Hospital in a stable condition, while the young girl went to Sydney Children's Hospital for observation. The alleged attacker was also taken to hospital suffering facial swelling and bruising., He remains under police guard and is expected to be interviewed later on Friday. Bystander Mo Hariri was celebrating his 24th birthday with his friends nearby when the group overhead the commotion across the road, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'We thought someone was having a heart attack or something but then this bloke runs out screaming: call the police,' Mr Hariri told the publication. Moments later, the group of revellers saw the victim walk down the stairs with multiple stab wounds. Two men have been rushed to hospital, one with serious stab wounds, after a fight broke out in a dance studio bathroom allegedly over a young girl (pictured) Mr Hariri's friend applied pressure on the wounds of the victim until emergency services arrived on scene. Hariri Chickens employee Prakash Sapokota, 19, said a man screamed, 'Where's my daughter?' A dance teacher said teenage girls turned up to the studio on Thursday nights for contemporary dance classes. St George Police Area Command officers have established a crime scene and enquiries are continuing. Texas flight attendant Kathy Ida Wolfe (pictured) has filed a lawsuit claiming that a fellow stewardess, Laura Powers, attacked her in front of passengers during a June 2016 American Airlines flight and dragged her down the aisle by her scarf A Texas flight attendant is suing American Airlines after one of her colleagues allegedly attacked her during a flight and dragged her down the aisle by her scarf. In the lawsuit obtained by the Dallas Morning News, Kathy Ida Wolfe, 69, claims that Laura Powers 'maliciously dug her fingernails into my arm and slammed the door of a beverage cart on my arm' on a flight in June 2016. She alleges that Powers, 56, then 'grabbed my scarf, choking me, and dragged me in the aisle and in front of the passengers'. Wolfe's lawsuit against American and Powers is seeking damages of up to $1million for negligence, dangerous work environment, breach of contract, and assault and battery. Wolfe, of Irving, said she immediately reported the attack to the captain, other flight attendants and the flight service manager, following company procedure to the letter. When the airline 'failed to investigate and/or take action to ensure [Wolfe's] safety', she reported the assault and battery to law enforcement, the suit says. It does not appear that any criminal charges were filed against Powers, who is from Flower Mound. Wolfe (pictured) filed the suit against American and Powers in federal court on Friday The suit was originally filed in Tarrant County in June before being refiled in federal court on Friday. American and Powers each countersuits claiming that they are 'not liable because Plaintiff caused or contributed to' the incident that Wolfe is suing over, according to court records. American spokesman Matt Miller told the Dallas Morning News that he couldn't comment on the specifics of the lawsuit but said: 'American strives to create a work environment in which all team members feel safe and respected.' Wolfe and Powers declined requests for comment. Experts have warned a 'witch's brew' of poisons was likely to have been released into the air when a California wildfire encroached on the site of a nuclear meltdown, as Kim Kardashian and her sisters joined calls for action to be taken. California regulators said initial testing has found no elevated levels of radiation or hazardous compounds at the site known as the Santa Susana Field Laboratory near Simi Valley. The state Department of Toxic Substance Control says its staff went to the site and found that facilities that previously handled radioactive and hazardous materials were not affected by the Woolsey fire. It says measurements on the site and in the surrounding community found no radiation levels above background levels and no elevated levels of hazardous compounds other than those normally present after a wildfire. Today Kim Kardashian, plus two of her sisters, Khloe and Kourtney, joined a campaign demanding the governor-elect, Gavin Newsom, take action. Scroll down for video Experts say a 'witch's brew' of poisons was likely released into the air when a California wildfire encroached on the site of a nuclear meltdown. Pictured, a file photo of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Simi Valley Kim Kardashian and two of her sisters shared a Change.org petition which called for an investigation into the potential radioactive chemicals released by the wildfires Kim shared the Change.org petition to her fans on Facebook calling for action to be taken about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Simi Valley All three women shared a Change.org petition which called for an investigation into the potential radioactive chemicals released by the wildfires which swept across the state. The want a field laboratory near where the fire started in Woolsey, which is 20 miles from their homes, to be cleaned as 'smoke could be carrying radioactive chemicals'. The Facebook message shared by the family read: 'Our family lives ONLY 20 miles from a nuclear disaster site, the Santa Susana Field Lab, and we didnt even know it the #WoolseyFire not only started there, but smoke could be carrying radioactive chemicals. We need incoming governor Gavin Newsom to do something sign the petition with me.' The petition is accompanied by a picture of a four-year-old girl who grew up near the lab and now has cancer after allegedly being exposed to contamination from the site. The Department of Toxic Substance Control said its staff 'do not believe the fire has caused any releases of hazardous materials that would pose a risk to people exposed to the smoke.' The post, which featured a four-year-old girl who was said to suffer from cancer after exposure from the site, was shared by all three Kardashian sisters Kourtney (left) and Khloe Kardashian (right) joined sister Kim in calling for governor-elect, Gavin Newsom, take action in a Facebook post But the organization Physicians for Social Responsibility said it was likely that smoke and ash from the fire spread radiological and chemical contamination that was in soil and vegetation. In a statement, the organization said the state agency's statement 'failed to assuage community concerns given DTSC's longtime pattern of misinformation about SSFL's contamination and its repeated broken promises to clean it up.' Dr. Robert Dodge, the president of PSR's Los Angeles chapter,said: 'We know what substances are on the site and how hazardous they are. 'We're talking about incredibly dangerous radionuclides and toxic chemicals such a trichloroethylene, perchlorate, dioxins and heavy metals. A firefighter battles a fire by the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley, California on Monday A flurry of blazes in southern California, most notably the Woolsey Fire, has killed at least two people 'These toxic materials are in SSFL's soil and vegetation, and when it burns and becomes airborne in smoke and ash, there is real possibility of heightened exposure for area residents.' Dan Hirsh, who leads nuclear policy non-profit Committee to Bridge the Gap, told Motherboard that a 'witch's brew' is in the ground at the former nuclear test site. He is concerned that the pollution which includes mercury, chromium-6, lead and radioactive waste may have been released due to the fire. Hirsh said the zones managed by NASA and Boeing are riddled with 'exotic rocket fuels' and the part of the site managed by the Department of Energy contains much of the radioactive contamination. In a statement on Tuesday, the department said its areas weren't affected by the fire. The Santa Susana Field Laboratory was used for decades for testing rocket engines and nuclear energy research. Firefighters put out hotspots as they battle the Peak Fire in Simi Valley, California, on Monday One of its nuclear reactors had a partial meltdown in 1959. Battles over decontamination efforts have gone on for years, with neighbors blaming illnesses on the site. 'We can't trust anything that DTSC says,' said Melissa Bumstead, a West Hills resident whose young daughter has twice survived leukemia that she blames on the site. 'When I look at that fire, all I see is other parents' future heartache,' she added. 'And what I feel is anger that if the DTSC had kept its word, we wouldn't have these concerns, because the site would be cleaned up by now.' Dr Ivy Eldridge (pictured) stayed at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California, in April A woman is suing Disney claiming she was bitten by bed bugs while staying at a Disneyland Hotel. Dr Ivy Eldridge, 41, says she suffered physical and emotional damage after waking up with bedbug bites during her stay at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California in April. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuses the hotel of knowing it had a bedbug issue and failing to act. The suit says Eldridge, a Vice Principal at a Riverside, California, school, 'endured many sleepless nights and much emotional and mental distress, coupled with other physical conditions associated with severe mental and emotional distress.' She says she received medical treatment after developing a rash over her entire body when the bugs 'sucked her blood until they were gorged'. Disneyland spokesperson Liz Jaeger said 'these occurrences are extremely rare.' 'We take extensive preventative measures so that our guests are comfortable and safe during their hotel stays and when needed take aggressive steps to rectify,' Jaeger told the Los Angeles Times. Eldridge, 41, is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (pictured is the Anaheim resort) for punitive damage after being bitten by bedbugs She claims to have been bitten numerous times by bedbugs all over her body while staying at the hotel (file image) However, the lawsuit says Disneyland Hotel's response to the bedbugs 'was so extreme and outrageous as to go beyond all bounds of decency.' Eldridge's attorney Brian Virag from the firm MyBedBugLawyer, Inc, said the hotel 'did not provide a bedbug-free hotel room.' Photos show welts and bite marks on Eldridge's shoulders, neck back and ears. The suit names Walt Disney Co, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Disneyland Hotel and is seeking punitive damages for Eldridge's physical and mental suffering. This is not the first time a Disney resort had dealt with bedbugs. In 2016, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel&Spa was sued over bedbug problems. Virag said the issue should have been resolved by the time Eldridge checked in with her family at the Disneyland Hotel. Virag has proven himself a successful attorney at winning large sums of money in bedbug cases. The Los Angeles Times reports that he won a $546,000 verdict for a family that was bitten by bedbugs at a Hilton hotel in Rancho Cucamonga. He also won a whopping $3.5million verdict last year for the same issue at Park La Brea Apartments in Los Angeles. A pharmacist strangled his wife so he could cash in her 2million life insurance and begin a new life with his gay lover in Australia, a court heard. Mitesh Patel, 37, planned to have a baby with his wife Jessica, 34, through IVF and then take the baby to Sydney where his doctor lover Amit Patel lived, it is alleged. Long-suffering Jessica had lived through years of her husband's infidelity with men he was meeting for casual sex via the Grindr app, encounters he described as 'banter', a jury were told. But her husband was hatching a murderous plan to throttle her using a Tesco Bag for Life as a ligature in the large detached home in the suburb of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, close to the pharmacy they ran together. Mitesh Patel denies killing his wife Jessica (pictured together in Venice in April 2016) On his hard drive police found searches internet including: I need to kill my wife Insulin overdose Plot to kill my wife, do I need a co-conspirator? Hiring hitman UK How much methadone will kill you? When he was arrested following Jessica's death he was found to have prepared syringes filled with insulin in his bag. One of Jessica Patel's final acts was to scratch her husband before he took her life, trapping vital evidence under her finger nails. Jessica fought for her life and with her right hand she scratch Patel before he strangled her using a Tesco Bag for Life as a ligature. He then ordered a pizza at the nearby Romano's takeaway and ordered a pizza 'to make it look like a normal evening'. He then ransacked his own home in a carefully staged plan to make the crime look like a robbery. Mrs Patel was found dead at the couple's large Victorian home in a wealthy suburb of Middlesbrough on May 14 this year (pictured) However police found Hindu religious artefacts lined up in a prayer room at the Victorian house - items later found on a list that Patel had made of belongings he intended to take with him to his new life in Australia. Nicholas Campbell, QC, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court: 'The prosecution does not need to give a motive but in this case there is ample evidence of it. From various life insurance policies Mitesh Patel stood to profit from his wife's death to the tune of 2m. 'He was planning to use that money to start a new life in Australia shared with the person who he really loved, the one he regarded as his soul mate, another man named Dr Amit Patel.' Patel's murder trial began on Teesside today In the weeks before her murder Patel spoke to the couple's life insurance company and paved the way for what he was planning to do, telling the call handler: 'She lives in this bubble where she thinks nothing is ever going to happen - one day she will end up getting murdered.' Mr Campbell said that the couple had been having difficulty conceiving and were having IVF treatment in the hope of Jessica getting pregnant - despite her husband continuing to have blatant flings with other men. Even as they prepared for their second round of IVF treatment Patel was having sex with men he met on Grindr while his wife was at work nearby. On one occasion a member of staff saw him kissing another man in the Roman Road Pharmacy in Middlesbrough which the couple had run for three years. But while contacting and meeting men on Grindr, Patesh continued to make plans to move to Australia, once his wife had given birth to their child. Mr Campbell told the court that Amit Patel - who came from the same West Yorkshire Hindu community that both Jessica and Mitesh had been brought up in - moved to Australia two years before Jessica's death. He did do to give Mitesh and Jessica's marriage some chance of bearing children, the jury was told. Police investigating the alleged murder focused on the pharmacy they ran together Mr Campbell said: 'Although he had moved to Sydney, the relationship between Mitesh Patel and Amit Patel remained strong. The end game was was still the same, the two of them would in due course be living the life they dreamed of down under. 'They hoped that in Australia the two of them would be raising the child that everyone hoped would come from the relationship between Mitesh and Jessica. 'How was that to be achieved? At least as far as this defendant is concerned it was by killing Jessica Patel - ideally after she had given birth to a child.' Patel asked Amit him via messanger: 'You know this plan do you think it will succeed?' Amit Patel answered: 'Only you know the answer.' Patel went on: 'Do you think it is a good plan?' to which no answer was recorded. With days, the trial was told, Jessica Patel had been strangled to death by her husband in a killing he put down to a burglary. She was found with injuries to her neck and the back which had also been used to strangle her was nearby. Mitesh Patel denies murder and the case, expected to last up to four weeks, continues. Yoel Benitez (pictured in his mugshot) was arrested during a traffic stop in Mississippi for molestation charges in Florida A man wanted for molesting two minors in Florida, including a child under the age of 12, has been caught during a traffic stop in Mississippi. Yoel Benitez, 41, was stopped by a Perry County Deputy on Highway 98 in Beaumont, Mississippi, on Tuesday evening. It is not clear what led to the traffic stop but officers quickly discovered that Benitez was wanted in another state. He has an outstanding warrant with the Indian River County Sheriffs Office in Vero Beach, Florida, according to the Perry County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi. Benitez faces charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years old and a victim between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. Following the arrest Benitez was placed in the Perry County Jail to await extradition. Investigations are underway after a young Muslim student found notes, threatening her life and accusing her of being a terrorist, in her classroom at an elementary school in Massachusetts. The 10-year-old girl, who attends Hemenway Elementary School in Framingham, near to Boston, found the handwritten notes over two days, according to Fox News. She found the first note last Friday that reportedly contained the words, 'You're a terrorist.' The 10-year-old Muslim girl, who attends Hemenway Elementary School in Framingham, near Boston, found the hate filled handwritten notes over two days The second note discovered on Monday said 'I will kill you.' Both were found in the fifth-grade student's storage cubby within her classroom. School Principal Elizabeth Simon told The Boston Globe, although there had been some bullying as in other schools, the incident was a first for Hemenway Elementary. Jamaal Siddiqui, the girl's uncle, said his niece was 'always outside playing in the cold and stuff. And she's refraining from doing that because she's scared' 'Some of the students didn't know what a terrorist was, so we had to explain that,' Simon said. 'I did explain to them, this is unacceptable. It would be upsetting for any of us to receive that note, but ... sending that note to a Muslim student becomes a hate crime,' Simon said. Jamaal Siddiqui, the girl's uncle, has spoken to various media outlets about the effect the letters have had on his niece. Siddiqui said the family was told the detective investigating the possible hate crime is going through each student's backpack 'She's in her quiet state right now, which is more alarming for us. Because she's not like that. She's upbeat. She's always outside playing in the cold and stuff. And she's refraining from doing that because she's scared,' Siddiqui told Boston's WBTV. Siddiqui also said the family was told the detective investigating the possible hate crime is going through each student's backpack. Students at the school have sent letters of support to the 10-year-old girl in question Framingham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Tremblay sent a letter to the school community. 'As I have stated in the past, any form of hate or bias is unacceptable and unwelcome in our community,' he wrote. 'The Framingham Police Department has already begun an official investigation to identify the individual responsible for the letter.' The school district also said it would be working with the Interfaith Advisory Council on 'next steps.' Students at the school have sent letters of support to the 10-year-old girl in question, who the principal has described as, 'a wonderful student and well liked by everyone.' Forty of the 300 refugees who left Nauru to resettle in the U.S. are pleading to come back to the island after claiming life in America is more difficult than they expected. Nauru's President Baron Waqa told The Australian that life on Nauru is much cheaper, allowing refugees holidays to Fiji, healthcare, free housing and jobs. He said it is not surprising some refugees have asked to come back. 'The US is a difficult place to live with a lot of competition when it comes to work,' he said. 'It is the land of the free but there are a lot of catches.' In a shocking turn of events 40 of the 300 refugees who left Nauru to resettle in the US are pleading to come back to the island (pictured random refugees on Nauru island) Nauru's President Baron Waqa said life on Nauru is much cheaper and gives refugees an easier life (pictured random refugees on Nauru island) Mr Waqa said he takes his role of caring for the refugees seriously claiming the government's mistreatment of the refugees is untrue, as they remain wary of the some refugees' political agendas on the island. 'We try and understand the situation because there are people that want to attack us because of our involvement in the process,' Mr Waqa told the publication. Revealing his disdain at how the media perceives the treatment of refugees, Mr Waqa said he wants the media to report on the freedom the refugees have. He revealed they move around the island freely, own businesses, and working for his government. Refugee Mohammad Noor is using his skills he gained while studying and working in Afghanistan to work as a nurse at the $27million hospital that was built by Australia. The 37-year-old hopes to one day be reunited with his wife and seven children and is given the option to bring them to Nauru. Mr Waqa revealed refugees move around the island freely, own businesses, and working for his government Slamming the Australian-based advocates, Mr Waqa said they have ignited false hope among refugees. Nauru's police commissioner Corey Caleb concurred Mr Waqa's statement, saying the refugees and asylum seekers were given 'wrong advice' on how to gain attention in hopes of being removed from the island. Mr Caleb said police officer presence increased from 110 to 130 due to the constant calls to authorities about problems between locals and refugees and asylum seekers. He said it does not help their case, because police are not finding any evidence based on the allegations and the alleged victims refuse to make a statement. President Trump alleges that the special counsel's office is full of 'thugs' who are intimidating potential witnesses and refusing to probe Democrats' bad acts. 'The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts,' he claimed in a rage on Thursday morning. 'They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want.' Where the president derived the information from is unclear, but the charge coincided with reports that he'd been meeting with his legal team this week in Washington to review written responses to questions posed by the special counsel that Trump intends to submit to Robert Mueller. He is also working with a new acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker, who he put in charge of the Russian meddling investigation when he dismissed ex-Justice Department head Jeff Sessions. President Trump alleges that the special counsel's office is intimidating potential witnesses and refusing to probe Democrats' bad acts Where the president derived the information from is unclear - no one has claimed publicly that they're being harassed in this manner An attorney for Trump did not respond to a request for clarifcation on the president's charges Trump subsequently suggested in tweets that Mueller, a Republican who was appointed FBI director by George W. Bush and kept in the role by Barack Obama, has it out for him because he served at the Justice Department when a Democrat was in power. He mistakenly claimed that Mueller worked Obama for the entire eight years of the Democrat's administration, when really it was fewer than five and it was in the law enforcement position that he'd been promoted to in the Bush administration. FBI directors are nominated for ten-year-terms that intentionally stretch across multiple administrations to distance the bureau from from political interference. The president unleashed on Mueller's team, too, contending once again that it's entirely made up of 'angry' Democrats who are raking associates of the president over the coals because they're upset that Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election. 'They are a disgrace to our Nation and dont care how many lives the ruin,' he said of the prosecutors who donated to his opponent or are registered Democrats. 'These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years.' Repeating a common refrain that the Russia probe is a 'witch hunt' that won't turn up any evidence that his side engaged in collusion with a foreign power to tilt the election his way, Trump also claimed: 'They wont even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY!' A lawyer for the president did not respond to a request for comment on the confusing charge that the special counsel's team is badgering witnesses. A spokesman for the special counsel's office could not be reached immediately, either. No one who has been prosecuted by or approached by Mueller's team has levied claims of coerced testimony or the kind of harassment that Trump described. An attorney for right-wing pundit and known conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi did tell NBC News earlier in the week that Mueller's team was pressing his client for information that he doesn't have. 'They're only wanting to hear one thing and he can't give them that one thing,' David Gray told NBC News. The conversation took place just after Corsi said he expected to be indicted for lying to prosecutors about his knowledge of hacked emails from the account of Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman. Corsi said in a Thursday morning tweet that he had entered into 'No Comment' mode on the advice of counsel. Trump mistakenly claimed that Mueller worked Obama for the entire eight years of the Democrat's administration, when really it was fewer than five and it was in the law enforcement position that he'd been promoted to in the Bush administration It was Mueller's team that was said this week, though, to be looking into claims that former Trump campaign aide and longtime associate of the president Roger Stone attempted to intimidate radio host Randy Credico. Stone reportedly told the former friend he says was a back channel to Wikileaks and Julian Assange that he was going to 'sue the f***' out of him in a text message. He also called Credico a 'loser, a liar, and a rat,' according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Credico told a grand jury that he was not a back channel for Stone to Assange, contradicting the Republican strategist. The incidents that drove Trump to Twitter to hammer Mueller, who he had mostly left alone in the lead-up to the mid-terms as the special counsel also lay low, were murky but could be tied to reports about coming indictments. 'Universities will someday study what highly conflicted (and NOT Senate approved) Bob Mueller and his gang of Democrat thugs have done to destroy people,' he said. Why is he protecting Crooked Hillary, Comey, McCabe, Lisa Page & her lover, Peter S, and all of his friends on the other side?' Trump tweeted, mentioning a string of fired FBI officials. Trump also claimed, 'The only Collusion is that of the Democrats with Russia and many others. Why didnt the FBI take the Server from the DNC? They still dont have it. Check out how biased Facebook, Google and Twitter are in favor of the Democrats. Thats the real Collusion!' He may have been raging because of the questions from Mueller he reportedly answered this week with written responses to avoid a legal show-down with the special counsel over a subpoena for an in-person interview. Trump complained last week that Mueller had wasted millions on the probe. 'I think its very bad for our country, I will tell you. I think its a shame,' he said. 'It should end because its very bad for our country.' The president also asserted: 'I could have ended it anytime I wanted. I didnt. And there was so collusion. There was no anything. I didnt.' The White House insisted after the exchange with a reporter that Trump wouldn't interfere with Mueller's investigation after he suddenly dismissed his attorney general a few hours later. Sessions had recused himself from the investigation, passing it off to the deputy attorney general, after admitting personal conflicts of interest. Trump got rid of him admittedly for that reason. The president's temporary appointee, Whitaker, is refusing to take the same path, in spite of allegations he is too invested in the probe. He suggested on CNN before he worked at Justice that Trump could cripple the special counsel by cutting his budget instead of firing him. The president and the White House have claimed that is not why he was hired and he and Trump never had that discussion. A shopkeeper and two other accomplices hatched a plot at a Costa Coffee to blow up a Polish supermarket as part of an insurance scam which killed five people, a court heard. Akran Ali was said the 'prime candidate' having doused the basement of Zabka in Leicester with petrol and setting it alight, in the hope his 'evil plans would go unnoticed'. The court heard how one of the victims of the blast was Alis girlfriend, Viktorija Ijevleva, who is believed to have also conspired in the plot. Aram Kurd, 34 (right) Arkan Ali, 37 (centre) and Hawkar Hassan, 33 (left) are accused of blowing up the Polish grocery store in Hinckley Road, Leicester on February 25 A picture shows the enormity of the blast at the Polish grocery shop in Leicester that the three men are accused of blowing up on purpose She died in the flames alongside, Mary Ragoobeer, 46, her teenage sons Shane and Sean, and 18-year-old Leah Beth Reek, who was Shane's girlfriend. Prosecutors alleged that the trio may have intended for Ms Ijevleva to die as they did not warn her about the explosion in the minutes before it despite being in phone contact with her. Co-defendant Hawkar Hassan remained nearby in a white Audi and was a getaway driver following the blast in February, Leicester Crown Court heard. Shopkeeper Aram Kurd was said to have been communicating with Ali on Miss Ijevleva's phone to tell him 'all was ready' so he could 'light the petrol himself'. Viktorija Ijevleva (pictured) Mary Ragoobeer, 46, her teenage sons Shane and Sean, and 18-year-old Leah Beth Reek, who was Shane's girlfriend, were all killed in the blast The three suspects reportedly hatched their plot in an 80-minute meeting in a Costa Coffee while Ali's partner Ms Ijevleva was in the Polish store. David Herbert WC, prosecuting, said the defendants claim to have driven away from the scene in 'blissful ignorance', something which he said 'defies credibility'. Ali, 37, Hassan, 33, and Kurd, 34, have pleaded not guilty to five counts of murder and five alternative counts of manslaughter. The trio deny conspiring with 22-year-old Ms Ijevleva, the partner of Ali, to make a gain by dishonestly pursuing a claim on an 'over-inflated' insurance policy worth around 300,000 in respect of a fire at the shop. The court was shown horrific bodycam footage of a casualty, Thomas Lindop, lying under the rubble with a severe head injury. He was walking by the shop at the time of the explosion and suffered a traumatic brain injury and fractures to his skull, head, pelvis and spine, leaving him in hospital for around three months. Footage was shown of victims crying for help, as family members of the deceased wept in court. Mr Herbert spoke of witnesses who saw the car driving away from the scene. He said: 'A witness noticed at least the driver was looking at the scene of the explosion. Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the explosion on February 25, with a police cordon stretched across the road in front of the destroyed three-storey building Victim Leah Beth Reek is pictured with her boyfriend Shane Ragoobeer before they both died in the explosion 'They will attempt to claim they drove off back to Coventry in blissful ignorance of it all. You may think that defies credibility.' Speaking about where the defendants allegedly came up with the plan for the explosion, Mr Herbert said: 'They went to the High Cross shopping centre and went to Costa Coffee. 'The prosecution say it is entirely safe to infer that the men made their plans for the explosion in Costa Coffee.' Mary Ragoobeer, 46, her teenage sons Shane and Sean (pictured together) and 18-year-old Leah Beth Reek, 18, who was Shane's girlfriend, were killed in the blast in February Mother Mary Ragoobeer was killed with her two sons while her husband Jose escaped Leah Beth Reek, 18, was in the flat with her boyfriend Shane when the explosion happened - killing them both almost instantly Discussing the moments in the lead up to the blast, Mr Herbert said: 'The white Audi remained nearby and the reality is that that behaviour showed that (Hassan) was up to no good and had been essentially acting as a getaway driver for Arkan Ali. 'Given they were there and made no attempt to go back to Coventry, it demonstrates they must have been up to no good. Police cars, fire engines and ambulance vehicles are pictured parked outside the shop 'They were, you may think, waiting for darkness and they hoped their evil plans would go unnoticed.' In the moments up until the blast, Ali and Kurd were in regular contact, the court heard. Mr Herbert continued: 'What we suggest was, plainly, Ali was informing Kurd that all was ready - either because he had lit the fire himself or, even if he wasn't the one who ignited it, he was saying all was ready so that Kurd could light the petrol himself. 'The fact that nobody at that stage tried to inform (Ms Ijevleva) about what was happening in the basement showed that they must have intended her to be caught in the explosion. 'They of course had ample opportunity to warn her.' Ali, Oldham, Hassan, of Coventry, and Kurd, of Leicester, deny all 11 charges against them. This is the hilarious moment a heavily pregnant woman's 'relaxing' bath is ruined when her cheeky French bulldog dives in to join her. Connie White, got the shock of her life when her dog Diesel leapt in without warning. The 20-year-old from Falkirk, Scotland, who is currently 39-weeks pregnant posted the video on Twitter yesterday, which has since been viewed over 1.4million times. Her post said: 'Cannot believe I was trying to have a nice relaxing bath and this happens'. The video shows Connie enjoying her bath, however, her video is captioned with 'Mate no chance' giving the impression something is about to happen. Suddenly Diesel, from out of nowhere jumps into the bath with Connie and immediately tries to keep himself afloat splashing around the tub. The cute dog peeked his head over the top of the bath tub (left) before jumping in with his owner Connie (right) Diesel (left) then tried to get out of the bath before scrambling around (right) as he tries to stay afloat In disbelief Connie shouts 'Oh my god!' as Diesel scrambled to get himself out of the tub. Connie said that she left the door open because Diesel would have cried and the video has left many people wondering if their dogs might do the same thing. Issycsouthern said: 'I'm dying imagining if bronson did this'. Amybarry- added: 'Hope Jodie's dog Sam does this next bath time'. The cute dog leapt into the bath to join his owner Connie White for a dip at their home in Falkirk, Scotland LarissaRalph wrote: 'My frenchie always pops his head up to check on me! I'm now going to be waiting for him to do this they are the best dogs'. Connie said: 'We were home alone so I had to leave the door open otherwise he would cry. 'I was in the bath and he normally pops his wee head up to check up on me and that's what I wanted to get a video of! Then obviously he came flying in the bath. 'My bath is literally triple is height and I don't have a clue how he done it. I'm currently off on maternity leave as I'm 39 weeks pregnant, maybe why he wanted to be so close to me'. French bulldogs are livelier than you would expect and are comfortable in both domestic settings and the outdoors. Despite their sometimes chubby appearance the dogs do enjoy exercise with the puppies being extremely boisterous. However adults French bulldogs are more dignified and can be champion couch potatoes, but also love to clown around and go for walks in cool weather. 'LarissaRalpha' tweeted that her dog always 'pops his head up' to check on her Islamic State-aligned groups are using the Bourke Street terror attack as leverage to instill fear across Australia. The Melbourne attack saw Somali-born terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali park a four-wheel drive laden with gas cylinders in the CBD and stab three men. ISIS related groups have since released new propaganda with images of the Bourke Street attack on November 9, The Australian reported. Islamic State-aligned groups are using the Bourke Street terror attack (pictured) as leverage to instil fear across Australia Following the terror attack, Islamic State-linked group Sunni Shield Media Foundation released posters that read: 'Australia, don't think you are away from our attacks'. Some of the posters show Shire Ali attempting to stab a police officer, while other show the four-wheel drive that was set alight. The publication found that up to 10 people of the 240 who have been refused Australian passports or had them cancelled were involved in terror-related attacks. All 10 people have either launched attacks or were convicted of planning an attack since 2014. Among them is Numan Haider, who was refused a passport and later attacked police with a knife before being shot outside a police station in Melbourne. Shire Ali's passport was cancelled in 2015. Following the terror attack Islamic State-linked group Sunni Shield Media Foundation released posters that read: 'Australia, don't think you are away from our attacks' (pictured) Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have both condemned ISIS' new propaganda. 'This demonstration shows their evil minds at work,' Mr Dutton said. 'We will continue our efforts to counter propaganda and gather intelligence to defeat the scourge.' Mr Shorten urged internet providers and social media companies to stop the spread of the impressionable propaganda. 'We all have an obligation to ensure it is not disseminated further and doesn't reach vulnerable young people,' the Opposition Leader said. After the horrific terror attack, Islamic State claimed Shire Ali was an Islamic State fighter and conducted the attack under them, but there was no evidence to confirm. Uber announced on Wednesday that it lost $1.07 billion last quarter. That is more than the $891 million the company lost in the second quarter of the year but not as much as it lost in the third quarter of last year, just after it was announced the CEO Travis Kallanick would be stepping down. Growth has also slowed for the company, with bookings only up six percent for the quarter verses double-digit gains in past quarters. This could have a very big impact on the company's initial public offering, which is slated for next year. Uber is reported to be worth $76 billion, though at its last private valuation it was worth $62 billion and some believe it could be worth as much as $120 billion. Down: Uber lost $1.07 billion in the third quarter, more than it did in the second quarter of the year when it posted a loss of $891 million (Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in September above) It was not all bad news for Uber though, with the decision to expand into the food and freight industries while rolling back its global expansion appearing to have paid off. The company generated $2.95 billion in total revenue for the quarter, marking a growth of 38 percent from last year and five percent from last quarter. Uber Eats was also a big winner, posting growth of 150 percent from last year and accounting for $2.1 billion in gross bookings for the company. In total, Uber reported $12.7 billion in gross bookings for quarter three, up six percent for last quarter and 41 percent from last year. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has now been at the helm of the company for 15 months, and said he hoped to take the company public midway through 2019, though that could move up to an earlier date. The initial public offering will have to happen before September 30 of next year though or else face penalties. That was part of the deal that Japanese investor SoftBank made with Uber back in January when it bought a 15 percent stake in the company for $9.3billion. It was Khosrowshahi who opted to start releasing quarter figures for the company a year ago, which the company in not required to do since it is still private. 'As we look ahead to an IPO and beyond, we are investing in future growth across our platform, including in food, freight, electric bikes and scooters, and high-potential markets in India and the Middle East where we continue to solidify our leadership position,' said Uber CFO Nelson Chai. Travis Kalanick, the embattled founder of Uber, resigned in June 2017 at a pivotal, and increasingly problematic, time for the company. It was not by choice however, with five of the company's biggest investors demanding his resignation. In the aftermath of that shocking revolt by the company's primary shareholders, it was revealed that while Kalanick was out as CEO he would remain a member of the Uber board. 'I love Uber more than anything in the world and at this difficult moment in my personal life I have accepted the investors request to step aside so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted with another fight,' said Kalanick. He currently has a 7 percent stake in the company. The Greens are planning to criminalise those producing coal-fired electricity under a new policy. In the proposed laws, due to be revealed on Friday, producing thermal coal would be banned by the end of the next decade and its exportation would become a criminal offence. The political party intends to introduce a bill into federal parliament in the coming weeks to make coal production illegal by 2030, the Herald Sun reported. In new laws proposed by The Greens, thermal coal production would be banned by the end of the next decade and its exportation would become a criminal offence Executives of companies that break the proposed laws would face up to seven years in jail and the companies caught using coal would be handed fines of more than $10 million. The fossil fuel is heavily relied on in the national energy market, accounting for more than three-quarters. At a United Firefighters Union conference in Hobart on Friday, Greens member Adam Bandt will unveil the plans and declare the policy a necessity to overcome a 'climate catastrophe'. 'The reality is every tonne of coal that is burnt makes the bushfire threat worse,' Mr Bandt is expected to tell the conference as he refers to the wildfires in California. 'And every tonne of coal burnt brings us closer to climate catastrophe.' To quit coal by 2030, The Greens would impose quotas between now and 2020 to reduce the export of coal. At a United Firefighters Union conference in Hobart on Friday, Greens member Adam Bandt (pictured) will unveil the plans and declare the policy a necessity to overcome a 'climate catastrophe' Export permits would be used in the phase-out period to raise money for Australia's coal communities during the transition. 'Coal is the next asbestos and it is time we regulated it as such. It is toxic and dangerous,' Mr Bandt said. Coal is Australia's second biggest export and the country is the biggest coal exporter in the world. The Greens plan challenges what the Coalition and Labor have proposed in regards to the future of coal. The Morrison Government committed to reducing 2005 emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030 while labor has a target of 50 per cent in the same time frame. Nebraska social studies teacher Amy Nowaczyk, 26, was sentenced to one to two years in prison on Friday for having sexual contact with a 13-year-old student A Nebraska middle school teacher has been sentenced to between one and two years in jail for performing oral sex on a 13-year-old student while she was engaged to be married. Amy Nowaczyk, 26, previously pleaded guilty to amended charges of attempted sexual assault of a child and enticement by electronic device. She was arrested in April after the 13-year-old student told investigators that they had sexual contact several times inside her classroom at Morton Middle School over the previous eight months starting in August 2017. The social studies teacher and student exchanged messages via text, Snapchat and the Omaha Public Schools e-mail. Nowaczyk also sent the student a photo of her bare breasts. In the photo a watch she often wore was visible. She was at first charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child, which had a maximum sentence of life in prison. The amended charge carried a maximum sentence of 50 years behind bars. Douglas County District Judge Marlon decided to give her one to two years on one charge and one year on the other, to run concurrently, according to Omaha World-Herald. She was arrested in April after the 13-year-old student told investigators that they had sexual contact several times inside her classroom at Morton Middle School starting in August 2017 Nowaczyk was accused of performing oral sex on the 13-year-old student and sending him a photo of her bare breasts Nowaczyk was due to get married to boyfriend bartender Jordan Shurtleffon on June 6, 2018, two months after she was arrested. It's not clear if they're still engaged Under state sentencing guidelines she will serve six months in prison and must be released after one year. She will receive a credit for one day in jail. She was due to get married on June 6, two months after she was arrested to bartender Jordan Shurtleff. They had gotten engaged on Christmas Day in 2016, according to the Mirror. It's not clear if the pair are still engaged. According to Nowaczyk's teacher page she taught a college-readiness class at the school and was a former dance teacher. She was hired as a social studies teacher at Morton in August 2015. This baby elephant is certainly a nosy parker - getting her trunk in a twist as she tries to steal a phone from her human friend. The playful mammal, called Uli, was filmed nuzzling up to her friend, Wanda, as he tried to send a message on his phone. Uli then wraps her trunk around the mobile device several times in a bid to see what all the fuss is about but after receiving a friendly nip on the hand, Wanda stands firm and gently coaxes her away. The duo were filmed at the Barumun Nagari Wildlife Sanctuary in North Sumatra, Indonesia by Ercie Kandou, from Jakarta. The 35-year-old, who is one of the founders of the sanctuary, said: 'During the day, usually after eating or napping, she likes to come close to the man she knows to play with him. The playful elephant, called Uli, was filmed snuggling up to her friend in Indonesia Uli then tried multiple times to snatch Wanda's phone with her agile trunk as he texted 'In this video she is curious to see what's in Wanda's hand and decides to taste it. 'She tries to grab the phone but when she realises she can't she bites Wanda's hand to ask Wanda to play with her.' Uli was rescued along with her mother and several other elephants after being found malnourished and neglected in a camp used for training the mammals. Amid a legal tussle over the White House's decision to eject a CNN reporter last week, a Trump administration lawyer argued on Wednesday that the president would be within his legal rights to send the entire press corps packing. 'If the president wants to exclude all reporters from the White House grounds, he has the authority to do that,' the attorney said during a closely watched court hearing. He was describing a scenario where the administration would move reporters, editors, TV producers and camera operators to another government facility and not speculating about limiting their ability to report or publish, according to a White House aide who declined to be identified on Thursday. Any theoretical disruption to the close-in access journalists enjoy in the headquarters of the world's most powerful government would send news organizations howling. That prospect didn't faze the official who spoke to DailyMail.com and said: 'What, like they're going to hate us more?' Trump said Wednesday that CNN's Jim Acosta, who has been banned from the White House complex for the past eight days, is 'bad for the country.' The lawyer said hours later that 'theres no First Amendment right' to be physically present in the building Trump works. Scroll down to read the White House's lawsuit response A Trump administration lawyer told a federal judge on Wednesday that the government would be within its legal rights to ban all reporters from the physical campus at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue CNN correspondent Jim Acosta and his network sued the president and other White House officials after he was banned from the building following a contentious press conference in which he argued with President Trump and refused to surrender a microphone Acosta left the court hearing in Washington on Wednesday after hearing the government's arguments against granting on-demand White House entry to all reporters who demand it Acosta, he said, 'is just somebody who gets up and grandstands. He doesnt even know what hes asking you half of the time.' The president's comments on the controversy were his first since his legal team fired a salvo at CNN hours earlier, responding to a lawsuit the network filed after Acosta lost his press credentials. That followed a clash with a female White House intern over a microphone during a Nov. 7 press conference. 'Well see how the court rules,' Trump told The Daily Caller, asking whether 'it['s] freedom of the press when somebody comes in and starts screaming questions and wont sit down.' 'He was very rude to the young lady,' he said of the intern, who the White House has declined to identify. 'I really think that when you have guys like Acosta, I think theyre bad for the country. ... Hes just an average guy whos a grandstander,' Trump said, while acknowledging that Acosta is a reporter 'whos got the guts to stand up and shout.' CNN attorney Ted Boutrous spoke to reporters following a hearing on the network's legal demand to reinstate Acosta's press credentials as a protester held up a sign for news cameras Acosta saw his press pass revoked last Wednesday after he clashed with an intern over a press conference microphone and harangued President Donald Trump President Trump, pictured Wednesday during a Diwali ceremony at the White House, has tussled with Acosta regularly and shows no sign of relenting The White House argued Wednesday that it was within its constitutional rights to bar Acosta, just as it can choose who gets Oval Office interviews, who can attend press conferences and who the president will call on for questions The government's response to CNN's lawsuit points out that the network still has 'roughtly 50 other employees' with hard passes, and that they're capable of covering the White House from inside the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue campus In a legal filing Wednesday, the White House argued that '[n]o journalist has a First Amendment right to enter the White House.' Trump, the administration claimed, doesn't have to justify his decision constitutionally 'whenever he exercises his discretion to deny an individual journalist one of the many hundreds of passes granting instant access to the White House complex.' The White House's argument is centers on a reading of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees the freedom to publish, but not to attend White House functions on-demand. 'The President and his staff have absolute discretion over which journalists they grant interviews to, as well as over which journalists they acknowledge at press events,' Trump's Justice Department lawyers argued. 'That broad discretion necessarily includes discretion over which journalists receive on-demand access to the White House grounds and special access during White House travel for the purpose of asking questions of the President or his staff.' The administration contends that CNN has't suffered from Acosta's forced exile since roughly 50 of its other employees still have 'hard passes' that grant them on-demand entry. The network 'is not limited in what it can broadcast, or even what it can report from the numerous CNN-affiliated reporters who continue to hold hard press passes,' the response to Tuesday's lawsuit reads. And it blames Acosta for making a 'decision to engage in conduct that disrupts press events and impedes other reporters from asking questions,' saying that's 'a more-than-sufficient reason for revoking his hard pass.' Acosta lost access to the building hours after refusing to give up the microphone when the president said he had answered enough of his questions. CNN sued on Tuesday on First Amendment grounds, claimed Acosta was denied a Fifth Amendent right to due process, and asked a judge for a restraining order CNN's Jim Acosta goes through security as he enters the federal court in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, to attend a hearing in a legal challenge against President Trump's administration Trump's administration contends it has "broad discretion" to regulate press access to the White House as it fends off a legal challenge from CNN and other outlets over the revocation of journalist Acosta's 'hard pass' The Trump campaign started raising money over the legal battle on Wednesday Acosta, who has frequently clashed with President Trump during persistent questioning, lost access to the White House on Wednesday night White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement last week that Acosta 'physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern.' That appeared to be softer language than her earlier claim that he placed 'his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job.' CNN vigorously disputed the implication of anything more than minor physical contact. The court docket was updated just as a group news organizations, including the Associated Pres and the Trump-friendly Fox News Channel, said they would file a friend-of-the-court brief backing CNN. 'Whether the news of the day concerns national security, the economy, or the environment, reporters covering the White House must remain free to ask questions. It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons,' the press outlets said. 'Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question this President, or any President. We will be filing friend-of-the-court briefs to support CNNs and Jim Acostas lawsuit based on these principles.' The other signers included NBC News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, Bloomberg, Gannett, Scripps, USA Today, First Look Media Works, the National Press Club Journalism Institute and the Press Freedom Defense Fund. The White House Correspondents Association's president, SiriusXM broadcaster Olivier Knox, issued a supportive statement on Tuesday. CNN filed its federal lawsuit after the White House punished Acosta for clashing with Trump and a female intern during a November 7 press conference. The networks' suit, filed by a team that includes former George W. Bush solicitor general Ted Olson, demands the immediate return of Acosta's credentials. The White House called it 'grandstanding' hours later. The network claims the revocation of Acosta's press pass violates the constitutional rights to freedom of the press and due process. CNN is asking for an immediate restraining order to reinstate Acosta's access to the White House. The suit 'demands the return of the White House credentials of CNN's Chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acosta's First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process,' according to a CNN statement. 'We have asked this court for an immediate restraining order requiring the pass be returned to Jim, and will seek permanent relief as part of this process.' The suit names as defendants Trump, chief of staff John Kelly, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, deputy chief of staff for communications and former Fox News executive Bill Shine, the director of the U.S. Secret Service and the uniformed officer who took away the credentials. The network is seeking a preliminary injunction. It has already written the White House demanding an end to Acosta's punishment. The suit was filed by Ted Boutrous, and Olson, of the firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Acosta was banned from the White House last week after a heated exchange with President Trump during a press conference in which an intern tried to take his microphone away Olivier Knox, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, said in a statement that the group 'strongly supports CNN's goal of seeing their correspondent regain a US Secret Service security credential that the White House should not have taken away in the first place.' Sanders responded: 'We have been advised that CNN has filed a complaint challenging the suspension of Jim Acostas hard pass. This is just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit.' She continued: 'CNN, who has nearly 50 additional hard pass holders, and Mr. Acosta is no more or less special than any other media outlet or reporter with respect to the First Amendment. After Mr. Acosta asked the President two questionseach of which the President answeredhe physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions. This was not the first time this reporter has inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters.' 'The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way, which is neither appropriate nor professional. The First Amendment is not served when a single reporter, of more than 150 present, attempts to monopolize the floor. If there is no check on this type of behavior it impedes the ability of the President, the White House staff, and members of the media to conduct business,' Sanders concluded. CNN's lawyers say Acosta's First and Fifth Amendment constitutional rights were violated The White House did not respond on Tuesday to a question about whether Sanders issued the statement in her capacity as a presidential spokesperson or as a named defendant in the lawsuit. Floyd Abrams, a veteran lawyer and expert in First Amendment law, told CNN's Reliable Sources on Sunday that the network would have a robust case. 'I think it's a really strong lawsuit,' Abrams said. 'I can understand CNN being reluctant to sue because the president keeps saying CNN is the enemy of me, and CNN might have reluctance to have a lawsuit titled "CNN vs.Donald Trump." That said, yes, I think they should sue,' he said. Former ABC News journalist Sam Donaldson appeared on the program and revealed he had been asked to sign an affidavit in support of CNN's case. He described the decision to ban Acosta as 'not only wrong and unfair' but also 'dangerous for the press as a whole.' Even as he had lost his access to the White House, Acosta tweeted a defiant message to Trump from Paris Friday, saying he intended to cover the president's trip there despite being stripped of his access. The reporter tweeted a view of the Eiffel Tower and said: 'Greetings from Paris where we are on the ground for Trump's trip to France. #1A.' The hashtag was a reference to the first amendment, which prohibits the federal government from curtailing the publishing rights of the press. Ganesh Baraiya, 17, was denied a place at medical school despite acing the entrance tests because he has dwarfism A 3ft 1in teenager with dwarfism has won the right to become a doctor. Ganesh Baraiya, 17, was denied a place at medical school despite acing the entry tests by scoring 233 - with 86 needed to pass - because of his height. But he took his case to the Supreme Court and last month the judges ruled in his favour, paving the way for him to become the world's smallest doctor. Baraiya, who is from Gujarat, in western India, explained how his stature has always caused him problems - including when a travelling circus tried to buy him for 1,000, equivalent to six months of wages for his father. His father refused, but was scared the troupe would try to kidnap his son, so began escorting him to school every day and sitting with him in lessons. Mother Devuben Baraiya, 53, and father Viththal Bhai Baraiya, 58 explained that they first noticed something was different about him when his head started growing bigger than his body. They consulted pediatricians but every doctor they met said there was nothing they could do and he had a genetic condition that was incurable. Mother Devuben said: 'We prayed many times at the temple and we even even travelled 300km to pray at a special temple but nothing changed. The teenager stands at just 3ft 1ins tall because of the genetic condition, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in brainpower Father Viththalbhai Baraiya (right) explained how a circus once offered to buy his son for 1,000 - six months of wages for him - but he refused 'I even put a tub on his head like a hat to try to stop his head growing to give his body a chance to catch up.' But what Ganesh lacked in height he made up for in brainpower, and he was admitted into spent all his time studying and showed signs of intelligence from an early age. While some students teased him and laughed at him, others would help him carry his bag and accompany him to the toilet in case he fell as he can't walk properly. Eventually Viththal admitted Ganesh into a school owned by a doctor named Dalpat Kataria, who has since sponsored his education and legal costs. Ganesh said: 'People used to always make fun of me and I was always the butt of their jokes. I didn't care what people said about me, it was irrelevant. 'I had plans in life and I was determined to make them happen.' Under Kataria's tutelage, Ganesh went on to get top grades and applied to study a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree. But once the the Medical Council of India found out about his condition, they refused Ganesh's right to study medicine. Mr Baraiya (pictured with his wife, son and daughters) told how he escorted Ganesh to school every day after rejecting the circus troupe, because he was afraid they would steal him Ganesh has now won the right to study medicine after taking his case to India's Supreme Court, and will take up a place at a top state college They argued that he wouldn't be able to perform emergency cases in practice and special arrangements would have to be made for him, categorising him as 'physically handicapped'. 'I was very disappointed,' Ganesh said. 'But I refused to accept it.' Ganesh took his case from the Medical Council to the state court, and then on to India's supreme court after the judges there rejected him. In the end, at a cost of 4,000 in legal fees, Ganesh won out. Kataria said afterwards: 'The first time I met him I saw his passion and his dream. I also found him brilliant, so I decided to invest my time on his studies. 'I consider him my second child and will support him until he becomes the medical practitioner that he so desperately wants.' Ganesh added: 'I am very happy that I got justice from the Supreme Court. Now I can fulfil the dream I've had since childhood. 'I know I'm different but I want to live a good life like other people and make my parents proud. 'I hope life will be good at college but if people continue to laugh at me, I will courageously face them as I always have.' Ganesh is now eligible for admission to any government medical college in his state but will apply to his local Bhavnagar Medical College in the coming year. Dalpat will pay for his education fees. One day Ganesh hopes to become the shortest doctor in the world and be recognised by the book of Guinness World Records. A 'sadist' internet troll who left sickening comments on Facebook tribute pages dedicated to dead youngsters has been jailed for 14 months. Paul Hind, 38, mocked and insulted people who had passed away and caused extra heartache to their already devastated families because he was 'bored'. Newcastle Crown Court heard Hind had defaced a memorial page belonging to Hannah Witheridge, who was raped and beaten to death in Thailand in 2014. He also targeted Olivia Burt, a Durham University student who was crushed to death beneath a barrier as she queued to get into a nightclub, Joe Tilley, who was found dead in South America and student Duncan Sim, whose remains were found earlier this year on St Andrews beach in Scotland. Paul Hind, 38, pictured left at a previous court case and right in his mugshot, was jailed for 14 months after admitting leaving 'callous' abusive messages on Facebook tribute pages to dead youngsters Hannah's grieving sister Laura Witheridge read her victim impact statement at the hearing and said the loss of her 'beautiful' sibling had been the 'most painful thing imaginable'. Miss Witheridge told the court the posts were 'as much an attack on Hannah as it was on my family' and said the comments were 'particularly cruel and callous'. She added: 'Hannah is unable to defend herself. Trolling the living is terrible enough. Trolling the deceased is an absolute atrocity.' Miss Witheridge said police had warned her family there was a chance of abusive messages after the tragedy and that Hind's were the most 'callous'. She branded those who 'hide' behind their computers to send such vile messages 'cowards' and added: 'I hope the message goes out that crimes of this nature do come with consequences.' Miss Witheridge said she had been regularly targeted by trolls on social media since her 23-year-old sister was raped and murdered on a beach on the island of Koh Tao in September 2014 with fellow Broton David Miller, 24 while backpacking around Thailand. She said she had earlier received death threats and been sent crime scene photographs of her sister's body by trolls. But she described Hind's actions as 'deeply rooted, especially dark and unusual' as he had set up a fake Twitter profile in Hannah's name which was 'cruel, completely inaccurate and callous.' One of the messages trolled a page in memory of Hannah Witheridge, left, who was raped and murdered in Thailand in 2014. Her sister Laura, pictured right with a male companion at court today, branded the comments an 'absolute atrocity' Hind also targeted tribute pages to Olivia Burt, left, a Durham University student crushed to death by a barrier outside a nightclub, and Duncan Sim, right, a student whose remains were found on a beach in St Andrews, Scotland, earlier this year after he went missing Miss Witheridge, of Hemsby, Norfolk, added: 'It was obviously invented and executed to upset my family and those who loved Hannah but, unlike the others, it was as much of an attack on Hannah as it was on my family. 'Creating an offensive, inaccurate, fraudulent twitter profile in Hannah's name and following everyone from the friends list of her authentic profile saw this particular offender stooping to new lows. 'Photos were stolen from Hannah's accounts and the profile biography created was cruel, completely inaccurate and callous. 'Sending me crime scene photos and death threats is one thing, but creating a fake profile in the name of a victim of a brutal murder is something else entirely. Hannah is unable to defend herself. 'Trolling the living is terrible enough, but targeting the deceased is an absolute atrocity. Even though the likely motivation was to cause distress to Hannah's loved ones, the fact that her identity was fraudulently used to achieve this is despicable. 'Losing someone you love, suddenly, in tragic circumstances is the most painful thing imaginable. I don't believe that, unless you have been in such a position, you can truly comprehend how torturous and unbearable it is. Hind previously broke down in tears at a previous hearing, pictured, and said he targeted dead people because they 'could not fight back' 'Back in March, for the first time ever, I was told something could be done.. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that today offers some justice for my family, and all of the other families involved in this case and I hope it sends a strong message that sitting in a dark room, hiding behind a computer screen does not make you untraceable. I hope today serves as an example that crimes of this nature do come with consequence.' LAURA WITHERIDGE'S STATEMENT Laura Witheridge, whose sister Hannah was brutally murdered on the Thai holiday island of Koh Tao four years ago, said in a statement: 'September is a difficult month. It was the month that my sister Hannah's life was suddenly and unnecessarily cut short. This also sees it being the month that the trolling is at its worst. 'I remember, vividly, every detail of the day we learnt of Hannah's murder. 'One of the details amongst my memories of that horrendous, life-changing day is the moment we were warned by the police that, due to the high profile nature of the case, we could expect to be targeted by internet trolls. I remember my disbelief~ my insistence that the information we were being given could not be true - after all, the worst thing possible had just happened to Hannah, why would anybody want to intensify our agony? 'Now I know how very wrong I was. Within hours of Hannah's murder hitting the headlines, the trolling began. Hundreds of message poured into my accounts on social media. Some were well-wishers. Others were not. 'From fake offensive profiles, heinous messages, crime scene photos, to death threats - I was receiving them all. So, as you might expect, I came off social media and refrained from opening any further messages. 'I didn't delete my account entirely as I didn't want to lose messages from Hannah. As the weeks passed, hundreds of unopened messages piled up. I learnt that no matter how much you privatise your Facebook profile, there is no way to stop people that you do not know, from sending you a message request. 'I found myself having to regularly ask our police family liaison officer to log in on my behalf to clear out my message box. I reassured myself that, in time, these monsters would get bored and it would all stop. 'Again, I was wrong. The quantity of messages has reduced over the past four years but they have not stopped. Just earlier this year, things were particularly bad, but one of the main offender's IP address was found to be in the United States, so, like all the times before, nothing could be done. 'Losing someone you love, suddenly, in tragic circumstances is the most painful thing imaginable. I don't believe that, unless you have been in such a position, you can truly comprehend how torturous and unbearable it is. 'I have tried as hard as I am able, to keep Hannah's memory alive and to push on and be the best that I can be, because I know it is what she would want me to do - Hannah was beautiful inside and out. She was ambitious and hard-working and saw the best in everyone. 'She was half way through her Masters degree in Speech and Language Therapy when she died. She would have gone on to make a difference to the lives of many. 'The trolling incident that found me phoning the police back in March this year, and which is relevant to the sentencing today was one of the most callous and cowardly I have had to endure. This one was deeply rooted, especially dark and unusual. 'It was obviously invented and executed to upset my family and those who loved Hannah but, unlike the others, it was as much of an attack on Hannah as it was on my family. 'Creating an offensive, inaccurate, fraudulent twitter profile in Hannah's name and following everyone from the friends list of her authentic profile saw this particular offender stooping to new lows. 'Photos were stolen from Hannah's accounts and the profile biography created was cruel, completely inaccurate and callous. Sending me crime scene photos and death threats is one thing, but creating a fake profile in the name of a victim of a brutal murder is something else entirely. Hannah is unable to defend herself. 'Trolling the living is terrible enough, but targeting the deceased is an absolute atrocity. Even though the likely motivation was to cause distress to Hannah's loved ones, the fact that her identity was fraudulently used to achieve this is despicable. 'I have somehow found the strength and courage to try and live as normal a life as I can since we lost Hannah.I work full time, I contribute to society and, other than attending the trial of Hannah's murderers in Thailand, today is the first time I have attended court. 'Some days, even getting out of bed seems impossible, but I do it anyway. I have never used the tragedy, which was bestowed upon my family, as an excuse. 'I have always plucked up the courage to push on. Doing so eats away at all of my emotional strength, and I have little left to spare on cowards who hide behind computer screens. It may not cause me physical harm, but the emotional harm is devastating. Too many times you hear of the harm caused by trolls - lives cut short in some instances. 'I think it is terrifying that we live in a world that is becoming more and more dominated by technology every day, yet we have so little control over it. Perhaps it is moving faster than we are. 'I have spent four years being told, time and time again, that nothing can be done, which makes this particular case so poignant. It was in March, for the first time ever, I was told something could be done. 'I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that today offers some justice for my family, and all of the other families involved in this case~ and I hope it sends a strong message that sitting in a dark room, hiding behind a computer screen does not make you untraceable. 'I hope today serves as an example that crimes of this nature do come with consequence.' Advertisement The court heard just weeks after Miss Burt's death in February this year, her Facebook page, which had been memorialised without her family's knowledge, was 'defaced with obscenities' by Hind. He set up a fake account using a slightly different spelling of Miss Burt's name and used it to brand her a sex worker, post offensive comments and leave sickening replies to legitimate messages of condolences from her grieving family and friends. Prosecutor Neil Pallister said Hind even defaced a photograph of Miss Burt and added: 'Her teeth had been blacked out, a moustache had been drawn across her upper lip, silly fake eyebrows were drawn on. 'To the left side of her face was four Swastikas. There was a line drawn across her neck on the photo, which said 'cut here'.' Miss Burt's family branded Hind a 'sick sadist', and said the comments made them feel 'physically sick' and added to their tremendous heartache. Her father Nigel stood in the witness box at the hearing at said the messages were a 'desecration to her memory and character'. He added: 'It has made us both feel physically sick and caused us huge suffering. 'Her death is still very recent and causing us tremendous hurt as we struggle to come to terms with the loss. 'The person who carried out this can only be described as a sick sadist who knows they are adding to our anguish.' Mr Burt said even though the offensive Facebook posts have now gone, he and his wife still expect them to appear and are caused additional anxiety because of it. The court heard Hind had set up a fake Twitter account to troll Hannah Witheridge, four years after her murder in Thailand. He set it up with a username 'I love Thailand' and followed many of her friends and family, using her name, and sent them sickening comments. The court heard Hind sent a Facebook message to the mother of Mr Tilley, just two days after his body was found in Columbia, where he had gone missing. The message referred to her son being 'in hell' and when her husband rang Hind's fake account via Facebook messenger, he was greeted with nothing but further abuse and 'giggling'. After the warning call, Hind sent the mother another message saying 'f*** you'. The family said they were 'heartbroken' after the loss and said in a statement, which was read by Mr Pallister: 'What sort of person wallows in someone else's misery?' Hind had also set up a Facebook account in relation to student Mr Sim and made repeated posts saying 'dead', 'dead', 'dead' and referred to people 'looking in the wrong place' before his body was eventually found, causing huge distress to his loved ones. Hind admitted he carried out his crimes when he was 'bored', for 'attention' and told police he thought 'some people may have found them funny or amusing'. He had taken screenshots of some of the abuse so he could show a friend and they 'both could laugh'. Hind said at an earlier court hearing: 'I targeted dead people because perhaps I knew that deceased people could not fight back, which is a really cowardly thing to do. 'I knew they couldn't say anything because they were dead, unfortunately.' Hind, of Wark, Northumberland, admitted four charges of sending a letter, communication or article conveying false information. Judge Penny Moreland said the offences were of 'unbelievable callousness' and she told Hind: 'You targeted bereaved families with obscene and offensive messages.' Judge Moreland said: 'It is hard to understand how anyone could do that. 'You heard what you did to those people, they have described the devastating effect upon them. 'It is horrific to hear from Miss Witheridge that the police warned her that families could expect to be victims of torment, of offensive and abuse messages in the wake of such bereavement. 'It is dreadful to hear yours was were the most cowardly and callous of them.' Jessica Slaughter, defending Hind, said the offences were 'despicable' and added: 'No-one acknowledges that more than Mr Hind himself. 'He wishes to apologise to the victims' parents and families.' Miss Slaughter said Hind, who lived at home with his parents and had recently lost his job, had been 'going through a depressive episode' when the crimes were carried out, which was between March and May this year. She added: 'He was spending more and more time at home, at his parents' address where he lived, on the internet. 'He was in his own little bubble, clearly unaware of what was happening in the world in terms of other people's feelings.' Acting Detective Inspector Lindsay Banks-Brown, from Durham Constabulary, said: 'We are pleased with today's outcome and hope it sends a clear message that we treat trolling as a serious offence which brings serious consequences. 'The families of Hind's victims have suffered an unimaginable tragedy and his actions have only compounded their suffering. 'I hope today's sentence serves as a warning to others that if they commit such offences, they will be dealt with and they will be brought to justice. 'A joint investigation by Durham Constabulary and Durham County Council into Olivia's death remains ongoing and we are following a number of lines of inquiry. 'Our thoughts remain with Olivia's family and friends during what has been, and continues to be, an extremely difficult time.' The family of Miss Burt, a British sailing team member, pictured, branded Hind a 'sadist' and said the comments he left made them 'physically sick' Acting Detective Inspector Lindsay Banks-Brown, pictured, from Durham Constabulary, said the sentence sent a message to trolls that they face serious consequences Detective Inspector Matt Dyson of Norfolk Police said: 'This is a case that remains deeply personal to the victims. By directly targeting family members of Hannah Witheridge the messages he sent were clearly criminal and particularly distasteful. 'Norfolk Police will continue to actively identify and prosecute any people that may carry out similar acts in the future and we continue to support Hannah's family.' PC Lesley Newman, the officer in charge of the case, added: 'The actions of Paul Hind were truly despicable and have caused untold upset to the families of those he targeted. 'Already struggling to come to terms with the death of a much-loved family member, they have then been subjected to this horrendous ordeal by Hind. 'I want to take this opportunity to praise the families for the incredible bravery they have displayed throughout this process. 'I would also like to thank the various teams, including those from other force areas and agencies, who have all come together to help ensure Hind was made to answer for his crimes.' A boy in north China has been given a new finger after doctors successfully transplanted his toe onto his hand. The six-year-old boy, nicknamed Pengpeng, suffered a horrible accident in March when his index fingertip was severed by an advertising inkjet printer, Chinese media reported. Doctors at the Xi'an Red Cross Hospital in Shaanxi province were able to craft him a new forefinger on his right hand during a six-hour surgery and said the child is expected to make a full recovery. A boy in north China has been given a new finger after doctors successfully transplanted his toe onto his hand during a gruelling six-hour surgery at Xi'an Red Cross Hospital in Shaanxi The six-year-old boy, nicknamed Pengpeng, suffered a horrific accident in March when his index fingertip was severed by an advertising inkjet printer, Chinese media reported Following the accident in March, Pengpeng would always hide his hand for fear he would get laughed at, prompting his parents to seek help from doctors all over the country, according to Shaanxi Television. Surgeons in Saanxi were able to perform a 'toe-to-hand transfer' - removing his index toe and the connected blood vessels, tendons and nerves from his left foot to his right hand. 'It was a very complex surgery and failure would have resulted him losing both a finger and a toe,' chief physician Dr Ou Xuehai at the hospital's department of hand surgery said. Surgeons in Saanxi were able to perform a 'toe-to-hand transfer' - removing his index toe and the connected blood vessels, tendons and nerves from his left foot to his right hand Following the accident in March, Pengpeng would always hide his hand for fear he would get laughed at, prompting his parents to seek help from doctors all over the country Following a gruelling six-hour procedure, medics were able to join the blood vessels and nerves, so that Pengpeng would be able to use his new finger. Dr Ou told reporters that the reattached digit will make a swift recovery in the nerves and the child will easily be able to perform routine tasks. His walking would not be affected despite a toe missing on his left foot, the report added. While Pengpeng is still in the process of recovering, he could already pinch and bend his finger. The boy is expected to be discharged in the next couple of days. A former Nazi concentration camp guard has voiced his shame at having been part of the SS but told a German court he was unaware of the systematic killings there. Johann Rehbogen, 94, stands accused of complicity in mass murder at the Stutthof camp near what was then Danzig, now Gdansk, in Poland. Speaking in Muenster state court Thursday, Rehbogen said he knew the conditions of the Stutthof camp were 'miserable', and that he had attributed the deaths primarily to 'diseases and epidemics.' Johann Rehbogen (pictured in court last week) stands accused of complicity in the murders of several hundred Stutthof camp prisoners between 1942 and 1944 In the statement read by his attorney, the 94-year-old said he didn't know much about the 'structure inside the camp,' the dpa news agency reported. He says 'they told me which post to take and I obeyed.' Speaking earlier this week, he said he had been forced into joining the Schutzstaffel troops, as 'there would have been reprisals against my family if I hadn't gone'. 'When I saw the detainees I knew that the SS was wrong, but I didn't have a choice,' said Rehbogen, who served as a watchman from June 1942 to September 1944 at Stutthof. He denied knowledge of the gruesome crimes at the camp. 'I knew nothing of the systematic killings, I knew nothing of the gas chambers as well as the crematoria,' he told the court. 'I will only say that I am not a Nazi, I never have been one, and never will be.' Johann Rehbogen sits in a wheelchair for the beginning of the third day of his trial at the regional court in Muenster on Tuesday More than 60,000 people were killed at Stutthof and prosecutors argue that as a guard, Rehbogen, pictured arriving in court, was an accessory to at least hundreds of those deaths Plaintiffs voiced dismay at Rehbogen's statement. 'I am disappointed but not surprised to hear the defendant is denying that he took part in the killings at Stutthof,' said Benjamin Cohen, who represented his grandmother Judy Meisel at the hearing. 'My grandmother's account of her time in the camp and the murder of her mother tells a very clear story about the role of these guards.' Manuel Mayer, a lawyer of a former detainee, said: 'His statement was absurd. I don't believe him.' Rehbogen is due to reply to plaintiffs' questions when the trial resumes on Thursday. Rehbogen, a German man from the western district of Borken, North Rhine-Westphalia state, is a retired landscape architect and divorced father-of-three, according to German media. His statement marks a rare occasion for victims and their relatives to hear directly from the accused on the alleged crimes committed seven decades ago. At the trial opening last week, the defendant shed tears as he heard written testimony from Holocaust survivors who now live in the United States or Israel. He is charged with being an accessory to the murders of several hundred camp prisoners. These included more than 100 Polish prisoners gassed in June 1944 and 'probably several hundred' Jews killed from August to December 1944 as part of the Nazis' so-called 'Final Solution'. Aged 18 to 20 at the time, and therefore now being tried under juvenile law, Rehbogen is 'accused in his capacity as a guard of participating in the killing operations,' Dortmund prosecutor Andreas Brendel told AFP. Murdered: The crematorium at the former German Nazi concentration camp Stutthof in Sztutowo, northern Poland, where prisoners were gassed, shot, starved and killed with an injection of gasoline to the heart If found guilty, he faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison - even though, given his age and the possibility of an appeal, he is considered unlikely to serve any time behind bars. Christoph Ruecken, a lawyer representing an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor who now lives in the United States, said: 'It would be an important sign for us if (Rehbogen) stood there to confirm the reality.' 'An apology would be good.' Although the trial is late in coming, Ruecken said it 'eases the suffering of my client'. 'A punishment would be symbolic for such an old man but that's important in times like now when nationalism and anti-Semitism are returning,' he said. 'It's important to show that the rule of law says you will face the court if you do these things.' The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which helped locate some 20 Stutthof survivors for the case to serve as possible witnesses, emphasized that such trials are important, even more than 70 years after the end of World War II. 'The passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of Holocaust perpetrators and old age should not afford protection to those who committed such heinous crimes,' said the center's head Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff. Many survivors, along with relatives of victims, are also joining the trial as co-plaintiffs as allowed under German law. Fight for justice: Many of the 20 survivors of Stutthof, pictured, will be attending the trial, as will relatives of some of the 60,000 people murdered in the death camp Germany has been racing to put on trial surviving SS personnel, after the legal basis for prosecuting former Nazis changed in 2011 with the landmark conviction of former death camp guard John Demjanjuk. He was sentenced not for any atrocities he committed, but on the basis that he served as a cog in the Nazi killing machine at the Sobibor camp in occupied Poland. German courts subsequently convicted Oskar Groening, an accountant at Auschwitz, and Reinhold Hanning, a former SS guard at the same camp, for mass murder. However both men, convicted at age 94, died before they could be imprisoned. At his trial in 2015, Groening apologised and sought forgiveness. He also admitted 'moral guilt' although he denied any legal culpability. Like Groening, Hanning told his victims he was sorry. He admitted to being 'silent all my life' about the atrocities because he felt deep shame, not having spoken about it even to his wife, children or grandchildren. Another trial against a 96-year-old former medical orderly at the Auschwitz death camp collapsed in 2017 because he suffers from dementia. Wheelchair-bound Hubert Zafke had faced 3,681 counts of being an accessory to murder at the concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, but his trial ended in disarray. Death camp: A picture shows some of the beds used at Stutthof in Sztutowo, northern Poland Even though the number of suspects is dwindling, the special federal prosecutor's office in Ludwigsburg that investigates Nazi war crimes still has multiple cases ongoing. In addition to looking at camps like Stutthof, Buchenwald, Ravensbrueck, Mauthausen and Flossenbuerg, it is also investigating former members of the mobile killing squads known as the 'Einsatzgruppen.' The Stutthof case is the first time a prosecution is going to trial using this line of reasoning for a concentration camp guard instead of a death camp guard. But prosecutors have expressed confidence it can be applied, since tens of thousands of people were killed in Stutthof even though its sole purpose was not murder. Stutthof was established in 1939 and underwent several iterations, initially being used as the main collection point for Jews and non-Jewish Poles removed from the nearby city of Danzig on the Baltic Sea coast. From about 1940 onward, it was used as a so-called 'work education camp' where forced laborers, primarily Polish and Soviet citizens who had run afoul of their Nazi oppressors, were sent to serve sentences and often died. Others incarcerated there included criminals, political prisoners, homosexuals and Jehovah's Witnesses. From mid-1944, it was filled with tens of thousands of Jews from ghettos being cleared by the Nazis in the Baltics as well as from Auschwitz, which was overflowing, and thousands of Polish civilians swept up in the brutal suppression of the Warsaw uprising. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Time Cook are embroiled in a heated Silicon Valley feud. It began earlier this year when Facebook came under fire for the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal where up to 87million user profiles were unknowingly accessed for political reasons. When asked about what advice he'd give to Zuckerberg, Cook said 'I wouldn't be in this situation' adding that Apple, unlike Facebook, does not 'traffic in your personal life' and 'privacy to us is a human right. It's a civil liberty.' The comments 'infuriated' the Facebook founder who then ordered his management team to exclusively use Android phones arguing 'the operating system has far more users than Apple', insiders have revealed to the New York Times. Mark Zuckerberg (right) is 'infuriated' with Apple CEO Tim Cook (left) for his jabs at Facebook during the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. Cook claimed Apple would 'never be this situation' He fired back at Cook in April, calling the Apple CEO 'glib' for saying Facebook sells to advertisers while Apple sells products to users. 'You know, I find that argument, that if youre not paying, that somehow we cant care about you to be extremely glib. And not at all aligned with the truth,' Zuckerberg said to Vox. 'The reality here is that if you wanna build a service that helps connect everyone in the world, then there are a lot of people who cant afford to pay,' he said. 'And therefore, as with a lot of media, having an advertising-supported model is the only rational model that can support building this service to reach people,' he added. After the data scandal Zuckerberg testified before Congress and expanded his company's work with Definers Public Affairs, a right-wing consultant firm hired to monitor Facebook's press coverage. The group specializes in using political campaign tactics to corporate public relations. Soon after, there was a spike in news coverage blasting Google and Apple for shady business practices on conservative news site NTK Network. One story even slammed Cook as hypocritical for reproaching Facebook over the privacy scandal, adding that Apple too collects data from millions of users. Another story tried to downplay the impact of Russian Kremlin-linked activity infiltrating Facebook around the time of the election. Some articles also went after billionaire George Soros, who criticized Facebook as a 'menace' with 'neither the will nor inclination to protect society against the consequences of their actions' while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, according to Yahoo. It turns out NTK is an affiliate of Definers and many of the stories on the site are written by staff members at Definers. Those stories are later picked up by conservative news sites like Breitbart. After the Times published the story linking the connection between the two organizations, Facebook ended its relationship with Definers without citing a reason. Zuckerberg hasn't commented on the Definers campaign or on his feud with Cook. The trustees of the smallest of the seven Ivy League schools have been hit with a $70 million lawsuit claiming the institution dismissed and later tried to cover up incidents of sexual harassment, assault and even rape. Seven women filed a complaint in US District Court on Thursday alleging that three professors at Dartmouth College 'leered at, groped, sexted, intoxicated and even raped female students.' The filing also states that 'these professors conducted professional lab meetings at bars, invited students to late-night 'hot tub parties' in their personal homes, and invited undergraduate students to use real cocaine during classes related to addiction as part of a 'demonstration.' Six of the seven women are named in the court filing while the professors who allegedly committed these offenses are identified as Todd Heatherton, William Kelley and Paul Whalen. The suit claims that the alleged predatory behavior of these men had reported to officials as far back as 2002, and the plaintiffs are demanding no less than $70 million in both compensatory and punitive damages. Speaking out: Seven female students at Dartmouth have filed a lawsuit against the college's trustees claiming they protected professors' sexual misconduct (from left back row, Annemarie Brown, Andrea Courtney, and Marissa Evansin, and from left front row, Sasha Brietzke, Vassiki Chauhan, Kristina Rapuano) Accused: Todd Heatherton, William Kelley (left) and Paul Whalen (right) 'leered at, groped, sexted, intoxicated and even raped female students' states the lawsuit Kelley and Whalen are each accused of raping a student after a night of drinking, attempting to seduce women under their supervision and punishing those who rebuffed their advances in the Department of Psychological and Brain Science (PBS). Kristina Rapuano said that she was concerned that Kelley might try something at a conference and told him that she would do nothing more than drink with him on the night of her alleged assault, according to the complaint. 'Whalen then forced her to engage in non-consensual intercourse with him. When Ms. Chauhan told him to at least use protection, Whalen laughed and told her, 'that is one thing I am not going to do.' - Professor Paul Whalen to student Vassiki Chauhan on night he allegedly raped her, per legal complaint 'Kelley sexually assaulted Ms. Rapuano in the early hours of March 28, 2015 by having vaginal intercourse and other sexual contact with her when he knew she was too incapacitated to consent,' reads the court filing. 'In the morning, Kelley told Ms. Rapuano that they had 'had sex' two times, and that Ms. Rapuano had 'freaked out' at some point during the sexual interaction. 'Ms. Rapuano has no memory of engaging in sexual intercourse, nor does she recall leaving the bar or how they returned to the hotel. Based on her physical state the following day, she has wondered whether Kelley drugged her.' The filing goes on to state: 'For his part, Kelley acknowledged on different occasions that he was well aware of Ms. Rapuano's level of intoxication and knew that she had no recollection of that night.' Vassiki Chauhan claims she was raped by Whelan after a night of heavy drinking on April 24, 2017 - 15 years after the first complaints about one of the men. These professors ensured the young women in the Department were vulnerable to this sexual harassment by conditioning faculty mentorship and support on students participation in the alcohol-saturated 'party culture' they perpetuated. Among other things, these professors conducted professional lab meetings at bars, invited students to late-night 'hot tub parties' in their personal homes, and invited undergraduate students to use real cocaine during classes related to addiction as part of a 'demonstration.' -Legal complaint 'When Whalen attempted to initiate sexual contact, Ms. Chauhan forcefully rejected his advances and told him not to touch her. Ms. Chauhan tried to leave his house several times by going downstairs. Each time, Whalen followed her downstairs and prevented her from leaving,' states the filing. 'Whalen then forced her to engage in non-consensual intercourse with him. When Ms. Chauhan told him to at least use protection, Whalen laughed and told her, "that is one thing I am not going to do." 'The next day, Whalen pressured Ms. Chauhan into meeting him and asked her whether she thought their encounter was consensual, demanding that she keep it private and tell no one. 'Following her sexual assault, Ms. Chauhan was in physical pain. As a result, she visited Dartmouth's medical facility and sought medical attention. After examining Ms. Chauhan, the medical practitioner asked if the sexual encounter had been forced. Whalen suggested that Ms. Chauhan was merely being 'paranoid' for seeking medical treatment.' Both women state that they had endured a sexually hostile environment before and after these alleged sexual assaults. Speaking out: Kristina Rapuano (right in a CBS interview on Thursday) claims that she was raped by Kelley in 2015 while Vassiki Chauhan (left) says she was raped by Whelan in 2017 Ivy leave: All three of the men retired before they could be fired, but the New Hampshire Attorney General's office has launched a criminal investigation (Dartmouth College above) Marissa Evans claims that Kelly sent her photos of his 'fully naked body, including his erect penis,' his 'genitalia with sex toys, including a penis "cage" and a penis "hat,"' and of himself 'engaged in sexual encounters with two unidentified persons.' This all happened in the wake of Evans being raped by a male student who broke into her dorm room. The complaint states that in addition to the more than 10 sexually explicit photos she received, Evans was also sent texts from Kelly 'describing his personal use of sex toys, his past sexual encounters, and his sexual preferences in terms of dominant/submissive roles; Asking Ms. Evans to describe her sexual practices and fantasies; Instructing Ms. Evans on how to perform oral sex on a woman; Seeking to assert sexual dominance by commanding Ms. Evans to masturbate andlikening her to a petcalling her good girl; and expressing his intention to have sexual intercourse with her when she returned to Dartmouth in January 2017.' For well over a decade, female students in Dartmouths Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences have been treated as sex objects by tenured professors Todd Heatherton, William Kelley, and Paul Whalen. These professors leered at, groped, sexted, intoxicated, and even raped female students. -Complaint Annemarie Brown claims in the complaint that the behavior of the professors may have played a role in her rejection from another Ivy league institution. 'Whalen and Kelley cultivated a hostile environment in which professional boundaries were virtually nonexistent. For example, after learning that Ms. Brown had just interviewed for a position at Harvard, Whalen and Kelley pressured her to take a picture with their arms around her and texted it to her potential Harvard supervisor with the caption "wish you were here,"' states the complaint. 'Days later, Harvard rejected Ms. Brown.' These women each claim that they did everything they were supposed to do in an attempt to stop these behaviors, but officials did nothing. 'The seven plaintiffs, each an exemplary female scientist at the start of her career, came to Dartmouth to contribute to a crucial and burgeoning field of academy study,' states the complaint. 'Plaintiffs were instead sexually harassed and sexually assaulted by the Department's tenured professors and expected to tolerate increasing levels of sexual predation.' Dartmouth praised the women for coming forward but denied allegations that it ignored complaints that allegedly date back almost two decades. 'I would like to reiterate that sexual misconduct and harassment have no place at Dartmouth,' said Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon in an email to the college community Thursday. 'We applaud the courage displayed by members of our community within PBS who brought the misconduct allegations to Dartmouth's attention last year. And we remain open to a fair resolution of the students' claims through an alternative to the court process.' In October 2017, Dartmouth launched an investigation into the three professors. It never released the findings and was preparing to fire all three. Heatherton retired this summer however after being told he would be fired and denied tenure. Whalen and Kelley resigned soon thereafter in a similar fashion. Whalen and Kelley have yet to comment while a lawyer for Heatherton stated that the former professor admitted to behaving inappropriately at conferences but said he never had sexual relations with students. Six of the plaintiffs were graduate students and one was an undergraduate at the time of the offenses. The lawsuit paints a harrowing picture of women being forced to endure a program in which their academic careers were dependent on men who seemed mainly interested in drinking and getting them into bed. Those who refused to take part in their parties or bar hopping were often denigrated or ignored, according to the lawsuit. Repeatedly, the lawsuit alleges, the three would set about grooming incoming graduate students. They would often comment on their physical appearances, give them extra attention and then bombarded them with invitations to drink with them at local bars or while out at conferences. When the women would oblige, they would seek to get them drunk and take advantage of them. The New Hampshire Attorney General's office has also launched its own criminal investigation into these allegations. A couple who are unable to smile or change their facial expressions due to a rare condition have fallen in love and are going to get married. Alex Barker from Coventry, UK, and Erin Smith from North Carolina , US, met online on a social media site for sufferers of Moebius syndrome, which causes paralysis of the cranial nerves. The condition is believed to affect fewer than 1,000 people worldwide. Now the pair are engaged after just four dates. Erin smith, 38, from North Carolina, and Alex Barker, 45, from Coventry, met in a cosil media group for sufferers of Moebius syndrome Having had just four dates the couple are now engaged. They say they can always tell when the other is smiling Ms Smith, 38, said: 'At first, I would never have thought that I would ever fall in love with someone that was born with the same thing I was,' The Metro reported. She continued 'But I mean it's not just the Moebius, we have a lot of other things in common too. 'It is so nice to have someone that understands me for me. I love his British accent. It makes me melt. It does it just gives me chills.' The condition also affects the couple's speech and the pair have to find innovative ways to express their emotions. Mr Barker, 45, explained: 'I can tell when Erin is happy because she always puts her head on one side and goes 'ooh,' and I think although we can't show facial expression, we know each other's mannerisms, so when we're upset or when we're frustrated or whatever, there is a lot of nonverbal communication that goes on. 'I think the eyes tell a lot too, even not just Alex, but my family and friends have always said that they can look in my eyes and I smile with my eyes, they know I am happy.' After being unlucky in love neither thought they would find happiness - Mr Barker called his condition a 'relationship killer' - but the pair are now engaged Alex and Erin have consulted doctors about the chance of passing on their condition to any children they might have but the causes of Moebius are not fully understood Having been severely bullied as a child, Mr Barker said he'd been unable to find a girlfriend when he was younger, calling his condition a 'relationship killer'. He still struggles to forge relationships with new people, who often mistake his condition for rudeness. He said strangers often wonder why he doesn't return their smile, so he has to explain: 'Because I actually can't I actually can't do it.' The couple have consulted doctors and been reassured that any children they may have would not necessarily inherit their condition - but for now they are just enjoying being together. Mr Barker said: 'Just having Erin's hand in my hand, just means the world. It means we don't have to show any facial expression. And I know when Erin is looking at me that there is a smile inside somewhere.' Their courtship started more than three years ago, and after chatting online, they planned to meet at the US national conference for Moebius syndrome in July 2016. But Mr Barker decided to fly to North Carolina beforehand and meet Erin and her family in November 2015. Then he surprised his new love again and flew out to see her in February 2016. Then they did indeed met at that conference in July 2016, and Alex proposed to Erin at the Santa Monica Pier. It is not known where they intend to spend married life together. The couple will feature on Body Bizarre on Saturday at 10pm on TLC UK. The Duke of Duchess of Cambridge visited the BBC in London today, pictured, where Prince William challenged social media giants to do more on issues including cyber-bullying and privacy Prince William has accused social media giants of being 'on the back foot' when it comes to tackling fake news, privacy and cyber-bullying. The Duke of Cambridge added 'shareholders and profits' were 'distracting' firms from the 'values that made them so successful in the first place'. In a hard-hitting speech he said technology firms 'still have a great deal to learn' about their responsibilities and challenged them to fight harder against 'poison' spread online. Prince William said he believed tech leaders were 'people of integrity' but appeared to be unwilling to properly tackle issues from cyber-bullying to privacy and hate speech. He was speaking during a visit to the BBC in London to view the work the broadcaster is doing as a member of his Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyber-bullying while also highlighting Anti-Bullying Week. He said 'widespread optimism' that arose when the internet first became a fixture of modern life has given way to 'concern and fear'. The Duke of Cambridge added: 'The noise of shareholders, bottom lines, and profits is distracting them from the values that made them so successful in the first place. 'They are so proud of what they have built that they cannot hear the growing concern from their users. 'And increasingly they seemed resigned to a posture with governments and regulators that will be defined by conflict and discord. It does not have to be this way.' William also said the internet carried many double edges swords that brought as many risks as rewards. Making a speech at Broadcasting House, pictured, William said giant online firms had become 'distracted' from their values by 'shareholders and profit' The Duke and Duchess, right, were welcomed by BBC Director General Tony Hall, second left, and Director of BBC Children's Alice Webb The Prince and Kate, pictured with Lord Hall and Ms Webb at Broadcasting House, were at the BBC to see its progress as a member of the Duke's Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyber-bullying William, pictured with Kate in London, added 'widespread optimism' that arose when the internet first became a fixture of modern life has given way to 'concern and fear' The Prince added: 'We have seen that the technology that can allow you to develop an online community around a shared hobby or interest can also be used to organise violence. 'The platform that can allow you to celebrate diversity can also be used to cocoon yourself in a cultural and political echo chamber. 'The new ways we have to access news from across the world are also allowing misinformation and conspiracy to pollute the public sphere. 'And the apps we use to make new friends can also allow bullies to follow their targets even after they have left the classroom or the playing field.' William, who was with the Duchess of Cambridge, set up his taskforce to stop cyber-bullying among schoolchildren in May 2016. The couple met youths who wrote and performed a new video for Stop, Speak, Support, a campaign being introduced in schools providing guidance for children on what to do when they see bullying online. The Prince said he had been moved after meeting bereaved parents of bullied children who had taken their own lives. He said social media companies had 'done more to connect the world than has ever been achieved in human history'. But he added: 'I am worried, though, that our technology companies still have a great deal to learn about the responsibilities that come with their significant power. 'I say this not in anger. Again, I believe our tech leaders are people of integrity who are bringing many benefits to our lives and societies. 'I am very concerned though that on every challenge they face - fake news, extremism, polarisation, hate speech, trolling, mental health, privacy, and bullying - our tech leaders seem to be on the back foot. The Duke, pictured with Ms Webb, also tried out a new app designed to combat online bullying William, pictured with Kate in London, said social media giants were 'on the back foot' on issues including privacy and hate speech 'Their self-image is so grounded in their positive power for good that they seem unable to engage in constructive discussion about the social problems they are creating.' The Duchess wore her second recycled outfit in a week, donning a 1,200 dress by Emilia Wickstead which she wore previously in 2014 and 2015, and is from the British designer's AW13 collection. She teamed the simple teal number, which boasted a stylish pleated skirt, with Asprey London leaf hoop earrings and black suede Gianvito Rossi pumps while debuting a subtle side parting. The couple made a surprise appearance on The One Show sofa where they joined Ellie, Eliza and Cameron from Wormholt Park Primary School for a discussion on the upcoming Kids Online Wellbeing app. Afterwards, they joined BBC director general Lord Hall and director of BBC Children's Alice Webb to try out the app for themselves. The couple, who were at Buckingham Palace last night celebrating the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday, appeared to be in good spirits as they chatted to BBC executives during their surprise visit to Broadcasting House on Thursday TV debut! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge make a surprise appearance on The One Show sofa where they join Ellie, Eliza and Cameron from Wormholt Park Primary School for a discussion on the upcoming Kids Online Wellbeing app William and The Royal Foundation convened the Taskforce in May 2016, to support young people and their families affected by cyberbullying, with a focus on 11-16 year olds. Chaired by tech entrepreneur Brent Hoberman CBE, the Taskforce members include The Anti-Bullying Alliance, Apple, BT and The Diana Award. Also involved are EE, Facebook, Google, Internet Matters, Music.ly, NSPCC; O2, Sky, Snapchat, Supercell, TalkTalk, Three, Twitter, Vodafone and Virgin Media. The couple's visit today marked the second official engagement in what is shaping up to be a busy week, after Kate and William visited South Yorkshire on Wednesday. And just last night, they were spotted arriving at Buckingham Palace for a star-studded dinner and reception held in honour of the Prince of Wales' birthday. This is the moment a boy sent his younger brother flying down an escalator in a shopping trolley. The little boy was rushed to hospital after the incident at the Oasis Plaza shopping centre in the Russian town of Nyagan. Footage captured on a CCTV camera inside the mall showed the older boy pushing his sibling onto a descending escalator while his mother's back was turned. The boy was rushed to hospital after the incident at the Oasis Plaza shopping centre in the Russian town of Nyagan As he pushed the trolley down, it overturns and crashes on top of the younger boy. The youngster can be seen lying on his stomach after his fall as passing shoppers rush to his aid. One witness said the boy's forehead was bleeding and he passed out before paramedics arrived. 'The boy's forehead was bleeding terribly. His face and the front of his white shirt were covered in blood,' Albina Khamavova said. Footage captured on a CCTV camera inside the mall showed the older boy pushing his sibling onto a descending escalator 'He was standing, bleeding and crying while waiting for an ambulance. He even passed out until the paramedics arrived.' She added: 'The boys' mother ran over five minutes after the incident and started beating the older boy who was pushing the trolley.' The injured boy was transported to hospital accompanied by his parents, whose names have not been revealed. The youngster was seen lying on his stomach after his fall as passing shoppers rush to his aid Police are reviewing the footage and the boys' parents could be fined if they left their children unattended, according to reports Police are reviewing the footage and the boys' parents could be fined if they are found to have left their children unattended, according to reports. 'The mother should be punished for not looking after her children!' one social media user said. A woman added: 'OMG, I feel sick after watching this. The boy is extremely lucky to have survived.' A self-described schizophrenic Texas jail inmate claims that his late mother and God instructed him to kill a wheelchair-bound accused child molester who was sharing his cell last week. David Flores, 42, on Wednesday was charged with murder in the November 7 beating death of 76-year-old Clinton Don Simpson. Simpson, a preacher who was suspected of sexually abusing 12 children at his backyard miniature train track more than a decade ago, died from blunt force injuries to his head at the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth. David Flores, 42 (left), says his dead mother and God told him to kill accused serial child molester Clinton Simpson, 76 (right), at the Tarrant County Jail on November 7 During a jailhouse interview on Wednesday, Flores told a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter that he suffers from schizophrenia and hears voices. According to the inmate, when he was first booked into the county jail in October for allegedly assaulting an elderly store employee whom he suspected of being part of al-Qaeda, he warned officials about his condition and asked to be kept away from other inmates. Flores was initially placed in solitary confinement, but after he attempted to take his own life by bashing his head against the wall, the 42-year-old was transferred to the medical unit on suicide prevention watch and lodged in a cell with Simpson. Flores claimed he was not aware of the molesting charges his new cellmate was facing, but said that Simpson gave him 'the heebie-jeebies.' Describing his state of mind on November 7, Flores said he was paranoid and believed that everyone at the jail were part of the terrorist organization ISIS. He said he then began hearing the voice of his deceased mother in his head instructing him to kill Simpson. My mom said [of Simpson], Thats Bin Laden, so you ought to go get him, Flores said. So I went to wale on him . . . And God said, Go ahead. According to law enforcement officials, Flores delivered nearly 60 blows to Simpson's head with his fists. Then after Simpson fell out of his wheelchair, Flores allegedly slammed his head against the floor 14 times. The 76-year-old man was pronounced dead at 3.09am at John Peter Smith Hospital. Flores apparently did not know that Simpson had died until reporters informed him of it during Wednesday's interview, prompting him to express remorse. I didnt mean to do it, he said. I shouldnt have done it. Flores' brother, Brandon, confirmed to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that David has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and said that he belonged in psychiatric treatment, not in jail. Brandon Flores said his brothers mental illness likely escalated in jail after feeling vulnerable and alone. 'It just doesnt make any sense,' Brandon said. 'I think someone has to be responsible for putting this guy in with my brother. I dont know who gave the OK for that.' Simpson, 76, died from blunt force injuries to his head while on suicide watch with Flores in the jail's medical wing David McClelland, chief of staff for Tarrant Countys sheriff, said its not unusual for more than one inmate on suicide watch to share a jail cell. Cells located in the jails medical wing, where Simpson and Flores were being held, can house up to four inmates on suicide watch, McClelland said. He said mental health services agency My Health My Resources recommends placing inmates together because its more beneficial for them than solitary confinement. McClelland said some jail staff members are on suspension while an internal investigation of Simpsons death is ongoing. Simpson turned himself in to police in 2007 after he was accused of molesting 11 girls and one boy at 'Mr Don's Whistle Stop', the miniature train station and track that he built and operated from his backyard, reported CBS DFW. Simpson was accused in 2007 of molesting 11 girls and one boy at 'Mr Don's Whistle Stop', the miniature train station and track that he built and operated from his backyard (pictured) Simpson spent 10 years in state hospitals because he was found incompetent to stand trial. He was only recently found competent and returned to Tarrant County Jail. He was meant to undergo independent evaluations and a competency hearing because his defense attorney claimed he was still incompetent, according to the Star-Telegram. Simpson faced 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and two counts of indecency by fondling. Following his arrest, Simpson - who had preached part-time for Haslet Church of Christ - confessed to police that he had sexually assaulted the 12 children. Authorities began investigating Simpson after parents claimed he assaulted their three-year-old daughter when she rode on the train with him at a birthday party. A number of parents then came forward and reported the possibility that Simpson had 'inappropriately touched' their 'preschool-age' daughters, the Star-Telegram reported. Police received more than 200 calls from concerned parents within a week after Simpson's arrest. Parents of two of Simpson's victims filed a civil lawsuit against him in 2007, but it was dropped a year later because he was found incompetent to stand trial in the criminal cases. The parents said they had become friends with Simpson and his wife Mary in October 2006 and that the couple encouraged them to come to Mr Don's Whistle Stop. For the span of a year, the parents took their daughters to the train track. After Simpson was arrested, they learned their daughters had been sexually assaulted and that Simpson had also exposed himself to them. The parents alleged in the lawsuit that they discovered Simpson had also 'engaged in similar sexual behavior' with children in the 1980s. They claimed Mary, a leader in church and a teacher at a local school, knew about it. Simpson was initially placed on house arrest, but was hospitalized in 2009. His last court hearing had been in 2014. The Trump administration announced Thursday it is sanctioning 17 Saudis for their role in the killing of journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Treasury Department announced. Those to be sanctioned include Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, the source said but not the crown prince himself. 'The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi,' according to a statement from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. 'These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions,' according to a Mnuchin statement released Thursday morning. The U.S. is imposing sanctions on Saudis for the murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi (left) 'The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi's fiancee, children, and the family he leaves behind,' Mnuchin said. 'The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists,' Mnuchin said. The move came as Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor was revealed to be seeking the death penalty for five out of 11 suspects charged in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, his office said on Thursday, as the kingdom tries to contain its biggest political crisis in a generation. The Trump administration announced the sanctions more than a month after Khashoggi was killed in the country's Istanbul consulate on Oct. 2 in a statement by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, told reporters Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had "absolutely nothing to do" with the murder, following the prosecutor's comments. Asked about pending sanctions, al-Jubeir said there was a difference between sanctioning individuals and holding the Saudi government responsible. Saudi journalist and former editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan Jamal Khashoggi was allegedly brutally murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The U.S. is sanctioning 17 people believed to be part of the plan to target and kill him Khashoggi, a royal insider turned critic of Saudi policy, was killed in the country's Istanbul consulate on Oct. 2 after a struggle, by lethal injection, deputy public prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan told reporters. He was a Virginia resident and also wrote a column for the Washington Post, using it as a vehicle to call for free expression and internal and external dissent. The sanctions will be implemented under the Global Magnitsky Act, which imposes sanctions over human rights abuses. Among others facing sanctions are Maher Mutreb, an aide to Qahtani who has appeared in photographs with Prince Mohammed on official visits this year to the United States and Europe. LOTS TO DISCUSS: Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on October 16, 2018, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia According to Treasury: 'Saud Al-Qahtani is a senior official of the Government of Saudi Arabia who was part of the planning and execution of the operation that led to the killing of Mr. Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, 2018.' 'This operation was coordinated and executed by his subordinate Maher Mutreb, and involved participation of at least 14 other Saudi government officials: Salah Tubaigy; Meshal Albostani; Naif Alarifi; Mohammed Alzahrani; Mansour Abahussain; Khalid Alotaibi; Abdulaziz Alhawsawi; Waleed Alsehri; Thaar Alharbi; Fahad Albalawi; Badr Alotaibi; Mustafa Almadani; Saif Alqahtani; and Turki Alsehri. The Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where Mr. Khashoggi was killed, was overseen by Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi. All of these individuals are designated for being responsible for, or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in serious human rights abuse.' Following the imposition of sanctions, 'any property or interests in property of the individuals designated today within or transiting U.S. jurisdiction is blocked. Additionally, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with blocked persons, including entities 50 percent or more owned by designated persons,' Treasury said. A Democrat who trailed a Republican incumbent in a costly U.S. House race came from behind to emerge as the victor Thursday following extra rounds of tabulations under Maine's new voting system that's facing a legal challenge. Election officials declared Jared Golden the winner, flipping the seat held by two-term Rep. Bruce Poliquin, after a federal judge declined to halt tabulations in the state's ranked-choice voting system used in last week's election. It was the first time an incumbent has lost that seat in more than 100 years. The outcome was a dramatic reversal in the nation's only test of the ranked-choice voting system used for the first time in U.S. House and Senate races. Golden's election further strengthens a majority for Democrats who swept into power in the House. His election leaves Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, the lone Republican member of Congress in New England. Winner: Democratic challenger Jared Golden unseated Republican incumbent Bruce Polquin in the Maine 2nd Congressional district where ranked choice was being used to decide a Congressional result for the first time ever. Polquin is going to court claiming it is unconsitutional How we do it: Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn explain the process for determining a winner using ranked voting in the 2nd Congressional District race Golden, a Marine Corps veteran, declared himself the 'majority consensus winner' and told reporters he wants to bring to Washington, D.C., the type of leadership he saw in the Marines. 'The best leaders were the ones who didn't worry about who got credit for getting the job done,' he said. 'Imagine what Congress could do if we had more leaders like that in Washington?' he added. The ranked-choice system, approved in 2016, lets voters rank all candidates from first to last on the ballot. If no one gets a majority, then last-place candidates are eliminated and their second-place votes are reallocated. In this case, Poliquin and Golden both collected 46 percent of first-place votes, with Poliquin maintaining a slim edge of about 2,000 votes. But additional tabulations were triggered because no one collected a majority. On Thursday, Golden overtook Poliquin after state election officials eliminated two independent candidates who trailed, collectively gathering about 8 percent of first-place votes. A computer algorithm reallocated the second-place votes, giving Golden a lead of nearly 3,000 votes. Poliquin questioned the election results Thursday under Maine's ranked-choice voting law. He repeated his claim he 'won the constitutional 'one-person, one-vote' first-choice election' on Election Day. Poliquin also said he isn't abandoning a federal lawsuit in which he seeks to have Maine's new ranked-choice voting system declared unconstitutional. The legal challenge by Poliquin and three GOP activists served as the backdrop for the dramatic finale of a hard-fought battle that became the most expensive congressional race in state history. The lawsuit remains alive even though U.S. District Judge Lance Walker declined Poliquin's request to stop tabulations. Last survivor: Susan Collins, Maine's Republican senator, is the party's only federally elected official after Democrats flipped Maine's 2nd Congressional District In his decision, however, the judge said it doesn't appear the Constitution prohibits an election process with more than one round of ballot counting. He also said it's plausible the Constitution allows states 'sufficient leeway to experiment with the election process.' Golden said he didn't think the ongoing litigation would prevent him from being seated in January. During a press conference, Golden said he's willing to work with Republicans and that his focus will be on getting things done, not in the ongoing investigations of President Donald Trump. He also said he wouldn't vote for Democratic California Rep. Nancy Pelosi to serve as House speaker. Mainers approved ranked-choice voting in a statewide referendum after nine of the previous 11 governors were elected without a majority of the vote. For now, the ranked-choice voting system is used only in federal races and in statewide primary elections in Maine. It cannot be used in the governor's race or legislative races because of concerns it runs afoul of the state constitution. Democratic Gov.-elect Janet Mills has said she will try to amend Maine's constitution so the system can be used in all elections. Lord Lester will not be suspended from Parliament for allegedly promising a woman a peerage if she slept with him after peers sensationally voted against the rebuke. Lord Lester of Herne Hill, 82, allegedly also groped Jasvinder Sanghera as he chased her around his kitchen pestering her for sex. The Lords privileges and conduct committee on Monday recommended that he is suspended from Parliament for four years for sexual harassment. But in an extraordinary twist, peers today voted to block the suspension - complaining that the disciplinary process against the peer was unfair. The House of Lords voted by 101 to 78, majority 23, to send the case back to the Lords' Committee for Privileges and Conduct to look at again. The move is likely to spark fury among women's rights campaigners, and comes after Parliament was rocked by the sex harassment and bullying scandals. Lord Lester - who was suspended by the Lib Dems during the disciplinary process - strongly denies the allegations against him. And Lord Pannick, a leading human rights lawyer, slammed the disciplinary process which led to the decision, saying it not worthy of a local darts club. Jasvinder Sanghera, 53, claimed that in the car journey Lord Lester of Herne Hill repeatedly grabbed her thigh instead of the gearstick, leaving her so concerned for her safety she later barricaded herself inside his guest bedroom using a chair Lord Pannick (pictured in Parliament earlier this year) said the disciplinary process against Lord Lester was unfair because the peer was not allowed to cross examine the woman who made the complaint against him. He is mounting a parliamentary bid to block the suspension He accused the Commissioner of breaching the code of conduct which requires her to 'act in accordance with the principles of natural justice and fairness'. It means that Lord Lester will be able carry on sitting as a peer and claim his 300 tax free daily allowance. Lord McFall, Senior Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords, said: 'I am deeply disappointed by today's decision by the House to send the report into the conduct of Lord Lester back to the Privileges and Conduct Committee for further consideration. 'The Committee will meet next week to consider options in response to today's vote. Members raised concerns with the process of the investigation that the Committee will consider. 'I fully support the Commissioner for Standards and the work she has undertaken for many months. Every step of the way she followed the processes as agreed by the House and that have not been questioned before today. 'I would also like to express my sympathy to the complainant at what must be a very difficult time for her.' Report finds that 'boorish' male MPs groped and propositioned women 'Boorish' male MPs groped, lunged and propositioned women in Parliament, a damning report into the sexminster scandal revealed. Dame Laura Cox said many MPs will be 'horrified' at the conduct of their colleagues. Some male politicians were guilty of 'predatory' behaviour, the judge said. Women who worked in Westminster complained that male MPs had touched their bottoms and breasts, patted their heads and had been abused in 'vulgar gender-related terms'. Dame Laura said: 'The most serious allegations related to the alleged 'predatory' conduct of a few individuals, but overall the allegations indicate that sexual harassment has been a more widespread problem, and it crosses the political sphere. 'All of the allegations were made against men. Some are no longer in the House but others continue to serve as elected Members.' Some male MPs were so well known for their lewd advances that women were privately warned never to be in a room alone with them, the report said. She added: 'There were reports too of groups of male MPs becoming increasingly boorish on occasions when they were together, of frequent sexual innuendos, lewd comments or sexual gestures, or women repeatedly being asked questions about their sex lives, or about their personal lives generally, which they found offensive and humiliating.' Dame Laura added: 'Some men who came forward spoke of witnessing 'some atrocious treatment of young women by MPs,' and of 'some women being treated as their personal servants, with veiled threats to have them moved if they failed to comply with requests.' Advertisement Speaking earlier this week, Lord Pannick QC, a crossbench peer and a close friend and colleague of Lord Lester, said, 'The procedure followed by the Commissioner was manifestly unfair. 'It is impossible fairly and effectively to decide on the truth of allegations of sexual harassment said to have occurred nearly 12 years ago without allowing for the cross-examination of the complainant. He added: 'Parliament has applied a procedure that would be invalidated by the courts if Lord Lester were to be suspended by his local darts club.' Lord Lester is said to have sexually harassed Ms Sanghera, 53, a campaigner against forced marriage, when the pair worked together on a Bill going through Parliament in 2006, when he was 70 and she was 41 years-old. He allegedly repeatedly grabbed Ms Sanghera's thigh instead of the gearstick of his car and allegedly told her: 'If you sleep with me, I will make you a baroness within a year.' He allegedly became 'obsessively attracted' to the woman three decades his junior, repeatedly pestering her for sex. After one late meeting she agreed to stay with him and his wife at their 3million home after she missed her train - but became so concerned for her safety she barricaded herself inside his guest bedroom using a chair. Describing what happened the next morning she told the Commissioner for Standards: 'He came up behind me and put his arms around my waist. 'I pushed him away. Again, he placed his arms around me and further up my body. I had to force myself away. He pursued me around the kitchen and I pleaded with him to stop'. She added in her statement: 'In the car on the way to his house, he kept repeatedly missing the gearstick with his hand and instead very firmly placed his hand on my right thigh. 'The first time it happened I thought it must've been an accident, but when it continued I realised it was not. I removed his hand and asked him to stop. He just smiled. 'He continued to grope my thigh for the length of the journey, despite my protests'. Lord Lester, who called the allegations a 'pack of lies', was warned he faces a record suspension from the House of Lords for the sexual harassment and could be barred from the upper chamber until June 2022 for breaching its behaviour code. Lord Lester rejected the allegations as 'completely untrue' and denounced the investigation conducted by the Lords' Commissioner for Standards, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff as flawed. Miss Sanghera, who has a partner and adult children, made claims about Lord Lester last November following the Westminster sex harassment scandal. Lord Lester's wife Lady Katya Lester (left) was at home when Jasvinder Sanghera (right) claimed the peer groped her Waiving her anonymity, she told The Times that she did not make a complaint at the time because she thought her word against his was 'not an equal contest'. She said: 'What he did to me wasn't acceptable and wasn't honourable. There needs to be a system in place that will give other victims the confidence to complain and to feel supported in doing so'. Lord Lester dismissed the allegations as a 'pack of lies' and said Miss Sanghera later signed a book for the peer thanking him for his 'love and support'. A report by the Lords' sub-committee on conduct said the peer became 'obsessively attracted' to Miss Sanghera to the extent that he 'completely lost all sense of judgment and propriety'. Lord Lester was a special adviser to Roy Jenkins in the 1970s and moved with him from Labour to help found the Social Democratic Party in 1981. A six-year-old girl in Houston, Texas, is recovering after being hit by a stray bullet after a security guard opened fire on a fleeing cellphone thief. Claire Tidwell had been sitting in her father's SUV while waiting at a McDonald's drive-thru when 'dozens' of gunshots rang out, according to Claire's father, Danny Tidwell. 'We ducked down and Claire shouted out 'Daddy, I'm hurt!' When I turned to the backseat, I saw blood everywhere,' the father recounted. Claire Tidwell underwent surgery to remove a bullet lodged in her leg after she was struck by a security guard firing at a robbery suspect The bullets were fired by Christopher Jermaine Bradley, a 28-year-old security guard who was chasing after 18-year-old Earnest Hudson. Hudson had allegedly stolen an iPhone from a T-Mobile store setting off an alarm when Bradley, who was not in uniform, confronted him, according to police. Christopher Jermaine Bradley, 28, was charged with aggravated assault in the shooting incident Prosecutors say the security guard fired an 'an unknown amount of times' and 'kept missing his target' before eventually striking Hudson as well as Claire, KTRK reported. Hudson was hit several times from Bradley's gunfire, but is expected to survive. 'He's sick about it, you know? Because it was never his intention for that little girl to get a bullet in her leg,' Sherhonda Bradley, Christopher's mother told KTRK. 'He's not a vigilante, he's not a crazy man. Chris is a loving, caring man. He's very compassionate about life and about people.' Sherhonda also described how her son would often speak of the dangers of his job at the store. Christopher was subsequently charged with aggravated assault - serious bodily injury, and a bond of $30,000 on was set for him in court on Wednesday. Danny Tidwell said he did not appreciate the local store employing an armed security guard on the premises. Earnest Hudson set off an alarm stealing an iPhone from this Houston T-Mobile store and attempted to flee when Christopher Bradley confronted and shot him A bullet hole pictured in the rear door of Danny Tidwell's SUV where Claire Tidwell was shot while waiting at the McDonald's drive-thru 'Our thoughts are with everyone involved. We are working closely with the independently-owned third party retailer that operates the store to fully understand the facts around this terrible incident and how their security service responded. 'We will also continue to provide assistance to law enforcement in their ongoing investigation,' T-Mobile said in a statement to KPRC. Claire successfully underwent a three-hour surgery following the incident, but is looking at additional treatment and physical therapy. The family has set up a GoFundMe page in order to deal with the expenses. 'Claire has shown more courage and strength than any six-year-old you could imagine,' Danny Tidwell writes of his daughter. Claire successfully underwent a three-hour surgery following the incident, but is looking at additional treatment and physical therapy Danny Tidwell (shown) tells of the frantic moments after the hail of bullets when his daughter was hit in the leg while they sat in his SUV This is the heartbreaking moment a 50-year-old woman breaks down in tears as she unwraps her birthday present, to find her late father's personalised number plates inside which hold a special meaning for her family. Wendy Edwards was celebrating her 50th birthday with her daughter Kristie Edwards and the rest of her family when she was presented with the touching gift. As she unwrapped the present she stopped and put her hand over her mouth as she discovered the registration plates which read 'DAD 484X'. Wendy Davis, pictured with her 78-year-old father Tony who took his own life earlier this year, received her father's personalised number plates for her 50th birthday The gift was organised by Wendy's daughter Kristie, 21, from South Yorkshire, pictured with her grandfather Tony Earlier this year Wendy's father Tony Davis, 78, took his own life after 'struggling mentally'. Twenty-one-year-old Kristie, from South Yorkshire, who helped organise the gift in a tribute to her grandfather, gathered the whole family around for the handover. Her uncle Jimmy, her father Dave, her 'Nannan' Carol and her boyfriend Nyle showed up to watch Wendy open the gift, which Kristie says has a 'special meaning for the whole family' and her grandfather. 'He valued his reg plates as it said 'DAD 494X'. 494X to my family it means "may god be with you till we meet again". We put it on all our texts, cards, letters and say it over the phone to one another. 'So it really has a big meaning behind it. It's also a hymn they used in the war to keep others safe, so now we use it on my family and it was the final song played at my grandad's funeral.' Kristie, who has recently graduated from Sheffield Hallam University, described her grandfather as an 'inspiration' and said that her mother Wendy had struggled since his death. Wendy Edwards unwraps the gift (left) and when she realises what's inside the box she covers her face and begins to cry 'My mum is one of the most wonderful people on earth, and she has been really upset and down about losing my grandad in this tragic way. 'My grandad was my best friend, and no doubt my biggest fan. He inspired me to always be the best version of myself, and to never doubt myself. 'He supported me through every training session, every event, and every other second of my life. Everything he did was to ensure I was happy and living my life. He made sure I was in love with every achievement, every journey, and every second of my life.' 'My 77-year-old grandad, the man who made the world's best cuppas, gave the world's best cuddles, the man who I simply adored, decided to take his life into his own hands. Wendy takes the plates out of the box (left) and holds them up for the rest of her family to see 'He was struggling mentally and I think he decided when his time was up as he wasn't living his life to the fullest and felt as though he was being a burden to the family. 'I have recently set up a charity in my grandad's memory - Tillie's thoughts - where I want to provide mental health awareness in the elderly, as I think it all gets pushed under the carpet and they check physical health rather than mental heath as people get older.' 'There are a series of taboos surrounding mental health - one being the existence of mental health issues within the elderly population. When trying to help the elderly, we tend to focus on physical ailments that come naturally with the aging process. 'We need to also focus on the battles they face against their own minds, along with so many other individuals.' Figures from the Mental Health Foundation suggest that since 1974, the number and proportion of older people in the UK population (aged 65 and older) has grown by four percent, making up nearly 18 percent of the total population in 2014. Depression currently affects around 22 percent of men and 28 percent of women aged 65 years and over, yet it is estimated that 85 percent of older people with depression receive no help at all from the NHS. Kristie set up a Go Fund Me page for Tillie's thoughts, which has so far managed to raise 790. She had originally set the goal as 500 and said that it is important elderly people are given the 'support to act on their own insecurities'. She added: 'In memory of my best friend, I wanted to be involved in a process that actively promotes a positive change and ensures no-one has to feel the pain that myself and my family have. I have met with the amazing charity, MIND, and I have made the decision to channel my heart break into something positive.' A woman whose abusive mother for years made everyone believe she was seriously ill testified Thursday that she talked her online boyfriend into coming to Missouri to kill her. The testimony from Gypsy Blanchard, 27, came in the trial of her former boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn. His attorneys don't deny that he killed 48-year-old Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard in June 2015 at her home near Springfield but are hoping to persuade jurors to convict him of something other than first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison. Gypsy Blanchard, who is already serving a 10-year prison sentence for second-degree murder in her mom's death, was the first witness to testify for the defense after prosecutors wrapped up their presentation on Wednesday, The Springfield News-Leader reported . 'I wanted to be free of her hold on me,' Blanchard said. She went on to add: 'I talked him into it.' It's the latest twist in a bizarre case that was the subject of the 2017 HBO documentary 'Mommy Dead and Dearest.' Gypsy Blanchard takes the stand left during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (right) on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, in Springfield, Mo Clauddine Blanchard (right) had essentially kept her daughter (left) prisoner in their home and for years her to use a wheelchair and to undergo unnecessary medical tests Friends and attorneys say Clauddine Blanchard had essentially kept her daughter prisoner in their home, which was provided by Habitat for Humanity. Blanchard for years forced her daughter to use a wheelchair and to undergo unnecessary medical tests. Gypsy Blanchard had had little formal schooling, according to investigators, and friends believed she was severely ill and developmentally delayed. It turned out, she was perfectly healthy. Blanchard said she met Godejohn on a Christian dating website in 2012 and that they carried out a secret relationship, including in text messages that prosecutors read earlier in Godejohn's trial. Prosecutors have argued that Godejohn plotted for more than a year before he stabbed Clauddine Blanchard. His attorneys argue that he is autistic and therefore does not have the mental capabilities required for premeditation. Gypsy had little formal schooling, according to investigators, and friends believed she was severely ill and developmentally delayed The child is seen above receiving medical treatment for illnesses that were not real Gypsy said her mother hit her, punched her and starved her. Once after she tried to run away, she said, her mother chained her to a bed for two weeks But under questioning from prosecutors, Gypsy acknowledged that Godejohn dominated their relationship, with him being the 'master' and her the 'slave.' She testified that her mom made her believe that she had muscular dystrophy, cancer and other ailments. She said it wasn't until she was 19 that she began to understand that she wasn't as sick as her mom said, and that it wasn't until her arrest that she realized how healthy she was. She said she was too afraid of her mom to tell doctors the truth. She said her mother hit her, punched her and starved her. Once after she tried to run away, she said, her mother chained her to a bed for two weeks. 'I feared her more than I feared anyone else,' she said. Blanchard, seen Wednesday in court, said she met Godejohn on a Christian dating website in 2012 and that they carried out a secret relationship, including in text messages that prosecutors read earlier in Godejohn's trial She said she first met Godejohn in person in March 2015, when he visited from Wisconsin. In text messages presented earlier in the trial, Godejohn and Gypsy generally discussed love, sex and planning a life together - until June 2015, when they began discussing needing duct tape and knives in the days before Clauddine Blanchard was killed. Godejohn and Gypsy often referred to each other's darker impulses, with Godejohn's discussing his 'evil side' that he said 'enjoys killing.' Gypsy's darker side was called 'Ruby' in the texts. Clauddine Blanchard's body was found after her friends noticed a post on her Facebook page stating, 'That (expletive) is dead.' Prosecutors also played a tape of an interview with Godejohn conducted after he and Gypsy Blanchard were arrested at his home in Wisconsin. In the interview, Godejohn said he killed Clauddine Blanchard because Gypsy 'asked me to.' 'She felt it was her only way to be with me,' he said. A television sign language interpreter has gone viral after her facial expressions perfectly summed up the 'perplexing f***ery' of Brexit. A hilarious video has emerged showing the sign language interpreter for BBC News displaying amazing facial expressions as she tries to translate what is going on in Brexit. The video was taken by actor and writer Ell Potter from London as she was watching the lunchtime broadcast on the BBC World News channel. The sign language interpreter can been seen pulling hilarious faces throughout the video She said: 'I was watching the BBC World News channel (I think it was BBC News at one) and the interpreter caught my eye as she was being so expressive. 'It seemed to me that it was the most accurate analysis of Brexit that I've seen today, and it didn't even need words -- she is just so expressive'. The interpreter can been seen pulling faces throughout the video as she interprets what has been a tumultuous day of Brexit. Ell, 22, saw her opportunity to take a video that she feels sums up the Brexit situation at the moment. The video was taken by actor and writer Ell Potter from London as she watched the BBC news Ell, 22, saw her opportunity to take a video that she feels sums up the Brexit She tweeted: 'The sign language interpreter doing the Brexit Agreement on BBC News is perfectly conveying the perplexing f***ery of this situation #Brexit #BrexitChaos'. The video was posted around 1:15pm today and has had over 113,000 views. The video shows the sign language interpreter doing her best to translate what is being said surrounding the Brexit Agreement. She steals the show as her facial expression perfectly describe the complexity of the Brexit fiasco happening today. The video has already been a huge hit with many people on social media The video has already been a huge hit with many people on social media. Billybirdshome said: 'I don't understand sign language, yet I know she's describing the goings on to a tee! The eyes have it!'. MarkBarrettCW added: 'Easily the best physical interpretation of brexit!'. Ijphilp wrote: 'I love this. I've never learnt sign language but I understand exactly what she's communicating' SteampunkMuppet said: 'I'm in love. I need her to interpret all politics all the time'. Lima2001 added: 'Her expressions sum it up perfectly. #s*show'. Some people have even suggested she be given a new job. PancreaticPilot said: 'Make this lady Prime Minister!' Sujofficial added: 'Potential #Brexit Secretary?' Ell was surprised by how many people have reacted to her Tweet. She said: 'I'm shocked by the amount of Retweets and favourites it has received. I'm glad that it's made people laugh as today is a bleak and tumultuous day'. Cryptocurrency Bitcoin fell to its lowest level for over a year when it dropped below $6,000 for the first time in three months. Around 15 per cent was wiped off the value of the world's largest digital-based currency, with most of the initial loss coming in just half an hour. Bitcoin last fell to $6,000 in August and this month tumbled to its lowest valuation since last November with it's the biggest single drop since February. For months, the price of Bitcoin has been hovering around the mid-$6,000s mark. Bitcoin dropped as low as $5,322, the least since October 2017, or just before the surge in demand that pushed its price to almost $20,000 in December last year. This sharp fall meant Bitcoin was down by around 70 per cent from its record high of last year. Bitcoin had around 15 per cent was wiped off the value with most of the initial loss coming in just half an hour Bitcoin last fell to $6,000 in August and this month tumbled to its lowest valuation since last November with it's the biggest single drop since February Bitcoin's rival digital currencies Ether, Litecoin and XRP also dropped more than 17 per cent Other digital coins slumped, with smaller rivals Ether, Litecoin and XRP dropping more than 17 per cent. Bitcoin Cash fell as much as 21 per cent as the Bitcoin offshoot faces its own split. Michael Terpin, a San Juan, Puerto Rico-based partner at Alphabit Fund, told Bloomberg: 'The market is trying to find the bottom. 'People who are chartists look at historical patterns, and they note there's one last final capitulation drop to get the last people fleeing out of the market.' Some traders speculated that investors may be leaving Bitcoin to raise funds to buy Bitcoin Cash. Two versions of Bitcoin Cash software will be competing to become the dominant chain tomorrow, and some miners could be switching from mining Bitcoin to Bitcoin Cash to lend one or the other version support. Bitcoin dropped as low as $5,322, the least since October 2017, or just before the surge in demand that pushed its price to almost $20,000 in December last year Other digital coins also slumped this month, with smaller rivals Ether, Litecoin and XRP dropping more than 17 per cent The value of Bitcoin and other forms of digital currency has plunged by 80 per cent since January a total loss of $640 billion that has sparked comparisons with the Dot-Com bubble in the early days of the internet. From 1997 to 2001, a large number of online-based companies commonly referred to as Dot-Coms were founded, prompting a flurry of investment. But the value of many of these companies started to plummet around the turn of the new millennium. Bitcoin plunged to levels under $6,000 time and again since late last year, only to see buying return and prices come roaring back. Bank of England governor Mark Carney launched a scathing attack on cryptocurrencies in Marhc, saying 'fools' were pumping up their values. Warren Buffett, one of the most influential and successful businessmen of his generation, has regularly warned about an imminent cryptocurrency bubble burst. A former police officer who was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a traffic stop broke down in tears and was comforted by his wife at a press conference announcing that all charges against him are being dropped. Adam York, 45, was fired from the Tampa Police a month after a woman accused him of asking her to pull her pants down and touching her inappropriately during a traffic stop in February of 2016. His DNA was later found inside the underwear of the woman, who drove to Florida Hospital North Pinellas later that morning and told medical staff that she had been sexually assaulted. The defense insisted the DNA could have been transferred from York handling her driving license. The woman also admitted she was driving drunk and that her recollection of the traffic stop was hazy, the Tampa Bay Times reported. On Wednesday, Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren announced that he believed that the encounter had been consensual and that the state was dropping all charges against York. This is at odds, however, to York's claims that nothing of a sexual nature occurred. At a press conference, York was in tears as he spoke about how the allegations had hurt him. Former police officer Adam York's wife stood by him at the press conference in Tampa on Tuesday, where he proclaimed his innocence after sexual battery charges were dropped 'When you're the one who's been accused and you know you're innocent, you're angry from day one. From day one you're saying 'I didn't do this' and you've got all kinds of evidence, and everybody's just ignoring it,' York said, according to WFTS. 'They had a plan, and they were going with it, and they weren't going to let me stop that and they weren't going to let facts get in the way.' 'I had to tell my daughter last night about bad touch, being accused of bad touches: my 8-year-old daughter,' he said. 'The school's going to hear about this, her friends, she's going to read about this on the internet, the horrible things said about me and she's going to have to live with that. This is never going away, this is the rest of my life and they've taken it all.' York said he'd been unable to find police work since being fired and had been working construction jobs to provide for his family. Tears streamed down York's face as his wife stood beside him at the press conference The allegations date back to the early morning hours of February 1, 2016, when York pulled over a woman for speeding outside WestShore Plaza. She later admitted to driving drunk, but York told investigators he didn't think she was drunk, and the stop did not result in a ticket or arrest. The woman, who is in her 20s, told police that she'd earlier met a Tinder date at Snapper's Grill & Comedy Club in Palm Harbor, and then accompanied him to Two Buks Saloon where they both drank a number of Long Island iced teas. She said that she got out of her car at least once, and that York placed her in the back of his patrol car after ordering her back to her vehicle. York is seen in a mugshot. He was charged with sexual battery but charges dropped The woman said that while she was in the back of the car when York told her to pull her pants down, which she says she did. That's when she says he touched her inappropriately. 'I was flirtatious,' she told investigators. 'I pulled down my pants because he told me to.' York said that the woman was flirtatious but denied that any sexual activity took place. 'I started to run her license but she got out of the car,' York said, according to investigative documents. '(I) told her to get back in the car. Started to run her license. She got out of the car. And this went back and forth a couple times.' Warren announced Wednesday that 'new evidence came out that the victim had consented'. 'And we couldn't proceed ethically on a charge that we know we couldn't prove.' York's lawyer Rick Escobar rejected Warren's findings that something had occurred, but of a consensual nature, saying that the prosecutor was 'trying to protect Chief Dugan. It's as simple as that.' After the charges against York were dropped, Escobar appealed to the Tampa Police to give him his job back. Police Chief Brian Dugan said in a statement Tuesday that the department stands by its probe and won't be rehiring York. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn backed the police chief, saying that the evidence of the DNA in the underwear had been 'irrefutable.' 'The fact that the DNA was there is irrefutable,' Buckhorn said. 'Obviously, lawyers offer all kinds of theories. But we hold our officers to a very, very high standard and we're not going to diminish that standard at all.' A group of pranksters have filmed themselves paying for a 1,200 iPhone XS with a bathtub full of pennies. Russian blogger Svyatoslav Kovalenko put 100,000 1 RUB - the equivalent of 1p coins - in a tub before heading to the Evropeisky shopping centre in Moscow. It took six of them to carry the 360kg bathtub to the Apple store, where staff spent two hours counting the money. Russian blogger Svyatoslav Kovalenko and his friends take a bath tub filled with pennies to the Evropeisky shopping centre in Moscow An Apple staff member spends two hours counting the coins before handing over the phone A chuffed Kovalenko holds up his new purchase - the latest iPhone - after paying for it in pennies Kovalenko uploaded the footage to his Instagram account for his 51,000 followers. In the clip, viewed over 35,000 times, security guards in the shopping centre initially tried to stop the group from entering the store with the filled bath. Kovalenko is heard asking a guard: 'Is there anything wrong?' At least two scuffles broke out with security staff before the group managed to carry the bath into the shop, presumably as they were not doing anything illegal. It took six men to carry the 360kg bathtub (pictured) to the Apple store to carry out the prank Kovalenko (pictured) uploaded the footage to his Instagram account for his 51,000 followers, where it has been viewed more than 35,000 times At least one police officer can however be seen in the footage keeping a close eye on the youngsters. Kovalenko boasts: 'This is the legendary bath of change.' In the end, Kovalenko bought the iPhone XS for 100,000 RUB (1,200) in change. A female professor from the University of Colorado who sent students 'intensely personal text messages' and 'requests to meet off-campus' has been placed on leave and banned from university grounds. Amy Wilkins, an associate professor of sociology, is accused of 'a pattern of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct that spans more than a decade,' according the Chronicle of Higher Education. Wilkins was 'placed on administrative leave on October 1, banned from the campus, and ordered not to contact seven people,' while university officials investigate. Amy Wilkins, (pictured), an associate professor of sociology at the University of Colorado, is accused of 'a pattern of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct' The professor is reportedly being investigated for sexual misconduct and harassment of people she supervised. She is accused of 'pressurizing students to engage in inappropriate sexual conduct and conversations.' According to her online resume, between 2014 and 2016, she was also the sociology department's graduate program director. Wilkins did not respond to repeated emails and phone calls from The Chronicle of Higher Education. CU spokesman Ryan Huff confirmed that Wilkins was on paid administrative leave. He declined to comment further, citing personnel privacy laws and policies. 'Excluding someone from campus is a decision made on a case-by-case basis,' he said. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, one student who met Wilkins in the fall of 2006, when she was a junior sociology major, has spoken about chatting with the professor after class and dropping in on her during office hours. She has accused Wilkins of kissing her and said the relationship 'intensely skyrocketed.' Wilkins has been placed on 'administrative leave, banned from the campus and ordered not to contact seven people' 'It became physical, she said, and Wilkins talked with her about her sex life.' 'When gossip began circulating about them during the student's spring class with Wilkins, her professor became more distant.' Another graduate student 'said the professor tried to engage her in discussions about Wilkinss own sex life.' Wilkins was also said to invite students to meet up in bars. CU's Sociology Department is no stranger to controversy. In 2017, the department chair Don Grant stepped down after allegations by a woman who said she'd been harassed by someone in the department. Grant said the allegations were false and denied he was stepping down because of them. No evidence of harassment was found by university officials. The allegations against Wilkins span over a decade. University officials are investigating In 2013 and 2014, the department hit national headlines concerning a class on deviance taught by Professor Patti Adler. Adler had employed undergraduate teaching assistants to portray various types of prostitutes and pimps. CU launched, then dropped, an investigation when no formal student complaints were filed. Adler has since retired. The university has a conflict of interest policy in place that bans intimate relationships between faculty and students. Police are hunting for a 'despicable' thief who went on a 10,000 spending spree after stealing a purse belonging to a 91-year-old widow as she lay on her death bed in hospital. The heartless thief swiped Mary Banks' bank card from her purse next to her bed and bought groceries and clothes before stealing cash from her account. The former secretary, who had severe breathing problems, was completely unaware of the theft and died in Peterborough City Hospital four days after on October 12. Her only son has labelled the thief as 'despicable' as he pleaded for information over who may be responsible. Mary Banks, pictured with her late husband Frank Banks, died aged 91 in Peterborough Hospital Jim Banks, 65, said: 'This stolen money means would mean nothing to my poor mum because she has died now but if this happened to another elderly person it would completely destroy their livelihood. 'I want whoever did this despicable act to be brought to justice. 'To steal from an elderly vulnerable woman in hospital is the lowest of the low and I hope that this person is jailed so that something like this can never happen ever again to anyone else. Police have released CCTV of a woman they want to talk to in connection with the theft of Mary Banks purse 'My mother was 91 years old, suffering from dementia, was immobile and had severe breathing problems when her purse was stolen as she lay in bed at Peterborough City Hospital. Mr Banks, who lives in Gloucestershire, told how the first withdrawal was made inside the hospital and that the thief went on a 'vicious spending spree' in Peterborough, Northampton and London. More than 200 was withdrawn daily between September 13 and September 26 when Barclays bank froze the card. Items were bought in Sainsbury's, Tesco, Superdrug, Footlocker, Argos and other stores during the spree. 'She would have been completely unaware of where she was let alone that she was being robbed by a despicable and immoral individual who has preyed on the sick and vulnerable,' said Mr Banks. Police are hunting for a woman they want to speak to in connection with the fraud at Peterborough City Hospital 'She died within four weeks of being robbed. It defies belief that anybody could stoop so low and I am appealing for the public's help in catching whoever is responsible so that no other family has to face a similar heartache. 'My mum was just a lovely 91-year-old woman who was incredibly vulnerable. My heart breaks for her.' Police are hunting for a woman they want to speak to in connection with the fraud. PC Lewis Busby of Cambridgeshire Police said: 'I would urge anyone with information about this crime to contact us or who thinks they know the woman in the CCTV. 'My thoughts go with the family who are dealing with the loss of their loved one and now have to deal with this alongside it.' Medical experts who treated a man dying of rabies after being bitten by a cat on holiday in Morocco failed to diagnose the fatal disease, a coroner heard today. Omar Zouhri had taken himself to Stoke Mandeville Hospital after suffering pain and partial paralysis in his hand but tests to diagnose rabies produced negative results. The 58-year-old was referred to the specialist infectious diseases unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he died just days later, the opening inquest into his death heard. British father Omar Zouhri is pictured in a tragic final photo from hospital before dying of rabies contracted from an infected cat. Image undated. His inquest took place today Mr Zouhri was holidaying in Morocco on August 30 when he was bitten by the rabid cat. He died months after his return to the UK after the sudden and severe onset of symptoms, the coroner told the inquest in Oxford. Senior Coroner Darren Salter told the hearing that by the time of his death on November 4, experts at the infectious diseases department were unable to diagnose his condition as he had deteriorated so severely. After more than two months without symptoms or discomfort, the inquest heard Mr Zouhri began to suffer pain and paresthesia in his right hand - a prickly sensation that is usually felt in the hands and which happens without warning. Mr Salter told the inquest that Mr Zouhri, a full-time carer for his wife, Chadia, was transferred to the Infectious Diseases Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on November 1. Mr Zouhri was holidaying in Morocco on August 30 when he was bitten by the rabid cat. He is seen in an undated holiday photo The father-of-one, from Aylesbury, died at the hospital on November 4. Mr Salter said: 'The initial report received... first noted that he died on Sunday November 4 at the John Radcliffe Hospital following a short illness. 'Doctors initially verified death and identity was confirmed by family members at the time of his death. Initial details received said that a 58 year old travelled to Morocco in August 2018 where he was bitten by a cat around August 30. 'He returned to the UK and presented to Stoke Mandeville Hospital with pain in his right hand and paresthesia. Rabies was initially suspected but all tests proved negative. He was transferred to the Infectious Diseases Department on November 1.' The coroner said he continued to deteriorate and died at 7.45am. 'There has been a post-mortem examination which has confirmed the cause of death as rabies following a cat bite,' he said. 'On the basis of the initial bite and cause of death by a cat and the disease in question, I take the view it is not a natural death and there is a need for an inquest.' The inquest was adjourned until next March. This is the terrifying moment a Russian paedophile attacked a ten-year-old girl who bravely fought him off before a passerby helped her escape. The girl was walking alone in darkness to karate training at her Russian school at 7pm on Wednesday when the man pounced on her. With snow on the ground and in subzero temperatures, the paedophile attacked the child, overpowered her and pushed her to the ground. The girl was walking alone in darkness to karate training at her Russian school at 7pm on Wednesday when the man pounced on her On a snowy evening, he attacked the child, overpowered her and pushed her to the ground The girl bravely fought back as he demanded she remove her clothes, law enforcement sources said. A quick-thinking woman distracted the middle-aged man - after hearing the child's desperate screams - and allowed the girl to escape. The shocking footage from Lesosibirsk was released by the Russian Investigative Committee in charge of dealing with serious crimes. 'She was attacked by a man,' said a statement, confirming an unnamed 43-year-old male suspect had been detained and 'confessed' to the horrific attack. The man is 'suspected of the attempted rape of a minor'. 'He pushed her to the ground and while beating her in her face demanded she undress. The girl resisted and started screaming. The girl bravely fought back as he demanded she remove her clothes, law enforcement sources said A quick-thinking woman distracted the middle-aged man - after hearing the child's desperate screams - and allowed the girl to escape 'At this moment a woman was passing nearby and stood up for the child. The offender was distracted by her and the girl managed to run away.' The woman retreated after being threatened by the man, but her actions gave the girl the chance to flee. The child ran across the snow towards her school with the man following her but unable to keep up. At school, she reported the incident. 'She had a big bruise under one eye,' said the committee, which regularly releases footage of crimes as a warning to Russians of the risks they face. The girl is receiving psychological counselling. If convicted, the man faces between eight and 15 years in jail. A badly burned kitty rescued by a brave firefighter and a local news reporter in the Woolsey fire has captured the hearts of hundreds of people with the help of a complete stranger who started a Go Fund Me page for the injured feline. The tuxedo cat named Tipper, now dubbed the 'Miracle Kitty', was found by the owner's best friend, a firefighter, who asked a nearby newscaster to take it to the emergency vet. Veronica Miracle, a reporter with KABC, rushed the black and white kitty to ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospital in Woodland Hills at 4 a.m. on Nov. 9th, where he remains in stable condition. 'He's got a bandage on his back two legs and the main area, his belly, and a netting bandage so he can't get to the burns. He's so very lucky to be alive,' says Lori Kaelker of Serenity Place Rescue. Tipper the 'Miracle Kitty' recuperating at ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospital. Tipper prior to the fire, he is the black kitty in the middle, between his siblings Blossom and Gum Gum. His siblings are with the family and were not injured in the fire Lori and her partner Terry Ross, were the original rescue owners of the one-year-old old cat who was later adopted out to their forever family in January. 'Fortunately Tipper was microchipped, that's how the hospital found us. We then contacted the family that now owns Tipper, and they were extremely happy and relieved. 'They lost their home, so to find out that their cat survived just means the world to them,' Lori tells DailyMail.com. The cat was found near the family's home in Oak Park which is in Ventura County, next to LA County. Multiple homes in the area were destroyed and/or damaged from the flames. Kellan Martz, a Los Angeles based attorney, took it upon himself to create a Go Fund Me page for the cat, which he named 'Miracle Kitty'. 'It's really wonderful the amount of donations that have been raised so far,' Martz tells DailyMail.com. In just four days, over $9,000 has been raised out of the $13,000 goal for vet bills. 'My heart jumps when I see a donation of $100, $200. However, the ones that impact me the most are the $5, $10, $20 donations, it all adds up. The average donation has been under $25. You don't have to give a lot to make a difference,' Martz explains. Donations have come from as far as the UK and Japan, and continue to come in every hour. 'I think there is a disconnect between the interest in a story and what we can do to resolve the issue. This is way of participating and making a difference.' Martz will pay the vet bills with the funds raised and give the remaining to the family, who are now without a home. Tipper is now in the ICU. 'We've learned he's a boy. Prognosis is fair. He's burned on his back leg Martz, who also runs a non-profit for the homeless, says he spoke with the cat's owner, Jennel Schlefstein. 'I spoke with her on the phone and she was very, very, very appreciative and was shocked that so many people have an interest in her cat. She said, 'Things can be replaced, but not people and animals.' The majority of Go Fund Me pages are set up by people who do really care,' says Martz, alluding to the much publicized mismanaged funds raised for homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt. 'The scams are usually the ones that get the attention, but there are a lot of good natured people out there.' Veronica Miracle, a reporter with a local TV station, KABC, says when she initially saw the cat, she feared for his life. 'When I first saw the cat, I thought, there is no way he's going to make it. There was so much chaos at the time, and when the firefighter asked us to take it to safety, I didn't know if we could even leave our location. 'There were homes on fire all around us and the cat was singed all over his body. I could tell he was in pain. But once we got Tipper inside the live truck, he seemed to calm down a bit. That gave us some relief while we figured out what we were going to do next.' 'The credit really goes to the firefighters who pulled the cat out of the house and got it to safety. We just happened to be at the right place at the right time. The Go Fund Me page is full of inspirational messages, like this one from PJ Thompson, 'Every little bit helps, and every little kindness makes the world a better place. This kitty making a full recovery makes the fire's impact a tiny bit less horrible'. Lisa Bennet from England writes, 'My heart goes out to every family affected by the fire. I hope that Miracle is well soon and can help to heal your broken hearts. Much love from the UK'. Joyce Dolence writes, 'I hope I can help the animals in some small way. My heart goes out to all who have been affected by the fires.' Michelle Allen writes,'I pray this beautiful cat can survive the horrible burns to her body . My prays go out to her family who lost their home in the fire too-please know there are people praying for you.' Meanwhile, Miracle Kitty, is getting stronger slowly but surely. 'I cry every day for him, but I am so grateful that so many people care,' Lori Kaelker says. 'My husband visited him today and got him to eat some. His family visited too. It's important that Tipper keeps his morale up with people visiting and sending their good wishes. Tipper's siblings, Blossom and Gum Gum, are with the family and I am sure they will be delighted to reunite with their brother.' Kaelker hopes the attention will inspire people to visit her own rescue organization and help the other animals that are in dire need of support. Click here to support Vet bill for burned kitty 'Miracle' organized by Team Miracle Kitty Police and prosecutors fail to disclose evidence on a routine basis, causing rape cases that should be dropped to be pursued in court, the Attorney General says. A report has demanded a zero-tolerance approach in the Crown Prosecution Service as well as police departments for failure in their duties to submit relevant material secured during investigations. It warned of costly consequences such as cases 'being pursued which the evidence did not support' causing 'untold damage' to accusers and the accused. Police and prosecutors are routinely failing to disclose evidence on time, a report from the Attorney General has said (file photo) The collapse of rape cases in which intelligence from mobile phones was released late was the catalyst for the report to be commissioned, the Guardian reports. One notorious example was the case of Liam Allan from south-east London, who was accused of 12 counts of rape and sexual assault. His trial was ditched when police were ordered to hand over phone evidence which included a message from the complainant saying: 'It wasn't against my will or anything.' A total of 47 rape or sexual offence cases were stopped due to evidence not being shared with defence lawyers in the correct way, an internal Crown Prosecution Service review found. Liam Allen (pictured) was set to face court over rape allegations when evidence was submitted at the last minute collapsing the trial Publishing the review, the Attorney General's Office said: 'Disclosure obligations begin at the start of an investigation, and investigators have a duty to conduct a thorough investigation, manage all material appropriately and follow all reasonable lines of inquiry, whether they point towards or away from any suspect. The review found that this was not happening routinely in all cases. 'At the least this caused costly delays for the justice system and at worst it meant that cases were being pursued which the evidence did not support. 'The impact of these failings caused untold damage to those making allegations and those accused of them.' Confidence in the criminal justice system was dealt a blow last year after a flurry of cases collapsed. Police and prosecutors are required to hand over relevant material that can undermine the prosecution case or assist the defence before trials. Amid mounting controversy, the Crown Prosecution Service launched a review of every live rape and serious sexual assault prosecution in England and Wales. The separate Government assessment published today examined cases in magistrates' courts, more complex crown court cases and specialist types of case such as economic crime and sexual offences. It concluded disclosure problems are 'system-wide' and identified deficiencies including: Investigators not pursuing reasonable lines of inquiry that might 'exculpate' the accused Disclosure obligations not being considered with sufficient attention from the outset of a criminal investigation Investigators and their supervisors not thoroughly checking case papers before a submission to prosecutors Prosecutors failing to challenge or probe gaps in the investigation Disclosure issues and tasks being left until too late a stage Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC said: 'For too long, disclosure has been seen as an administrative add-on rather than fundamental pillar of our justice system. This ends now. 'I am confident that the leaders of the police and prosecution now understand the need for change and together we will make sure that public confidence in the disclosure system is restored.' Relevant evidence was submitted late in rape and sexual offence cases, the Attorney General says (file photo) Noting that the vast increase in digital material has presented investigators and prosecutors with an 'unprecedented challenge', the review suggested greater use of technology such as artificial intelligence. 'Significant improvements' could be gained from performing disclosure tasks earlier in the process, the report said. Emily Bolton, legal director of the Centre for Criminal Appeals, said: 'While this review accepts that there are serious problems that need fixing, it ignores the plight of those who are already wrongly imprisoned because of police and prosecutors failing to disclose key evidence.' Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill said: 'Rebuilding public confidence following the issues around disclosure is crucial and I welcome the Attorney General's recognition of the progress that has been made. 'The CPS has worked closely with the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing to drive lasting improvements and will maintain our focus to make sure we bring about the necessary culture changes.' NPCC lead for disclosure Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Burton also welcomed the Attorney General's recognition of progress made. He added: 'The next phase of the improvement plan will be released soon, and will build on existing foundations to consolidate our progress, and embed the culture shift which ensures all officers and staff recognise that getting disclosure right is a fundamental part of a fair criminal justice system.' Prisons Minister Rory Stewart found himself performing a public U-turn after using a fabricated statistic about public approval for the Prime Minister's Brexit plan. Mr Stewart, 45, a Theresa May loyalist, was pulled up by BBC Radio 5's Emma Barnett when he claimed in an interview on Thursday morning that '80% of the British public support this deal'. He first asked for a chance to 'get the language right', before saying he had been 'producing a number to try to illustrate what I believe' because 'the people who are rejecting this are 10% on either fringe'. Scroll down for video Mr Stewart, above, a Theresa May loyalist, claimed 80 per cent of the public support Theresa May's Brexit deal. Mr Stewart, who opposed Brexit in the run up to the referendum, also claimed the Brexit secretary Dominic Raab's resignation was 'irresponsible' He then had to admit he did not know how many of the public backed Mrs May's deal, the text of which had only been in the public domain a matter of hours. Ms Barnett said: 'OK, well we went from 80% of people supporting it, to us not knowing yet. 'I think it's a dangerous game when politicians pretend that they know exactly how the people are feeling.' EU Brexit chief negociator Michel Barnier, left, hands over Theresa May's draft Brexit deal to European Council President Donald Tusk earlier this morning Mr Stewart replied: 'I apologise for that, but I do believe - and I totally apologise for that, and I take that back - but I totally feel that if we are given an opportunity to calmly explain this deal, many people who are currently worried about it will be reassured.' In response to the interview, he tweeted: 'I really believe that - if people are given the time and the chance to read this document carefully - then the majority (if not eighty percent!) will support it.' He also attacked Dominic Raab, who resigned as Brexit secretary earlier this morning. How minister who judged public mood on Brexit deal said parts of his Cumbria constituency are 'primitive places' Minister Rory Stewart once described parts of his constituency as 'pretty primitive'. The MP for Penrith and the Border in Cumbria was quoted in the Scottish Sun joking about constituents tying up their trousers with twine. He also joked about constituents refusing to get medical help for a boy, and said: 'I was in one village where a local kid was run over by a tractor. 'They took him to Carlisle but they couldn't be bothered to wait at the hospital. 'So they put him in a darkened room for two weeks then said he was fine. But I'm not so sure he was.' Making the remarks a new MP in 2010, he later apologised for the remarks. He said: 'What I was trying to get across was not derogatory about people but that we have real needs here, we have communities that are very poor.' Advertisement Dominic Raab, the now former Brexit Secretary, is pictured leaving his home in Surrey. He resigned this morning in protest to Theresa May's deal Mr Stewart, who opposed Brexit in the run up to the referendum, claimed the Brexit secretary's resignation was 'irresponsible'. He said: 'I think what he has done is very irresponsible. This is the guy that's been in charge of negotiating this deal. He knew all these 540 pages. 'It's very difficult for me to feel that this is a responsible thing for the guy who's the chief negotiator to do on the day that the deal's announced.' Mr Stewart, the MP for Penrith and the Border in Cumbria, was made Prisons Minister in January. Thousands of keen bird-watchers flock to Serbia's northern town of Kikinda every winter to see one of the world's largest roosting populations of long-eared owls. But the small town on Serbia's border with Romania is now attracting interest for a different reason - a penis-shaped statue of one of the birds. The monument was installed to recognise the significance of the birds to the area - but protesters say the terracotta statue's elongated shape and minimalist features are obscene and demanded its removal. The recently erected statue in Kikinda, Serbia, which is famous for its long-eared owl population 'Freud could say something about this statue, it looks so much like a phallus,' one protester said in a Facebook post. 'Now everyone will ridicule Kikinda,' read another post on Facebook. 'This (statue) represents something very masculine, but not an owl,' another said on Twitter. Local sculptor Jovan Blat, who made the statue, could not be reached for comment. Last week he told Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily he was ready to make a differently-shaped statue. Local authorities declined to comment. Zeljko Bodrozic, editor-in-chief of a local newspaper, said the owl monument should remain in place. The protesters say the terracotta statue's elongated shape and minimalist features (left) are obscene and that it does not look like the town's famous long-eared owls (right) 'With all the hype swirling around it ... in a way it also becomes a symbol of our city.' Keen bird watcher Dragan Simic said he did not care about the statue. 'Kikinda is now famous for its owls ... across Europe, even around the world ... the bird-watchers are very active, numerous and loyal tourists,' he said. David Cameron was pictured in London today as the Brexit drama which he left in his wake unfolded in Westminster David Cameron was pictured in London today as the Brexit drama which he left in his wake unfolded in Westminster. The former Prime Minister, who resigned in 2016 after his failed campaign for a Remain vote, was seen leaving his home on Thursday carrying a blue suit jacket. Amid Cabinet chaos and a growing plot to topple Theresa May, Twitter users were quick to point out that the swirling political drama was far from what Mr Cameron had promised. The ex-Tory leader, who told voters in 2015 that a vote for his party would lead to 'stability', called the Brexit referendum in a doomed attempt to heal the long-running Conservative divisions over Europe. But today the party was more divided than ever as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab began a series of resignations. In a pre-election post in 2015 Mr Cameron had said: 'Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice - stability and strong Government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband.' After winning a surprise majority he called the referendum, staking his authority on a Remain vote in a bid to shore up party unity and stave off UKIP. He had hoped a definitive vote would end years of Tory feuding over Europe which had dogged previous party leaders including John Major and Margaret Thatcher. But he resigned hours after the country voted for Brexit, saying he could not 'steer the country to its next destination'. Social media users mocked Cameron today as ministers resigned and momentum gathered behind a bid to topple Mrs May as party leader. One said: 'A reminder on the radio just now that David Cameron called the referendum in order to unite the Conservative Party.' Another wrote: 'Anyway, I'm happy for David Cameron that his gamble to keep the Conservative Party unified has paid off.' Twitter users mocked Mr Cameron's efforts to unite the Conservative party with the referendum as the Tories appeared more divided than ever today The former Prime Minister, who resigned in 2016 after his failed campaign for a Remain vote, was seen leaving his home on Thursday amid swirling political drama A very critical Twitter post said: 'Anyone know which rock David Cameron is hiding under during this omnishambles? 'Dont forget he called the f***ing referendum to try and strengthen his position as PM while failing to gauge the mood of the nation.' And another said: 'The irony that it all came around because David Cameron wanted to unite the Conservative party is almost too much.' Mr Cameron had tried to win support with a 'renegotiation' of Britain's EU membership, saying the UK would be 'safer, stronger and better off' in the union. However after the Brexit vote he said: 'I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.' His predecessors Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major have all spoken out against Brexit in recent weeks but Mr Cameron has remained silent. Advertisement Thousands of photographs from around the world were whittled down to 41 finalists in the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Contestants submitted their photos of animals in hilarious poses as they battled for a place in the official book. Mary McGowan, from Tampa, Florida, took the grand prize with 'Caught in the act', an image featuring a shocked squirrel. Mary McGowan from Tampa, Florida, won the overall award and picked up the People's Choice Award and Creatures of the Land award for 'Caught in the Act', a picture of a petrified looking squirrel A brown bear appears to have had enough, taken by Valterri Mulkahainen in Martinselkonen, Finland A polar bear looks as if he is the one calling the shots in this picture by Roie Galitz taken in Svalbard, in the Norwegian Arctic She also took the Affinity People's Choice Award and the Alex Walker's Serian Creatures of the Land Award for the exceptionally funny image. There were eight categories this year - the Video Category, Under The Sea, Amazing Internet Portfolio, Junior Category, Spectrum Photo Creatures of the Air, Alex Walker's Serian Creatures of the Land, Affinity People's Choice Award and the Overall Winner. The Creatures of the air award was handed to Shane Keena, from southern California, for his photo of an owl poking its head up, with its eyes wide. The Creatures of the Air prize went to this picture of an alert looking owl taken in the United States by Shane Keena Valtteri Mulkahainen called this 'Mother returned from her parents' meeting', taken in the Taiga forest in Finland The Under the Sea winner went to Tanya Houppermans as she got up close and personal with a blue shark. Her image titled, 'a blue shark smiles to the camera,' was taken in the water off Rhode Island on the United State's eastern seaboard. Ms Houppermans combined her love of diving and photography after working as a mathematician and military defense analyst. The Under the Sea Winner went to Tanya Houppermans for this smiley blue shark taken in Rhode Island on the east coast of the United States A red squirrel does the splits on a pair of flower stalks, taken by Geert Weggen in Sweden A moose blows a raspberry at another, taken by Barney Koszalka in frosty Wyoming, USA A rhino looks like he has a peacock for a tutu, taken by Kallol Mukherjee in Gorumara National Park in West Bengal, India Arshdeep Singh started taking pictures aged just six and the boy from India, claimed the junior prize for his picture of a pipe owl in the city of Kapurthala in Punjab, India. Arshdeep often travels with his father Randeep Singh who is a well known wildlife photographer. The young man's work had already featured in many publications before picking up this prize. Others were highly commended and will feature in the book of 41 finalists' images. The winner of the junior prize was Arshdeep Singh for this image of an owl looking surprised in Kapurthala, India Two grizzly bear cubs look like they are dancing together in Churchill, northern Manitoba, Canada In Alaska, Jonathan Irish captured this image of a grizzly bear looks like he is drawing drivers' attention to a sign asking them to be careful Two dusky leaf monkeys look highly animated with their jaws wide open as they fight in Kaeng Krachan, Thailand's largest national park A murderer who claimed his flatmate died when he accidentally ran into a knife used to chop potatoes will spend at least 16 years in jail. Ronny Padilla, 23, stabbed and slashed his friend, 'excellent student' Sabri Chibani, 19, with a six-inch kitchen knife moments before the victim's brother walked in on the attack. The killer, from Ecuador, then claimed it was a 'horrific accident', but was found guilty of murder on November 13 after a trial at the Old Bailey. Ronny Padilla, 23, stabbed and slashed his friend, 'excellent student' Sabri Chibani, 19, with a six-inch kitchen knife in February Sentencing him today, Judge Rebecca Poulet QC said Mr Chibani's family may never know the reason why Padilla carried out the murder. She told Padilla: 'Very regrettably this court and Sabri's family will never know the truth about why you killed him. 'From first to last you have persisted in a totally fabricated account of what happened.' The murder happened after Padilla had visited his mother on the afternoon of February 11. He launched the brutal attack just minutes after returning to their flat, in Streatham, south London. Judge Poulet said: 'In my judgment something must have occurred between you and Sabri earlier in the afternoon that had made you very angry. 'You entered the flat and within two minutes you had stabbed Sabri through the heart.' Mr Chibani also suffered slash wounds to his head and 'defensive' cuts to his hand during the attack. His brother heard his 'screams of pain' and ran into a shared area of the flat to find Padilla over Mr Chibani, still holding the blade. The judge said: 'You had a knife in your hand and you were still attacking him. You had already inflicted the four-inch stab wound which resulted in his death. 'The neighbours too heard Sabri's, and this is their word, 'blood curdling' screams of pain.' Padilla then went out to the front of the house as police arrived and tried in vain to save Mr Chibani's life. Padilla was ordered to serve at least 16 years at the Central Criminal Court sitting in the Old Bailey, pictured He 'looked up and nodded' when a neighbour asked if he was responsible for the attack, Judge Poulet said. She added: '24 hours later you gave the police your account of what happened. 'You told the police that this terrible event occurred by accident. Your account was that on your return home you picked up a large kitchen knife and went to prepare some potatoes for your supper.' Padilla claimed he went to his room to take the potatoes from a cupboard, then Mr Chibani accidentally walked into the knife when they crossed paths in a hallway. The judge said: 'In effect you then said he impaled himself on the knife. It was an account which was full of holes and discrepancies. 'Despite the request of this court following your conviction and the deep frustration expressed by Sabri's father, you have never told the court what really happened.' The pair shared the flat with Mr Chibani's brother, Sadok, and Ecuadorian Pablo Chavez. Mr Chibani and his brother moved into the flat in November 2017, the judge said. She said: 'They had shared the flat with you for just three months at the time. From everything I have read about Sabri, he was amiable, hardworking and an excellent student. 'He was supporting himself with work as a waiter. 'Sadok and you have described that the two of you, that's Sabri and you Mr Padilla, got on well.' Padilla was told he will serve at least 16 years of a life sentence in prison before he can be considered for release. The acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told senators Thursday that employees' morale has suffered because of the bitter political climate, and he apologized for sending a tweet in 2015 that suggested renaming the Democratic Party as the 'NeoKlanist' party. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony on whether to confirm Ronald Vitiello as head of an agency that some Democrats want to abolish. Vitiello said ICE employees are threatened with violence or targeted at their homes. 'They should not have to bear the burden of attacks motivated largely by political and policy disagreements,' he said. But Vitiello was questioned by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., about a tweet Vitiello sent from a personal account in 2015. It was in reply to a message to conservative talk show host Mark Levin asking for new names for the Democratic party. Vitiello responded: 'liberalcratic party or the NeoKlanist party.' He told senators it was wrong to send it, though he added he thought he was sending a direct message, not a public tweet. 'It's important and I understand the gravity, it was meant as a joke I wasn't trying to do anything other than make a joke. I regret it,' he said. Apology: Ronald Vitiello, the nominee to become assistant secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement told senators at his conformation hearing that he was sorry he had tweeted that the Democrats were 'the NeoKlanist party' and that he thought it was a direct message Surfaced: This was the tweet which Vitiello said he sent thinking it was a private message. It was from his personal account - although his profile was in full uniform at the time Vitiello has been a law enforcement agent for more than 30 years, starting in 1985 with the U.S. Border Patrol. He was previously Border Patrol chief and deputy commissioner U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the patrol. Letters of support from police, lawmakers and career law enforcement officers spoke of Vitiello's professionalism and dedication, including one from Gil Kerlikowske, the former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under President Barack Obama. Part of ICE's mission is to make arrests of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, which has made it a symbol of President Donald Trump's hardline policies. Trump did away with an Obama-era policy prioritizing dangerous criminals for removal. ICE officials say they still have the same priorities - arrests of migrants with a criminal history rose 50 percent during the 2018 budget year, and some 900,000 pounds of narcotics were seized. Vitiello said the agency arrested 11,000 known or suspected gang members and removed 6,000 from the country. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who has said the government 'maybe' should 'start from scratch' on an immigration enforcement agency, questioned Vitiello on the perception of ICE that it uses arrests to cause fear and intimidation among immigrants, particularly those from Mexico and Central America. Harris has stopped short of saying ICE should be abolished. Vitiello said the agency is enforcing the law and officers do the best they can. Raid: Special agents from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) team arrest alleged immigration violators at Fresh Mark, a food producer in , Salem, Ohio in June Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., asked whether Vitiello would help tone down harsh words coming out of the White House on immigration and immigrants. He invoked the 1963 church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four black girls. The deadly act was a direct result of racist inflammatory words by Alabama lawmakers and law enforcement, said Jones, who as a federal attorney, prosecuted in the early 2000s two of the four Ku Klux Klan members responsible for the bombing. 'Words have consequences, especially considering comments you acknowledged you were inappropriate,' he said. 'I want to make sure you will stand up and do the right thing.' 'I'm committed,' Vitiello said. The committee was expected to vote on his nomination after Thanksgiving. The president and first lady held a meet and greet with Marines stationed in Washington after coming under severe criticism for skipping a ceremony at a WWI cemetery dedicated to American soldiers on Saturday. Their trip to Belleau Wood, just outside of Paris, was called off amid a light rain when the Secret Service assessed it was too dangerous for the president's helicopter to take off in France. Critics argued that the first couple should have motorcaded to the site that was more than an hour's drive outside the city or made alternative plans. Back in D.C. on Thursday, they paid a visit to Marines who responded to a building fire at a public housing complex in September as a tie-in to a speech the president was giving on support for military families at the White House. The president and first lady held a meet and greet with Marines stationed in Washington Trump met with Marines who responded to a fire at the Arthur Capper Public Housing complex on September 9, 2018 The first couple visited the marines four days after Veterans Day, which they spent in France They came under severe criticism for skipping a ceremony at a WWI cemetery dedicated to American soldiers on Saturday but visited Marines indoors during a sleet-storm in Washington on Thursday They mingled with 20 tables of veterans inside the local Marine Barracks for nearly 40 minutes They mingled with 20 tables of veterans alongside John Kelly, the White House chief of staff. Kelly is a retired marine general. He took their place at the ceremony they missed on Saturday. After about 40 minutes inside the barracks, visiting most of the time with the marines in private, the first couple returned to the White House in the first snow of the season for the president's scheduled remarks. Several days before they had been hit with complaints for spending an afternoon indoors when it was raining in Paris when they were supposed to be at Belleau Wood. Donald Trump went ahead with a planned, open-air speech the next day at Suresnes, another World War I memorial and cemetery, in a downpour -- but the gesture wasn't enough to quiet the backlash. Trump stirred up controversy again on Monday when he and the first lady opted not to visit Arlington National Cemetery and its closely-monitored Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, even though they had returned the previous evening from France. Press couldn't hear what the president was saying as he spoke to marines at a reception enjoying dessert President Donald J. Trump, (4-L), and First Lady Melania Trump, (3-L), listen while speaking to Marines with John Kelly, White House chief of staff, (C), at Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. They were in Paris celebrating Armistice Day, which falls on Nov. 11, with other dignitaries. Trump gave his remarks at Suresnes Veterans Day, as the date is referred to in America, but did not make an appearance on Monday when the holiday was observed by the federal government. He and his wife made up for the oversight with a visit to the U.S. Marine Barracks near Capitol Hill on Thursday morning before a speech to veterans at the White House. 'This is a tremendously group of people to me, America's veterans. These are special people,' Trump said in his remarks. Mentioning his trip to Suresnes and his Armistace Day trip, he said, 'That's a beautiful, beautiful and important day.' 'We will never forget what these heroes did to win. And win they did, the war, and to secure peace.' After about 40 minutes inside the barracks, visiting most of the time with the marines in private, the first couple returned to the White House Trump stirred up controversy again on Monday when he and the first lady opted not to visit Arlington National Cemetery in honor of Veterans Day The Trumps were in Paris over the weekend celebrating Armistice Day, which falls on Nov. 11, with other dignitaries He and his wife made up for the oversight with a visit to the U.S. Marine Barracks near Capitol Hill on Thursday morning Visited marines alongside John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, on Thursday; Kelly is a retired marine general President Trump's speech in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building focused on his administration's efforts to improve veterans' health care. He said that prior to the legislative action, the country was 'not giving vets the care or respect that they deserve.' Now the Department of Veterans Affairs has the ability to fire employees that are not treating them properly, he stated. 'I love the unions. We love civil service, but they didn't make this one easy for many, many decades. We got it done,' he assessed. 'We're good at getting things done.' Trump said that 2.2 million vets have been able to receive care outside the VA system since he took office and the government pays for it. His administration is also allowing veterans to use their GI bill benefits at any point in the life and facilitated hiring for military spouses in the federal government. 'The fact is I've done a lot! Goodbye everybody,' he said pretending to leave now that the mission was accomplished. 'That's a lot! That is a lot. And it's more than anybody's even thought about. And I'm proud of it. And we're not finished yet. He added,'That's why I figured I did so much I could leave now. But we're not finished. We never will be finished.' The son of a retired Texas sheriff's deputy says when he walked in on his mother sobbing after being punched in the face by his alcoholic and abusive father, he was left with no choice but to shoot him dead. 'The breaking point was when he was going to do the same thing to me, if not worse,' Michael Merritt said of his slain dad, former Harris County Sheriffs Deputy Brian Merritt. According to the sheriffs office, at 5.32am on Wednesday, Michael called 911 to report that he had shot his father at the family's home in the 3400 block of Meadow Hill Court in Spring. Scroll down for video Patricide: Michael Merritt, 22 (left), says he shot and killed his ex-cop father, Brian Merritt, 53, to protect his mother from abuse (couple pictured together, right) m Officers on the scene of the killing at the Merritt family's home in Spring, Texas, Wednesday Pat Merritt, the victim's wife, is pictured outside her home after her husband's death So far, Michael has not been arrested or charged in the shooting death of his father Officers responded to the address to find the 53-year-old Brian Merritt dead from a gunshot wound. Merritt's 22-year-old son Michael told homicide investigators that his father was physically abusing him mother, and that he opened fire on him to protect her. It was the only way to guarantee my mom and Is [sic] safety, Michael calmly told KTRK. 'I had no way of knowing what he was capable of or what he was armed with. I knew that given the opportunityhe couldve done some very terrible things to us. In a March 9 Facebook post touting the merits of gun ownership and the Second Amendment, Brian shared a photo of his personal arsenal comprised of four handguns, a revolver and a shotgun. As of Thursday afternoon, Michael Merritt has not been arrested or charged in his father's death. Brian, a US Navy veteran, married Pat in 1987 and the couple went on to have two sons and several grandchildren Facade: Photos shared on Brian's Facebook page show the pair going on vacations and having family meals Once the investigation is completed, the evidence will be presented to the Harris County District Attorneys Office, which will decide whether to bring criminal charges against Michael, reported KPRC. Brian Merritt, a US Navy veteran, had served with the Harris County Sheriffs Office from December 1989 until his retirement in March 2017. The 22-year-old Michael is a college graduate who currently works for an apparel company His last duty assignment was providing hospital security under the Criminal Justice Command. According to Facebook posts, Brian and his wife, Pat, had been married for more than 30 years and had two sons together and several grandchildren. Michael, a recent college graduate who works for an apparel company, told KTRK that his father often abused him and his mother. He made sure not to leave any bruises so police wouldn't believe us, the son said. He thought we were defenseless. The family's neighbors told the Houston Chronicle they have seen police cars outside the Merritts home on multiple occasions over the past four months stemming from Brians clashes with other residents. In one instance, he scared his neighbors' daughter by banging on the door while her parents were out of town. A couple of weeks after that, Merritt allegedly unleashed a string of expletives at the same neighbors and slashed their tires. In late August, the former deputy was arrested on a charge of criminal mischief for allegedly damaging a neighbors car. Advertisement It was the moment Cheryl Martin, 50, and her partner Ron Foreman, 41, thought might never come: being reunited with their dogs Bella and Mazie six days after wildfire destroyed their Concow, California home. The pets had been handed over to an animal shelter because, Martin told DailyMail.com, the family had nowhere to go. 'We live in Concow and on the day the fire happened, they came round and said, ''get out, get out, get out''. So we got our two dogs and two cats and got out but that's all we have. 'I've been devastated over this and worrying over if they are OK or if they think I've abandoned them. It's just been so hard.' Martin, who is now applying for FEMA assistance, added: 'We had to leave our chickens behind so our chickens are gone. It means so much to us that at least these guys are OK.' But not everyone has been so lucky. In Paradise, where 97 percent of the structures have been destroyed by the Camp Fire, rescuers say they are finding almost as many dead animals as alive ones. Cheryl Martin, 50, and her partner Ron Foreman, 41, were reunited with their dogs Bella and Mazie six days after wildfire destroyed their Concow, California home Martin said: 'We live in Concow and on the day the fire happened, they came round and said, ''get out, get out, get out''. So we got our two dogs and two cats and got out but that's all we have. I've been devastated over this and worrying over if they are OK or if they think I've abandoned them. It's just been so hard' But not everyone has been so lucky. In Paradise, where 97 percent of the structures have been destroyed by the Camp Fire, rescuers say they are finding almost as many dead animals as alive ones. Pictured: Anxious owners wait in line to see if their pet has been found by rescuers Rescuers are still searching the wreckage of Paradise for both missing people and pets, although the odds of finding either alive are growing increasingly slim. In Chico, California, the municipal airport has been turned into a shelter where pet owners are being reunited with their missing animals Chelsea and Chris Ayres, both 30 and of Paradise, are looking for their eight-year-old Siamese-mix cat Tweak. 'The morning before, hours before the fire started, she got out of our house and she didn't end up being back in time and we had to leave,' Chris told DailyMail.com. 'Hopefully she made it. We heard cats are resilient so hopefully she made it Outside the shelter, lines of people could be seen brandishing photos of the pets they hoped to be reunited with. Others who do not have pets of their own have been trying to help reunite owners with animals they find in their yards or near their homes Outside some homes, the charred corpses of pets could be seen while shelters in nearby Chico and Oroville have been besieged by owners desperate to find their animals. Among them was Gary Francisco, 74, who had gone to buy gas when the Camp Fire arrived in Paradise and who was beaten back by the flames when he tried to return for his dogs Fluffbutt and Brutus who had been left inside his RV. Francisco had hoped his pets had survived, telling DailyMail.com: 'According to the maps, it didn't burn. They said it was a hotspot and it didn't burn. Gary Francisco, 74, was forced to leave his dogs behind in his RV when he was beaten back from the vehicle by flames, but hoped his pets had survived after hearing his RV didn't burn 'But if it didn't burn, they're still in that motor home and they need to get out of there. But I can't go up there to get them.' Sadly, when DailyMail.com visited the property on Wednesday, it had burned and the two dogs with it. Francisco's devastated nephew Nathaniel Garrison, 31, said: 'The family are grieving but we're still hoping to find our cat Nacho. 'What happened to the dogs is horrible but some people have lost their loved ones. We're trying to take comfort from the fact our family are alive and together.' Others are still hoping for a miracle, among them Kathleen McNeil-Wilson, 62, of Paradise, whose cats Gizmo and Portia ran when the flames hit. 'We had no warning,' McNeil-Wilson told DailyMail.com. 'There was none. None. There was nothing. 'I got a phone call from my friend Jennifer whose husband is a police officer in Paradise. She said, are you evacuating? I said why? She said there's a fire, get out. 'I grabbed one of my cats, threw him in the car I didn't even know if I had my purse. Threw my stuff in the trunk, went back into the house to get my other cats and they were running around I couldn't catch them. 'I left, I came back to get them. I came back because I thought, I can't leave them, but I couldn't catch them. 'In the end, I had to leave them because a man was beating down my door, telling me get out!' Sobbing, she added: 'If I could find them, at least I'd get a piece back. I'm trying hard to be positive but I've been crying for days.' Rescuers are still searching the wreckage of Paradise for both missing people and pets, although the odds of finding either alive are growing increasingly slim. Francisco hoped his pets Fluffbutt and Brutus (pictured above) survived, telling DailyMail.com: 'According to the maps, it didn't burn. They said it was a hotspot and it didn't burn. Sadly, when DailyMail.com visited the property on Wednesday, it had burned and the two dogs with it. Francisco's nephew is looking for his cat Nacho (right) Francisco's devastated nephew Nathaniel Garrison (pictured), 31, said: 'The family are grieving but we're still hoping to find our cat Nacho. What happened to the dogs is horrible but some people have lost their loved ones. We're trying to take comfort from the fact our family are alive and together' Kathleen McNeil-Wilson, 62, of Paradise, whose cats Gizmo and Portia ran when the flames hit said: 'If I could find them, at least I'd get a piece back. I'm trying hard to be positive but I've been crying for days' In Chico, California, the municipal airport has been turned into a shelter where pet owners are being reunited with their missing animals People walk dogs on leashes at the Chico Municipal Airport in California on Tuesday Outside some homes, the charred corpses of pets could be seen while shelters in nearby Chico and Oroville have been besieged by owners desperate to find their animals Yesterday, forensic crews could be seen sieving ash in the wreckage of a property in Magalia with a hearse drawn up alongside. But there were survivors too, with squirrels, two mallard ducks and a goose all seen apparently thriving amid the debris. Firefighters are now beginning clean-up operations in Paradise, with some making special trips into the disaster zone to check on people's pets. Among them was Captain David Lauchner, 44, of the Sacramento Fire Department who has been seconded to Cal Fire for the duration of the disaster. He took DailyMail.com to a house in Magalia, miraculously untouched by the flames, where an outdoor cat had had to be left behind. Captain Lauchner, who has served in the fire service for 20 years, told DailyMail.com that doing welfare checks and helping to rescue pets was all intended to help give people who have lost everything some peace of mind. Lauchner said: 'In the beginning stages, things were so crazy that we were just getting crews here and we couldn't do all the extra above and beyond things that we're doing now.' Firefighters are now beginning clean-up operations in Paradise (pictured), with some making special trips into the disaster zone to check on people's pets Captain David Lauchner, 44, of the Sacramento Fire Department has been seconded to Cal Fire for the duration of the disaster. He took DailyMail.com to a house in Magalia, miraculously untouched by the flames, where an outdoor cat had had to be left behind to water and food for the animal Captain Lauchner, who has served in the fire service for 20 years, told DailyMail.com that doing welfare checks and helping to rescue pets was all intended to help give people who have lost everything some peace of mind On Tuesday the death toll from wildfires across the state hit 63 Firefighters are now beginning clean-up operations in Paradise, with some making special trips into the disaster zone to check on people's pets Lauchner added: 'For certain individuals and people who really need it, we can go in and check on their animals, see if they're still OK. 'In Magalia earlier, we were able to leave water out for a cat that a family left behind in a structure that was unburned, so those are just extra things we want to do to help just so we can give a little peace of mind to the homeowners.' Other firefighters, such as Joe Smith, 52, of Forest Grove Fire and Rescue in Oregon, are putting in 24 hour shifts on clean-up operations and dousing any leftover hotspots. Smith, who is due to remain in California for 14 days, said: 'We want to make sure that if the owners do come back, there's no more smoke. It's tough on them and we want to help.' Lauchner added: 'This is far more devastating than any fire I've ever worked on. The destruction, the death rate. 'But I want to say that we're going to help you guys rebuild, help you get what you need to move past this thing. He added: 'I like helping people. This is what I do. I'm not a hero. I'm here in somebody's time of need and that's all I'm here to do just help people out.' Forensic crews could be seen sieving ash in the wreckage of a property in Magalia with a hearse drawn up alongside Officials have been searching through charred debris for more victims of California's deadliest wildfire as top officials toured the ruins of a community completely destroyed by the flames Paradise was devastated by the recent 'Camp Fire' leaving a small percentage of the homes intact. Several stores remain untouched by the fire In this aerial photo, a burned neighborhood is seen in Paradise. as authorities released a list of 130 people still missing Two US Navy SEALs and two Marines have been charged in the 2017 strangulation death of an Army Green Beret while they were stationed in the African country of Mali. Staff Sgt Logan Melgar, 34, died from asphyxiation on June 4 after two members of SEAL Team Six allegedly broke into his room while he was sleeping, bound him with duct tape and 'choked him out', according to charging documents. Melgar was pronounced dead at a French clinic in Bamako, Mali, where the SEALs told investigators he'd been involved in a drunken accident during combat training - though an autopsy revealed he had no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death. The names were redacted on charging documents released Thursday, but a 2017 Army Criminal Investigation Command report identified the SEALs involved in the incident as Petty Officer Antony DeDolph and Chief Petty Officer Adam Cranston Matthews. The Navy said in a statement that the service members face charges that include murder, hazing and obstruction of justice. Two US Navy SEALs and two Marines have been charged in the 2017 death of Army Green Beret Logan Melgar (pictured) while they were stationed in the African country of Mali The service members are also accused of lying to Navy commanders and investigators about what happened. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 10 at a base in Norfolk. US Special Operations Command spokesman Navy Capt Jason Salata told USNI News on Thursday: 'If these allegations of misconduct are substantiated, they represent a violation of the trust and standards required of all service members. 'We trust our service members to safeguard our nations most sensitive interests and to do so with honor.' Sources close to the investigation told The Daily Beast that shortly before his death Melgar told his wife, Michelle, that he had a bad feeling about the two SEAL team six members on the operation with him. SEAL Team Six is the special operations force famed for killing Osama Bin Laden in 2011. Melgar didn't give Michelle any other details over email, instead telling her that he'd give her the full story once he was home. Part of the intelligence gathering operation in Mali involved a fund used to pay informants. Two Special Operation sources told the Daily Beast that Melgar discovered the pair of SEALs were skimming off of the top of the dirty military money to keep for themselves. When he confronted them about it, sources say the pair told Melgar they could get him a cut of the money in return for his silence. He allegedly refused. It isn't clear what happened that sparked an altercation between Melgar and the two SEALs at around 5am on June 4. A 2017 Army Criminal Investigation Command report identified the SEALs as Petty Officer Antony DeDolph (above) and Chief Petty Officer Adam Cranston Matthews But the sources allege that things escalated to the point that Melgar ended up losing consciousness and eventually stopped breathing, suggesting that he was suffocated. According to the Military Times, DeDolph and Matthews initially told investigators they found Melgar unresponsive in his room. But they later changed their story and claimed they were doing a hand-to-hand combat training at 4am. They told authorities that Melgar was drunk and had passed out. However, Melgar's friends said he didn't drink alcohol. That revelation prompted DeDolph and Matthews to change their stories again, claiming they had ambushed Melgar in his room after he deliberately avoided them while driving to a party. During the scuffle, Melgar became unconscious and stopped breathing. In a panic the SEALs attempted to open an airway in Melgar's throat, officials claimed. When that failed to revive him, the two SEALs told another Green Beret on the operation that Melgar was unconscious, and the three of them took him to a French clinic for help. But Melgar was dead on arrival. It's not clear exactly when he died, but he died of asphyxiation. His body was found in a US Embassy Housing Room, the New York Times reported. Two Special Operation sources alleged that Melgar was targeted because he'd discovered the pair of SEALs were skimming off of the top of the dirty military money to keep for themselves Meglar's superiors suspected foul play and dispatched an investigating officer to the scene within 24 hours. The SEAL pair then tried to cover their involvement by telling superiors that Melgar was drunk during combat training - or hand-to-hand fighting exercises - and that is how he got himself knocked out and killed. But it was a bad excuse because the autopsy report eventually came back, proving that there were no traces of drugs or alcohol in the Green Beret's system. One source even claims he didn't drink in the first place. Brig. Gen Donald Bolduc, who is the Commander of the Special Ops Command-Africa, was allegedly skeptical of the SEALs stories and the initial reports about Melgar's death, and told commanders in Mali to preserve any evidence. Michelle was apparently also suspicious, three sources told the Daily Beast. She approached commanders about her concerns regarding his cause of death and allegation that he had been drinking. She also gave investigators the emails her husband sent her about the problems he was having with the two SEALs. Melgar, who was from Lubbock, Texas, served two tours in Afghanistan. He graduated from Texas Tech in 2006, and enlisted in the Army in 2012 as an off-the-street Special Forces recruit. He graduated from Special Forces Qualification in 2016. This is the touching moment an Alabama drama teacher was brought to tears after his students surprised him with color corrective glasses so he could fully enjoy their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Cast members in the Lee High School production serenaded musical director, Tyler Henderson, who was born colorblind, as they presented him with the EnChroma glasses, which can retail for hundreds of dollars. 'Yeah, they work!' exclaimed a beaming Henderson leading to cheers from his students before a group hug among the multicolored balloons. This is the touching moment Alabama drama teacher Tyler Henderson was surprised with color corrective glasses so he could fully enjoy their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The emotional teacher broke down in tears after seeing the full spectrum of colors for the first time 'Just the gesture itself was really - was really sweet of them to have done something like that for me,' the emotional teacher said of his students. 'I mean, that's one of the sweetest things that anyone's ever done for me.' The students raised the cash for the glasses quickly on behalf of Henderson, Junior Ariana Brown told WHNT. 'He`s talked about it before but he hasn't been able to see the full technicolor effect of the show,' Brown explained. 'And now that he has it. It`s not just in the costume, the costumes are vibrant, it`s also the lighting and the tech that is added to it, now he gets to see all the elements put together and just give it that last little spark.' The students raised the cash for the glasses quickly on behalf of Henderson and presented him with them in a surprise ceremony The cast and crew of the school musical serenaded the musical director and unveiled a banner to the emotionally overwhelmed Tyler Henderson Tyler Henderson, wearing his new special glasses, with his 'family' of students after they presented him with the gift of color Henderson's thoughtful students even invited his mother to the presentation, WHNT reported, where they unveiled a banner that read, 'You helped us see our colors now we're helping you see YOURS.' 'To give him something that he gave us, which is knowledge, and to give him something back, it was a great experience," student Alexus Burton told WAAY. 'When a group of kids goes out of their way to make you feel good like that, it proves exactly what we're trying to do every single day,' the teacher, who is also an alumnus of Lee High School, said of his magnet program students. Samuel Little is pictured in court in 2013. A Texas prosecutor said Little, convicted in three California murders but long suspected in dozens of deaths, now claims he was involved in about 90 killings nationwide A man convicted of three California murders and long suspected in numerous other deaths now claims he was involved in about 90 killings nationwide spanning nearly four decades. Investigators already have corroborated about a third of those, a Texas prosecutor said Thursday. Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland said 78-year-old Samuel Little was booked into jail this week following his indictment in the 1994 death of a Texas woman. Investigations are ongoing, but Little has provided details in more than 90 deaths dating to about 1970, Bland said. Little was brought to Texas in September, and investigators with law enforcement agencies in several states traveled to speak with him about unsolved homicides. 'They're able to match up over 30 cases so far,' Bland said. 'So far we don't have any false information coming from him.' If the number of killings Little claims to have committed proves true, it would make him one of the most prolific killers in U.S. history. Ted Bundy confessed to 30 homicides from about 1974 to 1978. John Wayne Gacy killed at least 33 boys and young men in the 1970s. Sherri Nelson holds a picture of her late sister, Audrey Nelson, who was murdered by Samuel Little, during a news conference at Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday, Sept . 25, 2014 In this March 12, 2013 photo, Brenda Gordon looks at photos of her mother, Carol Alford, at her apartment in Los Angeles. Alford was murdered by Samuel Little in 1987 Arguably one of the deadliest globally was an English general practitioner named Harold Shipman, who an investigative panel determined was responsible for the deaths of 250. He was convicted in 2000 in the deaths of 15. During his 2014 trial in Los Angeles, prosecutors said Little was likely responsible for at least 40 killings since 1980. Authorities at the time were looking for possible links to deaths in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Bland said Little recently provided details to Texas Ranger James Holland that showed Little was in Odessa, Texas, when Denise Christie Brothers was last seen in 1994. Her body was found about a month later in a vacant lot. Holland eventually elicited a confession from Little and admissions to dozens of other killings from about 1970 to 2005, Bland said. Little listens as he is sentenced to three consecutive terms of life in prison without parole for murdering three women in the late 1980s, in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014 Little, 74, shouted out in court during his 2014 sentencing hearing that he didn't commit the killings and said he hoped for a new trial. His lawyer has filed a notice of appeal The rangers are an elite team of investigators within the Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS did not respond to requests Thursday to speak with Holland. Little was being held without bond Thursday in the Ector County jail on a murder charge relating to Brothers' death. Jail records don't indicate whether he has an attorney. He has a court appearance scheduled for Nov. 26. Little was brought to Texas for questioning in the case from California, where he was convicted in 2014 in the deaths years earlier of the three women in Los Angeles County. He murdered Carol Alford, 41, Audrey Nelson, 35, and Apodaca, 46. DNA evidence collected from old crime scenes was used to match samples of his stored in a criminal database. If the number of killings Little claims to have committed proves true, it would make him one of the most prolific killers in U.S. history. Ted Bundy (left) confessed to 30 homicides from about 1974 to 1978. John Wayne Gacy (right) killed at least 33 boys and young men in the 1970s Los Angeles cold-case detectives at the time suspected Little was a serial killer, a transient and former boxer who traveled the country preying on drug addicts, troubled women and others. His criminal history includes offenses committed in 24 states spread over 56 years - mostly assault, burglary, armed robbery, shoplifting and drug violations. Those detectives determined that Little often delivered a knockout punch to women and then proceeded to strangle them while masturbating, dumping the bodies and soon after leaving town. Little, who often went by the name Samuel McDowell, grew up with his grandmother in Lorain, Ohio. His criminal history shows his first arrest came at age 16 on burglary charges. For years he had denied to investigators in different states that he was responsible for any killings. Bland speculates that he finally confessed after the appeals to his life sentence in California were ultimately rejected and he no longer had any reason to hide his role. 'People for years have been trying to get a confession out of him and James Holland is the one who finally got him to give that information,' Bland said. David Doherty (pictured), 33, has been jailed for seven years for aggravated burglary My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty's son has been jailed for seven years after his armed gang raided a family home in a harrowing botched burglary. David Doherty, 33, and three others broke into a house in Southgate, north London armed with a samurai sword, a screwdriver and a large knife. The men found the mother in the home at 9pm and held her hostage downstairs while one searched the house. He found one of her teenage daughters, brought her downstairs and, armed with large knife, bundled them into ground-floor bathroom. The mother was assaulted, leaving her right cheek swollen. The mother's younger daughter managed to lock her bedroom door and escape through her window to a flat roof outside where she called police. When they heard sirens, the burglars ran. Doherty was arrested while trying enter a getaway car with jewellery worth 100. Two of the men, with tightly pulled hoods, attacked a policeman, PS Finnegan, who was struck in the face with the screwdriver and slashed with the sword. Both suspects ran to their parked Mercedes and escaped after another struggle with officers. The fourth man had already run away. Doherty, who lives in Riverside Caravan Park in Deeside, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday after he was found guilty of the aggravated burglary on 1 March. Paddy Doherty (left after winning Big Brother) starred on Channel Four show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding in 2010 and won Big Brother in 2011. His son David (right) has been jailed Detective Sergeant Adam Sharp said: 'Doherty and his associates used weapons to frighten their victims in a place where they should feel most safe. There were children present and this was a terrible ordeal for them to witness, especially seeing their mother injured. 'The suspects were also violent towards police officers and I am thankful that none of them were more seriously hurt. 'We're happy to have arrested Doherty and his sentence sends a clear message that those who carry out this type of crime will be brought to justice. However, investigations are still ongoing to find the remaining three suspects who are yet to be identified.' This will be David Doherty's second stint behind bars after he was jailed for almost four years in 2012 after causing the death of a friend in a horrific car crash following a night out in a pub. Doherty was also banned from driving for four years after a jury heard how he 'wickedly' fled the scene in front of arriving police officers amid claims he was drunk. Already disqualified and driving without insurance, Doherty crashed his Mitsubishi Shogun into a Renault van parked in a lay-by off a dual carriageway in North Wales in March. The traveller's front seat passenger James Loveridge, 38, a father of four, was declared dead at the scene. Four others were hurt. Paddy Doherty starred on Channel Four show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding in 2010 and won Big Brother in 2011. Anyone who witnessed the burglary on March 1, 2018 or has information that may assist the investigation is asked to call 101. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Joker lookalike Lawrence Sullivan, 30, (pictured here in his latest mugshot) was caught in Pinellas County on Tuesday after a warrant was issued in Miami-Dade County for a concealed-carry firearms offense A Florida criminal dubbed the 'Joker' for his distinctive facial tattoos and green hair has been arrested less than 18 months after he was last in trouble with the law. Lawrence Sullivan, 30, who tattooed himself to resemble the Batman villain, was caught in Pinellas County on Tuesday after a warrant was issued in Miami-Dade County for a concealed-carry firearms offense. Sullivan, of Gulfport, was being held without bail as of Thursday at the Pinellas County Jail, according to court records. Sullivan's most recent booking photo puts his elaborate body art on full display, including bloody stitches on each side of his mouth, making it appear as if his cheeks had been sliced open and then sewn up; a small cross; a teardrop; the word 'Joker' etched into his forehead, as well as the Batman symbol with the words, 'F*** Batman.' 'Ha, Ha, Ha' is tattooed below his right eye and there's a '666' carved in front of his right ear. There is also upside-down cross between his eyes. He also has tattoos of a sword, a marijuana leaf, the Grim Reaper and Freddy Krueger. Last year, he was arrested on similar weapons charges for allegedly pointing a gun at passing cars. Sullivan, 29 (left in a 2017 mugshot), a Miami man with facial tattoos inspired by the Batman villain the Joker, as played by the late Heath Ledger (right), was arrested again in 2017 on similar charges In 2017 he was s in trouble with the law again after being arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at passing cars. He's pictured in court on May 24, 2017 At the time, witnesses described the him as having bright-green hair and striking facial tattoos that made him look like the Joker character played by the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight blockbuster. By the time Miami-Dade police arrived on the scene, the gun-toting mystery man had vanished, but it did not take officers long to spot him walking out the front gate of the Hammocks Place apartment complex. Sullivan let one of the arresting officers know he had a gun in his pocket. The cop then reached into the pocket and seized a Smith & Wesson handgun loaded with six rounds, according to NBC Miami. When police arrested Sullivan in 2017, he let one of the arresting officers know he had a gun in his pocket. The cop reached into the pocket and seized a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun (Sullivan is pictured during an interview with CBS) According to an arrest report, Sullivan, who described his occupation as a 'tattoo model,' told the officer he did not have a concealed carry permit for the firearm because 'it's too expensive'. Sullivan was then booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a charge of carrying a concealed firearm. 'If I was waving a gun, yeah, I will admit it. I was not waving a gun. Did I have a gun in my pocket? Yes and I want to be safe,' Sullivan told CBS News. He also said that he was 'treated like a celebrity inside' before bonding out of jail. Sullivan told the station that thought the cops who arrested him were really 'respectful'. Slide me Sullivan was caught thanks to his distinctive facial tattoos. His transformation can be seen in these two photos (left in 2013 and right now) 'Before' shots: Sullivan looked very different the last time he got in trouble with the law, in 2013, when he was picked up on a charge of marijuana possession 'Ask the police officers that arrested me how polite I was, did not curse them. They treated me real respectful. They are really good cops,' he said. His family told CBS that his tattoos represent his artistic side. 'He's a good kid. You know. He has a lot of tattoos. But he's a nice kid with some problems. He is mentally disabled and is handicapped,' his mother said. In 2013, Sullivan looked very different indeed when he was picked up on a charge of marijuana possession, according toThe Smoking Gun. His mugshot from that arrest shows Sullivan with his face free of ink. The US Army announced on Veterans Day that it will bring back the iconic uniform worn by service members like General Dwight D. Eisenhower (pictured in 1943) during World War II as its modern service uniform The United States Army announced on Veterans Day that it will be returning to the iconic uniform worn by service members during World War II as its new service uniform. The uniform, which was referred to as the 'Pinks and Greens' when it was worn by America's 'Greatest Generation' in the late 1930s and early 1940s will now be called the 'Army Greens.' 'The Army Greens will become the everyday business-wear uniform for all Soldiers,' the Army said in a news release on Sunday. The dark green and khaki combination was worn by the likes of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as a Five-Star General during WWII and as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe. The current service uniform, called the 'Army Blues' will return to being a formal dress uniform only. The Army Combat Uniform, which is also referred to as the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), will remain the Army's duty/field uniform. The modern version of the Army Greens will include a dark green jacket with matching tie and beret, a khaki shirt and matching pants, and brown leather oxfords for all sexes of Soldiers. Female soldiers will also have the option to wear a khaki skirt, and will have the additional choice of whether to wear coordinating heels. A leather bomber jacket will also be available for all soldiers as an optional piece of outerwear. The new Army Greens are expected to last longer than previous uniforms, with a life expectancy of about six years, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Isaac Taylor told . 'We are purchasing a higher quality uniform with a longer service life,' Lt. Col. Taylor said. The materials change will make the uniforms more expensive when compared dollar-for-dollar, but the roll-out plan is expected to offset some of those additional costs, overall, Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey told Army Times in September. The modern version of the Army Greens will include a dark green jacket with matching tie and beret, a khaki shirt and matching pants, and brown leather oxfords for all sexes of Soldiers; Prototype models of the Army Greens uniform are shown on Soldiers The new Army Greens are expected to last longer than previous uniforms, with a life expectancy of about six years; Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey is pictured saluting the American flag during the National Anthem before the Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Decembver 9, 2017 while wearing the then-proposed 'Pink and Green'uniform A leather bomber jacket will also be available for all soldiers as an optional piece of outerwear; Prototype models of the Army Greens uniform are shown on Soldiers 'We are executing a longer phase-in period to remain cost neutral,' Lt. Col. Taylor said. Neither Taylor nor Daily elaborated on exactly how that cost analysis would break down, but the release said the Army Greens will be issued to new Soldiers upon reporting to their first units as early as the summer of 2020. Presumably this means the uniforms will not be issued to prospective troops during basic training, so may cut down on costs associated with handing out the uniforms to those who don't graduate and become enlisted. The uniform is not expected to cost Soldiers already in the service any additional money, either, as they will be able to purchase them with their annual clothing allowance, the Army said. 'The new uniform will come at no additional cost to the American taxpayer. It will be made in the USA,' the Army said. The mandatory wear date for all Soldiers will be in 2028. Today's 'Army Blues' service uniform (shown) will return to being a formal dress uniform only Conservative network One America News is siding against fellow broadcaster CNN in a court battle with the White House over correspondent Jim Acosta getting his credentials yanked. A federal court in Washington is set to rule on the high-profile case Friday after a one-day delay. Fox News, CNN's primary conservative rival in the marketplace, has intervened on behalf of its rival, filing an amicus brief in favor of CNN's position. Others intervening on their behalf include the Associated Press, Bloomberg, Gannett, NBC News, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, journalist advocacy groups. Conservative One America News is siding with the White House in a dispute with CNN and other media outlets, complaining Acosta is 'stopping our people from getting their questions answered. OAN correspondent Emerald Robinson interviews President Donald Trump Other outlets, including rival Fox News, are siding with CNN and Acosta, who had his credentials yanked Robert Herring OAN CEO Robert Herring tweeted that his network was intervening on the other side, in favor of the White House position, which maintains that the president has the authority to bar the entire media from the White House grounds if he choses. The network's decision splits an otherwise united front that has media outlets joining on First Amendment grounds in defense of a colleague's access to the White House, even if his televised confrontations with the president have taken up time from other members. 'We are going to file in the CNN vs White House court an Amicus Brief in favor of the White House. Acostas actions are stopping our people from getting their questions answered, so that we can give our audience the real news direct from our President,' Herring wrote. Then, he took a shot at rival Fox, which One America is targeting for market share among the conservative audience. 'Cant believe Fox is on the other side, but they have direct communication to the President. We are lucky if we get a five minute interview once a quarter,' he wrote, the Hill reported. OAN CEO Robert Herring tweeted that his network was intervening on the side of the White House Herring said he 'can't believe' Fox is on the other side with CNN Three weeks ago, OAN correspondent Emerald Robinson interviewed the president. Trump also has called on her at press conferences. Her predecessor, Trey Yingst, also has questioned Trump on multiple occasions, sometimes forcefully, although he got transferred to the Middle East and ultimately signed on with Fox. The White House Correspondents Association, which represents numerous outlets, also filed a brief on behalf of CNN. A federal judge in Washington has postponed a hearing where he was expected to rule on whether the Trump White House had the right to revoke CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press pass The TV outlet filed a lawsuit this week against President Donald Trump and other officials. Judge Timothy Kelly moved Thursday afternoon's scheduled hearing to Friday morning. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia did not say why. Kelly heard arguments Wednesday afternoon from lawyers representing CNN and the U.S. Department of Justice. CNN and Acosta say the suspension of his White House press pass violates the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press; the Fifth provides that the government can't act against a person without 'due process.' The White House announced the suspension of Acosta's access without consulting him or allowing CNN to state its case. Theodore Boutrous, an attorney representing CNN, said there 'never will there be more evidence of facial discrimination and animus against an individual reporter' than in this case. The network is seeking an immediate restraining order that would force the White House to return Acosta's credentials which grant reporters as-needed access to the 18-acre complex. Acosta has repeatedly clashed with Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in briefings over the last two years. Acosta saw his press credentials revoked last Wednesday after he clashed with an intern over a press conference microphone and harangued President Donald Trump But the dynamic devolved into a near-shouting match during a combative press conference last week following midterm elections in which Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives. Acosta refused to give up a microphone when the president said he didn't want to hear anything more after sparring over whether a migrant caravan headed to the United States constituted an 'invasion.' Trump called Acosta a 'rude, terrible person' after the reporter said he wanted to 'challenge' Trump, and then offered his opinion and insisted the president was wrong instead of asking questions. The White House announced hours later that Acosta's access to the building and the grounds surrounding it would be revoked. The lawsuit calls the revocation 'an unabashed attempt to censor the press and exclude reporters from the White House who challenge and dispute the President's point of view.' Thirteen news organizations, including Fox News, waid Wednesday that they would file an amius brief in support of CNN. The White House Correspondents' Association filed one with the court on Thursday. 'Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized,' said a statement by Fox News President Jay Wallace. 'While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.' On Wednesday, Justice Department lawyer James Burnham argued that Acosta was guilty of 'inappropriate grandstanding' and deserved to lose his access over 'his refusal to comply with the general standards of a press conference.' Burnham also pointed out that CNN has dozens of other staffers with White House credentials, so excluding Acosta would not harm the network's coverage. The network's lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, contended that Acosta was being singled out for his coverage of the White House, not his alleged rudeness during a press conference. 'The White House has made very clear that they don't like the content of the reporting by CNN and Jim Acosta,' Boutrous said. 'Rudeness really is a code word for `I don't like you being an aggressive reporter.'' Prior to Wednesday's hearing, the White House had maintained that it has 'broad discretion' to regulate press access to the White House. A pre-hearing legal filing argued, 'The President and his designees in the White House Press Office have exercised their discretion not to engage with him and, by extension, to no longer grant him on-demand access to the White House complex so that he can attempt to interact with the President or White House officials.' Trump himself, in an interview published Wednesday, was uncertain how the court fight would end, saying: 'We'll see how the court rules. Is it freedom of the press when somebody comes in and starts screaming questions and won't sit down?' Trump told The Daily Caller that 'guys like Acosta' were 'bad for the country. ... He's just an average guy who's a grandstander who's got the guts to stand up and shout.' The White House's explanations for why it seized Acosta's credentials have shifted over the last week. Sanders initially explained the decision by accusing Acosta of making improper physical contact with the intern seeking to grab the microphone. But that rationale disappeared after some witnesses contended Acosta was just trying to keep the mic, and Sanders distributed a doctored video that made it appear he was more aggressive than the orignial footage depicted. On Tuesday, Sanders accused Acosta of being unprofessional by trying to dominate the questioning at the press conference. Both Sanders and Trump are named as defendants in the CNN suit, along with Chief of Staff John Kelly and Randolph Alles, director of the Secret Service. A final 'John Doe' defendant is the Secret Service officer who confiscated Acosta's pass at the White House gates. A new suspect has entered the decades-old DB Cooper hijacking mystery. An anonymous US Army data analyst now believes the person who hijacked a commercial airplane in 1971 and parachuted from the aircraft with $200,000 cash is a deceased man named William J Smith. The analyst turned his research in to the FBI this summer, claiming there were 'too many connections to simply be a coincidence' according to The Oregonian. This comes amidst hundreds if not thousands of people investigating the case, claiming they have finally discovered the true identity of DB Cooper. Investigators dedicated to uncovering the true identity of infamous 1971 airplane hijacker DB Cooper (right in police sketch) claim they now have the final pieces of evidence that proves he is William J Smith (left) The notorious hijacker, who is one of the 20th century's most compelling masterminds, hijacked a Boeing 727 at Seattle-Tacoma airport in 1971 and held its crew and passengers hostage with a bomb The man dubbed by the FBI as DB Cooper, who is one of the 20th century's most compelling masterminds, hijacked a Boeing 727 at Seattle-Tacoma airport and held its crew and passengers hostage with a bomb. Once his demand of $200,000 cash - the equivalent of $1.2 million today - was reached and transferred onto the plane, he had the crew take off before he parachuted out over the dense Pacific Northwest woods and disappeared. The anonymous researcher now claims he made the connection after reading the 1985 book DB Cooper: What Really Happened. The book's author, Max Gunther, claims he was contacted by a man in 1972 who said he was the real DB Cooper before cutting off all communication with him. But 10 years later a woman named Clara contacted Gunther claiming to be the widow of a man named Dan LeClair, who turned out to be the man who reached out to Gunther. He went on to write his book detailing the relationship between Clara and DC Cooper. According to The Oregonian, the book was described as 'somewhere in between nonfiction and speculation' and dismissed as a credible DB Cooper conspiracy. An FBI agent dismissed the author's account as 'highly unprofessional'. Part of the money that was paid to legendary hijacker D.B. Cooper in 1971 is shown during an F.B.I. news conference, February 12, 1980 Investigators have long believed Robert Rackstraw is the true DB Cooper is a confession of the true identity of the infamous 1971 airplane hijacker DB Cooper However, the anonymous analyst was not fully convinced Gunther's story was untrue. His research led him to track down a diseased World War II veteran named Dan Clair. Clair's co-worker was William J Smith, who became the analysts prime suspect. Both Smith and Clair were born in New Jersey and worked at the Oak Island rail yard together. Smith died at age 89, but a yearbook of his included a list of alumni who were killed during the war. According to the Oregonian, the name Ira Daniel Cooper appeared. The analyst said he believes Smith called Gunther and gave the name of his friend Clair in place of his own. The Oregonian reported that the FBI had not responded to the data analysts research. Gunther's book also noted LeClair went to a skydiving facility near Los Angeles in 1971. Just last year, the FBI revealed that the hijacker also visited a similar facility. This theory adds to the growing list of possible conspiracies as to the true identity of the skyjacker. In June, investigators claimed they finally confirmed the identity. A team of cold case experts said they decoded a 1972 message addressed to The Portland Oregonian Newspaper that was supposedly sent by the mystery man months after the hijacking. They said the message contains a confession from Cooper, which ties his identity to 74-year-old Vietnam War veteran Robert W. Rackstraw. Coding in this note, which was sent on November 30, 1971, said: 'IF CATCH I AM CIA RWR'. Another group of investigators believe the 'RWR' in the coding is Rackstraw's initials One of the taunting notes sent by Cooper in the late 1970s Copies of the typewritten letter were sent to The Seattle Times, The New York Times, The LA Times and The Washington Post by the hijacker at the time Investigators questioned Rackstraw about the Cooper case in 1978 and eliminated him as a suspect. When Tom Colbert, the lead investigator of a 40-person cold case team, first publicly named and linked Rackstraw to the hijacking, the veteran's lawyer called the accusations 'the stupidest thing I ever heard'. Rackstraw had an illustrious military career as a pilot in the 1st Cavalry Division - one of the first major American air assault divisions. It was there that Rackstraw learned to parachute and was given two Distinguished Flying Crosses for his performance while in the air - but he was kicked out of the army after they discovered he had lied about dropping out of high school and attending two colleges. Colbert believes the military gave him all the skills he needed to pull off the extraordinary heist. The FBI revealed in July 2016 that they were closing the investigation, saying that Cooper - whose real identity has never been confirmed by authorities - died of exposure in the woods between Oregon and Washington after jumping from the plane. Colbert said he has extensively investigated Rackstraw as well. In 1977, six years after the hijacking, Rackstraw was suspected of kiting checks for $75,000, but fled before arrest and went to Iran to teach the Shah's men how to fly helicopters. Meanwhile, back at home, police raided his storage units and found 14 rifles and 150lbs of dynamite. He lost his his Iran chopper job and he was brought back the USA, where he was arrested for fraud and the murder of his stepfather. Philip Rackstraw was found in the grounds of his parents' home with two bullets in his head. Rackstraw was acquitted of murder and made bail on the fraud charge. Then he faked his death, pretending to crash his plane in the ocean at Monterey Bay, California. He was found and taken in by the FBI, who believed he might be Cooper, but a lack of evidence and the sudden discovery of some of the hijack money in Washington - planted, Colbert says, by an accomplice - led to his release. Rackstraw made a plea deal and after serving a year in prison for his Stockton convictions, he moved to Riverside, California. There he taught a law course in mediation before retiring to his yacht, 'Poverty sucks'. Preston Landon Marshall, the grandson of the late Texan billionaire, J. Howard Marshall, has been found not guilty of head-butting and slapping his estranged wife by a jury in Houston. The younger Marshall took the stand in a three-day criminal trial, where he denied head-butting and slapping 43-year-old Anastasia Marshall during the domestic fight on May 12, 2017, but conceded he bit her on her face. As reported in the Houston Chronicle, the jury heard from Marshall, who said he bit his wife 'in self-defense because she was biting him during a struggle.' Preston Landon Marshall was found not guilty of head-butting and slapping his estranged wife by a jury in Houston 'She bit my hand,' the 45-year-old told jurors in his trial on misdemeanor assault charges. 'I reacted and bit her on the jaw.' Marshall is an executive with Rusk Capital Management. He is the grandson of the late Houston business tycoon, J. Howard Marshall. The elder Marshall gained notoriety for his marriage to 26-year-old Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith when he was 89. Preston Landon Marshall is no stranger to legal wranglings after he was involved in the extended lawsuits surrounding his grandfather's estate. J. Howard Marshall died in 1994 at 89, 14 months after he married Smith, sparking a contentious law battle over his billion dollar inheritance. Marshall senior hadn't included Smith in his will but she went on to challenge the will for the next decade. Smith remained involved in a legal fight over her dead husband's estate up until her own death on Feb 8, 2007. She died from overdose at the age of 39 at the Hard Rock near Hollywood, Florida. Preston Landon Marshall's criminal trial took place over three days. The court heard from Robert Scardino, a member of Marshall's defense team, how Marshall and his wife were involved in a late-night altercation when Anastasia Marshall fell on to their bed and he fell on top of her, hitting her forehead with his forehead. Marshall is the grandson of the late Houston business tycoon, J. Howard Marshall who gained notoriety for his marriage to 26-year-old Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith Defense lawyers for Marshall told the jury that his wife, a Russian-born immigrant, provoked a fight to get leverage in a divorce. 'She wants things, and she knows how to go about getting them and she's good at it,' Scardino said. 'From Mother Russia to a multi-millionairess.' Prosecutors argued that Marshall came home drunk on May 12 and turned an argument into a physical fight. Marshall testified he had been drinking but said he was not intoxicated when he got home from a dinner at the Petroleum Club, a private social club, in Houston. He told the court how he'd come home around midnight and tried to say good night to his two sleeping daughters. It was a school night, he said, and his wife got upset. They started pushing and shoving each other and ended up falling against the bed, hitting both of their heads. Marshall said his wife bit him on the hand and he bit her on the face. Preston Landon Marshall is no stranger to legal wranglings after he was involved in the extended lawsuits surrounding his grandfather's estate Marshall said he 'accidentally' head-butted his wife, the fighting stopped, and the couple had resolved to go to counseling, he testified. The altercation took place on a Thursday, by the Monday morning, Anastasia Marshall had filed for divorce, which is pending. Marshall declined to comment following the verdict. Drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman preferred US dollars he doled out his huge bribes to Mexican prosecutors, police, military and even Interpol to ensure smooth operations for his Sinaloa cartel, a key informant has told American jurors. Jesus 'El Rey' Zambada, brother of the cartel's co-head Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, who remains at large, returned to the witness stand on Thursday for Guzman's federal trial in Brooklyn. Jesus Zambada detailed the eye-watering costs of protecting cocaine shipments that originated in Colombia and traveled to the US via Mexico - with payments amounting to $300,000 per month in Mexico City alone. He said that Guzman, 61, once directed him to give $100,000, along with a hug, to General Gilberto Toledano, in charge of the state of Guerrero. In this courtroom sketch Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, center, sits next to his defense attorney Eduardo Balarezo, left, for opening statements in Brooklyn on Tuesday Guzman (above in 2016 arrest) is accused of smuggling more than 155 tons of cocaine into the United States over 25 years and faces life in prison if found guilty 'I was going to import cocaine from Colombia through the state of Guerrero... and El Chapo told me 'Go and meet General Toledano, he's my friend, and give him $100,000 from me,'' Zambada said, wearing a blue prison suit with an orange shirt. Guzman, wearing a dark suit and tie, listened attentively to the testimony of his former ally. Zambada told the court that as the head of the organization's operations in the capital city, he personally paid bribes to the attorney general's office, the federal highway police that also operates bridges and airports, federal, state and local police forces, and 'Interpol, as well.' 'The bribes for officials in Mexico City were about $300,000 per month,' the 57-year-old said. Jesus 'El Rey' Zambada is seen in 2008 Zambada, who worked for the cartel from 1987 until his arrest in 2008, was returning to the witness stand on the third day of a trial expected to last about four months. On Wednesday, Zambada had identified Guzman in the courtroom and told jurors he 'was one of the most powerful drug traffickers in Mexico.' The witness described how the cartel made massive profits by smuggling tons of cocaine into the United States. Zambada - a 57-year-old trained accountant who was arrested in 2008 and is still in U.S. custody - was the first of several cooperators expected to give jurors an inside look at a cartel with a legendary lust for drugs, cash and violence. The defense, which says Guzman is being framed, has described cooperating witnesses like Zambada as liars seeking to reduce their own sentences. Despite his diminutive stature and nickname that means 'Shorty' in Spanish, Guzman was once a larger-than-life kingpin both feared and admired in Mexico. The defense has sought to counter that reputation by portraying him as lesser figure in a drug gang. During his opening statement this week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Feels, left, gestured to Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, second from right, sitting next to his attorney Eduardo Balarezo Emma Coronel, the beauty queen wife of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, arrives for his trial in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday A motorcade believed to be transporting Guzman crosses the Brooklyn Bridge before arriving at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse for the first day of his trial on Tuesday On Wednesday, federal prosecutors gave jurors a video tour of a sophisticated tunnel between Mexico and an Arizona warehouse that they said was used to speed drug deliveries to America. The warehouse was just two blocks from a U.S. Customs office in the border city of Douglas. Brought to the US almost 22 months ago, Guzman is accused of smuggling more than 155 tons of cocaine into the United States over 25 years and faces life in prison if found guilty. His lawyers argue he has been scapegoated by Mexico's 'corrupt' government and the US Drug Enforcement Agency, and that the cartel's true chief was Ismael Zambada. Onions have injured more than 3000 people, proving hardware giant Bunnings may have been right to change its famous sausage sangas. Aside from slipping on the humble vegetable and falling over, people have also been lacerated, punctured or have suffered soft tissue damage. There were 3001 onion-related claims made over a six-year period according to figures from the Accident Compensation Corporation New Zealand. There were 25 sausage sizzle related injuries and 21 claims specifically related to people slipping on an onion, the New Zealand Herald reported. More than 3000 people have complained of onion-related injuries over a six-year period, figures released by Accident Compensation Corporation New Zealand reveal Bunnings announced on Tuesday sausages will be placed on top of onions at its sausage sizzles so they do not fall out and become a slipping hazard It is not clear whether those people who slipped over on an onion did so while at a sausage sizzle. The compensation corporation statistics cover the period January 1, 2013 to November 14, 2018. This year alone, 446 onion-related claims have been made, with most categorised as laceration or puncture injuries. Bunnings announced on Tuesday those running charity barbecues outside its stores must add onions before placing the sausages on top to avoid them falling out and become a slipping hazard. 'Safety is always our number one priority and we recently introduced a suggestion that onion be placed underneath sausages to help prevent the onion from falling out and creating a slipping hazard,' Bunnings chief operating officer Debbie Poole said. 'This recommendation is provided to the community groups within their fundraising sausage sizzle welcome pack and is on display within the gazebos when barbecues are underway.' Bunnings said safety was its number one priority and community groups have been provided with the new rules for sausage sangas within their fundraising sausage sizzle welcome pack Despite the change to the humble snag in bread, Mrs Poole was still able to see the lighter side. 'Regardless of how you like your onion and snag, we are confident this new serving suggestion will not impact the delicious taste or great feeling you get when supporting your local community group,' she said. Sausage sizzle fans everywhere took to social media to mock Bunnings after the bizarre new rule about onions in sausage sangas were revealed earlier this week. After the news was made public, many baffled and bewildered customers took to social media to weigh in on the issue under the hashtag 'oniongate'. While many poked fun at the rule change, others mocked move as health and safety gone mad. But a farmer who suffered a painful fall after slipping on a caramelised onion at Bunnings welcomed the change. 'Regardless of how you like your onion and snag, we are confident this new serving suggestion will not impact the delicious taste...,' Bunnings Chief Operating Officer Debbie Poole said Bunnings was mocked on social media over the sausage sanga change, with one user finding the controversial rule so amusing they couldn't resist posting a mock 'Onion Slip Proof' work boots advertisement Trevor, who cannot reveal his last name, fell backwards after he stepped on an onion while entering the Bunnings at Gympie, in Queensland, to buy a whipper snipper. And a nurse has claimed slipping on onions from a Bunnings' sausage sizzle almost cost her life. The nurse posted on her social media account saying her fall in February had a huge impact on her life and she was now suing the hardware giant. This is the hilarious moment a fed up New Jersey mother decided to shame her son by dressing as a clown to visit him in class. Video shows the mom, dressed in polka dots and a multicolored wig, entering her son's classroom at the KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy, in Newark. The woman burst in and stood over her son as she loudly proclaimed: 'Oh so you wanna act like a clown today?' 'Well I've decided to show up as the clown.' A New Jersey mom put on a wig and garish clown costume to teach her malcontent son a lesson during the school day For his part, the misbehaving boy appeared shamed enough by the clownish antics of his costumed parent, and assures his mom the lesson was learned The classroom erupted in laughter as the young boy looked more and more uncomfortable. 'You need me to sit here like this every day?' she asked the boy who shook his head, while looking down at his desk. 'You sure? I don't believe you.' 'Yes, I'm sure,' he responded. The student looked horrified to see his mom burst into class dressed like a clown The shamed pupil appearing in a followup photo on his principal's Instagram account shows he learned a valuable lesson thanks to his mom The video was uploaded by Sean Larry, principal of the New Jersey charter school, ecstatically praising the parent's creative chastisement of his pupil. 'BY FAR the BEST thing in my decade of educating!! She came up to the school not playing today! My favorite type of parent...he will certainly never forget this! Love Him!' he wrote on his Instagram account. Larry then posted a followup photo that shows the smiling boy no worse for wear. The principal describes his student being now 'focused' after his mother's intervention. Police in Florida are looking for a suspect with a lengthy criminal history who they say walked into a Largo pet store last month disguised as a woman and used a stolen credit to buy a French bulldog puppy worth thousands of dollars. According to a statement from the Largo Police Department, on October 2, 29-year-old Bryant Farfan entered the All About Puppies store at 7190 Ulmerton Road. There, he picked out a four-month-old fawn-colored female French bulldog and presented the store clerk a stolen drivers license and credit card to purchase the pooch for $4,000. Manhunt: Police in Florida are looking for Bryant Farfan, 29 (left and right), who is accused of using a stolen credit to buy a dog while disguised as a woman This fawn-colored female French bulldog worth $4,000 was stolen from All About Puppies store in Largo, Florida, on October 2, when she was four months old Farfan, who was still at large on Thursday, faces charges of grand theft and identity theft, reported ABC News. Employees at the Largo pet store said Farfan 'falsified adoption records' and gave them misleading information about the puppys future home, according to police. Surveillance video from inside the business that was released by police in an effort to catch the thief shows Farfan sporting shoulder-length hair, makeup, a set of long fake nails and head-to-toe Adidas attire with the French bulldog in his arms. Police are asking anyone who may have bought a dog from Farfan recently to contact detectives and the pet store. All About Puppies is offering a $1,000 reward for the safe return of the stolen pet. 'The only thing we are hoping for is the safe return of our puppy,' store manager Allie Julian told WFLA. Surveillance video captured Farfan entering the puppy enclosure while wearing makeup and Adidas attire from head to toe The 29-year-old ex-convict is seen in screenshots cradling the bulldog Arrest records indicate that Farfan has had at least 14 run-ins with police over the past decade stemming from allegations of robbery, grand theft and petit theft. In August, he as arrested in Tampa on a larceny charge and was scheduled to be arraigned on October 5 - three days after the puppy heist. While in most of the mugshots Farfan has been depicted sporting long hair, makeup and waxed eyebrows, he has been identified as a male. Anyone with information on Farfan's whereabouts is being asked to contact police at 727-587-6730. Asia Argento and her new boyfriend spent their second date making love on a table for an hour. That was revealed by Fabrizio Corona, the new man in Argento's life who was released from prison earlier this year after being charged with blackmailing celebrities with incriminating photos., Meanwhile, one of Anthony Bourdain's closest friends is revealing that he believes the celebrity chef died of a broken heart. Bourdain and Argento were dating in June when he took his life, and soon after Argento claimed the pair had an open relationship. Daniel Boulud, the man behind Michelin-starred restaurant Daniel in New York City, spoke with US Weekly at the Citymeals on Wheels 32nd Annual Power Lunch for Women on Wednesday when he was asked about the passing of Bourdain. 'His heart was broken,' said Boulud. 'I dont know exactly but I know I know that what he did was something that was a shock to everyone, absolutely.' Scroll down for video Kiss, kiss: Asia Argento has opened up about her new relationship with Fabrizio Corona, a paparazzo who recently served a year in jail for blackmailing celebrities (Argento in the Italian talk show Domenica IN over the weekend) Wood: Corona (right) said in an interview earlier this week that the pair made love for an hour on a table during their second date(Argento left in October) In an interview on the Italian talk show Verissimo earlier this week, Corona opened up about the pair's relationship. 'We talked for hours,' said Corona. 'Then I stood up, I took her head in my hands, we kissed, I laid her on the table and we made beautiful love for an hour.' Argento was less forthcoming about the pair's relationship, but did eventually share some details of her own in an interview with Domenica In on Sunday. 'We met twice, I hope there is a third. I am in Rome, he is in Milan. We are in contact every day, that's okay with me,' said Argento. She also spoke about the two being photographed on their first date and her decision to change the location of their second to make sure there was no intrusions. 'I made an appointment at my house for fear of the paparazzi. During that meeting I was stunned: he is a sensitive, profound person,' said Argento. 'It was very tender, when it was gone I was lying on the bed and I had the little hearts.' Argento also said she is not concerned by the fact that Corona recently served time behind bars. He was sentenced to a year in jail for reportedly blackmailing celebrities with photos and collecting money to not publish the images. 'Everyone tells me something but I do not listen, is like a buzz. Fallen in love? Please,' said Argento. 'I saw him twice and I do not fall in love for a long time. I am intelligent, educated, I can wait.' Torn apart: Anthony Bourdain's close friend Daniel Boulud (above in 2014) is also opening up and saying he believes the celebrity chef died of a broken heart RIP: 'I dont know exactly but I know I know that what he did was something that was a shock to everyone, absolutely,' said Boulud (Bourdain and Argento in 2017) Loved up: Argento and French journalist Hugo Clement (above) on June 3, days before Bourdain took his life Argento was pictured just last month enjoying the sights of Rome with a new man. The Italian actress and director, 43, was seen strolling through the park at Villa Borghese with Elias Franco, a 31-year-old artist who lives in Queens. Argento and the man were seen stretching, doing a little bit of yoga and then organizing an impromptu photoshoot during the outing. That photoshoot found Argento behind the lense while Franco posed as her model, just four months after the tragic passing of her boyfriend Anthony Bourdain. 'Thank you for hopping museums with me in Firenze & for all your support in these difficult times,' wrote Argento on Instagram, posting a photo of he two after a day spent seeing the sights of Rome. It was a bittersweet outing for Argento however, who just a few days later would break down in tears while speaking about the death of her boyfriend Anthony Bourdain four months prior. This sightseeing trip also took place just days after her exclusive sit down with DailyMailTV. It is unclear how Franco and Argento first came to the attention of one another, especially given the fact that she now resides in Rome while he is in New York City. The most likely scenario is that he came into her orbit, and that of many other stars, thanks to the three years during which he worked as an assistant to Lady Gaga's stylist and close friend Nicola Formichetti. Franco is an artist and a designer, holding the role of creative director at the MINY Collective for he past nine years. The renaissance man works as a freelance fashion editor as well per his Linked In He is also a new father according to social media, with his partner Caitlin having just given birth to a daughter last July. Argento seemed happier than she has in months during her outing with Franco, whom she was photographed alongside while they toured the city. The pictures are very much similar to previous photos of Argento with Bourdain and later French journalist Hugo Clement, both of whom she also guided through the sights of Rome. A school has cancelled prize giving ceremonies in a bid to move away from ranking systems so students don't get upset when they're beaten by their friends. Silverdale Primary School, on Auckland's Hibiscus Coast in New Zealand, announced their plans to abolish award ceremonies in their October school newsletter. Principal Cameron Lockie told the New Zealand Herald handing out awards at end of year ceremonies no longer aligned with the school's beliefs and values. A school has stopped having prize giving ceremonies in a bid to move away from ranking systems so students don't get upset when they're beaten by their friends Principal Cameron Lockie (pictured) told the New Zealand Herald handing out awards at end of year prizegiving ceremonies no longer aligned with the school's beliefs and values Mr Lockie said singling out students as 'special' made no sense - especially when the majority of kids are trying their hardest to be the best they can be. 'Try explaining to a child that has tried hard all year with their learning that they didn't get the Commitment to Learning award because someone else was trying harder, this is subjective,' he said. The principal said schools are supposed to be about 'learning and creativity' to empower children, not 'ranking and sorting', which only rewards high achievers. 'If we continuously tell our children that every single one of them is important to our school, I do not see how end-of-year prizegiving aligns with this belief,' he said. The decision to change the school's award ceremonies was met with mixed reviews from parents and generated 'a lot of talk' in the community. Silverdale resident Tracey Smith questioned the principal's decision, saying if we don't each kids to how to fail, they may struggle transitioning into high school. Silverdale Primary School (pictured), on Auckland's Hibiscus Coast in New Zealand, announced their plans to abolish awards ceremonies in their October school newsletter But another resident, Theresa Yaroshevich, agreed with Mr Lockie, saying prizegiving ceremonies are outdated and awkward to sit through for those not being rewarded. The principal explained his reasons for the changes in the October newsletter. Mr Lockie wrote the changes wouldn't have an impact on certain reward systems, such as sporting activities, inter-school competitions and team awards. He said prizes would continue for these events as they were 'competitive' and not 'subjective'. If a student comes first in the cross country race, then obviously they've won and deserve first place and a reward, everyone understands that, he said. The principal said the way to promote 'lifelong learners' is to provide them with an engaging curriculum in a 'safe, caring community in which to discover and create'. He said there is 'abundant research' that show awards can undermine a child's intrinsic motivation to to succeed. 'We are trying to get our children to succeed because they want to succeed and not because of a reward at the end which is subjective at best,' he said. DA Michael Jackson said Gregory Griggers suffered a facial wound in the gunfire, which occurred in downtown Demopolis A county prosecutor was shot and wounded in rural western Alabama before officers fatally wounded the suspect, a former state trooper who once was questioned in another shooting, authorities said Thursday. District Attorney Michael Jackson said a district attorney from a neighboring judicial circuit, Gregory Griggers, suffered a facial wound in the gunfire, which occurred in downtown Demopolis. The nature of the injury wasn't immediately clear, but Jackson said Griggers is expected to recover. An investigator from Griggers' office and a drug task force investigator opened fire and the alleged assailant was killed, Jackson said. He identified the dead man as former Alabama state trooper Steve Smith, who was questioned about a shooting at the home of a judge in a neighboring county more than 20 years ago while still working for the state. The judge, Eddie Hardaway, was the first black judge in the area. Jackson said it's unclear why Griggers was shot, but he had an investigator on the way. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency refused to release any information about Smith's employment history. An investigator from Griggers' office and a drug task force investigator opened fire and the alleged assailant was killed, Jackson said News outlets report the shooting happened near Griggers' office in Demopolis, the seat of Marengo County. Photos from news outlets showed police officers and a firetruck in a main intersection of the town. WVUA-TV reported that Griggers was sitting in his vehicle outside his office when he was ambushed. First appointed to the position in 2003 and re-elected since, Griggers is the chief prosecutor for Marengo, Greene, and Sumter counties along the Mississippi state line. Griggers was sitting in his vehicle outside his office when he was ambushed The chief federal prosecutor for north Alabama, U.S. Attorney Jay Town of Birmingham, called Griggers a 'dedicated public servant and an honorable man.' 'This serves as yet another reminder of the perils and dangers that law enforcement at every level face daily,' Town said. Jackson said Smith was the same one-time Alabama trooper who was once involved in the bizarre story of shotgun blasts that were fired into the home of Circuit Judge Eddie Hardaway Jr., who still presides in Sumter County. Smith once lived in a room at the home of Hardaway's mother and knew the judge through work. Smith was questioned after the shooting at Hardaway's house because a car matching the description of his private vehicle was seen nearby. In an interview years ago, Smith said a witness also identified him. No one was ever charged in the shooting at the judge's home. It's unclear when Smith left the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Kimora Lee Simmons was seen sobbing outside the Los Angeles home of late friend and bridesmaid Kim Porter on Thursday afternoon as she watched a coroner haul her body. Simmons was beside herself as stood in the garage alongside other loved ones to Porter, who suddenly passed away Thursday after suffering flu-like symptoms and possibly pneumonia for several weeks, according to TMZ. Authorities arrived at Porter's home around 11.30am after they received a call saying someone at the residence had gone into cardiac arrest. The model and actress, 47, who dated Diddy for 13 years, reportedly phoned her doctor just yesterday and said she wasn't feeling any better, another source told the gossip site. The exact cause of her death has not yet been confirmed. Simmons and Porter shared a close bond, which can be seen in a throwback tweet Simmons posted from her first wedding to Russell Simmons in 1998. A smiling Porter is pictured next to Tyra Banks and other bridesmaids of the Kimora: House of Fab reality star at the time. Close friend Kimora Lee Simmons grieves as Kim Porter's body is removed by the coroner. Kim Porter, the model and actress who dated Diddy for 13 years, was found dead Thursday at her Los Angeles home Friends and relatives rush to the home as the Los Angeles Coroner removes Kim's body from her home in Los Angeles. One of her daughters is pictured in the Adidas tracksuit A close friend Simmons grieves with family as Porter's body is removed by the coroner Friends of Porter watch Thursday as a coroner removes her body from the LA home Police arrived at Porter's home around 11.30am after they received a call that someone at the residence had gone into cardiac arrest A law enforcement officer looks on as a coroner removes Porter's body from her home Thursday Porter, the model and ex-girlfriend of Sean Combs, was found dead just days before Thanksgiving. She is pictured last month in LA Kimora Lee Simmons tweeted this throwback photo of her bridesmaids from her first wedding to Russell Simmons. Porter is pictured far left next to Tyra Banks Porter, Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons are pictured in November 2003 Diddy's representative confirmed Porter's death and asked that the family be given 'privacy at this time'. A source close to the pair told People late Thursday: 'Diddy is devastated and shocked. 'He and Kim were still very close friends and co-parents even though their romantic relationship didnt work... they were still a family.' Porter and Diddy share three children together, twin girls Jessie James and D'Lila, 11, and 20-year-old son Christian. The model and actress also had a son, Quincy, from her relationship with R&B producer Al B. Sure!. Porter and Diddy were pictured together just last month as their entire family came out to support the premiere of Quincy's film The Holiday Calendar. Porter and Diddy dated on and off for 13 years. They are pictured here at the 1999 Annual Essence Awards Porter's home is pictured, where she went into cardiac arrest earlier Thursday before her death On Thursday, celebrities took to social media to express their condolences as Missy Elliot wrote on Twitter: 'This is so heartbreaking. Lord please give her kids & her whole family strength.' 'R.I.P to Kim Porter, I send my condolences to her friends and family,' 50 Cent said. 'She was loved and will be missed dearly. I know Puff is hit right now, he loved her for real, soul mate type s**t. Chin up puff, Positive vibes only.' Wendy Williams also shared a message: 'I just heard the sad news about Kim Porter. My condolences to Diddy and Kim's families. Rest In Peace.' And Tevin Campbell: 'Totally shocked. Kim Porter has left us. Too young. Nothing but memories of her, my lil bro and I goofing around in the lab with Al B. Heartfelt prayers/condolences to the family especially the kids.' Questlove also tweeted out: 'Yo man... heart goes out to the family.' Tributes for Porter quickly began to pour into social media on Thursday afternoon from the likes of 50 Cent, Questlove, and Missy Elliot Porter and Diddy were seen together just last month as their entire family came out to support the premiere of Quincy's film The Holiday Calendar. She is pictured here at the premiere with the couple's two daughters They share three children together, twin girls Jessie James and D'Lila, 11, and 20-year-old Christian. Pictured is Diddy with Jesse James, D'Lila, and his daughter Chance Porter was an accomplished model and actress, appearing on the covers of Runway and Essence Magazine. She also made appearances on shows including Law & Order, as well as the films The Brothers and Mama, I Want To Sing. Porter and Diddy were on and off for more than a decade, their dramatic splits and reconciliations frequently making national headlines in the late 90s and early 200s. Diddy first met Porter when he was an A&R executive in the early 1990s. It was love at first sight - at least for the future hitmaker. Porter had been at the studio with her ex-boyfriend AI B. Sure when Diddy first laid eyes on her. 'I wasn't trying to holler at her or anything, but I was admiring her - her lips, her eyes, her mouth, her shape, her energy,' Diddy told Essence in 2006. All the rapper could think was 'I wish I had a girl like that'. Porter is seen dining out with her son Christian Combs at Mr. Chow in October Diddy's representative confirmed Porter's death and asked that the family be given 'privacy at this time.' Pair pictured in 2004 Porter would go on to work as a receptionist at Uptown Records. By 1994, she and Diddy were a couple - and they were inseparable. 'We went out together, we ate together, we played together,' Porter told Essence during the same interview. 'He would want me at the office. I would want him at my shoots. Our bond was so tight.' Diddy, who hails from Harlem, was completely taken by how different Porter - a Columbus, Georgia native - seemed from the other girls he knew. 'She wasn't like a New York girl,' he said. 'She was Bohemian, mixed with Georgia-peach hospitality.' 'I got the idea she'd like doing stuff like walking barefoot in the grass. I didn't think I could get her to like me.' Porter and Diddy (pictured together at the Academy Awards in 2005) first began dating in the early 1990s Diddy, who hails from Harlem, was completely taken by how different Porter - a Columbus, Georgia native - seemed from the other girls he knew when they first met 'She was smooth, you know, like ice. She's cool and collected and thinks before she speaks. You meet a lot of young ladies, and they just don't do that. Kim was never pressed. She was always in control.' But shortly after the birth of the couple's first son, news hit that Diddy was dating Jennifer Lopez. Suddenly Porter's name was all over the press. 'Everywhere I went, people were asking, "Are you okay?"', Porter recalled at the time. 'They were talking to me like I was really crushed. But I just had a baby. I couldn't be somewhere in a corner heartbroken. I have kids. I'm a grown woman.' Porter kicked Combs out of the house they shared and he went on to date Lopez for two years. It wasn't until Combs faced the possibility of jail, after he was charged with bribery and weapons possession, that he won Porter back again. 'I think the threat of losing his freedom forced him to grow up and take responsibility for his actions,' she said. Porter and Diddy first broke up when she was pregnant with their son - the same time he began dating Jennifer Lopez behind her back Porter kicked Combs out of the house they shared and he went on to date Lopez (pictured together in 2000) for two years The couple seemed stronger than ever after they got back together, with Diddy even declaring that Porter 'completes me' and that she was his 'muse'. But just seven months after their loved-up interview was published, Porter and Diddy had broken up yet again. And, much like the first time around, the betrayal happened when Porter was pregnant - this time with the rapper's twins. Porter was informed by a friend that Diddy had another daughter on the way with another woman. The baby - named Chance - was born five months before Porter's daughters. Her mother was Sarah Chapman, a woman in Atlanta who worked in fashion. Porter planned her break-up from Diddy for weeks, waiting until he was out of town before packing up the house. She took the cars, the nursery, the furniture - even the kitchen table. 'There was no other way,' Porter told Essence in 2007. 'You think he would have let me walk out the door?' 'I wanted him to know I wasn't breaking up with him for two weeks - or maybe leaving for two days. If I pack up everything - twins and all - it means I'm out!' It wasn't until Combs faced the possibility of jail, after he was charged with bribery and weapons possession - that he won Porter back again. The couple are pictured here in 2004, shortly before their final break-up Porter and Diddy remained friends after their final break-up in 2007 and she made appearances on his show 'I Want To Work For Diddy'. She is pictured here in June 2018 'Puffy's an action person, not a talk person. So I had to have an action. Telling him, "Babe, I'm leaving" was not gonna do it.' But the couple remained friends through the years, something Porter predicted from the beginning. 'You know how when two people go their separate ways, most of the time there's animosity? It's not like that with us,' she said soon after their break-up. 'Sean and I have this bond, this friendship. I'm the person he can tell his inner most thoughts to and he's that person for me. He still calls me every day and we talk.' The former couple continued to make appearances at red carpets and parties together and Porter made appearances on Diddy's show I Want to Work for Diddy, which aired from 2008 to 2010. Diddy even gave Porter a shout out in one of his songs in 2010. His lyrics - 'What if the twins ask me why I ain't marry their mom (why, damn!) / How do I respond? - raised eyebrows due to the song's title 'Coming Home'. Diddy and Porter never rekindled their relationship, but he continued to shower her with love. He took to Instagram to share a birthday tribute for Porter in 2015, writing: 'We thank God for you! Love and be clear! She's set 4 life! BE CLEAR! Thank you for my beautiful children!' Tory voters oppose the attempt by rebel Conservative MPs to depose Theresa May and do not want Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg or any of her rivals to replace her. Nor do they believe that Johnson or Rees-Mogg would fare any better than she has in winning concessions from Brussels. But there is very little enthusiasm for her Brexit deal among voters, merely a grudging acceptance that it is the best we are likely to be offered. Tory voters oppose the attempt by rebel Conservative MPs to depose Theresa May and do not want Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg or any of her rivals to replace her They are among the findings of a Survation opinion poll conducted for the Daily Mail yesterday as Mr Rees-Mogg led a bid by pro-Brexit Tory MPs to unseat the Prime Minister. His actions are opposed by Conservative supporters, according to the survey. Asked who would make the best Prime Minister, Mrs May scores 60 to Mr Johnsons 31. She beats Mr Rees-Mogg by 58 to 31. But some of the survey makes grim reading for Mrs May. Her Brexit deal is opposed by 49 per cent of all voters, with only 27 per cent in favour. Tory voters are slightly less hostile, with 42 per cent against and 37 in favour. Forced to choose between a no deal Brexit and Mrs Mays deal, 34 per cent of voters choose the former with 32 per cent in favour of the latter. Despite the low ratings for her deal, the public has few illusions about the prospects of getting a better one: a total of 36 per cent say that Mrs Mays proposal is better than any other available option against 33 who disagree. A majority of Tory voters say sacking Mrs May would reduce Britains chances of getting a better settlement. Voters from other parties strongly disagree. The poll provides further evidence that the campaign by Remain supporters for a Peoples Vote in effect a second referendum is not likely to go away. A total of 42 per of voters back a Peoples Vote, with 38 per cent against although Conservative voters are strongly opposed to the idea. Florida election workers will recount a large number of contested ballots cast last week in a hotly contested U.S. Senate race, facing a Sunday deadline to get the work done under the watchful eyes of both Republican and Democratic partisans. Two counties abandoned their efforts to machine-recount last week's election ballots on Thursday, after a legally mandated deadline came and went and a federal judge called the state's famous electoral ineptness a global 'laughingstock.' In Palm Beach County, aging machines that can only count one race's votes at a time sputtered and overheated. Four separate elections there ended with a margin of less than 0.5 per cent of the more than 8 million votes cast, including contests for governor, U.S. Senate, state agriculture commissioner and a seat in the state legislature. All but the governor's race are still in doubt. Election supervisor Susan Bucher told reporters: 'We gave it a heroic effort. We were timed out.' In Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, election officials were left red-faced when their completed recount showed 846 fewer votes than it tallied the first time. Palm Beach County Supervisor Of Elections Susan Bucher gave up on a machine recount of ballots cast in the statewide U.S. Senate race last week after machines overheated and broke down, making it impossible to meet a legal deadline at 3:00 p.m. Thursday Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson appears to have lost his seat by less than 14,000 votes after 65 of Florida's 67 counties recounted their portions of more than 8 million ballots cast Nov. 6 Florida Gov. Rick Scott, now apparently a U.S. senator-elect, went to Washington on Wednesday to participate in orientation activities on Capitol Hill Tables are set up for hand-counting ballots in Palm Beach County, ready for election workers to engage in the same kind of work that deterined the 2000 U.S. presidential race Both counties reverted to the unofficial results they submitted to the Florida secretary of state on Saturday, voiding their machine recounts entirely. The hand recounts won't involve looking at 8 million ballots only those that the machines rejected because of two oddities they're not equipped to handle. In one, called an 'overvote,' a ballot is submitted with more than one candidate chosen. And in an 'undervote,' the machine interpreted the ballot as having no vote for Senate at all. Sixty-seven canvassing boards, one per county, will pore over those ballots in an attempt to discern each voter's intent. They are allowed to use volunteers for the work, but Republican and Democratic lawyers are expected to object to any decision that they don't like sending it to a panel that includes a judge. Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican who ran for Democrat Bill Nelson's seat in the U.S. Senate, claimed victory a second time after the statewide recount showed his edge grew by 865 votes, to a total of 13,427 votes. But that's still less than a 0.25 per cent difference, so state law requires all of the Sunshine State's 67 counties to start over again this time turning off the machines and recounting that contest's votes by hand. Until that process is over, the second set of results are just as 'unofficial' as the first. That hasn't stopped Scott from presuming he holds the title 'senator-elect.' He showed up in Washington on Wednesday to participate in orientation for new members, along with other GOP election winners. 'Last week, Florida voters elected me as their next U.S. senator and now the ballots have been counted twice,' he said in a statement. Volunteers gathered in Palm Beach County to go over the manual counting process before starting on Thursday after officials failed to meet a deadline for machine-recounting Every one of Florida's 67 counties (Miami-Dade County officials are pictured) had a machine recount and will now have to start over by hand because the margin in the U.S. Senate race is tighter than 0.25 per cent B allot counting machines overheated and broke down in Palm Beach County; they weren't designed to count more than one race at a time 'Our state needs to move forward. We need to put this election behind us, and it is time for Bill Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end, rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result, and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served.' That embarrassment was front-and-center hours earlier when U.S. District Judge Mark Walker upbraided Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle a multi-contest recount. 'We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election,' Walker marveled. 'And we chose not to fix this.' Walker also said about 4,000 voters whose signatures on mali-in ballots didn't match those on file with the government could have until Saturday at 5:00 p.m. to resolve the differences and have their ballots counted. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals refused to intervene Thursday afternoon. On Tuesday President Donald Trump called on Nelson to admit he lost his re-election bid to Scott. He implied, without evidence, that officials in two large counties were trying to steal the election. 'When will Bill Nelson concede in Florida?' Trump wrote. 'The characters running Broward and Palm Beach voting will not be able to 'find' enough votes, too much spotlight on them now!' Both counties are Democratic strongholds. The statewide hand recount of votes in the Senate race is subject to a Sunday deadline. Lawyers for Nelson, led by former Hillary Clinton campaign attorney Marc Elias, have said they will go back to court to ask again for a deadline extension. Elias told reporters on Tuesday that there's no need to rush, since the next U.S. Congress doesn't begin until January. Vice President Mike Pence starred down Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Singapore, where the U.S. says he entreated the foreign leader not meddle in America's elections. Putin said he and Pence spoke on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations conference, discussing arms control and other issues. Pence's press secretary, Alyssa Farah, said in a statement that the two 'touched on the issues that will be discussed when President Trump and President Putin are both in Argentina for the G20 summit.' An NBC reporter said that the the VP's office actually went further in private, claiming a spokesperson said Pence brought up Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election during the conversation that took place on camera but was inaudible. Vice President Mike Pence starred down Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Singapore, where the U.S. says he entreated the foreign leader not meddle in America's elections Putin said he and Pence spoke on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations conference, discussing arms control and other issues Pence's press secretary said in a statement that the two 'touched on the issues that will be discussed when President Trump and President Putin are both in Argentina for the G20 summit' The talk took place at the plenary session of ASEAN on Thursday afternoon. At a dinner the night before, Pence and Putin exchanged a brief hello. The vice president told NBC he wasn't in a position at the dinner to say more. 'Well we really didn't have the opportunity, he was literally across a broad table,' Pence explained. 'Look, we've been very clear about this administration's commitment to ensure, whether it be Russia or other countries, that there's no tolerance for meddling in our elections.' He stressed that the United States had taken 'decisive action' to protect the integrity of the ballot box. 'I know the president has also made that very clear in his meetings with the president in the past,' Pence asserted. Pence and Putin's interaction at ASEAN on Thursday was brief. Trump and Putin have a planned meeting in just a few weeks. Putin said Thursday that Moscow and Washington need to discuss the future of the 2011 New START arms-reduction agreement and the situation around the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. Trump has declared his intention to withdraw from the INF, which was signed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The Russian leader also said Thursday that if he and Trump meet as expected in Argentina later this month, they will also discuss Syria, North Korea and Iran. He added that Moscow is prepared for 'the restoration of full-fledged work' if Washington is ready for that. 'We undoubtedly need a dialogue on the highest level, as well as on the level of experts,' he said. The Kremlin also hit out at the 'unpredictability' of the United States under Trump, saying it was causing 'deep global concern.' 'The fact that America has become unpredictable lately is no secret to anyone,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Dozhd TV during Putin's trip to Singapore. 'Such unpredictability from the largest country, the most powerful economy in the world, is the subject of deep global concern,' he added. Trump and Putin greeted each other with smiles at the centennial anniversary of Armistice Day in Paris over the weekend. Putin even flashed his counterpart a thumbs up - the American president's favored greeting. Morocco's King Mohammed VI, President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove ahead of the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day in Paris Poker faces: Trump, Merkel and Macron smile as Putin arrives at the Armistice Day ceremony on Sunday The pair will have a more substantive meeting in two weeks at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires the last week of November. They already had a summit over the summer in Helsinki together. Relations between the two countries have hit new lows with American officials slapping Russia with fresh sanctions in response to the botched poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain. Western governments accused Russia of being behind the plot which saw Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, poisoned with a deadly nerve agent. Two British citizens were also poisoned, one of whom died. Moscow has denied being behind the brazen hit and has condemned efforts to sanction it over the incident. Trump places a hand on Putin's back as the Russian President greets First Lady, Melania Trump 'We do not recognise these unilateral restrictions... and we consider them illegitimate,' Peskov said of the threatened sanctions, adding they would only 'further complicate' Russia-US relations. World leaders are currently meeting in Singapore, which is hosting the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. Trump is not at the gathering, though, and Pence, his vice president, instead. He just returned from Paris on Sunday night and leaves after the Thanksgiving holiday for the Group of 20 meeting in Argentina. Pennsylvania law enforcement is on the hunt for a male and female suspect who broke into a couple's home, attacked them and vandalized the property Monday. The masked suspects entered Aric and Joey Maczis' Littletown property at around 12.30am and demanded money before attacking the male resident, Aric, with a meat cleaver, and intending to kill his spouse with a wooden pole. 'He asked for money or something and then I saw he had the meat cleaver so I jumped up to defend my family,' Aric Maczis told Fox 43. Scroll down for videos A masked man attacked Aric Maczis with a meat cleaver around 12.30am Monday Joey Maczis jumped over a table and headed out the door while their friend went upstairs 'He started to hit me with the cleaver.' Aric added: 'He threw the pipe at her and told her to kill my wife.' The couple was playing a card game with a friend when the incident occurred and while Joey, dashed outside to get help, their visitor went upstairs. Joey was in fear her partner wouldn't survive the attack. 'I just immediately jumped over the table to run for help because it felt like we were going to die,' Joey Maczis said. 'I didn't think my husband was going to make it out.' A mystery man and woman broke into the home while the couple played a card game The were armed with a meat cleaver and wooden pole Despite the unsociable time, Joey's calls for help paid off. A neighbor who heard the commotion called law enforcement but the suspects managed to escape in a silver car before they arrived. 'As soon as I came out I was on my phone calling 911 telling them they needed to get someone here because there's a lady outside saying somebody is trying to kill her,' neighbor Jonathan Duvall said. Aric Maczis is now scared to sleep at night because the suspects are still out there Aric Maczis was struck during the attack and his wife didn't think he'd make it out alive The victims are unclear whether they were targets of a robbery, but it would have been no ordinary burglary. Before getting away, the suspects smashed up as much as they could, including items of value. 'They were busting TVs, fish tanks, our curio cabinet,' said Maczis. 'I don't know if they were just trying to rob us, I've never seen these people before.' The suspects smashed up the property during the break in, including this curio cabinet They also damaged valuable items including a fish tank The victims are not sure whether it was simply a robbery. The suspects smashed a television A Littletown, Pennsylvania neighbor called police when they heard Joey calling for help Now Aric is afraid to rest at night in his own home as the suspects remain on the loose. The couple is desperate for the assailants to be caught and punished for the attack. 'I don't want to sleep because I don't know who these people are. I am worried about my family, myself, I'd like to see them caught and prosecuted,' Maczis added. Littlestown Borough Police Department asks anyone with information to contact 717-359-4511. Alternatively call the Adams County Crimestoppers hotline on 717-334-8057. Crimestoppers is offering a reward and tips can also be submitted to accrimestoppers.com. One month after Jayme Closs' mysterious disappearance, rumors have continued to swirl in the rural town of Barron, Wisconsin. 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. 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. 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. A Barron County sheriff's vehicle sits outside the home where James Closs and Denise Closs were found fatally shot on October 15. Rumors are still swirling as the couple's 13-year-old daughter Jayme is yet to be found 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. 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. 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. Reporting by Marlene Lenthang Seven years after Bob Evans died in prison in 2010 while serving time for killing and dismembering his girlfriend, the New Hampshire drifter was revealed to have had five other victims, including his toddler daughter and the mother of a girl he raised for several years and then abandoned. Evans, who was born Terry Peder Rasmussen and used multiple other names, first became known to New Hampshire law enforcement in 1979 after he was arrested for issuing a bad check. He was arrested two more times for diverting electrical currents the following year, according to state records. Bob Evans is pictured in a 1985 mugshot 'Elizabeth Evans' is listed as his spouse on a 1980 arrest report, but she has never been located or identified by authorities. Shortly after Thanksgiving in 1981, Evans went missing with his 23-year-old girlfriend Denise Beaudin and her six-month-old daughter. Beaudin's family did not report her missing at the time, believing she and Evans had left the state due to financial troubles. Authorities now believe Evans killed Beaudin after leaving New Hampshire, and then raised her daughter until 1986, when he left her with a family at a mobile home park. In 1985 both Beaudin and another child's bodies were discovered in a barrel at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire. Evans is believed to have been living in California at the time. In 2001, Rasmussen's girlfriend Eunsoon Jun disappeared from Richmond, California. He was convicted of her murder in 2003. In 2017 authorities tied Evans to the murders of four other victims, a woman and three girls, who were also found in barrels near the Bear Brook State Park. Inventors have developed a spinning wind turbine that generates energy from gusts blown from any direction to make electricity. The 'O-Wind Turbine' has won two graduates the James Dyson Award 2018 for overcoming the limitations of traditional turbines, which work in one direction. Their innovative design was inspired by NASA's Mars Tumbleweed Rover an inflatable ball designed to autonomously bounce across the surface of Mars. Scroll down for video Nicolas Orellana, left and Yaseen Noorani. The two inventors have developed a spinning wind turbine which generates energy from multi-directional winds to make electricity in urban areas. The invention scooped them a prestigious international James Dyson Award Nicolas Orellana, from Chile, and Yaseen Noorani, from Kenya were studying International Innovation together at Lancaster University when they came up with the design. They wanted to explore generating energy from the unpredictable winds found in modern towns and cities. They hoped to utilise this relatively untapped resource, generating energy even on the most blustery of days. Mr Orellana, 36, and Mr Noorani, 24, created a unique 10 inch (25cm) sphere with vents which sits on a fixed axis and spins when wind hits it from any direction. When the wind energy turns the device, gears drive a generator which converts the energy into electricity. This can be used as a direct source of power or can be fed back to the grid. The cutting-edge design means that cities could use this technology to produce electricity and reduce air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. The spinning turbine is a spherical shape with a single axis used for rotating. Its dimensions and shape mean that it is very suitable for energy production in cities, where buildings catapult winds into chaos Mr Orellana and Mr Noorani won a 2,000 ($2,560) investment for their project in the prestigious Dyson competition and were awarded an additional 35,000 ($45,000) prize. Sir James Dyson, who chose the winners, said: 'Designing something that solves a problem is an intentionally broad brief. It invites talented young inventors to do more than just identify real problems. 'It empowers them to use their ingenuity to develop inventive solutions. O-Wind Turbine does exactly that. 'It takes the enormous challenge of producing renewable energy and using geometry it can harness energy in places where we've scarcely been looking cities. It's an ingenious concept.' The 10 inch sphere has vents which sit on a fixed axis and spins the turbine when wind hits it from any direction. When the wind energy turns the device, its gears drive a generator which converts the energy into electricity. This can be used as a direct source of power HOW DOES 'O-WIND TURBINE' WORK? The turbine is of a spherical shape with a single axis of rotation going through it. Its dimensions and shape mean that it is very suitable for small-scale energy production by individual apartment dwellers e.g. by being fixed outside balconies. The turbine makes use of Bernoullis principle for its mechanical motion. The structure is lined up with vents which have large entrances and smaller exits for air. In the presence of wind, there is a pressure difference between the two terminals causing the turbine to move. The vents are placed all across the sphere making it receptive to wind from all directions in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The turbine will rotate in the same sense about a fixed axis regardless of wind direction. This turbine rotation is used to power a generator that can produce electricity, which can be fed into the national grid, hence providing financial incentive to users and improving the regions sustainable energy production. Credit: Dyson Advertisement The pair hope O-Wind Turbines can be installed on large structures, such as the sides of buildings, or balconies, where wind speeds are at their highest. The two inventors hope to make their invention cheaply, enabling people to install them on large buildings or balconies, where wind speeds can reach their highest. 'We hope that O-Wind Turbine will improve the usability and affordability of turbines for people across the world,' said Mr Orellana. 'Cities are windy places but we are currently not harnessing this resource. Our belief is that making it easier to generate green energy, people will be encouraged to play a bigger own role in conserving our planet.' The pair are already in discussions with investors and hope to secure a deal in the coming months. The pair hope O-Wind Turbines can be installed on large structures, such as the sides of buildings, or balconies, where wind speeds are at their highest. Pictured here, Nicolas Orellana, right and Yaseen Noorani A shocking 62 per cent of UK parents are worried that their child is being cyber bullied in group chats via WhatsApp, according to a new survey. Eight out of ten parents expressed concern about the nature of closed group chats, used on platforms such as WhatsApp. The survey of more than 2,000 parents was conducted by child online safety organisation Internet Matters. Parents were concerned that the nature of a closed group is that they do not know what the content of the conversation is and how it affects their child. Mothers and fathers of children aged 11 to 13 proved to be the most concerned overall. Scroll down for video A recent survey shows that eight out of ten parents expressed concern about the nature of closed group chats used on platforms such as WhatsApp. It found that 62 per cent of parents worry their children will not open up about harmful issues they face online 'Group chat can often be a source of upset for kids from one child posting a picture that makes someone feel excluded to another not being included in a group at all,' warned psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos. 'But group chats also have the power to stop kids feeling isolated as it can give them an opportunity to stamp out poor conduct and stand up for one another.' The findings showed that 62 per cent of parents worried that their child will not open up about issues they face online. 'Online groups are one of the most common ways children communicate with each other whether that be a group that includes their whole class or a few select friends,' said Internet Matters chief executive Carolyn Bunting. 'Crucially, group chats are not public, which makes it challenging to parents to know what's going on.' The organisation has released the findings to mark Stop Speak Support Day, an anti-bullying initiative set up by the Duke of Cambridge during Anti-Bullying Week. Today, the Prince gave a speech in which he accused tech giants of 'being on the back foot' when it comes to cyberbullying. He said much of the widespread optimism when the internet first became a staple of life over a decade ago has given way to concern and fear. Parents were concerned that the nature of a closed group is that they do not know what the content of the conversation is and how it affects their child. Mothers and fathers of children aged 11 to 13 proved to be the most concerned overall (stock image) Meanwhile, the Government is currently considering whether to enforce legislation on social networks to protect young people. Margot James, Minister for Digital, Culture and Media said recently that she is considering a deadline to speed up the removal of harmful content on social media. James said that she would also tackle the issue of teenagers watching pornography online. Google has unveiled its plan to put a smart device in every room of the home as part of its digital 'ecosystem' that could be manipulated to eavesdrop on users. The tech giant's smart home concept, unveiled at a one-off event in San Francisco, showcased Google Assistant at its full potential. It combined speakers, smart plugs, voice controlled vacuums, smart displays and cameras throughout the house. Its digital ecosystem is designed to enable communication between rooms and family members - even if they are not at home. But experts are wary of the technology and have warned the gadgets have the potential to eavesdrop on confidential conversations in order to sell users new products. Scroll down for video Google has unveiled its plan to put a smart device in every room of the home as part of its digital 'ecosystem' that could be manipulated to eavesdrop on users. The tech giant's smart home concept showcases Google Assistant at its maximum potential (stock) Google is hoping to expand from a single room smart speaker and into a complex, interwoven system. Rivals Amazon and Samsung are simultaneously working on similar systems that are also designed to make modern life simpler and easier to navigate. Concerns have been raised over the security of the deeply personal data that is available to big tech firms via these connected devices. A previous study claimed patent applications from Amazon and Google revealed how Amazon's Alexa and Google's Voice Assistant are 'spying' on users. The findings were published in a report created by Santa Monica, California based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. It says patents reveal the devices' possible use as surveillance equipment for massive information collection and intrusive digital advertising. For now, users can only take advantage of alarm-based routines if they have an Android phone. It can be accessed by going to the Clock app and then clicking on 'Google Assistant Routine' The study found that digital assistants can be 'awake' even when users think they aren't listening. The digital assistants are supposed to react only when they hear a so-called 'wakeword.' WHAT IS GOOGLE ASSISTANT? Google Assistant is the firm's AI-powered digital assistant that responds to voice or text commands. The company first launched it in Google apps and Pixel phones in 2016, then later expanded to Android devices, smart appliances and the Google Home Hub, its first smart display. It can tell users the weather, show them what's on their calendar, answer questions on a variety of topics and turn on smart home devices, among other things. Advertisement For Amazon's Echo it's 'Alexa' and for Google Home it's 'OK, Google.' In fact, the devices listen all the time they are turned on and Amazon has envisioned Alexa using that information to build profiles on anyone in the room to sell them goods. In April of this year, security researchers discovered another troubling flaw that confirmed Alexa was able to make the smart speaker listen in on and record any conversations that it hears while eavesdropping. Cybersecurity firm Checkmarx created what seemed to be a harmless calculator skill, or an application used for the voice-activated assistant, that would secretly record long after a user made a command. Researchers figured out that they could tweak Alexa's coding to allow it to continue listening in and recording long after the user thought they'd completed the session. Not only did the skill continue to listen, but coding also instructed Alexa to transcribe the conversation, making it searchable by developers. Amazon claimed it later fixed the issue. Google Home Hub was paraded at a press event and also unveiled 'routines,' or multiple tasks that are triggered by a single command, using its digital assistant. Google Assistant wants to help you get out of bed in the morning. The firm is launching a skill that lets users set routines for the digital assistant that begin after they snooze the alarm For example, when users say 'Hey Google, good morning,' it will turn your lights on, brew your coffee and read you the news. Now, a new addition to Google Assistant makes it so that routines are triggered after you hit snooze on your alarm. This makes it so that if users have a problem with hitting the snooze button in the morning, their routine will only go off when they're actually getting out of bed. For now, users can only take advantage of this feature if they own an Android phone. It can be accessed by going to the Clock app on Android devices. Google also showed off the ability to have the feature suitable for children as it revealed alarms voiced by characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and LEGO City are available. Turtle alarms was one of the ways Google tried to expand its appeal and draw in families with young children. It also can read children a bedtime story including popular shows Dora the Explorer and PAW Patrol. There is also a 'read along' mode which plays music and sound effects alongside a parent reading to a child. A supervolcano in southern Italy is building huge magma reserves as it prepares to erupt at 'some undetermined point in the future', scientists say. The vast Campi Flegrei volcano is made up of 24 craters and scientists have found it is accumulating the magma as part of a transition into a 'pre-eruption' phase. Experts have said that an eruption is not expected in the imminent future but the volcano has shown signs of significant unrest over the last 60 years. When the volcano eventually erupts it is likely to be comparable in size to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Scroll down for video Campi Flegrei's caldera (pictured) is found about nine miles to the west of Naples and is one of the few active supervolcanoes in the world. It has not erupted since 1538 but is capable of creating a 'super-colossal' eruption Campi Flegrei is found about nine miles (14.5 km) to the west of Naples and is one of the few active supervolcanoes in the world. It has not erupted since 1538 but is capable of creating a 'super-colossal' eruption as scientists have found evidence of one such event from 40,000 years ago. This is the second highest category of eruptions is behind only the 'mega-eruptions' of Yellowstone and would cause widespread destruction throughout modern Europe. Volcanologist Christopher Kilburn, from the University College London added: 'Should an eruption occur, the best guess is that it will have a size and behaviour... ranging from the size of the last eruption (Monte Nuovo, 1538) to something similar to the eruption of Vesuvius that overwhelmed Pompeii and Herculaneum. 'These are the scenarios being used to prepare mitigation plans.' The 1.5 million people that live around the caldera would be the most at-risk should the volcano be triggered. Francesca Forni, from ETH Zurich in Switzerland, published research in the journal Science Advances after taking 23 samples of rock, mineral and glass from Campi Flegrei. Findings from the research revealed magma is gathering underneath the main volcanic system, which could indicate that it is entering the next phase. Analysis from Dr Forni's team found that since the 1538 Monte Nuovo eruption there have been subtle changes to the temperature and water content of the magma. An eruption of the Camp Flegrei supervolcano would dwarf the devastation caused by Mount Vesuvius on the otherside of Naples (illustrated) Campi Flegrei covers more than 100 square kilometres (38.6 square miles) outside the western suburbs of Naples Since the 1950s, there have been three 'major periods of unrest,' raising concern that the volcano is reawakening. Migrating magma several miles beneath the surface has previously been blamed for this seismic unrest. Luca De Siena, from the University of Aberdeen, told Newsweek: 'At Campi Flegrei, an outstanding question is why we cannot see the plumbing systems of the volcano below 2.5-3 miles (4-5km) depths, as at Yellowstone caldera, for example.' The location of the lost city of Atlantis may finally have been discovered, according to one team of historians. Ancient ruins examined using satellite imagery provide evidence that the city's huge harbour walls once stood in southern Spain, the experts say. Many of the sites studied by the team were already known to archaeologists, and are thought to have been constructed by the ancient Romans and Greeks. Now researchers at private satellite imaging firm Merlin Burrows claim to have found evidence that the sites were in fact built by a mysterious ancient people known as the Atlanteans. Atlantis was recorded in the writings of Greek philosopher Plato, who in 400 BC described an advanced island civilisation that ruled a vast maritime empire, some 9,000 years before his own era. The city of Atlantis at the centre of this empire was described as having an enormous harbour wall, huge entrance pillars, a temple to the god Poseidon and massive circular pieces of land carved out by the Atlanteans to live on. It is thought a cataclysmic natural disaster, such as a tsunami or volcanic event, eventually wiped out the Atlanteans, consigning their legacy to legend. Scientists are yet to find conclusive evidence that Atlantis existed. Many scholars believe Plato invented the story as a way to present his philosophical theories. Picture shows what UK firm believes are the remnants of the harbour wall of Atlantis which was said to five-and-a-half miles long. Plato wrote that this wall was '50 stadia long' which would make it around five-and-a-half miles (9 km) in length Image shows formations inside the Donana National Park, Andalucia, Spain. They may be evidence of islands depicted by Plato in his story of Atlantis. The philosopher described how buildings were propped up on a mixture of natural and man made island structures Pictured are a selection of the sites studied by the team at Merlin Burrows, a satellite imaging company based in Yorkshire. The white line shows where researchers believe the harbour wall described by Plato was built WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ATLANTIS? Atlantis was recorded in the writings of the famed Greek philosopher Plato around 400 BC. He described an advanced island civilisation that ruled a vast maritime empire. According to Plato, Atlantis existed some 9,000 years before his own era. The city of Atlantis at the centre of this empire was described as having, among other features, an enormous harbour wall and huge entrance pillars. It had a temple to the god Poseidon and massive circular pieces of land carved out by the Atlanteans to live on. It is thought a cataclysmic natural disaster, such as a tsunami or volcanic event, eventually wiped out the Atlanteans, consigning their legacy to legend. Scientists are yet to find conclusive evidence that Atlantis ever existed, and many scholars believe Plato invented the myth as a way to present his philosophical theories. Advertisement Experts at Merlin Burrows believe the flooded ruins of the legendary city are off the coast of southern Spain. The location is somewhere north of the city of Cadiz, Andalucia, centred around the Donana National Park, which the historians believe was once a vast inland sea. And they claim that south and north of the park there is further evidence of the ancient civilisation, with 15 other settlements dotted along the coastline. Most of these settlements are believed to be of Roman or Greek origin by archaeologists, as each civilisation once occupied the area. But now using unique satellite investigation techniques, aerial photography and ground observations of the site, British experts believe they have found all the features of Atlantis Plato described and evidence of how they were destroyed. Although some scholars believe Atlantis to be a myth, Merlin Burrows claim their discoveries will once and for all prove the lost civilisation existed. Maritime historian Tim Akers, head of research at Merlin Burrows, said not only had they discovered Atlantis, but also found the people were incredibly advanced. He said 'laboratory analysis' of material recovered from Spain showed evidence of a type of cement not seen before, as well as ancient advanced metallurgy. A greenish blue patina has been found covering some of the ruins which tests have shown is an ancient combination of metals. He said: 'Plato describes in detail a patina on the buildings and structures of the cities and temples making up this complex. 'We have filmed clear evidence and have collected samples which have been scientifically tested in a lab in Modena, Italy, which is used to test ancient Roman finds. 'The results of the tests prove the age of the finds are older than Roman or Greek, and that they were more advanced.' This image shows a computer mock-up of what the team believes the city of Atlantis would have looked like. Buildings were constructed on island platforms dotted throughout a stretch of inland sea that has since filled with sediment at what is now Donana National Park in Spain The city of Atlantis was described by Plato as having, among other features, an enormous harbour wall and huge entrance pillars. It had a temple to the god Poseidon and massive circular pieces of land carved out by the Atlanteans to live on Aerial images of the site where Merlin Burrows believes Atlantis once stood show what they think is evidence of a harbour wall an incredible 75 metres (245 ft) thick. Plato wrote that this wall was '50 stadia long' which would make it around five-and-a-half miles in length. Satellite images show what Merlin Burrows claim is evidence still visible today of sand dunes where this massive wall was destroyed by a huge influx of water. The same water which eventually filled the inland sea with sediment and destroyed Atlantis. Tim said: 'The site is spread over 100 miles from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, as to age as yet we have been unable to give a fixed date for the beginning, but its end was at the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago. 'At the centre of the line of coastal cities was one gigantic inland sea 65 miles long, filled with multiple islands, some natural, others man-made. 'The main complex consists of two distinct individual multi-Island platforms. This radar scan from Merlin Burrows shows what they claim is a foundation that once help up a building of Atlantis. It was discovered on a beach in southern Spain Image shows an aerial of some of the ancient structures which litter the western Andalucian coastline. Romans, Greeks both are recorded as settling there. However, British historians believe that many of the ruins were in fact part of the city of Atlantis 'And one is offset from the other so that anyone on those islands can see every island in the complex. 'It is unique, nowhere in our world is there anything resembling this, and the structures match exactly Plato's dimensions with no deviation. It is absolutely spot on. 'Investigations in Donana lead to the conclusion that there have been two natural disasters (tsunamis) that caused the islands and dry areas to sink, one of which happened around 1500 BC and the other 200AD. There is also evidence of a tsunami event in the Bible.' Merlin Burrows have now recorded a documentary film about their mission to reveal Atlantis called 'Atlantica'. In the film the team visit sites they believe still show clues to the past people that once lived there, right up to the naming of the ancient town in the region Medina-Sidonia. Pictured is the Dolmen of Menga, an incredible 5,500 year old burial tomb built into a mountain near the team's Atlantica site. They suggest the tomb may have formed a part of the ancient city of Atlantis Aerial images of the site where Merlin Burrows believes Atlantis once stood show what they think is evidence of a harbour wall (pictured), which was an 75 metres (245 ft) thick The settlement is believed to be the oldest city in Europe and its name means City of Sidon the word Sidon which could be linked to Poseidon. Tim said much of what Merlin Burrows have found today with their technology is thanks to Plato's original descriptions. He said: 'Plato describes the location exactly and all we did was follow in his footsteps the way ancient seafarers would have travelled to the cities. 'We explain why, people have misunderstood the circles of Atlantis and why no one had seen these stunning complexes before. 'The site has both Tartessian, Greek, Phoenician, and Roman additions and our scans show multiple occupations over time till there final and ultimate destruction. This image shows detail on a stone object on a beach north of Cadiz, Andalucia, Southern Spain. Merlin Burrows claims this structure dates back to the time of Atlantis and is not a later Greek or Roman artefact, as many archaeologists believe Picture shows a beach north of Cadiz, Andalucia, Southern Spain. Merlin Burrows, a British satellite firm believes the beach hides the once massive harbour wall of Atlantis 'We only present the facts and try not to delve into speculation. What is unique in our presentation is all of this material has never been seen before.' Now Merlin Burrows hope recognition of both their discovery and distribution of the film will help protect the region for future generations and secure funding for further study. Tim said: 'To understand Atlantis is to understand the ways of ancient life as it was at the peak of human life on earth. 'We would hope that the people in southern Spain would benefit from the knowledge of their ancient past. 'That all the sites are protected, and in some cases moved, so we can all enjoy them in the future. Also, that the regions would benefit from the tourism both in work and other opportunities. This computer generated image shows what the massive 75 metre wide, five-and-a-half-miles-long harbour wall that some believe protected Atlantis may have appeared This image shows ancient structures on a beach near Cadiz, Andalucia, Southern Spain. The team believes these are from Atlantis, and not later Roman or Greek additions, which is currently the accepted origin by most archaeologists 'New museums and scientific study centres would enhance the economy and open active debates to the early origins of man.' Documentary filmmaker Michael Donnellan has produced the film 'Atlantica' about Merlin Burrows discovery. Michael, who has studied classical Greek and Minoan archeology, travelled to Southern Spain to film what Tim and the team of satellite historians had found. He said: 'Finding and filming Atlantis has been life changing. Talk about a purpose. 'All my skillsets and passions have come together in the creation of this series of films. The discovery of Atlantis is monumental. 'Suddenly we know, not think, but know that humanity, in an advanced stage of development, existed, so long ago. Pictured is a topographical scan of the area of the harbour wall remnants from Merlin Burrows. They claim the wall once guarded the entrace to a vast inland sea which today covers most of the area of Donana National Park 'And had existed undisturbed for many thousands of years prior to its destruction. 'The imagination boggles when considering their capabilities. We have a lot we can learn from this civilization, to help move our own into a better future.' Michael said that tests at the Modena Materials Analysis Laboratory in Italy on material taken from the site had revealed amazing results. He said: 'The harbour wall seems to have had a coating that prevented barnacle growth, like modern Teflon. 'That requires highly advanced construction technologies and knowledge of chemistry. 'We've received overwhelming excitement about our discovery of Atlantis, including a great deal of feedback from our colleagues in academic circles as well. Image shows Head of Research Tim Akers (left) and CEO Bruce Blackburn (right) from Merlin Burrows, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire 'It is for this reason we continue to include every science available to us, in order to verify all our finds are genuine, and to satisfy every angle we can.' Material gathered from the Atlantis site, from the habour wall and from the pillars found on the beach, has been tested in Italy at a laboratory used to dealing with Roman finds. Dr Giacomo Falanga, from the Modena Centro Prove, a chemical testing laboratory in Modena, Italy, said samples from the site included a variety of material. He said: 'These structures contain binders, like calcite. The presence of mica, potassium, and other trace minerals show proof of artificial mixing of materials, so the samples we have tested are made from an ancient, prehistoric concrete.' Andrea Carpi, a space materials engineer from the laboratory, said: 'We can confirm with certainty that the samples analysed were the creation of an ancient civilisation with advanced construction methods, which makes me believe that we're talking about a civilisation with very advanced technology.' Smartwatches used by many parents to keep track of their children could be hacked by paedophiles, security experts warned yesterday. The inexpensive watches - called MiSafes Kids Watch Plus - keeps track of a childs location by using GPS. Parents can keep tabs on their children on a smartphone app which shows them where they are - and which also act as a phone. But security researchers say that they could put children more at risk as they can easily be hacked to reveal a childs location to a stranger and to eavesdrop on any conversations they might have. Scroll down for video Smartwatches used by many parents to keep track of their children could be hacked by paedophiles, security experts warned yesterday. The inexpensive watches - called MiSafes Kids Watch Plus - keeps track of a childs location by using GPS Simple techniques security researchers and the BBC claimed found it straightforward to locate the child, their photo, name, gender and date of birth as well as height and weight. It also gave access to parents phone numbers assigned to the watch. Ken Munro and Alan Monie, researchers for security firm Pen Test Partners in Buckingham learned of the products existence when a friend bought one for his son earlier this year. Mr Munro told the BBC that using easily available software, a paedophile could pretend to be the childs parents using online prank call apps. He said: Once a hacker has the parents number, they could spoof a call to appear to come from it and the child would now think its their mum or dad dialling. So they could leave a voice message or speak to the child to convince them to leave their house and go to a convenient location. The watch uses a global positioning system (GPS) sensor and a 2G mobile data connection to let parents see where their child is, via a smartphone app. The watches sell for around 9 ($12) on online marketplaces such as Amazon. This software could be used to change the assigned ID number, which was all it took to get access to others accounts. This made it possible to see personal information used to register the product, including: a photo of the child their name, gender and date of birth their height and weight the parents phone numbers the phone number assigned to the watchs Sim card. Using a different tool, Mr Munro said his team were able to see that about 14,000 MiSafes were still in active use. Parents can keep tabs on their children on a smartphone app which shows them where they are - and which also act as a phone. But security researchers say that they could put children more at riskas they can easily be hacked to reveal a childs location to a stranger The Norwegian Consumer Council highlighted other cases of child-targeted smartwatches with security flaws last year. It said the MiSafe products appeared to be even more problematic than the examples it had flagged. Gro Mette Moen, the watchdogs acting director of digital services, told the BBC: This is another example of unsecure products that should never have reached the market. Our advice is to refrain from buying these smartwatches until the sellers can prove that their features and security standards are satisfactory. The watchmaker could not be reached for comment. MiSafes previously made headlines in February when an Australian cyber-security company discovered several flaws with its Mi-Cam baby monitors. SEC Consult said these meant hackers could spy on footage from owners homes and hijack accounts. Facebook's Unsend feature has finally landed on the Messenger app - for some users. The social network giant has started rolling out an 'Unsend' feature for Messenger that lets users delete messages up to 10 minutes after they're sent. For now, the feature is limited to iOS and Android users in Poland, Bolivia, Colombia and Lithuania, but it's expected to launch in other markets soon, according to TechCrunch. The launch comes seven months after it was reported that Facebook was deleting messages already sent by CEO Mark Zuckerberg to other users. Scroll down for video Facebook's Unsend feature has finally landed on the Messenger app - for some users. The 'Unsend' feature for Messenger lets users delete messages up to 10 minutes after they're sent By setting the unsend cutoff at 10 minutes, it means you can't delete messages that were sent long ago in a conversation. But it does let you erase any messages that may have typos, were sent to the wrong person or that you may regret after-the-fact. When a message is deleted, it'll show a marker in the chat telling other users that it's been removed. It also isn't limited to texts - users can also remove photos, videos, links and other kinds of content. To use the feature, tap and hold on a message you sent, then select 'Remove.' From there, users will have the option to 'Remove for You' or 'Remove for Everyone.' Doing the former will only remove it from your view, while selecting the latter will delete the message from the chat entirely. Users can access the feature by tapping and holding down on a message in a conversation. A 'tombstone,' or a line of text confirming the message was deleted, will then appear in the chat After selecting 'Remove for Everyone,' users will get a warning that says: 'You'll permanently remove this message for all chat members. They can see that you removed a message and still report it.' A 'tombstone,' or a line of text confirming the message was deleted, will then appear in the chat. Interestingly, Facebook has also included some extra protections in the feature to prevent it from being abused by cyberbullies. Users will see a warning in Messenger when they try to remove a message from the chat Even if a message is deleted, Facebook will keep unsent messages for a short period of time to prevent cyberbullies from trying to cover their tracks. Facebook says they decided to roll out an Unsend feature because it felt there were a lot of cases where users might need one. 'The pros are that users want to be in control...and if you make a mistake you can correct it,' Stan Chudnovsky, Facebook's head of Messenger, told TechCrunch. 'There are a lot of legitimate use cases out there that we wanted to enable.' The firm isn't the first to introduce an Unsend tool - Facebook-owned WhatsApp has long had this capability, along with with Instagram and Google's Gmail. Facebook is also exploring more editing features beyond the Unsend tool in Messenger. The firm is considering adding a feature that would let users set an expiration date for unencrypted messages or conversation threads. 'It's one of those things that feels very simple on the surface,' Chudnovsky told TechCrunch. 'And it would be very easy if the servers were built one way or another from the very beginning. 'But its one of those things philosophically and technologically that once you get to the scale of 1.3 billion people using it, changing from one model to another is way more complicated,' he added. Facebook talked of releasing an Unsend feature after its CEO Mark Zuckerberg got caught deleting messages. Three sources said messages from him disappeared from their inbox Other apps like WhatsApp, Signal and Discord already use end-to-end encrypted messaging. Facebook began feeling the pressure to release an Unsend feature after its CEO got caught deleting messages. Three sources claimed old Facebook messages from Zuckerberg had disappeared from their inbox. The recipients were not notified - raising concerns about what the Facebook CEO could be hiding. Facebook claims the change was made after the 2014 Sony Pictures hack, when a mass data breach at the movie studio resulted in embarrassing email histories being leaked. However, the lack of disclosure angered some users, along with the absence of a similar tool to recall messages for normal users. The fact the the company is prepared to make exceptions makes a mockery of its statement that it wants to 'make the world more open and transparent', experts said at the time. Facebook is making progress on detecting hate speech, graphic violence and other violations of its rules, even before users see and report them. During the April-to-September period, Facebook doubled the amount of hate speech it detected proactively, compared with the previous six months. The findings were spelled out Thursday in Facebook's second report on enforcing community standards. The report comes a day after a bombshell report from the New York Times which detailed Facebook's efforts to downplay and avert blame over their mishandling of fake news and Russian propaganda on the platform. Scroll down for video Facebook says it is making progress on deleting hate speech, graphic violence and other violations of its rules, including detecting them before they are seen by users In its latest content removal report, Facebook said it disabled over 1.5 billion fake accounts, compared to 1.3 billion accounts over the previous six-month period. Of those accounts, Facebook said most of the fake accounts it found were financially motivated, rather than aimed at misinformation. It said that 99.6 percent of fake accounts were proactively identified and removed from the platform before users saw them. Fake accounts still comprise 3 percent to 4 percent of monthly active users reported in Facebook's third-quarter earnings. Facebook said it removed 5.4 million pieces of hate speech during the six-month period, compared to 4.1 million pieces between October and March. Roughly 23 million pieces of violent and graphic content were scrubbed from the site, up from 4.6 million during the previous six-month period. In its latest content removal report, Facebook said it disabled over 1.5 billion fake accounts, compared to 1.3 billion accounts over the previous six-month period 'Were not only getting better at finding bad content, were also taking more of it down,' Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president of product management, said in a statement. 'This included removing content, putting a warning screen over it, disabling the offending account and/or escalating content to law enforcement.' Facebook introduced two new categories to its report dealing with bullying and harassment and child nudity and sexual exploitation of children. The firm took down 2.1 million pieces of content around bullying and harassment, while it removed 8.7 million pieces of content dealing with child nudity and sexual exploitation of children. Of those 2.1 million posts, Facebook's content moderation technology only spotted 15 percent of them - the rest were flagged by users. Facebook said it removed 5.4 million pieces of hate speech during the six-month period, compared to 4.1 million pieces between October and March 'Overall, we know we have a lot more work to do when it comes to preventing abuse on Facebook,' Rosen said. 'Machine learning and artificial intelligence will continue to help us detect and remove bad content.' While it is publishing how many violations it is catching, the company said it can't always reliably measure how prevalent these things are on Facebook overall. For instance, while Facebook took action on 2 million instances of bullying in the July-September period, this does not mean there were only 2 million instances of bullying during this time. CEO Mark Zuckerberg came under severe scrutiny after it emerged that personal data of 87 million Facebook users had been sold to consulting firm Cambridge Analytica Facebook continues to grapple with challenge after challenge, ranging from fake news to Facebook's role in elections interference, hate speech and incitement to violence in the U.S., Myanmar, India and elsewhere. Coinciding with this, the Times story described Facebook's strategy for dealing with these issues as 'delay, deny and deflect.' Facebook said Thursday it has cut times with a Washington public relations firm, Definers, which the Times said Facebook hired to discredit opponents. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during a call with reporters that he learned about the company's relationship with Definers only when he read the Times report. Advertisement Libya, Afghanistan and Somalia are the most dangerous places on earth, according to a new map designed for travellers that alerts them to risks abroad. The interactive 'Travel Risk Map' for 2019 reveals the countries where travellers are most likely to have trouble when it comes to road safety, security and medical matters. Nordic countries Finland, Norway and Iceland have been labelled the safest places on the map. This map, by International SOS and Control Risks, shows the places most likely to put your health at risk. Low risk countries are marked in green, medium in yellow, high in orange, very high in red and those that have a 'rapidly developing variable risk', such as Brazil and Russia, are marked in light brown The map has been launched by medical and security specialists International SOS and Control Risks. Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria all ranked lowly in each of the three categories, meaning they are the most dangerous. At the opposite end of the ranking, Norway, Finland and Iceland all were deemed to have a low risk of medical problems, security and road safety issues, meaning they are the safest. When looking at health, countries with a highest risk of contracting medical issues or disease included the African countries South Sudan, Niger, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. Iraq was also labelled a high risk country when it came to health along with Lebanon, Venezuela and North Korea. In contrast, places with a low risk of disease were deemed to be the vast majority of those in Europe as well as Canada, the US, New Zealand and Japan. This map shows which countries have the highest and lowest security risks, with those that have an insignificant risk marked in light green, 'low' risk countries are marked in yellow, medium in brown, high in red and extreme, such as Libya, in dark red Brazil, China and Russia are all deemed to have 'rapidly developing variable risk' when it comes to health. In terms of security, countries with an extreme risk to safety are Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan and Mali. Popular holiday destinations including Mexico, parts of the Caribbean and parts of India were labelled as having a high risk to safety. But places where security risks are deemed insignificant are Denmark, Switzerland, Slovenia, Iceland, Greenland and Finland. When it comes to road safety, the countries beside those in Africa that pose the greatest risk include Brazil, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kazakhstan. In this category the U.S scores a 'moderate' ranking. This map shows countries categorised according to road safety risks, with very low marked in pale pink, low in very light brown, moderate in a slightly darker shade and high and very high risk countries picked out using even darker browns Most of Europe is ranked as 'very low' or 'low', along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Alongside the Travel Risk Map, the Ipsos MORI 'Business Resilience Trends Watch 2019', also found that 43 per cent of business travellers expect travel risks to increase in 2019. This is down from 52 per cent predicting risk increase in 2018 and 57 per cent in 2017. Sally Napper, security specialist at International SOS and Control Risks commented: 'While almost half of decision makers believe that travel risks will increase next year, our research reveals that the evolving travel habits of the modern workforce are being overlooked by many organisations. 'Ensuring your policies stay relevant to the needs of a modern workforce helps to keep your people safer and better informed, and also demonstrates the continuing importance of adaptive risk management programmes - and could help win board approval and support for other initiatives.' Holidaymakers who want an online break but can't stand not updating their social media can now hire an 'Instagram sitter' at one hotel chain. Ibis hotels in Switzerland are offering the quirky free service called 'Relax We Post' until the end of the month. It will see an 'Instagram sitter' post photos, stories and even reply to comments on behalf of guests who want a social media detox. Ibis hotels in Switzerland are offering a quirky service called 'Relax We Post' to holidaymakers who want a social media detox but still want to keep their Instagram page up to date All guests need to do is share their Instagram log-in details and the sitter will make sure the account is updated during their stay. The service is being offered at 17 hotels in Zurich and Geneva with Ibis saying it aims to 'eliminate the stress of being active on social media from their guests holidays without the need to stop guests from posting beautiful photos during their stay.' The hotel chain has also teamed up with 10 well-known Instagram stars to act as the social media sitters. They include names such as Anna Maradan, Cristina Gheiceanu, Pascal Erband and Elay Leuthold. Philippe Alanou, senior VP of operations at AccorHotels Central Europe, said: 'This new service offered by Ibis Switzerland is one of a kind. The 'Instagram sitters' will post photos, stories and even reply to comments on behalf of guests who want a social media detox 'We pay close attention to current trends and make constant updates to the services at our hotels, ensuring we are able to offer our guests a range of modern, innovative ideas to make their everyday lives easier. 'Relax We Post is part of our mission to ensure hotel guests enjoy unforgettable experiences when they stay with us.' Last year, the Conrad Hilton Resort on the island of Rangali in the Maldives, introduced Instagram butlers for guests. These butlers show guests the very best places to take photographs and guide them around 'Instagram Trails', itineraries that take in some of the prime spot for images. Model Kris Smith and his pregnant girlfriend Sarah Boulazeris are absolutely abuzz with baby excitement. And with Sarah 33 weeks pregnant, Kris took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a touching account of how he reacted her baby announcement. Kris, 40, posted a smiling selfie picture at Sydney's Coogee beach, with the caption: 'This is the exact spot Sarah told me we was pregnant, she handed me the most amazing card and then she stepped back and she burst histerically [sic] into tears!' Scroll down for video 'Everything happened so fast': Kris Smith (pictured), 40, revealed his reaction to girlfriend Sarah Boulazeris' surprise pregnancy announcement on Tuesday He continued: 'She had no idea what my reaction would be. I opened my arms with a smile so big you could park your car in there, I was so over the moon, yes everything happened so fast, but we knew it was meant to be.' Sarah, 27, responded to her boyfriend's post by writing: 'Thank you so much for holding my hand every step of the way. I couldn't be prouder to have you as my baby daddy, five weeks to go xxx.' Kris' Instagram followers raved about his post, commenting: 'Beautiful words you old romantic', and, 'When its right, its right! Enjoy this special time before bubs arrives!' 'She had no idea what my reaction would be': Kris wrote that he was 'over the moon' by the exciting revelation. Pictured is Kris Smith, Sarah Boulazeris 'Are you even real?' swooned another. It will be an extra special event for the couple, given the timing of the baby's birth. Sarah, 27, has excitedly revealed her due date is December 17, telling Who magazine on recently: 'It's a Christmas baby!' The personal trainer has been proudly showing off her baby bump on Instagram in the lead up to the big day. In late October, she showed off her growing belly while at the gym. She also revealed that her daily fitness routine consists of walking at least 10km a day. What a gift! Sarah is due to give birth on December 17, telling WHO magazine: 'It's a Christmas baby!' Pictured is Kris Smith, Sarah Boulazeris 'Keeping strong, active and healthy during pregnancy is important for both mum and bump to carry you both through pregnancy and birth,' she previously wrote. In addition to taking regular strolls, she has also been working out at the gym. Sarah and Kris, 40, began dating in 2017 after meeting in Sydney. The couple announced Sarah's pregnancy in July. Kris already has an eight-year-old son, Ethan, from his previous relationship with Dannii Minogue, 46. Fit mama! The personal trainer (pictured) has been proudly showing off her baby bump on Instagram in the lead up to the big day Actress Teresa Palmer, 32, has shared her thoughts on the #MeToo movement. On Thursday, the pregnant mother-of-two applauded the global women's rights movement, and said she feels more embraced as a working mother. Speaking to WHO magazine, the Australian-born beauty said she was proud to be part of an industry that has become more supportive of women. Scroll down for video 'I bring my children everywhere': Actress Teresa Palmer reveals how she avoids uncomfortable situations as she weighs in on #MeToo movement 'I've had a positive experience going from job to job,' Teresa, who is mother to Bodhi Rain, four, and Forest Sage, two, said. 'I've always been really upfront with people about who I am as a person and as a parent. I bring my children everywhere. She added: 'I feel empowered because I don't have to choose between family and work.' Cultural shift: 'I bring my children everywhere': The actress said she's proud to be involved in a industry that is starting to understand working mothers. Pictured with son Forest Sage, 2 Mama's boys: Teresa says she and her children are inseparable. Pictured: Bodhi, four, and Forest Sage, two Soon to appear as Diana Bishop in A Discovery for Witches, Los Angeles-based Teresa took her brood to the UK for filming. She plays an academic and reluctant witch in the series who uncovers an ancient manuscript at a library in Oxford. The Hollywood actress revealed in October she's expecting her third child with Mark Webber. Travelling family: Teresa said she takes her family with her on overseas locations. Pictured with husband Mark Webber and their two children Bodhi, four,(R) and Forest Sage, two Taking to Instagram at the time, Teresa and her brood could be seen dancing to the Beatles' Twist & Shout in their home. In the video, the blonde beauty pulled up her top to reveal that she was having a girl, with the baby's gender written on her growing belly. In an interview with Sunday Life in August last year, Teresa said that she's 'always been incredibly maternal'. Earth mother: 'It's my favourite thing in the world to just be with my children': Pregnant Teresa has said of her role as a mother. The actress is currently pregnant with a baby girl 'It was just me and Mum growing up, [so] I filled my time being a little nurturer,' she added. Teresa also revealed at the time that she created a 'manifest board' covered with pictures of girls. 'It's my favourite thing in the world to just be with my children and learn from them every day,' she said. This is realpolitik ASEAN has to face. Chinese Premier Li Leqiangs presence at the summits of ASEAN leaders and their meetings with their trading partners in Singapore this week will have a decisive and direct impact on the outcomes of their annual gatherings. The premier of the worlds second-largest economy carries a strong mandate from President Xi Jinping to act as his chief negotiator at the multilateral meetings. As The Jakarta Post writes in an article "ASEANs priority: China", on the contrary, the absence of United States President Donald Trump and the presence of Vice President Mike Pence will have little impact on the meetings of the 10-member regional grouping. The summits in Singapore are shrouded by the fear of a possible global trade war, which Trump has threatened to initiate. His America First doctrine and his tendency for unilateral decision making aims at keeping the US as the worlds largest economy, but clearly its economic might has been lessening. Japan, the worlds largest economy after the US and China, is facing similar dilemmas in this region. Japan is losing its economic power to its neighbor China. The all-out efforts by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to counter China by clinging closer to the US seem unable to win Trumps attention, because the president is unhappy about the US trade deficit with Japan. The Singapore outing is crucial for Indonesia. The regions largest economy is very enthusiastic and China is very eager to finalize the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership this year. When realized, the new trade bloc will comprise 16 members, the 10 ASEAN members, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. The trade agreement will account for 50 percent of the worlds population and 30 percent of the worlds gross domestic product. However, it does not mean ASEAN does not have serious problems with China. The Asian giant claims nearly the whole of the South China Sea, angering Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines that also have sovereignty claims there. China and ASEAN are still negotiating a code of conduct to avoid armed conflict, which otherwise would threaten the peace and stability of not only the region but also the world. For ASEAN and China, cooperation is the wisest choice despite the unresolved problems. Once the West and Japan dominated Southeast Asian economies, but it has changed. The region has steadily developed and grown stronger. Outside powers have to adjust themselves to ASEANs new leverage. Does the old proverb lepas mulut buaya, masuk mulut harimau (out of the crocodiles mouth, into the tigers mouth) fit the relationship between ASEAN and China, which has admittedly replaced the power and influence of the US? The answer is definitely no. For ASEAN, China is no longer life-threatening despite its economic power. ASEAN has leverage to counter its giant neighbor. An Indonesian scholar once joked that ASEAN has equipped itself with the skill of a pawang (animal tamer) in negotiating with outside powers. Like it or not, for the time being and unforeseeable future, China is a priority for ASEAN. And ASEAN is not alone. Months after she helped Alice Marie Johnson get her life sentence commuted by President Donald Trump, Kim Kardashian helped continue the conversation for criminal justice reform. The 38-year-old reality star was one of the main speakers at Variety's Criminal Justice Reform Summit, along with CNN's Crossfire host Van Jones and rapper Meek Mill. Kardashian even posed with both Johnson, 63, and Jones, 50, months after her life sentence for a non-violent drug conviction was commuted by Trump. Kim K for reform: Kim Kardashian spoke at Variety's Criminal Justice Reform Summit in Los Angeles on Wednesday Kim, Alice and Van: Kardashian even posed with both Johnson, 63, and Jones, 50, months after her life sentence for a non-violent drug conviction was commuted by Trump The Keeping Up With the Kardashian star was dressed in all black for her appearance, with a black top over a black jacket along with tight black pants and black boots. She was joined on the red carpet and on the panel by Jones, who was wearing a dark blue blazer over a light blue top. Johnson was all smiles, wearing a black floral print top and black pants, flanked by both Kardashian and Jones. Making a change: The Keeping Up With the Kardashian star was dressed in all black for her appearance, with a black top over a black jacket along with tight black pants and black boots Kardashian has joined forces with an organization called #cut50, which Jones co-founded, a bipartisan organization aimed at cutting the prison population in all 50 states. The organization has been working with White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner to put together a bill known as the First Step Act, which initially passed in the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate. The bill has since been reworked and has the support of over 50 celebrities including Kanye West, Alyssa Milano, Courteney Cox, Alicia Silverstone and more. Kim and Van: Kardashian has joined forces with an organization called #cut50 , which Jones co-founded, a bipartisan organization aimed at cutting the prison population in all 50 states 'I am proud to stand with this incredible group of artists, content creators, and athletes in urging Congress to pass the First Step Act,' said Van Jones, who also signed the letter. 'Who would have thought that a plan to give incarcerated people a better chance would unite people in both parties and at all levels of society?' Jones added. Others who have signed the letter include athletes like Baron Davis and businessman Mark Cuban, with the act poised to be endorsed by President Trump himself. First step towards reform: 'I am proud to stand with this incredible group of artists, content creators, and athletes in urging Congress to pass the First Step Act,' said Van Jones, who also signed the letter Aiming for change: 'Who would have thought that a plan to give incarcerated people a better chance would unite people in both parties and at all levels of society?' Jones added Other celebrities who attended the Variety summit include Allison Williams, who was seen in a grey plaid ensemble. Rocker Dave Navarro and Debra Tate, the sister of Sharon Tate, were also at the event, clad in all-black ensembles. The event was held in conjunction with Variety and Rolling Stone, at the Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood, California on Wednesday. Round of applause: The 38-year-old reality star was one of the main speakers at Variety's Criminal Justice Reform Summit, along with CNN's Crossfire host Van Jones and rapper Meek Mill On the red carpet: The event was held in conjunction with Variety and Rolling Stone, at the Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood, California on Wednesday Showing support: Other celebrities who attended the Variety summit include Allison Williams, who was seen in a grey plaid ensemble Their chiselled good looks have landed them work with Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. And twins Jordan and Zac Stenmark have cut a dapper display on the red carpet of the GQ Australia Men of The Year Awards, held at The Star on Wednesday. The 26-year-old models opted for a very formal look in black suits with bow ties. Suits you! Model twins Jordan and Zac Stenmark cut dapper figures in matching velvet pants at GQ Men of the Year Awards in Sydney Zac, on the left, teamed a double breasted blazer with navy velvet ankle length trousers and opted to go sock-less in slip-on shoes. While Jordan, on the right, dressed head-to-toe in a velvet black suit. He styled his hair slicked back and opted for a ruggedly handsome unshaven look. Suave: Their appearance at on the GQ Man Of The Year event comes after the twins revealed to BW Magazine they are hoping to break into acting after recently moving to the US Their appearance at on the GQ Man Of The Year event comes after the twins revealed to BW Magazine they are hoping to break into acting after recently moving to the US. 'America is a bigger pond so there are big opportunities,' Jordan said. 'We are developing lots of contacts and looking at moving into film and TV. And America is the place you've got to be for that.' he added. 'America is a bigger pond so there are big opportunities': Jordan told BW magazine, 'We are developing lots of contacts and looking at moving into film and TV. And America is the place you've got to be for that' The twins also told the publication they are taking acting classes 'to hone the craft'. 'It is a tough job and you've really got to hone the craft so it is something we are giving great respect to. So the first thing we end up doing we really nail and that it is the right thing that suits us,' Zac said. Although the Stenmark twins have built a brand centred around their similar look, late last year to The Daily Telegraph, Jordan and Zac pointed out they're not as alike as one would think. They even write using a different hand - Zac, who is older by a very slim, but still important margin, of eight minutes, with his left and Jordan with his right. She has previously been asked to join the cast of Made In Chelsea. And although she has never taken up the offer, Lottie Moss continued to party with her MIC pals on Wednesday night, as she was joined by former cast member Rosie Fortescue at the Burlington Arcade in Mayfair, London. Model Lottie, 20, showcased her unique sense of style for the annual Christmas event at the Grade II listed shopping arcade, opting to wear a rust coloured mini-dress, which she teamed with a pair of sheer black polka dot tights. Chelsea crew: Lottie Moss was joined by former cast member Rosie Fortescue at the Burlington Arcade in Mayfair, London on Wednesday night Lottie's burnt orange bodycon dress featured a black high neckline, and the younger sister of Kate Moss wrapped up with a leather-look biker jacket atop her unusual ensemble. The brunette beauty stepped out in a chunky pair of shiny black biker boots, and wore the long strap of her embellished black bag across her body. Lottie styled her long locks into worn-out curls, and help her hair away from her face with a black twisted headband. The model accentuated her stunning looks with a flawless foundation application, a sweep of mascara and a matte pink lip. Quirky: Model Lottie showcased her unique sense of style for the annual Christmas event at the Grade II listed shopping arcade, opting to wear a rust coloured mini-dress Stylish: The model teamed her bodycon dress with a pair of sheer black polka dot tights and a chunky pair of shiny black biker boots Chic: Lottie was joined by Rosie Fortescue, who nailed winter chic in an oversized cream knit jumper dress with a cosy roll-neck and classic knee-high black leather boots Lottie was joined by Rosie Fortescue, who nailed winter chic in an oversized cream knit jumper dress with a cosy roll-neck. She slipped into a pair of classic knee-high black leather boots, and wore a black baker boy cap atop her head. The jewellery designer draped a stone coloured double-breasted coat over her shoulders, in true fashionista style, as she posed alongside Lottie. Rosie wore an embellished cross-body bag and accessorised with striking silver hand jewels. She styled her blonde locks into messy waves and drew attention to her piercing eyes with dark brown eyeliner and a heavy slick of mascara. Pretty: The socialites were joined by Made In Chelsea cast member Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo, who looked chic in a cream knit sweater, which featured a high neck with luxe embellishments Elegant: Toff tucked her sleek jumper into a pair of pleated velvet high-waisted shorts, and ensured she kept warm with black opaque tights and suede boots The socialites were joined by Made In Chelsea cast member Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo, who looked chic in a cream knit sweater, which featured a high neck with luxe embellishments. Toff tucked her sleek jumper into a pair of pleated velvet high-waisted shorts, and ensured she kept warm with black opaque tights and suede boots. The reigning Queen of The Jungle layered up with a long-line tailored jacket in mottled beige. The blonde beauty slung a camel handbag over her shoulder as she sipped on bucks fizz. Toff finished off her look with her blunt bob styled into tight waves, and her lips painted a pretty shade of pink. Legs eleven! Natasha Grano looked sensational at the event as she slipped her lithe frame into a black shift dress with eye-catching embellishment and killer heels Packed out: The ladies were at Burlington Arcade to celebrate the switching on of the Christmas lights Busy night: Caroline Lyons, general manager of Burlington Arcade, attended with The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Lindsey Hall, who turned on the Christmas lights She has had a busy few days, starting with presenting a trophy at the People's Choice Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles, and then jetting across the country to accept a Glamour Woman of the Year Award in New York on Monday. But Chrissy Teigen finally took some time for herself and her nearly six-month-old son Miles on Wednesday. The 32-year-old model was spotted cutting a chic figure on the streets of New York City while carrying her baby. Chic: Chrissy Teigen finally took some time for herself and her nearly six-month-old son Miles on Wednesday The all black outfit featured tight black pants and a matching top, and she added an extra bit of sophistication with a dark trench coat. She shaded her eyes with a pair of oversized reflective sunglasses and added a few extra inches with stiletto booties. Her medium-length blonde locks were parted just right of center and she let the fall freely onto her shoulders. Miles looked cozy in a matching all white ensemble, despite temperatures tumbling into the 30s. Carry on: The 32-year-old model was spotted cutting a chic figure on the streets of New York City while carrying her baby Teigen's daughter Luna, 2, was there as well, and was being carried by what looked to be a nanny. Teigen was honored at the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards on Monday night, putting on an emotional display after a gushing tribute from husband John Legend. Her husband introduced her on stage and teared up as he praised her for the 'woman she's become'. Big Apple fun: The all black outfit featured tight black pants and a matching top, and she added an extra bit of sophistication with a dark trench coat The emotional on-stage display between the couple went viral in the hours following the ceremony. The night before, Teigen showed off her 'VS walk' as she presented the category for Reality Show of 2018 at the People's Choice Awards. 'That's was my VS walk. Kendall did I do okay?' asked Teigen once she arrived at the microphone. The Kardashian responded with nods of approval, and then presenter read out the names of the nominees. She then ended up handing the family the award. Hilary Duff and boyfriend Matthew Koma welcomed daughter Banks Violet into the world on October 25. And on Wednesday, the 31-year-old actress posted an adorable photo of her nearly three-week-old baby to Instagram. Duff is also mom to son Luca, age six. Bundle of joy: On Wednesday, Hilary Duff posted an adorable photo of her nearly three-week-old daughter Banks on Instagram The Disney vet opted for a natural home delivery after utilizing an epidural with Luca. Discussing the topic of childbirth on Dr. Elliot Berlin's Informed Pregnancy podcast, Hilary claimed that she made the decision during her first trimester. 'My body gave me this incredible little boy and now I get to have this little girl and I want to experience it to the fullest,' she said. Parental units: Duff and boyfriend Matthew Koma welcomed baby Banks into the world on October 25. The Disney vet opted for a natural home delivery Duff revealed she went into labor at 12:30 a.m. and reached out to her doula and midwives at 2 a.m. Once it was time to push, the Younger star said: 'It was, like, five pushes.' She added: 'That part didnt hurt as bad as I thought it was going to. I was scared it was going to be extreme pain in my vagina and it was not like that.' Welcome to the world: Discussing the topic of childbirth on Dr. Elliot Berlin's Informed Pregnancy podcast, Hilary revealed it only took 'five pushes' to meet Banks When she finally met her baby girl, Hilary explained that it was a very special moment. 'They hand her to me and Im looking at herand she reaches up both of her arms and curls into mereaches up her arms right at my neck, as if to give me a hug,' she said. 'I couldnt believe how strong she was but it was so clearly a hug. It made me feel like she was like, "Good team, Mom, we did it."' Going strong: Duff and Koma have been dating on and off for over a year Following Banks' birth, Duff consumed her placenta in a smoothie made of berries and fruit juice. The Houston native described the concoction as the 'most delightful smoothie [she's] ever had.' Hilary also had a portion of her placenta frozen in ice cubes for future smoothie needs. With a successful modelling career and caring for an eight-week-old baby to juggle, she already has plenty on her plate. But now Vogue Williams and her husband Spencer Matthews claim she is being 'mum-shamed' for going back to work so soon after giving birth to their son. Spencer whose brother James is married to the Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa said the 33-year-old Irish model has done a 'very good job' since Theodore arrived in September. Open: Vogue Williams and her husband Spencer Matthews claim she is being 'mum-shamed' for going back to work so soon after giving birth to their son Eight days after he was born, Vogue hit back at social media trolls for criticising her when she posted a shot from a modelling job. Since then, she has done a number of photo-shoots and was spotted partying at the star-studded Adwoa Aboah X Revlon London Fashion Week event on September 18 two weeks after welcoming her son. Now husband Spencer, 29 - a former star of E4's scripted reality show Made In Chelsea - has sprung to her defence, saying his wife is a hands-on mother. 'Poor Vogue is working really long hours she's a 'model', that's what it says on her Wikipedia or whatever,' he said. 'People just assume she does nothing but she's super-busy all the time. So to be able to handle a kid as well is nothing short of a very good job by her and you get everyone piling in with ''do this, do that, don't do this.'' Open: Spencer said the 33-year-old Irish model has done a 'very good job' since Theodore arrived in September 'It's like, if we want anyone's advice we'll ask, thank you very much. Our eight-week-old sleeps through the night so see you later. You know, we are doing just fine.' Spencer, who was forced to withdraw from the 2015 series of I'm A Celebrity following reports of steroid use, admitted he and his wife are currently 'trying to make it so we are not both working all day' and share parental care. The couple married at an intimate ceremony at the Matthews family estate in the Highlands in June, five months after getting engaged on stage at the Lyceum Theatre in London. Matthews's hedge fund manager brother acted as his best man, returning the favour from when James married Pippa Middleton last year. Proud dad: The ex-Made In Chelsea star admitted he and his wife are currently 'trying to make it so we are not both working all day' and share parental care Appearing at a dating campaign he was fronting for Bristol shopping centre Cabot Circus, Spencer added: 'If Vogue is working a half-day I will pop along and take him or if we are both working we'll find someone to look after him. 'We have a miraculously well-behaved baby. He has had two meltdowns in two months and even the meltdowns are ended with a quick cuddle. 'He has cried and got bright red and emptied his lungs but only about twice. And a lot of people say that happens daily. I don't mean to gloat.' Sweet: Eight days after Theodore was born, Vogue hit back at social media trolls for criticising her when she posted a shot from a modelling job In September, Vogue also wrote on Instagram: 'So many messages about going back to work yesterday. It's my choice and I feel happy to. 'I'm not fully back to work yet. It was one shoot. I only intend on taking jobs where I can have my baby with me as I'm breast-feeding so we shall be glued together for a few months.' She added: 'I don't get maternity leave in my job so I'll obviously be going back sooner than others. Let's not start parent-shaming already, he's eight days old and a VERY happy loved baby.' She has a thing for cleavage-baring dresses. And Wednesday proved no different for Elizabeth Hurley, who updated her 1.1 million Instagram followers about a Thanksgiving dinner she attended thrown by US Ambassador Woody Johnson. The occasion was held at the Winfield House, and given the plenty photos Elizabeth had uploaded to her social media account, it would seem that the 53-year-old had a rather splendid time. Gorgeous: Elizabeth Hurley updated her 1.1 million Instagram followers about a Thanksgiving dinner she attended by US Ambassador Woody Johnson 'Thanksgiving Dinner given by US Ambassador Woody Johnson and his gorgeous wife Suzanne at the heavenly Winfield House,' the brunette started off her caption. '(that's Barbara Hutton in the portrait who sold Winfield House to the American government for $1 after WW2)' Looking effortlessly chic must come naturally for the actress who looked incredible in a black dress with a cut-out that exposed her ample cleavage. She's dressed for the occasion: Looking effortlessly chic must come naturally for the actress who looked incredible in a black dress with a cut-out that exposed her ample cleavage Not to forget her accessories: Given the all-black attire, she switched things up by adding some glitz to her ensemble with the addition of two diamond-encrusted dangling earrings The mother-of-one had correlated her choice of attire with a feather jacket cape while seemingly opting for a radiant look in the makeup department. Given the all-black attire, Elizabeth switched things up by adding some glitz to her ensemble with the addition of two diamond-encrusted dangling earrings. It was all the sparkle she needed to look the part for the event. And it seemed as if fans were in agreeance. A terrific time: The event was held at the Winfield House, and given the plenty photos Elizabeth had uploaded, it would seem that the 53-year-old had a rather splendid time 'You look amazing for your age. How you are even 53 makes no sense to me at all. I want to gracefully age like you when I'm older,' one fan wrote in the comment section. 'You look not a day over 30,' another fan started off saying. 'My if I could have dinner and drinks with anyone in the world, it would be you. Gorgeous!' The British beauty had been enjoying a relaxing vacation in the Maldives, where she stayed at the five-star Milaidhoo resort, and, of course, a series of photos were bound to follow. If you got it, flaunt it: Elizabeth showcased her toned physique while on holiday in the Maldives, wearing a two-piece skimpy light blue bikini On Thursday, the Made in Romania star had posted a photo of herself straight from her holiday vacation. But it was what she wore on the occurrence that had really left people talking. Elizabeth had posed in a skimpy patterned two-piece bikini while seemingly flaunting her toned physique. Last year she married her third husband, with whom she and her two children share a Surrey home. And Andrea McLean, 49, and Nick Feeney put on a loved-up display as they arrived at Phil Turners 50th birthday party at Proud in London on Wednesday evening. The Loose Women presenter looked chic in a sleeveless navy blue midi tea dress, which showed off her fabulous figure as it cinched in at her slim waist. Sweet: Andrea McLean, 49, and Nick Feeney put on a loved-up display as they arrived at Phil Turners 50th birthday party at Proud in London on Wednesday evening Andrea added a splash of sparkle to her understated satin frock with a pair of metallic silver animal print heels and a shimmering Stella McCartney clutch bag. The stunning television host sported a deep tan all over, with a heavy dusting of bronzer on her flawless face. Her raven locks were given a voluminous twist at the ends, and she accessorised with an elegant selection of silver jewellery. Meanwhile, Nick kept things simple, teaming a fitted black sweater with charcoal skinny jeans and brown boots. Stylish: The Loose Women presenter looked chic in a sleeveless navy blue midi tea dress, which showed off her fabulous figure as it cinched in at her slim waist Stunning: Andrea added a splash of sparkle with a pair of metallic silver animal print heels and a shimmering Stella McCartney clutch bag Famous friends: Andrea took time away from Nick to pose alongside Lizzy Cundy, 48, and British model Jo Wood, 63 Andrea took time away from Nick to pose alongside Lizzy Cundy, 48, and British model Jo Wood, 63. Clearly in a playful mood, Andrea's husband was hoisted up by two performers in circus themed fancy dress, for a flirty photo. Meanwhile, Katie Price, 40, continued to spark reconciliation rumours with Kris Boyson as the couple made an appearance at the Birthday bash. Tease: Clearly in a playful mood, Andrea's husband was hoisted up by two performers in circus themed fancy dress, for a flirty photo Stepping out: Meanwhile, Katie Price, 40, continued to spark reconciliation rumours with Kris Boyson as the couple made an appearance at the Birthday bash The pair arrived separately, with Katie somewhat inevitably catching the eye as she made her way inside on the arm of a male friend. The former glamour model put on a typically busty display in a fitted black vest top that accentuated her cleavage while joining guests including Vic Reeves and Calum Best at the event. Katie added to her look with cropped black trousers, while matching kitten heels rounded things off while exposing her distinctive pink varnished toenails. She makes fitness a top priority all while juggling motherhood and a career in the spotlight. And on Monday, Rachael Finch, 30, showed off her enviably toned physique in a sizzling two-piece at North Bondi beach. The former Miss Universe Australia contestant flaunted her washboard abs in a pair of high-cut briefs and a tiny green triangle bikini top. Scroll down for video Taut-al babe! Rachael Finch stripped down to a skimpy bikini during beach outing in at Bondi Beach on Monday Emerging from the ocean with her hair slicked back, Rachael could have easily passed as a Bond girl. Turning heads with her gym-honed physique at the iconic tourist haunt, the brunette mother-of-two was calm and carefree after her swim. She had arrived at the beach earlier in the day with her husband Michael Miziner and their one-year-old son Dominic. Sizzling! Emerging from the ocean with her hair slicked back, Rachael could have easily passed as a Bond girl One hot mama! The 30-year-old flaunted her washboard abs in a pair of high-cut briefs and a tiny green triangle bikini top Family fun! She had arrived at the beach earlier in the day with her husband Michael Miziner and their one-year-old son Dominic Despite the weather being warm, it appeared the star braved chillier temps in the ocean during her dip. The Myer ambassador was seen splashing around in the water before joining husband Michael on the sand, where they had set up their towels. Looking in peak physical condition, Rachael walked barefoot with an air of confidence across the coastline. Chilly: While the weather was warm, Rachael appeared to have braved the chillier temps in the ocean for a refreshing swim Cheeky! Looking in peak physical condition, Rachael walked barefoot with an air of confidence across the coastline Success! The former beauty pageant titleholder and television presenter created her own fitness empire in 2017 Showing off a natural golden glow, she was makeup-free during the beach outing. Her brunette locks were slicked back into a messy bun while she shielded her eyes with a pair of stylish shades. Rachael later popped on a navy blue cap as she reclined on the sand and watched her son play. Not an inch to pinch! Rachael looked terrific in the mismatch bikini ensemble Beach babe! She put her impressively toned stomach on display Natural beauty! Showing off a natural golden glow, she was makeup free during the beach outing All smiles! Rachael later popped on a navy blue cap as she reclined on the sand The former beauty pageant titleholder and television presenter created her own fitness empire in 2017. She and husband Michael launched the Body By Finch online health and fitness program, in conjunction with her own athlesiure label. Rachael regularly shares videos of her workout sessions at home, with her two young children - Violet, five, and Dominic, one - often making cameo appearances. Doting mum! Rachael was seen holding Dominic in her arms and carrying a bucket and spade for the little one to play with on the sand How adorable! Dominic thoroughly enjoyed solo time with his parents, laughing and smiling as they doted over him It's believed Violet missed out on the beach day as she was attending school. However, Dominic appeared to thoroughly enjoy solo time with his parents, laughing and smiling as they doted over him. Rachael was even spotted holding a bucket for the little one as they may have created sandcastles together. Play time! Rachael's daughter Violet appears to have missed out on the family beach day while at school on the sunny Monday He won plaudits for playing Jack Reacher in two blockbuster thrillers. But Tom Cruise has been axed from the all-action role because he simply doesnt measure up. British author Lee Child, who wrote the books on which the films are based, says that at 5ft 7in Cruise is far too short to play the former US military policeman. He won plaudits for playing Jack Reacher in two blockbuster thrillers. But Tom Cruise has been axed from the all-action role because he simply doesnt measure up In the 23 Jack Reacher novels, the hero is described as a physically imposing 6ft 5in with hands the size of dinner plates. Child says that after the 2012 film Jack Reacher which also starred Rosamund Pike and the 2016 sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, tens of thousands of fans complained that Mission Impossible star Cruise, 56, was wrong for the role. So further adaptations of his novels will be on the small screen with a new, much taller Reacher. Child told the BBC: I really enjoyed working with Cruise. Hes a really nice guy. But ultimately the readers are right. The size of Reacher is really important and a big component of who he is' Child told the BBC: I really enjoyed working with Cruise. Hes a really nice guy. But ultimately the readers are right. The size of Reacher is really important and a big component of who he is. The idea is that when Reacher walks into a room, youre all a little nervous just for that first minute. And Cruise, for all his talent, didnt have that physicality. So there wont be any more movies with Tom Cruise. Instead were going to take it to Netflix or something like that. Long-form streaming television, with a completely new actor. And I want all those readers who were upset about Tom Cruise to help me out participate in choosing the right actor for the TV series. Were rebooting and starting over, and were going to try to find the perfect guy.' Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay has stormed out of an international conference on Libya organized in Italy over what he described as attempts to keep Turkey out of the process in the northern African country. Hurriyet Daliy News reports in its article Turkeys Vice President Oktay storms out of Libya conference in Italy that Oktay walked out after eastern Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar joined a meeting on the conferences sidelines with his United Nations-backed rival Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and other leaders, but not Turkey. Unfortunately, the international community could not manage to unify this morning. Some intervened unilaterally by abusing Italys host status as a last minute fait accompli, Oktay said in a written statement. The Turkish vice president also accused some countries without naming them for trying to cripple the process [of transformation in Libya] for their own interests. Turkey is leaving the conference with deep disappointment, he added, stressing that what Libya needs for stability is less foreign intervention, not more. Before leaving, Oktay and EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini met in Palermo on the sidelines of the conference. During the closed-door meeting, the two dignitaries also spoke about the efforts to further expand Turkish-EU relations. Oktay and Mogherini also discussed EU funds, which have not been transferred to Syrian target groups in Turkey due to excessive rules arising from EU legislation. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte hosted a meeting Nov. 13 of Libyas rival leaders on the sidelines of a conference aiming to help its former colony crack down on Islamist militants and human trafficking. I feel sorry that Turkeys Vice President Fuat Oktay left the conference. I read his remarks and I didnt see anything negative about Italy. We must admit that there may be special sensitivities in such decisions, Conte told reporters after the event. Other leaders attending the Palermo conference, including French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, also participated. The office of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who backs Haftar, confirmed he joined the mini-summit Nov. 13 with Conte and other leaders. Italys populist government organized the two-day conference in hopes of making progress on ending Libyas lawlessness and promoting a U.N. framework for eventual elections. But expectations were limited, with Haftars camp making clear that he was not participating in the conference itself but rather meeting with leaders of neighboring countries on the sidelines. Neither Haftar nor el-Sissi posed for the final conference group photo. Italys anti-migrant government is keen in particular to stem the Libyan-based migrant smuggling networks that have sent hundreds of thousands of would-be refugees to Europe via Italy in recent years. Brandi Redmond continued to unravel over LeeAnne Locken on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Dallas. The 40-year-old reality star resumed clashing with LeeAnne, 51, as the women continued their group trip in Copenhagen. Trouble started brewing early as they split into separate groups for boat and bike tours. Dinner drama: Brandi Redmond argued bitterly with LeeAnne Locken during a group dinner on their final night in Copenhagen on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Dallas Brandi said she wanted to see LeeAnne riding like a 'wicked witch' on a bike and openly admitted that she was still angry with her for saying she had a drinking problem. LeeAnne cried about it to the others and claimed that she was the group 'punching bag'. 'You get picked on more than other people,' agreed her newly acquired ally Kameron Westcott. D'Andra Simmons, 49, also went on a makeup tour during the episode as she reconciled with both Kameron and LeeAnne after bitter arguments. Punching bag: LeeAnne was attacked Brandi during dinner while talking about trip highlights Wicked witch: Brandi while they decided on boat and bike tours liked LeeAnne to a 'wicked witch' Getting emotional: LeeAnne cried about the 'wicked witch' comment as Stephanie Hollman looked on Brandi however continued to hold a grudge against LeeAnne and it surfaced after the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader took a topless dip in the Baltic Sea. Cary Deuber as part of the group trip to visit her extended family in Denmark arranged for them to take a traditional good-luck dip in the cold seawater. Brandi became outraged when she saw LeeAnne recording her topless in the sea. Making up: Kameron Westcott and D'Andra Simmons made up after an ugly argument Big hug: The Dallas socialites hugged it out after agreeing to move forward Friends again: D'Andra and LeeAnne also made up with the help of Stephanie 'Have some respect,' she hissed during a confessional. Brandi on the bus ride back scolded LeeAnne for recording her and accused her of being 'disrespectful'. 'I'll delete it Brandi,' said LeeAnne who moved to erase the video from her phone. Topless dip: Brandi took a topless dip in the Baltic Sea as part of a good-luck tradition No respect: The former cheerleader said that LeeAnne was showing her no respect by recording Good times: The women wore traditional garments while out in Copenhagen Brandi insisted that the video be deleted from her 'trash' and accused LeeAnne of being a 'manipulative b****' who would 'use it against us'. 'You're special,' LeeAnne coldly replied. They later dined for their last meal in Copenhagen at a fancy Michelin-starred restaurant. Bus ride: Brandi during the bus ride demanded that LeeAnne delete the video 'I am so hungry,' complained Kameron of the sophisticated dining. The women went around the table offering their favorite part of the trip. Brandi said her favorite portion was spending time with Cary's family, which included a surprise appearance by Cary's husband Mark and daughter Zuri. Favorite part: The reality star said her favorite part of the trip was seeing Cary with her family Surprise appearance: Mark surprised his wife Cary in Denmark with their daughter Zuri Best day: Cary was thrilled that her daughter could meet her extended family in Copenhagen She then told LeeAnne that she was 'hurt' by her for taking away her joy 'a little bit' with the video. LeeAnne again insisted that she had no malicious intent and assured Brandi that it was deleted. Brandi accused LeeAnne of 'pretending to be zen' and said she could only hide her true ways for so long. Meditation bowl: LeeAnne whacked her meditation bowl hard as she thought about Brandi LeeAnne promised that she wouldn't get mad at Brandi and said she understood her distrust. 'Nobody here trusts you,' Brandi then hissed at LeeAnne. A preview of next week's season three finale titled Game Of Phones showed Brandi accusing the group of being 'fake b****es' and storming away from the dinner table. They announced they were expecting their second child together back in July. But that didn't stop Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr for heading to the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night. The 30-year-old former American Idol contestant showed off her baby bump in a figure-hugging gold dress on the carpet. Awards night: Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr headed to the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night Brittany glowed in the tight, long sleeve frock and added a couple inches with open toe heels. Her long blonde tresses fell in relaxed waves across her shoulders, and she accessorized with large hoop earrings. She painted her lips a soft pink and cradled her baby bump with one hand while wrapping the other around her husband. Nashville: The 30-year-old former American Idol contestant showed off her baby bump in a figure-hugging gold dress on the carpet Jason donned a black leather blazer on top of a black button down and skinny blue jeans. He matched his jacket with a black leather cowboy hat and matched his wife with small gold hoop earrings. During the award show, the country crooner took the stage with Miranda Keer to perform their song Drowns the Whiskey. Glowing: Brittany glowed in the tight, long sleeve frock and added a couple inches with open toe heels Jason and Brittany tied the knot back in March of 2015, after a seventh month engagement. She gave birth to their first child, a son named Memphis, in December of last year, and announced she'd be giving birth to a daughter in July. The couple already announced the coming child's name, Navy Rome Williams - Williams is Jason's actual last name. Happy couple: Her long blonde tresses fell in relaxed waves across her shoulders, and she accessorized with large hoop earrings Bachelor In Paradise's Grant Kemp has weighed in on rumours that his ex-girlfriend Ali Oetjen had plastic surgery. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, the 29-year-old said he thought she had gone too far with the enhancements. 'I don't know what her motives are behind it, but I mean I would reduce a bit of that if I were her,' he said about the striking blonde. Scroll down for video 'I would reduce that if I were her': Grant Kemp (pictured) weighs in on ex Ali Oetjen's cosmetic enhancements following claims she underwent a $20,000 Barbie transformation 'I liked her just as a person, so I was able to look past that, but I did have a couple of questions [about it].' When asked if he thought it came from a place of insecurity, he said, 'Maybe. I would have to say yes, why would it not? What else would it come from?' It comes after Dr Laith Barnouti of Australia Plastic Surgery spoke to New Idea and claimed the Bachelorette star has had everything from laser treatments to a breast augmentation and may have spent up to $32,000. 'She appears to have had teeth whitening or dental veneers,' he told the publication. Insecurities: When asked if he thought it came from a place of insecurity, Grant said, 'Maybe. I would have to say yes, why would it not? What else would it come from? Pricey enhancement: This comes after Dr Laith Barnouti of Australia Plastic Surgery spoke to New Idea , claiming the Bachelorette star has had everything from laser treatments to a breast augmentation and may have spent up to $32,000 'Her face also appears to be wrinkle-free and shiny. Such a look is usually achieved by Botox, laser and or fat injections.' Estimating the cost of her alleged procedures, Dr Barnouti claimed Ali may have spent approximately $10,000 on breast implants, $680 on Botox, $600 on lip fillers, $2000 on laser, and $5000 on fat injections. Back in June, LA-based plastic surgeon Dr Urmen Desai told Daily Mail Australia Ali appears to have had multiple procedures including rhinoplasty. 'When looking at current images of her body [compared] to those when she starred on The Bachelor in 2013, it is clear she has had breast augmentation,' he said. Barbie makeover? Dr Laith Barnouti said, 'She appears to have had teeth whitening or dental veneers,' he told the publication. He also claimed, 'Her face also appears to be wrinkle-free and shiny. Such a look is usually achieved by Botox, laser and or fat injections' 'With regards to her face, Ali has obviously had her upper and lower lips over-injected with fillers. 'In addition to this, her forehead is frozen without any motion, which points to the fact that she likely had Botox injections to her forehead. 'Finally, in order to assist with reversing the ageing process, she has likely received filler injections to her cheeks to achieve a more youthful face.' Before and after: Ali is pictured left on The Bachelor in 2013, and right on The Bachelorette in 2018 'Her forehead is frozen without any motion, which points to the fact that she likely had Botox injections to her forehead,' LA-based plastic surgeon Dr Urmen Desai told Daily Mail in June In an interview with previous The Sunday Telegraph, Ali revealed she regretted having breast implants. 'If I had my time over, I would not have gotten them done,' she told the newspaper. 'I would only ever have plastic surgery again to get my breast implants removed. I do not like my boobs.' Richard Bacon has revealed he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as he returned to the intensive care unit where he had nearly died. The presenting star, 42, fell seriously ill with a mystery lung infection in July and was put into a medically-induced coma, with doctors telling Bacon and his family they 'expected him to die'. According to The Sun, he returned to Lewisham hospital to film for a documentary but forced himself to leave after feeling 'claustrophobic' and 'overwhelmed'. Harrowing: Richard Bacon has revealed he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as he returned to the intensive care unit where he had nearly died Richard famously spent 12 days in intensive care and nine in a medically-induced coma in July after a virus 'exploded' in his lungs during a flight from the United States. He was initially incorrectly diagnosed with serious pneumonia across both lungs, but after Bacon failed to respond to treatment doctors were forced to take emergency action and place him in a coma. Richard survived the ordeal but was reminded of the near-death experience as he returned to Lewisham hospital in South East London to film for ITV documentary Brexit, Immigration: Who Do We Let In?. He had been interviewing staff, but faced with being in the same ward and seeing the same equipment used on him, suffered from PTSD. Shock: The presenting star, 42, fell seriously ill with a mystery lung infection in July and was put into a medically-induced coma, with doctors telling Bacon and his family they 'expected him to die' Back in ICU: According to The Sun , he returned to Lewisham hospital to film for a documentary but was forced to leave after feeling 'claustrophobic' and 'overwhelmed' Richard explained: 'When the cameras were turned off I was standing on the ward looking at the equipment I was hooked up to, with wires coming out of everywhere. I felt PTSD on the ward that day, for sure.' He revealed how memories of his time in hospital came 'flooding back' to him, including 'frightening moments' such as waking up from the coma and hallucinating. Bacon claimed: 'I started to feel overwhelmed, claustrophobic and have a little bit of PTSD and I said, "I have to stand outside."' The experience hasn't put Richard off returning for another visit in the future, as he has vowed to do some fundraising for the hospital - undoubtedly to show the staff his gratitude for saving his life. Meanwhile, Richard has revealed how doctors expected him to die from a lung infection and recalled the moment his wife told him to 'stay away from the white light' in an interview with Good Morning Britain. Tough: Richard been interviewing staff for an ITV doc, but faced with being in the same ward and seeing the same equipment used on him, suffered from PTSD and had to leave He spoke to GMB about how close he came to death, describing the moment he was put under as the 'most shocking day of my life'. Bacon told co-hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: 'I felt very bad for [my wife] Rebecca. For me, I found out afterwards how close I'd come [to death]. 'As they were putting me in the coma she rubbed my feet and said, "don't walk towards the white light", which I think was a joke, but I'm not entirely sure. 'There was one point where they had the crash equipment hovering over me, my body turned blue, there was a moment when they believed I was going to die.' Father-of-two Richard has since made a miraculous recovery but still has a few months left to fully recover due to the 'amount of drugs pumped' into his body. Scary: Bacon claimed: 'I started to feel overwhelmed, claustrophobic and have a little bit of PTSD and I said, "I have to stand outside," as frightening moments came flooding back to him Speaking to The Times Magazine of his ordeal, he said: 'In 2018, I can go into a hospital, aged 42, be that fit, and have all that modern equipment around me and still nearly die? F*****g hell. I came that close. The first two nights, it was incredibly close.' And the star called waking up from a medically induced coma 'the worst day of my life' and said he was thrashing about 'like a wild animal'. He said: 'I remember thinking: I've not got enough oxygen, the room's too hot and I'm not getting enough attention. I need help. I remember consciously pulling the pipes out of my neck to set the alarms off. And it worked people came running in.' Reflecting on his illness, Richard explained that he's grateful to have survived the mystery infection and has vowed to give up alcohol and marijuana, which is legal in LA where he lives and works. On his exit from hospital, Richard credited the NHS for saving his life, he penned on Instagram alongside a shot of his hospital bed: 'I dont know whether I see this as the bed I nearly died in or the bed that saved my life' He said: 'I'm giving up drinking. I had been drinking four or five glasses of wine every night. In LA, I've been smoking weed. It's all legal over there. I'm going to stop all that.' He recently explained that he was treating the near-death experience as a wake-up call. In an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live, Richard said: 'I've decided to really, really embrace health from here on in. 'I've always drunk too much, I've always drunk too quickly, so I'm giving up drinking altogether forever as a result of what happened to me. Adding: 'Because if I don't effect some sort of really, really positive change out of this, then it's a giant waste of everyone's time... So I'm using it to effect positive change. Family: Richard and wife Rebecca share two children; son Arthur, seven, and daughter Ivy, four 'It's something I've been thinking about anyway. I want to do something different, I want to look back in 10, 20 years and think, "this was the moment I changed my life."' On his exit from hospital, Richard credited the NHS for saving his life, he penned on Instagram alongside a shot of his hospital bed: 'Cleared for take off. Gone within the hour (Ill be leaving two weeks almost to the minute after I arrived). 'I dont know whether I see this as the bed I nearly died in or the bed that saved my life. Either way. I wont miss it. But I will miss the 50 staff of Lewisham Hospital who definitely saved my life. Every. Single. One. Of. Them.' Richard has been married to wife Rebecca since 2008 - they share two children; son Arthur, seven, and daughter Ivy, four. The Secret Life Of The Zoo Rating: Forget alpha males. Its alpha girls that rule the animal world. Sir David Attenboroughs brilliant study of a power struggle among chimps, in BBC1s Dynasties at the weekend, focused on the male of the species. The story had a tragic coda, as researchers revealed yesterday that the charismatic alpha leader had been killed by rival chimpanzees. The Secret Life Of The Zoo (C4) gave us a completely different perspective on power. Behind the scenes, the females are firmly in charge. Partly, its a matter of brains. If ever theres a dopey animal, its going to be a boy, commented a keeper. To rule, you need some intelligence. 'The chap who really deserved sympathy was Betong the Malayan tapir. Once happily mated with a female called Margery, he found himself pushed out when a baby came along' Thats true for insects as much as primates. Minnie the dead-leaf mantis had just shed her skin, the insect equivalent of getting a spray tan and a new pair of Jimmy Choos. She was ready to find a mate. The boy she fancied was called Mickey, and he had no idea what he was letting himself in for. All he could think about was getting his six spindly legs wrapped around Minnie. She had a bigger plan. After letting her lover have his way, she intended to bolster up on nutrients to feed her eggs by eating Mickeys head. Any divorced blokes watching who feel aggrieved over their alimony payments would do well to remember that things could be worse. You might have been born a mantis. Harvey the hornbill had a different problem. His missus, Harriet, had barricaded herself into their nest and was refusing to come out for the next four months. She bricked up the doorway, leaving just enough room for Harvey to push food through to her, while she incubated their egg. Its embarrassing for a bird to be stuck on his own doorstep, shut out of the house for weeks on end. What will the neighbours think? But the chap who really deserved sympathy was Betong the Malayan tapir. Once happily mated with a female called Margery, he found himself pushed out when a baby came along. Betong had to move into a separate enclosure while little Solo grew up. But now Solo has gone to Germany, to find a mate of her own and Margery wants Betong back. Hes grown used to the bachelor life. The evenings are his own, and hes got a straw bed all to himself. You cant blame him for wanting to hang on to his independence. Some chance. Margery waggled her tapir hips and Betongs best intentions dissolved. Females hold all the power. For The Love Of Dogs Rating: Ab Fab comedienne and pet lover Jennifer Saunders proved the point when she paid a visit to Battersea animal rescue centre on For The Love Of Dogs (ITV). Presenter Paul OGrady tried to persuade her to adopt George, an adorable nine-week-old spaniel puppy. Jennifers resolve was strong enough to resist but the more Paul cooed over the limpid-eyed little dog, the more he fell in love himself. I cant have him, he wailed Ive already got nine! Presenter of For The Love Of Dogs Paul OGrady with an abandoned Yorkshire terrier puppy Summer in this week's episode of For The Love of Dogs The furry, cuddly pups are just one reason to enjoy this long-running series. Paul has fronted dozens of episodes, but never repeats himself. He has an inexhaustible fund of pithy expressions to describe the dogs. This time, looking at an elderly border terrier called Florence who was sky-high on painkillers after a road accident, he remarked: Shes Janis Joplin in there, flying. And then, in case there was any room for misunderstanding, he added: I know thats not a medical term. It's one week since 12 people were gunned down at the country music venue Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. And at the start of the annual Country Music Awards on Wednesday night, Garth Brooks dedicated the live telecast to those who lost their lives when a 28-year-old Marine veteran opened fire with an illegally modified handgun. 'Tonight's show is lovingly dedicated to the twelve individuals who we lost far too soon just a week ago at the Borderline in Thousand Oaks, California,' Brooks said. He then asked the audience at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to join him in a moment of silence. Heartfelt: Garth Brooks dedicated the CMAs Wednesday night to the 12 victims of the mass shooting a week ago at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California Tribute: The country music star then doffed his trademark stetson as he asked the audience to join him in a moment of silence for the shooting victims The first funeral for one of the victims of the mass shooting - Cody Coffman, 22 - was held Wednesday night in California. On Thursday, Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran of the department who was the first law enforcement officer on scene, will be laid to rest. The shooter Ian David Long turned his gun on himself after Helus engaged him after responding to a 911 call with two other law enforcement officers. The Ventura County Medical Examiner said Wednesday that 10 of the 12 victims at Borderline died from multiple gunshot wounds. Two were killed by a single gunshot. The press release confirmed that the shooter killed himself with a shot to the head. Tragic: Some of those at Borderline at the time of the shooting - including one of those who died - had also been at the Route 91 harvest Festival in Las Vegas in 2017 where 58 people were massacred Some of those at Borderline at the time of the shooting - including one of those who died - had also been at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas in 2017 where 58 people were massacred. On Wednesday, country music star Jason Aldean, who had been on stage at Route 91 when the shooting started, spoke about how he felt about that. 'It's just such a punch in the gut,' the 41-year-old said in an interview with SiriusXM's Storme Warren. 'I have no words for it.' Bride and Prejudice's second season will come to an end next week, and it looks like the show won't be bowing out quietly. In a shocking teaser for the finale, 'mother-in-law from hell' Fatima storms son Seyat's wedding to Jessica with the possible intention of destroying it. 'I'm gonna destroy the wedding!' she snarls in a voice-over as she's seen arriving at the nuptials in a red cocktail frock. Scroll down for video Oh no! In a shocking teaser for the Bride and Prejudice finale, 'mother-in-law from hell' Fatima storms son Seyat's wedding to Jessica with the possible intention of destroying it 'This is sickening,' she snaps from the front row, before the camera cuts to Jess crying at the alter. Comments from the show's other couples are also played in the trailer, all of which question Fatima's intentions. 'She looks so pissed off,' says Ange. 'She's beside herself.' Hank adds: 'She's waited for the perfect time to strike.' 'She's gonna stop the wedding,' Philippa comments. 'I'm gonna destroy the wedding!' she snarls in a voice-over as she's seen arriving at the nuptials in a red cocktail frock 'She looks so pissed off': Comments from the show's other couples are also played in the trailer, all of which question Fatima's intentions Fatima has been a harsh critic of Seyat's relationship with Jessica, with the Macedonian mother taking a dislike to Jess and voicing her concerns that the pair are too young to marry. On Wednesday's episode of Bride and Prejudice, the 'mother-in-law from hell' finally got a taste of her own medicine during a tense sit down with Jessica's parents. Jessica's mum Marika firmly defended her daughter against a barrage of criticism from Fatima, who has been against her son Seyat, 19, marrying the 21-year-old. Here comes the bride! Jessica is shown walking down the aisle in a stunning wedding dress Happy husband! Seyat (L) looks chuffed at the sight of his blushing bride Jess (R) 'I don't think that they're too young,' Marika reasoned. 'It's about how mature people are... As long as they're both happy.' Fatima responded with a laundry list of grievances against Jess, who lives in her family home with Seyat. 'She always used to hide in the room all the time,' complained Fatima. 'And that used to make me very upset.' 'This is sickening,' Fatima snaps from the front row, before the camera cuts to Jess crying at the alter. Marika replied: 'But she has told me time to time that she wants to come out there, but she said that you just terrify her... she said that you're almost screaming at her all the time.' She continued: 'Jessica's mentioned many times that you don't call her by her name... she says you call her 'her' or 'she' or 'the girl'." A dismissive Fatima shot back: 'There's nothing wrong with that.' Rob Kardashian threw his little girl a fairy-themed birthday bash on Wednesday. Dream Kardashian turned two on November 10 and her birthday party looked absolutely magical in snaps shared by Rob's sisters Kim and Khloe on Instagram. Dream looked adorable in a powder blue princess dress with floral headband which matched the beautiful blue and white decor around the home. Fit for a princess: Dream Kardashian turned two on November 10 and her birthday party looked absolutely magical in snaps shared by Rob's sisters Kim and Khloe The party was packed with delicious sweet treats and in one room a teepee-like structure stood with leaves and butterflies intertwined. The Kardashian clan also hired two women dressed as fairy godmothers for extra authenticity. For one of her birthday gifts Dream got a sparkling blue miniature Bentley with balloons attached. Her beautiful birthday cake, reportedly from Hansen's, also came in an aqua blue shade and was ornately decorated. Lucky little lady! For one of her birthday gifts Dream got a sparkling blue miniature Bentley with balloons attached Gorgeous display: In one room a teepee like structure stood with leaves and butterflies intertwined Yum! Dream's cake was from Hansen's and was in her favorite color Wow! There was an incredible array of treats on offer at the party There was even a special wall which featured multiple sets of wings for all the children to wear so they could transform into fairies. A sign above read 'grab your wings and fly'. Dream's cousins were there to celebrate including Penelope, North, Mason, Reign, Chicago and Saint. Meanwhile Rob has allegedly filed to lower his $20,000 a month child support payments to ex-fiancee Blac Chyna. Blac, 30, seemed to clap back at the reality star when she took to Instagram to brag about her fleet of luxury vehicles. 'Work hard, play harder!!! My s**t!!! No help!!! No child support!!! Stop the f**king lies!!!' she captioned the clip. Magical! The bash was a fairy themed event complete with sets of wings for the kids Birthday girl! Khloe posed for snaps with Dream who enjoyed a sweet treat Family bash: Dream's cousins including Mason (pictured) were there to celebrate Tutu cute! Dream was absolutely adorable in her elegant dress and floral accessories A trio of white cars with red rimsincluding two Bentleys and a Ferraricould be seen sitting in Chyna's driveway. 'Oh, hey there,' the mom of two said during the video as she giggled in background. On Tuesday, The Blast reported that Rob can 'no longer afford' to pay his ex thousands of dollars each month and believes that Blac's increased wealth should require her to pay him. Chyna is said to be worth more than $1.4 million, with Rob claiming his income has dwindled from $100,000 per month in 2017 to less than $10,000. The Arthur George founder is aiming to collect $2,864 from the model who reportedly earns more than $60,000 per month. Blac is said to be disputing the attempted modification of the child support, and has accused the star and his legal team of 'manipulating' the date to make Rob appear in dire financial straits. Luxe life: On Tuesday, Blac Chyna took to Instagram to brag about her fleet of luxury cars after ex-fiance Rob Kardashian filed to lower his child support payments 'Work hard, play harder!!! My s**t!!! No help!!! No child support!!! Stop the f**king lies!!!' she captioned the clip that featured two Bentleys and a Ferrari Words: She shared the clip on Tuesday with a brief caption Money problems: The Kardashian has allegedly filed to lower his $20,000 a month child support payments to Chyna. According to The Blast, Rob can 'no longer afford' to pay his ex thousands of dollars each month and believes that Blac's increased wealth should require her to pay him A judge was said to have suspended child support obligations at a hearing earlier this year, until the battle could be settled. Both sides were then said to have handed over financial documents. The warring pair are scheduled to meet with a judge in December for a final decision. Blac and Rob enjoyed a whirlwind romance starting in January 2016 and resulting in an engagement come February. The Fashionnova brand ambassador gave birth to their daughter Dream, now age two, in November of that same year. The couple's relationship came to a tumultuous end in 2017. Battle of the bank accounts: Chyna is said to be worth more than $1.4 million, with Rob claiming his income has dwindled from $100,000 per month to less than $10,000. The Arthur George founder is aiming to collect $2,864 from the model who reportedly earns more than $60,000 per month Golden Globe nominee Jessica Alba was hard at work Wednesday on the sandy Venice Beach set of Spectrum's Bad Boys spin-off, L.A.'s Finest. The 37-year-old mother-of-three was dressed in character as LAPD detective Nancy McKenna in a brown double-breasted blazer over a grey V-neck top, blue jeans, and white sneakers selected by costume designer Janelle Nicole Carothers. Hairstylist Julie Rea coiffed the Pomona-born beauty's brunette tresses and make-up artist Aurora Bergere made sure she was ready for her close-up on the boardwalk. Action! Golden Globe nominee Jessica Alba was hard at work Wednesday on the sandy Venice Beach set of Spectrum's Bad Boys spin-off, L.A.'s Finest Joining Jessica on the beach was her castmate Zach Gilford - costumed in a red plaid jacket, blue jeans, and work boots for his part as Ben Walker. Alba produces and stars as a 'married mother of two preteen stepkids, who joined the Army out of high school and spent most of the 2000s working as military police in Iraq and Afghanistan' - according to Deadline. The Honest Company boss also acted in scenes with Daytime Emmy nominee Duane Martin, rocking a black leather jacket as fellow LAPD officer Ben Baines. The El Camino Christmas actress - who boasts 28.5M social media followers - made sure to Insta-story a selfie video with the Brooklyn-born 53-year-old and the Illinois-born 36-year-old. What bikini? The 37-year-old mother-of-three was in character as LAPD detective Nancy McKenna in a brown blazer selected by costume designer Janelle Nicole Carothers 'Touch ups!' Hairstylist Julie Rea coiffed the Pomona-born beauty's brunette tresses and make-up artist Aurora Bergere (R) made sure she was ready for her close-up on the boardwalk Lifeguards on duty: Joining Jessica on the beach was her castmate Zach Gilford - costumed in a red plaid jacket, blue jeans, and work boots for his part as Ben Walker Director's chair! The actress texted on her phone to catch up with her friends when she took a break from her acting duties Working Girl! Jessica kept it casual in her pair of jeans when she lounged in the deck chair Check it out: The L.A's Finest star searched through her khaki green handbag with silver studs before taking time to check out her phone What's going on? Jessica engaged with her co-stars while she took her break Chill out: A crew member handed Jessica her phone while she took some time away from shooting scenes Good pals: Duane gave the actress some company while they caught up on the sidelines Jessica wrote on Instagram: '@lasfinesttv - another day another dolla #setlife missing my #workwife [Gabrielle Union].' Meanwhile, the Nebraska-born 46-year-old battled a breakout during her Miami maternity leave with the 'miracle' infant daughter (name yet to be unveiled) she welcomed a week ago via surrogate after suffering several miscarriages. It's the Breaking In actress' first child with second husband - Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade, Jr. - who's also raising a nephew (Dahveon) and three sons (Zaire, Zion, and Xavier) from a prior relationship. Gabrielle reprises her exact role as the Miami-born single lady, LAPD detective Sydney 'Syd' Burnett, from the 2003 sequel Bad Boys II. Heading out: The duo prepared to get ready to shoot scenes for the movie Backstory: Alba produces and stars as a 'married mother of two preteen stepkids, who joined the Army out of high school and spent most of the 2000s working as military police in Iraq and Afghanistan' Swag: The Honest Company boss also acted in scenes with Daytime Emmy nominee Duane Martin, rocking a black leather jacket as fellow LAPD officer Ben Baines Smile! The El Camino Christmas actress made sure to Insta-story a selfie video with the Brooklyn-born 53-year-old (L) and the Illinois-born 36-year-old (R) Rather than original stars Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, Jerry Bruckheimer's 13-episode buddy cop drama features Ernie Hudson, Zach Gilford, and Duane Martin. L.A.'s Finest marks Alba's first small-screen role since playing genetically-enhanced supersoldier Max Guevara/X5-452 in Dark Angel, which ran for two seasons (2000-2002) on Fox. 'I'm getting back to acting because it's my first love and part of my identity. Hollywood is different now from when I semi-retired 10 years ago. There's a new awareness of how important it is for women to be paid well and represented in front of and behind the camera,' the Mexican-American mompreneur told Parents.com this week. 'Missing my #workwife': Her co-star Gabrielle Union battled a breakout during her Miami maternity leave with the 'miracle' infant daughter she welcomed a week ago via surrogate (pictured Wednesday) 'MyHappyPlace': It's the the Nebraska-born 46-year-old's first child with second husband, Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade, Jr. (pictured Sunday) Kelly Rowland (M) cameo? The Breaking In actress (L) reprises her exact role as LAPD detective Sydney 'Syd' Burnett from the 2003 sequel Bad Boys II (pictured October 29) 'The #MeToo movement, for all the heartache and trauma it has churned up, enlightened people. For 'LA's Finest', I didn't even think about what a man would be paid. I said, 'This is what I'm worth.' Gab and I know our value, and we're lucky to be comfortable enough that we could have walked away if we'd had to.' If Jessica and husband Cash Warren's three children - daughters Honor, 10; and Haven, 7; as well as son Hayes, 10 months - complain too much, she has a prepared speech for them. 'I say, "Do you like your life? Because it's not free. Your dad and I work hard so you can have everything you have. That's why you take care of your stuff,"' the Project Runway guest judge said. 'If you don't work hard, your life won't always be like this': If Alba and husband Cash Warren's three children - daughters Honor, 10; and Haven, 7; as well as son Hayes, 10 months - complain too much, she has a prepared speech for them (pictured November 4) PDA: Jessica and the 39-year-old Pair of Thieves sock/underwear designer have been married for over a decade after meeting on the 2004 set of Fantastic Four (pictured Saturday) '"And guess what? If you don't work hard, your life won't always be like this. You've got to figure out what you want to do. Go to school, do well, treat others well." I'm hardcore about that.' Alba - who's worth around $340M - and the 39-year-old Pair of Thieves sock/underwear designer have been married for over a decade after meeting on the 2004 set of Fantastic Four. The Sin City alum will next appear in the eight-episode second season of comedic police procedural No Activity, which starts streaming November 22 on CBS All Access. She's one of the big names completing the all-star cast on new movie Widows. And ahead of the gala screening on Wednesday, Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki stepped onto the red carpet looking nothing short of sensational. The 28-year-old turned heads in a stunning monochrome ensemble by Adeam. Monochromatic chic! Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki cut an elegant figure in white top and billowing black trousers ahead of the screening of her new film Widows in Los Angeles on Wednesday Elizabeth opted for a white off-the-shoulder top featuring balloon sleeves and frills at the shoulders. She teamed up the statement piece with a pair of billowing black trousers and golden metallic sandals. The blonde beauty opted for an accessory-free look and drew attention to her flawless complexion. That's different! Elizabeth opted for a monochrome Adeam ensemble, which featured a white off-the-shoulder top with balloon sleeves and frills at the shoulders The Great Gatsby actress rocked a bold makeup look consisting of dewy foundation, winged eyeliner, rosy cheeks and red lipstick. Her iconic pixie cut was styled to perfection as she swept her flaxen locks to one side of her face. Meanwhile, the highly-anticipated event was held at the TLC Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Visage: The blonde beauty opted for an accessory-free look and drew attention to her flawless complexion while rocking this bold red lip Widows is the newest offering from director, writer and producer Steve McQueen, whose last film 12 Years a Slave won an Oscar for Best Picture. Elizabeth stars in the female-driven action thriller alongside Viola Davis and Michelle Rodriguez. Widows hits screens Down Under on November 29. A European initiative aimed at bypassing U.S. sanctions on Iran is unlikely to meaningfully help the Islamic Republic, according to White House National Security Advisor John Bolton who is in Singapore this week for the ASEAN-U.S. Summit as well as the East Asia Summit together with Vice President Mike Pence. Consumer News and Business Channe reports in its article EU efforts to bypass US sanctions on Iran may be ineffective: John Bolton that Bolton told media in Singapore on Tuesday: "We think the government is under real pressure and it's our intention to squeeze them very hard."He expressed confidence that Washington's latest measures against Iran would put significantly pressure on its economy. "As the British say, squeeze them until the pips squeak." Several international corporations already decided to end their dealings with Tehran in May, when President Donald Trump announced that he would be re-imposing sanctions on Iran. "The position of some European governments is different from the position of their businesses," he said, suggesting that European firms were unlikely to do business with the Islamic state even if the initiative was introduced. The initiative known as a "special purpose vehicle" aims to facilitate payments related to Iran's exports and imports despite sanctions by the U.S. The bulk of European companies have more commercial links with the U.S. than with Iran, and it remains unclear how much impact the special purpose vehicle would have. The Iran nuclear accord was implemented in January 2016. Formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it removed international sanctions on the country in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. But when Trump abandoned the accord in May, European leaders scrambled to save the deal. Asian heavyweights such as Japan, China, India and South Korea will still be allowed to purchase Iranian crude, having been granted exemptions by Washington. But those exemptions are on a six-month basis so any trade flows between Iran and Asia will be temporary, Bolton said. Washington will ensure sanctions are properly enforced, Bolton continued, adding that new sanctions aimed at tightening counter-terrorism could also be introduced. The U.S. has been in discussions with a number of European countries on that matter following allegations of an Iranian assassination attempt in Denmark, Bolton said. They were among the famous names who had to evacuate their mansion home as a result of the Woolsey fire that has charred almost 100,000 acres of Southern California near Los Angeles. And on Wednesday, Jada Pinkett Smith and daughter Willow were seen arriving at a police checkpoint that had closed the road not far from their rural property. Jada and movie star husband Will Smith reside in a $42-million custom home located in the hills between Calabasas and Malibu. Trying time: Jada Pinkett Smith donned a lavender dress and lilac coat with padded white boots as she and daughter Willow, 18, were seen at a wildfire checkpoint on Wednesday Jada, 47, wore a lavender dress and lilac coat. She added padded white leather boots and purple lip color. Willow, 18, was dressed in a black sleeveless jumpsuit with buttons down the front and cropped trouser legs. She stepped out in patterned socks and trainers. Not seen with them were Will nor Willow's brother Jaden, 20. Concerned: The pair were spotted at a police checkpoint along with Jada's mom Adrienne Banfield-Jones Wary: On November 9, Will posted video to social media showing him keeping an eye on the wildfire that created a massive smoke plume in the distance Safe for now: Will panned the camera to show his property nestled in the trees before swinging it round to show the looming clouds of smoke On November 9, one day after the blaze broke out, Will had posted video to social media showing him keeping an eye on the wildfire that created a massive smoke plume in the distance. 'We're probably about 8 miles away from it. We haven't been told to evacuate just yet but Willow is nervous so she made me go outside and look make a daddy assessment,' he explained in the clip. The actor panned the camera to show his property nestled in the trees before swinging it round to show the looming clouds of smoke. 'Our house is there... and the fire is right there. That is very scary. We are prepared to evacuate as soon as we get the word,' he said. Jada had also posted to social media during the fires, posting to Instagram a photo of the smoke rising from behind the next ridge over from the Smith property. She wrote in the caption that she was sending love and prayers to everyone affected by the fires and also by the mass shooting that had happened in Thousand Oaks the night before the blaze broke out. Winnie Harlow and Jaime King both glammed up for the Dior Gala taking place inside Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan's Upper East Side on Wednesday. Winnie, 24, struck a pose in a pastel pink winter coat over a matching pleated mini-dress and silver chrome pumps. Winnie (born Chantelle Brown-Young) rocked a gold choker and hoop earrings and wore her long raven locks down and middle-parted for the museum soiree. Lovely: America's Next Top Model 21 alum Winnie Harlow (L) and Hart of Dixie alum Jaime King (L) attended Dior Gala inside the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan on Wednesday Missing from Harlow's side was her boyfriend since July, 10-time Grammy-nominated rapper Wiz Khalifa, who has a five-year-old son Sebastian with ex-wife Amber Rose. 39-year-old mother-of-two Jaime opted for a winter white sweater, matching midi-skirt embellished with flower appliques, and ballet-inspired nude heels selected by stylist Annabelle Harron. The Nebraska-born blonde rocked a bright red lip and scraped her flaxen locks into a tidy updo for the fashionable festivities. Muted tones: The 39-year-old mother-of-two opted for a winter white sweater and a matching midi-skirt Floral appliques: The Nebraska-born blonde rocked a bright red lip and scraped her flaxen locks into a tidy updo for the fashionable festivities Culture: For their hot date night, Jaime and her husband Kyle Newman admired art by Swedish painter Hilma af Klint as well as the musical stylings of British songstress Jorja Smith For their hot date night, Jaime and her husband Kyle Newman admired art by Swedish painter Hilma af Klint as well as the musical stylings of British songstress Jorja Smith. King and her 42-year-old Fanboys filmmaker will impressively celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on November 23. The Transformers: Power of the Primes stunner and the Gnome Alone writer are the proud parents of five-year-old son James Knight and three-year-old son Leo Thames. 'Dior Guggenheim spin!' King and her 42-year-old Fanboys filmmaker will impressively celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on November 23 She's done this before: Jaime posed up against a white backdrop in her pretty knitwear Family: The Transformers: Power of the Primes stunner and the Gnome Alone writer are the proud parents of five-year-old son James and three-year-old son Leo (pictured October 22) 'Can't wait for you all to meet Rose!' On October 18, the Escape Plan 2 actress shared a BTS snap from the set of Netflix's eight-episode zombie drama Black Summer, in which she plays a mother searching for her daughter On October 18, the Escape Plan 2 actress - who boasts 1.5M social media followers -shared a BTS snap from the set of Netflix's eight-episode zombie drama Black Summer, in which she plays a mother searching for her daughter. Last Thursday, Winnie made her official debut on the coveted catwalk of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Holiday Special, which airs December 2 on ABC. 'I have two outfits and I'm really, really excited about that,' the former Wild 'N Out team captain gushed to W Magazine earlier this month. Bundled: Meanwhile, Winnie, 24, struck a pose in a pastel pink winter coat over a matching pleated mini-dress and silver chrome pumps Close-up: Winnie (born Chantelle Brown-Young) rocked a gold choker and hoop earrings and wore her long raven locks down and middle-parted for the museum soiree Here come the girls! Winnie and Jhene Aiko looked fabulously flawless as they cosied up for a snap PDA: Missing from Harlow's side was her boyfriend since July, 10-time Grammy-nominated rapper Wiz Khalifa (R), who has a five-year-old son Sebastian with ex-wife Amber Rose 'I can't believe that I got the honor of two outfits in my first show. I'm wearing some really fly stuff in my favorite color, which is pink.' How It Ends actress Kat Graham flashed her black bra beneath a sheer Dior gown selected by stylist Jennifer Mazur. Girls alum Zosia Mamet and The City alum Olivia Palermo both found fashionable ways to dress up their black blazers and white blouses. See through: How It Ends actress Kat Graham flashed her black bra beneath a sheer Dior gown selected by stylist Jennifer Mazur Twinning! Girls alum Zosia Mamet (L) and The City alum Olivia Palermo (R) both found fashionable ways to dress up their black blazers and white blouses Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley's 20-year-old daughter Selah donned a strapless, multi- patterned Dior dress fastened with a large black leather belt. Three-time Grammy-nominated R&B songstress Jhene Aiko flaunted her tattooed arms in a floral mini-dress, which she paired with a pink metallic Dior clutch and silver chrome pumps. Australian IMG Model Gemma Ward opted for a tie-dye style, belted playsuit with patterned slingback heels. 'It's Dior homme, not Dior homie!' Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley's 20-year-old daughter Selah donned a strapless, multi-patterned Dior dress fastened with a large black leather belt Australian's haven't been able to escape Ali Oetjen over the past two months with her face printed across billboards, buses, magazines and all kinds of media. And as her season of The Bachelorette comes to an end, following very heavy promotion from Channel 10, the show has barely impacted her online following. While Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins grew his Instagram audience by over 250,000 during his time fronting The Bachelor, Ali's run hasn't been so successful. Scroll down for video Does she influence you? The shocking number of Instagram followers Ali Oetjen has gained as The Bachelorette Since her first episode of The Bachelorette aired six weeks ago, Ali has gained approximately just 35,000 new followers - taking her to 135,000 ahead of the show's finale on Thursday night. Although this number may seem impressive to some, once put into perspective, it fails in comparison to most Australian reality stars from 2018. Despite simply being one of Nick Cummins' 25 suitresses on his recent season of The Bachelor, Brooke Blurton attracted a following of 166,000 during her time on TV. Cassandra Wood, another finalists from Nick's season, also grew a following of 163,000 in the past few months thanks to the Channel 10 dating show. A slow build! Since her first episode of The Bachelorette aired six weeks ago, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Ali has gained approximately just 35,000 new followers - taking her to 135,000 ahead of the show's finale on Thursday night The people's choice? Whereas Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins grew his following by over 250,000 during his time fronting the iconic dating show, Ali's run hasn't been so successful Insta famous! Despite simply being one of Nick Cummins' 25 suitresses on his recent season of The Bachelor, Brooke Blurton (left) attracted a following of 166,000 during her time on TV, with Cassandra Wood (right) also growing a similar sized audience Sarah Roza, who shot to fame on Married At First Sight earlier this year, also proved there is the possibility to grow a huge following, if you connect with the audience. Since appearing on the Nine show in February, Sarah has gained 300,000 new fans. Tayla Damir, the winner of Love Island Australia, has also attracted over 300,000 followers to her Instagram account. Making Tayla's number even more impressive is the fact that Love Island Australia only appeared on Nine's digital channel, meaning even less Aussie's tuned in. People love her! Married At First Sight's Sarah Roza proved there is the possibility to grow a huge following, if you connect with the audience, gaining over 300,000 fans this year She hung up her wings after retiring as a Victoria's Secret Angel following the brand's 2017 fashion show in Shanghai, China. But on Wednesday night, Alessandra Ambrosio was back modeling lingerie as she celebrated her new collection in collaboration with Lascana. The Brazilian beauty, 37, showed off one of her own designs - a black satin velvet corset - as she arrived at the bash in Hollywood. Designer model: Alessandra Ambrosio celebrated her new fall lingerie collection in collaboration with Lascana at a party in Hollywood on Wednesday night Alessandra flaunted her impressive curves in the low-cut corset which she paired with tight black leather trousers tucked into knee-high black boots. She added a tailored plush black jacket. The model left her long brunette locks loose and accessorized with stunning diamond earrings. Busty look: The Brazilian beauty, 37, showed off one of her own designs - a black satin velvet corset that showcased her ample cleavage Striking: Alessandra paired the low-cut corset with tight black leather trousers tucked into knee-high black boots. She added a tailored plush black jacket Former Angel: The model left her long brunette locks loose and accessorized with stunning diamond earrings Alessandra's fall collection with Lascana features a range of lacy bras and undies as well as one-pieces, teddys, thongs and crochet monokinis. As well as pursuing business ventures, she is enjoying spending more time with her family after 17 years as a Victoria's Secret Angel. Alessandra has two children - daughter Anja, 10, and son Noah, 6. Last month, she told People how much she's enjoying having more time to spend with them now she's retired as a VS Angel. 'We love going to the beach, hanging in Malibu and playing volleyball,' she explained. 'I like to entertain in my house. I have some nice Brazilian barbecues,' she added. 'Here in California, it is just so easy. We like going rollerblading and biking, all kind of things!' Kim Kardashian says she had to 'educate' her husband Kanye West after his meeting with Donald Trump. The 38-year-old reality star was one of the main speakers at Variety's Criminal Justice Reform Summit in West Hollywood on Wednesday where she divulged the information during a panel discussion. 'I feel like hes very misunderstood and the worst communicator,' she said of her husband's highly-talked about visit with the President at the White House last month. Getting real: Kim Kardashian says she had to 'educate' her husband Kanye West after his meeting with Donald Trump during a discussion at Variety's Criminal Justice Reform Summit in West Hollywood on Wednesday 'But, when we talk about it, we have very similar politics. Hes very not political, actually, he just happens to like Donald Trumps personality, but doesnt know about the politics,' she continued. 'So, Ive educated him recently. I think it gets really misconstrued. 'He will always say he was friendly with him before, and hes the same person and friendly with him now. 'I could also co-exist with someone and still have different political views,' she added. Misunderstood: 'I feel like hes very misunderstood and the worst communicator,' she said of her husband's highly-talked about visit with the President at the White House last month Kim K for reform: Kim Kardashian spoke at Variety's Criminal Justice Reform Summit in Los Angeles on Wednesday Kim, Alice and Van: Kardashian even posed with both Johnson, 63, and Jones, 50, months after her life sentence for a non-violent drug conviction was commuted by Trump Meanwhile, at the summit, Kim helped continue the conversation for criminal justice reform months after she helped Alice Marie Johnson get her life sentence commuted by President Trump. The Keeping Up With the Kardashian star was dressed in all black for her appearance, with a black top over a black jacket along with tight black pants and black boots. She was joined on the red carpet and on the panel by Jones, who was wearing a dark blue blazer over a light blue top. Johnson was all smiles, wearing a black floral print top and black pants, flanked by both Kardashian and Jones. Making a change: The Keeping Up With the Kardashian star was dressed in all black for her appearance, with a black top over a black jacket along with tight black pants and black boots Kardashian has joined forces with an organization called #cut50, which Jones co-founded, a bipartisan organization aimed at cutting the prison population in all 50 states. The organization has been working with White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner to put together a bill known as the First Step Act, which initially passed in the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate. The bill has since been reworked and has the support of over 50 celebrities including Kanye West, Alyssa Milano, Courteney Cox, Alicia Silverstone and more. Kim and Van: Kardashian has joined forces with an organization called #cut50 , which Jones co-founded, a bipartisan organization aimed at cutting the prison population in all 50 states 'I am proud to stand with this incredible group of artists, content creators, and athletes in urging Congress to pass the First Step Act,' said Van Jones, who also signed the letter. 'Who would have thought that a plan to give incarcerated people a better chance would unite people in both parties and at all levels of society?' Jones added. Others who have signed the letter include athletes like Baron Davis and businessman Mark Cuban, with the act poised to be endorsed by President Trump himself. First step towards reform: 'I am proud to stand with this incredible group of artists, content creators, and athletes in urging Congress to pass the First Step Act,' said Van Jones, who also signed the letter Aiming for change: 'Who would have thought that a plan to give incarcerated people a better chance would unite people in both parties and at all levels of society?' Jones added Other celebrities who attended the Variety summit include Allison Williams, who was seen in a grey plaid ensemble. Rocker Dave Navarro and Debra Tate, the sister of Sharon Tate, were also at the event, clad in all-black ensembles. The event was held in conjunction with Variety and Rolling Stone, at the Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood, California on Wednesday. On the red carpet: The event was held in conjunction with Variety and Rolling Stone, at the Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood, California on Wednesday Showing support: Other celebrities who attended the Variety summit include Allison Williams, who was seen in a grey plaid ensemble Both she and her sisters are known for their saucy style. Yet Kourtney Kardashian was uncharacteristically demure on Wednesday evening as she enjoyed a night out with Larsa Pippen at Matsuhisa restaurant. The 39-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star sported a rocky T-shirt with wide-leg trousers while she went for a natural beauty look while Larsa was wholly more saucy in a tiny mini and Fendi tights. Hitting the town: Kourtney Kardashian was uncharacteristically demure on Wednesday evening as she enjoyed a night out with Larsa Pippen at Matsuhisa restaurant While she was simply dressed in the Pink Floyd T-shirt she still managed to look sensational for the evening with her good friend. Adding an edgy touch, she sported snakeskin heels with wide-leg trousers while opting for a fresh-faced look. Her raven tresses were worn with a centre parting and given a glossy touch to add to the chic rock chick look. Larsa meanwhile was dressed to impress in her eye-popping black mini dress with the Fendi tights while her blonde locks flowed freely. Best friends: The 39-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star sported a rocky T-shirt with wide-leg trousers while she went for a natural beauty look while Larsa was wholly more saucy in a tiny mini and Fendi tights Rock on! While she was simply dressed in the Pink Floyd T-shirt she still managed to look sensational for the evening with her good friend Earlier in the day, Kourtney revealed that she was having her measurements taken for a figure of her likeness at Madame Tussauds. In a clip she posted to Instagram stories the mother-of-three is seen in her underwear as she is rotated on a wooden platform by one of the artists. Previously Kourtney's sisters Kim, Khloe, Kylie and Kendall have all had their waxworks made by the company which has locations all over the world. In another Instagram snap Kourtney was seen in the Tussauds offices checking out a box of glass eyes of different colors. Sleek: Her raven tresses were worn with a centre parting and given a glossy touch to add to the chic rock chick look Ssssexy: Adding an edgy touch, she sported snakeskin heels with wide-leg trousers while opting for a fresh-faced look With her for the meeting was pal Travis Barker's daughter Alabama, 13. Kourtney captioned it: 'I am getting measured for my was figure today.' Last week, the TV personality took to social media as she headed to the home of her sister Kendall amid the devastating wildfires ravaging California. 'I pray that everyone is kept safe and protected from these fires. No Calabasas tonight,' wrote Kourtney, who shared a shot of the rear area of her vehicle packed with belongings. She's been quite the busy bee as she continues to host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. And Zoe Ball appeared in high spirits as she joined her boyfriend Michael Reed on an evening stroll after filming the spin-off series at the Hospital Club in London on Wednesday. The BBC presenter, 47, nailed casual chic as she rocked a checked longline coat, tied in with ankle-grazing jeans. Loved-up: Zoe Ball appeared in high spirits as she joined her boyfriend Michael Reed on an evening stroll after filming Strictly's It Takes Two at the Hospital Club in London on Wednesday Maintaining her low-key appearance, the radio DJ finished her look with a white crew neck jumper and rugged trainers. Zoe looked radiant as she enhanced her stunning complexion with light strokes of neutral-toned make-up, and framed her face with loose curls. Meanwhile, Michael, 47, cut a suave figure in a navy jacket, denim jeans and patent boots. Effortlessly stylish: The BBC presenter, 47, nailed casual chic as she rocked a checked longline coat, tied in with ankle-grazing jeans The Radio 2 presenter went public with new love Michael, a construction boss, in December 2017 and has been happily loved up ever since. Meanwhile, the presenter was recently revealed as the first female host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in its 51-year history after bosses opted for her over Sara Cox. Zoe's 1million salary rise was agreed after several weeks of complex regulations, with bosses hoping to make savings on Chris Evans' 1.69million pay packet but fearful that slashing too heavily would raise equal pay questions, it is claimed. All in the details: Maintaining her low-key appearance, the radio DJ finished her look with a white crew neck jumper and rugged trainers The Strictly It Takes Two host's previous salary was officially disclosed as between 250,000 to 300,000 for her work on Radio 2 and presenting the Strictly spin-off. Zoe will take over from January when Evans returns to Virgin Radio but she won't get his giant salary. When asked about her pay, Zoe said: 'I'm definitely not expecting the same. I am very, very happy with what the BBC are paying me. If it comes out, and usually these things do, I hope people will look at it and think: "That's fair".' The Bachelorette bosses weren't just saving a few bucks by filming Ali Oetjen's season finale in Australia this year. As the 32-year-old jetted to the Northern Territory to choose her winner on Thursday's final episode, the blonde boarded budget airline Jetstar to get there. Despite Channel 10 shunning more luxurious airlines to transport their top talent, Ali stepped onto the aircraft with a smile after checking in at a self-service kiosk herself. Love on a budget: The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen sips champagne on a Jetstar flight to Northern Territory for finale... and she doesn't even get a tray table! Their was no hint of Ali's VIP status as she strolled through the airport. The blonde beauty blended in with fellow flyers while wheeling her stylish case along the terminal ahead of the domestic flight. Once comfortably sat in her seat, Ali then sipped champagne from a plastic glass as a member of the cabin flew served her a celebratory drink. Interestingly, it appeared that Ali may have received some preferential treatment, as she was served the drink prior to actually taking off into the air. Keeping it real! Despite Channel 10 shunning more luxurious airlines to transport their top talent, Ali stepped onto the aircraft with a smile after checking in at a self-service kiosk herself Just like us! The blonde beauty blended in to fellow flyers while wheeling her stylish case along the terminal ahead of the domestic flight Big decision to make! Once comfortably sat in her seat, Ali then sipped champagne from a plastic glass as a member of the cabin flew served her a celebratory drink Despite keeping it real with the budget airline, Ali appeared to have purchased a speedy boarding pass. A long-shot in the airport showed the beauty boarding alone, possibly before fellow passengers were called up to have their passes scanned by staff. The next clip then revealed Ali walking down the aisle of the empty aircraft. No tray table? Ali can't have it all it seems! Where's everyone else? Despite keeping it real with the budget airline, Ali appeared to have purchased a speedy boarding pass Meanwhile, the choice of location suggests that Network Ten and Warner Bros. Australia may have been on a tighter budget than previous years. Sophie Monk's finale was filmed at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, while Georgia Love's took place at the Sofitel So Singapore. Sam Frost's debut season was filmed a little closer to home, at the Solitaire Lodge in Rotorua, on New Zealand's North Island. It's perhaps lucky that this year's Bachelorette crew didn't venture too far from the production base in Sydney. The 2018 season has delivered some of the worst ratings in the franchise's history. Ariel Winter stepped out in Los Angeles on Wednesday, cutting a casual figure. The 20-year-old Modern Family star sported a black skull and crossbones tee as she headed to CVS for supplies in Studio City. The actress wore skinny black jeans and black boots and swept her raven tresses up away form her face. Out and about: Ariel Winter stepped out in Los Angeles on Wednesday, cutting a casual figure She kept her porcelain complexion make-up free and sported an oily black manicure. The solo outing comes after she recently met her boyfriend Levi Madden's parents, having dated him for quite some time. The couple unveiled their new family member - puppy Cleo - on Instagram last month. 'Last weekend we attended @americanhumanes @herodogawards,' she wrote. 'It was a very special night for us not only because we were invited (and I got to present an award to an amazing human-pet duo), but because we also adopted our new baby girl Cleo who was rescued from Louisiana.' Starlet: The 20-year-old Modern Family star sported a black skull and crossbones tee as she headed to CVS for supplies in Studio City Sleek: The actress wore skinny black jeans and black boots and swept her raven tresses up away form her face 'Were so in love with this tiny addition to our now family of 6!' she added. 'We are so honored to be able to support and help American Humane. October is #adoptadogmonth so please consider adopting from your local shelter as there are so many beautiful dogs waiting to love and be loved.' Besides rescuing dogs, Ariel recently opened up about what else the loved up couple like to do in the downtime. Fresh: She kept her porcelain complexion make-up free and sported an oily black manicure Puppy love: Meanwhile, Ariel and Levi unveiled their new family member - puppy Cleo - on Instagram last month The hard-working actress opened up about what she likes to do in her downtime during an interview with Composure Magazine out this month. 'Im such a grandma these days!,' she joked. 'My friends all call me squad mom. I probably call my dad, Glenn (coolest dad ever), at least once a day to see if he wants to come over for dinner or go to the bowling alley. 'Im a big fan of poker, so whenever I can I try to set up a game. Ive started cooking, so I love preparing dinner, and Im addicted to escape rooms.' The official trailer for Tim Burton's adaptation of Disney classic Dumbo was released on Thursday. And the clip revealed the first look at the live-action's recreation of the original's emotional storyline which sees the little elephant separated from his mother. The extended look at the new live-action opens at the Dreamland circus, as siblings Milly and Joe Farrier run to introduce themselves to the tiny animal. Moving: Dumbo official trailer, released on Thursday, revealed first look at the live-action's emotional storyline as the little elephant is ripped away from his mother Bringing circus mice with them so Dumbo has company, Milly (Nico Parker) says: 'Welcome baby Dumbo, were all family here no matter how small.' It then shows the moment the children discover he can fly, as he accidentally breathes in a feather and sneezes so violently that he launches into the air. Presenting the many attractions that the circus has to offer, Michael Keaton's V.A. Vandevere can be heard telling Danny DeVito's Max Medici: 'You have something very rare, you have wonder, you have mystique, you have magic.' Emotional: While the film is a loose adaptation of the 1941 animation, Dumbo is seen in clown make-up, apparently being ostracised from his fellow elephants as he was in the Disney classic Heartbreaking: The emotional scene sees Dumbo cry out sadly as the caravan carrying his mum is driven away from the circus Before he adds: 'Come with me, together we can soar off that elephants wings.' The trailer then recreates the heart-breaking moment the flying elephant is ripped away from his mother's side, as she is taken away in a cage. Milly begs her father Holt (Colin Farrell) for answers, as she implores: 'Whats happening, where are they taking her?' He tells them to take Dumbo back inside, but her brother Joe (Finley Hobbins) cuts in: 'But shes his mum, do something!' Sad: Milly begs her father Holt (Colin Farrell, pictured) for answers, as she implores: 'Whats happening, where are they taking her?' Up in the air: The trailer opens with the moment the children discover he can fly, as he accidentally breathes in a feather and sneezes so violently that he launches into the air The emotional scene sees Dumbo cry out sadly as the caravan carrying his mum is driven away from the circus. But Milly won't let things stand, as she promises the little elephant: 'Were going to bring your mum home.' The clip also dives into the dark and glimmering spectacular that is the world of Dreamland - the name of the film's circus setting. Incredible graphics showcase a magical show at the circus, where a bubble shaped as an elephant dazzles an audience. Wow! The clip also dives into the dark and glimmering spectacular that is the world of circus Dreamland, as incredible graphics showcase a magical bubble show We'll find her: Milly won't let things stand, as she promises the little elephant: 'Were going to bring your mum home' While the film is intended to be a loose adaptation of the 1941 animation, Dumbo is seen in clown make-up, apparently being ostracised from his fellow elephants as he was in the Disney classic. French trapeze artist Colette Marchant (Eva Green) is then seen telling Holt, 'Your children need you to believe in them.' The trailer soon descends into chaos, as the circus is seen engulfed in flames, while Holt rides in on a horse desperate to save someone. It then ends with the moment Dumbo steps out onto a platform with his trusty 'magic feather', before taking flight in the circus tent as Milly encourages him: 'You can do it Dumbo, show them. Fly dumbo, fly.' Intense: The trailer soon descends into chaos, as the circus is seen engulfed in flames, while Holt rides in on a horse desperate to save someone Joining forces: Michael Keaton's ruthless V.A. Vandevere can be heard telling Danny DeVito's Max Medici: 'Come with me, together we can soar off that elephants wings' Following on from re-makes of Cinderella, Maleficent, Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast, Disney's latest live-action offering is set to be released in March 2019. Tim Burton's frequent collaborator Danny Elfman is on board to do the soundtrack for the film. It is based upon a storyline written by Helen Aberson and is a full-length adaptation of Walt Disney's 1941 animated film of the same name written by Otto Englander, Joe Grant, and Dick Huemer. The International Economic Forum 'Caspian Dialogue 2018' was held at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. The event was organized by the International Energy Policy and Diplomacy Institute (MIEP MGIMO) and the Board of 'Science and Innovation of the Caspian Sea with the support of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Ministry of Economic Development, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and Russian Academy of Sciences. The main session of the event was devoted to the development of Caspian cooperation based on the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, which was signed in August 2018 in Kazakhstan's Aktau. The event was attended by representatives of international organizations, officials, scientists and businessmen from Russia and Caspian states. The rector of MGIMO Anatoly Torkunov said that "the development of the Caspian region is of exceptional importance not only for our countries, five Caspian countries, but also for the entire world community, since the region plays a huge role in the economic system. The Caspian is rich in oil, gas, fish; the region has unique perspectives in terms of expanding international cooperation, developing transport logistics, and as we well know, excellent opportunities in tourism and resort industries." Economic Advisor to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia Shoqi Mekhtizade Kamal oglu noted that Azerbaijan is one of the most active participants in all cooperation projects in the Caspian: "Our country always participates in various projects - political, economic and environmental. At one time, the Caspian Sea was one of the centers of global energy development. Baku oil, which accounted for almost 70-80% of world oil production, was produced in the Caspian. Today our country is the flagship of this whole process." Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation Nurzhan Kadzhiakbarov drew attention to the prospects for strengthening cooperation among the Caspian states: "We have already formed the contractual legal framework, which will be further developed, according to the interest of the five countries. Regular meetings are held in the Caspian, cultural exchanges take place here, media forums, youth gatherings. There is an agreement to develop business contacts, conduct Caspian economic forums. We agreed to hold the first one next year in Turkmenistan." The Special Representative of the Russian president for humanitarian and economic cooperation with the Caspian countries, former head of Dagestan Ramazan Abdulatipov stressed that after the Convention was signed, much work remains to be done for the Caspian states. "A whole complex of socio-economic, cultural and humanitarian issues of the development of Russia's Caspian Sea and cooperation with the Caspian states is overlooked. This can adversely affect the implementation of the convention. We need working groups in individual areas. I have already invited our Iranian colleges to participate in such a group. Since the Convention requires making about 100 amendments to the existing legislation, perhaps we also need an international working group and national working group." Head of the Russian-Azerbaijani parliamentary group, State Duma Deputy Dmitry Savelyev spoke about the significance of the forum: "We discuss the Caspian issues very often, we discuss everything related to economic, political, environmental issues of the Caspian Sea, as well as security issues. The Caspian issue is always on the agenda. Considering the finalization of all documents, much work remains to be done. Therefore, such forums should be held as often as possible." Todd King doubled over in pain during The Bachelorette finale on Thursday night when he was dumped by Ali Oetjen, after hinting he was about to propose. The 26-year-old broke down as he was brutally rejected by the 32-year-old before she chose Taite Radley as the winner of her heart. 'If you ever need me, I'll always be there,' Todd told Ali before bursting into tears. Scroll down for video 'If you ever need me, I'll always be there': Todd King breaks down in tears as Ali Oetjen dumps him during brutal Bachelorette finale While delivering the blow to Todd, Ali said: 'You have been my knight in shining armour. 'Every moment we've had together you have been exactly that. You have been one of the kindest people I've ever met and have always put my needs before your own. 'I feel like we would have such a perfect life together but something's missing for me. 'One thing I know about love is that it is not just ticking off a checklist. It is about following my heart. And it's led me to someone else.' 'One thing I know about love is that it is not just ticking off a checklist. It is about following my heart. And its led me to someone else,' Ali said as she delivered the shocking blow A heartbroken Todd then responded: 'This has been about you... and I'm so happy for you. You've found yourself a great guy' A heartbroken Todd then responded: 'This has been about you... and I'm so happy for you. You've found yourself a great guy. 'If you ever need me, I'll always be there. Give me one last cuddle.' The suitor then broke down in tears as he walked into the surrounding swampland in the Northern Territory, as Ali also became hysterical. 'It hurts more than I could ever describe,' Todd said to camera while choking up. 'I just wish that I could have given her that missing link. But someone else has and she has finally found happiness after so many times trying. She's found it.' The end: The suitor then broke down in tears as he walked into the surrounding swampland As Todd nervously anticipated meeting Ali to hear his fate, the 26-year-old hinted he may had been about to propose. He anxiously paced back and forth while holding a diamond ring. A close of up the sparkling piece of jewelry revealed it to look more of an engagement ring, than the commitment ring which Taite gave her. Not meant to be! As Todd nervously anticipated meeting Ali for her final decision, the 26-year-old hinted he may had been about to propose Hope he kept the receipt! He anxiously paced back and forth while holding a diamond ring Prior to his final encounter with Ali, the Perth based sales rep was hopeful. 'I love Ali more than I think she'll ever understand,' he admitted. 'I can see her as my life partner and the mother of my children. It all just fits, and I love the girl so much. I've never been so certain.' 'I can see her as my life partner and the mother of my children,' Prior to his final encounter with Ali, the Perth based sales rep was hopeful However, in the moments before the brutal dumping, Ali was feeling differently. 'Nothing could prepare me for this,' Ali told Osher Gunsberg before delivering the harsh blow to Todd. 'I don't... like thinking about it at all. They're both such amazing guys. 'I knew being the Bachelorette was going to be challenging but I never knew it was going to be this hard. 'I'm feeling their pain, I'm feeling my pain... I'm really freaking out.' He is an iconic rapper, television presenter and entrepreneur who has clocked up a quarter of a century in the music industry. And there are sure to be Gin and Juices all round as it was announced that Snoop Dogg is to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Drop It Like It's Hot hitmaker, 47, real name Calvin Broadus Jr, will be awarded his coveted star in a glittering ceremony which will be filmed for Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tha Doggfather: There are sure to be Gin and Juices all round as it was announced that Snoop Dogg is to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Coveted: The Drop It Like It's Hot hitmaker, 47, real name Calvin Broadus Jr, will be awarded his coveted star in a glittering ceremony which will be filmed for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, joining stars including Johnny Depp (above) The chat show presenter will dedicate the long-awaited space to The Next Episode rapper, in a ceremony which will be live streamed at WalkofFame.com at around 4.30pm GMT. Musical legends, music producer Quincy Jones and Snoop's frequent collaborator, and fellow West Coast hip-hop leader Dr Dre will also be in attendance at the ceremony. Ana Martinez, the producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, praised the charismatic superstar's achievements in the world of music, charity and cookery in an official statement. She said: 'Snoop Dogg is one of those people who can do anything. He raps, he acts, he hosts a television show, he cooks, and helps community kids with his philanthropic work. The Next Episode: Ana Martinez, the producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, praised the charismatic superstar's achievements in the world of music, charity and cookery in an official statement 'He is a man of the ages and we welcome him to our Hollywood Walk of Fame.' Snoop has released 16 studio albums since being discovered by Dr. Dre in 1992 and has sold over 23 million records in the United States and 35 million worldwide. Never one to shy away from a business endeavor, Snoop has also appeared in numerous films and television episodes, including Baby Boy, Scary Movie 5 and Starsky & Hutch He also gotten into director and producing pornographic movies, reality television and even went by the name of Snoop Lion after announcing his conversion to Rastafarianism following a trip to Jamaica in 2012. Snoop was recently honoured by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, with the star running businesses in the world of cannabis, fashion, food and merchandise. Gin and Juice anyone? She continued: 'Snoop Dogg is one of those people who can do anything. He raps, he acts, he hosts a television show, he cooks, and helps community kids with his philanthropic work' Iconic: Snoop has released 16 studio albums since being discovered by Dr. Dre in 1992 and has sold over 23 million records in the United States and 35 million worldwide (pictured in 2011) His debut album Doggystyle, released in 1993 on Death Row Records, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling almost one million copies in its first week. It was certified 4x platinum and spawned hit singles Gin and Juice and What's My Name. It has been recognised as one of the most significant Hip-Hop albums ever made. West Coast pioneers: His debut album Doggystyle, released in 1993 on Death Row Records, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling almost one million copies in its first week (pictured with Tupac Shakur) Multi-talented: The star has also turned his hand to acting, starring in films including 2004's Starsky & Hutch as Huggy Bear On the career front, Snoop is currently shooting the comedy film The Beach Bum alongside stars Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron and Isla Fisher. He also co-hosts the variety show Martha and Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party with Martha Stewart. For his latest project, the California rapper is marking the 25th anniversary of his debut album, Doggystyle, with a theatrical stage play based on his persona and music entitled Redemption of a Dogg. He stars alongside Tamar Braxton, Omar Gooding, Demetria McKinney Eric Benet, Latoya London and Lil JJ. The multi-tasking star is preparing to go on the Puff Puff Pass US Tour. Cooking up a treat: He has also released his first cookbook 'From Crook to Cook' He has also released his first cookbook 'From Crook to Cook'. 'Platinum recipes from the boss doggs kitchen... the first ever snoop cook book comin soon to @ChronicleBooks,' the 17-time Grammy nominated rapper shared on Instagram and Twitter. The cookbook will feature 50 of Snoop's favorite recipes that includes things like baked mac and cheese, chicken and waffles, soft flour tacos, easy orange chicken and baby back ribs. 'You know it's blazin' up in my kitchen,' he boasted in his official press release. 'I'm takin' the cookbook game higher with a dipped and whipped collection of my favorite recipes, ya dig?' In demand: The multi-tasking star is preparing to go on the P uff Puff Pass US Tour As well as his success in the industry, the star is also known for some rather charismatic behaviour. In 2013, he invited retired farmer Ian Neale, who had grown a record-breaking swede, backstage at his gig in Cardiff, in a bid to find out the secret behind the vegetable. And he currently holds a world record for the largest Paradise cocktail, which he set on May 27, 2018 at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival. Bella Hadid has donated $10,000 to her friend's GoFundMe page to help with recovery for Malibu's recent wildfires. The model, 22, took to Instagram to promote the Malibu Community Disaster Prevention & Relief Fund by The Point Dume Firefighters, days after revealing she's 'heartbroken' over the devastating blaze which started last Thursday. Catwalk queen Bella's generous act comes as a legion of celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus, provided the Californian community with aid in wake of the fires. Generous: Bella Hadid has donated $10,000 to her friend's GoFundMe page to help with recovery for Malibu's recent wildfires According to the group's page, the fund will go towards supplies for natural disasters, featuring fire hoses, pool pumps, generators, proper work attire and respirators. The fund has raised $32,374 of its $35,000 goal in just 24 hours with the help of Bella's generous donation. Bella, who grew up in Los Angeles, revealed she felt incredibly emotional over the wildfires, where thousands of homes were under threat and all of Malibu had been evacuated. The Camp Fire in Northern California is now the most destructive in state history, after wiping out the town of Paradise. Authorities suspect it may have been started by a malfunction in power lines. Tragic: The Camp Fire in Northern California is now the most destructive in state history, after wiping out the town of Paradise. Authorities suspect it may have been started by a malfunction in power lines (pictured on November 10) Support: The model, 22, took to Instagram to promote the Malibu Community Disaster Prevention & Relief Fund by The Point Dume Firefighters More than 300,000 people from across the state have been forced to flee their homes, as the fast moving flames from the three fires that all started on Thursday have raced to cover more than 200 square miles. Taking to Instagram, the brunette wrote: 'Cant believe this....it makes me so emotional looking at these photographs taken in the past two days. 'Our beautiful Malibu looks so sad today. malibu is such a connected, loving community with families that have lived there for 30+ years. Helping hand: The fund has raised $32,374 of its $35,000 goal in just 24 hours with the help of Bella's generous donation 'Heartbroken': Bella, who grew up in Los Angeles, revealed she felt incredibly emotional over the wildfires, where thousands of homes were under threat and all of Malibu had been evacuated on 'Many of them growing up together raising children together for so many decades making so many memories. I cant even imagine how you all are feeling back home having to evacuate. 'I'm so sorry that you have to watch this happen right in front of you- Im sure it is the most painful thing in the world. 'My heart is so broken I am so sorry to every single person that lost their homes, and I hope we can come up with something very soon to help', she added. Terror: More than 300,000 people from across the state have been forced to flee their homes, as the fast moving flames from the three fires that all started on Thursday have raced to cover more than 200 square miles Shortly after the fire, KUWTK star Kim, 38, and husband Kanye West, 41, paid for private firefighters to save their mansion and neighbors' homes from California wildfires, according to TMZ. The couple's private firefighting team dug a number of ditches to create a fire break and help stave off the blaze. Neighbors told the publication they were thankful the couple had funded the private team and brought in firefighters to save their homes. Aid: KUWTK star Kim Kardashian, 38, and husband Kanye West, 41, paid for private firefighters to save their mansion and neighbors' homes from California wildfires, according to TMZ Home: Kim and Kanye's mansion (pictured) sits at the end of a cul-de sac that borders a field. If their residence had been torched, it would have started a domino effect that could have leveled dozens of surrounding homes in the neighborhood On Tuesday, Telephone hitmaker Lady Gaga, 32, surprised a Red Cross evacuation shelter by arriving with pizza and coffee to help with people who had been evacuated from their homes. 'Today is my favorite day of the yearit's World Kindness Day. I encourage you all to do one act of kindness even if it's for yourself,' the A Star Is Born actress said on Instagram. Gaga was forced to evacuate her Malibu home on Friday when fires spread along the California coast. Miley, 25, and her fiance Liam Hemsworth, 28, donated $500,000 to restore 'Malibu's magic' after revealing all that's left of their destroyed home is 'love' sign. Caring: On Tuesday, Telephone hitmaker Lady Gaga, 32, surprised a Red Cross evacuation shelter by arriving with pizza and coffee Kind-hearted: The star visited volunteers and evacuees at a Red Cross shelter The couple gave money to The Malibu Foundation through Cyrus' charity, The Happy Hippie Foundation. 'Miley and Liam lost their home but are very grateful to be safe along with their animals! Their community and state are very special to them and they want to give back to the place that has created so many beautiful memories for themselves and others,' a representative for Cyrus said on Tuesday. The statewide death toll from wildfires over the past week in California has reached 50 - 48 who died in the Camp Fire which torched the town of Paradise, and two who died in the Woolsey fire which burned through Malibu. Open-hand: Miley Cyrus, 25, and her fiance Liam Hemsworth, 28, donated $500,000 to restore 'Malibu's magic' after revealing all that's left of their destroyed home is 'love' sign She has made a name for herself by flaunting her youthful figure at 53 in as many revealing outfits as possible on Instagram. And Liz Hurley failed to let modesty or decorum get in the way of her dress sense last night at the US ambassador's lavish Thanksgiving dinner. The actress wore a daring low-cut gown by Dsquared2 that stunned other guests - but seemed not to phase Trump's good friend ambassador Woody Johnson. Mr Johnson, who is the scion of America's richest families with an estimated net worth of $6.3 billion, beamed as he posed for a snap with Liz, one of many she posted on social media. The event to celebrate what is usually a wholesome and family-orientated festival, was held at Johnson's private residence in London and is where President Donald Trump and his wife Melania stayed during their visit in July. Beaming: The screen star appeared in high spirits as she posed with US Ambassador Woody Johnson at the glitzy event, treating fans to snaps from the party on Instagram Working it! Elizabeth Hurley lived up to her siren aesthetic as she left US Ambassador Woody Johnson's Thanksgiving dinner with a handsome pal in London on Wednesday night She also took a picture with Mr Johnson's wife Suzanne, who wore a sequinned gold gown and posed with her hand on Liz's stomach. 'Thanksgiving Dinner given by US Ambassador Woody Johnson and his gorgeous wife Suzanne at the heavenly Winfield House,' the actress penned alongside one of a series of snaps she posted on social media. Mr Johnson, a billionaire investor and owner of the New York Jets, was appointed ambassador by Trump last year. His family wealth comes from Johnson & Johnson company, which his ancestor Robert Wood Johnson founded in 1886. Shine bright: Elizabeth is pictured with Woody Johnson's wife, actress Suzanne Ircha, who seems unsure about where to put her hand But despite his wealth and status, all eyes at the dinner were sure to be on Liz's ensemble which she embellished with a feathered cape. The Royals actress enhanced her frame with a pair of black strappy heels, and added a pop of colour with a vibrant pink clutch bag. Exuding glamour on her night out, Elizabeth accessorised with diamond dangle earrings. In good company: The model, 53, was joined by a handsome male pal, who put on a suave display in a crisp black suit, complete with a white shirt and ribbon tie Va-va-voom! Liz commanded attention as she took the plunge in a deeply low-cut gown by Dsquared2, which accentuated her enviable physique Wow-factor! Upping the style ante, her ensemble was embellished with a feathered cape to ensure all eyes were on her The Austin Powers star turned heads with her youthful-looking appearance, which worked well with her heavy smoky eye look and pink lipgloss. Meanwhile, Liz's pal put on a suave display in a crisp black suit, complete with a white shirt and ribbon tie. The occasion was held at the Winfield House, and given the plenty photos Elizabeth uploaded to her social media account, it would seem that the bombshell had a rather splendid time. The British beauty recently enjoyed a relaxing vacation in the Maldives, where she stayed at the five-star Milaidhoo resort, and, of course, a series of photos were bound to follow. In one snap, she looked jaw-dropping as she slipped into a baby blue and white paisley print bikini from her Elizabeth Hurley Beach collection while beaming into the lens. The actress wore her light brunette locks in loose waves and accentuated her stunning features with natural make-up. She's got it! The British beauty recently enjoyed a relaxing vacation in the Maldives, where she stayed at the five-star Milaidhoo resort, and, of course, a series of photos were bound to follow Liz has previously confessed that while she doesn't go to the gym, she thinks it is 'important to stay active'. Speaking to E! News in 2016, Elizabeth said: 'I like women to feel very confident in how they look and to accept that every size can be beautiful. 'But I still think it's important to be in shape. It doesn't matter really what size you are, but I think it's important to stay sort of firm and to do a reasonable amount of walking and exercise. I don't go to the gym, but I'm quite active.' Kim Kardashian has revealed she's a 'different person' since she was robbed at gunpoint in Paris. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was left petrified when burglars broke into her apartment, tied her up and stole $10million of jewellery in October 2016. But the 38-year-old has explained that she's finally learning to be 'okay' with the horrifying experience because she has 'learned so much from it'. Ordeal: Kim Kardashian has revealed she's a 'different person' since she was robbed at gunpoint in Paris Speaking at Variety and Rolling Stone's criminal justice reform summit on Wednesday, she said: 'I just felt like taking myself out of being a victim. I don't ever really have a victim mentality. 'I've always tried to really genuinely learn. And I feel like the way I was living my lifestyle, not that anyone should go through that, but I learned so much from it, and I'm OK with my experience, and I do believe that it was meant to happen to me because I'm a different person because of it.' Kim added: 'When you become a mom, you change anyway, but I think when your life is at stake over material items, it's just ... all of that stuff goes out the door. Horror: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was left petrified when burglars broke into her apartment, tied her up and stole $10million of jewellery in October 2016 (pictured out with sister Kourtney just hours before it happened) Learning curve: But the 38-year-old has explained that she's finally learning to be 'okay' with the horrifying experience. Pictured, inside the complex where Kim was robbed 'Like, none of it matters. Just my priorities completely changed, and what is important to me changed. I'm a better mom because of it. The things I'll teach my kids are different.' The reality star was robbed by five armed men wearing ski masks and clothes with police markings in the ordeal. At around 3am, the robbers entered the building after the concierge let them in. Handcuffed and at gunpoint, the concierge led them to the starlet's flat. Kim reportedly 'begged for her life' and told the gunmen she had children at home when two of them entered her room and held the gun to her head. Staying strong: She said: 'I just felt like taking myself out of being a victim. I don't ever really have a victim mentality' Moving on: Kim added: 'I learned so much from it, and I'm OK with my experience, and I do believe that it was meant to happen to me because I'm a different person because of it' (pictured, police outside the Paris flat after the robbery) In a statement given the morning after the attack, Kim recalled how the masked thugs had first grabbed her. She said: 'I was in a bathrobe, naked underneath. We went back to the bedroom and they pushed me onto the bed.' She previously admitted she was 'deeply' changed by the 'horrific' Paris robbery. Gone forever: Two Cartier diamond bracelets, a diamond necklace with her son Saint's (pictured right) name engraved on it, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace and Loraine Schwarz diamond earrings were among those taken from Kim HOW THE PARIS ARMED RAID PLAYED OUT Five men dressed as police officers enter the building after the concierge let them in. The concierge is handcuffed at gunpoint, he then leads the men to the starlet's flat. The men enter Kim's room and threaten her with a gun to her head. They tie her up and lock her in the bathroom as she begs for her life. The robbers steal $11 million worth of jewellery including a jewellery box and a ring, before fleeing. Kanye West cancels his set at the Meadow Music and Art Festival, New York, as he hears about the raid. Kim's sisters Kourtney and Kendall Jenner stop partying at Arc nightclub in Paris and rush to the apartment after hearing of the heist. Pictures show Kim's bodyguard out with Kourtney at the time, not back at the apartment with Kim. The actress' family are placed under police protection at the George V palace after the incident. Advertisement 'My life has definitely changed a lot in the last two years. For a good year, I almost lost myself,' she said during an appearance on The Alec Baldwin Show. 'I was never depressed, but I wasn't motivated to get up and work like I used to. It shook me. There was a lot of me that measured who I was by how much I had. I thought, "Oh, I'm worth so much." That needed to change in me.' Two Cartier diamond bracelets, a diamond necklace with her son Saint's name engraved on it, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace and Loraine Schwarz diamond earrings were among those taken from Kim. There were 17 people arrested in connection to the armed robbery and ten have been charged so far. Speaking about the harrowing incident, Kim admitted she believed she was going to be raped and killed by the thieves. She also revealed the ordeal had made her less materialistic, as she confessed on Ellen: 'I was definitely materialistic before, not that there's anything bad with having things and working hard to get those things. I'm really proud of everyone around me that's successful. 'But I'm so happy that my kids get this me, that this is who I am raising my kids. I just don't care about that stuff anymore. I really don't.' She will portray the lead role in the forthcoming movie remake of Daphne du Mauriers gothic novel Rebecca. And Lily James looked worlds away from 1930s fashion as she wrapped up warm and stepped out in New York on Wednesday evening. The actress, 29, went make-up free for the outing in downtown Manhattan, sporting a oversized leather aviator-style jacket and a cosy Burberry scarf. Laid-back: Lily James wrapped up in frayed jeans and a leather aviator-style jacket as she ran errands in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday evening The Mamma Mia star opted for frayed jeans and wore studded black boots to perfect her biker chick look. Lily swept her brunette locks out of her face and accessorised with hoop earrings and plenty of statement rings. The British beauty clutched her phone in her hand as she waited for a cab. The actress was without her boyfriend, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies co-star Matt Smith, 36, who she has been dating since 2014. Keeping it casual: The actress, 29, teamed her low-key ensemble with a cosy Burberry scarf and patent leather studded boots, while going make-up free for the occasion Last week, the couple were spotted out on the town in London as they attended the Teenage Cancer Trust auction event at Annabel's private members' club. Despite going from strength-to-strength over the last four years, the actress previously admitted she has found it difficult to find the perfect work/life balance and will consider slowing down in the future to focus on their relationship. In an interview with Marie Claire magazine earlier this year, Lily explained: 'Id like a few months where I go travelling and just switch off. When youre an actor, its like, "Youve got to keep the momentum up". And Im like, "No!" 'You have to trust that things wont go away if you stop for a bit. I havent really stopped, and I dont think thats a feasible way to work. For me, eventually, thats not the lifestyle I want. Couple goals: The Mamma Mia star was without her boyfriend, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies co-star Matt Smith, 36, who she has been dating since 2014 (pictured in September) 'That's not only with regards to my relationship with Matt, but with my friends and family. There's so much you miss. Thats why I know I cant keep working at this intensity. I finish a job; Matt starts one.' Despite being a hit in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again this summer, Lily confessed she almost didn't audition to star in the sequel, because it clashed with her going to Glastonbury Festival with Matt. She told NET-A-PORTER's digital magazine PorterEdit: 'So it was a real argument! 'We went straight to Glastonbury and I think I got the part that weekend but my agents knew not to call me because I wouldn't have been reachable.' Jonathan Cheban had lunch with a pretty brunette friend on Wednesday. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star - who has also been on Celebrity Big Brother and The Spin Crowd - was eating al fresco in Beverly Hills. But the best friend of Kim Kardashian may have given the young lady pause as he dug in to a large plate of pasta. Date time: Jonathan Cheban had lunch with a pretty brunette friend on Wednesday; there seemed to be others at the table as well Outdoors: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star - who has also been on Celebrity Big Brother and The Spin Crowd - was eating al fresco in Beverly Hills The funny man was making a scene with the Italian dish as he put a large forkful in his mouth. But the FoodGod was merely trying to make his friend laugh. This comes after he was seen with his mother Galina. Silly: But the best friend of Kim Kardashian may have given the young lady pause as he dug in to a large plate of pasta. On Monday evening he was seen taking his mom to Craig's in West Hollywood for a little pasta and wine. This comes the night after the New Jersey native was seen taking Kim, khloe and Kourtney Kardashian out for dinner at Henry's in LA. They have continued to stay out of their mansions during a mandatory evacuation due to the intense California wildfires. Dine out: Jonathan Cheban sure knows how to treat his mother right. On Monday evening the FoodGod was seen taking his mom to Craig's in West Hollywood for a little pasta and wine Jonathan looked sporty in his usual black shirt with black jeans and sneakers. He added with a chain around his neck that said FOODGOD. His mother was all dressed up for the big night out in a Louis Vuitton scarf and skinny jeans with heels. Craig's is one of the most popular eateries in LA, attracting Kendall Jenner, Kris Jenner, George Clooney and Lady Gaga. The two were also seen in Beverly Hills for some shopping. Scary: This comes the night after the New Jersey native was seen taking Kim, khloe and Kourtney Kardashian out for dinner at Henry's in LA as they continue to stay out of their mansions during a mandatory evacuation due to the intense California wildfires Her look is different: Here Kim was seen in a hoodie, leggings and pointy points Jonathan has been in Los Angeles to shoot scenes for Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The fires and how the family had to evacuate their homes in Calabasas and Hidden Hills will be a part of an upcoming episode. Kris has urged fans to donate to the first responders and fire fighters and others who were a part of keeping the blaze from reaching communities. Lifestyle of the rich and famous: Cheban also shared a video taken inside the Beverly WIlshire hotel in Beverly Hills on Tuesday To eat? He showed how he was presented with three pumpkins on a table. He smashed open the pumpkins in his hallway YUMMY: Inside were chocolate treats. And it seemed that the actual pumpkins were made of chocolate too as he started eating a bit of the shell Cheban also shared a video taken inside the Beverly WIlshire hotel in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. He showed how he was presented with three pumpkins on a table. He smashed open the pumpkins in his hallway. Inside were chocolate treats. And it seemed that the actual pumpkins were made of chocolate too as he started eating a bit of the shell. Cheban seemed thrilled by the entire experience, 'This is freaking AWESOMENESS!!!!! Thank you @beverlywilshire TAG someone who would LOVE this!!!!' She appears to effortlessly juggle her parenting duties to her two young sons and her jam-packed Hollywood acting schedule. But Rosamund Pike explained it hasn't been without its difficulties as she was left without any pain medication when she went into labour early with her second son. On the Town & Country cover with a glamorous shoot, the Oscar-nominated actress candidly discussed how she had no time to get to the clinic for pain relief. 'There was no time': Rosamund Pike discussed harrowing moment she was left without pain medication during her second son's early birth as she graced the stylish magazine cover She told the publication: 'There was no time for pain medication, no time to get to the clinic, so I just let my body take over. 'I thought, if I can let my mind go somewhere else, my body will do the job.' While she is one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, Rosamund insisted bystanders see her as a 'regular' mum. She told the publication: 'People might recognise me, but I think they just see me as a mother trying to handle small kids on the subway.' Chatting candidly: On the Town & Country cover with a glamorous shoot, the Oscar-nominated actress discussed how she had no time to get to the clinic for pain relief The Gone Girl star gave birth to her first son Solo, aged six, in 2012, and she welcomed her second son Atom, now three, into the world in 2014. Rosamund has been romancing her long-term love Robie Uniacke since they first started dating in 2009. As well as discussing motherhood, the former Bond girl chatted about why she wanted to play a part in her latest movie A Private War. Rosamund transforms into the fearless and rebellious war correspondent Marie Colvin who is driven to the frontline across the globe. Doting: The Gone Girl star gave birth to her first son Solo, aged six, in 2012, and she welcomed her second son Atom, now three, into the world in 2014 She told the publication: 'I wanted to capture her spirit of rebellion. But I also had to dive into Curies bitterness. I want people to care about journalism again.' Rosamund previously said she researched the role heavily, spending time with Colvin's close friends and watching videos of her. The talented star discussed struggling to detach herself from playing Colvin, 52, who was killed during a rocket strike in Syria in 2012. In an interview with The Sunday Times magazine, Rosamund said of her latest starring role: 'I have taken responsibility for this one. I care very much about it, about the whole thing.' Kylie Jenner is crazy rich for a 21-year-old woman - this year she is hitting the $1B mark in earnings thanks to Kylie Cosmetics. But the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is still trying to create a very 'normal' environment for her daughter Stormi Webster, aged nine months, whom she had with rapper Travis Scott. 'They are really good, normal parents,' a source told UsWeekly. Just regular folks: Kylie Jenner is crazy rich for a 21-year-old woman - this year she is hitting the $1B mark in earnings thanks to Kylie Cosmetics. But the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is still trying to create a very 'normal' environment for her daughter Stormi Webster More to sell: The Calabasas, California native has been plugging her new holiday makeup line 'Even though they have flashy lives themselves, they are trying to bring Stormi up to be as normal as possible.' The couple also don't want her to be an only child. They are 'actively trying for another,' an insider told Us in October. Her sisters Kim and Kourtney already have three kids each and her mother Kris Jenner had six kids total, so have bigger families runs in the family. Just like the Brady Bunch: 'They are really good, normal parents,' a source told UsWeekly This comes after Kylie posed in white with brown ski goggles on in a snowy setting on Tuesday; her lips looked fuller in those images as well. 'My 3rd annual HOLIDAY COLLECTION is around the corner.. thank you for the love and continuous support i feel so blessed #November19th stay tuned on my stories for the reveal!' wrote the California native. The Life Of Kylie star seemed to be made up with bronze and beige tones with her long white blonde hair flowing down her chest in mermaid waves. Basics: 'Even though they have flashy lives themselves, they are trying to bring Stormi up to be as normal as possible' There will be another: The couple also don't want her to be an only child and are actively trying for baby 2 Her very long nails were also painted a light beige matching her makeup. The snowy setting looked fake as if she was in a decorated photo studio in LA. Hours earlier Jenner was seen in a leopard print outfit as she lay on a pillow. She said she didn't want to take her makeup off. And before that she had on a leopard print top with a silver skirt while outside her home. The youngest of the Kardashian/Jenner clan revealed in her post's caption that she was 'almost ready for my dark hair'. Fans liked the look: 'I love your dark hair!' said one fan while another added, 'Yes, dark is so much better on you.' She found love with her new beau Sam Mucklow in The Only Way Is Essex finale. Yet Lauren Pope headed out on her own when she attended The Business Show 2018 at the Excel centre, in London on Thursday. The TOWIE star, 36, shunned her trademark scanty dresses for a power suit when she dressed to impress at the business event. Way to go: TOWIE's Lauren Pope power dressed in a fuchsia trouser suit as she braved the cold in summery sandals for business event in London on Thursday Lauren looked stunning in a fuchsia trouser two-piece and she let her hair tumble down her frame in soft waves. The blonde bombshell showed her fashion credentials when she paired her suit with a plunging nude vest top and bag in a matching shade. Despite the icy temperatures freezing the capital, The Only Way Is Essex star shunned seasonal footwear when she opted for summer sandals. Suited and booted: Lauren looked stunning in her bold trouser two-piece and she let her hair tumble down her frame in soft waves Lauren found her happily ever after with Sam at the end of the latest TOWIE series. Chemistry had been flourishing between the duo after Sam turned his attentions to Laura following a brief flirtation with Pete Wick's ex Shelby Tribble. Shortly after their romantic dinner date at the open kitchen restaurant, Lauren dishes all the juicy details to her girl friends. The couple rub shoulders again later at the TOWIE party where they discuss their blossoming romance and they share another kiss. She's so stylish: The blonde bombshell showed her fashion credentials when she paired her suit with a plunging nude vest top and bag in a matching shade The Sam and Lauren romance came about when Georgia Kousoulou set about matchmaking the duo during a trip to the spa. Sam and Lauren end up hitting it off in the sauna, before she admits to her pal Chloe Sims that she isn't totally adverse to getting to know Sam. After being properly introduced by a tactful Georgia, the pair enjoy another conversation during a Bonfire Night party. Classy lady! The TOWIE star, 26, shunned her trademark scanty dresses for a power suit when she dressed to impress at the business event The cosy encounter may come as a shock to viewers after Sam decided to make a move on Shelby following his sister Billi's triumphant return to the show and suggested that he think about finding someone to settle down with. Visiting him with her children, Sam confessed: 'I need some sister guidance, there's been a bit of pressure in the last couple of weeks now that Shelby has become single. 'We're good mates and we're going to do something this weekend. I'm flirty, I like to flirt with girls,' he added. The legendary Sochi TV presenter, who had spent more than 50 years working for television, Honored Artist of Russia Alla Zhuravleva shared her memories of Muslim Magomayev and her impressions of Baku and Sochi with Vestnik Kavkaza. - You've been in the field since you were 18. In one interview you said that working on television in those years was equivalent to travelling into space. How did you manage to get into TV? - It just happened. I got into the university and once heard on the radio that they needed a trainee radio broadcaster in Sochi. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved poetry and won a lot of competitions; I was very attracted by this whole thing. Therefore, I rushed to the announcer competition and won it, that's how I made it on the radio. I worked there for half a year, before the opening of the Sochi television. Then a management team, which hired people, came to us from Moscow. I also got a job offer. So I started to work as a radio and television announcer at the same time. - Sochi remains the centre of gravity for the stars. You interviewed many of them, including Muslim Magomayev. Could you tell us about of your first meeting? - In 1967, Magomayev arrived in Sochi for the first time with the Baku Opera and Ballet Theater, where he sang for a short period of time. He had a recital in Sochi. I wanted to be there, but I had to interview the astronauts in the Chemitokvadzhe sanatorium that day. I stayed there all day and was late for Magomayev's concert. I run there through the director's loge, all shaggy and tired, wearing everyday clothes. I see Muslim Magomayev and the Ministry of Culture's representatives standing in front of me, they grab me and say: "You must moderate the concert!". I tell them I can't go on stage like this. But Magomayev said: "You look great." I get on stage and see an overcrowded hall. It was impossible to get to Magomayev's concert, a complete sold out. In the first part, Magomayev sang operatic arias, and I had to be near the piano and turn the notes. After the first part, a representative of the Ministry of Culture approached me and said: "Everything is fine, but no one can hear you." It turned out that the microphone was turned off, because Magomayev performed classics without a microphone. In the second part, he sang pop songs and they turned on the microphone. As a result, the concert went well, and Magomayev asked me to moderate his second Sochi concert the next day at the Summer Theater. We met in the afternoon, put together a program, it was very comfortable and wonderful. But it was not without adventures as well. Before the concert, an elderly fan approached Magomayev backstage with the words: "Muslim, I beg you. I had tickets, but I lost them. Help me to get to your concert!" He replies: "Wait here during the first part, my administrator will come to you during intermission and show you a place." During the intermission, Magomayev returned backstage with an armful of flowers, and this elderly fan, going to the hall, tells him: "Muslim, could you give me a few flowers, as a souvenir from you?" He gives her an armful of carnations, and she leaves. At the beginning of the second part, I go out and declare: "Music by Muradeli, lyrics by Sobolev, the 'Buchenwald alarm'." Suddenly I see this lady with flowers approaching the stage, pushing young female fans away to hand these flowers to Magomayev. Big noise raised up. Magomaev starts singing: "People of the world, stand still for a minute! .." On this phrase, he interrupts the song and says: "Listen, what's happening? We're not in the circus!" ... This nutjob was taken away, of course, but it brought Muslim down. The second part of the concert was messed up. After the concert, it was impossible to leave the Summer Theater's territory. The car was moved to one exit, then another. Fans simply tore Magomayev apart. It was something incredible, even dangerous. Even in the afternoon, when we were preparing the concert program, some girls climbed through the pipes, looked in the windows, the devil knows what was happening. On the one hand, it's was indecent, on the other hand, yes, such fans are ready for anything. In short, all my memories of Magomayev are related to completely stressful situations. - Then Magomayev left Sochi? - He stayed there for a couple of days. I remember we saw off his uncle at the station. We go along the platform and see two women walking towards us. One of them tells the other one: "Look, it's Alla Zhuravleva!". Muslim was even a little offended: "Well, they dont even notice Muslim Magomayev." But they could not believe that Muslim Magomayev could just walk along the platform like that! The next time he arrived in Sochi only in the early 2000s. ITAR-TASS held the Congress of Russian press there, and Muslim Magomayev was among the honored guests. That's when I finally get an in-depth interview with him. But he was very sad, was impressed by the Nagorno-Karabakh situation. I asked him: "Do you often visit Armenia?" He replies: "I dont. They dont allow me to visit it. It shouldnt be that way in the civilized world. This is my friend, the fact that he is Armenian, and Im Azerbaijani has never bothered us. Normal, civilized people shouldnt be in such a situation, we dont even think about it." He was really upset. - What kind of a person was Magomayev? - An unthinkably generous and kind person. I remember a woman stopped him: "Muslim, sorry, I came from Leningrad, I have no money for the return trip. Could you give me some?" He immediately pulled out the money and gave it away. Whatever he was asked, he was ready to give the shirt off his back. He loved companies, friends, he could not be alone, he liked to treat everyone. He was a very kind and open person. I remember we sat on the beach in bad weather. A woman was there, picking up something. Muslim was looking at her very carefully for a long time and suddenly said: "She reminds me my grandmother! How I loved my grandmother! Lord, how I mocked at her! Forgive me, Grandmother." That's who he was. - From a professional point of view, how it was like to interview him? Was he an open person? - Absolutely. It was easy to work with him. Not everyone can be like that. He was a very free person, people felt very comfortable with him. - Have you been to Muslim Magomayev's homeland - Baku? - I've been there several times at that wonderful time when we were all friends, and our studio visited the Soviet republics with its programs. They visit us, and we visit them. Baku left a very pleasant impression. It was a good time and a good practice. We made acquaintances, exchanged programs, understand each other better. I remember that Baku citizens loved to treat people and show their city. Baku left a very pleasant impression, especially in the evening - a glowing, sparkling city. It was very beautiful, with friendly people. - You were offered a job in Moscow, but you stayed in Sochi. Why? - I did, but still worked a lot in Moscow. I was often invited to various programs, I was the only presenter of the 'News Relay' (Estafeta Novostei) - mostly it was hosted by the commentators. I hosted 'Good Night, Little Ones!' (Spokoynoy nochi, malyshi!), took part in 'Goluboy ogonyok' programs, interviewed actors in Moscow. I worked at the Shabolovskaya telecentre. There was a studio at the Television Theater on Zhuravlev Square, from which it was possible to do programs. But I fell in love with a man moved to Sochi, and decided to stay there. - Sochi has changed a lot since then? - I always think and speak about my city with warmth. After the Olympics, it hosts many festivals, contests, symposia. There, you are always in the whirlpool of events, watching a kaleidoscope of guests. I think the city lacks quality service, although it is fixable. The hit-or-miss architecture is embarrassing. An architectural vinaigrette was made up of new buildings. In terms of style, a lot of things do not match and seem redundant. There is no need to repeat Manhattan or Chicago here. Sochi should be more comfortable. In this regard, I like London, English resorts - everything is so low-rise and comfortable there. It's very magnetic. They built up the first coastline in Sochi in violation of the law, the skyscrapers blocked the breath of the sea and its smell. They are beautiful, they shine, but guests sometimes ask: "Do you have a sea in the city?" Her husband Joe has been ordered to be deported and sent back to his native Italy. And Teresa Giudice believes that silence is golden. The 46-year-old reality star is actively staying quiet about the tough situation according to her Real Housewives Of New Jersey castmate Dolores Catania. Staying mum: Teresa Giudice is actively staying quiet about her husband Joe's upcoming deportation back to native Italy (they are pictured together September 2013) 'Talking about it brings light to it': Real Housewives Of New Jersey castmate Dolores Catania - pictured in July - opened up to Us Weekly about the situation on Thursday Catania, 46, claims that Teresa is making an active choice to not say anything about her 46-year-old husband's situation as she told Us Weekly on Thursday: 'Talking about it brings light to it. 'Before we knew that there was light to it, you just didnt address it, you got through it, you piled through it. You didnt dwell on it. You didnt talk about it. Does that make sense? Its an old school way.' Despite Teresa keeping mum on the matter, Dolores feels like she can comment as she explained: 'Teresa and I were raised the same way so I can speak for her on this.' 'I can speak for her on this': Teresa has starred on all nine seasons of RHONJ, Dolores has been on the main cast for the last three but has been guest starring since the first season, they are pictured together back in June Teresa has starred on all nine seasons of RHONJ, Dolores has been on the main cast for the last three but has been guest starring since the first season. This comes after news that Joe is fighting the deportation order sending him back to his native Italy. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice confirmed, 'records show that its appellate component, the Board of Immigration Appeals, received an appeal today, Nov. 9, 2018, pertaining to Giuseppe Giudices Oct. 10, 2018, removal order.' The appeal came on the last possible day before the deadline, according to Radar Online. Jailed: It was recently reported that Joe is fighting the deportation order sending him back to his native Italy. Seen at Newark federal court in 2013 Immigration Judge John Ellington handed down the deportation order, after he determined that his crimes were considered an 'aggravated felony. In 2014 Teresa and Joe pleaded guilty to 41 counts of fraud. There were also unpaid taxes that totaled $200,000. Teresa served 11 months in 2015, with Joe currently serving 41 months. His sentence is up next year, and if this deportation order stands, he will be sent back to Italy. 'I get no joy in telling a family this news,' Judge Ellington said at the hearing last month. 'Mr. Giudice, no matter how this turns out, I wish you the best. I decided this case as a matter of law.' Staying together: A spokesperson for the Department of Justice confirmed, 'records show that its appellate component, the Board of Immigration Appeals, received an appeal today, Nov. 9, 2018, pertaining to Giuseppe Giudices Oct. 10, 2018, removal order' Bad news: Last month an immigration court ruled that Joe should be deported to his native Italy after his prison sentence. While Joe was born in the country, he moved to America with his parents as a young child, and does not speak Italian. Here she is seen on November 6 Teresa appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday, stating her husband Joe's looming deportation is 'very sad.' The Real Housewives Of New Jersey star explained that while Joe was trying to 'stay positive', their four daughters were finding it very tough. 'It's heartbreaking,' she said, adding that their daughters 'are really upset.' 'Adults can handle anything. It's hard for children to go through this. They're asking themselves "Why is this happening to me? I want my daddy to come home."' Giudice says her husband's looming deportation is 'very sad' and 'heartbreaking' for their 4 daughters Last month an immigration court ruled that Joe, real name Giuseppe, should be deported to his native Italy after his prison sentence. Teresa explained that despite both his Italian parents becoming U.S. citizens, they never applied on behalf of their son, who was just a baby when they immigrated. 'I guess that is something you would have to ask his parents,' she said, as to their reasoning. 'His dad became an American citizen before he was 18 and then his mom did it after he was 18 and I don't know why they never made him an American citizen.' Not a citizen: Teresa explained that despite both Joe's Italian parents becoming U.S. citizens, they never applied on behalf of their son, who was just a baby when they immigrated Asked if she was angry with Joe, for not applying for citizenship himself, she said of her husband of nearly 20 years: 'He and I never thought I'd be in this position.' However Teresa admitted that their relationship was at times 'up and down.' But, she said: 'I have to stay strong. I have four beautiful daughters and they need their mommy.' The good ole days: Here Teresa and Joe are seen with their kids on RHONJ She shares Gia, 17, Gabriella, 14, Milania, 13, and Audriana, nine, with Joe. Asked how she and Joe broke the news of Joe's prison sentence to their girls, Teresa explained that they at first told them age appropriate explanations. Saying that her first three girls were 'old enough now' to understand, she said of Audrina: 'The baby, we keep saying that he's at work, but I'm sure she hears, and when he calls it says "Calling from a Federal prison" so I'm sure she hears that.' Luckily, Teresa has Gia, 17, to help her explain things to the younger girls. 'I tell [Gia] every day she's like the rock of her sisters and she's helping me explain things to them. My third daughter Milania, she's having a really hard time with this.' The couple plan to appeal the deportation, however if they fail, Teresa says they will be: 'Just taking it one day at a time, that's it.' When asked why she remains on reality TV, Teresa explained: 'This is how I make a living, I have four daughters to raise. I'm doing it all by myself. If I don't work, how are they going to live.' She added that her own father was currently unwell, saying: 'I just want to say my dad's in the hospital and I know he's watching me. Papa, I love you.' Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson has slammed rumors that their relationship is in trouble. The actor gave a statement to Access Hollywood on Thursday that directly addressed said rumors. 'Just to be clear, Hayden's friends and family are not worried about her at all. Hayden is happy and healthy and so is our relationship,' he told the outlet. Shutting it down: Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson slammed rumors that their relationship is in trouble (pictured August 2018) He concluded with: 'That is all I will comment on so please respect my privacy. Have a great day.' The trouble began when Us Weekly ran a story which said Hayden's friends and family had their doubts about her relationship with Brian. The 29-year-old actress' friends and family are worried the relationship 'is not a healthy situation,' reported the outlet. Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson have been dating since August. Bad news: This information comes on the heels of a publicized altercation between Hickerson and his father that left Panettiere 'frantic' back in October This information comes on the heels of a publicized altercation between Hickerson and his father that left Panettiere 'frantic.' On October 25, police responded to an assault and battery call at the Hickerson residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Hayden answered the door in a 'drunk and frantic state,' according to a police report obtained by TMZ at the time. The responding officer saw what appeared to be Brian chasing his father David through the house with a Gatorade bottle. Hickerson was then handcuffed in an attempt to deescalate the situation. Panettiere reportedly told the police that she and Brian's father had been drinking before the altercation. According to the documents, David had visible injuries on his face, severe bruising and bleeding, which he said were because he had just fallen. TMZ's sources say Hayden denies having been drunk. Thank you, next: Two weeks ago, Radar reported that the Nashville star's family 'does not approve' of Hickerson. 'They are hoping that this is something that she is going to evolve from,' a source told the media outlet Two weeks ago, Radar reported that the Nashville star's family 'does not approve' of Hickerson. 'They are hoping that this is something that she is going to evolve from,' a source told the media outlet. Hayden is mom to daughter Kaya, age three, whom she shares with ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko. Kanye West collaborated with an unexpected artist on Wednesday. Ye took to Twitter to share an action shot from a recent sing-a-long with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. And, their song choice was as random as the pairing, the rapper and the tech mogul opted for a 1999 Top 40 hit from one of the most popular boy bands. I Want It That Ye: Kanye West shared an image from a recent duet with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg singing a Backstreet Boys hit on Wednesday night 'We sang Backstreet Boys I want it that way,' the 41-year-old rapper said in a tweet. The Yeezus rapper only posted a photo along with the tweet and didn't include any video of their epic duet. In a slightly grainy shot, it looked like Kanye and the 34-year-old billionaire were having fun as they belted out the lyrics into two microphones. The pair were joined by a handful of others in what appeared to be a studio. Backstreet's back: The moguls opted to belt out the 1999 Top 40 hit I Want It That Way The fans of Kim Kardashian's husband went berzerk on Twitter cracking jokes and demanding footage of the song. 'I WANT IT THAT YE,' one user wrote. Another fan suggested that West and Zuckerberg's cover was 'gonna be a bonus track on the album.' Kanye's upcoming record, Yandhi, had been teased by the rapper for a few months but, the Chicago native keeps pushing the date back. Unclear: Yeezy didn't elaborate on what else he was doing with the 34-year-old tech giant In September, his reality star wife took to social media to tell fans that the Yandhi album would be out on Black Friday and was 'worth the wait.' But, just this week Ye disappointed fans again by announcing that the release is delayed indefinitely. 'It felt so good being on the stage last night with my brother Cudi,' Yeezy wrote on social media Monday. 'After performing again, I realize the new album Ive been working on isnt ready yet. Ill announce the release date once its done.' He added: 'Thank you for understanding.' Patiently waiting: On Monday Kanye announced that he is delaying the release of his latest album, again Now, the image with Facebook's head honcho did look like it was taken inside of a studio, so that could indicate that the artist is moving forward with Yandhi. As delighted as many seemed with the BSB cover, some fans struggled to reconcile the jovial photo in light of the designers recent bizarre behavior. 'Don't you dare try to be likable right now,' on fan admonished. Adding: 'I'm not healed!' 'Don't you dare try to be likable right now:' Some fans weren't quick to jump on the band wagon with the fun photo after Kanye's recent political antics West's recent support of Donald Trump, which included a trip to the Oval Office and a stint on SNL in a Make America Great Again hat, drew ire from fans and even friends of the star. He also made several controversial comments about slavery and the 13th Amendment. At the time of the election, Kanye said he was suffering from being bipolar but later walked that back and claimed he was misdiagnosed. Amy Schumer has been hospitalized while struggling with severe morning sickness. The pregnant comedian, who is in her second trimester, posted a photo from her hospital bed while informing fans that she has been forced to cancel her Texas gig. The 37-year-old and husband Chris Fischer are expecting their first child together. She told fans she feels 'very lucky to be pregnant', but added: 'This is some bullsh*t!' Amy had previously revealed she been having a 'really tough pregnancy' had been 'puking every day'. She is not alone in struggling with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (severe morning sickness) - Duchess Kate also suffered the condition during her three pregnancies. Struggling: Amy Schumer revealed she has been hospitalized with severe morning sickness during her second trimester of pregnancy on Thursday Amy told her fans: 'Texas I am so deeply sorry. I have been really looking forward to these shows. I have to reschedule. I am in the hospital. I'm fine. Baby's fine but everyone who says the 2nd trimester is better is not telling the full story. 'I've been even more ill this trimester. I have hyperemesis (sic) and it blows. Very lucky to be pregnant but this is some bullsh*t! 'Sending so much love to the doctors and nurses taking great care of me and Tati! They are cool as hell! And Texas I am really really sorry and I'll be out there as soon as I'm better.' On Wednesday, the comedienne attended a Times Up event with the organization's CEO Lisa Borders, Cindi Leive, Opal Ayo Tometi and others. Amy thanked the women in an Instagram post, as well as 'my body for not puking most nights from 7-10!' Hanging in there: In an Instagram post taken at a Times Up event on Wednesday, Amy thanked 'my body for not puking most nights from 7-10!' Parents-to-be: The 37-year-old and husband Chris Fischer are expecting their first child together. The couple are seen here in June 2018 Ultrasound: She told fans she feels 'very lucky to be pregnant', but added: 'This is some bullsh*t!' Already a troublemaker: Amy had previously revealed she been having a 'really tough pregnancy' had been 'puking every day' Speaking at her comedy show in Las Vegas earlier this month, she shared: 'I don't like it. I've had a really tough pregnancy so far.' However, that didn't stop the star from cracking jokes about expecting a new member of the family. She quipped: 'You know who it's not fun to be pregnant at the same time as? Meghan Markle! She's walking around in heels and cradling her baby that's not even there, and I'm barely wearing underwear.' Amy announced her pregnancy last month. Bumping along nicely: Amy showed off her bump while speaking at a recent event She may no longer be in the running for the Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball trophy. But that didn't appear to dampen Katya Jones' spirits as she arrived in Blackpool on Thursday with a slew of the BBC series' dancers and celebrity contestants. The professional dancer, 29, put on an animated display as she chose to don an 'I love Blackpool' jumper and ripped black jeans while heading into her hotel. Beaming: Katya Jones appeared in great spirits as she arrived in Blackpool on Thursday with a slew of the BBC series' dancers and celebrity contestants Katya ensured all eyes were on her as she hammed it up for photographers on her arrival to the much-loved seaside town, considered the 'Mecca of Ballroom'. Every year, Strictly hosts a special live show from the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, with the show's celebrity contestants all eager to make it to that memorable stage of the competition. While Katya won't be competing, as she and her celebrity dance partner Seann Walsh were eliminated from Strictly in week six, she will be appearing in the group dances the professionals perform. Good sport: The professional dancer, 29, put on an animated display as she chose to don an 'I love Blackpool' jumper and ripped black jeans while heading into her hotel Close behind: She was joined by her husband and fellow Strictly professional Neil Jones Excited to be in Blackpool, the star wore a statement sweatshirt with the slogan 'I [heart] Blackpool' printed across it - pairing her hooded jumper with dark jeans that boasted several rips down the front of each leg. She threw a pillar-box red jacket atop her ensemble and sported patent lace-up boots and a black beret on her head. Katya left her brunette tresses down to fall past her shoulders in cascading curls and she completed her outfit choice with a complementing, yet bold, red lip. She was joined in Blackpool by her husband Neil Jones, who also performs on the show. He hasn't starred with a celebrity this series, but is a regular in the group dances and acts as a choreographer. Stand-out: Katya ensured all eyes were on her as she hammed it up for photographers on her arrival to the much-loved seaside town, considered the 'Mecca of Ballroom' Beauty: Katya left her brunette tresses down to fall past her shoulders in cascading curls and she completed her outfit choice with a complementing, yet bold, red lip Edgy: The star paired her hooded jumper with dark jeans that boasted several rips down the front of each leg Neil stood out in a mustard yellow tailored coat, that had the colour spelled out across the back, fitted jeans and a pair of tan Chelsea boots. His marriage to Katya has come under scrutiny in recent months, after pictures surfaced of Katya kissing comedian Seann after a boozy outing to the pub. While Seann was publicly dumped by ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries - she ended their five-year romance on seeing pictures of the steamy smooch - Katya has insisted her marriage to Neil is 'absolutely fine'. She apologised for the 'hurt' she caused by her actions, but stressed her priority is her husband and they are moving forward from their scandal. Neil never addressed the kiss publicly. All eyes on her: Katya has found herself at the centre of controversy after kissing her celebrity partner Seann Walsh following a night at the pub Colourful display: She threw a pillar-box red jacket atop her ensemble and sported patent lace-up boots and a black beret on her head Excited: Katya won't be competing on the show, as she and Seann were eliminated from Strictly in week six, but she will be appearing in the group dances Katya and Seann will be reunited for Strictly Come Dancing's finale, set to air on 15 December - much to the dismay of her husband Neil, according to reports. A source told The Sun: 'Neil will be gutted as when Seann was voted off the show, he was glad to see the back of him. 'Since he went, the atmosphere backstage has improved and Neil has been visibly happier. Things are back on track in his marriage - so hell be gutted when Seann is back on set.' MainOnline has contacted representatives for Seann, Katya and Neil for further comment. Dapper: Neil stood out in a mustard yellow tailored coat, that had the colour spelled out across the back, fitted jeans and a pair of tan Chelsea boots Back together again: Katya and Seann will be reunited for Strictly Come Dancing's finale, set to air on 15 December - much to the dismay of her husband Neil, according to reports Reports claimed that in the wake of Seann's exit from Strictly, Neil allegedly likened Seann to a 'scab' and said he was 'delighted' his wife and the comedian were kicked off Strictly after the pair were caught kissing. According to paper, Neil has reportedly been telling his friends he can 'finally move on' from the cheating scandal as Seann has left the show meaning the atmosphere is 'great again'. Meanwhile, Katya and Neil were joined by a slew of their fellow Strictly stars as they flocked to Blackpool. Content: Katya and Neil were joined by a slew of their fellow Strictly stars as they flocked to Blackpool, including former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts Lovely: Ashley flashed a smile on her arrival, as she cut a casually chic figure while wheeling her suitcase into their hotel Casually clad: She sported a pair of form-fitting gym leggings and a knitted roll-neck jumper - choosing to cover up from the cold in an olive green parker jacket Ashley Roberts flashed a smile on her arrival, as she cut a casually chic figure while wheeling her suitcase into their hotel. She sported a pair of form-fitting gym leggings and a knitted roll-neck jumper - choosing to cover up from the cold in an olive green parker jacket that boasted a number of fun motifs. Ashley - who has been topping the leaderboard with her outstanding footwork - wore her blonde locks loosely pinned back from her face and appeared to go make-up free for the journey up North. She appeared solo in Blackpool and without dance partner Pasha Kovalev. Ashley was joined by Stacey Dooley, who covered up in a stylish wrap-over black winter coat and was seen clutching onto her dance shoes, and her partner Kevin Clifton. Good company: Ashley was joined by Stacey Dooley, who covered up in a stylish wrap-over black winter coat and was seen clutching onto her dance shoes, and her partner Kevin Clifton Eager: Giovanni Pernice couldn't hide his excitement to be in Blackpool as he jumped for joy Amy Dowden appeared in good spirits as she joined her co-stars in Blackpool, following her exit from Strictly Come Dancing. She narrowly missed out on dancing in Blackpool with her partner Danny John Jules, as the duo were sent home following a dance off with Graeme Swann. Earlier this week, Amy was seen breaking down in tears on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, hosted by Zoe Ball. She appeared on the show on her own and without Danny, as he reportedly 'refused' to take part in the interview. Amy teared up over a montage of her and Danny's Strictly performances and insisted she is 'so proud' of Danny - choosing to ignore claims suggesting he had behaved in a 'bullying' manner with her during his time in the competition. Sources claimed to The Sun that Danny 'refused' to take part in It Takes Two, after launching into a 'furious tirade' about the Strictly judges on his exit. Getting involved: Strictly professional Graziano Di Prima arrived at the hotel in a grey knitted jumper and matching beanie hat Happy: Amy Dowden appeared in good spirits as she joined her co-stars in Blackpool, following her recent exit from Strictly Come Dancing Earlier this week, Amy was seen breaking down in tears on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, hosted by Zoe Ball - where she appeared without partner Danny John Jules He is claimed to have declared 'I should have won' and even called the judges 'imbeciles', with a source telling the publication: 'Danny lashed out at the judges calling them imbeciles and told friends and family he would have won the show. 'He was wandering around the after-party mumbling to himself and anyone who would listen.' MailOnline contacted BBC and Danny's representative for comment. Prior to his exit, Danny was hit with claims he had been demonstrating 'bullying' behaviour towards his partner. It was alleged the actor left Welsh dancer Amy in tears after he 'repeatedly shouted and swore' in their training session last week, prompting BBC bosses to issue him with a 'final warning'. Amy was quick to dismiss the claims - stating in an interview with OK! magazine the pair had a 'minor disagreement' that was resolved. Strictly Come Dancing: Live from Blackpool Tower airs Saturday on BBC One at 6.45pm Love Island's Laura Crane has revealed that she was visited in hospital by her ex-boyfriend Jack Fowler as she battled sepsis. Speaking to Lizzie Cundy and Stephen Leng at FUBAR Radio, the 23-year-old said her former flame was 'amazing' throughout the whole ordeal, and they have stayed friends despite the split. It comes after Laura was finally released from hospital after 10 days battling sepsis, and recently revealed 'feared for her life' throughout the horrific ordeal. Supportive: Love Island's Laura Crane has revealed that she was visited in hospital by her ex-boyfriend Jack Fowler as she battled sepsis Speaking about her battle with the infection known as 'the silent killer,' Laura explained: 'When I was in hospital people would be like, 'oh you don't even look ill, you look fine!', and I'm like, you guys don't know what I usually look like! 'I don't usually look like this I swear. I was getting upset that people thought that's what I look like!' She also revealed that her ex Jack was a pillar of support, even coming to visit her in hospital. Supportive: Speaking on FUBAR Radio the 23-year-old said her ex Jack was 'amazing' as she fought for her life in hospital, and they have stayed friends despite the split 'He was amazing. He came and visited me while I was in there and he was amazing through the whole thing,' she said. 'Because I had just moved to London so he was making sure I was good. 'We remained really good friends the whole way after, we never had any bad blood. We're always there for each other.' Tough time: Laura spoke candidly about her diagnosis with sepsis that left her fighting for her life, just a week after being sent home from hospital Lavish: She joined Lizzie Cundy and Stephen Leng who regularly host the radio show Pretty: Despite her recent battles, Laura was the picture of health as she arrived for the interview, looking stylish in a pink slogan jumper and jeans It comes after Laura confessed she 'couldn't stop crying' and 'feared for her life' as she was rushed to hospital with a sepsis diagnosis during an interview with The Sun. She said: 'It was pretty scary because I kept going and down, my infection levels kept sky rocketing and then coming down a little bit, and then going back up again. 'I mentally really struggled because I didn't realise how ill I was and I didn't understand why I was in there with people that in my eyes were so ill. I think I was scared, I had never been in hospital before, I have never properly been ill before 'There were times when I was crying, it was crazy emotions. There is a bunch of different things going on in your head and you are trying to centre it all. I was lucky I had the people around me that I did or it could have been a lot worse.' Candid: It comes after Laura confessed she 'couldn't stop crying' and 'feared for her life' as she was rushed to hospital with a sepsis diagnosis during an interview with The Sun WHAT IS SEPSIS? Sepsis, known as the silent killer, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs. It is the leading cause of avoidable death, killing at least 44,000 a year, and the Daily Mail has long campaigned for more awareness. If caught early, the infection can be controlled by antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive - ultimately leading to death within a matter of minutes. But the early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose. Sepsis has similar symptoms to flu, gastroenteritis and a chest infection. These include: S lurred speech or confusion lurred speech or confusion E xtreme shivering or muscle pain xtreme shivering or muscle pain P assing no urine in a day assing no urine in a day S evere breathlessness evere breathlessness I t feels like you are dying t feels like you are dying S kin mottled or discoloured Symptoms in children are: Fast breathing Fits or convulsions Mottled, bluish or pale skin Rashes that do not fade when pressed Lethargy Feeling abnormally cold Advertisement Laura went onto explain that after the infection was treated with antibiotics, she was finally allowed to go home after 10 days in hospital, and said she now hopes to raise awareness by working with the UK Sepsis Trust. She also said her ex-boyfriend Jack Fowler was a welcome support throughout the ordeal, constantly checking in during her hospital stint. Laura had written on social media last week that her time battling sepsis was 'the worst week of her life,' as she revealed she had finally been sent home. Horrific: Laura also took to Instagram to post a series of snaps after she told fans last week that she was finally being sent home from hospital after ten days battling sepsis Hard time: The star told The Sun she struggled mentally with the rollercoaster of emotions that came after she was rushed to hospital to battle the illness Posting a snap of with a drip still in her arm, Laura wrote: 'DAY 10 in hospital and your girl has FINALLY been sent home, honestly it has been the worst week of my life .. when I fell ill last Tuesday with a temperature never did I think it was about to be a week as scary as it has been. 'Being someone that never really gets ill, I never thought that something like this would happen to me, however, it has taught me how important it is to listen to your body because it can so quickly turn fatal if you don't look for the vital signs. The professional surfer continued: 'It's going to be a slow recovery, but I am so grateful to have had the people I had around me this week that spent countless hours in my hospital room wiping my tears and making sure I didn't run away when I was told I had to stay day after day. 'I will be forever grateful to the doctors and nurses that looked after me you are the true angels, the hours that you work and the jobs that you do are incredibly difficult and should get more recognition for what you do because you're literally life savers THANKYOU. 'I have learnt so much this week In so many ways I'll be back stronger than ever.' Her representative also told MailOnline a week earlier: 'Laura is still in hospital, they are testing her daily and until she is rid of the infection she is unable to leave. 'It's tough on her when she is so physically fit, so is very much looking forward to getting back to normality.' Jordan Barrett has come out swinging after an Australian journalist described his close friend Emily Ratajkowski as 'rude' and 'difficult'. Earlier this week, the two models attended GQ's Men of the Year Awards in Sydney and were approached by rather precious celebrity reporter. The journalist later criticised Emily in a lengthy Instagram post, describing her as one of his worst ever interviews. However, Jordan has disputed this version of events, insisting that Emily behaved in a 'respectful' manner while being bombarded by the press pack. 'She was NOT rude': Jordan Barrett (pictured) has hit back at a journalist who called his friend Emily Ratajkowski the 'most difficult' celebrity he'd ever met Jordan told Daily Mail Australia on Friday he was surprised by the reporter's allegations because they did not reflect what actually happened. He clarified that Emily was 'super respectful' to the media, despite 'being pulled at by three different people in different directions'. 'She was just following what everyone was telling her to do. She was not rude. She's a gem who works hard and is genuine,' Jordan added. Unprofessional? Earlier this week, the two models attended GQ Australia's Men of the Year Awards in Sydney and were interviewed by rather precious celebrity reporter. The journalist later criticised Emily (pictured), describing her as one of his worst ever interviews Recalling his interview with the Blurred Lines model, the journalist claimed on Thursday: 'I'm asked daily who the worst, rudest or most difficult celebrity is that I've met or interviewed. Today I can categorically say Emily Ratajkowski is that person. He continued: 'It is such a shame that [Emily] behind the scenes is a completely different person to the incredibly well spoken woman who accepted an award last night with such beautiful and eloquent words.' The American model is yet to comment on the claims. Dignified silence: The American model (pictured) is yet to comment on the claims Speaking to Mamamia afterwards, the journalist doubled down on his allegations. He complained: 'You know, we get these big names out here and we have all these rules about what we can and can't ask, and I'm sick of it. It's not journalism. 'She was late so I thought she'd start by apologising, but she just acknowledged me in a really rude way.' They looked like best of friends of Wednesday night. But Diego Luna and Michael Pena make deadly enemies in the latest trailer for Narcos: Mexico. The two actors joined the cast of the new Netflix companion series to the hit drug drama, for a special screening in Los Angeles. Frenemies: Diego Luna and Michael Pena united at Narcos: Mexico premiere on Wednesday night In the mostly Spanish-language teaser, Diego is introduced as drug boss Felix Gallardo, who is looking to adapt his marijuana empire to the new demand of cocaine. 'An opportunity was born for our organizations,' he says. 'I have a plan. We're looking for a partnership.' When his potential partner scoffs at the offer, Luna immediately guns him down in cold blood. The clip then introduces Pena's DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who receives an ominous welcome to Mexico from a superior. Drug war: Diego plays drug boss Felix Gallardo, while Pena plays DEA agent Kiki Camarena 'Welcome to Guadalajara,' he tells him. You've seen the desert, time to meet the snakes.' Felix, 'the Rockefeller of marijuana', tells his incredulous wife about expanding the empire into Colombia. 'Business is changing and we must change with it,' he tells her when she asks if he is crazy. To the apt tune of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's White Lines, the intertitle reads: 'Born into chaos, united by greed, addicted to power - the birth of mexico's dug war. Squad: The two actors joined the cast of the new Netflix companion series to the hit drug drama, for a special screening in Los Angeles The violent trailer concludes with Felix repeatedly smashing a man's skull outside an elevator. 'If someone has a problem with this... they know where to find me,' he states. Narcos: Mexico streams on Netflix from November 16. She recently appeared to reveal her true feelings when it comes to starting a family with her husband Mark Wright. And Michelle Keegan seemed to have ditched her wedding ring as she attended British Airways' celebration party after raising 20 million for Comic Relief held at the Science Museum, London, on Thursday night. The Our Girl actress', 31, left hand was bare as she made a bold fashion statement in a brightly coloured striped jumper dress. Where is it?: Michelle Keegan seemed to have ditched her wedding ring as she attended British Airways ' celebration party after raising 20 million for Comic Relief held at the Science Museum, London, on Thursday night MailOnline has contacted Michelle's representative for comment. This isn't the first time the soap star has ditched her wedding ring and in the past a close source told MailOnline that she leaves it at home when she's filming. They said: 'I don't know if you've seen the size of that ring but she does not want to lose that thing. She generally leaves it at home when she's filming.' Michelle has currently been busy filming scenes for her new drama, Brassic, which could explain her missing wedding ring. No sign: The Our Girl actress', 31, left hand was bare as she made a bold fashion statement in a brightly coloured striped jumper dress Husband: This isn't the first time the soap star has ditched her wedding ring and in the past a close source told MailOnline that she leaves it at home when she's filming (Michelle pictured with husband Mark) At the event, the actress accessorised her look with a pair of white ankle sock-style heel boots and a collection of gold earrings. She styled her signature glossy brunette locks into a blow-dried hairdo, swept to one side, she added a full face of glamorous make-up. Also joining Michelle at the event were the likes of Una Healy and Shane Richie. Busy bee: Michelle has currently been busy filming scenes for her new drama, Brassic, which could explain her missing wedding ring Star-studded: Also joining Michelle at the event were the likes of Una Healy and Shane Richie Una looked effortlessly glamorous as she showed off her slender figure in a sparkly and beaded black lace dress. She completed her look with metallic bronze heels and a matching coloured clutch bag. The Saturdays star, 37, styled her newly dyed blonde locks into a glossy and sleek blow-dried hairdo with a slick of party-ready make-up. Meanwhile, Shane, whose EastEnders character Alfie Moon returned to Albert Square on Thursday night, looked dapper in an all-black ensemble of jeans, a shirt and a suit jacket. Blonde bombshell: Una looked effortlessly glamorous as she showed off her slender figure in a sparkly and beaded black lace dress He's back!: Meanwhile, Shane, whose EastEnders character Alfie Moon returned to Albert Square on Thursday night, looked dapper in an all-black ensemble The event was quite the star-studded turnout with the likes of Gary Lineker, Russell Kane and Vernon Kay also attending. Michelle's appearance comes after she appeared to reveal her true feelings when it comes to starting a family with her husband Mark Wright. The actress, 31, made the confession while asking fans whether they would be watching any horror films for Halloween - with a friend of Michelle's teasing the star with baby bottle emojis as they said: 'Iv got a horror film for you (sic).' Important event: Gary Lineker was also in attendance and wore a black suit with a matching coloured tie Big turnout: The event was quite the star-studded turnout with the likes of Vernon Kay and Russell Kane also attending Michelle was quick to reply to the tweet and agreed with her friend, as she shared a slew of crying laughing emojis in response and tweeted: 'You ain't wrong.' The Our Girl star's hints that she could have fears over having a baby come after Michelle revealed she is hoping to have 'four' kids with husband Mark. In an interview with Women's Health last year, Michelle said that while falling pregnant is currently off of her radar as she is 'too busy' with work, she is hoping to start a family in the 'near future'. Michelle - who was recently seen raising awareness for cervical cancer as she vlogged her smear test - explained: 'We've not planned anything and realistically nothing can happen right now because I'm too busy, but I've always been broody. Telling? Michelle hinted she is scared of having babies, as she told her friend they 'weren't wrong' as they claimed a baby would be a 'horror film' for Michelle on Twitter She is known for her powerful strut down the runways across the globe. And Kendall Jenner didn't disappoint on the style front as she made her way to the Chaos SixtyNine Issue 2 launch party hosted by Charlotte Stockdale and Katie Lyall in The Baptist Bar L'Oscar London on Thursday night. The American model, 23, commanded attention in a bright orange thigh-skimming dress which put focus on her envy-inducing long legs. Orange she pretty? Kendall Jenner, 23, attended the Chaos SixtyNine Issue 2 launch party hosted by Charlotte Stockdale and Katie Lyall in The Baptist Bar L'Oscar London on Thursday All eyes were on Kendall as she made her way to the London hotspot in the bold number which perfectly flattered her frame. The orange dress boasted structured shoulders before going on to put focus on her tiny stomach. The number fell at a dangerously short length, which showcased her famous legs to perfection. Bold beauty: The American model commanded attention in a bright orange thigh-skimming dress which put focus on her envy-inducing long legs Commanding attention: All eyes were on Kendall as she made her way to the London hotspot in the bold number which perfectly flattered her frame Beautiful: The orange dress boasted structured shoulders before going on to put focus on her tiny stomach Wow: The number fell at a dangerously short length, which showcased her famous legs to perfection Kendall boosted her modelesque height in a pair of towering perspex heels which provided her with maximum comfort as she glided along in the darkness. Living up to her beauty icon reputation, Kendall enhanced her doll-like features with a glamorous slick of make-up, which focused on a contoured base and lashings of mascara. Kendall's shoulder-length brunette locks were glossed to perfection with two clips holding them in position. She accessorized with Le Vian diamond hoop earrings. What a babe! Kendall boosted her modelesque height in a pair of towering perspex heels which provided her with maximum comfort as she glided along in the darkness Gorgeous: Living up to her beauty icon reputation, Kendall enhanced her doll-like features with a glamorous slick of make-up, which focused on a contoured base and mascara Mane attraction: Kendall's shoulder-length brunette locks were glossed to perfection with two clips holding them in position Cover girl: Kendall, who is on the cover of Chaos SixtyNine's Issue 2, continued to pose up a storm inside the bash Joyful: The bombshell looked happy and relaxed as she took a break from her modelling commitments to enjoy a night out on the town The bombshell looked happy and relaxed as she took a break from her modelling commitments to enjoy a night out on the town. Meanwhile, Daisy Lowe was also at the bash and put on a sensational style display in a navy satin ensemble which she teamed with a slew of necklaces. The beauty continued to rock her newly dyed blonde shoulder length locks as she mingled at the event. Rising model Lottie Moss showed off her slender figure in a sexy black satin slip dress with matched her dark locks. In attendance: Daisy Lowe was also at the bash and put on a sensational style display in a navy satin ensemble which she teamed with a slew of necklaces Stunners: The beauty continued to rock her newly dyed blonde shoulder length locks as she mingled at the event - with Caroline Winberg Rising model: Lottie Moss showed off her slender figure in a sexy black satin slip dress with matched her dark locks Nice touches: Lottie opted for only a simple slick of make-up and accessorised with gold hoops Zara Martin put on a super cool display in a colourful Fendi ensemble which she teamed with leopard print heels. Supermodel Jodie Kidd made for a casual display in a khaki co-ord atop a sparkly silver top. It proved to be a busy day for Kendall who attended the Adidas Originals by Olivia Oblanc event in London hours earlier. Trendsetter: Zara Martin put on a super cool display in a colourful Fendi ensemble which she teamed with leopard print heels Supermodel: Jodie Kidd made for a casual display in a khaki co-ord atop a sparkly silver top Hectic: It proved to be a busy day for Kendall who attended the Adidas Originals by Olivia Oblanc event in London hours earlier Incredible: The half-sister of Kim Kardashian couldn't resist flashing her impossibly flat stomach in a bright orange crop top, which boasted long black sleeves and a white collar The half-sister of Kim Kardashian couldn't resist flashing her impossibly flat stomach in a bright orange crop top, which boasted long black sleeves and a white collar. Completing the sports chic inspired look was a pair of black bottoms which had white panelling run down them. Kendall swapped out her glamorous heels for a pair of super cool black trainers as she posed with fellow models. Eyes on her: Completing the sports chic inspired look was a pair of black bottoms which had white panelling run down them Squad: Kendall swapped out her glamorous heels for a pair of super cool black trainers as she posed with fellow models Fashionista: She is known for her powerful strut down the runways across the globe Turkeys foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for an international investigation into the killing of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi. "An international investigation is absolutely essential. We will do whatever it takes to bring the murder to light," Anadolu agency cited the minister as saying. Other Turkish officials said separately that the government was weighing requests for an investigation by the human rights commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as for an independent inquiry under the secretary general of the United Nations. Khashoggi, a Virginia resident who wrote columns for The Washington Post, was killed on October 2 by a team of Saudi agents inside the consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials have shared an audio recording of the killing with American and other Western intelligence agencies. The Turks have said that evidence shows the team of agents moved quickly and methodically to kill Khashoggi and then dismember his body in a premeditated assassination ordered from Riyadh, the New York Times reported. Many current and former Western government officials have said they are convinced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the 33-year-old de facto ruler of the kingdom, authorized the killing of Khashoggi. Saudi officials have said the crown prince had no involvement in or knowledge of the operation. Curmudgeonly John Humphrys, 75, has thrown his hat into the ring in the battle for gender equality, at the same time announcing himself as an unlikey arbiter of female fashion. The 75-year-old Today presenter says: Anyone who does not believe women and men are equal is a moron. Equal but different. I have four words to support that view. The first two are French tuck. That, Im told, is the latest fashion trend wearing your shirt with one half tucked in your waistband, and the other half hanging free. 'Apparently Meghan Markle does it, and so does Cate Blanchett and you dont get a greater endorsement of a fashion trend than that' curmudgeonly John Humphrys said of his fashion pet peeve - the 'French tuck' When men do it, its because we are basically slobs and we dont even notice. When women do it (OK some women), its because they want to appear fashionable. Apparently Meghan Markle does it, and so does Cate Blanchett and you dont get a greater endorsement of a fashion trend than that. The other two words are ripped jeans. And with that, I rest my case. The Duchess of Cornwall attended a memorial service yesterday for Old Etonian antiques dealer Christopher Gibbs, who died aged 79 in Tangier in July Camilla pays tribute to King of Chelsea Gibbs The Duchess of Cornwall attended a memorial service yesterday for Old Etonian antiques dealer Christopher Gibbs, who died aged 79 in Tangier in July. Representing the Prince of Wales at St Jamess Church in Piccadilly, Camilla was joined by playwright Sir Tom Stoppard and Lord Rothschild. Known as The King of Chelsea, Gibbs was the last of the Sixties dandies and was at Keith Richardss home when it was raided by police and Marianne Faithfull was led out wearing nothing but a fur rug. Victoria Getty, widow of John Paul Getty II, who arranged for Gibbs to return to his beloved Morocco in his final days, gave a reading from John Betjeman. Indias touching portrait of ancient godfather Charles Princess Dianas bridesmaid India Hicks has penned a touching tribute to Prince Charles on his landmark birthday this week. Every birthday, every Christmas, a card and present would arrive from my godfather, writes the 51-year-old lifestyle guru and daughter of interior designer David Hicks, on social media. To begin with, they were signed: from your loving Godfather Charles, then they became your old Godfather Charles, then your ancient Godfather Charles. His Royal Highness might be celebrating a 70th birthday this year but, goodness, he is far from ancient. It takes a very fit mind, body and spirit to be engaged in so many charities and military organisations and to be an active patron to hundreds of foundations where his passion and dedication affects such change. No doubt Charles will reward such loyalty with a particularly generous present this Christmas. Lady Mary Charteris, the fun-loving aristocrat who parties with supermodels Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne, has taken a break from London to try her hand at serving coconut water in Jamaica. The 31-year-old daughter of the Earl of Wemyss and Catherine Guinness posted a picture online of herself sporting a bikini while manning the stand, which was emblazoned with the words Keep Calm and Coconut on. Ive got a lovely bunch of coconuts, she jokes, on holiday with musician husband Robbie Furze. A Perth man and his Thai wife have been sentenced to death in Thailand on drug smuggling charges, according to a media report. Luke Cook, 34, and wife Kanyarat Wechapitak, 40, were arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport last December and charged with attempting to smuggle half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine into Thailand and on to Australia in 2015. A Thai court sentenced the Hells Angels bikie, who is said to be a father of two from WA, and his wife to death over the plot, The West Australian reports. The sentences are expected to be commuted to life, the paper says. It's believed the smuggled crystal meth, also known as ice and with an estimated street value of $300 million, was dumped into the sea from a boat off the southeastern province of Chonburi after being spotted by authorities. About 50kg later washed ashore, police said. Yemeni pro-government forces on the eastern outskirts of Hodeida on November 9, 2018 Diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Yemen's Hodeida intensified Tuesday, as Britain said the Saudi-led coalition had agreed to the evacuation of wounded rebels from the country ahead of proposed peace talks in Sweden. After nearly four years of conflict in Yemen, home to what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe, the United States and Britain are now pressing Saudi Arabia and its allies to end the war against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. UN aid chief Mark Lowcock on Tuesday called for a cessation of hostilities "in and around all the infrastructure and facilities on which the aid operation and commercial importers rely", a reference to the port of Hodeida, as pressure mounts for a truce after nearly four years of conflict. The office of British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Saudi-led alliance fighting on the side of the government had agreed to the evacuation of up to 50 wounded Huthi fighters to Oman following Hunt's visit to Riyadh. The move comes ahead of another proposed round of peace talks in Sweden later this month, Hunt's office said. But residents in Hodeida, whose port is vital for food imports and humanitarian aid for millions at risk of starvation, say they now fear a siege on the city, where only one major exit route is still open to traffic, on the northern edge of the city. And despite an apparent temporary lull in the fighting, a spokesman for the Huthis said the rebels were ready for "war in the streets" of rebel-held Hodeida itself. "We are ready, and present, and our plans are in place" in case of an attack by the rival pro-government alliance, the spokesman said at a news conference broadcast on the rebels' Al-Masirah TV, which did not give his name. - Port attack - Residents reported Tuesday that fighting in the city had slowed, and rebel media -- which regularly claims attacks on loyalists -- did not report any new clashes in Hodeida itself. Both the Huthis and Saudi-led government camp reported outbreaks of violence elsewhere in Yemen late Tuesday. The Huthis' media office said air strikes had killed nine civilians in Jarahi, west of Hodeida city. The rebels blamed the raids on the Saudi-led coalition, which said it was investigating the report. "We take this report very seriously and it will be fully investigated as all reports of this nature are," said coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki. "Whilst this is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Despite UN warnings that an attack on the port could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, Hodeida itself was hit Monday night by what multiple sources said were two air strikes, the first attack on the docks since government forces launched a major offensive to retake the port five months ago. Yemen: the battle for Hodeida The port's deputy director, Yahya Sharafeddine, said the main entrance to the docks had been "the target of air raids" but was fully functioning. Three security guards were wounded in the attack, he said. Four employees in Hodeida port who requested anonymity told AFP that a rebel commander had been killed in the attack on Monday. The Huthis, who seized Hodeida in a 2014 takeover that included the capital, on Tuesday accused the government of the attacks on the port via their Al-Masirah TV. - International pressure for peace - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned the destruction of the Hodeida port could trigger a "catastrophic" situation in a country where 14 million people are at risk of starvation. Aid groups have also urged both parties in the conflict to keep roads open to allow civilians to escape and the transportation of aid through Hodeida port. Lowcock said the UN was ready to play a role in "ensuring the appropriate use of key facilities, especially around Hodeida". The docks as well as Sanaa international airport are under a near-total blockade by Saudi Arabia and its allies, who accuse Iran of smuggling arms to the Huthis. Tehran denies the accusation. The Saudi-led coalition has also come international pressure to end the conflict following the killing of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his country's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The United States, Britain and France this week called for the cessation of hostilities in Yemen and the resumption of negotiations to end the war. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis on Saturday said his country had halted its controversial aerial refuelling support for coalition aircraft involved in the war. A Yemeni child suffering from severe malnutrition cries at a hospital in Yemen's northwestern Hajjah province on November 11, 2018 UN mediator Martin Griffiths -- whose efforts to host negotiations in Geneva in September failed -- met with Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani in Riyadh on Monday for talks on reviving the peace process, Saudi Arabia's state news agency reported. Griffiths has said he hopes to host talks by the end of the year. Supporters of ousted Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe celebrated outisde the Sri Lankan Supreme Court Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Tuesday overruled President Maithripala Sirisena's dissolution of parliament in a major boost to sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's fight to reclaim the post from an arch-rival. The heavily guarded court also halted preparations for a snap election in the latest twist in a power struggle that began when Sirisena dismissed Wickremesinghe on October 26 and replaced him with former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that the 225-member parliament will meet on Wednesday, clearing the way to decide which of the duelling pair it backs. "Parliament must now perform its role by allowing the elected representatives of the people to reach a determination on the legitimacy of their government," Jayasuriya said in a statement. Amid mounting international concern, Wickremesinghe has refused to accept his sacking and has remained in his official residence while Rajapakse has sought to build a parallel administration. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) is the largest single group in the assembly. He told reporters that he expected to prove his majority. "I will go to parliament tomorrow (Wednesday) and we will show we are the legitimate government of Sri Lanka," Wickremesinghe said at the Temple Trees residence that has become the opposition headquarters. Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called the court ruling a "victory for the people and a victory for decent politics in this country" Wickremesinghe called the court ruling a "victory for the people and a victory for decent politics in this country". For its part, Rajapakse's party said they will appeal to a fuller bench of the highest court in the land to reconsider Tuesday's decision. The controversial former president's legislator son took to Twitter to deny speculation on social media his father was planning to step down and avoid facing a vote in parliament. "Rumours circulating that PM @PresRajapaksa resigning is completely false," Namal Rajapakse said referring to his father. "We will all attend parliament tomorrow." The UNP led petitions against the dissolution of parliament and the three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Nalin Perera, gave the landmark decision to a packed court guarded by hundreds of heavily armed police and commandos. Tuesday's ruling suspends Sirisena's proclamation dissolving parliament last Friday, pending a final determination in the case. The court said it would give a final verdict on the petition on December 7, after three more days of hearings. The judges ordered the independent Elections Commission to halt preparations for the January 5 vote, which Sirisena had announced on Friday. - Tight security - Security at the courtroom had been beefed up ahead of the hearing as authorities feared clashes between rival supporters. President Sirisena's office said he "ordered security chiefs to strengthen the peaceful situation in the country" following the Supreme Court ruling. Security was beefed up outside the court as authorities feared clashes between supporters of the rival prime ministers However, there was no trouble and supporters of Sirisena melted away when it was known that parliament had been restored. The United States, European Union and other powers have raised concerns over the crisis in the strategically important island nation of 21 million people. Only China has recognised the appointment of Rajapakse, who during his decade as president until 2015 relied heavily on Beijing for diplomatic and financial support. As president from 2005 until 2015, Rajapakse ended Sri Lanka's four-decade civil war in 2009 by crushing the Tamil Tigers. But 40,000 ethnic Tamils were allegedly massacred in the process. During an earlier stint as prime minister from 2001 until 2004, Wickremesinghe is credited with pulling Sri Lanka out of its first ever recession, in part with reforms that have endeared him to the West. US President Donald Trump fired off a caustic series of early-morning tweets against his weekend host Emmanuel Macron Donald Trump on Tuesday unleashed an extraordinary attack on Emmanuel Macron, mocking the French president's approval rating and lashing him over European defense proposals which enjoyed a crucial new boost from Germany. On the heels of a rocky trip to Paris to mark the World War I centenary, Trump fired off a caustic series of early-morning tweets against his weekend host and renewed his frequent charge that America's European allies in NATO spend too little on defense. "Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France?" Trump tweeted. "They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along," he added, in a low blow sure to gall many French. "Pay for NATO or not!" "MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!" Trump continued in a play on his own campaign slogan, before turning to what he slammed as protectionist French tariffs on US wine -- saying they were "not fair, must change!" The fierce broadside comes as Europeans increasingly ask whether they should rely on the mercurial Trump and the United States for defense, which has been assured during the Cold War and beyond by the NATO alliance stretching from Alaska to Turkey. Macron had angered Trump by saying Europe needed its own army and listing the US along with Russia and China as a threat to European security German Chancelor Angela Merkel -- who, unlike Macron, has barely concealed her disdain for Trump -- on Tuesday voiced clear support for France's idea of a common European defense. "What is really important, if we look at the developments of the past year, is that we have to work on a vision of one day creating a real, true European army," Merkel told a session of the European Parliament, drawing applause and some boos. Merkel said that the European army would function in parallel to NATO and come under a European Security Council, which would centralize the continent's defense policy. "Europe must take our fate into our own hands if we want to protect our community," said Merkel, a day after her show of unity with former enemy France on the anniversary of the end of the Great War. - Rebukes on both sides - Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron had seemed to share a special camaraderie in the early days of their respective presidencies, a "bromance" of sorts that included touching, kissing and playful banter Trump had already berated Macron in a tweet from Air Force One just as he landed in Paris, calling the French proposals for European defense "very insulting." The US leader appeared to be incensed after critical media coverage of his trip -- during which he was called out for canceling a visit to an American military cemetery after his helicopter was grounded by the rain. Adding to the rough reception, Macron in his Armistice Day speech declared that self-interested nationalism marked "a betrayal of patriotism," in a clear rebuke of the self-described nationalist Trump, who was in attendance. Trump tweeted that Macron had a "very low approval rating," pointing to a poll that put it at 26 percent, and said the French leader was "just trying to get onto another subject." "By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!" Trump said. Macron's office offered no comment on Trump's criticism. But an adviser to Macron, who declined to be named, brushed aside the tweets, saying they were "written for Americans -- otherwise they would not be written in English." A number of social media users called Trump's attacks unseemly as they came just as France was observing the third anniversary of a jihadist assault on Paris that left 130 people dead. Former secretary of state John Kerry recalled that France assisted the American colonies in winning independence from Britain and that 88 French soldiers have died as part of US-led operations in Afghanistan. Referring to the North Korean dictator, Kerry tweeted: Trump "is 'in love' with Kim Jong Un but insults our oldest ally." "Stop tweeting! America needs some friends," he said. - 'Bromance' dead? - Trump and Macron had seemed to share a special camaraderie in the early days of their respective presidencies, a "bromance" of sorts that included touching, kissing and playful banter. The US president even seemed to flick a piece of dandruff off of Macron's jacket on national television during the French president's state visit to the US capital, saying "we have to make him perfect. He is perfect." The relationship between the French and US leaders took a turn for the worse after Emmanuel Macron angered Donald Trump by saying Europe needed its own army and listing the US along as one of several threats to European cybersecurity But the relationship took a turn for the worse over the European defense calls by Macron, who cited the United States along with Russia and China as threats to European cybersecurity. In an interview recorded Saturday with CNN after talks with Trump, Macron described the spat as a misunderstanding, with both sides in agreement that Europe should spend more on defense. But Macron said: "To be very direct with you, what I don't want to see is European countries increasing the budget in defense in order to buy American and other arms or materials coming from your industry." Gilbert Collard, an MP from France's far-right National Front, applauded Trump's attack on Macron -- but not on French wine. "I want to tell Donald -- drink your Coke, do your tweets and leave it to us to make good wine," he said. Malusi Gigaba, seen here delivering the 2018 budget speech in February, was once finance minister and a close ally of ousted leader Jacob Zuma South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba resigned on Tuesday, two weeks after a public standards watchdog said he had violated the constitution by lying under oath in court. Gigaba, a close ally of ousted former president Jacob Zuma, had recently vowed not to step down after also being caught up in a leaked sex tape scandal. According to statement from President Cyril Ramaphosa's office, Gigaba said he had resigned "to relieve the President from undue pressure" and to allow Ramaphosa to focus on saving the country from "economic meltdown". Gigaba, 47, was once seen as a rising star of the ANC ruling party, leading the party's youth wing and being quickly promoted into the ministerial ranks. But he became entangled in graft allegations during Zuma's time in office. Gigaba's exit removes a key Zuma loyalist from the government led since February by Ramaphosa, who has vowed to root out the corruption critics say flourished under Zuma. Gigaba was reprimanded last month by the public protector ombudswoman after he testified in a 2017 court case filed by a company controlled by the wealthy Oppenheimer family. Ombudswoman Busisiwe Mkhwebane recommended that Ramaphosa take disciplinary action against the minister for "telling an untruth under oath and before a court of law". - Close Zuma ally - The allegations were probed after a complaint from the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party. The court case hinged on whether Gigaba had given the Oppenheimers approval to have a private terminal at Johannesburg airport. Gigaba has also said he was recently the target of extortion attempts after a private sex video was stolen by hacking. He said in a statement late Tuesday that he resigned after "a long period of sustained and vitriolic public attacks on my integrity." "I wish to state that my resignation is not an admission of guilt on my part," he added. Gigaba served as finance minister for a year under Zuma, who was ousted as president by the ANC party in February over mounting graft scandals. When Ramaphosa succeeded Zuma, he moved Gigaba to the home affairs ministry. Gigaba has been linked to corruption allegations against the wealthy Gupta family, who are suspected of benefitting from unfair and hugely lucrative government contracts under Zuma. A judicial inquiry, which opened in August, is investigating allegations that Zuma and the Guptas organised a web of corrupt deals at government departments and public enterprises in a scandal known as "state capture". All the accused deny any wrongdoing. South Africa, Africa's most advanced economy, slipped into recession in the second quarter of this year, and suffers a stubbornly high unemployment of about 28 percent. The country will hold general elections in May. Nhlanhla Nene resigned as finance minister last month over undisclosed meetings with the Guptas. A man enters the Crystal City transit station in Arlington, Virginia, where Amazon will base one of its two new headquarters under a plan to invest $5 billion Amazon's "second headquarters" is being split between New York City and the Washington suburbs, the US tech giant announced Tuesday, capping a yearlong contest that saw dozens of cities fight it out for a promised $5 billion investment and 50,000 expected jobs. The chosen locations are Long Island City neighborhood in the New York borough of Queens, across the East River from Manhattan, and the Crystal City section of Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac from the US capital. Both districts offered a variety of tax and infrastructure incentives to lure the huge corporate prize, but Amazon said one important element was access to a qualified workforce. "These two locations will allow us to attract world-class talent that will help us to continue inventing for customers for years to come," said Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, who last year called for proposals for an "HQ2" with equivalent status to Seattle, in the northwestern US state of Washington. "We believe Virginia has a tremendous amount to offer to Amazon," Virginia Governor Ralph Northam told a gathering in Arlington after the announcement. Northam said the region has "one of the strongest pools of tech talent in the nation" and that even with the incentives, the deal will result in "net positive revenues" for the state. - Walk to airport, university - Virginia will offer $550 million in incentives over 12 years based on a similar number of job creations, contingent on adding the forecasted number of "high-paying jobs," and Amazon will get another $23 million from Arlington, where the company intends to create an entire new neighborhood called National Landing. Amazon said it expected its investment would boost tax revenue for Virginia by some $3.2 billion over the next 20 years. The plan calls for Amazon to create four million square feet (370,000 square meters) of office space in New York, with an option to double that, in a district with a large number of office buildings with high vacancy rates. The state will also spend some $200 million in infrastructure improvements including in mass transit, and a pedestrian bridge to the adjacent Reagan National Airport, and create a new campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute on the site, offering masters degrees in computer science and related fields, Northam said. Amazon said it expected its investment in Crystal City would boost tax revenue for the state of Virginia by some $3.2 billion over the next 20 years "Our investments are in our people and our infrastructure," the governor said. The US capital area -- where Maryland and the city of Washington were also finalists -- was long seen as a front-runner, in part because Bezos already has a residence in the city and owns The Washington Post newspaper. - Critics of 'Hunger Games' - The waterfront of Long Island City in the Queens borough of New York, was one of two sites selected by Amazon for its new headquarters In New York, the company will receive "performance-based direct incentives of $1.525 billion" over the next decade based on creating 25,000 jobs in Long Island City. Mayor Bill de Blasio called New York's selection "a giant step" in the city's development. "New Yorkers will get tens of thousands of new, good-paying jobs, and Amazon will get the best talent anywhere in the world," he said. The competition had been derided in some quarters as a "Hunger Games" contest pitting cities against each other, with rival bidders piling up offers of incentives for one of the largest and most successful global corporations. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, elected to Congress from a district that includes part of Queens, said it was unclear if the community would benefit from the massive corporate move. "Amazon is a billion-dollar company. The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Monday. Amazon's statement said its plan would boost tax revenue by some $10 billion over 20 years. - 'Sheer size and scale' - Amazon Jeff Bezos has residences in both New York and the US capital Washington, near the two locations selected for the online giant's new "second headquarters" Neil Saunders of the research firm GlobalData said the new locations make sense for Amazon as it seeks proximity to political power, fashion and technology talent. Saunders said that "the sheer size and scale of Amazon and its interest across many areas of technology, retail, and various consumer services" suggests a need for multiple locations. The analyst added that the split helps Amazon avoid a problem of too much growth or congestion in one location, noting that that had caused problems in Seattle. "Being able to balance growth across numerous cities will help alleviate such issues," he said. Started in the 1990s, Amazon has seen spectacular growth and earlier this year saw its valuation briefly hit $1 trillion before falling back. In addition to its online retail operations in dozens of countries, Amazon is a major cloud computing firm and offers streaming video and music, hardware using its Alexa digital assistant and owns the Whole Foods grocery chain. In 2013, the vaults of the Rafidain Bank (a branch of which is pictured in 2009) were flooded from huge rains, damaging the bills that were stored there Iraq's parliament is to investigate how $6 million worth of local currency stored in public bank coffers were damaged by heavy rains, a lawmaker said Tuesday. The pledge came a day after Central Bank governor Ali Allaq appeared in front of lawmakers to answer questions on a range of issues, including the case which dates back five years. "At the end of 2013, the vaults of the Rafidain Bank were flooded because of huge rains at the time, damaging the bills that were stored there," he said. "They were worth around seven billion dinars," or six million dollars, said Allaq, who was not governor at the time. He said the Central Bank reprinted new bills to replace the soaked ones but, since the money had not been in circulation, the only real "loss" was the cost of printing. His comments, made during a six-hour parliament session, apparently did little to reassure Iraqi lawmakers. "The bank governor said the (damaged) bills were destroyed, but that answer isn't clear," said MP Hoshyar Abdallah of Kurdish anti-corruption party Goran and a member of parliament's finance committee. "We have concerns over how water entered the vault -- this is a source of suspicion for us. That's why we will conduct an investigation into this as soon as possible," Abdallah told AFP on Tuesday. The issue has sparked controversy in Iraq -- ranked by Transparency International as the 12th most corrupt country in the world. Corruption, shell companies and "phantom" public employees who receive salaries but do not work have cost Iraq the equivalent of $228 billion dollars since 2003, according to Iraq's parliament. That figure is more than the country's gross domestic product and nearly three times the annual budget. US President Donald Trump (R) gets into a heated exchange with CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta (C) at a news conference on November 7, 2018 A federal judge will hold a hearing Wednesday on CNN's lawsuit against Donald Trump's administration alleging the White House violated correspondent Jim Acosta's constitutional rights by revoking his press credentials following a heated exchange with the US president. The White House dismissed CNN's complaint as "grandstanding" and vowed to "vigorously defend" against the lawsuit. The row on live national television and Acosta's resulting banishment triggered a wave of accusations that Trump is stifling the free press, and marked a sharp escalation in tensions between the president and CNN, a frequent target of his ire. "The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acosta's First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process," the news network said in a statement announcing the lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Washington. CNN asked for a temporary restraining order, warning that Acosta's credential suspension could set a precedent for future attacks on other outlets. "If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials," it said. US District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the Trump administration to respond by 11:00 am (1600 GMT) on Wednesday and set a hearing for 3:30 pm. Kelly, a former chief counsel for the US Senate Judiciary Committee, was appointed to the bench by Trump last year. The White House had suspended Acosta's hard pass after he sparred at a news conference with the president, who demanded that the reporter yield the microphone and called him a "rude, terrible person" when he did not immediately comply. Acosta pushed back with more questions and a White House intern tried to take the microphone from the CNN journalist -- an incident the Trump administration characterized as misconduct against the woman. - 'Grandstanding' - The White House had suspended Acosta's hard pass after he sparred at a news conference with the president Hours later, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced Acosta's hard pass had been suspended, a rare if not unprecedented move that she justified by claiming the reporter was inappropriately "placing his hands" on the intern. Sanders then tweeted a video that she said backed up her narrative of the incident -- but analysts said the footage was sped up to make it appear that Acosta struck the intern. The press secretary on Tuesday dismissed the CNN legal complaint as "grandstanding," vowing that the White House would "vigorously defend against this lawsuit." She alleged that Acosta "physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern," softening the earlier misconduct accusation and then casting blame on the journalist for his persistent questioning. "The First Amendment is not served when a single reporter, of more than 150 present, attempts to monopolize the floor," the press secretary said in a statement. "If there is no check on this type of behavior, it impedes the ability of the President, the White House staff and members of the media to conduct business." CNN lawyer Ted Boutrous said the White Houses's suspension of the press pass made "clear it was based on the content of the reporting." "CNN's argument is very straightforward," the lawyer told the US network. "We can't have the White House tossing people out because they don't like what they are saying or what they are reporting." "That is what happened. That is the First Amendment." - 'Unconstitutional' - CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta, who lost his White House press credentials following a heated exchange with Donald Trump Both Acosta and CNN are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which targets six defendants: Trump, Sanders, White House chief of staff John Kelly, deputy chief of staff William Shine, the Secret Service and its director along with the agent who took the banned journalist's credentials. In addition to requesting the return of the journalist's pass, the network is seeking "a declaration that the revocation of Acosta's press was unconstitutional," according to the filing. The White House Correspondents' Association welcomed CNN's lawsuit, saying "revoking access to the White House complex amounted to disproportionate reaction to the events." "The president of the United States should not be in the business of arbitrarily picking the men and women who cover him," WHCA president Olivier Knox said in a statement. Trump is no stranger to fights with the press: the president regularly labels unfavorable coverage as "fake news" and has threatened to ban certain media organizations from his events. The New York-based Knight First Amendment Institute, which sued Trump and his communications team after the president blocked several people on Twitter who were critical of his policies, called CNN's lawsuit "entirely justified." "It would be terrible for the public, and for our democracy, if reporters questioning the president had to operate under an ever-present threat of this kind of retaliation," said the institute's executive director Jameel Jaffer. Since last year, around 100 women and children -- mostly from Russia's majority-Muslim Caucasus -- have returned under a program championed by Chechnya's powerful leader (C) Ramzan Kadyrov A Chechen activist on Tuesday accused Russia's FSB security service of blocking attempts to bring back widows and children of Russian Islamic State group fighters from Syria and Iraq. Since last year, around 100 women and children -- mostly from Russia's majority-Muslim Caucasus -- have returned under a program championed by Chechnya's powerful leader Ramzan Kadyrov. But Kheda Saratova, a Chechen activist who is on Kadyrov's human rights council, said Russia's federal authorities were no longer willing to bring back the remaining women and children. "According to our organisation, there are over 2,000 of them left in Syria and Iraq," she told a news conference in Moscow where two women who were brought back from Syria under the program also spoke. "The process of bringing them back has been stalled and nobody has told us why," Saratova said. She blamed Russia's FSB security service and its chief Alexander Bortnikov. He recently criticised the repatriation programme, saying terrorist groups were using the women and children as "recruiters." Saratova said the drive to bring back the women -- who she said were mostly forced to go to Syria by their partners -- was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I ask Bortnikov to change his attitude to this subject," she said. "Whatever information they (the FSB) need, we will give them. These women are not hiding anything." The FSB did not immediately release a statement on Tuesday or respond to a call seeking comment. - 'Do not abandon women' - Two women brought back from Syria called on Moscow to help the "hundreds" of other women from Russia who are being held in refugee camps in Syria and Iraqi prisons. "I want to thank the Russian government for saving my children. I ask you not to abandon the women who are still there," said Dagestani Zagidat Abakarova, whose husband forced her and her child to go to Syria. She managed to flee then IS-controlled Raqa in Syria last year after her husband was killed by a US drone and made contact with Russian authorities at a Kurdish refugee camp. "We are very thankful to our country. Only Russia was bringing back women and children," said Zalina Gabibullaeva, a Chechen woman who was brought back from Syria with her children last year. Several thousand Russians travelled to join jihadists in Syria and Iraq in recent years, according to estimates from the Russian security services. Some took their families with them. Many Russian militants and other foreigners joined the so-called Islamic State militant organisation that controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq until its defeat in 2017. Saratova said she had requests from 700 relatives from all over Russia asking to bring their relatives home. She said 21 Russian women in Iraq had been given life sentences and that the Russian government is currently negotiating on bringing their children to Russia. Around 60 children are expected to be brought back to Russia in the near future, she said, adding that "all the documents are ready." The FSB chief's criticism of the repatriation programme prompted an angry reaction from Kadyrov, who wrote on social media: "I want to assure you once again that not a single (Russian) woman or child in Syria or Iraq will be left unattended." Armenian businessman Garik Sargsyan, who wants to set up a crocodile farm in the Ararat province, is not allowed to bring crocodile eggs to Armenia because of customs clearance problem. The businessman said he did not know when the first crocodile eggs will be brought to Armenia because it is not clear how the eggs should be categorized - bird eggs or mammal eggs. He said that hey do not fall into any category, ARKA reported. According to Sargsyan, crocodiles will be bred in incubators, but it is not known yet when the first "local" crocodile will hatch. In his words, the farm will also treat crocodile meat to all those who would like to taste it. Then-US Attorney General Jeff Sessions arrives at the Senate to testify as Matthew Whitaker, the man named to replace him last week, smiles in the background President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker to lead the US Department of Justice was called "unlawful" Tuesday in a court challenge less than one week after he was named acting attorney general. The state of Maryland asked a federal judge to block Whitaker from acting on behalf of the department in an ongoing court case on health care policy, arguing that he had not been approved by the US Senate as required by law. But Maryland state Attorney General Brian Frosh made clear that the challenge was also a political move against someone that Democrats believe Trump chose to protect his presidency from the Russia collusion investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. "President Trump's brazen attempt to flout the law and constitution in bypassing Deputy US Attorney General Rosenstein in favor of a partisan and unqualified staffer cannot stand," Frosh said in a statement. Trump, he said, has chosen "an unqualified and unconfirmed partisan to be the nation's chief law enforcement officer in order to protect himself rather than the rule of law." Frosh's request for an injunction against Whitaker was the first official challenge to his appointment last Wednesday to replace fired attorney general Jeff Sessions. The appointment has raised controversy because of Whitaker's limited experience and his record of vocal opposition to the Mueller investigation, which he has now taken control of from Rosenstein. Maryland said the appointment violated a fundamental law requiring the top government officials to be confirmed by the Senate -- which Rosenstein has been. Legal experts have warned that Whitaker could jeopardize Justice Department legal cases if his appointment is found to be illegal. "Whitaker's appointment is unlawful," the state said in a court filing, which argued it could damage Maryland's ongoing health care case against the government. Whitaker had been Sessions' chief of staff for a year, acting as liaison to the White House as Trump's relations with Sessions became increasingly strained. Before that, he was a federal prosecutor in Iowa who became a television and radio commentator after losing two races for political office. In his role as a commentator, he made repeated comments last year dismissing the basis for the Mueller investigation and suggesting it be starved for funds to shut it down. - Pressure to recuse - The Maryland case involves apparently conflicting laws governing succession at the Justice Department. "It's a serious question and one that's not clearly resolved by anything that the Supreme Court has said," said Fordham University Law School Professor Andrew Kent. "There could be many persons who could challenge it, for instance somebody who is criminally prosecuted under his authority ... I think that they would have a good argument." "Maybe his whole holding of the office is constitutionally null and void." Meanwhile senior Democrats called for Whitaker to recuse himself from the Mueller probe because of his past statements. On Monday, Senator Chuck Schumer, Representative Nancy Pelosi, and other top party legislators sent a letter to the Justice Department's top ethics official outlining their concerns. "There are serious ethical considerations that require Mr Whitaker's immediate recusal from any involvement with the Special Counsel investigation," they said. "Mr Whitaker's statements indicate a clear bias against the investigation that would cause a reasonable person to question his impartiality," they said. After the departure of a cabinet official and senior policy aide, the 36-year top aide to Vice President Pence has emerged as the leading candidate to be the next White House Chief of Staff. Nick Ayers earned a reputation for successfully guiding Pence as he sought to position himself as Trump's ultimate successor while simultaneously assuring the president of his loyalty. The political consultant is now high on Trump's list as he considers replacing chief of staff John Kelly, whose departure has been rumored for months. Kelly's position was undermined further by First Lady Melania Trump's anger that Kelly refused to promote some of her aides, according to reports. Nick Ayers (L), chief of staff to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, is topping the list of replacements for White House Chief of Staff John Kelly Ayers, a former political consultant, is reportedly high on Trump's list as a replacement. Talk of Ayers assuming the powerful post comes as White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed Wednesday the departure of national security aide Mira Ricardel, who an aide to First Lady Melania Trump said in a statement did not deserve the 'honor of serving in this White House. Donald Trump has been in a funk since last week's midterms which saw the Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives, ending the Republicans' dominance of both chambers of Congress 'Mira Ricardel will continue to support the President as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the Administration. The President is grateful for Ms. Ricardel's continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities,' Sanders said. Ayers is close to Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, who are both White House officials, as well as Donald Trump Jr., who runs the Trump Organization and campaigned for Republican candidates this fall, Politico reported. Ayers reportedly enjoys support from Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner (pictured) Ayers has impressed aides with his handling of Pence's public profile and campaigning Trump has been planning staff moves since before the midterms Trump and Ayers discussed the powerful chief of staff job this summer, with Trump asking advisors and former aides: 'What do we think about Nick?' according to the report. On the heels of losing the House in the midterms and getting rebuked by Europea leaders, an angry Trump is preparing a reshuffle at the White House -- reportedly fueled by fallings out between his wife and senior staff -- after a week of brooding over midterm elections. Trump acted swiftly to force the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, only to face howls of criticism about the man he named to succeed him, acting attorney general Matt Whitaker, over his criticism of the Mueller probe. Trump reportedly vented that Kelly and others should have anticipated blowback on his trip to Paris when he skipped a visit to a military cemetery when it was raining. The start to the second half of Trump's first term is enveloped in gloom as the president surveys the damage from the midterms, tension with some of America's closest allies, and now turmoil inside the administration. On Wednesday, he was quoted by conservative The Daily Caller saying that a reshuffle is coming. 'A lot of people want to come in, a lot of politicians who have had very successful careers want to come in,' he said. The biggest name on the chopping block, according to multiple US media reports, is Kelly. A retired Marine Corps general, he has often been nicknamed 'the adult in the room' during Trump's drama-prone administration, even if critics say he has done little to temper the president's most damaging outbursts. Now Kelly's days are numbered, according to the unconfirmed but mounting leaks. One expected reshuffle casualty is Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who oversees the politically sensitive task of carrying out Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration Another expected reshuffle casualty is Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, a Kelly ally who oversees the politically sensitive task of carrying out Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Trump told The Daily Caller he'll make 'a decision on homeland shortly.' Among Nielsen's critics has been National Security Adviser John Bolton, who last month was widely reported to have erupted in a shouting match with Kelly right outside the Oval Office over her performance. - First Lady strikes - While Melania Trump's dislike for Kelly remains a rumor, she has been fully open in a rare, protocol-busting demand for the firing of another staffer -- Bolton's deputy Mira Ricardel. The tenuous position of Donald Trump's chief of staff John Kelly has reportedly been undermined further by Melania Trump's anger that Kelly refused to promote some of her aides Ricardel 'no longer deserves the honor,' Melania Trump's spokeswoman announced Tuesday, amid a falling out that press leaks say is partly linked to a dispute over seating arrangements on the plane that took the first lady for a tour of African countries in October. Ricardel remained in her post through Wednesday, when Sanders announced the official was leaving the staff but staying in the administration. Trump has been in a funk since last week's midterms which saw the Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives, ending the Republicans' dominance of both chambers of Congress. While the Republicans held onto their Senate majority, the Democrats scored heavy gains to take over the House, confronting the president for the first time with the prospect of an opposition that has teeth. Democrats vow to use their control of powerful oversight committees to go after Trump's nebulous personal finances and to protect an explosive probe into whether his 2016 election campaign colluded with Russian agents. Pressure is mounting from the probe, as the special counsel Robert Mueller digs ever more deeply into the president's inner circle. When Trump suddenly replaced his attorney general Jeff Sessions last week with a fierce critic of the Russia investigation, Matthew Whitaker, critics accused him of violating the constitution. The Department of Justice ruled on Wednesday that Whitaker's appointment is in fact constitutional, but this will do little to calm claims that Trump's real goal is to defang the Russia probe, which he describes as 'a witch hunt.' Abroad, there's no respite for the real estate billionaire either. A weekend trip to Paris for World War I commemorations was marred by a row with President Emmanuel Macron -- which saw Trump mockingly refer to Germany's invasions of France during the two world wars, while also berating America's European allies in NATO over their defense spending. The other main takeaway from Trump's trip -- the round criticism of a decision to scrap a visit to an American military cemetery due to the rain -- has reportedly left the president incensed, and the prospect of a White House shakeup all the greater. US Vice President Mike Pence wants sustained pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will likely meet again after New Year, the US vice president said Thursday, but insisted his government would not repeat past mistakes where "promises are broken." The US president and the North Korean leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. North Korea has taken some steps since then -- forgoing nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a missile test site and promising to also break up the country's main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions. But progress has generally been slow, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. Trump has said he hopes to have a second meeting with Kim early next year, but talks between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official planned for last week, partly to prepare for the meeting, were cancelled. The US said the North axed the talks because they weren't ready, and Trump insisted he was in "no rush". Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still "ongoing". "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," he told reporters. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of prior administrations -- frankly both political parties have made over the last several decades -- where promises are made, sanctions are lifted and economic support comes and then promises are broken." His comments came after a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a summit attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. - Maximum pressure - Pence urged other countries at the meeting to keep up sanctions pressure on the North amid signs that Pyongyang's traditional trading partners, China and Russia, have eased enforcement. Seoul has also said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year US officials insist on the complete, verified and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled on the pressure in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), insisting sanctions should be fully enforced. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship-to-ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". Pence also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. But with the US retreating behind protectionism under the Trump administration, China has stepped into the space it has vacated as the champion of global free trade. Chinese Premier Li, who was also in Singapore, beat the drum for the world's largest free trade deal -- which excludes the US -- but sweeps in nearly half of the globe's population including all of the 10-country ASEAN bloc. Southeast Asian leaders welcomed the "substantial progress" made towards completing the RCEP, as the deal is known, which is forecast to be signed and enacted next year if sticking points including over market access can be surmounted. "We are very close to the finish line," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong said in a closing speech of the 16-nation deal, which also includes India, Japan and Australia. Israeli border police stand guard outside a base in annexed east Jerusalem after four officers were wounded during a stabbing attack inside on November 14, 2018 A man wielding a knife entered an Israeli border police base in annexed east Jerusalem provoking a scuffle in which four officers were wounded, police said on Thursday. The assailant was seriously wounded as he was overpowered by officers during the rare attack inside a security force base late on Wednesday, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP. The attacker, who was not immediately identified, had scaled a fence around the base between the Palestinian neighbourhood of Jabel Mukabar and the settler district of Armon Hanatziv before being spotted. Rosenfeld did not confirm local media reports that one of the officers was wounded by shots fired at the assailant. A wave of stabbing attacks against Israelis by lone-wolf Palestinian assailants erupted in 2015 but has since become sporadic. Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. Issues remain despite the rapprochement between Ethiopian premier Abiy Ahmed (L) and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki (R), seen here at the July reopening of Eritrea's embassy in Addis Ababa The lifting of UN sanctions on Eritrea is an unconditional win for the Red Sea state but no guarantee of change to domestic policies that have led to isolation and a refugee crisis. The UN on Wednesday lifted an arms embargo as well as travel bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions imposed nine years ago to punish Eritrea for its alleged support to jihadists in Somalia, an accusation Asmara has always dismissed. But analysts warn against expecting any major changes in Eritrea, despite the rapid reshaping of relations in the Horn of Africa since Ethiopia moved to break a hostile years-long impasse this summer. "The expectation at all levels of Eritrean society is that now there's going to be some sea change, and so far, there's no sign of it," said Matt Bryden, director of Nairobi-based think tank Sahan and a former coordinator of the UN group monitoring the sanctions. Eritrea plunged into repression and isolationism following a 1998-2000 border war with its much larger neighbour Ethiopia. With the two nations locked in a standoff over disputed territory, Eritrea's authoritarian regime jailed dissident politicians and independent journalists, and forced much of the population into perpetual national service. The repression prompted the flight of hundreds of thousands of Eritreans, many of whom made the risky journey to Europe in search of asylum and a better life. - Eritrean vindication - With neither a constitution nor parliament, the power to change Eritrea is entirely in the hands of President Isaias Afwerki, a pugnacious former guerrilla fighter. But both peace with Ethiopia -- which followed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's promise to cede disputed land to Asmara -- and the lifting of UN sanctions play into Isaias' hands. "There will be a lot of vindication rhetoric, that we were right all along," predicted Awet Tewelde Weldemichael, an associate professor at Queen's University in Canada. "But in practical terms, I don't see much changing." To weaken Ethiopia, Eritrea trained armed groups fighting Ethiopia's 2006 invasion of Somalia. Some of those fighters morphed into the Shabaab Islamist insurgency that plagues the country to this day, according to Bryden. Thousands of Eritreans and Ethiopians took part in a 10-kilometre reconciliation run in Addis Ababa on Sunday to celebrate the diplomatic thaw between the two nations The support to militants in Somalia, as well as an unwillingness to resolve another sometimes-violent border dispute with Djibouti, prompted the UN to impose sanctions. "Asmara's refusal to even talk about it, let alone make tangible progress on resolving [the dispute with Djibouti], were the main argument" for the sanctions, said Dan Connell, a researcher on Eritrea at Boston University. Eritrea is among the world's poorest countries and Asmara blamed sanctions for hindering development, but Awet, who fled the country as a refugee, dismissed this narrative. "The sanctions did not cause any of the hardships that Eritrea is gripped by," he said. - Little push for change - Despite all the talk of peace and a new dispensation in the Horn of Africa triggered by Abiy's sweeping reforms, Eritrea has yet to make any changes: dissidents still languish in jail, young men and women are still forced into national service. Instead, critics -- including a former finance minister -- are still being arrested and Eritreans are still fleeing, with the UN saying more than 14,000 have left since the border with Ethiopia was reopened in September. Bryden expects Isaias' administration to once again face pressure to change tack, but this time it might come from Eritrea's business, political and military elites who sense an opportunity for Eritrea to re-engage with the world. But, he warned, "Eritrea hasn't had normal governance for 20 years, and it's not clear that the competence and expertise required to make these changes still exists." On the world stage, Eritrea is set to benefit from sanctions relief irrespective of its domestic policies. "Keeping sanctions in place was not in the US' interest," Connell said, adding that Eritrea's recent promise to end the border dispute with Djibouti made it "a done deal". "The goal in Washington now is reintegrating Eritrea into the region, restructuring a bilateral relationship and establishing a regional bulwark against Islamic extremism," he added. Positioned on the Red Sea's western shore, the United Arab Emirates already has a military base in Eritrea and Awet said the country's geopolitical value means the US and Europe will want to make an ally of Isaias, whether or not there's change at home. "What's the point of having Eritrea on your side if you can't put it to its maximum use as a strategic asset?" he asked. Andry Rajoelina, pictured here at a campaign rally, is ahead in Madagascar's vote count. He is on course for a runoff on December 19 against another former president, Marc Ravalomanana Two former presidents of Madagascar look set to compete in a hotly-contested run-off election in December after partial results Thursday showed they were frontrunners in the first-round vote. With 80 percent of the ballots counted from last week's vote, Andry Rajoelina was on 39.63 percent and Marc Ravalomanana was on 35.42 percent -- pointing towards a close race for the presidency in the head-to-head second round. Outgoing president Hery Rajaonarimampianina was in third place with eight percent. "Given the results of the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission), the second round is now inevitable," Madagascan analyst Mahery Lanto Manandafy told AFP. Under Madagascar's electoral regulations, the two frontrunners go through to a run-off -- scheduled for December 19 -- if neither manages to secure more than 50 percent in the first round. "But anything is still possible if Rajoelina and Ravalomanana lodge a complaint in the courts," warned analyst Toavina Ralambomahay. "Everyone hopes to be elected in the first round because a second-round election will bring huge campaign costs." Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, according to World Bank data, with almost four in five people living in grinding poverty on the Indian Ocean island. But the candidates spent huge sums on flashy campaign rallies, helicopters and giveaways such as free T-shirts for supporters. The three leading candidates have raised allegations of fraud and malpractice by election authorities, which have denied any wrongdoing. A European Union observer mission said in a report on Monday that it had "noted candidates committed breaches" ahead of the November 7 poll, but concluded that the election was well organised overall. Both Ravalomanana and Rajoelina were banned from contesting the last election in 2013 under international pressure to avoid a repeat of political violence that engulfed the island in 2009. Ravalomanana, 68, and Rajoelina, 44, are bitter rivals. It is the first time they have faced each other at the polls. Ravalomanana ruled from 2002 to 2009 until he was ousted in a military-backed coup that installed Rajoelina who was in power until 2014. Rajaonarimampianina succeeded him, ruling until earlier this year. Rajaonarimampianina's attempts to change the electoral laws this year backfired, sparking nearly three months of sometimes violent protests in the capital Antananarivo. The demonstrators forced Rajaonarimampianina to accept a "consensus" government tasked with organising the election in the country, which is burdened by a long history of coups and unrest. The eastern DR Congo is also battling an Ebola outbreak and the UN said insecurity is hampering efforts to contain the disease Eight United Nations peacekeepers were killed in an operation against a rebel militia in eastern DR Congo, the UN Security Council said on Thursday. One Tanzanian and seven Malawian peacekeepers were killed, the council said, raising the toll from an earlier count. The deaths mark the biggest loss by the large UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the rebels killed 15 troops nearly a year ago. MONUSCO has around 17,000 members, making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations Earlier Thursday, General Bernard Commins, deputy head of the MONUSCO peacekeeping force, said a joint operation had been launched with DRC troops on Tuesday against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadi group blamed for bloody attacks on civilians. The offensive aimed at Kididiwe, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Beni, a city of between 200,000 and 300,000 inhabitants, said Commins. "We are holding Kididiwe at present, after violent fighting with an armed group. At present, we are evacuating wounded Congolese troops and Blue Helmets," he told AFP. He added he was unable to provide any information about reports at that time of fatalities. Malawi's armed forces confirmed earlier that four of its soldiers with MONUSCO -- a sergeant and three privates aged between 29 and 38 -- had been killed on Wednesday. The military "has lost courageous, hardworking and disciplined soldiers who were always ready to serve to ensure that peace prevails," the Malawi Defence Force said in a statement. Map locating Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where UN peacekeeping troops have been killed in fighting with a rebel militia It gave no further details on where or how they died. Commins described Kididiwe as a "major stronghold" of the ADF. A Congolese officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the town had been used as a springboard for militia attacks on Beni's suburbs this year. On Wednesday, Commins said MONUSCO had deployed attack helicopters against ADF forces threatening UN troops in the Mayangose area, northeast of Beni. The region is also battling an Ebola outbreak that has left more than 200 dead. Insecurity is hampering efforts to contain the disease, the UN spokesman said. In its statement the Security Council "underlined that deliberate attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law." The Council called for a swift investigation from Congolese authorities and warned that attacks against UN personnel constitutes a basis for sanctions. - Notorious militia - Tanzanian soldiers in the UN's peacekeeping force in DR Congo, on patrol in Beni The ADF is an Islamist-rooted group that rose in western Uganda in 1995, led by Jamil Mukulu, a Christian turned Muslim. Forced out of Uganda, it operates in the border area in the DRC's North Kivu province. It has been blamed for recruiting and using child soldiers, killing hundreds of civilians since 2014, as well as 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers, who died in an attack in December 2017. Those fatalities were the biggest loss of life in a UN peacekeeping force since 1993 when 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Somalia during clashes with a local warlord. On Monday, MONUSCO's head, Leila Zerrougui, sounded the alarm over violence in the eastern DRC, saying it cast a shadow over the country's elections on December 23. "I have grown increasingly alarmed over the situation in Beni in recent months, where we continue to face major challenges in implementing our mandate," she added. "There is a potential for armed group interference in elections in specific areas throughout eastern DRC," she said. MONUSCO has around 17,000 members, making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations. Created in 1999 during the Second Congo War, it has an annual budget of $1.153 billion (1.02 billion euros). US President Donald Trump pictured in a tense exchange with CNN's Jim Acosta at the White House on November 7, 2018 A US federal judge delayed until Friday a ruling on a lawsuit to force the White House to reinstate a CNN reporter banned after a heated exchange with President Donald Trump during a news conference last week. Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, said he would rule by 10 am (1500 GMT) Friday, postponing his initial plan to rule on Thursday. CNN's suit, which the White House dismissed as "grandstanding," drew support from major US news organizations, including Fox News, the Rupert Murdoch-owned television network known for its friendly coverage of Trump and other conservatives. CNN lawyers argued in court Wednesday that the White House violated correspondent Jim Acosta's First Amendment right to free speech in revoking his credentials, and asked the court to order that they be reinstated. The US Justice Department's lawyer, James Burnham, countered that Acosta had "disrupted" last week's news conference. Burnham insisted "there is no First Amendment right to access the White House." Acosta, CNN's chief White House correspondent, angered Trump when he persisted in questioning the president at a November 7 news conference, ignoring demands he yield the microphone. From the podium, Trump called Acosta -- a frequent target of his ire -- a "rude, terrible person." CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta leaves US District Court after a hearing in Washington, DC, on November 14, 2018 Hours later the White House revoked Acosta's security pass, initially accusing him of "placing his hands" on a female press aide who tried to take the microphone away. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders released a video to support the claim, but analysts said the footage was sped up, creating the appearance that Acosta had manhandled the aide. In a "friend of court" brief, the White House Correspondents Association urged the court to find in favor of CNN, warning that to do otherwise would set a dangerous legal precedent. "The White House is the People's House, and the First Amendment does not permit the President to pick and choose which journalists do -- and do not -- cover him there." Others backing the CNN arguments in court included the Associated Press, Bloomberg, First Look Media Works, Gannett, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, NBC News, The New York Times, Politico, Press Freedom Defense Fund, EW Scripps Company, USA Today and The Washington Post. Aicha Younoussa fled Nigeria with her family four years ago to a refugee camp in southern Chad due to a threat from the Boko Haram Islamist insurgents The United Nations on Thursday launched what it called a "global first" to harness private-sector funding and expertise to help tackle humanitarian crises around the world. The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund Private Sector Initiative (NHF PSI) has been set up to strengthen the response to the effects of Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency in the country's remote northeast. More than 27,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in 2009. Nearly two million people are still homeless, while 6.1 million -- many of them children -- need life-saving assistance. But those involved in the relief effort have complained about a lack of joined-up response as well as funding shortfalls for much-needed food, shelter, sanitation and other projects. There have also been reported cases of food aid being diverted by corrupt local officials. The UN resident humanitarian coordinator and UNDP representative in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said the initiative was a "global first" as well as a "measurable and accountable" way to improve the response. It provided a "simple, powerful funding mechanism to pool resources, funding and innovation to create a more effective response to the humanitarian crisis", he told a launch event in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos. The fund, to be managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), was "a unique opportunity to create a blueprint for future private sector engagement" around the world, he added. Private sector firms would contribute to the fund and the UN body would allocate financing according to its priorities. The UN special representative in West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, said there was a need for a "paradigm shift" in funding for emergency and relief efforts. National government, international aid agencies and the world body were responding to an increasing number of crises, stretching limited resources. In Nigeria, for example, some $1.05 billion is needed to fund projects this year but as of the end of September, $583 million or 55.6 percent had been received, the UN said. Seventeen governments from Ireland to South Korea had provided $70 million to the NHF since it was launched in May last year. But there are hopes that by extending it to the Nigerian private sector more money will be raised -- and provide a model for other countries to follow suit. Chambas said the potential of having leading private-sector companies involved in a "country-based pooled fund" was "enormous". NEW YORK (AP) - The infamous Mexican drug lord and escape artist Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was alternately portrayed at his U.S. trial on Tuesday as a calculating leader of a bloodthirsty smuggling operation that funneled tons of cocaine and other drugs into American cities and a scapegoat for a conspiracy whose actual mastermind bribed crooked Mexican officials as high as the president to keep his freedom. In opening statements amid tight security in federal court in Brooklyn, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Fels told a jury whose identities have been kept secret how the man who got his start in a modest marijuana-selling business became a kingpin known for using an army of hit men to wipe out his competitors and anyone within his Sinaloa cartel who betrayed him. "Money. Drugs. Murder. ... That is what this case is about," Fels said. Defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman sought to shift blame in his opening to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, another reputed drug trafficker in the cartel's leadership who is still at large in Mexico. The lawyer claimed that unlike Guzman, Zambada remains on the loose because of bribes that "go up to the very top," including hundreds of millions of dollars paid to the current and former presidents of Mexico. He also suggested U.S. law enforcement turned a blind eye to the situation. In a tweet, a spokesman for current President Enrique Pena Nieto called the sensational allegation "completely false and defamatory." A separate tweet by ex-President Felipe Calderon called it "absolutely false and reckless." Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, surrounded by US Marshals, waves to his wife as he enters the courtroom at Brooklyn Federal Court, as his high-security trial got underway in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. The infamous Mexican drug lord has been held in solitary confinement since his extradition to the United States early last year. Guzman pleaded not guilty to charges that he amassed a multi-billion-dollar fortune smuggling tons of cocaine and other drugs in a vast supply chain that reached New York, New Jersey, Texas and elsewhere north of the border. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) One of Zambata's sons is expected to be the first of several government cooperators to testify against Guzman, possibly as early as Wednesday. Guzman, who has been held in solitary confinement since his extradition to the United States early last year, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he amassed a multi-billion-dollar fortune smuggling tons of cocaine and other drugs in a vast supply chain that reached well north of the border. Despite his diminutive stature and nickname that means "Shorty" in Spanish, Guzman was once a larger-than-life figure in Mexico who has been compared to Al Capone and Robin Hood and been the subject of ballads known as narcocorridos. He appeared in a dark suit and tie on Tuesday as he listened to Fels describe how he started modestly in the early 1970s by selling marijuana in Mexico, but built his reputation by constructing tunnels across the Mexico-U.S. border to transport marijuana and cocaine so fast that he was "no longer El Chapo, the short one." Instead, he became known as "the speedy one." Before his tunnels, it had taken weeks to move drugs across the border to the U.S. Before long, Guzman was receiving 10 to 15 planes "stuffed with cocaine" each day from Colombia at landing strips in Mexico for transport to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, Fels said. As his business flourished using the tunnels, trains, planes and vessels, Guzman began taking aim at rivals in the early 1990s, leading to bloody wars. In 1993, he fled to Guatemala but was captured and imprisoned in Mexico for eight years, where he continued running his drug empire, Fels said. The prosecutor spoke of two dramatic escapes from prison by Guzman and said he was planning a third when he was brought to the U.S. One of his escapes in 2015 was through a mile-long tunnel dug into a shower in his jail cell that he slipped into before fleeing on a motorcycle. The tunnel escape was a black eye for the Mexican government, an embarrassment amplified when the actor Sean Penn was able to find and interview him at one of his hideouts in Mexico while he was on the run from authorities. Fels said Guzman used some of his wealth to pay off the Mexican military and police and to finance assault rifles, grenade launchers and explosives to engage in "war after bloody war." He accused the defendant of personally shooting two men and having their bodies burned. Guzman's attorney told jurors it would have been impossible for him to be in charge of the cartel since he was either in jail or hiding out in the Mexican countryside during the entire time U.S. prosecutors claim he was the leader. Some of the cooperators will "tell you he has no money," Lichtman said. An email written by a U.S. agent who eavesdropped on Guzman for a year wrote, "Chapo was more of a myth than an actual legend," and that he was "not impressed" by him, the lawyer added. Opening statements were delayed about six hours on Tuesday after two jurors were dismissed for hardships and were replaced in a proceeding in another courtroom. Dozens of members of the media and other spectators were left waiting in the trial courtroom and in an overflow room with a warning that they would lose their seats to people in a long line outside if they stepped away. __ Associated Press writer Peter Orsi in Mexico City contributed to this report. FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2017 file photo provided U.S. law enforcement, authorities escort Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, center, from a plane to a waiting caravan of SUVs at Long Island MacArthur Airport, in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. A jury has been picked for the U.S. trial of the Mexican drug lord. Seven women and five men were selected Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, as jurors in the case against Guzman. The trial is set to begin Nov. 13 with opening statements in federal court in Brooklyn. (U.S. law enforcement via AP, File) Emma Coronel, center, the wife of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman leaves Brooklyn Federal court after opening arguments in the trial of the Mexican drug lord known as "El Chapo," Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Emma Coronel, the wife of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, arrives for his trial in Brooklyn federal court, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in New York. Opening statements at the trial of the notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman are to begin Tuesday morning under tight security. The evidence will include the testimony of more than a dozen cooperating witnesses who prosecutors say are risking retribution by taking the stand. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) A K-9 team walks past people waiting to enter Brooklyn federal court, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in New York. Opening statements at the trial of the notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman are to begin Tuesday morning under tight security. The evidence will include the testimony of more than a dozen cooperating witnesses who prosecutors say are risking retribution by taking the stand. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) The main problem, if there is a problem in the CSTO, is Armenia itself and the problems it has created, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with Ambassador of Belarus to Azerbaijan Gennady Akhramovich. "Of course, we are observing the situation in our region. We also closely observed the CSTO summit recently held in Kazakhstan. We are not indifferent to this, which I think is quite understandable because Armenia is a country that has occupied the territories of Azerbaijan. Of course, we are not indifferent to the issue of who, a representative of which country, heads the CSTO, which is a military-political organization. The discussion of these issues between partners and friends is natural. We are discussing other issues of international politics. This should not cause any manias in Armenia," AzerTAc cited Ilham Aliyev as saying. "We consider the recent statements of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as completely inadmissible in international practice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot comment on the actions and words of the president of another country, especially since it is considered an ally, and describe them as being incorrect. Such behavior of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is incorrect. Apparently, this is the result of a wrong perception of the world and its own place on the world map. At the same time, as you know, the Armenian side has stated that there is a problem in the CSTO. Maybe, they are right in that," the head of state stressed. "First of all, these problems are Armenia itself and the problems it has created. Of course, we were a little wary of the appointment of a representative of Armenia to the post of secretary general of the CSTO. First, because this state conducts a hostile policy against Azerbaijan, and second, due to the identity of the candidate who was prosecuted for his actions," he added. "We have no doubt, so to speak, about the qualities this character possessed and still possesses. Suffice it to recall his shameful behavior during the battles between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armies, which ended in a bitter defeat for the Armenian army, the army led by the former CSTO secretary general, he added. In other words, the very appointment of this person to such an important international organization as the CSTO somewhat discredited the organization. And the way this man was expelled with criminal prosecution is quite unique in international practice when an international clerk was brought to justice like that without sending any notification to member countries. So, I want to say again that the main problem, if there is a problem in the CSTO, is Armenia itself and the problems it has created," President Aliyev stressed. ATLANTA (AP) - After two federal court rulings and a flurry of legal filings over a 24-hour period, uncertainty still hangs over Georgia's midterm elections, including the still undecided race for governor. Unofficial results in one of the nation's hottest midterm contests give Republican Brian Kemp a slim majority. But Democrat Stacey Abrams maintains that enough uncounted absentee, mail-in and provisional ballots remain to force a Dec. 4 runoff and keep alive her bid to become the first black woman in American history to be elected governor of a state. In the week since voters went to the polls, arguments over certain provisional and absentee ballots have been presented at a dizzying pace before several different judges in federal court. Among them was a lawsuit filed Sunday by Abrams' campaign seeking an extension by one day of the deadline for county election officials to certify their results. As a hearing drew to a close just before the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones said he wouldn't extend the deadline because all the counties had likely already certified their results or were about to, and there were other protections in place. All but 16 of the state's 159 counties had certified their results by Tuesday evening, Secretary of State spokeswoman Candice Broce said in an email. Jones said he hopes to rule on the other requests from Abrams' campaign by noon Wednesday. Sen. Nikema Williams (D-Atlanta) is arrested by capitol police during a protest over election ballot counts in the rotunda of the state capitol building Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) The campaign has asked him to order county election officials to accept any absentee ballots on which there was missing or insufficient information as long as that doesn't "substantially obstruct" officials from verifying the absentee voter's identity. It also asked him to order county election officials to accept information that's submitted to fix issues with provisional ballots, and to count those votes until 5 p.m. Wednesday. And it asked that provisional ballots cast by a voter registered in the wrong county be counted as if the voter had shown up at the wrong precinct. Lawyers for state and county election officials argued that the Abrams campaign was trying to use an 11th hour lawsuit to rewrite the state's election laws. County election officials have been properly counting ballots and have been able to complete their duties in the time allowed by state law, they argued. In a separate case, U.S. District Judge Leigh May on Tuesday ordered Gwinnett County election officials not to reject absentee ballots just because the voter's birth year is missing or wrong and to count any that were cast in the Nov. 6 election. She also ordered the county to delay certification of its election results until those ballots have been counted. Republican Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Robyn Crittenden last week to replace Kemp, who resigned as secretary of state after declaring victory in the governor's race. Crittenden had issued guidance to county election officials on the absentee ballot issue Monday. Jones said he will consider whether he should effectively extend May's order to Georgia's other 158 counties. He said that under Crittenden's guidance, counties don't have to reject absentee ballots that are missing a year of birth if there's enough other information to verify the voter but her guidance fails to say they shouldn't reject them. He said that could cause absentee voters to be treated differently, depending on where they live. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg late Monday ordered state officials not to do their final certification of election results before 5 p.m. Friday. State law sets a Nov. 20 deadline. State elections director Chris Harvey testified last week that the state had planned to certify the election results Wednesday, a day after the deadline for counties to certify their results. He said that would allow preparations to begin for any runoff contests, including those already projected in the races for secretary of state and a Public Service Commission seat. Totenberg also ordered the secretary of state's office to establish and publicize a hotline or website where voters can check whether their provisional ballots were counted and, if not, the reason why. She also ordered the secretary of state's office to review or have county election authorities review the eligibility of voters who had to cast provisional ballots because of registration issues. Meanwhile, protesters, including a state senator, were arrested Tuesday during a demonstration at the Georgia Capitol calling for uncounted ballots to be tallied. "I'm being arrested because I refused to leave the floor of this building where I'm a state senator," Sen. Nikema Williams said as she was escorted from the building. "I wasn't yelling. I wasn't chanting. I was standing peacefully beside constituents I represent." The Georgia Department of Public Safety said a total of 15 people were arrested on charges of disrupting orderly conduct of official business and were taken to the Fulton County jail. After being released from the jail later Tuesday, Williams said she was targeted as a black woman. The Abrams campaign called for charges against Williams to be dropped. The Georgia Constitution states that legislators "shall be free from arrest during sessions of the General Assembly ... except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace." Unofficial returns show Kemp with a lead just shy of 60,000 votes out of more than 3.9 million cast. Abrams would need a net gain of about 21,000 votes to force a runoff. The Associated Press has not called the race. Kemp's campaign has repeatedly called on Abrams to concede, calling her campaign's lawsuit "a disgrace to democracy" that ignores mathematical realities. The Georgia Republican Party which on Tuesday joined the secretary of state's office in defending against the lawsuit, said in an emailed statement that Democrats were trying to "sue their way to a win" after losing at the ballot box. Abrams' campaign manager, Lauren Groh-Wargo, told reporters after the hearing that, "Our quest for basic fairness continues and that is we want every single vote to be counted here in Georgia." She accused Kemp, as the state's top elections official, of running a "chaotic" election that was characterized in long lines and an unusually high number of voters having to cast provisional ballots. ___ Follow Barrow and Brumback on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BillBarrowAP and https://twitter.com/katebrumback . Sen. Nikema Williams (D-Atlanta) is arrested by capitol police during a protest over election ballot counts in the rotunda of the state capitol building Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Atlanta. Dozens filled the rotunda in the center of the Capitol's second floor Tuesday just as the House was scheduled to convene for a special session. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) A man is arrested by Georgia state troopers during a protest over election ballot counts in the rotunda of the state Capitol building Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Atlanta. Several protesters, including a state senator, have been arrested during a demonstration at the Georgia state Capitol calling for tallying of uncounted ballots from last week's election. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A California man pleaded guilty Tuesday to making a hoax call that ultimately led police to fatally shoot a Kansas man following a dispute between two online gamers over $1.50 bet in a Call of Duty WWII video game. Tyler R. Barriss , 26, admitted to making the false report resulting in a death, as well as cyberstalking and conspiracy related to the deadly swatting calls in Kansas. The deal with prosecutors will send him to prison for between 20 and 25 years, if the judge accepts it. He had previously pleaded not guilty in Kansas. As part of the plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Barriss pleaded guilty to a total of 51 charges that included federal charges initially filed in California and the District of Columbia related to other fake calls and threats . Defense attorney Richard Federico told the court his client is accepting responsibility and is attempting to "clear the deck" of all federal charges. Barriss, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, stood with his hands folded in front of him as he entered his pleas. "Without ever stepping foot in Wichita, the defendant created a chaotic situation that quickly turned from dangerous to deadly," U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release. "His reasons were trivial and his disregard for the safety of other people was staggering." FILE - In this May 22, 2018, file photo, Tyler Barriss, of California, appears for a preliminary hearing in Wichita, Kan. Barriss is accused of making a hoax phone call that led police to fatally shoot an unarmed man in Wichita, Kan., in December 2017. Barris is set to change his plea in federal court. (Bo Rader/The Wichita Eagle via AP, File) In the case from the District of Columbia, Barriss pleaded guilty to two counts for making hoax bomb threats in phone calls to the headquarters of the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. In the California case, he pleaded guilty to 46 counts for making false reports that bombs were planted at high schools, universities, shopping malls, and television stations. He called from Los Angeles to emergency numbers in Ohio, New Hampshire, Nevada, Massachusetts, Illinois, Utah, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, Missouri, Maine, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, New York, Michigan, Florida and Canada. His sentencing was set for Jan. 30. Also charged as co-conspirators in the federal case in Kansas are online gamers Casey Viner, 18, of North College Hill, Ohio, and Shane Gaskill, 20, of Wichita. They have pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to obstruct justice, wire fraud and other counts. Their trial is scheduled for Jan. 8 in U.S. District Court in Wichita. Viner allegedly became upset at Gaskill while playing the popular online game. Authorities say Viner then asked Barriss of Los Angeles to "swat" Gaskill at an address that Gaskill had previously provided him. Swatting is a form of retaliation sometimes used by gamers, who call police and make a false report to send first responders to an online opponent's address. Barriss is accused of calling Wichita police from Los Angeles on Dec. 28, 2017, to report a shooting and kidnapping at a Wichita address. Authorities say Barris researched the address Viner had given him for Gaskill and verified it was a home. When Gaskill noticed Barriss was following him on Twitter, he began communicating with Barriss through direct messages in which he also gave him that same old address and dared him to swat him. "Please try some s---. I'll be waiting," Gaskill wrote in the direct messages cited in the indictment. A police officer responding to the call fatally shot the new resident Andrew Finch, 28, after he opened the door. It is unclear what will become of separate state charges. Barriss is scheduled for a separate Jan. 7 trial in Sedgwick County District Court on state charges of involuntary manslaughter, giving a false alarm and interference with a law enforcement officer. In a year of liberal challenges to President Donald Trump, an avowed centrist scored the Democratic Party's biggest coup -- flipping a red state's U.S. Senate seat. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema won the Arizona Senate seat being vacated by Republican Jeff Flake to become the first woman to win a U.S. Senate seat in the state. The race against Republican Rep. Martha McSally was tight enough that a winner wasn't decided until Monday, after a slow count of mail-in ballots gave her an insurmountable lead. Sinema's win achieves a longtime Democratic goal of making Arizona, with its growing Latino population, a competitive state. And she did it by pointedly not running against the president, or even critiquing his hardline immigration stance. "She didn't put the progressive bit in her mouth and run with it," said Chuck Coughlin, a GOP strategist in Phoenix. "She spit it out and did something else." Sinema targeted moderate Republican and independent women by painting herself as a nonpartisan problem-solver who voted to support Trump's agenda 60 percent of the time. Her nearly single-issue campaign talked about the importance of health care and protections for people with pre-existing conditions. She knew McSally was vulnerable there because she backed the Republicans' failed attempt to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law. U.S. Sen.-elect Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., smiles after her victory over Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Sinema tailored her campaign for conservative-leaning Arizona rather than the national environment, but it may be a guide for Democrats who hope to expand the electoral map in 2020. While some liberals won important races in California, Colorado and Kansas, the left's highest-profile champions disappointed on Election Day. Rep. Beto O'Rourke fell short in his challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas. Stacey Abrams trails her Republican opponent in the still undecided bitter Georgia gubernatorial race, and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who once led in the polls in the race for Florida governor, is now awaiting the results of a recount. Sinema prevailed while the Democratic candidate for governor, David Garcia, ran as an avowed progressive and got trounced by Republican incumbent Doug Ducey. "Kyrsten was the perfect candidate for this race," said Democratic strategist Chad Campbell, who previously served with Sinema in Arizona's state legislature. "We saw that with Garcia." Sinema first came to prominence as an openly bisexual Green Party activist in Phoenix, and McSally raked the Democrat over her protests against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Sinema was elected as a Democrat to the state legislature in 2004 and carved out a reputation as a liberal who could work with her conservative colleagues. By the time she was elected to Congress representing a suburban Phoenix swing district in 2012, Sinema had completely remade herself into a centrist. She voted against Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic leader, supported relaxed regulations on banks and a law to increase penalties on people illegally re-entering the country. She supported a bill making it easier to deport immigrants identified by police as gang members. During the Senate campaign, Sinema stuck to her centrist message, almost robotically at times. She faced only a nominal primary challenge from her left and was free to burnish her nonpartisan credentials, unlike McSally, who faced two primary challengers from the right and tied herself to Trump. On Election Day, Sinema swung by Arizona State University's downtown Phoenix campus to hand out doughnuts and gleefully posed for photos. She has four degrees from the school and teaches two classes there. "What are you going to do for people who are a little more on the left?" voter Petra Morrison asked. The candidate said she wasn't focused on party labels or ideology. Morrison later told a reporter she was going to vote for Sinema, even though "she seems to come across as a Democrat in sheep's clothing." Though Sinema wooed moderates, she needed liberals like Morrison in her corner for her win. She benefited from a longtime organizing push by activists who especially targeted the state's young, growing and Democratic-leaning Latino electorate. "It's been 10 years and even more, this mobilization and galvanizing," said Lisa Magana, a professor in ASU's School of Transborder Studies. Historically Republicans have countered the growth of Arizona's Hispanic population by winning white voters by ever-bigger margins. But Sinema fought this strategy to a standstill among two key groups of whites -- younger voters and women. White women split their vote between Sinema and McSally, according to AP VoteCast. While whites ages 45 and older favored McSally, those under 45 were evenly divided between the Democrat and Republican. Meanwhile, Latinos favored Sinema by roughly 2 to 1. VoteCast is a nationwide survey of more than 115,000 voters, including 4,128 voters in Arizona. And though Trump's rhetoric on immigration seemed pitched to Arizona voters' anxieties about the border, both Democratic and Republican polls throughout the race showed the president had more people disapproving of him. Trump visited only once on McSally's behalf in mid-October. The following week, Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego said there was a notable spike in Latinos returning their early ballots; most Arizona residents vote by mail. "It was like they spent the weekend at the kitchen table" filling out the ballots in anger, Gallego said. Annette Villelas was one of those angry voters. She registered for the first time so she could vote for Democrats and against Trump. It wasn't just the way the president deals with immigrants, she said after shaking Sinema's hand at a Phoenix taco shop. "The way he talks just to the public, it's not right," Villelas said. "I want to vote and get him out and get someone in for the people." Ron Horsford, a 50-year-old Republican, was at the same event and said he was excited to vote for Sinema. He liked her message of "I'm going to work with the other side." The question for Democrats in Arizona is whether they can attract voters like Horsford and Villelas in 2020. Not only does the party hope it can put the state in play in the presidential race, voters will get their first chance to select John McCain's successor. Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, who was appointed after McCain's death, has pledged not to run. Despite its image as a staunch Republican bastion, Arizona is attracting younger, educated voters from elsewhere in the United States. In this election, Democrats expanded their share in the state Legislature, though they're still the minority. They took a 5-4 majority in the state's congressional seats and remain competitive in two down-ballot and uncalled statewide races. U.S. Sen.-elect Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., declares victory over Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) U.S. Sen.-elect Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., declares victory over Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2018, file photo, U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., goes over the rules in a television studio prior to a televised debate with U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., in Phoenix. Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema has won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat, defeating McSally. The race between Sinema and McSally was one of the most-watched in the nation. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) U.S. Sen.-elect Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., speaks after being declared the winner over Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) U.S. Sen.-elect Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., speaks after being declared the winner over Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2018 file photo, U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., goes over the rules in a television studio prior to a televised debate with U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., in Phoenix. Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat Monday, Nov. 12, in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating Republican Rep. Martha McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) An elections worker prepares ballots before inserting them into a counting machine at Pima County Elections in Tucson, Ariz., Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (Rick Wiley /Arizona Daily Star via AP) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Attorneys for Kentucky's socially conservative governor and the state's only abortion clinic opened their latest legal fight Tuesday, this time over a lawsuit challenging a new state law aimed at a common second-trimester procedure to end pregnancies. Anti-abortion activists gathered outside the federal courthouse and inside the courtroom as the trial began over the law that its critics, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, say would amount to an impediment for women seeking abortions in their second trimester. During opening statements, an attorney for the clinic told the judge that the law is unconstitutional because it would "all but eliminate" abortions for women past the 14th week of pregnancy. ACLU attorney Alexa Kolbi-Molinas said the procedure targeted by the state law is "safe and medically proven," and she accused the state's lawyers of "demonizing" the method with inflammatory rhetoric. Steve Pitt, lead attorney for Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's legal team, described the procedure as "brutal, gruesome and inhumane" that results in a fetus being torn apart "limb by limb." He stressed the need to protect the weak, adding: "There are none so weak as an unborn child." Pitt said the law does not create a "substantial obstacle" for women seeking abortions. It doesn't ban the procedure, he said, but requires that other methods be used first to cause fetal demise. Kolbi-Molinas said those methods can result in medical risks to patients. Pitt countered that those methods amount to a "very simple process" for doctors. The measure - passed this year by Kentucky's GOP-led legislature and signed by Bevin, a fervent abortion opponent - was suspended soon after the clinic filed the lawsuit, pending the outcome of the trial. Before the trial began, a group of anti-abortion activists gathered in a prayer circle outside the federal courthouse. One of the participants, Joyce Ostrander of Lexington, said she wanted to show her support for what she considers a "reasonable statute." "Why would anybody defend dismembering a live, unborn child when there are other options?" she said. Abortion opponents, many dressed in red, sat in the courtroom as the trial began in U.S. District Court in Louisville. The trial is expected to last several days and both sides will present of number of witnesses, including doctors. "This is a critical hour for Kentucky, for the lives of the unborn," Republican state Rep. Addia Wuchner, who co-authored the measure, said during a rally outside the courthouse. Chief District Judge Joseph H. McKinley Jr. is presiding over the trial without a jury and will issue a decision later. Lawyers for the clinic say the new law amounts to an unconstitutional intrusion on an abortion procedure known as "dilation and evacuation." The procedure was used in 537 of 3,312 abortions done in Kentucky in 2016, according to state statistics. The state's lawyers argue the law would still allow use of the D&E procedure, but only after doctors use a "more humane way" to induce fetal death through another procedure. Clinic attorneys note that similar laws in some other states were struck down, though some cases are being appealed. Under the Kentucky law, abortion providers violating the law would be guilty of a felony carrying up to five years in prison. Women undergoing such abortions would not face prosecution. Kentucky Republicans have pushed through measures putting limits and conditions on abortion since assuming complete control of the state's legislature in 2017. Those actions have spurred a series of legal fights between Bevin's administration and Kentucky's only remaining abortion clinic, EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville. Two abortion-related laws have been struck down in court since, but Bevin's administration has appealed both cases. One of those laws, enacted in early 2017, would require doctors to perform ultrasounds and then show and describe the ultrasound images to pregnant women, who could avert their eyes. The other law, passed two decades ago, required a Kentucky abortion clinic to have written agreements with a hospital and ambulance service in case of medical emergencies. Bevin's administration cited that law in a fight that threatened the state's last abortion clinic. PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - A white retired firefighter who burst out of his suburban Detroit house and shot at a black teenager who was asking for help to find his way to school was sentenced Tuesday to at least four years in prison. Jeffrey Zeigler said he has "full remorse and regret" over the incident last spring in Rochester Hills. The mother of 14-year-old Brennan Walker said race was the key factor. Her son wasn't physically injured. "I try to keep race out of it, but we all know that's what it was," Lisa Wright told a judge. Brennan said he missed a school bus on April 12 and knocked on Zeigler's door after getting lost. He ran after seeing a man inside the house grab a gun. A key piece of evidence: Video from a home security camera showing the boy running away and a shirtless Zeigler firing a shotgun. Smoke emerged from the barrel. A jury convicted him last month of assault and a gun crime. "He almost took the life of another human being," assistant prosecutor Kelly Collins said. "That will forever stay with Brennan - forever. His perception of strangers, his perception of other people, his perception of the world." Jeffrey Zeigler looks down as he is sentenced, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich. The retired firefighter was sentenced to at least four years in prison for shooting at a black teenager who came to his suburban Detroit home asking for directions to school. (Todd McInturf /Detroit News via AP) Oakland County Judge Wendy Potts sentenced Zeigler, a retired Detroit firefighter, to four to 10 years in prison, which means he'll serve four years before he's eligible to be released on parole. "I wish I could change something," Zeigler, 53, told the judge. At trial, he said he woke up to his wife's screams and that she believed someone was trying to break into their home. Brennan didn't attend the final hearing. "We moved to Rochester Hills to live in a better place, a safe place," Wright said. "But when a safer place doesn't want you there, I don't know how to process that." Sheriff: California wildfire's death toll rises to 48 PARADISE, Calif. (AP) - Ernest Foss was a musician who gave lessons out of his home when he lived in San Francisco, where an amplifier that ran the length of a wall served as the family's living room couch. Carl Wiley refurbished tires for Michelin. Jesus Fernandez, known as "Zeus," was described as a loving father and loyal friend. They were among the first victims identified in the aftermath of the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in California history, an inferno blamed for at least 48 deaths, with authorities ramping up the search Tuesday for still more souls. The flames all but obliterated the Northern California town of Paradise, population 27,000, and ravaged surrounding areas last Thursday. About 7,700 homes were destroyed. The exact number of missing was unclear, but many friends and relatives of those living in the fire zone said they hadn't heard from loved ones. Some went to shelters looking for the missing. Efforts were underway to bring in mobile morgues, cadaver dogs, a rapid DNA analysis system for identifying victims, and an additional 150 search-and-rescue personnel on top of 13 teams already looking for remains - a grim indication that the death toll would almost surely rise. ___ Trump eyeing staffing shakeup in Cabinet and at White House WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is weighing an administration-wide shakeup as he looks to prepare his White House for divided government, but it is unclear who is going and who is staying. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was thought to be out as soon as this week, according to two people with knowledge of the issue, but she is now likely to remain in the post for a longer period because there is no obvious successor in place. Trump has soured on Nielsen and White House chief of staff John Kelly, in part over frustration that his administration is not doing more to address what he has called a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the two people. But the scope of the contemplated changes is far broader, as Trump gears up for a wave of Democratic oversight requests and to devote more effort to his re-election campaign. According to people familiar with the situation, Trump is also discussing replacing Kelly with Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff, Nick Ayers. Kelly, a retired Marine general, has been credited with bringing order and process to a chaotic West Wing, but he has fallen out of favor with the president as well as with presidential daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Ayers, a seasoned campaign operative, would restore a political mindset to the role, but he faces stiff opposition from some corners of the West Wing, with some aides lobbying Trump directly against the move. ___ Amazon goes bicoastal, will open HQs in New York, DC suburb NEW YORK (AP) - Amazon has set its sights on two of the nation's largest and most powerful metro areas, announcing Tuesday it had chosen a buzzy New York neighborhood and a suburb of Washington for its new East Coast headquarters. The online shopping giant ended its 14-month-long competition for second headquarters by selecting Long Island City, Queens, and Arlington, Virginia , as the joint winners. Both are waterfront communities away from overcrowded business districts, giving Amazon space to grow. Amazon could have picked a city looking to be revitalized, like Newark, New Jersey. Instead, it decided to be in two of the nation's centers of power. The reason Amazon gave: they are best suited to attract the high-skilled workers the company wants. The two sites will each get 25,000 jobs that Amazon said will pay an average of $150,000 a year. The company will receive more than $2 billion in tax credits and other incentives. New York is forking over more than $1.5 billion, while Virginia and Arlington are offering about a third of that - $573 million. The hope is that Amazon will attract other companies and ultimately boost the local economies. But while many see it as an opportunity, not everyone is sold on the idea. "Offering massive corporate welfare from scarce public resources to one of the wealthiest corporations in the world at a time of great need in our state is just wrong," said New York State Sen. Michael Gianaris and New York City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, Democrats who represent the Long Island City area, in a joint statement. ___ Democrat Harder ousts California GOP US Rep. Denham LOS ANGELES (AP) - First-time candidate Josh Harder defeated four-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham Tuesday in California's farm belt, giving Democrats their fourth pickup of a GOP House seat in California. Harder, 32, a venture capitalist, had anchored his campaign to Denham's vote against the Affordable Care Act, while arguing that he would push for universal health care in Congress. He also argued that Denham and other Washington Republicans ignored poverty and health care in the agricultural 10th District in California's Central Valley. "Washington is broken because our leaders have put party over country. I pledge that I will always put this community before anything in Washington," Harder said in a statement. As ballot-counting continued, Democrats gained ground in two undecided House races in Orange County, California, raising the possibility of a Democratic sweep of four closely contested congressional races in the one-time Republican stronghold. In the 45th District in Orange County, Democrat Katie Porter jumped into a 261-vote lead over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters, after trailing the incumbent since Election Day. ___ Expensive APEC summit sows division in host Papua New Guinea PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) - After three decades of promoting free trade as a panacea to poverty, the APEC grouping of nations that includes the U.S. and China is holding its lavish annual leaders meeting in the country that can least afford it. Barely penetrated by roads and scarred by violence, Papua New Guinea hopes the parade of world leaders will lift the mountainous Pacific nation of hundreds of tribal groups out of obscurity and attract investment. But the expense has brought criticism when the government has a budget crisis, basic medicines are scarce, and polio, eliminated from all but a handful of countries, has returned. In 2015, the International Monetary Fund estimated that upgrading the capital for the event and hosting a year of related meetings could cost $1 billion. Australia, the biggest foreign aid donor to Papua New Guinea and former colonial occupier, as well as China and other countries have absorbed some of the cost but critics have already been given plenty of vindication. In an eye-popping move, the government imported 40 luxury Maserati cars to whisk VIPs among convention venues in the secure bubble of the APEC meetings. Officials said the government would sell them to recover the cost, sparking more disbelief and suspicions of a corrupt scheme. ___ Juul halts store sales of some flavored e-cigarettes NEW YORK (AP) - The nation's leading e-cigarette maker is halting store sales of some flavors to deter use by kids. The move by Juul Labs Inc. comes ahead of an expected U.S. government crackdown on underage sales of flavored e-cigarettes. Juul said it stopped filling store orders Tuesday for mango, fruit, creme and cucumber pods and will resume sales only to retailers that scan IDs and take other steps to verify a buyer is at least 21. It said it will continue to sell menthol and mint at stores, and sell all flavors through its website. The company also said it would close its Facebook and Instagram social media accounts, and pledged other steps to make it clear that it doesn't want kids using its e-cigarettes. Its products are meant to help adult smokers quit regular cigarettes, CEO Kevin Burns said in a statement. ___ Pilots says Boeing didn't disclose jet's new control feature Boeing didn't tell airline pilots about features of a new flight-control system in its 737 MAX that reportedly is a focus of the investigation into last month's deadly crash in Indonesia, according to pilots who fly the jet in the U.S. Pilots say they were not trained in new features of an anti-stall system in the aircraft that differ from previous models of the popular 737. The automated system is designed to help pilots avoid raising the plane's nose too high, which can cause the plane to stall, or lose the aerodynamic lift needed to keep flying. The system automatically pushes the nose of the plane down. But if that nose-down command is triggered by faulty sensor readings - as suspected in the Lion Air crash - pilots can struggle to control the plane, which can go into a dive and perhaps crash, according to a Boeing safety bulletin and safety regulators. The bulletin included new details on how to stop a runaway series of events from leading to a crash, pilots say. ___ Authorities: Custody dispute played role in family's slaying WAVERLY, Ohio (AP) - Authorities arrested a family of four Tuesday in the gruesome 2016 slayings of eight people from another family in rural Ohio, a crime that prosecutors suggested stemmed from a custody dispute. The announcement marked the culmination of a massive investigative effort that began after seven adults and a teenage boy were found shot in the head at four separate homes in April 2016. The killings terrified local residents and spawned rumors that it was a drug hit. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said a grand jury indicted the four on aggravated murder charges and they could be sentenced to death if convicted. DeWine gave scant detail about why the victims were killed, but he said the custody of a young child played a role. He added that the accused had carefully planned the murders for months. "There certainly was an obsession with custody, obsession with control of children," DeWine said. Those indicted were Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26, his father George "Billy" Wagner III, 47; Billy Wagner's wife, 48-year-old Angela Wagner and George Wagner, 27. The four lived near the scenes of the massacre about 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of Columbus and had long been considered chief suspects, DeWine said. ___ Melania Trump publicly calls for White House aide's firing WASHINGTON (AP) - In an extraordinary move, Melania Trump called publicly Tuesday for the deputy national security adviser to be dismissed. After reports circulated Tuesday that President Donald Trump had decided to remove Mira Ricardel from her post at the National Security Council, Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's spokeswoman, released a statement that said: "It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House." Shortly before the statement was issued, Ricardel was among a group of administration officials and other individuals who stood behind President Trump at a White House ceremony celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the first lady's staff and Ricardel had clashed during Mrs. Trump's visit to Africa in October over such things as seating on the airplane and requests to use the council's resources. A White House official told The Associated Press that Ricardel wanted to travel to Africa with the first lady but was denied seating on the airplane because there was no room for her and several others who initially expected to make the trip. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House personnel matters, said Ricardel then threatened not to send any NSC staff. ___ Only on AP: Bloomberg charts aggressive timeline on 2020 bid NEW YORK (AP) - Having spent a fortune to help elect Democrats this fall, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared lifetime allegiance to the Democratic Party on Tuesday and outlined an aggressive timeline for deciding whether to run for president. "I think January, February would be about as late as you can do it and as early as you can gather enough information," Bloomberg told The Associated Press in an interview. The 76-year-old billionaire said his decision would have little to do with other Democratic presidential prospects. He conceded that "it's much too early to tell" whether he has a legitimate chance of winning the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and, with it, the chance to take on another New York billionaire, President Donald Trump. "Thanksgiving, Christmas and then maybe a few weeks into January - that's when you really gotta sit down, talk to your advisers and say, 'Look, do I have a chance?' I think I know why I would want to run. I think I know what I think this country should do and what I would do. But I just don't know whether it's possible," Bloomberg told the AP. He added, "If people don't seem to be warming to you, there's plenty of other ways that I can make a difference in life and say thank you to this country for what it's given my kids and me." WASHINGTON (AP) - The bright-eyed class of incoming members of Congress descended on Washington Tuesday for schooling on the nuts and bolts underpinning a job like none other. But even as they chose curtain colors and sorted party invitations, the freshmen who vowed to change Washington were getting an old-school education on political pressure from the veteran lawmakers who want to lead them. "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on," said Rep.-elect Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., a former member of the state legislature. "We're the small fish in a very big pond right now." Welcomed to Washington by tight security and a round of power receptions, the new members of Congress are a younger, more diverse group. The freshman class includes a record number of women who drove the most powerful Democratic sweep of the House since the Watergate election of 1974. Democrats picked up at least 32 seats, with several races still undecided. In a notable generational handover Tuesday, a grinning Rep. Sander Levin, 87, dropped off his newly-elected son, Andy, 58, at a hotel near the Capitol where the freshmen are staying and attending orientation. As the retiring Michigan lawmaker drove away, the younger Levin - who will serve in his father's seat - headed inside pulling a rollaway suitcase behind him. There were other signs of change. The most famous of the freshmen, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, posted a photo of the cover of the New Yorker magazine, which depicts incoming lawmakers of color pushing into a colorless room full of men with the caption: "Knock knock." But Ocasio-Cortez, at 29 the youngest woman ever elected to the House, wasn't just active on social media. She stopped by a protest in the office of the senior-most Democratic House veteran, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who permitted the demonstration by 200 or so activists. Pelosi has pledged to reinstate a special committee on climate change. Rep.-elect Daniel Meuser, R-PA., stops to answer questions for members of the media after checking-in for orientation for new members of Congress, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Pelosi also expects Democrats to elect her speaker, second in line to the presidency, for the second time. Ocasio-Cortez has not said whether she'll vote for the California Democrat. Others, such as Rep.-elect Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, have said they will oppose Pelosi. But still other freshmen lawmakers have fallen in line. They're under pressure from a parade of powerful, moneyed interest groups such as NARAL and the AFL-CIO that support Pelosi and could be helpful - or not - in re-election bids that effectively have already begun. "I think there's tremendous value in experience and knowing how to move legislation and knowing every trick possible," Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar, for whom Pelosi campaigned, said in an interview. She's supporting Pelosi, she said, but there should be "a leadership pipeline" to carry younger faces into the House's highest ranks. "Without her, major pieces of legislation would have never gotten passed," such as the Affordable Care Act, said incoming Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M. "She's ready to lead and so I'm going to support her." Their majority gone, Republicans had their own leadership race between Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. "I have not made a decision yet," said Rep.-elect Dan Meuser, R-Pa. "We'll see over the next couple of days." Checked-in, the freshmen of both parties toured Capitol Hill in the afternoon as the sitting Congress battled over President Donald Trump's border wall, which could spark a partial federal government shutdown in weeks. Newly emboldened Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing to protect special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. For many newcomers, it's a scramble to stand up offices in Washington and back home in their districts, which each represent more than 700,000 people. Every office has a budget. And every freshman who doesn't already have a home in pricey Washington will have to figure out how to rent an apartment, or maybe just keep a rollaway bed in the office, on a $174,000 salary. First things first, and not all of them are glamorous. Awaiting the newcomers in the basement of a House office building is a sign on a wall pointing the way to the "Office Setup Briefing." It directs them to a walled-off room next to the cafeteria, where there were numbered stations to sit and view curtain samples in a choice of shades, as well as a booklet called the "Standard Furniture Catalog," from which to select styles for their offices. ___ Associated Press Writers Matthew Daly and Jennifer Farrar contributed. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY., arrives for orientation for new members of Congress, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., talks during a news conference with members of the Progressive Caucus in Washington, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., listens during a news conference with members of the Progressive Caucus in Washington, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) PARADISE, Calif. (AP) - Ernest Foss was a musician who gave lessons out of his home when he lived in San Francisco, where an amplifier that ran the length of a wall served as the family's living room couch. Carl Wiley refurbished tires for Michelin. Jesus Fernandez, known as "Zeus," was described as a loving father and loyal friend. They were among the first victims identified in the aftermath of the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in California history, an inferno blamed for at least 48 deaths, with authorities ramping up the search Tuesday for still more souls. The flames all but obliterated the Northern California town of Paradise, population 27,000, and ravaged surrounding areas last Thursday. About 7,700 homes were destroyed. The exact number of missing was unclear, but many friends and relatives of those living in the fire zone said they hadn't heard from loved ones. Some went to shelters looking for the missing. Efforts were underway to bring in mobile morgues, cadaver dogs, a rapid DNA analysis system for identifying victims, and an additional 150 search-and-rescue personnel on top of 13 teams already looking for remains - a grim indication that the death toll would almost surely rise. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea's office has identified four of the victims, publicly naming three. Search and rescue workers search for human remains at a trailer park burned by the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) James Wiley said sheriff's deputies informed him that his father, Carl, was among the dead, but the younger Wiley hadn't been able to leave his property in the fire area to see for himself. The elder Wiley, 77, was a tire-recapper, and the family lived in Alaska for many years before moving to Butte County decades ago. James Wiley said his father was a stoic veteran, and the two had not spoken in six years. "Hey, I lost him a long time ago," the younger man said. Foss, 63, moved to Paradise eight years ago because the high cost of living pushed him out of the San Francisco Bay Area, according to his daughter, Angela Loo. He had swollen limbs and couldn't walk. He had also been on oxygen. Loo told KTVU-TV in Oakland that her father taught music out of their home in San Francisco and turned the living room into a studio. "I love that he shared his gift of music with me and so many others during his lifetime," she said. "He would want to be remembered for being a San Franciscan through and through." Fernandez, a 48-year-old Concow resident, also died. Myrna Pascua, whose husband was best friends with the man known as "Zeus," called him a "tireless provider, a dependable and loyal friend, a considerate neighbor, and loving father. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him." Five days after the blaze, over 1,000 people were at more than a half-dozen shelters set up for evacuees. At the Neighborhood Church in Chico, counselors, chaplains and nursing students from California State University, Chico, were available to help. Volunteers cooked meals, and there was a large bulletin board with information about missing people. Eddie Lazarom, who fled Paradise on foot before getting a lift from a UPS truck, was among those staying at the church. He said he had yet to hear from his three grandchildren, ages 22, 24 and 28. "I am really worried about them. They have common sense, I'm sure, but I'd hate to find out later that they burned up," he said. Greg Gibson came to the shelter for information about his neighbors. He doesn't know if they tried to leave or not but says the fire exploded so quickly that if they hesitated, they would have had trouble. "It happened so fast. It would have been such an easy decision to stay, but it was the wrong choice," Gibson said. The search for the dead was drawing on portable devices that can identify someone's genetic material in a couple of hours, rather than days or weeks. "In many circumstances, without rapid DNA technology, it's just such a lengthy process," says Frank DePaolo, a deputy commissioner of the New York City medical examiners' office, which has been at the forefront of the science of identifying human remains since 9/11 and is exploring how it might use a rapid DNA device. Still, experts said Tuesday that authorities may first try more traditional methods of identification such as examining dental records. That's in part because victims might have undergone dental X-rays but not personal DNA profiles. Medical records of bone fractures, prosthetics or implants can also be helpful. Before the Paradise tragedy, the deadliest single fire on record in California was a 1933 blaze in Griffith Park in Los Angeles that killed 29. At the other end of the state, firefighters made progress against a massive blaze that has killed two people in star-studded Malibu and destroyed well over 400 structures in Southern California . The flames roared to life again in a mountainous wilderness area Tuesday, sending up a huge plume of smoke near the community of Lake Sherwood. Still, firefighters made gains. The number of people evacuated was down by about half from the day before, to around 100,000, authorities said, and the fire was partially contained. "We're getting the upper hand here. We're feeling better," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. Gov. Jerry Brown said California is "pretty well maxed out" from fighting several deadly wildfires, and he expressed gratitude for help from surrounding states and the federal government. He said the state is doing everything possible to prevent fires, but "some things only God can do." Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he canceled a trip to Asia and will visit the fire zones Wednesday and Thursday. The fire in Northern California charred at least 195 square miles (505 square kilometers), but officials said crews were able to keep it from advancing toward Oroville, a town of about 19,000 people. The state recently completed a $1.1 billion reconstruction project at the Oroville Dam - the nation's tallest at 770 feet (235 meters) - and officials worried about damage if flames came through. Spillways at the dam crumbled during heavy rains in 2017, prompting thousands to flee for fear of a catastrophic release of water. The cause of the fires remained under investigation, but they broke out around the time and place two utilities reported equipment trouble. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, who takes office in January, sidestepped questions about what action should be taken against utilities if their power lines are found to be responsible. ___ Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Sudhin Thanawala, Janie Har, Jocelyn Gecker and Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco. A sign stands at a community destroyed by the Camp fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A search and rescue worker searches a pool for human remains at a trailer park burned by the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A search and rescue workers searches a car for human remains at a trailer park burned out from the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A fire truck drives through an area burned in the wildfire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. Five days after flames all but obliterated the Northern California town, officials were unsure of the exact number of missing. But the death toll was almost certain to rise. (AP Photo/John Locher) Search and rescue workers search for human remains at a burned out trailer park from the Camp fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) News reporters stand in an area burned by a wildfire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A sign hangs on a wall at the Paradise Elementary School destroyed by the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A fire truck drives through an area burned from the wildfire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. Five days after flames all but obliterated the Northern California town, officials were unsure of the exact number of missing. But the death toll was almost certain to rise. (AP Photo/John Locher) Messages are shown on a bulletin board at The Neighborhood Church in Chico, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Numerous postings fill the message board as evacuees, family and friends search for people missing from the northern California wildfire. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus) MALIBU, Calif. (AP) - Southern California's huge wildfire roared to life again Tuesday in a mountain wilderness area. But in a sign of significant progress against the blaze, more neighborhoods were reopened to thousands of residents who fled last week. A massive plume rose suddenly at midmorning in the Santa Monica Mountains near the community of Lake Sherwood, prompting authorities to send numerous aircraft to drop fire retardant and water on the blaze. Forecasters had warned of ongoing fire danger because of persistent Santa Ana winds, the withering, dry gusts that sweep out of the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes. But except for an apartment building that burned overnight in coastal Malibu, there was little sign of fire activity elsewhere in the vast fire zone west of Los Angeles. Officials tempered optimism with caution, saying there were hotspots and pockets of unburned vegetation. "We are not out of the woods yet. We still have some incredibly tough conditions ahead of us," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. The Malibu, Calif., villa of German TV presenter Thomas Gottschalk lies in ruins from the Woolsey fire Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.(AP Photo/Reed Saxon) The death toll from the Woolsey fire stood at two - a pair of adults found last week in a car overtaken by flames. They have not been identified. The number of homes and other structures destroyed had reached 435. Damage assessments were continuing, with crews having to gain access to canyon areas on foot. "That number is going to rise significantly," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. Residents who stayed behind in coastal communities that were cut off by road closures were getting supplies by boat. Gas, food, baby wipes and horse pellets were among the items brought ashore in the Paradise Cove area of Malibu. "It's pretty cool. It's really amazing that people out there know that we're kind of stranded here in Malibu," Cherie Millford Smart said. Large boats arrived from Redondo Beach, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the south. Supplies were unloaded onto smaller boats, jet skis and even surf boards. Some residents donned wetsuits and swam ashore with cases of water and beer. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth lost their Malibu home in the wildfire and are donating $500,000 to The Malibu Foundation through Cyrus' charity, The Happy Hippie Foundation. A statement from the couple says they "are very grateful to be safe along with their animals." The fire has grown to nearly 152 square miles (393 square kilometers), but containment also increased to 40 percent. The fire has burned more than 80 percent of National Parks Service land in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Authorities lifted evacuations Tuesday in several neighborhoods, and other areas have been repopulated since the weekend. Tens of thousands of people remained under evacuation orders, down from a high of as many as 250,000. Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell urged patience by residents being turned back at roadblocks. The area has not seen such a firestorm since the Old Topanga fire of 1993. The firestorm has left an array of hazards, including trees ready to fall, downed power lines, toxins, water main and gas leaks, and other destroyed infrastructure. "We want to get you home but more important we want you to be safe," McDonnell said.' Forecasts called for the Santa Ana winds to lighten Wednesday and Thursday. A forecast of possible rain next week would help firefighters but also raised the prospect of potential mud flows, Osby said. At least 42 people were confirmed dead in a wildfire that obliterated the Northern California town of Paradise , making it the deadliest wildfire in recorded state history. The search for bodies continued. The cause of the Southern California fires remained under investigation. Southern California Edison said last week that it reported to the California Public Utilities Commission "out of an abundance of caution" that there was an outage on an electrical circuit near where the fire started Thursday but there was no indication its equipment was involved in the fire reported two minutes after the outage. Downed power lines and blown transformers have been blamed for several of the deadly fires that have burned in recent years. ___ Myers reported from Thousand Oaks. Associated Press writers John Antczak and Christopher Weber contributed from Los Angeles. Roger Kelton, 67, wipes his tears while searching through the remains of his mother-in-law's home burned down by the Woolsey Fire Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. "We saw the pictures Friday of the house on fire," said Kelton. "We knew it was gone but still haven't had my good cry yet. I've been trying to be strong for my daughter, my wife and my mother-in-law." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Roger Kelton searches through the remains of his mother-in-law's home leveled by the Woolsey Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in the southern California city of Agoura Hills. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A charred Mercedes-Benz sits in front of a home leveled by the Woolsey Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A melted fence runs along a hillside as firefighters continue to battle the Woolsey Fire burning in Southern California, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Roger Kelton, 67, searches through the remains of his mother-in-law's home burned down by the Woolsey Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. "We saw the pictures Friday of the house on fire," said Kelton. "We knew it was gone but still haven't had my good cry yet. I've been trying to be strong for my daughter, my wife and my mother-in-law." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Roger Kelton, 67, searches through the remains of his mother-in-law's home burned down by the Woolsey Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. "We saw the pictures Friday of the house on fire," said Kelton. "We knew it was gone but still haven't had my good cry yet. I've been trying to be strong for my daughter, my wife and my mother-in-law." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Melted trash bins stand in front of a home burned down by the Woolsey Fire Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A firefighter battles a fire along the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway in Simi Valley, Calif., Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) An air tanker drops water on a fire along the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway in Simi Valley, Calif., Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) The Malibu, Calif., villa of German TV presenter Thomas Gottschalk lies in ruins from the Woolsey fire Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) A mountain is seen through charred window frames of a mansion burned down by the Woolsey Fire Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A mansion burned down by the Woolsey Fire sits on a hilltop overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas and other militant groups said Tuesday they had accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire to end two days of intense fighting with Israel that had pushed the sworn enemies to the brink of a new war. The sudden announcement brought relief to a region that had been paralyzed by hundreds of Palestinian rocket attacks in southern Israel and scores of Israeli airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip. But it did not address the deeper issues that pushed Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers toward their latest violence and left doubts about international efforts to forge a broader truce agreement. Those efforts had appeared to be making progress in recent days as Israel allowed Qatar to deliver financial aid to the cash-strapped Hamas government, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that he wanted to avert an "unnecessary" war in Gaza. Hamas, in turn, had scaled back its mass protests that have led to weekly bloodshed along the Israeli border. But hours after Netanyahu spoke Sunday, an Israeli commando unit on an undercover mission was caught behind enemy lines in Gaza by Hamas militants. Their discovery set off a battle that led to the deaths of seven militants and an Israeli officer, and triggered the heaviest barrage of rocket fire since a 2014 war. The Israeli military said that Palestinian militants fired 460 rockets and mortars into Israel in a 24-hour period, while it carried out airstrikes on 160 targets in Gaza. Seven Palestinians, including five militants, were killed, and 26 people were wounded. In Israel, a 48-year-old Palestinian laborer was killed in a rocket strike on an apartment building where he was staying. Nearly 30 people were wounded, three critically. With air raid sirens wailing throughout southern Israel and the explosions of airstrikes thundering in Gaza, the sides had appeared to be headed to what would have been their fourth war in a decade. A residential building was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) But late Tuesday, Hamas and other military groups issued a joint statement saying they had accepted an Egyptian cease-fire. Terms of the deal appeared to be modest. Daoud Shehab, a spokesman for the Islamic Jihad militant group, said each side would promise quiet in exchange for quiet. "It's a mutual commitment to the cease-fire," he said. "From our side, we responded positively to the Egyptian endeavor on the condition that the occupation does the same." The announcement set off celebrations in Gaza City as Hamas supporters declared victory. At a demonstration staged in the rubble of Hamas' TV station, demolished by an Israeli airstrike, crowds chanted the name of Hamas' military wing. Shops reopened and cars jammed the streets. Israeli reconnaissance drones continued to buzz overhead. Ismail Radwan, a Hamas official, expressed Hamas' commitment to the cease-fire but warned that "our hands are on the trigger" if Israel violates the agreement. In Israel, officials had no comment on the cease-fire claim even as dozens of protesters in the rocket-battered town of Sderot chanted "Disgrace!" at what they saw as the government's capitulation to militant violence. But after nightfall, both the rocket attacks and Israeli airstrikes had stopped. The announcement came shortly after Netanyahu's Security Cabinet ended a seven-hour discussion on the rising tensions in Gaza. The Cabinet said it had ordered the military to "continue operations as needed." Israel's Channel 10 TV reported deep divisions among the participants, with several hard-line ministers reportedly opposed to another cease-fire with Hamas. Hamas, an Islamic militant group that opposes Israel's existence, seized control of the Gaza Strip from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007. Israel and Egypt immediately imposed a blockade on Gaza to contain Hamas. The blockade has ravaged Gaza's economy, and Israel refuses to lift it unless Hamas disarms, a demand the militants reject. The standoff has produced repeated rounds of violence, including indiscriminate Gaza rocket fire at Israeli towns and cities and punishing Israeli military offensives, but Hamas remains firmly in control. Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to launch a full-scale war reflected the lack of good choices at his disposal. Israel Ziv, a retired general who once commanded the Israeli military's Gaza division, said Netanyahu was running out of options for dealing with Hamas. "Either we come to a settlement or there's an all-out campaign. Nothing in the middle is going to make a difference," he said. Tuesday's cease-fire did not appear to address any of the underlying issues, including the blockade and Hamas' vast arsenal of rockets, and it was unclear whether U.N. and Egyptian efforts toward a broader deal might resume. U.N. and Egyptian mediators had been making progress in recent weeks toward informal understandings between Israel and Hamas that would ease the blockade in exchange for ratcheting down the border protests. Demonstrators each week approach the border fence, throwing firebombs, grenades and burning tires at Israeli troops. Israeli snipers have killed about 170 people, most of them unarmed. Israel says it is defending its border against attackers, but it has come under heavy international criticism for shooting unarmed people. In recent days, Israel allowed fuel shipments to increase the power supply in Gaza, which suffers from frequent blackouts, and agreed to additional Qatari assistance to allow Hamas to pay the salaries of its thousands of unpaid workers. A diplomatic official said the cease-fire included an "understanding" to return to a 2014 cease-fire that promised some relief for Gaza in exchange for quiet. The official said he expected a return to the situation before the latest burst of violence and for mediators to resume their efforts. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters at U.N. headquarters that "we are grateful for the Egyptians who are mediating." The U.N. Security Council scheduled closed consultations on the Hamas-Israel clashes later Tuesday at the request of Kuwait and Bolivia, U.N. diplomats said. ___ Federman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press correspondent Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed. A Palestinian boy stands next to the rubble of Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station building which was hit by Israeli airstrikes on Monday, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Palestinians check the damage of their home after Israeli airstrikes hit the Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station building on Monday in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Broken windows line an apartment building hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Wondows are blown out of a damaged apartment building hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) A man injured in an apartment building hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza, is bandaged in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) The interior apartment building sits destroyed after being hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) An apartment kitchen hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza, sits destroyed in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) An apartment building is damaged by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) An apartment building is damaged after being hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Palestinian mourners carry the body of PFLP militant Mohammed al-Tattri, 27, during his funeral in Jabalia refugee camp, north Gaza Strip. Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Al-Tattri was killed in an Israeli airstrike Monday. On Tuesday, Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Abed el Kareem Hana) Palestinian mourners carry the body of PFLP militant Mohammed al-Tattri, 27, during his funeral in Jabalia refugee camp, north Gaza Strip. Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Al-Tattri was killed in an Israeli airstrike Monday. On Tuesday, Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Abed el Kareem Hana) Palestinian mourners carry the body of PFLP militant Mohammed al-Tattri, 27, during his funeral in Jabalia refugee camp, north Gaza Strip. Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Al-Tattri was killed in an Israeli airstrike Monday. On Tuesday, Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Abed el Kareem Hana) The facade of an apartment building shows damage after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza , in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) An Israeli woman walks in the yard of a house after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Officials assess the damage to a house after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli home front command officer examines the damage to a house after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israel, Tuesday , Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) An Israeli tank drives near the Israel Gaza border, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) An Israeli soldier jumps off a tank near the Israel Gaza border, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) An Israeli soldier stands on a tank near the Israel Gaza border, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Israeli tanks move near the Israel Gaza border, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Palestinians survey a destroyed residential building hit by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with South Africas Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu, who will be on a three-day visit in Moscow from November 20 to 22, on November 21 in Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said about it at a briefing on Thursday, TASS reported. "A meeting between the Russian foreign minister and the South African minister of international relations and cooperation is scheduled for November 21. The foreign ministers will discuss the state and prospects of bilateral strategic cooperation with focus on the build-up of investment interaction and cooperation in the science-technical, humanitarian and other spheres," the diplomat noted. "The sides will share their positions on the current agenda with regard to the results of the BRICS summit that was held in Johannesburg on July 25-27, and the election of South Africa as temporary member of the UN Security Council for 2019-2020," Zakharova added. MOSCOW (AP) - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was stopped at a Moscow airport on Tuesday and barred from leaving Russia as he was about to travel to a hearing at the European Court for Human Rights in France. Navalny said in a blog post that he was due to attend a court hearing which is expected to rule if his countless detentions have been politically motivated. He was stopped by border guards and told that a ruling by court bailiffs over an unpaid fine had barred him from leaving Russia. The bailiffs' service said the fine was paid later Tuesday and that restrictions on Navalny's travel have been lifted. It was not immediately clear if he left the country after paying the fine. The hearing in Strasbourg on Thursday could prove a major embarrassment for the Kremlin which routinely dismisses Navalny, arguably Russia's most popular opposition figure, as a trouble-maker with no political backing. "Apparently, Putin's regime thinks (that) not letting me fly to Strasbourg to hear this ruling will change anything," he wrote on Twitter after being stopped at Domodedovo Airport. In this photo released by Anti-corruption Foundation Press Service, Russian anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny sits behind a red ribbon at Domodedovo international airport outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Navalny was stopped at the border Tuesday and barred from leaving Russia as he was about to travel to a court hearing at the European Court for Human Rights in France. (Anti-corruption Foundation press service via AP) Navalny said the formal reason for barring him from leaving Russia was a bailiffs ruling, dated Friday to collect 2.1 million rubles ($31,000) from him in damages in a civil lawsuit against a timber company. He lost the lawsuit last year but Navalny said the court never provided any documents or banking details for him to pay the damages. The bailiffs' service later said "Navalny has paid the debt promptly and in full," according to state news agency Tass. Navalny has faced numerous criminal charges in the past that are widely viewed as attempts by the Kremlin to sideline him. Two separate criminal cases have prevented Navalny from traveling in the past but the ban was lifted in spring last year when he had to leave to Spain for urgent medical treatment. Navalny, who rose to prominence thanks to his investigations into official corruption, spearheaded major anti-government protests which have attracted Russians from across the political spectrum. LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) - The FBI has raised its reward for information in the case of a missing North Carolina teenager who was kidnapped outside her home. Agent Andy de la Roche told a news conference Tuesday that the agency is raising its reward to $25,000 for information on the disappearance of 13-year-old Hania Noelia Aguilar. The state of North Carolina is already offering a $5,000 reward. De la Roche said the agency wants either information leading to the girl's whereabouts, or for information leading to the people responsible for Aguilar's disappearance. Relatives and police say the eighth-grader went outside on Nov. 5 in Lumberton to start a relative's vehicle when a man forced her into an SUV. The SUV was found three days later in Lumberton. ___ Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com MILWAUKEE (AP) - The parent who took a photo of Wisconsin high school boys giving what appears to be a Nazi salute on the steps of a local courthouse said Tuesday he was simply asking the teens to wave goodbye to their parents before they headed to prom and never anticipated the image would draw widespread condemnation. But Pete Gust, who has a son in the photo, said he understood why his photo of about 60 boys outside the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo last spring offended some people. About two-thirds of the boys have their right arms raised in the gesture, many grinning widely. "The optics aren't good," Gust told The Associated Press, though he said he didn't believe the boys were doing a Nazi salute: "There was never any inkling of that whatsoever. ... There was nothing intended in any way shape or form to simulate anything that was offensive to anyone." Gust maintained that his camera merely caught the boys' wave prematurely, saying his "regret is I didn't get to the apex." Many viewers of the photo felt strongly otherwise, with criticism pouring in from individuals and from Jewish organizations including the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland. One of the students in the photo also rejected the suggestion that the gestures were anything but a Nazi salute. Jordan Blue, who is pictured without expression and with his arms down, said he believes some of the students did intend to make the salute as a joke. In this May 2018 photo provided by Peter Gust, a group of Wisconsin high school boys stand on the steps outside the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo, Wis. The image has drawn widespread condemnation because of the appearance that some of the students are giving a Nazi salute. Gust, who has a son in the photo, denies there was an intent to offend anyone and says they are waving goodbye to their parents before they head to prom. (Peter Gust via AP) "It was very disrespectful to what my beliefs are, and it was a very bad representation of the senior class and the Baraboo School District, because by all means, the Baraboo School District does not support that kind of actions and it is a district that provides many opportunities for the students," Blue told the Baraboo News Republic. "This is something that I will never forget." Gust had posted the photo to his photography business website, Wheel Memories, after it was taken in May. He took it down Monday and posted an apology after it surfaced in social media posts and was shared widely. The Baraboo School District said it was looking into the matter, and local police said they are helping with that investigation. "If the gesture is what it appears to be, the district will pursue any and all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to address the issue," district Superintendent Lori Mueller said in a letter to parents Monday. About a half-dozen speakers addressed the matter Monday night at a school board meeting. Kevin Vodak, the board's president, said the photo "deeply disappointed me, shamed, appalled and angered me." "The photo has shaken to the core my personal belief of the process that we as a community and as a school district have made to be tolerant, inclusive, accepting and admitting of all of those who are different from ourselves," he added. Earlier Monday, about 100 people gathered near the courthouse for a unity rally organizers said was aimed at sending a positive message about Baraboo, a community of 12,000 some 115 miles (185 kilometers) northwest of Milwaukee. "The point is to show Baraboo is about love," said organizer Sherri Schaaf. Officials at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum tweeted their criticism of the photo on Monday. "This is why every single day we work hard to educate. We need to explain what is the danger of hateful ideology rising," they said. In this Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 photo, Cara Chell speaks to members of the Baraboo School Board in Baraboo, Wis., about a controversial photo of high school students giving what appeared to be a Nazi salute on the steps of a local courthouse taken before their prom last spring. The parent who took the photo said he was simply asking the teens to wave goodbye to their parents before they headed to prom. (Tim Damos/Baraboo News Republic via AP) In this Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 photo, Baraboo residents gather on the steps of the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo, Wis., to advocate for unity at the same spot where high school students were pictured last spring delivering what appeared to be a Nazi salute. (Ben Bromley/Baraboo News Republic via AP) In this Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 photo, a line of television cameras film Baraboo resident Greg Sacra as he speaks to members of the Baraboo School Board in Baraboo, Wis., about a controversial photo of high school students giving what appears to be a Nazi salute on the steps of a local courthouse taken before their prom last spring. The parent who took the photo said he was simply asking the teens to wave goodbye to their parents before they headed to prom. (Tim Damos/Baraboo News Republic via AP) In this Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 photo, rally participants chant against hate on the lawn of the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo, Wis., near the spot where Baraboo High School students were pictured in the spring delivering what appeared to be a Nazi salute. (Ben Bromley/Baraboo News Republic via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - Nursing grievances from a weekend visit to France, President Donald Trump lit into French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday over his suggestion for a European defense force, over French tariffs on U.S. wine and even Macron's approval ratings. The litany of tweeted complaints served to underscore tensions between the once-chummy leaders and laid bare Trump's irritation over criticism stemming from his latest trip abroad. Trump's tweets included a fresh complaint about Macron's recent suggestion that Europe build up its militaries because the continent can no longer depend on the U.S. for defense. He misrepresented the French leader's comments along the way, even though the two presidents had talked through the issue while Trump was in France over the weekend for events marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. "Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia," Trump tweeted. "But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!" In fact, Macron had said Europe needs to protect itself against cyberthreats from China, Russia and the U.S. The French leader's office said Trump had lumped together Macron's remarks on protecting against cyberthreats with a later statement on military defense. Gerard Araud, France's ambassador to the U.S., challenged Trump, tweeting, "For the sake of truth, Pres.@EmmanuelMacron didn't say that EU needed an army 'against the US'." German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Donald Trump listen to French President Emmanuel Macron delivering a speech before a lunch at the Elysee Palace in Paris during commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the 11 November 1918 armistice, ending World War I, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (Jacques Demarthon/Pool Photo via AP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, meanwhile, told European Union lawmakers Tuesday "that we have to work on the vision of one day creating a real European army." She underscored that such a force would not mean the end of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance. The president has long complained that NATO countries don't pay their fair share of the defense alliance's expenses, leaving the U.S. to carry much of the burden. Burden-sharing was among the topics that Trump and Macron discussed during a meeting Saturday at the Elysee Palace. A top adviser to Macron said Tuesday that the French position has been "clarified." Macron explained the European army issue to Trump during their meeting, stressing that France was not making a choice between a European defense mechanism and multilateral organizations such as NATO, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with French customs. Trump also complained Tuesday about tariffs on U.S. wines sold in France, saying it's "not fair, must change!" And he appeared to take a dig at Macron's low public approval rating. Trump's standing with the French is lower than Macron's. "On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!" Nearly all U.S. wine exports to major markets, including the European Union - of which France is a part - face tariffs, according to the Wine Institute, which represents California winemakers in Washington on matters of tax, trade and regulatory issues. Trump, a former businessman, opened a winery in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2011. "The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so! ... MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!" Macron is hovering at around 30 percent in popularity polls, while the unemployment rate is just above 9 percent. Trump appeared to be referring to Macron's comment Sunday during a speech for the World War I centennial in which he decried the rise of nationalism around the globe, calling it a "betrayal of patriotism." The comments were widely viewed as a rebuke of Trump, who sat stone-faced in the company of other world leaders as Macron spoke. Trump has embraced the "nationalist" label despite its negative connotations. Trump's continued complaints about France and Macron hit a nerve with some in the European nation, especially since Trump delivered his latest broadsides on the third anniversary of the Paris terror attacks that killed 130 people in 2015. The complaints were another marker of the up-and-down relationship between Trump and Macron since they first met last year. Trump also defended his decision to cancel a trip Saturday to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery at Belleau Wood in northern France after rainy weather grounded his helicopter. The White House later said that driving to the cemetery would have required many Paris roadways to be closed on short notice to accommodate the president's motorcade and that Trump didn't want to cause that kind of disruption. On Sunday, Trump went ahead with a visit and speech in the rain at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial just outside Paris. "By the way, when the helicopter couldn't fly to the first cemetery in France because of almost zero visibility, I suggested driving. Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown. Speech next day at American Cemetary in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!" he tweeted. ___ Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A warehouse employee accused of wounding three men in an Albuquerque workplace shooting had used a forklift to block the business' doors before carrying out the attack and then fleeing to the outskirts of the city, police said Tuesday. At a news conference a day after the attack, Albuquerque Police Chief Mike Geier said it appeared 30-year-old Waid Anthony Melton had entered the Ben E. Keith food distribution center during a shift change Monday evening when roughly 20 employees were at the site. He opened fire, and then quickly escaped to the northern fringes of Albuquerque where hours later he killed himself, authorities said. Police said officers were able to make contact with Melton before he died, and that negotiators were on the phone with him when he took his own life. Geier said investigators had learned that Melton may have had some mental health and drug issues, and possibly been passed over for a promotion, which resulted in issues with his employers. Aside from those struggles, however, Melton had been described by those who knew him as a "nice guy," Geier said. The shooting happened on Melton's day off, said Geier, who would not speculate about a motive. "From all indications it was fairly spontaneous," Geier said. "I can't get into his mindset." In this Nov. 12, 2018 photo, Albuquerque Police officers block off a street following an active shooter situation which wounded multiple people at a food distribution warehouse in Albuquerque, N.M. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) Officials have not released the names of the victims - two of whom remained in critical condition Tuesday. The other was in stable condition. On Monday night, dozens of police officers and emergency crews responded to the Ben E. Keith warehouse on the south end of Albuquerque after getting reports of shots fired. They blocked off roads and warned residents in the area to stay in their homes. After officers found the three victims, they searched the rest of the warehouse but did not find any others or Melton. Mayor Tim Keller commended the officers, first responders and University of New Mexico Hospital medical staff for their quick work in aiding the victims, while extending his sympathies and vocalizing his support for the three men wounded and their families. "There are lots of scenarios in which this could have been much, much worse," Keller told reporters. On Tuesday, a police spokesman said officers were searching a home in southwest Albuquerque as part of their investigation into the shooting. The shooting comes as Albuquerque works to shake its reputation for having a high crime rate. City officials said in October that both property and violent crime were trending downward for the first nine months of the year. However, Albuquerque police at the start of the week reported that detectives were busy investigating three homicides that occurred over a four-day period. Albuquerque Police Chief Mike Geier, center, discusses a workplace shooting that injured three employees at a food distribution warehouse during a news conference in Albuquerque, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Geier said the suspected gunman, identified as Waid Anthony Melton, shot and killed himself in a remote location north of Albuquerque while on the phone with a police negotiator. (AP Photo/Mary Hudetz) CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on the shooting of a security guard by a police officer (all times local): 5 p.m. A suburban Chicago police chief says the white officer who fatally shot a black security guard outside a bar has been placed on administrative leave. Midlothian Police Chief Dan Delaney said Tuesday the move is standard procedure following a police-involved shooting. Delaney says the officer will remain on leave until an investigation by outside agencies is complete. The shooting happened early Sunday after officers from various police departments responded to a shots-fired call at Manny's Blue Room in Robbins. When the Midlothian officer arrived, at least three people had been shot. Security guard Jemel Roberson was outside the bar holding one of the shooting suspects down when the officer shot him. Manny's Blue Room Lounge in Robbins on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. A police officer fatally shot an armed security guard while responding to an early-morning shooting at a suburban Chicago bar, investigators said. Officers responded shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday to a call of shots fired at Manny's Blue Room in Robbins, just south of Chicago. An officer from nearby Midlothian shot the security guard, who was later identified as 26-year-old Jemel Roberson, according to Cook County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune via AP) Investigators are trying to determine whether the officer knew Roberson was a security guard. Some witnesses have said he was wearing a hat emblazoned with the word "Security," and that people were shouting that Roberson was a security guard. The officer's name hasn't been released. ___ 1:15 p.m. An alderman in suburban Chicago is asking prosecutors to investigate the fatal shooting of a black security guard by a white police officer. Witnesses say security guard Jemel Roberson was trying to subdue a suspect following a shooting early Sunday inside a bar where he worked in Robbins, just south of Chicago. He was shot by a responding officer. Keith Price is an alderman in nearby Harvey. Price says he attended a vigil Monday and was concerned the shooting may have been racially motivated. Price is asking the Cook County State's Attorney's Office to investigate whether any complaints have been filed that suggest the officer has a bias against black residents. Investigators say Roberson was working security when people began shooting inside Manny's Blue Room. Witnesses allege the officer shot Roberson despite people shouting that he was a security guard. ___ 9:30 a.m. A police chief says the officer from his department who fatally shot a black security guard over the weekend is white. Midlothian Police Chief Dan Delaney released the information in an email Tuesday. No other details about the officer have been released, including his name. The officer was working early Sunday when he and other officers from communities south of Chicago responded to a shots-fired call at Manny's Blue Room in Robbins. When the officer arrived, he shot 26-year-old Jemel Roberson. Roberson was an armed black security guard working at the bar. A federal lawsuit filed by Roberson's mother Monday contends that Roberson was outside the bar detaining a person involved in the shooting when the officer shot him without provocation. The shooting is being investigated by the Cook County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police. One of the men who authorities suspect fired shots inside the bar remains hospitalized with gunshot wound. Authorities say charges against that man are pending. ___ 8:35 a.m. People gathered for a vigil outside the suburban Chicago bar where an armed black security guard was shot over the weekend by a police officer. The (Tinley Park) Daily Southtown reports that at the vigil on Monday night people praised 26-year-old Jemel Roberson as a decent and religious man. An alderman from a neighboring community called on the Cook County State's Attorney's office to investigate the shooting Sunday morning outside Manny's Blue Room in the community of Robbins. Illinois State Police and the sheriff's office are conducting an investigation. Roberson's mother has filed a $1 million federal lawsuit against the Midlothian police officer who killed Roberson and the village where he works. ___ 12 a.m. A lawyer says a police officer fatally shot an armed guard who was wearing a hat with "security" emblazoned across the front and holding a man down following a shooting inside a suburban Chicago bar. Attorney Gregory Kulis represents the mother of 26-year-old Jemel Roberson. He filed a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking more than $1 million. He says Roberson worked at the bar and was dressed in black but wearing the "security" hat. Kulis says Roberson was holding down another man outside Manny's Blue Room in Robbins when the officer arrived and shot him early Sunday. Roberson was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. A Cook County sheriff's spokeswoman says four other people were shot and wounded. Charges are pending against the man who investigators believe fired the initial shots during a dispute. This photo provided by Avontea Boose shows her baby Tristan Roberson and the boy's father Jemel Roberson. A police officer fatally shot Jemel Roberson, an armed security guard who was wearing a hat with "security" emblazoned across the front and holding a man down following a shooting inside the suburban Chicago bar where the guard worked, an attorney for the guard's family said Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, after filing a federal lawsuit. (Avontea Boose via AP) NEW YORK (AP) - CNN took its access battle against the Trump administration to court on Tuesday, demanding the reinstatement of correspondent Jim Acosta's White House credentials because their revocation violates the right of freedom of the press. Besides seeking an injunction to let Acosta return immediately, CNN is launching a case that will test the ability of government officials anywhere to freeze out a reporter who displeases them. The White House, never shy about picking a fight with CNN, says bring it on. "This is just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit," said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders. The administration stripped Acosta of his pass following President Donald Trump's contentious news conference last week, during which Acosta refused to give up a microphone when the president said he didn't want to hear anything more from him. Sanders initially explained the decision by accusing Acosta of making improper physical contact with the intern seeking to grab the microphone. But that rationale disappeared after witnesses backed Acosta's account that he was just trying to keep the mic, and Sanders distributed a doctored video that made it appear Acosta was more aggressive than he actually was. FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2018, file photo, CNN journalist Jim Acosta does a standup before a new conference with President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House in Washington. CNN sued the Trump administration Tuesday, demanding that correspondent Jim Acosta's credentials to cover the White House be returned because it violates the constitutional right of freedom of the press. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) Trump called Acosta a "rude, terrible person," and Sanders on Tuesday accused Acosta of being unprofessional by trying to dominate the questioning at the news conference. For its part, CNN believes the White House is trying to silence a reporter. Trump has made CNN and its reporters a particular target of his denunciation of "fake news" and characterization of the media as an enemy of the people. CNN CEO Jeff Zucker, in a letter to White House chief of staff John Kelly, called Trump's attitude toward CNN a "pattern of targeted harassment." "Mr. Acosta's press credentials must be restored so that all members of the press know they will remain free to ask tough questions, challenge government officials and report the business of the nation to the American people," said Theodore Olson, former U.S. solicitor general and one of CNN's lawyers on the case. The White House Correspondents' Association backed the lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., district court. "The president of the United States should not be in the business of arbitrarily picking the men and women who cover him," said Olivier Knox, president of the correspondents' group. CNN would seem to be on strong legal ground, said Katie Fallow, senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute. During the Nixon administration in the 1970s, the Secret Service tried to deny credentials to a reporter from the Nation magazine because he had been involved in physical altercations, but was overruled by the D.C. circuit court, she said. "I think it's important, particularly as the president continues to push back on the role of an independent press, to stake out the legal rules that should govern this and not let the president block people from speaking based on their viewpoint," Fallow said. CNN said Acosta was given no warning of the action, and no recourse to appeal it. Acosta traveled to Paris to cover Trump's visit there this weekend and, although given permission by the French government to cover a news event, the Secret Service denied him entrance, the company said. Because of this, CNN also has a strong argument to overturn the White House stance based on due process grounds, said Jeff Robbins, a lawyer who focuses on media issues for the firm of Saul, Ewing, Arstein & Lehr in Boston. "Pick your poison - it's the Fifth Amendment or the First Amendment," Robbins said. Legalities aside, the president has never been afraid to fight the media, believing the stance resonates with his supporters. And Acosta is one of the reporters they dislike the most. Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, who worked for President George W. Bush, last week dismissed the supposed physical contact with an intern as a reason for banishing Acosta, but said he doesn't belong in the press room because he's essentially like an opinion columnist instead of a journalist. Acosta is a "left-wing activist" more interested in disrupting the president than in asking serious questions, said Brent Bozell, president of the conservative media watchdog Media Research Center. "No one reporter has a constitutional right to access the press briefing room," Bozell said. "It's the prerogative of the White House to decide who gets a pass and who does not. Sanders noted that nearly 50 other people from CNN have White House passes. Acosta has been a polarizing figure even beyond the distaste that Trump and his supporters have for him. The Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, editorialized last week that Acosta's encounter with Trump at the news conference "was less about asking questions and more about making statements. In doing so, the CNN White House reporter gave President Donald Trump room to critique Acosta's professionalism." MILAN (AP) - Italy's leaders sought to affirm their commitment to a free press Tuesday after journalists protested around the country against insults emanating from prominent figures in the governing 5-Star Movement. Journalists gathered in piazzas in regional capitals to protest statements by 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio and another prominent official labeling journalists "prostitutes," ''jackals," and "intellectually and morally corrupt," in reaction to coverage of a long corruption inquiry against Rome's mayor that ended with an acquittal this weekend. The trial, in which Mayor Virginia Raggi of the 5-Star Movement was accused of lying to anti-corruption officials, threatened not only to unseat her but also risked the reputation of the 5-Star Movement itself. After her acquittal, Di Maio and Alessandro Di Battista immediately lashed out at the media for its years-long coverage of the scandal. Protesters called the attacks a threat to democracy and said they aimed to sound the alarm over "a political philosophy that is emerging around the globe," scapegoating journalists. They also noted that the Raggi coverage differed little from coverage of other political leaders accused of scandals in the past. Paolo Perucchini, president of the Lombardy journalists' association, said politicians have criticized reporters for years, but the insults and threats had become systematic in recent months. "Free information frightens those who want to control the country with a single thought," Perucchini said. Journalists stage a protest in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.Italian journalists have protested across the country against insults from prominent figures in the governing 5-Star Movement. Journalists gathered in piazzas in regional capitals Tuesday to protest statements by the 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio and another prominent official labeling journalists ''prostitutes,'' ''jackals,'' and ''intellectually and morally corrupt.'' Protesters called the attacks a risk to democracy and said they aimed to sound the alarm over ''a political philosophy that is emerging around the globe,'' scapegoating journalists. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The clash follows quickly on the heels of the Trump administration's moves to revoke the credentials of a CNN reporter, and after Trump separately lashed out at three female African American reporters. In Palermo, Premier Giuseppe Conte affirmed that his government "is for the freedom of the press." Even Di Maio weighed in, saying that freedom of information is "sacred" but adding that "freedom of the press cannot be the freedom to tell lies, the freedom to offend." The 5-Star Movement has aimed to further reduce state support of media, while the movement itself relies heavily on social media, including its popular blog, to get its message out. WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators have reached a tentative accord on the first major rewrite of criminal justice sentencing in a generation, but now it's up to President Donald Trump to decide if it's worth making a push for the sweeping bipartisan bill during the lame-duck session of Congress. The package has been a top priority of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and senators presented the ideas to Trump at the White House over the summer. Congressional aides and advocacy groups said lawmakers are close to an agreement on the legislation, which would boost rehabilitation efforts for federal prisoners and give judges more discretion when sentencing nonviolent offenders, particularly for drug offenses. Holly Harris, executive director of Justice Action Network, a lead advocacy group, said, "We're hoping for a full-throated endorsement" from the president. "This will be the most significant departure from the failed mandatory minimum policies of the 1990s," Harris said. The bill is a rare bipartisan endeavor in a typically log-jammed Congress and has attracted support from a coalition of liberal and conservative groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and groups backed by the political donors Charles and David Koch. Critics say current sentencing guidelines are unfair and have had a lopsided impact on minority communities. Mark Holden, general counsel for Koch Industries and a longtime champion of prison reform, said an endorsement from the National Fraternal Order of Police has been critical in generating momentum for the bill. In this Nov. 8, 2018 photo, the Capitol is framed amid colorful autumn leaves in Washington. Congressional aides and advocacy groups say lawmakers are close to an agreement on legislation designed to boost rehabilitation efforts for federal prisoners and give judges more discretion when sentencing some non-violent offenders. Aides from both parties say moving ahead depends largely on President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) "You have a lot of people who want to get this done," Holden said. He said the legislation would save taxpayer dollars by reducing prison populations and giving federal inmates the opportunity to be better people when they leave prison than when they entered. "We wouldn't be in favor of it if it didn't protect public safety," Holden said. The Senate package overhauls some of the mandatory sentencing guidelines that have been in place since 1994 legislation approved by Congress and signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. Talks involved a bipartisan group headed by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the GOP chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Dick Durbin, the chamber's second-ranking Democrat, and others. But Trump's backing remains key to proceeding with any final product. "Senator Durbin has been negotiating in good faith, but there won't be any agreement on a criminal justice reform compromise unless and until President Trump supports it and asks the Republicans who control both chambers of Congress to move it forward," said Emily Hampsten, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Democrat. Grassley said the bill would be easier to pass after the departure of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was ousted by Trump last week. Sessions was a longtime opponent of criminal justice reform. "I think we have a commitment from the Justice Department now to work with us on it," Grassley said. Kushner may play an outsized role in the final outcome after having steered the legislation this far. "History will say this was a man with a mission," Harris said. "He was really the critical voice that was able to hold the bipartisan alliance together." The federal inmate population has been on the decline since 2013, when it peaked at just more than 219,000. The total now stands at about 181,400, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Still, that's about triple the number of inmates in federal detention 30 years ago. The House approved a prison reform bill in May, but the Senate package makes additional changes and adds the sentencing component. The Senate approach would allow thousands of federal prisoners sentenced for crack cocaine offenses before August 2010 the opportunity to petition for a reduced penalty. It would also lower mandatory minimum sentences for some drug offenses. The life sentence for some drug offenders with three convictions, or "three strikes," would be reduced to 25 years. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he would test support for the measure during the lame-duck session. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he talked to the president about the legislation Monday night and that he "seemed supportive." "I've never been more optimistic than I am now, but we're not there yet," Graham said. All but two Republicans voted for the House bill when it was overwhelmingly approved in May, 360-59. Democratic lawmakers supported the bill by about a 2-to-1 margin, but opponents voiced concerns that it did not go far enough in giving judges more discretion to make the punishment fit the crime. The House bill directs the Bureau of Prisons to conduct assessments for every offender once he or she is sentenced and to offer rehabilitation plans designed to lower the chance of recidivism. The plans would include vocational training, education, counseling and substance abuse treatment. The National Fraternal Order of Police said the extra help should be targeted to those with the lowest risk "to re-offend." The group said that "truly dangerous offenders," such as those who traffic in fentanyl or commit crimes while armed, would be ineligible under the compromise legislation it's worked on with the Trump administration. The debate comes after Florida voters approved a measure restoring the voting rights of felons who have served their sentences. The Freedom Partners Action Fund, backed by the Koch brothers, and the ACLU chapter in Florida called the measure a way to provide a second chance for Floridians who have served their time and paid their debts. ___ Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. ___ Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AP_Politics PARADISE, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on wildfires in California (all times local): 6:15 p.m. Authorities have reported six more fatalities from a blaze in Northern California, bringing the total number of fatalities so far to 48 in the deadliest wildfire in state history. The announcement came Tuesday after authorities ramped up the search for more victims buried in rubble left by the blaze that incinerated the town of Paradise. Many friends and relatives of those living in the fire zone say they haven't heard from loved ones. Some went to shelters looking for them. More than 5,000 firefighters are still battling the blaze that charred 195 square miles (505 square kilometers) since it started Thursday. A search and rescue workers search for human remains at a burned out trailer park from the Camp fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The deadliest, most destructive blaze in California history has killed multiple people. (AP Photo/John Locher) The fire has destroyed about 7,700 homes and displaced 52,000 people. The statewide death toll from wildfires over the past week in California has reached 50. ___ 6 p.m. The president of a utility accused by some residents of starting a deadly wildfire in Northern California says there was a power outage about 15 minutes before the flames were reported. Landowner Betsy Ann Cowley says Pacific Gas & Electric notified her the day before the blaze that crews needed to come onto her property because the utility's wires were sparking. Asked if sparks from a transmission line ignited the fire, PG&E President Geisha Williams told the Chico Enterprise-Record on Tuesday that "it's too soon to tell." Williams says the outage was at 6:15 a.m. Thursday and later an aerial patrol spotted damage around the transmission lines. She says the company sent a report to state agencies. She says the sparks are one of several "options" investigators are reviewing. Some victims sued PG&E on Tuesday, alleging it failed to maintain its infrastructure. ___ 5:45 p.m. Victims of California's most destructive wildfire have filed a lawsuit accusing Pacific Gas & Electric Co. of causing the massive blaze. The suit filed Tuesday in state court in California accuses the utility of failing to maintain its infrastructure and properly inspect and manage its power transmission lines. The utility's president said earlier the company doesn't know what caused the fire, but is cooperating with the investigation by state agencies. An email to PG&E about the lawsuit was not immediately returned. PG&E told state regulators last week that it experienced a problem with a transmission line in the area of the fire just before the blaze erupted. A landowner near where the blaze began said PG&E notified her the day before the wildfire that crews needed to come onto her property because some wires were sparking. ___ 3:55 p.m. Authorities doing the somber work of identifying the victims of California's deadliest wildfire are drawing on leading-edge DNA technology. But experts say older scientific techniques and deduction could also come into play. With the death toll from the Northern California blaze topping 40 and expected to rise, officials said they were setting up a rapid DNA-analysis system, among other steps. Rapid DNA is a term for portable devices that can identify someone's genetic material in a couple of hours, rather than days or weeks. But more traditional methods, such as examining dental records, are often a first step. Partially, that's because victims might have had dental X-rays but not personal DNA profiles. Other medical records - of bone fractures, prosthetics or implants, for instance - also can be helpful. ___ 3:50 p.m. As a huge wildfire burns in Southern California, residents who stayed behind in coastal communities cut off by road closures are getting supplies by boat. Gas, food, baby wipes and horse pellets are among the items brought ashore Tuesday in the Paradise Cove area of Malibu. Large boats arrived from Redondo Beach, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the south. Supplies were unloaded onto smaller boats and even surf boards. Some residents donned wet suits and swam ashore with cases of water and beer. The fire northwest of Los Angeles has charred 150 square miles (388 square kilometers) of brush and timber, but containment has increased to 35 percent. More than 400 structures have been destroyed. Some Malibu residents are being allowed to return Wednesday afternoon, but tens of thousands of people remain under evacuation orders. ___ 3:45 p.m. People are coming to shelters in Northern California in search of loved ones and neighbors who are missing after a deadly fire tore through the town of Paradise. Greg Gibson searched a shelter in Chico on Tuesday for information about his missing neighbors. He doesn't know if they tried to leave or not but says the fire exploded so quickly that if they hesitated, they would have had trouble. It's not clear how many people are unaccounted for in the fire that ignited last week. At least 42 people are dead. Harold Taylor says he barely made it out of his house alive Thursday morning. The 72-year-old Vietnam veteran who walks with a cane says he tried to convince his neighbor to get in his car with him, but the neighbor declined. He doesn't know what happened to his friend. ___ 12:45 p.m. A fire official says crews have made "a lot of progress" in preventing a deadly Northern California from reaching Oroville, a town of 19,000 people. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection operations chief Josh Bischof said Tuesday that firefighters on foot and in bulldozers are working south of the town of Paradise. It was leveled by the blaze that started last Thursday. Officials had worried strong winds could spread the wildfire toward Oroville and the Oroville Dam, the nation's tallest. Firefighters on Monday cleared brush and sprayed water on vegetation near the dam. Bischof says "we're feeling a lot better about this area." More than 5,000 firefighters are battling the fire that killed at least 42 people in Paradise and nearby communities. ___ 12:20 p.m. The daughter of one of three named victims from the Northern California wildfire says that Ernie Foss Jr. was a musician and former San Francisco resident who shared his love of music with others. Angela Loo told KTVU-TV on Sunday that the family is devastated by the death of her father, one of at least 42 people killed by the fire. She says Foss moved to the town of Paradise eight years ago because of the San Francisco Bay Area's high cost of living. Loo says he taught music from their home near the city's famous Haight Street and turned their living room into a studio. KTVU reports Foss and his dog, Bernice, were found outside their home on a street where several other victims were also found. Foss had advanced lymphedema and could not walk. The Butte County sheriff's office listed his age as 65, but records show he was 63. ___ 12:15 p.m. The son of a man who died in the Northern California wildfire says his father will be buried next to his wife in a cemetery in the small town where he died. The Butte County sheriff's office identified 77-year-old Carl Wiley of Magalia as one of at least 42 who died in the fire. Magalia and the neighboring town of Paradise were devastated by the fire. James Wiley says his father was a tire recapper for Michelin and described him as a stoic figure. The elder Wiley will share a headstone with his wife, Mary Lee. She died of cancer nearly three decades ago. ___ 11:55 a.m. Authorities say destruction from Southern California's huge wildfire will be significantly higher than the 435 structures already counted as destroyed. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said at a press conference Tuesday that authorities are assessing damage from the 150-square-mile (388-square-kilometer) Woolsey Fire. Personnel are checking many canyon areas by foot, which will take several days. Authorities say risk from the fire has dropped significantly, with people going home to many areas that were evacuated when the blaze broke out last Thursday. Planes and helicopters are attacking a huge flare-up in a mountain wilderness area on the Ventura County side of the fire. Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen says winds are pushing those flames away from nearby communities and he's confident they're safe. Forecasters say rain could fall next week, raising concerns about mudflows. ___ 11:55 a.m. Authorities have identified only a fraction of the dozens of victims of a wildfire that has decimated a Northern California town. Jesus Fernandez, a 48-year-old Concow resident nicknamed "Zeus," and his beloved dog "King" had been missing since the fire broke out Thursday. Family friend Myrna Pascua told The Sacramento Bee that Fernandez's son was informed Monday that his father was found pinned between two cars. The wildfire that largely wiped out the town of Paradise has left at least 42 dead and destroyed thousands of homes and other buildings. ___ 11:30 a.m. President Donald Trump says there are more victims of the California wildfires "than anybody would ever even think possible." Trump thanked firefighters, first responders and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for doing their jobs with "courage in the face of very grave dangers." Dozens of people have died, thousands of homes have been destroyed and thousands of people have been evacuated and in the wildfires scorching both ends of the state. Trump spoke about the fires Tuesday at the beginning of a White House ceremony about the Hindu festival of lights. ___ 10:30 a.m. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says he's cancelled a planned trip to Asia at the direction of the White House and will instead travel to California to support efforts to contain the deadly wildfires scorching large areas of the state. Zinke said Tuesday he will visit the Northern California fire that wiped out the town of Paradise and killed 42 people. He will travel later to Southern California, where another fire is burning that has killed two people. Zinke says he plans to meet with California Gov. Jerry Brown to offer the administration's support. The move comes after President Donald Trump - Zinke's boss - on Saturday blamed poor "forest management" for making California's fires so big, deadly and costly. ___ 10:20 a.m. About 200 people who fled their homes following the most destructive wildfire in California history have packed into a Northern California church where counselors, chaplains and nursing students from Chico State University were available to help. The Neighborhood Church in Chico was one of more than a half-dozen facilities helping house people displaced by the blaze, which has killed at least 42 people. James Woods is a director at the church and said Tuesday it will stay open "as long as it's needed." Volunteers are cooking three meals a day, and there is a large bulletin board with information about missing people. ___ 10:15 a.m. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth lost their home in the deadly wildfire blazing California but are donating $500,000 to The Malibu Foundation through Cyrus' charity, The Happy Hippie Foundation. A representative for Cyrus says Tuesday in statement to The Associated Press that the couple's "community and state are very special to them and they want to give back to the place that has created so many beautiful memories for themselves and others." Cyrus and Hemsworth's home was in Malibu and burned by the big Southern California wildfire that killed two people. The statement says they "are very grateful to be safe along with their animals." The statement says the donation "will be used for those in financial need, emergency relief assistance, community rebuilding, wildfire prevention and climate change resilience." ___ 9:30 a.m. California regulators say initial testing has found no elevated levels of radiation or hazardous compounds after Southern California's huge wildfire burned near a former nuclear test site in hills to the northwest of Los Angeles. The state Department of Toxic Substance Control says its staff went to the site known as the Santa Susana Field Laboratory on Saturday and found that facilities that previously handled radioactive and hazardous materials were not affected by the fire. The organization Physicians for Social Responsibility said in statement Monday that it was likely that smoke and ash from the fire spread radiological and chemical contamination that was in soil and vegetation. But the state agency says its measurements on the site and in the surrounding community found no radiation levels above background levels and no elevated levels of hazardous compounds other than those normally present after a wildfire. The site was used for decades for testing rocket engines and nuclear energy research. One of its nuclear reactors had a partial meltdown in 1959. Battles over decontamination efforts have gone on for years, with neighbors blaming illnesses on the site. ___ 7:30 a.m. Fire crews battling a Northern California blaze that leveled a town and killed at least 42 people made gains overnight and prevented the blaze from advancing toward a town of 19,000 people. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Tuesday that firefighters held containment lines to slow the wildfire's advance toward Oroville. Officials say more than 5,000 firefighters are battling the blaze that destroyed the town of Paradise and has charred 195 square miles (505 square kilometers) since it started Thursday. The blaze is 30 percent contained. Milder winds of up to 25 mph (40 kph) are expected in the area Tuesday. But fire behavior specialist at Cal Fire Jonathan Pangburn says the there's plenty of bone dry vegetation ready to burn "really fast and hot." The wildfire has destroyed more than 6,400 homes and displaced 52,000 people. ___ 7 a.m. Firefighters are working to extend containment lines around the vast area burned by a Southern California wildfire. The work to eliminate the threat from the so-called Woolsey Fire on Tuesday was happening as winds continue to cause high fire threats from metropolitan Los Angeles to San Diego County. Authorities have allowed more people to return home but several entire communities, including Malibu, remain under mandatory evacuation orders. The latest estimates show the fire spread over more than 146 square miles (378 square kilometers). The fire area is expected to be fully contained by Thursday. Authorities have said two people were killed in the fire and at least 435 buildings were destroyed. ___ 12 a.m. More than a dozen coroner search and recovery teams looked for human remains from a Northern California wildfire that killed at least 42 people, making it the deadliest in state history. Anxious relatives are visiting shelters and calling police hoping to find loved ones alive. Lisa Jordan drove 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from Yakima, Washington, to search for her uncle, Nick Clark, and his wife, Anne Clark, of Paradise, California. Anne Clark suffers from multiple sclerosis and is unable to walk. No one knows if they were able to evacuate, or even if their house still exists, she said. Lisa Jordan says she's staying hopeful and adds: "Until the final word comes, you keep fighting against it." Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea updated the confirmed fatality number Monday night. The figure that is almost certain to spike following the blaze that last week destroyed Paradise, a town of 27,000 about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco. Authorities were bringing in two mobile morgue units and requesting 150 search and rescue personnel. Officials were unsure of the exact number of missing. Messages are shown on a bulletin board at The Neighborhood Church in Chico, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Numerous postings fill the message board as evacuees, family and friends search for people missing from the northern California wildfire. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus) Search and rescue workers search for human remains at a burned out trailer park from the Camp fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A search and rescue worker searches a pool for human remains at a trailer park burned by the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) News reporters stand in an area burned by a wildfire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A mansion burned down by the Woolsey Fire sits on a hilltop overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A charred Mercedes-Benz sits in front of a home leveled by the Woolsey Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Agoura Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Southern California Edison crews work to replace burned power poles and lines destroyed by the Woolsey fire over a burned-over hillside along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in Southern California Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) Two long-time allies like France and the U.S. should treat each other with respect, but France is a U.S. ally, not a vassal state, French President Emmanuel Macron said. In five posts after his visit to France, U.S. President Donald Trump blasted France over its near defeat to Germany in two world wars, its wine industry and Macrons approval ratings. "At every moment of our history, we were allies, so between allies, respect is due," the French leader said, citing French support for Americas war of independence and U.S. support during the two world wars. "I dont think the French expect me to respond to tweets but to continue this important history," Macron told TF1, adding that Trump was only playing to a domestic audience. "I think hes playing politics, and I let him play politics," Reuters cited him as saying. Asked about his suggestion to build an European army, which Trump criticized in tweets last week, Macron said: "The United States are our historic ally and will continue to be. Its the ally with which we take all the risks, with which we carry out the most complicated operations. But being an ally doesnt mean being a vassal state." NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on Amazon's second headquarters (all times local): 12:55 p.m. Not everyone in New York and Virginia is happy about being chosen to become the spot for new Amazon headquarter locations. Some see the billions in tax breaks as corporate welfare while others are worried about home values and school overcrowding in areas where it's already a problem for many residents. New York State Senator Michael Gianaris and New York City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer in a joint statement asked why scarce public resources are being offered to one of the profitable corporations in the world. In Virginia, state representative Lee Carter warned that thousands will be priced out of their homes with the influx of high-paid tech workers. He also raised the issue of overcrowded schools and traffic. In this Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, photo, a rusting ferryboat is docked next to an aging industrial warehouse on Long Island City's Anable Basin in the Queens borough of New York. Across the East River is midtown Manhattan, top left. Long Island City is a longtime industrial and transportation hub that has become a fast-growing neighborhood of riverfront high-rises and redeveloped warehouses, with an enduring industrial foothold and burgeoning arts and tech scenes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) ___ 11:50 a.m. New York officials are cheering Amazon's decision to build a new headquarters in a quickly developing corner of the city. Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said he'd be willing to change his name to "Amazon Cuomo" to land the deal at one point, said the state should be proud for landing, "one of the largest, most competitive economic development investments in U.S. history." The state offered Amazon more than $1.5 billion in incentives if it creates 25,000 jobs in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. One-time mayor Michael Bloomberg said Amazon's arrival affirms New York City's long-term push to attract the nation's top tech talent. Bloomberg pushed aggressive development in Long Island City while he was mayor. The neighborhood is a jumble of massive construction cranes and work sites and brand new high-rises have reshaped the skyline. ___ 11:15 a.m. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam cheered Amazon's choice of Arlington as one of two new headquarters locations for Amazon. He says the state will continue to invest in infrastructure and education as a key part of the partnership. Northam is calling the state's proposal to land the headquarters a "new model of economic development for the 21st century." Amazon is set to invest about $2.5 billion in its new Virginia headquarters and the state has promised a raft of incentives, including infrastructure investment and tax breaks. Virginia plans to invest in college-level computer science and related fields along with investing $50 million over 20 years in tech education for grammar and high school students. ___ 10:15 a.m. Amazon has confirmed that it will split its much-anticipated second headquarters between New York City and Arlington, Virginia. Its New York location will be in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, while its Arlington offices will be located in an area called National Landing. Each site will get 25,000 jobs. In addition, the online retailer said it will open an operations hub in Nashville, creating 5,000 jobs. The decision ends an intense competition between North American cities to win Amazon and its promise of 50,000 new jobs. Some locations tried to stand out with stunts, but Amazon made clear that it really wanted incentives, like tax breaks and grants. The company received 238 proposals before narrowing the list to 20 in January. ___ 6:40 a.m. A person familiar with the plans say Amazon will split its second headquarters between Long Island City in New York and Crystal City in northern Virginia. The online retailer is expected to make an official announcement later Tuesday. The person was not authorized to speak publicly ahead of that announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. The decision will end an intense competition between North American cities to win Amazon and its promise of 50,000 new jobs. Some locations tried to stand out with stunts, but Amazon made clear that it really wanted incentives, like tax breaks and grants. Amazon also had sought to be near a metropolitan area with more than a million people, among other criteria. The company received 238 proposals before narrowing the list to 20 in January. ___ Alan Suderman reported from Richmond, Virginia. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Fighting for political survival, Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin joined a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to overturn Maine's new voting system, used for the first time last week in U.S. House and Senate elections. The lawsuit asks a federal judge to stop the vote tabulations and to declare ranked-choice voting to be unconstitutional, clearing the way for Poliquin to be declared the victor. The secretary of state declined a separate request to stop the election process without a court order. The first round of voting on Election Day ended with Poliquin and Democrat Jared Golden both collecting 46 percent of the vote in Maine's huge, largely rural 2nd Congressional District, with Poliquin maintaining a slim edge of about 2,000 votes in unofficial returns. "I won the election fair and square," Poliquin said Tuesday, declaring the lawsuit is necessary to test the constitutionality of the voting system. In the lawsuit, Poliquin, who is seeking a third term, and three Republican activists contend he should be declared the winner because he has the most first-place votes. But the ranked-choice system requires additional voting rounds because neither he nor Golden won an outright majority. The lawsuit says the "foundation of our 'democratic process' is the right of all qualified voters to cast their votes effectively." It suggests that the ranked voting system "denies Plaintiffs the opportunity to cast their votes effectively." U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, speaks at a news conference, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Augusta, Maine. Poliquin filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap in an attempt to stop a tabulation of ranked-choice ballots in his race against Democratic challenger Jared Golden. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The lawsuit makes several arguments, including that the voting system violates the "one-person, one-vote" principle, violating the Equal Protection Clause. Poliquin's Democratic challenger decried the 11th-hour attempt to derail the process following the most expensive congressional race in Maine history. "Any attempt by Bruce Poliquin to change the rules after votes have already been cast is an affront to the law and to the people of Maine," Jon Breed, Golden's campaign manager, said in a statement Tuesday. If Poliquin were really concerned, Breed said, he should have sued before the election. Poliquin's lead attorney, former Federal Election Commission Chairman Lee Goodman, brushed aside concerns about the timing of the lawsuit. He said it wasn't filed sooner because it was unclear whether additional tabulations were going to be necessary to determine a winner. Democratic Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said that his office would continue to process ballots and that it would review with legal advisers any court order to stop. Election workers had more than 100 towns to go by midday Tuesday, he said. Supporters argue the system already has cleared legal challenges. Several courts, including the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, have upheld the constitutionality of ranked-choice voting, supporters said. "We're seeing these kinds of post-election sore loser lawsuits across the country," said Rob Richie, of FairVote, an electoral reform group that pressed for Maine's adoption of the system. Poliquin, however, insisted the lawsuit is not just about sour grapes over the possibility Golden could walk away as the winner. He said it's his "duty" to test the system at the federal level. "Not addressing this important constitutional matter would be completely irresponsible and not doing my job," he said. The ranked-choice voting system approved by referendum in 2016 lets voters rank candidates from first to last on the ballot. It provides for eliminations of last-place candidates and reallocations of votes to ensure that the winner gets a majority. The system is touted as a way to let people caste votes for third-party or independent candidates without concern for political "spoilers" or vote-splitting. Critics, including Poliquin, say it's confusing. Last-place candidates are eliminated one by one if no one receives a majority of the vote. Then the losers' second-choice votes are counted. The process can be repeated as many times as is necessary until there's a majority winner. In this case, two independents in the four-way race who together collected about 8 percent of the vote will be eliminated, and it's possible the reallocation of votes could end up favoring Golden even though he did not collect the most first-round votes. For now, the system is used only in federal races and in statewide primary elections in Maine. It cannot be used in the governor's race or legislative races because of concerns it runs afoul of the Maine Constitution. Democratic Gov.-elect Janet Mills has vowed to seek to amend the constitution so the system can be used in all elections. There was no controversy in Maine's other House race and Senate race. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree and independent Sen. Angus King each won with a majority of the vote, making further tabulations unnecessary. ___ Sharp reported from Portland, Maine. Associated Press writer Patrick Whittle in Portland contributed to this report. FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2018 file photo, ballots are prepared to be tabulated for Maine's Second Congressional District's House election in Augusta, Maine. Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin and three voters sued Tuesday, Nov. 13, over Maine's new voting system, used for the first time in U.S. House and Senate elections. A lawyer for Poliquin's campaign asked the secretary of state to stop the tabulations to allow a judge to rule, but the secretary declined to stop the process.(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap works with Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn, right, during the ballot-tabulation process for Maine's Second Congressional District's House election, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Augusta, Maine. The election is the first congressional race in American history to be decided by the ranked-choice voting method that allows second choices. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2018 file photo, Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, seeking re-election in the 2nd Congressional District, greets supporters at his election night party in Bangor, Maine. Poliquin and three voters sued Tuesday, Nov. 12 over Maine's new voting system, used for the first time in U.S. House and Senate elections. A lawyer for Poliquin's campaign asked the secretary of state to stop the tabulations to allow a judge to rule, but the secretary declined to stop the process.(Gabor Degre/The Bangor Daily News via AP) MILAN (AP) - Italy's populist government maintained its controversial 2.4 percent budget deficit in responding to EU demands for changes, but made tweaks during a late-night Cabinet meeting Tuesday, including adding plans to sell off some government real estate. Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio told reporters in Rome that the government was not changing the ambitious social spending plans in its draft budget because "it is our conviction that this maneuver is what the country needs to relaunch." The government has insisted that the spending is necessary to promote growth after years of austerity. A letter to Brussels being prepared by Economics Minister Giovanni Tria would outline plans to raise cash through the sale of secondary real estate, which Di Maio said would have an impact on Italy's stubbornly high public debt. He didn't specify what would be sold, but said it would not include "the family jewels." Di Maio also suggested there would not be a safeguard clause that would trigger spending cuts in the event the deficit target was overshot, as Italian media had reported. He said the government was committed to staying within the 2.4 percent of GDP deficit target. "We won't play sly foxes with the deficit," he said. "But at the same time we will maintain commitments to Italians made in the government contract. There will be all the cuts of waste, cuts of useless military spending and there are the social measures to give back social rights to Italians." Italian deputy Premier and Labor Minister Luigi Di Maio talks to reporters at the end of a cabinet meeting on Italy's budget, outside Rome's Chigi Palace government headquarters, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Italy's populist government has proposed a budget that would see its deficit bloat to 2.4 percent of gross domestic product, more than three times the target of the previous government. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) European officials have staunchly opposed the 2.4 percent deficit, which is more than three times the target of the previous government, and at a level that would keep Italy from reducing its debt load as it had promised. Italy's debt is currently around 130 percent of GDP, far above the EU limit of 60 percent and the second highest in Europe after Greece. The big concern is that doubts about Italy's debt could rekindle financial turmoil as well as questions about the future of the euro. The European Union rejected Italy's draft budget, saying it broke the rules, and gave the government until midnight Tuesday to submit a new version. The Italian government could face sanctions if it does not comply. The plan to sell real estate was unlikely to persuade Brussels, especially since the positive impact is not assured. Selling government properties was also a hallmark of the technical government of Mario Monti, which had forecast in 2011 raising as much as 30 billion euros by 2020 with the sale of government properties. The standoff has unsettled investors, who have sold off Italian debt in recent months, pushing up the country's borrowing rates. That could be dangerous because higher rates can hurt Italy's public finances, reinforcing investor concerns, in a vicious cycle. Such a scenario could require the government to make cuts during a moment of economic uncertainty. "This could transform a slowdown into a recession," the International Monetary Fund said in its report, a regular review of the Italian economy released Tuesday. It recommends Italy tighten its public finances instead and predicts that the government will miss its own targets, with the deficit hitting an estimated 2.7 percent next year. The International Monetary Fund warned the Italian government that its plan to sharply increase spending carries "substantial" risks and would leave the country vulnerable to market turmoil. It urged Italy "to put to rest any concern about public debt sustainability, which recently has resurfaced." Italian Economy Minister Giovanni Tria listens to reporters' questions during a joint press conference with Portuguese Finance Minister and head of the Eurogroup Mario Centeno, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Tria told lawmakers Friday that Italy will stick to its 2019 budget plan, despite EU officials' concerns about a big increase in spending. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Italian deputy Premier and Labor Minister Luigi Di Maio is seen in a camera viewfinder as he talks to reporters at the end of a cabinet meeting on Italy's budget, outside Rome's Chigi Palace government headquarters, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Italy's populist government has proposed a budget that would see its deficit bloat to 2.4 percent of gross domestic product, more than three times the target of the previous government. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Italian deputy Premier and Labor Minister Luigi Di Maio smiles as he talks to reporters at the end of a cabinet meeting on Italy's budget, outside Rome's Chigi Palace government headquarters, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Italy's populist government has proposed a budget that would see its deficit bloat to 2.4 percent of gross domestic product, more than three times the target of the previous government. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration Tuesday allowed states to provide more inpatient treatment for people with serious mental illness by tapping Medicaid, a potentially far-reaching move to address issues from homelessness to violence. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar made the announcement Tuesday in a speech to state Medicaid directors, a group that represents Republican and Democratic officials from around the country who are confronting common, deeply-rooted social problems. A longstanding federal law has barred Medicaid from paying for mental health treatment in facilities with more than 16 beds, to prevent "warehousing" of the mentally ill at the expense of federal taxpayers. Azar said states will now be able to seek waivers from that restriction, provided they can satisfy certain specific requirements. "We have the worst of both worlds: limited access to inpatient treatment and limited access to other options," said Azar, who stressed that inpatient care has to be combined with community-based services. "Given the history, it is the responsibility of state and federal governments together, alongside communities and families, to right this wrong," Azar added. "More treatment options are needed, and that includes more inpatient and residential options that can help stabilize Americans with serious mental illness." Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors called it "a hugely welcome development" that will help states build out a range of services for the mentally ill. FILE - In this June 26, 2018 file photo, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Trump administration is opening the door for states to provide more inpatient treatment for people with serious mental illness by tapping their Medicaid programs. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar made the announcement Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The lack of in-patient treatment beds for people with mental illness is seen as a common denominator among several national problems: homelessness, police shootings, and acts of mass violence by people with serious mental problems. Advocates said it may take a year or more to start seeing results of the new federal policy. States must apply for permission to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They must demonstrate that their plans are part of a "continuum" or range of services for mentally ill people. "We have decades of no movement on this issue," said John Snook, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center, a nonprofit trying to broaden access to mental health treatment. "This is the sort of opportunity we have to take advantage of. "Every day there is a story about police having to shoot someone with serious mental illness or the glut of mentally ill people in the emergency room," Snook added. "I think the general public will say the federal government is finally recognizing a problem we've been seeing on the ground." A decades-old law known as the "IMD exclusion" has stood in the way of Medicaid paying for treatment in larger mental health facilities. IMD stands for "institution for mental diseases." Pressure has been building on lawmakers and the administration to ease the restriction, given the combination of the opioid epidemic and recurring mass shootings, from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut to the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. The Obama administration began loosening restrictions in 2015 and last year the Trump administration cleared the way for Medicaid waivers to provide inpatient treatment for people with substance abuse problems. Azar said 13 such waivers have been approved and more are in the works. In Virginia, an expansion of residential drug treatment beds has been linked to a sharp drop in emergency room visits due to opioid overdose. One concern about waiving the Medicaid restriction for mental health is that it could cause a spike in federal spending. Advocates respond that similar restrictions aren't imposed on other diseases, and that treatment may well save society money over the long run by avoiding other costs. Medicaid won't approve a mental health treatment waiver unless the state can show federal costs will be no greater than would have otherwise been the case absent a change. SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - Macedonia will seek the arrest with an international warrant of conservative former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski after confirming he fled to Hungary to avoid serving a two-year prison sentence for corruption, authorities said Tuesday. The Interior Ministry responded nearly five hours after Gruevski announced he was in Budapest in a Facebook post, as police continued searches in the capital Skopje to try and locate him. The 48-year-old Gruevski who ignored a summons on Monday to appear at a Skopje prison to serve a two-year sentence after being convicted influencing officials to purchase a luxury car for government use. He also faces trial in four other cases that emerged from a wiretapping scandal which erupted in 2015 and plunged the country into a deep political crisis. He has been charged with abuse of office, electoral fraud, criminal association and incitement to violence. He had surrendered his passport and it was unclear how he reached Hungary. Gruevski was prime minister from 2006-2016. He is the former leader of the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, which is the main opposition party which is allied with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing Fidesz party. Contacted by The Associated Press, the Hungarian prime minister's office refused to confirm or deny Gruevski's presence, adding that "ongoing asylum procedures" couldn't be commented upon. FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 file photo, Nikola Gruevski, former country's Prime Minister and now a lawmaker of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, looks on in Macedonian Parliament in the capital Skopje. Macedonia says the country will seek the arrest with an international warrant of conservative former prime minister Nikola Gruevski after confirming he fled to Hungary to avoid serving a two-year prison sentence for corruption. The ministry responded nearly five hours after Gruevski announced he was in Budapest in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Nov. 13 as police continued searches in the capital Skopje to try and locate him. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski, file) Gruevski's flight marks the latest dramatic episode in a volatile confrontation between his conservatives and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's Social Democrats. The two sides remain bitterly at odds over a proposed deal to change the republic's name to North Macedonia and end a dispute with neighboring Greece that would allow Macedonia to join NATO. Western leaders provided Zaev's government strong backing in supporting the deal, while Russia argued that it was the target of the alliance's expansion eastward. The Social Democrats accused Gruevski of making a "cowardly escape." ___ Pablo Gorondi reported from Budapest, Hungary FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on the Florida recount of its Senate and governor elections (all times local): 9:30 p.m. Florida's Democratic gubernatorial candidate says claims of electoral fraud without evidence by President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott were sowing seeds that could undermine confidence in the democratic process. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum told a packed church of 200 supporters in Orlando Tuesday night that he would fight "with every fiber in my body" to make sure that every vote is counted as Florida's 67 counties work to complete a machine recount and face the prospect of a manual recount. The machine recount was triggered in Gillum's gubernatorial race against his GOP opponent, Ron DeSantis, as well as in the U.S. Senate race between Scott and incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. Gillum says claims by Trump and Scott about electoral fraud in counties that were taking time counting ballots were equivalent to trying to disenfranchise voters. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holds a news conference with Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., whose re-election contest against Republican Gov. Rick Scott is still undecided as a state-mandated recount is underway, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 201816. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ___ 7:25 p.m. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and a Democratic campaign committee are continuing to file lawsuits over the recount now underway in Florida. Nelson and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee filed two lawsuits Tuesday. One asks a federal judge to set aside looming deadlines for machine and hand recounts of ballots to give all counties time to complete recounts. Nelson is trying to win a fourth term but is trailing Republican Gov. Rick Scott in a tight race. Marc Elias, a campaign attorney for Nelson, said every county should be given a chance to finish recounting the ballots in the race. There are concerns that some large counties will not be able to finish a hand recount if it is ordered. The deadline for the machine recount is Thursday. ___ 6:15 p.m. A Florida circuit judge is suspending looming recount deadlines, but her ruling applies to Palm Beach County only and does not apply to the U.S. Senate race between Bill Nelson and Rick Scott. Leon County Judge Karen Gievers ruled Tuesday that a machine recount in two other statewide elections, including the race for governor, can go beyond Thursday's deadline. Gievers also extended the deadline for a legislative race. Jim Bonfiglio, a Democrat running for the Legislature, filed the lawsuit asking that recount deadlines be suspended. Gievers agreed to the delay because Palm Beach does not have enough machines to do four recounts at the same time. It's not clear, however, if Gievers' ruling will remain in place. Lawyers for Secretary of State Ken Detzner have asked that the lawsuit be moved to federal court. ___ 4:45 p.m. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and a Democratic campaign committee are filing another lawsuit related to the ongoing recount of the U.S. Senate race in Florida. Lawyers for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Nelson filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday. This lawsuit asks a federal judge to push back the deadline for a potential hand recount in the race. It also asks a judge to set aside some of the rules in place for a hand recount. Right now counties are doing a machine recount of the tight race between Nelson and Florida Gov. Rick Scott. If Nelson and Scott are separated by 0.25 percent or less after the first recount then a second hand recount will be ordered. The results are due Sunday. ___ 3:40 p.m. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump and Gov. Rick Scott are attempting to bully Florida election officials out of doing their jobs. Schumer and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, both Democrats, spoke with reporters Tuesday in Washington. Scott, a Republican, is challenging Nelson for his Senate seat. Scott's slight lead over Nelson following last week's election prompted an automatic recount. Schumer says Scott should recuse himself from any duties connected to the recount. Nelson echoed those sentiments, saying Scott can't oversee the process in a fair and impartial way. Schumer says election officials should have all the time they need to count every vote, rather than Sunday's deadline. He says President Trump, who has made unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, should stop bullying, harassing and lying about the vote in Florida. ___ 1:45 p.m. The elections supervisor in the Florida county at the center of the vote recount has hinted that she might not run for re-election. Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes told reporters Tuesday that "it is time to move on" and that she believed she had fulfilled her duties. When asked directly if that meant she wasn't running for another four-year term in 2020, Snipes said no final decision had been made and she would check with her family. Snipes has held the Broward elections post since 2003, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. She has won re-election since, despite a number of missteps and controversies that have led Republicans to accuse her of fraud. Authorities have not found any evidence of fraud. ___ 1:45 p.m. President Donald Trump is going after Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for not conceding in his contest against Republican Rick Scott. Trump tweeted Tuesday: "When will Bill Nelson concede in Florida? The characters running Broward and Palm Beach voting will not be able to "find" enough votes, too much spotlight on them now!" Scott holds a narrow lead over Nelson. Trump did not provide additional evidence to explain his criticism of Florida voting. Trump tweeted Monday that "An honest vote count is no longer possible" in Florida, without elaborating, and said "new ballots showed up out of nowhere." ___ 1 p.m. Former Florida U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy says his ballot didn't count because of a discrepancy with his signature. As the vote counts tightened last week, Murphy checked the Palm Beach County elections website and saw his mail-in vote was scrapped because of an invalid signature. Murphy says it "shows how broken our system is," adding, "you just wonder how many other cases there are." Murphy, who was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2016, said he hoped to appeal, but learned the Nov. 5 deadline had already passed. He said the burden should be on election supervisors to proactively notify citizens. He said these "kinds of error and mishaps" are troubling in a state like Florida with a history of close elections. ___ 11 a.m. The White House is again weighing in on the Florida Senate recount. White House spokeswoman Mercedes Schlapp said Tuesday the president "obviously has his opinion" on the recount. Trump on Monday tweeted that "An honest vote count is no longer possible" in Florida, without elaborating, and said "new ballots showed up out of nowhere." Republican Gov. Rick Scott holds a narrow lead over incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. Schlapp said, "It's been incredibly frustrating to watch. You have a 12,000-vote gap and the other candidate refuses to concede." She said the president is confident Scott will win. __ 3 a.m. Florida's election recount of its Senate and governor's races is chugging along as more irregularities are uncovered. Bay County revealed Monday that it had allowed some hurricane-displaced voters to cast their ballots by email - a violation of state law. Manatee County had to restart its recount after getting about a quarter finished because someone forgot to push a button. And in oft-criticized Broward County, additional sheriff's deputies were sent to guard ballots and voting machines. A judge said no Republican who has publicly alleged fraud in Broward's process has filed a criminal complaint. That list includes President Donald Trump and Gov. Rick Scott. Scott's Senate contest against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is one race being recounted. Republican Ron DeSantis is leading Andrew Gillum in the governor race. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., whose re-election contest against Republican Gov. Rick Scott is still undecided, is joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 201816. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Miami-Dade Election Center supervisors recount the ballots and are already halfway through the recount total on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (C.M. Guerrero/Miami Herald via AP) An election worker calibrates a new vote counting machine, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, at the Broward Supervisor of Elections office in Lauderhill, Fla. The Florida recount continued Monday in Broward County. (Joe Cavaretta /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Miami-Dade Election Center supervisors recount the ballots and are already halfway through the recount on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (C.M. Guerrero/Miami Herald via AP) Amazon could get more than $2 billion in tax breaks and other incentives as part of its deals to open up two new offices with more than 25,000 new jobs at each location. New York City and Arlington, Virginia, will be home to two new nerve centers, which are being called the second and third headquarters for the Seattle company. Nashville, Tennessee, was named as an operations hub. Following are some of the perks Amazon says it will get, along with the perks for the cities. NEW YORK CITY - Long Island City Incentives offered to Amazon: - Performance-based direct incentives of $1.525 billion, based on 25,000 full-time, high-paying jobs created. This includes a refundable tax credit of up to $1.2 billion calculated as a percentage of salaries Amazon expects to pay over 10 years, which equates to $48,000 per job for 25,000 jobs with an average wage of over $150,000. Also, a cash grant of $325 million based on the square footage of buildings occupied in the next 10 years. - Amazon will also apply for as-of-right incentives including New York City's Industrial & Commercial Abatement Program and New York City's Relocation and Employment Assistance Program. There was no dollar figure immediately attached to this benefit. City Benefits: In this Nov. 7, 2018, photo, a water taxi approaches the Long Island City waterfront and new high-rise luxury apartment buildings, passing the landmarked PepsiCola sign in Gantry Plaza State Park in the Queens borough of New York. On Tuesday, Nov. 13, Amazon said it will split its second headquarters between Long Island City in New York and Crystal City in northern Virginia. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) - More than 25,000 full-time jobs. - $2.5 billion investment from Amazon. - Facilities totaling 4 million square feet, with the potential to double in size. - Projected incremental tax revenue of more than $10 billion over 20 years. ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - Neighborhoods close to Reagan National Airport Incentives offered to Amazon: - Performance-based direct incentives of $573 million based on 25,000 jobs created with an average wage of over $150,000. That includes a cash grant of $23 million over 15 years based on the incremental growth of existing tax on hotel rooms. - Virginia will spend up to $295 million on transportation projects, including upgrades for the Metro system and a connector bridge from Crystal City to National Airport. City Benefits: - More than 25,000 full-time jobs with average wage exceeding $150,000. - $2.5 billion investment from Amazon. - Facilities totaling 4 million square feet, with the potential to double in size. - Projected incremental tax revenue of $3.2 billion over 20 years. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Incentives offered to Amazon: - Performance-based incentives of up to $102 million based on 5,000 jobs created over 7 years with an average wage of over $150,000. - Cash grant of up to $15 million based on $500 for each job created over the next 7 years. - Job tax credit to offset franchise and excise taxes from the state of Tennessee of $21.7 million based on $4,500 per new job over the next 7 years. City Benefits: - 5,000 full-time jobs with an average wage exceeding $150,000. - More than $230 million in investment. - 1 million square feet of energy-efficient office space. - Estimated incremental tax revenue of more than $1 billion over the next 10 years. BOSTON (AP) - A Nigerian internet service provider said Tuesday that a configuration error it made during a network upgrade caused a disruption of key Google services, routing traffic to China and Russia. Even with MainOne's explanation, there was speculation that Monday's 74-minute data hijacking might not have been an accident. Google's search, cloud hosting and corporate-focused G-Suite collaborative tools were among services disrupted. "Everyone is pretty confident that nothing untoward took place," MainOne spokesman Tayo Ashiru said. But Jake Williams, president of Rendition InfoSec and a former U.S. government hacker, said a skeptic should not rule out meddling by a nation-state with something to gain. The level of corruption in a country like Nigeria is well known, he said. The type of traffic misdirection involved can knock essential services offline and facilitate espionage and financial theft. It can also be used to block access to information by sending data requests into internet black holes. Experts say China, in particular, has systematically hijacked and diverted U.S. internet traffic. But the problem can also result from human error. It's very difficult to tell the difference, said Williams. In this Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, photo, a woman carries a fire extinguisher past the logo for Google at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Internet traffic hijacking disrupted several Google services Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, including search and cloud-hosting services. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Google said it had no reason to believe the traffic hijacking was malicious. Ashiru said engineers at MainOne, a major west African ISP, mistakenly forwarded to China Telecom addresses for Google services that were supposed to be local. The Chinese company, in turn, sent along the bad data to Russia's TransTelecom, a major internet presence. Ashiru said MainOne did not yet understand why China Telecom did that, as the state-run company normally doesn't allow Google traffic on its network. The traffic diversion into China created a detour with a dead end, preventing users from accessing the affected Google services, said Alex Henthorn-Iwane, an executive at the network-intelligence company ThousandEyes. He said Monday's incident offered yet another lesson in the internet's susceptibility to "unpredictable and destabilizing events. If this could happen to a company with the scale and resources available that Google has, realize it could happen to anyone." The diversion, known as border gateway protocol route hijacking, is built into the internet , which was designed for collaboration by trusted parties - not competition by hostile nation-states. Experts say it is fixable but that would require investments in encrypted routers that the industry has resisted . ThousandEyes said the diversion at minimum made Google's search and business collaboration tools difficult or impossible to reach and "put valuable Google traffic in the hands of ISPs in countries with a long history of Internet surveillance." Most network traffic to Google services - 94 percent as of Oct. 27 - is encrypted, which shields it from prying eyes even if diverted. But work was interrupted on services like G-Suite, which Google CEO Sundar Pichai in February said had more than 4 million businesses as customers. G-Suite and Google Cloud combined generate about $4 billion in revenue each year. Google did not quantify the disruption other than to say in a statement that "access to some Google services was impacted." Indeed, the phenomenon has occurred before. Google was briefly afflicted in 2015 when an Indian provider stumbled. In perhaps the best-known case, Pakistan Telecom inadvertently hijacked YouTube's global traffic in 2008 for a few hours when it was trying to enforce a domestic ban. It sent all YouTube traffic into a virtual ditch in Pakistan. In two recent cases, such rerouting has affected financial sites. In April 2017, one affected MasterCard and Visa among other sites. This past April, another hijacking enabled cryptocurrency theft . ___ AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke contributed from San Francisco. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam said Tuesday that an Amazon operations hub expected to create 5,000 jobs in Tennessee will be "the single largest jobs commitment made by a company in Tennessee's history." Amazon will invest $230 million-plus to locate its Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville Yards, a 15-acre (6-hectare), mixed-use downtown development still under construction in the booming southern city. Holly Sullivan of Amazon Public Policy says Nashville will become the eastern U.S. hub for its retail operations division, with hiring to begin next year. Amazon announced the Nashville site the same day it revealed it would split its much-anticipated second headquarters between New York and Arlington, Virginia, each getting 25,000 jobs. "This is a game changer for Tennessee. The ripple effect of Amazon's decision to invest $230 million in our state and create 5,000 high-paying jobs in downtown Nashville will be felt for years to come," Haslam said in a statement. Amazon's new 1 million square-foot Nashville office space will host tech and management functions, including customer fulfillment, customer service, transportation and supply chain. The project is expected to add an estimated incremental tax revenue of more than $1 billion over the next 10 years, according to the company. Amazon says it will receive up to $102 million in performance-based incentives based on the creation of 5,000 jobs with an average wage exceeding $150,000 in Nashville. In this Aug. 3, 2017, photo, Myrtice Harris applies tape to a package before shipment at an Amazon fulfillment center in Baltimore. Amazon on Tuesday, Nov. 13, said it will split its much-anticipated second headquarters between New York and Arlington, Va. In addition, the online retailer said it will open an operations hub in Nashville, creating 5,000 jobs. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) "We think it's just a great location for our employees, but also a great location to really further the resilience and the vibrancy, and just the overall coolness of Nashville, Tennessee," Sullivan said Tuesday at a news conference with Gov. Haslam. The company received 238 proposals for its new headquarters before narrowing it down to 20 in January, a shortlist that included Nashville. Haslam said that in the past 30 days or so, the conversation shifted toward the possibility of the smaller hub in Nashville. For perspective, Haslam said the Amazon headquarters proposal could have resulted in 50,000 new jobs in one location, and Nashville currently only has 70,000 jobs downtown. "I think we realized, Nashville realized and Amazon realized, to do something that big, as much as Nashville has grown, would still be a challenge to infrastructure and to the talent demand," Haslam said at the news conference. Amazon's choice also followed the resounding defeat of a multibillion-dollar Nashville transit ballot measure in the May election, a plan that banked on tax increases to introduce a light rail system, expand bus routes and build a downtown underground tunnel. In fielding proposals for the second headquarters, Amazon stressed the importance of direct access to mass transit. Nashville Mayor David Briley said the city still continues to invest in expanding its existing transit system. Amazon's incentives package includes a cash grant for capital expenditures from the state of $65 million based on the company creating 5,000 jobs over the next seven years - equivalent to $13,000 per job. Meanwhile, Nashville has agreed to give up to a $15 million cash grant based on each job created within the same timeframe. The annual payment from the city, however, will be dependent on the actual number of employees added. Finally, Amazon will receive a job tax credit to offset 50 percent of Tennessee's franchise and excise taxes based on $4,500 per job over the next seven years - worth about $21.7 million. A free market think-tank, Beacon Center of Tennessee, became a quick critic of the deal. Beacon Center spokesman Mark Cunningham said officials "got scammed into giving the company more than $100 million in taxpayer giveaways for a consolation prize." But Briley and Haslam contended that Nashville and the state are getting great deals that will quickly pay themselves off. Haslam said he expects 1.6 more jobs in the state for every direct job created, for a total of 13,000-plus. The state says Amazon currently has six Tennessee facilities employing more than 6,500 people. ___ Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville contributed to this report. FILE- In this Oct. 23, 2018, file photo an Amazon logo is seen on the side of an Amazon Treasure Truck in Los Angeles. Amazon on Tuesday, Nov. 13, said it will split its much-anticipated second headquarters between New York and Arlington, Va. In addition, the online retailer said it will open an operations hub in Nashville, creating 5,000 jobs. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File) Holly Sullivan, center, of Amazon Public Policy, hugs Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam during an announcement that Amazon will locate an operations hub in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. At right is Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe. The $230 million-plus investment will make Nashville the eastern U.S. hub for Amazon's retail operations division. The investment will be the single largest jobs commitment made by a company in the state's history. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - A gray wolf relocated this fall from mainland Minnesota to Isle Royale National Park has died of unknown causes, officials said Tuesday, a minor setback in a multiyear plan to rebuild the predator species on the Lake Superior archipelago. The 5-year-old male was among the first two wolves released at the park Sept. 26 . Staff biologists became concerned in late October when his radio tracking collar indicated he was no longer on the move, park spokeswoman Liz Valencia said. A team traced the animal and found its carcass, which bore no bite marks or other signs that it had been killed by another wolf. It was taken to a federal wildlife health lab in Madison, Wisconsin, for a necropsy. Results are expected in December, Valencia said. The fatality was the second since officials kicked off a plan to take 20 to 30 wolves to the park over the next several years to replenish its depleted population. A female died in a mainland holding facility in September. "It's certainly not something you'd want to happen but it was not unexpected," Valencia said. "It's a high-risk operation." Others are likely to die as the Isle Royale project continues, said Rolf Peterson, a Michigan Technological University biologist who studies the park's wolves and moose. Some won't make the transition to new habitat smoothly, while others will starve or be killed in territorial disputes with fellow wolves, he said. FILE - This Sept. 26, 2018, file photo provided by the National Park Service shows a 4-year-old female gray wolf emerging from her cage at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. A gray wolf relocated from the Minnesota mainland to Isle Royale National Park this fall has died. The male wolf was among four taken to the Lake Superior island park as part of a multi-year effort to rebuild its declining wolf population. The other three relocated wolves are doing well. (National Park Service via AP, File) Peterson said he hadn't seen the dead male's carcass but that hunger or stress were among possible factors. It would be hard for a single wolf to bring down even a young moose, he said, although the island has plenty of beaver on which wolves can feed. Park officials shot six moose and spread some of the meat to give the new arrivals a temporary food supply, but it would have been picked over fairly quickly. "Wolves live a very brutal life," Peterson said. "Their normal condition is extremely lean." Isle Royale's wolf numbers averaged in the 20s for decades before plummeting more recently, largely because of inbreeding. Only two remained earlier this year. Scientists say predators are needed to prevent the moose herd, which totals about 1,500, from becoming so large that the voracious animals overeat trees and shrubs. The other wolf released Sept. 26 is doing well, as are two others that arrived in October, Valencia said. Counting the two aging survivors, the park now has five wolves. The newcomers were trapped on the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation in Minnesota. More are expected in January from the Canadian province of Ontario. Plans call for relocating additional wolves from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed a draft agreement on Britains withdrawal from the European Union but warned that the worst case scenario would be a no-deal Brexit. As British Prime Minister Theresa May battles to save the draft divorce deal after several ministers quit in protest, the chancellor said: "The worst case, and most disorderly, is that there is no kind of no deal." "You have to see the alternatives and then ask: is what we have a basis? So I hope that this can be such a basis," Reuters cited Merkel as saying. "We have a document on the table that Britain and the EU 27 have agreed to, so for me there is no question at the moment whether we negotiate further," she stressed. "Firstly, I am very happy that after long negotiations which were not easy, a proposal has been pulled together," Merkel concluded. EGG HARBOR, N.J. (AP) - Police say 20 people were injured when a car crashed through the front of a Social Security office in New Jersey. Egg Harbor Township police say the crash happened around 10 a.m. Tuesday when 56-year-old Donna Woodall was attempting to park. Authorities say the Atlantic City woman crashed her car into the lobby of the building where many people were waiting. One of those injured was in critical condition, one was in serious condition and the rest sustained minor injuries. Authorities say the crash appears to be an accident. Its exact cause remains under investigation. The building was deemed to be structurally sound after the crash. A car has crashed into a Social Security office, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 in Egg Harbor, N.J. Police say the driver was attempting to park when the car crashed into the building, entering a lobby where many people were waiting. It wasn't immediately clear how serious the injuries were, though officials say a female passenger in the vehicle appeared to be critically hurt. Two children also were in the vehicle but they appeared to escape serious injury. (Craig Matthews/The Press of Atlantic City via AP) A car has crashed into a Social Security office, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 in Egg Harbor, N.J. Police say the driver was attempting to park when the car crashed into the building, entering a lobby where many people were waiting. It wasn't immediately clear how serious the injuries were, though officials say a female passenger in the vehicle appeared to be critically hurt. Two children also were in the vehicle but they appeared to escape serious injury. (Craig Matthews/The Press of Atlantic City via AP) A man is helped onto a stretcher by emergency personnel after a car crashed into a Social Security office, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 in Egg Harbor, N.J. Police say the driver was attempting to park when the car crashed into the building, entering a lobby where many people were waiting. It wasn't immediately clear how serious the injuries were. (Craig Matthews/The Press of Atlantic City via AP) Pensioners take part in a rally outside the Labor Ministry in Athens, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Some hundreds of pensioners demonstrated Tuesday against more austerity measures planned by the Greek government. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Emergency personnel carry children in car seats after a car crashed into a Social Security office, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 in Egg Harbor, N.J. Police say the driver was attempting to park when the car crashed into the building, entering a lobby where many people were waiting. It wasn't immediately clear how serious the injuries were. (Craig Matthews/The Press of Atlantic City via AP) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - Europe needs to diversify its energy supplies to cut its dependency on Russia, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Tuesday. Perry, on a visit to Hungary, said that Russia needs to be prevented from using "energy as a coercive weapon," like when it sometimes temporarily cuts winter gas supplies affecting mostly eastern Europe. Perry also said the United States has "the perfect right" to maintain sanctions on Russia related to its annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine. "This is really pretty simple from my perspective," Perry said. "Be a good neighbor and respect the rule of law, and Russia does not do that." Hungary, which is greatly dependent on Russian energy supplies and is using Russian funds and expertise to expand its lone, Soviet-built nuclear power plant, has gone along with European Union sanctions on Russia, while also advocating for their removal on the grounds of economic competitiveness. The U.S. has been pushing for Eastern European countries to use American deliveries of liquefied natural gas, but an LNG terminal planned in Croatia which could be used by Hungary has been long delayed. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, right, welcomes US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Lajos Soos/MTI via AP) Hungary is also hoping to get gas supplies in the coming years from recent discoveries by Romania of reserves in the Black Sea. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that despite much planning and political resolve, it was "extraordinarily important" to "truly turn into reality" the region's diversification efforts. "It must be seen that you can operate industry and heat homes with gas, not political goodwill or plans," Szijjarto said. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, right, welcomes US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, November 13, 2018. (Lajos Soos/MTI via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on new members of Congress (all times local): 12:05 p.m. Democratic Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has joined about 200 climate-change activists as they stage a protest at the office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Protesters are calling on Democratic leaders to put forward a "Green New Deal" that includes a swift transition to 100 percent renewable energy in line with findings of a recent report on climate change by United Nations. Some protesters were being arrested Tuesday after refusing to leave a hallway outside Pelosi's office. Ocasio-Cortez, 29, who is set to become the youngest member of Congress in January, addressed the group briefly before arrests were made. Pelosi has pledged to reinstate a special committee on climate change after Democrats take control of the House. The California Democrat said in a statement that she welcomes the activists. Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY., arrives for orientation for new members of Congress, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) __ 12:35 a.m. The House's historic incoming class of lawmakers is getting lessons on the basics of Capitol Hill. It's orientation week, which means newly elected Democrats and Republicans are streaming into Washington flush with victory and, at least for the Democrats who will control the House, ready to take on President Donald Trump. But first, the House lawmakers-in-waiting are being schooled beginning Tuesday on such matters as hiring and making their offices run smoothly. They will take their official photos, meet colleagues and take what could prove to be the toughest vote of their early careers - electing their leadership. Eight years of House Republican control ended with last week's elections. Democrats gained at least 32 seats and the majority. Rep.-elect Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., listens during a news conference with members of the Progressive Caucus in Washington, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas Board of Education preliminarily voted Tuesday night to restore Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller to the state's history curriculum and to slightly soften language about the Arab-Israeli conflict - surprising moments of bipartisanship for members who have long waged ideological battles about how students in the nation's second largest state learn history. The moves came after the board's 10 Republicans and five Democrats heard hours of often impassioned testimony from students, teachers, activists and university experts on proposed edits meant to streamline academic standards for history. A final vote is scheduled for Friday and more changes can still be made. In September, the board voted to cut lessons on former secretary of state, senator and 2016 presidential candidate Clinton, as well as Keller, an iconic activist who was deaf and blind. Emotions often ran high Tuesday, particularly when Gabrielle Caldwell, a 17-year-old hearing- and visually-impaired student, spoke about how Keller was the only connection many people have to the deaf and blind community. "I am hoping you keep Helen Keller being taught in our schools," Caldwell said. "She's a hero." The board voted hours after Caldwell's testimony to restore Keller to third grade curriculums with minimal debate. It also restored a previously trimmed second grade lesson about Women Airforce Service Pilots, civilians who flew during World War II and were the first U.S. women to pilot military aircraft. Texas School Board chair Donna Bahorich asks a question as the Texas School Board listens to public testimony as they prepares to vote on history curriculum, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Austin, Texas. The Republican-controlled board is hearing from activists and academics who are defending or decrying proposed edits meant to streamline academic standards for history. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) The proposal to again include Clinton sparked more debate but eventually passed easily. Democrats said Texas girls will be inspired by - and should be taught about - the first female presidential candidate to earn a major party nomination, while Republicans said they'd heard from other residents demanding to know why Clinton was cut in the first place. "I think she qualifies as a significant political leader," said Marty Rowley, a Republican from Amarillo, while noting that he didn't agree with Clinton's politics. Texas has around 5.4 million public school students, more than any state but California. Teaching board-approved lessons isn't always mandatory, but its sanctioned curriculum can affect what's published in textbooks. The state's market is large enough that its curriculum sometimes influences what goes into materials used elsewhere around the country - though that's less true in recent years as technology allows for tailoring what's taught to different states and even individual school districts. Other hot-button curriculum topics went unchanged despite long-standing objections from university professors and other experts. The board refused to modify controversial lessons on the causes of the Civil War and asking students to explore the biblical figure Moses' influence on the nation's Founding Fathers. Political lessons referencing Moses have been in Texas curriculums since 2010. A panel of experts had proposed cutting those, but the board voted in September to preserve them. It also retained language that students learn how "Arab rejection of the State of Israel has led to ongoing conflict" in the Middle East. On Tuesday, the board voted to make rejection of many Arabs of the State of Israel a contributing factor to Middle East conflict. But it didn't change references to Moses, or instruction on how sectionalism and states' rights were "contributing factors" to the Civil War, while also noting in the curriculum that slavery was a "central cause." "There are people who believe that some of the events that happened long before this became a boiling point for war was the fact that they did not want to be told what to do by the central government," Pat Hardy, a Republican from Fort Worth, said of the Civil War, adding that southern states were "very, very independent" and didn't like Washington telling them what to do. Ruben Cortez, a Democrat from the Texas-Mexico border city of Brownsville, responded: "I think we just need to do the right thing, and I think I better stop talking before I get upset." Marisa Perez-Diaz, a Democrat from suburban San Antonio, said the curriculum wording was meant to skirt "the real issue, which is slavery." No changes were made despite nearly 200 historians and scholars signing a petition circulated by the Texas Freedom Network, a watchdog group and frequent board critic, which said such standards "resurrect the 'Lost Cause' myth, a long-discredited version of history first promoted in the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to glorify the Confederate past and reinforce white supremacist policies." Rayford Brown waits to testify before the Texas School Board during public testimony as they prepares to vote on history curriculum, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Austin, Texas. The Republican-controlled board is hearing from activists and academics who are defending or decrying proposed edits meant to streamline academic standards for history. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Gabrielle Caldwell, who is partially deaf and blind, looks over her notes where she testified before the Texas School Board during public testimony as they prepares to vote on history curriculum, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Austin, Texas. The Republican-controlled board is hearing from activists and academics who are defending or decrying proposed edits meant to streamline academic standards for history. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is weighing an administration-wide shakeup as he looks to prepare his White House for divided government, but it is unclear who is going and who is staying. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was thought to be out as soon as this week, according to two people with knowledge of the issue, but she is now likely to remain in the post for a longer period because there is no obvious successor in place. Trump has soured on Nielsen and White House chief of staff John Kelly, in part over frustration that his administration is not doing more to address what he has called a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the two people. But the scope of the contemplated changes is far broader, as Trump gears up for a wave of Democratic oversight requests and to devote more effort to his re-election campaign. According to people familiar with the situation, Trump is also discussing replacing Kelly with Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff, Nick Ayers. Kelly, a retired Marine general, has been credited with bringing order and process to a chaotic West Wing, but he has fallen out of favor with the president as well as with presidential daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Ayers, a seasoned campaign operative, would restore a political mindset to the role, but he faces stiff opposition from some corners of the West Wing, with some aides lobbying Trump directly against the move. Other changes are afoot, as Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke are being discussed for replacement. And in an extraordinary move Tuesday, first lady Melania Trump's office called publicly for the firing of Trump's deputy national security adviser, Mira Ricardel. FILE - In this May 23, 2018 file photo, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen speaks during a roundtable on immigration policy with President Donald Trump at Morrelly Homeland Security Center, in Bethpage, N.Y. President Donald Trump has soured on Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and she is expected to leave her job as soon as this week. That's according to two people who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) For all the talk of churn, Trump often expresses frustration with aides and then does not take action. Talk of Kelly's exit has percolated for months, and he remains in place. Nielsen had hoped to complete one year in the job and leave in December, but it appeared unlikely she would last that long, said two people with knowledge of the debate. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Curbing illegal immigration is Trump's signature issue - and one he returns to as a way to rally his most loyal supporters. But anyone who takes over at Homeland Security is likely to run up against the same problems that Nielsen faced. The administration has already tried to clamp down at the border, but those efforts have been largely thwarted or watered down because of legal challenges. Trump also told allies that he never fully trusted Nielsen, whom he associated with President George W. Bush, a longtime foe. And he told those close to him that he felt, at times, that her loyalty was more toward her longtime mentor - Kelly - than to the president. Zinke, who faces several ethics investigations, said in an AP interview on Monday that he has spoken in recent days with Trump, Pence and Kelly about probes into his leadership and they remain supportive. He denied any wrongdoing. Ross addressed turnover rumors at a Yahoo Finance summit Tuesday, saying he was in the post to give back to the country and support Trump. "I worked very hard to get President Trump elected," he said. "Now I'd like to work equally hard to have him succeed and be re-elected." Questions about Nielsen's job security are not new. Earlier this year, she pushed back on a New York Times report that she drafted a resignation letter after Trump scolded her at a Cabinet meeting, but did not submit it. Nielsen has led the sprawling post-Sept. 11 federal agency since December. She had been chief of staff to Kelly when he was Trump's first Homeland Security secretary. A DHS spokesman would not comment on whether she was leaving. "The secretary is honored to lead the men and women of DHS and is committed to implementing the president's security-focused agenda to protect Americans from all threats and will continue to do so," spokesman Tyler Houlton said. Nielsen advocated for strong cybersecurity defense and often said she believed the next major terror attack would occur online - not by planes or bombs. She was tasked with helping states secure elections following interference by Russians during the 2016 election. She pushed Trump's immigration policies, including funding for his border wall, and defended the administration's practice of separating migrant families, telling a Senate committee that removing children from parents facing criminal charges happens "in the United States every day." But she was also instrumental in stopping the separations. Just last week, the administration announced that migrants would be denied asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border if they crossed illegally, creating regulations that circumvent immigration laws stating anyone can claim asylum no matter how they arrive to the country. The decision would affect about 70,000 people annually and was immediately challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union. Nielsen also moved to abandon long-standing regulations that dictate how long children are allowed to be held in immigration detention, and she requested bed space from the U.S. military for some 12,000 people in an effort to detain all families who cross the border. Right now there is space for about 3,000 families, and it is at capacity. She got into heated discussions with Trump and White House aides several times over immigration policy as she sought to explain the complicated legal challenges behind immigration law and pushed for a more diplomatic approach. It's unclear who would replace her. The job requires Senate confirmation, and there is no deputy secretary. Under Secretary for Management Claire Grady would be the acting head if Nielsen left. ___ Associated Press writers Darlene Superville in Washington and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report. FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Kirstjen Nielsen, right, after Trump announced that she is his choice to be the next Homeland Security Secretary, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. President Donald Trump has soured on Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and she is expected to leave her job as soon as this week. That's according to two people who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Ethiopia has detained the former head of a large military-run industrial conglomerate, a day after the country's attorney general disclosed that several hundred million dollars was embezzled from the firm. The state broadcaster ETV reported that Maj. Gen. Kinfe Dagnew, former head of the Metal and Engineering Corporation, was arrested near the Sudanese border where he was trying to flee. The arrest is viewed as a direct hit on Ethiopia's military establishment, the latest of several major changes implemented by reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, 42, since he came to power in April. Images of the former official in handcuffs arriving by helicopter in the capital, Addis Ababa, have been aired repeatedly by the state broadcaster. The news of Kinfe's arrest has captured the attention of many in this East African nation as he was one of the most feared figures in the country until a few months ago. "He was a dictator who was not willing to solve our problems," Desalegn Kebede, who did business with him, told the Associated Press. "I'm very happy that he is now under custody. We hope that he will get what he deserves." Ethiopia's Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye stated on Monday that 27 suspects were arrested from the military-run company on allegations of corruption. He alleged that an estimated $2 billion worth of procurements were made without an open tender. In addition, a further 36 individuals were apprehended for alleged human rights violation. The previous government of Ethiopia, a close security ally of the West, was often accused of rights violations by international groups and activists. Abiy's new government has carried out several reforms including releasing several thousand political prisoners, permitting opposition groups to return from exile, dropping terror charges against prominent opposition leaders and relaxing restrictions against the media. But still ethnic-based clashes have broken out in some parts of the country and pose the most serious threat to Abiy's leadership of Ethiopia's 100 million people. BERLIN (AP) - The German edition of Playboy magazine distanced itself Tuesday from an interview in its latest edition with Ennio Morricone, in which the renowned Italian film composer appears to blast director Quentin Tarantino and the Oscars ceremony. The interview, published last week, quoted the 90-year-old composer referring to Tarantino as a "cretin" who stole ideas from others and the Academy Awards ceremony as "boring." Morricone, who won an Oscar in 2016 for his score for Tarantino's film "The Hateful Eight," has vehemently denied criticizing the director, his films or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "I consider Tarantino a great director," Morricone said, adding that he credited their collaboration for his Oscar success, "which is for sure one of the greatest acknowledgments of my career, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to compose music for his film." German Playboy, which is published by Munich-based Hubert Burda Media, said that "up to now, we have considered the freelancer who conducted the Ennio Morricone interview on our behalf to be a renowned print and radio journalist." "In the past, we have had no reason to doubt his journalistic integrity and skills," the magazine's editor-in-chief, Florian Boitin, said in a statement. FILE - In this Tuesday, March 6, 2018 file photo, Italian composer Ennio Morricone directs an ensemble during a concert of his "60 Year Of Music World Tour" in Milan, Italy. The German edition of Playboy magazine says a freelance reporter may have misquoted Ennio Morricone in an interview published in its latest edition, in which the renowned Italian film composer appears to blast director Quentin Tarantino and the Oscars ceremony. German Playboy said on Tuesday, Nov. 13 that "we must unfortunately assume that the words spoken in the interview have, in part, been reproduced incorrectly." (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, file) "Based on the information now at our disposal, we must unfortunately assume that the words spoken in the interview have, in part, been reproduced incorrectly," Boitin said without elaborating. "We would like to express our regret should Mr. Morricone have been portrayed in a false light," he added. "We are working to clarify this matter and are exploring legal measures." JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's defense minister on Wednesday abruptly resigned to protest a new cease-fire with Hamas militants in Gaza, throwing the government into turmoil and pushing the country toward an early election. Avigdor Lieberman's decision was ostensibly a show of anger over Tuesday's informal truce with Israel's Hamas enemies. But in many ways, it was the opening round of a new political campaign. His defection leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the narrowest of parliamentary majorities - only 61 of 120 seats in his coalition. In theory, Netanyahu can continue to govern until parliamentary elections scheduled for a year from now. But with another coalition rival, Naftali Bennett, threatening to leave the coalition if he doesn't get the defense portfolio, the days of Netanyahu's government appear numbered. Here's a closer look at the developments: NETANYAHU'S CEASE-FIRE Israeli protesters hold flags during a demonstration against the cease-fire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Israel's defense minister on Wednesday abruptly resigned to protest a new cease-fire with Hamas militants in Gaza, throwing the government into turmoil and pushing the country toward an early election. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) After two days of heavy fighting, Netanyahu's decision to accept the Egyptian-brokered truce was more than a case of cooler heads prevailing. The longtime Israeli leader knows well that the military option has its limits. Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza and fought three wars against Hamas since the Islamic militant group seized power in 2007. This has inflicted heavy damage on Gaza, but Hamas remains firmly in power. Ousting the group would require a military operation that could take months and cost the lives of thousands of Palestinian civilians and many Israeli soldiers. Reluctant to pay such a price, Netanyahu instead seems content to keep a weakened Hamas in check. Netanyahu may also have a deeper agenda. Leaving the Palestinians torn between two governments - Hamas in Gaza and the internationally backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank - works in his favor. With the Palestinians weak and divided, there is little pressure for Netanyahu to make concessions, allowing him to expand West Bank settlements and cement Israeli control over the territory. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly accused Israel and the U.S. of collaborating behind his back and preparing a peace plan offering the Palestinians a mini-state in the Gaza Strip and small autonomous areas of the West Bank. That falls short of his demand for a fully independent Palestinian state that includes both territories in full. "It isn't true that Netanyahu doesn't have a policy. He does: He is a firm believer in perpetuating the status quo," wrote Israeli columnist Nahum Barnea. BIBI'S BOUNCER Lieberman is a former aide to Netanyahu who has been both an ally and rival over the years. He currently heads Yisrael Beitenu, a small ultranationalist party that appeals to immigrants from the former Soviet Union. A brawny former nightclub bouncer known for his sharp tongue and Russian-accented Hebrew, the Soviet-born Lieberman has sought to project an image as a gruff, tough-talking politician. At times, he has been critical of Israel's Arab minority, liberal opposition groups and even Israel's Arab ally Egypt. Sitting in the opposition, he once threatened to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh if he held the defense portfolio. But as defense minister, Lieberman's accomplishments remain limited, and Haniyeh is alive and well in Gaza. Calling the cease-fire "surrender to terrorism," Lieberman also made clear that his frustrations run much deeper. He said he also opposed a recent decision to allow Qatar to deliver $15 million in aid to Gaza and the cancellation, under heavy international pressure, of the planned demolition of a Bedouin village in the West Bank. "We are buying quiet in the short-term at the cost of severe damage to our security in the long-term," he said. "The weakness we displayed also projects itself to other arenas." IS NETANYAHU THREATENED? If Netanyahu calls early elections, opinion polls forecast a broad victory by his Likud Party and his hard-line partners, including Lieberman. With his resignation, Lieberman appears to be positioning himself for elections by painting Netanyahu as soft and portraying himself as a defense hawk. Bennett, another former Netanyahu aide who leads the religious Jewish Home Party, is likely to use a similar strategy. Like Lieberman, Bennett had favored tougher military action against Hamas. All three appeal to a similar bloc of voters. Although Netanyahu would likely emerge as the leader, siphoning off votes would strengthen his rivals and give them increased leverage. Netanyahu's rivals are eager to tap into public anger over the cease-fire. Residents in rocket-battered towns in southern Israel, typically Likud strongholds, have protested the truce. Lieberman is especially desperate. His party holds only five Knesset seats, barely above the threshold required to enter the parliament. Netanyahu, meanwhile, will probably market himself as the responsible adult in a room of inexperienced children. "I see the big picture of Israeli security that I cannot share with the public," he said Wednesday as he defended the cease-fire. "In times like these, leadership is not doing the easy thing. Leadership is doing the right thing, even if it is hard. Leadership is sometime facing criticism." One wild card: Police have recommended indicting Netanyahu in a series of corruption investigations. If Israel's attorney general decides to file charges, Netanyahu could be weakened or even forced to step down, shaking up any election campaign. However, if he is re-elected before a decision is made, it could make it much harder to press charges against a leader with a fresh mandate. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has not said when he will decide. HAPPY HAMAS In Gaza, Hamas declared victory in the latest round of fighting, boasting that it stood up to the powerful Israeli military. Large crowds of supporters celebrated in the streets. "The resistance has sent a clear message to the occupation that it can hurt them," boasted Ismail Radwan, a Hamas spokesman. After the dust settles, Hamas will once again have to cope with running a territory where unemployment is over 50 percent, the economy is in tatters and where people cannot travel abroad. "We have to bear in mind that Hamas' popularity has improved on similar occasions in the past," said Mkheimer Abusada, a Gaza analyst. "But that was for a short period of time, after which people would face the harsh reality of unemployment and poverty." Hamas will return its focus toward U.N. and Egyptian mediation aimed at easing the crippling Israeli blockade in exchange for assurances of quiet. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman delivers a statement at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Lieberman announced his resignation Wednesday over the Gaza cease-fire, making early elections likely. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, center, arrives to the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Lieberman announced his resignation Wednesday over the Gaza cease-fire, making early elections likely. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman delivers a statement at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Lieberman announced his resignation Wednesday over the Gaza cease-fire, making early elections likely. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Mourners carry the body of Palestinian fisherman Nawaf Al-Attar, 20, who was shot and killed by Israeli troops on the beach near the border with Israel, during his funeral at a mosque in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) A residential building was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Palestinians gather in front of a destroyed building that was hit by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Palestinians survey a destroyed residential building hit by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Smoke rises from a residential building that was hit by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Relatives of Palestinian fisherman Nawaf Al-Attar, 20, who was shot and killed by Israeli troops on the beach near the border with Israel, mourn as his body is taken out of his family home during his funeral, in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) Relatives of Palestinian fisherman Nawaf Al-Attar, 20, who was shot and killed by Israeli troops on the beach near the border with Israel, wait for his body at his family home before his funeral, in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) BALTIMORE (AP) - U.S. Catholic bishops made clear their frustrations Wednesday as a national assembly focused on clergy sex-abuse neared its conclusion without strong new steps to combat the multifaceted crisis. Avoiding any direct confrontation with the Vatican, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ended the public sessions of its three-day meeting without any vote on two major anti-abuse proposals that had been drafted weeks ago. On the eve of this week's meeting, the Vatican issued a surprise order for such action to be delayed until after a global meeting on sex abuse scheduled for February. "The decision of the Holy See to constrain us did allow a limited response," Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington, Vermont said. "All of us are disappointed that we weren't able to do as much as we wanted." The U.S. Catholic church has been grappling with sex-abuse scandals for many years, but events this year have taken a heavy toll on the leadership's credibility. In August, a grand jury report in Pennsylvania detailed decades of abuse and cover-up in six dioceses, alleging more than 1,000 children had been abused over the years by about 300 priests. Since then, federal prosecutors and attorneys general in several other states have launched investigations. Bishops at this week's meeting appeared to be most angered and embarrassed by the scandal involving disgraced church leader Theodore McCarrick, who allegedly abused and harassed youths and seminarians over many years as he rose to be archbishop of Washington and a member of the College of Cardinals until his removal by Pope Francis in July. Robert Hoatson, of West Orange, N.J., holds protest signs outside of a hotel hosting the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' annual fall meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Several investigations, including one at the Vatican, are underway to determine who might have known about and covered up McCarrick's alleged misconduct. The U.S. bishops expressed eagerness to learn details of the Vatican probe but defeated a motion Wednesday pressing for access to information uncovered in that process. "We have taken no official action to distance ourselves form the shameful behavior of one of our own," said Bishop Liam Cary, of Baker, Oregon. "What do people make of our silence?" Bishop Michael Olson, of Fort Worth, Texas, noted with regret that McCarrick has not been defrocked and would have been eligible to participate in this week's assembly. "He is not welcome," Olson said. "We should say that for his sake, and out of respect for those he has harmed." For much of Wednesday's session, the bishops discussed the two anti-abuse proposals that initially had been scheduled for votes. One would establish a new code of conduct for individual bishops; the other would create a nine-member special commission, including six lay experts and three members of the clergy, to review complaints against the bishops. Leaders of the conference said the Vatican intervened to ensure that steps taken by the U.S. bishops would be in harmony with those decided at a Vatican-convened global meeting on sex abuse in February. They also said more time was needed to vet aspects of the U.S. proposals that might conflict with church law. The head of the bishops' conference, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese, said a newly formed sex-abuse task force would work on fine-tuning those and other proposals ahead of the global meeting in Rome in February. One proposed step will be a national mechanism for publishing the names of clergy who face substantiated claims of abuse. "I opened this meeting expressing some disappointment - I end the meeting with hope," DiNardo said. "We leave this place committed to take the strongest possible action at the earliest possible moment." In other action, the bishops approved a pastoral letter condemning racism, the first time they have spoken as a group on that issue since 1979. "Every racist act - every such comment, every joke, every disparaging look as a reaction to the color of skin, ethnicity or place of origin - is a failure to acknowledge another person as a brother or sister, created in the image of God," the document said. It also denounced racial profiling of Hispanics and African-Americans and decried "the growing fear and harassment" of people from Muslim countries. According to Catholic News Service, the committee responsible for the pastoral letter rejected a proposed amendment that would have included the Confederate flag as a symbol of hate, along with nooses and swastikas. The bishops also voted to endorse a campaign seeking sainthood for Sister Thea Bowman, a Mississippi-born descendant of slaves who became the first black member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and - in 1989 - the first black woman to address a national meeting of the bishops' conference. Among the bishops elected to USCCB posts was Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, who will head the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. Cordileone, an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, suggested Tuesday that the bishops commission a new study on whether there's a link between clergy sex abuse and the presence of gays in the priesthood. A church-commissioned study in 2004 determined there was not a link. Not far from the assembly venue, a Minnesota attorney who handles sex abuse cases nationwide and three men who say they were abused by clergy during their boyhoods gathered to announce a lawsuit against the bishops conference, accusing it of hiding the crimes of predator priests. Jeff Anderson, who filed the lawsuit this week in federal court in Minnesota, said the bishops were named because their dioceses kept secret files about clergy whose misconduct might expose the church to more abuse accusations. "We are taking the opportunity to do everything we can together to protect kids, to disgorge the secrets," Anderson said. The federal lawsuit demanding a trial by jury has six plaintiffs; three joined Anderson in Baltimore. Among then was Joseph McLean, of Minneapolis. The priest he says abused him decades ago was publicly named as a "credibly accused" offender in 2015 by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. "I am here to protect kids today. I'm here to protect kids tomorrow. And I'm here to protect children who have grown into adults and who haven't had an opportunity to heal from the abuse that they suffered," McLean said. ___ Crary reported from New York. A woman prays the rosary at a rally organized by a coalition of conservative Catholic groups near the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' annual fall meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) People pray the rosary at a rally organized by a coalition of conservative Catholic groups near the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' annual fall meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) NEW YORK (AP) - The total value of the incentive package New York is using to lure Amazon could top $2.8 billion. Amazon announced Tuesday that it would build new headquarters in New York City and Washington D.C.'s Virginia suburbs, each of which would host around 25,000 workers. The New York City headquarters, built on the East River waterfront in Queens, would vault Amazon into the ranks of the city's top private-sector employers while transforming a site now mostly occupied by industrial buildings and parking lots. Snagging the online retailer, though, comes at a cost. In addition to nearly $1.53 billion in tax credits and grants offered by the state, Amazon would also qualify for two big tax breaks from the city. If it creates 25,000 jobs, as promised, Amazon would qualify for a city corporate income tax credit worth nearly $900 million over 12 years. On top of that, it would get a 15-year property-tax abatement worth an estimated $386 million. New York City Councillor Jimmy Van Bramer, center, speaks during a coalition rally and press conference of elected officials, community organizations and unions opposing Amazon headquarters getting subsidies to locate in the New York neighborhood of Long Island City, Queens, Wednesday Nov. 14, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Those city tax credits aren't unique to the Amazon deal. They have long been available to other companies, too, as a way of incentivizing growth and development outside Manhattan's crowded business districts. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said they expect to more than recoup that amount in the form of personal income taxes paid by Amazon's employees, sales tax and economic activity generated by the company's presence. Cuomo on Tuesday predicted that the project would eventually bring in $27.5 billion in new state revenue over the next 25 years, though that figure would depend on Amazon creating 40,000 new jobs in New York City - far more than the initial 25,000 it has promised. State budget director Robert Mujica said that calculation also includes an assumption that other businesses not connected to Amazon will have to hire as many as 67,000 workers to serve the needs of the company and its employees. Some experts say that revenue projection, which includes ancillary jobs like a food vendor who sells sandwiches to Amazon workers, may overestimate the company's impact. "I'm not a big fan of counting the indirect jobs," said Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. She said vendors would likely sell to someone else if Amazon weren't there. City and state officials did not provide an estimate of tax revenues from Amazon jobs alone. A former dock facility is shown with old transfer bridges, with "Long Island" painted in large letters at Gantry State Park in the Long Island City section of Queens Borough in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Amazon announced Tuesday it has selected the Queens neighborhood as one of two sites for its headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) A sea gull flies off holding fish scraps near a former dock facility, with "Long Island" painted on old transfer bridges at Gantry State Park in the Long Island City section of the Queens Borough in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Amazon announced Tuesday it has selected the Queens neighborhood as one of two sites for its headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires in late November. According to the Russian leader, at the recent events in Paris marking the 100th anniversary of the World War I Armistice he and Trump held an intense discussion during a working breakfast on the issues of global security and economy. Putin noted that he has agreed with Trump to hold a meeting during the G20 summit. "In case this works out, we are ready," he confirmed. At the meeting ahead of the press conference U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said that the U.S. side had been also preparing for the meeting, Putin noted. "Lets see what comes out of this." "We are ready to restore full-fledged work as long as the US partners are ready," TASS cited the Russian leader as saying. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Hundreds of soldiers saluted the flag-covered casket of a Utah mayor who was killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan and whose remains were returned to his home state Wednesday. A couple hundred motorcycle riders carrying American flags waited in salute outside the gates of the National Guard base in Salt Lake City until the hearse emerged. They revved up their engines and followed the hearse north to Brent Taylor's hometown of North Ogden in a procession. Taylor, 39, had taken a yearlong leave of absence as mayor for his deployment to Afghanistan, where he was training commandos as part of an effort to train and build the capacity of the Afghan national army. He was killed in a Nov. 3 attack from small arms fire by an Afghan commando he was training, military officials said. Taylor, a military intelligence officer with Joint Force Headquarters, served two tours in Iraq and was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, Jennie, and their seven children, ranging from 11 months to 13 years old. His family has said there is "heartache but no regret" because Taylor was trying to bring freedom to others. His wife, Jennie Taylor, said in a statement that she wore yellow to welcome home her "hero" and "sweetheart" as women have done since World War II. She said her husband was escorted home by his brother, a fellow National Guard member. Utah National Guard Honor Guard carry a casket containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at the National Guard base Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. in Salt Lake City. The remains of a Utah mayor killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan were returned to his home state on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, as hundreds of soldiers saluted while his casket covered in an American flag was carried across a tarmac and into a hearse. (Matt Herp/Standard-Examiner, via, Pool) "Major Taylor is home to his brothers In arms_his fellow soldiers in the Utah National Guard," Jennie Taylor said. "This is a tender day for all of us, and we hope you will celebrate as we do, and I'm sure Brent is, this momentous homecoming event." The Patriot Guard Riders who organized the motorcycle group carried seven teddy bears on motorcycles - one for each of Taylor's children. "It's the least we can do. Some of us are veterans, some us aren't, but we are all patriots and we understand and respect the ultimate sacrifice and his family gave for us," said Reed Newman, ride captain with the Patriot Guard Riders of Utah. "He's been such a patriot and such a civil servant." A public viewing for Taylor will be held Friday night at the Dee Events Center on the campus of Weber State University in Ogden. His funeral is planned for Saturday in the same location. Taylor became mayor in 2013 of the small city of North Ogden, a community of about 17,000 people located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City. He was given a local hero's farewell when he was being deployed last January with residents lining street to see him off as police escorted him and his family around the community. In his final Facebook post that was widely shared after his death, Taylor implored Americans to vote in a message that drew a connection between democracy abroad and at home. This undated photo provided by the Utah National Guard shows Maj. Brent Taylor of the Utah National Guard. Taylor, former mayor of North Ogden, died in Afghanistan on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, City Councilman Phillip Swanson said. Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. Taylor previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Utah National Guard via AP) Utah National Guard Honor Guard carry a casket containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at the National Guard base Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. in Salt Lake City. The remains of a Utah mayor killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan were returned to his home state on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, as hundreds of soldiers saluted while his casket covered in an American flag was carried across a tarmac and into a hearse. (Matt Herp/Standard-Examiner, via, Pool) Utah National Guard Honor Guard carry a casket containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at the National Guard base Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. in Salt Lake City. The remains of a Utah mayor killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan were returned to his home state on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, as hundreds of soldiers saluted while his casket covered in an American flag was carried across a tarmac and into a hearse. (Matt Herp/Standard-Examiner, via, Pool) From left, Gov. Gary Herbert, Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox, Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton, Civilian Aid to the Secretary of the Army John Edwards, and Brig. Gen. Christine Burckle salute as members of the Utah National Guard Honor Guard carry a casket containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at at the National Guard base Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. in Salt Lake City. The remains of a Utah mayor killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan were returned to his home state on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, as hundreds of soldiers saluted while his casket covered in an American flag was carried across a tarmac and into a hearse. (Matt Herp/Standard-Examiner, via, Pool) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - The Hungarian government said Thursday it did not assist a fugitive politician leave Macedonia to avoid serving a prison sentence, while police in Albania said he was seen departing their country in a Hungarian Embassy vehicle. If accurate, the information in a statement from Albanian police on Thursday shows part of the route former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski took from his homeland and through the Balkans to reach Hungary. Gruevski, 48, was convicted of corruption and facing a 2-year prison term in Macedonia. He said Tuesday on Facebook that he was in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and seeking political asylum. The police statement also implied the Hungarian government was involved in some of his passage. Earlier, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said Hungary did not help Gruevski flee Macedonia. Hungarian authorities "did not have anything to do with" Gruevski leaving Macedonia and "guaranteed" he would not be able to leave Hungary now, Gulyas said. Albanian police noted that when Gruevski left Albania and entered Montenegro on Sunday evening, an international warrant for his arrest had not been issued yet. FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 file photo, Nikola Gruevski, former country's Prime Minister and now a lawmaker of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, looks on in Macedonian Parliament in the capital Skopje. Macedonia says the country will seek the arrest with an international warrant of conservative former prime minister Nikola Gruevski after confirming he fled to Hungary to avoid serving a two-year prison sentence for corruption. The ministry responded nearly five hours after Gruevski announced he was in Budapest in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Nov. 13 as police continued searches in the capital Skopje to try and locate him. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski, file) Macedonia has called on Hungary to extradite Gruevski, who was prime minister from 2006-2016 and convicted in May of unlawfully influencing Interior Ministry officials over the purchase of a luxury vehicle. Hungarian authorities "are proceeding according to appropriate security protocols," Gulyas told reporters, adding that the prime minister was "very amused" by reports that Gruevski, a close political ally, was living at his house. Gulyas said that for security reasons, Gruevski was questioned at length in Budapest about his asylum request instead of at a border transit zone where most asylum-seekers wait for their requests to be evaluated. Asked about Albanian police statement issued later, Orban's office said it would not comment until the asylum review process concluded. Macedonia's Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov spoke with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto about the case Thursday. Dimitrov noted the former prime minister had other pending legal proceedings involving allegations of serious crimes. Meanwhile, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee, a human rights group, criticized the country's judiciary and Interior Ministry for not preventing Gruevski's departure. The committee demanded a "thorough investigation" to determine responsibility in the case. ___ Testorides reported from Skopje, Macedonia. A politician has held up a pair of thong underpants in the Irish parliament chamber to protest against the treatment of alleged rape victims in court. Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger raised the issue of rape myths after one jury in a recent case was asked to consider the fact that the complainant was wearing a thong at the time of the alleged assault. While holding up the underwear she said: It might seem embarrassing to show a pair of thongs here in this incongruous of the Dail. But the reason Im doing it: how do you think a woman feels at the incongruous setting of her underwear being shown in a court? How heroic do you have to be Taoiseach (Prime Minister), to pursue a rape trial in this country? she asked. I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in #Dail. In courts victims can have their underwear passed around as evidence and it's within the rules, hence need to display in Dail. Join protests tomorrow. In Dublin it's at Spire, 1pm.#dubw #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/DvtaJL61qR Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) November 13, 2018 The question to the Irish leader comes just days after a social media campaign was sparked by the case in which a female solicitor referenced the alleged victims underwear to the jury. Twitter users began posting pictures of their underwear online, with the hashtag #Thisisnotconsent, which quickly went viral both in Ireland and abroad. Ruth Coppinger holds up a pair of thong underpants in parliament. (Oireachtas) Protests are to be held in Galway, Limerick, Dublin, Belfast and Cork throughout the week due to the support for the social media campaign. Fiona Ryan, one organiser, said the case was endemic of what is currently wrong with how the justice system treats alleged victims of sexual assault. Its absolutely appalling, she said. This case and the particular awfulness of what was said is endemic in our judiciary system and its par for the course, its actually very regular to see this type of thing be brought up in any case of sexual violence, particularly sexual violence against women. We decided to call this rally not just specifically about this case, but calling for an end to victim-blaming in courts. This is really a demand for systemic change for people, particularly women, but every victim of sexual violence, to get a fair hearing. We cant wait any longer. Its indicative of the huge amount of anger there, not just about this court case, but this symbolises the problems that are inherent in the system. The international solidarity thats been extended to these awful cases when theyre exposed will go a long way towards pushing for genuine legal change, and unfortunately that comes from above, but were going to push from below to ensure it happens now. A Brexit deal has been reached by negotiators in Brussels and will be the focus of a crunch Cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Cabinet ministers were invited to read the papers relating to the draft deal on Tuesday night ahead of the special meeting of Theresa Mays senior team to decide on next steps. A Number 10 spokesman said: Cabinet will meet at 2pm tomorrow to consider the draft agreement the negotiating teams have reached in Brussels and to decide on next steps. Cabinet ministers have been invited to read documentation ahead of that meeting. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab leaves Downing Street after a meeting (Victoria Jones/PA) Ministers have been seen entering and leaving Downing Street throughout the day after Tuesdays Cabinet meeting. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was the first to arrive following confirmation that a deal had been reached, followed by Chief Whip Julian Smith and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. Confirmation that a deal had been reached by officials follows months of protracted talks in Brussels, with measures to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland the main stumbling block. Irish broadcaster RTE reported that a stable text had been agreed on the thorny issue of the Northern Irish border. The broadcaster said the deal involved one overall backstop in the form of a UK-wide customs arrangement as sought by Mrs May but with deeper provisions for Northern Ireland on customs and regulations. A review mechanism is understood to be part of the text, but it is unclear whether that would meet the demands of Tory Brexiteers including some in the Cabinet who want the UK to be able to unilaterally walk away from the deal to prevent it becoming a permanent settlement. In a sign that Dublin may not be happy with the situation, a spokesman for Irelands deputy premier Simon Coveney said: Negotiations between the EU and UK on a withdrawal agreement are ongoing and have not concluded. The developments came after the Prime Minister told Cabinet on Tuesday morning that a small number of issues remained to be resolved and her de facto deputy David Lidington described a deal as almost within touching distance. No one is fooled by this theatre. Delay after staged managed delay. A deal will be reached and it will mean surrender by the UK. We will be doomed to remain in the customs union and under Brussels regulatory control. People did not vote for colony status 1/2 Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 13, 2018 The agreement by officials on a draft deal came as: The Government was forced to agree to publish legal advice on the proposed deal The European Commission said UK citizens should continue to enjoy visa-free travel even in a no-deal scenario, as long as there is a reciprocal arrangement Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson accused the Prime Minister of stage-managing delays to the negotiations and warned a deal will mean surrender to Brussels. Legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland to 12 has been approved in principle at Holyrood, despite some MSPs calling on ministers to go further. Scotland has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world at eight years old. The Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill unanimously passed its first stage at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday. But Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton complained progress in increasing the age has been made at a snails pace The Scottish Lib Dems have called for the age to be raised further to 16, which is the case in countries such as Portugal, Lithuania and Luxembourg. Mr Cole-Hamilton said: I dont think its unreasonable to suggest that this government arguably lied to the United Nations. The UN set a floor of 12 as the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be adopted no later than 2007 and for countries to work upwards from that point. Three parliaments have sat and risen from this chamber since that international starting gun was fired only now has this government finally brought our country to the races. .@agcolehamilton tells @ScotParl that he will seek to amend the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill going forward to raise the minimum age and better protect the human rights of children & young people in Scotland. #CriminalResponsibility #YouthJustice pic.twitter.com/ylTdfm5At3 includem (@Includem2000) November 13, 2018 He said while the Lib Dems backed the Bill it was with a sense of disappointment, adding: This is not a radical Bill, this is not even a progressive Bill. The Liberal Democrat MSP spoke out after Childrens Minister Maree Todd stressed it was important to reflect on how far weve come, not least in understanding how best to prevent and address harm in childrens lives. She said: We should be very honest with ourselves as parliamentarians only a few years ago, we wouldnt be here with a consensus right across this chamber that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised. Now our discussions are about what age to raise criminal responsibility to and on what safeguards and other issues need to be addressed. That is a significant and welcome shift. Scottish Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell urged the Scottish Government to progress with caution and not be swayed to raise the age beyond the internationally recommended 12. Childrens Minister Maree Todd. (Andrew Milligan/PA) He said: In many senses, this Bill is simply an attempt to tidy up our legal system and reflects the fact that a significant change was made in policy some time ago. It is of course tempting to look at other European nations and to try to consider ourselves behind when it comes to this legislation but I think that is a false conclusion to draw. Its about looking at childrens rights and the way our legal system operates in the round, and thats how we best identify the positive steps that can be taken. We are on a journey and part of that journey is about making progress and moving at a pace that allows everyone to sign up and support initiatives. Meanwhile, Labours Daniel Johnson said it was important Scotland complied with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Child and that we seek to prevent our most vulnerable children and young people from being exposed to the harmful effects of the criminal justice system. He added: This is an area of law that needs to remain under constant review to make sure that the childrens justice system is doing what it was set up to do. Kevin Anderson underlined his credentials as the man most likely to challenge Novak Djokovic at this years ATP Finals with a brutal destruction of Kei Nishikori. Japanese world number nine Nishikori was on cloud nine after stunning Roger Federer in their opening round-robin match on Sunday, but he was brought crashing back down to earth by 02 debutant Anderson. Nishikori was staring down the barrel of the ultimate humiliation, and only the second 6-0 6-0 defeat in the history of the Finals, following a ruthless display by the South African. Yet at 6-0 5-0, and with less than an hour on the clock, the 28-year-old finally managed to string four serves together to get on the scoreboard and avoid the dreaded double bagel. It only delayed the inevitable, though, as Anderson duly served out for a 6-0 6-1 victory in 63 hopelessly one-sided minutes. And with the rest of the field, Djokovic aside, looking unconvincing to say the least so far this week, Anderson is rapidly emerging as the biggest danger to the Serbian world number ones hopes of a sixth London title. Thats amongst the matches best Ive played, said Anderson, who was beaten by Djokovic in this years Wimbledon final. I got off to a really good start and I think I did a really good job constantly applying the pressure and not letting up. Sometimes its tough if you have a very dominating set, you often see scorelines that momentum can change. Today, I kept at it the whole time. I was growing in confidence and he sort of probably was going a little the other way, which is tough given the situation. Kevin Anderson ruthlessly swept aside Kei Nishikori (Adam Davy/PA) Despite the crushing defeat Nishikori will still have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals if he beats Dominic Thiem on Thursday. For me, it was one of the worst days in the year, he said. He was playing well, serving well and returning well, too. He played good and it just wasnt my day today. I need to try to forget about today. Something was wrong, Ive got to fix it tomorrow and try to be positive for the next one. A Labour MP persistently and deliberately lied to authorities to avoid a speeding prosecution, a court heard. Fiona Onasanya, 35, allegedly plotted with her brother to claim a Russian man was behind the wheel of her car when it was clocked doing 41mph in a 30mph zone. At 10.03pm on July 24 last year, her Nissan Micra was allegedly caught by a speed camera on The Causeway near the village of Thorney, in Cambridgeshire. The incident happened the week after the newly-elected MP for Peterborough had broken up for the summer recess last year, jurors were told. A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) was returned, naming the driver of her car as Aleks Antipow. But jurors were told Mr Antipow was at home with his parents in Russia at the time. The Russian had previously lived in Chesterton in Cambridge at a house rented by Onasanya and her brother Festus, the court heard. The contact address and phone number given for him were also linked to Onasanyas 33-year-old sibling, it was claimed. Prosecutor David Jeremy QC said: The purpose in providing the name of a real person as the driver, but providing a false address and telephone number that were connected to Festus Onasanya, was that Mr Antipow, while a real person, would remain untraceable to the police and so the true driver of Miss Onasanyas car on the 24th July 2017 would escape prosecution. Festus Onasanya, of Chesterton, Cambridge, had deployed the same tactic when his car was caught by a speed camera on June 17 and August 23 last year, jurors heard. Last Monday, he pleaded guilty to three charges of perverting the course of justice, including one relating to the July 24 incident. A police investigation allegedly found her two mobile phones were in the area of the traffic camera around the time it was activated on July 24. And she had not claimed expenses for accommodation in London since the Friday before, the court heard. The Cambridgeshire Police camera unit sent an NIP to Mr Antipow but it was returned to sender. On being asked to provide correct contacts, the defendant replied: I have supplied the details made known to me as well as the licence informationI have provided a completed nomination previously. Another NIP letter was sent to Mr Antipow but again received no response. Mark Williams, an investigator from the Cambridgeshire Camera Ticket unit, repeatedly tried to contact Onasanya. On November 2, she allegedly told him that she stands by her nomination. When she attended a voluntary interview at Bedford Police headquarters on January 2, she declined to answer questions. Mr Jeremy said: It must, as some of us may know, be very irritating to receive that bit of paper telling us that we have triggered a speed camera and asking us to name the driver of the car. But while irritation is understandable, telling lies to frustrate an investigation into an offence is not. What Miss Onasanya did when her vehicle was trapped on the 24th July 2017, was not just to own up and tell the truth which would have been so much better but to adopt her brothers method of evading prosecution. The two of them were acting jointly in telling lies in order to prevent the prosecution of the true driver. He told jurors: The question for you to decide in this case will be whether Festus Onasanya was acting alone when he perverted the course of justice in relation to the trapping of Miss Onasanyas car on the 24th or whether the two of them were acting together. Onasanya, from Peterborough, has denied one count of perverting the course of justice. The trial, which is expected to go on for a week, was adjourned until Wednesday. Before sending jurors away, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC told them: Im sure it does not need saying but politics do not come into it. They cannot be a factor in the decision-making process at all. A further 150,000 has been granted for detectives hunting for missing Madeleine McCann. The Home Office confirmed on Tuesday that it has allocated the money to allow Scotland Yard to continue its investigation until March. Madeleine was three when she was last seen while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. Scotland Yard launched its own investigation, Operation Grange, into her disappearance in 2013, after a Portuguese inquiry failed to make any headway. Force bosses have been applying for funding from the Home Office every six months to continue the inquiry, that has cost about 11.75 million so far. Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have always pledged never to give up the search for their daughter. Madeleine was three when she went missing (PA) A Home Office spokesman said: We have confirmed that Special Grant funding of 150,000 will be provided to the Metropolitan Police Service for the six-month period to 31 March 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that everyone should be free to decide whether or not to attend the Davos World Economic Forum. He was commenting on a report that three Russian businessmen had been barred from the event over sanctions, Reuters reported. The Russian leader was speaking to reporters at a regional summit in Singapore in response to a question about whether a Russian delegation would take part in the forum after restrictions on the Russian businessmen were reported by the Financial Times. In a major diplomatic breakthrough, India sent two former diplomats to the much-awaited Moscow talks on Afghanistan reconciliation held on November 9. The two-member unofficial delegation comprised of Amar Sinha, a former Indian envoy to Kabul, and the former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, TCA Raghavan, who currently heads Indias leading foreign policy think tank, Indian Council of World Affairs. While India categorically denied holding direct talks with the Taliban, the presence of Indian representatives at the talks known as the Moscow format is noteworthy as it is an unprecedented development that may shape future engagement in Afghanistan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with members of delegations in Moscow. (Credit: Reuters) Seen as a diplomatic victory for Russia to be able to gather representatives from 12 different and ideologically diverse countries on a common platform the Moscow meeting has serious political implications. It is no exaggeration to say that the meeting has to do with larger geopolitics of the region with mounting fears about the return of the cold war days, when Washington aggressively pursued the containment of Soviet expansion and laid the basic foundation of her foreign policy. In pursuit of this foreign policy and the heights of the cold war, the United States never considered India to be of any major political significance in Asia. A boy flies a kite over Kabul. Indias absence from the Afghan peace process all these years was a combination of US' short-sightedness and New Delhis blindfolded Afghan policy. However, the relations between Washington and New Delhi evolved from missed opportunities to constructive transactional engagement often replete with contradictions. New Delhis complicated bilateral ties with US are a result of two main factors firstly, a consequence of the US-Soviet competition for influence in the region. Secondly, an outcome of the Indo-Pakistan rivalry. This gave credence to Dullesian argument that helping India even moderately with defence supplies would upset Pakistan Washingtons loyal ally. The failure of US to provide India with defence supplies in the 1960s opened New Delhis route to Russias predecessor state, the Soviet Union, which emerged as a primary military supplier to the Indian forces at that time. This trusted friendship between India and Russia set in anxiety and insecurity in Washington. Since then, an almost similar pattern of missed opportunities and alternative negotiating channels has emerged on the global scene. This includes the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan. The friendship between New Delhi and Moscow has set in anxiety and insecurity in Washington. (Credit: Agencies) In its perennial quest for hegemony in the region and as a continuation of Dullesian argument, the US has, for decades, deliberately feigned ignorance to Indias significance in the reconciliation process. Indias absence from the Afghan peace process in these years is a combination of Washingtons short-sightedness in terms of geopolitical dynamics and New Delhis blindfolded Afghan policy that underrated the overwhelming presence and role of the Taliban in the country. While on surface Moscow meeting is clearly about peace in Afghanistan, it also revives the debate on the new Cold War with competing visions of US and Russia and shatters Indias old beliefs, forcing her to re-examine the existing assumptions that the Taliban is a social and political reality in Afghanistan. This shift in Indias policy repositions New Delhi as a legitimate stakeholder in the Afghan peace process. It is hard to escape the impression that India has gradually and comfortably rationalised and recognised Taliban as a reality in the country and as an important player in talking peace to the Afghan government. In fact, unlike other important players like Washington that has often bypassed the Afghan government in making peace overtures to the Taliban, the Indian leadership has remained committed to its policy of Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai (right), head of the Taliban delegation. India has gradually recognised Taliban as a reality in Afghanistan peace process. (Credit: Reuters) While the essence of Indias Afghan policy remains intact, New Delhi has reviewed its approach aligning its interests with the realities on the ground. It must be noted that there is a shift in approach and not an abrupt reversal in Indias policy towards the peace process. The assumption that military solution alone can make Afghanistan a stable and viable nation is not only false but completely flawed with weaknesses engrained in the strategy. The two peace and war are inherently contradictory. Significantly, a study by Brown University, titled Costs of War, released on November 8, 2018, stated that the number of fatalities in Afghanistan since the launch of war on terror in 2001 has caused 147,000 deaths until October 2018. This includes the civilians, the Afghan security forces, non-state actors as well as US-led coalition forces. Moreover, the conflict-induced displacement that endangers the basic livelihood of the displaced persons in the country stands at 2.61 million. These brutal facts of the current reality in Afghanistan cannot afford to have an abrasively selective attitude of external powers towards establishing peace in the country. Furthermore, during the November 9 Moscow talks, the head of the five-member Taliban delegation Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai asserted and reiterated his stand on the withdrawal of US forces from the country as a pre-requisite to peace. The Indian leadership has remained committed to its policy of Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. (Credit: PTI file photo) Another Taliban representative, Mohammad Sohail Shahin, expressed the need to talk to the Americans for pulling out forces Afghanistan. Shahin stated that the Taliban is ready to address Washingtons security concerns arising out of Afghanistan. Treading on the thin margins of practical possibilities, this dramatic diplomatic move by Moscow can be seen as a good opportunity for India contextualised in the larger bargaining process in the Afghan civil war resolution. Moscows multilateral initiative and New Delhis renewed position in the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan must be seen as an essential component of the multi-layered interdependent stages of past negotiations and within the new reimagined geopolitical framework with India consolidating its position as a key stakeholder in the country. While there is constant churning in world politics, what remains to be seen is if the Moscow-hosted talks will move towards ending the war in Afghanistan or is it merely a resurfacing of geopolitical ambitions? Also read: India's grandstanding on 'strategic autonomy' Indian drivers and riders get the blame for most of the accidents and deaths on Indian roads. But our road designers and builders deserve their share of the blame too Last week there was a horrendous accident in Delhi where an allegedly drunk driver hit the kerb, crossed the median and smashed into another car, killing one and grievously injuring another. Now, while the blame for this accident, prima facie should lie with the driver who smashed through the kerb, especially if the allegations of being drunk are true, there is another factor in play over here. That is the poor design of the road median in India. The fact that Indian city planners feel that a one-foot kerb is enough to stop a speeding motorcycle let alone a car is one that is wrong. Far from stopping the vehicles, the kerb design makes most accidents worse by often launching the vehicle into oncoming traffic at a height. Whenever one travels to the developed world, you see the pavements on the side of the road are at short heights. And on the median, even if it has trees or other beautification, there is the standard metal barrier protecting vehicles from going over into the other lane, in most cases by absorbing the energy of the impact. In India, roads are poorly designed, often by the whims of local politicians. While the construction of Indian highways has improved markedly in the past few years, a recent study said that a large chunk of the Delhi-Jaipur highway, one of Indias best, was unsafe. But newly-constructed roads despite their flaws are better than older ones. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway around Delhi had gaps in barriers and slow-moving traffic but after access control things have improved. Construction does not mean that during construction things improve, often they get worse The state of the Delhi-Panipat highway currently under construction is downright dangerous. And even in cities like Delhi, poor planning and the desperate need for jugaad solutions have made road construction sites dangerous. The stretch under RTR Flyover on Outer Ring Road, itself the best example of poor planning, is often closed at night with traffic diverted onto the oncoming lane with no lights, warning or traffic dividers. Not even plastic ones. And this is a stretch where heavy commercial vehicles regularly operate at night. Accidents and deaths are inevitable. It is mighty easy to blame the driver in cases like that. And shoddy police work condemns the drivers to be inebriated even if theyre not. The lack of proper metal barriers and dividers and the absence even of low-cost solutions like wire-barriers have made things quite difficult for the Indian driver making them take the blame in instances that they should not. It is high time that authorities realised that roads share an alarmingly high proportion of the blame. Truth has been a major casualty in modern-day conversations and the Trump saga exemplifies the global implications of power mixed with ignorance, bravado and stereotypes US President Donald Trump is a Presbyterian Protestant, with a self-confessed affinity to the rites of the Holy Communion to feel cleansed. He follows a long tradition of White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs) as Presidents of the US which was broken by the half-WASP Barack Obama and the Roman Catholic, JF Kennedy in recent times. Given the mass immigration of multi-cultural and multi-religious populace, the US had become a melting pot of the most diverse, inclusive and accepting profundities. The constitutional segregation of the Church and the State notwithstanding, religious identity has played a part in the functioning of participative democracy in the US. The relevance of moral values amongst candidates, a euphemism for religiosity amongst the 71 per cent Christian population, is unmistakable, especially during electioneering. The ethno-cultural-religious pattern of the polity has veered and demarcated certain preferences along political party lines yet the fate of the six per cent minorities (Muslims, Hindus, Jews, et al) along with that of the self-declared 23 per cent population with no-religious-affiliation had remained progressively inclusive till recent times. By 2017, the second biggest democracy (after India), had slipped from being rated as a full democracy to a flawed democracy as per the Global Democracy Index. While even the likes of the widely accepted and transformational, Barack Obama, had to reassert and reiterate his practicing Christian faith and status, the societal and governance discourse had remained essentially civil and accepting. While the world was witnessing religious extremism, Obama made assuaging statements like, empowered by faith, consistently, prayerfully, we need to find our way back to civility. That begins with stepping out of our comfort zones in an effort to bridge divisions. However, the advent of Donald Trump on the US center-stage had regressed the narrative, and early signs of the same were visible in run-up to the Presidential elections with the inelegant allusions made in the name of the fallen US soldier, Captain Humayun Khan. Soon the electoral success of Donald Trump was marked by his signing of the Executive Order 13769 (titled Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States) that was infamously known as the Muslim ban. The spirit behind Trumps actions militated against the Immigration and Nationality Act of the US which stated, No person shall receive any preference or priority or be discriminated against in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the persons race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence. The pettiness extended to various symbolic acts like the doing away of the Eid-celebration Iftar dinner at the White House, a tradition that was started in 1996 by the Democrat, Bill Clinton but duly retained by Trumps fellow-Republican, George W Bush, for eight years of his Presidentship. Donald Trumps ignoramus status along with perceived notions and stereotypes of people of certain religious denominations is unprecedented in recent times. During a Republican fundraiser by people of Indian-origin preceding the elections, that he had stated incredulously, I am a big fan of Hindu and I am a big fan of India. Big, big fan. Shockingly, the still-to-be-elected President of the USA had earlier admitted that he wasnt aware that India also had a large population of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists et al. The existence of over 260 proud Indians (approximately 20 per cent of minority-faiths amongst the 1.3 billion Indians) had escaped the knowledge of the man who was poised to hold the most powerful office in the world. Today, Donald Trump is still holding sway with acute ignorance intact, as he tweeted post the Diwali celebrations at the White House, Today, we gathered for Diwali, a holiday observed by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains throughout the United States and around the world. Hundreds of millions of people have gathered with family and friends to light the diya and to mark the beginning of a New Year. Expectedly, the embarrassing omission of the Hindus in the Diwali tweet was roasted and his spin-doctors went on the overdrive to attribute the mistake to a lame out of sequence posting issue, and then proceeded to delete the initial tweet and re-tweet a more correct, It was my great honour to host a celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in the Roosevelt Room at the @WhiteHouse this afternoon. Very, very special people! Donald Trumps ignorance and whimsically flippant behaviour should be a warning to those who get carried away by any specific rant of his, which might resonate temporarily with the sensibilities of the person or a nation, at that moment. Even though India and Indians are not amongst his pet-peeves (Pakistan certainly is), yet India has not been spared his boorish and churlish insinuations and sarcasm. The ostensible good friend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mocked his Indian accent, routinely accused India as the tariff king and true to the patent falsehood threatened with reciprocal tariff on the thousands and thousands of Indian motorcycles getting exported to the US. Today, even strategic allies, like Canada, Mexico, NATO nations et al, are insulted with impunity, as was recently witnessed with Trumps undignified, personalised and factually-incorrect attack on French President Emmanuel, while on French soil, as the France was in the midst of observing the somber anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in France. Religious extremism is a global reality and all major religions are complicit in fanning sentiments. The onus is on the political leadership to break the monopoly of the supremacist and revisionist forces by segregating religiosity from governance especially in the big democracies like the US, which ought to be a lodestar, for those suffering under intolerance, bigotry or dictatorship. Truth has been a major casualty in modern-day conversations, and the Trump saga exemplifies the global implications of power mixed with ignorance, bravado and stereotypes. The US in particular, and the world at large needs statesmen who speak the language of inclusivity, probity and progress without pandering to the subliminal dark-instincts that are easy to rouse, but dangerously difficult to control once unleashed. (The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry) Jawa, a Czech brand that won its way into the hearts of Indian motorcyclists in the 1960s until the advent of Japanese commuter four-stroke motorcycles killed the brand. But thanks to Classic Legend Limited, Indians will be able to enjoy the Jawa brand again. Launching three new products, the Jawa, Jawa 42 and factory-custom Perak the brand hopes to make a big bang when their products hit the Indian roads in early 2019. However, the rebirth of the brand does not mean the motorcycle will feature ancient technology, instead a modern 293cc liquid-cooled engine will do duty on the Jawa and Jawa 42 producing 27 horsepower. The Perak will have a higher displacement 334cc version of the same engine with 30 horsepower. The motorcycles will be priced at between Rs 1.55 lakh to Rs 1.89 lakh. Speaking at the launch, Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group and an investor in Classic Legends said that it was rare to get the opportunity to resurrect a legend. Incidentally, Mahindra Two-Wheelers is the contract manufacturer for Classic Legends. Anupam Thareja, Founder, Classic Legends believes that the Jawa brand will appeal to young millennials as well. An idea how much people are anticipating this brand is the response we got for dealerships. We have signed on 105 dealerships in 71 cities across India. There are already some 70 Classic Jawa clubs in India engaging 40,000 people. I think there is a great opportunity in this market. Classic Legends is also bullish about other brands, Thareja revealed that talks were on revive the Yezdi brand as well and the company also has the brand rights to BSA, the classic British brand. Obviously we are going after nostalgia but are main appeal to customers will be our honesty and authenticity. However, with Royal Enfield launching their new 650cc twin-cylinder motorcycles earlier this week to rave reviews and at an aggressive price point below Rs 3 lakh, Classic Legends has a problem on its hands even before the first production motorcycles leave the line. However, the companys management feels that there is enough space for two players and brands in the Indian market. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said US' relationship with India can act as a "bulwark" for freedom, prosperity and peace as he celebrated Diwali in the White House along with eminent Indian-Americans. It is the second consecutive year that President Trump has celebrated the largest festival of India and Indian Americans in the White House. "I am thrilled to be here for the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, and I am honored to host this beautiful ceremony at the White House. Very, very special people," Trump said. "I'm honoured to host this beautiful ceremony at the White House. Very, very special people. We're gathered today to celebrate a very special holiday observed by Buddhist, Sikhs and Jains throughout the United States and around the world," Trump said. "This ceremony signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It is a jubilant occasion that brings loved ones, neighbours, and communities closer together," Trump said before lighting the ceremonial diya in the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House. He said the shining lights remind people to "seek wisdom, to give thanks, and to always cherish and love the ones who grace our lives. "Our nation is blessed to be home to millions of hardworking citizens of Indian and South East Asian heritage to enrich our country in countless ways. Together we are one proud American family. Do we agree with that? I think so. I think we do. Right? Better, believe it," he said. "India is the world's largest democracy, and the relationship between our two countries can act as a bulwark for freedom, prosperity, and peace," Trump said, amidst China flexing its military muscles in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. He said the United States has deep ties with India and he was grateful for his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Modi is my friend and now her (Ivanka) friend and has great respect for India and the Indian people that I can say," said the US President as he introduced his daughter to the audience, who was present in the room. "Absolutely," replied Ivanka, who had visited India last year. She was the first top official of the Trump administration to travel to India to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad in November last year. Trump also mentioned the ongoing negotiations between the US and India on a trade deal but indicated that the talks were moving though it was tough. "We're trying very hard to make better trade deals with India. But, they're very good traders. They're very good negotiators. You would say right. The best. So we're working. And it's moving along," he said. Along with nearly two dozen top Indian-American officials of his administration, Trump invited the Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, his wife Dr Avina Sarna, and his special assistant Pratik Mathur to be present during the White House Diwali celebrations. The all-party meeting convened by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday to sort out imbroglio over the entry of women in child-bearing age to Sabarimala Temple in Keralas Western Ghats ended in failure. A meeting the Chief Minister held later in the day with the representatives of the Pandhalam Royal Family the customary owners of the temple who enjoys certain privileges as part of traditions and the chief priest (Thanthri) too failed to break the deadlock. Thanthri Rajeevaru, the chief priest, while speaking to the media after the meeting made use of the opportunity to plead with the women in the 10-50 age group not to come to Sabarimala and stay off the temple. Later, speaking to The Pioneer, the Thanthri said he enjoys certain privileges as the chief priest of the temple. I am not a paid employee of the Government. I am reporting to Lord Ayyappa and has the authority to order purification ceremonies and atonements, said the Thanthri. Ramesh Chennaithala, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly, walked out of the meeting alleging that the CMs intransigent stance on the issue led to the failure of the talks. BJPs Kerala chief PS Sreedharan Pillai, who has been spearheading the agitation against the entry of women in the 10-50 age group, later told reporters that the NDA would go ahead with the agitation from Friday against women devotees making it to the temple. We just pleaded with the Government to keep the Supreme Court order in abeyance till the court disposes of the review and writ petitions filed against the September 28 verdict. The Supreme Court Bench which heard the petition on Tuesday was not an appellate authority and that is the reason why the September 28 verdict was not stayed, said Pillai, himself a leading lawyer in Kerala. The breakdown of the all-party meeting has created a war-like atmosphere in the holy shrine as the police have prevented the entry of mediapersons to the temple premises. The temple reopens on Friday evening as a prelude to the 41-day Mandala Pooja, which begins on Saturday morning. The Government is duty-bound to implement the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages into the temple. We will not make any amendment in the Supreme Court verdict delivered on September 28, Vijayan told reporters after the all-party meeting. The CM said the Government is willing to set apart certain days exclusively for women to worship at the temple. Beyond that we will not do anything to dilute the court verdict, said the CM. Chennithala accused Vijayan of creating troubles at Sabarimala. This is not good either for the CPI(M) or the people in Kerala, said the Leader of the Opposition. Sasikumara Varma, head of the Pandhalam Royal Family, said though the talks with the CM was cordial, there was no consensus because of the intransigence of the latter. We will have a meeting with the priests and then decide the future course of action, said Varma. The Kerala Government is deploying nearly 1,000 women cops at Sabarimala as part of beefing up the security around the temple. Services of women cops from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka too have been requested and it is expected that they would take position by Saturday morning. Interestingly, leaders of various Hindu organisations told this newspaper that they would lay siege to the temple to prevent the entry of women to the sanctum. The 2018-19 festival season in Sabarimala Temple is going to be a season of tension and turmoil because of the intransigence of the anti-Hindu Marxist Government, said BJP chief Sreedharan Pillai. Upset at newly-shifted big cats death by poaching, NTCA reviews safety in tiger reserve The ambitious project to repopulate Odishas Satkosia Tiger Reserve by translocating big cats from outside the State has gone haywire after one of the relocated tigers died, most probably due to poaching, while the other, a Royal Bengal tigress, has been kept in captivity following public outrage that it killed two people. Unhappy at the State Governments failure to protect the big cats and sensitise the community towards wildlife, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has now kept the translocation plan in abeyance till the environment becomes conducive for the big cats in the tiger reserve spread over four districts Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh. NTCA ADG Anup Nayak told The Pioneer, Following the mishappening at the reserve we are reviewing the safety situation in the tiger reserve. We cannot allow the big cats to be translocated from other States and meet the fatal end. The death of the male tiger shows that sufficient steps were not taken to protect the animal. Also, the State Government must answer why the tigress had strayed outside the forest even though she was under constant observation of the forest officials. The tigress had to be tranquillised and kept in a zoo after the villagers in the vicinity alleged that she had mauled locals and their cattle. Nayak said there are reports that the move to bring the big cats has met with violent protests from members of local communities on the outskirts of the reserve as they apprehend their safety and that of their livestock. The body of MB2, the male big cat which was shifted from Madhya Pradeshs Kanha tiger reserve in June this year, was found in Raiguda range on Hindol-Narsinghpur border the core area of Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) in Angul district a few days ago. Nayak said the exact reason of radio-collared MB2s death is yet to be ascertained, but preliminary report suggests that it could have died of infections after it was caught in a snare trap laid by poachers. The body was found by officials who were searching for MB2 after there were no signals from his radio collar for days. The tigers death came just a few weeks after the tigress which was brought from Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve in MP in August was tranquilised and kept under observation in an enclosure. This was after villagers in the vicinity of the reserve alleged that she had killed two persons. The tigers fate has put a question mark on the NTCA plan to translocate three pairs of tigers from Madhya Pradesh to Odisha. This was the first ever inter-state tiger translocation in India. So far the tigers have been shifted from one reserve to another within the State itself, like for instance in Rajasthan where big cats were translocated from Ranthambore tiger reserve to Sariska tiger reserve. Odisha has three tiger reserve Satkosia, Sunabeda and Simplipal. According to the 2016 tiger census, Odisha has 40 Royal Bengal Tigers 13 males, 24 females and three calves. The relocation is part of a tiger recovery programme to shore up the floundering population of tigers in Satkosia where tigers vanished due to biotic pressure. Conservationist Biswajit Mohanty, who had been opposing the relocation plan since beginning, feel it is bound to happen as though the poor prey base in Satkosia has shown a recovery in the core area, it is not enough to sustain a significant tiger population. Satkosia had poor prey base earlier. However, there is recovery in the last four years in the core area. But as a tiger landscape it cannot sustain more than four to five tigers that too only if they stay in the core area and do not stray to the buffer zone. The area has 102 villages in both core and buffer zones. There are villages surrounding it on all sides. At least 50,000 cattle enter the park everyday, Mohanty said. Relocation of tigers at Satkosia can only be done if locals accept them, Mohanty maintained, questioning the long-term viability of the translocation. Without local support it would be impossible for the forest department to protect the tigers. I also fail to understand what the relocation will ultimately achieve for tiger conservation in the long term as there arent 100 tigers in the state, which is the minimum required for viability. The two or three tiger pairs will breed but this will be inbreeding and they will die out in two or three decades, he said. The third National Council on India's Nutrition Challenges meet which was held here on Wednesday focused on under-nutrition among children, anaemia and diarrhoea and newer strategies to be brought in under Poshan Abhiyaan to tackle and eradicate them. The meeting was attended by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda, Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Rajiv Kumar, Secretaries of Health, WCD and Ayush. Also present were representatives of stakeholder Ministries such as Drinking Water and Sanitation, Food and Public Distribution and representatives of Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Bihar among others. 'Anemia Mukt Bharat' aims at strengthening the mechanism to tackle anemia. A nationwide Intensified diarrhoea Control Fortnight is being implemented every year to control childhood diarrhoea, according to the Health Ministry. "Over six crore children were covered during IDCF 2018 with 75 per cent coverage," Nadda said. "Childhood under-nutrition is a serious public health problem which undermines the survival, growth, development of children and diminishes the strength and capacity of the nation," Nadda said. "India is committed to achieving global nutrition targets by 2025 as set by member-nations in World Health Assembly in 2012. We are on track to achieve the targets for exclusive breastfeeding," the Health Minister said. The WCD minister said that the target under the Poshan Abhiyaan is to move faster in achieving a malnutrition-free India. "The focus should also be on supply of sufficient nutritious food that should be fed to the children and other beneficiaries of the mission," he said. According to the health ministry, under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), systematic efforts are undertaken to detect nutrition-deficiency among children and adolescents. The BJP on Thursday demanded an impartial probe into irregularities in selection of Daru (holy wooden logs for making idols) of the Puri Shreemandir Trinity as alleged by Bishwakarma Krushna Maoharana on Wednesday. After Bishwakarma Krushna Moharana publicly stated that Darus were selected for money, the State Governments wrong doings have come to the fore. It is not only a religious assault, but financial and criminal conspiracy against Lord Jagannath, alleged BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya at a Press meet here. Stating that the BJD, during its last 18 years of rule, has pushed Lord Jagannath into different controversies, Acharya said irregularities in Nabakalebar and Brahma Parivartan and the incident of missing of Ratna Bhandar keys have hurt 4.5 crore Odia people. The Chief Minister had constituted three commissions to probe different issues of the Shreemandir and failed in each case. Now, a serious allegation has come to the fore with a Bishwarma servitor revealing that there was monetary deal behind selection of Darus. If his allegation is true, then culprits should come to the fore. Hence, the issue should be probed by an impartial probe committee, demanded Acharya. Meanwhile, Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati demanded that the issue be probed by a sitting judge. He alleged that a Rajya Sabha member of the BJD is involved in the Daru selection irregularities and Law Minister Arun Sahoo in the Brahma Paribartan fiasco. OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik also took to Twitter and came down heavily on the ruling-BJD. Revelations by Mukhya Biswakarma of the Debadalana Chariot on Brahma Paribartan fiasco are appalling... BJD has insulted the faith of crores of Lord Jagannath devotees, tweeted Patnaik. Commenting on the matter, BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said They (Opposition) are levelling allegations only for the sake of making allegation. They should not indulge in hurting religious sentiments of the people. CaratLane, one of Indias leading omni- channel jewellery store chain launched its first store in Ranchi on Thursday. Situated on Main Road and spread over an area of 850 square feet, the store is different from a typical Indian jewellery showroom and has an open browsing format. Along with the website which is Indias largest online jewellery portal, the brand has 46 stores across the country. With stores already there in Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Bhubaneswar and now with one in Ranchi, the brand is making a strong presence in Eastern India. Speaking on the occasion Avnish Anand, co- founder, CaratLane said Launching a store in Ranchi has always been on the cards and finally with this store we will be able to cater to our Ranchi customers. There is also an exclusive flat 25 per cent discount as a launch offer on diamond jewellery at the store. Our jewellery is not the wedding kind of jewellery but its very daily wear kind at lower price points. Mithun Sacheti, Founder & CEO, CaratLane said, We are delighted to launch our 1st store in Ranchi on Jharkhand Foundation Day to cater to our loyal customers who have been really looking forward to a CaratLane store in the city. This store is located at a prime location and we are confident that it will entice our loyal customers and new customers alike. Showcasing their latest collection Weave which is interlaced golden threads with strokes of diamond, the showroom also exhibits Noor-e-Kashmir, Fleur and the Butterfly collection. The store also houses a solitaire corner and the virtual magic mirror for those just looking moments. CaratLane is partners with Indias largest retail jeweller Tanishq and the partnership works towards a mission to offer its customers beautiful jewellery and a distinctive shopping experience. Designs that are inspired from a strong historical legacy and interpreted to a modern theme, CaratLane jewellery makes the wearer feel beautiful drawing out her compelling individuality, inner confidence and self esteem.Former JAC Chairman Anand Bhushan, noted businessmen and scial workers Durgesh Sahu, Pawan Bajaj and Ranchi franchise owner Anirudh Agarwal were present on the occasion. Self-employed citizens switching to the experimental tax regime will be exempt from paying personal income tax and value added tax (VAT), except for the situation when goods are imported into Russia, according to the set of laws on the professional income (the law on self-employed), adopted today in the third (final) reading by the Russian State Duma. From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2028, a tax on professional income will be introduced in Moscow, the Moscow and Kaluga regions, as well as in the Republic of Tatarstan. According to the document, the tax rate for self-employed is set at 4% of the income for individuals and 6% of income for private entrepreneur and legal entities. The income threshold in this scheme should not exceed 2.4 million rubles per year (200 thousand rubles per month), Interfax reported. Self-employed persons are individuals who receive income from their activities, do not have an employer and do not hire employees. Professional income includes income from the use of property. Transition to the new regime is possible for self-employed, if their activity does not require mandatory registration as private entrepreneurs. There are exceptions in the law: people who sell excisable goods and goods subject to mandatory labeling, as well as those who "resale goods and property rights" and are engaged in the extraction or sale of minerals cannot switch to the new tax regime. It also applies to arbitration managers, mediators, appraisers, notaries engaged in private practice, as well as lawyers. Associate Professor of Financial Management, Management Accounting and International Standards of Financial Activity of the Higher School of Finance and Management of RANEPA, Dmitry Tikhonov, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted in the first place that the new law will help to gather more information on the labor market situation. "It is estimated that about 20 million people are considered self-employed in Russia, and it is very important to know what happens to them. If we give them this system, then we will start to understand what kind of cash flow exist there, and our statistics will be more accurate," he said. "If we talk about specific tax figures for self-employed, then it is appropriate to talk about the Laffer curve, according to which tax collection drops sharply after reaching a certain threshold rate. The tax rate of 4-6% is quite affordable. Under the simplified scheme, a private entrepreneur pays 6% and a bank commission of 1-1.5% - a total of 7-7.5%, so 4-6% will, of course, be more profitable," Dmitry Tikhonov stressed. The vice-rector of the Academy of Labour and Social Relations Alexander Safonov, pointed to low expectations from this law. "People who provide services for cash, as a rule, use such activity as a part-time job. Therefore, most self-employed will most likely ignore this law. As for those for whom it is the main source of income, we may expect that those registered as private entrepreneurs will use the new system, since the law on self-employed makes it possible not to pay 32 thousand rubles per year as contributions to the Pension Fund. Even with a tax rate of 6%, they win this money compared to the private entrepreneur status," he said. "The largest category of self-employed persons is related to agriculture, where we are unlikely to see salary deprivation. Legal entities who work with VAT are not always interested in working with self-employed, because it is difficult to write off the VAT in this case, as well as getting services from private entrepreneurs. Therefore, we dont see any serious motivation for legalization, especially in the conditions of the ongoing crisis and falling incomes of the population. We will see an increase in statistics only due to the registration of self-employed," Alexander Safonov concluded. Putting his foot down, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cancelled transfers or attachment of officials in various departments, saying such exercise should not be carried out after the transfer session is over and, if needed, permission should be taken from the Chief Minister's office. The decision has sent shock wave in the administration as earlier Yogi had declared that files relating to transfer of chief medical officers (CMOs) in Health department should be routed through the CM's office. A senior official told 'The Pioneer' here on Thursday that the Chief Minister has cancelled attachment of 27 officers of the Irrigation department in Lucknow. The official said that Irrigation Minister Dharampal Singh had transferred 27 officers and posted them in Lucknow on attachment posts. "When the Chief Minister came to know about this, he sought an explanation from the minister as to why so many senior officers of the rank of executive engineer were attached to different projects and posted in Lucknow. Later, he ordered that the attachment be cancelled," the official said. Similarly, the Chief Minister cancelled the transfers of 203 rangers whose file was put up before him for approval as Forest Minister Dara Singh Chauhan had recently lost his father and was not attending office. "In the absence of the minister, the Forest officials sent the file to the Chief Minister for approval but it was summarily rejected," the official said. He said in both the cases, the Chief Minister said that no transfer should be made in off season and if urgently required, permission had to be taken from the Chief Minister. A couple of months back, Yogi Adityanath had stopped the transfers of CMOs and had asked Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh to route the files through the CM's office. Once this order was issued, the spurt in transfer of CMOs stopped. The Chief Minister has asked Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey to issue an administrative order asking officers not to transfer employees in the off season. The Chief Minister has also asked his secretary Mritunjay Kumar to issue orders restricting movement of people in Lok Bhawan. An order regarding this was issued, specifying which lift the ministers and officers should use. Greeting members of the media fraternity on the occasion of National Press Day, Governor Baby Rani Maurya and Chief Minist er Trivendra Singh Rawat stressed on the importance of an independent and unbiased media. In her message issued on the eve of the occasion, the governor said that the media is a strong pillar of democracy. This year the Press Council of India has decided to deliberate upon the subject of journalistic ethics and challenges in digital age on the occasion of National Press Day. Along with modern technology, rapid changes are also being seen in the field of journalism. These changes also present various ethical challenges. In the present times, fake news on the social media is also a major challenge which the media fraternity will have to think about seriously, said the governor. Appreciating media as the fourth pillar of democracy, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the Press has also been an important contributor to India's freedom movement. After independence, the media has also been playing an active role in the building a new India. He said that in view of various challenges in the present scenario, the role of the Press becomes more relevant and important. Independent, fair and bold media is essential for strengthening any democracy. Rawat said that the National Press Day not only reminds one of the freedom and strength of the media but also reminds one of the dedication of the Press towards fairness and high ethical standards. Trouble seems to be mounting for the former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as Haryana Governor SN Arya has sanctioned to prosecute him in the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) case on illegal re-allotment of land to the promoters of an English daily, National Herald. The Manohar Lal Khattar Government had handed over the case of illegal re-allotment of a plot to AJL to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision to hand over the probe to the CBI into the AJL case was taken after receiving the report of Haryana Vigilance Bureau (SVB) which had in May 2016 registered a case of cheating and corruption against former Chief Minister and then HUDA chairman, Hooda. Giving details, senior Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said that the CBI would soon file charge sheet in the court against former Chief Minister in National Herald case. For this, Haryana Governor had given approval to CBI, he said. Vij said that after completing the investigations on this matter, the CBI had asked for approval from the Governor for prosecuting Hooda. However, the two-time former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday reiterated that he was a victim of political vendetta and has done no wrong in the case involving allotment of a plot of land to AJL. I have been maintaining that I am a victim of political vendetta, Hooda said while talking to the mediapersons on the sidelines of a Congress workers' meeting. He said, I have been saying this earlier too that political vendetta was being unleashed against me. This case was part of that vendetta and witch-hunt. Nothing wrong has been done during my tenure (as CM) and in this case too, the rules were followed. Reacting to Hoodas statement, Haryana Minister Anil Vij said that the former CM had allotted land to Congress on throw away prices in National Herald case which caused a huge financial loss to the state. It has been alleged that Hooda-led Congress regime had bend rules to give 3,360 square metres land in Panchkulas Sector 6. The resumed plot was allegedly re-alloted to AJL at a price lower than the prevailing market rate, allegedly in contravention of rules. Vij said that central agencies are investigating this matter so there should not be any political resentment. The AJL is linked to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and President Rahul Gandhi as The National Herald newspaper is the legacy of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Notably, the case of cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy, registered by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau against Hooda and AJL for alleged irregularities in allotment of a plot of land in Panchkula to the firm had been taken over by the CBI last year. Registered against former CM Hooda in his ex-officio capacity as Haryana Urban Development Authority chairman, the FIR also named HUDAs former chief administrator amongst others. The CBI FIR, quoting the Haryana Governments complaint, said the AJL filed an appeal against the HUDAs decision before HUDA administrator, who dismissed the appeal on July 26, 1995. AJL subsequently challenged the HUDA administrator's decision before the Haryana's Town and Country Planning Commissioner who too set aside the appeal, the CBI FIR said. The FIR further alleged that abusing his official position as HUDA chairman and contravening HUDAs policies, the then Chief Minister Hooda went against the advise rendered to him by the officials and ordered re-allotment of the plot to AJL at original rates plus interest on August 28, 2005. The investigation carried out by the Haryana police after the BJP government came to power concluded that allotment was made in an "arbitrary manner" and in complete violation of the HUDA Act. 65% wheat sowing completed in Punjab Chandigarh: Out of 85 lakh acres of area to be covered under wheat crop, 55 lakh acres have already been sown, which is four percent more as compared to sowing in the previous year as on till date, said the state Agriculture Director Jasbir Singh Bains on Thursday, adding that with timely sowing, wheat productivity is also expected to be higher this season. He said that 11,844 direct wheat sowing machines had been provided to the farmers on 50 to 80 per cent subsidy, which could sow wheat crop without tilling, and the farmers are taking its full advantage. In all, 25,922 crop residue management machines have been given to farmers on subsidy during last two months. Haryana police arrests one in drug peddling Chandigarh: Haryana Police on Thursday arrested a man for drug peddling and seized 400 gram opium from his possession near Nathusari Kalan village in Sirsa district. The accused identified as Mahender Singh, a resident of Rupana Bishnoiyan, was booked under NDPS Act, and would be taken on remand by producing him before the court. presentation on smart transport system in Shimla Shimla: FDDC and Bureau Group Company Limited, a Chinese company, gave a presentation before Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday regarding providing smart alternative transport system for Shimla town. The Company detailed about providing smart transport such as mono rail, ropeway, lifts and escalators etc for the town. Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Power Minister Anil Sharma, Transport Minister Govind Thakur, among others were also present during the meeting. NGT for waste segregation at source level Chandigarh: The National Green Tribunals Regional Monitoring committee (North Zone) chairperson Rajwant Sandhu on Thursday asked the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh (MCC), for strictly enforcing segregation of waste at house level in Chandigarh and penalise the bulk generators for violations. Sandhu visited the waste management project sites, managed by MCC along with MC Commissioner KK Yadav, and MCC team. She also reviewed solid waste management system in Chandigarh where she was briefed about waste collection, transportation and its disposal. Chandigarh Airport launches retail operations Chandigarh: Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL), Three Vee Marketing Private Limited, along with JLL, Indias leading real estate professional services firm, on Thursday announced the launch of retail operations at the airport. The launch is part of CHIALs efforts towards enabling customers to have access to and shop from around 50 latest global and Indian retail brands. The retail operations were launched by Airports Authority of India chairperson Guruprasad Mahapatra along with senior officials from Three Vee Marketing, JLL and various brands. Punjab VB nabs head constable taking Rs 30k bribe Chandigarh: Punjab State Vigilance Bureau on Thursday nabbed head constable Mukhtiar Singh red handed while accepting bribe of Rs 30,000. Singh, posted at STF Ferozepur, was nabbed red handed on the complaint of one Mangal Singh of Chapati village in Ferozepur district who had alleged that the accused police official was demanding Rs 50,000 to help him in a complaint case and the deal was struck at Rs 30,000. A case under different sections of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Singh at VB police station Ferozepur and further investigation was under progress. BBMBs lecture on modern dam safety concepts Chandigarh: Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Thursday organised a lecture in modern dam safety concepts and sustainability delivered by a senior dam and earthquake expert Dr Martin Wieland, who is the chairman of Committee on Seismic Aspects of Dam Design, International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), Zurich, Switzerland. Dr Wieland was also the chairman of Earthquake Committee of the Swiss Dam Society, besides being a senior dam and earthquake expert at Poyry Switzerland Limited in Zurich, Switzerland, wherein he has been involved in the seismic safety evaluation of some of the worlds largest dams and other major infrastructure projects. Gurdaspur Coop Societys two officers suspended Chandigarh: Punjab Cooperation Department on Thursday ordered suspension of the services of Deputy Registrar of Gurdaspur Cooperative Society Bhupinder Singh and Inspector Bhupinder Singh of Shahpur Jajan circles Cooperative Society over bribery allegations. Disclosing this, the state Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that the Secretary of Athwal Multipurpose Agricultural Cooperative Society Heera Singh had levelled bribery allegations against both officers. He made it absolutely loud and clear that a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption would be adopted and guilty would be strictly proceeded against. Punjab VB nabs BDPO red handed Chandigarh: Punjab State Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday nabbed a Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), posted at Lohian in Jalandhar district, red handed for accepting Rs 10,000 bribe. BDPO Gurmeet Singh Kahlon was caught on the complaint of retired Panchayat Secretary Manmohan Singh who alleged that the BDPO was demanding Rs 30,000 to release a usage certificate (UC) regarding development grant issued to the gram panchayat Nihaluwal and the deal was struck in three instalments. Renowned Bhojpuri actor and BJP MP, Manoj Tiwari who reached Raipur airport on Thursday for poll campaigning in Chhattisgarh, spent more than 90 minutes while waiting at airport as pilot refused to take off a chopper carrying him as he had not been granted permission for landing at Bemetaras Navagarh to address a public rally. Held up for around 90-minute at Swami Vivekananda Airport, Mana Raipur, Tiwari vent his anger through a video post on Twitter. The star campaigner of BJP was to address a public rally at Navagarh, but the pilot citing Rs no permission granted for landing, refused to take off the chopper carrying the Delhi BJP president Tiwari. Irritated over the long hours of waiting, Manoj Tiwari made a self video and posted in his Twitter handle @ManojTiwariMP. The video was posted at around 12.18 pm. In the video, Tiwari stated, For the last one-and-a-half-hour I am standing at the Raipur Airport. My first public meeting was scheduled at Navagarh. But the pilot says that collector has not been granted permission, it seems that purposefully someone wants to disturb the proposed meeting. The Election Commission should take cognizance to it and also those in election work, should also take notice of it. The video post went viral and at around 1.00 pm, Tiwari again tweeted. He intimated that now his helicopter has been given landing permission but pointed fingers at Congress for the entire mess. Bemetara Collector Mahadev Kaware, when contacted, said, The concerned Returning Officer (SDM) has given the permission two days before. It seems, the pilot of helicopter did not accept order of SDM. After it came to my notice, I immediately cleared the permission. Permission is not granted two times for same event. In Chhattisgarh, as per the system, it is the Returning Officer of concerned assembly constituency, the authority to grant the permission. The State Government on Thursday released its Biotech Policy 2018 that showcased the immense potentials and opportunities in the biotechnology sector to attract domestic and international investors at the Make in Odisha Conclave here. Development in the biotechnology sector will be based on three key pillars - innovation, entrepreneurship and investment. We will form public-private partnerships, bio incubation centers and biotech finishing schools. We will collaborate with various international organisations to provide cutting-edge technology in the sector. In the policy, we have provided attractive incentives for stakeholders to invest in Odisha. By collaborative efforts between Government of Odisha and private stakeholders, we aim to make Odisha a top biotech investment destination in the country, said Science and Biotechnology Minister Badri Narayan Patra releasing the policy. In his speech, Chief Secretary AP Padhi also assured that the State Government would provide an essential platform to stakeholders who want to invest in the biotechnology sector in Odisha. He said a centre of excellence would be set to support the biotechnology sector in the State. Padmabhushan Prof G Padmanabhan, Senior Science and Innovation Advisor o f the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), suggested six significant steps to make Odisha a biotechnology hub. He suggested for adoption of needleless delivery of vaccine, concentrate on development of Nanobodies, biomass conversion, eliminating malaria through biological route, gene editing and synthetic biology. Dr Krishna Ella, Founder of Bharat Biotech, said that Odisha's Biotech Policy Is best in the country. He expressed his intention reaching Rs 500 crore investment by the Bharat Biotech. There was an interesting panel discussion on the topic 'Odisha in the biotech/medtech realm', which saw participation from various eminent speakers like ILS Director Dr Ajaya Parida and PATH Impact Lab Director Dr SP Dash, among others. Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday stormed into bastion of former chief minister and Janta Congress Chhattisgarh supremo Ajit Jogi in his Marwahi seat and advised voters to dump him and elect Congress candidate from the seat. Time has come to dump Jogi and elect a new face in this election, Baghel told voters in election campaign in Marwahi which goes to polls on November 20. Baghel also asked voters to ignore BJP in polls as the party misruled the state during its 15-year of governance. Only hollow promises were made by the BJP government in these years and it never fulfilled any of its promises, he alleged. Konta assembly seat legislator and Deputy Leader of Opposition, Kawasi Lakhma, who also accompanied Baghel in the poll campaign in Marwahi, termed Jogi a liar. Jogi has twice campaigned in my constituency Konta in support of Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate but it will have no effect on my electoral fortune remarked Lakhma, who is seeking re-election from the seat which went to polls on November 12. Even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the 2015 sacrilege and related firing cases, is set to interrogate former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his Chandigarh residence on Friday, the Akali patriarch on Thursday demanded the removal of Punjab Police IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from the SIT for demonstrating unprofessional conduct, disobedience of the law of the land, his malice and his political leanings. Kunwar Vijay had issued the summons to Badal, along with the SAD president Sukhbir Badal and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar to appear before it at Amritsar circuit house on separate dates. However, considering Badals old age, the SIT has issued fresh summons to the former Chief Minister giving him reprieve to give his place of convenience for interrogation, in case he did not wish to appear before it at Amritsar. Even as the SAD maintained that the five-time Chief Minister would fully cooperate with the SIT, the party insisted on removing Kunwar Vijay from the SIT as member, besides initiating appropriate disciplinary proceedings against him under the relevant provisions of law and conduct rules for his utterances and actions unbecoming of the high office he occupies. ADGP Prabodh Kumar underlined that section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) mandates no male person above 65 years of age shall be required to attend at any place other than the place in which such male person resides. In compliance thereof, I shall keep myself available to you on the said date and time at one of my place of residence, mentioned in the notice dated November 12, 2018, that is MLAs Flat No. 35, Sector 4, Chandigarh, he stated in the reply while reiterating his commitment to co-operate with any independent, impartial and fair investigation as a person who has held law in the highest esteem all my life. As per the initial summon orders, issued by Kunwar Vijay on November 11, Badal, his son and the then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal have been asked to appear before the SIT at Amritsar Circuit House on November 16, and November 19 respectively. Besides the Badal father-son duo, similar summons were also issued to the Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar to appear before the SIT, set up by the Punjab Government under the chairmanship of ADGP Prabodh Kumar, on November 21. Demanding Kunwar Vijays removal from SIT, the SAD has also written to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh. The utterly unwarranted, unprofessional and biased utterances of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh before the media have revealed a shocking degree of personal prejudice and malice in the officer, putting a serious question mark over his credibility, professional competence, impartiality and integrity, said SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema adding that this would completely defeat the purpose of a free and fair inquiry. He said that in the interest of the people of Punjab, having faith in the fairness and credibility of the probe, it is absolutely imperative that Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh be removed from the SIT as member. Europeans have white skins and Africans black. The rest of the people around the world have intermediate skin colours between these two extremes. What determines skin colour and how the different shades have evolved in human beings or the homo sapiens? Colour of the skin is caused by a pigment called melanin, which is an effective absorbent of light. It can dissipate 99.9% of absorbed UV radiation, which may otherwise damage the skin with propensity to cause cancer. Melanin is produced by melanocytes, the skin cells located in the epidermal layer of the skin also in the matrix of hair. Melanocytes transfer melanin to skin epidermal cells through thin cellular projections. There are two types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is brown-black in colour and pheomelanin has red to pink hue. Presence of more eumelanin in the skin makes it darker and more pheomelanin make the skin lighter in colour. The modern humans evolved from their ancestors, who walked on all fours and had hair covering their bodies. When humans shed their body hair and started walking straight, their skins got exposed to the ultra violet radiation which comes with sunlight. Skin pigmentation evolved about 1.5 million years ago to protect it from deleterious effects of UV light along with sweat glands to keep the body cool while they ran to kill their prey or protect themselves from any attack (Gurche, Smithsonian magazine, 2010).Original skin colour of humans was probably black. There are two theories to explain human origin and migration to different parts of the world based on archaeological and fossil records. Multi-regional hypothesis states that modern human beings evolved from their ancestors in several different locations. The second, Out of Africa theory states that modern humans developed in tropical Africa for several thousands of years before they spread throughout the rest of the world. The reason for their migration is attributed to a mega drought, which occurred 135,000 to 90,000 years ago, when fresh water lakes, around which they had settled dried up (University of Arizona report, 2007). A new tool, analysis of DNA of living human population, has been used by geneticists in1980s to trace back lineage of humans backward in time. This analysis showed that the modern humans (Homo sapiens) developed in Africa around 200,000 years ago. Another genetic study with mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from mother also confirmed this hypothesis. More sophisticated studies using the nuclear DNA from 935 people from 51 locations around the world support the African origin hypothesis (Guy Gugliotta, Smithsonian Magazine, July 2008). Original skin colours of humans living in tropical Africa were probably black to protect them from injurious UV radiations. When they migrated northward, they received less UV radiation from sunlight leading to de-pigmentation of their skins. Though injurious, UV radiation is also required to synthesize vitamin D in the skin, essential for human metabolism. Natural selection favoured two genetic solutions to this problem, i)Evolving pale skin that absorbs UV more efficiently and ii) Lactose tolerance to be able to digest the sugars and vitamin D naturally found in milk. An international team of researchers examined genomes of 83 ancient individuals from archaeological sites of Europe and concluded that the Europeans today are a mix of at least three races of population who migrated to Europe in separate conglomerates over the past 8,000 years. According to Ann Gibbons (2015) the modern Europeans do not look much like the early settlers. The early hunter gatherers of Spain, Hungary and Luxemburg had darker skins. The modern Europeans have two fairness skin genes, SLAC24A5 and SLC45A2, which lead to depigmentation and pale skins. When farmers from near east arrived in Europe 7,800 years ago, they transferred their fairness skin gene SLC24A5 to the Europeans through interbreeding. About 5800 years ago the other fairness gene SLC45A2 was also transferred and it spread throughout Europe. About 4,500 years ago, massive migration took place from the steppes north of the Black sea. These people brought the Indo-European language to Europe. The early settlers could not digest milk, specifically the milk sugar, lactose, since they did not have the LCT gene, which enables humans to digest milk. They acquired this gene about 4,300 years ago and it spread quickly around Europe. The people inhabiting the northern Europe, which receives less light, had fairer skins. The DNA of seven people living in Motala archaeological site, 7,700 years ago in southern Sweden had the two gene variants SLC24A5 and SLC45A2, which cause white skins. They also had a third gene, HERC2/OCR2 which cause blue eyes and fair skin. Exclusivity of Europeans not to intermingle with coloured races for generations has preserved their genetic integrity and skin colour. (Dr Mitra is a former Dean and Professor, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology. Email: gnmitra@gmail.com) - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." The U.S. announced Magnitsky Act sanctions on 17 people Thursday for their alleged role in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, CNBC reported. The sanctioned individuals include Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, who oversaw the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where Khashoggi was allegedly killed, as well as Maher Mutreb, a senior Saudi official who is alleged to have coordinated the killing. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi's fiancee, children, and the family he leaves behind." BCE Inc., a telecommunications and media company, provides wireless, wireline, Internet, and television (TV) services to residential, business, and wholesale customers in Canada. It operates through three segments: Bell Wireless, Bell Wireline, and Bell Media. The Bell Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communications products and services. The Bell Wireline segment provides data, including Internet access and Internet protocol television; and local telephone, long distance, satellite TV service, and connectivity, as well as other communications services and products. This segment also buys and sells local telephone, long distance, data, and other services from or to resellers, and other carriers. The Bell Media segment provides conventional TV, specialty TV, pay TV, and streaming services; and digital media, radio broadcasting, out-of-home advertising services. It owns and operates approximately 35 conventional TV stations; 27 specialty and four Pay TV channels; 3 direct-to-consumer streaming services; 109 licensed radio stations; and websites. The company was formerly known as Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. BCE Inc. was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Verdun, Canada. Read More 51 minutes ago Elizabeth Holmes makes her case to the jury in fraud trial SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Elizabeth Holmes, the one-time medical entrepreneur now charged with building a fraudulent company based on promises of a revolutionary technology, returned to the witness stand Monday. Her testimony, which focused largely on her enthusiasm based on positive early tests of that blood-testing technology, may be her best shot to avoid conviction on charges of criminal fraud. Read Article Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Koninklijke Philips N.V. is the Netherlands-based health technology company. The Company's segments include Personal Health businesses, Diagnosis & Treatment businesses, Connected Care & Health Informatics businesses, HealthTech Other and Legacy Items. The Personal Health businesses segment is engaged in the health continuum, delivering integrated, connected solutions that support healthier lifestyles and those living with chronic disease. The Diagnosis & Treatment businesses segment delivers precision medicine and treatment, and therapy. The Connected Care & Health Informatics businesses segment provides consumers, care givers and clinicians with digital solutions that facilitate care by enabling precision medicine and population health management. The HealthTech Other segment comprises such items, as innovation, emerging businesses, royalties, among others. The Legacy Items segment consists mainly of separation costs, legacy legal items, legacy pension costs, among others. Read More 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. United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. Its Otis segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways; and offers modernization products to upgrade elevators and escalators, as well as maintenance and repair services. The company's Carrier segment provides heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation products, solutions, and services for commercial, government, infrastructure, residential, and refrigeration and transportation applications. This segment also offers building services, including audit, design, installation, system integration, repair, maintenance, and monitoring. Its Pratt & Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation markets; and provides aftermarket maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as fleet management services. The company's Collins Aerospace Systems segment provides electric power generation, power management, and distribution systems; air data and aircraft sensing systems; engine control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; engine components; environmental control systems; fire and ice detection, and protection systems; propeller systems; engine nacelle systems; aircraft lighting, seating, and cargo systems; actuation and landing systems; space products and subsystems; avionics systems; flight controls, communications, navigation, oxygen, and training systems; food and beverage preparation, and storage and galley systems; and lavatory and wastewater management systems. The company offers its services through manufacturers' representatives, distributors, wholesalers, dealers, retail outlets, and sales representatives, as well as directly to customers. United Technologies Corporation was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Barclays: Adler Toy Holding Sarl, Aequor Investments Limited, Alymere Investments Limited, Alynore Investments Limited Partnership, Analog Analytics, Analog Analytics Inc, Analytical Trade Holdings LLC, Analytical Trade Investments LLC, Analytical Trade UK Limited, Archstone Equity Holdings Inc, Ardencroft Investments Limited, B D & B Investments Limited, B.P.B. (Holdings) Limited, BB Client Nominees Limited, BBAIL SAS, BCAP LLC, BIFML PTC Limited, BMBF (No.24) Limited, BMI (No.9) Limited, BNC Brazil Consultoria Empresarial Ltda, BNRI ENG 2013 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG 2014 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG GP LLP, BNRI England 2010 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2011 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2012 Limited Partnership, BNRI Limehouse No.1 Sarl, BNRI PIA Scot GP Limited, BNRI Scots GP LLP, BPB Holdings SA, BVP Galvani Global S.A.U., Barafor Limited, Barclay Leasing Limited, Barclaycard Funding PLC, Barclaycard International Payments Limited, Barclays (Barley) Limited, Barclays Aldersgate Investments Limited, Barclays Alzin Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Asia Limited, Barclays Asset Management Limited, Barclays BR Investments S.a r.l., Barclays BWA Inc., Barclays Bank (Suisse) S.A., Barclays Bank Delaware, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays Bank Ireland Public Limited Company, Barclays Bank Mexico S.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bayard Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bedivere Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bordang Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Brasil Assessoria Financeira Ltda., Barclays CCP Funding LLC, Barclays Cantal Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Capital (Cayman) Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Limited, Barclays Capital Canada Inc., Barclays Capital Casa de Bolsa S.A. de C.V., Barclays Capital Derivatives Funding LLC, Barclays Capital Effekten GmbH, Barclays Capital Energy Inc., Barclays Capital Equities Trading GP, Barclays Capital Finance Limited, Barclays Capital Futures (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Barclays Capital Japan Securities Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Capital Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.2) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.3) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees Limited, Barclays Capital Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Capital Real Estate Finance Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Inc., Barclays Capital Securities Client Nominee Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Trading Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Claudas Investments Partnership, Barclays Claudas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Barclays Converted Investments (No.2) Limited, Barclays Corporation Limited, Barclays Direct Investing Nominees Limited, Barclays Directors Limited, Barclays Dryrock Funding LLC, Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc., Barclays Equity Holdings Limited, Barclays Equity Index Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Europe Client Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Firm Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited, Barclays Financial LLC, Barclays Financial Planning Nominee Company Limited, Barclays Funds Investments Limited, Barclays Funds and Advisory Japan Limited, Barclays Global Service Centre Private Limited, Barclays Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Group Holdings Limited, Barclays Group Operations Limited, Barclays Group US Inc., Barclays Index Finance Trust, Barclays Industrial Development Limited, Barclays Industrial Investments Limited, Barclays Insurance Guernsey PCC Limited, Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited, Barclays Insurance U.S. Inc., Barclays International Luxembourg Dollar Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Investment Management Limited, Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, Barclays Investments & Loans (India) Limited, Barclays Korea GP Limited, Barclays Lamorak Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Leasing (No.9) Limited, Barclays Leto Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Long Island Limited, Barclays Luxembourg EUR Holdings S.a r.l, Barclays Luxembourg Finance S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg GBP Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Global Funding S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings SSC B, Barclays Marlist Limited, Barclays Mauritius Overseas Holdings Limited, Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited, Barclays Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd., Barclays Nominees (George Yard) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Manx) Limited, Barclays Oversight Management Inc., Barclays Payment Solutions Inc., Barclays Pelleas Investments Limited Partnership, Barclays Pelleas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited, Barclays Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Private Asset Management (Monaco) S.A.M, Barclays Private Bank, Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Barclays Receivables LLC, Barclays SAMS Limited, Barclays Securities (India) Private Limited, Barclays Securities Japan Limited, Barclays Security Trustee Limited, Barclays Services (Japan) Limited, Barclays Services Corporation, Barclays Services Jersey Limited, Barclays Services LLC, Barclays Services Limited, Barclays Shea Limited, Barclays Singapore Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Switzerland Services SA, Barclays Tenedora De Immuebles SL., Barclays Term Funding Limited Liability Partnership, Barclays UK Investments Limited, Barclays US CCP Funding LLC, Barclays US Funding LLC, Barclays US GPF Inc., Barclays US Investments Inc., Barclays US LLC, Barclays Unquoted Investments Limited, Barclays Unquoted Property Investments Limited, Barclays Wealth Management Jersey Limited, Barclays Wealth Nominees Limited, Barclays Wealth Services Limited, Barclays Wealth Trustees (India) Private Limited, Barclayshare Nominees Limited, Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited, Barcosec Limited, Barsec Nominees Limited, Blossom Finance General Partnership, Branchcall Computers (Pvt) Limited, Braven Investments No.1 Limited, CP Flower Guaranteeco (UK) Limited, CP Newco 1 Limited, CP Newco2 Limited, CP Newco3 Limited, CP Propco 1 Limited, CP Propco 2 Limited, CP Topco Limited, CPIA Canada Holdings, CPIA England 2008 Limited Partnership, CPIA England 2009 Limited Partnership, CPIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, CPIA Investments No.1 Limited, CPIA Investments No.2 Limited, CRE Diversified Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe LLC, Calthorpe Investments Limited, Capton Investments Limited, Carnegie Holdings Limited, Central Platte Valley Management LLC, Chapelcrest Investments Limited, Charles Schwab Europe, Claudas Investments Limited, Claudas Investments Two Limited, Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, Cobalt Investments Limited, Compania Regional del Sur S.A., Compania Sudamerica S.A., Condor No.1 Limited Partnership, Cornwall Homes Loans Limited, Crescent Crown Land Holding SPV LLC, Crescent Legacy LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential L.P., Crescent Plaza Residential LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential LP LLC, Crescent Real Estate Member LLC, Crescent Resort Development LLC, Crescent TRS Holdings LLC, Crescent Tower Residences GP LLC, Crescent Tower Residences L.P., Curve Investments GP, DBL Texas Holdings LLC, DMW Realty Limited, Desert Mountain Development LLC, Desert Mountain Properties Limited Partnership, Develop Training Group Limited, Dorset Home Loans Limited, Durlacher Nominees Limited, EWRD Summit LLC, Eagle Financial and Leasing Services (UK) Limited, East West Resort Development V L.P. L.L.L.P., East West Resort Development VII LLC, Equity Limited Partnership, Equity Value Investments No.1 Limited, Equity Value Investments No.2 Limited, Erimon Home Loans Ireland Limited, Expobank, FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Limited, Finpart Nominees Limited, First Assurance, Foltus Investments Limited, Full House Holdings Limited, Gallen Investments Limited, Global Dynasty Natural Resource Private, Globe Nominees Limited, Gracechurch Services Corporation, Grays Station LLC, Grupo Financiero Barclays Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hawkins Funding Limited, Heraldglen Limited, Holding Stuttgarter Strae GmbH, Hurley Investments No.1 Limited, Imalivest Mineral Resources LP, Investors In Infrastructure Limited, J.V. Estates Limited, JV Assets Limited, Kirsche Investments Limited, LTDL Holdings LLC, La Torretta Beverages LLC, La Torretta Hospitality LLC, La Torretta Operations LLC, Lagalla Investments LLC, Leonis Investments LLP, Liability Partnership, Long Island Assets Limited, Long Island Holding A LLC, Long Island Holding B Limited, MK Opportunities GP Ltd, MK Opportunities LP, MVWP Investors LLC, Maloney Investments Limited, Marbury Holdings LLC, Menlo Investments Limited, Mercantile Credit Company Limited, Mercantile Leasing Company (No.132) Limited, Meridian (SPV-AMC) Corporation, Mintaka Investments No. 4 Limited, Mira Vista Development LLC, Mira Vista Golf Club L.C., Mountainside Partners LLC, Murray House Investment Management Limited, Naxos Investments Limited, Nile Bank, North Colonnade Investments Limited, Northstar Mountain Properties LLC, Northstar Trailside Townhomes LLC, Northstar Village Townhomes LLC, Northwharf Investments Limited, Northwharf Nominees Limited, OGP Leasing Limited, Oakes Millers Ltd, Ownership Trustee Limited, PIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, Palomino Limited, Pecan Aggregator LP, Pelleas Investments Limited, Pelleas Investments Two Limited, Pippin Island Investments Limited, Preferred Liquidity LLC, Preferred Liquidity Limited Partnership, Procella Investments LLC, Procella Investments No.1 LLC, Procella Investments No.2 LLC, Procella Investments No.3 LLC, Protium Finance I LLC, Protium Master Grantor Trust, Protium Master Mortgage LP, Protium REO I LP, R.C. Grieg Nominees Limited, RVH Limited, RVT CLO Investments LLP, Razzoli Investments Limited, Real Estate Participation Management Limited, Real Estate Participation Services Limited, Relative Value Holdings LLC, Relative Value Investments UK Limited, Relative Value Trading Limited, Roder Investments No. 1 Limited, Roder Investments No. 2 Limited, Ruthenium Investments Limited, SPM GP Limited, Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC, Servicios Barclays S.A. de C.V., Societe Civile Immobiliere 31 Avenue de la Costa, Solution Personal Finance Limited, Southern Peaks Mining LP, Standard Life Aberdeen, Surety Trust Limited, Surrey Funding Corporation, Sussex Purchasing Corporation, Sutton Funding LLC, Swan Lane Investments Limited, TPLL LLC, TPProperty LLC, Tahoe Club Company LLC, Tahoe Club Employee Company, The Logic Group Enterprises Limited, The Logic Group Holdings Limited, Third Energy Holdings Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No. 2 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.1 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.3 Limited, US Secured Investments LLC, Union Center LLC, United Counties Bank, Verain Investments LLC, Walbrook Group Ltd, Wedd Jefferson (Nominees) Limited, Wessex Investments Limited, Westferry Investments Limited, Wilmington Riverfront Receivables LLC, Woolwich Homes Limited, Woolwich Plan Managers Limited, Woolwich Qualifying Employee Share, Woolwich Surveying Services Limited, Woori BC Pegasus Securitization Specialty Co. Limited, and Zeban Nominees Limited. SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF's stock was trading at $49.33 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, SHM shares have decreased by 0.2% and is now trading at $49.21. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. 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. Read More Trecora Resources manufactures and sells various specialty petrochemical products and synthetic waxes in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Petrochemical and Specialty Waxes. The Petrochemical segment offers hydrocarbons and other petroleum based products, including isopentane, normal pentane, isohexane, and hexane for use in the production of polyethylene, packaging, polypropylene, expandable polystyrene, poly-iso/urethane foams, and crude oil from the Canadian tar sands, as well as in the catalyst support industry. It also owns and operates pipelines. The Specialty Waxes segment provides specialty polyethylene for use in the paints and inks, adhesives, coatings, and PVC lubricants markets; and specialized synthetic poly alpha olefin waxes for use as toner in printers, as well as additives for candles. The company also provides custom processing services; and produces copper and zinc concentrates, and silver and gold dore. Trecora Resources was formerly known as Arabian American Development Company and changed its name to Trecora Resources in June 2014. Trecora Resources was founded in 1967 and is based in Sugar Land, Texas. Read More WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund's stock was trading at $53.61 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, HEDJ shares have increased by 51.4% and is now trading at $81.18. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. 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. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA engages in the traditional banking businesses of retail banking, asset management, private banking, and wholesale banking. It operates through the following segments: Spain, the United States, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and Rest of Eurasia. The Spain segment includes mainly the banking and insurance business that the group carries out in Spain. The United States segment consists of the financial business activity of BBVA USA in the country and the activity of the branch of BBVA SA in New York. The Mexico segment refers to banking and insurance businesses in this country as well as the activity of its branch in Houston. The Turkey segment reports the activity of Garanti BBVA group that is mainly carried out in this country and, to a lesser extent, in Romania and the Netherlands. The South America segment comprises of operations in n Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The Rest of Eurasia segment includes the banking business activity carried out by the group in Europe and Asia, excluding Spain. The company was founded in 1857 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain. Read More PetroChina Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in a range of petroleum related products, services, and activities in Mainland China and internationally. It operates through Exploration and Production, Refining and Chemicals, Marketing, and Natural Gas and Pipeline segments. The Exploration and Production segment engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. The Refining and Chemicals segment refines crude oil and petroleum products; and produces and markets primary petrochemical products, derivative petrochemical products, and other chemical products. The Marketing segment is involved in marketing of refined products and trading business. The Natural Gas and Pipeline segment engages in the transmission of natural gas, crude oil, and refined products; and sale of natural gas. As of December 31, 2020, the company had a total length of 31,151 km, including 22,555 km of natural gas pipelines, 7,190 km of crude oil pipelines, and 1,406 km of refined product pipelines. The company is also involved in the exploration, development, and production of oil sands and coalbed methane; trading of crude oil and petrochemical products; storage, chemical engineering, storage facilities, service station, and transportation facilities and related businesses; and production and sales of basic and derivative chemical, and other chemical products. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. PetroChina Company Limited is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation. Read More There is not enough analysis data for Just Eat. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Just Eat has received 946 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Just Eat has received 249 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Just Eat has received 79.16% 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 JE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe JE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company. It engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The company operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth; Corporate and Commercial Banking; and Insurance Holdings. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of LyondellBasell Industries: A. Schulman, A. Schulman 's-Gravendeel B.V., A. Schulman AG, A. Schulman Asia Limited, A. Schulman Belgium BVBA, A. Schulman Canada Ltd., A. Schulman Castellon S.L., A. Schulman Europe GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman Europe International B.V., A. Schulman Europe Verwaltungs GmbH, A. Schulman Gainsborough Ltd, A. Schulman GmbH, A. Schulman GmbH (Austrian Branch), A. Schulman Holding Company France S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings (France) S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Inc., A. Schulman Inc. Limited, A. Schulman International Inc., A. Schulman International Services BVBA, A. Schulman Ireland Limited, A. Schulman Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, A. Schulman Nordic AB, A. Schulman Plastics (Branch), A. Schulman Plastics (Dongguan) Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., A. Schulman Plastics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics BVBA, A. Schulman Plastics India Private Limited, A. Schulman Plastics PTY. LTD., A. Schulman Plastics S.r.l., A. Schulman Plastics SAS, A. Schulman Plastics bvba Bornem Sucursala Cluj-Napoca, A. Schulman Plastics organizacni slozka, A. Schulman Plastk Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, A. Schulman Plasticos do Brasil Ltda., A. Schulman Polska Sp. z o.o., A. Schulman Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman S.A.S., A. Schulman S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Limited, A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Sdn Bhd, A. Schulman de Mexico S.A. de C.V., A. Schulman del Peru S.A.C., A.Schulman Poznan Sp. Z o.o., ARCO Chemical, AS Global Holdings Inc., AS Mex Hold S.A. de C.V., AS Worldwide LLC, AS Worldwide LLC & Cie S.C.S., ASI Akron Land Co., ASI Employment S.A. de C.V., ASI Investments Holding Co., Al Waha Petrochemical Company, BKV Beteiligungs- und Kunststoffverwertungs-gesellschaft mbH, BMC Deutschland GmbH, BMC Dongguan Limited, BMC Far East Limited, BMC TetraDURTurkey Plastik Hammadde Kompozit Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limted Sirketi, Basell (Thailand) Holdings B.V., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Thailand) Company Ltd., Basell Arabie Investissements SAS, Basell Asia Pacific Limited, Basell Bayreuth Chemie GmbH, Basell Benelux B.V., Basell Chemie Koln GmbH, Basell Europe Holdings B.V., Basell Germany Holdings GmbH, Basell Holdings Middle East GmbH, Basell Iberica Poliolefinas Holdings S.L., Basell International Holdings B.V., Basell International Trading FZE, Basell Italia S.r.l, Basell Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Moyen Orient Investissements SAS, Basell North America Inc., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sprzedaz Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Poliolefinas Comercial Espagnola S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Iberica S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Ltda., Basell Poliolefinas S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Poliolefine Italia S.r.l., Basell Polyolefin Istanbul Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Basell Polyolefine GmbH, Basell Polyolefines France S.A.S., Basell Polyolefins Company BVBA, Basell Polyolefins India Private Limited, Basell Polyolefins Korea Ltd., Basell Polyolefins UK Limited, Basell Sales & Marketing Company B.V., Basell Service Company B.V., Basell Slovakia s.r.o., Basell Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Basell UK Holdings Limited, Basell UK Ltd., Brindisi Servizi Generali S.c.a.r.l., Bulk Molding Compounds Inc., Bulk Molding Compounds Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bulk Molding Compounds do Brasil Industria de Plasticos Reforcados Ltda., Citadel Brazil Holdings LLC, Citadel Intermediate Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., Citadel Plastics Mexico Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Netherlands Holdings LLC, Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre SAS, Compagnie de Distribution des Hydrocarbures SAS, EMS Holding Ltd., EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud Geschaftsfuhrungs GmbH, EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud GmbH & Co. KG, Elian S.A.S., Equistar Bayport LLC, Equistar Chemicals LP, Equistar GP LLC, Equistar LP LLC, Equistar Mont Belvieu Corporation, GuangZhou Basell Advanced Polyolefins Co. Ltd., HGGC Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., HGGC Citadel Plastics Intermediate Holdings Inc., HMC Polymers Company Limited, HPC Holdings LLC, Hadlock Plastics LLC, Houston Refining LP, I.F.M. S.c.a.r.l., ICO Europe C.V., ICO Holdings LLC, ICO Holdings New Zealand Limited, ICO Petrochemical Cayman Islands, ICO Polymers Cayman Islands, Indelpro S.A. de C.V., Infraserv GmbH & Co. Hochst KG, Inmobiliaria Satchmo S. de R.L. de C.V., Innovacion Y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados A.C., J.R. Courtenay (N.Z.) Limited, LPI Holding Company, LYB (Barbados) SRL, LYB Advanced Polymer Solutions Ireland Limited, LYB Americas Finance Company LLC, LYB Equistar Holdings LLC, LYB Export Holdings Limited, LYB Exports Inc., LYB Finance Company B.V., LYB International Finance B.V., LYB International Finance II B.V., LYB International Finance III LLC, LYB Ireland 2 Limited, LYB Ireland Limited, LYB La Porte Hyperzone LLC, LYB Luxembourg S.a r.l., LYB Matrixx Holdings Inc., LYB Receivables LLC, LYB Trading Company B.V., LYB Treasury Services Ltd., Limited Liability Company "LyondellBasell Polyolefins", Limited Liability Company A. Schulman, Lucent Polymers Inc., Lyondell Asia Holdings Limited, Lyondell Centennial Corp., Lyondell Chemical Company, Lyondell Chemical Europe Inc., Lyondell Chemical Overseas Services Inc., Lyondell Chemical Products Europe LLC, Lyondell Chemical Properties L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology 1 Inc., Lyondell Chemical Technology L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology Management Inc., Lyondell Chemie (PO-11) B.V., Lyondell Chemie (POSM) B.V., Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., Lyondell Chimie France SAS, Lyondell China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Ltd., Lyondell Greater China Trading Limited, Lyondell Japan Inc., Lyondell PO-11 C.V., Lyondell POJVGP LLC, Lyondell POJVLP LLC, Lyondell POTechGP Inc., Lyondell POTechLP Inc., Lyondell Refining Company LLC, Lyondell Refining I LLC, Lyondell South Asia Pte Ltd, LyondellBasell Acetyls Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC, LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins Mexico S.A. de C.V., LyondellBasell Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Australia Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Brasil Ltda., LyondellBasell Canada Inc., LyondellBasell Central Europe Kft., LyondellBasell China Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Circular Economy B.V., LyondellBasell Covestro Manufacturing Maasvlakte V.O.F., LyondellBasell Egypt LLC, LyondellBasell F&F Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Finance Company, LyondellBasell Holdings France SAS, LyondellBasell Hungary Kft, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Industries N.V., LyondellBasell Investment LLC, LyondellBasell Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., LyondellBasell Polyolefin (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Services France S.A.S., LyondellBasell Subholdings B.V., LyondellBasell Taiwan Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Transportation Company LLC, Millennium Chemicals, Natpet Schulman Specialty Plastic Compounds, Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Co. Ltd., Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Marketing Co. Ltd., OE Insurance Ltd, Oil Casualty Insurance Ltd., Oil Insurance Limited, PD Glycol LP, PO JV LP, PO Offtake LP, POSM II Limited Partnership L.P., POSM II Properties Partnership LLC, PT A.Schulman Plastics, PT ASchulman Plastics Commercial, PTT Chemical PCL, Poly Pacific Polymers Sdn. Bhd., Poly Pacific Pty. Ltd., PolyMirae Co. Ltd., Premix Holding Company, Premix Inc., Prime Colorants Inc., QCP B.V., QCP Holding B.V., QCP IP B.V., Quantum Composites Inc., RIGK GmbH Gesellschaft zur Ruckfuhrung industrieller and gewerblicher Kunstoffverpackungen mbH, Rayong Olefins Co. Ltd., Rexene - LDPE and PP Businesses, SCG ICO Polymers Company Limited, SJS Plastiblends, San Jacinto Rail Limited, Saudi Ethylene & Polyethylene Company, Saudi Polyolefins Company, Sociedad Espanola De Materiales Plasticos Semap S.A., Societe des Stockages Petroliers du Rhone SA, Solvay Engineered Polymers, Surplast S.A., TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung GmbH & Co. KG, TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung Verwaltungs-GmbH, Technology JV LP, The Matrixx Group Incorporated, ULSAN PP Co. Ltd., YNCORIS GmbH & Co. KG, Zylog Plastalloys, and tetra-DUR Kunststoff-Produktion GmbH. The following companies are subsidiares of HP: 3Com, 3PAR, ABB CADE, AOME Holdings Ltd., Alpha Holding One B.V., Alpha Holding Two B.V., Anatolus Holding B.V., Antila Holding B.V., Apogee, Apogee Corp, Apollo Computer, AppIQ, Applied Optoelectronic Tech, Aptitude Management Consulting W.L.L., Aquarius Holding S.C.A., ArcSight, Arteis, Artivision Technologies, Aruba Networks, Atos Origin, Atos Origin Middle East group, Aurasma Limited, Autonomy Corporation, Avantek, BT & D Technologies, Bitfone Corporation, Bluestone Software, Boonton Radio, Bristol Technology Inc., Bromium, CEC Europe Service Management, CGNZ, CaLan, Caleum Holding B.V., Callisto Holding B.V., Colorado Memory Systems, Colubris Networks, Colubris Networks, Columba Holding B.V., Compaq Cayman Holdings Company, Compaq Cayman Holdings General Partnership II, Compaq Cayman Islands Vision Company, Compaq Information Technologies, Compaq Information Technologies LLC, Computer Insurance Company, Computing and Printing Global Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Computing and Printing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Computing and Printing Professional Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Consera Software, ConteXtream Inc, Convex Computer, Crater Holding B.V., David Vision Systems GmbH, Dazel, Division, Dorado Holding B.V., EDS (Electronic Data Systems), EEsof, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, Elara Holding B.V., ElseWare, Eon Systems, Eucalyptus Systems, Eunomia Holding B.V., ExcellerateHRO, Exstream Software, Extreme Logic, F&M Scientific Corporation, F.L. Moseley Company, Flame Holding B.V., Fortify Software, Four Pi Systems, Gram Global Operations Limited, Gram Inc., HP Austria GmbH, HP Belgium BVBA, HP Bermuda Holding One L.P., HP Bilgisayar ve Bask Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi, HP Bilgisayar ve Bask Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi Ankara Subesi, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda.Branch 01 (Tambore), HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda.Branch 2 (Sorocaba), HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda.Branch 3 (Porto Alegre), HP Canada Co., HP China Holding B.V., HP Colombia SAS, HP Computing and Printing Middle East FZ-LLC, HP Computing and Printing Nigeria Ltd, HP Computing and Printing Systems India Private Limited, HP Computing and Printing d.o.o. (Beograd), HP Computing and Printing d.o.o. (Zagreb), HP Deutschland GmbH, HP Deutschland Holding GmbH, HP Europe B.V. Regional Dubai Branch, HP Europe BV Amsterdam Meyrin Branch, HP Finland Oy, HP France Holding SAS, HP France SAS, HP France SAS Bahrain Branch, HP Global Trading B.V., HP Global Trading B.V. Kazakhstan Branch, HP Hewlett Packard Group LLC, HP Holdgate Co., HP Inc (Thailand) Ltd., HP Inc AP Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Argentina S.R.L., HP Inc Bulgaria EOOD, HP Inc Chile Comercial Limitada, HP Inc Costa Rica Limitada, HP Inc Czech Republic s.r.o., HP Inc Danmark ApS, HP Inc Gulf, HP Inc Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Magyarorszag Kft., HP Inc Polska sp. z o.o., HP Inc Romania SRL, HP Inc Slovakia s.r.o., HP Inc Tunisie SARL, HP Inc UK Holding Limited, HP Inc UK Limited, HP Inc. Peru SRL, HP Information Technology R & D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., HP International Sarl, HP International Sarl (Puerto Rico Branch) LLC, HP International Trading B.V., HP International Trading B.V. (Puerto Rico Branch) LLC, HP Italy Holding S.r.l., HP Italy S.r.l., HP Japan Inc., HP Korea Inc., HP Luxembourg S.C.A., HP Nederland B.V., HP New Zealand, HP Norge AS, HP PPS Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Australia Pty Ltd, HP PPS Costa Rica Limitada, HP PPS India Operations Private Limited, HP PPS Israel Ltd, HP PPS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Maroc SARL, HP PPS Multimedia Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Philippines Inc., HP PPS Sales Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Services India Private Limited, HP PPS Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Sverige AB, HP Pakistan (Private) Limited, HP Panama S. de R.L., HP Printing and Computing Solutions S.L.U., HP Printing and Personal Systems Hellas EPE, HP Production Company Limited, HP Puerto Rico LLC, HP Schweiz GmbH, HP Solutions Creation and Development Services S.L.U., HP South Africa Proprietary Limited, HP Taiwan Information Technology Ltd., HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Chengdu Branch, HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Guangzhou Branch, HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Nanjing Branch, HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Shanghai Branch, HP Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., HP Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, HP Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Dalian Branch, HP Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Zhangjiang Branch, HP WebOS LLC, HP-PPS Ecuador Cia. Ltda, HPCP-Computing and Printing Portugal Unipessoal Lda., HPI Bermuda Holdings LLC, HPI Brazil Holdings LLC, HPI CCHGPII LLC, HPI CCHGPII Sub LLC, HPI Federal LLC, HPI J1 Holdings LLC, HPI J2 Holdings LLC, HPI Luxembourg LLC, HPQ Holdings LLC, Hadar Holding B.V., Handspring Corporation, Heartstream, Hewlett Packard Distribution Center Panama S. de R.L, Hewlett-Packard (Chongqing) Co. Ltd, Hewlett-Packard (Chongqing) Manufacturing Export Procurement and Settlement Co. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Japan NK) Holdings C.V., Hewlett-Packard Angola Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Arabia LLC, Hewlett-Packard Cambridge B.V., Hewlett-Packard Company Archives LLC, Hewlett-Packard Copenhagen B.V., Hewlett-Packard Danube B.V., Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P., Hewlett-Packard Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Europe BVAbu Dhabi Branch, Hewlett-Packard G.K., Hewlett-Packard Global Holdings B.V., Hewlett-Packard Global Investments B.V., Hewlett-Packard India Sales Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V., Hewlett-Packard Indigo Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Solutions Europe BVBA, Hewlett-Packard International Pte Ltd, Hewlett-Packard International Pte Ltd Taiwan Branch, Hewlett-Packard Ireland (Holdings) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Ireland 1 Limited, Hewlett-Packard Ireland Limited, Hewlett-Packard KSA Ltd, Hewlett-Packard KSA Ltd. Qatar Branch, Hewlett-Packard Lisbon B.V., Hewlett-Packard MENA FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard MENA FZ-LLC Libya Branch, Hewlett-Packard Malaysia Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard Mercator B.V., Hewlett-Packard Munich B.V., Hewlett-Packard Products B.V., Hewlett-Packard Products C.V., Hewlett-Packard Products CV 1 LLC, Hewlett-Packard Products CV 2 LLC, Hewlett-Packard Services Saudi Arabia Company, Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Private) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sunnyvale B.V., Hewlett-Packard Vietnam Ltd., Hewlett-Packard West Indies Limited, Hewlett-Packard World Trade LLC, Hiflex Software, HyperX, IBRIX, IndiGo, Indigo America Inc., Kale Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V. (Puerto Rico Branch) LLC, Knightsbridge Solutions, Lefthand Networks, Limited Liability Company HP Inc, Logoworks, Lyra Holding B.V., MacDermid ColorSpan, ManageOne, Melodeo, Mensa Holding B.V., Mercury Interactive, Metrix Network Systems, NUR Macroprinters, Neoware, Nihon HP Nin-I Kumiai, Novadigm, NuView ManageX, Nur do Brasil Ltda, OOO "Hewlett-Packard RUS", Opelin, Opelin, Open Skies, Opsware, Opsware, Optimization Systems, Optotech, OuterBay Technologies, OuterBay Technologies, PERSIST Technologies, PFE Investments Ltd., PIXACO, PROLIN, PT Hewlett-Packard Indonesia, Palm, Palm, Palm Asia Pacific Limited Taiwan Branch, Palm Comercio de Aparelhos Eletronicos Ltda., Palm Europe Limited, Palm Global Operations Limited, Palm Inc., Palm Ireland Investment, Palm Latin America Inc., Palm South America LLC, Palm Trademark Holding Company LLC, Pearl Holding Cooperatief U.A., Peregrine Systems, Perseus Holding B.V., Phoenix Holding L.P., PipeBeach, Polaris Holding One L.P., Polaris Holding Two L.P., PolyServe, Propus Holding B.V., Qosnetics, Quartz Holding Co, RLX Technologies, Regor Holding B.V., SPI Dynamics, Samsung Printing Solutions, Scitex, Scitex Vision, Scope Communications, Scorpius Holding B.V., Security Force Software, Shoreline Investment Management Company, Shunra Software, Shunra Software, Silverwire Holding, Snapfish, StorageApps, Stratavia, Synstar, Tabblo, Talking Blocks, Tall Tree Insurance Company, Techink International Pte. Ltd., Technology Partners, Telegra, The Technology Partners, Tourmaline Holding B.V., Tower Software, Tower Software Engineering Pty Ltd, Transoft Networks, Trellis Software & Controls, Triaton, Trinagy, TruLogica, Trustgenix, Turquoise Holding L.P., VeriFone, Verifone, Versatest, Vertica Systems, Vesta Holding B.V., Vital Technology Pte Ltd, Voltage Security, VoodooPC, and ZAO Hewlett-Packard A.O.. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected].com | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF reverse split on Monday, November 7th 2016. The 1-4 reverse split was announced on Friday, October 14th 2016. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the market closes on Friday, November 4th 2016. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF stock prior to the reverse split would have 25 shares after the split. 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. Read More Legg Mason, Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides investment management and related services to company-sponsored mutual funds and other investment vehicles including pension funds, foundations, endowments, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, private banks, family offices, individuals, as well as to global, institutional, and retail clients. It launches and manages equity, fixed income, and multi-asset customized portfolios through its subsidiaries. The firm also launches and manages mutual funds and exchange traded funds for its clients through its subsidiaries. It invests in private and public equity, fixed income, and multi asset markets across the globe through its subsidiaries. Through its subsidiaries, the firm also invests in alternative markets. It also employs a combination of fundamental and quantitative research to make its investments through its subsidiaries. Legg Mason, Inc. was founded in 1899 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland. Read More AVX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, supplies, and resells various electronic components, interconnect devices, sensing and control devices, and related products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Electronic Components; Interconnect, Sensing and Control Devices; and Kyocera Electronic Devices Resale. The Electronic Components segment primarily offers surface mount and leaded ceramic capacitors, RF thick and thin film components, surface mount and leaded tantalum capacitors, surface mount and leaded film capacitors, ceramic and film power capacitors, super capacitors, EMI filters, thick and thin film packages of various electronic integrated components, varistors, thermistors, inductors, and resistive products. The Interconnect, Sensing and Control Devices segment provides automotive sensing and control devices and automotive, telecom, and memory connectors. The company serves various industries, such as telecommunications, information technology hardware, automotive electronics, medical devices and instrumentation, industrial instrumentation, transportation, energy harvesting, defense and aerospace electronic systems, and consumer electronics industries. It markets its products through its direct sales force and independent manufacturers' representatives to multi-national original equipment manufacturers, independent electronic component distributors, and electronic manufacturing service providers. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. AVX Corporation is a subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation. Read More 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 Read More Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides bandwidth infrastructure solutions for the communications industry in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company operates in six segments: Fiber Solutions, Transport, Enterprise Networks, Zayo Colocation (zColo), Allstream, and Other. The Fiber Solutions segment provides dark fiber, and fiber-to-the-tower and small cell mobile infrastructure services for carriers and other communication service providers, Internet service providers, wireless service providers, media and content companies, large enterprises, and other companies. The Transport segment offers lit bandwidth infrastructure solutions comprising wavelength, Ethernet, wholesale IP services, and SONET services through its metro, regional, and long-haul fiber networks for carriers, content providers, financial services companies, healthcare, government entities, education institutions, and other medium and large enterprises. The Enterprise Networks segment provides connectivity and telecommunications solutions comprising Internet, wide area networking products, managed products, and cloud based computing and storage offerings to medium and large enterprises. The Zayo Colocation (zColo) segment offers data center infrastructure solutions consisting of colocation space, and power and interconnection services to a range of enterprise, carrier, cloud, and content customers. The Allstream segment provides cloud VoIP and data solutions, such as voice offerings; and unified communications, as well as telecommunications services, including Ethernet, and IP/MPLS VPN solutions. The Other segment provides network and technical resources to customers in designing, acquiring, and maintaining their networks. Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of General Motors: 2140879 Ontario Inc., ACAR Leasing, ACAR Leasing Ltd., ACF Investment, ACF Investment Corp., AFS SenSub, APGO Trust, Adam Opel, Adam Opel GmbH, Aftermarket (UK), AmeriCredit, AmeriCredit Consumer Loan, AmeriCredit Consumer Loan Company Inc., AmeriCredit Financial Services, AmeriCredit Financial Services Inc., AmeriCredit Funding, AmeriCredit Syndicated Warehouse Trust, Annunciata Corporation, Argonaut Holdings, Argonaut Holdings LLC, BOCO (Proprietary), BOCO (Proprietary) Limited, Banco GMAC, Banco GMAC S.A., Baylis (Gloucester), Boco Trust, Boden Brussels, CHEVYPLAN, CHEVYPLAN S.A. Sociedad Administradora de Planes de Autofinanciamiento Comercial, Cadillac, Cadillac Europe, Cadillac Europe GmbH, Carve-Out Ownership, Carve-Out Ownership Cooperative LLC, Chevrolet Deutschland GmbH, Chevrolet Sales (Thailand), Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Limited, Chevrolet Sales India, Chevrolet Sales India Private Ltd., Chevrolet Sociedad Anonima de Ahorro para Fines Determinados, Controladora General Motors, Controladora General Motors S.A. de C.V., Cruise, DCJ1, DCJ1 LLC, DMAX, DMAX Ltd., Dealership Liquidations, Dealership Liquidations Inc., Delphi Energy and Engine Management Systems UK, Delphi Energy and Engine Management Systems UK Overseas Corporation, EDS (Electronic Data Systems), FAW-GM, Fundacion Chevrolet, G.M.A.C., GCAR Titling Ltd., GM (UK) Pension, GM (UK) Pension Trustees Limited, GM APO Holdings, GM Administradora de Bens, GM Administradora de Bens Ltda., GM Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters Ltd., GM Auslandsprojekte, GM Automotive, GM Automotive Services Belgium, GM CME, GM Canada Holdings, GM Canada Limited, GM Components Holdings, GM Components Holdings LLC, GM Cruise, GM Cruise Holdings LLC, GM Cruise LLC, GM Defense, GM Eurometals, GM Eurometals Inc., GM Europe Treasury, GM Finance, GM Finance Co. Holdings LLC, GM Financial, GM Financial AB, GM Financial Canada, GM Financial Canada Leasing, GM Financial Canada Leasing Ltd., GM Financial Colombia Holdings LLC, GM Financial Colombia S.A. Compania de Financiamiento, GM Financial Consumer, GM Financial Consumer Discount, GM Financial Consumer Discount Company, GM Financial Del Peru, GM Financial GmbH, GM Financial Holdings LLC, GM Financial Insurance Services, GM Financial Mexico Holdings, GM Financial Mexico Holdings LLC, GM Financial Real Estate, GM Financial de Mexico, GM Financial de Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.R., GM Financial del Peru S.A.C, GM Global Business Services, GM Global Propulsion Systems -Torino S.r.l., GM Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, GM Global Technology Operations, GM Global Technology Operations LLC, GM Global Tooling, GM Global Tooling Company LLC, GM Global Treasury Centre Limited, GM Holden, GM Holden Pty Ltd., GM Holdings U.K. No.1 Limited, GM Inversiones Santiago Limitada, GM Investment Trustees Limited, GM Korea, GM Korea Company, GM LAAM Holdings, GM LAAM Holdings LLC, GM Mexico Holdings, GM Mobility Europe GmbH, GM PSA Purchasing Services, GM Personnel Services, GM Personnel Services Inc., GM Philippines Inc., GM Plats (Proprietary), GM Regional Holdings, GM Regional Holdings LLC, GM Retirees Pension Trustees, GM Retirees Pension Trustees Limited, GM Subsystems Manufacturing, GM Subsystems Manufacturing LLC, GM Technical Center Korea Ltd., GM Viet Nam Motor Company, GM-DI Leasing, GM-DI Leasing LLC, GMAC - Instituicao Financeira de Credito, GMAC Administradora de Consorcios, GMAC Administradora de Consorcios Ltda., GMAC Banque, GMAC Continental, GMAC Espana de Financiacion, GMAC Holdings (U.K.), GMAC Lease B.V. (aka Masterlease Europe), GMAC Nederland N.V., GMAC Prestadora de Servicios de Mao de Obra Ltda., GMAC Servicios, GMAC UK, GMAC de Venezuela, GMAC-Prestadora de Servios de Mo-de-Obra, GMACI Corretora de Seguros, GMACI Corretora de Seguros Ltda, GMAM Real Estate I, GMCH&SP Private Equity II, GMCH&SP Private Equity II L.P., GMF Australia Pty Ltd, GMF Europe, GMF Europe Holdco, GMF Europe LLP, GMF Floorplan Owner Revolving Trust, GMF Funding, GMF Germany Holdings, GMF Global Assignment, GMF Global Assignment LLC, GMF International, GMF International LLC, GMF Leasing LLC, GMF Leasing Warehousing Trust, GMF Wholesale Receivables, GMGP Holdings, General Motors (China) Investment Company, General Motors (China) Investment Company Limited, General Motors (Thailand), General Motors (Thailand) Limited, General Motors - Colmotores, General Motors - Colmotores S.A., General Motors Advisory Services LLC, General Motors Africa and Middle East, General Motors Africa and Middle East FZE, General Motors Asia, General Motors Asia LLC, General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings, General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, General Motors Asset Management, General Motors Asset Management Corporation, General Motors Australia, General Motors Australia Pty Ltd., General Motors Austria, General Motors Austria, General Motors Auto, General Motors Auto LLC, General Motors Automobiles Philippines, General Motors Automobiles Philippines Inc., General Motors Automotive Holdings, General Motors Automotive Holdings S.L., General Motors Belgique Automobile NV, General Motors Belgium, General Motors Chile, General Motors Chile Industria Automotriz Limitada, General Motors China LLC, General Motors Daewoo Auto and Technology, General Motors Daewoo Auto and Technology CIS LLC, General Motors East Africa, General Motors Egypt, General Motors Egypt S.A.E., General Motors Espana, General Motors Europe Holdings, General Motors Europe Limited, General Motors Financial Chile, General Motors Financial Chile Limitada, General Motors Financial Chile S.A., General Motors Financial Company, General Motors Financial Company Inc., General Motors Financial International, General Motors Financial Italia, General Motors Financial Suisse, General Motors Financial UK, General Motors Financial of Canada, General Motors Financial of Canada Ltd., General Motors Finland, General Motors France, General Motors GBS Hungary, General Motors Global Service Operations, General Motors Global Service Operations Inc., General Motors Hellas, General Motors Holden Australia, General Motors Holden Australia NSC, General Motors Holden Australia NSC Pty Ltd., General Motors Holden Australia Pty Ltd., General Motors Holdings LLC, General Motors IT Services (Ireland) Limited, General Motors India Private, General Motors India Private Limited, General Motors International Holdings, General Motors International Holdings LLC, General Motors International Operations, General Motors International Operations Pte. Ltd., General Motors International Services Company, General Motors International Services Company SAS, General Motors International Services LLC, General Motors Investment Limited, General Motors Investment Management, General Motors Investment Management Corporation, General Motors Investment Participacoes, General Motors Investment Participacoes Ltda., General Motors Investments, General Motors Investments Pty. Ltd., General Motors Ireland, General Motors Israel, General Motors Israel Ltd., General Motors Italia, General Motors Japan, General Motors Japan Limited, General Motors LLC, General Motors Limited, General Motors Manufacturing Poland, General Motors Nederland, General Motors New Zealand Pensions, General Motors New Zealand Pensions Limited, General Motors Overseas, General Motors Overseas Commercial Vehicle, General Motors Overseas Commercial Vehicle Corporation, General Motors Overseas Corporation, General Motors Overseas Distribution, General Motors Overseas Distribution LLC, General Motors Peru, General Motors Peru S.A., General Motors Poland Spolka, General Motors Portugal, General Motors Powertrain (Thailand), General Motors Powertrain (Thailand) Limited, General Motors Research Corporation, General Motors South Africa, General Motors South Africa (Pty) Limited, General Motors Suisse, General Motors Taiwan, General Motors Taiwan Ltd., General Motors Technical Centre India, General Motors Technical Centre India Private Limited, General Motors Treasury Center, General Motors Treasury Center LLC, General Motors Turkiye, General Motors UK, General Motors Uruguay, General Motors Uruguay S.A., General Motors Venezolana, General Motors Ventures, General Motors Ventures LLC, General Motors Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai), General Motors Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., General Motors de Argentina, General Motors de Argentina S.r.l., General Motors de Mexico, General Motors de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., General Motors del Ecuador, General Motors del Ecuador S.A., General Motors do Brasil, General Motors do Brasil Ltda., General Motors of Canada, General Motors of Canada Company, General Motors-Holden's Sales, General Motors-Holden's Sales Pty. Limited, GigaPower LLC, Global Services Detroit, Global Services Detroit LLC, Global Tooling Service Company Europe, Global Tooling Service Company Europe Limited, Go Motor Retailing, Go Trade Parts, Grand Pointe Holdings, Grand Pointe Holdings Inc., Grand Pointe Park Condominium, Grand Pointe Park Condominium Association, H.S.H., Haines & Strange, Holden New Zealand, Holden New Zealand Limited, IBC Pension Trustees, IBC Pension Trustees Limited, IBC Vehicles, Lease Ownership Cooperative, Lease Ownership Cooperative LLC, Lidlington Engineering Company, Lidlington Engineering Company Ltd., Limited Liability Company "General Motors CIS", Master Lease Germany, Maven Drive, Maven Drive LLC, Millbrook Pension Management, Millbrook Pension Management Limited, Monetization of Carve-Out, Monetization of Carve-Out LLC, Motor Repris Automocio, Motors Holding, Motors Holding LLC, Motors Properties, Motors Properties (Trading), Multi-Use Lease Entity Trust, North American New Cars, North American New Cars LLC, Omnibus BB Transportes, Omnibus BB Transportes S. A., OnStar Connected Services Srl, OnStar Egypt Limited LLC, OnStar Europe, OnStar Europe Ltd., OnStar Global Services, OnStar Global Services Corporation, OnStar LLC, OnStar de Mexico, OnStar de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Opel Bank, Opel Danmark, Opel Group, Opel Group Warehousing, Opel Leasing, Opel Norge, Opel Sonderdienste, Opel Southeast Europe, Opel Sverige, Opel Szentgotthard Automotive Manufacturing, Opel Wien, P.T. G M AutoWorld Indonesia, P.T. General Motors Indonesia, PIMS, PIMS Co., PT. General Motors Indonesia Manufacturing, Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center Company Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios GMF Colombia S.A.S., Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, Reliance Motor Car Company, Riverfront Holdings III Inc., Riverfront Holdings Inc., Riverfront Holdings Phase II Inc., SAIC GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors Co. Ltd., SAIC GM Dong Yue Motors Company Limited, SAIC GM Dong Yue Powertrain Company Limited, SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Company Limited, SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited, SAIC General Motors Investment Limited, SAIC General Motors Sales Company Limited, SAIC-GMAC Automotive Finance Company Limited, SAIC-GMF Leasing Co. Ltd., Servicios GMAC S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Chengxin Used Car Operation and Management Company Limited, Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. Ltd., Sherwoods (Darlington) Limited, Sidecar Technologies, Skurrays Limited, Stam-Terberg Autobedrijven B. V., Strobe Inc., VHC Sub-Holdings (UK), Vauxhall Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Vehicle Asset Universal Leasing Trust, Vickers (Lakeside) Limited, Vision Motors Limited, WRE, WRE Inc., and Zona Franca Industrial Colmotores SAS. There is not enough analysis data for Input Capital. 4.7 Community Rank Outperform Votes Input Capital has received 244 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Input Capital has received 100 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Input Capital has received 70.93% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Input Capital and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe INP will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe INP will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Invesco Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund is a close-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc., Invesco Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, Invesco Asset Management Limited, Invesco Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, Invesco Senior Secured Management, Inc., and Invesco Canada Ltd. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe with a focus on the United States. The fund invests in securities of companies that operate across diversified sectors. It invests in fixed income securities such as senior secured floating rate loans, fixed rate loans, and collateralized debt. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a bottom-up security selection process to create its portfolio. It conducts in-house research to make its investments. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index. It was formerly known as Invesco Van Kampen Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund. Invesco Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund was formed on June 26, 2007 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF's stock was trading at $25.82 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, PCY shares have increased by 1.3% and is now trading at $26.16. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. iShares MSCI Mexico ETF's stock was trading at $35.82 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWW stock has increased by 30.3% and is now trading at $46.66. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF's stock was trading at $34.49 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, JHML shares have increased by 70.3% and is now trading at $58.73. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones. The company also provides laptops, desktops, phones, accessories, monitors, ultrabooks, data center solutions, systems, software, server and storage products, networking products, and replacement parts. In addition, it manufactures and distributes IT products, computers, computer hardware, and peripheral equipment; and offers IT, business planning, management, supply chain, finance, administration support, procurement agency, data management solution, intellectual property, investment management, and computer hardware and software systems repair services. Further, the company is involved in the retail and service business for consumer electronic products and related digital services; and development, ownership, licensing, and sale of communications hardware and software. It operates in China, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Lenovo Group Limited is considered as a Red Chip company due to its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 211 E. Russell Road LLC, Air-Relief, Belliss & Morcom Brasil, Belliss and Morcom, Boardwalk Enterprises, Charm Merger Sub Inc., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Canada, CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir Holman Ltd, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., CompAir UK Ltd, CompAir USA, Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Emco Wheaton, Emco Wheaton GmbH Branch, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton UK, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Propriety Limited (South Africa), GD Aria Holdings #2 Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First UK Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings, GD Global Holdings II, GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SA, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Services Ltd, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Hoffman, Gardner Denver Holdings, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica, Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd. Branch, Gardner Denver International, Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Intl Ltd Middle East Regional Rep Office, Gardner Denver Investments, Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan, Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd South Africa, Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd. Branch (Ireland), Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co, Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oberdorfer Pumps, Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Petroleum Pumps, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia, Gardner Denver SudAmerica S.r.l., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas, Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH, Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver UK, Gardner Denver Water Jetting Systems, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, Indonesia Foreign Trade Representative Office, LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MP Pumps Inc., Mako Compressors, Nash, Nash Elmo, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Robuschi, Rotary Compression Technologies, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Syltone, TCM Investments, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, TODO AB, Tamrotor Marine Compressors AS, Thomas Industries, Thomas Industries Inc., Tri-Continent Scientific, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, and Zinsser NA. Merck & Co., Inc. pays an annual dividend of $2.60 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 3.22%. Merck & Co., Inc. has been increasing its dividend for 10 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio of Merck & Co., Inc. is 91.87%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, Merck & Co., Inc. will have a dividend payout ratio of 39.16% next year. This indicates that Merck & Co., Inc. will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. View Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend history. There is not enough analysis data for Northstar Realty Europe. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes Northstar Realty Europe has received 195 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Northstar Realty Europe has received 89 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Northstar Realty Europe has received 68.66% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Northstar Realty Europe and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe NRE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe NRE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next innogy SE operates as an energy company in Europe. The company operates in two divisions, Grid & Infrastructure and Retail. The Grid & Infrastructure division is involved in the operation of gas distribution network in Croatia, as well as electricity distribution network in Poland and Hungary; and water business. The Retail division sells electricity and gas. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial, and corporate customers, as well as distributors. innogy SE has a strategic partnership with Nordex. The company was formerly known as RWE International SE and changed its name to innogy SE in September 2016. innogy SE was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Essen, Germany. innogy SE is a subsidiary of E.ON Verwaltungs SE. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Piton Paints Limited, Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade Intelectual Ltda, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Coatings Technology Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel Unitary Enterprise, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Limited, Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited (Japan), Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. The Corporates segment provides a suite of content-enabled technology solutions for legal, tax, regulatory, compliance, and IT professionals. The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on tax offerings and automating tax workflows to tax, accounting, and audit professionals in accounting firms. The Reuters News segment provides business, financial, national, and international news to professionals through desktop terminals, media organizations, and industry events, as well as directly to consumers. The Global Print segment offers legal and tax information primarily in print format to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Thomson Reuters Corporation is a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited. Read More Invesco Financial Preferred ETF's stock was trading at $17.88 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, PGF shares have increased by 3.1% and is now trading at $18.44. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Vermilion Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in North America, Europe, and Australia. It owns 81% working interest in 642,300 net acres of developed land and 87% working interest in 376,700 net acres of undeveloped land, and 613 net producing natural gas wells and 3,034 net producing oil wells in Canada; and 96% working interest in 248,900 net acres of developed land and 91% working interest in 222,100 net acres of undeveloped land in the Aquitaine and Paris Basins, and 325 net producing oil wells and 3.0 net producing gas wells in France. The company also owns 49% working interest in 930,000 net acres of land and 51 net producing natural gas wells in the Netherlands; and 36,900 net developed acres and 965,900 net undeveloped acres of land, and 61 net producing oil wells and 8 net producing natural gas wells in Germany. In addition, it owns offshore Corrib natural gas field located to the northwest coast of Ireland; and 100% working interest in the Wandoo offshore oil field and related production assets that covers 59,600 acres located on Western Australia's northwest shelf. Further, the company holds 138,000 net acres of land in the Powder River basin, and 136.6 net producing oil wells in the United States; and 951,200 net acres of land in Hungary, 244,900 net acres of land in Slovakia, and 2.4 million net acres of land in Croatia. Vermilion Energy Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More National Fuel Gas Co. is a holding company, which engages in the production, gathering, transportation, distribution, and marketing of natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, and Utility. The Exploration and Production segment handles the exploration for and the development of natural gas and oil reserves in California and in the Appalachian region of the United States. The Pipeline and Storage segment transports and stores natural gas for utilities, natural gas marketers, exploration and production companies, and pipeline companies in the northeastern United States markets. The Gathering segment builds, owns, and operates natural gas processing and pipeline gathering facilities in the Appalachian region. The Utility segment sells natural gas to retail customers and provides natural gas transportation services in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1820 and is headquartered in Williamsville, NY. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Barnes Group: AS Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V., Adval Tech - Foboha Mold Making Business, Associated Spring (Tianjin) Company Ltd., Associated Spring (UK) Ltd., Associated Spring Asia Pte. Ltd., Associated Spring Corporation, Associated Spring Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Associated Spring Raymond (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Associated Spring Raymond GmbH, Associated Spring do Brasil Ltda., Barnes Airmotive Malaysia SND. BHD., Barnes Financing Delaware LLC, Barnes Group (Bermuda) Limited, Barnes Group (Delaware) LLC, Barnes Group (Germany) GmbH, Barnes Group (Scotland) Limited, Barnes Group (Thailand) Ltd., Barnes Group (U.K.) 2 Limited, Barnes Group (U.K.) Limited, Barnes Group Acquisition GmbH, Barnes Group Canada Corp., Barnes Group Finance Company (Bermuda) Limited, Barnes Group Finance Company (Delaware), Barnes Group Holding LLC, Barnes Group Luxembourg (No. 1) S.a r.l., Barnes Group Luxembourg (No. 2) S.a r.l., Barnes Group Spain S.R.L., Barnes Group Suisse Industries GmbH, Barnes Group Switzerland GmbH, Barnes Industrial Group India Private Limited, Barnes Korea Ltd., Barnes Molding Solutions (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Blitz F16-34 GmbH, Curtis Industries, Curtiss Industries (U.K.) Limited, Di-Dro Manifold System Product Line, Euro Stock Springs & Components, Foboha (Germany) GmbH, Foboha Holding GmbH, Forward Industries LLC, GF Controls GmbH, Gammaflux, Gammaflux Controls Inc., Gimatic, Gimatic Automation Engineering (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Gimatic Automation India Pvt Ltd. , Gimatic Automation Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gimatic Balkan d.o.o. Beograd Savski Venac, Gimatic Czech Republic s.r.o., Gimatic France S.a.r.l., Gimatic Japan Limited, Gimatic Korea Limited, Gimatic Nordic A.B., Gimatic Otomasyon Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Gimatic Polska sp. z o.o, Gimatic S.r.l., Gimatic Sisteme RO SRL, Gimatic Sistemi industrijska avtomatizacija d.o.o., Gimatic Spain S.L., Gimatic Vertrieb GmbH, Gimatrade S.r.l., Heinz Haenggi Gmbh Stanztechnik, Industrial Gas Springs, Industrial Gas Springs Group Holdings Limited, Industrial Gas Springs Inc., Industrial Gas Springs Limited, Kar Products, Kratz-Wilde Machine Co, MTM S.r.l., Manner Hong Kong Limited, Manner USA Inc., Orflam - Nitropush Product Line, Otto Manner, Otto Manner GmbH, Otto Manner Immobilien GmbH, Otto Manner Innovation GmbH, Premier Farnell - KENT Division, Priamus System Technologies, Priamus System Technologies GmbH, Priamus System Technologies LLC, Raymond Distribution-Mexico S.A. de C.V., Resortes Argentina S.A., Ressorts SPEC SAS, Seeger-Orbis GmbH & Co. OHG, Service Plus Distributors, Sign Holdings Limited, Spectrum Plastics Molding Resources, Stromsholmen AB, Synventive Acquisition B.V., Synventive Acquisition GmbH, Synventive Acquisition Inc., Synventive Acquisition UK Ltd., Synventive Acquisition Unlimited, Synventive B.V., Synventive Fertigungstechnik GmbH, Synventive Holding B.V., Synventive Holding Limited, Synventive Holding SAS, Synventive Molding Solutions, Synventive Molding Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions B.V., Synventive Molding Solutions Canada Inc., Synventive Molding Solutions Co. Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions GmbH, Synventive Molding Solutions Inc., Synventive Molding Solutions JBJ Private Limited, Synventive Molding Solutions K.K., Synventive Molding Solutions LDA, Synventive Molding Solutions LLC, Synventive Molding Solutions LTDA., Synventive Molding Solutions Limited, Synventive Molding Solutions Pte Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions SAS, Synventive Molding Solutions SL, Synventive Molding Solutions s.r.o., Synventive Parent Inc., Teledyne Fluid Systems, The Wallace Barnes Company, Thermoplay, Thermoplay Brasil Sistemas de Injecao Ltda, Thermoplay Deutschland GmbH, Thermoplay France S.a.r.l., Thermoplay Hot Runner Systems (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Thermoplay India Private Limited, Thermoplay Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Thermoplay S.p.A., Thermoplay U.K. Ltd., Toolcom Supplie, Windsor Airmotive Asia Pte. Ltd., and manner Japan Co. Ltd.. The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group: 360 Connect S.A., [email protected] Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. 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Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V.. WideCells Group PLC operates as an integrated stem cell support services company worldwide. It operates through three divisions: CellPlan, WideCells, and WideAcademy. The CellPlan division provides insurance products and finance solutions for the cord blood stem cell transplantation. The WideCells division offers collection, stem cell retrieval, processing, and storage services of umbilical cord blood and tissue, adipose tissue, and dental pulp under the BabyCells brand Portugal. The WideAcademy division provides research, development, education, and training programs for healthcare professionals on the collection, processing, storage, and use of stem cells; and the wider stem cell and cord blood banking and services sector. The company offers its products and services to patients, cord blood banks, and hospitals. WideCells Group PLC was founded in 2012 and is based in Manchester, the United Kingdom. Read More Worldpay, Inc., through its subsidiary, Worldpay Holding, LLC, provides electronic payment processing services in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. It operates in two segments, Technology Solutions, Merchant Solutions, and Issuer Solutions. The company offers merchant acquiring and payment processing services, such as authorization and settlement, customer service, chargeback and retrieval processing, and interchange management. It also provides value-added services, such data analytics and information management solutions, foreign currency management, and various funding options; and security solutions, including point-to-point encryption and tokenization at the point of sale and for e-commerce transactions. In addition, the company offers card issuer processing, payment network processing, fraud protection, card production, prepaid program management, automated teller machine driving, portfolio optimization, data analytics, and card program marketing, as well as network gateway and switching services. Further, it provides card and statement production, and collections and inbound/outbound call centers. The company serves merchants and financial institutions comprising regional banks, community banks, credit unions, and regional personal identification number networks through direct sales forces and referral partners. The company was formerly known as Vantiv, Inc. and changed its name to Worldpay, Inc. in January 2018. Worldpay, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Read More Nov 15, 2018 | By Thomas GE Additive has announced that its first Concept Laser M LINE FACTORY systems will be delivered to customers in Q2 2019. The Concept Laser M LINE FACTORY system is reported to offer automation and reliability, driving economical, scalable series production on an industrial scale. Since GE Additives acquisition of Concept Laser in December 2016, the M LINE FACTORYs design architecture, system and software have undergone review and redesign in line with established GE processes. GE said that during detailed rig testing and lifetime testing, a number of areas were identified for improvement and have since been incorporated into the system. For example, the build volume has been increased to 500 x 500 x 400 mm, and improvements have been made to the serviceability, process control and thermal stability, and on-board software system. Part production, as well as set-up and the dismantling processes, is said to take place in two independent machine units. The units can be operated separately from one another or combined depending on each customers preference. This enables production processes to run in parallel rather than sequentially, which reduces downtime considerably and in turn increasing the availability and output quantity of the process chain. The platform consists of the laser process station and the material handling station. M LINE FACTORY LPS (Laser Processing Station) boasts four lasers of either 400W or 1KW and comprises three independent modules: powder module, build module and overflow module. These for the first time can be activated individually and do not form one continuous unit. These modules are transported automatically via the internal transport system. Meanwhile, the M LINE FACTORY MHS (Material Handling Station) serves as a pre and post processesing and powder management unit with an integrated sieving station. The positive impact the M LINE FACTORY can have on our customers operations and their bottom line is huge. Its important we provide technologically advanced systems that are reliable and add value to our customers. M LINE FACTORY delivers on those commitments, stated Jason Oliver, President & CEO, GE Additive. GE Additive has also announced its intention to offer a suite of secure build preparation services to be commercially available at the RAPID + TCT show in May 2019. The company has also unveiled partnership agreement with the additive industrys leading software vendors; Autodesk, PTC, Siemens PLM Software and Vera Security to address the need for simplified, interoperable and secure digital workflows. GE Additive has also initiated a collaboration agreement with industry leader Dassault Systemes.The terms of each agreement were not disclosed. At formnext, GE Additive demonstrated its forthcoming digital workflow software solution. GE Additives software strategy centers on simplifying the additive process and enabling an interoperable workflow. Its vision is to create a common experience through a secure, intuitive tool that reduces design iterations and speeds up the time to print a good part, according to the design intent. GE says to do this it will involve the combination of several elements, including: a simplified and secure build preparation workflow spanning the entire design to print process Interoperable build prep services available to CAD providers the speed and accuracy of GeonXs simulation coupled with iterative thermal compensation improved slicing performance off-machine build processor We acknowledge that the industry needs to improve overall interoperability for design engineers, said Lars Bruns, software leader, GE Additive. Working with partners helps allow GE Additive to provide build preparation services directly into the tools of choice for design engineers. GE Additive says it will continue to seek feedback from customers and end-users during interactive demo presentations at formnext and announced it is recruiting interested parties to participate in beta testing, through its Software Advisory and Technical Preview program. Feedback is a critical activity in the development of any software system, which is why we are demonstrating our current capabilities in Frankfurt. Over the next eight months, were seeking customer input from our users to help us inspect, adapt and iterate ahead of our commercial launch, continued Lars Bruns. Another GE Additive announcement at Formnext comes through AP&C who will begin production of aluminum alloy F357 powder in Q1 2019 with customer deliveries expected from April 2019. Aluminum alloy F357 powder will be produced using AP&Cs proprietary Advanced Plasma Atomization (APA) at its recently expanded facility in Saint-Eustache, Canada. This new, automated plant offers a full production capacity of 1,000 tons. Aluminum shares similar characteristics with titanium, and aluminum alloy F357 powder has the same quality signature as APA titanium powders - good processability, high flowability, high packing, low porosity and high purity - which are all required by the additive manufacturing industry to enhance performance and reliability of the aluminum printing process. Its great to add aluminum F357 to our portfolio. Our customers have been asking us to provide aluminum solutions to address the challenges they currently experience. We are confident weve developed a solution that solves these challenges, said Alain Dupont, President & CEO, AP&C. The modular cell-based structure of our new plant in Saint-Eustache allows us to respond quickly to the additive industrys demands as it rapidly evolves, he added. Posted in 3D Printer Company Maybe you also like: Offshore Wind Market is Predicted to Grow at Approximately 11.12% by 2023 : Global Offshore Wind Market Report by Component (Turbine, Tower, BladesElectrical Infrastructure and Nacelle), By Location (Shallow Water (< 30m Depth), Transitional Water (30m 60m Depth) and Deep Water (> 60m Depth)) and By Region Global Forecast to 2023. In order to harvest wind energy and generate electricity, the Offshore Wind energy farms are constructed offshore on continental shelves. Market Research Future (MRFR) has published and released a research report about the Global Offshore Wind Market that anticipates enormous growth for this market with 11.12% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) between 2017 and 2023. In terms of cash, the market is expected to be worth the US $ 49,741.0 mn. The key factors driving the Global Offshore Wind Market growth include increasing demand for clean, eco-friendly and reliable energy so that the global carbon emissions can be reduced the ecological balance can be maintained by generating electricity via renewable resources. Some people believe that industrial growth and progress is never possible without a little bit of pollution. However, the global offshore wind market has the potential to provide clean energy and prevent carbon emissions. Renewable energy resources are available in wide geographical areas. However, the high tidal winds and bad weather conditions can make access to farms, difficult during the event of preventive maintenance and problem rectification. This raises the concern of negative impact on market growth. The Global Offshore Wind Market has been segmented on the basis of the component, location, and lastly region. The component-based segmentation of this market covers electrical infrastructure, substructure, turbine, and others. The location-based segmentation segments the market into deep water (above 60m depth), shallow water (above 30m depth), and transitional water (30m 60m depth). A Sample of This Report Is Available upon Request @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3284 The regional segmentation of the Global Offshore Wind Market segments the market into continent-based regional markets known as North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and rest of the world (RoW). Although, Europe is reading the global market. Currently, there is the possibility of North America overtaking Europe and rise as the biggest market for offshore wind. In Europe, the most important country-specific markets are Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (UK), followed by the rest of Europe. In Europe Offshore wind market is seen as a reliable energy resource market. In 2015 wind power met 42% of electricity demand in Denmark, 23.2% in Portugal and 15.5% in Uruguay. In North America, the biggest country-specific market is the United States of America (USA) where the use of renewable sources of energy is being encouraged. Asia-Pacific is a major revenue generating regional market due to demand for electricity, rapid urbanization and technological advancements to the Global Offshore Wind Market. Here, China, India, and Japan are considered the most crucial country-specific markets in this region. Key Players The key players in the Global Offshore Wind Market include Dong Energy A/S (Denmark), Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd (South Korea), EEW Group (Germany), ENERCON GmbH (Germany), General Electric (USA), Goldwind Windenergy GmbH (China), Senvion SA (Luxembourg), Siemens (Germany), Suzlon Group (India), and Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Denmark). Browse The Full Research Report At@ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/offshore-wind-market-3284 Latest Industry News Danish group NKT A/S confirmed the turnkey contract for manufacturing, delivery, and installation of export cable systems for the 950-MW Moray offshore wind farm in the UK. 5 NOV 2018 Despite being against a proposed offshore wind pilot program for electricity, Virginia state regulators have approved it. 3 NOV 2018 Iberdrola has officially launched the 350 megawatts (MW) Wikinger offshore wind farm. 30 OCT 2018 Avangird Inc. and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) are forging a partnership. This partnership aims to build the New Englands first large-scale offshore wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts. Projects are designed to inject a combined 2 GW of renewable energy into the New England power grid and create thousands of jobs. 2 NOV 2018 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Media Contact Company Name: Market Research Future Contact Person: Abhishek Sawant Email: Send Email Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Address:Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar City: Pune State: Maharashtra Country: India Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/offshore-wind-market-3284 On a sunny spring day in 2016, Yana Eglit tucked herself away in the lab where she works to earn her PhD in biology. She peered down the eyepieces of a microscope, examining a soil sample she picked up while on a hike near Halifax a few weeks before. She was investigating the microbial species present in the dirt when an unusual movement caught her eye. Yana Eglit at work in the lab. What Eglit found that day were not one but two different species of rarely-observed hemimastigotes, a group of microbes that hadnt yet been assigned a place on the Tree of Life. These two organisms would lead Eglit and a group of Dalhousie biologists from the Faculties of Science and Medicine to a rare discovery, published this week (Nov. 14) in Nature. This discovery literally redraws our branch of the Tree of Life at one of its deepest points, explains Alastair Simpson, the lead author of the study and biology professor at Dalhousie. It opens a new door to understanding the evolution of complex cellsand their ancient originsback well before animals and plants emerged on Earth. A rare discovery Scientifically speaking, the two species of hemimastigotes found in Eglits sample are eukaryotic protists with two rows of flagella. Eukaryotic means the species have complex cells like humans and protist means the species are not animals, plants or fungi. Like most protists, they are unicellular. Their flagella are long hair-like structures that allow these organisms to move, and also help them to capture other microbes, which they consume as prey. Its an unusual looking group of organisms, says Eglit, a first author of the study. The way they behave under the microscope, you wont immediately spot them. The first hemimastigote species Eglit identified among the specks of dirt was Spironema. It had only been observed microscopically, just a few times since the 19th century. While Eglit had been hoping she would find Spironema one day, she wasnt expecting to discover a second hemimastigote species in the same sample a species that hadnt yet been discovered and named. In naming it Hemimastix kukwesjijk, the research team pays tribute to where the second microbe was discovered: in Nova Scotia, territory of the Mikmaq First Nation. Kukwes, explains Dr. Simpson, is a ravenous, hairy ogre in Mikmaq folklore. The team says this predatory microbe looks and behaves like an ogre in miniature. A new branch on the Tree of Life With two rare microbes at their disposal, the team got to work. Erin Bertrand, another biology professor and Canada Research Chair in Marine Microbial Proteomics, Andrew Roger, a molecular biology professor in the Faculty of Medicine, and two more front-line researchers, PhD candidate Gordon Lax and postdoctoral fellow Laura Eme joined efforts to unlock the mysteries these microbes had kept under wraps all these years. Their collaboration was made possible through Dalhousies Centre for Comparative Genomic and Evolutionary Bioinformatics (CGEB). We would have not been able to do this work alone as one lab. Everyone involved in this was essential, said Eglit. With the mixed and short-lived microbial material they had to work with, the team turned to innovative technologies that could help them sequence the genetic informationa first step to understanding what they found. Lax used a technique called single-cell transcriptonomics on cells roughly four times smaller than a single strand of human hair is wide. They used this fairly new technique where you can obtain large amounts of genetic information from single cells, explains Dr. Simpson. Separating the cells can still be tricky, but with this approach, you can get the kind of data we want from say, two or four cells, rather than needing millions of cells, as in standard approaches. Eglit and Dr. Simpson. Eglit and Dr. Simpson explain that when a new microbial species is identified, and its genetic information is compared to other species, it almost always turns out to go into one of those already-defined kingdoms. But hemimastigotes formed their own deep branch, making this discovery truly rare. It was clear from our analyses that hemimastigotes didnt belong to any known kingdom-level group, or even to a known super-group of several kingdoms together, like the one that includes both animals and fungi, says Dr. Simpson. This one little collection of organisms is a whole new group at that level, all on its own. Its a branch of the Tree of Life that has been separate for a very long time, perhaps more than a billion years, and we had no information on it whatsoever. Building blocks for future studies Discovering a new biological kingdom wasnt the last chapter for the research team. Eglit figured out how to maintain growing populations of Hemimastix kukwesjijk, becoming the first person ever to culture a hemimastigote. The information we have so far is good snap shot. It represents parts of the genomes of those two species, not the whole genome, explains Dr. Simpson, adding that the ability to grow the microbe in a lab (that is, to culture it) will make further studies much easier. These findings are vital for evolutionary biologists striving to piece together how the complex cells of animals, plants, fungi, algae and protozoa have evolved over the last 1-2 billion years. Further, ecologists around the world studying the hugely important roles of microbes on the planet will now be able to identify hemimastigotes in their genetic datasets; this biodiversity would have passed as unidentified until now. Researchers that study the microbial ecology of the ocean, lakes and soils will now be able to detect hemimastigotes in genetic samples pulled from these environments, giving a better understanding of what is actually there, and, potentially, how different microbes are interacting, says Dr. Simpson. That such a distinct form of life could be hiding literally under our feet is a sharp reminder about how little we still know about the diversity of life on Earth. 2:00pm 3:00pm This is a series of free, public, monthly drop-in sessions that are open to all but aimed at people who identify as white and are interested in working toward collective liberation. Come ask the questions about race, racism, social change, and social justice you wondered about. When was the last time you looked at your bank account balance? According to a survey, over 60% of Americans check their balance at least once a week. This habit, if practiced the right way, can put you on the path to achieving your financial... NASA has received help from a company called Autodesk, who have made use of their AI software in order to create a ship. 937.2K This new spacecraft is lighter and more efficient. Source: Value Walk Autodesk engineers and NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory came up with an all-new interplanetary lander concept using AI design. The concept could explore distant moons like the Enceladus and Europa. The design is slimmer compared to some of the common ones in operation at the moment and its also lighter. Autodesk made the announcement on the new design in Las Vegas this week. The company revealed a spacecraft that looked more like a woven metal spider. Autodesk says that it has worked with NASA for the development of the spacecraft . Five engineers from Autodesk and five from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory formed a design team that collaborated efforts between the two organizations to create the new spacecraft. NASA has for long a time been looking at better and more effective ways to land on distant moons. The belief is that these moons could have oceans under their crusts and could provide more insights into the existence of intelligent life in our solar system. NASA is looking to explore different planets in search of water. Source: Eteknix Saturns moon Enceladus is one of the first options that NASA wants to explore. Scientists believe that the moon could have the potential to support life in its unseen waters. NASA is also looking to explore Jupiters moon Europa. The space agency had already received concepts for landers that may help it land there although we havent received much information about this so far. The hypothesis is that frozen ice on the surface of these moons could suggest that there are oceans underneath. The new design by Autodesk is mostly experimental. In fact, the most important thing for NASA is to create a lighter lander than the ones it has already used. This is quite tricky for one reason. When it comes to space travel, there are only a handful of materials that can withstand the tough conditions. We are talking about titanium or even aluminum. But these metals are very heavy. The weight of the spacecraft may affect how far it can reach. NASA has long maintained that building lighter crafts could open new opportunities for deep space exploration. This can also help reduce the overall costs of expeditions. The AI ran many simulations to find out what the best materials would be. Source: Autodesk News Whats more interesting though is that the new Autodesk lander was created by AI. The company used its own AI software. The software is capable of developing hundreds of similar landers within very short periods of time. The concept is known as generative design. The technique allows engineers to come up with computer generated concepts. The AI has also been used to simulate conditions in space travel in order to determine which materials to use. The software can also explore different types of manufacturing methods based on the conditions including 3D printing and casting. It took about a month for the design to be completed. The lander comes with three core sections. The first one is the internal structure. This is where the instruments to study deep space are located. This section is created using aluminum. The second part features the main body which offers structural support to the spacecraft and its made of aluminum. The third section features aluminum-based legs that allow for movement in space. The motorcycles will be priced between Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh. (Photo credit: ZigWheels.com) Mumbai: Classic Legends, a subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, on Thursday relaunched iconic Czeck motorcycle brand Jawa in India, in three new models - Jawa Forty Two, Jawa and Jawa Perak. The motorcycles will be priced between Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh. "We have found a great fit to our two-wheeler business. This a brand (Jawa) very much aligned to Mahindra's values," Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra told PTI after the launch. Chairman and managing director of Rustomjee group, Boman Rustom Irani, and Phi Capital Management founder Anupam Thareja were also present at the launch. Both these companies have stakes in Classic Legends, which is 60 per cent owned by Mahindra group. An all-new 293-cc bikes are equipped with liquid cooled, single cylinder, double overhead cam engine within a double cradle chassis. "We are excited about the new Jawa Motorcycles that we have unveiled here today," said Thareja. The booking for the new bikes have began online from Thursday and they will be available to the customers from December 7, he said. "We are happy to bring Jawa back in India. This seems like the right timing to have come up with this range of motorcycles, as the Indian premium motorcycle market is not only growing but also evolving in consumer tastes and preferences," said Ashish Joshi, chief executive officer, Classic Legends. In 2016, Mahindra and Mahindra had struck a deal with the Czechoslovakia-based motorcycle company, which allowed Classic Legends to launch and market bikes under the Jawa brand name in the country and east Asian markets. Mahindra said that the company was not looking at volumes as the newly launched bikes are not for the mass segment. "It very very premium niche segment. Our job is to live up to the Jawa heritage. We are not fixated on the volumes right now," he said. Mahindra also said that the focus was on the domestic market at present, adding that there is good potential for exports as well. "Some time you expand the categories which is more important. So, if I had to only eat market share, then we are saying that the segment is small. In fact, we are going to expand the market instead," said Thareja. Moreover, it is a growing segment, he said, adding, "Volume is a function of product and distribution. We are in the process of of building both right now." The bikes are being produced at Mahindra's manufacturing facility in Pithampur near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. According to Thareja, the facility has a capacity to produce 0.5 million bikes annually. "Capacity is not a constraint. The listed capacity is more than half-a-million. But it is also product-dependent," he added. He said that the distribution of bikes will begin with 50 dealerships, and the company has already signed up 105 dealers across the country. The entity, which became the largest telco after the merger on August 31, reported consolidated revenue of Rs 7,663 cr. Mumbai: In its maiden earnings announcement as a joint entity, Vodafone Idea on Wednesday reported a consolidated loss of Rs 4,973 crore for the September quarter and announced a fund infusion of Rs 25,000 crore to help it take on cut-throat competition. The entity, which became the largest telco with 422 million subscribers after the merger on August 31, reported consolidated revenue of Rs 7,663 crore. Of the Rs 25,000 crore of fresh capital infusion, Vodafone will pump in Rs 11,000 crore into the new company, and the Birla group that owned Idea will infuse Rs 7,250 crore, the company said, indicating that the promoters are ready for a long haul and willing to fight. The numbers for the reported quarter include results for Idea Cellular up to August 30, and for Vodafone Idea from August 31 to September 30 and hence these are not comparable, the companies said in a statement. The pro-forma revenue derived without considering the alignment of accounting policies, stood at Rs 12,023 crore, the company said. At Rs 4,973 crore of losses, this is the worst show by any operator in the quarter. The company, however, continued to face difficulties because of competition, which was visible both in a 4.7 per cent decline in average revenue per user to Rs 88 (which is the lowest among the private sector telcos) compared to the preceding quarter, and also a 13 per cent migration to competition. Jio had reported an ARPU of Rs 131.7 (down from Rs 135 YoY) and a net profit of Rs 681 crore, while Airtels Arpu was massively down to Rs 101 from Rs 142 YoY while its net income fell steep 65.7 per cent to Rs 118.80 crore. The merger was announced a few months after the entry of the deep-pocketed Reliance Jio, whose aggressive pricing and freebies impacted the financials of all the industry, which has even seen bankruptcies and asset sell-offs. On the capital raising plans, it said, A committee will be evaluating various options including, but not limited to, a rights issue, qualified institutional placement and/or a preferential share issue. It is currently expected that any capital raising, if approved, is expected to be completed in the March quarter, it said. | BY Ricki Green | Epica, which is represented by Campaign Brief in Australia and New Zealand, has announced the shortlisted entries for the 2018 competition. Australia has secured 13 finalists led by CHE Proximity with six. CHE Proximity has been shortlisted twice for Carsales.com.au AutoAds, twice for Swann Insurance Inconvenience Stores and once each for Cochlear Hearprint and Lego Making the List. Leo Burnett Melbourne has scored three finalists, two for Hanes Brands Australasia Bonds Mash Up and once for SPC Ardmona Goulburn Valley Food Tours. Host/Havas has scored two finalists for Palau Legacy Project Palau Pledge. Aussie agencies that scored one finalist each include Emotive for Audible.com.au Said I Read You But I Lied and Fenton Stephens for Master Builders Association of Victoria with the 3 parts campaign Somebody should have asked. These finalists will go through to the grand jury, which meets in Amsterdam from 12-14 November. Gold and Grand Prix winners will be awarded during a ceremony at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute on the evening of November 15. Silver and Bronze winners will be published on the Epica Awards website the next day, November 16. The Epica jury is composed of editors and senior reporters from the worlds leading magazines covering creativity and communications. They are supported by an online jury of 300 journalists from specialist titles in fields such as post-production, VR, design, luxury and fashion. See www.epica-awards.com for a full list of jury members. This year Epica received 4020 entries from 69 countries, a 20% increase on the previous year despite difficult market conditions. This was driven by the return of the Publicis Groupe networks, plus an enthusiastic response from Germany and Latin America. Indeed, the highest number of entries came from Germany, followed by the United States and France. New countries this year included Iran and Morocco. In terms of networks, BBDO and McCann Worldgroup were particularly well represented. Congratulations to all the shortlisted entrants. Agencies who entered work that did not make it onto the shortlist should bear in mind that selected noteworthy entries are also featured in our annual Epica Book, giving each piece of work an additional chance to shine. The book will be released in September 2019. Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Market Research Future (MRFR) in its recently published study report asserts that the already booming Market of Saudi Arabia Medical Devices to analyze based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. The Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market is to reach the value of approximately USD 3870 million, outperforming its own achievement of USD 2250 million in 2017, forecasts Market Research Future (MRFR). The market is exhibited to register a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period (2017-2023). Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Predominant Players The major participants of this market are: Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, Medtronic, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV., Baxter International, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., Cardinal Health, Al-Salehiya Medical Estableshment, Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO), Al Amin Medical Instruments Company (AMICO), Al Faisaliah Medical Systems (FMS), Siemens Ltd and others. Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Segmentation MRFR has segmented into 4 key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding; By Product Types: Comprises Diagnostic Devices, Monitoring Devices, Diagnostic Molecular Devices, Surgical Devices, Drug Delivery Devices, Bio Implants and Stimulation Devices, Automation and Robotics among others. By Therapeutic Applications: Diagnostic Imaging, General Surgery, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Orthopaedics, Dental, Neurology, Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT), Ophthalmology, Nephrology and Urology, among others. By End-Users: Ambulatory, Home and Hospitals among others. By Regions: Geographical regions & Continents of Saudi Arabia Get Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2801 Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Highlights The Medical Device Industry witnessed one of the fastest growths propelled by innovation and rapid uptake of technologies. The medical devices industry has also resulted in the successful fusion of information technology and healthcare. Technology and product development remain the main pillars for the growing market for medical devices. The market involves two segments one high-tech devices with extreme sophistication and another is the low-tech improved devices. The high-tech segment such as diagnostic imaging devices is witnessing higher rates of growth. The low-tech segment is also growing at a good rate but has witnessed growth in developing regions as the market for these in developed regions is stagnant. The other market driving factors are rising public healthcare expenditure in Saudi Arabia, development of large hospitals such as King Faisal hospital in Riyadh, demand for noninvasive therapy etc. Industry/Innovation/Related News: August 2018 The Saudi Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has published an update to its clearance policy for medical device shipments to the country. The requirements entail that the total shelf life of a device should be more than one year. The policy also includes that the device must have at least four months of its shelf life remaining at the port of entry. These revisions help facilitate the launch of a new market pathway for Class I non-sterile medical devices through the Saudi Medical Device National Registry (MDNR). May 16, 2018 Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions (UK), a global organization, in charge of the healthcare portfolio and Global Exhibitions division, announced the Global Health Exhibition to be held from 10-12 September 2018 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, Saudi Arabia. One of the objectives of the exhibition is to avail Saudi Arabias leading healthcare platform to the global market to meet and network with Saudi healthcare sectors pioneers and officials. More than 10,000 industry professionals across the globe are expected to explore the opportunities, along with the more than 500 Saudi-based and international exhibiting companies showcasing the latest advances in health services, pharmaceuticals, training and education, and medical device technologies. Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Regional Analysis The Healthcare Sector of Saudi Arabia is divided between private and state. The public healthcare expenditure accounts for approximately 75% of total health expenditure in 2014. Local manufacturing represents a poor outlook which is limited to consumables and ordinary articles. The government has established some of the best hospitals in the region such as King Faisal specialist hospital and research center, Riyadh military hospital, Saudi Arabias National Guard health affairs hospital etc. Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on imports for medical devices and imports account for approximately 92% of total market for medical devices. U.S. medical device suppliers dominate the scenario with European vendors in the second position. Among the regions of Saudi Arabia Riyadh tops the healthcare expenditure list followed by Tabuk, Makkah and Madina. Browse Complete 45 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with Tables and Figures @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/saudi-arabia-medical-devices-market-2801 Major Table of Content 1 Introduction 1.1 Definition 1.2 Scope of Study 1.3 Research Objective 1.4 Assumptions & Limitations 1.5 Market Structure: 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Research Process 2.2 Primary Research 2.3 Secondary Research 3 Market Dynamics 3.1 Drivers 3.2 Restraints 3.3 Opportunities 3.4 Challenges 3.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 4 Market Factor Analysis .Continued About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Media Contact Company Name: Market Research Future Contact Person: Abhishek Sawant Email: Send Email Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Address:Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar City: Pune State: Maharashtra Country: India Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/big-data-as-a-service-market-1209 RBI governor Urjit Patels threat to quit is thought to be off the table for now. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are burning midnight oil to defuse worsening tensions that has threatened to unnerve investors, ease the credit pressure on MSMEs and liquidity squeeze in NBFCs and reach a mutually agreeable solution over PCA-scarred banks. While the rift is far from healed, both sides are trying ironing out some of their policy differences to restore calm and avoid acrimony at a board meeting of RBI on Monday (November 19). While RBI governor Urjit Patels threat to quit is thought to be off the table for now, the uneasy truce is likely to see the central bank ease up on some lending restrictions to help the government stimulate the economy. According to sources, Patel could agree to tweak restrictions on lending to improve credit flows for smaller companies with a borrowing limit of Rs 250 million. The RBI board will also discuss norms for reserves and its sharing with the government under the capital framework besides the relaxation of the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, sources said. But redressal of credit squeeze in the MSME sector tops the finance ministrys priorities, which is seeking some relaxation in norms for lending and addressing the liquidity crisis in the NBFC sector in wake of the IL&FS mess. If not at this board meeting, sources said, the PCA framework relaxation could be reached in the next few meetings and it could happen without a board meeting and some banks may wriggle out of the framework by the end of this financial year. Of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework. According to sources, RBI may take into account these banks performance in the last few quarters, their credit growth, slippages, asset quality, NPAs, return on assets (RoAs) and provision coverage ratio to decide on their eligibility to come out of the PCA framework. The PCA framework kicks in when banks breach any of the three key regulatory trigger points capital to risk weighted assets ratio, net NPAs and RoAs. But the most urgent attention and steps would be sought from RBI in easing of lending norms for MSMEs, including strict rating criteria to improve credit flow, sources said. The central bank seems to have been convinced by the North Blocks consistent efforts to relax some of these criteria to augment credit to this sector. RBI is also expected to consider special dispensation for MSMEs and NBFCs that have been facing liquidity issues. The government feels MSMEs that employ about 1.2 million plays a critical role in the economy and the sector hit by demonetisation and the goods and services tax (GST) needs support. But RBI has been averse to the government demand for special dispensations for MSMEs and NBFCs as it considers them vulnerable and doesnt want to increase the risk of higher NPAs. On RBIs capital framework, there could be discussion but no action or resolution on Monday, sources said. A committee may be set up to deliberate on the issue, as it will need threadbare discussions taking both sides concerns and arguments into account. Last week, finance minister Arun Jaitley said there is a need to minimise NPAs to maintain the banking systems strength and enable it to help economy grow. Only a strong banking system will be able to improve credit flow to sectors in dire need of it, he had said. New Delhi: Charges and counter charges flew thick and fast during the high-voltage hearing in the Supreme Court on Wednesday on the pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal. The proceedings saw trading of charges between the Centre and the petitioners, who questioned the authority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in inking the pact with France to import Rafale fighter jets. The arguments before a bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi were made two days after the government had told the apex court that it had completely followed the defence procurement procedure laid out in 2013 and approval of the cabinet committee on security (CCS) was secured before the deal was inked with France. Activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who along with former BJP veterans Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie has filed a plea in the matter, alleged that there was a gross violation of procedure in the deal that warranted a CBI investigation. Questioning the inking of inter-governmental agreement (IGA) between India and France for purchase of 36 Rafale jets, Bhushan claimed it was done to circumvent the mandatory requirement of issuing tenders for defence procurement under the request for proposal (RFP). Attorney general KK Venugopal opposed the submissions and denied any violation in the deal. He said IGA was necessary to meet the urgent requirement of the IAF to get 36 advanced fighter aircrafts for two squadrons of the force. Venugopal also raised serious objection to Bhushan's arguments on secrecy pact between India and France saying, Secrecy agreement has to be secret and how is he producing it in court? To this, the CJI told Bhushan, We are giving you full hearing. Use this opportunity carefully and cite only those things which are necessary. Bhushan alleged that the governments contention that IGA would help in getting delivery of fighter jets soon was wrong and bogus as the first aircraft would be delivered next year and it would go on till October 2022. The matter of 36 Rafale planes had never gone to the IAF. Now, they have issued tenders for 110 more planes. Who took the decision to procure 36 jets instead of 126 (as required by the IAF)? How the prime minister announced it? He has no authority to say or decide this, Bhushan claimed before the bench, which also comprised justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph. The government, he alleged, has not disclosed that under the defence procurement procedure, there were only three conditions in which an IGA route could be resorted to for such deals. Detailing the three conditions, Bhushan claimed IGA could be entered into only if an equipment of proven technology was identified by forces in joint exercises, large value weapon platform was available at a much lesser price and the original equipment manufacturer was facing an embargo on sale. None of the three conditions were satisfied in this deal, he alleged and referred to the two issues flagged by the law ministry absence of sovereign guarantee by France and international arbitration clause in IGA as per which the arbitration seat would be at Geneva. On the aspect of pricing details of Rafale jets, Venugopal said it could not be made public due to the secrecy clause in the agreement and moreover, the disclosure would give advantage to Indias adverseries. I decided not to peruse it (pricing details) myself as in a case of any leak, my office would be held responsible, he said. Venugopal said these matters are for experts to deal with. We have been saying that even Parliament has not been told about the complete cost of the jets, he said. The bench told him there was no question of any debate on pricing unless the court decides to make them public. Veteran journalist and former Union minister Arun Shourie also addressed the court and claimed that he has perused the details pertaining to the Rafale deal with Dassault Aviation. He also claimed that former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier said in an interview that 126 Rafale jets would cost around Rs 90,000 crore and the decision to procure 36 jets was made by the prime minister as a result of political discussions between him and the then French President. He alleged that a Reliance firm, which came into being days before inking of the deal, has been given the contract of being the Indian offset partner of Dassault. Advocates ML Sharma and Dheeraj Singh and senior advocate Sanjay Hegde also advanced arguments in the case for the petitioners. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are currently gearing up to officially be Mr. and Mrs. Singh once again after their marriage in the Konkan tradition held on Wednesday. Today, DeepVeer will get married in Anand Karaj ceremony, a procedure which B-Town couples like Anushka Sharma, Neha Dhupia and even Sonam Kapoor went through. The couple took this step after 6 long years of dating. DeepVeer engagement, Mehendi, sangeet and a few more ceremonies took place on Tuesday, and to begin with, they were cute and fun all at once. Before leaving for Lake Como in Italy, Ranveer and Deepika met a few industry friends, including Deepikas special person Farah Khan, who gave the actress her Bollywood break with Om Shanti Om. But none would know that the director-choreographer gifted the couple a very special item, which was also hand-made (literally). Farah actually gifted them a personalized hand impression which would last them a lifetime. Life casting artist Bhavna Jasra was appointed for the task and heres the proof of that: Deepika and Ranveer fans who are waiting for their photos to be out, need not worry since insiders reveal that Deepika and Ranveer will share images from their wedding around 6-7 pm. The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to start in Goa from November 20th. Like always, this year too various Indian and International film will be screened at the film festival. Actor Varun Dhawan-starrer October will be showcased as part of the Panorama Section. The actor will fly down to Goa on November 23rd to attend it. The actor is elated about this and says, It was my dad who informed me that October was chosen to be part of the Panorama Section at IFFI. To be honest, since the time it released, I have had many people come up to me and tell me how it has touched them or how they couldnt believe that a film like this was made in India. Its great that it is being showcased with the best movies this year. Actor who has received great appreciation for his performance in Soorjit Sircar directorial adds, I am happy that today people can watch the film online. A lot of aspiring actors have told me that their teachers show them scenes from this movie. All this is really touching but I really didnt do much acting (in October). Shoojitda just made me live the film. Telugu matinee idol Mahesh Babu is going into the multiplex-theatre business. According to sources very close to Mahesh Babu, the cineplex in Hyderabad, which will be a part of the biggest mall in Asia, is being constructed in partnership with Asian Cinemas, one of the primary multiplex chains in Andhra Pradesh. The cineplex named AMB, an acronym for Asian Cinemas and Mahesh Babu, is most likely to be inaugurated in December. And the opening film will be Shankars sci-fi spectacle 2:0. The swanky AMB multiplex was to open in November. However, it was stopped at the last minute due to red-tapism. There are jealous elements trying to delay the project.Thats why the opening was pushed to December, says the source close to the actor. The posh AMB Cineplex is looking at a premium placement among movie theatres in Hyderabad. Mahesh Babus fans should feel they are in for a special treat when they come to AMB, source adds. For the opening film 2:0, Mahesh will personally invite Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar to the theatre. HT03 Satya Raj is known for his role of Kattappa in the film Baahubali, while Ramya Krishna also gained popularity as Rajamantha Sivagami in the same film. Satya played the part of a loyal servant to Ramyas Rajamantha in the blockbuster. However, the two actors will now play completely different roles in their upcoming film Party, depicting a romantic relationship. The pair will even have a romantic duet. After a long time, I have found a hilarious script and we laughed a lot while shooting for this film, says Ramya Krishna. She adds that she also has a duet in the film. Most of the shoot was done in the Fiji Islands, and we got along like a family. Generally, when we go out for a shoot we want to go home early, but with this film, I felt sad once we had completed the shooting schedule, she says. The film has been directed by Venkat Prabhu. Imagine then the uproar caused by the shooting of tigress Avni, which had been projected as a man-eater responsible for 13 killings. Man is the worst predator on the planet. Having wiped out many a species with his selfish territorial expansionism, humankind has, however, been known to pay lip sympathy to the plight of wild animals. The conservation of the tiger had, however, captured Indias imagination, even a small rise in their dwindling numbers bringing great joy. Imagine then the uproar caused by the shooting of tigress Avni, which had been projected as a man-eater responsible for 13 killings. She was killed by a sharpshooter under suspicious circumstances in Maharashtra, the truth of which was amply captured in the post-mortem report showing that Avni was facing away from the hunter at the time she was shot with a bullet rather than a tranquiliser projectile as claimed. Tigers tale turns tragic The wrath of Twitterati is understandable. Many of their hearts would have been torn to shreds by a picture of the dead Avni on a hospital stretcher symbolising the most tragic picture of mans inability to live with animals in a shared environment. The lies they said to get rid of one threat in the form of a tigress with two cute cubs shows us in very poor light. What courage does a man need to pull the trigger on a wild animal? Who is the real animal in this encounter would be a most appropriate question. Prashant Bhushan @pbhushan1 Fine piece by Pritish Nandy on the fake encounter of tigress Avni in the forests of Yavatmal. A minister orders the killing by falsely calling her a man eater. The real reason was to pave the way for acquiring the land for a cement plant for Ambani Raveena Tandon @TandonRaveena Sad Day.China has reversed Ban on Tiger/Rhino products for medicinal uses. While on home ground Despite all efforts,#Avni has been shot dead by the hunters, a leopard killed in Hit n Run in Virar, Idiocy Reigns.Losing battle for our wildlife in Man Politics and Animal conflict. Arpita Bhattacharya @Isshshsh Incompetent government @maharashtra @CMOMaharashtra They can hire hunters to kill but cant find the starving cubs... Why not get more villages settled in forests. Get ready to face more wrath of the nation if the Cubs die. #Avnithetigress#avni Priya Annadur@Gaby0514 Absolutely! The shooter could have tranquilized Avni. Its so cruel. Like other schemes by this govt, Save Tiger is only on paper. Sue@sosforanimals @narendramodi Shame on India! Not one of the 13 killed has been linked to #Avnithetigress. No DNA from her linked to any one of the victims, yet you labeled her a mankiller. The #tiger is your national animal your job is to protect her species Sonam Saigal @courtkacheri4 The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the authority who sanctioned the killing of #Avni, said, She just happened to be there when the shooter was there! #Avnithetigress Ahmed Aijaz@aijaz_forever This not just a murder. This is execution, conspiracy, corruption, encroachment, destroying ecosystem, license for pollution. I guess that Death warrant was sudden for #Avni and gradual for the locals?? Terence@terence_fdes @SMungantiwar must resign NOW Enough of the Lies & Coverups @Dev_Fadnavis @PMOIndia all just to defend your Cronies #Avnithetigress was MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD Her Cubs are probably dead too A Terrible Sin #SaveTigers @DilawarTalkies @kukk44 @guardianeco @waglenikhil Charu Kartikeya @CharuKeya More proof emerging that #Avnithetigress was indeed killed in a cold-blooded murder. The responsibility must not stop only at the hands that pulled the trigger. It is the government of Maharashtra that must be held answerable for this tungesh@tungesh_adv Murdrs, Rapists and other criminals get trial before being punished and are released if offence not proved beyond reasonable doubt but can kill a tiger for being suspect of being man eater. No principle of natural justice for nature itself SAD chintan gohil@chintangohil3 What kind of cruelty is this? In the era of having all the modern equipments we chose to kill #Avni with bullets. There could have been another way to capture her. She was not a rabid animal. I am ashamed with this act. My country is ashamed with this act. ruhi@absolutruhi It was a desperate attempt to save the tigress. Had she run away, she could have been alive today. But the man-eater that she was, she charged at the team and in self-defence, Asghar had to fire Shafat. A MOTHER CHARGING AT HER ATTACKERS IS NOT MAN-EATING!! @Manekagandhibjp Koushik Das@koushikdas47 Posting beautiful photos wont help the tiger conservation please speak out against governments greedy intention of demolishing forests. Roar against hunting operation of mother tigress #Avni. Unplanned development and tiger conservation wont go together. #LetAvniLive Booby prize Vijay Wadettiwar, senior Congress leader and former minister had said that human life is more important than that of a tiger. Wadettiwars statement is not entirely on the lines of that of his party colleagues who have held protests and demanded the sacking of Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar over the killing of tigress Avni. The Congress leader, however, added that the tigress could have been tranquilised properly instead of being shot down. Human life is more important than (that of) tigers. People who reside on the borders of forests are always under threat. A tiger should be protected but human life is more important than the tiger. HT09 She slipped into depression and set herself on fire, claimed her husband in his statement to the police on Monday afternoon. said the police inspector of Humayunnagar, Korani Sunil. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: Upset over not being invited to a family function, a 20-year-old newly married woman committed suicide by setting herself ablaze at her residence in Owaisipura of Humayunnagar. According to the police, she got married against her parents will about two months ago and was upset that they did not call her for a function at their house. The victim was identified as Mehroon Begum, 20, police said. She fell in love and married Mazher Khan against her familys wishes about two months ago and has been staying away from them ever since. Three days ago, her family held a function and did not call her. She slipped into depression and set herself on fire, claimed her husband in his statement to the police on Monday afternoon. said the police inspector of Humayunnagar, Korani Sunil, adding that her relatives shifted her to Osmania General Hospital, where she succumbed to her burns and breathed her last while undergoing treatment. The police registered a case under Section 174 (suspicious death) of CrPC and shifted the body for postmortem examination. Hyderabad: CCS Police Hyderabad arrested the key accused, Molly Thomas, 50, manager and personal assistant to the managing director to Nowhera Shaik of Heera Group of Companies, in the Heera Group case on Thursday. CCS police found incriminating evidences against Molly Thomas, who is the key person and manager to the Heera Group Central Office situated at Banjara Hills. She also used to look after the administrative work of all the branch offices of Heera Group on direction of the accused Nowhera Shaik, having approximately 74 branches across India and also abroad and engaged about 430 direct selling agents (marketing agents) all over their branches collecting deposits from the investors said the DCP, CCS, Avinash Mohanty. Ms Thomas was produced before the Nampally court for judicial remand. Bengaluru: The First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Wednesday granted bail to mining baron and former BJP minister Gali Janardhan Reddy in connection with money laundering and bribery case. Mr Reddy was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths on Sunday for allegedly demanding a bribe of 57 kg of gold worth Rs 18 crore and Rs 2 crore cash from Syed Fareed Ahmed and his son Syed Afaq Ahmed, the owners of Ambidant Marketing Pvt Ltd, to bail them out of the Enforcement Directorate investigation. Mr Reddy, who was sent to judicial custody by a local court on Sunday, approached the ACMM court on Tuesday. First ACMM court Magistrate Jagadeesh heard Mr Reddy's plea and had reserved verdict for Wednesday. The court, reprimanding the CCB for digressing from the case, questioned the police whether there was any complaint against Reddy and whether the charges against him were filed merely on the basis of a statement made by Fareed. While five accused in the Ambidant scam, including accused one and two Fareed and Afaq, have already got bail, the court questioned CCB on what basis Mr Reddy was made accused 6. The defence counsel also questioned the necessity of arresting Mr Reddy when the courts had granted bail to the other five accused. Mr Reddy was directed to deposit a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. His associates, Nanjunda Reddy and Raghuram Reddy, have filed sureties for the bond. Mr Reddy's close aide Mehfuz Ali Khan was accused of mediating the multi-crore deal between Fareed and Reddy. However, on Tuesday, Khan stated in his affidavit that he had taken the money as a loan from Ambidant without knowing the company's fraudulent activities. Supreme Cannabis Company Inc (CVE:FIRE) believe the world is ready to end a century of cannabis prohibition - a global movement rooted in Canada. Supreme has been at the centre of the cannabis space since 2014 in pursuit of this massive opportunity. Supreme trades as FIRE (TSX.V:FIRE) on the Toronto Venture Exchange. FIRE is a testament to our passion for cannabis, our obsession with quality, and our mission to light up the cannabis sector. We established 7ACRES as the first licensed producer focused on growing high-quality cannabis in high quantities. Today 7ACRES is en route to becoming Canadas leading cultivator of consistently great commercial cannabis. As legalization grows beyond our borders, we will continue to identify new opportunities to build innovative cannabis businesses across the globe. The police said that Dinesh was involved in over 10 robberies in the city. He was previously booked and arrested for committing thefts in Banaswadi, J.P. Nagar, Indiranagar, Hennur, Kumarswamy Layout and Basaveshwaranagar. Bengaluru: The Banaswadi police shot at a notorious robber after he tried to attack them with a dagger to evade arrest in Kadugondanahalli police limits on Tuesday night. The accused, Dinesh Bora, 28, hailed from Nepal and is a resident of Horamavu. Around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, Banaswadi Police Inspector Virupaksha Swamy R. and team received credible information that Dinesh was trying to commit a house theft in Kacharakanahalli. The police formed a special team and rushed to spot. As soon as Dinesh spotted the police team, he started running. The police chased him till Kadugondanahalli, where they cornered him and asked him to surrender. But when they approached him, he stabbed Constable Murthy in the right hand. Inspector Virupaksha first shot a round in the air to warn him and when he tried to attack again, Virupaksha shot at his right leg to neutralise him. Both the injured were taken to a nearby hospital. The police said that Dinesh was involved in over 10 robberies in the city. He was previously booked and arrested for committing thefts in Banaswadi, J.P. Nagar, Indiranagar, Hennur, Kumarswamy Layout and Basaveshwaranagar. BluSnap flows cool air to the helmet, reducing the temperature of the air anywhere between 6-15C for the wearer. Chennai: Sundararajan Krishnan, an alumnus of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, travelled to the US for a masters degree where he was inspired to find solutions to real-life problems. He returned to Chennai and founded AptENer Mechatronics, and invented a clip-on cooler for two-wheeler riders to beat the heat produced while wearing a helmet. Sundararajan and his team introduced BluSnap, a wearable cooler which can retrofit to the full-faced helmets, soon. Technologically, an evaporative air cooler, it consumes less than one watt of power and is provided with a rechargeable 2500mAh battery that lasts 10 hours, if fully charged, says Sundararajan. BluSnap flows cool air to the helmet, reducing the temperature of the air anywhere between 6-15C for the wearer. The filter inside BluSnap also blocks dust so the user breathes dust-free cool air, therefore making the travel fresh and not being affected by sweat or fatigue, he says. Currently, over 5,000 pieces of the helmet have been sold, especially after the recent helmet rule, wherein both the rider and those riding pillion must wear helmets. Another boost for our sales came when Reuters made a video of the product after several bloggers had reviewed it. Looks like lots of people, especially here, need air-conditioning in their helmets, he says. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers says that India is the biggest market for automobiles in the world with over 20 million units sold in 2017. At a cost of `2,000, BluSnap is attempting to make rides more comfortable for riders, Sundararajan says. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea and a comprehensive list of do's and don'ts has also been circulated to the people on cyclone Gaja. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) Chennai: The cyclonic storm 'Gaja' is set to make landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban today evening bringing heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu. Over 30,000 rescue personnel have been kept on standby by the state government. District collectors of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram have declared a holiday for schools and colleges today. All educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions would remain closed tomorrow in view of the cyclone. Chief Minister K Palanisamy has also planned to evacuate around 20,000 people living on the coastal line and moving them to relief camps. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has placed eight teams in coastal areas. The Indian Navy was also on Wednesday put on high alert in view of the cyclone. "Two Indian Naval ships -- Ranvir and Khanjar -- are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid and distress relief," said a Navy official. The official also said helicopters, Dornier aircraft and one P8I aircraft are on standby to undertake reconnaissance, rescue and casualty evacuation. 'Gaja' that lay over southwest and adjoining southeast and west central Bay of Bengal is very likely to cross coast between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday evening or night with a wind speed gusting up to 100 kmph, the Met office in Chennai said. Against the backdrop of the Central Water Commission advising constant vigil over dams, Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar told reporters that dams, lakes and rivers channels were being monitored continuously. The CWC had advised action as per the Standard Operating Procedure as heavy rainfall in catchment areas could fill up the dams fast in less than 24 hours. The minister said mobile operators have assured to move 'Cell on Wheels,' mobile platforms to provide uninterrupted mobile connectivity to Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts which are likely to witness the cyclone impact during landfall. The government has also held discussions with oil marketing companies and they have been advised to maintain sufficient fuel stock, he said. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea and a comprehensive list of do's and don'ts has also been circulated to the people on cyclone eve, the minister said, The Met office had warned storm surge of about 1.0 metres likely to inundate low-lying areas of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry at the time of landfall. The IMD also cautioned about major damage to thatched huts. "Roof tops may blow off," and communication and power lines may be affected it had said adding standing crops could also be hit besides water intrusion in low lying areas Chandanagar inspector of police B. Ravinder, said, She came out of her room situated in the first floor around 11.30 pm and climbed to the second floor before jumping. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: A 19-year-old teenager jumped off a building of a working womens hostel in which she was staying under Chandanagar police station limits and died on Tuesday night around 11.30 pm. The police have registered a suspicious death case and further investigation is underway. The Chandanagar police have identified the victim as J. Shilpa, 19, hailing from Medak district. According to the police, she came to city six months ago in search of a livelihood. She was living in a working womens hostel in Gautamnagar. She used to work in a private company, but quit recently. Chandanagar inspector of police B. Ravinder, said, She came out of her room situated in the first floor around 11.30 pm and climbed to the second floor before jumping. The hosteler called the police and 108 ambulance, who rushed to the spot. Once the health staff declared that she was dead, police shifted her body to Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem. The Chandanagar police have registered a case of suspicious death under Section 174 CrPC and further investigation is underway. Police handed over the body to family after post-mortem. Police said the trouble started after the concerned officials decided to construct a wall separating the transformer from the people. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: A total 20 people were booked under rioting charges in Raghunadhapalem village in Suryapet district on Wednesday, the police said. According to the sources, the melee broke out between two groups over of a land dispute during the installation of a transformer. On October 21, an eight-year-old boy named Ajay who was playing around the transformer accidentally came in to contact with the transformer and sustained severe injuries resulting in the amputation of his hand. Police said the trouble started after the concerned officials decided to construct a wall separating the transformer from the people. Mattampally sub-inspector B. Ranjith said, The officials asked the shop owners who were served the notice to vacate their building in two weeks time as it was behind the transformer and it was obstructing the construction of the wall. One of the shop owners named Narasimha Rao, member of the TRS party, denied to vacate the building with a group supporting him while another group affiliated with the Congress opposing him. The police have registered a case on 20 members belonging to the two groups. The eight men, all residents of Darushifa, were heading back home when a tyre burst of the SUV they were in caused them to collide head-on with a tree near Salar Jung Museum, resulting in external bleeding injuries, officials from Mirchowk police said. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: As many as eight men sustained injuries following a car crash, wherein the SUV they were travelling in rammed into a tree when the driver lost control near Salar Jung Museum in Mirchowk. According to the police, Kabiruddin Ider, 30, along with six of his friends had gone to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to pick up one Syed Imran Uddin, a known acquaintance who was returning from Iraq. The eight men, all residents of Darushifa, were heading back home when a tyre burst of the SUV they were in caused them to collide head-on with a tree near Salar Jung Museum, resulting in external bleeding injuries, officials from Mirchowk police said, adding that they were shifted to Osmania General Hospital for treatment and a statement was taken from them. A case was booked under Section 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of IPC against the driver.by the police. Hyderabad: A Class-VIII graduate from Nellore of Andhra Pradesh duped about 20 women including three techies under the pretext of marrying them and stole their money. The accused N. Jeevan Kumar, 23, used pictures of others to create a matrimonial profile and input false details to lure women. A woman techie living in Secunderabad who was searching for a prospective groom created her profile on Jeevansathi.com in February this year. While searching she found a profile on the name Rishi Kumar Nallapti and expressed her interest. After exchanging few formal conversations, they exchanged pictures and started talking over the phone. The man informed that he works as a professor at Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. One day, he informed her that his mother was suffering from cancer and he needs money for her treatment. Believing it, the techie provided her credit card details and shared the OTPs with the stranger, who in turn withdrew about Rs 2.4 lakh in various instalments. When she pressurised to meet him in person, he blocked her and stopped responding to her messages. Realising that she had been cheated, the techie lodged a complaint with the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police. A Cyber Crime official who is part of the probe said, The accused identified as N. Jeevan Kumar was traced to Nellore based on technical evidence. He is a Class VIII dropout and unemployed. He spends most of his time online and indulges in fraud. His father was a realtor at Goa. After Class VIII, his family suffered financial losses and moved to Nellore and despite not pursuing education, he has a good command over English, which he used to trap innocent women. By creating fake profiles on matrimony websites, he confessed to having cheated about 20 women so far with a similar modus operandi. There are four complaints against him at Delhi, Odisha, Karnataka and Telangana, and all victims are software employees. In March, he duped another techie from Bengaluru and collected Rs 10 lakh from her and in April, another woman techie from Bengaluru fell prey to him and gave Rs 1.8 lakh, said an official from the cyber crime. Garbage is capped with soil and bio-membranes but the woes of the people are far from over. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: With sorting and segregation of new municipal waste still being done in the open, the residents in 35 villages around Jawaharnagar state that they are exposed to a major health hazard. More than 500 garbage-laden trucks dump trash every night till 10 the next morning. The residents were assured that the waste would be sorted out in closed areas but the work continues to be done in the open. Garbage is capped with soil and bio-membranes but the woes of the people are far from over. The capping has been carried out according to GHMC officials in 95 per cent of the area at the dump yard. Mr Balaji Thirukkoval-luri, a local resident, said. We find no difference despite the capping. The government had assured the residents that once the capping is complete, sorting of new waste will be done in a closed enclosure and other dumping grounds will be identified. A year later, nothing of the sort has happened. The officers of both the GHMC and the Pollution Control Board at dump yard said that the residents in and around Jawaharnagar, Yapral, Kushaiguda and ECIL had been constantly complaining to them regarding the smell and movement of garbage-laden trucks at night near Radhika junction. Mr Venkata Subba Rao, a resident in the area, said, Due to the dumping of new waste and sorting there is also burning due to the wind movement leading to small fires every now and then. This adds to the gaseous combinations in the air and there are constant complaints of headaches, burning of eyes and breathing problems. Due to the water contamination skin allergies have also been reported from this area. We are bringing this to the notice of the officials at the dumping ground and also at the headquarters as they have to work out a solution, Mr Rao said. A senior PCB at the site explained, The work of sorting has to be carried out without which the processing of waste is not possible. There is round-the-clock monitoring by the department. The residents of Jawaharnagar, Dammuguda, Saket and ECIL have been complaining every week at our office and we are talking to the seniors of the means to sort it out. The GHMC officers at the site refused to comment. An elderly woman was killed while her daughter was seriously injured after they allegedly jumped from terrace of house along with baby in Kolkata's Battala area on Wednesday. (Representational Image) Kolkata: An elderly woman was killed while her daughter was seriously injured after they allegedly jumped from the terrace of their house along with a baby in the central part of the city's Battala area on Wednesday evening, police said. The incident happened at around 6.30 pm when Sohini Tapadia, 62, allegedly jumped off the terrace of her residence on Burtolla Street in Posta Police Station limits, they said. Tapadia's daughter Indira Mohata, 30, who was carrying her two-year-old infant daughter also allegedly jumped from the terrace, one senior officer of Kolkata Police said. "Tapadia was declared brought dead when taken to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Indira is in very critical condition. The baby is miraculously safe and is unhurt," the officer said. Preliminary probe revealed that the family was going through a financial crisis which could probably be the reason, he said. "We are unsure whether this is a case of suicide or not. We are collecting evidence from the spot and trying to find out what actually had happened," the IPS officer said. Statue of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa formally unveiled at headquarters on Wednesday by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and others also seen. (Photo: DC) Chennai: A new statue of AIADMK supremo and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was unveiled at the party headquarters here in Royapettah on Wednesday, replacing the previous statue which drew flak for having least semblance to the charismatic leader. The new statue is placed near the statue of party founder and former Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran at the entrance of the AIADMK headquarters. It is made of bronze and weighs around 800 kg, a little more than the earlier one, and measures eight feet in height. AIADMK coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who unveiled the statue, paid floral tributes to the new statue of Amma as Jayalalithaa is called by her party members, in the presence of senior leaders, including MPs and State ministers. Both Mr Palaniswami and Mr Panneerselvam felicitated sculptor Rajkumar of Telangana, who had designed the statue. Jayalalithaas statue was first installed on Feb. 24 last coinciding with her 70th birth anniversary. But, it drew spontaneous criticism from several quarters as it did not resemble the leader. Thereafter, the party decided to replace it with a new one for the six-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The golden-hued new one does look like the former AIADMK supremo. The party leaders, clad in spotless white dhotis and white shirts, stood at her feet with folded hands. After the CM and his Deputy unveiled the statue, and left the party headquarters, cadres rushed to the statue and showered rose petals while some attempted a quick selfie. Jayalalithaa, who was sworn-in as CM for the sixth term on May 23, 2016, died in office on Dec. 5, 2016 at 68 years following a cardiac arrest. Her followers fondly refer to her as Puratchi Thalaivi, meaning revolutionary leader. Completion of Share Purchase Plan Sydney, Nov 15, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - MNF Group ( ASX:MNF ) (MNF) is pleased to announce that it has completed its Share Purchase Plan (SPP) which was announced on 19 October 2018.The SPP closed at 5:00pm (AEDT) on 8 November 2018.MNF received valid applications from 44 shareholders with subscriptions totalling $289,000.Applicants will be issued new shares at $4.40 per share on 15 November 2018, with holding statements to follow shortly after that.The Board wishes to thank those shareholders who participated in the SPP for their continuing support of the company.About Symbio Holdings Limited Symbio Holdings Limited (ASX:SYM) is one of Asia-Pacific's fastest growing technology companies. Listed on the ASX since 2006 and twice winner of the Forbes Asia-Pacific "Best under a Billion" award. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the company has over 500 people located across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. Symbio develops and operates a global communications network and software suite enabling some of the world's leading innovators to deliver new-generation communications solutions. As the world moves to IP, Symbio is building the brands, services, network and technology to lead the way. Tiwari had claimed that the entire incident took place in front of Kejriwal and alleged that he was stopped by the police and AAP supporters from attending the event. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been named as an accused in a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the Delhi Police on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit chief and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari in connection with the scuffle that took place during the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge. On November 4, Tiwari got into a brawl with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and the Delhi Police at the event after which he wrote to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North- East Delhi and filed a complaint against AAP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Amanatullah Khan, Kejriwal and unknown persons. Khan was caught on camera shoving Tiwari during the inauguration ceremony of the Signature Bridge. In a video footage of the incident, Tiwari was seen standing at the edge of an elevated platform when Khan, an AAP MLA from Okhla, pushed the BJP's Delhi unit chief, nearly causing him to fall. A large number of police personnel and AAP workers were also present on the occasion. While speaking to ANI after the scuffle, Tiwari had claimed that the entire incident took place in front of Kejriwal. He had alleged that he was stopped by the police and AAP supporters from attending the event. The bridge was inaugurated on November 4 and was opened for the public the next day. It was inaugurated by the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Announced in 2004, the 575-metre bridge over the river Yamuna aims at reducing travel time and traffic congestion between the north-eastern and northern parts of the national capital, and is the first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge in India. Guests attend the wedding of Indian Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh at the Villa Balbianello in Lenno, Como lake, northern Italy, on Wednesday. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: After months of will they, won't they, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh got married in South Indian style at Villa del Balbianello in Italy's scenic Lake Como on Wednesday morning. The couple who were in a relationship for over six years have taken the no-photo policy a bit too seriously at their destination wedding. No photos of the newly-weds have been shared on social media yet. The couple kept things fiercely private leaving the celebrity media breathlessly waiting for scraps of information. Fans of Deepika and Ranveer on Twitter were equally excited and have set tags such as 'DeepikaWedsRanveer' and 'DeepVeerKiShaadi' and 'DeepVeerWedding' which were trending. At the same time, Union Minister Smriti Irani has aptly described how the wait for the first pictures of the couple seem a never-ending one. Smriti Irani posted a photo of a skeleton to say this: "When you have waited for Deep-Veer wedding pics for too longgggg." According to reports, Deepika and Ranveer want to release the first pictures of their wedding on their own social media accounts. Deepika's sister Anisha Padukone, complying with the no-photo police, updated her Instagram bio as "ladkiwale." A video shared by news agency ANI, who shared the news of Deepika and Ranveer's 'married' status, also tweeted a video of the wedding guests escorting the newly-weds to the boat. Deepika and Ranveer appeared to be hiding their faces behind huge umbrellas. The paparazzi was stationed at a safe distance, managing only grainy images and videos of the ceremony. Though there was no official confirmation from the couple, hazy pictures and distant videos showed people lined up in a terrace done up with white flowers. There was also a glimpse of the couple dressed in shades of white with reports suggesting that day one was about Konkani wedding rituals while day two would be a Sindhi ceremony. While Deepika is a Konkani, Ranveer belongs to a Mumbai-based Sindhi family. But that was it. There were barely any other details. Guests attend the wedding of Indian Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh at the Villa Balbianello in Lenno, Como lake, northern Italy on Wednesday. (Photo: AP) The couple declared the dates on social media in October after months of speculation but the ceremony itself was cloaked in secrecy. The day also marks the fifth anniversary of the release of their first film together -- 'Ram Leela' -- on whose sets their love story is said to have taken off. Unlike Bollywood's two earlier weddings - Sonam Kapoor-Anand Ahuja in Mumbai and Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli in Italy -- this couple gave the media no space to broadcast their love story 'IRL', 'in real time'. According to reports, only 40 people, including Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Farah Khan, have been invited for the wedding. With no guests allowed to post any photographs without the couple approving it, the media was left grasping at straws to feed a fandom thirsting for fly-on-the-wall accounts -- and, in the absence of that, any titbit of information. Guests attend the wedding of Indian Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh at the Villa Balbianello in Lenno, Como lake, northern Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo: AP) During the engagement ceremony, which also reportedly took place on Tuesday, Ranveer went down on his knees asking for Deepika's hand. After they exchanged rings, he gave a speech that made her emotional, according to one website. There was a small dinner followed by a dance session, which had the father of the groom, Jagjit Singh Bhavnani, shaking a leg. Reports also said the bride was in tears throughout the henna ceremony. The couple, who confirmed their relationship only recently, will have a reception each in Bengaluru and Mumbai on November 21 and 28, respectively. India and South Africa are making efforts to develop bilateral relations in order to boost trade and investment relations. Recently, PM Modi met Ramaphosa on sidelines of BRICS summit. (Photo: Twitter | @PresidencyZA) New Delhi: South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day parade here, sources said. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended an invitation to US president Donald Trump, but he expressed his inability citing "scheduling conflicts." Cyril Ramaphosa will be the second leader from South Africa to attend India's Republic Day parade as the chief guest. Former president Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at the 1995 Republic Day parade. South African president Ramaphosa is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. A few months back, he led as many as 5,000 people at the annual 'Gandhi Walk' event organized at Lenasia, a few kilometers away from Johannesburg in an attempt to promote fitness and community awareness. India and South Africa are making efforts to develop bilateral relations in order to boost trade and investment relations. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg. During the meet, the two-state heads signed MoUs in the areas of defense, trade, culture, agriculture, and dairy cooperation. As per election notification, 13 of the 119 Assembly segments have been identified as sensitive to Left-wing extremism. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: The Telangana Police is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to check possible "desperate action" by the outlawed CPI (Maoists) in districts bordering Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra in the run-up to the state Assembly elections on December 7. The police anticipate that the Maoists might resort to some desperate action just to "create some sensation" and "prove their existence", top officials said, citing intelligence inputs. Police say they have put in place all necessary security measures to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. According to police, Maoists have been almost decimated in Telangana and their activities virtually are nil in the state, but, given the election season, police apprehend some threat (possibility of some offence) from the Maoist "action teams", in very few places particularly in the Bhadrachalam region that borders Chhattisgarh. As per election notification, 13 of the 119 Assembly segments have been identified as sensitive to Left-wing extremism (LWE), where election authorities will hold polling between 7 am and 4 pm. "But our action teams are ready and we can thwart any attempt by the outlaws to create trouble. Our Greyhounds (elite anti-Naxal force) is adequately placed and we are going ahead with a multi-pronged strategy to ensure incident-free elections," a top police official said. "We are fully ready to tackle any kind of threat," Inspector General of Police (North Zone) Y Nagi Reddy told PTI. In view of the electioneering, security has been beefed up, combing operations have been further stepped up and roads have been cleared and counter-action teams are on the move, he said. Similarly, for the polling also security measures will be carried out. Security arrangements are in place with deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), state forces and Greyhounds, the official said, adding "lot of area domination will be there and with regard to polling stations additional security will be there". In the wake of posters and banners purportedly written by Maoists appealing to locals to boycott the ensuing assembly elections surfacing in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, another senior police official said, "They will try to prove their existence and give a call to boycott polls." A few days ago a four-member "action team" of ultras had entered Bhupalpally district, but after noticing police parties they escaped, he said. "There are some credible inputs that Maoists are trying to carry out some offence in the area during elections by sending some action teams...they are trying and they are desperate to do some offence... We are working on that and ensuring they are not successful," he added. On VIP movement and politicians who are canvassing for elections, the official said their security has been beefed up and all security-related precautions are being followed. Bengaluru: While denying there was any proposal to put a stop to the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations in the state following the recent row over them, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, however, defended his absence at the official celebration at Vidhana Soudha, saying there was no hard and fast rule that he had to attend it. Speaking to reporters after garlanding the statue of late Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru here on the occasion of his birth anniversary, Mr Kumaraswamy said he could not attend the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations at the Vidhana Soudha recently as his doctors had advised him rest. Asked if the government intended to give up the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations in future as rumoured, he said there was no such proposal before it. The government observes many jayanthis and Tipu Jayanthi is one of them. There is no rule that says the Chief Minister must attend all these celebrations and he participates according to his convenience. The row over Tipu Jayanthi is more political. People rake up a controversy over everything, which is not right, Mr Kumaraswamy added. On the arrest of Kodagu journalist, Santhosh Thammaiah, he said he was not fully familiar with the case as the district administration had taken a decision in the matter. Reiterating that his government was committed to the farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister contended that not all farmer suicides were related to their debts. In the case of the Axis bank, the government would ensure that it repaid all farm loans issued by it, he assured. Denying claims that the government was on a witchhunt against mining baron turned politician, Gali Janardhan Reddy in the Ambident scam, Mr Kumaraswamy said he never interfered in police work. HYDERABAD: LB Nagar court judge Vaidya Vara Prasad who was booked by the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a disproportionate case was arrested at 4.30 am on Thursday. The accused has been remanded and sent to Chanchalguda jail. The accused is the XIV additional district judge and president of the TS Judges Association. The High Court, based on the complaints received aga-inst the judge, conducted an internal inquiry which reportedly found material to back the charges against Mr Prasad. Following this, the HC permitted the ACB to book a case against the judge in accordance with the law. The searches at nine locations went on for 24 hours and after his medical test, the judge was arrested. A further investigation found that the judge was leading a luxurious life at his Kondapur house. The furnished flat had expensive furniture and accessories, worth lakhs. The documents revealed that the family travelled to the United States twice and also made holiday trips to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, and Singapore. The bills indicated expensive foreign tours. During the searches, properties worth Rs 3 crore, which was above the legal income of the judge were unearthed. He was booked under DA case, offence U/s 13 (1) (b) r/w 13 (2) of PC Act (as amended in 2018). Hyderabad: Parents of Delhi Public School, Nacharam staged a protest after the school management distributed date-expired chocolate packets to students on Childrens Day. School authorities assured the parents they have sent the chocolates for analysis and are likely to receive the report on Friday. The Nacharam Police station has registered a FIR against the chocolate distributors and the case is under investigation. Annoyed parents said the distribution of date-expired chocolates was highly acceptable and demanded stern action against the school authorities. The school, in a text message, told parents: Dear Parents it is a matter of grave concern that some of the chocolate packets distributed today had a back dated date. School assures that this matter is being seriously investigated. We have received an assurance from the manufacturer that only the packaging material is backdated. School assures all parents that we would be providing all the required information at the earliest. The chocolates samples have been sent for analysis. We are likely to receive the report tomorrow which will be shared with the parents (sic). Mr Chandra Shekhar, a parent, said, The school gave chocolate packets contains 50 units to all the students on Childrens Day. The chocolates were manufactured in December 2014 and the date expired on November 2016. Also the chocolates were not branded, and the school authorities did not care to check the expiry date. Who gives 50 units of chocolate to each and every child? Mrs Srilatha, another parent, said The school never gave such gifts on any occasion. This is the first time and we noticed that the date on a few packets were erased, few had no manufacturing and expiry dates and a few were beyond the expiry date. This is complete negligence of the school management. Thank God they just gave chocolates, anything which would have had moisture content would have affected the children. She said families used to advise children not to not to accept or eat anything given by strangers. Now, they have to tell students not to eat anything given by the school. Nacharam sub-inspector Venkat Reddy said, We received a complaint today from the school that they were cheating by the the chocolate distributor. We have booked an FIR against the distributor under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 272 (food adulteration) and 273 (sale of adulterated food). Further investigations are going on. DPS Nacharam Principal Sunitha Rao, said the school had booked a case against Singhania Food International, who had sold the chocolates to the school. We gave them the order because they were (owned by) one of the parents and we trusted them. We had asked them to pack assorted chocolates in transparent polythene cover but the packages came in a different coloured pack. When two parents alerted that the one of the packets had a backdated date, they assured that only the packet was old because the person who packed the chocolates used old packaging. We have initiated an inquiry against the distributors and the report will come soon. Thankfully nothing has happened to the children and all of them came to school today. He asked the volunteers and participants not to use such places for posters and banners which would create controversies. Hyderabad: Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Zone, Amber Kishore Jha convened a meeting of marshals and volunteers belonging to the Sunni United Forum of India in connection with the arrangements of the Milad procession on the occasion of birth celebrations of the Prophet of Islam which falls on next Wednesday. Addressing the meeting, the DCP said police would provide elaborate security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident. He asked the marshals and volunteers to cooperate with the police to ensure the peaceful culmination of the procession. We desire that the religious function should be celebrated in a peaceful manner, and there should be no problem of traffic congestion for the participants of the procession and the general public as well. He asked the volunteers and participants not to use such places for posters and banners which would create controversies. Later, speaking to the media, the DCP said, We are very vigilant considering the elections. Our personnel will keep watch on the decorations and posters to be used for the celebrations. He asked the participants to follow the instructions given by the police. On the procession day, the police will provide bandobast by deploying the CRPF platoons, battalions from the Reserve Forces apart from the City Police officials and personnel. Police have identified the sensitive points and places of possible traffic congestion. The Supreme Court had prohibited the use of high volume sound system and it would not be allowed, he said. A top police officers car is parked right in front of a No Parking signboard near the Mahankali traffic police station on Thursday. (S. Surender Reddy) Hyderabad: The official vehicle of the Additional Commissioner of Traffic Anil Kumar has been challaned Rs 250 for wrong parking at SBH crossroads falling under Mahankali traffic police limits. The incident was reported on Thursday afternoon when the Traffic chief was on inspection. Reportedly the top officer was not in the vehicle when it was found violating the traffic norm. The vehicle TS 09 PA 3330 is registered in the name of Director General of Police(DGP) Telangana and this was the first challan issued against the driver. When DC photographer captured the violation, traffic cops accosted them asking to delete the pictures to avoid getting a memo from the department. According to the traffic police Anil Kumar, Additional Commissioner of police (Traffic) came to the visit of Mahakali Traffic police station for inspection as it is election time on Thursday afternoon around 3 pm. He then went inside the Mahankali traffic police station. Mahakali Inspector J. Venu Gopal said, The driver stopped the vehicle at the no-parking zone at SBH cross roads. A netizen named Kartheek commented, Good to see even protocol vehicle of a senior IPS officer being challaned for traffic violation. Now the question is who is going to pay for it? The vehicle was registered on the government so is it public money which has to be paid? I strongly demand action against the IPS officer too. Jayaprakash Reddy, another netizen, said, Great Mahankali traffic police. Deserve compliments. Appreciate the sincere duty of police personnel. MediPharm Labs Enters Contract with Supreme Cannabis Perth, Nov 15, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - MMJ Group Holdings Limited ( ASX:MMJ ) ( OTCMKTS:MMJJF ) ("MMJ") is pleased to attach a copy of a news release by MediPharm Labs Inc ("MediPharm Labs") ( CVE:LABS ) announcing that it has entered into a 3-year cannabis concentrate program agreement with Supreme Cannabis Company Inc ("Supreme Cannabis") ( CVE:FIRE ).MMJ owns 5.2 million shares and 2.9 million warrants (exercisable at CAD$1.20 per share by October 2020) in MediPharm Labs.To view the news release, please visit:About MMJ Group Holdings Ltd MMJ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:MMJ) is a global cannabis investment company. MMJ owns a portfolio of minority investments and aims to invest across the full range of emerging cannabis-related sectors including healthcare, technology, infrastructure, logistics, processing, cultivation, equipment and retail. For MMJ's latest investor presentation and news, please visit: http://www.mmjphytotech.com.au/investors/ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board is likely to approach the Supreme Court seeking more time to implement the Sabarimala verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the temple. The board is expected to take a decision on the matter at its meeting scheduled for Friday. Earlier, the chief minister is understood to have told the members of Pandalam royal family and Tantri family members that it was not possible for the government to seek more time, but the Board could do so if it wished. Pandalam Palace coordination committee president P.G. Shashi Kumara Varma said that during the meeting with chief minister, they pleaded that entry of women from the restricted age group should not be allowed at any cost during the forthcoming pilgrim season. We told him that our lawyers had advised that if the government or the board files a petition before the apex court citing the present difficulties and impasse over womens entry, there are bright chances of getting some more time to implement the verdict, P.G. Shashi Kumara Varma said. On this the chief minister made it clear that the government cannot seek more time from the apex court, but it was up to the Devaswom Board to come to a decision on the issue. This clearly indicates a major climb-down on the part of the government. BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra said that 'temple hopping of Rahul Gandhi, the temporary janeu he adorns, the fancy dress Hindutva that he has taken to, are nothing but eyewash'. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday slammed the Congress for allegedly spreading "hatred" against the RSS and the "Hindus", and described its President Rahul Gandhi's temple visits as "fancy dress Hindutva". The party attacked the Congress by releasing a video clip purportedly featuring Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, who is seen telling a group of Muslims to be cautious about the RSS campaign and that his party will deal with it after the November 28 state Assembly polls. "The video exposes the real and divisive face of Congress as to how through appeasement, it was trying to divide syncretic culture of India. This video also shows the hatred the Congress has for the RSS and in particular against the Hindu community," BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra told a press conference. He said that the "temple hopping of Rahul Gandhi, the temporary janeu he adorns, the fancy dress Hindutva that he has taken to, are nothing but eyewash." He said this was not just a lone video or a solitary statement by Kamal Nath, but there was a narrative attached to it as the Congress in its election manifesto for Madhya Pradesh elections promised to ban the RSS shakhas if it comes to power in the state. "This is the kind of brazeness that Rahul Gandhi and Kamal Nath have for the RSS and the Hindu community in particular. The same people who, through Shashi Tharoor and the likes, have time and again abused the Hindus," he said. Madhya Pradesh goes to the polls in a single phase on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11. The main contest is between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. The Congress fielded former minister Sabita Indra Reddy from Maheswaram but her son Karthik Reddy who was lobbying for the Rajendranagar ticket quit the party after he was denied a nomination. His followers destroyed flag posts of the Congress because the seat was allotted to the Telugu Desam. Hyderabad: The Congress is facing the heat of rebels after it announced 75 candidates. Some ticket aspirants are unhappy at being left out and are contesting as rebels while others whose constituencies were given to the Mahakutami allies have quit the party. Several leaders including Mr Karthik Reddy, Mr Bikshapathi Yadav, Nr Rohin Reddy and Mr Kyama Mallesh are preparing the ground to contest as independent candidates. The Congress fielded former minister Sabita Indra Reddy from Maheswaram but her son Karthik Reddy who was lobbying for the Rajendranagar ticket quit the party after he was denied a nomination. His followers destroyed flag posts of the Congress because the seat was allotted to the Telugu Desam. Mr Karthik Reddy has sent his letter to the party and announced that if the Congress did not announce his name it would be considered as an acceptance of his resignation. Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Karthik Reddy said, Im resigning from the membership of the party and the campaigning committee. If I dont receive the B-Form, I will consider it as acceptation of my resignation letter. He said that the TRS leader Prakash Goud had spread the word that he was not going to get the ticket. I didnt believe him and was confident that the party will give me a ticket. But the Telugu Desam announced its candidate and TRS leaders celebrated their victory in advance. Telugu Desam president L. Ramana sold the tickets to earn money. Congress Ibrahimpatnam seat aspirant Kyama Mallesh alleged that the party screening committee leader had demanded money for allotting him a ticket. He said, Congress leaders should feel embarrassed when talking about the Chandrasekhar Rao family rule when the tickets in the Congress are also distributed to family members. A community has taken most of the tickets by betraying the BC community. Former MLA Bikshapathi Yadav had expected the ticket from Serilingampally but the seat was allotted to the Telugu Desam. Mr Yadav said he would file his nomination as an independent on November 17. Mr Rohin Reddy was upset that the Khairatabad ticket which he was aiming for was handed over to Congress spokesperson Dr Sravan Dasoju. Mr Reddy is also preparing the ground to contest as an independent. Apart from this, former mayor Karthika Reddy staged a protest in Delhi demanding a ticket from Secunderabad. Kamma community leaders were unhappy as the Congress had not nominated a single member of the community in the first two lists. On the other hand, the Congress has appointed Mr Jetti Kusum Kumar of the community as one of the working presidents to calm tempers. Muslim leaders said the community had got only four seats out of 75 seats declared so far. Muslims have been ignored. We are ready to quit the party if Muslims are not allotted tickets. At least one Muslim should be given a ticket in each of the erstwhile districts of Telangana state, said Mr Rasoon Khan, former chairman of the Minorities Commission. The parties that form the Mahakutami dont know from which constituency which party is going to contest. Hyderabad: Due to lack of coordination among the allies of the Mahakutami, there is utter confusion over the seats and candidates of the alliance parties. In some constituencies it is not clear which party candidate is going to contest. For example, the Mahabubnagar Assembly seat was allotted to the Telugu Desam, which announced its candidate. The Congress announced its candidates for Station Ghanpur and Asifabad. But, surprisingly, the Telangana Jana Samiti has announced that it is going to contest in Mahabubnagar, Station Ghanpur and Asifabad. The candidates announced by their parties for these constituencies Erra Sekhar (Mahabubnagar), S. Indira (Station Ghanpur) and Atram Sakku (Asifabad) are totally confused. They dont know whether they are to contest or not. The Congress has been silent. A Mahakutami leader attributes the confusion to the Congress attitude. Instead of just announcing the number of seats allotted to its allies, the Congress should have clarified which constituencies have been allotted to which party. The parties that form the Mahakutami dont know from which constituency which party is going to contest. In the Congress first and second list the party did not announce its candidate for Rajendranagar. Former home minister Sabitha Indra Reddys son Karthik Reddy is aspiring for the Rajendranagar ticket. Suddenly, the TD has announced its candidate for Rajendranagar, as it claims the Rajendranagar seat was allotted to it. TD leader Sama Rangareddy wants the LB Nagar ticket, but he was told to contest from Ibrahimpatnam. Sama Rangareddy went to Amaravati to discuss this issue with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TD national president N. Chandrababu Naidu. To further complicate matters, Rangareddys District Congress Committee president, K. Mallesh, wants the Ibrahimpatnam ticket and was very critical of his party for allotting the seat to the TD and made several allegations. The situation here is that Sama Rangareddy, who got the Ibrahimpatnam ticket, and K. Mallesh, who was denied the ticket, are both unhappy. It is not yet clear whether Sama Rangareddy will contest from Ibrahimpatnam or not. Another contentious constituency is Jangaon. TJS president Kodandaram had wanted to contest from here so it was allotted to the TJS. This irked former minister and senior Congress leader Ponnala Lakshmaiah so much when he heard of it that he rushed to Delhi to bring pressure on the party leadership to give him the Jangaon ticket. Then, the TJS decided to give up the seat to the Congress because it may give the wrong impression that a BC seat was taken away by the Reddy community. But when the TJS released its list of the 12 constituencies it was contesting from, Jangaon was included! In the meanwhile, Ponnala Lakshmaiah who camped in Delhi to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi, met him unexpectedly on Thursday along with party leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy. After hearing him out, Rahul told Ponguleti to talk to Telangana Congress affairs in-charge R.C. Khuntia and also to speak to TJS president Kodandaram and resolve the issue. It is still not clear who will contest from Jangaon Congress or TJS. One of the most telling markers of Delhis air pollution crisis is a signboard in the foyer of The Oberoi. The recently-renovated 52 year-old luxury hotel in the heart of Indias capital boasts of its clean air. Guests are promised air quality at par with global standards, courtesy its state-of-the-art clean air technology. At 8 am on November 10, for example, the air quality, measured in fine particulate matter (PM2.5), was 13 inside the hotels guest rooms. In the city, the corresponding figure was 302. Health experts consider an AQI (air quality index) above 100 as unhealthy. With so much talk about masks, gasps, breathlessness, you would think that everyone is aware of the devastating ways that toxic air impacts us, and that everyone would want to do something about it. The World Health Organisation recently came out with a study on air pollution and health that spoke at length about the scale of the crisis, how it is not just respiratory diseases, but also low birth weight, poor neurodevelopment, asthma etc in children. All this is known. How then do you explain the stubborn insistence on bursting crackers beyond the time mandated by the Supreme Court in the name of religion and culture? Now, no one says Diwali crackers is the main reason why we are gasping for breath. There are many other reasons - burning of crop residue in neighbouring states before winter, vehicular emissions, construction dust, waste incineration, etc. But restrictions on crackers were put in place by the Supreme Court to make sure that an already alarming situation does not become even worse. If there was political will, the order would have been rigorously implemented. But in these polarised times, wilful defiance of a Supreme Court ruling becomes akin to participating in a dharm yudh. Soon after the Supreme Court allowed bursting crackers only for two hours (8 pm to 10 pm) on Diwali, BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh Chintamani Malviya said he wouldnt tolerate any interference in Hindu traditions and was ready to happily go to jail for furthering his religious traditions. The social media was rife with sly references to Islamic rule and the targeting of Hindu festivals. In my South Delhi neighbourhood, the sound of cracker bursts could be heard past midnight on Diwali. Which brings me to one of the prickliest issues of the day. Are we letting people get away with thwarting public health goals in the name of religion and culture? Clashes between religious beliefs and medical science is nothing new, nor is this unique to India. In the United States, this has manifested itself in debates on childhood vaccinations, blood transfusions, and access to contraception. Earlier this year, the case of a couple in Michigan who were charged over the death of their 10-month-old daughter renewed the debate about withholding medical care because of religious beliefs. The couple were charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse after their daughter died from malnutrition and dehydration. Astonishingly, more than 30 states in the United States have religious exemptions that allow parents to forgo medical treatment for a child if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. In India, the situation is paradoxical. In the name of safeguarding religion, many are willing to take risks with their health. In election season, this gets worse. But despite all the holy talk, half-burnt bodies continue to be dumped in the Ganga, dirtying the holy river, and the unregulated use of fireworks continues to pollute the air, extracting a huge human cost. And yet, religion need not be inimical to public health goals. It can be leveraged for the greater good of the greatest number. As health expert Anant Bhan points out, culture and religion are fluid. Leveraging them is important. How India finally won the battle against polio, a feat considered impossible for many years, is a case in point. Community mobilisation and religion played a critical role in the last lap. For years, Muslim communities in parts of Uttar Pradesh did not let their children take the polio vaccine because of mistrust. To plug this gap, prominent Muslim religious leaders were roped in the last lap of the battle against polio; they played a vital role in making Uttar Pradesh and the whole country free of polio. There were many challenges on the ground lack of awareness about polio, misconceptions and myths revolving around the polio drop itself. I have met many Muslim families in places like Moradabad who genuinely believed that the vaccines would harm their children and they refused to allow their children to take those drops. Muslim clerics joined hands with health officials and agencies like Unicef and urged parents to immunise their children. For most Indians, religion is deeply enmeshed with everyday life. The interests of religion and public health often overlap. Most religions that I know of focus on social justice and the protection of vulnerable populations. This is entirely in keeping with public health goals. Religion has been leveraged for the greater public good when there has been strong political will, as in the battle against polio. That being so, there is really no reason why religion cant be leveraged once again to fight the battle against polluted air. No religion could possibly condone worsening the health of millions of people on any count. Bursting toxic fire crackers is not an article of faith. It has nothing to do with saving any religion. Crackers are not the only reason why Indian cities have poisonous air but it makes it worse. Common sense suggests that in a crisis situation, you try not to make things worse. Polluted air also does not differentiate between the believer and non-believer, between Hindus and non-Hindus. If there is political will, it is possible to ensure that religion and faith are used to clean up our air and our rivers. However, there is a big question. In an election year, will any political party show that it has the will? H10 There have been some reports of Russia providing financial and material support to the Afghan insurgents. That has caused serious concerns in Kabul and Washington. The gathering in Moscow of disparate Afghan groups and regional players last week is indicative of the shifting sands of regional geopolitics. Described as the Moscow format, the Russian initiative is seen as a significant move to finding a regional solution to the protracted Afghan war. The spectacle of a former invading power hosting old foes was, indeed, remarkable. Despite the strong reservations of Kabul and Washington on the format, 11 countries were represented in the talks. It was the first time that the Afghan Taliban were invited to an international forum. More significant was the fact that the insurgents shared the platform with Afghan delegates. Although the Kabul government did not officially participate in the talks, the presence of members of the High Peace Council, which oversees peace efforts, and individual Afghan leaders was highly significant. The US, too, had sent observers. The conference may not have broken the stalemate but certainly melted some ice. Surely, the Moscow format cannot be seen as a parallel peace move; it aims mainly at building greater regional understanding on the issue. This initiative signifies a certain shift in the Russian policy, beyond merely reactive patterns, to adopt the role of a more proactive player in Afghanistan and in the region. The regionalisation of Russias policy on Afghanistan is dictated by shifting power dynamics in the area. Although it was the first time Moscow had officially invited the Afghan Taliban, the two sides had already established contact earlier. There have been some reports of Russia providing financial and material support to the Afghan insurgents. That has caused serious concerns in Kabul and Washington. Russia has become more actively involved in Afghan affairs in the past few years. Moscow has held a series of consultations with regional countries including China, Pakistan, Iran and India. Curiously, Afghanistan was kept out of the first two meetings evoking scepticism about the process going anywhere. The last such meeting took place in 2017. The underlying reason for the initiative was the growing concern regarding the spillover effect of the Afghan crisis in the region. The move was also a manifestation of Russias assertion of its diplomatic power amidst growing frustration over the US failure to deliver peace in Afghanistan. Another cause of anxiety has been the threat of the militant Islamic State group spreading its tentacles in the war-torn country. Pakistan shares Moscows concerns and sees some hope of the new regional format being in a better position to persuade the Afghan Taliban to come to the negotiating table. But it will not be so easy given the complexities involving the problem. The participation in the Moscow meeting has certainly strengthened the Talibans position and provided it with greater international recognition. As the Taliban have vastly strengthened their hand in the battlefield in recent years, there seems to be no flexibility in its position. In a statement, the insurgent group said that the participation in the Moscow meeting was not about holding negotiations with any side. Interestingly, the Russian initiative came as the Trump administration agreed to hold direct negotiations with the Taliban. It marked a shift from the long-standing US position that any peace negotiations should be led by the Kabul government. There have already been two rounds of talks between senior US officials and representatives of the Taliban. But no significant breakthrough has been achieved that could pave the way for structured peace talks. Although Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in principle had endorsed direct talks between the US and the Taliban, he was reportedly not informed about the latest meeting, causing anger among Afghan government officials. A veteran US diplomat of Afghan origin, Zalmay Khalilzad, was appointed as special American envoy on Afghanistan three months ago with a mandate to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. As a former ambassador to Afghanistan, he feels he is the right man for the job largely because of his ethnicity. No public statement has been issued by Washington following last months talks in Doha. However, a Taliban communique said that the meeting focused on ending the occupation and working towards finding a peaceful solution to the Afghan conflict. The insurgents have refused to back down from their hard-line stance of not talking to the Kabul government. They have also demanded the lifting of UN travel sanctions on Taliban leaders including the five who were freed from Guantanamo in 2014. The Talibans position has further hardened with their success on the battlefield. While the Moscow meeting has delivered some positive results by bringing together the Taliban representatives, Afghan leaders and regional countries, no political settlement of the Afghan crisis is possible without US support. The American decision to hold direct talks with the Taliban is certainly a step forward, but there is still no plan that could lead to a set of structured negotiations. By arrangement with Dawn H10 A week, they say, is a long time in politics. It is nearing three weeks since Sri Lankas President Maithripala Sirisena took almost everybody by surprise with his October 26 announcement appointing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister after summarily sacking the incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe. It is not the constitutional validity of the Presidents decision that could be in question. Under Sri Lankas 1978 Constitution, the President is amply empowered to take an executive decision of that kind without consulting anybody. It is the political dynamics that this gambit has unleashed that makes one question the Presidents calculus. It may be that Mr Sirisena has bitten off more than he could chew. Simultaneously with appointing the new Prime Minister, the President had suspended Parliament till November 16, hoping that by then the hugely resourceful Mr Rajapaksa would be able to get the numbers on his side. Obviously, things have not moved as planned. For one, Mr Wickremesinghe did not yield to the Presidents diktat arguing he still had a parliamentary majority. More important, Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya refused to recognise Mr Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister. Left without much leeway, President Sirisena then called for Parliament to meet on November 14 for a floor test. Eventually, Mr Jayasuriya turned it to his advantage by convening the House after the Supreme Court had stayed its dissolution by the President. At one point, Mr Rajapaksa seemed to be making some progress in acquiring parliamentary support. As Sri Lanka does not have an anti-defection law, there still was hope. Right in the beginning, five members defected to Mr Rajapaksas side, and four of them were immediately sworn in as ministers. A week ago, Mr Rajapaksa had managed a tally of 101 members against Mr Wickremesinghes 102 in the 225-member Parliament. While the six-member JVP had decided to stay out of the contest, there still was the 16-member Tamil National Alliance to turn to. A recent schism within the ranks of the TNA gave further room for Mr Rajapaksa to manoeuvre in. But despite trying, he still was short by seven or eight votes. That is when Mr Sirisena decided to make another critical move. Rather than see his candidate defeated in a vote, he decided to sack Parliament and go for early elections instead. There are constitutional issues arising out of the Presidents decision. The constitutional amendments enacted under Mr Sirisenas own charge in April 2005 clearly limit the Presidents power to dissolve the House and order fresh elections before it has completed four and a half years. The current Parliament, which was elected in August 2015, had yet to meet that condition. So, unsurprisingly, several members of the Opposition petitioned the Supreme Court for a ruling in the case. The court stayed the operation of the order for fresh elections till it hears the case in the first week of December. Until then, the situation was left in a state of limbo. There indeed were issues between President and the Prime Minister. For one, Mr Wickremesinghes arrogant style of functioning was believed to have riled many in his own party, besides upsetting the President. Second, there were the oncoming presidential sweepstakes. Mr Wickeremesinghes own presidential ambitions are well known. Now, Mr Sirisena too, despite his earlier protestations, appeared to be having second thoughts on the subject. Shortly after his election as President, Mr Sirisena had announced with a touching gesture of self-abnegation so uncommon in politics that he would not seek a second term as President even though the Constitution permitted it. Possibly, he had made that grand gesture to demonstrate how different he was from his predecessor. For Mr Rajapaksa had the Constitution specially amended to permit himself an unlimited stay at the top as he was close to completing his second term as President. This provision too was repealed and the two-term bar on holding the office of President restored by the new government in 2015. Since Mr Rajapaksa could not be the President one more time, he had to be satisfied with the post of Prime Minister. So there could be no clash of ambitions between the two leaders. Besides, Mr Sirisena, who does not have much of a mass base, would need Mr Rajapaksas help if his presidential ambitions were to be realised. Given the prevailing climate of political uncertainty in Sri Lanka, though, one could never be too sure if these equations would stand the test of Machiavellian politics. But the real elephant in the room was China. Mr Rajapaksa is known to be close to the Chinese. It was during his presidency that the Chinese footprint in Sri Lanka increased to an unprecedented level. Nobody seemed to mind if, in the process, Sri Lanka had gone neck-deep into debt. The handing out of the strategically vital Hambantota port on a 99-year lease to the Chinese too was a consequence of the same indebtedness. So it came as no surprise when the Chinese ambassador became the first and only member of the diplomatic corps in Colombo to call on Mr Rajapaksa shortly after he was made the Prime Minister. President Sirisenas charge of an Indian-backed assassination plot against him somewhat clumsily denied later was part of the same backroom drama. As Mr Rajapaksa was appointed Prime Minister, many observers of the Sri Lankan scene saw it as a temporary aberration that would self-correct itself when Parliament met a few weeks later. That didnt happen. Instead, the stakes were raised further as President Sirisena indicated that he would quit the presidency if Mr Wickremesinghe were to return as Prime Minister. The question that still hung in the Colombo air was: how would a President, who was not prepared to accept an adverse vote in Parliament, react if he has to face an adverse vote at the hustings in January? Meanwhile, as Parliament met on November 14, the House endorsed a confidence motion in Mr Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. That, on the face of it, should have settled the issue. But those who know Mr Rajapaksa would know that he is no quitter, and the President is in no mood to relent. From all indications, readers would be entitled to expect more climaxes and anticlimaxes to follow in the political theatre that started from the Presidents office three weeks earlier. H11 Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate, famously said: I raise up my voice not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. UN Women states that gender inequality is a major cause and effect of hunger and poverty, and 60 per cent of chronically hungry people are women and girls. Well, amidst such a grim scenario, the issue of empowering women is a much talked about issue in the new millennium. Countries around the world have resorted to a plethora of interventions, be it socio-economic, political, legal, educational or emotional. The focus is to help women in overcoming vulnerabilities, shaping the destiny of their life, and taking part in the countrys productive activities, and contributing to their growth story. India, home to 18 per cent of the worlds population, deserves special attention to gauge the existing realities. As things currently stand, women generate just 17 per cent of Indias GDP. Census 2011 has put the female workforce participation rate as low as 25.5 per cent, as against 53.26 per cent for males, with a slightly better rate of participation of 30 per cent in the rural sector. The global proportion of working women has been found to be 50 per cent, but, it excludes India. India shows a decline in female workforce participation rates from 35 per cent in 2005 to 26 per cent today, which is considered as unprecedented in any country. India now stands at 121st out of 131 countries, as per the (ILO) rankings for female participation in the workforce. Globally, some 700 million more women would have worked if their employment rate is at par with that of men, and a third of them, or 235 million, would have been in India. If India could have maintained the rate of growth from 2005, then the figure would have added 42 million more workers. In China, despite a drop at workplace participation for both men and women, its overall female workforce participation continues to remain nearly 50 per cent, as many more women are working. For almost the last two decades, the Indian economy grew at around 7 per cent per annnum, where the education for girls is gradually improving, fertility and maternal mortality rates are also showing declining trends. In such an improved situation, it was expected to have more numbers of women into the labour force. But, this is not the case in India. What is the reason behind such a drop in India? Is it because Indian girls are staying in schools longer? But the stark reality is that one-third of the decline in the participation rate is for all females aged 15 and above. The greater widening gap of some 49 per cent is in the case of women between 15 and 24 years, who are found to be neither in education nor employment or training, while it is just 8 per cent for boys. The Indian census divides workers into two broad categories: main and marginal, the main workers are those who work for six months or more during the year, while marginal workers work for a shorter period of time. It is however, encouraging to find a deciding trend in the number of marginal women workers from 84 per cent in 1981 to 60.3 per cent in 2001, which further dropped to 50.8 per cent in 2011. The number of women as main workers, on the other hand, has also shown a marginal rising trend from 20.2 per cent in 1981 to 24.6 per cent in 2011, indicating an incremental levelling-up of women as main workers. Agriculture used to accommodate a large number of women, mostly as casual labourers. The National Sample Survey (NSS), 1994 data, revealed a changing trend from the 1970s. Now, more women casual labourers were found to be switching over to sectors like livestock, forestry, fishing and hunting, plantations, orchards, etc, which are usually characterised by low wages and low productivity. The plausible reasons for such a shift is attributed to limited employment options for women in agriculture in the wake of mechanisation, which forced many women to look for less modernised areas of work. The liberalisation of markets has also not proved to be beneficial for women. They did get more jobs, but mostly in casual and informal sectors. No doubt, the opened Indian economy brought in more technological inputs, but it was again the men who could make the best use of such advanced technologies through skill upgradation. Unfortunately, women perhaps because of various socio-psychological factors, mostly remained high and dry from the purview of hi-tech gadgets and took recourse to low paying, unskilled and insecure jobs. Even in rural areas, when a village moves on to using a tubewell irrigation system from the age-old practice of the manual bucket system, the job of the pump operator goes to a man only. The same may hold true in case of a husking machine or a wheat grinding machine or a tractor and a tiller. There are estimates that over 90 per cent of working women are in the informal sector, and not under any safety net or any official statistics. Women, in realty, also are paid less than their male counterparts, sometimes just 62 per cent of men, inspite of a law for equal pay. Indian inheritance laws favour women, but are seldom put in practice. Less than 13 per cent of all agricultural land in India is controlled by women. Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate and noted economist, opined that independent earning makes a woman less dependent on men and raises her bargaining power in a family. But, this bargaining power is also very much related to the nature of work she is engaged in. The ground reality shows that by being predominantly in the informal sector, Indian women tend to remain as vulnerable as before. In fact, she is now doubly burdened with a workload, both at home and outside. The other side of the story is that even many working women, who contribute to the family income prefer leaving major decisions like investments in land assets or cash to their husbands. This may be the result of age-old social conditioning. In India, studies have also pointed out that educational attainment and female work participation do not always go hand in hand. Some educated women with a comfortable family income are found to be disinclined to join a vocation. This perhaps reflects an enduring social stigma attached to women as having to work, which may lower her familys social standing. A study in Punjab has revealed that even if women want to work, they face plenty of obstacles like seeking permission from village leaders, parents et al. Even after job training, only a few stick around. Marriage is another factor that ends many careers of women. Social restrictions are more prevalent among higher castes, however it varies from state to state. In places where more men migrate to cities leaving wives behind, like in the North East, female employment rates are relatively high, whereas in states like Punjab or in the conservative Hindi belt, it goes down to below 15 per cent. There used to also be a chasm between female workforce participation rates in urban and rural areas, and urban women were found to be less likely to work. However, the gap is now narrowing down as more rural women are falling out of the labour force. In urban areas, the figure stayed around 20 per cent, because of growing migration to cities. Aniruddha Dutta, in his book Half a Billion Rising: The Emergence of the Indian Woman, commented that, There is a trade-off between spending money on educating a girl or spending it on a dowry. Education often means a smaller dowry or none at all, and it is considered a cost-effective way of reducing the dowry amount. Families go for educated brides more for the future careers of their sons and grooming of grand children rather than extra income. A Pew research survey in 2012 says that 84 per cent of Indians are of the view that, when jobs are scarce, men should have more rights to a job than women. In India, women are now having fewer children, but unlike other parts of the world, they devote the extra time solely to kids. In the West, women in such a situations go out to build careers. According to a World Values Survey, 76 per cent of Indians agree that when a mother works for pay, children suffer, the highest figure outside West Asia. But, there is also evidence that many women aspire to win economic independence and choose professions. Census data further corroborates that 31 per cent of stay-at-home women prefer working if a job is available. In MGNREGA, there are more female workers than men. Across the world, less than a quarter of workers in manufacturing are women, nearly half in China. In Brazil 51 per cent of workers in the service sector are women, compared to just 19 per cent in India. ILO reports say that only three-quarters of all global health-care workers are women, and it is under half in India. The Indian economy is also moving more towards less female-friendly sectors. Since 2005, agriculture has shed 35 million of its 250 million workforce due to mechanisation, two-thirds of them were women. Employment in industry grew by 36 million enough to absorb all the redundant farmers, both male or female, but men nabbed 90 per cent of those jobs. Of the 56 million jobs created in the service sector during the same period, men got nearly 80 per cent. The IT outsourcing industries, considered as relatively female-friendly, have almost stopped hiring in the face of automation and the resurgent protectionism. Elsewhere in the world, industries that generate tens of millions of female jobs are largely absent in India. Vietnam and Ethiopia, which have plenty of giant factories employing women, who mostly make clothing and footwear, have above 70 per cent female workers. IMF in a study cites that India would have been 27 per cent richer if more women had worked. A World Bank study suggests that just two hours of less housework per week could raise the female employment rate by 10 percentage points. Improved infrastructure like better roads and electricity could also be an incentive for women opting for jobs, as public safety continues to be a concern for Indian women. Some cities, notably the capital, New Delhi, are perceived as inhospitable to single women. The ILO, however, forecasts that even by 2030 India will not have as many working women as it did in 2005, despite a 44 per cent increase in its female working-age population during the period. ILO economist, Steven Kapos in his presentation of a report on India, said, Failure to allow women full access to the labour market is an under-utilisation of human resources that holds back productivity and economic growth. India at the same time is credited with progressive women-friendly labour laws with provisions like extended maternity leave, facilities for creche, etc. However, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplaces, 2013 Act, though path-breaking, could make a limited impact as only 5 per cent of women are in formal salaried jobs. The recent spate of revelations under the #MeToo campaign also confirms that the act is yet to take deep roots in urban workspaces. Indias first woman President, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, took up the issue of womens gainful employment and appointed a committee of governors which recommended wide-ranging strategies and action plans. The initiative resulted in the setting up of an Empowerment Mission in 2011, as an umbrella organisation. Many women in India could shed off inhibitions, break socio-cultural barriers, enter spaces that were erstwhile male bastions, raise their voices against discrimination and exploitation, but it is still a long way for many others to occupy equality in workspaces with men. The writer is a former director-general of Doordarshan and All India Radio, and a former press secretary to the President of India B13 Whether youre aware of it or not, when a Why? arises in your mind, and you set upon a process of reflection to get answers to that Why? you are already a philosopher philosophising on issues that interest or intrigue you. When asked: Aap kya kaam karta hai? I reply, Teacher! Unsatisfied with this perfunctory reply, Im normally asked again, Kaunsa teacher? Teaching what? When I reply theology and philosophy offering deshi equivalents like Ish-shashtra, Dharmashastra, Darshan-shastra and Tattva-gnana I get vacuous stares and the questioning stops. Apparently, not many comprehend or are even concerned about what theology and philosophy teach. Realising the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought for each culture and each individual, UNESCO decided in 2002 that every third Thursday in November be celebrated as World Philosophy Day. Today, stop awhile, and ask: Why? Whether youre aware of it or not, when a Why? arises in your mind, and you set upon a process of reflection to get answers to that Why? you are already a philosopher philosophising on issues that interest or intrigue you. Philosophy derives from two Greek words: Philia meaning love and Sophia, wisdom. Love of wisdom! Dont we treasure the company of wise people who shed light on perplexing problems with their words of advice, refreshing insights, and relentless resolve to lead us to the depths of truth? An unexamined life is not worth living, said Socrates, exhorting everyone to examine the whence and whither of ones life. One who reflects upon all these is a philosopher. So, keep questioning! Youll find answers, or, youll be rewarded with more questions leading to truth, wisdom and knowledge. On World Philosophy Day lets be glad and grateful for philosophers and their philosophies Indian and otherwise. H11 In bravery, he is not to be surpassed. Who can excel him in the love of country? He is rash and impetuous, say some and if he has the dash and rashness of a warrior, he also has the prudence of a statesman he is pure as a crystal, he is truthful beyond suspicion. He is a knight sans peur, sans reproche the nation is safe in his hands. So spoke Mahatma Gandhi on October 3, 1929, soon after 40-year-old Jawaharlal Nehru was elected president of the Indian National Congress (INC), whose session was due to be held in Lahore two months later. Only two months earlier the Mahatma had issued a statement, on August 1, 1929 saying that those who know the relations that subsist between Jawaharlal and me know that his being in the chair is as good as my being in it. We may have intellectual differences, but are hearts are one... Ten provincial committees (akin to todays Pradesh Congress Committees) had proposed Gandhijis name for the Lahore session to succeed Pandit Motilal Nehru, the outgoing president who had presided over the Calcutta (now Kolkata) session in 1928. Among the top leaders to share the overwhelming view of the Congress were C. Rajgopalachari (CR) and Vallabhbhai Patel, who himself was recommended by Congress committees of five provinces. Though Jawaharlal was recommended by only three provincial committees, the Mahatma decided in his favour, and had enough reason to do so. Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Gandhiji, explains in his biography of Patel that "he (Mahatma) reckoned, first, that Nehru would rally young men and women. Second, he hoped that responsibility will mellow and sober the youth...". Third, he was confident that Jawaharlal "would abide by his views... there were other reasons... following the December 1928 parting of the ways of which Jinnah had spoken, many Muslims had ended their links with the Congress, and Jawaharlal seemed more likely than Vallabhbhai to reattract some of them... Also, Gandhi hoped that young radicals tempted by Communist ideas would remain with the Congress if Jawaharlal became president, and that the move might simultaneously help to wear Nehru himself from the drift to the far left. But Jawaharlal was not too happy with the manner in which he was chosen and would recall later: "I have seldom felt quite so annoyed and humiliated... It was not that I was not sensible of the honour... but I didnt come to it by the main entrance or even a side entrance. I appeared suddenly by a trap door and bewildered the audience into acceptance." Earlier, when he had come to know that Gandhiji was proposing his name for the presidenship, the young Jawahar, on August 21, sent him a telegram: "Beg of you not to press my name for presidentship." But the Mahatma, for reasons known only to himself, had made up this mind. As the leader of the struggle for independence, he was aware that Jawaharlal was the most appropriate choice for the next phase of the freedom struggle, which would give a call for Purna Swaraj (complete independence). On the night of December 29, Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the flag of Free India on the banks of the Ravi, and declared: The flag under which you stand today and which you have just now saluted does not belong to any community... all those who stand today under this flag are Indians, not Hindus, not Muslims, but Indians... Two days later, on January 2, 1930, the new Congress Working Committee (CWC) of Jawaharlal sanctioned Gandhis plan of giving freedom to (then) 30 crore Indians on a day which was declared as Independence Day: January 26, 1930. But as ultimately India became free on August 15, 1947, a date that was personally chosen by the last Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, January 26 was selected as Republic Day in 1950, when India adopted its own Constitution and became a full-fledged republic. Twice later, in 1936 and 1946, Gandhi preferred Nehru over Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for the Congress presidentship. The reasons were not too different from 1929. In 1936, it was C. Rajgopalachari who was thought to be the right choice. Despite his seniority and being from South India, which had not got a chance in the post-Gandhi Congress, CR turned down the offer, but recommended Jawaharlal Nehru. Gandhi informed Patel who, despite wanting Rajaji, was aware of Jawaharlals qualities which he made public in Nehrus hometown Allahabad in mid-1935, when Jawaharlal was in jail: No one has rendered as much service to the peasants as Pandit Jawaharlalji and his sick wife have. For your sakes he has sacrificed a life of comfort and readily shared your troubles. Your poverty infuriates him. How can we move a step without his help. Before the installation of the Interim Government in September 1946, Mahatma Gandhi again indicated his preference for Jawaharlal. Maulana Azad, who had been Congress president for six years since the Ramgarh session of 1940, was keen to get re-elected. But the Mahatma prevailed upon Azad to step down and the CWC proposed Jawaharlals name. It was clear that Azads successor would be designated vice-president of the Interim Government, and thus the de facto Prime Minister. So why did Gandhi chose Nehru over Patel in 1929, 1936 and specially in 1946 when it was obvious that the Congress president would become Indias first Prime Minister. The answer is best provided by Rajmohan Gandhi in his famous book, The Good Boatman: ...The debate focuses too narrowly on the choice of the Congress president in the summer of 1946, overlooking that the succession in Nehrus favour had been settled and announced much earlier, and more than once. It also overlooks the crucial age factor as well as Patels own sense of the soundness of Gandhis decision. In November 1948 he had said: Mahatma Gandhi named Pandit Nehru as his heir and successor. Since Gandhijis death we have realised that our leaders judgment was correct Human as he was, and undoubtedly hurt by Gandhis preference, Vallabhbhai was yet big enough to speak in such terms, and also to say to the American journalist Vincent Sheean, with reference to a huge crowd that had surrounded him and Nehru in Bombay (now Mumbai): They come for Jawahar, Not for me. The hidden agenda behind putting up the huge statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in his home state is at least not hidden from the historians and intelligentsia. The Sangh Parivar wrongly feels that Sardar Patel was wronged, that he deserved to be Prime Minister. This view has been held by them since 1947. But since they did not participate in the freedom struggle nor have read its history, they dont realise they are wrong. By questioning Nehrus choice as the first Prime Minister, they are questioning not only the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi, but also of Patel who, like all stalwarts of the Gandhi era, accepted Nehru as the unquestioned leader of Free India. Less than two decades later, a year after Nehrus demise, our then philosopher President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan called Nehru the greatest Indian after Gandhi, which he is not for those who have been deeply influenced by the saffron version of history. The writer, an ex-Army officer and a former member of the National Commission for Minorities, is a political activist based in New Delhi B13 Canadian Cannabis Growing Facility Binding Agreement Signed Sydney, Nov 16, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - THC Global Group Limited (THC Global or the Company) ( ASX:THC ) ( OTCMKTS:HDRPF ) advises that its wholly owned subsidiary, Vertical Canna Inc has entered into a binding agreement to conduct due diligence for the acquisition of a Canadian company which is in final stages of becoming a Licenced Producer of Cannabis.Key Points:- THC Global's wholly owned subsidiary, Vertical Canna Inc has signed a binding due diligence agreement for the build out of a Canadian licenced cannabis producer- Acquisition remains subject to due diligence and finalisation of terms- On acquisition, and subject to finalisation of licencing, THC Global will own a full-scale cannabis growing facility in Canada in addition to its Australian facilities- Targeting the Canadian medicinal and recreational cannabis markets with direct salesOn acquisition, THC Global will complete the build out of a full-scale cannabis growing facility which will be able to offer direct retail sales in addition to supporting other commercial sales. THC Global is also in negotiations to engage specialist personnel in the Cannabis sector to support this build out.THC Global's objective is for Vertical Canna to pursue a build out of a vertically integrated cannabis business across North America through strategic acquisitions and partnerships with a focus on short paths to profitability with strong potential for value development. In parallel to this strategy, Vertical Canna is currently developing a new retail cannabis and equipment brand which will soon be available across stores in Canada.The pursuit of a stronger presence in Canada is in response to positive feedback received from the Canadian capital markets and the broader cannabis sector towards THC Global as a high-growth cannabis business with the capacity to produce large quantities of pharma-grade product in the near term.Chief Executive Officer, Ken Charteris, commented:"THC Global is looking at entering new international markets to further cement its presence as a full-scale global cannabis producer. Canada is a logical next step in the Company's global expansion plans given our existing Canadian presence with Crystal Mountain Products. Our focus in identifying new global opportunities will be to seek acquisition assets and strategic partnerships that lead to near term revenue generation."Further, the opportunity to enter the retail sector in Canada in the coming months is very attractive and will offer deep synergies with our Crystal Mountain Products business and may lead to future supply opportunities from our existing Australian production facilities."About THC Global Group Limited THC Global Group Limited (ASX:THC) (OTCMKTS:HDRPF) (FRA:9TH) operates under a 'Farm to Pharma' pharmaceutical model, now holding all three key cannabis licences being a Cannabis Research Licence, a Medicinal Cannabis Licence (Cultivation), and a Manufacture Licence through its domestic medicinal cannabis subsidiaries THC Pharma and Canndeo. THC Global has secured a significant cannabis growing capacity over multiple cultivation projects and owns a pharmaceuticals bio-manufacturing facility with attached testing and product development laboratory. THC Global is in prime position to commence medicinal cannabis production to service both domestic patients and the global export market. THC Global is active globally with operations in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada and partnerships across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition to its core Australian medicinal cannabis assets, THC Global has a significant Canadian presence both in cannabis and in hydroponics equipment. THC Global's Canadian cannabis operation, Vertical Canna, holds property in Nova Scotia, Canada being developed into a large scale cannabis production site. THC Global's hydroponics equipment division, Crystal Mountain, is a revenue generating manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer of hydroponic equipment and supplies. The notice says the breach involved a phishing attack that allowed hackers to gain access to one employee's email. (Photo: Pixabay) A Washington surgical center says it was hit by a data breach, which may have revealed personal information of more than 2,000 patients, including names, Social Security numbers, driver license numbers, medical information and some credit card numbers. The Columbian reports a notice posted on the website of the Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center in Vancouver says not all patients were affected. The office notified the 2,393 affected patients last week. The notice says the breach involved a phishing attack that allowed hackers to gain access to one employee's email. The notice says that the email box was compromised between May 27 and August 13. The notice says the company has found no evidence the compromised information has been misused. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still 'ongoing'. (Photo: File) Singapore: Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will likely meet again after New Year, the US vice president said Thursday, but insisted his government would not repeat past mistakes where "promises are broken". The US president and the North's leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. North Korea has taken some steps since then -- forgoing nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a missile test site and promising to also break up the country's main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions. But progress has generally been slow, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. Trump has said he hopes to have a second meeting with Kim early next year, but talks between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official planned for last week, partly to prepare for the meeting, were cancelled. The US said the North axed the talks because they weren't ready, and Trump insisted he was in "no rush". Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still "ongoing". "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," he told reporters. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of prior administrations -- frankly both political parties have made over the last several decades -- where promises are made, sanctions are lifted and economic support comes and then promises are broken." His comments came after a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a summit attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Pence urged other countries at the meeting to keep up sanctions pressure on the North amid signs that Pyongyang's traditional trading partners, China and Russia, have eased enforcement. Seoul has also said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. US officials insist on the complete, verified and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled on the pressure in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), insisting sanctions should be fully enforced. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship to ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". "In all that we do the United States seeks collaboration not control," he said at the meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. He also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure your nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land and at sea." Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, even areas approaching the coastlines of other countries, and has been establishing military installations on disputed outcrops. After Singapore, Pence is heading to Papua New Guinea for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Work is in full swing at VHP's workshop at Ramsevakpuram here, where red stones are being carved for the construction of Ram Temple. The workshop, not very far from the disputed site, will see several truckloads of stones arriving from Rajasthan in the next few days. This, notwithstanding the deferment of Ayodhya hearing by the Supreme Court and amid a clarion call by a section of saint community for making a law. A senior BJP official told DH in New Delhi that if the government came out with an ordinance to build the temple in Ayodhya, it could be constructed in a matter of three months. "Pillars, lintels and floor tiles have been made at Karsevakpuram, the official said, requesting anonymity. "Everything is ready." Rajnikant Sompura the chief artisan at the VHP workshop at Ramsevakpuram, is well aware of the heat being generated by the issue. He said the stones have been carved in such a way that they just have to be placed upon one another after being transported to the site. Sources said over one lakh cubic feet of red stones have already been carved at the workshop. "About 70,000 cubic feet of stones are still to be carved. We expect the stones to reach very soon," said an employee at the workshop. A senior VHP leader said more artisans could be hired if work was to be expedited. He said there was no hurdle in bringing red stones from Rajasthan. "Trucks with stones have been arriving in Ayodhya since 1990. Stone-carving has also been going on for several years," said VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma. The then Samajwadi Party government had imposed a ban on bringing stones after Muslim outfits reacted sharply in 2015. Things, however, changed after the installation of Yogi Adityanath government in 2017. VHP leaders said they would take a decision on expediting the work after the proposed 'dharm sabhas' (religious meetings) in Ayodhya, Bengaluru and Nagpur on November 25. "We expect the saints to set a deadline for the government for temple construction. We will abide by the direction of the seers," said a VHP leader. Muslim outfits expressed serious concern about red stones reaching Ayodhya and asked the state government to stop them. "The Supreme Court has ordered to maintain status quo at the disputed site. The VHP is trying to foment tension by bringing the stones here," said Iqbal Ansari, one of the main plaintiffs in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Title Suits. In Delhi, a BJP official said that if the government came out with an ordinance to build the temple, even the principal Opposition Congress would find it difficult to oppose it in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP does not have a majority. The BJP clearly feels the message that it is serious about building the temple will reach the electorate by the act of bringing the ordinance, irrespective of whether or not it manages to go through parliamentary process or legal scrutiny. In what would dominate the political scenario of Maharashtra ahead of 2019 polls, a panel that was entrusted to examine whether the Maratha community is eligible for reservation or not, would submit its report on Thursday. Justice (Retd) MG Gaikwad, who is the Chairman of Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, is expected to submit the report to the Devendra Fadnavis government. The report will be then be submitted to the Bombay High Court on Thursday, that has set 15 November as deadline for it. Fadnavis, who was in Akola said that once the government receives a report, it will do the needful. "We would complete necessary Constitutional formalities in 15 days," he said. The Marathas, a politically-dominant caste, that constitutes nearly 33% of the total 11.25 crore population, had been demanding reservation. Over the last two years there has been peaceful agitation, however, in July-August this year, the protests turned violent. In the last few months, the commission had studied more than two lakh statements and letters. Five institutes too were asked by the state to study the education and economic status- Gokhale Institute, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Shivaji Academy, Sharda Academy and Gurukripa Sanstha for Western Maharashtra, Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha and North Maharashtra, respectively. It is noteworthy to mention here that on Monday, the winter session of Maharashtra legislature commences in Mumbai, and the events of the next few days would have a bearing on the state politics. For a casual visitor it appears to be business as usual in the crowded and chaotic markets in the twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad, but it only camouflages the apprehensions among the people, especially the Muslim community. Their worry is the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) proposed 'dharm sabha' (religious meet), which the outfit has claimed will attract one lakh 'Rambhakts' (disciples of Lord Rama). Local Muslims appear to alarmed more by the apprehensions that a large number of people from outside the twin towns could attend the meeting, which is scheduled to be held on November 25. ''We have cordial relations with our Hindu brethren, but the outsiders may create trouble here,'' said a Muslim fruit seller in the crowded Rikabganj market in Faizabad, which was recently renamed as Ayodhya by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Iqbal Ansari, son of the oldest litigant in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits Hashim Ansari, said that the Muslims in the twin towns feared for their safety in view of the proposed 'dharm sabha' and urged the administration to beef up security. Iqbal Ansari also threatened to leave Faizabad if adequate security arrangements were not made to ''safeguard lives and properties'' of Muslims. ''There is fear among the Muslims here.... Security should be beefed up... We will leave the town before November 25 if adequate security arrangements are not made,'' Ansari said. Khalid Ahmed Khan, a resident of Faizabad and representative of one of the petitioners in the title suits, however, sought to put up a brave face and said that the Muslims were not ''scared'' by the VHP's ''tactics'', which he termed as ''pure politics''. ''We have seen the worst... We are not scared. We cannot be forced to surrender the land of Babri Mosque.... We want the Supreme Court to decide the title of land and not distribute the land as was done by the Allahabad High Court,'' Khan told DH in Ayodhya. He said that 19 Muslims were killed and over 400 houses belonging to community members were torched after the demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6, 1992. Khan, who represented Mehfoozur Rehman, a petitioner in the title suits, quoted the Waqf Act of 1995 to state that the land of the mosques could not be transferred. ''Even Babar, the Mughal emperor, would not have been able to transfer the land,'' he remarked. Uttar Pradesh police chief O P Singh said on Wednesday that the state government was committed to ensure safety and security of all the people in the state. With the VHP set to turn the November 25 event into a show of strength by bringing ''Rambhakts'' from across the country to Ayodhya, the residents of the twin towns were likely to remain on the edge till then. Secures Ground Surrounding Livingstone Gold Discovery Sydney, Nov 16, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Kingston Resources Limited ( ASX:KSN ) ("Kingston" or "the Company") is pleased to report that it has increased its land holding at its 75%-owned Livingstone Gold Project in Western Australia to 377 km2, with a recent tenement application (see Figure 1 in link below).Highlights- Kingston expands Livingstone land holding with application ELA 52/3667- ELA 52/3667 is 170 km2 and covers prospective Padbury Metasediments- The Padbury Metasediments host the high grade Winja prospect, the recently discovered Kingsley prospect & the historic Livingstone's Find prospect- Limited historical work undertaken on the new applicationThe new application is located on the western end of the Padbury and Bryah Basins. The application consolidates Kingston's position over more than 40km of prospective strike, along the faulted contact between gneissic granite of the Archaean Narryer Terrane and the Proterozoic metasediments of the Padbury Group.Kingston's existing Livingstone tenement hosts the historic Livingstone's Find gold workings, which is the largest historic gold producing area in the Robinson Range Sheet producing 1,260oz at an average grade of 21.85g/t. It also hosts the high grade Winja prospect and the recent Kingsley discovery. The new tenement application expands Kingston's footprint around these exciting prospective targets.Kingston Resources Limited Managing Director, Andrew Corbett said: "The Livingstone Project is proving to be a fantastic acquisition that is rapidly increasing in value. It has delivered results with each stage of exploration undertaken by the Kingston team, culminating in the recent discovery of the Kingsley deposit on previously untested ground. With further tenure now secured in the area, we are looking forward to continuing this success."To view figures, please visit:About Kingston Resources Limited Kingston (ASX:KSN) is a metals exploration company. Currently the Company's priority is the world-class Misima Gold Project in PNG, which contains a JORC resource of 2.8Moz Au, a production history of over 3.7Moz and outstanding potential for additional resource growth through exploration success. Kingston currently owns 70% of the Misima Gold Project. In addition, Kingston owns 75% of the Livingstone Gold Project, WA which holds a 50koz resource and is the site of ongoing exploration and a number of high-grade historic intersections. Morocco to Launch its Second Satellite, Mohammed VI-B Morocco is set to launch its second satellite, Mohammed VI-B, on November 20 to increase aerial logistics of the country. The French Arianespace satellite launching company will launch into orbit the new Mohammed VI-B satellite, according to a November 13 press release from the company. The new satellite will reportedly serve for socio economic , environmental , monitoring, meteorology, and map making purposes. The project is part of an agreement between France and Morocco signed in 2013 when former French President Francois Hollande visited Morocco. Sometime in the future, there will be a new Marvel movie that doesn't have a Stan Lee cameo, and fans will realize that one of the most important creative icons of our time is really gone. Stan Lee cameos are as traditional to Marvel movies as after-credits bonus scenes and third-act laser beams in the sky. Whenever he popped up on-screen, Lee always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye that betrayed a young heart, and even though the man was 95 years old when he passed this week, I think we all kind of assumed hed be around forever. Its hard to think of anyone more synonymous with the world of comic books, having built the vast Marvel stable back in the 1960s alongside artist Jack Kirby, giving the world iconic characters like Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk and the Uncanny X-Men. A track record like that makes it easy to stack him alongside other 20th-century titans of imagination like Ray Bradbury, Rod Serling and George Lucas. At the same time, you could argue that Lee belongs with a different group of peers, more contemporary guys like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. The tech-heavy 21st century has birthed the age of the geek, ruled by obsessive pop culture overlords, and even if he did his work 60 years ago, Lees disciples are bearing his creative fruits today. For those of us who werent raised on comic books a major strike on my otherwise respectable nerd cred resume we got to know the Manhattan-born Lee as his creations made their way to the big screen. Back in the 1970s and '80s, well-known DC staples like "Superman" and "Batman" laid the groundwork for quality comic-to-movie transitions, but the Marvel juggernaut of the last decade has elevated the genre to a place where even an obscure no-name series like "Guardians of the Galaxy" is now a beloved favorite. At the same time, Lee became a staple of the convention circuit, dropping by multiple events in Salt Lake City to pose for pictures, sign autographs and give hardcore fans a chance to meet their hero. While often thrilling for his fans, those interactions became important to Lee, as well. The enthusiasm of the convention-goers is so exciting, its like nourishment, he told the L.A. Times in 2014. When you go there, and you realize that all these people are really involved and really care about the things youre doing, you cant get tired. Its like getting a tonic every time. The passion that Lee's fans had and have for his work spilled over to love for the creator himself. Thanks to his many cameo roles, he became as much a part of Marvel lore and mythology as any of his characters. Whether watching a celebrated pop-culture hero like Spider-Man or a more insider character like Deadpool, you could always count on Lees grinning mug to make a quick and funny appearance. Over the years, Lee appeared as a World War II general in the first Captain America, a quippy bartender in Ant-Man, and going way back as a juror in a 1989 Incredible Hulk TV movie. For now, though, his most appropriate cameo might be from 2017s Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, when Lee appears with a group of robed space aliens with comically large, bald heads. Hailed in Marvel canon as the "oldest species in the universe," the Watchers are a group of impartial observers, a kind of celestial surveillance squad, and Lee is spinning them yarns about his time as a FedEx delivery man (referencing his cameo at the end of Captain America: Civil War). The scene led to speculation that Lee's cameo self might actually be Uatu, a Watcher (that Lee dreamed up) assigned specifically to Earth. It's a theory that, in light of his passing this week, works. As fans reflect on the life and passions of their departed hero this week, the thought of Lee looking down on us from somewhere on high feels comforting. Excelsior, indeed. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. If public servants are measured by their devotion to service, rather than to any of the many connotations of the word public, Jim Hansen ranks as one of the best to hold that title in Utah. Hansen, who died Wednesday at the age of 86, served in the U.S. House for 22 years, longer than any other member of that body from Utah, but he did so out of a sense of obligation and passion for issues about which he cared deeply. He worked tirelessly for what he considered to be the best management of Utahs public lands, often angering environmentalists in the process. And yet he sponsored a bill that created wilderness in U.S. forest areas. He was fierce in his defense of Hill Air Force Base, which mattered greatly when the Clinton administration closed several military bases after the end of the Cold War. He chaired the House Ethics Committee at a time when fellow Republican Newt Gingrich came under investigation. To Hansens credit, people from both parties said they trusted him to handle that situation with fairness and equity. Even when he voluntarily chose not to stand for re-election at the age of 69, he kept his hand in public service, forming a lobbying group that worked on behalf of energy companies. He even ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2004. He also called this newspaper from time to time, offering opinion pieces we gladly published. These essays, such as one he wrote in 2013 advocating for congressional term limits, provided perspectives unique to a longtime member of Congress. Term limits, he said, would allow representatives nearing the end of their tenure to devote their complete time and talents serving the people. Only a person who had submitted himself to 11 separate election campaigns could understand how distracting things like fundraising and campaigning could be from the real work at hand. Hansen entered politics because he was upset with the way Farmingtons water system was being run. He spent the next 42 years of his public service career, through the Farmington City Council to the Utah House, where he served as speaker, and onto Washington, exhibiting the same sort of passion. To Hansen, being a public servant was not a job, it was something he did to serve those who had entrusted him with their votes. Thats important to remember in an age when many seem to enter politics out of a desire to please party ideologues rather than serve the interests of constituents. Its also a reason why the people of this state owe a debt of gratitude for his devoted service. SALT LAKE CITY A Utah legislative panel on Wednesday rejected a draft proposal that would set guidelines for how Utahns can legally change their gender in the courts. A majority of members on the Judiciary Interim Committee voted down the measure Wednesday. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler, says people long have petitioned courts to have their gender changed on their birth certificates, but judges weighing the cases lack guidance from the Legislature. Judges receive about 50 to 70 such requests a year, the Woods Cross Republican told the panel. His measure would allow those 15 and older to file a petition seeking the change. The Utah Supreme Court is now weighing a case from two Utahns who sought new documents matching their gender identity but were denied. Rep. Brian Green, R-Pleasant Grove, questioned whether teens should be able to do so before they legally are adults. But anyone under 18 must have approval from their parents to have their case heard, said attorney Chris Wharton. Rep. Merrill Nelson, R-Grantsville, was among those who voted no. "The trend of society is to eliminate and erase gender distinctions," Nelson said. "And we should not, as policymakers, facilitate that change in society." Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, said judges are already granting and denying the requests and the measure would provide them direction. A similar bill last year failed following emotional debate. Weiler said after the hearing that it may be three or four years before his colleagues approve the measure. SALT LAKE CITY Utah's yes votes for Proposition 4 have taken a lead of 2,250 votes out of 932,714 ballots following the latest release of results by three counties Wednesday. As of Wednesday, the measure was back up to a 50.1 percent lead. On Tuesday, support for the measure had slipped to just below 50 percent of all reported votes. Thousands of votes still need to be tallied in Salt Lake and Utah counties, according to the Utah State Elections office. Of about 134,147 votes so far counted in Utah County on Proposition 4, 56.9 percent have been against it. Meanwhile, of 364,293 votes thus far recorded in Salt Lake County, 41.6 percent have been against it. State Elections Director Justin Lee said after Utah's canvass of election results is completed Nov. 26, any 10 voters who weighed in on Proposition 4 on their ballot may file a request for a recount with the lieutenant governor's office, so long as the margin is less than 0.25 percent of all votes cast on the issue. Proposition 4's organizers put it on the ballot as a way to push back against gerrymandering, the practice of manipulating political boundaries to favor one party or candidate over another. If passed, the initiative would establish a seven-member independent redistricting commission, appointed by elected officials in both major parties, which would recommend political boundary adjustments to the Utah Legislature that reflect population shifts in Utah shown by the once-per-decade federal census. The boundaries affected would be those for congressional seats, state legislative districts and state school board positions. State lawmakers would be required to formally either accept or reject the commission's recommendations. SALT LAKE CITY Heres a look at the news for Nov. 15. Winter is coming and so is bad air. What psychology can teach us about fixing Utahs air quality problem. Read more. Utahs anti-gerrymandering measure is now in the lead by this many votes. Read more. The U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said the 2002 Olympic legacy remains palpable in Utah. Read more. The Utah Jazz lost by 50 points Wednesday night. Thats right. Fifty. Read more. Cougar Insiders podcast explores why the NCAAs sanctions against BYU dont fit the crime. Read more. Rice-Eccles Stadium is expanding. Heres what it will look like. A new study found 85 percent of Utah firearm deaths are suicides. Read more. Utah Rep. Mia Loves campaign filed a lawsuit to halt ballot counting in Salt Lake County. Read more. Featured voices: Our most popular stories: Church News: Elvis Presley's copy of the Book of Mormon ain't nothin' but a forgery, Church history experts say 2018 Deseret News girls soccer All-State teams Called to serve, not called to suffer: Hope for early returned missionaries Here are the most- and least-trusted CNN, MSNBC and Fox News hosts 'Cold': Woman who dated killer Josh Powell breaks silence in new podcast A look at national headlines: SALT LAKE CITY Utah law allows police officers to carry guns while theyre drunk. Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, said he discovered that while drafting his bill lowering the legal limit for driving while intoxicated in Utah to .05 percent blood alcohol content, which takes effect Dec. 30. State law prohibits people from carrying a dangerous weapon while drunk, with the exception of law enforcement officers. So if you are a certified law enforcement officer its perfectly fine to be as intoxicated as you want and carry a dangerous weapon, he told the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee on Wednesday. Thurston said that seems to be an inappropriate exemption in the law. It just doesnt look good. We dont want the public perception that we have police officers out there and they're kind of entitled to be above the law just because they're police officers, he said. Thurston said he identified four "problems" in the law when it comes to alcohol and weapons. He has a bill to address those issues, though committee members suggested it would better to handle them in separate pieces of legislation. The panel had little say about the legislation and took no action Wednesday. The bill would prohibit police officers from carrying a gun under the influence of drugs or alcohol. But it would not ban people under the influence from having a dangerous weapon that is locked up or not readily accessible. It would also allow people who have been drinking to use a weapon to defend themselves and to have a weapon on private property with the owner's consent. If youre defending yourself, the fact that youve been drinking does not limit your ability or your right to choose how you defend yourself, Thurston said. He said its probably a constitutional violation if a person who has been drinking gets attacked but cant defend themselves with a weapon, that they have to defend themselves with their bare knuckles. His measure would also address the broad definition of carry when it comes to guns and drunken driving. If someone has a gun in a moving van, for example, that would constitute carrying under state law. Not to say that people should be driving moving vans while theyre intoxicated, but you could be a passenger in a moving van, he said. Thurston said the law includes a lot of things that people wont necessarily define as carrying a weapon. His bill would clarify that if gun were securely encased or not readily available, it would not be considered carrying. The other issue centers on what is or isnt allowed on private property. In general, he said, the law allows private property owners to make the rules about what happens on their property. The question is whether the law trumps the decisions of private property owners, Thurston said. Thurston said he wasnt expecting a unanimous vote from the committee on the bill but wanted to put the issues out for discussion. Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said removing the exemption for police to carry guns while drunk makes sense, but the private property issue calls for lengthy debate. SALT LAKE CITY President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation that Utah Sen. Mike Lee helped write. At a White House event on Wednesday, Trump endorsed the First Step Act, which would loosen some federal mandatory minimum sentencing laws. He said the legislation would "make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time." A former federal prosecutor, Lee has long argued that federal sentencing guidelines too often require punishments that don't fit the crime. Lee thanked Trump for getting behind the long-stalled measure that Senate Republicans and Democrats hammered out after months of negotiations. "President Trump has always been a strong voice for tough-on-crime policies, and his endorsement of bipartisan criminal justice reform is a huge win for the American people," he said in a statement. "This legislation strengthens public safety by increasing faith in the criminal justice system, reducing recidivism and protecting vulnerable families." Trump said the announcement shows that "true bipartisanship" is possible, adding "I'll be waiting with a pen" if Congress can get the bill passed. This is a big breakthrough for a lot of people," he said. "Theyve been talking about this for many, many years. The president said he was "surprised" at some of the politicians involved in the legislation. "Like, as an example, Mike Lee and Rand Paul, and others," Trump said, drawing laughter in the room. "No, its got tremendous support at every level." Lee has pushed legislation for years that expands federal judges now-limited discretion to mete out sentences that are neither too lenient nor too harsh and that fit the crime and the criminal. He often cites the 55-year prison sentenced imposed on Weldon Angelos, a father of two boys who had no prior criminal convictions, in 2002 for selling dime bags of marijuana to a confidential police informant three times. At one sale, he had a gun in his car and in another he had it strapped to his ankle. Police found another gun in a bag in his apartment. Under mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines, the judge had no choice but to impose what amounted to a lifetime behind bars. Angelos was released from prison in 2016 without explanation. Angelos, a former music producer turned justice reform advocate, helped organize a letter signed by more than 50 celebrities, including Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Alyssa Milano, urging Congress to pass the legislation. "When the public sees judges handing out unfair punishments, it undermines trust in the entire justice system," Lee wrote in a Fox News op-ed. Lee said excessive prison sentences for nonviolent offenders, especially those with no prior criminal history, often do far more harm than good. Such sentences can break apart families and weaken communities. "Incarceration is an essential law enforcement tool that protects communities and keeps families safe," he wrote. "But it also inflicts costs on communities and families, and at some point the negative impact of incarceration on marriage and family can become too stark to ignore." In May, the House passed the First Step Act, which includes measures to reduce recidivism, but does not address sentencing for nonviolent offenders. The Senate compromise would add four provisions to the House bill, including lowering mandatory minimum sentences for drug felonies and reducing the three strikes penalty from life in prison to 25 years. The legislation would also provide new incentives for low-risk federal inmates to gain employment skills and allow inmates to be placed closer to their home communities to help facilitate family visitation. Editors note: The following is a transcript of the episode. It's been edited for clarity. Boyd Matheson: The world is filled with challenges, insecurity and uncertainty. Many individuals struggle to find purpose, passion and joy in life. A lack of confidence in self and faith in a divine purpose leaves many straggling in the foothills and off the mountaintops of success, fulfillment and meaningful service. Could the answers be found in covenant living? Sister Julie B. Beck, author of the new book "Joy in the Covenant," shares personal insight on this week's episode of Therefore, What? We're very pleased today to be joined by Julie Beck, the 15th Relief Society general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She's a graduate of Dixie College, now Dixie State University, and Brigham Young University. Before her service as Relief Society general president, she served on the Young Women general board, as first counselor in the Young Women general presidency and is currently vice chair of the Board of Trustees at Dixie State University. She also serves on the executive committee of the BYU Alumni Association. Sister Beck, thanks for joining us today. Well, I'm very excited to talk to you about your new book, "Joy in the Covenant," because I think we have so many people today who really are living without joy. There's so many things that go on in the world. We have people who are kind of part of the lonely crowd. Tell us a little bit of the back story. What motivated you to write this book? What's the purpose? Julie Beck: This book is a collection of some reflections I've had over time, and it encapsulates different periods of thought, different experiences that I had. So I captured the experience I was having. As you read the book, you'll see a little biography before each chapter that says, here's what I was doing. And here's what I was thinking at the time. And these are the thoughts that came out of that experience I was having. BM: Yes, absolutely. Wonderful. So I'm going to dive right into the book portion. It's broken into three segments, which I just love: identity, purpose, and joyful living. And starting with identity, because I do think that's something that a lot of people struggle with today, really getting that connection, and you start this section, you share a lot of your experiences from down in Brazil. So tell us a little bit about that JB: Our identity really is an eternal identity, but we live in a world that proliferates identities. All you have to do is look at teenagers. Go to your local junior high, you'll find the segmentation of identity and that's an age group that's trying to find out who they are. And often it's by pairing with someone else who they think they are alike. But for us as people, as we grow older, we should come to know that we are an eternal person, that we are part of Heavenly Father's family, we have that coverage in our life. It's the umbrella under which we live. To me, that gives me great confidence. It doesn't mean I can't be an individual, that I don't have my own character traits and personality, I can't change my hair color or things like that. But to know at my core, who I am, what my purpose is, what my work is, is very, very important. It provides the context for dealing with the life experience I have. BM: And I think that's so interesting there. I always think back to a Disney movie, just because my kids watched this 20,000 times when they were growing up, in the "The Lion King," and there's that moment where the young Simba, you know interacts with the monkey, Rafiki, the monkey who, you know, served under his father says, you know, you don't even know who you are. And I think a lot of people in the world today are struggling with that very identity. Who am I really, and what is that divine connection? JB: Yes. And I started to learn that as a child, but it doesn't really firm up until we start having our own grown-up life experience. I begin by talking about Brazil, because that's when I began being aware that I had a specific identity. I wasn't Brazilian, I wasn't really American, people knew who I was, with regard to my parents. I was a middle child in a large family, which also challenges identity. So learning about identity became part of my life's work, I think, BM: Yeah, yeah. Also growing up in a family of 11 children. You were one of 10, right? That identity does become something interesting to grapple with, in terms of what is your unique space in the world? JB: Yes, I am part of this big group. And we are a big group, but I can't be special unless I figure out myself. That I think is a challenge. And maybe it's not unique to a large family. BM: So I wanted to drill down a little bit on Brazil and South America. I had the opportunity to travel with the Prophet (Russell M. Nelson) over the last few weeks going through South America. And the theme that you mentioned in the book, from Elder (M. Russell) Ballard, of growing, you know, slow at first, but as an acorn to an oak and you talk about that in one of the chapters in terms of identity. How did you see that playing out in South America? And then how did it impact your own identity? JB: As I was a little girl in Brazil, I didn't see or notice, it was just a daily experience of senses, sights and sounds. We were very much involved in the missionary life. The missionaries ate dinner with us in the olden days. I grew up on their stories of faith, their experiences and challenges. I also grew up with Brazilian children, we were very much assimilated into the life of the church there. My parents said, we don't know when we'll go back to the Estados Unidos. Brazil is our home. I remember being grabbed by the arm once, running through the church, and someone saying, "Who were your parents?" They thought I was one of the local children in the branch. What an honor. But that's where it began to be noticeable to me. When we came back from Brazil to the United States, it was another big shift for me. That whole identity of being nurtured in the church environment, being part of a mission and being a missionary was gone. I had to find a new place in the world with people who didn't understand the other language I spoke. We didn't dress the same anymore, we didn't sound the same. That was a real shift for me, going back into late elementary school years and on into junior high. Who am I? BM: Yeah, tell us a little more about that. Because I think many people struggle with identity as they go through life's transitions, whether that's transitioning, you know, pre-mission life, during the mission, after the mission, married, as you enter those different phases. Often, I do think that raises questions in terms of our identity. JB: People think life is static, and that we are one person forever. But life is a series of transitions from birth. As you watch newborns transition and become somebody else. It happens over and over and over again. I don't know why we're not better at it. I've transitioned many, many times in my life. And I think, now why am I having to learn this again? Because life is nothing but a series of transitions. That's why it's so important to know and anchor ourselves in more of an eternal identity and purpose and work. When we know our center, our circumstances can change. You can go from being single to married, that changes identity, right? Some people go from married to being single, again, for a number of reasons. That changes identity. Becoming a parent changes your identity, having children leave changes your identity. The transitions of young people. If you don't know who you are, at your core, and what that eternal identity is, then the fluctuations of life really can throw you off. So a lot of these identities, so-called, are really just life changing seasons. Seasons in our life. There was a time in college when all the boys wore the plaid trousers. BM: We hope that doesn't come around very often. But it seems to keep coming back. JB: And the girls did too. I have pictures to prove it. But we don't wear those anymore. I was still essentially the same person. But I was meeting with and associating with different people. And we stretch ourselves in that regard. BM: Yeah, fascinating. So you talk about those anchors being critical. What are some of the other things that you've learned that are helpful in those transitions, in terms of keeping your identity. As you've gone through some of those transitions, what are some of the things that have been helpful to you, in keeping locked into that divine identity? JB: What's helpful to me is to make this about myself and the Lord. Sometimes we get dependent on another person, it could be a spouse or a friend, and we say, "I identify with that," and we lean against each other, but I am more secure when my identity is focused on who I am with regards to the Lord, Who does he think I am? And am I fulfilling that desire he has for me. Am I doing my best with regard to him? If I am, I know that I'm square with him, and I can be square with anybody else and with myself. Otherwise, I can be deceiving myself. I know I can't deceive the Lord. BM: That's, that's important. JB: I know he knows who I am. I know, he knows who I can be. And I have to work to discover that sometimes. BM: Yeah, tell me. How do you think, especially with our young people with social media? It seems like we're constantly viewing our lives through comparison to someone else. What does that do to our divine identity? JB: Comparisons happen everywhere, it doesn't just happen to teens. BM: Well, that's true. JB: My husband said yesterday, in his priesthood quorum, they were talking about ministering and they were comparing their different ministries and he came and said, "Am I doing it right?" I said, "What do you think? It's between you and the Lord how you're doing. Can you honestly say you're doing what the Lord wants you to do in this regard?" And then you're less likely to be thrown off. Sometimes a little healthy competition doesn't hurt. But that does not tell us who we are. We are unique. One of the reasons in this book is that I focus the three sections on quotes from Jacob chapter 5 is that you read in that allegory, this long process of becoming something. And becoming the right thing, becoming the precious fruit that the Lord had in mind from the beginning. That was a very involved process as you read that description. And a lot of people fall asleep in that chapter. But I like it. I like the process of becoming that is described in there and the effort that is involved and the constant focus on the desired outcome. And what the identity of that fruit is and should and can be. I think that describes our life experience. It's talking about the House of Israel but individually we make up that house. So if you think of a fruit, an olive on a tree, that's one individual olive. You don't get the oil in a whole vial from one olive. It takes all of us to become the byproduct. Each one of us individually will eventually become that. BM: I love that. That's great. Let's shift to that second section of the book on purpose. You share some wonderful examples in there of some of your experience during your college years. And I love this phrase you had in there of that life is always a battle against inertia. Tell us about that. JB: Well, I don't know a lot about physics. It wasn't one of my favorite subjects, but I do remember inertia that it's easier to sit still and not move, easier to find a comfortable spot and not be challenged. But that's the battle, and once you get going, it's like getting a car moving. The first few feet the engine works hardest, right? Then it can coast along for a while. Because you're not battling inertia in the same way. So we battle inertia. We live in a world that is governed by gravity. It's a pulling down force. As we get older, we're squashed. Quiet. I have a 94-year-old mother I can see that 94 years of gravity working on her frame is having its effect. That same law of gravity weighs us down in a lot of other ways. So to battle that, then we have to keep moving. We have to keep moving in positive directions. We can't just stop. BM: That's right. And I think, too, as we go through that process, you know, I think one of the great challenges in the world today is mediocrity, is that being content with just kind of the status quo and that inertia of just, I'm OK where I am, so I'm just gonna plant it here and be done. How do we combat that? JB: And not do something different, not be challenged. It's scary to be challenged, especially in a world that compares, and in a world that allows for us to stop and be comfortable. But we're hearing from our prophet, don't stop, keep moving. There's lots to do. We learn from that allegory. There is a lot of work to do. We can't get too comfortable. And it's also more fun if we're moving, trying harder, trying new things. Some things we fail at and they're disappointing. BM: It's all part of the process. JB: It's part of the process. But you don't learn if you don't try? BM: When the Prophet was in Montevideo, last week, he was asked about leaving behind his profession as a world-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to be an apostle. And he didn't pause for a second. He said, I walked through the door into a new room, and I closed the door behind me. So he was already moving forward. He, you know, he put his profession and his medical career behind him as he stepped into that new room, and he's always bounding forward. He has endless energy. I don't know gravity is applicable to the Prophet these days. JB: Well, he's he has learned how to battle it by moving. And he keeps that he's a life force now that wants to keep moving. I love that example. We have to be that way. Sometimes people retire, for instance, and they say, well, I've stopped, I've done that. But I don't think we're finished growing until we're finished. So that's the battle against inertia. It's more comfortable. It's easier just to sit, we get tired, we get battered. We get bruised, but stopping is not the best option. BM: Yeah. And so often, don't you find that often we we run out of energy before we run out of opportunity, especially when it comes to fulfilling our potential? JB: Yes, we do. It's because we're mortal. We, unless you're President Nelson, you don't have limitless energy. We do get tired. But I love the concept of getting up every day. I love what Joseph Smith taught in the "Lectures on Faith." That faith is a principle of action, and just getting up every day is a demonstration of faith. I love what my mother taught me when I was young, that your morning is all about 1-2-3-4, that one is roll out of bed onto your knees, two his reach up and pull your covers to make your bed. That is symbolic. That means you aren't getting back in. You've closed that part of your day. And now you have a different part. Three, grab your scriptures and open them up. Read something quick in the scriptures. Four, get dressed. She felt like you should do that in the first few minutes of your day. 1-2-3-4. And I found it to be very symbolic and faith-promoting that, OK, I'm started. I don't have to make that decision again, and whether to get up, whether to get dressed, whether to get going. BM: Yeah, often it's the I think it was was Elder (Neal A.) Maxwell, who said, the more hesitation the less inspiration, and the less inspiration we have, the less likely we are to actually act and move forward. JB: We have some friends once that had made the decision every day, whether or not to send their children to school. They did that for years and years and years. I don't know, they might not feel well today. And they're tired. And their teacher was mean yesterday. Every day, they made the decision of whether or not to send their children to school. And as the years went by, I thought that is the hardest work of all. They never stopped making that first decision. BM: That's fascinating. JB: So inertia governed their lives, they just could not move forward. Whereas if you just pick something, 1-2-3-4, and start moving, it's easier to keep going. BM: Yeah. The mental gymnastics of deciding and redeciding or committing I'm describing my exercise program I'm exhausted before I start, because I keep deciding, am I going to do it today? Am I not going to do it today? What are some of the things that you've learned in terms I love that pattern of just 1-2-3-4? And I think we all can come up with a 1-2-3-4 of some sort that gets us into the day. JB: Jump starts the day. And we have to do that everyday. Life is daily. That's what's kind of hard about it. BM: It is the challenge isn't it? Mornings keep coming around. JB: People always have to eat and you have to figure that out. We're still at heart hunters and gatherers. BM: Yeah, very true. Well, good. Well, I want to pivot now into the last section of the book, which is really where everything starts to come together in terms of joyful living. So first describe that, what does joyful living mean to you? JB: Joyful living means that you try to be happy and try to enjoy the experience. It means working on a sense of humor, if that's not your gift. BM: Good. I'm pro that. JB: Some people have a natural gift for it. And some people have to work to acquire it. But it helps to have a little bit of a lens of humor. I think the Lord has a lens of humor, you look at an aardvark and you think somebody was laughing when they made that one. But there is this principle of we have to try and enjoy it. Enjoy the experience. My parents were great at this. They're very optimistic naturally, but I think they had to develop that, it wasn't just because they didn't ever have challenges. They had huge challenges in their lives. But they determined to approach those challenges with an element of joy and enthusiasm. BM: Yeah, tell us a little bit more. Your father, Elder (William Grant) Bangerter, you know, a real legend of the church in South America. So involved in the early days there, especially in Brazil, you talk in the book about kind of your family mission and motto. Tell us about that, and how that has helped you over the years. JB: My parents went to Brazil five years after they were married. My mother, it was a first marriage for her. My father had lost his first wife. So she married into this family and began having more children right away. So by the time she was married five years, she had six children. Number seven on the way. She was very stretched, I think of my fifth wedding anniversary. And it wasn't anything close. I admire her so much for just taking on this challenge, and really did enjoy it because she was an optimistic, can-do kind of person. But when they got to Brazil, it was not so fun. It was a big wrench away from her family. It wasn't the day of emails and cell phones, Vonage phones, you didn't call, mail took sometimes months to reach where it was going. She was really cut off from her support system. She didn't know the language. She had a baby 10 days after she got there. She was a registered nurse. So she was confronted all of a sudden with all this illness, with the missionaries, illness with the children, trying to find food. My father was off and running. He's going right back on his mission, thrilled to death with life. So exciting, back speaking the language, picking up the threads of friendship, and very, very enthused. So one day, he found mother weeping on her bed. She went to her room purposefully to be alone and not be discovered. She did not show her sadness in public. But he found her there, and said, look out the window and see this beautiful land. Why are you crying? She said, I looked and all I could see was the Rocky Mountains. She was so homesick. And he had to point out the beautiful green foliage and the red earth that we all grew to love so much, the flowering trees. He said, someday we'll go back to United States, this experience won't last forever. And when we do, we're going to tell everybody about it. We're going to talk about it the rest of our lives. When we recount these experiences we're going to laugh, we're going to enjoy it. We're going to think it was the greatest time of our lives. He says, if we're going to enjoy it in 20 years, why aren't we enjoying it now? For her, she said that was a parting of a curtain. It was as if she closed the act, the first act of a play, opened the curtain on the next act and said, OK, I'm in Brazil, let's see how much fun we can have. She really did approach our life there in that regard. She was a fun, fun mother. In Brazil, we'd go with her to the feta, the outdoor market, she'd take multiple big shopping bags, because she was shopping for lots of people, lots of food, and drop one bag off for the orange man and one bag for the banana man, one bag for the bread man up the street. And then she'd come back and collect her full bags and go home. She learned where to shop, learned how to solve her problems, and really did assimilate with full force of her great spirit into that country, and made lifelong friends. Consequently, we all thought we were Brazilians because of my parents' experience, and that carried over for the rest of our lives. That lesson, as we became discouraged growing up, with our own personal experiences, they'd say, Well, you know, you're going to enjoy this in a few years. Why aren't you enjoying it now? BM: Yeah, what a great lesson. And what a great lesson in just being present to the moment. So often it's, well, if I survive this, then I'll be happy. JB: I'll get over this hill. I know my father taught this in a speech once. But he said that as he grew up, he had this idea that when he got older, he'd have an adventure. Life would become something really amazing for him. Then he'd have this adventure. And he'd lived on a small farm out in the West Valley area. It wasn't very adventurous for him. But then he was called on a mission. And he thought, yes, I'll do my mission. And after my mission, then I'll have a great adventure. And after the mission, then the war came, and he went into the Air Force. And he thought, well, when the Air Force is finished, and the war is over, then I can begin to have my life. Right now my life is on hold, because it's the war and then I will have this adventure. Then he got married during the war, and he began his family. And after a few years, then his wife passed away and he thought, wait a minute, BM: Where's my adventure? JB: Where's my adventure? He says, I lived through the depression. That was an adventure. I went to South America on a mission. That was an adventure. I had this great experience during the war. I had an amazing experience with my wife, we had an adventure. He says, why am I waiting to have my adventure? The Lord's been giving this experience to me, I've been having it all along. And he determined at that point not to miss it. He felt that he had missed some of the adventure by thinking life would happen later after this next big hurdle. BM: That's great. I love that. Well, I want to wrap up today in our remaining moments on what was my favorite chapter, and that is, "Somebody has a name." And I want to read a quote from the book and then I'll have you respond to tell us a little more about what that somebody is all about. But it says "God is aware of all his children and he knows those who need help. He is also aware when somebody will help, when somebody will go." And then I love this. "And as those somebodies respond, they learned that he knows them also, because he sends them." Tell us about where that came from. JB: My mother used to tell us, somebody has a name, because we'd come home, complain about something, this or that, somebody should do something about this, or I hope somebody fixes that. And she would listen for a while and then say, "Well, you know, somebody has a name. Is that your name? Is this something you should fix or do something about?" But my own personal experience of this happened years later, as I was a young mother and one of my friends lost a child in an accident. She was a close friend, I worried about her and prayed for her and mourned with her over this horrible experience. One day, I was at home fixing lunch for my own children. And I had a very strong impression to go see her. And I thought, certainly I will, after I fix lunch. And after I've fed the children and cleaned things up, and I have a little break, I'll go see her. But I had that foot in my back again, go now. So I left lunch unmade and I got in the car and I drove out to her house and nobody was home. I thought, Oh, see, it was just my worry, it wasn't really an impression. I was just worried, and so I overreacted in my concern. As I was driving away from her house. She pulled up and she actually pulled in front of my car and stopped me. She said, Where have you been? I said, I've been at your house. She says, Why we there? I said, I just felt I should be there. How did you know I needed you? I don't know what I said, if it helped, or anything. But I had been there and we had an exchange and I went home and I got on my knees. And I thanked Heavenly Father for knowing her. It comforted me to realize that she'd been praying for something and her prayer was answered. And I was reassured that she would be OK. And as I offered that prayer of gratitude that the Lord was helping her I had a very powerful impression. Yes, and I know you too, because I sent you. And I never forgot that lesson, that the Lord knew her. But he also knew me and he sent me. That made me much more aware of his involvement in my life, and how he could direct me and help me to be a blessing, to be a somebody. BM: In our last segment of the show we always get to the Therefore, What? So as people who have listened to this podcast, as people read the book, what do you hope they take away? What do you hope they think different? What do you hope they do different as a result of this great book? JB: I hope that they will do as I did, and ponder more deeply on their identity of who they are. What does it mean to be a member of the House of Israel? What is that identity, how can I fulfill and enhance that in my life? I hope that they will feel that there is a purpose behind that identity, that there is a great work to be done, that they're needed. The Lord knows them, He knows their capacity, He knows their weakness and He will bless and help them in that process. This is all part of the Atonement of Christ and knowing him and getting that help that is promised us. So I hope that is what they'll take away, that through their real life experiences they can know who they are and why they're here and what they're supposed to be doing. And take away strengthened purpose in working with the Lord to become who he wants them to become, and helping him in his great harvest of souls in this magnificent time. BM: Wonderful. Sister Julie Beck. the book is "Joy in the Covenant." Thanks so much for being with us today. Remember, after the story is told, after the principle is presented, after the discussion and debate have been had, the question for all of us is Therefore, What? Don't miss an episode, and be sure to rate this episode and leave us a review. Follow us on Deseretnews.com/podcast and subscribe to our newsletter. This is Boyd Matheson, opinion editor for the Deseret News, thanks for engaging with us on Therefore, What? Find and subscribe to this and other podcasts from the Deseret News at DeseretNews.com/Podcasts_. Or find us on_ iTunes_,_ Google Play or wherever you listen to podcasts. Bronwyn Corbett, CEO of Grit Real Estate, says more investors are sending teams to other African countries to seek deals. While many foreign investors may be cautious about Africas growth prospects at this stage, Grit Real Estate, Africa's largest property fund believes continent could be set for growth in the long term. Real estate elsewhere in Africa is back in vogue with investors who battle to find growth in SA. Bronwyn Corbett, CEO of the largest Africa-focused property company, Grit Real Estate, says more investors are sending teams to other African countries to seek deals. "The SA environment is problematic at the moment. "Growth prospects are poor and landlords and fund managers are trying to find somewhere to put their money that is attractive," she said. Corbett, who listed Grit Real Estate as the first pan-African fund on the JSE in 2014, spoke at the recently held Africa Property Investment Summit and Expo. "The SA property market itself is highly saturated for investors and fund managers, so there is interest in Africa again. "An example is Growthpoint Investec African Properties, a joint venture between Growthpoint Properties and Investec, which recently raised more than $200m for investments in Africa," she said. Grit now owns a $700m property portfolio spread across seven African countries including Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique and Zambia. It is the only Africa-focused property company on the JSE. In 2018 it also listed on the London Stock Exchange. Corbett said Grit would own $1bn in assets by the end of 2018 and would soon conclude deals in Senegal, Ghana and Morocco. Her comments came soon after listed property funds Attacq and Hyprop Investments and unlisted group Atterbury Property announced they would dispose of a portfolio of six shopping centres worth $637.1m (R9.5bn) in a number of African countries. Hyprop said it could find better opportunities in Eastern Europe and Attacq said it was seeking more liquidity. "We feel there is a more exciting pipeline in south Eastern Europe and our offshore focus is here," Hyprop CEO Pieter Prinsloo said at a results presentation in August. Attacqs COO said recently that Africa had not been a focus area for the group, which had plans to build residential assets in SAs Waterfall precinct. Corbett said their decision to disinvest needed to be taken in context. "We have made mistakes in Africa too. I believe that their [Hyprop and Attacqs] strategy of buying only large shopping centres in large cities was a bad strategy. In Africa you need to be open to owning a variety of assets. Various factors make an asset succeed or fail. Having a good location and good tenant isnt enough on its own. "Super regional shopping centres have been the worst-performing asset type in Africa in 2018 so far," Corbett said. Grit had also committed to long-term leases, often 10-year ones, as Corbett said these were a "mitigant against risk". Anchor Stockbrokers research head Craig Smith said he had become "more bullish about African real estate", but the continent still lacked investable product and there were many barriers to entry. "There is a limited pool of institutional-grade product. There is also a lack of liquidity. This will change over time but it only makes sense for certain investors to look for opportunities there," he said. SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Film Center announced Amy Redford as its first artist in residence, according to a statement sent to the Deseret News. What's happening: Redford, the daughter of Robert Redford, will host a directing workshop and one-on-one consultation meetings with Artist Foundry members as she continues to work on her own film and television projects. The Artist Foundry is a co-working space where filmmakers can build their independent films. During the year-long residency, Redford will focus on her filmmaking career in a community full of storytellers who can energize and enhance the creative process, according to a statement sent to the Deseret News. Schedule: The schedule for the events will be released in the near future. Over the years I have seen up close the innovation, resourcefulness and collaborative spirit that is fostered here in Utah, Redford said in a statement. Those traits are of real value to me as a filmmaker looking for fertile ground to create work but also as a mother. I have an affection and appreciation for the spirit I feel here in Utah and want my kids to enjoy the lifestyle only Utah can provide. I am pleased to see the creativity cultivated here and look forward to working at a variety of levels to continue the momentum for artists at the Artist Foundry and beyond. Resume: To her own credit, Amy Redford is a filmmaker, producer and actor. Her resume includes such projects as 606, Phoenix, Mortal City, Talk, Downline and Cowboys and Indians. Students at Magna Elementary School play near one of four "buddy benches" on the school's playground in Magna on Thursday. The benches are meant to serve as a place for students in need of friendship to connect with their peers as part of anti-bullying measures. When a student is feeling lonely or in need of friendship, they can sit on any of the benches. When other students see one of their peers on a bench, they are encouraged to go befriend the sitter and invite him or her to join their activities. The benches were paid for through a community fundraising effort, combined with support from Exodus Health Care and Jordan Valley Medical Center. See the world through the eyes of award-winning photojournalists. Click through the gallery above to view the unique images our visual storytellers captured today. Follow the official Deseret News Instagram account for more photographs and videos from the staff. SALT LAKE CITY Speculation about what U.S. Senate committees Mitt Romney might land on are floating around Capitol Hill, but the Utah Republican senator-elect says he hasn't made up his mind about which assignments to seek. "I haven't decided which committees I would request at this stage," he said in a telephone interview from Washington, where he is attending Senate orientation meetings. "Committee assignments are made largely based on tenure, so I will not necessarily get first choice." CNBC reported that Romney has told friends that he's planning to submit requests to join at least three high-profile Senate panels: the Finance Committee, the Commerce Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. Noting retiring Utah GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch serves on the Finance Committee, Romney acknowledged it as an "area of interest" before rattling off a list of others, including foreign relations, education, health care, agriculture, small business and natural resources. "I've got a lot of things of interest, and I'm speaking with and have spoken with committee chairs as well as other senators to get their perspectives," Romney said. Though a freshman and Utah's junior senator, Romney won't be an ordinary member of Congress when he takes the oath of office in January. Two presidential races, a term as governor of Massachusetts and relationships with his GOP Senate colleagues, many for whom he has campaigned, give him a leg up on other newcomers. Romney said he learned during orientation that the Senate is a "good deal more collaborate on the inside than it looks like from the outside." During the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, the Senate continued to work across the aisle to pass legislation. In the past couple days, Romney said he has collected personal phone numbers from Republican and Democrat senators. He said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., approached him and his wife, Ann, walking through the Eastern Market and told him she looks forward to working together. Gillibrand also described neighborhoods the Romneys might consider living in as they go house hunting. "They all tell me, 'Hey, look, we get along a lot better than you'd think based on just watching the contentious hearings,'" he said. Though Republicans picked up a few seats in the Senate, they lost the House to the Democrats. Romney said that changes things for the White House because of the opportunity for Democrats to open investigations. But in terms of legislation, he said, he would still need Democratic support to pass bills in the Senate and House. Romney listed cutting the budget deficit, immigration, protecting and "modernizing" entitlements, public lands and wildfires among the issues he wants to work on, but would not limit himself to those. He said he has and will continue to talk one-on-one with senators about their issues and to find out "where I'll be able to get support to proceed." "So, the first part of my 100 days, if you will, is meeting with other senators, Republican and Democrat, to see where we have common interest and from there, we can chart action," he said. Romney paid a visit to outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., his 2012 presidential running mate. He said Ryan did a "superb" job in holding the Republican caucus together and getting bipartisan legislation passed. "I wish he were going to be here," Romney said. "He could show me the ropes." PROVO In a week that's already included a monumental business deal, homegrown tech giant Qualtrics followed up on its Sunday announcement of an $8 billion buyout by dropping news Thursday that former President Barack Obama will be a featured speaker at the company's 2019 user conference. And that comes on top of the company confirming in October that Oprah Winfrey will also be appearing at the Qualtrics X4 user summit March 5-8. Qualtrics co-founder and CEO Ryan Smith shared a text Thursday confirming the news: "Excited to have President Barack Obama coming for a moderated conversation at X4: The Experience Management Summit." How big a deal is it to get Obama and Oprah on the same ticket? Ron Gunnell, the longtime booker of talent that accompanies the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, has successfully scheduled some very, very big names to appear with the choir for its annual Christmas shows. Hugh Bonneville, Angela Lansbury and Walter Cronkite are just a few of his successful bookings. But, even for a guy who's used to working with high-caliber celebrities, Gunnell characterized Qualtrics' feat as quite a coup. "It's remarkable," Gunnell said. "It's astounding, actually, to book those two incredible individuals." Gunnell said it's sometimes a two- or three-year effort to get a top talent lined up, but the choir's international reputation play's a powerful role in helping to make connections. He also noted that Qualtrics' success in bringing Obama and Oprah to Utah will reflect positively on more than just the company and its customer conference. "I am thrilled to see this happen and I think it's fantastic for the state of Utah," Gunnell said. "I'm very proud of the fact that this tech company was able to bring them it bodes well for our tech industry and our whole state." The last time Obama made an official visit to Utah was in 2015, when he made a whirlwind 15-hour stop that included meetings with officials from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gov. Gary Herbert and a handful of Utah Democratic elected officials. The former president and former first lady Michelle Obama have been much in the news of late, thanks to Barack Obama re-entering the arena of political campaigning on behalf of numerous Democratic candidates in the lead-up to the elections and the recent release of Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming." Besides writing and campaigning, the couple are also entering the world of content creation for the largest U.S. video streaming service. In May, Netflix announced the Obamas had entered into a "multiyear agreement to produce films and series" for the streaming giant. Recent news reports note the couple have optioned Michael Lewis' book, "The Fifth Risk," which tracks three federal departments while under transition from Obama's leadership to the new administration of President Donald Trump. In a statement issued by Netflix in May, Obama said he was excited for the opportunity to curate content aimed at promoting creative voices. "One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life, and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience," said the former president. "That's why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world." Michelle Obama has already made the swing through Utah on behalf of the state's burgeoning tech community, appearing on stage with Pluralsight co-founder and CEO Aaron Skonnard last September for Pluralsight's annual user conference. MTN has partnered with KaiOS to launch the worlds first 3G smart feature phones in Africa. Rob Shuter, Group CEO of MTN, said that he was super excited about the announcement and that the smart feature phone which runs on the KaiOS Operating System - would be a wonderful bridge device for people to migrate from 2G to 3G and then 4G networks. He said that whilst MTN serves 220 million customers across 21 markets, only 72 million are regularly using the mobile internet and it is imperative that the industry finds innovative ways to connect them. At the ITU event in Durban in September MTN announced its CHASE strategy to help bridge the digital devide. The acronym stands for Coverage Handset availability and affordability Affordability of data services Service bundling Education and ease of use Shuter said that whilst the company had made much progress, a major hindrance has been the high cost of data capable devices. KaiOS has minimised the data requirements on both the OS and content (apps) side. Its operating system already powers more than 40 million Smart Feature Phones in Canada, the US and India. The rollout of KaiOS phones in India has increased the number of feature phones in the country, with KaiOS overtaking Apples iOS to become the second-most popular devices after Android handsets. Shuter said that the new phone would launch in Q1 2019 and would be available across most of MTNs markets. The landing price for MTN is $20 is and the pricing for customers will depend on the country. Diabetes Digital Media (DDM) has been named Most Influential Diabetes Technology Company of the Year at the inaugural Diabetes Professional Care Industry Awards. The Diabetes Professional Care Conference hosted its first-ever Industry Awards in partnership with The Diabetes Times to celebrate success and innovation across pharmaceutical, medical device and life sciences companies working in diabetes care. DDM Chief Executive Officer Arjun Panesar said at DPC2018: We are delighted that all of the DDM team has been recognised for innovating in digital health and technology. Over 1.2 million members use a digital solution provided by DDM. The impact of these solutions, including the Diabetes Forum and Low Carb Program is not only empowering of people with diabetes around the world, it is pioneering the academic evidence base and redefining diabetes management. Wooooop!! Winner of the inaugural Most Influential Diabetes Technology Company of the Year at the Diabetes Professional Care and Diabetes Times Awards a great end to the day #DPC2018 pic.twitter.com/17SMVHcfEC Diabetes.co.uk (@Diabetescouk) November 14, 2018 There were record numbers at the first day of DPC2018 in Londons Olympia. The first day, which took place on World Diabetes Day, kicked off with an introduction from Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS Englands National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes and Dr Partha Kar, Diabetes Consultant and National Associate Clinical Director for Diabetes. Together they provided an update on NHS Englands future diabetes plans and spoke about the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. They also discussed the announcement NHS England had announced on the same day that the so-called postcode lottery about who gets access to the FreeStyle Libre is to come to an end. Dr Kar said: This is an exciting and welcome step forward as the aim is to have uniform prescribing policy across the NHS, irrespective of where someone with type 1 diabetes lives. This will be based on previous national guidance issued- with the provision of updating it as further evidence accrues. The results of the eagerly-anticipated DECLARE study into cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes were unveiled for the first time in the UK at the conference. The research involved 17,000 people and showed how the drug Forxiga (dapagliflozin) reduced hospitalisation for heart failure or CV death with no increase in major CV events versus placebo in a broad population with type 2 diabetes. Dr Fiona Campbell, Lead Clinician for Paediatrics at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust presented on health outcomes among children who use flash glucose monitoring, while Dr Mayank Patel, Consultant in Diabetes and Senior Clinical Lecturer at University hospital Southampton NHS Trust and University of Southampton discussed the highs and lows of blood glucose. The schedule for the rest of the day remained full and varied with many people queuing to attend each session. There were workshops on primary care training, how to empower patients to improve their diabetes and advice on injection techniques. In the afternoon Dr Kar joined Professor Gerry Rayma, Head of Service at the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, and the Diabetes Research Unit at Ipswich Hospitals NHS for a talk about reducing variation of diabetes care across England. Founder Maggie Meer, who has type 2 diabetes and set up the conference in a bid to improve care, said: Were proud, once again, to welcome many of the foremost thought-leaders and practitioners in diabetes care to share their expertise at our conference and workshop sessions. As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow, it is more important than ever that they have this unique forum in which to impart their knowledge and experience. The only thing certain about life is death, or so it was until our lives moved online... While various cultures treat their dead in many different ways, there is a consensus about needing some sort of ritual to bid farewell to the deceased. This is not something we do online though. While it is ridiculous to have a funeral for a Facebook profile, and that's not we're suggesting... there is the need to identify profiles that have been abandoned or belong to the deceased, and each of the big tech companies has a way of dealing with death. Going offline Various digital platforms provide different methods to deal with the profiles and accounts of the deceased. Perhaps the most impactful area for this is social media. Facebook, notably the biggest social media platform on the internet, offers a number of ways to go about this. Mainly, you can choose to memorialise your account or delete it altogether. Going to Settings > General > Manage Account and nominating a friend as a legacy contact gives them access to certain actions like pinning a post, responding to a new friend request or updating your profile picture. In the event of your death, someone will have to go here and point to the profile, the date of passing and if possible, proof of passing away. Doing this informs Facebook that the account needs to be memorialised, or deleted, depending upon the preference picked by the user. A memorialised account on Facebook appears with Remembering before the username. How Facebook handles memorialisation Twitter only allows the removal of a deceased persons account through this form. Instagram, like its parent company Facebook, also allows the memorialisation of an account. Memorialised accounts on Instagram do not appear any different than a usual account but are effectively frozen in terms of likes, followers etc. Instagram provides a form for this process here. While memorialisation requires proof of death on Instagram as well, a deletion request also requires you to show that you are authorised to act on the deceaseds behalf. Google provides an Inactive Account Manager as well as a form here to close the account of a deceased person, as well as request funds or data from it. Apart from this, most digital platforms require a proof in the form of a link to an obituary or some official record to close a deceased persons account. Google's method A digital graveyard The number of digital profiles belonging to the dead is increasing every day. While there are numbers to back it up, a much simpler argument is that people are simply too lazy or unaware of the proper measures to take for the deletion or removal of an account. As a result, with newer digital profiles being created every day, there will come a time when the dead on the internet will outnumber the living. Is there a way to put a year on that? Turns out there is... (approximately). A study by Carl J. Ohman from the University of Oxford and David Watson from the Alan Turing Institute sheds light on some interesting areas pertaining to digital death. About putting a number on the dead profiles on social media, they pick Facebook as a choice due to its popularity. Their approach fixates on two scenarios one in which theres a global freeze on people joining Facebook (to estimate the floor) and one in which Facebook maintains its current growth rate to reach 90% penetration of a given group (to estimate a ceiling). This gives a range for the actual number to fall within. In the results, the first scenario leads to a maximum of nearly one in ten profiles belonging to someone who has passed away, while the second one leads to a higher percentage of three in ten. Source In either of the cases, the number of dead on Facebook doesnt exceed that of the living within this century. But even in the conservative alternative of the first scenario, the number of dead on Facebook is in hundreds of millions mainly comprising of countries like India due to high population and the US due to high penetration rates. Needless to say, online death is well on its way to become a mass phenomenon. Like most such phenomenon, it comes with its own set of ethical implications. Source The ethics of the digital dead There is undoubtedly a personal story involved in every single profile of the deceased that lies on Facebook today and will lie in years to come. However, taking all of these profiles together in the bigger picture paints a different possibility. In Facebooks case, it becomes the singular owner of this data, making itself a vast repository of historical information that could be invaluable to future historians. If you take machine learning models into account, that often use big data repositories to learn about, among other things, human behaviour then it becomes even more evident how a data reserve like this could be very important to future generations. As a result, theres a need to preserve this data. This need could be driven by several factors, ranging from religious, sentimental, scientific or even aesthetic values, but would still make it worthwhile nonetheless. However, for a company or corporation like Facebook, what makes this data worth preserving is its ability to contribute to the profit of the company. The profiles of the users who have passed away might serve this purpose. People looking to mourn those users will visit their profiles, generating hits, clicks, exposure and traffic all things that Facebook can profit from. Theres also the previously mentioned possibility of this data being used to train software and retrieve historical insight. However, when either of these possibilities turns non-profitable, it would be logical for Facebook to delete this data, or at least modify it to be profitable. However, the value of this data is not to be perceived as purely economical. As explained in the paper, this data can be compared to archaeological finds and the way we evaluate them. A diary from the Medieval ages wont be valuable because of the data it holds, its value will lie in other factors that define its existence. Additionally, as Orwell points out in 1984, those who can control the data about the past can also control the way we perceive it. The only way to prevent the possibility of this happening is by decentralising this data and making it accessible to multiple stakeholders. If anything, our current experience with how data is handled on social media, especially Facebook, makes it necessary to do so. So what about you? Do you want to live on forever in the belly of a data center somewhere, or would you rather your social accounts be deleted forever when you're gone? Let us know in the comments... Further Reading A small number of Pixel 3 users are reportedly experiencing problems with SMS/MMS and have claimed that their text messages have disappeared. According to The Verge, this behaviour has been reported after come Pixel 3 users installed the November security update. Google has acknowledged the problem and said that it will soon be releasing a fix for the bug responsible for making the messages disappear. The publication also says that it has encountered people who claim that their messages vanished sometime last month, that is, before the November security update was rolled out. It is suggested that Android Messages might be the one to blame. 9to5Google reports that some users have managed to recover lost messages by rolling the app back to an earlier version, which can be done by uninstalling updates from the app details page. This is not the first problem faced by Googles Pixel 3 owners. Recently, users of the larger variant of the third generation Pixel phone, the Pixel 3 XL, reported that another notch popped up on the edges of their phone's display. The virtual notch was not seen at one particular position as some users said it appeared on the left edge, some claimed the second notch grew on the right side. Google later fixed the issues. There was also a report which claimed that the Google Pixel 3 devices were not saving photos on the phones. Phones catching fire became commonplace when handsets from the likes of Xiaomi and Samsung started exploding randomly. There were multiple incidents of smartphone explosions reported recently, some of which also resulted in death and severe injuries. The latest joinee in the list is Apple as a user has complained that his iPhone X spewed smoke while he was charging and updating the device to iOS 12.1. The victim, who has a Twitter handle by the name of Rocky Mohamadali, says that he used the charger and cable that came bundled with the phone in the retail box. Mohamadali tagged Apple on Twitter saying that his iPhone X just got hot and exploded in the process of upgrading to 12.1 IOS. To this, Apple Support replied, That's definitely not expected behavior. DM us, so we can look into this with you. Whats interesting is that his phone exploded after it was removed from charge and was being updated to the latest 12.1 iOS update. Apple has apparently asked the victim to ship the phone to the company so that it could investigate the cause of the incident. Another user said that his iPhone X is now getting very hot and and slow since he has upgraded to the iOS 12. "I have notice since updating my iPhone 10 to iOS 12-12.1 my iPhone running very slow and hot! My IPhone 10 havent been to same since updating!," he said. This is not the first time that an iPhone has been reported to have exploded. Previously, reports from a Swiss Apple Store and an Apple Store in Spain claimed battery explosion. According to Zurich City police, the device suddenly exploded for an unknown reason as it was being removed by a repair worker. A similar incident happened in Spain in which an iPhone spewed smoke when a technician was working on an unspecified iPhone battery. The Nokia 3.1 Plus is for you if you want a smartphone for around Rs 11,000 thats great on build, design, and software. Its not for you if youre expecting outright performance or quick clicks from either of its cameras. Nokia 3.1 Plus detailed review Two years after the transfer of Nokias guardianship, the Finnish brands face and product line-up seem pretty sorted: Nokia has a long history and solid credibility in the Indian mobile phone market and now, it has an Android-based smartphone right from the Rs 5,000Rs 8,000 price bracket all the way to the flagship-territory Rs 30,000Rs 35,000 price bracket. Nokias cleaned itself up very well, I must admit. The Nokia 3.1 Plus is an entry-level smartphone priced at Rs 11,499. Its got decent figures on its spec sheet: an 18:9 6-inch display, a MediaTek Helio P22 chipset with 3GB of RAM, a 3,500mAh battery, and Android 8.1 Oreo courtesy of Googles Android One programme. Does it all add up to a satisfactory smartphone experience though? Lets find out. Build and Design According to Nokia, the 3.1 Plus uses a machined aluminium body. In the hands, the nice, smooth surface feels comfortable and grippy to hold. The four corners of the body are tastefully curved. At 8.19mm, the 3.1 Plus is slim enough to be shown off in college but at 180g, its a tad too heavy to be housed in the pockets of loose pyjamas. The Nokia branding is subtly embossed on the phones body. On the back, there are two camera sensors stacked vertically along with a single LED flash, bordered by a neat chrome ring. Below the cameras, theres a tiny round fingerprint scanner, which works swiftly during screen unlocks. On the front, theres a large, curved display that matches the shape of the phones body. Clean back panel on the Nokia 3.1 Plus Looking around the sides of the phone, we see that the top side of the Nokia 3.1 Plus houses a 3.5mm audio jack for headsets and the secondary microphone. The left side holds nothing but the SIM card tray. The bottom contains a microUSB port with speaker grilles on either side of it. Sadly, only the right grille houses a speaker inside and the other is only a dummy. On the right side, we get the volume rocker and the power button. The buttons presses with enough feedback but more travel would have been appreciated. On the whole, the build and design of the Nokia 3.1 Plus seems to more than justify its asking price. Long live the 3.5mm jack! Only the SIM tray here Only one grille houses a speaker Buttons are of good quality Display and Audio The front face of the Nokia 3.1 Plus has a 6-inch curved display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and a maximum resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. Its got a toughened glass to protect it, says Nokia, but its definitely no Gorilla Glass. Given the phones price, thats understandable but a higher resolution is sorely missed. Luckily, theres no ugly notch on the top to cut out essential information. Colours on the large display look utterly dull. The white of the backlight bleeds into the screen and washes out all the colours, black most of all. The screens brightness of 422 LUX seems sufficient for use under direct sunlight but the glass above it plays spoilsport by being overly reflective and a magnet for fingerprints. The low resolution on such a large display makes text look grainier than it should. One things for sure: the display is not the Nokia 3.1 Plus strong suit. Subtle branding Sound from the Nokia 3.1 Plus mono speaker is loud but not particularly clear. Sound begins to tear when the volume is turned up. The speaker driver lacks bass and midrange clarity. The sound from it is loud enough to fill up a medium-size conference room but not enough to be heard in a sea of voices from people around. You might want to get a portable Bluetooth speaker for music playback though. Sound through the earpiece is loud enough for calls. Performance Like the less-expensive Redmi 6, the Nokia 3.1 Plus features a MediaTek Helio P22 chipset with a Cortex-A53 octa-core CPU and 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Internal storage space is 32GB, while external storage using a microSD card can go up to 400GB. Graphics is taken care of by PowerVR GE8320 GPU. The review unit of the Nokia 3.1 Plus bagged average scores on our performance benchmark tests. In AnTuTu 7.0 the Nokia outscored the Honor 7C, which has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset with 4GB of RAM, by nearly 6,000 points. On 3DMarks SlingShot graphics benchmark test, the Nokia 3.1 Plus fell behind the Honor 7C by 210 points. Nokia gets ahead of the costlier Honor In the real world, the Nokia 3.1 Plus performed worse than expected. Launching heavy apps like Chrome took well over three seconds. Switching between tabs happened with several stutters in the animation. Pressing the home button made the phone freeze for a couple of seconds now and then. However, playing Asphalt 8: Airborne with all other apps closed was a surprisingly enjoyable experience; there was no visible drop in frame rate or rise in temperature throughout. Opening and switching between apps is in general a sluggish affair on the Nokia 3.1 Plus; it could do with an extra gig of RAM. If outright speed is what youre looking for, you should consider investing a few more thousands so you can get something like the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Camera The Nokia 3.1 Plus comes with a dual-camera setup on the back: a 13-megapixel sensor with an aperture of f/2.0 combined with a 5-megapixel sensor. It also comes with an 8-megapixel sensor on the front with an aperture of f/2.2. Imaging experience on the Nokia 3.1 Plus is a painful one: the cameras take way too long to capture photos and videos. To make matters worse the camera app is equally slow. There is a considerable delay between the click of the on-screen shutter button and the opening and closing of the electronic shutter. This slow response can be a huge bother for users because photos are meant to be taken instantly. Shot at around 8AM Normal camera mode Live Bokeh mode turned on Low-light shots get grainy Live Bokeh mode is quite accurate Indoor selfies are not bad at all Of course, an occasional software glitch can cause this to happen Live Bokeh mode's slider turned all the way down Live Bokeh mode's slider turned up halfway Live Bokeh mode's slider turned all the way up Low-light selfies are just as grainy Images taken outdoors are bright but lack detail. An infinite focus makes all the subjects in the frame appear a little blurred while tapping on an area in the display improves focus. Images taken indoors appear on the darker side while images taken in the Live Bokeh mode are a little brighter. Low-light images, whether the Live Bokeh mode worked or not, are a disappointment as you can see a lot of grains and overall blurriness. Its the same story with low-light selfies as well but firing the front flash (where the display turns completely white) helps a little with the brightness. Indoor selfies are otherwise not bad when theres enough light around; the subject is mostly in focus and theres a fair amount of detail. Videos are mostly shaky and blurred despite using the touch-to-focus function. In summary, the Nokia 3.1 Plus takes decent pictures if theres enough light around and youre in no hurry. On the other hand, if youre a photography enthusiast, the Nokia 3.1 Plus is not for you. Battery A long battery life is one of the nicer qualities of the Nokia 3.1 Plus. On our benchmark test, the smartphone lasted 8 hours, 59 minutes. The test was performed with the screen burning at 60-percent brightness, Wi-Fi turned on, and Bluetooth turned off. During the navigation test the battery dropped by 4 percent after about half an hour of running Google Maps. During everyday use the review unit of the Nokia 3.1 Plus lasted an entire day with about 30 percent battery left. This was after mixed usage that involved a lot of browsing, app installations, gaming, and a little bit of picture-taking, calling, and messaging. The 3,500mAh battery inside is definitely good for a day or a day and a half with moderate to heavy usage. Bottom line The Nokia 3.1 Plus is no doubt a model worth considering when youre planning to spend around Rs 11,000 on a no-frills smartphone. Its strengths are classy, seemingly strong build, clean design, long battery life, and the fact that its backed by Android One, which means regular updates for up to two years and a clean stock UI. Its weaknesses are bad camera quality and poor performance. If you simply must have a stock Android UI and nothing else and an added 500mAh advantage but dont care so much for photography, choose the pricier Nokia 3.1 Plus over the Redmi 6. Otherwise get the Redmi 6 Pro; its got a 4GB RAM option along with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, a bigger battery, and a Full HD+ display. Zandile Makhoba, Head of Research for Sub-Saharan Africa, JLL, confirms various sectors have seen minimal growth this year, with rental rates for both retail and office space hovering around the same levels as last year. JLLs 2018 City Reports for Accra and Lagos confirm minimal growth across real estate sectors in these West African commercial capitals, with cautious indicators that the impetus is shifting, particularly in Ghana. With an increased attention on obstacles and opportunities in the regions property market, investors around the world are seeking insights into the regional landscape. Real estate consulting firm JLL has released its 2018 City Reports for Lagos and Accra to offer a concise overview of current developments in the local office, retail, hotel and industrial sectors. In wavering economic conditions, the analysis offers several interesting points and trends to note regarding local investment markets, vacancies and rental growth. Commenting on the Nigerian real estate environment, Zandile Makhoba, Head of Research for Sub-Saharan Africa, JLL, confirms that the various sectors have seen minimal growth in 2018, with rental rates for both retail and office space hovering around the same levels as last year. On the positive side, the Lagos report outlines that the recent economic recovery and stable exchange rate have motivated the continuation of some of the development projects that were placed on hold last year. Office stock has increased by about 11,000m2 in 2018 despite the slow improvement in demand for space, says Makhoba. Shifting to Ghana, prospects are even more positive in the capital city. Accra has benefited from a significant pick up in the supply of quality real estate assets, from office to retail, to hotels and industrial, Makhoba says. The report suggests evidence that the country should benefit from the recovery in global commodity prices through the previous 12 months which should underpin economic growth and stimulate investor confidence. As demand gravitates to new stock in the office market, it could tip into oversupply. However, sentiment is encouraging with international capital becoming more active in the city. While retail accommodation is expected to grow by a further 30,000m2 to 40,000m2 in Accra, the prime industrial market in Ghana remains under-developed. As the economy improves and demand increases, there are certainly opportunities for developers. There are also good prospects in the hospitality market with a recent proliferation in the serviced apartment sector. Makhoba also says the number of international brands entering Accras hotel market is set to further establish the Gold Coast airport node. Summing up both city reports, Makhoba says Accra remains a strategic entry point for investors looking for strong demand fundamentals, political stability and a relatively transparent real estate sector. We anticipate that transactional activity will increase in the next few years, driven by a recovery of the economy, owners looking to recycle capital and more rational development costs. The upcoming elections in Lagos may slow down economic activity in the first half of 2019. However, the Nigerian economy is expected to improve in the short term as business and investor confidence picks up, and we can still expect positive momentum through 2019 and into 2010. Leaving Apple and Samsung behind, OnePlus has emerged as the top brand in terms of maximum smartphone shipment in the Indian premium segment in the third quarter of 2018, market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) has said. According to the IDC Q3 2018 Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report, OnePlus achieved the highest-ever sales in a quarter with the OnePlus 6. Additionally, in the $400-plus price segment, OnePlus clocked its highest ever shipments in a quarter, pushing the overall smartphone Average Selling Price (ASP) in the online space to $166 in the third quarter of 2018 from $156 in the third quarter of 2017. According to IDC, OnePlus captured 37 percent of the total market share in the segment, followed by Apple at 30 percent and Samsung with 26 percent. OnePlus climbed to the leadership position at the back of OnePlus 6, surpassing Samsung and Apple. With its dedicated community building activities and high decibel promotional activities on social media platforms, the vendor has been gradually scaling up in volumes, Upasana Joshi, Associate Research Manager, IDC India, said in a statement. The report also says that the Indian smartphone market reached an all-time high of 42.6 million unit shipments in Q3 2018, witnessing a growth of 9.1 percent year-on-year (YoY). The rise has been attributed to price cuts of the smartphone during festive season sales on e-tailers and offers like zero or low-cost EMIs, buyback guarantees, cashback on debit/credit cards. The report said that brands such as Xiaomi, OnePlus, Honor, Realme, Asu, among others helped in the quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth of 37 percent. In an interesting development, Xiaomi is rolling out the MIUI 10 Nightly Stable update for some of its Redmi Note 4 smartphone users. The news comes via companys official forums and since it is a Nightly release, only some users will be receiving the update. The company is seeking feedback from these users and if everything seems good and the ROM is without any major bugs, it will be rolled out broadly for all users. Currently, only a couple of Xiaomi phones in India, like the Poco F1 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro, are running on the MIUI 10 update. The new MIUI 10 Nightly Global Stable V10.1.1.0.NCFMIFI for the Redmi Note 4 is being seeded as an OTA update. Users can check if they are selected to receive the update by heading over to their devices Settings and downloading it, if it shows up. Do note that the update is being pushed out randomly only for a small number of users. Some Redmi Note 4 users who have received the update have complained on the Mi Forum that many of the features like portrait mode, full-screen mode and more are missing but these features could be enabled when the stable ROM update is pushed out for all. Additionally, it seems that the update is not based on Android Oreo and still works over Android Nougat. As mentioned earlier, the Xiaomi Poco F1 (review) recently received the MIUI 10 update. It was a Global Stable ROM that fixed issues ranging from buggy "OK Google" hot-word to distorted headphone output sound while playing PUBG on the handset. Just a couple of days ago, Xiaomi users in China on the beta version of MIUI reportedly received the new MIUI 10 v8.11.8 beta update. This update is said to bring support for installing the Google Camera app on the phones, but the new feature is said to be limited to China-based MIUI ROM. The new ROM reportedly supports the HAL3 API that enables working of the Google Camera app. You can read more about it here. NCLAT approves UltraTech's revised Rs7,900-cr bid for Binani Cement The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has approved UltraTech Cement Ltds revised bid of Rs7,900 crore to acquire debt-laden Binani Cement Ltd, holding that the rival bid by Dalmia Group Ltd was discriminatory to creditors of the stressed cement maker. The NCLAT turned down a Rs6,930 crore offer by Rajputana Properties, owned by Dalmia Bharat, and also dismissed an appeal over the rejection while approving UltraTech Cements revised bid of Rs7,900 crore. The bankruptcy appeals court ruled that the insolvency resolution process should aim to extract the maximum value from auctions of stressed assets. A two-member bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) dismissed an appeal by Rajputana Properties Pvt. Ltd, owned by Dalmia Bharat Ltd, saying its offer for Binani Cement was discriminatory against some financial creditors. The objective of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is resolution (and) the purpose of the resolution is for maximization of the value of assets of the corporate debtor, the tribunal held in its ruling on Wednesday. Binani Cements committee of creditors had decided to consider an improved bid from UltraTech after Rajputana Properties Rs6,930 crore bid was declared the highest bidder and the company moved the Kolkata bench of the bankruptcy court for approval. Rajputana Properties had in July approached the Supreme Court challenging the committee of creditors decision to consider UltraTechs revised proposal, which would entirely pay off all secured and unsecured financial creditors, as well as operational creditors. The apex court referred the matter to NCLAT. UltraTechs revised proposal approved on Wednesday was an improvement from the Rs7,200 crore offer it made just after the deadline for bidding ended. Binani Cement has an accumulated debt of Rs6,500 crore. The UltraTech offer pays back not only secured lenders but operational creditors in full, along with interest accrued since the date the NCLT application was filed. The NCLAT noted that Dalmia Groups plan discriminated between financial creditors based on whether they have direct exposure to Binani Cements or have been given guarantees by it. Even similarly situated financial creditors with guarantees from Binani Cement have been discriminated against, the appellate tribunal said, pointing to the amounts offered to Export-Import Bank of India and State Bank of India Hong Kong. The Kolkata bench of the National Company Tribunal had also come to the same conclusion in May this year. The NCLAT rejected Dalmia Groups argument that the intent of the insolvency law is to bind minority financial creditors with the majoritys decision. The appellate tribunal also applied the principle in the context of Binani Cements operational creditors. It has rejected Dalmia Groups plan on the grounds of differential treatment between similarly situated operational creditors. ...unrelated parties have been provided with 35 percent of their verified claim which is about Rs90 crore. However, related parties have not been provided with any amount. The law assures operational creditors at least the liquidation value. Over and above that, you can more or less choose what you (creditors committee) want to give. You cant discriminate between two paper delivery guys but lets say, one operational creditor supplied you coal and the other supplied paper. You may say that the one who supplied me coal is a lucrative supplier and pay him more. World's last wilderness may vanish The world's last wilderness areas are rapidly disappearing, with explicit international conservation targets critically needed, according to University of Queensland (UQ)-led research. The international team recently mapped intact ocean ecosystems, complementing a 2016 project charting remaining terrestrial wilderness. Professor James Watson, from UQ's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, says the two studies provided the first full global picture of how little wilderness remains, and he was alarmed at the results. "A century ago, only 15 per cent of the Earth's surface was used by humans to grow crops and raise livestock," he says. "Today, more than 77 per cent of land - excluding Antarctica - and 87 per cent of the ocean has been modified by the direct effects of human activities. "It might be hard to believe, but between 1993 and 2009, an area of terrestrial wilderness larger than India a staggering 3.3 million square kilometres was lost to human settlement, farming, mining and other pressures. "And in the ocean, the only regions that are free of industrial fishing, pollution and shipping are almost completely confined to the polar regions." UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellow James R. Allan said the world's remaining wilderness could only be protected if its importance was recognised in international policy. "Some wilderness areas are protected under national legislation, but in most nations, these areas are not formally defined, mapped or protected," he said. "There is nothing to hold nations, industry, society or communities to account for long-term conservation. "We need the immediate establishment of bold wilderness targets -- specifically those aimed at conserving biodiversity, avoiding dangerous climate change and achieving sustainable development." The researchers insist that global policy needs to be translated into local action. "One obvious intervention these nations can prioritise is establishing protected areas in ways that would slow the impacts of industrial activity on the larger landscape or seascape," Professor Watson said. "But we must also stop industrial development to protect indigenous livelihoods, create mechanisms that enable the private sector to protect wilderness, and push the expansion of regional fisheries management organisations. "We have lost so much already, so we must grasp this opportunity to secure the last remaining wilderness before it disappears forever." Hot brew coffee has higher levels of antioxidants than cold brew 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 US market grew 580 per cent 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. Gardai in Donegal are investigating a number of cases where threats have been made to young people or their families over drug debts. Donegals chief superintendent has appealed to parents to come to gardai in cases where they believe their children are involved in drugs. Gardai said they are aware of cases where parents have sought loans to cover drug debts incurred by their children. The appeal was made at a meeting of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee. Chief Superintendent of the Donegal Garda Division, Terry McGinn, said gardai in Donegal are investigating cases of alleged blackmail, threats or extortion over drug debts. Drug Dealers The chief superintendent said gardai are targeting mini drug gangs around the county. She said the force is interested in getting information on people who are getting wealthy and there are no visible signs of how the wealth is earned. Where is it coming from when they are not working? Within each garda division we are targeting mini drugs gangs, trying to take the wealth, trying to take the money out. It is very important to get that message out if you do notice anything suspicious.The comments were made during a presentation on drugs by a a member of the drugs unit. Responding to a question from Lorraine Thompson of Donegal Youth Services, who said the youth service had experience of families who were being blackmailed by drug dealers, Chief Superintendent McGinn said gardai in Donegal have a number of such cases under investigation. We take all those cases on board and we will prosecute people who are blackmailing. The extortion, the level of violence... we have a number of cases under investigation in the county. It is getting those parents to come forward and tell us because the parents are ashamed that their children built up this debt. Drug Lords She said young people can find themselves addicted to drugs and then can end up with a drug debt. Then they find themselves in a scenario where drug lords come after them for the money and they dont have the money and that is putting the pressure on parents. A member of the Garda drugs unit told the meeting that petty crime and theft often result when people are trying to fund drugs habits. Thefts, burglary, money going missing from people at home. When people have drug debts - their parents and other family members can be targeted to pay off drug debts. The garda said there have been cases in the county recently of drug users buying large quantities of drugs to sell. But they are using it themselves and then trying to come up with the money to pay for it is the problem. Threats of violence and actual violence have been imposed on parents. In rural communities, this is a big problem. Some of it is not being reported to the guards for different reasons: embarrassment and they dont want to bring the attention of guards to their son or daughter or whoever is caught up in the middle of it. I know a couple of cases of people trying to get loans to pay off young peoples debt. It is the reality of people getting themselves caught up in a situation where there is no escape from. The shortlist for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2018 was announced, which features a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across sixteen categories, including Novel of the Year, Childrens, Cookery, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Nonfiction, Sports, Short Story, Poetry, Teen and Young Adult and the new Love Leabhar Gaeilge Irish Language Book Of The Year category. Donegal Democrat reporter, Michelle NicPhaidin's new fictional novel, Fuascailt an Iriseora has been shortlisted alongside Teach an Gheafta by poet and author Cathal O Searcaigh in the Irish language category. https://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/news/209466/Debut-novel-for-Donegal-Democrat-journalist.html Ms NicPhaidin has recently learnt that she has taken first place in the highly competitive Manchester Irish Language Group writing competition with her new short story Leaspain which describes the struggle of an artist who cannot express herself through painting when a young man breaks her heart. Maria Dickenson, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said: "This years shortlist once again demonstrates the wonderful wealth of writing talent we have in Ireland. We know that the Irish literary culture is regarded as one of the greatest in the world and weve always wished for an awards project that rises to that challenge. Were immensely proud of what weve achieved with the Irish Book Awards through a broad coalition of readers, publishers, writers, booksellers, librarians, and media." David McRedmond, CEO at An Post, added: "Our message is simple: These are fantastic books. Buy them and send them to your friends. Enjoy them." The winners will be announced at the gala ceremony in The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road on Tuesday, November 27. This year, the An Post Irish Book Awards will be presented by Keelin Shanley and a one hour highlight television programme will be broadcast on RTE One on Thursday 29 November at 10.45pm. Votes can only be cast until Friday, November 23, please do so by clicking on the following link and scrolling to the end: https://www.irishbookawards.irish/vote2018/ Louth TDs have voiced their concerns on the criminal violence in Drogheda, and the lack of Garda resources that has forced all Garda leave in the county to be cancelled in order to deal with it. Both Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Fianna Fail's Declan Breathnach voiced their concerns yesterday, following an escalation of crime in the county that saw a Dundalk man kidnapped rescued by Gardai in Drogheda. Gerry Adams has described the governments response to the escalating criminal violence in Louth as not good enough. Incidents of drug related crime in Dundalk and Drogheda have escalated to an intolerable level", said Deputy Adams. "Since I was first elected as a TD, I and other Sinn Fein representatives have worked closely with An Garda Siochana. "Those who are the target of such attacks are victim of unscrupulous and dangerous drug pushers who are targeting them for drug debts that are not theirs. In one particular case one family had eleven thousand euro demanded from it. Deputy Adams continued, "I wrote to the Minister about this. I also spoke to senior Garda about this. In his response the Minister said that An Garda Siochana was reviewing its Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme. "When I asked the Minister to tell us if that review is complete he refused to respond. I told him that was not good enough. "When I asked the Minister if he accepted that additional resources are needed for projects like the Garda Youth Diversionary Projects; High Voltage and Team in Dundalk, the Boyne and Cable in Drogheda, and the Family Addiction Support Network, he refused to respond. I told him that was not good enough." Declan Breathnach, in his Dail speech yesterday, said, "The escalation of thuggery and crime in Drogheda was foreseen and flagged by me to An Garda Siochana and acknowledged as far back as last June. Deputy Breathnach continued: "My concern was based on meeting people who were caught up in incredible fear and intimidation. They were sucked in, some relatively innocently, into the crossfire of these vicious criminals. "Many of these young people have never come to the attention of An Garda Siochana before and many more continue to be sucked into the criminal underworld. "Some subsequently have had to seek anonymity and emigrate while their families continue to be intimidated by these gangs seeking retribution for the debts which they have cleverly and deliberately made sure to accrue to secure the false loyalty of these young people and the expansion of their criminal activities. "The Minister should be under no illusion that what is happening in Drogheda is not confined to there but is being experienced in all the smaller towns and villages in County Louth and beyond into which these thugs' tentacles have expanded. These will continue to cause grief and expand unless steps are taken." Concluding his speech in the Dail yesterday, Deputy Breathnach said, "If this does not change, I have a real concern that there is a generation coming up who already have some involvement in this criminal underworld through their siblings. "This is a vicious circle and if the resources are not increased to deal with the insidious criminal drug culture which has grown exponentially in the region, there will be more loss of life. "We have 20 year olds who want blood and have no conscience about maiming or killing. At times like Hallowe'en, Gardai only had to deal with bangers and stones. Now they are dealing with firearms." Maxol has opened its first Mexican restaurant Zambrero at Maxol Dublin Road, Dundalk. The refurbishment at Dundalk follows an investment of 260,000 with the creation of 7 new jobs, bringing total employment levels at the Maxol service station to twenty-five. Darragh Fanning, former rugby union player and general manager of Zambrero Ireland, opened the first branch of the restaurant with three partners in 2016. The Australian founded, quick service restaurant franchise, which has a focus on healthy Mexican food, already has five branches open in Ireland, making the Maxol at Dublin Road, Dundalk, its sixth outlet. Commenting on this new venture Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group, said: We look forward to growing our relationship with Darragh and all of the team at Zambrero. "We are delighted to create 7 new jobs at Maxol Dublin Road, Dundalk. The introduction of Zambrero, and upgrade to our Dundalk Services, continues our fast-evolving retail strategy to bring our customers a wide range of convenient shopping and quality food choices to make their day as easy as possible. "We wish Darragh every success with Zambrero and look forward to bringing a healthy option to our customers in Dundalk. Colin Fee, Licensee of Maxol Dublin Road, Dundalk said: Zambrero is a great addition for our customers they can get a Mexican meal fast, freshly prepared on site by our trained staff. "All meat is slow cooked and ready to be served in a taco, classic burrito, on nachos, or in a power bowl all served with fresh salsa and salad. This new Mexican offer adds further choice to our own in-store award-winning Maxol deli. The Maxol Dundalk service station, located on the M1, opened in October 2015 and provides a range of facilities to make life a little more simple, particularly for customers who are time-poor and looking for quality, fresh food on the go. The redeveloped site includes the companys award-winning fresh food offering from the Maxol Deli and new Rosa Coffee brand, contemporary seating area, high spec washrooms, full off-licence, as well as complimentary wi-fi. A drive-through car wash and pay at pump facilities providing fuel 24 hours are also available. The Oriel Traditional Orchestra will be facilitating free orchestral workshops for children at Dundalk Institute of Technology on Saturday 8th December at 10am with the support of Creative Ireland. The OTO recently purchased a number of new instruments including Timpani with funding from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Louth County Council. They presented a well-attended concert in An Tain Arts Centre on Wednesday 14 November in association with the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music at DkIT. In a further development of their collaboration with DkIT and the Creative Arts Research Centre there, Georgina Hughes will facilitate the workshops. Georgina is a lecturer in the music department at Dundalk Institute of Technology where she teaches a range of subjects including musicology, history, analysis, musical theatre and performance. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Trinity College Dublin (majoring in percussion performance). She then returned to Northern Ireland to study for an M.A at Queens University. Georgina also holds a PGCE in Secondary Music. As a percussionist, Georgina has performed extensively as both a solo and orchestral musician. Solo appearances include performances at the National Concert Hall, Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Trinity College, Waterfront Hall and Newry City Hall. Georgina was a founder member of both the South Ulster Percussion Ensemble and the DIT Percussion Ensemble. Workshops are open to young people between the age of 12 and 18. Prior musical experience is not required but places are limited. To book or for further information contact orieltrad@gmail.com | BY Lynchy | Publicis Groupe has appointed Masahiro Andy Ando as Chief Strategy Officer in Japan. Ando will lead a department of more than 40 strategists, with different profiles like Consumer/Brand strategists, Shopper strategists, Digital strategists, including Touch Points/Media strategists. Leveraging his hybrid experience and track record gained on both agency and client sides, Masahiro Ando will act as the architect of Idea-driven end-to-end Business Solutions for the Global Brands that Publicis Groupe Japan works with. Ando worked for the past 25+ years in the marketing/communication industry, building both global and Japanese brands for long-term, sustainable growth. He started his career on the agency side at Daiko and then moved to the client side, leading brand communication strategies and creative development at various global companies including Nike, Cirque du Soleil and Coca Cola. Ando commented, The Marcom industry as a whole is facing unprecedented challenging times of transformation, from both agency & client-side. With my hybrid experience in both worlds, I am excited to join Publicis Groupe where I look forward to the evolution of the teams across strategic planning and media/connection planning into truly integrated engine of business solutions as a symbolic entity of the Power of One corporate philosophy. Advanced yet integrated communication strategy that drives long-term sustainable growth of our clients, business and brands is the way forward. Floriane Tripolino, Managing Director of Publicis Groupe Japan said, Im very enthused to see someone like Andy joining the agency. He is a rare talent, with a profile like no other on the Japanese market. I trust that his unique and valuable experience will help us to accelerate the transformation that weve has started about 18 months ago, working in a more agile way, crafting bespoke solutions for our clients for a greater impact on their business. Corporate travel has been on an unprecedented growth trajectory in recent years. As business models become increasingly global, companies will spend $1.7 trillion by 2022to send their employees travelling around the world. Corporate travel is the top growth market with Australias travel market, jumping 11 per cent to 21.3 million travellersin the 12 months to March 2018 and with business travel spend increasing 6 per cent to over $16 billion in the same period. In fact, the prospect of travel and having a good corporate travel policy has become a recruitment question and a means of attracting talent for many companies. Our travel policy data found that 44% of business travellers would actually leave a job due to poor travel policy, while 50% say that a companys travel policy would impact their decision to take a job. With travel now having a direct impact on a businesses bottom line, were seeing examples of greater flexibility in travel policies to reflect the desire, status and expectations of employees. However, despite this, best practices and processes for managing travel and expense (T&E) are overlooked or often poorly implemented in Australia, leading to cost and productivity inefficiencies, limited strategic oversight of travel management, and frustrated employees. To secure return on investment (ROI) and business benefit from travel, companies must consider the following steps when developing their corporate travel policies and programs. Use data to determine whats working and whats not In an ideal world, employees comply to a T&E policy, with effective checks and balances in place to measure a variety of different types of ROI possible from travel. In reality, companies and employees fail to follow best practice our research found that 95% of companies allow travellers to spend outside the program and 80% dont believe they have the most up-to-date supplier information they need to optimise savings. Travel is often booked out of policy, simply because it does not meet the employees requirements. To achieve best practice in travel buying, companies must first understand what their employees are doing and what exactly they need. By analysing data, companies can track out-of-policy bookings, check how many days in advance bookings are being made and identify lost savings. These insights can then guide companies to introduce new and different measures like using a central corporate card, alerts as prompts and showing pricing options during booking, to change employee behaviours, increase savings and compliance, and ROI. Focus on enhancing the traveller experience, over savings Business travellers expectations and their needs are changing, fuelled by a new generational workforce and an emerging middle class. Travel employees want to exercise greater freedom, and are looking for personalisation, information and choice. They want the same experience, whether they book leisure or business. They want their journey to be unique and expect suppliers to take into considerations their needs and preferences. They want to be able to book, re-book, change a flight or hotel and claim an expense, anytime and anywhere through all their devices. Yet today, many travel policies prioritise monetary spending over employee satisfaction and convenience, leading to a situation that puts policy over people. Companies must build more people-first travel policies that take their employees needs into account. For example, the on-trip stage of any business trip can be the most challenging, from ensuring the safety and care of employees to reducing out-of-pocket expenses and dealing with disruptive itinerary changes. By using technology and intelligent tools, companies can support their employees through on-trip automated alerts to reduce the risks of error or frauds, tracking costs effectively through receipt captures, and improved messaging. Invest in technology that creates smarter business travel While travelling for business is key to unlocking new opportunities for growth and expansion of both employees and organisations, the right technology is key to removing the challenges of business travel and the expense process. Companies are already starting to benefit from a number of innovative and intuitive solutions that save time, money and keep employees happy. Technology providers like Amadeus are working to integrate T&E tools with everyday office applications to create a friendly user interface and make the booking experience easier. The benefits are twofold: employees can easily book and manage travel arrangements without ever leaving their daily business environment; and companies can increase adoption and compliance to policy, and have greater visibility over travel costs. Artificial intelligence and data analytics will also impact the future of online booking, and give companies better insight into their travellers. Companies could utilise advanced search algorithms to ensure search results comply with the travel policy and meet travellers personal needs and preferences. Trip intention detection could be used to proactively propose best trip options directly on the messaging platform used by the traveller. Data analytics can give companies insight into why flights are expensive and whether or not the trip is necessary. Technology was once expected to eliminate the need for business travel. But today it is critical to ensuring simple, stress-free and rewarding journeys for travelling employees. Its also the solution for companies to regain control on their travel investments and achieve a holistic view over the entire booking and expense process. Frederic Saunier, Vice President Sales Asia Pacific, Corporations, Travel Channels, Amadeus. B2B Lead Generation Service Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more. Just five years ago, mobile e-commerce was a minor part of the e-commerce landscape. Today, most online searches are carried out from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and 40 percent of all e-commerce is carried out from smartphones. This has forever changed the e-commerce industry. Why Mobile E-Commerce Is Important for Businesses The smartphone is the most important lead channel. Smartphones are an extended part of our brains and social life. We check our phones approximately 80 times a day, and they have become an integrated part of both our online and offline shopping experience. You probably recognize this: A product you consider buying comes to mind, and you instantly grab your smartphone to google it. So do most other customers, with the statistics speaking for themselves: A staggering 76 percent of all Americans rely on their smartphone to find a local store to carry out purchases, which has made the smartphone the most important lead channel to retail stores. Furthermore, 30 percent use their smartphone to compare prices when shopping in store, based on Deloitte's Omni-Channel Consumer Survey. The smartphone's importance is not limited to attracting local shoppers to your retail store. It has become a major part of the online shopping experience, with 73 percent of all customers using their smartphone to research an item before buying it, and 70 percent using it to check prices, according to Nielsen. Needless to say, the smartphone in just a few years has become a game changer in both the online and offline industry. On top of this, 40 percent of all global e-commerce today comes from directly from mobile e-commerce, which furthermore underlines why mobile e-commerce is important for all businesses to attract, convert and retain customers. Keeping that in mind, how do businesses prepare themselves for this new mobile e-commerce paradigm? First, they should know an essential fact: Customer conversion rates on smartphones are approximately 50 percent lower than the equivalent desktop customer conversion rates. This means that 50 percent fewer visitors end up buying a product. In an analysis based on 100,000 visitors, Monetate identified the following average Customer Conversion Rates: A desktop has a 3.5 percent customer conversion rate, while a smartphone has a 1.4 percent customer conversion rate. These numbers very clearly illustrate that most online shops have a largely untapped business potential in terms of truly optimizing their e-commerce stores for smartphones. The Top 10 Mobile E-Commerce Conversion Killers To realize their full mobile e-commerce potential, businesses should avoid these top 10 mobile e-commerce conversion killers: 1. Not Mobile Ready If an e-commerce store is not mobile ready, it not only will provide a poor or close-to-no shopping experience, but also will not be indexed in search engines such as Google. This is due to the fact that Google is rolling out Google Mobile First Index as we speak. First it crawls your smartphone e-commerce store to decide how to rank your smartphone, tablet and desktop store in Google search results. This has forever changed online search and e-commerce. To make sure your e-commerce store is mobile ready, start by running a test at this site. 2. Not Optimized for Smartphone DNA The most common way to make sure that an e-commerce store is mobile ready is to implement a "responsive design," which in simple terms ensures that a website's content adjusts to the screen sizes of smartphones, tablets and desktops, accordingly. Responsive design, however, does not fully comply with the DNA of the smartphone interface. You therefore must adapt features -- such as navigation, search, filters, the shopping cart, and especially checkout -- to the smartphone interface to maximize your mobile e-commerce customer conversion rate. 3. Too Slow - Speed Matters Speed always has been an essential part of the online shopping experience. If a site is too slow, customers lose patience and go astray. On the smartphone, however, this fact is even more predominant -- 53 percent of all customers abandon mobile websites that take longer than three seconds to load. It is therefore essential that businesses do everything they can to optimize the way their website content, images and code are structured and programmed. To fully master quick load time, businesses can implement AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) which ensures that customers experience very quick and close-to-instant page loads when entering a Mobile website. To avoid losing customers due to slow page loads, test the speed of your mobile e-commerce store and then correct the errors identified in the test report. 4. Complicated Navigation Poor navigation is the Achilles heel of many mobile e-commerce stores. The main reason for this is that the navigation has not been adapted specifically to the small smartphone interface and navigation patterns. Since approximately 30 percent of all customers in smartphone e-commerce stores do not find what they are looking for, a smooth and simple navigation is especially important. When you design a navigation, there are five fundamental principles you can keep in mind, where your customers must get answers to all the following questions without having to think: Where is my navigation? Where am I? Where can I go? Where did I come from? How do I get back to where I came from? As simple as this may sound, it may be very difficult to design. To cut corners, I recommend that you seek inspiration from the navigation design at Zalando. 5. Poor Search Due to these smartphone-specific navigation problems, more customers search mobile e-commerce stores than desktop stores. Since mobile e-commerce customers quickly lose their orientation and patience on the small smartphone screen, the search feature really is the mobile e-commerce epicenter. If the search engine does not work well, the mobile customer conversion rate will suffer dramatically. Customers not only expect you help them find the products they are looking for when pressing the "search" button, but also expect that you suggest matching products or product categories as they type along. Amazon.com is a champion at mastering mobile e-commerce search. If a customer for instance writes "furni" in the search field, Amazon suggests "furniture pads," "furniture sliders," etc., based on the customer's search input. On top of that, about 10-15 percent of all searches carried out at Mobile e-commerce stores are based on misspelled searches. It is therefore crucial that you help customers correct typos when they enter their search words or when they get a search result. If a customer carries out a misspelled search for "battari," Amazon then inserts a link to "did you mean: battery" at the top of the search results. A customer who clicks on that link gets the correct battery search result. These two intelligent search features undoubtedly are a central key to Amazon's massive online success. You therefore can feel safe in checking out Amazon's mobile e-commerce store for high-end search engine inspiration. It is best-in-class. 6. Poor Filters Approximately 30 percent of all customers give up locating products at mobile e-commerce stores, even though they are in stock. Imagine the same scenario in the retail industry -- that would be terrifying. The main reason customers cannot figure out how to locate products has to do with poor filters in search results and product lists. The first filter trick is to display an obvious "Filter" button on all product list pages, since many customers press this to narrow down the number of matching products. After a customer has pressed this button, you should then offer the option of more filters, such as size and brand on a separate page or in a dimmed layer on top of the page. Many mobile e-commerce companies wrongly open filters inside the product filter page, which clutters the page and makes is difficult to use. After selecting one or more filters, a customer should be able to press a "View items" button to return to the product list page in order to browse the products available. This may sound simple; however, it can be difficult to design in a user-friendly manor. To save a lot of time and money, you can look at the filters at Asos -- they are close to perfect. 7. Not Able to Save for Later Approximately 71 percent of abandoned shopping carts, according to Forrester, are due to three main reasons: The delivery costs are too high Customers are not ready to buy Customers compare prices at multiple sites Not many shop owners are aware that customers leave their e-commerce store simply because they are not ready to buy. Amazon, however, has a very clever way of solving this issue -- it displays "Save for later" buttons next to each item in the shopping cart. If a customer is not ready to buy the Levi's jeans in his shopping cart, he can just save them for later and then return to buy them whenever he is ready. This is a brilliant solution, especially since Amazon displays products saved for later below the shopping cart. Customers are exposed to the products every single time they add a product to the shopping cart. Knowing which products, a customer has saved for later and thus considered buying is a gold mine for personalized emails and other marketing purposes. Very clever indeed. 8. No Guest Checkout Option If you force customers to register to shop at your mobile e-commerce store, 30-50 percent will leave it at the login page, according to Jakob Nielsen. Tthis is one of the worst conversion killers of all. This login problem is quite easy to solve, however, simply by offering the customer a "guest checkout" option that does not require that customers create a password to complete a checkout. Debenhams has solved this issue by allowing the customer to "continue as a guest" (with no registration required) when entering its checkout flow. After they have completed the checkout process, customers can decide if they would like to register to get membership deals, etc. This is a very good way to maximize the mobile e-commerce customer conversion rate, based on a simple solution. 9. Complicated Checkout Approximately 50 percent of all customers who enter checkout do not complete it, according to Boston Consulting Group, mainly since many mobile e-commerce stores ask for too many personal details and due to poor usability. Bearing that in mind, this is where you can improve your customer conversion rate the most. To design a smooth checkout, the first trick is to create a checkout funnel, where you remove the store's main navigation and instead insert an obvious 1, 2, and 3 checkout step-indicator. At this point, customers would appreciate a quick and hassle-free checkout, rather than being required to navigate to your mobile e-commerce store. Since you would like to close the deal, you and the customer have a shared interest and goal. Next, you should make it very easy to select and understand time of delivery and delivery costs, based on a "fat-finger-proof interface," especially optimized for smartphones. When delivery has been selected, it is very important that the customer can enter personal details as quickly as possible. It takes a lot of time to enter name, address, etc. on a smartphone, so you should remove all unnecessary input fields and help customers look up addresses, based on phone number and postal code, if possible. Since you may lose 20-25 percent of all customers based on a complex personal data page during checkout, this can help you make a lot of money. Finally, you must make sure that customers can pay by selecting a preferred means of payment, and that they can verify their orders -- to make sure everything is OK -- before pressing that crucial "pay" button. 10. Not User-Tested It is obvious that many mobile e-commerce stores have not been user-tested. This is a shame, since it is the fastest and most efficient way to locate about 85 percent of all usability errors. What is a user test? A user test first and foremost has the secret superpower of including real customers in the design and optimization process. A user test is also called a "think-aloud test" because the users in the test talk aloud about how they perceive the user interface: what they like, why they get stuck, etc. Most user tests are based on five representative customers who help you locate approximately 85 percent of all errors within the given tasks. This makes a user test the most powerful conversion optimization tool out there. It does not take a lot of time to test, and it is based on real customers interacting with your e-commerce store, based on real-life shopping scenarios. When you carry out a user test, normally you locate 30-50 usability errors, of which four to five are conversion killers that cause you to lose customers -- customers who most likely never will return. By solving the usability errors located in the user test, you ensure that your mobile e-commerce store is better than most of your competitors, which certainly will improve your mobile customer conversion rate and revenue. If you are a "Do-It-Yourself" person, you can even learn how to carry out user tests yourself by reading Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug. Benjamin Gundgaard is a European e-commerce expert, keynote speaker and founder of CustomerSense, an independent, high-end e-commerce consultancy that helps companies build and optimize their e-commerce Web stores. Gundgaard is also the author of Smartphone E-commerce. He lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. B2B Lead Generation Service Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more. Video has risen in recent years to the forefront of any marketing campaign, recognized as the optimum medium to elevate brand awareness and share a company's latest product buzz with an increasingly diverse and sophisticated audience. It's so easy to work with; platforms are readily available, simple to learn, and hyper affordable. High-quality results can be achieved on a budget; wonderfully powerful camera devices reside perpetually in customers' pockets via their cellphones, and editing software often comes either built-in with install packages or as an included feature in video content management systems. To sum up a lot in a little, video is a marvelous marketing democratizer. Naturally, video and marketing make for the perfect fit. However, your company can find a multitude of other uses with video elements that will expand the scope of your video infrastructure to simplify and augment a plethora of facets for your business. Your video strategy shouldn't just be reserved for delivering marketing materials via social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in the hopes of catching a scrolling eye. Your customers want video content. They interact with it all day long in their personal and professional lives -- but that doesn't mean they're dying to see more advertisements! If your ultimate goal as a business is to construct a base of customers who can flow freely through your funnel and become customers for life, with opportunities to facilitate stronger bonds, video is the key. Harnessing its power gives you the opportunity to pursue it at every stop along the way as a means to create constant customer growth, maximize customers' personal experience and cater your products and services using a method that will target their goals as a business and help them to succeed. It's a true B2B pathway toward mutual success through an emphasis on the customer service portion of the relationship. There are many ways to redirect video content as a tool to advocate for your customers needs. The following approaches could be most vital in creating sustained growth for them and for you. Creating and Maintaining a Self-Administering knowledge base System As much as we love our customers and appreciate hearing from them on a regular basis, managing a lot of accounts can be incredibly time consuming. Besides the time we devote, we can't always be sitting at our phones available for them on a whim. There's only so much of us to go around, but we want our customers' needs to be met. From a tech support and customer relations perspective, having a one-stop shop to handle the bulk of customer requests and inquiries that can be self-administered is an absolute godsend for sales representatives. That is why taking the time to set up a committed self-administering knowledge base system can be so crucial to assisting your sales team and providing post-product purchase support for your customers. The knowledge base is essentially a video memory bank of documentation as it relates to the most frequently asked questions about the products or services you provide. It might provide additional insight into company details as well, including corporate structure and staff introductions. More than anything, it's a source of knowledge meant to help your customers access answers to their most urgent questions on their own when you can't be there for them. In-depth troubleshooting instructions for completing certain common tasks and product deep-dives are great uses of the knowledge base. It should be centrally located and a focal point of your post-purchase support, developed and advertised as a self-service station for your customers to scan through and consult. Video instructionals are the focal point of the self-service knowledge base. The goal should be to recreate, as much as possible, a true, authentic real-life customer experience in the video setting, avoiding impersonal narratives to deliver face-to-face communication via a digital method. Include in the videos that comprise the knowledge base visual personalization, including introductions with your face in the video. Consider including a second screen throughout the video showing you talking, replicating a Skype call, during the process. Add humor, and reference past company meetings or conferences attended to create a true connection that customers can latch onto. If a user on the opposite end can think to themselves, "Oh! I totally remember the speaker at that trade show last year. That was awesome!" then you've leveraged your interpersonal character to pull into the past and demonstrate the depth and length of your customer relationship. Using a program such as a video content management system (VCMS) will streamline the entire process, allowing you to host your knowledge base and customize the layout that your customers interact with on a daily basis. From the aesthetics to the content organization, you can choose your own adventure with knowledge base structures to maximize your support. Organize by product or service, or by question type, and keyword searches will scan both video titles and video content to deliver tapplicable videos that will best address your customers' questions. Just as well, the video production itself doesn't have to be a masterpiece. Using just the webcam affixed to your computer and a built-in mic or podcasting USB microphone, you can deliver awesome results that will get the job done. With all of this said, the knowledge base should be a supplemental program and not the sole source of your customer support and relations. It's a bonus to buying your product, a perk for your customers with positive time management aspects on your end. Some people simply may not find the audio component useful during self-serving; it may be distracting for certain types of learners. In other cases, video just isn't as user-friendly as other outlets. Sometimes a basic scanning of a text step-by-step PDF will fair better, so consider including video transcripts and additional support materials linked to your videos. Overall, the entire process of the knowledge base is the ideal way to deliver a customer service supplement that you can tout when trying to sell customers on follow-up support for your product. By offering the knowledge base as just one more service they'll receive as a customer, you can get a leg up on the competition. With simple video production methods and affordable programming software options, you can get the job done on a budget. Tech Support Video Messaging Services People absolutely love having a face to go with the name. It's a lot easier to deepen a client relationship when those personal, visual elements are involved. If you evaluate body language and determine cues to direct a conversation a certain way, your relationship will blossom. When possible, always offer a video messaging option to customers over the strict phone option. This is particularly important when you know in advance that the call is going to be tech related. Being able to discuss and pull in computer screen grabs of software issues or service problems will boost the experience, expediting call times by allowing for customers to more easily visualize the problem fix and see how your company's professionals exercise best practices with your product. Above all else, consider using a platform like a VCMS or video capturing software to record and log the call. (Of course, always inform and gain consent before recording.) You can set up a system that automatically sends the recorded video to your client at the conclusion of the call for future reference. You also can go back and revisit the call, edit if needed, and upload to your knowledge base for future inquiries and troubleshooting. Invite Customers to Share Their Own Product Stories What better way to connect with prospective customers and create an environment of transparency than to solicit the advice and stories of your current clientele? Testimonials are a surefire way to attract clients into your funnel for future business growth, and there's no doubting their efficiency. What about taking things up a notch and partnering with your B2B peers to let them share their success stories for other customers, creating a professional network of positive outcomes and building everyone's brand in the process? Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Well it's not. Here's how you can do it. You can create your own system to let customers in and get a feel for what other options are out there within your product and service line. It's the ideal way to upsell in an indirect, growth-influenced manner and it will help your customers see the full picture of appreciating your products. Take the time from your schedule to invite customers into your offices and have them sit before a camera and discuss their journey in collaboration with your company. You can even film the visit from the moment they step in, capturing their surprise and excitement to meet the makers behind the products they've been purchasing. Treat it as a true "documentary" experience, giving insight into what your relations look like from the client perspective. Open the doors and invite them in! After all, you want your company to seem like one big, happy family, right? Once you've led your clients on a tour, ask them to have a seat and talk for a while about the relationship with your company thus far. Have them share words on the process of purchasing your products and what post-service has been like, as well as technical support. Furthermore, and most importantly, give your customers an avenue to share how purchasing your products led to their own growth and business success. This will allow future customers the opportunity to consider how your product line will grant them the ability to seek the results they've long desired, proving to be an advertising tool that really can't be beat. Use these videos to captivate future prospects and share with current customers alike, making the most of the visit and allowing customers the opportunity to feel they may be invited next. It's all about getting people excited about the idea of working with your company! Meeting the Minds Behind the Team They Work With on a Daily Basis In the same vein as recording a customer success video, allowing your customers to meet the whole team at your company is a great way to establish a deeper connection and meaning with your business. People love to get a feel for who is behind the scenes at a company. They love to namedrop, to address people on a first name basis, to feel like they're a part of something and have insider knowledge. People love people, so give your people a chance to love you! For many companies, the account management team may be the only level of personnel that the customer is familiar with after an initial sale. They may only email to follow up on additional sales and quarterly add-ons or supplemental materials, leaving out the opportunity to keep building a relationship for your sales team. It may even be at the level where one sole account manager is in charge of all the relationships with a given customer, creating a litany of issues when that account manager leaves your company for a competitor. Open up the doors and have a quarterly meet-and-greet with a few select customers. Get some catered food, send out a notice to your team members that you think it'd be beneficial for them to meet your customers, and invite everyone in for a nice afternoon. Seems old school, right? Nothing wrong with that. Still, in an increasingly globalized market, not all (or even most) of your customers will be local enough to come to such an event. Having an option available for your out-of-town customers to meet your team can foster growth, even with thousands of miles between you. That's where video meet-and-greets provide the perfect solution to both distance and time obstacles. Brand a set of introduction videos as the entirety of your company representing the "customer success team." This is essentially a superteam of sorts, the individuals you would like your customers to feel acquainted with so that they can know who exactly is in charge of helping them achieve their goals. The style of this video is meant to be easily digestible in either an email campaign, newsletter, or a rotating option on the front page of your site. You can even cycle meet-and-greet videos on your various social media sites; they are a perfect fit for platforms like Instagram or Facebook. You can use these meet-and-greet videos to add a touch of character to your relationships with your customers and let them feel a stronger degree of comfort with the people they are working with. The relationship will start to feel more personal and less robotic, much more trusting, and ultimately much better for everyone involved. Take your time, meet with your team, develop a plan, and record! Put your own spin on it, let loose, and have some fun with it. Customer Webinars With Tech Support and Personnel for Savvier Clientele Once your customers and clients feel fully familiarized with your products and services, they very well might be at a different level of knowledge and mastery of your products than the casual user. Prospects inevitably will resort to FAQs, knowledge bases, and troubleshooting guides for the info they need to figure out products and services. That same generalized knowledge just won't be adequate for higher-level product users, so keeping them in the loop is crucial. After all, if they're that good with your products, they obviously are frequent buyers and valued customers. They deserve your attention. An awesome way to reach out to those users is to invite smaller groups to dive deeper with a niche topic in a customer-based webinar. Meet with your team and identify the customers you've spoken with who best demonstrate an advanced knowledge of how your product works. Once you've determined this group, send out a simple survey asking your customers what advanced topics they're most interested in learning more about as it relates to your company. From there, meet with developers and team members to decide on a topic for which there is the greatest room for growth and exploration as it pertains to their expertise. Keep it interesting; the entire process is optional and voluntary, so make it worth their while. Once you have the group and topic set, send out an invite to your select customers for the webinar. Keep it around 30 minutes; any longer and it's too much of a commitment for most. Host it either online, with a video call system or through a VCMS. Let the topic be a discussion of best practices, or demonstrate troubleshooting in greater depth and detail. Consider having a tech developer or engineer come in for the call; this will open the floor for greater insights into how a product was made, and what the developer intended as an outcome. It will let your customers gain a fresh perspective on how to operate your products and services. Give them a "behind the scenes" look into development, and make sure to leave plenty of time for questions and answers. You will be absolutely amazed to find the ways that your customers are using your products; it may provide an excellent opportunity for your engineers to be inspired by their usage ideas, and create a whole new product tailored just toward those needs. After the webinar, solicit ideas and feedback from those who attended for a next webinar. Consider offering a full-fledged series of webinars on a monthly basis. Let your customers be involved as much as possible. Also, consider asking permission to record the webinar. Afterward, you can revisit it for interesting perspectives. You also can save it and upload it to your knowledge base, or take clips and edit them to distribute in your next webinar invitation. Don't let any video opportunity go to waste; there is always the chance to explore and find more content to work with as a company. Closing Thoughts on Customer Advocacy By now you can see that by harnessing the power of video, there is a never-ending treasure trove of options to explore further when it comes to strengthening customer relations. Video is the perfect method to shorten distances between customers and your company in a globalized economy, allowing for deep roots in customer relations to be established whether your clients are in Manhattan or Moscow. Focusing on delivering quality content will allow customers to feel like they are part of something exclusive -- a club meant only for buyers. It suddenly becomes a perk, an added value that they receive with their purchase. It's not just point-and-click, see you later. It's now a professional team backing them and supporting their success, being there for them through thick and thin to give the quality support they need to thrive in their endeavors. Whether used for constructing and hosting your own knowledge base, creating webinars for your most advanced clientele, or creating a video tech service that will knock customers' socks off, video is an affordable means to make the most of your company-to-customer relationship. So what are you waiting for? Get that camera out and start filming today! Sean Gordon is the founder and CEO of vidReach, which provides automation that personalizes customer engagement processes. He is also CEO of HireNami and executive vice president of ITC Holdings. Gordon has an extensive track record recruiting, hiring, training, and unlocking the talent of people. His career includes stints at AT&T, EMC, Aetna and West Corporation, among others. Sean has created new lines of business, reinvigorated stagnant company cultures, and mentored hundreds of employees who have gone on to do great things. ((Photo: Reuters / Jason Reed)) Religion News Service has said it intends to join the amicus brief in support of CNN and its journalist Jim Acosta against President Donald Trump and his key White House staff members. The White House Correspondents' Association filed a court brief on Nov. 14 backing CNN's lawsuit against rump, arguing that the president does not have the power to deny reporters access to the White House, Politico reported. For its part RNS said on Sept. 15 that First Amendment's freedom of the press is sacrosanct under the U.S. Constitution and necessary for a healthy democracy said RNS. The arbitrary revocation of Acosta's so-called "hard pass" is an extraordinary denial of this freedom where, as here, it is clear the White House dislikes the questions asked by the journalist. "This is unacceptable. Moreover, the implementation of this decision fundamentally failed the Fifth Amendment guarantee of due process. Again, this is unacceptable," said RNS in a statement Nov. 15. It said the White House must immediately reinstate Mr. Acosta's press credentials for him to report on the White House and the presidency. "Should the White House continue to resist the reinstatement of Mr. Acosta's press credentials, we expect that the court will require the president and White House to do so," said Thomas Gallagher, CEO and RNS publisher. Fox News had joined a number of media outlets on Nov. 14 in announcing that they would back rival CNN's lawsuit against the Trump administration, The Hill reported. Fox News President Jay Wallace said in a statement that the network intends to file an amicus brief with a U.S. District Court in the lawsuit. CNN had filed suit against the White House on Nov. 13 seeking the return of correspondent Acosta's press credentials, revoked last week after a testy exchange with President Trump during a press conference. "FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter's press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized," Wallace said. "While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people." NBC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, Gannett, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, The Washington Post, EW Scripps, and other outlets were also cited as planning to file briefs supporting CNN's lawsuit, according to a release from Ballard Spahr LLP, a law firm representing the outlets. "Whether the news of the day concerns national security, the economy, or the environment, reporters covering the White House must remain free to ask questions," the news outlets said in a joint statement released by the firm. "It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons. Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question this President, or any President." "The President's view of the law is wrong," the White House Correspondents Association's amicus brief states. "While he may have absolute discretion to exclude a member of the press from his Trump Tower residence, he does not have absolute discretion to exclude a member of the press from the White House," it said. Flash Otra dimision en el Gabinete de May: Rehman Chishti, vicepresidente del Partido Conservador britanico, tambien se va Rancagua, Chile, Nov 14 (epa-efe).- Catholic Bishop Juan Barros was questioned here Wednesday as a potential defendant in a case involving alleged sexual abuse by a former military chaplain. Barros, one of the most questioned figures in the Chilean Catholic Church, testified for 2 1/2 hours before the chief prosecutor of the O'Higgins region, Sergio Moya. This is the second time that Barros, bishop emeritus of Osorno, has testified in the case of the alleged abuses committed by erstwhile air force chaplain Pedro Quiroz. In both situations, Barros, who was the armed forces bishop from 2004-2015, had to give explanations for his alleged efforts to cover up the actions of Quiroz. The armed forces diocese in July received an accusation that Quiroz sexually abused a minor in 1997. The priest had already been investigated in 2000 by the Vatican for two complaints of sexual abuse of minors, but the necessary statements from the victims were not obtained and thus the facts could not be definitively determined or responsibility assigned. Moya said after questioning Barros that the bishop denied the accusations he had covered up anything. The prosecutor underlined the importance of the status of Barros as a retired army general since that means that he was a public official and covering up a crime in that situation is a "criminal offense." Moya said that he told Barros that he might be summoned again to testify in other cases under investigation as a result of the seizure of documents from the offices of the armed forces diocese. Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Barros as Bishop of Osorno in June. Several victims of abuse committed by influential priest Fernando Karadima have claimed that Barros witnessed the events in question but decided to hide and keep quiet about them for years. Chilean prosecutors say they are investigating 190 people with connections to the church for alleged abuse involving 245 people, of whom 102 were minors at the time of the incidents. Santo Domingo, Nov 15 (efe-epa).- Roger Zayas, a member of the popular musical group 440, inaugurated here Thursday an exhibit of 25 photos he took in a dozen countries while touring with the multi-award-winning band. The exhibit, open through Nov. 30, is part of the eighth edition of the Photoimagen festival in Santo Domingo, which this year features Spain as special guest. Named for the 440 hit "La Travesia," the exhibit includes black-and-white images of cities such as Amsterdam, Madrid, Paris, New York, Shanghai and Hannover, Germany, Zayas told EFE. This is the third individual show for Zayas, who got into professional photography 13 years ago after receiving a camera as a gift from 440 leader Juan Luis Guerra. "Each image has a different theme," Zayas said, recounting that when he became a photographer, he set out to create When he started with the project, the "goal was to take photos "that could be in presented in an exhibit and which had some meaning." Saudi Arabia could not be the third-party strategic investor in the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a flagship project called the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as earlier it was announced by Islamabad. BRI is a pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping and it is aimed to increase further its influence around the world through infrastructure projects funded by the country. Pakistans Ministry for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar said they would have a separate bilateral deal with the Saudi Kingdom and not to include as a strategic partner in the CPEC. He added, Saudi Arabia is not to become a collateral strategic partner in the CPEC. This impression is not true. About a month ago, following the return of Prime Minister Imran Khan from Saudi visit, the Pakistans Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the Kingdom could be the third strategic partner of the CPEC. However, it is interesting to learn the U-turn of the country as Chaudhry was seated beside Bakhtiar while clarifying why Saudi Arabia could not be a CPEC partner. Bakhtiar said there could be many offshoots in trilateral agreement like China-Pakistan-Germany and China-Pakistan-Japan. A Saudi Arabia delegation is currently in Pakistan to assess capitalization on the offer. Meanwhile, India has opposed the CPEC project as the project is also laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Taiwans Sing Da Marine Structure Corp. (SDMS) will be supplying 56 jacket foundations to Denmarks rsted A/S during 2020-2021 under a major deal that was signed between the two parties on 12 November. rsted will be deploying these foundations as part of its construction of two offshore windfarms located alongside the western coast of Taiwan. This is also the largest order that rsted has ever placed for jacket foundations. The supplier SDMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiwans China Steel Corp. (CSC). Named after the Singda Harbor of Kaohsiung, where it is located, SDMS was set up by CSC with a registered capital TWD 3.421 billion. As a key participant in Taiwans supply chain for offshore wind power, SDMS will be investing a total of TWD 6.842 billion to establish a base for fabricating jacket foundations. The groundbreaking ceremony for the production base already took place on 15 April, and SDMS aims to complete the construction of all the facilities at the site by the end of 2019. Afterward, the company will immediately begin processing the order from rsted. Currently the worlds largest developer of offshore wind projects, rsted is working with Taiwans government via its partnership with CSC to build offshore windfarms. The deal with SDMS specifically pertains to two windfarms that are near the shores of Changhua County. The cost of procuring the 56 jacket foundations for rsteds Greater Changhua Project is estimated to surpass TWD 10 billion. Each of the jacket foundations that SDMS will be delivering to rsted weighs more than 1,100t and is around 75m in height. It will be able to securely support an 8MW wind turbine and its tower that stand above the seawater. During the signing of the contract, Matthias Bausenwein, who serves as the chairperson of rsted Taiwan and the president of the companys entire Asia-Pacific operation, stated that this order is the largest ever placed by his company worldwide for jacket foundations. Bausenwein also believes the deal to be the largest of its kind by transaction volume in the global market for offshore wind power during 2020-2021. Responding to the deal, Lin Horng-nan, the president of CSC, said that 20 companies have been brought together to form the domestic supply chain for offshore wind turbines. Furthermore, this supply chain is expected to create at least 2,000 local jobs in Kaohsiung. Also, Taiwans Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin stated that SDMS must deliver high-quality jacket foundations to rsted on schedule so as to meet the domestic demand for renewable energies. (This article is an English translation of news content provided by EnergyTrends media partner TechNews. The credit of the photo goes to TechNews.) 278,000 Syrian refugees have returned home Syrian refugees who fled from the civil war in their country and found asylum in Turkey started to go back to the zones that Turkey made secure. Turkey's efforts in northern Syria to establish stability, including successful counterterrorism operations, have enabled Syrian refugees living in the country to turn back to their homes to areas liberated from terrorist groups. UNDER FAVOUR OF TURKEY'S SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS A total of 278,000 Syrian refugees returned to their homes, according to the Interior Ministry of Turkey, which is home to 3.5 million Syrian refugees. Approximately 278,139 of them returned to their homes in the successful Euphrates Shield Zone and Olive Branch operations, according to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. Soylu also noted there is a major contradiction in what great powers say and do regarding the refugee crisis, stressing that Turkey has set itself apart from other countries. Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to remove terrorists from northwestern Syria's Afrin. The Turkish Armed Forces liberated Afrin town center from terrorists on March 18. Following the operations, Turkey has been also involving efforts to rebuild the towns' infrastructure, as well as health and education institutions. Number of FETO suspects flees to Germany exceeds 10,000 in 10 months More than 158,000 Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) suspects have applied for asylum in Germany between the 2018 January-October period, a German government report has said. Since the failed coup attempt in Turkey in the summer of 2016, Germany has been a popular destination for fleeing FETO suspects after Turkey escalated a crackdown on the terrorist group in the wake of the coup attempt. GERMANY BECOMES FETO SUSPECTS' HEADQUARTER Ankara singles Germany out among European countries for embracing thousands of Turkish citizens accused of involvement in the coup. The US is the second-most preferred destination for Gulenists fleeing their native Turkey, where the terrorist group's leader Gulen lives in a sprawling retreat in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Gulen had said following the coup attempt that Germany would be their next headquarters. "WE NEED MORE EVIDENCE" Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey sent extradition requests and files on hundreds of people linked to FETO to 83 countries and Germany was one of the countries that are far from meeting Turkey's demands regarding alleged FETO members. In September, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Berlin to extradite hundreds of FETO terrorists residing in Germany, while Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany needed more evidence if it was to class the movement as a terrorist organization, as Ankara is demanding. The Telegraphs travel advice: Visit Turkeys capital UKs most-selling newspaper captioned Turkeys capital. Columnist Terry Richardson recommended travelers to visit Ankara. In an article published in the Telegraph, one of the prestigious newspapers of the World, British travel writer Terry Richardson introduced Ankara to his readers. Richardson likened Ankara to Tudor-era English streets and pointed out that the worlds biggest archeologic treasure is in Ankara. In the Forget Istanbul here's why you should visit Ankara, Turkey's overlooked capital headlined article, Richardson expressed that Ankara is a unique destination to explore Central Anatolia. Ankara is Turkeys capital, but in terms of visitors, it lives in the shadow of its western cousin, Istanbul. Take, for example, the latest visitors statistics, covering September: Ankara received just over 56,000 visitors from abroad; Istanbul welcomed 1.2million. THE JEWELS OF THE CITY Having successfully led the resistance against the western imperial powers in the aftermath of the First World War, Ataturk conjured-up Republic of Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. He chose Ankara, not Istanbul, some 280 miles to the west, to be of the nascent republic. Then a dusty backwater with a population of 25,000, its now a booming metropolis of 5.5million. The citadel is the natural focus for any visit to Ankara, especially as it contains a number of restaurants housed in lovingly converted Ottoman-era mansion houses, offering an array of mezes tender kebabs and milk-pudding desserts. But the real jewel in Ankaras crown is the world-class Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, a short walk down from the citadel. Richardson wrote. The columnist also gave advice on the transportation: "Turkish Airlines, the nations flag carrier, announced new flights to Ankara from London Gatwick, the first ever from the West Sussex airport and the only direct route to the city from the UK. The twice-weekly service that begins in January was, the airline said, a direct response to a rise of interest in the capital." UK ministers start resigning after Brexit deal UK and EU have agreed on terms for the Brexit. But a part of the government in London thinks that the deal will have heavy results on the country. Ministers started to resign one by one. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday saying he could not support Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit plan, which the Cabinet approved with majority of the votes on Wednesday. "Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary," Raab said on Twitter. "I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her," he wrote. Raab said in his resignation letter that he could not support the proposed deal because of two reasons. First, I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom, he said. Second, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit, Raab added. Raab has become the second Brexit secretary to resign from Mays Cabinet. His predecessor David Davis resigned in July over his varied views on Brexit from those of the prime ministers after the revelation of the Chequers -- a roadmap Brexit plan by May. Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust, Raab said. TWO MINISTERS RESIGNED The draft Brexit deal reached between the U.K. and EU was approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday. May said the draft agreement was the best that could be negotiated. The EU said an emergency Brexit summit will be held on Nov. 25 in Brussels. Northern Ireland Minister Shailesh Vara also resigned Thursday morning saying he quit the government because the agreements bind the UK to a customs arrangement with the EU with no unilateral means of getting out. For us to tie ourselves up to mechanism where we are not in control is not in the interest of the country, he said, speaking to BBCs the Today program. The people were given a choice and they voted for a sovereign, independent United Kingdom and this isnt going to provide it, he said. Under the proposed deal, the EU accepted the idea of whole-U.K. customs union with the bloc in a major concession to please U.K.'s demands to protect its territorial integrity. Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein syndrome (ADNP syndrome) is a rare genetic condition that causes developmental delays, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder symptoms in thousands of children worldwide. There is no known remedy for the disorder. A new Tel Aviv University study finds that the drug candidate CP201, also known as NAP, may improve vocal communication abilities that are underdeveloped in ADNP patients. The research establishes that vocal impediments and disrupted neural connectivity in ADNP-deficient mice were normalized following daily injections and intranasal administrations of CP201. Research for the groundbreaking study was led by Prof. Illana Gozes, the Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors and head of the Elton Laboratory for Molecular Neuroendocrinology at TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with Prof. Anne McKinney of McGill University and her research group and Dr. Vlasta Korenkova of the BIOCEV Institute of Biotechnology. TAU doctoral students Gal Hacohen-Kleiman, Shlomo Sragovich, Gidon Karmon, Iris Grigg and Dr. Metsada Pasmanik-Chor conducted the research for the study, which was published in the November print issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Giving ADNP children a voice ADNP syndrome is caused by truncating mutations of the ADNP protein, which is essential for brain formation. "Children with ADNP syndrome suffer from intellectual disability, delayed language acquisition and speech impediments," says Prof. Gozes, who discovered the ADNP gene nearly 20 years ago. "Many children are never able to speak at all. "We developed a mouse model of ADNP deficiency that offered a closer look at the ADNP-deficient brain. We discovered that vocal communication deficiencies are in fact connected to synaptic pathology, and that we could normalize this by injecting the mouse model with daily NAP treatments or administering intranasal doses to the mouse. Specific gene regulation substantially improved on most of the parameters that we tested, which is great news for the future of ADNP and autism research." Prof. Gozes' decades-long ADNP research led to the development of CP201, an important nerve-cell-protecting snippet of ADNP that enhances its activity. It increases nerve cell plasticity that improves memory and cognition through interaction with microtubule end-binding proteins. "We have seen CP201's positive effects in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases," says Prof. Gozes. "We have now found that vocal communication impediments in ADNP-deficient mice were successfully normalized. The CP201 systemic injections or intranasal daily applications in nonsuckling mice affected global changes in brain plasticity, substantially improving developmental milestones." The new study was conducted over two years. The researchers used cognitive behavioral tests and gene expression analysis to assess the developmental milestones of 72 ADNP-deficient mice. They also applied ultrasonic vocalization analysis to some 28 ADNP-deficient mice and compared these with the results of 50 "normal" mice. A promising candidate for clinical trials Ramot, Tel Aviv University's technology transfer arm, licensed NAP (CP201) to Coronis Neuroscience for development. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since granted CP201 Orphan Drug status for the treatment of ADNP syndrome in the United States. According to Prof. Gozes, the current study paves the way for a clinical trial. "NAP (CP201) has demonstrated brain target engagement and great potential for treating social, motor and vocal communication impediments in future intellectual disabilities/autism-oriented clinical trials," she says. Coronis Neurosciences has just completed a pre-IND (investigational new drug program) meeting with the FDA with positive outcomes and a road map to successful IND submission for CP201 in the ADNP syndrome. The IND program is the means by which a pharmaceutical company obtains permission to start human clinical trials. ### The study was supported by ERA-Net Neuron, the Israel Science Foundation, the Israel-U.S. Binational Science Foundation-National Science Foundation -- U.S. (BSF-NSF), the AMN Fund, the Israeli Ministry of Science, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, BIOCEV, Drs. Ronith and Armand Stemmer and Arthur Gerbi (French Friends of Tel Aviv University), as well as Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University (Anne and Alex Cohen), Spanish Friends of Tel Aviv University and the Eldee Foundation/Bloomfield Family of Montreal awards for student exchange (Tel Aviv University/McGill University). American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Israel's most influential, comprehensive and sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU). TAU is recognized and celebrated internationally for creating an innovative, entrepreneurial culture on campus that generates inventions, startups and economic development in Israel. TAU is ranked ninth in the world, and first in Israel, for producing start-up founders of billion-dollar companies, an achievement that surpassed several Ivy League universities. To date, 2,500 US patents have been filed by Tel Aviv University researchers -- ranking TAU #1 in Israel, #10 outside of the US and #43 in the world. Over 30 years ago, Marsha and Allen Barnett lost their sons to a puzzling childhood disease that relentlessly attacked their nervous systems and sapped their energy. After five-year-old Chuckie died suddenly in 1981, doctors provided a name for the disease: Leigh syndrome. Leigh syndrome is a complex disorder typically caused by dysfunctional mitochondria, the tiny batteries inside all cells that generate our energy. Two years later, the same disease killed Michael, Chuckie's older brother, when he was 10 years old. Earlier this year, Mrs. Barnett, who lives in southeastern Pennsylvania, received a phone call from a physician she knew, Marni J. Falk, MD, at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where Barnett has long supported research in mitochondrial medicine. "She asked about Chuckie's and Michael's symptoms, then told me, 'I think we found the causal gene mutation,'" she said. Falk, the Executive Director of CHOP's Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program, led a research team that identified the inherited mutation in the Barnett family, a change in one nuclear gene that arose spontaneously generations ago among both parents' Ashkenazi Jewish ancestors. Scores of different genes harbor mutations that may cause Leigh syndrome, by many different possible inheritance patterns. The mutation in this family was present on both copies of the same gene in both affected brothers, and was also seen in two other children in the study with Leigh syndrome who were not related to them. The study team, a research collaboration involving multiple centers to prove that the gene mutation definitely impaired mitochondrial function, published its findings in the October 2018 issue of Human Molecular Genetics. Falk's co-study leader was Michio Hirano, MD, of Columbia University, and the study's co-first authors were Rebecca D. Ganetzky, MD, of CHOP, and Emanuele Barca, PhD, of Columbia University. Leigh syndrome, named after a British neuropsychologist who first described it in 1951, involves metabolic strokes deep in the brain, with a loss of skills from stressors such as fever, illness and anesthesia. It has historically had a high mortality rate in childhood or adolescence. Over 90 different genes necessary for mitochondria to function properly are now known to cause it, with disease-causing gene variants rooted in DNA, either within a cell's nucleus or in the separate mitochondrial genome. Impaired cellular energy production in Leigh syndrome causes patients to experience progressive weakening of their muscles, heart and central nervous system. Both Chuckie and Michael eventually lost control of their eye muscles, for instance. Falk and colleagues analyzed data from four subjects affected with Leigh syndrome who did not have a specific genetic diagnosis: the Barnett boys and two unrelated patients from Ashkenazi families now living with Leigh syndrome who are followed by the CHOP Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program. The team identified a common causative mutation in the nuclear gene USMG5, a gene not previously associated with any human disease. USMG5 encodes a protein component of complex V, the molecular motor within the mitochondrial energy system that directly generates ATP, each cell's chemical energy currency. The change in USMG5 is a founder mutation, one that originated by chance, most likely centuries ago in an unidentified individual from an Ashkenazi Jewish population, possibly in Eastern Europe. The mutation causes an autosomal recessive disease, so someone can carry the mutation in one of their pair of USMG5 genes without having disease symptoms. However, if both parents are mutation carriers--as is true of Marsha and Allen--each child has a 25 percent chance of inheriting the mutation on both copies of their gene, and being affected with Leigh syndrome. The youngest Barnett son, now 40 years old, does not have Leigh syndrome. Nearly 30 years ago Marsha and Allen Barnett established a foundation to support research in mitochondrial disease, which subsequently supported the recruitment to CHOP of mitochondrial medicine pioneer Douglas C. Wallace, PhD, where he established the Center for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine in 2010. Wallace holds the Michael and Charles Barnett Endowed Chair in Pediatric Mitochondrial Medicine and Metabolic Disease. Insights from the current research have implications for preventive medicine and genetic counseling, says Falk. The USMG5 mutation should be added to the list of mutations tested for at the time of prenatal genetic carrier screening in prospective Ashkenazi Jewish parents. The mutation is relatively common in the Ashkenazi population, where roughly one in 175 individuals are carriers. It should also be added to the list of genes to be evaluated in children with Leigh syndrome. "What we've learned from these four children recognized to suffer from USMG5 deficiency will enable future children diagnosed with this condition to be very carefully monitored and managed when they face stressors such as fever or anesthesia, to avoid decompensation," said Falk. Decompensation is a rapid medical deterioration that may occur when a patient's system is stressed. In the longer run, Falk and other researchers are working to realize precision medicines for mitochondrial disease. In the future, children known to have this gene disorder may be able to receive treatments targeted to their specific disease. "This work highlights the importance to families and medicine of continuing to work to solve cases that have never before been fully understood," says Falk. "The current revolution in genomic sequencing methods, combined with highly collaborative research investigations to validate genetic leads, continues to deepen our knowledge of mitochondrial disease, and with it, precision diagnosis, counseling, management, and therapies." ### Funding support for this study came from the National Institutes of Health (DK082446, GM008638, DK113250, and HD032062), the Angelina Foundation Fund, the Foerderer Award for Excellence, the Marriott Mitochondrial Disorders Clinical Research Network, the Nicholas Nunno Fund, the Mileti Fund, the Simons Foundation and the JPM Foundation. Emanuele Barca et al, "USMG5 Ashkenazi Jewish founder mutation impairs mitochondrial complex V dimerization and ATP synthesis," Human Molecular Genetics, published in print Oct. 1, 2018. http://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddy231 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 On November 14, the F-35 Joint Program Office awarded Lockheed Martin a $22.7 billion Undefintiized Contract Action to fund more than 250 F-35 aircraft. This is a significant milestone for the program that reduces costs and demonstrates increased program maturity. An F-35 Lightning II assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, flies alongside a 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight to Estonia on April 25, 2017 (U.S. Air Force photo /Senior Airman Christine Groening) The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) awarded a modification to the previously-awarded Low-Rate Initial Production Lot 12 (LRIP 12) advance acquisition contract. This award directs the continuation of production activity for all aircraft in the F-35 programs LRIP 12 contract, as well as aircraft for several international customers in LRIPs 12, 13 and 14 (Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, 2020). This contracting funding strategy provides stability and a steady production rate over a defined period of time, which enables industry to plan and make investments that reduce overall cost and achieve greater manufacturing efficiencies. Todays contract action obligates $6 billion in funding from the U.S. Services, International Partners and our Foreign Military Sales customers for 255 F-35 aircraft. F-35 aircraft allocation includes; 106 F-35s for the U.S. Services, 89 F-35s for International Partners, 60 F-35s for our Foreign Military Sales customers. LRIP 12, 13 and 14 aircraft deliveries will begin in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. This award brings the Department of Defense into compliance with Congressional direction by placing all 20 FY18 (Lot 12) and 16 FY19 (Lot 13) congressional plus up aircraft on contract. It also establishes a $22.7 billion not-to-exceed contract threshold for LRIP 12 aircraft. This Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) enables F-35 production to continue efficiently while the government and industry teams reach contract agreement. We are committed to reducing costs, and confident the final negotiated LRIP 12 aircraft unit prices will be less than LRIP 11, and enable us to deliver on our goal of an $80 million F-35A by 2020. In parallel, a separate Lot 12 propulsion UCA between the JPO and Pratt & Whitney is currently being negotiated. "This Undefintized Contract Action will provide critical funds to ensure F-35 production and cost reduction efforts remain on schedule as we partner with the F-35 Joint Program Office to finalize the formal contract agreement. The acquisition approach for Lots 12-14 will deliver significant cost savings and is critical to achieving our joint goal of an $80 million F-35A for aircraft ordered in 2020. This is a smart approach for the taxpayer, the warfighter and for industry. We appreciate the governments proactive action and partnership to maintain supply chain stability, reduce costs and ensure deliveries remain on track to meet growing demand around the globe," said Lockheed Martin. Dublin, Ireland: Researchers investigating new treatments for neuroblastoma - one of the most common childhood cancers - have found that a combination of two drugs made tumours disappear in mice, making it more effective than any other drugs tested in these animals. Professor Murray Norris, deputy director of the Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia, told the 30th EORTC-NCI-AACR [1] Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland, today (Thursday) that the findings were unusual and highly significant. But he warned that it would be some time before the drug combination would be tested in children and, if successful, made available more widely to treat children with this disease, even though both drugs are currently undergoing clinical trial in a range of adult cancers. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common childhood cancers and is the leading single cause of cancer deaths in children under five. It is frequently found in the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys. Despite using intensive treatment regimens, children with the most aggressive forms of neuroblastoma have less than 50% survival rates. Prof Norris said: "To study neuroblastoma in the laboratory, we use a genetically modified neuroblastoma mouse model that closely recapitulates clinical features of the disease, and these mice spontaneously develop neuroblastomas within weeks after birth. We have found that when we combined CBL0137 and panobinostat to treat mice bearing neuroblastomas, the tumours disappeared and never came back during the entire experiment, whereas the tumours continued to grow in mice that received either no treatment or only single drug treatment. "This is a highly significant finding as this drug combination is the most effective therapy that we have observed in this neuroblastoma mouse model. It is unusual to see this effect, especially in these mice where neuroblastoma develops within seven weeks of birth and is aggressive in nature. In fact, the CBL0137/panobinostat combination is more effective than any other current clinical chemotherapy combinations that our laboratory has tested in these mice." CBL0137, which belongs to a new class of drugs called curaxins, attacks the structure of cancer cells but is a safe drug that does not damage DNA in normal cells. Prof Norris and his colleagues used RNA sequencing technology that can detect drug-induced changes in tumours, to see how the combination of CBL0137 and panobinostat stopped neuroblastoma growing. "Our results suggest that these drugs work through two different mechanisms that offer a two-pronged attack. One of these mechanisms appears to be a direct attack on the cancer cells themselves, killing them by inhibiting DNA repair; then a second mechanism is involved in inducing a robust immune response. This is very exciting and will hopefully facilitate the clinical development of effective and non-toxic therapies for childhood cancer," he said. "Unlike conventional chemotherapy drugs that interact with DNA, CBL0137 is non-DNA damaging and therefore is comparatively less toxic. Developing CBL0137 combination therapies has the potential to reduce acute and long-term side effects and increase the quality of life of children with cancer while extending the survival rates of these children. Another important implication is that the CBL0137/panobinostat combination can activate an immune response which may significantly boost the efficacy of immunotherapy drugs that are otherwise ineffective for neuroblastoma." The researchers are continuing their laboratory work to investigate further how the combination of these two drugs activates the immune response, and to test CBL0137/panobinostat with other immunotherapy drugs in mice. A phase I clinical trial of CBL0137 in children with neuroblastoma and other difficult-to-treat childhood cancers is planned to start in 2019, following the completion of a phase I clinical trial of the drug in adults with solid cancers and previously treated blood cancers. The trial of CBL0137 alone in children will need to be completed successfully before a trial testing the combination of the two drugs can be planned, which means it will be a few years before it is known whether the treatment can be used more widely. Further lab research by Prof Norris and his colleagues also showed that CBL0137 and panobinostat slowed the growth of aggressive childhood leukaemias in mice and significantly extended survival. In addition to approving CBL0137 for phase I clinical trials in adults, the FDA has already approved panobinostat for multiple myeloma and it is being tested in clinical trials for a range of other cancers. Co-chair of the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium, Dr James L. Gulley, who is Director of the Medical Oncology Service at the NIH / NCI Center for Cancer Research in the USA, and who is an expert in cancer immunotherapy but was not involved in this research, commented: "Although these are results from work conducted in mice, they are very interesting and suggest the exciting possibility that this drug combination might work more effectively than single agents in children with this rare but aggressive tumour. These are patients who desperately need better treatments. We await the results of the clinical trials with interest." ### [1] EORTC [European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, NCI [National Cancer Institute], AACR [American Association for Cancer Research]. Being supported by mega-grant from Russian Science Foundation (RSF), researchers of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) and Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), have revealed about 6900 hydrobionts species in the Russian Far Eastern basin. The Sea of Japan turned out to be especially rich, approximately 42 percent of all Far Eastern species inhabit here. The large-scale research program was carried out from 2014 to 2018. This was announced by Vice-President of the RAS, Head of the Department of Biodiversity and Marine Bioresources of the FEFU School of Natural Sciences Andrei Adrianov, presenting the results of the project "Technologies for Monitoring and Rational Use of Marine Biological Resources". During five expeditions scientists have obtained new data on the biological diversity of the seas of the Far East. According to Andrei Adrianov, more than 6,900 species of aquatic organisms populate the Russian economic zone of the Far Eastern basin. That exceeds the number of species in the economic zone of all European countries. The Sea of Japan is particularly rich: as a result of deep-sea research, the number of identified organisms has increased six-fold compared with the previously known. Wherein, 201 of 621 species are new to science. "Deep-sea research revolutionized our understanding of biological diversity. In the Far Eastern basin, hundreds and hundreds of previously unknown organisms were found. Now a team of scientists is describing these new species. We have yet to evaluate the potential of their use. Many hydrobionts were identified as having important antitumor and antibacterial properties, which means they can become the basis to design the new generation of drugs," said Andrei Adrianov. A large-scale research program was carried out by the scientists of FEFU and the FEB RAS in the course of 2014 to 2018 at the expense of the RSF mega-grant. Scientists have developed research in five major fields: the creation of technologies for accounting, reproduction and control of biological resources, methods for assessing pollution of marine ecosystems, as well as new drugs and food. In the project were engaged 100 employees of the FEFU and the FEB RAS, 60% of which are young scientists. On the basis of the research 568 scientific articles have already been published, including 331 in international journals. ### The symmetries that govern the world of elementary particles at the most elementary level could be radically different from what has so far been thought. This surprising conclusion emerges from new work published by theoreticians from Warsaw and Potsdam. The scheme they posit unifies all the forces of nature in a way that is consistent with existing observations and anticipates the existence of new particles with unusual properties, which may even be present in our close environs. For half a century, physicists have been trying to construct a theory that brings together all four fundamental forces of nature, describes the known elementary particles and predicts the existence of new ones. So far these attempts have not found experimental confirmation and the Standard Model - an old and surely incomplete, but still surprisingly effective theoretical construct - has successfully remained in use for years as our best description of the quantum world. In a recent paper in Physical Review Letters, Prof. Krzysztof Meissner from the Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, and Prof. Hermann Nicolai from the Max-Planck-Institut fur Gravitationsphysik in Potsdam have presented a new scheme generalizing the Standard Model that incorporates gravitation into the description. The shortcomings of previous attempts were overcome through the application of a kind of symmetry not previously used in the description of elementary particles. In physics, symmetries are understood somewhat differently than in the colloquial sense of the word. For instance, note that whether we drop a ball from the same spot now or one minute from now, it will still fall in the same way. That is a manifestation of a certain symmetry: the laws of physics remain unchanged with respect to shifts in time. Similarly, we can drop the ball while standing and facing once in a southward direction, once westward, or we can drop it from the same height in one location, then another. The ball will still fall in the same way in both cases, which means that the laws of physics are symmetrical also with respect to the operations of rotation and spatial displacement, respectively. "Symmetries play a huge role in physics because they are related to principles of conservation. For instance, the principle of the conservation of energy involves symmetry with respect to shifts in time, the principle of the conservation of momentum relates to symmetry of spatial displacement, and the principle of the conservation of angular momentum relates to rotational symmetry," explains Prof. Meissner. Work striving to devise a supersymmetric theory, meant to describe the symmetries between fermions and bosons, began back in the 1970s. The fermions are elementary particles whose spin - a quantum property related to rotation - is expressed in odd multiples of the fraction 1/2, and they include both quarks and leptons. Among the latter are electrons, muons, tauons, and their associated neutrinos (as well as their antiparticles). Protons and neutrons, non-elementary particles so common in our world, are also fermions. Bosons, in turn, are particles with integer spin values. They include the particles responsible for forces (photons, carriers of the electromagnetic force; gluons, carrying the strong nuclear force; W and Z bosons, carrying the weak nuclear force), as well as the Higgs boson. "The first supersymmetric theories tried to combine the forces typical of elementary particles, in other words the electromagnetic force with a symmetry known as U(1), the weak force with symmetry SU(2) and the strong force with symmetry SU(3). Gravity was still missing," Prof. Meissner says. "The symmetry between the bosons and fermions was here still global, which means the same at every point in space. Soon thereafter, theories were posited where symmetry was local, meaning it could manifest differently at each point in space. Ensuring such symmetry in the theory required for gravitation to be included, and such theories became known as supergravities." It was quickly noticed that in supergravity theories in four spatiotemporal dimensions, there cannot be more than eight different supersymmetric rotations. Each such theory has a strictly defined set of fields (degrees of freedom) with different spins (0, 1/2, 1, 3/2 and 2), known respectively as the fields of scalars, fermions, bosons, gravitinos and gravitons. For supergravity N=8, which has the maximal number of rotations, there are 48 fermions (with spin 1/2), which is precisely the number of degrees of freedom required to account for the six types of quarks and six types of leptons observed in nature! There was therefore every indication that supergravity N=8 is exceptional in many respects. However, it was not ideal. One of the problems in incorporating the Standard Model into N=8 supergravity was posed by the electrical charges of quarks and leptons. All the charges turned out to be shifted by 1/6 with respect to those observed in nature: the electron had a charge of -5/6 instead of -1, the neutrino had 1/6 instead of 0, etc. This problem, first observed by Murray Gell-Mann more than 30 years ago, was not resolved until 2015, when Professors Meissner and Nicolai presented the respective mechanism for modifying the U(1) symmetry. "After making this adjustment we obtained a structure with the symmetries U(1) and SU(3) known from the Standard Model. The approach proved to be very different from all other attempts at generalizing the symmetries of the Standard Model. The motivation was strengthened by the fact that the LHC accelerator failed to produce anything beyond the Standard Model and N=8 supergravity fermion content is compatible with this observation. What was missing was to add the SU(2) group, responsible for the weak nuclear force. In our recent paper we show how this can be done. That would explain why all previous attempts at detecting new particles, motivated by theories that treated the SU(2) symmetry as spontaneously violated for low energies, but as holding in the range of high energies, had to be unsuccessful. In our view, SU(2) is just an approximation for both low and high energies!" Prof. Meissner explains. Both the mechanism reconciling the electric charges of the particles, and the improvement incorporating the weak force, proved to belong to a symmetry group known as E10. Unlike the symmetry groups previously used in unification theories, E10 is an infinite group, very poorly studied even in the purely mathematical sense. Prof. Nicolai with Thibault Damour and Marc Henneaux had worked on this group before, because it appeared as a symmetry in N=8 supergravity under conditions similar to those during the first moments after the Big Bang, when only one dimension was significant: time. "For the first time we have a scheme that precisely anticipates the composition of the fermions in the Standard Model - quarks and leptons - and does so with the proper electric charges! At the same time it includes gravity into the description. It is a huge surprise that the proper symmetry is the staggeringly huge symmetry group E10, virtually unknown mathematically. If further work confirms the role of this group, that will mean a radical change in our knowledge of the symmetries of nature," Prof. Meissner points out. Although the dynamics is not yet understood, the scheme proposed by Professors Meissner and Nicolai makes specific predictions. It keeps the number of spin 1/2 fermions as in the Standard Model but on the other hand suggests the existence of new particles with very unusual properties. Importantly, at least some of them could be present in our immediate surroundings, and their detection should be within the possibilities of modern detection equipment. But that is a topic for a separate story. ### Physics and Astronomy first appeared at the University of Warsaw in 1816, under the then Faculty of Philosophy. In 1825 the Astronomical Observatory was established. Currently, the Faculty of Physics' Institutes include Experimental Physics, Theoretical Physics, Geophysics, Department of Mathematical Methods and an Astronomical Observatory. Research covers almost all areas of modern physics, on scales from the quantum to the cosmological. The Faculty's research and teaching staff includes ca. 200 university teachers, of which 77 are employees with the title of professor. The Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, is attended by ca. 1000 students and more than 170 doctoral students. SCIENTIFIC PAPERS: "Standard Model Fermions and Infinite-Dimensional R Symmetries" K. A. Meissner, H. Nicolai Physical Review Letters 121 (2018) 091601 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.091601 CONTACTS: Prof. Krzysztof Meissner Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw tel.: +48 22 5532844 email: krzysztof.meissner@fuw.edu.pl">krzysztof.meissner@fuw.edu.pl RELATED LINKS: http://www.fuw.edu.pl/ Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. http://www.fuw.edu.pl/informacje-prasowe.html Press office of the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. In collaboration with the Houston Health Department and Epic (electronic medical records company), Houston Methodist is the first hospital system in eight U.S. pilot sites to successfully test and launch an approach to electronic case reporting (eCR) that can automatically send case reports directly from a hospital to public health agencies. Reporting such cases is critical for disease surveillance and detection of possible outbreaks and trends. Local and state health departments require hospitals to report cases of certain communicable and/or infectious diseases that are regularly tracked. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with members of the Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists, chose five initial reportable conditions for the pilot sites to electronically report - chlamydia, gonorrhea, pertussis, salmonella and Zika. "We've worked tirelessly with city health officials and our electronic medical records vendor to improve public health surveillance. Digital Bridge partners have created an innovative approach that allows our hospital system to reduce the burden on our health care providers for meeting public health reporting requirements," said Roberta Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Vice President, Houston Methodist Hospital. The eCR approach was designed by key stakeholders in health care, public health and health information technology under the Digital Bridge collaborative. Prior to electronic case reporting, communication between hospital systems and various levels of health departments was not as timely or streamlined. ### Other locations that partnered with Digital Bridge to pilot electronic case reporting are in California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Utah. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit houstonmethodist.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. The Peptides and Proteins lab at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) has published a paper in Chemical Communications describing the capacity of a small protein (a peptide) derived from chlorotoxin, found in scorpion venom (Giant Yellow Israeli scorpion), to carry drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The barrier serves to protect the brain from toxic substances, but it also prevents many potential drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases and tumours from entering this organ. "About 98% of drugs that could have therapeutic applications cannot be used because they cannot cross this barrier," explains the head of the lab, Ernest Giralt. The researchers have chemically synthesised chlorotoxin and a series of analogues that retain some of the properties ofas the parent peptide. They have studied the efficiency of these compounds in cell models of the BBB and have demonstrated that the peptide called MiniCTX3 has the capacity to transport compounds of different nature across the BBB "with great efficiency". Animal venoms for the brain In the same way that traditional medicine uses natural products such as plants and flowers to treat a range of diseases, the IRB Barcelona lab has sought inspiration from venoms with the objective of identifying peptide shuttles. "Our goal is to enable drugs to enter the brain and to do this we bind them to peptides specifically designed to cross the BBB. The conjugation of these drugs to the shuttles would improve their efficacy," says Meritxell Teixido, co-leader of the research. "There are only two or three groups worldwide devoted to shuttle peptides. We are working on a number of strategies and one of them is venoms," says Giralt. In previous studies, these scientists inspired in a peptide from bee venom, namely apamin, had made some chemical modifications and obtained a shuttle with BBB permeability. After these positive results, the lab wanted to address whether venoms could provide a universal source of peptide shuttles. "Thousands of venoms that hold millions of peptides with the shuttle potential have been described. We chose chlorotoxin because it has already been reported that it acts like a toxin in the brain," explains Teixido. This study is another example of ground-breaking research finding inspiration in nature and it has produced another shuttle that can enhance drug transport into the brain. ### The research was funded by the Ministry of Science, through ERDFs, and the Catalan Government. Reference article: Cristina Diaz-Perlas, Monica Varese, Salvador Guardiola, Jesus Garcia, Macarena Sanchez-Navarro, Ernest Giralt and Meritxell Teixido From venoms to BBB-shuttles. MiniCTX3: a molecular vector derived from scorpion venom Chemical Communications (2018) DOI: 10.1039/C8CC06725B Growing up with dogs is linked to a lower risk of asthma, especially if the dogs are female, a new study from Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University in Sweden shows. However, the researchers found no relation between 'allergy friendly' breeds and a lower risk of asthma. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports. Earlier studies have demonstrated a link between growing up with dogs and a lower risk of childhood asthma, but it has not been known whether this association is modified by dog characteristics. In this new study, the researchers have interrogated how variables such as sex, breed, number of dogs or size of dog are associated with the risk of asthma and allergy amongst children raised in a home with a dog during their first year of life. "The sex of the dog can affect the amount of allergens released, and we know that uncastrated male dogs express more of a particular allergen than castrated dogs and female dogs," says Tove Fall, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Medical Sciences - Molecular Epidemiology at Uppsala University, who led the study with Professor Catarina Almqvist Malmros at Karolinska Institutet. "Moreover, some breeds are described anecdotally as 'hypoallergenic' or 'allergy friendly' and are said to be more suitable for people with allergies, but there is no scientific evidence for this." The study included all children born in Sweden from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2004 who had a dog in their home for the first year of life (23,600 individuals). Data from the Swedish population and health data registries were linked anonymously to two dog-owner registries from the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish Kennel Club. The dogs were classified by sex, breed, number, size and alleged 'hypoallergenicity'. The researchers then studied the relationship between the dogs' characteristics and the risk of asthma and allergy diagnosis or the prescription of asthma or allergy drugs at the age of six. The statistical analyses controlled for all known confounders that could affect the risk of developing asthma or allergies, such as parental asthma/allergy, geographical location and number of siblings. Their results showed that the prevalence of asthma at age six was 5.4 per cent. Children with only female dogs at home had a 16 per cent lower risk of asthma than those raised with male dogs. However, living with a male dog did not correlate with a higher risk than living with no dog at all. Children living with two or more dogs had a 21 per cent lower risk of asthma than those who only lived with one dog. Children of parents with asthma/allergies more often had breeds described as 'hypoallergenic' than children of parents without asthma/allergies - 11.7 per cent versus 7.6 per cent. Exposure to these breeds was associated with a 27 per cent higher risk of allergy but no increased risk of asthma. "The likely explanation for this higher risk is that families with a history of allergy to furred pets more often choose these dogs, and also that 'allergy friendly' dogs do not in fact release less allergens," says Catarina Almqvist Malmros, Professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet and Consultant at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital. "The finding should be treated with caution as we can say nothing about any actual causality," she continues. "More studies are needed to monitor differences over time, measure the risk of allergies using biomarkers, and take account of the microflora." ### The study was financed with grants from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Initiative for Research on Microdata in the Social And Medical Sciences (SIMSAM), Agria, Forte, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas), the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, Stockholm County Council (ALF funding) and the Strategic Research Programme in Epidemiology (SFO-epi) at Karolinska Institutet. Publication: "Dog characteristics and future risk of asthma in children growing up with dogs". Tove Fall, Sara Ekberg, Cecilia Lundholm, Fang Fang and Catarina Almqvist. Scientific Reports, online 15 November 2018, doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35245-2. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have studied flight routes to determine how far willow warblers migrate in the autumn. The results show that the willow warbler holds a long-distance migration record in the ten-gram weight category - with the small birds flying around 13 000 kilometres or longer to reach their destination. The recently completed study investigated willow warblers that breed during the summer in north-east Russia. Biologists at Lund University together with Russian researchers from Magadan, close to the Kamtjatka Peninsula, managed to get a good overview of the route and distance travelled by the small birds during their autumn migration. The measurements were taken by small data loggers attached to the backs of the birds. The next year, the birds were recaptured and the researchers downloaded and processed the data. From their breeding habitats in eastern Siberia, the willow warblers fly to staging areas located in south-west Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. From there, they continue to their winter destinations, located in Kenya and Tanzania - a distance of around 13 000 kilometres. "Our measurements show that they migrate 13 000 kilometres, but we have not been able to measure the entire distance because the data logger batteries ran out. My guess is that they fly at least another 1 000 kilometres to south-east Africa", says Susanne Akesson, professor at the Department of Biology at Lund University. Other studies have shown that there are birds that migrate farther, but they looked at larger birds that weigh more. Willow warblers weigh 8-9 grams during the breeding period and about 10 grams when they migrate. "I think it's fascinating - they are so small and migrate at least 13 000 kilometres one way. There are no other studies that show that birds of that size can migrate that far. Even more impressive perhaps is that they make the journey alone in their first year of life", says Susanne Akesson. In addition to the record for long-haul migration, the study is also the first to show where the most easterly willow warblers spend the winter in east Africa. Moreover, the researchers compared alternative compass routes with the routes the birds actually take. Based on this, they identified two alternative mechanisms that the willow warblers can use during their long migration - a solar compass that compensates for time shifts during the migration, and a magnetic compass based on the assumption that the birds can measure the inclination angle of the Earth's magnetic field. ### Three-quarters of prisoners struggling to sleep have reported major improvements to their sleep and wellbeing after receiving cognitive behavioural therapy to treat their insomnia. Three-quarters of prisoners struggling to sleep have reported major improvements to their sleep and wellbeing after receiving cognitive behavioural therapy to treat their insomnia. Experts from Northumbria University, Newcastle have found that a single one-hour session of cognitive behavioural therapy was effective in preventing the development of chronic insomnia in 73% of prisoners. In addition, the inmates also reported that the therapy made notable improvements to their anxiety and depression. The findings of the study, the first of its kind in the world, have been published in the latest edition of the journal Behavioural Sleep Medicine. In the study, researchers from the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research worked with 30 male prisoners who had all reported difficulty sleeping. They were all Category C inmates aged between 21-60 from a prison in the North East of England. A Category C prisoner is described as an individual who cannot be trusted in open conditions, but who is unlikely to try and escape. Depending on their crime and the prison they are based in, inmates can spend up to 22 hours a day in their cells. They have strictly-enforced routines, limited access to sunlight, exercise and physical activity and no control over the noise and comfort of the space they live in. As a result, it is believed that approximately 61% of prison inmates suffer from chronic insomnia and the likelihood is that for many of them the insomnia started whilst they were in prison. This can lead to anger, aggression and even suicide attempts, all creating an additional burden on the system. This means any improvement to their sleep quality can have a noticeable impact and reduce their use of prison health care services. After a previous study in 2015 had found that a one-hour cognitive behavioural therapy session led to a 60% reduction in insomnia symptoms in the general population, the researchers wanted to assess whether the same therapy would be even more effective in treating prisoners' insomnia and mood. The results were successful. One month after receiving the treatment, the prisoners reported not only a significant reduction in their insomnia, but also their anxiety and depressive symptoms. As per the study with the general population, 73% of prisoners reported that their insomnia had reduced following the cognitive behavioural therapy session. Professor Jason Ellis, Director of the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research, explained: "We believe that the high levels of insomnia in prisoners are due to many factors that most people have full control over. "The line between day-time and night-time environments is blurred for inmates, who spend a significant amount of time in their cells. Their bedroom becomes their living space, and not just the space where they sleep. They have less autonomy over their routine and certainly over their bedroom environment. As such, normal access to sleep cues are likely to be harder in this environment. "These factors combined with the stress of imprisonment and all that it entails is likely to make inmates far more vulnerable to insomnia." Professor Ellis added: "We knew from an earlier study with the general population that this single session of therapy also had an impact on anxiety and depression, so we were certainly pleased to see the same thing happen in a prison context. The fact that we were reducing symptoms significantly was very welcome news indeed. "Now that we have seen these results, I would like to see this form of therapy being rolled out in prisons nationally and internationally. If we look at the costs alone in terms of insomnia, managing it certainly makes good sense." The researchers hope to look at the impact that this therapy has on suicides in future as they know there is a strong relationship between poor sleep and suicide. ### The study was undertaken by researchers from the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research, based in Northumbria University's Department of Psychology, UK, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences in the University of Texas, USA. Their paper, Managing Acute Insomnia in Prison: Evaluation of a 'one-shot' cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) intervention, is now available in Behavioural Sleep Medicine Preventing the worst problems from climate change requires changes in how societies look at growth and progress. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sent a clear message to the world with its last report, issued in early October in South Korea: the world needs to act immediately to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The report says that human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) need to fall by about 45 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030, and by 100 per cent by 2050. "Limiting warming to 1.5C is possible within the laws of chemistry and physics but doing so would require unprecedented changes," said Jim Skea, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III, in a press release issued with the report. Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Industrial Ecology Programme say that making "unprecedented changes" in the global economy could be much easier if society radically changes the way it looks at economic growth. "Society has to go to zero emissions pretty much overnight. Whether we like it or not, this challenge won't be met without the corresponding (overnight) changes in society," says Gibran Vita, a PhD candidate in the program. "We need to start thinking, 'Is the carbon footprint that comes from different economic activities actually worth it in terms of societal outcomes?' There is potential to live fulfilling lives with much less environmental impact." They suggest that satisfying fundamental human needs with the minimum environmental cost should be the main focus of economies -- not growth. Vita and his colleagues have just published an article about their research in Environmental Research Letters. More consumption doesn't necessarily mean happier people Vita and his colleagues decided to look at the carbon footprints that would result from meeting people's fundamental needs. They used a system developed by the Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef, who established categories of physical, emotional and intellectual needs, such as subsistence, freedom, identity, leisure and creation. What's different about this approach is how it differs from conventional assessments of prosperity, which generally measure money flows, such as GDP. "But people don't necessarily benefit from more of everything, all the time," Vita says. "A driving belief is that focusing on external prosperity through consumption equals progress," he said. "But that isn't working so well for the poor who suffer many other types of deprivation, or for the rich in terms of mental health, or for the environment." So the researchers looked at the goods and services consumed to meet people's needs based on Max-Neef's categories and then calculated the footprint of each need. Then, to evaluate how well these "carbon investments" pay off in terms of quality of life, they used 35 objective and subjective indicators to measure how well people in different countries felt that eight different needs were met. For the "subsistence" need, for example, they used indicators including good health, standard of living, and child survival rate. For the category "protection", they looked at access to sanitation and health care quality, among others. Calculating carbon footprints and needs To do their calculations, the researchers used an open access database called EXIOBASE 3, which contains information on economic activity and associated greenhouse gas emissions and resources for 200 goods in 44 countries and five rest-of-the-world regions. The 44 countries represent the world's largest economies and make up 91 per cent of global GDP with 65 per cent of the world's population. They then used this information to figure out what the carbon footprint might be for different countries for different needs. Not all needs were equally polluting, the researchers found. Meeting subsistence and protection needs took half of the global carbon budget, while leisure, identity, creation and freedom took most of the other half. Understanding and participation were the most modest, taking up less than 4% of global carbon emissions. The researchers then wanted to see if they could determine if it was necessary to emit as much carbon as was being emitted to meet those needs. To figure this out, they had to find a way to objectively and subjectively assess how well fundamental human needs were met for the different countries. Here they used data sources such as the World Bank Indicators, the Central Intelligence Agency, the OECD Labour Force and Time Use, and the Human Development Report from the UNDP. The combination of twelve different databases allowed the researchers to calculate percentages that reflected how well citizens felt their human needs were satisfied in the 44 countries that were assessed. The researchers then combined these two calculations -- the percentage of the population for which a need was met in each country and the carbon footprint that resulted from meeting that need for each country -- to plot graphs and compute statistics. For example, for access to sanitation or modern energy, which was one of the indicators under the "Protection" need, their assessment showed that places such as Norway, the United States and pretty much all Western countries had completely met this need. However, the carbon budget used to meet this need in these countries stretched far beyond the point of observable social benefits. Much more carbon emitted than was needed On average, the researchers found, meeting all of person's physical needs -- from affordable housing and having good health to drinking clean water -- required per-person carbon emissions of just 1-3 metric tons a year. But when they compared this number to how much carbon countries actually emitted per person to provide protection and subsistence, they found many, many differences. Some countries, like the United States and Australia, emitted more than 6-8 metric tons per capita to meet physical needs. In contrast, the average that low-income nations used to meet these needs was near 1 ton per capita. Nevertheless, Vita said, the numbers show potential for people in wealthy nations to be at least as happy and healthy as they are now with much lower carbon emissions. "It means we are overdoing it in a way," he said. Objective versus subjective One important aspect of this assessment is that the researchers measured needs by combining subjective and objective information. For example, subsistence depends on good health, which is a subjective measurement, while child survival is an objective measurement. So when the researchers looked at the different graphs for the different needs, they found a pattern. When it came to objective measurements that were based on something physical, like electricity access, they found a threshold above which more carbon emissions didn't make a difference in the overall outcome. What that meant was "more consumption didn't match with greater satisfaction after a certain point," Vita said. These are thus areas where countries could easily cut their carbon emissions without negatively affecting people's health and well-being. These are also areas where a little bit of more carbon has much more benefit for the very poor. In total, 14 of the 35 indicators the researchers used to define needs showed this relationship. For 20 indicators, however, they found no relationship at all. Most psychological and emotional measures of needs did not correlate with their carbon footprints, meaning that they are most likely linked to other factors that are not related to consumption, such as having free time, strong social relationships and enjoying daily activities. The researchers interpreted this finding as meaning that many aspects that contribute to a person's quality of life are not improved by putting more material resources into them. "We could only discover this pattern by looking at 'human progress' in terms of specific needs rather than by looking at traditional measures of progress, like higher GDP," Vita said. "If we are going to make the fundamental changes called for in the IPCC report, this type of needs-centered view has to permeate institutions, businesses, households and individuals." Rethinking society So if the challenge of this century is to cut emissions while allowing people to thrive in their lives, what are the options? "Beyond technology fixes, the safest and probably quickest option is to be mindful of what we are using all of this carbon for," Vita said. "Policy makers could heavily incentivize sustainable lifestyles in order to cut carbon emissions without negatively affecting how people perceive their lives." Vita pointed out that making this kind of fundamental change will be easier for wealthy countries, since they have already invested in housing, infrastructure and other basic needs that less-well-off countries don't yet have. But emerging countries could learn from the mistakes that wealthy countries have made, he added. "The science points to the fact that we need to rethink society as soon as we can...both for the planet and for our species," he said. "Emerging countries have the golden opportunity to leapfrog directly to a more sustainable vision of development -and escape ending up locked-in to emitting carbon where no one gets a (well-being) bang for their (carbon) buck." ### COLUMBUS, Ohio - It is an idea for repairing our broken political system that is so promising that new members of Congress will learn about it before taking office in January. It is an idea tested with actual representatives and their constituents, with intriguing and positive results. Now the question is: Will more members of Congress adopt it? The idea is "deliberative town halls," which are conducted online between representatives and randomly selected constituents. They are designed to discuss a single issue in depth, avoiding scripted talking points and rancorous outbursts. The idea and the research supporting it is detailed in the new book Politics with the People: Building a Directly Representative Democracy (Cambridge University Press), written by three political scientists. "People feel like politics is not going well in the United States, particularly political dialogue," said co-author Michael Neblo, associate professor of political science at The Ohio State University. In the book, the authors point to low approval of Congress, as well as recent retirement speeches by politicians like Charlie Dent and John Boehner that mention our broken political system as contributing to their decisions. "We believe we have a way to help us dig out of this mess," Neblo said. Neblo wrote Politics with the People with Kevin Esterling of the University of California, Riverside, and David Lazer of Northeastern University. Their idea of town halls is nothing like the typical ones that you see on YouTube, which are generally either informercials or free-for-alls that attract mostly strong supporters and people with specific grievances. In their studies, the researchers recruited randomly chosen constituents that ended up being more representative of eligible voters in their districts than were actual voters. They drew people into the process, rather than just having self-selected political enthusiasts attend. For one study, the researchers set up 19 online town halls with 12 members of the U.S. House of Representatives (seven Democrats and five Republicans) and groups of about 30 of their constituents. They also conducted a similar study with then-Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan, and about 175 of his constituents. There have also been more recent events. These town halls, organized by a neutral moderator, tackled hot-button issues like immigration and terrorism policy. "They created a direct connection between elected officials and their constituents," Neblo said. "There is no middle man, there isn't a script, and there is no shouting. Just people talking about the issues, passionately but civilly and substantively." Analysis showed that citizen participants increased their knowledge about the issue under discussion. In addition, 97 percent were interested in participating in another session and 95 percent thought the town halls were "very valuable for democracy." Representatives reaped benefits, too. Members of Congress saw their ratings on trustworthiness, empathy, competence, and other attributes go up 10 percent or more among people who participated in the town halls. Most remarkably, the researchers found a 10 percent increase in the likelihood that constituents who took part actually voted for their representative in the next election four months later. "Representatives can do well for themselves by doing right," Neblo said. But can these town halls have a real impact when they have these relatively small groups of constituents? Neblo said they can. "With the evidence we have right now from the session with Sen. Levin, if every member of Congress spent two hours a week doing directly representative outreach, they could engage up to a quarter of the eligible electorate every six years - the term of one senator," he said. Two hours a week may seem like a lot of time to members of Congress, Neblo said, but they spend even more time on traditional town halls and other forms of engagement. The potential that directly representative practices have to help fix our democracy makes it worth it, he said. The authors will have the opportunity to make their case for deliberative town halls directly to members of Congress. They have been invited to present their ideas and give a copy of the book to all new members of Congress at their orientation in December. Neblo is hopeful that this idea can make a difference. "I'm not saying this is going to completely transform American politics. But it is a very real reform possibility," he said. "It is like changing the course of a supertanker by a few inches. It doesn't seem like a lot at the time, but when you travel far enough, that couple of inches puts you on a different path." ### Contact: Michael Neblo, Neblo.1@osu.edu Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu Northrop Grumman Corporation has signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to provide contractor logistics support (CLS) to the Republic of Koreas high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (HUAV) fleet. An RQ-4 Global Hawk taxis on the flightline after a sortie an inspection at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia September 18, 2015 (Credit: U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz) The support for DAPA and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) include: timely site activation in South Korea; complete training packages for pilots, operators and maintainers of the system; and a team of subject matter experts to provide seamless on-site and reach-back CLS support. Northrop Grumman will build on our successful support of the U.S. Air Forces Global Hawk and U.S. Navys Triton heritage to provide high-quality sustainment support to the ROK HUAV fleet, said John Parker, vice president, global logistics and modernization, Northrop Grumman Technology Services. By leveraging our proven performance with the U.S. fleet and the introduction of systems to other global operators, we offer DAPA and the ROKAF a high-quality, low-risk, responsive services package. Northrop Grumman is honored to have the opportunity to work with DAPA on the HUAV CLS program, said Dong Ha, chief executive, Northrop Grumman South Korea. We look forward to forming a long-term partnership on this important HUAV sustainment program that will help ensure the safety and security of the Republic of Korea. The Global Hawk system is building on its heritage of innovation, modernizing its current capabilities by integrating new technologies that enhance capabilities, performance and reliability. In active operation with the U.S. Air Force since 2001, Global Hawk has amassed more than 250,000 flight hours with missions flown in support of military and humanitarian operations. With the ability to fly at high altitudes for greater than 30 hours, Global Hawk is designed to gather near-real-time, high-resolution imagery of large areas of land in all types of weather day or night. Global Hawk is also a multiple winner of the prestigious Roche Sustainment Excellence Award, which is a testament to the programs ability to reduce significant costs while driving performance well beyond specified values. A new study in Clinical Kidney Journal indicates that the usage of marijuana by kidney donors has no measurable effect upon the outcomes of kidney transplants for donors or recipients. This study is the first to investigate the effect of marijuana use by live kidney donors. The use of marijuana in the United States has been steadily increasing over the last 10 years. Marijuana use has more than doubled between 2001 and 2013, with 54.1% of adolescents claiming to have initiated marijuana use by the age of 21. There is a shortage of kidneys available for transplantation. As of 2018 there are nearly 100,000 patients on the waiting list for donor kidney transplants, with an average wait-time of 3 to 10 years depending on region and blood type. Some patients do not survive long enough on dialysis to receive a transplant. Based on National Kidney Registry recommendations that exclude substance abusers from donation, transplant institutions may refuse live kidney donors who have a history of marijuana use; however, there was previously no evidence pertaining specifically to the donor or recipient outcomes. Researchers in this study reviewed living kidney transplants performed between January 2000 and May 2016 in a single academic institution. Donor and recipient groups were each divided into two groups by donor marijuana usage, comparing the outcomes of the transplants using a variety of tests. Researchers reviewed 294 living donor medical records, including 31 marijuana using donors. Researchers also reviewed 230 living kidney recipient records, including 27 marijuana using kidney recipients. The results show no difference in donor or recipient perioperative characteristics or postoperative outcomes based upon donor marijuana use, indicating that there were no long-term differences in kidney function between those who used marijuana and those who did not. "A significant shortage in available potential kidney donors exists," said the paper's lead author, Duane Baldwin. "Our goal with this study was to start a conversation on this topic and to encourage other centers to study this important question. It is our hope that considering marijuana using donors could ultimately save lives." ### The paper, "Should donors who have used marijuana be considered candidates for living kidney donation?" is available (at midnight EST on November 15) at https://academic.oup.com/ckj/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/ckj/sfy107. Direct correspondence to: D. Duane Baldwin Department of Urology Loma Linda University Health Loma Linda, California dbaldwin@llu.edu To request a copy of the study, please contact: Daniel Luzer daniel.luzer@oup.com Sharing on social media? Find Oxford Journals online at @OxfordJournals Bartonella bacteria are disease-causing, blood-borne pathogens found in various mammal species. A study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases by Hannah Frank and colleagues at Stanford University, California suggests that humans play an important role in disease risk, infection patterns, and distribution of Bartonella, advancing current understanding of Bartonella's evolutionary history and how the bacteria may be transmitted between humans and other animal species. Cross-species Bartonella transmission poses a threat to public health, wildlife, and domestic animals. However, the evolution of Bartonella strains and mechanisms of cross-species transmission are not well understood. To determine the bacteria's evolutionary history and global distribution, researchers constructed global phylogenies using sequences accessed from public databases and built models to test their hypotheses. Additionally, they analyzed instances of Bartonella spillover from animals to humans using genetic isolates and case data collected from scientific literature. The authors note that "phylogenetic inferences about the origin of infections should be interpreted with caution as they are heavily influenced by available data and the taxa that have been sampled." More data are needed to verify findings and fill in remaining knowledge gaps. However, their study advances scientific understanding of human impacts on the spread of infectious disease: "In thinking about disease transmission between animals and humans, we often focus on the animals as the source of new human infections and not the role of the humans in influencing their own risk. Our findings suggest that humans play a significant role in changing infection patterns not only for ourselves but for our domestic animals and wildlife, too." ### In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0006865 Citation: Frank HK, Boyd SD, Hadly EA (2018) Global fingerprint of humans on the distribution of Bartonella bacteria in mammals. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 12(11): e0006865. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006865 Funding: This work was graciously funded by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Environmental Ventures Program and a Bat Conservation International Student Scholarship to HKF. HKF was supported by a Bing-Mooney Fellowship in Environmental Science and Conservation and a Stanford Center for Computational, Evolutionary and Human Genomics Postdoctoral Fellowship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors declare that no competing interests exist. This prestigious award signifies the society's recognition of Dr. Stevenson for his exceptional leadership and work advancing academic pediatrics, medical education and pediatric research The American Pediatric Society (APS) announces renowned neonatology leader David K. Stevenson, MD as the 2019 APS John Howland Award recipient. The award signifies the society's recognition of Dr. Stevenson for his significant contributions to advancing academic pediatrics through clinical care, scientific discovery, mentorship, leadership, and service. The APS John Howland Award, created in honor of clinician-scientist John Howland, MD, is the most prestigious award bestowed by the APS. Since 1952, the annual award has recognized individuals for distinguished service to pediatrics as a whole. Dr. Stevenson has made pioneering contributions to neonatology and pediatrics through extensive research in bilirubin biochemistry, heme oxygenase biology and neonatal jaundice. His work has led to the development of new technologies and standards of care for treating children with neonatal jaundice. Dr. Stevenson currently serves as the Harold K. Faber Professor of Pediatrics and Senior Associate Dean for Maternal and Child Health at Stanford University School of Medicine. "We are delighted to present the 2019 APS John Howland Award to Dr. Stevenson," said APS President Bruce D. Gelb, MD. "He has made stellar contributions to pediatric medicine as a distinguished clinician, researcher, teacher, and mentor. His work will have a wide-ranging and lasting impact on child health for generations to come." Dr. Stevenson is an accomplished investigator in neonatal biology. He has published over 600 original articles and edited several textbooks on neonatology. He has also maintained continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for nearly 40 years. Dr. Stevenson has held many leadership roles and earned numerous awards throughout his impressive career. "I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the John Howland Award," said Dr. Stevenson. "I join an outstanding group of past recipients committed to improving pediatric research, education and clinical care. I also want to acknowledge the hard work and ingenuity of my colleagues and team at Stanford." The award will be presented to Dr. Stevenson on April 28 at the APS Presidential Plenary session at the 2019 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in Baltimore. For more information about the APS John Howland Award and past award recipients, please visit the APS website. ### About the American Pediatric Society The American Pediatric Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1888 as the first pediatric society in North America. The mission of the APS is to engage distinguished pediatric leaders to shape the future of academic pediatrics. The 1,800 plus members of APS are recognized leaders of extraordinary achievement who work together to shape the future of academic pediatrics. For more information, please visit aps1888.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Children exposed to diesel-dominated air pollution in London are showing poor lung capacity, putting them at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, according to a study led by Queen Mary University of London, King's College London and the University of Edinburgh. The research, published in The Lancet Public Health journal, shows that whilst traffic pollution control measures have improved air quality in London, they still need significant strengthening to protect children's health. Air pollution is a leading cause of global mortality, with the World Health Organization estimating over four million deaths annually caused by outdoor air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable and at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, asthma attacks, chest infections and earlier death. Professor Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary University of London said: "Despite air quality improvements in London, this study shows that diesel-dominated air pollution in cities is damaging lung development in children, putting them at risk of lung disease in adult life and early death. "We are raising a generation of children reaching adulthood with stunted lung capacity. This reflects a car industry that has deceived the consumer and central government which continues to fail to act decisively to ensure towns and cities cut traffic." Low Emission Zones (LEZ) restrict or penalise vehicle entry into urban areas to encourage the uptake of lower emission technologies. London introduced the world's largest city-wide LEZ in 2008, roughly contiguous with the M25 orbital motorway and encompassing around 8.5 million residents. But up until now, there has been little evidence on whether LEZs improve air quality or public health. 2,164 children aged 8-9 were enrolled into the study from 28 primary schools in the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Greenwich and the City of London (all areas which fail to meet current EU nitrogen dioxide limits). The research team monitored children's health and exposure to air pollutants over five years, covering the period when the LEZ was introduced, and found: Children exposed to air pollution showed significantly smaller lung volume (a loss of approximately 5 per cent in lung capacity). This was linked to annual exposures of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and other nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which are in diesel emissions, and particulate matter (PM10). ) and other nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which are in diesel emissions, and particulate matter (PM10). Following the implementation of London's LEZ, there were small improvements in NO 2 and NOx levels, but no improvements in PM10 levels. and NOx levels, but no improvements in PM10 levels. Despite these improvements in air quality, there was no evidence of a reduction in the proportion of children with small lungs or asthma symptoms over this period. The percentage of children living at addresses exceeding the EU limit for NO 2 fell following the LEZ introduction, from 99 per cent in 2009 to 34 per cent in 2013, but they were exposed to higher levels when at school, many of which were next to busy roads. fell following the LEZ introduction, from 99 per cent in 2009 to 34 per cent in 2013, but they were exposed to higher levels when at school, many of which were next to busy roads. Significant areas of inner and outer London still remain above the EU NO 2 limits. The researchers warn that, at the current rate of change of pollution levels, full compliance with EU limits for NO2 for London remains distant, unless there is significant tightening of current emission controls. In the meantime, they say clinicians should consider advising parents of children with significant lung disease to avoid living in high pollution areas, or to limit their exposures. Dr Ian Mudway from King's College London said: "There is an urgent need to improve our air quality, especially within our congested cities. Policies such as the Low Emission Zone strive to do this, but their effectiveness needs careful and objective evaluation, not only in terms of whether they improve air quality, but more importantly, whether they deliver better health. As the evidence base grows demonstrating that air pollution impacts on the health of children born and growing up in our cities, so the justification for decisive action increases." Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, said: "It is disappointing that the Low Emission Zone in London has not helped to improve children's lung capacity and shows that a piecemeal approach to reducing air pollution does not work. If children's lungs don't develop properly as a result of air pollution it can increase their likelihood of developing asthma, leaving them coughing, wheezing and at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. The Government needs to tackle toxic air by putting in place a new Clean Air Act to keep everyone, especially children, safe." Professor Frank Kelly from NIHR Health Impact of Environmental Hazards HPRU said: "These new findings linking air pollution and children's lung growth provide further support for the introduction of the ultra Low Emission Zone in London early next year." ### The study is a collaboration across the MRC Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research and the MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, and was funded by NHS Hackney, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London with donations from Him Lee and the Felicity Wilde Charitable Trust. For more information, please contact: Joel Winston Public Relations Manager (School of Medicine and Dentistry) Queen Mary University of London j.winston@qmul.ac.uk">j.winston@qmul.ac.uk">j.winston@qmul.ac.uk">j.winston@qmul.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 7943 / +44 (0)7970 096 188 Notes to the editor * Research paper: 'Impact of London's Low Emission Zone on air quality and children's respiratory health' by Ian S. Mudway, Isobel Dundas, Helen E. Wood, Nadine Marlin, Jeenath B. Jamaludin, Stephen A. Bremner, Louise Cross, Andrew Grieve, Alex Nanzer, Ben M. Barratt, Sean Beevers, David Dajnak, Gary W. Fuller, Anna Font, Aziz Sheikh, Robert Walton, Jonathan Grigg, Frank J. Kelly, Tak Lee, Chris J Griffiths. Lancet Public Health. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30202-0 Available here after the embargo lifts: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30202-0/fulltext About Queen Mary University of London Queen Mary University of London is a world-leading research-intensive university with over 25,000 students representing more than 160 nationalities. A member of the prestigious Russell Group, we work across the humanities and social sciences, medicine and dentistry, and science and engineering, with inspirational teaching directly informed by our research. In the most recent exercise that rated research in the UK, we were ranked 5th in the country for the proportion of research outputs that were world-leading or internationally excellent. We offer more than 240 degree programmes and our reputation for excellent teaching was rewarded with a silver in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) awards. Queen Mary's history dates back to 1785, with the foundation of the London Hospital Medical College. Our history also encompasses the establishment of the People's Palace in 1887, which brought accessible education, culture and recreation to the East End of London. We also have roots in Westfield College, one of the first colleges to provide higher education to women. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research. Established by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR: funds high quality research to improve health trains and supports health researchers provides world-class research facilities works with the life sciences industry and charities to benefit all involves patients and the public at every step For further information, visit the NIHR website http://www.nihr.ac.uk About the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London works to develop and deliver new medicines and diagnostics to patients, drive research and innovation into the NHS, and provide national systems leadership for maximum impact to patients. With our research activity organised into nine themes, each holding an individual Athena Swan Silver award highlighting our commitment to equality and diversity, and supported by our interdisciplinary, world leading infrastructure, we are poised to deliver the next step change for the health and wealth of our nation. http://www.guysandstthomasbrc.nihr.ac.uk/ King's College London King's College London is one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2018/19) and among the oldest in England. King's has more than 31,000 students (including more than 12,800 postgraduates) from some 150 countries worldwide, and some 8,500 staff. King's has an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), eighty-four per cent of research at King's was deemed 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (3* and 4*). Since our foundation, King's students and staff have dedicated themselves in the service of society. King's will continue to focus on world-leading education, research and service, and will have an increasingly proactive role to play in a more interconnected, complex world. Visit our website to find out more about Vision 2029, King's strategic vision for the next 12 years to 2029, which will be the 200th anniversary of the founding of the university. World-changing ideas. Life-changing impact: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/headlines.aspx About Asthma UK In the UK, 5.4 million people are currently receiving treatment for asthma: 1.1 million children (1 in 11) and 4.3 million adults (1 in 12). Every day, the lives of three families are devastated by the death of a loved one to an asthma attack, and tragically two thirds of these deaths are preventable. Asthma UK's mission is to stop asthma attacks and cure asthma. We do this by funding world leading research, campaigning for improved care and supporting people to reduce their risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack. The Asthma UK Helpline is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 0300 222 5800. For more information about asthma please visit http://www.asthma.org.uk A new study has found that older patients who were hospitalised were 72% more likely to be given a potentially inappropriate prescription after their hospital admission, independent of other patient factors. The study, conducted by the HRB Centre for Primary Care Research based in the Department of General Practice at RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), is published in the current edition of The BMJ. RCSI researchers looked at data from general practice records of 38,229 patients (aged 65 years) in Ireland from 2012 to 2015. To determine if the prescriptions were potentially inappropriate, they assessed the records using 45 criteria from the Screening Tool for Older Persons' Prescription (STOPP) version 2. Commenting on the findings, senior research fellow with the HRB Centre for Primary Care Research at RCSI Dr Frank Moriarty said: "Adults aged 65 years and older are a growing population and represent the largest consumers of prescribed medications. When caring for older patients in primary care, achieving the balance of maximising patients' benefits from medicines while minimising harms and cost can be challenging. "Research to date has focused on patient and GP characteristics as risk factors for poor prescribing quality. Our study illustrates the need to consider and address potential adverse effects of hospitalisation on prescribing appropriate medication for older patients." The study found that potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is becoming increasingly prevalent in older people, and hospitalisation is independently associated with an increased risk of PIP. When compared to older people who had not been hospitalised in the past year, the probability of at least one PIP during a year increases by 49% for hospitalised patients after adjusting for other factors, such as the number of prescriptions and type of healthcare cover. Dr Moriarty said: "Although we adjusted for a range of patient characteristics, there is potential for unmeasured confounding variables, as with any observational study, which may partly or fully explain the results. "However, many of the common criteria in our study relate to inappropriate duration of use for medicines used for sleep, acid suppression, and anti-inflammatory effect. Documenting and clearly communicating the intended prescription duration or planned review date would ensure that other clinicians, such as GPs, would have complete information for reviewing and stopping such prescriptions. It is vital to identify optimal management strategies for older people to ensure the risk of inappropriate medications is minimised following their time in hospitals." ### The research was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Statistics and Data Science, Complutense University of Madrid, with support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. The study was funded by the Health Research Board (HRB) in Ireland through the HRB Centre for Primary Care Research. The full paper, titled "Prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing in older people in primary care and its association with hospital admission: a longitudinal study", features in this week's edition of The BMJ. RCSI is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2019) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. RCSI has been awarded Athena SWAN Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education. In her new book, 'Congress and U.S. Veterans: From the GI Bill to the VA Crisis,' Stevens Lindsey Cormack evaluates how the parties legislate and communicate veterans' policies Republicans are viewed as the party of veterans, public opinion and voting data says so. But in her new book, Congress and U.S. Veterans: From the GI Bill to the VA Crisis, Stevens Lindsey Cormack questions how that came to be, as her research shows that congressional Democrats, more often than not, are the ones working to enhance veteran benefits. "On a continuum of legislative behavior, we have one end populated by the dedicated workhorses who draft legislation, hammer out compromises, and get into the weeds of complicated policy questions," Cormack writes in her book. "On the other end, there are show ponies that care more about pumping out media sound bites or trying to get the next 'viral' video on YouTube." To evaluate how Democrats and Republicans fall on this spectrum, Cormack broadly evaluated Congressional legislation and communications on veterans' policies. Introduced bills can be found in the Library of Congress, and Cormack's invention, DCinbox, organizes every email communication sent by Congress members to their constituents since 2009. Her analysis unveils who in the 111th-114th Congresses did the legwork, the actual legislation on behalf of veterans, and who focused on lip service, the talking about veterans. Overall, three subsets of Congress people regularly offered veteran-focused legislation: members of the Veterans' Affairs committee, members with high numbers of veterans in their constituency, and members of the Democratic party. The research also showed that veterans serving in Congress were no more likely to legislate on these issues than their non-veteran counterparts. "The contours of modern conservative ideology as manifested within the Republican Party are more at odds with how veterans policies are implemented in the US than liberal, democratic ideologies," Cormack says. "Republicans tend to talk more about veterans in constituent communications, but they are less apt to author legislation in the area." There's good reason for politicians to talk about veterans, Cormack theorizes. By communicating about a subject, all politicians signal to their constituents that they care, and overall, the topic of "veterans" appeared in 22 percent of their e-newsletters. "To contextualize the frequency of veterans as an e-newsletter topic," Cormack writes, "the words 'economy,' 'health,' and 'tax' occur in 45 percent, 38 percent, and 30 percent of all emails, respectively, while terms like 'sanctions,' 'same sex,' and 'marijuana' occur in just 3 percent, 0.3 percent, and 0.3 percent of all communications, respectively." As Cormack's chart shows below, Republicans excel at this lip service. Both parties discuss veterans in similar ways, but it's the Republicans who author 66% of email communications to constituents about veterans. To supplement her data, Cormack presents two case studies, together representing a high and low point of Veteran benefits. The first looks at the Post 9/11 GI Bill, a bipartisan piece of legislation that provides veterans with educational assistance. On the contrary, the next case study considers a 2014 scandal in which at least 40 veterans died while waiting for care at a VA Hospital in Phoenix. Since publication, Cormack has been making the rounds, giving talks at colleges throughout the country. Most recently, she was joined in discussion with Ramapo's Dr. Jeremy Teigen and Stevens' own Dr. Don Lombardi at the College of Arts and Letters. On Nov. 11, she took part in the sold-out New York Public Library talk "Irregular Order: How Congress Really Works" with Washington insiders and journalists. Cormack is hesitant to predict the future of veterans' politics, but she does draw some conclusions on how Congress may move forward. "Veterans' policies in the United States require that both parties give a little, but the programmatic needs of veterans' policies demand more ideological flexibility from Republicans," Cormack says. "While many in the GOP would balk at funding a robust general social assistance program, there is generally very little visible pushback from Republicans within Congress as long as veterans are the recipients of such aid." "Moreover, there is a difference between Republican members of Congress expressing support for veterans' benefits and actively legislating to accomplish it." ### SAN ANTONIO -- Nov. 15, 2018 -- Dr. Scott Bolton, associate vice president of Southwest Research Institute's Space Science and Engineering Division, is being honored with a 2018 American Ingenuity Award from Smithsonian Magazine. Deemed the "Golden Globes of Intellect," these awards honor individuals in nine wide-ranging categories. The award recognizes Bolton's contributions to the physical sciences as principal investigator of NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter, now about halfway through its prime mission. The mission design, spearheaded by Bolton, combines new technologies and a novel polar orbit to survey the gas giant. And since the spacecraft first buzzed the planet's colorful cloud tops, Juno discoveries have turned theories about how Jupiter works inside out. "I am honored to represent the thousands of engineers and scientists that made the Juno mission possible," Bolton said. "As a strong believer in STEAM -- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics -- I applaud and support their dedication to inspiring the next generation of artists and scientists by recognizing both the creative and analytical accomplishments that are enabling the renaissance we are experiencing." The Juno mission has revealed that the largest planet in our solar system is a complex, turbulent world. Jupiter's iconic belts and zones near the equator persist down deep, while those at other latitudes seem to evolve into other structures. Earth-sized cyclones circle its poles, and Jupiter's lumpy magnetic field hints that it's generated closer to the planet's surface than ever imagined. For the last 14 years, Bolton has led this mission and managed a wide range of scientists and programs at SwRI. Previously, he had 24 years of experience at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, contributing to planetary missions including Cassini, Galileo and Voyager among many others. His experience includes scientific research, mission development, instrument design, and science planning and operations. "Year after year, the American Ingenuity Awards honor those on the cutting edge of American achievement, revolutionizing American culture by promoting societal progress and activism in their works," says Smithsonian Editor in Chief Michael Caruso. The 2018 awardees include actor-writer-director John Krasinski, honored for visual arts, and the Parkland survivors, honored in the youth category. The ceremony honoring this year's winners will be held on December 5, 2018, at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. Bolton will be featured in Smithsonian magazine's December issue and will lead a conversation at the National Air and Space Museum during the second annual Smithsonian Ingenuity Festival Nov. 29-Dec. 9, 2018. ### For more information, see https://www.swri.org/planetary-science. The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) and the Seismological Society of America (SSA) are pleased to announce that U.S. Geological Survey research geophysicist Robert W. Graves is the 2019 recipient of the William B. Joyner Lecture Award. Graves will deliver the Joyner Lecture at the EERI 2019 Annual Meeting to be held 5-8 March 2019 in Vancouver, Canada, and the 2019 SSA Annual Meeting to be held 23-26 April 2019. The lectureship is jointly awarded by EERI and SSA to those who have provided outstanding earth science contributions to the theory and practice of earthquake engineering or outstanding earthquake engineering contributions to the direction and focus of earth science research--together with demonstrated skills of communication at the interface of earthquake science and earthquake engineering. The lecture honors the distinguished career of William B. Joyner at the U.S. Geological Survey and his abiding commitment to continuing communication and education at the interface between research findings of earthquake science and the practical realities of earthquake engineering. At the USGS Pasadena office, Graves' main area of study is the analysis and characterization of strong ground shaking due to earthquakes. Graves' research considers the processes of how earthquake ruptures start and propagate across the fault, how the resulting seismic waves propagate through the Earth's crust, and how strong the ground shaking will be at a particular location. This work relies heavily on analysis and interpretation of ground motion recordings from past earthquakes, as well as high-performance computer simulation and modeling. In his nomination for the award, Graves was commended for his work in significantly advancing ground motion simulations toward practical applications, and in working across the seismology-engineering interface to solicit feedback and to continually refine his simulation methods. Graves has become one of the key leaders in the field of 3D ground motion simulations, his colleagues noted, citing in particular his accomplishments in developing efficient modeling algorithms that allow for large-scale 3D simulations to be computed on desktop platforms. Graves has participated in numerous Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) and USGS sponsored projects, including the 3D waveform modeling program and the refinement of the SCEC Community Velocity Model. Work on these projects involves the oversight and coordination of large scale simulations of earthquake ruptures as well as the computation of seismic hazard using physics-based models in the CyberShake project. Graves is one of the founding architects of the SCEC Broadband Simulation Platform, and continues to update and maintain numerous simulation codes on the Platform. As a consulting seismologist for nearly 20 years before joining the USGS, Graves generated near-fault ground motions for various engineering projects, including the FEMA/SAC Steel Project, Caltrans bridges in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, and bridges in Japan, as well as providing ground motions for use in the Next Generation of Ground-Motion Attenuation Models (NGA)-West and NGA-East projects. Graves is a member of the American Geophysical Union, EERI and SSA, where he served on the Board of Directors from 2009 to 2012. For more information about the Joyner Lecture Award, visit the EERI website at http://www.eeri.org/about-eeri/honors-awards/william-b-joyner-award, or the SSA website at http://www.seismosoc.org/awards/joyner. ### Demand for bioenergy to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuels could cause a 10- to 30-fold increase in green energy-related land use in years to come, adding crushing pressure on habitat for plants and animals and undermining the essential diversity of species on Earth. Speaking to government ministers and other high level representatives at a major UN biodiversity meeting in Egypt, Anne Larigauderie, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, said climate scientists foresee far more land needed for corn and other crops for bioenergy to mitigate climate change in decades to come. Citing the latest report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Climate Change (on limiting climate warming to 1.5C), Dr. Larigauderie noted that most IPCC scenarios foresee a major increase in land area for cultivating bioenergy crops by 2050 - up to 724 million hectares in all, an area almost the size of Australia. "The key issue here is: where would this huge amount of new land come from?" she asked. "Is there currently such a large amount of 'marginal land' available or would this compete with biodiversity? Some scientists argue that there is very little marginal land left." "This important issue needs to be clarified, but the demand for land for energy will almost certainly increase, with negative consequences for biodiversity." Dr. Larigauderie made the remarks at the start of the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 14, https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2018), convened with the Government of Egypt in Sharm el Sheikh, 14-29 November. Meeting strong climate mitigation goals without massive bioenergy is possible, she added, but scenarios indicate that this requires substantial reductions in energy use and rapid increases in low carbon energy production from wind, solar and nuclear sources. Safeguarding plant and animal species diversity and the services nature provides is itself key to the mitigation of planetary warming, she said. For example: Land ecosystems, with their diverse plants and soils, today sequester about one third of annual CO2 emissions. Similarly, the ocean sequesters about a quarter of annual carbon emissions. Reforestation is better at mitigating climate than most bioenergy crops. In temperate climates, one reforested hectare is four times more effective in climate mitigation than a hectare of corn used for biofuel. "All methods that produce healthier ecosystems should be promoted as a way to combat climate change," she said. "This includes afforestation and reforestation, as well as restoration - implemented properly using native species, for example." The latest IPCC report, she said, "has given a sense of extreme urgency for these exchanges on tradeoffs and synergies between climate, biodiversity and land degradation." Efforts are underway to enhance much needed inter-disciplinary collaboration, she added, between the IPCC and IPBES, in the context of the second work programme of IPBES to be approved in 2019. "In the background to all of these discussions is the need to elevate the topic of biodiversity much higher on the political agenda - to the same level as climate. I sense that we may be closer ... but we have to intensify our efforts as a community even further over the next couple of years." In separate remarks to business leaders at the UN meetings, Dr. Larigauderie said that COP 14 was expected to make a decision to request from IPBES a report on criteria, metrics and indicators of the impacts different business sectors have on biodiversity and ecosystem services, which could be undertaken in 2019 if approved by the next IPBES Plenary. Businesses have several compelling reasons to protect and use biodiversity sustainably, she noted. Among them: Many businesses depend directly or indirectly on biodiversity and the health of ecosystem services They are often responsible for the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and consumers will increasingly favour companies with a biodiversity policy, just as they make choices now that reflect climate and pollution concerns Proper management of the impact on biodiversity would not only minimise operational, regulatory, reputational and market risks, but also bring business opportunities for companies in the form of new markets, efficiencies in production, staff buy-in, and competitive advantage. Recently published IPBES assessments of regional biodiversity and ecosystem services reports contain case studies, policy options and opportunities for mainstreaming biodiversity in different economic sectors, she noted. "They show in particular that proactive environmental action by businesses is fundamental and needs to increase, but also that they must be supported by complementary regulatory measures as well as economic incentives / disincentives by governments." A stronger emphasis on this is expected in a major global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services being prepared for release in Paris next May, said Dr. Larigauderie. It will be the first such report since the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of 2005. A primer detailing elements of the IPBES Global Assessment of Biodiversity will be released on Monday, 19 November. About the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity High-Level Segment (14-15 November, https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-14-HLS). As many as 80 ministers of Environment, Infrastructure, Energy, Industry and other sectors are expected to join in discussions on mainstreaming biodiversity into their respective fields of work. From 17-29 November, negotiations will be undertaken among 196 Parties to the CBD on the following main themes: Achieving the globally-agreed Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2010-2020); mainstreaming biodiversity issues; and the beginning of two years of negotiation of the post 2020 global framework for biodiversity, scheduled for final agreement at CBD COP15 in China in 2020. ### About IPBES Often described as the "IPCC for biodiversity" IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body comprising 130 member Governments. Established by governments in 2012, it provides policymakers with objective scientific assessments about the state of knowledge regarding the planet's biodiversity, ecosystems and the contributions they make to people, as well as the tools and methods to protect and sustainably use these vital natural assets. For more information about IPBES and its assessments: http://www.ipbes.net IPBES side events at CBD COP14: November 18th (Sunday): Presentations by the Co-chairs of the four IPBES Regional Assessment Reports issued in March, 2018 (one each for the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, Africa, Asia and the Pacific) and the Global Assessment Report on Land Degradation and Restoration. November 19th (Monday): Launch of a message 'primer' detailing elements of the IPBES Global Assessment of Biodiversity, expected to be released in Paris in May 2019 Twitter: @IPBES / http://www.facebook.com/ipbes / http://www.youtube.com/ipbeschannel / http://www.linkedin.com/company/ipbes / http://www.instagram.com/ipbes Follow the CBD conference on social media: https://twitter.com/unbiodiversity http://www.facebook.com/UNBiodiversity http://www.facebook.com/UNBiodiversityConvention http://www.instagram.com/unbiodiversity http://www.linkedin.com/company/unbiodiversity A series of live interviews will be broadcast on the CBD's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/UNBiodiversity). All news conferences and briefings will be available via live webcast or video on demand via the UN Biodiversity Conference official website: http://www.cbd.int/webcast (available from 13 November 2018). Additional information for media, including press briefs and the schedule of press conferences: http://www.cbd.int/conferences/2018/information/media On-site media participation at CBD meetings is subject to accreditation by the Secretariat. Accreditation is strictly reserved for representatives of bona fide media organizations - print, photo, radio, TV, film, news agencies and online news sites. Accreditation: http://www.cbd.int/participation/2018/media Low emission zones are now in place in 200 cities across Europe, but London findings suggest that interventions that deliver larger reductions in emissions may be needed. The introduction of the low emission zone in London, UK, has only contributed to modest reductions in exposure to nitrogen oxides from diesel vehicles, and these improvements appear to have little effect on the lung health of children, according to an observational study published in The Lancet Public Health journal. The observational study including over 2,000 primary school children (aged 8-9 years) living in highly polluted areas of London's low emission zone confirms that chronic exposure to common traffic-related pollutants is linked with reduced lung function. Moreover, despite improvements in air quality following the introduction of the low emission zone, the researchers found no evidence of a reduction in the proportion of children with small lungs or asthma symptoms over the 5 years since the scheme was implemented. The study highlights that despite European air quality policies and local measures, London's air pollution may be putting children at risk of lifelong health problems, and underscores the need for more radical solutions to tackle high levels of air pollution. Early in 2019, London will introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone, which is predicted to deliver major improvements in air quality. "In many areas of London, air pollution still remains a major issue," says author Professor Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary University of London, UK. "Some improvements in air quality have been made despite the diesel vehicles emitting higher levels of pollutants in the real world than in tests. Even so, many areas of inner and outer London are still breaching EU air pollution standards and are unlikely to meet them without a substantial tightening of current emission controls." [1] Air pollution is linked to 7 million premature deaths worldwide every year (of these, 3.7 million are linked to outdoor air pollution). In the UK, air pollution contributes to 40,000 deaths each year, nearly a quarter of them in London [2]. Across Europe, where more than half of new cars are fuelled by diesel, nitrogen oxide has become a major problem, and has been linked to asthma and impaired lung development in children. Low emission zones have been widely promoted as the best way to tackle traffic pollution, with around 200 in operation across Europe. But little research has been done on the effectiveness of this approach at reducing air pollution and improving public health. London introduced the world's largest citywide low emission zone in stages during 2008 and 2012, requiring diesel vehicles entering Greater London to meet certain emission standards or pay daily charges--and providing a unique opportunity to investigate how effectively the initiative has improved air quality and children's respiratory health. [3] The study included 2,164 children aged 8-9 years from schools close to air quality monitoring stations in four inner city London boroughs (Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Greenwich, City of London) in breach of EU annual nitrogen dioxide limits (40 g/m). Between 2009-10 and 2013-2014, children were given yearly winter health checks that included measuring the size and function of their lungs by blowing into a machine called a spirometer [4]. Parents were also asked to complete a medical history questionnaire for their child, including questions on respiratory and allergic symptoms (eg, asthma, eczema, hay fever). Annual average exposure concentrations of nitrogen oxides and particulate pollution (PM 10 and PM 2.5) were measured at the home and school addresses of each child over the 5-year study. The researchers also modelled pollution exposures for the 3 hours (0600-0900h), 24 hours, and 7 days before each child's annual health check. This allowed them look at the effects of both short-term and annual average exposures simultaneously. They also took into account other factors that can affect respiratory health including age, sex, height, body mass index, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Results showed that introduction of the low emission zone had little impact in reducing levels of ultrafine particles (PM2.5) or course particulate matter (PM10) over the study period. In contrast, levels of nitrogen dioxide at both the roadside and monitoring sites within and surrounding the study area fell by around 1 g/m per year (figure 3). Additionally, the proportion of children exposed to the EU annual nitrogen oxides limit fell from 99% (444/450 children) in 2009 to 34% (150/441) in 2013. Nevertheless, average exposure levels of nitrogen dioxide over the 5-year study remained high (median 40.7 g/m) and the researchers estimate that children's lung capacities were reduced by around 5%. They also noted some evidence of a reduction in rhinitis, but not asthma symptoms over the study period. "Although changes of this magnitude are unlikely to cause problems in healthy children, we urgently need to know whether these lung deficits will impact lung function and health in later life", says Professor Griffiths. "Until longer-term impacts are known, doctors should consider advising parents of children with clinically significant lung disease to avoid living in highly polluted areas, or to adopt personal mitigation measures to limit their exposure. More research is needed to identify factors that lead to increased susceptibility or protection." [1] According to lead author Dr Ian Mudway, King's College London, UK: "There is an urgent need to improve our air quality, especially within our congested cities. Policies such as the Low Emission Zone strive to do this, but their effectiveness needs careful and objective evaluation, not only in terms of whether they improve air quality, but more importantly, whether they deliver better health. As the evidence base grows demonstrating that air pollution impacts on the health of children born and growing up in our cities, so the justification for decisive action increases." [1] Co-author Professor Frank Kelly, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health of Environmental Hazards HPRU, UK, adds: "These new findings linking air pollution and children's lung growth provide further support for the introduction of the ultra Low Emission Zone in London early next year." [1] The authors note that the study is observational, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. They also point to several limitations, including that the lack of a control group and pre-intervention health data mean that attribution of the changes in air quality and health to the low emission zone, and a direct evaluation of the health impact of the scheme, were not possible. They also note that the study began after the introduction of the initial phases of the scheme so the full effects might have been underestimated. Writing in a linked Comment Dr Hanna Boogaard, Health Effects Institute, USA, discusses the challenges of conducting research into the health effects of air quality interventions. She concludes: "A key question that remains largely unresolved is whether NO? [nitrogen dioxide] is a causal agent or only an indicator of traffic-related air pollution, given that correlations in space and time between concentrations of NO? and other traffic-related air pollutants are often high. The study by Mudway and colleagues adds to this quandary, and shows that more stringent measures to improve urban air quality and children's health might be needed." ### PHILADELPHIA -- (Nov. 15, 2018) -- Researchers at The Wistar Institute have developed novel synthetic DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAbs) directed against PCSK9, a protein key to regulating cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Results of preclinical studies showed a significant cholesterol decrease, opening the door for further development of this approach as a simple, less frequent and cost-effective therapy, as reported in a paper published online in Molecular Therapy. Elevated, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide. Statins are effective and widely used cholesterol-lowering medications, but have been associated with a number of side effects that have prompted development of alternative treatment strategies, including monoclonal antibodies targeting the PSCK9 protein that result in reduced degradation of LDL-C receptors on liver cells and increased cholesterol clearance from blood circulation. "Any therapy based on recombinant monoclonal antibodies faces challenges of production among other issues as molecules may be difficult to manufacture and require multiple administrations," said lead researcher David B. Weiner, Ph.D., executive vice president, director of Wistar's Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, and the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Professor in Cancer Research at The Wistar Institute. "Anti-PCSK9 therapy presents an important opportunity for development of alternative approaches, possibly expanding options for such therapies." Weiner and collaborators engineered synthetic DNA constructs that are delivered by intramuscular injection and encode the genetic instructions for the body to make its own functional monoclonal antibodies, entirely bypassing bioprocess and manufacturing factory approaches. This study provides the first proof of principle that such engineered DMAbs may be developed as a new option for coronary artery disease. The researchers tested expression and activity of the DMAbs targeting PCSK9 in mice. A single intramuscular administration drove robust antibody expression within days and for up to two months, resulting in a substantial increase in the presence of LDL-C receptors on liver cells. This in turn resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), an important parameter for evaluating cardiovascular risk. "We are excited about these findings that support the flexibility and versatility of the DMAb platform as a next generation approach that can be optimized for a wide host of applications," said Makan Khoshnejad, Ph.D., first author on the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the Weiner Lab. ### Co-authors of this study from The Wistar Institute include Ami Patel, Krzysztof Wojtak, Sagar B. Kudchodkar, and Kar Muthumani; other co-authors include Laurent Humeau from Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and Nicholas N. Lyssenko and Daniel J. Rader from the University of Pennsylvania. This work was supported by funding from Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Development of Novel DNA-encoded PCSK9 Monoclonal Antibodies as Lipid-lowering Therapeutics, Molecular Therapy (2018). Advance online publication. The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer research and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, Wistar has held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute since 1972. The Institute works actively to ensure that research advances move from the laboratory to the clinic as quickly as possible. wistar.org. East Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to extreme weather and climate events and to variability and change in climate. It is also one of the hardest regions to find good climate data on. Now, thanks to recently published research from UNU-FLORES, decision-makers in hot spots in East Africa will be able to more accurately assess the impact of climate change and plan adaptation measures. Analysing several accessible data sources in East Africa in his PhD research, Solomon H Gebrechorkos identified the most suitable sources of high-quality climate and hydrological data for data sparse and remote areas in East Africa. The data from these sources can be used to identify hot spots - communities that are vulnerable to significant change in climate and climate extremes and require immediate attention - and plan adaptation and mitigation measures at much finer spatial scale than previously possible. According to the recently published report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global warming is expected to reach 1.5C in as early as 12 years, resulting in a continued increase in extreme weather events and climate variability. Such events and changes cause a wide range of impacts on the local society and environment and pose serious challenges to environmental and resources management. In the past, the necessary long-term data to identify, understand, and react to these developments has not been readily available in East Arica. On the one hand, there is a problem of accessibility: the traditional sources follow data sharing policies that make it difficult for modellers to gain access to the data. On the other hand, if made available, the data are often of poor quality. Gebrechorkos findings are central to addressing this problem. Instead of investing considerable efforts in collecting and evaluating the quality of data, now experts and modellers developing adaptation measures for this region can get straight to the work. These results are the culmination of his research for the Joint PhD Programme of the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) and the Technische Universitat Dresden, Faculty of Environmental Sciences. Under the supervision of Dr Stephan Hulsmann of UNU-FLORES and Prof. Christian Bernhofer from TU Dresden, Gebrechorkos used several approaches to evaluate multiple climate data sources from national meteorological agencies (e.g., Ethiopia) and international databases and to assess the accuracy of multiple climate data products on daily, 10-day, and monthly time scales. The research, published in the journal of Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, revealed that the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (rainfall) and Observational-Reanalysis Hybrid (Tmax and Tmin) are the most suitable data sources in the region, when data from meteorological stations is not available. "The ability of communities in East Africa to prepare, mitigate, and adapt to climate change depends heavily on their ability to predict and understand climate and weather developments. In the past, this was particularly challenging, because the data being put into models was of poor quality. If you put bad information in, bad information comes out," Gebrechorkos explains. "Now, thanks to this study, we can easily find the best available climate data source, and ensure quality data is being used." How useful this high-quality data can be was demonstrated in the study Gebrechorkos and colleagues published in the International Journal of Climatology. Analysing trends in extreme values in temperature and precipitation in East Africa, they were able to develop high-resolution maps that accurately detected changes at local scale - something not yet possible in the region. These maps successfully identified hot spots and provided information that enable for much more targeted adaptation and mitigation measures than previously possible. Now, when countries discuss how to increase their efforts to combat climate change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland in December, appropriate strategies can also be identified for East Africa. Using the identified sources and the resulting high-resolution maps, decision-makers in agriculture, energy, water, and many more sectors will be able to pinpoint hot spots and develop adaptation measures, improving the water, food, and energy security of millions of people living in East Africa. ### Attention journalists: * The research can be accessed here: - Gebrechorkos, Solomon H., Hulsmann, Stephan and Bernhofer, Christian, (2018). Changes in Temperature and Precipitation Extremes in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. International Journal of Climatology, http://collections.unu.edu/view/UNU:6604 - Gebrechorkos, Solomon H., Hulsmann, Stephan and Bernhofer, Christian, (2018). Evaluation of Multiple Climate Data Sources for Managing Environmental Resources in East Africa. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 22(8), 4547-4564. http://collections.unu.edu/view/UNU:6625 * Mr Gebrechorkos and Dr Hulsmann are available for telephone or in-person interviews upon request. For further enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Rachel Ahrens Communications and Advocacy Officer United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) Ammonstrasse 74 01067 Dresden, Germany Tel: + 49 351 8921 9377 Fax: + 49 351 8921 9389 Email: ahrens@unu.edu">ahrens@unu.edu United Nations University Institute for the Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources The United Nations University (UNU) aims to develop sustainable solutions for pressing global problems of human survival and development. The UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) was established in Dresden, Germany, in December 2012. The Institute engages in research, capacity development, and advanced teaching and training. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing issues surrounding the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, and waste. flores.unu.edu Technische Universitat Dresden The Technische Universitat Dresden (TU Dresden) is one of Germany's eleven universities of excellence.: strong in research and considered first-rate with respect to the range and the quality of the study programmes it offers, it is also closely interconnected with culture, business and society. A strategic partnership between the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at TU Dresden and UNU-FLORES has been established, which has led to joint research projects and a doctoral degree programme in "Integrated Management of Water, Soil and Waste". http://tu-dresden.de/en TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona physicians often come to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis when seeing patients with newly acquired Valley fever infections -- even though the respiratory fungal disease is very common in the state, particularly the corridor between Tucson and Phoenix. This is because Valley fever's initial symptoms closely mirror those of the flu, resulting in antibiotics often being used to treat it initially instead of antifungals. Correcting the diagnosis and making the switch can take days or weeks, according to studies by the Arizona Department of Health Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE) wants to do something about that. The center has teamed up with Banner Health to develop a Valley fever "clinical practice" guide, an agreed-upon set of rules for when primary care, urgent care and emergency department clinicians should do tests needed to detect Valley fever earlier. "This guide is an expected result from the UA's medical faculties' merging their clinical care with that of Banner Health under the Banner - University Medicine Division that replaced the UA Health Network," said John N. Galgiani, MD, VFCE director, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UA Colleges of Medicine in Tucson and Phoenix, a member of the UA BIO5 Institute and medical director of the Banner - University Medicine Valley Fever Program. "Because of the merger, it provides a way for the center to help implement all best clinical practices it knows about for patients with Valley fever and actually employ them more broadly." Developing the Valley fever clinical practice guidelines has been a yearlong planning process within the Clinical Consensus Group for primary care, Banner Health's program for guiding routine medical practices across its health-care sites. This clinical practice guide is earmarked especially for the ambulatory practices throughout the Phoenix, Casa Grande and Tucson metropolitan areas, where Valley fever is endemic. Earlier this fall, a webinar for physicians was produced by Dr. Galgiani and David M. Valenzuela, MD, a Phoenix-area family practice physician, clinical assistant professor at the UA College of Medicine - Phoenix and the physician executive who heads Banner Medical Group Primary Care. The webinar is designed to give an overview of why Banner is rolling out the clinical practice guidelines and what they cover. The webinar is available for viewing at https://streaming.biocom.arizona.edu/event/?id=28471 (PLEASE NOTE: In Google Chrome, Adobe Flash Player may be needed to view the video.) "This clinical practice will change the way Arizona clinicians recognize and manage patients with Valley fever," Dr. Galgiani said. "Central to this change will be the expanded role of primary care clinicians in earlier diagnosis and management of uncomplicated infections." To help physicians not yet familiar with this new clinical practice, Dr. Galgiani and Fariba Donovan, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the UA Division of Infectious Diseases, research specialist with the VFCE and clinician with Banner - Univerity Medical Center Tucson, will hold training sessions at Banner clinical sites throughout the coming year. While the clinical practice guidelines were developed within the Banner Health planning process, they also are being made available to clinicians outside of Banner programs so that these resources can be used throughout Arizona and beyond. "Although Banner has taken this first step, there is no reason clinicians everywhere can't do the same thing," Dr. Galgiani said. In 2018, Valley Fever Awareness Week, which has been declared annually by proclamation of the Arizona Office of the Governor since 2003, runs from Nov. 10 to Nov. 18. ### About the UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence In 1996, the Arizona Board of Regents established the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona to address problems created by a fungus, Coccidioides, which is endemic to soils of the U.S. Southwest and is the cause of Valley fever. Some cases are mild; some so severe that it spreads past the lungs. It also affects animals, including pets and livestock. The center, which is affiliated with the UA Colleges of Medicine - Tucson and Phoenix through the UA Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases, works to spread public awareness and education about Valley fever, promote high-quality care for the disease and pursue research to improve treatment therapies and develop a vaccine. Learn more: vfce.arizona.edu About Banner - University Medicine Banner - University Medicine is the academic arm of nonprofit Banner Health -- one of the largest nonprofit health-care systems in the country, with 28 hospitals in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. With a special emphasis on patient care, research and teaching, Banner - University Medicine includes Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, Banner - UMC South, Banner - UMC Tucson, Banner Children's at Diamond Children's Medical Center, physician clinics and a physician practice plan. About the University of Arizona Health Sciences The University of Arizona Health Sciences is the statewide leader in biomedical research and health professions training. The UA Health Sciences includes the UA Colleges of Medicine (Phoenix and Tucson), Nursing, Pharmacy and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, with main campus locations in Tucson and the growing Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix. From these vantage points, the UA Health Sciences reaches across the state of Arizona and the greater Southwest to provide cutting-edge health education, research, patient care and community outreach services. A major economic engine, the UA Health Sciences employs approximately 4,000 people, has approximately 800 faculty members and garners more than $140 million in research grants and contracts annually. For more information: uahs.arizona.edu Alarming examples of the dangers from chemical weapons have been seen recently in the use of industrial chemicals and the nerve agent sarin against civilians in Syria, and in the targeted assassination operations using VX nerve agent in Malaysia and novichok nerve agent in the UK. The threat of future chemical attacks is exacerbated by the current unstable international system and also by the potential misuse of developments in science and technology. The States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention gathering in the Hague on 21st November for their 4th Review Conference must ensure the prohibition regime is fit to meet these challenges. This argument is set out by three academics from the University of Bradford in a Policy Forum article titled 'Preventing chemical weapons as sciences converge' in the present issue of the internationally recognised journal Science Volume 362, Issue 6416. In the article Dr Michael Crowley, Dr Lijun Shang and Professor Malcolm Dando address key scientific aspects of the issues that the Conference will have to address to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons during this period of very rapid scientific change. Dr Michael Crowley said: "The unstable international security environment and the changing nature of armed conflict could fuel a desire by certain States to retain and use existing chemical weapons, as well as increase interest in creating new weapons. Tomorrow's weaponeers may well seek to harness the revolutionary advances in the chemical and life sciences and associated disciplines such as nanoscience and neuroscience for their malign ends. The international governmental and scientific communities must collectively review, update and strengthen the global measures in place to protect us all from chemical attack." Professor Malcolm Dando said: "One area of growing concern has been State interest in the aerosolised application of a range of toxic chemical agents potentially including pharmaceutical chemicals, bioregulators, and toxins that attack the central nervous system of those targeted. Ostensibly promoted for use in extreme law enforcement scenarios, such as large scale hostage situations, to incapacitate an individual or a group rapidly and completely without causing permanent disability or fatality, their use in practice poses grave dangers to health and well-being of all those affected. Furthermore, research and development in this area potentially opens up the door to new forms of chemical weapon and warfare." Dr Lijun Shang said "It is important to emphasise that scientists' work on the detection, protection and treatment of chemical weapons is important in the overall effort to prevent the misuse of toxic chemicals, but scientists also need to be more aware of the possible misuse of their benignly-intended work." In their article the authors conclude that chemical and life scientists, health professionals and wider informed activist civil society need to play their part in protecting the prohibition of poison and chemical weapons. They must work with States to build effective and responsive measures to ensure that the rapid scientific and technological advances are safeguarded from hostile use and are instead employed for the benefit of all. ### Michael, Malcolm and Lijun will be joined by Professor Paul Rogers to hold a public lecture at the University in Bradford about the findings and what they mean. The lecture will take place on Monday 19 November, 6-7.30pm and will be chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor. More information on the lecture can be found here. Further information can be found in a new book by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Preventing Chemical Weapons: Arms Control and Disarmament as the Sciences Converge, edited by Crowley, Dando and Shang with contributions from leading chemical, life and social scientists from across the world. Scientists have discovered something amazing. In a cluster of some of the most massive and luminous stars in our galaxy, about 5,000 light years from Earth, astronomers detected particles being accelerated by a rapidly rotating neutron star as it passed by the massive star it orbits only once every 50 years. The discovery is extremely rare, according to University of Delaware astrophysicist Jamie Holder and doctoral student Tyler Williamson, who were part of the international team that documented the occurrence. Holder called this eccentric pair of gravitationally linked stars a "gamma-ray binary system" and likened the once-in-a-lifetime event to the arrival of Halley's comet or last year's U.S. solar eclipse. Massive stars are among the brightest stars in our galaxy. Neutron stars are extremely dense and energetic stars that result when a massive star explodes. This binary system is a massive star with a neutron star orbiting around it. Of the 100 billion stars in our galaxy, less than 10 are known to be this type of system. Even fewer -- only two systems, including this one -- are known to have an identified neutron star, or pulsar, that emits pulses of radio waves that scientists can measure. This is important because it tells astronomers very accurately how much energy is available to accelerate particles, something scientists know little about. "You couldn't ask for a better natural laboratory to study particle acceleration in a continually changing environment - at energies far beyond anything we can produce on the Earth," said Holder, a professor in UD's Department of Physics and Astronomy. The project was led by a team of scientists, including Holder and Williamson, using the VERITAS telescope array at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in Arizona, in collaboration with scientists using the MAGIC telescopes at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory located in La Palma, an island of the Canary Islands, Spain. (VERITAS stands for Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System and MAGIC stands for Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov telescopes.) The researchers recently reported their findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. Hoping for fireworks The natural question, to many minds, is why do scientists care about accelerated particles? "Because our galaxy is full of them. We call them cosmic rays and they carry as much energy as the light from all the stars," said Holder. Astronomers discovered more than 100 years ago that accelerated particles exist, yet how or where these particles speed up remains a mystery. Pulsars are among the most extreme objects in the universe and they have magnetic fields around them that are millions of times stronger than anything scientists could hope to build on earth. When a pulsar encounters dust or gas close to a massive star, the particles nearby accelerate -- to near speed of light velocities -- and collide with what's around them. The result is a beam of high-energy light called gamma-radiation or gamma rays. Sophisticated telescopes, like those operated by VERITAS and MAGIC, can detect these gamma rays because they emit a blue flash of light when they reach the Earth's atmosphere. While our eyes can't see these flashes of light because they are too quick, only nanoseconds long, these telescopes can. Once-in-a-lifetime doctoral experience Astronomers first discovered gamma rays coming from the pulsar in this unusual pair of stars in 2008. About the size of Newark, Delaware, the pulsar is spinning like the attachment on a kitchen blender, emitting little pulses of gamma rays and radio waves with every rotation. By measuring these radio pulse frequencies, astronomers were able to tell how fast the pulsar was moving and calculate exactly when it would be closest to the massive star that it was orbiting -- Nov. 13, 2017. It's a trip that took 50 years. The VERITAS and MAGIC teams began monitoring the night sky and tracking the pulsar's orbit in September 2016. At first, they weren't even sure if they would see anything. But in September 2017 the astronomers began to detect a rapid increase in the number of gamma rays hitting the top of the earth's atmosphere. Holder and Williamson realized that the pulsar was doing something different each day. "I would wake up every morning and check and see if we had new data, then analyze it as fast as I could, because there were times where the number of gamma rays we were seeing was changing rapidly over a day or two," said Williamson, a fourth-year doctoral student. During the closest approach between the star and the pulsar in November 2017, Williamson noticed that the VERITAS telescopes had -- overnight -- recorded ten times the number of gamma rays detected only a few days before. "I double checked everything before sending the data to our collaborators," Williamson said. "Then one of our partners, Ralph Bird at UCLA, confirmed he'd gotten the same results; that was exciting." Even more interesting -- this observational data did not match what predictive models had predicted. Generally speaking, Holder said, existing models predicted that as the pulsar approached the massive star it was orbiting, the number of gamma rays produced would slowly accelerate, experience some volatility and then slowly decay over time. "But our recorded data showed a huge spike in the number of gamma rays instead," Holder said. "This tells us that we need to revise the models of how this particle acceleration is happening." What's more, according to Holder, while astrophysicists expected the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Fermi gamma-ray space telescope to record these gamma rays, it didn't. Holder said the reason for this is unclear, but that is part of what makes the VERITAS results so interesting. Astrophysicists want to learn just which particles are being accelerated, and what processes are pushing them up to these extreme speeds, in order to understand more about the Universe. Holder said that although gamma-ray binary systems probably don't accelerate a large portion of the particles in our galaxy, they allow scientists to study the type of acceleration mechanisms which could produce them. Charting a promising future Astronomers won't be able to see this binary system at work again until 2067 when the two stars are once again close together. By then, Williamson joked that he just might be an emeritus professor with time on his hands. At the moment, Williamson is not worried about running out of things to do. He spent three months at the Arizona-based observatory earlier this year, taking measurements, performing hardware maintenance and devising a remote control to allow the researchers to turn on the telescope's cameras from a computer inside a control room. "It was a great chance to spend hands-on time with the telescopes and get to know the instrument," said Williamson. Going forward, he'll spend the remainder of his doctoral studies combing through and analyzing in greater detail the nearly 175 hours of data the VERITAS telescopes collected in 2016 and 2017. "Tyler is, without a doubt, the luckiest graduate student I've ever met because this event that happens only once every 50 years -- one of the most exciting things we've seen with our telescopes in a decade -- occurred right in the middle of his doctoral work," said Holder. ### Funding for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation and NASA. Malaria parasites know good times from bad and plan their offspring accordingly, scientists have found, in a development that could inform new treatments. Scientists have found that the reproduction strategy used by the disease-causing parasites is more sophisticated than previously thought, and is similar to that seen in more complex organisms. The findings could help researchers better predict how the parasites respond to adverse conditions, such as treatment with anti-malarial drugs. Scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Toronto used a mathematical model, combined with experiments, to examine when malaria parasites opt to put greater efforts into reproduction. To survive in a host such as a person or animal, the parasites replicate asexually in the blood, causing disease. They must produce specialised sexual forms in order to reproduce and spread the infection to new hosts. The team discovered that parasites alter how much effort they invest in survival versus reproduction, according to how well they can grow inside a host. When conditions are good, and parasites are growing well, they can afford to reproduce and spread to new hosts, researchers found. In poor conditions however, parasites delay reproduction and divert efforts to replicating asexually, prioritising survival in the host. This can make infections harder to clear, the team says. If conditions are catastrophically bad and the parasite population plummets - following treatment with a strong dose of anti-malarial drugs, for instance - they invest as much as possible in reproduction in a last-ditch effort to spread to new hosts. Developing treatments that prompt parasites to invest more in reproduction and less in the disease-causing asexual stages, while also blocking their spread to other hosts, could help to combat the disease, the team says. The study is published in the journal PLOS Pathogens. It was supported by NERC, BBSRC, the Royal Society, the FNR of Luxembourg, Wellcome, the Human Frontiers Science Program, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Dr Petra Schneider, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who led the study, said: "It is really exciting to discover that these small blood parasites follow the same reproductive strategies as more complex animals, like insects, birds and mammals. Being able to predict how parasites balance reproduction and survival could improve the outcomes of treatment." ### When children are victims of crimes, the legal testimony they provide is known as forensic interviews. However, since victims are often traumatized and potentially abused by their caregivers they can be reluctant to come forward with accusations or disclose relevant information. As such, a protocol has been developed to carefully extract as much relevant information about a crime as possible. Yet, what if artificial intelligence could be a useful tool to help young victims tell their stories? What if AI could support interviewers with tools to help gather information in an appropriate manner? This is the topic of a paper presented at the 2018 ACM International Conference on Multimodal Interaction, recently in Boulder, Colorado. The paper, presented by doctoral students from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Signal Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory, Victor Ardulov and Manojkumar Prabakaran Abitha, along with SAIL founder Shri Narayanan, documents a multidisciplinary effort in conjunction with USC Gould School of Law professor, and child witness expert, Thomas D. Lyon and his team, to determine if and how computer-aided tools can accurately assess the productivity of forensic interviews. In addition, the paper documents how researchers attempted to identify potential linguistic and paralinguistic influences such as emotions in the interview process. Ardulov, who is the lead author of the paper presented at the recent ACM conference, said the purpose of the study was to garner feedback about how children tend to reply based on subtle variations in questioning. The challenge for forensic interviewers is asking the right questions, in the right manner, at the right time in order to ensure that victims are forthcoming with relevant and unbiased information about perpetrated crimes. This is particularly important when children might be the sole witness to a crime. The key is to maximize productivity without re-traumatizing the child or coercing an inaccurate testimony. Scholars such as Lyon, who established USC's Gould Child Interviewing Lab, are aware how the rapport built among interviewer and interviewee, the tone in which questions are asked, pauses and even question order can impact how much meaningful information is shared. However, this is believed to be the first attempt to develop and apply custom software to automatically detect and categorize speech patterns in the course of the forensic interviews. For over two decades, Narayanan has been developing speech and language technologies for understating the speech and language of children, and in developing award-winning AI-based conversational interfaces for children. He says "... linguistically-informed data science and computational techniques offer a rich set of tools for helping understand not only what a child is trying to communicate but their emotional and cognitive state of being. These are the technologies our [SAIL] lab at USC is trying to develop with our collaborators." Viterbi's Narayanan met Gould's Lyon about a decade ago at multidisciplinary collaborative workshop among USC professors. The two only started to work on this project about a year and half ago with Narayanan's doctoral candidates Ardulov and Manoj Kumar taking the lead on finding ways to quantify particular factors in speech that could affect the output of the interview such as the frequency or length of an interviewer's pauses, the time allotted for a child to respond, and the extent to which the pace of the interviewer's speech mirrors the speech of the child being interviewed. Lyon became interested in Narayanan's work with the expectation that "technology can pick up on subtleties of an interview--qualities, that are harder to pick up and count." Findings of the Presented Paper The anonymous audio transcripts of two hundred forensic interviews that Lyon collected from child abuse cases were transcribed from audio files and then coded for a variety of dimensions. The researchers from the SAIL Lab, which has previously developed tools to automatically analyze speech (such as who spoke and for how long) and rich behavioral aspects (such as emotions), as well as how people interact with one another, developed custom models for each interview. Once this was done, the researchers would then look for patterns in the interviews and in the interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee. In general, the findings by the researchers are consistent with previous studies in the field of legal psychology. Interviews are normally conducted in two phases--a rapport-building phase unrelated to the crime or abuse, and then a second interview focused on the alleged abuse. In this study, the way that children in these interviews responded was highly correlated to their age. For younger children, the emotional content of the interviewer's words had an impact on how much information they were willing to share during the phase of the interview. Older children were more influenced by the way interviewer's vocalized their words (the pitch and loudness). Next Steps The hope is that a computer aide for interviews could take various forms. First, it could be a means to train forensic interviewers--either by means of a virtual assistant that informs interviewers during an interaction, or as a simulated child interview. Both of these approaches hinge on the availability of large datasets of question and answer interactions and rigorous mathematical models of how children respond and are influenced by interviewer inputs. It is akin, Ardulov says, to how Google autocompletes the phrases you input and offers suggestions based on the huge number of historical inputs. Lyon imagines that these models could be great tools for those who work as child advocates. "It could provide additional information to structure and refine protocols," he says. Lyon says, "Imagine an automated transcription of an interview whereby an interviewer holding an iPad gets the highlighted words or phrases that might inform his/her next question and guide the interview." He adds that this would be a way for interviews not have to use notes, and the actual software could point out possible contradictions and inconsistencies. In order to do this, the next phase of research would be to create more sophisticated models whereby the researchers look at specific interactions, or particular sequences of questions to understand what yields the most relevant information from a child. ### Beyond working with the USC SAIL Lab, Lyon has worked with computer science professor and Institute for Creative Technologies researcher Jonathan Gratch to build an interactive test for interviewers. About the SAIL Lab: The USC Signal Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory (SAIL) conducts fundamental and applied research focused on using engineering methods and tools to understand the human condition and to create technologies that support and enhance human experiences. The lab focuses on applications with direct societal relevance such as in human behavioral and mental health and well being--in developing novel screening and diagnostics for Autism Spectrum Disorder, understanding behaviors and relationships at work place and in illuminating what works for whom and when in psychotherapy (e.g., for addiction) using computational methods. A new study by The University of Texas at Austin has demonstrated a possible link between life on Earth and the movement of continents. The findings show that sediment, which is often comprised from pieces of dead organisms, could play a key role in determining the speed of continental drift. In addition to challenging existing ideas about how plates interact, the findings are important because they describe potential feedback mechanisms between tectonic movement, climate and life on Earth. The study, published Nov. 15 in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, describes how sediment moving under or subducting beneath tectonic plates could regulate the movement of the plates and may even play a role in the rapid rise of mountain ranges and growth of continental crust. The research was led by Whitney Behr, a research fellow at the Jackson School and professor at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, and co-authored by Thorsten Becker, a professor at the UT Jackson School of Geosciences and research scientist at its Institute for Geophysics (UTIG). Sediment is created when wind, water and ice erode existing rock or when the shells and skeletons of microscopic organisms like plankton accumulate on the seafloor. Sediment entering subduction zones has long been known to influence geological activity such as the frequency of earthquakes, but until now it was thought to have little influence on continental movement. That's because the speed of subduction was believed to be dependent on the strength of the subducting plate as it bends and slides into the viscous mantle, the semi molten layer of rock beneath the Earth's crust. Continental movement is driven by one plate sinking under another so, in this scenario, the strength of the portion of the plate being pulled into the Earth's mantle (and the energy required to bend it) would be the primary control for the speed of the plate movement, with sediment having little effect. However, prior research involving UTIG scientists had shown the subducting plates may be weaker and more sensitive to other influences than previously thought. This led researchers to look for other mechanisms that might impact plate velocity. They estimated how different types of rock might affect the plate interface - the boundary where subducting plates meet. Subsequent modelling showed that rock made of sediment can create a lubricating effect between plates, accelerating subduction and increasing plate velocity. This mechanism could set in motion a complex feedback loop. As plate velocity increases, there would be less time for sediment to accumulate, so the amount of subducting sediment would be reduced. This leads to slower subduction, which may allow for mountains to grow at plate boundaries as the force of the two plates running into each other causes uplift. In turn, erosion of those mountains by wind, water and other forces can produce more sediments which feed back into the subduction zone and restart the cycle by increasing the speed of subduction. "The feedback mechanisms serve to regulate subduction speeds such that they don't 'runaway' with extremely fast velocities," said Behr. Behr and Becker's new model also offers a compelling explanation for variations found in plate speed, such as India's dramatic northward acceleration some 70 million years ago. The authors propose that as India moved through equatorial seas teeming with life, an abundance of sedimentary rock formed by organic matter settling on the seafloor created a lubricating effect in the subducting plate. India's march north accelerated from a stately 5 centimeters per year (about 2 inches) to an eye-watering 16 centimeters per year (about 6 inches). As the continent accelerated the amount of sediment being subducted decreased and India slowed before finally colliding with Asia. Behr and Becker suggest these feedback mechanisms would have been very different in the early Earth before the formation of continents and the emergence of life. Although their model does not examine the origins of these feedback mechanisms, it does raise compelling questions about the interaction between continental movement and life on Earth. "What is becoming clear is that the geological history of the incoming plate matters," said Becker, who also holds the Shell Distinguished Chair in Geophysics at UT. "We will have to study in more detail how those possible feedback processes may work." ### A UTA civil engineering soil researcher is using multiple-year, $600,000 grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation regional center and the Texas Department of Transportation that will employ geopolymers for soil modification and sustainable cement materials to strengthen highway embankments in the Paris, Texas, district. Anand Puppala, civil engineering professor and the associate dean for research in The University of Texas at Arlington's College of Engineering, is the lead investigator on the project. Funding is from the Louisiana State University-led Transportation Consortium of South-Central States, a University Transportation Center that was created in late 2016 through $300 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funding. "Geopolymers and the cementitious material leave a low carbon footprint, making it attractive environmentally," Puppala said. "We use waste and convert that into cementitious material. It cuts down on the amount of lime and cement normally used. It replaces those materials with the geopolymers, which are like an ash material." Puppala said the second part of the project involves using lime treatment on slopes to stop cracks in the soil. "That will be done at the field sites using 18- to 24-inch thick treated soil design models," Puppala said. "This is similar to what we did with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help stabilize some of the North Texas dams a few years ago. Currently we are designing a slope treatment for the Paris district using advanced geomaterial testing and modeling." Puppala said the projects are receiving strong collaboration through Texas A&M University and LSU, and are supporting three doctoral students and two postdoctoral researchers. LSU's Navid Jafari, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is contributing on the slope studies portion of the project. Sayantan Chakraborty, a UTA post-doctoral student, and UTA doctoral student Burak Boluk also are assisting with the slope studies portion of the project. Surya Sarat Chandra Congress, a UTA doctoral student, is providing the unmanned aerial vehicle data collection part of the slope stabilization project. Miladin Radovic, professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Texas A&M University and director of TAMU's Materials Characterization Facility, is a collaborating partner on the geopolymers project. Aritra Banerjee, a UTA civil engineering adjunct professor and research scientist at The UTA Research Institute, will play a major part in the project. UTA doctoral student Rinu Ann Samuel also is contributing. "The geopolymer we're using is a silica similar to sand," Banerjee said. "It came about in the 1950s but we've perfected the process to synthesize and create it. We anticipate more applications and research works in this field." Puppala's projects are a prime example of building sustainable urban communities, a theme of the university's Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact. Engineering Dean Peter Crouch said Puppala is a consummate researcher. "Dr. Puppala has built up a great many important relationships with governmental state agencies in Texas, and is able to leverage this toward the buildup of UTA's great depth of expertise in civil infrastructure," Crouch said. "It seems like everything he does will have a long-lasting beneficial effect on Texas." ### Researchers from the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country are seeking the best bivalves in the Nicaraguan mangroves for the purpose of monitoring pollution The Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology (CBET) research group at the Plentzia Marine Station and the UPV/EHU's Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology has broad expertise in detecting the changes taking place in the health of ecosystems by measuring chemical variables and other sets of parameters in the cells and tissue of mussels, bivalves and fish. "These variables are like our temperature or pulse; the fact that they change in some way indicates that something is going on," explained Ionan Marigomez, director of the Plentzia Marine Station and professor of cell biology in the CBET group. In collaboration with the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, the UPV/EHU's research group tackled the study of bivalves that could act as indicators of the environmental status of the Nicaraguan mangroves, both on the Caribbean and the Pacific. When considering the environmental status of tropical areas, "there is much awareness about the deterioration of the coral reefs, whereas focussing on the health status of the mangroves is less widespread. But the mangroves protect the reefs, they regulate sedimentation and the nutrients that come from the land, and are the hatcheries of many reef species", explained Marigomez. In the specific case of Nicaragua, "pollution is not very high, but there are various risk factors: the mangroves receive, among other things, the pesticides of all the crops, or mercury that is discharged in gold mines. What is more, there is no water treatment", he went on. Different species for the Caribbean and the Pacific One of the best candidates for monitoring mangrove ecosystems is the Crassostrea rhizophorae oyster. Yet, as Marigomez explained, "they are only found in the mangroves on the Caribbean coast, not in those of the Pacific; so we wanted to find substitute species for the sentinel work. And we also found it necessary to look for another additional species for the mangroves on the Caribbean side. Each species has a different sensitivity when faced with pollutants, so conducting the biomonitoring with more than one species at the same time is advisable". For the research they selected three bivalve species: for the Atlantic coast, a clam species known as Polymesoda arctata to complement the oyster that they were already familiar with, and for the Pacific coast, two cockle species: Anadara tuberculosa and Larkinia grandis. In each species they identified the appropriate health parameters, such as the level of pollutants accumulated in their tissue, the biometric variables for characterising growth and health status, the levels of histopathological lesions and parasites they displayed, abnormalities in reproduction, so that they would be able to deduce the health status of the ecosystems of the mangroves where these animals live. Despite having broad expertise in tasks of this nature, Marigomez remarked that in Nicaragua they were unable to use the usual techniques and methods. "It is another world, and they have very strict rules; for example, to get to the sampling locations we had to use light aircraft or motor launches. What is more, the use of liquid nitrogen and dry ice is expressly forbidden, and our working methodology is mainly based on cryotechniques; we are obliged to transport the samples in a frozen state. So in terms of logistics, adapting our working methodology to that reality posed a major challenge for us." "The work done was a lovely starting point, and it has encouraged us to set up another piece of research later on. For the monitoring we found a very suitable large cockle, L. grandis, which in Central America is known as casco de burro (donkey's hoof). It has a long life, so it would correctly reflect the evolution of the location where it lives and, what is more, has a very interesting biogeographical distribution: from Baja California to Ecuador. It would be nice to do this if we could secure long-term funding, and set up a network to monitor the whole biogeographical region." The ultimate aim of the monitoring is to be able to manage and protect the environment. "In Europe the wellbeing and use of ecosystems is governed by two directives, one on water and the other on marine strategy, and both stipulate the need to monitor the ecosystems to find out what state they are in at all times. Yet in other regions of the world, including Latin America, the legislation on environmental protection is not so developed. But in its capacity as the creator and member of the Iberoamerican Society of Contamination and Environmental Toxicology, our group has contacts with various Latin American centres of research and universities, and our aim is to gradually overcome the existing technical problems so that the monitoring can be something global". ### Additional information The UPV/EHU and the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua have been able to conduct this research thanks to a grant from the AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation). The research group belonging to the UPV/EHU is a member of the Centre for Research into Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, known as the Plentzia Marine Station; specifically, it is part of the Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology (CBET) group of the Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology and the IBEA group of the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Technology. Bibliographical reference Javier R. Aguirre-Rubi, Maren Ortiz-Zarragoitia, Urtzi Izagirre, Nestor Etxebarria, Felix Espinoza, Ionan Marigomez. Prospective biomonitor and sentinel bivalve species for pollution monitoring and ecosystem health disturbance assessment in mangrove-lined Nicaraguan coasts Science of the Total Environment (2018) DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.269 The Southern Risk Management Education Center has announced its top three Projects of Excellence for 2018, and two of the three programs are led by University of Tennessee Extension specialists. The mission of the SRMEC is to help agricultural producers manage risk and grow the markets for their products. The awards were based on project innovation and positive outcomes for producers. Advanced Online Marketing Strategies for Tennessee Farmers, a project directed by Megan Leffew of the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture, helped 567 people to efficiently and effectively reach potential customers by understanding e-commerce options, advanced social media/digital marketing and video content creation and marketing. The program targeted Tennessee farmers involved in value-added, direct marketing and agritourism enterprises. It included the development and delivery of three curricula via 20 educational programs to help participants efficiently and effectively reach potential customers and make sales transactions. According to Leffew, 52 participants completed a follow-up evaluation six months after attending a workshop, and each of them indicated they had implemented at least one practice or procedure learned. The second UTIA award-winning project was directed by Andrew Griffith, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The project, Implementing Biosecurity and Disease Prevention Measures and Evaluating Marketing Strategies and Contract Opportunities in Small Ruminant Production, involved hosting two conferences to educate producers on several topics focused on animal health and disease prevention, biosecurity planning and implementation for disease outbreak, as well as a variety of marketing avenues, market diversification and contract fulfillment. The target audience included small ruminant producers, small acreage farmers, "local food farmers," operators looking to diversify enterprise mix or to transition to alternative production, and land owners with idle land in Alabama and Tennessee. A total of 222 participated in the conference, which attracted producers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Griffith says that post conference survey responses estimate the information presented had a positive impact on participants amounting to nearly $328,000. The third award-winning project, Gate to Plate: Targeted Business and Production Management Training for Women, Beginning, and Transitioning Ranchers Selling Meat into the Marketplace, was led by Sarah Blacklin of North Carolina State University. SRMEC Director Ron Rainey, who is also a professor of agricultural economics for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said, "These Projects of Excellence provided outstanding educational and promotional materials, innovative use of technology to deliver programming, exceptional evaluation results and collaborations across disciplines and regions." Rainey also said that each summer the advisory council convenes to evaluate the most recent round of completed projects funded by SRMEC, which is based at the Division of Agriculture. The council ranks projects by the importance of outcomes, audiences reached, realized and potential impacts, as well as the quality and value of project communications. ### To learn more about the Southern Risk Management Education Center and its programs, visit the Center's website: srmec.uaex.edu?. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrates 50 years of excellence in providing Real. Life. Solutions. through teaching, discovery and service. ag.tennessee.edu. Maunakea, Hawaii - Astronomers may have finally uncovered the long-sought progenitor to a specific type of exploding star by sifting through NASA Hubble Space Telescope archival data and conducting follow-up observations using W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. The supernova, known as a type Ic, is thought to detonate after a massive star has shed or been stripped of its outer layers of hydrogen and helium. These stars are among the most massive known -- at least 30 times more massive than our own Sun. Even after shedding some of their material late in life, they remain very large and bright. So it was a mystery as to why astronomers had not been able to nab one of these stars in pre-explosion images. Finally, in 2017, astronomers got lucky. A nearby star ended its life as a type Ic supernova. Two teams of astronomers pored through the archive of Hubble images to uncover the presumed precursor star in pre-explosion photos taken in 2007. The supernova, catalogued as SN 2017ein, appeared near the center of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 3938, located roughly 65 million light-years away. This discovery could yield important insights into stellar evolution, including how the masses of stars are distributed when they are born in batches. "Finding a bona fide progenitor of a supernova Ic is a big prize of progenitor searching," said Schuyler Van Dyk of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, lead researcher of one of the teams. "We now have for the first time a clearly detected candidate object." His team's paper was published in June in The Astrophysical Journal. A second team led by Charles Kilpatrick of the University of California, Santa Cruz, also observed the supernova in June 2017 in infrared images, which were captured using Keck Observatory's powerful adaptive optics system combined with its OH-Suppressing Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (OSIRIS). Kilpatrick's team then analyzed the same archival Hubble photos as Van Dyk's team to uncover the possible source. An analysis of the object's colors shows that it is blue and extremely hot. "This supernova occurred in a crowded part of its host galaxy. When we looked at a pre-explosion Hubble Space Telescope image, the stars appeared closely packed together," said Kilpatrick. "This discovery was only made possible because we were able to use Keck Observatory to pinpoint the location of the supernova in its host galaxy. The extremely high-resolution image from Keck allowed us to determine with a high degree of precision exactly where the explosion occurred. This location happened to land right on top of a single, very blue, and luminous object in the pre-explosion Hubble image." The results from Kilpatrick's team, which appeared in the Oct. 21, 2018, issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, is consistent with the earlier team's conclusions. "We were fortunate that the supernova was nearby and very bright, about 5 to 10 times brighter than other type Ic supernovas, which may have made the progenitor easier to find," said Kilpatrick. "Astronomers have observed many type Ic supernovas, but they are all too far away for Hubble to resolve. You need one of these massive, bright stars in a nearby galaxy to go off. It looks like most type Ic supernovas are less massive and therefore less bright, and that's the reason we haven't been able to find them." Because the object is blue and exceptionally hot, both teams suggest two possibilities for the source's identity. The progenitor could be a single hefty star between 45 and 55 times more massive than our Sun. Another idea is that it could have been a massive binary-star system in which one of the stars weighs between 60 and 80 solar masses and the other roughly 48 suns. In this latter scenario, the stars are orbiting closely and interact with each other. The more massive star is stripped of its hydrogen and helium layers by the close companion, and eventually explodes as a supernova. The possibility of a massive double-star system is a surprise. "This is not what we would expect from current models, which call for lower-mass interacting binary progenitor systems," Van Dyk said. Expectations on the identity of the progenitors of type Ic supernovas have been a puzzle. Astronomers have known that the supernovas were deficient in hydrogen and helium, and initially proposed that some hefty stars shed this material in a strong wind (a stream of charged particles) before they exploded. When they didn't find the progenitors stars, which should have been extremely massive and bright, they suggested a second method to produce the exploding stars that involves a pair of close-orbiting, lower-mass binary stars. In this scenario, the heftier star is stripped of its hydrogen and helium by its companion. But the "stripped" star is still massive enough to eventually explode as a type Ic supernova. "Disentangling these two scenarios for producing type Ic supernovas impacts our understanding of stellar evolution and star formation, including how the masses of stars are distributed when they are born, and how many stars form in interacting binary systems," explained Ori Fox of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, a member of Van Dyk's team. "And those are questions that not just astronomers studying supernovas want to know, but all astronomers are after." Type Ic supernovas are just one class of exploding star. They account for 21 percent of massive stars that explode from the collapse of their cores. The teams caution that they won't be able to confirm the source's identity until the supernova fades in about two years. The astronomers hope to use either Hubble or the upcoming NASA James Webb Space Telescope to see whether the candidate progenitor star has disappeared or has significantly dimmed. They also will be able to separate the supernova's light from that of stars in its environment to calculate a more accurate measurement of the object's brightness and mass. ### ABOUT ADAPTIVE OPTICS W. M. Keck Observatory is a distinguished leader in the field of adaptive optics (AO), a breakthrough technology that removes the distortions caused by the turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. Keck Observatory pioneered the astronomical use of both natural guide star (NGS) and laser guide star adaptive optics (LGS AO) on large telescopes and current systems now deliver images three to four times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope. Keck AO has imaged the four massive planets orbiting the star HR8799, measured the mass of the giant black hole at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, discovered new supernovae in distant galaxies, and identified the specific stars that were their progenitors. Support for this technology was generously provided by the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation, Change Happens Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation, NASA, NSF, and W. M. Keck Foundation. ABOUT OSIRIS The OH-Suppressing Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (OSIRIS) is one of W. M. Keck Observatory's "integral field spectrographs." The instrument works behind the adaptive optics system, and uses an array of lenslets to sample a small rectangular patch of the sky at resolutions approaching the diffraction limit of the 10-meter Keck Telescope. OSIRIS records an infrared spectrum at each point within the patch in a single exposure, greatly enhancing its efficiency and precision when observing small objects such as distant galaxies. It is used to characterize the dynamics and composition of early stages of galaxy formation. ABOUT W. M. KECK OBSERVATORY The W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes are among the most scientifically productive on Earth. The two, 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes atop Maunakea on the Island of Hawaii feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectrometers, and world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics systems. The data presented herein were obtained at Keck Observatory, which is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation. The authors recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Maunakea has always had within the Native Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain. ABOUT HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C. this news is not available Massive swings in the GBP/USD and EUR/GBP exchange rates. Brexit back to the forefront of speculators concerns. Brexit drives massive swings in the GBPUSD FX rate Above: GBPUSD experiences massive whipsaws during intraday trading. The day trade for the 15th of November is one for the books. One glance at the hourly chart for the GBPUSD FX pair tells a wild story of some massive whipsaws in price action. Id like to point out some of those swings now: 1. 0400 CST: -72 pip move from 1.2977 to 1.2905 2. 0500 CST: +66 pip move from 1.2886 to 1.2952 3. 0800 CST: +88 pip move from 1.2917 to 1.3005 4. 1100 CST: -117 pip move from 1.3035 to 1.2918 5. 1300 CST: +123 pip move from 1.2925 to 1.3048 Looking at those swings and comparing it to the odd gap open from Sunday, the GBP/USD exchange rate is certainly a source of excitement or headaches for a great number of speculators. On the chart above, we can see that the GBP/USD was strongly bought up to move back into some bullish conditions within the geometry of Ganns Square of a range. Following Ganns rule of angles, we should see price move to test the 1.3171 value area. I am maintaining a bullish outlook on the GBP/USD for the rest of 2018 and I fully expect it to move beyond the above Gann angle in the square. When price finally does move and cross above that line, where is the next angle for price to test? All the way up towards 1.429. Prime Minister Theresa Mays report on Brexit rallies the Pound The BBC reported that the Prime Ministers cabinet came to an agreement (not unanimous) over Brexit and were prepared to submit it to the EU. This came after a reported 5-hour long meeting. Prime Minister May stated, This deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and our borders, ends the free movement, protects jobs, security and our Union; or leave with no deal, or no Brexit at all. Perhaps the most important and most feared component of any final UK EU separation has always been the issue of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. Both want to avoid any return of a hard border and customs situation. For now, the draft goes to Brussels where it will be reviewed by EU leaders. If agreed upon, it will go to the House of Commons. There is an expectation that this could be done before Christmas. Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. Thursday, November 15, 2018 Enjoy this trailer for our new holiday book, out now from Who Chains You Publishing. A Tail of Two Christmases is delightfully written by Darla Purgason, adorably illustrated by April Pedersen, and lovingly narrated by Phillip J. Mather. What gift can a rescue kitty like Mambo give to the angel who brought him in from the cold? Find out in this rhyming childrens tale about a prancing kitten, his friend Clancy the dog, and the animal lover who shared her all with them. A wonderful new addition to read to the children and grandchildren this Christmas. Available in paperback, kindle, and audiobook at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946044369 [embedded content] About the Book Twas the Eve before Christmas And all through the condo Not a soul was stirring, But a kitten named Mambo. He was prowling and meowing And licking his fur. He needed a present A gift from him to her. See, Mambo was rescued By this kind-hearted soul; And he wanted to give back To make his heart whole But what gift can a rescue kitty like Mambo give to the angel who brought him in from the cold? Find out in this delightfully-rhyming childrens tale about a prancing kitten, his friend Clancy the dog, and the animal lover who shared her all with them.ISBN-13: 978-1-946044-36-5 Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946044369 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J21LQ9N Audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K92DDQS About the Author Darla Purgason is retired from a career in Washington, D.C., and keeps busy with cat rescue as well as caring for her own four beloved long-haired kitties. She enjoys vegetarian cooking, books on tape, and embroidery. She is the author of A Tail." of Two Christmases, and a contributing author to More Rescue Smiles. Darla makes her home in Culpeper, Virginia, with her husband Paul. About the Illustrator April Pedersen is a freelance illustrator and author based in Reno, Nevada. She is partial to frogs, snails, video poker, science fiction, geocaching, and chess. April is the author and illustrator of Slow Moe, and the illustrator of A Tail." of Two Christmases, Adopting Adele, Brave Benny, Bravos Freedom, Happy Dog Coloring Book, and Courageous Conner. This Thanksgiving holiday is projected to break travel records in Texas and nationwide, as people hit the roads and jet off to reach their turkey dinner. The Transportation Security Administration is expecting more than 25 million flyers between Friday and the Monday after Thanksgiving, a 5 percent uptick from last year, according to a news release. The busiest days before Thanksgiving will be Friday and Wednesday, with 2.6 million people expected to travel on each of those days. Over 2.7 million travelers are projected to fly home the Sunday after the holiday. On a normal weekday the organization screens about 2.1 million passengers. This upcoming season will be very busy as more passengers choose to fly, and TSA officers will be on duty over the holidays so travelers can enjoy theirs, TSA administrator David Pekoske said in the release. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio airport set another passenger record in September San Antonio International Airport is expecting an uptick in passengers through Nov. 28, spokesperson Evelynn Bailey said in an email. More than 810,000 people passed through the San Antonio airport last November, a 9.3 percent uptick from November 2016 and the highest November traffic level on record, according to airport data. Thirty-four new flights have been added or announced since 2016, which is one of the factors contributing to higher traffic this holiday season, Bailey said. She also pointed out that the most recent monthly figures from the airport show a jump in traffic more than 781,000 people came through the airport in September, up 13.7 percent from September 2017. The busiest time will be between 5 and 7:30 a.m., she said. People should get to the airport at least two hours before their flight for flights leaving before 7:30 a.m. and 90 minuted before flights after that. She also advised travelers to prepare before coming to the airport by checking their flight status with their airline, weighing bags and checking parking availability online at sanantonio-airport.com. On ExpressNews.com: A San Antonio airport expansion could require 200 neighboring acres An estimated 4.1 million Texans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday, defined as Nov. 21 to Nov. 25, according to AAA Texas. That figure represents a 4.7 increase compared with 2017. AAA is predicting a similar increase nationwide 4.8 percent. The bulk of Texans traveling 3.8 million are expected to drive to get to their Thanksgiving meal. The number of people traveling is expected to reach its highest levels since 2005 in both Texas and nationwide. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Texas is $2.38 as of Wednesday, according to AAAs website. Although thats more than a year ago, when the average was $2.31, gas prices have been falling. Last week, the average was $2.46; a month ago it was $2.66. Filling up in San Antonio is even cheaper, with the average price of a gallon of gas at $2.31 as of Wednesday. Kent Livesay, vice president and general manager at AAA Texas, cited a strong economy as one of the factors affecting increased travel. This is leading to higher consumer confidence and more travelers kicking off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving getaway, building on an already strong year for the travel industry, Livesay said. madison.iszler@express-news.net | @madisoniszler The state has filed a lawsuit in San Antonio accusing an online retailer of breaking the law by selling contact lenses to consumers without prescriptions. It marks the second time in 17 months that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken action against New Jersey-based THEG Inc., which does business as Fine & Clear. The company sells contact lenses on the websites fineandclear.com and rainbowcomplete.com, court documents indicate. READ ALSO: Trial wraps up in lawsuit against the state by developmentally disabled Texans The state has requested a hearing to get a temporary injunction to prevent THEG from selling lenses without a prescription. The state also seeks up to $1 million in damages from THEG. Last year, the attorney generals office found evidence that the company was selling contact lenses without requiring consumers to present a valid prescription. As a result, THEG and President Hyunyil Cho agreed in June 2017 to refrain from selling contact lenses unless they received prescriptions from physicians. THEG and Cho also agreed to pay $31,000 civil penalties and $5,000 in investigative costs and attorneys fees in $3,000 monthly installments to the state. READ ALSO: Lawsuit: Student-loan company defrauded Career Point College In addition, THEG agreed to provide full refunds to consumers who returned their lenses in an unopened box within 90 days of the agreement. But on Tuesday, Paxton filed a lawsuit in state District Court in Bexar County, accusing THEG of continuing to violate the law. Cho is not a defendant in the lawsuit. Two calls to RainbowCompletes toll-free number went unanswered Thursday. Benjamin Hisey, a Houston lawyer who represented THEG and Cho in last years matter, did not immediately respond to an email. A spokeswoman for Paxton did not immediately respond to an email. Gina McDonald, an investigator in the Consumer Protection Division of the attorney generals office, said in an affidavit filed with Paxtons lawsuit that in September she bought from rainbowcomplete.com a pair of red and yellow Halloween lenses for $22.99 and a pair of Barbies prescription Big Eye lenses in -3.75 power for $19.99. READ ALSO: Judge's order favors SAWS in lawsuit I was never asked to upload a prescription and was able to successfully complete my purchase, McDonald said in her affidavit. But state law requires consumers to have a prescription to buy contact lenses, even if they are only cosmetic lenses. Paxton alleges THEG has violated the Texas Contact Lens Prescription Act by failing to verify prescriptions and the Texas Optometry Act by failing to obtain prescriptions before selling contact lenses. The company also is accused of violating the states Deceptive Trade Practices Act by not disclosing to consumers that a prescription is required to make a purchase. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers about the potential risks of wearing contact lenses without a prescription, the lawsuit notes. Users can suffer serious eye infections and corneal ulcers, or sores. The lawsuit references a 2017 dallasnews.com article about a Lubbock woman who alleged in a lawsuit that she was blinded by contact lenses purchased at a flea market. Contact lenses are not over the counter devices, the state says in its lawsuit. Businesses that sell them as such are misbranding the lenses and violating Texas law when they sell lenses without a valid prescription. Contact laws and regulations apply to both corrective and non-corrective lenses (also known as cosmetic lenses), the lawsuit adds. The lawsuit also points out that in October 2016, the Consumer Protection Division questioned Cho under oath and he admitted his business had not been verifying prescriptions for two years for individuals who bought cosmetic lenses. CHICO, Butte County Eight more bodies were recovered from the ashes of the catastrophic Camp Fire on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 56 nearly twice as deadly as the next worst wildfire in California history. That number will almost certainly continue to climb. A week after the fire started on a dry and windy day near Paradise, nearly obliterating the town of 27,000 near Chico, at least 130 people are still missing. Butte County authorities said Wednesday that they are concentrating resources on searching for human remains in Paradise and nearby communities and on identifying bodies with DNA testing and other forensic tools. They also are hoping to whittle down the missing persons list by tracking down people who are alive but havent been able to connect with friends and family. But the fire burned so intensely that some bodies may never be found, said Butte County Sheriff-Coroner Kory Honea. We are trying to do as thorough a search as possible in as timely a way as possible, Honea said at a news conference in Chico on Wednesday. We know people want to get back into the area. The fire has slowed in recent days with cooler weather and less windy conditions, though it continued to rage in areas east of Paradise. As of Wednesday evening it was at 138,000 acres and 35 percent containment. Fire officials reported that 10,321 structures have been destroyed nearly twice as many as last years Tubbs Fire, which until the Camp Fire had been the states most destructive; 8,650 of those structures are single-family homes. The scale of devastation is profound, said state and federal officials who visited Paradise on Wednesday to see the damage firsthand. The next deadliest wildfire in California history killed 29 people in Los Angeles in 1933. Twenty-five people died in the Oakland Hills inferno in 1991. This is my fourth trip to California. Every trip has been a forest fire, said U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who was in Paradise with Gov. Jerry Brown. Each trip I say this is the worst fire Ive seen, and now were here today and this is the worst fire I have seen. The tallies of destruction almost always worsen at the daily news conferences held by fire and county officials. But on Wednesday evening, Honea had one positive update: In the past few days, officials have been able to track down more than 200 people who were thought missing. Still, dozens of people remain unaccounted for. On Wednesday the sheriffs office released a partial list of the missing. Honea, aware of the desperate searches of family and friends for lost loved ones, said hed decided it was better to put up a partial list sooner than make everyone wait for a complete list. He said 461 people are now part of the search for remains, including 50 members of the California National Guard, plus 22 cadaver dogs. On Thursday, authorities will start collecting DNA samples from family members whose relatives are missing or presumed dead. Of the 56 bodies found so far, 47 have been tentatively identified and need DNA confirmation, Honea said. Almost everyone on the missing persons list is in their 60s, 70s or 80s. A similar trend is clear on Twitter and Facebook and on the bulletin boards at evacuation centers, where people post names and photographs of missing people. They tend to be grandparents, or people who live in retirement neighborhoods. I was told people were going down the roads honking their horns, everybody was jumping into everybodys car, it was just chaotic, said Crystal Record, 49, whose mother, Marie Wehe, has been missing from the community of Concow since last Thursday. My mother is 78 years old. Im just hoping somebody helped her. Ethel Colleen Riggs, 96, lives in the Plantation, a retirement community in Paradise that her grandson heard had been destroyed. He said he last talked to her the afternoon of the fire. Hed told her she needed to leave, but the power had gone out and she couldnt get her car out of the garage. I know my family holds out hope that somehow some miracle happened and she was scooped and is sitting at a shelter somewhere, said Steve Bradley, 46, who has looked for her in evacuation centers in Chico and Oroville. Butte County officials are beginning to prepare for people to return to their burned-out communities, though there is no word on when that will happen. Authorities on Wednesday released an advisory on what safety precautions residents should take, whether theyre returning to standing homes or sifting through ashes. More than 13,000 people are living in evacuation shelters for now. Tent cities have sprung up in some locations, including a Walmart parking lot in Chico. At one shelter in Chico, public health officials reported an outbreak of norovirus. Cal Fire operations chief Josh Bischof said Wednesday morning that the fires southeast flank spread overnight in the Big Bar area east of Paradise. Firefighters were working in Paradise and Concow to extinguish structure fires to ensure the areas are safe for residents to return. Meanwhile, crews worked to stop the fire from spreading in Magalia. Bischof said the biggest challenges remain along the eastern border of the fire around the Feather River, where the terrain is steep and winds have propelled flames. The Camp Fire continued to send smoke over the Bay Area, leading to a red alert in San Francisco warning about unhealthy air quality. Several outdoor events have been canceled through the weekend, including footraces and at least one turkey trot. Butte County schools have been shuttered until after Thanksgiving, and two schools in Sebastopol and Petaluma were also closed Wednesday, according to the Sonoma County Office of Education. San Francisco State University and UC Davis will be closed for the rest of the week. State and federal government officials made several emergency declarations this week, providing financial assistance for residents to rebuild or find new housing. Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said he had spoken to President Trump on Tuesday morning and been reassured of the White House's commitment to helping fire victims. On Monday, Trump approved a disaster declaration for the state, clearing the way for aid to flow to victims and governments in Butte, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. His message is to take care of people, and thats exactly what we're here to do, said Long, who was in Chico at one of the staging areas for the Camp Fire on Wednesday. One of the agencys top priorities was helping restore power, water and other essentials for the Butte County communities devastated by the blaze, he said. When you have total losses like Paradise, you have to help the community bring back the infrastructure, Long said. Long had toured parts of Paradise with Brown and Zinke before all three returned to Chico for a noon news conference. Zinke, who has downplayed the role of climate change in intensifying Californias wildfires, told reporters that higher temperatures and prolonged drought in recent years were factors. But he also reiterated a common talking point of the Trump administration that forests are too dense and need to be managed better. In a tweet on Saturday, Trump blamed forest management practices for the recent blazes, without noting that the federal government owns more than half of forestland in California. It was a vast oversimplification of the problem. While clearing forests of heavy timber, including logging, may help reduce the fire threat in those places, much of the recent burning has taken place in grasslands and oak-studded prairie. Development in fire-prone areas has contributed to the devastation. Fire experts say the bigger problem at work in the Camp Fire and other major fires in recent years may be climate change. Five of the states most destructive blazes have taken place in the past 10 years, according to state figures, with the Camp Fire at the top. During his comments at the Chico news conference, Brown remained firm that global warming was at play in the ongoing fires but did not single out the Trump administration for its dismissal of the problem. Its crystal clear whats going on, Brown said. Were in a different kind of world. We know that. San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Gwendolyn Wu and Ashley McBride contributed to this report. Kurtis Alexander, Nanette Asimov, Erin Allday and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com, nasimov@sfchronicle.com, eallday@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KurtisAlexander, @NanetteAsimov, @ErinAllday, @SarRavani Two of the newest exhibits at the Witte Museum and the McNay Art Museum are awash in fun facts. Among them: The first human cannonball was a 14-year-old girl who performed under the stage name Zazel. And another: The term slapstick refers to an actual object that was used in commedia dellarte, a form of theater that dates to 16th century Italy and which established stock characters that remain in comedy to this day. The bit of human cannonball lore can be found in Circus in the City at the Witte. And an actual slapstick can be found in the McNays LOL: The Art of Staged Comedy. This is all about having fun with the circus and about what happens when the circus comes to town the excitement, what are the kinds of things that you would see at the circus, said Amy Fulkerson, chief curator for the Witte. So this is not as serious. Its more lighthearted. On ExpressNews.com: Witte show talks birds and bees (literally) Offering visitors something fun and accessible also was a guiding idea behind LOL, a dive into comedy that starts in the 16th century and then rockets into the present day with clips from late-night comedy shows. Commedia is great, but we didnt want to make it academic, said Timothy J. Retzloff, Tobin Theatre Arts Fund curatorial assistant. We wanted it to be for everyone. So we asked, how can we make this approachable? And I told Rene (Barilleaux, head of curatorial affairs), how about if a group of commedia actors took over a contemporary art space? What would they have done? And I thought, they would have overblown themselves, they would have had oversized bookmarks, they would have funny text panels. Heres a look at 10 fun objects and facts that can be found in both shows. At the Witte Clyde Beattys chair: Beatty was a famous lion tamer who used a chair to hold the big cats at bay. The battered chair in the exhibit shows that the kitties took many swipes at it: Its all clawed up, Fulkerson said. An oversized version of a Beatty poster can be found at the exhibit entrance, one of a handful of spots where visitors might want to take selfies. General Tom Thumbs carriages: The show includes two tiny carriages owned by Thumb, a dwarf made famous by P.T. Barnum. One was given to Thumb when he was 5 years old by Barnum himself shortly after he signed the boy. He was 26 inches tall when Barnum signed him, but he was 40 inches tall at the time of his death, Fulkerson said. So he was a child (at the beginning of his career), and he did continue to grow. He still had a form of dwarfism that stunted his growth, but remarkably, the marketing for his act remained at 26 inches. A little bit of humbug there. Emmett Kellys shoes: Since clowns are a divisive topic some people are delighted by them while others are terrified the nook devoted to them is tucked away a bit. Those who venture over will find a case filled with artifacts, including a pair of enormous, floppy shoes owned and worn by Kelly in his guise as a clown character named Weary Willie. Human cannonball: A small-statured mannequin in a white jumpsuit is a stand-in for human cannonballs, daredevils who are sent soaring through the air. The idea for people to be human cannonballs goes all the way back to the 1870s, and the very first person to ever be shot out of a cannon was a 14-year-old girl, Fulkerson said. Her stage name was Zazel. And these (cannons) were spring-loaded. Now they use compressed air, so they can send people much further and much higher. Texas Giant cutout: Visitors can figure out precisely how they measure up beside Jack Earle, who performed as the Texas Giant and stood 8 feet, 6 inches tall at the time of his death in 1952. His years in the circus were his second career. As a teenager, he was discovered by Hollywood and made about 70 movies, Fulkerson said. He entree into the circus came after he had retired from the silver screen to his hometown of El Paso and a Ringling Bros. troupe rolled into town. They had billed it as having the tallest man in the world, Fulkerson said. And he goes to the performance, and hes a full foot taller than the tallest man in the world. And so they offered him a contract. P.T. Barnum poster: Circus posters including a number that have been blown up to show off some of the details can be found all through the exhibit. The rarest is a round poster with Barnum himself in the middle. The text reads, simply, I am coming. He was so famous he didnt even have to put his name on anything he put his picture, said I am coming, and people knew what the meant, Fulkerson said. That was enough. This is a truly unique piece. These did not survive. So having something like this in a collection is really special. There arent a lot of places that have something like this. At the McNay Selfie spots: The show is filled with places where visitors can place themselves into a comic scene. They can stand inside an enormous book complete with a long, red bookmark stretching across the floor opened to a reproduction of an engraving depicting a commedia character scaling a ladder. They also can indulge in a little improv on a set that includes a backdrop that Steve Gilliam created for a Trinity University staging of The Servant of Two Masters. Or they can take a seat behind a desk similar to the one used by Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert and see how they would look on late night. A flat screen nearby shows clips from across the late-night spectrum, including a look back at Johnny Carson. On ExpressNews.com: Check out McNays Pop America show The slapstick: Its two hinged pieces of wood that make a loud noise when smacked together, as if someone had just gotten walloped. Its tucked into a glass case in an area where other pieces, including costume designs, deal with clowning. The case is filled with rare books featuring illustrations of comic scenes, some involving bodily functions. I always joke that they had body and bawdy humor, Retzloff said. Dad Jokes: Josh Huskins utterly delightful video is a series of still images of the looks on peoples faces after being told dad jokes. Bonus: Dads who visit the show may pick up some new material. Silent films (and not-so-silent sitcoms): Clips featuring comedy superstars of the silent film era including Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin are screened in front of a handful of movie theater seats. Those who prefer to hear some dialogue might want to venture to their left, where a makeshift living room complete with wood paneling, a sofa and a carpet features four old-school television sets showing about 40 minutes of clips from such TV classics as I Love Lucy, Maude and The Carol Burnett Show. Circus in the City can be seen through Dec. 9 at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway. It is included with museum admission, which ranges from $9 to $12 and is free for children ages 3 and under and for museum memebers. Info, 210-357-1900; wittemuseum.org. LOL: The Art of Staged Comedy can be seen through Feb. 17 at the McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Branufels. It is included with museum admission, which ranges from $15 to $20 and is free for teens, children 12 and under and museum members. Info, 210-824-5368; mcnayart.org. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Deborah Martin is an arts writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN A pair of investigations completed Wednesday concluded that a professors ousting of a black student from a lecture hall Monday at the University of Texas at San Antonio came after days of tension between the two over classroom behavior but was not racially motivated, officials said. Biology lecturer Anita Moss had written an email to the student after an incident Friday, telling her not to return to class until they had discussed it but sent the email to the wrong address, causing Moss to interpret the students presence in class Monday as deliberate defiance, according to one report, conducted by Howard Grimes, the interim dean of the College of Sciences. In an emailed statement Wednesday night, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said a separate Equal Opportunity Services investigation found that racial bias was not a factor in Moss decision to call police to escort the student out of class. But it showed a lack of judgment that caused the university to suspend her from teaching for the rest of the semester, Grimes wrote. The student did not believe Moss actions were based on racial bias and decided not to file a formal complaint of discrimination, Eighmy said. He had ordered both investigations in response to an online furor over cellphone video posted by a classmate, Apurva Rawal, that showed the student leaving a lecture hall accompanied by three police officers. In two days, it generated more than 60,000 retweets and thousands of comments. Eighmy took note of their tone, stressing the need to work toward a more inclusive campus in his initial response and repeating his concerns more forcefully in an email late Tuesday to the campus community. The reactions expressed through social media, emails, phone calls and group meetings Ive attended confirm that feelings of marginalization on the part of some students especially our African-American students are real and profound, he wrote, adding that the university had an obligation to take a hard look at our campus climate especially for students of color and enact systemic change to make UTSA a more inclusive campus. Neither the student nor Moss responded to requests by the San Antonio Express-News for comment. Moss must complete classroom management training with the universitys Teaching and Learning Services before she can return to teaching in the spring semester with ongoing monitoring, Eighmy said. Grimes investigation found that Moss was frustrated with the behavior of students and repeatedly asked several of them, including the one seen in the video, to keep their feet off the chairs in front of them, put away cellphones and stop talking with one another. Putting feet on chairs, she acknowledged to investigators, was a pet peeve, and on Friday she had admonished the student who was later escorted out, telling her to put her feet on the floor. After class, Moss said she expressed her frustration to another faculty colleague, who suggested that she could call campus police, the report states. On Sunday, Moss sent her email to the wrong student. The student who Moss had admonished Friday was confused when she arrived for class Monday and Moss told her to leave. Moss handed her a printed copy of the email and continued to insist that she leave after the student told Moss she never received the email. The student told Moss, This class is very important to me, and I do not want to miss the lecture, as we have a test coming on Wednesday, according to the report. Moss told the student she would call police, and the student replied, Do what you need to do, and sat down, the report states. Moss explained to the three officers who arrived 10 minutes later that she wanted the student removed. An officer asked the student to leave with him, and she complied, according to the report. Moss then canceled the lecture after several students challenged her handling of the situation. The student will return to the class, which will be taught by another faculty member for the rest of the semester, officials said. Moss, who has been a lecturer at UTSA since 1989, is considered a high-quality instructor, according to the deans report, and does not have a history of incidents. None of the students interviewed for this report, including (the) escorted student, felt that Dr. Moss should be terminated from her employment at UTSA, Grimes wrote. African-Americans accounted for 8.7 percent of the universitys fall 2017 enrollment, according to its website. Eighmy said he was committed to examining how students from underrepresented groups are treated on campus, putting a greater emphasis on safe reporting, and diversifying the faculty, staff and administration. Students interviewed on campus Wednesday said they believed racial bias by professors was minimal at UTSA but not unheard of. Ariel Pelegreen, 21, a senior studying psychology, described struggling in her Texas politics class nearly two years ago. The professor tailored his tests to his own biases and supported students who argued against immigration, telling her to calm down when she debated them during class, she said. He was giving them the respect and the permission to say what they wanted to say, but not giving the same to me, Pelegreen said. She said she dreaded going to that class it was the only one she ever got a C in. But she agreed with several peers who said racial discrimination and displays of bias by professors were the exceptions. Mark Hernandez, 18 and a freshman, said his professors have always been accessible and respectful. The incident Monday caught everyone off guard, he said. On Friday, UTSA announced that it had filled a new position, vice president of inclusive excellence. Myron Anderson, a diversity adviser to the president of Metropolitan State University of Denver, will start Jan. 1. The UTSA La Raza Faculty and Administrator Association called it long overdue and necessary but said changing campus culture is not just one persons job. In a statement, the organization said Mondays incident was ugly and should not be seen as isolated. Enrique Aleman, a member of the groups executive board, speaking before the investigations findings were released, praised Eighmys strong verbal stance on the incident and said professors need better training on handling implicit bias. That office will be key. Faculty need to buy into it, but it starts at the top, and there needs to be incentives and professional development, Aleman said. As more and more universities become diverse, more relevant training is needed. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva Mexico is providing professional charter buses for the migrant caravan. Bloggers on Nov. 6, 2018, in a Facebook post A story shared on Facebook claims that the Mexican government is helping the migrant caravan by paying for professional charter buses to help leapfrog the group closer to the United States border. The story was posted by the Red State, a conservative political blog, on Oct. 30 and cites a Fox News journalist, who reported from Mexico. The broadcast showed footage of buses lined up as hundreds of Central American migrants waited to board. The caravan is one of three trekking through Mexico and includes thousands of people. The Red State story said that the growing migrant caravan headed toward the U.S. border was followed by disturbing reports of the migrants getting state-funded help from Mexico. This report was flagged as part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. The story was partially accurate, but lacked some essential details. The broadcast In the Oct. 30 broadcast, Fox News reporter Griff Jenkins said it was the first time he had seen an organized bus operation from the state of Oaxaca actually getting volunteer buses to put people on them and take them to their next location." He said the buses were intended for women and children, but many fathers and husbands didnt want to be separated from their families. Jenkins also said that while the Mexican police had tried to dissuade the caravan from crossing the Guatemala-Mexican border in mid October, it seems "at least Mexican towns are really assisting them to make their way now." An AZ Central story from the same day reported that migrants began arriving in Oaxaca that morning from Santiago Niltepec, a town about 30 miles to the south. For the first time, the outlet reported, buses were "used to transport women and children." Several images captured by the Associated Press also show families and children on buses, with reporting that the rides were donated to help some families get to the next destination. The images were taken the morning of Oct. 30 in the Niltepec, Oaxaca state. It is not known who paid for the donated rides. It isnt clear if those were the same buses that Jenkins saw, but the time, date and region matches multiple reports that said families took donated buses to get to their next destination. An offer, and then a reversal A few days later, on Nov. 2, a Mexican governor offered to help assist the caravan with buses, The Associated Press reported. Veracruz Gov. Miguel Angel Yunes announced in a video that authorities in the state would provide humanitarian assistance as well as buses to leapfrog them to the countrys capital. But almost immediately after, Yunes withdrew the offer in a second video, saying that because Mexico Citys water system was undergoing maintenance, it would not be correct to send the migrants there. However, reports say that the scheduled maintenance had been known for some time. Most of the migrants were reported to have continued on foot instead, and reached the Mexican capital over the weekend. Our ruling It is unclear whether the buses Fox News saw and reported on were the work of the Mexican federal government, but other reports from the same day and region said buses were donated for some migrant families to use to get to their next destination. At one point, a Mexican governor did make an offer to transport migrants by bus to Mexico City, the groups next stop at the time. However, he withdrew that plan almost immediately thereafter. The story has some basis, but it doesnt provide readers with all the details or mention that multiple buses were donated. We rate this claim Half True. A woman who calls herself Conspiracy Granny has been committed to a psychiatric facility in a federal gun case stemming from the harassment of victims of the Sutherland Springs massacre. Jodi Marie Mann, 56, has already spent four months in the federal prison system under mental evaluation after she was charged along with her boyfriend. A psychiatric report ordered by a judge in June found she suffered from issues that affect her understanding of reality. Her boyfriend, Robert Ussery, is accused of illegally possessing a firearm during a confrontation on March 5 on the lawn of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs with Pastor Frank Pomeroy, whose daughter was among 26 worshipers slain by a gunman last year in the countrys deadliest church shooting. Mann is charged with illegally aiding and abetting Ussery in possessing the gun in the March 5 incident as well as a cache of weapons found later at Usserys home. After the psychiatric report was reviewed by her lawyer, prosecutors and U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Farrer, the judge found she met the legal threshold to be declared temporarily incompetent. In an order issued Tuesday, Farrer committed Mann to a federal prison institution for another four months for mental health treatment. The ruling came after her latest lawyer, Jeff Mulliner, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka agreed with the reports recommendations that Mann needed psychiatric help. Based on the unchallenged evidence before the Court, the undersigned finds that the record establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect such that she is mentally incompetent to the extent that [s]he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against h[er] or to assist properly in h[er] defense, Farrer wrote in his order. Ussery, 54, calls himself Side Thorn and ran a conspiracy theory Web site with the same name. He was arrested in May on a charge of being a felon illegally possessing a gun after he and Mann confronted Pomeroy. Ussery allegedly claimed the mass shooting was a hoax, and law officers testified in federal court in May that it was part of a pattern of harassment against families of the church shooting victims. The confrontation resulted in state charges against the pair including resisting arrest and trespassing, which are pending. During the incident, the pair had Go-Pro video equipment that recorded the encounter. That helped agents develop a separate federal case against Ussery. When federal agents reviewed the video, it showed Ussery handled a gun by the pickup the pair were in, placed it under a mat in the truck and told Mann that if theres a question about the gun by police, Mann should claim ownership, according to prior testimony. Ussery was convicted of felony burglary of a vehicle in 1984 in Brazoria County and is barred by federal law from possessing a gun. In a raid at Usserys home in Caldwell County in May, the feds found 10 guns, including a .50-caliber rifle, two assault-style rifles, two shotguns and nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition. After a grand jury reviewed the case in June, it indicted Ussery and Mann. At a bail hearing in May for Ussery in which bond was denied, Mann was disruptive during the proceedings and displayed other erratic behavior outside court. When the pair was indicted June 6, Manns-then lawyer Frank Menchaca, convinced Judge Farrer that she needed a mental evaluation because she seemed delusional, believed the church massacre never happened and might not be able to assist in her defense. Not guilty pleas have been entered for both defendants, and Ussery is scheduled for trial on Feb. 11 before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia. Guillermo Contreras covers federal court and immigration news in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland Completion of a San Antonio Water System sewer project that has frustrated merchants and urban dwellers navigating downtown east of Broadway has been delayed until mid-May. Thats about five months later than SAWS promised earlier this year, but the upside may be that a problematic above-ground pipe causing lots of detours should be removed by Thanksgiving. The $15.3 million Broadway Corridor project is replacing some of the citys oldest existing pipe, dating from 1899 to 1967. It starts at Elm Street and U.S. 281, runs along Sixth Street, then down Alamo Street and eventually finishes near Josephine Street and U.S. 281 near the Pearl complex. On Tuesday, along North Alamo, workers with Oscar Renda Contracting were using backhoes and shovels to remove some exposed black bypass pipe that carries away sewage while the new lines are being installed. The large flexible tubing has blocked downtown traffic on several streets around 6th and Alamo and required pedestrians in business attire to scale the pipes like Alaskan oil field roughnecks. READ ALSO: Bankruptcy judge OKs Alamo Towers sale They should really build a pedestrian bridge or something, said a young woman as she clambered over two pipes around lunchtime. I got my foot wedged in between those two yesterday. Rachelle Gomez, who with her husband, Mark, runs Fine Lines Automotive at 606 N. Alamo, said her business has coped with the yearlong project because loyal customers arent easily discouraged by road repairs. But the constant rubble and smell of sewage isnt pleasant, she said. Its a little different for us because people might leave their cars with us for several days, Gomez said. But for smaller businesses or restaurants, I can see how customers would just say the hassle isnt worth it and go elsewhere. It could be catastrophic. Gomez received a SAWS notice in late October stating that the project would be delayed and would have a scheduled completion date of late 2018. This week SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden said the completion date had been moved up to mid-May 2019. She attributed the projects delays to months of wet weather, preparation for Fiesta and unspecified contractual delays. Calls to Oscar Renda Contracting, which has worked with SAWS for years, and its parent company, Southland Holdings, were not returned. The good news for downtown pedestrians, Hayden said, is that their obstacle course should be removed by Thanksgiving. In the long term it will all be worth it. That part of downtown from South Broadway to the Pearl is among the fastest-growing in San Antonio. Developers plan to build or renovate six office buildings, for a total of nearly 1 million square feet, along the thoroughfare. That includes a new 10-story headquarters for Credit Human, a credit union, now under construction near an entrance to the Pearl at Broadway. READ ALSO: SAWS board approves rate increases for next year A 284-unit apartment complex is also planned across Broadway from Maverick Park. The rebuilt and expanded sewer line will run close to the new headquarters of Alamo Colleges, under construction on Alamo Street north of Josephine Street. The new sewer lines, said Hayden, should be able to handle a capacity anticipated in 2040. In order to stop the pollution caused by the leaky aging pipe, SAWS agreed to repair the worst of its pipes as part of an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2013. Hayden said the progression of the Broadway Corridor project is generally south to north, as are most sewage line projects in San Antonio, because the citys sewage treatment plants are in the south of town and the regions topography generally slopes to the south. The device found near Alamo Plaza and the federal courthouse that prompted a police response and evacuation of the area was not an explosive, officials said. Officer Doug Greene said the suspicious device, made of a clay material with copper tubing sitting on top of a box, was found at the west end of the courthouse, near Houston and Alamo streets around 1:45 p.m. All flights at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio were grounded Wednesday as the Air Force investigated the crash of a training jet, a base spokeswoman said. The twin-seat supersonic T-38C Talon crashed about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday, killing the instructor pilot, Capt. John F. Graziano, 28, of Elkridge, Maryland, and injuring Capt. Mark S. Palyok, who was sent to a local hospital. He was treated and released. Knowing how everyone is affected by this tragedy, my immediate concern is making sure that every member of our Laughlin family is okay, said Col. Lee Gentile, commander of the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin. Together, we are Laughlin and now is the time that we stand together to take care of one another. READ ALSO: One pilot killed in T-38 crash at Laughlin The crash was the second at Laughlin in just less than a year involving the Talon, which is one of the oldest jets in the Air Force fleet, and prompted the base to suspend T-38 flying operations at Laughlin on Wednesday and into Thursday. The Air Education and Training Command called the decision to halt flying operations after an accident normal procedure to pay respect to the deceased and noted it is also a part of the Air Force safety investigation process. AETC, responding to questions from the San Antonio Express-News, said the commands T-38 fleet had not been grounded. The command also said there have been four T-38 accidents across AETC over the past year. The last one occurred Nov. 20, when a hydraulic failure caused a Talon to crash near Lake Amistad outside Del Rio. An instructor pilot, Capt. Paul J. Barbour, 32, of Van Nuys, California, was killed after he could not eject. An Air Force investigation revealed that he forgot to arm his ejection seat and was trapped in the cockpit as the plane plunged to the ground. Another pilot ejected with minor injuries. READ ALSO: Engine failure doomed Del Rio-based training jet Other T-38 crashes included one at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, on May 23, 2018; Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma, on Aug.17, 2018, and one at Laughlin on Nov. 13, 2018. In the incident at Vance, a T-38 crashed on a training mission. The single pilot on board safely ejected. Graziano and Palyok, also an instructor pilot, flew with the 87th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin. The unit conducts specialized undergraduate pilot training for the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and other allied nations. Graziano is survived by his mother, father, sister and brother. A truck carrying a 50-foot-tall blue spruce, a gift from H-E-B to the city, arrived Wednesday from Michigan. Next week, when the lights come on during a festive ceremony, the citys official Christmas tree will be the glimmering center of attention in Travis Park, not Alamo Plaza. Until last year, the place for the public to kick off the Christmas season was the plaza. A towering tree against the backdrop of the famous Alamo church became a tradition that lasted more than a century, with few exceptions. The plaza will still have a Christmas tree this season, also donated by H-E-B, though it will be less than half as tall as the one in Travis Park. Enjoy it while it lasts because the plaza will soon undergo a major makeover. Over the next few years, crews will tear into streets, commercial buildings, the plaza itself and the area around it. The Cenotaph will be taken down and moved. By Jan. 1, the city-owned plaza will be under the control of the states General Land Office for the next 50 years at least. On ExpressNews.com: Council approves major changes to Alamo Plaza In anticipation of the changes to the plaza, the city moved its official Christmas tree and lighting ceremony to Travis Park last year. The removal of the Confederate monument in September 2017 gave the tree a prominent place to be displayed. The 34th annual lighting ceremony will be Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving. The tree for Alamo Plaza will be delivered and decorated Nov. 26, weather permitting, according to the Center City Development and Operations Department. To people like Steven Monreal, who miss seeing the giant tree in front of the Alamo church and its lighting ceremony, San Antonio has lost a unique tradition. If youre in the Alamo City, why not have something special at the Alamo? said Monreal, a restaurant worker. A year ago, he and others disappointed with the switch to Travis brought their own small trees to the plaza. Monreal is calling for something similar now. Via Facebook, he is suggesting that San Antonians gather Nov. 25 and place miniature Christmas trees in the plaza. Already, more than 100 people have said theyll join him. His goal is to have 300 little trees there, in observance of San Antonios Tricentennial, that will be taken later to fire stations, hospitals and needy families. Monreal said his motivation is fueled by the memory of a friend, Christine Garrett, who had embraced the motto live life kindly long before she died last year from pancreatic cancer. Thats the main thing Im wanting to get across to live life kindly, Monreal said. According to news archives, San Antonios tradition of trimming a Christmas tree in Alamo Plaza dates at least to 1914, when the local Rotary Club put up an artificial tree and showered poor and homeless children with toys and sweets. After World War II, the city parks department used to build a roughly 60-foot-tall Christmas tree in the plaza, with a telephone pole and a steel frame covered with limbs and cedars. The city abandoned the tradition in the mid-1970s, shifting its focus on decorating downtown streets and the River Walk for the holidays. But after the annual Holiday River Parade started in the early 1980s, then-Mayor Henry Cisneros helped revive the tradition of a tree in Alamo Plaza. Grocery chains began sponsoring a tree, starting with a 40-foot Douglas fir from Michigan, financed by Kroger supermarkets, in 1986. John Jacks, director of city center operations, said last years decision to move the giant tree to Travis Park was not meant to end an Alamo tradition but to continue the tree-lighting ceremony with added and enhanced programming that wasnt possible in Alamo Plaza due to space constraints. Like last year, Travis Park will host other free events in December, with holiday movies, photos with Santa, caroling and other activities, he said. H-E-B will continue to sponsor the tree in Alamo Plaza to allow people the opportunity to take photos with trees in both locations, Jacks said. Once the plaza is transformed, what will happen to the Christmas tree tradition is uncertain. The plaza will be larger, but the portion that once was inside the walls of the mission and battle compound will be lowered by 16 inches and enclosed with a 42-inch-high barrier of some sort. There will be more trees, seating and a new museum on the west side. On ExpressNews.com: Alamo plan similar to one from 1994 Alamo CEO Douglass McDonald said the GLO, which oversees the Alamo and grounds, is already planning many ways to actively program Alamo Plaza in the future, which will be coordinated with the city, as they make plans for the new civic and community spaces created by the Alamo plan. City Councilman Robert Trevino, who serves on the management committee overseeing the plan, said the plaza Christmas tree, like the traditions of Fiesta parades that currently pass through the plaza, will be considered as the Alamo plan, scheduled for full implementation by 2024, moves to the next design phase. Its just too early to say exactly how thats going to be done. But were committed to making sure that the traditions that have existed in Alamo Plaza will continue, and that they will be enhanced, Trevino said. I can say personally, a Christmas tree has overwhelmingly been a symbol of peace, of community, of gathering, he said. Over time, the design of the plaza will actually provide opportunities for us to not only solidify those traditions, but create new traditions that people will be able to appreciate. Its the city evolving and the plaza evolving at the same time. I think its good for all. Scott Huddleston is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA Voters spoke. Now city officials are facing the possibility that credit ratings agencies will downgrade San Antonios creditworthiness. Fitch Ratings, one of the three major agencies that set credit ratings, said it plans to re-evaluate San Antonio after voters Nov. 6 approved two of three city charter amendments advanced by the firefighters union. The city has maintained a top AAA rating from all three rating agencies for nine consecutive years. Fitch, in a statement Wednesday, expressed concern about Proposition C, which allows the union to unilaterally declare an impasse in bargaining and take contract disputes to binding arbitration. Any time expenditure flexibility is materially affected, which we believe Proposition C does, we will assess those changes and their impact to the citys credit quality, said Jose Acosta, a senior director at Fitch. So, our upcoming review with the city will hopefully give us some insight into the citys strategy and how it plans to operate under the revised city charter and maintain its strong financial profile. City Manager Sheryl Sculley said she expects to discuss the citys overall revenue and expense picture and the effect of the charter revisions with Fitch in a pre-scheduled meeting next month. We will do everything in our power to address their concerns and maintain our AAA rating, she said. Of the three charter amendments, voters rejected Proposition A, which would have made it much easier to challenge spending, tax and other decisions of the City Council at the ballot box. The two other amendments passed: Proposition C, dealing with binding arbitration, and Proposition B, which limits the salary and tenure of future city managers. Fitch said Proposition C is the most consequential in the near term. The statement noted that the citys five-year financial forecast assumes that firefighters salaries and benefits will remain at current levels, an uncertain forecast in light of the charter amendment. Under the revised city charter, the unilateral ability for the union to call for binding arbitration before participating in any good-faith labor negotiations is likely to reduce the citys ability to control its expenditures, a Fitch release said. The AAA rating, the highest of any major U.S. city, allows San Antonio to sell bonds at lower interest rates than municipalities with lower ratings. For taxpayers, that means more bond money can be spent on capital projects and less on interest. City officials have said a downgrade in San Antonios credit rating would cost tens of millions of dollars annually, meaning more tax dollars would be spent on interest payments and less on actual projects. The agencies said all along all three amendments were concerning, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in response to the Fitch release. We will do everything we can within the limits prescribed by voters to allay their concerns, maintain our excellent credit rating, save taxpayers money and continue moving San Antonio forward. Councilman Greg Brockhouse, the only San Antonio official to support the three propositions, doubled down Wednesday, saying voters clearly voiced their opinion and that the city manager position needs to change. Too much pay and too much power, and thats also the reason why Prop C passed, he said. Voters gave firefighters arbitration. Fitch doesnt lead this city. The residents made the decision. He said city executives need to vigorously defend San Antonios ability to manage its affairs and that Nirenberg and Sculley should drop the citys lawsuit against the union and negotiate a new contract. Firefighters havent had raises since 2014, when their contract expired, and are working under an evergreen clause that keeps most of the expired agreement in place while a new one is being negotiated. The citys lawsuit has sought, so far unsuccessfully, to invalidate the evergreen clause on constitutional grounds. Abandoning the suit will demonstrate that arbitration is a last-ditch item that is unnecessary, Brockhouse said. Acosta said its not Fitchs responsibility to recommend how a city should operate. Its our job to inform investors about the citys ability to make full and timely payments of debt service, he said. And we rely on our rating criteria to determine that credit quality. The agency also expressed concern about Proposition B. Under the measure, future city managers cannot serve more than eight years and cannot be paid more than 10 times what the citys lowest-paid full-time employee earns. At current pay levels, that works out to $312,000. Sculley collects a base salary of $475,000, plus a performance bonus of up to $100,000 a year. Her most recent bonus, for 2017, was $75,000, bringing her total compensation to $550,000. Proposition B also requires a super majority vote by more than two-thirds of council members to appoint a new city manager. Fitch said these restrictions could affect the citys ability to attract the best-qualified applicants. Acosta said the quality of a citys top executives is a key factor in a credit rating. Our assessment of management is always an important part of our reviews, and those are bound to change over time, he said. So we would take into consideration the citys future ability to hire the best-qualified applicants to run such a large operation within those parameters. Fitch is owned by Hearst Corp., the parent company of the San Antonio Express-News. Josh Baugh is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbaugh@express-news.net | Twitter: @jbaugh Gina Ortiz Jones hasnt won her election, but she went to Congress on Wednesday for freshman orientation in the House of Representatives. In a photograph of the incoming class, Jones stood in the front row between soon-to-be Reps. Lucy McBath of Georgia and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. Jones campaign said she was invited to attend the Capitol Hill events by the Committee on House Administration. From Election Night: Overnight dramatics alter Hurd-Jones race; Jones wont quit until all votes are counted Committee spokeswoman Courtney Parella said it allows candidates in undecided races to participate in all of the official programming. The Democratic candidate trails incumbent Republican Will Hurd by about 1,000 votes in District 23, a perennial Texas swing seat that is one of a handful of contests across the country that remains too close to call. Its common for candidates in undecided races to attend the proceedings, according to the Washington Post. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, whose race against incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson is in a recount, was present on the Senate side. Justin Hollis, Hurds campaign manager, characterized Jones trip as an act of desperation that ignores the will of the voters. Hollis has said Hurds lead is insurmountable. The Hurd-Jones race has been a roller coaster since Election Day. Hurd declared victory around 10:30 p.m. that night, and the Associated Press called the race for him around 11 p.m. But the race dramatically tightened in the early morning hours. For about 30 minutes, state results showed Jones pulling off a come-from-behind upset. Then it was discovered that two counties made errors when reporting their results. Those corrections gave the lead back to Hurd. Jones has since vowed to ensure that every outstanding ballot including mail ballots and provisional votes is counted, in the hopes it will lift her back into the lead. The latest: Judge denies Jones request to release provisional voters list Her trip to D.C. came a day after a state judge rebuffed two requests from her campaign: to release a list of provisional voters in Bexar County and to extend the deadline for voters to correct those provisional ballots. Counties have until Nov. 20 to certify their results. Dylan McGuinness covers local politics and the Bexar County government for the Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | dylan.mcguinness@express-news.net | Twitter: @DylMcGuinness As I winced my way through an uncomfortable confrontation at a televised White House news conference between President Trump and Jim Acosta, which resulted in CNNs chief White House correspondent having his press credentials yanked, all I could think about was a 3x5 slip of scratch paper. About 15 years ago, while I was an editorial writer and columnist for the Dallas Morning News, I was on the phone with the county district attorney when the conversation got heated. Id been pounding on the D.A. for months over scandals involving his office. It had even gotten back to me through sources that the top prosecutor considered me his nemesis. On the call, the D.A. tried to rattle me by taking a personal shot. I was all set to fire back with a snarky comment of my own that was loaded and in the chamber. My boss the editorial page editor must have sensed what was coming. So, she hurried over to my desk and slid me a short note. It read: Be professional. I was. I took a deep breath, ignored the insult, and pressed ahead with the interview. It made for a good column. My boss didnt want me to get in the mud with an elected official who was at home there. Even if he considered me his nemesis, I wasnt supposed to view him the same way. My boss also wanted to remind me that I was on the job, and I had a duty not to hurt the newspapers reputation. It wasnt the first time someone tried to get my goat, nor the last. Once, the campaign manager for a Democratic candidate for Texas governor got angry that I had special access to another Democrat and fellow Mexican-American vying for the same job. The campaign manager thought I was showing favoritism to the Latino which, by the way, as an opinion writer, was my prerogative. Yet, clearly intoxicated by white privilege, he threatened to drive to Dallas to have a talk with my publisher in the hopes of getting me fired. What could I do? I offered to pay for his gas. Ive never forgiven my old boss for slipping me that note. But now, I understand why she did it. Since then, Ive had a few run-ins with public officials a George W. Bush Cabinet member, a Democratic congresswoman, etc. where, during questioning about immigration, folks complained that I was being overly combative or argumentative. Upon reflection, maybe I was. Thats the job. Yet, in each case, I have to ask myself: Was I trying to get information, or just showing off? If the interaction was more about me than it was about them, then thats a problem. Invariably, Acosta makes his interactions with Trump all about himself. The fact that the CNN reporter had his press credentials pulled even if only temporarily will surely feed the legend and perhaps add a couple of zeros to his speaking fee or a future book deal. Still, Acosta deserved the rebuke. He was arrogant, rude and sanctimonious. He was sent to cover the story, and he made himself the story. He was supposed to ask questions, but instead he tried to challenge the president about the refugee caravan. He asked several questions, instead of one. And when he got answers, he rejected them. He used up time that could have gone to his colleagues. He hogged the microphone, and at his worst moment wrestled for control of it with a White House intern, as if it were his own private property. Someone at CNN needs to slip this guy a note. He stopped being a journalist a while back, and his recent performance and thats the right word at the White House demonstrates it. In the end, I dont care much about how Acosta treated Trump. He has a job to do, and it involves questioning the powerful. I care more about how he treated his media colleagues, which is to say like he was the only reporter in the room or, for that matter, on Planet Earth. Their deadlines and live shots were just as important as his. And I care most of all about how he treated that poor intern who learned the hard way that the most dangerous place to be in Washington is between Jim Acosta and a microphone. ruben@rubennavarrette.com Those of us who participated in the 2000 presidential election are getting political PTSD from the current gubernatorial and senatorial recounts in Florida. President George W. Bush was eventually declared winner in the Sunshine State (and thus the election) by 537 votes out of about 6 million cast. But for 35 long days of counting and challenging and pleading, it was mainly the lawyers in charge. During this period, Bush did a lot of brush clearing on his Crawford ranch. The bloody scratches on his arms indicated how his frustration was being unleashed against unlucky cedar trees. I worked on some victory remarks and had a concession speech ready just in case. Nearly two decades later, the Florida electorate is still balanced on a political knifes edge. Yet one measure passed in the midterm by a lopsided margin, and may have a larger, more lasting influence than any contested race. Voters approved Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution by a majority of nearly 65 percent. This returned voting rights to more than a million people who have committed felonies (other than murder or sex offenses) and served their time. It was the largest expansion of the franchise since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and womens suffrage. The U.S. Constitution specifically allows for the suspension of voting rights for those guilty of participation in rebellion, or other crime. But after passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments mandating equal political rights for African-American men restricting voting rights became a priority for the forces of Jim Crow. In legal systems that routinely arrested and convicted black people on thin or false charges, bans on voting by felons were effective tools to ensure white supremacy. Not many states now retain lifelong voting bans. The more frequent debate today concerns whether people on probation and parole should be allowed to vote. But these types of limitations (before Floridas change) still prevented voting by one in 40 adults in America, and one in 13 African-Americans. Amendment 4 solved about a quarter of this problem. The arguments against felony voting bans are ultimately simple. How can you tell a man or woman leaving prison that they have paid their debt to society, that they should resume responsibility for their lives, and yet deny them the most basic right of a self-governing citizen? The denial of voting rights is a way to mark a returning citizen with an invisible scar or brand of stigma and suspicion. It says that we share some geography, but not really a community. And this type of distrust, or half trust, is an invitation to recidivism. Rather than helping ex-prisoners avoid violence, gain jobs and remake their lives, this expression of skepticism worsens the odds they strive against. Right out of college, I worked at an organization named Prison Fellowship Ministries, which did outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. My boss was Charles Colson, who had been incarcerated for crimes related to the Watergate scandal. He wrote: I served time in a federal prison. And while I paid my debt to society in less than a year, it took me 30 years to have my voting rights restored. Maybe Im not a good example, having been part of a national political scandal. But what about a young person, say, in his early 20s, who is convicted of three minor drug offenses? Once he serves his time, grows up and straightens out his life, should he be denied the right to vote again? I know politics is a bare-knuckled game, but demonizing an entire class of Americans for electoral gain is wrong. Republicans have often opposed measures to expand the franchise, for fear it would hurt them politically. My considered response? Tough. There are two ways to respond to the hostility of minority voters toward the GOP. First, try to restrict the franchise through stealthy means. This strikes me as a wall of sand against the waves. It is undemocratic, unethical and eventually discrediting. Or second, compete for minority voters in a fairly constituted electorate. Republicans who find this impossible are practicing politics without inspiration, imagination and faith. Beyond the political calculation is a moral question: When we talk about second chances in this country, do we really mean it? The voters of Florida have given their answer not in a squeaker, but a landslide. michaelgerson@washpost.com Texas politics has changed. Both parties now need to take Texas voters seriously. The state did not experience the jolt of an improbable win by Senate candidate Beto ORourke he lost by 2.6 percentage points but the lack of a blockbuster headline obscures a very real shift in the electoral landscape of Texas. The results of the recent election show that Democrats made significant gains throughout the state. Once reliably red, Texas has taken on a purple hue, and the rest of the country should pay attention because Texas seems to be up for grabs. Although Gov. Greg Abbotts win over Lupe Valdez was never in doubt, it was much closer than the polls predicted. He won by 13 points, about eight points closer than the polls suggested and about eight points closer than his victory over Wendy Davis four years ago. Republicans had a clean sweep in other statewide races, but their average margin of victory was down from 23 points to seven, including three races with a margin smaller than five points. In races for the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats also did much better. They held the 11 seats that they won in 2016, including two open seats. Of the 25 seats that the Republicans won in 2016, Democrats were able to defeat two incumbents, Pete Sessions and John Culberson, and one race remains too close to call. In 2016, the Democrats did not even bother to field a candidate in eight of these districts, including the one held by Sessions. Among all 25 races, the Democrats did, on average, 27 points better. Setting aside the two seats that flipped and the one race that is too close to call, nine Democratic candidates kept the Republican victory margin to fewer than 10 points. Of those, four races were within five points. Some of these closest races were on everyones radar screen, such as M.J. Hegars challenge to John Carter, but few thought that Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, was in any real danger. The Democratic tilt was also felt in the Legislature. Democrats knocked off two Republican incumbents in the Texas Senate and won a total of 12 additional seats in the Texas House. Although Republicans still have a comfortable majority in both chambers, the margins are small enough that the Democrats will be more than a token opposition. And then theres Beto. Since Democrat Lloyd Bentsen last won a Senate seat in 1988, the Democratic candidates, on average, lost by 22 points. The slimmest margin during that time was 12 points in 2002 when John Cornyn beat Ron Kirk for the seat vacated by Phil Gramm. Not only did ORourke do better than any Democratic Senate candidate since then, he got the most votes ever for a Democratic candidate in the state. The Democrat with the second most votes in Texas history, incidentally, was Justin Nelson, who lost the 2018 attorney general race to Ken Paxton. There are a few clear lessons coming out of Election Day. First, Democrats performed remarkably well in the states urban centers and in the suburban areas. As our metropolitan areas grow and spread, Republicans should pay attention to these voters if they want to stay relevant. Its also clear that Democratic gains werent confined to the cities. Patrick Svitek of The Texas Tribune notes that six counties in Texas that were won by Donald Trump in 2016 flipped to ORourke in 2018: Brewster, Hays, Williamson, Nueces, Tarrant and Jefferson. This leads to our second point: Both parties should compete everywhere. Democratic candidates were no doubt buoyed by a popular Senate candidate, but their success was possible because they fielded serious candidates up and down the ballot, and then campaigned in every corner of our massive state. Dedicated candidates and staffers poured their hearts into long-shot races, and Texas politics is better off for their efforts. Both parties should be credited with boosting turnout in Texas, which grew from 4.6 million voters in 2014 to 8.3 million in 2018. The voice of our engaged and diverse electorate will only get bigger as our booming economy attracts more people to our state. The electoral landscape of Texas changed on election night, and its time for both parties to take us seriously. Sean Theriault is a professor of government at the University of Texas Austin. Bethany Albertson is an associate professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. Remember when freedom was just another word for nothing left to lose? These days its just another word for giving lots of money to Donald Trump. What with the midterm elections and the baseless Republican cries of voting fraud I dont know how many people heard about Trumps decision to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson, wife of casino owner and Trump megadonor Sheldon Adelson. The medal is normally an acknowledgment of extraordinary achievement or public service; on rare occasions this includes philanthropy. But does anyone think the Adelsons charitable activities were responsible for this honor? Now, this may seem like a trivial story. But its a reminder that the Trumpian attitude toward truth which is that its defined by what benefits Trump and his friends, not by verifiable facts also applies to virtue. There is no heroism, there are no good works, except those that serve Trump. About truth: Trump, of course, lies a lot. But his assault on truth goes deeper than the frequency of his lies, because Trump and his allies dont accept the very notion of objective facts. Fake news doesnt mean actual false reporting; it means any report that hurts Trump, no matter how solidly verified. The attempt by Trump and his party to shut down the legally mandated Florida recount with claims, based on no evidence, of large-scale voting fraud fits right into this partisan epistemology. Do Republicans really believe that there were vast numbers of fraudulent or forged ballots? They dont really believe anything, except that they should get what they want. The same worldview explains Republicans addiction to conspiracy theories. After all, if people keep insisting on the truth of something that hurts their party, it cant be out of respect for the facts because in their world, there are no neutral facts. So the people making inconvenient assertions must be in the pay of sinister forces. In Arizona, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema has probably won a Senate seat on the strength of late-counted ballots. Did you know that the state GOP has filed a freedom of information request for information on interactions between election officials and, you guessed it, George Soros? Its worth pointing out, by the way, that this rejection of objective facts and insistence that anyone insisting on inconvenient truths must be part of a left-wing conspiracy dominated the Republican psyche long before Trump. Most notably, the claim that the overwhelming evidence for global warming is a giant hoax, the product of a vast plot involving thousands of scientists around the world, has been GOP orthodoxy for years. My point is that the rejection of any standard besides whether it helps or hurts Trump extends beyond true or false to basic values. In Trumpworld, which is now indistinguishable from GOPworld, good and bad are defined solely by whether the interests of The Leader are served. Thus, Trump attacks and insults our closest allies while praising brutal dictators who flatter him (and declares neo-Nazis very fine people). And the same goes for heroism and cowardice. A genuine hero like John McCain, who was critical of Trump, gets dismissed as a failure: Hes not a war hero. a I like people who werent captured. Meanwhile, Miriam Adelson, whose service to the nation basically consists of giving Trump campaign contributions, gets the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Oh, and this, too, predates Trump. Remember how Republicans denigrated John Kerrys war record? As with so much about the current political scene, its essential to realize and acknowledge that this is not a symmetric, both-sides-do-it situation. If you say something along the lines of truth and virtue are now defined by partisanship, youre actually enabling the bad guys, because only one party thinks that way. Democrats, being human, sometimes have biased views and engage in motivated reasoning. But they havent abandoned the whole notion of objective facts and nonpolitical goodness; Republicans have. What all this means is that whats going on in America right now isnt politics as usual. Its much more existential than that. You have to be truly delusional to see the Republicans response to their partys midterm setback as anything but an attempted power grab by a would-be authoritarian movement, which rejects any opposition or even criticism as illegitimate. Our democracy is still very much in danger. Local home sales and prices rose last month, an indication of the robust local economy as well as the difficulties some hopeful buyers are facing. In October, 2,573 homes were sold in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, a 1.6 percent uptick from October 2017, according to data from the San Antonio Board of Realtors. The median price of a home in the metro area was $223,800, a 7.6 percent jump from a year earlier. It was $230,500 statewide, an increase of 4.8 percent, according to SABOR. The increase in the median price has been consistent year-over-year since 2011, said Jack Inselmann, Metrostudys director for the San Antonio area. Inselmann analyzes the local housing market. Related: San Antonio home sales dip as tight market takes toll on buyers As the weather cools and families settle into the school year, it is not uncommon to see a slower pace in sales, Chairwoman Lorena Pena said in a news release. However, the fact that more homes continue to be sold this year from previous years underscores the strength of our local economy and demonstrates that buyers are still able to find something even in such a tight market. The inventory of available homes, which measures the average time it takes for a home to be sold if no new homes are listed, was 3.6 months in October. It was also 3.6 months in September and 3.7 in August, demonstrating a tight market. A six-month inventory indicates a balance between buyers and sellers. The inventory remains tight, and it has been for multiple years now, Inselmann said. The market continues to be good. But as prices rices theres less affordable housing product, another pattern, he said. The affordable housing crunch continues, Inselmann added. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios housing market strong, but lack of affordability a concern As of the end of October, 27,377 homes have been sold in the local metro area this year, according to SABOR. Thats a 5 percent increase over 2017. At the national level, the National Association of Realtors pending home sales index rose 0.5 in September. But signings fell 1 percent year-over-year, marking the ninth consecutive month of annual declines. October data will be released later this month. The pending home sales index is based on signed contracts. This shows that buyers are out there on the sidelines, waiting to jump in once more inventory becomes available and the price is right, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said in a news release. Although limited inventory and affordability continue to be issues, the demand for housing should remain steady, Yun said. Mortgage rates are also rising. The average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.94 percent for the week ending Nov. 8, a seven-year high, according to Freddie Mac. It was around 3.9 percent a year ago. Higher mortgage rates have led to a slowdown in national home price growth, but the price deceleration has been primarily concentrated in affluent coastal markets such as California and the state of Washington, Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, said in a news release. The more affordable interior markets which have not yet experienced a slowdown in home price growth may see price growth start to moderate and affordability squeezed if mortgage rates continue to march higher, Khater added. Higher mortgage rates always affect the market, Inselmann said. When theyre going up, it can kind of tighten things a little bit, he said. The question will be what rates do over the next two, three, four months. madison.iszler@express-news.net | @madisoniszler The concession and construction company VINCI will officially take over Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport "within weeks", according to the French Ambassador to Serbia Frederic Mondoloni. The statement comes just two weeks after the concessionaire secured a 100 million euro loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, enabling it to close the financial construct of the 1.2 billion euro deal with the Serbian government signed eight months ago. The Ambassador said, "Everything is going according plan and we are moving forward, in line with the contract signed in March. The official takeover will take place in the coming weeks as stipulated by the contract". It is believed VINCI will officially begin its 25-year management of the airport upon the arrival of the French President, Emanuel Macron, to Belgrade on December 6. VINCI said it will deliver the efficient upgrading of the airport within the first four years of the concession, which will include terminal refurbishment and expansion, the overhaul of the existing runway, construction of a temporary runway and the expansion of the taxiway system. It will utilise 980 million euros within the first four years of its concession contract. Of those, some 450 million euros will be paid to the Serbian government, while the remainder will be used for infrastructure development. VINCI noted that one of the major historical issues associated with the project is noise, due to the airport's proximity to residential areas. As one of the priority measures, it will be required to start immediate implementation of the Balanced Approach to aircraft noise management consistent with EU/ICAO requirements aimed at the reduction of noise impacts. Furthermore, it noted that the expansion project will be associated with limited land acquisition that will commence in five years. Commenting on the planned investments, Ambassador Mondoloni said, "This is a great project where everybody wins. Serbia gets to keep the airport, whereas the French company gets to be the concessionaire for 25 years. A very nice project with over a billion euros worth of investments". Managers from VINCI are said to have already settled in at the airport and are currently further studying the business. General Manager Sasa Vlaisavljevic has confirmed he will resign from his post following the airport's takeover. VINCI is yet to name its management team for Belgrade Airport, however, its Serbian subsidiary - VINCI Airports Serbia - is being headed by Massimo Bruzzo, who previously served as the French company's Regional Head for Structured Finance, as well as the Project Director for Business Development. Contributed Photo / Connecticut State Police TRUMBULL Town police are investigating several thefts from vehicles that happened overnight Wednesday into Thursday. earlier this week. The thefts happened to vehicles parked in residential driveways between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, according to police. The thefts affected over a dozen residents living in the neighborhoods off of Edison Road. The victims found their cars were broken into and items stolen during the overnight hours. GREENWICH Reconstruction work began at Cos Cob School this past Monday, and the project remains on schedule for students to return to classrooms after the December holiday break, school district officials announced Wednesday night. Administrators asked the contractor, Wernert Construction, to prioritize its work on the classrooms on the first and second floor of the school. The Media Center and second-floor art room will take longer to repair because the damage is more extensive, Interim Superintendent Ralph Mayo said at a Board of Education business meeting Wednesday. Until kids return to class, community members can expect updates from the district on the school repairs on or about every Wednesday. Cos Cob School was damaged last month by a water leak caused by a broken faucet in the second floor art room. Water damage was found on the first and second floor of the school in the cabinetry, ceiling tiles and drywall, carpet and vinyl flooring, as well as walls, which had to be opened up to prevent mold from growing. Cos Cob School was closed for a week after the leak. Since then, first- and second-graders have been using classrooms at Old Greenwich School and the kindergartners are at Parkway School. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are using classrooms on the third floor of Cos Cob School. The cost for the cleanup and repairs at Cos Cob School as well as the relocation of the students is estimated at $1.9 million. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com FAIRFIELD Its about to become pricier for boat owners to dock in the marina and for nonresidents to go the beach in town. The Parks and Recreation Commission voted 5-2 Wednesday night to hike marina slip fees by 5 percent and also voted for nonresident beach stickers to increase to $200. What had been planned to be a 10 percent increase for marina slip fees instead became a 5 percent increase, after several boat owners and residents showed up at the meeting arguing against the hike. Recreation Director Anthony Calabrese had proposed several options for rate increases in marina slip fees, ranging from 5 percent to 25 percent. In his presentation Wednesday night, Calabrese compared slip fee prices with other towns like Greenwich and Westport, which tend to charge higher rates. With the 5 percent increase, slip fees for small boats will rise to $594.25, medium boats to $885.31, large boats to $1,468.53 and premium boats to $1,783.38. During the public comment section of the meeting, nearly a dozen people argued less against a rate increase and more for seeing a reinvestment of these revenues into the marina itself, in projects such as dredging the channel and improving amenities. If you want to increase the rates, do it after building amenities that are comparable to other towns, Board of Education Vice Chairman Nick Aysseh said. We would expect an increase after investments in improvements. The 5 percent hike would result in an additional $25,000 in revenue for the town. The town is also actively looking for a new marina director, as the role was vacated earlier this year. We have no problem with the rate increase, but put the money back in the marina, resident Doug Chavanello said. Scott Walker, chairman of the commission, said they faced moderate pressure from town bodies on increasing revenue figures from the marina. The feedback from these town bodies is that the marina is an asset of the town, Walker said. Its town property and the town views it as an underutilized revenue source. Commissioners said those impacted by the fare hikes should also voice their concerns within their Representative Town Meeting districts, the selectmen and the finance board. Regarding the dredging of the channel, Walker said a permit had been filed and funds had also been appropriated for the gas dock building. This is not a mandate, but a strong suggestion from all of the town bodies, Jessica Gerber said. Its not just about the marina all of the fees on Parks and Recreation have been raised, there are plenty of programs that also have seen rate increases. On the matter of nonresident beach sticker fees, commissioners discussed charging above Calabreses proposed $200 fee, though some countered that doing so would reduce the number of people interested in purchasing these. Ultimately, the commission opted to approve the new $200 fee. Nonresident beach goers are currently charged $175. The new prices would take effect in December for beach sticker sales, and in Februrary for boat slip renewals, according to Calabrese. humberto.juarez@hearstmediact.com FAIRFIELD The Fairfield Clergy Association invites all members of the Fairfield community to join together in Thanksgiving worship on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, 1045 Old Academy Road. Worship this year will be led by clergy and laypeople from Jewish and Christian congregations throughout Fairfield. State Red Cross aids California Some Connecticut residents and organizations are chipping in to help victims of California wildfires that have killed at least 42 people and destroyed swaths of property. On Monday, the state chapter of the American Red Cross announced it was sending five Connecticut volunteers to California to assist in the response to the devastating blaze. The volunteers who hail from East Haven, Groton, Mystic, Plainfield and East Haddam were sent to the Sacramento area to help those affected by the so-called Camp Fire, the deadliest of several wildfires raging in the state. The state Red Cross may deploy more volunteers, but Stefanie Arcangelo, chief communications officer for the Connecticut Red Cross, said she isnt sure when that would be. Other organizations in the state continue to monitor what is going on in California, including Fairfield-based Save the Children. Officials said they recovered the remains of 13 additional victims Monday as teams continued search the burned-out remains of thousands of lost homes. President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for California on Monday. acuda@ctpost.com iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF's stock was trading at $25.60 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWU stock has increased by 28.8% and is now trading at $32.98. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. iShares MSCI Austria ETF's stock was trading at $15.26 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWO stock has increased by 62.5% and is now trading at $24.79. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Eaton: ADF Systems SARL, Abeiron III Limited, Aeroquip (UK) Limited, Aeroquip Financial Ltd., Aeroquip Iberica S.L., Aeroquip International Inc., Aeroquip Limited, Aeroquip do Brasil Ltda., Aeroquip-Vickers, Aeroquip-Vickers Canada Inc., Aeroquip-Vickers International S.a.r.L., Aphel Technologies, Argo-Tech, Arrow Hose & Tubing, Arrow-Hart S. de R.L. de C.V., Azonix Corporation, Babco Electric Group, Beijing Internormen-Filter Ltd. Co., Beijing Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Blinda Industria e Comercio Ltda., Bussmann International Holdings LLC, Bussmann International Inc., Bussmann S. de R.L. de C.V., Bussmann do Brasil Ltda., CBE Services Inc., CEAG Notlichtsysteme GmbH, CI ESI de Colombia, CTI-VIENNA Gesellschaft zur Prufung elektrotechnischer Industrieprodukte GmbH, Cambridge International Insurance Company Ltd., Cannon Technologies Inc., Centralion Industrial Inc., Chagrin Highlands III Limited, Cobham, Componentes de Iluminacion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper (China) Co. Ltd., Cooper (Ningbo) Electric Co. Ltd., Cooper B-Line Inc., Cooper Bermuda Investments Ltd., Cooper Bussmann (U.K.) Limited, Cooper Bussmann Hungaria Kft., Cooper Bussmann LLC, Cooper Capri S.A.S., Cooper Colombia Investments Ltd., Cooper Controls (Watford) Limited, Cooper Controls Limited, Cooper Crouse-Hinds (LLC), Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds AS, Cooper Crouse-Hinds B.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH, Cooper Crouse-Hinds LLC, Cooper Crouse-Hinds MTL Inc., Cooper Crouse-Hinds Pte. Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S.A., Cooper Csa Srl, Cooper Edison (Pingdingshan) Electronic Technologies Co. Ltd., Cooper Electric (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Cooper Electrical Australia Pty. Limited, Cooper Electrical International LLC, Cooper Electronic Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cooper Enterprises LLC, Cooper Finance (Canada) L.P., Cooper Finance Group Ltd., Cooper Finance USA Inc., Cooper Germany Holdings GmbH, Cooper India Private Limited, Cooper Industrials, Cooper Industries (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries (Electrical) Inc., Cooper Industries Colombia S.A.S., Cooper Industries FZE, Cooper Industries Finance B.V., Cooper Industries Finanzierungs-GbR, Cooper Industries Global B.V., Cooper Industries Holdings (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries Holdings GmbH, Cooper Industries International LLC, Cooper Industries Japan K.K., Cooper Industries LLC, Cooper Industries Malaysia SDN BHD, Cooper Industries Middle East LLC, Cooper Industries Poland LLC, Cooper Industries Romania SRL, Cooper Industries Russia LLC, Cooper Industries Trading Limited, Cooper Industries UK Subco Limited, Cooper Industries Unlimited Company, Cooper Industries Vietnam LLC, Cooper Interconnect, Cooper International Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Investment Group Ltd., Cooper Investment Group S a.r.l., Cooper Investments Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Cooper Korea Ltd., Cooper Lighting LLC, Cooper Lighting de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Menvier France SARL, Cooper Mexico Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Netherlands Investments Ltd., Cooper Notification Inc., Cooper Offshore Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Power Systems LLC, Cooper Power Systems do Brasil Ltda., Cooper Pretronica Lda., Cooper Safety B.V., Cooper Securite S.A.S., Cooper Security Limited, Cooper Shanghai Power Capacitor Co. Ltd., Cooper Switzerland Investments Ltd., Cooper Technologies Company, Cooper Univel S.A., Cooper Wheelock Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Wiring Devices de Mexico S.A de C.V., Cooper Xi'an Fusegear Co. Ltd., Cooper Yuhua (Changzhou) Electric Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Copperlogic, Cutler-Hammer Electrical Company, Cutler-Hammer Industries Ltd., Cutler-Hammer SRL, Cyme International T & D Inc., D.P. Eaton Electric, Digital Lighting (Dong Guan) Co. Ltd., Digital Lighting Co. Limited, Digital Lighting Holdings Limited, Dongguan Cooper Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Fu Li An Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Wiring Devices Electronics Co. Ltd., E. Begerow, E.A. 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(Slovak Republic), Eaton Electrical (Zhongshan) Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Electrical Ltd., Eaton Electrical Products Limited, Eaton Electrical S.A., Eaton Electrical S.A. (Venezuela), Eaton Electrical Systems Limited, Eaton Electro Productie S.r.l., Eaton Elektrik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eaton Elektrotechnika s.r.o., Eaton Energy Solutions Inc., Eaton Enterprises (Hungary) Kft., Eaton Enterprises Limited, Eaton Enterprises S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton FZE, Eaton Filtration, Eaton Filtration (Denmark) ApS, Eaton Filtration (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Filtration (Poland) Sp. z.o.o., Eaton Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Filtration BVBA, Eaton Finance (Ireland) Limited, Eaton Finance S.a.r.l., Eaton Fluid Power (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Fluid Power Limited, Eaton Fluid Power S.r.l., Eaton France Holding S.A.S., Eaton Germany G.m.b.H., Eaton GmbH & Co. KG, Eaton Holding (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Holding (UK) II Limited, Eaton Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding I B.V., Eaton Holding I Limited, Eaton Holding II LLC, Eaton Holding II Limited, Eaton Holding II S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding III B.V., Eaton Holding III Limited, Eaton Holding III S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IV S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IX S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding International LLC, Eaton Holding LLC, Eaton Holding Limited, Eaton Holding S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding SE & Co. KG, Eaton Holding SRL, Eaton Holding V B.V., Eaton Holding V S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VI B.V., Eaton Holding VI S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VII B.V., Eaton Holding VIII S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding X S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding XII B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Holec AB, Eaton Holec OY, Eaton Hydraulics (Luzhou) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Proprietary) Limited, Eaton Hydraulics LLC, Eaton Hydraulics Systems (Jining) Co. Ltd., Eaton I Spolka z.o.o., Eaton II LP, Eaton III LP, Eaton IV LP, Eaton India Innovation Center LLP, Eaton Industrial Clutches and Brakes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industrial Corporation, Eaton Industrial IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Industrial Systems Private Limited, Eaton Industries (Argentina) S.A., Eaton Industries (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries (Belgium) BVBA, Eaton Industries (Canada) Company, Eaton Industries (Chile) S.p.A., Eaton Industries (Colombia) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Egypt) LLC, Eaton Industries (England) Limited, Eaton Industries (France) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Ireland) Ltimited, Eaton Industries (Israel) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Industries (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Jining) Co. Ltd, Eaton Industries (Korea) Limited, Eaton Industries (Luxembourg) B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Industries (Morocco) LLC, Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Industries (Philippines) LLC, Eaton Industries (Shanghai) Co. 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Ltd., Eaton Services S.a.r.l., Eaton Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Switzerland Holding I GmbH, Eaton Switzerland Holding II GmbH, Eaton Technologies (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Technologies G.m.b.H., Eaton Technologies IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Technologies Private Limited, Eaton Technologies S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Technologies S.A., Eaton Trading Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components (Proprietary) Ltd., Eaton Truck Components S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Truck and Bus Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton US Holdings Inc., Eaton Worldwide LLC, Eaton-Powerware, Electromanufacturas S de R.L. de C.V., Electrum Group Ltd., Elpro Technologies Pty. Limited, Ephesus Lighting, Ephesus Lighting Inc., FHF Bergbautechnik GmbH & Co. KG, FHF Funke+Huster Fernsig GmbH, FHF New World GmbH, Fast Eaton (Xi'an) Drivetrain Company Ltd., Fifth Light Technology Ltd., Funke+Huster (Tianjin) Electronics Co. Ltd., Funke+Huster GmbH, GeCma Components electronic GmbH, Georgetown Financial Services Ltd., Gitiesse Asia Pte. Ltd., Gitiesse S.r.l., Green Holding Company, Green Motion, Guangzhou Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Hein Moeller Stiftung G.m.b.H., Hernis Scan System do Brasil Comercio E Servicos LTDA, Hernis Scan Systems - Asia Pte. Ltd., Hernis Scan Systems A/S, IE Power, Illumination Management Solutions Inc., Iluminacion Cooper de las Californias S de R.L. de C.V., Innovative Switchgear Solutions Inc, Institute for International Product Safety G.m.b.H., Integrated Hydraulics, Integrated Partial Discharge Diagnostics, Intelligent Switchgear Organization LLC, Internormen Filters Private Limited, Internormen Technology, Jeil Hydraulics, Kaicheng Funke+Huster (Tangshan) Mining Electrical Co. Ltd., Lian Zheng Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., MP Group SAS, MTL Instruments (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, MTL Instruments B.V., MTL Instruments GmbH, MTL Instruments LLC, MTL Instruments Private Limited, MTL Instruments SARL, MTL Italia Srl, MTL Partners II Inc., MTL Partners Inc., Marina Power and Lighting, Martek Power F SAS, Martek Power GmbH, Martek Power Limited, Martek Power Limited (UK), Martek Power S.A. de C.V., Martek Power SA, McGraw-Edison Development Corporation, Measurement Technology Limited, Menvier Overseas Holdings Limited, Micro Innovation Holding, Moeller Electric (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Moeller Electric Ltda., Moeller Electrical Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Moeller Holding Gmbh & Co. KG, Moeller Industria de electro-electronicos do Amazonas Ltda., Morestana, Nittan BVI Co. Ltd., Nittan Euro Tech Spolka z o.o., Nittan Global Tech Co. Ltd., Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Norex AS, Ocean Technical Systems Limited, Oxalis Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Oxalis Group, Oxalis Group Limited, PKL LLC, PT. Eaton Industries, PT. Fluid Sciences Batam, PerkinElmer - aerospace division, Phoenixtec Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Phoenixtec International Corp., Phoenixtec Power, Pigozzi, Polaron Components Limited, Polimer Hortum Teknolojileri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi Ve Pazarlama, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi ve Pazarlama A.S., Power Distribution, Pringle Electrical Manufacturing, Productos Eaton Livia S.L., Pulizzi Engineering, RTE Far East Corporation, RTK Instruments Limited, Riseson International Limited, Rizhao Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Rolec Comercial e Industrial, SOURIAU, Santak Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Santak Electronics Company Limited, Saturn Insurance Company Ltd., Scantronic Benelux B.V., Schreder-Hazemeyer, Scoremax Limited, Sefelec GmbH, Sefelec SAS, Semelec SAS, Senyuan International Holdings Limited, Senyuan International Investments Limited, Shinhwa Precision Co. Ltd., Shinhwa Takahashi Precision Co. Ltd., Silver Light International Limited, Silver Victory Hong Kong Limited, Standard Automation & Control LP, Sure Power Inc., TGM Automotiva, TT (Ireland) Acquisition Limited, Tai Ah Electrical Ltd., Taiwan Nittan Industrial Co. Ltd., Telkom Kenya, The MTL Instruments Group Limited, The Oxalis Protection Technology India Private Limited, Tractech, Tractech (Ireland) Limited, Tractech Industries (Ireland) Limted, Tripp Lite, Turlock B.V., Tuthill Coupling Group, U.S. Engine Valve Company, UPE Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Ultronics, Ultronics Nordic Sales AB, Ulusoy, Vickers International Inc., Vickers Systems Limited, Viking Electronics Inc., WPI-Boston Division Inc., Winner Hydraulics Ltd., Wireless Power and Communications AS, Wright Line, Wright Line Holding Inc., Wright Line LLC, and Zhenjiang Daqo Eaton Electrical Systems Co. Ltd.. There is not enough analysis data for Enel Generacion Chile. 4.1 Community Rank Outperform Votes Enel Generacion Chile has received 205 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Enel Generacion Chile has received 122 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Enel Generacion Chile has received 62.69% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Enel Generacion Chile and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe EOCC will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe EOCC will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Greencoat UK Wind PLC specializes in renewables infrastructure investments in energy, wind generation assets and onshore and offshore wind farm projects with a capacity of over 10 megawatt. For offshore wind farms, the fund seeks to invest 40% of the Gross Asset Value at acquisition and where a utility company retains an equity interest for a lock-up period. The fund ensures that the total of short-term acquisition financing and long-term debt is between zero and 40% of Gross Asset Value at any time, with average total debt being between 20% and 30% in the longer term. It prefers to invest in projects and assets based in the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to acquire 100%, majority, or minority interests in individual wind farms. Read More by Alex Murray | Hawks Correspondent | Wed, Nov 14th 6:54pm EST John Collins (ankle) is doubtful for Atlanta's Thursday night game against Denver. (Chris Vivlamore on Twitter) Fantasy Impact: Collins is nearing a return but in all likelihood will miss at least one more game. Collins could be back by this weekend though so if he happens to be out there on the wire in your league, scoop him up now. by Adam Udinski | Suns Correspondent | Thu, Nov 15th 12:47am EST In 15 minutes, Landry Shamet scored seven points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field that included 1-for-4 from three-point range as the Sixers dropped a road game to the Magic on Wednesday. Shamet added one assist and rebound apiece. by Blaine Blontz | Vikings Correspondent | Wed, Nov 14th 6:44pm EST Adam Thielen was limited at Wednesday's practice by a back and calf injury. Fantasy Impact: it's interesting that Thielen is on the injury report coming out of the team's bye. The team has given no reason to think Thielen will miss Week 11's contest against the Bears, but this is something to monitor. It's not an easy contest against Chicago, but Thielen continues to be a lock WR1 given his production this season. The hellbender is the largest salamander found in North America and is found within the ragged and worn hills of Appalachia. The species has been largely extirpated from Ohio, however, a few strongholds still exist and Jefferson County is home to some of the largest populations of native hellbenders. So for the past 10 years, the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District has been a part of the Ohio Hellbender Partnership, an organization of private, state and federal entities that is trying to preserve the state endangered hellbender. In order to promote the hellbender, the Ohio Division of Wildlife gave baby hellbenders to different agencies and wildlife centers throughout the state, and Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District was selected to be one of these inaugural locations. Our office has been housing our baby hellbender since Aug. 24, 2017. In the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District Office, hellbender conservation is represented by two separate but equal groups: The staff that is dedicated to educating, caring and sacrificing for the hellbender, and the hellbender who lives up to his name. These are our stories. DUN DUN THE STAFF STORY After recently getting married, I found that people arent satisfied with your marital bliss and living within the honeymoon of a new life of togetherness with your wife. Instead, the only thing they care about now is when are you going to have a baby?? After a year and a half of raising a hellbender, I can assure that the answer is: never! (Sorry Mom). Dealing with a hellbender is similar to what I envision a child would be like to raise. At any given moment, he wants attention and the minute you attempt to placate him, he wants nothing to do with you or what you are trying to give him. Temper tantrums are standard, which has led our poor aquarium skeleton to hit the rum jug with frequent regularity. Although sharing is strongly encouraged, we have found a little hellbender never wants to share and has been known to bite his fish friends heads off. Literally. Worst of all, is he can be a complete ham and fill the day with laughter or ahhs, but you even think about pulling a camera out or showing him off to a friend, and he just hides under a rock. Good grief, lets not even talk about food! Does he appreciate that two people from the office have to go out into the stream every other week to collect hellgrammites braving flood waters and rapid currents, breaking ice and sticking bare arms into freezing water temperatures, or withstanding the dense clouds of bloodsucking mosquitoes that can find spots on your body that you didnt even know existed? No, he most certainly does not! Instead, he just puts his little feet up on the side of the aquarium wall like hes Adam West in Batman and waits for the hand to come down and feed him his hellgrammite. To answer your immediate thought, yes, we have to hand feed him, which we tolerate because then we know exactly what and how much he eats (to avoid any issues such as those that we discussed in last Novembers Farm and Dairy article, which you can read online if you missed it). Part of me wants to believe that he reveres the giant hand lowering food to him like the aliens in Toy Story worshipped The Claw, but in my heart I know he just looks at us hand feeding him as an act of servitude, respect and luxury much as Caesar did when handfed grapes as he lounged upon his throne. THE HELLBENDER STORY However, no matter the turmoil or frustration that our little hellbender puts us through, it is all worth it in the end. The windows and opportunities that he has opened up for the office and staff is quite amazing and the mission of saving the hellbender and general conservation of our land and waters has been picked up by people you never would have suspected. We named our hellbender Branagan after Jefferson Countys long-tenured County Engineer James Branagan who can oft be heard giving fiery speeches extrapolating on the importance of hellbenders and their presence within the streams of the county. Partnerships have emerged with the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, the Steubenville Rotary, Steubenville Revitalization Group, and Franciscan University of Steubenville, which have given the hellbender a whole new audience. During an open house that the library held in our office to view the hellbender, a local family came in that wanted to see him for themselves. Branagan was very considerate to the kids and showed them his great eating prowess. After watching him eat, one of the boys, who was 10 years old, turned to the District staff and asked, if we have ever theorized on the fact that the hellbenders bite force is so strong that it creates a suction drawing his food into his mouth much like the ancient megalodon? After a brief moment of complete silence that was coupled with a blank stare brought on by total mind-altering meltdown of my brain, (which I have seen before in my fathers face when he has asked for assistance getting the computer to work), we were able to look it up and find that was in fact a heavily hypothesized theory among the hellbender academia. Upon relaying this information to this small 10-year-old child that had his face glued to the aquarium glass watching Branagans every move, he simply looked at us and said, I thought so, hes just so cool! The amazing part is that the hellbender is not just captivating the wonder of the young; he is capturing the inner-childlike intrigue of all who encounter him. Our office are completely torn apart as the building is getting a new heating and air-conditioning system. We are currently operating with temporary work lights strung from the ceiling, giving the romantic ambiance of a CIA Black Ops Site. With this renovation comes a parade of contractors and big burly union workers who strive to do their jobs in the most timely, efficient, and manly way that they can. However, as soon as they spy the aquariums and see Branagan, they are mesmerized and filled with questions as they pull out their phones to take pictures. More often than not, as they press their face to the aquarium glass completely transfixed by this little hellbender, you can hear them ask if they can bring their kids to see him. Anyone can come and see Branagan the Hellbender at 500 Market Street, Mezzanine Suite 4, Steubenville, Ohio, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, or they can follow him on his Instagram account (@branagan_hellbender) accessed via the app or www.instagram.com/branagan_hellbender. I guess the moral of the story is that even though a hellbender going through the terrible twos is very similar to the raising a child, at the end of the day much like a child everything you do for him is well worth it once you see the happiness and connections that coincide with him. Related Content WOOSTER, Ohio Although they both run separate farms, brothers Robert and Earl Jentes share a similar focus on conservation and taking care of the land. The two brothers and their families jointly received this years cooperator award from the Wayne Soil and Water Conservation District. Robert, 74, runs a 750-acre farm called Blue Ridge Farms, and milks 100 head of Holsteins, with help from his wife, Jan, and their adult children, Daryl and Sheryl. Earl, 66, runs the Earl Jentes Farm, a 700-acre operation with 60 head of milking Holsteins, with his wife, Robin, and sons Darren and Brian and their families. The Jentes family has a rich history in Wayne County, and they trace their roots in the current neighborhood to about 1928, when their grandparents moved to the area. Most of their land is located near Jentes Road, just west of Wooster, and north along state Route 83. Conservation practices Earl and Robert said they learned about conservation from their parents, the late Arthur and Martha Jentes. Both brothers said one of the first things they learned was the importance of putting tile in where it was needed. Both farms are well tiled, with grass waterways on the surface. Both farms also use contour strip farming where appropriate. The strips are most noticeable at Roberts farm, where theyve been in use since at least the 1980s. Both farmers have widened the strips over the years, to accommodate for the larger width of todays farm equipment, but they still make good use of this system, rotating such crops as corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. Earl calf lick A calf licking up water at the Earl Jentes farm. < > < > 1 View Earl calf lick A calf licking up water at the Earl Jentes farm. 2 View Earl chopping crew The harvest crew at Earl Jentes farm, photo of photo. 3 View Earl Evelyn Evelyn Jentes, keeping a close eye on a calf. 4 View Earl Jentes sign 5 View Earl Jentes son Darren Jentes, with his niece, Evelyn. 6 View Earl overhead An aerial view of the Earl Jentes farm. 7 View Earl sign 8 View Earl window 9 View Earl Jentes indoors 10 View Earl Jentes sign 11 View Robert alone Robert Jentes. 12 View Robert and Daryl 13 View Robert climbing Robert Jentes. 14 View Robert Fendt 15 View Robert Jentes 3 16 View Robert pics Robert Jentes, looking over some historical pictures. 17 View Robert planter Robert's favorite planters, which promote conservation. Farm and Dairy interviewed the two brothers on separate days, and both said they were surprised to receive the conservation award, but pleased with the recognition. I guess its one of those things we just did, Earl Jentes said. I consider it to be somewhat of an honor, because weve worked at this all of our lives, to try to make the farm better and try to be good stewards of the ground, Robert Jentes said. The good Lord put us on the earth to be a good steward of what he put us in charge of. Minimum tillage In addition to strip farming, Robert has focused on minimum tillage and no-till. Many years ago, he invested in his two favorite pieces of farm equipment a no-till drill and a minimum tillage corn planter. Over time, he modified the planter to include three fluted coulters, which basically acts as a strip tiller, in addition to a corn planter, all in one pass and without needing to till the whole field. Earl also focuses on minimum tillage and no-till, and has added GPS and precision planting technology in recent years. The brothers differ on their farm machinery preferences Robert prefers older, but well-maintained Massey Ferguson tractors, along with a newer Fendt tractor, and Earl runs a combination, including JCB, and a New Holland. Earls family also runs a custom harvesting business, where they use a CLAAS silage chopper. The brothers exchange some harvesting services, and both of their wives are active with farm bookkeeping. The low crop and dairy prices have hurt both operations although they say theyve seen difficult times before. Its a tough, uphill road with the way the prices are right now, Earl said. Earls son, Darren, said its always been tough and that todays farmers probably have it better than their ancestors, but some days they arent so sure. The Jentes also take good care of their farm buildings, with many original buildings still standing, including some that they built with their own sawmill, which is still in operation on Roberts farm. Looking ahead Robert said farm profitability is probably one of the biggest things that will affect his childrens generation. My biggest concern is that the next generation can survive, and keep it going, he said. And in order for them to survive, these prices are going to have to turn around. According to Robert, its a matter of basic business prices are too low and inputs too high for much of a profit margin. Its not that were greedy, Robert said. But every other business in town has to make a profit, or what do they do? They shut the doors. Both brothers want to see a future for their farms, now operated by the fourth generation, but they also face the urban growth of Wooster, which has expanded in their direction several times in the past few decades. Making progress Even though both brothers have done a lot for conservation, their work is never complete. They feel pretty good about their field tiles and waterways, but theres always room for improvement. Once you get to the bad places, then the places that werent so bad seem like bad places, Earl said. According to Earl, one of his favorite things about farming is the hope that next year will be better. Next year you always think it is going to be a better year, and then it rains every day and makes it kind of tough going, but all and all, year after year, it averages out pretty good, he said. One thing both brothers try to do is improve the land for their children. It was here when I came and I hope its here when they take over, and for their kids, Earl said. We dont really own it were just here for a little while and then it goes onto the next generation. (Update: On Nov. 14, the Ohio Senate voted on Senate Bill 86, with a tally of 0-32 not to concur in the amendments of the House of Representatives. It is unclear when the bill, including the barn designation, will be considered again. Stay tuned for more updates.) WESTERVILLE, Ohio Election results are in. Political fliers no longer blanket mailboxes, and robo calls have ground to a halt. Lame duck has become the phrase of the hour. For a group of central Ohio teenagers, however, it is time to get civically engaged once again and talk about barns. When the members of the Ohio Senate meet for the lame duck session, which began Nov. 13, they will consider Senate Bill 86, sponsored by state Sen. Bob Hackett, R-London. Tucked into that legislation is one sentence: The barn, an agricultural building located on farms and used for many purposes, is hereby designated the official historical architectural structure of the state. Barn bill begins The brainchild of five seventh graders about five years ago, that one-sentence proposal unanimously passed the House of Representatives in March 2017. It has since stalled in the Senate. The passion for barns began when the students at Genoa Middle School, in the Columbus suburb of Westerville, were given an assignment by their teacher, Debbie Pellington: propose a new symbol for the state of Ohio. They met with Rep. Anne Gonzales, R-Westerville, to learn about the legislative process and to prepare. Students suggested numerous ideas. But, for one group, the project became more than just a grade. Sarah Gellner, Anna Borders, Rachel Kaufman and Adriane Thompson began to build their idea to make the barn a state symbol. Another student, Danielle Ingram, also helped with the initial idea. They researched the history of barns in Ohio. They tweaked the language of their proposal. With the help of their teachers, Pellington and Caley Nestor Baker, their seventh-grade social studies teacher at the time, as well as Gonzales, they submitted a one-sentence proposal to the Ohio House of Representatives. That began a step-by-step foray into Ohio state politics. Showing initiative Gellner, now 17, is a junior at Westerville Central High School. When reached by phone recently, she said she and the other girls were gearing up for another round of lobbying for their bill. Writing letters. Making calls. Over the years, theyve taken trips to the Statehouse when necessary and yes, they got permission slips to leave school. Most of it has been on our own time, Gellner said. They set up a Twitter account and a website, and worked to get the word out. They met with legislators, presented before committees and even learned how to handle negative media coverage. Weve been able to learn a lot about government and what it takes to pass a bill, Gellner said. Both Pellington and Baker still keep tabs on the bill and their former students. They said it has been rewarding to see the teens dedication. Its been great real-world experience for them, Pellington said. Stops and starts Hackett chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, where the bill stalled for more than a year. He said he thought it would pass quickly, but it didnt. He said it has the support of both agriculture committees. I think were in good shape, he said. Were going to get it done. Legislation can take time, Gonzales said. I do a lot of pieces of legislation, she said. Sometimes, I get things done in six months. Sometimes, it takes longer. She said these teens have shown perseverance. I wasnt expecting this bill to take as long as it did and Im really impressed with the dedication of these girls. Important heritage Dan Troth, a board member of Friends of Ohio Barns, testified in front of the legislature, in support of the bill. It was a no-brainer, he said. What does the barn represent? It represents our agrarian past, he said. By seeking to preserve barns and honor their place in Ohio history, we honor our ancestors and our past. By having the barn recognized in such a way, Troth believes it could open up more ways to preserve them. Agriculture remains one of Ohios largest industries. According to the 2017 United States Department of Agriculture survey, 14 million acres are dedicated to agriculture. The Western Reserve Land Conservancy reports, however, that Ohio has lost more prime farmland than any other state, second to Texas. Along with that loss, Troth said many historic barns are being taken down and shipped out of state. In their joint presentation before the House State and Local Government Committee in February 2017, the students laid out the reasons for recognizing the barn in such a way. Agriculture is still one of the major economic forces in the state of Ohio, their report reads. Barns embody our historic traditions and customs, while reflecting the farming advancements seen today. Waiting game Both Pellington and Baker said theyve both learned a lot about the history of barns in Ohio, about the legislative process and about their students. Now, we just really want that final step, Pellington said. So, they wait. It gives new meaning to the grinding gears of government, Caley said. Gellner has begun looking at colleges. She said that after her first-hand experience working with the legislative branch, she is interested in being involved more in the future. Things dont really move fast, but you dont want it to move fast, because you want to make sure you consider everything. (Reporter Rebecca Miller can be reached at 330-261-4484, or by email at rebecca@farmanddairy.com.) CANFIELD, Ohio A local 4-Her, Samantha Colonna-Noble, of the Llucky Llamas, Youngstown Tailwaggers, Pocket Pets, and Capriculturists of Mahoning County, was selected to attend the National 4-H Congress, which is being held from Nov. 23-27 in Atlanta. Delegates to this national event were selected earlier in the year based on their 4-H and community achievements. Samanthas photography project earned her a spot in this group. Only 25 youth in Ohio were selected to attend out of more than 500 interested applicants. More than 900 youth are expected to attend National 4-H Congress. ELLSWORTH, OH At the Western Reserve Rangers 4-H Club November meeting, Avery Mountian and Micky Salovich were presented 2018 Spirit Awards by President Natalia Kresic. William Reph and Natalia reported on the Teen Leadership Council. Natalia was selected at the October TLC meeting to be a regional representative. She will also be attending Carving New Ideas Workshop Nov. 16-18 at 4-H Camp Ohio. Ivan Huber shared about his rock and fossil collection, and that he received a first place award at a recent regional competition. Club officers Sawyer Jones, Isabel Schors, William Reph and Natalia Kresic presented yearly certificates to the advisers: Robin Reph for six years, Laura Jones for nine years, Bob and Karen Day for 30 years, Kathleen Moser for 49 years and Jan Moser for 51 years. The club will meet for their 2019 organizational meeting Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Ellsworth Fire Hall. Youth interested in joining the club are welcomed to attend this meeting. For more information, contact Kathleen Moser at 330-547-7422. CANFIELD, Ohio Callia Barwick, a Mahoning County 4-H youth from Canfield, was invited to attend the USDAs Listening Session on Opioid Prevention in Washington D.C. Oct. 24. Callia is a member of the Ohio 4-H Health Heroes whose mission is to promote healthy living in their communities. She was able to explain the stuffed animal project she created in Mahoning County. Callia collected new and slightly used stuffed animals, which were given to area police departments for the officers to give to children whose parents and/or guardians are being arrested. WASHINGTON Several rural West Virginia and southeastern Ohio communities are receiving money to improve rural health care through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $39.6 million through the program. The approved programs receiving money locally include: CAMC Health Education & Research Institute will receive $163,223 to help provide care to the patients in 46 facilities in 16 rural Appalachian counties in West Virginia, southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky who suffer from chronic kidney disease. The new network of interactive healthcare will help patients, from a population of approximately 180,000, throughout the kidney disease treatment spectrum, from education on disease management and dialysis, to post kidney transplant care and consultation. CHANGE Inc. is receiving $500,000 to purchase and install telemedicine equipment at eight locations in Hancock, Marshall and Brooke counties in West Virginia and in Jefferson County, Ohio. It will bring behavioral health services to school-based health centers and to rural communities with a total population of 42,260 people. The program will address behavioral health issues by establishing remote telemedicine links to psychiatrists or other specialty providers. The Toronto, Ohio City School District is being awarded $500,000 to help purchase distance learning equipment to create opioid health education, treatment, and prevention programs for families. The project will implement a comprehensive opioid treatment and misuse prevention program. The hub site will be in Weirton, W.Va., with two end user sites in Toronto. The district will have three partners and sites: CHANGE, Inc. in Newell, WV, Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville, Ohio, and FFA Camps in Carrollton, Ohio. Families will also have access to health care onsite, supported by additional healthcare professionals via telecommunications. Students will also have access to dual credit offerings from Eastern Gateway Community College and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics coursework and counseling workshops from Ohio FFA Camps. Based on the communities served, this project has the potential to impact a population of 45,746. Current uses of land in the UK "must change" to help remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, the Committee on Climate Change has said. Their report highlights how the loss of soil fertility, biodiversity and peatland degradation is now "apparent" and "partly driven by intensive food production". The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says the Government can address these environmental concerns while ensuring sufficient food production for an increasing population and space for new homes. The report, published on Thursday (15 November), calls for farmers to be rewarded for actions such as tree planting, restoring peatlands and improving soil and water quality. Climate change impacts are already altering the lands use. Average UK temperatures have risen by 0.8C over the last forty years; with nine of the ten warmest years for the UK occurring since 2002. Projections of future UK climate suggest further warming, sea level rise, periods of heavier rain leading to greater risks from flooding as well as reduced water availability in summer. Despite some opportunities, the negative impacts on soils, water, vegetation and wildlife are "likely to be significant", CCC warns. 'Maximise land use' It calls for the Government to move away from current EU practices after Brexit to a new system where land is "maximised" as a natural store for carbon and as a regulator of natural hazards such as flooding. Alternative uses of land can be economically beneficial for farmers and land managers, the report highlights, but Government has been urged to provide help to transition. Government assistance is needed with skills, training and information to implement new uses of land. Support for high up-front costs and financing to aid that transition are also required. Farmers and land managers must have better access to information about the impacts of a changing climate. The Committee also finds an important role for biomass in reducing and removing UK emissions. 'Fundamental reform' Lord Deben, Chairman of CCC, said the way land is used in the UK needs "fundamental reform". "We must ensure our use of land helps to reduce the emissions that are warming our atmosphere. We must also improve the resilience of the land to climate change," Lord Deben said. "New legislation on agriculture and the environment provide us with a unique opportunity to reward land owners and farmers for actions such as tree planting, restoring peatlands and improving soil and water quality." He added: We need a new conversation about the role that biomass can play in helping to meet the UKs climate change targets. If supply of biomass is more strictly governed, its use can be sustainable and it can play an essential role in reducing emissions, locking away carbon in plants and soils. Unsustainable supplies of biomass have no place in our future energy mix. The Committee on Climate Change is an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008. It advises Government on emissions targets and reports to Parliament on progress made. A farmer has been convicted for three Bovine Viral Diarrhoea-related offences in what has become the first conviction of its type in Northern Ireland. Noel Henry Thornton, 64, from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, appeared in court on Wednesday (14 November) and pleaded guilty. He was fined 750. Mr Thornton was convicted of three charges of having in his possession cattle which had been moved in contravention of the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Eradication Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2016. BVD is a highly contagious viral infection of cattle which causes a range of clinical problems. Most infected animals dont survive to a productive age and it currently affects over 8% of cattle herds in Northern Ireland. An industry-led scheme to eradicate BVD from Northern Ireland has been supported by legislation since 2016. Herdkeepers are required to tag and test all newborn calves and the movement of positive animals between herds is prohibited. Mr Thornton is the first farmer in Northern Ireland to be convicted of BVD-related offences. The case arose from a cattle identification inspection and follow-up investigation of Mr Thorntons herd by officers from Department of Agriculture's Welfare and Enforcement Branch. BVD positive animals from another herd were also found on Mr Thorntons premises. The NFU has welcomed the Government's progress on Brexit, stressing the "strategic importance" of British food and farming as Brexit looms. Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking to sell her Brexit deal to Parliament on Thursday (15 November) after winning the support of her own Cabinet on Wednesday night. Despite her Government being deeply-divided on the issue, Mrs May said that her ministers will now press ahead with finalising the deal in Brussels. The NFU, which has in the past criticised the Government's handling of Brexit, has welcomed the progress. The union has now called for UK and EU leaders to work together to finalise a Withdrawal Agreement to ensure continued free and frictionless trade after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. The next stage in the Article 50 process is for the EU and UK political leaders to approve the proposed agreement before it is ratified by their respective parliaments. NFU President Minette Batters said that free and frictionless trade for British farming is "absolutely critical" in any Brexit deal. "This trading relationship allows British farmers to provide safe, traceable and affordable food to the public, all while adhering to some of the highest animal welfare and environmental standards in the world," she said. "It is critical that we avoid the mayhem of a no-deal Brexit in March of next year, and this Withdrawal Agreement paves the way for a transition period that maintains free and frictionless trade with the EU, and provides stability for farmers and the wider economy." Mrs Batters added: There is still a huge job to be done in negotiating the details of our future relationship with the EU. I hope this Withdrawal Agreement will now pave the way to negotiating a future relationship that secures all of these vital objectives. I would urge all involved to remember the importance of British food and farming when considering their support for the new agreement, she said. European Commission president Donald Tusk has confirmed that an EU summit will be held on 25 November to discuss the Prime Minister's deal. Survey puts spotlight on Wales' rural digital connectivity Rural firms fear they are still left behind The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Ever since Salman Khan's Bharat has been announced, there has been a lot of curiosity around the film, considering it marks the reunion of the blockbuster trio- Salman, Katrina Kaif and director Ali Abbas Zafar. The film is touted to be an official adaptation of Korean flick, 'An Ode To My Father'. Bharat: Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif Wrap Abu Dhabu Shooting Schedule Salman and Katrina have already shot in Mumbai, Malta, and Abu Dhabi and are currently filming in Chandigarh. The actors have been constantly updating their fans with pictures and videos from the sets and piquing their interests. This morning, Salman took to his Instagram page to share a new still from the film. The picture has the superstar and Katrina Kaif standing at the Wagah border with their backs towards the camera. The actor captioned the picture as, "@bharat_thefilm @aliabbaszafar @katrinakaif @dishapatani @whosunilgrover @atulreellife." Interestingly, the Wagah border has been recreated in Ludhiana. An Indian Express report quoted a source as saying, "There were certain scenes in which actors have to cross border and reach Pakistan side. It was not possible to shoot them at original location. Also, it wasn't practical to shoot at Wagah Border in Amritsar as it is normally not allowed by BSF due to security reasons. It was highly unlikely that BSF might have permitted." Katrina Kaif Reacts To Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh's Wedding! Meanwhile, reports suggest that Katrina Kaif's role in the film is meatier now. A source was quoted as saying, "With film's shooting still going on, Ali has now increased the graph of Kat's character. There's more dialogue, action, and drama added to her role which will be very much liked by the audiences. In Bharat, Katrina will have a way bigger role than any of her films." Bharat boosts of an ensemble cast which includes names like Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Jackie Shroff, Disha Patani, Tabu and Sunil Grover. The film is slated to hit the marquee on Eid 2019. Deepika - Ranveer Wedding: Ranveer Singh's FIRST PHOTO as Groom! Check out here | FilmiBeat We just can't keep calm! One of our favourite Bollywood couples, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone finally tied the knot at Lake Como in Italy. The couple got married in a Konkani-Brahmin style where the bride looked stunning in a red and gold lehenga whereas her groom looked dashing in a white kurta and mundu. Deepika Weds Ranveer: Inside Details About Their Four Hour Long Konkani-Brahmin Wedding! Going by the looks of the first pictures that's surfacing on the internet, it looks like the wedding theme was white and gold. The event was a strictly no-photos one. In fact, to ensure complete privacy, Ranveer and Deepika had beefed up the security and had even instructed the security guards at the wedding venue to cover up the camera lenses on mobile phones of the guests with stickers. Amidst this heavy security cover, a picture of Ranveer Singh dressed as a groom is going viral on social media. Wearing a white Sabyasachi sherwani with gold intricate work on it, Ranveer looks his handsome best. Check out the picture here- Ranveer and Deepika got married as per Konkani-Brahmin traditions in the picturesque location of Lake Como. The wedding was a close-knot affair with only about 30-40 guests in attendance. Reportedly, the priest who carried out the rituals for Deepika-Ranveer's Konkani-Brahmin wedding was flown in all the way from India. He was seen performing Hindu rituals and chanting mantras with the couple doing exactly what was told to them by him. According to a Filmfare report, all the family members got emotional during the varmala vidhi. Ranveer-Deepika Wedding: These Dishes Were Served For Lunch At Their Konkani-Brahmin Wedding The wedding ceremony followed for four hours after which the couple enjoyed a luncheon comprising of authentic Konkani Mangalorean cuisine for which the ambience was decorated with exotic flowers. The newly-weds are now all set to take wedding wows again, this time as per Sindhi traditions. Well, we just can't wait for the couple to officially share few pictures and leave us awstruck. Shivaay Will Be Seen As Shivaansh The producer of Ishqbaaz Gul Khan, while talking to Pinkvilla, said, "Nakuul will be playing Shivaay's son Shivaansh Singh Oberoi post leap." Apparently, following the leap, the show will focus on Shivaansh's love story. Post Leap, This Actor Might Have To Quit According to a few more reports, child actor Aryan Prajapati, who is currently playing the role of Anika's little brother Sahil, might quit the show, as his character will be shown as an older Sahil post the leap. However, when Aryan's mother was approached, she said, "I have no idea about this as I haven't been informed by the production house yet on anything as such." Vikram Singh Chauhan Approached Reportedly, television actor Vikram Singh Chauhan has been approached by the makers of Ishqbaaz to be a part of the show post its leap. He told Bollywoodlife, "Yes, I did get a call from the production house. We had a long discussion about the character and so on. However, nothing is confirmed so far. Nothing is formally on paper." Ishqbaaz To Lose Surbhi Chandna? Yesterday, one of the sources told Pinkvilla that Surbhi Chandna is unhappy with the generation leap and doesn't want to play the role of a mother. If Nakuul is playing Shivika's son's role, it is obvious that Surbhi won't be playing his love interest. Does that mean Surbhi's exit is confirmed? The actress is yet to comment on the same. Post Leap, Ishqbaaz To Get More Interesting! A source told Bollywoodlife, "Ishqbaaaz is a huge property for Star Plus, especially in the foreign market. The channel is trying its best to make the post leap a damn exciting one." Mrunal Thakurs 6 Years Of Journey! Mrunal took to social media to thank everyone for supporting her. She shared a snapshot and wrote, "12th Nov 2012..... that's how I started !..Don't believe it took me 6years to reach where I am today...BUT...Dreams do come true !#LoveSonia #Super30 #Batlahouse And Now #Baahubali !!! I thank each and every one for helping me ,teaching me! And making this journey a beautiful one so far..... #nevergiveup #throwback." - (sic) Mrunal In Netflixs Baahubali Talking about signing up for the role of Sivagami, Mrunal told NDTV, "The process wasn't easy as well. It was a little difficult but somewhere down the line in my head, I knew I was going to be Sivagami because she is a strong character who rules the entire Mahishmati." Its A Dream Come True Experience While speaking at a session during Netflix's ongoing event See What's Next: Asia in Singapore', Mrunal said playing Sivagami in the Netflix series is like a dream-come-true experience for her. She was quoted by IANS as saying, "She's got the sense of motherhood but at the same time she has got the sense of what is right and what is wrong. She treats everybody equal no matter who it is. Through this project I'm living my dream." Mrunal Is Excited About The Project She added, "It's a big treat to work with this team. When I got to know that it was a Netflix project, I was even more excited. I was really very fascinated with the dialogue 'Mera vachan, mera shasan' (My word is my governance). That really attracted me," she said. "For me, he (Rajamouli) is like the director to work with and start my career and to work with him was a delight." Bank of China raised over $1.8 billion on November 13 through a four currency, five tranche deal to support the development of the Greater Bay Area GBA in southern China. Touted by President Xi Jinping as a rival to Silicon Valley in the US, the GBA is the Chinese government's scheme to link the cities of Hong Kong and Macau with nine neighbouring Chinese cities into an integrated economic and business hub. Home to 68 million people, the area had a GDP of $1.3 trillion in 2016 according to data from a KPMG report in September last year, only just behind the Greater Tokyo... SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Last Saturday, GearBest held one of the its biggest event of the year - the "Get closer, save bigger" 2018 Global broadcast carnival for Singles' Day, with 12 YouTubers coming from America, France, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Brazil and Germany and broadcasting the event from GearBest's headquarters in Shenzhen. This was the third 11.11 festival for GearBest and also the first time GearBest brought its global interaction from an offline experience to online broadcasting, marking the kickoff of GearBest to take the initiative in getting closer with consumers and influencers and share the story behind GearBest. A trip inside GearBest On 11th Nov, YouTubers from around the world gathered in GearBest's Shenzhen headquarters to join the opening ceremony and 11.11 celebration. Through face-to-face interaction with GearBest team members and their products, the influencers not only got to know the complete operation process, which transforms a simple idea to an excellent product, but also the GearBest operating philosophy and corporate culture. The YouTubers were invited to visit GearBest warehouse in Pingshan. From smart sorting to voice order and control, the whole 50,000 sqm warehouse is operated under the assistance of intelligent management and it takes less than 100 employees to fully manage everything. Additionally, the YouTubers got to visit the GearBest exhibition room for various popular electronic products, such as Xiaomi smartphones and DJI drones, and give their reviews and usage experiences. As always, GearBest prepared huge amounts of giveaways and sales online to show their appreciation to their fans and followers for always being supportive. Meanwhile, over 50,000 youtubers and influencers around the world were sharing and interacting at the same moment with their fans at home. Although they could not join GearBest on the ground, the internet connected everyone with the celebration as they gave their best wishes for GearBest in the coming years. Record-breaking moment Months of preparation for the broadcast event brought GearBest extensive exposure and engagement. By 12th Nov, the total reach of GearBest 11.11 celebration has topped 8,600,000. Meanwhile, GearBest performed unexpectedly well in the major targeted countries. In Russia, GearBest had the best performance with revenue growing 10 times bigger during the 11.11 festival. As electronic consumer countries, GearBest Japan and Germany also had sensational results with quadrupled sales on 11.11. According to Google Trend, the interest in "GearBest" during the festival became 4 times higher. The event was also supported by brands from the suppliers Dibea, Oclean, Elephone, Poptel, Beelink, FIIDO, Chuwi, Teclast, Tanix, Motospeed and more, some of whose sales were 15 times greater than average daily sales. After the excitement of 11.11, GearBest will begin preparations for the next big anniversary in 2019. According to Pauline Wang, the Senior Marketing Manager of GearBest, the interaction with influencers and YouTubers will still be the highlight. "For 2019, the campaign will focus more on the open platform transformation and brand upgrading. The investment and excitement will be even greater," said Pauline. About GearBest Founded in 2014, GearBest is a leading global cross-border e-commerce B2C website, committed to providing great value shopping experience for global consumers. Bringing global goods to Turkey and exporting Turkish products to the world, GearBest will continuously act as a communication bridge between Turkey and the world. Website: www.gearbest.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784631/GEARBEST_youtubers.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784630/GEARBEST_youtuber_kristian.jpg MOSCOW, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aalto Ventures Program hosts a pitching event for GenerationS & Ilim Group, who are interested in a wide variety of forest industry technologies. 10-15 startups or projects at research stage have an opportunity to pitch to Ilim Group representatives. The most interesting projects will be invited to St. Petersburg in January 2019 to meet face-to-face with Ilim Group board of investors. Ilim Group and GenerationS Russian Corporate Accelerator are scouting for projects aimed at creating innovative technologies and materials that can be implemented in a variety of industries. About Ilim Group: Ilim Group is a leader in Russian pulp and paper industry and one of the industry leaders globally with a wide geography of sales. Ilim Group has three largest pulp and paper mills located in Arkhangelsk and Irkutsk regions, and two modern corrugated box plants in Leningrad and Moscow regions. The Group's mills produce over 75% of all domestically produced market pulp, 20% of cardboard, and 10% of paper. The scope is startups at R&D or higher stage in the following areas: - New cellulose-based materials - New types of packaging - Zero-waste timber harvesting and production. Logistics - New specifications and types of cellulose - New sources of raw materials - Marginal organic products - New materials based on paper and cardboard - Digital & AI - Production process optimization For more information: http://ilim.generation-startup.ru/en/ How to apply: Send your applications to sami.tuomi@aalto.fi as a single file (PDF, Word or PowerPoint) that contains the following information: 1. Contact details - Company/project name - Contact person - Phone number - Email address 2. Brief description of product/technology 3. Presentation of the project - Product-oriented explanation of technology/innovation - How the technology fits Ilim's current business - What is the company looking for? (investment, sales, proof of concept, etc.) - Current status, target market, confirmed interest from buyers, key team members What: AVP presents: GENSTalks - Ilim Group Accelerator in Finland When:November 20th 2018 Where: Atrium, TUAS building, Maarintie 8, Espoo About GenerationS: GenerationS is a platform for corporate acceleration tools that is held by RVC since 2013. To date, the accelerator infrastructure includes more than 14,000 startups from 30 countries, 400 corporate and ecosystem partners. In 2018, GenerationS became the first Russian accelerator to become a part of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN) Accelerator community. http://en.generation-startup.ru/ An investment in the offered shares involves substantial risks and uncertainties. Prospective investors should read the entire Prospectus that will be prepared by the Company, and, in particular, should see the section "Risk Factors" of the Prospectus for a discussion of certain factors that should be considered in connection with an investment in the offered shares. The risk factors that will be described in the Prospectus will include the risks that Sequana Medical has incurred operating losses, negative operating cash flows and an accumulated deficit since inception and may not be able to achieve or subsequently maintain profitability, that Sequana Medical's future financial performance will depend on the commercial acceptance of the alfapump (Sequana Medical's only commercial-stage product to date), the alfapump DSR and/or any future products in target markets, that Sequana Medical will likely require additional funds in the future in order to meet its capital and expenditure needs and further financing may not be available when required or could significantly limit Sequana Medical's access to additional capital, and that, not taking into account any proceeds of the Offering, Sequana Medical does not have sufficient working capital to meet its working capital needs for a period of at least 12 months from the date of the Prospectus. All of these factors should be considered before investing in the offered shares. Prospective investors must be able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the offered shares and should be able to sustain a partial or total loss of their investment. Press Release UK NICE recommends use of the alfapumpfor the treatment of refractory ascites caused by cirrhosis under special arrangements Ghent, BELGIUM - November 15, 2018 - Sequana Medical NV ("Sequana Medical", the "Company"), a commercial stage medical device company focused on the development of innovative treatment solutions for the management of liver disease, heart failure, malignant ascites and other fluid imbalance disorders, announces today that the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ("NICE") has published updated Interventional Procedures Guidance ("IPG") supporting the use of the alfapump for the treatment of refractory ascites caused by cirrhosis. The updated IPG recommends use of the alfapump under "special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research" and replaces the previous guidance of February 2014 recommending the alfapump for "research use only". The updated guidance is a result of the additional safety, efficacy and quality of life data published for the alfapump. Ascites, a key complication of liver cirrhosis, is the accumulation of ascitic fluid in the abdomen. Patients may accumulate as much as 10 to 15 litres of ascitic fluid within the abdomen every 15 days. Patients suffering from liver refractory ascites have limited treatment options and often have severely impacted quality of life due to the severe swelling of the abdomen, resulting in pain, difficulty breathing, moving, sleeping and eating, severe nausea and constipation. Existing treatment options for refractory ascites carry the risk of significant or life-threatening side effects, provide only short-term symptomatic relief or have very limited availability. The alfapump is a fully-implanted, programmable, wireless, CE-marked system that automatically pumps ascites from the peritoneal cavity into the bladder, where the body eliminates the ascites naturally through urination. Clinical studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in the need for large volume paracentesis, which is paracentesis where at least 5 litres of fluid is removed (i.e., the current standard of care), and a significant improvement in patients' quality of life. The new IPG recommends patient selection for the alfapump to be done in specialist centers, by clinicians experienced in managing liver disease and in the various options available for managing ascites. "Refractory ascites has a huge effect on a patient's quality of life" commented Judi Rhys, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust. "Those affected report feelings of isolation and depression as they cannot do their daily activities. The updated NICE guidance for the use of the alfapump in patients suffering from this debilitating complication of liver disease is an important step forward for the patient community and their caregivers. We are enthused by the possible reduced hospital admissions and improved quality of life this new treatment option may offer." "The NICE guidance reinforces our strong conviction that the alfapump has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of patients suffering from refractory ascites" said Ian Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer at Sequana Medical. "We are strongly committed to making the alfapump available to those patients in need of a better alternative treatment that gives them and their family the chance of living a normal life again. The forecast growth in cirrhosis and refractory ascites as a result of NASH makes the need for a modern and convenient treatment option all the more important." The offering KBC Securities and Kempen & Co are acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners. Mirabaud has been appointed as Lead Manager. Subject to the approval of the prospectus by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority ("FSMA") and market conditions, it is expected that the price range, as well as other details of the Offering will be published when the Offering period is expected to commence. After its approval, the prospectus is expected to be made available at the Company's registered office and on the websites of Sequana Medical (www.sequanamedical.com) and KBC Securities NV/SA (www.kbc.be/sequana, www.bolero.be/nl/sequana and www.kbcsecurities.com.) The Offering is expected to consist of (i) a public offering in Belgium and (ii) private placements to institutional and other qualified investors in Belgium and elsewhere outside the United States. In the United States, only qualified institutional buyers are expected to be eligible, in accordance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Contacts: Sequana Medical Lies Vanneste Director IR Tel: +32 Consilium Strategic Communications Alexandra Harrison, Sukaina Virji, Laura Thornton Tel: +44 ENDS Note to Editors About the NICE guidance for the alfapump The publication of the interventional procedures guidance has recommended use of the alfapump for the treatment of refractory ascites caused by cirrhosis, with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research. More information can be found on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg631 . About British Liver Trust The British Liver Trust is the leading UK patient organisation supporting adults with liver disease and their families across the UK. They offer information and support, including a telephone Helpline, a range of publications and an online community with over 13,000 members. This is a nurse moderated forum where patients can access peer to peer support and discuss a range of topics including refractory ascites. For further information, please visit www.britishlivertrust.org.uk . About Sequana Medical Sequana Medical is a commercial stage medical device company focused on the development of innovative treatment solutions for the management of liver disease, heart failure, malignant ascites and other fluid imbalance disorders. Sequana Medical's alfapump is a fully implantable, programmable, wirelessly-charged, battery-powered system that is CE-marked for the management of i) refractory ascites (chronic fluid build-up in the abdomen) due to liver cirrhosis and ii) malignant ascites (with a life expectancy of six months or less). The number of patients with liver refractory ascites is forecast to increase dramatically due to the growing prevalence of NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis). Over 650 alfapump systems have been implanted and since April 2018, the alfapump has been included in the EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver) clinical practice guidelines for decompensated cirrhosis. The alfapump MOSAIC North American IDE feasibility study in patients with liver refractory or recurrent ascites has been completed and initial results were presented at the AASLD (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases) in October 2017. The alfapump has not yet received regulatory approval in the United States (the "U.S."). The alfapump is one of the first safe and effective, long-term alternatives to large-volume paracentesis which is a lengthy, invasive and painful procedure, only providing short-term symptomatic relief, requiring hospital visits and placing a significant burden on the healthcare system and patient quality of life. By automatically and continuously moving ascites to the bladder, where the body eliminates it naturally through urination, the alfapump prevents fluid build-up and its possible complications, improving patient quality of life and nutrition, and potentially reducing hospital visits and healthcare costs. The alfapump DirectLink technology allows clinicians to receive pump performance information and more effectively manage patients treated by the alfapump. Sequana Medical is developing the alfapump DSR, built upon the proven alfapump platform, to deliver a convenient and fully implanted system for Direct Sodium Removal therapy ("DSR"), a novel and proprietary approach for the management of volume overload in heart failure. Data from animal studies presented at EuroPCR 2018 and HFSA 2018 indicate that DSR therapy is effective and safe. Treatment of volume overload in diuretic-resistant heart failure patients is a major clinical challenge. There are an estimated one million hospitalisations due to heart failure in the U.S. each year, of which 90% are due to symptoms of volume overload. The estimated cost of heart failure-related hospitalisations in the U.S. is $13 billion. Sequana Medical is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium and investors include NeoMed Management, LSP. Important Regulatory Disclaimer Any statement in this press release about safety and efficacy of the alfapump does not apply to the U.S. and Canada because the device is currently undergoing clinical investigation in these territories. Important Information This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for shares of Sequana Medical NV (the "Company"). Any purchase of, subscription for or application for, shares in the Company to be issued in connection with the intended offering that was announced by the Company on 8 November 2018 should only be made on the basis of information contained in the prospectus in connection with the intended offering and any supplements thereto, as the case may be (the "Prospectus"). This announcement is not a prospectus. The information contained in this announcement is for informational purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. Investors should not subscribe for any securities referred to in this document except on the basis of information contained in the Prospectus that the Company expects to publish after its approval by the Belgian Financial Services Markets Authority. The Prospectus will contain detailed information about the Company and its business, management, risks associated with investing in the Company, as well as financial statements and other financial data. This announcement cannot be used as basis for any investment agreement or decision. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or to any U.S. person within the meaning of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). It does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities mentioned herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The Company has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the intended offering of the offered shares in the United States, and does not intend to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. This announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons in member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") other than Belgium who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in the relevant Member State of the EEA, and together with any implementing measure in each relevant Member State of the EEA, the "Prospectus Directive"). In addition, in the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities, etc. falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, and (iii) any other person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The intended offering, as the case may be, will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise acquire securities will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents. This announcement and the information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities of the Company and it does not constitute a prospectus or a similar communication within the meaning of article 752, 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. This announcement and the information contained herein are not for publication, distribution or release in, or into, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where to do so would be prohibited by applicable law. The date of completion of listing on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels may be influenced by things such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that such listing will occur and investors should not base their financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to such listing at this stage. Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing the entire amount invested. Persons considering such investments should consult an authorised person specialising in advising on such investments. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the intended offering. The value of the shares can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the intended offering for the person concerned. No action has been taken by the Company that would permit an offer of Company's shares or the possession or distribution of these materials or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction outside of Belgium where action for that purpose is required. The release, publication or distribution of these materials in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which they are released, published or distributed, should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. The issue, the subscription for or purchase of shares of the Company can be subject to special legal or statutory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. The Company is not liable if the aforementioned restrictions are not complied with by any person. The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategies, plans, objectives, targets, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, its results of operations, prospects, growth, strategies and dividend policy and the industry in which the Company operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. New risks can emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such risks, nor can the Company assess the impact of all such risks on its business or the extent to which any risks, or combination of risks and other factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Given these risks and uncertainties, the reader should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Without prejudice to the Company's obligations under applicable law in relation to disclosure and ongoing information, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update forward-looking statements. KBC Securities NV/SA, Kempen & Co N.V. and Mirabaud Securities Limited (the "Underwriters") are acting for the Company and no one else in relation to the intended offering, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections offered to their respective clients nor for providing advice in relation to the intended offering. The Company assumes responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. None of the Underwriters or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Each of the Underwriters and each of their respective affiliates accordingly disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement or any such statement or information. No representation or warranty express or implied, is made by any of the Underwriters or any of their respective affiliates as to the accuracy, completeness, verification or sufficiency of the information set out in this announcement, and nothing in this announcement will be relied upon as a promise or representation in this respect, whether or not to the past or future. ZURICH and BOSTON, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BC Platforms, a world leader in secure genomic data management and analytics, announces an agreement with Nashville Biosciences, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), to make summary data about BioVU , one of the world's most comprehensive clinico-genomic research databases, available through its global biobank platform, BCRQUEST.com. Created by VUMC, BioVU provides unparalleled clinical insights and resources to biomedical researchers in both academic and industry settings through a de-identified clinico-genomic research database containing robust, longitudinal clinical data and approximately 250,000 bio-banked DNA samples. BC Platforms provides its BCRQUEST.com platform, a streamlined solution for secure data sharing, analytics and governance, enabling greater collaboration for scientific innovation and precision medicine. This new agreement will link summary data about BioVU to BC Platforms' bioanalytics platform, allowing researchers to securely perform queries to rapidly estimate counts for a potential study cohort and determine the feasibility of the study without wasting time or effort. Researchers will then work with Nashville Biosciences and other biobanks participating in BCRQUEST.com to conduct their desired study. With more than 20 years of experience in securely managing genomic and phenotypic data, BC Platforms has developed unique technology capable of providing researchers with tools to browse and analyze summary level information from data providers, such as biobanks, who have subscribed to the service. Leeland Ekstrom, PhD, COO of Nashville Biosciences said, "In-depth genetic analysis has become essential in life science R&D. With drug development costs forecast to double every nine years, we need more than ever to improve R&D productivity and uncover new ways to diagnose and care for diseases more efficiently. Working with BC Platforms' will extend the impact of BioVU to support researchers in efficient drug and diagnostics discovery and development, while still protecting the integrity of the biobank and the data it has been entrusted with." Tero Silvola CEO of BC Platforms commented, "The creation of Nashville Biosciences as the commercial interface by VUMC to allow streamlined access to one of the world's largest and most unique datasets was a very progressive move. Using our BCRQUEST.com platform, biobanks can select which data from their collections to showcase in a secure and compliant manner to the world's largest pharmaceutical R&D teams in order to establish future research projects. The life science industry benefits from this global pool of harmonized biobank data - now totaling two million subjects - to gain scientific insights with the goal of reducing drug development timelines and bringing benefits to patients worldwide." About BC Platforms BC Platforms is a world leader in providing powerful genomic data management and analysis solutions. Our high performing genomic data management platform enables flexible data integration, secure analysis and interpretation of molecular and clinical information. The company has launched and opened a global network of biobanks, known as BCRQUEST.COM, to provide genomic and clinical cohort data for pharmaceutical and medical research and development. BC Platforms' vision is to build the world's leading analytics platform for healthcare and industry by 2020, providing access to diverse genomic and clinical data and samples from more than 5 million subjects consolidated from a global network of biobanks. Founded in 1997 from an MIT Whitehead project spinoff, the Company has a strong scientific heritage underpinned by over 20 years of working in close collaboration with a network of leading researchers, developers, manufacturers and vendors. BC Platforms has global operations with its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, research and development in Espoo, Finland, and sales and marketing in London, Boston, and Vancouver. For more information, please visit www.bcplatforms.com or follow us on Twitter @BCPlatforms. About Nashville Biosciences Nashville Biosciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), was created to harness the Medical Center's extensive genomic and bioinformatics resources for drug and diagnostics discovery and development. Leveraging Vanderbilt University Innovation, Nashville Biosciences serves as a commercial interface between outside companies and the formidable research capabilities housed within VUMC, including BioVU, one of the world's most comprehensive genetic databases linked to de-identified medical records with years of longitudinal clinical data. This unique asset is one of the largest and highest quality of its kind, providing an unprecedented opportunity to guide R&D activity in biotech, pharma, diagnostics, medical devices and other life sciences applications. For more information, please visit http://www.nashville.bio/ or follow us on Twitter @NashvilleBio. Contact information: BC Platforms: Tero Silvola BC Platforms AG tero.silvola@bcplatforms.com Katja Stout Scius Communications katja@sciuscommunications.com Nashville Biosciences: John Howser john.howser@vumc.org IMC Exploration Group Plc ("IMC" or the "Company" or the "Group") Drilling Programme IMC Exploration Group Plc announces that priority drilling has commenced a drilling programme on its highly prospective Avoca property, PL 3849 in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. This prospecting licence lies on the Avoca mineralised belt and on its interpreted NE extension located in the core of the Caledonian para-tectonic belt of SE Ireland. IMC Chairman Eamon O'Brien said, 'In recent months IMC has been preparing a Mineral Resource Estimate in conjunction with Trove Metal Limited. We are delighted with progress made to date on this. Further, the commencement of this drilling campaign on our Avoca licence area is very exciting. The anomalous zones of interest have considerable untested strike potential.' IMC Exploration Group Plc, Dublin, 15th November 2018 The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for this announcement. END Enquiries : IMC Exploration Group Plc Mr. Eamon O'Brien: Tel. Ireland: +353 87 6183024 Ms. Kathryn Byrne: Tel. Ireland: +353 85 2336033 Keith, Bayley, Rogers & Co. Limited Graham Atthill-Beck: Tel: +44 20 7464 4091/+44 750 643 4107/+971 50 856 9408 E-mail: Graham.Atthill-Beck@kbrl,co.uk Brinsley Holman: Tel: +44 207 464 4098 E-mail: Brinsley.Holman@kbrl.co.uk PRESS RELEASE 15 November 2018 WENTWORTH RESOURCES PLC ("Wentworth" or the "Company") Corporate and Operational Update Wentworth, the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE:WEN) and AIM (AIM:WEN) listed independent, East Africa-focused oil & gas company, today provides both a Corporate and Operational Update. Further to the 14 October 2018 RNS, the Oslo Stock Exchange has approved the delisting application made by Wentworth as of 14 November 2018. The Company will be delisted from the Oslo Brs on 14 February 2019 with the last day of trading being 13 February 2019. The Company will in due course publish further information about the delisting relevant for shareholders of the Company whose Securities are registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository and traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The Company is pleased to inform shareholders that payments received in October 2018 for gas sales generated from the Mnazi Bay Concession totaled $3.78 million net to Wentworth. Payments were received from both Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation ("TPDC") and Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited ("TANESCO") for one month's gas sales to TPDC and one month's gas sales to TANESCO. The Company also reports that gross production volumes during October averaged 82 MMscf/d following September average production volumes of 83 MMscf/d. September and October 2018 production volumes were lower than normal due to planned slickline well activities on Mnazi Bay, in addition to repair and maintenance operations associated with the Kinyerezi Power Facilities and extension of a feeder connection to customers in Mkuraganga. A return to production levels closer to 90 MMscf/day are expected during the second half of November 2018, with the Company likely to exceed the previously guided average for 2018 of 65 - 75 MMscf/d. Since commencement of production into the new Tanzanian trans-national pipeline system in August 2015 and subsequent regular receipt of payments from TPDC and TANESCO, the Joint Venture Partners have been consistently recovering pre-agreed allocations of the TPDC long-term receivable. As a result of stabilised production and consistency of payments, historically incurred operating expenses within the cost recovery pool (and certain joint-exploration expenditures) have now been fully recovered. The Operator's exploration costs are next in line for repayment, commencing with the Ziwani-1 Exploration well and associated 3D seismic costs. Pursuant to a 2009 farm-out agreement entered into between Artumas Group Inc ("Artumas"), Cove Energy Tanzania Mnazi Bay Limited ("Cove Energy") and Les Establishments Maurel et Prom ("Maurel et Prom"), the 2012 Ziwani-1 well and associated 3D seismic costs were paid by Maurel et Prom and Cove Energy as part consideration for their entry into the Mnazi Bay asset, thereby fully carrying Artumas (the "Wentworth Carry"). The net Wentworth Carry is $8.4 million. Pursuant to the Joint Operating and Farm-Out Agreements, the Wentworth Carry is recovered by Maurel et Prom, post operating, but prior all exploration and development expenditures from cost gas sales. Wentworth expect Maurel et Prom to fully recover the Ziwani-1 well and associated seismic costs from their adjusted allocation of the TPDC receivable over the next nine months. The Company notes that ongoing operating costs continue to be recovered in preference to all other costs, minimally offsetting the impact of the prioritised recovery of the Wentworth Carry. Eskil Jersing, Chief Executive Officer, commented: 'I am delighted that the Oslo Stock Exchange has approved our delisting application, with no restrictions. We are highly appreciative of the support of our Norwegian investors through this period of transition and hope that will continue through this next phase of growth for Wentworth. The scheduled repairs and maintenance on Mnazi Bay and associated infrastructure, were completed on time and production levels are expected to return to around 90 MMscf/d in the second half of November. The Joint Venture partners continue to work with all stakeholders on the four key value catalysts, referred to in the 3 October 2018 RNS, to ensure that all parties derive maximum value from the Mnazi Bay Field. Our Mnazi Bay asset continues to outperform in a surging, demand led landscape and the Company has made great strides in moving to a simpler Corporate platform through 2018. We look forward to updating investors on our continued progress in due course.' -Ends- Enquiries: Wentworth Bob McBean, Executive Chairman Eskil Jersing, Chief Executive Officer Katherine Roe, Chief Financial Officer rpm@wentworthresources.com (mailto:rpm@wentworthresources.com) eskil.jersing@wentworthresources.com (mailto:eskil.jersing@wentworthresources.com) +44 7717 847623 katherine.roe@wentworthresources.com (mailto:katherine.roe@wentworthresources.com) +44 7841 087 230 Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited AIM Nominated Adviser and Broker (UK) Callum Stewart Ashton Clanfield Simon Mensley +44 (0) 20 7710 7600 Peel Hunt LLP Broker (UK) Richard Crichton Ross Allister +44 (0) 20 7418 8900 Vigo Investor Relations Adviser (UK) Patrick d'Ancona Chris McMahon +44 (0) 20 7930 0230 About Wentworth Resources Wentworth Resources is a publicly traded (OSE: WEN, AIM: WEN), independent oil & gas company with natural gas production; exploration and appraisal opportunities, all in the Rovuma Delta Basin of coastal southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique. Inside Information The information contained within this announcement is deemed by Wentworth to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 ("MAR"). On the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking information. The words "expect", "anticipate", believe", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "forecast", "plan", and similar expressions are used to identify forward looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made in light of management's experience, current conditions and expected future development in the areas in which Wentworth is currently active and other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Wentworth undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcome will not occur, including some of which are beyond Wentworth's control. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in exploration, development and production, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the imprecision of resource and reserve estimates, assumptions regarding the timing and costs relating to production and development as well as the availability and price of labour and equipment, volatility of and assumptions regarding commodity prices and exchange rates, marketing and transportation risks, environmental risks, competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in applicable law. Additionally, there are economic, political, social and other risks inherent in carrying on business in Tanzania and Mozambique. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. See Wentworth's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017, available on Wentworth's website, for further description of the risks and uncertainties associated with Wentworth's business. Notice Neither the Oslo Stock Exchange nor the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange has reviewed this press release and neither accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. 181115 Press Release (http://hugin.info/136496/R/2225764/873198.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: Wentworth Resources Plc via Globenewswire AEDAS Homes earned 5.5 million in the first 9 months of 2018 The homebuilder's gross margin is 29%, at the higher end of guidance The company reported revenues of 55.4 million on the delivery of its first housing units and the sale of non-strategic land The developer has confirmed solid progress and the execution of its business plan: it has already delivered 85% of the units slated for 2018 and sold 74% of those planned for 2019 November 2018- AEDAS Homes, a leading developer in the new real estate cycle in Spain, earned 5.5 million of net income in the first 9 months of 2018, compared with 3.6 million for the first half of the year. The company reported these figures to the CNMV (Spanish Securities Market Commission), after having become, in the previous quarter, the first among its peers to announce profits, just eight months after its IPO and earlier than expected. The parent company's net income, after deducting minority interests, was 4.2 million. Between January and September, AEDAS Homes reported revenues of 55.4 million, with 86% coming from the delivery of housing units and 14% from the sale of non-strategic land. The gross margin for these transactions was 29%, a figure at the upper end of the estimated range in the IPO, thereby confirming AEDAS Homes as an attractive investment option. The company has also managed to significantly lower its cost of debt by diversifying its financing sources. Additionally, the company issued 26 million worth of promissory notes to finance the company's working capital, obtained a 150 million corporate loan that has been only partially drawn down, and repaid a portion of its higher-cost debt, resulting in 1.88% as the current cost of debt. On September 30, 2018, AEDAS Homes had a net financial debt of 46.9 million. According to David Martinez, CEO of AEDAS Homes, "The company is continuing to beat targets and deliver higher than expected margins, which allows us to be optimistic as to the coming months and continue carrying out our business plan." Executing the business plan The company continues to report excellent visibility on its business plan. It has already delivered 85% of the homes scheduled for 2018 and sold 74% of those slated for delivery in 2019, and construction works remain on track, thereby confirming that AEDAS Homes is reaching its stated targets. Between July and October of this year, the developer put 992 new homes on the market, with a GDV of 317 million, marking a significant acceleration in the ramp-up phase. Since it began operating in 2017, AEDAS Homes has launched a total of 3,982 units, with a GDV equivalent of 1.46 billion. In terms of sales, as of October 31, the company had sold 1,852 units, with an estimated GDV of 648 million. By region, sales were very strong in the Center (29%), followed by the East and Balearic Islands (26%), and Catalonia (21%). As of October 31, the company had 2,260 units under construction, out of a total 2,638 units with planning permission already secured (including completed units). Planning permission for an additional 3,009 units has been requested and is expected to be granted within the next eight months, further strengthening confidence that the company will continue to confirm guidance for 2018, 2019 and 2020. It is worth noting that construction works on the Nou Eixample Mar development in Vilanova i la Geltru (Barcelona) were extremely efficient and completed ahead of schedule, making it possible to move up the delivery of some units to the end of 2018, instead of in 2019 as planned. "All of these numbers," explains Martinez, "show the company's tremendous operating capacity, thanks to our dedicated team of professionals and their extensive industry experience." Land bank for 14,521 homes AEDAS Homes has updated the figures for its land bank, which analysts classify as the best in Spain in terms of quality. The developer has a portfolio of land for up to 14,521 homes; approximately 90% of the plots are classified as ready-to-build. 35% of these assets are located in the Center region, 18% in the East and Balearic Islands, 16% in Costa del Sol, 16% in Andalusia and 15% in Catalonia, the five most dynamic residential markets in the country. About AEDAS Homes The developer AEDAS Homes became a listed company on October 20, 2017, in Madrid, with a market capitalization of over 1.5 billion. AEDAS is an industry leader at the national level and plays an important role in the new cycle of the Spanish real estate sector, which must be marked by professionalism and an adherence to rigorous standards. AEDAS Homes has the highest-quality land bank in Spain, according to analysts, since most of this land is classified as ready-to-build. The company has a portfolio with more than 1.5 million square meters to build over 14,500 homes in the nation's key markets and their surrounding areas (both in terms of real estate and finance): the Center, Catalonia, the East and Balearic Islands, Andalusia and Costa del Sol. For additional information: aedashomes.com AEDAS HOmes 3Q Results (http://hugin.info/176480/R/2225790/873207.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: AEDAS Homes S.A.U. via Globenewswire Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) - M2 Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: MC) (OTCQB: MCCBF) (FSE: A0K) (the "Company") is pleased to announce it is expanding its recently announced drill program with the mobilization of a second drill to its Bombo license, located at Bujagali. This drill will conduct an initial program of diamond core drilling at Bombo. The Company's successful Phase I work program included the discovery of three key target areas on this license (Bombo, Bombo NW and Bombo Central) with ultramafic mineralization and highly anomalous nickel, copper and cobalt rock and soil samples (see below). The Phase 1 program at Bombo included in-depth fieldwork comprised of detailed geochemical sampling (rock grabs, soils and trenching) and in-depth geophysics, including a VTEM Helicopter Borne Survey. Subsequent work includes infill sampling and gravity surveys. The table below lists the highlights from each target at Bombo (up to date maps summarizing this information can be found at the Company's web site at www.m2cobalt.com/index.php/projects/Bujagali): Table - Bombo Highlights Target Name Size (meters) Highlights Bombo 1km by 1.15km Ni/Cu/Co anomaly.Includes soil samples with 0.09% Co and 0.18% Ni; rock grab samples with 1% Cu and 0.68% Co.Coincidental magnetic anomaly and electromagnetic anomalies. Trench results (21m @ 0.26% Ni; 20m @ 0.22% Ni and 0.51% Cu; individual 1m rock sample with 0.5% Ni) Bombo NW 950m by 650m Ni/Cu/Co anomaly.Possibly 2 intrusions.Includes soil samples with 0.14% Ni; rock grab samples with 0.15% Ni, 0.28% Cu and 0.18% Co.Coincidental magnetic, electromagnetic and gravity anomalies. Bombo Central TBD Ni/Cu/Co anomaly.Possibly 2 intrusions.Includes soil samples with 0.1% Ni and 0.13% Co; rock grab samples with 0.13% Ni.Coincidental magnetic anomaly. Following the success of these results, the Company is finalizing locations for drill collars at Bombo and Bombo NW and has also launched an induced polarization ("IP") program. It is anticipated the IP program will conclude shortly and that a drill will be mobilized to Bombo within the next 10 days. Simon Clarke, CEO of the Company said, "the goal for our initial drill program is to test the 3 distinct styles of mineralization we have across our large asset base in Uganda. As announced in late October, we mobilized a first drill to our Kilembe-area properties targeting the 2 large, high priority conductors identified through the VTEM Survey flown earlier this year. The drill program is underway, and we anticipate initial results before year-end. We continue to make strong progress at our Buajagli properties. Our ongoing work has expanded and further defined existing targets as well as made new discoveries. We are excited to mobilize a second drill (within 10 days) with the initial focus being our ultramafic nickel-copper-cobalt targets at Bombo and Bombo NW, where our trenching program showed widespread ultramafic mineralization with samples up to 0.5% Ni, 0.68% Co and 1% Cu at surface. Following the drill program at Bombo, our current plan is to move the drill to our Waragi and Nile targets to test the sediment-hosted, Katanga-style mineralization which we believe has the potential to represent a large, regional cobalt-copper play." About M2Cobalt M2 Cobalt Corp. is focused on discovering and developing world-class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. The Company has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production and on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates. Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry. The Company has a highly experienced management team and board of directors, which has been involved in funding and advancing resource projects globally. Further information on the Company and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Technical Advisor of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For further information, contact Simon Clarke at sclarke@m2cobalt.com or Andy Edelmeier at andy@m2cobalt.com On behalf of the Board, M2 COBALT CORP. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer 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. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to exploration work to be undertaken in Uganda, the reliability of third party information, and certain other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. STOCKHOLM, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --The problem with bar waste is real. The bars in London alone produce 800 000 tons of waste every year. 'The Green Hustle' is a new initiative with the mission to reduce bars waste. The initiative aims to inspire bartenders to be more sustainable by teaching fun and simple "hustles" that they can instigate today. "Very few consumers associate bars with sustainability, but I think we will soon see the awakening of a more responsible cocktail-era. And reducing waste is pretty simple. Turn disregarded fruit into stock, ditch the plastics, start composting - and join the movement", says Bex Almqvist, Co-creator of the Green Hustle and Global Marketing Manager On Trade at Absolut Vodka. The conversation about food waste and sustainable practices in the restaurant has been prevalent for a while. Just recently, the movement has also slowly been making its way into the bar world, with bars such as Dandelyan (London), Honeycut (Los Angeles) and Trashtiki (pop-up) as forerunners. And the challenge with bar waste is real. The 800 000 yearly tons of bar waste in London only is more than the combined weight of the city's total population. One plastic straw takes 200 years to decompose and about 8,5 billion straws are wasted in the UK alone each year. There are 50 000 bars in the UK, 60 000 bars in the US and 260 000 in Spain - that is a lot of waste. The Green Hustle is a new global bartender engagement platform initiated by former bartender Bex Almqvist together with the anti-waste bartender duo Trashtiki and bartender Hampus Thunholm from renowned restaurant Faviken in Sweden. The Green Hustle aims to inspire and enable bartenders around the world to be more sustainable in the bar by showcasing ready-to-implement tools and benefits in a fun and inspiring way. The initiative currently lives online at www.thegreenhustle.com and in seminar format, but will soon expand into new channels. See next page for inspirational tips for reducing bar waste, some low-waste cocktail recipes and for a list of best practice-bars where you can have delicious cocktails without being wasteful. "The Green Hustle is all about inspiring bartenders to get involved in applying easy, ready to be implemented hacks in their bars, that in the end of the day is both beneficial to the environment, our industry and their bottom line. The program is created by bartenders for bartenders with the objective to instigate change. Sustainability is an overwhelming topic, we hope with the Green Hustle to make it less daunting and more accessible for everyone - the smallest act can make a big impact and you can have fun and be inventive along the way", says Bex Almqvist. Sustainability has been a priority for Absolut Vodka from the start. Having one the most energy efficient distilleries in the world, they generate 96% less CO2 emissions per liter than the average distillery. Absolut is something rare in the world of vodkas, as it is a one source vodka. This is not only a quality guarantee, but a prerequisite for environmental work that results in complete control from seed to bottle. Watch the film "The S-word" about Bex and her passion for sustainability here. The Green Hustle lists... 7 ways to save the world - drink by drink A few simple examples of what you can do in your bar today, these are tips that can be instantly instigated. Turn disregarded fruit into stock: Citrus is the most common, and most wasted ingredient, and to bartenders what bones are to chefs. So get stewing and make some citrus stock. Ditch the plastics: Forget plastic straws: use tasting spoons instead when taste testing and definitely don't use anything but compostable or recyclable straws in drinks! Recycle: Recycle glass. Recycle paper. Recycle tin cans. Recycle everything you can get your hands on. Refreeze/Melted ice: refreeze melted ice at the end of the night and use it the next day. It has already been filtered so the hard part is done for you. Composting: But better than that, start getting your mind focused on composting, it's like the ultimate Green Hustle Level Up for any bar. Put a lid on it: Put lids on your bins, and use landfill stickers and marine life stickers on your bins. End single-use ingredients: Think of your ingredients as a whole and think of how many ways it can be used. Take a lemon for example, you can juice it, pickle it, peel it and use it as a garnish. 7 sustainable bars Dandelyan, London Cub, London Broken Shaker, Miami Native, Singapore Honeycut, Los Angeles Svartklubb by Faviken, Are TrashTiki, pop-up 6 low-waste cocktails: http://www.thegreenhustle.com/en/drinks/ Contact: For more infortmaion, please contact: Ulrika Lovdahl, Senior Manager Corporate Communications Phone: +46-70-347-7187 Email: ulrika.lovdahl@pernod.ricard.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/the-absolut-company/r/saving-the-world---cocktail-by-cocktail,c2669545 The following files are available for download: WARSAW, Poland and MECHELEN, Belgium and PARIS, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rydoo, the all-in-one travel & expense management platform, has today announced the opening of two offices in Manila and Lisbon. Already operating in 63 markets and servicing more than 6500 customers, Rydoo thus continues its expansion in the Asia-Pacific market and strengthens its foothold in Europe. "Business travel and expense management is booming (forecasts anticipate a further 7.1% increase in spending in 2018 to reach US$1.7 trillion by 2022*). The market is looking for a global solution that employees can easily adopt across the globe," explains Sebastien Marchon, CEO of Rydoo. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/741195/Rydoo_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784866/Rydoo_Manila.jpg ) Time to strengthen Rydoo's presence in Asia... Headquartered in Paris, Mechelen and Warsaw, Rydoo has already made several steps with a view to bringing its expense and business travel expertise to the APAC region. In order to strengthen its position within this market, the company is opening a hub in Manilla with a twofold objective: to better serve its existing global clients operating in the area and to support the growing local demand for a travel & expense management solution. With over 6500 enterprise clients, the company has a proven local track record with several references in the region. and to reinforce its position in EU Within Europe, Lisbon is becoming a tech start-up hub, boasting talented workers with an entrepreneurial mindset. In order to further enhance Rydoo's international success, the Portuguese capital will host the company's 4th European hub (with Paris, Mechelen and Warsaw the previous venues). The corp-up is targeting to onboard 20 new employees by January 2019; a wide range of job opportunities is available, including Sales Development Representative and Customer Success Manager. Rydoo is seeking talented individuals who speak different languages & benefit from various professional backgrounds. "We have experienced an accelerated growth since the launch of Rydoo five months ago. The time is right for us to expand our presence in Asia-Pacific and open new hubs. Manila and Lisbon are great places when it comes to innovation and talent," explains Sebastien Marchon, CEO of Rydoo. Didier Dumont, CEO of Sodexo Mobility and Expense shares: "Our ambition is that Rydoo becomes one of the leading players in the travel and expense management market, on a global scale. By allowing companies and employees to tackle time-consuming administrativetasks and to focus on what really matters, Rydoo - a Sodexo corp-up - enhances organizations' performance." Rydoo has a workforce of 300 staff, representing a total of 24 nationalities. *GBTA BTI Outlook - Annual Global Report & Forecast Rydoo.com Download the app and give it a go! Follow us: LinkedIn - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram About Rydoo Rydoo reinvents and simplifies business travel and expense management through the expertise of the two startups from which it emerged: Xpenditure and iAlbatros. With a team of 300 enthusiastic employees, Rydoo operates in more than 60 countries and its 6,500 companies (public and private organizations) benefit from the usability and efficiency of its consumer-oriented app. Rydoo is a Sodexo corp-up, an alliance of two startups and a large corporation. About Sodexo Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo serves 100 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over more than 50 years of experience: from foodservices, reception, maintenance and cleaning, to facilities and equipment management; from services and programs fostering employees' engagement to solutions that simplify and optimize their mobility and expenses management, to in-home assistance, child care centers and concierge services. Sodexo's success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 460,000 employees throughout the world. Sodexo is included in the CAC 40, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices. Media contact:Brigitte Savournin, brigitte.savournin@rydoo.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) - Explorex Resources Inc. (CSE: EX) (FSE: 1XE) (OTC Pink: EXPXF) (the "Company" or "Explorex") is very pleased to announce that it has executed an Amended Letter of Intent with three private Finnish companies (Alandra Oy, Kiviralli Oy and Tetra Ekberg Oy) to acquire the development stage Hautalampi project ("Hautalampi" or "Project") within the renowned Outokumpu Mining Camp of eastern Finland owned by Vulcan Hautalampi Oy (a.k.a. FinnCobalt)(the "Vendor"). Hautalampi is a cobalt enriched nickel-copper sulphide deposit that was a focus of pre-production development in the mid 1980's and extensive engineering supporting a feasibility study in 20091. Given the advanced stage aspect of the deposit, the established infrastructure and nearby mine development and mine operation services, Explorex believes the Project can be fast tracked to become a preferred supplier to the rechargeable battery manufacturing sector should the technical feasibility and economic viability be established. The amended agreement is based on, but substantially different, than the general terms as outlined in a news release dated March 22, 2018. Key Project Highlights A feasibility study 1 was completed in 2009 by a previous operator; was completed in 2009 by a previous operator; Significant pre-production development completed consisting of an 850 metre decline, 1,250 metres of additional underground development and a ventilation raise; Key permits allowing for re-opening of underground workings have been granted; The deposit occurs at a shallow depth of less than 150m below surface; Existing historical Co-Ni-Cu mineral resources and reserves estimates 2 defined by 21 kilometres of drilling; defined by 21 kilometres of drilling; Significant exploration potential extending beyond historical mineral resources 2 ; and ; and Project is located in a mature mining district with personnel, plant and processing options locally available. Gary Schellenberg, CEO stated: "Our exhaustive due diligence has confirmed to us that Hautalampi provides an excellent opportunity to be fast tracked to the development stage should the technical feasibility and economic viability be established. Guided by our work, we have re-written the terms of the LOI to reflect a more standard earn in agreement to acquire 100% and have developed a comprehensive work plan including the preparation of a current resource estimate and revision of the economic assessment under present-day commodity prices and opportune market conditions". Key Corporate Transaction Aspects Extensive diligence is completed, Explorex will now focus on work that will lead to an updated feasibility study; Platform for Growth - the Project will facilitate Explorex's business plan to leapfrog to a development stage company in combination with a diverse range of global cobalt exploration projects; and Overnight Entrant - the Project sets Explorex on a rapid path to become an emerging entrant in the rechargeable battery supply chain. Key Hautalampi Deposit Attributes The Hautalampi deposit was the focus of development in the mid-1980's by Outokumpu Oy during which 2.1 km of underground development was completed, including an 850m decline and initial stope development to access the deposit and extract a 10,000-tonne bulk sample. However, declining commodity prices at that time curtailed advancement to full production. Note 1: In 2009, a feasibility study ("Feasibility Study") was completed by Finn Nickel Oy, a previous owner and operator. The objective was to advance the project to production, but once again, work stopped due to falling metal prices. Of special significance, the Feasibility Study was based on the conventional smelting route, which inherently favors the recovery of Nickel over the Cobalt. A major pursuit of the proposed work program is to perform metallurgical studies on the Ni-Co concentrate to determine the optimal processing path to capitalize on greater cobalt recoveries and the production of a premium product (e.g. nickel and cobalt sulphate). Note 2: The Feasibility Study outlined an historic mineral resource at Hautalampi. Explorex cautions the reader that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to treat these historical estimates as current mineral resources under National Instrument 43-101, the Company has not verified these historical resources and these historic resource estimates should not be regarded as consistent with current standards. The Company includes these historical estimates for information purposes only as they represent material historical data, which have previously been publicly disclosed. The historical mineral resources are summarized in the following table: To view an enhanced version of this table, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1516/41083_4a7812fbb469684d_001full.jpg Historical Mineral Resources Estimate: The exploration potential along trend towards the NE from Hautalampi is considered high. Multiple drill intersections have identified several distinct mineralized zones at different levels along a prospective 2,500 m corridor. The main Hautalampi deposit was the primary focus of the historic drilling and additional drilling will be required to properly define a mineral resource to NI 43-101 standards within this corridor. The geological setting and mineralization of these target zones are similar to the Hautalampi deposit. Additional work including, drilling, metallurgical test work, re-assaying and QC/QA will be required to upgrade the historical resource to current NI 43-101 reporting standards. The Vendor has recently completed an 8-hole drill program to undertake additional metallurgical work. The assay results from this drilling campaign will be reported once received and verified. The Project comprises a 283.5 hectare mining concession, including surface rights, with an environmental and water discharge permit in full force and effect. The permits allow for the dewatering of the mine workings and rehabilitation of the access to the deposit. Agreement Summary The Amended Letter of Intent ("LOI") dated Nov 4, 2018, provides Explorex with staged option to earn a 100% interest over a 4-year period subject to completion of definitive transaction agreements (the "Transaction Agreement" or "TA"). Key terms of the agreement are summarized below (all cash values are in US dollars): Stage Time Cash Share Value Work Obligation Total % Earned On Signing of Transaction Agreement $60,000 $60,000 N/A N/A Stage 1 24 months from singing TA $430,000 $390,000 $3,000,000 25% Stage 2 36 months from signing TA $500,001 $600,000 N/A 51% Stage 3 48 months from signing TA $1,000,002 $2,000,001 N/A 100% In total consideration for the 100% acquisition of Hautalampi, the Company will deliver to the Vendor $1,990,003 in cash payments, $3,050,001 value in shares of the Company and perform US$3 million in exploration expenditures. In addition to the above earn in schedule and upon earning 100%, Explorex will grant to the Vendor a 1.5% net metals royalty and upon declaring commercial production, will issue additional shares having a value of $1,500,000. Since entering into the initial LOI, Explorex has completed an extensive due diligence involving technical, legal and economic aspects of the project and a financial review of the private Finnish company that owns Hautalampi. This review identified opportunities to expand the resources, refine metallurgical work that, if proven successful, could increase revenue by producing value add products directly consumed in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries. Upon completion of the definitive Transaction Agreements, Explorex's priority will be to commence a drilling program this winter that will infill in areas where preliminary mine scheduling has been planned, follow up on several close in identified exploration targets with a focus on expanding the resource base and to collect additional material for metallurgical work, all required elements to update feasibility studies. Project Background The project is located 2 km SW of the town centre of Outokumpu, which is 45 km NW of the regional city of Joensuu, and 375 km NE of Helsinki in south eastern Finland. Infrastructure, labour supply and contractor availability in the immediate area is excellent due to extensive and nearby historic mining activity at both the Keretti poly-metallic mine and Vuonos copper mine. These historic mines gave rise to the Finnish stainless steel and mineral processing technology company, Outokumpu Oyj and Outotec Oyj. Year-round access is provided by a paved road running through the centre of the property, with a number of high voltage power lines present. The Keretti mine, situated within the Project's mining concession, operated from 1913 to 1989 and produced a total of 28.5 Mt grading 3.8% Cu, 0.24% Co, 0.12% Ni, 1.1% Zn, 8.9 ppm Ag and 0.8 ppm Au. The Vuonos mine, located 6 km to the NNE from Keretti, operated from 1972 to 1986 and produced 5.5 Mt of ore grading 2.13% Cu, 1.32% Zn, 0.14% Co, 0.12% Ni and 10 ppm Ag. While these historic mining results have no impact on Hautalampi, they illustrate the extent of historic mining infrastructure in the immediate region. Hautalampi is a hanging-wall Co-Ni-Cu rich mineralised horizon occurring 150 to 200 metres vertically above the historic Keretti mine. Geological Setting/Mineralization The Hautalampi deposit lies within a NE trending 2 km wide horizon of black schists and serpentinite bodies that defines the western margin of the "Outokumpu belt". Mineralisation occurs in tightly folded metamorphic rocks consisting of mainly quartz rocks with anthophyllite-tremolite skarn bands and interlayers with variable amounts of chlorite. In some places the mineralised zone is also hosted by skarned dolomitic rocks. Minor diopside can occur with other skarn minerals. Mineralisation mainly occurs as disseminations in bands due to metamorphosis. Some drill holes indicate that in the NW parts, the mineralisation is cut by the present erosion surface. Mineralisation has a 10 - 55 dip to the SE (averages 25-30). The main part of the mineralisation is some 70-120 m below surface and the deepest parts are 150 m below surface. Maximum thickness of the mineralization is up to 30 m. Mining in Finland Finland consistently ranks in the top three of the Fraser Institute's top global mining investment survey and is highly ranked as an underexplored, stable jurisdiction. Finland only opened its borders to foreign mining investment in the mid-1990s, prior to which all mining and exploration activities were conducted by state-controlled entities. Finland stands out for its expanding mining sector within the EU where mining has generally declined over the years. With the EU becoming increasingly concerned about dependency on imports for key raw materials, Finland offers a potential pipeline of supply security. In particular Finland, through strong support from the government agencies, is actively striving to assume a leading role in the European battery market. The scientific and technical disclosure in this news release has been supervised and approved by J. Harrop P.Geo., a Qualified Person as that term is defined in NI 43-101. About Explorex Resources Inc. Explorex is an exploration company focusing on Cobalt and metals critical to rechargeable battery technology with the support of a strong strategic partner and end user. Explorex has a developing portfolio of multi-stage projects including an LOI to acquire the Hautalampi Co-Cu-Ni deposit in Finland, is earning a 75% interest in the Kagoot Brook project in New Brunswick and has 100% interest in the early stage Handlebar Co-Cu-Ni Project northeast of Kamloops BC. On behalf of the Board, Gary Schellenberg, CEO For further information, please contact Gary Schellenberg, CEO or Mike Sieb, President at 604-681-0221 or Ron Birch at bircress@shaw.ca; phone 1-800-910-7711 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially and there are no assurances that the transaction described in this news release will close on the terms described or at all. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AliExpress 11.11 Global Shopping Festival is considered one of the world's largest 48-hour online shopping festivals, and ILIFE, the world-renowned robot vacuum brand, achieved prominent results in this just-concluded Global Shopping Festival. ILIFE's global total sales steadily occupied first place in the home appliance industry and top 10 in the whole AliExpress platform. At the same time, the domestic market made a huge breakthrough and the total volume has realized nearly 400% year-on-year growth. With both overseas and domestic record-broken sales, ILIFE has become one of the world leaders in the robot vacuum industry. ILIFE has seen robust growth in sales since the opening of its stores on AliExpress and been named No.1 seller among all robot vacuums and "AliExpress 11.11 Top 10 Brands" across the platform since 2017. The outstanding achievements can be attributed to its far-reaching strategies. R&D, Manufacturing and Sales Integration ILIFE is one of the few brands that integrates design, R&D, manufacturing and sales in this field, which has given ILIFE a powerful technical driving force and acuminous market insights that allow ILIFE to satisfy different requirements of customers around the world when operating its brands. According to different functions, ILIFE robot vacuums are divided into three series: A-series, V-series and W series. A-series specialize in carpet deep cleaning; V-series are designed for cleaning hard floor and W series, just globally launched several weeks ago, are the first floor wash robot on the market, which can easily tackle stains in 4 steps: moistening stains, scrubbing the floor, suctioning waste water and scraping residues off the floor. Highly-Focused Single Business Model As other brands are striding forward to multi-industrial development, ILIFE still consistently focuses on the robot vacuum field to integrate resources and maximize advantages. Every year, ILIFE invests 10% of sales in research and development, which aids ILIFE's unparalleled competitiveness. Innovative technology enables cost to be effectively controlled so that customers around the world can purchase cost-effective and premium performance robots. The principle "Good Price, Good Quality" is what ILIFE has always been adhering to. Widely recognized by consumers in Russia, Poland, Spain, US, Japan and other countries and regions, ILIFE will continue to uphold the mission of "Making cleanness easier to make life better", and will keep pursuing technological innovation to bring the smart, clean living to more customers. About ILIFE Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, ILIFE is a high-tech company specializing in robotic cleaning technology. Having successfully penetrated the global market, ILIFE's sales network reaches over 30 countries and regions, offering technologically advanced, high-quality and cost-effective robot vacuums to the consumers around the world. For more information, please visit: www.iliferobot.com. For media enquiry, please contact: media@iliferobot.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iliferobotics Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/iliferobotics YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/iliferobot Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/785386/ILIFE_AliExpress.jpg LONDON, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The High Court in London has issued a significant ruling in a case centred around the recovery of billions of dollars of assets belonging to an East European businessman who died in the UK. Arkady Patarkatsishvili died 10 years ago at his mansion in Surrey. Patarkatsishvili, known as Badri, died without leaving a valid will and his death led to numerous legal proceedings over his estate, estimated to be worth several billion dollars. The High Court has issued a judgment ruling that three men, including a prominent Georgian businessman and an English solicitor, took part in an unlawful conspiracy and breached 'serious' fiduciary duties to pursue the recovery of Badri's fortune. The decision means that legal proceedings will continue against the three men in an effort to recover fees and success payments they received while recovering Badri's assets. Following Badri's death, a number of people including the Russian businessman, Boris Berezovsky, laid claim to his estate and legal proceedings ensued in a variety of jurisdictions. The task of recovering Badri's assets was initially entrusted by Badri's family to Salford Capital Partners Inc (SCPI), which had been an adviser and partner to Badri for a number of years. A number of senior SCPI employees, including CEO Eugene Jaffe, began to work to help Badri's widow protect the estate. They also initially included Irakli Rukhadze, then director of SCPI and head of Salford Georgia, and now a prominent Georgian businessman, and subsequently Igor Alexeev and Ben Marson, an English solicitor based in London. After three years of successful work, a dispute broke out between SCPI and Messrs Rukhadze, Alexeev and Marson, leading to a breakup in 2011. Recovery Partners GP Limited and Revoker LLP, entities created by SCPI, undertook proceedings against the three men. After nearly two years of litigation and a four week trial, in her judgment (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2018/2918.html ) Mrs Justice Cockerill found that due to their actions the three individual defendants in the case had deprived the claimants of a maturing business opportunity. She found they conspired and took preparatory steps to split from SCPI and take for themselves the lucrative opportunity to pursue the recovery process. The judge stated: "In the circumstances I conclude that the requirements of conspiracy are made out as between the individual defendants."[i] The judge held that this was something they were not entitled to do and that they breached 'serious' fiduciary duties owed by them as senior employees of the claimants, stating: "There is no doubt in my mind that, in the context of the fiduciary duties owed these actions amounted to disloyalty, particularly when taken together with the actions which the defendants were taking to make themselves ready to continue the recovery services in a post-SCPI world. I conclude that each of the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties."[ii] Mrs Justice Cockerill also noted that Mr Marson's "casual approach to the erroneous use of Statements of Truth on the Defences indicated that his conduct fell below the levels that one would expect for a qualified solicitor." [iii] Following the split from SCPI, the three defendants completed the recovery of Badri's estate and created a new firm, Hunnewell Partners, for that purpose. In the last few years, they have made a number of high-profile investments, including through Hunnewell, in Georgia, including buying substantial stakes in Liberty Bank, Rustavi Steel, Magti and Heidelberg Cement Georgia, and have established a litigation funding business. Lawyers for the successful claimants are now preparing to take further legal steps to secure the money owed. It is estimated that they recovered over $2 billion for the estate and earned hundreds of millions of dollars for themselves in the process. A spokesman for Recovery Partners said: "This is a significant High Court judgment which enables us to pursue our rights in recovering substantial sums of money that would have been paid to us but for the actions of those who conspired to deny the SCPI of its legitimate business opportunity. "The proceedings will now move forward into a second phase in which the court will determine what Salford has lost as a result of the defendants' actions, alternatively what the defendants have illegitimately earned. At the end of that second phase, the court will make an order requiring the defendants to compensate us either by way of damages or by way of surrendering the sums and other benefits which they have earned by taking the business for themselves." i. Para 447 of Approved Judgment ii. Para 424 of Approved Judgment iii. Para 29 of Approved Judgment ALBANY, New York, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to recent report by Transparency Market research (TMR), the global refinery catalysts market is expected to project a highly consolidated competitive landscape in the coming years. Albemarle Corporation, BASF SE, ExxonMobil Corporation, Sinopec Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and Honeywell International Inc. are some of the major players leading the global market. Owing to their expanded product portfolio, which cater to the large number of customers, these players have a significant presence in the regional markets. In the upcoming span of time, these players foreseen to indulge into research and development activities to come up with some innovative products, along with various advancement in technology in their existing products so as to bolster their market presence. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) The global refinery catalysts market is expected to flourish with a steady CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. In 2015, the market was valued to be worth of US$11.4 bn. This figure is likely to reach around a value of US$17.0 bn by the end of 2024. Request a Sample of Refinery Catalysts Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3972 Based on raw materials, the global refinery catalysts market is classified into zeolites, metals, and substance mixes. Among these, zeolites refinery catalysts segment dominated the global market with 65.5% in 2015, in terms of volume. This rising demand regarding zeolites is due to increasing demand for high octane fuel all across the globe. Geographically, the global market is led by Asia Pacific region in 2014, with over 30% of the market and maximum volume share. The dominance is attributed to the development of refinery in India, China, and South-East Asia, along with some upcoming limit extensions in the regional economies. Strict Government Regulations for Vehicle Emission to Augment Market Growth Several governments are implementing the norms regarding the emissions from vehicles is a major factor propelling the growth in the market. These catalysts contribute in making of sweet fuel that as a result emits less amount of Sulphur, impacting the environment positively. Request For Multiple Chapters of Refinery Catalysts Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=MC&rep_id=3972 Global refinery catalysts market is majorly marked by the rising demand regarding the cleaner oil-based products. The industry is estimated to witness a notable growth in the forthcoming years, due to rising demand for high-quality transportation fuel. Other factors contributing in the demand for refinery catalysts are the strict fuel and device standards, along with rising usage of oil subordinates. Less Use of Refining Products to Hinder Market Growth In addition, the global refinery catalysts market is likely to profit substantially within the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, in developed nations, for example, the US , and Canada, which play a vital role in the manufacturing of vehicles that are in combination with Euro-6 emission regulations, reports the study. Request For Custom Research: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=3972 The report says that, on the other hand, the less utilization of wide range of refining products, particularly in the developed regions, for example Europe is anticipated to hinder the market growth of refinery catalysts, in the forthcoming years. Nevertheless, the imposition of stringent regulations against harmful emissions in the developing economies, for example India and China are foreseen o contribute in the growing demand for refinery catalyst in the global market. The review is based on the findings of a report by Transparency Market Research, titled "Refinery Catalysts Market ( Material Type - Zeolites, Molybdenum, Cobalt, Nickel; Physical Form - Powders, Beads and Extrudates; Refining Unit - Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, Hydrocracking Unit, H-Oil Unit, Hydrotreating Unit, Catalytic Cracking Unit, Alkylation Unit) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024." Global Refinery Catalysts Market has been segmented as follows: Refinery Catalysts Market- Refining Unit Analysis Fluid Catalytic Cracking Hydrocracking H-Oil Hydrotreating Catalytic Reforming Alkylation Refinery Catalysts Market - Material Analysis Zeolites Molybdenum Cobalt Nickel Others (including platinum, etc.) Refinery Catalysts Market - Physical Form Analysis Powders Beads Extrudates Refinery catalysts market - Regional Analysis North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France Italy Spain U.K. Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa GCC Nigeria Rest of Middle East & Africa & Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Browse MoreChemical & Materials Market Research Reports Popular Research Reports by TMR: Polypropylene Catalyst Market (Product - Ziegler-Natta Catalyst, Metallocene Catalyst; Process - Gas Phase, Bulk Phase; Application - Films, Fibers, Tubes, Injection-molded Products): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polypropylene-catalyst-market.html Pharmaceutical Chemicals Market (Type - Solvents, Reagents/Catalysts, KSMs/intermediates, and Building blocks for APIs/Advanced intermediates; Drug Type - OTC, Generic, Super Generic, and Proprietary): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pharmaceutical-chemicals-market.html Catalyst Regeneration Market by Applications (Onshore and Offshore): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/catalyst-regeneration.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://cmfenews.com The 17th edition of Bain & Company's annual luxury study identifies seven trends that will define the future of luxury MILAN, Italy, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The luxury goods market continues to shine. The overall luxury market - encompassing both luxury goods and experiences - grew by 5 percent at constant exchange rates in 2018 to an estimated 1.2 trillion globally, with overall positive performance across all segments. Personal luxury goods outperformed the market, posting 6 percent growth at constant exchange rates to reach 260 billion, affirming the ongoing era of a "new normal." Looking ahead, this positive growth trend is expected to continue in the range of 3-5 percent per year through 2025 - a result of favorable market fundamentals - to reach 320-365 billion. However, socio-political issues, commercial policies, and potential short-term soft recessions could make this road to growth a bumpy one in the short term. These are the top-line findings from the 17th edition of the "Bain & Company Luxury Study," released today in Milan in collaboration with Fondazione Altagamma, the Italian luxury goods manufacturers' industry foundation. "Last year, we saw the global luxury market return to healthy growth, albeit at a more moderate pace than in the past," said Claudia D'Arpizio, a Bain partner and lead author of the study. "That trend continues in 2018, reinforcing the 'new normal' we predicted, led by flourishing luxury demand from Chinese consumers, the continued rise of online channels, and increasing influence from younger generations of consumers." Chinese consumers' luxury dominance remained unrivaled in 2018 Chinese consumers are leading the positive growth trend around the world. Between 2015 and 2018, their purchases in Mainland China contributed twice as much growth as their spending abroad. Their share of global spending has continued to rise (now estimated at 33 percent of global luxury spend, up from 32 percent in 2017), while the share of Mainland China has also risen to 9 percent (up from 8 percent in 2017). In Mainland China, luxury sales grew 18 percent at current exchange rates to 32 billion (20 percent at constant exchange rates), driven by rising demand rather than by price increases. Luxury purchases in Japan softened slightly, pushing brands to find new solutions to bring consumers back to stores. However, retail sales still grew at 3 percent at current exchange rates to 22 billion. Increased consumption from tourists in Japan is prompting brands to rethink their distribution models. Across the rest of Asia retail sales grew 7 percent at current exchange rates to 39 billion, due to dynamic growth in South Korea, driven by strong local consumption. Brisk growth in other Asian countries - Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan - also contributed. Hong Kong and Macau benefitted from Chinese purchases. Europe lagged in 2018 due to a strong Euro that impacted tourists' purchasing power. Local consumption was positive overall, despite mixed country performance, helping to boost retail sales 1 percent at current exchange rates to 84 billion. The Americas grew 5 percent at current exchange rates to 80 billion. A positive U.S. economy boosted disposable income and overall luxury spending from locals, even as brands remained wary of continued economic prosperity. However, the strong dollar impacted tourists' spending from Asia and Latin America. Canada and Mexico were strong players in the region, while political uncertainties derailed Brazil's performance. In other areas, growth was 0 percent at current exchange rates, holding at 12 billion, mainly due to stagnation in Middle East brought on by a recent government spending restriction. Consumers are increasingly shopping for luxury online The retail channel grew 4 percent in 2018, with three-quarters coming from like-for-like sales growth. Wholesale channels grew at only 1 percent, brought down by high-end department stores still trying to recover, and a slow-down among specialty stores facing tough competition from online. Luxury shopping online continued to accelerate in 2018 compared with physical channels, growing 22 percent versus 2017 to 27 billion. The U.S. market made up close to half of online sales - 44 percent- but Asia is emerging as the new growth engine for luxury online, slightly ahead of Europe. Accessories remained the top category sold online, ahead of apparel; beauty and hard luxury (jewelry and watches) were both on the rise. Brands are catching up to other online players, comprising 31 percent of sales, compared to e-tailers (39 percent) and retailers (30 percent). "New technologies are at once enriching the online and mobile shopping experiences, while potentially putting role of physical channels at risk," said Federica Levato, a Bain partner and co-author of the study. "The luxury store-opening path is slowing down, leading to channel consolidation in the future. Brands must therefore re-think their physical channels and evolve their role from point-of-sale to point-of-touch, and use new technology to enhance customers' in-store experiences." Today's luxury consumer is getting youngerand more diverse It is becoming increasingly more difficult for luxury brands to deny in the influence of younger generations. In 2018, Generations Y and Z contributed 100 percent to total luxury market growth, compared with 85 percent in 2017. In response, the luxury market is evolving and innovating to adapt to their preferences when it comes to product offerings, communications channels and their engagement with media. For example, Generation Z, despite being a smaller proportion of the market (2 percent in 2018, but increasing to 10 percent in 2025) is already demonstrating highly differentiated preferences from previous generations. They are more "individualist;" more willing to shop in physical stores (but expect a digitally enhanced experience); and more logo-driven, though they exhibit less brand loyalty. The industry is also increasingly acknowledging culture and size preferences. Modest-accepted fashion accounted for approximately 40 percent of luxury womenswear in 2018, inclusive of Muslim-specific garments as well as other "naturally" modest clothing. "Inclusive" fashion represented about 20 percent of women's ready-to-wear as luxury brands are producing more one-size garments, targeted to curvy or plus-sized consumers, larger sizes, and clothing with looser, more inclusive fits. In 2018, the second-hand market for luxury goods surged as a result of strong growth in Europe, which made up more than half of this market, as well as growth of highly specialized platforms online. Hard luxury (watches and jewelry) led second-hand purchases. Overall, shoes and jewelry were the top luxury growth categories at 7 percent each, followed by bags and beauty. Watches remained flat while apparel suffered mainly due to lackluster sales in the menswear segment. Luxury in 2025 - 7 Macro Trends More Chinese-driven purchaseshappening in China - Chinese consumers will make up at least 45 percent of the market (up from an estimated 32 percent in 2018), and they will make half of their luxury purchases at home in China. Ecommerce, online digital will permeate every single purchase - Bain & Company expects that by 2025 online will represent 25 percent of market value - up from 10 percent today - cannibalizing more "traditional" channels, and 100 percent of luxury purchases will be influenced by online. Further, 50 percent of luxury purchases in the future will be digitally enabled as a result of new technologies along the value chain, such as virtual reality and mobile payments. Footprint consolidation will reshape the store of the future - The reduction of foot traffic in physical stores, induced by digital, will drive a footprint consolidation, similar to what has already happened in other retail sectors (e.g. music, books). Consequently, the role of the store as it is today will inevitably change: from a simple point of sale to a true "touch point" with consumers. A more youthful market will disrupt luxury's growth path - New generations will be the primary engine of growth in the coming years. Generation Z and Millennials (i.e. Gen Y) will represent approximately 55 percent of the 2025 market and will contribute 130 percent of market growth over the period. Cultures and subcultures will take over consumption trends - Evolving cultures (religion, ethnicity) and subcultures (minorities) will shape fashion and luxury in 2025. Cultural and subculture groups will increasingly gain influence over consumer trends. Luxury brands will have to acknowledge and address them to remain relevant. One market to serve markets of one - Brands in 2025 will experience a cross-over of typical competitive boundaries. The standard model where brands grow to become either the specialist in a category or diversified towards lifestyle positioning will be taken to the extremes. Nimble is the new black - This year confirmed the recent trend of higher profitability - from 19 percent EBIT margin in 2017 to 20 percent in 2018. However, the digital disruption will continue to shift the profiles of key expenditures in brands' P&L. Profitability will stabilize assuming brands adopt a more "nimble" approach across the value chain. "All signs point to significant changes afoot for luxury brands over the next several years," said D'Arpizio. "They can weather these disruptions by keeping in mind three key strategies: be proactive in developing approaches to serve new customers and address market trends; be distinctive in designing a winning formula; and be next-gen minded. The underpinning of all of these strategies is the emergence of new technologies, which will play a crucial role as a fundamental enabler for brands through 2025." Editor's Note: To arrange an interview, contact Katie Ware at katie.ware@bain.comor 1 646-562-8107 About Bain & Company Bain & Company is the management consulting firm that the world's business leaders come to when they want results. Bain advises clients on strategy, operations, information technology, organization, private equity, digital transformation and strategy, and mergers and acquisition, developing practical insights that clients act on and transferring skills that make change stick. The firm aligns its incentives with clients by linking its fees to their results. Bain clients have outperformed the stock market 4 to 1. Founded in 1973, Bain has 57 offices in 36 countries, and its deep expertise and client roster cross every industry and economic sector. For more information visit: www.bain.com . Follow us on Twitter @BainAlerts. Media Contact: Katie Ware Bain & Company Tel: +1 646-562-8107 katie.ware@bain.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forum is co-organized by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dubai Chamber, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy and the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development The high-level event will bring together over 100 government and business leaders and policymakers from the UAE and the Caribbean region The first-ever UAE & Caribbean Cooperation Forum, set to take place in Dubai on November 24th-26th, 2018, will explore potential to boost economic cooperation between the UAE and Caribbean region. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784607/UAE_Caribbean_Cooperation_Forum_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784608/HE_Reem_Bint_Ebrahim_Al_Hashimy.jpg ) Co-organised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy and the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, the three-day forum will bring together more than 100 government and business leaders from the UAE and Caribbean countries. High-level discussions, sessions and presentations at the forum will identify new partnership opportunities between the UAE and Caribbean countries, and place a strong focus on trade, investments, development and cultural exchange. Announcing the forum, HE Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, stressed: "As the UAE forges forward on its journey to development, it walks in the footsteps of its founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, perpetuating the values of human development, supporting and assisting communities around the world to ensure none are left behind in meeting sustainable development goals." "The upcoming UAE-Caribbean Forum is a manifestation of the bridges we have built over the years with the countries of the Caribbean, where economic, cultural and developmental cooperation and partnerships come together to nurture mutual and general efforts to build a better world for future generations," she remarked. Furthermore, the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund (UAE-CREF), launched during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2017, marked a turning point in bilateral relations between the two regions in key sectors, most notable of which are clean energy and infrastructure - both vital for sustainable economic development. On the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018 in January of this year, the AED183.6 million ($50 million) UAE-CREF announced the launch of the second funding cycle through partnerships with seven new Caribbean countries, which will substantially contribute to the growth and development of the renewable energy sector in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Lucia. "There is huge potential for Caribbean countries to boost trade with the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Asia, and the UAE is well-placed as a re-export hub that can provide them with easy access to these markets," said H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber. H.E. Buamim noted that the UAE offers world-class infrastructure, strong logistics expertise and support, investor-friendly business environment, and attractive free zones, which are all important advantages that can help Caribbean companies expand their global reach. He added that the upcoming Forum would provide an ideal platform to showcase these strengths, as well as untapped business potential that exists in Caribbean countries. The UAE & Caribbean Cooperation Forum will aim to generate interest in Caribbean markets among leading UAE-based companies and organisations such as Emirates Airline, DP World, Dubai Airports, Etihad Airways, Khalifa Port. The forum will raise awareness about attractive investment opportunities within the Caribbean region's energy, infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and tourism sectors. In addition, the event will highlight key areas where the UAE can offer its expertise and investment to fill market gaps in Caribbean markets and address key economic challenges. A series of workshops, entitled the 'UAE Technical Assistance Programme', will be hosted on the sidelines of the forum. These events will help Caribbean companies learn more about the UAE's economy and business environment, while participants will also examine strategies for fostering sustainable economic growth across both regions. About the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) reflects the bright face and character of the UAE Society and serves as its window to the outer world, communicating the thoughts and vision of the UAE leadership, asserting the values of peaceful coexistence, and lending help and assistance to all those who may need it. The Ministry stresses the importance of attaining global peace and amicably resolving international disputes through dialogue and legal arbitration. About Dubai Chamber Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub. For more information, please contact: Ruba Abdel Halim Manager, PR & Corporate Communications Tel: +971-4-2028450 Email: ruba.halim@dubaichamber.com NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK COMMODITIES INCOME INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 54930040ALEAVPMMDC31 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Commodities Income Investment Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 74.85p Capital only 76.06p Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the Buyback of 37,897 ordinary shares on 22 October 2018, the Company now has 116,126,515 Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding 2,839,485 Ordinary Shares which are held in Treasury). 4. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK GREATER EUROPE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 5493003R8FJ6I76ZUW55 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 340.06p Capital only (undiluted) 340.06p Capital only (Diluted for treasury shares) 340.29p Including current year income (undiluted) XD 340.29p Including current year income (Diluted for treasury shares) XD Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3.Following the purchase of 50,000 ordinary shares on 12th November 2018, the Company now has 86,409,691 Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding 23,919,247 Ordinary Shares which are held in Treasury). 4. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK WORLD MINING TRUST PLC LNFFPBEUZJBOSR6PW155 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock World Mining Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 378.46p Capital only (undiluted) 389.35p Including current year income (undiluted) Notes: 1. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 2. Following the buyback of 25,000 ordinary shares on 23 October 2018, the Company has 176,330,242 ordinary shares in issue, excluding 16,681,600 which are held in treasury. 3. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). 4. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK THROGMORTON TRUST PLC 5493003B7ETS1JEDPF59 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 525.35p Capital only 533.43p Including current year income 525.35p Capital only (adjusted for treasury shares) 533.43p Including current year income (adjusted for treasury shares) Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. The Company's issued share capital comprises 73,130,326 Ordinary Shares and 7,400,000 Treasury Shares. 3. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK EMERGING EUROPE PLC 549300OGTQA24Y3KMI14 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Emerging Europe plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 409.31c per share (US cents) - Capital only 314.76p per share (pence sterling) - Capital only 420.96c per share (US cents) - Including current year income 323.72p per share (pence sterling) - Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value. 3. Following the cancellation of 5,000,000 treasury shares on 09 November 2018, the Company's share capital consists of 35,916,028 Ordinary shares carrying one vote each. There are no shares held in treasury. 4. As announced on 19 October 2018, the Company has published proposals which will result in the liquidation of the Company's assets subject to approval at a General Meeting to be held on 15 November 2018. The daily valuation includes an accrual in respect of expected costs associated with the liquidation. This accrual accounts for costs directly attributable to the liquidation. It is expected disposal costs will also be encountered while selling down the portfolio however such costs cannot be reliably estimated until the sale is executed. Consequently disposal costs have not been accrued in the valuation at this point." NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK NORTH AMERICAN INCOME TRUST PLC 549300WWOCXSC241W468 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock North American Income Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 169.99p Capital only 171.80p Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the share issuance of 100,000 ordinary shares on 14 November 2018, the Company has 68,974,044 ordinary shares in issue, excluding 31,487,261 which are held in treasury. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 640.68c per share (US cents) - Capital only 640.92c per share (US cents) - Including current year income 492.68p per share (pence sterling) Capital only 492.87p per share (pence sterling) - Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the Buyback of 20,000 ordinary shares on 24 May 2018, the Company now has 39,259,620 Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding 2,181,662 Ordinary Shares which are held in Treasury). 4. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK INCOME AND GROWTH INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 5493003YBY59H9EJLJ16 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 188.13p Capital only (undiluted) 192.93p Including current year income (undiluted) Notes: 1. Following the buyback of 41,500 ordinary shares on 08 October 2018, the Company has 24,059,668 ordinary shares in issue excluding 8,874,264 shares in treasury. 2. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis, with the exception of the holding in Patisserie Valerie which has been valued at a directors' valuation following its suspension from trading on AIM on 10 Oct. The portfolio's holding in Patisserie Valerie at 14th November 2018 represents 0.16% of the Company's total portfolio following this revaluation 3. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC 549300MS535KC2WH4082 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 1400.53p Capital only and including debt at par value 1394.57p Capital only and including debt at fair value 1414.43p Including current year income and debt at par value XD 1408.47p Including current year income and debt at fair value XD Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. The total number of ordinary shares in issue excluding treasury shares is 47,879,792. The total amount of ordinary shares held in treasury is 2,113,731. 3. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK FRONTIERS INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 5493003K5E043LHLO706 The unaudited net asset values for the ordinary shares of BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc at close of business on 14 November 2018 were: 164.72c Capital only USD (cents) 126.67p Capital only Sterling (pence) 171.88c Including current year income USD (cents) 132.18p Including current year income Sterling (pence) Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the share issuance of 500,000 ordinary shares on 12th November 2018, the Company has 203,991,108 ordinary shares in issue. Atop a Hill of Plastic Waste and Led by an Animated Sea Turtle Voiced by Sir Rod Stewart, Choir Sings "Now is the Time for Change" AIRPORT CITY, Israel, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SodaStream International LTD. unveiled Tuesday its newest video campaign focused on the global damage caused by single-use plastic bottles. The video features a singing sea turtle calling on people to take responsibility and make the simple and meaningful life change of going reusable.The video acts as a metaphor for the green hills and blue oceans that have, over the years, become littered by plastic waste. The viral campaign has garnered 20 million views in its first 48 hours. "Plastic has become a pandemic threat with its impact upon human health still unknown, but with devastating environmental consequences to our oceans and marine life," said Daniel Birnbaum. "In this campaign, we wanted to give a voice to marine animals and, together with them, encourage people and corporations to switch from single-use plastic to reusable packaging." To view the video, click here. Lead by Sir Rod Stewart as the sea turtle, recurrent celebrity Thor "The Mountain" Bjornsson, rising talent Sarah Catherine Hook, a choir of people and marine animals injured by plastic parts sing extract from "Ocean of Change", song written for SodaStream for this campaign. A tear of sorrow Tears of hope An ocean of regret I never meant to hurt you so It is not over yet We can still make this right again We can still save ourselves Oceans are the springs of life They're crying S.O.S Now it is the time for a change it's in our hands Now it is the time for a change it's in our hands Will piles of trash and poisoned seas be our legacy? Our kids deserve much more than that A world - pollution free We can still make this right again We can still save ourselves Oceans are the springs of life They're crying S.O.S Now it is the time for a change it's in our hands Now it is the time for a change it's in our hands "I have a great love for our oceans and marine life and was happy to lend my voice and support to this campaign," commented Sir Rod Stewart. "If it helps raise awareness and effect simple changes like switching to reusable bottles then I'm honored to be a part of it." The video has been launched in tandem with the website www.FightPlastic.com, where SodaStream encourages consumers to take a stand against single-use plastic. "While one reusable SodaStream bottle can save thousands of single-use plastic bottles, the world needs to change more than just its drinking habits to combat the global pollution hazard. We should all do our best to shift away from single-use plastic including straws, cups, bags and bottles," continued Birnbaum. "SodaStream hopes that this campaign will encourage many to make the change. It's in our hands." Go to www.FightPlastic.com to be a part of the change and learn about SodaStream's ongoing mission to stop single-use plastic pollution. About SodaStream SodaStream is the No. 1 sparkling water brand in the world. SodaStream enables consumers to easily transform ordinary tap water into sparkling water in seconds. SodaStream Sparkling Water Makers offer a highly differentiated and innovative alternative to consumers of bottled and canned carbonated soft drinks so that they can enjoy their favorite beverages without single-use plastic bottles. One SodaStream carbonating bottle can save up to thousands of single-use plastic bottles and cans. The products are environmentally friendly, promote health and wellness, cost effective, and are customizable and fun to use. Products are available at more than 80,000 retail stores across 46 countries. To learn more about how SodaStream makes water exciting and follow SodaStream on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube, visit www.SodaStream.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784856/Time_for_a_Change_SodaStream.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636193/SodaStream_Logo.jpg VANCOUVER, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Canfor Corporation (TSX:CFP) announces that it has entered into an agreement to purchase 70% of the VIDA Group ("VIDA") of Sweden for a purchase price of 3,990 million Swedish Krona (approximately CAD$580 million) on a cash and debt free basis, which includes CAD$125 million (70%) of normalized working capital. The current owners of VIDA will retain a 30% interest and continue to manage the day-to-day business. "With the acquisition of VIDA, we are excited to become a truly international manufacturer and provider of wood product solutions for our global customers," said Don Kayne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canfor. "This transformational growth will allow Canfor to further diversify and secure a worldwide fibre supply to meet the growing demand of our customers for high quality wood products." VIDA is Sweden's largest privately owned sawmill company, operating nine sawmills in southern Sweden with an annual production capacity of 1.1 billion board feet. All of the sawmills produce spruce and pine products, and are strategically located in high quality and sustainable fibre regions of Sweden. In addition, VIDA has nine value-added facilities that include premium packaging, modular housing, industrial products and energy. "VIDA, a well known brand in its current markets, is aligned with our corporate strategy of producing high-value products, providing an exceptional customer service experience and maintaining a low cost structure," added Kayne. "We are excited that Santhe Dahl, Group CEO and Mans Johansson, Deputy CEO, of VIDA will continue to lead the company operations in Sweden. We welcome VIDA's skilled management team, talented employees and modern operations to our Company." "We have known Canfor for a long time as a high-quality manufacturer and provider of wood product solutions. We are proud to announce that we are now becoming part of a global operation together with Canfor. This will allow us to continue to strengthen and develop the VIDA brand on a global scale," said Santhe Dahl, Chief Executive Officer, VIDA Group. In conjunction with the Elliott Sawmilling Company Inc. acquisition announced last week, this acquisition is a positive step forward in our diversification strategy for our operations, products and customers. After taking into account the full impact of VIDA and Elliott, Canfor's annual production capacity will be approximately 7.2 billion board feet, with a highly diversified operating base in western Canada, the U.S. and Europe. The purchase price represents a 5.7 times EBITDA multiple based on VIDA's 2018 projected EBITDA of approximately CAD$145 million, before taking account of estimated annual synergies of CAD$20 million, projected to be achieved through marketing opportunities arising from the increased global scale of our business. The Company anticipates being able to finance this transaction with cash and liquidity on hand but will complete an extension and expansion of its existing operating and term loan facilities. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 and is subject to due diligence, completion of certain transaction documents and other customary closing conditions, including any required regulatory approvals. Backgrounders Backgrounders on both Canfor Corporation and the VIDA Group have been posted on canfor.com in the News & Press Releases section. Analyst Conference Calls An analyst conference call to discuss this acquisition will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. A deck titled "Acquisition Updates" has been posted on canfor.com in the Investors section under Presentations. To participate in the call, please dial one of the following numbers: North America Toll-Free Access: 1-888-390-0546 North America Access: 1-416-764-8688 ITF - Sweden: 0200899189 ITF - Sweden (mobile): 0200899189 Let the operator know you wish to participate in the Canfor conference call. Following management's discussion, the analyst and investment community will be invited to ask questions. For Instant Replay Access please dial one of the following numbers and enter North America Toll-Free Access: 1-888-390-0541 North American Access: 1-416-764-8677 Participant Pass Code: 336261# Recording available until: November 29, 2018 The conference call will be available live at http://www.canfor.com. Media Conference Call A media conference call with Don Kayne will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 11:30 AM Pacific Time. To participate in the call, please dial one of the following numbers: North America Toll-Free Access: 1-888-390-0546 North America Access: 1-416-764-8688 ITF - Sweden: 0200899189 ITF - Sweden (mobile): 0200899189 Let the operator know you wish to participate in the Canfor conference call. Following management's discussion, the media will be invited to ask questions. For Instant Replay Access please dial one of the following numbers and enter North America Toll-Free Access: 1-888-390-0541 North American Access: 1-416-764-8677 Participant Pass Code: 578527# Recording available until: November 29, 2018 The conference call will be available live at http://www.canfor.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "projects", "intends", "plans", "will", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "should", "may", "could", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and actual events or results may differ materially. There are many factors that could cause such actual events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such statements. In addition, assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based include the timely receipt of regulatory approvals and no adverse regulatory decisions, the timely and successful integration of the Company and VIDA AB and the accuracy and completeness of the information provided to the Company in respect of VIDA AB. There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will occur or that the anticipated strategic benefits and synergies will be realized in their entirety, in part or at all. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and Canfor assumes no obligation to update such information to reflect later events or developments, except as required by law. Canfor is a leading integrated forest products company based in Vancouver, British Columbia ("BC") with interests in BC, Alberta, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas. Canfor produces primarily softwood lumber and also owns a 54.8% interest in Canfor Pulp Products Inc., which is one of the largest producers of market northern bleached softwood kraft pulp and a leading producer of high performance kraft paper. Canfor shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CFP. Media Contact: Michelle Ward, Director, Corporate Communications, 1 (604) 661-5225, communications@canfor.com; Investor Contact: Pat Elliott, Vice President, Corporate Finance and Strategy, 1 (604) 661-5441, Patrick.Elliott@canfor.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) - Tidal Royalty Corp. (CSE: RLTY.U) ("Tidal Royalty"), a leading provider of royalty financing to licensed U.S. cannabis operators, is pleased to announce it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for a strategic royalty financing partnership. The Company is also participating in the series B equity financing of FLRish, Inc. ("Harborside"), the parent company of the iconic Harborside dispensaries in California, which closed today. The parties have entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding whereby Tidal Royalty commits to provide US$10 million in royalty financing to prospective dispensary operators licensing the "Harborside" brand. Each potential dispensary financing transaction will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and specific financing terms will be negotiated among the parties. "Harborside is one of the preeminent cannabis companies in the U.S.," stated Paul Rosen, Tidal Royalty's CEO and Chairman. "They are a leading operator in California already, and we expect that their business strategy and strong executive team will enable them to enhance their leadership position. Through our strategic financing partnership, Tidal Royalty would provide select operators with the capital required to launch a dispensary licensing the "Harborside" brand in exchange for a royalty on sales." Harborside, a vertically-integrated California licensed operator, was founded in 2006 by cannabis industry activist and entrepreneur Steve DeAngelo. He remains the company's Chairman Emeritus and stated: "This is yet another step on our path to fulfill the goal we set for Harborside at the outset. From the caliber of our dispensaries, to the product knowledge of our team members, to the quality of products that we sell, we have aimed to change the perception of cannabis in our communities and demonstrate that it can be an agent for positive change." Harborside operates two dispensaries and one of California's largest cultivation facilities and owns the Harborside brand. Its flagship location in Oakland, California is the largest medical cannabis dispensary in the U.S. It was the first medical cannabis dispensary in the U.S. to introduce lab testing, the first to offer CBD-rich medicine, and the first to treat children with Dravet syndrome. Harborside was also reported to be the first dispensary to legally sell non-medicinal cannabis in California following the state's legalization of adult use sales on January 1, 2018. "Our business model has been California-centric, and we will continue to pursue a growth strategy in the nation's largest cannabis market," stated Harborside CEO Andrew Berman. "We have numerous options available to us to do so, and Tidal Royalty's financial support allows us to accelerate growth opportunities with partners that are looking to operate under the Harborside umbrella." This transaction continues to grow Tidal Royalty's portfolio of licensed cannabis operators and follows Tidal Royalty's announcement of its strategic subscription and financing arrangement with Lighthouse Strategies, LLC, which is subject to, among other things, the satisfactory completion of due diligence, which is currently underway, the receipt of all corporate and regulatory approvals, and the closing of a financing transaction by Lighthouse. Tidal Royalty has also previously announced an agreement to finance Diem's expansion into Massachusetts, and a binding letter of intent to purchase equity in, and assume a royalty agreement with, AltMed (a vertically-integrated license holder with operations in Arizona and Florida). Tidal Royalty is currently in the process of evaluating multiple additional opportunities across the U.S., including in California, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan. Tidal Royalty intends to provide further information on those opportunities when the respective parties reach an agreement and execute letters of intent. Tidal Royalty has also purchased C$3,000,000 of senior unsecured convertible debenture units, which pay 12% interest and are convertible into Harborside common shares. The units also include warrants to purchase 87 additional common shares per unit, for 24 months after the closing date of the financing. Harborside announced in August 2018 that it has signed a binding letter of intent with Lineage Grow Company (CSE: BUDD) to effect a reverse take-over ("RTO") transaction and to file an application to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Following completion of the RTO, the debentures and share purchase warrants are convertible into common shares of the resulting issuer pursuant to their terms. About Tidal Royalty Tidal Royalty provides royalty financing to the U.S. regulated cannabis industry. Led by an executive team with extensive industry experience in Canada and the U.S., Tidal Royalty provides operators with the funding they need to grow their business. Operators benefit from non-dilutive capital and investors get top-line access to a diversified portfolio of companies that will form the future of this transformative industry. For further information, please contact: Tidal Royalty Corp. Terry Taouss, President Email: terry@tidalroyalty.com 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. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking information contained in this new release is not based on historical facts but instead is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to: the ability to enter into definitive documentation in respect of letters of intent currently entered into by Tidal Royalty, the closing of the Lighthouse Strategies, LLC transaction and satisfaction of those closing conditions; Tidal Royalty's entitlements under the memorandum of understanding and the potential financings; the ability of Tidal Royalty to enter into additional letters of intent and associated definitive documentation with current or further proposed investee companies, the operating and financial performance of any investee company to be funded by Tidal Royalty from time to time and the ability of Tidal Royalty to generate revenue or realize profit through royalty agreements or equity investments with any future investee companies. In addition, this news release contains forward-looking statements attributed to third-party sources, the accuracy of which has not been independently verified by Tidal Royalty. Forward-looking information contained herein is based on the opinions and reasonable assumptions and estimates of management as at the date hereof and is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Tidal Royalty, that could cause actual events or results of Tidal Royalty to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Such factors include: U.S. regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change, risks relating to anti-money laundering laws and regulation, other governmental and environmental regulation, public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry, risks related to the enforceability of contracts, the requirement by Tidal Royalty to obtain additional financing, the limited operating history of Tidal Royalty, timeliness of government approvals for granting of permits and licences needed by any future investee companies, including licences to cultivate cannabis, the actual operating and financial performance of any future investee company, competition and other risks affecting Tidal Royalty in particular and the U.S. cannabis industry generally, and the risk factors effecting Tidal Royalty disclosed in the listing statement of Tidal Royalty available at www.sedar.com. Because of such risks, uncertainties and other factors, investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained herein. Tidal Royalty is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. The foregoing statements expressly qualify the forward-looking information contained herein.This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. BVT Awarded Cash Prize, Lab Space to Accelerate European Focused Efforts Mississauga, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) -Bee Vectoring Technologies ("BVT") (TSXV: BEE) (OTCQB: BEVVF) announced today that it has been named by the Swiss State of Fribourg as one of its Agri & Co Challenge winners, as well as being recognized as the COREB Award winner. BVT and 15 other companies beat out more than 150 other ag-tech companies from 53 different countries for the award. The Agri & Co Challenge, hosted by the State of Fribourg, Switzerland, was established in an effort to foster collaboration and enable technology innovation among organizations within the agriculture, food and biomass industries. As a "relocation program" winner, BVT will receive CHF 30,000 and will have two-years of free access to lab space at the Agri & Co Innovation Center located in Saint-Aubin, Fribourg, an area with a flourishing ag-biotech community. "To be recognized as one of the top ag-focused innovators in the world is a great honor for BVT," said Ashish Malik, President & CEO of BVT. "BVT's precision, biologic-based technology is well-suited for use within European sustainable agriculture practices, and this award is a proof-point that top global organizations and influencers see the value that BVT's products offer growers. The partnership with Agri & Co Innovation Center will allow us accelerate our developments aimed at commercialization in Europe, including Switzerland where we have already submitted for regulatory approval." In addition to being one of the ten relocation program winners, BVT was singled out as the COREB Award winner, with an additional cash prize of CHF 5,000. COREB is an association of communities within the Broye region of Switzerland that supports technology companies and encourages them to establish a presence in the region. The COREB Award is voted on by the public and is based on the perceived viability of technology, likelihood of success, and mission of the organization. The BVT system uses bees to carry plant protection products directly to key areas of target plants using significantly less product than you would with traditional spray applications with an added benefit to the grower of reduced consumption of water and fossil fuels. BVT is also actively securing country registrations, including a recent Swiss submission, for its own proprietary active ingredient, Clonostachys rosea CR-7 for the control of plant fungal diseases. The European fungicide and insecticide market is approximately CDN $9.0 billion, of which around $1.0 billion is a target for BVT's bee delivery system. "We are honored to be an Agri & Co Challenge and COREB winner and proud of our efforts to establish BVT as an integral member of the European Ag-biotech community", said Christoph Lehnen, BVT Business Manager, Europe. "These awards provide both awareness and provenance that that can aide research, funding, and collaborative partnerships that would otherwise be very difficult to secure." BVT plans to establish a European office in the Agri & Co Innovation Center in the spring of 2019. Contact: Ashish Malik, President & CEO marketing@beevt.com Babak Pedram, Investor Relations Virtus Advisory Group Tel: 416-995-8651 bpedram@virtusadvisory.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, "annual revenue potential", are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: planted acres of strawberries in Florida, selling price of competitive chemical pesticides and the US to Canadian dollar exchange rate. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include changes in law, competition, litigation, the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities, state of the capital markets, the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations, new technologies, the ability to protect intellectual property rights, the ability to obtain patent protection for products, third-party intellectual property infringement claims, regulatory changes affecting products, failing research and development activities, the ability to reach and sustain profitability, dependence on business and technical experts, the ability to effectively manage business operations and growth, issuance of debt, dilution of existing securities, volatility of publicly traded securities, potential conflicts of interest, unlikelihood of dividend payments, the potential costs stemming from defending third-party intellectual property infringement claims, the ability to secure relationships with manufacturers and purchasers, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Filing Statement dated May 29, 2015, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. All figures are in Canadian dollars. iResearch Services is a fast-growing Asian market research company gearing up to the challenges facing the research industry in the UK, above all the drive for brand engagement. The Pune (India) -based company launched its thought leadership initiative, called DigiTrust, in November 2017. Combining custom research, content marketing and lead generation, DigiTrust is an emerging topic in the research industry. Since its launch, the concept has been implemented across 7 research projects for some of the world's largest consulting and publishing firms. DigiTrust helps businesses to position and maintain themselves as thought leaders in their industry. This research-led approach to content strategy targets and engage influencers and business prospects by providing focused relevant custom research of CXO-suite and distributing it to specified individuals. More information on DigiTrust can be found on their website, www.iresearchservices.com. In a recent scenario, one of America's largest IT firms wanted to understand some of the issues prevailing around cloud storage services. After investigating and understanding the product's USPs, iResearch Services' advisors developed a qualitative and quantitative research methodology to explore the challenges prevailing in the industry. The editorial team then created targeted videos, articles and White Papers addressing issues uncovered in the research. The content was then distributed using various paid, organic channels through online and offline mediums. This led to a 24% higher engagement, generated 130 SQLs and almost 300 MQLs for the business. Andrew Newby, Operations Director at iResearch Services: "It's our hunch that businesses keen on innovation and technology will be receptive to DigiTrust. With GDPR in place, companies need to explore innovative ways to engage their prospects, and thought leadership is one of the most promising ways to get there." iResearch Services is an ISO 20252 27001 company, a member of ESOMAR, CASRO, MRS, MRSI and AMA. It has won Deloitte's Technology Fastest 500 (Asia) (in 2015 2016) and has been rated as one of the top 10 Indian Market Research Companies by Silicon India (2015). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005519/en/ Contacts: iResearch Services Alok Bharti, +44 20 8133 8254 Sr. Communications Manager sales@iresearchservices.com PALM BEACH, Florida, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FinancialNewsMedia.com News Commentary California is quickly becoming the largest cannabis market in the U.S. while Canada is projected to show strong sales as well since legalization took place in October. Deloitte's report projects the Canadian market will be valued at about $5 Billion in sales this year. A recent report by Arcview Market Research specifies that consumer spending on legal cannabis products in North America is outpacing previous estimates. The report emphasizes that retail cannabis sales will grow 33% from 2016, to about $10 Billion this year. The data issued projects that by 2021, the legal cannabis market will reach a value of USD 24.5 Billion while increasing at a 28% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Active Companies from around the market with current developments aimed at grabbing a piece of the green rush include: Body and Mind Inc. (CSE:BAMM) (OTC: BMMJ), OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V:OGI) (OTC:OGRMF), Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX-V:ALEF) (OTC:ALEAF), The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX-V:FIRE) (OTC:SPRWF), Leafbuyer Technologies Inc. (OTC:LBUY). Body and Mind Inc. (CSE:BAMM.CN) (OTCPK:BMMJ) BREAKING NEWS: Body and Mind announced is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Trip Hoffman to the position of Chief Operating Officer of Body and Mind Inc. as the Company continues expansion and assesses additional accretive opportunities. "Trip brings significant operational, financial, agricultural and cannabis experience which will be invaluable as we grow Body and Mind to the next level", stated Robert Hasman, director at Body and Mind. "Trip's experience running Colorado cultivation facilities and dispensary operations will immediately benefit our operations as we expand the premium Body and Mind brand." Mr. Hoffman is currently the co-owner of a Colorado licensed marijuana cultivation facility and was previously the CEO of a Colorado licensed cultivation and dispensary company. As an operations-efficiency specialist in the cannabis space, Mr. Hoffman has significantly improved the bottom lines of several cannabis businesses through reducing expenses, increasing production and improving product quality to the highest standards. Mr. Hoffman has also worked as a consultant in the cannabis industry for numerous years, focusing on work-flow, facility optimization, and new business development. Prior to the cannabis space, Mr Hoffman spent more than 20 years in the Financial Technology & Services industry in roles ranging from CEO, Risk Manager, to Market Maker. Mr. Hoffman has also been involved as a co-founder in more than a half-dozen startups throughout his career. He holds a PhD in physics from Purdue University and studied at Cornell University and Northwestern University during his education. "I am very pleased to be joining the Body and Mind team as the business enters a phase of significant expansion," stated Mr. Hoffman. "Along with the incredibly-talented team of experienced leaders, I am excited to bring my cannabis industry experience to further add value to the expansion of the Body and Mind operations and brand."Read this and more news for BAMMat:http://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-bamm In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include: OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V:OGI.V) (OTCQX:OGRMF)recently announced it has signed a supply agreement with the Province of British Columbia. In British Columbia (BC), Organigram has signed an agreement with the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB), the sole, wholesale distributor of non-medical cannabis for the province that will operate standalone, public retail stores and provide online sales. "Organigram's strategic vision has always been to establish a definitive national footprint," says Greg Engel , Organigram's Chief Executive Officer. "We are proud to realize that vision and offer Canadians from coast to coast access to our growing recreational product portfolio." Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX-V:ALEF.V) (OTCQX:ALEAF) earlier this week announced it has entered into a global agreement with D2L (Desire2Learn) Corporation ("D2L"), in which Aleafia Health will deploy D2L's Learning Management System (LMS) Brightspace. Brightspace is a cloud-based learning platform employed by major organizations including Walmart, the American Nurses Association and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario. Under the terms of the global agreement, D2L will produce a series of cannabis education courses on Aleafia Health's behalf. As part of a multi-phase roll-out expected to begin in early 2019, Aleafia Health will launch the series of proprietary, unique cannabis courses. The courses will harness Aleafia Health's cannabis expertise, with content developed by experts including Aleafia's practising physicians. The courses will also use the Company's Intellectual Property containing in excess of 10 million patient data points along with D2L's leadership in cloud-based learning platforms. The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX-V:FIRE.V) (OTCQX:SPRWF) recently announced the release of its financial and operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The Company added 50,000 square feet of licensed flowering room capacity, bringing estimated potential production to 13,333 kg. In less than twelve months, the Company has added 80,000 square feet of licensed flowering room capacity. "Supreme Cannabis' results in the first quarter mark a solid beginning to a historic year in a competitive, dynamic and rapidly evolving marketplace," said Navdeep Dhaliwal , CEO of Supreme Cannabis. "Q1 2019 results are continued validation for the successful execution of our strategy for our 7ACRES business to establish a competitive advantage in quality driven regulated cultivation at scale. We've established valuable intellectual property and laid a strong foundation for 2019 by amassing coast-to-coast distribution for what we believe is the only premium High-End Cannabis grown at scale in the country. Moving forward, our branding and distribution for 7ACRES will accelerate, as we're confident that consumers will further fuel our growth as they recognize the standard 7ACRES has set in the market for premium dried flower." Leafbuyer Technologies Inc. (OTCQB:LBUY) announced it has submitted an application to list its common shares with the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). Already listed with OTC Markets, Leafbuyer looks to broaden its footprint into cannabis dispensaries and product operations across North America. "Canada's legalization is a powerful signal to the rest of the world that cannabis should be a legal, nationally-regulated industry," said Kurt Rossner, CEO of Leafbuyer. "Leafbuyer sees opportunities by dual listing on the CSE and is looking forward to its offering on a foreign exchange." 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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. Media Contact : editor@financialnewsmedia.com +1(561)325-8757 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. RONKONKOMA, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / Graphene 3D Lab Inc. (TSX-V: GGG; OTCQB: GPHBF) ("Graphene 3D" or the "Company") announces leadership changes as Dr. Elena Polyakova has resigned from her positions of co-CEO and director effective today. Dr. Polyakova is planning to pursue an academic career in graphene research and is joining the Centre for Advanced 2D Materials at the National University of Singapore (the "Centre") in a position of Senior Research Fellow. Daniel Stolyarov will transition from co-CEO and serve as the sole CEO of the Company. Dr. Polyakova's transition has the potential of helping the Company establish a friendly and informal relationship with the Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, one of the world's largest scientific institutions dedicated to graphene research. Exploring potential collaboration opportunities in the future between the Company's research team and the Centre's leading scientists could prove to be very beneficial for both parties given the R&D capabilities and shared expertise in graphene. The Company expects to provide a corporate update shortly that will summarize recent corporate developments and some key growth opportunities. The Company's CEO, Daniel Stolyarov, stated: "During her work at the Company, Dr. Polyakova was instrumental in establishing a strong technical team for the Company and leading the research and development of innovative graphene materials." Stolyarov added, "Dr. Polyakova's work contributed significantly to the advancement of the Company's core IP portfolio, which our team is committed to bringing to market. We are grateful to Dr. Polyakova for her devoted work and we wish her success in her new endeavors." Former co-CEO and Director, Dr. Polvakova, stated: "This is an important transition point, both in my career and for the Company. During the course of my appointment as co-CEO, I had the chance to work together with very bright scientific people and have a tremendous amount of confidence in the team's ability. I am most passionate about the fundamental science of graphene, and I believe transitioning to take on this senior research role at this time is a good fit both personally and for the Company." Dr. Polvakova added, "I truly believe in the Company's team and vision and I'm confident that the increasing blend of science and business focuses will set the Company up for success in the near-future." About the Centre The NUS Centre for Advanced 2D Materials was created for the conception, characterization, theoretical modeling, and development of transformative technologies based on two-dimensional crystals, such as graphene. Aiming at being a world leader in innovative and emergent materials science, with strong ties to the industry and academia, the Centre will directly contribute to a new generation of scientists and engineers who will have a permanent impact in the society and business enterprise landscape of Singapore, and worldwide. Additional information is available at the Centre's website (https://2dmaterials.nus.edu.sg/). About Graphene 3D Lab, Inc. Graphene 3D Lab, Inc. is capitalizing on groundbreaking properties of graphene and other advanced materials. The company is offering high-tech solutions in several areas including: R&D Materials: These diverse materials have a wide spectrum of commercial, research, and military applications. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Graphene Laboratories Inc., currently offers over 100 graphene and related products to a client list comprised of more than 14,000 customers worldwide, including nearly every Fortune 500 tech company and major research university. Some notable clients include:NASA, Ford Motor Co., GE, Apple, Xerox, Samsung, Harvard University, IBM, and Stanford University. The Company's suite of products is available online at the company's e-commerce platform Graphene Supermarket (Graphene-Supermarket.com). 3D Printing: The 3D printing division of the Company offers a portfolio of 3D printable filaments. These materials can be purchased through multiple distribution networks worldwide or directly from the web-store BlackMagic3D.com High Performance Epoxies: Adhesive materials produced by the Company are distributed under G6-EpoxyTM trade name and can be purchased at g6-epoxy.com. Fine Organic Chemicals: ChemApproachTM is a worldwide supplier of a wide variety of building blocks to R&D facilities in pharmaceutical and agriculture industries, academic institutions, biotechnology, and Hi-Tech companies. This division of Graphene 3D Lab offers a plethora of the substituted aromatic and heterocyclic compounds. Most of these molecules can be further synthesized as medicinally relevant drug candidates. The production scale varies from grams to multi-kilograms quantities. The division's main expertise lies in the introduction of the various substituents to aromatic rings, a large variety of functional group transformations, and a selective incorporation of halogens in organic molecules, particularly, iodine. These classes of organic molecules have a wide range of application in drug-design, biochemistry, polymer chemistry, electronics and energy. Visit ChemApproach.com for more details. The Graphene 3D facility is located in Ronkonkoma, NY and is equipped with material processing and analytical equipment. The company has eight US patent applications pending for its technologies. For more information on Graphene 3D Lab Inc., visit www.graphene3dlab.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: Daniel Stolyarov, CEO For More Information: Commercial Inquiries: Daniel Stolyarov Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (631) 405-5113 Email: daniel.stolyarov@graphene3Dlab.com Investor Inquiries: Telephone: (631) 405-5121 Email: investors@graphene3Dlab.com FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: Graphene 3D Lab Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528184/Graphene-3D-Announces-Management-Changes MUNICH, GERMANY and COPENHAGEN, DENMARK / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / The highly successful twenty-fourth annual BIO-Europe(R) international partnering conference wrapped up in Copenhagen, Denmark, last week with a record-breaking 4,200+ attendees from the life sciences who engaged in over 26,000 one-to-one partnering meetings vying for 3,145 licensing opportunities on offer. The event welcomed 2,325 companies overall, including 450 delegates from Denmark and Sweden. The event was produced by EBD Group in conjunction with Copenhagen Capacity, Invest in Skane, LEO Pharma, Lundbeck Fonden, Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes. "We are very pleased with the overwhelming success of BIO-Europe in Copenhagen. Thank you to our hosts throughout the Medicon Valley of Denmark and southern Sweden for their invaluable help presenting this event to facilitate favorable deals among biotech, pharma and investment executives toward the development of therapies and cures," said Anna Chrisman, Managing Director of EBD Group and KNect365 Life Sciences. "We look forward to another great event in Hamburg, Germany, in 2019." The local hosts Copenhagen Capacity and Invest in Skane commented that they were "honored and happy to host BIO-Europe 2018 in Copenhagen and hope we got you so hooked that we will see you return in a couple of years to Scandinavia's strongest Life Science cluster Medicon Valley." The event program highlighted pharma and VC collaborations, the microbiome, European biotech creation, new research in CNS, partnering opportunities with China, cell and gene therapies, digital medicine, and a Startup Slam highlighting the innovations of very early-stage biotech. Look for detailed coverage soon on Partnering Insight. BIO-Europe(R) 2019 will be held in Hamburg, Germany, November 11-13, 2019, hosted by Life Science Nord. "As we have seen again by the number of meetings this year in Copenhagen, BIO-Europe is of high importance for the life-science-sector," said Dr. Hinrich Habeck, Managing Director of Life Science Nord Management GmbH. "We are excited to be regional host of BIO-Europe in 2019 for the third time. The conference once again will provide the opportunity to present the Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein life science region as an innovative, attractive and cosmopolitan location to more than 4,000 conference attendees." For springtime partnering, be sure to consider BIO-Europe Spring(R) 2019, March 25-27 in Vienna, Austria. About EBD Group EBD Group's overriding mission is to help collaborations get started across the life science value chain. Our range of partnering conferences has grown to become the largest and most productive conference platform in the industry. Each one of our landmark events held in key life science markets around the world is powered by our state-of-the-art partnering software, partneringONE(R), that enables delegates to efficiently identify and engage with new opportunities via one-to-one meetings. Today our events (BIO-Europe(R), BIO-Europe Spring(R), BioPharm America, Biotech Showcase, BioEquity Europe, ChinaBio(R) Partnering Forum, Cell & Gene Connect, Digital Medicine & Medtech Showcase and China Showcase) annually attract more than 15,000 senior life science executives who engage in over 50,000 one-to-one partnering meetings. These vital one-to-one engagements are the wellspring of deals that drive innovation in our industry. Tune into EBD Group's Partnering Insight for timely coverage of news that influences the business strategies of the life science industry. EBD Group is an Informa company. For more information please visit www.ebdgroup.com. Media contact: Kari Bennett, EBD Group: +1 760 930 0500; kbennett@ebdgroup.com European media support Anne Hennecke, MC Services AG: +49 211 529 252 22; anne.hennecke@mc-services.eu SOURCE: EBD Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528219/Copenhagen-Welcomed-Over-4200-Life-Science-Executives-Last-Week-at-BIO-Europe-2018 Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) -Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to report that additional mapping and surface sampling of the new Divisadero porphyry discovery has successfully delineated a significant surface exposure of the target which remains open in all directions. To date, a combination of outcrop and limited outcrop/float samples have confirmed the expression of the known porphyry system for over 300 m before it disappears under soil cover (see figure 1). This work was conducted following the recent success of Phase 1 drill hole S18-121 that intersected a broad zone of a porphyry hosting significant gold, silver and copper mineralization approximately 200 m north of the Nicho Norte breccia pipe. The hole was the first drilled into this new style of polymetallic mineralization that is associated with an andesite porphyry unit related to disseminated pyrite and intrusive breccias. Divisadero Zone Highlights: Hole S18-1 21 - 95.7 m of 0.85 g/t Au , 9.8 g/t Ag and 0.33% Cu - (1.47 g/t AuEQ) from 32 m Including 70.0 m of 1.1 g/t Au, 11.8 g/t Ag and 0.56% Cu - (1.88 g/t AuEQ) beginning at 55 m down hole (see press release 2018-10-25); Including 70.0 m of 1.1 g/t Au, 11.8 g/t Ag and 0.56% Cu - (1.88 g/t AuEQ) beginning at 55 m down hole (see press release 2018-10-25); Sixty-six (66) rock samples assayed with over 50% exhibiting grades in excess of 0.10 g/t gold - assays ranging up to 2.2 g/t gold; Mineralized surface exposure surrounding drill hole S18-121 in excess of 200m x 300m; Mineralization appears to remain open to the north and south under thin soil cover; Extent of the gold mineralized systems surrounding the Company's flagship Nicho (Main/Norte) deposits now extends along NW-SE trend for at least 1.2-1.3 km (see figure 2). "Following the initial drill hole discovery of the new Divisadero porphyry system, our exploration team began the process of mapping and sampling the available surface exposure around this exciting new target. With over half the surface rock samples returning greater than 0.1 g/t gold, we have confirmed the potential of the new system and have successfully followed the known extents of the Divisadero mineralization for a distance of at least 300 m before it recedes under overburden. With this new information we look forward to further defining the target in our upcoming Phase 2 drill program. As a result of this year's exploration, there are now five known areas of "Nicho-style" intrusion related gold mineralization identified at the Santana project site including the newly identified Zata and Divisadero zones. We are confident that as we expand our geological efforts more discoveries will be made." stated Darren Koningen, CEO of Minera Alamos. Figure 1 - Divisadero Porphyry Mapping and Sampling To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4183/41084_210e7b4074c1f922_002full.jpg Figure 2 - Divisadero Porphyry Location To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4183/41084_210e7b4074c1f922_003full.jpg As a result of extensive weathering of the porphyry system surface exposures; copper values though elevated are lower in the surface sampling than those exhibited throughout hole S18-121 which averaged over 0.3% copper over its entire 95m length. Exploration Plans - Phase 2 Drilling Evaluation of the new project discoveries is ongoing and will include additional drilling as part of the Company's Phase 2 drill program that is planned to commence shortly and continue into Q1 of 2019. The work will further the understanding of the scale of the porphyry mineralization and its relationship to the mineralized breccia systems that form the predominantly gold-rich mineralization at Nicho Norte and Nicho Main to the southwest. 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. All rock samples were collected by Minera Alamos personnel including the Company's exploration geologists. Samples were bagged for analysis and sent for sample preparation at the ALS-Chemex facility in Hermosillo, Mexico. 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 in addition to a standard 35-element ICP suite. 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. The shareholders of Radisson Hospitality AB (publ) (the "Company") are hereby invited to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on Monday, 10 December 2018 at 11.00 a.m. CET at Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, Nils Ericsons Plan 4 in Stockholm, Sweden. Registration for the Extraordinary General Meeting will commence at 10.00 a.m. CET. As a service to non-Swedish speaking shareholders, the Extraordinary General Meeting will be simultaneously interpreted into English and Chinese. A. Participation Shareholders who wish to participate at the meeting must: be recorded in the Company's share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Tuesday, 4 December 2018; and notify the Company of their intention to participate at the meeting no later than on Tuesday, 4 December 2018, preferably before 4 p.m. CET. Such notification is to be made (a) in writing to Radisson Hospitality AB (publ), EGM, c/o Euroclear Sweden, P.O. Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden, (b) by telephone +46 (0)8-402 90 65, Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CET or (c) via the Company's website www.radissonhospitalityab.com (http://www.radissonhospitalityab.com) . Entrance cards, which shall be presented at the entrance to the meeting venue, will be sent out by Euroclear Sweden AB on or about Wednesday, 5 December 2018. When notifying the Company, the shareholders must state their name, personal identity number/registration number, address, telephone number, registered holding of shares and, where applicable, the number of advisors (not more than two). Shareholders who are represented by a proxy should send the original written power of attorney, signed and dated by the shareholder, to the Company well in advance of the meeting. The power of attorney must not be more than one year old, however, the power of attorney may be older if it is stated that it is valid for a longer term, maximum five years. If issued by a legal entity, the power of attorney must be accompanied by a certified certificate of registration or other document attesting to the authority of the signatory. A form power of attorney is available at the Company's website www.radissonhospitalityab.com (http://www.radissonhospitalityab.com) . Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee through the trust department of a bank or similar institution must, in order to be entitled to participate in the meeting, request that their shares are temporarily re-registered in their own name at Euroclear Sweden AB. Shareholders who wish to register their shares in this way must inform their nominees accordingly in sufficient time before Tuesday, 4 December 2018. B. Matters at the Extraordinary General Meeting B.1 Proposed Agenda Opening of the meeting. Election of the Chairman of the meeting. Election of one or two persons to certify the minutes. Preparation and approval of the voting list. Approval of the agenda. Decision of whether the meeting has been properly convened. Determination of the number of members of the Board of Directors to be elected by the general meeting. Determination of the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors. Election of the members of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Closing of the meeting. B.2 Proposals for decision Item 2 - Chairman of the meeting The Board of Directors proposes that Fredrik Palm, member of the Swedish Bar Association, is elected Chairman of the meeting. Items 7-9 - Board of Directors and remuneration Following completion of a previously announced transaction of shares in the Company by a consortium led by Jin Jiang International Holdings Co., Ltd., including SINO-CEE Fund, through its joint acquisition vehicle Aplite Holdings AB (the "Consortium"), the Consortium holds 50.21 percent of the shares and votes in the Company[1]. The Consortium has requested that the Board of Directors summons the meeting. The Board of Directors has been notified that the Consortium proposes the following: Determination of the number of members of the Board of Directors to be elected by the general meeting The Consortium proposes that the members of the Board of Directors, elected by the Company's general Meeting, shall be seven (7) without deputy members, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. Determination of the remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors The Consortium proposes remuneration, calculated on an annual basis, to the members of the Board of Directors elected by the Company's General Meeting as follows: EUR 42,000 to each of the members of the Board of Directors not employed by the Company or a member of the Consortium; EUR 9,500 to the Chairman of the Audit Committee not employed by the Company or a member of the Consortium; EUR 6,900 to the other members of the Audit Committee not employed by the Company or a member of the Consortium; EUR 6,300 to the Chairman of the Compensation Committee not employed by the Company or a member of the Consortium; and EUR 4,200 to the other members of the Compensation Committee not employed by the Company or a member of the Consortium. Election of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board of Directors The Consortium proposes that Xin Di, Liu Daoqi and Song Xiang are dismissed from their respective position as members of the Board of Directors and that Ma Mingju, Jin Chen and Zhu Qian are elected as new members of the Board of Directors for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. The Consortium proposes that Ma Mingju is elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Consortium's proposal hence means that the Board of Directors, until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, will consist of the members Ma Mingju (Chairman), Jin Chen, Lo Kin Ching, Wolfgang M. Neumann, Andreas Schmid, Thomas Staehelin and Zhu Qian. In addition thereto, Goran Larsson and Ulf Petersson are appointed as employee representatives by the trade union Hotell och Restaurangfacket. It is noted that the proposed composition of the Board of Directors requires an exemption from the residency requirements from the Swedish Companies Registration Office. For details about the proposed members of the Board of Directors, please see the Company's website www.radissonhospitalityab.com (http://www.radissonhospitalityab.com) . C. Other Total number of shares and votes in the Company At the time for publication of this notice there are in total 174,388,857 shares and votes in the Company, of which 2,532,556 shares and votes are held by the Company. Shareholders' right to request information The Board of Directors and the CEO shall, if any shareholder so requests and the Board of Directors believes that it can be done without material harm to the Company, provide information regarding circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda or the Company's relation to other companies within the group. Processing of personal data For information on how personal data is processed in relation the meeting, see the Privacy notice available on Euroclear's website: https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf (https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf) . * * * Stockholm in November 2018 Radisson Hospitality AB (publ) The Board of Directors [1] Based on 174,388,857 outstanding shares in the Company (including 2,532,556 shares held in treasury by the Company). Press release (PDF) (http://hugin.info/142138/R/2225872/873291.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: Radisson Hospitality AB via Globenewswire Addition of technology company enables Tenneco to further capitalize on secular trends in intelligent suspension, autonomous driving and mobility Tenneco Inc. (NYSE: TEN) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ohlins Racing A.B. ("Ohlins"), a Swedish technology company that develops premium suspension systems and components for the automotive and motorsport industries. "Tenneco's 20 year relationship with Ohlins has delivered world class products in the intelligent suspension market and provides a strategic entry into advanced performance communities with premium branded products and proprietary Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension Valve (CES) technology." said Brian Kesseler, co-CEO, Tenneco. "Ohlins' technology team will allow us to rapidly grow our product offerings for current and future customers, as well as help us win a larger share of business in developing mobility markets. I am delighted to welcome the Ohlins team as an important part of our new Aftermarket and Ride Performance company." The addition of Ohlins will accelerate the development of advanced original equipment (OE) intelligent suspension solutions, while also fast-tracking time to market. It will also enhance Tenneco's portfolio in broader mobility markets with the addition of Ohlins' range of premium OE and aftermarket automotive and motorsports performance products. Founder Kenth Ohlin will retain a minority interest in Ohlins and partner with Tenneco to provide continuity in his strategic and technological vision. He stated: "I am proud of the Ohlins team and all we have accomplished over the last 43 years. We are excited to continue to deliver innovative technologies that can accelerate growth with the full strength and resources of Tenneco behind us." The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Total consideration for this acquisition is approximately $160 million, which was contemplated in the leverage targets provided in April 2018 as part of the Federal-Mogul acquisition announcement. About Tenneco Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, Tenneco is one of the world's leading designers, manufacturers and marketers of Ride Performance and Clean Air products and technology solutions for diversified markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway equipment and the aftermarket, with 2017 revenues of $9.3 billion and approximately 32,000 employees worldwide. On October 1, 2018, Tenneco completed the acquisition of Federal-Mogul, a leading global supplier to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket with nearly 55,000 employees globally and 2017 revenues of $7.8 billion. Additionally, the company expects to separate its businesses to form two new, independent companies, an Aftermarket and Ride Performance company as well as a new Powertrain Technology company, in late 2019. About Ohlins Ohlins or Ohlins Racing AB, is a Swedish company that develops suspension systems for the automotive and motorsport industries and supports performance teams in F1, Formula E, NASCAR and MotoGP racing. Ohlins, with last twelve months revenue of approximately $130 million at current exchange rates, employs 340 people and is headquartered in Upplands Vasby, Sweden, where the main R&D departments and production site are also located. Ohlins also has branches offices and subsidiaries worldwide: Auto Norden and Ohlins CES in Sweden, Ohlins Asia in Thailand, Ohlins Distribution/Technical Centre in Germany, Ohlins USA in North Carolina. About the Future Aftermarket and Ride Performance Company Following the separation, the aftermarket and ride performance company will be one of the largest global multi-line, multi-brand aftermarket companies, and one of the largest global OE ride performance and braking companies. The aftermarket and ride performance company's principal product brands will feature Monroe, Walker, CleviteElastomers, MOOG, Fel-Pro, Wagner, Champion and others. The Aftermarket and Ride Performance company would have 2017 pro-forma revenues of $6.4 billion, with 57% of those revenues from aftermarket and 43% from original equipment customers. About the Future Powertrain Technology Company Following the separation, the powertrain technology company will be one of the world's largest pure-play powertrain companies serving OE markets worldwide with engineered solutions addressing fuel economy, power output, and criteria pollution requirements for gasoline, diesel and electrified powertrains. The powertrain technology company would have 2017 pro-forma revenues of $10.7 billion, serving light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway and industrial markets. Safe Harbor This release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (i) all statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this communication that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future or that depend on future events and (ii) statements about our future business plans and strategy and other statements that describe Tenneco's outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals, and any discussion of future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are included in various sections of this communication and the words "may," "will," "believe," "should," "could," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and similar expressions (and variations thereof) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included in this release concern, among other things, the closing of the transaction described in this release, the benefits of the Federal-Mogul acquisition; the combined company's plans, objectives and expectations; future financial and operating results; and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the outcome of any legal proceeding that may be instituted against Tenneco and others following the announcement of the transaction; the possibility that the combined company may not complete the spin-off of the Aftermarket Ride Performance business from the Powertrain Technology business (or achieve some or all of the anticipated benefits of such a spin-off); the possibility that the transaction may have an adverse impact on existing arrangements with Tenneco, including those related to transition, manufacturing and supply services and tax matters; the ability to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers or other business partners; the risk that the benefits of the transaction, including synergies, may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that the transaction may not advance the combined company's business strategy; the risk that the combined company may experience difficulty integrating all employees or operations; the potential diversion of Tenneco management's attention resulting from the transaction; as well as the risk factors and cautionary statements included in Tenneco's periodic and current reports (Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K) filed from time to time with the SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date of this communication, and, except as required by law, Tenneco does not undertake any obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to publicly disclose revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005504/en/ Contacts: Tenneco investor inquiries: Linae Golla 847 482-5162 (office) 224 632-0986 (cell) lgolla@tenneco.com Tenneco media inquiries: Bill Dawson 847 482-5807 (office) 224 280-4308 (cell) bdawson@tenneco.com Margie Pazikas (Europe) 32 (0) 2 706 9025 (office) 32 (0) 477 22 6152 (cell) mpazikas@tenneco.com Premium Brand's Perfect Blend of Minimalist Aesthetics and Seamless Functionality Highlighted via Contemporary Artists' Works SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LG SIGNATURE will be hosting the LG SIGNATURE ARTWEEK 2018, a series of exhibitions curated by renowned Italian designer and architect Alessandro Mendini. Showcasing the brand's premium image and unparalleled design, the seven-day exhibition will be staged during November and December, starting in Germany, before heading to Russia and finally, Spain. The exhibition will emphasize LG SIGNATURE's minimalist design philosophy and its natural alignment with the best of a contemporary art; pairing its luxury lineup with artworks by prominent artists such as Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren and Carla Accardi (Courtesy Galleria Massimo Minini Italy). Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8445151-lg-signature-art-series/ The most intriguing aspect of this unique art series lies in how Alessandro Mendini will interpret LG SIGNATURE's design language to create something compelling and new, yet exhibiting all the hallmarks of LG's premium brand. Alessandro Mendini is creating a scenographic display in black and white - and incorporating metal elements - to echo the unrivalled quality of the company's products. "I have always been very intrigued by these LG SIGNATURE products because they are extremely unique. I believe they are the highest quality in the world, both from the point of view of technology and from the point of view of design aesthetics," said Alessandro Mendini. "This week is useful for me in experimenting with these objects in Europe, to show them and connect them directly to the art phenomenon." A series of contemporary artworks that perfectly harmonize with LG SIGNATURE's instantly-recognizable aesthetics will be exhibited along with the ultra-premium lineup. On display will be the company's refined OLED TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air-purifier, wine cellar, dryer, and bottom-freezer refrigerator, as well as important furniture pieces from prestigious homeware brands such as Cassina, Cappellini, Magis. The minimalist setting envisioned by Alessandro Mendini, in combination with the artworks and LG's appliances, will create an elegant, luxurious environment that celebrates the convergence of art and superior product design. The LG SIGNATURE ARTWEEK 2018's stop in Germany (Frankfurt, November 17 - 22) will feature a strong focus on the connection between Bauhaus' and LG SIGNATURE's pursuit of artistic and functional balance. Bauhaus, the celebrated German school of design founded in 1919, sought to unify various disciplines to create a cohesive whole, echoing what LG has achieved with its distinctive products. "We're extremely pleased and excited for this opportunity to work with the legendary Alessandro Mendini as well as luxurious homeware brands - Cassina, Magis, and Galleria Massimo Minini Italy," said Brina Na, Europe Region President & CEO. "To bring all these amazing artworks, modern furniture pieces and our own groundbreaking technology into a space that represents the beauty of minimalism is an absolute privilege. This series will give visitors a chance to gain a deeper understanding of our LG SIGNATURE brand and see its innate relationship to the best of modern art and design" About LG SIGNATURE LG SIGNATURE is LG Electronics' ultra-premium brand. By uniting the best of LG technology and design under a single brand, LG SIGNATURE offers consumers a collection that boasts subtle elegance and top-notch performance. The range of LG SIGNATURE products includes InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator, TWINWash washing machine, air purifier and award-winning "wallpaper" OLED TV W. All LG SIGNATURE products have one thing in common: uncompromising quality and a focus on the essentials. LG SIGNATURE products have won a number of industry awards for technological innovation and sophisticated design, including 2017 CES Best of Innovation Award, iF Gold Award 2016 and Red Dot Design Award 2016. Despite the lack of direct-to-consumer promotion, frequent brand requests from EU5 patients drive prescribing behaviour, DRG Digital | Manhattan Research data show LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Just over half of consumers across the EU5 markets reported asking their doctor for a specific medication in the past 12 months - and half of these patients said they were always prescribed the requested drug. In some countries and conditions, product requests and resultant prescribing were higher: In Spain , 78% of cancer patients requested a specific medication, and 64% said they always received it. , 78% of cancer patients requested a specific medication, and 64% said they always received it. In France , 76% of respiratory patients requested a specific treatment, with 57% saying they always received it. "These data underscore a need for pharmaceutical firms to provide patients with condition information online and at the point of care," said Gintare Greenfeld, Senior Patient Analyst at DRG Digital. "We find that one third of EU5 consumers are searching online when experiencing new symptoms. Directing these patients to non-promotional education and support resources can improve consumer perception of a manufacturer - and potentially inform a product request." When it comes to supporting patients, pharmaceutical firms are perceived particularly harshly in Germany, where just 22% of consumers see drug companies providing patients with anything more than the most basic resources. Consumer perceptions of patient support are only slightly better in the UK, where 25% of consumers are aware of beyond-the-pill offerings from pharmaceutical manufacturers. "With brands focused on promotional efforts for healthcare professionals in EU5 markets, many pharmaceutical companies neglect to offer any quality communications centred on the patient," said Jeff Wray, Director of Europe and APAC Research at DRG Digital. "However, we see strong unmet need for education and support from the pharmaceutical industry among consumers in these markets, and companies can meet that need with non-promotional resources." DRG Digital | Manhattan Research has expanded its European research offering in 2018, opening a London office anchored by Mr. Wray and European Commercial Director Carlos Casanova. The company has also added to its portfolio of European studies, which include the long running Taking the Pulse Europe physician studies and Cybercitizen Health Europe patient studies, along with a new study publishing in December entitled Global Multichannel Payer Communication. That study will feature insights into pricing and reimbursement stakeholders' information-seeking and decision-making behaviours across several European and global markets. A poster presentation drawing on a related study of U.S. payers was accepted for presentation at this week's congress of The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). The aforementioned findings come from Manhattan Research's 2018 Cybercitizen Health Europe 2018 study of 3,000 consumers in the UK (600), Germany (600), France (600), Italy (600), and Spain (600). Full results of the studies, fielded online during fall 2018, are available to pharmaceutical companies and industry partners. To request information about patient, physician and payer studies, specific data segments or study methodology, email Digital@TeamDRG.com. About DRG Digital | Manhattan Research DRG Digital, part of DRG, is the life science industry's partner for data-driven customer engagement and commercial innovation. DRG Digital's Manhattan Research studies are the longest-running studies of multichannel attitudes and behaviours among healthcare customers. Brands, marketers and digital teams at 40+ leading life sciences companies rely on DRG's experts, research and intelligence to understand their customers and communicate with them through the right channels, content, messaging and innovations. Visit www.DRGDigital.com or follow @DRGDigital to keep up to date on Manhattan Research analysts' thinking and access eBooks, infographics, webinars and other resources. About Decision Resources Group DRG, a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd., is the premier source for global healthcare data and market intelligence. A trusted partner for over 20 years, DRG helps companies competing in the global healthcare industry make informed business decisions. Organisations committed to developing and delivering life-changing therapies to patients rely on DRG's in-house team of expert healthcare analysts, data scientists, and consultants for critical guidance. DRG products and services, built on extensive data assets and delivered by experts, empower organisations to succeed in complex healthcare markets. To learn more, visit www.decisionresourcesgroup.com. Media contact: Sydney Ferber, +1-212-414-7598, sferber@teamdrg.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/75057/decision_resources_group_logo.jpg VANCOUVER, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / Nexus Gold Corp. ('Nexus' or the 'Company') (TSX-V: NXS; OTCQB: NXXGF; FSE: N6E) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mineral property acquisition agreement, dated effective November 15, 2018, with Warren Robb (the 'Vendor'), pursuant to which it will acquire the New Pilot Project (the 'Project'). In consideration for the Project, the Company will issue 3,500,000 common shares (the 'Consideration Shares'). Project Details The Project is a gold-copper exploration property located in the Bridge River Mining Camp, approximately 180 kilometers north of Vancouver, or 10.5 kilometres west of the village of Gold Bridge, British Columbia. The 509-hectare (1,257 acre) property is accessible by paved road and has been the subject of historical exploration. Between 1992 to 1994 Cogema Canada Ltd conducted detailed prospecting and sampling. 99 grab samples were taken in three areas (A, B, C in Figure 2), with three returning values in excess of 100 grams-per-tonne ('g/t') gold ('Au'), including 102 g/t Au, 106 g/t Au with visible gold, and 111 g/t Au; three returning values in excess of 10 g/t Au (17 g/t Au, 21 g/t Au, 33 g/t Au); and 14 others returning values in excess of 1 g/t Au. In addition, 59 soil samples, 229 rock samples, and 66 core samples from a small 108-meter diamond drill program were also obtained. Significant results obtained included chip samples of 4.03 g/t Au over 10 meters, and 1 g/t Au over 10.5 meters in drill core. The rock sampling identified three areas of elevated bedrock gold values within intrusive rocks: Area A, averaging 228 ppb, Area B, averaging 378 ppb and Area C, averaging 752 ppb. Highlights from the 108 five-metre chip samples included: 1470 ppb and 1092 ppb in Area A, 3702 ppb in Area B, and 6425 ppb and 1896 ppb in Area C. The higher values are associated with rusty fracture coatings containing sulfides. Three styles of mineralization have been identified on the Project: siliceous fractures containing sulphides, carbonate altered shears, and quartz veins containing arsenopyrite. The Project location is situated at the contact of the Coast Crystalline Complex and the Bridge River sediments. Over the past 80 years several exploration programs have been conducted over or near the property, initially concentrating on the Pilot Mine and its strike extension. The Project is relatively close to the producing Bralorne Pioneer Mine, lying 18 kilometres to the south east. Figure 1: New Pilot Project location, 180-kms north of Vancouver, BC, in the historic Bridge River Mining Camp The Bralorne gold camp represents one of Canada's most prolific mining operations. From 1928 to 1971, the Bralorne and nearby Pioneer and King mines produced 4.15 million ounces of gold from 7.9 million tons of ore*. The Bridge River Mining Camp is the largest past producer of gold in British Columbia**. In 2017, Blackstone Minerals Ltd, an Australian-based company, acquired the Little Gem Project, a high-grade cobalt and gold project, located approximately 900 meters from the New Pilot location. *Avino Silver & Gold Mines, Ltd ** Bralorne Project 1992 Pilot Property BC Assessment Report, Schimann-Robb, 1992 Figure 2: New Pilot Project boundary/geology with locations of Zones A, B and C Property Transaction The Vendor is a director, and senior officer, of the Company, and is considered a 'Non-Arm's Length Party' in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the 'Exchange'). As a result, the acquisition of the Project is subject to Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ('MI 61-101'). In completing the acquisition, the Company intends to rely upon Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement of MI 61-101, and Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the acquisition does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Notwithstanding the availability of exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, the Exchange may require that the Company satisfy these requirements prior to completion of the acquisition. Completion of the acquisition of the Project remains subject to approval of the Exchange, and the satisfaction of any conditions imposed by the Exchange. The acquisition cannot be completed until such approval is obtained, and there can be no guarantee that such approval will be obtained in a timely manner. No finders' fees or commissions are payable in connection with completion of the acquisition. All Consideration Shares issued in connection with the acquisition will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period. About the Company Nexus Gold is a Vancouver-based gold exploration and development company operating primarily in West Africa. The company is currently concentrating its efforts on establishing a compliant resource at one or more of it's four current projects: Bouboulou, Rakounga, Niangouela and Dakouli 2, all located in Burkina Faso. Fore more information please visit www.nexusgoldcorp.com. Warren Robb P.Geo., Vice-President, Exploration, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release. On behalf of the Board of Directors of NEXUS GOLD CORP. Alex Klenman President & CEO 604-558-1920 info@nexusgoldcorp.com www.nexusgoldcorp.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. SOURCE: Nexus Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528171/Nexus-Gold-to-Acquire-the-New-Pilot-Gold-Project-Bridge-River-Mining-Camp-British-Columbia-Canada BlackRock Emerging Europe plc LEI - 549300OGTQA24Y3KMI14 Result of General Meeting BlackRock Emerging Europe plc announces that, at the General Meeting held today, the Special Resolution was duly passed on a show of hands. Votes For % Votes Against % Votes Withheld Special Resolution 23,749,275 99.96 8,696 0.04 0 The full text of the resolution can be found in the Notice of General Meeting set out in the Circular dated 19 October 2018, which has previously been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and is available for inspection at:http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSMProxy votes received in respect of the resolution were as follows: 15 November 2018 RCA RecordsZayns long-awaited collaboration with Nicki Minaj has arrived. The duet, No Candle No Light, tells the story of a relationship thats burning out. Instead of rapping, Nicki opts to show off her singing voice on the track. Nicki had originally teased the collaboration way back in October of last year, calling it her favorite song of all time. Zayn has been releasing a steady stream of singles as fans patiently await his sophomore solo album. Earlier this month, he assured fans that an album will be coming soon. I hear you guys.. I know you want a date for the album and I do too, he tweeted. The label is holding me back but I promise I am doing everything I can to get my music to you. Thank you.. You will hear from me soon. Meanwhile, in a new interview with British Vogue, Zayn chats about another former duet partner, Taylor Swift. He seemingly confirmed a popular Taylor conspiracy about how she avoids the paparazzi. She was traveling around in a suitcase, he told the mag. Of course, it's entirely possible Zayn's joking. Back in 2017, two men were photographed carrying a large black suitcase out of Taylor's New York City apartment. Somehow rumors got started that she had stuffed herself into some luggage in order to leave her home undetected. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15 November 2018 Bisichi Mining Plc ("Bisichi" or the "Company") Director/PDMR Shareholding The Company has today been notified that on 12 September 2018, Mrs Susan Heller, transferred 24,000 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") into the Self Invested Personal Pension of Mr Andrew Robert Heller, a director of the Company, for a consideration of 1.00 per Ordinary Share (the "Transfer"). Following the Transfer, Mr Heller's beneficial holding remains unchanged at 785,012 Ordinary Shares representing 7.35 per cent. of the current issued share capital of the Company. The notification below, made in accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, provides further details of the Transfer. 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name Mrs Susan Heller and Mr Andrew Heller 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Mrs Susan Heller is the spouse of Mr Andrew Heller (director of the Company) b) Initial notification /Amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Bisichi Mining Plc b) LEI 213800RRWN6ZBPW2ZV03 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code Ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") GB0001012045 b) Nature of the transaction Transfer of Ordinary Shares from Mrs Susan Heller to the SIPP of Mr Andrew Heller c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 1.00 per share 24,000 Ordinary Shares d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price N/A (single transaction) e) Date of the transaction 12/09/2018 f) Place of the transaction LSE Contact: Garrett Casey, Company Secretary 020 7415 5030 CHICAGO, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Level Transmitter Market by Technology (Capacitance, Radar, Ultrasonic, Differential Pressure/Hydrostatic, Magnetostrictive, Radiometric), Industry (Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Water & Wastewater, Power, Metals & Mining), and Region - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Level Transmitter Market is expected to grow from USD 3.0 billion in 2018 to USD 3.7 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 3.85% from 2018 to 2024. Level transmitters are very easy to install, highly robust, resistant to turbulence, and require little maintenance. The need for more accurate and reliable continuous level measurements for inventory management, process efficiency, and safety applications has driven the level transmitter market growth. Food & beverages and pharmaceuticals industries have been witnessing steady growth owing to the increasing purchasing power and rising consumer demand. Thus, the increasing demand for process automation in these industries drive the growth of the level transmitter market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Don't miss out on business opportunities in Level Transmitter Market. Speak to Our Analyst and gain crucial industry insights that will help your business grow: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=23472700 Diffrential pressure/hydrostatic level transmitters held largest size of the overall level transmitter market in 2017 Differential pressure/hydrostatic level transmitters are one of the most commonly used technologies for measuring liquid level in process industries such as chemicals, petrochemicals, refining, and power generation. Moreover, with advantages such as robust measuring process, uninfluenced by disruptive factors such as dust, foam, vapor, buildup, and contaminants; versatility; and cost-effectiveness, differential pressure level transmitters are expected to hold the largest share of the level transmitter market during the forecast period. Differential pressure level transmitters provide reliable protection against overfilling, high measurement certainty without mechanical wear; they also provide accurate and reliable measurement even in the vacuum and high-temperature conditions. Thus, with these advantages, differential pressure level transmitters are estimated to hold a significant market share during the forecast period. Oil & gas industry to dominate level transmitter market from 2018 to 2024 Safety and reliable level measurement is the most critical concern in the oil & gas industry. The level of the gas and water mixture must be measured quickly and reliably so that the gas drying process can be run effectively without any interruption. Moreover, oil from a well contains solid materials in the form of sand, and these solids need to be removed before further processing of the oil. Level transmitters provide high performance and cost-effective measurement of continuous level, point level, and interface in a wide range of applications in the petrochemicals and oil & gas industries. Level transmitters are used in a variety of processes in the oil & gas industry, including level monitoring to check for toxins such as methanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (2-butoxyethanol), ethylene glycol (1,2-ethanediol), hydrotreated light petroleum distillates, and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). Browse in-depth TOC on"Level Transmitter Market" 66 - Tables 31 - Figures 133 - Pages Ever-increasing population and rapid urbanization have brought changes in consumption patterns of products and services across end users in APAC. The rising demand for electricity, growing exports of chemicals, and increasing number of wastewater treatment plants are expected to drive the growth of the level transmitter market in APAC. The region produces 8,010 thousand barrels of oil daily. Considering the growing energy demand and the importance of reducing carbon emissions, APAC is expected to lay down new pipelines. For instance, China is expected to increase the total length of its pipelines to 240,000 KM by 2025 from 112,000 KM in 2015. Even India has planned to lay many intercity gas pipelines for a seamless fuel supply at a low cost. This would lead to the creation of more new pipelines and pipeline infrastructure. Ask for PDF @https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=23472700 In 2017 the level transmitter market was dominated by key players such as Endress+Hauser (Switzerland), Emerson Electric (US), VEGA (Germany), Siemens (Germany), and KROHNE (Germany). Please explore relevant report "Pressure Transmitter Market"also. About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Shelly Singh MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/level-transmitter-market.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Call for Contributions: Zageno's rating system for scientific products - the Scientific Score - adds a crucial dimension to help research scientists purchase the right material for their experiment. Scientists: share your experimental data and professional experience about products; Life Science Vendors: provide additional product-specific resources and data points to make your products reach the right scientist CAMBRIDGE, Mass. USA and BERLIN, Germany, Nov. 15, 2018the largest and fastest-growing online marketplace for research materials, today issues an open call for scientists and vendors aliketo contribute to the continuous improvement of the Scientific Score. Designed as an unbiased indicator to help purchasing scientists navigate the enormous amount of product information, the Scientific Score is the result of proprietary algorithms calculating and weighing different data points across multiple information formats. Among others, factors like recency of purchase, user interaction on product level, brand performance in the specific category, product performance, quality and quantity of available resources, and the number of provided product specifications contribute to the 0 to 10 scoring range. The sheer number of factors the algorithm takes into the equation eliminates any opportunity for result manipulation. Hence, the score functions as an objective, unbiased measure of the quality and quantity of information that is available for each product found in the marketplace. "The Scientific Score is one of our key differentiators in the life science e-commerce vertical, and we brought Christian Bohm on this past summer as our new vice president of scientific content to further a robust and continuously improving life science product rating tool that will become the standard in the industry," said Chief Executive Officer David Pumberger, Ph.D. "Researchers, vendors, and manufacturers can help enhance the scoring metrics by providing experimental results, sharing validation data, or supplying additional product information." Commenting on the algorithm-update, Christian Bohm, Ph.D., said, "With the introduction of our new-generation scoring system, we are making an important step in covering more information than ever before. Today, the foundation of our Scientific Score rating tool comprises more than 75 million product-specific data points for five million product variants - combined with insights gleaned from user behavior, and that is just the beginning. With this collective, 360-degree perspective, the integrity of the score is enhanced - enabling Zageno to offer, in our opinion, the best product-research tool in the industry: a real and unbiased comparison of similarly categorized products." By calling upon scientists, vendors, and manufacturers to contribute to the continuous improvement of the scientific score rating system, Zageno encourages and drives an open dialogue, which is key to an overall industry benefit. Contributors, like individual scientists and vendors, can gain more visibility for their studies and product information, respectively - making them more readily accessible to a broader audience; and they can share resources with their scientific peers - to collaborate across lab borders, countries and paywalls. About Zageno Inc.twitter: @ZAGENOteam) Founded in 2015, Zageno is eliminating bottlenecks to breakthrough science and research through curated connections linking scientists and their institutions' procurement offices with leading life-science vendors. World-renowned academic and government research facilities, global pharmaceutical companies, and biotechs large and small are already users of our unique online biotech marketplace, currently comprising of about five million products. What do we do? 1) We make purchasing transactions more efficient for both buyers and sellers. 2) We help scientists choose the optimal laboratory kits and materials for each unique experiment setup. 3) We provide a valuable, expanded sales channel for our vendor partners. The growing Zageno team in Cambridge, USA, and Berlin, Germany, includes accessible experts in science, e-commerce, systems integration, and customer support. Our people work directly with customers to enable smarter, faster processes - allowing more time and resources for value-added science and better research results. Attachments New Star Investment Trust Plc - Result of AGM NEW STAR INVESTMENT TRUST PLC New Star Investment Trust plc (the 'Company') announces that at the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held today, 15 November 2018, all Resolutions as set out in the Notice of Meeting were passed on a show of hands. The full text of each resolution can be found in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 June 2018, which is available at www.nsitplc.com. In accordance with listing rule 9.6.2 a copy of all resolutions passed as Special Business at the Meeting will be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism shortly. Proxy votes received in favour of the resolutions were as follows: Votes for % (of votes cast excl. withheld) Votes against % (of votes cast excl. withheld) Total (excl. withheld and third party discretionary Votes withheld Resolution 1 48,075,780 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 0 Resolution 2 48,075,780 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 3 Resolution 3 48,075,780 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 0 Resolution 4 47,866,874 99.57 208,906 0.43 48,075,780 0 Resolution 5 47,866,874 99.57 208,906 0.43 48,075,780 0 Resolution 6 47,866,874 99.57 208,906 0.43 48,075,780 0 Resolution 7 48,075,780 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 0 Resolution 8 48,075,780 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 0 Resolution 9 48,074,463 100.00 0 0.00 48,074,463 1,317 Resolution 10 48,075,780 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 0 Resolution 11 48,074,463 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 0 Resolution 12 48,075,780 100.00 0 0.00 48,075,780 0 Maitland Administration Services Limited - Corporate Secretary 15 November 2018 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") announces that the work stoppage at its Rosebel Gold Mine in Suriname has ended and normal operations will resume. 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. 15thNovember 2018 MetalNRG PLC (The "Company" or "MetalNRG") Result of General Meeting MetalNRG PLC (LON:MNRG), the natural resource investing company quoted on the NEX Exchange Growth Market in London, is pleased to announce that the resolution to approve the adoption of new Articles of Association, as set out in the formal Notice of General Meeting dated 19thOctober 2018, was proposed at the General Meeting held earlier today and duly approved by shareholders. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. Contact details: STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT For Immediate Release15 November 2018 Invesco Markets III PLC Re: Appointment of Director The Directors of Invesco Markets III plc (the "Company") wish to announce the appointment of Gary Buxton as a Non Executive Director of the Company effective 15 November 2018. Gary Buxton Gary Buxton is the EMEA COO of the Invesco ETF business responsible for Product and Sales Strategy, Product Implementation and Capital Markets in EMEA having joined Invesco in August 2017 on its acquisition of Source. Gary joined Source at the inception of the business in 2008 as the Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for Product, Trading, Technology and Risk Management. Prior to founding Source, Gary was a director in the Hedge Fund division of Merrill Lynch where his role focused on product development. Gary started his career at Deloitte in London and is a qualified Chartered Accountant (FCA). Gary Buxton has never: 15thNovember 2018 MetalNRG PLC (The "Company" or "MetalNRG") Strategic Financing MetalNRG (LON:MNRG), the London NEX Exchange Growth Market quoted natural resource investing company, is pleased to announce a strategic financing raising 159,500 through a placing and the exercise of Directors' options. Highlights: * Financing undertaken through a placing ("Placing") of 9,700,000 new ordinary shares of 0.01p ("Placing Shares"), raising 97,000 at 1p per share to support the Company as it implements its strategic plans and Investing Strategy. Rolf Gerritsen, MetalNRG's CEO, has participated in the Placing. * Each Placing Share is accompanied by one warrant to subscribe for one new ordinary share at an exercise price of 2p per share, expiring 24 months from the date of this announcement. * In addition, the Company has been notified that certain Directors will be exercising their options at exercise prices of 0.5p and 0.75p and as a result will be subscribing for 8,500,000 new ordinary shares of 0.01 p ("New Shares") for a total consideration of 62,500. * The overall funding will enable the Company to progress its investment in the Uranium mine, for which the Company is still in an option period until 28 December 2018, pursuant to the announcement of 16 August 2018, and support the team in the Kyrgyz Republic towards delivering a mining licence for the project. Additionally, the funding will enable the Company to progress planning work at its Gold Ridge Project in Arizona, USA and drive forward other key strategic initiatives that the Board is keen on delivering. Rolf Gerritsen Chief Executive Officer of MetalNRG PLC commented: "I am delighted to announce the completion of this important fund raising and expect further updates will be released to the market in the near term on the advancement of other key strategic initiatives." Following the issue of the Placing Shares and the New Shares the Directors' holdings are as follows: Director Shares pre- fund raising Placing Shares New Shares Shares post fund raising % holding Warrants remaining and exercise price*** Christopher Latilla Campbell * 33,040,442 - 3,000,000 (at 0.75p) 36,040,442 17.54% 3,500,000 (at 3p) Gervaise Heddle 12,513,634 - 3,000,000 (at 0.75p) 15,513,634 7.56% Nil Christian Schaffalitzky 2,100,000 - 2,000,000 (at 0.75p) 500,000 (at 0.5p) 4,600,000 2.24% Nil Rolf Gerritsen ** - 1,000,000 (at 1p) - 1,000,000 0.49% 1,000,000 (at 2p) 47,654,076 57,154,076 27.83% * Christopher Latilla-Campbell's interests includes 24,750,000 shares held by Buchanan Trading Inc, in whose shares he is deemed to be interested, as he is a potential beneficiary of a discretionary trust which controls it. ** As announced on 23rdFebruary 2018, Rolf Gerritsen will be subscribing for a further 2,500,000 ordinary shares at 2p per share. *** Following the exercise of the Directors' options, no options will remain outstanding. Issue of Equity The Placing Shares and the New Shares are to be issued and are expected to be admitted to trading on NEX Exchange Growth Market on or around [16]thNovember 2018. Total Voting Rights For the purposes of the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules ("DTRs"), following completion of the issue of the Placing Shares and the New Shares referred to above, the issued ordinary share capital of MetalNRG will consist of 205,218,980 ordinary shares with voting rights attached (one vote per share). There are no shares held in treasury. This total voting rights figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculation by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, MetalNRG under the DTRs. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014. Rolf Gerritsen, Chief Executive Officer of MetalNRG, arranged for the release of this announcement. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. Contact details: MetalNRG PLC Rolf Gerritsen (Chief Executive Officer) +44 (0) 20 7796 9060 NEX Exchange Corporate Adviser PETERHOUSE CAPITAL LIMITED Guy Miller/Mark Anwyl +44 (0) 20 7469 0930 Corporate Broker SI CAPITAL Nick Emerson +44 (0) 1483 413500 Notes to Editor MetalNRG owns the Gold Ridge Project in Arizona, U.S.A, which includes three historically producing gold mines. The project consists of approximately 2,305 acres (9.3km2) of tenement including 343 acres of patented mining claims, 112 company-owned un-patented mining claims; and 12 leased un-patented mining claims. The Company's interests include three historical producing gold mines; Gold Prince mine; Gold Ridge mine and Dives mine; each was worked over various intervals between discovery in 1877 and 1996. Project has a NI43-101 compliant Technical Report dated 30thDecember 2016. The Company has an option agreement to acquire 51% of the Kamyshanovskoye uranium project in the Kyrgyz Republic. PETERBOROUGH, New Hampshire, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SoClean, the CPAP sanitizing device company, today announced that it has been named by Deloitte as one of America's fastest growing technology companies. SoClean ranked as number 54 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 and grew revenues by 2,805 percent. This ranking considers the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. "We are honored to be recognized by Deloitte for the remarkable growth we have achieved in recent years as we serve a robust and continuously growing number of CPAP patients in the U.S. and Europe," said Robert Wilkins, CEO of SoClean. "I am proud of the continuous dedication of our team, and I want to thank our loyal customers who continue to use our products and services. SoClean remains dedicated to raising public awareness of sleep apnea and other sleep breathing disorders, which often go undiagnosed and untreated." CPAP equipment requires frequent cleaning, as side effects of CPAP bacteria can include sinus infections, odor and skin irritation. In addition to suffering from sleep breathing disorders, patients have traditionally struggled with cumbersome and unsatisfactory CPAP cleaning practices that worsen patient health. Consequently, SoClean has adapted a quick, easy and safe process using activated oxygen-ozone-that has been shown to destroy up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in the mask, hose and reservoir of CPAP equipment. "SoClean believes CPAP cleaning should be simple and should only make patients feel better," said Wilkins. "SoClean's rapid growth-today recognized by Deloitte-is attributable to the recognition among CPAP patients that our products offer a quicker, easier and most importantly, safe alternative to traditional cleaning methods." About SoClean: SoClean is the CPAP sanitizing device company that sanitizes the CPAP mask, hose and reservoir without the need for disassembly, water or chemicals. Improperly cleaned CPAP equipment is filled with harmful device bacteria and viruses that can make people very sick when breathed into their body. Unlike the traditional soap and water cleaning approach, SoClean's natural approach to CPAP sanitizing kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, which leads to a healthier breathing experience. For more information, visit http://www.soclean.com/en-ca/. About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500: Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/508977/SoClean_Logo.jpg Press Release New converged CloudBand Infrastructure Software delivers secure, unified virtual infrastructure management software to secure 5G cloud deployments The new release includes OpenStack directly from the open source community in order to move new capabilities to customers faster and to support the smaller footprint required for edge deployments Enables management of virtual machines (VM) and containers in the cloud to ease the transition to the multi-vendor, cloud-native environments of the 5G era 15 November 2018 Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced its latest CloudBand Infrastructure Software to give communication service providers (CSPs) and other customers sharper cloud management solutions that improve service delivery and significantly reduce operating costs as 5G deployments get underway. CloudBand Infrastructure Software gives CSPs the capability to unify their Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure/Virtualized Infrastructure Manager, or NFVI/VIM, in order to support centralized and distributed edge cloud deployments and workloads. The CloudBand Infrastructure Software upgrade streamlines operational procedures by providing a single NFVi/VIM for all cloud deployment needs, such as support and management for both VM and containerized workloads. In a 5G digital services era, there is greater dependence on containers in the cloud and Nokia CloudBand Infrastructure allows CSPs to gain experience with cloud-native architectures without introducing completely different tool chains. Addressing a combination of IT and Telco use cases enables Nokia CloudBand customers to reduce cost and complexity compared to proprietary siloed approaches. "Operators risk unwanted complexity and costs in their OpenStack infrastructure by creating new virtualized silos, and they stand to benefit from a unified approach," Peter Fetterolf, CTO of ACG Business Analytics. "By streamlining process definition, execution, and maintenance across multiple vendors for activities like onboarding Virtual Network Functions, deploying and updating software, and troubleshooting using disparate tool chains, operators can reduce the cost of managing and maintaining cloud infrastructure by 92% over a five-year period and total cost of ownership by 56% over the same period." Nokia CloudBand Infrastructure Software includes OpenStack software directly from the open source community to address several challenges facing OpenStack adopters; for example, providing timely maintenance and feature updates and localized infrastructure security compliance. It also includes full Software Defined Networking domain controller pre-integration to give customers an end-to-end solution with lower integration costs and improved time-to-market. Guy Shemesh, Head of CloudBand at Nokia, said: "Nokia's latest CloudBand Infrastructure Software improves on OpenStack's operational state and removes risk and complexity for CSPs. CloudBand Infrastructure Software supports a combination of IT and Telco network cloud deployments, including stringent radio requirements, as well as Enterprise cloud needs. It is the best-in-class solution for converged cloud management solutions. This next-level solution is being swiftly rolled out for Nokia customers." Nokia's CloudBand management and orchestration (MANO), including CloudBand Infrastructure Software, have been key components in several multi-year customer deployment agreements in 2018. These have included StarHub to accelerate mobile data speeds to 1Gbps; BSNL to support the roll out of 4G and Voice over LTE services in India; and T-Mobile to support their nationwide, multi-band 5G network rollout across the United States. Resources Web page: Nokia Cloudband Solutions (https://networks.nokia.com/products/cloudband) Press release: StarHub Accelerates Mobile Data Speeds to 1Gbps (http://www.starhub.com/about-us/newsroom/2018/april/starhub-accelerates-mobile-data-speeds-to-1gbps.html) Press release: Nokia and T-Mobile leading the way with nationwide 5G multi-band network rollout across the United States (https://www.nokia.com/en_int/news/releases/2018/02/27/nokia-and-t-mobile-leading-the-way-with-nationwide-5g-multi-band-network-rollout-across-the-united-states) Press release: Nokia and BSNL to roll out 4G and Voice over LTE services in India (https://www.nokia.com/en_int/news/releases/2018/03/01/nokia-and-bsnl-to-roll-out-4g-and-voice-over-lte-services-in-india) About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. We adhere to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. Nokia is enabling the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things to transform the human experience. nokia.com. Media Inquiries: Kelly Stone The Hoffman Agency for Nokia Software Communications Phone: +1 206-618-2028 Email: kstone@hoffman.com Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.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: NOKIA via Globenewswire Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) -Global UAV Technologies Ltd. (CSE: UAV) (OTC: YRLLF) (FSE: YAB2) (the "Company" or "Global UAV"), a diversified and vertically integrated drone technology company, is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary, Pioneer Aerial Surveys Ltd. ("Pioneer Aerial") has secured a UAV-MAG survey contract in Brazil with the potential for significant survey expansion. This survey marks the first services contract in Brazil for Pioneer Aerial. With this contract, Pioneer Aerial crews will be flying UAV-MAG surveys over 4 continents and 5 countries through the month of November. Operation locations include Serbia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Nigeria. Brazil is a world-class mining jurisdiction resulting from the combination of experienced labor forces, abundant infrastructure, extensive exploration and mine development potential. Global UAV is well positioned to work in South America offering innovative drone technology solutions to Brazil's mining and exploration industry, one of the largest globally. "International UAV-MAG surveys represent a significant proportion of Pioneer Aerial's current and future work flow. This global marketplace growth reflects the disruptive nature of our technology and services, in addition to our rapid global emergence as the leading UAV-MAG service provider. Operating drone surveys in 5 countries simultaneously is a great achievement for Global UAV," commented Michael Burns, CEO, Global UAV Technologies Ltd. About Global UAV Technologies Ltd. Global UAV Technologies Ltd. is a diversified, vertically integrated drone technology company within the commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ("UAV") sector. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries - Pioneer Aerial Surveys Ltd., High Eye Aerial Imaging Inc., UAV Regulatory Services Inc., and NOVAerial Robotics Inc.- Global UAV Technologies Ltd. provides a full spectrum of UAV-based services and products including drone research and development and manufacturing, flight services and regulatory compliance. Global UAV Technologies Ltd. will continue its growth through technology development, expanding the business of its current divisions and the continued evaluation of potential acquisitions. Global UAV is well positioned for growth as a vertically integrated drone technology company. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Michael Burns" Michael Burns CEO & Director For additional information please contact: Global UAV Technologies Ltd. Investor Information Telephone: 1 888-905-7011 Email: ir@globaluavtech.com www.globaluavtech.com We invite all shareholders and stakeholders to join the Global UAV Technologies Ltd. portal on 8020 Connect. Connect here https://www.8020connect.com/groups/global-uav-technologies Neither Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in public markets, service industries, manufacturing and the UAV Sector. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Issuer Information 1 Issuer: Arion banki hf. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Org. no: 581008-0150 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 LEI RIL4VBPDB0M7Z3KXS F19 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue Information 4 Symbol (Ticker) ARION 190520 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 ISIN code IS0000030716 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CFI code D-Y-Z-U-X-R -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 FISN numer ARION BANKI HF/ZERO CPN 20190520 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Bonds/bills: Bills -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Total issued amount 1.640.000.000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Amount issued at this time 1.640.000.000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Denomination in CSD 20.000.000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amortization - Cash Flow 12 Amortization type Zero Coupon Bond -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Amortization type, if other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Currency ISK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Currency, if other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 Issue date November 20, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 First ordinary installment date May 20, 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Total number of installments 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Installment frequency N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 Maturity date May 20, 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 Interest rate N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 Floating interest rate, if applicable -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Floating interest rate, if other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 Premium N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 Simple/compound interest Simple Interest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 Simple/compound, if other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 Day count convention ACT/360 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 Day count convention, if other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 Interest from date N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 First ordinary coupon date N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 Coupon frequency N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32 Total number of coupon payments N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 If irregular cash flow, then how -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 Dirty price / clean price Dirty Price -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 If payment date is a bank holiday, does payment include No accrued interest for days missing until next business day? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indexing 36 Indexed No -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 Name of index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 Daily index or monthly index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39 Daily index or monthly index, if other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40 Base index value -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 Index base date -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Information 42 Call option No -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43 Put option No -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 Convertible No -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 45 Credit rating (rating agency, date) N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 Additional information N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Admission to Trading 47 Registered at CSD Yes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 Securities depository Nasdaq CSD Iceland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 Date of Application for Admission to Trading November 16, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50 Date of Approval of Application for Admission to Trading November 16, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 51 Date of admission to trading November 20, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 52 Order book ID 163677 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53 Instrument subtype Corporate bonds -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 54 Market OMX ICE DP Fixed Income -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 List population name OMX ICE Bank Bills -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 Static volatility guards No -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 57 Dynamic volatility guards No -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 58 MiFIR identifier BOND - Bonds -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / Reuters, the world's largest international multimedia news provider, announced today that it is further expanding its content offering to Reuters News Agency customers through a partnership with Newsflare, a leading provider of eyewitness and trending video. The Newsflare partnership brings media customers access to breaking news and trending videos shot by the public around the world, adding a new dimension to Reuters third-party content offering. Newsflare adds to a growing list of third-party content partners available to Reuters News Agency customers via Reuters Connect, allowing subscribers to find and utilize a wide variety of content from multiple sources on a single, easy-to-use platform. Other partners include BBC, USA TODAY Sports, Accuweather, Variety, WENN, Red Bull Media House, Hollywood TV and more. Justine Flatley, Product Manager for Content Partnerships, Reuters, said: "The ability for media organizations to engage their audiences across multiple platforms has never been more important, and our third-party content offering allows for a greater variety of content that is easily accessible, all in one place. Partnering with Newsflare adds to the depth and breadth of our content offering so Reuters News Agency customers can continue to tell compelling stories that captivate and allow them to grow their audiences." Terry Pierce, Head of Editorial Distribution and Partnerships, Newsflare said: "Newsflare's newsgathering efforts and global community of members combine to discover, verify and distribute extraordinary eyewitness videos that attract the interest of both media companies and the public alike. We are extremely pleased to partner with Reuters, allowing us to share our members' incredible stories and compelling video to an even wider network of media organizations." Newsflare is available to Reuters News Agency customers on Reuters Connect. About Reuters Connect Launched in 2017, Reuters Connect is designed to be a faster, more intelligent way for Reuters News Agency customers to source all the content they need via a single destination. Reuters Connect is built to make content discovery quicker and easier, improving clients' editorial efficiency and enabling them to deliver more stories to their audiences faster than ever before. For more information on Reuters Connect and its growing list of partners visit: https://agency.reuters.com/en/reuters-connect.html About Reuters Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest international multimedia news provider reaching more than one billion people every day. Reuters provides trusted business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktops, the world's media organizations and directly to consumers at Reuters.com and via Reuters TV. Follow news about Reuters at @ReutersPR. About Newsflare Headquartered in London with offices in the US and Spain, Newsflare is the media's pioneering leader in sourcing trusted and compelling eyewitness video. Newsflare's 40,000-plus members upload viral video and breaking news, bought by broadcast and digital media clients that span more than 50 countries. Under the banner Where the World's Media Come to Buy Your Video, Newsflare delivers stories from all walks of life that are often too breaking or too remote for traditional media organizations to capture. For more information visit: www.newsflare.com @newsflare. CONTACT (For Reuters) Joel Ivory-Harte PR Manager, Europe, Middle East & Africa Joel.ivory-harte@thomsonreuters.com 020 7542 7697 (For NewsFlare) David Syatt SSA Public Relations david@ssapr.com 818-222-4000 SOURCE: SSA Public Relations View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528237/Reuters-Expands-UGC-Offering-for-Media-Customers-with-Newsflare-Partnership-on-Reuters-Connect VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2019 / Prophecy Development Corp. ("Prophecy" or the "Company") (TSX:PCY, OTCQX:PRPCF, Frankfurt:1P2N) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Doolin as the Company's Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2019. In this role, Mr. Doolin will manage Prophecy's worldwide operations while collaborating with Prophecy's executive chairman John Lee on investor marketing, fundraising and the Company's overall strategic direction. Mr. Doolin is a mining professional with over 30 years of operational and management experience in Nevada with an emphasis on planning and budgeting. Prior to joining Prophecy, Mr. Doolin was Chief Operating Officer at Klondex Mines Ltd. ("Klondex") a mid-tier precious metals mining company prior to its takeover by Hecla Mining Company in July 2018. From 2012 to 2018, Mr. Doolin managed the development of Klondex's Fire Creek, Hollister and Midas, gold and silver mines located in Nevada from permitting to construction to commissioning stages and then further expansion. At Klondex, Mr. Doolin's team obtained an Environmental Assessment for the Fire Creek Mine in nine months from the Battle Mountain BLM office who are overseeing Prophecy's current Gibellini permitting, which is Prophecy's top priority. Mr. Doolin comments, "I am very pleased to join the Prophecy team and to work with everyone to bring Gibellini through permitting and into production as the first US primary vanadium mine. I am also looking forward to working on Prophecy's other advanced mining projects in Mongolia and Bolivia as we develop those projects to their full potential." Prior to Klondex, Mr. Doolin worked in operations with Great Basin Gold, McClelland Laboratories, Eagle Pilcher Minerals, GD Resources, Marigold Mining, Corona Gold, and Round Mountain Gold, all situated in Nevada. Mr. Doolin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering and Chemistry from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology. The Company also announces the resignation of Louis Dionne from the Board of Directors. The Company thanks Mr. Dionne for his service and wishes him the best in his future endeavours. All $ are in USD About Prophecy Prophecy is developing the Gibellini project - the only large-scale, open-pit, heap-leach vanadium project of its kind in North America. Located in Nevada, Gibellini is currently undergoing EPCM and permit development. Further information on Prophecy can be found at www.prophecydev.com. PROPHECY DEVELOPMENT CORP. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "John Lee" Chairman For more information about Prophecy, please contact Investor Relations: +1.888.513.6286 ir@prophecydev.com www.prophecydev.com Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Prophecy's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Prophecy's forward-looking statements. Prophecy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although Prophecy has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Prophecy undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law. SOURCE: Prophecy Development Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/538374/Michael-Doolin-Appointed-as-Prophecy-Chief-Operating-Officer-and-Interim-Chief-Executive-Officer CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / On Saturday, November 17, 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM at the Inglewood Community Association, married couple Scott Quinn and Megan Engblom will host a fundraising event that includes appetizers, live music provided by Bob Cook & The Barefoot Kings, silent auctions and a cash bar. Bring your friends and your dancing shoes! In 2017, this Calgary family and their friends raised $63,000 from their fifth annual Friends United to Conquer Cancer fundraiser. The fundraiser began after Scott Quinn lost his 30-year-old brother, Trevor, to a rare form of thyroid cancer in 2012. Two-and-a-half years later, Scott lost his father, Rick, to lung cancer. Since it began, Friends United to Conquer Cancer has raised $150,000 for local non-profit organizations such as Helping Families Handle Cancer, Canadian Cancer Society, and the AHS grief support program. This year's proceeds will be going to Helping Families Handle Cancer, a non-profit foundation that helps families who are struggling to make ends meet, when their child is battling cancer. The charity's direct, hands-on approach to helping local families really touched the Quinn family, and they have been working with Carie Stock and Helping Families Handle Cancer since 2013. The charity impacts families with financial assistance towards things like hospital parking, groceries, rent and utilities, so parents can direct their energy into caring for their child, instead of struggling to cover basic living expenses. "Helping Families Handle Cancer has provided our family and others a chance to focus on our children by easing the financial strain associated with diagnosis and treatment," said Candace Inkpen, a previous Care Program recipient. "We want to make sure other families are able to receive the same assistance that had such an impact on our journey." "We are so excited and honoured to be working with FUC Cancer to host this fun event," said Carie Stock, Executive Director and Founder of Helping Families Handle Cancer. "This relatively small group of inspirational and dedicated people have accomplished big things. Their passion has made a difference in the lives of families in our Care Program. We are incredibly proud of them." EVENT DETAILS WHEN Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM WHERE Inglewood Community Assoc. 1740 24 Ave. SE WHAT Friends United to Conquer Cancer (FUC Cancer) fundraiser event in support of Helping Families Handle Cancer MEDIA LIAISON Carie Stock Founder/Executive Director of Helping Families Handle Cancer C 403 850-5477 / carie@helpingfamilieshandlecancer.com INTERVIEWS Megan Engblom Co-Founder of Friends United to Conquer Cancer FUC Cancer C 403 675-8840 / menmengblom@shaw.ca Carie Stock Founder and Executive Director Helping Families Handle Cancer C 403 850-5477 / E carie@helpingfamilieshandlecancer.com ABOUT FRIENDS UNITED TO CONQUER CANCER Trevor Quinn was diagnosed with pneumonia in December 2011. Everyone thought he would get better soon. But as his brother, Scott, sat beside him, the doctors gave them a new diagnosis and everything changed. "We thought: this can't be happening," said Scott. "He's too young. It's not fair." Trevor passed away less than a month after being admitted to the hospital. Scott's father, Rick, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2014. This was devastating for the entire family, who had just celebrated Rick's marriage to his new bride Kathi three months prior. Rick passed within a month after being admitted to the hospital. Trevor Quinn Rick & Scott Quinn "So many people reached out to support us," said Megan. "We were so touched, and that kindness gave us the strength. We talked about how something good had to come from this and told Trevor we would make that happen." Megan says, "The FUC Cancer fundraiser has helped us find a way to keep the memory of our loved ones alive, and to connect with so many others who are facing their own battle with this disease. The evening serves not only as an annual reminder of the family we have lost, but gives us hope, that as a community, we can join together and ease the pain of others." Megan & Scott Quinn ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES HANDLE CANCER Helping Families Handle Cancer is a not-for-profit organization that strives to alleviate some of the emotional and financial stress of childhood cancer by providing financial support to families in need who are battling cancer. ACCESSWIRE is pleased to contribute to Helping Families Handle Cancer and other charitable agencies by disseminating associated press releases at no charge to our newswire distribution list. SOURCE: Helping Families Handle Cancer View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528235/Calgary-Family-Holds-6th-Annual-Fundraiser-Raising-Money-for-Charities-Working-to-Support-Those-that-Have-Been-Impacted-by-Cancer-in-Honour-of-Two-Beloved-Family-Members Regulatory News: Total Gabon (Paris:EC): Main Financial Indicators Q3 18 Q2 18 Q3 18 vs. Q2 18 9M 18 9M 17 9M 18 vs. 9M 17 Average Brent price $/b 75.2 74.4 +1% 72.1 51.8 +39% Average Total Gabon crude price (1) $/b 70.2 72.3 -3% 68.1 48.1 +42% Crude oil production from fields operated by Total Gabon kb/d (2) 26.6 23.5 +13% 24.7 52.6 -53% Crude oil production from Total Gabon interests (3) kb/d 39.4 34.8 +13% 36.6 45.3 -19% Sales volumes (1) Mb (4) 3.27 2.92 +12% 9.12 13.17 -31% Revenue (5) M$ 257 232 +11% 697 724 -4% Funds generated from operations (6) M$ 54 138 -61% 225 233 -3% Capital expenditure M$ 27 30 -10% 87 86 +1% Net income (loss) (7) M$ 208 23 x9 254 13 x20 (1) Excluding profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. (2) kb/d: Thousand barrels per day. (3) Including profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. (4) Mb: Million barrels. (5) Revenue from hydrocarbon sales and services (transportation, processing and storage). As from December 31st 2017, the Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Following the application of IAS 18 Revenue, profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic is now included in revenue. This reclassification, which was also applied to 9M17 revenue, has no impact on net income. (6) Cash flow from operating activities operating cash flow gains (losses) on disposals of assets working capital changes. (7) As from December 31st 2017, the Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Various items taken into account in the calculation of 9M17 net income have been adjusted as a result of the adoption of IFRS. A summary of these adjustments is provided in the Annex 1. Third Quarter and Nine months 2018 Results Selling Prices The average selling price of the Mandji and Rabi Light crude oil grades marketed by Total Gabon averaged 70.2 $/b during the third quarter 2018, down 3% compared to the second quarter 2018, with the Brent price increase more than offset by the unfavorable crude oil lifting program for the quarter. During the first nine months of 2018, the average selling price averaged 68.1 $/b, up 42% compared to first nine months of 2017, reflecting the higher Brent price. Production Total Gabon's equity share of operated and non-operated oil production (1) was 39,400 barrels per day in the third quarter 2018, an increase of 13% compared to second quarter 2018, due mainly to: the repair of damage that occurred on the Anguille and Torpille fields' compressors; partly impacted by: the natural decline of fields. During the first nine months of 2018, Total Gabon's equity share of operated and non-operated oil production (1) was 36,600 barrels per day, a decline of 19% compared to the first nine months of 2017, due mainly to: the sale of mature assets to Perenco on October 31, 2017; damage that occurred on the Anguille and Torpille fields' compressors; the natural decline of fields. This was partly offset by: the impact of the acquisition of an additional 50% in the Baudroie-Merou license in June 2017. Revenue Revenue amounted to $257 million in the third quarter 2018, up 11% compared to the second quarter 2018, thanks to higher volumes sold. Revenue amounted to $697 million during the first nine months of 2018, down 4% compared to the first nine months of 2017, the 42% positive price effect impacted by the 53% decrease in volumes sold. Furthermore, revenue from services provided to third parties also decreased, mainly due to the sale of the Rabi-Coucal-Cap Lopez pipeline network. Cash flow from operating activities Cash flow from operating activities amounted to $54 million during the third quarter 2018, a significant decrease compared to second quarter 2018, mainly due to the increase of working capital related to the crude oil lifting program. Cash flow from operating activities amounted to $225 million during the first nine months of 2018, stable compared to the first nine months of 2017. The positive effects due to the increase in oil prices and to the Company's cost-cutting program were impacted by the increase of working capital related to the crude oil lifting program and by the decrease in volumes sold. Capital Expenditure Capital expenditure amounted to $27 million during the third quarter of 2018, down 10% compared to second quarter 2018, and $87 million during the first nine month of 2018, up 1% compared to the first nine months of 2017. This includes an onshore well service campaign, integrity works offshore (Anguille, Torpille, Grondin) and onshore (Cap Lopez terminal), and geoscience and development studies. Net Income Net income amounted to $208 million in the third quarter 2018, a strong increase compared to the second quarter 2018, mainly as a result of the sale of the interest in the Rabi-Kounga license and the production increase. Net income in the first nine months of 2018 increased significantly compared to the first nine months of 2017 to $254 million mainly as a result of the sale of its interest in the Rabi-Kounga license and the price increase. Highlights since the beginning of Second Quarter 2018 Board of Directors' Meeting on August 30, 2018 The Board of Directors of Total Gabon met on August 30, 2018 and reviewed the financial statements for the first-half 2018 which were published through a press release and on the Company's website. The Company's Interim 2018 Financial Report for the period ending June 30 was published on its website on August 30, 2018. Disposal of onshore Rabi-Kounga field As announced on July 31, 2018, Total Gabon completed the sale to Assala Upstream Gabon S.A. of its entire 32.9% interest in the Rabi-Kounga field located in the southern onshore region of Gabon. The transaction represents a value of 100 M$ before adjustments. The simplification of the portfolio allows Total Gabon to mobilize its resources on its offshore operated fields in order to create value by optimizing the production of the Anguille and Torpille zones and by launching new profitable projects. APPENDIX 1: IMPACT OF ADOPTING IFRS ON THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2017 INCOME STATEMENT Information on Options Retained in First-Time Adoption The move from the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) accounting standard to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) was conducted in accordance with IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. As an affiliate that became a first-time adopter later than its parent, the Company chose to measure its assets and liabilities as the carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements of Total S.A. Summary of the main impacts on the first nine months of the 2017 Income Statement (in M$) Net income (OHADA) 21 Site restoration IAS 16 (2) Unit-of-production method IAS 16 (3) Exceptional depreciation IAS 16 (37) Measurement of oil and gas inventories IAS 2 (5) Deferred taxes IAS 12 43 Total adjustments (8) Net income (IFRS) 13 Notes Restatements are described in the notes to the Financial Statement of the 2017 Reference Document. 1 Including profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005857/en/ Contacts: Total Gabon Media: actionnariat-totalgabon@total.com Attributes 195 Percent Revenue Growth to its Best-In-Class Omni-Channel Messaging and Conversational Commerce Platform Tailored to Automotive Dealerships and OEMs BOCA RATON, Florida, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gubagoo, a leading provider of conversational commerce solutions for Automotive Dealerships and OEMs, today announced it ranked 399 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Gubagoo grew 195 percent during this period. Gubagoo's CEO, Brad Title, credits the company's impressive revenue growth on its innovative technology and best-in-class 24/7/365 live chat, text, and behavioral marketing product portfolio which has been developed in close collaboration with Automotive Dealers. Title said, "I am tremendously proud of the Gubagoo employees whose domain knowledge and technical expertise drive our innovation. This award is yet another affirmation of our role as the market leader in conversational commerce solutions for Automotive Dealerships and OEMs." Gubagoo is one of the most innovative players in the nascent conversational commerce category, and recently announced the launch of Gubagoo Virtual Retailing, a new digital retailing solution that will enable consumers to buy cars online from Automotive Dealership websites and Facebook using live chat and video. It will deliver a hand held, white glove experience that will lower consumer defection and boost revenue growth for Automotive Dealers. "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Gubagoo Gubagoo is the leading provider of conversational commerce solutions for Automotive Dealerships and OEM's. They use our powerful messaging and digital retailing solutions to activate the online car buying experience from their website or Facebook. Our fully managed omni-channel live messaging service instantly connects consumers to Dealerships anytime and anywhere through live dealer chat, text, video and Messenger, converting high quality leads and appointments for Dealerships 24/7/365. At the core of our solution is Gubagoo's patented behavioral and scoring algorithm which makes each human interaction more intelligent and highly personalized, and contributes to superior lead conversion. More than 4,000 Dealerships, including some of the world's largest dealer groups and certified OEM programs, rely on Gubagoo to sell more cars and create more satisfied customers. For more information, visit www.Gubagoo.com, e-mail buy@gubagoo.com or call 855.359.2573. NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rokt, the global e-commerce martech company, today announced it ranked 370th on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Rokt features on the list for the first time, after achieving an impressive 214% percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. From its rapidly expanding New York base, Rokt works with over 2,000 global brands and e-commerce retailers to connect the right people at the right moment - when their wallets are out, and they're open to something new. Growing from its Australian roots, Rokt is an established technology business with operations in nine global markets, and is committed to making e-commerce smarter, faster and better to deliver their customers more value from every transaction. Rokt's chief executive officer, Bruce Buchanan, credits Rokt's people and clients for the company's exceptional growth. He said, "It's a great achievement to be listed as the 370th fastest-growing company in North America, after maintaining a triple-digit growth rate year on year. As we scale and advance our Rokt AI, our ability to determine the most valuable actions for each individual allows e-commerce companies to maximize their user experience and value in the transaction on a 1:1 level. This has proven to drive over 10X improvement in our customers' bottom line ultimately driving meaningful and significant impact for both our customers, and our overall business value." "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai , vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake , partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Rokt Rokt sits at the intersection of digital marketing and commerce working with the world's biggest brands to get smarter in the e-commerce transaction. Our marketing technology creates 1:1 user experiences in the Transaction Moment, when people's wallets are out and their minds are open to discovering new things. Using Rokt AI to dynamically recommend the next best action, we help our partners drive smarter commerce by optimizing both their user experience & value realization in the transaction. Presenting a 1:1 optimized offer such as an upsell, app download, loyalty sign-up, calendar subscription or third-party offer has proven to drive over 10X improvement in our customers' bottom line. Rokt's premium marketplace of e-commerce partners including eBay, Ticketmaster, Groupon and Fanatics opens up over 100 million transactions per month globally, providing brands a referral platform to present relevant offers and effectively acquire consent from customers while they are in a buying state of mind. Founded in Sydney in 2012, Rokt currently operates in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan. For more information visit www.rokt.com or follow the company at @ROKT. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/570354/Rokt_Logo.jpg LONDON, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovator Tempus Energy successfully challenges fossil fuel bias in UK power market 5.6bn committed in customer-funded subsidies favouring polluting fossil fuels ruled unlawful Ruling paves the way for cleaner, cheaper energy market Cleantech innovator Tempus Energy has successfully challenged a UK subsidy scheme that allows fossil fuels to dominate the market. The European Court delivered the landmark ruling today. The ruling opens to the door to an overhaul of UK energy policy. The UK's National Grid caters for 'peak demand' scenarios via the Capacity Market established by the UK Government in 2014. Tempus Energy brought its challenge on the basis that the design of this market ensures profits for coal, gas and diesel generators, leaving cheaper, cleaner alternatives virtually unable to compete. Using billpayers' money to finance fossil fuels without their consent - with several billion pounds committed so far - shuts out more innovative solutions for guaranteeing supply, which are actually cheaper for customers. Commenting on the ruling by the European Court, Sara Bell CEO of Tempus Energy said: "A customer revolution is on the cards. This ruling opens the door for cheaper energy - greater use of demand-side innovation would change the way we use electricity in practice, and place customers at the heart of the energy system for the first time. "Consumers know it pays to be flexible - we've been using off-peak trains for years. The energy system is exactly the same. Off-peak power should mean off-peak prices. "This ruling should ultimately force the UK Government to design an energy system that reduces bills by incentivising and empowering customers to use electricity in the most cost-effective way - while maximising the use of climate-friendly renewables. "Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and increasing our use of renewables has the added benefit of delivering better air quality and bigger carbon cuts across the country." As the government seeks ways to fulfil energy demand and reduce CO2 emissions, 'demand-side' solutions have so far played far too small a role in discussions. A recent study by Poyry Management Consultants and Imperial College found integrating new sources of flexibility - such as customer demand flexibility - to manage the energy system would save between 3.2bn and 4.7bn each year. By streamlining their energy use, customers can participate too. As 'demand-side' energy providers, customers can earn revenue and make significant savings by avoiding using the grid at peak times. New, 'smart' technology allows customers to do this automatically and easily. Bell said: "Customers are not only footing the bill for this ill-designed scheme, they are also being prevented from accessing its potential benefits themselves." Commercial customers are already taking advantage of the economic benefits of renewables and electricity storage. However, UK policy has not kept up with the way in which customers are using and generating clean, cost-efficient energy. Bell added: "If the Government is serious about decarbonising energy at the lowest cost to the customer, it must design a market that encourages, not stifles, environmental friendly technology. "The energy transition is about supporting smart technology and equipping the consumer to manage their own energy - not funding fossil fuels." Notes to Editors: Demand management - explainer Smart technology on the demand side can bring benefits both to households and to large energy customers such as those who have factory processes that can automatically shift to a time when energy demand (and prices) are low and renewables are abundant e.g. when the sun shines or the wind blows - or use power from a battery. By tapping into energy when overall demand is low and supply is plentiful, non-time critical customer appliances and equipment that do not need to run at the same level continuously - such as charging a fleet of electric delivery vans or running a dishwasher - can be operated at a much lower cost. About Tempus Energy: Tempus is an energy technology company, with a presence in several energy markets globally, including the UK. Tempus has developed software that interacts with existing DSR technology and smart appliances to help customers to be "demand-flexible", by actively reducing their electricity demand at peak times and shifting usage to cheaper, off-peak times, usually when renewable power is plentiful. Tempus is currently piloting its technology with Australia's largest energy retailer, Origin Energy. After seeing positive results and savings on average of 22% they have extended the pilot to include all states of Australia. https://www.tempusenergy.com/ Contact: info@tempusenergy.com, +44(0)7412228056, +44(0)7411739412 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / Far Resources Ltd (CSE:FAT) (FSE:F0R) (OTC:FRRSF) (www.farresources.com) ("Far" or the "Company") is excited to announce that is has commenced its fifth round of drilling--starting ahead of schedule--at its 100% owned Zoro Lithium Project in Manitoba, where it is completing a twenty-one hole programme focusing on both existing discoveries and new targets. Three holes will be drilled to complete metallurgical test studies. The first hole drilled during this campaign (FAR18-017), which targeted the newly discovered Dyke 8, intersected 13 metres of well-mineralised spodumene, extending the zone of lithium mineralisation to the east by approximately 30 metres. The Company will complete its previously announced 2,000-metre diamond drill campaign (October 23, 2018 news release), with operations based at the historic mining community of Snow Lake in mining-friendly Manitoba. "Once again, Far delivers on its strategic plan by initiating its fifth round of drilling at Zoro, starting well ahead of schedule," stated Toby Mayo, President and CEO of the Company. "It comes as no surprise to us that the very first hole of this important phase of exploration has extended the known potential for mineralisation by expanding Dyke 8 to the east of the discovery hole. This news reinforces our absolute conviction that Zoro has the potential to be a major economic deposit in a previously unrecognised lithium belt, with the potential to be a major North American lithium supplier. As this campaign continues, we will be making further discoveries, while de-risking the project through the completion of our metallurgical test programme. Manitoba deserves to be recognised as prime lithium real estate." The current programme will test up to 15 high-priority lithium targets based on an integrated database including previous drill results, prospecting, geological mapping and Mobile Metal Ions soil geochemistry. The drill program will also assess the potential for expanding high-grade lithium mineralization at recently discovered Dyke 8 as well as obtaining additional material from Dyke 1 for the ongoing metallurgical test work programme. It received its work permit from the office of Sustainable Development, Manitoba Government in early November. Management believes that this fifth phase of drilling will continue to demonstrate the vast potential of Zoro. As previously announced, the Zoro Lithium Project now hosts at least eight lithium-bearing dykes with over a million tonnes identified at Dyke 1 so far. With an additional fifty targets, the Project represents a great opportunity for delineating significant tonnage of economic value. Figure 1. 2018 autumn programme drill targets at the Zoro Lithium Project. (To view the full-sized image, please click here) Currently the cutting and preparation of helicopter and drill pads is ongoing by Far's field crew. Westcore Drilling and Gogal Air Services have mobilised the drill to Dyke 8 and drilling scheduled to commence November 7. The plan is to start drilling at Dyke 8 followed by a drill move to test targets at Dyke 1. Three holes will also be drilled from representative zones of spodumene mineralization at Dyke 1 to acquire sufficient material for the commencement of metallurgical studies to be undertaken at the Lakefield (Ontario) facility of SGS Mineral Services. The drill will then move northwards from Dyke 1 to test the remainder of the high-contrast targets (Figure 1). The Company's technical crew and core technologist have also mobilised to site to prepare the core logging and sampling facility for a busy fall drill program. The fall drill programme contract has been awarded to Westcore Drilling with air support provided by Gogal Air Services. Core samples will be logged, cut, bagged and shipped from Far's core logging and preparation facility in Snow Lake and shipped to Activation Laboratories (Ancaster, Ontario) for the analysis of lithium and a multi-element suite of elements referred to as UT-7. This method is based upon a sodium peroxide fusion which captures total amounts of lithium and related elements in the sample. About the Company Far Resources is actively drilling its Zoro Lithium project located near Snow Lake, Manitoba, which covers a number of known lithium pegmatite occurrences. The Company has recently acquired an option on the Hidden Lake Property in NWT and is initiating drilling for continuity of spodumene mineralization to depth. In the United States, the Company owns the Winston project in New Mexico, an historic mining property with additional potential for silver and gold. Please visit our website at www.farresources.com for full details on our current projects. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mark Fedikow P.Geo., a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101. ### ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FAR RESOURCES LTD. Toby Mayo, President and CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Steve Hosein: shosein@renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance (including our planned exploration for the Winston Project, the Zoro Lithium Property and the Hidden Lake Property) and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. SOURCE: Far Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528246/Far-Resources-Commences-Fifth-Round-of-Drilling-at-Its-Zoro-Lithium-Project-Solidifies-Its-Potential-to-Become-a-Major-North-American-Lithium-Source-with-Extension-of-Mineralisation-at-Dyke-8-in-First-Hole-of-Programme Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today brought additional charges against a Long Island, New York-based boiler room previously sued for defrauding elderly and unsophisticated investors. The latest charges allege that First Choice Healthcare Solutions Inc. CEO Christian Romandetti, the boiler room, and four others, manipulated the company's shares generating more than $3.3 million of illegal profits and more than $560,000 in kickbacks for Romandetti. The SEC's complaint alleges that Romandetti and the other defendants duped more than 100 victims in a scheme that inflated First Choice's stock price from less than $1 per share to $3.40 per share. According to the complaint, from at least September 2013 until about June 2016, the defendants used multiple accounts in an attempt to disguise their trading, engaged in manipulative trading practices, and hired Elite Stock Research, a boiler room run by defendant Anthony Vassallo, to promote First Choice to vulnerable investors, some of who invested retirement savings. "Microcap fraud continues to be a pervasive source of harm to retail investors," said Carolyn M. Welshhans, Associate Director of the Division of Enforcement. "Investors should be on the lookout for individuals employing methods like the ones we allege in our complaint-such as using unsolicited calls and high-pressure sales tactics." In a related action in July 2017, the SEC originally charged boiler room Elite Stock Research, as well as another Long Island boiler room and 13 individuals, with bilking victims out of more than $10 million through high-pressure sales tactics and lies about penny stocks. Seven of those individuals have pleaded guilty to parallel criminal charges brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. The SEC's litigation against the 13 individuals is continuing. Today's SEC action, filed in federal district court in Central Islip, New York, charges Romandetti, Vassallo, Mark Burnett, Jeffrey Miller, Frank Sarro and Elite Stock Research with fraud and Burnett, Miller, Sarro, and Vassallo with market manipulation. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, return of allegedly ill-gotten gains with interest, civil penalties, penny stock bars, and officer-and-director bars against Romandetti and Burnett. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced parallel criminal charges against Romandetti, Burnett, Miller, and Sarro. The SEC encourages investors to check the backgrounds of people selling them investments by using the SEC's Investor.gov website to quickly identify whether they are registered professionals. The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by Cecilia B. Connor and Andrew Elliott and supervised by Ms. Welshhans and Amy L. Friedman, with assistance from Leigh Barrett. The SEC's litigation will be handled by James Smith and Matthew Scarlato and supervised by Jan Folena. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. As a certified eye and facial plastic surgeon, and the owner of Pure Facial Plastic Surgery & Medspa in Charlotte and Huntersville, North Carolina, Dr. Briggs Cook has established a successful career in the medical field. Now, Briggs Cook is giving back to his community with the Briggs Cook Scholarship Program. HUNTERSVILLE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / Dr. Briggs Cook, Founder and Director of Pure Facial Surgery & Medspa in Huntersville, NC, is pleased to announce the recipients of two $500 (USD/CAD) Scholarships. The first recipient, Haley, from Illinois is enrolled in Forensic Psychology. The second recipient, Carin, from California is pursuing a Master's degree in Psychology. Applicants to the Briggs Cook Scholarship Program were required to have been enrolled in one of the following programs in a post-secondary institution throughout Canada or the United States: Child Care, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Psychology. Applicants were responsible for providing proof of enrollment, as well as a 500 word essay on how they were going to use their degree to better our world. As someone who has had a long and diverse educational career, Dr. Briggs Cook knows the importance of post-secondary education. He created the Briggs Cook Scholarship Program to help the next generation of workers access the tools needed to develop their passions and help others live healthier, happier lives. Briggs Cook is pleased to offer a helping hand to the two scholarship winners, and wishes them a successful career ahead. To learn more about Dr. Briggs Cook, visit https://briggscookscholarships.com https://www.purefacialplastics.com About Pure Facial Plastic Surgery & MedSpa Dr. Briggs Cook founded Pure Facial Plastic Surgery & MedSpa in 2012. Pure offers high-quality services, using innovative technology and surgical techniques to produce long-term, natural-looking results. Dr. Briggs Cook specializes in non-invasive surgical procedures, such as facelifts, eyelid lifts, and hair transplantation. For more information, please contact: Dr. Briggs Cook briggscook@yahoo.com Founder and Director of Pure Facial Plastic Surgery & Medspa SOURCE: Pure Facial Surgery & Medspa View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528250/Dr-Briggs-Cook-Announces-Scholarship-Winners Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) - North American Nickel Inc. (TSXV: NAN) (OTCQB: WSCRF) (CUSIP: 65704T 108) (the "Company") is pleased to announce details of the 2018 exploration and drill program at its Post Creek nickel-copper-PGE sulphide project in Sudbury Ontario. The 2018 work program will include: A targeted 1,000 metres of diamond drilling, including borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) surveys, following up on 2018 trench mapping, petrography and geochemistry studies and prospecting. In the Sudbury Region, a compilation of geological and geophysical work has refined an understanding of the mineral potential of the Post Creek property, located at the northeastern margin of the Sudbury Basin (Figure 1). The identification of discontinuous segmented bodies of quartz diorite at surface, coupled with the presence of anomalous copper and precious metal abundances in grab samples, is consistent with the development of an Offset type environment below the eroded northeastern rim of the Sudbury Basin. North American Nickel CEO, Keith Morrison, states: "Offsets and footwall deposits account for a significant portion of all the ore mined in the Sudbury Mining Camp and continue to be significant and favourable exploration targets. The style of mineralization associated with this geological environment is prospective for Cu, Ni, Co and precious metals." The Post Creek property is strategically located approximately 2km northeast of the past producing Podolsky Mine. The Podolsky and North deposits are both hosted within the Whistle Offset, which extends away from the base of the Sudbury Igneous Complex towards North American Nickel's Post Creek Property. Surface trench mapping indicates the presence of quartz diorite on the Post Creek property which could represent an extension of the Whistle Offset dyke. Surface geological and geochemical information, coupled with surface magnetics and IP are an important driver to evaluating the area below the currently existing shallow drilling in a search for Podolsky style mineralization. The 2018 program will include up to 1,000m of drilling of two holes to undercut the exposed part of the dyke in search of mineralization associated with the quartz diorite and associated meta-breccia, and to provide a platform for borehole electromagnetic survey work. All material contracts and personnel are now in place and the project mobilization has commenced. North American Nickel expects to have the drill turning by November 16th. Work contracts have been awarded to Forage M3 Drilling Services Inc. of Hawkesbury, Ontario and Crone Geophysics and Exploration Ltd., of Mississauga, Ontario. In respect and consideration of the Wanapitei First Nation, a dialogue continues regarding consultation on the program of work. "Technical Information; Qualified Person" The Company is not aware of any legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the project other than those set out in its annual information form filed on www.sedar.com. Please see below under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements" for further details regarding risks facing the Company. All technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Peter C. Lightfoot, Ph.D., P.Geo. (Consulting Chief Geologist), who is the Qualified Persons for the Company. About North American Nickel North American Nickel is a mineral exploration company with 100% owned properties in Maniitsoq, Greenland and Sudbury, Ontario. The Maniitsoq property in Greenland is a Camp scale permitted exploration project comprising 2,985 square km covering numerous high-grade nickel-copper + cobalt sulphide occurrences associated with norite and other mafic-ultramafic intrusions of the Greenland Norite Belt (GNB). The >75km-long belt is situated along, and near, the southwest coast of Greenland accessible from the existing Seqi deep water port with an all year-round shipping season and hydroelectric power potential from a quantified watershed. The Post Creek/Halcyon property in Sudbury is strategically located adjacent to the past producing Podolsky copper-nickel-platinum group metal deposit of KGHM International Ltd. The property lies along the extension of the Whistle Offset dyke structure. Such geological structures host major Ni-Cu-PGM deposits and producing mines within the Sudbury Camp. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of the Company. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the success of exploration activities; impact of mineralogy, estimation of mineral resources at mineral projects of the Company; the future economics of minerals including nickel and copper; synergies and financial impact facilities; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of the Company and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include variations in metal grades, changes in market conditions, variations in recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to the failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed. Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbours created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the expected results. For further information on the project, please see National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) dated effective March 17th, 2017, titled "Updated Independent Technical Report for the Maniitsoq Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-PGM Project, Greenland", available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or at www.northamericannickel.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mark Fedikow President North American Nickel Inc. For more information contact: North American Nickel Inc. Jaclyn Ruptash Corporate Communications (604) 770-4334 Toll free: 1-866-816-0118 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Figure 1: Post Creek Project Location Map To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2081/41099_f0c90ffc44d9aaed_002full.jpg Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2018) - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") today provided a further update from its 2018 drilling program completed at its Nelligan joint venture project (IAMGOLD: 51%, Vanstar Mining Resources Inc. ("Vanstar"): 49%), located 60 kilometres southwest of Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada. The Company is reporting assay results from an additional 11 diamond drill holes, totaling 4,404 metres. Results are pending from a remaining 9 drill holes, totaling 4,487 metres, and will be reported once the results are received, validated and compiled. The assay results reported herein are provided in Table 1 below and include the following highlights: (A drill hole plan map is attached to this news release). 36 West Zone: Drill hole NE-18-81: 12.2 metres grading 3.93 g/t Au includes: 0.8 metres grading 34.3 g/t Au Drill hole NE-18-86: 24.2 metres grading 1.33 g/t Au includes: 5.6 metres grading 3.51 g/t Au Drill hole NE-18-89: 14.3 metres grading 2.26 g/t Au includes: 4.4 metres grading 4.60 g/t Au Renard Zone: Drill hole NE-18-81: 23.5 metres grading 1.68 g/t Au includes: 7.5 metres grading 3.70 g/t Au and 37.5 metres grading 1.61 g/t Au Drill hole NE-18-83: 14.5 metres grading 2.31 g/t Au includes: 7.0 metres grading 4.10 g/t Au and 31.5 metres grading 1.19 g/t Au includes: 6.0 metres grading 3.22 g/t Au Drill hole NE-18-84: 33.1 metres grading 1.26 g/t Au and 82.6 metres grading 3.31 g/t Au includes: 1.5 metres grading 20.9 g/t Au includes: 1.5 metres grading 74.9 g/t Au Drill hole NE-18-87: 37.4 metres grading 0.95 g/t Au and 27.2 metres grading 3.48 g/t Au includes: 7.5 metres grading 9.55 g/t Au The 2018 diamond drilling program was designed to evaluate the resource potential of the recently discovered mineralization system, referred to as the Renard Zone, located immediately north of the previously known Liam and Dan zones. The drilling continues to intersect wide zones of hydrothermal alteration characterized by variable carbonatization, sericite, phlogopite and pervasive silicification affecting the hosting meta-sedimentary sequence. Disseminated pyrite is associated with the alteration zones and varies from 1% to locally 15%. Trace molybdenite and occasionally fine grains of visible gold are observed. Craig MacDougall, Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD, stated: "The 2018 drilling program continues to deliver positive results, and as previously reported, continues to intersect wide zones of alteration and associated mineralization. These results are being incorporated to develop a preliminary deposit model and guide future drilling campaigns to support the completion of an initial resource estimate." Next Steps The results from the remaining 9 diamond drill holes, totaling 4,487 metres will be reported once they are received, validated and compiled. These results, coupled with ongoing geochemical and structural studies will continue to support the development and refinement of a geological and deposit model. The objective of the 2018 drilling program is to evaluate the resource potential of the project with the aim of declaring an initial NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate in 2019. About the Nelligan Project The Nelligan project is underlain by a portion of the Caopatina segment belonging to the North Volcanic Zone of the Abitibi Belt of the Superior Province. The property is centered on the E-W Druillette synclinal with sediments of the Caopatina Formation bounded to the north and to the south by volcanic rocks of the Obatogamau Formation. The North and South portions of the property are occupied by granodioritic to tonalitic intrusions. The project is transected by numerous regional and local structures and deformation zones which can be important in the localization of gold mineralization. Gold showings of the area can be grouped according to their style of mineralization: Quartz-sulphide vein type mineralization and disseminated pyrite mineralization. On the local scale, the Nelligan project contains several interesting gold showings, including the Liam and Dan Zones discovered by drilling in 2013 and 2014, and the historical Lake Eu showing. Significant alteration and associated gold mineralization was intersected over wide intervals to the north of the known gold showings over a strike length of more than 1.0 kilometre, to a depth of over 300 vertical metres (Zones 36 and Renard). These prospective showings appear to fall within a structural corridor with a potential strike length of several kilometres associated to the Guercheville Deformed Corridor located 5 kilometres north of the property. The Nelligan Project is held under an earn-in option to joint venture agreement with Vanstar. The Company holds an undivided 51% interest in the property, and holds an option to earn a further 24% undivided interest in exchange for cash payments totaling C$2,750,000 to Vanstar and the delivery of an NI 43-101 compliant Resource Estimate Technical Report before March 2022. Once vested to an undivided 75% interest, IAMGOLD will have a further option to acquire an additional interest of 5%, to hold an 80% interest in the Nelligan project by completing and delivering a Feasibility Study. Vanstar would then retain a 20% undivided non-contributory carried interest until the commencement of commercial production, after which: (1) the 20% undivided interest becomes participating; and (2) Vanstar will pay its attributable portion of the total development and construction costs to the commencement of commercial production from 80% of its share of any ongoing distributions from the Joint Venture. Vanstar will also retain a 1% NSR royalty on selected claims of the project. Technical Information and Quality Control Notes The drilling results contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The "Qualified Person" responsible for the supervision of the preparation and review of this information is Marie-France Bugnon, P. Geo., General Manager Exploration. Marie-France is considered a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 with respect to the technical information being reported on. The technical information has been included herein with the consent and prior review of the above noted Qualified Person. The Qualified person has verified the data disclosed, and data underlying the information or opinions contained herein. The sampling of, and assay data from, the drill core is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA-QC) program designed to follow industry best practice. Drill core (NQ size) samples are selected by the IAMGOLD geologists and sawn in half with a diamond saw at the project site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals may vary from half a metre to one and a half metres in length depending on the geological observations. Samples are transported in sealed bags to ALS Minerals Laboratory ("ALS") located in Val-d'Or, Quebec. Samples are coarse crushed to a -10 mesh and then a 1,000 gram split is pulverized to 95% passing -150 mesh. ALS processes analytical pulps directly at their facilities located in Val-d'Or which is ISO / IEC 17025 certified by the Standards Council of Canada. Samples are analyzed using a standard fire assay with a 50 gram charge with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne, another pulp is taken and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Core samples showing visible gold or samples which have returned values greater than 10.0 grams per tonne are re-analyzed by pulp metallic analysis. IAMGOLD inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. Forward Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements. 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 expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results, potential mineralization, potential mineral resources and mineral reserves) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "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, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets and other risks disclosed in IAMGOLD's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement. 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 www.iamgold.com/French/Home/default.aspx. Table 1 Table 1Nelligan Project Drilling Results - 2018 Drilling program Hole No. UTM NAD83 Zone18 AZ DIP EOH from To Interval True Width (1) Au (2) NOTE Easting Northing Elevation () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) NE-18-80 522,996.9 5,473,929.8 378.1 334 -45 327.00 111.00 123.50 12.50 10.83 0.85 RENARD ZONE 182.10 201.70 19.60 18.42 0.84 Including (3) 189.10 193.90 4.80 4.51 1.26 211.80 220.50 8.70 7.53 0.96 228.45 250.95 22.50 19.49 0.66 NE-18-81 522,995.5 5,473,768.6 375.4 330 -50 414.00 61.20 73.40 12.20 9.35 3.93 36 West ZONE Including (3) 62.60 63.40 0.80 0.61 34.30 174.00 175.50 1.50 1.15 23.40 RENARD ZONE 227.40 235.30 7.90 6.47 0.72 257.91 281.40 23.49 16.61 1.68 Including (3) 257.91 265.40 7.49 5.30 3.70 290.40 313.20 22.80 18.68 0.92 322.20 359.70 37.50 30.72 1.61 Including (3) 349.20 359.70 10.50 8.60 2.77 374.70 379.20 4.50 3.69 1.41 NE-18-82 522,868.8 5,473,935.3 380.3 330.00 -50.00 267.00 54.00 76.50 22.50 17.24 0.70 RENARD ZONE 95.00 100.89 5.89 5.10 1.87 115.60 127.76 12.16 11.75 0.90 Including (3) 121.00 124.00 3.00 2.90 2.22 156.00 178.56 22.56 19.54 0.92 Including (3) 156.67 163.50 6.83 4.39 1.45 Including (3) 175.50 178.56 3.06 2.88 1.67 214.50 231.00 16.50 12.64 1.48 241.50 261.00 19.50 14.94 0.49 NE-18-83 522,779.6 5,473,847.9 381.5 332 -50 327.00 77.60 85.50 7.90 6.05 0.82 RENARD ZONE 133.50 140.20 6.70 4.74 0.92 162.50 177.00 14.50 13.14 2.31 Including (3) 168.50 175.50 7.00 5.36 4.10 189.00 208.50 19.50 17.67 0.83 231.00 247.50 16.50 14.95 0.61 255.00 286.50 31.50 27.28 1.19 Including (3) 274.50 280.50 6.00 5.20 3.22 NE-18-84 522,975.1 5,473,842.0 376.8 325 -45 348.00 121.50 154.60 33.10 25.36 1.26 RENARD ZONE 164.90 175.40 10.50 9.09 1.14 182.90 265.50 82.60 71.53 3.31 Including (3) 182.90 184.40 1.50 1.30 20.90 Including (3) 205.40 206.90 1.50 1.30 74.90 303.00 327.00 24.00 18.39 0.95 NE-18-85 522,828.4 5,473,756.4 379.2 332 -50 381.00 77.00 81.50 4.50 2.89 2.82 36 West ZONE Including (3) 78.50 80.00 1.50 0.96 6.29 96.80 105.92 9.12 5.86 0.98 138.20 153.20 15.00 9.64 0.51 249.60 260.50 10.90 8.93 0.63 RENARD ZONE 274.60 333.80 59.20 48.49 0.83 Including (3) 305.30 327.80 22.50 18.43 1.21 369.80 381.00 11.20 9.17 1.33 NE-18-86 522,901.2 5,473,773.7 378.6 332 -47 411.00 129.80 154.00 24.20 18.54 1.33 36 West ZONE Including (3) 138.00 143.62 5.62 4.31 3.51 161.90 176.50 14.60 9.38 0.62 243.00 321.40 78.40 67.90 0.98 RENARD ZONE Including (3) 296.50 321.40 24.90 19.07 1.40 355.95 361.00 5.05 3.87 2.83 366.00 379.50 13.50 10.34 1.69 Table 1Nelligan Project Drilling Results - 2018 Drilling program Hole No. UTM NAD83 Zone18 AZ DIP EOH from To Interval True Width (1) Au (2) NOTE Easting Northing Elevation () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) NE-18-87 522,853.2 5,473,654.3 378.5 330 -52 543.00 53.76 70.50 16.74 15.17 1.63 36 West ZONE Including (3) 55.00 56.00 1.00 0.97 13.05 102.00 112.50 10.50 9.52 1.52 138.30 147.30 9.00 8.16 0.67 165.15 202.50 37.35 33.85 0.95 RENARD ZONE Including (3) 165.15 182.00 16.85 15.27 1.20 367.50 375.00 7.50 6.80 1.55 Including (3) 372.00 375.00 3.00 2.72 2.83 389.65 416.80 27.15 22.24 3.48 Including (3) 391.04 398.50 7.46 6.11 9.55 452.60 453.30 0.70 0.57 22.00 457.80 465.30 7.50 5.75 4.58 Including (3) 460.80 462.30 1.50 1.15 16.95 490.50 496.50 6.00 4.60 1.30 NE-18-88 522,637.5 5,473,805.2 379.7 335 -45 456.00 71.00 86.00 15.00 11.49 0.53 RENARD ZONE 130.00 143.50 13.50 9.55 1.65 Including (3) 141.50 142.10 0.60 0.42 21.15 158.00 185.00 27.00 24.47 1.04 204.00 232.00 28.00 24.25 1.35 Including (3) 223.50 232.00 8.50 7.70 2.28 NE-18-89 522,699.1 5,473,713.5 379.9 335 -45 471.00 38.80 53.10 14.30 11.71 2.26 36 West ZONE Including (3) 43.17 47.60 4.43 3.63 4.60 71.10 81.30 10.20 7.81 1.31 260.40 285.50 25.10 19.23 0.94 RENARD ZONE 292.54 295.08 2.54 2.20 16.12 Including (3) 292.54 293.75 1.21 1.05 32.00 301.00 316.80 15.80 14.32 1.69 339.20 351.20 12.00 10.39 1.12 367.70 381.20 13.50 11.69 1.27 396.20 412.70 16.50 14.95 0.60 429.20 438.20 9.00 8.16 0.98 NE-18-92 522,500.8 5,473,656.7 373.8 326 -58 459.00 357.17 367.15 9.98 4.99 0.85 RENARD ZONE 382.50 385.50 3.00 1.93 2.36 424.50 430.50 6.00 3.86 2.02 Including (3) 429.00 430.50 1.50 0.96 5.85 450.00 459.00 9.00 5.79 1.27 Notes: True widths are estimated at 70 to 94% of the core interval. Drill hole intercepts are calculated with a lower cut of 0.50 g/t Au and may contain lower grade interval of up to 5 metres in length. They are generally reported with a minimum g*m (or Metal factor) of 5. Assays are reported uncut but high grade sub-intervals are highlighted. Figure 1: Nelligan drill hole plan map and highlighted 2018 assay results. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6077/41087_5ca2b0fcc47ef90e_001full.jpg Ashok Chawla offered to quit as controversy was being generated on his continuance on the Board of Directors following his name appearing in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet in the Aircel-Maxis case. Mumbai: Former bureaucrat Ashok Chawla on Wednesday resigned as non-executive chairman of Yes Bank, the private sector bank said. According to sources, Chawla offered to quit as controversy was being generated on his continuance on the Board of Directors following his name appearing in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet in the Aircel-Maxis case. "Yes Bank announces that Ashok Chawla, Non-Executive Independent Part-Time Chairman, has tendered his resignation from the Bank's Board, with immediate effect, mentioning that during the current transition period, the Bank would need a Chairman who could devote more time and attention," the bank said in a regulatory filing. The bank shall in due course announce the appointment of a Chairman, post-Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) approval, it added. As per sources, representations were being made by shareholders and stakeholders to the bank as well as regulators like Sebi questioning his continuance on the Yes Bank's Board after being named in chargesheet filed in Aircel-Maxis case by the premier investigating agency CBI in July. Former Finance Secretary Chawla had also worked as Chairman of the Competition Commission of India. Following representations, the bank's Nomination and Remuneration Committee had decided to seek legal opinion on his continuance as a Chairman. It was observed the bank should seek the opinion of the RBI on Chawla's issue, sources said. Later, the bank sought RBI's opinion, though no reply was received from the regulator, sources said adding Chawla himself offered to quit in the interest of the bank. Another independent director Vasant Gujarathi too has tendered his resignation with immediate effect due to personal commitments said another filing of the bank. However, sources said Gujarathi, who was heading the audit committee, had resigned because of certain observations made by the RBI on issues related to audit and corporate governance in the bank. The bank's board has also approved the appointment of Uttam Prakash Agarwal as an additional director (Independent) for a period of five years. The Reserve Bank has already asked the private sector bank to find a replacement of founder MD and CEO Rana Kapoor by 31 January. Last month, Yes Bank had said the panel looking for a successor to Kapoor had finalised potential candidates. Kalyan Krishnamurthy will continue to be CEO of Flipkart, which will now include Myntra and Jabong, continuing to operate as separate platforms within the Flipkart business The stepping down of co-founder and chief executive officer of Flipkart, Binny Bansal, is creating rumbles of a major shake-up at the Walmart acquired Indian home-grown e-c0mmerce firm. Media reports say that another senior executive Ananth Narayanan, CEO of Myntra and Jabong, is also likely to step down from the firm owing to an alleged rift with Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO of Flipkart. "If Ananth has to report Kalyan, he will also not stay for long because Kalyan already has Rishi Vasudev who manages fashion," a person familiar with the development was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol. Narayanan will continue as CEO of Myntra and Jabong and will report to Krishnamurthy. Sameer Nigam will continue to head PhonePe -- Flipkart's payments unit -- as CEO. Both Krishnamurthy and Nigam will report directly to the board, Walmart said. According to Business Standard, changes in the reporting structure are considered a "precursor to the integration of Myntra and Jabong with Flipkart Fashion unit." Bansal resigned following an internal probe into accusations of a serious personal misconduct, Walmart said on Tuesday. Walmart paid $16 billion for a roughly 77 percent stake in Flipkart in May. The investment is the US retailers biggest acquisition and was a major move in its efforts to compete against Amazons growing market share at home and abroad. The departure of 37-year-old Bansal one of the co-founders of Bangalore-based Flipkart could be a setback for Walmarts efforts to compete with Amazon.com Inc in Indias huge consumer market. A tech-savvy billionaire, Bansal took over as CEO of Flipkart in 2016. He became the chairman and group CEO of the e-commerce company this year. In a note sent to Flipkart employees, which was seen by Reuters, Bansal said recent events led him to step down from his role as chairman and CEO. He said the events related to a claim of misconduct against him, which was uncorroborated after a thorough investigation completed by an independent law firm. Bansal did not give details of the nature of the claim. The allegations left me stunned and I strongly deny them, he wrote. The investigation, however, did bring to light lapses in judgment, particularly a lack of transparency, related to how I responded to the situation, he said, without elaborating further. Neither Bansal nor his representatives responded to requests for comment. Flipkart did not respond to requests for comment. A person in the United States familiar with the Walmart investigation said a claim of sexual assault against Binny came to its attention in late July. The accusation dated to a few years earlier and was made by a former Flipkart associate, who was not with Flipkart at the time, the person added. With inputs from Reuters The government has decided to sell the shares in Indian companies left behind by those who migrated to enemy countries. When the war broke out with Pakistan in 1965, many from India fled to Pakistan---most of them presumably Muslims even though at last count Pakistan had some one lakh Hindus. Many of them left behind both movable and immovable properties back in India. The Narendra Modi government has decided to put this small treasure trove to use. To start with, it has decided to sell the shares in Indian companies left behind by those who migrated to enemy countries. The Pakistani nationals in the hit list number 9,280. Similarly, when China attacked India in 1962, quite a few fled to China. The Chinese nationals in the hit list number just 126. The government in 1968 enacted a law called the Enemy Property Act to regulate such properties and entrusted them with the Custodian of Enemy Property (CEP). After a lot of either vacillation or passivity by previous governments, the Modi government has decided to bell the cat---put them to use. It has also ended the vexed possibility of challenge and claim from legal heirs by enacting Enemy Property (amendment and validation) Act 2017. Thanks to this amendment, enemy property includes even the property lawfully transferred by the enemy (the fleeing citizen) to his/her legal heir or successor before migrating to Pakistan or China. To wit, let us say a person transferred his property to his son in 1963 and migrated to Pakistan during the war in 1965. Now thanks to this amendment to the Act, the property transferred by this person before migrating, now owned by his son, also falls under the definition of enemy property and can be confiscated. While the total value of the treasure trove is estimated to be Rs 1 lakh crore, the Modi government is plucking the low hanging fruits first. It expects to garner some Rs 3,000 crore from the enemy shares which it would put to productive use---bankroll social infrastructure projects. The property now approved for sale consists of about 6.5 crore shares which are under the custody of CEP belonging to 20,323 shareholders in 996 companies of which 588 companies are currently functional and 139 are listed on stock exchanges. The listed ones obviously would be easier to realize. The unlisted shares would be relatively difficult to sell because they will have to be independently valued first. Soon, it is possible that the government might lay its eager hands on enemy immovable properties as well. In fact, the total expected booty of Rs 1 lakh crore is basically premised on huge realisations from immovable properties. It is not as if the Indian government has blazed a trail with the enemy property law. There is a precedent and parallel. During World War II, the US and the UK took over the properties of people who fled their shores to settle in enemy countries such as Germany and Japan. This was rationalised as a move to protect their turf from hostile forces in enemy States who might take control of such assets and use it to their advantage. The moral of the story is that people who flee a country should take along with them their properties. While gold and jewelry could have been taken to Pakistan and China, shares even if taken would not have helped them because shares irrespective of where they are kept belong to the nation where they are registered. By the way, for the statistically inclined, Uttar Pradesh with 4,991 properties tops the list of properties left behind by the now-Pakistani nationals, followed by West Bengal with 2,735 properties. They would feel more the heat of the Modi government move. (The author is a senior columnist and tweets @smurlidharan) The purchase of Jet Airways could transform Indias largest conglomerate, Tatas from airline fringe player into the countrys dominant, full-service international carrier. Will the beleaguered Naresh Goyal-owned Jet Airways be acquired by the Tatas? The board of Tata Sons is likely to meet on Friday to discuss a proposal to take over the Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways, which is looking for investors to tide over liquidity crunch that it has been saddled with, according to people familiar with the development. The purchase of airline could transform Indias largest conglomerate from airline fringe player into the countrys dominant, full-service international carrier. Airline's deputy chief executive and chief financial officer Amit Agarwal earlier this week had admitted that the company was in talks with "multiple interested parties" for fund infusion as well as selling six of its Boeing 777 planes and a stake in its loyalty programme Jet Privilege. "Tata Sons board is meeting tomorrow (Friday) to consider the proposal to bid for Jet Airways," people in the know of the development told PTI. While a spokesperson of Tata Sons, which already runs two airlines-- the full-service carrier Vistara in a JV with Singapore Airlines, and the low-cost carrier AirAsia India in JV with Air Asia of Malaysia, refused to comment on "speculation," Jet did not respond to PTI queries on the same. "We do not comment on speculation," a Tata Sons, which originally owned the present national carrier Air India, the spokesperson said when asked for confirmation. Besides Goyal, who along with his family owns 51 percent stake in the carrier, Gulf carrier Etihad Airways holds 24 percent stake in the cash-strapped airline which earlier this week reported Rs 1,261 crore loss for the September quarter against a profit of Rs 71 crore y-o-y, making it the third straight quarters of heavy losses. This had the airline also putting as many as six of its Boeing 777s on sale to part-fund liquidity. Media reports suggest that the parent company of Vistara, Tata-Singapore Airlines, is looking at an all-stock merger with Jet Airways as part of the Tata group's plans to board Goyal's full-service carrier. In an exchange filing, Jet Airways described the media reports as speculative. "...the subject news is speculative in nature and that there is no discussion or decision in the board which would require a disclosure...," the airline informed BSE. According to reports, the two sides are inching towards a two-step transaction that would first see Jet Airways merging with Tata-SIA that runs Vistara through a share swap to form a new JV, which will have the Goyal family, Etihad, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines as its partners. "We are currently at various stages of discussions with multiple interested parties for both part stake sale in Jet Privilege and fresh equity infusion," Agarwal had told analysts during the post-earnings concall on Tuesday. He had also said the company hired investment bankers and consulting firms to carry out these tasks. The cash paucity in the country's second-largest airline by market share has resulted in delayed payments to some vendors and salaries to a section of its over 16,000 employees. India's aviation market Indias airlines are increasingly looking abroad in search of better returns as price competition intensifies domestically, while a weaker rupee and rising fuel costs have wrought havoc on the finances of carriers such as Jet. Nevertheless, Indias aviation market is likely to clock an annual passenger growth rate of 10 to 12 percent this year on international flights and 18 to 20 percent domestically, showed forecasts from aviation consultant CAPA. Despite the challenges faced by the aviation sector, the wider macro-economic conditions remain strong, CAPA said in a client note. With airlines offering low fares, demand for travel will be stimulated. As well as Vistara, Tata operates low-cost domestic carrier AirAsia India along with AirAsia Group Bhd. Group company Tata Consultancy Services Ltd also handles the backend operations for carriers including Singapore Airlines, British Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. (With inputs from agenices) Buying Jet Airways, with its fleet of 124 aircraft, would return Tata to the forefront of Indian aviation in terms of size, almost 70 years after its first airline was nationalized, and six years after it re-entered the market with two joint ventures. New Delhi/Mumbai: Tata Sons Ltd is in pursuit of a controlling stake of debt-laden Jet Airways Ltd, a purchase which could transform Indias largest conglomerate from airline fringe player into the countrys dominant, full-service international carrier. Tata is weighing up the economic viability of a deal which would make it Jets decision-maker, necessitating the departure of the airlines founder, people aware of the talks have told Reuters. Tata declined to comment on the matter. There are compelling reasons but any deal with Jet is opportunistic, one of the people said. Tata needs to see if it fits into its overall aviation strategy. Buying Jet, with its fleet of 124 aircraft, would return Tata to the forefront of Indian aviation in terms of size, almost 70 years after its first airline was nationalized, and six years after it re-entered the market with two joint ventures. However, Tata will also take on an airline which reported its third consecutive quarterly loss on Monday and owes money to vendors and employees alike. With liabilities exceeding assets, Jets accountants prepared its financial results on a going concern basis assuming the airline receives a capital injection. If Tata is into aviation then they are in it completely or it does not make sense, said an industry executive, who declined to be identified as the deal was not yet final. Combining Jet with its own airline will give Tata the scale and size it typically operates at in its other businesses. Tatas businesses are as varied as IT services and car-making. In aviation, it runs the Vistara full-service carrier together with Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIAL.SI), which applied to begin international flights earlier this year. Tata would likely seek to combine Vistara with Jet, three of the people said, thereby achieving international expansion in a fraction of the time it would take organically. If you have to make sure that Vistara is given a leg-up, this acquisition is perfectly in line, the industry executive said. It will move the airline from one extreme to another. Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Goh Choon Phong on Wednesday told reporters he would not comment on speculation. Market growth Indias airlines are increasingly looking abroad in search of better returns as price competition intensifies domestically, while a weaker rupee and rising fuel costs have wrought havoc on the finances of carriers such as Jet. Nevertheless, Indias aviation market is likely to clock an annual passenger growth rate of 10 to 12 percent this year on international flights and 18 to 20 percent domestically, showed forecasts from aviation consultant CAPA. Despite the challenges faced by the aviation sector, the wider macro-economic conditions remain strong, CAPA said in a client note. With airlines offering low fares, demand for travel will be stimulated. As well as Vistara, Tata operates low-cost domestic carrier AirAsia India along with AirAsia Group Bhd. Group company Tata Consultancy Services Ltd also handles the backend operations for carriers including Singapore Airlines, British Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Should a deal with Jet succeed, Tata would gain access to hard-to-get parking slots at Mumbais congested airport, most of which are occupied by the 25-year-old airline. However, Tata would also inherit a company struggling to make any money, and whose survival is crucial for the host of lessors from which it leases over 100 of its aeroplanes. The airline also has 225 Boeing Co 737 MAX jets on order. Jet, on Tuesday, said it is seeking funds by raising equity and selling a stake in its loyalty program. We are actively pursuing both the transactions and are currently at various stages of discussions with multiple interested parties, Chief Financial Officer told analysts. He called the Tata talks speculative. IDBI Bank is the target bank Life Insurance Corportation (LIC) is in the process of acquiring using policyholders hard-earned money. IDBI Bank is now the bad loan King among Indian banks. At the end of September, with 31.78 percent of its total loan book turning bad, the lender now occupies the top slot in the NPA (non-performing asset) chart beating all other fellow contenders. In fact, this is the second consecutive quarter when IDBI Bank is retaining its top rank in the NPA charts. In the June quarter, its gross bad loans to total advances stood at 30.78 percent. Also, the minimum capital adequacy ratios of the bank have fallen below the regulatory requirements of 9 percent under Basel-III. Right now its CRAR (Capital to Risk (weighted) Assets Ratio) stands at 6.22 percent while Tier 1 is the lowest among public sector banks (PSBs) at 4.22 percent. Put together, the bank is staring at a big capital void. And this happens to be the target bank Life Insurance Corportation (LIC) is in the process of acquiring using policyholders hard-earned money. In the NPA scorecard, UCO Bank follows after IDBI Bank with 25.37 percent, Indian Overseas Bank with 24.73 percent followed by Dena Bank 23.64 percent. This means for every Rs 100 the bank has lent, around Rs 32 is not coming back, going by its September quarter earnings figures. This GNPA figure was 25 percent in the corresponding period of last year. In absolute terms, IDBI banks bad loans now stand at close to Rs 61,000 crore compared with around Rs 51,000 crore in the year-ago period. The bank is under the prompt corrective action (PCA) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which means it presently faces severe lending restrictions including taking further credit exposure until its books are set in order. Naturally, the business will have to shrink till then. In the September quarter, the total income of the bank was also down at Rs 6,162.14 crore as against Rs 8,302.42 crore in the year-ago period. The hit on net income came because of significantly higher provisions which almost doubled to Rs 6,579.83 crore for the quarter, up from Rs 3,261.42 crore in the year-ago period. Not surprisingly, the net loss of IDBI Bank widened to Rs 3,602.49 crore during the September quarter of 2018-19 as against a net loss of Rs 197.84 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. The widening hole in the banks balance sheet simply means that it will need a significant capital infusion to stay afloat in the business. The buck happily stops at LICs table. In the first place, how did an insurance company that has no major prior experience in handling banking business end up taking over one of the worst-performing banks in the country? Beginning with the UPA-era, the central government has been scouting for potential buyers for smaller state-owned banks to push ahead with their privatisation agenda. This was after several experts, including the P J Nayak committee, had recommended that the government exit its majority stake in state-run banks to kick off the next round of banking reforms. Yet, nothing worked as there was no special interest from the private sector to take ownership of badly-governed, inefficient and NPA-ridden state-run banks. Various programmes announced to set things right in the public sector banking (PSB) space only helped to make headlines but the structural problems remained the same. The hunt for potential buyers continued after the Narendra Modi-government took over the baton, but it too did not meet with any success. With no interest coming from private investors, the government turned to its favourite milch cow, LIC and asked it to do the job. The insurer, with no significant prior experience in dealing with complex banking operations, agreed to take a majority stake in one of the worst-performing banks in the country. Thats how one can sum up the LIC-IDBI deal. In other words, the LIC-IDBI Bank deal is a perfect shortcut to kick off the government's privatisation agenda that has been stuck for long. But it will not necessarily send a good signal to the investor community because there is no fresh private money coming in. LIC is basically using the funds collected from its customers to buy out a bank. It takes off some burden from the government that is saddled with capital-hungry, zombie banks. But, what does the deal really mean for LIC? The continuing deterioration in IDBI Banks numbers should prompt LICs policyholders to question the rationale of the insurer in acquiring a loss-making bank. The question has been repeatedly asked is now even more relevant after every quarter of deterioration in the asset quality of the bank. No analyst will consider LIC-IDBI deal a wise move by the insurer. This is a time when even some of the biggest banking institutions in the country are struggling to find financial stability on account of rising bad loans or NPAs. Already, LIC holds stakes in all the 21 public sector banks (PSBs), and in at least six of them, it holds an over 10 percent stake. Public sector banks' NPAs and capital adequacy ratio Bank Gross NPAs (%) Gross NPAs (Rs cr) Capital adequacy ratio-Basel III IDBI Bank 31.78 60,875 6.22 UCO Bank 25.37 29,581 7.57 Indian Overseas Bank 24.73 37,110 9.16 Dena Bank 23.64 16,140 10.10 United Bank 22.69 15,163 7.82 Central Bank 21.48 37,411 8.71 Bank of Maharashtra 18.64 16,873 9.87 Allahabad Bank 17.53 27,236 7.07 Corporation Bank 17.46 21,714 11.04 Oriental Bank 17.24 25,673 10.35 Punjab National Bank 17.16 81,251 10.08 Bank of India 16.36 61,561 10.93 Andhra Bank 16.36 27,623 12.17 Union Bank 15.74 50,157 11.55 Syndicate Bank 12.98 27,131 10.95 Bank of Baroda 11.78 55,121 11.88 Canara Bank 10.56 45,233 12.62 Punjab & Sind Bank 10.02 7,202 10.66 SBI 9.95 205,864 12.61 Indian Bank 7.16 12,334 12.73 Vijaya Bank 5.86 7,557 13.56 As on 30 September 2018; Data source: CapitalinePlus What about synergy? One can argue that as the IDBI Bank promoter, it can look at cross-selling its products to bank customers and manage IDBI just like it treats LIC Housing Finance. But, for that did it needs to buy a bank? Unlike the housing finance arm, it is getting into multiple problems by picking a majority stake in one of the most problematic banks in India. Shouldnt LIC focus on its core business at a time when it is losing market share? LIC remains the market leader in the insurance sector, but it is also losing market share to private players over years. LICs market share has fallen to 67.32 percent as of March this year from 75.44 percent in March 2014. Does LIC have enough expertise or a plan to clean-up IDBI's balance sheet? Merely providing capital won't be enough. LICs immediate task will be to cut down the NPAs on IDBI Banks books. The question is: How will LIC explain to its customers the huge capital burden that falls on it to keep the bank afloat? A one-time investment will not be enough to fill the capital void in the bank. The lender will require huge chunks of capital infusion every year. This is evident from the begging bowl syndrome of state-run banks; every year these entities line up before North Block for capital for survival and are never able to fend for themselves, which is what their private sector counterparts do. IDBI Banks worsening financial position would mean LIC will have to generously loosen its purse strings, which is ultimately the policyholders money. Ring a bell, dear policyholder? --With data support from Kishor Kadam Agra has been plagued by monkey menace for the past 10 years. At Sikandra and Fatehpur Sikri, the number of monkeys has gone beyond safe limits. Agra: A 59-year-old woman died on the outskirts of Uttar Pradesh's Agra after she was attacked by a group of monkeys, police said Thursday. The attack took place on Wednesday night when the victim, Bhooran Devi, stepped out of her house in Kagaraul village. According to the police, the attack left her bleeding profusely and she was pronounced dead at a hospital. The incident comes just days after a 12-day-old infant died after a monkey snatched him from his mother's lap in Agra's Kachhara area. Ajay Kaushal, the officer in charge of the nearby police station, told Reuters the baby had been badly mauled. "The monkey bit the infant's head and only dropped him when people chased it with sticks and threw stones at it." Pushpa Devi, the child's grandmother, told BBC the family was heartbroken, and would "never recover" from the loss. The victim's kin on Thursday demanded compensation from the district authorities. Agra has been plagued by the monkey menace for the past 10 years. "There are too many monkeys in the area. We live in fear. We have told the administration so many times to help us but they haven't done anything. The mother of the baby is too distraught to even speak," the baby's uncle Dhirendra Kumar told BBC. On Wednesday evening, local voluntary agencies organised a conference where a plan was formulated to control the monkey nuisance. Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan are worst affected by monkeys who frequently attack tourists and pilgrims. With inputs from IANS The decision of ABVP came after the Delhi High Court on Monday gave the varsity an extended time till 20 November to verify the alleged fake bachelors degree documents of Baisoya. Following accusations of having a fake degree, BJP student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has expelled the newly-elected Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president Ankiv Baisoya on Thursday. The decision came after the Delhi High Court on Monday gave the varsity an extended time till 20 November to verify the alleged fake bachelor's degree documents of Baisoya from a university in Tamil Nadu. After the DUSU election, the Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI) had alleged that Baisoya submitted fake documents to gain admission to Delhi University. However, ABVP said the varsity allowed Baisoya's admission after due verification of the documents he submitted. The NSUI said that Baisoya had presented a marksheet for admission to the MA (Buddhist Studies) course, but Thiruvalluvar University refused they had enrolled a student of such name, and a marksheet of that serial number was not in their records. Baisoya said that he had studied "several types of subjects" at Thiruvalluvar University in Tamil Nadus Vellore from 2013 to 2016. However, he had trouble recalling the specific subjects included in his Bachelor of Arts programme and also the names of any heads of department. Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya on Thursday gave sanction to prosecute former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) case. Haryana governor Satyadev Narayan Arya on Thursday gave sanction to prosecute former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) case, according to reports. This development comes a year after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Hooda allegedly misused his official position and illegally re-allotted a plot in 2005 to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in Panchkula. The ED's response came on a petition filed by Congress leader and chairman of AJL, Motilal Vora, who sought quashing of the enforcement case investigation report (ECIR) registered by the ED. The ED told the court in an affidavit that Hooda allegedly misused his official position to re-allot the plot to the petitioner. The ED told the court that investigations have revealed that when Hooda became chief minister in 2005, he allegedly re-allotted the plot in gross violation of the existing policy and legal position. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and the Financial Commissioner of the Town and Country Planning Department (FCTCP) had advised against re-allotment of the plot in Panchkula to AJL, but Hooda "in order to show favour to the petitioner" bypassed recommendations of both government departments, the ED submitted before the court. AJL is the publisher of the National Herald newspaper. The ECIR registered on 15 July, 2016 by the Chandigarh office of the ED was based on a 5 May, 2016 FIR of the Haryana Vigilance Bureau regarding allegations of cheating and corruption against Hooda and others. The plot had been initially allotted to AJL in 1982. After the expiry of the lease period in 1996, the Haryana Vikas Party government led by Bansi Lal took back its possession. It was reallotted to AJL after the Congress came to power in 2005, with Hooda as chief minister. Hooda on April 2017 had claimed that he was a victim of "political vendetta" and maintained that he had done no wrong, after the CBI registered a case of criminal conspiracy and cheating against him. With inputs from PTI TM Krishna was supposed to be a part of the two-day 'Dance and Music in the Park' festival at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri on 17 and 18 November. The event was being organised jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the cultural body, SPIC-MACAY. Noted Carnatic singer TM Krishna has responded after his upcoming Delhi concert was cancelled in wake of threats issued by certain Hindu right-wing trolls. Speaking to ANI, Krishna said, "Words like Urban Naxal, presstitute, anti-Indian are created by people who dont know what democracy is. They want to scare you and make other people angry at you. They are using these reasons today to stop a festival." Krishna was supposed to perform at a concert as a part of the two-day 'Dance and Music in the Park' festival at Nehru Park in New Delhi's Chanakyapuri area on 17 and 18 November, has been called off. The event was being organised jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the cultural body, SPIC-MACAY. AAI took to Twitter on 14 November to announce that the event had been postponed: We would like to inform that due to some urgent engagements, 'Dance and Music in the Park' programme jointly organized by #AAI and @spicmacay, scheduled for 17th & 18th November, 2018 has been postponed and new dates would be shared shortly. Inconvenience caused is regretted. Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) November 14, 2018 Later in the day, the Delhi government stepped in and offered to host him in the city. Delhi Culture Minister Manish Sisodia's office reached out to Krishna and extended support, as per a tweet put out by News18.com. #JustIn | Delhi Govt has reached out to TM Krishna (@tmkrishna) and has said they will be happy to host him. Delhi Culture Minister Manish Sisodia's (@msisodia) office reached out to TM Krishna after AAI (@AAI_official) canceled his concert. | #TMKrishnaSilenced pic.twitter.com/nlniPBLfpb News18 (@CNNnews18) November 15, 2018 While the exact reason for the cancellation was not revealed in the Twitter post, a report by The Indian Express suggests that the organisers at AAI had some internal issues. "We have some issues. Some exigency has come up and we are not free that day. Whatever note we have given in the media, that is all; there is nothing more I want to say on this," says AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra, as quoted in the Indian Express report. Following the cancellation of the concert, there were speculations that threats issued to Krishna by several Hindu right-wing trolls might be the reason behind it. On 9 November, AAI had put out an invitation tweet mentioning Krishna as one of the key performers at the event. Krishna reportedly retweeted the same and, as per the Indian Express report, that led to major trolling by the right-wing. They accused the organisers of misusing public money to sponsor Krishna's concert tagging him anti-India, converted bigot and Urban Naxal to name a few. They also tagged Piyush Goel, Minister of Railways, Coal and Corporate Affairs, and Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Civil Aviation, questioning them about Krishna's presence in the concert, adds the same Indian Express report. This is not the first time that Krishna's performances have been targetted by trolls and later cancelled. This year in August, the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland, USA had cancelled his September concert, after trolls accused Krishna of violating the sanctity of Carnatic music by singing Christian hymns in the name of Jesus Christ. This happened right after a week of him speaking vehemently against the attempts of right-wing fundamentalists to communalise Carnatic music after musician OS Arun cancelled an event titled 'Yesuvin Sangama Sangeetham', citing personal reasons. Arun was criticised by many social media users mainly the Hindu right-wing activists for collaborating with T Samuel Joseph (Shyaam) on this. Also read TM Krishna on fighting communal forces in Carnatic music: 'If you buckle to goondaism, it's all over' The Meghalaya High Court said in its order that NEIGRHMS as well as the state should ensure that all medical facilities are made available to both Kharshiing and her colleague. The Meghalaya High Court Thursday directed the state government to bear all medical expenses of social activist Agnes Khashiing and her colleague Amita Sangma, who were injured in a suspected coal mafia attack on 8 November. In its order, the bench, headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, said the state Director General of Police (DGP) should take appropriate measures for ensuring protection and security of both the injured persons admitted to North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRHMS). "NEIGRHMS as well as the state shall ensure that all medical facilities as shall be required are made available to both the injured social activists who while espousing social cause were attacked by some coal mafia," the order said. The petitioners sought an investigation by a specialised agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as according to the petitioners, threat apprehension looms large as they have the apprehension of being eliminated by the persons who had attacked them. It directed the investigating officer to file the latest status of the probe on 27 November, when it will next hear the case. Agnes was allegedly targeted for her war against corrupt practices adopted by the government officials in state. She sustained head injuries and was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. The NEIGRHMS said Thursday that the RTI activist has been taken off the ventilator and is "out of danger". Clarence Kharshiing, 36, the eldest son of Agnes, told Firstpost, "My mother is fine. She is critical but stable. From what I have heard, the state government has extended support to my mother and Amita by way of medical expenses. "We are also getting support from other organisations who are condemning the criminal act against my mother and her colleague. They are also putting pressure on the pressure on the government." Giving a chronology of the incident, he said that the incident took place last Thursday evening when they were supposed to attend a wedding. "I got a call from my brother around 3:30 to 4 pm that my mother was assaulted at Sohshrieh village in Jowai. I am not sure for what purpose she visited the place, but I think it has to do with illegal coal mining." Kharshiing and Amita were reportedly hit by hard objects and dragged to the nearby forest area by the attackers. "The police did turn up after the assault. Thanks to Amita, who crawled towards the roadside," he said. The police arrested the third suspect, a woman, on Thursday. Home Minister James K Sangma told reporters, "I can assure you that within 36 hours, police were able to make arrest, and today we have apprehended another person so things are moving in the right manner." A Meghalaya Assembly committee headed by Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh will take up the case. Officials told PTI Wednesday the attack on Kharshiing will be taken up during the meeting of the Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment and will be attended by members from other political parties as well. Ampareen, who is also the chairman of the committee, told PTI the committee will also "seek clarification from the police on steps taken to uncover the perpetrators of such a heinous crime that has left an unimaginable fear in the minds of concerned citizens." She said the committee will also seek a status report from the concerned department to ensure that justice is delivered to the victims. With inputs from Simantik Dowerah Shoma Sen and four others Mahesh Raut, Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale and Rona Wilson, were arrested for 'Maoist' links in June in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence. Pune Police filed a chargesheet against five accusedSurendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale and Rona Wilsonin the Bhima Koregaon violence case in Pune Sessions Court, ANI reported. In the chargesheet it is stated that around 80 witnesses have been examined and that the entire campaigning for Elgaar Parishad including the speeches delivered at the conclave aggravated the Bhima Koregaon violence. Earlier on 2 November, the court had rejected the bail plea of Sen, who had moved her application in September. The accused were arrested for "Maoist" links in June. The five were accused of being involved in the violence that erupted earlier this year during the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle. Apart from this, five other activistspoet Vara Vara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj, activists Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, and Gautam Navlakhahave also been put under house arrest since 29 August for their alleged involvement in the violence. One person was killed and many were injured in the clashes which took place on 1 January, 2018. Earlier, the Maharashtra government in an affidavit told the Supreme Court that the activists were "members of banned terrorist organisation Communist Party of India (Maoist)". With inputs from ANI Very heavy rains are likely to hit Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in light of Cyclone Gaja, as both states pull out all the stops to mitigate damage. 20,000 people residing on the coastal line will be moved to relief camps. The Indian Navy has been put on alert for relief efforts with the cyclonic storm Gaja, approaching the coast of south Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, poised to make landfall on Thursday evening, . "The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Two Indian Naval ships Ranvir and Khanjar are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid. These ships will be embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets, etc," read an official statement. The Indian Navy also tweeted about being on high alert and tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Additionally, aircraft from naval air stations Dega, Rajali and Parundu and water jet FACs and patrolling boats from naval detachments in Ramnad and Nagapattinam have been warning fishing vessels about the approaching storm and directing them to return to the harbour. The Eastern Naval Command is monitoring the developments closely and flag officer commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry naval area is in constant communication with the state administration to augment rescue and relief operations. "One P8I aircraft, Dornier aircraft and helicopters are also standing by to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material to the stranded," the statement further noted. Cyclone Gaja is expected to make a landfall between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) tweeted out a list of dos and don'ts for the cyclone: In an attempt to mitigate damage to properties and human lives, the Tamil Nadu administration headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has planned to evacuate around 20,000 people residing on the coastal line and moving them to relief camps. With the Tamil Nadu government already declaring that 30,500 rescue personnel were on standby, the district collectors of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram have declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday. All educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions would remain closed today in view of the cyclone. Against the backdrop of the Central Water Commission advising constant vigil over dams, Tamil Nadu revenue minister RB Udayakumar told reporters that dams, lakes and rivers channels were being monitored continuously. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Rain is also expected in isolated places over Rayalaseema, Kerala, and south coastal Andhra Pradesh. The weather agency has also forecasted gale wind speeds reaching 80 to 90 kilometres per hour, gusting to 100 kilometres per hour along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Fishing operations have been suspended along the Tamil Nadu and adjoining Andhra Pradesh coasts, and fishermen in surrounding areas have been asked not to go out to sea. Lastly, the IMD has said that a storm surge with a height of about 1 metre above astronomical hide is very likely to inundate the low lying area of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu, as well as Puducherry's Karaikkal district when Cyclone Gaja makes landfall. Major damage to thatched huts/houses, rooftops may blow off and unattached metal sheets may fly. Damage to power and communication lines. Major damage to Kutcha and minor damage to Pucca roads. Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees. Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards. Seawater inundation in the low lying area after erosion of Kutcha embankments, the bulletin cautioned. On Wednesday, Cuddalore District Collector V Anbuselvan, who visited the possible affected areas, said all private and government schools in Cuddalore would remain closed on Thursday in view of the cyclonic storm. As per a tweet on Wednesday by the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA), the cyclonic storm over west-central and adjoining east-central and south Bay of Bengal moved west-southwestwards. As of 2 pm on Wednesday, it was about 490 kilometres east of Chennai and 580 kilometres east-northeast of Nagapattinam. With inputs from agencies The Indian Navy has been put on high alert and the Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir and Khukri-class corvette INS Khanjar are on standby for rescue operations. Chennai: Gaja is continually gathering speed as it moves towards the Tamil Nadu coast. It has already developed into a severe tropical cyclone and will cross the coast with a wind speed of 80 to 90 km per hour, gusting up to 110 km per hour, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. Gaja, with a storm core that is 38 km wide and a speed of 17 kmph, was 320 km east-southeast of Chennai and 300 km east-northeast of Nagapattinam as of 12.15 pm on Thursday and will bring heavy rainfall and high velocity winds in the Cauvery delta, particularly in eight districts across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, namely Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Nagai, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram. The coastal districts' Disaster Management Teams are on high alert. Additional medical teams, inflatable rubber boats, ambulances and relief materials have been requisitioned in adequate numbers and people residing in coastal and low lying areas are being evacuated, according to Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister RB Udhayakumar. Today he also inaugurated at Chepauk in Chennai, a pilot control centre to monitor early warning systems in coastal areas, specifically in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam. The project has been implemented and maintained by ELCOT, Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu at the cost of Rs 50 crore. In order to be able to alert the public to evacuate to safer places during such disasters, the project will compile and transmit warnings from the Indian Meteorological Center and Indian Maritime Information Centers. A special feature of this system is its ability to select and distribute exclusive emergency information to a specific region affected by the disaster. The 24/7 control room at Chennai will also handle cyclone-related helplines, he said, warning of stringent action against those who spread rumours on social media. The Indian Navy has been put on high alert and the Eastern Naval Command based in Visakhapatnam said that the Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir and Khukri-class corvette INS Khanjar are on standby for rescue operations. Helicopters, Dornier aircraft and one P-8I aircraft are also on standby to undertake reconnaissance, rescue and casualty evacuation, navy officials said. Fishermen along the coast have been advised not to venture into the sea. More than 500 mechanised boats have been parked safely at the Karaikal harbour and 300 fishing boats are docked at Thengaithittu harbour in Pondicherry. In Chennais busy Kasimedu harbour, more than 2,000 mechanised boats have been anchored. Cyclone warning signal flags have been hoisted in all major ports including Pamban. Schools and colleges declared a holiday on Thursday at Puducherry and Karaikal. The exams scheduled at Pondicherry University stand cancelled. The examinations scheduled for the affiliated colleges of Anna University Chennai on 15 November have been postponed to a later date. However, the examinations scheduled for the University Departments (College of Engineering, Guindy, Alagappa College of Technology, Madras Institute of Technology and School of Architecture and Planning) will be conducted as scheduled. The examinations scheduled at Bharathidasan University, Thiruvalluvar University and Alagappa University and its affiliated colleges also stand cancelled. The special officer deputed for Nagapattinam district, Tenkasi S Jawahar said that nearly 86,000 people will be evacuated from the identified low lying areas. District collector Suresh Kumar also said that electricity will be disconnected in Vedaranyam town during the night hours as a safety measure. Cuddalore district collector V Anbuselvan and Disaster Managment Incharge Gagandeep Singh Bedi held a review meeting this morning on preparedness and post-cyclone scenario. V Anbuselvan has said that inter-department zonal teams have been constituted with representatives from public works department, police, fire, electricity, revenue and local body officials to monitor vulnerable areas. In addition to the permanent relief centres in Cuddalore, which can accommodate up to 25,000 people, temporary relief centres are also being prepared in wedding halls, government schools and community centres. Southern railway cancelled ten trains destinated to Rameswaram on Thursday. Several other trains were also partially cancelled and are running only up until Madurai and Manamadurai junctions. Tourist venues like Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district are closed. Meanwhile, mild rainfall has started in Chennais Nungambakkam, Anna Salai, Alwarpet, and Kodambakkam areas. It has been drizzling in Nagapattinam town and high tides have been witnessed in the coastal villages of Keechankuppam and Akkaraipettai in the district. Heavy rains with thunderstorm have begun in Puducherry. Puducherry chief minister Narayanswamy advised residents to stay indoors and assured the public that the government is prepared to face the storm. The author is a Chennai-based freelance writer and a part of 101Reporters. With inputs from Mydeen Abdul Kadar In many ways, media deserves to be treated the way it treats itself. It was somewhere 1978 when Morarji Desai was prime minister that he held a press conference in Mumbai to which all editors were invited. He had already been given a rough ride over the Jorhat air crash when five valiant Indian Air Force officers from the VIP Communication Squadron lost their lives because it was suspected that they had been forced to fly in low visibility against their advice. It was November 1977 not that anyone recalls the five who died landing the plane in a paddy field with the prime minister and his entourage unscathed and all on the flight deck dead. The pilots were Wing Commander Clarence D'Lima, Wing Command Joginder Singh, Flt Lt OP Arora, Sqd Leader Cyriac and Sqd Leader VVS Shankar. The investigation was kind of hushed up and a tight-lipped government made it look like the fault of the TU-124s instrumentation. Apart from that rather poor farewell to the crew and his limited expression of concern Desai had not endeared himself to the media and his rare press conferences were not the most communicative. On this occasion, one of the senior editors (if memory serves me right it was Inder Malhotra of the Times of India) asked Morarji what Indias stand was on nuclear disarmament and the US-USSR SALT agreement of 1972. Morarji looked up and said, who are you? The editor duly identified himself. The prime minister gave him a withering look and said, if you are the editor of such a paper you should know better than to ask such silly questions and you should, anyway, know the answer. Now, sit down. There was a kind of hush and then a couple of editors got up and walked out and then a couple more and then others and finally, all of us left the conference. It was a collective walkout. For that brief, shining moment, it didnt matter which newspaper you represented, you were journalists in a democracy and you would be damned if you were going to have your ass handed to you in a sling. That solidarity was so strong that even the mandatory sniggerers, gigglers and sundry sycophants who fill press conferences and suck up to the VIP had to walk away or be marked forever. That didnt happen at the White House this week and for all the glamour and prestige attached to this most exclusive club, nobody backed Jim Acosta when President Donald Trump shut him up and he was asked to leave. Yes, journalism is a dog eat dog profession but we seem to have lost all sense of unity amongst ourselves. Nothing stopped the White House Press Corps from standing by their colleague and walking out with him. All this claptrap about the constitutional right in a free country for the media to exercise its rights and do its job unhindered and placing court cases as CNN has done against the president means diddley. Just as the various associations representing media now huffily coming out with pompous indictments of the highhandedness displayed against Jim Acosta count for a spit in the wind the fact is the Press Corps, arguably seen as the most elite media club in the world showed no courage of conviction or any sense of togetherness. No point now showing delayed solidarity when they could have set the standard at the conference. The harangue went on for some time. Enough time for the rest of the Press to squirm uncomfortably, be awkward and indignant but no one stood up for Acosta and therein lies the rub. Whether India or the US the fact is media is divided within itself and now wallowing in the waters of schadenfreude, enjoying the misery of others of their tribe and taking delight in their plight. When the subject of the conference is openly being contemptuous of your profession and your colleague and you sit there and you take it there is no point whining in the aftermath. In many ways, media deserves to be treated the way it treats itself. Dear Shahidul, I believe the tide will turn. It will. It must. This foolish, shortsighted cruelty will give way to something kinder and more visionary. This particular malaise, this bout of ill-health that has engulfed our planet will pass. To, Shahidul Alam Champakali 2/5 Dhaka Central Jail Keraniganj, Dhaka Bangladesh November 15th 2018 PEN Internationals Day of the Imprisoned Writer Dear Shahidul, Its been more than a hundred days now since they took you away. Times arent easy in your country or in mine, so when we first heard that unknown men had abducted you from your home, of course we feared the worst. Were you going to be encountered (our word in India for extra-judicial murder by security forces) or killed by non-State actors? Would your body be found in an alley, or floating in some shallow pond on the outskirts of Dhaka? When your arrest was announced and you surfaced alive in a police station, our first reaction was one of sheer joy. Am I really writing to you? Perhaps not. If I were, I wouldnt need to say very much beyond, Dearest Shahidul, no matter how lonely your prison cell, know that we have our eyes on you. We are looking out for you. If I were really writing to you I wouldnt need to tell you how your work, your photographs and your words, has, over decades, inscribed a vivid map of humankind in our part of the worldits pain, its joy, its violence, its sorrow and desolation, its stupidity, its cruelty, its sheer, crazy complicatednessonto our consciousness. Your work is lit up, made luminous, as much by love as it is by a probing, questioning anger born of witnessing at first hand the things that you have witnessed. Those who have imprisoned you have not remotely understood what it is that you do. We can only hope, for their sake, that someday they will. Your arrest is meant to be a warning to your fellow citizens: If we can do this to Shahidul Alam, think of what we can do to the rest of youall you nameless, faceless, ordinary people. Watch. And be afraid. The formal charge against you is that you have criticised your country in your (alleged) Facebook posts. You have been arrested under the Section 57 of Bangladeshs infamous Information and Communications Technology Act (ICT) which authorises the prosecution of any person who publishes, in electronic form, material that is fake and obscene; defamatory; tends to deprave and corrupt its audience; causes or may cause deterioration in law and order; prejudices the image of the state or a person; or causes or may cause hurt to religious belief. What sort of law is this, this absurd, indiscriminate, catch-all, fishing trawler type of law? What place does it have in a country that calls itself a democracy? Who has the right to decide what the correct image of the State is, and should be? Is there only one legally approved and acceptable image of Bangladesh? Section 57 potentially criminalises all forms of speech except blatant sycophancy. Its an attack, not on intellectuals, but on intelligence itself. We hear that over the last five years more than 1,200 journalists in Bangladesh have been charged under it, and that 400 trials are already underway. In India too, this sort of attack on our intelligence is becoming normalised. Our equivalent of Bangladeshs ICT Act is the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act under which hundreds of people including students, activists, lawyers and academics are being arrested in wave after wave. The cases against them, like the one against you, are flimsy and ludicrous. Even the police know that they are likely to be acquitted by higher courts. But the hope is that by then, their spirits will have been broken by years in prison. The process is the punishment. So, as I write this letter to you, dear Shahidul, I am tempted to add, dear Sudha, dear Saibaba, dear Surendra, dear Shoma, dear Mahesh, dear Sudhir, dear Rona, dear Arun, dear Vernon, and also, dear Tariq, dear Aijaz, dear Aamir, dear Kopa, dear Kamla, dear Madavi, dear Maase, dear Raju, dear hundreds and hundreds of others. How is it possible for people to defend themselves against laws like these? Its like having to prove ones innocence before a panel of certified paranoics. Every argument only serves to magnify their paranoia and heighten their delusions. As both our countries hurtle towards general elections, we know that we can expect more arrests, more lynching, more killing, more bloggers hacked to death, more orchestrated ethnic, religious and caste conflagrationsmore false-flag terrorist strikes, more assassinations of journalists and writers. Elections, we know, means fire in the ducts. Your prime minister, who claims to be a secular democrat, has announced that she will build 500 mosques with the billion dollars the Government of Saudi Arabia has donated to Bangladesh. These mosques are supposedly meant to disseminate the correct kind of Islam. Here in India, our rulers have dropped all pretense of the secularism and socialism that are enshrined in our Constitution. In order to distract attention from the catastrophic failures of governance and deepening popular resentment, as institution after institutionour courts, universities, banks, intelligence agenciesis pushed into crisis, the ruling power, (not the government, but its holding company, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,) is alternately cajoling and threatening the Supreme Court to pass an order clearing the decks for the construction of a giant Hindu temple on the site where the Babri Masjid once stood before it was demolished by a rampaging mob. Its amazing how politicians piety peaks and troughs with election cycles. This is what we are up against, these neat definitions of the perfect nation, the perfect man, the perfect citizen, the perfect Hindu, the perfect Muslim. The postscript to this is the perfect majority and the satanic minority. The people of Europe and the Soviet Union have lived through the devastation that these sorts of ideas caused. They have suffered the matchless terror of neatness. Only recently Europe marked the 80th anniversary of Kristallnachtthe event that marked the beginning of the Holocaust. There too it all began quite slowly. There too it began with elections. And there too the old murmurs have started up again. Here were going to witness our own scorched-earth elections in the coming days. They will use their fishing-trawler laws, they will jump at shadows to decimate the Opposition. Fortunately, we are an irredeemably untidy people. And hopefully we will stand up to them in our diverse and untidy ways. Dear Shahidul, I believe the tide will turn. It will. It must. This foolish, shortsighted cruelty will give way to something kinder and more visionary. This particular malaise, this bout of ill-health that has engulfed our planet will pass. I hope to see you in Dhaka very soon. With love Arundhati *** Each year, PEN International highlights the cases of five persecuted writers be they imprisoned, facing prosecution or otherwise at risk that are emblematic of the type of threats and attacks faced by writers and journalists around the world. This year, PEN International is campaigning for Dawit Isaak imprisoned in Eritrea, Miroslava Breach Velducea killed in Mexico, Oleg Sentsov imprisoned in Russia, Shahidul Alam detained in Bangladesh and Wael Abbas imprisoned in Egypt. Writers David Lagercrantz, Jennifer Clement, Tom Stoppard, Salil Tripathi and Khaled Hosseini are taking part in this years campaign. To join PENs action, click here. The Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka has also proposed to build a museum complex, 2 glass towers measuring 360 feet providing a bird's eye view of KRS reservoir, a bandstand, an indoor stadium, and a replica of historical monuments to boost tourism in the region. After Gujarat's Statue of Unity and Maharashtra's proposed Shivaji statue off the coast of Mumbai, the Karnataka government has proposed to erect a 125-feet statue of Mother Cauvery at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KSR) reservoir in Mandya district. According to ANI, the Congress-JD(S) coalition government has also proposed to build a museum complex, 2 glass towers measuring 360 feet providing a bird's eye view of KRS reservoir, a bandstand, an indoor stadium, and a replica of historical monuments to boost tourism in the region. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,200 crore. Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar and Tourism Minister SR Mahesh held a meeting with officials to discuss the proposal on Thursday. After the meeting, Shivakumar told reporters that the plan is not just for the statue, but for an "amusement park" to enrich the tourism experience. He further said that a new lake would be created next to the reservoir. The statue which will be taller than the reservoir will be installed atop the museum complex and between the glass towers. "We are not investing any money for any statue. We are not involving any government funds for this. (The) land is ours. It is a public-private participation. We are asking investors to come and invest. We want revenue for the government. We want to increase tourism in the state. We want to create employment," he said. He denied that the proposal was based on the lines of the Statue of Unity, which was opened to the public on 1 November. At 182 metres, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue, built on an islet near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Kevadiya, is the tallest such structure in the world. Karnataka is the latest addition to the list of governments which have recently unveiled or proposed to build statues ahead of the Lok Sabha election. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has already proposed to build a 150-metre tall statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, while the construction of the Shivaji memorial in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai is underway. With inputs from agencies The report has reportedly made favourable recommendations on the demands of the Maratha community for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, without disturbing the quota granted to Other Backward Classes (OBC). Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told a gathering on Thursday to "prepare to celebrate on 1 December", after the Backward Class Commission submitted its report on Maratha reservation on Thursday. We have received report on Maratha reservation from Backwards Commission. I request all of you to prepare to celebrate on December 1: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at a rally in Ahmednagar pic.twitter.com/MxsJ4zYf9B ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 In September, the Maharashtra government had told the Bombay High Court that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission was likely to submit its report on social and economic conditions of the Maratha community by 15 November. The commission submitted the report on Thursday to Chief Secretary DK Jain. "We have received the report, which is based on the economic, social conditions of the Marathas. Appropriate decision will be taken after studying it," Jain told reporters at Mantralaya after receiving the report. PTI quoted a government source as saying that the report has made favourable recommendations on the demands of the Maratha community for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, without disturbing the quota granted to Other Backward Classes (OBC). Another government source told PTI that the commission went through 2 lakh memorandums submitted to it, surveys of about 45,000 families as well as empirical data on the social, financial and educational backwardness of the Maratha community. "The commission went through historical records, old verdicts, studied constitutional provision, writings by noted anthropologist, sociologist Irawati Karve and several organisations like Pune's Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics and others," the source said. The panel was headed by Justice NG Gaikwad (retired). A senior cabinet minister of the BJP told PTI the party cannot afford to lose their core base, the OBCs, ahead of the Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls in 2019. "The government has to provide the Maratha community 16 percent reservation. We cannot go below that. However, currently, 52 percent quota is in place. Therefore, the total reservation will go up to 68 percent," the minister said. He further said the government is expecting that those opposing the decision will approach the high court, after the cabinet gives the nod to the recommendations and tables it in the Legislative Assembly during its Winter Session. "If the court admits the plea, but does not stay the decision, like in the case of Tamil Nadu, then we can go ahead with it. The problem will arise if the court gives a stay order ahead of the elections," the minister said. In July, the government had announced 16 percent reservation for the Marathas in 72,000 government jobs which was later stayed following protests. On 25 June, 2014, months before the Assembly polls, the then Congress-NCP government under then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had announced 16 percent reservation quota in government jobs and in educational institutions for Marathas and five percent quotas for the Muslim community. However, on 14 November, 2014, the Bombay High Court stayed the government decision and on 18 November, 2014, the Supreme Court had declined to vacate the high court stay. With inputs from agencies On Wednesday, 14 November, several women at the forefront of the #MeToo movement's second wave in India wrote to the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters, asking it to cease its association with Surendran After more than nine women stepped forward to accuse him of sexual harassment and misconduct during the ongoing #MeTooIndia movement, journalist-poet CP Surendran has stepped down from his position on the board of directors of the Matrubhumi International Festival of Letters. The development was reported as several individuals, including the writer Nilanjana S Roy, questioned why Surendran was being allowed to continue associating with the festival in light of the allegations against him. Why does @mbifl2019 have a named serial harasser of women on its board of festival directors (https://t.co/AaJfjorE8h)? A reminder of the charges against CP Surendran, who's made no apologies and taken no responsibility for his behaviour so far:https://t.co/80s3fMVFVQ Nilanjana Roy (@nilanjanaroy) November 13, 2018 Mathrubhumi MD Shreyams Kumar told The News Minute that Surendran had stepped down from his role. Kumar added that Surendran served as a consultant and was not an appointee to the board. The festival organisers had a meeting in which the issue was discussed. There, Surendran decided to step back from the festival. He had expressed that something like this [allegations of sexual harassment] are spreading. He said that it is just an allegation and there is no truth in it, but that it should not become a problem for conducting the festival, Kumar was quoted by The News Minute as saying. On Wednesday, 14 November, several women at the forefront of the #MeToo movement's second wave in India wrote to the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters, asking it to cease its association with Surendran. 'The Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters promises to bring together the literary community to facilitate a confluence of great minds, thoughts and ideas. In line with these aims, we are writing to express our deep concern over the behaviour and actions of one of your festival directors, Mr CP Surendran, and to request your support,' the letter read. It further stated: 'Earlier this year, the #MeToo movement enabled many women across many different spheres of life to speak up, voicing their experiences of harassment, assault or sexist behaviour. Eleven women most of us do not know each other shared their memories of harassment by Mr Surendran, citing instances of unwelcome verbal and physical overtures. What emerges is a disturbing pattern of demeaning and belittling women whom hes worked with or met at literary festivals. CP Surendran named in multiple #MeToo allegations; says 'I believe sexism is an intellectual reality' The signatories to the letter pointed out that 'Mr Surendrans response was dismissive and inadequate. Instead of attempting to address the anger, pain and damage caused by his actions over a long period of time, he defended his sexism, and offered no apology or suggestion that he might be willing to change or modify his behaviour in the future.' 'Aside from the women whove spoken up in public, others have privately shared their deep concerns and discomfort with Mr Surendrans actions, speech and behaviour. We write as journalists, authors and readers, who are also part of the literary community your festival seeks to engage and include, requesting that the Mathrubhumi International Festival support the victims and survivors, rather than the perpetrator of sexual misconduct and harassment,' the letter stated, asking for Surendran to 'step back as a festival director this year, until these complaints have been fully addressed through an external or internal inquiry'. 'Creating a space that is respectful of women and all participants is an essential part of celebrating literature,' the signatories added. The allegations against CP Surendran were voiced by women who worked with him at various publications, including DNA, Bombay Times and Arre. Other accounts had been shared by women who encountered Surendran at events like literature festivals, where he made untoward advances and behaved inappropriately. When Firstpost sought a comment from CP Surendran regarding these allegations, he had said: "I may have made what some people consider to be sexist comments. I believe sexism is an intellectual and physical reality. And I may be a victim of it myself. I choose not to think in given categories. This may be construed as arrogance. I may have put an arm around a woman at a party, never at work. That act of familiarity may have caused offense, which I regret, but I have never meant to give grief. I have not made obscene comments or gestures... I have no gender or political loyalties. I have paid a price for this all my life. It is quite easy to hate me. I often rub people of both genders the wrong way with my often ill-considered views. The majoritarianism that liberals deplore in political discourse is what is at stake here. This is the lynch mob of the drawing room at work. I am being shamed in a Scarlet Letter-meets-The Crucible social media-produced movie. I have no power to stop this. The #MeToo movement needs victims to feed and fatten itself. I won't be the last." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Singapore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival. He also held separate bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. "Narendra Modi participated at ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore. Reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain and centrality of trade and investment towards prosperity of Indo-Pacific," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. "Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet," Modi said in a tweet. Cementing old bonds in pursuit of a glorious future. Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet. @ASEAN pic.twitter.com/uDL8FBnRKX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2018 The Indo-Pacific region also came up during the discussion on Wednesday between Prime Minister Modi and US Vice President Mike Pence. Modi referred to his June speech in Singapore at IISS Shangrila Dialogue in which he had outlined India's vision on Indo-Pacific. He conveyed to Pence that his vision of Indo-Pacific was gaining acceptability and that "we should utilise the forthcoming East Asia summit to further build on that". Pence spoke of a free and open Indo-Pacific. He felt that India's contribution in ensuring this would be important. He said the recent naval exercises held by the US, India and Japan, were an "evidence of our commitment to ensuring free and open access to the seas all across this region". Before leaving for Singapore, Modi said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolised India's "continued commitment" to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. Modi also said he was confident that his visit to Singapore would impart fresh momentum to New Delhi's growing partnership with ASEAN and East Asia Summit nations. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members and other Asian states. The ASEAN members are Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos. Narendra Modi would like to know how much money Trump actually puts on the table for infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the Maldives and Sri Lanka where Chinese 'debt-trap' diplomacy has been pushing these countries in Beijing's coercive arms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with the United States vice-president Mike Pence, on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) at Singapore, has aroused much interest. Both the leaders held discussion on a wide range of issues of mutual interests including defence and trade. Modi-Pence meeting comes days after the US President Donald Trump met India's vice-president Venkaiah Naidu at the Paris Peace Forum. Pence is travelling the region Japan, Singapore, Australia, and Papua New Guinea on behalf of his boss. He felt the need to reassure that by missing from meetings this time, Trump has not snubbed the ASEAN, the EAS and the APEC as it was at APEC in Vietnam in 2017 that Trump had outlined the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' strategy, characterised by unhampered trade flows, freedom of navigation, and respect for the rule of law, and existing frontiers. Pence's mission was to collaborate with allies and build a coalition of like-minded countries the unmistakable reference to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad between India, the US, Japan and Australia. We have not been told whether there was any mention of China when Modi and Pence talked about the need to maintain free and open Indo-Pacific, but there should be no doubt that the trajectory and pace of India-US ties over the next decade is going to be determined by how each country perceive and deal with China. It was Pence who underlined the need for greater cooperation on counter-terrorism front by referring to the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai. Without mentioning Pakistan, Modi reminded Pence that all global terror attacks leads to a "single source and single place of origin." Modi also did not forget to raise the issue of the mainstreaming of jihadists through Pakistan's electoral process which pose serious threat to international peace and security. Both Washington and New Delhi seem to be in agreement that the current Pakistani political and security structure is extremely susceptible to abuse by terrorist and extremist organisations which have been able to mobilise support by infiltrating state and non-state institutions including mainstream political parties. Operating through front, cover and sympathetic organizations, Islamist-jihadist groups have built networks for propaganda, recruitment and anti-Western, anti-Indian activities. However, notwithstanding Trump's publicly adversarial posture toward Pakistan's duplicity on terrorism, there is an element of uncertainty over American approach to Pakistan at a time when the US is desperately trying to ensure less-bumpy exit from the perennial conflict zone of Afghanistan. Beijing's deepening relations with Islamabad, not least through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has been a cause of concern for New Delhi, as has its increasing presence in India's immediate neighbourhood. These developments are seen as having the effect of constraining India's manoeuvring space. On the other hand, the US has also been very critical of Chinese aggression. It needs to be recalled that during his 4 October speech at the Hudson Institute, Pence had called out China for using all political, economic, and military means to advance its power at America's expense. Trade tensions have escalated between the US and China this year as Trump has slapped $250 billion of Chinese products with new tariffs. The US is planning to compete with Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative through the newly-created US International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC) with a $60 billion budget. Modi would like to know how much money Trump actually puts on the table for infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the Maldives and Sri Lanka where Chinese 'debt-trap' diplomacy has been pushing these countries in Beijing's coercive arms. Even though Washington's ties with Beijing remain extremely tense, Trump's notorious impulsiveness, bizarre style of policy-making and transactional approach to international diplomacy has been a factor which cannot be ignored by Modi. To hedge against uncertainty on the Trump administration's approach, India has been relying on diversification of its bilateral relationship. Chinese strategists see the risk of having a US-India entente arrayed against them. Therefore, it is a lower-risk strategy for Beijing to make subtle efforts at curtailing American influence without triggering a full-scale strategic realignment. Despite India's hedging approach, the Trump administration has been positive towards New Delhi. The US did not disappoint India on Chabahar port a trilateral project involving India, Iran and Afghanistan which is not a choice but a necessity for both the US and India in stabilising conflict-ridden Afghanistan. However, we have also seen structural factors eventually re-assert themselves. Sensitive to Trump's pet topic reduction on America's trade deficits Modi, during his meeting with Pence, remarked that in the last two years American exports to India have grown by 50 percent and its trade deficit with India has been getting reduced gradually. Energy security was another priority area of discussion for Modi who is keen to have a stable energy supply infrastructure for India's continued economic growth. By discussing the import of oil and gas worth $4 billion from the US, Modi tried to convince Pence's boss that both the countries are also enhancing energy cooperation. Not surprisingly, the Indo-Pacific region came up for discussion. Modi conveyed to Pence that his vision of Indo-Pacific outlined at Shangri La dialogue in June was gaining acceptability in the region. Pence struck the right note by saying that recent naval exercises held by the US, India and Japan was an "evidence of our commitment to ensuring free and open access to the seas all across this region." The two countries have been deepening their cooperation, given their shared concerns about Chinese activities and intentions. But if they want to sustain their cooperation, they need to ensure that their different perceptions on Russia do not hinder their relationship. Defence supplies from Russia remain critical to India's warfighting capabilities. It remains to be seen whether Pence will convey to his boss that as a reliable supplier of defence equipment and a potential counterweight, Moscow is an integral part of India's China strategy. Thus, American sanctions or public pressure will not serve the cause of deepening ties between Washington and New Delhi; instead, they will only constrain cooperation. However, there are structural constraints that will not be easy to overcome. It needs to be recalled that when Trump was declared winner in the US presidential elections, the Modi government felt that Trump's soft corner for Russian president Vladimir Putin could also remove an embarrassing factor in India's ties with the US. But despite Trump's willingness to engage Putin, the US establishment took a more hawkish stance on Russia amid reports of Moscow's interference in American electoral process. The US believes that India's defence cooperation with Russia could trigger sanctions and also hurt the US-India ties. It is also felt that in the longer run, interoperability between their armies may also become difficult. This has only added a sense of uncertainty in bilateral ties, which, in turn, has strengthened voices sceptical of Modi's efforts to deepen India's ties with the US, pointing to the threat of CAATSA sanctions as evidence of Washington's desire to constrain India's strategic autonomy. That is why during his interactions with Pence, Modi underlined the significance of growing defence ties between the two sides, and also stressed that a huge opportunity was waiting for US in making defence equipment in India. Since the Trump administration's plan for powering up American economy hinges on the defence industry, it would be interesting to see whether Trump would recognise this as a new economic opportunity. Modi's logic is simple - Trump cannot expect India not to buy from Russia if the US does not put something comparable on the table. If Washington wants to reduce New Delhi's dependence on Moscow, it cannot do so without strengthening defence industrial base in India. It's time to move from cooperation to collaboration. Perceptions matter in politics. Though Pence said all the right things to Modi, however his promises must be as good as the authority given to him by Trump. Modi cannot be absolutely sure of anything concrete Pence could deliver. So far, Pence has been very loyal to his boss, rather than a potential rival. He has not differed from Trump in public, and reserved his counsel absolutely personal with the president. That he is a force-multiplier on the campaign trail has been proved when the Indiana Senate seat went to Republicans in recent elections. Despite some rumours of Trump contemplating to dump Pence in favour of Indian-American politician and former high-profile diplomat Nikki Haley in order to appeal female voters, the former is likely to remain Trump's trump card in his re-election bid in 2020, as evident by Trump's public statement last week when he was asked about his running mate. Trump asked Pence: "Well I haven't asked him, but I hope so. Mike, will you be my running mate?" We can love him or hate him, but Trump continues to remain a remarkable political phenomenon. The only certain thing about Trump is his unpredictability which may make Modi a bit less confident of what he agreed with Pence will get the green signal from his boss. At the very least, he can expect Pence to shape views of the president on these subjects and also highlight how India is contributing to security and burden-sharing in the Indo-Pacific region. New Delhi must convey the message that reassurance on key strategic issues can lead to greater cooperation, particularly serving the purpose of forestalling the emergence of a China-centric Asian order. The Delhi High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the plea of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald newspaper, against the Centres order asking it to vacate its premises and said that the status quo be maintained till 22 November, which is now the next date of hearing. The Delhi High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the plea of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald newspaper against the Centres order asking it to vacate its premises and said that the status quo be maintained till 22 November which is now the next date of hearing. The publisher had approached the high court on Monday challenging the 30 October order of the urban development ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises in the press enclave at ITO in Delhi. Appearing for the publisher, Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued in court that the prosecution has ulterior political motives, ANI reported. The court, which had earlier fixed the date of hearing in December, agreed to hear the matter on 15 November after Advocate Sunil Fernandes, appearing for the AJL, said there was urgency in the matter as they have been asked to hand over the possession to the Centre by that date and they had received the order of the Land and Development Office (L&DO) on 30 October after which the courts had closed for a vacation. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will on 4 December hear the final arguments on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's petitions challenging a Delhi High Court order refusing to give them relief in a case of reopening of their tax assessments for 2011-12. Earlier, Delhi's Patiala House Court on 17 March deferred the hearing till 21 April. Earlier, a Delhi court which had issued summons against Sonia, Rahul and others, on 7 August had deferred till 28 August the hearing in the case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy pertaining to the acquisition of the National Herald. Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha postponed the matter after the counsel appearing for the accused informed the court that Delhi High Court had on Wednesday stayed the criminal proceedings pending before the trial court till 13 August, PTI reported. Meanwhile, on 26 May 2018, Swamy's application to the trial court seeking a directive for the defendants to verify material filed by Swamy in the National Herald case was denied. On 11 March 2016, the trial court after hearing Swamy's plea had allowed the examination of the balance sheets of the Congress party, AJL and Young Indian from 2010 to 2013, which was later overturned by the Delhi High Court. Apart from that, on 30 April 2017, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had deferred the hearing on the petition of AJL seeking a copy of the enforcement case investigation report (ECIR) registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till 19 July 2017. The hearing was deferred after the high court was told that a related matter was pending before the Supreme Court as well. Also, a district court in Delhi on 26 Decemebr 2016 had dismissed a plea by Swamy seeking documents in the National Herald case. However, on 12 February 2016, the Supreme Court granted an exemption to all the five accused in the case from personal appearances while refusing to quash proceedings against them. Later on 12 July 2016, the Delhi High Court set aside the trial court judgment allowing examination of balance sheets and other documents of Congress party and other two companies, the AJL and Young Indian. The next hearing in the court was then scheduled to be on 20 August 2017. In 2015, the Delhi High Court on 7 December had dismissed the appeals of Sonia, Rahul and five others which included Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Satyan Pitroda and ordered them to appear in person before the trial court on 9 December. But, they did not appear in the court and, on their lawyers' request, the trial court ordered them to appear before him in person on 19 December. He disallowed their request for exemption from personal appearance. On 19 December 2015, the Patiala House court granted bail to all but one and ordered them to appear in the court on the date of next hearing 20 February 2016. In the same year, when the third judge of the Delhi High Court Justice PS Teji started hearing of the controversial case on 9 October, he did not heed to the demand of senior lawyer Kapil Sibal representing the Congress president Sonia Gandhi for postponing the case to November for arguments and fixed the date of 15 October 2015 for next arguments. I have synopsis (written arguments) of all parties. No need of much time to argue, Teji had said rejecting the demand for posting the case. Meanwhile, on 27 January 2015, the Supreme Court of India directed Swamy to make a case for speedy trial in the Delhi High Court. Earlier in December 2015, first Justice VP Vaish heard the appeal of Sonia and Rahul and ordered for a temporary stay in the summons of the trial court. In January after ordering for a daily hearing, Justice Vaish recused from the case. Justice Vaish had ordered for daily hearing after Swamy approached Supreme Court in December 2014 citing delay from the side of Delhi High Court. In his petition to Supreme Court, Swamy said that the apex court on several occasions gave directions that higher courts should take a decision within six weeks on the appeals against the verdicts of the lower courts. Justice Sunil Gaur, the second judge also shifted from the case though he collected synopsis from all parties in September, promising speedy decision in the sensitive case. Both Justice Vaish and Justice Gaur had left from the case after hearing the matter for more than six months. It all started when on 1 August 2014, Swamy was served notice to file a reply in the Delhi High Court. On 28 August 2014, the metropolitan court fixed 9 December 2014 for the next hearing of the case. However, on 12 January 2015, the judge of the Delhi High Court recused himself from hearing the case and directed that the petitions be directed before an appropriate bench. The Congress top leadership approached the high court after Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha summoned them on the petition filed by Swamy on 26 June 2014. The Congress top brass was summoned to appear on 7 August, after the trial court found prima facie case in the acquiring the assets of National Herald's publishing company by floating a new private company. With inputs from agencies The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the government to ensure that no sealing takes place in the Herald House in Delhi after the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) claimed that they were being evicted. The High Court on Thursday is hearing a plea filed by the AJL challenging the Centre's order asking it to vacate the Herald House. The Delhi High Court on Thursday told the authorities not to seal the Herald House in Delhi after the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) claimed that they were being evicted, according to reports. The court stated that the Herald House will not be sealed until a court order is given in the matter. The high court on Thursday adjourned the hearing in a plea filed by AJL challenging the Centre's order asking it to vacate the Herald House, to 22 November, asking the authorities to maintain status quo till then. The publisher had approached the high court on Monday challenging the 30 October order of the Urban Development Ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises in the press enclave at ITO in Delhi. During the hearing, the high court said it has not yet received the case file from the registry and it would not be able to hear the matter on Tuesday. The government reportedly inspected the premises a few months ago and found that the area allotted to AJL was not being used for the publication of the newspaper in the past 10 years. Advocate Sunil Fernandes, appearing for the AJL, said there was urgency in the matter as they have been asked to hand over the possession to the Centre by 15 November and they had received the order of the Land and Development Office (L&DO) on 30 October after which the courts were closed for vacation. The Central Government's Standing Counsel Rajesh Gogna said they are initiating the process and if AJL does not hand over the possession of the premises to them they will re-enter. The AJL, which publishes the National Herald newspaper, has alleged that the government's order dated 30 October was illegal, unconstitutional, arbitrary and a deliberate attempt to suppress and destroy the legacy of the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. It said the order was only a political witch hunt aimed at dismantling and destroying the voice of dissent and opposition parties. "...the impugned order is vitiated by malafides, bias and has been issued with oblique political motives. The proceedings have been initiated for the purposes of scuttling the voices of dissent and the voice of the largest opposition party in the country," the plea read. "It is a clear affront to the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and a deliberate attempt to suppress and destroy the legacy of the first Prime Minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru, by the powers that be." AJL had been publishing the newspaper for the last several decades. Although there was a brief temporary suspension due to financial trouble, the formal newspaper and digital media operations had fully resumed. The weekly 'National Herald on Sunday' was resumed on 24 September, 2017 and the place of publication is the Herald House, Delhi. On 14 October, the AJL resumed its weekly Hindi newspaper. The plea also apprised the court that the committee members which came for inspection did not visit the rooms where the printing press was installed along with the stock of papers. While defending the Centre's controversial Rafale deal with France's Dassault Aviation, attorney general KK Venugopal said that the number of casualties in the Kargil War would have been much lesser, had the Rafale jets been used then. New Delhi: Had Rafale fighter jets been used during the Kargil war in 1999, the number of casualties would have been less, the Centre told the Supreme Court Wednesday while justifying the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. "Soldiers lost their lives in the Kargil war. Had Rafale been used during the war, it could have hit the hilltops from 60 kilometres away," Attorney General KK Venugopal told a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The CJI then said, "Mr Attorney, Kargil was in 1999-2000? Rafale came in 2014." Venugopal laughed and said, "I meant hypothetically, if Rafale would have been there during the Kargil war." He said that all due procedures were followed while entering into the inter-government agreement with France for the acquisition of 36 Rafale jets, and all decisions were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council. "This is a sensitive area and a necessity of the country. Even the Air Force chief has been writing to us to enhance the capability of the force owing to depleting fleet of aircraft," the AG said while concluding his arguments during the day-long hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the Rafale deal. A member of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Wednesday accused the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration of 'stopping a Facebook Live' on the former prime minister's birth anniversary. New Delhi: A member of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Wednesday accused the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration of "stopping a Facebook Live" on the former prime minister's birth anniversary. According to the university officials, the programme was supposed to be held within 100-metre periphery of the varsity's administrative block, which would have been against the high court's ruling in 2017. "We were not against the programme but the venue was not appropriate because of the high court directions and academic regulations," JNU registrar Pramod Kumar told PTI. Last year, the Delhi High Court had asked the JNU students not to protest within 100 metres radius of the administrative block, which houses several offices, including that of the vice chancellor. "On the birth Anniversary architect of Modern India, 14 November. I have got a warning letter from JNU admin. Do not dare to speak the Truth, (they subtlely meant, don't expose RSS). Iqbal's couplet seems quite relevant here," NSUI's presidential candidate for the 2016 students' union polls Sunny Dhiman Wakker posted on Facebook. He also shared a letter from the varsity administration addressed to him. The Facebook Live was supposed to happen near the statue of Jawaharlal Nehru outside the administrative block. "It has come to the notice of the Administration that a programme 'Nehru-Kya Sach Kya Jooth' is being organised by Ms Priya Kumari (page Admin) at Administrative Block, JNU, on November 14 at 4 pm and you are one of the speakers in the said programme," the letter addressed to Dhiman from JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said. "You are requested not to address the said meeting as its venue falls in the close vicinity of Administrative Block, which is a prohibited area within the University campus for holding such activity. This is in violation of Academic Rules and Regulations Etc and also directives from the high court," it said. According to Academic Rules, all the forms of coercion such as gheraos, sit-ins or any variation of the same which disrupts normal academic and administrative functioning of the university are prohibited. "Hunger strikes, dharnas and other peaceful and democratic forms of protest & group bargaining shall be conducted with restrain, i.e at a distance of 100 meters away from the Administrative & Academic complexes," according to the Academic Rules. Jamal Khashoggi: Saudi Arabia plans to swiftly execute all the guilty men Justice moves fast in Saudi Arabia. By the time youve read this, chances are the five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi will have been tried, found guilty of murder and executed. Khashoggi, as you will recall, became newsworthy the world over when he was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. The countrys prosecutor says 21 people are now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial. But who is the gangs leader? Whose idea was it to kill the writer? Saudi Arabias public prosecutor says it was not Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Deputy Public Prosecutor Shalaan bin Rajih Shalaan said Khashoggis body was injected with poison which killed him, so they say and dismembered inside the consulate after his death. The remains were then disappeared. He says investigations revealed that the person who ordered the killing was the head of the negotiations team despatched to Istanbul by deputy intelligence chief Gen Ahmed al-Assiri to force Khashoggi to return to Saudi Arabia from his self-imposed exile in the United States. How the negotiations went is moot. Gen Assiri and another top adviser, Saud al-Qahtani, have been sacked over the matter. The Crown Prince is, however, ok, and a really terrific bloke who knew nothing about any of it. Anyone whos says he did, can meet him in Yemen co-ordinates 15.3694 N, 44.1910 E at precisely 1:19pm tomorrow. Bring the family. Anorak Posted: 15th, November 2018 | In: News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Asked whether the government was considering granting MFN status to India and that Imran was keen to hold peace talks with the Indian government, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Investments, Abdul Razak Dawood said, 'No such plans at the moment'. Lahore: Pakistan has "no immediate plans" to grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, a senior aide to Prime Minister Imran Khan has said, amid the chill in bilateral ties. Asked whether the government was considering granting MFN status to India and that Imran was keen to hold peace talks with the Indian government, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Investments, Abdul Razak Dawood said, "No such plans at the moment". "At present we have no immediate plans to grant MFN status to India," he said here at an event on Tuesday. However, he said Pakistan is working out free trade agreements with different countries, especially China, and hopes to complete the second FTA with China by June, 2019. Pakistan is yet to award the MFN status to India and it maintains a negative list of 1,209 items which are not permitted to be imported from India. As per a World Trade Organisation rule, every member of WTO is required to accord this status to other member countries. India has already granted this status to all WTO members, including Pakistan. Under the MFN status, a WTO member country is obliged to treat other trading nations in a non-discriminatory manner, especially with regard to customs duty and other levies, but Pakistan is yet to transition fully to MFN status for India. Pakistan allows only 137 products to be exported from India through the Wagah border land route. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $2.28 billion in 2016-17. India mainly exports cotton, dyes, chemicals, vegetables and iron and steel to Pakistan while it imports fruits, cement, leather, chemicals and spices. India-Pakistan relations have nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place. Ties between the two countries had been strained after terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016. The sentencing of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death by a Pakistani military court over espionage charges last year further dented relations. In September, India cancelled a planned meeting in New York between the two foreign ministers which was dubbed as "arrogant" by Prime Minister Khan who said he was "disappointed" by New Delhi's "negative" response. India cited the "brutal" killing of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Pakistan's release of postal stamps "glorifying" slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani for calling off the meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Kovind will address the National Assembly of Vietnam. Apart from him, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been the only foreign leader to address the National Assembly till now. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a four-day official visit to Vietnam from 18 to 21 November. Kovind will address the National Assembly of Vietnam. Apart from him, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been the only foreign leader to address the National Assembly till now. Vietnam's Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau said that India is a long-standing friend of Hanoi. Earlier in August this year, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had visited Vietnam and several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries during her visit. The Kerala government on Tuesday convened an all-party meeting on 15 November to discuss various issues relating to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, which witnessed widespread protests following the Supreme Court decision to permit entry of women of all ages into the shrine. Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Tuesday convened an all-party meeting on 15 November to discuss various issues relating to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, which witnessed widespread protests following the Supreme Court decision to permit entry of women of all ages into the shrine. The decision to call the meeting comes on a day when the apex court refused to stay its 28 September verdict, lifting the centuries-old ban on girls and women in the 10-50 age group from entering the shrine and decided to hear a batch of review petitions in open court on 22 January. The two-month-long annual 'Mandala Makkaravillakku' season will start on 17 November and the meeting will also take stock of the arrangements made for devotees. The temple had witnessed a string of protests from devotees when it opened for monthly pujas for five days in October and for two days in November. Over 3,700 persons have been arrested so far and 546 cases registered against various people for violence during protests across the state after the top court permitted women of all ages to pray at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Over 500 young women registered for darshan in the online queue website of Kerala police last week. The Pandalam royal family, associated with the Sabarimala temple, told Pinarayi Vijayan that there was no change in its stand with regard to rituals and traditions of the shrine and it was against entry of young women. After failing to break an impasse with parties over the entry of women into Sabarimala temple, the Kerala government faced another setback on Thursday as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan failed to reach consensus with the Pandalam royal family and the shrine's head priest Kandararu Rajeevaru. India Today quoted Vijayan as saying that the government was bound to implement the Supreme Court order allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa temple. "We are not in support of womens entry and that has always been our stand. We had a civil discussion over this," Pandalam royal family representative Sasikumar Varma was quoted as saying by CNN-News18. Varma further said that the chief minister told the royal family can instead advise women to not come to temple. "The state government explained the procedure that it is following. They said that they cannot deny entrance of women, but if you (Pandalam family) can propagate women to not to come to Sabarimala, that will also be good," Varma said. We must ensure that women during periods don't come to #SabarimalaTemple. Since SC order is there,Govt can't do anything directly legally. So,CM is saying you can take action not to allow women&advise them not to come: Pandalam erstwhile royal Shashi Verma after meeting Kerala CM pic.twitter.com/nXOsfgka0a ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Officials said prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of four or more people would be in force in Sabarimala in Kerala from midnight Thursday for a week. DGP Loknath Behra told reporters at the Nilakkal base camp that the police was preparing for all kinds of situation that might come up when the pilgrimage begins. The Kerala government is taking efforts to build consensus as the hill shrine is scheduled to open on 17 November for 66 days for 'Mandala Mahotsavam' the two-month long pilgrim season. Though the sanctum sanctorum will open at 5 pm on Friday, pujas will only be held from the next day, the first day of Malayalam month of 'Vrischikom'. However, devotees will be allowed into the shrine from 5 pm to 10 pm on Friday. Over 15,000 personnel, including women police personnel and 860 women civil police officers, would be deployed during the season, when lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country are expected to throng the shrine. Earlier on Thursday, during a nearly three-hour-long all-party meeting, the Opposition parties made a demand for putting off the implementation of the apex court order till 22 January when the review petitions against the verdict are slated to come up for hearing. Rejecting the demand, Vijayan pointed out that since the court had not stayed its 28 September verdict, there was no other option but to allow women in the age group of 10-50 years during the upcoming pilgrim season. As no consensus emerged, Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP staged a walkout at the fag end of the crucial parleys. Speaking to reporters, Vijayan said the government had convened the meeting without any prejudice. "The government was not stubborn. But had no other option, but to implement the apex court verdict. If tomorrow the court takes another decision, the government will follow that," he said. The chief minister, however, said the government "is with the believers. There is no need for any concern", he said, adding the government will provide security to all devotees. Announcing the walkout, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the government was "adamant" in its stand to implement the court verdict and was not prepared for any compromise. "This is a challenge to the believers," he said alleging that the government was trying to "weaken" the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Attacking the government, BJP state unit chief PS Sreedharan Pillai said the meeting was a "waste of time". High drama expected on Saturday Social activist Trupti Desai has planned to visit the Sabarimala temple on Saturday. She recently wrote to Vijayan to seek police protection for her group, right from the time they land in Kerala till they leave the state. She, along with six other women, will be arriving in the state on Friday. However, Tantri family's Rahul Eashwar along with activists and devotees told the media on Wednesday that Desai would know the power of the faith of Ayyappa devotees when she and her group reach the temple town. "Come, what may, we will ensure that our protest will be in the true Gandhian way and none will be able to break the tradition of the temple. "We will lie down before the women who come to break the temple tradition and if they have to move forward, they will have to walk on our bodies and once that happens, the police will have to arrest such people," said Eashwar. The state had witnessed a string of protests by Congress, the BJP, RSS and Right-wing outfits against the LDF government's decision to implement the apex court verdict. Frenzied devotees had prevented at least a dozen women in 10-50 age group from entering the temple when it opened to devotees for five days in October and two days in November amid high drama. With inputs from PTI Sitaram Yechury also alleged that by boycotting an all-party meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, the two parties have shown that they do not want a solution to the issue. New Delhi: Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday accused the BJP and the Congress of "duplicity" on the Sabarimala issue, saying their "opportunistic" stand was only whipping up communal polarisation. The CPM leader also alleged that by boycotting an all-party meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, the two parties have shown that they do not want a solution to the issue. "They want to topple the (state) government ... that is the sense," he told reporters in Delhi. He said it is the constitutional obligation of any state government to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court. "There was no stay on the verdict of women's entry today.The state government has to implement the verdict. The meeting was convened as part of the government's desire to find a solution," he said. The stand-off over the entry of women of menstruating age to the temple continued Thursday, as consensus eluded a crucial all-party meeting called to resolve the issue. At the meeting, the Kerala government said it would implement the 28 September Supreme Court order, allowing women of all ages to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple, prompting the Opposition to walk out in protest. The all-party meeting called by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday turned out to be a failed affair with the Opposition staging a walkout. The all-party meeting called by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday turned out to be a damp squib with the Opposition staging a walkout. The meeting that had been called to discuss the Sabarimala temple row in light of the Supreme Court's decision to not put a stay on its 28 September order allowing women of all ages to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine, saw Vijayan put forth a few suggestions while remaining firm on his decision to implement the apex court's order. Later, while addressing the media after the inconclusive meeting, Vijayan said that the Sabarimala had faced considerable damage post the Kerala floods and his government's only aim is to take it to greater heights. Talking about the Supreme Court verdict on the Sabarimala temple entry row, Vijayan said that that "the Supreme Court clearly says that the 28 September verdict stands. It means that the entry of women should be allowed. The government cannot take any stand against this verdict. We respect the feelings of the devotees. We are bound to implement the court verdict." "We dont intend to dilute the ruling, we dont want violence at Sabarimala either," Vijayan said explaining the 'law-abiding' state government's dilemma. However, even as the Kerala government reiterated that it will abide by the Supreme Court order and not dilute its stand on the Sabarimala issue, Vijayan proposed that certain arrangements could be made like fixing of designated days to let women in the menstruating age bracket enter the shrine. The suggestion, however, did not go down well with the Congress-led UDF and the BJP, who walked out of the all-party meeting, The Indian Express reported. During the meeting, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the government was not ready for a compromise and was stubborn. Chennithala then called the meeting a drama and walked out of it, CNN-News18 reported. Later, while talking to the reporters, Vijayan mocked Chennithala, saying he walked out after the meeting was over. The Supreme Court, however, had iterated that it was not putting a stay on the decision and that women will be allowed to enter the temple when it opens tomorrow. The Congress and the BJP the Opposition parties in the state had welcomed the apex courts decision to hear review petitions. A total of 48 review petitions will be taken up by the apex court on 22 January. The Kerala government on Tuesday convened an all-party meeting on 15 November to discuss various issues relating to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, which witnessed widespread protests following the Supreme Court decision to permit entry of women of all ages into the shrine. The decision to call the meeting comes on a day when the apex court refused to stay its 28 September verdict, lifting the centuries-old ban on girls and women in the 10-50 age group from entering the shrine and decided to hear a batch of review petitions in open court on 22 January. The two-month-long annual 'Mandala Makkaravillakku' season will start on 17 November and the meeting will also take stock of the arrangements made for devotees. The temple had witnessed a string of protests from devotees when it opened for monthly pujas for five days in October and for two days in November. Over 3,700 persons have been arrested so far and 546 cases registered against various people for violence during protests across the state after the top court permitted women of all ages to pray at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Over 500 young women registered for darshan in the online queue website of Kerala Police last week. The allegations against the BJP began after the Rafale deal was signed in September 2016, with Congress pointing out that the government has strayed from the original deal, and demanded that the details of the deal be made public. The Rafale deal has given rise to a seemingly unending war of words within the political sphere, with the Congress time and again accusing the Centre of shady dealings. The allegations against the BJP began after the deal was signed in September 2016, with Congress pointing out that the government has strayed from the original deal, and demanded that the details of the deal be made public. Alleging that the NDA's revised deal with Dassault is at least three times more expensive than what the UPA government had negotiated in 2012, Congress leaders also accused the Modi-led government of causing losses to the public. Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on 8 September had accused the Modi government of causing a loss of Rs 41,000 crore to the public exchequer. He demanded the reason for the extra payment of Rs 41,000 crore (increasing the cost per fighter jet from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,670 crore per aircraft). "There is complete non-transparency, flagrant violation of mandatory provisions of the Defence Procurement Procedure, sacrificing national interest the on transfer of technology to PSU HAL and blatant promotion of financial interests of crony capitalist friends of the prime minister have marred the purchase of the aircraft," Surjewala alleged. The BJP had maintained that the details of the deal are "classified information." The BJP also launched a counter-attack on Congress, claiming that the party was trying to "divert attention" as the party bigwigs faced the prospect of being questioned in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal. BJP spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao claimed that the Congress party was engaging in a "stunt" by raising the Rafale issue. The stir surrounding the controversial deal finally came to a head on Wednesday with a Supreme Court hearing. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who had filed a joint plea with Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha, in his comments said that that the BJP-led Centre did not meet the conditions required to go through with an inter-governmental agreement. He claimed that the number of fighter jets was reduced from 126 to 36 because Modi wanted to give it to Reliance Industries, a company that has no experience manufacturing aircraft and defence equipment. Speaking about the price of the deal, Bhushan said that the government is "hiding" behind the secrecy agreement as part of the deal, because the cost had already revealed to Parliament twice. "There cannot be any security issue regarding the pricing, when they have announced it in Parliament. It is a bogus argument," he said. Attorney-General KK Venugopal, who spoke on behalf of the government, addressed the issue of secrecy raised by Bhushan and said that the government's secrecy over the price of the deal was justified. The secrecy is with regard to weaponry and avionics. If these are disclosed our adversaries will be able to know about what weaponry and avionics we have, Venugopal told the court. After building pressure from the Congress, the Centre finally submitted the document, detailing the decisions taken to procure the aircraft, to the top court. However, the court ruled that the pricing of the deal need not be discussed at the moment. "It needs to be debated only if the Court decides that aspects on pricing need to come into the public domain", Bar and Bench quoted Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi as saying. With inputs from agencies At the talks both sides agreed on enhancing defence exchanges and interactions at different levels between the two militaries, a press release by the Indian Embassy here said on Thursday. After the talks, Mitra called on Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday, the release said. Beijing: Top officials of India and China held the ninth Annual Defence and Security Dialogue in Beijing after a one-year gap due to the Doklam standoff, as both countries agreed to enhance military exchanges and interactions. The dialogue on 13 November was held between the two defence delegations headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and China's Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. At the talks both sides agreed on enhancing defence exchanges and interactions at different levels between the two militaries, a press release by the Indian Embassy here said on Thursday. After the talks, Mitra called on Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday, the release said. Mitra was accompanied by senior officials of the ministry of defence and Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The annual dialogue did not take place last year following the 73-day tense standoff between the two militaries at Doklam, which was triggered by the Chinese PLA's plan to build a road close to the narrow Chicken's Neck corridor connecting India's northeastern states in an area also claimed by Bhutan besides China. The standoff ended when Chinese troops stopped the road construction after which both countries stepped up efforts to normalise relations leading to the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in April this year. The defence dialogue was also held ahead of the 21st round of border talks between the Special Representatives of the two countries in the Chinese city of Dujiangyan on 23-24 November. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi are the designated Special Representatives for the border talks. Besides efforts to work out a solution to resolve the boundary dispute spanning 3,488 kms, the border talks also focussed on discussions on other aspects of India-China relations. Also, the two militaries are due to hold the annual 'Hand-in-Hand' drills next month in China after gap of one year. During the dialogue, both sides also agreed on specific defence exchanges for 2019. "Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between the two ministries of defence as well as between military commands, joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon," the Indian Embassy's press release said. Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas, implementing the consensus reached between Modi and Xi and specific additional confidence-building measures at the operational level, it said. The two sides also had exchange of views on regional and global issues. "Both sides underlined the importance of this dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on defence and security matters. They emphasised the need to further strengthen military-to-military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries," it said. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue at a mutually convenient time in India in 2019. The Winter Session of Parliament usually starts in November. However, it would be the second year in a row when it would begin in December. The session was delayed this year due to the Assembly elections in five states. New Delhi: The month-long Winter Session of Parliament is set to commence from 11 December, the day counting of votes will take place for Assembly elections in five states. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) Tuesday night recommended convening of the Winter Session from 11 December to 8 January, official sources said Wednesday. This would be the last full-fledged Parliament session of the Narendra Modi-led government before the next Lok Sabha polls. The results of the Assembly elections, in which both the ruling BJP and the Congress have high stakes, is bound to cast a shadow on parliamentary proceedings. The results of polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram would be out on 11 December. When contacted Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel confirmed the session would be held from 11 December to 8 January and added it would have 20 working days. "We seek to support and cooperation of all parties for the smooth functioning of Parliament during the session," he said. The government would push for the passage of the triple talaq bill pending in the Rajya Sabha. It had promulgated an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence. The government also wants the Indian Medical Council amendment ordinance and the companies amendment ordinance to be passed as bills in this session. The Winter Session of Parliament usually starts in November. However, it would be the second year in a row when it would begin in December. The session was delayed this year due to the Assembly elections in five states. (ANSA) - Abu Dhabi, November 15 - Premier Giuseppe Conte had a bilateral meeting on Thursday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan at the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi. Delegations from the governments of Italy and the United Arab Emirates also took part in the encounter. Conte also had a meeting of around an hour and a half with Italian entrepreneurs who do business in the UAE. People present at that encounter said Conte's message to the business representatives was to trust the government, which is working hard and will deliver pleasant surprises. Representatives from Eni, Fincantieri, Elettronica, Generali and Intesa San Paolo were present. The Election Commission of India Thursday appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra as poll-bound Mizoram's new chief electoral officer, replacing SB Shashank The Election Commission on Thursday appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra as poll-bound Mizoram's new chief electoral officer, replacing SB Shashank. "The Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Mizoram hereby nominates Ashish Kundra as the chief electoral officer for the state of Mizoram with immediate effect," a notification issued by the EC said. Kundra, a 1996 batch IAS officer, was posted as Commissioner GAD, Higher and Technical Education Government of Mizoram. In 2016, he served as the Development and Finance Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh. From 2014 till mid-2016, Kundra served as an administrator of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. He was responsible for making policy decisions, overall supervision and monitoring of plan and non-plan budget, and expenditure monitoring development activities and mobilisation of tax and non-tax revenue, etc, according to the official website of the Union Territory. From 2009 to 2014, Kundra served as a private secretary to the Union minister for commerce and industry, before which he was posted as the Officer on Special Duty for Ministry of External Affairs. He also served as Director in Finance Department and Additional CEO in Jal Board in Delhi from 2003 to 2006. He began his career as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and Land acquisition officer from 1998 to 2000. Born on 6 March 1973 in Chandigarh, Kundra is also a contributor with The Indian Express, having written about topics like development in the North East and the global startup landscape. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi where he studied B.Tech. The order came after a high-level Election Commission team held meetings last week with the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (MNCC), which had been spearheading the state-wide protests for Shashank's removal and reinstatement of the ousted Principal Secretary (Home). Shashank had reportedly sought deployment of additional central armed police forces (CAPFs) in the north-eastern state and complained to the EC that the state's former principal secretary, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, was interfering in the poll process. Chuaungo, a native of Mizoram and a Gujarat-cadre IAS officer, was relieved of his duties earlier this month. Thousands of people took to the streets and picketed in front of Shashank's office for two days since Tuesday. The protesters, under the aegis of the NGO Coordination Committee, had also given an ultimatum for Shashank to leave urgently, prompting the EC to send the first team to the state Tuesday. Shashank left Mizoram on Wednesday after being summoned by the chief election commissioner in Delhi, which resulted in the withdrawal of the agitation. The EC had earlier asked the Mizoram government for a panel of names to replace Shashank. Mizoram goes to polls on 28 November. With inputs from agencies The BJP's foray into the North East has faced a challenge after the Centre's move to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which has faced opposition in Assam. The BJP's foray into the North East has faced a challenge after the Centre's move to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The saffron party is likely to face testing times in Assam during the panchayat election early next month. The panchayat elections are seen as a test for political parties in Assam ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The BJP's popularity has now dropped after having soared to unprecedented heights after the publication of the final draft of the NRC on 30 July. State Election Commissioner HN Bora, announcing the panchayat election schedule at a press conference held on 5 November, said that the exercise will be held in two phases on 5 and 9 December. There are 2,200 panchayats in Assam. The election is being held at a time when the state is going through a turbulent phase due to the resurfacing of an old fault line between Bengali Hindus and the Assamese people, after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. The Bill aims at providing citizenship to illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis or Christians. However, it does not have a provision for Muslim sects like Shias and Ahmediyas, who also face persecution in Pakistan. The Centres move has brought back the fear among indigenous tribes and ethnic groups of becoming minorities. These fears have been aggravated due to the Centres recent notification to register Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian infiltrators from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh as Indians in 16 districts across seven states in India. Though the order is related to districts which do not belong to Assam, we see the move as something clearly in opposition to our demand to detect and deport illegal migrants, irrespective of their religious affiliations, All Assam Students Union general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi had told Firstpost in an earlier report. The BJPs image as the saviour of the indigenous tribes and ethnic groups in the region, which it cultivated carefully over the years, has taken a beating after the Centres move to grant citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshi immigrants. A delegation of all the student unions of the region had recently met the Union home minister and demanded that the Bill should not be further pursued. However, many Bengali organisations had supported the Bill. The rift between the two communities over this issue resulted in sporadic violence, and also bandhs called by both Bengali and Assamese organisations. On the night of 1 November, five innocent men were killed by unknown assailants in Tinsukia district. The impasse may escalate soon, as 70 organisations representing various tribes and ethnic groups in Assam have decided to launch a massive protest on 16 November in front of the Assam Legislative Assembly. Bhaben Handique, one of the leaders of the protest, said that people from all corners of Assam would reach the Assam Assembly and take part in a bike rally. The objective of this protest is to either compel the central government to drop the Bill or to compel the Assam government to resign, he said. A few months ago, the situation for the BJP-led government in Assam was different, and it enjoyed good popularity due to the publication of the final draft of the NRC. At the time, people at many places distributed sweets, as the publication of the list marked the success of a 40-year-old struggle. The credit of this success, without doubt, went to the BJP-led state government. However, the move to introduce the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has brought the saffron party's march in Assam to a halt. It has reversed the gains that the BJP had achieved ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election and the 2016 Assembly election, by consolidating the votes of both Hindu Bengalis and Assamese people. For the first time since the advent of the Narendra Modi-era in politics, the Congress, as several surveys point out, starts as the frontrunner in this round of elections Two prominent BJP slogans have been missing from its ongoing campaign for five states the promise of achche din and the dream of Congress-mukt Bharat. The reason for the BJPs reluctance to reuse its popular jumlas from previous elections is apparent: Elections for these states do not portend achche din for the party, and the Congress appears set for an impressive comeback instead of getting wiped out of India. For the first time since the advent of the Narendra Modi-era in politics, the Congress, as several surveys point out, starts as the frontrunner in this round of elections. According to CVoter, it might sweep Rajasthan, win Telangana and win Madhya Pradesh by a small margin. Even in Chhattisgarh, the Congress is locked in a close contest with a slight lead over the BJP that could be decisive. Just a few months ago, with the BJP decapitating its rivals ruthlessly in elections and the Modi-Amit Shah duo looking unassailable, who would have thought the Congress might be dreaming of a 4-0 win and the BJP would be fearing a wipeout? But, as Richie Benaud would have said, its all happening here. What should worry the BJP more is the fact that the Congress has done nothing spectacular to get within striking distance of a 4-0 lead in India's heartland. It has managed to claw back by the simple expedient of just being there while the BJP collapses under the weight of anti-incumbency and growing anger against its two chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Rajasthan, by electoral behaviour, is a state of extremes. Its impatient and fickle voters swing from one end of the spectrum to the other in almost every election, turning objects of their adulation into subjects of scorn and ridicule. But, the problem with the BJP in Rajasthan is that its government became extremely unpopular very early in its tenure. For almost three years, the buzz on the ground has been suggesting anger against the incumbent government and the chief minister for a variety of reasons unkept promises, effete governance, concentration of power in the hands of a self-serving coterie and churn in caste equations. But, in spite of early warnings, the BJP could do nothing to stop its slide. Now, as CVoter suggests, its vote share is likely to be eight percent less than that projected for the Congress. In addition, Raje's own popularity has fallen below Sachin Pilot's, who has the distinct disadvantage of not commanding a loyal support base of an influential caste or a cadre-based organisation like the RSS. The BJP had invested almost two decades in Raje. She is the party's most popular face in the stae and nobody else in the party has a pan-Rajasthan appeal. Her falling graph and projected loss imply the BJP will have to find new faces to lead the party in 2019 to neutralise the anger against Raje. If the BJP is still in the race in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, it needs to be more grateful to the Opposition than its own governments in these states. There is palpable anti-incumbency against Chouhan, reflected in the decline in his own popularity. Any other opponent would have harnessed it for electoral gains but the Congress got caught in infighting and failed to get its campaign off the ground for a very long time. This led people to doubt the Congress' ability to win the election, thus, activating the TINA (there is no alternative) factor in Chouhans favour. In Chhattisgarh, similarly, the BJP is still in the fight because of a division in the anti-government vote. Ajit Jogi and Mayawati are taking away a small but decisive chunk of votes away from the Congress, helping the BJP in a triangular contest. Had the Congress done something to address the Mayawati-Jogi problem, it would have started as a clear frontrunner in the state. All these states will be a big test for the prime minister's popularity. It is well established that the prime minister changes the electoral outcome with his big hitting in the end. But, the results have not been so spectacular whenever he has run into regional leaders with high popularity ratings, like in Bihar and Delhi in the past. In both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia are gaining popularity in every successive pre-poll survey, taking clear and decisive leads over Raje and Chouhan. This means, people already see them as prospective chief ministers compared to the alternatives offered by the BJP. Dislodging them from popularity charts in an Assembly election will be a huge challenge for the prime minister. Also, voters in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are clear about their choice for the prime minister's post most of them prefer Modi over Rahul Gandhi. This clarity in the voter's mind may be a blessing for the BJP in 2019. But this year, it could be a curse, since voters are likely to convince themselves that voting the BJP out in the Assembly elections wont be an act of disloyalty if they support Modi in the Lok Sabha. This dichotomy of faith is summed up by a slogan reverberating in Rajasthan: Modi tujh se bair nahin, Raje teri khair nahin (No animosity with Modi but wont spare Raje). Experts believe that because of Ajit Jogi, the BJP will suffer loss in nine out of 10 Scheduled Caste-reserved constituencies that the party pocketed in 2013, especially since the ex-CM must win these seats to remain in politics Contrary to popular belief, Ajit Jogi and Mayawatis alliance in Chhattisgarh is perhaps hurting the BJP as much as the Congress, if not more. The Satnamis, an influential community with the status of Scheduled Caste, and tribals form the core vote base of the Congress, for around 65 percent of the partys vote comes from here. Former chief minister Ajit Jogi is extremely popular among the Satnamis, and Mayawati is a prominent Dalit leader in India. It is easy to deduct the two coming together would only eat into the Congress vote share. But a deeper look reveals something interesting. There are 10 seats in Chhattisgarh reserved for the Schedule Caste (SC) with great Satnami influence. In 2013, the Congress only managed to win one, while BJP took its tally up from five in 2008 to nine in 2013. Apart from the SC-reserved seats, there are 19 more seats in the general category with substantial Satnami voters. The BJP had bagged at least half of them too, proving critical crossing the halfway mark in a 90-member Assembly, which ended with BJP at 49 and Congress at 39. There is a back story about how the BJP made serious inroads in the Satnami-influenced seats. In 2008, 70-odd people from the Satnami sect were booked for attacking a police team at a fair in Bilaspurs Bodasara. One of the 70 people was Bal Das, the priest of Satnami samaj. The fair was attacked, for it was organised on a property where the samaj believes its guru was born. Das demanded unconditional release, refusing to apply for bail, which led to the state government negotiating with him. Five years later, Das floated Satnam Sena and put up its candidates in 21 constituencies, only two of which were SC-reserved. Das campaigned vigorously in most of the constituencies, traveling from one place to another in a chopper, which is commonly rumoured to have been provided by the BJP state leadership. Das had, obviously, denied the charge, and had even said his party had nothing to do with BJPs victory. Even though the Satnam Sena did not win a single seat, it managed to split the Congress vote, which ensured the BJP snuck through. For example, in the constituency of Lormi, which is a general seat in Mungeli district of Bilaspur division, Congress Dharmjeet Singh, who had been an MLA from the constituency from 1998, lost to BJPs Lokesh Sahu by a margin of just over 6,000 votes. Satnam Senas Somesh Baba, son of Bal Das, polled more than 16,000 votes. BJP won 10 out of the 21 seats, where Satnam Sena had a candidate. Only two were SC-reserved. Out of the 10 constituencies that were SC-reserved, it is said that the BJP won nine seats largely because Jogi greatly influenced the Satnami vote against the Congress. He quit the Congress in 2015 after his brother Amit was expelled for anti-party activities, and in 2016, he formed his own party, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh. "Even BJP didnt expect to win as many seats, said Sunil Kumar, editor of Raipur-based newspaper The Chhattisgarh. In 2013, it was common knowledge that Jogi had supported the BJP candidates in SC-reserved seats. He is the most popular human being among Satnamis. He had taken the votes away from the Congress and delivered a victory to Raman Singh, he adds. Five years down the line, there are two factors in this equation that go against the BJP. The Satnam Sena has been dissolved and Das is campaigning for the Congress. "BJP is an anti-Satnami party, said Ashok Sonwani, who had organised a rally for Das in Lormi. We watched their work closely, and decided it is time for a change. We are now working hard to ensure a Congress victory, adds Sonwani. Except their campaign is not even half as intense on the ground as opposed to what it was in 2013. Das' rally in Lormi was lukewarm. It had been organised on the day of a weekly bazaar to attract more crowd. But several people around the mandap had no clue what was going on. Raju Singh, who had campaigned for Satnam Sena in 2013 and is now campaigning for Congress, said it is one thing to ask votes for your own candidate and another to work for a political party. Several of our karyakartas in other constituencies are not even campaigning, he said. The votes that the Satnam Sena enjoyed in 2013, which helped the BJP, would be divided between Congress and the alliance between Jogi and Mayawati, for the community is displeased with Raman Singh for slashing the reserved quota for Scheduled Castes from 16 percent to 12 percent in 2013. The dedicated pupils of Das would be transferred to Congress, but slightly sceptical ones would prefer Jogi. This brings us to the second factor in the equation. Traveling through the SC-reserved seats, it appears that Jogi would get back the votes he influenced towards the BJP in 2013, and make it difficult for the ruling party to retain their hold there. Jogi's influence in the plains is as good as zero, and he has to capitalise on the SC seats to establish himself as a strong regional satrap. "Jogi has to prove two points one to Mayawati and another to Chhattisgarh, said Sunil Kumar. "BJP may gain in terms of votes dispersed across Chhattisgarh to some extent. But the party will suffer loss in nine out of 10 SC constituencies that are already in BJPs pocket, due to Jogi. Not many people are reading it this way. They are oversimplifying Jogis impact. These 10 seats will decide Jogis future. If he doesnt gain in SC seats, he will be out of politics. He will do everything he can to win. They are not for sale this time around. There is no way Ajit Jogi will allow BJP to repeat its performance in these constituencies, he says. Ruchir Garg, former journalist who joined Congress in October, said the Satnamis used to be a Congress vote bank but over the years BJP have also made their mark in the community. In a way, it is now split in three parts, he said. Also, wherever Jogi has had his presence, he has only worked towards helping the BJP. He dented the Congress more when he was with the Congress, says Garg. At 72, for a man who has been out of power for 15 years, Jogis campaign does not seem to have any roadblocks. He has been traveling from one constituency to another in his helicopter, raising questions over who is funding it. Kumar said there is a huge mining and industrial interest in Chhattisgarh. These people do not only want the support of the government, but also a piece from the opposition," he said. "Those who are conducting mining-related operations pay everyone who could be a future trouble. Jogi could be a kingmaker, or even with three of his MLAs in the Assembly, he could raise issues that can cause trouble for some industry or businessmen. They contribute to political parties based on their fears and expectations," adds Kumar. A senior journalist based in Raipur anonymously said it is commonly believed in political circles that the BJP is funding Jogi-Mayawati campaign. The nature of the alliance is designed to hurt the Congress, he said, adding, Which it is to an extent. But it could well backfire in the SC-reserved seats. Ramnivas Tiwari, a senior leader of the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, rubbished the claims. We are contesting against the BJP, and are on our way to form the government by beating them, he said, adding, Jogi is a popular leader across the state. He has the support of the people and well wishers in every which way. Whether the BJP is funding the alliance or not, it certainly hoped to gain from it. However, the situation on the ground would make the ruling party wonder if it misread the alliance and its impact. The CPM on Thursday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the Rafale deal, claiming that 'new facts' are coming out on the 'irregularities'. New Delhi: The CPM on Thursday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the Rafale deal, claiming that "new facts" are coming out on the "irregularities" in clinching of the agreement. The CPM's attack came a day after the government told the Supreme Court that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. In the Rafale deal, the most "sensational" thing is the government's own admission in the apex court that there was no sovereign guarantee from the French government, but only a letter of comfort, which is not legally enforceable to ensure the delivery of this high value contract, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters. On the price of the aircraft, the government stated in March 2018 that the cost of the basic aircraft is Rs 670 crores per plane, Yechury said. But, in September 2016, the government had pointed out that it was Rs 60,000 crore for 36 aircraft, including all modifications, making it Rs 1,600 crore per plane, the CPM leader said. Yechury said the CEO of French company Dassault, which is manufacturing the Rafale aircraft, is now saying that the price of 36 fly away planes is equal to 18 fly away ordered in the deal earlier. "These figures obviously do not corroborate. New facts are coming out on the irregularities of the government in clinching the Rafale deal," he said. "Nothing less than a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe can bring out the truth and fix accountability. This is of paramount importance in the interest of the nation and particularly, the security of the country," Yechury said. His remarks came amid the opposition escalating its attack on the government over allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal. The government has vehemently denied all the charges. The Bru people from Mizoram have been living in six relief camps in Tripura since they fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes. New Delhi: Members of 32 families of Bru refugees, who were repatriated to Mizoram, will be able to cast their votes in the coming Assembly elections in the state, officials said Thursday. As many as 19 families were rehabilitated in Lunglai district in Mizoram after their repatriation from Tripura, 11 families were settled in Mamit district and two in Kolasib district of the state in the past two months. "The total number of people in these families is around 150 and those who are eligible among them can cast their votes in the polls," a home ministry official said. Mizoram goes to polls on 28 November. The Election Commission Thursday appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra as Mizoram's new chief electoral officer, replacing SB Shashank in accordance with the demand of some civil society groups. The groups were asking for Shashank's ouster over a row on allowing Bru voters lodged in Tripura relief camps to exercise their franchise from there. The agitation against Shashank was launched a fortnight back with the NGO Coordination Committee, the apex body of civil societies, and students' organisations in the north-eastern state, demanding that the officer be replaced as chief electoral officer and transferred outside the state. It also demanded that Bru voters in six Tripura relief camps be allowed to exercise their franchise at their respective polling stations in Mizoram and not in Tripura as committed by the poll panel in 2014. The agreement to repatriate the total 32,876 people belonging to the Bru community, who have been living in relief camps in Tripura was signed by the Centre and the governments of Mizoram and Tripura on 3 July. The Bru people from Mizoram have been living in six relief camps in Tripura since they fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes. Mizoram civil society organisations have opposed the Election Commission's decision to conduct electoral revision of Bru voters in Tripura relief camps in the past too. They urged the EC to disenfranchise all Bru voters who chose to stay back in Tripura and did not return to Mizoram. 'Paradoxical Prime Minister' is meant to be a substantive and substantiated takedown of four years of Modi rule and everything that has happened in that time, says author Shashi Tharoor. Shashi Tharoor has emerged as not only one of our most eloquent parliamentarians but also an erudite author who has written a series of well researched and insightful books. His latest Paradoxical Prime Minister provides insight into the enigmatic personality of our present Prime Minister Narendra Modi and just what makes him tick. In an interview, the Congress leader said that Modi's rule has been bad for India. "...his inability to rise above his narrow-minded, mean-spirited, sectarian political origins to the levels of statesmanship and good governance that a country like India needs, that many hoped he could deliver and that he himself frequently had promised." Edited excerpts follow You have named your book Paradoxical Prime Minister. Why have you chosen this title? Would a variation of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde been a more appropriate title! (Of course, Wildes protagonist was a much younger hero). Jokes apart, what are some of the paradoxes that you have found in Modis personality? In 2014, when Prime Minister Modi had just been voted into a power, his liberal, inclusive and conciliatory pronouncements sab ka saath sab ka vikas, for instance, and his promises to be a prime minister for all Indians had prompted hope that we were possibly looking at a Narendra Modi 2.0: one who had moved away from his controversial role in the riots of 2002 and seemed ready to replace the incendiary identity politics of Hindutva with a politics of performance. In raising this possibility I also publicly pointed out that it was too soon to decide whether this was indeed the case. Within weeks my disenchantment set in, and within six months I had written of the central Modi paradox making liberal statements while depending for political support on the most illiberal elements of Indian society. I was initially prepared to give him and those who had voted for him the benefit of the doubt, and I felt that if he lived up to his statements made during the election campaign and immediately after his victory, it could have benefited the nation. Unfortunately, the statements and promises turned out to be hollow and the book reflects my disenchantment with the gap between rhetoric and reality. In The Paradoxical Prime Minister, I judge Modi by the yardsticks that he had himself laid out by making such statements and claims. As he nears the end of his term as prime minister, the country is reeling on several fronts -- a fearful populace, an economy that has been hobbled by his foolhardy initiatives, a painful lack of jobs, a devastating number of farmer suicides, insecure borders, instability in Kashmir and the palpable failure in implementation of even laudable initiatives like Swachh Bharat, Skill India and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. In short, Modis rule has been bad for India, and it all rises from the Modi paradox his inability to rise above his narrow-minded, mean-spirited, sectarian political origins to the levels of statesmanship and good governance that a country like India needs, that many hoped he could deliver and that he himself frequently had promised. I dont think The Picture of Dorian Gray is an appropriate analogy. That was about a man who remains youthful and clean-visaged while a picture of him in the attic ages, reflecting his dissolution. Modis cynicism and insincerity are sadly not hidden in an attic. They are visible for all to see as my book demonstrates. You have given a very balanced portrayal of his personal life including a gem provided by his personal tailor Bipin Chauhan that the three things Modi is not willing to compromise on are 'his voice, eyes and clothes' as told by Modi to his tailor. There are others as well, including accounts of Modi provided by close family members and early RSS colleagues. Part of the reason why I have included incidents and anecdotes from his personal life is that the prime minister is still seen in some quarters as an enigmaparticularly with regard to his personal life and to a certain extent discussing, if not unravelling, some of these mysteries add colour to the narrative. But I have tried to be objective: His rise from very modest origins is admirable. I also defend his habits of personal grooming and his giving away his salary to charity. I have also praised the energy with which Modi jet-sets around the world. But at the same time, I have questioned the results of all of his personal qualities: how have they benefited the nation? I have also consistently (even in my criticism of Modi) tried to maintain a fairly reasoned and substantiated argument because I do understand that there may be an assumption that given that I am an Opposition MP I can only be critical. At the same time, however, I do have my own credibility as an analyst and writer to protect, and what my book seeks to do is to make a fair-minded and rational argumentI have actually laid out the yardsticks in terms of very specific things that he said he would do and he has not done. And I have gone through it in some detail with the wealth of evidence, research, facts and figures, anecdotes and footnotes. Your book also highlights Modis ability to work hard, a quality imbibed from his father, though you have also quoted Ashish Nandy whose analysis of Modi based on a long interview prior to his becoming prime minister said he possessed a mix of puritanical rigidity, a narrowing of emotional life apart from possessing several obsessive personality traits. A quintessential paradox! On one hand, even critics of Modi have begrudgingly accepted that he is a workaholic with an ability to work harder than most of his compatriots. At the same time, this stands in stark contrast to his taste in personal luxury, with Mont Blanc pens, Bulgari designer glasses, Movado luxury watches and expensive jackets. While none of these are sins, as I point out, there are other traits lack of emotional attachments, a streak of intolerance, narcissistic personality, assertive masculinity, controlling behaviour, and so on, which are reflective of how Modi meets many of the criteria that psychiatrists, psycho-analysts and psychologists have set up after years of empirical work on the authoritarian personality. He has most of the same mix of elements that Nandy describes -- all set within the matrix of some paranoid and obsessive personality traits. I lay them out for readers to see, without drawing any conclusion. Your book mentions how during his campaign to power he portrayed himself as adhering to an inclusive philosophy but once he came to power he was seen to rely for support on communal right-wingers. But cant we say that even about LK Advani whose Rath Yatra in 1990 saw the resurgence of a brand of militant Right-wing communal politics which continues to dominate our political scenario. I do blame those leaders, especially Advani, for creating the environment that led to the destruction of the masjid, but they claim that was an unintended consequence of the movement. We know for a fact that both Advani and Vajpayee have publicly expressed their regret at the events that led up to the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Advani said he would have respectfully wanted to relocate the site and Vajpayee had also hinted at all sorts of compromises provided the Ram Temple could also be built, it could even be a joint wall between a mosque and a temple. Who knows what Vajpayee would have wanted? He is not here to tell us. But no, neither of them ever spoke in terms of demolishing the mosque and when it happened they both condemned it. I have openly remarked that most good Hindus I know would want a Ram Temple at the place where they believe he was born. But most good Hindus would not have wanted it by an act of violence and barbarism, demolishing somebody elses place of worship. And this is more or less what Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani also said. The fact is that Modi is a product of the RSS as in fact is Amit Shah. But your book goes on to state how Moditva is much more than Hindutva doctrine. Is Moditvas allegiance just cosmetic or is it integral to his personality/doctrine? He spent a lifetime in the RSS and has certainly been groomed in its beliefs. There is no question that he does share the Hindutva mindset and worldview. But there is more to him than Hindutva a sort of personal aggrandisement, complete with a Modi personality cult featuring assiduous image-projection from Bal Narendra comic books to holograms, that makes Moditva more than just Hindutva. You have described Modis relationship with the RSS as akin to a scorpion sitting on a Shivling. Neither can they touch him with their hand nor can he be hit with a chappal. But isnt that comparison a little far-fetched because the RSS has been getting their way in practically every field ever since Modi came to power? What are your views on this? Again, to clarify yet again, the comparison is not of my own making. When I had brought it up, I had also clearly mentioned that I was, in fact, quoting what an unnamed RSS source had described to Vinod K Jose of The Caravan in an article published in 2012. The metaphor makes it clear that there is a certain element of frustration that the RSS has when it comes to dealing with the outsized cult of personality that surrounds Modi. Part of this frustration may also be a consequence of the differences between the doctrine of Modi, or Moditva, and the core principles of the Sangh Parivar. To take one example, Moditva has little patience for the economic autarchy traditionally espoused by RSS frontal organisations like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch. It seeks a globalised nation, deriving investment and profit from association with the wider world and allied with corporate interests within who share the same worldview. It derives legitimacy from evoking the glories of the past, but it seeks to update them with an eye on the future, reconciling Hindu temples with high-tech, marrying the ancient to the modern, and capturing futuristic technologies to serve its national mission. I say at one point that Moditva likes to project the image of a leader who can click a mouse with one hand while brandishing a trishul in the other! The RSS is unlikely to be comfortable with all that. Nor can they be happy with Modis abandonment of the self-effacing style the RSS requires you to cultivate. But they can neither remove nor attack Modi without threatening the basic Hindutva project. As a follow-up, how does the RSS view the Shah-Modi duo? You will have to ask the RSS! It seems clear that they work very closely together and it is striking that the BJP cabinet ministers troop regularly to Nagpur like schoolchildren to get their report card from the headmaster. I think this offers a very interesting clue to the relationship shared between the RSS and the Modi-Shah duo. The latter know that they depend on the former for ideological authority and organisational strength: the BJP cadres are really largely RSS cadres. Yet the scorpion metaphor is also reflective of a certain frustration some in the RSS seem to have with the duo, arising from their inability to control them fully. You state that Modi is so steeped in the RSS ideology, that he does not hesitate to send his ministers on periodic visits to Nagpur to the RSS top brass to have their report cards checked by them. I believe this is a reflection of a complex modus vivendi that Modi shares with the RSS. On one hand, he has abandoned the personal restraint they would have expected from him when he was made prime minister and has an outsized personal ego that they struggle to reconcile with. At the same time, by initiating a practice of annual visits by his cabinet to Nagpur, where they report on their progress to senior swayamsevaks, he has also made an outward show of institutional supplication to the RSS. Your book mentions how your own disenchantment with Modi as prime minister set in within weeks of his become prime minister. Your book mentions the killing of a Muslim techie in Pune as being the first in a successive series of knocks that our society has received since his coming to power. We are witness to cow vigilante squads and much worse. Why is that the Opposition has failed to nail this government down on his multiple failures? I dont think that is a fair assessment of the performance of the Opposition in these last four years. On the contrary, I believe that we have actually succeeded in raising the consciousness of the nation (whether in Parliament or elsewhere) when it comes to the mistakes of the ruling dispensation as well as the dangers it poses by providing a free rein to incendiary communal elements in the country. From the Ramzadein-Haramzadein controvery, mob-lynchings, demonetisation and the botched implementation of GST to the Vyapam and Rafale scams, the Oppositions criticism of the present government has covered a vast spectrum of topics -- foreign policy, economy and socio-cultural aspects -- and I think we have done a convincing job of highlighting the perils of giving the ruling party a second chance, in the upcoming General Elections. The fact is that so far the Opposition has not succeeded in combating this powerful RSS-BJP electoral machine. Why is that? I think that the performance of the Opposition in state elections will tell you a different story. We have already seen the defeat of the RSS-BJP electoral machine in Karnataka and the results in Gujarat, though far from perfect, reflect a serious crisis of credibility in the ruling dispensation. I am also confident that the Opposition is likely to come back to power in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and offer a stiff contest in Chattisgarh. All of this has been possible because we have regained the trust of the people by offering a credible alternative to the polarising autocratic rule of the present ruling dispensation. You have paid special attention to Modis economic policies and how demonetisation followed by a faulty implementation of GST have been disasters. In fact your book has analysed his policies both in the domestic front and in foreign affairs you have written about how despite all his travelling and leader hugging, Indias relations have nosedived with practically all our neighbours. Why is that? The book is meant to be a substantive and substantiated takedown of four years of Modi rule and everything that has happened in that time. Therefore, in order to put forward the most comprehensive argument possible, it was important to touch on all aspects of the Modi government and not just repeat the ideological differences that one might have with the ruling dispensation. On the issue of foreign policy, I acknowledge that Modi has brought a significant new energy into Indias foreign policy, with his frequent trips to various countries across the world -- in his four years as prime minister, he has spent the equivalent of at least a year in other countries. On some specific policies, I have also applauded him -- Ive acknowledged, for instance, that the International Yoga Day was a very clever exercise of soft power. But what has been the product of these visits? It would have been another matter if his extensive travels, the most by any Indian prime minister in history, had actually done the country much good. Sadly they have not. Our relationship with Pakistan is rocky, China is pushing us around, ties with the US are at a low ebb, Nepal mistrusts us and is moving towards China, the Maldives refuses new visas to Indians, and so on. Why did this happen? In a nutshell (and my book delves into this in more detail), during these years, while India had a prime minister who served as an energetic salesman abroad for the Government of India, it was also clear that his own credibility was increasingly under question. After all, how long can a salesman impress by the sheer force of his oratory and cleverly designed international photo-ops if the package he is selling is empty? Foreign policy was conducted episodically rather than coherently; there was a sense of rushing from speech to photo-op without either vision or sustained follow-up. Moreover, worryingly there was inevitably a justifiable fear among many of us that these visits are merely feel good trips that mask growing troubles elsewhere and the serious lack of a cohesive foreign policy blueprint for the country. For me, the biggest paradox is how that the Indian voter continues to bestow trust in him. You make allusions to our being a parliamentary and not presidential form of elections and therefore pitting Rahul Gandhi against him is not okay but when will this hit home with the public? I do believe that the Indian votercrippled by the twin disasters of demonestisation and GST, the lack of jobs, a weak rupee and fuel prices at an all-time highis waking up to the realisation that the last four years have been the playground for jumlas or false promises and the mandate offered to the present government in 2014 has been wasted. After all, why would a young man who voted for the BJP in 2014 believing that Modiji would get him a job, vote for Modiji again when he still has no job? As I have pointed out, the performances of the Opposition in recent by-elections and state elections have shown that there is certainly a groundswell that is developing against the current ruling dispensation. This is also reflected in the recent Lokniti-CSDS survey that predicts a loss of over 100 seats for the BJP in the 2019 General Elections. This realisation has permeated into the national consciousness in large part due to a united and spirited Opposition, one that is holding the government to serious standards of accountability for its failures. The BJP had released its first list of 131 candidates on 11 November, while the second list of 31 candidates was announced on 14 November. Jaipur: Looking to retain power in Rajasthan, the BJP has denied tickets to its 43 sitting MLAs, including four ministers, even as some leaders who have crossed over from other parties have been fielded for the upcoming Assembly elections. The ruling party has released two lists so far of 162 candidates for the elections to be held on 7 December for 200 Assembly constituencies. Names of more candidates are expected to be announced soon. The BJP had released its first list of 131 candidates on 11 November, while the second list of 31 candidates was announced on 14 November. In the second list itself, the party denied tickets to 14 sitting MLAs and three ministers. In the two lists, a total of 92 sitting MLAs have been fielded again in the election. The BJP had won 163 seats in the 2013 election, while its arch-rival Congress could get just 21. Traditionally, these two parties have ruled the state one after another. So far, the saffron party has given tickets to 19 women candidates. Besides, four leaders who have joined the BJP from other parties have also got the party ticket for the polls. These include Abhinesh Mehrishi, who would contest from Ratangarh seat after quitting BSP, Congress leaders Ashok Sharma and Mahesh Pratap Singh (for Rajakheda and Nathdwara seats, respectively) and two-time independent legislator Gurdeep Shahpini (Sangaria seat). Those having been denied a ticket include Gyan dev Ahuja, a sitting MLA from Ramgarh seat of Alwar. When contacted, Ahuja declined to comment on denial of ticket from his existing constituency. "I would comment only after meeting the office bearers of the RSS," Ahjua told PTI on Thursday. He said he has not met Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje so far on this issue. The BJP ministers who have been denied ticket by the party from their existing seats include Babulal Verma, Dhan Singh Rawat, Rajkumar Rinwa and Surendra Goyal. Goyal has resigned from the party and has announced he will contest the election independently. The denial of ticket to leaders like Gyan dev Ahuja and Dhan Singh Rawat has come as a surprise to many, even as they have been known for their hardliner comments that have often triggered controversies. Sheo constituency MLA Manvendra Singh has joined the Congress while the Nathdwara Assembly seat fell vacant after the demise of BJP legislator Kalyan Singh Chouhan. The saffron party has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate so far. It is also being keenly watched what would be the fate of the chief minister's close aide Yunus Khan, who was fielded from Deedwana Assembly seat in last election. The party has not announced any candidate from that seat so far. Also, there is no clarity so far on candidature of erstwhile royal family member Diya Kumari from Sawai Madhopur seat. The counting of votes for 7 December elections would take place on 11 December, along with the same for four other state assemblies - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. References to Italy and Italian nationals have been a regular feature of political discourse in India for many years now. Here's an overview. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, in a speech at Mumbai several years ago, had made an interesting quip aimed at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. He boasted about having sent Kanimozhi and A Raja to Tihar jail (in the 2G case) and said that the jailer there was complaining that the cook has a problem on his hands as the Tamil prisoners keep asking for masala dosas. After this, Swamy said, "I told the jailer to wait till an Italian also comes," subsequent to which there was loud applause. This statement was reflective of how Italy, a country smaller in size than several Indian states, has acquired much importance in national politics. A recent example of this is the statement of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath alleging in Chhattisgarh that Italian agents are responsible for conversion and anti-national acts. "During the Congress three-year rule in Chhattisgarh, anti-national activities of religious conversion by agents of Italy were at their peak," Adityanath was quoted by ANI as saying. However, references to Italy and Italian nationals have been a regular feature of political discourse in India for many years now. Here's an overview. Ottavio Quattrochi Quattrochi an Italian businessman was accused of having acted as a conduit for receiving bribes in the alleged Bofors scandal, which contributed majorly to the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi losing the subsequent parliamentary election. Sten Lindstorm, who investigated the scandal, had reportedly said that Rajiv had allowed a massive cover-up aimed at protecting Quattrochi, although he did not personally receive any payoffs. The allegations pertain to a deal with Swedish manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 155 mm Howitzer guns for the army in 1986. A year after the deal was finalised, a Swedish radio channel had alleged that the company bribed senior Indian politicians and defence personnel with the aim of clinching the deal. VP Singh, who led the campaign against the Congress for the 1989 Lok Sabha election, had made the Bofors scandal a key component of his rhetoric. An article by Shekhar Gupta in The Print recounts the manner in which he would accuse Rajiv Gandhi of corruption. Singh, the article notes, would ask people to imagine a situation in which a lion, a horse, a bull, a cat lived close by. On one morning, the owner of the circus found the carcasses of the horse and bull. "You think anyone had doubts on who had eaten them? The lion or the cat? If such big money has been eaten here, will some petty cat eat it?" the article quoted Singh as saying. While the payoffs in the case were said to be to the tune of Rs 64 crore, no one was convicted in the case. Sonia Gandhi's Italian origins When Sonia Gandhi visited Karnataka last year ahead of Assembly elections in that state, the state BJP put out a caustic tweet saying, "Today, Ms Antonio Maino is here in Karnataka to save her last citadel from falling!" Such references to the Italian origins of Sonia Gandhi have been frequently made by the saffron party ever since she entered active politics. On this issue, Sonia had emphatically said, "I am an Indian and shall remain so till my last breath." Sonia was initially opposed to her husband joining politics, and was quoted by India Today as saying that this was because she feared that "they would have got him...they would have killed him...And I was right; that did happen" However, seven years after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, Sonia joined politics in 1998. At that time, the Congress ruled only four states and had just 141 members in the Lok Sabha. After she took over, the fortunes of the grand old party changed, and it unexpectedly won the parliamentary election in 2004. However, the prospect of Sonia becoming the prime minister had the BJP up in arms, with Sushma Swaraj saying that she would shave her head and wear white if she were to take up the post. The Congress leader said that she had decided to listen to her inner voice and desist from taking up the post of prime minister. Italian marines Two marines from Italy Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were accused of killing two Kerala fishermen in February 2012. The incident had spurred a political controversy as well as an international legal battle. India has alleged that the two fishermen were killed without warning, while Italy has claimed that the marines had assessed that the fishermen's vessel was on a collision course with the oil tanker they were travelling on, as reported by The Indian Express. Italy has further claimed that the modus operandi of the fishermen was consistent with a pirate attack. The main legal issues involving the case was to do with the jurisdiction of the case. The Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled in August 2016 that India had no jurisdiction in the case, referring it to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Both Latorre and Girone are now in Italy, after the Supreme Court in 2016 allowed the former to return to his home country. There were four conditions imposed on him, which included reporting to a police station in Italy on first Wednesday of every month and the Italian authorities have to inform the Indian Embassy in Rome about it. Narendra Modi, in a rally before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, had hinted that Sonia Gandhi had sought to shield the marines. ABU DHABI - Premier Giuseppe Conte had a bilateral meeting on Thursday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan at the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi. Delegations from the governments of Italy and the United Arab Emirates also took part in the encounter. Conte also had a meeting of around an hour and a half with Italian entrepreneurs who do business in the UAE. People present at that encounter said Conte's message to the business representatives was to trust the government, which is working hard and will deliver pleasant surprises. Representatives from Eni, Fincantieri, Elettronica, Generali and Intesa San Paolo were present. Yogi Adityanath's deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya, Dinesh Sharma, organisational secretary Sunil Bansal and state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey will ride bikes across the state. Lucknow: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office-bearers, including Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, will be riding bikes across the state to mobilise support from each of the 80 parliamentary constituencies from Saturday, an official spokesman said on Wednesday. 'Kamal Sandesh bike rallies' would witness senior party leaders riding bikes and touching each booth in the state. The chief minister's deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya, Dinesh Sharma, organisational secretary Sunil Bansal and state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey will ride bikes across the state. All MPs, ministers and legislators will also take part in the rallies. State office-bearers, MLCs and Rajya Sabha members have also been told to chip in. State general secretary Govind Narayan Shukla told IANS that Mahendra Nath Pandey will be in Chandauli to participate in the rally, while the chief minister will participate in the bike rally in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. tech2 News Staff Facebook has been under a lot of scrutinies for the last couple of years, for the way it handled Russian interference on its social network. In October 2017, the company took a step to deal with all the external criticism, but it was definitely not an ideal one. According to a recently published article by The New York Times, where the publication interviewed around 50 Facebook employees, it was found that in around October 2017, Facebook expanded its relationship with a Washington-based public affairs firm, Definers, to write negative articles about its rivals Apple and Google. Facebook was apparently using the public affairs company to push the idea that liberal financier George Soros was behind a growing anti-Facebook movement. Meanwhile, it downplayed the impact of Russian interference on Facebook. Reportedly, Facebook and the PR company continued to work together to handle numerous scandals that Facebook was a part of, over the past three years, including Russian interference and the Cambridge Analytica scandal in March. Besides this scathing revelation, The New York Times report also claimed that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had ordered the employees in his company to only use Android phones. This decision was apparently taken after Facebook was criticised by Apple CEO Tim Cook for its approach towards user privacy. Indo-Asian News Service The morale of employees at Facebook has hit an all-time low as the social network giant grapples with data breaches amid top-notch executives leaving the company, the media reported. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on 14 November citing an internal survey at Facebook, just over half of Facebook employees (52 percent) have said they were optimistic for the future of the social networking platform down by 32 percent last year. Only 53 percent of Facebook employees said the company was making the world better which is 19 percent lower than last year. According to the report, Facebook's "difficult year is taking a toll on employee morale, with several key measures of internal sentiment taking a sharp turn for the worse over the past year". "It has been a difficult period, but every day we see people pulling together to learn the lessons of the past year and build a stronger company," a Facebook spokesperson was quoted as saying. Facebook shares have tumbled substantially this year after the social media network's revenue and user growth fell short of investor expectations. The firm is facing backlash for its handling of fake news and privacy and election interference from Russia-based groups in the 2016 US presidential elections. There have been several high-level resignations at Facebook. Instagram founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom have resigned from the Facebook-owned photo-sharing app that has over one billion users. Founded in 2010, Instagram was bought by Facebook for $1 billion in 2012. WhatsApp co-founders Brian Acton and Jan Koum have also quit over, with Acton alleging that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to undermine the instant messaging app's encryption technology. Acton started WhatsApp with Koum. Facebook acquired the messaging service about four years ago for $22 billion. Acton quit Facebook a year ago, and Koum left the company in April this year. Facebook reported $13.5 billion in revenue with a net income of $5.1 billion ($1.76 per share) in the third quarter that ended 30 September. It currently has 2.27 billion monthly active users and 1.49 billion daily active users. Asheeta Regidi Recently two leading Pakistani activists alleged the increased governmental censorship against critical voices on social media. The two activists, as per this report, received warnings from Twitter against tweets which, as per Twitter, violated Pakistani laws. The actual tweets of the activists, however, were against a cleric who had posted tweets threatening the government and inciting violence. The tweets of the activists themselves did not have such content. One of the tweets, as per the activists, was, in fact, a call for the government to take action against the cleric. The absurdity of the warnings, given that the tweets themselves (as per the report) were not incendiary, raised questions that Twitters warnings may have come from a governmental drive to censor critical voices, as opposed to being an actual violation of Twitter policy or Pakistani law. Closer home, instances of governmental censorship in India are on the rise, such as in the form of the increasingly frequent internet shutdowns, the blocking of websites or defamation suits. The governmental censorship arises from a number of laws granting it this power, and also from laws which are misused to censor. A number of case laws against these powers have established that, on the one hand, the government has the power to censor, but at the same time, the people have a fundamental right to criticise the government. The right to peacefully criticise Several cases have upheld peoples right to peacefully protect or criticise. An important case is that of Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, where the Supreme Court clearly held that criticism of public measures or comment on Government action, however strongly worded, is within reasonable limits, and further, is consistent with the right to freedom of speech. So long as there is no incitement to violence or an aim to create public disorder, such criticism is legal. A case filed before the Supreme Court in 2016 on the increasing use of sedition laws (Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860) to act against intellectuals, activists, and the like, led to a reminder from the Court that the laws on sedition and defamation (Section 499, IPC) could not be used against criticism of the government. A famous example of the use of defamation laws to silence critics was also seen with the over 200 cases filed by the Tamil Nadu Government, which even the Supreme Court took issue with, asking the Tamil Nadu government not to throttle democracy. The power to censor: Section 79 Despite the clear right people have to criticise, there are a number of laws which empower the government to act against online speech. The reasons for acting against it range broadly from protecting the sovereignty and integrity of India, keeping public order, preventing incitement to an offence, and so on. When looking specifically at the power of the government to direct an entity like Twitter to remove a tweet, this power is granted to it under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Under this section, an intermediary like Twitter is bound to remove content within 36 hours, on receiving a court or governmental direction to do so. The law, while outlining the intermediaries obligations with respect to deletion of the content, however, does not simultaneously empower the people to question the removal of their content or to have it restored. Peoples only recourse would be as provided by the social media platforms themselves, or to file a case for the violation of their right to freedom of speech. Blocking of websites under Section 69A Another section empowering the government to act against online content is Section 69A of the IT Act. This law allows the government to direct any intermediary to block public access to content. This is the section that enables the government to block websites. Section 69A was challenged before the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, but was upheld due the Court finding that the procedural safeguards in place were adequate. These safeguards are laid out in the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009. This is one law that requires the person or intermediary, whose website or content is to be blocked, to at least be given a notice and an opportunity to be heard prior to the blocking. Criminal cases against critical voices Yet another section under the IT Act, section 66A, thankfully, was struck down by the Supreme Court in the Shreya Singhal case, on account of being vague and broadly worded. The sections wording had allowed action against messages that were grossly offensive, caused annoyance, danger. This had led to the arrest of two girls in 2014 for passing comments criticising the bandh in Mumbai following the death of the Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. This gross misuse of Section 66A, in turn, led to the Shreya Singhal case and its quashing. Similar cases can be seen now in relation to the press as well, in the case of journalists who have published reports that are critical of the government. An example is the multiple FIRs against voices criticising Aadhaar, such as the FIR against journalist Rachana Khaira. Internet shutdowns as a censorship tool The latest form of censorship that the government has turned to is internet shutdowns. This SFLC report indicates that there have been over 106 shutdowns of the internet in 2018 alone. The reasons for these include dealing with law and order breakdown, to deal with the spread of provocative messages, rumour mongering and hate messages, and so on. Thus, while apparently issued for dealing with existing or potential law and order problems, the effect is a curb on legitimate speech as well, including governmental criticism. A large number of shutdowns are in Jammu and Kashmir, which, as per a UNESCO report, often follow military action which led to militant or civilian death. The Report goes on to describe internet shutdowns to be emerging as a significant tool of censorship by governments, which are increasingly utilising shutdowns and under the guise of security. Legalising internet shutdowns These shutdowns, further arise on the basis of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a broad power which allows Magistrates to take any action required to control situations like riots. However, the legality of the use of Section 144 as such has been upheld by the Supreme Court and the Gujarat High Court, in cases filed against the increasing number of internet shutdowns. The continuous criticism of the use of this section (possibly) led to the issue of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, rules which now specifically authorise the government to issue an order for the suspension of telecom services. The rules, while prescribing the procedure for the issue of the orders, however do not simultaneously define the circumstances under which the orders can be issued, nor do they introduce safeguards against the misuse of this power. The issue of these rules makes it clear that the government wishes to retain its power to shut down in the internet, and the effect on free speech thereby follows. The need to correct the bias in the law Balancing the right to freedom of speech with the need to maintain law and order is a tricky one. However, there is a notable bias in the laws which makes it much easier to censor content and remove it, than to have it restored. Particularly in the digital era, it is crucial to restrict the free hand the government has to censor, and to provide people with recourse against the misuse of the law. Freedom of speech and the freedom to criticise the government form the cornerstone of a democracy. These are rights worth protecting. The author is a lawyer specialising in technology, privacy and cyber laws. tech2 News Staff It seems like the Pixel 2 XL was not the last phone to have a long list of software and hardware-related issues. This years Pixel 3 and 3 XL have also seen a few bugs since launch and now theres a new one to do with the LG-made display that can be added to that list. A Reddit user posted a video clip of a Google Pixel 3 unit that showcases a flickering issue when the phones Ambient Display feature has been switched on. The users display can be seen flickering with half of the display lighting up in a bright white, while the rest of it remains off. The Ambient Display feature will show notifications when the phone is locked and will light up only a few pixels on the display to show glanceable notifications to ensure that it can remain on for long without sipping too much power. The white text showcased on a black background which uses very little power while showcasing notifications all day long. While the feature worked fine on our test Pixel 3 XL review unit, the Reddit user reports that the issue has cropped up suddenly after three weeks of use. More importantly, the user mentioned in the thread that the issue is not limited to the lock screen but also surfaced when using the phone as well. Another user also posted in the Google forums describing the same issue with the display. While theres no official word from Google on the issue, some users claim that Google has replaced the units affected by the flickering issue with new ones. As of now, there is no confirmed evidence whether this is a hardware related issue or a software one, but since Google is providing replacements for the same, we will go with the former. The Pixel 3 has been plagued by several issues since launch which includes a RAM management problem where apps are purged instantly from RAM, audio and microphone related issues and image storage problems. While every smartphone does feature some problem be it software or hardware-related these are embarrassing considering that the smartphone does retail from upwards of Rs 70,000 in India. tech2 News Staff The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set a target for the country's first ever manned mission to space by 2021, and another, unmanned mission ahead of 'Gaganyaan' for December 2020. The space agency's chairman K Sivan announced and elaborated on plans for the unmanned mission at a press conference after the launch of communication satellite GSAT 29 on the GSLV-MkIII rocket on 14 November. In his Independence Day address, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi announced that India will attempt to send astronauts to space on a spacecraft called the Gaganyaan by 2022. India would be only the fourth nation in the world to accomplish the feat if successful, he added. "The (Gaganyaan) mission team is on track and already work is going on," Sivan said. "The first unmanned mission of Gaganyaan we are planning for December 2020, (in order) to have the first human in space mission by December 2021. This is a target we are setting (for ourselves)," he added. Sivan also announced that ISRO will have two such unmanned missions with the GSLV-MkIII rocket before it carries Indian astronauts to low-Earth orbit. "(The) third one will be (a) manned mission. First, we will follow all the parameters and if it does not work, we will fly the second unmanned mission. Once it gets confirmed, we will go for (a) human mission," Sivan said. The unmanned mission will test Indias capabilities to launch humans into space, sustain them for 5-7 days as they carry out experiments, and bring them back safely, the ISRO chief explained. Gaganyaans crew module to house astronauts, its life support systems to keep them alive in space, and the spacecraft's environmental-control systems have already been developed according to earlier reports. The GSLV-MkIII-D2, which will be used to carry the astronauts to space is "excellent, reliable, simple," in Sivan's view. The 43.4-metre tall GSLV-MkIII rocket weighs roughly 640 tonnes and equipped to carry satellites as heavy as four tonnes into space. The successful launch of GSAT-29 adds to a series of test flights ISRO is carrying out to develop the agencys heaviest rocket for the manned space mission. ISRO had flown a similar rocket on 5 June 2017 when it launched GSAT-19, another communication satellite developed by the agency, in the rocket's historic first developmental launch. When asked about launch plans for Gaganyaan, Sivan said, "It will be happening from Sriharikota and for that launch, we have to modify the launch pad." Reuters The American astronaut who will hitch the first ride on a Russian rocket since last months aborted launch and dramatic emergency landing is confident that her scheduled trip in December on a rocket that she calls a workhorse will go smoothly. Astronaut Anne McClain, along with a Russian cosmonaut and a Canadian astronaut, will man the 3 December mission. It will be the Russian-made Soyuz-FGs first crewed flight since Oct. 11, when US astronaut Nick Hague and a Russian cosmonaut landed unharmed on the Kazakh desert steppe after the rocket bound for the International Space Station failed in mid-air two minutes after liftoff. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has relied on Russian rockets to ferry astronauts to the space station since the United States retired its Space Shuttle program in 2011, though the agency has announced plans for test flights carrying two astronauts on commercial rockets made by Boeing and SpaceX next April. I do see the incident that happened on 11 October with our launch abort not as a failure but as a success, McClain told Reuters in a telephone interview from Russia. It actually bolsters my confidence in the rocket and in the processes that we have. Were confident in the vehicle and getting back to it, McClain said of the Soyuz rocket, which she called the workhorse of the space program. After lifting off from Kazakhstans Soviet-era cosmodrome of Baikonur last month, a damaged sensor caused one of the rockets three booster stages to separate improperly, falling inward on the rocket and jolting it off its ascent two miles above the ground, Russian investigators announced earlier this month. Video from inside the capsule showed the two men being shaken around at the moment the failure occurred, their arms and legs flailing. Russian cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin can be heard saying, That was a quick flight. The accident was the first serious launch problem experienced by a crewed Soyuz space mission since 1983, when a crew narrowly escaped before a launchpad explosion. In August, a hole appeared in a Soyuz capsule docked to the ISS that caused a brief loss of air pressure and had to be patched. Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, has said that it could have been made deliberately by someone during manufacturing or while the craft was in space. McClain and two other crewmates will launch from the same launchpad in Baikonur, joining the space stations current three-person crew. The Afghanistan finance minister said that India and Afghanistan will continue to have strong cultural, educational and commercial ties, and Pakistan that has to decide what they would like to do as part of an alliance with Kabul. Washington: Asserting that India has been and will remain a long-term partner of Afghanistan, the Afghan finance minister has said that Kabul has no secret deal with New Delhi, while hoping that it can have a similar relationship with Pakistan. "India has been a traditional and long-term partner of Afghanistan spanning over a couple of millennia more. Culturally, commercially in so many things, we have so much common heritage, so many common elements. They have been a long-term partner. They will remain a long-term partner," Afghan Finance Minister Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi told a Washington audience this week. "Afghanistan has no secret deals with India. All of the relationships that we have is based on trust, based on two countries, based on two sovereign governments, two people that have a long history," he said, responding to a question at the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University. India and Afghanistan will continue to have strong cultural, educational ties as well as commercial ties, he said. "Our hope is that we have a similar relationship with Pakistan. But I think it's Pakistan that has to decide what they would like to do as part of it in where they would like to be," the Afghan finance minister said early this week. Noting that Pakistan has the sixth largest population in the world, yet, he said, it has an economy smaller than Israel. So, the conflict is not in the interest of Pakistan, he said. For the betterment of the people of Pakistan, he said it would be helpful for Pakistan to have closer linkages and ties with India and Central Asia as a whole. He said the South Asia region is ripe for being a very functioning economic ecosystem but right now it is the least integrated region of the world economically. "It's not helping anyone," Qayoumi said. "We hope Pakistan can really see that as a way on how we can work together as a region, as equals, as sovereign nations, but also as a region that can have a future together successfully where economically and politically all areas can work together," he said. By William James and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday, freeing her to tackle the much more perilous struggle of getting parliament to approve the agreement. More than two years after the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU, May told reporters outside her Downing Street residence that she had won over her divided cabinet, which includes some senior Brexiteers. 'The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration,' she said, after a five-hour meeting. By William James and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday, freeing her to tackle the much more perilous struggle of getting parliament to approve the agreement. More than two years after the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU, May told reporters outside her Downing Street residence that she had won over her divided cabinet, which includes some senior Brexiteers. "The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," she said, after a five-hour meeting. Speaking over protesters shouting anti-Brexit slogans from the end of Downing Street, she said the deal, 585 pages long, was the best that could be negotiated. "When you strip away the detail, the choice before us was clear: this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs security and our Union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all," she said. It was not immediately clear whether any ministers would resign over the deal, which May hopes will satisfy both Brexit voters and EU supporters by ensuring close ties with the bloc after Britain leaves on March 29. But the weakest British leader in a generation now faces the ordeal of trying to push her deal through parliament, where opponents lined up to castigate the agreement, even before reading it. Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown. Many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China. Supporters of Brexit admit there may be some short-term pain for Britain's $2.9 trillion economy, but say that, in the long term, it will prosper when cut free from the EU - which they cast as a failing German-dominated experiment in European integration. PARLIAMENT VOTE May gave no date for a vote in parliament but she will need the votes of about 320 of the 650 lawmakers. It is unclear whether she has the numbers. "I know there will be difficult days ahead and this is a decision that will come under intense scrutiny, and that is entirely as it should be," May said. During the cabinet meeting, British journalists said anger among Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers was so high that they might call for a vote of no confidence in her leadership. There was no confirmation. The ultimate outcome for the United Kingdom remains uncertain: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of May's deal, potentially sinking her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendum. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker recommended that EU leaders should now go ahead with a delayed summit to rubber-stamp the agreement. But EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier cautioned that the road to ensure a smooth UK exit was still long and potentially difficult. May, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the turmoil following the referendum, has staked her future on a deal that she hopes will solve the Brexit riddle: leaving the EU while preserving the closest possible ties. But she has satisfied few. Brexit supporters in May's party, which has been riven by a schism over Europe for three decades, said she had surrendered to the EU and that they would vote down the deal. A senior Eurosceptic lawmaker said the cabinet decision was a majority decision, not a unanimous one. Many opponents of Brexit are also upset as they fear Britain will be subject to the EU's rules while getting none of the benefits of membership. Some want another referendum. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called it a "botched deal". The Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up May's government, said it would not back any deal that treated the British province differently from the rest of the United Kingdom. "If she decides to go against all of that, then there will be consequences," DUP leader Arlene Foster said, though she refrained from explicitly opposing the deal. She was due to meet May on Wednesday night. IRELAND The most difficult issue in the talks was the Northern Irish 'backstop', an insurance policy to avoid a return to border checks between the British province and EU-member Ireland that could threaten a 1998 peace accord, which ended 30 years of violence. The draft deal envisages a July 2020 decision on what would have to be done to safeguard an open Irish border after the post-Brexit transition runs its course if a new trade deal is not in place. Either Britain would have to extend the transition period once beyond December 2020, or go into a customs arrangement that would cover all of the United Kingdom. But under those arrangements, Northern Ireland would be aligned more closely with the EU's customs rules and production standards. Any changes to or termination of the backstop arrangements, after the end of the transition, would have to be agreed between London and Brussels. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose desire to avoid a hard border was central for Brussels, said the deal satisfied all Dublin's key priorities. But it is unclear if the arrangement will pass muster in parliament as many pro-Brexit lawmakers have demanded Britain must be able to unilaterally withdraw from the backstop to avoid being chained to the EU in perpetuity. "I cannot support the proposed agreement in parliament and would hope that Conservative MPs would do likewise," Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of an influential group of pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers, wrote in a letter to his party colleagues. (Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Andrew MacAskill, David Milliken, Alistair Smout, Elisabeth O'Leary and Stephen Addison; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden; Editing by Kevin Liffey) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Bangladeshi photojournalist Shahidul Alam, who was arrested under the country's controversial ICT Act, has been granted bail by the high court, according to several media reports. A bench of Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty passed the order on Thursday, according to a report in the Dhaka Tribune. Deputy Attorney General Bashir Ullah appeared for the State while Barristers Sara Hossain and Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for Shahidul Alam during the court session, according to the report. The court granted his permanent bail considering his age and the time he spent behind bars, according to The Daily Star. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said his office would move an appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the order granting bail, according to the report. Shahidul got bail after the high court put off hearing his bail petition for 17 times till Wednesday, according to a report in New Age Bangladesh. Alam was arrested on 5 August for making "false" and "provocative" statements on Al Jazeera and on Facebook Live during massive student protests in the capital Dhaka. Alam had told Al Jazeera that the protests were the result of pent-up anger at corruption and an "unelected government... clinging on by brute force" that had looted banks and gagged the media. He is being investigated for allegedly violating Bangladesh's internet laws, enacted in 2006 and sharpened in 2013, which critics say are used to stifle dissent and harass journalists. Alamwhose work has appeared widely in Western media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institutefaces a maximum 14 years in jail if convicted, along with others detained during the protests. CAIRO - Clashes that erupted for a few hours on Wednesday in Tripoli after nearly a month of ceasefire were quelled by a resumed ceasefire agreement between militant groups. The website of Libyan broadcaster al-Ahrar reported the acceptance of a "ceasefire" by the "belligerents", citing an official source. On Wednesday, clashes broke out between the Seventh Brigade - the rebel militia leading fighting that in September caused nearly 120 deaths and over 400 wounded - and the Abu Salim Central Security Forces brigade, a group that supports Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al Sarraj and is led by Abdul-Ghani Al-Kikli, who goes by the name Ghnewa. The ceasefire was announced by Ramadan Zarmouh, the president of the committee following the application of security measures agreed upon in Tripoli following the September clashes. In a televised declaration, the official said Abu Salim wants to go to Tarhuna, the city east of Tripoli where the Seventh Brigade's headquarters are located, for a meeting with its leaders in order to strengthen the ceasefire and "bring the situation back to normal", the website said. Clashes between the Seventh Brigade and Abu Salim broke out Wednesday following skirmishes throughout the day in southern Tripoli, near the Qasr bin Ghashir bridge, the website said. The location is about 25 kilometres from the city centre, near International Airport, which has been closed since 2014 due to fighting and has been replaced by the more centrally located international airport known as Mitiga, eight kilometres east of Martyrs' Square. The closed airport was declared a "military zone" by the Twenty-Second Brigade, allied with the Seventh, the al-Ahrar website said, confirming information that was circulated on Wednesday evening with new details. Official sources close to former Prime Minister Khalifa Ghweil said the new attack by the Seventh Brigade was due to disappointment following the Libya conference in Palermo over the fact that pro-Sarraj militias in Tripoli would not be expelled. The Seventh Brigade and its allies had attempted to do so with clashes from August 24 to September 4 and again after a violated ceasefire from September 17 to September 25. Maire's remarks come in the aftermath of British prime minister Theresa May suffering a huge blow on Thursday as Dominic Raab quit as her Brexit secretary On Thursday, French finance minister Bruno Le Maire lashed out at pro-Brexit politicians in the United Kingdom and claimed they had deceived the public in the run-up to the 2016 referendum, according to several media reports. "I think many British politicians have been liars and lied to British people by explaining that it was simple to go out of the European Union without having strong negative consequences on the current daily life of the British people," Maire said at the Women's Forum in Paris, according to a report by CNBC. Dubbing Brexit a "historical mistake", he added: "Now you are before the truth and the truth is that going out of the European Union, going out of the (EU's) single market, going out of one of the most important economic markets of the world is a mistake with very strong negative consequences." According to a report in Bloomberg, Maire added that he expects that the UK may want to rejoin the European Union within two decades. My deep conviction is that in maybe 10 to 15 years there might be a new referendum, when the British people will realize that this is in their interests, he added, according to the report. Maire's remarks come in the aftermath of British prime minister Theresa May suffering a huge blow on Thursday as Dominic Raab quit as her Brexit secretary, saying he "must resign" over the proposed EU withdrawal agreement. "I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto," he said in his resignation letter, published on his Twitter account. On Wednesday, May won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft European Union divorce dealm more than two years after the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU. May told reporters outside her Downing Street residence she won over her divided Cabinet, which includes some senior Brexiteers. "The collective decision of Cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," she said, after a five-hour meeting. Speaking over protesters shouting anti-Brexit slogans from the end of the street, she said the deal, 585 pages long, was the best that could be negotiated. "When you strip away the detail, the choice before us was clear: this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs security and our Union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all," she said. With inputs from Reuters The situation inside the Sri Lanka parliament turned violent on Thursday with MPs supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa clashing with UNP Mps amid allegations of malpractice against the House Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Day after the Sri Lankan Parliament passed no confidence motion against recently appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the situation turned violent inside the House on Thursday as MPs clashed with each other amid allegations of malpractice against the House Speaker, reports said. Sri Lankan MPs clashed inside Parliament chamber as Political crisis continues, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced at beginning of session that the House does not recognise a government or an opposition. pic.twitter.com/mgQKkFhTxG Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) November 15, 2018 Azzam Ameen, a Sri Lanka-based journalist tweeted images and videos of scenes inside the Sri Lankan Parliament where MPs could be seen clashing with each other and hurling waste paper basket at House Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. According to Ameen, several MPs were injured in the clashes that broke out soon after recently appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa gave his speech inside the Parliament. Sri Lanka Parliament session concludes with ugly scenes after clashes, minor injuries for several MPs, Waste paper basket hurled at Speaker by MP supporting Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa objecting Speakers action pic.twitter.com/5GRl91uiVk Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) November 15, 2018 According to Sri Lanka-based Daily Mirror, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella requested a Parliament vote by name for the speech delivered by Rajapaksa. The request, however, was challenged by MPs supporting Rajapaksa with some MPs, according to State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne, physically threatened the speaker and clashed with each other. What followed soon after that was chaos with MPs clashing with each other. JO MPs physically threaten speaker @KaruOnline and ask not to proceed with vote. Many scuffles. Speaker stays strong despite hooliganism.We will stand strong for democracy and NOT bow down to threats. - E. W. (2) @officialunp #CoupSL pic.twitter.com/p9PugMw5fR Eran Wickramaratne (@EranWick) November 15, 2018 Jayasuriya had said on Thursday that in his view the country did not have a prime minister or Cabinet after Wednesdays no-confidence vote. The Sri Lankan Parliament is currently divided into two camps the Rajapaksa camp, which supports the prime ministership of the former Sri Lankan president and is demanding fresh elections as called by the President Maithripala Sirisena, and the UNP camp, which is seeking reinstatement of the Wickremsinghe government. Sirisena had sacked Wickremsinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as the new prime minister in an abrupt decision on 26 October. The decision, however, was tremed unconstitutional by UNP and other supporters of Wickremsinghe, and chaos prevailed with two people claiming to run the government. Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe refused to leave his residence, Temple Trees. Though Sirisena had earlier agreed to convene parliament on 14 November, he dramatically reversed course on 9 November and dissolved the Parliament. Sirisena also announced fresh elections to be held on 5 January. However, both the decisions were challenged in the Supreme Court, which revoked it till it had heard petitions challenging the move as unconstitutional. On Wednesday, when the Parliament reconvened, the Rajapaksa government lost a no confidence motion. The parliament passed the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa and his government, with the backing of 122 lawmakers from the 225-member legislature. However, Sirisena in a letter to the speaker said he cannot accept the no-confidence vote as the speaker appeared to have ignored the constitution, parliamentary procedure and traditions. Rajapaksa's party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), also shared a copy of the letter that the president wrote to Jayasuriya, while also accusing the Speaker of "substituting MPs Attendance List of 2nd November for that of 14th November". President Maithripala Sirisena expresses shock at the attempt of deception by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who has allegedly substituted MPs Attendance List of 2nd November for that of 14th November: rebukes Speaker in a strongly worded letter. #lka pic.twitter.com/Cmr90tvEkn SLPP (@PodujanaParty) November 15, 2018 Earlier on Thursday, UNP leaders along with the Speaker had refused to attend a meeting called by the President. With inputs from AP Raab added that he was opposed to 'an indefinite backstop arrangement' to guarantee the Irish border remains free-flowing, saying the EU would hold 'a veto over our ability to exit'. London: British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a huge blow on Thursday as Dominic Raab quit as her Brexit secretary, saying he "must resign" over the proposed EU withdrawal agreement. "I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto," he said in his resignation letter, published on his Twitter account. Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 "I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom," he said. Raab added that he was opposed to "an indefinite backstop arrangement" to guarantee the Irish border remains free-flowing, saying the EU would hold "a veto over our ability to exit". "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement," he wrote. President Donald Trump's administration is trying to fend off a legal challenge from CNN and other outlets over the revocation of journalist Jim Acosta's White House press credentials. Washington: President Donald Trump's administration is trying to fend off a legal challenge from CNN and other outlets over the revocation of journalist Jim Acosta's White House press credentials. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly heard arguments Wednesday afternoon from lawyers representing CNN and the Justice Department and is likely to deliver a decision Thursday. The news network is seeking an immediate restraining order that would force the White House to return Acosta's credentials which grant reporters as-needed access to the 18-acre complex. Acosta has repeatedly clashed with Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in briefings over the last two years. But the dynamic devolved into a near-shouting match during a combative press conference last week following midterm elections in which Republicans lost control of the House. Acosta refused to give up a microphone when the president said he didn't want to hear anything more from him. Trump called Acosta a "rude, terrible person." The White House quickly announced that Acosta's White House access would be revoked. The CNN lawsuit calls the revocation "an unabashed attempt to censor the press and exclude reporters from the White House who challenge and dispute the President's point of view." The Associated Press joined with a group of 12 other news organizations, including Fox News, in filing an amicus brief Wednesday in support of CNN. "Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized," said a statement by Fox News President Jay Wallace. "While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people." On Wednesday, Justice Department lawyer James Burnham argued that Acosta was guilty of "inappropriate grandstanding" and deserved to lose his access over "his refusal to comply with the general standards of a press conference." Burnham also pointed out that CNN has dozens of other staffers with White House credentials, so excluding Acosta would not harm the network's coverage. The network's lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, contended that Acosta was being singled out for his coverage of the White House, not his alleged rudeness during a press conference. "The White House has made very clear that they don't like the content of the reporting by CNN and Jim Acosta," Boutrous said. "Rudeness really is a code word for 'I don't like you being an aggressive reporter.'" Prior to Wednesday's hearing, the White House had maintained that it has "broad discretion" to regulate press access to the White House. A pre-hearing legal filing argued, "The President and his designees in the White House Press Office have exercised their discretion not to engage with him and, by extension, to no longer grant him on-demand access to the White House complex so that he can attempt to interact with the President or White House officials." Trump himself, in an interview published Wednesday, was uncertain how the court fight would end, saying: "We'll see how the court rules. Is it freedom of the press when somebody comes in and starts screaming questions and won't sit down?" Trump told The Daily Caller that "guys like Acosta" were "bad for the country. ... He's just an average guy who's a grandstander who's got the guts to stand up and shout." The White House's explanations for why it seized Acosta's credentials have shifted over the last week. Sanders initially explained the decision by accusing Acosta of making improper physical contact with the intern seeking to grab the microphone. But that rationale disappeared after witnesses backed Acosta's account that he was just trying to keep the mic, and Sanders distributed a doctored video that made it appear Acosta was more aggressive than he actually was. On Tuesday, Sanders accused Acosta of being unprofessional by trying to dominate the questioning at the news conference. Both Sanders and Trump are named as defendants in the CNN suit, along with Chief of Staff John Kelly and Randolph Alles, director of the Secret Service. A notable part of the list is Fox News, which has often been praised by Donald Trump. The news organisation said the revoking of CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press pass raises concerns over freedom of the press. At least 13 media houses The Associated Press, NBC News, First Look Media, Gannett, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, Bloomberg, the Press Freedom Defense Fund, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, and the EW Scripps Company on Thursday came out in support of CNN's lawsuit against the White House, and will jointly file a legal brief in support of CNNs lawsuit against the White House, reports have said. Fox News, which has often been praised by US president Donald Trump, said the revoking of the CNN reporter's press pass raises concerns over freedom of the press. "Fox News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter's press credential," the news channel's president Jay Wallace said in a statement. "We intend to file an amicus brief with the US District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponised. While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the president and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people," he said. CNN also quoted Fred Ryan, publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, as saying: "We support CNN in its effort to restore the press credentials of its White House reporter. It is a journalist's role to ask hard questions, hold the powerful to account and provide readers with as much information as possible." The Press Freedom Defense Fund also released a statement signed by its director James Risen and his deputy Kate Myers. The organisation condemned Trumps "escalating attacks against journalists," and said: "The White Houses recent retaliation against Acosta is a strategic assault on press freedoms, a threat to the US Constitution and an affront to Americas core values. BuzzFeed News said it will also join the other media organisations in supporting CNN against the president. CNN had filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and several of his top aides, seeking the immediate restoration of the network's correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass to the White House which was suspended following an argument with the US president. The Donald Trump administration on Wednesday defended in court its decision to suspend the press pass of the CNN reporter, arguing that no journalist has the First Amendment right to enter the White House. The argument between Acosta and Trump began when the journalist asked the president about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern US border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, "That's enough!" and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. He appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. With inputs from AP By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's campaign on Thursday said it had sued Florida election officials seeking a hand recount of ballots in liberal-leaning Palm Beach County in his re-election contest against Republican Rick Scott. State election officials earlier completed an electronic recount of ballots, triggered under state law after initial Nov. 6 election tallies showed Scott with a narrow margin of victory over the three-term incumbent. The Florida Secretary of State's office did not immediately release updated election results after the recount. "We have sued Palm Beach County and the Florida Sec of State to require a hand count of all ballots in the county due to systematic machine failure during the machine recount," Nelson's attorney, Marc Elias, said on Twitter. Palm Beach County officials said the machines they were using to recount ballots overheated and caused the county to miss the deadline for completing an electronic recount. The state electronic recount concluded after U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, Florida, cleared the way to include ballots from as many as 5,000 people across the state who submitted ballots by mail that were rejected by election officials. A Georgia federal judge issued a similar ruling as that state worked to resolve a close governor's race. In Florida, the recount of close races and attendant legal disputes over the validity of votes have stirred memories of the 2000 U.S. presidential election, when the U.S. Supreme Court stopped an ongoing recount in the state and sent George W. Bush to the White House. Initial counts before the recount showed Scott, Florida's outgoing governor, leading in his bid to unseat Nelson. Republican Ron DeSantis led Democrat Andrew Gillum in the governor's race. The Scott campaign in a statement said its margin of victory had increased moderately as a result of the recount and called on Nelson to concede. In both races the initial margins of victory were below the 0.5 percentage point threshold at which state law requires a recount of ballots. If the margin is below 0.25 percent by the end of the electronic recount, a second round of recounting by hand will follow. "Last week, Florida voters elected me as their next U.S. Senator and now the ballots have been counted twice," Scott said in a statement, calling on Nelson to end the recount process. Overall control of the U.S. Senate is not at stake in the Florida race. President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans extended their majority in the chamber while Democrats took a majority in the House of Representatives. But both the Senate and governor's races are being closely scrutinized as Florida is traditionally a key swing state in presidential elections. The Democrats' majority in the new House expanded by another seat on Thursday when the Maine Secretary of State's office declared Jared Golden the winner of a race against incumbent Republican Representative Bruce Poliquin. That race represented an early test of a new state ranked-choice voting system, designed to prevent candidates in races with three or more contenders from winning office without majority support. 'LAUGHING STOCK' Walker grew testy during a series of Thursday hearings about lawsuits over the recounts, voicing frustration about how to handle uneven progress in different counties and also the Florida legislature's response to historic election problems. "We have been the laughing stock of the world election after election," Walker said. "But we've still chosen not to fix this." Separately, a federal judge in Georgia ordered state election officials to count some previously rejected ballots in that state's governor's race, where ballots are still being tallied but Republican former Secretary of State Brian Kemp has declared victory over Democrat Stacey Abrams. It was not clear that additional ballots allowed in either Florida or Georgia would tip the races in question. Pre-recount tallies from Florida show Scott leading Nelson by 50.07 percent of the vote to 49.92, with DeSantis holding 49.59 percent to Gillum's 49.18 percent. Georgia's results show Kemp leading Abrams 50.23 percent to 48.83 percent. The election was a three-way race that included a Libertarian candidate who drew close to 1 percent of the vote, and if Kemp's total ended up dipping below 50 percent, he and Abrams would proceed to a runoff next month. Just three of 15 consequential recounts of statewide U.S. elections from 2000 through 2015 resulted in a change of winner, according to a 2016 analysis by FairVote. Those recounts resulted in an average margin swing of just 0.019 percent - less than the margins in any of the three races currently being recounted, according to the nonpartisan group. This year's campaigns went down as the most expensive midterm elections in U.S. history, with some $5.25 billion spent on advertising, up 78 percent from the last midterm elections in 2014, according to a Kantar Media analysis released on Thursday. Spending was 20 percent higher than the 2016 presidential election. (Reporting by Letitia Stein, writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Frances Kerry and Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Halal fridges, halal jilbabs and halal hijabs have entered consumerist culture in Indonesia. Former Pakistani ambassador Husain Haqqani, recently in the Thai capital of Bangkok, observed: Indian Muslimness still holds. Islam Nusantara (Indonesian Islam) is cracking up a bit. Let me cite an incident to shine a light on the first part of his comment. A few years ago, my sister Bushra Khatoon turned up in her office in New Delhi after marriage. I have lived away from my ancestral home for over three decades, but knew that she was dating a Muslim. Her colleague messaged me on Facebook: She got married to a Hindu. This is her choice, I told him, though I was surprised to hear that she married to a Hindu. Out of curiosity, I asked him: What makes you think so? He said: She has put a bindi on her forehead. This was revealing: There is a huge gulf between Hindus and Muslims about how we understand each other. I told him that women in my family always put sindoor in the parting of hair and bindi on forehead, which is how Hindu women too live in villages. This is the Indian Muslimness Haqqani spoke of. But the second part of Haqqanis comment that Islam Nusantara is cracking up forced me to investigate further. I walked into the hotel room of Dr Ahmad Najib Burhani, a leading Indonesian scholar who was in Bangkok. About to go to bed, he was wearing a pajama which had images of elephants. In India, we are taught by Islamic scholars that photographs and images of living beings should not be made, printed or used, barring exceptions for passports and other ID purposes in unavoidable situations. This is the reason the Darul Uloom Deoband recently issued a fatwa against wearing jewellery with images of living beings. I was shocked to see Burhani in a pajama with images of elephants, not because I am not used to seeing Muslims in such clothes, but because he is not merely an academic. Burhani leads prayers in mosques and is a practising religious scholar. He is also deputy chairman of the Department of Publication and Information, Central Board of Muhammadiyah one of the two leading religious organisations that influence the life of Indonesian Muslims. The other is Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest religious organisation in terms of membership. Looking at the images on his pajama, I asked him: Will you be allowed into mosque wearing this pant? He was surprised. After I explained to him that such a pant will not be permitted by Islamic scholars in India, Burhani said: In Indonesia, no one will object, in general. Even Muhammadiyah will not object. He also noted that both Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama will not object to such clothes with images of living beings. This is the Indonesian Islam that is facing a new set of conservative forces in Indonesia. It is called Islam Nusantara, literally Islam of the Archipelago. There are many definitions of Islam Nusantara, but the emphasis is on a kind of Islam different from the one portrayed by non-Muslims, Burhani said. He listed among the features of Islam Nusantara the following: peaceful Islam, tolerant Islam, an Islam friendly to non-Muslims, and an Islam that tries to blend with local Indonesian culture instead of removing and eradicating local practices. Within the competitive context of Indonesia, Nahdlatul Ulama follows Islam Nusantara, while Muhammadiyah follows Islam Berkemajuan, or Islam with progress. Islam Nusantara and Islam Berkemajuan are not necessarily mutually antagonistic. While Nahdlatul Ulama is the largest organisation, Muhammadiyah is the richest in terms of wealth and properties. Burhani noted: Followers of Islam Berkemajuan believe that the reason Muslims radicalise is because they are not strong in education, knowledge, politics and economy. The way to challenge radicalisation is to have centres of excellence in education, jobs, skills and other fields. This idea may be sinking among some religious groups in India. Masjid-e-Ishaqa mosque in the southern city of Hyderabadopened its doors for health services in cooperation with the city-based NGO Helping Hand Foundation. It aims to serve as a referral link for 1.5 lakh people of all religions by providing information and guidance for admission to 30-plus government hospitals. Such a transformation of an Indian mosque, perhaps first of its kind, reflects what Islam Berkemajuan of Muhammadiyah stands for in Indonesia. After the Indonesian government, Muhammadiyah owns the largest number of orphanages, schools, colleges and hospitals. Muhammadiyah runs 177 universities and over a thousand schools. Burhani observed that Nahdlatul Ulama looks inward, while Muhammadiyah looks outward. Both these organisations are meeting new challenges of globalisation and Arabisation, he said, adding: Our challenges are not coming (only) from the West and Western geopolitics, but also from West Asia. Muhammadiyah runs engineering and medical colleges which also teach Islamic religious education. In eastern Indonesia, where there is significant non-Muslim population, 80 percent students and teachers are non-Muslims in Muhammadiyah-run schools and universities; and religious education courses are of academic nature, not aiming to preach Islam. Burhani pointed out that in this region, Muhammadiyah also organises Christmas celebrations. In India, both Hindu-run institutions and Islamic organisations can learn a lesson from Muhammadiyah by organising Eid, Christmas and Diwali celebrations. During my conversation with Burhani, I was surprised that Muslims and Christians bury their dead in the same graveyards. In return, Burhani was surprised to know that Muslims in India do not share their graveyards with Christians or others. In fact, Bohra Muslims will not allow Sunni Muslims to bury their dead in their graveyards. Lower caste Muslims are marked separate areas in some graveyards of Mumbai. There are community-based Muslim graveyards in parts of Maharashtra. Amid such post-death segregation, the Indonesian practice of Muslims and Christians burying their dead in the same graveyard is exemplary. But now, some places are having separate cemeteries for Muslims and Christians in Indonesia too, Burhani said. So, the Indonesian Islam is indeed cracking up. There are marginal religious organisations that are exerting their influence: Majlis Mujahideen Indonesia, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, Jamaah Ansarud Dawlah, Jamaah Ansarut Tauheed (JAT). Of them, only Hizbut Tahrir was banned in 2017. JAT leader Abu Bakar Bashir is in jail for radicalising Muslims, but the organisation is not banned. The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which seems to have enjoyed State support against anti-government forces in the 1990s, is another religious organisation that opposes dancing and discotheques, and engages in moral policing. Burhani pointed out that after 2005, FPI expanded beyond the domain of moral policing into theological issues, declared Ahmadi Muslims as non-Muslims and evolved positions against non-Muslim minorities of Indonesia, and in some regions forced candidates to sign pre-election agreements aimed at enforcing sharia rule after their victory. It is one of the major groups challenging the peaceful Islam of Indonesia, and claims to be part of Nahdlatul Ulama in terms of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and practices in prayer. Dr Rumadi Ahmad teaches history of Islamic law at the State Islamic University in Jakarta. He is also head of the human resources studies and development, National Board of Nahdlatul Ulama. Interviewed in Bangkok, he said: Islam Nusantara is about how to combine Islam and local traditions. Islam in Indonesia did not spread by war but through Sufism. Local traditions and Islam are in harmony, but a few puritan Muslims can create problems. Ahmad noted that some groups such FPI and Hizbut Tahrir object to the concept of Islam Nusantara and their mission is the Islamisation of Indonesia. Radical elements in Indonesian society were suppressed and underground. After 1998, they began to emerge and assert themselves. Over the past decade, radical elements have spread to different parts of Indonesia, Ahmad said, adding that Hizbut Tahrir is now banned, but the ban is on the organisation, thinking is not banned. He said that radical forces want more sharia and ask for the penal code of Indonesia to be adapted to sharia standards. For example, stoning is legal punishment in the province of Aceh. While Islam had always been on the periphery of government institutions in Indonesia, Burhani said, there was an Islamic Turn in the 1990s lasting through 2005. President Suhartowho ruled from 1967 to 1998began using Islam as an ally of his government to curtail the power of the military, but he still fell from power in 1998. During the Islamic Turn, devout Muslims, previously excluded from government institutions, became members of the Cabinet and council of ministers; and governors began going to Mecca for pilgrimage. This process can be called Islamisation in the Indonesian government. After 2005, there are two types of Muslim political parties: Secular parties and Islamist parties. Sharia-based policies and laws cannot be implemented in Indonesia without the support of secular parties, Burhani said, also pointing out that the term secular shouldnt be seen in its Western and atheistic meaning. He also noted that after 2005, the Islamic Turn gave way to the Conservative Turn which is seen incidents of discrimination against Ahmadi Muslims and non-Muslim minorities and implementation of sharia in some parts of Indonesia. Now private companies build separate housing societies for Muslims. Previously, no such thing existed, Burhani remarked. As he was speaking, my mind ran through Gujarat where the state government implemented and enlarged the scope of the Disturbed Areas Act (DSA) for over the past nearly two decades, thereby preventing Muslims from buying properties in Hindu areas and vice versa. Consequently, housing societies in towns across Gujarat do not have Muslims and Hindus living together. DSA is pushing Muslims into ghettos. The Conservative Turn has witnessed a rise of trendy Islam. Halal fridges, halal jilbabs and halal hijabs have entered consumerist culture in Indonesia. This sounds like commodified religiosity, a merger between capitalism and conservatism, Burhani said and added: There is strong religious influence on Indonesian movies. Songs, music, novels are influenced by religion. Big movie stars wear short trousers, bear mark of worship on forehead, and have beards. Previously, movie stars were clean-shaved. Rumadi Ahmad concurred: It is a crazy idea. There is a euphoria of halal. I dont know what halal hijab is. But the phenomenon does exist: there are halal swimming pools, halal taxis, halal makeup, and so on. The presidential elections are due in April 2019. Indonesian president Joko Widodo has picked Maruf Amin as his running mate. Amin, who belongs to Nahdlatul Ulama, issued a fatwa in 2005 declaring Ahmadi Muslims as non-Muslims. In 2008, the Indonesian government issued multiple orders to enforce policies in line with the fatwa. While President Widodo is himself not a conservative, he is using Maruf Amin to appeal to conservative voters, Burhani said. Should Maruf Amins victory worry those who stand for the traditional Indonesian Islam? I asked Burhani and Ahmad which way Indonesian Islam is headed to after the elections. Ahmad said: Conservative sections cannot become mainstream in religious organisations, but it depends on what kind of leaders take over these organisations. Burhani summed up: The government is going beyond the dichotomy of Islam Nusantara and Islam Berkemajuan. The government is now promoting Islam Wasatiya (the Islam of Middle Path). The author is a former BBC journalist and senior fellow at the Middle East Media Research Institute in Washington, DC. He tweets @tufailelif Groups aligned with the Islamic state have warned of further attacks on Australia and other Western nations in online posters featuring the deadly lone wolf stabbing rampage in Melbourne last week Sydney: Groups aligned with the Islamic state have warned of further attacks on Australia and other Western nations in online posters featuring the deadly lone wolf stabbing rampage in Melbourne last week. "Australia, don't think you are away from our attacks," read one poster, which showed a photo of a vehicle the Melbourne attacker set alight during his attack last Friday. The SITE Intelligence Group which monitors jihadist threats said the graphic was issued Wednesday by the Sunni Shield Media Foundation, which is aligned with the Islamic State. Another graphic posted online and distributed by SITE showed an image drawn from social media showing the Melbourne attacker, Hassan Khalid Shire Ali, trying to stab a policeman before he was fatally shot. A text overlay on the image says: "Melbourne today - What is the next city tomorrow??!" Shire Ali stabbed and killed one man during the incident and wounded two others before being killed by police. Australian police characterised the attack as "terrorism" and said the 30-year-old Somali-born Shire Ali was inspired by the Islamic State, but acted alone and had no known ties to the group. On the day of the attack, Islamic State (IS) said via its propaganda arm that Shire Ali was an "Islamic State fighter and carried out the operation", but provided no evidence to back its claim. Australia is a member of the US-led coalition that has been fighting Islamic State in Syria and neighbouring Iraq since 2014. The jihadists took large swathes of Syria and Iraq that year, proclaiming a "caliphate" across land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of that territory to multiple offensives on both sides of the border. By William James and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday, freeing her to tackle the much more perilous struggle of getting parliament to approve the agreement. More than two years after the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU, May told reporters outside her Downing Street residence that she had won over her divided cabinet, which includes some senior Brexiteers. 'The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration,' she said, after a five-hour meeting. By William James and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday, freeing her to tackle the much more perilous struggle of getting parliament to approve the agreement. More than two years after the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU, May told reporters outside her Downing Street residence that she had won over her divided cabinet, which includes some senior Brexiteers. "The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," she said, after a five-hour meeting. Speaking over protesters shouting anti-Brexit slogans from the end of the street, she said the deal, 585 pages long, was the best that could be negotiated. "When you strip away the detail, the choice before us was clear: this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs security and our Union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all," she said. It was not immediately clear whether any ministers would resign over the deal, which May hopes will satisfy both Brexit voters and EU supporters by ensuring close ties with the bloc after Britain leaves on March 29. But the weakest British leader in a generation now faces the ordeal of trying to push her deal through a vote in parliament, where opponents lined up to castigate the agreement, even before reading it. Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown. Many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China. Supporters of Brexit admit there may be some short-term pain for Britia's $2.9 trillion economy, but say that, in the long term, it will prosper when cut free from the EU - which they cast as a failing German-dominated experiment in European integration. PARLIAMENT VOTE A summit of EU leaders is likely be held on Nov. 25, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. May gave no date for a vote in parliament but she will need the votes of about 320 of the 650 lawmakers. It is unclear whether she has the numbers. "I know there will be difficult days ahead and this is a decision that will come under intense scrutiny, and that is entirely as it should be," May said. During the cabinet meeting, British journalists said anger among Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers was so high that they might call for a vote of no confidence in her leadership. There was no confirmation. The ultimate outcome for the United Kingdom remains uncertain: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of May's deal, potentially sinking her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendum. May, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the turmoil following the referendum, has staked her future on a deal that she hopes will solve the Brexit riddle: leaving the EU while preserving the closest possible ties. But she has satisfied few. Brexit supporters in May's party, which has been riven by a schism over Europe for three decades, said she had surrendered to the EU and that they would vote down the deal. Many opponents of Brexit are also upset as they fear Britain will be subject to the EU's rules while getting none of the benefits of membership. Some want another referendum. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called it a "botched deal". The Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up May's government, said it would not back any deal that treated the British province differently from the rest of the United Kingdom. "If she decides to go against all of that, then there will be consequences," DUP leader Arlene Foster said, though she refrained from explicitly opposing the deal. She is due to meet May on Wednesday night. IRELAND The difficult issue in the talks was the Northern Irish 'backstop', an insurance policy to avoid a return to controls between the British province and EU-member Ireland which could threaten the 1998 peace accord which ended 30 years of violence. The draft accord envisages a July 2020 decision on what would have to be done to safeguard an open Irish border after the post-Brexit transition runs its course if a new trade deal is not in place. If not, Britain would have to extend the transition period once beyond December 2020, possibly until the end of 2021, or go into a customs arrangement that would cover all of the United Kingdom, but in which Northern Ireland would be aligned more closely with the EU's customs rules and production standards. A UK government explanatory note on the deal said this meant that "there will be an option to avoid the backstop, even in the event that our future relationship is not complete and a temporary bridge is required". "In those circumstances, whether it would be preferable for the backstop to come into effect for a temporary period, or to request a temporary extension of the implementation period, will be a sovereign choice for the UK Government." It is unclear if that will pass muster in parliament. (Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Andrew MacAskill, David Milliken, Alistair Smout and Stephen Addison in London; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden; Editing by Kevin Liffey) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The war in Afghanistan is off the rails and the United States is desperate to negotiate a deal with the Taliban to end its involvement in the 17-year-long conflict. The Taliban is more than happy to negotiate the terms of US withdrawal but if and only if an accord is reached on their terms. The war in Afghanistan is off the rails and the United States is desperate to negotiate a deal with the Taliban to end its involvement in the 17-year-long conflict. The Taliban is more than happy to negotiate the terms of US withdrawal but if and only if an accord is reached on their terms. Because if a so-called peace agreement can be reached, you can be sure it will be one that will not benefit the Afghan people, the US, or the region. Hopes for a deal with the Taliban are high after US officials began to directly engage with representatives of the organisation earlier this year. Just last week, the Taliban attended a conference in Moscow hosted by Russia. While the US and Afghan governments did not send official delegations, representatives did attend. At the conference, the Taliban laid its outs demands for 'peace' in Afghanistan. Before talks could begin, the Taliban insisted its leaders must be removed from the United Nations Sanctions list, its members freed from prisons, its political office be formally recognised, and the end of 'poisonous propaganda against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.' The last demand is telling. In its official statement at the Moscow conference, the Taliban referred to itself as the 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' a staggering 61 times. This is the name of the Talibans government prior to the US invasion in 2001 after al Qaedas attack on 11 September. The Taliban has insisted that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and not the Afghan government, is the true representative of the Afghan people. The 'un-Islamic' Afghan government is merely a stooge and puppet of the West, the Taliban says, and it refuses to negotiate or share power with it. Once the Talibans pre-conditions for talks are met, it insists that in order for there to be peace, US and NATO forces must withdraw from the country. Then, the Taliban says, there can be peace. While some may dismiss the Taliban's demands as merely its hard line initial position that can be whittled down in negotiations, it has held firm on these demands for well over a decade. When the Obama administration attempted to negotiate peace with the Taliban during and after the Afghan surge, the Taliban did not budge on its demands. The Taliban was, however, able to extract concessions, such as the opening of its political office in Qatar and the release of five dangerous leaders who were held at Guantanamo, at zero cost. After extracting concessions, the Taliban walked away, leaving US efforts to cut a deal in shambles. How did we get here? In August, 2017, President Donald Trump, in a nationally televised speech, announced his plan to adjust strategy in Afghanistan after the Taliban was making military gains. The US planned to increase support to the Afghan security forces and put more military pressure on the Taliban, in an effort to force it to the negotiating table, while also persuading Pakistan to end its support for the deadly insurgency, Trump said. Within six months of Trumps announcement of the change in strategy, the US gave up on trying to deal a military blow to the Taliban and jumped right to negotiations. The Taliban, sensing the Wests desperation to end the war, ramped up its military offensive and is bleeding Afghan forces. Taliban fighters briefly took control of parts of two provincial capitals in May and August, and have overrun numerous military bases and several districts. Casualties among Afghan security personnel are at an all time high. The failure of the demoralized Afghan security forces to defend the rural areas of Afghanistan, which are used by the Taliban to attack more populous parts of the country, has fueled the Wests desire to cut a deal with the Taliban. The west is desperate to end its involvement in the war, and the Taliban senses that. So, under these conditions, is a deal with the Taliban possible? The answer is yes, but it won't be a deal that the Afghan people, the US, NATO, and those in the region who oppose jihadists (read: not Pakistan) will like. It is certainly possible that the Taliban will make some concessions that will placate the West and the Afghan government. However, it is difficult to see how the Taliban can walk back demands that it has held firmly to for over a decade, such as the withdrawal of US forces or its refusal to enter into the Afghan government, while they also still hold increasing leverage in the battle. There has been little reason to concede ground. If such as deal is made, it will certainly be a deal that will benefit the Taliban. And even if the Taliban makes concessions, without US forces in the country, dont expect the Taliban to keep its word. Peace with the Taliban will be peace on the Talibans terms, and it certainly wont be kind to those who must live under it. The author is a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies and editor of the Long War Journal ISTANBUL - Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkish military operations in northern Syria allowed 278,139 Syrians to return to their homes in Jarablus, Azaz, Mane, al Bab and Afrin. Turkey conducted two massive military interventions in areas near its borders - the 2016 Operation Euphrates Shield, mainly against ISIS; and Operation Olive Branch at the start of this year, to expel Kurdish YPG militants from the enclave of Afrin. Turkey has de facto control over these areas, and in recent days it opened a state post office in Afrin. Bangladesh's refugee commissioner cast doubt on whether the plan to send first batch of 150 Rohingya, from a preliminary 2,260 slated for return, could go ahead as scheduled on Thursday. Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh): Doubts over plans to begin repatriating the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who fled Myanmar last year escalated on Thursday as Bangladesh's refugee commissioner said none wanted to return and that they would not be forced to go. Terrified refugees, who arrived in Bangladesh with testimony of murder, rape and arson after they escaped a military crackdown last year, went into hiding as authorities insisted they would proceed despite the United Nations (UN) warnings. But Bangladesh's refugee commissioner cast doubt on whether the plan to send the first batch of 150, from a preliminary 2,260 slated for return, could go ahead as scheduled on Thursday. "According to the UNHCR voluntariness assessment, none of the 50 families interviewed expressed their willingness to go back under the present circumstances. None feels safe to go back now," Mohammad Abul Kalam told AFP. Kalam would not say if the planned repatriations for Thursday were cancelled. But he said: "We cannot force them to go back against their will." More than 720,000 mostly Muslim Rohingya sought refuge from a Myanmar military crackdown launched from August last year that UN investigators say amounted to ethnic cleansing, joining some 300,000 already in Bangladesh. Rohingya refugees currently reside in vast camps in southeastern Bangladesh, including a massive settlement in the border district of Cox's Bazar, where the community leaders said most of those marked for repatriation had headed to the hills. "Ninety-eight percent of the families (on the list) have fled," community leader Nur Islam said Thursday. He and other community leaders said that an increase in the number of Bangladeshi soldiers at the camps in recent days had stoked anxiety. "Everyone is tense, the situation is very bad," Abdur Rahim, another leader, told AFP in Cox's Bazar. "There are a lot of army and police inside the camps. They are checking the ID cards of Rohingya." A local police chief, Abul Khaer, played down reports of additional security, saying nothing in terms of personnel had changed in recent months. The UN refugee agency has publicly cautioned against the repatriation going ahead and, in an internal briefing paper seen by AFP, laid out stringent conditions under which it would offer humanitarian assistance to anyone who ends up returning. In the confidential document dated November 2018, the UNHCR said it would only provide aid if returnees were allowed back to the villages they had left or to other locations chosen by them. Bangladesh authorities have insisted only those who volunteer will be returned but UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday that many refugees are panicking at the prospect of being sent back against their will. "With an almost complete lack of accountability indeed with ongoing violations returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar at this point effectively means throwing them back into the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades," Bachelet said. She said that the violations against the Rohingya "amount to the worst atrocities, including crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide". Amnesty International on Wednesday called on Bangladesh and Myanmar authorities to "immediately halt" their plans, saying it was a "reckless move which puts lives at risk". "These women, men and children would be sent back into the Myanmar military's grasp with no protection guarantees, to live alongside those who torched their homes and whose bullets they fled," said Amnesty's Nicholas Bequelin. Human Rights Watch echoed the concern on Thursday, asking Bangladesh to "immediately halt" the planned repatriation. "The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar," said Bill Frelick, HRW refugee rights director. US vice president Mike Pence told Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse", adding pressure to Myanmar's civilian leader. The announcement follows huge international outcry over the killing of the 59-year-old Khashoggi, last seen entering the consulate on 2 October to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Riyadh: Saudi Arabia Thursday called for the death penalty against five people accused of murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, but absolved the crown prince of any blame. "Khashoggi, the Washington Post contributor and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was drugged and his body dismembered," a spokesman for the public prosecutor said, in the first Saudi confirmation of how the journalist died. But spokesman Shaalan al-Shaalan denied Prince Mohammed had any knowledge of the killing. "The journalist's body parts were then handed over to an agent outside the consulate grounds," Shaalan said. The prosecutor has requested the death penalty for the five who "are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals". The announcement follows huge international outcry over the killing of the 59-year-old Khashoggi, last seen entering the consulate on 2 October to obtain paperwork for his marriage. The journalist went into self-imposed exile in the United States in 2017 after falling out with Prince Mohammed. Semblance of accountability Implicated in the murder are the once-powerful deputy chief of Saudi Arabia's intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, who gave the order to repatriate Khashoggi, and an unnamed "head of the negotiating team" who flew to the Istanbul consulate had ordered his murder, Shaalan said. The prosecution said it now has 21 people in custody, 11 of whom have been indicted with investigations to continue into the others. The kingdom previously said it had sacked two top aides to the crown prince who were known to be part of his tight inner circle - Assiri and royal court media adviser Saud al-Qahtani. "Qahtani has been banned from travel and is now under investigation," the prosecutor's office said, but did not reveal the fate of Assiri. "This is clearly an attempt to display to the world that a semblance of accountability is being applied in Riyadh, but the question that has been asked will continue to be asked," said HA Hellyer, senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Royal United Services Institute in London. "Who gave the actual order to these senior officials?" Tension with Turkey On Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Saudi crown prince in a phone call that Washington would hold accountable all those involved. "The secretary emphasised that the United States will hold all of those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, and that Saudi Arabia must do the same," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. Turkey has called for an international investigation into the murder, and has previously hinted that the Saudi authorities were not keen on genuinely cooperating with their investigation. The Saudi prosecutor's office said the kingdom had requested that Turkey sign a "special cooperation mechanism" on a probe into the murder, but had not yet received a response. Responding to the statement, Turkey on Thursday said the Saudi response was "insufficient" and insisted the killing was "premeditated." "We find all those steps positive, but insufficient," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a televised speech. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said the order to murder Khashoggi came from the upper echelons of the Saudi government. Ankara has also shared voice recordings linked to the murder with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States and its Western allies. The global fallout over the Khashoggi murder has tainted the image of 33-year-old Prince Mohammed - the de facto ruler and heir apparent widely known as MBS - despite persistent Saudi denials that he was involved. "The prosecutor's statement further reinforces that there is no risk whatsoever to MBS's position," said Quentin de Pimodan, a consultant at the Greece-based Research Institute for European and American Studies. "The Saudis will continue to push the narrative that these advisors 'betrayed the prince's trust'." Khashoggi's killing has plunged Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, into its worst diplomatic crisis since the 11 September, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals. After first insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, Saudi authorities said he was killed in an argument that degenerated into a brawl before finally accepting what Turkey had said virtually from the start - that he was killed in a premeditated hit. Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor is recommending the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. Dubai: Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor is recommending the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Al-Mojeb told journalists in a rare press conference in Riyadh on Thursday that Khashoggi's killers had set in motion plans for the killing on 29 September, three days before he was killed inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. The prosecutor says the highest-level official behind the killing is Saudi former deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri, who has been fired for ordering Khashoggi's forced return. The prosecutor says 21 people are now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial. Turkey has blamed the highest ranks of power in Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi's brutal death, saying the kingdom sent an assassination squad for him. Shahidul Alam's detention is mirrored by that of so many others the past months in India have shown that so clearly. I cannot now remember when I first met Shahidul Alam, but I think it was some twenty or more years ago when both of us served on the board of an organisation called Panos South Asia. My first impression of him was of a somewhat large, bearded man who spoke with an accent I could not place. It did not take long perhaps a few hours for this to change and for the warm, affectionate and caring human being to emerge. To me, Shahidul came across that time as the best kind of nationalist. He loved he still does his country Bangladesh. His stint abroad I never actually knew where he has studied or spent any time had actually left this feeling much stronger in him. He told all of us about Drik, the photo agency that showcased photographers from the global South and that fiercely protected their rights and their work, refusing to accept that simply because they belonged to the South, their value was any the less. Drik charged for their photos as did international agencies, and why not, was Shahidul's question. He told us about Pathshala, the school that trained photographers and held workshops that he was so passionate about. When I visited Dhaka once, he invited me to the premises and showed me around. He proudly organised Chhobi melas, which showcased local photographers. Every year, there was a calendar, once again with beautiful photos documenting the country Shahidul loves. Once, in Dhaka on a short stint, I wanted to meet him. He arrived, having cycled miles to get to our hotel. "Its more environmentally friendly," he told me, something that is so self-evident, but something you dont expect people to do, especially in a big city where traffic is hazardous. Another time, his love of photography and macher jhol took him into the cockpit of a plane to Dhaka from Kathmandu where the pilot, a friend of his, invited him in. Shahidul took some amazing photos, ate a delicious meal, and regaled many of his friends with stories but also proudly showed them the landscape. There was a touching pride in the way he showed those photos, almost as if the landscape was his own. And in a sense it was, for it was the land he loves. Ive worked with Shahidul on an essay he did for us for a book on sexual violence. The essay predictably a photo essay focused on photos of objects, old passports, pieces of clothing and suchlike of Kalpana Chakma, and on testimonies on her disappearance, indeed her abduction. It was the first such photo documentation. The Shahidul I know is a gentle person. Ive met him with his partner, with his mother whom he brought along for one of the Board meetings. Its not that he is not political, he is, and deeply so. His politics is very rooted in the context of his country and its something that happens through his camera and his writing. Why would the state want to lock up such a man? What threat can he possibly represent to the state? And is the state so weak that it cannot take criticism? Or so willfully blind that it cannot see that the criticism comes from a deep love, a deep commitment? Sadly, this is what is happening to our region. Its not just one country, but virtually all of the countries we live in, in South Asia. Shahiduls detention is mirrored by that of so many others the past months in India have shown that so clearly. Court procedures may somehow manage to sometimes secure bail for them as has happened with Shahidul today but the threat of being returned to the prison never disappears, and their freedom always remains under threat. Even as we take a breath of relief that Shahidul has got bail, we need to remember the many others who still remain incarcerated, their freedoms denied. I am not sure how much comfort it is, but I am reminded of a statement that prefaces the photo essay on Kalpana Chakma that Shahidul did for our book. Here is what it says: "I think it is natural to expect the caged bird to be angry at those who imprisoned her. But if she understands that she has been imprisoned and that the cage is not her rightful place, then she has every right to claim the freedom of the skies." Butalia is publisher, Zubaan and president, Pen Delhi. By Sarah N. By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge on Thursday refused to dismiss criminal charges against a Russian company accused by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller of funding a propaganda operation to sway the 2016 presidential election in Donald Trumps favor. The ruling by Judge Dabney Friedrich in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia came after lawyers for Concord Management and Consulting LLC argued the indictment brought against it failed to properly allege a crime. Concord is one of three corporate entities, along with 13 Russian individuals, indicted by Muellers office in February in an alleged conspiracy to tamper with the U.S. presidential race by adopting false online personas to push divisive messages, traveling to the United States to collect intelligence and staging political rallies. The indictment says Concord is controlled by Russian businessman Evgeny Prigozhin, who has been dubbed by Russian media as Russian President Vladimir "Putin's cook" and whom U.S. officials have said has extensive ties to Russias military and political establishment. Although Russian officials cannot be extradited to the United States to stand trial, the company hired American attorneys to fight Mueller's charges. The ruling on Thursday marked the second time the same judge had refused to dismiss charges against Concord. In their first attempt, Concord's lawyers had argued that Mueller was illegally appointed and lacked prosecutorial authority. Their latest attempt turned on more technical legal arguments related to whether prosecutors adequately met the legal burden to charge the company with conspiring to defraud the United States and whether the indictment properly alleged the firm willfully violated the law, among other things. "Concord's concerns amount to a single attack: that the government has charged Concord based on conduct that is not illegal," Friedrich wrote in her opinion. "But Concord cannot escape the fact that the course of deceptive conduct alleged is illegal." Concord is now participating in a similar case challenging Mueller's powers that was brought by Andrew Miller, an associate of Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone who has defied a subpoena to appear before a grand jury. A federal appeals court has yet to rule in that case. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Paul Simao) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is seeking the death penalty against five out of 21 people under investigation in connection with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Five senior government officials have also been dismissed. DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is seeking the death penalty against five out of 21 people under investigation in connection with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Five senior government officials have also been dismissed. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Saudi policies, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 after entering to obtain documents for his marriage. Saudi Arabia initially denied knowledge of his fate, then offered contradictory explanations including that he was killed in a rogue operation and that the killing was premeditated. Those varying accounts drew international scepticism. On Thursday, the Saudi public prosecutor said Khashoggi was killed by lethal injection, then dismembered and handed over to an unidentified "local cooperator". The whereabouts of his remains are still unknown. Turkish security sources say that when Khashoggi entered the consulate, he was seized by 15 Saudi intelligence operatives who had flown in on two jets just hours before. A senior Saudi official confirmed to Reuters they were among those under investigation, and on Thursday the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on all of them under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, along with two other officials. Most of the 15 worked in the Saudi military or security and intelligence services, including at the royal court, according to Saudi and Turkish officials and several sources with ties to the royal court. Turkey's pro-government Sabah newspaper published what it said were photographs of the men taken from surveillance footage at the airport, two hotels they briefly checked into, the consulate and the consul's residence. The following profiles of some of those detained or dismissed are based on those photographs, Saudi media reports and information from Saudi officials and sources. SAUD AL-QAHTANI Saud al-Qahtani, seen as the right-hand man to Prince Mohammed, was removed as a royal court adviser and is the highest-profile figure implicated in the incident. He joined the royal court under the late King Abdullah. He rose to prominence as a confidant in Prince Mohammed's secretive inner circle. He regularly spoke on behalf of the crown prince, known as MbS, and has given direct orders to senior officials including in the security apparatus, the sources with ties to the royal court said. Tasked with countering alleged Qatari influence on social media, Qahtani used Twitter to attack criticism of the kingdom in general and Prince Mohammed in particular. He also ran a WhatsApp group with local newspaper editors, dictating the court line. Qahtani had tried to lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia after he moved to Washington a year ago fearing reprisals for his views, according to people close to the journalist and the government. In an August 2017 Twitter thread asking his 1.35 million followers to flag accounts for a black list for monitoring, Qahtani wrote: "Do you think I make decisions without guidance? I am an employee and a faithful executor of the orders of my lord the king and my lord the faithful crown prince." The senior Saudi official said Qahtani had authorised one of his subordinates, Maher Mutreb, to conduct what he said was meant to be a negotiation for Khashoggi's return to the kingdom. Qahtani also supplied Mutreb with unspecified information based on his earlier conversations with Khashoggi, the official said. The public prosecutor said a travel ban has been imposed on Qahtani while the investigation continues, but four sources based in the Gulf told Reuters this week that he is still at liberty and continues to operate discreetly. He is 40 years old, according to the U.S. Treasury. Qahtani did not respond to questions from Reuters. Reuters was not able to reach Mutreb for comment. MAHER MUTREB General Maher Mutreb, an aide to Qahtani for information security, was the lead negotiator inside the consulate, according to the senior Saudi official. Without naming him, the public prosecutor said the lead negotiator was the person who decided to kill Khashoggi rather than repatriate him. Mutreb is a senior intelligence officer and part of Prince Mohammed's security team. He appeared in photographs with the crown prince on official visits this year to the United States and Europe. According to the Saudi official, Mutreb was selected for the Istanbul operation because he already knew Khashoggi from their time working together at the Saudi embassy in London. "He knew Jamal very well and he was the best one to convince him to return," the official said. Mutreb received Khashoggi at the Saudi consul's office around 1:25pm. He began by urging him to come home and claimed he was wanted by Interpol, the official said. The official said Khashoggi told Mutreb he was violating diplomatic norms and asked whether Mutreb planned to kidnap him. Mutreb said yes, the official said, in an apparent attempt to intimidate Khashoggi. Sabah newspaper published stills from surveillance cameras that appear to show Mutreb entering the consulate three hours before Khashoggi, and later outside the consul's residence. Britain's Foreign Office confirmed that Mutreb served as a first secretary at the Saudi embassy in London for a period including 2007. He is 47 years old, according to the U.S. Treasury. SALAH TUBAIGY Salah Tubaigy is a forensic expert at the Saudi interior ministry's criminal evidence department, according to a biography posted online by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. In the Istanbul operation, he was supposed to remove evidence such as fingerprints or proof of the use of force, according to the Saudi official. Tubaigy spent three months in 2015 at Australia's Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine to observe death investigation procedures and learn about the use of CT scanning for mass fatality incidents, director Noel Woodford told Reuters. Photographs from the institute's 2015 annual report, which resemble the suspect named by Turkish media, show Tubaigy wearing medical scrubs, a smock and rubber gloves in a laboratory setting, and separately chatting with colleagues. Tubaigy did not respond to an email sent by Reuters. The Saudi Society of Forensic Medicine lists him as a board member. He earned a master's degree in forensic medicine from the University of Glasgow in 2004, the biography shows. A university spokeswoman declined to comment. Tubaigy is 47 years old, according to the U.S. Treasury. AHMED AL-ASIRI Ahmed al-Asiri, former deputy head of General Intelligence, was among those sacked by King Salman. The public prosecutor said he was the one who ordered the operation to repatriate - but not kill - Khashoggi. Asiri joined the military in 2002, according to Saudi media reports, and was spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition which intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015. He was named deputy chief of foreign intelligence by royal decree in April 2017. U.S. Treasury sanctions announced on Thursday did not include Asiri. Reuters was unable to reach him for comment. MOUSTAFA AL-MADANI Moustafa al-Madani led the intelligence efforts for the 15-man team in Istanbul, the senior Saudi official said. According to that official, Madani donned Khashoggis clothes, eyeglasses and Apple watch and left through the back door of the consulate in an attempt to make it look like the journalist had walked out of the building. Madani is a government employee who studied at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province, according to a Facebook profile with photographs resembling the suspect identified by Turkish media. He is 56 years old, according to the U.S. Treasury. Reuters was unable to reach Madani for comment. University officials could not immediately be reached for comment. MESHAL SAAD ALBOSTANI Meshal Saad Albostani is lieutenant in the Saudi Air Force from the Red Sea port of Jeddah, according to a Facebook profile with multiple photographs resembling the suspect identified by Turkish media. The senior Saudi official said he was responsible for the Istanbul team's logistics. Albostani studied at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, according to Facebook. University officials contacted by Reuters said they could not confirm a graduate of that name. A LinkedIn profile matching his name and photo says he has served in the air force since 2006. He is 31 years old, according to the U.S. Treasury. He could not immediately be reached for comment. MOHAMMAD AL-OTAIBI Mohammad al-Otaibi is the Istanbul Consul General. He gave Reuters a tour of the consulate four days after the murder, opening cupboards, filing cabinets and wooden panels covering air conditioning units in an effort to show that Khashoggi was not on the premises. Otaibi left Istanbul ten days later and has not been heard from since. He was sanctioned on Thursday by the U.S. Treasury, which said he is 51 years old. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM Abdulaziz Mohammed al-Hawsawi is a member of the security team that travels with the Saudi crown prince, according to a New York Times report that cited a French professional who has worked with the royal family. He is 31, according to the U.S. Treasury. Reuters could not reach him for comment. General Rashad bin Hamed al-Hamadi was removed as director of the general directorate of security and protection in the General Intelligence Presidency. General Abdullah bin Khaleef al-Shaya was removed as assistant head of General Intelligence for human resources. General Mohammed Saleh al-Ramih was removed as assistant head of General Intelligence for intelligence affairs. None of the three generals were affected by U.S. Treasury sanctions announced on Thursday. They could not be reached for comment. The Treasury also named 10 other Saudis. (Editing by Giles Elgood) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Intel India has inaugurated its latest design house, SRR4, at its Bengaluru campus. It also announced key initiatives to promote innovation in the technology ecosystem. The company has invested over Rs. 1100 crore. It is located in a 44-acre campus on Sarjapur Ring Road (SRR) in Bengaluru. This campus will extend Intels R&D presence in India, it will house technologists who work on cutting-edge engineering across hardware and software. The new building is equipped with IoT-based smart features, including smart lights and real-time occupancy management, as well as innovative energy harvesting tiles installed at the entrance of the building that generates and store energy. Additionally, it uses renewable energy sources like solar and fuel cells for power generation, which is expected to meet 40% of the buildings power demand and reduce CO 2 emissions by 37%. In an effort to accelerate innovation and research, Intel India in collaboration with the Government of India is instituting national-level awards named in honor of former President of India and eminent scientist, the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. These annual awards have been introduced with the intent to recognize and celebrate the pioneering work and contributions made by distinguished scientists and innovators across three categories; Intel Product Innovation Award, Intel Technology Advancement Award, and Intel Research Award. Bob Swan, CFO and interim CEO, Intel Corporation, said: This year Intel celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking a half-century of innovation that has profoundly changed the world. This milestone is an opportunity to embrace a new Intel, a different, fast-paced, global company thats adapting, growing and building the future. Intel India has grown tremendously over the past 20 years to become a strategic site and a key growth engine for Intel as it transforms to a data-centric company. The inauguration of the new research and development (R&D) facility reinforces our commitment to India. We have robust collaborations with the vibrant and mature technology ecosystem in India and look forward to the next 20 years of innovation. Nivruti Rai, Country Head of Intel India and VP of Data Center Group, Intel Corporation said: NAPLES - The 21st edition of the Mediterranean Bourse of Archaeological Tourism in Paestum has kicked off with four days of events running through Sunday, November 18. The Bourse will this year also be a place for looking more in depth at issues related to cultural tourism and heritage and as a chance for those working in cultural and tourism fields, travellers and aficionados to meet. Some 12,000 visitors and 100 exhibitors from 20 different countries are expected. Opening the first day will be a talk on archaeological tourism with some protagonists of the sector including Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Paestum Archaeological Park and Mounir Bouchenaki, special advisor to the UNESCO director general. The rest of the day will be filled with events on tourist itineraries such as the one proposed by the Lazio region on ''Archaeology of Southern Etruria on Waterways'' and the presentation of the ''Archaeological Guide of Ancient Calabria'', curated by the Calabria regional government. In the exhibition space there will be stands by various associations, regional governments and the cultural ministry, with a stand of over 300 square meters in which a large number of events are planned, and the participation for the first time of Roma Capitale. Among the 100 exhibitors there will be numerous foreign countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Croatia, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Jordan, Greece, Israel, Mongolia, Montenegro, Peru, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tunisia, Turkey and Uzbekistan. This week, Bunge Loders Croklaan revealed it is on track to further bolster its European footprint with a new facility. Also, Rijk Zwaan began construction on a high... Read More Tunisian olive oil exports to hit 170,000 tons in 2018/19 (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, NOVEMBER 15 - Tunisian olive oil exports for the 2018-2019 season are expected to reach a volume of about 170,000 tons, with revenue estimated between 1.6 and 1.8 billion dinars, the equivalent of 580 million euros, said Chokri Bayoudh, director of the National Olive Oil Board of Tunisia (ONH). He told Tunisian news agency TAP that the volume is based on expected production for the next season, which is estimated at around 140,000 tons. That will be added to between 50,000 to 60,000 tons of stock from the past season, which was characterised by a serious drought that cut production by more than half. Bayoudh said this season's positive result is due in part to the strengthening of crop irrigation with the implementation of new field irrigation systems. Tunisia produced 325,000 tons of olive oil in the last season, with exports of 215,000 tons and revenue of 2.146 billion dinars. Bayoudh said this exceeded expections, which were set at 200,000 tons and two billion dinars. He said duty-free Tunisian olive oil exports to the EU totaled 56,700 tons, a total that has remained stable for several years. The country has presented a request to the EU to increase Tunisia's duty-free allowance for last season, in particular given the significant production level, he said. The European market is Tunisia's largest for olive oil exports, and on its own constitutes 60% of international olive oil production.(ANSAmed). Ceasefire resumes following clashes in Tripoli Seventh Brigade and pro-Sarraj group agree to ceasefire (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, NOVEMBER 15 - Clashes that erupted for a few hours on Wednesday in Tripoli after nearly a month of ceasefire were quelled by a resumed ceasefire agreement between militant groups. The website of Libyan broadcaster al-Ahrar reported the acceptance of a "ceasefire" by the "belligerents", citing an official source. On Wednesday, clashes broke out between the Seventh Brigade - the rebel militia leading fighting that in September caused nearly 120 deaths and over 400 wounded - and the Abu Salim Central Security Forces brigade, a group that supports Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al Sarraj and is led by Abdul-Ghani Al-Kikli, who goes by the name Ghnewa. The ceasefire was announced by Ramadan Zarmouh, the president of the committee following the application of security measures agreed upon in Tripoli following the September clashes. In a televised declaration, the official said Abu Salim wants to go to Tarhuna, the city east of Tripoli where the Seventh Brigade's headquarters are located, for a meeting with its leaders in order to strengthen the ceasefire and "bring the situation back to normal", the website said. Clashes between the Seventh Brigade and Abu Salim broke out Wednesday following skirmishes throughout the day in southern Tripoli, near the Qasr bin Ghashir bridge, the website said. The location is about 25 kilometres from the city centre, near International Airport, which has been closed since 2014 due to fighting and has been replaced by the more centrally located international airport known as Mitiga, eight kilometres east of Martyrs' Square. The closed airport was declared a "military zone" by the Twenty-Second Brigade, allied with the Seventh, the al-Ahrar website said, confirming information that was circulated on Wednesday evening with new details. Official sources close to former Prime Minister Khalifa Ghweil said the new attack by the Seventh Brigade was due to disappointment following the Libya conference in Palermo over the fact that pro-Sarraj militias in Tripoli would not be expelled. The Seventh Brigade and its allies had attempted to do so with clashes from August 24 to September 4 and again after a violated ceasefire from September 17 to September 25.(ANSAmed). IHG Opens First voco Globally on Australias Gold Coast Worlds first voco opens on Australias famed Surfers Paradise on Gold Coast November 15, 2018 // Franchising.com // IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has opened the first hotel globally for its new upscale hotel brand: voco, just five months after it was launched. Owned by Australian property investment firm SB&G Group and located on the shores of the Gold Coast, voco Gold Coast is now open for guests to soak up the sun, sand and sea in Australias beloved Surfers Paradise. voco, inspired by the meaning to invite or to come together in Latin, will combine the informality and charm of an individual hotel, with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. The public spaces of voco Gold Coast emphasise this social element, fittingly named Social House Cafe, which collectively houses a bar and lounge within the venue, offering a space for everyone. With 389 rooms, the property is situated in the heart of Australias iconic Surfers Paradise precinct and steps away from Queenslands famous beaches. The hotel offers all the features that guests can expect from the upscale voco brand including two swimming pools, gym facilities, L'Aqua Day Spa, 800sqm of meeting space and expansive views of both the ocean and hinterland. Multiple dining options are also available in the hotels three unique restaurants Waves, Cliffords Grill & Lounge and Social House all designed to offer vibrant social experiences for voco guests to enjoy. voco Gold Coast also offers several exclusive features that sets it apart from existing hotels, starting with their onsite beehives, producing honey for various uses throughout the hotel. The strong sustainability focus also promises refillable dispensers for products such as soap, along with a high-end Aveda amenity and an initiative with Gold Coast City Council to ensure all kitchen waste is recycled. The voco Gold Coast signing was announced by IHG and owners SB&G Group in June 2018, coinciding with the global launch of the vocobrand. With six signings to date, in addition to the four properties that will rebrand as part of the UK portfolio deal, there are expected to be more than fifteen signings in total for the brand by the end of 2018. These include three signings in Australia, in Victorias wine region, Yarra Valley and in the heart of Melbournes bustling CBD as well as a number of properties in the UK. The opening of voco Gold Coast will be quickly followed by hotel openings in Solihull and Cardiff in the UK. Paul Salter, SB&G Group Managing Director, said: We are proud to be the first owner of a voco branded hotel in the world and to have worked closely with IHG to bring this new brand and service culture to the Gold Coast, making the high-quality refurbishment a reality in only five months.Brenden van Blerk, voco Gold Coast General Manager, said: As one of Australias all-time favourite holiday destinations, we are very excited to be introducing the voco brand across the much-loved Gold Coast. Quintessentially Australian, the Gold Coast offers travellers the ultimate getaway with warm weather, amazing beaches and several great ways to have fun. This perfectly aligns with the new voco hotel a fun, spirited, upscale offering.Kenneth Macpherson, CEO EMEAA, IHG, said: IHG launched the voco brand in June in Australia, we are so pleased to see the brands momentum continue here with the first opening in the iconic Gold Coast with long standing partner, SB&G Group. voco delivers a guest experience that stands out, with touches of charm and memorable, distinctive and dependable hallmarks. To tap into the excitement of the Gold Coast and embrace the playfulness of the voco brand, the new hotel offers a calendar of social events held within their street facing public spaces from a daily high tea experience to weekly trivia nights, among many others. This distinctive brand will offer owners the ability to drive higher returns through delivering a compelling guest experience and leveraging IHGs powerful systems. This includes best-in-class revenue management and technology capabilities as well as IHG Rewards Club, one of the worlds largest hotel loyalty programmes. About IHG IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Holiday Inn Resort, avid hotels, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,500 hotels and approximately 826,000 guest rooms in almost 100 countries, with more than 1,800 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Groups holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 375,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihgplc.com/media and follow us on social media at: www.twitter.com/ihg and www.facebook.com/ihg. Contact: Anne-Lise Berthon annelise.berthon@ihg.com +65 6395 6147 SOURCE IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus TEL AVIV - Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman submitted his formal letter of resignation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Lieberman announced his resignation, and the removal of his Yisrael Beiteinu party from the governing coalition, on Wednesday during a press conference on the Hamas ceasefire in Gaza. Lieberman's resignation will go into effect 48 hours after the official letter was received. He will have a final meeting on Thursday with army and defence officials. Netanyahu still has not responded to an ultimatum by the religious nationalist Jewish Home party. Following Lieberman's resignation announcement, Jewish Home said it too would leave the coalition if Netanyahu doesn't give the post of defence minister to its leader and the country's current economy minister, Naftali Bennett. With the coalition exit of Lieberman's party, which has six seats in the Knesset, Netanyahu can count on only one extra vote for a quorum, 61 out of 120. If Jewish Home leaves the coalition, it could open the way for early elections. Exceptional Weapons in Fallout 76 are the modification (or you can say upgraded version) of a pre-existing weapon, but they come with added bonuses that make them special and separates them from the pre-existing weapon. The best part is that all the exceptional weapons are available as a Quest Rewards for a specific quest. How To Unlock Unique or Exceptional Weapons In Fallout 76 There are 20 Exceptional Weapons in Fallout 76 and in this guide, we are going to show you how to get them, and what bonus they bring to the table for the players. Where To Find Unique or Exceptional Weapons In Fallout 4 1: All Rise Weapon Type: Two-Handed Melee How To Get: You have to complete Side Quest: Mayor for a Day. 2: Ancient Blade Weapon Type: One-Handed Melee How To Get: Obtained as part of Event: Breach and Clear 3: Anti-Scorched Training Pistol Weapon Type: 10 mm Automatic Pistols Bonus: +25% to Scorched, -20% to everything else How To Get: Given before entering the Belching Betty mine during Main Quest: Into the Fire. 4: Black Diamond Weapon Type: One-Handed Melee How To Get: You get it as a reward for completing the Main Quest called: Flavors of Mayhem. 5: Blade of Bastet Weapon Type: One-Handed Melee Bonus: Increased armor penetration How To Get: You get it as a reward for completing Mistress of Mystery Quest: Forging a Legend. Armor Penetration increased when wearing the Eye of Ra. Location: You will get it in the basement of Riverside Manor. It is created by using the Order of Mysteries fabricator. 6: Bunker Buster Weapon Type: Heavy Gun, Explosive How To Get: Obtained as a reward for completing Main Quest: One of Us. Location: You will get it when you become a member of the Enclave. 7: Camden Whacker Weapon Type: One-Handed Melee How To Get: Purchased with Fuzzy Tokens at the Camden Park prize shop in the Ash Heap 8: Daisy Cutter Weapon Type: Explosive Heavy Gun How To Get: Rewarded for completing Side Quest: An Organic Panic. 9: The Dragon Weapon Type: Exotic Weapon, Non-Automatic Rifle Bonus: Chance to cripple. Extra limb damage. 10: Dross Weapon Type: Thrown Weapon Bonus: None How To Get: Only usable during Daily Quest: Mistaken Identity as part of the Dross Toss minigame. 11: Grants Saber Weapon Type: One-Handed Melee How To Get: Obtained as part of Mistress of Mystery: Forging a Legend. Location: You will find this at The Whitespring Resort in the Presidential Cottage and Museum. It will be in a locked display case which you can open with the adjacent terminal only. 12: Meteoric Sword Weapon Type: One-Handed Melee Bonus: +10% damage vs. Humans, 90% reduced weight, 50% more durability. 13: Nailer Weapon Type: One-Handed Melee Bonus: Does more damage the lower your health is. How To Get: You get it as a reward for completing Event: One Violent Night. 14: Paddle Ball Weapon Type: Exotic Weapon Bonus: None How To Get: You get it by trading in Mr. Fuzzy Tokens in Camden Park. 15: Pumpkin Grenades Weapon Type: Grenade Bonus: Target takes additional damage and radiation for 5s. How To Get: You get it by completing Daily Quest: Trick or Treat. 16: Pyrolyzer Weapon Type: Heavy Gun, Energy Gun Bonus: Reduce your targets damage output by 20% for 3s. How To Get: You get it by completing Side Quest: Tracking Unknowns. 17: Roses Syringer Weapon Type: Pipe Gun, Exotic Weapon How To Get: You get it as part of Main Quest: Flavors of Mayhem. Location: You will receive it from Rose, the enigmatic leader of the raiders in Appalachia. 18: Somerset Special Weapon Type: Non-Automatic Pistols How To Get: You get it as a reward for completing Event: Back on the Beat. 19: Voice of Set Weapon Type: Non-Automatic Pistol Bonus: Additional Electric Damage vs Robots How To Get: You get it as a reward for completing Mistress of Mystery Quest: Prototypical Problems. Does additional damage and has a chance to stun robots when wearing the Eye of Ra. 20: Vox Syringer Weapon Type: Pipe Gun, Exotic Weapon Bonus: Can make the target speak How To Get: You can found it as the start of the Daily Quest: Someone To Talk To. Important TIP Several Mistress of Mystery items (the Voice of Set, Blade of Bastet, and Garb of Mysteries) can be upgraded to higher-level, higher-damage versions at weapon or armor workbenches as your level increases. For a very short while, Tomohiro Tokoro, a 3D character modeler at Luminous Productions, has shared on LinkedIn that the studio is currently working on a PlayStation 5 game. The CV has since been edited, but fans at ResetEra have been quick enough to grab a picture of the page before that. So, this is apparently the reason why Square Enix, owner of the studio, has decided to cancel the majority of the Final Fantasy XV incoming DLC. The team, which has been founded by Hajime Tabata (whos recently left the company), is in charge of building a new AAA title. From the looks of it, itll take so long before we get to see it that its even a next-generation production for PS5 (and we believe Xbox Scarlett, too). On top of that, Tokoro also mentioned that theres a smaller mobile title in the making at the developer, tailored for the Chinese market. Well update on that as soon as more detail pop up on the Internet. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Tourist boom in Gudauri majority of hotels are booked by foreigners - GeorgianJournal Netflix is now available for Rs 250 for smartphone-only streaming: Report News oi-Vivek Netflix is now available for RM17 in Malaysia Did you know that the Netflix usage constitutes for the 15% of the internet usage across the globe? Netflix is one of the most used premium video streaming service around the world, thanks to the nail baiting exclusive content. However, coming to the pricing, the Netflix subscription is always on the higher side at least in India, where the pricing of the base plan starts at Rs 500 and the price for the Ultra plan with up to 4 simultaneous device playback costs up to Rs 950 per month, which is more than the average price of a broadband plan in India. As smartphones getting better and cheaper at the same time, with high-speed and affordable 4G mobile data, Netflix is planning to gain an advantage from the same by offering affordable subscription packages, especially for smartphones. Netflix for $4 or Rs 250/month According to a report from TechCrunch, Netflix has introduced a new plan in Malaysia, where users can get one month of subscription for RM17 (Rs 292), which is 50% less than the previous base price of RM33 (Rs 567). Considering the fact that the base price of the Netflix subscription in India starts at Rs 500, and the company might soon include a new subscription pack in India for just Rs 250. Unlike the RM 33 (Rs 500), the RM17 will be a mobile-only plan, where users can only use it on a single screen (in this case, on a single smartphone screen). In addition to that, the maximum resolution that a user can stream via this plan is also capped at 540p. The report also suggests that the RM17 subscription plan will display ads in-between the content (after an episode) related to upcoming and trending Netflix originals, which is not the case with the other subscription plans. In India, Netflix is facing a major competition from Amazon Prime Videos and Hotstar, which offers similar content at a much lower subscription charge. So, with the RM17 plan, users will not be able to stream content in HD, FHD, or QHD. As of now, the Rs 250 plan is not listed on Netflix, and the company might launch the new subscription package in India in the next few days. These subscription packages will be available in East-Asian and Asian countries, which is recording an impressive number of Netflix Mobile sign-ups with affordable 4G data plans. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Realme launches upgraded Brand Visual Identity system and Logo News oi-Priyanka Dua The company will be rolling out its upgraded brand image across all channels starting from today. Chinese smartphone brand Realme has launched its upgraded Brand Visual Identity system and Logo to provide a new visual experience and emotional connection with young consumers. The company will be rolling out its upgraded brand image across all channels starting from today. Meanwhile Realme new "R" logo and smartphones will launch across Southeast Asian markets including Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, countries in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. "As a global, youth-facing smartphone brand, Realme is continuing to introduce new products that feature a stylish design and a powerful performance. At the same time, Realme hopes to create a symbol for young people through the new brand logo - one they can identify with, and where they see a visual symbol of their emotional identity and belonging," said Sky Li, CEO, and founder, Realme. According to the company, the new "R" logo will be a symbol of the brand's powerful recognition of young people's need for individualization and self-expression and it will differentiate Realme's experience in offering smartphones and will become an icon for young people around the world. Madhav Sheth, Chief Executive Officer, Realme India, said, "As a young brand, Realme has witnessed a remarkable journey till now. We have always tried to connect with the youth of the nation by providing them the best of everything with 'Power meets Style' moto. We believe that the new logo will be a major tool in connecting with the youth going forward with its classic combination of vibrant colors and unique style." Established in May 2018, Realme aims to provide young people around the world with smartphone products that combine powerful performance and stylish design. The brand gives young people experiences that integrate "technology" and "style" to recognize and satisfy their deep desires for personalization and self-expression. By November 2018, the half-year-old brand will expand its business to 7 countries in Asia. With 4 smartphone products launched globally, Best Mobiles in India Jio GigaFiber: How to register for Reliance FTTH broadband connection News oi-Karan Sharma Here's how you can register for Jio GigaFiber FTTH broadband connection online. Jio announced its GigaFiber broadband service a couple of months back and the company has also made the website accessible for registration. Let us tell you that the registration process depends upon the coverage area. So here are the eligible cover cities from which you can register for the GigaFiber connection. Bangalore Chennai Pune Lucknow Kanpur Raipur Nagpur Indore Thane Bhopal Ghaziabad Ludhiana Coimbatore Agra Madhurai Nashik Faridabad Meerut Rajkot Srinagar Amritsar Patna Allahabad Ranchi Jodhpur Kota Guwahati Chandigarh Solapur If you are in the above-mentioned cities then you are eligible for applying for the registration process of Jio GigaFiber broadband connection. If you are interested in the connection then you can register for it online and here are the simple steps from which you can apply for the service. The very first thing you need to do is to head to Jio's official website www.jio.com. There you can see a banner JioGigaFiber, you need to click on "Invite JioGigaFiber Now" under the banner which will open a registration window. In this window, you have to enter the location where you want the broadband connection. There is a map also which will help you in placing the correct address. Once you are done with the address you need to click the "Confirm" button. After clicking the confirm button, you will be directed to another window where you have to fill your details like Full Name, Mobile Number, and Email ID. After filling the form you need to click on Generate OTP. After that, you will set an OTP on the number which you have entered in the form. You have to enter the OTP and click on "Verify OTP" this will lead you to a window which reads "Thank you for showing your interest in JioGigaFiber. We will come back to you on SMS & Email." Now you have to enter your address once again and Type of Address. So you can choose from Home address, Work address, Parent's address, Relative's address and other. Once you are done filling the form you have to click proceed, and you are all set to go. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications From the top of the ticket down, Valley County voted predominantly Republican and largely voted down initiatives that would have added regulation to businesses or increased taxation on consumers. Voter turnout was also at a recent high for a mid-t... Key stakeholders in Valley County receiving the first ever Cardiac Ready Community designation are, pictured back row, left to right, Whitney Tatafu, Clay Berger and Annie Capdeville, front row, left to right, Karen Breigenzer, Lynn Miller, Janet Trethewey, Connie Wethern and Mary Kate Tihista. After two and a half years, commitment and assistance from key stakeholders throughout the county, including EMS services, hospitals, community leaders and the public, funding from STAT Air, FMDH Foundation and Farm Credit Services, and an applica... French President Emmanuel Macron said that France and the United States must respect each other, in a response to a flurry of critical tweets by US President Donald Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech while President Donald Trump looks on before a lunch at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, as part of the commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the 11 November 1918 armistice, ending World War I, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. [Photo: AP] Speaking from the Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier off the coast of southern France, Macron said "the French don't expect from me to answer tweets", in an interview Wednesday to French television TF1. Trump lit into Macron Tuesday over his suggestion for a European defence force, over French tariffs on US wine and even Macron's approval ratings. Macron said he thinks that Trump "is doing American politics and I let him do American politics." Trump's tweets underscored tensions between the once-chummy leaders and displayed the US president's irritation over criticism of how he acted in France. The French and the US leaders met on Saturday in Paris before ceremonies commemorating a century since the armistice of World War I. Phil Wilson presents arms to the National Standard at the Veterans Day Celebration on Sunday, Nov. 11, marking the 100th year anniversary since the Armistice was signed ending WWI. Veterans, community members and at least one, recently elected, future Valley County commissioner came out Sunday, Nov. 11, to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the WWI Armistice and Veterans Day. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3107, the A... Deployed security forces Airmen ensure safety of DoD assets at Bagram By Senior Airman Rito Smith, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published November 14, 2018 BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- In a deployed environment, security forces Airmen perform a unique mission that differs from their traditional roles at home station. From patrolling the flightline in armored tactical vehicles to providing security for all personnel and Department of Defense assets going to austere locations in Afghanistan, the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron maintains a vigilant presence at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Security forces Airmen are experts in base defense and provide support to the airfield and mission partners through offensive and defensive postures, quick response force capabilities, and fly away security teams that support C-130 Hercules missions to dangerous locations. "Our job is to provide mission support and enable safe and secure airfield operations," said Maj. Joshua Webb, 455th ESFS commander. "We do that by providing different security postures at different points to detect and deter enemies." These Airmen patrol the flightline in Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, commonly known as MRAPs, with a standard heavy weapons kit that allows sustainability in a firefight by protecting them while they defend the airfield. They are specially trained to have a unique skillset and fundamental understanding of what it means to defend an airfield and the requirements to securely launch airfield operations. Webb said 455th ESFS Airmen understand airfield operations and are better equipped to detect and defend against different types of threats in multiple domains. "They are the first and last line of detection for the premiere counterterrorism wing," he added. As well as being fully capable of responding to any threat on the flightline, these Airmen are trained fly away security teams, or FAST, members who provide security for personnel and equipment transiting through the region to austere locations. "Being part of the fly away security team means these guys get more training in close quarters combat and are able to provide a flight deck denial capability," Webb said. "We aren't dealing with the same mission as at a home station where they do various bits of law enforcement." Master Sgt. Paul Vibar, 455th ESFS FAST noncommissioned officer in charge, said he enjoys the excitement of being on FAST missions and his team's role in securing DoD assets. "It's about protecting people and aircraft, which is especially important in this environment," said Vibar, who deployed from the 255th Security Forces Squadron at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. "You never know what we're going to find at some of these locations, so we always need to be prepared." Despite long hours patrolling and shift work, Webb said morale remains high because his team knows they are contributing to a worthy cause. "Here it is nothing but mission, nothing but defense, and they find a lot of value in that," Webb said. Security forces Airmen enable safe airfield operations and the safety of personnel at Bagram, but also back home. "The mission we do here enables the men and women back home to be safe and secure," Webb said. "We take the fight to the enemy and our role in that is to keep the aircraft and base personnel safe so they can perform their mission." Webb said he is proud of the work his Airmen do each day and knows they believe in the mission. "The expertise and mindset these Airmen display on a day to day basis is unique, and that's what allows us to adapt and overcome any issues we may encounter and mount a proper defense in the face of adversity," he added. "I believe in my team and this mission with my whole heart." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address F-35 maintainers at Hill AFB shaping future with BOLT By 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published November 14, 2018 BOLT Program at Hill AFB HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFNS) -- After several months, an innovative program in the 388th Fighter Wing is proving it has the potential to deliver combat power more efficiently and may shape how the Air Force determines future requirements to sustain F-35A Lightning II operations. "Our Airmen are learning to really unlock the combat potential designed into the F-35 and this program is going to 'bring the future faster' by providing greater operational capability and supporting agile basing initiatives," said Col. Michael Miles, 388th Maintenance Group commander. Blended Operational Lightning Technician program combines six maintenance-specific Air Force Specialty Codes, essentially job descriptions, into two "tracks." Currently there are more than 30 Airmen in the BOLT program. "Blended" maintainers in the Air Vehicle track are crew chiefs, fuels and low observable technicians. Airmen in the Mission Systems track focus on avionics, weapons, and egress. "The jet was designed with ease of maintenance in mind," said 2nd Lt. Daniel Parkhill, BOLT program officer in charge. "If a program like this is going to work on any aircraft, it would be the F-35. We can do almost all our maintenance 'in the shadow' of the aircraft." Officials project that nearly 30 percent of F-35 sustainment cost in future years will come from unit-level manning. By combining the jobs and cross-training maintainers in more capabilities, there is not only savings in manpower, but also time. The BOLT program could be described as an Air Force version of a start-up company. They're small, they're independent and they're looking to compete with the "big guys." Since January, the program has seen several successes. They are providing aircraft at similar rates to a normal F-35A aircraft maintenance unit of the same size, but they are doing it with fewer man-hours. "One of the metrics we use is measuring maintenance man-hours taken to produce one flying hour. On average, we're using five fewer man-hours to produce one flying hour than a traditional AMU," Parkhill said. The goal of the program is not to pile more work on the shoulders of a handful of Airmen, Parkhill said, but to maximize the ability of those Airmen so there is less down time, and more productivity. "Basically we're making each hour in the day more productive," Parkhill said. "If we have everything we need to fix a jet, BOLT Airmen are trained to do that and they don't have to wait for another shop or specialty to come out." Reducing the size of the maintenance force also allows commanders more combat flexibility for quickly deploying a small number of aircraft to a remote airfield with fewer airmen. "Normally, each aircraft will have several maintainers assigned to it when we deploy. We've gotten to the point where we're going to start doing "small footprint" exercises with as few as one BOLT Airmen per aircraft," Parkhill said. The BOLT program has been functioning independently alongside the other aircraft maintenance units, but soon they will fully integrate with the 421st AMU and work alongside them to further test and prove the concept. "It's exciting for all of us to have the opportunity to be a part of this program that has the potential to really shape the future," Parkhill said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Transcript Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis; Poland Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak November 14 2018 Remarks by Secretary Mattis in an enhanced honor cordon and meeting welcoming Poland Minister of National Defense Blaszczak to the Pentagon SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES N. MATTIS: Minister Blaszczak, Ambassador Wilczek, Excellency, good to see you. Members of the delegation, welcome back to the Pentagon for many of you. Mr. Minister, it's a pleasure to meet again after seeing you in October at the Defense Ministerial there in Brussels. On Sunday, Poland celebrated a historic milestone we understand here, the commemoration of 100 years since its sovereignty was restored after World War I. This anniversary reminds us of the resilience of the Polish people. It also reminds us of our nation's shared -- a storied history that stretched back well before President Wilson supported Poland's fight for freedom in 1918. Just last month the United States celebrated General Pulaski Memorial Day, making clear our never forgotten gratitude for the role that he, General Koscuiszko and other brave Poles played in America's own bid for independence centuries ago. And on that same Memorial Day, 81 years ago, President Roosevelt once again made clear, and I quote President Roosevelt here, "The debt which this country owes to the men of Polish blood and their efforts to hold aloft the torch of human liberty." As he transferred the remains of a Civil War hero and a Polish officer in our Union Army, General Koscuiszko, to his rightful resting place in Arlington National Cemetery. From Valley Forge to Bull Run to Ghazni, Afghanistan in this century, U.S. and Polish troops have forged a special bond, one understood best by those willing to serve, live and die for freedom, as General Pulaski once remarked. Today we value the close U.S. - Polish defense relationship, and we recognize the key role that Poland plays as a reliable and stalwart ally in NATO. Thank you for your nation's hosting of the rotational U.S. troops; your warm hospitality provides a center of gravity for U.S. forces in Central Europe. The United States also appreciates Poland's steady commitment to international security, demonstrated by your nation's contributions to the defeat ISIS campaign, NATO missions in Afghanistan, and the enhanced forward -- forward defense forces in Latvia; but other missions also across Europe and Africa. Your nation makes clear its commitment to collective defense with plans to surpass NATO's Wales pledge of 2.5 percent of defense spending by 2030. Poland leads by example, solidifying its place as a role model for other allies. The United States applauds Poland's purchasing of the Patriot Air Missile Defense System to bolster your military's capabilities. By working together we ensure that our military and our alliance remains fit for our times. Minister Blaszczak, as President Trump said during President Duda's visit to Washington in September, Poland has chosen its place among the free and independent nations of the world. So in our discussions today you and I reiterate the world is better for it. I look forward to discussing ways to expand our already strong defense relationship. You and your delegation are most welcome here. Mr. Minister, if you'd like to say a few words in front of the press. POLAND MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE MARIUSZ BLASZCZAK: Of course, thank you very much, Secretary and Ambassador, ladies and gentleman. I am honored to be here today and I sincerely appreciate your warm hospitality. I remember well our meeting here in Washington in April of this year in the same premises. I'm strongly convinced that our discussion today will be, again, very fruitful. The U.S. and Poland are bound by a long-lasting strategic partnership. Our close defense cooperation is multidimensional. It is mirrored in shoulder-to-shoulder service of our soldiers in missions and operations throughout the world, as well as growing collaboration between our defense industries. We strongly appreciate the U.S. forces' presence in Poland, strengthening deterrence and defense of Poland and whole NATO alliance. I hope it will transform in the coming years into even more robust and long-term commitment. Today, we are meeting in a very special time for Poles, as we have just celebrated, on November 11, the centenary of Poland regaining its independence. We had -- we have achieved this with the support of our allies. I have to mention here President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points speech delivered in 1918, in which you adhered to the necessity of reestablishing the Polish state with political and economic independence and territorial integrity. His statement is still considered as a landmark on the way to regaining our independence. Poles received the unprecedented United States support also in our struggle for freedom, democracy, and total independence from Soviet Union during the Communist era. U.S. President Ronald Reagan's adamant policy towards Soviet Union and strong support for democratic movement in Poland has been crucial to our today's freedoms and democracy. Once again, thank you for hosting me today. I am looking forward to our discussion. SEC. MATTIS: It'll be a good discussion, Mr. Minister. You're welcome here. It's good to have your ambassador with us today. I don't do anything without our State Department at my side -- (Laughter.) -- and so we're going to have a good discussion, and if the press will excuse us, we'll get down to work. Thank you. Q: Mr. Secretary, if I could ask about the French President and the German Chancellor have both talked about the need for an E.U. military. Is that something you support? SEC. MATTIS: We in the NATO Alliance, we see NATO as the cornerstone for the protection of Europe in the security realm, and we fully support nations doing more to carry the load. I would just point to Poland as a role model, as an example of what democracies do as we share the burden for protecting democracy in the world. So we will continue to see the alliance strengthening, and Poland will be in the front rank of that we're quite confident and we'll be right beside them. Thank you. (CROSSTALK) Q: ...presence in Poland? SEC. MATTIS: We -- we certainly have a U.S. military presence in Poland. Our troops that go there reenlist in the U.S. military at a high rate, so they must enjoy it. But also we see the United States troops, Canadian troops, German troops, United Kingdom troops, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and reinforce those framework nations by the troops of numerous NATO nations standing united as a deterrent from the Baltic States all the way down into Poland. Q: Mr. Secretary... SEC. MATTIS: So we'll continue to mature that -- that stance as we move forward and make sure that the NATO alliance stays fit for its time. Thanks very much, ladies and gentlemen. We need to go to work now. Q: Mr. Secretary, could I ask you one more question? Do you agree with the first lady that Mira Ricardel should leave the NSC? SEC. MATTIS: I -- I don't comment on other people's staffing issues, thank you. https://dod.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1690204/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three South Korean Companies Agree to Plead Guilty and to Enter Into Civil Settlements for Rigging Bids on United States Department of Defense Fuel Supply Contracts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Three Companies Agree to Plead Guilty and Pay a Total of $236 Million in Criminal Fines and Civil Damages South Korea-based companies SK Energy Co. Ltd., GS Caltex Corporation, and Hanjin Transportation Co. Ltd. have agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay a total of approximately $82 million in criminal fines for their involvement in a decade-long bid-rigging conspiracy that targeted contracts to supply fuel to United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force bases in South Korea, the Department of Justice announced today. "These charges are the first to be announced in this investigation into bid rigging and price fixing of fuel supply services to the Department of Defense in this critical region," said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. "Section 4A of the Clayton Act is a powerful yet historically underused enforcement tool that empowers the United States to obtain treble damages for anticompetitive conduct when the government is itself the victim. The Antitrust Division has a long history of vigilantly protecting the interests of American consumers through civil and criminal antitrust enforcement. Going forward, it is my goal to apply that same vigilance to protect the interests of American taxpayers. When a firm cheats the United States by rigging bids, the Division will insist on robust civil settlements like those announced today." "Those who subvert the open-bidding process to supply services to the United States by conspiring to fix prices will be found out and prosecuted," said U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Ohio Benjamin C. Glassman. "Such a conspiracy is no less illegal for being hatched in South Korea, and as this case shows, federal law enforcement authorities can bridge the distance." In separate civil resolutions, SK Energy, GS Caltex, and Hanjin have agreed to pay a total of approximately $154 million to the United States for civil antitrust and False Claims Act violations related to the bid-rigging conspiracy. These settlements reflect the important role of both Section 4A of the Clayton Act and the False Claims Act to ensure that the United States is fully compensated when it is the victim of anticompetitive conduct. "We depend on companies like SK Energy, GS Caltex, and Hanjin to provide valuable services to our military," said Assistant Attorney General Joseph H. Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. "We will continue to ensure that fuel suppliers who contract with the federal government do not engage in corrupt practices at the expense of our nation's military and the American taxpayer." The Criminal Case: According to three felony charges filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus, the Defense Logistics Agency and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service are two U.S. Defense Department agencies that contract with South Korean companies to supply fuel to the numerous U.S. military bases throughout South Korea. Beginning at least in or around March 2005 and continuing into 2016, South Korean petroleum and refinery companies and their agents, including the defendants and their co-conspirators, participated in a combination and conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition during the bidding process for these fuel supply contracts. SK Energy, GS Caltex, and Hanjin have agreed to cooperate with the department's ongoing criminal investigation. The plea agreements are subject to court approval. "Protecting the integrity of the Department of Defense acquisition process and delivery of fair-priced resources to the U.S. military are among our highest priorities," said Director Dermot F. O'Reilly of the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). "These guilty pleas and significant fines demonstrate the heavy consequences that come to those who enrich themselves through collusion in order to defraud the American taxpayer. This exhaustive investigation was a multi-year endeavor by DCIS, its investigative partners, and the Department of Justice. DCIS will continue to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those who threaten U.S. military readiness through fraud and corruption." "These guilty pleas clearly demonstrate our organization's steadfast commitment to hold corporations, foreign and domestic, accountable for engaging in anticompetitive conduct," said Brigadier General Duane R. Miller, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (Army CID). "The highly trained special agents from our Major Procurement Fraud Unit, along with our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate organizations that participate in illegal conspiracies and do harm to the readiness of our Army." "The FBI remains committed to holding corporationsboth foreign and domesticaccountable for anticompetitive conduct and fraudulent practices toward the United States," said FBI Executive Assistant Director Amy Hess. "The conduct by the corporations in this case is particularly egregious, as they targeted the U.S. military in a critically strategic region, defrauded the U.S. government, and ultimately, cheated the American taxpayers of millions of dollars." "The FBI is committed to investigating companies and individuals around the world who engage in bid rigging and other forms of corruption to defraud the U.S. Government," said Assistant Director in Charge Paul D. Delacourt of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "True competition is an economic bedrock of our democratic society. These criminal and civil charges demonstrate the ability of the FBI, our federal law enforcement partners, and the Department of Justice to bring to justice those who choose not to follow the rule of law, and to ensure they are not enriched by their illegal conduct." A criminal violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act carries a maximum fine of $100 million for corporations. The maximum fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine. Today's charges are the result of an ongoing federal investigation into bid rigging, price fixing and other anticompetitive conduct targeting U.S. Department of Defense fuel supply contracts in South Korea. The criminal case is being prosecuted by the Antitrust Division's Washington Criminal I Section and the United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of Ohio in conjunction with the DCIS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Army CID, the Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation is urged to call the Antitrust Division's Citizen Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html. The Civil Case: The Department's Antitrust Division today filed a civil antitrust complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and at the same time filed proposed settlements that, if approved by the court, would resolve the lawsuit against SK Energy, GS Caltex, and Hanjin for their anticompetitive conduct targeting the U.S. military in South Korea. As a result of this conduct, the United States Department of Defense paid substantially more for fuel supply services in South Korea than it would have had SK Energy, GS Caltex, and Hanjin competed for the fuel supply contracts. Under Section 4A of the Clayton Act, the United States may obtain treble damages when it has been injured by an antitrust violation. The proposed settlement provides that SK Energy pay $90,384,872, GS Caltex pay $57,500,000, and Hanjin pay $6,182,000 to the United States to resolve the civil antitrust violations. In addition to the payments, SK Energy, GS Caltex, and Hanjin have agreed to cooperate with the ongoing civil investigation of the conduct and to abide by antitrust compliance program requirements. The amount paid by each defendant exceeds the amount of the individual overcharge and reflects the value of defendants' cooperation commitments and the cost savings realized by avoiding extended litigation. The payments will also resolve civil claims that the United States has under the False Claims Act against SK Energy, GS Caltex, and Hanjin for making false statements to the government in connection with their agreement not to compete. The Civil Division has entered into separate settlement agreements with the companies to resolve these claims. Except where based on admissions by defendants in the criminal pleas, the claims resolved by the civil agreements are allegations only. The civil settlements were handled by the Antitrust Division's Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section, by the Civil Division's Fraud Section, and by the United States Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Ohio. The United States' False Claims Act civil investigation resulted from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Those provisions allow for private parties to sue on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. The proposed civil antitrust settlement, along with the department's competitive impact statement, will be published in The Federal Register, as required by the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days of its publication to Kathleen O'Neill, Chief, Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 8000, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the court may enter the civil antitrust settlement upon a finding that it serves the public interest. Attachment(s): Download Complaint Download Hanjin Settlement (redacted) Download SK Settlement (redacted) Download GS Caltex Settlement (redacted) Download PFJ - SK Energy Download PFJ - GS Caltex Download PFJ - Hanjin Download Explanation of Consent Decree Procedures Download CIS Topic(s): Antitrust False Claims Act Component(s): Antitrust Division Civil Division USAO - Ohio, Southern Press Release Number: 18-1503 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU arms fuelling Yemen conflict, tougher checks needed: EP IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 14, IRNA -- Tougher checks on European Union arms exports are needed and sanctions should be imposed on those countries that flout the bloc's rules, the European Parliament (EP) said on Wednesday. EU lawmakers said European arms were stoking the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi Arabia-led coalition is battling Houthis. Arms sales to Saudi Arabia by EU states undermined the European arms control effort, they said. "In Yemen, European weapons are fundamentally responsible for the war taking place," said German EU lawmaker Sabine Losing, who is leading efforts to hold EU governments to account, Reuters reported. The European Parliament's call to strengthen checks is non-binding but it the second time in less than a month that EU lawmakers have passed a resolution urging limits on arms sales following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The EU is the second largest arms supplier in the world--exporting more than a quarter of all global arms--after the United States, according to the EU's annual report on weapons exports. That has pitted its values of peace and support for human rights against business interests. The European Union's so-called Common Position on arms exports lists eight criteria governments must apply when taking a decision on an arms export license. Sales to Saudi Arabia violated six out of the eight, lawmakers said. "The Common Position on arms exports must be implemented effectively. That includes, among others, a sanctions mechanism," Losing said. French President Emmanuel Macron's government has come under fire from rights groups and opposition lawmakers over sales of French arms to Saudi Arabia. Paris has sought to increase its diplomatic weight in the Middle East through the sale of naval vessels, tanks, artillery and munitions to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that the government adhered to strict rules that "stop us selling weapons that might impact civilians." 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 7,000 miles away, 31st MEU Marines, Sailors complete DSCA mission on Tinian as Corps turns 243 US Marine Corps News 14 Nov 2018 By Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, Tinian -- One look at Tinian told you all you needed to know something very bad happened here. The trees shorn of all their leaves. Telephone poles everywhere like broken matchsticks. Trees, roots 12-feet wide, laying sideways, prostrate as if praying for mercy from Mother Nature. She tendered none, however, when the second largest storm to ever hit U.S. soil thundered across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands like a steam roller late last month. Super Typhoon Yutu. Historic, devastating, dangerous. Tinian in November 2018 must look much like it did in July and August 1944 when the Marines landed here while hopping across the Pacific. It seems fitting, then, during the 243rd anniversary of America's Corps, that Marine boots once again tread across the island under a tropical sun. These Marines, however, carry axes instead of M1 Garands. CamelBaks instead of metal canteens. Boonie covers, not steel helmets. Humvees and 7-tons instead of Sherman tanks. Ka-Bars have been replaced by actually, the Ka-Bars are still here. Call in the Marines! It's been said a thousand times if it's been said once Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, Saipan, Korea, Khe Sanh, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom. Countless Devil Dogs have solidified the Corps' reputation as America's 911-Break-Glass-in-Case-of-Emergency-Get-'er-Done force since we first raised a toast inside Tun Tavern on Nov. 10, 1775. This year, for the Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Combat Logistics Battalion 31, it was a plastic water bottle filled with MRE Powdered Drink Mix on a far-flung island in the Marianas. Marines know how to fight. The old bumper sticker is correct Marines, when it absolutely has to be destroyed overnight. But the reverse is also true. After all, 'No Better Friend' comes before 'No Worse Enemy'. Marines know how to build (and clear). And build and clear they did. In earnest. Take that, Mother Nature. Tinian and its people will recover, with the help of a Few Good Men (and Women). The 31st MEU Unit and CLB-31 aren't forward-deployed in Okinawa, Japan for nothing, after all, as America's premier Crisis-Response Force. The Marines landed here Oct. 29 with a small advance team to assess urgent needs of local and CNMI officials and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Water, route clearance, schools, the Tinian officials said. Yutu wiped out Tinian's power grid, disabled municipal water, turned some roads into impassable labyrinths. So, the Marines went to work, leading a multi-service contingent to attack, not an enemy hurling grenades, but the wrath of Yutu and the tableau of devastation she left in her wake. Marines, Sailors, Airmen, chainsaws, Humvees, axes and water-purification systems, all running at a cyclic rate. Within 48-hours, these Marines and their partners, Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 and the U.S. Air Force's 36th Civil Engineering Squadron, had gained a foothold here, diesel fumes trailing crisscrossing military vehicles carrying gloved Marines, Sailors and Airmen to one of a dozen sites littered with broken buildings and tree branches snapped like twigs. But the vanguard Forward Command Element in military lingo foretold of a greater wave of military might to add muscle to the DOD's Defense Support of Civil Authorities' mission here. The USS Ashland, one of the navy vessels belonging to the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, arrived Nov. 3 with some 180 additional Marines and Sailors to supercharge the relief efforts with their fleet of heavy vehicles and construction equipment, elbow grease and determination. "Give me five good days," said the 31st MEU and Task Force-West commander, U.S. Marine Col. Robert Brodie. Five days? Maybe with one arm tied behind our back, the Marines, Sailors and Airmen must have thought. They completed four 16-hour days clearing roads and schools of debris; pumping, purifying and distributing 20,000 gallons of water to thirsty families; building more than 140 Federal Emergency Management Agency-provided tents then dropped the mic as if asking, What's next, Sir? Well, the Marine Corps wouldn't be the Marine Corps without a party to celebrate a job well done. And what Marine doesn't shed a tear on Nov. 10, the birthday of their Beloved Corps? And what better place to raise a glass than at the forward edge of the nation's defense, on a historic battle field with their Navy and Air Force partners? So, celebrate they did, not as warriors toting guns, but as servants carrying axes and chainsaws with callused hands, sweaty brows and dirty fingernails. Hand-in-hand with their friends, the residents of Tinian, they paused Nov. 10, 2018 to honor the legacy of the Corps and Marines present and past, including the 326 Marines, Sailors and Soldiers lost securing this quaint island during WWII, establishing a vital airfield that eventually helped end that bloody war. "Anchors Aweigh" and the "Marines' Hymn" rang beautifully across the Veteran's memorial at sunset on the Corps' 243rd anniversary, a fitting symphony to herald the longstanding Indo-Pacific-based Navy-Marine Corps Crisis Response Force team. The partnership continues, as it did during WWII, as the 31st MEU hands control of the DSCA mission here to the Seabees of NMCB-1 after the battle, in August 1944, the Seabees built four of the busiest runways in the world at Tinian's north end, directly across from another landmark, the island of Saipan. And now, Nov. 14, with a handshake and friendly smiles, the Marines leave behind their mark, most visibly at the Veteran's memorial park, where a Tinian artist painted the logos of both the 31st MEU and NMCB-1. Some of the Marine Corps spirit will undoubtedly remain as Tinians look back and recall the year Yutu tried, and failed, to dash the Hafa Adai spirit of these Northern Mariana Islanders, according to Brodie. "This storm is historic it had devastating effects on this island but the people of Tinian are resilient and we're glad to lend a hand to help them get back on their feet." Their mark will remain, also, in the coming years as Tinian's children learn and grow under the shade of a thousand palm trees regrown since Oct. 25, 2018. Many of these children, it must be said, will end up wearing the same uniform as the Marines, Sailors and Airmen who helped restore a sense of normalcy here during the past few weeks Tinian is, after all, American soil. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy to Commission Littoral Combat Ship Sioux City Navy News Service Story Number: NNS181114-07 Release Date: 11/14/2018 12:33:00 PM From Department of Defense Public Affairs WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will commission its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Sioux City (LCS 11), during a 9 a.m. ceremony Saturday, Nov. 17, at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa will deliver the commissioning ceremony's principal address. Mary Winnefeld, the wife of former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Adm. James "Sandy" Winnefeld, is the ship's sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when Mrs. Winnefeld gives the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" "This ship is named in honor of Sioux City, Iowa, but represents more than one city," said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. "USS Sioux City represents an investment in readiness and lethality, and is a testament to the increased capabilities made possible by a true partnership between the Department of the Navy and our industrial base." The future USS Sioux City, designated LCS 11, is the 13th LCS to enter the fleet and the sixth of the Freedom-variant design. The future USS Sioux City is the first naval vessel to be named in honor of Sioux City, Iowa. The fourth-largest city in the state, Sioux City was founded in 1854 at the navigational head of the Missouri River and takes its name from one of a group of North American Indian tribes that make up the Great Sioux Nation. The littoral combat ship is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, while capable of open-ocean tasking and winning against 21st-century coastal threats such as submarines, mines and swarming small craft. They are capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence. USS Sioux City will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Truman Departs Lisbon, Portugal Navy News Service Story Number: NNS181114-04 Release Date: 11/14/2018 10:09:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas Gooley, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Public Affairs LISBON, Portugal (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is back at sea, Nov. 14, following a scheduled port visit to Lisbon, Portugal. While in Lisbon, Harry S. Truman Sailors were able to experience the history and culture of one of the oldest ports in the world. Harry S. Truman's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) offered Sailors several tours including a trip to Sintra a resort town in the foothills of Portugal's beautiful Sintra Mountains and the historical city of Tomar, or Thomar, famously known for the acclaimed sighting of the Virgin Mary in 1917. "The tour to the Sintra resort was an experience that I will never forget," said Airman Dylan Grady. "The ride up to the mountain was absolutely incredible. The roads were narrow and surrounded by incredible architecture, the churches were gorgeous, unbelievable cobble stone streets, and the food was amazing. Not to mention the people were incredible and very, very friendly - I feel very lucky to have had this experience." While many Sailors explored all the tremendous sights Lisbon had to offer, others felt privileged to have the opportunity to give back to its amiable host by participating in two community relations projects, including a visit to the Ronald MacDonald house and a forest restoration project. "Being able to go help out our host community with the forest restoration project was a privilege," said Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Giacomo Zach. "It's kind of our way of saying thank you for having us, and I can't think of a better way to spend the day than to be able to work with and interact with the local community." Harry S. Truman is deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations supporting maritime security operations and U.S. national security interests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany's Chancellor Merkel calls for 'real, true' European army Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 01:40AM German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a "real and true" European Union military force, echoing earlier remarks by French leader Emmanuel Macron which US President Donald Trump described as "very insulting." Addressing Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the northeastern French city of Strasbourg on her vision for the future of Europe, Merkel also demanded a European Security Council that would centralize defense and security policy on the continent. "We have made a lot of progress in the area of structural military cooperation. That's good and is mostly supported here. But we should, and I'm saying this also because of developments in recent years, we should work on a vision of one day establishing a real, true European army," she pointed out. The German leader further noted that such an army would not undermine the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but would be complementary to the military alliance. "Only a stronger Europe is going to defend Europe. Europe must take our fate into our own hands if we want to protect our community," she said. "I will propose the establishment of a European Security Council with a rotating presidency," Merkel also commented. Merkel's clear call for a future European army came on the same day that Trump took a swipe at his French counterpart again after the latter suggested creation of a European army. Last week, Trump criticized Macron's proposal in a tweet as "very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly!" European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Sunday that any European army "will have to align with NATO forces" and not be in opposition to or competition with the coalition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Eroded' U.S. Military Could Lose War Against Russia Or China, Report Finds By RFE/RL November 14, 2018 The United States military has "lost its edge" and could potentially lose a war against Russia or China, a report by a bipartisan panel established by Congress says. The report by the National Defense Strategy Commission on November 14 said U.S. military superiority has "eroded to a dangerous degree" and could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict." "It might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia," it said, adding that new threats were also being realized as Iran and North Korea bolster their capabilities. The commission was established by Congress in 2017 to evaluate the National Defense Strategy of the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump. It consists of 12 former top Republican and Democratic officials. Congressional reports and other studies often warn of difficulties and deficiencies faced by the U.S. military, but the latest report could raise concerns in Washington given its bipartisan nature and dire conclusions. Trump has ordered a major revamp to the U.S. military and has proposed billions of dollars in additional funds to aid an expansion that he says is designed to compete with Russia and China. The commission said it agreed with the aims of the strategy, but it warned that Washington was not investing or moving quickly enough to put the policy into effect, which could lead to a national emergency. "The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously," the report said. It warned that as U.S. policy was lagging, "authoritarian competitors, especially China and Russia," were attempting to press their influence in their regions and developing the resources to project military power globally." It said threats posed by Iran and North Korea are intensifying as they develop "more advanced weapons and creatively employ asymmetric tactics." The report warned that a sense of "complacency" is undermining efforts to maintain the U.S. military's long-held dominant position in the world. "People have become so used to the United States achieving what it wants in the world, to include militarily, that it isn't heeding the warning signs," said Kathleen H. Hicks, one of the commissioners. "It's the flashing red that we are trying to relay," added Hicks, a former top Pentagon official during the administration of President Barack Obama. The panel said that despite an annual budget of some $716 billion -- at least 10 times that of Russia and four times the size of China's -- U.S. defense development is under-resourced considering today's threats. The commission provided a list of 32 recommendations and called on the Pentagon to clearly set out how it intends to defeat a major power in war. Among the conclusions, it urged the Navy to expand its submarine fleet and sealift forces to compete with Russia and China. It said the Air Force should introduce more stealth long-range fighters and bombers. It said the Army should add more armor, long-range precision missiles, and air-defense and logistical forces. The report also called for the United States to become more competitive in cyberspace, where portions of the next war could be fought. With reporting by The Washington Post, Defense News, Axios, and Fortune Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eroded-u-s -military-could-lose-war-against-russia-or- china-report-finds/29600694.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Merkel Echoes France's Call For Europe To Create Its Own Army By RFE/RL November 14, 2018 German Chancellor Angela Merkel is calling for the eventual creation of a European army, echoing a suggestion by French President Emmanuel Macron that recently angered the U.S. president. "What is really important, if we look at the developments of the past year, is that we have to work on a vision of one day creating a real, true European army," Merkel said in a speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on November 13. "A common European army would show the world that there will never again be war between European countries," she said. Merkel said she envisioned a European army that would function in parallel with NATO and come under a European Security Council, centralizing the continent's defense structure. "Europe must take our fate into our own hands if we want to protect our community," Merkel said. Her comments came a week after Macron called for a European army that would give Europe greater independence from the United States as well as defend the continent against such possible aggressors as Russia and China. His comments provoked an angry response from U.S. President Donald Trump and prompted Trump to step up calls on European countries to increase their contributions to NATO. On November 13, after returning from a visit to France where his clash with Macron featured prominently, Trump tweeted again on the subject. "Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China, and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!" Trump wrote. Macron did not publicly respond to Trump's latest tweet. But former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry noted that France helped the fledgling United States win its war of independence against Britain in the 18th century and criticized Trump for "insulting our oldest ally." "Stop tweeting! America needs some friends," Kerry said. The French and German proposals to create a European army are controversial within NATO and the EU, where many member states are reluctant to give up national sovereignty on defense issues. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said "more European efforts on defense is great, but it should never undermine the strength of the transatlantic bond." That sentiment was echoed by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on November 13. "We see NATO as the cornerstone for the protection of Europe in the security realm and we fully support nations doing more to carry the load," Mattis said. France has proposed the initial launch of a European intervention force backed by a small group of member states to handle crises in regions such as Africa, which could later be expanded into a European army. Germany is critical of that proposal, however, as Macron would like to establish the new force outside the EU framework so as to involve the soon-to-depart Britain, which is a defense heavyweight within NATO. The EU already has so-called battle groups to respond in crisis situations, though they have never been deployed. Merkel's speech came days after she announced that she will step down as chancellor when her current term ends. The EU stands at a critical juncture, with Britain preparing to leave the bloc in March while populist, anti-EU forces are on the rise. As head of the EU's largest economy, Merkel has wielded considerable influence in the bloc during her nearly 13 years as chancellor. But political wrangling at home has diminished her powers. Following months of infighting in her three-way coalition government and two disastrous state elections, Merkel announced on October 29 that her current term as chancellor would be her last. With reporting by AFP, dpa, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/merkel-echoes -france-macron-call-european-army-angers- trump-nato-mattis-/29599466.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pompeo, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Discuss US Plan to Create 'Arab NATO' Sputnik News 23:48 14.11.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah met in Washington to discuss the Trump administration's proposal to create an Arab security alliance, the State Department said in a press release on Wednesday. "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Khalid Al-Attiyah," the release said. "The Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister discussed working toward a Middle East Strategic Alliance, anchored by a united GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), to advance prosperity, security, and stability in the region." President Donald Trump's administration has proposed creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, an Arab security pact widely referred to as an "Arab NATO," made up of the six Arab states of the GCC along with Egypt and Jordan. The goal of creating such an alliance of Sunni Arab states would be to counter the growing influence of Iran in the Middle East, US officials have said. Similar US initiatives to establish a collective Arab security pact have failed in the past. The Trump administration's efforts to create the alliance have been hampered by an ongoing rift between Qatar and the other Arab states in the GCC. In June 2017, GCC members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Egypt, severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terrorism. Qatar has firmly denied the accusations. During their talks in Washington, Pompeo and Attiyah also discussed regional security and stability, bilateral ties and other mutual interests in the region, as well as the upcoming US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, the release said. The two officials also spoke about an ongoing project to expand Qatar's Al-Udeid Airbase, the largest military facility used by US forces in the Gulf region. The project to expand the base, which hosts more than 10,000 US and coalition forces, was launched in July. The military base is home to the US Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) and serves as major communications and operational centre for the coalition fighting against the Daesh* terrorist group in the region. *Daesh, also known as ISIS, Islamic State, is a terrorist group, banned in Russia and many other countries. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Wants More Money for Lasers to Shoot Down Drones, Missiles Sputnik News 22:13 14.11.2018(updated 22:14 14.11.2018) The US military wants more money to develop more powerful lasers, microwave beams and other directed-energy weapons so it can shoot down drones and missiles, the Pentagon's top weapons engineer said Tuesday. Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin said at a Center for Strategic International Studies event in Washington, DC, earlier this week that he was pursuing "a renewed emphasis on laser scaling [meaning scaling up the power of lasers] across several technologies" in upcoming defense budgets, Defense One reported. Defense Department spending on directed energy weapons has increased significantly in the past few years, more than doubling since 2017 to $1.1 billion, National Defense Magazine noted late last month. Griffin, who assumed his position in February of this year, brought his enthusiasm for lasers and satellites from NASA, the US space agency. Now, as head of research and engineering, he has the ability to draw on the Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Strategic Capabilities Office and other research-and development initiatives to drive the quest for directed energy weapons forward. "In my opinion, we are no more than a few years away from having laser weapons of military utility," Griffin said, noting that the present level of development of the technology was "within a factor of two or three of being useful on a battlefield, airplane or ship." Griffin had also previously floated the idea of a space-based particle beam that could fry electrical systems in missiles shortly they're launched, but that's a bit further out, Defense One noted. In April, Griffin said that he believed some of the directed energy weapons were only five to six years away, and the satellite megawatt particle beam was within a decade of becoming a reality. "We need to have 100-kilowatt-class weapons on Army theater vehicles. We need to have 300-kilowatt-class weapons on Air Force tankers," Griffin said, Military Times reported at the time. "We need to have megawatt-class directed energy weapons in space for space defense. These are things we can do over the next decade if we can maintain our focus." While it seems to be within reach, officials have made clear they aren't rushing the technology into production. "My concern is with the current mania for fast," Andrew Hunter, director of the defense-industrial initiatives group at CSIS, told National Defense Magazine. "The idea that we can just suddenly get lots more technology development and maturity of technology happening without extra money, I think, is a fantasy." "If the technology is mature, I think we can incorporate it into systems in a more streamlined fashion by working on our processes," Hunter added. "But I'm a little worried that people are starting to think that there's just a process answer to the fact that we haven't put enough money into research and development." The utility of the weapons must also be demonstrated "before you then put the big bucks in to go to a program of record," Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mary Miller noted at the National Defense Industrial Association's Army Science and Technology Conference late last month. In early October, Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told reporters the Missile Defense Review had been completed, but Griffin declined to comment on its status. It is anticipated to be released next month, although its findings are already being incorporated into the FY 2020 budget, Defense News reported at the time. Still, Shanahan made clear that he doesn't consider funding missile defense to be a top priority, compared to, say, building a new aircraft carrier. "Asking the Navy to prioritize an SM-3 system over another carrier, that's maybe not a fair question. Asking the Army to prioritize THAAD over another brigade combat team, maybe that's not a fair question," he said Tuesday. "Those are questions of the architecture of what our national defense looks like that maybe rise to the secretary or OSD [Office of the Secretary of Defense] level, not the responsibility of a given service." Laser research also remains a low priority because for the most part, big-name defense contractors don't seem to be interested in buying the systems from small research firms or garage experimenters, according to David Stoudt, senior executive adviser on directed energy at Booz Allen Hamilton, who previously served as a directed energy engineer and executive in the US Navy. Dependence on foreign suppliers is also putting a damper on laser production, as much of the rare-Earth metals necessary to build advanced laser systems primarily come from China a key military competitor against whose weapons many of these new technologies are intended to be used, and with whom the US is presently engaged in an ever-escalating trade war. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Military Could Lose Potential Conflict Against Russia, China - Report Sputnik News 17:31 14.11.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has lost its military advantage to such a degree that it could potentially lose a future war with Russia or China, a new report to the US Congress warned on Wednesday. "The US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict. It might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia," said the report prepared by the National Defence Strategy Commission, a bipartisan panel of experts created by Congress. The commission warned that if the United States did not act swiftly to remedy the situation, the consequences would be "grave and lasting." The report warned of the increasing threat from not only major powers such as Russia and China, but also other countries such as Iran and North Korea. "Those countries have developed more advanced weapons and creatively employed asymmetric tactics," it said. In addition, the US faces an intensifying threat from transnational terrorist organizations, particularly radical jihadist groups. "Around the world, the proliferation of advanced technology is allowing more actors to contest US military power in more threatening ways," the report said. The commission endorsed the National Defense Strategy (NDS) submitted by President Donald Trump's administration in January 2018, which has sought to revamp the US military to counter growing threats from Russia and China. But the report also warned that the United States is not moving quickly enough or investing enough money to put Trump's strategy into practice. The 12-member National Defense Strategy Commission was created by Congress through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The commission, chaired by former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman and former US Chief of Naval Operations Gary Roughead, is charged with reviewing the current national defence strategy to assess any potential risks. The body is tasked with making its recommendations to the president, secretary of defence and Congress. The report was submitted to Congress on Tuesday and made available to the public on Wednesday. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement on U.S.-UK Strategic Dialogue Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC November 14, 2018 The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom on the occasion of the U.S.-UK Strategic Dialogue. Begin text: In Washington on November 14, 2018, the United States and the United Kingdom held a Strategic Dialogue co-chaired by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and UK Political Director Richard Moore. The Dialogue was attended by U.S. National Security Council Staff Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs Fiona Hill, U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Katie Wheelbarger, UK Deputy National Security Advisor Christian Turner, UK Director General for EU Exit Lindsay Appleby and UK Ministry of Defense Director General for Strategy and International Angus Lapsley. The delegations discussed a broad range of global foreign and security policy issues of mutual concern and agreed to continue to work closely together. The countries pledged their continued commitment and efforts to strengthen the broader transatlantic community for challenges of the future. At the close of this Strategic Dialogue, the United States and the United Kingdom reaffirmed that the U.S.-UK special relationship yields unparalleled cooperation, which will only grow stronger in the years ahead and as the UK exits the European Union. End text. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Pompeo's Meeting With Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Khalid Al-Attiyah Readout Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC November 14, 2018 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert: Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Khalid Al-Attiyah. The Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed their commitment to the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Qatar, as well as their mutual interest in promoting security and stability in the region. The Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister discussed working toward a Middle East Strategic Alliance, anchored by a united GCC, to advance prosperity, security, and stability in the region. The Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister also discussed the expansion of Al-Udeid Airbase and the upcoming U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Warns Escalating Afghan Fighting Sparking Humanitarian Crisis By Ayaz Gul November 14, 2018 The United Nations warned Wednesday that days of heavy fighting in parts of central-eastern Afghanistan has worsened humanitarian conditions, and urged warring parties to ensure safe passage for civilians attempting to leave the affected districts. The hostilities between the Taliban, supported by local Pashtun communities, and pro-government Shia Hazara militias broke out in early November in the Khas Uruzgan district, Uruzgan province, before spreading to the Jaghuri and Malistan districts in the embattled neighboring Ghazni province. Scores of Afghan security forces and insurgent fighters have been killed, and the conflict has escalated since Saturday, with intensified ground operations and airstrikes by pro-government forces. "The situation within the affected districts is chaotic, with families moving repeatedly in search of safety," said the U.N. humanitarian agency in a statement. It blamed "increasing inter-communal tensions" for sparking the deadly conflict. Afghan civilians also have suffered casualties, but the U.N. agency would not immediately offer any figures. It lamented reports from the war zone that private houses have been burned and civilian vehicles stolen or confiscated in violation of international humanitarian laws. "Roads connecting Jaghuri and Malistan to the provincial capital of Ghazni have reportedly been blocked ... leaving people in siege-like conditions with no access to health facilities and limited ... food, fuel and medicine," the U.N. agency noted. Displaced families abandoning their homes are exposed to harsh winter conditions. Hundreds of refugee families have arrived in neighboring Bamyan and Maidan-Wardak provinces, while some moved into Kabul. Aid workers said supply routes to Jaghori and Malistan remain closed, while telecommunications networks are interrupted, affecting the availability of fuel, food and medicine in local markets. Relief authorities have registered 1,000 displaced families in the provincial capital of Ghazni over the past two days, who are living in schools, mosques and homes of local families. The U.N. agency said that up to 4,000 families reportedly are headed toward Ghanzi city and Kabul. Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahramee, while briefing lawmakers Wednesday, acknowledged that government forces with limited resources were dealing with a "high-level of security threats" insurgents are posing in nine provinces, including Ghazni and Uruzgan. Afghan security forces have suffered heavy casualties in recent months, and they continue to face increasingly deadly battlefield attacks from the Taliban. President Ashraf Ghani admitted Monday that Afghan security forces have lost more than 28,500 personnel since 2015 while battling the Taliban, but he denied suggestions the insurgent group was in a winning position. The Taliban controls or hotly contests nearly half of Afghanistan's districts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rapid Equipping Force in Afghanistan enables Soldiers' ideas into battlefield solutions By Jon Micheal Connor, Army Public Affairs November 15, 2018 BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- At Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, there is a place that wants to know about your tactical problems. The forward team of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force or REF, wants Soldiers to bring their ideas regarding equipment on how to accomplish their missions more efficiently. REF's mission is to provide innovative materiel solutions to meet the urgent requirements of U.S. Army forces employed globally, inform materiel development for the future force, and on order, expand to meet the operational demands. Its focus is on immediate-need materiel solutions at the small-unit level. "We try to paint that picture for them that you know there's a lot of capabilities that reside in this building, in the organization," said Lt. Col. Scott Cantlon, REF forward team chief. Cantlon is not new to this position as he has also spent time as the REF Forward Team chief in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan for periods in 2016 and 2017. "If you need something here and now and rapidly produced, if you have an idea ,a problem, and you think you have a solution in your head, you can sit down and talk with our engineers and there's a good chance they're going to be able to design something," Cantlon said. "Not only design it, but prototype it, and give it to you for some operational feedback." The REF team in Bagram offers the capability of rapid prototyping through the Expeditionary Lab or Ex Lab. The engineers in the Ex Lab are capable of taking a Soldier's concern, and if feasible, fabricating the solution through 3D printing, sewing, machining, or electrical work. "Three-Dimensional printing has come a long way in the last 10 to 15 years. Today we have 3D printers where you can drop a design on a computer, hit print, and the next morning have a full made-out part that is of the same quality as a machine part in term of tolerance and the cavities (compartments) it can do," said Dr. Patrick Fowler, former lead engineer of the Ex Lab, who redeployed back to the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in late October. "And in fact, it exceeds what you can do with a machine because you can create spaces that you would never be able to reach with a tool," Fowler said. Fowler has a bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees all in mechanical engineering. Fowler volunteered for this deployment -- his first -- to fulfill a lifelong dream of serving in his own way with Warfighters. "This is the only job that I'm aware where an engineer can get a requirement directly from the Warfighter and give them something that goes out the next day on a mission and immediately get feedback, and be able to keep the Warfighter in the design loop," Fowler said. The Ex Lab is equipped with design software and other limited metal bending capability among other things. And depending on what it is, these new products can be made in limited quantities to equip Soldiers. "We make things that have never been made before to respond to a tactical gap," Fowler said. "If you can imagine it, then we can make it for you," he said. "The capabilities that we have here are broad ranging even though we use a lot of 3D printing, we can do traditional metal parts, we can do electronics fabrication, we can do programming, there's a lot of capability here." The REF, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, started in 2002 after Soldiers realized the need for non-standard equipment to meet the demands of their wartime mission. The Ex Lab has reachback ties with the RDECOM for its expertise and additional manufacturing capabilities. The REF is the Army's quick-reaction capability for getting urgent material solutions in the hands of Warfighters. It's able to do this using a request document known as "10-Liner", where Soldiers capture the requirements and submit. Sometimes, the need is met with commercial and government off-the-shelf technologies. But when not available and if approved, the engineers will design and fabricate a solution to meet a Soldier's needs. "The work out here, the things we do, it's very rewarding," said Ryan Muzii, a support engineer with the Ex lab. "We can do things no other organization can do. A Warfighter can come in with a problem and we can get after it. It's just such a great asset." Muzii has nine years total working for the REF's reachback support element, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center's Advanced Design and Manufacturing Division, whose headquarters is at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. He also has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in mathematics. As of November, Muzii will have been deployed two years to Afghanistan in support of the Ex Lab. The time to procure and deliver nonstandard equipment. REF's goal is to fill a requirement within 180 days. The Ex Lab typically produces a solution in less than 30 dayssometimes in a few days depending on the requirement. Locations and manning requirements for the REF have varied during the last 16 years based on the missions and number of personnel in theater. The REF also has forward teams in Kuwait and Iraq. Since 2002, many new technologies have been equipped to help accomplish the mission more efficiently. Current projects include persistent duration unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, unmanned and counter-unmanned aerial systems, expeditionary force protection and so much more. "Honestly, practically all these projects [we do here] someone walks in on I never would have thought. I have no prior military experience I've always been an engineer," Muzii said. "Some of the things they (Soldiers) come up with are so innovative and creative, but not reliable, you know, it's kind of thrown together," he said. "But a lot of times people make it work; I mean we're the U.S. Army, we make it work." On January 30, 2014, the Army declared the REF an enduring capability. It now reports to the Army's Training and Doctrine Command where it will continue to support Soldiers deployed globally for years to come. "Hey, you have this asset at your disposal. It doesn't matter what rank you are," said Muzii. "It doesn't matter where you are in the CJOA-A -- Combined Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan -- we will come to you. It doesn't matter how big or small your problem is, as we can help you." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban kills 30 more Afghan troops IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 15, IRNA -- Afghan officials announced on Thursday 30 security forces were killed in the widespread Taliban attacks in west of the country near the Iranian border. Afghan government officials said the widespread raids in Farah Province in western Afghanistan aim at 'weakening the government's grip on the region', Reuters reported. According to the news agency, the Taliban has been launching attacks in the strategic area with the aim of expelling foreign forces and toppling the government. In the latest Taliban attack, carried out four days ago at a checkpoint at Farah province, 50 Afghan soldiers and police forces were killed. Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousef Ahmadi said the Taliban have killed 35 security forces. He said the terrorist group has also destroyed a large number of police vehicles and has seized a large stockpile of weapons. Since 2011, Afghanistan has been engulfed by a rising wave of violence and despite the presence of foreign troops, many parts of the country remain plagued by militancy. The United States and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) occupied the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The Taliban and other militant groups have been carrying out bloody attacks across Afghanistan, killing the military and civilians alike and taking heavy toll on women and children. 9477**2044 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bitter crushing defeat forces Saudis to stop merciless air raids on Hudaydah IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Doha, Nov 15, IRNA -- Riyadh has been forced to stop operations against Hudaydah of Yemen once again following its consecutive failures and growing fatality of Saudi troops and their mercenaries. Qatari Aljazeera network quoted informed sources as saying that Saudis have ordered their forces to stop attacks on Hudaydah. The Saudi-led coalition, backed by the US, launched a new round of attacks on Hudaydah of Yemen on November 1, just one day after the US State Secretary Michael R. Pompeo's announcement that Yemen peace talks should start as of next month. Pompeo's announcement came after public opinion pressure on the US government and Saudis to stop Yemen war following murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the dissident journalist who opposed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Based on reports available, the new round of attacks on Yemen has killed 200. The first day of the operations featured 30 air raids led by Saudis. The air raids are said to reach as many as 200. Yemen's Defense Minister Major-General Mohamed Nasser al-Atefi said the enemy had deployed forces on the west banks needed for occupation of 10 countries. He said the enemy has failed despite all its forces and equipment as well as media publicity and extensive facilities. Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in the past 48 hours, more than 280 invaders, including 10 of their commanders, were either killed or injured in the Yemeni forces' operations. 1420**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bahrain court hands down lengthy jail sentences to six more activists Iran Press TV Thu Nov 15, 2018 06:32PM A court in Bahrain has sentenced six more activists to up to 10 years in prison over their alleged role in exploding a gas cylinder last year. Judicial sources said on Thursday that three people were sentenced to 10 years in jail while three others received prison terms of three years. The court also fined the six suspects 500,000 dinars each. The High Criminal Court issued the rulings after convicting them of allegedly carrying out the gas explosion in front of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) in early 2017 and taking part in an unlawful assembly and rioting. In recent months, Bahrain has executed several young activists by firing squad after handing them death sentences. On Wednesday, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) condemned the kingdom's persistence on passing death sentences against anti-regime activists, calling the practice an "inhuman punishment". The center further noted that the Bahraini judiciary has overused death penalty in recent years, particularly with regards to freedom of opinion and expression in addition to the exercise of political rights. On March 5, 2017, Bahrain's parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law. Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3 last year. Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011. They are demanding that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established. Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in the crackdown. Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a result of the crackdown. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US at risk of losing war with Russia or China: Experts Iran Press TV Thu Nov 15, 2018 09:21AM A US Congress-mandated panel of bipartisan experts has warned that the United States runs the risk of losing a military confrontation with China or Russia. The 12-member commission of experts was led by former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman and former chief of naval operations, retired Adm. Gary Roughead. The panel was mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017 for conducting an independent, nonpartisan review of the 2018 National Defense Strategy. The panel released its findings on Wednesday. The report praised the administration of President Donald Trump for focusing more on Russia and China but it claimed that Trump's new National Defense Strategy is insufficiently resourced. "The (National Defense Strategy) too often rests on questionable assumptions and weak analysis, and it leaves unanswered critical questions regarding how the United States will meet the challenges of a more dangerous world," the report said. "The Commission assesses unequivocally that the NDS is not adequately resourced," the report added, while adding that "available resources are clearly insufficient to fulfill the strategy's ambitious goals, including that of ensuring that DOD can defeat a major power adversary while deterring other enemies simultaneously." This is while the Trump administration has authorized the US Department of Defense to invest around $717 billion into military strategies that will target Russia and China. Trump has said the budget is aimed at revitalizing the US military, one of his key campaign promises. The report warned that "the US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties" and "might struggle to win or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia." "The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously," it added. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has also earlier warned that Russia and China are challenging America's military dominance with technological advances, "placing the international order under assault." He has said the US military dominance in sea, land and air was being threatened with Russian and Chinese technological advances. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNSC unanimously votes to lift Eritrea sanctions Iran Press TV Thu Nov 15, 2018 07:58AM The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a British-drafted resolution on lifting sanctions against Eritrea, following a rapprochement with neighboring Ethiopia and the thawing of relations with Djibouti. The decision, taken on Wednesday, would immediately end an arms embargo, travel bans, and asset freezes against Eritrea and its leaders. The punitive measures had been put in place in 2009 after the UN accused the small country in the Horn of Africa of arming and training the Takfiri al-Shabab terrorist group and other militant outfits, which are wreaking havoc in Somalia, a neighbor of Eritrea to the south, and other regional countries. Asmara, however, has denied the allegations and attributed the sanctions primarily to US hostility. "The government of Eritrea welcomes this belated decision to redress injustice, almost a decade after nefarious acts were taken, inculcating indefensible harm on the country," said Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Meskel on Wednesday, shortly after the UNSC vote. The resolution said that UN monitors had "not found conclusive evidence that Eritrea supports al-Shabab," declaring that the sanctions and arms embargo ended with the adoption of the measure. British Ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce said the newly-adopted resolution recognized the improvements in regional "peace and security." "Not only is it a very important step for the countries in the region, I think it sends a helpful wider signal to the international community that if the right steps are taken, sanctions can be lifted," she added. Diplomats had already said before the UNSC vote that the body was expected to vote to lift the sanctions on Eritrea. Eritrea and Ethiopia severed their relations following a border dispute that claimed nearly 80,000 lives in the late 1990s. However, in July, the two countries unexpectedly agreed to resume their diplomatic and commercial relations and end hostilities, a move that was hailed as a historic moment in the history of the conflicted Horn of Africa. The agreement reached between Asmara and Addis Ababa required the pair to put an end to their state of war, open embassies, develop ports, and resume flights to the two countries. Efforts to remove the UNSC sanctions commenced after that rapprochement. According to Dutch UN Ambassador Karel van Oosterom, the decision provided Eritrea with a "good basis for improving the human rights situation" in the country. Asmara has long denied UN accusations of rights abuses in the country, including alleged extrajudicial killings and torture. Meanwhile, Eritrea is engaged in a 2008 border dispute with another Horn of Africa country, Djibouti, where the US, China, and France have military bases. The resolution passed on Wednesday calls on Eritrea and Djibouti to continue efforts to resolve the border dispute and asks Asmara to release information concerning the Djiboutian troopers who went missing in clashes a decade earlier. France has requested that the UNSC hear a report every six months on Eritrea's efforts to normalize relations with Djibouti. The first report on progress will be heard by February 15, 2019. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens Killed In Taliban Attack On Afghan Security Forces By RFE/RL November 15, 2018 Taliban insurgents attacked a joint police and army outpost in Afghanistan's western Farah Province, killing at least 38 officers and soldiers, as the onslaught against the country's security forces mounts, officials say. Provincial council member Khair Mohammad Noorzai told the dpa news agency that the four-hour attack occurred in the early morning of November 15 and killed nearly all of the soldiers and police officers stationed at the joint base. In Kabul, lawmaker Samiullah Samim told the AP that air strikes killed 17 of the Taliban attackers but most managed to flee. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack and said about 80 weapons and several vehicles were captured by militants. Meanwhile, fighting with Taliban militants in two districts of central Ghazni Province has displaced thousands of people, most of them from the minority Shi'ite Hazara population. Some 100 Afghan security forces have been killed in those battles. The resurgent Taliban have mounted increasing numbers of a provincial attacks in their battle to bring down the Western-backed government in Kabul and force out foreign troops. Unofficial reports have estimated that some 45 Afghan police officers or soldiers are killed daily or wounded in attacks by the Taliban and other militants. Afghan security forces have struggled to counter attacks from militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO combat troops in 2014. The remaining Western forces mainly train and advise the Afghan military, although some are still occasionally caught in firefights. U.S. special envoy Zakmay Khalilzad is involved in an effort to persuade Taliban officials to take part in peace talks with Kabul to end the decades-long war. Separately, Russia held peace talks in Moscow on November 9 that included Taliban representatives, but little progress was reported. Based on reporting by dpa, Reuters, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/dozens- killed-in-taliban-attack-on-afghan-security -forces/29602854.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Senate Leader Blocks Bipartisan Bill To Protect Russia Probe By RFE/RL November 15, 2018 The Republican leader of the U.S. Senate has blocked a bipartisan effort to pass legislation to protect the special counsel investigating ties between Russia and President Donald Trump's election campaign. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on November 14 said he wouldn't allow a vote on the legislation because he doesn't believe it is needed, despite Trump's replacement of Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week with an aide who has repeatedly criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. "There's been no indication...that the investigation will not be allowed to finish, and it should be allowed to finish," McConnell said. Trump has frequently called the investigation a "hoax" and a "witch hunt" and repeatedly asserted he has the authority to fire Mueller. "We know how the president feels about the...investigation, but he's never said he wants to shut it down," McConnell said. "I think it is in no danger. So I don't think any legislation is necessary." Democrats in Congress, who gained control over the House of Representatives in elections last week, have been pushing for legislation to protect Mueller from being fired. Several Republicans in the Senate have allied with Democrats in demanding legislative protections for Mueller. Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a critic of Trump who is retiring at the end of the year, co-sponsored the legislation and joined Democrats in their bid to pass it in a unanimous consent vote on the Senate floor on November 14. "The president now has this investigation in his sights and we all know it," Flake said after McConnell blocked the move to unanimously approve the legislation. "This is not a moment for our national leadership to be weak or irresolute or compromised in any way," Flake said. Flake said the bill has enough support in the Senate to pass and he and the bill's Democratic sponsors will try "again and again" to bring it up for a vote before Congress adjourns at the end of the year. Flake also threatened to block Senate votes on dozens of Trump's judicial nominees who are awaiting confirmation until the Senate votes on the Mueller protection bill. McConnell has said confirming judges is a top priority for Republicans in the remaining weeks of the congressional session. The bipartisan legislation knocked down by McConnell was approved on a 14-7 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee in April and was written to ensure that Mueller could be fired only for good cause and provide him with recourse to challenge any dismissal in federal court. It received support from the panel's chairman, Chuck Grassley, as well as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Several other Senate Republicans also have expressed support for the bill, which likely would receive every Democratic vote. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has said that if acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker refuses to recuse himself from overseeing the investigation, Democrats will seek to add the legislation protecting Mueller to a giant spending bill that Congress must pass before the end of the year to keep the government running. Trump's elevation of Whitaker gave him the authority to fire Mueller or otherwise undermine the Russia investigation, such as by cutting its budget -- something he advocated doing before joining the department as Sessions' chief of staff last year. Despite assurances from McConnell and other Republicans that Mueller and his investigation are safe, Trump has repeatedly called on Sessions and others at the department to rein them in. In one Twitter post on August 1, Trump called the investigation "a terrible situation" and demanded that Sessions "stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now." With reporting by AFP, Reuters, AP, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-senate- republican-leader-mcconnell-blocks-bipartisan-bill-protect-russia- investigation-mueller-flake/29601639.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Eleven Political Parties Register For Armenia's Parliamentary Elections By RFE/RL's Armenian Service November 15, 2018 YEREVAN -- Eleven political parties and alliances have submitted documents to vie for seats in the Armenian parliament in the snap elections scheduled for December 9. The deadline to file with the Central Election Commission (CEC) was at the end of the day on November 14. The process of registering the parties will run through November 19. The campaigning period will be from November 26 through December 7, with December 8 to be declared a "day of silence" in which no campaigning will be allowed ahead of the vote. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced in October that he was resigning from the post of prime minister in order to dissolve parliament and force early elections. He has continued to perform his prime-ministerial duties until a new parliament and prime minister are elected. Pashinian pushed for early parliamentary elections following his bloc's landslide victory in the mayoral race in the capital, Yerevan, in a bid to unseat his political opponents in the Republican Party (HHK), who have maintained a majority in parliament. Pashinian's My Step alliance consists of current government members and supporters of the movement that came to power in a wave of peaceful street protests last spring. The list of candidates of the former ruling HHK is headed by former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian. Armenia's ex-president and ex-prime minister, Serzh Sarkisian, who was ousted by Pashinian in what many in Armenia call a "velvet" revolution in April and May, is not among the candidates and will not be involved in the campaign, according to his party. Vigen Sargsian declared that the HHK is aiming to finish second in the polls because "it is now the sole genuinely opposition force in Armenia." Pashinian allies have voiced skepticism that the HHK can win any seats in the next parliament. The Prosperous Armenia Party headed by tycoon Gagik Tsarukian is also among parties that will bid for seats in the 101-member National Assembly. The list of the newly created Sasna Tsrer All-Armenian Party is headed by Varuzhan Avetisian, one of the leaders of an armed group that seized and for two weeks held a police compound in Yerevan in July 2016, making political demands to the then-government. Avetisian and most other members of the group were arrested but later released and eventually amnestied under the new Armenian administration. The group has vowed to "cease armed struggle" and engage in the political process. Other parties that submitted documents include: Bright Armenia, headed by lawmaker and former Pashinian ally Edmon Marukian; the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun); the Orinats Yerkir Party; the alliance of the Hanrapetutyun (Republic) and Free Democrats parties called We. Three little-known parties -- the Christian-Democratic Rebirth Party, the National Progress Party, and the Citizen's Decision Social Democratic Party -- have also registered. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eleven-political -parties-register-armenian-parliamentary- elections/29601516.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Commission Backs European Army Idea Sputnik News 04:07 15.11.2018 BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The European Commission recalled that the idea of creating an EU army was put forward by President Jean-Claude Juncker four years ago, and welcomed the fact that it had recently been actively supported by France and Germany. In early November, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the establishment of a European army that would be independent of the United States, stressing that France had recently faced multiple attempts by outside forces to meddle in its domestic affairs and cybersecurity. In particular, the French president mentioned threats allegedly coming from China, Russia, and the United States. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced her support for the idea, adding that "the times when we could rely on others are over." "Let me clarify that the first one who spoke of the EU army four years ago was someone called Jean-Claude Juncker. Memory is short nowadays in Brussels and in the capitals So now I am reading about it as a Franco-German agreement," the spokesman for the commission, Margaritis Schinas, said on Wednesday. The official, however, stressed that "we are delighted" that both Paris and Berlin, with a few days interval, publicly backed the idea. "We have many times explained how we see these things. This is the commission that wants Europe to have a meaningful defence identity We have proposed a significant increase of EU resources for defence in the multiannual financing framework. We have so much work and so much activity, and we are delighted that the political atmospherics around this work seems to be right and is going in our direction," Schinas added. The European Union and NATO share a majority of their members. Nevertheless, European countries are also seeking to strengthen their defence cooperation within the European Union. In December, EU member states, except for Denmark, Malta, and the United Kingdom, adopted a decision establishing the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). The countries agreed on the list of 17 projects to be undertaken under PESCO, including training, capability development, and operational defence readiness. This summer, the European Commission proposed increasing investment in security by 40 percent in the 2021-2027 budget. The bloc also endorsed the new European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), aimed at funding the development of new and upgraded products and technologies. The program will be launched as part of the EU Defense Fund, set up in 2017 to coordinate EU nations' investments in defence, research and acquisition of new military technologies and equipment. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland Discusses With Russia GPS Glitches at NATO Drills - Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 21:01 15.11.2018(updated 21:02 15.11.2018) HELSINKI (Sputnik) - Helsinki is discussing with Moscow through diplomatic channels the investigation of GPS glitches during recent NATO exercises, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. "The [Finnish] authorities are continuing to investigate this issue. It is being discussed with the Russian Federation through diplomatic channels. Finland believes that such activities should not threaten the air traffic, for example," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. On the same day, Finland's Interior Minister Kai Mykkanen said that Helsinki will provide Moscow with additional information on developments in the course of the probe into the alleged Russian involvement in GPS glitches during recent NATO drills. "During the trip to Moscow, I raised the issue of GPS disruption. In particular, during a meeting with Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. We agreed that as the investigation proceeds in Finland, we will provide additional information. If the investigation leads to further questions, we will ask them," the Finnish minister told Sputnik. Mykkanen visited Moscow on November 13 and met with Secretary of Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, as well as with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokoltsev. The two-week Trident Juncture exercises involving 50,000 soldiers from 31 countries in several northern European countries, including Finland, were overshadowed by several instances in which pilots reported losing GPS signals. Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said on Sunday they were being investigated as possible jamming by Russia. Reacting to these accusations, Russia has denied any involvement in the location signal disturbances. Commenting on the issue earlier in the day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that Moscow will respond to possible questions related to the alleged jamming of the GPS signals by Russia during the recent NATO exercises in Scandinavia after Helsinki and Oslo use diplomatic channels. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'That's Reality': Duterte Tells US South China Sea is Now in 'Beijing's Hands' Sputnik News 17:31 15.11.2018(updated 18:27 15.11.2018) Beijing currently controls the vast majority of islands, reefs and shoals in the South China Sea, which are also claimed by a number of other nations in the region, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Washington against bickering with Beijing over the South China Sea, which he conceded is already possessed by China. "China is already in possession [of the South China Sea]. It's now in their hands. So why do you have to create frictions [] that will prompt a response from China? That's a reality, and America and everybody should realise that China is there," Duterte told journalists on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore. He also suggested that the South China Sea-related conflicts could best be settled by means of direct talks between China and the ASEAN countries. Such negotiations should be held without the US and its allies, which fuel tensions by conducting "freedom of navigation exercises," according to Duterte. "Everything's been excellent between China and the rest of ASEAN, except for the fact that there's friction between the Western nations and China," he pointed out. His remarks came after leaders of ASEAN countries adopted a binding code of conduct on the South China Sea, in a move that was earlier initiated by Washington. Although the US has repeatedly voiced concern over Beijing increasing its clout in the South China Sea, it mostly limited its reaction to verbal reproach. The war of words come as US Navy ships continue to carry out "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea, with US Air Force bombers sometimes conducting "flyovers" over the area. Apart from China, the Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands, which are among the more frequently disputed territories, are also claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. China has exerted de facto control over the Paracels since 1974. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Calls GPS Jamming 'Dangerous, Disruptive', Joins Norway in Accusing Russia Sputnik News 08:51 15.11.2018(updated 12:34 15.11.2018) NATO has decided to throw its weight behind Helsinki's and Oslo's claims of GPS disruption during the recent alliance drill in Norway. Meanwhile, unsubstantiated allegations of Russian involvement are gaining momentum in the Nordic countries. Unfounded accusations by Norway and Finland that Russia was responsible for the recent GPS malfunction experienced during the Trident Juncture drill, the largest in decades, have now been perpetuated by NATO headquarters. "Norway has determined that Russia was responsible for jamming GPS signals in the Kola Peninsula during exercise Trident Juncture," NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said. "In view of the civilian usage of GPS, jamming of this sort is dangerous, disruptive and irresponsible." Previously, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed in a more evasive way that electronic warfare was on the rise, stressing that the alliance "takes all these issues very seriously." Nevertheless, he specifically refused to pinpoint any particular nation responsible for the disturbance. The Norwegian short-haul carrier Widere admitted to cockpit crews experiencing unusually weak GPS signals (or none at all), but declined to speculate on the reason for their disappearance. Following claims by the Norwegian Defence Ministry that it had traced the source of jamming in Norway and Finnish Lapland "to a Russian military base on the Kola Peninsula," Matti Vanhanen, former Finnish prime minister and current chair of the parliament's foreign committee said that while Norwegian authorities are unlikely to present any proof, there still was "every reason to trust them", Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported. Foreign Minister Timo Soini and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto called for an thorough investigation of the incident, while Prime Minister Juha Sipila highlighting Russia, which "has the means to do it," as the likely culprit. The Finnish Defence Ministry is yet to provide its commentary. Neither Norway nor Finland recorded any incidents related to alleged GPS jamming. Russia has denied any involvement in the location signal disturbances. "We know nothing about Russia's possible involvement in those GPS failures," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Moscow will respond to possible questions related to the alleged jamming of the GPS signals by Russia during the recent NATO exercises in Scandinavia after Helsinki and Oslo use diplomatic channels, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Thursday. Meanwhile, the police in Norway's northernmost county of Finnmark are now issuing warnings that 'Russian' GPS jamming can threaten security and emergency preparedness in Norway. They noted that disturbances of GPS signals in Finnmark have occurred at least three times since last September, and can also interfere with police response to emergency situations. Furthermore, GPS coordinates are often used to determine locations when police are out on the job. The alleged disturbance occurred amid NATO's Trident Juncture, two-week military drills involving 50,000 soldiers from 31 countries. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Let the children live': UN prepares to ramp up food aid to Yemen as famine risk grows 15 November 2018 - As the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) prepares to ramp up aid to Yemen, in the face of the world's worst humanitarian crisis, David Beasley, Executive-Director of the agency, issued a heartfelt plea for all warring parties to end "this horrible war." Mr. Beasley was speaking on his return from a three-day visit to the country, which included Hudaydah, a port town critical to the humanitarian effort in Yemen, as the gateway for 70 per cent of the food, fuel and medicine imports on which the majority of the population depends. The relief efforts of the WFP are severely hampered by severe fighting around Hudaydah, and Mr. Beasley saw first-hand the heartbreaking consequences effects on Yemenis when he was shown around a hospital in the city and saw "small children, so malnourished they're little more than skin and bone, lying there with hardly the strength to breathe. Let the children live and let the people start to rebuild their lives." WFP is already reaching seven to eight million people with food assistance every month, in the face of rapidly rising hunger, the agency is preparing to scale up even further to provide food and cash-based assistance for as many as 12 million people. Speaking in Hudaydah, Mr. Beasley emphasized the essential role that the port plays in ensuring this aid reaches those in need: "I am here to send a clear message to the world that we need to protect this port at all costs, make sure that it can function at the highest capacity, because if we don't then people are going to die." The WFP chief added that the economy, which has collapsed as a result of the conflict, must be restarted so that people can have the money they need to buy food and other basics, but that this will only be possible once there is peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sahel States need international support 'now more than ever' - UN peacekeeping chief 15 November 2018 - Africa's crisis-torn Sahel region needs support from the international community "now more than ever," the head of United Nations peacekeeping operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told the Security Council on Thursday. In a briefing on the G5-Sahel Joint Force, the regional body designed to improve security and development and comprised of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad, Mr. Lacroix said the counter-terrorism initiative has seen "remarkable progress," but warned it faces critical shortages. "Major equipment shortfalls, capability gaps, insufficient infrastructure and a lack of secured operational bases continue to delay its full operationalization," he said. He expressed his "deepest gratitude" for donors who contributed to the start-up phase of the Joint Force, adopted by the Security Council in June 2017, however generous contribution, he said "almost 50 per cent of pledges generated have not been earmarked, let alone disbursed." He added that for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known by the French acronym MINUSMA, resources are strained and the entity is facing "a funding gap of almost $ 30 million to provide the support it was mandated to provide to the Joint Force." "In the absence of funding, there is not much the Mission can do." Echoing previous calls for changes to support made by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Lacroix stressed that ramping up support is vital to the survival of the Force, calling for measures that would ensure sustainable planning. Through a "dedicated support office, funded through assessed contributions," the G5-Sahel Joint Force can thrive, freeing up MINUSMA to "focus exclusively on mandate implementation." Further, G-5 "will only stand a chance if the people of the Sahel are confident in actions of their defence and security forces," he said, citing the successful investigation into Mali's Boulekessi killings earlier this year, and commending the police deployed to the Joint Force. The Sahel Region's deep-rooted issues in governance and security must be addressed first, if any security initiatives are to be successful, and "bigger more holistic" strategies are needed to bring the underlying causes of instability to the forefront. Mr. Lacroix welcomed the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, and the G5 Sahel Priority Investment plan along with the Sahel Alliance partnership in Niger, and the Secretary-General's call for creation of the Groupe de Soutien, which would facilitate the dialogue between key regional and international actors. "It is our shared and collective responsibility to ensure that the Joint Force succeeds," he said. "I call on each and every one of us to do our part. The United Nations remain deeply committed to this important initiative." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 7 UN Soldiers Killed in DRC By Max Jungreis November 15, 2018 Seven U.N. military personnel were killed during joint operations with the Congolese military in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Six of the dead were Malawian, and one Tanzanian. Ten more peacekeepers were wounded, and another is missing, according to a statement from the U.N. secretary-general's spokesperson. Several Congolese soldiers and an unknown number of opposing combatants were also reportedly killed or wounded during the operations. The fatalities occurred the near the city of Beni, in the North Kivu region, which is currently at the center of an Ebola outbreak ravaging the country. The French news agency AFP reported that U.N. peacekeepers and Congolese troops were engaged in an offensive against the ADF stronghold of Kididiwe. The ADF is a rebel force with Ugandan origins that has been active in Congo in recent years. A U.N. official speaking on condition of anonymity would not confirm that the fatalities were related to the offensive, although they did say they had occurred over the last two days, when the operation started. The U.N. mission in Congo, MONUSCO, a force of about 18,000 soldiers, has been present in the DRC for almost two decades as the country has suffered through wars and constant internal violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Unleashes New Attacks on Russia Probe By Ken Bredemeier November 15, 2018 U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed new attacks Thursday on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, even as there are hints special counsel Robert Mueller's probe could be nearing a conclusion. Publicly at least, Mueller's 18-month investigation was relatively quiet in the weeks leading up to the November 6 nation-wide congressional elections, partly because the Department of Justice tries to refrain from bringing politically sensitive cases forward around major elections. But legal analysts expect more developments soon. Trump answering written questions Trump this week, according to news accounts, has been weighing written answers to questions posed by Mueller's investigators about whether Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with Russian interests to help him win, an allegation he has repeatedly rejected as unfounded. Left open yet, however, is whether Trump will sit for an interview with Mueller for further questioning about the collusion allegations and whether Trump, as president, obstructed justice by trying to thwart the probe. Meantime, Mueller could write a report about his findings, while possibly also filing more indictments against Trump associates, accusing them of criminal wrongdoing. On Thursday, Trump returned to his long-running criticism of the Mueller probe, which he frequently calls a "witch hunt." The U.S. leader contended on Twitter, without evidence, that "the inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess." "They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," he said. "They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin. These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They won't even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY!" Mueller, a registered Republican, actually was first appointed as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a 10-year term by Republican President George W. Bush in 2001, with his term then extended for two years by former Democratic President Barack Obama. The Senate approved the extension on a 100-0 vote. Controversy over new US attorney general Trump last week ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whom Trump had long attacked for removing himself from oversight of the Mueller probe, adhering to Justice Department guidelines requiring officials to recuse themselves from involvement in cases to avoid conflicts of interests. Sessions was the first major political figure to support Trump in the 2016 election, but also had met with Russia's then-ambassador to Washington in the run-up to the voting two years ago. Trump named Matthew Whitaker, Sessions's chief of staff, to be acting attorney general and he has now assumed oversight of the Mueller probe, taking control from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, whom Sessions chose to oversee Mueller's investigation. Whitaker, before joining the Justice Department more than a year ago, had disparaged the Mueller investigation and suggested that a replacement attorney general, such as he is now, could cut funding for the investigation so that it "grinds almost to a halt." Because of his comments, opposition Democrats, and some Republicans, have called for Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the Mueller probe. But Whitaker has not said what he plans to do. The state of Maryland has filed suit to block Whitaker's appointment, but the Justice Department said Trump was within his authority to name him without Senate confirmation, as would be normal for cabinet-level appointments. Senate leader blocks Mueller protection Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked consideration of bipartisan legislation that would guard against Trump ending Mueller's investigation. McConnell says Trump, despite his vocal complaints against Mueller, has assured him he won't fire Mueller and that his investigation will be allowed to reach its conclusion. Mueller has won convictions or secured guilty pleas from several Trump campaign figures, who are cooperating with Mueller's investigators while awaiting sentencing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by Vice President Pence at the 6th U.S.-ASEAN Summit November 15, 2018 Suntec Convention Centre Suntec City, Singapore VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: Your Majesty, your excellencies, it is my honor to join you all here at the 6th Summit between the United States of America and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Last year, President Trump attended this summit to share our nation's vision of a "free and open Indo-Pacific." And I am here on the President's behalf to discuss our progress in making this vision a reality. I spoke just a few moments ago with the President and he asked me to convey his regards and greetings and appreciation to each of you. Our message is simple: The United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific is steadfast and enduring. In all that we do, the United States seeks collaboration, not control. And we are proud to call ASEAN our strategic partner. Fifty-one years ago, five of your nations joined together "in the spirit of equality and partnership" to "contribute towards peace, progress, and prosperity in [this] region." And today, this body represents 10 nations of Southeast Asia, and the United States has stood with you now for more than four decades. ASEAN is central to our vision for the region; it is our indispensable and irreplaceable strategic partner. And the members of ASEAN should have no other view. We recognize that our interests are intertwined and our visions are truly the same. Like you, we seek an Indo-Pacific in which all nations, large and small, can prosper and thrive secure in sovereignty, confident in our values, and growing stronger together. We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific. The United States has taken decisive action to promote this vision across the region. And with a focus on prosperity, security, and shared principles, we will continue to work with each of you to advance this vision across the Indo-Pacific. And I look forward to discussing those steps with you today. They include the actions we've taken to spur greater private investment in infrastructure across the region, and our bold pursuit of trade that, as President Trump describes, "is free, fair, and reciprocal." And we will continue to work toward forging renewed relationships for trade and economic exchange on the basis of those principles. Our partnership also includes our pressure campaign regarding North Korea; our collaboration to rid the region of terrorism; our commitment to uphold the freedom of the seas and skies, where we stand shoulder to shoulder with you for freedom of navigation; and our determination to ensure that your nations are secure in your sovereign borders on land, at sea, and in the digital world. All of these are examples of our commitment to partnership, and in each case we believe that we've made significant progress and will continue to make significant progress together. These actions also include our renewed efforts to uphold our most cherished principles: accountable and responsive government, the rule of law, and individual rights. We know these are the bulwarks of sovereignty and the building blocks of progress, and we support their spread across the Indo-Pacific. To facilitate our dialogue, it is my privilege to announce, this morning, the new U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities partnership. This effort will spur renewed American investment in the region's digital infrastructure, advancing prosperity and security in Southeast Asia. And it also bears on the cybersecurity statement that we will discuss here today. I look forward to sharing more with you about the progress that we've made and the work that we have yet to do, but I'll save that for our discussions going forward. Let me be clear though, our vision for the Indo-Pacific excludes no nation. It only requires that every nation treat their neighbors with respect; they respect the sovereignty of our nations and the international rules of order. We believe this vision offers the Indo-Pacific a bright and boundless future. In that future, we're confident that as we work together on our shared principles, on our shared interests, our commitment to prosperity and security, that we will prosper together. We will be secure together. We will continue to grow closer together as partners and as friends in a free and open Indo-Pacific. So, once again, on behalf of President Donald Trump, I thank you for the honor of joining each of you today to express our enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific and our gratitude for the strong and historic partnership between the United States and ASEAN, and I look forward very much to our discussions. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide and Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Adam Raishani, aka "Saddam Mohamed Raishani," 32, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty to attempting to provide and conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York made the announcement. Raishani pleaded guilty today to a Superseding Information in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. According to the allegations in the Superseding Information, Complaint, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: Beginning in at least the fall of 2015, Raishani conspired with another ISIS supporter ("CC-1") to provide material support to ISIS by means of CC-1 traveling abroad to join and fight for ISIS. On or about Oct. 30, 2015, CC-1 departed from JFK Airport for Istanbul, Turkey, where he planned to cross into Syria to join ISIS. Raishani arranged for CC-1's transportation from the Bronx, New York, to John F. Kennedy International Airport ("JFK Airport"), and Raishani accompanied CC-1 from the Bronx to JFK Airport. Raishani continued communicating with CC-1 following CC-1's departure. For example, on or about Jan. 2, 2016, Raishani sent an email to CC-1 stating: "Glad tidings brother. Its [sic] been some time since your voyage. I pray to Allah The ALL MIGHTY to grant you success. Until next time."[1] On or about April 1, 2016, Raishani sent another email to CC-1 stating: "I hope Allah has bestowed you what you were seeking. . . . May Allah grant you sincere and clean intentions and make you among the righteous in Janatal Firdaus [a reference to Islamic paradise]. . . . Please return this email and respond to what we agreed upon before your departure. Until next time." On or about May 3, 2016, CC-1 responded to Raishani, indicating that he had succeeded in joining the Islamic State. CC-1 informed Raishani that CC-1 was "fine and well," that CC-1 "wished you [Raishani] were here with me," and that "here we are living with izza [honor]." Also in May 2016, CC-1 posted content on a particular social media application ("Application-1") indicating that CC-1 was living in the Islamic State and fighting on its behalf. For example, CC-1 sent messages to another user of Application-1 stating: "I'm living in the Islamic state safely and secure by the permission of Allah," "[h]ere we are fighting the kuffars [non-believers]," and "I left the land of kuffars now I'm living in the khilafah [the caliphate]." CC-1 also posted a photograph on Application-1 that shows CC-1 carrying an assault rifle and a flag representative of ISIS. Between Jan. and June of 2017, Raishani had a series of meetings with individuals who were, unbeknownst to Raishani, a confidential source working at the direction of law enforcement and an undercover law enforcement officer. In the course of those meetings, Raishani admitted that he had previously helped another person (CC-1) travel overseas to join the Islamic State, and stated that he intended to travel overseas to join ISIS himself. During those meetings, Raishani also downloaded and viewed violent ISIS propaganda videos, and indicated his desire to wage jihad and his belief that the Quran can be read to justify the violence, including beheadings, engaged in by ISIS. By April 2017, Raishani was actively planning to travel abroad to join ISIS. Raishani indicated that he aspired to join ISIS in Syria and that he aimed to travel before the end of Ramadan, an Islamic holy month that ran from approximately May 26 through June 24 of 2017. In June 2017, Raishani made preparations to leave, including by paying off debts and purchasing clothing that he intended to wear for training with ISIS overseas. Raishani indicated his intention to meet an ISIS member in Turkey, who would facilitate Raishani's joining the terrorist organization in Syria. On June 21, 2017, Raishani attempted to board a flight bound for Turkey (via Portugal) at JFK Airport, at which point law enforcement officers arrested him. Following Raishani's arrest, the FBI searched Raishani's Bronx residence pursuant to a search warrant. Among the evidence recovered was a letter from Raishani addressed to members of his family, which the FBI found in a safe in Raishani's bedroom. In the letter, Raishaniwho left behind his wife and young son when he attempted to travel to Syria to join ISISadvised his wife that she could still choose to "[j]oin" him in the Islamic State, and he expressed regret that she did not share his radical views and that he had been unable to convince her to accompany him to join ISIS. Raishani also wrote: "Do Not Divulge this document and other documents that I have giv[en] to you to the authorities. Do not believe their plots. Do not divulge my absences but instead say I went to do volunteering outside the country with my medical skills and health background." * * * Raishani, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely, ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiring to provide material support or resources to ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Sentencing is scheduled for March 8, 2019, before Judge Abrams. Mr. Demers and Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD, and the NYPD's Intelligence Division. Mr. Demers and Mr. Berman also thanked the New York Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sidhardha Kamaraju, Jane Kim, and George D. Turner of the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Kevin Nunnally of the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice's National Security Division. [1] Communications and conversations discussed herein are described in substance and in part. Topic(s): Counterterrorism National Security Component(s): National Security Division (NSD) USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 18-1506 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mattis Visits US Southern Border By Carla Babb November 14, 2018 U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited the U.S. southern border Wednesday, where thousands of American troops have been deployed to support border patrol agents. Speaking to reporters en route to McAllen, Texas, Mattis stressed that "border security is part of national security." "It's obviously a moral and ethical mission to support our border patrolmen," the defense secretary said. "Our units are in a position to enable the border patrol's law enforcement operations." President Donald Trump called for increased border security to prevent a caravan of asylum-seeking migrants from Central America from entering the United States, declaring on several occasions the caravan's approach constituted a "national emergency." More than 5,600 active duty U.S. troops and another 2,100 National Guard troops have moved into the U.S.-Mexico border area in response to requests for help from the Department of Homeland Security. The military personnel assigned to help with border security have been helping with barriers, fencing and aerial support. They are legally prohibited from engaging in domestic law enforcement, such as arresting migrants crossing the border. As Mattis and Nielsen visited Texas, hundreds of Central American migrants traveling north to the U.S. border reached Tijuana, Mexico. While the bulk of the caravan is still 1,800 kilometers away, some of the early arrivals went to the border fence to celebrate. Mexican authorities said a group of 357 migrants arrived Tuesday aboard nine buses, and another group of 398 arrived Wednesday. As many as 10,000 migrants are moving through Mexico in three separate caravans. Mattis told reporters Wednesday the U.S. military has a long history of border deployments. He highlighted 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson deployed troops to stop the threat of Pancho Villa's troops during the Mexican Revolution, and 1995, when National Guard and several hundred active duty personnel were assigned to assist law enforcement. Mattis did not mention a deployment in 1997, when an active duty Marine corporal shot a Texas teenager during an anti-drug operation along the Texas-Mexico border, causing the Pentagon to suspend its anti-drug operations there. Mattis and Nielsen's border visit comes as sources say Trump is considering removing Nielsen from her post. Nielsen was selected as homeland security secretary after John Kelly left the position to become Trump's chief of staff. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi calls for confidence, resolve in reform, opening-up People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 07:16, November 14, 2018 BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for efforts to boost Chinese people's confidence and determination to follow the Party along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the path of reform and opening-up. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited a major exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up at the National Museum of China. The exhibition should help build a common understanding, accumulate consensus, raise morale, and foster solidarity and a striving spirit, Xi said. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the CPC, worked hard with persistence, achieved epic accomplishments and brought great changes to China, he said. Noting that the 19th CPC National Congress had laid down a great blueprint for China's development, Xi stressed that "as long as we continue to take the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, fully implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, remain committed to deepening reform in all areas and opening wider to the world, socialism with Chinese Characteristics will surely have a brighter future." The exhibition should help educate and guide the people to have a better understanding of the strength of the CPC, the Chinese people, and socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said. A higher degree of recognition should be built among the people of the Party's theory, the principle and strategic arrangements of reform and opening-up, and the bright prospect for reform and opening-up and socialist modernization, he said. Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also visited the exhibition. Themed around upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the exhibition has six sections, showcasing the history, accomplishments, and experience of reform and opening-up, and the strategic decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core since the 18th CPC National Congress. Exhibits include photos of significant events and decisions over the course of reform and opening-up, and models of the country's Long March rocket series and the Tiangong space station. Xi and other leaders visited the exhibits attentively, and stopped occasionally to ask for more information. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We have never posed any threat to Europe: China Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 02:36PM China says it has never threatened Europe; the statement comes against the backdrop of a suggestion by French President Emmanuel Macron for building a military force to defend Europe against the United States, China and Russia. "We have never posed any threat to Europe," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. "Europe has the right to decide its own foreign and defense policies." European leaders, the Chinese official added, have expressed a desire for closer cooperation with China. President Macron last week told France's Europe 1 radio in an interview that Europeans cannot be protected without a "true, European army." "We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America." The French president has been pushing for a closer defense union in Europe since coming to power last year. Macron, however, has had limited success amid foot-dragging by other member states of the European Union. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has seconded Macron's proposal. Merkel's clear call for a future European army came on the same day that President Donald Trump of the United States took a swipe at his French counterpart when Macron suggested creation of the European army. Trump on November 10 called Macron's idea "very insulting." Trump has faced widespread international criticism over his "protectionist" and "nationalist" policies. In remarks he made during the Armistice Day in Paris, Macron described nationalism as a "betrayal of patriotism." Last year, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said "deference to NATO can no longer be used as a convenient alibi to argue against greater European efforts." The issue of NATO has been a constant source of frustration for Trump, whose presidency has been built on the foundation of the so-called America First policies. He has called on all nations in NATO, the majority of them being European, to contribute a minimum of two percent of their GDP (gross domestic product) towards the cost of the alliance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cash for Drones: China Fighting Foreign Underwater Spying With Rewards Program Sputnik News 17:24 14.11.2018(updated 17:25 14.11.2018) Earlier, the People's Liberation Army's official newspaper reported that China was working on the creation of an arsenal of advanced drones and a network of sensors to wage an underwater campaign against the United States "before a crisis evolves into war." Authorities have rewarded a farmer from Wenzhou, southeastern China with public recognition and a cash prize after he reported a "suspicious device" on a local beach which turned out to be a professional-grade Canadian-made drone, South China Morning Post reports, citing local media. The farmer discovered the drone on a beach near his village in Zhejiang province in September, with analysis by authorities later confirming that the drone was fitted with HD camera equipment and the ability to dive to a depth of up to 600 meters. Information about the drone's exact type and its operator was not disclosed. "This kind of device can collect important environmental data [near] our waters, as well as detect the activities of our Navy and acquire information from a near distance," a report by local newspaper Wenzhour Daily explained. "The situation of counterespionage is grim. The spy devices in our maritime environment are evolving every day," the paper added. According to SCMP, the Chinese government is engaged in incentivizing citizens to look out for and report on possible spy drone sightings in China's waters, citing "increasingly rampant espionage." Beijing, the resource wrote, "has been known to mobilize its civilians, fishermen or maritime militia to counter foreign spying observed in its waters that is seen as a threat to national security." Several Canadian hi-tech companies, including St. John's, Newfoundland-based Kraken Inc. are engaged in the development and manufacture of underwater drones, including for military use, with Kraken Inc reported have secured a contract with a major defense contractor in late 2015. The Chinese Navy last seized a US Navy underwater drone vehicle operating in the South China Sea in late 2016, leading to a brief diplomatic standoff which concluded after China returned the drone to the US, presumably after studying it. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing on Macron's EU Army Proposal: China Has Never Been Threat to Europe Sputnik News 14:00 14.11.2018 BEIJING (Sputnik) China has never posed a threat to Europe, but notes that the continent has the right to make its own choices on particular issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying stated. "I would like to note that European countries are independent and sovereign states, and they have the right to make their own choices. And as for China, we have never posed any threat to Europe," Hua said. She noted that Paris had recently hosted events marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I that noted the great contribution of Chinese workers. "All European leaders who have visited China recently also expressed their support for the peaceful development of China and expressed their hope for further progress in strengthening cooperation with China," Hua stressed. The statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry comes amid Macron's call for the establishment of an EU army that would be independent of the United States. The French president has stressed that France had recently faced multiple attempts by outside forces to meddle in its domestic affairs and cybersecurity. He, in particular, mentioned Russia, China and the United States. The first ever Paris Peace Forum, organized by Macron, took place in the French capital on November 11-13 to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I. The event, which brought together delegations from about 60 countries of the world, served as a platform for the discussion of a wide range of issues, including global governance, security and terrorist threat. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC November 14, 2018 As part of the Trump Administration's efforts to prevent U.S. funds from reaching the Cuban military, intelligence, and security services, the State Department is adding 26 subentities to the Cuba Restricted List, including 16 hotels owned by the Cuban military. The Department is also updating the names of five already listed subentities to ensure they remain current. The changes take effect Thursday, November 15, 2018. The Department will continue to update the list periodically, in accordance with the June 2017 National Security Presidential Memorandum Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba. The Federal Register will publish the update, and the list will be available on the Department's website here. The Cuba Restricted List contains entities and subentities controlled by the Cuban military, intelligence, and security services or personnel. Direct financial transactions with these entities and subentities are generally prohibited because they would disproportionately benefit those services or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people or private enterprise in Cuba. For more information on the Cuba Restricted List, please refer to Treasury regulations at 31 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 515, here, and to Commerce regulations at 15 CFR parts 730-774, here. For further information, please contact WHA Press at WHAPress@state.gov and EB Press at EEB-A-PD-Clearances@state.gov. Pence on North Korea: 'Now We Need to See Results' By VOA News November 15, 2018 The proposed second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un must result in a detailed list of North Korean nuclear weapons sites, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday. In an interview with NBC News, Pence said the second Trump-Kim summit, tentatively scheduled for sometime early next year, will be where a "verifiable plan" to disclose the nuclear sites must be reached. "I think it will be absolutely imperative in this next summit that we come away with a plan for identifying all of the weapons in question, identifying all the development sites, allowing for inspections of the sites and the plan for dismantling nuclear weapons," Pence said. "Now we need to see results," Pence added. But he said the U.S. will not demand that Pyongyang hand over such a list before the summit. Such a list is widely seen as the first step North Korea could take to show it is serious about giving up its nuclear arsenal. Pence's statement is perhaps the most specific public demand that the Trump administration has made of North Korea since Trump and Kim held a historic first summit in Singapore in June. At that summit both sides agreed to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and to improve ties between Washington and Pyongyang. Nuclear talks have stalled since then. Most recently, a planned meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a senior North Korean official was canceled, with no reason given. But Trump has remained publicly optimistic, declaring shortly after the Singapore summit that "there is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." Last week Trump said he is "very happy" with how the negotiations are going. "We think it's going fine. We're in no rush. We're in no hurry," Trump said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France is US' ally, not its vassal state, Macron tells Trump Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 10:26PM French President Emmanuel Macron has hit back at his US counterpart Donald Trump's recent Twitter attacks, saying France is an ally of the US, not its vassal state. "What I want you to understand is simply that the United States is our historic ally and will continue to be. It's the ally with which we take all the risks, with which we carry out the most complicated operations. But being an ally doesn't mean being a vassal state," Macron said on Wednesday. "Between allies, we owe respect to each other, and so I don't want to hear the rest of it. I think what the French people expect of me is not to respond to tweets, but instead to commit on continuing this important history," he said in a televised interview aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in Toulon, southern France. "I think he's playing American politics, and I let him play American politics. I am not in charge of that, and I think that is not what is expected of me by our fellow citizens," he went on to say. Macron's comments came after Trump unleashed what seemed like a personal grudge against the French president over his recent call to establish a "real, European army" to provide "protection from China, Russia, and even from the United States of America." The US president said on Tuesday it was America that came to the rescue of France during World War II. "How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the US came along," he tweeted. Macron on Wednesday once again highlighted the significance of his call for establishing a European army, saying that Europe should not depend on the US for its security. "To not be a vassal state, we should not depend on them, especially on Americans. We have to strive more, we have to work more ourselves as French and European citizens," he noted. Trump had earlier described Macron's call for a European army "very insulting." Under President Macron, France has embraced a more Europe-centered approach and has closely partnered with Germany another champion of the European cause. In his Tuesday tweets, the American president said it was Germany that had posed a threat to France in the two world wars. "Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two," he wrote. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated Macron's call for a European Army word for word. "The times when we could rely on others are over. This means we Europeans have to take our fate fully into our own hands," She said. "We should work on a vision of one day establishing a real, European army." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pres. Rouhani: Iran makes US understand it can sell oil IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 14, IRNA -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the Americans found that Iran is selling its oil and Tehran has many ways to sell the oil that sanctions are ineffective. 'The White House leader vie sanctions, pressure and conditions set up in the propaganda system to frustrate the Iranian people, based on their unsubstantial thinking that November 4 is the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran,' President Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The president noted that people may have some complaints towards the officials, we must help each other, but that people stand firm against a bullying power in the world and show that they are not affected by their false propaganda, it is a great success and victory for the Iranian nation." President Rouhani stated that there are difficulties in society and economic difficulties, but that people are proud when they stand against the American conspiracy, which is a great honor for the great Iranian nation at this critical juncture. 'The US leaders thought they would cut Iran's oil completely, but they found in the last days that it was not possible, either because of their own internal problems and because of the price of oil,' he said, noting that Americans had once again found a wrong claim and set goals that they would never reach. 9455**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq rejects US deadline to halt Iran gas imports Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 10:31AM Iraq has rejected a US deadline to stop importing Iranian gas, warning that any halt to the supplies would create a real power crisis which sparked several days of unrest in Basra and elsewhere this summer. "Stopping Iranian gas after the deadline will create a real power crisis. We need more time the Americans are completely aware of how desperately we need Iranian gas," an Iraqi official was quoted as saying on Wednesday. The announcement came after the US embassy in Iraq said on Thursday that Washington had given Baghdad 45 days to stop purchasing gas and electricity from Iran. Iraq has extensive trade ties with Iran and heavily depends on Iranian natural gas imports for electricity generation. Basra in southern Iraq was hit by violent protests which spread to other cities this summer, partly because of a halt of Iranian electricity exports. Earlier this month, Iraq's former prime minister and leader of the al-Wataniya faction in parliament Ayad Allawi warned that new US sanctions on Iran would have deep impact on the Iraqi economy. Allawi said like the Iraqi government and other political leaders, he was opposed to unilateral US sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Iraq's al-Maluma news agency reported. Iraqi new Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi also said his country "will not be part of the sanctions regime, as it will not be part of aggression against any country." The two neighbors are currently working on increasing Iranian gas flow to Sadr, Baghdad and al-Mansuriya power plants through a 270-kilometer pipeline and to Basra near the Iranian border via a separate pipeline. Iran's gas supply to Baghdad began last June at a rate of 7 million cubic meters per day. It will increase to 35 million cubic meters daily, according to the terms of their agreement. Head of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce Jafar Rasul Hamdani said on Tuesday that Iran's gas and electricity exports to Iraq rose 40 percent in the first six months of the current year from the same period a year ago. A second official told Reuters on Wednesday that Iraq would submit a request to the United States to allow it to import beyond the 45-day deadline. Iran is currently Iraq's top trade partner. Hamdani said despite US sanctions against Iran, the two countries have sharply increased their trade exchanges in recent months. "In the first six months of this year, the volume of exchanges rose from $4 billion to $6.4 billion compared to the same period in 2017," he told Iran's state news agency IRNA. The number of Iraqi pilgrims and tourists travelling to Iran also increased 17 percent during the period, he added. "These figures indicate that despite the problems, the will of the two countries is based on increasing cooperation and economic relations." Hamadani made the remarks on the sidelines of the Baghdad International Fair where 60 Iranian companies have been showcasing their products. Companies from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Hungary, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Syria, Indonesia, Jordan, Ukraine, Tunisia and Palestine participated. An entire hangar has been set aside for Iranian goods ranging from food to construction and sanitary materials, carpets, machinery, steel, auto parts, plastics, chemical products and engineering services. "Iranian materials are very important for Iraq," Khalid al-Wali, an Iraqi businessman eyeing up an Iranian chemicals manufacturer as a potential supplier, told Reuters. "Products coming from Iran are cheap. It's a big source for raw materials." Iran's Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi said the two countries will expand their already flourishing trade. The US sanctions, he said, "will not affect the relations between the two countries." Masjedi said that trade between the two countries was on track to reach $8.5 billion this year, and Iran hopes to expand bilateral trade to $22 billion annually. Touching on US sanctions, he said so long as companies do not use the US dollar or go through the US financial system, they are free to do business with Iran. Vice-president of Iran's Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), Mohammad-Reza Modoudi, said Iraq had been the top destination of Iranian goods for exports since March for the first time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran hangs 'sultan of coins', accomplice for corruption Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 09:38AM Two men sentenced to death for corrupt economic practices were hanged in Tehran early Wednesday morning, the Judiciary's Mizan news agency reported. Vahid Mazlumin, known as the "sultan of coins", and his accomplice Mohammad Ismail Qasemi, also known as Mohammad Salem, had been convicted of "spreading corruption on earth", a capital offense under the Islamic law. According to Mizan, the court had found them guilty of forming "a corruption network, disrupting the country's economic, foreign currency and monetary system by carrying out illegal transactions and major smuggling of foreign currencies and coins." They had been sentenced to death by a special court set up in August to confront profiteering and corruption in the wake of new US sanctions on Iran. The ruling had been upheld by the Supreme Court. Eleven more defendants in the case have received jail terms of up to 10 years, Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said on Saturday. The special courts were set up on the request of the Judiciary chief from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei who has called for "swift and just" legal action to confront an "economic war" by foreign enemies. It came amid a public outcry against profiteering and corruption after Washington's reimposition of sanctions on Iran in May unleashed a frenzy of illegal trading in hard currencies or gold. The sanctions target Iran's purchase of US dollars, its trade in gold and other precious metals as well as its automotive and aviation sectors. According to the Judiciary spokesman, 96 people have been arrested for manipulating the currency and gold market. Media reports say Mazlumin had been caught with two tonnes of gold coins. On the request of Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, Iran's special tribunals were set up in August for two years and directed to hand down maximum sentences to those "disrupting and corrupting the economy." "Given the current special economic conditions that are considered a kind of economic war and, unfortunately, some of those disrupting and corrupting the economy also provide for the enemy's goals and commit crimes that require urgent and rapid action, if you see fit, please allow the head of the judiciary to act within the framework of the penal code ... on those disrupting the economic system," the Judiciary chief wrote to Ayatollah Khamenei at the time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq Seeking To Trade Food For Iranian Energy Supplies, Officials Say By RFE/RL November 14, 2018 Baghdad has agreed with Tehran to exchange Iraqi food items for Iranian energy supplies and has requested permission from the United States to extend its sanctions waiver to allow the deal to proceed, Iraqi officials have been quoted as saying. Two unidentified Iraqi government officials told the Reuters news agency on November 14 that the country needed more time to find alternative sources to Iranian gas supplies to fuel its electrical stations and avoid a "real power crisis." The United States on November 5 reimposed sanctions on Iran's energy sector that had been eased as part of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. However, Washington granted several countries temporary waivers to allow them to continue imports of Iranian energy supplies to avoid hardships. Iraq was given a 45-day waiver to allow it to continue purchasing gas and electricity from Iran. U.S. officials said the exception would give Iraq time to "take steps toward energy independence." However, a senior Iraqi government official told Reuters that the U.S. deadline of 45 days to stop importing Iranian gas "is not enough at all for Iraq to find an alternative source." "Stopping Iranian gas after the deadline will create a real power crisis," the official said. Iraq finds itself in a delicate position on the question of trade with Iran, as Baghdad sees both Washington and Tehran as allies. While Iraq looks to the United States as a partner in military matters, it has developed extensive economic ties with Iran over many decades. Meanwhile, with U.S. sanctions cutting into Iran's oil exports and global trade, Iranian businesses have been looking to expand their presence in neighboring Iraq. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iraq-seeking -to-trade-food-for-iranian-energy-supplies- officials-say/29600262.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Concerns Raised Over 'Secret Executions' Of Arabs In Iran By RFE/RL November 14, 2018 Amnesty International has urged authorities in Iran to immediately provide information about hundreds of members of the Arab ethnic minority who have reportedly being held incommunicado following a deadly attack in the southwestern city of Ahvaz in September. The London-based human rights watchdog made the call on November 13 following reports that 22 men have been executed "in secret" over the previous days. Iranian officials have dismissed those reports. If confirmed, the secret executions of these men would be "not only a crime under international law but also an abhorrent violation of their right to life and a complete mockery of justice," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa. Up to 600 ethnic Arabs have been detained without access to their families or lawyers since September 24, according to Amnesty International, following an armed attack that claimed at least 25 lives in Ahvaz, the capital of the southwestern oil-producing province of Khuzestan, two days earlier. Iran has blamed the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA), a group seeking a separate state for ethnic Arabs in Khuzestan, for the September 22 attack. ASMLA has condemned the violence and said it was not involved. Khuzestan Province's governor told state-run media earlier this week that reports of 22 detainees being executed were "complete lies," and said that those arrested in connection with the Ahvaz attack had been charged. Amnesty International called on the Iranian authorities to disclose the fate of all the detainees, give the families and their lawyers access to them, and ensure they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment. "In the absence of any information about the whereabouts of the detainees feared killed, the governor's blanket denial will provide little comfort to families who have been unable to see or hear from their relatives since their arrests," Luther said. Amnesty International also called on the authorities to release any ethnic Arabs "held solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly or solely on account of their ethnic identity." Iran must not use the attack in Ahvaz as "an excuse to carry out a purge against members of Iran's persecuted" Arab ethnic minority in Khuzestan Province, according to Luther. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/concerns- raised-over-secret-executions-of-ahwazi -arabs-in-iran/29599991.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Claims Iran Is Spending $1 Billion A Year Backing Hizballah, Other Allies By RFE/RL November 15, 2018 The United States is claiming that Iran spends nearly $1 billion a year providing support to Hizballah, Hamas, and other allied militant groups in the Middle East. U.S. Ambassador Nathan Sales, a coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department, told reporters in Washington late on November 13 that Iran spends about $700 million a year on Hizballah, the Lebanese militia that has fought wars with Israel and has provided critical support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his seven-year civil war against Sunni rebels. In addition, Sales said Tehran gives Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip, and other "Palestinian terrorist groups" another $100 million a year. He did not specify where the rest of the funding goes, but he claimed the total spending by Iran supporting militant activities primarily in the Middle East is close to $1 billion a year. "Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. It has held that dubious distinction for many years now, and it shows no signs of relinquishing the title," Sales said. "Sadly, it is the Iranian people who are forced to pay this price. The resources that Iran uses to fund its global terrorist ambitions are resources that come directly out of the pockets of everyday, average Iranians." U.S. President Donald Trump has said the sanctions he reimposed on Iran this year were aimed in part at forcing Tehran to curb its support for militant activities in the Middle East, making such financial outlays more difficult and burdensome. A principal goal of the U.S. sanctions imposed last week was to cut Iran's revenues from exporting oil, which have provided a large share of funding for the government and Iran's military, including its Quds Force, which conducts foreign military operations involving Hamas and Hizballah. Iranian officials have said the sanctions will do nothing to deter the country's support for allies in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and elsewhere. But in street protests that broke out in Iran earlier this year, some demonstrators expressed concern about the money the government is spending in Syria and elsewhere outside Iran. Sales made his comments as the United States announced a new round of sanctions against the son of Hizballah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, as well as other senior commanders of Hizballah and Hamas. The department announced it was offering up to $5 million for information leading to Hamas leader Salih al-Aruri and Lebanese Hizballah leaders Khalil Yusuf Mahmud Harb and Haitham Ali Tabatabai. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Michael Evanoff said Harb is Hizballah's military liaison with Hamas while Tabatabai commands Hizballah forces fighting alongside the Syrian Army in Syria. Sales claimed that Hizballah's extensive military operations and growing political clout in Lebanon pose a danger for the Lebanese people. He made that claim on the same day that Lebanon's prime minister accused Hizballah of blocking the formation of a government in Beirut. "Inside Lebanon, Hizballah's destructive actions have endangered the Lebanese people," Sales said. "Thanks to Iran's backing, Hizballah has built a fearsome arsenal. The group has stockpiled more than 100,000 rockets and missiles inside Lebanon, and we see this as a massive and destabilizing buildup." "As we all know, Hizballah hides its missile factories in population centers, effectively using innocent civilians as human shields," Sales said. The ambassador claimed that Iran's ties with Hamas have grown recently and also pose a danger in the region. "We are also deeply concerned about Tehran's growing ties to Hamas," he said. "After a brief split early in the Syria conflict, Hamas and Iran have rebuilt their relationship. Iran is once again providing Hamas with much-needed funding." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us -nathan-sales-claims-iran-spending-1- billion-dollars-a-year-backing-hizballah- hamas-other-militant-allies/29601564.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Allegedly Trained to Take Out S-300 During Drills With Greece Sputnik News 11:06 14.11.2018 The war games between the Israeli and Hellenic Air Force lasted twelve days and specifically saw the participation of Israel's s fourth-generation F-16I "Sufa" fighter jet squadrons, which "drilled various scenarios." During recent air exercises with Greece, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) could specifically drill tackling the S-300 surface-to-air missile (SAM) defence systems, a twitter user nicknamed Rambo alleged. His remarks came after the end of what the Israeli military touted as "one of the largest fighter jet exercises held by the IAF overseas in 2018." The Jerusalem Post, in turn, reported that the two countries' air forces "practiced dogfights, ground bombing runs as well as flying in environments threatened by advanced surface-to-air missile systems, " in an apparent reference to the Russian-made S-300 batteries. In early November, Al-Masdar News cited an unnamed military source in Damascus as saying that the IAF has not conducted operation in Syria since Russia delivered S-300 air defence units to the Syrian government forces. On October 3, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced that Israel was unhappy with the S-300 supplies to Syria but that it would not stop its military operations in the region. Earlier, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia had completed its delivery of new S-300 systems to Syria, including 49 units of systems-related equipment such as radars, basic target acquisition systems, command posts and four launchers. The decision was made in the aftermath of the inadvertent destruction of a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft by Syrian air defences repelling an Israeli air strike. The Russian military has blamed the wreckage on Tel Aviv, emphasizing that an Israeli fighter jet had used the Russian plane as a shield against Syrian air defense systems. Israel has dismissed the accusations, claiming that it had warned Moscow about the upcoming air raid in the area in advance. The S-300 missile systems were initially purchased by Cyprus in the mid-1990s, and was later transferred to the Greek island of Crete following objections from Turkey. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Bangladesh deploys armed forces to force out Rohingya' Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 09:16AM Bangladesh is reportedly using heavy-handed tactics in an attempt to force Rohingya Muslim refugees who have taken shelter in the country after fleeing state violence in neighboring Myanmar back across the border. The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Bangladeshi paramilitary troops, police, and army have been deployed in southeast Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, where the Rohingya are cramped in refugee camps, to make final preparations to start sending back the first group of the minority Muslim refugees to Myanmar on Thursday. The British daily said it had seen and could verify a video in which a Rohingya leader in Chakmarkul Camp is seen saying he was beaten in the office of Bangladeshi camp officials, known as CICs, "with a large stick" when he refused to provide them with a list of Rohingya in his camp on Monday. "They stepped on my neck, I could not stand it," Ullah said in the footage. "You can see from my face how I was beaten." It also quoted other refugees as saying they were reluctant to go back and afraid of the military presence. "The army is in every corner of the Jamtoli and Hakimpara camps, sitting and checking people and not letting them move between camps," one Rohingya refugee in the Jamtoli camp said. "People are too afraid to leave their houses or eat. Some left our block at midnight using secret paths for other camps, especially Kutupalong, where there is not so much fear about repatriation," the refugee added. Myanmar and Bangladesh announced earlier this month that they were going to start implementing a previous repatriation agreement in mid-November. The announcement prompted human rights groups, aid agencies, and many governments to raise concern about safety issues for Rohingya back in Myanmar. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh since last year, when Myanmar's armed forces, backed by Buddhist extremist mobs, intensified a crackdown that had already been underway against the Muslim community in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims were killed, and others only survived by fleeing to Bangladesh, where they now face potential violence as well. This is while Bangladesh's foreign secretary and refugee commissioner have several times offered assurances that they would not send the Rohingya back against their will. Dozens of Rohingya families, who were placed on a list of 2,200 refugees "approved" for return by Myanmar, told The Guardian that they did not want to return under the current conditions. Many had already fled the camps and gone into hiding, while others had attempted suicide over fears of going back to Myanmar. The United Nations (UN) has repeatedly warned that the repatriation of the Rohingya could be dangerous, given that they still faced violence in Myanmar. Last week, UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Yanghee Lee said the people were still facing a "high risk of persecution." UN demands halt to repatriation UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has, meanwhile, called on Dhaka to halt the repatriation, warning that the Muslims' lives would be at "serious risk." "Forcibly expelling or returning refugees would be a clear violation of the core legal principle of non-refoulement," Bachelet said on Tuesday. She explained that the legal principle "forbids repatriation where there are threats of persecution or serious risks to the life and physical integrity or liberty of the individuals." Suu Kyi once again refuses to shoulder responsibility over Rohingya Meanwhile, Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been blamed by the international community for inaction over the plight of the Rohingya, has once again refused to take responsibility. US Vice President Mike Pence told her on the sidelines of a summit in Singapore on Wednesday that the violence against and the persecution of the Rohingya was "without excuse." Suu Kyi responded by saying, "Of course people have different points of view." She has already taken the side of the military in the violence against the Rohingya. Amnesty International on Monday stripped Suu Kyi of its most prestigious human rights prize over her failure to speak out about violence against the Rohingya, calling her posture a "shameful betrayal." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rights Group Calls for Halt to Rohingya Repatriation By VOA News November 14, 2018 Amnesty International is calling on Myanmar and Bangladesh to end their plans to send Rohingya Muslims back to Rakhine state, where the United Nations says they are subject to extrajudicial killings and other atrocities carried out by Myanmar's military. Amnesty says the organized return of the Rohingya, slated to start as soon as November 15, is a "reckless move, which puts lives at risk." Amnesty's East and Southeast Asia Director Nicholas Bequelin said, "These women, men and children would be sent back into the Myanmar military's grasp with no protection guarantees, to live alongside those who torched their homes and whose bullets they fled." Bangladesh has announced it is ready to start repatriating some of the more than 700,000 Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh since August 2017. They fled to escape a crackdown by the Myanmar military in response to a series of attacks committed by Rohingya militants. Myanmar, too, has announced it is ready to welcome the Rohingya back. But U.N. human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet has voiced her concern about the safety of those who return to Rakhine state, and Amnesty said it is unclear whether the people Bangladesh is planning to repatriate have consented to the move. Bangladesh has said that only refugees who say they want to return to Myanmar will be repatriated. Earlier Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence openly rebuked Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi for Myanmar's treatment of Rohingya, during a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Singapore. A special U.N. fact-finding mission said the military acted "with genocidal intent" against the Rohingyas, citing numerous atrocities such as extrajudicial killings, gang rapes and the torching of entire villages. The U.S. vice president said the "violence and persecution" against the Rohingya "is without excuse." Pence also urged Aung San Suu Kyi to pardon two Reuters journalists who were convicted and sentenced in September of violating Myanmar's colonial-era Official Secrets Act. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested last December after meeting with two police officers at a restaurant in Yangon and being given a stack of documents. They were investigating the massacre of 10 Rohingya by police and soldiers in the village of Inn Din last year. Pence said he was eager to discuss with Aung San Suu Kyi the importance of ensuring a "free and independent press" in Myanmar. In response, Aung San Suu Kyi said her government is "in a better position to explain to you what is happening and how we see things panning out." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh protest repatriation to Myanmar Iran Press TV Thu Nov 15, 2018 04:41PM Hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees at camps in southeast Bangladesh have protested against sending them back to Myanmar, where they fled a military crackdown. "No, no, we won't go," hundreds of Rohingya protesters chanted in the Unchiprang camp in Bangladesh, near the Myanmar border, on Thursday. Some angry demonstrators waved placards that said "We want justice" and "We will never return to Myanmar without our citizenship". The Bangladeshi government had begun preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,200 Rohingya to Myanmar on Thursday but by late afternoon no refugees had been moved back across the border. Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmar's foreign affairs ministry, blamed Bangladesh for failing to send back the refugees but said it was still ready to accept them. "Bangladesh side didn't transfer anyone until now. To be honest, Bangladesh is weak in following the physical arrangement." Bangladesh and Myanmar government officials announced last month that 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, which would begin by "mid-November". The UN condemned the deal, with the UN refugee agency saying it has not been consulted about the plan. Bangladesh has pledged not to force anyone to return and asked the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to make sure those short-listed to return really want to go back. On Tuesday, UN rights boss Michelle Bachelet called on Bangladesh to halt the repatriation plan, warning that lives would be put at "serious risk". The UN human rights office continued to receive reports of ongoing violations committed against Rohingya in Myanmar - including alleged killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests, Bachelet said. Amnesty International on Monday stripped Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of its most prestigious human rights prize over her failure to speak out about violence against the Rohingya, calling her posture a "shameful betrayal." Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been living for more than a year in cramped refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh after fleeing violence in Rakhine at the hands of the Myanmar military. The campaign against the Rohingya, which the UN has described as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, has seen mass killings, torture, and gang-rape of the Muslims as well as arson attacks against their homes and farms in Rakhine. Back in August, a UN investigation into the acts of violence in Myanmar concluded that the country's military had committed the atrocities against the Rohingya Muslims with "genocidal intent." The Rohingya Muslims who have lived in Myanmar for generations are denied citizenship and are branded illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which likewise denies them citizenship. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rights groups warn against repatriation of Rohingya Muslims Iran Press TV Thu Nov 15, 2018 11:07AM Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International have called on Bangladesh and Myanmar to drop plans for the repatriation of Rohingya Muslims. In a statement released on Thursday, the HRW said Dhaka had to endorse the recommendations offered by top United Nations (UN) refugee and human rights officials and immediately stop the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. "The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar," said Bill Frelick, the HRW refugee rights director. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims were killed, injured, arbitrarily arrested, or raped by Myanmarese soldiers and Buddhist mobs mainly between November 2016 and August 2017, when the surviving members of the community started fleeing to Bangladesh en masse. With a population of more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees are now living in crammed camps in the border areas of Bangladesh, whose army troops and paramilitary forces have now been deployed to enforce a plan to repatriate a first group of refugees that includes 2,251 individuals, according to a recent report by The Guardian, an indication that Bangladesh may be prepared to used force. Bangladeshi authorities claim that the 2,251 Rohingya Muslims scheduled for return are willing to go back to Rakhine State, their home province in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. This is while reports, including the recent one by The Guardian, point to the contrary. Also on Thursday, around 1,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees held a protest rally at the Unchiprang camp one of the sprawling refugee settlements near the city of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh to express their strong opposition to a return to Myanmar, where rights officials say the risk of state-sponsored violence continues to exist. "Nothing the Myanmar government has said or done suggests that the Rohingya will be safe upon return," Frelick, the HRW official, said. Myanmar and Bangladesh announced earlier this month that they were going to start implementing a previous repatriation agreement in mid-November. According to a Myanmarese government statement, an initial group of 2,251 would be sent back from Thursday at a rate of 150 people per day. The announcement prompted human rights groups, aid agencies, and many governments to raise concerns about safety issues for Rohingya back in Myanmar. In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty International also warned against the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, saying the controversial plan would put thousands of the members of the minority group at risk. "These women, men and children would be sent back into the Myanmar military's grasp with no protection guarantees, to live alongside those who torched their homes and whose bullets they fled," said Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty's regional director for East and Southeast Asia. "A population traumatized by Myanmar's deadly campaign is now terrified of what their future holds." The Rohingya refugees have long insisted that they will not return without guarantees of basic rights, including citizenship and freedom of movement. Back in August, a UN investigation into the acts of violence in Myanmar concluded that the country's military committed the atrocities against the Rohingya Muslims with "genocidal intent." The UN, too, has repeatedly warned that the repatriation of the Rohingya would be dangerous, given that they still faced violence in Myanmar. Last week, UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Yanghee Lee said the people were still facing a "high risk of persecution." The Rohingya Muslims who have lived in Myanmar for generations are denied citizenship and are branded illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which likewise denies them citizenship. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Any unilateral US sanctions illegitimate, could complicate bilateral ties, says Russia Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 05:36PM The Kremlin has warned the US against imposing any new sanctions on Russia, saying such a move will "further complicate" bilateral ties. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Dozhd TV channel on Wednesday that Moscow could not predict what new sanctions the US planned to slap on Russia, but was sure that any restrictions would harm bilateral relations, Russia's TASS news agency reported. "It's difficult to say about the nature of these sanctions," Peskov said. "Will they further complicate the situation with Russian-US relations? The answer is unequivocal: certainly, they will." Relations between the two countries have hit new lows, with American officials planning to impose fresh sanctions against Moscow over the poisoning of former Russian intelligence agent Sergei Skripal in Britain. Peskov said the Kremlin did not recognize any US's "unilateral restrictions," saying it considered them "illegitimate." Washington has already imposed sanctions on Moscow over what it calls the attempted assassination of Skripal. Back on March 4, Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, fell ill in the British city of Salisbury. They were hospitalized and diagnosed with exposure to Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent. Britain blamed Russia but never offered solid evidence. The Kremlin has on numerous occasions rejected any involvement, saying the substance could have originated from the countries studying Novichok, including the UK itself. However, London and Washington, along with their European allies, keep accusing Moscow of having orchestrated the alleged poisoning attack. Also in his interview, Peskov hit out at the "unpredictability" of the US under Donald Trump's administration, saying it was causing "deep global concern." "The fact that America has become unpredictable lately is no secret to anyone," he said. "Such unpredictability from the largest country, the most powerful economy in the world, is the subject of deep global concern," he added. The comments come ahead of a slated face-to-face between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at a G20 summit in Argentina later this month. The two leaders met at the Elysee Palace in the French capital on Sunday. Moscow and Washington are also at loggerheads over a range of other issues, especially the latter's recent plan to walk away from a key Cold War-era arms control treaty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Says U.S. 'Unpredictability' Causing 'Global Concern' By RFE/RL November 14, 2018 The Kremlin has lashed out over what Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says is the recent "unpredictability" of the United States, saying it was causing "deep global concern." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the comments on November 14, two weeks ahead of an expected meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump during a summit of the Group of 20 (G20) in Argentina. A July summit in Helsinki was the only full-scale meeting the two presidents have held since Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants relations with Russia to improve, took office in January 2017. His term has been marked by persistent tension over issues including Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014, its role in wars in Syria and eastern Ukraine, its alleged meddling in the election he won, and the poisoning of a Russian double agent in Britain. "The fact that America has become unpredictable lately is no secret to anyone," Peskov told Dozhd TV during a visit by Putin to Singapore for the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "Such unpredictability from the largest country, the most powerful economy in the world, is the subject of deep global concern," he said. Peskov did not specifically criticize Trump. Russian officials have repeatedly suggested that Trump wants better ties with Russia but is being thwarted by "Russophobic" opponents at home. The United States and its allies accuse Russia of being behind the March nerve-agent attack on Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the English city of Salisbury. Despite substantial evidence, Moscow denies any involvement in the poisoning, which led to additional U.S. and European Union sanctions on Moscow and to diplomatic expulsions of Russian and Western officials. The United States earlier this month said it was eyeing fresh sanctions against Russia over the poisoning. Repeating Russia's public position on sanctions that have been imposed on it, Peskov said: "We do not recognize these unilateral restrictions...and we consider them illegitimate." He said any new sanctions would only "further complicate" Russia-U.S. relations. After the summit in Helsinki on July 16, Trump was widely criticized for not taking a harder line with Putin and for seemingly refusing to press him on several matters, including Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Trump is not attending the ASEAN summit and sent Vice President Mike Pence instead. Peskov said that "no separate meeting" was planned between Putin and Pence. He said there was no need for such talks because Putin and Trump are to meet on the sidelines of the November 30-December 1 G20 summit in Buenos Aires. With reporting by AFP and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia- says-us-unpredictability-causing-global -concern-/29600319.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address State Dept Considers Second Round of Sanctions Against Russia Over Skripal Case Sputnik News 23:32 14.11.2018(updated 23:34 14.11.2018) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is actively considering a second, more draconian round of sanctions against Russia over the Skripal case, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Christopher Ford said on Wednesday. "Under statute there is a menu of options if you will, things that need to be considered. As part of that, we do not have an inter-agency decision answer on what those pieces are yet. It is under active consideration," Ford said. "The second round of sanctions under the statue is a more draconian menu than the first round." Last week, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told Sputnik that the United States intends to move forward with imposing additional sanctions against Russia for the attack against Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal. The United States has accused Russia of involvement in the March 4 nerve agent attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English town of Salisbury, a claim repeatedly denied by Moscow. In August, the United States announced that it was imposing sanctions on Russia under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. The law allows for the termination of foreign assistance and arms sales, denial of US government credit or other financial assistance, prohibitions on exports and a suspension of diplomatic relations, among other possible measures. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military Approves Technical Specifications for Il-276 Transport Plane Sputnik News 06:28 14.11.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Defense Ministry has approved the tactical and technical requirements for the Il-276 prospective medium-lift military transport plane, aircraft manufacturer Ilyushin Aviation Complex told Sputnik. "The tactical and technical requirements for a medium-lift military transport aircraft have been approved," the company said in response to a relevant question. "We are certain that the Il-276 will become one of the main assets of Russia's military transport aviation for several decades to come," the company stressed. The IL-276 is a prospective two-engine medium-lift military transport aircraft, providing transportation of cargoes weighing up to 20 metric tons at a speed of up to 800 kilometres (about 500 miles) per hour. The work on Il-276 draft design is currently underway. The plane is expected to make its maiden flight in 2023, while first deliveries to the Russian armed forces are planned for 2026. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Court Rules Navalny's Arrests 'Unlawful,' 'Politically Motivated' By RFE/RL November 15, 2018 The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Russia violated opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's rights over numerous arrests and jailings, calling them "unlawful and arbitrary" and "politically motivated." The human rights court in Strasbourg, France, on November 15 delivered its ruling, rejecting an appeal filed by Russia over a previous judgment favoring Navalny. The court upheld its previous decision that found Navalny's seven arrests and two instances of pretrial detentions by Russian authorities between 2012-14 violated his rights, "lacked a legitimate aim," and "had not been necessary in a democratic society." He immediately hailed the decision, writing on Twitter, "Won. Fully. The government is crushedHooray!" He also told reporters that the ruling was an example of "genuine justice" and was "very important not just for me but for other people all over Russia who are arrested every day." As part of the ruling, the court ordered Russia to pay Navalny about 64,000 euros in compensation, costs, and expenses and said its decision was final and binding. Moscow did not immediately comment on the court's ruling. Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critics, attended the hearing, along with his brother Oleg, and posted a photograph of the two of them at the ECHR on Instragram. Russia's Constitutional Court has previously ruled that officials can ignore judgments by the ECHR if they are found to contravene the Russian Constitution. Russia has lost a number of high-profile cases in Strasbourg and been ordered to pay out hefty compensation in scores of politically embarrassing cases. Navalny was originally prevented from boarding a flight out of Moscow on November 13 to attend the hearing. The Federal Bailiffs Service (FSSP) said he was barred from leaving due to what it said was debt he owed Kirovles, a state timber company at the center of a politically charged criminal case in which he has now been convicted twice. The FSSP later said the fine was paid and that restrictions on Navalny's travel abroad had been lifted. He said he would sue the FSSP over what he called "illegal activities" and demand compensation for the 29,542 rubles ($436) in financial losses he said he and his lawyer sustained due to the FSSP's decision to bar him from leaving. The ECHR ruling was on an appeal filed by Russia over a court decision in February 2017 that ruled in favor of Navalny, but Russia filed an appeal to challenge the decision. Navalny, 42, has organized large street protests on several occasions since 2011 and has published a series of reports alleging corruption in Putin's circle. He has repeatedly been jailed for periods ranging from 10 days to a few weeks, usually for alleged infractions of laws governing public demonstrations. Navalny had spent nearly 200 days in jail since 2011, including 140 days since the start of his attempt to challenge Putin in the March 2018 presidential election, his spokeswoman has said. Electoral authorities barred Navalny from the ballot, citing convictions in two financial-crimes cases he and his supporters contend were Kremlin-orchestrated efforts to punish him for his opposition activity and for the reports alleging corruption. Navalny was convicted in 2013 of stealing money from Kirovles and was sentenced to five years in prison. But the sentence was later suspended, sparing him from serving time in prison. In 2016, the ECHR ruled that the Kirovles trial was unfair and that the two men had been convicted of actions "indistinguishable from regular commercial activity." The Russian Supreme Court then threw out the 2013 convictions and ordered a new trial. In February 2017, the lower court again convicted the two men and handed down the same suspended prison sentence. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/european-rights- court-set-to-rule-on-russia-s-actions-against -navalny/29601896.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Draft Design of Il-276 Military Transport Plane to Be Ready in 2019 Sputnik News 04:31 15.11.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The draft design of the Il-276 prospective medium-lift military transport plane is expected to be completed in 2019, aircraft manufacturer Ilyushin Aviation Complex told Sputnik. "The preliminary design of the Il-276 plane is expected to be completed by the Ilyushin specialists in 2019. The list of subcontractors in the development work has already been approved," Ilyushin said. According to the company, the development of the plane is carried out simultaneously with two types of engines the first batch of the aircraft will be equipped with the PS-90A-76 engines, while the later ones with the upgraded PD-14 engines. "On-board radio-electronic equipment will allow the plane to fly in any weather conditions, day and night, in all climatic zones," the company stressed. The Il-276 is a prospective two-engine medium-lift military transport aircraft, providing transportation of cargoes weighing up to 20 metric tons at a speed of up to 800 kilometres (about 500 miles) per hour. The plane is expected to make its maiden flight in 2023, while first deliveries to the Russian armed forces are planned for 2026. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address State Arms Exporter Explains What Makes Russian S-400 So Unique Sputnik News 17:33 15.11.2018(updated 17:34 15.11.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's S-400 Triumph mobile air defense system is unmatched by rival weapons in both attack range and deployment time, Rosoboronexport, the state arms seller, said on Thursday. "The S-400 is a unique system. It demonstrates indisputable superiority over its rivals. Its maximum range of 380 kilometres [236 miles] is twice that of analogues. The closest another artillery system has ever come to this result is 200 kilometres, the rest fall far behind," it said. The press release, the first ever official comparative analysis of S-400 parameters, said it took five minutes to deploy the air defence system, three times less than the time claimed by rivals. The surface-to-air system whose NATO reporting name is SA-21 Growler can carry three different types of missiles capable of engaging a wide array of aerial targets, from reconnaissance aircraft to ballistic missiles, at a short-to-extremely-long range. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam, and Iraq and at least six others are interested in buying S-400s despite the threat of US retaliation under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, according to media reports. Turkey, China, and India have already signed contracts. An S-400 anti-aircraft missile system during the preparation of military equipment for the military parade marking the 73rd anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Kaliningrad Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At Least 13 States Mull Buying Russia's S-400 Despite US Sanctions - Reports Sputnik News 12:05 15.11.2018(updated 12:06 15.11.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) At least 13 countries have expressed their interest in purchasing the Russian S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems instead of US equipment despite the likelihood of provoking Washington's sanctions, media reported citing people with first-hand knowledge of a US intelligence assessment. Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam were among the countries that had already engaged in talks on buying the Russian missile systems, the CNBC broadcaster reported on Wednesday. Washington expected that several countries would yield to the US pressure and abandon their plans to purchase the Russian equipment, the outlet added. "Many of these countries do not want to wait for US regulatory hurdles The S-400 has less export restrictions and the Kremlin is willing to expedite sales by skipping over any regulatory hurdles. It's like buying it off the shelf," one of the sources told the broadcaster. Another source noted that S-400 had been more powerful, in terms of capability, than the US most capable Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. "No other US system can match the S-400's ability to protect large swathes of airspace at such long ranges," the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said. Sanctions over the purchase of the Russian military equipment could be triggered under the US Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which came into force in 2017 and is set to punish Moscow for it alleged meddling in the US 2016 presidential election, something vehemently denied by Russia. In September, Washington imposed sanctions on China over its purchase of Su-35 fighter jets in 2017 and S-400 system-related equipment in 2018. Apart from China, India and Turkey have also reached agreements on the purchases of the missile systems from Russia. Turkey's plans have, particularly, been a point of concern for the United States since Ankara is Washington's NATO ally. The Saudi authorities have also been openly engaged in talks with Russia on the missile system purchase. S-400 is the next-generation mobile missile system which can carry three different types of missiles capable of destroying a variety of aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range, from reconnaissance aircraft to ballistic missiles. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Congress Wants to Cut Off Aid to Saudis Over Khashoggi, Yemen War - Reports Sputnik News 14:44 14.11.2018 Earlier, Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton said that the recently released audio recording allegedly depicting the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in no way implicated the top leadership in Riyadh in the crime. The Senate is working on legislation to cut off all US assistance to Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen, and in reaction to Riyadh's response to the killing of a dissident journalist, Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker has said. According to the senator, the resolution targeting the Saudis could be voted on before the end of the year. "Senators are looking for some way to show Saudi Arabia the disdain they have for what has happened, with the journalist, but also concerns about the way Yemen has gone," Corker said, speaking to Reuters on Tuesday. Commenting on the $110 billion in weapons contracts between Washington and Riyadh prior to the Khashoggi scandal, the senator said that this was something outside the Senate's jurisdiction. "It would be very hard, if a weapons sale came up, to keep it from being undone, at least in the Senate," Corker said. The senator also informed Reuters that his staff had urged the State Department, the Pentagon and the CIA to brief Congress regarding concerns over Riyadh's pursuit of the war in Yemen and the Khashoggi case. The classified briefing may be held as soon as later this month, Corker explained. Corker and other key Foreign Relations Committee senators penned a strongly-worded letter to President Trump last month, urging him to consider imposing sanctions "with respect to any foreign person responsible for such a violation related to Mr. Khashoggi" if and when appropriate evidence was found. In the wake of Jamal Khashoggi's October 2 disappearance, and later suspicions that he was killed by a Saudi hit squad, President Trump repeatedly implied that he would not be willing to jeopardize US arms deal with the Kingdom, even as several of Washington's NATO allies implied that they would be doing so. Last week, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration would end its air refueling support for Saudi-led coalition warplanes operating in Yemen after President Trump called an August 9 airstrike which hit civilians a "horror show" and accused the coalition of not knowing how to properly use US weapons. Yemen descended into civil war in late 2014, when the Shiite Houthi militia overthrew the government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Saudi Arabia and a coalition of mostly Persian Gulf states began operations to try to restore the Hadi government in March 2015. The Saudi-led coalition's conduct in the war, including the blockade of Houthi-controlled ports, has been condemned by the United Nations for causing a humanitarian disaster. According to UN figures, over 14 million Yemenis face pre-famine conditions. Late last year, the UK-based Save the Children organization estimated that 50,000+ Yemeni children died from starvation in 2017 due to the war. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S Arabia urges hanging 5 accused of killing journo IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 15, IRNA -- A request has been made for issuing death penalty for five out of eleven people accused of being involved in slaying dissident journalist, the Saudi deputy public prosecutor told reporters on Thursday. While attempting to exonerate Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in the murder, Shalaan al-Shalaan admitted following a 'fistfight' inside Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Jamal Khashoggi was injected with a deadly drug, lost his life, his body was dismembered and then was transferred out of the consulate. He said the former deputy head of the Saudi intelligence agency has ordered the formation of a squad to murder the dissident journalist. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had earlier said those who came from Saudi Arabia to Turkey had an 'order for the murder.' Judicial officials in Saudi Arabia say investigations into the case to identify the other accessories to the crime are still underway. Saud al-Qahtani, senior aide for Mohammed bin Salman has been interrogated and banned from traveling abroad, the sources say. The Attorney General also claimed the Saudi crown prince has played no role whatsoever in the crime. 9477**2044 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi squad involved in Khashoggi murder must be tried in Turkey: FM Iran Press TV Thu Nov 15, 2018 03:05PM Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says the 15-man Saudi team involved in the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi should be tried in Turkey. Cavusoglu made the comment on Thursday in reaction to an announcement by Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor who detailed Riyadh's actions on the case and demanded death penalty for five defendants. "We find the statement of Saudi Arabia about the murder of Khashoggi positive but not sufficient," Cavusoglu said. "The Saudi side will share the details of its investigation with our prosecutor's office. But we already know that the murder was planned in advance and that the journalist was first killed and the body was later dismembered," he added. "And how they would be killing and then disposing of the body was also planned, special devices were brought to the consulate general," Cavusoglu said, stressing that this is not something that happens instantaneously. Earlier in the day, Saudi public prosecutor released the results of the long-awaited investigation into the death of Khashoggi, saying a team of Saudi agents who had been dispatched to Istanbul with orders to bring him home alive had instead killed the journalist and dismembered his body. Shaalan al-Shaalan, a spokesman for the prosecutor, told a news conference in Riyadh that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no knowledge of the operation. Al-Shaalan said 11 suspects had been indicted and that the authorities were seeking the death penalty for five of them. According to Shaalan, the order to kill Khashoggi had come from the leader of the Saudi team in Istanbul. A statement by Saudi Prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb, circulated by Saudi Press Agency, concluded that the murder had been authorized by a minor official. His conclusion contradicted assertions by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had said the orders to kill Khashoggi had come from "the highest levels of the Saudi government." Al-Mojeb's statement implicated two higher level officials in what the prosecutor said was an operation intended to either convince or force Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia. One of them, Ahmed al-Assiri, the former deputy head of intelligence, issued an order for Khashoggi's return on Sept. 29, the prosecutor said. According to the prosecutor, another official, Saud al-Qahtani, a close adviser to the crown prince, was also involved in planning Khashoggi's repatriation. In reaction to the statement, an adviser to the Turkish president said on Thursday that al-Mojeb's remarks were aimed at covering up the murder, adding the Saudi probe was unlikely to find the perpetrators. "They expect us to believe the killers carried this out on their own. This isn't very credible. Everything is clear as day, but there is an effort to cover it up a bit," Yasin Aktay said. 'It won't happen again' Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a press conference on Thursday the kingdom has taken steps to make sure that this kind of incident does not happen again. He also noted that the murder of Khashoggi is now a legal case and should not be politicized. "The politicization of the issue contributes to a fissure in the Islamic world while the kingdom seeks the unity of the Islamic world," al-Jubeir said. Jubeir added that there were still unanswered questions in need of answers, but Ankara had refused three requests from Riyadh to provide proof of their accounts of the killing. His comments come as Ankara has repeatedly urged Riyadh to explain who had given the order for killing Khashoggi, and where his body is. "There are still questions that need answers" over the premeditated murder, Cavusoglu said on Oct. 25, asking Riyadh to explain "who gave them the orders" and "where the body is". Asked about possible international sanctions in response to the case, Jubeir said there was a difference between sanctioning individuals and holding the Saudi government responsible. Jubeir also noted that bin Salman had "absolutely nothing to do" with the murder of Khashoggi. Khashoggi has not been seen since October 2, when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia has admitted that a 15-member "hit squad" killed and dismembered him, but it's not yet clear where his body is. US Treasury sanctions 17 Saudis for role in killing Khashoggi In a relevant development on Thursday, the U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. A statement by the US Treasury said, "Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Saud al-Qahtani, his subordinate Maher Mutreb, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, and 14 other members of an operations team for having a role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Public Prosecution: Investigation Results Briefing Saudi Press Agency Thursday 1440/3/7 - 2018/11/15 Riyadh, Rabi'I 07, 1440, November 15, 2018, SPA -- The Public Prosecution said in a press briefing that through the investigation carried out up to date with the 21 suspects in the case of the murder of Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi, the investigation has resulted in the following findings: 1. The incident began on 19/1/1440 (29/9/2018) upon the issuance of an order to bring back the victim by means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force. The former Deputy President of the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) issued this order to the leader of the mission. 2. The leader of the mission formed a 15-member team that consisted of three groups (negotiations/ intelligence/ logistics) to persuade and return the victim. The leader of the mission suggested to the former Deputy President of the GIP to assign a former colleague to head the negotiation group in the team because of his previous relationship with the victim. This former colleague was assigned at the time to work with a former Advisor. 3. The former Deputy President of the GIP contacted the former advisor to request assignment of the individual with whom the victim had a previous relationship. The former advisor agreed to this request and asked to meet the leader of the mission. 4. The former advisor met with the leader of the mission and the negotiation team; to share with them information relevant to the mission based on his specialization in media. The former advisor expressed his belief that the victim was coopted by organizations and states hostile to the Kingdom and that the victim's presence outside of Saudi Arabia represents a threat to national security and he encouraged the team to persuade the victim to return, noting that his return represents a significant achievement of the mission. 5. The leader of the mission contacted a forensics expert to join the team for the purpose of removing evidence from the scene in the case force had to be used to return the victim. The forensics expert joined the team without the knowledge of his superiors. 6. The leader of the mission contacted a collaborator in Turkey to secure a safe location in case force had to be used return the victim. 7. After surveying the Consulate, the head of the negotiation team concluded that it would not be possible to transfer the victim by force to the safe location in case the negotiations with him to return failed. The head of the negotiation team decided to murder the victim if the negotiations failed. The investigation concluded that the incident resulted in murder. 8. The investigation concluded that the crime was carried out after a physical altercation with the victim where he was forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death, May Allah bless his soul. 9. The investigation has identified those that ordered and carried out the murder, totaling (5) individuals that have confessed to the murder. 10. After the murder the victim's body was dismembered by the individuals that have committed the murder and was transferred outside the consulate building. 11. The investigation concluded that the body was removed from the Consulate building by (5) individuals. 12. The individual who delivered the body to the collaborator has been identified. 13. Based upon the description provided by the individual who delivered the body to the collaborator, a composite sketch of the collaborator has been produced. 14. The investigation identified the individual who wore the victim's clothes after the murder and disposed of the victim's belongings in a trash receptacle, including his watch and glasses, after leaving the Consulate building. In addition the investigation identified the individual that accompanied him. 15. The investigation established that the surveillance cameras in the Consulate were disabled, and the investigation identified the individual responsible for doing so. 16. The investigation found that (4) suspects provided the logistical support to those who carried out the crime. 17. The investigation concluded that the leader of the mission agreed with the negotiation group and their head (that made the decision to murder the victim and carried out the crime) to write a false report to the former Deputy President of GIP that stated that the victim had left the Consulate building after the failure of negotiating or forcing his return. --SPA 14:23 LOCAL TIME 11:23 GMT 0009 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Sanctions 17 Saudis Including Crown Prince Top Aide Over Khashoggi Killing Sputnik News 18:07 15.11.2018(updated 19:08 15.11.2018) Earlier Thursday, Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb demanded the death penalty for five out of 11 defendants who are accused in the case of the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist in a Saudi diplomatic compound in Istanbul. The US Treasury introduced sanctions against 17 Saudi nationals over their suspected roles in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a notice on its website Thursday. The Treasury notice confirmed that sanctions would include restrictions against Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Mohammed Alotaibi, Counsul General at Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was quoted as saying. Mnuchin demanded that the Saudi government "take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents and journalists." In a separate statement on the new sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that the State Department would continue to seek all the "relevant facts," consult the US Congress, and "work with other nations to hold accountable those involved" in Khashoggi's murder. According to Pompeo, the targeted individuals "occupied positions in the Royal Court and several ministries and offices of the Government of Saudi Arabia" at the time of Khashoggi's killing. Earlier in the day, the Saudi prosecutor general's office called for the death penalty for five individuals suspected of ordering Khashoggi's murder and carrying it out. If convicted, the suspects will be beheaded. Saudi authorities detained 21 individuals over the Khashoggi incident, with 11 of them facing charges. Prosecutors said former deputy intelligence chief Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri was the highest-level official involved in the plot, and ordered a 'negotiating team' of security men to travel to Istanbul and bring Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia. The head of this 'negotiating team' later gave the order to kill Khashoggi in the event that the operation to convince him to return to the Kingdom failed, according to investigators. Earlier, Saudi authorities implied that Khashoggi had died accidentally during a "fist fight" at the consulate. In Thursday's statement, the Saudi prosecutor's office reiterated that Crown Prince Salman was not implicated in the murder plot. Speaking to reporters in Riyadh on Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir reiterated that King Salman "has nothing to do with this incident," adding that Saudi Arabia considers Khashoggi's murder a crime and a big mistake. Jubeir also rejected calls for an international probe into this case, saying that Riyadh "has its own investigative bodies that are both professional and independent." Earlier this week, Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker said that the Senate was working on legislation to cut off all US assistance to Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen, and in reaction to Riyadh's "disdainful" response to Khashoggi's killing. Jamal Khashoggi disappeared in Istanbul on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate. His body was reportedly dismembered, but its whereabouts remain unknown. Earlier this week, a Turkish newspaper reported that the 'hit squad' which arrived in Istanbul to kill Khashoggi had carried a "murder kit" including syringes, electric shock devices and staplers in their luggage, which would indicate that the killing was premeditated. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prosecution Seeks Death Sentence for Saudis Who Killed, Dismembered Khashoggi Sputnik News 13:27 15.11.2018(updated 17:01 15.11.2018) Saudi reporter Jama Khashoggi went missing after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Riyadh has arrested 21 Saudis as part of an investigation into the murder and is seeking the death penalty for five suspects. Death Penalty for Five Suspects Saud al-Mojeb, Saudi Arabia's Attorney General, demanded the death penalty for five defendants accused in the case of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder. "The Prosecutor General's Office demanded to execute those who ordered and committed the murder there are five of them," the SPA state news agency quoted the prosecutor's statement. These comments have fueled speculations that Khashoggi's killers will be beheaded, as this has been the most common means of execution in Saudi Arabia for decades. A Total of 21 Suspects Detained Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, the kingdom's top prosecutor said that 21 people had been detained in the Khashoggi murder case and that 11 suspects had been charged. According to al-Mojeb, General Ahmed al-Assiri, the former Saudi deputy intelligence chief fired in October, was the highest-level figure behind the killing. He ostensibly ordered a "negotiating team" to return Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, while the head of the team had given the order to kill the journalist in case the operation to convince Khashoggi to return failed. Whereabouts Still Unknown Khashoggi died after being drugged and his body was dismembered; its whereabouts remain unknown despite an ongoing search, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office said. The prosecutor insisted that Crown Prince bin Salman was not implicated in the murder, echoing previous denials of the royal family's involvement. Saudi Arabia also asked Turkey to seal a deal on cooperation on the Khashoggi probe. A 'Big Mistake' Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, for his part, noted that Riyadh considers the murder a "crime and a big mistake." Al-Jubeir called it a "legal case" and refused to accept "any attempt to politicise it." He also pledged that the Khashoggi murder will not make Riyadh give up its policies in facing extremism. Turkey's Response Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu praised al-Mojeb's statement but said that is was "insufficient," repeating the previous claims that the murder was "premeditated." "We find the statement of Saudi Arabia about the murder of Khashoggi positive but not sufficient. The Saudi side will share the details of its investigation with our prosecutor's office. But we already know that the murder was planned in advance and that the journalist was first killed and the body was later dismembered," Cavusoglu said. "And how they would be killing and then disposing of the body was also planned, special devices were brought to the consulate general," Cavusoglu said on TRT TV channel. Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi reporter and Washington Times contributor, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain marriage documents. According to the Istanbul prosecutor, he was strangled to death and dismembered shortly after entering the consulate. Saudi authorities have insisted that the killing of the columnist was a "rogue operation". Last month, Riyadh announced that 18 suspects, including security officials, had been arrested as part of a probe into the Khashoggi affair. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Prosecutor Requests Death Sentence for Khashoggi Killing By VOA News November 15, 2018 Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has requested the death penalty for five suspects in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Washington Post columnist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was killed October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said Thursday that Khashoggi was given a lethal injection and after he died his body was dismembered. Saudi officials have given numerous explanations since Khashoggi went missing, including saying that he actually left the consulate on his own, that he died after a fight, and then saying he was killed during a "rogue operation." The prosecutor said the death sentences were recommended for five people "charged with ordering and committing the crime," while six others who have been charged in connection with the killing should receive "the appropriate sentences." Saudi Arabia is also asking for Turkey's help in providing evidence and information from its investigation. Turkey has been slowly releasing details during the past month. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleges the order to kill Khashoggi came from the "highest levels" of the Saudi government. Saudi officials have denied the crown prince was involved. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Announces Sanctions Against 17 Saudis in Khashoggi Murder Case By VOA News November 15, 2018 The U.S. has announced sanctions against 17 Saudis for their alleged role in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul. Among those to be sanctioned are Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi. "These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement Thursday. The sanctions will be implemented under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets those who have committed of serious human rights abuses and acts of corruption. The announcement was somewhat surprising given the U.S. rarely imposes sanctions on Saudi Arabia. Mnuchin also said Washington was continuing efforts to determine what actually occurred and would hold accountable everyone found responsible for the journalist's death. The U.S. announced the sanctions hours after Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor requested the death penalty for five suspects in Khashoggi's murder. The Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince was killed October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said Thursday Khashoggi was given a lethal injection and after he died his body was dismembered. Saudi officials have given numerous explanations since Khashoggi went missing, including saying he actually left the consulate on his own, that he died after a fight, and that he was killed during a "rogue operation." The prosecutor said the death sentences were recommended for five people "charged with ordering and committing the crime," while six others who have been charged in connection with the killing should receive "the appropriate sentences." Saudi Arabia is also asking for Turkey's help in providing evidence and information from its investigation. Turkey has been slowly releasing details during the past month. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleges the order to kill Khashoggi came from the "highest levels" of the Saudi government. Saudi officials have denied the crown prince was involved. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 23 Syrian civilians killed in US-led coalition airstrikes IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 15, IRNA -- The US-led International coalition warplanes on Thursday renewed airstrikes targeting citizens' houses in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. Local sources told SANA that the int'l coalition warplanes launched several airstrikes against residential neighborhoods in al-Boubadran and al-Sousa villages in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, claiming the lives of 23 civilians and the destruction of residential houses in the villages. The new massacre was committed in less than 24 hours after destroying 4 houses in al-Sha'afa village in the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of citizens. More than 60 civilians were killed and hundreds of people were displaced due to the destruction of their houses in al-Sha'afa village two days earlier. Yesterday, the int'l coalition targeted Hajin city and al-Sha'afa village with cluster bombs causing the martyrdom of a number of citizens and the injury of many others in addition to inflicting huge material damage to residents' houses and properties. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-led coalition strikes villages in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr, leave some two dozen dead Iran Press TV Thu Nov 15, 2018 01:29PM Nearly two dozen civilians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives when the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group bombarded residential areas in Syria's embattled eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr. Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria's official news agency SANA that the US-led military aircraft fired missiles into buildings in Albu Badran village on Thursday, leaving 17 people of the same family dead. Most of the slain civilians had apparently been displaced earlier from the nearby town of al-Baghuz in the Abu Kamal district of Dayr al-Zawr province. The town has recently witnessed fierce clashes between Daesh terrorists and militants from the Kurdish Democratic Union Party. Later in the day, US-led warplanes struck al-Susah village in the same Syrian province. Six civilians were killed and several buildings destroyed in the aerial attacks. The developments came only a day after local sources, requesting anonymity, told SANA that US-led military aircraft had pounded the town of Hajin in Dayr al-Zawr province, using internationally-banned cluster bombs. US-led jets also launched a cluster bomb raid on the eastern town of al-Shaafah in the same Syrian district. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties or the extent of damage caused. Cluster bombs are banned under the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), an international treaty that addresses humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused to civilians by cluster munitions through a categorical prohibition and a framework for action. On Tuesday, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the recent airstrike by the US-led coalition against al-Shaafah, which left more than 60 people dead and injured, arguing that the massacre clearly pointed to the fact that members of the military alliance had no respect for moral values, international rules and regulations besides the lives of innocent civilians. The ministry, in two separate letters, addressed to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the rotating president of the UN Security Council Ma Zhaoxu, called on the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities and stop US-led aerial assaults. It also asked the world body to propose an international, independent and impartial mechanism to investigate the crimes being perpetrated by the US-led coalition. The letters noted that the coalition was deliberately targeting Syria civilians and making use of internationally banned weapons, including white phosphorus bombs, in Syria. The Syrian Foreign Ministry stressed that US-led coalition airstrikes were meant to kill as many Syrian people as possible, prolong the ongoing Syrian conflict, destroy the country's infrastructure and undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity in flagrant violation of all UN Security Council resolutions on Syria. The letters concluded that the embarrassing silence of the Security Council had encouraged the US-led coalition to kill more Syrian civilians and destroy their property. The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate. The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-led Coalition Denies Use of Cluster Bombs in Syria Amid Reported Casualties Sputnik News 10:35 15.11.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The reports that the US-led coalition against the Daesh* used cluster bombs in its airstrikes on Hajin city and Shaafa village in Syria's Deir ez-Zor province are untrue, coalition spokesman Sean Ryan told Sputnik on Thursday. "This is false and CJTF-OIR air strikes targeted at ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley conform to the Laws of Armed Conflict," Ryan said. Earlier, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) has reported, citing local media and civilian sources, that the US-led coalition resorted to the use of cluster munitions in airstrikes on the towns of al-Sha'afa and Hajin. The strikes caused several civilian deaths, with several injuries reported, as well as significant material damage to local houses and other property, SANA said. Syrian media have accused the US of repeatedly engaging in illegal strikes in the Arab Republic's eastern province of Der ez-Zor in recent weeks. Last week, SANA reported on the use of white phosphorus munitions in Hajin. The use of cluster munitions in civilian-populated areas are prohibited under multiple conventions, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a 2010 treaty to which neither the US, Syria or Russia are a party. *Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US May Still Slap Turkey With Sanctions Over S-400 'Threat' to F-35 - Reports Sputnik News 21:49 14.11.2018(updated 22:09 14.11.2018) Turkish officials have repeatedly insisted that Ankara's purchase of the advanced Russian air defense system poses no threat whatsoever to the NATO alliance. Last month, the Turkish defense ministry announced that delivery of S-400s to Turkey would begin in October 2019. The United States continues to consider the S-400 air defense system a threat to its F-35 fifth generation stealth fighter platform, and may impose sanctions against Ankara, Turkey's Anadolu news agency has reported, citing a high-ranking source in Washington. "I can't say for certain whether sanctions will be imposed on Ankara over the S-400 contract, but the possibility is there. The US administration is not optimistic about this issue," the source said. While admitting that Turkey was a sovereign state and therefore had the right to make decisions on whom it buys its weapons from, the source stressed that from the perspective of these weapons' integration with NATO systems, the S-400 was "problematic." The source also characterised the deployment of S-400s in areas where US F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters are set to fly as "a threat," without elaborating. Emphasizing that negotiations between Washington and Ankara on the issue were "continuing," the source said that there were also "positive tendencies" in negotiations between the two countries on the procurement of the Patriot system, Washington's closest analogue to the S-400 in terms of capabilities. Designed to stop enemy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 400 km and altitudes of up to 30 km, the S-400 is currently the most advanced mobile air defense system in Russia's arsenal. Russia and India signed a ruble-denominated contract on the delivery of five regiments of S-400s worth $5 billion late last month. Last week, the Saudi Ambassador to Russia said that talks on the sale of the system to his country were ongoing. In addition to Russia, S-400s are presently operated by Belarus and China, with Beijing expecting another delivery of S-400s by 2020. Washington has already slapped China with sanctions over its purchase of S-400s and Su-35 combat aircraft in September. India, however, has voiced confidence that it would not be hit with similar restrictions, which the US Treasury has pursued under the 2017 Counter America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Demands Extradition of Over 450 Gulen-Linked Suspects - Minister Sputnik News 16:03 14.11.2018 ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey is demanding extradition of 452 people from 83 countries over their alleged links to the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday. "Turkey has sent documents concerning 452 people linked to FETO to 83 countries. We demand extradition of these people," Cavusoglu said, as quoted by NTV broadcaster. Ankara has accused Gulen, who has been living in the United States since 1999, and his followers of orchestrating an attempted coup in the country, which Gulen has repeatedly refuted. The coup attempt, aimed at bringing down the government and the country's president, took place on July 15, 2016, and was promptly suppressed by the government forces, but still left 251 people dead and around 2,200 injured. Around 80,000 people, including officials, journalists and military staff, have reportedly been arrested in Turkey over their alleged links to Gulen since the coup attempt. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Labour to 'vote against' Brexit deal if it fails to meet tests: Corbyn Iran Press TV Wed Nov 14, 2018 01:38AM Britain's main opposition party has denounced as "shambolic" the Prime Minister Theresa May's handling of Brexit negotiations, saying it will vote against any agreement regarding the country's separation from the European Union (EU) unless the deal meets the party's standards and criteria. The leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, said in a statement on Tuesday that he doubted the British premier's Brexit deal would be good for the country, adding that the agreement should meet the party's six tests, otherwise he would call on his MPs to vote against it. "We will look at the details of what has been agreed when they are available. But from what we know of the shambolic handling of these negotiations, this is unlikely to be a good deal for the country," Corbyn said in the statement. "Labour has been clear from the beginning that we need a deal to support jobs and the economy, and that guarantees standards and protections. If this deal doesn't meet our six tests and work for the whole country, then we will vote against it," he noted. The opposition party has time and again warned the British prime minister that it will vote against her deal and shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer also expressed alarm at the Labour conference in September that the party was taking steps to reject May's deal. British government sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the draft text for the Brexit deal had been "agreed at a technical level," prompting May to summon ministers to discuss the agreement ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Meanwhile, ambassadors from the remaining 27 EU states will meet for emergency talks on Brexit in Brussels on November 14. 'Unacceptable' deal Britain's former foreign secretary Boris Johnson blasted on Tuesday the Brexit agreement with the 28-member bloc as "utterly unacceptable to anyone who believes in democracy." Johnson said the deal would not be the "right way forward," demanding that cabinet ministers resign over the Brexit deal before May has even presented to them. "I don't see how you can support it from a democratic point of view. I don't see how a Unionist can support it. And I don't see how you can support it if you believe in the political-economic freedom of this country," he told BBC. The ex-foreign secretary also claimed the deal was "making a nonsense of Brexit so I hope the Cabinet will do the right thing and I hope they chuck it out." Britain will officially leave the EU in March 2019 although it is still stuck in a disagreement with the EU on how the two should administer their only land border after Brexit. Hopes were high a broad Brexit deal could be finalized this month but reports suggest negotiations could drag on into December. Britain has resisted EU's backstop plan to include Northern Ireland in its customs union for the two-year post-Brexit transition period and beyond that until a permanent solution is agreed for trade. London has proposed the EU could include the entire UK in the customs union but insists any arrangement for the border should be time-limited. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Prime Minister May Secures Cabinet Support for Brexit Deal Sputnik News 22:17 14.11.2018(updated 22:43 14.11.2018) UK Prime Minister Theresa May has secured a cabinet support for her Brexit deal and the agreement would be submitted to the parliament for review. Prime Minister Theresa May said that UK Cabinet approved draft Brexit agreement with the EU after 5-hour talks and that it would be submitted to the parliament for review. "The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," May said outside her Downing Street residence. May added that this was "a decision in the best interests of the entire United Kingdom." On Tuesday the United Kingdom and the European Union had agreed on the document negotiators in Brussels reached a compromise on a "technical level" regarding the terms of the draft of a Brexit withdrawal agreement. UK Cabinet stated then that the ministers were to meet on Wednesday to discuss a draft text of the agreement. The draft paper approved by the Cabinet represents the UK government's framework for the following areas of the country's relationship with the EU: meeting financial commitments accompanying the divorce, post-Brexit rights of EU citizens and UK citizens in the EU and prevention of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The EU Commission is expected later to publish the details of the 500-page draft withdrawal agreement as well as the much shorter declaration on future economic and security relations. Critics condemned May's decision to make a statement following the Cabinet meeting instead and before addressing the parliament with the details of the Brexit negotiations progress. Finally, the agreement has to be approved by British policymakers, who may be presented with the opportunity during a December 2018 session. In 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union and is expected to do so by late March 2019, while there are still certain stumbling blocks that impede talks, namely, the Irish border and the post-Brexit UK-EU economic relations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address British Army Shortfall Opens Door for Commonwealth Citizens By Henry Ridgwell November 14, 2018 Britain is to allow citizens from all Commonwealth countries to join its armed forces even if they have never lived in Britain. The new rules are aimed at tackling a recruitment crisis. But campaigners want clarity over the citizenship rights of the new recruits after they leave the services. Touring Africa earlier this month, Prince Charles paid tribute to soldiers of the former Empire who fought for Britain. Out of the empire came the Commonwealth and it is from those countries that Britain is now looking to recruit. The government says all roles and ranks will be open to citizens from all Commonwealth countries who are aged 18 or over. It's aimed at plugging a gap in recruitment with a shortfall in armed forces personnel estimated at over 8,000, says Paul Barnes, visiting fellow at Britain's Royal United Services Institute. "It seems that they are not coming forward in the numbers that they used to. And with the gap opening in manning, we need to find a rapid fill. And that rapid fill is often best found from the Commonwealth," he said. Previously most Commonwealth recruits had to have lived in Britain for at least five years. That has now been dropped and the armed forces hope to recruit an extra 1,350 people every year through the scheme. Barnes says they will bring added value. "Commonwealth soldiers will come with a high level of education, and they will easily fit into those specialist roles that are more difficult. But also you gain a strength in terms of diversity, a strength in terms of diversity of view, in decision-making, in our perspective of the world, our cultural understanding," he said. Commonwealth recruits also qualify to become British residents after four years, or citizens after five years' service a major pull factor for signing up. Doctor Hugh Milroy is CEO of Veterans Aid which has supported dozens of former Commonwealth soldiers who struggled to gain citizenship. "Under the old system, and I really do hope this has been picked up, you had no access to benefits, and you had no right to work. So in fact for many years, we were stopping people starving," he said. "My advice to anyone coming here to join the armed forces is, this is almost the first thing you want to deal with as soon as you arrive here and join the armed forces. Don't wait till the end, because it takes so long to do." The British Ministry of Defense told VOA that citizenship requirements had not changed and new Commonwealth recruits would have to meet the same criteria as before. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK, EU Agree on British Military Bases in Cyprus, Gibraltar Sputnik News 10:39 15.11.2018 Earlier this week, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier revealed the contents of the draft Brexit deal agreed upon by the United Kingdom and the European Union. The document includes three protocols related to Cyprus, Gibraltar and the Irish border. A provisional Brexit agreement between London and Brussels specifically stipulates the preservation of UK sovereign bases on Cypriot territory, according to EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. "The second protocol pertains to Cyprus and the [UK's] sovereign bases in Cyprus. This enables the continuity of existing agreements in and around these bases between Cyprus and Britain. In particular, it will enable 11,000 Cypriot citizens established on territories under British sovereignty to continue to live as they do today," Barnier pointed out. He added that the EU-UK deal includes a total of three protocols, concerning Cyprus, Gibraltar and the Irish border. The protocol on Gibraltar created "the basis for the administrative cooperation on a series of subjects, such as the rights of citizens, taxation, tobacco, environment, fisheries, police and customs cooperation", according to Barnier. Since Cyprus became independent from the UK in 1960, there have been two UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on the country's territory, namely at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The bases constitute UK sovereign territory under London's jurisdiction. As far as the Irish border issue is concerned, the main challenge for London is to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and, at the same time, secure the nation's integrity. Last week, May's spokesman stated that there was "good progress" in the UK-EU talks on London's withdrawal from the bloc and 95 percent of the future Brexit agreement had already been settled. In 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union and is expected to do so by late March 2019, while there are still certain stumbling blocks that impede talks, namely, the Irish border and post-Brexit UK-EU economic relations. All this will be high on the agenda of a special EU summit scheduled for November 17. The summit should determine whether the sides are ready to sign a draft of the UK's exit bill, or whether there will be no deal at all. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Falling Apart': Turmoil as UK Ministers Quit Gov't Protesting May's Brexit Deal Sputnik News 10:39 15.11.2018(updated 19:16 15.11.2018) A number of UK ministers has left the government amid disagreements over the controversial draft Brexit deal with Prime Minister Theresa May after she managed to secure the cabinet's support of the agreement. Following in the footsteps of the UK Northern Ireland minister, Brexit Minister Dominic Raab has also announced his resignation from the government. The announcement almost immediately affected the British currency, with the pound plunging. "I regret to say that, following the Cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal, I must resign For my part, I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons," Raab said in his resignation letter posted on Twitter. As the Telegraph revealed later, citing its sources, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove has been offered the position of the Brexit minister. Meanwhile, Theresa May's spokesman stated that new ministers would be appointed in the usual way. That is the only official statement on the issue made so far. Shortly after, the Evening Standard reported that Gove has turned down the Brexit Secretary position. Raymond Chishti, the Vice Chairman of the British Conservative Party has followed his example, announcing resignation. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Theresa May, he explained the reasons for the move. "The terms of the backstop, in effect, the amount in my view to a hybrid membership of the EU Customs Union and Single market and further the EU would hold a veto over our ability to exit," Chishti wrote in the letter. "The UK in effect will be a part of a system where it will be a rule taker without any say on the rules." At the same time, other officials joined the wave of resignations: Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena, a British Conservative Party politician, resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) at the Ministry of Justice, the Daily Telegraph reported. Earlier in the day, Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara, who backed Remain campaign in the EU referendum, has left his post in the UK government. "With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories," Vara said. Shailesh Vara was appointed Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office on July 23, 2018; previously he served as Parliamentary Undersecretary of State. Reacting to Raab's decision to quit, Britain's main opposition Labour Party said Theresa May had no authority left. "The Government is falling apart before our eyes as for a second time the Brexit secretary has refused to back the Prime Minister's Brexit plan," said Jon Trickett, a member of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's senior team. Vara and Raab have been followed by Esther McVey, the work and Pensions Secretary, who has also decided to resign from May's cabinet. Shortly after, Junior Brexit Minister Suella Braverman joined the top officials, who left the UK government. At the same time, some conservative lawmakers, including eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg, are mulling to put in a letter of no confidence later Thursday. Commenting on these plans, Alistair Burt, a junior minister in Britain's Foreign Office, urged his Conservative colleagues on Thursday not to submit letters of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May. "Please don't. We have a leader, she's worked incredibly hard on the most difficult deal," he stated. The moves come after UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced that UK Cabinet had approved draft Brexit agreement with the EU after 5-hour talks. The draft deal would be submitted to the parliament for review. The same day, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier revealed the contents of the provisional Brexit deal, with the accord including agreements on citizens' rights, future trade cooperation and Irish border issue, among other things. The controversial deal has been severely criticised within the Conservative Party and beyond, with former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson saying that it would turn the UK into an EU "vassal state." The draft agreement text says that the UK can request the extension of the transition period at any time before July 1, 2020. The transition may be extended by mutual consent. London and Brussels have been engaged in Brexit talks since June 2017. The European Council will hold a meeting to finalize a Brexit agreement on November 25 as long as nothing unforeseen happens, the council's president, Donald Tusk, said Thursday after a meeting with the chief EU negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Contentious Brexit Divorce Agreement Triggers Ministerial Resignations By Jamie Dettmer November 15, 2018 "There will be difficult days ahead," Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said on the steps of Downing Street when announcing she had secured the backing of her Cabinet for a contentious Brexit divorce agreement after an impassioned and at times angry five-hour meeting. Those words quickly turned out to be an understatement on Thursday. Shortly after she spoke, her Brexit minister, Dominic Raab, who helped draft the agreement, resigned in protest, saying he could not in "good conscience" support the terms of a deal that hardline Brexiteers argue places Britain in a subordinate relationship with the European Union, one the country wouldn't be able to quit without Brussels' consent. A junior minister preceded Raab's departure and three ministers followed as furious Brexiteers plotted openly to oust May as Conservative leader, delivering serious blows to her authority. Now, the future of a deal that's taken more than a year to negotiate and the fate of the Conservative government itself are in doubt. Questions also are being raised about calling a snap general election, which could see a Labor win, or holding a second Brexit referendum that could overturn the original vote to leave the EU. Another possibility is that with the clock ticking toward a formal departure from the EU in March 2019, Britain may end up crashing out of the bloc without any exit deal, an outcome analysts and business leaders say would roil the economy. Facing the House of Commons on Thursday, May came under sharp attacks from opposition lawmakers and from her own ranks, who claim the deal amounts to a "treaty of submission." May had hoped to rally the different factions in her warring party and a divided country around the deal; but, the bid appears to have failed. Remaining characteristically stoic, May faced some of the most hostile House of Commons questioning a prime minister has faced since 1940 from his or her party. At times during three hours of questioning, there were cries of "rubbish." One lawmaker by profession a psychologist accused May of being "in denial." She maintained that the agreement is the best deal Britain can get. The draft EU deal would see Britain remain in a customs union for several years with the European Union after it exits the bloc in March, but with an unclear legal path to quitting the customs arrangement while a fuller, but so far ill-defined, trade deal is negotiated. May told a packed House of Commons, which alternately was somber and uproarious, that she was acting in the national interest and the "draft treaty will ensure we leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way." Her remark drew laughter and jeers. "I don't pretend this has been a comfortable process or that either we or the EU are entirely happy with all of the arrangements that have been included," she said. "Voting against the deal would take us back to square one and it would mean more uncertainty and more division, and the failure to deliver on the decision of the British people that we should leave the EU." May also said, "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, or risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated." Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, said May was offering a "false choice between no deal and this deal," which he said "represents a huge and damaging failure." He added, "After two years of bungled negotiations, the government has produced a botched deal" which "does not have the backing of parliament or the country as a whole." The leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, Ian Blackford, said May "looks desperate and defeated" and is "trying to sell a deal that is dead in the water." The beleaguered prime minister, however, appears determined to move forward. Several Euro-skeptic Conservative lawmakers were reported to have submitted letters to party authorities in parliament demanding a confidence vote on her leadership, saying it was time to change the leader. Forty-eight letters would trigger a vote automatically. The largely Protestant Northern Ireland party that May's minority government relies on to stay in office has said it will vote against the draft Brexit agreement when it formally comes before parliament next month. Few analysts believe May will have sufficient votes to get the agreement approved. EU summit As the political drama played out Thursday in London, the European Commission said EU leaders will meet November 25 for a summit to rubber stamp the withdrawal agreement. Officials in Brussels acknowledged the plan could go awry depending on events in London. They said British negotiators would get a frosty reception if they return looking for major amendments to the proposed deal, arguing several EU national governments believe too much was given away to Britain already. Exhibiting her trademark resilience Wednesday, Prime Minister May indirectly rebuffed calls by hardline Brexiteers in her party to step aside and make way for a new party and British leader. In a news conference at Downing Street, she said, "I believe with every fiber of my being that the course I have set is right." Asked if she would fight off a leadership challenge, she said, "Yes," adding that leadership is about making the right decisions, not the easy ones. She said, "This is a Brexit that delivers on the priorities of the British people." It isn't clear that Britons feel she is doing so. In a poll Thursday for Sky News, more than half of those surveyed say they favor Britain remaining in the EU, with 32 percent saying they wanted to leave without an agreement and 14 percent backing May's deal. Fifty-five percent of those polled want another referendum. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Separatist Leader In Eastern Ukraine Vows Closer Russia Integration After 'Sham' Polls By RFE/RL November 15, 2018 The newly elected leader of an area controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine has promised closer integration with Russia following polls denounced as a sham by Kyiv and the West. "A course toward the Russian Federation will be continued," Denis Pushilin, the head of the separatists in the Donetsk region, said on November 14 in his first media appearance since the weekend elections. "This is not only cultural and social integration, but also economic," he said. "We have already learned to live without Ukraine." Kyiv and its international backers said the November 11 polls in the areas held by the separatists in both the Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk regions would further hamper efforts to end a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014. However, Moscow argued that the elections would not violate the Minsk agreements signed in September 2014 and February 2015, laying out steps for settling the conflict. The separatists said on November 14 that the polls in Donetsk and Luhansk endorsed the two men who were already acting as leaders -- 37-year-old Pushilin and 48-year-old Leonid Pasechnik. The previous separatist leader in Donetsk, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, died in an explosion in August. Moscow pointed the finger at Ukraine, while Kyiv blamed internal fighting between the separatists and "their Russian sponsors." Kyiv's Central Election Commission dismissed the results of what it said were "illegal" votes in Donetsk and Luhansk and said the polls were simply an excuse for Moscow to cement its grip on the regions. The United States and other Western countries have condemned the elections as a "sham" and "illegal." However, the Kremlin said the regions had "nothing left but to self-organize" after being "abandoned" by Ukraine. Separatists seized territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions after a popular uprising ousted Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovich in February 2014 and Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula a month later. The West has imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and its backing of the separatists. However, Moscow has repeatedly denied financing and equipping the separatist forces despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, insisting that the fighting is a civil, internal conflict. Fighting in eastern Ukraine persists despite cease-fire deals reached as part of the Minsk agreements, and implementation of other measures set out in the deals has been slow. With reporting by AFP and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/separatist- leader-pushilin-eastern-ukraine-vows-closer -integration-russia/29601673.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU To Sanction Five People Over Ukraine Separatist Vote By Rikard Jozwiak November 15, 2018 BRUSSELS -- The European Union is set to add five individuals involved in the organization of the weekend elections in the areas controlled by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to its sanctions list, according to sources in Brussels. The bloc's foreign ministers are due to agree to the move when they meet in the Belgian capital on November 19, several EU sources familiar with the matter who could not speak on the record told RFE/RL on November 15. A formal decision is expected to be taken later in the month, they also said. The five individuals would join 155 other people from Russia and Ukraine who are currently subject to EU asset freezes and travel bans. The bloc has also frozen the assets of 44 entities from both countries since Moscow's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014 and its support for separatists in a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. Kyiv and its international backers, including the European Union and the United States, have denounced the November 11 polls in the areas held by the separatists in the Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk regions as a sham. They say the elections to choose the separatists heads in the two regions will further hamper efforts to put an end to the fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. However, Moscow argues that the vote didn't violate the Minsk agreements signed in September 2014 and February 2015, laying out steps for settling the conflict. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-to-hit-five- individuals-with-sanctions-over-ukraine -separatist-vote/29602533.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Urges US to Assess Impact of Pullout From INF Treaty on European Security Sputnik News 00:10 15.11.2018 BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The EU has urged Washington to assess the implications of a possible US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a spokeswoman for the Austrian EU presidency said on Wednesday. "The US and Russia need to remain engaged in a constructive dialogue to preserve the INF Treaty and ensure its full and verifiable implementation, which is crucial for European and global stability," she cited a statement on behalf of the EU presidency addressing lawmakers in the European Parliament. "We asked the United States to consider the consequences of its possible withdrawal on its own and our collective security," the official stressed. Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that both Russia and the European countries are alarmed by the unclear future of the Russian-US Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. In October, US President Donald Trump said that Washington intended to leave the INF Treaty, accusing Russia of violating it numerous times, while Moscow rejected the accusations, adding that Russia would be forced to take measures to ensure its security if the treaty was terminated by the United States. The INF Treaty is an agreement that the United States and the Soviet Union signed in December 1987. It prohibited either country from possessing, producing or flight-testing ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres (311 to 3,418 miles) and their launchers. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Air Core and Reverse Circulation (AC & RC) percussion drilling program started this week at Angkor's Banlung Property. SEXSMITH, Nov. 15, 2018 - Angkor Gold Corp. (TSXV: ANK and OTC: ANKOF) (Angkor or the Company) President J.P. Dau is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling on its Banlung Property in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. The current drilling campaign underway at Banlung is part of a commitment by Hommy 5 Resources Inc. (Hommy Resources) to fund up to $3.65MM USD of exploration work on the Property. Angkors Banlung property includes the Okalla East high sulphidation gold/porphyry copper target and the Okalla West low sulphidation epithermal gold target. We are very pleased to now be drilling the gold targets developed in the previous auger programs conducted by Angkor on the Banlung property, said J.P. Dau, Angkors President. Hommy Resources has been an excellent fit to our team and we are very much looking forward to the drill results. Exploration Program Highlights: The drill program will consist of approximately 3250 metres of RC and AC drilling on a linear gold anomaly within a previously identified alkalic intrusive complex at Okalla West. The anomaly to be tested is approximately two kilometres in length from north to south and some 1.5 kilometres wide from east to west. Mapping and a continuation of the auger sampling program are currently underway testing the south of the anomaly. An aerial survey is planned using state-of-the-art eBee drone equipment over both the Okalla East high sulphidation gold/porphyry copper target and the Okalla West low sulphidation epithermal gold target. The survey will provide important relative topographical control. Banlung Project Highlights Angkors Banlung property includes two primary prospects - Okalla West and Okalla East. The styles of mineralization and alteration observed during Angkors previous exploration at Okalla West and Okalla East are typical of mineralization associated with alkaline systems. Both display an epithermal style gold mineralization system containing elevated gold values in addition to other base metals in structures without abundant quartz. Approximately USD $1.2 million in exploration work has been done at Banlung since the beginning of 2017, including shallow drilling to investigate and better understand the underlying structure. In addition to drilling, the entire license area has previously been the subject of an aeromagnetic survey, satellite imagery geological interpretation, with reconnaissance field truth mapping and multi-element stream sediment geochemical survey, as well as extensive grab sample, termite mound and auger sampling. The Company previously reported a bonanza zone in 2011 which included an intercept of high grade gold at Okalla East of 86.0 gpt Au over 1m, at 101m to 102m in drill hole BL11-026 (see Company press release of March 1, 2018). Note that this is a selected interval of mineralization and is not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property. A link between gold mineralization and alkaline rocks can be found in many cases around the world, including some of the largest gold deposits such as the Cripple Creek deposit in Colorado, Brucejack Gold mine in Canada and Porgera in Papua New Guinea. ABOUT ANGKOR GOLD CORP. Angkor Gold Corp. is a public company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange and is a leading mineral explorer in Cambodia with a large land package and a first-mover advantage building strong relationships with all levels of government and stakeholders. ABOUT HOMMY 5 RESOURCES INC. Hommy 5 Resources Inc. is a private company based in Alberta, Canada. It is a family fund of Canadian investors experienced in the resource sector. The Banlung Property is being explored under a USD $3.65 million earn-in exploration agreement with Angkor Gold Corp. announced September 19, 2018. Dennis Ouellette, B.Sc, P.Geo., is a member of The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA #104257) and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). He is the Companys VP Exploration and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this release. On behalf of the Board, Mike Weeks Executive Chairman, Angkor Gold Corp. CONTACT: Stephen Burega, CEO Telephone: +1 (647) 515-3734 Email: sb@angkorgold.ca Website: http://www.angkorgold.ca or follow us on Twitter @AngkorGold. 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. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute forward-looking information. In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0bbc549-cc35-44ef-bbdb-743b921e4004 U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday accused on Twitter that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team was "threatening" people to cooperate in the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. U.S. President Donald Trump [File photo: AP/Andrew Harnik] "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," Trump tweeted early Thursday morning. "They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want." the president continued, without details or evidence. "These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They won't even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side." Trump said in another tweet. Mueller served under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama. "The only 'collusion' is that of the Democrats with Russia and many others," the president went on. Trump's remarks came one day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a bipartisan bill to protect Mueller's probe from any interference by Trump, insisting that the president isn't likely to fire Mueller or meddle in the probe. A Fox News report said Trump's legal team is believed to be finalizing written answers to Mueller, concerning questions about whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 campaign. Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and named Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general on Nov. 7. Whitaker, known to be skeptical about Mueller's probe, is expected to take charge of oversight over Mueller's Russia probe including approval of budget decisions and subpoenas. A group of 18 U.S. state attorneys general last week urged Whitaker to recuse himself from the Russia probe in a cosigned letter, saying the Mueller's probe "must proceed free from interference." In the picture, Salman and a saree-clad Katrina Kaif are seen standing at the Wagah border. Mumbai: Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are busy with another important schedule in Punjab of Ali Abbas Zafar directorial 'Bharat'. The team has reportedly recreated Wagah border there to shoot an intense sequence of the film. Also Read | Salman Khan leaves for Bharat shoot in Punjab, Wagah border to be recreated there? Salman Khan posted a still from the film on his official Instagram account. In the picture, Salman and his leading lady Katrina Kaif are seen standing at the Wagah border. 'Bharat' is Zafar's third collaboration with Bollywood superstar after delivering two blockbusters - 'Sultan' (2016) and 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (2017). Also Read | Ali, Salman wrap most thrilling action sequence of life for Bharat Reportedly, the 'Dabangg' star will be seen sporting five different looks spanning over 60 years, including a crucial part which will showcase the actor in his late 20s, looking much leaner and younger. After Priyanka Chopra decided to walk out of the film, Katrina Kaif was roped in to play the lead, opposite the 'Kick' star. The film also stars Tabu and Disha Patani in pivotal roles. The flick is slated to hit the cinemas on Eid 2019. The couple got married in Italy's scenic Lake Como on Wednesday in two separate ceremonies. The pictures were shared by both the celebrities on their respective social media pages. (Photo: Instagram) Mumbai: A public announcement, two weddings and a long tease later, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh released the first pictures as a married couple on Thursday. (Photo: Instagram) The couple got married in Italy's scenic Lake Como on Wednesday but Bollywood's A-lister couple kept things fiercely private leaving the celebrity media breathlessly waiting for scraps of information. The first picture, shared by Deepika on her Instagram page, is from the Konkani wedding ceremony where the bride and groom can be seen wearing white and gold. Whereas, the first picture shared by Ranveer Singh is from the Anand Karaj ceremony. The couple look breathtaking in red and gold Sabyasachi outfits. In the best tradition of a celebrity wedding, the stars and their guests were located in resorts tucked high above the lake ringed by mountains while the paparazzi was stationed at a safe distance, managing only grainy images and videos of the ceremony. The couple had declared the dates on social media in October after months of speculation but the ceremony itself was cloaked in secrecy. Television channels and social media kept the wedding chatter going through the day with distant shots of the villas, stray tweets and old photographs from their films together. The European Parliament has backed plans for trucks to cut CO 2 emissions by 2030. MEPs adopted a higher target (35%) than the European Commission (30%) for new trucks to reduce the EUs greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with an intermediate target of 20% by 2025. Manufacturers will also have to ensure that zero- and low-emission vehicles (which emit at least 50% fewer emissions) represent a 20% market share of the sales of new ones by 2030, and 5% by 2025. Before 2020, the European Commission should come up with plans for a real-world CO 2 emissions test for on-road emissions. The MEPs also said that the European Commission should consider assessing CO 2 emissions produced by heavy-duty vehicles during their full life-cycle, and propose, if necessary, reporting obligations for manufacturers. Parliament adopted its position with 373 votes to 285 and 16 abstentions. MEPs will now enter into negotiations with the Council of Ministers. Following Zwickau, Volkswagen intends to change its plants at Emden and Hanover in Germany over to the production of electric vehicles. After Zwickau, Volkswagen is therefore establishing its second e-mobility center in Germany in Lower Saxony. At a works meeting held on Wednesday in Emden, HR Board Member Gunnar Kilian outlined the principles of the project to employees. In Hanover, the Chairman of the Brand Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Dr. Thomas Sedran, presented the plans. The orientation towards the production of innovative electric vehicles is part of the plant allocation plans on which the Supervisory Board will decide in Wolfsburg on Friday. We are moving at full speed into the production of electric vehicles. Emden and Hanover are to be further model plants in Germany. Together with Zwickau, they will form the largest network for the production of electric vehicles in Europe. Gunnar Kilian Emden will produce electric vehicles from 2022. In Hanover, models of the electrically powered ID.Buzz family will probably be produced from 2022 together with conventionally powered vehicles. Production of the models currently manufactured at Emden and Hanover is to be transferred step-by step to other Group plants against the backdrop of the reinforcement of the electric offensive. Details of plant allocation are to be decided on by the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen on Friday. For the Emden and Hanover plants, an employment guarantee up to 2028 was agreed for the transformation phase. Over 500 young women have registered for darshan in online queue website of Kerala police last week. Sabarimala temple witnessed widespread protests when it opened for monthly pujas in October and November after Supreme Court in September allowed women of all ages to enter shrine. (Photo: PTI) Thiruvananthapuram: Ahead of two-month-long annual 'Mandala Makkaravillakku' or pilgrimage season, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for an all-party meeting today to discuss row over the entry of women in menstruating ages at Sabarimala temple. The two-month long Mandala Makaravillakku pilgrim season commences on November 17 and attracts millions of devotees from all over the country. The main agenda at today's all-party meeting is to take stock of the arrangements made for devotees. Over 500 young women have registered for darshan in the online queue website of Kerala police last week. The Lord Ayappa temple witnessed widespread protests when it opened for monthly pujas for five days in October and two days early this month after the Supreme Court in September allowed women of all ages to enter the hill-top shrine. Over 3,700 persons have been arrested so far and 546 cases registered against various people for violence during protests across the state. Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to review its verdict that allowed entry of women of all age groups to the hilltop temple in Kerala but refused to grant a stay. With no stay being given, it remains to be seen whether girls and women in the previously banned 10 to 50 age group will be able to enter the shrine after a 6-km arduous trek since attempts by some were foiled by protesters at the base camps in Nilakkal and Pamba when the shrine was opened earlier after the September 28 verdict. Members of the Lincoln Middle School choir sing the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Maggie is a Soldier" for veterans attending the LMS Veterans Day Program Monday morning. Lincoln Middle School students wearing placards with names of veterans filled two sides of the auditorium, while the center seats were reserved for Veterans and family members. On Monday, LMS sixth-grade students, the LMS band and choir put on a special Veterans Day program as a way to show local veterans how thankful they are for their service. During the program, the band played the Star Spangled Banner, while the choir sang. Green River City Councilman Ted Barney recited President Donald Trumps proclamation after sharing a few of his military-service experiences. Barney said he... While the city has done great things with streets like Hitching Post and Second South, a lot more work remains according to Mark Westenskow, director of public works for the city. Westenskow said the city is wrapping up its sixth-penny tax funded streets projects next year with work on Knotty Pine, Evans and part of Railroad Avenue. The improvement tax was passed in 2012, with the city working on East Teton Boulevard first. Westenskow said the tax allowed the city to address pavement problems with specific streets during the downturn in city funding. The tax has paid for the last five years... U.S. Navy Air Force veteran, Lawrence Lowell, listens while another veteran describes his job in the U.S. Army. As patriotic music played, Green River veterans gathered for a free meal and fellowship. On Friday, the Golden Hour Senior Center provided all veterans with a free meal, including a French dip, wedge fries, broccoli salad, peaches and a dessert. To start the program, Boy Scouts from Troop 312 presented the American and Wyoming flags. Then, the veterans listened to a poem and watched pictures of themselves on the screen. Seniors were asked to bring in pictures of their favorite veterans to share during the short ceremony. The meal was then served by GHSC employees and the Boy Scouts, while v... Sibal claimed that had Dassault given this undertaking, it would have become L-2 (second bidder in the list) in the deal. New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday claimed the agreement to purchase the 36 French Rafale jets was not a government-to-government deal. Keeping up the attack over the Rafale scam, the Congress also said the French defence major was a non-compliant company and the Modi government should not have entered into a deal with it. Addressing a press conference, senior party leader Kapil Sibal said, This is not a government-to-government deal, because no such procedure exists in France. France has never entered into a government-to-government defence deal. Moreover, it was not the French government which negotiated the deal with India. It was a deal between the Government of India on one side and Dassault Aviation, a private entity on the other. Since the French government was not involved in the negotiations, how can it be a government-to-government deal? Mr Sibal claimed that the French government has never done a government-to-government contract on defence and such a deal has only been done in the United States under the Foreign Military Sales route (FMS). The Congress leader said Dassault had refused to give an affidavit or undertaking on the number of man-hours required for manufacturing the aircraft, as HAL had claimed that 2.74 times man-hours would be used to manufacture the jet in India, as per a previous contract. He also claimed that had Dassault given this undertaking, it would have become L-2 (second bidder in the list) in the deal. Taking on Dassault CEO Eric Trappier, the Congress leader said, Mr Trappier should tell us whether former French President Hollande is lying? He further added, He (Trappier) also said Dassault didnt go with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) because it didnt have land. But the fact is HAL had not only applied for land it already had lot of land in the vicinity of the airport in Bengaluru. All of Trappiers assertions are not true. Attacking the Prime Minister, Mr. Sibal said that the prime minister is silent on the issue and compared his monologues with people as a vehicle moving in a one-way track. He said the Congress party has taken a pledge to expose the corruption in the Rafale deal. Footage showed Tiwari who was standing at the edge of an elevated platform when an AAP MLA pushed him, causing him to nearly fall. Tiwari had claimed that the entire incident took place in front of Kejriwal and alleged that he was stopped by the police and AAP supporters from attending the event. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been named as an accused in a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the Delhi Police on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit chief and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari in connection with the scuffle that took place during the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge. On November 4, Tiwari got into a brawl with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and the Delhi Police at the event after which he wrote to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North- East Delhi and filed a complaint against AAP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Amanatullah Khan, Kejriwal and unknown persons. Khan was caught on camera shoving Tiwari during the inauguration ceremony of the Signature Bridge. In a video footage of the incident, Tiwari was seen standing at the edge of an elevated platform when Khan, an AAP MLA from Okhla, pushed the BJP's Delhi unit chief, nearly causing him to fall. A large number of police personnel and AAP workers were also present on the occasion. While speaking to ANI after the scuffle, Tiwari had claimed that the entire incident took place in front of Kejriwal. He had alleged that he was stopped by the police and AAP supporters from attending the event. The bridge was inaugurated on November 4 and was opened for the public the next day. It was inaugurated by the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Announced in 2004, the 575-metre bridge over the river Yamuna aims at reducing travel time and traffic congestion between the north-eastern and northern parts of the national capital, and is the first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge in India. Upendra Kushwaha is a strong Koeri leader, the largest OBC group after the Yadavs in Bihar. Patna: Seat sharing among NDA constituents is likely to be settled by the end of this week. As per the latest seat sharing formula, the BJP- JD (U) in Bihar is likely to contest on 17 seats each and the remaining six seats may go to Ram Vilas Paswans LJP. Sources said that the BJP leadership decided to go with the fresh formula after RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha visited Sharad Yadavs residence last week to discuss the political situation in Bihar. Reports suggest that the latest seat-sharing formula is likely to change the political arithmetic of the state and Upendra Kushwaha, who has been demanding to contest on a larger number of seats in the 2019 general elections may walk out of the NDA. Our party feels that there are few leaders in JD (U) and BJP who are misleading BJP leadership in New Delhi. We will wait for BJP President Amit Shah to decide whether he wants us to remain in NDA or not, RLSP leader Jitendra Nath told this newspaper. Sources said that Upendra Kushwaha has been upset at the way BJP sidelined his party and gave more importance to chief minister Nitish Kumar on the issue of seat sharing. Before leaving for New Delhi last week, he had met LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan in Patna to discuss the issue. The latest political development has given rise to speculations about Upendra Kushwahas future course of action. The Congress party on Thursday said that after series of setbacks by his alliance partners, Upendra Kushwaha should join Mahagathbandhan. There is nothing left for him in NDA anymore. He should decide fast and join Mahagathbandhan, Congress Party spokesperson Prem Chand Mishra said. Upendra Kushwaha is a strong Koeri leader, the largest OBC group after the Yadavs in Bihar. Both RJD and Congress party feel that his entry into Mahagathbandhan may cause a dent to JD (U)s vote bank in the state. Last week, after his meeting with Sharad Yadav, he had blamed CM Nitish Kumar for trying to break his party. Police have arrested three people, including a tailor employed by Lakhani, in connection with the murder. The designer has been identified as Mala Lakhani while the servant has been identified as Bahadur. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) New Delhi: A 53-year-old fashion designer and her 50-year-old domestic help were found murdered at her residence in Vasant Kunj Enclave of southwest Delhi on Wednesday night. The designer has been identified as Mala Lakhani while the servant has been identified as Bahadur. Police have arrested three people, including a tailor employed by Lakhani, in connection with the murder. The tailor, with the help of two of his relatives, killed Lakhani as she had not cleared his dues. When she cried out for help, her servant came to help her who was also stabbed. "One of accused Rahul Anwar was a tailor at deceased fashion designer's workshop. He committed the crime with two of his relatives in an attempt to loot," Joint CP Ajay Chaudhary said. "At around 2:45 am today, three people came to police station and disclosed that they've committed murder. Police immediately rushed to spot to verify facts. House owner Mala Lakhani and her servant Bahadur were found lying in a pool of blood," news agency ANI quoted police official as saying. "Lakhani had set up a workshop in her house for cutting and tailoring. Accused Rahul was working as a tailor master there. He along with his associates Rahmat and Wasim made a plan to murder. They stole valuables from the house and left the spot in the car of the owner," police added. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. The bodies were stabbed brutally with a sharp-edged weapon and were lying in pool of blood when the police reached the spot on Thursday morning. Lakhani, used to run a boutique in Green Park. Mala Lakhani (53), a fashion designer, ran a boutique named Tulsi Creations in Green Park. The three (above) accused for the murder of fashion designer Mala Lakhani and her domestic help at Vasant Kunj. (Photo: Asian age) New Delhi: A fashion designer and her domestic help were allegedly stabbed to death by her tailor and his two accomplices at her home in South Delhis posh Vasant Kunj Enclave area following a dispute over unpaid dues. Later, the three accused surrendered before the police fearing the cops might trouble their families and that they couldnt evade arrest for long. Mala Lakhani (53), a fashion designer, ran a boutique named Tulsi Creations in Green Park. She lived in a plush mansion with high walls and gates. The servants name was Bahadur (50), a Nepalese national. The duo was found inside the bungalow in the arrly hours of Thursday with multiple stab wounds. The accused looted jewellery and ransacked the house after killing the two, the police said, estimating that the incident took place between 10.00 pm and 11.30 pm on Wednesday. Rahul Anwar (24), the master tailor who worked with Lakhani; his cousin Rahmat (24); and his friend Wasim (25) have been arrested in connection with the killings, a senior police officer said. Around 2.45 am, the three men went to the Vasant Kunj (South) police station and said they had killed two people in Vasant Kunj Enclave. Following this, officials rushed to the spot to verify the details. They found the bodies in a pool of blood. A case has been registered and the three accused have been arrested, DCP (Southwest) Devender Arya said. The police said Lakhani had set up a tailoring workshop at her home. During interrogation, the trio said they had hatched a conspiracy to kill her. Anwar claimed Lakhani had not paid him for a couple of months and would pay in piecemeal. He had been working under Lakhani for close to three years. He was annoyed with this behaviour and hatched a plan 10 days ago to kill her, a senior officer said. The accused said that after committing the crime, they stole valuable items, including jewellery, from the house and left in Lakhanis car. The police said the accused had four knives with them, which they had purchased from a weekly Sunday Bazar in Vasant Kunj. After killing Lakhani and her domestic help, the accused went to a pond behind Rangpuri Pahari area in Vasant Kunj to discreetly dispose of the knives and their clothes that had bloodstains. The accused thought the police would trouble their families if they ran away. So, they decided to surrender, the senior officer said. The police said Lakhani was single and had been living in Vasant Kunj for several years. Her sister lives in Gurgaon, while her brother lives in Goa. The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem, police said. Fairfield Countys Community Foundation scheduled the 2019 installment of Fairfield County Giving Day for Feb. 28, with the Norwalk-based foundation encouraging nonprofits to sign up at fcgives.org before a Feb. 1 deadline. It is the sixth year for Fairfield County Giving Day, which last winter generated $1.4 million for more than 400 area nonprofits, from some 13,000 donors. GREENWICH At least one mailbox in Greenwich was broken into, and authorities say it might not have been an isolated incident. A mailbox on Arcadia Road in Old Greenwich was found to have been damaged Thursday morning. The door was opened and entry was gained. At this time we dont know if mail was taken, said police Lt. John Slusarz. Police also received an initial report that a mailbox in Cos Cob was also targeted by a thief or thieves. Specifics were not immediately available in that incident. Police are advising residents and businesses who use the Arcadia Road mailbox in Old Greenwich, or one in Cos Cob, to make sure any letters they sent out were properly delivered. Mailbox thieves appear to be targeting letters containing gift cards and checks. Its not unusual at this time of year to see a rise in mailbox thefts, Slusarz said. Personal identity and financial records can also be a target of thieves. A number of significant mailbox-thefts have been reported around the region this year, tied in with identity theft. Postal authorities have been fortifying mailboxes, and upgrading other security measures, in areas where mailbox thefts have occurred. In Stamford in April, thieves were using sticky paper and a string to steal mail from a box on Summer Street. Checks were taken from the mail pile, manipulated, then cashed. The city of Hamden also experienced a rash of break-ins this year. Mailbox break-ins have also been reported in significant numbers in southern Westchester County, N.Y., northern New Jersey and Queens, N.Y. The local case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; it is not within the town polices jurisdiction. Information on mail theft, and a form to submit a complaint about stolen mail, is available at www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov. Sri Lanka is now effectively a country without a prime minister, with weeks of political turmoil culminating Thursday in a brawl on the floor of the country's parliament. Two men believe they have the right to call themselves prime minister: the democratically elected leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sacked by the president on Oct. 26 and the pro-China strongman, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed in his place. Tensions boiled over Thursday when rival lawmakers exchanged blows in the middle of the chamber, with some Rajapaksa supporters running towards the speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, shouting and throwing water bottles, trash cans and books at him. Members of Wickremesinghe's party surrounded Jayasuriya to protect him, but the speaker adjourned the house as the violence continued for nearly half an hour. Earlier, Jayasuriya told parliament he considered there was no functioning prime minister or cabinet after a majority had voted against Rajapaksa and since President Maithripala Sirisena had not appointed another leader. The prolonged chaos, which countries including the U.S., China and India are watching with increasing concern, has stalled foreign aid and a $1.5 billion International Monetary Fund program, threatening to grind the entire country to a halt. It has also roiled the nation's bonds and currency, which were already dropping to fresh lows amid the emerging market sell-off. The island nation's rupee fell to a new low of 176.80 per dollar on Thursday. "The crisis must be ended as soon as possible, because the uncertainty is going to drive investment out of the country and leave government services in a state of paralysis," said Jehan Perera, executive director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka. "If the parties are not able to work out an accommodation, then it needs to go back to court." Rajapaksa, who lost a no-confidence motion in parliament on Wednesday, challenged Wickremesinghe to a general election to let the people decide the next government of the island nation. He accepted the prime minister-ship because of the country's economic woes and to lead an interim government until general elections were held, Rajapaksa said. Siriseena had earlier dissolved the parliament and called for fresh elections, but after Wickremesinghe led a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the president's move, the Supreme Court late on Tuesday stayed Sirisena's order and allowed the house to reconvene. On Wednesday, an opposition Marxist party handed over a no confidence motion to the house speaker as parliament met for the first time since Sirisena plunged the country into crisis. The motion challenged the appointment of Rajapaksa, as well as the country's freshly appointed cabinet ministers, as illegal. When the house speaker asked for a vote on the matter, as many as 120 members -- a majority in the 225-seat parliament -- stood up against Rajapaksa, according to Lakshman Kiriella, a member of Wickremesinghe's United National Party. The speaker declared the motion was passed by a voice vote but was prevented from doing a roll call, Wickremesinghe said on Wednesday. "Parliament voted that they have no confidence in the government under Rajapaksa," Wickremesinghe said. "It is an illegal government." Sirisena rejected the no-confidence motion brought against his nominee for prime minister, saying proper parliamentary procedures had not been followed. The move to fire the prime minister and unilaterally appoint Rajapaksa, who ruled between2005 and 2015 but was criticized for human rights abuses and corruption, has been strongly criticized by countries including the U.S. At first, both sides insisted they had the votes to triumph in a parliamentary vote on the appointment of Rajapaksa, but Sirisena later dissolved parliament entirely after his party conceded they lacked the numbers. "Sri Lanka's problem is not the prime ministership. Let us not deprive the people their right to show their franchise," Rajapaksa said on Thursday. The Trinamul Congress supremo also demanded a response from the Modi government. Kolkata: Lambasting the BJPs politics of changing the names of popular cities across the country, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the Centre of sitting on her governments plan to change the name of West Bengal also. According to her, the Centres delay is a deprivation to the people of the state. The Trinamul Congress supremo also demanded a response from the Modi government. In a Facebook post she said, recently, I have been noticing that almost every day BJP has been changing the names of historical places and institutions unilaterally to suit their own political vested interests. After independence, there have been name changing in few states and cities, like Orissa to Odisha, Pondicherry to Puducherry, Madras to Chennai, Bombay to Mumbai, Bangalore to Bengaluru etc, keeping in view the sentiments of the state and local language. Those are genuine. The CM, however, complained, But, in respect of Bengal, the attitude is totally different. Our Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution to change the name of our state on the basis of local sentiments related to our mother tongue, Bangla. It was resolved that the name of the state be chan-ged from West Bengal to Bengal in English, Bangla in Bengali and Bangal in Hindi and sent to the Union home ministry. Ms Banerjee alleged, however, the Union home ministry advised us to use the name Bangla in all three languages. Accordingly, our Assembly passed an unanimous resolution to change the name of the state to Bangla in all three languages and sent it to the Union home ministry again. But, it is pending there for a long, long time. It clearly shows deprivation to the people of Bengal. She added that, Undivided Bengal had Kolkata as its capital. The National Anthems of the two countries India and Bangladesh were penned by our son of the soil, Kabiguru Rabindra-nath Tagore. We love India and we also love Bangladesh and Bangla. Similarity of names should not create a hurdle. There is a Punjab in our neighbouring country as well as it is in India. Noting the BJPs footprints in the state, the Trinamul chief asked, whether a political party with zero strength in the state will decide the name of our state, or the unanimous resolution passed by our state Assembly in accordance with the Constitutional obligations and federal structure should be respected? The people of Bengal must get a positive response immediately. Ms Banerjee later claimed to a Bengali news channel that the BJPs politics of name change of places and institutions have been unilateral. She said, I have met Union home minister Rajnath Singh over the name change of our state. When he came to Kolkata recently, I told him about it then also. He even acknowledged my letter. The CM argued, We want to know why the Central government is dillydallying on the proposal, and at whose behest. The logic of Banglas links with Bangladesh is irrelevent. Although nothing has been intimiated to us officially, the issue has been hanging in a political loop. A game is always underway to undermine Bengal. When so many bills can be passed in the parliament through voice vote, the name change of our state would take barely two minutes to be passed in the House. LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May faced a volley of cabinet resignations, a torrent of criticism from Parliament and talk of a leadership challenge Thursday, but insisted Britain will leave the European Union in March, deal or no deal, and that she would be the leader to "see this through." It was one of the most tumultuous days in recent British politics. Suddenly, everything hung in the balance. Not only was May's future as leader unsure, but so too was the momentous decision to split from the continental bloc. Some members of Parliament pleaded with May to stage a second "People's Vote" to give citizens another chance to rethink Brexit. Others decried her proposals as condemning Britain to years of unbreakable alliance with European rules and regulations - and failing to make good on the vow to "take back control" as the pro-Brexit campaigns promised two years ago. At risk is the possibility that if a deal isn't finalized by the end of the year, Britain could "crash out" of the European Union in March with chaotic uncertainty that could devastate the British economy. The day began with abandonment, as Dominic Raab abruptly resigned as Brexit secretary, saying he could not support the withdrawal agreement he helped negotiate and that May's cabinet approved the night before. This was an especially stinging setback for May. Raab was her second Brexit secretary to quit. Following him out the door Thursday was another cabinet secretary, two junior ministers and three other Conservative lawmakers in government. Then, for three grueling hours, May stood virtually alone in the parliamentary chamber, as members, including those from her own Conservative Party, denounced her Brexit plans as either a weak capitulation, an act of naive folly or a catastrophe in the making. Afterwards, May called an evening news conference at 10 Downing Street, where the very first question from the BBC was: "Is it not the case now that you are in office, but you're not really in power?" May held fast to her script, saying she believes with "every fibre of my being" that her Brexit is the right one. But even as she spoke, a leadership contest loomed. In one of the many dramatic moments of the day, Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg announced he had submitted a formal letter stating he had "no confidence" in his prime minister. Rees-Mogg, who has been touted as a possible future leader of the Conservative Party and heads a pro-Brexit gaggle, said May's deal was "worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation by the prime minister." To trigger a vote of no confidence against May, 48 Conservative lawmakers would have to submit letters calling for such a ballot. By evening, there was no announcement of that threshold being reached. "Am I going to see this through? Yes," May said at the news conference. Public confidence in Brexit, too, has been wavering. Although Britain voted to leave the EU by 52 percent to 48 percent in June 2016, the latest polls show remain with a slight edge. Surveys indicate that people are frustrated with how Brexit is being handled, but still prefer May's leadership over anyone else's. The prime minister said Thursday that the withdrawal agreement she negotiated with EU officials would get a vote from the leaders of the remaining 27 EU states in Brussels on November 25. The deal, which has been compared to the world's most complex divorce settlement, lays out the billions of euros that Britain will pay to leave, what rights Europeans living in Britain will have after Brexit, and how a 21-month transition period will work. Approval in Brussels is fairly assured. Far more challenging will be getting the deal through Parliament. British lawmakers are supposed to get their say in early December. May on Thursday predicted the withdrawal agreement would pass, but acknowledged the deal was weighed down by compromise. "I know it's been a frustrating process - it has forced us to confront some very difficult issues," May conceded to Parliament. "But a good Brexit, a Brexit which is in the national interest is possible. We have persevered and have made a decisive breakthrough." Such optimism was not visible in the chamber. Hardly anyone stood to support May, as the pound sterling plummeted on currency markets and the hashtag #Brexitshambles was trending. Mark Francois, a Conservative lawmaker and top Brexiteer, said by his calculations, 84 Conservative members - "and going up by the hour" - would vote against it. Adding to that, he said, "the Labour Party have made plain today that they will vote against this deal," as will major parties from Northern Ireland and Scotland. "It's therefore mathematically impossible to get this deal through the House of Commons," he said. "It's dead on arrival." Sarah Wollaston, a Conservative lawmaker and pro-European, said, "It will be blindingly obvious to the entire country that the prime minister's deal cannot pass this house." In his resignation letter, Raab said he could not support May's plan because it treats Northern Ireland's future trading and customs relations with the European Union in a way that "presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom." He was referring to the deal's "backstop" to prevent the reemergence of a hard border - and political tensions - on the island of Ireland. That insurance plan would keep Northern Ireland and, to a lesser degree Great Britain, in a European customs union in the case that Britain and the EU. failed to sign a future free trade deal that preserved open borders in Ireland. The rapid-fire resignations sent shudders through EU headquarters in Brussels, raising the possibility that May does not have the support she needs to pursue the softer Brexit they negotiated. Raab's resignation drew special derision in Europe. "Who negotiated those UK terms again . . .? Surely the #Brexit Minister had nothing to do with it and learned of the terms yesterday.....? Oh wait," tweeted Marietje Schaake, a Dutch member of the European Parliament. Officials in Brussels said it was unclear whether they could offer any changes that would satisfy London any more. "We still have a long road ahead of us on both sides," Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, said. European Council President Donald Tusk sounded resigned to frustration. "Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation, and that our negotiations are only about damage control." May, though, was still talking in terms of a win. At the end of her news conference, one reporter asked about the prospects of her Brexit effort by using an extended metaphor about the game of cricket. "One of my cricket heroes was always Geoffrey Boycott," May replied. "And what do you know about Geoffrey Boycott? Geoffrey Boycott stuck to it. And he got the runs in the end." - - - The Washington Post's Michael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report During the past decade, the HR landscape has been transformed. And the reason doesn't come down exclusively to technology, as you might expect. Rather, employers are increasingly aware of the need for diversity, equal opportunities -- and support wherever that might be needed. Another development? The workforce is becoming more remote, with 50 percent of Americans expected to become freelancers by 2020. Related: How to Know It's Time to Add an HR Department However, there is a gap between awareness and implementation. As a Deloitte report on HR Technology Trends pointed out, HR is struggling to keep pace with the rate of change in the new world of work as constant innovation . . .is accelerating. Theres a similar picture of acceleration in terms of diversity. Matthew Hamilton, an HR consultant, pointed out to me that Irish employers agree that an inclusive environment is vital for business performance, yet, "Only 24 percent have a program in place to recruit diverse candidates. While the resulting portrait of human resources appears to be one of missed opportunities, your company can get ahead of competitors by giving your HR department a boost in 2019. Here's how, using several of the best apps out there: Trello: Work from anywhere, anytime With 73 percent of workers reporting increased job satisfaction levels due to flexible hours, according to Zenefits, its not surprising that 67 percent of businesses are now offering some form of flexibility to employees. This presents a challenge regarding managing workflows and the needs of the business. Related: Why Tech Is HR's Friend, Not Its Enemy From an HR perspective, that challenge requires ensuring clear communication channels for employees and employers. Trello, a project management app, gives businesses the tools needed to track and manage tasks. Once your HR department can monitor projects easily on one platform, it will be able to offer employees the flexible hours they're increasingly asking for. Theres also the added possibility of remote work, another growing trend. Promoting these benefits in job ads may well lead to a broader, higher-quality field of candidates. Proven: data-driven recruitment Though there has been steady growth in the number of businesses embracing data-driven recruitment processes, studies have indicated that those who have mastered the data are still in the minority. As corporate HR analyst, Josh Bersin told me; The 2017 Deloitte Human Capital Trends [study] found that 39 percent of businesspeople believe their company has 'very good' or 'good' quality data for people-related decision-making. However, there are signs businesses are catching up: Bersin pointed out that in 2017, according to the study, Sixty-nine percent of companies were integrating data into a People Analytics Database." Among the apps available to help HR departments harness the power of data in recruitment is Proven.com. An app that covers everything from identifying key skills to supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives, Proven streamlines the selection process. Using data from each candidate and measuring his or her abilities against set criteria, Proven helps to take bias out of assessments. It also allows recruiters to communicate with candidates, leading to a more positive experience, and therefore to an improved reputation of the company for future applicants. You can check out Proven's blog for handy HR-related articles too; it recently featured an article on who has the best applicant tracking system. JobSnap: Let the candidate's personality shine Data is a powerful resource for recruitment. However, for younger workers just coming on to the job market, theres only so much information you can gather. At this level in their careers, recruiters will be more interested in their potential and personalities. At present, many graduates go through lengthy application processes and endless rounds of interviews, yet are unhappy with the jobs they eventually get. According to The Talent Group: In the UK and the US, 70 percent of millennials are 'unhappy in their jobs' and a lot of young people cite not fitting in with the culture as the number one reason they leave, or want to leave. According to a recent report, a whopping 25 percent of new graduate recruits are leaving within one year because they are unhappy. So, yes, data can tell you a lot about a person, but it will not definitively tell you whether a person will fit in with your company culture. This is a critical aspect that needs human-to-human interaction. JobSnap is an app that requires young people to post a 30-second clip of themselves for potential recruiters. These short clips showcase a candidates creativity, attitude and personality. This is not a service that suits every business, or every young person, of course. However, for startups and technology companies that rely on young people, JobSnap is an excellent addition for HR teams. You: HR still needs the human touch. While technology helps to guide you through all aspects of HR, you shouldn't forget what HR really is. Human Resources still needs the human touch -- whether that means communicating with existing employees, or assessing whether a potential candidate will fit in with your companys culture. In recruitment, for example, technology will undoubtedly help you hone in on the candidate's skills and experience, but you'll still need to utilize the interview process to see this individual's personality. As Gal Almog, CEO of Talenya, succinctly put it: Recruitment still needs the human touch. After all, we are dealing with people. We still need human expertise with the human touch to pre-qualify candidates or even help them put their best foot forward by refining resumes, salary negotiation or interview techniques. Related: There's An App For That: Seven Apps Entrepreneurs Should Make Use Of At the same time, if an employee is having a personal crisis, its up to the HR team to give that person a break. Apps have helped to revolutionize the world of HR in ways that would be unthinkable just ten years ago. These platforms make it easier than ever to manage administrative tasks, projects and communications. They help HR teams become more efficient and organized. All well and good: Just dont forget the human in HR. Related: The Best Apps to Help Your HR Department in 2019 How AI Will Transform The Marketing Automation Industry From $0 to a $250 Million Valuation in 6 Years: How the Co-Founder of the Calm App Pivoted From Online Games to Meditation Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved When you're pursuing what could ultimately be your life's legacy, the least you expect is the support of those around you. Your spouse isn't just in your social circle -- he or she is practically an extension of yourself. Your spouse is the first to hear the ideas and knows the next 10 moves you'll make. At least ideally, your spouse does. Related: These 10 Entrepreneurial Couples Share How They Make It Work in Both Business and Love In real life, we might not always get that support, which can be frustrating. However, this isn't to mean there's a problem with the relationship. As demonstrated by 20th-century Canadian psychologist Eric Berne, there are multiple levels of connecting with people, in this case spouses, and symmetry across all levels is only ideal, not required, to have healthy relationships. That said, you'd still want your spouse on your team, cheering you on. So, how do you handle the situation when your spouse just doesn't seem supportive of your dream? 1. See if it could be your fault. Before you accuse your spouse of not supporting you enough in your ambitions, reflect on how things could have gone differently had you done this: To get your spouse's support in the first place, let him or her know your needs concerning achievement of your goals. For instance, unless your spouse is a fellow software developer he or she isn't going to understand what you need from home to make things easier for you. Set a realistic schedule that takes into account all the important aspects of your life. When sharing it with your spouse be honest and set realistic expectations. This schedule should reflect, among other things, when, where and how you work best. Your partner is more likely to be supportive of you if he our she clearly knows what you need to achieve your dreams. This may be time, money or help with the household chores. Related: I Recently Hired My Husband to Join My Business. Here's How We Made It Work. 2. Improve the quality and quantity of communication. Poor communication is not only the biggest reason people split up according to a survey by YourTango.com, but also the underlying issue causing relationship problems. If you don't communicate often and easily with your spouse it's less likely that you'll be able to harmoniously discuss your schedule, for instance. Similarly, without ongoing communication you won't be able to get feedback on your schedule -- you couldn't possibly expect to get everything right the first time you try. Remember that this communication has to be for the purpose of bringing you closer together. So, you're not just saying, "Hey, I'll be working from 9 to 5 and that's how it is" then moving along. You're also talking about other things that matter to you as a couple. It doesn't always have to be about what you're working on. Related: 5 Reasons Your Spouse Hates Your Business 3. Be honest and upfront. It's totally understandable if you're tempted to keep things to yourself because you fear your spouse's disapproval. However, this only escalates the situation. Unless you're in the CIA, the moment you start "protecting" your spouse or avoiding conflict by hiding what you're doing, you create a hill for your relationship to tumble down. A better approach would be telling the truth about your goals. You have to also make your partner understand that it's important to you and you intend to accomplish it by such and such a time. Put it in a way that doesn't sound like you're giving your spouse an ultimatum but rather as the caring partner you are. Learn how to be honest without hurting your spouse's feelings. If you don't think it's your fault that you don't get the support you deserve from your spouse, try opening up the communication channels. This will give you a chance to understand your partner and express yourself better. While having your spouse support you in your goals is a privilege, that's all it is. It would be unfortunate to be with someone who actively shoots your ideas down. However, as long as that person is there for you when it counts -- you have someone to come home to -- you have all it takes to pursue those ambitions. Related: What to Do If Your Spouse Does Not Support Your Entrepreneurial Dream What to Do If Your Partner Isn't Supportive of Your Business Here's How People Successfully Work With Friends, Family and Even Their Spouse Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Its the hanging chad of 2018: the mismatched signature. Eighteen years ago, the last time the nation watched a recount unfold, election officials studied bits of paper dangling from punched ballots to glean voter intent and to determine whether George W. Bush or Al Gore would be the next president. This year, they are studying how voters loop their Hs. A federal judge in Tallahassee heard arguments Wednesday about whether election officials may toss 4,000 ballots with signatures that dont match existing voter records. The suit was brought by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who is hoping to overtake Republican Gov. Rick Scott in a statewide recount. It is one of many lawsuits flying in state and federal court in the closely watched Senate race, which remains unresolved more than a week after Election Day. Voter signatures have taken on outsize importance because they are typically required on absentee and mail-in ballots, which more and more Americans are using to vote. As Republicans and Democrats spar over which ballots should count in unresolved elections in Florida and Georgia , many of their disputes have centered on whether to accept ballots where the signature doesnt match. The issue is acute in close races where absentee ballots could sway the outcome and in states where voting by mail has exploded without a standardized system for checking the validity of a signature, the most common way to verify that a mail-in ballot is legal. Patrick Murphy, a former Democratic congressman from Florida, had his most recent vote-by-mail ballot rejected for a signature discrepancy. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post) All of it has created an uproar among voting-rights advocates, who say that untrained election workers are tossing eligible ballots, often with no chance for the voter to object or fix the ballot. I had zero recourse here, said Patrick Murphy, a former Democratic congressman from Palm Beach who learned after the election that his absentee ballot had been rejected because of a mismatched signature too late for him to do anything about it. Murphy, 35, said hes had the same signature since he got his drivers license at 16, so he thinks its ridiculous that his ballot was tossed. In elections, especially in Florida, that are within .5 percent or .25 percent, to have nonexperts be deciding this, seems a little silly to me, he said.The issue is increasingly the subject of litigation elsewhere, too. In a Georgia case similar to the one heard Wednesday in Florida, a federal judge ordered officials to stop summarily tossing absentee ballots without giving voters a chance to fix them. Georgia election officials are still counting provisional and absentee ballots in a contentious governors race in which Democrat Stacey Abrams is hoping to force a runoff against Republican Brian Kemp. Opinions on the issue are divided starkly along partisan lines, with Democrats arguing for more recourse for voters and Republicans defending strict laws to guard against voter fraud. In 2000, a Broward County Canvassing Board member, Broward County Circuit Court Judge Robert Rosenberg, uses a magnifying glass to examine a disputed ballot during the recount for the presidential election. (Alan Diaz/AP) The signature requirement is a good requirement, said Republican Carlos A. Gimenez, mayor of Miami-Dade, Floridas largest jurisdiction with about 1.4 million registered voters. He said people known as ballot runners have improperly filled out ballots belonging to the elderly with their own choice. Thats a very useful law, he said. Democrats noted that most rejected ballots come from communities of color, which tend to vote Democratic. They say that is why Republicans favor strict signature laws despite no widespread evidence of voter fraud. Kemp, for instance, fought the court decision in Georgia. They are not effective anti-fraud measures, said Democratic lawyer Marc Elias, who is leading some of the litigation in Florida this week. They are disenfranchisement measures. There is nothing in the Constitution that qualifies the right to vote with a consistent signature. In Floridas Palm Beach County, attorney Bill Abramson described a painstaking process in which election officials, known as the canvassing board, sit at a table, surrounded by lawyers and party representatives, and study each ballot one at a time, trying to reach consensus about whether each one is valid. If you do this for a while, its not that hard, said Abramson, who was there to monitor vote-counting in Palm Beach County on behalf of his friend, Democrat Jim Bonfiglio, whose race for the Florida State House is the closest in the state, with a margin of just 37 votes. You dont need an expert to say that ones not even close. You look for consistencies, the way people hook their H on the left side, that sort of thing. And you compare them. Abramson lauded the boards work and said he objected to only four decisions out of 1,800 ballots. One rejected provisional ballot he thought should have gone through was from an 87-year-old woman who had tried to vote in person. She didnt have her picture ID, so they asked for her signature, and the signature she had on file was God knows how old, so they said it didnt match, Abramson said. I thought they looked really close. I mean, look, shes 87, her writing is going to change. My signature has been on file since 1992, and it looks nothing like that today. 'It's a balancing act' Thirty-six states mandate signature matching on absentee or mail-in ballots, according to Gerry Langeler of the National Vote at Home Institute, a nonprofit organization that advocates for mail-in voting and encourages standardized systems to assess ballot signatures. Most states have had these requirements for years. The attention on the issue this year is less a function of new laws than the explosion in mail-in voting, notably among older and disabled voters who struggle to vote in person. In 2010, 20 percent of all ballots were mailed, Langeler said, and the figure has been growing steadily since; this year, the figure will be at least 28 percent. Nowhere in U.S. society are signatures subject to the scrutiny they receive in elections. Signatures are essential on checks, mortgage documents and credit card receipts but it doesnt really matter how they look. They often look pretty bad. No one objects when shoppers leave an illegible squiggle on an electronic keypad to pick up groceries or a prescription. And penmanship has become markedly worse among younger Americans, who spend far more time texting than writing in cursive. Some schools dont even teach it anymore. Peoples signatures also evolve over time, and disabilities can make it difficult for voters to write at all. Depending on the state, voter signatures are compared to records from ballot applications, registration forms and even sometimes to a years-old drivers license a signature often absent-mindedly scrawled onto an electronic keypad. That creates the risk that legal votes will be disqualified, advocates say. Election officials need to be very careful when they decide to reject absentee ballots for such small issues, said John Powers, an attorney with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which helped litigate the signature suit in Georgia. And if they do, they should make some effort to contact the voter and verify the voters identity to see if the issue can be resolved before the election. Election officials say signature matching is essential to verify the identity of a voter who sends in a ballot by mail. Done right, it can result in minimal rejections, Langeler said. Colorado , for instance, requires all voters to vote by mail and requires a two-person, bipartisan team of trained judges to examine every signature rejected by an initial computer scan. They also use several signatures from various records to compare with the ballot. Your goal is trying to make sure its not a fraudulent ballot, like from somebody in the household of an elderly or disabled person, said Janine Eveler, director of elections in Cobb County, Ga., where officials had to scour signatures on more than 25,000 mail-in ballots this year. But if its truly their vote, you want to count that. Its a balancing act. In Cobb, Eveler has trained her staff to look for similarities in the handwriting on the voters registration application as well as the signature stored in the states computer system. She believes in giving the benefit of the doubt to the voter, she said but thats her judgment, not a statewide standard. Ultimately, just 23 ballots were rejected because of a mismatched signature in Cobb, not enough to sway the outcome of any election this year. It was a different story in neighboring and only slightly larger Gwinnett County, Ga., which rejected hundreds of applications for absentee ballots, which also require a matching signature. That makes the law unfair, advocates said, because voters are treated differently depending on where they live. Judges have agreed in cases in Georgia and New Hampshire There is also the risk of intentional voter suppression, advocates said. Gwinnett has a large minority population, and the majority of absentee-ballot applications rejected in Georgia came from voters of color. Some advocates expressed concern that the computer record that local election officials use to match the ballot signature with the registration also shows a voters race leaving open the possibility of discrimination. A Gwinnett County spokesman declined to comment on the issue, citing pending litigation. But what I will tell you is that we have been following the law, and when we have received direction from the courts, we have followed that, said spokesman Joe Sorenson. And thats what we will continue to do. In New Hampshire, Maureen Heard says she knows exactly why her ballot was rejected because she had quickly scrawled her signature on her ballot application, and then more carefully signed the ballot itself. She was frustrated that she never got a chance to fix the problem and gladly signed onto a lawsuit from the ACLU. I didnt find out until months later, she said, when the ACLU called me, that my ballot had been invalidated because the signature that I had on the envelope was kind of different than the one that I had tossed off when I was asking for the ballot. Lori Rozsa in Riviera Beach, Fla., Sean Sullivan in Tallahassee and Beth Reinhard in Lauderhill, Fla., contributed to this report. Ranveer recently uploaded a video on Instagram where him and Sara are seen performing with the Golmaal team. Mumbai: The reunion of Golmaal cast with filmmaker Rohit Shetty for his next venture Simmba was so much familiar fun that actor Arshad Warsi says the film's lead pair Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan looked out of place. Ranveer recently uploaded a video on Instagram where him and Sara are seen performing with the Golmaal team - Arshad, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Kemmu, who all are making cameos in the new film. Arshad says the atmosphere on set was such that the team could have easily shot the next Golmaal installment. "It was so much fun. It feet the same, the energy was same. If someone told us the next day you have to shoot for 'Golmaal 5', we could've done that. We are all very familiar with the entire crew so it felt like home. The fun part or the interesting part was interacting with Ranveer," Arshad told PTI. The Munna Bhai actor says Ranveer's energy and dedication to his craft is "insane." "I really love him, what a guy! He is complete mad and his passion for work is insane. His combination with Rohit will be very nice. They'll be so good together. Even Sara was really sweet," he adds. Arshad says the Golmaal team felt at home when they shot for the scene. "While we were shooting, more than us, they looked out of place there in their own film! We were all familiar with the unit so they, because they are the new lot, were looking at us! But it was damn fun. 'Simmba' will be good a film, it has some crazy action," he says. Arshad will be next seen in Bhaiyyaji Superhitt, which features Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta. The actor says it's extremely important to have the right co-stars and crew as everything can fall flat. "Sunny's politeness and goodness has stayed with me. He is so calm when it comes to work. It's right to have the right co-stars, it's extremely important your cast and crew is nice because you'll be spending so much time. If you don't have the right people around you, it's going to be a tough ride," he adds. The film is scheduled to release on November 23. If the British parliament throws out the deal that Prime Minister Theresa May's government has negotiated with the European Union, it will be most regretted in Brussels, because the deal in its existing form essentially insulates Europe from most of the Brexit fallout. There's a reason Donald Tusk, the European Council president, hurried on Thursday to call a meeting of EU leaders for November 25 before there was any clarity on whether the deal will survive attacks from all sides in the U.K. As Tusk said, it's always been the position of the EU that Brexit is a lose-lose proposition and any negotiations can only be about damage control. But the draft agreement isn't at all bad for Europe. The deal is built to make sure European companies, notably German carmakers, don't lose an important market and don't need to revamp their supply chains. According to the documents released on Thursday night, business gets a triple guarantee. First, there's the transition period until the end of 2020, which can be extended indefinitely and which essentially keeps the U.K. in the EU for all purposes except decision-making. Second, there's the backstop to avoid a hard border in Ireland, to which U.K.-EU relations revert if the transition period isn't extended. It's almost the same deal as the one Turkey has with the EU, imposing on the U.K. pretty much all the bloc's goods trade rules plus some 25 pages of "level playing field" regulations that make sure Britain doesn't try to out-compete its former partners by setting lower environmental, labor, state aid, antitrust and other standards. Third, there's the future economic relationship that's supposed to "build on the single customs territory" between the EU and the U.K. No version of a customs union is dangerous to goods producers. Brussels' losses from the deal are limited. Unless the transition period is extended, it stands to lose $14.7 billion (13 billion euros) a year in U.K. contributions and save about 7 billion euros a year it's been investing in the U.K. Other than that, it's not so terrible. For example, fishing fleets from EU countries will have less opportunity to fish in U.K. waters (although they probably won't be kept out entirely.) Equal access to U.K. public procurement will be lost to EU firms, although that might be temporary. Europe also stands to lose some of the close law enforcement and security cooperation with the U.K., although new arrangements will almost certainly be made. There are gains too. More precarious access for U.K. finance firms to the EU will force them to build strong continental bases. The end of the free movement of people between the EU and U.K. can also benefit Europe. With less opportunity to emigrate, eastern European nations could get a respite from debilitating population outflows. Latvia would like to lose fewer people to the U.K., and so would Poland. Germany, with unemployment at historic lows and a shortage of qualified workers, could benefit if migrants go there instead. But perhaps the best thing about the deal for the EU is that any member country can look at the Brexit documents and not find a single reason why it might be worth the trouble to quit the bloc. Europe's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has crafted an effective deterrent to copycats. The problem, of course, with the documents being so good for Europe is that they're so bad for the Brits. Guenter Verheugen, who served as a European Commissioner for more than a decade, wrote on Friday that playing to win every point in the Brexit negotiations wasn't necessarily the best strategy. "Anyone who presses the British into an EU corset that is too tight today will lose any chance of their coming back voluntarily," he wrote. So tight is the corset that there's an extremely high chance of May's deal being shot down by U.K. lawmakers. Yet her deal would be nigh on impossible to renegotiate for any other British prime minister, given the EU's position. As such, there's still a real danger of no deal at all (unless the advocates of a second referendum score an unlikely victory.) In a no-deal scenario, losses for European businesses would be immediate and brutal. Should that happen, Barnier will have to shoulder his share of the blame, along with the EU leaders who gave him such a rigid set of instructions. There's an old wisdom about playing poker with a fixed group of partners: If you win all the time, eventually no one will want to play with you. That's the trap EU negotiators have set for themselves. - Bershidsky is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics and business. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru. NEW HAVEN Governor-elect Ned Lamont reacted cautiously Thursday to several days of good economic news, saying improving tax revenues, economic activity and job creation are coming at what is likely closer to the end than the beginning of an economic expansion in Connecticut and the rest of the U.S. Speaking to reporters after introducing 19 members of a steering committee for his transition, Lamont said he has no intention of balancing his first budget by relying on the suddenly flush rainy day fund that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will be leaving for Lamont, a Democrat who takes office on Jan. 9 with solid Democratic majorities in the General Assembly. House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said use of the rainy day fund undoubtedly will be a matter of conversation with the new administration. Lamont said his administration is intent on making unnamed structural change to the states budget in an effort to break the cycle of budget shortfalls that have plagued Connecticut as it slowly recovers from the Great Recession of 2008. A report this week from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis pegged annualized economic growth in Connecticut at 3.1 percent in the second quarter the same as New York, but trailing Massachusetts. And state tax revenue projections surged, shrinking the projected shortfall in the upcoming two-year budget and leaving Connecticut with nearly $2.1 billion in reserves to combat the deficit. This is not a rainy day, when it comes to the American economy or the Connecticut economy, Lamont said. I think people have elected us to make some big changes going forward, so I dont want to patch, patch, patch through the rainy day fund and other short term fixes. I want a real fix. Lamonts caution is certain to be a source of tension with some members of the General Assembly, especially those intent on increasing state aid to municipalities. Income tax revenues are very volatile, Lamont said. Right now, with a very, very strong economy, revenues are pretty good. But our job over this first budget cycle is to make sure that we fix this structural deficit and make sure we have a reliable and predictable revenue stream so in the good times and not so good times we know what our budget is going to be going forward. Lamont and his running mate, Susan Bysiewicz, said their administration will do everything it can to continue and improve the economic growth. But Lamont, a Greenwich businessman, also showed unease about basing his first budget on an expectation of greater growth. Things are pretty good as you look around the country. Things are good as you look at the state of Connecticut. I dont know whether were in the 7th, 8th or 9th inning of this economic cycle. Its been an extraordinarily positive economic cycle, going back nine years now, Lamont said of the economy, adding that his administration must produce a budget that is balanced even if the economic outlook for the state changes. Lamont will be spending the weekend in Colorado with other recently elected governors at a seminar offered by the National Governors Association. In a monthly jobs report released earlier Thursday, Connecticuts jobless rate remained at 4.2 percent. The year-over-year numbers are starting to become fairly impressive, said Peter Gioia, an economist with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. At 25,700 private-sector jobs, were seeing the potential for one of the best years weve had since the 1980s. Like Lamont, Gioia saw the growth as positive, yet fragile reasons to focus on fiscal stability to workforce development. The important thing right now is for policymakers to do things that will continue this growth and, if possible, accelerate it and not do damage, he said. The water began rising around three o'clock in the morning after a water heater pipe burst inside the rental home Laura and Gus Andersen had moved into just days before; cardboard boxes still sat on the floor, unpacked and exposed. Gus, a member of the military, rushed to sweep the water off the hardwood floors as his wife recorded video of the sloshing liquid inside their house south of Atlanta. Despite frequent and persistent requests to their landlord, Progress Residential, the company did not immediately fix the damage and test for mold, the Andersens say. "Do something do anything," Andersen pleaded in a recent interview while standing on her front lawn. In a "clearance letter" dated 2 1/2 weeks after the pipe burst that contained spelling and grammatical mistakes, a contractor told the Andersens it did an inspection and found "dry and normal conditions" in the spots where it tested. When asked if she still worries about her health living in the home, Laura Andersen told a reporter, "I do ... I worry about what is going on behind the Sheetrock, what is going on behind the flooring." The Hearst Television National Investigative Unit's three-month investigation into Progress Residential which has 26,000 homes found a pattern of complaints from renters and former employees about the company's customer service, standards, billing practices, response times and internal culture. The concerns span markets, states and years. Andersen was one of more than a dozen people interviewed for this story, which also relies on public and nonpublic documents, court records and filings. Online, renters have sounded off in hundreds of posts: "you prey on your customers," "deplorable," "ridiculous," "the worst company" and "a total nightmare." The company often posts a reply that includes, "We apologize for your frustrations." In addition, the unit's investigation found attorneys general in eight of the nine states where Progress operates Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas have received complaints, including one from David Mehan in Arizona. "I was just so fed up," Mehan said in an interview. Progress Residential, in its response to the Arizona Attorney General's Office obtained by the National Investigative Unit, admitted to two internal errors in Mehan's case and reversed a little more than $1,700 in charges. "I'll never do business with them again ... because they're awful," Mehan said. Melanie Lefebvre and her husband, Michel, won an initial default judgment against Progress this year in Mississippi for approximately $3,500, accusing the company of keeping their deposit and making up home repair charges. The company got the decision thrown out over a technicality; both sides go back to court Nov. 30, court records show. "We tried to negotiate with them, we tried to get a mediator involved, everything was falling on deaf ears. So we thought: we have no choice; we have to file suit," Lefebvre said during an interview from Mississippi. "Absolutely, we felt ignored." Progress Residential is accredited with the Better Business Bureau with an "A+" rating. But customer reviews, which combine to give Progress about two out of five stars, do not factor into the rating, a BBB spokeswoman explained. The BBB said it had received 278 complaints against the company since Jan. 1, 2016, many regarding service issues, guarantees or warranties. Former renter Angela DePolo-Hughes says the company blocked her on social media after she complained about a host of issues that culminated in an eviction notice on Christmas Eve. She then started a Facebook group that now has more than 300 members. "People are sharing their horror stories ... We're not going to be quiet," DePolo-Hughes explained during an interview. And it's not just renters feeling wronged. A federal class action-lawsuit (3:16-CV-356) filed in the Southern District of Texas led by a former employee claims the company forced leasing agents to illegally work longer hours "without any overtime." The company denies the claims; a trial is scheduled for January. Through spokesman Peter Jakel at public relations agency Linnel Taylor, Progress Residential's CEO, Chaz Mueller, did not grant Hearst Television an interview for this story. In a two-sentence statement that did not specifically answer any of 24 questions submitted to it by Hearst, Progress Residential said: "We strongly believe these claims are without merit. We strive to provide our employees with the best possible work environment and our more than 100,000 residents with homes in desirable communities." Progress Residential's parent company, Pretium Partners, announced in June it had raised more than $1 billion from "investors from across the globe, including insurance companies, pension funds, and high-net worth individuals" to "acquire, renovate and manage" single family homes. The public release said Progress Residential had already purchased 5,000 homes for its Real Estate Fund II, known as SFR Fund II. "We are confident that our leading real estate platform, deep sector expertise, and operational advantage will enable Pretium to continue to acquire, renovate, and manage single-family rentals, while seeking to provide our investors with the risk-adjusted returns to which they are accustomed," Pretium CEO Donald Mullen said in the statement. But Laura Andersen says she's still waiting for some repairs to her Georgia home after a flood of inaction. In the interview, Andersen said she would "never again" rent from Progress Residential, which, she said, had "failed us." "They literally and figuratively left us out to dry," Andersen said. Know of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement? Send investigative tips to the National Investigative Unit at investigate@hearst.com. The Galaxy Note9 is still Samsung's top of the line smartphone as of today, and its launch price was closer to $1,000 than many people would have wanted. If you've managed to wait this long, though, then you can save up a nice amount of cash on buying one. An eBay seller with 98.9% positive feedback is now offering the international unlocked model for just $674.99. That's the best price we've ever seen. That said, keep in mind that it's a limited time offer, so it's unclear how long it will last. Act fast if you want one. At the moment you can only pick between black, blue, and purple color versions - others aren't in stock anymore. Also note that because this is the international variation of the phone, it will not work on Sprint, Verizon, any of their prepaid brands, nor any carrier that uses their networks. Source | Via There are many reasons for Congress leaders being more daring in displaying religiosity in the course this round of polls. Back in 1991, long after Rajiv Gandhis mortal remains were immersed in holy rivers and some time after the ballot boxes were sealed in the parliamentary election that was hyphenated by his assassination, a few journalists sat in a sparse room in the BJP office which doubled as dwelling and office for K.N. Govindacharya. The scribes had just begun indulging in data-data games with friendly politicians adept with numbers. Mr Govindacharyas figures were on his fingertips, albeit exaggerated, and he projeced the seats the BJP would win from which state and why. At this rate, you will replace the Congress, one of us said incredulously. He paused, and said with a typical guffaw: Why replace, we will be the next Congress. Cut to October 2015, to the launch of a book on the Indian economy with a former Union minister, a one-time editor (not the one in the news recently) and just about beginning-to-turn-crusader against the Centre Arun Shourie. His scathing attack of this government ended with an apt turn of phrase, this government was Congress Plus Cow. As one read the Congress manifesto for Madhya Pradesh, these two episodes came flooding back into my mind. The more you read promises reflecting the soft-Hindutva line of the party, with several references to Ram Path Gaman the path Lord Ram is supposed to have taken, the commercial production of cow urine, gaushalas in every panchayat and allocating separate funds for them, establishing temporary camps to treat injured bovines and, if necessary, perform their last rites; the more one is convinced that the punch lines of Mr Govindacharya and Mr Shourie have been turned on their heads. If ever a Congress government is installed in Madhya Pradesh or anywhere else, it will be a BJP minus Modi-Shah sarkar! At least, this is the prognosis the manifesto promises. From being the other way around, the Congress is on its way to becoming the BJPs B-team. Let us begin with just one Congress pledge, and understand what this is symptomatic of. The Ram Path Gaman is a mythical route, believed to have been taken through two contemporary states Uttar Pradesh and MP. In the former, this is supposed to be from Ayodhya to Chitrakoot, where the legendary hero-turned-god is considered to have spent a part of his 14 years in exile. The pathway, from modern Faizabad (soon to be legally renamed Ayodhya), passes through the districts of Kaushambi, Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur and Ambedkarnagar in central UP before reaching its destination in the Bundlekhand region. People in MP too believe that a significant period of these 14 years were spent in their state, and the Ram Path there traverses through the forests of Satna, Panna, Shahdol, Jabalpur and Vidisha. The Congress has assured speedy completion of this project, unfulfilled by the BJP government despite being in the works since 2007. Initially in their Ayodhya agitation, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJP leaders claimed they would prove the place as Lord Rams birthplace. Later, they said there was no need as Ram was a matter of faith. The Congress manifesto, and many other practices over the past few years, establishes that the party too has accepted the matter of faith argument. Last year, Rahul Gandhi began temple-hopping in Gujarat and there has been no stopping. Possibly, the party is eager to shed what his mother called the pro-Muslim image. This time he visited temples more unabashedly. Consequently, it boiled down to a question which should not feature during elections in a pluralistic country: whose Shiv Bhakti is greater the Congress presidents or the Prime Ministers? There are many reasons for Congress leaders being more daring in displaying religiosity in the course this round of polls. In the three Hindi heartland states now voting, the Muslim population does not match their electoral significance in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. These states are more bipolar than the two. Consequently, the Congress thinks it can take the 6.57 per cent, 9.7 per cent and 7.17 per cent of Muslims in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh for granted. It is debatable whether the Congress could have performed better had it voiced minority concerns in Gujarat or if its tally was bolstered because it did not to articulate their angst. But the Congress decision to play along with Hindu sentiments and make promises aimed at appeasing them, and thereby trying to shed its pro-minority tag, is a reflection of a paradigm shift in the countrys political culture. Post-Independence India lived through different eras, with politics being dominated by one predominant idea. Every party aspiring for power voiced their position around this central theme. For the first three decades or so, the dominant belief was socialism in its various shades Nehruvian socialism, Lohiaite socialism and Marxist varieties. Even the Jan Sangh, with Ekatm Manavaad or Integral Humanism and Deen Dayal Upadhyays promotion of antyodaya (although scholars claim this was not his original formulation), stopped cosying up with right-wing Swatantra Party to enter the political mainstream. From the late 1970s, with religion playing an increasing role in politics, secularism emerged as the primary pivot around which political lines were drawn parties were either secular or communal. Once again, there existed several types of secularism the Congress variety, the Janata Parivars (which later splintered into several other shades) and the Communist form of secularism. Like socialism ran its course and became outdated slowly, secularism as a focal point too faded away from the polity. Gradually, Hindutva became the primary idea. Narendra Modi, in 2014, declared with no trace of embarrassment that he was a Hindu nationalist something unthinkable earlier. But as with all political ideas, Hindutva too is not unidimensional. Instead, a Hindu nationalistic rainbow has appeared on the horizon. Euphemistically, there are various hues of saffron that of the RSS, the BJP, the fringe forces and the Congress. Political parties navigate their course through this landscape dazzled by the hues on the skyline. Time will determine if darkness will follow, or if there will be a new dawn. Haiti - FLASH : The Lavalas Party calls for the overthrow of the Government Wednesday at a press conference, Maryse Narcisse the National Representative of the opposition party Fanmi Lavalas officially expressed the position of the Party on the crisis that prevailed in Haiti by launching a call for the overthrow of the Government, which in its view is in the incapacity to meet the needs of the population. She is convinced that the mobilization of 18 November will be the proof that the population wants to take control of its destiny and that this national event will be the starting point which will provoke the change of Government demanded in recent months by several political sectors (of the Opposition) "At the demonstration on November 18, we will say goodbye to this unpopular system." A position that has not surprised anyone but that confirms that has not ceased to express Schiller Louidor the spokesman of the Political Committee of the Party. According to Maryse Narcisse "The living condition of Haitians remains increasingly difficult given the deterioration of the national economy [...]" affirming that the Lavalas Party is alongside the population she urges to redouble the effort to rid the country of the current Government, which it describes as "obsolete". Moreover, in a statement, the Political Commission of Famni Lavalas composed of the Deputy Bertrand SInal (President), the Deputy Joseph Manes Louis (Secretary) of the deputies members Roger Millien, Belizaire Printemps and Vikerson Garnier reacted on the case of the black and red flag hoisted in Vertieres https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26107-haiti-politic-pitit-dessalin-makes-an-affront-to-the-haitian-flag.html "[...] while nostalgic politicians abroad [in the diaspora] are promoting Nicolas Duvalier [...] here the black and red flag of Francois Duvalier is being promoted. Stop irritating the people, stop putting the people's struggle as a comedy [...]" The Commission asks to remain vigilant and stresses "[...] Today the battle is not that of the color of the flag. The battle is to do what our ancestors did on November 18, 1803, to free the country from these 'tilolit' authorities. The battle is to put no matter the cost at the head of the country a power of transition so that we can make a PetroCaribe trial and a National Conference to establish in the country a good political system that will allow Haiti to really develop [...]" The Political Commission of Famni Lavalas asks the population not to "fall into the trap of the division on the color of the flag, and to remain mobilized [...]" See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26115-haiti-politic-black-and-red-flag-the-opc-indignated-at-the-affront-suffered-by-the-haitian-people.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26107-haiti-politic-pitit-dessalin-makes-an-affront-to-the-haitian-flag.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : Everything you need to know about using the PetroCaribe fund At a time when the country is in crisis, that the population between manipulation of the opposition and disinformation calls for a PetroCaribe trial without really knowing what it really is, it has become more and more difficult for anyone to forge objectively his own opinion, if relevant information and reliable sources are not available, on the use of PetroCaribe Program funds. In order to help those interested in having an informed opinion on this complex matter, we provide you with the most important information you should know about the use of PetroCaribe funds. 1 - Report of the Senatorial Special Investigation Commission on the PetroCaribe Fund : To find out all the details, the companies involved, the politicians implicated and the accusations made by the members of the Commission. To read : The work of the Senator Youri Latortue "PetroCaribe: my fight for the accountability" : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24573-haiti-politic-the-book-on-petrocaribe-by-youri-latortue-bestseller-in-haiti.html Download report (PDF 656 pages) : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bLsSASoob5lsRXy6BnsAN2ff-CQnG6Wd/view 2 - PetroCaribe Achievements from 2011 to 2014 : Government report on all the works and investments carried out from May 2011 to November 2014 which describes all the public interventions undertaken by the Martelly-Lamothe administration within the framework of the PetroCaribe Program : Tables, graphs and photos of achievements. A report that allows everyone to know what has been used for nearly a billion dollars of this fund too often criticized for lack of information. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13289-haiti-politic-report-petrocaribe-the-moment-of-truth.html Download the report (PDF 232 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/GZS_13183_Bilan_PetroCaribe_2015-02-23.pdf 3 - Resolutions, agreements, minutes, treaties and agreements, decrees : Compilation including all texts relating to PetroCaribe funds published in an Extraordinary Issue # 19 of the official journal "Le Moniteur" on October 24, 2018 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25936-haiti-petrocaribe-official-publication-of-the-reconstitution-of-the-facts-relating-to-the-management-of-the-funds.html Download of Issue 19 of the Monitor (PDF 688 pages): https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Compilations-Textes-Relatifs-Aux-Fonds-Petrocaribe-Le-Moniteur.pdf 4 - List of public companies and institutions that received PetroCaribes funds : Download the list (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/petrocaribe-entreprises.pdf 5 - Erroneous accusations contained in the report of the Senatorial Special Investigation Commission: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22844-haiti-flash-report-petrocaribe-laurent-lamothe-goes-on-the-offensive.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22715-haiti-petrocaribeformer-minister-of-tourism-denounces-and-proves-13-false-accusations.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13785-haiti-economy-venezuela-satisfied-with-the-good-management-of-the-petrocaribe-fund.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : FOLONHA launches a call for dialogue and consultation Faced with the current situation, characterized by uncertainty and rumors of all kinds causing fear, anguish and discouragement, the Lorquet Foundation for a New Haiti (FOLONHA), calls for dialogue and consultation, only weapons used in any democratic system. "The Foundation rejects any philosophy, idea, trend or political doctrine that advocates violence because it is contrary to democratic values. For a long time, Haitians have experienced violence and have only further crippled the country into poverty and regression. In these modern times, FOLONHA recommends that traditional politicians give Haiti a chance and take a look at our Dominican neighbors who, during deep political crises, have always opted for dialogue, peaceful solutions... in a way, modernity for their country [...] The Foundation believes that the show we are currently offering to the world is tiresome, repulsive and in very bad taste. This cheap political show disgraces us more and goes against the dream of the founding fathers of the Haitian homeland. The time has come for Haitians to make a serious awareness and realize that our current choices only further belittle us and make us ridiculous in the face of the international community and our Caribbean neighbors in particular, who have made great sacrifices and have definitively chosen the path of endogenous and sustainable progress and development [...]. The institution takes the opportunity to ask the authorities to shed light on the management of PetroCaribe funds to avoid dark days in the country https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26121-haiti-flash-everything-you-need-to-know-about-using-the-petrocaribe-fund.html [...]" HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2018/11/14 | Source On the latest episode of the KBS 2TV drama "Feel Good To Die", Kim Jin-sang (Kang Ji-hwan) showed a more humane side. Advertisement Jin-sang learned that Roo-da (Baek Jin-hee) was the whistle-blower. She said, "If I hadn't done it, people wouldn't have made it to the evaluation. The company says every year is a risk, but the guys up there aren't doing anything and leaving it to the guys down here. I stopped that. I did a good thing". The company asked each team had to choose someone they couldn't trust in order to find the whistle blower. Jin-sang spoke out. He said, "You can't digitize the most untrustworthy person on Excel. Results like these is what you get from an irrational team who is given such evaluation standards". "There's no criminal. The one who calls out the criminal is the criminal. The whistle-blower is not the criminal". He was then taken out. Kang Ji-hwan has been a pain in the neck, but his humane side is causing a stir. Published on 2018/11/14 | Source Lee Jong-suk is back on his feet. Advertisement He posted a picture on Instagram on the 14th. In it, he's wearing a checked shirt and showing off his modelesque figure. He was in Jakarta on the 5th of November for a fan meeting, but was detained. The embassy helped him to come back to Korea on the 6th and he was able to attend the script reading for his new drama "Romance is a Bonus Book". "Romance is a Bonus Book" stars Lee Jong-suk and Lee Na-young. Fearing repatriation, refugees who fled to Bangladesh with testimony of murder, rape and arson after a military crackdown went into hiding. UNHCR voluntariness assessment showed none of the 50 families interviewed want to go back under present circumstances as they don't feel safe, Bangladesh's refugee commissioner said. (Representational image | AFP) Dhaka: Doubts over plans to begin repatriating the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who fled Myanmar last year escalated on Thursday as Bangladesh's refugee commissioner said none wanted to return and that they would not be forced to go. Terrified refugees, who arrived in Bangladesh with testimony of murder, rape and arson after they escaped a military crackdown last year, went into hiding as authorities insisted they would proceed despite UN warnings. But Bangladesh's refugee commissioner cast doubt on whether the plan to send the first batch of 150, from a preliminary 2,260 slated for return, could go ahead as scheduled on Thursday. "According to the UNHCR voluntariness assessment, none of the 50 families interviewed expressed their willingness to go back under the present circumstances. None feels safe to go back now," Mohammad Abul Kalam told AFP. Kalam would not say if the planned repatriations for Thursday were cancelled. But he said: "We cannot force them to go back against their will." More than 720,000 mostly Muslim Rohingya sought refuge from a Myanmar military crackdown launched from August last year that UN investigators say amounted to ethnic cleansing, joining some 300,000 already in Bangladesh. Rohingya refugees currently reside in vast camps in southeastern Bangladesh, including a massive settlement in the border district of Cox's Bazar, where community leaders said most of those marked for repatriation had headed to the hills. "Ninety-eight percent of the families (on the list) have fled," community leader Nur Islam said on Thursday. He and other community leaders said that an increase in the number of Bangladeshi soldiers at the camps in recent days had stoked anxiety. "Everyone is tense, the situation is very bad," Abdur Rahim, another leader, told AFP in Cox's Bazar. "There are a lot of army and police inside the camps. They are checking the ID cards of Rohingya." A local police chief, Abul Khaer, played down reports of additional security, saying nothing in terms of personnel had changed in recent months. Panic among refugees The UN refugee agency has publicly cautioned against the repatriation going ahead and, in an internal briefing paper seen by AFP, laid out stringent conditions under which it would offer humanitarian assistance to anyone who ends up returning. In the confidential document dated November 2018, UNHCR said it would only provide aid if returnees were allowed back to the villages they had left or to other locations chosen by them. Bangladesh authorities have insisted only those who volunteer will be returned but UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday that many refugees are panicking at the prospect of being sent back against their will. "With an almost complete lack of accountability - indeed with ongoing violations - returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar at this point effectively means throwing them back into the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades," Bachelet said. She said that the violations against the Rohingya "amount to the worst atrocities, including crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide". 'Reckless move' Amnesty International on Wednesday called on Bangladesh and Myanmar authorities to "immediately halt" their plans, saying it was a "reckless move which puts lives at risk". "These women, men and children would be sent back into the Myanmar military's grasp with no protection guarantees, to live alongside those who torched their homes and whose bullets they fled," said Amnesty's Nicholas Bequelin. Human Rights Watch echoed the concern on Thursday, asking Bangladesh to "immediately halt" the planned repatriation. "The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar," said Bill Frelick, HRW refugee rights director. US Vice President Mike Pence told Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse", adding pressure to Myanmar's civilian leader. Havre Police Department Officers investigated suspicious activity at 5:12 p.m. Wednesday. -- Joshua Kay Blatter of Havre, 28, was arrested at the police station Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. on a charge of criminal contempt related to a 24/7 Sobriety Program violation. -- Corey Ray Blackwolf of Box Elder, 41, was arrested on a trespass to property charge after a First Street West business caller reported Wednesday at 8:47 p.m. that an intoxicated man would not leave. -- Gerald James Faber of Havre, 65, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia after a caller on Third Avenue reported Wednesday at 9:18 p.m. a man was lying in the middle of the street and a caller at the hospital asked at 11:03 p.m. for help with a man that was brought in and was refusing tests. -- Dane Dvorshak of Malta, 25, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, trespass to property and resisting arrest after a caller at a First Street establishment reported at 12:16 a.m. today that a drunk man would not leave the building. Hill County Sheriff's Office Sade Rochelle Stearns of Harlem, 21, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant and a state District court warrant Wednesday at 10:59 a.m. at Hill County Detention Center. -- Deputies investigated suspicious activity reported on Second Street West Wednesday at 11:11 a.m. -- Dane Dvorshak of Malta, 25, was arrested on charges of possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia at the detention center at 1:11 a.m. today. Havre Fire Department Emergency medical personnel responded to five calls Wednesday. Havre Animal Shelter The Havre shelter this morning held two medium-hair cats, one short hair cat and one long-hair cat all of unknown gender, also one short-hair female cat and one long-hair female cat; and five 8-week-old kittens were being fostered until adoption. -- The Havre shelter this morning also held a female Australian cattle dog-blue heeler-border collie dog, a male German shepherd dog, a female mixed-breed dog, a male Labrador retriever 21-week-old puppy, a male Labrador retriever dog, a male mixed-breed 11-week-old puppy, a female mixed-breed 9-month-old puppy, a female mixed-breed 11-month-old puppy and a female Australian shepherd-German shepherd dog. Grant Olson of Montana Actors' Theatre greets the crowd at Triple Dog Brewing Nov. 17, 2017, and begins the process for writing, rehearsing, directing and performing in 24 hours of theatre in MAT's first 24-hour play festival. This Friday and Saturday, Montana Actor's Theatre is offering people the chance to become part of a team that will take one day to write, direct and perform a play. The themes are picked out at random and the final productions will be performed Saturday starting at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre of Cowan Hall at Montana State University-Northern. The event kicks off this Friday night at the Old Station Brewing Co. from 7 to 8. Grant Olson, Ph.D., MAT's associate artistic director, said this is also when the writers for the plays find out what their theme is, who their director is and how many and who their team of actors will be. The theme is based on several news headlines and must be used at some point in the production Olson said. "On the day that we do the drawing," Olson said, "I'll go through the New York Times and Washington Post and The Guardian and find about five or six different headlines that could theoretically fit as dialogue. I look for things that aren't going to be hard for the writers to fit in, but something that's topical from that day. The night of the drawing we'll draw out one of those headlines and each one will fit in as a bit of dialogue. ... That keeps it fresh." Once the writers have their theme, they have to come up with a 10- to 15-minute play. Olson said there may be a room for the writers to use if they want to sit together and write or they can go home. He added they have a Facebook group going so they can keep each other updated on the progress of their scripts. "Last year, it was so funny, Jay (Pyette) and Rachel (Dean) were done with their first drafts by midnight and completely done by about 1 in the morning," Olson said. "And my wife, Morgaine, was writing and at 2 in the morning she had thrown out all her ideas and had a blank page sitting in front of her. She was like 'I hate everybody! I'm never doing this again!' Then she managed to write this great comedy." The finalized scripts are handed over to the director the following morning at 8 a.m. The director looks over the script for about a half an hour before the actors show up and begin rehearsing at 9 a.m. which, Olson said, is "the earliest any actor gets up in their lifetime." Olson added that the directors and actors rehearse in different classrooms at Northern. "Each director has a different process really of how they get their actors into it," Olson added. "Rehearse through, block it out, give them some time to look at their lines while the directors go down and manage some tech things. We have to find costumes, some props and get the lights set up for them." Rehearsals on the Little Theatre stage in Northern's Cowan Hall begin at noon, Olson said, and the different teams rotate stage time. "We've really only had the actors for about three hours before we're on stage," Olson said. "We kind of set it up if you want lots of tech things then you're going to have a little bit less time to rehearse. So it's really kind of up to the director. ... You've got this hour chunk so you can do whatever you want with it so use it wisely." The actors then have a little time for a dinner break before they perform the finalized show. This is the second year MAT has performed this kind of production and Olson said it's something he has done before during his time in Missoula. Olson added that he and the rest of MAT would like to add more shows like this and not just in Havre. "We'd like to extend it out to other communities and maybe make a bit of a festival out of it," Olson said. "One of the things we're thinking about is doing a 24-hour play in different places up and down the Hi-Line and do it almost as a competition, like an audience-votes competition. Then the playwrights would all come to Havre for a big one at the end, and the directors and the actors. Then they'd write all new plays." Olson said directors are picked on a volunteer basis and the slots are filled up, but the slots that filled up the quickest were for writers. Olson said he likes the frantic energy and having a seemingly impossible deadline. He added the writers have it easy, despite having to come up with a play in a few hours, because once they're done, their part in the production is over. "People were really wanting to write," he said. "I think it's a great way to cultivate new writing, too. In that really short deadline, you can see the whole process in one day, which is really encouraging to playwrights. So often as a playwright, you write a play and then never get to see it live on stage due to different circumstances. This way, you get the writing all out of the way and it goes right into production, so it must feel very fulfilling." Olson added they could still use some actors and that he blames the shortage of actors on "Jay for writing 30-minute monologues." "It was amazing because (a practiced actor) and Jay's daughter, Jessa, ended up in Jay's play," Olson said. "And he's like 'Well I know these guys can memorize so I wrote them good things.' It turned out really nice. It was a really poignant piece." He said it's fun and surprising how good the quality it is. Other members of the group last year were worried about the quality and were surprised at how well it was. "That nervous energy just leads to some amazing performances," Olson said. "There's no time to be pretentious or really actor-y or anything. You got to say your lines and get it done. The quality is surprisingly high. You've got 24 hours, how can you get anything meaningful done? I think just the setup of it, people shine." "I hope people come and check it out," Olson added. "It's great fun for the audience, and the audience last time had a lot of fun. It's one of those things that it could be a train wreck. The circumstances could be a train wreck, but every time I've done it, the performances have been phenomenal. Like, tear-jerking performances that happen in a day. That's impressive to see. The good thing about the 10-minute shows is if the play isn't to your taste, it's like the weather here, you wait five minutes and it'll be different. "We're hoping to encourage discussion, and people go get a drink in between the shows and we chat a little bit and the other actors come out and watch," he added. "It's just a lot of fun. That's it. Come see something fun." Tickets are available online or at the door. Adults are $15 and students, seniors and military are $10. The show starts at 8 p.m. Saturday and the backstage lounge opens at 7:30 p.m. Last updated 11/15/2018 at 11:27am Press release The Montana Taxpayers Association will be holding its 97th Annual Meeting Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Marriott Helena Colonial in Helena. Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney will be the speaker at the noon luncheon talking on the governors administrations goals for the 2019 legislative session. The agenda topics following lunch will include: Montana Economic Outlook Patrick Barkey, director of the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research; Federal Tax Reform and Impacts on Montana Doug Lindholm, president and executive director of Council on State Taxation, and Lee Baerlocher of the Montana Department of Revenue; Revenue and Budget Amy Carlson and Stephanie Morrison of the state Legislative Fiscal Division; Reappraisal of Homes/Commercial Property and Ag Land Montana Department of Revenue Director Gene Walborn Legislative panel discussing the upcoming 2019 Legislature The meeting will wrap up with a reception and refreshments about 5 pm. Pre-registration is now open. People can call 406-442-2130 to preregister. Registration closes Saturday, Dec. 1. People must register by then to attend the luncheon and afternoon meeting. The police also posted a video of the incident, which showed the woman with her hands around the employees neck. The suspect slammed the victim against the drive-thru window while another employee intervened to stop the woman. Theres no reason to physically assault someone because you didnt get enough ketchup, said Corporal Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police. A man who appeared to know the suspect entered the kitchen and helped end the altercation. The two left immediately after. Authorities are hoping to speak with the man as they gather more information on the incident but said the man would not be charged. Police are asking the local community to help identify the woman. Workplace violence is a globally prevalent issue but it is underreported, said Era Mae Ferron, who specialises in the prevention and management of workplace violence. "Paid work is critical in providing financial stability to people experiencing domestic and family violence, which is why the NSW government is introducing this important reform to leave entitlement," said Goward. Employees may now use domestic violence leave to seek safe housing; attend related medical and legal appointments or organise alternative care and schooling arrangements for their children and will not have to exhaust all other forms of leave beforehand. NSW public service employees can currently take up to five days paid special leave per calendar year but only after other leave entitlements are exhausted. Earlier in the year, the Fair Work Commission announced that millions of Australian workers will be able to access five days' unpaid domestic violence leave a year, however it refused the ACTU's push for 10 days' paid leave. The leave provisions were estimated to be available for 2.3 million Australian workers on modern awards, and available to employees who are not able to deal with the impact of domestic violence outside the ordinary hours of work. Denise Heady FINDINGS Scientists at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified sodium glucose transporter 2, or SGLT2, as a mechanism that lung cancer cells can utilize to obtain glucose, which is key to their survival and promotes tumor growth. The finding provides evidence that SGLT2 may be a novel biomarker that scientists can use to help diagnose precancerous lung lesions and early-stage lung cancers. BACKGROUND Cancer cells require large amounts of glucose to survive and grow. Past research has established that passive glucose transporters, or GLUTs, are the primary means the body uses to deliver glucose to tumors. However, more recent studies have found some cancers, such as prostate and pancreatic, also rely on SGLT2 to utilize glucose, which spurred the UCLA scientists to study the role of SGLT2 in relations to lung cancer. Finding ways to diagnose lung cancer earlier when it is easier to treat is imperative because it is currently the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women worldwide. METHOD The researchers used positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to capture SGLT activity in lung cancer cells. They were able to use SGLT2 activity to monitor the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors to treat mice with genetic models of lung cancer and mice that had been implanted with human lung tumors. The researchers found unusually high levels of SGLT2 in human specimens of lung cancer, showing that these tumors predominantly utilize SGLT2, but not GLUTs, to transport glucose in the early stages of tumor growth and even in pre-malignant lesions that precede the development of lung cancer. IMPACT The study suggests that lung cancer can be detected earlier, when it is much easier to treat. By using SGLT2 as a biomarker, lung cancer could not only be found earlier than it often is today, but it could potentially be discovered even before lesions become cancerous. The researchers also provided evidence that a common FDA-approved inhibitor drug (which is currently used to treat diabetes) could help block SGLT2 activity in cancer cells. The inhibitor could be used to block glucose uptake and help reduce tumor growth. AUTHORS The studys lead author is Claudio Scafoglio, assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at UCLA and a member of the Jonsson Cancer Center. The senior author is David Shackelford, associate professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at UCLA and a member of the Jonsson Cancer Center. Other authors, all of UCLA, are Steven Dubinett, Brendon Villegas, Gihad Abdelhady, Sean Bailey, Jie Liu, Aditya Shirali, Dean Wallace, Clara Magyar, Tristan Grogan, David Elashoff, Tonya Walser, Jane Yanagawa, Denise Aberle and Jorge Barrio. JOURNAL The research is published in Science Translational Medicine. FUNDING The study was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute KL2 Translational Science Award, the American Cancer Society, the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, the Stop Cancer Foundation, a Saul Brandman Program grant, a Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program grant, merit review research funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs, an NIH/NHLBI training grant, and a Thoracic Surgery Foundation Research Award. UCLA To cross the placenta, Zika virus may hijack the route by which acquired immunity is transferred from mother to fetus, new research suggests. The results were published online Nov. 14 in Cell Host & Microbe. Antibodies against dengue virus make it easier for Zika to infect certain immune cells in the placenta, called Hofbauer cells. This effect was observed in both cell culture and in explanted human placental tissue, says lead author Mehul Suthar, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and Emory Vaccine Center. Zika infection during pregnancy can lead to overt microcephaly a smaller head and brain in the developing fetus, as well as more subtle neurological problems detectable later.Researchers had previously observed that syncytiotrophoblasts, cells that make up outermost layer of the placenta, are resistant to Zika infection. Yet studies of Zika-infected pregnant women show that the virus is present in the placenta in the majority of cases. We needed to know how the virus gets across the placenta, Suthar says. Previous studies have shown that Zika persists in the placenta for months. Its clearly getting in there. However, Suthar says his teams research does not directly address the question of whether having anti-dengue antibodies as a result of infection or vaccination will worsen clinical outcomes in Zika infection. Zika is similar genetically to dengue, they belong to the same flavivirus family and antibodies to one virus sometimes will bind the other. Both are transmitted by the same mosquito vector and their geographical infection patterns overlap in Central and South America, some parts of Africa and South Asia. There are four strains of dengue virus, and infection with one strain does not lead to long-lasting immunity against the other three. In fact, secondary infection with a different strain can increase the risk of developing a more severe illnesses like dengue shock syndrome and/or dengue hemorrhagic fever. This is thought to happen through antibody-dependent enhancement: pre-existing antibodies to the first strain, unable to stop the secondary infection, instead bind to immune cells and help the new strain infect them. On a cellular level, a similar phenomenon is occurring with Zika and dengue. When anti-dengue antibodies are present at the same time as Zika virus, they form complexes (clumps), which are taken up by the placenta. This is a normal process; its how the mother can transfer acquired immunity to the fetus. The placental cells grab onto antibodies by their Fc receptors, which are unvarying between antibodies. The Zika immune complexes increase viral binding and entry into Hofbauer cells, but also push them to mute antiviral responses. This is not the only mechanism, Suthar says. There may be others.Once the virus crosses into the placenta, its down-hill from there, he adds, explaining that the fetal blood-brain barrier is not well-developed and viruses can then access brain tissue directly. Suthar emphasized that using explanted human placental tissue, it could be possible to look for protective agents that could reduce the probability that Zika will cross the placental barrier. One possibility could be antibodies lacking Fc receptors, he says. Suthar says his team is planning to investigate similar interactions with other viruses from the same family as dengue and Zika, such as West Nile virus. Co-first authors are MD/PhD student Matthew Zimmerman and graduate student Kendra Quicke. The laboratories of Jens Wrammert, PhD in Emorys Department of Pediatrics, Rana Chakraborty, MD at the Mayo Clinic and Carolyn Coyne, PhD at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, contributed to the paper. The research was supported by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19AI083019, U01AI131566, 2U19AI057266), the NIH Directors Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (Primate centers: ODP51OD011132), Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta and the Georgia Research Alliance. Emory University US president and North's leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still 'ongoing'. (Photo: File) Singapore: Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will likely meet again after New Year, the US vice president said Thursday, but insisted his government would not repeat past mistakes where "promises are broken". The US president and the North's leader held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. North Korea has taken some steps since then -- forgoing nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a missile test site and promising to also break up the country's main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions. But progress has generally been slow, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. Trump has said he hopes to have a second meeting with Kim early next year, but talks between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official planned for last week, partly to prepare for the meeting, were cancelled. The US said the North axed the talks because they weren't ready, and Trump insisted he was in "no rush". Speaking in Singapore, US Vice President Mike Pence insisted plans for the second meeting were still "ongoing". "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," he told reporters. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of prior administrations -- frankly both political parties have made over the last several decades -- where promises are made, sanctions are lifted and economic support comes and then promises are broken." His comments came after a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a summit attended by world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Pence urged other countries at the meeting to keep up sanctions pressure on the North amid signs that Pyongyang's traditional trading partners, China and Russia, have eased enforcement. Seoul has also said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. US officials insist on the complete, verified and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled on the pressure in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), insisting sanctions should be fully enforced. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship to ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". "In all that we do the United States seeks collaboration not control," he said at the meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. He also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure your nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land and at sea." Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, even areas approaching the coastlines of other countries, and has been establishing military installations on disputed outcrops. After Singapore, Pence is heading to Papua New Guinea for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Family Dollar celebrating new store with gift cards for early birds on Nov. 24 The new Family Dollar is open in Plaza Fiesta on Asheville Highway. Family Dollar will celebrate its new store on Asheville Highway next week with giveaways and prizes and gift cards for earlybirds. Family Dollar is pleased to invite customers to experience our great value and broad assortment of merchandise in the Hendersonville community, said Heather Briganti, Family Dollar spokesperson. Our customers can rely on Family Dollar for everyday low prices on household products, food, beauty and essentials, seasonal merchandise, apparel and much more. The grand opening kicks off on Wednesday, Nov. 21, followed by a celebration for the community at the store on Saturday, Nov. 24. The grand opening will include giveaways and prizes, including reusable shopping bags, cookies and a gift basket raffle. In addition, on Saturday, Nov. 24, the first 50 customers will receive a Family Dollar gift card. The store is at Plaza Fiesta, 2111 Asheville Highway. Family Dollar stores are open seven days a week and offer everyday items for the entire family in an easy-to-shop neighborhood location. For more than 55 years, Family Dollar has been providing value and convenience to customers in easy-to-shop neighborhood locations. Family Dollars mix of name brands, and quality, private brand merchandise appeals to shoppers in more than 8,000 stores in rural and urban settings across 46 states. Helping families save on the items they need with everyday low prices creates a strong bond with customers who refer to their neighborhood store as my Family Dollar. Family Dollar, headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dollar Tree of Chesapeake, Virginia. For more information, please visit familydollar.com. A student whose bank account was used to transfer a stolen 5,000 had been "reckless" when she got involved, a court has heard. Nuschka Babela (19), described as "highly intelligent", was paid 240 after the larger sum was lodged from someone else's illegally-accessed account. Dublin District Court heard the 240 was for her college fees. The rest of the cash was withdrawn and given to an unidentified person and there was a "much larger" garda investigation into the fraud. Babela, of St Brigid's Road Lower, Drumcondra, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property - the 5,000. Judge Ann Ryan struck the case out, leaving her without a criminal record. Gda John Niland told the court that 5,000 entered the accused's bank account on July 25 last year. It was then withdrawn in several transactions at ATMs, with 240 handed over to Babela and the rest of the funds given to an unidentified person. Babela had no previous convictions. The accused's ex-partner had told her he would pay her 240 for college fees, her lawyer said. Unidentified She expected that sum to come into her account, but a much larger sum came in and another, unidentified, person was the beneficiary of the extra money, the lawyer added. "She was not aware of what was going on at the time," he said, adding that Babela pleaded guilty because she accepted she was reckless. Gda Niland agreed that the defendant was unaware what was happening. She made full admissions in relation to the offence. Babela was "never involved in anything like this before" and would not come to the attention of gardai again, her lawyer said. She was highly intelligent and had a good future, but had been involved with the wrong set of people at the time and had since distanced herself from them. Babela was doing very well at DCU and was undertaking an internship as part of her course. The court heard the holder of the illegally-accessed account was reimbursed by the bank. The accused found herself in "unfortunate circumstances", Judge Ryan said. "I think she has realised the error of her ways," she added, before striking the case out. In the historical patriarchal headquarters a handshake between the leader of the Lebanese Forces and the head of Marada. A meeting that heals a 40 year-old wound. The mediation of Card. Beshara Rai. From justice the foundations for a "true peace": A gesture that is also valid for Muslims. Beirut (AsiaNews) - The gesture of reconciliation between Samir Geagea and Sleiman Frangie, which took place yesterday at the patriarchal headquarters in Bkerke under the gaze of Card. Beshara Rai is a "very important step" for the future of Lebanese Christians and of the whole country. The gesture of "reconciliation" was celebrated with a handshake (in the picture), to close wounds still open since the war "not forgetting but forgiving" says Msgr. Michel Aoun, bishop of Jbeil-Byblos of the Maronites commenting yesterday's meeting between the leader of the Lebanese Forces and the head of Marada. The embrace could end 40 years of hatred, divisions and rancor that have determined "one of the most serious injuries" of the civil war within the Christian community. "During the conflict - underlines Msgr. Aoun - many mistakes have been made: murders, massacres, violence that belong to the past and which must be left behind. To look ahead without forgetting, by founding reconciliation on forgiveness, on justice, which is the foundation for true peace ". This gesture, he adds, can assume "great value for Muslims" and brings to the center "the role of the Church and of the patriarch, who have always called the parties to reconciliation for the good of the country and the future of Christians in Lebanon and in the area". The ferocious opposition between the two Christian components of the north originated on June 13, 1978, with the massacre of Ehden: an attack perpetrated by the Lebanese Forces against the family of former President of the Republic Tony Frangie, father of Sleiman. According to some, the hand of the Syrian army was behind the massacre by allowing it to take place -, given Damascus massive military deployment in the region at the time - to divide the "field Christian". The executive president of the Lebanese Forces and the head of Marada therefore put a stone on the past and embarked on a path of reconciliation that can be defined as "historic". An enmity resulting from the massacre of his father, his mother, his sister and some twenty people linked to Sleiman Frangie, during the early days of the civil war in Lebanon. Samir Geagea has admitted to being part of the commando that attacked the small town of the Frangie; he said at the same time that he had not participated in the massacre because he had previously been wounded by a bullet. The Maronite Patriarch blessed the end of he dispute, placing the reconciliation between Lebanese Forces and Marada in a "sacred" perspective, quoting Psalm 133. "God wants us to meet - the cardinal pointed out - and we turn the page to live happily in peace, so that friendship unites us" and "we may continue on the path of unity ". If one should speak of "bipartisanism" in Lebanon, he added, there is only one: two equal and complementary wings, Muslims and Christians ". This is the "secret" of Lebanon "in its diversity, its role and its message in the region". After the handshake and the greeting together with the Maronite Patriarch, Geagea and Frangie held closed door discussions for almost an hour in the patriarchal headquarters in Bkerke. At the end the two leaders issued a communique in which - although without anticipating future steps - insisted on the need for each party to "respect the other" without trying to "eliminate it, despite the differences in political orientation". The pacifying gesture was welcomed not only within the Lebanese Christian community. The Prime Minister (Sunni Muslim) Saad Hariri celebrated "the end of a period of suffering, hostility and unrest". He did not fail to pay tribute to the patriarch Rai [a moral and political authority, as well as a religious one] who "sponsored" and made this step of reconciliation possible. Satisfaction is also expressed by the Maronite Foundation in the world, according to which it can become a "preamble" to the "unification" of all the souls that make up the country. by Kamran Chaudhry Pakistans Catholic Church is behind a plan to plant a million trees by 2019. Lahore and Karachi are among the most polluted cities in the world. In 2025 Pakistan will be in absolute water scarcity. Lahore (AsiaNews) Caritas Pakistan has launched a campaign to plant a million trees. In doing so, it is putting into action the Churchs doctrine on integral ecology. Planting beech trees and orchids trees began in 2016 and will end in 2019. The work is well underway, with 700,000 saplings already planted in various parts of the country. The initiative is called One Million Tree Plantation Campaign (2016-2019), and involves many primary school students. During the latest operation, last Sunday, more than 50 students planted saplings along the banks of a canal in Farooqabad, a city in Sheikhupura district (Punjab province). The event was sponsored by NutriCo Morinaga, which is affiliated with a famous Japanese company that produces baby food, in collaboration with Punjabs Forestry Department. According to some studies, Lahore and Karachi are among the ten most polluted cities in the world in terms of air quality. About 21 million people across the country (10% of the country population) do not have access to drinking water. The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources warns that that Pakistan will approach absolute water scarcity by 2025. The plantation drive is part of preparedness to combat climate change effects. Instead of ornamental shrubs, we are focusing on shade trees, Amjad Gulzar Executive Director Caritas Pakistan told AsiaNews. Syed Nadeem Abbass the sub-divisional forest officer in Punjabs Forestry Department assured Caritas Pakistan of his departments support. Tree plantation is the only natural method to counter increasing pollution, the rest is just adaptation. Government departments can only plant trees on state owned land but civil society can help in expanding the drive, he said. The new diocesan priest, 42, was baptised as a teen. After attending a Life in the Spirit seminar, he "tried to go to any course offered by the church. Despite initial resistance, he decided to give himself to Christ. [W]hy should I settle for something less than Gods love? he said. Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Herald Malaysia) The Malaysian Church celebrated the ordination of three new priests: Fr Martinian Lee Hock Chuan (37), Fr Paul Sia Chau Kiang (62), and Fr Alexuchelvam Mariasoosai (42). Here is the last of their stories. For the first and second, click here and here. Like in the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Mt 20,1-16), "I was one of those standing doing nothing since no one hired me, said Fr Alexuchelvam Mariasoosai, 42, who was ordained on 6 November. All that changed when he spoke with Mgr Paul Tan Chee Ing, bishop emeritus of Melaka-Johor. The prelate played a fundamental role in the vocational discernment of the new diocesan priest. "Bishop Paul was like the landowner asking some people at 5 in the evening, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? and my answer seemingly corresponded to what the workers said to the landowner, who replied, You also go and work in the vineyard. . . "I was only baptised when I was about 14 or 15, Fr Alexuchelvam noted. I did not get involved in the church until after an LSS (life in Spirit Seminar) just after Form 6, i.e. at the age of 18. Organised by the charismatic renewal movement in St Ignatius parish in Petaling Jaya (Selangor), the seminar marked a turning point in Fr Alexuchelvams journey of faith. From that moment on, I tried to go to any course offered by the church," he said. Friends started to think the young man, now 20, was destined for the priesthood, but Fr Alexuchelvam rejected that idea. I thought it was ridiculous. One priest challenged me and told me I was running away from my calling. I cried, honestly thinking that I had given my all to Christ and felt that my vocation was to take care of my parents. Despite initial resistance, after a few years he decided to give himself to Christ. Before Mgr Tan, Fr Simon Yong contributed decisively to the path of the new priest in Melaka-Johor. He believed in my vocation to the priesthood believing that I did have a vocation, when I had given up as there were too many obstacles. However, only after a talk with the bishop emeritus he left for Rome where he enrolled in the Pontifical Beda College. My personal theme, he said, is taken from Psalm 63:3 for your love is better than life. It is because what I have chased after all my life is love, knowingly and unknowingly, and God found me and showed me true love; so, why should I settle for something less than Gods love? My answer to life would be that Gods love is better . . . and so it is Gods love that I want and thats what I want to share and give to others. Seven days of horror end with two ex-cops and two little girls dead by Melani Manel Perera Some MPs were injured, one badly enough to require hospital treatment. The opposition is in the streets of the capital to protest. For many protesters, Rajapaksa is an opportunist. For them, he lost and should pull back, following a no confidence vote in parliament. The situation could degenerate into chaos. Colombo (AsiaNews) Sri Lankas political crisis shows no signs of abating. This morning a fight broke out in Parliament during a speech by former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. As tensions rose, MPs turned to kicking and punching each other as a result of the Supreme Court ruling quashing President Maithripala Sirisenas attempt to dissolve parliament. Some lawmakers were slightly injured, but one was admitted to hospital. Eventually, parliament was adjourned until 21 November, but party leaders plan to resume discussions tomorrow. Yesterday, MPs voted a no confidence motion against Rajapaksa, who had been appointed by President Sirisena to replace Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, whom he had sacked in late October. However, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled against Sirisenas recent move, which had elicited criticism from bishops, activists and others, including the speaker of parliament. Today the opposition is in the streets Colombo, calling for fresh parliamentary and presidential elections. Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, who held office from 1994 to 2005, was among the protesters. In her view, Sirisena and several members of his party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), betrayed the election promises that led to their victory in January 2015. The country, she said, stands at a dangerous precipice of chaos, anarchy and the breakdown of the rule of Law. Everyone must unite to bring it back from the brink and start anew the journey towards enlightened governance. Some protesters who spoke to AsiaNews complained about the political chaos, criticising Rajapaksas opportunism. "If you are defeated you must have the heart and brain to stop interfering in political activity". "The Bride of Christ has a silent temperament, generates fruits" without noise ", without" playing the trumpet like the Pharisees ". "The Church also grows with the blood of the martyrs, men and women who give their lives. Today there are many. Curious: they do not make the news. The world hides that. The spirit of the world does not tolerate martyrdom, it hides it". Vatican City (AsiaNews) -The Church grows in simplicity, in silence, in praise, in the Eucharistic sacrifice, in fraternal community, where all are loved, and none are rejected. That was the message of Pope Francis during the daily Mass celebrated in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta. Commenting on the days Gospel (Lk 17:20-25), the Pope said that the Kingdom of God is not spectacular, and that it grows in silence. The Church, he said, is manifested in the Eucharist and in good works, even if they dont make the news. The Bride of Christ has a temperament given to silence; she produces fruit without making a fuss, without sounding the trumpet, like the Pharisees: The Lord explains to us how the Church grows with the parable of the sower. The sower sows and the seed grows by day, by night - God gives the growth and then the fruit is seen. But this is important: First, the Church grows in silence, in secret; it is the ecclesiastical style. And how is this manifested in the Church? By the fruits of good works, so that the people see and glorify the Father who is in heaven, Jesus says. And in the celebration, the praise and the sacrifice of the Lord that is, in the Eucharist. There the Church is manifested: in the Eucharist and in good works. The Church grows through witness, through prayer, through the attraction of the Spirit who is within, Pope Francis said in his homily, and not through events. These events certainly help, he continued, but the growth proper to the Church, that which bears fruit, is in silence, in hiding, with good works, and the celebration of the Lords Paschal Mystery, the praise of God. The Lord helps us to not fall into the temptation of seduction. We want the Church to be seen more; what can we do so that it will be seen? So usually one falls into a Church of events that is not capable of growing in silence with good works, in secret. In a world that too often gives into the temptation to sensation, to worldliness, to appearance, Pope Francis recalled that Jesus Himself was tempted to create a sensation: But why take so long to accomplish the work of redemption? Perform a good miracle. Cast yourself down from the temple, and everyone will see; they will see, and they will believe in you. But He chose the path of preaching, of prayer, of good works, the way of the Cross and of suffering: The Cross and suffering. The Church grows also with the blood of the martyrs, men and women who give their lives. Today there are many [martyrs]. Its strange; they dont make the news. The world hides this fact. The spirit of the world does not tolerate martyrdom; it hides it. Today the start of operations was expected with the transfer of 150 refugees, chosen among the first 2,260. The UNHRC and humanitarian organizations in the Rohingya refugee camps had declared themselves perplexed. From Rohingya activists, pressures against repatriation and threats to foreign and elderly workers who suggest a return. Dozens of families have already fled from Cox's Bazar camps. Cox's Bazaar (AsiaNews / Agencies) - No one among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh intends to return to Myanmar and Dhaka will not force the repatriation process. This is what the Bangladeshi Commissioner for refugees, Mohammad Abul Kalam, said today. The official's statements feed the doubts about the departure of the first Rohingya group to the Burmese western state of Rakhine. With the transfer of 150 refugees, chosen among the first 2,260, the start of the repatriation operations of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who fled from Myanmar between 2016 and 2017 was scheduled for today: the approximately 720 thousand who survived the latest sectarian violence added to the 300 thousand already present in Bangladesh. "According to the voluntary assessment by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), none of the 50 families interviewed expressed a willingness to go back in the current circumstances. At the moment, nobody feels safe, "says Kalam. In recent days, the UNHRC and the humanitarian organizations operating in the Rohingya refugee camps had declared themselves perplexed about the beginning of the trial. The concerns mainly regard security in Myanmar of the refugees, selected according to the criteria established by the agreements between Naypyidaw and Dhaka. Bangladesh claimed that it would not force anyone to return and asked the UNHRC to check if those on the list were prepared to face the trip. The Rohingya activists also exerted pressure against repatriation and even threatened foreign workers and camp elders, who suggested the return of refugees. For fear of being repatriated, dozens of families have already fled from Cox's Bazar camp, where the presence of Bangladeshi soldiers increases. General elections will be held in Bangladesh on 30 December and the refugee crisis is one of the most important issues facing the future government. by Vladimir Rozanskij The Russian faithful in Turkey no longer have churches where to go to pray because there are only churches of the "schismatic patriarchate". In Ukraine, the Tomos of autocephaly is expected by the end of November. The Ukrainian president backs Simeon as the new patriarch. Moscow (AsiaNews) - There is an urgent need to send Russian Orthodox priests to Turkey for pastoral service to the Russian faithful. In fact, after the schism, believers are unable to attend the churches of the ecumenical patriarchate. This was announced by Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev), saying that "we have no other choice". Speaking on the "The Church and the World" program on the Russia-24 television channel, on November 10, he assured that after the rupture between Moscow and Constantinople they have received "numerous letters" from Russian faithful living in Turkey. Ilarion recalled that there are no more than 2,000 faithful of the patriarchate of Constantinople in Turkey. At present, the Russians in the country number tens of thousands and they "no longer have a church to go to pray, because in Turkey there are only churches of the schismatic patriarchate". He said that in the past the patriarchate of Moscow had repeatedly proposed sending Russian priests to Turkey, but Constantinople had always refused. Now the pastors sent to Turkey will try to organize themselves according to the various places, without worrying about "invading" the structures of the competing patriarchy. To date, the first Russian "missionary" in Istanbul is the Father Georgij Sergeev, who has forty years of ecclesiastical diplomatic training and is very close to the patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev). Georgij celebrated at the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul, with the support of Consul Andrej Podjolishev, and took office as parish priest of the church dedicated to the emperors Constantine and Helena on the territory of the consulate. The church was consecrated in 2009 during Patriarch Kirill's first visit to the Turkish capital together with the Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis). Meanwhile, the timeline for the definitive proclamation of Ukrainian autocephaly has yet to be announced. The Ukrainian leadership, and the president Petro Poroshenko have announced an imminent meeting of the local council delegate to elect the new primate of the autocephalous Church in Ukraine, confiding that they hope to receive the long-awaited Tomos from Constantinople by the end of the year. In Poroshenko's intentions, the council should be held by the end of November. Meanwhile, on November 13, he sought to meet with the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church dependent on Moscow gathered in the local Synod, to convince them as much as possible to move to the new autocephalous Church. The meeting apparently failed due to a misunderstanding about the meeting place: the bishops were gathered at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves, while the president invited them to the building of the "Ukrainian House", where in the end only three prelates turned up and left without making any statement. In the meantime, the Synod officially aligned itself with the positions of Moscow, interrupting the Eucharistic relations with the patriarchate of Constantinople. As for the bishops of the other two Ukrainian jurisdictions, reportedly an agreement mediated by the President has been reached whereby the two current leaders (Filaret Denisenko and Makarij Maletic) would have already agreed to step aside, to favor the election of a new "autocephalous" primate, patriarch or not. Poroshenko would also have already identified the new leader to be elected in the metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) of Vinnitsa and Bar (see photo), one of the three present at the meeting at the "Ukraine House", of Moscow jurisdiction, but in favor of new independent Church. Simeon would be quite independent of Filaret (who added the title of Archimandrite to the self-assigned title of Patriarch, as a function of the new reform) and the same Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, but decidedly close to Poroshenko himself. With the "guided" appointment of Simeon, the president intends to begin the work of "extradition" of the bishops formally loyal to Moscow, but in reality favorable or not refractory to autocephaly, taking them by the hand and overcoming their fears and resistance. This would happen using the stick and the carrot: threatening the refractories with being accused of being "enemies of the Ukrainian people", and blandishing those in favor with the prospects of a promising new career. The hope of the supporters of this plan is to slowly approach metropolitan Onufrij (Berezovsky), the head of the pro-Moscow church, who probably would not immediately join the new jurisdiction, but could in the future. With the eventual adhesion of Onufrij, the composition of the autocephalous Church would reach full authority. While India watches with concern Sri Lankas deepening political crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is boldly visiting the Maldives on the day its autocratic president, Abdullah Yameen, is to cede power after a surprise election defeat. Modis visit for the new presidents inauguration effectively ensures that Yameen will peacefully transfer power to the victor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Indeed, the mere announcement of Modis visit signalled to Yameen that he had no choice but to accept the fait accompli. Coordinated pressure from democratic powers, including the spectre of an Indian military intervention, is helping to restore Maldivian democracy. The US had warned of appropriate measures and the EU had threatened sanctions if the vote was not free and fair. And when the graft-tainted Yameen hesitated to concede defeat despite the election outcome, Washington demanded he respect the will of the people. Yameen had stacked the electoral odds in his favour by jailing or forcing into exile all important opposition leaders and working to neuter the Supreme Court, including by imprisoning justices. But such was the grassroots backlash against his dictatorial rule that he lost the election to the little-known Solih, the common opposition candidate. Unless autocrats wholly manipulate elections, they cannot control voters backlash, which is why Malaysias Najib Razak was swept out of office in May and Sri Lankas Mahinda Rajapaksa was booted out in early 2015. It is ironical that Sri Lanka has now been plunged into political crisis by President Maithripala Sirisenas unconstitutional actions, which smack of the kind of authoritarianism displayed by his predecessor, Rajapaksa. Sirisena, who was elected to prevent abuses and excesses of power again through constitutional change, has himself abused the power of his office. Ominously, Sirisena has reached a Faustian bargain with Rajapaksa, whose decade-long presidency brought democracy under siege. The collapse of the Sri Lankan partnership between Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe is indeed an early warning to the Maldivian unity coalition that the restoration of full democracy is reversible unless those elected to high office respect constitutional rules and show consideration for their partners. Solihs victory was made possible by opposition unity. But the only thing that united opposition leaders was the imperative to end Yameens tyrannical rule. Those who helped fashion Solihs victory include former presidents, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed. Earlier jailed by Gayoom, Nasheed took office in 2008 by defeating Gayoom in the countrys first multi-party election. But in 2012, Nasheed was ousted at gunpoint after pro-Islamist groups, including forces loyal to Gayoom, laid siege to the presidential office. In this light, political stability and democratic progress in post-Yameen Maldives will hinge on rival leaders staying united behind Solih. There is much in common between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, including their islander cultures and shifting political alliances and the fact that Maldives official language, Dhivehi, is a dialect of Sinhala. The murky turn of events in Sri Lanka casts an unwelcome shadow over Maldives new democratic beginning. In fact, the biggest threat to democratic institutions in Indias maritime neighbourhood after internal crisis comes from the growing role and leverage of the worlds largest autocracy, China. From bribing politicians to shielding pliant leaders and governments from UN actions, China has encouraged anti-democratic developments. Before Sirisena recently stunned a cabinet meeting by claiming he was the target of a RAW assassination plot (his office later denied he named RAW), he publicly boasted that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, gifted him almost $300 million for any project of my wish. China has also built South Asias largest kidney hospital in Sirisenas home district. A central challenge for the Solih-led Maldives will be to escape Chinas debt entrapment, given how Beijing has sought to further its geostrategic goals by attempting to hold Sri Lanka financially hostage. Throttling democracy allowed Yameen to take the Maldives down the slippery slope of increasing indebtedness to his protector, China. The accumulated debt to China is now more than two times greater than Maldives yearly revenues. In steering his archipelago country firmly into Chinas orbit, Yameen also leased several unpopulated islands opaquely to Beijing. More broadly, the centenary this week of the World War I armistice is a reminder that the war was triggered by European power struggle for territories, resources and client states the very pursuits of China today. Chinas increasing encroachments into Indias maritime neighbourhood will likely keep this region insecure and heighten uncertainty. By muscling its way into Indias backyard, Beijing has prompted an Indian focus on the maritime domain, including seeking to turn four key projects into pearls Sabang (Indonesia); Chabahar (Iran); Duqm (Oman); and Agalega (Mauritius). Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist The views expressed are personal As Bollywood stars, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tied the knot on Wednesday in Italys Lake Como, their Bollywood buddies are all hearts for the couple. Filmmaker Karan Johar was amongst the first ones from Bollywood to congratulate the newly-weds. He wrote, Such a stunning gorgeous and beautiful couple!!!! Nazar utar lo! @deepikapadukone and @RanveerOfficial !! Badhai ho !!! Love you both!!! Heres to a lifetime of love and joy! Actors Madhuri Dixit, Riteish Deshmukh, Urvashi Rautela and more shared their wishes for the couple. Check them out: Such a stunning gorgeous and beautiful couple!!!! Nazar utar lo! @deepikapadukone and @RanveerOfficial !! Badhai ho !!! Love you both!!! Heres to a lifetime of love and joy! Karan Johar (@karanjohar) November 14, 2018 Wishing you guys a lifetime of togetherness, love and happiness @deepikapadukone & @ranveerofficial May this be the best chapter of your life. Make the most of it. God bless! Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) November 14, 2018 Heartiest Congratulations to the newly weds @deepikapadukone & @RanveerOfficial - wishing you both a happy married life. -its blissful to see love culminate into marriage. Loads of love & big hug to you guys. Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) November 14, 2018 @deepikapadukone and @RanveerOfficial CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Good wishes and prayers for a life together filled with love luck and happiness.......and lots of babies!!! Ronit Bose Roy (@RonitBoseRoy) November 14, 2018 Congratulations Deepika Padukone @deepikapadukone and Ranveer Singh @RanveerOfficial on tying the knot. May God bless both of you with a long and happy married life. #DeepikaWedsRanveer #DeepVeer URVASHI RAUTELA (@UrvashiRautela) November 14, 2018 Heartiest congratulations dearest @RanveerOfficial n @deepikapadukone on ur wedding. The most beautiful couple of this world. May god bless u with all the happiness n love. Love u both #RanveerWedsDeepika pic.twitter.com/wU6HRQbvu6 KAPIL (@KapilSharmaK9) November 14, 2018 Huge congratulations @deepikapadukone and @RanveerOfficial !! Heres to the blissful ever after of every step you walk together... Nimrat Kaur (@NimratOfficial) November 14, 2018 The power couple tied the knot at the stunning Villa del Balbianello overlooking Lake Como in Northern Italy. Guests began arriving early in the morning and had gathered on the villas world famous patio for the duos traditional Konkani wedding ceremony. A group of 30- 40 guests stood around the railings of the patio, shielding the couple who were seated on the floor as the strains of a pandits chanting stretched across this most bucolic of locations. Security was extraordinarily tight as small powerboats manned by beefy security guards sailed around the smaller boat with journalists on-board. The main dock of the villa, as well as the patio itself, was resplendent in hundreds of white roses as the sun shone bright and beautiful for Bollywoods hottest young couple. The couple had announced their wedding on October 21 after dating each other for quite a while. Bollywoods Bajirao and Mastani have been inseparable since Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Goliyon Ki Raasleela that was released in 2013. Follow @htshowbiz for more The day had it all - tradition, glamour, ultra-luxury and a bit of showbiz drama in the end. The first day of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singhs two-day wedding extravaganza in Lake Como came to an end. Some seven hours after ceremonies began at the stunning Villa del Balbianello, the newlyweds emerged from the confines of the villa accompanied by their closest family. Earlier in the day the couple had been married in a traditional Konkani ceremony in keeping with Deepikas background. Waiting for the new couple was a vintage EURO 500,000 Riva Tritone luxury boat to take them to CastaDiva resort where they and their family and friends are staying. The captain of the vessel told us that he would be taking the couple back to CastaDiva in ultimate Italian luxury and style. Guests attend the wedding of Indian Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh at the Villa Balbianello in Lenno, Como lake, northern Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (AP) Much to the dismay of the gathered handful of journalists waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple however, their entourage proceeded to cover up the couple in a number of black umbrellas as they boarded and settled into the boat. As they took off, the journalists boats began following the couple only to be repeatedly blocked by security boats that cut in front and attempted to tip the chasing boats over. In a separate boat, a number of photographers who had appeared with the couple began chasing the journalists boats and taking photographs. Security was extraordinarily tight as small powerboats manned by beefy security guards sailed round and round the smaller boat filled with journalists in order to unsettle and potentially tip them over. It was not a pleasant feeling to be rocked by the waves created by the security boats. Prakash Padukone, left, greets guests attending the wedding of his daughter Indian Bollywood star Deepika Padukone to Ranveer Singh at the Villa Balbianello in Lenno, Como lake, northern Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (AP) Manna Shetty, wife of Bollywood actor Suneil Shetty, arrives to attend the wedding of Indian Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh at the Villa Balbianello in Lenno, Como lake, northern Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (AP) Earlier in the afternoon, with the chant of Har Har Mahadev and Ab Yeh Vivah Sampann Hua, at 1.05 PM Italian time, Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone were declared man and wife at the beautiful Villa Del Balbianello overlooking Lake Como in northern Italy. Both the stars looked magnificent in traditional south Indian attire - Deepika in an elegant peach Sari with her hair tied in a severe bun while Ranveer wore a long cream coloured Kurta suit. According to a report in Mid-Day, singer Shubha Mudgal performed live as the actor walked down the aisle. The Konkani ceremony stretched for more than 5 hours. The couple was surrounded by friends and family members dressed in white attires on the villas famous patio overlooking the lake. The venue was decorated with hundreds of white roses. At the same time a number of large boats were seen at the villas main peer in preparation to take the guests back to the luxurious CastaDiva resort across the lake from the Villa del Balbianello. The guests at the venue (AP) Villa del Balbianello, the wedding venue in Italy. (AP) Follow @htshowbiz for more Bhupesh Baghel (57) is the Congress president in Chhattisgarh and has led his partys attack on chief minister Raman Singh. A former minister and a sitting legislator, Baghel is seen as contender for the chief ministers post in case his party wins Chhattisgarh. He spoke to Kumar Uttam on change within the Congress, the exit of Ajit Jogi from the party, the challenges for the BJP and other issues. Edited excerpts: The Congress has lost last three assembly elections in Chhattisgarh. How different is this election from the past? The biggest advantage is that we do not have Ajit Jogi on our side this time. This is a big development that will have a bearing on the result. He was the Congress face in the last three election and took several sections of the society away from the party. But he was your tallest leader in Chhattisgarh, with considerable support among a section of voters. He was baggage for the party, and responsible for the previous defeats. He never won an election for the Congress in Chhattisgarh. It was the Congress majority in the assembly of a newly created state that helped him become chief minister in 2000. He was in total control in the next three elections of 2003, 2008 and 2013. The Congress could not win. Jogis party has forged an alliance with the Bhujan Samaj Party. How will it hurt Congress prospects? BSP has certain areas of influence. It polled over 4% votes in the previous election. But an alliance with Jogi will limit its influence. Several BSP candidates have been handpicked by Jogi. His own daughter-in-law is contesting on a BSP ticket. There was talk of an alliance between the Congress and the BSP. Would such an alliance have made a difference in the poll outcome? Some people felt that BSP would have added strength to us. But that is a mater of the past. Overall, this election is about the anti-incumbency that Raman Singh is facing. There is fatigue after 15 years of BJP rule. People are craving for change. Only Congress can defeat the BJP. The BJP depends on Raman Singhs personal appeal among voters. Do you think he still connects with voters? BJPs problem is that Singh is its only face. There is no other leader. The BJP (here) starts with Singh and ends with him. The Congress has not declared any chief ministerial face. Is there a leadership tussle within the Congress? We are united. We are working towards bringing the Congress to power. Every other issue is immaterial. People are fed up of seeing the same face over the years. Do you see any anti-incumbency against the BJP government? Huge. There have been corruption allegations against the chief minister and his family. The BJP MLAs are hugely unpopular. Do you think there is an anti-incumbency against the Congress MLAs too? We have done ticket distribution smartly. Every section of the society has got representation. If you see our candidates, you will realise they come from varied socio-economic backgrounds. The BJP won nine out of 10 seats reserved for scheduled castes (SCs) in the previous election. Is it an indication that the SCs are moving away from the Congress? Reserved seats have a different dynamic. The non-SCs will be a deciding factor in these seats. We are getting huge support from the OBC (other backward class) communities and our ticket distribution reflects that sentiment. It will be a different story this time. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students wing of the RSS, on Thursday asked Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) president Ankiv Baisoya to resign from his post and also relieved him of all organisational responsibilities till the enquiry into allegation of having furnished a fake degree is over. Ankiv Baisoya won the DUSU elections in September, 2018. Soon after, the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the students wing of the Congress, and other student organizations started raising questions about the authenticity of Ankivs degree. ABVP state secretary Bharat Khatana said, This incident is tarnishing the image of DUSU so we request DU administration to complete the verification process as soon as possible. Khatana added that if Ankiv is found guilty he must face legal action. A Delhi court on Wednesday convicted two men of killing two persons and injuring three others in south Delhis Mahipalpur during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. This is the first conviction in five of the eight cases reopened and investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was constituted in 2015 in which charge sheets were filed. Investigation into the other three cases, which, SIT members said involved Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, are still pending. After hearing the arguments in the case, additional sessions judge, Ajay Pandey, held retired postmaster Naresh Sherawat and transporter Yashpal Singh both in their 50s guilty of rioting and arson besides killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh. He also held them guilty of injuring Surjeet Singh, Sangat Singh and Kuldeep Singh during the riots. Soon after the judgment, the two were arrested and sent to jail. The court is scheduled to hear arguments on the quantum of sentence on Thursday, where the convicts may get a maximum punishment of death sentence and a minimum punishment of life imprisonment. The conviction was done on the basis of the statement of 18 witnesses, who were re-examined by the SIT besides other evidences such as medical examination reports of the victims and photographs pertaining to the crime, Kumar Gyanesh, additional deputy commissioner of Delhi Police (New Delhi) and a member of the SIT, said. The case was registered in 1993 at Vasant Kunj police station after Hardevs brother Santok Singh filed an affidavit before the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission formed to probe the killings. The city police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, the SIT reopened the case in 2016, after investigators, during scrutiny of 293 cases that were earlier declared untraced or cancelled, found clues pertaining to the case. The SIT finally decided to probe 60 cases, of which 52 were closed for want of evidence while eight were reopened. The SIT told the court that one of the 18 witnesses in the case, Avtars brother Ratan Singh who is settled in Italy had come to India last month to record his statement. Among the other witnesses are four doctors three from AIIMS and one from Safdarjung Hospital. Inspector Yogesh of Delhi Police, who had translated Santoks affidavit written in Punjabi into English, and the then investigating officer, ACP SK Malik of the anti-riot cell, were also part of the witness list. The SIT members told the court that statements of Kuldeep, Sangat and Surjeet, who had survived the attack, were recorded after their whereabouts were traced. The three identified their neighbours Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh as the accused. They alleged that the two were part of the mob, which had set three grocery shops in Mahipalpur on fire on November 1, 1984. The three hid themselves in a first floor room along with Hardev and Avtar. The mob forcibly entered the room, assaulted the five men and threw them down from the first floor. They set the room on fire. Hardev and Avtar succumbed to their injuries, while the other three survived. The survived victims identified Naresh as the one who was carrying a can of kerosene and Yashpal as the one who lit the fire, the SIT had mentioned in the chargesheet. The 57 year-old bureaucrat beat the secular Ofer Berkovitch in the run-off. The latter does not accept defeat and speaks of fraud. Lion set an electoral campaign on fear and danger of "secularization". Lieberman resigns as a protest on the truce in Gaza. Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The candidate of the Jewish religious faction Moshe Lion, supported by ultra-orthodox conservative parties, is the new mayor of Jerusalem. He triumphed in the ballot against the candidate of the "secular" wing, after conducting an election campaign based on fear and on the "danger of secularization" of the holy city. Lion, 57, defeated in the second round the 35-year-old rival and outgoing vice-mayor Ofer Berkovitch, who does not accept the defeat and launches in these hours heavy accusations of fraud. The new mayor would have won thanks to the support of Shass, an ultra-Orthodox party led by Israeli Interior Minister Arieh Deri. He won 51.54% of the votes, compared to 48.46% of his challenger. There are still 9 thousand ballots left to be counted before the results are official; however, at present the representative of the religious faction is leading by 6528 votes and a last minute change is unlikely. The new mayor of Jerusalem is a member of the bureaucracy and, like Ofer Berkovitch, has already held the office of municipal councilor in the most populous city of the country several times in the past. After announcing the (unofficial) victory at the polls, Moshe Lion said he wanted to work to consolidate unity. "I count - he said on being the mayor of all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, if God wants". Meanwhile, the Gaza affair continues to hold sway in the country, where the situation seems to have calmed down after the serious violence in recent days. A substantial part of the Israeli public criticizes Prime Minister Netanyahu for accepting the truce, seen as a surrender to Hamas fundamentalists. A choice that has also determined the resignation of the Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman, who accuses the premier of "surrendering to terror". Lieberman also added that his far-right party Yisrael Beiteinu could soon abandon the ruling coalition. A rift that would probably lead to the fall of the executive and early elections. A fashion designer and her domestic help were found murdered at her farmhouse in south Delhis Vasant Kunj on Thursday morning. Three people, one of them her employee, have been arrested, police said. The woman has been identified as Mala Lakhani, 53, and the help as 50-year-old Bahadur and the three accused as Rahul (her employee), Rehmat and Bashir, police said. Mala used to run a boutique in Green Park and Rahul worked as a tailor at her workshop, which she ran from the ground floor of her farmhouse. Rehmat and Bashir, also tailors by profession, were visiting Rahul at the workshop when he allgedly got into an argument with Lakhani over some unpaid dues at around 10pm, police said. Fashion designer Maya Lakhanis residence where she was found murdered on Thursday morning. (Amal KS/HT Photo) The three then attacked her with knives and stabbed Bahadur too when he tried to raise an alarm, police said adding the accused then drove off in Lakhanis Honda City car. Later around 1.30 am, the three surrendered at the Vasant Kunj police station and confessed to their crime, police said. The bodies have been sent for postmortem. Top Indian universities and colleges will share their expertise and resources with educational institutes, which have failed to meet the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)s quality standards, under the University Grants Commission (UGC)s Paramarsh scheme. The UGC, which regulates higher education in the country, on Wednesday gave its nod to a proposal at meeting in New Delhi in this regard. Many educational institutions have not been doing well when it comes to NAAC accreditation, which assesses minimum quality standards. The focus is to ensure that every institution shall get NAAC accreditation with a minimum score of 2.5 by 2022. So, a scheme named Paramarsh received the commissions in principle nod, said a UGC member. Mentor institutions, under the scheme, will have to guide the mentees in achieving high-quality standards, said another UGC member. He said hundreds of top performing universities and colleges would be chosen to lead others, which have failed to get good ratings. The second UGC member said improving the quality and ensuring institutions and their courses are accredited is a major focus area. A similar mentorship scheme has already been in the works for technical institutions. The new scheme aims to ensure that better performing varsities and colleges also help the ones lagging behind. Former UGC member Inder Mohan Kapahy said NAAC measures the quality of institutions on a scale of 4 by looking at various aspects like methodology of teaching, research, patents. This is an attempt to raise the quality of several of our institutions, which could benefit from the better performing ones. A proposal for an institution to be in existence for at least 15 years to be conferred the status of a university was also discussed at the UGC meeting. It is proposed that the institutions seeking the status should have high NAAC scores. Two-thirds of courses should have the National Board of Accreditation go-ahead in case a technical institution is seeking the deemed status. The proposal was discussed. However, it was felt that more deliberations were needed on this, said another UGC member. The ruling AIADMKs Tamil TV channel News J was launched Wednesday, to take on propaganda against it by rivals in the wake of JAYA TV, which used to be the channel for the party cadre, siding with ousted leader T T V Dhinakaran. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam launched the mouthpiece of AIADMK in Chennai, two months after the logo, website and app for News J were unveiled. Palaniswami said News J would toe the ideals set out by Dravidian icon C N Annadurai and late Chief Ministers M G Ramachandran, AIADMK founder, and J Jayalalithaa and telecast true news. AIADMK was prompted to launch a TV channel of its own to take on propaganda against it by rivals since Jaya TV began backing Jayalalithaas aide V K Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran after her demise. Also, Dr Namadhu MGR, a Tamil daily launched by Jayalalithaa in 1988, is under the control of the Dhinakaran camp led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. This prompted the AIADMK to start its own Tamil daily Namadhu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma in February. Lashing out at Sasikala and Dhinakaran as selfish, without naming them, Palaniswami quoted Arujunas victory from epic Mahabharata and said peoples shakti and cadres were on their side since they had the blessings of Amma (Jayalalithaa). Palaniswami lamented that a television channel that was launched due to Jayalalithaas efforts to propagate the ideals of the party and disseminate governments welfare schemes was now not with them. He said sections of media gave importance only to coverage of negative news which also downplayed welfare initiatives of the government. Broadcasting welfare measures of the government need not be construed as pro-government, he said. Telecast of news about the states welfare schemes will help poor people understand it and become beneficiaries which owuld in turn imporve their standard of living as well, he said. Panneerselvam said the letter J in News J television represented Jayam which meant victory. He said the channel will always be a constructive force, a true voice of democracy that would beat money power...the soul of Amma will guide us to victory. An all-party meeting called by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to resolve the Sabarimala stand-off failed to make headway on Thursday with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staging a walkout after Vijayan stood firm that he was duty-bound to implement the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages entry into the temple. The annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season starts Friday. A suggestion by Vijayan that certain dates be reserved for only women to worship at the hilltop temple, including those in the reproductive age whose entry into the shrine is opposed by traditionalists, also had no takers. A senior official of the Travancore Dewasom Board (TDB), which runs the temple, said the board had no idea of the proposal. The government suggested many (ways) to end the impasse and reserving a particular time slot was one among them. The TDB also favoured it. But since opposition parties insisted on a blanket ban, we couldnt go further on this, said a senior government official who was part of the discussions and requested anonymity. The Opposition has been demanding that Keralas Left Front government back down from its stand of implementing the SCs September order. The top court has agreed to hear review petitions against its verdict on January 22 but made it clear that it has not stayed the original order. In Thursdays meeting, the opposition parties sprang the demand that implementation of the SC order be put off till January 22. But Vijayan turned it down, saying that since the verdict had not been stayed, the state had no option but to allow women of all ages entry into the shrine. With no consensus emerging after nearly three hours of talks, the opposition parties walked out. Now the chief minister will be responsible for any eventuality at the temple, Congress leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala said after the meeting, blaming Vijayans adamant stand and alleged refusal to compromise for the walkout. The government has wasted a golden opportunity. State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief PS Sreedharan Pillai, too, pinned the blame on Vijayan. The chief minister wants to make Sabarimala a battleground, he said. We wasted more than two hours. Later in the day, CM Vijayan held another round of discussion with the tantri (supreme priest) of Sabarimala and scions of the erstwhile Pandalam royal family, custodians of the shrine, but the talks failed to yield any results. We told the CM that we are not ready to flout the temple custom. He also came out with some suggestions. Since both sides stick to their versions, we can say problem persists, said Sasikumar Varma of Pandalam family. Tantri Rajeevaru Kandararu appealed to women not to flout the age-old customs of the temple. We are not against women. We respect them. It is due to the peculiar nature of the deity that women in certain age groups are not allowed. It is nothing to do with the gender issue, he said. Vijayan told reporters after the opposition walkout: The government was not stubborn. But we have no other option but to implement the SC verdict. If tomorrow the court takes another decision, the government will follow that. The government is with the believers. There is no need for any concern, he said. An all-party meeting called by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan ahead of the annual pilgrimage season to Sabarimala beginning Friday did not help narrow down differences among the states political parties over the entry of women into the hilltop shrine. The Congress-led UDF and the BJP on Thursday walked out of the all-party meeting called by the Left Front government and blamed the chief minister for the stand off. Now the chief minister is responsible for any eventuality at the temple, said opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, blaming the Vijayan for what he described as, his adamant stand. The government wasted a golden opportunity, said Chennithala. The state BJPs PS Sreedharan Pillai also blamed the state government. The chief minister wants to make Sabarimala a battleground, said Pillai, asserting the chief minister will be responsible for any eventuality at hilltop temple. We wasted more than two hours, he said. The opposition has been demanding that the state government back down from its stand of proactively implementing the Supreme Courts September 28 ruling that allowed women in the reproductive age to enter the shrine. The top court has agreed to revisit its verdict in January but has made it clear that it had not stayed its original verdict. Women between the age of 10 and 50 were restricted from entering the over 800-year-old shrine in south Keralas Pathanamthitta district because its presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is considered to be a celibate. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is going to reach out to Sabarimala temples chief priests family and the erstwhile royal family of Pandalam, considered to be the custodians of the famous temple. The shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa has been at the centre of high drama and tension following the top court order, with women trying to enter the shrine and protesters bent upon blocking them. Pinarayi Vijayan said his government was duty bound to implement the order of the highest court in the country. The government is with the judiciary and devotees... The Constitution is supreme, he said. We cant prevent women entry to Sabarimala, he said, reminding traditionalists who are against the entry of women to the temple that he could not dilute the historic verdict. The government will provide security to women who want to trek to the temple, Vijayan said. But no woman was able to enter the hill shrine despite an army of security personnel accompanying them. The situation came to a head when the chief priest threatened to quit and even shut the temple gates if any woman came anywhere near the sanctum sanctorum. A man in Bihars Purnia district bludgeoned his only four-year-old daughter to death allegedly because his wife took too long to cook mutton, police said on Thursday. The incident took place at Fakirtoli village under Amour police station of the district, about 360 km from capital Patna on Wednesday evening, according to police. A police team rushed to the village and arrested the man identified as Shambhu Lal Sharma, 40, and sent the girls body to Purnia Sadar hospital for an autopsy. We interrogated the accused before remanding him to judicial custody. He was regretful, station house officer (SHO) of Amour police station Pankaj Kumar said as he confirmed the incident. A case has been registered against Sharma on the basis of the complaint of his wife. Police said the accused, who works in Gujarat as a labourer, had recently come home on the occasion of Chhat festival. Too fond of mutton, he lost his temper when he discovered delay in preparation of his delicacy, an officer posted at a local police station said. In his fit of rage, he started beating his minor daughter who was playing near him. He realised that his action had caused fatal injuries to her when the child went silent and fell unconscious on the ground, the officer added. Sharma took his daughter to Amour referral hospital where she was declared brought dead. He fled leaving his daughter in the hospital, however, police succeeded in arresting him. Locals said the man would often beat his wife as she asked him not to spend money on mutton and liquor. A few years ago, a man had severely beaten up his wife and set her on fire in Araria allegedly because she had forgotten to put an adequate amount of salt in a mutton dish she had cooked for him. A day after Union minister Maneka Gandhi said the Maharashtra forest department had done nothing to rescue the two cubs of slain tigress T-1 aka Avni, a forest patrol said it spotted two 10-month-old cubs in Vihirgaon range of the Pandharkawada forest area in Yavatmal on Thursday morning . The forest department said it will soon rescue the cubs. The sighting is a positive indicator for us...all teams have been instructed to follow their movement and tranquillise them, said AK Misra, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), state forest department. Forest officers said camera traps had captured new images of the cubs. Tigress T-1 was spotted in this very region several times. Within a few hours of spotting the cubs, different teams were deployed to cover that zone for speedy tranquillisation..., said Sunil Limaye, additional principal chief conservator of forest, Nagpur. We have kept 20 live baits, trap cages, and 27 mutton pieces...to lure the cubs. The forest department has 111 camera traps and 54 pug impression pads across 160 sq km of the forest area with 10 teams monitoring these. Over 200 forest staff including foot patrolling teams, staff from the Special Tiger Protection Force and five veterinarians are searching for the cubs. A night patrolling mobile squad. Teams from the Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai are assisting the rescue team. Animal welfare groups are sceptical. There is no proof of what is actually happening within this forest area...if the knowledge of the cubs whereabout is with them, tranquillising them should have been done at the earliest, said Sarita Subramaniam from Earth Brigade Foundation who petitioned to stop T-1s killing. A forest officer associated with the rescue operation requesting anonymity said the patrolling team did not spot the cubs but were merely told by locals that they had spotted. Avni was killed by hunter Asghar Ali Khan on November 2. The orphaned cubs of man-eating tiger Avni killed in a state-sanctioned hunt have been spotted in a forest in Maharashtra and could be rescued and rehabilitated, officials said Thursday. The mother was shot dead in early November after being accused of killing more than a dozen villagers, capping off one of Indias most high-profile tiger hunts and angering conservation activists. The months-long search deployed 200 hunters using paragliders, infrared cameras, sharpshooters on elephant back, and even Calvin Klein fragrance to lure the big cat. Maharashtra states forestry departments A.K. Mishra said the cubs were healthy and are surviving and that specialists would assess whether they had acquired a taste for humans from their mother. The cubs may or may not have become man-eaters, depending on their proximity to their mother when she attacked humans, he said. But we are hopeful of rescuing and rehabilitating them. The Supreme Court sanctioned the hunt in September, saying the big cat could be shot dead if tranquillisers failed. Several appeals were lodged by animal activists who said the tiger -- dubbed T1 by forestry officials but Avni by her advocates -- said the mother was merely acting in defence of her young cubs. The tiger shooting caused considerable anger, and raised questions over the nature of the killing. A cabinet minister and passionate animal lover even accused her counterpart in the forestry ministry of sanctioning a ghastly murder for sport. The tiger was shot dead by Asghar Ali Khan, the son of Indias most famous hunter Nawab Shafath Ali Khan. Villagers in a Maharashtra district where the tiger had roamed celebrated her death by setting off firecrackers, local media reported. India has launched a major campaign to boost tiger numbers. At the last tiger census in 2014 the population had risen to more than 2,200 from a low of less than 1,500. But as urban areas have expanded in the country of 1.25 billion, conflict between humans and tigers has worsened. Elephants and tigers kill on average one person a day in India, according to government figures. Poaching is also a concern. A three-year-old tiger was found dead Thursday after being caught in a poachers trap set in a protected reserve in Odisha, local media reported. Sidelined Congress leader and former law minister HR Bhardwaj on said on Thursday party president Rahul Gandhi has to learn a lot and will become a leader only when the people accept him. I dont consider Rahul Gandhi a leader yet. Hell understand when he gets a post, Bhardwaj said in an interview to news agency ANI. Whatever he does in the name of religion, is always wrong . Congress fails because it indulges in the politics of religion. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and even I was here. But we never did politics in the name of religion ... the senior leader said when asked whether the Congress party is trying to counter the BJP by wading into the same territory. This is not the first time Bhardwaj has been critical of his party and Gandhi. The former Karnataka governor had said in 2015 that the Congress party was too weak to counter the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre and that they were out of touch with the ground reality. Rahul is a young man. He has to lead the young people. But he is not in touch with the senior people, he doesnt show any inclination. So he is also out of touch, he had said in an interview to the Indian Express. Bhardwajs stint as the 16th governor of Karnataka was marked by controversies as he tried to dismiss the partys government twice when BS Yeddyurappa was the chief minister. He was accused by the BJP of corruption and of appointing tainted people as vice-chancellors of universities and approved the Congress MLC nominees for extraneous considerations. When he made the second recommendation for imposition of Presidents rule in May 2011, the BJP launched statewide protests demanding his sacking. He also gave the Lokayukta sanctions to prosecute a series of BJP MLAs and ministers who had been accused of corruption. He has also criticised other senior leaders of the Congress party, including former Union minister P Chidambaram, in the past. Rashtriya Lok Samta Party chief (RLSP) Upendra Kushwaha, who is at odds with his NDA partners on various issues, today said he was heading for New Delhi where he would seek to meet BJP president Amit Shah to discuss seat-sharing for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. His announcement, made in a tweet, set off speculation that he was trying to reach out to the BJP leadership after his hard stand on the seat adjustment formula within the coalition. Over the last few days, Kushwaha, also a Union minister, has come under fire from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders for launching a tirade against chief minister Nitish Kumar. Sources said the BJP leadership is also annoyed with the RLSP chief over his meeting Bihars opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav. Meanwhile, Kushwaha has reportedly been peeved after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) decided to contest an equal number of seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election in Bihar. The state sends 40 members to Parliament and after the BJP-JD(U) deal, there is speculation that this would mean fewer seats for other allies like the RLSP and the Lok Janshakti Party. The RLSP, which had contested three seats in the 2014 general elections and won all of them, was seeking more seats this time. Melbourne researchers have uncovered a key factor protecting against age-related DNA damage, providing important clues about how our body guards against cancer. The discovery was made by identifying a rare genetic mutation in three patients with an unusual, early-onset form of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The patients all lacked a DNA repair protein called MBD4, which led to them accumulating DNA damage at a higher rate than normal as though they were ageing prematurely. In this study, we identified AML samples from three patients that showed unusually high rates of methylation damage to the DNA, said Dr Edward Chew of The Royal Melbourne Hospital. DNA methylation has a role in fine-tuning gene activity, but it also makes DNA more susceptible to damage. When we sequenced the patients genomes, we discovered they all carried changes in the same gene, called MBD4. This gene encodes a protein that repairs methylation damage. The loss of MBD4 in these patients explained why their cells had not repaired the damage, he said. AML is typically a disease of older adults, with the majority of patients aged more than 70. The three patients who lacked MBD4 were predisposed to accumulating high rates of methylation damage, which we believe led to them developing AML as young adults (around 30 years old), Chew said. Methylation damage accumulates as part of normal ageing, but this study highlighted a particularly strong link with blood cancers. We were looking at extreme cases where young individuals had accumulated abnormally high levels of methylation damage, driving the development of AML unusually early in life, said Dr Ian Majewski of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. It was as though their cells were ageing prematurely. Our research pinpoints methylation damage more generally even at lower levels being an important contributor to the development of cancers. An important next step is to understand precisely why blood cells are at risk from this form of DNA damage. The research discovery relied on recent advances in the fields of genomics and computational biology. One of the three AML samples we studied was collected in the 1990s, Majewski said. At that time, DNA sequencing was still cumbersome and expensive, and we still hadnt completed the first human genome sequence. We were lucky that our colleagues in The Netherlands had the foresight to store this sample for future analysis. India and China, who share a disputed border and a history of hostility between them, have agreed to expand bilateral exchanges involving top generals as well as young army officers in a bid to strengthen communication between their armies. Reciprocal high-level visits and joint training exercises for the military two of the worlds largest will also be enhanced, New Delhi and Beijing have decided. These issues were in focus when top defence officials of the two countries met for the 9th India-China Annual Defence and Security Dialogue in Beijing this week. The agreements were necessary to build strong military-to-military ties, which in turn is necessary to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust, officials at the dialogue concluded. There was, however, no official word whether India and China had reached an agreement on setting up a hotline between the Indian Army and Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Details of the agreements werent shared either. The statement from the Indian embassy reflected the easing of defence ties. Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between the two ministries of defence as well as between military commands, joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon, the statement said. Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, implementing the consensus of PM Modi and President Xi Jinping, and specific additional Confidence Building Measures at the operational level, it said. They emphasised the need to further strengthen military-to-military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries, it also said. Instituted as an annual dialogue, the latest one was reconvened after a gap of two years the intervening period saw border troops from India and China locked in a 73-day standoff at Doklam (Donglang in Chinese) near the Sikkim border from June to August in 2017. Since the resolution of the Doklam standoff, however, bilateral defence ties seems to have improved, spurred possibly by the realisation that neither country can afford even a skirmish amid a volatile world order and unpredictable economic conditions. The informal Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in central China in April laid down a path forward on how to ease military tension. Both leaders had agreed to expand and implement confidence-building measures between the two militaries to avoid a Doklam-type situation. The dialogue was co-chaired by Indian defence secretary Sanjay Mitra and Lt General Shao Yuanming, deputy chief of joint staff department of Chinas powerful Central Military Commission. Mitra called on state councilor and Chinas defence minister, General Wei Fenghe, on Thursday. Wei had visited India in August and had met Modi and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman among other top India defence and military officials. They specifically talked about setting up an exchange mechanism for visits between the two defence ministries, set up a direct confidential phone line between the two defence ministries, strengthening exchanges at all levels including defence authorities, theatre commands and different services, defence ministry spokesperson Colonel Wu Qian had said in August about the visit. They also talked about setting up a hotline on border issues between adjacent military commands. They also talked about how to better play the role of defence and security consultations mechanism and the meeting mechanism between the working delegations of the defence ministries, Wu said. In October, PLA Daily, the armed forces mouthpiece had suggested that India and China should expand engagement between front-line units including training for border guards at each others universities and open a defence hotline between adjacent military regions to resolutely ensure that Doklam-like standoffs dont recur. The article, published under the headline China-India Military Relations Improve Markedly in the context of the armed forces standoff last year near the Sikkim border, said the two countries should establish a regular border meeting mechanism for the generals of the respective theatre commands. A judge in Telanganas Ranga Reddy district court was arrested on Thursday for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income after a series of raids by the state anti-corruption bureau at his residence and several other places, officials said. Hyderabad Police produced V Vara Prasad, 14th additional magistrate in Ranga Reddy district court at LB Nagar, in the same court and was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. He was taken to Chanchalguda jail immediately. The judge was found to be in possession of assets, whose market value is more than Rs 3 crore, which is disproportionate to his known sources of income, the bureau said in a statement. The bureau statement said a case under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the judge. The raids, which began on Wednesday morning went till the early hours of Thursday, when Prasad was formally arrested. The searches took place simultaneously in Telangana and Maharashtra, including his residences at Gaddiannaram in Saroornagar and Izzathnagar in Kondapur in Hyderabad and also on the houses of his relatives and associates at four places in Hyderabad, three places in Sircilla and two in Maharashtra. The high court had earlier issued orders to the bureau to register a case of disproportionate assets case against him after preliminary inquiry following a complaint against Prasad. Prasad is the fifth judge in Telangana to face the ACB probe in the disproportionate assets case this year. In April, a district judge in Mahbubnagar Kolla Ranga Rao was suspended, following charges of corruption and an inquiry by the high court. In the same month, the high court suspended metropolitan sessions court judge in Hyderabad S Radhakrishna Murthy following raids by the ACB. Another junior civil judge S Madhu in Jagitial district court was also suspended following a complaint that he was taking bribes. In March, judge M Gandhi of a labour court in Hyderabad was suspended following ACB raids on his house and detected huge assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Both Madhu and Gandhi were arrested following ACB cases. Four persons, including two women, were booked on Wednesday for allegedly killing a 30-year-old man at Brar village in Chogawan block of Amritsar district over suspected illicit relations with his friends widow. The deceased has been identified as Dharambir Singh, while the accused are his friend Sahib Singhs widow Kawaljit Kaur (34), her husbands nephew Harbhej Singh (25), her brother in-law Jagir Singh (30) and his wife Rani (20), all residents of the same village. On the complaint of Dharambirs mother, Jasbir Kaur, a case was registered at the Lopoke police station. Jasbir said her sons friend Sahib died a few months ago. Sahibs wife Kawaljit used to come to our house. On Tuesday night, Dharambir told me that he was going to Kawaljits house to meet her. At around 10:30pm, my nephew Gursewak Singh informed me that the family had attacked Dharambir with sharp-edged weapons. She said soon after getting information, she along with Gursewak reached Kawaljits house. I found my son bleeding. We rushed him to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. She said, The accused had been suspecting that my son had an affair with Kawaljit and they in connivance with her killed him. Sub-inspector Randhir Singh said, We have started investigation. After conducting post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family. We have arrested Kawaljit while the other accused are absconding. Our preliminary probe reveals that Kawaljit had called Dharambir to clear air over the issue that there was nothing wrong between the two. Harbhajan, Jagir and Rani suspected they had illicit relations and thus killed Dharambir, said the SI. A case under Sections 302 (punishment for murder), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), of the Indian penal code (IPC) was registered. The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Rafale, accusing him of enhancing the benchmark price for the 36 fighter aircraft by Euro 3 billion (Rs 22,743 crore) and waiving off the sovereign guarantee requirement in the deal. Why did the Prime Minister set a higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62,166 crore) from Euro 5.2 billion (Rs 39,422 crore)? Why did he waive the sovereign guarantee requirement, asked Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala at a news conference in Delhi. The main opposition party also accused the Prime Minister of compromising national interest on the issue with Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleging that the latest skeleton to tumble out of the Rafale cupboard is that there is no guarantee by the French government backing the deal. The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: No Guarantee by the French Government backing the deal. BUT, our PM says theres a letter from the French promising to be faithful. Thats enough to call this a Government to Government deal? he asked on Twitter, using the hashtag BikGayaChowkidar. On November 14, HT quoted a former defence ministry official as saying that sovereign guarantees arent always needed for such deals. All Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) are subject to negotiations including clauses about dispute resolution and sovereign guarantee. IGAs are negotiated agreements in which nothing is written in stone. There is no standard format. India has bought arms earlier on the basis of a letter of comfort from Russia and other countries as well, said Amit Cowshish, former chief financial advisor (acquisition). The Congress has escalated its attack on the PM, alleging corruption in the deal and also targeted the government over the offset contract to Anil Ambanis company. It also rejected Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Tappiers remarks that his company itself chose Anil Ambani as the offset partner for the deal. Surjewala said the only forum to investigate acts of omission, commission and corruption in the biggest defence scam of the country is to institute a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the deal. A BJP spokesperson did not respond to queries from HT. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday slapped a fine of Rs 50 crore on the Punjab government for polluting Sutlej and Beas rivers due to uncontrolled industrial discharge. The bench had clubbed several similar cases, including the one dealing with the death of fish due to molasses discharge from a sugar industry in Gurdaspur district in May this year. The bench headed by justice AK Goyal has asked the Punjab government to recover the fine from industries in two weeks. Earlier a committee headed by Central Pollution Control Board, of which Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) was a part, submitted a report saying it found that the industrial discharge was not being treated as treatment plants were not functioning, PPCB counsel Nagendra Benipal said. The tribunal clubbed some other cases of river pollution in Punjab, one based on a 2014 petition from Rajasthan-based activists Shabnam Godara and Sobha Singh of Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan, which claimed that polluted water from the Sutlej and Beas, entering the state through the Indira Gandhi Canal, was affecting eight districts there. Indira Gandhi Canal the longest canal of India. It starts from the Harike barrage, a few kilometres below the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers in Punjab and terminates in irrigation facilities in the Thar Desert in the northwest Rajasthan. The next date of hearing is on February 27. In August this year, the NGT formed a committee comprising environmentalist from Punjab Balbir Singh Seechewal, along with members from the pollution control boards of Punjab and Rajasthan and the Central Pollution Control Board to look into the matter. Seechewal said the committee report contradicted the Punjab governments claim that 33 of the 34 sewage treatment plants (STP) along Buddha Nullah and Kala Sanghian Drain were functional. But we found that only one STP was functional. The rest were either non-functional or not treating sewage or industrial waste properly, said Seechewal. We welcome the decision, but we want the things to change on ground so that people of Rajasthan get clean water, said Godara. She said those responsible for polluting river waters should be punished. Showing inability to act against violators, PPCB chairman SS Marwaha said the board was only an enforcing and regulatory body. The local bodies and other state departments had to work out the solutions and our role is to ascertain whether the solutions planned are practical, he said, adding that in the past, the PPCB has been cautioning the local bodies and other departments to make sewage treatment plants functional, but to no avail. Principal secretary, local bodies department, A Venu Prasad said he can comment only after reading the NGT orders. The green tribunal is expected to pronounce order on paddy stubble burning in Punjab on Thursday. For past three years, the tribunal has been asking state departments to impose penalty on violators and has asked the Prime Ministers office to intervene and give machinery to farmers to manage stubble. Despite a Rs 665 crore subsidy plan, farmers are resorting to stubble burning and this year, the number of cases has already touched 40,000 in Punjab. The Karnataka government has said it will invite private investors in a proposed project to build a 125-feet structure of Mother Cauvery at the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir in Mandya district of the state as a tourist destination. The announcement by the Janata Dal(United)-Congress government comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Statue of Unity dedicated to Indias first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in on the banks of the Narmada river in Gujarats Kevadiya. It is not exactly a statue, it will be like a tower. The land already belongs to the government and we will be inviting investors to invest in it. No government money will be used, state minister DK Shivakumar said on Thursday, according to news agency ANI. The Rs 1,200 crore project will include the structure dedicated to the River Cauvery, a museum complex, two glass towers measuring around 360 feet that will give a birds eye view of the reservoir, a bandstand, an indoor stadium and replicas of historical monuments aimed to boost tourism in the state. It will cover an area of 200 acres. The minister said a new lake would be created next to the reservoir on which the proposed structures will come up. The statue, taller than the KSR reservoir, will be installed atop the museum complex and between the glass towers, he added. The river, which originates in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Karnatakas Kodagu, provides water to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and is the third largest after the Godavari and Krishna in south India. The Prime Minister unveiled the worlds tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, in Kevadiya in Gujarats Narmada district. The 182m-tall statue of was inaugurated on October 31 to coincide with his 143rd birth anniversary of Patel. President Ram Nath Kovind will arrive in Patna on Thursday to attend two convocations one at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University at Pusa (Samastipur) and another in the evening at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna. Governor Lalji Tandon and chief minister Nitish Kumar will also accompany him. Created in 2016 by converting the erstwhile Rajendra Agricultural University into a central university through a legislation, it will be the first convocation for the Pusa institution. University registrar Ravi Nandan said that 478 students of Ph.D, M.Sc and under-graduate courses will be awarded degrees at the convocation. There will be 33 gold medals given, while 17 degrees will be awarded to Ph.D scholars, said Nandan, who was busy supervising the preparations for the big occasion. President will also deliver the convocation address. The President will arrive at Patna at around 9.45 am and straightway head for Pusa in Samastipur. The function at Pusa will get underway at 10.45 am. He will return to Patna at 1.20 pm and go to the Raj Bhawan. Launch has been organized at the Raj Bhawan. He may also meet some dignitaries during his around three-hour stay at the Raj Bhawan. He will leave for the second function, the convocation of the NIT, Patna at 4 pm at Gyan Bhawan, where he will present 10 gold medals to the meritorious students. At the convocation, 736 students having completed their B.Tech, M.Tech and Ph.D will be presented their degrees. Kovind will also address the students. The president will leave the venue directly for the airport at 5 pm and fly back to New Delhi. Kovind had also attended the NIT convocation in 2016, but then as the Bihar governor. In 2017, he was fielded by the NDA as its presidential candidate and he eventually won the election to the countrys highest constitutional office. In 2013, former President APJ Abdul Kalam had conferred degrees on the passing out students of NIT, Patna. In his convocation address, Kalam had exhorted the graduates to come up with plan for effective management of abundant water resources in the state, something Kovind also reiterated during his last visit. Kovind had last visited Bihar a year ago for the launch of the third phase of the Bihar agriculture roadmap (2017-2022) and said that with proper water management, Bihar could be the harbinger of the next green revolution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival. He also held separate bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. PM Narendra Modi participated at ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore. Reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain and centrality of trade and investment towards prosperity of Indo-Pacific, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet, Modi said in a tweet. The Indo-Pacific region also came up during the discussion on Wednesday between Prime Minister Modi and US Vice President Mike Pence. Modi referred to his June speech in Singapore at IISS Shangrila Dialogue in which he had outlined Indias vision on Indo-Pacific. He conveyed to Pence that his vision of Indo-Pacific was gaining acceptability and that we should utilise the forthcoming East Asia summit to further build on that. Pence spoke of a free and open Indo-Pacific. He felt that Indias contribution in ensuring this would be important. He said the recent naval exercises held by the US, India and Japan, were an evidence of our commitment to ensuring free and open access to the seas all across this region. Before leaving for Singapore, Modi said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolised Indias continued commitment to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. Modi also said he was confident that his visit to Singapore would impart fresh momentum to New Delhis growing partnership with ASEAN and East Asia Summit nations. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members and other Asian states. The ASEAN members are Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos. India and the other members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, aka Quad, agreed on Thursday to expand their cooperation to promote a free, rules-based and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific region by including other countries and forums. This was the third consultative meeting of the informal strategic group comprising Australia, India, Japan and the US since it was revived on the margins of the Asean Summit in the Philippines in November last year as a counterbalance to Chinas growing presence in the region. Senior officials of the Quad held the latest meeting in Singapore, also the venue of the second meet in June. The participants reaffirmed the Asean centrality as the cornerstone of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, said a statement from the external affairs ministry. This is the first time, though, that the Congress is using such tactics at the booth level. The BJPs plan for 2019, too, revolves around booths and a booth action plan prepared by party president Amit Shah, who has already asked state units to compile a list of smartphone carrying voters in every polling station. In the states going to polls, Congress nominees are given details of the booths where the party is strong and also workers who can be depended upon in each booth. Not surprisingly, there is a mad rush from our candidates asking us to give them the details of the workers, says Chakravarty. The Congress new efforts come even as the BJP has a clear playbook for reaching out to its ground force. Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently interacts with BJPs booth-level workers across the states via video conferencing. Senior BJP leaders have also been asked to hold regular meetings at the gram panchayats to get genuine feedback from the people and party workers. Vidya, the Congress database, is derived from another online platform Shakti which the party uses for enrolling workers and giving them more voice. After enrolment, a worker is given different tasks such as attending a rally or participating in a door-to-door campaign for the party. Each activity carries certain points. The points indicate who is the most active and who should be considered as the best assets at a booth, says Chakravarty. The Congress also used Shakti extensively for candidate selection in the upcoming assembly polls, and insiders claim that in many seats the poll results decided the fate of the candidate. Nearly 70% of new candidates are also the ones who did really well in Shakti, adds a senior leader. Shakti has about 4 million members. Shakti feeds into Vidya, which operates at the booth-level, the most important node in the political chain, according to experts. For many others, the ongoing elections might be about four big poll-bound states. For Chakravarty and his team, its an election season involving 172,345 booths. Election-bound Madhya Pradesh has decided to try out yet another new scheme to compensate farmers: cash payment of 500 per quintal (100 kg) of soyabean and maize, even if growers of these commodities get prices equivalent to federally fixed minimum support prices (MSPs). The decision to offer a flat bonus means the state government will not implement the so-called PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan), a programme announced by the Centre on September 12 to ensure remunerative prices to farmers. This is because the guidelines for PM-AASHA dont include a flat bonus, implying that the state government will have to fund the programme on its own. Elections to the states assembly are scheduled to be held on November 28. The decision on the flat bonus was made on October 5, a day before the model code of conduct that prevents governments from taking policy decisions that could affect the outcome of the polls, came into effect. Like many other states, Madhya Pradesh has witnessed protests by farmers hit hard by the agrarian crisis affecting cultivators across India. This is a scheme for a flat bonus even if these commodities are sold above MSP. Till now, 0.79 million tonnes of soyabean have been traded in agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) of Madhya Pradesh, Rajesh Rajora, the states principal secretary, told HT. APMCs are state-run wholesale markets. Madhya Pradesh is the largest grower of soyabean, followed by Maharahstra. The PM-AASHA scheme announced in September has two main components: the price support scheme or PSS and the price deficiency payment scheme or PDPS. MP was the first state to experiment with the price deficiency payment scheme in 2017-18, branded as the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana for eight kharif or summer-grown crops. Under this, the government paid farmers the difference between the MSP and actual average prices. This model was included in PM-AASHA so that other states could also implement it. The flat-bonus scheme floated by the state government means it has dumped the PDPS, the very scheme it piloted. In reality this means that the state is not operating the PDPS scheme in its correct form as there is no link between the payment to farmers and actual price realised by him. Such a scheme is unlikely to be covered under the guidelines of PM-AASHA for reimbursement by the central government, said Siraj Husain, former Union agriculture secretary and visiting fellow, ICRIER. Had MP chosen to go with the PDPS scheme, it would have qualified to be reimbursed up to 50% of its losses for implementing the scheme under PM-AASHA. The new scheme means the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led Bharatiya Janata Party government is reverting to the practice of paying flat bonuses to shore up farmer support. The government had offered 100 bonus per quintal of wheat between 2007-08 and 2012-13 (which went up to 150 per quintal in 2013-14 and 2014-15). Along with expanded irrigation and storage facilities, these measures saw MP increase its wheat procurement at MSP prices from 0.48 million tonnes to 2005-06 to 7.1 million tonnes in 2014-15, according to Hussains calculation. A slump in global commodity prices, along with the impacts of demonetisation, has since shrunk farm incomes in the state The Gaia satellite has spotted an enormous ghost galaxy lurking on the outskirts of the Milky Way. An international team of astronomers discovered the massive object when trawling through data from the European Space Agencys Gaia satellite. The object, named Antlia 2 (or Ant 2), has avoided detection until now thanks to its extremely low density as well as a perfectly-chosen hiding place, behind the shroud of the Milky Ways disc. Ant 2 is known as a dwarf galaxy. As structures emerged in the early Universe, dwarfs were the first galaxies to form, and so most of their stars are old, low-mass and metal-poor (deficient in heavy elements). But compared to the other known dwarf satellites of our Galaxy, Ant 2 is immense: it is as big as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and a third the size of the Milky Way itself. What makes Ant 2 even more unusual is how little light it gives out. Compared to the LMC, another satellite of the Milky Way, Ant 2 is 10,000 times fainter. In other words, it is either far too large for its luminosity or far too dim for its size. This is a ghost of a galaxy, said Gabriel Torrealba, the papers lead author. Objects as diffuse as Ant 2 have simply not been seen before. Our discovery was only possible thanks to the quality of the Gaia data. The ESAs Gaia mission has produced the richest star catalogue to date, including high-precision measurements of nearly 1.7 billion stars and revealing previously unseen details of our home galaxy. Earlier this year, Gaias second data release made new details of stars in the Milky Way available to scientists worldwide. The researchers behind the current study from Taiwan, the UK, the US, Australia and Germany searched the new Gaia data for Milky Way satellites by using RR Lyrae stars. These stars are old and metal-poor, typical of those found in a dwarf galaxy. RR Lyrae change their brightness with a period of half a day, and can be located thanks to these well-defined pulses. RR Lyrae had been found in every known dwarf satellite, so when we found a group of them sitting above the Galactic disc, we werent totally surprised, said co-author Vasily Belokurov. But when we looked closer at their location on the sky it turned out we found something new, as no previously identified object came up in any of the databases we searched through. The team rushed to contact their colleagues in Australia, to follow up their discovery with the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) at Siding Spring Observatory. "But when we checked the coordinates for Ant 2, we realised we had a very limited window of opportunity to get additional data," noted Macquarie University astronomer Daniel Zucker, one of the Australian collaborators. There were only a few more nights in which the mysterious object could still be observed, before the Earth's motion around the Sun rendered Ant 2 off-limits for months. If they were lucky with the weather, there was a chance to take spectra of other stars around the handful of RR Lyrae they found; with AAT spectra in hand, they would be able to confirm the nature of the object. We were fortunate, said Macquarie co-author Kyler Kuehn. Our team was using the telescope at just the right time a few weeks earlier, and we would not have known about the dwarf galaxys existence at all; a few weeks later and the dwarf galaxy would have been completely unobservable. Indeed, even though Ant 2 could just be seen low above the horizon, the team got spectra of more than a hundred red giant stars in the phantom galaxy. The fact that we could target Ant 2 so rapidly after its discovery is a testament to the entire team of astronomers and engineers operating the AAT, concluded Dr Kuehn. After the data was acquired, though, there was still the matter of understanding just what the astronomers had found. On a first look at the spectra, I thought we must be getting too many Milky Way stars mixed in our sample, because the signal seemed suspiciously strong," commented team member Ting Li. "But it turned out almost all of the spectra actually belonged to Ant 2. Thanks to the Gaia data, we got a 99% pure selection of dwarf galaxy stars." The AAT spectra were an important piece of the puzzle. First of all, the team were able to confirm that the ghostly object was real: all the stars were moving together. Combining the redshift of Ant 2 with its proper motion, they determined the orbit of the galaxy and learned that it never comes too close to the Milky Way, always staying at least 40 kpc (about 130,000 light years) away. From the spread in the individual stellar redshifts, they also obtained the mass of the galaxy. The mass, however, was clearly far short of what was expected. The combination of small mass and enormous size meant an anomalously low density. The spectra enabled the team to confirm that the ghostly object they spotted was real: all the stars were moving together. The researchers were also able to obtain the galaxys mass, which was much lower than expected for an object of its size. The simplest explanation of why Ant 2 appears to have so little mass today is that it is being taken apart by the Galactic tides of the Milky Way, said co-author Sergey Koposov. What remains unexplained, however, is the objects giant size. Normally, as galaxies lose mass to the Milky Ways tides, they shrink, not grow. If it is impossible to puff the dwarf up by removing matter from it, then Ant 2 had to have been born huge. The team has yet to figure out the exact process that made Ant 2 so extended. While objects of this size and luminosity have not been predicted by current models of galaxy formation, recently it has been speculated that some dwarfs could be inflated by vigorous star formation. Stellar winds and supernova explosions would push away the unused gas, reducing the gravitational pull and allowing the dark matter to drift away as well. Even if star formation could re-shape the dark matter distribution in Ant 2 as it was put together, it must have acted with unprecedented efficiency, said co-author Jason Sanders. Alternatively, Ant 2s low density could mean that a modification to the dark matter properties is needed. The currently favoured theory predicts dark matter to pack tightly in the centres of galaxies. Given how fluffy the new dwarf appears to be, a dark matter particle which is less keen to cluster may be required. Compared to the rest of the 60 or so Milky Way satellites, Ant 2 is an oddball, said co-author Matthew Walker. We are wondering whether this galaxy is just the tip of an iceberg, and the Milky Way is surrounded by a large population of nearly invisible dwarfs similar to this one. The gap between Ant 2 and the rest of the Galactic dwarfs is so wide that this may well be an indication that some important physics is missing in the models of dwarf galaxy formation. Solving the Ant 2 puzzle may help researchers understand how the first structures in the early Universe emerged. Finding more objects like Ant 2 will show just how common such ghostly galaxies are, and the team is busy looking for other similar galaxies in the Gaia data. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the sharpest critic of the governments deal to purchase 36 Rafale jets, stepped up his attack on the centre on Thursday. Referring to reports of the statement by the governments top law officer in the Supreme Court Wednesday, Gandhi appeared to question the centres stand that the Rs 58,000 crore deal to buy 36 fighter jets was a government-to-government deal. The latest skeleton to tumble out of the Rafale cupboard: No guarantee by the French Govt backing the deal but our PM says theres a letter from the French promising to be faithful! Thats enough to call this a Govt to Govt deal? Gandhi tweeted. The Congress president has been demanding that his allegations of corruption in the deal should be probed. In Supreme Court on Thursday, the petitioners attacked the foundations of the new deal, signed by the NDA government in 2016, and announced by Modi in 2015, by claiming it could not be a government-to-government deal because there was no sovereign guarantee provided by France. The petitioners, activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, former union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and advocates ML Sharma and Vineet Dhanda asked for an investigation on four grounds: lack of transparency over the pricing of the jets; an offsets deal that seemed to favour a private firm; flouting of due process in closing the deal; and that the deal isnt a government-to-government deal at all as it has been pitched because France refused to offer India a sovereign guarantee and instead gave it a letter of comfort. A former government official directly involved in defence purchases said there was nothing unusual about the deal. All Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) are subject to negotiations including clauses about dispute resolution and sovereign guarantee. IGAs are negotiated agreements in which nothing is written in stone. There is no standard format. India has bought arms earlier on the basis of a letter of comfort from Russia and other countries as well, said Amit Cowshish, former chief financial advisor (acquisition). Attorney General KK Venugopal admitted that the French government did not offer a sovereign guarantee, but had issued a letter of comfort, ensuring the final execution of the deal. The law officer denied the charge that procedures were violated and said courts could not review the inter-governmental agreement on the judicial side. The Supreme Court has set aside a Punjab and Haryana high court verdict holding a lawyer guilty of contempt for a Facebook post he wrote against a HC judge and his judgement. A bench led by Justice AK Sikri allowed the appeal filed by Maneesh Vashistha, an advocate from Narnaul, Haryana, who was sentenced to one month in jail by the HC. We have gone through the matter in detail and are of the view that it was not a case where the contempt action should have been taken against the appellant who is an advocate. We thus allow this appeal and set aside the impugned order passed by the high court, the top court ruled. The HC had, on its own, initiated contempt proceedings against Vashistha and held him guilty of contemptuous conduct on May 31. In a Facebook post in September 2017, the lawyer had termed a judgement by a HC judge in his case as incorrect. A former president of the Narnaul Bar Association, Vashistha had also criticised the judge for not uploading the order even a week after the pronouncement. The delay, Vashistha claimed, must have been because of the judges inability to understand what he had delivered. The lawyer also posted against a magistrate, saying that he could have a written a better judgement. In its judgement, the HC noted that Vashistha had sent confidential letters to the district and sessions judge while the latter was hearing a matter involving the lawyer. The judge concerned had recused himself, though he had not sent any contempt reference to maintain harmonious relationship between the bar and the bench. The Supreme Court on Thursday rebuked the high courts of Delhi, Allahabad and Calcutta for their failure to appoint judges in trial courts, which has contributed to a worrying increase in the number of vacancies in the subordinate judiciary. A bench led by chief justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi interacted with the registrars general of the three HCs and representatives of the chief secretaries of the respective state governments and told them unequivocally that the top court would ensure that all the posts are filled up. SC has on its own registered a petition to monitor filling up of over 5,000 posts that are lying vacant in trial courts. An insufficient number of judges is one of the reasons for the high backlog of cases at the lowest rung of the judiciary where over 27 million cases are still awaiting a final decision. We want judges. We need courtrooms, support staff, infrastructure. We need our judges to be able to operate. We shall make the state governments, high courts and Public Service Commissions accountable, the CJI asserted. The bench had a brief exchange with each registrar general and the government officials. The court was told by senior advocate Shyam Diwan, assisting the court as amicus curiae (friend of the court), that the process of filling 125 of the 394 vacant posts in the higher judicial services in UP is underway and is expected to be completed by March 2019. But the bench was unimpressed and said that as per an earlier ruling of the top court, the process should end by December this year and the hiring should take place by March 2019. The registrar general of the HC was reprimanded for not filling the posts through regular promotions, without the need for a written examination and an interview. It was also critical of the lack of infrastructure for the judiciary . The three-year-old male tiger, which was relocated from Madhya Pradesh to Satkosia reserve in Odishas Angul district, most likely died because of a wound on its neck, wildlife officials said on Thursday. Officials said while speaking to the Hindustan Times the tigers carcass was found 500 metres from Raigoda area of the reserve at 1 pm. The tiger, identified as MB2 and named Mahavir by Satkosia officials, was part of the first tiger translocation exercise in the country was shifted from Madhya Pradeshs Bandhavgarh National Park to the Odisha reserve earlier this year. Satkosia tiger reserves divisional forest officer P Ramaswamy said the spot was inside the Nuagarh reserve forest of Athgarh forest division, which has been proposed to be included in the tiger reserve. The carcass was lying under a bush when officials saw it. On prima facie investigation of the carcass, a deep lacerated and five-day-old maggot-infected wound was observed in the dorsal neck region of the tiger which may be the cause of the mortality, said Ramaswamy, who has been appointed as the investigating officer to inquire into the matter. The site of incidence was not disturbed as per the NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) protocol. The exact reason of the mortality and time of incidence will be ascertained after conducting a detailed post-mortem examination. The carcass would be incinerated after post-mortem, he said. Officials said a team comprising veterinary doctors, NTCA representative, local NGO and others in accordance with standard operating procedure of NTCA has been formed to conduct the post-mortem examination. Mahavir, weighing 195 kg, was brought to Satkosia tiger reserve on June 21 from Bandhavgarh after a 22-hour-long road journey. It was later released into the core area and had adjusted itself with the new surroundings. Officials said it had mated with the only tigress of the reserve last month. Though officials were tight-lipped about the reason behind the injury, sources said the tiger may have landed in a snare set by poachers for catching wild boars and deers. Its possible that the tiger suffered injury on its neck while trying to get out of the snare, said a source. There were two surveillance teams that was supposed to keep a watch on the tigers movements, but officials said they did not detect any unusual movements in the last couple of days. Wildlife experts expressed their surprise as to how the tigers movement could not be detected despite the radio frequency and satellite collar on its neck. Tiger conservationist Ullas Karanth said the Odisha forest department personnel may have lacked professionalism and expertise in tracking it. Just having a radio-collar on the tigers neck isnt enough. Expertise is needed to track it on regular basis, said Karanth. He said the authorities, including NTCA and WII, should have taken into account the prey base of the tiger reserve before introducing the tigers. At least 500 prey is needed for a tiger for its survival. A proper prey-base study using line-transact method is the proper procedure. I doubt if this was done, he said. PK Sen, former director of Project Tiger in an interview to HT, had also questioned the relocation exercise calling the prey base in Satkosia as not enough to support big cats. Satkosia is not an inviolate area by any stretch of imagination and there is hardly any herbivores there. In 1996, I had opposed declaring Satkosia as a tiger reserve. Its a disastrous exercise, he had said. The tiger relocation exercise is already in trouble since September when tigress Sundari, relocated from Bandhavgarh in June, allegedly mauled a 45-year-old woman living near the reserve to death. Though its not yet confirmed if the woman died due to the tiger attack, the incident triggered violence by locals who burned the forest departments boats and beat house. On October 21, Sundari had mauled a 65-year-old man living in the reserve to death while he had gone to inspect his crop of potato tubers. With public anger mounting the state wildlife officials decided on tranquillising the tigress and could only capture it last week after a series of failed operations. State forest minister Bijoyshree Routray wanted to send Sundari to Nandankanan zoo, but wildlife officials have decided to keep it in a special enclosure inside the tiger reserve. Officials admitted the deaths dealt a body blow to the ambitious tiger relocation exercise conceived by the Union ministry of environment and forests, National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India. Under the exercise, six tigers (three pairs) from different reserves of Madhya Pradesh were to be sent to Odisha. After Mahavir and Sundari, a second male tiger was to be sent from Kanha and three were to be sent from two national parks in Madhya Pradesh. The banned CPI (Maoist) orchestrated the Bhima Koregaon caste riots while five activists arrested for alleged links with it allegedly distorted the history of the battle and created resentment among the Dalits, according to the Pune polices charge sheet against 10 accused submitted in court today. The accused were also charged with conspiring to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi and overthrow the democratically elected government with violent means, said an IANS report. The accused face provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activists (Prevention) Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code, it said. The 5,160-page chargesheet, filed before sessions judge KD Vadane, accuses advocate Surendra Gadling, professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist and Marathi magazine Vidrohi editor Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut, freelance research scholar Rona Wilson and five others working with CPI (Maoist) to create violence on January 1 at Bhima Koregaon in Pune district. Others charged by police include CPI (Maoist) members Milind Teltumbde, Prakash alias Navin alias Ritupan Goswami, Manglu, Deepu and Kisan alias Prashanto Bose, all who were described as being underground. The charge sheet accuses Dhawale and members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), a left-leaning Dalit outfit, of having delivered provocative speeches at the December 31 Elgar Parishad event in Pune, and other places in Maharashtra, which led to violence the next day when large number of Dalits had gathered at Bhima Koregaon to observe 200th anniversary of a battle between British and Dalits. One person was killed while damage worth Rs 40 crore was caused during the riots. The loss to properties and human casualties during caste riots between Dalits and upper castes were orchestrated by banned outfit CPI (Maoist), stated the charge sheet submitted by assistant commissioner of police Shivaji Pawar, who is investigating the case. According to charge sheet, Dhawale and Harshali Potdar, member of KKM contacted different Dalit outfits and twisted the history of Bhima Koregaon battle. They also resorted to false propaganda over the issue and tried to convince the public that the government was antithetical to the Dalit community and created resentment among the Dalits against the government. it said. Besides the Koregaon-Bhima violence, the charge sheet said that the 10 accused had links with various Maoist and Kashmir terror groups, were hatching a conspiracy to execute a high-level political assassination, procuring illegal funds, arms and ammunition, seeking to incite disturbances and violence among people and communities around the country to topple the democratically elected government, said IANS. Gadling and Sen, along with Gadchiroli-based Mahesh Raut, Mumbai-based Dhawale, and Wilson of Delhi, were arrested by the Pune police on June 8 after multi-city raids across the country. Besides these five accused, the Pune police have also arrested five other activists - Telugu poet Varavara Rao, civil rights lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj, Mumbai lawyers Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves, and Delhi-based journalist Gautam Navlakha - on August 29. (With IANS inputs) Last month, Amazon founder and chief executive, Jeff Bezos, called the Internet, a confirmation bias machine to describe the worrisome state of social media. This year, Twitter has come under scrutiny for having a left leaning bias in the United States. To address this contentious issue, Jack Dorsey (41), co-founder and chief executive at Twitter, said the company needs to operate with impartiality and be transparent. During his first visit to India, he said the country would be the next big growth frontier for Twitter. In an interview to Hindustan Times, Dorsey also shared Twitters plans for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and tackling fake news. Edited Excerpts: Its been 12 years since you started Twitter. What took you so long to come to India? I have always wanted to come here. In our early days, we were just focused on building. We were also going down all the time so we had to stay next to the machine. So, we didnt have a lot of time to travel. In the US, conservatives have alleged Twitter has a left-leaning bias. We are witnessing a similar phenomenon in India with Hindu right-wing users. Your views? We need to operate with impartiality. Not neutrality but impartiality and there is a difference between the two. Neutrality is very passive; impartiality means that we are taking actions and writing policy that does not have a particular bias or doesnt favour one person over another for the wrong reasons. We write our policies and we write our enforcement with that in mind. Anytime we feel that we have failed, we admit it publicly and then we correct it. The most important thing we can do is be transparent. Can we expect Twitter to specify why it removes people from the service? That was lacking in the past. We werent transparent around the reason why? We are getting better at that today. How is Twitter preparing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections? With India we are looking at a lot more language support. We are mainly learning from what happened in the 2016 US elections, the Mexico elections and the 2018 midterm elections. Weve built models to identify where people are trying to game the system. A lot of misinformation falls in the tactics of spam. So all the spam tools can actually be effective. There are two main things that we have learnt from in terms of the recent elections that we could apply to elections around the world including India. We opened a focus room to make sure that we are seeing in real time everything thats happening and we have one streamlined point of contact for government agencies to point out what we should be paying attention to or vice versa. The second is around context, so how can we provide more context to people to determine credibility. The election badges that we used in the United States are an example. Will these come to India? We are considering it, we are evaluating what is best for this particular election. Every election is different and well require different approaches so were going to learn what is going to be most effective. A recent global study published in October 2018 found that interactions with fake news stories fell sharply on Facebook while they continued to rise on Twitter. Does this mean Twitter is not doing enough to address fake news? They can only sample data so they dont see the full set of tweets that we see. Twitter is a platform people use to get their news and see whats happening in the world. Facebook announced a shift in another direction which is around personal interactions, not news. It would certainly not be a leap to consider if you remove most news from the feed that all the numbers are going to go down. Its apples and oranges, really hard comparison. From a monetisation perspective, Twitter hasnt achieved as much growth in advertising revenue in India compared to other platforms. Digital advertising continues to be dominated by Facebook and Google. Why do brands prefer them? People come to Twitter for very different reasons . They advertise on Facebook and Instagram with a very different mindset than they do on Twitter. On Twitter, increasingly they know that the power of what we provide is conversation. You cant have that anywhere else. With that mind set we are doing quite well. If you compare us to everything else, we could look small. But weve had a year of peak revenue for India since we started monetisation here and there is a lot of headroom for growth. Youve met two key political leaders in the country, Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. What are the ideas they have shared? The conversations were very Twitter focused. Prime Minister Modi in particular gave a lot of ideas around how we might help create one global conversation. Hes done this himself on World Environment Day and just gave me a bunch of examples of where it has worked for him, where its worked for India but also where its worked more broadly. He has the hope that Twitter and people using Twitter could be used as a way to bring the entire world into a conversation. That was excellent to hear. Both are very thoughtful leaders. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is preparing to stage a show of strength in Ayodhya this month, seeking to exert pressure on the Centre to introduce a legislation that will clear the way for the construction of a Ram temple on a site disputed by Hindus and Muslims. It will be the largest congregation in Ayodhya since the Kar seva on December 6, 1992, when a 16th century mosque at the site was demolished by a mob of hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and the shila daan ceremony of March 2002, when carved stone pillars for a proposed Ram temple on the site were handed over to an emissary of the central government in a symbolic move. A rally, Dharam Sabha, will be organised in Ayodhya on November 25 to press demands for a legislation to pave the way for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya that Hindu groups say is the birthplace of Lord Ram. The VHP is working to mobilise over 100,000 people for the rally at Bada Bhaktmal ki Bagiya. The November 25 rally (in Ayodhya) will be the biggest congregation of Ram Bhakts in Ayodhya after the kar seva, VHP regional spokesperson said Sharad Sharma. Officer bearers of the Parishad have already started arriving in Ayodhya and are camping in Karsevakpuram the local headquarters of the VHP. More than one lakh people will assemble in Ayodhya to attend Dharam Sabha. We want to send a clear message to the Centre that now Hindus want an ordinance or a law in Parliament for the construction of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya, VHPs international vice president, Champat Rai said. The VHP has also planned similar public meetings in Nagpur and Bengaluru on November 25 and a rally in New Delhi on December 9. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Faizabad recently renamed Ayodhya Lallu Singh and the party MLAs are also extending a helping hand in preparations for the rally. The Ayodhya railway station will be one of the finest in the country. It will resemble the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, Singh said. The Supreme Court in October turned down requests for an early hearing in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute and said the top court will decide the course of hearings in the first week of January. The court decision sparked calls by Hindu groups for a law to enable the construction of a temple at the site. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP is also helping the VHP to maximise the mobilisation of people to attend the Ayodhya congregation. Senior RSS functionary Kaushal, who goes by one name, presided over a meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student wing of the RSS, at Karsevakpuram on Wednesday to review preparations for the rally. Tej Narain Pandey, a former Samajwadi Party MLA from the seat, said, BJP is again trying to raise the temple issue just before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to polarise voters on communal lines. Prof Kaushal Kishore Mishra, of Banaras Hindu Universitys political science department, said, ...this rally is a pressure tactic of the VHP and the RSS...to pave the way for the construction of Ram mandir [temple] in Ayodhya. Thirteen-year old Pingla Rahul More loves doodling; she is always sketching in her notebooks. Little did the Class 8 student of JB Vachha School in Dadar know that this habit to squeeze in a doodle in every nook and crany here and there, would win her a national award as part of the Doodle 4 Google contest. Mores entry was selected from among 75,000 submitted by students from across India. Her sketch, titled Galaxy, Space, and Exploration became the doodle of the day for India on the Google homepage which celebrated Childrens Day. Google India had appealed students between Classes 1 and 10 to send their art work in response to this years theme What inspires me? As Google declared its winners on Wednesday, More found herself being pleasantly surprised. I am a big doodle enthusiast but I never thought that my idea could win the best doodle prize. Its a wonderful feeling to see the image I made on screens across the country for an entire day. While describing her doodle, which has a girl looking through the telescope, Pingla said her idea was to illustrate the expanse of opportunities that exist in life. Like a galaxy and the planets, there are no limits to what one can explore in the universe, said Pingla, who wants to take up art as a profession in future. This year, 20 students were shortlisted for the finals. Pingla was selected as the winner by a team of judges and on the basis of more than 3, 00,000 votes from the public. She also won a Galaxy, Space, and Exploration 500,000 scholarship. Her school received a 2,00,000 technology award. Google has also announced group winners for Class 1 to 10. Shaikh Rizwan from Crescent English High School in Thane won the award in Class 1-2 category. Dhwanit Nagar, a Class 10 student of Swami Vivekanand International School in Kandivli won the group award from the Class 9-10 category. I used animals in my doodle as they are really inspirational for me. Unlike individuals who fight, animals live in harmony, said Nagar. A Romanian national was arrested on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday from an ATM kiosk in Vikhroli while trying to withdraw money using cards that had allegedly been cloned. Over 60 cards, with the personal identification numbers (PIN) written on them, were recovered from the accused. Police also recovered cash worth 3.70 lakh from the accused. The police on Friday received a tip-off regarding a man wearing a mask and suspiciously wandering in the area near the ATM. They then canvassed the area and nabbed the accused identified as Carayvan Mariyan, 51 when he came to the spot on Saturday night. Most of the cards found in the accuseds possession contained data cloned from residents of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, said Vilas Jadhav, senior police inspector, Parksite police station. Police suspect that the cards had been cloned by fitting skimming devices at ATM kiosks in Uttar Pradesh, and were now being used to withdraw money from unguarded ATMs in the city. We have informed the authorities concerned in Uttar Pradesh about the arrest. They will assist us in further investigation, Jadhav said.Skimming devices are small machines attached to the card-reading slot. When ATM users swipe their card across the skimming device, the information on the card gets duplicated. The stolen data is transferred to duplicate cards. However, since the PIN is also necessary for transactions, spy cameras are fitted at the kiosk. Using the data cloned via the skimmers and the PIN caught on spy cameras, fraudsters make counterfeit cards and use them to make transactions. Mariyan has been remanded in police custody till November 19. According to preliminary investigation, Mariyan came to India around six months ago. He frequently moved across the country, having previously lived in Delhi and Gujarat, said Jadhav. Mariyan is currently being investigated, but police said he is evading the questions. They suspect that more people might be involved in the fraud. This is not an isolated case and reflects a rising trend. There have been multiple instances in the city wherein people have been duped by foreign nationals using counterfeit ATM cards. Most analyses about the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls are premature at this juncture. The slog overs for the November 28 contest havent yet begun. The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) star all-rounder, Narendra Modi, is yet to walk on to the field. The party considers the Prime Minister a match-winner capable of converting defeat into victory. An example of this was Gujarat, where he helped the BJP retain power in a close finish. Its another matter that in the final phases, he played cross-bat shots, or chucked as his partys pace spearhead. The parallel between the two states, however, is a tad misplaced. Madhya Pradesh is not Gujarat, where the cities came to the BJPs rescue. By a rough calculation, there are 40-45 urban seats and 25-30 semi-urban constituencies in the state. Its largest city Indore known locally as Mini Bombay alone has nine assembly segments. The BJP won eight of these seats in 2013, barring Rau on the citys rural outskirts. The story this time could be different with local analysts rating the Congresss chances as being better in four-five constituencies. The business community is angry due to the twin assault of demonetisation and GST [Goods and Services Tax]. Theres no clean sweep happening for the BJP this time, said Ankit Jain, a food entrepreneur. Others nodded in approval on his table of six in a restaurant on the popular food street, Chappan Dukaan. Be that as it may, MP is more rural than Modis increasingly urban home state. As the Congresss Digvijay Singh pointed out in an interview to this writer, the states rural-urban ratio is 7:3. The battle is keener in the countryside, where the saffron spread seems either stalled or pushed back due to agrarian distress. The political pitch in MP helped Team BJP since 2003, when Digvijay Singh failed with bat and ball. After Shivraj Singh Chouhan earned his cap in November 2005 in the aftermath of the failed Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur captainciesthe top spot has stayed with him despite challenges from outside and within the party. The soft and understated leader from Budhni in Madhya Bharat, a region sandwiched by Mahakaushal and Malwa, hasnt looked back since. But he comes across now as the BJPs Julius Caesar without any Mark Antonys. With conspirators on the prowl in the ruling dispensation, the Congress is trying to paint him as the ruler of an empire reminiscent of a decadent Rome. The Congresss poll-time narrative is as exaggerated as the BJPs claims of good governance. Yet, to bury Chauhan wont be easy. His connect with the people might have declined, but it hasnt dissipated. The CM cuts a solitary figure because he himself eliminated potential challengers within the party: Uma Bharti, Narendra Singh Tomar, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Prabhat Jha have been effectively exiled with ministerships and organisational portfolios in New Delhi. The fate of former Union minister Vikram Verma is no different. He is busy campaigning for his wife in Malwas Dhar, adjoining Indore. Even Sumitra Mahajan and Sushma Swaraj, MPs from Indore and Vidisha, arent reportedly happy. The formers son, Mandar, has been denied a ticket to accommodate Vijayvargiyas son, Akash, in Indore-3 seat, where a BJP vs BJP situation is now more probable than avoidable. Swarajs confidant Jitendra Daga has revolted to enter the fray as an independent candidate from Bhopals Huzur. That renders risky a safe BJP seat. The Congress had an unedifying record in candidate selection for the 2008 and 2013 polls that it lost badly. For a change, its candidates for the upcoming elections look better than the BJPs. One found resonance for this on the ground in Dewas, the birthplace of legendary classical vocalist Kumar Gandharva. Predicting victory for the BJPs Gayatri Raje Pawar, who is from the erstwhile Dewas royalty, local farmer Virendra Gaur conceded that the Congresss candidates in the area were qualitatively better. In-house, the Congress assessment is that its nominees are better in 180 of the 230 assembly constituencies. The challenge in the remaining seats has been rendered weak by allocations on factional lines. In an election where local anti-incumbency is a major factor, the candidates goodwill and popular connect can be decisive. Along the 250km road journey from Bhopal to Indore, via Ujjain, many voters seemed determined to teach sitting legislators a lesson despite the BJP dropping several incumbents. The impact of Modis campaign and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs (RSS) role is crucial for Chouhans fortunes. In Ujjain, for instance, in the vicinity of the Mahakaleshwar temple, the Sangh has built a sprawling Bharat Mata Mandir complete with facilities for overnight stay and medical aid. The complex, where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently stayed, is a promotion of sorts of the RSSs social service orientation. Not surprising then that shop owners vending floral baskets to devotees of the Mahakaal deity were livid over the Congresss pledge to ban RSS shakhas in government premises. They said the attack on the Sangh has sealed Rahul Gandhis fate. But a Sikh tour agent a short distance away predicted a close fight. His reading was based on Jyotiraditya Scindias Gwalior familys ties with Ujjainbesides fears of prospective dislocation of homes and businesses under the Smart City plan. These contrasting views mirror the complexities of the upcoming battle. Researchers at The Australian National University and Tohoku University in Japan have proposed a new way to deal with space junk a hunter-killer satellite. In a paper published in Scientific Reports (https://goo.gl/XmnEmV), the researchers propose that a satellite powered by superheated gas could shoot a beam of hot plasma at space junk from the opposite end of the satellite. This would allow the satellite to either push the space junk down into a lower orbit so it eventually decays, or push it up to get it out of the way of other objects. Our tests show you can push plasma out one end of a satellite to thrust it towards the junk, and then push it out the other end to send that junk in the right direction, said Prof Rod Boswell of the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering. If you can throw the gas out as a plasma, or charged gas, you can throw it out very quickly and make much better use of the fuel. You throw out less of it, because its thrown out very fast. A piece of space junk will naturally decay within around 2 years if its less than 500 km from the Earths surface, because the atmosphere is still dense enough to cause friction, which causes the junk to gradually get slower and lower. Above 500 km, however, Boswell says: Its going to take a long time to come down. Space junk is regarded as a fairly major problem, and the European Space Agency now requires European satellites to have some system thatll get them out of the way once theyre no longer in use. Its difficult to test a concept like this on the ground, but Dr Kazunori Takahashi of Tohoku University in Japan succeeded in developing a sophisticated experiment in his space simulation facility at Tohoku University. The next challenge for the team is to work out how to guide the satellite towards the debris once its been sent off into space. From the ground you can calculate the orbit trajectory, so you know within a certain number of kilometres, but then it would have to find the junk with its own radar, Boswell said. Were now trying to make this system much cheaper and much more effective, because at the moment its a laboratory instrument so its a big clunky thing, Boswell said. Were gradually developing mission profiles to get these things in space. So you could do a test where you throw two satellites out, and have one as the target and one as the chaser. President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday underlined the need to growing modernize agriculture to face the emerging challenges both on the climate and productivity fronts. He was delivering the convocation address at the first convocation of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University at Pusa (Samastipur), which was created in 2016 by converting the erstwhile Rajendra Agricultural University into a central university. On the occasion, the President presented gold medals to 33 students. Altogether, 478 students of Ph.D, M.Sc and under-graduate courses were awarded degrees at the convocation The university has made significant contribution in boosting crop production in Bihar, which is contributing to better condition of farmers. It is all because of the work you all have done. Maize production in Bihar has increased due to a new breed developed here, he added. Kovind said that as land was limited, the country today required such crops that could give yield using less water and space. The demand of today is to make agriculture modern. A number of schemes are running at the centre and state level with this objective in mind. There are sincere efforts being made through digitalization to ensure that the farmers got the right price for their produce. Neem-coated urea has helped farmers, he added. Kovind also exhorted the university administration to take the students to the birthplace of Indias first President Dr Rajendra Prassad to draw inspiration from his personality. Dr Rajendra Prasads birthplace is in Siwan district. With students from 20 states passing out from here and the institution named after the first President, people will ask them wherever they go if they ever saw his birth place, he said, exhorting the passing out students to be creators of jobs and take advantage of governments Mudra scheme. Kovind also dwelt on his days in Bihar as the governor and recalled the beauty of Chhath festival. The convocation is taking place just a day after Chhath concluded. One state that deserves credit for making Chhath festival dedicated to worship of Sun God truly global, it is Bihar, he added. The President said that he had been witness to the devotion and passion for cleanliness during Chhath. If the same passion of Biharis for cleanliness, as witnessed during the Chhath festivities, could sustain for all 365 days, Bihar could be a leader in the Swachch Bharat campaign, he added. Earlier, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar highlighted the rapid strides Bihar has made in the field of agriculture in the last decade. Bihar was considered a laggard state, but now we have been winning agriculture awards for highest productivity. Per hectare productivity of paddy, wheat, maize and other crops has doubled, he added. In the evening, Kovind will attend the convocation at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna. Vadhu Budruk resident Sharad Kaluram Dabhade was cross-examined by advocate B G Bansode on Wednesday, for the second time this week, where Dabhade stated that it was incorrect to describe him as a dharkari, and that his picture on a motorcycle with the emblem of the Maratha Kranti Morcha was misused by volunteers to create a fake Instagram account. A dharkari (discipline) is the term being used by Dalit lawyers to define followers of Sambhji Bhide, Shiv Prathistan Hindustan president, one of the main accused in stoking the anti-Dalit violence that ensued. Dabhade was being examined before the judicial commission investigating anti-Dalit violence that took place in the aftermath of the Bhima Koregaon event on December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Vadhu Budruk was the site of some of the worst violence. The panel is being chaired by justice (retd ) J N Patel, and Sumit Mullick, former chief secretary of Maharashtra . During an earlier questioning on Monday, Dabhade, who is among those accused of participating in the riots at Bhima Koregaon, denied he was a part of a WhatsApp group which allegedly incited the violence in Pune district. Wednesdays cross-questioning began with Dabhades submission that his mobile does have WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. My mobile got hacked four months ago and I do not remember whether my Instagram account user name is Sharaddabhade21 or not, he said, when his attention was drawn to Instagram posts on an account under the same handle, alleged to be his. Advocate Bansode asked Dabhade a specific question: Are you a dharkari?; to which Dabhade replied, Someone has misused my name and photographs, created a fake Instagram account and is framing me as a dharkari. He further said that his pictures on Facebook were morphed and he did not have a personal Facebook account. The commission will now meet on Thursday when the cross-examination will continue. March to protect constitution The Peoples Republican Party has planned to organise a samvidhan samman march a tour to restore and protect core values of our constitution and democracy, said, Peoples Republican Party president and member of Maharashtra legislative council, Jogendra Kawade, during a press conference held in Pune on Wednesday. The march will commence on November 26 from Vijay Stambh in Koregaon Bhima. It will travel through Pune, Khandala, Khopoli, Panvel and Vashi, holding meetings and discussions, for creating awareness about the constitution of India, said Kawade. The march will culminate at Chaitya Bhoomi in Chembur, Mumbai on December 6. Kawade said, Over the past 70 years, our democracy, has survived because of our constitution. However, in the last four years right wing political parties are trying to change our constitution, to oppose this and to create awareness among masses we have organised this march. UAPA judge order jail authorities to take Mahesh Raut for medical treatment KD Vadane, special judge of the unlawful activities (prevention) act (Uapa) court, has ordered Yerwada jail authorities to provide medical care to arrested accused Mahesh Raut on urgent basis and submit medical reports to the court. Raut, a former prime minister rural development (PMRD) fellow who was arrested along with other civil rights activists for alleged links with the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation, had complained to the judge that he had not been taken for medical check-up for the past seven days. The application moved by his lawyer Shahid Akhtar on Wednesday stated that Raut was suffering from ulcer, vomiting and blood pressure and needed urgent medical treatment. Raut during an earlier hearing had drawn the courts attention towards his deteriorating health condition. Judge Vadane had instructed the jail official to carry out the medical check-up at the earliest. The jail official had informed that Raut could not be taken to Sassoon general hospital as there was no escort available. Taking a stern view of the delay, Judge Vadane had told the jail official that whether the authorities will take a prisoner for medical treatment after he dies. The court will hear the prosecution say on the bail application of Raut, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale on November 17, while the argument will be held on November 19. Advocate Surendra Gadling will file his argument for bail application on Thursday. . Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state Congress chief Sachin Pilot figured in the partys first list of 152 candidates for the Rajasthan assembly elections released late Thursday night. Gehlot will contest from his traditional Sadarpura constituency in Jodhpur and Pilot from Tonk. Other senior leaders in the list include former Union ministers CP Joshi from Nathdwara (Udaipur) and Girija Vyas from Udaipur, and leader of opposition Rameshwar Dudi from Nokha (Bikaner). A twice Member of Parliament from Dausa (2004) and Ajmer (2009), Pilot will be contesting his first assembly election for Pilot, while the two-time chief minister, Gehlot will be contesting continuously for the fifth time from Sardarpura assembly constituency. The list includes 18 women and around 64 faces have been changed. The party has denied ticket to two sitting MLAs Ghanshyam Mehr from Toda Bhim and Narayan Singh from Dataramgarh (his son Virendra Choudhary has been given ticket). The jumbo list of 152 candidates was cleared after a six-hour-long meeting of CEC chaired by Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The meeting started at around 4 pm and concluded at 10 pm. Sitting Dausa MP Harish Meena and Nagaur MLA Habibur Rehman, who had left the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to join the Congress on Wednesday, have been fielded. They will contest from Mahua and Nagaur assembly constituencies. The ruling BJP has already announced 162 candidates in two lists so far denying tickets to 41 legislators including five ministers. Elections to the 200-member Rajasthan constituency will be held on December 7 and the votes counted on December 11. Ranchi Chief minister Raghubar Das would declare Jharkhand open defecation free (ODF) on its 18th statehood day on Thursday, officials said on Wednesday. The state has achieved its target a year ahead of the ODF deadline. During the State Foundation Day celebration at Morabadi, he will also declared three more districts Deoghar, Hazaribag, and Lohardaga fully electrified. The state government had earlier said four districts Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, and Dhanbad had achieved the 100% electrification target. Das have repeatedly promised that every household must get power by the end of 2018. The state has constructed of more than 33 lakh toilets in rural Jharkhand against the requirement of 40 lakh in the past four years. On October 2, 2017, the Jharkhand government declared its civic bodies, including that of Ranchi, ODF by building more than 2.10 lakh toilets against the target of 2.09 lakh. State Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) director Amit Kumar said, Toilet coverage in Jharkhand was around 16% till 2012. According to the baseline survey 2012, there were 40,01,760, households in Jharkhand, while the number of toilets was 6,22,063. The situation was almost similar until Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced SBM in 2014. He said the Centre had set an October 2019 deadline to achieve the target under SBM. However, chief minister Raghubar Das wanted it to achieve by 2018. With coordinated effort, the target has been achieved. As many as 9,28,591 toilets were built this financial year to achieve the feat, Kumar said. The highest number of toilets was built in Giridih (2,65,193), followed by Ranchi (2,37,336) and Palamu (2,21,444). However, the path to making the state ODF was not without roadblocks. Bringing behavioral change among people was the biggest challenge, officials said. More than 70% of people were habituated to open defecation. Convincing and making them aware of the importance of toilets was a big task. Various resources were used to motivate people. Besides, we appointed officials, self-help groups, and activists to encourage people to use toilets, Kumar said. The mission director said after achieving the target, they focused on people who did not have toilets. The beneficiaries, who were missing in the baseline survey, could claim for the Rs12,000 government compensation to build toilets, he said. A total of 20 states have been declared open defecation free. Other likely announcements today The government is likely to lay the foundation of projects worth Rs 1,000 crore Rs 2,000 crore is expected to be distributed to people under Micro Units Refinance and Development Agency (Mudra) and other schemes Under the banner of Jharkhand Samman Samaroh, 10 people would be honoured for their outstanding contribution in various fields Under the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society, the state is likely to give subsidy to women for poultry Candidates of various political parties and their campaign managers are going around their constituencies to win the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana, but there is one leader who is virtually assured of his victory without even having to do anything. So much that the rival parties are facing trouble in finding a candidate to face him. He is T Harish Rao, state irrigation minister and nephew of Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Contesting for the sixth consecutive time from Siddipet assembly constituency, Harish is all set to score a double hat-trick in the coming elections. Ever since he was fielded from Siddipet for the first time in a by-election in 2004 when the seat was vacated by KCR on his election to Lok Sabha from Karimnagar, Harish had never looked back. In his first electoral contest, he got a majority of 24,829 votes over Telugu Desam Partys Cheruku Muthyam Reddy. Since then, Harish established his own brand in Siddipet. His majority has only been going up steeply with every subsequent election - the 2009 and 2014 assembly elections as well as two bypolls he contested after resigning from the seat as part of the protests for a separate Telangana state - while his opponents have been losing their deposits. In 2009 elections, he got a massive majority of 64,877 votes in just the Siddipet assembly constituency, compared to just 20,000 votes majority secured by his uncle KCR in the entire Mahbubnagar parliamentary constituency comprising seven assembly segments. In 2014 elections, when Telangana state became a reality, Harish got the highest victory margin of 93,928 votes over his nearest Congress rival T Srinivas Goud, securing 72.8 per cent of the votes. Compared to him, KCR who won from the neighbouring Gajwel assembly constituency, had just got a majority of just 19,000 votes. This time, he is going to cross over one lakh majority and set a new record. There is no need for him to campaign for himself at all, says K Yella Reddy, a TRS leader from Ibrahimpur, the first-ever village in South India to go cashless after the Narendra Modi governments November 8, 2016 demonetisation decision. Such is the popularity of Harish in Siddipet that the opposition parties are not evincing interest in contesting against him this time. The Congress opted out of contest in Siddipet and allotted the seat to Telangana Jana Samithi as part of Maha Kootami (grand alliance). And with just four days to go for closure of nominations, the TJS is struggling to find a suitable candidate. In fact, several villages in Siddipet constituency have taken a vow to vote only for Harish. It was only after he became the MLA, our village has witnessed a lot of development like cement concrete roads, drinking water supply and streetlights. Who else can we vote for? asked 70-year old NImma Gurava Reddy of Konaipalli village. In Mundrai village, which was once a Congress bastion, farmers are angry with the TRS government for taking away their lands in the name of industrialisation. Yet, we cant ignore Harish Rao, who is accessible to us anytime and takes cares of our problems. Moreover, there is no other alternative, said 27-year-old Yadagiri. The massive Rs 80,000 crore Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme on Godavari river has fetched him tremendous mileage to hims as works on reservoirs and canals is going on in full swing in every part of Siddipet. The speedy works of Mission Kakatiya aimed at restoring the defunct tanks was also a feather in the cap for Harish. Every village in Siddipet is looking prosperous, neat, clean and green, showing how passionately he nurtured his constituency, says Yella Reddy. Chintamadaka, the chief ministers native village that falls in Harishs constituency, has witnessed unprecedented development in the last four years. We never expected that we will move into such spacious homes with electricity and drinking water facility. We shall not forget KCR and Harish, said Vantipalli Papi Reddy, a farmer, in the newly built-colony of double bedrooms. With Harishs victory being a foregone conclusion, KCR made him campaign in-charge for Gajwel, where the Congress is giving a tough fight. Now, Harish is sweating it out by extensively touring Gajwel to ensure a comfortable win for his uncle, said B Praveen, a shop keeper in Gajwel. Creating a headache for all major parties in Telangana, disappointed aspirants are jumping into the fray as rebel candidates or switching over to a different outfit to get a ticket for the December 7 assembly elections. On Thursday, former home minister Sabita Indra Reddys son P Karthik Reddy quit the Congress along with hundreds of party workers in Ranga Reddy district, after being denied ticket from Rajendranagar constituency, which was allotted to the Telugu Desam Party as part of Maha Kootami (grand alliance). He filed his nomination from Rajendranagar as a rebel candidate. While the Congress has fielded his mother from Maheshwaram, Karthik Reddy said: When other senior Congress leaders like PCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy could get more than one ticket for their families, why cant I get the ticket along with my mother? Meanwhile, several OBC leaders from the Congress held a meeting to protested against the injustice meted out to them in the distribution of party tickets. Ranga Reddy district Congress committee president Kyama Mallesh, who aspired to contest from Khairatabad constituency in Hyderabad, alleged that the Congress bigwigs had demanded Rs 3 crore for allotting him a ticket. The party has fielded state spokesman Dasoju Sravan from Khairatabad and Mallesh now announced that he would file nomination as an independent. Former MLA from Serilingampalli, Bhikshpathi Yadav, also announced that he would contest as an independent, alleging that there was no place for OBCs in the Congress. Similar allegations were levelled by former Osmania University student leader Rajaram Yadav. R Krishnaiah, national president of OBC associations, called for a Telangana bandh on Saturday to protest the injustice done to the OBCs in the Congress. He alleged that in the name of the grand alliance, the Congress was cheating the people. Senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Sama Ranga Reddy has a different problem. He alleged that LB Nagar constituency, which he had been nurturing for several years, was given to Congress while he was allotted Ibrahimpatnam constituency under the grand alliance. The TDP leader went to Amaravati to bring pressure on party president N Chandrababu Naidu to change his constituency, otherwise he would contest as an independent in LB Nagar from where Congress has fielded its former MLA D Sudhir Reddy. Former TDP MLA Sita Dayakar Reddy is filing her nomination from Devarkadra constituency as a rebel, though her husband K Dayakar Reddy got the party ticket from neighbouring Atmakur constituency. Similarly, another senior TDP leader Nandeeshwar Goud announced that he would file nomination from Patancheru as a rebel. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, too, has not been immune to dissidence. Its sitting MLA from Choppadandi Bodige Shobha, who was denied re-nomination, resigned and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party which gave her the ticket from the same constituency. On the other hand, Telangana Inti Party president Cheruku Sudhakar, who was originally allotted one seat in Maha Kootami, revolted against the Congress after he came to know that the allotted seat was withdrawn. He announced that he would contest against Congress state chief Uttam Kumar Reddy in Huzurnagar constituency. Nominations for the assembly elections end November 19, and the last date for withdrawal is November 22. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Malaysia next week where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistans dependence on an IMF bailout package. The Pakistan foreign office said that Khan would be accompanied by a high-level delegation during his official trip to Malaysia on November 20-21. This would be Khans first bilateral visit to Malaysia. Khan and Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks. The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the foreign office said in a statement. Khans visit would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit, the statement said. Pakistan was facing a USD 12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the International Monetary Fund by getting loans from friendly countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials here believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khans visit to the Gulf Kingdom. Meanwhile, Malaysias High Commissioner to Pakistan Ikram Bin Mohammad Ibrahim called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here and discussed a wide range of issues. Qureshi briefed the High Commissioner about Prime Minister Khans upcoming visit to Malaysia. He also highlighted that the prime ministers visit would help further strengthen bilateral relations between two countries and open new avenues of bilateral cooperation. The Malaysian diplomat assured his governments full support to enhance bilateral relations with Pakistan and said that the Malaysian leadership looks forward to Khans visit. DENMARK To Hold Back $9.8m in Aid to Tanzania Over GLBT Persecution Development minister Ulla Tornaes of Denmark has released a statement that the county will withhold over 9.8 million dollars in foreign aid to the county of Tanzania after unacceptable homophobic comments from a senior politician were made and also because of news of LGBT persecution happening in that country. I am very concerned about the negative development in Tanzania. Most recently the totally unacceptable homophobic statements from a commissioner, Ms Tornaes said on Twitter. I have therefore decided to withhold DKK 65m in the country. Respect for human rights is crucial for Denmark. Last month, Paul Makonda, (pictured above) commissioner for the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, called on the public to report suspected gay men to the police. He said he would set up a surveillance squad to track down gay people. Back-peddling the government of Tanzania said at the time that Mr Makonda was expressing his personal opinion, not government policy. It said the government would continue to respect and uphold all human rights as provided for in the countrys constitution. Homosexual acts are illegal in Tanzania and punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Denmark is Tanzanias second biggest aid donor. Afghan officials say the Taliban have killed 30 policemen in a blistering overnight attack in western Farah province. Provincial council member Dadullah Qani said on Thursday that the onslaught on the police outpost in the provinces district of Khaki Safed began late on Wednesday and continued for more than four hours. In Kabul, lawmaker Samiullah Samim said the district police commander, Abdul Jabhar, was among those killed. The Taliban managed to flee with a large amount of weapons and ammunition. Samim says retaliatory airstrikes killed 17 Taliban fighters. The Taliban have in recent months been staging near-daily attacks across Afghanistan, inflicting heavy casualties on Afghan forces. Authorities no longer regularly provide casualty figures but unofficial estimates say about 45 Afghan police or soldiers are killed or wounded daily. A Saudi royal adviser and a senior intelligence official played key roles in the mission that ultimately led to the killing of government critic Jamal Khashoggi and authorities will seek the death penalty for five people who confessed to the murder. Eleven people out of the 21 held in the case have been charged over Khashoggis murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, Shaalan Shaalan, deputy attorney general, said in a televised news conference. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who runs the day to day affairs of the worlds top oil exporter, had no knowledge of the mission, he added. The killing of Khashoggi, a palace insider who turned critic, has provoked a global outcry and tarnished the reputation of the 33-year-old young prince, whose efforts to cast himself as a bolder reformer and trusted U.S. ally have often chafed against his policies abroad. Saudi Arabia stuck by its earlier narrative that the Washington Post columnist was killed after a mission to abduct him went awry. The deputy chief of intelligence ordered that Khashoggi be brought back to the kingdom, Shaalan said. The team killed him after the talks failed and his body was handed to a collaborator in Turkey, he added. Asked whether Saud al-Qahtanti, an aide to Prince Mohammed, had any role in the case, Shaalan said that a royal adviser had a coordinating role and had provided information. The former adviser was now under investigation, the prosecutor said, declining to reveal the names of any of those facing charges. The prosecution demands the death penalty for those who ordered and executed the killing and theyre five people, he said at the conference in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has asked Turkey to share the results of its investigation and recordings of the killing, and is planning to sign a special mechanism to ensure this happens, he said. The prosecution is still waiting for Turkey to hand over what was asked of them, he said. Turkey has shared an audio recording of the killing with the US, France, Canada, Germany, U.K., but it has stopped just short of blaming Prince Mohammed. It demanded on Wednesday an international investigation into the case, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said those who ordered the killing should be identified and brought to justice. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied Prince Mohammed, widely known as MBS, had any knowledge of the operation. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday President Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the new year but wont repeat past mistakes of allowing promises to be broken on pledges to end arms programmes. The United States and North Korea have been discussing a second meeting between their leaders to follow up the Singapore summit in June and lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes. The plans are ongoing. We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out, Pence told reporters after meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in. We dont want to repeat the mistakes that prior administrations, frankly in both political parties, have made over the last several decades where promises are made, sanctions are lifted, economic support comes and then promises are broken. Pence and Moon were meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit hosted by Singapore. A U.S. think tank said on Monday it had identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons programmes. North Korea had entered into agreements with regional powers in 1994 and in 2005 to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for economic benefits and diplomatic rewards, but those deals broke down after Pyongyang clandestinely continued to pursue building weapons of mass destruction. With scant sign of progress on negotiations since the June summit and recent high-level meetings cancelled, Trump said last week hes now in no rush but still wants to meet with Kim for a second time. U.S. officials have said sanctions forced North Korea to the negotiating table and vowed to keep pressure until complete denuclearisation. But North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the worlds biggest powers. Pence said Moon agreed to work closely with the United States towards the second U.S.-North Korea summit, as Washington maintains the maximum pressure campaign by keeping the sanctions against Pyongyang in place. North Korea has not tested a nuclear device or ballistic missile since last year, and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site with plans to dismantle several more facilities. But it has warned it could restart its nuclear programme if the United States does not drop the sanctions regime. Pipeline 15 November 2018 Salalah is the capital of the Dhofar province, in the south of Oman and famous for its beautiful beaches and rich marine life. Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Apartments, Salalah will be strategically located close to Salalah city center, in the coastal area and just 5km away from the new Salalah international airport. The hotel will feature 123 serviced apartments made up of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Facilities will include an international restaurant, lounge, gym and a kids' area. There will be seven meeting rooms and a pre-function area covering 365sqm. The Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Apartments, Salalah are set to open in Q1 2021. 5-year IHG marketing leader appointed to head up new Global Loyalty & Partnerships team IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the promotion of Christian Hempell to Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty and Partnerships. In this new role, Hempell leads a team that is developing even more compelling loyalty programs for new and existing members that drive value for owners and engage guests at all points of their journey through new ventures and partnerships. IHG's industry-leading programs today include IHG Rewards Club, IHG Business Rewards, InterContinental Ambassador and the IHG Rewards Club U.S. credit card partnership with Chase Bank. In addition to IHG's loyalty programs, his team is also accountable for all ancillary revenue through cobrand, point-based products, and travel partners as well as the strategic brand and loyalty partnerships that help deliver a differentiated guest experience and enhance revenues. Hempell joined IHG in 2003 as Director of Global Strategy, based in the UK, and since that time has worked across the brand portfolio in Europe and the Americas and driven enhanced revenue through partnerships with Chase, Orange Lake Resorts, Mastercard, Venetian | Palazzo, Amazon, OpenTable, and more. Reporting to Claire Bennett, Chief Marketing Officer, Hempell is based at IHG's Americas headquarters in Atlanta.Claire Bennett, IHG's Chief Marketing Officer, commented: "Christian brings broad experience to our Marketing leadership team, from both across the industry as well as within the IHG family. Christian and his team are laser-focused on creating relevant, trusting relationships with our members as we explore how loyalty and powerful select partnerships can enhance our competitive edge, the proposition of our portfolio of brands and value to our owners." Christian Hempell added: "I'm privileged to lead a team focused on championing the incredible opportunities loyalty and partnerships give a business like ours and to pursue the significant growth potential of IHG's loyalty programs, improve value for our guests, develop more effective marketing, and drive enhanced loyalty revenue for our hotel owners." Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Jordan Brand has done plenty of experimenting with the Air Jordan 12 in recent years, including the use of different of materials such as suede, wool and neoprene. This Holiday season, Jordan Brand is going back to the basics with a leather-based pair inspired by the Chicago Bulls colorway. The all-new "Gym Red" Air Jordan 12 sticks with a monochromatic build accompanied by metallic red details on the top eyelets as well as the midfoot Jumpman logo. The only variation from the all red color scheme comes in the form of black branding on the tongue and heel. Official images of the "Gym Red" 12s surfaced today along with confirmation that the kicks will be arriving on Black Friday, November 23. It is believed that the kicks will retail for $190. Additionally, there are rumors that an all-University Blue "Tar Heels" version of the Air Jordan 12 is also set to release in the near future but that pair has not yet surfaced. https://www.instagram.com/p/BqK9nmGlDv1 In the advent of a messy sexual misconduct scandal, Beyonce is parting ways with her British business partner Sir Philip Green. Last month, the business tycoon was accused of harassment and mistreatment by a number of employees at the retailing company he heads, Arcadia Group. The multinational retail giant has business holdings all across the globe, including a majority stake in Topman, Burton (menswear), Topshop, and up until recently, a fifty percent claim to Beyonce's Ivy Park clothing line, a brand they launched together in 2016. "After discussions of almost a year, Parkwood has acquired 100% of the Ivy Park brand. Topshop/Arcadia will fulfill the existing orders," a spokesperson for Parkwood, Beyonce's own holding company, confirmed via The Guadian. Although Sir Philip Green continues to deny the allegations set before him, Beyonce is doing good "sustainable" business by distancing herself from the scandal. No to mention, the sheer magnitude of these accusations, by former and current employees, makes the insistence of "counterproductive management behaviors" at Arcadia, all the more plausible. There will be no shortage of retail companies chomping at the bit with open propositions, in the wake of their collapsed "partnership." Reps for Green and Arcadia have refused to comment on the foreclosure. A beef between Bhad Bhabie and Iggy Azalea... how... interesting. Last night, Cardi Blaunched her line with Fashion Nova, which ended up selling out shortly after hitting the internet. Some pieces will be restocked for Black Friday but one of the major storylines coming out of the launch party was a fight that broke out between Bhad Bhabie and Iggy. The 15-year-old threw a drink in the Aussie's face before they took their issues online, calling each other out on social media. Iggy struck first, saying that the entire situation is "too preschool" for her. She wasn't down to get into it with a teenage girl, but she happily followed up with a few more tweets. She came back a few hours later, writing, "Now yall saw the video Im sure you understand why I spent the rest of the night laughing and unbothered by that foolishness." Bhad Bhabie actually denied that there was any beef, but she's clearly being sarcastic. She updated her Instagram story to read, "I was just told it's not smart to beef wit no one that hasn't had a career since 2014." Yikes. She even said that she would send her a signed poster in the mail. On top of that, she congratulated her on getting a bag from the event because, in her words, she "certainly ain't making no money from music anymore." Bhabie may be wrong with that last point. "Kream" actually did numbers on YouTube. Regardless, check out the latest exchanges below. https://twitter.com/_/status/1062984446142427136 https://twitter.com/_/status/1063065697968779264 Mike Will Made It's cumulative work on Creed II: The Album is slowly leaking to the public, due in part to the early rise of international markets in the Oceanic seabed. As promised during its promotional run, Creed II: The Album does bear a coveted Nas feature. The presumptive position fans took in the buildup to the tracklist's unveiling was laughable, with Mike Will playfully going along with any suggestion brought to his attention, scenarios that made little to no sense due to time constraints and the lack of a physical "paper trail." Mike Will went along with it anyways, retweeted all the bold predictions sent to him via Twitter. Evidently, Mike Will isn't in the business of building trust among his fans. But like I said before, the Nas feature did show up in the final draft and we never looked back. On "Check," Nas continues his renaissance with another rap vet looking to do the same. Rick Ross' appearance on the Creed II soundtrack is itself a strong indication of things to come. Here's to hoping both men keep the ball rolling well into their 40s. Quotable Lyrics: Walking on blood-stained ground, Gladiator school. America, see you aint raised no fool. -Nas Nike officially opened the doors to their "House Of Innovation 000" flagship store in New York City today, located at the corner of fifth avenue and 52nd street. The 68,000 square foot, six-floor retail space has been described as living retail brought to life, and the most personal and responsive sport experience." In celebration of the new space, Nike has also announced a limited edition "Noise Cancelling" collection highlighting moments in sport that brought the city to awed silence. For example, an Air Force 1 Low honoring Odell Beckham Jr.'s miraculous one-handed catch, and a Kobe Protro 1 for Bryant's 61-point game at MSG in 2009. According to Nike, each shoe is crafted with white-on-white, high quality, bonded synthetic leather along with removable Nike Swooshes to allow for more flexibility in customization. In Nike NYC, shoppers will have access to footwear dip-dyeing, printing, embroidery, patches, lasering and a full accessory bar (You can also buy the shoe as-is at the store). The five silhouettes include: NIKE ZOOM FLY 2 | SHALANE FLANAGAN (Available at Nike NYC 11/15 through 11/29) AIR JORDAN I HIGH | NIGEL SYLVESTER (Available at Nike NYC 11/30 through 12/13) NIKE AIR FORCE I LOW | ODELL BECKHAM JR. (Available at Nike NYC 12/14 through 12/27) NIKE CORTEZ | MARIA SHARAPOVA (Available at Nike NYC 12/28 through 1/10) KOBE PROTRO 1 | KOBE BRYANT (Available at Nike NYC 1/11 through 1/24) Click here for more details on each pair. Each floor of Nike's "House Of Innovation 000" offers something different. For instance, the ground floor is the "Nike Speed Shop," the third floor is the "Men's Product Zone," and the fourth floor is the "Nike Sneaker Lab" which is billed as best (and biggest) Nike footwear floor. Additionally, NikePlus members will have access to the "Nike Expert Studio" located on the top floor, giving select members entry to elevated service offerings through one-to-one appointments with Nike Experts and other exclusives, such as cut-and-sew customization of new Nike gear. Netflix's Narcos has undoubtedly been one of the most praised shows on the streaming platform over the past few years. The companion series, Narcos: Mexico is set to debut later this week and Netflix tapped "the biggest Narcos fans" they know to help promote it. Migos are widely known for their adlibs and Netflix got Quavo, Takeoff and DJ Durel to provide ad-libs to scenes for Narcos: Mexico. In the short clip, the Migos members watch three guys speed around a house on dirtbikes while hitting "skrrt" and "eeerrr" adlibs. It only made sense that Migos were tapped for the promo considering one of the best songs off of Culture II was named after the television show. The song's music video also featured the trio acting as drug traffickers. Netflix's Narcos: Mexico is set to debut this Friday, Nov. 16th. The show will explore the modern drug trade including the Guadalajara Cartel's rise in the 80's. Migos' ad-libbing abilities were recently featured during last night's episode of James Corden's Carpool Karaoke. Corden had the ATL trio providing ad-libs to their own hits such as "Walk It Talk It" and "Bad & Boujee." Migos also gave Corden some necessary tips of dabbing, staying fly and also did a rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." You could check that episode out right here. Winnie Harlow's rise to fame has been swift these past few years. Her ascension has happened partly despite but also partly because of one of her most obvious physical traits: the white spots on her skin. These spots, due to a condition called vitiligo, would have been unimaginable on an A-list model even five years ago. Harlow, however, has made what some are calling a breakthrough (she won an award for "Breakthrough Model Of The Year"). However, some people are still not ready to accept a look that they see as not normal. Yesterday, a commenter on Harlow's Instagram asked, of a photo in which Harlow is topless, "Who's the designer of the shirt?" Harlow responded swiftly and decisively, with a single word: "god...?" The amount of online dirt that Harlow must get is surprising considering the amount of time the public has had to acquaint itself with vitiligo. After all, Michael Jackson, the biggest pop star ever, announced his vitiligo publicly more than twenty years ago. When he was criticized for "whitewashing" himself, he corrected his critics by explaining, on Oprah, how he wasn't trying to look white, he just wanted his body to be of uniform colour rather than have pigment-less spots here and there. The New York Times quoted his doctor at the time: "It is not contagious and is a result of the loss of pigment producing cells of the skin." For those who still insist on being weird about it, relax. As Amber Rose says, "shes a fucking sweetheart." One could feast on the music of 1968 without ever needing to refill the trough: The Beatles White Album, Jimi Hendrixs Electric Ladyland, Aretha Franklins Lady Soul, the Bands Music From Big Pink, Van Morrisons Astral Weeks. And that doesnt even scratch the surface for a year that included enduring recordings of all manner by acts big and shouldve-been-big: the Stones, Cream, the Byrds, the Velvet Underground, Miles Davis, the Mothers of Invention, Dr. John, Randy Newman, Scott Walker, Otis Redding (sigh), the Zombies, Simon and Garfunkel, the Pretty Things. Listen to some of these recordings collectively, and you can feel the dark turn that followed the previous years horribly named Summer of Love. 1968 was the Autumn of Hangover, by comparison, a course correction from the love fest a year earlier. It resulted in a grayer music, but music that felt less leashed to fleeting stylistic flourishes of 1967. Among the masterpieces celebrating their 50th anniversary this year is the Kinks The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, an album that landed with a thud in the States upon its release in 1968 for a variety of reasons, including a cumbersome title, a thematic current that would be more relatable in the United States decades later and also some industry complications that seem petty now. But Village Green has also proved to be one of the best and ageless of those records, which is why it has just been reintroduced on its 50th anniversary. The album was reissued this month in two new formats: a two-disc set that pairs the original album with some unreleased songs and demos from the era, including Time Song, which tied into the concept albums theme about the reverberations caused by the slide of the British Empire. And those who have for years revered Village Green can now obtain a super-deluxe version that is stacked with five CDs, vinyl pressings of the album in stereo and mono album, and 45s of its singles. If that feels like a lot of fuss for a record that yielded zero Top 40 singles in the States, well, the Village Green that frontman Ray Davies envisioned proved resilient and prescient in its own understated way. Its an amazing acknowledgment that people still are interested, Kinks drummer Mick Avory says. I think Ray is as surprised as anybody. Years went by, it was a cult album and then something bigger. It just never went away. People are still really interested in it. Rays brother Dave Davies, the Kinks guitarist, says, It was a complicated thing to describe at the time. On one hand, it felt like us trying to move into the future while also looking back at a past that didnt mean a lot to people who listened to the radio in America at the time. But it was a reflection of who and where we were at the time. So we tried to integrate old and new. I dont think people were really aware of that then. But now they love it. Empires in decline Songwriter Randy Newman a few years ago wrote a song in which he declared the end of an empire is messy at best. The music of The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society laments societal change in England as an empire heads toward autumn. And as social tumult consumed the States, such understated and melancholy thematic fare simply wasnt at the forefront of hotter discussions. But as author and sometimes music critic Jonathan Lethem told me earlier this month while talking about Village Green, One of the things the English have on us is that theyre way out ahead on the empire-in-decline curve. Admittedly, empires decline in different manners, dependent on their culture and economic and social structures. Fitting, then, that the Kinks album was more melancholy with a British stiff upper lip, compared to the petulant and angry pouting that engulfs a culture across an ocean decades later. A pastoral folksiness runs through the record, which runs contrary to the Kinks reputation as a tightly wound progenitor of the British Invasion. Rays meditations on people and structures gone was mirrored by the guitar parts played by his brother, whose visceral, serrated work just a few years earlier helped define the sound of rock n roll on songs such as You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night. They were no longer singing three-minute garage-rock songs about girls. They were summoning ghosts. Everything was psychedelic, Dave says. That wasnt what we were going for. We wanted it more mystical. Something that captured this feeling of lost innocence. This idea of embracing the new but missing the old. Ray was never one to follow a trend, says Avory, the Kinks drummer. He always tried to set one. When you got a trend, something in fashion, at that time, it was very difficult to break it. But he was more interested in telling a story with some quality. Not a throwaway. I think thats why it had a different sound and feel, all part and parcel, from what we did before. Sounding loose There were indications before 1968 that the Kinks were headed in a different direction. The band formed around its sibling core in 1964 in Muswell Hill, in the northern part of London. By October that year, the Kinks were rock stars thanks to those singles, You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night, which played well in Britain as well as the States, where each broke into the Top 10. The turgidity of the music hung like a gray cloud around the band, even after the songs finished. The Kinks were famously among the most internally pugnacious bands in rock history. Their reputation likely played a part in being banned from touring the States just as the group found its groove. So from 1965-69, the Kinks were a nonpresence in the U.S., which explains a four-year blackout from the charts. Which doesnt mean the Kinks stopped making music. And perhaps the insularity back in England helped them. Because the band found itself distanced from trends of the day. The 1966 single Dedicated Follower of Fashion may have been written as a swipe to trend-following British listeners, but the Kinks in the late-60s found themselves freed of connection to what was in vogue in North America. Albums Face to Face in 1966 and the aptly titled Something Else a year later showed a group uninterested in hitching its wagon to any pre-existing trend. The sound on the album is interesting. Though the Beatles White Album also released in November 1968 was informed by a ramshackle looseness, likely a response to the every-hair-in-place quality of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band a year earlier the Kinks played songs that sounded loose. I brought up Al Bowlly, the popular 30s British vocalist, and Dave Davies came alive. Yeah! he said. We wanted people to know the influences from the past were important and that we were reintegrating them. We had vast influences as kids. It was a big family. My sisters all played piano and sang. My dad played the banjo. Obviously, the blues and Chuck Berry were a big influence, but so was skiffle and all this stuff we heard growing up. It was a wealth of influence. Avory pointed out that Davies was a fan of American vaudeville, which can also be heard on the record, as well as old musical theater. Imagine a bar band, he says, but rehearsing a bit more. Because all these great ideas needed to come out. That instrumental approach was inviting and engaging, giving the record an almost informal vibe, which gently obscured just how specific the themes in the songs were. Theres something particular about English nostalgia, Avory says. Thats what Ray was writing about. We were very English people, interested in our culture. And there are things that change and theyre good, and there are things that change and theyre not for the better. Buildings become boxes. Ray looked at the idea of a Village Green and all these things that went with it. It was quaint. But it also made you think about change. Things move on, but its not always a progression, is it? Hope for more? Both Avory and Dave Davies suggest that the specificity of the album based on Ray Davies observations about England in the 60s arent caged by the era. Both mention Time Song, one of the newly released tunes, as resonant in the wake of Brexit. If there existed a wistfulness about the characters in and around the Village Green back in 1968, imagine now. Are any left? Youre absolutely right! Davies says. Who knows? All the world is a stage, right? But some things from that record outlive the characters. Questions about how we fit into our own world. Especially now. Certain things remain the same. There are times I still feel like a kid. At the same time, Im an old man. Things go away, things get broken. But the spirit in life can remain the same. Neither Dave Davies nor Avory would offer much about the murmurs over the past few months of a Kinks reunion. Both of them and Ray perform live from time to time, just not together. Dave has been plugging a great new album called Decade that compiles some of his best 70s work. His brothers remarkable work has sometimes shadowed Daves, though Dave contributed Kinks standards, including Strangers and Death of a Clown. I go back to the UK in a week, and Ray and I will get together and see what we can muster up, he says, a phrase that holds little excitement for anybody who knows about their combative past. So theres no reason for hope, seeing as Dave is 71 and both Avory and Ray are 74. Sometimes the water wipes away the bridge. But Daves even-keeled and almost nostalgic tone offers some hope. And hes quintessentially British, so even his farewell after a conversation with a complete stranger has a certain politeness that allows a fan to think maybe theyll be back. We may hear more about it someday soon, he says. But thank you for talking to me today, my friend. Cheers. andrew.dansby@chron.com The son of a former Harris County deputy shot and killed his dad to protect his mother from him Wednesday morning at their Spring home, according to authorities. After firing the fatal shots, the 22-year-old son dialed police around 5:30 a.m. and reported the shooting at their home in the 3400 block of Meadowhill Court. Police later identified the slain father as Brian Cannon Merritt, who the son accused of physically assaulting his mother. Merritt, 53, left the Harris County Sheriffs Office in 2017 after three decades of service, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said his deputies detained Merritts son after the slaying, but he has not been charged with a crime. The case will likely be referred to a grand jury, authorities said. The nature of the fight that led to the shooting was not immediately known, though Gonzalez said a history of domestic disputes may have preceded the killing. A former neighbor to the Merritt family on Meadowhill Court in August called police at least twice about the former deputy because of his increasingly bizarre behavior. The first time was the night of Aug. 5 when Kelly Bryant and her husband were out-of-town and their youngest daughter called them in a panic. Merritt was outside the home banging on the door, she said. My husband called him and told him to get off the property, Bryant said, who has since moved to Colorado. She alleged Merritt retaliated by calling the constables office two days later and accusing her husband of being in his yard, even though the couple had not returned to Texas yet. The second time the Bryants called police was nearly two weeks later when he began yelling profanities at them during a garage sale. Then she alleged he slashed their tires. No matter how often they alerted the authorities to Merritts behavior, it seemed no action was taken. At the end of the day, we were terrified of him. The police couldnt stop him. A complete failure, Bryant said. On Aug. 23., Harris County District Clerk records show the constables officer arrested Merritt for allegedly damaging a neighbors car, but not Bryants vehicle. He was charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Oct. 18 after he missed a court appearance, records show. Another neighbor, Tabitha Lang, came home one night in September to find law enforcement officers confronting Merritt. She said when Merritt reached for what she believed was a flashlight in his pocket, one of the officers stunned him. Before he could even get the flashlight out, they tased him. I screamed out, stop. He didnt deserve to get tased at the time, Lang said. Despite Bryant's souring relationship, she said her ordeal was nothing compared to what his family was likely going through. The sheriff said domestic disturbances like what may have happened at the Merritt residence take place all too often in Harris County. Its really an epidemic, Gonzalez said. Weve seen way too many cases. After the shooting, Merritts son, identified by neighbors as Michael Merritt, told ABC 13 his father was an alcoholic and that the alleged abuse spanned years. The breaking point was when I left my room to find my mom covering her face and sobbing because my dad had punched her in the face, he told the TV station. The breaking point was when he was going to do the same thing to me, if not worse. The cost to create President Donald Trump's space force could be lower than $5 billion and certainly will be in the single-digit billions, Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said at a briefing Thursday, pushing back against Air Force estimates that put the price tag at $13 billion or more. Shanahan, the lead Pentagon official working on the space force, expressed confidence the project would come to fruition - even though Democrats taking over the House have opposed it and the White House broadly has ordered the Pentagon to cut costs. Shanahan also said the Pentagon has failed its first-ever completed audit, a result he described as expected. "There is a considerable number of areas where we had a pass," he said. "Then there are some other ones where they went through and they said, 'We went into your inventory system and we didn't find these things, so therefore that's a finding, and you don't have a clean assessment.' In a lot of these audits, it's the type of finding that matters." The fact that an audit was completed at all is "substantial," Shanahan argued, noting that more information would be made public in due course by the Pentagon's inspector general and comptroller. He said the Pentagon has been coming up with "corrective actions" in response to the audit's preliminary findings. Some of the compliance issues irritated him in particular, he said, such as inventory inaccuracies where the Navy had buildings on the books that actually weren't there. While Shanahan seeks to introduce better compliance and business practices at the Pentagon, the former Boeing executive is also dedicating much of his time to the creation of the space force, a hallmark project for the president. The Pentagon is working on a proposal to submit to Congress for the creation of the separate military branch. "What we're really targeting is to submit the legislative proposal so that Oct. 1 of next year we can say here's the birthday of the space force," Shanahan said. Outside the legislative proposal, the Pentagon is already creating a unified combatant command for space - similar to Transportation Command or Strategic Command - and a space development agency. Shanahan said he would like to see the leader of the space development agency chosen by the end of the year and the first combatant commander confirmed at the beginning of 2019. The undertaking comes as the White House asks the Pentagon to shrink its budget for next year in response to a federal deficit that shot skyward following last year's tax cut. Democrats, meanwhile, have expressed skepticism over the need for an entirely new military bureaucracy to step up American power in space. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee who is poised to take over as chairman, has agreed that the United States must expand its military capability in space to counter Russia and China but has said the creation of an entirely new bureaucracy for the task is costly and unnecessary at a time when budget concerns should be front of mind. Shanahan said Thursday he can work with Smith on the issue. "On the space force itself, across the board everyone has said, 'Accelerate your ability to deliver capabilities,' " Shanahan said. "That's been universal. I think with Chairman Smith in place, what he has said is he wants to focus on cost and efficiency." Shanahan vowed that the Pentagon's proposal to Congress for the space force would withstand cost scrutiny. "The proposal that we are going to carry forward makes sense," he said. The White House has ordered the Pentagon to come up with a budget some 5 percent less than the military had planned for next year. Shanahan said his office is working on a $700 billion budget in accordance with that order, about $33 billion less than the Pentagon had planned, and expects to get input from the branches of the military early next week. This year's budget was $716 billion. "What I want the president to understand going forward are what are those trade offs so he has an informed position," Shanahan said. "He needs to have an awareness of what that number really translates to in terms of performance here in the department." Despite the rollback, the coming budget proposal will still be a "masterpiece" that shows how the Pentagon is reshaping the military for an era of great power competition with Russia and China, Shanahan said. It will retain priority areas for the strategy such as the development of greater cyber capabilities and the pursuit of hypersonic missiles, he noted. The White House's demand for a pared-back Pentagon budget came as Trump dispatched thousands of active-duty troops to the border with Mexico ahead of the mid-term elections to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection prepare for the arrival of a caravan of Central American migrants. Critics described the deployment as a wasteful political stunt, a criticism that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis dismissed during a visit to deployed troops in Texas this week. At the Pentagon, Shanahan confirmed that the number of active-duty troops supporting the Department of Homeland Security at the border had peaked at 5,900, far fewer than the 10,000 to 15,000 troops Trump said he planned to send to the border before the mid-term elections. Another 2,000 National Guard forces have been deployed to the border since April, in addition to the 5,900 active-duty troops. Ask about the discrepancy between the numbers the president cited and a peak deployment of 5,900 forces, Shanahan declined to offer an explanation. "I don't know how to reconcile the two," he. He referred questions on the troop figures to U.S. Northern Command, which is in charge of the mission. "We've pretty much peaked in terms of the number of people who are down there," Shanahan said. The deputy defense secretary also dismissed speculation that he could leave the Pentagon and possibly join the White House office of Management and Budget. "I will absolutely be here," Shanahan said. "I am 100 percent confident in that. I am going to run through the tape." The mother and daughter lived alone in a small candy-pink house hammered together by Habitat for Humanity in Springfield, Missouri. But more than walls kept Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard and her daughter, Gypsy, barricaded away from the outside world. Gypsy Blanchard used a wheelchair, allegedly mentally and physically disabled from a host of ailments, including a childhood bout of leukemia, muscular dystrophy, a seizure condition and asthma. As BuzzFeed reported in 2016, Dee Dee told friends and family the teenager Gypsy had the mind of a 7-year-old. Dee Dee diligently guarded Gypsy against the outside world, home-schooling her, monitoring her Internet usage, sticking with her daughter at all times. The young girl's condition was like a bubble they both lived inside. They shuttled to doctor appointments together. They traveled to Disney World for charity trips. They even shared a Facebook page combining both their names: "Dee Gyp Blancharde." On June, 14 2015, a post from the account attracted attention: "That Bitch is dead!" it read. As friends began piling up concerned comments, another message popped up: "I . . . SLASHED THAT FAT PIG AND RAPED HER SWEET INNOCENT DAUGHTER . . . HER SCREAM WAS SO . . . LOUD LOL." Friends soon arrived at the pink house, followed by police. Inside, they discovered Dee Dee on her bed, dead from 17 stab wounds in her back, according to the Springfield News-Leader. When investigators arrested Gypsy, then 24, and her online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, in Big Bend, Wisconsin, in connection with the murder, it was just the first disorienting jolt. Police soon revealed that Gypsy was perfectly healthy. She could walk and never had cancer. Her ailments had been the product of Dee Dee's imagination, a rare possible instance of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental condition where a parent grafts fictitious sicknesses onto a child. In June 2016, Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She was given a 10-year sentence. The themes tangling through the case - mental illness, faked disease, online romance, a bloody murder - created a media sensation around Gypsy's arrest. She appeared on "Dr. Phil." HBO featured a documentary on the case. Hulu is set to produce a scripted series based on the events. But the case is far from over. This week, the 29-year-old Godejohn's own first-degree murder trial kicked off in a Missouri courtroom. Once again, mental capacity - real or faked - is the central issue. In the opening statement this week, Godejohn's attorney argued that his client is autistic and therefore unable to hatch a murder plot on his own. Gypsy is the real culprit, Godejohn has maintained. He did not dispute his client's involvement in the killing. "All the planning she did, every bit of it. She pretty much willed the knife in my hand to commit the deed herself," he told ABC's "20/20" last January. "She is the mastermind behind the entire thing." Dee Dee was originally from a small town in Louisiana, according to BuzzFeed. She separated from Gypsy's father shortly after the girl was born in 1991. As the child was growing up, Dee Dee continuously took her daughter to the doctor, claiming the child had seizures. BuzzFeed reported that Dee Dee later continued to tell doctors that her daughter was suffering from muscular dystrophy, even though tests proved otherwise. Medical professionals often went along with the diagnosis; if they didn't, Dee Dee went to a different practitioner. Over the years, Gypsy was put on anti-seizure medication, her eyes were operated on, and she had a feeding tube installed. Following Hurricane Katrina, the pair relocated to Missouri, where they continued the charade. The young girl's condition opened doors. They met celebrities such as Miranda Lambert, went on trips, and were the beneficiaries of the goodwill and financial help of friends and neighbors. "I think Dee Dee's problem was she started a web of lies, and there was no escaping after," Gypsy's father, Rod Blanchard, told BuzzFeed. "She got so wound up in it, it was like a tornado got started, and then once she was in so deep that there was no escaping. One lie had to cover another lie, had to cover another lie, and that was her way of life." In an interview with "20/20," Gypsy claimed that she began to suspect her health was not as dire as her mother said as she grew older. "I was so young, and me looking up to her so much, I didn't question it," she explained. "There are certain illnesses that I knew I didn't have. I knew that I didn't need the feeding tube, I knew I could eat. And I knew that I could walk. But I did believe my mother when she said I had leukemia." Gypsy also said life under her mother's roof was abusive. After arguments, Dee Dee allegedly would not feed Gypsy for days. Starting in 2011, Dee Dee also would beat her daughter with a coat hanger, Gypsy claimed. On one occasion, when the teenager ran away, Dee Dee found her hours later and then allegedly chained her to the bed. "The prison that I was living in before, with my mom, it's like, I couldn't walk. I couldn't eat. I couldn't have friends, I couldn't go outside, you know, and play with friends or anything," she told "20/20." "For a long time I believed we were best friends. When I was younger, she was my best friend, other than my stuffed animals." The Internet was her only path out to the world beyond Dee Dee's fictions and rules. That's where she met Godejohn, according to prosecutors. The pair linked up on the website Christian Dating for Free in 2012, the News-Leader reported. In his opening statement, defense attorney Andrew Mead told the court that Godejohn was a lonely autistic man who had a job holding a sign outside a pizza joint. Most of his socializing was through an Internet connection. "That was his outlet to the world," the attorney said this week. The messages between the two reportedly took on a sexually graphic edge. They swapped nicknames such as "hun" and "daddy." Gypsy and Godejohn talked about living together in rural Wisconsin and having children. Three months before Dee Dee's murder, Gypsy mailed $400 to Godejohn so he could come visit her in Missouri, according to an interview he gave to police after he was arrested. The two met at a movie theater where Gypsy was going to see "Cinderella" dressed up as the Disney princess. At the theater, Gypsy pulled him into the boys' restroom, where they had sex for the first time, Godejohn told investigators. "The truth is I worship her," he said in the interview. The couple's messages allegedly also drifted into darker territory. The court heard testimony that both Gypsy and Godejohn referred to their own evil alter egos. Gypsy called hers "Ruby." Godejohn referred to his "evil side." On the day before the killing, Godejohn messaged Gypsy that his "evil side" required duct tape for the next day. "It's my evil side doing it. He won't mess up, because he enjoys killing," he allegedly wrote. "Did Gypsy know you were going to kill her mother?" a detective asked Godejohn in his interview. "She asked me to," he replied. "She felt it was her only way to be with me." According to his own interview with police, when Godejohn arrived at the pink house on the night of the killing, Gypsy gave him a pair of gloves and the knife to use. He then crept into Dee Dee's room, got on the bed and began slamming the knife into the older woman's back. "Never get between me and Ruby," Godejohn said he told Dee Dee as he jabbed the knife. Dee Dee cried out for Gypsy, he told detectives. The daughter, however, was in the bathroom shaving her legs. After Dee Dee was dead, Gypsy came into the murder room naked to clean up the mess. The two then had sex in Gypsy's bed after knocking her stuffed animals off. "Me and her did it naked," he told police. Police arrested Gypsy and Godejohn less than 48 hours after Dee Dee's body was discovered. They were able to track the couple down to Wisconsin thanks to the post the pair put up on Dee Dee and Gypsy's shared Facebook account. At his trial this week, Godejohn's attorney has argued that the young man was simply an instrument in Gypsy's gruesome escape plan. "Nick was happy to do whatever Gypsy wanted," his attorney said. "He was always compliant." Gypsy, serving her 10-year sentence, disagrees. "There's a big difference between someone that asks someone to kill someone, and someone who actually does it," she told "20/20." "I would never kill somebody. I would never physically go through with it." NACOGDOCHES - Not long ago, we commemorated the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the catalytic event in a cascading series of events that led to a full-blown financial panic. Ten years on, well still arguing about bailouts and banks too big to fail. If you had a 100-plus-year-old great-great grandfather, and if he happened to be a resident of this leafy East Texas town in the infant years of the 20th century, his contribution to the debate might have been to reminisce. He might recall a more localized financial crisis that brought Nacogdoches to its knees, a crisis set in motion by the perfidy of one man. Our old-timers story would begin with Alfred Wettermark, a respected Houston banker and a stalwart member of the citys Swedish immigrant community. Wettermark emigrated to Houston in 1853 and soon owned banks in the Bayou City and several East Texas towns. In 1883, he named his son Ben president of the Wettermark Bank in Nacogdoches. B.S. Wettermark was all of 21. (Perhaps the fellows initials were a portent.) In Saving the Oldest Town in Texas, a newly published novel based on the Wettermark scandal, author Linda Bond describes the younger Wettermark as a handsome man with dark blonde hair, piercing blue eyes and a formidable mustache. Bond quotes a real-life Wettermark contemporary: His appearance inspired over-confidence. Launch party for Saving the Oldest Town in Texas A book-party launch for Linda Bond's novel, "Saving the Oldest Town in Texas," is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Naca Valley Vineyard near Nacogdoches. The event is free and open to the public. Call 936-613-9394 for more information. See More Collapse He was a young man in a hurry: City alderman. Town treasurer. Mayor for one term. Active in the Presbyterian church. Interests in the Nacogdoches Compress and Warehouse Co., the Merchants and Farmers Oil Mill Co., the Nacogdoches Ice and Cold Storage Co., the Nacogdoches Grocery Co. Lieutenant colonel in the Texas Volunteer Guard, also known as the Stone Fort Rifles of Nacogdoches. Colonel Wettermark, as he liked to be called, was a veritable Mr. Nacogdoches. A widower with four young children, he married 24-year-old Daisy Sutton of New York City in 1893. As president of the only bank in town, he was prone to spend his money freely and without stint, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter observed. He spent freely on a handsome bank building on the courthouse square (still in existence) and on an ostentatious 12-room mansion on 14 acres just north of downtown. He loaned out his banks money just as freely. He began sinking money into oil wells being drilled in eastern Nacogdoches County and made huge loans to East Texas sawmills, lumber companies, railroads and cotton farmers. In the words of the St. Louis reporter, he freely loaned money to nearly every business concern in Nacogdoches. On the morning of Jan. 5, 1903, a Monday, customers clustered at the banks locked front door, their anxious eyes trained on a posted notice. They read that the bank was closed indefinitely, that creditors were to meet that morning with attorneys in Nacogdoches and nearby Henderson and that they should have every confidence they would recover their money. As for B.S. Wettermark, the colonel, Mr. Nacogdoches himself? Nowhere to be found. Bank customers had no idea that on Saturday night he had hastily packed everything he could carry and had insisted that his wife sign a will he had drawn up that left everything to her and the children. Rushing out of the house and into the darkness, he boarded a midnight train to Houston. Daisy Wettermark was as mystified as everyone else. The people of Nacogdoches were willing to give their banker the benefit of the doubt at first, even though bank deposits were not federally insured in those days and merchants who had deposited Christmas sales receipts couldnt get access to their money to pay bills. However anxious they may have been, they assured each other that Wettermark had gone to New York or New Orleans or somewhere to secure financing for his troubled bank. Public confidence remains strong, and public sympathy is unbounded, both at home and abroad, the Nacogdoches newspaper editor wrote. Col. B.S. Wettermarks unlimited devotion to the public, especially to this town and county is proverbial. . . . His creditors all have faith in his father, too, and so they will stand by these noble men to the end, trusting in their paying dollar for dollar. A few days after B.S. Wettermark disappeared, his father was arrested in Houston and charged with receiving deposits despite knowing his bank was insolvent. It quickly became obvious, though, that Alfred Wettermark had no idea what his son had been doing or where he was. The leading citizens of Henderson, home to a Wettermark bank, made bail for him. After 50 years as a respected businessman, Alfred Wettermark retired in despair. As the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, public opinion turned against B.S. Wettermark. Years passed, and nothing was heard from the man who had absconded with an estimated $700,000 of his own banks money. As East Texas writer Gary Borders explained a few years ago in a book about early Nacogdoches, many of Wettermarks investments in stock apparently had gone bad, and he began selling notes he had made to local businessmen at a discount to banks around the country. He pocketed the payments made by the original creditor in a Ponzi scheme that, as most do, finally collapsed, Borders wrote. Five years after Wettermarks disappearance, in a story datelined Nacogdoches, the Houston Daily Post reported: It is believed here by the majority of the citizens that Benjamin S. Wettermark will never be captured. He is a haughty man and before he would humiliate himself to face these people whose confidence he has so grossly betrayed, he will probably take his own life. A great many surmises have been printed as to the cause of his downfall, but the principal cause is whiskey and neglect of business. By his most intimate associates it is said that for years he has been a constant plunger dealing in cotton futures, wheat, oats and corn, hog products, oil and mining stocks. Wettermark eluded justice. Since he had his hand in almost every local endeavor, the bank failure set in motion a ripple effect. It took the community years to recover from his treachery. Citizens lost their life savings. Businesses went under. Cotton farmers, already suffering when the bottom fell out of the market in the early 1900s, lost their land. Heirs were in court still trying to recover losses as recently as 2006. So, was B.S. Wettermark a con man from the beginning? Not necessarily, Bond said earlier this week. She suspects he was trying to live up to his formidable father, who invariably called his son a junior executive. He was a man who got carried away with his own importance, she said. A year after B.S. Wettermark fled Nacogdoches in the dark of night, Daisy and two of the children rejoined him. In Costa Rica. djholley10@gmail.com twitter.com/holleynews Manila (CNN Philippines Life) This weekend, attend a fundraising gig for the families of EJK victims, watch a documentary on the internets cleaners, celebrate Escolta with a block party, watch an artist explore death and dying onstage, help raise funds for an electronic artists performance abroad, catch local and international queer films, and enjoy a marketing consultancys first pop up with merch, clothing, accessories, and snacks. Checksum This Saturday, Nov. 17, watch rappers Calix and BLKD perform alongside other artists at Catch 272 in the first of a series of fundraising gigs for the families of EJK victims. A collaboration between No Face Records and Sandata, the event aims to bring the stories of urban poor communities to a format that can be accessed and appreciated by its members, and to encourage them to tell their stories. The lineup includes SkinXBones, Kartellem, Aaron Dettman, P.V., The General Strike, 1Kiao, Mocksmile, Sleep Kitchen, Calix, and BLKD. The event starts at 8 p.m. Entrance is 200. Catch 272 is located at 41-B T. Gener St., Kamuning, Quezon City. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. The Cleaners Screening Though the occasional sensitive or graphic video pop up on our social media feeds, more often than not our feeds are free from such content. But it isnt just an algorithm that keeps our feeds sanitized. A recent documentary entitled The Cleaners uncovers that there is a hidden industry dedicated to sweeping the internet clean, and many of these paid digital scavengers are outsourced from the Philippines. Catch the documentary this Friday, Nov. 16, at the UPFI FIlm Center - Cine Adarna from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online. UPFI Film Center is located at Magsaysay Ave., UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City. For tickets and further information, visit the Facebook event page. Escolta Block Party Head to Manila this Saturday for the second anniversary of the Escolta Block Party. Expect a full day of talks, exhibits, pop up galleries, workshops, markets, food, drinks, music, and dancing. There will also be a collaborative mural repainting of the E.T. Yuchengco Pedestrian laneway, a market and halal food tasting tour, a jam collaboration with Pineapple Lab, and more. Escolta Block Party is happening on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 11 a.m, to 11:59 p.m. at Escolta St., Manila. For more information, visit the Facebook page. Dying on Stage This Sunday, Nov. 18, watch visual artist Christodoulos Panayiotou at the CCP for his lecture-performance of Dying On Stage. With Rudolf Nureyevs 1991 staging of La Bayadere, a classical ballet he choreographed during the deterioration of his health, as a starting point, Panayiotou seeks to explore the theatrical representation of death. The performance is happening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater. This is free and open to the public. The CCP Little Theater is located at CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. Matryoshka Principle Jorge Wieneke aka similarobjects is a DJ, producer, and founder of the electronic music group, BuwanBuwan Collective. As one of the chosen performers for Taiwans 2018 LUCfest music festival, Wieneke is holding a fundraising gig alongside local electronic acts this Saturday, Nov. 17, at 20:20. Performers include AYN, Meh Shua, Lustbass, Like Animals, youngsleepyboi, Lui, and similarobjects. Ticket is 300 with one free beer. Gates open at 9 p.m. 20:20 is located at La Fuerza Plaza, 2241 Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. QC International Pink Film Festival Catch local and international LGBTQ+ films this weekend at the QC International Pink Film Fest. On Friday, Nov. 16, Filipino short films will be screened at 11 a.m., followed by the Taiwan film Small Talk at 1:30 p.m., Thai film The Driver at 4 p.m., Japans Boys for Sale (with a Q&A with the producer after) at 6:30 p.m., and the Indonesian film Memories of My Body at 9 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 17, catch short documentaries at 11 a.m., Mga Gabing Kasing Haba ng Hair Ko at 1:30 p.m., Spanish film Carmen y Lola at 4 p.m., Ded na si Lolo at 6:30 p.m, and Mr. Gay Syria at 9 p.m. All films will be screened at the Gateway Cineplex Cinema 7. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Facebook page. The Milk Shop Launch Marketing consultancy firm Milk Man is launching their first ever pop up at Artesania from Nov. 15-17. Milk Man has worked with several companies for branding and campaigns such as Bench for their in-store magazine Benchmark and Uniqlo for their Our Future is Here campaign for the opening of their flagship store in Manila. For their pop-up concept, Milk Man Marketing has worked with brands such as Halo Halo, Ziggy Savella, and Dough Dealer for accessories, clothing, and snacks, respectively. Expect Milk Man branded merch as well. Artesania is located at 910 Arnaiz Ave., Makati City. A group of parents stood ground on the front lawn of Lamar High School on Thursday, two days after a student was shot to death near the River Oaks campus and more than a week after two students died in a murder-suicide at a nearby apartment complex. This was the second time Caroline Jones, whose daughter is a sophomore at the school, was on campus this week. On Wednesday, she wanted to meet with the principal and was shocked to find that the front door was unmanned. On Thursday, with other moms and dads in tow, she returned to demand changes. You would think the day after a drive-by shooting involving two of the students, they could step up, Jones said, surrounded by other concerned parents. I couldnt leave yesterday and go to my job because I felt like I needed to do HISDs job. Jones was successful in getting a meeting after briefly waiting outside in the cold, she and the other parents spoke with administrators, who promised to increase security through the end of the year. After a frustrating experience the day before, Jones said she now feels encouraged. "All these parents are here because we love our kids," Jones said. "Were going to stay on top of (HISD) and make sure that they bring officers to this school. UPDATE: Lamar HS student, 18, shot to death in 'targeted attack' identified The district confirmed in a statement that it is increasing police presence at Lamar High School, due to recent tragic events. "District administrators are working with concerned parents to come up with effective solutions in the short and long term," the statement reads. "Our goal is to ensure that students are safe and receive counseling support as needed during this challenging time. It is also our goal to ensure that teaching and learning continue. Please know we take these situations very seriously as the safety of our students is always our top priority." While the number of parents at the protest fluctuated, Jones said at least 20 people inside and outside the school expressed their support. Several of the parents at the school on Thursday pleaded for what they said were simple changes, describing the fear their children now feel as a result of the shooting this week. Delindsey Mack, an 18-year-old at the school, died on Tuesday in what police said was a targeted attack. The gunman shot the teen on the sidewalk outside the Bethany Christian Church parking lot, which neighbors the Houston Independent School District campus. The gunman then stood over him and fired more shots. Houston Police Department officials have said that gang violence may have been a factor in the shooting, but have not confirmed it as the cause. A spokesman said the department is trying to determine if Mack was a documented gang member. The incident prompted a lockdown that lasted two hours. David Wilkenfeld said his daughter, a sophomore, was in a room with a substitute and a door that wouldn't lock. "She was texting me, she says, 'I'm scared, I can't lock the door,'" Wilkenfeld said. "That is a basic protocol that should be able to be followed by this size school and this large of a school district." After the meeting with administrators, Jones called on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to provide more funding for schools. "I know you cannot secure a school 100 percent," Jones said. "You cannot prevent crime. But you can take basic and minimal steps and that's all that we're asking for here, is a little bit of support for these kids who are currently scared." The prevalence of credit card skimmers in the Houston area is difficult to pin down without cohesive data from city, county and federal agencies. However, amid a push from the Texas Department of Agriculture to improve skimming data, Chron.com obtained a list of all the skimmers found in Houston so far in 2018. RELATED: Three credit card skimmers found at a gas station at Chevron in Katy Houston police filed 141 cases where at least one skimmer was found this year, the data shows. Most locations with at least two skimmers were located on the city's west side, and the overwhelming majority of those cases originated from Valero gas stations. Valero representatives did not return a call requesting comment. Federal and county investigators in the Houston area say gas pumps are the preferred medium for people who plant skimmers. The pumps offer a way for people to place the skimmer inside the machine, whereas most ATMs require some type of physical attachment to the exterior, said Harris County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Joshua Nowitz. RELATED: How to spot card skimmers on ATMs When it comes to the Houston police data, department spokeswoman Jodi Silva highlighted one major caveat. Not all skimmers were active or inside gas pumps when police investigated the incident, she said. Police officers may have found the devices when they were investigating a separate incident. For example, Houston police found a skimmer at Time Zone Smoke Shop in June while investigating a report of misdemeanor drug possession, records show. In another case, officers found a skimmer while taking inventory of a car from an auto theft report. Click through the slideshow above to see where the most skimmers have been reported in Houston. At HoustonChronicle.com, gasoline industry experts and criminal investigators describe Houston as a hotbed for skimming in the country. 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 A seventeen-year-old Lamar High School student wasnt surprised that his school was put on lockdown Tuesday after shots fired from four-door, black Subaru killed another student within sight of his campus. At this school I'm expecting stuff like this, he told Chronicle reporter Massarah Mikati Tuesday afternoon. Its an easy target. Big school, lots of people. Thats a painfully low set of expectations for young people in this city and in this country. But its a reminder that deadly gun violence has become far too routine a part of life in America. In just five days, Houston has seen three students at Lamar High School, one of the citys best, shot to death. First two 15-year-old best friends died in an apparent murder-suicide and then, on Tuesday, another Lamar student was gunned down in what appears to have been a drive-by shooting. All of us ought to be ashamed that this has become so routine. It doesnt have to be this way. We could stem the overwhelming tide of firearms that seems to saturate every corner of American life if only we had to will to do so. We could reinstate a nationwide ban on firearms built for war, limit the capacity of magazine clips, prohibit bump stock devices, require background checks for every gun purchase including those at gun shows and between individual parties. None of these things would unduly infringe on the constitutional right to buy and keep firearms. What they would do is push back at a pervasive culture that insists there must be no barrier to owning a machine designed to kill. Yet every time our public leaders propose new restrictions aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of criminals or away from the mentally ill, those with vested interest in selling more and more guns respond with a perverse twist on a defiant Texas battle cry of independence: Come and take it. Independence and smart gun laws are not mutually exclusive. No one is trying to ban hunting rifles or come door to door and seize your handguns. In between all and nothing, there is something. Its called a solution. Its time we start looking for solutions. And that will mean listening to and looking for good ideas. Even the expertise of emergency room doctors, who deal in stakes of life and death with each bullet wound and tend to the lifelong injuries borne by survivors, is dismissed by the gun lobby as little more than the opinion of outside interlopers. Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane, the NRA posted on its Twitter account last week. The bluster goes quiet when tragedy strikes, whether at Thousand Oaks or River Oaks. The gun rights lobby ducks out just as law enforcement, EMS workers and grieving parents rush to the scene, and public officials call us all to mourning. This silence represents a reckless disregard for personal responsibility. If life-saving surgeons and concerned families have no ground to critique the culture and policy surrounding firearms, then who does? Why not the NRA and the politicians in its thrall? When a terror attack occurs involving an extremist purporting to be Muslim, many in this country demand apologies and condemnations from Muslims who had nothing to do with the violence. After mass shootings after any shooting we should make similar demands of people who, even if figuratively, have blood on their hands. That includes people in the gun lobby, people who take money from the gun lobby, people who could, if only they would, make it just a little harder for bad people to get the weapons they need to kill innocents with such efficiency. Firearm advocates who claim to stand for safe gun ownership must explain why things have gone so wrong. A weapons industry that profits from each sale must articulate what can be done to keep students safe. Congress members who block federal funds to study the gun violence epidemic should explain why theyre afraid of the truth. The NRA must answer for the culture of death it has forced upon the nation. The framers certainly didnt intend for the Second Amendment to shield killers and kill innocents. Yet, this is the reality today. The NRA and all who enable them must explain why. The Trotting Club was originally issued with an improvement notice which gave it an opportunity to make necessary improvements and pay staff without a penalty being applied, said Borsboom. However, the Trotting Club refused to cooperate and only did so once compliance action was commenced in the ERA by the Inspectorate. Borsboom added that this is a clear message to employers that the Labour Inspectorate expects employers to actively engage with their obligations as employers. A failure to do so will result in serious penalties. We strongly suggest employers take steps to understand their Holidays Act obligations, including with their advisors, said Borsboom. They need to carefully assess whether any payroll system used is capable of complying with the Holidays Act and that their business systems continue to support that. iciHaiti - Politic : Reshuffle, the torch burns within the majority bloc APH Several members of the majority Bloc of the Parliamentary Alliance for Haiti (APH) of the Lower House disagree with the statements made last week by Jean Wilson Hyppolite, President of the Bloc Jean-Wilson Hyppolite, about a "major reshuffle of the Government" https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26059-icihaiti-politic-the-majority-group-of-the-lower-house-could-drop-the-executive.html a position that has since opposed that of Gary Bodeau, the Speaker of the Lower House, who does not consider it conducive a cabinet reshuffle https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26083-haiti-politic-gary-bodeau-calls-for-national-dialogue.html These deputies say that these statements do not commit the bloc that was not consulted on the issue, the last meeting of the APH dating from July 12, 2018 ... but that they engage only its President, to which he asks to no longer make a public statement on behalf of Bloc. In addition, they consider it inappropriate to request a cabinet reshuffle while the new ministers have been in office for barely 6 months https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24186-haiti-flash-appointment-of-5-ministers.html See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26087-haiti-politic-prime-minister-ready-to-reshuffle-the-government-if.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26083-haiti-politic-gary-bodeau-calls-for-national-dialogue.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26059-icihaiti-politic-the-majority-group-of-the-lower-house-could-drop-the-executive.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24186-haiti-flash-appointment-of-5-ministers.html IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - DR : More than 900 Haitians deported to Haiti The Directorate General of Migration (DGM), reports that migration control operations have been carried out in several Dominican provinces: Azua, Espaillat, Montecristi, Puerto Plata, Santiago de los Caballeros, Valverde, the national district and the municipalities of Santo Domingo Est, North and West during which 1,307 Haitians were controlled. Migration control teams were composed of inspectors, agents of the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) with the support of the military, the National Police in coordination with the Public Ministry of the Provinces concerned. After verification using biometric readers and consultation with the DGM database, 909 Haitians were declared in irregular migration situation and led to the border posts of Dajabon and Elias Pina, to be registered and deported to Haiti. Lieutenant General Maximo William Munoz Delgado, Director General of the DGM, reiterated that the migration control teams will continue relentlessly these operations in other provinces of the country. See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26061-icihaiti-social-756-haitians-deported-to-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25987-haiti-dr-the-deportations-of-haitians-continue-at-a-continuous-pace.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25934-icihaiti-social-dr-deports-1-126-haitians.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25874-icihaiti-dr-1-500-haitians-controlled-796-deportees-in-haiti.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25805-icihaiti-social-the-hunt-for-illegal-haitians-continues-in-dr.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25756-icihaiti-dr-nearly-11-400-haitians-deported-or-turned-back-to-haiti-sept-2018.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25700-haiti-rd-71-of-haitians-controlled-illegal-820-haitians-deported.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25598-haiti-dr-1-600-haitians-controlled-in-less-than-24-hours-more-than-60-deported-to-haiti.html SL/ iciHaiti Ban destructive trawl nets, urge Malaysian fishermen November 13,2018 | Source: The Star Fresh seafood supply will dwindle by 2048 if the authorities do not ban the use of trawl nets in Zone B (between 14.8km and 28km from the shore). Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (Jaring) are urging the authorities to ban the trawl nets as they are causing massive destruction to the marine eco-system. Jaring chairman Jamaluddin Mohamad said fishermens earnings had dropped by at least 50% due to the damage caused. Both the associations also urged the government to review the National Agro-Food Policy (2011-2020) as it targets 50% of the countrys seafood to be sourced from aquaculture and 50% from wild catch. image: https://content.thestar.com.my/smg/settag/name=lotame/tags=all He also said that mangrove forests should be protected as 70% of marine resources use them as nurseries and breeding grounds. Based on statistics last year, 30% of the catch by trawl nets are trash fish, he said at a press conference at Seameo-Recsam in Gelugor, Penang. SAM and Jaring are monitoring the situation and found that 1kg of fish is equivalent to at least 92 juvenile fish. One kg of juvenile fish can grow to at least 12kg of adult-sized fish if they are not caught and left to grow in the sea. The amount will be more than enough to meet national protein needs. Jamaluddin also hopes that the government can help reduce the usage of trawl nets by half and advocate the use of sustainable fishing nets that do not destroy the marine eco-system. He said that if the government allows trawl nets, then they should be confined to Zone C (more than 28km from the shore). SAM and Jaring also hope that the Fisheries Department will withdraw subsidies and incentives for trawl nets such as Apollo nets, Pukat Harimau and Rawa Sorong. Both associations also hope that the government will not yield to pressure by any parties to withdraw the ban on trawl nets by 2020. 1995-2018 Star Media Group Berhad Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods. Israeli army gunfire kills Palestinian fisherman in northern Gaza: medics November 14,2018 | Source: Xinhua A Palestinian fisherman was shot dead on Wednesday by Israeli soldiers' gunfire as he was on the beach of northern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, medics and eyewitnesses said. Ashraf al-Qedra, health ministry spokesman in Gaza, said that Nawaf al-Attar, 23-year-old fisherman, from northern Gaza was shot in abdomen and died of sustained wounds on his way to the hospital. There has been no immediate response from Israeli army official to the incident. Meanwhile, Nizar Ayyash, chairman of Gaza fishermen association, condemned the killing. He told Xinhua that "it is an Israeli violation to the fishermen work, the breadwinners of their families." In the Gaza Strip, which has been ruled by the Islamic Hamas movement since mid-2007, there are 3,800 Palestinian fishermen, according to the association. The death of the fisherman came one day after a cease-fire was announced between Israel and Gaza militant groups led by Hamas, following two days of tension that killed 14 Palestinians and one Israeli. 2000-2018 XINHUANET.com Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Yemen accuses Iran of threatening Red Sea fishermen Yemeni Minister of Fisheries Fahd Kafayen accused on Tuesday Iranian ships of harassing and threatening fishermen in the Yemeni waters in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The international community must assume its responsibilities in halting the Iranian violations and its meddling in Yemeni affairs, he said while overseeing the delivery of 100 fishing boats in the Shabwa region. He listed the violations committed by the Iran-backed Houthis against Yemeni fishermen, such as kidnappings and preventing them from carrying out their jobs. International reports had revealed that Iranian ships in the Red Sea were likely providing logistic support to the Houthis, including smuggling arms through fishing boats to the port of Hodeidah. Kafayen stressed that his ministry will continue to deliver fishing boats to fishermen whose vessels were destroyed in natural disasters and the Houthi-led war. Observers said that the Houthis have sought since the beginning of their coup to seize fishing boats to transform them into war vessels to threaten marine navigation. Meanwhile, the Yemeni coalition that monitors human rights violations (RASD) condemned the Houthis for seizing houses in Hodeidah, which they then transformed into military barracks. It also accused the militias of using citizens as human shields and condemned them for expelling patients and doctors from the emergency ward of the May 22 Hospital. 1978 - 2018 H H Saudi Research and Marketing LTD Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Whats at stake for the Mekongs fishery by Maizura Ismail November 14,2018 | Source: The Asean Post Originating in the Tibetan highlands and running through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the Mekong and its tributaries provide water, food and income for 60 million people. The longest river in Southeast Asia is home to the worlds largest inland fishery. It is estimated that 25 percent of the global freshwater catch is harvested from this river. Damming of the Mekong started in China in the early 1990s. However, most of the river remained undammed due largely to the regional cooperation between the lower Mekong member states. In 2006, energy needs magnified by the financial returns of hydropower drove Lao to kick off its first dam on the river, as well as dozens more on its tributaries. Other lower Mekong countries followed suit. Concerns have since been raised on the massive negative impacts and trade-offs of the numerous detrimental hydropower developments along the waterway. A Mekong River Council study discussed at the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit earlier this year predicted a reduction of 30 to 40 percent in fisheries, involving the loss of about one million tons of fish every year. The study also predicted a reduction of 97 percent sediment load reaching the Mekong Delta, which will colossally reduce soil fertility in the lower Mekong basin, leading to a decrease in the regions agricultural productivity, as well as increased poverty and food insecurity. The impact of damming on fisheries occurs during all stages, including during construction, commissioning and operation of the dam. According to an MRC report on dam impacts mitigation on fisheries, besides the changes in seasonal and daily flow, the fish population could also be impacted by sediment and other particulate trappings leading to stratification, in which oxygen becomes depleted in the deeper sections of the river resulting in anoxia, increased toxicity and other negative effects on water quality. Environmentalists and researchers in the Mekong area are also concerned that the environmental impact assessment done on behalf of dam developers not only downplayed the environmental damage, but also overlooked the transboundary effects of river damming, which could devastate the Mekongs fish populations. Damming rivers also expose fish populations to barrier effects, where the dam blocks their movements and causes injury when they swim up- or downstream. The migration is crucial as spawning habitats of different species may be located in different parts of the river and its tributaries. In the case of the Mekong, this is critical as these patterns have been fine-tuned over millennia to accommodate one of the most diverse assemblages of fish species found anywhere in the world. Fish in the Mekong have strongly adapted to the flow regimes of the river. If the fish cannot adapt to the new system, theyre gone, said Peng Bun Ngor, a fish ecologist with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration. For many people residing in the Mekongs lower basin, the reduction in fish landing and the impact of dams on their fish landings and food security have already been felt. According to Rivers International, an organisation promoting rights of rivers and its communities, the impacts are expected to result in a drastic reduction in food security and agricultural productivity, alongside increased poverty levels and heightened climate vulnerability in much of the Lower Mekong Basin. Achieving sustainable development in the Lower Mekong Basin is dependent on the availability of natural capital and the preservation of biodiversity. Particularly important are healthy soils, watershed and riparian forests, and seasonally flowing rivers to support the worlds largest inland fishery. Current plans for large-scale hydropower dams are certain to decrease resilience, increase vulnerability, and reduce sustainability in each of the Lower Mekong member countries, it said in a statement. The worlds largest and most productive inland fishery, with more than 850 fish species, is well and truly threatened. The ecosystem and ecosystem services destruction may hark the devastation of the Mekong river and threaten its population, projected to rise to 100 million by 2025. The enormous number of dams being plotted on this magnificent river threatens not only its biodiversity but also diminishes its role as a unifying force of nature for the many countries along its banks. Digital Media Nusantara @ 2017 Theme(s): Fisheries Resources. Unions launch new regional group to fight for free and independent journalism Journalists unions across the Mediterranean and Black Sea region have launched a new group Med-Solidaire - to build solidarity and a stronger voice for journalists in the fight for free and independent journalism. 21 unions and associations of journalists from 16 countries met in Athens to discuss the growing threat to journalists and journalism across the region from 4-6 November. Delegates adopted a strong declaration rejecting the politics of division, manipulation and intolerance and committing themselves to campaigning to rebuild trust in journalism and sustain journalism as a common good. The meeting, organised by the IFJs Greek affiliates JUADN and ESPIT, discussed the wide range of challenges facing journalists in the region, including their safety, press freedom and political pressure on media and deplored the increasing violence against media and the pressure on journalists from unscrupulous governments, politicians and extremists, all of which is creating a new climate for self-censorship where fake news and online hate can flourish. A motion of support and solidarity with Palestinian journalists in their struggle against violence, intimidation and the denial of their rights was unanimously endorsed. Delegates also condemned savage cuts in editorial departments and the violations of journalists rights at work by many media employers who in the face of a business crisis have abandoned the mission, ethics and values of journalism and called for active solidarity with the victims of the economic crisis. They declared that professional and independent quality journalism exercised in conditions of respect for core labour standards, is vital to defend citizens right to know. The unions also agreed a wide-ranging programme of action which included a commitment to: Develop their codes of ethics in line with internationally recognised conventions and good practice Establish national structures for self-regulation in cooperation with representatives of the profession and civil society organisations; Encourage ethical and professional journalism and support journalists who are committed to their profession despite the political or economic pressures they are facing. Developing a Mediterranean and Black Sea programme for the safety of journalists to provide information, training and materials to reduce the risks facing journalists in conflict zones; Oppose the imposition of restrictions to freedom of movement in the region as well as unjustified and harsh visa restrictions, and calling for the creation of fast-track procedures to allow journalists to travel across borders for their work without interference; Actively demand all states within the Mediterranean and Black Sea region and in conflict zones bordering the region to meet their obligations under United Nations Resolutions 1738 and 2222 to protect journalists and media staff, to accept their responsibilities by investigating crimes against journalists and bringing the perpetrators to justice, and to consider deliberate targeting of journalists a war crime. Lobby their respective governments support and promote the IFJs International Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and other Media Professionals. Work to ensure states adopt modern laws to regulate the work of journalists, that ensures freedom of journalistic work, the right to access information and protection of sources, the abolition of prison sentences and detention, as well as ending the suspension of publications, setting limits for fines for press offences, and the abolition of all forms of pre-censorship; Lead an inclusive dialogue to establish self-regulation structures for journalism capable of dealing with the complex media environment and complaints against the media. Reform the state owned media and make it independent from government or any other political influence. Organise campaigns to abolish all legal provisions that criminalise press offences or hinder journalists work. The meeting unanimously agreed to establish a sub-regional group of the IFJ to co-ordinate and build its activity and solidarity. The new group will work to address professional and trade union matters, and to protect and defend freedom of expression and information and journalists human rights as well as promoting common interests in the fields of social, economic, cultural and media policy within the regional institutions. The meeting elected a co-ordinating committee comprising delegates from Greece, Portugal, Russia, Palestine and France. Imperial Valley News Center PR Firm and Publisher Settle FTC Allegations They Misrepresented Product Endorsements Washington, DC - Two Georgia-based companies and their principals have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that, in connection with promoting a new insect repellent during the 2016 Zika virus outbreak, they misrepresented that paid endorsements were independent consumer opinions and commercial advertising was independent journalistic content. Under two proposed Commission orders, the respondents are prohibited from making such misrepresentations going forward, and must disclose material connections with, and otherwise monitor, any endorsers they engage. What the FTC Did to Protect Consumers: According to the FTCs complaint, PR firm Creaxion Corporation proposed launching and promoting its clients new mosquito repellent using a media campaign tied to the mosquito-borne Zika virus and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. Creaxion partnered with Inside Publications, LLC, publisher of Inside Gymnastics magazine, to obtain athlete endorsers and otherwise promote the product. The respondents allegedly engaged two gold medalists as endorsers, who each received several thousand dollars for their activities. The respondents drafted, reviewed, and monitored certain social media posts and advertorials. According to the complaint, the athletes posted social media endorsements for the repellent without disclosing they were paid, and Inside Publications reposted the endorsements, again without disclosure. Inside Gymnastics also ran paid ads for the product that were disguised as features or other articles of interest to its readers, the FTC alleges. The FTC separately alleges that the Creaxion respondents reimbursed employees and friends for buying and reviewing the product on Walmart.com. Based on this conduct, the complaint alleges the respondents violated the FTC Act by: 1) falsely representing that endorsements reflected the independent opinions and experience of impartial users; 2) failing to disclose material connections between the endorsers and the marketer of the product, specifically that certain endorsers were paid or reimbursed by, or employees of, the PR firm promoting the product; and 3) falsely representing that paid ads were the independent statements and opinions of impartial publications. What the Settlements Mean The two proposed administrative orders settling the FTCs allegations prohibit, in part, the Creaxion respondents and the Inside Publications respondents from engaging in the challenged practices in connection with the promotion or sale of any product or service, and require them to take certain compliance measures. First, the orders prohibit the respondents from misrepresenting the status of any endorser or reviewer of a product or service, including misrepresenting that the endorser or reviewer is an independent user or ordinary consumer. Next, the orders prohibit the respondents from making any representation about any endorser of a product or service without clearly and conspicuously disclosing, in the endorsement, any unexpected material connection between the endorser and any respondent or anyone else affiliated with the product or service. Third, the orders prohibit the respondents from misrepresenting that paid commercial advertising is a statement of opinion from an independent or objective publisher or source. The goal is to prevent the dissemination of deceptively formatted advertising. Finally, the orders require the respondents, when using endorsers, to take certain steps to ensure they comply with the endorsement provisions of the orders. Such steps include clearly notifying endorsers of their responsibilities, creating a monitoring system to review the endorsements, and terminating endorsers who fail to comply. The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and to accept the proposed consent agreements was 5-0. The FTC will publish a description of the consent agreement packages in the Federal Register shortly. The agreements will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through December 13, 2018, after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent orders final. Interested parties can submit comments electronically [comment on Creaxion case; comment on Inside Publications case] by following the instructions in the Invitation To Comment part of the Supplementary Information section. NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has reason to believe that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to $41,484. Imperial Valley News Center State Department Terrorist Designations of Jawad Nasrallah, al-Mujahidin Brigades, and Hizballah Washington, DC - The Department of State has designated Jawad Nasrallah and Al-Mujahidin Brigades (AMB) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons who have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Todays designations seek to deny Nasrallah and AMB the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks. Among other consequences, all of their property and interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation of Hizballah, which was originally designated as an FTO in 1997 and as an SDGT in 2001. It is a crime to knowingly provide, or to attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to FTOs. Todays actions maintain the momentum of the Administrations snapback sanctions on Iran. Together with this Administrations unprecedented campaign of targeted designations, these are the toughest sanctions that have ever been imposed on the Iranian regime. They are designed to deprive the regime of vital revenue it uses to conduct terrorism and support terrorist groups around the world, to include Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, Kataib Hizballah, and the Taliban. Jawad Nasrallah is the son of Hizballahs leader and SDGT Hassan Nasrallah, as well as a rising leader of Hizballah. Jawad Nasrallah has previously recruited individuals to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel in the West Bank. In January 2016, he tried to activate a suicide bombing and shooting cell based in the West Bank, but the Israeli government arrested the five Palestinians he recruited to the cell. AMB is a military organization that has operated in the Palestinian Territories since 2005 and whose members have plotted a number of attacks against Israeli targets. AMB has ties to Hizballah, and Hizballah has provided funding and military training to AMB members. Todays actions notify the U.S. public and the international community that Jawad Nasrallah and AMB have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate them, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and governments. The Department of the Treasury also announced today that it is designating four Hizballah-affiliated individuals who lead and coordinate the groups operational, intelligence, and financial activities in Iraq. These coordinated actions underscore the U.S. commitment to disrupting Hizballah and its facilitation networks throughout the Middle East. Imperial Valley News Center 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Summit Launch Event New York City - The United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will co-host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) launch, and celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, on November 15 at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in New York City. Featured speakers include the Honorable Peter Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands; the Honorable Henne Schuwer, Dutch Ambassador to the United States; and Mr. Michael Kratsios, The White House Deputy Assistant to the President for Technology Policy. The officials will share highlights of the upcoming 2019 GES, following the announcement in July by President Donald Trump and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte that the United States and the Netherlands would co-host the Summit in 2019. After the speakers remarks, U.S and Dutch investors and private sector representatives will hold a focused panel discussion on Future Growth Industries and Transatlantic Investment Opportunities. GES is the preeminent annual entrepreneurship gathering that convenes emerging entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters from around the world to share innovative ideas and advance economic growth. An estimated 20,000 emerging leaders have participated in these Summits since 2010. CDFA and USDA join cotton industry to celebrate Pink Bollworm eradication Sacramento, California - For the second time in several years eradication of a vicious agricultural pest was achieved in the United States (and California) as the cotton industry hails elimination of the pink bollworm, a destructive pest that threatened to wipe out the U.S. cotton industry. This is particularly noteworthy for California as officials successfully eradicated the European grapevine moth two years ago after it was found for the first time in the United States in a Napa Valley vineyard. Defeating an invasive bug doesnt happen often, and when we do achieve success we need to celebrate this, said Nick Condos, director of the California Department of Food and Agricultures Plant Health and Pest Prevention Program. Roger Isom, president and chief executive officer of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association called eradication of the pink bollworm historic saying this was an effort 52 years in the making. Today we look at the pink bollworm in the rearview mirror, Isom said. Its a story of industry foresight and cooperation and a story of how a government agency can work with industry and be successful. Noteworthy in this effort was the way it was achieved. The industry achieved eradication by relying upon integrated pest management tactics that included the use of pheromones and sterile insects. Pesticides were not the primary means of control. Mandatory plow-down practices that were enforced by regulation and the introduction of Bt cotton by seed companies also aided in the effort. This is a very significant event for the cotton industry, said USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Gregory Ibach at a celebration hosted at West Haven Cotton Ginning Company near Lemoore, Calif. Ted Sheely, chairman of the California Cotton Pest Control Board, likewise praised efforts to eradicate the pest with practices that did not rely primarily on common insecticides. We started with mandatory host-free periods, which included the plow-down dates, Sheely said. Then the program started using pheromones to keep the moths from being able to find their mates. This continued in the early 1970s with the release of sterile moths to prevent egg laying by wild moths. In 1994 Sheely said that California cotton growers invested in a state-of-the-art facility in Phoenix, Ariz. where pink bollworm moths were irradiated to sterilize them. These moths upwards of 31 million per day at the peak of the program were released by the USDA in a successful effort to eliminate the pest. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service coordinated this program, Isom said. Osama El-Lissy, deputy administrator for USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine, said APHIS also maintained the quarantines and performed areal applications of sterile moths. There are two things that stand out to me, El-Lissy said. The vision and unwavering dedication of growers themselves to this program and the strong collaboration between government and industry. This was one of the most unique programs in the world because we did not use pesticides. All this gained traction after 2000 with the introduction of Bt cotton, which contains a protein that is toxic only to moth larvae, Sheely said. The widespread planting of Bt cotton created an opportunity to wipe out pink bollworm (PBW) when combined with other techniques already in use, he said. Prior to establishment of the state PBW program, state inspectors trapped about 400,000 fertile moths per year in southern California and by 2007 that number was over 410,000 fertile moths. The following year this number fell 96 percent to about 16,000. The last moths trapped in California were caught in 2011 and none were caught since then in the Golden State. Trap counts in the West and in northern Mexico fell to zero by 2013. Condos said traps and mandatory plow-down periods will still be employed to assure the pest remains eradicated. Governor Brown Surveys Wildfire Impacts and Meets with Emergency Officials in Butte County Chico, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today surveyed wildfire damage in Butte County, held a briefing at the Incident Command Post in Chico with state, local and federal officials including U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, FEMA Administrator Brock Long and the states top fire and emergency management officials and issued an executive order to cut red tape and help streamline recovery efforts in communities impacted by the devastating wildfires that continue to burn across the state. We cant avoid catastrophe but we can prepare for it, we can recover from it and we will, said Governor Brown today at the Incident Command Post in Chico. This community is pulling together the first responders, firefighters, sheriffs, police and everyone else, including neighbors helping one another. Now is the time for solidarity. Governor Brown also today met with residents impacted by the Camp Fire at the Incident Command Post in Chico and visited the site of Paradise Elementary School, one of over 8,814 structures destroyed in the Camp Fire. Governor Brown surveys Camp Fire damage in the Town of Paradise. Governor Brown meets with Administrator Long, Secretary Zinke and Governor's Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci. Governor Brown joins wildfire briefing at Incident Command Post in Chico. The executive order issued today includes provisions that: expedite cleanup and removal of debris from the fires; extend the states prohibition on price gouging during emergencies; expedite the use of suitable fairgrounds and state properties for temporary sheltering of fire survivors; suspend planning and zoning requirements and state fees for manufactured homes and mobile home parks to help displaced residents with housing needs; streamline regulations to allow hospitals and other health facilities impacted by the fires to remain open; and allow for the accelerated hiring of additional personnel for emergency and recovery operations. On Monday, Governor Brown announced that the state has secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help residents recover from fires burning in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. On Sunday, the Governor officially requested a major disaster declaration and joined leaders of the Governors Office of Emergency Services, CAL FIRE, California Highway Patrol and California National Guard to provide an update on firefighting efforts at the State Operations Center in Mather, which has been activated to its highest level and is coordinating with local, state and federal emergency response officials to address emergency management needs. A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles, Ventura and Butte counties due to multiple fires and late last week, California secured direct federal assistance to further support the impacted communities within 24 hours of making the request. Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits have also been made available for workers who lost jobs or had work hours substantially reduced as a result of the wildfires in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Information on additional resources for residents impacted by the fires is available at http://wildfirerecovery.org/. International Education Week Kicks Off With Record Number of Students Studying Abroad Washington, DC - From November 12-16, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education are celebrating International Education Week (IEW) by encouraging Americans to seek opportunities to study abroad and welcoming international students to study in the United States. International education makes the United States stronger, forging lasting connections with peers in other countries, bringing benefits to local communities, and generating knowledge to solve shared challenges. Throughout IEW, events at schools and universities across the United States and around the world will focus on the importance of international education in fostering security and economic growth and highlight why more students should have access to an international education. To open IEW, the State Department, in collaboration with the Institute of International Education, released the annual Open Doors report of data and trends in international academic mobility. For the third year in a row, more than one million international students studied at U.S. institutions of higher education in academic year 2017/18, an increase of 1.5 percent over the prior year. The number of American students studying abroad also increased by 2.3 percent from the prior year to 332,727 Americans. International students have a major positive impact on American communities, enriching U.S. classrooms with new perspectives, contributing over $42 billion to the U.S. economy, and supporting over 450,000 U.S. jobs last year. The State Department continues to broaden participation in U.S.-sponsored exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, the Critical Language Scholarship Program, and the Gilman Program. Our global network of EducationUSA advising centers helps prospective students from around the world find their best fit at a U.S. college or university. Additionally, the State Department will hold Passport to the World events throughout the month of November to encourage U.S. citizens to apply for a passport. Angola National Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo: "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend my warmest regards to the people of Angola as you celebrate 43 years of independence on November 11. "Angola has taken bold steps to strengthen its democracy and grow its economy in the past year. As a strategic partner and friend, the United States remains committed to supporting Angolas remarkable steps toward transparency, democracy, and regional leadership. We are convinced that a prosperous and engaged Angola will benefit the region and the world. "I wish all Angolans a joyful day of celebrating your independence." Palermo Conference on Libya Palermo, Italy - The United States welcomes the conclusions announced by the Government of Italy following the November 12-13 conference on Libya in Palermo, which brought Libyan and international leaders together to advance our shared goal of helping Libyas institutions break their political deadlock and ensure a secure and prosperous future for all Libyans. We strongly support UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Ghassan Salame and the recalibrated UN Action Plan he presented to the Security Council on November 8, which calls for a Libyan-led National Conference to be held in the first weeks of 2019 and the subsequent electoral process to begin in the spring of 2019. We urge all Libyans to work constructively with SRSG Salame toward the goals of an inclusive constitutional process and credible, peaceful, and well-prepared elections. The United States is committed to ensuring that all those who undermine Libyas peace, security, and stability will be held accountable. The Palermo conference underscored that achieving such progress will require sustained attention to the economic and security aspects of the conflict. We are encouraged by the commitment of the Government of National Accord to accelerate implementation of comprehensive monetary and subsidy reforms, which Libya urgently needs to stabilize its economy. Equally critical is promoting greater transparency of Libyas economic institutions, including the Central Bank of Libya. These reforms will support much-needed conversation among Libyans about enhancing fiscal transparency and promoting a more equitable distribution of the countrys oil resources. The United States stands ready to support this economic dialogue, at Libyas request and in close coordination with the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. We also commend SRSG Salames leadership in de-escalating violence in Tripoli and UNSMILs ongoing partnership with the Government of National Accord to put in place more durable security arrangements for the Libyan capital. We welcome the important steps taken by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj to begin establishing capable, national security forces under civilian control. The United States is proud to stand with all Libyans who are prepared to seize this critical opportunity to set their country on course for a brighter future for all of its citizens. The Libyan people have suffered far too long with insecurity; corruption by political elites and armed groups, who continue to plunder resources that rightfully belong to all Libyans; and a lack of economic opportunities and basic services. They deserve better. Finally, the United States extends its deep appreciation to the Government of Italy for its leadership in hosting this important event. We look forward to continuing our close partnership with all of our international partners as the Libyan people strive to realize a stable and unified government, which must ultimately stand on its own against terrorism and provide security and prosperity for all Libyans. Is Elon Musk joking again about his Teslaquila brand tequila? It's been hard to tell in the past at times. But Tesla filed a trademark for the brand and Mexico took it seriously today. Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT), which watches over the tequila industry, finally responded to Musk without humor, as Reuters reported. To set the scene, Musk tweeted an April's Fool joke this year in which he said Tesla had filed for bankruptcy--"Chapter 14 and a half," which doesn't exist. Accompanying the series of tweets was a picture of him and the statement, "Elon was found passed out against a Tesla Model 3, surrounded by 'Teslaquilla' bottles, the tracks of dried tears still visible on his cheeks." Elon was found passed out against a Tesla Model 3, surrounded by "Teslaquilla" bottles, the tracks of dried tears still visible on his cheeks. This is not a forward-looking statement, because, obviously, what's the point? Happy New Month! pic.twitter.com/YcouvFz6Y1 -- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 1, 2018 Last month, Musk sent another tweet that said Teslaquila would be coming soon, along with a "visual approximation" of a labeled bottle. Another gag? It's never really safe to assume that you know when Musk is joking or not. If he is this time, it's an elaborate jest that involves a legitimate trademark filing for a "distilled agave liquor," which would describe tequila. It's not the first time a Musk venture sold a beverage under its brand. SpaceX released SpaceX wine in 2016, with the message "many happy returns." (SpaceX is notable for having its launch vehicles return for reuse.) Given Tesla's recent profitable quarter, that might have seemed like reason to celebrate. But tequila is one of those country-protected beverage products--like champagne in France and bourbon in the U.S.--that requires local production. The CRT said tequila is a "protected word," and that the liquid has a set of requirements to use the name, including production in one of the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, or Tamaulipas. The CRT issued a statement, according to Reuters, which said, in part: If it wants to make Teslaquila viable as a tequila it would have to associate itself with an authorized tequila producer, comply with certain standards and request authorization from Mexico's Industrial Property Institute. Maybe Musk was having fun. Or maybe he wanted to make some money. George Clooney sold his tequila brand, Casamigos, for a sum reportedly approaching $1 billion, to liquor giant Diageo. (Who needs to act or direct?) Bacardi spent $5.1 billion for Patron Spirits International, another tequila producer. In the late winter of 2012, Clark Valberg had what he thought was a pretty good startup idea--an app for collaboration on designs across teams and companies--and a nice chunk of seed funding to get it going. There was just one problem. In New York City, where he lived, it had recently become prohibitively expensive to hire software engineers, thanks to Google. After spending $1.9 billion on a Manhattan office building in 2010, the Silicon Valley giant was doing everything in its considerable power to fill it with coders. "I found myself faced with the existential crisis of having countless coffees and cocktails with engineers who were also interviewing with Google," Valberg says. After weeks of courtship, he might make an offer, only to find out he'd been outbid by a decimal point or two. Forced to compete with time and money he didn't have, Valberg asked himself: "What's the hack? How do I care less about x so I can care more about y?" At his previous company, a creative agency, he had used freelancers in cities like Austin and Phoenix, where the going rate for their services was cheaper. He decided to try staffing his startup, InVision, on the same basis. It worked. So well that InVision is now valued at $1 billion. Its workforce of 800, up from fewer than 500 a year ago, is still all-virtual, and Valberg has no plans to change that.* Why on earth would he? If anything, a lot more startups are about to follow InVision's lead, thanks to the likes of Amazon, which says it will be hiring 25,000 people for a massive new corporate office in Queens (plus another 25,000 in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Crystal City and another 5,000 in Nashville), and Google, which is obtaining space for as many as 12,000 new workers in Manhattan. These expansions come as tech behemoths are running up against the limits of growth in their home markets: namely, housing, office space, and transportation. Google is negotiating to build a huge new campus in San Jose, California, which already has the highest housing costs in the country. Despite its expansive campus, Facebook is so pressed for space, it's stashing several thousand employees in a WeWork. This sort of thing feeds an endless stream of speculation about which up-and-coming city with an educated workforce, abundant broadband, and cheap commercial rents might be "the next Silicon Valley." Will it be Austin? Detroit? Kansas City? Toronto? But there's a reason Amazon snubbed the other 235 cities that entered the absurd competition to host "HQ2." They might have software engineers, but they don't have vast numbers of software engineers--the kind of talent supply that can feed a company that was adding 5,000 jobs per year in Seattle before looking elsewhere. For now, then, the biggest tech companies will channel their growth into the handful of cities that can accommodate such numbers. Which means those cities will continue to grow ever more inhospitable for startups. It's true that big tech companies throw off a steady stream of ex-employees with the know-how to become entrepreneurs. But that doesn't necessarily translate into a thriving startup ecosystem. Early-stage startups can't compete with profitable Goliaths on salary. Historically, they've met that challenge by offering generous equity packages that can make early employees spectacularly wealthy. But even the most risk-tolerant people have to sleep somewhere and feed themselves, and doing that in Mountain View, California or Manhattan or Seattle without a six-figure salary is almost impossible. "Equity packages don't pay the rent," says Wade Foster, CEO of Zapier. "That's why you're seeing so many startups starting to talk about what's our non-Silicon Valley strategy? Is it a second office? Is it remote?" For Zapier, which automates inter-app workflows, going remote made sense because, when the company was getting started in 2012, one of its founders was living in Missouri while his then-girlfriend finished law school there. Over time, Foster says, they realized being distributed was allowing them to tap into a broader, richer talent market than they ever could by confining hiring to one locale, even a tech hub. "We realized this could become an advantage for us," Foster says. To play up that advantage, in 2017, Zapier began offering a unique perk: a $10,000 "delocation" package for employees looking to leave the San Francisco Bay Area. It was a clever piece of management--it's hard to quit the company that let you take your Silicon Valley salary with you to Charleston, South Carolina--and an even more brilliant piece of marketing. Job applications for all types of roles at Zapier went up by 50 percent afterward, Foster says. Going all-remote does have its complications. To the degree that hiring and--especially-- fundraising run on informal networking, it still helps to make the scene in SoHo or SoMa. But with each new megacampus, the math gets clearer: For startups that can make it work, ditching geography altogether is a way to enjoy the best of both worlds--a deeper and cheaper talent pool. "Back in 2012, I would get emails from people like, 'That's weird, that's different, that's kind of crazy,'" Foster says. "Now, the emails I get are from founders and VCs asking 'How do you pull this off?'" With the full weight of Trumps presidency on our shoulders, theres something devilishly comforting about losing yourself in a book that so effortlessly pulls you out of todays hellscape and thrusts you back to what, comparably at least, seem like the good old days. Tempting as it may have been for Michelle Obama to resort to romanticising both her and Americas past, in her highly anticipated memoir, Becoming, she instead analyses candidly. Which says a lot, these days. She takes us through her life from Michelle Robinson, the South Side Chicagoan who relished Stevie Wonders Talking Book at the height of white flight just as much as she enjoyed talking back to steely adults, to the unflappable former first lady we know her as. Its both humbling and affirming to bear witness to the very human makings of Obama. This could be up to a certain point, of course anyones story, notably any black womans story. Naturally gifted as Obama clearly is, her choice to divulge small joys like opening windows wide (a luxury she couldnt enjoy in the White House), her lack of patience with politics, or running through fields with ex-boyfriends at college for the sheer fun of it, is what makes this such an honest endeavour. Reading about her (at one stage) unrelenting imposter syndrome which forced her to turn the phrase not enough, not enough, over in her mind like a malignant cell that threatened to divide and divide again throughout her life was a revelation I didnt know I needed. I found myself lifting my jaw from my chest at the end of every other chapter, not because of any seedy insight into stories Id always wondered about, but because, armed as I was with knowledge about her career, her mannerisms and even her elbow-heavy dancing, this was not the Obama I thought I knew. She was more. Theres girlish excitement in the way she talks about her first loves. This, and other revelations of feeling indebted to parents whose hopes and dreams had been poured into her brother Craig after the remnants of slavery and the Great Migration stunted theirs; her experience of motherhood, pregnancy complications, miscarriage and IVF; and later, knowing what it meant to navigate all of those things on as public a stage as you can get were especially illuminating. Her decision not to hold back on calling the current president a bully who among other things demeaned minorities and expressed contempt for prisoners of war, challenging the dignity of our country with practically his every utterance, too, was welcome although not as much of a surprise. But it was good all the same, to see someone, especially her, remind us of the importance of continuing to highlight the painfully familiar sense of menace and male jocularity in his voice, a voice that, in the famous Access Hollywood grab em by the pussy tape, betrayed: I can hurt you and get away with it. Each chapter of Becoming reads like a window into a humanised, nuanced version of America that has always existed, but is increasingly sidelined by mentalities like those. Like a number of western nations with similar histories, its a country as full of interpersonal love as it is of a national, lurking, multiplying fear an existence as inseparable from its historical horrors as it is from its achievements. Not only does Obama know that, but she leans into it, understanding full well just how much ongoing discrimination in America has altered the destinies of generations of African Americans, how code-switching, and, most importantly, how allowing herself to become whatever version of herself she willed and not what she was supposed to be was central to her survival. Becoming is published by Viking Stormzy has been announced as the first headliner for Glastonbury Festival 2019, his representatives have confirmed to The Independent. Reports of the booking flared up after a poster appeared in the window of an Oxfam shop in Streatham, which revealed the UK grime star as the first headliner. A member of staff at the Oxfam shop then told The Independent that the poster was real and he had been asked to place it there by the shop's management. According to reports on social media, posters have also appeared near the Glastonbury site. Stormzy himself has since posted about the news on his Instagram page, sharing the poster and commenting: "THE HEADLINE ACT GLASTONBURY 2019, well let's be f***ing having ya then." Glastonbury Festival said in a statement: "Were delighted to announce that Stormzy is confirmed as the first headliner for Glastonbury 2019. The multi award-winning British MC will headline the Pyramid Stage on Friday, 28 June." Stormzy will be the first grime MC to headline the famous music festival. The 25-year-old artist last performed at Glastonbury in 2017, when he appeared on the Other Stage. The announcement follows the huge success of his debut album Gang Signs and Prayer, which was released in 2017 to both critical and commercial success. It became the first grime album to reach No 1 in the UK charts, and was also one of the biggest-selling albums of the year. This year Stormzy has performed at the Brit awards, launched a publishing imprint with Penguin, Merky Books, and founded a scholarship with Cambridge University for black students. He released his own autobiography, Rise Up, earlier this month. Fans are now wondering whether this means Stormzy is preparing to release a new album before his Glastonbury performance next year. For Netflix, the drugs most certainly do work. In Narcos, which tracked the life of Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar, the streaming service found its darling. From the moment the drama debuted in 2015, it was assured, addictive viewing, made unmissable by a heavyweight lead performance from Wagner Moura. Its follow-up surpassed expectations, concluding Escobars story, before the show nobly ditched its entire cast for a third outing focused on the Cali Cartel, which proved to be just as watchable. Unlike its characters, Narcos could do no wrong. The same cannot be said for its latest attempt. Where the first three seasons commanded the utmost attention, Narcos: Mexico tells its story with as much flair as a GCSE history book. Michael Pena and Diego Luna are the results of the latest cast shakeup, playing figures on opposing sides of the drug war: the former a DEA agent, the latter Felix Gallardo, the Guadalajara cartel leader attempting to construct the biggest marijuana empire in South America. As ever, the series interweaves drama with narration and actual archival footage, a flourish which once infused episodes with a rip-roaring vim not dissimilar to a gangster epic directed by Scorsese. Theres no such fun to be had this time around. The f***ing audacity of it, the narrator states after reeling off a staggering fact relating to the drug trade, almost willing viewers to muster up enthusiasm for the ensuing scenes. Youll be left thinking the subject would have been better suited to Ken Burns, the filmmaker behind exhaustive documentary series such as his 26-parter, The Vietnam War. Not that the series faults can be completely attributed to the material. The first season arrived at a time when the cartel sub-genre was in full swing (see: Sicario, Escobar: Lost Dream), and brazenly justified its existence by going deep on one of the drug trades most controversial figures. Here, staleness plagues each scene intensifying the fact that Narcos may have outlived interest in its subject. Im going to tell you a story, but it doesnt have a happy ending. In fact, it doesnt have an ending at all, is an opening line not exactly geared to inspire excitement for a one-season anthology series. That episodes are comprised of numerous cigar-chewing characters, reeling off non-ironic dialogue such as: If you want to kill rats, guess you have to go into the sewer, doesnt help its cause. Frankly, a series this heavy on unlikeable men falls far down the list of things to watch in a post-Me Too age; by my count, the opening trio of episodes features just one female character of note. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Pena (Ant-Man) and Luna (Rogue One) are inevitable highlights, the former reining in his usual wise-cracking exterior in favour of cool detachment as Kiki Camarena, the DEA agent in over his head. And dont be surprised if your attention is drawn from the action to the mouth-watering Mexican vistas on display, no doubt selected by location scout Carlos Munoz Portal, who was tragically shot dead while working on the series last September. Narcos: Mexico lives in the shadow of its predecessors, attempting to emulate their success without any willingness to embrace originality. You want a history lesson? Buy a f***ing book, one character instructs Lunas Gallardo in episode two. Dont be surprised if you find yourself scrambling to Amazon Prime to do just that a few hours later. Consider this your ultimate cheat sheet to the offers that are not to be missed This years Christmas adverts have seen the nation enthralled by the return of a charming teddy bear couple, shocked by the impact of deforestation and amazed by the talents of an eight-year-old singing star. Brands including John Lewis, Sainsburys, Boots and Burberry have made strong efforts to reign supreme during the festive period with the most impactful, emotional and creative Christmas ads around. But which ones have succeeded, and which have fallen short? Heres The Independent lifestyle desk's official ranking of the best ones: 1. Iceland: 'Say hello to Rang-tan' Rang-tan: Icelands banned TV Christmas advert protests palm oil industry One of the most widely discussed and undeniably meaningful Christmas adverts of the year has come from supermarket Iceland, who used their advert to raise awareness of the horrifying effects that palm oil plantations can have on forests and the animal species that live in them. The 90-second film captivated viewers across the country, with Emma Thompson narrating the heart-wrenching tale of an orangutan, or rang-tan as the girl in the video endearingly calls it, thats seeking refuge in a little girls bedroom after losing its home. With almost four and a half million views on YouTube, there was no question that this ad, presented in collaboration with environmental organisation Greenpeace, would top our 2018 Christmas advert list. Its as equally enchanting as it is horrifying, and has led to much discussion about the sustainability of the palm oil industry. A Christmas campaign that has an important political message, stunning visuals and a far-reaching impact - thats a winning formula in our books. 2. Sainsbury's: 'The Big Night' Sainsbury's Christmas advert The Big Night Coming in second place on our list is the Sainsburys Christmas advert, which shines a spotlight on eight-year-old Tia Isaac as she sings a show-stopping rendition of the New Radicals hit song You Get What You Give while dressed as a star for her schools festive play. This advert is an absolute delight from start to finish, especially given the parallels that can be drawn between Isaacs performance and that of Olivia Olson at the end of Love Actually. Everything about this campaign is spectacularly executed, from Isaacs growing confidence as she conquers her nerves to bring the house down with her musical talents to the hilarious costumes worn on stage by her fellow classmates (the child dressed as a plug has launched a thousand memes). The uplifting message of the advert, that you never know how far a little bit of self-belief can take you, is enough to warm the cockles of your heart. 3. Heathrow: 'The Heathrow Bears' The Heathrow Bears Return: 2018 Christmas Advert The Heathrow teddy bears are officially back! Doris and Edward Bair made headlines in 2016 when they appeared in Heathrow's seasonal ad, and have done it again by making a triumphant return in this year's festive campaign. Who can resist the tale of an elderly bear couple who return home to the UK from their sunny retirement break in Florida to spend Christmas with their family? No one, that's who (except our travel correspondent Simon Calder). This was always going to be a happy ending. As Paul Young's 'Everytime You Go Away' plays in the background, we know to expect a saccharine family reunion. Yet we are still suckered in by the magic of two plus teddies travelling home for Christmas, making this one a surefire favourite. 4. John Lewis: 'The Boy and the Piano' Elton John features in John Lewis Christmas advert for 2018 The John Lewis' Christmas advert has received quite a mixed reaction since its release, with many expecting for it to be the most sentimental and creative of them all. While John Lewis' tribute to Sir Elton John's iconic career has received praise from celebrities such as James Corden, many have expressed that it didn't live up to the hype, especially following on from the enormous success of previous John Lewis festive campaigns such as 'The Man on the Moon', 'The Bear and the Hare' and 'The Long Wait'. Don't get us wrong - we thoroughly enjoyed the campaign, particularly its beautiful cinematography and heartfelt message of the significance of childhood gifts. However, we can't help but think that it feels like a massive publicity ploy for Rocketman, the upcoming Sir Elton biopic. Perhaps we'd feel differently if the advert hadn't also coincided with Sir Elton's 2019 farewell tour. 5. Boots: 'Gifts That Get Them' Boots 2018 Christmas advert This tale of a mother and daughter bonding over the Christmas period is a surprisingly sweet offering from Boots. Sure, it doesn't leave the same impression as the Christmas adverts released by Iceland or Sainsbury's. However, for anyone who's ever felt as though they have a strained or somewhat misunderstood relationship with their parents or other close relatives, this advert will strike a chord. The teenager's display of love at the end of the film, presenting her mother with some red lipstick to wear for her next choir performance as a Christmas gift, shows just how much a small gesture can mean to someone that you care about. While the decision to rework the lyrics of Robbie Williams Shes The One into Shes Me Mum for the advert is bordering on too cheesy (which is saying a lot for a Christmas advert), the overall message of the advert has won us over, which is why it's fifth on our list. 6. Burberry: 'Close Your Eyes and Think of Christmas' Close Your Eyes and Think of Christmas: Burberry festive advert Amid the plethora of joyful, cheery Christmas adverts comes Burberrys festive campaign, which takes an eerie look at familial traditions with a star-studded cast. The short film is aesthetically stunning, shot and directed by innovative artist and photographer Juno Calypso. Of all the Christmas adverts released this year, this one is definitely one of the most visually captivating and artistic. However, whether or not it authentically captures the essence of Christmas spirit remains questionable, which is why it hasn't been awarded a higher spot on our list. How realistic is it that we'd sit at the dinner table on Christmas dressed head to toe in impeccable luxury clothing, without a spill of champagne or turkey gravy stain in sight? Not likely. 7. Waitrose: 'Mistletoe' Mistletoe: Waitrose Christmas 2018 advert Its safe to say that the Waitrose Christmas advert doesnt measure up to Heathrows lovable teddy bears or Icelands important environmental message. While this short film is fairly forgettable, the tale of a couple preparing to kiss under the mistletoe before being called away for dinner is still a delightful enough offering to make it onto the list. Not to mention, that table of food does look delicious. After weeks of anticipation, the John Lewis Christmas campaign is finally here - and the reactions are a mixed bag of praise, criticism and jokes about Brexit. The short film, named The Boy and the Piano, stars Sir Elton John and takes viewers on a journey through the iconic musicians extensive career, from the moment his grandmother bought him his first piano through to the present day. Its set to the classic hit Your Song and has been applauded online for capturing the entertainers immense talent. But other people have been less complimentary, arguing that John Lewis' ad isnt quite as festive as its competitors Christmas campaigns. Here's how the ad has been received so far. In terms of praise, some viewers have said the film tugs on their heartstrings because it highlights just how much a single gift can mean to someone, particularly towards the end when we see a young John unwrap his present to reveal a stunning piano. Others said it even made them cry. Just crying in the work kitchen at the John Lewis advert nbd [sic], wrote one person on Twitter. "Beautifully made," added another, "that song always makes me choke up and then cry a little". As for the less favourable comments, people have expressed disappointment that the ad isn't quite as festive as they'd hoped, arguing that the only direct reference to Christmas occurs at the end, with the majority of the ad consisting of flashbacks of key moments throughout Elton John's career. "It needs to be more #Chrisssmassy [sic]" wrote one person. Others said the ad feels like an extended trailer for Rocketman, the upcoming biopic on Elton John which comes out next year. "Im sorry but John Lewis got totally played with this advert. They essentially signed up to promote Eltons tour and the Rocketman movie in return for his appearance," one Twitter user wrote. Another wrote that it was "essentially just a Rocketman trailer" while one concurred, adding that this year's John Lewis Christmas ad was their least favourite from the British retail chain so far. Some people have said that the campaign won't garner anywhere near as much publicity at Iceland's Christmas ad, which was banned by advertising watchdogs for being "too political". The short animated film was made by Greenpeace and illustrated the environmental damages of using palm oil in food products via an orangutan character who had been forced to flee its destroyed habitat. British comedian Romesh Ranganathan compared the two ads in a tweet, writing: "Nobody hates orangutans more than John Lewis right now." But one of the most prominent reactions to John Lewis' ad is neither critical nor praiseworthy, as hundreds of Twitter users poke fun at the timing of the campaign coinciding with what has turned out to be one of the most dramatic days in British politics this year thanks to multiple ministerial resignations. John Lewis might be trending on Twitter, but so is #BrexitShambles in light of the news that cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey have quit their roles in protest over Theresa May's proposed Brexit plan. Cue many many jokes claiming the John Lewis, like Raab and McVey, has also "quit", while others have teased that Elton John must be "furious" that he has to "share attention with a collapsing cabinet". "My enduring memory of #Brexit will be how it buried a John Lewis Christmas ad starring fellow remainer Elton John. They were raabed [sic]," one person teased, referencing the former Brexit secretary. Another added: "My twitter timeline is essentially 50 per cent Brexit meltdown and 50 per cent John Lewis Christmas ad. Probably fairly reflective of the country as a whole." Time travel to the UK in 2025: Harry is a teenager with a smartphone and Pauline is a senior citizen with Alzheimers who relies on smart glasses for independent living. Harry is frustrated his favourite online game is slow, and Pauline is anxious because her healthcare app is unresponsive. Forbes predicts that by 2025 more than 80 billion devices, from wearables and smartphones, to factory and smart-city sensors, will be connected to the internet. Something like 180 trillion gigabytes of data will be generated that year. Currently almost all data we generate is sent to and processed in distant clouds. The cloud is a facility that provides virtually unlimited computer power and storage space over the internet. This mechanism is already becoming impractical, but by the time billions more devices are connected, delays due to congested networks will be significant. Harry and Paulines frustrations will be the norm as apps communicate with distant clouds over a busy internet, becoming slower and less responsive. Recommended Private Facebook messages being sold on the internet Disruptive technology After all, seconds matter. Harry will have a poor gaming experience if there is a 50 millisecond delay on his smartphone. Even a 10 millisecond lag between the movement of Paulines head and the appearance of processed information on the smart glasses will cause motion sickness. To imagine another futuristic scenario, a delay of one-tenth of a second could prove disastrous for an autonomous car driving at 70 miles per hour. It is not inconceivable, therefore, that limitations in cloud provisions could lead to life-or-death scenarios. For cloud users to operate in real time, experiencing delays of no more than one millisecond assuming networks worldwide can transmit data at the speed of light data will need to be processed less than 93 miles from the user. Edge computing is a disruptive new technology, still in its infancy, which offers a solution. Delays will be reduced by processing data geographically closer to the devices where it is needed, that is, at the edge of the network, instead of in a distant cloud. For example, smartphone data could be processed on a home router, and navigation guidance information on smart glasses could be obtained from a mobile base station instead of the cloud. Will this really happen? The value of edge computing is to make applications highly responsive by minimising delays. This compelling proposition has attracted significant investment from major companies, including Cisco, Dell and Arm, all of whom have a major global footprint. The market is headed towards embracing the edge, and researchers across universities are closely examining and developing this technology. 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. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. 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. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary Cost-effective application will require the edge to do a lot of data pre-processing before it is sent to the cloud. Proof of concept from pilot projects demonstrates that a variety of applications benefit from using the edge, including online games, health care apps, military applications and autonomous cars. A number of alliances, such as the OpenEdge and OpenFog consortia, are developing standards for using the edge. Even major cloud providers, including Amazon and Microsoft Azure, have developed software systems for the technology. The market is estimated to be valued between $6bn-$10bn (4.6bn-7.7bn) over the next five years. Will the cloud become obsolete? Cloud data centres are facilities with processing and storage capabilities across the globe. They are one of the central planks of modern economies. They are critical infrastructure but once processing is done at the edge, the central role of the cloud will change. The massive storage and scalable resources available in the cloud will obviously not be accessible at the edge, with its limited computing and storage capabilities. But the edge will become central for real-time processing. The edge will not exist without the cloud, but the cloud will become a slightly more passive technology. Resources required for processing and/or storage will be decentralised along the cloud/edge continuum. Safety Jason Bourne always managed to outsmart his assailants by blending in with a large rioting crowd or a busy marketplace. Thousands of cloud data breaches affecting billions of people were reported in 2017. A home router is a needle in a haystack of devices at the edge which, even if compromised, would not give access to billions of users data. So that alone is a huge plus, as mass breaches can be avoided. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Processing a users data on home router servers without leaving a data footprint outside the home network is more secure than leaving data on the cloud. More public edge devices, such as internet gateways or mobile base stations, will have the data footprint of many users. So the systems required to fully protect the edge are still a major investigative focus. Questions remain to be answered as we make the change, but the inevitable conclusion is clear: the edge will change not only the cloud but the lives of those like Harry and Pauline who depend on it every day. Blesson Varghese is a lecturer at the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen's University Belfast. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com) The price of bitcoin has plummeted to its lowest value in more than a year, as the cryptocurrency market took an abrupt downturn following the most sustained period of stability in its history. More than 10 per cent of bitcoin's value was wiped away in the space of just a few hours, with other major cryptocurrencies like ethereum and bitcoin cash experiencing similar losses. Cryptocurrency analysts have been quick to point to certain forces that may be driving the current dip. Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images Many have pointed to the imminent 'hard fork' of bitcoin cash, whereby the cryptocurrency will effectively split in two on Thursday to create a brand new cryptocurrency. "It's safe to say that bitcoin cash's upcoming hard fork stirring uncertainty among crypto investors, and forecasters across crypto and traditional markets alike have predicted a prolonged bear market heading into 2019," Donald Bullers, North American representative for the blockchain firm Elastos, said in an email to The Independent. "Crypto investors have proven to be highly reactive to changes across the landscape, and this dip could be the most recent case study of that phenomenon." Recommended Hundreds of people lose thousands of dollars falling for Musk scam This uncertainty meant bitcoin cash experienced some of the biggest losses, having been one of the only significant cryptocurrencies to experience price gains over the last few weeks. "In the first week of November, wile the markets for the main large cryptos were flat, bitcoin cash was the only major cryptocurrency shooting up," said Angel Versetti, CEO of Ambrosus, an internet-connected sensor firm that utlises blockchain technology. "It created strong expectations and pulled the price up, resulting in outflow of money from other cryptocurrencies. However, now that [Thursday's] split is looming and the outcome is yet undefined, this has impacted the outflow of money from bitcoin cash... As people are moving into fiat, cryptocurrencies are taking a fall." Bitcoin's lack of major market movement came crashing to an end late on 14 November (CoinMarketCap) The market-wide crash, which saw the price of bitcoin fall below $5,600 (4,300) for the first time since October 2017, follows a remarkable period of stability for the notoriously volatile cryptocurrency. Since early September, bitcoin had traded in a narrow range between $6,000 and $7,000, following months of steady losses that had seen it fall from a high close to $20,000 in late 2017. Earlier this week, cryptocurrency experts said the lack of major market movements is likely just the "calm before the storm." This prediction was not necessarily for a price crash, however, with some analysts anticipating a surge in value over the final weeks of 2018. Despite the crash, some crypto experts still believe there could be an upswing in the market in the coming months, under certain conditions. "We believe that there are three likely catalysts that could result in a crypto market turnaround in the next six months," Rohit Kulkarni, managing director of private investment research at SharePost, told The Independent. "These are: A greater clarity from regulators which could embolden the market; A select group of blockchain startups that have completed token offerings in the past year finally announcing innovative commercial products; And the piling up of institutional capital triggering investors to call the bottom of the market." Facebook has admitted that employees are encouraged to use Android smartphones instead of iPhones, but denies claims that this is because Apple CEO Tim Cook "infuriated" Mark Zuckerberg. The Facebook founder ordered executives to not use iPhones after Mr Cook criticised firms who monetise their customers' data, according to The New York Times. In a blog post responding to the report, the social network acknowledged that there had been disagreements between Mr Zuckerberg and Mr Cook in the past, though did not say explicitly that this contributed to the firm's phone policy. "Tim Cook has consistently criticised our business model and Mark has been equally clear he disagrees," the post stated. "So there's been no need to employee anyone else to do this for us. It went onto point out that Apple's operating system is not the biggest in the world. "And we've long encouraged our employees and executives to use Android because it is the most popular operating system in the world." Apple had not responded to a written request for comment from The Independent at the time of publication. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Show all 9 1 /9 How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Lock your profile down If you havent done this already, do it now. In Settings, hit the Privacy tab. From here, you can control who gets to see your future posts and friends list. Choose from Public, Friends, Only Me and Custom in the dropdown menu. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Limit old posts Annoyingly, changing this has no effect on whos able to see your past Facebook posts. Instead, on the Privacy page, you have to click on Limit Past Posts, then select Limit Old Posts and finally hit Confirm on the pop-up. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Make yourself harder to find You can stop completely random people from adding you by selecting Friends of Friends from the dropdown menu in the Who can send you friend requests? section of the Privacy page. Its also worth limiting who can find your Facebook profile with your number and email address. At the bottom of the page is the option to prevent search engines outside of Facebook from linking to your profile. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Control access to your Timeline You can limit who gets to post things on your Timeline and who gets to see posts on your Timeline too. In Settings, go to Timeline and Tagging and edit the sections you want to lock down. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Block people When you block someone, they wont be able to see things you post on your Timeline, tag you, invite you to events or groups, start conversations with you or add you as a friend. To do it, go to Settings and Blocking. Annoyingly, you have to block people on Messenger separately. You can also add friends to your Restricted list here, which means theyll still be friends with you but will only be able to see your public posts and things you share on a mutual friend's Timeline. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Review tags One of Facebooks handiest privacy features is the ability to review posts youre tagged in before they appear on your Timeline. Theyll still be visible on the News Feed while theyre fresh, but wont be tied to your profile forever. In Timeline and Tagging, enable Timeline review controls. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Clean up your apps You can view a list of all of the apps youve connected to your Facebook account by going to Settings and Apps. The list might be longer than you expected it to be. Its worth tidying this up to ensure things you no longer use lose access to your personal information. If you dont want to log into websites and apps with your facebook account, scroll down and turn Platform off. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Change your ad preferences You can view a list of everything Facebook thinks youre into and tinker with your ad preferences by going to Settings and Adverts. A lot more information is displayed on the desktop site than the app, so wed recommend doing this on a computer. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Download your data Facebook lets you download all of the data it has on you, including the posts youve shared, your messages and photos, ads youve clicked on and even the IP addresses that are logged when you log in or out of the site. Its a hell of a lot of information, which you should download to ensure you never over-share on the social network again. Following the Cambridge Analytica data scandal which saw the personal data of around 87 million Facebook users harvested for the purpose of political profiling Mr Cook spoke out publicly about the importance of privacy. "The truth is, we could make a ton of money if we monetised our customer data if customer was our product. We've elected not to do that," Mr Cook said in an interview with MSNBC earlier this year. "We're not going to traffic in your personal life. Privacy to us is a human right. It's a civil liberty." These comments reportedly "infuriated" Mr Zuckerberg, who subsequently ordered Facebook executives to use Android phones instead of iPhones, reasoning that more Facebook users accessed the platform using non-Apple smartphones. Recommended Facebook shareholders file proposal to kick Mark Zuckerberg out The latest report also claimed that Facebook hired a PR firm called Definers Public Affairs, in order to help push negative content about its rivals, including Apple and Google. "We wanted to address the issue of Definers, who we ended our contract with last night," Facebook wrote in its blog post. "The New York Times is wrong to suggest that we ever asked Definers to pay for or write articles on Facebooks behalf or to spread misinformation." Nasa has revealed more about Oumuamua, the piece of space rock so strange that some scientists have suggested it could be an alien spacecraft. The space agency revealed that it could not see the object with its Spitzer Space Telescope. And that could reveal important clues about what it actually is. Oumuamua passed by Earth in September 2017, becoming the first known interstellar visitor ever to make its way to our solar system from another one. As it flew by, researchers rushed to learn more about it, pointing telescopes and other instruments towards it in an attempt to learn as much as posisble before it disappeared out the other side of the solar system. Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427 more commonly known as WR 124 and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region Spitzer tried to pick out the rock in November, around two months after its closest approach. It failed to see it but that failure puts a limit on how big the rock can be, since if it was large enough it would have been spotted, according to a new paper published in the Astronomical Journal and coauthored by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. That helps to lead credence to the theory that the relatively small object is being pushed along by gas that was being thrown out of the object. That gave the effect of adding thrust as it travelled through the solar system, speeding it up. It was that strange speeding up behaviour that led scientists to suggest that it could be an alien probe, sent past Earth by a distant civilisation. The extra propulsion could be caused by the object working as a lightsail, designed to be carried along by solar radiation, Harvard scientists recently suggested. The alternative and more accepted theory of frozen gases inside the object being expelled and pushing it along was dependent on Oumuamua being smaller than typical comets inside of our solar system. With the determination that it probably is, the research seems to suggest theories about it being an alien spacecraft are less likely. "Oumuamua has been full of surprises from day one, so we were eager to see what Spitzer might show," said David Trilling, lead author on the new study and a professor of astronomy at Northern Arizona University. "The fact that Oumuamua was too small for Spitzer to detect is actually a very valuable result." Actor Rob Delaney, star of hit comedy Catastrophe, has announced that he's going to be delivering a story on CBeebies Bedtime Stories using Makaton, a version of sign language that he used to communicate with his son Henry. Henry passed away in January this year at the age of two after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Prior to his son's death, Delaney and the rest of his family used Makaton to converse with Henry, who was unable to speak after undergoing a tracheotomy. When was Makaton first developed, who uses it and why is it beneficial? Here's everything you need to know: What is Makaton? Makaton is a language programme that uses signs and symbols to help individuals who are unable to communicate efficiently through speech do so in an alternative way. The signs used in Makaton have been designed to emulate those used in British Sign Language (BSL). Recommended Rob Delaney to deliver first CBeebies Bedtime Story in sign language However, in contrast to BSL, Makaton is always used in conjunction with speech. Makaton was first developed in the 1970s by Margaret Walker MBE, Kathy Johnston and Tony Cornforth, speech and language therapists who all worked together at the Royal Association for Deaf people. The term "Makaton" was created by combining the first syllables of each of their names. Makaton has been adapted for use in more than 40 countries, including Poland, Australia, Greece and Japan. Why is it used? The aim of Makaton is to help people with speech difficulties improve their communication skills, explains The Makaton Charity. Recommended Starbucks opens first sign language store in US The signs and symbols used to communicate with Makaton are used in the same order as they would be if the words were spoken aloud, so as to support and encourage the development of spoken language. When conversing using Makaton signs and symbols, people are encouraged to also use speech at the same time in order to improve their communication skills. However, as the charity explains, it is a learning curve that requires practise. Makaton can be used in a variety of ways depending on an individual's needs and preferences, such as in everyday conversation, when playing games and when telling stories. Who does it benefit? More than 100,000 children and adults use Makaton signs and symbols to communicate, according to The Makaton Charity. The sign language programme is especially beneficial for people who have learning or communication difficulties, including those with conditions such as autism or Down's syndrome. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events It can also be helpful for people such as stroke patients who are experiencing problems with their speech. Furthermore, Makaton can be used to help young children who haven't learnt to speak yet develop their communication skills, as CBeebies explains. Riverhead Infants' School in Kent uses Makaton to helps its students learn how to communicate effectively with one another and with their teachers. Outsourcing company makes mess. Taxpayer forced to step in and clean up mess. That has become a depressingly familiar sequence in recent years. During the 2012 Olympics G4S proved unable to fulfil its contractual obligation to provide 10,000 security guards, compelling the government to deploy army personnel. When Carillion went bust at the start of this year hundreds of schools and hospitals were left without an array of support services, including the provision of meals. The government had to provide funding to fill the gap. British universities are struggling to keep pace with global institutions in preparing students for the modern workplace, a new report on world rankings suggests. The UK has experienced a sharp drop in performance for graduate employability at its universities over this decade following intensified global competition, the analysis finds. The Global University Employability Ranking, published by Times Higher Education (THE), lists the top 150 institutions for employability based on a survey of 7,000 major employers around the world. Recommended UK loses spot as second most represented nation in university rankings The UK has 10 universities in the annual ranking this year, compared to 15 institutions in 2011 - when it was the second most represented nation in the graduate employability table. Since 2011, the countrys overall performance has declined more than any other European nation. Meanwhile, Germany has more than doubled its number of institutions in the top 150. Experts say the international outlook of Asian universities- and the increased use of the English language in universities in other countries - are key factors for the UKs decline. Firms increasingly cite East Asian institutions as top producers of workplace-ready graduates. South Korea has leapt from one university in the top 150 in 2011 to six this year, the report says. Simon Baker, data editor at THE, said: The new data analysis reveals a substantial global shift in graduate employability this decade. We see a dramatically improved performance within East Asia and parts of Europe. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events By-and-large, the highest risers are those equipping students with softer skills increasingly favoured among recruiters, such as teamwork combined with the strongest possible industry experience. He added: In contrast, we can also track the extent of the decline since 2011 among traditionally dominant countries like the US and UK. The increasingly international outlook of Asian universities, as well as the use of English becoming more widespread removing a natural competitive advantage of the UK and US have been two key factors behind this. Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Show all 20 1 /20 Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Harvard University Flickr/Michael Hicks Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Cambridge University Flickr/John Menard Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Oxford University, All Souls College Tejvan Pettinger/CC BY 2.0 Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Massachusetts Institute of Technology Flickr/Justin Jensen Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Stanford University Flickr/Franco Folini Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine John Hopkins University Flickr/David Wilson Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Karolinska Institutet, Main entrance from Solnavagen with the 'Aula Medica' in the background Creative Commons Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine University of California, Los Angeles campus Flickr/Tzuhsun Hsu Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine University of California, Hastings College of Law Flickr/Ken Lund Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Flickr/Lauren Manning Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine UCL University, London Flickr/Neil Turner Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Imperial College, London Flickr/Andrew Crump Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine University of Melbourne Flickr/Geoff Penaluna Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Berkeley University Flickr/Charlie Nguyen Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine University of Toronto Flickr/Umair Khan Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine The Geisel Library on the San Diego campus of the University of California Flickr/O Palsson Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine University of Sydney Flickr/Jason Tong Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Kings College London iStock Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine Duke University Flickr/Carine06 Best Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine University of Singapore Flickr/smuconlaw Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: As the recent CBI/Pearson report shows, the demand for UK graduates by UK employers is still strong, and continues to grow. But he added: It is clear that to maintain our world leading position we must start matching our competitors increased investment in higher education. Rumours of a cut in tuition fees, together with the impact of Brexit on research funding, and uncertainty over the status of international staff and students, risk putting the global reputation of our universities at risk. Global University Employability Rankings total number of institutions per country/region: Country/region Number of universities included in 2018 ranking Number of universities included in 2011 ranking USA 34 55 Germany 13 6 France 10 12 UK 10 15 China 7 4 Switzerland 7 6 Canada 6 7 Netherlands 6 4 South Korea 6 1 Australia 5 5 Table: Emerging Six light years away, a super-Earth planet has been found orbiting beyond our solar system - a discovery astronomers hope will help them with their research on more distant parts of the universe. Super-Earths are planets with masses larger than the Earth itself, although not as large as giant planets like Uranus, which is more than 14 times larger the our planet. It was discovered orbiting Barnard's star, one of the nearest neighbouring stars to our own solar system. Recommended More than 100 new exoplanets found Smaller and older than our sun, Barnard's star belongs to a category of relatively small celestial objects known as red dwarfs. Astronomers have identified these as the best places to search for exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. "Barnard's star is an infamous object among astronomers and exoplanet scientists, as it was one of the first stars where planets were initially claimed but later proven to be incorrect, said Dr Guillem Anglada Escude from Queen Mary University of London. Hopefully we got it right this time." Artists impression of Barnards Star planet under the orange tinted light from the star. (IEEC/Science-Wave - Guillem Ramisa) Reporting their findings in the journal Nature, the scientists said that after careful analysis of nearly two decades worth of data they are 99 per cent confident the exoplanet they have identified is there. It is located beyond the habitable zone for its star, at a distance beyond the so-called snow line at which liquid water and any possible chance of life cannot exist. Planets beyond our solar system are extremely faint compared to the stars they orbit, meaning they are difficult to identify even using the largest telescopes currently available. Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427 more commonly known as WR 124 and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region As a result, most of what astronomers know about they mysterious worlds comes from indirect measurements of variations in light beamed down to Earth from the exoplanets host stars. One technique that uses such measurements is known as radial velocity, which can be used to assess wobbles the planets gravity creates in the stars orbit. These wobbles affect the light coming from the star, which can then be detected by astronomers. "This technique has been used to find hundreds of planets," said Dr Paul Butler, a team member from the Carnegie Institution for Science who helped pioneer the method. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events "We now have decades of archival data at our disposal. The precision of new measurements continues to improve, opening the doors to new parameters of space, such as super-Earth planets in cool orbits like Barnard's star b." The scientists want to collect more data to confirm the planets presence, and say it could provide an excellent target to test using the latest in space observation technology such as Nasas planned Wide Field Infra Red Survey Telescope. If using such technologies they can observe the planet directly, it will open up their understanding of the kinds of planets that are forming around other stars in distant space. A Leave voter who said he regretted his support for Brexit has broken down in tears during a live radio show. The caller, who described himself as an "old-fashioned git", apologised to James O'Brien during the journalist and broadcaster's LBC phone-in show. It came the same day the government was thrown into chaos after a series of ministers handed in their resignations over Theresa May's draft Brexit deal. Follow all the latest Brexit developments on our live blog. "I owe you an apology my dear, fellow. I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong," the man said. "I think you're absolutely right." He continued: "Do you know what, you were right and I was wrong. For some reason I thought we were better off and clearly I was wrong." Mr O'Brien, a prominent Remainer and supporter of The Independent's Final Say referendum, told the caller, Bill from Exmouth, to blame politicians who had been "whispering in your ear". "I was wrong, I am so sorry. What have I done to my country? I'm so sorry," Bill said as he became audibly distraught. "Theres 17.4 million people you cant take all the blame on your own shoulders my friend," Mr O'Brien responded. "Look at the effort. These people are billionaires." Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" He continued: "They wouldnt have spent all that money and put all that effort into trying to persuade you to act against your own interests if they didnt think it was plausible. Im not going to let you blame yourself, Bill. No. Blame them, Bill." Police have accused the government of leaving them with no idea of how they will protect the British public after Brexit, amid disarray following the unveiling of the draft withdrawal agreement. Ministerial resignations sparked fears Sajid Javid would be moved out of his post as home secretary, during crucial contingency planning and financial negotiations. The draft agreement makes no mention of Europol and says the UK would be locked out of EU tools including the Schengen Information System (SIS II), European Arrest Warrant and European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) when the transition period ends. The Police Federation, which represents 120,000 rank-and-file officers, said they had "no idea what the policing landscape will look like post 29 March 2019. Simon Kempton, the lead for operational policing, added: If anything, the resignation of ministers and MPs in the last 24 hours make the policing position even more precarious as the government still has to try to get the draft deal through parliament. In a nutshell, until we know what we are planning for, we cannot plan for it. He said the National Police Coordination Centre was doing its best but did not have the information necessary. Crime is no respecter of borders but we are still no closer to understanding what the Brexit process will mean for the current EU data sharing and co-operation tools, Mr Kempton said. The fight against terrorism could also be severely hampered with our ability to map and track terrorist and criminal networks across Europe reduced. Ministerial resignations provoked fear among police that Sajid Javid would leave the Home Office, amid progress on financial negotiations (PA) The safety and security of its citizens is the highest duty of any government, and I ask our own to recognise the difficult situation that the police service are in, by providing the clarity we need to ensure the transition through the Brexit process is as safe and orderly as possible for everybody. Challenging the prime minister during a lengthy parliamentary debate on Thursday, the Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper pointed out that SIS II is used by police more than 500 million times every year. Cross-border crime and security threats are at their highest ever level, the Labour MP said. The prime minister knows that these measures save lives, stop criminals and stop terrorists, so how can she of all people say with her head and heart that this public safety downgrade is in the national interest? Ms May said the government was working on swift and effective arrangements to allow extraditions between the UK and EU that would replace the European Arrest Warrant. But she admitted that the instrument used for that will be part of the further negotiations. The prime minister said the importance of SIS II and ECRIS was recognised and would be taken forward with the EU. Opposition from both pro- and anti-Brexit MPs makes the deals acceptance unlikely, and even if it were to be adopted continued security cooperation is dependent on a separate bespoke treaty being negotiated. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" Mark Burns-Williamson, chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said progress on the security treaty doesnt seem to be very far on at all. If there is a major cabinet reshuffle that isnt helpful, given that Mr Javid hasnt been in the role for very long anyway, he told The Independent. We dont want a Ministry of Justice scenario where its a revolving door at ministerial level because departments have to put things on hold it is a worry regarding the instability that Brexit may well bring. I think security has gone very much under the radar as a Brexit issue, people have taken for granted some of these hard-won protocols that have been put in place over the years, Mr Burns-Williamson said, adding that the fall-back options would put additional strain on police and slow down investigations. Both the home secretary and policing minister have admitted that any replacements for EU systems will be sub-optimal and contingency planning for a no-deal scenario on security continues apace. The National Police Chiefs Council said its national Brexit unit is continuing work on a reversion to tools including Interpol, bilateral channels and Council of Europe conventions to enable extradition of suspects, trace missing people and share intelligence about crime and terrorism. The alternatives we are planning to use, where they exist, are without exception slower, more bureaucratic and ultimately less effective, chair Sara Thornton warned earlier this year. We have agreed a model that minimises the risks and makes best use of already pressured police resources. It does not predict a worst-case scenario but it does prepare for it. As well as a loss of intelligence and operational capacity, police are also preparing for potential protests, public disorder and border disruption over Brexit. Notorious inmate Charles Bronson has been cleared of trying to cause grievous bodily harm a senior prison officer. The 65 year old was said to have lunged at HMP Wakefield governor Mark Docherty in January, during a confrontation at the jail over photos from the prisoners wedding. Mr Docherty, who had been holding a welfare meeting with the Bronson at the time of the incident, told Leeds Crown Court that Bronson had pinned him to the floor and said: I will bite your f***ing nose off and I will gouge your eyes out. Custodial manager Steven Coomber and a number of colleagues intervened to restrain Bronson, Mr Docherty told the court. Representing himself at Leeds Crown Court, Bronson denied the allegations levelled against him, insisting he intended to put Mr Docherty in a gentle bear hug and whisper wheres my wifes photos? in his ear when he tripped, or was tripped by someone, and fell. The criminal, famously considered by some to be the most violent inmate currently held in British jails, said: For the first time in 44 years in prison I never intended to be violent. I never meant to hurt the governor. Bronson, who stood trail under the name Charles Salvador, had earlier admitted he partly blamed the governor at Wakefields segregation unit after he was told photographs of his prison wedding to Coronation Street actress Paula Williamson two months earlier would no longer be allowed to leave the jail until his release. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Jurors found Bronson not guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, after deliberating for just short of three hours on Thursday. During the trial, prosecutor Carl Fitch outlined a number of Bronsons previous convictions, including one for actual bodily harm against the governor of HMP Woodhill in 2014. Bronson, born Michael Peterson, is serving a life sentence for robbery and kidnap. Additional reporting by PA Theresa May is set to face a no-confidence vote from her own party on Wednesday evening over her handling of Brexit. The chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Sir Graham Brady, has announced he has received letters expressing disapproval of Ms May from more than 15 per cent of MPs (meaning 48 at present). Passing this threshold obliges Sir Graham to trigger a no-confidence ballot of party members on the prime ministers future. The scales have finally been tipped against Ms May after she cancelled a meaningful vote on her EU Withdrawal Agreement, due to take place in the House of Commons on Tuesday, in order to return to Europe to seek further concessions from EU leaders, apparently without success. The development is embarrassing for the embattled prime minister on a personal level, given that she has fought doggedly to deliver Brexit despite widespread dissatisfaction with her terms, vocal Remain opposition, campaigns for a second referendum and the resignation of several key cabinet ministers. If the prime minister survives the new vote taking place between 6pm and 8pm tonight place and sees off a leadership challenge, she would be rewarded with a years immunity from a fresh coup attempt under the rules of the 1922. But if she were to lose, she would be obliged to step down and allow for the election of a replacement, once again plunging Westminster into chaos, a circumstance she has emphatically cautioned against. Even if she were to win the initial battle, however, she could still lose the war. If a large enough minority of MPs vote against her 100 is thought to be in the region of the magic number then her cabinet may advise her to step down anyway. Under Sir Graham, a no-confidence letter is held on file indefinitely once submitted, unless the author asks for it to be withdrawn. Previously, they would have had to renew their objection on an annual basis. To prevent disgruntled members conspiring against their boss in cloak-and-dagger fashion, the process is a blind one, with only the committees chairman knowing for sure how many letters have been submitted at any one time. The 1922, which meets in Parliaments oak-panelled Committee Room 14 at 5pm every Wednesday afternoon, is named after the historic Carlton Club meeting between Tory rebels Stanley Baldwin and Bonar Law on 19 October 1922, in which the men successfully plotted the withdrawal of the party from its coalition with David Lloyd Georges Liberals. Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Show all 11 1 /11 Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Independent Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mirror Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Express Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Financial Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Telegraph Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The i Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Guardian Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Scotsman Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mail Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Metro Initially a private dining club, the men in grey suits have enjoyed their reputation for organised dissent ever since. They wield considerable power. The prime minister is expected to appear before its assembled members to give an account of themselves at least once a quarter and whenever a significant political event takes place. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events All six most senior members of its executive Sir Graham, Cheryl Gillan, Charles Walker, Bob Blackman, Nigel Evans and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown voted for Brexit. The sextet, which gathers an hour before the midweek huddle, is unlikely to back Theresa May any further if they do not agree with her plans for Britains exit from Europe and could become dangerous enemies. Close Brexit deal: Theresa May's draft withdrawal agreement explained Theresa May has been forced to defend her Brexit plan to MPs just moments after cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey dealt her authority a major blow by resigning from the government. The prime minister secured the uneasy support of her cabinet for the draft deal with Brussels after a stormy five-hour meeting on Wednesday night. Ms May also faces the growing prospect of a vote of no confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party, as MPs, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, began publishing their letters sent to the party's 1922 committee - calling for the PM to step down. See below for updates as they happened The Brexit deal struck between Britain and the EU is lose-lose and about damage control, the president of the European Council has said. Speaking in Brussels on Thursday morning after the late night release of the withdrawal agreement Donald Tusk said he did not share the enthusiasm of Theresa May for Brexit. But Mr Tusk nevertheless endorsed the agreement, stating that it achieved the EUs two main objectives: the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit, and securing the vital interest and principles of the 28 member states and the European Union as a whole. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, who gave a statement alongside him, also hit back at UK critics of the plan branding it fair and balanced. Mr Tusk told reporters: I took good note of Prime Minister Mays statement yesterday. Of course I dont share the prime ministers enthusiasm about Brexit as such. Since the very beginning we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and that our negotiations are only about damage control. The comments by the Council president are likely to be ammunition for those in the UK on both the Remain and Leave sides who say the deal struck by Mr May gives little benefit to the UK. I dont share the prime ministers enthusiasm about Brexit as such Donald Tusk, European Council president He added: As much as I am sad to see you leave I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible for both you and for us. Chief negotiator Mr Barnier defended the fundamentals of the plan. Speaking alongside Mr Tusk he added: What we have agreed at negotiators level is fair and balanced, organises the withdrawal in an orderly fashion, ensures no hard border on the island of Ireland, and lays the ground for an ambitious new partnership. 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 comes after deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand privately told EU member states that the plan would allow the UK to keep all control with the UK died into Brussels regulations. The deal, with polls suggest is likely to be unpopular with the public, is facing sustained criticism from all sides in Westminster. Labour this morning confirmed it would vote against the plan, with the opposition expected to be to be joined by MPs from the DUP, as well as both remainers and leavers from Theresa Mays own conservative party. Labour will vote against Theresa May's "miserable failure" of a Brexit deal, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The party's Brexit secretary criticised the agreement and said Labour could not back the deal during a vote in parliament. Ms May revealed that her cabinet had reached a collective decision on the draft Brexit deal that had been struck by negotiators this week. Following a lengthy cabinet meeting in which a number of senior ministers criticised the deal, Ms May met with DUP leader Arlene Foster and then Jeremy Corbyn. Now, Labour's Brexit secretary has confirmed that the party would be voting against Ms May's agreement. Sir Keir said the deal was "not good enough for manufacturing and services" and also did not have the necessary safeguards to protect rights. "We said we would judge the deal once we had seen it. We have now read and analysed the 500 or so pages. It is a miserable failure of negotiation, Sir Keir said on Sky News. There is huge detail on issues like the backstop that the government says it does not intend to use and on then on the question on what you intend to use and the future relationship there is seven pages. We will vote against this deal because it does not meet our tests. I dont think anybody would sign up to a document without knowing where it was heading. Sir Keir added that he believed the agreement would make striking future trade deals more difficult. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty The comments come as it was announced that MPs could be given the opportunity to table amendments on the governments' motion. Sources who spoke with Ms May suggested they believed that ministers were heading towards agreeing that MPs will be able to vote on amendments before voting on the deal itself. The development raises the prospect that MPs may only back the deal if certain conditions are met - for example, that there is a Final Say referendum. Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara has quit the government in protest at Theresa Mays Brexit deal, which he claimed would leave the UK in a half-way house outside the EU. The news will come as a major blow to the prime minister, who is on high alert for resignations after the Cabinet finally approved her draft agreement with Brussels in a dramatic five-hour meeting on Wednesday. It also comes amid widespread speculation that furious Conservative MPs could topple Ms May by submitting enough letters of no confidence to trigger a leadership challenge. Mr Vara, a former lawyer, was appointed as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office earlier this year, aamid deep concerns over how to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit. In a statement posted on Twitter, he said: The EU referendum offered a simple choice to either stay in or leave the EU. The result was decisive with the UK public voting to leave, and that is what we as their elected representatives, must deliver. The agreement put forward however, does not do that as it leaves the UK in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation. Mr Vara added: We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better. His resignation plunges Ms Mays deal into fresh turmoil only hours before she will attempt to sell the agreement to MPs, in what promises to be a dramatic Commons appearance. The prime minister also faces a battle to get the deal through parliament as Brexiteer Tories - as well as some Remainers lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government, have been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson led praise for Mr Vara, who he described as a man of his word. Influential Tory Brexiteer Steve Baker also backed him, saying Shailesh Vara is right. Many of us will not accept this dreadful deal. His resignation came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an emergency summit to seal the Brexit deal on November 25. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 November 2021 The scene at a recycling centre in Stert, near Devizes in Wiltshire after a large blaze was brought under control. The fire broke out on Wednesday night the fire service has said and local residents were advised to keep windows and doors shut due to large amounts of smoke PA UK news in pictures 17 November 2021 The sun rises over South Shields Lighthouse, on the North East coast of England PA 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 Mr Tusk said the draft deal was lose-lose and about damage control, and told reporters that he did not share Ms Mays enthusiasm for Brexit. However endorsed the agreement, stating that it achieved the EUs two main objectives: the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit, and securing the vital interest and principles of the 28 member states and the European Union as a whole. A growing majority of voters would back the UK remaining in the European Union if a fresh referendum was held, a poll suggests. Support for the UK staying in the bloc was at 54 per cent, according to a YouGov survey carried out after Theresa Mays withdrawal agreement text was published on Wednesday night. The poll found 46 per cent would back the Leave side down two percentage points compared with a survey conducted in August. Almost six in ten (59 per cent) also backed holding a fresh referendum once dont knows were discounted the poll, commissioned by the Peoples Vote and published in the Evening Standard, found. If Ms Mays deal is voted down by MPs, that gap widened to 64 per cent to 36 per cent, excluding dont knows. It comes after The Independent launched the Final Say campaign for the public to have a vote on Ms Mays Brexit deal, with a petition that has garnered more than one million supporters. The poll of 1,153 people found 46 per cent of people believed that, under the proposed Brexit deal, younger people will be worse off compared with their parents generation. Just 15 per cent said they believed children today would end up better off as a result of the deal agreed with Brussels. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" A majority also said they feared taxes would rise (43 per cent, against 30 per cent who said they would stay the same and 4 per cent who believed they would go down) and the NHS would get worse (40 per cent, compared with 29 per cent who said it would stay the same and 14 per cent who said it would improve). Little more than one in 10 (12 per cent) believed the UK was going to get a good deal with the EU. Ms Mays deal came under a hail of criticism in the House of Commons, where only a handful of Tories spoke in favour of an agreement thrashed out over 19 months of intensive negotiations. There was laughter from opposition benches when the PM said her deal would allow the UK to leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way on 29 March. The part of Theresa Mays Brexit deal about Britains future relationship with the EU is not finished and could still be changed by EU member states in the coming days, Brussels has said. Last night Downing Street and the European Commission jointly published a draft withdrawal agreement, and alongside it an outline of the future relationship Britain will have with the EU in areas like customs, regulations, and security. But it is understood that some member state governments have concerns about the deal struck by the Commission, and whether the plans could give the UK a competitive advantage. Michel Barnier, the EUs chief negotiator hinted there could be changes to the text, saying it needed to be finalised while European Council president Donald Tusk said EU countries would have two days to raise objections. Mr Barnier told reporters in Brussels: Our work is not finished. We still have a have a long road ahead of us on both sides. For my side, the next few days, we will all work on the text of the political declaration for the future relationship with the member states, as well as the European Parliament. This work will now be intense. Our goal is to finalise this political declaration with the UK so the European Council can endorse it. Speaking alongside him, Mr Tusk said member states would have time to raise concerns with the document over the next two days. The agreement is now being analysed by all the member states. By the end of this week the EU27 ambassadors will meet in order to share their assessment of this agreement, he said. They will also discuss the mandate for the commission to finalise the joint political declaration for the future declaration. The commission intends to agree the declaration with the political declaration by Tuesday. Over the following 48 hours the member states will have time to evaluate it. The commission intends to agree the declaration with the political declaration by Tuesday. Over the following 48 hours the member states will have time to evaluate it. Donald Tusk He added that if nothing extraordinary happens a summit would be held on Sunday November 25 to sign off the agreements. EU diplomats said the timescale for organising the summit was tight and that delays could derail the process. Member state ambassadors gathered in Brussels on Wednesday night, simultaneously with Theresa Mays cabinet. They were briefed by deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand on the withdrawal agreement and future relationship outline; EU sources suggested a number of interventions were made about the documents, some but not all relating to process. But the overrunning meeting in London meant the Brussels gathering broke up without conclusion, because it relied on the UK cabinet having signed off the plans. People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Show all 30 1 /30 People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Rex People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young protestor shouts as she takes part in the People's Vote demonstration against Brexit Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A protester's pro-EU t-shirt EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Gina Miller and Caroline Lucas EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Demonstrators at the People's Vote March Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal 'Two months too young to decide on my future' REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young girl joins in the march PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal An EU flag is draped across the statue of Winston Chruchill in Parliament Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Vince Cable MP, Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller, Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP join with crowds PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Crowds gather on Pall Mall PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A man resembling Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, joins EU supporters Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People gather in Trafalgar Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller and Tony Robinson PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march REUTERS While the actual legal nuts and bolts of any trade deal will be negotiated after Britain leaves in March 2019, leaders had pledged to produce a framework for the future relationship to spell out the broad nature of the trade plan. It is that that MPs, alongside the withdrawal agreement, will get to vote on. The withdrawal agreement itself meanwhile covers so-called separation issues like Northern Ireland, citizens rights, and the financial settlement. MPs could be given the opportunity to force a fresh referendum on Brexit before voting on Theresa May's proposed withdrawal agreement, it emerged last night, after the prime minister held a series of late-night conversations with opposition parties. Sources who spoke with Ms May suggested they believed that ministers were heading towards agreeing that MPs will be able to vote on amendments to the government's motion before voting on the deal itself. The significant development raises the prospect that Parliament could vote to approve the deal only if certain conditions are met - for example, that it is put to the public via a Final Say referendum. While opposition figures who discussed the matter with the prime minister said they did not believe the exact arrangements for giving Parliament a "meaningful vote" on the Brexit deal had been fully confirmed, they suggested the government's "direction of travel" was to allow amendments to be voted on before the the vote on the deal itself. Recommended May admits Final Say vote can stop Brexit as cabinet passes deal One said: "They appear to be heading in the direction of allowing votes on amendments before the vote on the deal. That was their direction of travel." The revelation came after Ms May held a lengthy meeting in her House of Commons office with DUP leader Arlene Foster, followed, at 10pm, by a 20-minute meeting with Jeremy Corbyn. She also spoke by phone with Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Wales' Carwyn Jones and Sinn Fein leaders. The order of parliamentary votes on Ms May's proposed agreement has been a matter of fierce debate, with opposition parties insisting that amendments must be considered before the vote on the motion itself. Some MPs believe this would give them the opportunity to force the government to meet certain conditions, either relating to the substance of the deal or to a fresh public vote. The Commons procedure committee is considering the issue and is set to make a recommendation on the order in which votes should be held. Opposition parties said they believed No 10 had recognised growing calls for MPs to be allowed to vote on the amendments first. "They're coming under a lot of pressure from all sides", said one source. "They were clearly aware of that pressure." A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A senior Labour source said Mr Corbyn had told the prime minister she must prioritise "full parliamentary sovereignty". "Jeremy pressed the importance of full parliamentary sovereignty, including giving Parliament and committees sufficient time and information for serious scrutiny of the deal", they said. Ms Sturgeon said Ms May had tried to persuade her that Scotland's "distinctive" interests had been protected in the proposed deal. She said: "I pointed out that there isn't a single mention of Scotland in the agreement, that it disregards our interests, and puts Scotland at a serious competitive disadvantage." Mr Jones said he had spoken to Ms May and "consistently made clear the need for full and unfettered access to [the] single market to protect [the] economy and Welsh jobs". The EU is prepared for Britain to cancel Brexit, the president of the European Council has said. Speaking in Brussels after a day of turmoil in Westminster, Donald Tusk said a no-Brexit scenario was still on the cards and that the EU would be ready for it. It comes after EU officials warned that the controversial deal struck by Theresa May is the best we can do given the prime ministers red lines and the blocs own rules. Ms May admitted this week that no Brexit was a possibility if her deal is voted down itself an increasingly likely prospect. Mr Tusk said on Thursday morning that even with the agreement, Brexit was lose-lose and about damage control. Speaking later in the day he went further, telling reporters in Brussels: The EU is prepared for a final deal with the United Kingdom in November. We are also prepared for a no-deal scenario but of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario. Speaking early in the morning alongside chief negotiator Michel Barnier, Mr Tusk said he did not share Ms Mays assessment of Britains future prospects under the deal. Of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario Donald Tusk, president of European Council I took good note of prime minister Mays statement yesterday, he said. Of course, I dont share the prime ministers enthusiasm about Brexit as such. Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and that our negotiations are only about damage control. The comments by the Council president are likely to be ammunition for those in the UK on both the Remain and Leave sides who say the deal struck by Ms May gives little benefit to Britain. A spate of ministers have resigned from the cabinet and Tory Brexiteers, Labour, and the DUP all say they would vote against it. But the prospect of the UK staying in is thought to be the governments biggest trump card in encouraging Tory backbenchers to vote for a plan they do not want. Mr Barnier defended the fundamentals of the plan, stating: What we have agreed at negotiators level is fair and balanced, organises the withdrawal in an orderly fashion, ensures no hard border on the island of Ireland, and lays the ground for an ambitious new partnership. The agreement effectively keeps the UK tied to swathes of EU regulations through non-regression and level playing field clauses, ramps up some checks and controls across the Irish sea, and is founded on the premise of a customs union with the bloc. Senior EU officials warned that there could be no renegotiation of the agreement within the context of the PMs red lines. Speaking in the EU capital on Thursday, one said the withdrawal agreement was the best we can do given the current constraints on both sides. I would say that for the negotiators, we are happy to stand over this agreement and we think this is the best we can do collectively with the constraints we have on both sides, the senior official said when asked if the plan could be renegotiated if MPs voted it down. That is as far as I can go and Im not going to speculate on any other scenario. Theresa May making a statement outside Downing Street on Wednesday (Reuters) The official added that they would not speculate about the deals failure to pass, and said: We think, on both sides, we have exhausted our margin of manoeuvre and our respective mandates, and if someone comes with wishes for changes they also have to take responsibility and what it does to the process. The latest line in the sand from Brussels stops short of ruling out a renegotiation, but effectively means that red lines would have to change for a substantially different deal to emerge. European Parliament president Antonio Tajani said at lunchtime on Thursday that the deal reflected the fact that any outcome will be inferior to full membership. On the continent, EU member states have also expressed some concerns about the nature of the future relationship warning that it might give the UK a competitive advantage over countries in the single market. Brexiteers including Jacob Rees-Mogg have slapped the deal and called for Theresa May to go (Getty) French economy minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday his country would be very careful to ensure that the agreement does not weaken the single market before signing it off. Mr Barnier himself said the future relationship portion of the agreement, in particular, was not finished and hinted there could be changes to the text, suggesting it needed to be finalised. This work will now be intense, he said. Our goal is to finalise this political declaration with the UK so the European Council can endorse it. Mr Tusk, who was speaking alongside, added: The agreement is now being analysed by all the member states. By the end of this week, the EU27 ambassadors will meet in order to share their assessment of this agreement. They will also discuss the mandate for the commission to finalise the joint political declaration for the future declaration. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" The commission intends to agree the declaration with the political declaration by Tuesday. Over the following 48 hours the member states will have time to evaluate it. Campaigners have called for a second referendum, with 700,000 people marching in central London last month to demand one. Most polls show a slight movement towards remain since the referendum, but not yet a major shift. Sir Keir Starmer, Labours shadow Brexit secretary, has also said the UKs exit could be stopped, though party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said it is not within his partys power. Speaking outside Downing Street on Wednesday, Ms May issued a stark warning to Tory rebels that threats to tear down the proposals and her leadership could mean there is no Brexit at all. Dominic Raab accused the EU of blackmail as a fellow cabinet minister condemned his resignation as a selfish bid to grab Theresa Mays job. Open warfare broke out at the top of the Conservative party, with the outgoing Brexit secretary branded a carpetbagger by David Mundell, the Scottish secretary. Mr Raab, meanwhile, stepped up his broadside at the prime ministers draft deal, accusing her of giving in to blackmail by Brussels. He said the deal was doomed to defeat in the House of Commons unless she changed course, describing it as having two major and fatal flaws. The first is that the terms being offered by the EU threaten the integrity of the United Kingdom and the second is that they would lead to an indefinite if not permanent situation where we're locked into a regime with no say over the rules being applied, with no exit mechanism, he told the BBC. I think that would be damaging for the economy but devastating for public trust in our democracy. He said he held the prime minister in high esteem and should continue, but warned: I do think we need to change course on Brexit. David Mundell calls Dominic Raab a 'carpet bagger' following Brexit investigation He argued the government must risk a no-deal Brexit in the face of the EU's blackmail and did not rule out putting himself forward for leader if the government continued to fall apart. The resignation of Mr Raab an arch-Brexiteer, promoted to replace David Davis when he quit in protest at Mrs May's Brexit plans was a devastating blow to the prime minister. Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Show all 14 1 /14 Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Internal divisions in the Conservative Party have exploded into a bitter public row over Boris Johnsons disgusting criticism of Theresa May. Some senior Tories furiously denounced the former foreign secretary after he accused the prime minister of having wrapped a suicide vest around Britain Reuters Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Sajid Javid, Home secretary Sajid Javid, the home secretary, rebuked his former cabinet colleague and said: I think there are much better ways to articulate your differences. He told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show that the public wanted politicians to use measured language BBC/PA Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide But other MPs leapt to Mr Johnsons defence, as dividing lines ahead of a possible leadership contest begin to take shape. The Uxbridge MP has repeatedly criticised Ms Mays Chequers plan and used a newspaper article on Sunday to suggest it amounted to wrapping a suicide vest around the British constitution. His latest salvo at the prime minister prompted immediate condemnation, with one minister publicly vowing to end Mr Johnsons career over the matter PA Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Alan Duncan, Foreign minister Alan Duncan, a foreign minister who worked in Mr Johnsons team for two years, wrote on Twitter: For Boris to say the PMs view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much. This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. Im sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isnt now, I will make sure it is later. Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide James Brokenshire, Housing secretary Housing secretary James Brokenshire added his voice to the criticism, calling Mr Johnsons comments wrong He said: I think he is wrong on this...I think the tone that he has used isnt right and I think that we just need to be very focused on actually moving forward with the Chequers plan. AFP/Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Zac Goldsmith But as Tory hostilities spilled over into open public warfare, Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith, an ally of Mr Johnson, hit back at Mr Duncan. He wrote: There are a number of possible motives behind this tweet, but given its author, we can be certain principles arent one of them. Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Jacob Rees-Mogg Senior Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Independent he thought Mr Johnsons suicide belt accusation was little more than a characteristically colourful catchphrase. He added: I agree with the sentiment. The criticism of Boriss wording merely serves to highlight his point. It means more people hear of Boriss criticism of Chequers and many will agree with him. Reuters Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Nadine Dorries Nadine Dorries, another Brexit supporter, said Mr Johnsons opponents were terrified of his popular appeal, adding: Dont underestimate the vitriol thatll be directed towards Boris today. He delivered the Leave vote, Remainers and wannabe future PMs hate him. If Mr Johnson became leader and prime minister he would deliver a clean and prosperous Brexit, she said Rex Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Andrew Bridgen Andrew Bridgen said Ms May was to blame for her leadership problems. Asked if Mr Johnson had put a bomb under her leadership, Mr Bridgen said: I think that Theresa May did that herself when she put forward the Chequers proposals without consulting widely prior to that. Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Steve Baker, former Brexit minister Steve Baker, the former Brexit minister, warned Ms May the Conservatives faced a "catastrophic split" if she did not jettison her Chequers plan. Mr Baker, who quit the government in July over the scheme, said: When negotiating, the prime minister needs to demonstrate her intent and also her power to deliver. "If we come out of conference with her hoping to get Chequers through on the back of Labour votes, I think the EU negotiators would probably understand that if that were done, the Tory party would suffer the catastrophic split which thus far we have managed to avoid. But he insisted he did not want a change in the Conservative leadership, saying Brexiteers did not want to be in a position of conflict with our own prime minister Reuters Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Tom Tugendhat The deep divisions on the Tory benches were laid bare as Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee and is a possible leadership rival to Mr Johnson, also hit out at the former foreign secretary. Recalling how he encountered a suicide bomber in Afghanistan during his time in the army, Mr Tugendhat told Mr Johnson to grow up. He said: A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes. Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died in horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isnt happy. PA Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Alistair Burt Alistair Burt, another Foreign Office minister who worked in Mr Johnsons team, said: Im stunned at the nature of this attack. There is no justification for such an outrageous, inappropriate and hurtful analogy. If we dont stop his extraordinary use of language over Brexit, our country might never heal. Again, I say, enough. AFP/Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide It comes amid that Ms Mays former aides drew up a dossier on Mr Johnsons sexual encounters with the aim of undermining his leadership prospects. The document was compiled in 2016, when the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP was seen as the main rival to Ms May in her bid to enter No 10. Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquaters (CCHQ) both denied having leaked the 4,000 word memo after it was circulated around Westminster AFP/Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Mr Johnson confirmed that his 25-year marriage to wife Marina had ended AP It drew an extraordinary attack from Mr Mundell, who announced he was staying in the cabinet despite his own threat to rebel over fishing rights. He accused Mr Raab of developing a latter-day commitment to the Union, claiming his resignation was really about manoeuvring and leadership. I'm not taking lessons in standing up for our United Kingdom from carpetbaggers, Mr Mundell told ITV Borders. Only a couple of years ago Dominic Raab was proposing to introduce a bill of rights into Scotland which would have overridden the Scottish legal system and devolution. So I'm not impressed by his latter-day commitment to the Union. I'm sure this is more about manoeuvring and leadership. Chief backbench Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg has submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister, taking Theresa Mays leadership closer to the brink of collapse. Mr Rees-Mogg, who chairs the Brexit backing European Research Group (ERG), said he was specifically choosing to make his letter public in a sign that he wants other colleagues to consider following his lead. It came at the end of meeting of the ERG in which others, though not all, called for further letters of no confidence to be sent in prominent Eurosceptic Steve Baker emerged from the room demanding a new party leader. Under Tory rules, once 48 letters are handed in to the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee there must be a vote of no confidence in the party leader. In a statement after the meeting, Mr Rees Mogg denied he was instigating a coup, saying: Its using the proper procedures of the Conservative party when the policy that has come forward does not meet our promises to our voters. The Conservative party [manifesto] on which all Conservative MPs stood said specifically that we would leave the customs union. It did not have any small print that said, oh unless we decide to have a backstop that is a permanent customs union, that is harder to leave than leaving the European Union under Article 50. In Mr Rees-Moggs letter he acknowledged that he could have kept it confidential, but said he was choosing to make it public, with his statement outside parliament coming a few moment later. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" He argued that the deal secured by the prime minister was not Brexit, before saying: What we need is a leader who will say to the European Union it is impossible to divide up the United Kingdom, it is impossible to agree to a situation where we will have a perpetual customs union, it is impossible to pay 39bn of taxpayers money for a few promises. The backbencher denied his statement was a reflection of his own personal ambition to be the new Tory leader, adding that he was not putting his own name forward for the job. But at the ERG meeting he arrived from, in House of Commons Committee Room 10, his own speech had been met with a loud banging of the desks. Surrounded by a huge scrum of journalists, he made his way to give a statement outside the Palace of Westminster, but he would not be drawn on whether the ERG yet had the numbers needed to force a confidence vote. He and others did however call for for Ms May to go, with Mr Mogg saying: I think there are many people in the Conservative Party, not just in parliament but in the country, that feel her services now should come to an end. She is a very dutiful person, she has served the country to the best of her ability but she has let us down in this deal and has not delivered on what she has said she would do. Ex-minister Steve Baker was also among those calling for change, saying: Weve tried everything to change policy but not the prime minister, but it has not worked. It is too late we need a new leader. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events He also later confirmed that he had sent in a letter of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee. Boris Johnson also spoke at the ERG meeting, but had kept a noticeably low profile on a day that might be critical to his own leadership ambitions. Other MPs told the 40-odd journalists outside the ERG meeting that they had also handed in letters of no confidence, but dissent was not uniform with some saying they would refuse to topple the PM. Its using the proper procedures of the Conservative party when the policy that has come forward does not meet our promises to our voters Jacob Rees-Mogg MP A vote of sorts, seen from the outside, showed only a third of those inside raise their hands though it was not clear exactly what they were voting on. Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, a loyalist, told journalists outside the room that he would be urge colleagues not to attempt to overthrow the PM, warning that the public would be amazed if Tory MPs forced a leadership contest at this time. The Independent understands that the critical number of letters had still not been reached by Thursday afternoon. If and when it is, protocol would see Sir Graham inclined to meet and consult with Ms May before holding a vote of no confidence at the earliest possible opportunity. Ms Mays deal came under a hail of criticism in the House of Commons, where only a handful of Tories spoke in favour of an agreement thrashed out in 19 months of intensive negotiations. Theresa May: 'The choice is clear: we can leave with no deal, risking no Brexit at all' There was laughter from opposition benches when the PM said her deal would allow the UK to leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way on 29 March. Ms May insisted the deal was in the national interest and offered a future relationship with a breadth and depth of cooperation beyond anything the EU has agreed with any other country. In a swipe at her Brexit-backing critics, she said the EU would never accept any agreement which did not involve a backstop arrangement to ensure the Irish border remains open. Ms May said it would be entirely irresponsible for the government to have simply torn up the backstop. The Brexit talks are about acting in the national interest and that means making what I believe are the right choices, not the easy choices, she said. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated. Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has resigned from Theresa Mays government within hours of her cabinet approving an agreement to leave the EU. Announcing his departure on Twitter, he said: Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Mr Raabs dramatic resignation will plunge Ms Mays leadership into fresh crisis, and comes less than an hour after Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara also decided to quit in protest at her Brexit deal. Recommended Brexit deal in chaos as Northern Ireland minister quits It also follows widespread speculation that furious Conservative MPs could topple Ms May by submitting enough letters of no-confidence to trigger a leadership challenge. In his resignation letter, Mr Raab said: I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons. First, I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom. Second, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. The terms of the backstop amount to a hybrid of the EU customs union and single market obligations. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide the exit arrangement. That arrangement is now also taken as the starting point for negotiating the future economic partnership. If we accept that, it will severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations against the UK. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. The prime minister cleared the first hurdle when senior ministers backed her draft deal with Brussels after a fiery five-hour meeting on Wednesday night. However she faces an uphill battle to get the deal through parliament amid a furious backlash from Brexiteer Tories and some Remainers, who accused her of breaking promises and leaving the UK subordinate to Brussels. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government, has threatened to vote down the deal, and Labours Sir Keir Starmer said his party would also oppose it. But questions now hang over whether the prime minister will be able to take her plan forward, after losing such a senior member of her top team. Mr Raab is the second Brexit Secretary to resign this year after his predecessor David Davis dramatically stepped down in July. Ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson resigned within hours of Mr Davis, his fellow Brexiteer, while Mr Johnsons brother Jo stood down as Transport Minister only last week, to campaign for a second referendum. 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 Critics said the resignations proved Ms Mays plan has unravelled before our eyes and called on the prime minister to consider her position. Remain-backing Tory Anna Soubry said: Raabs resignation marks the end of PMs withdrawal agreement. This is v serious the PM will clearly be considering her position. My own view is that we need a government of national unity and we need it now. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said: The government is falling apart before our eyes as for a second time the Brexit Secretary has refused to back the prime ministers Brexit plan. This so-called deal has unravelled before our eyes. This is the twentieth minister to resign from Theresa Mays government in her two year premiership. Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her Cabinet let alone parliament and the people of our country. Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, has resigned from Theresa May's government after the cabinet approved an agreement to leave the European Union. On announcing his resignation, Mr Raab said he could not "in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU". Six other ministers, including work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, have also resigned over the agreement. Here is everything you need to know about Mr Raab: Who is he? Mr Raab is a keen Brexiteer and self-declared Thatcherite. He replaced David Davis, the previous Brexit secretary, after the latter's resignation in July. He was previously the minister for housing and also served as junior justice minister. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge and was a lawyer before becoming MP for Esher and Walton, in Surrey, in 2010. Mr Raab also spent time working for the Foreign Office before serving as Mr Davis' chief of staff. What did he achieve as Brexit Secretary? Mr Raab was in the role for little over four months and on several occasions was accused of being Brexit secretary in "name only", with civil servant Olly Robbins and his Europe Unit at the Cabinet Office taking the majority of the responsibility. In a written statement to the Commons, Ms May said that she would take the lead in the negotiations and Mr Raab would be "deputising", all but confirming theories that it was in fact Mr Robbins in charge. Mr Raab was widely ridiculed last week after he said had not quite understood the importance of cross-Channel trade to the UK economy. Speaking at an event for tech firms, Mr Raab said Ms May was pursuing a future trade deal that recognised the peculiar geographic economic entity of the UK, as an island nation. Why did he quit? Reports suggest that Mr Raab felt as though he had been "bypassed" by Ms May and had been left out of crucial stages of the negotiating process. Speaking about the deal Mr Raab, who was the UK's chief negotiator, said he did not support the regulatory regime that has been proposed for Northern Ireland. He has claimed it is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied," he said. Have there been other controversies? Among his more surprising outbursts have been labelling feminists obnoxious bigots and saying men get a raw deal in 2011; declaring that food banks are used mainly by people with temporary cash flow problems in 2017; and suggesting, just three months ago, that immigration had pushed up housing prices by something like 20 per cent a figure later questioned by the UK Statistics Authority. Mr Raab was previously a member of a private Facebook group that called for the return of workhouses and the sale of all council homes, and previously called for Britain to use negotiations with the EU to scrap workers' rights. As housing minister, his department was also at the centre of scandal this year after The Daily Mirror reported that his diary secretary was selling sex on a sugar daddy website. When the newspapers undercover reporter met the 20-year-old and asked about her boss, she replied: I know everything about him although, as turned out that seemed mainly to refer to his lunchtime habits. He has the same sandwich every day, she said. He has the same baguette with the same smoothie with a pot of fruit every day. Its from Pret. He has the chicken Caesar and bacon baguette, superfruit pot and the vitamin volcano smoothie. Anything else to know? Hes a married father-of-two with a black belt in karate. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey has become the latest cabinet minister to quit the government over Brexit in a fresh blow to Theresa May's authority. The Brexiteer said the prime minister's draft Brexit deal "does not honour the result of the referendum'' and she "could not look [her] constituents in the eye" over the plans. Her departure comes amid a flurry of ministerial resignations, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, which raises major questions over the future of Ms May's leadership. Westminster is braced for fresh resignations in the coming hours, as speculation mounts around the future of Brexiteer cabinet ministers such as Penny Mordaunt and Andrea Leadsom. It also ramps up fears that furious Conservative MPs could topple Ms May by submitting enough letters of no-confidence to trigger a leadership contest. In her resignation letter, Ms McVey said: "The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesn't. "We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. "I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. I therefore have no alternative but to resign from the government." Her departure came moments before the prime minister was due to make a Commons statement in an attempt to sell her Brexit deal to MPs. Ms May appeared to have cleared the first hurdle when senior ministers backed her draft deal with Brussels after a fiery five-hour meeting on Wednesday night. But she was hit with a string of resignations on Thursday morning, amid a furious backlash from Brexiteer Tories and some Remainers, who accused her of breaking promises and leaving the UK subordinate to Brussels. Brexit minister Suella Braverman and ministerial aide Anne-Marie Trevelyan became the latest to quit the government, in a wave that began with the early morning resignation of Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara. The pound also plummeted after the shock ministerial resignations dealt a blow to Ms May's authority. Esther McVey has resigned from Theresa Mays government, saying the prime ministers Brexit deal does not honour the result of the referendum. The ex-work and pensions secretary called the draft withdrawal agreement a threat to the integrity of the UK and said she believed it would bind the hands of the current and future governments in trade negotiations. We wouldnt be taking back control, we would be handing over control to the EU and even to a third country for arbitration, she added in the second cabinet resignation letter to land on Ms Mays desk on Thursday morning, after Dominic Raabs. Who is Esther McVey? Ms McVey was first elected to parliament as the member for Wirral West in 2010. She represented the constituency until losing her seat in 2015. During her first spell as an MP Ms McVey was caught up in a controversy surrounding shadow chancellor John McDonnell, when in 2014 the then-backbench Labour MP repeated comments from campaigners who had called for her to be lynched. He refused to apologise, saying he merely repeated the phrase and did not support it. She re-entered the Commons in 2017 when Theresa May called her snap election. Ms McVey was elected to George Osbornes old seat, in Tatton, in a poll that saw the Conservatives lose their parliamentary majority; she won with 58.6 per cent of the vote. She accepted the post of work and pensions secretary in January this year, becoming the fourth person to occupy the role inside 18 months. She had previously been a minister of state in the Department of Work and Pensions under Iain Duncan Smith before moving on to become treasurer of Her Majestys household deputy chief whip following her re-election in 2017. Within months of her appointment she was forced into U-turns on universal credit (UC) and housing benefit for young people aged between 18 and 21. Following a damning scrutiny committee report the government conceded it would have to publish internal reviews of UC, its flagship benefit policy. Last month Ms McVey admitted some UC claimants would be worse off under the new all-in-one benefit, and in July she had to apologise to the Commons after misleading the House on whether a National Audit Office report had called for UCs rollout to be paused. What has she said about Brexit? Ms McVey repeatedly refused to back Ms Mays Chequers plan for a soft Brexit, reflecting the stance of her Cabinet colleague Penny Mordaunt. She did, however, say publicly this summer that she had full confidence in the prime minister to deliver the Brexit that Britain voted for. Her resignation letter made clear that was no longer the case. She told the PM: The proposals put before cabinet, which will soon be judged by the entire country, means handing over 39bn to the EU without anything in return. It will trap us in the customs union, despite you specifically promising the British people we would not be. The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone it doesnt. She would not be able to look my constituents in the eye if she defended her boss deal, Ms McVey added. Large pockets of her constituency voted to leave the EU, though overall it leaned towards remain, according to Parliamentary estimates. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" What more do we know? Ms McVey, 50, revealed in her speech to the Conservative conference this year that she had been a Barnardos child and spent the first two years of her life in care. The charity provides unconditional support, without judgment, giving the space, time and help for people to get back on their feet, she told delegates in October. The Liverpool native is the partner of Tory backbencher Philip Davies. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Her website describes her as a businesswoman and broadcaster; she is a former presenter of GMTV. She has written several careers books for girls and boys which have been turned into plays by the National Youth Theatre and have been performed around the country as well as in Londons West End, her biography adds. Communities across California have started on the arduous road to recovery even as massive wildfires still blaze through the state and despite more than 100 people remaining missing. Forecasters predicted extreme red state conditions could worsen throughout the week as the death toll in the deadly Camp Fire rose to 56, and the total number of dead across the state hit 59. Meanwhile, some residents in Southern California and elsewhere were slowly allowed back into their neighbourhoods, where charred vehicles and destroyed homes painted a grim picture. Recommended Tracking the California wildfires Authorities searching through the blackened aftermath of Californias deadliest wildfire, the Camp Fire in the north of the state, have released the names of about 130 people who are still missing, including many in their 80s and 90s. As the names were made public, additional crews joined the search for remains. We want to be able to cover as much ground as quickly as we possibly can, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said. This is a very difficult task. Meanwhile, friends and relatives of the missing grew increasingly desperate. A message board at a shelter was filled with photos of the missing and pleas for any information. A number of alleged looters were also arrested around the area on Wednesday. Of the two fires in the south, the smaller Hill Fire is 94 per cent contained, while the Woolsey Fire, which has ripped through more than 97,000 acres and killed at least three, is 47 per cent contained. US interior secretary Ryan Zinke said its not the time to point fingers as he was visiting the aftermath of the Camp Fire on Wednesday. Mr Zinke said there were many factors in wildfires, including rising temperatures. Theres a lot of reasons for a fire, he said. Now is really not the time to point fingers. Mr Zinke was visiting the town of Paradise with governor Jerry Brown days after President Trump blamed poor forest management for the fire. Mr Brown said climate change was the greater source of the problem and fire officials have said that forest management is not what was behind the fires. Mr Brown said he spoke with Mr Trump on Wednesday and that the president has pledged the full resources of the federal government. Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Brock Long called the blaze one of the worst disasters that Ive seen in my career. Wildfires spread across California in pictures Show all 32 1 /32 Wildfires spread across California in pictures Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle a blaze at the Salvation Army Camp in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Flames from the Camp fire burn near a home atop a ridge near Big Bend AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Cathy Fallon (centre) who stayed behind to tend to her horses during the Camp Fire, embraces Shawna De Long (left) and April Smith who brought supplies for the horses Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A helicopter drops flame retardant on a wildfire in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures An air tanker drops water on the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures An abandoned car from fleeing residents of Paradise in the Pentz road area EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures A firefighter tackles the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures A Jack In The Box fast food restaurant burns as the Camp fire moves through Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers label a body bag AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters hose down trees on Bell Canyon Road, near Malibu AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A fire burns at the Salvation Army Camp Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A firefighting DC-10 makes a fire retardant drop over a wildfire in the mountains near Malibu Canyon Road AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Bins have melted and ballooned in the heat in Magalia, Butte County EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures Satellite image taken on 8 November shows plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire stretching across portions of Northern California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle the Woolsey Fire Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures Deputy Coroner Justin Sponhaltz, of the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, recovers human remains found at a home destroyed by the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures Buildings burn in Paradise, California EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures Local residents bring their horses to Zuma Beach and away from the Woolsey Fire in Malibu Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A used car dealership burns in Paradise, California Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers inspect a burned vehicle after discovering remains nearby in Concow AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle the flames in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures Search and rescue teams work to evacuate patients from the burning Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Embers blow in the wind in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures In Butte County, the sky is filled with the smoke of the Camp Fire EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters at work in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures The burned remains of a house and car are left after the Camp Fire in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A shop burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Local Officials have said they are looking to bring in mobile homes for thousands of people who have lost their houses to the Camp Fire. Mark Ghilarducci, of the California governors Office of Emergency Services, said hotels and rental properties were other options to house people driven from the town of Paradise and neighbouring communities. The blaze displaced 52,000 people and destroyed more than 7,600 homes, burning through 135,000 acres. It is around 35 per cent contained. Mr Long said that temporary schools and hospitals will be brought in because rebuilding Paradise will take time. He says the town of 27,000 wont be rebuilt the way it was and that we will all have to work together to find a new normal. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Celebrities whose homes and communities were ravaged by the wildfires have also chipped in to recovery efforts, providing resources, food and money to foundations working to rebuild the thousands of destroyed homes. Lady Gaga arrived at a local shelter donning black sunglasses and a hat reading Malibu, holding upwards of 10 pizzas. She spoke with community members about the need to support each other during tragedies, and reportedly provided other resources during the visit. I am thinking so deeply for everyone who is suffering today from these abominable fires & grieving the loss of their homes or loved ones, Lady Gaga tweeted. Im sitting here with many of you wondering if my home will burst into flames. All we can do is pray together & for each other. God Bless You. Paramount Pictures cancelled Sundays premiere of the film Instant Family in Los Angeles due the wildfire. The studio said it would donate food ordered for the after party to the American Red Cross, and would screen the film at an evacuation centre. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian-West and Kanye West reportedly hired a private team of firefighters to protect their home and battle blazes within the surrounding area of their mansion in Hidden Hills after the reality TV star flew home and packed for nearly an hour before evacuating. For now, it remains unclear how much worse the wildfires could become in the coming days. While forecasts have predicted strong winds ahead, it appears rain is also a possibility next week, which could provide the drought-stricken area with much-needed water to help combat the deadly flames. Additional reporting by AP By the time Allyn Pierce arrived at his job last Thursday morning, the sky in Paradise, California, was an eerie shade of burnt orange, choked with haze. A wildfire had exploded in the area hours before and the flames were cutting through the Butte County town at an alarming pace. Now, at 8am, they were imminently threatening the Adventist Health Feather River hospital, where Mr Pierce worked as a registered nurse and ICU manager. Mr Pierce and his team quickly scrambled to help the hospital's few dozen patients evacuate by ambulance. By 9.30am, he and two colleagues were among the last to evacuate. They piled into his white Toyota Tundra and headed south for less than a mile, then east on wooded Pearson Road. Mr Pierce had purchased the Tundra the year before and spent many a relaxing weekend modifying what he called his "dream truck." Months later, it boasted bigger wheels and tires, an after-market suspension, a new grill and an imposing ladder rack over the truck bed. A metal cut-out of a panda, welded to the vehicle, hinted at the truck's nickname: "The Pandra." Recommended California communities begin recovery amid massive wildfires Now Mr Pierce was relying on "The Pandra" to get him safely out of a town on fire. He soon found himself at a standstill, however, trapped in a line of other vehicles, as flames consumed the forest on either side of Pearson Road. An abandoned vehicle on fire blocked him in on the left. In an effort to calm his passengers, Mr Pierce put on the soundtrack from Deadpool 2, fast-forwarding past Celine Dion's Ashes" - "I was like, OK, we're not going to do that one" - and settling on Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes". "In your eyes... the light, the heat... I am complete..." they sang along. Inside, though, Mr Pierce was panicking. "I was calm because I'm a nurse and that's what we do," Mr Pierce told The Washington Post in a phone interview. "But I was terrified... I really did think I was going to die." Around them, the smoke grew thicker until they could barely see the outlines of a fire-truck stopped to his right. Mr Pierce's two colleagues scurried out to take refuge with the firefighters, who put up protective Mylar blankets over their windows. "That's when I knew it was bad," Mr Pierce said. Mr Pierce hunkered down in his beloved Pandra, alone. In the distance, he could hear propane tanks exploding; he watched as cars caught fire around him, "like they were wood or something." The sky at this point had shifted from a furious red to almost a blinding neon grey, as flames licked the sides of his truck. A haunting, acoustic version of A-Ha's "Take On Me" filled the truck cabin next. Mr Pierce tried to use his jacket as a shield from the oppressive heat. He recorded a short goodbye video to his wife and two children, then wrapped his phone in whatever he could find in the faint hope it would not be damaged by the fire. Then, he waited. An unexpected sound jolted him next. "This bulldozer comes out of nowhere," Mr Pierce said, "and knocks that flaming truck next to me out of the way." Stunned, Mr Pierce steered out of his spot - and turned around to speed back towards the hospital on Paradise's eastern ridge. To this day, he is not sure exactly why, though he credits knowing his family had already safely left town earlier that morning with being able to think more clearly. To his amazement, the hospital was still standing, about an hour after its initial evacuation. What's more, a couple dozen firefighters, police officers and other emergency workers had gathered there and were tending to newly arrived patients from the immediate area. Mr Pierce and others went into the hospital to collect supplies and set up a triage area outside. Soon, the parking lot resembled an emergency room, complete with food, IV bags, gurneys, wheelchairs and a seating area. "That part was easy," Mr Pierce said. "This is what we train for." Wildfires spread across California in pictures Show all 32 1 /32 Wildfires spread across California in pictures Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle a blaze at the Salvation Army Camp in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Flames from the Camp fire burn near a home atop a ridge near Big Bend AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Cathy Fallon (centre) who stayed behind to tend to her horses during the Camp Fire, embraces Shawna De Long (left) and April Smith who brought supplies for the horses Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A helicopter drops flame retardant on a wildfire in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures An air tanker drops water on the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures An abandoned car from fleeing residents of Paradise in the Pentz road area EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures A firefighter tackles the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures A Jack In The Box fast food restaurant burns as the Camp fire moves through Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers label a body bag AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters hose down trees on Bell Canyon Road, near Malibu AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A fire burns at the Salvation Army Camp Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A firefighting DC-10 makes a fire retardant drop over a wildfire in the mountains near Malibu Canyon Road AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Bins have melted and ballooned in the heat in Magalia, Butte County EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures Satellite image taken on 8 November shows plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire stretching across portions of Northern California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle the Woolsey Fire Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures Deputy Coroner Justin Sponhaltz, of the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, recovers human remains found at a home destroyed by the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures Buildings burn in Paradise, California EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures Local residents bring their horses to Zuma Beach and away from the Woolsey Fire in Malibu Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A used car dealership burns in Paradise, California Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers inspect a burned vehicle after discovering remains nearby in Concow AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters battle the flames in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures Search and rescue teams work to evacuate patients from the burning Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures Embers blow in the wind in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures In Butte County, the sky is filled with the smoke of the Camp Fire EPA Wildfires spread across California in pictures Firefighters at work in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California in pictures The burned remains of a house and car are left after the Camp Fire in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California in pictures A shop burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty For several hours, the group tended to patients suffering from smoke inhalation to more serious ailments. At one point, the hospital itself caught on fire and they had to move operations further afield to the helipad. Around 2pm, firefighters told them the roads were once again clear and they could attempt to evacuate a second time. "My real takeaway from that was just how everyone worked together," Mr Pierce said. "It was complete lack of ego. There was never an argument." Mr Pierce jumped back in his truck and, this time, travelled due south from the hospital. The second caravan was able to leave town without problems. When he reunited with his family, his children were in tears. "They were all running to the truck and crying," Mr Pierce said. "They didn't know what I would look like." Only later was Mr Pierce able to examine in detail the damage to the Tundra: The heat had welded one of the rear doors shut. The back light covers had partially melted - though the lights themselves still worked. Parts of the hood had warped, and the previously polished white doors were charred in a gradient, giving them the appearance of campfire s'mores. Mr Pierce posted a picture of the vehicle to Instagram and, in a moment of cheekiness, added the hashtag #perfectmarshmellow. "This truck literally saved my life today," Mr Pierce wrote in the caption. "My little town of Paradise was literally burning down around me and @the_pandra got me to safety where I could help others... twice." Days later, Toyota USA's official account responded to Mr Pierce on Instagram and said they would be "honoured" to give him a brand-new Tundra. "We found out on social media over the weekend," Toyota spokesperson Nancy Hubbell told The Washington Post. "Very quickly we came to the conclusion that we just needed to replace his truck. He was a hero and we needed to do that." Mr Pierce knows brushing off the "hero" label is almost as cliche as being called one, but he is quick to credit the team he worked with. "Everyone's calling us heroes. I'm not going to turn that down, I just don't want to be singled out as a hero," Mr Pierce said. "I was with so many awesome, just amazing people. It was amazing to be part of." Though Mr Pierce says his family is fortunate enough to have family in neighbouring areas to stay with, his heart is heavy with the utter destruction of his hometown and for those who still need help. As of Wednesday, 48 people had died in the Camp Fire, making it the deadliest wildfire in California history. Officials expect that number to increase, however, as they search the ruins the wildfire left behind in its swift rampage through Paradise. "It started off as a nice, sunny day, and then hell moved in," Mr Pierce said. "I wake up in the morning just destroyed at times. I go to sleep and I see fire. I'm ready for that to be over." The Washington Post Cuba has said it will pull thousands of its doctors from Brazil, indicating a sharp downturn in relations between the nations after the election of far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro last month. The communist state announced it would stop the Mas Medicos or More Doctors scheme shortly after Mr Bolsonaro said he would impose new conditions on the doctors when he takes office on 1 January. For the programme to continue, the 11,420 Cuban doctors must receive their salaries directly from Brazil and be able to bring their families with them during their assignments, he said. Under the terms of the current agreement with Cuba, which is overseen by the World Health Organisation, Havana receives the bulk of the doctors wages. Recommended Cuba to recognise private property and free market for first time Critics say the restrictions on the doctors bringing their families with them was designed to prevent them from emigrating. Mr Bolsonaro has also questioned the qualifications of the Cuban doctors, saying they would have to renew their licences in Brazil. Cubas health ministry rejected Bolsonaros comments as contemptuous and threatening in a statement announcing its withdrawal from the programme. These unacceptable conditions make it impossible to maintain the presence of Cuban professionals in the programme, the ministry said. 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 Cuba generates billions of dollars through charging fees for doctors working abroad, which help to keep the Communist nations healthcare system free to access. Mas Medicos started five years ago under leftist President Dilma Roussef and serves as a crucial link from the cash-strapped island to South Americas largest economy Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report Adult film actress Stormy Daniels says she will be seeking new representation if domestic violence allegations against her attorney Michael Avenatti are true. The entertainer, who is suing Donald Trump over a nondisclosure agreement she signed about an alleged affair before he went on to win the 2016 election, made the comments after it was reported Mr Avenatti had been arrested over suspicion of domestic violence Wednesday afternoon. The lawyer, who is considering a 2020 presidential bid, has denied all allegations. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events These are serious and obviously very troubling allegations, but right now that is all they are: allegations, Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, said. We should all reserve judgement until the investigation an investigation Michael has said he welcomes is complete, and thats what Im going to do. As of Thursday, it remained unclear who the alleged victim was in the controversy involving Mr Avenatti. His estranged wife Lisa Storie-Avenatti denied having any involvement in the incident through her lawyers, refuting a TMZ report that was later corrected. This article is not true as it pertains to my client, the statement read. Ms Storie-Avenatti was not subject to any such incident. Mr Avenattis wife filed for divorce in 2017. Of course I do not condone violence against women and if these allegations prove true I will be seeking new representation, Ms Daniels said in her statement. Mr Avenatti also refuted the allegations, telling reporters after his arrest, I have never struck a woman. I never will strike a woman. He added, I have been an advocate for womens rights my entire career and Im gonna continue to be an advocate. I am not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing. The lawyer followed his statements with a tweet thanking his supporters and echoing his commitment to womens rights, writing, I will not be intimidated into stopping my pursuit of justice and what is right. Mr Avenatti has become a staunch opponent to Mr Trump in office, drawing national media attention to Ms Daniels lawsuit by appearing on talk shows on a near-weekly basis, as well as launching numerous additional lawsuits against the president. The lawyer also represented Julie Swetnick, who publicly accused Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct during his controversial nomination process. He has released a slate of positions on domestic and international issues while visiting states like Iowa ahead of the 2020 elections. Close What is the Migrant Caravan heading to the Mexico-US border? Hundreds of refugees and migrants that were part of a caravan travelling from Central America has reached the city of Tijuana at the US-Mexico border. In joining the more than 750 people that had already reached the city, there are now more than 1,500 migrants - many of them are fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Around 6,000 troops deployed by President Donald Trump are waiting on the other side of the border, having spent time building concrete barriers and erecting razor-wire fences to keep people out. Recommended Trump only tweeted once about the migrant caravan since the midterms With US border inspectors at the main crossing into San Diego processing only about 100 asylum claims a day, it could take weeks if not months to process those who are part of the caravan that departed from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, more than a month ago. Another 2,000 more refugees and migrants are expected to to arrive in Tijuana by the weekend. Tijuana's factories are always looking for workers but the prospect of thousands more destitute Central Americans has posed new challenges. Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Show all 8 1 /8 Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Checkpoint in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico Reuters photographer Edgard Garrido: "A small Honduran child cried as the oppressive heat, uproar from the surrounding crowd and hours of waiting with his mother to enter Mexico legally became too much to bear. The image conveys the plight faced by many families traveling with children in tow, where fatigue, uncertainty, and the elements have an added level of drama." Reuters Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Mexico border gate in Tecun Uman, Guatemala Reuters photographer Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "This picture of men trying to pull down the Mexican border gate seems to symbolize the struggle at the heart of this story: the tension between the urge to find a better life and governments' attempts to control borders. Hundreds of migrants had gathered at dawn on the bridge that marks the border between Guatemala and Mexico. They hoped the guards would open the gates and let them pass through as they moved towards the United States. But the gates stayed locked and as the day wore on tensions rose and tempers frayed." Reuters Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Crossing the river from Guatemala to Mexico Reuters photographer Leah Mills: "In this image, the young man holding the child looks so exhausted and you can see others clutching all their worldly possessions. To me this shows how desperate these people are. They are willing to cross rivers with strong currents, to lose any belongings they had, to struggle through the water with their children." Reuters Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Resting on the roadside in Tapanatepec, Mexico Reuters photographer Hannah McKay: "I took this photograph at the end of my first day in Mexico covering the migrant caravan story. It was late in the evening and the migrants were bedding down for their second night in the town of San Pedro Tapanatepec, having walked 28 miles from Arriaga to get there the previous day. I came across this man sitting on the roadside beside a police car, watching as the officers helped settle the other migrants. Come darkness, these people sleep wherever they can to rest as much as possible before the cycle of walking begins again. The determination of the migrants to reach the United States is apparent. They are in good health, their spirits are high and they are hopeful that there is a better life for them at the end of this journey." Reuters Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Crossing the Guatemala-Mexico border via the river Reuters photographer Adrees Latif: In the river, dozens of migrant men had locked arms to make a snake-like human cordon from the Guatemalan side to Mexico, so no-one would get swept by its powerful pull. With one camera in hand and a 35 mm lens, I broke into the cordon to photograph the last group of migrants crossing. A family that had made it to the middle of the river was handing their children to other men to help them reach the shore. As a man grabbed the girl in front of me, I followed him, photographing, as he carried her to safety. Moments later, the last set of migrants crossed, and the men who had locked hands in the cordon all swam towards Mexico and started celebrating that the caravan had made it." Reuters Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Hitchhiking along the highway in Guatemala Reuters photographer Jose Cabezas: "I've seen a lot of children in the caravan, and in every boy and girl, I couldn't help but see the face of my own six-year-old son. I could feel the parents' fear, the frustration of not being able to give them a decent life. While trying to reach a caravan of Salvadoran migrants in the early hours of Nov. 1, we found a group of migrants sleeping on the side of the road. At dawn they started walking, hoping to get a lift. Eventually a small pickup stopped, and the driver said that he was only going to take mothers with children. At that moment I could see the uncertainty on the faces of the children who did not know what was happening." Reuters Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Hiking in the forest after crossing the Lempa river, the border line between Honduras and Guatemala Reuters photographer Jorge Cabrera: "A Honduran family with the father in front, a mother with child, and an aunt, carrying all their belongings, scramble up a hill in the jungle after crossing the Lempa river from Honduras into Guatemala. The family, part of a group of some 150 migrants fleeing violence and poverty back home, decided to wade across the river after seeing that Honduran authorities had formed a human wall, blocking the border crossing. For me this image underscores the fact that you can get as far as your feet will take you." Reuters Central American migrants trek north to seek a better life Checkpoint in Guatemala Reuters photographer Ueslei Marcelino: "The migrants had already broken through the first police barricade on the Guatemalan side of the bridge. After a while, they moved towards the second barricade on the Mexican side. The push by the migrants to enter Mexico had eased and suddenly women and children formed a line and started to walk towards the police. There was a bit of pushing and shoving, and then things started to get increasingly chaotic. It was a march that turned into a protest and ended up in confusion. Of course, it affected me. I'm also a father of a nine-year-old girl. It was impossible not to think about being that father caught up in that panicked situation. After taking the photo, I took others of families coming out of the restrictive cordon created by police. The confusion was brought under control after gas was used to disperse them, and the migrants were pushed back to the Guatemalan side." Reuters Delia Avila, director of Tijuana's family services department, who is helping spearhead the city's response, said migrants who can arrange legal status in Mexico are welcome to stay. Tijuana is a land of migrants. Tijuana is a land that has known what it is to embrace thousands of co-nationals and also people from other countries, Mr Avila told the Associated Press. Oscar Zapata, 31, reached the Tijuana bus station at 2am from Guadalajara with his wife and their three children, ages 4, 5 and 12. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Back home in La Ceiba, Honduras, he was selling pirated CDs and DVDs in the street when two gangs demanded protection money. He had already seen a colleague gunned down on a street corner because he couldn't pay. When he heard about the caravan on the television last month he was quick to move. It was the opportunity to get out, Mr Zapata said. Mr Zapata said he hopes to join a brother in Los Angeles but has not yet decided on his next move. Like many others, he planned to wait in Tijuana for others in the caravan to arrive and gather more information before seeking asylum in the United States. Follow the latest updates below Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load Associated Press contributed to this report Nikolas Cruz, the man accused of killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, is facing allegations of repeatedly punching a jail guard before taking his stun gun in a fight. The alleged mass killer is awaiting charges related to the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida earlier this year, where 14 students and three administrators were killed when police say he opened fire with an AR-15. A police report on the most recent incident indicates that the Cruz had been told not to drag his sandals on the ground while walking around in the dayroom area of the jail holding him. Cruz became agitated by the order, flipped off the officer, and then struck him in the face, according to the report. Recommended Police release video showing Parkland shooter begging for death He then struck him on the top of his head with his fists, and then grabbed the stun gun, which is known as a conductive electronic weapon. During a scuffle between the two, the weapon discharged. Cruz then repeatedly hit the officer until the official was able to regain control of the weapon and strike the inmate in the face, according to the report. The alleged killer then retreated to a seat, where he was taken into custody. Cruz waiting for his trial after what was the deadliest mass shooting at a high school in recent history. The 20-year-old faces a potential death sentence should he be convicted on the 17-counts of first-degree premeditated murder, and 17 counts of first-degree attempted murder. Florida shooting in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting in pictures Florida shooting in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP Cruzs attorney has described his client as a deeply disturbed, emotionally broken young man. The alleged shooter himself told a police detective that he had a demon in his head, according to interview records. A judge entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Cruz in March when he was indicted by a grand jury in Broward County. A senior White House aide who very publicly fell out with Melania Trump has now been removed from her post, administration officials said. Mira Ricardel, Donald Trumps deputy national security adviser, is said to have clashed with the first lady over arrangements for the latters tour of Africa. Political observers were stunned when Ms Trump responded by issuing a public statement saying Ms Ricardel no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House. First ladies have been known to wield influence on personnel decisions in the past, but not to issue press releases about it. In a statement just 24 hours later, White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ms Ricardel was being moved to another post. She did not elaborate on where the new job would be, nor on who would be replacing her in the key national security role. Ms Ricardel will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration, Ms Sanders said. Ms Ricardel is a former Commerce Department official who was hand-picked by Mr Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, to serve as his deputy. Mr Bolton fought to keep Ms Ricardel in spite of the row with Melania Trump but failed, two administration officials told Reuters. According to US media reports, Ms Ricardel and Ms Trump argued over seating arrangements on flights during the Africa trip two weeks ago. An unnamed administration official said they also disagreed over the allocation of government resources for the trip, specifically from the National Security Council budget. During a rare interview with ABC on the tour, which encompassed Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt, Ms Trump said there were people in the White House who she did not trust. A Wall Street Journal article reported that Ms Trump blamed Ms Ricardel for some of the negative stories about the first lady and her staff. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Ms Ricardels removal comes amid reports that Mr Trump is preparing another shakeup of his White House staff, with homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen also rumoured to be in the firing line. Mr Trumps two years in the White House have come with unprecedented staff turnover. Ms Ricardel was the third person under Mr Trump to hold the post of deputy national security adviser alone. Democrat Nancy Pelosi has claimed she has enough votes from colleagues to become the Spraker of the House of Representatives - despite a swell of opposition in her own party. The longtime Congresswoman from northern California is set to take the position currently held by Republican Paul Ryan. However, there are at least 17 Democrats who have come forward as opposing Ms Pelosis speakership, some even winning their close races by promising voters they would oppose her long-held tenure at the helm. Ms Pelosi said she was not worried. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that, she said. A vote in the Democratic caucus is set to take place on 28 November and the new full House will vote on her possible appointment on 4 January 2019. US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Show all 20 1 /20 US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic candidate Ilhan Omar is celebrates with her husband's mother after she won a congress place, becoming the first Muslim woman to be elected into congress alongside Rashida Tlaib Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic House candidate, from Kansas, Sharice Davids (left) and her mom Crystal celebrate after she won. Davids is the first lesbian Native American Congresswoman by beating Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder. Davids is one of several first-time female candidates that helped the Democratic Party takeover in the House of Representatives EPA US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican Marsha Blackburn celebrates after winning the race for senate in Tennessee. In doing so she became that states first female senator AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic House candidate Sharice Davids cheer and cry after learning she won EPA US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Ayanna Pressley beaome Massachusetts first black congresswoman by defeating 10-term Republican Michael Capuano AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican candidate Young Kim has become the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democrat Jared Polis won his seat and became the USs first ever openly gay governor AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Jean Kasselman (left) and Teresa Booker, supporters of Democratic candidate for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District Sharice Davids, react to election results Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican Kristi Noem hugs a supporter after being announced as the new governor of South Dakota. Noem made history by being the first female governor of the state AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Gabierla Martinez and Cesar Delgado cheer on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis REUTERS US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest women ever elected to Congress, representing New Yorks 14th congressional district AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib celebrates with family and friends at her midterm election night party in Detroit after won and also became the nations first Muslim woman to congress alongside Ilhan Omar who was also elected Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic candidate for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District Sharice Davids react to election results Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Already having become the first Native American woman to chair a state political party, Deb Haaland has now become the joint-first Native American woman to be elected to congress, alongside Sharice Davids Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cheer during her election night party in the Queens Borough AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Young Kim hugs her son Alvin after she won a seat in congress AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cheer AFP/Getty Images US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Asma Mohammed and Ashley Fairbanks celebrate as results come in at Democratic congressional candidate Ilhan Omar's election night headquarters AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democrat Deb Haaland hugs a voter REUTERS US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic House candidate from Kansas Sharice Davids cheer and cry after learning she won her race EPA Democrats are very close to seeing a 40 seat increase in the lower chamber of Congress as a result of what Ms Pelosi called almost a tsunami of blue across the map. Experts are split if the election was a confirmation or repudiation of her authority, though. Ms Pelosi needs 218 votes in order to become Speaker, and they do not all have to be Democrats. Some Republicans have said they could support her speakership should certain conditions be met. Ms Pelosi has led Democrats for 15 years and was Speaker from 2007 to 2010. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events No Democrat has stepped up to challenge the leader but Congresswoman Marcia Fudge of Ohio told the Washington Post she has been encouraged to run. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Ms Fudge said. She noted probably closer to 30 Democrats have privately signalled that they are willing to oppose Ms Pelosi, adding: Things could change rapidly. Ms Fudge is considering a run and consulting with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which she once led and has up to this point supported Ms Pelosi. Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton seems to be leading the charge against Ms Pelosi, who has gotten vocal support from the CBC and other prominent party members. He is backing Ms Fudge as the next Speaker, calling her the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker, Mr Moulton said about Ms Fudge. Some newly elected members who ran on platforms of opposing Ms Pelosi, like Congresswoman-elect Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, have agreed to meet with her to discuss possible compromises and changes. Ms Tlaib, who is one of two of Congress' first female Muslim legislators, will discuss how Ms Pelosi and Democrats will celebrate that diversity, that rainbow of women coming in[and] also honour it by putting [women] on some really critical committees. The incoming class also includes New York Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who spent part of her first day with protesters outside of Ms Pelosi's office calling for a new economy based on fighting climate change. Her presence was not necessarily in opposition to the current leader but just to call attention to an issue on which the freshman member wants to see the new Congress focus. Ms Ocasio-Cortez won her seat by ousting longtime Democratic Congressman and the man Ms Pelosi was said to be grooming to take over as speaker, Joe Crowley. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 14) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday announced it plans to send back the approximately 5,100 tons of garbage shipped from South Korea to Mindanao in July. Investigation revealed the shipment contained illegal, hazardous waste materials such as used intravenous lines, light bulbs, and old batteries. "Ang unang-unang tinitingnan natin ditong solusyon is maibalik muna itong mga basura," said DENR undersecretary Benny Antiporda. "Kino-consider natin dito 'yung health, sa health natin, baka magkaroon ng risk na malaki sa atin," he added. [Translation: The first thing we're looking at is the health aspect, how this will affect our health. It may have a big risk for us.] The consignee, a certain Verde Soko Industrial Corporation, earlier claimed the container vans carried soft plastic and not garbage. The company said the plastic would be used as raw materials for furniture reprocessing. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said further investigation is ongoing. It said the agency is working with the Environment Department in the latter's plan to have the shipment exported back to South Korea. Dozens of container vans carrying the garbage arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal on July 21 aboard the vessel MV Affluent Ocean. DENR said the consignee was not recognized as an authorized importer of recyclable materials in the country. Several eco groups slammed the controversial shipment, saying the incident violated the environmental rights of the citizens in the area. EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental health and justice organization, urged the Philippine government to implement a ban on the importation of waste plastic. DENR said it will also look into filing charges against Verde Soko for allegedly misdeclaring the shipment as plastic fakes. CNN Philippines Correspondent Paolo Barcelon and Digital Producer Alyssa Rola contributed to this report. Illegal voters in Florida use disguises to cast multiple election ballots, Donald Trump has claimed, without providing any evidence. The US presidents latest inflammatory claims of voter fraud come as the sunshine state grapples with six federal lawsuits prompted by full recounts of the Senate and gubernatorial elections that must be completed on Thursday. Mr Trump made similar unsubstantiated claims of fraud during the 2016 presidential election. After losing the popular vote but winning the White House, the-then president-elect and aides repeatedly asserted that people had been bussed into key areas to cast votes for Hillary Clinton illegally. He has since incorporated the claims into his rhetoric on immigration, accusing Democrats of encouraging undocumented migrants to vote. The president made immigration his key campaign point during the midterm elections, in which the Democrats seized control of the House of Representatives and Republicans gained two seats so far in the Senate. On Wednesday Mr Trump suggested that Republicans were regularly disadvantaged by illegal voting. When people get in line that have absolutely no right to vote and they go around in circles. Sometimes they go to their car, put on a different hat, put on a different shirt, come in and vote again. Nobody takes anything. Its really a disgrace whats going on, he told the right-wing Daily Caller website. Mr Trump called for new national identification laws by adding: If you buy a box of cereal, you have a voter ID. The billionaire has employed such claims to fire up his supporter base over the last two years. The states election department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, both run by Republican appointees, said they have not seen any evidence of voter fraud of that kind. US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Show all 20 1 /20 US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic candidate Ilhan Omar is celebrates with her husband's mother after she won a congress place, becoming the first Muslim woman to be elected into congress alongside Rashida Tlaib Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic House candidate, from Kansas, Sharice Davids (left) and her mom Crystal celebrate after she won. Davids is the first lesbian Native American Congresswoman by beating Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder. Davids is one of several first-time female candidates that helped the Democratic Party takeover in the House of Representatives EPA US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican Marsha Blackburn celebrates after winning the race for senate in Tennessee. In doing so she became that states first female senator AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic House candidate Sharice Davids cheer and cry after learning she won EPA US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Ayanna Pressley beaome Massachusetts first black congresswoman by defeating 10-term Republican Michael Capuano AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican candidate Young Kim has become the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democrat Jared Polis won his seat and became the USs first ever openly gay governor AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Jean Kasselman (left) and Teresa Booker, supporters of Democratic candidate for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District Sharice Davids, react to election results Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Republican Kristi Noem hugs a supporter after being announced as the new governor of South Dakota. Noem made history by being the first female governor of the state AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Gabierla Martinez and Cesar Delgado cheer on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis REUTERS US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest women ever elected to Congress, representing New Yorks 14th congressional district AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democratic congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib celebrates with family and friends at her midterm election night party in Detroit after won and also became the nations first Muslim woman to congress alongside Ilhan Omar who was also elected Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic candidate for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District Sharice Davids react to election results Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Already having become the first Native American woman to chair a state political party, Deb Haaland has now become the joint-first Native American woman to be elected to congress, alongside Sharice Davids Reuters US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cheer during her election night party in the Queens Borough AFP/Getty US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Young Kim hugs her son Alvin after she won a seat in congress AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cheer AFP/Getty Images US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Asma Mohammed and Ashley Fairbanks celebrate as results come in at Democratic congressional candidate Ilhan Omar's election night headquarters AP US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Democrat Deb Haaland hugs a voter REUTERS US midterm results: more diverse, more female and more progressive Supporters of Democratic House candidate from Kansas Sharice Davids cheer and cry after learning she won her race EPA However, it has emerged that a top attorney at the Florida Department of State sent a letter last week asking federal prosecutors to investigate whether Democrats distributed false information that could have resulted in voters having mail-in ballots disqualified over mismatched signatures. Four county supervisors turned over information showing Democratic Party operatives had changed official forms to say voters had until two days after the election to fix any problems with mail-in ballot signatures. Under current law, a voter has until the day before Election Day to fix a problem. Both the midterm races, for senator and governor, were very close in Florida. A few tens of thousands of votes or even less separated Rick Scott and Bill Nelson in the former, and Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum in the latter. Republicans Scott and DeSantis held the lead going into the recount. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events But some of Floridas ageing vote-counting machines overheated, forcing some 174,000 ballots to be re-tallied. Both Mr Scott and Mr Nelson have filed lawsuits in an acrimonious count process which had uncomfortable echoes of the 2000 presidential election contest between George W Bush and Al Gore. Additional reporting by agencies Protests by hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh have halted efforts to send them back to Myanmar, officials admitted. Preparations to repatriate an initial batch of 2,200 Rohingya in line with a plan agreed with Myanmar in October, had started but ultimately had to be abandoned. Officials in Myanmar eventually admitted that no refugees had been moved back across the border. The plan has been opposed by the United Nations (UN) refugee agency and aid groups, who fear for the safety of the Rohingya if they return to homeland, as well as by many living in camps in Bangladesh. At the Unchiprang refugee camp in southeast Bangladesh, near the Myanmar border, a Bangladeshi refugee official implored the Rohingya to return to their country over a loudspeaker. We have arranged everything for you, we have six buses here, we have trucks, we have food. We want to offer everything to you. If you agree to go, well take you to the border, to the transit camp, he said. No, no, we wont go, hundreds of Rohingya protesters chanted in response. Some also waved placards that said We want justice and We will never return to Myanmar without our citizenship. Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Show all 30 1 /30 Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women and children wait in line for a food distribution of super cereal at Action Against Hunger Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees gather near the fence in the "no man's land" zone between Myanmar and Bangladesh border AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women cry as they shout slogans during a protest rally to commemorate the first anniversary of Myanmar army's crackdown AP Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A Rohingya Muslim child holding an umbrella while under the rain AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees cry as they pray during a gathering to commemorate the first anniversary of Myanmar army's crackdown which lead to a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh AP Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Police stand near the checkpoint at the Shwe Zar village in Maungdaw township, Rakhine State, western Myanmar EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A group of Rohingya refugee children stand at a makeshift camp EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee Juhara, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, poses for a portrait at the Kutapalong refugee camp near Cox's Bazar in southern Bangladesh. Juhara passes her days carting water with difficulty to thirsty bricklayers working in a bustling corner of Cox's Bazar. She has just one hand - the other was cleaved off in a raid on her village after the August 25 clampdown started last year. Her husband and parents were killed. The 40-year-old said she ran for her life but was hunted down and savagely attacked AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees walk on a road along a makeshift camp in Kutubpalang EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees are seen outside of their makeshift tent in the Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Thousands of Rohingya refugees staged protests for "justice" on August 25 on the first anniversary of a Myanmar military crackdown that forced them to flee to camps in Bangladesh AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A Rohingya refugee child looks through a window at a makeshift camp in Teknuf EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee women hold placards as they take part in a protest at the Kutupalong refugee camp Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A young Rohingya boy waits in line for a food Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees shout slogans during a protest march AFP/Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee girl with other children at a makeshift camp in Teknuf in Cox's Bazar EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women protest on the first anniversary of the Rohingya crisis Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women and children receive super cereal at Action Against Hunger Getty Images Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya girls share a laugh in Kutupalong, the largest refugee camp housing the Rohingya Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees gather near the fence in the "no man's land" zone between Myanmar and Bangladesh border AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees attend a ceremony organised to remember the first anniversary of a military crackdown that prompted a massive exodus of people from Myanmar to Bangladesh AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rashida Begum, a Rohingya refugee woman walks on the Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures A Rohingya refugee bursts into tears as she shouts slogans during a protest march AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugee baby Nur Sadek two years old undergoing treatment at a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Teknuf in Cox's Bazar EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees protest Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees perform prayers AFP/Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rashida Begum, a Rohingya refugee woman bathes her son in the Kutupalong camp Reuters Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees protest Getty Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya refugees walk on a muddy road EPA Rohingya crisis one year on Myanmar camps in pictures Rohingya women and children wait in line for a food distribution of super cereal at Action Against Hunger Getty Its welcome that, for now at least, the authorities are not pressing ahead with forced repatriation, Mike Noyes, director of policy, advocacy and programmes at ActionAid UK told The Independent. Rohingya refugees, including the women and girls ActionAid works with, are terrified of being forced to return yet up until now, their voices have been ignored. Almost all of the Rohingya women and girls we work with have survived appalling sexual violence and theyre telling us that they need safety, justice and some control over their future. Its clear that any repatriation right now would not be in the best interests of the Rohingya refugees. The international community including the UK must now help to ensure that any repatriation is strictly informed, voluntary, dignified and safe. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled a brutal army crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine state last year, according to UN agencies. The crackdown was launched in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks on Myanmars security forces. Save the Children release animation using Rohingya children's drawings Rohingya refugees say soldiers and Buddhist civilians massacred families, burned hundreds of villages and carried out gang rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar army ethnic cleansing and genocide. Myanmar has denied the accusations, saying its security forces have been engaged in a counter-insurgency operation against terrorists. Most people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar do not accept that the Rohingya Muslims are a native ethnic group, viewing them as Bengalis who entered illegally from Bangladesh, even though generations of Rohingya have lived in Myanmar. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, as well as access to education and hospitals. Interview with Keya, who is working in Cox's Bazar refugee camp where Rohingya people are living in temporary shelter Myanmar blamed Bangladesh for failing to supply returnees, but said it was ready to accept them. Bangladesh side didnt transfer anyone until now. To be honest, Bangladesh is weak in following the physical arrangement, Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmars foreign affairs ministry, said at a media briefing. Unverified images on social media showed officials on the Myanmar side of the border waiting at a reception centre. We will accept them according to the agreement signed by the two countries. Whether they come back or not is their own decision. Rohingya crisis in photos Show all 15 1 /15 Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees are reflected in rain water along an embankment next to paddy fields after fleeing from Myanmar into Palang Khali, near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh November REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees scramble for aid at a camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Betel leaves cover the face of 11-month-old Rohingya refugee Abdul Aziz whose wrapped body lay in his family shelter after he died battling high fever and severe cough at the Balukhali refugee camp near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, December REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos An exhausted Rohingya refugee fleeing violence in Myanmar cries for help from others crossing into Palang Khali, near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh November REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Mohammed Shoaib, 7, who was shot in his chest before crossing the border from Myanmar in August, is held by his father outside a medical centre near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees try to take shelter from torrential rain as they are held by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after illegally crossing the border, in Teknaf, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugee children fly improvised kites at the Kutupalong refugee camp near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Smoke is seen on the Myanmar border as Rohingya refugees walk on the shore after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border by boat through the Bay of Bengal, in Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos People gather under heavy rain around bodies of Rohingya refugees after the boat they were using to flee violence in Myanmar capsized off Inani Beach near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos The remains of a burned Rohingya village is seen in this aerial photograph near Maungdaw, north of Rakhine State, Myanmar REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees cross the Naf River with an improvised raft to reach to Bangladesh in Teknaf, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos A security officer attempts to control Rohingya refugees waiting to receive aid in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Hamida, a Rohingya refugee woman, weeps as she holds her 40-day-old son after he died as their boat capsized before arriving on shore in Shah Porir Dwip, Teknaf, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya siblings fleeing violence hold one another as they cross the Naf River along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Palong Khali, near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos An exhausted Rohingya refugee woman touches the shore after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border by boat through the Bay of Bengal, in Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh September Reuters Human rights activists have maintained conditions are not safe for Rohingya refugees to return to Myanmar. Nothing the Myanmar government has said or done suggests that the Rohingya will be safe upon return, Bill Frelick, Human Rights Watch refugee rights director, said in a statement. In addition to those who arrived in Bangladesh last year, about 200,000 Rohingya had fled Myanmar during previous waves of violence and persecution. Additional reporting by agencies The Kremlin was yesterday ordered to pay Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny 63,000 (56,000) after the European Court of Human Rights found it had arrested him on political pretexts. Authorities acted to suppress political pluralism in seven arrests of Mr Navalny, Thursdays court ruling read. The politician declared the result a triumph of justice and a great victory. Today was not, in fact, the first time Strasbourg has found against the Kremlin in concluding the arrests were illegal. But Russia appealed against the initial February decision, and that seems to have emboldened the court. The latest ruling not only confirmed the first decision, but went further to conclude the arrests infringed article 18 of the European Convention and were politically motivated. This was the first such verdict to be delivered against Russia in over a decade. A panel of 20 judges determined that Russia should pay the presidents most serious political rival 50,000 in moral compensation. The remaining sum was calculated from material and legal costs. The finding covers seven arrests and two pre-trial detentions between 2012 and 2014 and is binding because Russia is a member of the Council of Europe. It represents a major victory for a man who was barred from running in this years presidential election. The Kremlin, which has regularly described Mr Navalny as a criminal, has gone to extreme measures to limit his electoral and media exposure. On several occasions his websites have been shut down and staff arrested. Journalists claim that his name has also been banned on influential state TV networks. Russian authorities have made little secret of their displeasure with the Strasbourg process. On 13 November, Mr Navalny was unexpectedly barred from leaving Russia while travelling to hear the case. Border officials at Moscows Domodedovo airport said he had been placed on a no-fly list after failing to pay a court fine. Mr Navalny says he had never received notification of the fine and was not offered a statutory five-day grace period to pay. Authorities lifted the travel ban once the fine was paid later the same day. Mr Navalny made it to Strasbourg on Thursday to hear the verdict. He sat alongside his brother Oleg, himself only recently released from prison after serving a three-and-a-half year term. Many believe the sentence was directed against Alexei. The opposition leader has spent four-and-a-half months of the last year under arrest or in pre-trial detention. Saudi Arabia claims a rogue negotiation team formed by one of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmans top security officials, cheered on by his communications chief, and led by an intelligence official repeatedly pictured with him, killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi by injecting him with drugs during a bungled kidnap attempt. But Saudi prosecutor Saud al-Mujeb insisted in an 18-minute press conference on Thursday that the crown prince himself had nothing to do with the operation that led to Khashoggis murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. Mr Mujeb also announced that his office was seeking the death penalty for five of 11 Saudi suspects already charged with the killing. Another 10 suspects remain in custody, state media reported. Two other top officials, Crown Prince Mohammads former media adviser Saud al-Qahtani and former deputy head of intelligence General Ahmed al-Assiri, are under investigation for their role in the operation, he said. The US Treasury on Thursday slapped sanctions on Mr Qahtani and 16 Saudis over the murder. In the latest version of the narrative presented by Saudis, the leader of a kidnapping team dispatched to Istanbul by Gen Assiri made an impromptu decision to kill Khashoggi inside his own nations consulate. Saudi law forbids the naming of suspects. But those familiar with the case say the team leader was Maher Mutrib, a Saudi intelligence official once based in London who has frequently been pictured with Crown Prince Mohammad. After surveying the consulate, the head of the negotiation team concluded that it would not be possible to transfer the victim by force to the safe location in case the negotiations with him to return failed, said the Saudi prosecutor, according to a report by the countrys official news agency. The head of the negotiation team decided to murder the victim if the negotiations failed. Mevlut Cavusoglu, the foreign minister of Turkey, which has been pressing for full disclosure on the Khashoggi murder, described the account as positive but insufficient. A Turkish source familiar with Ankaras thinking on the matter described the prosecutors statement as a great work of fiction. He wants the world to believe that a group of goons just felt like killing the most prominent non-royal Saudi in the world. Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Show all 7 1 /7 Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi Washington Post journalist who was critical of the Saudi regime and the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he was murdered on 2 October in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul AFP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Heir to the Saudi throne, Mohammed bin Salman has been implicated in the murder, with US officials claiming that he must have known of the plot AFP/Getty Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures 15 man hit squad Turkish police suspect these 15 men of being involved in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, issued 10 October, 8 days after the journalist disappeared EPA Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saud al-Qahtani Aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saud al-Qahtani is claimed to have ordered Khashoggi's murder Saud Al-Qahtani/Twitter Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb A former diplomat who often travelled with the Crown Prince, Mutreb was initially claimed to be the leader of the hit squad and is pictured here entering the Saudi consulate on the day of the murder AP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Mustafa al-Madani First implicated in the 15 CCTV photos released by the Turkish police, al-Madani was later found to have been used as a body double for Khashoggi, leaving the Saudi consulate dressed in his clothes on the day the journalist was killed CNN Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi (L) Son of the murdered journalist met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on 23 October EPA Saudi Arabia has presented several evolving and contradictory versions of Khashoggis fate after he entered the consulate. The latest Saudi version continues to divert responsibility for the operation away from Crown Prince Mohammad, the brash 33-year-old heir to the throne who has tightened his grip on all aspects of Saudi security and economy. Riyadhs allies in western capitals eager to resume multibillion dollar energy and weapons deals and geopolitical machinations with Saudi Arabia have been pressuring its leadership to come up with a version of the killing that satisfies critics and experts who say it could not have been carried out without Crown Prince Mohammads blessing. US Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday said that Crown Prince Mohammad has been unstable and unreliable and I dont see the situation getting fixed as long as hes around. But the crown princes defenders have bristled at such suggestions, blaming western media and Turkey for jumping to conclusions. The Washington Post and the Turks (with their blatant political agenda) and others have prejudged the Khashoggi affair as ordered by Mohammad bin Salman and anything less than that to them is a coverup, Ali Shihabi, founder of a think tank close to Riyadh, wrote on Twitter, after a query by The Independent. This despite the total absence of any hard evidence implicating him. They should either produce hard evidence or keep quiet. He noted that both Gen Assiri and Mr Qahtani had been demoted and are under investigation and a number of people have been arrested, comparing the Saudi handling of the case to the relative impunity enjoyed by western officials involved in airstrikes on civilians and detainee abuse. Its not as if history is not full of examples of intelligence operatives exceeding their brief or screwing up an operation horribly, he wrote. Never has any of their top officials been implicated or serious punishment applied like this. The latest account is unlikely to mollify Saudi critics. For one thing, it fails to account for a phone call purportedly by a member of the Saudi kill team to Riyadh saying tell your boss, the deed is done shortly after the murder, as reported by The New York Times and The Washington Post this week. It also fails to account for the role of Saudi consul general Mohammad al-Otaibi, who appears to have played a role in overseeing the murder and subsequent attempts to cover it up. Saudi Arabia has also yet to account for leaked audio recordings which purportedly capture Khashoggis final moments and suggest he was strangled to death immediately after entering the consulate. Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said his government has shared the intelligence with Saudi Arabia and other countries. In his statement, Mr Mujeb beseeched Turkey to hand over all evidence it has collected to Riyadh. Ankara insists on trying any suspects in Turkey and has started to echo calls by human rights and press advocacy groups for an international investigation led by the United Nations. According to Mr Mujeb, the operation was triggered a day after Khashoggi first visited the consulate on 28 September, with an order issued in Riyadh by Gen Assiri to bring the journalist back to Saudi Arabia by means of persuasion or force. The leader of the mission is said to have formed a 15-man team, divided into three groups: negotiation, intelligence, and logistics. Mr Mutrib allegedly added a forensics expert to the team to help cover its tracks during the kidnapping attempt, not to get rid of the body, the prosecutor said. The 15 men were led to believe they were grappling with a dire national security threat, not subduing a middle-aged writer. According to the prosecutor, Mr Qahtani told the team Khashoggis return would represent a significant achievement and expressed his belief that the victim was co-opted by organisations and states hostile to Saudi. The Saudi team disabled the consulates security cameras ahead of Khashoggis scheduled 2 October arrival, the prosecutor said. After an altercation with Khashoggi, the Saudi operatives held him down, injected him with deadly dosage of an undisclosed drug, dismembered his body, and then handed off his remains to an unnamed and unidentified collaborator, the Saudi prosecution alleged. The Turkish source mocked the scenario. The Saudi prosecutor repackaged the fist fight claim and included it in his statement hoping nobody would notice, they said, noting that officials in Riyadh have gone back and forth on the existence of the local collaborator. They have been flip-flopping on this issue for weeks, he said. All they have to do is tell Turkey what the local collaborator looks like. Mr Mujeb said authorities had identified the suspect who handed the body off to the local collaborator, drawn up a sketch of the local collaborator, and identified the pudgy middle-aged team member who donned Khashoggis clothes and wandered around the city in an attempt to fool Turkish surveillance. After killing Khashoggi, the team members then falsely told Gen Assiri that the journalist had exited the consulate, Mr Mujeb said. Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Turkeys ruling party and a friend of Khashoggi, derided the Saudi account. It is obvious that there is no intention to deeply investigate the incident, he said in an interview with Turkish television. There is a haste to protect some people, keep them out of the matter and depict them as innocent. Get out of the car, was the last thing Dr Ashwaq Moharram heard before the scream of a missile ended in a deafening crunch of metal on the concrete behind her. It was Saturday morning in Hodeidah, Yemen. She had just driven to work at al-Thawra hospital, one of the last remaining medical centres in the strategic Red Sea city that is now at the heart of the battle between a Saudi Arabia led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi rebels. For several gruelling years Dr Moharram, a 42-year-old a gynaecologist by trade, has fought a one-woman battle to save some of Yemens 8.4 million people, who according to the United Nations, could starve to death if the countrys war rages on. She set up a mobile nutrition unit at the start of the conflict and toured the most battle-ravaged areas of north Yemen delivering food and supplements. Recommended UK pushes for peace talks in Yemen after famine warning Nearly four years later the frontline, and famine, has finally come to her. Speaking from her hometown, Dr Moharram described how shelling drew closer and a helicopter circled above firing missiles around the hospital building, located in the heart of the Houthi-controlled city. I heard an explosion and even louder screams yelling Get out of the car, doctor, go back, go back, a strike. The shelling was getting louder and my heart beat more and more in panic, she told The Independent. I looked in the car mirror and found that one of the missiles hit a building just behind me. This was not a one-off but rather a typical day of horror that we are living here." Until last week doctors at al-Thawra, like Moharram, were treating some 59 children. Meritxell Relano, a representative for the United Nations' child agency (Unicef) told The Independent all but 10, that are too sick to move, have been evacuated as the fighting has drawn close. Hodeidah, currently home to some 300,000 people, has been one of the hardest hit by the hunger crisis, as food prices have shot up and supply lines ravaged in the conflict. For the last five months the Gulf coalition and Yemen government troops it supports, have waged an intermittent campaign to seize the port from the Houthis. Aid workers have warned that even if the fighting dies down, food prices are already soaring across the country, meaning a further five million could go hungry. Every time there is an escalation, that drives up speculation and worries about food and fuel. In Hodeidah, weve seen big spike in food prices, Tamer Kirolos, Save the Childrens country director for Yemen, said. Initially, we had 8.4 million who are severely food insecure and dependent on humanitarian aid. If prices continue to rise, we could see an additional 5 million people in need of food aid. The two sides have been fighting a disastrous war since the spring of 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a bombing campaign to reinstate their ally president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who was ousted by Houthis. Ashwaq Moharram attends to patients during one of the rounds of her mobile clinics (Ashwaq Moharram) There is little hope of an end to the fighting, that has sparked the worst humanitarian crisis in the world in terms of numbers and killed over 57,000 people according to a recent estimate by the Associated Press news agency. More than 22 million people, or two-thirds of the population, now rely on some sort of aid to survive. According to Save the Childrens Kirolos we could see as many as 13.4 million starve, which is nearly half Yemen's population. Despite three days of uneasy calm in Hodeidah prompting hopes of a truce, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition confirmed on Thursday military operations are going ahead. The day before Yemens recognised President Hadi had promised to support UN-proposed peace talks due in Sweden by the end of the year. But he also vowed to liberate Hodeidah whether through peace or war. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a Houthi leader, meanwhile told Reuters skirmishes continued in the outer suburbs. In the heart of the city aid workers like Dr Moharram struggle to keep the civilian population alive, while caught in the crossfire. She runs a weekly food and milk distribution programme in the centre of the city, for the most starving children under the age of eight but even that was being impacted. Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Show all 17 1 /17 Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Doctors take some blood of Yemeni Yousef Abdullah Bakhit Ali, 13, suffering from severe acute malnutrition. With ongoing and unending conflict in Yemen, humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate across the country Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor weighs Yemeni baby Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef, 9 months suffering from malnutrition Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal,12 years old and suffering from severe acute malnutrition. He arrives with his family at a Unicef supported treatment centre in a hospital in Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor measures the arm of Yemeni Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal, 12, who is suffering from malnutrition at a treatment centre in a hospital in Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen There are over 400,000 severely malnourished children in need urgent lifesaving assistance in Yemen Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal is weighed Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor measures the arm of baby Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to reach 275,000 malnourished children with critical life-saving supplies and care for over 5 million people with safe and clean water to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef with his family in his house in the outskirts of the capital Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen The country is on the brink of famine and children's chances of survival are becoming slimmer by the day Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal has his arm measured Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to provide nearly 1 million children with vaccines and healthcare Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are working with partners around-the clock to save children suffering from malnutrition and disease Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to provide 9 million people with emergency cash assistance to help families buy basic commodities so they can survive Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal is suffering from malnutrition Unicef Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef/Abdulhaleem She said she is now having to ration the milk she dishes out as basic supplies, including nutritional supplements, were running out. Meanwhile, food prices were so high their parents are now eating rotten food to survive, she described. Children who are 8 years old look like they were just two. Children under three years are mere skeletons weighing 6kg at most. The worst thing is being forced to take milk away from a hungry baby, and then hearing them scream, its haunting, she said. The situation is not just getting worse day by day but hour by hour." Many rely on her programme as al-Thawra has mostly been evacuated, while May 22 hospital, a private centre near the edge of the city, has been destroyed. Muhammad Abdi, country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said there are also issues with water supplies as fighters had dug ditches in the streets and severed the pipes. Many are trapped in their houses because they dont have the means to leave the city, he added The situation is not just getting worse day by day but hour by hour Ashwaq Moharram, doctor in Hodeidah Fearing that food prices will keep rising and millions more go hungry, the UNs World Food Programme (WFP) announced it was preparing to scale up its food assistance to reach 12 million people from the current 8 million. David Beasley, the WFPs executive director, who recently returned from Hodeidah, issued a heartfelt plea to both sides to end the fighting. In the name of humanity, I urge all warring parties to put an end to this horrific war. Let the children live and let the people start to rebuild their lives, he said. But there is little hope of a speedy resolution to the crisis. Officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, US, and Britain met in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss the economic and humanitarian situation in Yemen. While they agreed to support the UN's efforts on economic confidence-building measures, little concrete was said about a ceasefire. In the name of humanity, I urge all warring parties to put an end to this horrific war David Beasley, WFP's executive director Sweden is reportedly preparing to host consultations when the parties "are ready to talk". But as the week draws to a close, airstrikes are still pounding key areas around the city. In the meantime, those living on the frontline are focused on just trying to survive. We are now basically on life support, eating whatever food was left, drinking the few drops remaining, and rationing medicine to avoid it running out, she said. Yemenis are dying if not by bullets; by disease, poverty, and famine." Hundreds of Air France passengers who had boarded a flight to Shanghai ended up spending three days in Siberia under hotel arrest because they had no visas. Their ordeal began seven hours after flight AF116 took off from Paris Charles de Gaulle late on Saturday night, 10 November. The Boeing 777 aircraft with 282 passengers and 16 crew had just crossed from Russian airspace into Mongolia at a height of 32,000 feet. It was on course for an on-time arrival in Shanghai three hours later. But flight attendants in the crew rest area above the economy cabin reported smoke, and a smoke detector in the aft galley was activated. The captain decided to divert to the nearest major airport, Irkustk, which was about 180 miles north. The aircraft landed safely half an hour later. While Irkustk is an international airport, its only flights to foreign destinations are to former Soviet republics such as Kyrgyzstan and holiday charters to Thailand. The airport is not set up to process almost 300 new arrivals, almost all of whom were ineligible for admission to Russia because they needed visas. Air France said: As soon as possible, customers were assisted and provided with accommodation in two hotels designated by the local authorities. A team from the French airlines Moscow base was dispatched to Irkutsk to help out. As is common with many fume events on aircraft, it was impossible swiftly to identify and fix the fault. The initial re-routing solution proposed by Air France involved sending a replacement Boeing 777 to Irkutsk which itself went technical. The Air France statement said: Due to the impossibility of completing the repair work within a short timeframe, a second B777 was sent to Irkutsk. At the airport, this second aircraft also experienced a technical incident making the flight from Irkutsk to Shanghai impossible to operate. By now the passengers had endured two days in sub-zero temperatures, and were unable to stray from their hotels. A third 777 was sent from Paris, and finally took the passengers on the final three-and-a-half-hour leg to Shanghai. They arrived in the Chinese city 68 hours behind schedule. Air France said: The companys commercial department has contacted the customers concerned to propose suitable commercial measures. Passengers were handed letters signed by Ben Smith, the new director general of Air France, offering a flight voucher for 800 (700). European air passengers rights rules stipulate compensation for long-haul flights that are significantly delayed unless the airline can claim extraordinary circumstances. Air France is likely to contend that the initial diversion was caused by unexpected flight-safety shortcomings, and decline compensation. But the cancellation of the second flight may trigger claims for 600 (530) in cash. Passengers waiting in Shanghai for the original flight to return to Paris are also likely to qualify for compensation. While in Irkutsk, it appears that the flight crew were not confined to their hotels. One of the stranded travellers, Kevin Ohayoun, from the southern French city of Montpellier, tweeted: While the passengers had their passports confiscated and were sequestered in the hotel, the crew took the opportunity to go to a little restaurant in town. Passengers who happened to have passports from former Soviet republics, as well as a number of Latin American nationals and citizens of Nauru, were eligible to enter Russia officially without a visa. They could enjoy the handsome facades in central Irkutsk and the precarious wooden houses in the backstreets, as well ask some impressive churches. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Irkutsk first developed as a trading post where silk from China was exchanged for mammoth tusks from the Arctic. In December 1825, a group of Russian aristocrats who protested against the autocratic rule of the tsar were exiled to Siberia, and some of them settled and built grand mansions in Irkutsk. Today the city is a popular stop along the Trans-Siberian Railway, giving access to Lake Baikal the worlds deepest body of fresh water. Seven thousand pounds an hour: that, I calculate, is the money Flybe is expecting to lose between now and April. Europes biggest regional airline has put itself up for sale, and is talking to possible buyers as it struggles to limit its losses. Flybe also says its also reviewing other strategic options to turn around its fortunes. The chief executive, Christine Ourmieres-Widener, said: There has been a recent softening in growth in the short-haul market, as well as continued headwinds from higher fuel and currency costs. We are responding to this by reviewing every aspect of our business. For staff at the Exeter-based airline, these are difficult and very stressful times. But what about the implications for passengers, present and future? Many travellers have contacted The Independent about Flybe, and these are the key questions. What has gone wrong for Flybe? How long have you got? There have been some serious management blunders over the years. In September 2017, Flybe decided to take on the Scottish airline, Loganair, on key links to the Northern and Western Isles. By the time Flybe threw in the towel in February 2018, both airlines had lost millions. Before that, a failed IT systems upgrade cost Flybe millions more. The carrier is also suffering from Brexit uncertainty, which is damaging consumer and business confidence and weakening the pound. Flybe earns revenue mainly in sterling. Flybe, though, has two fundamental problems. First, it is competing for passengers with Europes two budget giants, easyJet and Ryanair. Once Flybe has built up a link to a sizeable scale, then a bigger airline with lower costs moves in and takes all the market. So routes which should be a natural for a regional airline like Flybe, such as Glasgow or Edinburgh to Bristol, have now been taken over by easyJet. The other curse is Air Passenger Duty, which damages Flybe more than any other airline because it is levied on both legs of a domestic round trip. A far higher proportion of Flybe travellers are on such journeys. On an Aberdeen-Southampton flight costing 64 return, two-fifths goes straight to the chancellor in tax. That doesnt leave much for aircraft leases, fuel and crew. And on routes such as Manchester-Glasgow, even with fares as low as 37, rail tickets are cheaper. So who might be in the market for an airline like Flybe? IAG, the holding company of British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia, is acquisitive. Even though BA got rid of all its regional flights, ironically to Flybe, in 2006, it may regard Flybes portfolio of airport slots at airports such as Heathrow, London City and perhaps Edinburgh as attractive, as well as the opportunity to feed hubs, notably Dublin. Stobart Aviation, which runs its own little airline in Flybe colours, may be a buyer at the right price. It has a lot to lose if Flybe were to close down, because it relies on the airlines booking system. It is very unlikely, though not impossible, that either easyJet or Ryanair is looking at Flybe as a way of acquiring a busy route network (and removing a competitor), with plans to stem losses by integrating Flybe into its wider operations. There could be a European suitor, though uncertainty about airline ownership rules after Brexit makes it unlikely. But whoever buys it will need to pump in many tens of millions of pounds to prop up the airline. If a sale goes through what will it mean for travellers? Initially there will be no changes Flybe stresses that operations continue as normal. You will still be able to fly to and from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast City, Manchester, East Midlands, Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton and Exeter, as well as many other UK destinations. The chief executive, Christine Ourmieres-Widener, said: We remain confident in the vital role that Flybe plays in UK connectivity. The network of Channel Islands and near-Continent destinations will also continue: links such as Southampton-Amsterdam and Birmingham-Paris are crucial feeder flights for KLM and Air France respectively. But airports such as Cardiff and Norwich, which are heavily dependent on Flybe but are outside its central core, must be concerned. They have intense competition from nearby airports, Bristol and Stansted respectively. Longer term, some links to London City and Heathrow might be at risk because of the value of slots; within three years Flybe is likely to be able to dispose of some slot holdings at Heathrow awarded to it for competitive reasons. But I imagine any buyer will be keen to preserve the profitable core of north-south routes. Glasgow to Exeter in 90 minutes is always going to be attractive to anyone in a hurry to reach Devon the rail journey takes eight hours. I have a Flybe booking for next summer. Is it safe? I would be surprised if every Flybe flight that is currently on sale for the summer of 2019 actually takes off. I think it unlikely that the airline will cease to exist the fact that several potential suitors are talking indicates it has value but the current route network is an odd shape. The central core of routes is likely to endure, because it is an efficient and coherent network. The Channel Islands services should mostly also look the same. But a route such as Doncaster-Sheffield to Alicante, operating three days a week, looks an outlier. That wouldnt stop me booking a ticket, as using a credit card ensures there will be no financial loss. But using flights from those airports I would be cautious about committing to other travel purchases, such as car rental or accommodation, until nearer the time. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events If no buyer is found can Flybe survive? The airline says finding a buyer is only one of its options; cutting costs and continuing to shrink the fleet, and creative ways of generating cash are also on the menu. The airline stresses theres no threat to flights that have already been bought, though not everyone in the airline industry agrees. Ironically in its half-year results on 14 November, Flybes auditors said increased demands from credit-card acquirers for upfront cash could lead to the airline ceasing was a going concern. A footnote in the account says that since the end of September, the airline has paid 9.4m to a credit-card acquirer as security to cover their risk for unflown flight refunds. But at present it is business as usual for Flybe, its staff and passengers. I dont want to take a risk; will I be able to claim a refund of the fare Ive paid on travel insurance or my credit card and book with someone else? No. Neither travel insurers nor credit card firms pay out on what may happen in future. You have a confirmed booking, and unless or until there is some signal that the flight might not go ahead, you have no right to cancel without penalty. What Theresa May said: The cabinet has just had a long, detailed and impassioned debate on the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration. And what she really meant: You know those meetings that have already gone on too long and someone says, Can I just ask a question? and everyone screams in their heads? One of those. What she said: These documents were the result of thousands of hours of hard negotiations by UK officials and many, many meetings which I and other ministers held with our EU counterparts. What she meant: It wasnt exactly blood, sweat, toil and tears but not far off, and I get no credit for it. What she said: I firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated and it was for the cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. What she meant: I know it is a really bad deal, but it was the best I could do in difficult circumstances. All very well clever-clogs Brexiteers sitting there saying they wouldnt have done it like that, so I had to go round the table and force them to say out loud that it was the best possible deal thank you prime minister. What she said: The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop, but the collective decision of the cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration. What she meant: They think its a really, really bad deal. What she said: This is a decisive step that enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead. What she meant: I won. What she said: These decisions were not taken lightly but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest. What she meant: Some cabinet ministers contributions were heavy going, but its a small price to pay. What she said: When you strip away the detail, the choice before us is clear. This deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our Union or leave with no deal or no Brexit at all. What she meant: Never mind details such as the UK being trapped in vassal-state status in perpetuity, the only thing that matters is being able to say we are out of the EU. What she said: I know that there will be difficult days ahead. What she meant: Sir Graham Brady has 47 letters calling for my head. What she said: This is a decision which will come under intense scrutiny. What she meant: People will complain about it a lot. What she said: And that is entirely as it should be and entirely understandable. What she meant: That is entirely unfair and unreasonable. They ought to realise how much work I have done on this and be grateful. What she said: But the choice was this deal, which enables us to take back control and to build a brighter future for our country, or going back to square one with more division and uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the referendum. What she meant: My message to MPs: sunlit uplands or fiery furnace of all the circles of hell its entirely up to you. What she said: It is my job as prime minister to explain the decision the government has taken, and I stand ready to do that, beginning tomorrow with a statement in parliament. What she meant: I shall go on about Brexit until people lose interest and talk about something else. What she said: If I may end by just saying this. I believe that what I owe to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest. What she meant: And to remain in post as prime minister for as long as possible. What she said: And I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision that is in the best interests of the entire United Kingdom. What she meant: Everyone said I couldnt do it, so take that, losers. Its been quite a day, hasnt it? I went to bed last night after going to see the Lady Gaga sobfest and ordering 1am UberEats McDonalds (remarkably efficient) to try and chicken nugget my way back into emotional stability. Then I wake up this morning to find that the entire British government is collapsing. There is not enough junk food in central London to get me through this one. Even my long-suffering friends over the Atlantic cant seem to escape the madness. Poor John Kerry just wanted to quietly promote his book to Radio 4 listeners and got roped into giving a Brexit commentary this morning. In true Today programme tradition, he managed to use a lot of words to say pretty much nothing, in case you were wondering. Theresa May is not living the dream right now either. Imagine getting the ultimate promotion and then realising that everyone hates you and all your staff have sneaky contracts that allow them to resign at a moments notice every time you do something they dont like? And its all on TV for the world to point and laugh and make endless Twitter puns about you. Nightmare. Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Show all 10 1 /10 Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit First Lady, Melania Trump, tries her hand at bowls as she meets British Army veterans, known as Chelsea Pensioners, at Royal Hospital Chelsea Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump gives a thumbs up AFP/Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit A school boy instructs Philip May during a game of bowls Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump reacts Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Lady Melania Trumphigh-fives with a Chelsea pensioner AP Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit REUTERS Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump is congratulated by Philip May and a Chelsea pensioner after taking part in a game of bowls REUTERS Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Lady Melania Trumphigh-fives with a Chelsea pensioner AFP/Getty Images The one saving grace I suppose is that at least she hasnt pissed off her bosss wife. Poor Mira Ricardel has been less lucky. Dont know who she is? A senior white house aide apparently (nope, me neither) who reportedly had some sort of hoo-hah with Melania Trump about who sat where on a plane. To be fair, I can see even the tightest of friendships being put to the test when one of you has to spend two and a half hours on a cramped Ryanair flight in between a screaming toddler and a stag do. Not sure what the Air Force One equivalent would be though. Maybe whether you get the suite with fold-out sofas and a private bathroom, or have to recline on the massive armchairs like a peasant. The private jet struggle is real. Whatever the seating dispute was, it hasnt ended well for Ricardel, who has been unceremoniously removed from her post (which is, presumably, the more presidential version of youre fired!). Apparently its not unusual for first ladies to get people they dont like ousted, but theyre usually a bit too demure to actually throw shade. Melania went out of her way to issue a statement saying Ricardel no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House. The whole thing is baffling on a number of levels. Not only is it hard to see how even his wife could think working for Trumps cruel, chaotic, egomaniacal, pathologically mendacious, leakier-than-a-rats-bladder administration would be an honour; I also cant wrap my head around Trump giving his wife that kind of power. By all accounts, they dont seem to like each other very much, and even if they did, hes made it clear he doesnt much rate womens ability to do anything other than look pretty after all, we probably have blood coming out of our wherevers. To be honest, Im feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this politics malarkey myself and its not even that time of the month. Must be that pesky old extra X chromosome making my brain mush again. If theres one thing weve learnt today its that theres no danger of politics getting boring again any time soon. Remember when David Miliband ate a sandwich and it was front page news? Those were the days. Now that BBC Parliament has basically turned into a 24-hour soap opera, a bacon buttie wouldnt get a look in. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Over in the States amid democratic crises and horrifying natural disasters, theyre all pontificating about the audacity of one woman to fire another. I give Fox a solid hour before they use the terms bitchy, catfight or emotional. Theyll have a field day if she actually winds up getting rid of chief of staff John Kelly next. What I want to know is, now that Melania appears to have infinite power over the entire US government could she maybe use it to fire her husband? Not as a spouse, necessarily, thats her business and I could(nt) care less, but as president. She couldnt very well instate herself in his place given the fact that it was him who pushed the birther conspiracy racist nonsense that Obama wasnt born in the US, and her migration history is tenuous, but theres not exactly a shortage of other reality stars to take his place. Maybe she can fire Theresa May too while shes at it and put us all out of our misery. Wishful thinking? Most definitely. But we all need something to get us through the day. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May returns after making a statement concerning Brexit negotiations outside 10 Downing Street, in London. Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville EMBATTLED UK prime minister Theresa May has had a turbulent day of high profile ministerial resignations and backlash against the deal. It is reported that Mrs May has offered the job of Brexit secretary to Michael Gove - his decision is believed by many to be key to the survival of the Tory leader. Today letters to the 1922 Committee have been pouring in seeking a 'no confidence' vote in Mrs May - there must be 48 to trigger such a vote. Meanwhile, European Council President Donald Tusk has signalled that he still hopes Brexit can be averted but said the EU is prepared if there is a "no-deal scenario". Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018 Speaking as chaos continues in Westminster over the proposed Withdrawal Agreement wiht the UK, Mr Tusk said the EU "is prepared for a final deal with the United Kingdom in November." He also told reporters in Brussels that; "We are also prepared for a no-deal scenario but of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario." After a days of resignations among her ministers, British Prime Minister Theresa May is due to give a press conference at 5pm. Resignations Earlier, the British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and three other ministers resigned over Theresa May's Brexit deal, in a massive blow to her plans. Mr Raab, who only took over in the summer after David Davis resigned in protest over the British Prime Minister's withdrawal strategy, said he "cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU". Expand Close Former British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: Getty Images His surprise departure on Thursday came amid a furious backlash from Brexit-backing Conservatives to the deal agreed by UK and EU negotiators four months ahead of the UK's scheduled withdrawal on March 29. Hours earlier Shailesh Vara had quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying Mrs May's agreement, "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has handed in his letter of no-confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, saying Ms May's Brexit deal "has turned out to be worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation by the Prime Minister". In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Raab said the deal represented a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom" because of provisions for Northern Ireland. He also said he could not accept "an indefinite backstop arrangement" for the Irish border. He said: "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement." The work and pensions secretary Esther McVey has also stepped down on Thursday morning. She said the Brexit deal does not honour the result of the referendum. In a resignation letter posted on Twitter, Ms McVey cited concerns over the future of the Union and a lack of control over money, law, borders and trade policy under a deal she felt kept the UK too close to Brussels. She wrote: "The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesn't. "We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. "I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. "I therefore have no alternative but to resign from the Government." Suella Braverman has also resigned as a Brexit minister, her office said. Anne-Marie Trevelyan has resigned as a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Education, saying she cannot support the Brexit deal after negotiations built on the UK trying to appease the EU. Mr Raab added: "Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. "This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust." Ms May is due to hold a press conference at 5pm. Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said there may not be a majority for any way forward in Westminster as UK minsters resign over the Brexit deal. Taking questions on the draft deal in the Dail, Mr Coveney said it would protect Irelands core interests now and into the future. He praised the work of Irish diplomats involved in the negotiations over the past two years, saying they did an extraordinary job to build and maintain EU unity around many off the Irish vulnerabilities. And he said the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier had shown extraordinary capacity to understand the detail of the Irish concerns. Asked by Fianna Fails Darragh OBrien about the instability in the UK government, Mr Coveney replied: Of course there are challenges to selling any package in United Kingdom. Many people would say there isnt a majority for any way forward in Westminister. But he added that British Prime Minister Theresa May has shown a capacity to get things done in very difficult circumstances. Mr OBrien questioned whether the Government had been too triumphalist in their public statements since the deal was published. The time for victory and celebration is when this draft agreement is ratified and satisfied by all, he said, adding that every statement being made in Ireland is being scrutinised. However, Mr Coveney rejected this claim. He argued that the Government had a duty to explain what was in the deal to the Irish people. The Minister said he was giving reassurance to people who were very sceptical that a deal could be done to maintain open trade on this island. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mrs May spoke by phone this morning, Independent.ie has learned. It is understood Mr Varadkar offered the embattled PM his support amid a string of ministerial resignations in Westminster. They pledged to work together on the future relationship between the UK and EU so that the Irish backstop never needs to be invoked. Earlier, the Brexit deal that ensures no hard Border on this island was hailed as a major victory for Ireland. While Mr Varadkar said Brexit is "something we regret", he insisted the best possible Withdrawal Agreement has been negotiated. He said other EU members had taken on Irish concerns and helped protect the peace process, the common travel area and our economy. "This is one of the better days in politics," he said. Mr Varadkar praised Mrs May for being "true to her word" by ensuring there will be no hard Border. Andrea Leadsom has insisted she has no plans to quit the Government and will support Theresa May in securing a Brexit deal. The Commons Leader, who attends the UK Cabinet as part of her role, hit back after her SNP counterpart Pete Wishart joked she had upset his "Brexit resignation bingo coupon", adding: "I had her definitely down as a resigner." Mrs Leadsom replied: "Normally I'm very happy to entertain (Mr Wishart's) banter but I think all he's done today is to demonstrate he's not very good at bingo." She added: "I am staying in Government because there is more work to be done to get the Brexit that the Prime Minister wants to deliver to the people, and therefore I am determined to support her to do that. "Now, him bantering about it and mocking it is all very well, but he doesn't suggest anything else and his party has form for ignoring the will of a referendum in Scotland that voted to stay in the United Kingdom. "What are they doing sitting there? All they want to do is break up the United Kingdom, and against the will of Scottish fishers keep them in the Common Fisheries Policy. How much sense does that make?" The pair's exchanges came at business questions and amid the backdrop of Cabinet resignations over Mrs May's draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. However, there will now be major concerns that the ministerial resignations in London will be followed by more in the British Cabinet - meaning that any deal Brexit will once again be up in the air. Representatives from the SDLP, Sinn Fein, Alliance and the Northern Ireland Green Party have arrived at the Department of the Taoiseach in Dublin for a meeting with Mr Varadkar to discuss the draft Brexit agreement. SDLP leader Colm Eastwood said: "It will be a difficult few days for Theresa May but we need to focus on the positive and make sure the backstop is backed." Meeting The resignations came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations will be finalised and formalised. Westminster is braced for further resignations, amid widespread expectations that the British Prime Minister may face a challenge to her position from Conservative MPs submitting letters of no confidence in her leadership. Mr Raab had been a surprise choice as Brexit Secretary when Mr Davis, along with foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit minister Steve Baker, resigned in protest at Mrs May's Chequers plan in July. As the UK's ministerial point man in negotiations he made repeated trips to Brussels for talks with EU negotiator Michel Barnier as he and civil servants tried to hammer out a workable withdrawal agreement. The pound fell heavily against most major currencies after his resignation. Sterling dropped 1.1pc to 1.28 US dollars and was 1.2pc lower at 1.13 euros. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said the Government was "falling apart before our eyes as, for a second time, the Brexit Secretary has refused to back the Prime Minister's Brexit plan". "This is the 20th minister to resign from Theresa May's Government in her two-year premiership," he said. "Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her Cabinet, let alone Parliament and the people of our country." Remain-supporting Tory MP Anna Soubry added on Twitter that Mr Raab's resignation "marks the end of PMs Withdrawal Agreement" and possibly her premiership. Ms Soubry added: "No PM deserves to be so badly treated. "Raab signed up to her Withdrawal Agreement allowing her to make her statement after Cabinet knowing he'd resign in time for the 9am News bulletins the next morning. Shameful." Mrs May now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs - as well as some Remainers - lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. In a resignation statement, North-West Cambridgeshire MP Mr Vara - who was promoted by Mrs May as recently as July - said: "We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. "We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better." Mr Vara, a former Conservative vice chairman who has served as a whip and on the frontbenches for the bulk of his career since entering Parliament in 2005, backed Remain in the 2016 referendum. In Brussels, Mr Tusk was handed a copy of the 585-page withdrawal agreement by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Ministers and ambassadors of the remaining 27 EU states will work to finalise by next Tuesday the political declaration on future relations with the UK, published in outline form on Wednesday, he said. Welcoming the UK Cabinet's collective agreement to accept the withdrawal document, Mr Tusk said: "Of course, I do not share the Prime Minister's enthusiasm about Brexit as such. "Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and our negotiations are only about damage control." And he sent a message to the British people: "As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us." More to follow File photo dated 12/8/2018 of Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday November 15, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Shailesh Vara has quit as Northern Ireland Minister, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement. The junior minister, who backed remain in the EU referendum, highlighted the challenge she faces in winning parliament's backing for her draft Brexit deal. Mr Vara said the draft deal "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". He is the first member of May's government to resign since she won the backing of her senior ministers for her draft Brexit deal with the European Union on Wednesday, a deal which has so far been mauled by opponents. Vara criticised her deal in his resignation letter, saying that it left the UK "in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". Vara said he could not support the draft agreement. "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this," he said. Meanwhile, Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told Good Morning Britain the deal was a "miserable failure of negotiation" and it was a "second-rate document". He told the ITV programme: "It's a chaotic ending and the root cause is the utter division on the Conservative benches." British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a Brexit statement at Downing Street in London, England. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images UK Prime Minister Theresa May stepped out of 10 Downing Street at about 7.15pm on Wednesday following a marathon five-hour Cabinet meeting and announced the Cabinet had agreed the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. Here are the key developments since. Wednesday, November 14 - 7.15pm - Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street following a five-hour Cabinet meeting, announcing ministers have agreed the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. She said: "The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop, but the collective decision of Cabinet was that the Government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration." - 8pm - Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, writes to European Council President Donald Tusk to say that the withdrawal negotiations had concluded and the next step in the process can begin. Thursday, November 15 - 7.30am - Donald Tusk announces the council will hold an extraordinary summit in Brussels on November 25 to finalise the UK's withdrawal agreement. - 7.30am - Shailesh Vara quits as Northern Ireland Minister. - 8.50am - Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab quits. - 10am - Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigns. - 10.20am - Suella Braverman resigns as a Brexit minister. - 10.20am - Anne-Marie Trevelyan quits as a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Education. - 10.30am - Mrs May begins her address to Parliament - 12.35 - Ranil Jayawardena, Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, resigns. - 1pm - Tories in the European Research Group meet in the House of Commons to discuss their response to Mrs May's deal. - 1.20pm - European Research Group chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg hands in his letter of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee. - 1.30pm - Mrs May finishes her statement to the Commons after nearly three hours, and after answering more than 100 questions. - 1.55pm - Commons Leader and pro-Brexit MP Andrea Leadsom insists she has no plans to quit the Cabinet. - 2.05pm - Further Tory MPs begin publishing letters of no confidence in Mrs May on Twitter. - 3pm - Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti resigns as Conservative vice-chairman and prime ministerial trade envoy to Pakistan. - 5pm - Theresa May gives statement to the media - saying she will stick to her Brexit plan. She says she has always acted in the national interest, not in the partisan interest "and certainly" not in her personal interest. Are we sure there will be no return of a 'hard Border' in Ireland? Assuming this draft deal sticks, the answer is a big yes. The EU, UK and Ireland all agreed no return of border controls. But they could not agree on how to do this. Last December, the EU and UK agreed the so-called 'backstop' in principle for the North, to apply if the EU and UK could not agree a long-term trade relationship. It involved the North staying in the EU customs union, thus avoiding tariffs, and close to the EU single market's rules on product standards. But it all caused ructions with the DUP and the ultra-Brexiteers in England who feared it would undermine the United Kingdom. In the end, the EU agreed that the entire UK can stay in the customs union and close to the single market at least until December 2020 and very likely beyond that time. How will the new, improved backstop work out? The new UK-wide backstop dials down the Northern Ireland-only backstop - the so-called "backstop to the backstop" - and is overlaid and less visible. But the controversial parts which still enrage the DUP and Brexiteers are an insistence that the UK cannot leave the arrangement, and pursue global trade deals, without EU agreement. There is also a clause that if the UK leaves there must still be special treatment for the North. That is too much for the DUP. Is this a victory for Ireland? Yes - unless there is some hidden sting in the tail. Former Fianna Fail Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, a veteran of dozens of EU summits, has acknowledged this. The Opposition has not offered any strident criticisms. Staving off border controls was the Government's primary aim. And it has been achieved. Mrs May achieved cabinet approval - will it pass the Westminster parliament? It is not encouraging. There are officially 650 parliament seats. It is generally agreed some 320 votes are needed to win. There will be defections from Mrs May's 315 Conservatives, and the 10 DUP MPs, propping up her minority government, are sworn to vote no. She is unlikely to benefit from too many defectors from Labour's 257 MPs or the 12 Liberal Democrats. Both those parties will vote no. The Scottish National Party has 35 MPs, but is miffed over the North getting better treatment over Scotland and EU countries getting fishing waters access. It's a hell of a hill to climb. So, what next? An EU summit is on November 25. Moving target: Traffic crosses the Border into Northern Ireland from the Republic alongside a Brexit Border poster on the Dublin road between Newry and Dundalk The EU and the British governments are edging closer to something - but what? It is either a complex withdrawal agreement on Brexit or a cliff-edge exit for the UK. It could still all go wrong at any moment or fall at the hurdle of a majority in the House of Commons. For many Irish businesses and individuals on this side of the Irish Sea, the uncertainty is likely to continue for some time to come. A successfully-negotiated withdrawal merely paves the way for the lengthy and tortuous discussions on the nature of the new relationship between the UK and the EU. A no-deal crash deepens the uncertainty even further. In the midst of all of this confusion, Irish citizens, whether they are here or in Britain, can rest assured of one thing. No matter what happens they will be able to rely on the benefits afforded to them in their dealings with the UK by the Common Travel Area (CTA). Well, perhaps not. The CTA has been in place in different guises for the best part of 100 years but the main pieces of legislation providing for right of travel and residency in each other's countries date from 1952. The core benefits of the CTA are pretty limited but the arrangements and privileges that have flowed through it over many decades are more wide-ranging. However, a new report produced jointly by academics in a number of British universities, questions how legally secure these arrangements could be over the long term. 'Discussion Paper on the Common Travel Area' by Sylvia de Mars, Colin Murray, Aoife O'Donoghue and Ben Warwick, says "there is not a single legal agreement establishing the CTA. The core arrangements for travel and residence between the CTA's members can be altered by any one of them without breaking international law and the rights and obligations which are so often linked to it can be altered by domestic legislation by a CTA member." So, yes our right to travel to and reside in the UK is enshrined in law, but only through domestic British law which could be revoked at any time. One of the key driving forces behind the Brexit referendum victory was the desire to reduce immigration. Even in a softer Brexit scenario, the British are likely to want to reduce migrant worker numbers. EU citizens already working in the UK will be protected and allowed to continue working there, but future EU citizens may well have to apply for visas. Irish citizens will escape those restrictions and the possible need for visas by virtue of the CTA. Their entitlement to residency in the UK entitles them to work there without a visa. But that is as long as the CTA lasts and as long as it is not altered by a future British government. The report goes much further than just the right to work in each other's countries, but also looks at the legal basis underpinning a whole raft of benefits that flowed from both the CTA and EU Law but which are not necessarily covered directly by the CTA. The CTA core arrangements cover common immigration rules, cross-border travel rights and common residency rights. But the report points out that other CTA-related arrangements look a little more shaky in that they are not underpinned by a bilateral Irish/UK agreement but have just evolved through EU law, other domestic legislation or even custom and practice. These include rights in education, recognition of qualifications, health and social welfare, social security, rights to work, workers' rights, civil and political rights as well as security co-operation. Many of these are underpinned by EU law. Take one party out of the EU and something needs to replace them. The CTA does not directly cover the movement of capital, the cross-border provision of services, moving across internal CTA borders only for work purposes or transporting goods across borders. The CTA doesn't secure access to medical care or education for citizens of one member of the CTA who has travelled to another, on the same terms as "home" citizens. As things stand and based on what has been agreed in principle in the Brexit discussions so far, the British and Irish governments want to retain all of the arrangements and privileges that have flowed over the decades. But if they are not all codified, spelt out and included in a bilateral agreement, they could very easily be taken away at some point. One needs only look at the Windrush generation who arrived in the UK decades ago without any issues, only to find they had "become a problem" for the British Home Office decades later. According to one of the report's authors, Aoife O'Donoghue, professor at Durham Law School, uncertainty around all of these issues can be a little unnerving. She points to the fact that if there is a no-deal Brexit, any Irish person living and working in the UK would have to prove they are entitled to do so. Under the CTA their Irish passport would make it alright, but they would have to prove it nonetheless. "Lack of certainty is an issue for people. They can see the approach taken by the Home Office which can contribute towards a hostile environment", she said. There is a somewhat unclear approach to the classification of Irish citizens living in Britain given that the CTA means they are technically not foreign, when it comes to their rights, but they are not British citizens either. The real issues arise when it comes to cross-border travelling and working. What about those living on one side of the Border, but sending their children to a school or a university on the other side? Right now Irish Republic residents don't pay university fees in the North. Could that change in the future? University fees are a devolved government matter for Northern Ireland but they may feel forced to relinquish that right to Southern residents if a squeeze comes on their funding. The CTA contains nothing specific relating to health and social care. Mutual recognition of qualifications in employment between Ireland and the UK could also become an issue. The authors of the report make a number of specific recommendations for tying down all of these loose ends for once and for all. In broad terms they have a gold, silver and bronze standard set of solutions. The gold standard would see both governments agree a Common Travel Area treaty encompassing common immigration rules, travel rights, residency rights and related rights to education, social security, work health, and security and justice. A silver standard option would be a bilateral treaty on the core parts of the CTA - immigration, travel and residency rights. Bronze would involve working together to enhance shared understandings of the CTA and its content, including a memorandum of understanding. Right now, with the Brexit withdrawal negotiations and the future of Theresa May's government hanging by a thread, such considerations will be far down the list of priorities in Dublin and London. But for truly protecting the interests of Irish people in Britain; those of us who live along either side of the Border and all British people living in Ireland, it is important that these measures are put on a legislative footing that makes them legally bulletproof. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said that leadership "is about making the right decisions, not the easy ones". In a news conference on Thursday afternoon, she responded to media questions about her current position of power in Government. "Am I going to see this through? Yes," May said. "I am going to my job of getting the best deal for Britain and I'm going to my job of getting a deal that is in the national interest." "I believe with every fibre of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for our country and all our people," May said. Mrs May said that her approach "has been to put the national interest first" and that "I have not put my own political interest first". "If we do not move forward with the agreement we do not know the consequences that will follow...I want to honour the vote of the referendum," she said. "This is a complex decision...there is no deal that can be agreed with the EU that does not involved a backstop". She also said that there will not be a second referendum, but that she did not not regret calling a general election last year. Mrs May has been battling to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest earlier today. Brexit minister Dominic Raab and work and pensions minister Esther McVey quit just over 12 hours after she announced cabinet had agreed to the terms of the draft agreement, saying they could not support it. Junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara, junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman, two parliamentary private secretaries, and two other aides also subsequently stepped down. Their departure led some lawmakers in London to openly question whether Mrs May's government will survive. "My colleagues must do what they believe to be right just as I do...I'm sorry that they have chosen to leave the government," she said. The prime minister showed little sign of backing down in parliament earlier today, where she warned lawmakers they now faced a stark decision. "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," she said. She said that Britain will leave the European Union on March 29 and will not suspend the process of leaving. "We will not extend Article 50," May told parliament, when asked about the clause in the EU's Lisbon Treaty which allows for countries to leave the bloc. Mrs May also said she shared the concerns of those who believe a Brexit backstop to avoid a border on the island of Ireland impinges on British sovereignty, but it was an improvement on previous proposals. "The references to the backstop do raise some difficult issues," May told parliament. "I fully accept that across the house, there are concerns in relation to the backstop. Indeed, I share some of those concerns," she said. More to follow... 'British Prime Minister has followed through on her commitments to Ireland' Tanaiste Simon Coveney. Photo: Johnny Brew/Independent.ie TANAISTE Simon Coveney has said the British Prime Minister Theresa May will need to be tough, resilient and persuasive in the days ahead if the Brexit deal is to survive. Amid a string of ministerial resignations in the UK today including that of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Mr Coveney described the situation in Westminster as very divisive and somewhat chaotic. In an exclusive video interview for Independent.ie, the Tanaiste says: *From an Irish perspective the negotiations have been a success He left Dominic Raab in no doubt that Ireland could not give in to his demands around a time limit for the backstop during a private meeting. *And despite the progress, planning for a no deal scenario continues unabated. Mr Coveney said the Government must carry-on setting money aside for a disorderly Brexit. All of that works continues because we cant take anything for granted, thats for sure, he said. Asked about Mr Raabs resignation, the Tanaiste said he doesnt understand how he can claim the integrity of the United Kingdom is under threat. What we have done is change the backstop essentially to try and accommodation British concerns to ensure there would be no customs checks between Britain and Ireland. To address a concern both he and the Prime Minster has outlined, he said. But Mr Coveney said he was very upfront with the Brexit Secretary that under no circumstances could the Irish backstop be time limited. If we didnt have a backstop that was robust, it wouldnt be a backstop at all. It is only an insurance mechanism. Its a last resort. There are many other ways which we can resolve the border issue, the Tanaiste said. Independent.ie has learned that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mrs May spoke by phone this morning. It is understood Mr Varadkar offered the embattled PM his support amid a string of ministerial resignations in Westminster. They pledged to work together on the future relationship between the UK and EU so that the Irish backstop never needs to be invoked. 'There are challenges to selling any package in United Kingdom' Mr Coveney later said there may not be a majority for any way forward in Westminster as UK ministers resign over the Brexit deal. Taking questions on the draft deal in the Dail, he said it would protect Irelands core interests now and into the future. He praised the work of Irish diplomats involved in the negotiations over the past two years, saying they did an extraordinary job to build and maintain EU unity around many off the Irish vulnerabilities. And he said the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier had shown extraordinary capacity to understand the detail of the Irish concerns. Asked by Fianna Fails Darragh OBrien about the instability in the UK government, Mr Coveney replied: Of course there are challenges to selling any package in United Kingdom. Many people would say there isnt a majority for any way forward in Westminister. But he added that British Prime Minister Theresa May has shown a capacity to get things done in very difficult circumstances. Mr OBrien questioned whether the Government had been too triumphalist in their public statements since the deal was published. The time for victory and celebration is when this draft agreement is ratified and satisfied by all, he said, adding that every statement being made in Ireland is being scrutinised. However, Mr Coveney rejected this claim. He argued that the Government had a duty to explain what was in the deal to the Irish people. The Minister said he was giving reassurance to people who were very sceptical that a deal could be done to maintain open trade on this island. FF accuses Irish Government of patting themselves on the back Meanwhile, Fianna Fail has accused the Irish Government of risking the chances of the Brexit deal getting through the UK parliament by patting themselves on the back. Lisa Chambers, the partys spokesperson on Brexit, said the Government needs to calm down and take heed that London is watching what is said here and said it feeds into what is unfolding in the UK. They need to be far more aware that their actions, their self congratulating, their patting themselves on the back here in Dublin absolutely negatively feeds into what happens in the Commons today, she said. Ms Chambers conceded it would be a stretch to say that the Taoiseachs comments lead to resignations of ministers in the UK such as Dominic Raab but she said the tense state of play at the moment means that the Irish government needs to give Theresa May the space to try to sell the deal in London. We need to calm down and our gov needs to calm down. If we have learned anything from last Dec when FG and our gov trumpeted their own personal success in achieving what they deemed to be a rock solid, cast iron and bullet proof backstop which really undermined and made it very difficult in the UK parliament to deal with that particular issue. The Taoiseachs comments that what we have achieved last night is even stronger its extremely unhelpful because right now Theresa May and her cabinet are dealing with a really challenging situation, she said. UK ministers resign in protest Two Leave-backing ministers including the man in charge of the UK's withdrawal negotiations have sensationally quit the UK Cabinet on Thursday in a massive blow to Mrs May's Brexit plans. Mr Raab - who only took over in the summer after David Davis resigned in protest over the Prime Minister's withdrawal strategy - said he "cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU". Esther McVey announced she was resigning as Work and Pensions Secretary as she could not defend a deal which meant the UK "handing over control to the EU". The pair's shock departures within little more than an hour of one another on Thursday came amid a furious backlash from Brexit-backing Conservatives to the deal given the collective approval of Mrs May's Cabinet in a stormy five-hour meeting at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday. Their resignations were followed by a second Brexit minister, Suella Braverman, while Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced she was quitting as an unpaid parliamentary aide in the Department for Education. The developments threaten to derail the Prime Minister's Brexit strategy ahead of a crucial EU summit on November 25, with just over four months to go until the UK is due to leave on March 29. A still image from a video footage shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, in central London, Britain Britain will leave the European Union on March 29 and will not suspend the process of leaving, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday, adding that it would meet its legal obligations on a financial settlement with the bloc. "We will not extend Article 50," May told parliament, when asked about the clause in the EU's Lisbon Treaty which allows for countries to leave the bloc. Lawmakers will have to consider the British people's vote to leave the European Union when parliament is asked to vote on a final Brexit deal. She said she shared the concerns of those who believe a Brexit backstop to avoid a border on the island of Ireland impinges on British sovereignty, but it was an improvement on previous proposals. "The references to the backstop do raise some difficult issues," May told parliament. "I fully accept that across the house, there are concerns in relation to the backstop. Indeed, I share some of those concerns," she said. Mrs May is battling to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest at an agreement they say will trap Britain in the bloc's orbit for years. Just over 12 hours after she announced that her team of top ministers had agreed to the terms of the draft agreement, Brexit minister Dominic Raab and work and pensions minister Esther McVey quit, saying they could not support it. Their departure, and the resignations of two junior ministers, shakes May's divided government and her Brexit strategy, raising the prospect of Britain leaving the EU without a deal. Some lawmakers in London openly questioned whether May's government will survive. Raab is the second Brexit secretary to quit over May's plans to leave the EU, the biggest shift in British policy in more than 40 years. By leaving now, some suggested that Raab could be positioning himself as a possible successor to May. But the prime minister showed little sign of backing down in parliament, where she warned lawmakers they now faced a stark decision. "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," she said. More to follow... Theresa May is battling to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest. The question now is: how and when will Mrs May exit the UK Prime Ministers office? As the race heats up, John Downing looks at the would-be successors. BORIS JOHNSON: Former foreign minister, best known on this side of the Irish Sea has been a bookies favourite. A substantial figure physically, he is more about style politically. Flipped from Remain to Leave in spring 2016. A favourite among Conservative Party members who would choose from two final candidates chosen by the partys MPs. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close David Davis and Boris Johnson Sajid Javid Andrea Leadsom Environment Secretary Michael Gove (David Mirzoeff/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Davis and Boris Johnson Big doubt is whether he would make it through the MPs selection process and on to the ballot paper. JACOB REES MOGG: Dubbed the Honourable Member for the 18th Century he is a determined young fogey with an epic level of ignorance about Ireland and the border. Has a parliamentary party following and is a darling with a certain section of the party membership. But like Boris Johnson, there are big doubts about him making the last two in the MPs selection process to get on the ballot. PENNY MORDAUNT: The overseas development minister and ardent Brexiteer Penny Mordaunt, is judged by some observers to have insufficient authority and profile in the near-term. But as a woman candidate she could prove more formidable than that. SAJID JAVID: Home secretary or justice minister, is seen as the favourite among younger Tories, representing the new face of a multicultural party. Colleagues say he is trying to recover from a Referendum positioning error. In June 2016 Mr Javid voted for Remain but later tried to present himself as a pragmatic re-Leaver. A man with wide experience of government office, and unafraid of controversy on many issues, including race matters, he could be the candidate to come through the MP selection process. His face on a ballot paper would test members attitudes to change. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Ruth Davidson Former British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: Getty Images Jacob Rees-Mogg Chancellor Philip Hammond (Joe Giddens/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ruth Davidson Read More PHILIP HAMMOND: The finance minister and former foreign minister is a determined remainer who has done all he could to deliver the softest Brexit possible. He has good credibility among the business community and enjoyed good relations with his Irish and EU counterparts. But colleagues often say he is charismatically challenged and he is derided as spreadsheet Phil for his love of that format of presentation. While he does have a following he looks an unlikely candidate at this point. MICHAEL GOVE: Famed for stabbing colleague Boris Johnson last time in summer 2016. Colleagues turned on him after that and he lost his cabinet job for a time. Now environment minister, he is a high-profile Leave campaigner, he could position himself well this time out. Will be considered a real contender. ANDREA LEADSOME: Made it on the ballot in 2016 after a series of MPs votes for a run-off against Theresa May. But she ran an ill-judged campaign and quit early announcing that she did not have enough support. An internal party document last spring on the likely succession dubbed her unsuitable but she is an ambitious campaigner. A supporter of EU membership as recently as 2016, she advocated a Leave vote in 2016. RUTH DAVIDSON: The popular Scottish Conservative delivered their best performance in Scotland for more than 30 years with 13 MPs returned to London in May 2017. She showed courage in demanding assurances from Mrs May that commitments to gay rights stood despite the government propping-up deal with Democratic Unionist Party for her minority government in June 2017. But Ms Davidson is not an elected MP which she would need to be in order to stand. DOMINIC RAAB and DAVID DAVIS: Two former Brexit ministers who crashed out of Mrs Mays cabinet because she disregarded their views. Both names will be mentioned but must be seen as marginal contenders. David Davis was seen as a low-energy and non-committal in his job. Dominic Raab did himself huge damage by recently admitting he did not know how important the Dover-Calais link was to British commercial life. An aerial view of the lands at Rathangan, Co Kildare Will Coonan of Coonan Property is quoting a guide price of 250,000 for a 3.95 acre (1.6 hectare) land holding with full planning permission for the development of 10 serviced sites in Rathangan, Co Kildare. Located around a green area of 0.47 acres (0.19 hectares), the subject site is designated C9: 'New Residential' in the 'Small Towns' section of the Kildare County Development Plan 2017-2023. Small towns have been designated to develop as key local centres for services, with levels of growth to cater for local need at an appropriate scale and to support local enterprise. Growth in these towns will be controlled to limit pressure on the environment and to ensure sustainable commuting patterns. The towns will also provide services such as schools, health facilities and recreational facilities. In all cases the level of growth is to be managed in line with the ability of local services to cater for growth. Under the terms of Kildare's small towns plan, Rathangan has been set a target of 292 new housing units to be delivered by 2023. Kildare County Council granted planning permission for 10 detached serviced sites on the subject lands on May 25 last (planning reference: 17856). A full planning pack is available from the selling agent upon request. Rathangan is located on the Grand Canal/Slate River, 56km from Dublin and 8km from Kildare town. The town lies 10km north of the M7 and 30km south of the M4. The R401 from Kildare to Edenderry and the R414 Monastervin to Allenwood are the major regional routes passing through the town. Viewing of the subject property is available through Will Cooonan by prior appointment. Meet the neighbours: The Queensbridge Houses are home to a population with a median household income below Americas federal poverty level Until recently, the most important thing to know about Amazon for residents of the Queensbridge Houses, America's largest public housing project, was that any packages left in a lobby would likely be stolen. But Amazon may soon be a far larger presence in their New York City neighbourhood. The company owned by Jeff Bezos, the world's richest man, seems set to establish a major headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, where Queensbridge's 26 ageing buildings are home to a mostly black and Hispanic population with a median household income of $15,843, well below the federal poverty line for a family of four. Here, where livings are eked out on meagre pay cheque, or social service assistance, with nearly 60 percent of its households relying on food stamps, the new neighbour will be one of the world's most profitable and famous high-tech companies, bringing what could be a work force of 25,000 people making salaries upward of $100,000. The stark contrast amplifies some of the social and economic tensions coursing through American society - a widening income gap, a lack of access to high-paying jobs for many minorities and a technology sector struggling to diversify. The planned location for the new headquarters is still unclear, as is whether Amazon will deliver any benefits to the roughly 6,000 people who live in the Queensbridge Houses and other disadvantaged parts of the neighbourhood. "What are they going to do for the community? Are they going to guarantee us employment opportunities?" said April Simpson, the president of Queensbridge Tenants Association. "I'm worried about, when they come, they're not going to have opportunities for people. Not just people from Queensbridge - but other lower- and middle-income people in this area. "That's why we're leery about them coming in." As New York City seeks to challenge Silicon Valley's dominance as a tech hub - Google recently announced plans for a significant expansion in New York - the explosion of jobs has helped propel the local economy. But it has not mitigated the 'tale of two cities' narrative of economic disparity that Mayor Bill de Blasio has vowed to address in a city where the poverty rate in 2016 was 19.5pc, significantly higher than the national rate. That stratification is keenly felt in Queensbridge, a gritty complex just across the East River from the East Side of Manhattan and some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods and real estate in the country. Many Queensbridge residents said they feel left out of the city's booming economy. Hard by the Queensboro Bridge, the Queensbridge Houses have been plagued with crime and drugs. Those problems have eased in recent years, Ms Simpson said, and community programmes have improved the quality of life. Last year, the housing project did not record a single shooting, something that had not happened in more than a decade and was a source of pride. But the neglect that afflicts many public housing developments and has led to harsh criticism of the de Blasio's administration, persists here, residents and other local leaders said. "There are still a lot of problems with the apartments - the lack of heat and hot water, non-working elevators, mould and broken front doors," said Jimmy Van Bramer, the city councilman whose district includes the Queensbridge Houses. Tyshema Basnight (42) said she had been trying to rejoin the work force after raising a family. She has an associate degree in computer science and a tech job at Amazon would be a dream job, she said. "For now, I'm just looking for secretarial work," said Ms. Basnight, who was among several residents lined up for one of the few ageing computers available in the tenants' association office for residents who do not have computers of their own. The office is not on the cutting edge of the digital frontier. And all the buzz over the e-commerce behemoth transforming Long Island City into a gleaming new-economy tech hub was met with skepticism, if not outright hostility. Many businesses - including travel and financial companies and hotel chains - have opened in recent years in the area, but Ms Simpson said they have not hired local residents or offered to "give back" to the community. "They did not hire here - they brought in their own people," she said. "My thing is: If you build here, hire here." A spokesman for Amazon, Sam Kennedy, declined to comment on its plans in New York, but said that the company has a proven track record of funding and creating programmes for the needy in Seattle, where Amazon has its main headquarters. This includes donating tens of millions of dollars, creating affordable housing, opening a shelter in its office complex for homeless families and creating a training programme for the food service and culinary industries for less-advantaged residents. The company also says it has spurred the creation of 53,000 outside jobs in industries ranging from construction to health care, and has stimulated the establishment of more than 2,000 new small businesses. The new companies that have come to Long Island City have helped transform the semi-industrial waterfront neighbourhood into a haven for moneyed professionals. Since 2010 more apartment buildings have been built in Long Island City than in any other neighborhood in the city. Apartments in the more than 40 new buildings sell for an average of over $1m. But past the gleaming skyline of high-rises, in Queensbridge and several other smaller housing projects in Long Island City, many residents fear that Amazon's arrival will only intensify the gentrification that is making the neighbourhood less affordable for people of limited means. (New York Times) A portfolio of Waterford properties, five of them in the city centre, will go for public auction as six separate lots on November 29. Auctioneer Sherry FitzGerald John Rohan estimates that their combined guide prices total 2.3m. They are being sold by the executor of the estate of the late John McGrath, who had been engaged in business in the UK. The most valuable of the lots is on Michael Street, the city's main shopping destination and a street which is about to see construction of a major new 58m development including a shopping centre and multi-storey car park. The auction lot, 4/5 Michael St, is for a 1,180 sq m (12,700 sq ft) four-storey terraced property with a 950,000 price tag. It is let to Poundland Ltd, trading as Dealz retail store, on a 10-year lease which commenced in November 2012, at a passing annual current rent of 108,000. This suggests a gross initial yield of 11.37pc. The premises is also located opposite Dunnes Stores on the pedestrianised main shopping area of the city centre and close to two shopping centres, Georges Court about 200 metres north-east of the lot, and City Square Shopping Centre which is located about 90 metres south-east of the lot. The Michael St lot has a ground floor extending to 500 sq m (5,382 sq ft), a first floor of 400 sq m (4,305 sq ft) and the two upper floors have 140 sq m (1,507 sq ft) each. It also benefits from rear access for deliveries. Nearby, a second lot combines 54 John St and behind it Unit 1 Parnell Court and these have a combined AMV of 380,000. The John St portion of this lot is a three-storey terraced premises which generates 40,000 in annual rent, while 1 Parnell Court comprises a retail unit which generates 121.76 per week suggesting a gross initial yield of 12.2pc. Both are let to Bodega Restaurant which serves seafood, Mediterranean and Irish cuisine and which was rated 4.5 out of 5 in recent Trip Advisor reviews. The restaurant and kitchen are located on the 120 sq m (1,292 sq ft) ground floor. The two overhead floors have a separate entrance and each extends to 41 sq m (441 sq ft) and are used as an office, staff canteen and storage. The other part of this lot at 1 Parnell Court extends to 12 sq m (129 sq ft), and Bodega currently uses it as a store. Parnell Court is a small retail complex. Nearby at 52 John St, a three-storey terraced property extending to 62 sq m (667 sq ft) is vacant. It had been occupied by a barber shop with a one-bedroom apartment overhead. It also has a small rear yard. Also on John St, the back room of a shop at 55 John St, which is let to Eyeworks opticians, extends to 10 sq m (108 sq ft). It can be accessed only through the shop and has a 30,000 AMV. John Street, which is almost like an extension of Michael Street, is the city's main night spot with late-night bars and restaurants. For instance, in between numbers 52 and 54, is number 53 John St which is occupied by Burzza Restaurant which is not included in the auction and has no connection with the portfolio. Also in the city centre, 68 O'Connell Street, a mid-terrace property divided into four apartments, has an AMV of 180,000. The units comprise a one-bedroom apartment and three two-bedroom apartments. One of the two beds is vacant while the others generate total rents of 21,600 per year. If fully let, they could have the potential to generate more than 27,000 a year in rental income, suggesting a gross yield of 15pc. O'Connell Street is the first street back from the city's south quays to which it runs practically parallel and it is close to Bridge Street, Thomas Street and The Glen. Nearby occupiers include The Bridge Hotel, Fitzwilton Hotel, Aldi, and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) School of Architecture. All of these properties are located within the regeneration area where some buildings built before 1915 may qualify for 'Living in the City Initiative Tax' incentives. However, demand for rental properties is sufficiently strong that landlords may not consider it worth their while to waste time and money regenerating properties which could be earning rent. The sixth lot in the auction is on the Main Street, in the seaside town of Tramore, Co Waterford and it has a 650,000 guide price. Extending to 517 sq m (5,565 sq ft), its ground floor and part of its second floor is leased to Boots Retail Ireland Ltd for 61,860 per annum on a 25-year lease, with a 15-year break clause which commenced in May 2008. Its first floor is leased to Manguard Plus incorporating CCS and Pro Secure for 10,000 per annum on a five-year lease which commenced in August 2017. This suggests a gross initial yield of 11.06pc. As well as the ground-floor door to Boots Pharmacy, a second ground-floor door offers separate access to a lift which accesses all floors. The first floor extends to 176.16 sq m (1,894 sq ft) and accommodates modern, office space with reception, training room, four offices, staff canteen, filing room, store/utility room and two toilets. A small covered deck area adjoins it. A self-contained office is also located on this floor. Boots' lease also includes part of the second floor and accommodates offices, stock room, canteen, shower room, wc and comms room. A small outdoor deck area is also located at this level. The Michael Street area of Waterford City is expected to see construction begin next year on a major new shopping centre and multi-storey car park in a development involving both Nama and the Saudi Arabian Alhokair family. Last week, Construction Information Services (CIS) reported the appointment of Tony Kirwan Plant Hire & Civil Engineering to undertake demolition of disused buildings as part of clearance work on a section of the site. The new shopping centre, which will be accessed from Michael Street, will extend to 10,030 sq m (107,962 sq ft) with 16 units including an anchor store as well as a 635 sq m (6,835 sq ft) cafe/restaurant area. A Nama spokesperson declined to comment on the State agency's role as to whether it is the landlord, joint-venture partner, vendor of the site, or whether it intends to license the property to the development company. Repercussions from Brexit and the implications for farmers from a revised Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) were described as a "double threat" to the agricultural sector on both sides of the Irish border at a weekend seminar. The 'Future of Irish Farming' seminar was organised by Sinn Fein's Midlands-NorthWest MEP Matt Carthy, and addressed by the leaders of different farming organisations, including the IFA, the ICMSA, the INHFA and the Ulster Farmers' Union. MEP Carthy told the conference in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, that while there is still much uncertainty about the implications from Brexit for farmers and their vulnerability in relation to farm income and prices for produce, he said this issue is being "brought to the attention of every member of the European Parliament". "Brexit has clearly created huge uncertainty, but when added to the new CAP reform, and a dangerous EU trade agenda, it is no exaggeration to suggest that Irish agriculture - as we know it - can face fundamental change in the times ahead," he said. "There is already much concern over the question of trade deals, including projected deals involving Europe and the United States, in view of an uncertainty about future issues including the attitude of President Trump." Although EU commission representative Chiara Dellapasqua, from DG Agri, pointed out that CAP already provided a safety net for farmers who have to deal with unpredictable events, the possible impact of both Brexit and CAP reform were the main points addressed by the various farmer representatives at the meeting. Lorcan McCabe of the ICMSA said a reduced CAP budget, and unfair trading, posed the greatest threat to farm incomes into the future. He predicted very serious implications for Irish farmers in the wake of Brexit because of the inter-dependence of the Irish and British markets. This view was shared by Wesley Aston of the Ulster Farmers' Union, who told the seminar it was generally accepted that the post-Brexit future held a greater uncertainty for farmers in the North than those in the Republic. He feared the proposals in the new CAP draft document would make things more difficult for Northern farmers. The IFA's Joe Brady said it was imperative for greater simplification in relation to the administration of CAP and that "delays in payment cannot be tolerated". Meanwhile, Macra na Feirme president James Healy said it was necessary that young farmers are rewarded and can benefit from any CAP changes, and he called for the elimination of a situation in which there were "any more armchair farmers". Vincent Cronin is a young dairy farmer who took over the family enterprise in Skahanagh near Bantry, Co Cork in 2013 and is at that early stage in his farming career where he is reviewing the situation - should he expand or just sit tight? At the moment, it looks like Vincent will be sitting tight. The 31-year-old runs a 30-strong herd of British Friesians and Holstein crosses on his 65-acre holding and is happy with the current 44c/l milk price he is receiving from the Drinagh Co-op - but it is not enough for him to up his herd numbers. "If I was to expand now I'd have to upgrade the sheds and milking parlour and buy in new stock. It would be a huge investment and I have no intention of just working for the banks," explains Vincent. "The economics of farming are quite uncertain these days so I won't be rushing things." Vincent began drying off his cows last Thursday and is happy to report that he passed his Bord Bia farm inspection the day before. Despite the vagaries of the weather this year he managed to get two silage cuts in and goes into the winter as a content farmer with plenty of bales. Positive returns will be the key to developing the farm, so Vincent will be continuing with his part-time off-farm job as a teacher with the National Learning Centre in Bantry for the foreseeable future. He graduated from UCD with his H-Dip in his early twenties and this was followed by the usual post-grad world tour which took in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and South America before he came home in 2012. He went on to complete his Green Cert in Clonakilty and Moorepark, after which he opted to take over the family farm from his parents, Jeremiah and Susan. Vincent has no regrets but feels that all young farmers are in a 'Catch 22' situation at the moment with regards to Brexit and other international trade disputes which are changing the commercial rules of agriculture every other day . Vincent takes a steady-as-you-go approach to farming and believes in taking every opportunity to increase farming knowledge. In this context he is a firm believer in the Teagasc Farmer Discussion groups, which he attends on a regular basis in the West Cork region. "I don't bring much to them at the moment - but I certainly get a lot from them," he says. "It's all about making life easier on the farm." Vincent is also a regular on various herd watch and grass measurement apps to keep up with the latest agri developments. "Anything that helps to bring farming back to something near a 40-hour week is good by me," he laughs. Vincent is engaged to Leah Kelly, who works as a solicitor in Bandon and their main current preoccupation is designing and building a family home on a site at the farm. "Progress is good," says Vincent. "We are at the planning permission and mortgage stages at present and things are going well there." Off-farm his main interest is spinning classes at the gym. It involves riding gym bikes for hours on end over any given month and in the process completing the distance of the Tour de France. "It's hard and torture at times but it keeps you physically fit," he says. In conversation with Ken Whelan Goodbody Stockbrokers' analyst Joe Gill gave his radical vision for farming at the fourth Butter Museum Lecture in UCC An Irish dairy industry operated by two large farmer-controlled co-operatives, with the meat processing sector repositioned as high-margin protein businesses, was the radical vision for the future proposed by renowned food analyst Joe Gill. Delivering the fourth annual Butter Museum Lecture in UCC, Mr Gill said the Irish food sector had underperformed when judged against traditional financial metrics. While accepting that the Irish food industry had a "proud heritage" and delivered annual sales of 25bn, employed 200,000 and generated profits of 1bn, the Goodbody Stockbrokers' analyst questioned if it was properly structured to meet future challenges. Mr Gill contrasted the performance of the 30 or so co-ops and private operators that make up the overall Irish food sector, with that of Kingspan, Applegreen and Kerry Foods. He argued that the low returns delivered by the food industry generally explained why providers of investment capital were "not enamoured by large swathes of the dairy and meat industries". Focusing his paper on how the Irish food industry could evolve over the next 20 years, and doing this through the lens of an institutional investor, Mr Gill challenged the industry to reawaken the "faded dynamism" of the 1980s and 1990s and to discard its "muted" ambition. He proposed that the dairy industry should be collapsed into two large farmer-controlled co-operative processors, establish global R&D and product development centres in Ireland, and reposition the meat sector as global high-margin protein businesses. Not surprisingly, the lecture prompted a lively but good-natured debate among the great and good of the food industry who attended. British Prime Minister Theresa Mays cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft Brexit deal with the European Union, more than 500 pages of legal text that was long held up by disagreements between the two sides on the Irish border. While both the UK and the EU have said they were determined to avoid reintroducing extensive border controls between EU state Ireland and Britains province of Northern Ireland after Brexit, they differed bitterly on how to achieve that. The Irish border will become the only land frontier between the EU and the United Kingdom after Brexit but any return of extensive controls there is seen as endangering peace on the island that has seen decades of sectarian violence. The following is what the sides finally agreed on in that regard, much to the dismay of Brexiteers in the UK, as well as the Northern Irish unionist party that props up Mays government. Their opposition to the agreement means it is far from clear whether it would pass in the UK parliament, which is necessary for the agreement to take effect. - The emergency fix to ensure no return of a hard border on the island of Ireland - or the backstop - would be part of Britains withdrawal agreement from the EU, the main legally binding document settling Brexit between the two sides. - It will remain in place temporarily or unless and until a new trade deal between the EU and the UK - to be negotiated after Brexit - takes effect and maintains the current open border. The sides will seek to get the new deal by the end of 2020. - Britain will get a status quo transition after Brexit until the end of 2020, with an option to extend it once. Britain can request extension before July 1, 2020, and it would be decided on jointly by the UK and the EU. - If the new EU-UK trade deal is not ready by the end of the transition period, the backstop kicks in and creates a single EU-UK customs territory. - Northern Ireland will be part of the same customs territory as the rest of the UK with no tariffs, quotas and checks on rules of origin between the province and Great Britain. - Fisheries are exempted from the EU-UK customs zone and agreements on access to fishing waters will only be negotiated during the transition period after Brexit to form part of the new EU-UK relationship. - Northern Ireland will be more closely aligned with EU customs rules than the rest of the UK, allowing Northern Irish goods to enter the blocs single market as they do now. Northern Ireland will remain bound by the EUs laws on VAT and excise taxes, standards on goods, sanitary and veterinary controls, agriculture and state aid. The EUs customs code will continue to apply in Northern Ireland. - The UK commits to ensuring the so-called level playing field if the backstop is triggered, meaning it would adhere to EU rules on state aid and competition, taxes, environment and labor rules. The sides agree they would not lower the blocs current standards in these fields after Brexit. This is to ensure that Britain would not sell its products on the EU market at much lower prices as a result of undercutting standards. - The EU and UK would only be able to decide jointly on nullifying the backstop. This means they have to be in agreement that it is no longer necessary in order to maintain the open Irish border. - Under the single customs territory that kicks in if the backstop is activated, the UK would apply the same external tariffs on goods as the EU and respect the blocs rules of origin, or protection of some special products from designated locations, such as camembert cheese. - While this backstop customs arrangement is meant to be temporary, it will form the basis on which arrangements in the future relationship between the EU and the UK are built. - This agreement would ensure there would be no checks of goods and people crossing between Northern Ireland and Ireland. Their common travel area and single electricity market is preserved, as is the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended violence on the island. - There would be some checks on goods crossing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to ensure compliance with EU standards. They would mostly take place in the market or at traders premises and be carried out by UK authorities. EU representatives would have the right to be present. Existing checks on agricultural and animal products between Northern Ireland and Great Britain at ports and airport would be stepped up. - The European Unions top court, the European Court of Justice, would remain the ultimate arbiter for issues related to EU law concepts outlined in the Withdrawal Agreement. There is a demand for seasonal workers ahead of spring. Photo by John Moore/Getty Images The Farm Relief Service (FRS) is searching from northern Europe to the southern oceans for seasonal workers for the busy spring period on Irish farms. While the service launched a recruitment drive spanning Munster, Leinster and Ulster to source 100 seasonal farm workers to meet demand from their farming customers this spring, it is also looking further afield. FRS is currently interviewing potential candidates in New Zealand, and is also seeking to expand a partnership arrangement with a university in Lithuania. FRS hired nine staff from New Zealand last spring, but is hoping to take on more for the coming year, and interviews are currently under way, said FRS Networks CEO Peter Byrne. The service also hired four staff from an agricultural university in Lithuania last spring, and they hope to take more for the coming season. Mr Byrne said all applicants were being interviewed by FRS representatives to assess their proficiency in English, their farming experience and overall attitude. FRS is also looking for local labour. The service is hoping to entice candidates by offering a mix of local work, flexible hours and competitive pay rates - along with the opportunity to earn 8,000 or more this spring. The roles on offer include relief milking, calf rearing, dairy and general farm work. There is training support available to upskill those who require it, through the FRS dairy operative skills programme, in conjunction with Teagasc, as well as on-farm mentoring. Dairy sector "We are aiming the recruitment campaign at three specific categories of candidates, experienced dry stock farmers with spare capacity, young people looking for farm experience, and women looking for suitable local part-time work," Mr Byrne said. There is a growing demand for labour in the dairy sector. The number of units with more than 100 cows has grown from 1,080 in 2005 to 4,260 in 2016, a lift of more than 3,000, Mr Byrne pointed out. Many of these units will have a requirement for additional labour through the busy calving and calf-rearing season, Mr Byrne said. The Department of Agriculture is preparing for all eventualities when it comes to Brexit, Minister Michael Creed has said. Minister told FarmIreland that while he still believes a no deal Brexit is the worst possible deal, he said his Department is preparing contingency plans in the event of the UK crashing out of the EU. I remain of the view that no deal is the worst possible outcome. What we have now in the draft withdrawal agreement is the basis to proceed to negotiate a deal, but we are preparing in my Department for all eventualities, he said. In fact, in the budget only recently passed we have finalised provisions for some of the infrastructure and staffing arrangements that will are necessary to deal with the contingency. We are talking about port infrastructure, airport requirements, staffing, IT systems etc. We are well advanced across the whole of government in dealing with all those issues. Notwithstanding all the events of earlier today and events unfolding as they are. Having an agreement is essential to avoid the UK crashing out of the EU next March and all the chaos that would bring. A settled withdrawal agreement guards against that and finalising that deal is the best way to ensure that we can all plan for the changed future that lies ahead. Minister Creed acknowledged that the resignations of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Northern Ireland Secretary Shailesh Vara are not easy issues to resolve, he did not wish to comment on the resignations which he said were issues germane to the UK political system. He added that the Irish government is extremely happy with the draft agreement but that it takes two to tango when negotiating a deal. "From an Irish government point of view, we are extremely happy with the text that is agreed. In the context of the transition period and the future trading period, this is the foundation stone upon which a withdrawal agreement will be built upon which we are very satisfied with. Without a withdrawal agreement there is no future trading agreement, he said. "It takes two to tango. We need to have a withdrawal agreement approved first and then to build upon that. We want to have as close as possible trading agreement with the United Kingdom as possible. Its not possible to maintain as close as possible to what it is now when by their own ambition they wish to be outside of the customs union and the single market. Its about engineering a trading agreement cognisant of those red lines and acknowledging within those parameters of negotiations that brings with it friction and costs, unfortunately. IFA President Joe Healy, flanked by General Secretary Damian McDonald and IFA Deputy President Richard Kennedy, pictured addressing the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Irish Farmers Association in Dublin. Accounts published by the Irish Farmers Association show the organisations finances continue to be in the red since a high profile pay scandal rocked the organisation in 2015. The organisation's finances further hit in 2018 following a 1.4m legal settlement with its former General Secretary Pat Smith. The IFA Accounts to the year ended March 31, 2018, showed a slight increase in income for the year at 16.252m up 53,000 on 2017. However, the organisation's income has declined substantially from over 20m prior to the scandal. IFA staff costs totalled 5.385m for the year, with remuneration for the current Director General, Damian McDonald totalling 213,152. Total IFA Executive Management compensation which comprises of three individuals was 563,826, while the average remuneration for the top 15 staff in the organisation, excluding Executive Management, was 131,539. The 2018 accounts also show the IFA President, Joe Healy's gross salary was 120,000 for the year, however, the net amount charged to the organisation was 68,000 after Directors fees from outside bodies were excluded under IFA rules. The net amount charged to the IFA for the remuneration of its Deputy President Richard Kennedy's was 13,000 after Directors fees from outside bodies were deducted from his gross salary of 35,000. Notably, the accounts show a new pay agreement was reached with top 15 staff in the organisation, excluding Executive Management during 2017 and was implemented during this financial year. This involved pay reductions for these staff from an average of over 103,000 to 99,000. As part of the arrangement, the staff benefited from what the organisation called 'once-off legacy adjustment' of 7,186 on average. IFA National Treasurer Tim Cullinan said the year was challenging, but progress has been made in the three-year plan to eliminate the operating deficit which now stands at 1.5m. The expenditure for this year contains exceptional items totalling 1.4m which relate to the legal action with the former General Secretary, which was settled in February. Provisions for part of this settlement and ongoing legal fees had been included in previous years accounts. This matter is now concluded and the costs associated with it are fully through the system, he said. In February, the former General Secretary of the IFA Pat Smith settled his legal actions against IFA. The IFA confirmed at the time that Mr Smith would receive 1.55m concerning his severance claim and 350,000 in relation to his defamation claim. Mr Smith resigned from his post as IFA General Secretary in November 2015, amid speculation around his salary and pressure for it to be disclosed. Mr Smith said his agreement with IFA on his exit centred around a 1m exit package and a further 1m in yearly 100,000 instalments. Smith said the 2m exit package was agreed with the former IFA President Eddie Downey. Downey later resigned from his position and the IFA Executive Council voted against the package Downey and Smith had agreed upon, with the Association saying at the time that it would explore all legal avenues to challenge any severance package for Smith. Smith then brought two legal actions against the organisation, including one seeking orders requiring it to pay him 2m via payments of 1m now and a further 1m over the next 10 years. Smith said the November 19, 2015, agreement was valid, effective and enforceable. In his second case, Mr Smith alleged that he was defamed by the IFA and has issued a claim for damages, including aggravated damages. However, despite saying it would challenge Smith's legal claims, the IFA today settled both claims with its former General Secretary. At the time, it was revealed that Mr Smith had been paid in excess of 540,000 in 2013, including a base salary of 295,000, a pension contribution of 145,194, and a bonus of 55,000, as well as 35,000 from IFA telecom in report carried out by the Association's former Chief Economist Con Lucey. IFAs 2018 accounts further show expenditure at the organisation decreased slightly when compared to 2017 at 17.527m. IFA Membership for the year was at 71,712 with income from membership standing at 5.66m. Ireland faces tough competition in its bid to win a seat on the UN Security Council but the country's history and innate characteristics will be a big plus, the director general of Global Ireland says. Addressing the Marketing Society on 'Influencing the Nation', John Concannon said the biggest threat in the 2020 election will come from Canada and Norway. "But we Irish have a lot to say for ourselves," the former Unilever and Marketer of the Year winner for Failte Ireland's staycations insisted, "and we've a sense of empathy." Ireland will need to make a convincing argument about how the country has contributed so much to peacekeeping efforts around the world and its role in aid development programmes. The country has lived with famine, the Northern troubles and economic collapse. As an independent and non-aligned nation, Ireland promotes human rights and takes a stand on nuclear disarmament. Such factors should be a major help in persuading other countries that we ought to be considered for a seat on what is essentially the UN board. TBWA\Dublin produced a Global Ireland video using U2's 'One' as the backing track. In the video, former President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson says Ireland is "a country that can be a bridge". Taoiseach Leo Varadkar describes the country as "a shining light in a very dark world". Global Ireland was launched in June and coincided with the winding down of the Government's controversial Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) after a review by the Department of the Taoiseach's secretary general, Martin Fraser. Over the next seven years, Global Ireland aims to double the country's footprint worldwide. It will see the opening of more Irish embassies and the expansion of trade links, overseas aid and peacekeeping operations. Concannon was asked by Tourism Ireland's Peter Nash if he'd consider running for President of Ireland in 2025. He finally conceded that he has no interest in running for the Aras - it was not for him. But as President Michael D Higgins would be the first to admit, a lot can happen in seven years during which time people can have a change of heart and mind. Marketing doyenne Loretta Dignam is about to launch her own business venture - Ireland's first dedicated menopause resource. After exploring the issue for the past three years, Dignam realised that when it comes to women experiencing 'the change of life', there's a gap in the Irish market for professional expertise in menopausal services. Dignam says the first Menopause Hub is due to open in Mount Merrion in south Dublin before Christmas. It will initially be a Dublin-based private health care clinic. She then hopes to get the HSE on board, at which stage new hubs will open in Cork, Limerick and Galway, along with further branches across the capital. Dignam held senior marketing roles at Diageo, Mars and Kerry Foods. While at Jacobs Fruitfield, she was voted Marketer of the Year in 2011. She currently sits on the board of the Abbey Theatre and chaired its gender equality committee for the national theatre's Waking the Feminists grassroots movement. Colin Gordon will soon step down as Glanbia's consumer foods boss. The grocery brands Gordon has been responsible for include Avonmore, Kilmeaden cheese and Premier Milk. With 33 years of FMCG experience, Gordon joined Glanbia in 2005, having worked with C&C and tobacco firm John Player & Sons. The invite to his farewell bash in the Aviva Stadium soon shows a book cover entitled 'Everything You Wanted to Know About FMCG - But Were Afraid To Ask by Colin Gordon'. Guests are being urged to join him as he starts the sequel. And finally The AA has got a new media agency. After a four-way contest between Javelin, Vizeum, Wavemaker and the incumbent Zenith, the car insurance and roadside recovery service has appointed Vizeum. The review did not include creative work. That means Javelin, whose ads with the two chatty dogs, Butch and Mulligan, got people talking, will continue in the driving seat. Michael Cullen is editor of Marketing.ie; cullen@marketing.ie People in mortgage arrears suffer shame and stress and feel they've been abandoned by the State, it has been claimed. They are often left with no legal representation despite threats of having their homes repossessed. They also claim there are no State bodies to support them adequately, according to a research project compiled by Community Action Network (CAN), a State-supported non-governmental agency. Some 66,000 homeowners are in long-term mortgage arrears, with CAN claiming that around 20,000 are facing repossession cases before the courts. The study found people in mortgage arrears face huge challenges and obstacles as they interact with banks, vulture funds and the legal system. That is one of the findings of the survey which looks at people's personal experience of being in mortgage distress or at risk of losing their home. CAN said that many people were still too embarrassed to admit they were in difficulty. Spokesperson Cecilia Forrestal said: "[We are] talking about people who are connected into their communities, their children are going to school, but the most staggering thing we've discovered is they are the most hard-to-reach group of people because they are silenced by a sense of shame, a sense of stigma and a sense of failure and of powerlessness about the situations that they find themselves in." A growing cryptocurrency ecosystem and availability of tech talent is attracting blockchain leaders, and their companies, to Ireland. Digital currency exchange Coinbase has most recently helped to expand the crypto economy here, opening an office in Dublin just last month. At the time, the firm's UK CEO Zeeshan Feroz said that Dublin, with its diverse talent pool and entrepreneurial spirit, was the "clear choice" when the company considered the location of its second European office. While the move was part of Coinbase's Brexit contingency plan, the attraction to this island for many firms working with emerging tech is strong, not least with Brooklyn-based start-up ConsenSys. Lory Kehoe, who has led the Dublin hub of the "blockchain venture studio" since it opened its doors last April, said establishing a presence here shows there is a vibrant cross-industry and cross-sector blockchain ecosystem in the country. "Companies like us are looking to attract some of the great tech talent that already exists in Ireland, thanks to the many global tech companies that are based here," he said. "Based on the first-hand experience of Jeremy Millar [chief of staff at ConsenSys], he saw that other tech firms had their EMEA presence in Ireland; and he needed a city that was close to London that could help deliver on projects the company is already working on." Blockchain technologies store blocks of information that are distributed across a network; they have been embraced by a number of business verticals for the traceability and security they bring to transactions online. Founded by Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin, ConsenSys was established in October 2014 and currently employs 1,200 people across the globe. Dublin is ConsenSys's third hub in Europe and fourth in EMEA, adding to ConsenSys's network in London, Dubai and Paris. The multi-functional Irish hub includes a development lab, where engineers build and deliver Ethereum-based blockchain platforms and products stemming from the company's consulting arm, ConsenSys Solutions. And this is all run by a team of blockchain experts - which has grown twelvefold over the last eight months. "The Irish studio started with just myself, quickly followed by two others. We went completely against the grain of a quiet summer with our recruitment drive and now we have 36 employees." Prior to ConsenSys, Kehoe was a director with Deloitte where he founded and led Deloitte's EMEA Blockchain Lab. He said he was about to take a job in Hong Kong when he got "the opportunity to start a business in my home city about a technology that I'm very passionate about". "As managing director, I'm leading such a great team, that I plan on building out to 50 staff by end of the year. We're currently housed at co-working space Huckletree, while we wait for our new space to be being fitted out." Kehoe said that his team will be moving to its new 6,000 sq ft home at Silicon Docks, "minutes from Google", in January of next year. The space has capacity for 100 people and Lory said that ConsenSys plan to "fill the space that we move into; we're hiring a person every week". In addition to building out the blockchain ecosystem in Ireland and EMEA, Kehoe said that the intention is to grow out his team and continue to focus on team diversity. Earlier this year, the European Commission appointed ConsenSys as an adviser to the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum, a two-year initiative aimed at helping the European Union accelerate blockchain innovation. New horizons: Altocloud founder Barry OSullivan sits on the board of Genesys and advises venture firm Permira as well as investing in medtech startups What do you do when you sell your Irish startup to a big US tech company for millions? Its a question that seasoned tech executive Barry OSullivan has been dealing with since his Galway-based firm, Altocloud, was acquired by Genesys early this year. Despite being one of Irelands most experienced technology industry figures, most of OSullivans experience has been in running large multinational firms here. A Corkman who has spent much of his working life in Galway, he spent 18 years at Nortel Networks, rising to become vice-president and general manager of the Galway-based Canadian companys call centre business and then vice-president of enterprise voice for Nortel Networks Europe. He then went to head up a big division in Cisco, the giant networking company, before leaving to start Altocloud. He wont say how much Genesys bought the company for in February of this year, but he and co-founders Dan Arra and Joe Smyth probably made more than they might have had his initial funding drive been more successful. It was really hard to get money when we were starting out, says OSullivan. I mean, I thought I could walk in with my big Cisco CV and that people would be throwing money at me. But that didnt happen, nobody would give us money. Partially it was because we were talking about artificial intelligence and that was in 2014. But it was a steep learning curve just diving into the deep end. Being the CEO of a startup is something I really didnt know how to do. Ultimately, Altocloud went on to raise 2m, but the challenge of attracting finance meant that OSullivan ended up investing in the business himself. As it transpired, this may have helped his own bottom line when the company sold to Genesys. It all worked out, he says. We just learned how to do it. I knew was going to be heard. And I knew there were lots of new things Id have to learn. Having sold up, OSullivan now sits on the board of Genesys and is a senior adviser to Permira, a $33bn venture firm that owns 50pc of Genesys. Basically, what that means is that I work with them to evaluate deals, he says. So thats when theyre looking at acquiring companies or investing in companies. I will go in and take a look at the technology, how modern the cloud architecture is, how real the AI stuff theyre talking about is and so on. I look at whether it might all be smoke and mirrors. OSullivan says that after half of a lifetime in upper management of large corporate multinationals, he regrets not having done a startup earlier in life. I never missed any of the kind of trappings of being a senior executive at a company like Cisco, he says. I would say the stress level of being a CEO of a startup for me was about 10pc of what it was to be a senior executive at a company like Cisco. When I ran a $5bn business at Cisco, it was a continuous grind. There were always presentations to the board on investments and acquisitions and so on. And every big company has lots of politics. When youve got a job like that, at a company like Cisco, its a big job and its very well paid. You always kind of have to be on all the time, you know? What was most stressful was that decisions often took a long time to make. You would think that as a very senior executive that you would have the power of all the decisions you want to make. But quite a lot of stuff had to be presented and has to be decided with your peers. At a startup you can just do it. Sometimes when big multinationals buy local startups, they integrate a bit of technology into their own stream and do little else with it. Its a different scenario with Altocloud. Only months after buying it, Genesys is scaling up the former Altocloud base in a substantial way. Galways new Genesys base is to get a new 200-staff-strong artificial intelligence research centre in one of the biggest high-end tech announcements outside Dublin this year. The new jobs will be in research and development, machine learning, software engineering, user experience and data science. Genesys spends about $250m [218m] a year on research and development, and Ireland is now going to be an important part of that, says OSullivan. Genesys, which makes and sells customer experience software, has more than 10,000 customers, including some of the worlds biggest tech firms such as Microsoft, Oracle, Airbnb and Uber. It may not be the only thing in OSullivans future. Hes looking down the line at other technologies that he thinks may prove disruptive and transformative. Im very interested in technology and healthcare, he says. Theres a huge opportunity globally for tech to make healthcare better in terms of outcomes for patients. I also think its interesting and in terms of controlling costs for people and for governments. So Im investing in a couple of companies in Ireland. However, healthcare and consumer technology is a notoriously slow grind. The technology landscape is littered with the corpses of companies that thought they had the next big thing, only to fall flat when it came to adoption. For me, the big opportunity in general healthcare is related to the fact that its well proven that prevention is better than cure, says OSullivan. There are some big opportunities around medicine adherence. In other words, making sure people take their medicines and using technology to drive it so that patients know when theyre supposed to reorder their medications, when theyre supposed to take and so on. Like pill boxes? Yes, or some way of helping patients stick to their medications. There are also huge savings for the government in that. OSullivan also thinks that regulatory change will open up the market. Basic things like prescriptions or video consultations are very difficult to implement, he says. A lot of regulations have been set up to protect the incumbents. So I think youre going to see a big push for regulatory change. And then a lot of new innovations will come in the area of pharmacies. Thats an area Im particularly interested in. The nature of regulation means that pharmacy is expensive and you have to have lots of pharmacists with lots of manual processes involving face-to-face consultations between the pharmacist and the patient. That isnt the case in the UK, for example, where you can mail or email in your prescription and you know that the drugs will show up. OSullivan says that Amazons acquisition of PillPack, an online pharmacy, in the US could provide a template of what may happen here. Theres definitely an opportunity to do something like that in Europe. So yes, a PillPack of Europe is something Id be very interested in. One part of the Altocloud Genesys story revolves around Galway. Most tech jobs in Ireland still go to Dublin, particularly high-end research roles. But Galway is emerging as Irelands second city when it comes to senior research technology. Galway is a close second to Dublin when youre googling for places to live and work, says OSullivan. It has an awful lot going for it. The tech graduates here are fantastic. From our point of view, there is a lot of artificial intelligence data science capability. Theres also the issue that employees want to be downtown these days, not at the edge of a city. You can do that in Galway. One Southwark Bridge, the current home of the FT British education publisher Pearson is selling its property at One Southwark Bridge in London, the current home of the 'Financial Times' newspaper, to M&G Real Estate for 115m (132m). The terms of the deal will not impact the newspaper's current lease obligations, with it returning to its former HQ at Bracken House in the City in mid-2019. Pearson sold the newspaper to Japan's Nikkei in 2015 to focus on its education business. "This is an important step for Pearson in simplifying its UK property portfolio and becoming a leaner and more efficient company," said Ben Almond, Pearson's global head of property. Last month Pearson said it was on track for a return to profit growth. It said yesterday its priorities for capital allocation were still a focus on a strong balance sheet, investing in the business, maintaining a progressive dividend and returning any surplus cash to shareholders. Glut: Oil production is above expectations and Opec must alter its strategy, its president says. Photo: Stock image Opec and allied oil producers will cut or adjust production as needed to balance the market, the group's president, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei, said yesterday. If Opec and its allies need to reduce output, they will do so, he said in a Bloomberg TV interview in Abu Dhabi. The producers will take whatever steps are necessary to keep the market stable and keep crude inventory levels where they are, Mr Al Mazrouei said. Oil production is above expectations, and Opec needs to change its strategy, he said. "We have cut in the past to reach the market balance, and if we need to cut production to keep the market balanced, we will," Mr Al Mazrouei said. "The group will reach consensus on whatever is required to adjust the market." Oil has barely recovered from a record 12-day decline as investors fled a market battered by swelling supplies and a darkening demand outlook. Futures in New York were 0.8pc higher yesterday morning after plunging 7.1pc in the previous trading session, in the biggest one-day drop in more than three years. Crude inventories in industrialised nations have increased for four consecutive months and are set to jump by two million barrels a day in the first half of 2019 if current output is maintained, the International Energy Agency said yesterday in its monthly report. Opec, in a report on Tuesday, said it sees demand for its own crude falling faster than expected next year as a slowing global economy crimps demand and rival supplies surge. Oil market fundamentals "are still reasonable" and don't justify the sell-off on Tuesday, Mr Al Mazrouei said. Opec is to gather in Vienna to assess the market. "In December when we meet, if there's a requirement to curtail, whatever the required cut, we will cut in accordance to what we agree on," Mr Al Mazrouei said. "Whatever price that we end up with, the market will decide the price, not us." Saudi Arabia, Opec's biggest producer, has expressed the need for producers to cut one million barrels a day, reversing a June decision to boost supply to contain a price rally. Opec, Russia and other suppliers agreed to limit their production starting in January 2017 to drain a global glut. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih told reporters on Sunday in Abu Dhabi that the kingdom will pare its exports by 500,000 barrels a day in December. Shares in Snap, the company behind social media app Snapchat, fell yesterday after the company said the US Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission were looking into allegations it misled investors ahead of its initial public offering last year. "Snap has been responding to subpoenas and requests for information made by staff from the DOJ and the SEC," the company said on Tuesday in a statement. "It is our understanding that these regulators are investigating issues related to the previously disclosed allegations asserted in the class action about our IPO disclosures. "While we do not have complete visibility into these investigations, our understanding is that the DOJ is likely focused on IPO disclosures relating to competition from Instagram." The shares fell as much as 7.3pc in early trading in New York. They are down 54pc this year. Snap investors allege in a securities lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles that prior to its IPO, Snap didn't reveal how much competition from Instagram, the photo-sharing app owned by Facebook, was hurting its growth in the second half of 2016. They also say Snap failed to disclose a sealed whistleblower lawsuit by a former employee who claimed inaccuracies in the company's calculation and reporting of daily active users. "We continue to believe the class action's claims are meritless and our IPO disclosures were accurate and complete," Snap said in the statement. A federal judge in June denied Snap's request to dismiss the shareholders' allegations. Once a highly popular app among younger people, Snapchat has been on the decline, reporting two consecutive quarters of a drop in users and projections to lose more in the current quarter. Not for nothing was Club 92 known as The Club Of Love - and really, when you had a mix of glossy tans, upturned polo collars, blonde GHD'd beauties, UCD freshers, unironic pop playlists and the odd slosh of tequila, what else could you expect? For well over 30 years, Club 92 was an institution, so news of its imminent demise has left SoCoDu in mourning. Social media erupted in indignation, as well as a huge nostalgia deep-dive, when it was announced that the nightclub's big closing party will take place on Monday, December 31. Even iconic (and fictional) Southsider Ross O'Carroll-Kelly has been shaken by the news, tweeting: "Club 92 is following Kielys and Renords into oblivion, and I don't know what to tell my children anymore." Along with Wesley and Bondi, Club 92 was part of the holy trinity of SoCoDu 'rite of passage' clubs. It wouldn't be unusual at the peak of the Celtic Tiger to see Brian O'Driscoll, Denis Hickie or Damien Duff taking to the dance floor. Even Rosanna Davison was a regular: "I spent pretty much every Sunday night there back when I was in first year UCD in 2002-3," she says. "It was the best fun ever! I also met my husband (Wes Quirke) there for the first time." Rosanna isn't alone in that regard. The iconic Leopardstown venue is responsible for a lot of fun times, flings and, according to its director Lisa Smith, a few engagements and marriages. "I don't know where 'The Club Of Love' came from, but we took it and ran with it," smiles Lisa. "We ended up using that line ourselves." Expand Close Former Miss Universe Ireland Lynn Kelly celebrates Club 92s 20th anniversary in 2009. Photo: Stuart McNamara / Mac Innes Photography / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former Miss Universe Ireland Lynn Kelly celebrates Club 92s 20th anniversary in 2009. Photo: Stuart McNamara / Mac Innes Photography Lisa, along with her brother Richard, were regular visitors to the club as teens - their entrepreneur father Des took over the nightclub Blinkers back in 1987 and turned it into Club 92. He installed Tommy Mathews as resident DJ, who is still spinning tunes there to this day. The vibe was designed to be unpretentious, with a non-snooty dance-floor policy - in the end, it was the young cohort of glossy, moneyed regulars that helped amp up the glamour quotient. Later, chart pop would be mixed up with grimy, sexy hip-hop; a formula that struck a chord with younger clubgoers. "Part of the success had to do with good staff, who came along on their nights off to socialise," explains Lisa. "Our ethos was that we wanted to have a party-friendly venue that people could go to, get chatted up in and dance. Expand Close Lisa Smith says the nightclub scene has changed a lot / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lisa Smith says the nightclub scene has changed a lot Video of the Day "When I was younger, the age group was 40 and 50-year-olds, who would happily mix with 20 and 21-year-olds - the older clientele would go to the left in the door," adds Lisa. "Tommy would play anything he felt the crowds wanted, whether it was Michael Jackson or Wham!. In fact, we were one of the very few clubs in Dublin that still did a slow set, up until about eight years ago. "In the last 10 years, things became a lot younger, with the clientele being mainly in their mid-20s." Lisa notes that Club 92 has commercially had "a great last two years", but the club is closing due to the development of Leopardstown Racecourse: "We would have loved to continue the club, but for now, it's a question of going out as well as we can," she says. Club 92 is just one casualty in an overall trend that has seen the might of the nightclub dwindle. Several clubs, among them the Twisted Pepper, Hangar, Redz, Tripod and Crawdaddy have all closed their doors to punters in recent years. It's a phenomenon that's not exclusive to Ireland: 2016 research from Mintel found that UK attendance in nightclubs fell by 23 per cent in the previous five years. Part of Club 92's big draw was its neighbourhood feel. Meeting fellow locals there was very much a given. It was a choice night out for those who didn't want to make the trek into town, and fancied only a brief wobble/walk home by night's end. These days, things are different. Getting in and out of the city centre has never been easier. Thanks to advances in technology, club goers can listen to their favourite tunes any day of the week. And these days most young people do their networking and dating online: in the post #MeToo era, flirting and hooking up in a nightclub is well, complicated. Rob Browne is general manager of Tamango's club in Portmarnock. Like Club 92, it has long entered the lexicon of Dublin nightlife, and was often referred to as a Northside equivalent to Club 92. "Years ago, some people didn't want to go into town in case they were refused [entry]," he says. "When people got fed up going to Tamangos, they'd go to Club 92, or you'd hear someone say, 'we can't go to Club 92, I kissed someone there last week and can't go back', so they'd come to us". "The club industry has changed a lot - I think part of it is people drinking at home, then not coming into club nights until much later," observes Lisa. "Once upon a time, we'd open the doors at 11 and there would be a huge queue of people waiting to get in. Now, you're talking about people not hitting the clubs until at least 1am. Also, the city centre is more of a focal point these days, and social media has changed so much of our daily life," she adds. "You don't need to go to venues to meet people and fall in love anymore. It's all done online." Adds Rob: "We've been trying new things every week, like bringing back over-30s nights. We have couples in their 40s and 50s coming who met here years ago, and those club nights have gone down a treat. They keep the venue going more than anything. "I was really surprised to hear about Club 92 - it's an absolute institution. But the club scene has changed so much - you're up against festivals and concerts and all the rest." In the last week, Lisa and Richard have been inundated with messages from club-goers keen on one last Club 92 hurrah. "It's likely that our last night will have to be a first-come-first-served ticket situation," she says. "If all the people come along who have said they will, it's likely a lot of people will be bumping into those they haven't seen in 15 years." A Russian man, who claimed 75,000 damages for defamation and unlawful imprisonment at The Pavillions Shopping Centre, Swords, was today awarded 100 after a judge found he had been prevented for one minute from exiting the centre car park. Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke threw out Vladimirs Korolovs defamation claim against The Pavillions Administration Limited but accepted his car had been prevented for 60 seconds from departing the car park. Judge Groarke said Mr Korolovs, of the Nurseries, Forest Road, Swords, had claimed that on four occasions when he visited the shopping centre in November 2015 he had been defamed by reason of the fact he had been brought into public ridicule by security staff. He had alleged that a considerable number of security staff had marched him down the concourse of the shopping centre and stood around him and his wife, Svetlana Korlova, at an ATM before unlawfully imprisoning him by refusing for no more than a minute to raise the car park barrier to allow his car leave. The judge told barrister Andrew Walker, who appeared with Shaffrey Solicitors for The Pavillions, the court was satisfied Mr Korolovs had known perfectly well that on two occasions he was not welcome in the centre and that he was barred. Judge Groarke added that Korolovs was also aware his wife, two months earlier, had been caught shoplifting in Dunnes Store at the centre and that she was barred. The court did not believe the cock and bull story he had put forward that his wife had been given permission by a local garda to re-enter the centre. I dont believe for a moment that his wife had permission to be on the premises and consequently security officers were within their rights to ask her to leave, Judge Groarke said. He said Mr Korolovs, a taxi driver in Dublin for more than two years, had intervened both verbally and physically by telling the security officers to f**k off. He had refused to leave and had insisted on remaining on the premises. This mans attitude at all times has been belligerent, obstructive and discourteous, Judge Groarke said. Judge Groarke said the security staff had not been justified in leaving the car park barrier down even for one minute while he was in his car in circumstances where he was leaving and consequently there was a commission of unlawful imprisonment. He said Mr Korolovs had, by his conduct, contributed to a substantial degree to what had taken place and the court would measure compensation in the sum of 100. He made no order as to costs. Two well-known Irish film producers have been accused of diverting between 40m and 50m of funds out of a production company to either themselves personally or corporate entities controlled by them. The claim is made by Berlin-based W2 Filmproduktion Vertriebs GmbH against producers Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn. It is claimed they diverted the funds out of Octagon Films Ltd, a company they are all shareholders in. W2 is taking proceedings in the High Court against Mr Flynn and Mr O'Sullivan who are directors of Octagon. It is seeking an order from the High Court for damages for alleged breach of duty, alleged fraud and alleged conspiracy. W2 invests in international film productions. It says in 2002 it acquired 49pc of shares in Octagon under a shareholders agreement. It said it considered Octagon to be a successful start-up company. The German company is also seeking a declaration the defendants are obliged to account to the plaintiff in respect of all profits made through the producers' and Octagon's alleged involvement in dozens of TV and movie productions. These include 'Vikings', 'The Tudors', 'Penny Dreadful', 'The Borgias', 'Love/Hate', 'Calvary', 'Ondine', 'PS I Love You' and many more. The claims are denied. Mr O'Sullivan and Mr Flynn say they did not divert any fees, income or opportunities that were due to Octagon to themselves personally or to any corporate entities controlled by them personally. Mr O'Sullivan, of Ardmore Park, Bray, Co Wicklow, and Mr Flynn, of Ballyedmonduff Road, Stepaside, Dublin, who between them own 51pc of Octagon's shares, deny they traded as Octagon and used the company's name and reputation. Octagon, they claim, benefited from the defendants' association with projects which were not part of Octagon's business. They also say they will produce forensic accountancy evidence to demonstrate that the alleged losses claimed by W2 are misconceived and misstated. The hearing continues. A woman asked to identify the body of her deceased friend - whose partner is on trial for murder - said it was like looking at a different face and body. Renars Veigulis (32) of Old Bridge Street in Freshford, Co Kilkenny has pleaded not guilty to murdering Rita Apine (29) at their home on or about May 14, 2017. Mr Veigulis told ambulance staff that his partner fell down the stairs, while prosecuting lawyers have told a Central Criminal Court jury they will hear evidence that her injuries were inconsistent with a fall. Opening the trial on Tuesday, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Heneghan SC, said the accused and the deceased were from both Latvia. Mr Veigulus came to Ireland about five years ago, followed six months later by Ms Apine, and in 2016 they moved to Freshford, about 20 miles from Kilkenny City. Latvian national Gatis Kuhalskis gave evidence to Mr Heneghan today that he had been living in Ireland for 11 years and worked with Mr Veigulis in the Kilkenny Design Centre. Expand Close Mum Rita Apine / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mum Rita Apine Mr Kuhalskis agreed he was having a normal day on May 14, 2017, until he got a phone call from a friend telling him to go to Mr Veigulis house. On arrival, he said he was given a shock to see a woman on the street, who he thought was Ms Apine, receiving CPR from an ambulance crew. Mr Kuhalskis said the accused told him Rita had fallen down the stairs and hit her head off a child-safety gate that was located at the bottom of the stairs. Mr Veigulis told him he hadn't seen the fall, Mr Kuhalskis said. He said he was handed the two-and-a-half year old daughter of Ms Apine and Mr Veigulis, who he took to his partners house soon after. Expand Close Renars Veigulis / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Renars Veigulis Under cross examination by Mr Michael Bowman SC, for the defence, Mr Kuhalskis agreed that Mr Veigulis was "shocked and upset" and smoking heavily. Estonian national Julia Sinjagina gave evidence to Mr Heneghan that she had been living in Ireland for about 10 years and became friends with Ms Apine over the course of a year and a half before her death. Ms Apine was like a daughter to her, Ms Sinjagina said, because she was the same age as her own daughter. Ms Sinjagina agreed with Mr Heneghan that she didnt think Ms Apine had many friends in Freshford and she would go to Kilkenny to do her shopping. She said Ms Apine was a nice person, a happy person, who cared very much for her daughter. Expand Close Rita Apine / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rita Apine Ms Sinjagina said she confirmed the identity of the body after Ms Apines death. She agreed her face and body were terribly damaged. She provided a photograph to gardai of Ms Apine. It was like two different faces, two different bodies, Ms Sinjagina said comparing the photo of Ms Apine with that of the body she was asked to identify. The trial continues tomorrow before a jury of seven men and five women with Ms Justice Tara Burns presiding. The jury has heard that paramedics resuscitated Ms Apine at the scene and took her to hospital but she died later that day. A garda at the scene noticed blood spatter that he did not think was consistent with a simple fall down the stairs and an investigation began. A forensic team found further blood spatter which they say was inconsistent with a fall and evidence that blood had been wiped from a wall prior to the arrival of paramedics and gardai, the jury heard. Mr Heneghan said forensic scientists examined Mr Veigulis's clothing and found, on his top, evidence of blood spatter which was not consistent with the version of events he put forward. He told the jury they would hear a post mortem examination showed the deceased had suffered severe blunt force trauma that was not consistent with a fall down the stairs, Mr Heneghan said. During garda interviews the accused maintained that Ms Apine died as a result of the fall. The jury heard on Wednesday the audio of Mr Veigulis 999 call. Speaking to an emergency call-taker with the National Ambulance Service, the jury heard Mr Veigulis say: Hello can I talk with Kilkenny ambulance. Please, my wife has fallen down the stairs. The emergency-call taker accepted, under cross examination from Michael Bowman SC, for the defence, that Mr Veigulis was clearly distressed and anxious. The jury could hear he was breathing heavily. Please, please very fast. All blood on the floor, please, the defendant was heard telling the emergency call-taker. Jonathan Murtagh planned to send the money to his relative, the court heard A man whose close relative fled Ireland as his life was under threat pretended to be him so he could collect his dole. Jonathan Murtagh (24) had planned on sending the money to his relative, who was living in Scotland at the time. He told a court that his close relative had been "shot at" due to the "Kinahan/Hutch feud". A detective said Murtagh was caught because gardai were looking for his relation. Judge Anne Watkin said the charge, which amounted to "fraud basically", was a very serious offence. The judge ordered a probation report to assess if the defendant was suitable to complete community service and adjourned sentencing. Murtagh, of Mariner's Port, Sheriff Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty before Dun Laoghaire District Court to making gain or causing loss by deception. Eligible The incident took place at the GPO on Dublin's O'Connell Street on July 5 last year. Detective Sergeant Peter Woods said that Murtagh pretended to be his relative so he could collect his social welfare payment of 193. Murtagh's relative was living out of the country at the time and not eligible for social welfare. Det Sgt Woods said Murtagh was arrested at the scene and 180 was recovered. The defendant had given the remainder of the money to his girlfriend. The court heard that Murtagh had 32 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic matters. Threat Defence lawyer Kim Moloney said Murtagh had his relative's social welfare card and he had purported to be his relative so he could claim the money. Ms Moloney said the defendant planned on sending the money to his relation, who had been warned this life was under threat and was living in Scotland. "He was shot at," interjected Murtagh, adding that this was due to the "Kinahan/Hutch feud". Det Sgt Woods accepted that this was the case, adding that Murtagh was caught because gardai were looking for his relation. Judge Watkin said that if Murtagh had wanted to send money to his relative he could have gone out and earned it. The judge added that "every hard-working person" in the country was being cheated by this offence. Ms Moloney said Murtagh was in a relationship and had a young child. She also said he had not been in trouble for some time. A MEDICAL secretary caught burgling a hospital to steal prescription pads had become addicted to sleeping tablets while trying to deal with the gruesome killing of her mother. Kym Dunleavy developed a 20-tablet a day dependency after her brother James (41) was jailed for beheading and dismembering their mother Philomena (66) in 2013. A court heard she had been unable to cope following the gruelling ordeal of the trial and the tablets changed her personality. Judge David McHugh jailed Dunleavy for six months after she pleaded guilty to a litany of theft charges related to her drug dependency. Dunleavy (44), of St Josephs Place, Dublin 7 admitted multiple counts of burglary, handling stolen property and possession of false prescriptions. Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court Dunleavy entered a secretarys office that had been left unoccupied briefly in the Mater Private Hospital on December 19, 2016. She was discovered walking out with a prescription pad and doctors stamp in her hand. The property was recovered and she was arrested and charged. On May 25, 2016, she went into the nurses station at the outpatients department in the Mater and tried to put a prescription pad into her bag. She left without taking it but was identified on CCTV. Dunleavy was also caught trying to get sleeping tablets from several pharmacies using forged prescriptions. In one incident at Hickeys Pharmacy, Main Street, Finglas on January 4, 2018, she tried to use a prescription from Beaumont Hospital that she had filled out herself. When gardai were called she handed over two more and it was discovered from records that she had used a prescription to obtain sleeping tablets on a previous date. On November 11, 2016 she tried to use a prescription that had been stolen from Beaumont Hospital to get tablets at Dalys Pharmacy on New Cabra Road. On May 14, 2016, she tried to do the same thing at Conways Pharmacy, Whitehall, with a prescription taken from the Mater. She also admitted shoplifting groceries from two supermarkets. Dunleavy had 38 previous convictions for offences including burglary, theft and possession of forged prescriptions. It was an unusual case in that the accused had a good upbringing and work history, having been employed as a medical secretary at a clinic, her barrister said. Tragically, her mother was killed in 2013 and was a missing person for a period of time before being found by a walker in Edinburgh. The person who was the cause of her death was the accuseds brother. The 2014 trial was a gruelling ordeal for Dunleavy and her family and her brother was sentenced. Expand Close James Dunleavy has been jailed for nine years. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp James Dunleavy has been jailed for nine years. The means of her death was somewhat gruesome and there were body parts to be identified, the court heard. Shortly after the death of her mother, her sister passed away, her barrister continued. Ms Dunleavy was not in a position to deal with what was happening to her family at the time and never quite came to terms with it, she said. The accused had stopped working and was prescribed sleeping tablets by her GP to help her deal with daily life, but the doctor realised there was a dependency and told her you cant keep doing this. She felt she couldnt deal with daily life without this medication, her barrister said. Dunleavy realised the medication had changed her personality and made her do things she wouldnt ordinarily have done. The tablets were a psychological comfort blanket and her focus had been to get more of them to get her through the day. She was now in counselling and had reduced her dependency to one tablet per day. Judge McHugh noted the courts had been down this road before with the accused, who had been given a suspended sentence previously. While she had protracted and serious difficulties, he was satisfied she knew the nature and quality of her actions and knew them to be wrong. He suspended the sentence for two years. Dubliner James Dunleavy killed his mother Philomena following a row at his flat in Edinburgh in 2013. He was convicted of culpable homicide due to diminished responsibility in the UK's High Court in January 2017, and was jailed for nine years. A TRUSTED employee admitted the theft of more than 400,000 from an Irish credit union and to spending the cash just to impress others. Judge Sean O'Donnabhain told Moira Coughlan (55) the breach of trust she committed was "phenomenal" as she pleaded guilty to withdrawing funds from the accounts of deceased credit union members in an elaborate scheme over seven years. The mother of one appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to a total of 592 charges in respect of Synergy/Fermoy Credit Union in North Cork. The charges involved theft, unlawful use of a computer and false accounting. Judge O'Donnabhain warned that, irrespective of the compensation to be raised, he could not deal with the case on non-custodial basis. "I will not deal with this matter on a fully suspended sentence basis," he said. "This was a phenomenal breach of trust. The level of culpability, the level of fraud involved in this case is on the phenomenally high (level)." Defence counsel Patrick O'Riordan BL asked for sentencing to be adjourned to allow his client to raise a substantial compensation package for the credit union. He said she hopes to be able to offer up to 200,000 through an inheritance, a pension and other means. However, he said this will take time to achieve. Judge O'Donnabhain remanded Coughlan in custody until February 8 next when he said he wants to see concrete progress on the compensation package. Mr O'Riordan BL told the court his client had suffered greatly as a consequence of her actions. "There was a robbing Peter to pay Paul element. All the money is dissipated," he said. "She wanted the money to fund lifestyle expenses. "She was spending the money to get positive attention from others. "There were others willing to benefit from her largesse." Det Garda James O'Shea told the court a Synergy Credit Union official became concerned about a transaction made by the defendant in 2016. Auditors Grant Thornton were notified and an internal probe was launched of the north Cork credit union. That uncovered a large number of unauthorised withdrawals from the accounts of deceased credit union members. Synergy official Martina Cotter made a formal complaint to gardai in 2017. Det Garda O'Shea said that the defendant worked as an insurance officer for the credit union, a senior and very trusted position within the financial organisation. This allowed her access to the accounts of credit union members who had died pending the accounts clearing probate. Over the seven year period, she withdrew a total of 407,441.94 in unauthorised transactions. The lowest total annual withdrawal from such accounts was 6,000 in 2009 and the biggest was 107,350 in 2016. "She would make a transaction from (one) deceased (member) account to pay off a (deceased member) account when it finished probate," he said. Det Garda O'Shea said it was unclear where all the money had gone. The defendant told gardai she used the cash for day-to-day living and to pay several loans which she had taken out. Some withdrawals were used to plug gaps in her personal finances. "There were none of the trappings of wealth," the Garda acknowledged. He said the defendant had co-operated fully with both the credit union probe and the subsequent Garda investigation. The investigation involved her computer and mobile phone being seized. Judge O'Donnabhain was told the loss to the credit union was covered by insurance. Synergy had since refunded all unauthorised withdrawals to all accounts involved. "No member of the credit union was left out of pocket," Det Garda O'Shea said. The court heard that Coughlan, the mother of an adult child, is now separated and has moved out of her native Mitchelstown. She has also suffered from psychiatric problems and had self-harmed. The charges were first levelled before Fermoy District Court last May but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled that the matter be dealt with on indictment by judge and jury before Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The defendant went forward to the Circuit Court on a signed plea of guilty to all 592 charges. The defendant of The Stables, Mineville, Knocknahorgan, Sallybrook, Glanmire, Co Cork appeared in court with her arm in a sling and did not speak during the sentencing hearing, sitting with her head bowed. The 592 counts include 251 charges of theft contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act, 2001, 300 charges of the unlawful use of a computer contrary to Section 9 of the same Act and 41 counts of false accounting contrary to Section 10 of the Act. A student whose bank account was used to transfer a stolen 5,000 had been "reckless" when she got involved, a court has heard. Nuschka Babela (19), who was described as "highly intelligent", was paid 240 after the larger sum was lodged from someone else's illegally accessed account. Dublin District Court heard the 240 was for college fees. The rest of the cash was withdrawn and given to an unidentified person and there was a "much larger" Garda investigation into the fraud. Babela, of St Brigid's Road Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property - the 5,000. Judge Ann Ryan struck the case out, leaving her without a criminal record. Gda John Niland told the court that 5,000 entered the accused's bank account on July 25 last year. It was then withdrawn in several transactions at ATMs, with 240 handed over to Babela and the rest of the funds given to an unidentified person. Babela had no previous convictions. The student's ex-partner had told her he would pay her 240 for college fees, her lawyer said. She expected that sum to come into her account, but a much larger sum came in and another, unidentified person was the beneficiary of the extra money, the lawyer added. "She was not aware of what was going on at the time," he said, adding that Babela pleaded guilty because she accepted she was reckless. The accused found herself in "unfortunate circumstances", Judge Ryan said. "I think she has realised the error of her ways," she added. Dockland workers were sent home yesterday morning after a man was killed in a freak accident involving a container. The man, understood to be a Filipino national, died after a container collapsed on top of him at Southbank Quay, Ringsend, Dublin. Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene at 8.45am, but could not save the man's life. A Garda spokesperson said an examination of the scene was carried out and enquires are ongoing. The Health and Safety Authority confirmed it had begun an investigation and the local coroner was notified. A source said: "Our understanding is that a container fell on a worker and that an investigation into the incident has been launched." The authorities are now in the process of contacting the man's family in the Philippines. A source told the Irish Independent that the worker was "lashing and securing" multiple containers together when the accident happened. The CAO has opened for applications for 2019 and, as we suggested last week, it is a good idea to get going early. What is required? This week we shall examine the CAO account home page. To reach the account home page, applicants must first register with the CAO and pay their application fee. The fee is 30 if this step is completed by January 20 (45 after this date). This particular part of the CAO application is no more difficult than setting up a social media account or purchasing something online. Applicants will be requested to submit personal details and pay using a credit or debit card. If applicants do not have access to, or would prefer not to use, a card, they can request a bank giro, which allows them to pay cash through their local bank. Applicants will then receive a CAO number which they can use in conjunction with their date of birth and a password (if they wish) to log into their account home page in future. Personal Details This is simply a list of all the personal details entered during the registration process. It is very important not to rush past this section and check that all these details are correct. Course lists Courses should be listed in genuine order of preference. Applicants may enter 10 courses on the Level 8 list and another 10 Level 6/7 courses. The deadline for this is February 1. Correspondence The CAO requests that applicants are logged into their CAO form when sending any queries or questions. This will allow for a record of contact to be maintained. SUSI grant If an applicant thinks there is even a small chance they will apply for a SUSI grant, they should complete this section. The SUSI applications process itself does not open until late spring, and even if an applicant later decides not to apply for a grant, it is a good idea to tick this section. Exemption from minimum entry requirements Any applicant who has an exemption from Irish or will be applying for a third language exemption from NUI, should indicate their intention to do so here. Such applicants must apply for this exemption separately. Qualification and assessment section Details of which schools the applicant attended, the year in which they sat the Leaving Cert, including any previous sittings of the Leaving Cert, or alternative qualifications, should be entered. It is especially important for repeat students to enter the exam numbers from their previous Leaving Cert attempts so that the CAO can find their results during offers season. Matures, DARE/HEAR The last three sections of this page bring applicants to the supplementary information forms for mature applicants and HEAR and DARE applicants. Each of these will be the subject of future columns, however it is important to note that applicants must indicate their intention to apply for any of these programmes through these sections no later than February 1. Aoife Walsh is a guidance counsellor at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin. Teacher shortages in post-primary schools are set to worsen as student numbers rise, a principals' leader has warned. Schools are already experiencing severe difficulties in the recruitment and retention of teachers across the full breadth of subjects, said Stephen Goulding. With about 36,000 more pupils expected in post-primary schools by 2024, some 2,000 extra teachers will be needed to maintain the current pupil-teacher ratio. Mr Goulding, a principal in Listowel, Co Kerry, and president of the Principals and Deputy Principals' Association (PDA) of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI), said schools regularly advertised posts that often failed to attract suitably qualified applicants, and in some cases, there may not be any applications at all for posts in particular subjects. While the cost of purchasing or renting property in Dublin has been blamed for vacancies and lack of applications for jobs in the capital, Mr Goulding said teacher shortages were a problem all around the country. "Teacher recruitment and retention problems inflict severe damage on the education system. "Students miss out on subject choices and experience a fractured service as a result of having several different teachers in particular subject areas," he told the PDA annual conference. Mr Goulding called for a time frame for restoration of full pay equality for new and recent entrants to the profession "so that the profession can remain attractive to the best graduates". The PDA represents principals and deputy principals in almost half the country's post-primary schools - those in the education and training boards (ETB) and community and comprehensive sectors. Mr Goulding's is the latest voice in education to reflect a growing concern about the lack of full-time or substitute teachers, mainly felt in modern languages, Irish and home economics, as well as Stem subjects, such as maths. Last month, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) president Angela Keane said that many post-primary schools opened without a full complement of staff this year, prompting some parents to send children to grind schools for extra tuition, creating an unfair divide between the 'haves and have-nots'. A Department of Education-appointed steering group is overseeing an action plan to address the shortfalls. Measures announced so far include an extra 250 places on post-primary teacher education courses, between 2017 and 2019, and a relaxation of rules around career breaks. From left: Anna Mary Zibangwana, Nicole Forrester, Jasmin Dempsey, Alison Tongui, Stephanie Boylan and Tayler Rooney from Stanhope Street Secondary School show what they want to study in college during College Awareness Week PHOTO COLIN ORIORDAN With a former Tanaiste, Joan Bruton, and former TV Dragon, Norah Casey, among its past pupils, Stanhope Street Girls Secondary School in Dublin's north inner city has some high-flying role models. The school's message to its students is to "aim high". Principal John O'Brien describes his pupils as "our greatest asset and we take care to nurture them, allowing them to achieve their personal and academic potential". He says, in 2016, 74pc of their students went on to university, with the majority of the others pursuing further education or going into direct employment. It's not without its challenges in a community of socio-economic disadvantage. With 46 nationalities represented among its 200 students, many pupils also have the added task of strengthening proficiency in the English language - the school provides classes - to allow them get the best out of the curriculum. Other supports include homework and study clubs, as well as free one-to-one tuition twice a week. The school also has strong links with third-level institutions, such as DIT and Trinity, and private industry to familiarise students with life in college and the workplace. Guidance counsellor Celine Connell says she "teaches" careers from first year up with timetabled classes and one to one meetings: "We talk about college, apprenticeships and jobs; we never discuss the fourth choice - doing nothing." Past pupils come back regularly to talk about college and careers, and an alumni society, headed by Jade Curran, now a third year student in Trinity, is being launched. The school has a full schedule for College Awareness Week and is spreading the word through its new Twitter page @StanhopeCareers. For the first time in its neonatal history, all premature babies born at 28 weeks have survived at the Rotunda Hospital - with 10 more young lives saved than in any previous year. New research at the world's oldest maternity hospital shines a light on the life-saving effect the utilisation of certain drugs and treatment plans has had, with all of the 200 pre-term babies born at 28 weeks surviving in 2017 -the highest number on record. In previous years, up to 95pc of the infants lived at 28 weeks. Master of the Rotunda Prof Fergal Malone said: "The 100pc figure accounts for 10 more babies' lives being saved. "That's amazing for the babies, their families and the children's long-term health." Drugs such as steroids are now helping the pre-term infants' lungs develop while magnesium has decreased the risk of cerebral palsy. And staff are working to get premature babies off ventilators at a quicker pace, to help them learn to breathe unaided. The hospital holds cross-departmental meetings each week for the most serious pregnancies, where all experts discuss planning the birth. Decisions are also made as to when a difficult labour is best scheduled, to avoid last-minute issues or busy hospital periods. Prof Malone said this is to avoid having complex births take place at "2am on a Saturday night, for example". "It's so positive when we see premature babies with high survival rates," he said. "Being born pre-term is very high risk - it's associated with risks of death and of disability. "When a baby survives, to see improvements in their health, their life, is really, really important. It makes a big difference to us as medics at the hospital. "Families have to deal with the concern is their baby going to survive and if their baby survives, what are the chances they survive and be healthy. "When care for pre-term babies improves, that has a lifelong positive effect for their health. "Fewer babies are also left with long-term disability. Having stronger, healthier babies is clearly a good thing for everyone." "Sadly, we can't guarantee every baby will survive, but the 2017 figures are very hopeful," he added. The hospital will mark World Prematurity Day this Saturday. Every year 4,500 babies, or one every two hours, are born prematurely - before 40 weeks - in Ireland. Scores of mostly elderly patients are to be transferred from hospitals to their homes or community facilities from the beginning of next month in a bid to free up beds in time for a peak in the trolley crisis. The exodus comes as HSE executives admitted yesterday their winter plan has still not been finalised despite the chaos in A&E set to get even worse. The Irish Independent reported this week that the number of so-called 'bed blockers' - patients who no longer need to be in hospital but have nowhere suitable to go - has spiralled to over 613. HSE acting director general John Connaghan said the aim is to get patients home from hospital, where appropriate, before the end of the year, with a focus on the over 75s. The executives who were before the Oireachtas Health Committee insisted they are in the "final stages of the plan" and were waiting for sign-off by the Department of Health. Deputy director general Ann O'Connor said: "We need to clear capacity. If cleared too early it will fill up again." She said "nine key sites", mostly in Dublin, have been targeted for extra homecare to take patients out of hospital. Questioned on the controversial remarks by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar about the need for more staff to work over Christmas and the new year, Mr Connaghan said: "I am not sure where the Taoiseach gets that impression from. "I cast my mind back to last winter and the snow. Many staff slept in hospital overnight. Staff go beyond their job description." He said lessons have been learned from previous winter seasons and consideration of staff management issues is just one element of the planning process. The HSE has 10m and is setting up winter-ready clinics to try to keep the elderly out of hospital while also organising more access to scans for GPs to avoid people turning up in A&E. Fianna Fail TD Stephen Donnelly listed the litany of failures in the health service, including record outpatient waiting lists and unacceptable delays for scoliosis surgery. He asked if any official had ever been sacked or sanctioned for poor performance. Mr Connaghan said he was not aware of this happening, although issues can be escalated. Referring to hospital waiting lists, he said around 30,000 patients who are in queues to see a specialist would be removed from the list next year. They have not been seen by a specialist but, after being contacted in a validation exercise, are deemed to no longer need an appointment. More than 500,000 people nationwide are on public outpatient lists. 40,000 of these patients will get privately paid for appointments next year with part of the 75m funding going to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, he said. Family doctors are to be written to asking them if they are interested in providing abortions from January, following an agreement to pay them fees of up to 450 for each patient. The service will be free and will entitle women to three visits to the GP as well as access to medication. This will apply for up to nine weeks of pregnancy. Health Minister Simon Harris announced last night that agreement had been reached on the contract for the service with the Irish Medical Organisation. GPs will be asked to opt in and expressions of interest are to be sought in letters to doctors from the HSE in the coming days. Doctors who are interested will be sent the contract and asked to return a signed copy by early December. They will receive 150 for a first visit when a woman can request a termination and undergo a medical examination. The patient will need to be referred to a maternity hospital if her pregnancy is over nine weeks, or there are other complications which might arise. However if she continues in the care of the GP, the full fee for the doctor will be 450. While the fee may be seen as generous - GPs typically charge 50-60 for a consultation - it reflects how potentially time-consuming providing abortions can be, with the need for lengthy consultations and the added responsibilities of having to check on the woman over a period of days. To be paid the full fee, three visits will be required. The first will be the consultation, the second when the patient receives the medication, and the third will be for a follow-up post-termination. The minister said that on the first visit the doctor will confirm the pregnancy, offer advice and information and certify she is no more than 12 weeks pregnant. Consent Following the three-day waiting period, a second visit will be required where the doctor will obtain consent, provide information on the procedure, possible complications and advice on contraception. The doctor will also administer the first medication and supply the second medication to the patient, which she can take at home between 24 and 48 hours later. At the third visit, which will be optional for the woman, the doctor will confirm that the termination is complete and provide an aftercare consultation. Mr Harris said the agreement was a "significant step" towards introducing abortion services at the beginning of January. United: Katie Riley, Sarah Keogh, Deirdre Lynam and Sebastian Dooris, all from Dublin, make their point in OConnell Street yesterday. Photo: Kyran O'Brien Hundreds of women protested in Dublin and Cork over controversial comments during a rape trial about the fact the teenage complainant was wearing a lace thong. The protests were staged by the O'Connell Street Spire in Dublin and outside Cork Courthouse, where women draped underwear on the court steps and railings. The Dublin protest was supported by the National Women's Council of Ireland and joined by Ruth Coppinger TD, who raised the case in the Dail. Almost 400 women staged a march to Cork Courthouse from St Patrick Street in the city centre. Protesters demanded judicial reform of sexual assault cases as well as better training for barristers to avoid potential "victim blaming". One protester carried a placard - complete with attached underwear - warning: "My knickers is not my consent." The demonstration was organised after concern was expressed by sexual violence and rape victim support networks over the closing arguments in a rape case where the senior counsel defending a 27-year-old accused made remarks about the 17-year-old female complainant was wearing a thong. Elizabeth O'Connell SC asked the jury to reflect while deliberating on their verdict on the specific type of underwear worn by the teenage girl at the time. "Does the evidence outrule the possibility that she was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone?" she asked. "You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front." Expand Close March: Aine OGorman from Tipperary protests in OConnell Street, Dublin. Photo: Kyran O'Brien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp March: Aine OGorman from Tipperary protests in OConnell Street, Dublin. Photo: Kyran O'Brien The jury took just 90 minutes of deliberation to reach their unanimous not guilty verdict last week. However, the reference to the complainant's underwear sparked concerns from both the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Sexual Violence Ireland. Mary Crilly of Cork Sexual Violence Centre paid tribute to the journalist who reported on what was said at the trial. Protester Jackie Foley from Ballyvolane said there can be no place for "victim blaming or victim shaming". An independent review of how rape cases are handled, which is being led by Tom O'Malley, is to look at specialist training for legal professionals and whether training is needed to ensure vulnerable witnesses are protected during the trial process. The fire broke out at around 1am this morning Photo: Conor Feehan Scene of the overnight Fire at the Bottom of the Hill Pub on the Main Street in Finglas A large fire has destroyed a popular pub in Finglas Village in Dublin overnight. Fire crews battled to prevent the blaze at the Bottom Of The Hill bar from spreading but the building was extensively damaged. The blaze broke out shortly after 1am in the pub situated at the end of Finglas Village. Several units of Dublin Fire Brigade from Finglas, Phibsboro, and Tara Street were at the scene all night, and only departed at 7am having fought the fire for six hours. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Scene of the overnight Fire at the Bottom of the Hill Pub on the Main Street in Finglas. Scene of the overnight Fire at the Bottom of the Hill Pub on the Main Street in Finglas. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Scene of the overnight Fire at the Bottom of the Hill Pub on the Main Street in Finglas. A metal roof on the building began to peel back from the heat of the flames, and emergency crews had to remove a section of it in order to make the building safe. A specialist turntable ladder was brought in from Tara Street fire station to fight the flames from above. Gardai have now preserved the scene and a technical examination will be carried out to determine the cause of the fire. The building is also occupied by a fast food takeaway and a betting shop. It is not yet clear where in the building the fire started. Diversions were put in place for traffic as the blaze was being fought but the roads in the village have since reopened. Local Independent councillor Noeleen Reilly said it's "very sad to see such damage to the Bottom of the Hill pub in Finglas." "The main thing is that no one was hurt. Thinking of the owners, staff and customers at this sad time. Such a landmark venue. There may be some delays to some buses in the area." A garda spokeswoman said investigations into the incident are ongoing. "The fire occurred at the premises on Main St., Finglas at approximately 12.40am this morning. Gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade attended at the scene. There was traffic restrictions in the area for a period of time but they have now been lifted. No one was injured in the incident. "Gardai are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact Finglas garda station on 01 6667500." Katie and David are set to tie the knot next April Katie Madden said she 'sobbed instantly' when she read the news of the shop's closure A young Dublin woman said she was left in tears when she discovered the bridal store she had bought her wedding dress from had gone into administration. Berketex Bridal, a UK bridal chain with one store in Ireland in Jervis Shopping Centre, announced on Tuesday that their 12 outlets were to close with immediate effect. The bridal chain also had stores in UK cities such as Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, London and Glasgow. Katie Madden (25), from Clondalkin in Dublin, was one of hundreds of brides that bought her "dream dress from the bridal store, and first saw the news of the closure on social media. It was my instant dream dress when I bought it in June. It was the only dress I tried on, I went and had a think about it, but I couldnt get it out of my head, Katie told Independent.ie. When my mam showed me the news on Facebook, I sobbed instantly when I read it. I thought maybe it was just in the UK but as I continued reading, I felt this pit in my stomach. Katie, who is set to marry her fiancee David Lynch next April, claimed that she didnt hear anything from the store directly but went onto their website to check the news herself, which directed to Wilson Field Limited who are believed to be assisting the company with the closure. I emailed them as soon as I found out and they got back to me yesterday afternoon. I was told if it was paid in full, they could try sort the dress, and deposits on card might come back through the provider- but as I paid my deposit in cash, I was added to a creditors list, she said. Expand Close Katie Madden said she 'sobbed instantly' when she read the news of the shop's closure / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Katie Madden said she 'sobbed instantly' when she read the news of the shop's closure I was lucky I saw it online or I wouldve presumed my dress was fine. I just felt sorry for the staff that worked there, they were all so lovely and left in the dark. Katie had already paid the 400 on her dream 1,500 dress. With her big day coming up, Katie didnt want to leave it any longer to find a replacement dress - and luckily found a similar dress in another store yesterday. I was sick to my stomach and needed to relax, so yesterday my mam came out with me to get a new dress. Its really similar to the last one, she said. They asked me if I wanted to pay a deposit or pay in full and bring it home on the day, so I paid in full. I couldnt leave it behind this time after all this! A statement from Berketex Bridal said the company was to close on November 13, and encouraged brides to contact their helpline for updates. This company has ceased to trade with immediate effect. This shop, and all other outlets trading as Berketex Bride, will be closed from 13 November 2018 and will not re-open, the letter reads. Wilson Field Limited of the Manor House, 260 Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield S11 9PS have been instructed to assist the company. A notice of intention to appoint administrators over the company was filed on Friday 9 November 2018 in the High Court of justice, Manchester under court number 3401 of 2018. This provides protection for the company from the actions of its creditors meaning no enforcement action should be taken in recovery of liabilities without leave of court. The statement concluded with an apology from the directors. The director of the company wishes to express his sincere apologies for the abrupt closure of the store and any subsequent inconvenience this may cause to customers of the company. Wilson Field Limited appreciate that this will be distressing for the customers of the company and will deal with individual queries as quickly as possible however we anticipate a high volume of calls and therefore ask for your patience in advance. According to their website, the company had been "making wedding dreams come true" for over 50 years. A number of other bridal stores across the UK have offered Berketex customers a discount on their collections through the Berketex Bride Facebook page. Independent.ie has contacted Berketex for comment. Irish citizens will now be sent official alerts to their mobile phones if they are near a terrorist attack or natural disaster, as part of a new European-wide initiative. The European Parliament has voted today to introduce Reverse112 in all members states. The scheme - which is already available in the Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden and Belgium - sends text messages from emergency services with warnings to citizens in the event of a terror attack or natural disaster to let them know what is happening, as well as advice about what to do next. Each state will have 42 months after the legislation comes into force to rollout the system and each government will be asked to work with mobile phone providers to help implement it. Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune has welcomed the development, saying it is a "great step forward for the safety of the Europeans." "Today in the European Parliament MEPs voted to introduce Reverse112 in all Member States. "The system is designed to help keep Europeans safe during natural disasters or terror attacks, by sending critical information directly to their mobile phone. In a large emergency, people will receive information directly on their phone about what is happening and how to remain safe," MEP Clune said. Judy Mullane with her daughters Isabelle (3) and Amy (2) from Blackrock pictured in the Rotunda Hospital celebrating World Prematurity Day. PIC Kyran O'Brien It was an emotional day at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin as families from around the country came to mark World Prematurity Day, which takes place on Saturday. The day aims to raise awareness for babies who are born prematurely, with premature birth being the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 worldwide. Judy Mullane (41) from Blackrock, Co Dublin was there with her daughters Isabelle (3) and Amy (2). Amy was born at 25 weeks and weighed just 890g. She stayed in the Rotunda for several weeks after her birth. "It was something that came as a complete shock, its not something you expect that youll deliver a baby that soon," she said. "You find yourself in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and the world of hope that your baby will be the one who makes it. She had a rocky road but thankfully shes doing really well now." Judy described Amy as a "miracle" and a "beacon of modern medicine" and praised the hospital staff for the care given to her. "The staff are still great to this day with the follow-ups. The whole team, the warmth and love that they gave to us. "Amy used to call the nurses her aunties, they were so good to us and well be forever grateful," she said. Liam and Orla Kelly from Donabate, Co Dublin had their twins, Grace and Kaden (2) at 29 weeks. The couple were in Clifden, Co Galway when Orla unexpectedly went into labour. They were in Galway for two and a half weeks and then transferred to Dublin and were here for five weeks, said Liam. From the moment we got here, the full team looked after us the whole way throughout. Expand Close Orla and Liam Kelly with their Twins Grace and Kaden (2) from Donabate, Co Dublin pictured in the Rotunda Hospital celebrating World Prematurity Day PIC Kyran O'Brien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Orla and Liam Kelly with their Twins Grace and Kaden (2) from Donabate, Co Dublin pictured in the Rotunda Hospital celebrating World Prematurity Day PIC Kyran O'Brien Liam and Orla got to take the twins home when they were just under two months old. They were on heart monitors that would tell us if they forgot to breath, said Orla. They were on them for two months at home and then they came off them and after that it was a lot of hospital appointments. Everything has to be watched very carefully. Liam believes World Prematurity Day is invaluable to raising awareness for early births. I didnt know much about prematurity myself before these came along but to raise awareness is important, he said. Dr Afif El-Khuffash is a consultant neonatologist at the Rotunda and said premature births are more common than many people think. Its important to highlight the fact that babies are born premature all the time, he told independent.ie. Every year we have about 4,500 babies that are delivered in Ireland premature. We have about 1,500 admissions to our neonatal intensive care unit each year. A big portion of them are premature. Raising the profile of prematurity is important because it gets the government to hopefully invest more. Gardai in Mayfield are investigating and have appealed for witnesses to contact them on 021 455 8510. (stock) A man in his 80s has become the third person to lose their life in a road traffic accident in 48 hours. The man died in a single-vehicle crash in Co Cork yesterday afternoon. He was the driving on the M8 at Sallybrook, Glanmire, at about 2.50pm. A female passenger, also in her 80s, was injured in the incident. She was taken to the Cork University Hospital, and her injuries have been described as "non-life threatening". It's understood that the car was travelling northbound, and crashed through the central median, on to an embankment on the south side of the motorway. Gardai in Mayfield are investigating and have appealed for witnesses to contact them on 021 455 8510. Meanwhile, the passenger involved in a crash in Mayo on Monday night, which claimed the lives of his two friends, continues to fight for his life. Critical Jack O'Hora and Ricky Langdon were killed when the car they were travelling in hit a tree on the Killala Road, Ballina. The third passenger, Declan Ferguson (29), remains in a critical condition in Mayo General Hospital. Preserved: Catherine Heaney, of the board of the National Museum of Ireland, with the Prosperous Crozier. Photo: Justin Farrelly A 1,000-year-old medieval crozier that lay buried in a bog for centuries has gone on public display for the first time since 1932. The Prosperous Crozier is believed to be the oldest intact pastoral staff in existence in both Ireland and the UK and one of the oldest in Europe. It has been handed over to the National Museum of Ireland on loan for an indefinite period and is officially on display there. The staff resembles a shepherds crook and was used by abbots in medieval monasteries as a potent symbol of Christianity. It ranks among other artefacts and relics from the Golden Age of Irish Art, including The Book of Kells, the Ardagh Hoard of metalworks, including the Ardagh Chalice and the Cross of Cong, according to University College Cork archaeologist Dr Griffin Murray. Expand Close Prosperous Crozier, on loan from Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare. IA/69/2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prosperous Crozier, on loan from Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare. IA/69/2016 The crozier is believed to have been used at St Marys Abbey in Dublin due to a faint inscription in Latin he found bearing the abbeys name. However, after the Christ Church Cathedral crozier was publicly burnt during the Reformation, its likely that monks or even local people buried the artefact in a bog near Prosperous, Co Kildare, where it was unearthed by a turfcutter in 1839, he said. A lot of these objects literally went underground. They were seen as objects of superstition, he said. The crozier was then handed over to the Jesuits at Clongowes Wood College in Clane, Co Kildare where it has remained ever since. While students and staff at the college would have been able to view the crozier in its archival collection, the only other time it was publicly displayed in the Republic was in 1932 when the college loaned it to the National Museum as part of the 1932 Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, he said. It was also displayed briefly at the Ulster Museum following restoration work to it in the 1980s. But it was decided that the artefact now belongs in the public domain, said Jesuit priest Fr Michael Sheil. After several years of deliberation, the Jesuit community and trustees of Clongowes Wood College decided it was time to put the crozier on public display. "How many schoolboys would have noticed it was there?" he said, adding the crozier had been displayed in a glass case at the college ever since he attended as a student. "I would like to think I was very aware of it when I was there myself," he said. "Once we realised the value of it - not the monetary value but the significance of it - and the more we became aware of its significance, we said 'this is not something we should keep to ourselves'," he said. Expand Close Prosperous Crozier, on loan from Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare. IA/69/2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prosperous Crozier, on loan from Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare. IA/69/2016 The Properous crozier now joins other croziers on display in the archaeology wing of the musuem. While it would have been much more colourful in its original state, it now has a tawny hue from the bronze and tin covering the wooden core. However it has no monetary value even though it is considered to be priceless as an artefact, he added. "It's incredibly well-preserved," Dr Murray said. The only flaw is that it was broken in two on purpose - possibly to conceal it, he said. "Otherwise it's perfect. It's complete," he said. Keeper of Irish Antiquities with the National Museum of Ireland, Maeve Sikora, said; We are thrilled to welcome the Prosperous Crozier to the National Museum of Ireland. "It is a unique and highly significant artefact that was made around 1,000 years ago. "We are fortunate to have been in a position to research this beautiful crozier before placing it on display. "The Jesuits at Clongowes cared for this crozier for many years, and through its study, their students undoubtedly gained a deep appreciation of this nations wonderful heritage. We are proud to continue this dual tradition of caring for and learning about this object for the years ahead." It's 7.15am on Thursday, December 22, 2016. I am sitting on the floor in my six-year-old daughter Ella's bedroom at our home in Templeogue, leaning up against the radiator. The curtains are closed, blocking out the winter darkness and the room is lovely and cosy. My four year old son, Jack, soon joins us. I give them both their morning hugs which they always need. And today, more than any other day, I really need them too. I am bracing myself for the hardest conversation I've ever had. At this very moment, my children don't know that their Mum died at 5.15pm yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Straight after she died, my first thought was, I need to tell the kids, but I was wisely advised that it could wait until they'd had a night's sleep. As I get them to sit down beside me, I have butterflies in my stomach and take a few deep breaths. And then I utter words no parent should ever have to: "Last night your Mum died." I was expecting a deluge of tears, tantrums and anger. But instead, they leaned in for a big hug. And then there were a few questions about what happens next. It was all very calm. I was in shock; they were fine. For the moment at least. And in that moment, I realised that we had done a decent job handling this awful scenario. It could have been so different, if we had not got such good support. Grainne had originally been diagnosed with melanoma in 2003, and was mainly well for the next decade. But in the summer of 2016, we got the terrible news that the cancer had come back and it had spread. She was only 40. We had been advised to keep the kids in the loop all the way along, easy in theory, but difficult in reality when Grainne was so focused on living and could not fathom how it could be that she was weeks away from never seeing them again. But children are more perceptive than we give them credit for. The chances are they already sensed most of what was going on. The advantage of telling them is that their imagination no longer needs to run wild. The hard part was summing up the courage to have that hard conversation in the preceding weeks when it was apparent that their mother was dying. As it turns out, it was taken out of my hands. One day we were in a picture framing shop chatting to the lady behind the counter. The print I was framing was from Kenya - I'd bought it on one of my many trips there as part of my job working for an educational charity. The shopkeeper said she had an aunty in the missions in Kenya who had recently died from cancer. Ella immediately hopped on it. "Will Mummy die of her cancer?" she asked. There is a time and a place and this was not it, so I gave her an ambiguous answer. But later that day in the car, I returned to the subject. "Remember you asked about Mum earlier?" I said. "Well yes, Mummy will die of her cancer, we are not sure when but probably in the next few weeks." Unlike most conversations with adults where the language is softened and phrases like "passed away" are used, this was short, clear and simple. The kids understood and accepted what I told them. After a few minutes, Jack noticed an ad on a bus and asked a question about that; they had moved on, as kids do. The news didn't change their relationship with their mother which was filled with as much love as ever. That was until the last two days when Grainne's condition worsened to the point where she was in a deep rest most of the time. The kids came in to visit and believed that the motionless woman lying in the bed was not really their mother. Their mother was the lady who, when collecting them from creche every day, had the biggest smile on her face. The lady who was so fun and loving; always playing with them and giving them copious hugs. The lady who told them at bedtime and in the morning every day that she "loved them to the moon". How wonderful it is that their enduring memories are so beautiful and not from the last two days of her life. But it's not been all plain sailing for them. They ask about death from time to time, and they are very dependent on me and, for a time, suffered from separation anxiety, becoming very clingy whenever I was heading out anywhere. Last year, I was going away with work for a few days and my son wanted to know what happens if the plane crashes. Another time I fell off my bike and there was some blood on my hand and he wanted to know would I die. But over time, they came to see that they were just really unlucky and that I am going nowhere for quite some time. What has been really important is to keep Grainne present in their lives. There are photos of her everywhere in the house, including a blow-up print of them individually with their mother in both of their bedrooms. In the months following her death, we made a picture book with words to remind us all of who Grainne was and what a kind, caring wife and mother she was. We took notes of the memories we had together and have them in a jar, which we add to and go through from time to time. Grainne is gone, but in another way, she's not. And I see her in both of them every day. Ella, who is now eight, has recently fallen in love with reading. Every evening, she is snuggled up on the couch with her book exactly how her mum would have been. So after the group hug on the bedroom floor on that awful day, I asked them do they want to stay at home or go to school? They both in unison said they want to go to school! I was in awe of their bravery. In that moment, I knew they'd be okay. And they are still to this day. John Fitzsimons will be speaking at the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network's conference in Dublin today, as part of Bereaved Children's Week. See childhoodbereavement.ie for more Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Handout photo provided by Clarence House of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leaving Clarence House to attend a party at Buckingham Palace for Chares' 70th birthday party The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for Charles' 70th birthday party The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Kensington Palace in London to go to Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave Kensington Palace in London to go to Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave Kensington Palace in London to go to Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank (centre) arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Princess Eugenie leaves Kensington Palace in London to go to Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Princess Eugenie leaves Kensington Palace in London to go to Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle led the stylish guests celebrating their father-in-law Prince Charles's 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace. Charles's sons Princes Harry and William played a supporting role to their respective wives, who took centre stage at the festivities, even earning more column inches than the man of the hour in a lavish birthday event thrown by his mother, Queen Elizabeth. The palace was opened to royals from around Europe to celebrate the milestone occasion and also further improve on relationships with Charles on a personal level as the British royal family places him in a more central role as next in line to the throne and to continue a healthy friendship post-Brexit. Denmark's Crown Princess Mary, a long-standing friend of the Cambridges was pictured arriving by car with her husband Crown Prince Frederik were among the royals celebrating. Norway's royal family put on the strongest display of support, sending King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit as ambassadors at the bash. Mette-Marit announced last month that she has been secretly living with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease with no known cure. Jordan's Queen Rania was also one of the glamorous guests, alongside Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Maria Teresa, the Grand Duchess. Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Read More The Palace issued a picture of a tuxedo clad Charles and wife Camilla from inside the festivities, most of the details of which are being kept private. However, His mother paid tribute to her son, describing him as a "dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history". The head of state rarely makes public comments about her children but she used a black-tie dinner staged in Charles's honour to praise him as "his own man, passionate and creative". She added he was a "wonderful father". Expand Close Handout photo provided by Clarence House of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leaving Clarence House to attend a party at Buckingham Palace for Chares' 70th birthday party / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Handout photo provided by Clarence House of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leaving Clarence House to attend a party at Buckingham Palace for Chares' 70th birthday party Her words were a ringing endorsement of the future king, who has spent a lifetime in preparation for his role as British monarch. "Over his 70 years, Philip and I have seen Charles become a champion of conservation and the arts, a great charitable leader - a dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history - and a wonderful father. Most of all, sustained by his wife Camilla, he is his own man, passionate and creative," she said in her speech. Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave Kensington Palace in London to go to Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave Kensington Palace in London to go to Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Video of the Day The Queen also said it was a "privilege" for any mother to be able to toast their son on his 70th birthday, just as her mother had seen the Queen reach the same milestone. She said: "It is rather like - to use an analogy I am certain will find favour - planting a tree and being able to watch it grow." "So this toast is to wish a happy birthday to my son, in every respect a Duchy original," the Queen laughed. Members of the Swedish royal family were unable to attend, including King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, due to a previous commitment hosting Italian president Sergio Mattarella. Similarly, Holland's King Willem-Alexander j and his wife Queen Maxima had previous commitments and Maxima was recently instructed to limit engagements due to her health. Expand Close Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday party Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia were also unable to attend. Invitations to VIPs from around the world were sent out in September. Additional reporting by Press Association South African Police released images of a man in connection with the murder of John Curran Police in South Africa investigating the murder of an Irish aid worker have released CCTV images in connection with the incident. The South African Police Service is appealing for anyone with information about the man in the pictures to get in touch. Retired school principal John Curran was discovered with multiple stab wounds at around 10.30am last Wednesday in the Cape Town property where he had been staying for the past two months. Mr Curran (60) previously lived in Churchtown, south Dublin, where he worked as a principal, before moving to South Africa to work with the Mellon Educate charity. Investigators confirmed they are treating his death as murder. No arrests have yet been made. A phone belonging to Mr Curran is missing and detectives are probing if the charity worker was murdered during a robbery. Expand Close John Curran. Photo: Irish Primary Principals' Network/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Curran. Photo: Irish Primary Principals' Network/PA Wire On Tuesday, police released four images appealing for the public's assistance in the murder investigation. "We need help from the public in identifying this person," Captain FC Van Wyk told the Irish Independent. "Cape Town Central Detectives seek the assistance of the public in identifying the person depicted in the attached photos. "If you know the whereabouts of the person in the attached pictures, or can assist with information that will lead to his arrest, contact Detective Warrant Officer Shaun Bardien on 021 467 6320, 021 467 8001 or 073 220 0653 of Cape Town Central police, as he might be able to assist in the investigation of a murder case. Alternatively Crime Stop can be contacted on 08600 10111." Bovis Homes has cautioned uncertainty surrounding the UKs departure from the EU has put off discretionary homebuyers (PA) Shares in Bovis Homes fell after the housebuilder cautioned uncertainty surrounding the UKs departure from the European Union has put off discretionary homebuyers. Bovis shares down 7.4% at 964 pence a share. The group is the latest housebuilder to warn over the impact of Brexit worries after Taylor Wimpey earlier this week said it was seeing signs of customer caution, particularly in the south-east of England. Bovis said while its sales rate had remained stable, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit has impacted discretionary buyers. It comes after official figures on Wednesday also showed house prices in England are growing at a slower annual rate than the rest of the UK, while property values in London are continuing to decline. George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said Brexit is proving to be a fly in the ointment for UK housebuilders. The housing market is already slowing, and the worry is it grinds to a halt in the event of a disorderly Brexit which would clearly be bad news for the builders. A weak secondary market means around 15% of Bovis transactions now rely on part-exchange hardly reassuring, he said. Boviss sales rate per outlet a week for the year to date remained has steady at 0.51 since July 1, with pricing in line with expectations. Meanwhile, the company welcomed the Governments extension of the Help to Buy scheme for a further two years to March 2023. It said the restrictions to the scheme from March 2021 are not unexpected, and it does not envisage any significant reduction in the use of the scheme for its new homes as a result. Chief executive Greg Fitzgerald said Bovis is fully sold for the year and the group continues to target a record year of profits for 2018. Ian Naude was described during the two-week trial as a "selfish and cruel paedophile" Photo credit: Cheshire Constabulary/PA Wire A paedophile who was suspected of child grooming offences joined the police force to target vulnerable victims and went on to rape a 13-year-old girl. "Selfish and cruel" police constable Ian Naude was warned to expect a significant jail sentence as he was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday of raping and sexually assaulting the teenager, who he met while on duty, in the back of his car. The 30-year-old, of Market Drayton in Shropshire, started working for Cheshire Police in April 2017 - despite being named as a suspect in cases in neighbouring forces in the months leading up to his appointment. The court heard the internet groomer, who was also found guilty of four charges of attempting to arrange commission of a child sex offence and one charge of arranging commission of a child sex offence, was obsessed with taking the virginity of teenage girls. Expand Close Ian Naude, who has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl Photo credit: Cheshire Constabulary/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ian Naude, who has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl Photo credit: Cheshire Constabulary/PA Wire He would blackmail and threaten vulnerable victims over social media, persuade them to send pictures of themselves undressed, tell them to call him "daddy" and send them videos of himself masturbating. Owen Edwards, prosecuting, told the jury Naude, who admitted a further 30 offences including inciting children to engage in sexual activity and misconduct in a public office, joined the force to "gain the keys to a sweet shop". Cheshire Police said the father-of-one's appointment was delayed from January 2017 to April because he was alleged to have raped a woman in Staffordshire. No further action was taken in the case and Naude was allowed to join - but reports of child grooming in Staffordshire and West Mercia which named him as a suspect in January and February 2017 were not picked up by Cheshire Police until after his arrest in November that year. The court heard Naude, who previously served in Afghanistan as a machine gunner with the Royal Irish Regiment, was called to a domestic incident at his rape victim's house in October 2017 and contacted her on Facebook days later. After exchanging sexual images and messages over social media, he took her out in his car and raped her, filming parts of the assault on his mobile phone, the jury heard. Expand Close Messages that Ian Naude sent to some of his victims online Photo credit: Cheshire Constabulary/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Messages that Ian Naude sent to some of his victims online Photo credit: Cheshire Constabulary/PA Wire He claimed the sex was consensual and said the girl "seemed to be enjoying it". Police began to investigate after the victim's family contacted them, but an email revealing the plan to arrest Naude was accidentally sent to him. When his phone was seized 756 images had been deleted from it. Other devices, including a laptop and another phone, were later discovered in a field in Market Drayton after he gave a hand-drawn map of their location to his cellmate. The court was told the student officer, based at Crewe police station, would gain the trust of young girls by posing on social media as a 15-year-old boy called Jake Green. He also had an account under the name of Bruce Ian Wayne, an apparent reference to the superhero Batman, and a Snapchat account named King Of The North. Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC adjourned the sentencing to December 13 to allow a report on Naude to be prepared. United stand: Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron are supporting the creation of a European Union army that would be independent of Nato. Photo: Benoit Tessier The European Commission has said it is "delighted" that the leaders of France and Germany have backed the creation of a "real" EU army. A spokesperson for commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said he was "pleased" the argument for the force seemed to be "going in our direction". Addressing the European Parliament this week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she supported a "real, true" European army, echoing an identical call by French President Emmanuel Macron the week before. Speaking yesterday, a commission spokesperson tried to attribute credit for the idea to Mr Juncker, noting he had previously endorsed such a force. "Let me clarify that the first one who spoke about the EU army four years ago was someone called Jean-Claude Juncker," he said. "Memory is short nowadays in Brussels and the capitals but, people here present, you are aware of who launched this idea." The spokesman added: "We are delighted that both the president of the French republic and the German chancellor, with a few days' interval, publicly backed this idea. "We have many times explained how we see these things: this is a commission that wants Europe to have a meaningful defence identity." He noted the commission had "proposed a significant increase in new EU resources for defence" in the coming budget. Proposals for a European military have triggered a new spat with US President Donald Trump, who took offence to a suggestion by Mr Macron that such a force could ensure Europe's security in the shadow of the United States. The French president made his call during a radio interview last week: "We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America. "We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army." He added: "When I see President Trump announcing that he's quitting a major disarmament treaty which was formed after the 1980s missile crisis that hit Europe, who is the main victim? Europe and its security." The suggestion angered Mr Trump, who sent a series of hostile tweets about the comments. Earlier this week the US president tweeted: "Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the US, China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the US came along. Pay for NATO or not!" The election of Mr Trump to the White House appears to have given more urgency to the cause of boosting the EU's defence capabilities, with leaders warning they cannot simply rely on the United States. Commission president Mr Juncker said last year that "deference to Nato can no longer be used as a convenient alibi to argue against greater European efforts". In 2016, Britain's then defence secretary Michael Fallon said the UK would use its veto to stop the creation of any EU army. However, because of Brexit, it will no longer have any say. A number of proposals have been put on the table for how EU nations could co-operate more closely on defence. The European Commission has previously said existing closer defence co-operation "is not about creating an EU army". Thirty-four joint missions by member states have been launched under the EU flag since 2003 under the bloc's common security and defence policy. Under the "permanent structured co-operation" initiative legislated for in 2009 and activated in 2017, 25 of the 28 armed forces are in the process of stepping up co-operation between their armed forces. Denmark, Malta and the United Kingdom have decided to opt out of the voluntary system. Tanzania's second-biggest donor Denmark said it would withhold $10 million worth of aid money, citing concerns over human rights abuses and "unacceptable homophobic comments" made by a government official. The decision came on the same day that the World Bank said it had scrapped a plan to loan Tanzania $300 million after the country reaffirmed its policy of banning pregnant girls from school and recently made it a crime to question official statistics. "I am very worried about the negative development in Tanzania, the latest being the completely unacceptable homophobic statements from a commissioner," Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tornaes said on Twitter on Wednesday. Denmark will now withhold 65 million Danish crowns ($9.88 million) in aid to Tanzania, she added. Denmark provided 349 million crowns in foreign aid last year. The comments in question were made by administrative chief of the capital Dar es Salaam, Paul Makonda, who earlier this month announced an anti-gay crackdown in the city, a spokeswoman for the Danish minister told Reuters. Reuters was not able to reach Tanzanian government officials for immediate comment. The foreign ministry has previously said Makonda's anti-gay campaign represented his own views and not the official government position. However, President Magufuli's government has also been criticised by opposition politicians and international rights groups for what they say is growing authoritarianism and intolerance of dissent. The government rejects the criticism. National Guard troops in the US have been searching through charred debris for more victims of Californias deadliest wildfire as top officials toured the ruins of a community completely destroyed by the flames. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke joined Governor Jerry Brown on a visit to the levelled town of Paradise, telling reporters it was the worst fire devastation he had ever seen. Now is not the time to point fingers, Mr Zinke said. There are lots of reasons these catastrophic fires are happening. He cited warmer temperatures, dead trees and the poor forest management. Expand Close Jerry Brown and Ryan Zinke during a a tour of the fire-ravaged Paradise Elementary School (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jerry Brown and Ryan Zinke during a a tour of the fire-ravaged Paradise Elementary School (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) Mr Brown, a frequent critic of President Donald Trumps policies, said he spoke with Mr Trump, who pledged federal assistance. This is so devastating that I dont really have the words to describe it, Brown said, saying officials would need to learn how to better prevent fires from becoming so deadly . Nearly 8,800 homes were destroyed when flames hit Paradise, a former gold-mining camp popular with retirees, on November 8, killing at least 56 people in Californias deadliest wildfire, Sheriff Kory Honea announced on Wednesday evening. There were also three fatalities from separate blazes in Southern California. Expand Close Homes levelled by the fires in Paradise, California (Noah Berger/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Homes levelled by the fires in Paradise, California (Noah Berger/AP) Mr Honea said the task of searching for bodies was so vast that his office brought in another 287 searchers ON Wednesday, including the National Guard troops, bringing the total number of searchers to 461 plus 22 cadaver dogs. He said a rapid-DNA assessment system was expected to be in place soon to speed up identifications of the dead, though officials have tentatively identified 47 of the 56. It will take years to rebuild the town of 27,000, if people decide that is what should be done, said Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains looks like a wasteland. The infrastructure is basically a total rebuild at this point, Mr Long said. Youre not going to be able to rebuild Paradise the way it was. Spent today touring devastated portions of Paradise with @SecretaryZinke. As these fires continue causing massive destruction its imperative that citizens remain vigilant and listen to local officials if ordered to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/wW68IbqR9Q Deanne Criswell (@FEMA_Deanne) November 14, 2018 Temporary schools and hospitals will be brought in, Mr Long said. Officials are also looking to bring in mobile homes for thousands of people left homeless. Debris removal in Paradise and outlying communities will have to wait until the search for victims finishes, he said. On one street, ash and dust flew up as roughly 20 National Guard members wearing white jumpsuits, helmets and breathing masks lifted giant heaps of bent and burned metal, in what was left of a home. Expand Close Members of the California Army National Guard search a property in Paradise (John Locher/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Members of the California Army National Guard search a property in Paradise (John Locher/AP) The number of missing is fluctuating every day as people are located or remains are found, said Steve Collins, a deputy with the Butte County Sheriffs Department. Authorities on Wednesday released the names of about 100 people who are still missing, including many in their 80s and 90s, and dozens more could still be unaccounted for. Sheriffs department spokeswoman Megan McMann said the list was incomplete because detectives were concerned they would be overwhelmed with calls from relatives if the entire list were released. We cant release them all at once, Ms McMann said. So they are releasing the names in batches. Expand Close An air tanker drops water in Simi Valley earlier this week (Ringo HW Chiu/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An air tanker drops water in Simi Valley earlier this week (Ringo HW Chiu/AP) Accounts of narrow escapes from the flames continued to emerge. More than a dozen people who were trapped by a wall of fire survived by plunging into a cold lake. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Wednesday that a family of four, their 90-year-old neighbour and their pets sought safety in the chilly Concow Reservoir after the roaring fire surrounded their homes. The family stood in shoulder-deep water as flames singed the vegetation on the shore behind them. Not far away, at least a dozen others rushed into the lake after the caravan of vehicles they were in was cut off by flames. Before the Paradise tragedy, the deadliest single fire on record in California was a 1933 blaze in Griffith Park in Los Angeles that killed 29. Israels defence minister has officially submitted his resignation, leaving the government with the narrowest of parliamentary majorities and paving what looks like a clear path to early elections. Avigdor Lieberman dispatched a one-sentence letter to prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, informing him of his decision to step down. The move, which takes effect in 48 hours, leaves Mr Netanyahu with the support of just 61 out of 120 politicians. With other coalition partners also flexing their muscles and the opposition parties demanding an early election, the days of Mr Netanyahus current government seem to be numbered. Expand Close Israeli protesters hold flags during a demonstration against the ceasefire (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Israeli protesters hold flags during a demonstration against the ceasefire (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Mr Netanyahu was meeting with coalition partners on Thursday. Two of them, Moshe Kahlon of the centrist Kulanu Party and Arye Deri of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, both urged him to call early elections. Mr Kahlon told the prime minister that holding elections would be the right thing to do in the current environment, and that a new, strong and stable government should be formed, his office said. Mr Liebermans abrupt resignation came in protest to a ceasefire reached with Gaza militants that ended two days of intense fighting. Expand Close Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (David Mirzoeff/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (David Mirzoeff/AP) The hardliner had demanded a far harsher Israeli response to the widest wave of Gaza rocket fire against Israel since a 50-day war in 2014, but was overruled by Mr Netanyahu. In his live TV announcement on Wednesday, Mr Lieberman lashed out at the governments weakness and termed the ceasefire surrender to terrorism. The move immediately set off furious political jockeying, with insiders predicting it marked the opening salvo of a new political campaign. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for a year from now but Israeli governments rarely serve out their full terms. The last time that happened was in 1988. Israel's hawkish defence minister has resigned in protest at Tuesday's ceasefire agreement with Hamas, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of "surrendering to terror". The resignation of Avigdor Lieberman, one of Mr Netanyahu's coalition partners, rocked the Israeli government and could trigger fresh elections in the Jewish state. Mr Netanyahu looks likely to take over the defence ministry himself, meaning he would simultaneously serve as Israel's prime minister, defence minister, foreign minister and health minister. Mr Lieberman said he was quitting over Israel's decision to accept a ceasefire with Hamas rather than more forcefully confront the Islamist militant group in Gaza. "What happened yesterday - the truce combined with the process with Hamas - is surrendering to terror. It has no other meaning," he said. "What we're doing now as a state is buying short-term quiet, with the price being severe long-term damage to national security." He called for fresh elections "as early as possible". Mr Lieberman is withdrawing his five Yisrael Beiteinu MPs from Mr Netanyahu's coalition, meaning the government now has only 61 seats in the 120 member parliament. Mr Netanyahu is likely to try to keep going with his reduced majority, rather than plunge into elections in the aftermath of the fighting in Gaza. But if other ministers walk out over the ceasefire deal, he may have no choice but to go to the polls. Elections must happen by November 2019 but most politicians expect Mr Netanyahu will call them earlier than that. Mr Netanyahu had been bracing for attacks from the right since agreeing to the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal on Tuesday, ending 24 hours of fighting which left one person dead in Israel and seven in Gaza. Residents of the southern city of Sderot, a regular target for Hamas's rockets, burned tires and blocked the streets in protest at the ceasefire, saying the government was being held hostage by Hamas. Speaking before the defence minister's resignation, Mr Netanyahu defended the ceasefire agreement and said the public could not necessarily understand all the reasons for his decision. "I hear the voices of the residents of the south. Believe me, they are precious to me, their words penetrate my heart. "But together with the heads of the security forces, I see the overall picture of Israel's security, which I cannot share with the public," he said. Hamas immediately hailed Mr Lieberman's resignation as victory for its fighters. "This is a political victory for Gaza, which caused this political earthquake within the occupation," the group said. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Saudi Arabia has said 11 suspects have been indicted and prosecutors are requesting the death penalty for five of them over writer Jamal Khashoggis killing in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said on Thursday the person who had ordered the killing of the prominent journalist was the head of the negotiating team sent to repatriate him and that the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body remained unknown. The prosecutor told reporters in Riyadh that investigations were still ongoing to locate the remains of the body. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi policy, was killed in the country's Istanbul consulate on 2 October More to follow Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the consulate in Turkey (Hasan Jamali/AP) Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor has recommended the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul in a move that appears to have distanced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from the controversy around the operation. Mohammed bin Salman's decision-making powers have come under scrutiny amid the global outcry over the killing. The announcement by the kingdom's top prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, was published in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The brutal death of Mr Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who had been critical of the crown prince, has shocked the world and led many analysts and officials to believe it could not have been carried out without the prince's knowledge. Turkey says an assassination squad was sent from Riyadh for the writer and insists the orders for the killing came from the highest levels of the Saudi government, but not King Salman. After issuing the statement, the spokesman for Mr al-Mojeb's office, Shalan al-Shalan, told a rare press conference Thursday in Riyadh that Mr Khashoggi's killers had set in motion plans for the killing on September 29, three days before his murder in Istanbul. He said the killers drugged and killed the writer inside the consulate, before dismembering the body and handing it over for disposal by an unidentified local collaborator. Prosecutors said the highest-level official incriminated in connection with the killing is former deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri, who was fired as pressure from Turkey and the world mounted on Saudi Arabia. Mr al-Assiri, a close confidant of Prince Mohammed, is facing charges that include ordering Mr Khashoggi's forced return to Saudi Arabia. Saudi prosecutors said Mr al-Assiri deemed Mr Khashoggi a threat because of his work as a writer and because he was allegedly backed by groups and countries that are hostile to Saudi Arabia. However, it appears Mr al-Mojeb has stopped short of accusing Mr al-Assiri of ordering the killing itself, further distancing the killers from the crown prince's inner circle. Mr Khashoggi had been living in self-imposed exile abroad for nearly a year before he was killed by Saudi agents at the consulate on October 2. In his writing, he was especially critical of the crown prince, who'd been leading a wide-reaching crackdown on activists and critics inside the kingdom since last year. The kingdom also confirmed Turkish claims that a 15-man hit squad was sent to Turkey, and that these agents killed Mr Khashoggi. The writer's body has not been found. Mr Khashoggi had gone to the consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. His Turkish fiancee waited outside and first raised the alarm about his disappearance. The prosecutor said 21 people are now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial. Facebook and Instagram are using AI to spot drug dealers using their sites. Stock picture Facebook and Instagram are using AI to spot drug dealers using their sites. The "proactive detection" technology allows the platforms to remove drug-related images before it has been seen or reported by users. Social media companies are attempting to stop their platforms being used to sell opioids as the US battles an addiction crisis. "Our technology is able to detect content that includes images of drugs and depicts the intent to sell with information such as price, phone numbers or usernames for other social media accounts," said Kevin Martin, head of US public policy at Facebook. He said this freed up human moderators to look at pages, groups and hashtags which may be linked to drug use, as well as looking at trends. The practice emerged as social media platforms announced a new group, Tech Together to Fight the Opioid Crisis, which also includes Google and Twitter. Tactics The companies are also working with experts at the University of Alabama to monitor new tactics used by dealers, such as street names for drugs. They will also flag people who search for drug-related content to US drug and mental health charities. Speaking at an event organised by US non-profit the Centre for Safe Internet Pharmacies, Susan Molinari, who leads on policy and government relations at Google, said that 50,000 searches about specific opioid drugs were made each day on the search engine. She added that YouTube was hosting adverts using recovered drug users to promote charities that offer help to addicts. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] An anthropologist (R) examines the remains of a dog found in a bathtub in a home destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester An anthropologist (R) examines the remains of a dog found in a bathtub in a home destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester Employees of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) work in the aftermath of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester Karen Atkinson, of Marin, searches for human remains with her cadaver dog, Echo, in a van destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester An electricity pole damaged by the Camp Fire lies near a Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) truck in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester Trish Moutard (C), of Sacramento, and other volunteers search for human remains with Moutard's cadaver dog, I.C., in a neighborhood destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester A sign is seen outside of Paradise Cinemas in the aftermath of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester Members of the California Army National Guard search a property for human remains at the Camp fire, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) A fence destroyed by the Camp Fire is seen in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester National Guard troops in the US have been searching through charred debris for more victims of California's deadliest wildfire as top officials toured the ruins of a community completely destroyed by the flames. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke joined Governor Jerry Brown on a visit to the levelled town of Paradise, telling reporters it was the worst fire devastation he had ever seen. "Now is not the time to point fingers," Mr Zinke said. "There are lots of reasons these catastrophic fires are happening." He cited warmer temperatures, dead trees and the poor forest management. Expand Close Members of the California Army National Guard search a property for human remains at the Camp fire, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Members of the California Army National Guard search a property for human remains at the Camp fire, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) Mr Brown, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump's policies, said he spoke with Mr Trump, who pledged federal assistance. "This is so devastating that I don't really have the words to describe it," Brown said, saying officials would need to learn how to better prevent fires from becoming so deadly . Nearly 8,800 homes were destroyed when flames hit Paradise, a former gold-mining camp popular with retirees, on November 8, killing at least 56 people in California's deadliest wildfire, Sheriff Kory Honea announced on Wednesday evening. There were also three fatalities from separate blazes in Southern California. Expand Close Karen Atkinson, of Marin, searches for human remains with her cadaver dog, Echo, in a van destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Karen Atkinson, of Marin, searches for human remains with her cadaver dog, Echo, in a van destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester Mr Honea said the task of searching for bodies was so vast that his office brought in another 287 searchers ON Wednesday, including the National Guard troops, bringing the total number of searchers to 461 plus 22 cadaver dogs. He said a rapid-DNA assessment system was expected to be in place soon to speed up identifications of the dead, though officials have tentatively identified 47 of the 56. It will take years to rebuild the town of 27,000, if people decide that is what should be done, said Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains looks like a wasteland. "The infrastructure is basically a total rebuild at this point," Mr Long said. "You're not going to be able to rebuild Paradise the way it was." Expand Close An anthropologist (R) examines the remains of a dog found in a bathtub in a home destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An anthropologist (R) examines the remains of a dog found in a bathtub in a home destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester Temporary schools and hospitals will be brought in, Mr Long said. Officials are also looking to bring in mobile homes for thousands of people left homeless. Debris removal in Paradise and outlying communities will have to wait until the search for victims finishes, he said. On one street, ash and dust flew up as roughly 20 National Guard members wearing white jumpsuits, helmets and breathing masks lifted giant heaps of bent and burned metal, in what was left of a home. The number of missing is "fluctuating every day" as people are located or remains are found, said Steve Collins, a deputy with the Butte County Sheriff's Department. Authorities on Wednesday released the names of about 100 people who are still missing, including many in their 80s and 90s, and dozens more could still be unaccounted for. Sheriff's department spokeswoman Megan McMann said the list was incomplete because detectives were concerned they would be overwhelmed with calls from relatives if the entire list were released. "We can't release them all at once," Ms McMann said. "So they are releasing the names in batches." Accounts of narrow escapes from the flames continued to emerge. More than a dozen people who were trapped by a wall of fire survived by plunging into a cold lake. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Wednesday that a family of four, their 90-year-old neighbour and their pets sought safety in the chilly Concow Reservoir after the roaring fire surrounded their homes. The family stood in shoulder-deep water as flames singed the vegetation on the shore behind them. Not far away, at least a dozen others rushed into the lake after the caravan of vehicles they were in was cut off by flames. Before the Paradise tragedy, the deadliest single fire on record in California was a 1933 blaze in Griffith Park in Los Angeles that killed 29. The CIA explored finding a truth serum to use on terrorism detainees in the years after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, according to a declassified report that was released as part of a lengthy Freedom of Information lawsuit. (stock picture) The CIA explored finding a "truth serum" to use on terrorism detainees in the years after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, according to a declassified report that was released as part of a lengthy Freedom of Information lawsuit. The report, written by a chief CIA medical official whose identity has not been disclosed, detailed that Project Medication, as the effort was named, was shelved in 2003. But not before the agency doctors had explored whether "drug-based interviews" would make for a less harsh alternative to the brutal interrogation practices like sleep deprivation, small-space confinement and waterboarding that the CIA employed in the years after 9/11, tactics that have come to be widely referred to as torture. The report noted the agency's previous forays into the field of truth serums, citing a 1961 report that concluded that individuals who could withstand interrogations would probably still be able to hold out in altered mental states. A drug called Versed, known by its generic name as midazolam, was identified by the report as the preferred drug for truth inducement. But the report noted that any use of such a drug would probably bump up against legal obstacles: those that banned conducting medical experiments on prisoners, as well the use of mind-altering drugs in interrogations. The CIA never asked the Justice Department to look at the issue, effectively shelving it. Bernardus Jozef Scherrenberg (47) of Zoetermeer, Holland pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at the car park of B&Q, Liffey Valley A US judge admonished the lawyer of Mexican drug smuggler 'El Chapo' after an opening statement that riled Mexican presidents by accusing them of taking bribes. The prosecutors had asked District Judge Brian Cogan to throw out the defence's opening statement at the New York trial of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, saying it was "permeated with improper argument, unnoticed affirmative defences and inadmissible hearsay". Instead, Judge Cogan admonished Jeffrey Lichtman for having gone "far afield of direct or circumstantial proof". He said he would instruct the jury to focus on the evidence. "Your opening statement handed out a promissory note your case is not going to cash," the judge said, calling the opening misleading. Mr Lichtman had told the jury that US prosecutors had dreamed "for decades" of convicting Guzman, adding "the world is focusing on this mythical 'El Chapo' figure". He said his client was not the real leader of a cartel that sent tons of cocaine into the US. He sought to shift blame to Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, another reputed trafficker in the cartel's leadership. Zambada remains on the loose in Mexico, Mr Lichtman claimed, because of bribes that "go up to the very top", including hundreds of millions of dollars paid to the current and former presidents of Mexico. US President Donald Trump is mulling over a clear-out of his administration as he looks to prepare his White House for divided government. It is still unclear exactly who will face the axe, but speculation centres on the possibility that he is considering removing White House Chief of Staff John Kelly or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. It was thought Ms Nielsen could be out as soon as this week, according to two people with knowledge of the issue, but she is now likely to remain in the post for a longer period because there is no obvious successor in place. Ms Nielsen is thought to be out of favour with Mr Trump, as is Mr Kelly, in part over frustration that his administration is not doing more to address what he has called a crisis at the US-Mexico border. But the sweep of the changes could be much wider, as Mr Trump gears up for a wave of Democratic oversight requests and to devote more effort to his own re-election campaign. According to people familiar with the situation, Mr Trump is also discussing replacing Mr Kelly with Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers. Mr Kelly, a retired Marine general, has been credited with bringing order and process to a chaotic West Wing, but he has fallen out of favour with the president, as well as his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Mr Ayers, a seasoned campaign operative, would restore a political mindset to the role, but he faces stiff opposition from some corners of the West Wing, with some aides lobbying Mr Trump directly against the move. Other changes are afoot, as Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke are being discussed for replacement. Expand Close White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Photo: Reuters In an extraordinary move on Tuesday, first lady Melania Trump's office called publicly for the firing of Mr Trump's deputy national security adviser, Mira Ricardel. For all of the talk of churn, Mr Trump often expresses frustration with aides and then does not take action. Talk of Mr Kelly's exit has percolated for months and he remains in place. Ms Nielsen had hoped to complete one year in the job and leave in December, but it appeared unlikely she would last that long, said two sources. Curbing illegal immigration is Mr Trump's signature issue - and one he returns to as a way to rally his most loyal supporters. But anyone who takes over at Homeland Security is likely to run up against the same problems that Ms Nielsen faced. The administration has already tried to clamp down at the border but those efforts have been largely thwarted or watered down due to legal challenges. Mr Trump also told allies that he never fully trusted Ms Nielsen, whom he associated with President George W Bush, a longtime foe. And he told those close to him that he felt, at times, that her loyalty was more toward her longtime mentor - Mr Kelly - than to the president. Mr Zinke, who faces several ethics investigations, said in an interview on Monday that he has spoken in recent days with Mr Trump, Mr Pence and Mr Kelly about probes into his leadership and they remain supportive. He denied any wrongdoing. Re-elected Mr Ross addressed turnover rumours at a Yahoo! Finance summit on Tuesday, saying he was in the post to give back to the country and support Mr Trump. "I worked very hard to get President Trump elected," he said. "Now I'd like to work equally hard to have him succeed and be re-elected." Questions about Ms Nielsen's job security are not new. Earlier this year, she pushed back on a 'New York Times' report that she drafted a resignation letter but did not submit it, after Mr Trump scolded her at a cabinet meeting. Ms Nielsen has led the sprawling post-9/11 federal agency since December. She had been chief of staff to Mr Kelly when he was Mr Trump's first Homeland Security secretary. A DHS spokesman would not comment on whether she was leaving. "The secretary is honoured to lead the men and women of DHS and is committed to implementing the president's security-focused agenda to protect Americans from all threats and will continue to do so," spokesman Tyler Houlton said. Ms Nielsen advocated for strong cybersecurity defence, and often said she believed the next major terror attack would occur online - not by planes or bombs. She was tasked with helping states secure elections following interference by Russians during the 2016 election. Donald Trump's administration has argued in legal documents that it has a constitutional right to ban CNN reporter Jim Acosta from the White House. Lawyers for the US Justice Department contended the administration has "broad discretion" to regulate press access to the complex. It was a response to CNN's legal request for a temporary restraining order restoring Mr Acosta's access. A judge was due to hold a hearing yesterday on CNN's complaint. Responding in court documents, the justice department said: "The President and White House possess the same broad discretion to regulate access to the White House for journalists (and other members of the public) that they possess to select which journalists receive interviews, or which journalists they acknowledge at press conferences." Mr Acosta was banished following a particularly contentious press conference with the president last week. He has repeatedly clashed with Mr Trump and press secretary Sarah Sanders in briefings. The administration lawyers argued it was "lawful" to punish Mr Acosta. His press credentials were taken away by the Secret Service and CNN alleged that his constitutional rights had been violated. Fox News yesterday backed CNN, its bitter cable news rival, in the ongoing dispute. Jay Wallace, president of Fox News, said: "Fox News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter's press credential. "We intend to file an amicus brief with the US District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponised. "While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the president and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people." The White House has dismissed the complaint as "grandstanding" and vowed to "vigorously defend" its actions. Mr Trump, Ms Sanders and White House chief of staff John Kelly are named among the defendants. CNN is also seeking "a declaration that the revocation of Acosta's press credentials was unconstitutional". Plans to begin repatriating more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees to Burma have been scrapped after officials in Bangladesh failed to find any who wanted to go. Refugee Commissioner Abul Kalam said on Thursday that the refugees are not willing to go back now. He added that officials cant force them to go but will continue to try to motivate them so it happens. Expand Close Rohingya refugee Sitara Begum with her son Mohammed Abbas (Dar Yasin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rohingya refugee Sitara Begum with her son Mohammed Abbas (Dar Yasin/AP) The announcement came after about 1,000 Rohingya demonstrated against returning to Burma, from where hundreds of thousands fled army-led violence last year. A UN-brokered deal between Burma and Bangladesh says refugees can only be repatriated voluntarily. UN officials and human-rights groups cautioned against beginning the process before the refugees safety had been assured. US Vice President Mike Pence has delivered the United States' strongest condemnation yet of Myanmar's treatment of Rohingya Muslims, telling leader Aung San Suu Kyi that "persecution" by her country's army was "without excuse". Mr Pence also pressed Ms Suu Kyi to pardon two Reuters journalists who were sentenced in September to seven years in prison for breaching the Official Secrets Act. "The violence and persecution by military and vigilantes that resulted in driving 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh is without excuse," Mr Pence told Ms Suu Kyi at an Asia-Pacific summit in Singapore. The United States has accused the military of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya, who are widely reviled in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Saudi Arabias top prosecutor has recommended the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Al-Mojeb told journalists in a rare press conference in Riyadh on Thursday that Mr Khashoggis killers had set in motion plans for the killing on September 29, three days before he was killed inside the kingdoms consulate in Istanbul. Expand Close Saudi Arabias crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (Victoria Jones/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saudi Arabias crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (Victoria Jones/PA) The prosecutor says the highest-level official behind the killing is Saudi former deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri, who has been fired for ordering Mr Khashoggis forced return. The prosecutor says 21 people are now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial. Turkey has blamed the highest ranks of power in Saudi Arabia for Mr Khashoggis brutal death, saying the kingdom sent an assassination squad for him. The sheriffs deputy who was on campus during the Florida high school massacre but did not confront the gunman declined to testify on Thursday before a state commission investigating it. Former Broward County deputy Scot Peterson failed to appear before the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, where he would have been asked why he did not enter the building where 14 students and three staff members died on February 14 to try to stop the gunman. Instead, his lawyer Joseph DiRuzzo appeared and told the 14-member panel and the packed crowd that he had filed a lawsuit earlier on Thursday to quash the panels summons. He dropped a copy of the lawsuit on the lectern, turned and left. He didn't do his job. My daughter should be aliveFather of one of the victims One victims father said to DiRuzzo as he passed: He didnt do his job. My daughter should be alive. The gallery section for the victims families was packed, not only for Peterson but to hear from Broward school superintendent Robert Runcie and sheriff Scott Israel, who were testifying later. There had been speculation Peterson might invoke the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify, as a criminal investigation of law enforcements response continues. Security video from the shooting shows that Peterson arrived outside the three-storey building as the gunman killed 11 people on the first-floor. Peterson drew his gun, but retreated to cover next to the neighbouring building. The video shows Peterson never left that spot for 50 minutes, even after other deputies and police officers arrived on campus and went inside. The panels members believe Peterson could have saved the five students and one teacher killed on the third floor if he would have gone into the building and confronted suspect Nikolas Cruz. Some called him a coward and not a real cop during their Wednesday meeting. Pinellas County sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the panels chairman, said Thursday he wanted to ask Peterson: Why the hell did he go hide and run away and not do his job. Peterson, a decorated 32-year veteran of the sheriffs office, told investigators and in interviews with the Today show and The Washington Post last spring that he heard only two or three shots and did not know whether they were coming from inside or outside the building. That is contradicted by radio calls in which he correctly identifies the building as the gunmans location. Bullets also came out of a window almost directly above where he took cover. About 150 shots were fired from an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. The shots were heard by others a quarter of a mile away. Peterson, 55, retired shortly after the shooting rather than accept a suspension while an internal investigation was conducted. He is receiving a 100,000 dollar (78,000) annual pension. Cruz, a 20-year-old former Stoneman Douglas pupil, is charged with the killings. He has pleaded not guilty, but his lawyers have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Johnny Bobbitt Jr., left, Kate McClure, right, and Mark D'Amico pose at a Citgo station in Philadelphia (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) It was a heartwarming tale of generosity - a fundraising drive to thank a homeless man who had sacrificed his own meager funds to help out a stranded motorist. The story of how Johnny Bobbitt gave his last $20 to Kate McClure, and her crowd funding initiative to repay his act of kindness went viral online, with donations pouring in from thousands of well-wishers. But it has now emerged the entire story was an elaborate scam, as prosecutors in New Jersey charged Ms McClure and her boyfriend Mark D'Amico, who raised $400,000 in alleged donations for Mr Bobbitt. The couple, along with Mr Bobbitt have been charged with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft. Burlington Country prosecutors outlined the allegations against the trio last night and said they had evidence that they knew each other for at least a month before they set up the scheme. Mr Bobbitt (35) was arrested and taken into custody in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Mr D'Amico and Ms McClure surrendered to authorities on Wednesday. Expand Close Johnny Bobbitt Jr (David Swanson /The Philadelphia Inquirer/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Johnny Bobbitt Jr (David Swanson /The Philadelphia Inquirer/AP) Investigators searched the home of Mr D'Amico (30) and Ms McClure (28) in September after questions arose about how the money they raised through a GoFundMe page was being spent. They have previously denied any wrong doing but on Thursday their lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. The couple's problems began over the summer when Mr Bobbitt filed a lawsuit against them, claiming they had refused to hand over the majority of the funds to the homeless veteran and instead spent it on themselves. The pair denied the claims, but in August a US judge ordered them to hand over the remains of the funds. The couple started the crowdfunding attempt in 2017 ostensibly to thank Mr Bobbitt, a homeless veteran, who they claimed came to the aid of Ms McClure when she ran out of petrol on a motorway. Ms McClure wrote that she was launching the online appeal to help the former marine "get into a home". She added: "I wish that I could do more for this selfless man, who went out of his way just to help me that day. He is such a great guy, and talking to him each time I see him makes me want to help him more and more." The overwhelming response led to donations from more than 14,000 well wishers, but the couple's relationship with Mr Bobbitt eventually soured as they accused him of using the money to feed a drug habit. In an ensuing law suit, New Jersey Judge Paula T Dow ordered the couple to transfer the money into an account and hire a forensic accountant to review the financial records. Jacqueline Promislo, Mr Bobbitt's lawyer, told the court she estimated the couple spent about $75,000 on his care but claimed the couple spent the remaining cash to "fund a lifestyle that they could not otherwise afford". For their part, the couple alleged the marine veteran had once spent $25,000 of his new wealth on drugs in a single fortnight. In their last update on GoFundMe, the couple said they had "received a lot of comments and questions about what Johnny's plans are for this money and how it will be used". The pair claimed Mr Bobbitt "will never have to worry about a roof over his head again" and was purchasing his "dream truck". The funds, they said, would be put into two trusts in his name. One giving him a small "salary" each year and the other acting as a "retirement trust which will be wisely invested by a financial planner". Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Russias President Vladimir Putin has said Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has signalled he is ready to discuss a Soviet-era proposal on settling a decades-old territorial dispute. Mr Putin said that during their meeting on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Singapore, Mr Abe said Tokyo could resume discussions on a 1956 Soviet proposal to return two of four disputed Pacific islands to Japan. Expand Close Shinzo Abe with Vladimir Putin (Alexei Druzhinin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shinzo Abe with Vladimir Putin (Alexei Druzhinin/AP) Speaking to reporters in Singapore on Thursday, Mr Putin noted that the issue requires additional consideration as the Soviet initiative did not spell out conditions for the islands transfer. The Soviet Union took the four southernmost Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, in the closing days of the Second World War. The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Even a million reasons to gush over them are not enough. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone tied the knot as per Sindhi rituals today. On Wednesday, the couple married in a traditional Konkani ceremony in Italys Lake Como. Unlike other celebrity weddings that are turned into live hashtagged events, this one was phenomenal too, but for various other reasons. The couple took some special measures to protect their privacy. Viral Bhayani According to reports, the measures included sealing and taping the lens of the phone cameras of all the guests to make sure no pictures are taken. SLB Films (Also read: DeepVeer To Enter The Bond Of Holy Matrimony In Konkani Ceremony Today. Here Are All The Deets!) Pinterest The couple is very particular about what photos from the wedding goes public. The Wedding Filmer, who also covered Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli's wedding in Italy has been appointed to cover all the wedding ceremonies. Pinterest According to a report by Timesnow, the couple bought a royal vintage boat worth Rs 4 crore. A clip of Baraatis singing and dancing while making their grand entry is doing rounds on social media. Well, after all the grainy pictures and leaked photos from the venue, we finally have official pictures shared by the couple on their social media handles. As promised, Ranveer and Deepika themselves took to social media to give their fans and everyone a special glimpse of their wedding. #WATCH: Latest visuals from Villa del Balbianello at Lake Como, the wedding venue of Deepika Padukone & Ranveer Singh, in Italy's Lombardy. pic.twitter.com/kICPHl4sxE ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Let's have a look at the pictures and sulk a little more about being single. Deepika and Ranveer will head back to India and will host three wedding receptions in the country. They will head to Bangalore first, on November 21 and two receptions are scheduled to happen in Mumbai on November 28 and December 1. Not long ago, Avni, a tigress and a mother of two, was given a death sentence even when the charges of being a man-eater werent proven conclusively. Yesterday, two tiger cubs died after being run over by a train in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. The cubs were reportedly just six months old. And so the number of tigers continues to dwindle and disappointment continues to prevail across the nation. Maharashtra: Two tiger cubs killed by train near Lohara forest area in Chandrapur pic.twitter.com/zs76VSvfR2 ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Among other people who were left angered, Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon also expressed her anger on Twitter. The actress, who is the brand ambassador of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and has been working with the Maharashtra government in conserving a sustainable habitat for wildlife in the state, angrily tweeted on how the government wants to build more highways and give away forest land. Furthermore, in a series of tweets, she also wrote that if this continues to happen, more such disasters will happen. Couldve been prevented if these ways are built but fenced off and underpasses are built for wildlife to move from forest to forest. Metro shed in Aarey forest will show us more such disasters . @saveaarey https://t.co/7o78D1IZlO Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 15, 2018 Yes these are underpasses . Simple but effective , elevated highways like the metro elevation corridors through forests can also help . https://t.co/O8Z0mHDPJZ Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 15, 2018 Wish this was implemented with each highway development plan. Doesnt hamper development and progress and our wildlife also taken care care off. @CMOMaharashtra @Dev_Fadnavis @wti_org_india @SMungantiwar @anishandheria https://t.co/mTsSzJuGL4 Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 15, 2018 Wildlife is my passion and capturing moments on camera is sheer thrill. The excitement and love for the forest and to conserve what we have on our beautiful planet with it's beautiful creatures, which man is slowly destroying, Raveena had earlier told IANS in a statement. India is reeling under pollution levels that are making it hard for its citizens to step out and breathe, even if its just for a few minutes. While India is home to 10 of the most polluted cities in the world, Delhi has taken the mantle of becoming the worlds most polluted city. A recent poll conducted by a social-media based organization LocalCircles stated that around 35 percent of the national capital want to leave the city permanently. In fact, the Air Quality Index (AQI) for the last couple of weeks have been so bad that the air quality has breached 999, which is number that is far beyond what is measurable. While staying indoors as much as you can and wearing pollution masks can help, air purifiers can go a long way in protecting you from experiencing several breathing issues, such as headaches, nausea, cold & cough and more serious respiratory ailments. Quora.com While both humidifiers and air purifiers do a good job in improving the overall quality of air how to do you make a pick between the two? Heres what you need to know. What does an air purifier do? animelore.com Ever since the pollution levels have been rising, we have seeing advertisements for air purifiers. In fact, doctors recommend that patients who are prone to severe respiratory ailments install an air purifier and wear a mask which offers them comfort. What an air purifier does is that it takes in the polluted air and cycles it a number of times, filtering out the pollutants, thereby improving the air quality drastically. A purifier contains a number of filters, such as the HEPA filter specially created to trap even small particulate matters like PM 2.5 and let out fresh, breathable air. It also purifies air from all sorts of smoke and bacteria but doesnt add back the moisture to the air. What does an air humidifier do? oxii.vn The humidifier also purifies air but at the same time, it also adds much-needed moisture to the air present inside which is lacking as the toxins stick to the air droplets and repel the moisture. This comes in extremely handy for people who suffer from nasal and chest infections, sinusitis, and other issues which are caused by dry air. While it does remove allergens from the air, the basic aim of a humidifier is to remove dry air and relieve irritation. For it to function properly, one needs to add water to the machine on a regular basis. It is best suited for dry areas. Can a purifier and humidifier be used at the same time? Quora.com Yes, its possible to use both an air humidifier as well as purifier at the same time for added protection. Although, given the pollution levels breaching the dangerous mark, installing an air purifier should be a priority. A humidifier can remove certain irritants and make the air more pleasant to breathe, while a purifier would filter all types of toxins from the air. If you are experiencing symptoms of sneezing, coughing, runny or scratchy nose alongside a nagging headache, going for a purifier would be the safest bet. But, if you suffer from sinusitis, getting a humidifier could solve problems greatly. We all know Nathuram Godse as the killer of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. But what more do we know about the man who casually shot THE MAN who carried out the mighty task of ousting the British from India? The killing wasn't an overnight plan, it apparently took 14 long years which culminated on the fateful day of January 30, 1948. Nathuram Godse went on to become the most hated man in India. It was exactly 59 years ago from today that this man was hanged for depriving the nation of its father figure. Twitter Why did he kill one of the most prominent figures of India's freedom struggle? How did he plan it and with whom? We shall meet all the answers if we dig deeper into Godse's life. Nathuram Godse's was born into a middle-class Chitpavan Brahmin family. The Chitpavanans basically are either the ones handling the permanent heritage of the Aryans or the Jewish people from Egypt who later converted into Brahmins. His father, who worked in the Indian postal service, had married a 10-year-old girl. Among the three kids that the couple had, only their second girl child survived. Disturbed by the loss of their infants, they consulted an astrologer. The astrologer advised that there was a curse that's causing the trouble and the only way to combat it is to raise the next child, be it a boy, like a girl. The couple's next child was Nathuram Godse. And as advised by the astrologer, his parents got his nose pierced and made him wear a nath to nullify the curse. And that's how, he got his name Nathuram. Twitter For the most part of his childhood and teenage years, Nathuram was bullied by his peers for wearing a nose ring. Some perceived him to be foolish while some thought that he was possessed with some divine power. Nathuram wasn't a particularly brilliant student and couldn't even pass the matriculation. Later, he came to Ratnagiri where he met Savarkar. It was then that Nathuram got influenced with his ideas and entered the world of political fundamentalism. Godse was also a part of the rally supporting the of rights of Hindus in Hyderabad. After spending a year in jail, he decided to go Poona. By then, his activism had increased in the Hindu Mahasabha. Savarkar decided to make a whole new national party consisting only the Marathi Brahmin community. 1940 was an important year for Godse as it was the year when he met Narayana D. Apte who went on to become his friend for life. Youtube In 1942, all the important congress members were arrested. Savarkar took advantage of the opportune moment and launched a party with an ideology akin to that of the Hindu Mahasabha. Godse and Apte joined this party in no time. Besides giving them martial arts training, an understanding of Savarkar's philosophy and teaching intolerance and fundamentalism, they were also given the task of disturbing congress meetings, targeting congressmen and most importantly- devise a plan to kill Mahatma Gandhi. Godse and Apte were the lead here. The year 1944 saw the emergence of a newspaper named 'Agrini.' With Nathuram as the editor and Apte as the publisher, Savarkar started the newspaper with an initial fund of Rs 15 thousand. It came into existence to promote Apte's ideology of Hindu Mahasabha and Hindu Rashtra Dal. The first issue of the leading newspaper came out with Savarkar's picture printed on it. But, the condition of the newspaper worsened because it also violated the Press Act of the Bombay Provincial government. Nathuram blamed Congress for the same. The paper was renamed as 'Hindu Nation' right after the government order to ban it. But when the investors stopped investing, Nathuram's and Apate's job got in danger. It was then when they recalled their ultimate aim, "to kill Mahatma Gandhi." Twitter Armed with Hitler's army man's pistol, a Beretta, at 5 o'clock 17 minutes he shot Gandhi from a distance of 2.5 feet. Godse heinous was criticized world over. Godse was put on trial at the Punjab High Court, at Peterhoff, Shimla. On 8 November 1949, he was sentenced to death. On November 15, 1959, Godse was hanged till death at Ambala Jail. After achieving a rare feat of cleaning the Versova beach that finally witnessed the return of endangered Olive Ridley Turtles after a period of two decades, Afroz Shah along with his enthusiastic team of volunteers are looking for other locations in the city that need to be cleaned up. Shah who is also an awardee of UNs Champion of the Earth award, 2016 which has been given to the like of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will now look after other locations since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) contracted the work of cleaning Versova beach to a private agency. Photo: BCCL Shah told Hindustan Times that Versova is now clean and a fresh tender is also in place. The BMC has offered a tender of Rs 22-crore to a private agency for cleaning the beach for the next six years as the residents will continue to volunteer. Afroz started the mission Versova clean-up in 2015 which began to grew as a big community since then. Since the past year, around 4,000 tons of garbage has been lifted from the beach. Photo: BCCL/ Olive ridley turtles that emerged on the Versova beach after 20 years I am going to take up another flashpoint within the city that needs clean-up efforts as well as community development, but I am yet to decide where. The idea is to commence work from ground level convincing citizens to connect with nature. Shah further told HT adding that he will support volunteers if needed. His efforts have been lauded by United Nations Environmental Organisation terming the cleanup as the worlds largest beach cleanup with the participation of top UN officials. Drawing inspiration from his work celebrities like Dia Mirza and Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray had also spent an hour at the Dadar beach. Mala Lakhani, a Delhi-based fashion designer and her domestic help was found dead in her residence in Vasant Kunj on Thursday morning. The incident came to light around 3 am when neighbours alert the police about a heated argument from Lakhani's house. The police reached the spot in Vasant Enclave's A-block to see the deceased lying in a pool of blood. Mala Lakhani was found dead in her bedroom while the body of her servant was found in the living room. The investigators said it was a robbery attempt that went wrong. ANI The 53-year-old fashion designer who used to run a boutique in Green Park lived in a secured building, which had three security guards. Three people have been arrested by the police in connection with the double murder. According to the cops, one of them, Rahul Anwar was a tailor at deceased fashion designer's workshop. He committed the crime with two of his relatives in an attempt to loot. They have reportedly confessed their crime. Activists and campaigners in Ireland are beyond outraged after a teenage rape victims underwear was used as evidence to acquit the man accused of rape. In the trial, the defence lawyer told the jury: "You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front." The 27-year-old man found not guilty of rape shortly afterwards. In her closing argument following the rape trial in Cork, Ireland, earlier this month, defence lawyer Elizabeth O'Connell urged the jury to take into account the underwear the teenager was wearing on the night she said she was raped in a laneway. Getty Images "Does the evidence out rule the possibility that she was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone?" the defence lawyer asked. The controversy led one Irish MP to hold up a lace thong in parliament to highlight "routine victim-blaming". Ruth Coppinger, an Irish lawmaker, held up a pair of blue underwear in the Irish Parliament from her sleeve on Tuesday. "It might seem embarrassing to show a pair of thongs here... how do you think a rape victim or a woman feels at the incongruous setting of her underwear being shown in a court?" The accused maintained that the encounter was consensual. Hundreds of people took to Twitter to express outrage over the court proceedings and the way they shaped up. Twitter "Consent cannot come from articles of clothing. Our underwear is no ones business," Orlagh O'Connor, a Dublin City resident, said on Twitter. "Our underwear does not give consent. We do." Counsel for man acquitted of rape suggested jurors should reflect on underwear worn by the 17yo complainant. Following this wholly unacceptable comment, we are calling on our followers to post a picture of their thongs/knickers to support her with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/ZkVU0GVAIN I Believe Her - Ireland (@ibelieveher_ire) November 10, 2018 The case, in which the man was cleared of rape, was originally reported by the Irish Examiner newspaper on 6 November. Under the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent, Irish women posted photographs of their underwear in all shapes, colours, and materials to object the use of such methods in court. The murder of Saudi dissident journalist inside Saudi consulate, Istanbul, sent shockwaves across the world. Not only the murder but the way in which it was carried out enraged people. There were reports that the deceased was cut into pieces and then his body parts were put in acid and subsequently flushed down the drain. All the details were so gory and fingers were pointed at the Crown Prine Muhammad Bin Salman for ordering the gruesome murder. Now, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has claimed to have finished the probe saying that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not involved in the case, but, five Saudi officials have been accused of carrying out the act. According to reports, Khashoggi was drugged and then dismembered. ALSO READ: Saudi Prince's Social Media Chief Watched & Instructed Jamal Khashoggi Murder Via Skype According to AFP, the deputy chief of Saudi Arabia's intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, gave the order to repatriate Khashoggi -- and "the head of the negotiating team" that flew to the Istanbul consulate had ordered his murder, the spokesman said. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted in mid-October that Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound, but blamed it on a "rogue" operation. AFP The prosecutor has requested the death penalty for the five who "are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals," an official statement published by state news agency SPA said. It said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing, 11 of whom have been indicted with investigations to continue into the others. Turkey on Wednesday called for an international investigation into the murder. ALSO READ: Saudi Journalist Khashoggi's Body Was Dissolved In Acid And Flushed Into Drain Ankara has already shared voice recordings linked to the murder with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States and its Western allies. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. Announced during the Pixel 3 launch last month, Google camera's 'Night Sight' mode is finally available for Pixel, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 phones, allowing users to take stunning photos in near-darkness with never before seen details. Night Sight is a new feature of Pixel phones that lets you take sharp, clean photographs in very low light, even in light so dim you can't see much with your own eyes. It works on the main and selfie cameras of all three generations of Pixel phones, and does not require a tripod or flash. night sight camera is now live on google pixel ALSO READ: Google Pixel 3 XL Is The Best Camera Smartphone You Can Buy Right Now, But It Isn't Perfect All you need to do is just update your Google Pixel, Pixel 2 or Pixel 3's default camera app, and immediately you will see the Night Sight mode available in the "More" section of the camera app. If you're pointing the Pixel's camera towards a low-light environment, the app detects the amount of light coming in and automatically starts prompting you to enable Night Sight through an in-app notification. night sight on pixel camera Once enabled, you know you're in Night Sight mode as the white camera shutter button at the bottom changes into a crescent moon. Even images in your Google Photos library depict a crescent moon symbol to indicate they were shot with Night Sight enabled -- just like you see a visual cue on Portrait images. We gave Night Sight camera on our Pixel 3 XL a try, and you can see the results for yourself. It's amazing to say the least. 1. Car dashboard Probably the best Night Sight shot we took since last night and before sunrise today has to be this car dashboard. The car's stationary, which helps and is actually advisable by Night Sight, and you can see in the non-Night Sight pic there's just the LED glow that's captured by the Pixel 3 XL camera. Night Sight OFF Night Sight ON But with Night Sight enabled seconds later, not only do you see the LED glow from the car's dashboard and phone but also more details of the car's interiors -- stuff like the gear stick, steering wheel, air vents, definition of the dash, and other details which were previously invisible. 2. Car door lock More car photos. Pay attention how just two points of light magically transform into the door lock and window lever on the door. Night Sight OFF Night Sight ON Magic, right? There's more... 3) Sprite can on bed This is indoors. At around 4:30 am. No light inside the room, some streaking in through one of the windows behind the Pixel 3 XL camera. Night Sight Off Night Sight ON The first photo with Night Sight off shows nothing but a pitch black frame, but the second shot with Night Sight on shows some light streaking in and bouncing off the opposite wall, bedsheet pattern and some green and definition of the Sprite can. 4) Under the bed (monsters?) Here again you can see the difference between the two shots with and without Night Sight on the Pixel 3 XL camera. Night Sight just manages to capture a lot more details in the frame, despite crippling low-light conditions. Night Sight Off Night Sight ON 5) Tailor's shop Another example of just how good Night Sight can be on the Pixel 3 XL Camera. Look at the underside of the roof and the 'X' pattern below the signboard. Night Sight Off Night Sight ON So Night Sight mode on the Pixel 3 XL camera is able to extract unseen details from dark or lower-than-low-light sections of the frame pretty darn well -- something that we haven't seen on other flagship phones yet. Google claims the feature is built and trained on the Pixel Visual Core and camera module found on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, so it's definitely going to work best on those two phones -- even though the feature's supported on older Pixel devices and actively being ported on OnePlus 6 and other phones through independent developers. For original photos of all the samples used in this story, click here for the Flickr album. Indians are buying more smartphones than ever before, clearly showing we're as excited to upgrade as any other country. In fact, we've hit a record high of devices sold this quarter, and all thanks to how convenient online shopping is. According to a report by the International Data Corporation, India hit an all-time high in the third quarter of this year, as far as smartphone shipments to the country is concerned, racking up a whopping 4.26 crore units. That's a 9.1 percent growth over Q3 last year, thanks mostly to multiple sales events on e-commerce platforms in preparation for the festive season. It's a huge milestone for India, because this is the first time the smartphone market has almost equaled feature phone sales in India. Each contributed about 50 percent to the mobile phone market for the first time, with 4.31 crore features phone units shipping to India in Q3. Also Read: IDC: Even As World Smartphone Sales Drop This Year, India Is Expected To Grow By Several Crore! As per the IDC report, China smartphone giants Xiaomi and OnePlus continued to hold their respective market leads, with OnePlus leading in the over Rs 30,000 segment and Xiaomi leading overall. Apple meanwhile has struggled to snatch a significant number of those customers, largely thanks to how expensive their devices are. And just like Reliance Jio can be credited with precipitating a drastic drop in data prices across the telco market, IDC says competing e-commerce platforms have driven affordability for smartphones in India. Thanks to more frequent sales with discounts, low-cost EMIs, buyback offers, and cashback systems, people across the country are more willing to spend on a new smartphone. Yet, though it's growing slower than the online segment, offline stores still maintain the bulk of the market share of around 60 percent. This is largely thanks to their reach in India's smallest towns and cities, which sellers like Flipkart and Amazon don't have. Love knows no boundaries, and no one believes this more than 35-year-old Akihiko Kondo. The Japanese man found the love of his love and insisted on marrying her despite his mother's disapproval. There's just one tiny problem with all of that. She's not real. That's right. Images courtesy: AFP Kondo just married a hologram of Japanese pop-icon Hatsune Miku, in a 2 million yen (Rs 12.7 lakh) ceremony in Tokyo, that all of his relatives refused to attend. That's because Hatsune Miku isn't even a hologram based on a real person, she's a digital creation through and through. Also Read: Meet Hatsune Miku, A Japanese Pop Sensation That Doesn't Even Exist In Real Life We've actually talked about Miku before, and how she's the digital avatar of a voice synthesis software. Translated as "first sound of the future", Hatsune Miku was originally just a voice style for the Vocaloid software, which allows people to write and compose their own songs, and then have it sing it back. Of course, she's since gained a cult following in Japan, and elsewhere around the world, opening for human music artists and even performing at shows of her own. None of that stopped Kondo from marrying Miku though, walking her down the aisle in the form of a stuffed doll with her trademark gigantic anime eyes and aquamarine pigtails down to her ankles. At home though, Kondo has been living with a holographic version of her since March, floating above the projector on an expensive desktop. "I'm in love with the whole concept of Hatsune Miku, but I got married to the Miku of my house," the school administrator told AFP. "I never cheated on her, I've always been in love with Miku-san. I've been thinking about her every day." Hologram-Miku is powered by a basic artificial intelligence, waking him up as his morning alarm, greeting him when he gets home from work, and even reminding him when it's time for bed. Kondo makes sure he's always in bed with Miku as well, in the form of a stylized body pillow, with a wedding band now around her left wrist. Gatebox, the company that makes the hologram devices, also provided the newly-wed couple with an official "marriage certificate", one of over 3,700 they've distributed for "cross-dimension" marriages. "Miku-san is the woman I love a lot and also the one who saved me," he said. "I believe we must consider all kinds of love and all kinds of happiness." One slight problem though here Kondo my man. Even if we, for the sake of argument, assume that Hatsune Miku is real, there's a glaring oversight here. She's designed to be a perpetual 16-year-old,, and that's only based on her lore. If you go by her real age, she was only designed in 2007, making her 10 years old. So congratulations Kondo, you're probably a cross-dimensional entity now. Nothing can beat the intelligence, courage and loyalty of a squad dog - they can sniff out things that police cannot find and help with the trickiest of cases. ANI That's what Mumbai Police's K9 Vicky and Henna have done for 10 long years and now, the police department has to bid an emotional goodbye to their officers. The K9 served as detective dogs and Henna has always been the go-to dog for solving murder cases. ANI Henna has single-handedly helped the police crack some of the trickest murder cases. She was instrumental in catching a murder suspect in Dharavi in 2013 and earlier this year in Khar, reports the Indian Express. Also Read: Police Dog Doing Push-Ups With Two Cops Will Give You The Best Mid-Week Workout Goals! The report states that the dogs were wrapped in a shawl and their handlers were given a coconut and memento. ANI In the past, when we have given police dogs up for adoption, the persons who adopted them would complain that the dogs were just not used to being with anyone else, said Sub-Inspector Vinod Ballal to the Indian Express. Vicky and Heena will now go to live in the kennels that they grew up in. Also Read: After 3 Of His 26/11 Friends Died, Police Dog Caesar Is Fighting Depression With A Fellow K9 From The RPF In Ireland, the underwear a teenager was wearing was cited in the trial of a man accused of raping her. Now, women across the world are sharing pictures of their underwear on Twitter under the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent. Defence lawyer Elizabeth OConnell held up a pair of the 17-year-olds underwear in court, and asked: You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front. Does the evidence out-rule the possibility that she was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone? You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front, she said. The statement whipped up a storm on social media and a chorus 'Clothes do not define consent' started echoing from all corners. Crowd is chanting that 'clothes are not #consent': the sense of solidarity, belief and conviction for change is palpable. #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/HFNs1C3c2V It Stops Now (@ItStopsNow_EU) 14 November 2018 Women gathered at demonstrations across Ireland to protest the handling of the court case. There were protests in Cork, Ireland where panties were strewn on the steps to further emphasize this fact. Here's how women across the world reacted: #1 Counsel for man acquitted of rape suggested jurors should reflect on underwear worn by the 17yo complainant. Following this wholly unacceptable comment, we are calling on our followers to post a picture of their thongs/knickers to support her with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/ZkVU0GVAIN I Believe Her - Ireland (@ibelieveher_ire) 10 November 2018 #2 Some of the signs from todays march against rape culture in Cork......@RosaWomen #Cork pic.twitter.com/UtiGe8GxcM Anna Heverin (@annaheverin) 14 November 2018 #3 For me, my daughter and every other woman #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/HrAiEclXu2 Sharon Creedon (@Scealdigital) 14 November 2018 #4 #5 Jurors in Cork were asked to consider the underwear a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL was wearing when she was raped by a 27-year-old man. Join the cause in solidarity, cant believe this girl was subjected to these comments after such a traumatic event.#ThisIsNotConsent #Ibelieveher pic.twitter.com/PfkYERulgY Courtney Peterson (@_courtneymaria) 13 November 2018 #6 Lacy but full or thong but not lacy, need someone to tell me which is less rapey... #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/jiA61qF7gB maireos (@maireos) 13 November 2018 #7 #ThisIsNotConsent Just beacuse my panties are cute doesn't mean i'm saying yes #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/rakf2HXQNv Em (@lilthumper408) 13 November 2018 #8 Clothes are not consent. Here are some photos from the #ThisIsNotConsent rally earlier. #dubw pic.twitter.com/Tpo8M5IF9k Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD) 14 November 2018 #9 While it's bad enough for such an insensitive evidence to be used in a rape trial, what makes it worse is that the advocate was a woman herself. Talk about irony. Jewelry that once belonged to the French Queen Marie Antoinette was sold at an auction for 36.4 million Swiss francs that equal to approximately Rs 259 crores in Geneva. Diamond and pearl earrings, pearl necklaces and a giant pearl pendant owned by the ill-fated queen were up for the auction. After the 14-minute round took place, the oval-shaped diamond pendant was purchased by an anonymous bidder who paid 18 times the amount which was expected. Twitter The pendant is part of a collection that also included a diamond double-ribbon-bow brooch, which sold for more than $2.1 million that equal to approximately Rs 15 crore, and a monogram ring with woven strands of Antoinette's hair, which went for around $440,000 that equal to approximately 3.16 crore . A pearl and diamond necklace was also purchased for $2.2 million that equal to approximately Rs 15.8 crore. King Louis XVI and the queen Marie Antoinette were beheaded in 1793, but the queen smuggled some of the jewelry outside France before she died. However, this is not the first time that the queens jewelry has been put up for auction. Her jewelry was at an auction in the year 2007 also. Actress Yami Gautam says that when she was shooting for "Uri," she was very intrigued largely with the stories of personnel from the armed forces. (IANS photo) Nithya Narayanaswamy, a 16-year-old Indian American student and singer from Tamuning, Guam, will be performing at Carnegie Hall in February 2019. Shown above is a general view of the atmosphere before a show at Carnegie Hall March 1, 2006 in New York City. (Scott Wintrow/Getty Images) Paul Shrivastava, Penn State's chief sustainability officer and director of the Sustainability Institute, was inducted last month as one of the 100 members of the Club of Rome, which seeks solutions to pressing global problems. The Indian American is seen here speaking about his goals for implementing sustainability in higher education at an October 2018 conference in Pittsburgh (Penn State photo) During the 5th edition of the North East Connectivity Scheme, the Arunachal Pradesh government signed and exchanged MoUs with 17 private investors Nov. 14. The projects are worth Rs. 1200 crores and will generate employment opportunities for 8000 people. (PemaKhanduBJP Twitter photo) Livestock Report Walsh Trading - Mon Nov 22, 6:32PM CST Cattle breaks out to new high while Hogs and Feeders in positive territory Corn Closes Black on Monday Barchart - Mon Nov 22, 4:44PM CST Front month corn futures ended the Monday session with gains of 6 to 7 1/2 cents. New crop prices were slower to start the week, gaining 4 1/2 to 4 3/4 cents. USDA saw 618,490 MT of corn shipped during... ZCZ21 : 575-4 (-0.22%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.6213 (+1.09%) ZCH22 : 582-6 (-0.26%) ZCZ21 : 575-4 (-0.22%) ZCPZ21US.CM : 5.6649 (+1.16%) Monday Rally for Wheat Barchart - Mon Nov 22, 4:44PM CST Wheat futures ended the session with double digit gains to start the week. Chicago futures closed 17 to 23 1/2 cents in the black. KC HRW led the complex with 2.61% to 3.34% gains of at least 21 1/2 cents... ZWZ21 : 845-4 (unch) ZWPAES.CM : 7.9707 (+2.93%) KEZ21 : 862-4 (unch) KEPAWS.CM : 8.4006 (+3.28%) MWZ21 : 1022-0 (-0.15%) Chart of the Day: Dorman - String of All-Time Highs Barchart - Mon Nov 22, 4:39PM CST The Barchart Chart of the Day belongs to the vehicle replacement parts company Dorman Products (NASDAQ: DORM ). I found the company by sorting Barchart's All Time High list first by the highest... DORM : 121.77 (+3.21%) Bezos makes gifts to Obama foundation and NYU medical center AP - Mon Nov 22, 3:52PM CST Former President Barack Obamas foundation said Monday it has received a $100 million donation from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos that it says is the largest individual contribution it has received to date.... $SPX : 4,682.94 (-0.32%) $DOWI : 35,619.25 (+0.05%) $IUXX : 16,380.98 (-1.16%) Shootin' the Bull Swift Trading Company - Mon Nov 22, 3:20PM CST Fewer cattle to choose from creates a strong bid from packers. Packers showed their hand last week as to what they are capable of when tasked to do such. It will be difficult going forward for packers... Dollar Rallies on Higher T-note Yields Barchart - Mon Nov 22, 3:16PM CST The dollar index (DXY00 ) on Monday rose +0.482 (+0.50%) and posted a new 16-month high. Higher T-note yields on Monday supported gains in the dollar along with weakness in EUR/USD. Gains in the dollar... DXY00 : 96.551 (unch) ^EURUSD : 1.12347 (unch) ^USDJPY : 115.115 (+0.21%) GCZ21 : 1,808.3 (+0.11%) SIZ21 : 24.305 (+0.03%) Founded in Melbourne in 2011, YIPs initially attracted a modest following of a few hundred local professionals who were eager to pursue development and networking opportunities however, interest quickly grew and the grass-roots initiative exploded. By 2012, branches were established in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia with chapters in the Northern Territories and Auckland, New Zealand following in 2013. Now, there are a branches spread across every Australian state and territory, including three locations in New Zealand, which serve more than 8,000 members. Who makes up the YIPs membership? While members are generally in their 20s and 30s, older professionals are also welcome as a growing number of people have begun pursuing careers in insurance later in life. What is the goal of YIPs? According to the organisation, its mission is to demonstrate that insurance can be a rewarding lifetime career however, its also dedicated to benefiting the insurance industry as a whole by elevating the professionals who operate within it. As such, the organisation runs more than 35 educational events each year, providing a platform for young people to develop their business relationships and to boost their own understanding of the industry. In 2018, YIPs Queensland chapter presented a Trailblazers event, featuring some of the industrys most successful professionals including Steadfast CEO Simon Lightbody and AIG regional general manager, Lorrelle Hillman. Graduate engagement also remains a key focus for YIPS and the organisation is actively working on several initiatives to directly engage undergraduates. These include a visible YIPs presence at careers fairs in universities across Australia and New Zealand, discussions with insurers around the promotion of graduate programs and internships, and inviting undergraduates to network with YIPs members in order to gain an insight into the industry. Who leads YIPs? In 2018, Katie Stephenson became the first woman to step into the YIPs president role after her predecessor James Smorthwaite stepped down to focus on his career. These past 12 months have been a time of professional and personal growth for me and the decision to put myself forward for the role of president was not taken lightly, said Stephenson, who has held other senior roles within the organisation, including treasurer and vice president. YIPs has grown from grass roots to now being the largest, not-for-profit insurance organisation for young professionals in Australia and New Zealand something we are very proud to have achieved in seven years, she added. Intact Financial Corporation is taking part in a United Nations pilot program that aims to tackle the issue of climate change and how it affects insurers around the globe. The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Task Force will be working on the Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) pilot, which brings together 16 of the worlds largest insurers to discuss the impacts of climate change on the industry. Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary, Raab said on Twitter. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal. By quitting over the issue, Raab is now seen as a frontrunner for a potential leadership contest. Meanwhile, reaction from the insurance industry has been pouring into Insurance Business all morning. While it is encouraging to see a dedicated section on financial services, we have to hope that the fact the draft is solely built around the concept of equivalence is for the sake of brevity and simplicity, said LIIBA CEO Christopher Croft. Otherwise, those of us who have no equivalence regime have cause for serious concern. As do our clients. The current European legislation covering insurance brokers Insurance Distribution Directive has no concept of equivalence or the market access rights it might grant. Without this it is unclear what the agreement published yesterday would mean for our sector. Norton Rose Fulbright insurance partner Bob Haken did not hold back with his views on how the sector may be impacted, describing the focus on equivalence as unfortunate. What the Political Declaration does say about financial services in general is that there will be commitments to preserving financial stability, market integrity, investor protection and fair competition, while respecting the [UKs and the EUs] regulatory and decision-making autonomy, and their ability to take equivalence decisions in their own interest, he said. This focus on equivalence is unfortunate for the insurance industry as, unlike some other financial services, equivalence under Solvency II does not grant market access for insurance business (reinsurance is treated differently under Article 172 of the Solvency Directive pursuant to which equivalence does come with market access). At present therefore it seems unlikely that the Withdrawal Agreement or Political Declaration will preserve passporting rights for UK insurers. For reinsurance, there is a glimmer of hope in that there is a commitment to reaching equivalence decisions as soon as possible after 29 March 2019, endeavouring to conclude those assessments by 30 June 2020. However, in a missed opportunity, neither document recognises the important issue of contract continuity following the expiry of the transitional period, meaning that the contingency plans that many hoped would be unnecessary will have to be deployed by the end of 2020. A cautious stance was put forward by the London Market Group, which offered an outline as to what the future may hold for insurance brokers. The LMG welcomes the Cabinets decision on the draft withdrawal agreement as it is an important step closer towards avoiding a cliff edge that would cause significant disruption to clients across the UK and the EU, stated Claire Lebecq (pictured), CEO of the LMG. The Political Declaration on the Future Relationship starts the process of longer term negotiations. The LMG has consistently highlighted the mutual benefits for both the EU and the UK in an enhanced equivalence regime for commercial (re)insurance trading, including a provision for insurance broking services. We will continue to play an active role in representing the interests of our clients and firms as we work with the Government on a suitable framework. Well bring you more on this story as it develops. At a detention hearing Tuesday, US Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar ruled that Elmezayen, who is a native of Egypt, was a flight risk and has access to significant resources in his home country. The judge also ruled that Elmezayan is a danger to his former domestic partner and remaining child, upon whose lives he is still paying insurance premiums. According to federal prosecutors, Elmezayan purchased several accidental death insurance policies totaling more than $6 million in coverage on himself, his then-domestic partner, and his children in 2012 and 2013. Although he earned less than $30,000 per year, he paid nearly $6,000 in premiums annually on these premiums. He also called at least two of the insurance companies to confirm that they wouldnt investigate claims made two years after the policies were purchased, NBC Los Angeles reported. In April of 2015 two years and 12 days after he purchased the last of the policies Elmezayen allegedly drove a car with his partner and two youngest children off a pier at the Port of Los Angeles. Elmezayan allegedly escaped the car through his open drivers-side window. His partner, who did not know how to swim, was rescued by a nearby fisherman. The two children, aged eight and 13, drowned. Elmezayen collected more than $260,000 in insurance payouts on the deaths from two insurance companies. This case alleges a calculated and cold-hearted scheme to profit off the deaths of two helpless children, US Attorney Nick Hanna said. The alleged conduct shocks the conscience, and we will use every tool available to us to ensure that justice is done. Elmezayens public defender said he would contest the charges and pointed out that the state of California has not charged him with murder, NBC Los Angeles reported. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office declined to prosecute the case last December, citing insufficient evidence. Genesee is a full-service managing general agency and wholesale company. We specialize in commercial insurance products for the excess and surplus (E&S) lines industry, and our mission is to provide unparalleled service to independent insurance agents, Salter told Insurance Business. In the E&S space, quick turnaround service and communication is vital. While our underwriters and brokers get out to see our clients on occasion, its crucial that we retain brand visibility with our clients as much as possible. By enhancing the overall view and brand of Genesee, we seek to increase submission flow and activity to our underwriters and brokers. Successful insurance marketing requires individuals with expertise and experience in the industry. Insurance is well and truly in Salters blood. Growing up, she had multiple family members in the business, mostly on the agency side, who gave her some unique insights into the challenges and opportunities for insurance intermediaries. She started her insurance career in underwriting - a move she described as most beneficial when entering the marketing department because she could assist agencies with their submissions. Salters goal as vice president of marketing at Genesee has been focused around simplicity. She said: Insurance can be information overload. The old way of marketing was to have a folder filled with flyers upon flyers of information. At Genesee, we wanted to make this process much simpler and easier to digest. All of our field representatives are trained in underwriting and have as much expertise as possible to help the agent. With my underwriting background, I help facilitate the training of the field representatives and our underwriting department. Once fully-trained, our field representatives get out prospecting with the goal of adding agencies; they help with the onboarding of new agencies; they help with accounting issues; they assist underwriters to develop new products; and they get those products out to our agents. Were constantly looking at new ways to make the lives of the agents easier, while also helping our underwriters to get all the information they need. Genesees motto is: Its Simple, Its Service. The firms army of well-trained field representatives ensure this motto is met with a little help from new technology. In todays digital world, online interaction and mobile friendly communication is vital for insurance marketing success, Salter added. Were seeing things like unified messaging, which enables agents to get their voicemails via email, so they can listen quickly and forward to necessary parties with additional notes. Were also seeing more CRM platforms integrate with management systems to make things easier for the marketing person in the field (as well as underwriter should they be out seeing clients) in order to retrieve data on our clients in real-time. These types of innovation save time for marketing professionals, enabling us to get out more and connect with prospective and current clients, she commented. Social media has also helped us to connect with clients. At Genesee, we have a mascot golden retriever named Binder. All our field reps have a life-sized Binder in their offices and they get so much attention. Its a lot of fun and it generates a lot of discussion on social media. Golden retrievers stand for loyalty and service two things we strive to supply at Genesee. Oscar additionally claims that Florida Blues policy allows it to effectively operate as a monopoly in Orlando. Due to this system, most of Orlandos insurance brokers only sell Florida Blue plans despite other suitable options being available, the start-up explained. Florida Blues exclusivity deal shrinks consumer choice and undermines the role of brokers, Oscars lawsuit read. Oscar vehemently opposes Florida Blues policy and is demanding that it immediately terminate it so that consumers can make informed choices about their healthcare with the fair, impartial advice of their local health insurance agent, the start-up said in a company release. In response, Florida Blue maintains that Oscars grievances do not have any merit, mentioning that insurance exclusivity is not a new thing. Exclusive arrangements in the insurance business have been used for many years by such insurance companies as State Farm, Nationwide, Farmers, Florida Blue and others, Florida Blue said in a statement obtained by Beckers Hospital Review. There is also nothing about the Florida market which precludes any competitor let alone a New York-based company with financial backing from Google and operations in nine states from building an effective distribution channel. There are many agencies available that are not contracted with Florida Blue, and there are also other distribution channels from which they can sell their products, the statement continued. Oscars allegations come as it plans to offer individual health plans in Orlando next year. Related stories: Google parent pumps $375 million into insurance start-up Oscar Health, AXA enter multi-year reinsurance agreement Free Malecon Sculpture Tours on Tuesdays & Thursdays Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The 13th season of the very popular (and free!) Malecon Sculpture Walking Tours, created and conducted by Galeria Pacifico owner Gary Thompson, is underway and will continue on a weekly basis through the middle of April. The morning tour begins every Tuesday at 9:30 am in front of the "Millennium" sculpture, next to the Hotel Rosita at the north end of the Malecon in downtown Puerto Vallarta. There, sculptor Sr. Fernando Banos (also known as Mathis Lidice) starts the tour off by explaining the history, the making, and the details on this towering figure. Afterwards, Gary leads the tour along the Malecon, explaining the artist and history behind about 15 art works. He also points out minute details that you might have otherwise missed, giving you a deeper understanding of the significance of each sculpture. Another treat along the way is Kevin Simpson, of Colectika and Peyote People art galleries, explaining the numerous Huichol symbols that are etched into the Malecon's pavement. The Thursday evening sunset tours start at 6:00 pm at Galeria Pacifico, located at Aldama #174, between Juarez and Morelos Streets. This 1 1/2 hour tour goes south along the Malecon to the Demetro Galeria across from Lazaro Cardenas Park, where sculptor Jim Demetro talks about his public sculptures: Dancers of Vallarta, Woman Washing Clothes, and Andale Bernardo. As well, he is always happy to explain the complex wax process he still uses to create his sculptures in bronze, while his wife Eva offers wine and snacks. Please Note: The Sunset Sculpture Tour will be suspended on Thursday, November 22, in celebration of American Thanksgiving, but will resume the following Thursday and continue on a weekly basis through mid-April, 2019. Gary's personal experiences and interactions with the sculptors, as well as his numerous personal friendships with many of Vallarta's other artists, make the walk both entertaining and educational. And, as an added bonus, both sculpture tours support Biblioteca Los Mangos, Puerto Vallarta's public library and cultural center. Representatives of Los Mangos are on hand at the end of both tours to explain their many worthwhile projects and services, and to gratefully accept any donations offered to help support these activities. "I think it is an amazing project," commented Thompson. "As a non-profit organization, Los Mangos receives next to no support from the local government. In addition, I think it's important for all of us to give back to our community. I am very mindful of this, given that I've enjoyed more than half my life in this wonderful city." No reservations are needed for these free tours, but more information is available by calling Galeria Pacifico at 222-1982 or emailing GaleriaPacifico(at)gmail.com. A ruling issued Tuesday by the New Jersey Supreme Court could cause more than 20,000 drunken driving convictions to be vacated. The justices unanimously found that criminal charges pending against a state police sergeant made breath-testing device test results from five counties inadmissible as evidence. Sgt. Marc Dennis was in charge of calibrating the devices, and authorities have alleged that he skipped a required step in the calibration process. Dennis has denied any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to records tampering and other charges. The courts decision means that as many as 20,667 DWI convictions could now be challenged, according to state authorities and the lawyer for the now-dead plaintiff who brought the case that the court ruled on. The accusations against Dennis called into question any test result involving a machine he handled, including devices used by local police in Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, and Union counties between 2008 and 2016. State authorities have maintained that the step Dennis allegedly skipped was one of several redundancies and fail-safes meant to ensure the readings are accurate. They claim that omitting that one step didnt invalidate the results, noting New Jersey is the only state that requires the step. The Supreme Court, though, sided with Judge Joseph Lisa, who was appointed as a special master to handle the issue. He found the step omission raised substantial doubts about the reliability of the machines. As part of their decision, the justices ordered state authorities to notify anyone whose case involved results from machines Dennis calibrated. They must tell them that those results were not scientifically sound, so they can decide whether they want to go to court and seek to have their convictions vacated. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Personal Auto New Jersey The City of London averted one disaster with the draft Brexit deal announced Wednesday. But the resignation of Brexit Minister Dominic Raab showed the obstacle course is far from over. Even if the U.K. Parliament clears the agreement and thats still far from a sure thing negotiations on a new financial rulebook will continue well into 2020. The bottom line is that banks, brokers and asset managers continue to face talks going off the rails. Our message to businesses continues to be: prepare for the worst, hope and advocate vigorously for the best, Charles Brasted, a partner at the law firm Hogan Lovells, said in a statement. The reaction highlighted the risks. Raabs quitting saying he couldnt in good conscience support the deal the cabinet grudgingly backed Wednesday underscored the peril facing Prime Minister Theresa May and the process itself. Meantime, the EU called a Nov. 25 summit to sign the deal. Well still be caught in a holding pattern because no one in the City can truly know which way this is going, said Justin Urquhart Stewart, the co-founder of Seven Investment Management LLP, a London-based investment firm with 14 billion pounds ($18 billion) in assets. Well all be sitting here staring at each other saying, Whats going to happen next? and none of us will dare take a position. So well do nothing, stay liquid, and hope some sanity eventually comes out of this process. The pound, little changed on Wednesday, tumbled Thursday, falling more than 1 percent to under $1.29. In almost 600 pages of documents released late Wednesday, there were three short paragraphs devoted to financial services. Under the envisioned regime, the U.K. will be dependent upon EU goodwill; Brussels officials will have unilateral power to shut the door on short notice if they determine theres not a level regulatory playing field. While the new set-up known as equivalence creates friction (and expense), it avoids a total breakdown and gives the finance industry what it was expecting; its how the EU deals with countries such as the U.S. Negotiators have made great strides on the withdrawal agreement, as well as the future relationship, Miles Celic, head of TheCityUK industry association, said in a statement. The European Central Bank and national financial regulators have made it clear they expect firms to establish full-service operations with boards of directors, risk-management teams, and compliance capabilities within the EUs borders. That means institutions that have long used London as a gateway to Europe will have to continue relocating people, capital, and back-office operations. Those conditions and the loss of Londons seamless access to the 27 remaining EU countries endangers the Square Miles status as the worlds No. 1 financial center not to mention its contribution to Britains budget. The U.K.s financial-services sector paid the equivalent of 11 percent of total government tax receipts in the year ended March 2017. While financial institutions have been bracing for the worst a divorce without a deal it wont be easy or even desirable for them to suddenly change contingency plans theyve been pursuing ever since the Brexit referendum in 2016. Not a week seems to go by without news of yet another jump across the channel. CME Group Inc., the Chicago-based derivatives exchange, is moving its $240 billion-a-day short-term financing market to Amsterdam. Commonwealth Bank of Australia is also setting up a base in Amsterdam. Construction continues unabated on Bank of America Corp.s new trading floor in a renovated post office in the heart of Paris. In some cases its going to be too late for the bank to change their plans, said Jan Putnis, the head of the financial-regulation team at the law firm Slaughter and May in London. Some of the banks are a matter of weeks away from moving massive amounts of business to the EU. London could ultimately lose 10,000 banking jobs and another 20,000 slots in financial services as clients move 1.8 trillion euros ($2.1 trillion) of assets out of the U.K. on Brexit, the Brussels-based think-tank Bruegel projects. Still, its better than no deal at all. For months, the Bank of England and industry leaders have been sounding the alarm about disruption in the derivatives markets. Londons clearing houses, led by LCH Ltd., process trillions of dollars in contracts every day. Without a transition in place to ensure trades with EU-based counterparties continue uninterrupted, banks faced the costly and disruptive prospect of moving to clearing houses in Paris or Frankfurt. City lawyers will now pore over the details of Mays plans to plot the next two years. As grinding a process as Brexit has been to get to this point, this is only a prelude to the main event. After March 29, the U.K. government and the EU leadership will have to hammer out a trade agreement and other measures defining virtually every aspect of their economic relationship. As part of that process, this deal will have to morph from a non-binding stop-gap into a permanent rulebook for financial ties between the U.K. and the EU. The harder question in this context is what equivalence will actually turn out to mean, said Simon Gleeson, a partner at Clifford Chance. And the clock is ticking. London and Brussels will have until December 31, 2020, to come to terms or face yet another cliff edge. While this new reality would put all non-European banks on equal footing, Brexit could hit British banks hardest because of the likely impact on their home market. The International Monetary Fund already forecasts GDP in the U.K. will increase just 1.5 percent in 2019, the weakest performance of Europes major economies after Italy. In an interview in August, Jes Staley, the chief executive officer of Barclays Plc, said the lender was tightening credit because of the prospect of an economic slowdown. But he also said the challenge was also an opportunity for trading profits. Brexit, I think, would bring back volatility, Staley said. And volatility is good for us. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Europe London Uk Brexit Global insurance regulators will put off singling out insurers deemed so important to the financial system that they are required to hold extra capital, in a victory for companies such as American International Group and Prudential. The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) said it wants to replace the list of too big to fail insurers, last published in 2016, with a broader framework from 2020. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, regulators identified nine systemically important insurers which then face onerous bank-like capital rules to cover potential losses, increasing costs and potentially reducing shareholder returns. The industry has long argued it played no major role in the financial crisis and should not be treated in the same way as global banks, which must also hold extra capital. Nine insurers featured on the list published in 2016: Aegon, Allianz, American International Group, Aviva, AXA, MetLife, Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Prudential Financial Inc , and Prudential in Britain. The IAIS said it was moving away from a binary approach of imposing extra measures on a small group of insurers to a proportionate application of measures targeted at the activities of insurers that lead to systemic risk. It has proposed a new framework to come into effect in 2020, after which a decision would be made in 2022 on whether to scrap the list altogether. Insurers on the list had initially been expected to meet mandatory capital requirements known as higher loss absorbency or HLA from January next year. But the IAIS said on Wednesday that HLA would not be implemented before the start of 2022, and within the new framework it would only be applied on case-by-case intervention by supervisors, meaning no automatic application. The industry has lobbied for regulators to focus on activities rather than issuing extra capital requirements simply because of a companys size. AIG had to be bailed out by taxpayers in the United States during the financial crisis, but the insurance industry has argued that AIGs problems stemmed from its involvement in complex products linked to home loans rather than mainstream insurance. Wednesdays announcement follows a decision by regulators in the United States to remove Prudential Financial from their own list of systemically important financial institutions. Met Life won a court battle to remove itself from the U.S. list. The Financial Stability Board (FSB), which coordinates financial regulation in the Group of 20 economies (G20), said the new framework would provide an enhanced basis for mitigating systemic risk, if implemented properly. The FSB said it would review in November 2022 whether the list of insurers should be scrapped or, in light of initial implementation of the new framework, be re-established. (Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Susan Fenton, Louise Heavens and Adrian Croft) Related: Topics Carriers USA AIG Many U.S. multinational corporations have packed up or are choosing to open subsidiaries in low-tax, rather than no-tax, countries that are seen as more legitimate than the formerly popular island destinations of the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas. Theyre fleeing in response to regulations from the European Union that require them to justify the business purpose for their offshore operations. Low-tax countries that have been attractive destinations for multinationals such as Singapore, Ireland and the Netherlands are becoming even more desirable, especially as they make changes to show theyre more legitimate. The days of picking a holding jurisdiction mainly because of tax are over, said Allen Tan, head of the tax practice at law firm Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow in Singapore. American corporations have used tax havens for years to avoid higher levies where they actually earn the income. European countries and the U.S. have teamed up in recent years to stop the use of loopholes and collect more of the tax dollars the companies domiciled within their borders owe. Swiss Res Singapore HQ Insurance firm Swiss Re AG closed one of its Bermuda subsidiaries in 2016. It opened its regional headquarters in Singapore in January. The company said in a statement that it doesnt use tax havens for the purpose of avoiding tax and that the entities registered in Bermuda are fully taxable in the U.S. Facebook Inc. has said it plans to almost triple its workforce in Singapore. The social media giant only reports Irish and Singapore subsidiaries, according to a 2017 study by the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The company said last year it was overhauling its sales structure so income is booked in the country where its earned. Facebook has until 2020 to wind down transactions where it routed income from Irish subsidiaries to the tax-free Cayman Islands. Nora Chan, a spokeswoman for Facebook, didnt respond to a request for comment. Countries like Singapore that are more developed and still offer relatively low tax rates are seizing the moment, highlighting their infrastructure, available labor forces and tax agreements with other countries. Tax experts say the driving force behind the move away from the most flagrant tax havens is a series of requirements from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development intended to stop companies from shifting profits abroad. The standards, which have become law in many European countries, require companies to show economic substance employees, management teams and sales in the countries where theyre earning income. Tax authorities in OECD countries also have to exchange data annually with each other about how much income companies are earning, how much tax theyre paying and how many employees they have within their borders. The first data swap occurred in June. Income into Ocean Two of the most egregious tax moves the Double Irish and the Dutch Sandwich that often involve using zero-tax havens as the final destination for offshore income were effectively killed thanks to the OECD rules, though some companies like Facebook have a couple more years to wind down the practice. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is planning to issue rules soon that would implement some of the OECD requirements. Alphabet Inc.s Google had moved 15.9 billion euros ($18 billion) to Bermuda in 2016 using the maneuvers to shield much of its international profits from taxation, according to a 2018 regulatory filing in the Netherlands. With those transactions income essentially falls into the ocean because nobody is taxing it, said Jeffrey Korenblatt, a tax attorney at law firm Reed Smith. Now, companies in the technology and pharmaceutical industry that were the most frequent users of the tactics are forced to keep that income within the initial European country. In turn, Ireland and the Netherlands are tightening their accounting guidelines and making it more difficult for companies to massage their numbers about where income is earned. Still, some firms such as hedge funds are staying put in their Caribbean locations, undeterred by political pressure and facing fewer restrictions since many are private. More Proper Subsidiaries Ireland has always been an attractive destination for large multinationals looking to minimize taxes, but its becoming even more desirable in the current environment given its relatively uncomplicated system, consistently low rate of 12.5 percent, European Union membership and educated workforce of relatively low-cost English speakers. Its the top pick for many U.S. multinationals more today than ever before, according to Linda Pfatteicher, managing partner of law firm Squire Patton Boggs San Francisco and Palo Alto offices. The companies being set up in Ireland now have more substance behind them, said Vivian Nathan, an adviser who helps companies form Irish subsidiaries. Fifteen years ago we would form 500 companies in a month or two. Now we do 10 big projects, he said. Its taken more seriously. Its more proper. Tax Grey List The Netherlands has been pushing back on its perception of helping U.S. companies avoid taxes. More than half of Fortune 500 companies reported at least one subsidiary there as of 2016, according to research from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The Dutch government is considering a series of proposals to prevent companies from shifting income outside the country, as well as a withholding tax on inter-company debt and royalty payments, which can be used as tools to reduce tax liabilities. The country is also considering reducing its corporate rate which at 25 percent is higher than many of its peers. I think whats really wanted is to remain an attractive option for foreign investors, said Jian-Cheng Ku, a legal director at law firm DLA Piper in Amsterdam. Other European countries, such as Switzerland, are trying to make sure they dont become blacklisted. The European Union placed Switzerland on a gray list of jurisdictions with questionable tax regimes last year. Now the country is working to overhaul its corporate tax system. Switzerland, which has traditionally been a favorite low-tax jurisdiction for banking and money managers, is at risk of losing some of its market dominance to Singapore or other locations, said Ronen Palan, an international politics professor at the City University of London. Singapore is becoming a popular destination for headquarters because of its 17 percent corporate rate, lax regulatory network, British-style legal system and large airport making it easy for executives to travel. The Asian country increased its market share of global assets under management by 12 percent from 2010 to 2017, while assets in Switzerland declined by 7 percent, according to a Deloitte study released in May. Switzerlands decline follows several years of tax disputes and more than 80 banks reaching agreements with the U.S. to resolve potential criminal activity. Panama and the Caribbean were the hardest hit, losing 67 percent of their assets because theyre just not as attractive compared to larger, more mature countries, the Deloitte report said. Eventually, traditional zero-tax havens, especially those that are close to Europe such as the Isle of Man and Jersey may work to shed their bad actor image to keep up with the larger countries, Nathan said. He expects that within five years those countries will be among Irelands fiercest competition. There has been a political and a public reckoning and this has become a big thing, said Steve Wamhoff, director of federal tax policy for ITEP. There were a lot of years where corporations were getting away with murder. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Legislation USA Profit Loss Europe Bermuda Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has appointed Simon Tardif as head Aviation Canada, effective Oct. 29, 2018. In this role, Tardif will be responsible for the growth and strategy of the aviation team across Canada. He has relocated from Paris, France to Toronto, Ontario where he will oversee a team of aviation underwriters. Tardif brings 12 years of industry experience to this role, holding positions as both an underwriter and broker during his career. Joining Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2015, Tardif was a senior underwriter for aviation in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. A Canadian and French national, Tardif holds an Advanced Certificate Aerospace and Aviation from HEC Paris and a masters degree in insurance from Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers, France. He speaks French, English and Russian and spent a few months working in Moscow with a French reinsurer. He is the chairman of the Insurance Committee at the European Business Aviation Association and a lecturer as lEcole Nationale de lAviation Civile in Toulouse, France. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions serves clients and brokers throughout Canada from offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Source: Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Topics Aviation Canada Swiss Re France Danske Banks 200 billion euro ($225 billion) money laundering scandal might be the tip of the iceberg and investigators should examine whether major Western banks played a role, a lawyer for the whistleblower said. Stephen Kohn, a partner at U.S. law firm Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto who is representing Danske whistleblower Howard Wilkinson, told Reuters that Danske may be only a bit player in a scheme to move wealth from countries like Russia to the West. It looks like the tip of the iceberg, he told Reuters on the sidelines of a two-day London OffshoreAlert conference on financial intelligence and investigations. The problem is far bigger than has been reported If this is properly investigated, and the money followed all the way to the end it all went to large, multinational Western financial institutions and either the U.S. government or other authorities have the ability to track down every transfer and any account, he said, without providing evidence for the allegation. Wilkinson, a British former head of markets in Danskes Estonian branch until 2014, was outed by newspapers in September as the whistleblower who helped lift the lid on how billions of euros of non-resident money, much of it from Russia, had flowed through the tiny branch between 2007 and 2015. After an internal investigation, published by Danske the same month, the bank said many transactions were probably suspicious. The scandal has sparked criminal investigations of Danske in Denmark, Estonia and the United States, forced out its chief executive and chairman and sent the banks shares plunging. Britains National Crime Agency said in September it was investigating the use of UK-registered companies in connection with the Danske Bank case. Risk of Retaliation Whistleblowers who have been publicly named are at a greater risk of retaliation. Kohn said Wilkinson has interacted with law enforcement and is satisfied with their response. He declined to comment further. The Briton is due to testify before the Danish and European Parliaments next week. But his testimony is likely to be limited because he remains potentially liable for anything he says. The threat of a lawsuit has a chilling effect, Kohn says. Kohn believes whistleblowers need to be financially rewarded. He won a record $104 million individual reward in 2012 for whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld, the man who exposed tax evasion facilitated by UBS although Birkenfeld also served almost three years in jail. The European approach, that effectively turns informants into martyrs, is a joke, he says. British lawmakers continue to call for better protection for whistleblowers, who risk ending up blacklisted, bankrupt and damaged after lifting the lid on wrongdoing. But regulators have to date resisted calls for financial incentives, insisting this will not significantly increase integrity and transparency. Kohn vehemently disagrees. He says whistleblowers might sometimes participate in wrongdoing, but that they are essential to uncovering the truth because white-collar crimes are hidden and crime is more profitable than honesty. Since February 1986, when U.S. whistleblowing laws were modernized, the U.S. government has paid whistleblowers $6.5 billion and billions more have been recovered, he said. Europe is asleep. I am angry at what I see in Europe, he told the conference. Kohn describes Wilkinson, who he says told Danske everything he knew before resigning, as credible, with an unblemished employment history, who risked his career and livelihood to stop one of the biggest money laundering scandals in history. Hes the real McCoy [the genuine article]. He gives whistleblowing a good name, he said. ($1 = 0.8902 euros) (Editing by Adrian Croft) Topics USA Europe JBA Risk Management (JBA), the UK-based modeling firm, has launched an India crop catastrophe model for the re/insurance market. More commonly known for flood maps and models, JBA collaborated with Chaucer through its office in Singapore to develop this probabilistic crop model for the Indian agriculture insurance market. The Indian agricultural insurance market has grown rapidly since 2015 due to the state sponsorship of a revised insurance scheme, said Tom Graham, head of Regional Treaty Development at Chaucer in Singapore. The Indian government has publicly stated that it is looking to ensure cover for 50 percent of Indias 130 million farmers by 2020 through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Scheme, he added. PMFBY is a government-sponsored crop insurance scheme. To facilitate and support this vital and ambitious goal, it is hugely important to have robust models in place to help assess the nature of the risk and exposure to the market, he said. Collaborating with JBA ensured we combined Chaucers underwriting expertise with JBAs leading modeling capability. In developing the model, JBA research highlighted the potential susceptibility of particular crop types to positive El Nino phases, JBA said, noting that there is increasing evidence that a period of El Nino weather patterns will likely prevail in the Northern Hemisphere from late 2018 into 2019. JBA found that some crops grown in many Indian districts during El Nino years may be subject to a 28 percent fall from their annual average. Theres currently a 70 percent chance that the global climate will experience an El Nino warming phase from October this year into early 2019, commented Dr. Iain Willis, managing director of JBA Risk Management Singapore, quoting a report on El Nino from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We know that El Nino can have substantial effects on the rainfall patterns of the Indian summer monsoon. Physical crop simulations that weve analyzed using historic climate data suggest that some major Indian rainfed crops, including soybean and groundnut, are particularly vulnerable to these changes during El Nino years and can be adversely affected, Willis continued. JBA said its India crop catastrophe model makes use of the latest developments in agricultural technology software and utilizes computer simulations to reproduce the daily growth of major insured crops throughout the Indian summer and winter growing seasons. Source: JBA Risk Management Topics Carriers Reinsurance Agribusiness Market Risk Management India A federal safety agency has proposed fining a company in connection with the death of an employee who was working in a Hall County, Nebraska, cornfield. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing penalties of more than $11,600 for Rivera Agri Inc., a provider of temporary farm labor. OSHA says the company failed to protect employees working in excessive heat. A company representative didnt immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press. The body of 52-year-old Cruz Urias-Beltran was found in the field on July 12 . A search had begun the evening before when he didnt return from his detasseling work. He lived in San Luis, Arizona. Temperatures in the area reached 94 degrees on July 11, but the heat index would have been in the triple digits. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation Agribusiness Nebraska Youve seen them the yellow signs along the states rural roadways that warn of a deer crossing ahead. Trouble is, researchers say, we mostly ignore such warnings. It presents a quandary for highway safety officials in Nebraska seeking to head off collisions between critters and cars in Nebraska. Theres a lot of research that says we use too many signs. Its something we all need to be aware of, said Kyle Schneweis, director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Now is the peak season for driving into a deer. About 20 percent of the about 2,200 collisions a year between vehicles and deer happen during November. October is the second-highest month for deer strikes, according to state highway safety figures. Deer are not only in the midst of mating season but are being pushed out of tranquil fields by harvesting machines and hunters. Youve got them moving everywhere, said Fred Zwonechek, the states highway safety director. In Nebraska and Iowa, your chances of hitting a deer are pretty good. The odds in the Cornhusker State were put at 1 in 149, according to recent projections by State Farm Insurance, while the odds in Iowa were about twice that 1 in 73. The Hawkeye State ranked fifth-highest in the country, behind leading road-kill states like West Virginia, Montana and Pennsylvania. Nebraska ranked 26th. If theres any good news, its that Nebraskas deer population hasnt yet rebounded totally from a disease outbreak in 2011-12. Thats reflected in the deer harvest numbers, which used to number more than 3,000 a year before plunging in 2012. In Minnesota, another leading deer collision state, state roads workers are no longer replacing deer crossing signs because of their lack of effectiveness. In one county, Carver County just west of the Twin Cities, workers are removing the warning signs because they think it gives people a false impression about where deer are likely to cross. In Minnesota, anywhere youre traveling, including in the metropolitan Minneapolis-St. Paul area, you have to be alert for deer, said Peter Buchen, assistant traffic engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Schneweis said Nebraska roads workers arent going to that extreme but have become more careful about where deer crossing signs are placed. The signs, which cost about $250 each to produce and erect, are placed only in places where there have been three deer-vehicle crashes per year for five years in a one-mile stretch of highway. At a smaller, specific site, like near a bridge, the standard is five crashes per year, the Omaha World-Herald reported. We look at the data, Schneweis said. If theres not a prevalence of deer crashes, we dont put them up. If you spread out warning signs too much, you stop paying attention to them. Roads officials in Douglas and Sarpy Counties also said they use some discretion about where to post deer crossing signs, but dont have specific criteria. Tom McDonald, construction and maintenance manager for the Douglas County Highway Department, said the placement of such signs is guided by requests from the public and where deer have been seen crossing regularly. Theyre a warning sign, McDonald said. If people pay attention, who knows? Installation of such signs is an engineering judgment call because there is a lack of solid guidance, according to Pat Dowse, chief deputy Sarpy County highway engineer. Of course, deer dont always cross where the signs are placed. Researchers have concluded that, in particular, signs that warn of infrequent dangers, such as deer, icy roads or playing children, are often ignored by motorists. The Federal Highway Administration reported to Congress in 2008 that a study conducted in 15 Kansas counties showed no relationship between the installation of static deer warning signs and crash rates. So what are we and highway safety folks to do to prevent accidents with animals? They cause an estimated $1 billion in property damage a year nationally and led to 181 fatalities in 2016. Dozens of strategies have been tried, with mixed to little impact from mounting high-frequency deer whistles on cars to scare off deer to spreading deer repellent along highways to keep them away. Years ago, Nebraska roads officials installed red flashers along a highway that deflected light from headlights into adjacent woodlands to ward off the deer, with little impact. Schneweis said that self-driving cars may in the future provide a warning via radar systems that detect approaching wildlife. But for now, the most effective deterrent is tall, deer-proof fencing, like that installed along Interstate 80 from Mahoney State Park northward across the Platte River into Sarpy County. But that kind of fencing is expensive, about $300,000 per mile, and requires frequent maintenance. Roadside systems that detect approaching deer and activate a flashing warning on a sign fall into the same, expensive category and sometimes flash false warnings. Some states have built wildlife overpasses or underpasses to safely funnel wildlife, like endangered Florida panthers and Canadian moose and bear, over or under busy freeways. Nebraska has at least one wildlife underpass, for threatened Blandings turtles, on a remote highway in the Sand Hills. And some Interstate bridges near the deer fencing in Sarpy County were modified to allow deer to pass beneath I-80. Overall, officials said that motorists just need to be alert, particularly in low-lying wooded areas where deer are more frequent, and be ready to slow down if deer are visible near the road. At night, use your brights. And always anticipate that if you see one set of eyes, another deer is nearby. Youve just got to be prepared to look for them, Zwonechek said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Personal Auto Minnesota Nebraska A California jury on Wednesday cleared Johnson & Johnson of liability in a case involving a woman who alleged that the companys talc-based products, including its baby powder, contain asbestos and caused her cancer, the company said. The jury in Humboldt County Superior Court in Eureka, California rejected claims by Carla Allen who said that her mesothelioma, a tissue cancer closely linked to asbestos exposure, was caused by the companys talc products, including Johnsons Baby Powder. J&J denies the allegations, saying decades of scientific testing and regulatory approvals have shown its talc to be safe and asbestos-free. Plaintiffs in the litigation allege that J&J knew of asbestos fibers in its cosmetic talc and concealed risks associated with the products. The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company faces some 11,700 U.S. talc lawsuits, according to an October regulatory filing. More than 9,700 of those cases involve claims over ovarian cancer, recent filings in New Jersey federal court, where most of the cases are consolidated, showed. The remaining plaintiffs allege asbestos in J&Js talc caused them to develop mesothelioma. J&J in a statement on Wednesday said it was pleased with the jurys decision in the case of Allen. While we deeply sympathize with anyone suffering from any form of cancer, the science and facts show that her disease was not caused by her use of our talcum-based products, the company said. The California jury reached its decision following a roughly seven-week long jury trial, court records showed, but further details were not immediately available. Lawyers for Allen did not immediately respond to a request for comment. J&J has been fighting talc cancer lawsuits for several years, but the litigation shifted in recent months to include allegations of asbestos contamination. Plaintiffs now claim asbestos fibers in the products are causing both ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. J&J to date has been cleared of liability in three mesothelioma cases. It has lost two mesothelioma cases in New Jersey and California, with juries awarding a total of $142 million in damages. Both cases are under appeal. Four additional mesothelioma cases resulted in a mistrial because jurors could not reach a verdict or because the plaintiff died. In July, a Missouri jury hit J&J with a massive $4.69 billion verdict in the first trial alleging asbestos contamination has caused ovarian cancer in 22 women. That decision is also under appeal. (Reporting by Tina Bellon; Editing by Richard Chang) Topics California New Jersey The Palm Cabaret Announces 2018-19 Lineup of Shows Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Palm Cabaret has been entertaining Puerto Vallarta audiences for years, and it just keeps getting better! Come November 21, The Palm will kick off its 19th year as a south side 'Hot Spot' with a new look, some fresh talent, and the return of some of PV's favorite stars in all-new shows. Just like the diva Cher, The Palm has undergone some slight renovations. An increased capacity and the removal of pole obstructions have allowed for a more spacious cabaret environment with additional seating options for guests. The Palm Cabaret & Bar is delighted to welcome back several returning favorites for their 2018-2019 season. Miss Conception has been around the world, but this season you'll see her take on the holiday season and the small screen in two all new, live singing, costume reveal spectacular, "Twas The Night Before Miss Conception" and "Miss Conceptions TV Land." Girls will be girls as storyteller and YouTube sensation Coco Peru tells you exactly what's bothering her in "The Taming Of The Tension." The love child of Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine, the delightful Varla Jean Merman goes where many have gone before: "Under a Big Top." Kim Kuzma merges modern hits and classic hits in the all new "Jukebox. The dynamic duo of Branden & James will combine their talents and the songs from two of the most popular musicals of all time in "The Phantom Of The Greatest Showman." Broadway baby Marti Gould Cummings returns for 5 shows only from December 19th through 22nd. 'Can we talk?' Joe Posa embodies the Queen Of Mean, Joan Rivers, in an all new show featuring Fashion Police executive producer, Tony Tripoli. 'Hello, Possums!' You'll be in stitches as Michael Walters brings to life the "Mouth Of The Border," Dame Edna; Eric Michael Krop will be your teenage dream in the one man showcase "Pop Goes The World"; and mentalist duo, The Evasons, will shock and amaze for two shows only, February 6 & 12. This season, Piano Man Nate Buccieri delivers two one-of-a-kind shows that are not to be missed: "Big, Gay 80's," which combines classic hits with costumes, improvised comedy, and on the spot composing you won't believe, and "#NateOnTheKeys," covering songs by different artists every week. New York City sensation Paige Turner takes the stage with a rolodex of jokes you'll be repeating for weeks, and Bohemia Viva returns to The Palm this year with a new show, "Reflections." Also returning to The Palm are the lively Luna Rumba Productions, with three unique shows, "Luna Rumba", "Duende", and "Arte Puro." In addition to returning favorites, The Palm is extremely excited to welcome a new crop of talent to our cabaret. Don't miss RuPaul's Drag Race Season Three Winner, Raja Gemini; 'Fashionista' Jimmy James; Country queen, Bonnie Kilroe; Liza Lott in "Minnelli: The Legend"; Show-stopper Jesse Luttrell; Denita Asberry in "Shades Of Soul"; and the always dazzling Amy Bishop. You'll be guaranteed a great evening with our stellar line up of artists and friendly staff always ready to greet you with a smile. Join us on November 21, 2018, as we launch our 19th season in Puerto Vallarta and experience for yourself why The Palm Cabaret just keeps getting better and better. Open 7 nights a week, The Palm Cabaret and Bar features two shows per night, one at 7:00 pm and the other at 9:30 pm. They sometimes offer afternoon matinees as well. For more information and the 2018-2019 season's complete line-up, visit ThePalmCabaret.com. Cyber insurance is relevant to every type of business but the insurance industry needs to make it simpler so that more businesses understand why they should buy it, according to Graeme Newman, chief innovation officer at CFC Underwriting, a cyber liability specialist in London. Newman was at the PLUS (Professional Liability Underwriting Society) Conference in San Diego Calif., where thousands of insurance professionals gathered for three days to hear about the latest industry trends. Newman talked to Insurance Journal about the ever-changing cyber market. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Insurance Journal: The market for cyber insurance has now been around a few years and there has been time for us to see it change and maybe start to mature. Where are we at right now in cyber? Newman: So, it feels like theres been a fundamental shift in the last couple of years. If you look back, two, three years ago, it was all about data breaches and privacy. We saw the big retail breaches, that was all about compromised credit card information. In recent years its been all about business interruption. So, business interruption and loss of profits is the hot topic in the cyber market right now. We saw a couple of huge events last year that affected millions of businesses around the world and really made people aware that cybers much more than just data breaches. IJ: What can brokers do at the ground level to convince some of their business clients that cybers a good deal? Newman: I think its important to remember that cybers relevant to every single type of business. Its not just businesses that store sensitive data records like personal information and healthcare information. Its relevant to any business that uses technology to operate. So, were seeing a greater interest from manufacturers, transportation companies, logistics companies. So, its really important that insurance agents pay attention to cyber, learn what they can, and really translate that in a way their clients can understand. IJ: Why are businesses so slow to catch on to this? Theres plenty of news out there about it. Newman: Its the insurance industry. I think we over-complicate cyber. We try and make it more complex than it really is. So, I think its very hard for businesses to understand what it is and how it works. And its our job in the insurance industry to explain that to our clients in a clear and simple way. IJ: What are some interesting or more unique claims youre seeing out there? Newman: We had a client. It was interesting, it was a food trucking business. Now, you dont expect a food trucking business to need cyber insurance. But one day, the CEO came back into the business and he had a ransom demand. The criminals claimed to have taken all their data, unless they paid a ransom of $10,000. The business owner decided not to pay the ransom money, like many business owners, and they found out they had all their data deleted as a result. So this was a food trucking business. Its a very simple business. You dont think its very reliant upon technology. But they had everything taken, so they had no access to their employee records, they had no access to their roots, they had no idea about how much produce theyd have to buy. They had no idea where to locate their trucks. They had to build their business back up from scratch. And that was a process that took them two months to get back on their feet and up and running. It was a claim that cost us almost $800,000. And thats from something as simple as a food trucking business. So it goes to show that every business is vulnerable to cyber attacks. Topics Cyber Market Six U.S. senators on Wednesday introduced a bill that would require the U.S. securities watchdog to directly regulate firms such as Glass, Lewis & Co and Institutional Shareholder Services, which advise investors on how to vote in corporate elections. The bipartisan bill comes as corporate lobbyists, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, are campaigning to rein-in proxy advisers, which they say have too much sway over corporate democracy. The role of proxy advisers is part of a broader debate over how to improve governance at U.S. companies, which since the financial crisis have faced growing pressure from investors to consider issues like climate change and employee diversity. Proxy advisers often support shareholder proposals on these issues, bringing them into conflict with company management views that the firms are effectively hijacking the boardroom. They say proxy advisers should be regulated in a manner similar to rating agencies. In particular, they complain that the firms are potentially conflicted because ISS offers consulting services to the same companies on which it provides voting recommendations, while Glass Lewis is largely owned by an activist investor, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. The Corporate Governance Fairness Act bill would require the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate proxy advisers directly under the Investment Advisers Act. This would make the firms subject to periodic SEC examinations, which would include a serious review of the firms conflicts of interest policies. The SEC and Glass Lewis did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for ISS said the company continues to believe additional federal legislation is not necessary. If this bill were to pass ISS will do what we always have done: we will comply in full with the law and with the highest standards of the proxy advisory industry, he said in an email statement. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Senators Jack Reed, Doug Jones and Heidi Heitkamp, and Republican Senators David Perdue, Thom Tillis and John Kennedy and has been endorsed by the Consumer Federation of America, the New York Stock Exchange and the Society for Corporate Governance. While it is unlikely to become law in this Congress, the bill will add to growing pressure on the SEC, which on Thursday is holding a closely watched roundtable to discuss the proxy process, including tighter scrutiny of advisers. (Reporting by Michelle Price; Editing by Dan Grebler and Richard Chang) Topics USA Politics The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigative hearing on Wednesday into the fatal engine explosion on a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 that killed one passenger. Dallas-based Southwest has been under scrutiny since an engine on a flight headed from New York to Dallas blew apart in mid-air over Pennsylvania, shattering a plane window, flinging shrapnel and killing passenger Jennifer Riordan, one of 149 people aboard. The episode, which has raised concerns about the safety of similar engines, was the first fatality on a U.S. commercial passenger airline since 2009. The hearing in Washington turned to a detailed summary of the engine failure on flight 1380, including details of the fan blade design and development history of the engine type that failed, a CFM56-7B made by CFM International, a transatlantic joint-venture between General Electric Co and Frances Safran SA. The hearing also focused on engine fan blade inspection methods. A CFM representative told the NTSB panel that coating condition, lubrication and the length of operating time contributed to the fan blade separation. The NTSB also released factual findings that disclosed the flight crew had difficulty reaching flight attendants after the engine failed and did not immediately learn that a passenger had been injured. The engine on the planes left side spewed shrapnel when it blew apart, shattering a window and causing rapid cabin depressurization that nearly pulled a female passenger through the hole, the NTSB said. The NTSB report said two passengers were eventually able to pull the woman, who was still in her seat belt, back inside the plane. Representatives from Chicago-based planemaker Boeing, and Southwest Airlines were also at the hearing. We all have the same goals, Southwest said in a statement, to share facts, learn what happened, and ensure this type of event never happens again. Boeing spokesman Paul Bergman said safety was the planemakers top priority and it will continue to support the NTSB and provide technical assistance. In a statement, CFM said it cannot comment on an active investigation but said the CFM56-7B engine at issue in the investigation has had an outstanding safety and reliability record since it entered service in 1997, powering more than 6,900 aircraft. The hearing comes as Indonesian authorities investigate last months deadly Lion Air crash involving a newer version of Boeings best-selling single-aisle aircraft, the 737 MAX. (Reporting by Diane Bartz and David Shepardson and in Washington Writing by Eric M. Johnson Editing by Susan Thomas) Topics Aviation Aerospace Carol Anderson has joined Universal Insurance, a subsidiary of First United Bank, as an employee benefits insurance advisor in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Operating out of First United Bank in Sapulpa, Anderson will be partnering with current bank locations and customers in northern Oklahoma and the greater Tulsa areas. She joins First United with over 29 years of experience in employee benefits and insurance. She has previously served as an employee benefits manager for several agencies, marketing director for a life insurance company, renewal specialist for a large medical carrier, supervisor over flexible spending account record keeping, and a trust officer and supervisor. Anderson has served as a board member for various non-profit organizations, with the most recent being the Volunteers of America. Established in 1900, First United has more than 85 bank, mortgage and insurance locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Source: First United Bank Topics Oklahoma Derek Ross has his hands full with the Woolsey Fire in Southern California for three reasons. Hes an insurance agent with numerous clients affected, hes the president of the board of a school district thats had to close due to the blaze and he lives in a small town that has been devastated by the fire. Ross, who had to evacuate with his family last week when the fire broke out, spending the night in their car because nearby hotels were booked up, has been busy lately. Im living the experience and also working with my clients to help them out, said Ross, president of Kulchin Ross Insurance Services LLC, a small agency in Tarzana with roughly 25 employees. Wildfires in California have burned nearly a quarter-million-acres, destroyed more than 9,000 structures and caused 53 deaths. The Camp Fire in Northern Californias Butte County is now considered the deadliest and the most destructive wildfire in state history. CalFire reports the blaze is 35 percent contained and has killed 51 people, burned 135,000 acres and destroyed more than 7,600 residences and 260 commercial structures. Another 15,000 structures remain threatened. Resources on the fire include 5,615 firefighters, 630 engines and 23 helicopters. The Woolsey Fire to the south in Ventura County has caused two deaths, has burned 97,620 acres and is 47 percent contained. It has destroyed 483 structures and threatens another 57,000, according to CalFire. Roughly 3,500 firefighters are working on the fire. Ross has at least a dozen clients with homes in Malibu, a pricey beachside town where widespread damage has been reported. In Malibu we have multiple clients with homes that have burned, Ross said. Another of his clients is a condo association where at least three units will be considered total losses. Malibu has been destroyed, Ross said, adding that hes hearing reorts of more than 1,000 downed electrical poles and live wires on the ground in numerous spots. Its a mess. Ross home and his other occupation as president of Oak Park Unified School District is a short drive from Malibu though picturesque canyons that have now been razed by the fire. All the open space around me is dust, Ross said. The burnt brush in the canyons leads to another peril that Ross and the local community must keep a close watch on when the rainy season hits the state. Were concerned about flooding now, he said. Weve been doing soil inspections around our school sites and what weve found is the soil is really soft. The school district consists of one high school, a middle school, three elementary schools and a district office. All schools were closed on Friday and are set to remain closed through the end of the week continuing on through the Thanksgiving week holiday. During a school board meeting on Tuesday night Ross and other board members had to inform parents in attendance that some of the school structures suffered minor property damage and there was a great deal of smoke and ash that penetrated the interior of the buildings. The district has hired a third-party contractor to inspect campuses and clean areas that have suffered damage before school starts back up. Right now weve got teams scrubbing all of our campuses, Ross said. While fires still rage around the community, Ross hopes the worst is over. As the fires erupted Thursday district officials scrambled to communicate with staff to stay at schools until all children were picked up. Not long into the evening the alarms that went up turned into reality in areas like Oak Park, where at least 30 homes burned in the community of only 13,000. Within a few hours our community was being completely overtaken by a firestorm, Ross said. Evacuations started Thursday night. After Ross wrapped up his communications with fellow school officials, he fielded calls from affected clients then went to pick up his children who were with their grandparents only to find he was blocked from getting to them by a burning structure. Later that night he and his family heeded a warning to evacuate their home. There was a lot on my mind that evening, he said. They headed to nearby Agoura Hills only to find no vacancies at hotels when they arrived. The family camped in their car from about midnight to about 4 a.m., when they were able to head back home. Countless fire trucks from battalions as far away as Montana now occupy the Oak Park community, and all around one can read signs made by kids and others thanking firefighters for their efforts, Ross said. The community has been holding clothes drives, toothbrush drives, comb drives, and just about any kind of drive they can think of to help their neighbors. Right now our community is rallying around, Ross said. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Agencies Wildfire Education Retirement planning is a multistep process that evolves over time. To have a comfortable, secureand funretirement, you need to build the financial cushion that will fund it all. The fun part is why it makes sense to pay attention to the serious and perhaps boring part: planning how youll get there. Planning for retirement starts with thinking about your retirement goals and how long you have to meet them. Then you need to look at the types of retirement accounts that can help you raise the money to fund your future. As you save that money, you have to invest it to enable it to grow. The surprise last part is taxes: If youve received tax deductions over the years for the money youve contributed to your retirement accounts, a significant tax bill awaits when you start withdrawing those savings. There are ways to minimize the retirement tax hit while you save for the futureand to continue the process when that day arrives and you actually do retire. Well get into all of these issues here. But first, start by learning the five steps everyone should take, no matter what their age, to build a solid retirement plan. Key Takeaways Retirement planning should include determining time horizons, estimating expenses, calculating required after-tax returns, assessing risk tolerance, and doing estate planning. Start planning for retirement as soon as you can to take advantage of the power of compounding. Younger investors can take more risk with their investments, while investors closer to retirement should be more conservative. Retirement plans evolve through the years, which means portfolios should be rebalanced and estate plans updated as needed. 1. Understand Your Time Horizon Your current age and expected retirement age create the initial groundwork of an effective retirement strategy. The longer the time between today and retirement, the higher the level of risk your portfolio can withstand. If youre young and have 30-plus years until retirement, you should have the majority of your assets in riskier investments, such as stocks. Though there will be volatility, stocks have historically outperformed other securities, such as bonds, over long time periods. The main word here is long, meaning at least more than 10 years. Additionally, you need returns that outpace inflation so you can maintain your purchasing power during retirement. Inflation is like an acorn. It starts out small, but given enough time, can turn into a mighty oak tree. Weve all heardand wantcompound growth on our money. Well, inflation is like compound anti-growth, as it erodes the value of your money. A seemingly small inflation rate of 3% will erode the value of your savings by 50% over approximately 24 years. Doesnt seem like much each year, but given enough time, it has a huge impact, says Chris Hammond, a Savannah, Tenn., financial advisor and founder of RetirementPlanningMadeEasy.com. In general, the older you are, the more your portfolio should be focused on income and the preservation of capital. This means a higher allocation in less risky securities, such as bonds, that wont give you the returns of stocks but will be less volatile and provide income you can use to live on. You will also have less concern about inflation. A 64-year-old who is planning on retiring next year does not have the same issues about a rise in the cost of living as a much younger professional who has just entered the workforce. You should break up your retirement plan into multiple components. Lets say a parent wants to retire in two years, pay for a childs education at age 18, and move to Florida. From the perspective of forming a retirement plan, the investment strategy would be broken up into three periods: two years until retirement (contributions are still made into the plan), saving and paying for college, and living in Florida (regular withdrawals to cover living expenses). A multi-stage retirement plan must integrate various time horizons, along with the corresponding liquidity needs, to determine the optimal allocation strategy. You should also be rebalancing your portfolio over time as your time horizon changes. You might not think saving a few bucks here and there in your 20s means much, but the power of compounding will make it worth much more by the time you need it. 2. Determine Retirement Spending Needs Having realistic expectations about post-retirement spending habits will help you define the required size of a retirement portfolio. Most people believe that after retirement, their annual spending will amount to only 70% to 80% of what they spent previously. Such an assumption is often proved to be unrealistic, especially if the mortgage has not been paid off or if unforeseen medical expenses occur. Retirees also sometimes spend their first years splurging on travel or other bucket-list goals. In order for retirees to have enough savings for retirement, I believe that the ratio should be closer to 100%, says David G. Niggel, CFP, ChFC, AIF, founder, president, and CEO of Key Wealth Partners, LLC, in Litiz, Pa. The cost of living is increasing every yearespecially healthcare expenses. People are living longer and want to thrive in retirement. Retirees need more income for a longer time, so they will need to save and invest accordingly. As, by definition, retirees are no longer at work for eight or more hours a day, they have more time to travel, go sightseeing, shop, and engage in other expensive activities. Accurate retirement spending goals help in the planning process as more spending in the future requires additional savings today. One of the factorsif not the largestin the longevity of your retirement portfolio is your withdrawal rate. Having an accurate estimate of what your expenses will be in retirement is so important because it will affect how much you withdraw each year and how you invest your account. If you understate your expenses, you easily outlive your portfolio, or if you overstate your expenses, you can risk not living the type of lifestyle you want in retirement, says Kevin Michels, CFP, EA, financial planner, and president of Medicus Wealth Planning in Draper, Utah. Your longevity also needs to be considered when planning for retirement, so you dont outlast your savings. The average life span of individuals is increasing. Actuarial life tables are available to estimate the longevity rates of individuals and couples (this is referred to as longevity risk). Additionally, you might need more money than you think if you want to purchase a home or fund your childrens education post-retirement. Those outlays have to be factored into the overall retirement plan. Remember to update your plan once a year to make sure you are keeping on track with your savings. Retirement-planning accuracy can be improved by specifying and estimating early retirement activities, accounting for unexpected expenses in middle retirement, and forecasting what-if late-retirement medical costs, explains Alex Whitehouse, AIF, CRPC, CWS, president and CEO, Whitehouse Wealth Management, in Vancouver, Wash. 3. Calculate After-Tax Rate of Investment Returns Once the expected time horizons and spending requirements are determined, the after-tax real rate of return must be calculated to assess the feasibility of the portfolio producing the needed income. A required rate of return in excess of 10% (before taxes) is normally an unrealistic expectation, even for long-term investing. As you age, this return threshold goes down, as low-risk retirement portfolios are largely composed of low-yielding fixed-income securities. If, for example, an individual has a retirement portfolio worth $400,000 and income needs of $50,000, assuming no taxes and the preservation of the portfolio balance, they are relying on an excessive 12.5% return to get by. A primary advantage of planning for retirement at an early age is that the portfolio can be grown to safeguard a realistic rate of return. Using a gross retirement investment account of $1 million, the expected return would be a much more reasonable 5%. Depending on the type of retirement account you hold, investment returns are typically taxed. Therefore, the actual rate of return must be calculated on an after-tax basis. However, determining your tax status when you begin to withdraw funds is a crucial component of the retirement-planning process. 4. Assess Risk Tolerance vs. Investment Goals Whether its you or a professional money manager who is in charge of the investment decisions, a proper portfolio allocation that balances the concerns of risk aversion and return objectives is arguably the most important step in retirement planning. How much risk are you willing to take to meet your objectives? Should some income be set aside in risk-free Treasury bonds for required expenditures? You need to make sure that you are comfortable with the risks being taken in your portfolio and know what is necessary and what is a luxury. Dont be a micro-manager who reacts to daily market noise, advises Craig L. Israelsen, Ph.D., designer of 7Twelve Portfolio in Springville, Utah. Helicopter investors tend to over-manage their portfolios. When the various mutual funds in your portfolio have a bad year, add more money to them. Its kind of like parenting: The child that needs your love the most often deserves it the least. Portfolios are similar. The mutual fund you are unhappy with this year may be next years best performerso dont bail out on it. Markets will go through long cycles of up and down and, if you are investing money you wont need to touch for 40 years, you can afford to see your portfolio value rise and fall with those cycles, says John R. Frye, CFA, chief investment officer and co-founder, Crane Asset Management, LLC, in Beverly Hills, Calif. When the market declines, buydont sell. Refuse to give in to panic. If shirts went on sale, 20% off, youd want to buy, right? Why not stocks if they went on sale 20% off? 5. Stay on Top of Estate Planning Estate planning is another key step in a well-rounded retirement plan, and each aspect requires the expertise of different professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, in that specific field. Life insurance is also an important part of an estate plan and the retirement-planning process. Having both a proper estate plan and life insurance coverage ensures that your assets are distributed in a manner of your choosing and that your loved ones will not experience financial hardship following your death. A carefully outlined plan also aids in avoiding an expensive and often lengthy probate process. Tax planning is another crucial part of the estate-planning process. If an individual wishes to leave assets to family members or a charity, the tax implications of either gifting or passing them through the estate process must be compared. A common retirement-plan investment approach is based on producing returns that meet yearly inflation-adjusted living expenses while preserving the value of the portfolio. The portfolio is then transferred to the beneficiaries of the deceased. You should consult a tax advisor to determine the correct plan for the individual. Estate planning will vary over an investors lifetime. Early on, matters such as powers of attorney and wills are necessary. Once you start a family, a trust may be something that becomes an important component of your financial plan. Later on in life, how you would like your money disbursed will be of the utmost importance in terms of cost and taxes, says Mark T. Hebner, founder and president, Index Fund Advisors, Inc., in Irvine, Calif., and author of Index Funds: The 12-Step Recovery Program for Active Investors. Working with a fee-only estate planning attorney can assist in preparing and maintaining this aspect of your overall financial plan. $11.7 million The 2021 ceiling for assets in an estate that aren't subject to federal estate taxes. Amounts that exceed this limit are. The amount excluded from federal taxes is $12.06 million for 2022. The Bottom Line The burden of retirement planning is falling on individuals now more than ever. Few employees can count on an employer-provided defined-benefit pension, especially in the private sector. The switch to defined-contribution plans, such as 401(k)s, also means that managing the investments becomes your responsibility, not your employers. One of the most challenging aspects of creating a comprehensive retirement plan is striking a balance between realistic return expectations and a desired standard of living. The best solution is to focus on creating a flexible portfolio that can be updated regularly to reflect changing market conditions and retirement objectives. What Is Risk Tolerance? Risk tolerance is how much of a loss youre willing to endure within your portfolio. Risk tolerance depends on a number of factors, including your financial goals, income, and age. How Much Should I Save for Retirement? One rule of thumb is to save 15% of your gross annual earnings. In a perfect world, savings would begin in your 20s and last throughout your working years. Semiconductors are materials that conduct electricity and are found in many different electronic products. They are an important part of the telecommunications industrya sector that allows for communication through phones, tablets, and the internet. Companies in this space are responsible for designing, manufacturing, and supply other corporations with software, technology, and infrastructure to make this all possible. One of these companies is Qualcomm, a multinational corporation. Read on to find out more about Qualcomm including its main business units, financials, and its main competitors. Key Takeaways Qualcomm is a multinational corporation known for designing and manufacturing semiconductors and wireless telecommunications products. Qualcomm has three main business unitsQualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT), Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI). The company competes with Huawei, HTC, Nokia, and Samsung in mobile phone technology and MediaTek and Samsung in the semiconductor market. Qualcomm's main competitors in its strategic investment segment include IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Google, Broadcom, Texas Instruments, and Nokia. Qualcomm: An Overview Qualcomm (QCOM) is known for designing and manufacturing wireless telecommunications products. The company was founded in 1985 by seven people. Headquartered in San Diego, it has more than 41,000 employees in more than 170 offices in 40 different countries. The company is headed by Steve Mollenkopfthe company's chief executive officer (CEO). He also serves on the company's board of directors. Before assuming the role of CEO, Mollenkopf served as the company's president and chief operating officer (COO). He has worked for Qualcomm in a number of other positions as well and started out as an engineer. Mollenkopf has been instrumental in leading the company's development of 5G wireless technology. Qualcomm came in the 137th spot on Fortune's list of top 500 companies in 2019four spots lower from the previous year. The company falls between Penske Automotive Group and biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb. Financials The company reported revenue of $24.3 billion at the end of the 2019 fiscal year. That's a 7% increase from the previous year which saw revenue come in a $22.6 billion. The company's shares closed at $61.19 on March 18, 2020, and the company had a market capitalization of $73.4 billion. The company settled a royalty and patent lawsuit with Apple and its contract manufacturers in April 2019. Apple (AAPL) sued the company in 2017 for $1 billion, saying Qualcomm overcharged for chips. Apple also accused the company of not paying rebates. All parties involved agreed to dismiss any outstanding litigation and settle before opening arguments began in court. Qualcomm's settlement with Apple resulted in $4.7 billion in licensing revenue in April 2019. Segments Qualcomm competes in three main revenue segments: Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT) which sells the company's products and services Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL) which is the company's patent licensing side of the business Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI)the side of the company that makes strategic investments Qualcomm has one other revenue segmentreferred to as its other segment. This division consists of the odds and ends that don't fit neatly into its other business units. Products and Services Qualcomm's QCT business segment designs and provides software and other technologies that are used in smartphones and other devices including tablets, gaming devices, laptops, routers, data cards as well as consumer electronics and vehicle entertainment systems. This segment competes directly with major names including Huawei, HTC, Nokia and Samsung in mobile phone technology. It also competes with the likes of MediaTek and Samsung in the semiconductor market. Strategic Investments Through its QSI segment, Qualcomm invests in a series of early-stage companies in a range of different industries includingbut not limited to automotive, internet of things (IoT), mobile, data center, and healthcare. Qualcomm competes fiercely with traditional personal computer and hardware designers and manufacturers such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell. The company also faces competition from internet conglomerates like Google. Other competitors in this space include Broadcom, Texas Instruments, and Nokia. November 15, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A trailblazing actively managed cryptocurrency solution is underscoring its effectiveness by "going short on plummeting Bitcoin." This is the message from the chief executive of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organizations as the biggest digital currency tumbled as much as 12 per cent Wednesday. deVere Digital Asset Funds, a suite of digital currency solutions for experienced investors, launched in association with Dalma Capital Management Limited, took short positions on Bitcoin at $6,300 and Ethereum at $205 before the price plummeted below $5,600 and $180, respectively, for the first time in 2018. Nigel Green, deVere Group's founder and CEO, observes: "The sudden drop in the value of Bitcoin will have caught many investors off guard - even though history teaches us that this is likely to be temporary, with prices rebounding again fairly quickly. "However, those invested in our actively managed cryptocurrency proposition, which uses a pioneering algorithmic system, will have been shielded against this turbulence, and have actually generated profit from the short signals generated by the system, thereby proving its effectiveness and inherent value to those who seek the upsides of exposure to the digital assets sector but with reduced volatility." Speaking earlier this month at the launch of the deVere Digital Asset solution, which is to be showcased at the Alternative Investment Management (AIM) Summit taking place in Dubai on 26-27 November at the Ritz Carlton hotel, Mr Green explained how it works for the benefit of investors. "When the price of one asset, for instance Bitcoin or Ethereum, is greater on one platform than on another, the opportunity is identified to generate profit from the difference of price across platforms. These trades, referred to as arbitrage, allow profits to be generated with little or no directional market risk," he noted. Zachary Cefaratti, CEO of Dalma Capital comments: "Crypto Asset Markets abound with durable inefficiencies - creating opportunities for hedge funds to generate uncorrelated excess returns through systematic relative value arbitrage, momentum trading and mean-reversion strategies." He adds: "Crypto Markets have created opportunities that we have not seen in conventional markets for decades. Arbitrage opportunities abound - the prices of the top 25 crypto assets vary across over 400 liquidity venues. The ability to trade long and short allows profit opportunities regardless of market direction." The deVere CEO concludes: "Cryptocurrencies are now being widely accepted as the future of money. They are the bedrock of the digital global economy and, as such, I am confident the sector will increase 5,000 per cent in the next decade. "However, as this current Bitcoin sell-off demonstrates, the market remains volatile, but the use of ground-breaking technology can reduce investor exposure to the turbulence." e: george@priorconsultancy.co.uk t: +44 207 1220 925 Twitter: @PriorConsults deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of more than 70 offices across the world, over 80,000 clients and $12bn under advisement. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp ZUG, SWITZERLAND - November 15, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) OpenCryptoTrust (OpenCT) has announced a five-year commitment at NJFX, the only CLS colocation campus in the U.S. offering Tier 3, carrier-neutral data center capabilities, to support its blockchain-based telco infrastructure in the domestic and international markets. This positions OpenCT as one of the first blockchain players within the world of telco and places them in direct line with prestigious NJFX's customers. As a highly interconnected hub, NJFX is an ideal location for firms to leverage OpenCryptoTrust solutions. "NJFX represents one of the most significant cable landing systems with worldwide access, to ever cross the Atlantic," comments Mayande Walker, CEO for OpenCT. "We are proud to be a part of the NJFX CLS colocation campus that will further our goal to make New Jersey one of our main strategic access points in the U.S. blockchain ecosystem and will serve as a major interconnection for global communications." "Global interconnection is exactly what NJFX provides as the first and only cable landing station colocation campus in the United States," states Roy Hilliard, VP of Business Development for NJFX. "NJFX sees the partnership as a logical extension to the NJFX hub of services that our service provider clients provide and that enterprises are looking for, as a way to efficiently and securely enable critical applications." OpenCT has achieved a solution which telco industry analysts have described as "the Holy Grail application/service for carrier services" - real-time bandwidth usage billing. This is facilitated thru two ground-breaking functions (predictive real-time provisioning and smart contracts) that ultimately support enterprise bandwidth-on-demand. In addition, customers will be able to dynamically scale up or 'burst' connectivity during times of peak demand. Enterprise customers have never had the ability to pay for actual bandwidth usage - this innovation means no more inefficient long-term leases. OpenCT is using blockchain technology in an entirely new way to support modern telecommunication services. It has modified the blockchain protocol itself to support ultra-secure data transport - and superior management overlay. Through smart contracts (on their own hybrid blockchain) there is the ability for strategic carrier partners to offer their large-scale enterprise customers a new way to pay for bandwidth. Through advanced optical switches that monitor application traffic requirements, OpenCT can use predictive measures to establish and tear down Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) lambdas against transatlantic/transpacific circuits (in fact all optical-based circuits) - supporting near real-time provisioning and decommissioning, especially the high costs incurred due to expensive transoceanic links. NJFX (New Jersey Fiber Exchange) owns and operates a 64,800 square foot purpose-built Tier 3 CLS Colocation facility and 58-acre campus in Wall, NJ. This unique campus is supported by several route-independent carriers that offer direct access to multiple independent subsea cable systems interconnecting North America, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. High and low-density colocation solutions are available with 24/7 support. NJFX, along with its carrier ecosystem, provide a marketplace offering flexibility, reliability and security that global carriers, content providers, and enterprise/government entities utilize to drive network reliability, while reducing expenses. Located at the United States' easternmost edge, the NJFX CLS supports diverse connectivity options and offers direct interconnection at the Cable Landing Station without recurring cross-connect fees. For media inquiries, please contact: VP of Business Development Roy Hilliard roy@njfx.net OpenCryptoTrust (OpenCT) is a robust, high performance, hybrid blockchain that enables innovative solutions. OpenCT is challenging the current characterization and standardization of the functions within the telecommunications industry. OpenCT has modified the blockchain protocol itself to support ultra-secure data transport - and superior management overlay. It has also developed two 'killer applications' that solve immediate problems and offer significant cost savings for telco carrier enterprise customers. BaaT (Blockchain-as-a-Transport) transforms the use of the public internet for inexpensive, secure, enterprise-grade, data communications at significant cost reduction from private circuits. BD-WAN (Blockchain Defined Wide Area Networking) modernizes existing pricing strategies for bandwidth - supporting 'bandwidth on demand' for private optical-based circuits - the ability to charge customers for the bandwidth they use. Additionally, this product is superior to existing SD-WAN solutions - in terms of security, MPLS and/or cloud routing and interoperability. For media inquiries, please contact: CMO Stuart G. Hall stuarth@openct.io More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Here are all the latest headlines this morning... Get informed... BREXIT: The Brexit withdrawal agreement is dividing opinions in the UK after Theresa May's cabinet signed off on it yesterday. IRELAND: The Governments fundamental position in relation to the Brexit backstop is reflected and protected in the draft Brexit deal agreed in Brussels, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. IRELAND: Children in one of the countrys four special care residential centres have told inspectors they felt like they were living in a youth prison. WORLD: National Guard troops in the US have been searching through charred debris for more victims of Californias deadliest wildfire as top officials toured the ruins of a community completely destroyed by the flames. BUSINESS: Ryanair has been named as a possible significant beneficiary though an unlikely outright buyer from an expected sale of British regional airline Flybe. SPORT: Glenn Whelan has insisted he has never been cowed by the criticism that has come his way during his Republic of Ireland career. ...Some distraction SHOWBIZ: Elton John is the star of this year's John Lewis Christmas advert with his performance of Your Song the soundtrack to a festive-tinged retrospective of his life and career. FEATURES: Pat Fitzpatrick gets under the wrapping to see what makes a good bar of chocolate and asks an expert if it is actually better than sex. VIRAL: Toxic is the 2018 Word of the Year according to The Oxford English Dictionary. It 'Perks' You Up, But Does Coffee Make You Smarter? Coffee makes you smarter. Fact or Fiction? The caffeine in coffee might not make you more intelligent, but it does give you the tools you need to help you get the result that you are looking to achieve. Share Whether you are a student studying into the dead hours of the night, an office employee trying to concentrate on their work, or even a mom trying to sooth her child to bed, coffee has long been associated with achieving these tasks. That perk of caffeine can give you the buzz you need to get you over the finishing line. What effect does it have on the body though? And can it actually make you smarter? What Is Smart? Intelligence can mean many different things to many people. Some people interpret it to be someone's ability to remember the information that they've taken in. The way people are tested in schools often isn't their ability to think logically or critically, but to test them on what they remember from their lessons and their books. Whether intelligence should be tested as someone's ability to remember a piece of information, or not, is a hotly debated topic. The way people are tested in schools often isn't their ability to think logically or critically, but to test them on what they remember from their lessons and their books. Whether intelligence should be tested as someone's ability to remember a piece of information, or not, is a hotly debated topic. An IQ test, for example, is the complete opposite of this approach as no amount of revision could make you significantly better or worse at the test. It tests your ability to work through a problem and find logical solutions to difficult tasks. Someone with the highest IQ of all-time, however, might not have the natural instincts to soothe a baby when it's crying. That is surely another form of intelligence in its own right. Whether it is working out how to pass a test, working out a math problem or how to best raise a child. The different types of intelligence are vast, but it's clear that some people are more intelligent than others, with many seeking ways to improve. The Brain More Complicated Than We Think The brain is an incredibly complicated and masterful piece of biological engineering, and something we still have a lot to learn about. There is a delicate balance between what intelligence is, and what isn't. The more focused you are, the more information you are able to retain. Being able to use your brain to its full capacity allows you to achieve any tasks more quickly and to a higher standard. There are many different forms of intelligence in the world. But there is no doubt that if you're performing to your highest level, more often than not, people will perceive you to be more intelligent. CAFFEINE AND DOPAMINE What Is Dopamine And What Does It Do? Dopamine has long been associated with having a positive impact on your happiness. But what many people don't realize, however, is the other impacts that dopamine has on the body. And also the fact that coffee can stimulate your dopamine production. It plays a critical role in emotional and mental health. The behaviors associated with the chemical also include motivation and desire. It isn't only mental function, as dopamine can affect your motor function too, as well as cognition food intake and numerous other vital bodily functions. Dopamine really does have numerous side effects which can all have a positive influence on your body. A 1998 article in Physiological Reviews stated that problems with the production of dopamine can be linked to such disorders as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. So dopamine isn't just there to make you happy. It plays a number of vital roles within the body, some of which can also help by keeping you focused and increasing your motivation and desire. What Is The Relationship Between Caffeine And Dopamine? Caffeine may not be a strong drug in the doses that we're used to taking it in, but its effect on the body can lead to some big changes. Obviously, it is most well-known for its ability to provide energy to the body artificially as people seek out caffeine whenever they are tired and need to focus. Caffeine may not be a strong drug in the doses that we're used to taking it in, but its effect on the body can lead to some big changes. Obviously, it is most well-known for its ability to provide energy to the body artificially as people seek out caffeine whenever they are tired and need to focus. It doesn't just do that however, and can also stimulate the production of dopamine. This is a secondary effect that a lot of people wouldn't expect with coffee. Conversely, this is a big reason why coffee is such a popular drink. Not only does it give you an energy boost, but it also makes you happier in the process. Caffeine can obviously be found in numerous products as well. This is also a way to explaining the popularity of fizzy drinks that contain a lot of the chemical. And also explain why chocolate is so popular. What Effect Does Caffeine Have On Dopamine? The dopamine levels in your body are certainly important. And everyone feels better when they have more dopamine running through their body. In many respects, caffeine has the same effect on the body as cocaine and methamphetamine does, but much less. This feel-good feeling will make you crave coffee even more and therefore increase your intake of caffeine. Of course, this will then further increase your levels of dopamine. This is the kind of cycle that can lead many people to have numerous cups of coffee throughout a day. Unexpectedly; leads to an increasing amount of dopamine throughout the body. Be aware though. Just as with any drug, resistance can build up and your body. What this means is caffeine effect could have a diminishing return on your body. And I mean the good part of it. CAFFEINE AND ACETYLCHOLINE What Is Acetylcholine And What Does It Do? Acetylcholine is one of those chemicals that have a small, but vital role in the body. It helps your body in transferring signals around your nervous system. It is a neurotransmitter that passes messages between nerve cells and binds them to receptor proteins. These receptor proteins are located in your brain and throughout your nervous system. The acetylcholine molecules are very small which can make their messages through your cells extremely quick when compared with other neurotransmitters. They play a vital role in sending messages all across your nervous system. However, when it comes time to sleep, your brain requires their levels to be lowered so that it can recover from the day. What Is The Relationship Between Caffeine And Acetylcholine? That lowering of acetylcholine in your brain is where it can have a problem with caffeine. In your sleep, acetylcholine is shut down by a natural sedative. This shutting down means that your body can form chemical links that are required to remember the words in your vocabulary. But, caffeine can block this sedative from working correctly, meaning that the acetylcholine never drops to the level that they should. This block that is placed on your brain by caffeine can mean that the chemical links can't be formed. Therefore, it can affect the brain's ability to remember what you've learned throughout the day. Caffeine might not make you more intelligent, but it does makes you more efficient. Often with caffeine, the initial boost can be great for you. But you wouldn't want to consume it too late in the day. Why? The effects can last a long time. Caffeine has a long half-life of around 5-6 hours and the rest can take up to days to get out of your body. What Effect Does Caffeine Have On Acetylcholine? When you take caffeine into your body it naturally raises the level of acetylcholine in your body. This is not a problem during the day as it means your neurotransmitters will be firing as they should, but it's when you sleep that a problem can occur. Studies have shown that your level of acetylcholine reduces when you sleep in order for your brain to be able to store the information that you've gleaned throughout the day. With caffeine raising these levels, it seems they are artificially high before you sleep and therefore can't be lowered in the way that they need to be. This can cause your brain an issue in trying to retain the information that it has received. All that hard work that has been done in the day can all be undone if you can't store it away as it's important that your brain is able to switch off while you sleep. And having caffeine running through your body can disrupt this for a few reasons, with one of them being the levels of acetylcholine that is keeps in your brain. The Big Question: Does Caffeine Make You Smarter? Clearly caffeine can have an impact on how your brain processes information, but is that impact positive or negative? We know that sleep is very important for your brain. This is to allow it to recover and store the memory that you have gained throughout the day. The rise in acetylcholine hinders this process, and is a situation where caffeine can be harmful. On the other hand, the increase in dopamine, however, allows your body to get an increase in a crucial chemical that can increase your motivation and desire. Whether it makes you smarter or not would depend on how you judge intelligence. It's hard to reason that having coffee just before an IQ test would make you better at it, as it wouldn't be able to make your more logical or a critical thinker. In this respect, just having caffeine won't naturally make you smarter, as the brain is more complicated than that. In this respect, just having caffeine won't naturally make you smarter, as the brain is more complicated than that. Intelligence, however, is often judged as the ability to gain and process information. Caffeine would be able to help in this respect at it will change the state of your mind and make you more alert. That alertness can be channelled into more studying time and still being able to use your brain at full power when it's needed. If anything, caffeine can often bring you back to your maximum level of "intelligence", as tiredness can make simple tasks more difficult. Its effect on sleep, however, could undo all of that good work if your brain can't switch off while you're sleeping. Caffeine should always be taken with caution as too much can have a negative impact on your health and make you struggle to sleep. Caffeine might not directly make you smarter, but when used in the right way, it can help you give the tools to get the result that you're looking for. Conclusion Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world for a reason. Not only do many people love the taste, but it can give you that boost of energy when you most need it. If you're struggling to finish your work, then it can be a great help to get you over the line. Coffee can increase your ability to work and study, and therefore can improve that aspect of intelligence. It's important, however, to remember the negative effects of caffeine and make sure that it's drunk in moderation. Working late into the night with a cup of coffee might seem like a great idea at the time, but in reality it might be best to have a sleep or a quick nap. That way you will wake up refreshed and ready to tackle any task. Check out the original article on coffeeabode.com to watch related videos. By Geoff Percival Ryanair has been named as a possible significant beneficiary though an unlikely outright buyer from an expected sale of British regional airline Flybe. Reports in the UK media have suggested Flybe is seeking a sale or a merger with a rival, although the airline is yet to confirm this. Its shares rocketed nearly 30% on the news. The loss-making regional route operator recently issued a profit warning, citing fuel costs, weakening demand and currency woes as major headwinds. Stobart Air which operates the Aer Lingus Regional network and recently landed the contract to run British Airways UK regional routes, via the latters BA Cityflyer brand has been linked afresh with a move for Flybe. A previous approach by Stobart was rejected by Flybe in March. Flybe is likely to be looking for a trade buyer, according to Goodbody aviation analyst Mark Simpson. He said it would be unlikely to attract a big-name player as an outright buyer, but larger carriers such as Ryanair, British Airways and EasyJet are all likely to be interested in profitable individual parts of the Flybe business that could be disposed of by an eventual buyer. Ryanair did not respond to requests for a comment on the matter. However, Mr Simpson said the airline would face less competition-related hurdles than EasyJet or British Airways if they were all to seek parts of Flybe in the event of a carve-up. Likely to be of particular attraction to Ryanair, according to Mr Simpson, would be Flybes landing slots at Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Schiphol airports. Flybe has a third of the slots at Birmingham, 19% of those at Manchester, 18% at Edinburgh - where Ryanair has been building a presence to the detriment of its exposure to Glasgow and 2% of landing area at Amsterdam. Flybes slots at Heathrow are likely to appeal to British Airways, Mr Simpson said. The European aviation sector has already seen some consolidation with Ryanair buying Lauda and Lufthansa and EasyJet acquiring parts of Air Berlin but more is expected as long as oil prices remain high putting pressure on smaller carriers fuel costs. Flybe is also understood to be considering other options such as cost and capacity reductions. Brexit-related uncertainty, a weaker British pound and rising fuel costs led the airlines directors to conclude that a takeover was likely to be required to preserve its future, according to reports. By Stephen Cadogan Any doubts that Ireland is well placed to help feed Asia were dispelled last week when Wyeth Nutrition (China) signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives from the Irish dairy industry on imports estimated to be worth at least 2.5bn in the next three years. It represented a commitment by Wyeth to source all of its dairy ingredients for its Illuma base brand exclusively from milk from Irish farms participating in Bord Bias Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme under the Origin Green programme, Irelands national food and drink sustainability programme, the only such programme in the world which operates on a national basis. Encouraged by this and earlier success in China, which is now Irelands second most important market for dairy exports, taking 666.4m of Irish dairy produce in 2017, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed led the recent week-long first Irish trade mission to Indonesia and Malaysia, to raise awareness of Ireland as a source of sustainable dairy for these countries. Both are priority target food export markets for Ireland, with Indonesias big and growing population and changing consumer tastes putting heavy demands on their food industry to respond, and Ireland ideally placed to be a supplier, thanks to its growing output of high quality food and drink. Hoped-for progress towards a free trade agreement between Indonesia and the EU is also encouraging for Indonesia-Ireland trading. Both Indonesia and Malaysia have expanding middle classes generating demand for consumer foods made from quality ingredients, and they depend heavily on imported dairy. Indonesia is less than 40% self-sufficient in dairy products. Malaysia is even more reliant on imports, with one of Asias highest liquid milk consumptions, and dairy self-sufficiency at just 5%. Both countries have looked primarily to Australia, New Zealand and the US to meet their dairy requirements, but Ireland presents an alternative source, with a growing presence in Asia, backed up by Bord Bia opening a regional office in Singapore in 2016, and investing in research and insights teams to investigate market opportunities in Indonesia and Malaysia. The McKinsey Global Institute predicts Indonesia will be the seventh largest economy in the world by 2030; it is already No 4 in population rankings. Sarah Angelique, Senior Manager, Danone Indonesia, who took part in an expert market briefing for the first Irish trade mission to Indonesia and Malaysia, with Bord Bias Ciaran Gallagher, left, South East Asia manager and Padraig Brennan, director of markets In 2017, Ireland sent 15m of dairy exports to this Asian giant,a tiny portion of its total dairy imports, of which New Zealand is the main supplier. EU suppliers to Indonesia face only a 5% tariff, but there is tariff-free access for dairy imports Australia and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand account for over 90% of Malaysias annual dairy imports of about 280,000 tonnes. Irish food and drink exports to Malaysia reached 37.3m in 2017. How did the recent Irish trade mission go about raising awareness of Ireland as a source of sustainable dairy? First came the homework, earlier this year, when Bord Bia researchers visited families and consumers in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to understand their attitudes to and consumption of dairy. Next came briefings and cultural immersion visits for 20 representatives from Irelands dairy industry on the trade mission, to allow them experience at first-hand the manufacturing, retail and foodservice outlets, in Indonesia and Malaysia. As is typical in Asia, government and industry are closely linked, and engaging with senior representatives from the Indonesian ministry of agriculture is a vital step. This was led by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and his Department of Agriculture team, highlighting how Ireland can provide safe, secure and sustainably produced food. Mr Creed also met senior executives from Indo Foods, one of Indonesias leading food companies, a potentially important contact for Irish companies. Meanwhile, Bord Bia organised dairy seminars in Indonesia and Malaysia. Here, 200 local food industry representatives learned that dairy is Irelands largest food export category, worth over 4 billion in 2017. Ireland is the worlds third largest exporter of butter, it is among the worlds top 10 cheese exporters, and supplies 10% of the global market in infant formula. Olivia Leslie, Irish ambassador to Indonesia, with Agriculture Minister Michael Creed TD and Bord Bia CEO, Tara McCarthy, at the Irish embassy residence in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. For the first time, Bord Bia arranged 150 business-to-business speed networking meetings in Indonesia and Malaysia, that connected Irish companies to key importers and buyers. This vital part of the trade mission saw representatives of leading Irish dairy companies Arrabawn, Carbery, Dairygold, Glanbia, Glenstal Foods, Ornua, and LacPatrick talking business with importers in Indonesia and Malaysia. The importers were interested in a range of Irish products such as casein, caseinates, cheese and skim. Some were interested in reducing their over-dependence on established sources such as Fonterra in New Zealand. Several of these Irish companies have already established dairy trading links with Indonesia and Malaysia. It was notable that many of the Irish companies were represented by graduates of the Bord Bia marketing fellowship programme which offers 20 entrants per year an overseas learning opportunity. Silver Hill Foods also took part in the trade mission. Also represented were Dairy Industry Ireland and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland. On the other side of the table, the big attendance of importers confirmed the success of the trade mission in building awareness of Ireland. But how soon might trading stem from the 150 business-to-business meetings? Bord Bia will move the process along, by helping the Irish industry develop new products to address local taste preferences and demand for functionality around protein and calcium. The other challenges in importing dairy material were touched on in a presentation by Sarah Angelique, Senior Manager, Danone Indonesia, a long established company. She warned of a complex import licensing arrangement process which has to be gone through up to two months prior to importing. Irish exporters will also have to observe strict halal certification rules, particularly in Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim country, which has an 87% Muslim population. The main halal requirement is absence of un-halal materials such as pork or alcohol. Importers will have to watch out for Indonesias increasing protectionism, with a new tax of up to 10% imposed on imported consumer goods but not on dairy products, because of the great dependence on imports. The trade mission leaders were not deterred, with Minister Creed saying, Our natural grass-based farming methods, our competitive and innovative dairy processing industry, together with our rigorous system of food safety controls, have allowed Ireland to develop a strong export- focused dairy sector. Tara McCarthy, chief executive of Bord Bia, was equally confident: There is real potential to deliver a unique message for Ireland around our natural, sustainable dairy industry, which is already in line with their values. If Brexit goes bad, expect more of our dairy products to go south instead of east, on ships making the 38-day journey via the Suez Canal to Indonesia and Malaysia. Recruitment problems for second-level schools are set to worsen as an extra 2,000 teachers are needed just to keep with the looming spike in student numbers, a principals leader has warned. The number of second-level students is currently projected to grow from almost 364,000 this year to up to 404,000 by 2024 or 2025. Although enrolments may begin to slide after that, they will remain higher than current numbers until at least 2030. Stephen Goulding, president of the Principals and Deputy Principals Association (PDA), said schools are struggling to find qualified applicants to teach several subjects and the profession needs to remain attractive to the best graduates. At the annual conference today of the PDA, which is part of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), he will call for a roadmap to outline when full pay equality for new and recent entrants to the profession will be delivered. An imminent spike in student numbers will pose significant challenges to the education system, said Mr Goulding. Already, schools regularly advertise posts that often fail to attract suitably qualified applicants. In some cases, there may not be applications at all for posts in particular subject areas. He also raised the issue of pay equality as one method to help to stem emigration by teachers to other countries. The TUIs members narrowly voted last month (53%-47%) to accept proposals that would close the gap in pay scales for teachers who began in the job after 2010. Progress has been made on reversing the cuts to pay of new and recent entrants to the profession, most recently with the removal of two points from the salary scale which will allow recent entrants to progress up the scale quicker, Mr Goulding said. However, a roadmap and timeframe that outlines the resolution of this process is urgently required if the education system is not to lose out to other jurisdictions and other forms of employment. The Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, said last week that campaigns reaching out to emigrant teachers could help to attract some to return, as he launched an action plan formulated by a working group on teacher supply. Third-level colleges have increased places on courses leading to second-level teaching qualifications, with a focus on subjects where there are shortages, but it will take several years for the impact of increased graduate numbers to be seen in schools. Emigration by recently graduated teachers is a bigger problem for primary schools, whose main difficulty is the inadequate number of teachers available for substitute cover in many areas. Members of the Irish National Teachers Organisation voted last month to reject the pay proposals for so-called new entrants, in a 53%-47% result. Ahead of issuing a further ballot on industrial action on the equal pay issue, the unions executive will meet early next month to consider views of members from a series of regional meetings being held over the coming weeks. The position may also be informed by the outcome of an ongoing ballot of Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland members on the same deal. They are casting votes in schools up to tomorrow and the result should be known by next Wednesday. The Governments fundamental position in relation to the Brexit backstop is reflected and protected in the draft Brexit deal agreed in Brussels, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. He was speaking after the Cabinet met especially for two hours yesterday where ministers were briefed in detail about the provisions which protects an ideal of no border on the island of Ireland and respects the principle of a legally-binding backstop. Ministers were remaining tight-lipped as a forced lockdown on speaking to the media was being enforced by Mr Varadkars office to allow events to play out in London. Back in December when the joint report the agreement between the EU and UK was issued, I said the next step was to turn that joint report that we agreed back in December into a legally binding and legally operable withdrawal agreement and we are close to that point today, the Taoiseach said. Being careful in the Dail not to say anything which would risk inflaming matters in London, Mr Varadkar said yesterday: But it is still a draft agreement. It is yet to be agreed by the UK Government and they will discuss it it is yet to be agreed by the European Council, and we may be in a position to have an emergency European Council meeting before the end of the month to do exactly that. .@campaignforleo says they have reached a 'satisfactory outcome' on each of their key priorities #brexit pic.twitter.com/6iGZvIJY78 RTE News (@rtenews) November 14, 2018 Mr Varadkar fielded questions in the Dail after briefing ministerial colleagues on the draft text in an emergency Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings. He also told TDs if the British Cabinet was to be content with the text of the proposed deal, it was proposed the European Commissions taskforce would be in a position to publish the text with the possibility, or probability, of an EU council meeting around November 25. Mr Varadkar said he did not want to speak publicly on the fine detail of the draft agreement, stressing the process was at a very sensitive stage. In advance of yesterdays afternoon meeting of the British Cabinet, he said: I dont want to say anything here today that might up-end that Cabinet meeting or make things any more difficult than they are already for the prime minister. Were very happy to have that written into any agreement giving them that legal guarantee. Mr Varadkar stressed the draft agreement would also have to be ratified by Westminster and the European Parliament. The Taoiseach said, while not necessary, it was his view that the text should also be put to a vote in Leinster House. He said the Government planned, last evening, to brief all the opposition party leaders and their teams if his administration was in a position to publish the text. Mr Varadkar said his government had arranged to have a briefing with Northern Ireland parties this morning. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said relations between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are at their lowest in decades due to Brexit. No one can doubt that relations between the Government in Dublin and political unionism are at their lowest point in at least 20 years. There has been a return to rhetorical sniping which has had much more impact than various welcome but largely marginal cultural gestures. It says everything Ireland needed it to say. The 500-page document formally states in clear terms that a commitment to no hard border without any physical infrastructure is now on a permanent footing legally and fully protects and underlines the retention of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts. It also says an ambitious and unique customs arrangement that guarantees unfettered access between Northern Ireland and Britain without tariffs will continue, and that no Irish goods travelling through the UK to Europe will be blocked. While the deal says the wording respects the territorial integrity of the UK, it also says the common travel area between the Republic, Northern Ireland and Britain will continue. And crucially, it also says the deal will maintain full alignment with EU rules unless and until a new deal after the transition period ends on December 31, 2020. There will be a review mechanism for a UK-wide customs union, but will not be unilateral meaning Britain cannot cut and run in the future. What was the reaction? The EU and senior Irish Government sources said its what we need. However, in the UK, hard-line Brexiteers and the DUP, whose 10 MPs are crucial to the Conservatives remaining in power, lashed the deal as the worst possible and risking making the UK an EU slave state. The DUP believes the North will still be treated differently to the rest of Britain, and because Brexiteers believe the UK could be trapped in a never-ending customs union limiting Britains independence. What happened next? In a five-hour emergency cabinet meeting in London, UK prime minister Theresa May faced down opposition to force through the deal, saying the collective decision is to back it. However, it is far from clear how collective this claim is, with rumours 10 cabinet members opposed her and Ms May the subject of no confidence motion rumours last night. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar held a lengthy special cabinet meeting in Dublin yesterday morning to back the deal, while EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier also formally supported it last night. So the deal is over the line? You must be joking. While Ms May just about managed overcame the first hurdle, she must now convince her party, the DUP, and the rest of Westminster before a crucial parliamentary vote next month. However, before then, she could face a no-confidence motion from her party. If successful, this would throw the UK into either a snap election which would put the deal on hold or see a hard-line Brexiteer who has no intention of agreeing to the deal take over. What happens now? Ms May will go to Westminster today to face another long, detailed and passionate debate among MPs, and last night spoke with the DUP and Sinn Fein. Mr Barnier will meet with UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab in Brussels today. This will clear the way for a special EU summit to formally agree the full deal on Sunday week. And the deal? For the moment, it is still in place. But with a British political civil war looming, the key words are for the moment. The Brexit withdrawal agreement is dividing opinions in the UK after Theresa May's cabinet signed off on it yesterday. The Taoiseach and EU leaders welcomed the deal, but the British Prime Minister faces a massive battle to get it passed in Parliament. The 585-page withdrawal agreement was published yesterday and sets out how the UK will divorce the EU. Key from an Irish point of view is the agreement on the backstop - the insurance policy to avoid a hard border on the island. It is what comes into place if there is no trade deal reached between the EU and UK - and will not budge until there's an agreement. It would see all of the UK in a single customs union, where trade rules and standards are kept so similar to the EU's that border checks will not be needed. It is a significant win for the government, who got pretty much exactly what they wanted. But the deal has several parts that may be unpalatable for unionists - Northern Ireland will be more closely tied to the EU than the rest of the UK. And some goods coming from mainland Britain into Northern Ireland will be subject to checks as a result. It is a massive uphill battle for Theresa May to now get this across the line in her parliament. Many MPs are completely against it and she may face a vote of no confidence from Tory rebels today. But she has insisted this is the best deal for the UK and European leaders have hailed it as a big step forward. Ms May now enters the trenches again to build political support for the deal. Last night, Mr Varadkar hailed Ms May for "honouring her promise" to avoid a hard border in Ireland post-Brexit. The Taoiseach singled the Prime Minister out for praise as he made a statement in Dublin after the UK Cabinet backed the deal Mrs May has struck with the EU. "No international negotiation gives one side everything it wants," said Mr Varadkar. "For us the very notion of Brexit is unwelcome and brings adverse consequences. "At the same time I want to acknowledge that these negotiations have been very tough and a difficult experience for everyone involved and, with this in mind, I want to acknowledge Prime Minister May's integrity in honouring her promise to protect the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, and her commitment of avoiding a hard border. "She has been true to her word." Mr Varadkar has said the draft Brexit agreement could present economic benefits for Northern Irish business. He said that if the trading arrangements envisaged in the draft agreement were embraced, they could "represent a genuine economic opportunity for Northern Ireland businesses, with unfettered access to both Great Britain and EU markets". He added that the trading arrangements proposed in the draft text during the transition period are very welcome for all Irish businesses trading with the UK, with the UK land bridge facilitating the route from Ireland to mainland Europe. Earlier on Wednesday, during Leader's Questions, Mr Varadkar moved to reassure Northern Ireland's unionist community, noting it was a "difficult time" and saying he was dedicated to restoring a powersharing executive in Stormont. He added on Wednesday night that the government was no threat to their identity and was keen to solidify relations. - Digital Desk & PA By Patrick Flynn A Caribbean-bound holiday flight diverted to Shannon Airport this morning after a passenger fell ill more than 700 kilometres away over France. Azur Air ZF-777 was en route from Moscows Domodedovo Airport to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and was about three hours into its journey at the time. The Boeing 777-300 jet was flying over France, northeast of Rennes, at around 4.40am (Irish time) when the crew descended from 32,000 feet to 10,000 feet before turning sharply right and routing towards Shannon. Its understood the crew opted to divert to Shannon rather than closer French or UK airports to allow time to prepare for the unscheduled landing and dump aviation fuel. As the flight approached the Waterford coast, the crew jettisoned fuel to ensure they touched down within safe landing weight limits. The crew advised air traffic controllers that they would need an ambulance on arrival reporting that they had a passenger on board suffering from high blood pressure. Airport fire crews were also standing by for the flight when it landed safely at 6.17am. A passenger was later removed to hospital for treatment. The flight continued its journey at 10.45am. The airline confirmed the flight diverted to Shannon after the pilots "requested a forced landing. The carrier also said the flight landed normally and later continued to Punta Cana. On Monday, a US-bound jet made an unscheduled landing at Shannon after suffering problems with its water system. Delta Air Lines flight DL-35 was travelling from Paris to Seattle in the US at the time. The flight diverted to Shannon where the aircraft was service before continuing to the US. Shannon Airport continues to handle the most unscheduled landings and emergency diversions of any Irish airport. With the longest runway in Ireland, at 3.2 kilometres, Shannon sees diversions on an almost weekly basis. In 2017, of the 113 unscheduled landings, 24 were medical emergencies. Children in one of the countrys four special care residential centres have told inspectors they felt like they were living in a youth prison. The finding was one of a number of issues detected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) in its inspections of the centres, which deal with some of the most vulnerable and troubled children in the state, and who are placed in special care by High Court order. Two inspections were carried out at Coovagh House in Limerick, which on both occasions had three residents at the time. In the first inspection, conducted in April, some children said they wanted to be moved from the facility immediately and some children told inspectors they were very angry at having to stay in the special care unit as a follow-on placement had not been identified at the time the placement was due to end. Other concerns raised during the first inspection were that the person in charge had been in the unit only four times since his appointment; there were deficits in staff skills, including in responding to challenging behaviour, and that while smoking was not permitted, tobacco, matches, and lighters had been smuggled in. It also said that, on seven occasions, gardai were called to the unit to manage various situations because staff were not confident enough to do so. The first inspection found Coovagh House to not be compliant with 14 of 26 standards assessed and, by the time of the follow-up inspection last August it was still not complying with 11 of 16 standards. During that inspection, some children told Hiqa it was stressful living there. They said it was hard being locked in their room at 9pm and it felt like they were living in a youth prison, said the report. Newly installed doors meant that even for a child to go to the toilet, a staff member was required to unlock a number of doors. The inspection of the Ballydowd centre in Dublin found children felt safe and had good relationships with staff, but noted a lack of clarity over the staff/child ratio. There were five children in the unit but Tusla had applied to register 10 placements there. The report also highlighted issues over institutional practices, children on outings to a shopping centre approaching strangers for cigarettes, and how a risk that delays in securing onward placements for children could undermine the progress they had made during their placements. At Dublin-based Crannog Nua, home to four children, children said the staff were lovely and one child told inspectors: This has saved my life. There was much positive practice there but Hiqa said three residential units had not been occupied since the centre reopened and the childrens plans were of mixed quality. There were also difficulties there in securing onward placements for two children resident there for more than three months, meaning a risk that this could undermine the progress that they had made during their placements. Placements have since been identified. In response to the Hiqareports, Tusla said it had or was putting measures in place to improve the services and standards at the units, including upgrading the buildings, staff training, and reviews of existing practices. Between 3,200 and 5,600 additional hospital beds will be required in public hospitals by 2030 to meet the demands on the health system. That is according to a report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which claims that the Governments National Development Plan commitment to increase public acute bed capacity by 2,600 in the years to 2027 may not be sufficient to meet demand out to 2030. This figure was taken from the Governments Bed Capacity Review published in January. However, the review pointed out that the figure could rise to 7,000 if the HSE is not reformed. Researchers at the ESRI found that, between 2015 and 2030, an additional 4,000 and 6,300 beds will be required in public and private hospitals combined. This represents an increase in bed numbers of between 26% and 41%. These large projected increases in demand for hospital beds are primarily driven by the effect of large projected growth and ageing of the Irish population in the coming years, states the report. Between 3,200 and 5,600 of these additional beds are projected to be required in public hospitals, while 780 and 1,200 additional hospital beds will be required in the private hospital system by 2030. The ESRI said the findings mean the Governments commitment to an additional 2,600 beds to 2027 may not be enough to meet the demands on the system. These findings suggest that the Irish Governments National Development Plan commitment to increase public acute bed capacity by 2,600 in the years to 2027 may not be sufficient to meet demand out to 2030, it said. At the lower end of our range we project an extra 3,200 public hospital beds will be required by 2030. The ESRI points out that increased investment in bed capacity will require related investment in the workforce. The report said: Current issues in terms of recruitment and retention of medical staff in the public health system particularly need to be addressed as a part of the wider need to increase bed supply. At present, the hospital system does not have enough hospital beds to meet demand for care adequately, it said. When measured against other OECD countries, Ireland has a low supply of hospital beds and records the highest rate of patient bed occupancy at 95%. The expected rapid growth and ageing of the population in Ireland is projected to increase demand for hospital care further, meaning that, in the coming years, there will be an even greater need to increase the number of available hospital beds, according to the report. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load Fine Gael is gearing up for a general election by targeting middle-income earners and pensioners at its ard fheis this weekend. Establishing a digital commission with defined powers, introducing a third tax band, and providing more support measures for parents are among the motions to be discussed. Many of the motions put forward highlight the achievements made by the party in Government, including the work done to ensure no hard border after Brexit and its involvement in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. While talks with Fianna Fail on an extension of the confidence and supply agreement until 2020 are continuing, it is clear Taoiseach Leo Varadkars party is readying for the prospect of facing the electorate. Delegates at the annual gathering on Friday and Saturday will vote on a motion to hold a number of referenda, including one to remove divorce from the Constitution so that the law can be determined by the Oireachtas. Culture Minister Josepha Madigan has previously suggested this referendum could take place at the same time as the European and local elections next year. A number of motions will focus on the taxation system, especially for middle-income earners, with one calling on Fine Gael in Government to introduce a middle band for income tax, while another suggests the party should outline a roadmap on reducing the personal taxation burden. Delegates will also focus on working families with a motion to give parents more flexibility, choice, and practical support when it comes to balancing work and home demands, including a full, integrated review of both taxation and labour market activation policies. Irish language and Gaeltacht issues will not be addressed this weekend. Just one of the motions to be put forward is written in Irish it refers to allowing everyone living in Ireland, including on the islands, vote on the same day in elections. Residents of 12 islands currently vote before the main polling day in elections. Fine Gael will also look at ways to facilitate older people to work past the retirement age if they so wish, while another motion states the ard fheis is extremely concerned that the vast majority of workers are not making provision for their pensions. Gardai are investigating a fire at a pub in Finglas in Dublin. The fire occurred at the Bottom Of The Hill bar on Main Street at 12.40am this morning. The Dublin Fire Brigade said crews had finished putting out the fire at around 7.35am. They added that there were no injuries but people should expect delays in the area. No one was injured and Gardai are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them. Crews have been fighting a large fire in #Finglas overnight. The fire appeared to start in an office over a pub. The first call was at 0055. Crews have just finished at the fire in the last few minutes. No injuries. Expect delays in the area. Photo credits to @Mallon_eddie pic.twitter.com/WvrXein0pG Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) November 15, 2018 - Digital Desk Update 12.50pm: There are calls for better safety measures for dock workers following a fatal accident at Dublin Port. Filipino sailor Dennis Gomez Regana died in an incident on Southbank Quay yesterday. Siptu says it is the third tragedy at the port in 18 months. "This tragedy in Dublin port, the third in 18 months, is ultimately the consequence of the relevant authorities, including ship owners, agents and operators, not listening to or heeding our members warnings and implementing best practice," said Siptu's Jerry Brennan. The union says the port authorities have not heeded its warnings about safety. It wants compulsory safety training for all dock workers, like the Safe Pass system used on construction sites. "The only way further incidents can be eradicated, or at least minimised, is through the introduction of a certified training programme for seafarers. A Safe Pass Certificate similar to the one used in the Irish construction industry should also be put in place for all dock workers as a matter of urgency. "We are calling on the Minister for Transport and his department to meet with union representatives in order to ensure that these measures are introduced as a matter of urgency." Digital Desk Earlier: Gardai investigating after sudden death of man in workplace accident in Dublin Update 7.45am: Gardai are investigating the sudden death of a man in a workplace accident in Dublin. Emergency services were called to the scene on Southbank Quay in Ringsend shortly after 8.45am yesterday. An examination of the scene was carried out by Gardai and enquires are ongoing. The Health and Safety Authority and the local Coroner have been notified. - Digital Desk Eoin Reynolds A 70-year-old accused of murdering his partner has told his trial that he is heart-broken and did not mean to harm his life partner of 36 years. Desmond 'Des' Duffy has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Desmond 'Dessie' Sullivan (59) at the home they shared in Somerville Park, Rathmines, Dublin 6 on May 23, 2016. He is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Duffy told defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC that he was defending himself from an attack by his "abusive" and "violent" partner. He added: "I feel so sorry for his family, especially his mother who I was very close to, his sister and others but I'm still grieving, devastated and heartbroken by what happened. I have lost my partner of 36 years and I will never ever get over that." He further told his trial: "It was never my intention to hurt him or injure him." The accused began by telling Ms Biggs he wasn't there to blacken Mr Sullivan's name and added: "You don't spend 36 years of your life with somebody you don't love. We had our problems but Dessie also had his good sides." He stayed with Mr Sullivan despite the abuse and told Ms Biggs that we know of women who stay in abusive and violent relationships and male sexuality is no different. "I covered it up and I denied it," he said, "and at the end of the day I did love the man." Describing the night Mr Sullivan died, he said they had been drinking in a local pub and when they got home Mr Sullivan began to verbally abuse him and punched him in the face repeatedly. On other such occasions Mr Duffy said he would go to a local hotel, or, if he didn't have enough money, walk the streets or sit in a local park. On this occasion Mr Duffy went to bed, hoping to de-escalate the situation but not wanting to leave the house having had a lot to drink. But the attack continued in the bedroom, he said, and Mr Sullivan took his credit card from him and told him: "F*ck off, go stay in your f*cking hotel now." Mr Duffy went downstairs to get his jacket and leave but Mr Sullivan told him he had hidden it and he wasn't getting it. Mr Duffy was emotional when he told Ms Biggs: "If my jacket had been there I would have put it on and walked out and none of us would be sitting here today." On finding that his jacket wasn't there Mr Duffy argued back, something he said he normally wouldn't do. He told Mr Sullivan to stop and told him he couldn't keep doing this. He pushed Mr Sullivan and put up his right hand to push him against a wall, "to put distance between him and myself". He put his hand around Mr Sullivan's neck, to restrain him. "I had no intention of causing him harm," he said. Mr Duffy was pushing Mr Sullivan by the neck and Mr Sullivan was pushing back and kicking him. He added: "Then suddenly he just slid down along the wall and, I had my hands away, and he rolled over on to his side." He said he didn't know Mr Sullivan was dead. It wasn't unusual for him to fall over and previously he had always gotten up. Mr Duffy called Maurice Ward, a garda and a relative of the deceased. He said he only realised Mr Duffy was dead when Mr Ward arrived at the house. Prosecution counsel Conor Devally SC put it to Mr Duffy that he acted in anger after years of abuse and didn't need to do what he did to protect himself from Mr Sullivan, the smaller man. Mr Duffy disagreed and said he was acting in self defence and never intended to harm his "life partner of 36 years". 'It had to be all about Dessie Sullivan' The defence also called several witnesses who detailed the abusive nature of the relationship. Jimmy Heaslip told Ms Biggs that Mr Sullivan, whom he knew as Little Des, was "the boss". On one occasion Mr Heaslip was in their home and Mr Duffy spilt a bowl of dry dog food on the floor. Mr Heaslip said: "Little Des demanded he get on his hands and knees and pick it up." Mr Duffy did as he was told. On another occasion Mr Duffy called to Mr Heaslip's house at 6.30am. He had been walking the streets because Mr Sullivan had thrown "every pot plant in the garden at him". Stephen Healy said he was in Grace's Pub in Rathmines when Mr Sullivan poured a pint over Mr Duffy and later laughed about it, telling people in the pub that he had told Mr Duffy to "f*ck off". Melissa Farrell said she was very close to both men, they were in the mourning car at her mother's funeral and were a great support to her. She loved Mr Sullivan, she said, and described him as fun and kind, but over the years she also saw a nasty side to him. He liked to argue with people and wouldn't allow Mr Duffy to speak, would tell him to shut up. "It had to be all about Dessie Sullivan," she said and she could see Mr Duffy losing confidence. The trial continues tomorrow in front of Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women. Adam Harris, the younger brother of Health Minister Simon Harris, will highlight the difficulties people with intellectual disability, including autism, face trying to access mental health services when he addresses a conference today. Mr Harris, 23, who was diagnosed aged four-and-a-half with Aspergers syndrome on the autism spectrum, said people with intellectual disability were being failed on a number of levels in the community, particularly in access to healthcare and employment. They were particularly vulnerable in the area of mental health. For instance, people with autism cant access Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services because there is gatekeeping going on, he said. Mr Harris said people with autism experiencing a mental health crisis were being kept out of CAMHs and redirected to disability services which dont have CAMHs . So they often need to go privately for care, he said. Mr Harris, who will address the Praxis Care autumn conference in City North Hotel, Co Meath, today, said there were also difficulties accessing psychiatrists and that while those treating children undergo specialised training in autism, those working in adult services did not. He said all doctors should undergo such training. There is a certain cultural difficulty in the medical community when it comes to autism, a thats not part of my skillset mentality, but actually we are just patients as well. We need to be seen as three-dimensional human beings, and not put into a box where there is no recognition that we can experience the same mental health crises as everyone else, Mr Harris said. He said autistic people could struggle to access GPs. He said even sitting in the waiting room or talking to the doctor could prove an ordeal. Progress had been made in primary and second-level education, he said, where structured supports were generally in place, but when people aged out of the school system, they often found themselves unsupported in the community, with poor access to employment and socially isolated, which could lead to poor mental health. Research shows a person with an intellectual disability is two to three times more likely to develop a mental health problem than the general population. Mr Harris said that as an advocate for people with autism, he has raised the gaps in the services with his brother, whom he said supports what I do and I am very proud of him. Publication of a review of autism services, to which AsIAm made a submission, is imminent. Mr Harris said they want a National Autism Strategy, underpinned by legislation. He said they will be approaching the main political parties to ask them to include this demand in their manifestos for any upcoming general election. Praxis Care is a charity that provides specialised intellectual disability, mental health and acquired brain injury services to more than 1,500 people in Ireland. By Daniel McConnell and Michelle Devane Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted the draft Brexit deal agreed between the EU and the United Kingdom does not undermine the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Varadkar said the suggested deal would not negatively impact on the terms of the 1998 peace accord, an agreement that emphasised cross-border co-operation and linkages. My reading is the Good Friday Agreement is not negatively impacted by this, he said in the Dail. In fact, it is protected by the draft agreement. On the contentious backstop proposal that would guarantee a free-flowing Irish border, even if a broader UK/EU trade deal failed to materialise Mr Varadkar insisted it could not have an expiry date. It is a fall-back, its an insurance policy, he said. Mr Varadkar said: The backstop does have to be there. It does have to be legally operable. It cant have an expiry date and it cant be possible for any one side to withdraw from it unilaterally. But it is important to appreciate that it is our intention that the backstop should never be invoked and that if it is invoked, it should only be temporary, until such a time that a new agreement is in place to supersede all or part of it. But it must apply, unless or until that is the case. .@campaignforleo says they have reached a 'satisfactory outcome' on each of their key priorities #brexit pic.twitter.com/6iGZvIJY78 RTE News (@rtenews) November 14, 2018 Mr Varadkar said he recognised it was a difficult time for the unionist community in Northern Ireland. I know that for the unionist community in Northern Ireland, at the moment, that this is quite a difficult time. I know many of them may be feeling vulnerable, many of them may be feeling isolated, and many of them may be quite worried about what may be agreed in the coming days. I want to say to them that the Good Friday Agreement will be protected and that includes a recognition that we respect the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom and that we respect the principle of consent that there can be no change of the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, unless a majority of people in Northern Ireland say so. Fianna Fails Dara Calleary said the deal document is seminal in the history of the island and the Oireachtas should have the power and capacity to scrutinise it on that basis. We need to scrutinise it, because it affects not only economic issues, but almost every aspect of day-to-day life on this island. It is not only about the backstop for Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, but about trade, economic, social, and civic issues, also, he said. The head of the HSE says he does not know why Taoiseach Leo Varadkar assumed health staff took holidays over Christmas and the new year. I am not quite sure where the Taoiseach has got his impression from, said HSE acting director general John Connaghan. Maybe the health authority need to better explain the staffing situation, he told a meeting of the Oireachtas joint committee on health yesterday. Mr Connaghan said acute hospitals and the community services would be working closely together to maintain a balance between demand and capacity between Christmas and the new year. Enhanced measures would be provided to cope with the new year surge and there would be strengthened working arrangements between GPs, nursing homes, and the HSE. Meanwhile, the HSEs deputy director general and chief operations officer, Anne OConnor, said the winter plan would run from December 1 until the end of March. We are also targeting a four-week period the last two weeks in December and the first two weeks in January as part of the overall winter plan, she said. Ms OConnor said they are planning to have more community services available over the period to take pressure off hospitals. Managers are discussing with staff as to who would be available during the four-week period and how things could be done differently. We are asking people to redefine what normal activity might be in those four weeks in particular, she said. There is a very intensive effort going on to look at the whole set of supports available across the community and acute services. Ms OConnor said they had been working on the plan since September and are at a stage where the plan is already being implemented. We are not waiting for the publication to start implementing it, she said. Part of the challenge is freeing up capacity in advance of the busy period at the end of December. If we clear that capacity too early, we end up filling up again very quickly. We have a lot of work going on to ensure that we have a lot of supports available to kick in from December, she said. Ms OConnor said they know they have a home care challenge, particularly around Dublin, that is affecting acute hospitals. Asked by Sinn Feins Louise OReilly when the plan would be published, Ms OConnor said it could be signed off very quickly. The services are going to be ready. It is not that we are starting to engage with services. We have been engaging with services since September, she said. Earlier, Mr Connaghan said they are carrying out a worldwide search for laboratories to help clear a backlog of CervicalCheck smear tests. Around 80,000 smears have yet to be processed and women have been waiting five months for results. Mr Connaghan said they have secured agreements so CervicalCheck could continue and contracts are being finalised with the providers. The new model will ultimately see a more balanced model of public-private provision, he said. We are also carrying out an extensive worldwide survey exercise to secure additional capacity given current demands leading to extended reporting time for women. The Government spent more than 1m on luxury toilets for high-ranking guests, portaloos, and a marquee as part of a 15m spending spree for the August visit of Pope Francis to Ireland. The Office of Public Works confirmed the new figures in a detailed document given to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members in recent days. Update 14.11pm Peadar Toibin says a number of Fianna Fail TDs are potentially interested in joining a new political party he is hoping to set up. The Meath West TD has decided to resign from Sinn Fein as he felt he was repeatedly marginalised by the party for his anti-abortion views. He was suspended from Sinn Fein earlier this month for ignoring the party whip and voting against the abortion legislation. Deputy Toibin says a number of TDs want a new platform. He said: "A lot of people from Fianna Fail, believe it or not, over the last month or two are absolutely frustrated with Micheal Martin's - what they called two fingers to the membership on so many different issues. "Those individuals are desperately crying out for some kind of platform to allow them work for the objectives that they have. Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald leader has expressed regret at Peadar Toibin's decision to resign. Ms McDonald says there is a responsibility on all Sinn Fein TDs to represent party policy, which Deputy Toibin was unable to do. - Digital Desk Earlier: Peadar Toibin announces resignation from Sinn Fein By Elaine Loughlin Peadar Toibin has resigned from Sinn Fein after 21 years in the party. The Meath West TD had been on a six-month suspension from the party after he voted against legislation to allow for abortions in this country. In his letter of resignation Mr Toibin, a strong pro-life advocate, said he had not received a response to an email in which he asked if there was "a future" for him or other members of the party who are against the rollout of termination services. He said he was leaving Sinn Fein with "a heavy heart" as he had poured all his efforts into the goals of achieving Irish unity and economic justice. "This clearly is no longer enough," he wrote. It is with a heavy heart that I resign from Sinn Fein today. I have been a member of the party for 21 years. In that time I poured all my efforts into achieving Irish Unity & Economic Justice. This clearly is no longer enough. I will now help to build a new 32 County movement. pic.twitter.com/RqzimdR8Zp Peadar Toibin (@Toibin1) November 15, 2018 Writing to Sinn Fein party whip Aengus O Snodaigh, Mr Toibin said: "Over two weeks ago I wrote an email to the Cathaoirleach of the party. I also CC'd it to the leader and to yourself. "The letter sought to find out was there a future for me and republicans like me to contribute to the development of the party in a fair and equal manner. A company run by a Traveller couple has had its application for a pub licence in Rathkeale, Co Limerick rejected. The Five Lamps Inn Public House Limited was looking to convert a premises on main street into a pub, and brought its application before Limerick Circuit Civil Court today. The Government has rejected proposals that would allow parents to split paid maternity leave. The changes, proposed by Fianna Fails Lisa Chambers and Fiona OLoughlin, would especially benefit self-employed women or families who simply want to share the entitlement. All women are entitled to 26 weeks maternity leave together with 16 weeks additional unpaid leave. The Shared Maternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2018 would follow countries including Denmark, Sweden, and Britain in giving mothers the option of splitting this leave with their partner, if they so wish. Ms Chambers said: This legislation was drafted following conversations with countless women and mothers who, for a variety of reasons, wanted to share their maternity entitlements with their partners. In some instances it was for financial reasons many self-employed mothers felt they couldnt take the full entitlement and felt it would be easier for their partner to take the leave. Other families want to share to leave for entirely personal reasons, or if they want the father to play a more active role in the childs life. Fundamentally, we believe that this bill supports a womans right to shape her own professional and personal life as she sees fit. Ms OLoughlin pointed to studies that show fathers who spend more time with their children early on in their life continue to do so throughout their childhood. Furthermore, we believe this bill will go a long way towards changing the status quo, removing the assumption that women will take on the bulk of domestic work, a belief which is harmful both in terms of how employers see female employees and which also places an unfair burden on women, she said. It is understood that Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty will oppose the bill today as she believes it is legally flawed. The Government has also raised concerns that splitting leave could go against an EU directive that stipulates mothers must be given at least 14 consecutive weeks off. Separately last night, Ms Doherty introduced an amendment to the Pensions Act which will benefit same-sex couples. The amendment will extend a right of entitlement to spousal pension benefits, in certain circumstances, to same-sex couples who missed out on the benefits of subsequent legislative reforms. The spirit of equality which propelled the recent partnership reforms also compels us to retrospectively apply a similar just approach and I am delighted to progress that here, she said. Meanwhile, agreement has been reached on a contract for the provision of abortions as well as the payment for doctors who provide termination services from the beginning of next year. Doctors will be paid 100 for a patients first consultation but will receive 300 for combined termination procedure and aftercare. The majority of terminations up to nine weeks gestation will take place in community settings and the HSE will offer contracts to doctors who agree to provide abortion services. Health Minister Simon Harris said: The agreement of this contract is a significant step in the detailed preparations for the introduction of termination of pregnancy services at the beginning of January. By Colette Sheridan WITH their cultivated mid-Atlantic accents and often British sounding pseudonyms, the DJs that broadcast on pirate radio in this country were not quite swashbuckling romantic figures. But they were minor heroes in that they played pop and rock music in an Ireland whose airwaves, dominated by RTE, were starved of contemporary music until the state broadcaster launched RTE Radio 2 in 1979, partly in response to the popularity of the pirates. The Cork leg of the Irish Pirate Radio Exhibition, curated by broadcast historian, Eddie Bohan, opens at Corks Central Library on November 16 until December 11. The Cork exhibition will have a local flavour with exhibits featuring archives from popular local pirate stations including Capital Radio Cork, ABC, Radio Juliet, ERI, South Coast, Leeside and many more. It will also zone in on the pirate radio past of some of Corks broadcasting stars including John Creedon, Neil Prendeville, Mark Cagney and Trevor Welsh. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the closedown of pirate radio in advance of the opening of licensed regional radio stations. The featured material in the Irish Pirate Radio Exhibition will have a permanent home in the newly opened Irish Pirate Radio Archive at DCU (Dublin City University). With the success of North Sea pirates such as Radio Caroline, pirate stations began to come on air here from the 1960s. The first Cork pirate radio station was Radio Juliet, run by school boys whose average age was 16. They started broadcasting in 1964, using character names from Shakespeare on air. The station, which wrapped up fairly quickly as it became too hot to handle, was dubbed the Six-shilling Station as the teenage lads made a six shilling investment in a transmitter. The Irish language featured in broadcasts. The station was operated by Michael Healy (an enterprising cousin of this journalist). Bohan says that from the late 1970s, Cork often had a choice of six or seven pirate stations. In the 1980s, ERI, South Coast and WBEN were regarded as the super pirates, the Cork versions of Nova and Sunshine in Dublin. In the 1970s, there were a number of raids and convictions, but with loopholes discovered in the antiquated 1926 Wireless Telegraphy Act, the raids stopped unless the authorities deemed that the stations transmitters were interfering with the emergency services frequencies. Bohan adds that in the early days, operating a pirate radio station was a hobby, but as the raids eased and stations became professional with state-of-the-art transmitters and studios, and DJs becoming household names, a lot of the stations began to make money. In Dublin, Radio Nova owner Chris Carey claimed that his pirate station was so successful that he was paying DJs more than the BBC were paying Radio 1 DJs in the UK. Pirate radio began to make major inroads into RTEs youth audience despite the fact that they opened RTE Radio 2 in 1979. But as government inertia failed to close the pirate radio stations opening across Ireland, pirate operators were emboldened and took both listeners and advertisers from RTE. Many major ad agencies dealt with the pirates on a regular basis. The Irish Pirate Radio Exhibition contains memorabilia from the pirate era including advertising rate cards, car stickers, photographs, mugs, pens and business cards. Also on display is an actual FM pirate radio transmitter built in a biscuit tin and used by the writer, Pat McCabe to operate his pirate radio station, Radio Butty. It will appeal to anyone who has a nostalgia for what was known as the golden era of Irish pirate radio. Bohan says there are currently a number of pirates in Cork, broadcasting dance music which neither RTE nor the legal independent stations play on air. Next year, Bohans book, A Century of Irish Radio: 1900-2000, will be published. It will document the worlds first pirate radio station operated by the rebels during the 1916 Easter Rising. - The Irish Pirate Radio Exhibition opens at Corks Central Library on November 16 at 3.30pm The Public Accounts Committee will today hear from another public servant who feels victimised after making a complaint, writes Michael Clifford. The Public Accounts Committee is to hear from another whistleblower in the justice system today. Earlier this week, RTE aired the Maurice McCabe story in which a pivotal moment occurred in January 2014 when he appeared before the PAC. Now, at the far end of the McCabe saga, the committee is hearing from another public servant about problems in another arm of the justice system, the prisons. This whistleblower was identified publicly in the Dail by John McGuinness last month during a debate on the Charleton tribunal. His name is Noel McGree. He has been working in the prison service for 25 years. There are some similarities between McCabes case and that of Noel McGree. Both men reported malpractice in the course of their jobs. Both approached the PAC after believing that all other avenues to address their respective concerns had been exhausted. McCabe was heard in private session, the format that will also apply to todays hearing. Both believe that they were penalised as a result of their actions. One difference is that todays whistleblower made his complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act, which is designed to provide protections for whistleblowers, and came into being in 2014. Another is that McCabe told the members about a waste of public money in road policing, while todays witness will concentrate on how he was targeted within the service because he made the protected disclosure. In March 2016, McGree made a Protected Disclosure about bullying, intimidation and the failure to interview him following a serious assault by a prisoner. All of this, he maintained, had its origins in a complaint he made in November 2014 about the promotion of untrained staff and misuse of public funds. The assault case was particularly serious. An officer was assaulted in the Midlands Prison in 2015. He received a wound after being slashed with a blade and required 15 stitches. McGree had been in charge of the area where the assault occurred. He had intervened in the assault, but was not interviewed by the gardai. McGree claimed that the failure to interview him was symptomatic of the isolation to which he was subjected as a result of the complaints he made. The Department of Justice refused to accept that he had made the disclosure which would entitle him to protections. McGree appealed and retired judge William Early was appointed to adjudicate. Early found that he had made a protected disclosure and that he was treated unfairly and isolated for making the disclosures and that his opportunities for career advancement were deliberately curtailed by the IPS (Irish Prison Service). In relation to the assault, Judge Early noted: It is quite extraordinary that a primary witness to a serious assault was not interviewed. The whistleblower also said that he had been deliberately denied promotion as a result of his complaint. Soon after Judge Earlys report was published, he brought a case to the Work Relations Commission over what he alleged was inflicted on him as a result of making the protected disclosure. The most serious allegation involved a failure to keep him informed about a security threat. The threat was identified by the prison officer in February 2015 when he and his wife believed they were under surveillance. The gardai were informed and the standard procedure for prison officers who find themselves in this situation was conducted. The prison officer upgraded security in his family home. The gardai contacted prison management in early April 2015 to confirm that no threat existed. Yet the prison officer was not informed that there was now considered to be no threat to his or his familys security. The WRC ruled that the failure of management to inform the complainant, despite his very clear cogent descriptions of the affects of the matter on his family constituted unfair treatment under the protected disclosures act. As a result McGree was awarded 30,000 in what is believed to be the first award its kind under the act. The prison service is appealing the ruling. McGree had alleged other incidents of penalisation. He claimed he was docked pay to which he was entitled. The WRC found that this was in error. But McGree also says that he was docked pay outside the time limits to which the WRC case was confined. For instance, he says he is down 11,000 over a six month period this year, which was outside the scope of the WRC case. There is no doubt that the prison officer has endured a turbulent time since he made his original complaint in 2014. At the kernel of the issue is whether he was targeted in connection with his complaint. Todays hearing is against a background in which the PAC has come under scrutiny in the wake of an interview in the Sunday Business Post by the former head of the HSE, Tony OBrien. The former health chief was critical of some of the members, accusing them of grandstanding and chasing headlines. On the other hand, this weeks documentary on Maurice McCabe illustrated how the committee had acted properly in that instance to engage the sergeant on his complaints of malpractice. On the face of it, the Oireachtas Justice Committee might have been a more appropriate port of call for a matter in the prison service. But at the heart of the issue is the operation of the Protected Disclosure Act, which was brought in through the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform. The PAC is examining it on the premise that it involves the operation of the act in the public sector. Irrespective of how the committee receives McGree, they are unlikely to deliver a definitive opinion on the matter as the WRC ruling is under appeal. The members may well take his evidence into account and recommend some changes to how disclosures are dealt with in the public sector. It is not yet clear whether a transcript of his evidence in private hearing will be made available. The proposal was always going to be crazy but what makes it insulting is its timing, writes Victoria White. The commitment by Mary Mitchell OConnor, the minister of state at the Department of Education with special responsibility for higher education, to create 45 women-only professorships in our third level institutions at the cost of 6m per annum comes when these institutions are struggling for their lives. Funding for each of our precious students has fallen by roughly half since the crash in 2008 and has still not recovered. Our student to teacher ratio, at 20:1, is among the worst in the OECD and puts us in the same league as Turkey, Indonesia, Colombia and India. When it comes to university funding per student we have slipped right down the league and can no longer compete with the many countries which want our best students. This is an emergency. Its true that the QS World University Rankings are a flawed assessment tool but they are the tool which students, teachers and investors use. This year saw yet another catastrophic fall in our leading universities places in the rankings: UCC went from 283 to 338, UCD went from 168 to 193, TCD bombed out of the Top 100, going from 88 to 104. Of our third level institutions, only Maynooth and the University of Limerick kept their places. This matters. Our country needs internationally-attested excellence at third level. We need to keep our best students here, making the contacts which will make them likely to settle and thrive in this country. We need the best international students and the best teachers. We may not have much in the way of natural resources but most of us feel we Irish have brains and creativity. It has been vital to our national self-respect, since the days of the round towers and the Book of Kells, that we have genius hubs. Eighty-two percent of those surveyed recently agreed that universities needed more state funding. Meanwhile, the funding deficit is getting worse because we have what should be an advantage: lots of wonderful children headed for third level. In his report on university funding in 2016, Peter Cassells reckoned that we needed annual increases of 600m by 2021 just to keep pace with our demographics. In September the Irish Universities Association published a charter calling for a funding increase of 220m this year. They laid down the gauntlet to the politicians: The political community now needs to step up to the challenge and match the ambition and commitment demonstrated by the universities. What did they get? An increase of 59m in funding in the budget for next year. The Oireachtas committee which was charged with studying Cassells report,to make proposals for third level funding, has not reported and Mitchell OConnor says she doesnt know when it will. Fianna Fails Thomas Byrne has said he doubts they can reach any consensus on this crucial matter. They are bottling it. Whats more important to Mitchell OConnor than the survival of our universities, apparently, is the gender of the top teachers. Her focus is based on claims in a 2016 report on the matter to Government from a committee chaired by Maire Geoghan-Quinn. It includes by way of encouragement the appalling vista of the worlds women working exactly as do the worlds men, which would apparently gain us all US$28 trillion a year, an increase of 26%. Too bad that there would be no-one left to care for anyone on an incinerated planet. Leave aside the ideological claim that you can deliver diversity by appointing women of any background when there are, rightly, nine grounds on which the law forbids discrimination in this country: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability and ethnicity. How many professors are there of Traveller background, for instance? How many are black or disabled? Alright, its fair to say the pool of applicants typically includes women but does not typically include Travellers or Irish people of colour. Its also absolutely fair to say that the top rank of university teachers shows a marked gender imbalance, with 24% of the top jobs held by women while 51% of lecturers are women. This puts us on a par with France and above Switzerland and Germany. The womens percentage is slowly increasing but Mitchell OConnor has set a target of 40% women in the top jobs by 2024, an arbitrary figure and an arbitrary timeline, to which she now wants to adhere by the arbitrary action of creating the women-only positions. Geoghan-Quinns report makes some good recommendations aimed at addressing unfairness due to ingrained expectations and peoples tendency to appoint people most like themselves, including training to address unconscious bias. More radically, it suggests a cascade model whereby top appointments must mirror the gender balance of the pool of applicants, a policy which is worth trying. What is most frustrating about Geoghan-Quinns report, however, is that it wholly excludes womens own preferences as a reason why they are poorly represented in top jobs. No, its all down to barriers put in their way, the barriers Mitchell OConnor was excitedly tearing down this week. Presumably it is the same barriers which are in the way of women in the civil service, where they comprise two thirds of the workers and one fifth of secretary generals? And among medics, where they comprise half the graduates but a minority of hospital consultants? And more particularly among surgeons, of whom they comprise 7%, despite comprising 34% of the surgery trainees? The barriers here are the women themselves. Which is another way of saying the barriers are the jobs. Many women, particularly mothers, dont want to put in the hours required in the top jobs. WHEN the Irish Medical Journal looked at gender balance in top medical jobs in 2013, it reported the bitter regrets of older mothers who had sacrificed family time to be consultants. Many of these women said they had dissuaded their daughters from studying medicine. The ERSIs Selina McCoy studied the lack of gender balance in top jobs in the civil service last year and came back with the finding that women see their senior colleagues working 12-hour days, working evenings, travelling and deprived of any possibility to work flexibly or part-time and decide its a life they dont want. McCoy makes the most intelligent proposal on gender balance in top jobs than any I have heard to date: she suggests the jobs should be broken down into sets of tasks which should be allocated differently across different members of staff. Which is another way of saying that the top jobs have to change so that women, and men, can get a life. With Tony Blair and Jacob Rees-Mogg bafflingly on the same page, what happens next with Brexit may be hard for Ireland to stomach, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell. It was mid-afternoon on Tuesday in the Dail when news of a deal being reached in Brussels on the Irish backstop was first raised. The Taoiseach may not be aware of it, but in the last five minutes, news has broken that a text has been agreed between UK and EU negotiators. It was agreed last night at 9pm and, as such, the Taoiseach is probably aware of it. Apropos the response to Deputy Burtons earlier question, the Taoiseach might comment on that. The text was agreed last night at 9pm, said Micheal Martin, the Fianna Fail leader. Has that just broken now? chirped in Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. There are often things in the media that are reported, said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in response to being seemingly caught off guard. Obviously, I have been here for the last two hours and I have not spoken to my officials or been able to speak to them in that time. As soon as he could, Varadkar high-tailed it back to Government Buildings to be briefed by his officials. He would be joined by Tanaiste Simon Coveney, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee, chief of staff Brian Murphy, and other key personnel. There they received the 15 or so pages of text, of the 500-plus page document, relating to the Irish backstop, the border, and the future relationship between Britain and the EU. Under the draft, the backstop will apply to the entire UK and see Britain remain in a customs union with the EU if no solutions to avoid a hard border are found. However, the withdrawal agreement will have additional measures for Northern Ireland to ensure there is no hard border. Speaking to me late on Tuesday night, senior Government sources said the Taoiseach and his team were happy with the final draft text. The sources insisted the Government got what it needed in the draft Brexit text agreed in Brussels to avoid the return of a hard border. They said they were content that the agreed text of the backstop respected the Irish position that no border on the island of Ireland would exist post-Brexit. Officially the Government was making no comment, but sources said the Irish concerns are protected. Its what we need, there are still some moving parts and we need to see how this lands in London, said one. But we have seen things unravel before. This caution was reflected in the actions yesterday morning in Dublin. Ministers were in lockdown ahead of, during, and after a two-hour Cabinet meeting. No can do today, we have been told to stay quiet, said one minister. Lockdown, came the response from another. The air of caution was reflected in the refusal of Coveney, our main Brexit man, to stop and address the media on his way in to Government Buildings. The sense from Dublins point of view was that it was time to allow British Prime Minister Theresa May space to get the paper through her deeply fragile cabinet and then the deeply divided House of Commons. In the Dail, Varadkar told TDs he did not want to speak publicly on the detail of the draft agreement, stressing that the process was at a sensitive stage. We do have a very important and very sensitive cabinet meeting that will happen in London and I dont want to say anything here today that might up-end that cabinet meeting or make things any more difficult than they are already for the prime minister, he said. Should the UK cabinet be in the position this afternoon to say its content with the text, it is proposed that the commission taskforce would be in a position perhaps tonight to publish the text with the possibility or probability of an EU Council meeting around the 25th of November. Varadkar then said he would be seeking to put the deal to a vote in the Dail, in order to bolster the mandate he has to deliver on the commitments made. To his credit, despite criticism last week by Sinn Fein of him losing his nerve, Varadkar has shown a steady and consistent hand so far, as has his Tanaiste, who has performed admirably. While they have succeeded in protecting Irish interests as much as possible through the EU27 bloc, we remain in chaos given it will be the Commons which will determine whether this is a runner or not. Soundings from Westminster throughout the day illustrated how deep the opposition, not only the extreme right but also on the left, is to what Mays team has agreed on Brexit. While the opposition from the DUP and the likes of Boris Johnson was not unexpected, when Scottish Tories and many within Labour started hitting out at it, the future of the deal looked most uncertain. It certainly has been an incongruous sight to see former Labour prime minister Tony Blair and arch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg in agreement that the proposed deal is unworkable and doomed to fail. Blair, for his part, in a major speech in London, called for a second referendum in a bid to end the heightened air of uncertainty and chaos which engulfed the UK, reflected in the hit on sterling. Brexit in name but tied still to Europe in reality will disappoint those on both sides, he said. Whatever the people voted for, they didnt vote for this. Blair continued: I know it is said a new vote of the people will also divide. But a reconsideration in the light of all we now know, accepted by all as the final word, especially if accompanied by a new willingness on the part of Europes leadership and Britains to deal with the reasons for the Brexit decision, is the only hope of unity in the future. The UK cabinet meeting, which was due to be three hours long, went on much longer than that and a subsequent press conference was cancelled a clear sign that it was not merely rubber-stamped by her ministers as some had projected. The big fear for Ireland is that the deal as agreed is simply too toxic to pass the House of Commons and any deal that would be palatable for MPs would be unfathomable for Ireland. News ASEAN will Continue to Support Myanmar in Resolving Rakhine Issues US Vice President Mike Pence arrives next to (L-R) Myanmars leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, for a group photo with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-US Summit in Singapore on November 15, 2018. / REUTERS YANGONTen-member Southeast Asian bloc, ASEAN, has announced that it will continue its support for Myanmar in efforts to ensure sustainable and equitable development in Rakhine State, where violence which spurred an exodus of Rohingya Muslims to nearby Bangladesh was labeled by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing. The chairmans statement from the 33rd ASEAN Summit held from Nov. 12- 15 in Singapore added that the bloc will also continue to help Myanmar to bring peace, stability and rule of law to the area and to help promote harmony and reconciliation among the various communities there. Rakhine State, especially near its northern border, has been reeling from sectarian violence, mainly between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine, since 2012. Last year, nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled to nearby Bangladesh after security forces clearance operations in the area following Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks on police outposts there. The fleeing Muslims accused the security forces of rape, arbitrary killings and arson attacks on their properties, causing an international outcry for action to be taken against those who committed the atrocities. They also condemned the countrys de facto leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for staying silent on the issue, accusing her of failure to use her moral authority. On Wednesday, US Vice President Mike Pence grilled her during their brief meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, pressing the point that the persecution of the Rohingya was without excuse and asking her about progress in resolving the issue. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi responded, We can say that we understand our country better than any other country does. And Im sure you will say the same of yours, that you understand your own country better than anybody else does. The statement released by the chairman of the summit on Thursday said the humanitarian situation in Rakhine was a matter of concern but added that ASEAN stands ready to support Myanmar in its repatriation of Rohingya who voluntarily want to return to the country. On the same day, Bangladesh and Myanmar intended to start the repatriation process for the first batch of verified displaced persons. Instead, the Rohingya held a protest, saying they would never return to Myanmar without their (Myanmar) citizenship being officially granted. No refugees came forward for repatriation. Myanmar authorities on Thursday evening said the repatriation is still open and that they have no comments on the protests staged. The summit statement said ASEAN welcomes the invitation extended by Myanmar to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre) to dispatch a needs-assessment team to identify possible areas of cooperation in Rakhine State in order to facilitate the repatriation process. We also welcomed Myanmars commitment to ensuring safety and security for all communities in Rakhine State as effectively as possible, and to facilitating the voluntary return of displaced persons to Myanmar in a safe, secure and dignified way, it said. The statement also stressed that Myanmar must find a comprehensive and durable solution to address the root causes of the conflict and to create a conducive environment for the affected communities to rebuild their lives by fully implementing the remaining recommendations of the Advisory Commissions Report on Rakhine State. We expect the Independent Commission of Enquiry established by the government of Myanmar to seek accountability by carrying out an independent and impartial investigation of the alleged human rights violations and related issues, it added. Asia Safety Apps Map Hotspots of Harassment of Indian Women A woman talks on her mobile phone on a sidewalk in Kolkata, India in July 2017. / Reuters LONDON New web and phone apps in India are helping women stay safe in public spaces by making it easier for them to report harassment and get help, developers say. Women are increasingly turning to technology to stay safe in public spaces which in turn helps the police to map harassment prone spotsfrom dimly lit roads to bus routes and street corners. Safety is the biggest concern for women using public and private transport, according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation survey released on Thursday as improving city access for women becomes a major focus globally. Women always strategize on how to access public spacesfrom how to dress to what mode of transport to take, timings and whether they should travel alone or in a group, said Sameera Khan, columnist and co-author of Why Loiter? Women And Risk On Mumbai Streets. Indian government data shows reported cases of crime against women rose by more than 80 percent between 2007 and 2016. The fatal gang rape of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 put the spotlight on the dangers women face in Indias public spaces. The incident spurred Supreet Singh of charity Red Dot Foundation to create the SafeCity app that encourages women across 11 Indian cities to report harassment and flag hotspots. We want to bridge the gap between the ground reality of harassment in public spaces and what is actually being reported, said Singh, a speaker at the Thomson Reuters Foundations annual Trust Conference on Thursday. The aim is to take the spotlight off the victim and focus on the areas where crimes are committed so action can be taken. Dimly lit lanes, crowded public transport, paths leading to community toilets, basements, parking lots and parks are places where Indian women feel most vulnerable, campaigners say. Stigma attached to sexual harassment and an insensitive police reporting mechanism result in many cases going unreported, rights campaigners say. But apps like SafeCity, My Safetipin and Himmat (courage) promise anonymity to women reporting crimes and share data collected through the app with government agencies such as the police, municipal corporations and the transport department. The data has helped in many small ways, said Singh of the Red Dot Foundation. From getting the police to increase patrolling in an area prone to eve-teasing to getting authorities to increase street lighting in dark alleys, the app is bringing change. Police in many Indian cities, including New Delhi, Gurgaon and Chandigarh, are also encouraging women to use apps to register complaints, promising prompt action. Safety apps are another such strategy that could be applied by women but I worry that by giving these apps, everyone else, most importantly the state, should not abdicate its responsibility towards public safety, said Khan. Asia US Returns 'Bells of Balangiga' to Philippines a Century After Clash US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (right), shakes hands with Philippines Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez commemorating the US decision to return the "Bells of Balangiga" to the Philippines more than a century after they were taken by US soldiers following deadly clashes, during an event at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, US, on Wednesday. / Reuters F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyoming US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday formally returned church bells to the Philippines that were taken as war trophies over a century ago following gruesome clashes, seeking to close a contentious chapter in the two allies shared history. The decision to return the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines ends a decades-long quest by Manila, including by President Rodrigo Duterte, and is expected to bolster US-Philippines relations. But it has upset some US veterans and Wyomings delegation to the US Congress, which uniformly opposed returning bells that were a memorial to the 45 US soldiers who were killed during a surprise attack on Sept. 28, 1901, in the central town of Balangiga. Two of the three bells have been on display at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The third bell is at a US Army museum in South Korea. Mattis, speaking at a ceremony at the air force base attended by the Philippines ambassador to the United States, said the Philippines has proven itself as a great US ally in conflicts over the century since that clash. He said the sacrifices of US forces would not be forgotten. To those who fear we lose something by returning these bells, please hear me when I say: Bells mark time, but courage is timeless, Mattis said. It does not fade in historys dimly lit corridors. In Manila, the Philippines Foreign Affairs Department cheered the move. Today is a time of solemn remembrance as we pay tribute to all those who gave up their lives during the Filipino-American War, it said. Wyomings Congressional delegation, which did not attend the ceremony, issued a terse statement. We continue to oppose any efforts by the Administration to move the Bells to the Philippines without the support of Wyomings veterans community, Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Representative Liz Cheney told Reuters in a joint statement. All three bells will be restored and handed over to the Philippines as early as December, said Joe Felter, deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia. The 1901 attack in Balangiga, on the Filipino island of Samar, was seen as perhaps the worst routing of US soldiers since the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, also known as Custers Last Stand. According to historians, one or more of the church bells were rung to signal the attack in Balangiga. US forces took the bells after a brutal counterattack that killed anywhere from hundreds to thousands of people in the Philippines, historians say. One US general was said to have directed his troops to make the interior of Samar a howling wilderness. Some Wyoming veterans, like Cheryl Shannon of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), said they were fine with the decision to return the bells. Were tired of it always being an issue, said Shannon, an Iraq war veteran. But Hank Miller, a veteran with the VFW who wanted to keep the bells in Wyoming, said broader support for his position had faded as it became clear Washington would return the bells. I was advised to stop fighting a losing battle and stop beating a dead horse as the bells were going back, Miller told Reuters. Burma Bangladesh Declines to Start Repatriation of Rohingya amid Protests Hundreds of Rohingya refugees shout slogans as they protest against their repatriation at the Unchiprang camp in Teknaf, Bangladesh, on Nov. 15, 2018. / Reuters DHAKABangladeshi authorities have yet to start repatriation of the first group of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar from Unchiprang camp in Coxs Bazar amid protests and a lack of willingness among the refugees to leave their camps. After waiting for a day and bringing five buses to carry the Rohingya to the departure area, Bangladeshi officials said they could not be cruel to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. We cannot forcefully send them back as we want them to volunteer. We cannot be cruel with them, Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam told The Irrawaddy on Thursday evening after a day of trying to persuade them to return. He said they even asked the refugees to pay preliminary visits to the facilities prepared by the Myanmar government for the Rohingya but none cooperated with Bangladeshi officials. Several hundred Rohingya joined a protest at the camps as the Bangladeshi authorities brought five buses to carry 27 Rohingya families from Unchiprang to the departure point in Teknaf to start repatriation to Myanmar. During the demonstration in Unchiprang, the Rohingya were seen holding handwritten placards in English. We never return to Myanmar without citizenship and our rights, read one placard held by a youth. Another teenager was seen holding a sign that said in English: We want justice. Rohingya leaders in the vicinity alleged that they were under intense pressure from Bangladesh authorities to convince fellow Rohingya to leave, but none showed a willingness amid the protests. Unchiprang Rohingya community leader Mohammad Yusuf told The Irrawaddy they wanted to return home but were not convinced by the words of the Myanmar authorities during the last discussion they held with a Myanmar delegation in the Kutupalang camp in Coxs Bazar on Oct. 31. Mohammad Yusuf said that until their citizenship and security, among other rights, were confirmed, they would not return. The Myanmar authorities already have our names in their hands, so why do they need to verify us? he said. Our houses were gutted in 2012 and they announced those would be repaired. But it was not done. We do not trust them [the Myanmar government] as they did not keep their promise. He said they had come to Bangladesh after Myanmar came up with the idea of issuing National Verification Cards (NVC) for Rohingya. If we have to receive the NVC again after we return, we will leave the camps here and will commit suicide by jumping in the river, he said. Myanmar does not recognize Rohingya among the native ethnic groups eligible for citizenship, and most Rohingya say the NVCs the government wants to issue them would only entrench their status as second-class residents. On Oct. 31, Bangladeshi and Myanmar officials agreed to start repatriation of 2,200 individuals from Nov. 15. The Rohingya leaders said 62 families were prepared by Bangladesh officials for repatriation on Nov. 15, 16 and 17. Our people here will remain tense until Nov. 17, said Yusuf. Earlier in the day, the New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch issued an immediate release calling upon the Bangladesh government to halt the Rohingya repatriation plan, saying conditions would be unsafe until Myanmar ensures rights and security. HRW said the Bangladesh authorities have deployed the army in refugee camps ahead of carrying out a plan to repatriate the first group of 2,200 Rohingya refugees which the Coxs Bazar police described as joint security patrol around the camps. The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harms way in Myanmar, said Bill Frelick, refugee rights director at Human Rights Watch. The HRW statement also said thatunder pressure from ChinaBangladesh and Myanmar officials met in Dhaka on Oct. 30 and 31 to hold the third meeting of a joint working group to implement a bilateral repatriation agreement signed in November 2017. Officials in Bangladesh said they had built two checkpoints along the borderone each for refugees returning by land or by waterwhere they will be handed over to Myanmar authorities. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has been advocating for the voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the refugees to their places of origin or choice. It recently said that conditions in Myanmar were not yet conducive for returns. The UN agency has started an assessment of the Rohingyas willingness to return. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka issued a press release on Thursday regarding the recent visit of U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration in Africa and Asia, Richard Albright, to the Kunapara border crossing, Rohingya camps including the UNHCR Transit Center, as well as a number of facilities in Coxs Bazar. In the press release, the US said it had provided more than US$345 million to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh since the start of the current crisis in August 2017. In addition, the U.S. has contributed 40 per cent of the total contributions to date to the 2018 Joint Response Plan. The release said that the U.S. is following developments closely regarding the joint plans of Bangladesh and Myanmar to repatriate Rohingya. We agree with the UNHCRs assessment that conditions in Myanmar are not yet conducive for returns, the statement stated, adding, Full access to Myanmar is needed to understand the conditions in the areas of return and to allow refugees and internally displaced persons to make an informed choice about returning. In his meetings with government officials, the statement said, Albright emphasized the value of go-and-see visits, as recommended by UNHCR, to enable Rohingya refugees to visit their villages of origin and the transit facilities in Myanmar so that they and their families can make informed choices about voluntary returns. Burma Door Still Open to Rohingya Repatriation, Govt Says Hundreds of Rohingya refugees including children shout slogans as they protest against their repatriation at the Unchiprang camp in Teknaf, Bangladesh, on Nov. 15, 2018. / Reuters CHIANG MAI, ThailandMyanmar said the repatriation process is still open for displaced Rohingya, although no one opted to return from refugee camps in Bangladesh on Thursday. This is the second failure of the repatriation effort; back in January, not one of the some 700,000 refugees in Bangladeshi camps was repatriated, though the government said Myanmar made the necessary preparations for the repatriation of displaced people. After 10 months, at the end of October, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to repatriate Rohingya on a voluntary basis this week, a year after they left their homes following military clearance operations in response to attacks on security posts by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army in August last year. A total of 2,261 people from 425 households were approved for repatriation at the meeting of the Joint Working Group of Myanmar and Bangladesh led by officials from both Foreign Affairs ministries in October. Myanmar has prepared to accept 150 people per day at the repatriation center in Maungdaw Township, northern Rakhine State. On Thursday afternoon, the minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Dr. Win Myat Aye, accompanied by his deputy U Soe Aung; the minister of Immigration and Population U Thein Swe, and Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, were waiting for refugees at the Taungpyo Letwei repatriation center, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MOFAs permanent secretary U Myint Thu held a press conference regarding the repatriation situation on Thursday afternoon in Naypyitaw. Even though no one has been repatriated yet, he said, Myanmar has opened the process and will accept anyone who is ready to come back voluntarily. Myanmar will keep collaborating with neighboring Bangladesh for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of the displaced. U Myint Thu, who is also a chair of the Joint Working Group of Myanmar and Bangladesh for the refugee repatriations, said collaboration would continue as the governments JWG has a mechanism for the repatriation process. China, India, Japan and ASEAN countries have been assisting the repatriation and rehabilitation process for Rohingya and more than 1,000 houses have been built. Hundreds of Rohingya protested at Unchiprang camp in Teknaf, in Bangladesh, from where the first batch of the Rohingya families were to repatriate, on Thursday. They demanded justice and a guarantee of security and citizenship status. Myanmar has made it clear that everyone has to go through the verification process as a standard procedure and those who can present proper documentation would be provided national verification cards and then go through the citizenship verification process. It is the will of those people to come back. If they come back and go through the process, we will make sure that their citizenship verification process would take less than five months, U Myint Thu told the reporters. Human Rights Watch and UNHCR expressed concerns that Myanmar is not yet ready for the refugee repatriation. When they are saying that we are not yet ready, we wonder what standard they are using. We have been ready since January. We have arranged for villagers to be able to return to their villages once they arrive at the repatriation centers, U Myint Thu said. He said they have established three categories of people among those who crossed the border into Bangladesh. They are: those who want to resettle in third countries; those who took part in the ARSA attacks against the security forces, either voluntarily or forced by ARSA; and those who want to return voluntarily as they have relatives and businesses in Rakhine State. He said the first two groups would definitely not want to come back to Myanmar. But the UNHCR should focus on the latter group of people so that the repatriation process would be smooth, he said. If only those who do not want to return are interviewed then there would be no one to return to Myanmar. The UNHCR in Bangladesh was asked by Bangladesh authorities to make sure whether the short-listed returnees really want to go back. Dr. Win Myat Aye, who met with reporters in Sittwe on Thursday evening, also urged the Bangladesh authorities and UN agencies to collaborate as per the agreement between them. Htet Naing Zaw in Naypyitaw contributed to this report. Burma Ethnic Pa-O Forced to Participate in Pro-Military Rally Members of the ethnic Pa-O community hold a poster at the pro-military rally in Taunggyi on Nov. 14, 2018. / Kotoe / Facebook Hundreds of ethnic Pa-O were forced to join a pro-military rally in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State on Wednesday according to a number of community leaders. Khun Soe Myint, general secretary of the United National Pa-O Organization told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that many members of the ethnic Pa-O community living close to Taunggyi live in fear under the control of the authorities and had no choice but to join the rally. Those who attended the pro-military rally were ethnic Pa-O but they dont represent the entire Pa-O ethnicity, he said. There are two types of authorities controlling Pa-O areas in Myanmarsome areas are run by government-appointed village leaders while others are under the authority of village leaders appointed by the PNO. The PNO was originally an armed group serving as a local militia until it signed a ceasefire with the Myanmar government in 1991. Khun Soe Myint said that government authorities involved in the rally forced local Pa-O people to join it. He said that his party is still investigating whether the rally participantsmany of whom came from southern parts of Taunggyi Townshipwere paid to join the event. Saw Khun Kyaw Win, a member of the Pa-O National Organization (PNO)s central executive committee, denied that his party was involved in the rally or that it forced local Pa-O people to join it. He said that the government group Social Networking and National Security Centre (SNNS) did not contact his party for help with the rally this time. SNNS did, however, ask them for assistance for a previous pro-military rally. As a political party, we did not have any cooperation with them. However, it is our principle to accept the Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) as protectors of the country. But our Pa-O people did not need to join the rally, he said. While denying the PNOs involvement in the rally, Saw Khun Kyaw Win couldnt confirm whether other local militias were involved. He said that the authorities were involved in forcing local people to join the rally: Our ethnic people were used. [The authorities] used them. For a previous pro-military rally in Taunggyi, SNNS members came to meet the PNO asking for cooperation in the rally, but he said that despite his party agreeing to cooperate, members did not ultimately get involved in it. Khun Myo, director of Kaung Ywai Youth in Taunggyi, said authorities sometimes threatened to kick people out of the village if they refused to join the rally. At least one person from each house was required to attend it. Some local people did not know exactly what they were going to the town for. They understood they were going for a meeting only but they joined the rally when they got into the town of Taunggyi, said Khun Myo. Pro-military rallies have been held three times in Taunggyi already and the authorities acted similarly each time, he said. He said that the local people are worried that other ethnic groups will hate the Pa-O people for their participation in the military rally. Despite some residents and political group in Taunggyi asking the government not to go ahead with the pro-military rally, the event proceeded as planned on Wednesday starting at noon in the center of Taunggyi and ending at 4pm. Hundreds of ethnic Pa-O showed up to the rally wearing their traditional clothing. Residents said the rally would cause disturbances to the large number of visitors flocking to Taunggyi this week for the major annual Tazaungdaing hot air balloon festival. Burma Govt to Name Finalists For Yangon Elevated Expressway Project This Month Evening rush hour in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy YANGON Companies shortlisted for a contract to build an elevated expressway in Yangon aimed at alleviating the citys traffic woes will be named by the end of the month, the Construction Ministry said Thursday. A total of 12 local and international companies submitted prequalification applications between early September and Tuesday to develop Phase 1 of the project. They include two Chinese-Myanmar consortiums, a Thai-Japanese-Myanmar consortium, a Thai-Chinese consortium, four companies from China and one each from France, Korea, the Philippines and Japan. U Kyi Zaw Myint, a deputy director-general at the Ministry of Construction, said some of the 53 companies that expressed interest in the project formed consortiums to submit applications together. He said the ministry would announce the applicants who meet its qualification criteria later this month. The shortlisted companies will then get to submit proper project proposals. The planned four-lane ring road will connect downtown Yangon, Yangon Port, Yangon International Airport, the Mingaladon Industrial Zone and the Yangon-Mandalay Highway. The project will be implemented through a public-private partnership and is expected to spur economic development by improving connectivity across Yangon. U Kyi Zaw Myint said Phase I would connect Dawbon Bridge, Pazundaung Township, the Mingaladon Industrial Zone and Yangon International Airport. President U Win Myint has formed a steering committee to oversee the development of the expressway including Yangons chief minister and deputy construction minister and the Union ministers for construction, transport and communication, planning and finance, and electricity and energy. The International Finance Corporation, the private lending arm of the World Bank Group, has been appointed the projects exclusive lead adviser. The winning bid will be announced by June 2019 and construction would take about two-and-a-half years, U Kyi Zaw Myint said. Burma Rohingya Repatriation to Myanmar Will Not Begin on Thursday: Sources Taiyeba Begum (35), a Rohingya refugee woman who takes shelter in her relatives' house with other family members to avoid forced repatriation, looks on at a camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, November 14, 2018. / Reuters COXS BAZAR, Bangladesh The repatriation of Rohingya Muslims back to Myanmar will not begin on Thursday as planned, two sources directly briefed about the matter said late on Wednesday. Bangladesh had begun preparations to repatriate an initial batch of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar on Thursday, in line with a bilateral plan agreed on by the two governments in October. The plan has been opposed by the United Nations refugee agency and aid groups, who fear for the safety of the Rohingya in Myanmar. Bangladesh has vowed not to force anyone to return and it has asked the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to make sure those short-listed to return really want to go back. It is not happening tomorrow as nobody wants to go back, said one of the sources. The sources, who spoke on condition on anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said an official announcement from the Bangladesh government confirming that was likely to come on Thursday. The Bangladesh government was not immediately reachable for comment. The repatriation of a first group of 2,200 refugees was to officially begin on Thursday, and officials in Myanmar had said they were ready for them. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine State last year, according to UN agencies. The Rohingya refugees say soldiers and local Buddhists massacred families, burned hundreds of villages and carried out gang rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar army of genocidal intent and ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies almost all of the allegations, saying security forces were battling terrorists. Attacks by Rohingya insurgents calling themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army preceded the crackdown. UN rights boss Michelle Bachelet called on Bangladesh on Tuesday to halt the repatriation plans, warning that lives would be put at serious risk. Refugees Say No A third source said a Bangladeshi government task force that met late on Wednesday maintained its commitment to voluntary returns. Some 48 families interviewed by the UNHCR have said no to repatriation, the source said. Earlier this week, dozens of Rohingya families on the list of refugees to be repatriated began fleeing camps in Bangladesh. And last week, over 20 individuals on the list told Reuters they would refuse to return to Rakhine, as they were terrified. US Vice President Mike Pence expressed the Trump administrations strongest condemnation yet of Myanmars treatment of Rohingya on Wednesday, telling leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Singapore that persecution by the Myanmar army was without excuse. Suu Kyi, responding to Pence, said people had different points of view. In a way, we can say that we understand our country better than any other country does and Im sure you will say the same of yours, that you understand your country better than anybody else, she added. News Rohingya Protest in Bangladesh as Repatriation Postponed A boy holds a placard as hundreds of Rohingya refugees protest against their repatriation at the Unchiprang camp in Teknaf, Bangladesh November 15, 2018. / Reuters COXS BAZAR, BangladeshHundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh protested on Thursday against any attempt to send them back to Myanmar after sources in Bangladesh said the launch of a repatriation plan had been postponed. Bangladesh had begun preparations to repatriate an initial batch of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar on Thursday, in line with a plan agreed with Myanmar in October. But there have been extensive doubts about the plan and it has been opposed by the UN refugee agency and aid groups, who fear for the safety of the Rohingya in Myanmar, and by many Rohingya in the camps in Bangladesh. No, no, we wont go, hundreds of Rohingya protesters chanted in the Unchiprang camp in southeast Bangladesh, near the Myanmar border. Some protesters also waved placards that said We want justice, and We will never return to Myanmar without our citizenship. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine State last year, according to UN agencies. The crackdown was launched in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks on security forces. The Rohingya refugees say soldiers and Buddhist civilians massacred families, burned hundreds of villages and carried out gang rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar Army of genocidal intent and ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies almost all of the accusations, saying its security forces have been engaged in a counter-insurgency operation against terrorists. Earlier, three sources directly briefed on the issue said repatriation would not begin on Thursday as none of those selected to go back had agreed to. Nobody wants to go back, said one of the sources. The repatriation of a first group of 2,200 refugees was to begin on Thursday, and officials in Myanmar had said they were ready to receive the returnees. But Bangladesh has vowed not to force anyone to return and it has asked the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to make sure those short-listed to return really want to go back. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Bangladeshi officials were due to meet Myanmar counterparts at a border crossing to inform them that no one had agreed to return. The Bangladesh government declined to comment. Unverified images on social media showed officials on the Myanmar side of the border waiting at a reception center. UN rights boss Michelle Bachelet called on Bangladesh on Tuesday to halt the repatriation plan, warning that lives would be put at serious risk. The UN human rights office continued to receive reports of ongoing violations committed against Rohingya in Myanmarincluding alleged killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests, Bachelet said. Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group and most are stateless. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call the Rohingya Bengalis, suggesting they belong in Bangladesh. November 15, 2018 POCATELLO, Idaho A race to reach the North and South Poles. A trip down the Arkansas River. An investigation of a murder deep within the Grand Canyon. These and more are among the winners of 2018 National Outdoor Book Awards. Sponsors of the program include the National Outdoor Book Awards Foundation, Idaho State University and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. The exploration of the North and South Poles is the subject of this years winner of the History/Biography category: To the Edges of the Earth by Edward Larson. Larson concentrates on one year when explorers are on the verge of attaining some of the great prizes in polar exploration. That year is 1909. Expeditions are underway at the top and bottom of the globe. It is the year in which some of the great figures in exploration make their marks: U.S. Naval Officer, Robert Peary; African American adventurer, Matthew Henson; Italys Duke of the Abruzzi; and Britains Ernest Shackleton. To the Edges of the Earth is quite simply great writing backed up by great research, said Ron Watters, chair of the National Outdoor Book Awards. To give you some idea of the extent of the research for the book, Edward Larson, the author, travelled to the South Pole. If you enjoy adventure literature, you cant go wrong with this book. Larsons book is one of 14 winning books in this years award program. Awards are presented in 10, often highly competitive, categories. The competition in the History/Biography category was so intense this year that the judges chose a second winner. That second winner is Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River by Max McCoy. The book describes McCoys kayaking experience on the Arkansas River from its source in Colorado, across Kansas to an ending point near the Oklahoma border. Its not only a story about kayaking the Arkansas River, its also about the cultural history of the river, said Jim Moss, an outdoor industry attorney and a long time judge for the program. McCoy does an excellent job of blending stories of the rivers past as he paddles his way downstream. The investigation into a murder in the Grand Canyon is the subject of the winner of the Outdoor Literature Category. Titled Pure Land, it was written by Backpacker Magazines Southwest Editor, Annette McGivney. McGivneys research involved repeated trips down an eight-mile trail to the small Native American village of Supai and nearby Havasu Creek, a popular backpackers destination. This is an extraordinarily well crafted work, Watters said. Over a period of years, McGivney dug deeply into two lives, both who come from greatly differing backgrounds and cultures, and both who came together one fateful and tragic day. The deeper she digs, however, the more she finds her own life drawn into the narrative. In the end, the book is no longer about two lives. Its about three. Two winners were selected in the Natural History Literature category. The first is A Naturalist at Large, consisting of a collection of essays by Bernd Heinrich. Henrich is one of the finest nature writers of our time, Watters said. He writes in a down-to-earth, easy-going style that all can enjoy. The other winner in Natural History is Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush. Rushs book addresses climate change and specifically focuses on the rise of sea level along Americas coastlines. She visits Maine, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Florida, Oregon and California, where she examines damage to coastal environments and interviews people whose homes and livelihoods are at risk or have already been washed away. John Miles, who is a judge for the awards program and the former dean of environmental studies at Huxley College, calls Rushs book a powerful work and a sophisticated analyses about one of the most pressing issues of our time. The winner of the Design and Artistic Merit category is Sage Grouse: Icon of the West. This coffee table-sized book is filled with photographs by Noppadol Paothong. "In nearly every photo, he has managed to obtain the perfect marriage of subject, angle, light and background," said James Moss. "This is an outstanding work of art and a testament to this enduring icon of the west." The Childrens Book winner is Oregon & Washington 50 Hikes With Kids by Wendy Gorton. Gortons book is designed to be taken along on hikes with children. The hikes were carefully evaluated by Gorton for their appropriateness for children, primarily in the 3-8 year range. Along with each hike, she has included a treasure hunt in which children try to find the flora and fauna pictured in the book. Complete reviews of these and the other 2018 winners may be found at the National Outdoor Book Awards website at: www.noba-web.org. Here is a list of winners. History/Biography. Winner. To the Edges of the Earth: 1909, the Race for the Three Poles. By Edward J. Larson. William Morrow, New York. ISBN 9780062564474. History/Biography. Winner. Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River. By Max McCoy. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. ISBN 9780700626021. Outdoor Literature. Winner. Pure Land: A True Story of Three Lives and the Search for Heaven on Earth. By Annette McGivney. AUXmedia, Detroit. ISBN9780998527888. Natural History Literature. Winner. A Naturalist at Large: The Best Essays of Bernd Heinrich. By Bernd Heinrich. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. ISBN 9780544986831. Natural History Literature. Winner. Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore. By Elizabeth Rush. Milkweed Editions. Minneapolis. ISBN 9781571313676. Design and Artistic Merit. Winner. Sage Grouse: Icon of the West. Photographed by Noppadol Paothong. Text by Kathy Love. Design by Stephanie Thurber and Susan Ferber. Laguna Wilderness Press, Laguna Beach, CA. ISBN 9780984000739. Nature and the Environment. Winner. The Snake and the Salamander: Reptiles and Amphibians from Maine to Virginia. By Alvin R. Breisch. Illustrated by Matt Patterson. John Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. ISBN 9781421421575. Classic. Winner. NOLS Cookery. Edited by Claudia Pearson. Illustrated by Mike Clelland. Stackpole Books, Lanham, MD. ISBN 9780811719810. Childrens Category. Winner. Oregon & Washington 50 Hikes With Kids. By Wendy Gorton. Timber Press, Portland, OR. ISBN 9781604698008. Childrens Category. Honorable Mention. Belles Journey: An Osprey Takes Flight. By Rob Bierregaard. Illustrated by Kate Garchinsky. Charlesbridge, Watertown, MA. ISBN9781580897921. Childrens Category. Honorable Mention. The Kids Guide to Birds of Minnesota. By Stan Tekiela. Illustrations by Elleyna Ruud. Design by Jonathan Norberg. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, MN. ISBN 9781591937869. Outdoor Adventure Guides. Winner. Discovering the John Muir Trail: An Inspirational Guide to Americas Most Beautiful Hike. By Damon Corso. Falcon Press, Guilford, CT ISBN 9781493031245. Nature Guidebooks. Winner. Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest. By Robert Michael Pyle and Caitlin C. LaBar. Timber Press, Portland, OR. ISBN 9781604696936. Instructional. Winner. The Ultimate Guide to Whitewater Rafting and River Camping. By Molly Absolon. Falcon Press, Guilford, CT ISBN 9781493032334. Home Towns of Authors History/Biography. Winner. To the Edges of the Earth. By Edward J. Larson. Malibu, CA History/Biography. Winner. Elevations, By Max McCoy. Emporia, KS Outdoor Literature. Winner. Pure Land. By Annette McGivney. Flagstaff, AZ Natural History Literature. Winner. A Naturalist at Large. By Bernd Heinrich. Weld, ME Natural History Literature. Winner. Rising. By Elizabeth Rush. Providence, RI Design and Artistic Merit. Winner. Sage Grouse. Photographed by Noppadol Paothong. Columbia, MO Nature and the Environment. Winner. The Snake and the Salamander. By Alvin R. Breisch. Altamont, NY Classic. Winner. NOLS Cookery. Edited by Claudia Pearson. Lander, WY Childrens Category. Winner. Oregon & Washington 50 Hikes With Kids. By Wendy Gorton. Portland, OR Childrens Category. Honorable Mention. Belles Journey. By Rob Bierregaard. Wynnewood, PA Childrens Category. Honorable Mention. The Kids Guide to Birds of Minnesota. By Stan Tekiela. Victoria, MN Outdoor Adventure Guides. Winner. Discovering the John Muir Trail. By Damon Corso. North Hollywood, CA Nature Guidebooks. Winner. Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest. By Robert Michael Pyle and Caitlin C. LaBar. Grays River, WA Instructional. Winner. The Ultimate Guide to Whitewater Rafting and River Camping. By Molly Absolon. Victor, ID Judges (quoted in release) - Home Towns John Miles, El Prado, NM Jim Moss - Littleton, CO Australia's biggest telco Telstra took down part of the Internet in the country on Thursday morning due to a stuff-up with the routes it advertised through the border gateway protocol. The company claims a third party was responsible for the error. The incorrect broadcast of these routes effectively hijacked the IP address ranges of a number of other providers in Australia, including Launceston-based Launtel. The chief executive of Launtel, Damian Ivereigh, told iTWire, that he had seen the Launtel network go down primarily to the ACT at about 6.50am AEDT. "By 8:20am, others started reporting on AusNOG (the Australian Network Operator Group mailing list), that they were seeing traffic to their networks being 'hijacked' by Telstra, asking if anyone from Telstra was able to assist," he said. BGP hijacking occurs when groups of IP addresses are taken over by entities that corrupt Internet routing tables maintained using the BGP. "It quickly escalated on the mailing list where many providers were reporting similar issues. An unofficial Telstra employee briefly appeared on list at around 9:00 to report the issue had been resolved." Ivereigh said he had no idea what had happened inside Telstra. "But from the outside, they clearly started advertising incorrect 'BGP prefixes' to the Internet and effectively took down a number of other ISPs and content providers," he said. Contacted for comment, a Telstra spokesman said the error was caused by a third party who was adding pre-approved IP ranges within the Telstra Internet Direct network which resulted in the mistaken redirection of some traffic. "As soon as we identified the issue, it was resolved," the spokesman added. For those who are unaware of BGP, Ivereigh said when it came to inter-carrier routing, carriers (and content providers like Google, Facebook etc) often needed to send traffic to each other. "They rely on a protocol called BGP Border Gateway Protocol which essentially allows each carrier to broadcast to each other what IP address ranges (called 'prefixes') should be sent to them. We, for example, announce to the world that any traffic for the IP address range 103.216.190.0 to 103.216.191.255 should be sent to us." Ivereigh said the security of the process was "not great" and one carrier could announce incorrect prefixes and effectively take over the address ranges of another provider (and take them down). "This is limited only by the level of trust that each carrier puts on another carrier when they receive an advertisement. However, generally speaking, most trust Telstra to get this correct and so accept their advertisements without question," he said. "So Telstra are clearly able at any time to switch off a number of other providers should they so choose. Worse, unless people are in the know, they would assume this is a fault of their provider. There are security layers being added to BGP, but the take-up is slow. Perhaps this needs to change as more of our business is conducted on the Internet." This is the second BGP hijack reported this week. On Tuesday, Australian time, Google was affected by network issues which turned out to be due to an ISP in Africa broadcasting wrong routes. MainOne, the ISP which was responsible for the error, said later that it was due to a misconfiguration on its BGP filters and the error lasted for 74 minutes. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) The United States and other countries should accept the "reality" that Beijing "is already in possession" of some disputed areas in the South China Sea to avoid tension in the region, President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday. In a chance interview with reporters before the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Summit in Singapore, Duterte urged countries to stop provoking China with military activities. "China is there. That's the reality. And America and everybody should realize that they are there. So if you just keep on creating little friction, one day a bad miscalculation can turn things - Murphy's Law. If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong," he warned. READ: No mention of Chinese weather stations in ASEAN summit, DFA chief says "I said China is already in possession. It's now in their hands. So why do you have to create frictions - strong military activity that will prompt a response from China?," he added. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, where ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims, along with Taiwan. Although the U.S. is not a claimant country, it conducts freedom-of-navigation operations in international waters around the disputed area and calls out China's alleged militarization in the region. In a press briefing later that day, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. clarified that the President is not giving up the country's sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, or areas of the South China Sea that lie within the country's 200-mile exclusive economic zone. "I have repeatedly said not an inch nor an iota of sovereignty [will be given up]," Locsin said. He added that the President's call against the conduct of military drills in the contested waters may be "a matter of courtesy." "You can do, you can postpone those things if there are pending visits," Locsin said. Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting the Philippines on November 20-21. Duterte earlier assured China that the Philippines would not participate in reported plans of the U.S. to conduct military drills in the South China Sea. This was after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua warned that the U.S. military drills could mar Xi's upcoming visit. The U.S., meanwhile, denied plans to "show force" through freedom-of-navigation operations. Duterte admitted that rising tension between China and the U.S. worries him. On Thursday, he said a war in the disputed waters would put the Philippines in danger. "I do not mind everybody going to war except that the Philippines is just beside those islands and if there's a shooting there, my country will be the first to suffer. That is my only national interest there. Nothing else," he explained. The President said he would "try [his] best" to lead ASEAN and China into signing a Code of Conduct (COC) defining what states can and cannot do in the contested waters, within the Philippines' term as country coordinator for relations between the region and Beijing. The Philippines' term ends in 2021, a year before Duterte is supposed to step down as president. In a joint statement he read on Wednesday, Duterte said they want to come up with one negotiating draft for a COC by 2019. This draft would serve as basis for future negotiations for what ASEAN hopes would be a legally-binding COC. READ: ASEAN, China eye completion of draft South China Sea code by 2019 NEC Australia has been selected to supply 10Gbps E-band radio equipment and professional services for telecommunications and Internet services provider Spirit Telecom. As part of an existing contract, under the deal NEC will supply an additional 70 iPASOLINK EX-A terminals with 10Gbps full duplex throughput over the Spirit network. NEC says the solution will allow Spirit Telecom to replace expensive and limited capacity fibre lease line services with a partial mesh E-band Microwave infrastructure, which provides more capacity, resilience and fast return of investment. Spirit Telecom has a significant NEC Wireless backhaul footprint in the Gold Coast through the acquisition of World Without Wires with more than 40 iPASOLINK IX radio terminals deployed to provide high capacity backhaul for corporate voice and data services. The iPASOLINK EX-A is NECs next generation carrier grade E-band radio equipment with the highest 10Gbps full duplex throughput per terminal, providing fibre-like capacity". In addition, NEC says the solution supports key features such as H-QoS, AES encryption, 1588v.2 synchronisation, dual 10Gbps SFP+ interfaces, dual power feed options, and ERPS ring protection, which are all key features in next generation network architectures. "The Spirit Telecom win is another example of NECs leadership and expertise in microwave radio solutions. Our market leading 10Gbps Wireless solution enables Spirit Telecom to reduce their operational cost, while increasing resilience in their network, said Krisztian Som, Radio Solutions business manager at NEC Australia. Spirit Telecom has gone through an extensive market evaluation and proof of concept testing and selected NEC as the market leader in this space to upgrade and extend our network coverage in Melbourne with capacity never thought possible in wireless, said Geoff Neate, managing director at Spirit Telecom. The Communications Alliance, or more accurately its boss, John Stanton, was the most forthright of the multitudes who appeared at the first hearing of the encryption bill before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The government sought to spread the narrative that it had consulted widely before the bill was drafted, only for CA boss John Stanton to ask, "Consultation? What consultation?" Like the few words uttered by the Dickensian character Oliver Twist, those words stuck in the mind. The CA has continued that record with its response to a query from the PJCIS which met on 19 October regarding who among state-based agencies had sought metadata under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, a question it took on notice. Though just 20 agencies are permitted to ask for access to metadata, it looks like many others are also out on a fishing (not phishing) expedition. When metadata is on offer, nobody, it appears, wants to keep their snouts out of the trough. Australian Crime Commission Australian Border Force ACLEI AFP AFP ACT Policing AFP PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AFSA ASIC Australian Tax Office Australia Post Corporate Security Group Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency BANKSTOWN CITY COUNCIL BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL CENTRELINK CONSUMER & BUSINESS AFFAIRS VIC Corrections Intelligence Group NSW CRIME AND MISCONDUCT COMMISSION Customs Department of Agriculture Department of Defence Department of Environment and Conservation WA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, TRANSPORT & RESOURCES DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION DEPT FAIR TRADING NSW DEPT FAIR TRADING-BRISBANE DEPT OF COMMERCE WA DEPT OF FAMILIES, HOUSING COMMUNITY SERVICES DIBP BRISBANE DIBP CANBERRA DIBP MELBOURNE DIBP QLD DIBP SYDNEY FACS FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL FAIR WORK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION HEALTHCARE COMPLAINTS COMMISSIONS IBAC ICAC SYDNEY NSW CC NSW EPA NSW Office of State Revenue NSW Police NSW POLICE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS NSW Government Trade, Investment, Resources and Energy NT POLICE NTPOL OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENT & HERITAGE OFFICE OF STATE REVENUE NSW Police Integrity Commission NSW PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES SA PRIMARY INDUSTRIES NSW PRIMARY INDUSTRIES QLD PRIMARY INDUSTRIES VIC QLD Department of Fair Trading QLD TRANSPORT Queensland Police Service Racing Integrity VIC REGIONAL ILLEGAL DUMPING SQUAD Rockdale City Council SA FISHERIES SA ICAC SA POLICE ANTI CORRUPTION SA POLICE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BRANCH SA POLICE STATE INTELLIGENCE TAS POLICE TAS POLICE INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS Taxi Services Commission TRANSPORT ACCIDENT COMMISSION MELBOURNE VIC DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, TRANSPORT AND RESOURCES VIC Department of Justice VIC Department of Health and Human Services VIC POLICE ETHICAL STANDARDS VIC INSTITUTE OF TEACHING VIC POLICE VIC Sheriffs Offices WA CCC WA Department of Fair Trading WA FISHERIES WA POLICE STATE INTELLIGENCE DIVISION Work Safe VIC WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY The CA provided a list of 81 agencies, who had sought to sneak a peek at metadata: Flying the face of the repeated assurances by federal government agencies like the Australian Federal Police earlier in the hearing - which sought to depict the new powers as just business as usual - the CA has again pointed the finger at what can only be termed an alarming trend. And wait, there's more. "We have seen, for example, one carrier that made 132 disclosures in response to 114 requests over a 12-month period, while some other carriers have experienced smaller volumes over similar periods," the CA said. "Determining volumes is further complicated by the fact that while responses to some requests are derived from the mandatory data retention store, some requests can also be met by interrogating business systems or databases that hold similar or identical information for commercial use." Pity the CA or Stanton won't be there at any future hearings to liven up proceedings. Santosh Devaraj: "The implications of a breach or misuse of medical information could be severe." A provider of cyber security services to the government has spoken out about the weaknesses that dog the Federal Government's My Health Record system, claiming it cannot guarantee the privacy of sensitive Australian information. Secure Logic chief executive Santosh Devaraj told iTWire there were serious concerns about the security and privacy principles which the My Health Record platform relied upon, as hundreds of thousands of medical practitioners would have access to the data. And this would be with "limited access controls, including underage patients. This creates potential entry points for hackers which are subject to little-to-no security oversight", he said. Devaraj, who earlier this month called for the government to put in place laws to make Internet of Things devices safer, said the existing MHR system had no reliable mechanism that would guarantee confidentiality and privacy of data. "With the little-known secondary use of data feature enabled by default, people cannot reliably manage their data use. Even when the data is anonymised, the opportunities for malicious re-identification are numerous, and the consequences could be catastrophic," he said. My Health Record has been dogged by controversy due to its default policy of opting everybody in. Said Devaraj: The problem is amplified by the rapidly increasing number of IoT devices being used in the health industry, and the whole new array of attacks still to be detected. With IoT still being a largely unregulated area, medical practitioners cannot assure the integrity of the data. Even when a compromise is detected, it wont be possible to validate if the data is genuine, and separate it from tampered records. We need effective regulatory initiatives from government addressing regulation, law, and educational aspects on the issue. The MHR system has also faced a row over privacy recently and the government has had to back down and change the laws governing release of data. Devaraj said the opt-out nature was "not compatible with the opt-in nature of the Record Access Code an optional recipient-controlled PIN which would restrict unauthorised access". "Without having this access code as the default, most users will inadvertently leave their records exposed in the event of a breach in a single access point. Subsequently, a security failure in just one doctors office could provide unfettered access to the sensitive information of millions of Australians," he said. The implications of a breach or misuse of medical information could be severe medical institutions have become among the most prized targets for local and international cyber criminals because of the value this data has for blackmailers and on the dark web. Weve seen this play out in the recent hack of Singapores SingHealth database. In the incident he cited, Singapore's government health database was breached by attackers who stole the personal information of about 1.5 million people, with the data of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long specifically targeted. A blockchain-based platform could deliver on the dual goals of bringing healthcare into the digital age, while maintaining the security and privacy of Australians sensitive information," Devaraj said. "However, under the current security regime, I would encourage Australians to opt out, and the government to extend the opt out period to ensure the public has made a properly informed choice about their participation." Under pressure from the opposition Labor Party, the government has now extended the date for opting out to the end of January 2019. The introduction of tougher penalties for those who misuse the system is unlikely to provide a major deterrent to cyber criminals, particularly those based overseas and far away from the jurisdiction and reach of the Australian federal authorities," Devaraj said. "We need to be focused on preventive, rather than punitive, measures. Financial data stolen from British Airways in a recent attack by a group known as Magecart is being hawked on the dark web, the researchers who attributed the attack claim. Security company RiskIQ, along with Flashpoint, released a detailed study on Magecart which they said included several groups in which the claim was made. The two companies also said credit card data stolen from customers of the IT firm Newegg was up for sale. British Airways disclosed in September that the financial and personal details of 380,000 customers had been stolen from its site. The Newegg hack also took place in September. The infiltration was done using a new domain named neweggstats.com that the attackers had registered in August. RiskIQ and Flashpoint said there were several Magecart groups: Group 1 & 2 Casts a wide net for targeting, likely using automated tools to breach and skim sites. Monetises with a sophisticated reshipping scheme. Group 3 Goes for a high volume of targets to go for as many victims as possible, but is unique in the way its skimmer works. Group 4 Extremely advanced, this group blends in with its victims' sites to hide in plain sight and employs methods to avoid detection. Group 5 Implicated in the breach of Ticketmaster, this group hacks third-party suppliers to breach as many targets as it can. Group 6 Extremely selective, only going for top-tier targets, such as British Airways and Newegg to secure a high-volume of traffic and transactions. RiskIQ and Flashpoint said the Magecart intrusions had first begun in 2o15. The report they released has indicators of compromise for each group. If Australian health data brokers are looking for a buyer with plenty of money, then they need look no further than the world's biggest search engine. Google has indicated that it will now turn its attention to mining health data after folding its DeepMind Health unit into the main company and getting rid of the independent review committee that was part of the unit. But DeepMind has, in the process, broken a pledge which it made to Britain's National Health Service, with whom it worked, that "data will never be connected to Google accounts or services. "We commit to only using patient data to help improve care, under the instructions of our partners, who will continue to act as our data controllers at all times," DeepMind said at the time. "Each of our partnerships have strict rules about how data can be used. We will never use patient data outside of these rules. That means data will never be connected to Google accounts or services, or used for any commercial purposes like advertising or insurance." DeepMind, a British artificial intelligence firm, was acquired by Google in 2014. It was founded in 2011 by neuroscientist Demis Hassabis, well-known as a computer game prodigy. A mobile app called Streams was then built; it used medical information to allow clinicians at hospitals to diagnose issues while they were away from their workplaces. But Google has now folded the app into its main organisation and said that it will be using it as an AI-powered assistant. "Our vision is for Streams to now become an AI-powered assistant for nurses and doctors everywhere - combining the best algorithms with intuitive design, all backed up by rigorous evidence," the company said. "The team working within Google, alongside brilliant colleagues from across the organisation, will help make this vision a reality." Telecommunications industry lobby group Communications Alliance has cautioned against Australian Government recommendations that could threaten the TIOs independence by placing the ombudsman under the control of ACMA but welcomed the Governments decision to retain the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. CAs comments came as the government announced on Thursday that it had made recommendations for further protections for telco consumers, including a strengthening of role of the Telecommunications Ombudsman. The TIO said it would carefully consider the proposed changes to the organisation and consult with stakeholders. As reported by iTWire, the governments move on strengthening consumer protections follows a review of consumer safeguards, with the additional protections designed to improve the handling of customer complaints and increase the transparency of complaints data to drive the telco industry toward improved customer service. Communications Alliance chief executive John Stanton also expressed concern about recommendations in Part A of the Governments Consumer Safeguards Review that he says could drive up the costs of the TIO scheme, to the detriment of consumers and industry alike. Stanton said he welcomed the opportunity, offered by government, to engage with stakeholders during coming months on the practicality of the 32 Part A recommendations and their potential implementation. And, Stanton said the independence of the TIO was one of its core strengths as the external dispute resolution body for the telco sector. Industry has never controlled the TIO nor should we. By the same token, we do not believe that the TIO should be placed under the control of the industry regulator, the ACMA. Also, given the very extensive record keeping rules that have just been put in place by the ACMA, and the fact that the new Complaints Handling Standard is still being implemented as highlighted by the Governments paper we would have concerns about too hastily implementing the recommendations related to those brand-new instruments. Many of the recommendations would act to drive up the cost of what is already an expensive scheme; and the cost of delivering telecommunications services to consumers and small businesses. Stanton said there was a need to look critically at whether additional layers of regulation would add real value, or just extra expense. A Regulation Impact Statement would help do that, but, in its absence, we look forward to working with government, consumers, the TIO and other stakeholders to help draw out the best and most practicable elements of the recommendations. And Australias peak body representing telecommunications consumers, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, has welcomed the release of the governments report on Complaints Handling and Consumer Redress in the telecommunications industry. We are very pleased to see recommendations about improving complaint handling by the industry, which is a big pain point for consumers. Improvements to the existing rules will make it easier for consumers to find the information they need about how to lodge complaints, and fast track processes so urgent issues are resolved quickly, said Una Lawrence, ACCAN director of Policy. It is also good to see the government acknowledge that overseas call centres can present real difficulties for telco consumers. We hope the industry will take up the reports recommendation encouraging the establishment of more on-shore centres, as well as better support for small business customers. Unresolved complaints can be catastrophic when trying to run a business. The board of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the Ombudsman said the Governments Safeguards Review recognised "the importance and strength of the work of the TIO in resolving complaints that residential consumers and small businesses have been unable to resolve with their provider". The report proposes some fundamental changes to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman scheme, which will need to be carefully considered by the board and the Ombudsman, in consultation with stakeholders, the TIO board said in a statement issued on Thursday. It is important to ensure that reforms for policy settings and the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman are tested against overarching and enduring principles. For complaint handling and external dispute resolution, these principles (set out on the Governments Benchmarks for Industry-based Customer Dispute Resolution) are independence, fairness, accessibility, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness. A "world-first optical fibre as fine as a human hair" has been developed by scientists from the Macquarie University Photonics Research Centre, promising transmission of over 1 petabit of data per second. Australia's NBN is now slower than ever, thanks to the new fibre optic transmission speed of 1 petabit per second, which we're told is "12 million times quicker than the fastest NBN connection". The dramatic improvement in speed was "enabled by a coupler developed by scientists from the Macquarie University Photonics Research Centre, a fibre jointly developed by Hokkaido University and Fujikura Ltd and the transmission system developed by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology Japan". The super smart boffins remind us that "Internet data use is increasing exponentially, due to developments such as on-demand streaming and artificial intelligence, and fast approaching the limits of existing communications networks". The explanations continued: "Research into new types of optical fibre that can transmit ultra-large volumes of data have to date resulted in thick fibres that are vulnerable to damage from bending and pulling. "The 4-core 3-mode fibre developed by Hokkaido University and Fujikura is almost the same width as existing standard optical fibres, but can transmit 12 times as much data per second. Its narrower diameter means it is less prone to damage and can easily be cabled and connected using existing equipment, resulting in significant cost-savings over other types of fibres. "The fibre has applications in transmitting data between data centres, metropolitan networks, or undersea communications cables, with the ability to smoothly accommodate traffic for big data and 5G services." Dr Simon Gross, from the Macquarie Photonics Research Centre, said: "The worlds insatiable demand for data means that we are approaching a capacity crunch and need to find new ways to transport ever-larger volumes. This technology promises a solution to the bottleneck created by existing optical fibres. For the first time, we have created a realistic and useable-sized fibre which is resilient and can transport huge amounts of data. It also represents a big cost saving over installing the 12 standard optical fibres you would need to transport the same volume of data." A writer for news24 has reported on how fake news about the Dros rape scandal was spread by an office administrator at the University of South Africa's (Unisa).The fake news stories were authored by Mahlatse Ramatseba on his website Mzansistories.com. He tweeted a picture on 26 September 2018 featuring the face of a black man next to a crying white girl under the headline 'Meet a man who raped a six years old girl at Dros Silverton, Pretoria in man's toilet.'The Dros rape tweet was later deleted and replaced with a new article and tweet featuring the accused. The particular tweet showcases how a fake news website can have a very real impact on the credibility of traditional media.Read more on this report here Summerville, SC (29483) Today Rain. Low 36F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Rain. Low 36F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INV Metals Inc. (INV Metals or the Company) (TSX:INV) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Sunny Lowe as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Lowe is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Ms. Candace MacGibbon, CEO, commented, On behalf of management and the Board of Directors, we are pleased to welcome Sunny to the executive team. Ms. Lowe joins INV Metals from Kinross Gold Corp., where she most recently held the role of Vice President, Finance. The Company continues to build its executive team with relevant experience to execute our development strategy for Loma Larga. As the Company transitions from the completion of the Feasibility Study to permitting, financing and construction, Sunny brings a wealth of experience to lead our efforts in external reporting, financing, tax planning and compliance, enterprise risk management, operational financial management, and internal audit and controls. Ms. Lowe joined Kinross Gold Corp. in 2013 as Vice President, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk Management. Prior to Kinross Gold Corp, Ms. Lowe worked at Inmet Mining where she held leadership roles of increasing responsibility across functions including Enterprise Risk Management, Global Taxation and Compliance, and Business Systems and Controls. Ms. Lowe obtained her CPA designation while working at Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. MacGibbon, added, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Kevin Canario for his contribution to INV Metals over the past 7 years. Mr. Canario will assist in the transition over the next few months and we wish him very well in his future endeavours. About INVTM Metals INVTM Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and base metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INVTM Metals primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold property in Ecuador; and (2) its 100% interests in exploration concessions in Ecuador, including Las Penas, Tierras Coloradas, La Rebuscada and Carolina. For further information, please contact: Candace MacGibbon Chief Executive Officer Phone: (416) 703-8416 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -Final Major License Received for Construction and Operations- VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (SBB.T), (Sabina or the Company) is pleased to announce it has received its Type A Water License from the Nunavut Water Board (NWB) for the Companys 100% owned Back River Gold Project (Back River or the Project) in Nunavut, Canada. On September 21, 2018, the Company received a copy of the NWBs recommendation to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, the responsible Federal Minister (the Minister), that the Projects Type A Water License should be issued with proposed terms and conditions. On November 14, 2018, Sabina received confirmation that the Minister has approved the Type A water license with no changes to the terms and conditions. Receipt of the Type A Water License represents a key step in the environmental permitting process and will enable activities at site including mine construction and operations and sets the closure bonding amounts for the project moving forward. The Type A Water License includes development of the Umwelt Open Pit and Underground, as well as the Llama and Goose Main Open Pits as envisioned in the current development plans. The Type A Water License also includes the ability to develop the Llama and Goose Main Undergrounds as well as the Echo Open Pit and Underground should we choose to do so in the future. The issuance of the Type A Water License is the culmination of significant work completed during the environmental assessment and permitting process, as well as the negotiation of long term land tenure with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association. We appreciate the professional approach of the Nunavut Water Board during the licensing process, as well as the support for the project from our other stakeholders in the Kitikmeot. While a rigorous process, the receipt of this last major license demonstrates the responsible mining friendly jurisdiction in which we work, said Bruce McLeod, President & CEO. Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is well-financed with approximately C$39.4 million as at September 30, 2018 in cash and equivalents, and is an emerging precious metals company with district scale, advanced, high grade gold assets in one of the worlds newest, politically stable mining jurisdictions: Nunavut, Canada. Sabina released a Feasibility Study on its 100% owned Back River Gold Project which presents a project that has been designed on a fit-for purpose basis, with the potential to produce ~200,000 ounces a year for ~11 years with a rapid payback of 2.9 years (see Technical Report for the Initial Project Feasibility Study on the Back River Gold Property, Nunavut, Canada dated October 28, 2015) (the Study). At a US$1,150 gold price and a 0.80 (US$:C$) exchange rate, the Study delivers a potential after tax internal rate of return of approximately 24.2% with an initial CAPEX of $415 million. In addition to Back River, Sabina also owns a significant silver royalty on Glencores Hackett River Project. The silver royalty on Hackett Rivers silver production is comprised of 22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all silver produced thereafter. For further information please contact: Nicole Hoeller, Vice-President, Communications: 1 888 648-4218 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (the forward-looking statements), including our belief as to the extent, results and timing of infrastructure improvement activities, exploration results and permitting and licensing outcomes. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of general economic conditions, commodity prices, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government and regulatory authorities and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with exploration and project development; the need for additional financing; the calculation of mineral resources and reserves; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; government regulation; obtaining and renewing necessary licenses and permits; environmental liability and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers or directors; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; labour disputes; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume; future sales of shares by existing shareholders; and other risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Back River Project and general risks associated with the mineral exploration and development industry described in our Annual Information Form, financial statements and MD&A for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. This news release has been authorized by the undersigned on behalf of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. Bruce McLeod, President & CEO Suite 1800 Two Bentall Centre 555 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V7X 1M7 Tel 604 998-4175 Fax 604 998-1051 http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. (TSX: CGG; HKEx: 2099) (China Gold International Resources or the Company) wishes to announce that, on November 13, 2018, its Board of Directors accepted the following changes in senior management and board composition: 1. Mr. Bing Liu has resigned as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director of the Company. Mr. Bing Liu served as a Non-Executive Director from May 2008 to February 2014 when he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director. Mr. Liu has played a major role in the success of the Company. Mr. Liu has tendered his resignation in order to devote his time to a new position within China National Gold Group Co. Ltd. (CNG or China National Gold), the Companys largest shareholder. The Company wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Mr. Liu for his service and all he has accomplished as CEO. We wish Mr. Liu all the best in his new endeavors and will always be grateful for his leadership. 2. Mr. Lianzhong Sun has resigned as Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. Lianzhong Sun has served as Non-Executive Director since February 2014. Mr. Sun also served as Vice President of China National Gold, the Companys principal shareholder and the largest gold producer in China, since 2011, where he was mainly responsible for resources development. Mr. Suns resignation represents a general retirement from all positions at CNG. The Company wishes to express its gratitude to Mr. Suns for his contributions to the Company during his tenure of office. 3. Mr. Liangyou Jiang has been appointed as CEO of the Company. Mr. Jiang joined the Company in August 2010 and has moved quickly through the Companys ranks. He started as General Manager of Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Corp. Ltd. ("Tibet Huatailong"), the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, and in February 2012 was appointed as Chairman of Tibet Huatailong. On August 18, 2014, he was appointed Senior Executive Vice President and on October 23, 2014 he joined the Board of Directors of the Company. In addition, Mr. Jiang served as Vice-President of CNG since July 2018, manager of Oversea Operation Department of CNG from December 2015 to July 2018, and Director of China National Gold Group Hong Kong Limited, CNGs wholly-owned subsidiary, since October 2018. From September 2007, Mr. Jiang served as the Head of the Engineering Management Division of the Investment Management Department of CNG, and in February 2008 he was appointed as a Manager of the Investment Management Department. Mr. Jiang is a senior professional engineer, holds a bachelor's degree in mineral processing from Northeastern University. Mr. Jiang has been a key part of management and the Board extends its warmest welcome as Mr. Jiang moves into his new leadership role. 4. Ms. Fuzhen Kang has been appointed as Non-Executive Director of the Company. Ms. Kang joined Tibet Huatailong in July 2008 in a number of community communications roles. She holds a bachelors degree in environmental science from the Tibet University. The Board would like to express its warmest welcome to Ms. Kang on her appointment. 5. Mr. Yongqing Teng has been appointed as Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. Teng currently serves as Deputy General Manager of China National Gold Group Hong Kong Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CNG (since October 2017), Executive Director and General Manager of China Gold Group Sichuan Co., Ltd. (since October 2017), Bureau Director of Sichuan Gold Industry Administration Bureau (since November 2015), and President of Sichuan General Investment Co., Ltd. (since November 2015). Prior to this Mr. Teng served as Manager of China Gold Sichuan Company from November 2015 to November 2017. He joined Tibet Huatailong, the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, in August 2010 where he served as Deputy General Manager until he was appointed General Manager in February 2012 and subsequently appointed Chairmanin August 2014. He served in this capacity until November 2015. Mr. Teng has over 30 years experience working in engineering and operations roles in the gold mining sector in China. The Board would like to express its warmest welcome to Mr. Teng on his appointment. 6. Mr. Zhongxin Guo has been appointed as the Chief Engineer of the Company. Mr. Guo is a professional engineer with over 35 years experience in engineering studies, mine engineering and mine operations. He has served as a senior mining engineer and director of technical services for the Company since 2014. Previously Mr. Guo held senior mining engineer positions with global mining engineering consulting companies, working on a variety of projects for a wide range of clients, including some of the worlds largest mining companies. He also held the position of engineering director with the Mine and Gold Branch, Changsha Engineering and Research Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy, leading design and consultancy of key national and provincial / ministry projects in China. In addition, he also assumed responsibilities of leading Chinas strategic planning initiatives for development at new and existing nonferrous metals mines and smelters. Mr. Guo will serve as the Companys internal qualified person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Mr. Liangyou Jiang, the Companys new CEO, stated: I would like to thank Mr. Liu for his leadership and dedication to the Company and, in particular for bringing both Series I and Series II of the Jiama Phase II expansion into commercial production during his tenure. We welcome Ms. Kang and Mr. Teng to the Companys board of directors and look forward to their contributions as the Company brings more diverse viewpoints to the board. About China Gold International Resources China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. is based in Vancouver, BC, Canada and operates both profitable and growing mines, the CSH Gold Mine in Inner Mongolia, and the Jiama Copper-Polymetallic Mine in Tibet Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. The Companys objective is to continue to build shareholder value by growing production at its current mining operations, expanding its resource base, and aggressively acquiring and developing new projects internationally. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGG) and the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 2099). For additional information on China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd., please refer to its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or contact Tel: 604-609-0598, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Website: www.chinagoldintl.com. Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements Certain information regarding China Gold International Resources contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although China Gold International Resources believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. China Gold International Resources cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what China Gold International Resources currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and subject to change after that date. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 14, 2018 / Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (''Sandstorm Gold Royalties'', ''Sandstorm'' or the ''Company'') (NYSE American: SAND; TSX: SSL) has released its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 (all figures in U.S. dollars). THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS Revenue of $17.3 million (Q3 2017 - $17.9 million); Attributable gold equivalent ounces 1 sold of 14,314 ounces (Q3 2017 - 14,293 ounces); sold of 14,314 ounces (Q3 2017 - 14,293 ounces); Average cash cost per attributable gold equivalent ounce 1 of $248 resulting in cash operating margins 1 of $960 per ounce (Q3 2017 - $246 per ounce and $1,009 per ounce respectively); of $248 resulting in cash operating margins of $960 per ounce (Q3 2017 - $246 per ounce and $1,009 per ounce respectively); Cash flows from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital 1 , of $11.4 million (Q3 2017 - $11.1 million); , of $11.4 million (Q3 2017 - $11.1 million); Net income of $2.1 million (Q3 2017 - net income of $4.8 million). OUTLOOK Based on the Company's existing royalties, attributable gold equivalent ounces sold is forecasted to be between 56,000 - 60,000 for 2018 and between 63,000 - 73,000 ounces in 2019. The Company is forecasting attributable gold equivalent production of 140,000 ounces in 2023. FINANCIAL RESULTS Sandstorm's revenue during the third quarter of 2018 was $17.3 million compared with $17.9 million for the comparable period in 2017. The decrease is largely attributable to a 4% decrease in the average realized selling price of gold. Net income was lower when compared to the same period in 2017 partly due to certain non-recurring items that were recognized during the third quarter of 2017, including a $3.4 million gain primarily resulting from the Bachelor Lake gold stream amendment. The decrease in net income was partially offset by a $0.7 million decrease in depletion expense and a $0.3 million reduction in the administrative costs due to cost reduction strategies. STREAMS & ROYALTIES: Q3 UPDATES Of the attributable gold equivalent ounces sold by Sandstorm, approximately 39% were attributable to mines located in Canada, 17% from the rest of North America and 44% from South America and other countries. Three months ended September 30, 2018 Revenue (in $000s) Gold Equivalent Ounces Canada $6,665 5,521 North America excl. Canada $3,005 2,491 South America & Other $7,619 6,302 Total $17,289 14,314 Canada Streams and royalties on Canadian mines contributed 6% less gold equivalent ounces sold to Sandstorm when compared to the third quarter of 2017. The change is primarily attributable to a decrease in gold equivalent ounces sold from the Black Fox mine in Ontario and a decrease in royalty revenue from the Bracemac-McLeod mine in Quebec. Black Fox Stream McEwen Mining Inc. (''McEwen'') reported in their third quarter results that their 2018 exploration budget at the Black Fox Complex in Ontario, Canada has increased to $19 million. The goals of the exploration program are to grow known deposits and make new discoveries that will contribute to near-term and mid-term gold production. During the third quarter of 2018, surface exploration drilling at the Froome target area focused on evaluating the down-plunge extension of the Froome Deposit and assessing the potential of the mineralized footwall. Underground exploration drilling was dedicated to confirming and expanding known mineralized trends that are located close to current workings and could be brought into production quickly. For the remainder of the year, underground mining and exploration efforts will be dedicated to further understanding the depth potential at the mine's main ore system below the existing development. For more information refer to www.mcewenmining.com and see the press release dated October 30, 2018. Sandstorm has a gold stream agreement to purchase 8% of the gold produced from Black Fox at an ongoing cost of $540 per ounce. North America Excluding Canada When compared to the third quarter of 2017, gold equivalent ounces coming from North America, excluding Canada, decreased by 35%. The change was driven by a decrease in gold equivalent ounces sold attributable to the Santa Elena mine in Mexico and a decrease in royalty revenue from the Emigrant Springs mine in Nevada. South America & Other Operations in South America and other countries contributed an additional 1,723 gold equivalent ounces sold when compared to the third quarter of 2017, representing a 38% increase. The recently acquired Hounde royalty contributed 1,399 of those attributable gold equivalent ounces. Cerro Moro Silver Stream Yamana Gold Inc. (''Yamana'') has provided Sandstorm with notification that it has met the contractual threshold for the commencement of commercial production at the Cerro Moro mine (''Cerro Moro''). Purchases under Sandstorm's silver stream agreement will begin on silver produced from ore mined starting on January 1, 2019. Accordingly, the first attributable silver ounces are expected to be delivered to Sandstorm starting in the second quarter of 2019. Sandstorm has a silver stream agreement to purchase an amount of silver from Cerro Moro equal to 20% of the silver produced, up to a maximum of 1.2 million ounces of silver annually, until Yamana has delivered to Sandstorm 7.0 million ounces of silver, then 9.0% of the silver produced thereafter for the life of the mine. Sandstorm will make ongoing payments for each ounce of silver received, equal to 30% of the spot price per ounce of silver. Aurizona Royalty Equinox Gold Corp. (''Equinox Gold'') announced that as of September 30, 2018, overall project construction was 80% complete at the Aurizona gold mine in Brazil. The project is on track to achieve commercial production around the end of the first quarter of 2019. At the end of the third quarter of 2018, more than 4 million tonnes of material had been moved and 270,000 tonnes of ore stockpiled. For more information refer to www.equinoxgold.com and see the press release dated October 31, 2018. Sandstorm has a 3% - 5% sliding scale NSR royalty on the Aurizona project. At gold prices less than or equal to US$1,500 per ounce, the royalty is a 3% NSR. In addition, Sandstorm holds a 2% NSR royalty on the Aurizona Greenfields property, a package of exploration ground adjacent to the Aurizona project. WEBCAST & CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS A conference call will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2018 starting at 8:30am PST to further discuss the third quarter results. To participate in the conference call, use the following dial-in numbers and conference ID, or join the webcast using the link below: Local/International: (+1) 201 389 0899 North American Toll-Free: (+1) 877 407 0312 Conference ID: 13684537 Webcast URL: https://bit.ly/2RHxZN4 The Sandstorm Management Discussion and Analysis (''MD&A'') and Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 will be accessible on the Company's website and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company has also completed a Form 6-K filing with the SEC that will be accessible on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Shareholders can request a hard copy of the MD&A and Financial Statements by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Qualified Person Keith Laskowski (MSc), Sandstorm's Vice President, Technical Services is a Qualified Professional (#01221QP) of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America and a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release. Note 1 Sandstorm has included certain performance measures in this press release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (''IFRS'') including average cash cost per attributable gold equivalent ounce, average realized gold price per attributable ounce, cash operating margin, and cash flows from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital. Average cash cost per attributable gold equivalent ounce is calculated by dividing the Company's cost of sales, excluding depletion by the number of attributable gold equivalent ounces sold. The Company presents average cash cost per ounce as it believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance in comparison to other streaming companies in the precious metals mining industry who present results on a similar basis. Average realized gold price per attributable ounce is calculated by dividing the Company's sales by the number of attributable gold equivalent ounces sold. The Company presents average realized gold price per attributable ounce as it believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance in comparison to other streaming companies in the precious metals mining industry that present results on a similar basis. Cash operating margin is calculated by subtracting the average cash cost per attributable gold equivalent ounce from the average realized selling price per attributable gold equivalent ounce. The Company presents cash operating margin as it believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance in comparison to other companies in the precious metals mining industry who present results on a similar basis. The Company has also used the non-IFRS measure of cash flows from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital. This measure is calculated by adding back the decrease or subtracting the increase in changes in non-cash working capital to or from cash provided by (used in) operating activities. The Company presents cash flows from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital as it believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance in comparison to other streaming companies in the precious metals mining industry that present results on a similar basis. Sandstorm has included attributable gold equivalent ounces as a performance measure in this press release which does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company's royalty and other commodity stream revenue is converted to an attributable gold equivalent ounce basis by dividing the royalty and other commodity stream revenue for that period by the average realized gold price per ounce from the Company's gold streams for the same respective period. These attributable gold equivalent ounces when combined with the gold ounces sold from the Company's gold streams equal total attributable gold equivalent ounces sold and may be subject to change. The presentation of this non-IFRS measure 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. Other companies may calculate these non-IFRS measures differently. Note these figures have not been audited and are subject to change. ABOUT SANDSTORM GOLD ROYALTIES Sandstorm is a gold royalty company that provides upfront financing to gold mining companies that are looking for capital and in return, receives the right to a percentage of the gold produced from a mine, for the life of the mine. Sandstorm has acquired a portfolio of 188 royalties, of which 20 of the underlying mines are producing. Sandstorm plans to grow and diversify its low cost production profile through the acquisition of additional gold royalties. For more information visit: www.sandstormgold.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS TO U.S. SECURITYHOLDERS The financial information included or incorporated by reference in this press release or the documents referenced herein has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which differs from US generally accepted accounting principles (''US GAAP'') in certain material respects, and thus are not directly comparable to financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP. Information contained or referenced in this press release or in the documents referenced herein concerning the properties, technical information and operations of Sandstorm has been prepared in accordance with requirements and standards under securities laws, which differ from the requirements of US securities laws. The terms ''mineral resource'', ''measured mineral resource'', ''indicated mineral resource'' and ''inferred mineral resource'' used in this or in the documents incorporated by reference herein are mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under guidelines set out in the Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on 11 December 2005. While the terms ''mineral resource'', ''measured mineral resource'', ''indicated mineral resource'' and ''inferred mineral resource'' are recognized and required by securities laws other than the requirements of US securities laws, they are not recognized by the SEC. Disclosure of contained ounces are or may be permitted disclosure under regulations applicable to Sandstorm; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report resources as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit of production measures. As such, certain information contained in this document or in the documents incorporated by reference herein concerning descriptions of mineralization and mineral resources under these standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by US companies subject to reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains "forward-looking statements", within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Sandstorm. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the future price of gold, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, realization of mineral reserve estimates, and the timing and amount of estimated future production. Forward-looking statements 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. Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Sandstorm to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Sandstorm will operate in the future, including the price of gold and anticipated costs. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, gold and other commodity price volatility, discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, mining operational and development risks relating to the parties which produce the gold Sandstorm will purchase, regulatory restrictions, activities by governmental authorities (including changes in taxation), currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Sandstorm to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions, the absence of control over mining operations from which Sandstorm will purchase gold, other commodities or receive royalties from, and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, risks in the marketability of minerals, fluctuations in the price of gold and other commodities, fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and interest rates, stock market volatility, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled ''Risks to Sandstorm'' in Sandstorm's annual report for the financial year ended December 31, 2017 and the Company's annual information form dated March 29, 2018 available at www.sedar.com. Although Sandstorm has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Sandstorm does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained or incorporated by reference, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. When it emerged at the beginning of the 1990s, international justice did not envisage the victims as witnesses for whom it might have to guarantee protection. In the last 15 years or so, newly created international or mixed tribunals from Phnom Penh to Dakar, from The Hague to Bangui have nevertheless given victims the right to become real participants in trials. Sometimes they are participating victims, as before the International Criminal Court (ICC). In Phnom Penh, at the trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), they have become real parties to the trial civil parties. One of the factors in this has been the development of mixed tribunals integrated into the national judicial system of the country Cambodia, Senegal, Central African Republic where criminal trial proceedings provide for full participation of victims. For these jurisdictions, the challenge is not so much to invent a new system (like at the ICC) as to adapt a national practice to the judicial, practical and financial challenges specific to trials for mass crimes (large number of victims, technical nature of procedures, difficulty of organizing effective information and consultation for victims in long procedures). The challenge is also to meet the expectations of extra-judicial benefits from victims participation. It is expected not only to help shed light on the truth but also to promote national reconciliation, allow victims to feel empowered and lead to collective, transformative reparations programmes, notwithstanding the risk of creating two categories of victims: those who participate in trials and could benefit from the supposed benefits of their participation; and the rest. Is it in victims interest to participate in trials? At the EEEC, precedence has been given to the symbolic dimension of civil parties participation, sometimes at the expense of the purely judicial dimension. The criteria for eligibility to participate have been considerably broadened to admit a large number of civil parties who were then grouped for trial purposes into a Collective, with the risk that individual demands become diluted. The Chamber has thus also authorized implementation of judicial reparations projects funded by external donors before any decision on the guilt or innocence of the accused. It is premature to draw all the conclusions from civil parties experience, but it is perhaps already possible to open debate on the balance required between this judicial dimension and symbolic dimension, starting by questioning the accepted view that it is always in victims interests to participate in trials for mass crimes. Are we not in danger of moving from the right to participate (which also means the right not to participate), to an injunction to victims to participate, without necessarily bothering about the real benefits they could draw from it? It is not often said, but victims rarely feel appeased and satisfied after a criminal trial. It is not often said, but victims rarely feel appeased and satisfied after a criminal trial. Lawyers used to representing victims know how much participating in a trial can be lengthy, disturbing and a source of huge frustration. Imagine my surprise when a civil party, after hearing the verdict of the first trial sentencing Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan to prison for life exclaimed furiously: Its as if I had cancer and they gave me paracetamol! Just imagine the disappointment when your case doesnt even get to trial stage. The real experience of a civil party A Collective of 3,867 men and women victims of crimes or policies carried out when the Khmer Rouge were in power from April 1975 to January 1979 has been participating for ten years in this second trial of Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea. Ten years! But what do we really mean by participation? Let us try to put ourselves for a moment in the place of one civil party. She wanted to come and testify because she was told it was important to talk, but only 63 civil parties have been able to do so. At the risk of caricature, let us try to put ourselves for a moment in the place of one civil party, people who are rarely talked about but nevertheless are the majority in the Collective whose interests we represent. An NGO came to see her ten years ago to persuade her to become a civil party, saying the procedure would last three years. She does not know the accused personally. The case in which she is participating has been divided into three because it was too voluminous and part of the facts were put aside by the judges for lack of time. Since she started participating, 282 of her fellow civil parties have died, before ever hearing the final judgment, and she tells herself the same thing could well happen to her. She also supported an informal suggestion from another civil party saying it would be particularly useful if the Court could help with funeral costs. She wanted to come and testify because she was told it was important to talk, but only 63 civil parties have been able to do so. She went to talk about her experience in a school, because that is part of reparations projects (the young need to understand what happened). Since the beginning of the trial, she has come to attend one or two hearings and participated in some information and consultation forums where she met her lawyer and other civil parties. On these occasions, she tried to economize the per diems she received to improve her daily life. But the activities take place in town, she lives in the country and she is becoming more and more tired from travelling. Sometimes she even finds it hard to know what is happening in the trial A national, non-discriminatory reparations programme Putting aside the heroic tales of civil parties whose testimony is supposed to have changed their lives, we should draw lessons from the participation of victims at the ECCC. A good balance needs to be found between the judicial dimension and the symbolic dimension. Victims participation at the ECCC has been a formidable testing ground. Let us hope that international criminal justice is not afflicted with amnesia. This balance can only be found by sending international and hybrid courts back to their primary task trying and judging and envisaging complementarity with other mechanisms, internal or external to the courts, which would allow the expectations of all victims to be better met: a real, national reparations programme separated from a guilty verdict on such a small number of accused persons and which is open to all victims, not only those who have taken part in organized trials. Victims participation at the ECCC has been a formidable testing ground. Let us hope that international criminal justice is not afflicted as so often in the past with amnesia. Two senior leaders of Cambodias Khmer Rouge regime face a verdict Friday on genocide charges, in a ruling that experts say will bring down the curtain on the troubled UN-backed tribunals quest for justice. The Khmer Rouges former head of state Khieu Samphan, 87, and Brother Number 2 Nuon Chea, 92, are the two most senior living members of the ultra-Maoist group that seized control of Cambodia from 1975-1979. The reign of terror led by Brother Number 1 Pol Pot left around two million Cambodians dead from overwork, starvation and mass executions. The two defendants were previously handed life sentences in 2014 over the violent and forced evacuation of Phnom Penh in April 1975. But Fridays judgement at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) will decide whether the pair are guilty of overseeing genocide against ethnic Vietnamese and the Cham Muslim minority, as well as a host of other crimes. The verdict is essentially the Nuremberg judgement for the ECCC and thus carries very significant weight for Cambodia, international criminal justice, and the annals of history, said David Scheffer, who served as the UN secretary generals special expert on the Khmer Rouge trials from 2012 until last month. The revolutionaries who tried to recreate Buddhist-majority Cambodia in line with their vision of an agrarian society attempted to abolish class and religious distinctions by force. Forced marriages, rape, the treatment of Buddhists, and atrocities that were carried out in prisons and work sites throughout the country fall under the additional list of charges against the two men. (The verdict) will affirm the collective humanity of the victims and give recognition to the horrible suffering, said Youk Chhang, head of the Documentation Center of Cambodia a research organisation that has provided the court with evidence. It could also provide a sense of closure to a horrible chapter in Cambodian history. About 800 people, including some 200 Cham Muslims, are expected to attend the hearing on Friday, said ECCC spokesman Neth Pheaktra. The hybrid court, which uses a mix of Cambodian and international law, was created with the backing of the UN in 2006 to try senior Khmer Rouge leaders. Only three people have been convicted by the court, which has cost more than $300 million. Former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife died without facing justice, while Brother Number 1 Pol Pot passed away in 1998. The number of allegations against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan was so vast the court split the trials into a series of smaller hearings in 2011. Many believe the decision will be the last for the tribunal, which has been marred by allegations of political interference. Prime Minister Hun Sen himself a former Khmer Rouge cadre has repeatedly warned he would not allow more investigations to proceed, citing vague threats to stability. The court has launched investigations into four more Khmer Rouge cadres, though one was dismissed in February 2017, highlighting the difficulties of bringing lower level members of the brutal regime to justice. Scheffer said that challenges of efficiency, funding, and access to evidence are issues that plague all international criminal courts, but argued the successes of the Cambodian tribunal should not be diminished. burs-dhc/joe/fa Unearthing evidence: Kansas State University researchers examine processes that support soil health Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018 Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige, Kansas State University postdoctoral fellow, worked with Ganga Hettiarachchi, Kansas State University professor of agronomy, to collect spectromicroscopy data at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Canadian Light Source. The researchers applied an uncommon technique to soil samples and found direct evidence that management practices affect carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. | Download this photo. MANHATTAN Healthy soil contains carbon and a mystery. Some carbon remains in the soil for millennia, but some decomposes quickly and escapes into the atmosphere. The latest research from Ganga Hettiarachchi, Kansas State University professor of soil and environmental chemistry in the department of agronomy, is helping scientists solve this mystery. Scientists who want to keep carbon in the soil previously thought that some types of carbon were more stable than others, but recent work has suggested that all carbon is degradable. Hettiarachchi and her research team have applied a new technique to studying soil chemistry and found direct evidence that the surrounding environment and management practices heavily influence soil carbon stability. Their study, "Sub-micron level investigation reveals the inaccessibility of stabilized carbon in soil microaggregates," is published in Scientific Reports, a Nature research journal. Hettiarachchi led a team that mapped chemical information in tiny soil samples by adapting imaging and analysis techniques used in other fields, such as material and biological sciences. Using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy coupled with near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, known as STXM-NEXAFS, for soil plus analyzing the data was challenging, but it provided simultaneous gathering of both spatial and chemical/physical information. Hettiarachchi said the years-long project yielded worthwhile results. "We know soil has the potential to be a 'sink' for carbon," she said. "Understanding the mechanisms of carbon storage, or sequestration, can help us choose management practices that encourage carbon sequestration." Carbon sequestration helps farmers maintain soil health and productivity and protects against climate variability. Hettiarachchi's study found that no-till management practices and crop rotations helped protect carbon in the soil in the long term. The researchers used soil samples that came from Brazil, a tropical agroecosystem, under these management practices for a period of 25 years. Preparing samples required saturating them with water, snap freezing them with liquid nitrogen, cutting them with a diamond knife and then taking them to collect spectromicroscopic data at Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, California, and Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The team used traditional bulk soil analysis techniques to complement their results. "Although it was challenging, the technique we used is a very powerful technique," said Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige, a postdoctoral researcher who worked on the project with Hettiarachchi as a doctoral student. "We were able to image and study the composition of very small soil aggregates with preserved natural conditions." "Applying novel techniques to soil carbon chemistry provides a better understanding of the role the soil microbiome plays in the fate of soil carbon," said Chuck Rice, university distinguished professor of agronomy. "Carbon is key to soil health and the environment." The group also is studying Kansas soils and has more publications coming soon. Hettiarachchi said testing soil from contrasting climates and agroecosystems was important because tropical environments encourage rapid degrading of soil carbon. "Even there, certain management practices and complex crop rotations help," she said. The project was supported by the National Science Foundation, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas State University Department of Agronomy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday defended his absence from a number of events of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to catch up on sleep. In a chance interview with reporters during the second day of the 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Singapore, Duterte was asked if he already had enough rest after skipping six meetings with regional leaders on Wednesday. "Still not good enough but enough to sustain the endurance for the last days," Duterte said. "Why? What's wrong with my nap?" The President earlier said he might skip the ASEAN-U.S. Summit, but later showed up for the event. He said he intends to attend all the meetings scheduled for Thursday, including the bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr., who attended the events on Duterte's behalf, downplayed the President's absence at the events, saying speeches have been prepared beforehand and any government official could read it. "Those statements are prepared by the experts because they address or confirm what was already arrived at. I could read it, he could read it. [Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez] could read it. It wouldn't make a difference," Locsin said in a press briefing in Singapore. He stressed that the Philippines did not miss any opportunity when Duterte skipped the meetings. "I can tell you that I've seen different leaders stand up and leave including the chairman, and it doesn't reflect badly," he said. Malacanang on Wednesday said too much unnecessary fuss was being made over Duterte's non-appearance at the meetings. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte only needed to catch up on rest since he worked late on Tuesday evening and had only three hours of sleep. Still, Duterte's absences elicited negative reactions from some officials. ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said Duterte wasted public funds going to Singapore. "Sa tingin natin, doon pa siya natulog. Dapat 'di na lang siya pumunta sa ASEAN meeting. Sana nag-stay na lang siya sa bansa natin kasi baka mas may kabuluhan pa yung gagawin niya dito," Castro said. Translation: "Why did he have to sleep there? he should have not gone to the ASEAN meeting. He should have stayed here to do a more meaningful job." Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson thinks Duterte may have intentionally skipped some events to avoid something. "Baka sinadyang hindi puntahan kasi may iniiwasan. Remember the issue on waste, and 'yung statement ni [Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau]. Baka kasama ito sa mga consideration, aside from other factors," Lacson said in a statement Thursday. [Translation: "Maybe he wanted to avoid something. Remember the issue on waste, and the statement of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This might be included in the consideration, aside from other factors."] During last year's summit which the Philippines hosted, Trudeau committed to resolve the controversial dumping of Canadian garbage in the Philippines in 2013. In a speech at the end of the summit, Duterte slammed world leaders who criticized his bloody war on drugs, saying he was "insulted." This was in sharp contrast with Trudeau's statement that their meeting was "cordial and positive" despite the issues of human rights, extrajudicial killings, and the rule of law being brought up. CHICO, Calif. As firefighters and law enforcement continue to search the ruins of Paradise for victims of the Camp Fire's aggressive passage, they are beginning to encounter a new tragedy individuals suspected of looting the property left behind by evacuees, or what remains of it. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), their first two arrests occurred on Monday. Deputies were patrolling the evacuated area of Butte Creek Canyon when a PG&E employee told them that he'd seen two men in the area that "appeared to be looting." Deputies would find the two men later identified as 41-year-old Jason Burns of Chico and 48-year-old Michael Salisbury of Reno run into a house on Quail Run Drive. Entering the house, deputies found both men "hiding in a bedroom" with a .45 caliber handgun, methamphetamine, heroin, drug paraphernalia, and loaded magazines for the gun. In the garage, deputies found an AR-15 rifle, several chainsaws, and more tools "suspected of being stolen." They also found an ATV outside that had been reported stolen. Investigators would later discover that the home belonged to a family member of Burns, BCSO said, but Burns did not have permission to be there. They also found that the handgun may have been stolen from a separate home in Paradise. Both Burns and Salisbury were arrested for theft, drug and weapons charges, among other things. Their bail was set at $89,000 and the case remains under investigation. The next morning, deputies found 27-year-old Teddy King of Paradise and 38-year-old John Brown of Oroville near the bike path on Skyway. BCSO says that they were found in possession of a laptop that "didn't belong to either of the men," plus a ski mask, drugs and drug paraphernalia. Both were arrested on drug charges. Around 9 a.m. the same morning, deputies were patrolling in Chico when they spotted a motorhome that had been reported stolen from the Magalia evacuation area. After stopping the motorhome, the deputies found that there "was not a key in the ignition, and the ignition was damaged." The occupants, 22-year-old Shayne Tinnel Jr. and 42-year-old Tracy Sizer of Magalia were arrested on theft and looting charges. GRANTS PASS, Ore. A widespread outage in the Grants Pass area on Wednesday morning was actually the indirect result of upgrades being made on the substation there, according to a statement from Pacific Power released in the afternoon. We apologize for the inconveniences our customers are experiencing during this period, said Christina Kruger, regional business manager for Pacific Power. The ongoing work is necessary to improve the system to keep up with growth. We are a vibrant, growing community and our system needs to keep up with this growth. Right now, we are experiencing some growing pains while we are working on finishing our current reliability projects. The company says that they have been working to upgrade their transmission system in the area since May. "The upgrade work, however, has temporarily made the system more prone to outages that affect a broader number of customers." Pacific Power expects the $10 million upgrade project to be finished in mid-December. However, in the meantime, outages may be a periodic reality. "During construction on a substation, the power system needed to be realigned to allow crews to work safely. This means that minor instances which might otherwise have caused a small, localized outage, tripped circuits across a larger area, as Southern Oregon experienced on Nov. 14," the company said. Presumably, the same construction resulted in an even larger outage in June that encompassed most of Josephine County. An accident caused damage to the Grants Pass substation at the time. Due to continuing growth in Southern Oregon, Pacific Power says that they built their "Whetstone" substation near Kirkland Road in White City. Now they expect to break ground in the next several years on $70 million in upgraded transmission lines and a new substation in the Sam's Valley area. We will keep you posted on the progress on the Grants Pass substation work, said Kruger. We apologize for the inconvenience now but when the work is done, we should have an even more reliable electric grid than before. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A man has been sentenced to more than two years in Oregon prison after a recently tested sexual assault kit linked him to the rape of a 14-year-old Portland girl. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports 49-year-old Chanh Van Tran was sentenced Tuesday after he pleaded guilty last week to third-degree rape and third-degree sodomy in connection with the September 2012 assault. Tran was already incarcerated on a burglary conviction after breaking into a northeast Portland home in 2016. The 14-year-old victim had reported the assault to police immediately. She was taken to a hospital for a forensic exam on the same day. The sexual assault kit that matched DNA evidence to Tran wasn't tested until last year. Portland police have not said why the kit wasn't sent for testing in 2012. 2 Shares Share In Dr. Suneel Dhands article, We can do a better job with hospital discharge paperwork, he advocates for physicians to do a better job at creating discharge instructions that are more appealing and easier for patients to understand. After all, coherent patient instructions are a crucial part in ensuring that patients are able to adhere to our recommendations, including taking appropriate medications, following up on subspecialty referrals and attending follow-up visits. This is an important step in decreasing preventable revisits and readmissions for chronic conditions. But writing beautiful, colorful and easy-to-read instructions are not enough. In order to make meaningful advances in decreasing unnecessary repeat visits and admissions, we need to build coordinated, multidisciplinary systems to support patients both while they are inside our facilities and when they go home. As a general pediatrician, this concept is most salient in my care of children with asthma, the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 1 in 12 (or 6 million) children in the United States. When their condition is well-controlled, children with asthma can lead thriving, healthy lives. When their disease is not controlled, these children miss school due to countless urgent care visits and hospitalizations, participate in less physical activity, and cause their parents to miss work. Among children with asthma, 1 in 6 visits the emergency department and 1 in 20 are hospitalized for this condition every year. Those who are admitted to the hospital tend to be African-American and publicly insured. Preventing these visits and admissions can relieve a significant burden on our health care system and improve the lives of millions of children. It can also help alleviate the disproportionate burden of morbidity on children from African-American and low-socioeconomic backgrounds. With the shift in health care delivery systems towards coordination and collaboration and the growing emphasis on payment models that emphasize quality, value and shared savings, pediatricians and pediatric care facilities have an opportunity to change the way we discharge patients. One way to do this is to join the wave of change in adult health care and support the development of pediatric accountable care organization (ACO) models. The ACO concept is made for pediatrics in many ways given its emphasis on patient-centered care, care coordination, primary care, quality measurement focused on improved outcomes, and population management. ACOs have tremendous potential to improve pediatric health outcomes and decrease preventable costs in caring for this vulnerable population. How would ACOs decrease preventable asthma revisits and readmissions? By providing coordinated, multidisciplinary, wraparound support, especially during times of transition, like discharge from the hospital. Many children with asthma, especially those who require hospitalization, are referred to pulmonology and/or allergy subspecialists, who are important members of their health care team. By promoting collaboration between primary and subspecialty care, ACOs can improve subspecialty access for patients with asthma. Children with asthma, especially those who have difficulty accessing care or have complex health conditions, can also benefit from patient navigators and care coordinators. ACOs encourage the incorporation of measures that improve the quality of care and result in cost savings for participating providers and health care facilities. Aside from patient navigators and care coordinators, these measures can include providing medications in hand at discharge, developing individualized asthma action plans, and improving patient/family education on asthma. Some ACOs are also extending their scope to address social determinants of health, a concept that is readily applicable to asthma. Pediatric ACOs can collaborate with legal organizations to form medical-legal partnerships, which can address housing-related issues, like mold and pests, that can exacerbate asthma. Ultimately, pediatric ACOs provide numerous opportunities to improve asthma care and prevent unnecessary revisits and readmissions, including increased primary and subspecialty care coordination, quality improvement measures and novel partnerships to address social determinants of health. In his article, Dr. Dhand acknowledges that there are many factors in the discharge process that need to be addressed aside from discharge paperwork. He is absolutely correct. However, I do not agree that whatever patients do with [the paperwork] afterward read it, put it on their fridge, or even throw it away is up to them. We cannot wash our hands of our patients once they leave our clinic or hospital. In order to meaningfully and sustainably improve health, we need to care about what patients do with our discharge instructions and whether we have the support systems in place for patients to be able to follow through on our recommendations. ACOs can be those support systems. At the end of the day, if a patient ends up back in the clinic or hospital because they were unable to fill their prescription, never got a call from the pulmonology clinic scheduler or live in a mold-infested housing complex, our health care system has failed them. We need to do better than writing good discharge instructions. We need to be more accountable for the health of our patients. Bianca Argueza is a pediatrician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 93 Shares Share The United States spends more on health care per capita than any other country in the world yet health outcomes continue to fall short. In order to close the spending gap with other countries, United States health care policy must focus on reducing costs. While a variety of suggestions have been put forth by economists and medical professionals on how to cut spending and improve health, one recommendation by Dr. Suneel Dhand addresses both problems simultaneously strengthening the primary care workforce. Primary care providers are a critical part of the United States health care system and play a unique and significant role in supporting patient health. They offer comprehensive, continuous care at a depth not possible with other medical providers who see patients less consistently. Being treated by a primary care provider has been proven to be positively associated with more effective preventive and diagnostic care and a range of better health outcomes, including less premature mortality, longer lifespans and an overall more equitable distribution of health in populations. The advantages of seeing a primary care physician go beyond better health outcomes. Studies have shown that there is a significant association between regular primary care visits and less utilization of more expensive health care services, including visits to the emergency room and hospitalization. An illustrative study amongst Colorado Medicaid patients found that those who were enrolled in a program where they regularly visited a primary care physician saw a 15 percent decrease in health care costs compared to patients without the same provider access. There is strong evidence that access to and visits with a primary care provider can lower the costs of the United States health care system and significantly impact patient and population health. While improving the primary care workforce will have both economic and health benefits, the United States has actually been experiencing a shortage of primary care physicians for many years because of increasing provider demand and decreasing salaries relative to other health care professions. The problem is further exacerbated by increases in health care needs due to population growth and aging Baby Boomers and increases in health care utilization due to insurance expansion. This has led researchers to predict a primary care physician deficit of approximately 50,000 by 2025. One of the reasons primary care is a less attractive path for health care professionals is because wages are notably lower than in other fields of medicine. This salary disparity is even more acute in rural and low-income areas. Primary care providers make less in rural areas compared to urban ones And they are paid less to treat patients with Medicaid, both of which disincentive primary care physicians to work in these settings. Lower wages are of particular concern for physicians who graduate from medical school with debt and require salaries that will help them adequately pay off their loans. Another important consideration is the significant lack of racial and ethnic diversity among primary care providers and the medical profession in general. If we are to improve our primary care workforce, we need to do so in a way that benefits all patients and is reflective of the people being served. Currently, people of color represent over 25 percent of the United States population but only 10 percent of the health care workforce. This disparity is important not just for inclusivity but also because people of color in the medical field are more likely to become primary care physicians and practice in medically underserved communities (typically low-income and rural areas). Perhaps if we diversify the primary care workforce, we will also increase the number of primary care physicians in these areas. To drive down health care costs by creating a more robust and diverse primary care workforce nationally, there needs to be an increase in federal policies that institutionalize pathways from medical school to primary care and a shift in federal spending to support communities with high medical need and low primary care access. One suggestion is to create financial incentives that encourage medical students to select primary care practice. This could be in the form of federally funded stipend programs that provide monetary support with the stipulation that recipients continue careers in primary care. Such stipends could also help diversify the workforce by decreasing the economic burden of medical school and making it more accessible for low-income people of color. Linking scholarships to desired outcomes through education/profession pipelines have increased the robustness and diversity of other industries. The California Social Work Education Centers Title IV-E stipend for California master of social work students is a federally funded program that requires graduates to dedicate two years of post-graduation employment to a public child welfare agency. The stipend has infused public child welfare agencies with hundreds of new workers annually, and almost 70 percent of stipend graduates are students of color. Another possible solution is to increase stable funding for institutions that provide primary care services to high need populations. Medically underserved urban and rural areas are largely serviced by primary care physicians in community health centers, and federal funding for these centers is cyclical and uncertain. Establishing a permanent funding stream would support continuity of care for patients and potentially recruit new primary care providers with guaranteed, sustainable salaries. Strengthening our primary care workforce will have important financial and health benefits for individual patients and the United States economy as a whole; therefore it is necessary that we reverse the decline in primary care physicians before the shortage becomes more severe. Policy solutions must make primary care careers feasible for doctors, service more consistent and sustainable in urban and rural areas, and foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Nicole Liner-Jigamian is a social worker and public health student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A driver charged with intentionally ramming his SUV into three women at Portland State University in May has been ordered to get a mental health evaluation. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Nan Waller on Tuesday agreed with a prosecutor's request to have 61-year-old Greg Porter evaluated at Oregon State Hospital. RELATED: Man in custody after 3 hurt in Portland hit-and-run The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Porter's defense lawyer maintains that he is mentally unfit to be criminally prosecuted based on an expert hired by the defense. Porter has been charged with attempted aggravated murder and hit-and-run driving, among other charges. Three women were seriously hurt when authorities say a blue Mazda Tribute drove onto a sidewalk on the campus in downtown Portland. Investigators arrested Porter hours later after finding him behind the wheel of a damaged SUV. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Portland City Council has rejected an ordinance that would have given Mayor Ted Wheeler new powers to regulate protests. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the mayor's proposal failed 2-3 Wednesday when Commissioner Nick Fish cast the deciding vote against it. Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Chloe Eudaly also voted no. Wheeler and Commissioner Dan Saltzman voted yes. Wheeler's ordinance would have given him the power to dictate the conditions of protests if demonstrators had a history of violence and if public safety was jeopardized. The mayor said he and Police Chief Danielle Outlaw developed the idea in response to an increasing number of violent demonstrations in Portland since 2016. An official with the American Civil Liberties Union last week said her organization believes the ordinance is vague, does too much to limit free speech and vests unnecessary power in the mayor. A woman asked to identify the body of her deceased friend - whose partner is on trial for murder - said it was like looking at a different face and body. Renars Veigulis (32) of Old Bridge Street in Freshford, Co Kilkenny has pleaded not guilty to murdering Rita Apine (29) at their home on or about May 14, 2017. Mr Veigulis claim his partner fell down the stairs while prosecuting lawyers have told a Central Criminal Court jury that her injuries were inconsistent with a fall. Opening the trial on Tuesday, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Heneghan SC, said the accused and the deceased were from both Latvia. Mr Veigulus came to Ireland about five years ago, followed six months later by Ms Apine, and in 2016 they moved to Freshford, about 20 miles from Kilkenny City. Latvian national Gatis Kuhalskis gave evidence to Mr Heneghan today that he had been living in Ireland for 11 years and worked with Mr Veigulis in the Kilkenny Design Centre. Mr Kuhalskis agreed he was having a normal day on May 14, 2017, until he got a phone call from a friend telling him to go to Mr Veigulis house. On arrival, he said he was given a shock to see a woman on the street, who he thought was Ms Apine, recieving CPR from an ambulance crew. Mr Kuhalskis said the accused told him Rita had fallen down the stairs and hit her head off a child-safety gate that was located at the bottom of the stairs. Mr Veigulis told him he hadn't seen the fall, Mr Kuhalskis said. He said he was handed the two-and-a-half year old daughter of Ms Apine and Mr Veigulis, who he took to his partners house soon after. Under cross examination, from Mr Bowman, for the defence, Mr Kuhalskis agreed that Mr Veigulis was "shocked and upset" and smoking heavily. Estonian national Julia Sinjagina gave evidence to Mr Heneghan that she had been living in Ireland for about ten years and became friends with Ms Apine over the court of a year and a half before her death. Ms Apine was like a daughter to her, Ms Sinjagina said, because she was the same age as her own daughter. Ms Sinjagina agreed with Mr Heneghan that she didnt think Ms Apine had many friends in Freshford and she would go to Kilkenny to do her shopping. She said Ms Apine was a nice person, a happy person, who cared very much for her daughter. Ms Sinjagina said she confirmed the identity of the body after Ms Apines death. She agreed her face and body were terribly damaged. She provided a photograph to gardai of Ms Apine. It was like two different faces, two different bodies, Ms Sinjagina said comparing the photo of Ms Apine with that of the body she was asked to identify. The trial continues tomorrow(Friday) before a jury of seven men and five women with Ms Justice Tara Burns presiding. The jury has heard that paramedics resuscitated Ms Apine at the scene and took her to hospital but she died later that day. A garda at the scene noticed blood spatter that he did not think was consistent with a simple fall down the stairs and an investigation began. A forensic team found further blood spatter which they say was inconsistent with a fall and evidence that blood had been wiped from a wall prior to the arrival of paramedics and gardai, the jury heard. Mr Heneghan said forensic scientists examined Mr Veigulis's clothing and found, on his top, evidence of blood spatter which was not consistent with the version of events he put forward. He told the jury they would hear a post mortem examination showed the deceased had suffered severe blunt force trauma that was not consistent with a fall down the stairs, Mr Heneghan said. During garda interviews the accused maintained that Ms Apine died as a result of the fall. The jury heard on Wednesday the audio of Mr Veigulis 999 call. Speaking to an emergency call-taker with the National Ambulance Service, the jury heard Mr Veigulis say: Hello can I talk with Kilkenny ambulance. Please, my wife has fallen down the stairs. The emergency-call taker accepted, under cross examination from Michael Bowman SC, for the defence, that Mr Veigulis was clearly distressed and anxious. The jury could hear he was breathing heavily. Please, please very fast. All blood on the floor, please, the defendant was heard telling the emergency call-taker. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. ALBERT LEA, Minn.- The Blazing Star trail was giving $433,000 from the state to expand its trail. The funds were for two sections of the trail. One section started from Hayward to Albert Lea lake, the second from the end of the trail to the bridge. The bridge was never completed, putting the second construction on hold. The state decided to allocate the remaining $200,000 to another trail, something Sue Blenka didnt want to happen. She and other local leaders teamed up contacted the Department of Natural Resources to try to get the money back for maintenance. The goal of the trail is to eventually connect the trail to the Shooting Star Trail in Austin. They were able to get the remaining balance back to the city for maintenance of the trail. The next step is to identify the areas that need attention, said Blenka. She tells KIMT that in the next bonding session they plan to seek funding to complete the bridge. DES MOINES, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in the state to half-staff on Friday in honor of a Pearl Harbor casualty finally returning home. Navy Carpenters Mate 3rd Class William L. Kvidera, 22 of Traer, was killed on December 7, 1941, when Japanese aircraft attacked the USS Oklahoma. His remains were finally identified on July 3, 2018, and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. A mass for William Kvidera will be held Friday at 1 pm at St. Paul Catholic Church in Traer. Flags at all public buildings in Iowa will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset. Individuals and other organizations are encouraged to follow suit as a sign of respect. CHARLES CITY, Iowa - Imagine needing to get to and from work or medical appointments in Mason City...but you live in Charles City. For 29 years, a bus would go between the two cities, but the contractor that operated it ended last year when they retired. Now, a Charles City business is looking to take the reins. Tammy Elthon is the owner of Circle K Communications. While they deal with wireless communications systems like two-way radios, they also manage Charles City's bus system, which began on August 1st of this year. "Our passenger list is over 450 passengers, as of August 1st. It has grown every single month by numbers of rides, so it's a very needed service in Charles City, and we're happy to be doing it." Over the last few weeks, the City of Charles City has been discussing the idea of incorporating county service that would add an extra bus to the current operation that would be used to offer service to/from Mason City (as well as being able to cover rides in town when not in route, especially during times of peak usage), with Circle K scheduling trips and dispatching buses, and the City employing drivers. Between the end of service last year and now, Elthon and says there is a clear need, particularly with those who need to travel to Mason City for medical reasons like cancer treatments and specialist visits, even those who may need a ride home from the hospital. "You want to make sure that you can help people give a hand up if that's what it takes to get them over to their job and the medical. Medical's going to be huge." Kevin Kramer is the transit administrator for the North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG), who is one of the partners in this endeavor and is getting the extra bus ready for service. They requested the service be reinstated after the previous contractor retired. "We've had lots of requests to get this going here and it's taken about a year to get all the pieces of the puzzle in place." Elthon is hopeful on ridership targets. "It's not going to be the hundreds that we do within the city limits of course, but I'm thinking it'll probably be 25-30 riders every day." And at the end of the day, Elthon says reviving the service would not have been possible without a partnership. "You want to be sure you've got the support you need behind you to help you do this. I couldn't do this as a private entity by myself, there's no way. But partnering with the city is a good fit." It is anticipated to be approved at next Monday's meeting, with service potentially starting as soon as December 1st. For those who are interested in the service, Elthon is asking to contact them at 641-228-2183 to schedule a ride, in order to get a feel for how many riders will utilize the service. Floyd County would be able to compensate the City and Circle K for added costs via their contributions to NIACOG. MASON CITY, Iowa- Around 200 Mason City School High School students got a first-hand look at the jobs available in North Iowa on Wednesday. According to the North Iowa Corridor Economic Cooperation, there has been between 700-1,400 jobs available throughout the year in Cerro Gordo County. That means if everyone one of those students was hired there would still be a need for more workers. Emily Wittenbel and Cassie Sievers said they had no idea there was such a need for workers in their home town. After seeing and talking with local businesses, I am considering seeing what opportunities are in Mason City, said Wittenbel. This is part of the Economic Authorities Vision North Iowa where they are teaming up businesses to introduce students to the opportunities available. MASON CITY, Iowa - Mason City police are asking for the publics help to locate a missing 15-year-old girl. Tala Schaal is 5-foot-5, 130 pounds, and police say they dont believe she is in danger. Her hair is currently dyed and may be cut a variety of styles. Based on our ongoing investigation, we believe that Schaal is in the Mason City/Clear Lake area and has been since she went missing. We hope that by asking for the public's help, this will speed up our ability to locate her, Mason City police said. Anyone with information about Schaal's whereabouts is asked to call CGSO Dispatch at 641-421-3000. GARNER, Iowa - Thursday is National Rural Health Day, a day to focus on specific health care issues rural communities are facing. In north Iowa, a hospital is addressing the need for more pain management care. Im excited, says Dean Heideman. Heideman is a chronic pain expert with Hancock County Health System. He's worked at the Britt hospital for several years and will now be spending time in Garner as well. The clinic there is now offering pain management services. Heideman says he is able to personalize treatment for patients to improve their quality of life. It's something he says has been lacking in the Garner community. I want to be able to come to patients, I do travel to a couple different places and I don't want people to have to drive an hour to two hours to see someone for their chronic pain needs, says Heideman. He approaches pain management from a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual stand point. When it comes to opioids, Heideman says they do have their place but likes to prescribe them in low doses to improve function, not necessarily decrease pain. But they are not typically his first choice. In the pain clinic we have three different methods. We have therapy such as physical therapy, massage therapy, we have medications including different adjuncts other than opioids and we have what we call interventions. That could be injections or surgeries. We try to do a balanced approach, he says. Right now the clinic in Garner is accepting pain management patients on Mondays but if there is a need they will expand those hours. In honor of National Rural Health Day, the USDA is announcing they are investing 500 million dollars to improve services nationwide including the Hancock County Health System. $6,433,000 will be used to renovate the hospital including the surgical unit, emergency room and add space for behavioral health. ALBERT LEA, Minn.-Every three years the city of Albert Lea looks to the community for help. They conduct a survey to see how residents feel about the place they call home. Since 2015, majority of people say the city is heading in the right direction. It's a really good place to live, said Albert Lea resident Vern Strand. He lived in Albert Lea for nearly six decades. Everyone is just friendly, he said. The city completed a community survey asking residents about their overall opinion of the place they call home. Some results revealed over 72% of residents ages 18-34 would recommend living in Albert Lea. ROCHESTER, Minn. The Rochester Fire Department is planning for the future, and wants the publics help in doing so. In 2017 alone, firefighters responded to more than 10,000 calls. Theyre asking for feedback on how theyre doing at community planning sessions. We're aware of some community needs. We're probably unaware of some also, Chief Eric Kerska said. So at minimum, I can meet these people and then in the future, hopefully that relationship continues to build and we can go from there. With expected growth in the city, theres going to be a lot to think about and a lot of information to sort through. The outcome of this is going to have a lasting impact, Kerska said, So I want to get it right. There's a lot of pressure to get it right. There are three opportunities to go to the community planning sessions: Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Resource stocks can offer exciting gains at times as well as a few sobering declines. But what if you could still enjoy that upside with less downside risk? This is what is attracting an increasing number of investors to royalty companies. But what is a royalty company? Royalty companies act as alternative financiers to help fund exploration and production projects for explorers and miners in need of money but who do not want to issue more equity (company shares). In return for cash, royalty companies will receive a percentage of future production revenue. For example, if a company receives a 2.0% gross value royalty on a mine that produces 100,000 ounces of gold annually, it would generate payments having a value of nearly 2,000 ounces of gold per year. At a gold price of C$1,600 per ounce, this would result in royalty revenue of nearly $3.2 million per year. Closely related to mining royalties is what is known as streams, these are metal purchase agreements which give the holder the right to purchase all, or a portion, of one or more metals produced from a mine at a pre-set price in exchange for an upfront deposit. Given the level of risk involved, royalty companies will likely be able to negotiate an agreement that provides substantial upside. Types of royalties: While there are more than a few kinds of royalties, we will stick to four of the most common. a) Profit-Based Royalties This royalty is typically based upon net profits generated by the mining operation. Net profits are generally defined as gross profits minus the costs of production after capital costs have been fully recovered. b) Royalty in Kind This gives the holder the rights to take delivery and/or purchase a percentage of future mining production, which is most common in streaming agreements. c) Production Royalty This is also known as a Fixed Rate Royalty and is seldom negotiated owing to the fact that it provides a fixed payment per tonne of production, with no consideration to increases or decreases in market prices or operating costs. d) Net Smelter Return (NSR) Sometimes called Gross Revenue Royalties this type is common in the mining industry and is based on the value of production, or net proceeds, received from a smelter or refinery. From the owners perspective, an NSR provides an income stream that is independent of operational costs of the mine. (Source: Norton Rose Fulbright guide to mining projects and mining finance in Canada) Why royalty companies are considered great investments Unlike traditional mining companies that are subject to input costs that vary (fuel, equipment, labour), royalty companies receives all their revenue from the agreements they negotiate and the cost of those revenues are the responsibility of a projects owners/operators. As a result, royalty companies have high profit margins along with among the most revenue per employee of any industry. High profit margins create superior earnings growth, which has historically resulted in market-beating stock performances. Whereas most junior mining companies have a single project in one country, royalty companies provide portfolio diversification by having agreements with several companies in different jurisdictions throughout the world. This reduces jurisdictional risk, project/production risk, and commodity-price risks that have plagued many mining companies in the past. Resource juniors have also seen their stock prices suffer due to the need to issue more stock (equity) to raise capital, thereby diluting the ownership interest of existing investors. Royalty companies, by contrast, receive life-of-mine cash flow from their royalties, all but eliminating the need to issue more company shares except, perhaps, to make a large, accretive acquisition. Given that a royalty is a perpetual option on new discoveries made on the land by the operators, royalty companies offer substantial exploration upside for their investors at no additional costs. And, if the price of the commodity rises, it expands their profit margins even more seeing that the royalty is a fixed cost. Royalty companies which successfully grow their royalty portfolios organically (using cash flow from existing royalties for property purchases, doing exploration work and market it for sale), should be able to leverage their growth effectively. A great example of generating a low cost royalty agreement with tremendous upside is on the highly sought after Timok base metal project. In 2006 EMX Royalty Corporation (TSXV: EMX) sold their Serbian properties, including Brestovac West, to Reservoir Capital Corp., for uncapped NSR royalties of 2% for gold and silver and 1% for all other metals. Reservoir Capital later transferred those interests to Reservoir Minerals and EMX subsequently acquired 0.5% NSR royalty interests covering the Brestovac and Jasikovo-Durlan Potok properties. These properties, along with Brestovac West, are included in the Timok Project controlled by Nevsun Resources after its acquisition of Reservoir in 2016. On September 5, 2018, Nevsun agreed to be acquired by Chinas Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. for C$1.86 billion, rejecting an offer valued at approximately C$1.4 billion from Lundin Mining. It should be no surprise; the royalty model has proven so successful that acquiring royalties and streams has become highly competitive. In other words, expensive, which is why investors interested in royalty companies should consider organic royalty generators. All in all, superior profit margins, portfolio diversification, and low-cost exploration with high upside have all contributed to the investment success of royalty companies. Whether the royalty company generates their own royalties or acquires advanced royalties, it comes down to managements ability to execute on the model. Finding quality opportunities through a good knowledge of geology is key, as is their ability to build relationships with operators who can get the project over the finish line. GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran executed two men accused of economic crimes on Wednesday, part of an effort to stem financial misconduct as the country faces an economic crisis and new U.S. sanctions targeting its oil sector. One of the two executed men was Vahid Mazloumin, dubbed the sultan of coins by media, a trader accused of manipulating the currency market, according to Mizan, the news site of the Iranian judiciary. Mazloumin was allegedly caught with two tons of gold coins, according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA). The second man was part of Mazloumins network and had been involved in the sale of gold coins, Mizan reported. Both of them were convicted of spreading corruption on earth, a capital offense under Irans Islamic laws. Special courts focused on financial crimes were set up in August with the approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in the Islamic Republic. The courts have handed out at least seven death sentences since they were set up and some of the trials have been broadcast live on television. The rial currency has lost about 70 percent of its value in 2018 under the threat of revived U.S. sanctions, with heavy demand for dollars and gold coins on the unofficial market from ordinary Iranians trying to protect their savings. The cost of living has also soared, provoking sporadic demonstrations against profiteering and corruption, with many protesters chanting anti-government slogans. In August, the United States reimposed a first round of sanctions after pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions were lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Robert Birsel SHANGHAI/CHICAGO (Reuters) - China Southern Airlines (600029.SS) (1055.HK) plans to depart the SkyTeam airline alliance, it said on Thursday, opening the potential for the carrier to become a member of the oneworld group alongside strategic partner American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O). Oneworld and SkyTeam are two of three global airline alliances that provide reciprocal benefits for passengers such as lounge usage and frequent flyer points and give airlines transfer passengers from partners in a boost to revenue. Star Alliance is the third. American spent $200 million on a minority stake in China Southern last year with an eye to growing in the booming Chinese travel market, but the benefits of the partnership have been stalled in part by the Chinese carriers presence in rival alliance SkyTeam. China Southern said it will leave SkyTeam on Jan. 1 to develop its own strategy. It said it would strengthen its partnership with American, but did not specify any plans to join oneworld. This news presents a great opportunity for us to continue to expand our relationship with the largest airline in China, American Airlines said in a statement. The two companies launched a reciprocal codeshare agreement earlier this year. One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that China Southern would consider joining oneworld in the future. Aside from American, members of oneworld include British Airways (ICAG.L), Cathay Pacific (0293.HK), Qantas Airways (QAN.AX), Japan Airlines (9201.T) and LATAM Airlines (LTM.SN). Our members will assess in due course the potential implications for oneworld of China Southerns announcement today that it is to leave SkyTeam, oneworld said in a statement. SkyTeam - which includes Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) and Air France KLM SA (AIRF.PA) - has said it will work with China Southern to ensure a seamless transition for all customers and partners - a process that will run throughout 2019 and be completed by the year-end. SkyTeam already has another big Chinese carrier, China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd (600115.SS), as a member. It is unusual to have two rival carriers within the same alliance. Xiamen Airlines Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Southern that is also a SkyTeam member, has no plans to quit the alliance, Xiamen spokesman Qiu Dapeng said on Thursday. U.S. airlines have so far struggled to gain a foothold in China, scaling back routes amid tough competition from state-backed Chinese rivals that are aggressively expanding their fleets with cut-price tickets. Beijing plans to open its second international airport, Beijing Daxing International, in 2019. By Barbara Lewis LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Danakali and other miners said a U.N. decision to lift sanctions on Eritrea should enhance international trade opportunities and give an economic boost, although widespread wariness about investing in mining was likely to linger. The U.N. Security Council unanimously voted on Wednesday to lift a nearly decade-old arms embargo and targeted sanctions on Eritrea after a rapprochement with Ethiopia and thawing of relations with Djibouti. "This significant step should have a positive impact on foreign investment and enhance international trade opportunities, leading to improved economic outcomes for the people of Eritrea," Danakali Executive Chairman Seamus Cornelius said in an emailed statement. He congratulated the Eritrean people for "their exceptional resilience and determination over many years". Danakali, which has worked in Eritrea since 2009, finalised a deal to sell its potash and also listed in London in July, barely a month after Ethiopia under new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a rapprochement with Eritrea to end decades of hostility. Miners said even before the sanctions lifting announced on Wednesday, sentiment towards the region had improved. Junior explorer Altus Strategies , which has been working on copper and gold projects in Ethiopia since 2010, said mining interest in both Ethiopia and Eritrea had increased and it had sent a team to assess opportunities in Eritrea. Altus Strategies CEO Steven Poulton said the mining sector was likely to remain under pressure from investor reluctance following the commodity market crash of 2015-16 and the excessive overspending of the bull run before it. However, the sanctions lifting was clearly "excellent news". "This creates a window of opportunity for exploration companies who have the means and proven capability to explore in this part of the world," he said. "With time and further modernisation we would expect Eritrea to see growing inward investment into its mining sector, as the country's geology is prospective for copper and gold deposits." The measures against Eritrea - which include a travel ban and asset freeze on certain people and entities - were imposed in 2009 after U.N. experts accused it of supporting armed groups in Somalia. Eritrea has denied the accusations. The resolution also removes a requirement for countries to ensure that people or companies working in Eritrea's mining sector prevented funds from being diverted and used to undermine peace and security in the region. Danakali's Australian-listed shares, which have bucked the trend to rise around 11 percent this year, gained more than 3 percent on Thursday. Altus Strategies was flat in early London trade. (Reporting by Barbara Lewis; editing by David Evans) The gold miner also said its interim chief executive officer would step down as a director and it would start looking for a new CEO once the proxy fight ends. Paulson & Co, which has a 5 percent stake in the miner, had also called for the company to explore strategic alternatives including a sale. Billionaire John Paulson, the hedge fund's manager, said the company had failed to recruit and oversee a management team capable of operating its main mine in a manner that delivers returns to shareholders, Bloomberg reported in June. In a letter to shareholders on Thursday, Detour said Paulson's objective was to "force a fire sale of Detour Gold," and that the hedge fund changed tack when it "realized that its fire sale narrative would not win this proxy fight." Paulson did not respond to an email seeking comments outside regular business hours. Detour was willing to settle with Paulson in October, offering to name a new chief executive officer and drop a civil claim. Paulson rejected the offer. Detour has been under attack by other shareholders as well, including U.S. hedge fund Livermore Partners and investment company Coast Capital Management L.P., which have asked for a sale of the company and a rejig of its board. Investors have until Dec. 7 to vote on board nominees. (Reporting by Laharee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) (Adds Chinese Foreign Ministry response to Pence comments) By Jeff Mason and David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - China has delivered a written response to U.S. demands for wide-ranging trade reforms, three U.S. government sources said on Wednesday, a move that could trigger more formal negotiations to resolve a withering trade war between the world's top economies. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on the list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the two countries. China has responded with import tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Argentina at the end of November and in early December. The U.S. president has repeatedly railed against Beijing over intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, Chinese entry barriers to American businesses and the U.S. trade deficit with China. Three U.S. government sources told Reuters on Wednesday that China had sent a response to U.S. demands on those and other issues, but gave no further details on its contents. It was unclear if the response contained concessions that would satisfy Trump's demands for change. While two industry sources familiar with the contents of the response said it was largely a restatement of previous Chinese commitments, it was seen as a necessary starting point for continued negotiations. The two sides have been far apart during their months-long tariff dispute. One of the sources briefed on China's response said it reiterated pledges Xi has made in recent speeches, and demanded that the United States lift tariffs, including those set by the Section 232 investigation into steel and aluminum imports. "They are not close to a favorable deal on trade. Not in the same universe," the Washington-based source said. A U.S. team led by Treasury Under Secretary David Malpass discussed trade issues with a Chinese team via videoconference on Tuesday, a U.S. Treasury spokesperson said on Wednesday. JANUARY TARIFF TRIGGER The United States had said it would not start formal negotiations on trade until it saw concrete proposals from China to address its concerns. Earlier this month, after a phone conversation with Xi, Trump said he thought the United States would make a deal with China on trade but stood ready to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods if no progress is made. Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng, asked on Thursday about the Chinese response, said that "high-level" contact had resumed since Trump and Xi spoke by phone. "Working teams are maintaining close contact to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two leaders by telephone," he told a regular weekly briefing. The tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1. Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports, about $267 billion worth, if Beijing fails to address U.S. demands. Future trade talks could hinge on whether or not tariffs rise on Jan. 1. One scenario suggested by analysts is that Trump and Xi could agree to a ceasefire in Argentina that would prevent further tariffs from taking effect while negotiations continued. U.S.-China Business Council President Craig Allen told Reuters last week that he thought it was likely China would withdraw from any process set at the G20 if the Trump administration went forward with raising the tariff rate. The two countries resumed talks after the call between the two leaders, ending a three month hiatus that saw relations deteriorate as the United States accused China of interfering in U.S. domestic politics and seeking to undermine Trump. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday that Beijing needed to change its behavior to avoid a new cold war with the United States. China must offer concessions on intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, restricted access to Chinese markets and respect for international rules and norms, among other issues, he said. Responding to Pence's remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China had always been a "model student" when it came to respecting international rules and norms. "China respects U.S. sovereignty, security, and development interests," she told a daily news briefing in Beijing. "The U.S. side should also respect China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and respect the development path chosen by the Chinese people in line with its own national conditions." In comments made before the Chinese response, Wu Baiyi, the director of the Institute of American Studies at the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that a Jan. 1 tariff increase would imperil efforts to reverse trade tensions. "This is one of the major goals that they (Chinese officials) are working hard on to prevent those tariffs from coming into force early next year. But it will depend on both sides." (Additional reporting by Steve Holland and David Lawder in WASHINGTON and Michael Martina, Stella Qiu, Christian Shepherd and Se Young Lee in BEIJING; Writing by Simon Webb; Editing by Tim Ahmann, Cynthia Osterman & Simon Cameron-Moore) "We have the capacity to anticipate a hard Brexit situation, and we are ready to be able to adapt to it," Oudea told BFM Business radio. He said a hard Brexit may mean for his bank a shorter transition period than was expected. British Prime Minister Theresa May was battling on Thursday to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest at an agreement they say will trap Britain in the bloc's orbit for years. Oudea said the current political situation in Britain was hard to predict, and that the most favourable outcome was a smooth Brexit transition. He added he was "optimistic" over the euro, despite the problems over Brexit and Italy's economic situation. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Inti Landauro) Ten-year gilt yields are down more than 10 basis points on the day at 1.41 percent as investors sought safe assets amid deep uncertainty about whether Prime Minister Theresa May can pass a Brexit deal through parliament. The spread between 10-year and 30-year gilts is more than 11 basis points wider on the day, on track for the biggest daily widening since February 2009. The UK Debt Management Office sold 2 billion pounds ($2.56 billion) of a 1.75 pct 2037 gilt with a comfortable bid-to-cover ratio of 1.75. But it had to accept bids with yields more than 5 basis points above average, the largest yield tail since March 2009. The last time the gilt sold, the yield tail was 0.1 basis points. ($1 = 0.7811 pounds) (Reporting by David Milliken and Andy Bruce) (Updates throughout) By Tom Daly SHANGHAI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The board of directors of Chilean miner Antofagasta has approved a $1.3 billion expansion of the company's flagship Los Pelambres copper mine in Chile, Chief Executive Ivan Arriagada said on Thursday. The expansion will produce additional ore equal to an extra 60,000 tonnes per year of refined copper over the first 15 years of the expansion project, lifting the mine's output for the first time in over a decade, Arrigada said. Construction will start in January, Arriagada told Reuters in an interview at Antofagasta's Shanghai representative office. The work involves adding an extra milling line and a desalination plant, he said. The company has previously said production would start in 2021. "It's a very important project for us. It's putting Pelambres back into growth after 14 years and were very excited about this," Arriagada said. The comments come as global miners are gathered for the annual Asia Copper Week in Shanghai, where they are negotiating benchmark treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) to process their copper concentrate into refined metal. Chile is the world's biggest copper producer, while China is the top consumer of the metal. The Pelambres expansion will increase treatment capacity from 175,000 tonnes to 190,000 tonnes per day of ore, Arriagada said. "In terms of fine copper, copper-contained, its going to be 60,000 tonnes extra per year ... which is around a 15 percent increase in production," he said. On a company level, Antofagasta has forecast copper output at 705,000 to 725,000 tonnes this year, rising to 750,000 to 790,000 tonnes in 2019 on higher ore grades at its Centinela and Zaldivar mines. In key market China, Arriagada sees strong growth of 5 percent to 6 percent in refined copper consumption this year, helped by some "temporary tail winds." These include the possibility of consumption in the manufacturing sector being brought forward to avoid potential new tariffs on exports to the United States next year, as well as a boost from Chinese economic stimulus, he explained. "But if you remove those temporary factors we still believe core consumption is growing at rates of 2 to 2.5 percent," he added, projecting 2 percent growth next year. The direct impact on China's copper demand from the trade row with the U.S. will be limited because 80 percent of the copper China imports stays in the country, Arriagada said. (Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N) reported better-than-expected quarterly U.S. comparable sales on Thursday and raised its full year outlook as a strong economy boosted customer store visits and e-commerce purchases grew as it sold more groceries online. The strong performance ahead of the key U.S. holiday season sent the retailers stock up about 0.5 percent to $102 per share in pre-market trade. Fresh (food) continues to do very well but there is strength across the board from a category standpoint, Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs told Reuters in an interview. Grocery sales make up 56 percent of Walmarts revenue, and at its investor day last month Walmarts Chief Executive Doug McMillon emphasized Walmarts advantage in the food category, an area that rival Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is trying to crack, particularly following its acquisition last year of organic grocer Whole Foods. McMillon said Walmart can offer fresh food within 10 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population. Walmarts sales at U.S. stores open at least a year rose 3.4 percent in the third quarter, excluding fuel price fluctuations, higher than analysts estimates of a 2.87 percent increase, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Walmart has recorded over four straight years of U.S. growth, unmatched by any other retailer. During the second quarter it posted its highest sales growth in a decade. E-commerce sales soared 43 percent, topping the 40-percent growth in the previous quarter. The retailer has said it is on track for e-commerce sales to rise by 40 percent this year. Online grocery continues to grow, our customers continue to like it, Biggs said. On the site itself, search is better, the site is better, we are adding brands, we have added over 2,000 brands in the past few months, pricing continues to be sharp so all these things together have contributed to the performance, he said. The retailer has also been on an acquisition spree, buying brands aimed at millennial shoppers who typically dont shop on the retailers website. Walmart recently bought lingerie retailer Bare Necessities after purchasing plus-sized clothing startup Eloquii a week earlier. The retailer suffered a setback in India on Tuesday when the chief executive officer of its Flipkart Group, Walmarts Indian e-commerce business, resigned following an allegation of sexual assault. Walmart paid $16 billion for a roughly 77-percent stake in Flipkart in May, its biggest acquisition and a major move in competing against Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O). Walmarts quarterly total revenue increased 2.4 percent to $126.1 billion, excluding currency changes, beating analysts estimates of $125.56 billion. Adjusted earnings came to $1.08 per share, beating expectations of $1.01. Consolidated net income attributable to Walmart for the third quarter stood at $1.71 billion versus $1.75 billion a year ago. Walmart raised its adjusted earnings outlook for fiscal year 2019 to $4.75 to $4.85 per share from $4.65 to $4.80. It also said it expects comparable sales, excluding fuel, to grow at least 3 percent, a change from about 3 percent earlier in fiscal 2019. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) Former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te on Thursday questioned the delay in the release of an arrest warrant for Ilocos Norte Representative and former first lady Imelda Marcos. Te, who is also a law professor at the University of the Philippines, said the warrant should have been released the same day Marcos was convicted for seven counts of graft. "Simple yun eh. May order ang court, November 9. That is an administrative matter that simply requires filling in the blanks of a warrant," Te said. "Bakit nun in-issue ang order na yun, walang warrant na lumabas kaagad?" [Translation: It's simple. There was a court order last November 9. That is an administrative matter that simply requires filling in the blanks of a warrant. When the order was issued, why didn't they release a warrant immediately?] "Ang tanong sa court ngayon, what happened in the middle? From November 9 to Friday, nag-take effect ba ang order ng court o hindi? Kasi kung nagtake effect ang order ng court, bakit nakalaya ng isang linggo?" Te argued. [Translation: Our question for the court now is, what happened in the middle? From November 9 to Friday, did the court order take effect or not? Because if it took effect, why is she still free after one week?] Marcos' camp on Monday filed a motion for leave to court to avail of post-conviction remedies, including a motion for reconsideration. This means that she is asking the court to allow her to avail of all legal remedies available to her. The court is set to hear Marcos' plea for post-conviction remedies on Friday, November 16. The Sandiganbayan earlier said it deferred the release of an arrest warrant following the former first lady's filing of motion. Te argued that a bench warrant should have been issued after Marcos' failure to appear at her promulgation. "The purpose of that arrest that day was simply for the court to know, where are you? Di pa naman ito kulong dahil naconvict siya. Ito yung arrest dahil di ka sumipot," he added. [Translation: It's not yet the arrest for the conviction. It's because she did not appear at the court.] The Ilocos Norte Representative still hasn't appeared at the Sandiganbayan following her conviction. The 89-year old apologized to the court for her absence during the promulgation of the graft case against her, saying she was "solely indisposed." She added she was advised by her doctors to avoid stressful situations. Marcos was sentenced to imprisonment of a minimum of six years and one month to a maximum of 11 years "in each case." Her total jail time is a minimum of 42 years and 7 months and a maximum of 77 years pending final order. READ: The long road to Marcos ill-gotten wealth recovery Sandiganbayan Presiding Judge Justice Amparo Cabotaje meanwhile told CNN Philippines that the whole process of issuing the warrant cannot be done in a single day. Cabotaje noted the justice's order has to first be put into writing. "The procedure is: the stenographer who assisted the court on that day will draft the order; she then submits it to the chairperson of the division or the justice who presided over the proceedings for review and approval; once approved, the order is finalized and then it is returned to the justices for their signature," she said in a text message. CNN Philippines Correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report. The two Koreas will hold a meeting later this week to discuss cooperation in the aviation sector, the unification ministry said Wednesday. The meeting will be held on Friday at the joint liaison office in the North's border town of Kaesong, according to the ministry. Son Myung-soo, a senior official of the transport ministry, will lead a South Korean delegation. His North Korean counterpart is Ri Yong-son, deputy director-general of the General Administration of Civil Aviation. The ministry said that the two Koreas will discuss "issues of mutual concern" related to inter-Korean aviation cooperation but did not provide further details. "Currently, inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation are underway within the confines of sanctions. Discussion is expected to be held on what cooperation could be possible at this point in the aviation field," Baik Tae-hyun, a ministry spokesman, told reporters. Opening a direct air route between the two Koreas could be among the agenda items to be discussed during the meeting, which the government thinks would be possible even under the current sanctions regime. North Korea earlier submitted a request with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to allow its airplanes to fly through South Korea's airspace to third countries. Experts say that it could also be discussed between the two Koreas. Additionally, such issues as repairing decrepit airports in North Korea could be dealt with during Friday's meeting, they said. (Yonhap) KOLKATA (PTI): The first joint military exercise of Indian and Japanese armies concluded in Mizoram on Wednesday, a defence statement said. The two-week exercise 'Dharma Guardian 2018' commenced on November one at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte with India describing it as a significant step towards fostering military and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Emphasis was laid on enhancing tactical skills to fight against global terrorism and on increasing inter-operability between forces of both countries, the statement said "The primary focus of the exercise was to train and equip the contingents to undertake joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in urban and semi urban terrain," the statement said. The contingents honed their tactical and technical skills in a wide spectrum of counter-insurgency operations including joint training on weapons and equipment, field training exercise and handling of improved explosive devices, it said. Commanders at various levels from both sides were exercised to work in close coordination to receive and collate information jointly, plan operations and issue suitable orders to respective integrated groups. The Japanese contingent was represented by 32nd Infantry Battalion, while the Indian side was represented by 6/1 Gorkha Rifles. Approximately one platoon strength each of the battalions participated in the exercise. NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> The public will get its first look inside the newly-renovated Newtown Theatre at a series of private and public events during the first week in December. The towns beloved entertainment venue, dating back to the late 1800s, has been closed since August for its first major renovation in more than 50 years. And the anticipation is running high as the reopening... UB architecture students break out of their comfort zone for upcoming Torn Space Theater productions University at Buffalo architecture students scour a Western New York quarry in search of large rocks for an installation as part of Torn Space Theater's performance "Light/Station." Photo: Christopher Romano Download a photo of high school students rehearsing a theatrical performance. Students from Buffalo's Lafayette High School worked with UB architecture students and Brooklyn-based 600 Highwaymen for this weekend's performance of "Manmade Earth," for which the Lafayette students will serve as actors. Photo courtesy of 600 Highwaymen Its been unlike anything else Ive worked on in architecture school. Morgan Mansfield, senior architecture student University at Buffalo BUFFALO, N.Y. The materials were simple. A few large pieces of cardboard, rocks and sand, some string and ropes, sheets of fabric. The task given to a dozen University at Buffalo architecture students working with two avant-garde theater companies was not so simple: work as a team, using little to no verbal communication, to build installations that will be incorporated into two limited-run theatrical performances being staged in Buffalo this weekend. Its been unlike anything else Ive worked on in architecture school, says Morgan Mansfield, a senior in the School of Architecture and Planning who served as an architectural consultant for Manmade Earth, the show-in-development being created by Brooklyn-based 600 Highwaymen in collaboration with Buffalos Torn Space Theater. Manmade Earth will run in Buffalo Nov. 16-18, along with Light/Station, another performance that drew heavily from the creative contributions of UB architecture students. Both projects are centered around the idea of reconfiguring what performance space means while investigating how the audience engages with performance in different ways. Tickets for both are available on the Torn Space website. Both also draw heavily from the creative contributions of UB students, who worked under the direction of Christopher Romano, clinical associate professor of architecture, and Torn Space co-founders Dan Shanahan and Melissa Meola. Their latest collaboration with Torn Space is an outgrowth of one that took place last year when Romano engaged several students in the design of the facade for Torn Spaces new green room, design studio and conference space on Buffalos East Side. Romano designed the facade of the structure, which opened last fall, wrapping the former gas mart in deep-textured, perforated sheet-metal panels. This fall, Romano and a handful of his students played a key role in the creative components of Light/Station, an original Torn Space walk-through experience, and Manmade Earth, a new show in development by critically acclaimed 600 Highwaymen, comprised of theater artists Abigail Browde and Michael Silverstone. The projects received lead funding from UBs Creative Arts Initiative, which also supported Torn Spaces first-ever residency grant, enabling 600 Highwaymen to spend three weeks in Buffalo. The students work is really amazing, Romano says. The students have been working collaboratively with artists and performance theater producers, which is exposing them to an entirely new way of thinking about space. Light/Station, a public ritual Since 2012, Torn Space has used Silo City for site-specific performances. Now, the theater company is bringing the drama to its backyard with Light/Station, which incorporates the building Romano designed. The performance features a sort of public ritual. Theres a curated walking tour beginning at the historic Adam Mickiewicz Library, where Torn Space stages many of its works, and continuing through Buffalos historic Polonia neighborhood to St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Roman Catholic Church, where audience members will hear a private selection of Bachs music played on the churchs grand pipe organ. The performance ends with dinner in the Mickiewicz speakeasy. With Light/Station, theres this inversion where the architectural piece becomes an artistic piece folded into the experience of the building, and then the building into the city, Romano says. It fuses art, architecture and city in what I think will be a very provocative way. Light/Station utilizes the talents of UB architecture students, who designed and built a stone and light sculpture in the lot adjacent to Torn Spaces headquarters. Working as a design consultant, Mikayla Elliott, a senior dual major in architecture and psychology, says she developed a variety of new skills from the project. But the biggest thing Ive learned is the way we can design using nature without designing the nature itself. By this I mean, we speculated many design iterations involving the materials used without knowing specifically how this altar would come together, she says. Using natural material like gray limestone rocks plucked directly from a quarry made any design the students developed more of a theory or speculation as opposed to a direct design, Elliott adds. This allows for the rocks themselves to design Light/Station rather than us. Elliott and her classmates are looking forward to seeing the finished product this weekend. I cant wait to see the whole pilgrimage and performance, she says. The night as a whole will give a sense of eeriness, as well as a transcendental feeling while walking through the dark and proceeding to the church while being surrounded by light and sound and people. UB architecture students Anya Batista, Derek Chan, Rossella Giangreco-Marotta, Jenna Herbert and Timothy Zeng also worked on Light/Station. Manmade Earth explores structures that join, separate people For Manmade Earth, UB architecture students worked with 600 Highwaymen this fall in a series of brainstorming workshops that explored scenic design and materials research for the production. We werent given a lot of information about what to expect. We were just told to come to the first meeting with an open mind, says Mansfield. After a few workshops that involved building the installations with several other UB students, Mansfield and architecture classmate Stanicka Mathurin continued working with 600 Highwaymen, serving as architectural consultants to the eight Lafayette High School students who will be the actors in the performance. We taught the students what we had learned while making structures with the same materials they were starting to experiment with in the performance, Mansfield says. The most challenging part, but also the most rewarding, was working with the performers to build the spaces we had imagined. Seeing everything come together, and watching pieces of the show take shape was definitely one of the most exciting moments. Manmade Earth is the product of the three-week residency by 600 Highwaymen. Its also the culminating piece in Torn Spaces RESPONSE Performance Festival, which featured a series of productions that began in late July. The piece examines societys evolution and how people come together to create what they could not on their own. It explores how the structures people make either bring them together or push them apart. The working environment was so experimental. There was a constant there-are-no-wrong-answers type of atmosphere where curiosity was welcomed in constructing each design, even when failure might have been inevitable, says Mathurin, a senior architecture major. These designs explored how people can interact with each other and the structure with little to no verbal communication, she says. Through this process, Mathurin says shes learned a valuable lesson. There is no limit to how much one can design with these materials. No matter what had already been imagined and executed, there was always more that could be explored. Manmade Earth will be performed by students from Lafayette High School, who hail from countries such as Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Myanmar. Mathurin and four other UB architecture students Haley Davis, Holly Raesly, Matthew Straub and Nicholas Wheeler trained the younger pupils on how to interact with each other, and the materials, for the performance. I appreciated these moments as they were opportunities to show the students how fun architecture can be and possibly provoke interest in the field, Mathurin says. Media Contact Information A year of celebration for the Builders Merchants Federation draws to a close with a special anniversary dinner to mark 40 years of the BMF itself and 110 years as a trade body. The guest speaker comes from another iconic organisation celebrating its own centenary this year - the RAF. Squadron Leader John Peters (pictured) came to international attention in January 1991 when his bruised and battered face flashed onto television screens around the world. He was captured and tortured after his RAF Tornado was shot down over Iraq during the first Gulf War and his disfigured image became a potent symbol of Saddam Husseins ruthless aggression. While his Gulf War experience tested him to the absolute limit, far from being doom and gloom, his speeches exude warmth, humour and tenacity moving audiences from laughter to tears to inspired reflection. BMF CEO John Newcomb said: We are looking forward to welcoming John Peters to the BMF Anniversary Dinner. As well as hearing more about his extraordinary life experiences, John will share some of the highlights of the RAFs centenary and the work of the RAF Association, the charity which supports the RAF family. The BMF Anniversary Dinner is being held on 29 November 2018 at the Belfry Hotel in Warwickshire, which was named Englands leading resort and leading conference hotel at the World Travel Awards 2017. A limited number of merchant tickets are still available. BMF merchant members wishing to attend should contact June Upton at June.Upton@bmf.org.uk or on 02476 854982. The National Buying Group celebrated the stars of the sector in its Supplier Awards earlier this week at the climax of its annual conference. Bringing together more than 600 partners, suppliers and guests, NBGs biggest conference to date focused on building strong brands and relationships. The Gala Dinner, held in Liverpool on Tuesday, marking the groups 15th anniversary, saw awards presented to individuals, brands and businesses to reward achievement and showcase outstanding service. Awards were presented to suppliers from each of NBGs eight Category Management Teams after votes from partners were counted. First-place winners included: H+H UK Celcon (Brick & Block); Acheson & Glover (Civils & Landscaping); T I Midwood & Co (Decorating & Hardware); Quinn Cement (General Building); Merlyn (Plumbing, Heating & Showrooms); Knauf Insulation (Roofing & Insulation); Toolbank (Tools & Workwear); and MDM Timber (Timber). Brand of the Year was awarded to T I Midwood & Co. Based in Nantwich, T I Midwood is a supplier within NBGs Decorating and Hardware Category Management Team and one of the UK's largest and most experienced importers and wholesalers of screws, fixings, fasteners, nails and power tool accessories. Gary Olver, Managing Director at Palladium and chair of the CMT, said: T I Midwood are a family-owned company with core values that perfectly align to those of NBG; building strong relationships, offering fantastic service and investing in their brand. I think theyre truly deserving of the award and am delighted that they have won. Nick Oates, Managing Director of NBG, said: The Supplier Awards were the perfect way to round off this years conference. Its great to see so many fantastic businesses being recognised and the partners votes are a testament to the strong relationships that continue to be built with our suppliers. Full list of 2018 winners: Brick & Block 1st place H+H UK Celcon 2nd place Quinn Building Products 3rd place Ibstock Brick Civils & Landscaping 1st place Acheson & Glover 2nd place Pavestone (UK) 3rd place Aggregate Industries - Bradstone & Charcon Decorating & Hardware 1st place T I Midwood & Co 2nd Tembe DIY Products 3rd place Rodo Group General Building 1st place Quinn Cement 2nd place Robeslee 3rd place Siniat Plumbing, Heating & Showrooms 1st place Merlyn 2nd place Eastbrook Co 3rd place Qualitex Roofing & Insulation 1st place Knauf Insulation 2nd place Celotex 3rd place Quinn Therm Tools & Workwear 1st place Toolbank 2nd place DART Tool Group 3rd place Birchwood Price Tools Timber 1st place MDM Timber 2nd place Arbor Forest Products 3rd place International Timber See the upcoming issue of Builders' Merchants News for a full review of the NBG Conference and Awards. Budapest, Nov 14 (AFP) Hungary confirmed Wednesday that it has received a request for political asylum from fugitive former Macedonia prime minister Nikola Gruevski, a day after he said on Facebook that he had fled a prison sentence for abuse of power. Budapest said it will consider the application from Gruevski, who dominated Macedonia for nearly a decade until 2016, in a move likely to enrage Skopje, which has issued an international warrant for the former premier's arrest after he failed to show up for his two-year jail term. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office confirmed that Gruevski "has submitted an asylum request" and had declared that he intends to "submit a request for refugee status in Hungary". "Given that he was prime minister of his country for 10 years, for security reasons the Hungarian authorities have allowed Mr. Gruevski to have his asylum request submitted and heard at the headquarters of the Immigration and Asylum Office in Budapest," it added. Budapest declined to reveal details of Gruevski's whereabouts, or how the Macedonian -- who has been stripped of his passport -- entered Hungary. The confirmation came a day after Gruevski said he had fled to the Hungarian capital. "I am now in Budapest, where I have requested political asylum from the Hungarian authorities," the 48-year-old wrote on his official Facebook page. Skopje has called on Budapest not to grant his request. On Wednesday Macedonian premier Zoran Zaev urged Hungary to "respect international practise, international law" and not to provide "a refuge shelter for criminals". In the past Gruevski, an opponent of Macedonia joining the European Union and NATO, has indicated he was close to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Both have accused US liberal billionaire George Soros of stoking illegal immigration -- claims that Soros denies. In 2017, Orban publicly supported Gruevski during his campaign for municipal elections in which the Macedonian's right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party lost to Zaev's ruling Social Democrats. The application will test Budapest's willingness to apply harsh asylum rules and anti-migrant measures like border fences and detention camps for asylum seekers that have drawn fierce criticism from Orban's opponents at home and abroad including Brussels. Budapest insisted that it wanted to keep on good terms with Skopje. "We in no way wish to intervene in the internal affairs of sovereign countries, and we consider the assessment of the former Macedonian prime minister's asylum request to be solely a legal issue," said the government statement. (AFP) CPS (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Baghdad, Nov 14 (AFP) The Iraqi government said Wednesday it had retaken ownership of a piece of property in Baghdad worth millions of dollars after it was unlawfully sold to a government official's wife. In a statement to journalists, the Integrity Commission said it had worked with Baghdad authorities to recover the land in Kadhimiyah district. "The Baghdad-Karakh appeals court issued a decision to seize the property, which amounts to 12,642 square metres, from the wife of a leading official in the previous government and re-register it in the name of the Mayorality," the statement said. "The land registration in the name of the official's wife has been nullified, as well as all subsequent registrations," it added. The northern neighbourhood of Kadhimiyah is home to a revered Shiite shrine, as well as some of the city's most luxurious properties -- priced at up to $10,000 per square metre. The Integrity Commission said its investigation had revealed the official had sold the property to his wife in violation of laws regulating the lease or sale of state-owned property. It did not reveal the official's identity, but a parliamentary source told AFP the accused had briefly served as a deputy to Iraq's former prime minister, Haidar al-Abadi. In Baghdad, abandoned homes once belonging to Saddam Hussein-era officials or to minorities who have fled abroad are regularly occupied by powerful political parties. Iraq, according to Transparency International, is the 12th most corrupt country in the world. The embezzlement of public goods -- from land to government funds -- is a deeply rooted problem in a country with such a large public sector. Corruption, shell companies and "phantom" public employees who receive salaries but do not work have cost Iraq the equivalent of $228 billion dollars since 2003, according to Iraq's parliament. That figure is more than the country's gross domestic product and nearly three times the annual budget. (AFP) CPS (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu [Nepal], Nov 15 (ANI): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal which was scheduled for next month has been cancelled, an Indian Mission source in Nepal told ANI. "Less than a month is remaining for his expected visit to Nepal but we haven't received any internal memos and directives as of before which is very unusual and now we have been informed that his visit has been cancelled," the source from Indian Embassy in Kathmandu informed. As per the source, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Nepal was cancelled due to his busy schedule and increasing election fever in India for next year's general election. "There used to be briefing and allotment of the embassy staffs to field for preparations and set out all the events on the place before a month of visit. This time there was no such events and we had suspected of high-level visit cancellation which is confirmed today (Thursday) only," the source added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to visit the Himalayan Nation on the occasion of Bibah Panchami on 12th of December bringing on Barat from India to Janakpurdham, the birthplace of Sita on the newly upgraded railway of Nepal. The Government of Nepal also had planned to write to the Indian Prime Minister inviting him for a state visit at the time when he also was expected to inaugurate the Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) United Nations, Nov 15 (AFP) Seven peacekeepers were killed and 10 others were wounded during a joint military operation with troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo against rebels in the east of the country, a UN spokesman said Thursday. Another UN peacekeeper is missing from the fighting near the city of Beni in North Kivu, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing in a statement and called on armed groups to disarm immediately. Six peacekeepers from Malawi and one from Tanzania were killed during the operation Wednesday against rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group blamed for a series of attacks. "Initial reports indicate that ten additional peacekeepers were wounded, and another one is missing," said Dujarric, adding that several Congolese soldiers were also killed or wounded during the operations. The UN spokesman declined to give details of the joint operation, but said it was linked to efforts to combat the outbreak of Ebola. "As you know there is an Ebola outbreak in this area and insecurity has been an obstacle to the response to the outbreak," he said. The ADF, operating in North Kivu province near the Ugandan border, has been blamed for the deaths of hundreds of civilians since 2014 as well as of 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers last December. The UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO has about 17,000 troops and police. (AFP) CPS (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pulwama, November 15: Jammu & Kashmir police and security forces today apprehended a terrorist of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen at Lassipora-Achan Axis in Pulwama district. A Hizbul militant, identified as Rafeeq Ahmed Bhat, is said to be a close aide of Special Police Officer turned Militant Adil Bashir who looted seven rifles from the official residence of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Aijaz Ahmad Mir. Jammu and Kashmir: One JeM Terrorist Gunned Down by Security Forces in Tral, Encounter Underway. Bhat was arrested from his uncle's residence in Achan village during the wee hours. Police have also recovered arms and ammunition from him. After his arrest, he was booked under the relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and a case was registered. #JammuAndKashmir: Police & security forces today apprehended a terrorist of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Rafeeq Ahmed Bhat at Lassipora-Achan Axis in Pulwama district. Arms & ammunition recovered. Case registered. ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Earlier on November 9, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorist in Jammu & Kashmir. During the encounter, one Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist was gunned down and several arms and ammunition were recovered from him. As per reports, the security forces began a cordon and search operation after the militant movement was detected in Darganie-Gund area of South Kashmirs Pulwama district. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 10:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, November 15: At least three people were injured after an India-Nepal Friendship Bus rammed into a truck on Thursday. According to a tweet by ANI, the accident took place on Janakpur-Patna-Janakpur route in Bihar's Muzaffarpur area after the bus collided with a truck. The injured passengers have received minor injuries. Reports inform that all passengers safe. On Thursday, one person was killed and eight were injured in a multiple vehicle collision in the national capital. According to a tweet by ANI, the collision between several vehicles took place near Meera Bagh in Pashchim Vihar. According to reports, the driver of an SUV lost control over the vehicle and hit a cycle, a scooty, a motorcycle, a rickshaw and a minibus before coming to a halt. Muzaffarpur: India-Nepal Friendship Bus on Janakpur-Patna-Janakpur route collided with a truck, today, three passengers received minor injuries; All passengers safe #Bihar pic.twitter.com/i250SdeBJn ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Earlier this week, nine people were killed and nineteen others were injured in two separate road accidents in Bihar. According to reports, Police said that four persons lost their lives and 18 injured when a jeep and an auto-rickshaw collided head-on in Mofussil police station area of Khagaria. In another accident, five persons were killed and one was injured when two motorcycles collided in Sangrampur police station area of Munger district late on Friday. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 03:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with the United States Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) on Thursday. Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale told a media briefing after the meeting, that the two leaders had a good and very positive meeting. "There was a sense of convergence both on bilateral issues and on global issues and we look forward to taking the relationship now in the coming months and in 2019," he said. Prime Minister Modi conveyed to Mike Pence that "India and the United States share the same fundamental values. India has always believed that the world is one family and the first condition for that to happen is peace. You must have noted that India has always contributed in a big way for world peace and India's role is a pro-active one. We would like to work together for world peace, world progress, global economic progress and poverty alleviation which is important for our values. The two leaders also discussed the issue of terrorism. The U.S. Vice President referred to the upcoming 10th anniversary of the deadly Mumbai terror attack on November 26 and hailed cooperation between the two sides on counter terrorism, Gokhale said. Modi thanked Pence and reminded him that in one way or another all the traces and all the leads in the global terror attacks ultimately leads to a "single source and single place of origin", without naming any country or organisation. "He (Modi) did point out that the mainstreaming of people involved in the Mumbai attacks in a political process which has taken place in the recent elections in Pakistan should be a matter of serious concern not just to the two countries - India and U.S. - but to international community," Gokhale said, referring to the Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's party contesting the July 25 elections in Pakistan. "There was some good understanding of the areas of how we move forward in building cooperation on counter terrorism and both countries recognised that this is a challenge which we have to fight together and to fight along with the rest of the international community," Gokhale said. Important discussion with Indias Prime Minister @narendramodi while in Singapore. Spoke about our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific & reaffirmed our commitment to strengthen security and counterterrorism cooperation and coordination. #VPinAsia #ASEAN pic.twitter.com/Cjqkr0RQWr Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) November 14, 2018 The Prime Minister also reiterated that there was a great opportunity for the U.S. in India in making defence equipment and setting up defence industry and offered to import more oil and gas from the U.S. Modi referred to contributions of the Indian-American community in the economic, cultural and political spheres over the decades and expressed the hope this would be considered when the US looks at the whole issue of the H1B visa, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale told a media briefing after the meeting. Acknowledging India's economic progress, Pence said that India is a positive factor in regional and international relations. He recalled Prime Minister Modi's visit to the U.S. and expressed gratitude for his leadership. (With PTI and ANI inputs) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 05:08 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai-born Garima Arora who has her own restaurant in Thailand called GAA has received the great honour in the chef community- the Michelin star. The award beings even more pride to Indians, as it happens to be the first restaurant helmed by an Indian woman to receive the prestigious award. Arora's GAA was awarded on November 14, helping her land among The Michelin Guide Thailand 2019. Sexy Crayfish Peeler Can Earn Up to RM 6,000 a Month in a Restaurant in China: Watch Video. Garima Arora was interested in various exotic foods right from her childhood. A student of mass media from Jai Hind college, she became a pharma journalist. Her passion for cooking started her culinary journey starting from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. After a short span, she moved to Dubai and continued working there. She was working for three years in Copenhagen's one of the most high-end restaurants. Check Garima Arora's Instagram Post Celebrating the Achievement Arora's profile is impressive as she has worked along with several big names from the culinary industry- Rene Redzepi, Gordon Ramsay and Gaggan Anand. Gaggan Anand's restaurant named Gaggan is famous all over for being the number one restaurant among Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for years. She worked with Gaggan Anand for a year and then pursued to start her own venture. In her restaurant GAA there is a team of 12 people from 7 different nationalities and thus the food is varied and lovely. Indian Eatery Gaggan in Thailand Ranks First in World's 50 Best Restaurants List Again. Talking about her struggles she was quoted in an interview, "You have to be prepared mentally, and I think this is true for men and women bothyou will be working when everyone else will be partying or celebrating Diwali. Youve really got to love what you do, and youve got to put in everything that you have to this job. It is one of those things that need you to be physically present. There is no other way to do it." She has definitely worked hard to be in a place that she is and celebrated the joyous occasion with a beer pong. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 10:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Planet Earth is only place known to have humans or living beaings, but many scientists believe that there can be more intelligent creatures somewhere far from the Earth. Todays Google Doodle honours humankinds first attempt at communication with intelligent life beyond our planet and in attempt to communicate with them Arecibo Message was sent out from Earth. The Arecibo message sent in 1974 is a three-minute interstellar radio message carrying necessary information about humanity and Earth sent to aliens in the hope that they would receive and decode it. November 16, 2018, completes 44 years of that hope to communicate with the clusters of stars residing about 25,000 light years away from Earth. It was a group of scientists who gathered the Arecibo Observatory amidst in the tropical forests of Puerto Rico. Sir William Henry Perkin: Google Doodle Honours Chemist Who Accidentally Discovered 'Mauveine' Synthetic Dye. The radio message is a series of 1,679 binary digits (a multiple of two prime numbers) which could be arranged in a grid 73 rows by 23 columns. The historic transmission was intended to demonstrate the capabilities of Arecibos recently upgraded radio telescope, whose 1000-foot-diameter dish made it the most powerful in the world at the time. Happy Birthday Google: New Doodle Features Popular Questions Asked During The Last 20 Years. Watch the video of the world's largest radio telescope, Arecibo Observatory. Donald Campbell, Cornell University professor of astronomy, who was a research associate at the Arecibo Observatory said, It was strictly a symbolic event, to show that we could do it. The message was devised by a team of researchers from Cornell University led by Dr Frank Drake, the astronomer and astrophysicist responsible for the Drake Equation (a means of estimating the number of planets hosting celestial life within the Milky Way galaxy. The Arecibo Message will take about 25,000 years to reach its intended destination. We will have to wait a really long time for an answer. But how long? Will we ever be able to communicate with the Aliens? Before that, will the intelligent life beyond our planet be able to decode the message we have sent? In the 44 years, the message has travelled only 259 trillion miles, a tiny fraction to its final destination. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 16, 2018 07:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Riyadh, November 15: Saudi prosecutors said on Thursday that they have requested the death penalty for five people who they say were involved in murdering Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A total of 11 people were charged, the Saudi Public Prosecutor's office said, adding that the five people facing capital punishment were directly involved in "ordering and executing the crime", according to a report in CNN. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, was killed inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 after he went there to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Jamal Khashoggi Killing: Murder-Related Audio Recordings, Transcripts Shared With French Intelligence, Claims Turkey. The Saudis had presented conflicting stories about the journalist's death, initially denying any knowledge before arguing that a group of rogue operators were responsible for his death. After the kingdom admitted that Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Turkey, five high-ranking officials were dismissed, including Bin Salman's media chief and the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence service, and 18 people were arrested. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 05:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bangladesh says it will start repatriating Rohingya refugees from an initial group of 2,260 from Thursday despite warnings the Rohingya face almost certain persecution in Myanmar. But, this news and resulting preparations of bringing in troops to back this plan has driven fear through the refugee camps housing the displaced Rohingya. There are reports that Rohingya refugees are fleeing from the camps in Bangladesh. Rohingya refugees are resorting to going into hiding, out of fear of being sent back to Myanmar this week, according to aid groups. Many of the thousands of refugees in the teeming camps have expressed terror at the prospect of returning to Myanmar, where UN investigators say the conditions are still not suitable for repatriation. Bangladesh says only those who volunteer will be returned, but the UN rights chief says many refugees are panicking at the prospect of being sent back against their will. Some families listed to return have fled, and are hiding in the nearby hills that surround the refugee camps. Additional police and soldiers were seen patrolling the camps and checking identity cards, stoking anxiety as the deadline for repatriation looms. "Everyone is tense, the situation is very bad," said one community leader Abdur Rahim from the Cox's Bazar area, the border district hosting a small city of refugees perched on hillsides. "There are a lot of army and police inside the camps. They are checking the ID cards of Rohingya." Nur Islam, another leader in a different part of the camps, said the military were more visible in recent days as Bangladeshi officials try and convince refugees they will be safe if they go back. "They are trying to convince the refugees that repatriation will only occur if the Burmese government has promised they will not harm the Rohingya," he said, using an alternative name for Myanmar. A local police chief, Abul Khaer, played down reports of additional security, saying nothing in terms of personnel had changed in recent months. Bangladesh officials remain optimistic the large-scale refugee returns will start as planned on Thursday. But, Myanmars government has not given any assurances that Rohingya will be sent back to their state of Rakhine from which they originally fled. Win Myat Aye, Myanmars minister for social welfare, relief, and resettlement, said the returning Rohingya will be restricted only to the Maungdaw Township. He said, Refugees who return to Myanmar will be taken to Hla Phoe Khaung Camp, where they will spend one night, then return to homes in Maungdaw. Bangladesh plans to send 150 people on the opening day. But, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday urged Dhaka to reconsider. "With an almost complete lack of accountability - indeed with ongoing violations - returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar at this point effectively means throwing them back into the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades," she said in a statement. She said the violations against the Rohingya "amount to the worst atrocities, including crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide." UNHCR have said it will not be facilitating the repatriations. US Vice President Mike Pence, on his visit to Singapore for the East Asia Forum told Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse", adding pressure to Myanmar's civilian leader who this week had an Amnesty International honour revoked. (With AFP and PTI inputs) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 07:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Famous Instagram comedian and kid star Emmanuella is no doubt enjoying all the fun her fame is fetching her. At the moment, the young girl is having fun travelling from one country to another. On Saturday, November 10, Emmanuella took to her Instagram handle to share a picture of her boarding a flight to Malaysia. The little comedian travelled with Mark Angel and they are sure having loads of fun. While on their trip, Emmanuella and Uncle Mark, as she fondly calls him, came across curvy Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal. Looking at the pictures, it can be deduced that they met at the shopping mall. READ ALSO: 10 times actress Empress Njamah stepped out in African prints (photos) Emmanuellas Instagram posts reads: I'm live in Malaysia. I want to meet you. Stay here. Biko nobody should talk about my robe. My tailor is still working on it. Happy Sunday. Let me show you people some Nigerian music. Una must learn how to sing am or nobody leaves here. @officialemanuella U better buy something for me o. If not just stay there and don't come back. Mallbehaviour with this two @markangelcomedy and @officialemanuella ... #MLmalaysiadairy .... ....#Maylasia ... #NigerianExcellence awards. P.s our skit is coming soon. Pss.... Emmanuela wanted to buy everything we saw .... Wait ..wait ...am wearing an @shop_odotdress. See posts below: PAY ATTENTION: Join Africa Love Aid today for your daily relationship tips and advice Legit.ng earlier reported that talented Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal has taken to social media to reveal how she has missed being with a man. Lawal further disclosed that she is ready for a change. The curvy actress revealed that its being a while since she was in a relationship and is eventually losing some of her toasters. Nice one! NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Uche Jombo interview at Star Chat: Nollywood Should Be Taxed Less | Legit TV. Source: Legit - A Nigerian lawyer has got tongues wagging with his choice of outfit to court - The unidentified man was spotted wearing ridiculously haggard wig and gown to present case to a judge - The photos have gone viral with many people suspecting that there might be more than meets the eye An unidentified Nigerian lawyer has set the internet on fire after photos of him looking haggard in the court of law surfaced online. The senior lawyer, as described by his subordinate, boldly wore a torn, old and obviously decayed court gown and wig to present a case in court. The man was pictured in action and it is unclear if he was questioned by the judge, who many believe should have called him out for being careless with the uniform of the office. The lawyer, Michael Amos, who shared the photos on social media revealed that it is not the first time the man will appear in court in rags and it beats his understanding. He said: "This is what a very Senior Lawyer wore to court .Today was not the first day I saw him like this.I am bothered as to why a senior lawyer will be comfortable to wear a raggy wig and gown to court.This beats me." READ ALSO: Nollywood actress Rita Dominic dazzles in stunning monostrap dress Here are the photos below: Nigerian senior lawyer in haggard gown and wig in court Source: Facebook Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Adorable video of 2Babas kids wishing wife Annie a happy birthday Senior lawyer spotted in court in haggard gown and wig Source: Facebook Source: Facebook Nigerian lawyer shares ridiculous photos of wig and gown worn to court by his senior Source: Facebook Many Nigerians believe there might be more to it than meets the eye as no sane person will willingly wear rags especially to a formal and serious gathering. However, some think that it's a way of announcing his superiority as regards experience on the job. Basically, it should command respect but perceptively, it shows something else, such likened to poverty and dirtiness. Here's how some social media users reacted to the photos below: Facebook comments Source: Facebook Meanwhile, recently, the Enugu West senatorial zone lawyers forum made up of 100 lawyers condemned the hasty conclusion by the Nigeria police on the attempted assassination of the deputy Senate president, Prof Ike Ekweremadu. The legal practitioners say the deputy Senate president deserves to be protected. Did you know? NAIJ.com (naija.ng) is now-> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Lawyer reveals why Evans changed from being 'guilty' to 'not guilty on Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng - The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, said Adams Oshiomhole must be playing for asking him to quit his job - Saraki made this known at the Islamic prayers for his late fathers sixth remembrance anniversary - Oshiomhole recently vowed that All Progressives Congress will definitely impeach Saraki Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday, November 14, declared that Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, must be joking for demanding him to quit his job. Nigerian Tribune reports that Saraki made this known at the Islamic prayers for his late fathers sixth remembrance anniversary said that Oshiomhole has no locus reputation to have a say about morality in Nigerias current politics. He said: That must be a joke coming from Oshiomhole talking about moral ground. I think Oshiomhole has no locus standi to talk about morality today. READ ALSO: Despite being angry, Okorocha, Amosun and others will support Buhari - Oshiomhole ''Oshiomhole is somebody, who is said to have been collecting not even naira but dollars from candidates and he is being accused by his candidates and Governors. I dont think he has any moral ground, even to continue to be in politics not to talk about being a Chairman of a party. I remember in those days even Oyegun, they never accused him of something like this. I have left that party. Im sure the President, based on integrity, knows the right thing to do. So, on moral ground, he cannot speak on moral ground. ''Also speaking on Saturday by-election in Irepodun /Ekiti /Oke Ero /Isin federal constituency, Saraki decried huge deployment of policemen and sudden change of divisional heads of police in four local government areas for the by-election. You see, the mistake we sometimes make, we forget that Nigeria is a big nation in this global world, not only in the context of Africa. We provide leadership. An action that we take that tries to suggest that we are not civilised with rule of law and processes, doesnt augur well with the image. Today, the President is the President of ECOWAS likewise the chairman of INEC as chairman of electoral bodies in Ecowas, even show that we are a responsible country. So, when the IG begins to do things like this without following due process, it is not good for our country, and that is what we always stand for. All those who supposed to caution him will ensure that due process is followed in a thing like this. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app We have been doing by-election here, I have never seen where DPOs are being transferred. We have been doing by-elections here, I have never seen where 200 or 300 (security personnel) are being deployed. It is not about Kwara, it is about the country. ''It is about how the world sees us. It is about how we provide leadership in the continent. And we keep on saying that people like these are not doing the President any good. ''The people at the end of the day will speak, and they should allow people to exercise their rights, vote in peace and vote their wishes and should not do anything that creates fear or break law and order. In spite of all these, I see PDP winning the election because we are on ground. There is no doubt about it. If you go round, you will know who is on ground, and you will see that in the results. They should allow people to exercise their rights. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has vowed that the party will definitely impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki. The APC chairman who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, August 10, also claimed that the party will work hard to ensure that Saraki's political dynasty is destroyed it. According to him, He (Saraki) failed to understand that the Nigeria national project is more complicated and is not that easy. He will not only be impeached, we will work hard to have him defeated as a senator in his own senatorial zone come 2019. The people of Kwara state are fed up with Saraki and we are fed up with Bukola Saraki will not be the first to be impeached and I doubt if he is going to be the last but definitely he will be impeached according to law and according to the democratic norms , the only way senator Saraki can avoid impeachment is for him to do what is honourable, which again leads to the issue of character. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Is President Buhari Really Doing Badly As Nigeria's Leader? - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit TV: Source: Legit - Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it would probe the allegation of corruption leveled against the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole - This is coming barely a week after the APC chairman was quizzed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged anomalies during the ruling party's primaries - some members of the APC under the aegis of Coalition 4 New Nigeria carried placards with various inscriptions such as ICPC, probe Oshiomhole now; Oshiomhole must go. Following the concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, November 14, said it would probe the allegation of corruption leveled against the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole. Legit.ng gathered that ICPCs decision to investigate Oshiomhole is coming barely a week after he was quizzed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged anomalies in the APC primaries. Rasheedat Okoduwa, the ICPC spokesperson, disclosed this during a protest by some members of the APC under the aegis of Coalition 4 New Nigeria. The protesters, led by Stanley Onukwufor, a legal practitioner and civil rights activist, carried placards with various inscriptions such as With Oshiomhole APC is nowhere; ICPC, probe Oshiomhole now; Buhari, remove Oshiomhole; Oshiomhole is corrupt; and Oshiomhole must go. Okoduwa said: First of all, we will verify whether, indeed, he has a petition against him, and from there, we will look at what they are complaining about. Then, the next step is to investigate the petition and see whether there is anything worthy of investigating in the matter. It goes through our normal processes. But let me just sound a note of caution. We receive petitions virtually every hour. So, the petitions is like queuing up and had to be addressed in the sequences they come. So, if a petition comes right now, you dont expect it to be investigated before all others before it. We thank you for bringing us the petition and you have done the right thing by going through the process of submitting your petition. I think you have already done what you needed to do. In a previous report by Legit.ng, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, said Bukola Saraki has to vacate the seat of the Senate president since his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party means he is now in the minority group. Oshiomhole said this when he appeared on Arise Television during a programme, on Tuesday, November 13. He said: I think its about morality. We just had an election in the US. The democrats won more members in the congress. Without much ado, the leadership of the House changed. This question didnt have to arise. Saraki belongs to a minority party; as it stands, today, in the senate. Is President Buhari Really Doing Badly As Nigeria's Leader? - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit TV: Source: Legit - Senator Hope Uzodinma denied report that he was arrested by security operatives - The APC governorship candidate in Imo blamed his enemies for the report - He said he is focused on his governorship aspiration and not distracted by opposition The Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, has denied reports of his arrest. Some sections of the media have reported that the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property arrested the lawmaker on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja. READ ALSO: Breaking: Nigerian governors call for emergency meeting over minimum wage The reports indicated that the chairman of the Panel, Okoi Obono-Obla, said Uzodinma was arrested for failure of his company to execute a contract of 12 million dollars for dredging of Calabar channel. However, Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate Committee on Nigeria Customs Service, told newsmen in Abuja, that the reports may not be unconnected with his emergence as a governorship candidate. He vowed to remain focused on the governorship race in spite of attempts to distract him. He said he would not be distracted by people who were yet to come to terms with his emergence as the governorship candidate in state. Uzodinma said: I was never arrested. I also read it in papers like every other Nigerian. On the contract, the lawmaker said Niger Global, the company that was accused of the complicity, had only two per cent share in the contract. Before I came to the senate, I came from the private sector. I was in oil and gas and marine operations. I operated Niger Global. In 2004 we participated in an international deal and Nigeria Ports Authority was looking for partners to manage the channels and we were lucky. We were one of the companies that formed the consortium to manage Calabar Channels. Calabar Channels Management Company is a joint venture being operated by the NPA. They have the major shareholders. They have 60 per cent shareholding and then the consortium of like six other companies had different shares. Niger Global had five per cent share and there is a five member board, where NPA has three and the consortium of companies two. Before I came to Senate, I was in the board and the technical partners to the consortium dredged the Calabar Channel under the supervision of the Calabar Management Board, he said. The lawmaker expressed surprise that the allegations were coming several years after the contract, adding that it was a clear case of witch hunt. All I know is that some aggrieved persons are behind this, otherwise where was this panel since 2004. I was in the 7th Senate from 2011 to 2015, why did this issue not come out. I have been here in the 8th senate from 2015 to date why didnt the issue come up. To the best of my knowledge, the company worked, even though I am not in the management anymore but I am still one of the minority shareholders of that company. If there is any question that must be answered by the company, the majority shareholder should first answer their own query. If anything, I am a serving senator and a ranking one at that and the Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum. On allegations of non-declaration of asset, Uzodinma said coming from the private sector into politics, he was surprised at the request by the panel. Before I joined politics, of course I came from the private sector that is why I became even surprised when the panel said I should declare my asset for the past 20 years. I have never seen anywhere in any law where private people are made to declare their asset to government, he said. However, he said he obliged the panel by sending his declaration form and copying the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami. The Presidential Committee wrote me sometimes last month asking for my asset declaration form alleging that I did not declare my asset. I replied and attached my declaration form and copied the Attorney General of the Federation whom I suppose they are working under. The governorship candidate said he would not be deterred in ensuring that the people of Imo are liberated from the untold hardship they were subjected to. He said: with what has happened in Imo State, I thought by now, some of these underdogs should repent but they are still plotting. I thought what they would do in the spirit of democracy is to appreciate the fact that some people are now in the party and the party will be better for it. It is not easy to do what I have done in recent times. To make sacrifice, I followed my people and encourage them to be in the ruling party. So name calling, campaign of calumny and all of that is only a distraction. I have been around for sometimes and I understand the meaning of politics and I refused to be distracted. He further denied inducing the APC National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, in order to be made the partys flag bearer in Imo. He called on the aggrieved persons and other stakeholders to work together to grow the countrys democracy. He added that some of us believe that this country must grow and we must be given the opportunity to contribute our own quota to national development. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng previously reported that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday, November 8, over an alleged breach of contract worth $12m. The Special Presidential Investigation Panel For Recovery of Public Property said its operatives arrested Uzodinma, the senator representing Imo West senatorial district, for a breach of contract after his company allegedly failed to execute a contract of $12m for the dredging of Calabar channel. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have updated to serve you better. Is President Buhari Really Doing Badly As Nigeria's Leader? - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng A particular woman in Kenya has been prevented from doing the unthinkable. The lady was on the verge of killing her twin children. Her attempted action was due to the fact that she was depressed. The woman is said to have sued her husband for assault and abandoning his parenting roles. She turned up in court but the prosecution did not arraign the accused and this angered her. She threatened to kill her two children and also take her own life as a result of the problems. Residents intercepted before she could commit the heinous crime against her own children. The young ones were taken to a minor rescue center and the woman counselled by villagers. It is feared she might be headed for more malice and help of professional counselors in required. Residents of Gatundu, Kiambu County were on Tuesday, November 13, seized in a remorse after they rescue two children from their mother who attempted to take away their lives. Gatundu residents rescue depressed woman who attempted kill her twins after domestic fight Source: Hon Mario Nderi READ ALSO: Kenyan atheists insist that Gods name must be removed from the constitution (photo) Legit.ng has learnt that unidentified woman tried to kill her twins (boy and girl) behind a Gatundu court as a result an abusive marriage. According to a Facebook post shared by a user identified as Hon Mario Nderi, the woman sued her husband for neglected his parenting roles, a situation that plunged her into depression and trauma. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Before the incident, the woman, in the company of her two children (less than three year), attended a proceeding at the court but the prosecution did not arraign her husband. On leaving the court, it is alleged that she threatened to take away her children's lives and thereafter kill herself. PAY ATTENTION: Get the hottest relationship gist on Africa Love Aid She attempted to make good her threats but residents intercepted before she could commit the crimes. The young ones were taken away by a local child support agency as a section of the public volunteered counseling services to the woman. PAY ATTENTION: Get the hottest relationship gist on Africa Love Aid This story indeed shows the harmful repercussion of depression and how it should be prevented or even managed once it is discovered. Thanks to the community this lady found herself, a grave harm was prevented from happening. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Getting my leg amputated did not end my dreams | Faces of Nigeria | Legit TV Source: Legit - A pretty stylist in Rivers state recently narrated a nasty ordeal she had with SARS officials - The lady spoke of how she was unduly extorted and harassed for a crime she did not commit - Many Nigerians are angry about the incident and they have prodded her to seek justice When the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was founded within the police force in Nigeria, many Nigerians expected that this signaled the beginning of a concentrated war against crimes and theft. But as it appears, quite a number of people have expressed just how contradictory the services of the unit have been. On this note, a beautiful Nigerian stylist recently took to her Instagram page to recount an unpleasant encounter she had with SARS officials in Rivers state where she stays. According to the lady, some of the operatives stopped her on her way to buying drugs for her ailing body as well as purchasing pizza for her mom. They demanded to see documents pertaining to her car, and having provided these for them, the men went on to ask her for her company's identity card. READ ALSO: Young man recounts his unpalatable SARS experience in Lagos The stylist whose name is Olorogun Marbel Peters on Instagram explained that she had forgotten her company Id card at home. This one exception made the operatives accuse her of being an accomplice in a car theft case. Not only that, they took her to the police station, delayed her for seven straight hours, extorted her of a sizable sum of money and even tried to harass her. See her full post below: "Today is definitely one of my worst days.. I woke up a bit feverish with slight headache so I cancelled my activities for the day, at about 6:30pm I decided to go get drugs,because my condition seemed to be getting serious and also get pizza for my mum just 7mins drive away from my estate.. On getting back to my estate, a blue Prado jeep stopped right in front of me and some armed men on uniform came out asking me to park for a search, I obliged, they went through all the vehicle papers and drivers license etc very much complete.. PAY ATTENTION: The best of Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App The next question I was asked was they needed to see my company Id, I tried to explain to them I didn't have it on me because I just drove out to get pizza from the next bus stop and they said I was under arrest for stealing a vehicle and I couldn't give them an ID of where I work, I obliged and we drove to their station and the whole story changed.. One of the officers made a phone call and he said I was among the criminals they received a call about.. I tried to beg, I even showed proof of the medications I got, they gave me a paper to make a statement,in the process they took my phones from me and started going through my phone, from my chats call logs down to my bank mails etc... After spending 2hrs with them they demanded for a sum of 2million naira as my bail,for a crime I do not know.. This is pure wickedness and evil... I never stole, robbed, violated any rules etc... We finally came to an agreement after keeping me hostage from 6pm till 12am that I should pay them 100,000naira.. One of the officers even approached me trying to sexually harass me!! This same men didn't even mind the time they comfortably drove me to an ATM machine so I could make a withdrawal for them... PAY ATTENTION: Africa Love Aid offers the hottest relationship gist there is These men are criminals!! I was granted bail by 1:30am after spending 7good hours... Someone's hard earn money This Is totally unacceptable, Are you guys not meant to be protecting lives ? Why will you extort someone of their hard earn sweat!! I thought SARS had ended... (officers names are : officer Matt, Emma, security, Friday)." Although Marbel addressed her complaint to Lagos PPRO Dolapa Badmos, many other Nigerians could not help but acknowledge her post and comment on it. Most of them were very angry for what was done to her and some of them even told what step she could take next. See some of the reactions below: onchedu_u: "Armed robbery. Go and report this at the state CP's office asap. Go with your lawyers, family and friends. Those officers have to go. If it's not working there, come to Abuja lets got to Force HQ. This nonsense has to stop." mofreshofficial: "This is terrible, sorry dear, those people are evil doers, they will have no peace!" mz_amby: "Oh no! So sorry dear. Its becoming too much. More life armed robbers in uniform! Esp Sars in ph here. My God. So sorry..." kenobbor@prettymaa_: "I pray you quickest recovery from the traumatic experience.. Thank God we're not weeping over you. The truth not all live to tell the story.. I believe in the strength of social media engagement in nailing some of this issues.. A neighbour was picked just after using the ATM machine and after much talk he was even handcuffed and I had to speak with the officers why such move was warranted in the first place.. To my amazement we heard all manner of talk even requesting his marriage certificate to prove his wife's pix on his phone was actually his wife "they had PERSONAL STUFFS" later the wife arrived from her shop to see the officers and one was even trying to chik her sef.. Las las they spoke in codes. Saying efun ni OCtober 10.. Meaning 100k we later learnt. Finally an amount was agreed and boom they moved to thier next target.. I still have hope in the Police Cus I have met wonderful officers.. Indeed there was a country..." #ENDSARS or #REFORMSARS? Nigerians blow hot | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors says none of its members was involved in the kidnapping and subsequent killing of retired General Idris Alkali - One Chuwang Istifanus Stephen, who was said to be a surveyor, was declared wanted alongside seven others - The union says Stephen's name could not be found in its register, adding that the union does not know him Following the disappearance and subsequent killing of a former chief of administration in the Nigerian Army, General Idris Alkali (retd), the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors has said none of its members was involved in the heinous crime. The denial was made in Jos on Wednesday, November 14, by the chairman of the union in Plateau state, Dr Bitrus Dang. Dang said the name of one of the eight suspects recently declared wanted by the police, Chuwang Istifanus Stephen, who was said to be a surveyor, could not be found in the union's register, Punch reports. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Legit.ng recalls that soldiers recently recovered the lifeless body of the retired general from an abandoned well in the Jos South local government area of the state. Dang said: It is unfortunate that such a thing happened. But I would want to say that the name so mentioned is not one of us. We have registers. We have members that are fully registered. Well, we dont know how they got their information but we want to tell them that he is not a surveyor. "He has not been one of us. May be, he is one of those land speculators or those that transact business on land but he is not a member of the Institution of Surveyors. "When somebody measures land, they call them surveyors. Well, he is not a surveyor, even in the survey practice, if you are not registered, you are not expected to bear the name, Surveyor. So, as far as we are concerned, we do not know him as a member of the Institution of Surveyors in Plateau state. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng previously reported that the remains of Muhammed Alkali, the retired army general, who was declared missing on September 3 by the Nigerian Army a couple of days after his retirement, was found in an abandoned well in a village known as Guchwet in Shen district of Jos South local government area of Plateau state. The water from the well was drained on Wednesday, October 31, and the remains of the retired senior military officer was pulled out and covered in a green and white body bag. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better TY Danjuma, Nigerian army and the herdsmen crisis | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Police command in Imo state said it has apprehended two suspected bombers - The commissioner of police in the state, Dasuki Galadanchi, said the suspects were arrested during a routine search - The suspects, a 28 year-old Friday Echereobia, and 30 year Ozioma Nwosu, were reported to be on a mission to bomb Orlu community It was a bad day for two suspected bombers arrested by the security operatives of Imo police command when they were attempting to detonate bomb in Orlu community of the state. The Punch reported that the arrested suspects, a 28 year-old Friday Echereobia, and 30 year Ozioma Nwosu, were nabbed and paraded in Owerri on Wednesday, November 14, by the state commissioner of police, Dasuki Galadanchi. Legit.ng gathers that the bomb-carrying suspects were busted during a routine search operation by the operatives of mobile police belonging to 18 squadron. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The commissioner of police, while parading the suspects, said: "The operatives of the police mobile force 18 squadron, during a routine stop and search duty at their checkpoint by the UBA junction in Orlu, arrested the suspects, who were on a motorcycle and in possession of a suspicious looking object. Upon discrete interrogation and investigation, the object was discovered to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or homemade bomb. He also added that the suspects later confessed to have received the explosive device from a man named Chijioke Jimmy, who hailed from Ebonyi state. He added: "The suspects revealed that the IED was handed over to them on November 7, at Effiong in Ebonyi state, where they converge to hold their meetings, and from where they moved down to Ihiagwa, Owerri West LGA in Imo state and given the IED by one Chijioke Jimmy, an indigene of Ebonyi state, who is resident in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Jigawa police command on Tuesday, October 15, said it arrested four suspected armed robbers in Gwaram local government area of the state. The state commissioner of police, Bala Senchi, announced this at a news conference in Dutse. Bala also alleged that the suspects had been terrorizing residents of the locality before their arrest. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com (naija.ng) upgrades to Legit.ng to serve its readers better See the faces of newly arrested criminals in Lagos state - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper - The Nigeria Police Force says contrary to some social media reports, its helicopter and vehicle were not used to convey cash - According to the Force, the helicopter was deployed for surveillance and airlift of officers ahead of Saturday, November 17 by-election in Kwara state - Police implore the public and the media to disregard and discountenance the publication The Nigeria Police Force has denied that its helicopter and vehicle were used to convey cash as claimed in some social media reports. Some social media reports had alleged that a helicopter belonging to the force landed at Saint Paul Primary School, Omuaran, Kwara, to offload cash into a vehicle belonging to Tunji Ajuloopin, the APC candidate for the Saturday, November 17 by-election in the state, NAN reports. Legit.ng gathers that a statement by the force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood on Thursday, November 15 in Abuja, said the helicopter was deployed for surveillance and airlift of officers in the Ekiti/Isi/Irepodun/Oke-ero federal constituency by-election. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda He implored the public and the media to disregard and discountenance the publication. Moshood said that the police helicopter and vehicle in the picture being circulated were not used to convey any cash and the vehicle does not belong to Ajuloopin as claimed. He emphasized that the helicopter was deployed for surveillance patrols and support services to ensure secure environment during the by-election. See NPF's tweet below: The spokesman urged the public to discountenance the report which he described as a deliberate blackmail to misinform the public. He said: The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure adequate security for a free, fair and credible election in the country remains unwavering." PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through its assistant inspector general in charge of zone 6, Adeyemi Ogunjelosi, promised the people of Rivers that the 2019 election in the state would be free, fair and credible. Ogunjelosi promised that the police would remain impartial in its conduct of the election in the state. According to him, the election would be violence-free and there would not be cases of intimidation of voters. Voters, he said, would have the free will to elect their choices. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - A member of the federal House of Representatives, Ahmed Abu, has allegedly dumped APC - Abu cited irregularities in the recently concluded APC primaries as his reason for defecting - The lawmaker accused the party of announcing a winner for a primary election that was earlier declared inconclusive Ahmed Abu, a member of the federal House of Representatives, representing Mokwa/Lavun/Edati federal constituency in Niger state, has decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing irregularities in the party's primary elections. Abu, in a letter signed by him and sent to the national vice chairman of the APC in north central, the Niger state chairman of the APC and his ward chairman, said he was disapointed in the outcome of the October 4 primary election in Niger state. READ ALSO: Provide evidence I was bribed or I drag you to court - Oshiomhole blasts Saraki The lawmaker said the election which was marred by violence and irregularities was declared inconclusive but to his surprise a candidate's name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the same election. A copy of Abu's resignation letter submitted to the APC. Source: Nairaland Source: UGC Abu is not the first member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to decamped for the party or cry foul over the controversial direct primary elections conducted by the party in October 2018. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that the senator representing Niger south, Sani Mustapha Mohammed, resigned from the APC in protest. Mohammed is said to be angered by the decision of the ruling party to drop his name from the list of candidates cleared for the 2019 general election. Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna central, also resigned from the party in protest on Saturday, October 20, over the removal of his name from the final list. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have updated to serve you better. Is President Buhari Really Doing Badly As Nigeria's Leader? - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng - The UN and Nigerian private business leaders are set to launch a humanitarian initiative - The initiative will involve business leaders and donor countries partnering to provide fund for victims of Boko Haram - The initiative is reportedly a first in the world for humanitarian action, and it is expected to serve as a blueprint for other countries The UN and business leaders in Nigeria will on Thursday, November 15, launch a joint initiative for private companies to join the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund for the northeast. The UN said the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund Private Sector Initiative provides private sector companies and business with the opportunity to contribute to the fund. The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund is a country-based pooled fund alongside donor countries, set up in May 2017 and managed by the United Nations, to support a timely, coordinated and principled humanitarian response. READ ALSO: Igbo leaders declare support for Atiku, give reasons It is the first-ever joint humanitarian fund in which the private sector would join donor countries in providing assistance for humanitarian action. The platform is a first in the world for humanitarian action, and it is a major innovation that would serve as a blueprint for other country-based funds. The joint initiative seeks to harness the financial resources and expertise of Nigerias private sector to contribute to a more effective and timely humanitarian response in Nigeria. The initiative also aimed to allow humanitarian actors to step up their response in northeast Nigeria, where the Boko Haram crisis has affected millions of families, the UN said. The UN said: The humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria that has spilled into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, is one of the most severe in the world today. In northeast Nigeria, 10 years of conflict have left more than seven million people in dire need of help in the three worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. About 1.8 million people are internally displaced. People need food, water, shelter and health services. But with other global crises competing for scarce resources, the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund is today evolving to partner with the Nigerian private sector to mobilise additional resources and ensure more timely and effective lifesaving support for the affected population. The launch would be attended by leaders of Nigerias private sector, senior UN representatives, representatives of donor countries and the civil society. Mr Jim Ovia, Founder and pioneer Group MD/CEO of Zenith Bank (NHF PSI Founder Donor and Steering Group Chair) and CEO Mr Wale Tinubu of Oando one of Africas largest integrated energy solutions provider are among several of Nigerias top business leaders who have joined this collaborative, accountable and measurable platform for humanitarian action. A number of major Nigerian companies are expected to pledge donations at the launch, the UN said. First announced at the Oslo Conference in February 2017, the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund became operational in May 2017 and has raised $70 million from 17 donor countries. Considered an Investment in Humanity the fund, which is managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on behalf of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, supports life-saving assistance. By partnering with Nigerias private sector, the fund seeks to raise awareness and support to the humanitarian response from business leaders who play an important role in the lives of Nigerians. This initiative would see companies in Nigeria support the fund and join other donor countries that have donated to the Fund. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, two high profile Boko Haram commanders have been killed during a clearance operation by troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Chibok and 28 Task Force Brigade Damboa. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the killed commanders were identified as Abu Rajal and Tuja Saiinna Banki. The troops according to a Twitter post by the army embarked on the clearance operations from Gumsuri to Gamboru in Borno state on 9 November. The army said: They successfully cleared and liberated some villages. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has commended the gallant troops and urged them to carry out further incursions and clearance operations to ensure that the remnants of the BHT are completely wiped out. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - As the 2019 general elections draw nearer, Nigerian youths have been warned against engaging in discrimination and hate crime - The warning was issued by a United Nations consultant on Wednesday, November 14 - According to the consultant, the diversity in Nigerian culture can improve productivity and creativity Nigerian youths have been warned against engaging in discrimination and hate crime ahead of the forthcoming 2019 general elections in the country. A United Nations consultant, who issued the warning on Wednesday, November 14, urged the youths to contribute their quota to the country's development by engaging in political activities, Vanguard reports. Legit.ng gathers that the chairman of the Nigerian Model United Nations Society (NIGMUNS), Chika Nwaozuzu, spoke on behalf of the UN consultant at the fourth Lagos Regional Secondary Schools Model United Nations (LARSSMUN) conference on Wednesday, November 14. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda He said: Here at this conference, the delegates disagreed over issues but after several disagreements, they found a common ground that suits all. That is what we want from our public office holders. This will benefit Nigeria. Our diversity, if well managed and taught, can bring us certain advantages. It can improve productivity, creativity and efficiency in our global societies as businesses. "Organisations and communities can profit from the variety of skills, creativity, experience and entrepreneurship that comes with diverse mix of people living in same location." Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government on Wednesday, July 11, admonished Nigerians not to share any information for which they could vouch on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp as a measure to curtail fake news menace. The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the admonition in Abuja at the launch of National Campaign against Fake News. He urged social media users that before sharing any information on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp, they should ascertain how credible the source was. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Mohammed said the campaign against fake news was to sensitise Nigerians on the dangers it posed to peace, security and nations corporate existence. He said though there were existing laws against fake news, the government did not intend to resort to coercion or censorship. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit A new, bizarre wave of drug and substance abuse in Indonesia has left people worried and completely tongue-tied thanks to the extents youths go to so as to get high. Legit.ng understands a large number of merrymakers have turned to boiling sanitary pads so as to get a temporary rush. According to Dailymail, the kids have adopted this peculiar habit as it is a cheap and readily accessible source of stimulants. The drug users boil either used or unused sanitary towels then proceed to gulp down the drink which has been described as bitter but highly effective. READ ALSO: Tonto Dikeh reveals plan to undergo another cosmetic surgery (photo) A new, bizarre wave of drug and substance abuse in Indonesia has left people worried and completely tongue tied thanks to the extents youths go to so as to get high. They then feel like they are flying and often tend to hallucinate after partaking in the unusual hallucinogen. The drug users boil either used or unused sanitary towels then proceed to gulp down the drink which has been described as bitter but highly effective. Some have even gone as far as boiling diapers and drinking the liquid. A teen who is a loyal user of the new drug said the pad first needs to be unwrapped then dipped into boiling water. It is then left to cool after which the sanitary towel is squeezed till all the liquid pours out of it. The teens then proceed to drink the water which leaves them inebriated. "The used pads they took from the trash were put in boiling water. After it cooled down, they drank it together," Senior Commander Suprinarto, head of the Indonesian National Drug Agency, BNN. Na wa o. Meanwhile, just recently, a teenage boy confessed to killing his mum and sleeping with her corpse for rituals. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Suspected cocaine/cannabis traffickers reject Police accusations on Legit TV: Source: Legit - Police have deployed heavily armed personnel to Anambra House of Assembly - Reports disclosed that there was tension in the vicinity of the House over an attempt to impeach the speaker, Rita Nmaduagwu - The police spokesman, Mohammed Haruna, however, did not respond to messages sent to his phone on enquiries over the deployment of personnel in the assembly area There was tension in the vicinity of Anambra House of Assembly on Thursday, November 15, as the police deployed heavily armed personnel are strategic points leading to the parliamentary complex. The House is expected to resume sitting after its crisis which began over attempt to impeach the speaker, Rita Nmaduagwu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that policemen were stationed at Ekwueme Square, NULGE Secretariat Junction and barricaded roads leading to the Complex with patrol trucks. READ ALSO: Igbo leaders declare support for Atiku, give reasons Workers in Anambra universal basic education board, Independent National Electoral Commission and the High Court, all within the assembly area were forced by the police to disembark from commercial vehicles and walk. Those in private vehicles were thoroughly screened to establish their identities and destinations while some vehicles were diverted from the area. Some members of assembly purportedly impeached the speaker and elected Ikem Uzozie as her replacement. The attempt which was reportedly botched has since split the house into two factions as Mmaduagwu insisted that her purported removal was invalid. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Police spokesman in the command, Mohammed Haruna, did not take calls or respond to messages to his phone on enquiries over the deployment of personnel in the assembly area. A source close to the assembly, however, noted that the sitting may have been shelved to give room for more consultations and reconciliation among the lawmakers and other stakeholders. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that two suspected bombers were arrested by the security operatives of Imo police command when they were attempting to detonate bomb in Orlu community of the state. The arrested suspects, a 28 year-old Friday Echereobia, and 30 year Ozioma Nwosu, were nabbed and paraded in Owerri on Wednesday, November 14, by the state commissioner of police, Dasuki Galadanchi. The bomb-carrying suspects were busted during a routine search operation by the operatives of mobile police belonging to 18 squadron. The commissioner of police, while parading the suspects, said: "The operatives of the police mobile force 18 squadron, during a routine stop and search duty at their checkpoint by the UBA junction in Orlu, arrested the suspects, who were on a motorcycle and in possession of a suspicious looking object.'' NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We keep evolving to serve our readers better. See the faces of newly arrested criminals in Lagos state - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - An APC candidate for the forthcoming bye-election, Raheem Olawuyi, was on Thursday, November 15, attacked by some unidentified gunmen in Kwara - The attackers reportedly laid siege at the entrance of the Oke-Ero area of the state before shooting at their target at close range - Although the jeep conveying Olawuyi was shattered by the attack, the candidate, his driver and two other stalwarts of the party escaped unhurt The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Irepodun/Ekiti/Oke-Ero and Isin federal constituency forthcoming by-lection, Raheem Olawuyi, was on Thursday, November 15, allegedly attack by unknown gunmen. Femi David, the campaign spokesman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Olawuyi was attacked at Idofin Igbana area during a campaign tour of Oke-Ero local government area. The campaign team was said to have been led by some members of the APC state executives and party stalwarts. The damaged vehicle of the Kwara APC candidate, Raheem Olawuyi (Photo credit: NAN) Source: Depositphotos READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The assailants were said to have laid siege at the entrance of the town along the busy road before shooting at their target at close range. NAN reports that the back screen of Olawuyis Lexus Jeep was shattered following the impact of the attack. Olawuyi, the driver and two other stalwarts of the party, were said to have escaped unhurt in the Jeep. The supporters of the party described the act as barbaric and crude, noting that the perpetrators must face the full wrath of the law when apprehended. NAN reports that the community vigilante immediately swung into action by mobilising and combing the surrounding bush to locate the perpetrators. Olawuyi, while addressing his supporters at Idofin Igbana afterward at about 2:00 a.m, urged them to remain calm and steadfast. He said that the act was one of the prizes for freedom and that they should remain undaunted and undeterred. Chief Michael Olaoye, the Abadofin of Idofin Igbana led the team to the palace of Oni dofin of Igbana, Oba Samuel Ifabiyi to intimate him of the incident. Olaoye said that the community would not rest until the perpetrators were apprehended. According to him, this is the first time such act was happening in the town during election campaigns. In his reaction, Oba Ifabiyi expressed shock and dismay over the heinous crime, stressing that the perpetrator would be exposed in due course. He advised the candidate not to allow the incidence dampen his morale, while urging him to remain focused on his ambition. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Effort by David to alert the area commander and the divisional police officer in Omu-Aran about the incident was said to have proved abortive. David said that the matter as well as the affected vehicle had been lodged at the Area command. The command's public relation officer in the state, Ajayi Okasami, told NAN that they are awaiting official report about the incidence from Omu Aran. NAN reports that Olawuyi and the PDP candidate for the election, Jimoh Alatise are from Omu-Aran. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC in Kwara state had started blaming each other ahead of the bye-election holding in the state on Saturday, November 17. Legit.ng gathered that while the PDP accused APC of importing thugs and ammunition into the state, the former ruling party in the state, dismissed the allegation as baseless and unwarranted. The PDP claimed that the APC embarked on importing thugs in a desperate bid to win the bye-election into the vacant House of Representatives seat of Oke Ero/Irepodun/Ekiti/Isin federal constituency. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. The Next President of Nigeria. Who Will Win the 2019 Elections? | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has spoken on the possibility of giving Niger-Delta an absolute control of oil revenues - Atiku said he doesnt mind given 100% revenues to the oil-rich region, adding that he would tax the region to maintain the federal government - He, however, said such a move is not advisable at this stage of Nigerias development Nigerias former vice president and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said he is willing to let Nigerias oil-producing states have 100% control of crude oil revenues from their domains. He, however, added that he is reluctant to immediately implement such policies at this stage of Nigerias development. The PDP presidential candidate told The Africa Report in an interview published Wednesday, November 14, that federating units once had considerable control of their resources, unlike the current federal laws that only allow 13% derivation for states in the Niger-Delta, where Nigerias crude oil is extracted. READ ALSO: Police cordon off Anambra Assembly complex Atiku admitted that appropriate sharing formula might be difficult to say at this point but recommended a limited role for the federal government in appropriating crude revenues. Nigerian states can get more because in the First Republic the regions had 50/50, Atiku said. I dont mind giving even 100% [], but I would tax those states to maintain the federal government. He, however, recognised this is not advisable at this stage of our development. Even during the First Republic, there was this derivation sharing between revenues and resources, or between the regions and the federal government. So I think we could have a middle course. It would be unfair to ask me for specifics; that will depend on negotiations, he added. Atiku is a vocal advocate of restructuring, agitating for more powers for states at the expense of the central government. He believes Nigerias subsisting constitution, which recommends a federal system but implements a unitary one, should be urgently reviewed and replaced with a sovereign document that would engender a more peaceful and economically viable nation. Oil revenues still account for over 80% of the Nigerian governments revenues as of 2017, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, despite efforts towards economic diversification. In the face of a floundering agriculture and services sector, reducing the federal governments share of oil revenues to only taxes paid by about nine oil-producing states could be difficult to achieve soon, Premium Times notes. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Atiku said his commitment was to fix the ailing Nigerian economy. Abubarka said this on Wednesday, November 14, during a meeting with Igbo leaders in Enugu. He said that he was worried about developments in the country as well as the future of the country and the legacies that would be left for generations unborn. My commitment is to fix this country. I think of the future this country will have, if I do not struggle to fix it. Our economy must be fixed and you can trust me and Mr Peter Obi to do it, he said. Nigeria Latest News: PDP Convention: Atiku Elected as Presidential Candidate | Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng - A top Gabonese court has ruled that the vice president of the country oversee the government affairs following the illness of President Ali Bongo - President Bongo is reportedly suffering from stroke, leading to speculation in the local media that he has died - Although the presidency has denied the death rumour, the decision of the court was expedient in order to prevent political crisis in the country A top Gabonese court has ruled that Maganga Moussavou, the vice president of the country take over the cabinet in the absence of President Ali Bongo, who was admitted to an hospital in Saudi Arabia after suffering from what was reported to be stroke. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decision, which was announced by the constitutional court on Wednesday, November 14, was the first move in the history of the oil-producing country to fill the vacuum left by Bongo's absence. Legit.ng gathers that Bongo had not been seen in public since his state of health was unknown, leading to speculations in the local media that he might have died. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda In a statement released by the spokesperson to the the government, Ike Ngouoni, President Bongo was reported to be suffering from "severe fatigue" and he is "rather reassuring" at the Riyadh hospital. The opposition group in the country, led by former president of the National Assembly, Nzouba Ndama, was said to have lost conviction in the statement, leading to concern across quarters on the state of government since there is no legal explanation for such situation in the Gabon's constitution. Vice President, Maganga Moussavou, has been ordered to take over Gabon's government amidst President Bongos illness. Photo credit: UGC Source: UGC Gabons prime minister, Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet, had earlier lamented: Only the president has the power to chair the council of ministers. Unfortunately he is temporarily unavailable for health reasons, and temporary unavailability is not addressed by the constitution." However, the Gabonese court ruled that Ali Bongo's vice president take over the affairs of the government pending the return of the president. The Bongo family has ruled the oil-producing country for nearly half a century. Bongo himself has been president since succeeding his father, Omar, who died in 2009. His re-election in 2016 was marred by claims of fraud and violent protest. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the 61 year-old president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame was seen doing a jogging exercise around the city of Kigali, the country's capital without security operatives. President Kigame, a former military leader, who is reputed to have turned the economy of the country around, had served as minister of defence and vice president in Rwanda. The East African leader had received global acclaim for returning Rwanda to normalcy decades after genocide claimed hundreds of lives between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com (naija.ng) upgrades to Legit.ng to serve its readers better If you could choose your country of birth, what country would that be? | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has revealed how Boko Haram insurgency started in Nigeria - He said Boko Haram terrorists were offshoots of political thuggery - Atiku, however, faulted President Buhari's anti corruption war Nigeria's former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said, he knows how Boko Haram started in the country. Legit.ng gathered that in an interview with The African Reports, which he shared on his verified Twitter handle, @atiku, Atiku said that, politicians were to be blamed for the emergence of Boko Haram in Nigeria. READ ALSO: Breaking: Saudi to behead 5 suspects in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi Speaking on how he was going to solve the challenge of Boko Haram terrorism, he said: I happen to know how Boko Haram came into being. They were offshoots of political thuggery. "Politicians used those boys in Boko Haram to win elections and then abandoned them and then there were no jobs for them. It was the same thing with the Niger Delta. In 1998, I saw it myself and I warned people. Its going to be a multifaceted approach. It will involve negotiations. It will involve military action. The former vice president also criticised the President Buhari-led governments anti-corruption strategy, saying that, "You cant deploy only punitive measures to fight corruption. One way of trying to reduce corruption to the barest minimum is also to introduce e-governance. If you are applying for a permit, if you are applying for a passport, why not apply online? Why cant we also employ preventive measures to stop corruption? Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Wednesday, October 10, disclosed President Muhammadu Buhari's 1042-pages achievement compendium of his administration. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda It was reported that Mustapha who made this known at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting noted that the compendium was a summary of policies and programmes implemented between 2015 and 2017. He explained further that the document will serve as first hand information to the president on projects and programmes implemented. According to him, the document would also serve as reference point and lends credence to the fact that the administration has fulfilled its campaign promises. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. Theres No Big Deal About Searching Atiku - Rtd Customs Officer - Nigeria Street Gist | - on Legit TV Source: Legit A 20-year-old Easton man is charged with attempted homicide after a more than two-month investigation into a shooting on the city's South Side, police report. Kasaan Brevard, of the 100 block of East Lincoln Street, was a participant in a fight involving several people just before 4:30 a.m. Sept. 1 outside 145 W. Nesquehoning St. when he shot Karon Dollar, 34, of Easton, police said. Dollar fled to 512 Centre St. before he was taken to a hospital for treatment of serious wounds, police said. The neighborhood was locked down for hours after the gunfire as police investigated. Officers in tactical gear eventually entered the house and searched but did not make an arrest. Kasaan Brevard, of Easton, surrendered Nov. 15, 2018, at District Judge Daniel Corpora's court to face a charge of attempted homicide and related offenses tied to a Sept. 1, 2018, shooting on the city's South Side. (Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor) Brevard surrendered about 2 p.m. Thursday and was arraigned before District Judge Daniel Corpora on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person (three counts). Bail was set at $500,000 during the brief hearing. Court papers say Brevard confessed that he pulled the trigger while Dollar and he argued and fought. If convicted, Brevard faces up to life in prison. Brevard went into the West Nesquehoning Street home after the shooting and hid, police Lt. Matthew Gerould said. Police became aware of him being there, but didn't know he fired the shots because of the lack of cooperation from others who also fled into the home, Gerould said. The fight was between two opposing groups -- some of the people knew each other -- and may have have been over women, Gerould said. The gun wasn't recovered and the investigation remains active and ongoing, Gerould said. It is believed Brevard was the only person to fire shots, Gerould said. Dollar, who suffered several gunshot wounds to the chest, was subsequently released from care. He was picked up Oct, 9 in a drug raid in the 700 block of Spruce Street and remains in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $35,000 bail. He was charged with delivering drugs. The raid was in coordination with the ongoing investigation into the shooting, police said. Karon Dollar was shot Sept 1, 2018, in Easton, and arrested Oct. 9, 2018, in a city drug raid. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Recovered later on the morning of Sept. 1 from the home on West Nesquehoning were a Kel-Tec gun box, two 9 mm rounds and a New England Firearms Model Pardner shotgun, the search warrant says. A handgun, not the shotgun, was used to wound Dollar, police said. Gerould wouldn't specifically say what led investigators to Brevard, who on Saturday came to the police station and allegedly admitted to the shooting. "Lengthy, thorough detective work culminated in the arrest," Gerould said. This isn't the first time Brevard was charged with a violent crime. Brevard was charged in a Nov. 30, 2014, pellet gun shooting on the South Side. Brevard, who was 16 at the time, and a 15-year-old were initially charged as adults, records show. Gilberto Santiago was shot in the face several times after he stopped and got out of his car at which Beam and Brevard fired a CO2 pistol, shooting out one of the car windows, records say. Santiago's 1-year-old daughter suffered small cuts to her face when the window shattered and her car seat was covered in glass, officials said. Santiago's wife, Ruth, and 8-year-old son also were in the car when it was shot at, reports say. Records don't detail the extent of Santiago's injuries, but he was able to speak to police when they arrived following the 6:10 p.m. shooting and direct them to Brevard's house, where the two teens ran after the shooting. Easton police found BB-type projectiles on Brevard's front steps, records say. Brevard initially denied any involvement in the shooting to police, but his mother, Kaseemah Brevard, allowed police to search his room, records say. Police found a black CO2 pistol resembling a semi-automatic handgun because it was missing its orange safety tip, records say. The pellet gun was loaded with both BB-type projectiles and CO2, records say. Brevard was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and seven related counts, records show. The case was forwarded to Northampton County Court, but records don't include an outcome. It's possible it was moved to juvenile court. Brevard said in court on Thursday that he previous faced charges in juvenile court, but didn't say more. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter@TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. With all ballots counted, U.S. Rep.-elect Susan Wild claimed victory Thursday in the special election for Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District. Wild on Election Day, Nov. 6, won the new 7th Congressional District by nearly 10 percentage points, according to unofficial results. But in addition to the 7th District race, the Democrat also went up against Republican Marty Nothstein and Libertarian Tim Silfies in the special election to finish out the unexpired term of former U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent through year's end. Dent, a Republican, retired seven months ago after previously announcing he would not seek re-election. The initial count in PA-15 had Nothstein up by 58 votes, just two-hundredths of 1 percentage point. With all PA-15 provisional, military and overseas civilian ballots counted, unofficial figures from the Pennsylvania Department of State on Thursday showed Wild ahead by 759 votes, or 0.28 of a percentage point, over Nothstein. Wild's campaign issued a news release Thursday afternoon saying she had been "notified of her victory." "I'm honored that voters in Pennsylvania's 15th District have chosen for me to be their Congresswoman and finish out the term of former Congressman Charlie Dent," Wild stated. "I'm grateful for our county election officials who have been diligent and efficient to ensure that every vote is counted. "I'm very happy that I can get to work almost immediately for the people of the 15th and 7th districts, rather than waiting until January. There is much work to be done, and a head start will be an advantage for our region. The work starts right now." This week Im in Washington for orientation. My dad spent his whole career in the Air Force; my mom worked in the public sector. Im honored & humbled to be able to carry forward my familys legacy of serviceon behalf of PA-07, and for my kids and yours, lets get to work. pic.twitter.com/GXQCTNseL6 Susan Ellis Wild (@wildforcongress) November 14, 2018 Nothstein on Friday issued a statement on the final tally in the PA-15 special election: "I want to congratulate Susan Wild on her election victory and ask everyone to join me in wishing her good luck in her new role as the area's member of Congress." Following a redrawing of congressional boundaries deemed unfairly partisan, the 7th District covers all of Lehigh and Northampton and southern Monroe counties. PA-15 covers all of Lehigh and parts of Northampton, Berks, Dauphin and Lebanon counties. Here is the unofficial vote breakdown from the Department of State. The results will be certified by the state anywhere from two weeks to a month after Election Day, at which point Wild will be sworn-in to succeed Dent. Her swearing-in for the PA-07 seat, a two-year term, is scheduled Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C. 7th Congressional District Susan Wild: 137,365 votes (53.41 percent) Marty Nothstein: 111,933 votes (43.52 percent) Tim Silfies: 7,901 votes (3.07 percent) 15th Congressional District Wild: 130,353 votes (48.54 percent) Nothstein: 129,594 votes (48.26 percent) Silfies: 8,579 (3.19 percent) Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A truck driver who brought nearly 300,000 worth of cocaine into Dublin Port has been jailed for eight and a half years. Judge Patricia Ryan described Aidan Conroy (40) of Ashbrook, Clonaslee, Co Laois as a facilitator in the importation of the drugs. The drugs seizure was made at Dublin Port on August 20, 2015 as part of a joint operation involving the Revenue and the Garda officers acting on foot of confidential information. Officers stopped Conroy's freight truck after it disembarked from a ferry. They found 4.2 kilos of cocaine stashed into a fire extinguisher in a compartment of the truck cab. The court heard these drugs had an estimated street value of 294,301. Investigators also found 6.9 kilos of cocaine in a bag on top of pallets in the rear of the truck's trailer. After a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month, a jury acquitted Conroy of charges relating to the trailer drugs, but convicted him of possession of the drugs in the cab. Passing sentence on Thursday, November 15, Judge Ryan said that Conroy had the role of a courier and facilitator. She said the court also had to take into consideration the amount of drugs. She also noted the effective lack of previous convictions and his excellent work record. She noted that a number of testimonials were handed into court. These described Conroy as an asset to his partner and family and to the wider community. She noted that there was evidence that Conroy had experienced personal tragedy in his life. Finally, she noted that he received a favourable letter from the prison governor. The judge reduced a headline sentence of 12 years to eight and a half years, after taking these mitigating factors into consideration. The sentence was backdated to October 16 last when Conroy went into custody. Conroy had pleaded not guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine with a market value of greater than 13,000. The offence comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment unless where there are exceptional circumstances which the court can consider. Conroy also denied importation of cocaine and a number of charges arising out of possession of cocaine. A group of around 20 people were present in court to support Conroy. Many of these appeared upset and were crying outside court after the sentencing hearing. In April of this year, Conroy launched a High Court action in an attempt to reclaim the truck the drugs were found in. The High Court heard that that, in the wake of the initial drugs seizure, Conroy was served with a notice by Revenue to forfeit the truck and trailer. The truck was, however, still subject to a hire purchase agreement that had not been completed, counsel for Conroy, Feichin McDonagh SC, told the court. A Czech national caught with an imitation firearm who claimed he had the replica shotgun as he had been threatened over a drug debt has been given the benefit of the probation act. Martin Cermak (19), Hawthorn Way, Esker Hills, Portlaoise, was charged with possession of an imitation firearm, at the Ridge Road, Portlaoise. When he first appeared in court in September, Sgt JJ Kirby gave evidence that on March 5 this year, a number of 999 calls were made concerning a male armed with a firearm. Witnesses reported that the man was walking towards the Ridge Road and the gardai attended the scene, where they located the accused in possession of a shotgun. He was approached and told to drop the weapon, which he did, and was arrested. Sgt Kirby said there was no sinister motive to the incident, with a ballistics report indicating that the item was a realistic imitation firearm, a replica pump action shotgun. The accused had no previous convictions. Defence, Mr Barry Fitzgerald admitted that the item could have been viewed as being real, which could have caused alarm. The accused purchased the replica firearm, which was a pellet gun, in a local shop. Mr Fitzgerald said that Cermak, a Czech national living in Ireland a number of years, had developed a serious cannabis addiction and ran up a debt, which led to threats being made against him so he bought the gun. It was foolish, said Mr Fitzgerald, and the accused had cooperated with the gardai at the scene. The matter was adjourned for a probation report and when the case returned to court last Thursday, Sgt Jason Hughes said that the accused has not come to garda attention since. Judge Catherine Staines described the offence as an aberration and said it was unlikely the accused would offend again. She applied the probation act, section 1.1. The Department of Education has confirmed the patronage of the three new primary schools confirmed for Naas and North Kildare has yet to be decided. Read also: Hair stylists in Naas and Maynooth land awards The largest patron of Irish-medium schools in the country, An Foras Patrunachta (AFP) today announced that it has applied for the patronage of two new primary schools to cater for Maynooth and Leixlip, opening in 2019. The new schools were confirmed by the Department of Education and Skills earlier this year to cater for the growth in population. The process for awarding patronage of the schools has been confirmed by the Department of Education and Skills and parental demand is central. The application has been made as part of AFPs Gaelscoil4All campaign which aims to ensure all children in Ireland have the option to attend a gaelscoil. General Secretary of An Foras Patrunachta, Caoimhin O hEaghra said: We need more Gaelscoileanna to cater for demand from parents. Too often we hear from parents who want Irish-medium education for their child but dont have that option available.There is only one gaelscoil in each area and unless we secure further supply parents will not be able to access Irish medium education. Kantar Millward Brown research published this month shows that 78% of people believe Irish medium education should be available to every child. We are now calling on parents in the area to support the campaign and register their interest on www.Gaelscoil4All.ie. Parents know the benefits of bilingual - and multilingual education - and they can now help us achieve this great choice for their children through our campaign. An Foras Patrunachta is currently the patron for over 70 schools in 22 counties across Ireland. The application which has been made is for a co-ed, multi-denominational, gaelscoil. AFP is also offering parents the choice of multi-lingual education, where children will learn a subject through a major european language. Mr O hEaghra added: Providing diversity and choice to parents in Maynooth and Leixlip is essential. In our schools, everyones welcome and everyones equal. We welcome all pupils regardless of their background, religion or language of the home. Information for parents interested in a new gaelscoil for Maynooth or Leixlip can be found at www.Gaelscoil4All.ie. Public meetings will be held in Leixlip Manor at 7.30pm on November 27 and the Glenroyal Hotel at 7.30pm on November 28. All are welcome. A 46 year old man charged with two offences of producing knives to walkers in the Sallins area has been remanded in custody for a further week so that the Court could be given assurance about his future behaviour. Robert Serafin, of no fixed address, appeared before Naas District Court on November 14. He had previously been in court charged with producing a knife to strangers in two incidents and his case had been adjourned for reports to the Court. One incident took place at Sallins Wharf on June 6 this year when he had two knives. A second took place at Lock 1, Canal Bank, Osberstown, Sallins on August 12 this year. Judge Desmond Zaidan commented that Mr Serafin had a fixation with knives. In one incident, two people with a dog tried to pass Mr Serafin who was urinating and he produced a knife. A man who said he was Mr Serafin's brother told the Court that it was a knife he used for fishing and that he produced it because he was afraid of the dog. Willie Hughes BL, representing Mr Serafin legally, said his client was a man with many difficulties. Mr Hughes asked that his client be released so that he he could take up residence in an integrated living unit (Mount Offaly House). He had been offered a place but had to take it up that day. Judge Zaidan was handed a 15 page report from a psychiatrist. It is very detailed, said the judge who noted the report said substance abuse was a risk for Mr Serafin. Nothing unusual there, said Judge Zaidan. Mr Hughes said his client had stopped drinking and taking illegal drugs. Judge Zaidan said the report said Mr Serafin had a history of psychotic episodes and had spent time in the Central Mental Hospital. He had paranoid delusions about a woman called Anna. Judge Zaidan also said that Mr Serafin had failed to keep outpatient appointments after being discharged from the Central Mental Hospital. I feel sorry for him but he has himself to blame, said Judge Zaidan. The judge noted that the people out walking their dog that night were in shock. Judge Zaidan asked what would happen if Mr Serafin was released and did not take his medication. How do you legislate for that? Mr Hughes asked again that Mr Serafin, who was in custody, be released into sheltered accommodation. If he was not engaging with the group, the Court could take appropriate action then. Judge Zaidan said he wanted someone from the group of the Central Mental Hospital to come to Court and give some assurances about Mr Serafin, who, he said, was vulnerable. The judge said he would remand Mr Serafin custody for a week. I don't feel comfortable. I fear he will fall off the wagon or produce a knife if someone looks at him the wrong way. The Christmas 2018 Naas gift card and shop local campaign has been launched at an event attended by traders, councillors, the Kildare Local Enterprise Office, Naas mens shed and members of the public at Naas town hall. The project seeks to highlight the choice Naas town centre has to offer and to encourage the public to support local businesses by shopping in the centre of Naas. According to Retail Excellence Ireland, for every 1 spent in a town like Naas, 4 stays in the local economy. The Naas gift card scheme ensures local spend stays in the local community. The voluntary group Naas Working Together are behind the gift card which was launched this time last year. Theyve also launched the Naas town map/retail directory which is available in all Naas hotels and many shops and cafes around the town. The scheme has been a success with both local employers who have used it as a tax efficient way provide staff bonuses and with Naas residents who have bought the card for family and friends. Six payzone outlets sell the card - Day Today Main Street, Swans on the Green, Centra Hazelmere, Maxol Dublin Road, Applegreen Sallins Road and Applegreen Newbridge Road. NWT thanked the Treacy Group and Bank of Ireland Naas for their financial contribution which has made this years card/shop local campaign possible. Also thanked were graphic designer Neringa Normantaite for her help designing the promotional materials for this years campaign, the Naas Mens Shed who like last year will erect Shop Local road signs on the main approaches into Naas and to the payzone outlets who will continue to sell the Naas Gift Card. With over 65 participating outlets in Naas town centre, card offers an outstanding choice from everyday grocery and pharmacy essentials, clothing, shoes, high end fashion, hair and beauty services, homewares and furnishings, art and crafts, health and fitness, language classes and a great variety of restaurants and cafes. There is more choice this year because of the addition of new outlets like Carphone Warehouse, Educogym Naas, Avanti Language Institute, Shoe Tree, Trax restaurant and the Store BeGood. An up to date list of participating outlets is on the NWT Facebook page. The scheme has been updated to include new packaging for the actual gift card, road signs and new point of sale materials for the outlets selling and accepting the card. Independent councillor, Des Guckian, is calling on the National Monuments Service at the Department of Heritage, Culture and Gaeltacht, to immediately take steps to secure the remains of a medieval church in Annaduff after it was damaged during a recent storm. The site of the church in St Annes Graveyard was extensively damaged after trees, rooted through one wall, caused a part of the structure to collapse. Speaking to the Leitrim Observer at the site of the medieval church, Cllr Guckian said that the entire area was of great historical importance with the medieval building and present St Anns Church of Ireland part of a wider ancient abbey site. The ancient Abbey of Annaduff was a thriving and very important abbey on the River Shannon when High King, Brian Boru, visited here in the year 1010. It was second only in importance to Clonmacnoise along the Shannon, he pointed out. This medieval church was built on the abbey site about the year 1400. History records that some of the stones from the (original) abbey church were included in this church. Therefore it is of huge importance in a heritage sense. Following the building of the present St Anns Church of Ireland in 1815, the medieval church was abandoned as a church, but the local landlord, Matthew Nesbitt, got to build a family vault inside its ruins. This was a reward for his exertions in building St Anns. (The medieval church was declared a National Monument with a preservation order attaching). In recent years, tall ash trees began to grow on top of the walls, with their roots running down through the weakened walls. Two years ago, a local group invited representatives from the Department of Heritage to come and see how precarious the situation was. They ignored the situation, he said. A month ago a big storm blew some trees down and the north wall was demolished. The danger now is that the other three walls will also be blown down in the next big storm, causing great damage all round. This has also led to serious health and safety concerns for those using the public graveyard as a number of stones have been loosened by root ingress. A number of graves located near the base of the medieval ruin have also been damaged by the wall collapse and more, including the historic grave of Prince of Breifne, Bryan O'Rourke (1690-1767) and his wife Margaret, are at risk of damage if urgent works are not carried out to secure the remaining structure. Cllr Guckian pointed out that archaeologist, Susan Curran, has carried out a survey in the big field adjoining the graveyard and her findings concluded this was, indeed an important ancient abbey site. Cllr Guckian said the lack of action by the Department of Heritage in securing the medieval church remains is very frustrating, especially in light of the historical importance of this site. The Department of Heritage can certainly be blamed for not being pro-active and helping out by having the trees cut down, said Cllr Guckian. Placing a preservation order on a monument should also carry with it an obligation to help preserve the building. This is a cross-community issue and many are showing an interest. It would be great if all parties and the Department of Heritage, could work together to help save what is left and finish out the archaeological surveys (on this site). He added that he hoped the new Heritage Officer in Leitrim County Council will come on board and work with the local community to help secure this site and get proper surveys completed. It is vital that this historic site be saved and preserved for future study, he said. Cllr Guckian at the Nesbitt mausoleum. Response from Department The Leitrim Observer contacted the Office of National Monuments to highlight the damage to the medieval church. A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht confirmed the medieval church is a protected monument under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014. This means that any person proposing to carry out work that might affect it must give the Department's National Monuments Service (NMS) two months advance notice in writing, said the spokesperson. The Minister or Department does not have responsibility under the National Monuments Acts for the maintenance of the monument as it is not in State ownership or in State care. Our understanding is that the church is not owned by the local authority either and consequently Leitrim County Council would also not have any statutory obligation for its maintenance. While it was accepted that it clearly poses a structural risk, inappropriate removal would be equally hazardous to the structure. The National Monuments Service has suggested the community should engage appropriate architectural conservation expertise with a view to preparing an appropriate scheme of conservation works. To date, said the spokesperson, the Department has not received any notification of, or refused permission for, any proposed works. The spokesperson noted that there were financial supports available or the protection of heritage buildings or historic structures - the Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme - both of which are administered by local authorities. The SRF has been revamped and improved for 2019 and will become the Historic Structures Fund. This fund will be launched shortly and will be open for applications later this year, together with BHIS. It would be open to Leitrim County Council to consider applying for funding for Annaduff (medieval) church under these schemes, concluded the spokesperson for the Department. | BY Kim Shaw | On the heels of the recent hire of Executive Creative Director Micah Walker and new business wins of Optus, Paspaley and Vision Investment Group 72andSunny Sydney has welcomed key hires to fill growing roles. Greg Fyson (top left), Executive Producer. Fyson comes to 72andSunny with 15 years industry experience. Carving out his career as a TV Producer at BMF, Greg worked at Saatchi & Saatchi and Rabbit Content, producing jobs for a range of clients including: LION Nathan, MLA, Expedia and P&O. Most recently Greg was an Executive Producer at Blockhead, a boutique visual effects studios specialising in film, advertising and AR. Mark Carbone (above right), Senior Writer. Carbone joins the 72andSunny Sydney team as a Senior Copywriter with 10 years domestic and international industry experience. He returns to Sydney after four years in New York where he held creative positions at Anomaly and BBDO, working across clients such as Pepsi, Budweiser, Captain Morgan and Lowes. Prior to his work in New York, he worked at BMF Sydney as an Art Director/Copywriter for clients such as ALDI, Beef & Livestock, P&O, BPAY and Commonwealth Bank. Annalise Dry, Brand Director. Hailing from Los Angeles, Annalise Dry has worked in the industry for 10 years across both project management and account management roles for companies including: TBWA, Deutsch LA, and MAL/FOR GOOD, a division of TBWA\Media Arts Lab.Prior to joining 72andSunny Annalise worked for Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, leading projects for brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Mattel, MARS, National Bank of Australia (NAB) and DrinkWise. Joel Pearson, Strategy Director. Pearson joins 72andSunny as a Strategy Director with over a decade of experience spanning creative, communications and media planning roles. Previous positions include Global Innovation Director across Unilever for PHD Worldwide out of London, and strategy roles for TBWA and TCO. Most recently he was a Strategy Director at TBWA leading planning efforts across the Foxtel account, among others. Alice Child, Senior Brand Manager. Child will be working on the Google team, joining from adam&eveDDB London where she worked for more than three years across a range of clients including: John Lewis Christmas, Waitrose & Partners, Volkswagen and Great Western Railway. Two Sligo men found in a car with a mortar round inside a "Spiderman" themed backpack have gone on trial at the Special Criminal Court accused of IRA membership. Julian Flohr (37) with an address at Rusheen Ard, Caltragh and Damhan McFadden (29), of Kilmacowen, Ballysadare, both in County Sligo, are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on August 14, 2016. Mr Flohr remained seated when arraigned before the three-judge court today, Thursday, and made no reply when the registrar put the membership charge to him. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the court takes silence as a not guilty plea and it would answer on Mr Flohrs behalf. Mr McFadden stood up when arraigned before the non-jury court and pleaded not guilty when the charge was put to him. Opening the prosecution case today, Fiona Murphy SC told the court that Chief Superintendent Thomas Maguire will give evidence in the trial that he believes the accused men were members of the IRA on the date in question. Ms Murphy said two gardai were patrolling the Dromahair area of Co Leitrim on the evening of August 14 when they came across the accused men travelling in a car and stopped it. A decision was made to search the two men under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977. There will be evidence, the court heard, that Garda Eamonn McDonnell found a small Spiderman themed backpack behind the driver's seat in the car, containing a black package which appeared to have soil on it. The two men were cautioned and taken to a nearby garda station. The barrister said the court would hear that when Gda McDonnell looked inside the backpack again he formed the suspicion that it could be an explosive device. However, Ms Murphy said it was later established that the device was a mortar round but there was no primary cartridge present in it. Gardai formed a suspicion from this incident as well as other knowledge relating to the two men that they were members of the IRA and had been engaging in IRA activity, she indicated. Another part of the States case will be interviews connected with the two men under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. The section allows a court to draw inferences from a suspected persons failure or refusal to answer questions regarding alleged IRA membership. Counsel said the court will hear that searches were carried out in the homes of the accused men where items with Republican links were found. Ms Murphy told the three judges that they will also hear some association evidence. Giving evidence today, Gda Eamonn McDonnell told the court that he was attached to the Sligo/Leitrim Divisional Drugs Unit in August 2016. The witness said he was a passenger in an unmarked patrol car which was on duty in the Dromahair area around 10.30pm on August 14. Gda Ciaran Staid was driving the car and they were heading towards Manorhamilton when they observed a black Saab car, said Gda McDonnell. The witness testified that he was aware that Mr McFadden from Sligo town owned this car and he found it unusual that he would be in this area at the time. The patrol car caught up with the black Saab, activated its blue lights but it took an unusual amount of time for Mr McFaddens car to slow down. Gda McDonnell testified that he got out of the patrol car and spoke to Mr Fadden who was in the drivers seat and Mr Flohr who was in the passenger seat. The witness said he could tell Mr McFadden was nervous and he became suspicious when he observed Mr Flohr put his mobile phone under his leg so he decided to search the car under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Both men were searched but nothing was found on their person. However, Gda McDonnell said he found a childrens Spiderman themed backpack behind the drivers seat of the car and when he picked it up he noticed a large amount of unexpected weight in it. I could see black-wrapping on it. I thought it was a bar of cannabis or cocaine he said, adding that he used his flash-lamp to observe the inside of the backpack before placing it in the back seat of the car. Both men denied knowledge of the backpack, they were cautioned and conveyed to Manorhamilton Garda Station. Gda McDonnell said he drove the black Saab car to Manorhamilton Garda Station where he later touched the package and realised it was not drugs. I could see the shape of it, I got concerned and placed it back. I thought it may have been a bomb, he said. The witness said he phoned his superior officer and informed him of what he thought he had found, adding that he thought the army may need to be called. Gda McDonnell was told that the army would be organised to come to Manorhamilton Garda Station and the station would be evacuated. At this stage I realised this wasnt a drugs run. I believed it was a run on the obligations of being in the IRA and bringing a device from one location to another, said Gda ODonnell. The witness said he arrested Mr Flohr at 11.30pm under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act for possession of an explosive device and for being a member of an unlawful organisation. Both men were conveyed to Sligo Garda Station. Patrick McGrath SC, defending Mr Flohr, asked Gda McDonnell why he did not look more closely at the black package when he first came across it on the side of the road. I like to leave things in the location until Im in a better position to examine it, he replied. Gda McDonnell agreed with Mark Mulholland QC, defending Mr McFadden, that there is no evidence that his client would have any involvement in the drugs trade. The witness told Mr Mulholland that the first time the metal object was unravelled from its black duct tape was by the army. He agreed with the barrister that if he had lifted the conical shaped device initially at the side of the road he would have immediately realised it wasnt drugs. Gda Ciaran Staid testified that when he observed the backpack at the side of the road that night he also thought it was a quantity of drugs. He said he arrested Mr McFadden under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act for possession of an explosive device and for being a member of an unlawful organisation before he was brought to Sligo Garda Station. The trial continues on Monday in front of Mr Justice Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge Cormac Dunne. It is expected to last three weeks. A JUDGE has rejected proposals for the opening of a new pub in Rathkeale saying any additional premises would disrupt the fragile balance of peace and order in the County Limerick town. Gardai strongly opposed the application which was made by a limited company Five Lamps Inn Public House Limited which has a registered address at Fairhill, Rathkeale. The company, which was established last year, had sought a declaration of suitability relating to a premises at Main Street in the town. The former hardware store was bought for 200,000 more than 20 years ago and 100,000 has been spent refurbishing the premises. The directors of the company which made the application are Patrick Kealy and his wife Breda Kealy who both live at Red Brick House, Fairhill, Rathkeale. Both are members of the Travelling community. Patrick Kealy, who also has an address in the UK, has been described as a respected international antique dealer and a shrewd businessman. During a lengthy hearing, Judge Eoin Garavan was told a named woman would be hired to manage the pub as the directors of the company, who have no experience in the pub trade, would not be running it on a day-to-day basis. It is alleged by the State that Patrick Kealy is the Patriarch of the Kealy family which is involved in a long-running feud with a number of other Traveller families in the Rathkeale area. This has been disputed by Mr Kealy who told the court the feud has been resolved and that there are no ongoing difficulties between the families. Handing down his ruling this Thursday, Judge Eoin Garavan noted the concerns of gardai in relation to the applicant, the premises and the potential impact of the granting of the licence. During the hearing, Superintendent Eamon ONeill described the situation in Rathkeale as a powder keg saying there was a risk of a step backwards to future lawlessness. Judge Garavan said he would not comment on the garda concerns but noted they had been expressed by the superintendent in charge of the Newcastle West district. He noted that Mr Kealy has outstanding tax liabilities of more than 100,000 and commented that he had failed to rebutt some of the allegations put forward by the State. While Mr Kealy did not comment as he left the courthouse, licencing consultant JJ Bunyan said while the decision was understandable, he was disappointed with the ruling. He said he believed the premises was suitable to operate as a pub and that the project represented a massive investment by his client. A LIMERICK hospital worker, who claims to have been a target of verbal bullying by colleagues, has instigated an independent investigation, a Labour Court has heard. The Labour Court was told at a hearing on September 19 that due to alleged bullying and harassment at St Camillus Hospital on Shelbourne Road in Limerick, he was unable to work for over 11 months. The complainant, who started working at hospital in September 2015, submits that he was a target of verbal bullying by two of his colleagues from April 2017, after which he was forced to take extended sick leave. The worker initiated a complaint under the HSEs dignity at work policy on August 4, 2017. The claimant initially agreed to a mediation process but then decided he was unable to meet the alleged bullies face-to-face. The worker then opted for a formal investigation into his complaints, and this process is ongoing. The HSE said he acted unreasonably by not fully utilising the dignity at work policy prior to submitting a complaint to the Labour Court. The worker said the length of time it has taken for this policy to be implemented is unacceptable. The HSE said it has managed this process as expeditiously as possible. After the worker was certified fit to work, he accepted a position in Kilrush. However, he has submitted that this relocation has caused further hardship and financial difficulties due to the significant distance from his home. The court heard he is seeking compensation and redeployment to a position closer to home. The HSE indicated to the court that it would accept an application for redeployment and seek to accommodate him in accordance with its normal HR procedures. The court recommended both parties await the outcome of the investigation into complaints, that there was no merit for a compensation claim at this point, and that the HSE use its best endeavours to facilitate the workers redeployment request. THIS SUNDAY, the University Maternity Hospital will host its annual remembrance service to support and comfort bereft families. Organised by the bereavement support department and midwifery staff at UMHL, the event is welcome for all families and members of staff who experienced deaths during pregnancy. Marie Hunt, a bereavement counselling midwife from UMHL, said: The death of a baby is recognised as one of the most difficult bereavements in life and something which has a lifelong impact on parents and families. The support doesnt extend to just families, members of staff involved in the difficult process are also welcome. Ms Hunt continued: Staff at University Maternity Hospital Limerick witness the deep grief and sadness felt by parents who have been told their baby has died. The remembrance service provides a space for staff, the parents and extended families to reflect on the love and care they have shown to families who are bereaved and to acknowledge and express their own grief and sadness for the little lives that were lost, she added. The service will take place at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Ennis Road, on Sunday, November 18, at 3pm, and all are welcome. VOLUNTEERS from the University of Limerick were hailed by the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) this week. The work of members of the UL Greyhound Racing Society received high praise by IRGT as part of their Our People, Their Stories awareness programme. The society was founded in March 2017 by students Joe Sheahan and Julianne OKeefe. The co-founders and members organise regular walks around the Castletroy campus for retired greyhounds to keep them active in life away from the dog track. Askeaton man Joe, the co-founder of the society, attributed his his passion for greyhound racing to his familys strong background in horse racing. I set the society up because I felt it was important to bring like-minded people together over their love and passion for greyhounds. 99% of dog-owners love their greyhounds, and with all the misconceptions out there, were very keen to fight them and get the truth across, added Joe. IRGT has rehomed over 5,000 racing greyhounds since 2008, with 853 rehomed between January and October of this year. The Irish Greyhound Board contributed over 100,000 to the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust in 2017, sourced from greyhound owners, through a 2% deduction of all winning prize money. A further 58 greyhounds will be rehomed as pets in Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Italy, the Czech Republic and Belgium at the end of the year. The student-based group owns Trap Queen, who has three wins to her name in Limerick Greyhound Stadium. We have a dog in active training in the society, and our on-campus walks with the retired greyhounds are important, its great to see that work being highlighted, Joe concluded. TENS of millions of euro are to be spent on major schemes to improve Limerick including 85m for the citys flagship Project Opera. The draft budget presented to councillors this week shows almost 630m is to be put in place between now and 2021 on a variety of public projects in every corner of Limerick. Members will vote on the local authority budget this Thursday, with Mayor James Collins describing it as one which will bring Limerick to the next level. Half a million euro is to be spent on taking Steamboat Quay in charge, while 8.1m is in the plan for the upgrade to OConnell Street. Project Opera, including the public plaza is to benefit to the tune of 55.7m between now and 2021, while 3m is in place to deliver a conference centre to the city, location yet to be determined. Council bosses have put a spend of 27m in the plan on a public library, which will go in the heart of the Opera Centre, and as refurbishment of the Peoples Park playground will also take place at a cost of 150,000. Referring to Project Opera, Mayor Collins said: We want it to be a public plaza being used for hospitality, for public events and in conjunction with the 27m there for the new library. There are a lot of things in the capital programme which make for interesting reading and match the ambition of councillors for our city. Elsewhere in the city, 18.8m is in place for the Kings Island flood relief scheme, while 30,000 is earmarked to improve Garryowen Green. A traffic study of the Dock Road will attract 500,000, while Limerick council is to spend 8.1m on a bus corridor to link the University of Limerick and the city centre, in the hope it will reduce some of the major tailbacks existing on the bus routes serving these areas. In the county, Kilmallock town is set to get a huge boost from Budget 2019, with a large number of projects earmarked for cash. These include 236,000 on looped walks, and 1.5m on improvising the medieval mansion, and 200,000 in place for the Western Greenway. In what is being framed as a budget for housing, the commercial rate charged to businesses is set to rise marginally, with the extra income used to build more homes, and tackle the homelessness crisis should councillors back the measures presented by chief executive Conn Murray. A total of 9m is being put in place for two housing developments at Patrickswell, while 2.6m is being spent on 30 units in Deerpark at Adare. Almost 2m is to be spent between now and 2021 for a new social housing development in Hospital, with 900,000 to be spent on four units in St Patricks Villas in Castleconnell, among dozens of housing schemes in the rural area. Council bosses are no doubt hoping Limericks road infrastructure comes on in leaps and bounds over the next three years, with 33m in place for the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road, and 10.7m for the early stages of the Limerick to Cork motorway, which will be managed from Dooradoyle. There are some marquee projects which will bring Limerick onto the next level. Some of the things we are working on, we have got then into our capital budget so we can attract funding towards these, Mayor Collins told the Limerick Leader. In the West, 2m apiece is in place for improvement works to the N21 bypasses traversing both Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale. In Newcastle West, some 120,000 is being put in place for public realm works, while there are pier repairs works set for Glin. While the Foynes to Limerick Road improvement scheme is to be given 6.9m. According to the book of estimates presented to councillors this week, some 689m is to be spent on front-line council services although the vast majority of this, 518m, is being provided to the Housing Assistance Payment service centre, which administers the project for the whole country from the Granary Library. Of the eight service divisions in council, just two agriculture and miscellaneous will see drops in spend, according to the recommendations put forward by management. Limerick City and County Council is proposing to put 133,000 aside to provide school meals, an increase of 23,000 year on year. And 20,000 is being recommended to be spent on noise action planning on air monitoring, with one eye on Irish Cement's controversial proposals for Mungret. In terms of this area, the redevelopment of the college is set to get over 4 million. Some 450,000 is in place for cultural funding, while 203,000 is earmarked for arts, and 30,000 for Culture Night 2019. The commercial rate is to increase by 1.9%, going from 0.2627 per rate of valuation, to 0.2677. However, the devil is in the detail here, with the vast majority of businesses able to avoid the rise by paying on time and signing up to the small to medium sized enterprise scheme. In real-terms, only the top six per cent largest businesses across Co Limerick will experience a rates hike. The council is planning to use the extra money it will get from the rate to beef up its tenancy enforcement services, and tackle anti-social behaviour among its social housing stock. Mayor James Collins concluded: As councillors, as public representatives and myself as mayor, we are ambitious as to where Limerick goes next, and we are challenging the city executive to match our ambition. We want Limerick to be the first in many areas. We used to be in the past and we want to get back to it. Members are to meet at 11am this Thursday morning to agree Budget 2019. A PROTEST is to take place outside County Hall this Thursday, amid further rental rises in Limerick. The Solidarity councillors will hold the demonstration during the councils annual budget meeting, and they will demand a proper programme of public housing is put in place. It comes as rental prices continue to climb in Limerick, with prices outside the city up by 8%, a new survey shows. And in the urban city area, the median rate now stands at an eyewatering 1,551 per month after a 20.3% rise in the last year. New data released by the property web site www.daft.ie show the average advertised rent in Limerick is now 809, up 44% from its lowest point. Its the tenth consecutive quarter rents have risen, and the new figures which show rents rose an average of 11% nationally have drawn calls for government action as the number of houses on offer in the private rental market remains static. Limerick and Waterford are the only cities in the country which are not part of the Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ), a move which restricts annual rent rises to just 4%. It has led to calls for RPZs to be introduced immediately in Limerick City, with Fianna Fail TD Willie ODea saying: While the Rent Pressure Zone System hasn't done much to slow down the rate of increases in the price of rent across Ireland, with the highest increase of any city in the last 12 months, Limerick urgently needs to have rent controls in place. The Minister has consistently told me that rents are not going up fast enough in Limerick to justify being included in the Rent Pressure Zone System. These new figures give the lie to that. Labours housing spokesperson Jan OSullivan wants to go further, saying national rent controls now must be brought in. Two years on from the legislation that introduced Rent Pressure Zones it is clear that they are not working. Areas covered by the zones are seeing rent increases well above the 4% maximum required and for cities like Limerick and Waterford which are not included, rents have risen by 20% in the past year. What we need instead is a nationwide control on rents that links them to the cost of living. Ms OSullivan said with the situation now so desperate, a freeze on increases must happen. HOLIDAYS are definitely coming as Coca-Cola revealed details of its Christmas Truck Tour, which includes another stop in Limerick. The iconic truck returns for another tour to spread a little holiday magic across Ireland with new and exciting additions at each stop. Now in its eighth year, Coca-Colas Christmas Truck Tour has delighted thousands of visitors across the country with many more visitors expected to experience the magic in 2018. Starting off in Galway on November 30, the truck will call to Limericks Parkway Shopping Centre as one of 10 stops in towns and cities before reaching Dublin on December 16. The Limerick visit will take place on Friday, December 7. Each Truck Tour stop will feature a glittering winter wonderland setting nestled amongst a festival of lights. This year all visitors will also be able to purchase exclusive Coca-Cola merchandise at each stop, with all proceeds from the sale of merchandise to be donated to St Vincent De Paul. This year, as well as celebrating the magic that the Coca-Cola Truck Tour brings to Christmas, each stop will encourage consumers to recycle their cans. And to mark the start of Christmas, and a regular feature of the festive TV schedule, the famous Holidays Are Coming advert will also return to Irish screens once again. Christmas is all about sharing festive goodwill with friends and loved ones, said Petre Sandru, Country Manager of Coca-Cola Ireland. We cant wait to start spreading holiday cheer across the island of Ireland with the return of our iconic red truck. Were excited to announce lots of new additions at each stop, with the tour bringing a sprinkling of festive magic to our customers and also reinforcing an important message by encouraging more people to recycle on the go. | BY Ricki Green | Australias pre-eminent organization for marketing professionals has announced a partnership with the global body, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council, to offer international research, marketing intelligence and best practice insights to some 60,000 marketing practitioners in the country. The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI), which provides professional accreditation and continuing education, will give its members preferred access to global thought leadership from the CMO Councils network of 15,000 marketing leaders across 110 countries. Collectively, CMO Council members control some $500 billion in annual, aggregated marketing spend. Says Lee Tonitto (left), CEO, AMI: As the connected world changes the way brands, institutions and governments interact, Australias marketing sector is experiencing significant demand for new talent, skills and digital marketing capabilities. The AMI expects the number of marketing jobs in Australia to exceed 120,000 by 2020. Adds Tonitto: We are keen to further the global competitiveness and proficiency of our Certified Practicing Marketers. Tapping into the peer-based knowledge and intellectual capital of the CMO Council will contribute significantly to this. AMIs partnership with the CMO Council will allow the AMI to offer CMO Council content subscriptions, reports and global marketing intelligence services at a reduced price to new and existing members. The CMO Council will also host gatherings in Australian cities, undertake localized research and present new thought leadership with the AMI. Previous studies undertaken by the CMO Council and Adobe over a three-year period ranked Australia as the most progressive and advanced digital marketing country in the APAC region. Across the four key measures of digital marketing performance mindset, marketing readiness, organizational alignment and marketing skills Australia emerged as the clear leader in all four categories. Other countries ranked in the APAC Digital Directions, Strategies, Mandates & Challenges Report included Singapore, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and India. | BY Ricki Green | Podcasting is in its ascension. The medium is turning marketers heads the world over, with brands always looking for new ways to interact with their customers and infiltrate popular culture. So, if its our job as marketers to inspire people, how do we, in turn, inspire marketers? Its this question that led Colenso BBDO to launch The Love This podcast series. The weekly podcast is designed to unravel some of the biggest global trends and untrends in business, culture, creativity and innovation, interviewing some of the best and brightest minds on the planet. Previous episodes include a yarn with Jeff Beer (advertising editor, Fast Company) about the science of cutting through in a noisy world, through to Ethan Eismann (director of product sesign, Airbnb) and the thinking behind Airbnbs ambition to design the ideal at scale. Beth OBrien (creative group head) and Joe Carter (communications director), co-hosts of the podcast, had this to say Podcasting is such an intimate medium. It enables us to share thinking from around the world directly with our listeners. The opportunity to talk about the most pertinent topics not only educates and inspires our listeners, but also reinforces our thinking when it comes to the work. The feedback from brand marketers, editors and advertisers to date has been fantastic and we couldnt be happier as we head into recording for Season 2. Episode 7 with founder and chief creative officer of Mr President, Laura Jordan Bambach, is available to stream or download today. Beth OBrien, Creative Group Head, Colenso BBDO Joe Carter, Communications Director, Colenso BBDO Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) The chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formally turned over Thursday, with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong handing over the gavel to his Thai counterpart, Prayut Chan-o-cha. In ceremonies in Singapore, Lee said member countries focused on "community-building, and strengthening our linkages with key partners" during the summit. Lee noted several deliverables were launched during the events. "To address security threats and forge a peaceful and rules-based regional order, we established the 'Resilience, Response, Recovery' framework to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation. We adopted the world's first multilateral air guidelines to manage unintentional encounters between military aircraft," he said. Lee also mentioned the ASEAN Agreement on E-Commerce and ASEAN-wide Self Certification scheme to facilitate cross border online transactions, and the ASEAN Smart Cities Network featuring 26 pilot cities along with specific action plans "to create innovative urban solutions that will bring tangible improvements to our peoples' lives." "I have listed many deliverables and these are just a small part of a much more substantial report card which ASEAN member states have achieved together for this chairmanship," he said. Advancing Partnership for Sustainability In his speech, Prayut thanked the outgoing chairmanship, adding that all ten ASEAN members must collaborate closely "on a foundation of ASEAN unity and the principle of the three Ms: mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit to realize concrete deliverables and sustainability in ASEAN for all dimensions." He said next year's theme, Advancing Partnership for Sustainability, is centered on such a goal. Using technological advances to empower ASEAN nations, and by working closely with other partners will benefit all citizens, Prayut said. "I wish to invite all ASEAN member states, ASEAN citizens in all sectors of society to cooperate closely in developing an ASEAN brand in order to create strategic value added for ASEAN, strengthen our ASEAN identity, and help ASEAN become a people-centered community that leaves no one behind and looks forward to the future, our future with pride," he said. | BY Ricki Green | Initiative Australia has celebrated the first anniversary (today) of the YES Vote with parties at each of their Australian offices. Celebrating with colour, bubbles and words from members of Initiatives Pride in Diversity Committee about the significance of the YES Vote. Melissa Fein, Initiative Australia CEO, spoke to the Sydney team about the importance of marking this occasion with a celebration. | BY Ricki Green | Curious Film is delighted to introduce accomplished fashion and fine art photographer, James K Lowe as its newest director. With his foundations in photography, Lowes work has appeared in a long list of solo and group exhibitions both in New Zealand and at photography festivals around the world. His skill to illuminate and beautify details that would otherwise go unnoticed is what makes his work so distinctive. It has earned him a plethora of impressive achievements including First Class Honors for his Masters of Fine Arts Degree from Elam School of Fine Arts and representing New Zealand at Photoquai at Musee du quai Branly in Paris early in his career. He continues to create outstanding work that is exhibited and recognised globally. Lowes eye for detail enables him to create the poetically stunning visuals that hes known for. Its this tone that transitions beautifully into film, as evident in his commercial works and the music video Fit In, he directed for rapper David Dallas single in 2017. Says Lowe: Motion has always gone hand in hand with my work, directly or indirectly its been a part of my process. Im looking forward to exploring the depth of film even more so with Curious, and to be part of their innovative team. Says Kate Roydhouse, managing director and executive producer, Curious Film: Ive long admired James work and work ethic his approach is fresh, meticulous and visually enticing. The long list of clientele Lowe has worked with includes leaders in fashion and apparel such as Top Shop, Karen Walker, Lonely, Adidas and New Balance. His commercial work has taken him to the US, Europe and throughout Asia. View James work here. Now, one such team has announced that it spotted a scar hidden below Greenland's ice, a giant crater nearly 20 miles (31 kilometers) wide. The researchers said a giant iron meteorite likely created the mark by slamming into Earth sometime in the past 3 million years. Other scientists aren't necessarily sold yet that a space rock created the feature. "I think that the authors have presented some intriguing evidence of a possible impact site, and I think that's the right word intrigued," David Kring, who studies impact craters at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston and who wasn't involved with the new research, told Space.com. "I'm intrigued. I'm not wholly convinced that this is an impact crater." [In Pictures: The Giant Crater Beneath Greenland Explained] The feature in question is tucked below the edge of the ice sheet in northwest Greenland, lending a semicircular edge to the ice sheet near where a glacier called Hiawatha flows toward the sea. Looking through data originally gathered to track changes in the ice itself, scientists spotted a strangely circular feature in the bedrock, so they arranged for a high-powered ice-penetrating radar instrument to fly over the area. An aerial view of northwest Greenland, with the location of what appears to be a giant impact crater circled in red. (Image credit: Natural History Museum of Denmark) That instrument's data confirmed the structure of the feature itself: a depression large enough to hold all of Paris in its embrace, with a clearly defined rim all the way around. So, scientists flew in to gather samples in person, looking for chemical fingerprints of an exotic event that could have formed the feature. And while the glacier blocks the scientists from reaching the heart of the crater, it makes up for that inconvenience by ferrying sediment out from the site in meltwater. "It's almost like a home delivery," Kurt Kjr, lead author of the study and a geologist at the Natural History Museum of Denmark at the University of Copenhagen, told Space.com. Among those sediments, geologists found what they believe are shocked quartz grains, the result of an impact's force abruptly melting rock. The team also analyzed the chemistry of the sample, finding an unusual fingerprint of rhodium, platinum and palladium. "We don't tend to find that in many rocks that we find on Earth," Iain McDonald, a geochemist at Cardiff University in the U.K. who conducted that analysis, told Space.com. "I'm pretty convinced by what's there." An artist's depiction of the potential meteor entering the atmosphere headed toward Greenland. (Image credit: Natural History Museum of Denmark, Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., USA) There's another twist to the puzzle of the crater: in Kjr's own institution sits a large iron meteorite that was found about 185 miles (300 km) away from the crater site. Could it be that the meteorite and crater originated from the same incoming asteroid breaking up in Earth's atmosphere as it fell to the surface? "I think it's fair to start speculating if those two are linked," Kjr said. "Maybe we found the home of this meteorite. That would be fun." But Kring isn't as convinced as the research team that the feature actually has an extraterrestrial origin. "There are thousands, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of circular structures on the Earth's surface," Kring said. "Almost none of them are impact craters." He said he would also like to see stronger evidence from rock analysis that the feature was truly caused by an impact, rather than by some other process. [Photos: Hunting Meteorites from Florida Fireball in Osceola] He said he's particularly struck by the apparent lack of any measurable climate upheaval that such a large impact would have caused. The team wants to narrow down the date more precisely with future research but is confident that the crater formed between 3 million and 12,000 years ago, likely on the later end of that range. "It certainly should have created global effects, and we just have no hint or signature of that at this time," Kring said. (Kjr said that, depending on when precisely the feature formed, it may match the sharp cooling of the Younger Dryas period, which ended about 11,500 years ago, but that it's certainly too early to say.) Nevertheless, Kring said he's glad the team is pushing forward on ways to identify unknown features on Earth's surface and understand how the planet has changed over time. And if the site does indeed turn out to be an impact, studying it in more detail could offer helpful insight for planetary protection, which considers the potentially devastating effects that future impacts from the ongoing hail of planetary material could cause. "[Asteroids] are a hazard. They are, in fact, a threat to human civilization," Kring said. "We want to better understand the consequences if or when one of those objects actually hits the Earth, and one way to do that is to go into the geological record and measure those impacts." For Kjr, what's most exciting isn't even the dramatic collision or its potential successors it's the act of stumbling upon something unknown. "Look here the age of discovery is not over yet," he said. "We can still go out here and find things that we didn't see before." The research is described in a paper published today (Nov. 14) in the journal Science Advances. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com. In a letter penned in 1922, Albert Einstein articulated his eerily accurate fears about the rise of nationalism, antisemitism and violence in his home country of Germany. A handwritten letter from Albert Einstein to his sister, Maja, has sold for $39,350 at an auction in Jerusalem. The letter, penned in 1922 from a secret location in northern Germany, reveals the physicist's prescient fears about the rise of nationalism and violence in his country a full decade before the Nazi party rose to power. Einstein wrote the letter from hiding after the assassination of his friend Walther Rathenau, the German foreign minister and a fellow Jew, at the hands of right-wing extremists. Warned by police that he might be next, the prominent physicist left Berlin and fled to an undisclosed location in northern Germany. While the letter has no return address, scholars believe it was written while Einstein was staying in the port city of Kiel before embarking on a speaking tour in Asia, according to the Kedem auction house in Jerusalem, which sold the letter. [Beyond Relativity: Einstein's Lesser Known Work] "Nobody knows where I am, and I'm believed to be missing," Einstein wrote in the letter. "I am doing quite well, in spite of all the anti-Semites among my German colleagues... Here are brewing economically and politically dark times, so I'm happy to be able to get away from everything for half a year." According to Ze'ev Rosenkranz, the assistant director of the Einstein Papers Project at the California Institute of Technology, Einstein had warned about the rise of anti-Semitism in Germany before this letter, but was extremely rattled by the death of his friend. "Einstein's initial reaction was one of panic and a desire to leave Germany for good," Rosenkranz said in a statement. "Within a week, he had changed his mind," While delivering lectures abroad later that year (and writing some pretty racist travel diaries), Einstein was notified that he had won the Nobel Prize in physics for his work studying the photoelectric effect. He ultimately returned to Germany until the Nazis rose to power in 1933 and passed anti-Semitic laws that removed Jews from public posts, including teaching positions. Einstein was lecturing abroad when Hitler became chancellor. The physicist renounced his German citizenship and ultimately emigrated to America, where he lived until the end of his days. Originally published on Live Science. | BY Ricki Green | Ogilvy Australia has opened applications for its annual integrated Goliath program, calling on all talented individuals interested in applying for the sought-after positions. The 12-week paid program provides a unique opportunity to work within all elements of the agency, giving participants a completely immersive experience. This includes significant time spent within creative, digital, social and account management among other areas. In addition, participants are provided with a real brief to work through and resolve during the 12-week rotation. Given the broad experience they are provided, its no surprise the majority of participants in the 2018 Goliath program are now employed full-time by the agency, according to Ogilvy Australias chief operations officer, Dave Sayer. Says Sayer: Goliath is different in that all participants, regardless of their major or particular area of interest, get to learn about each and every part of the Ogilvy business. This not only provides them with the chance to completely immerse themselves in agency life, but means they are better-equipped than most to start a career in the industry. Goliath participants are armed with experience across the many capabilities that clients now need and expect to get ahead in an increasingly disrupted market. Sayer went on to say that what also makes Goliath unique is the program doesnt only focus on tertiary graduates: We realise there is a big slice of talent out there who may not necessarily have a tertiary education and we welcome their applications. Goliath graduate, and now Ogilvy junior copywriter Baxter Atkins said while his initial interest had been in creative only, he now has a strong understanding of how many different parts of the business contribute to producing great work. Says Atkins: The structure of Goliath gave us a thorough understanding of the end-to-end process of developing a campaign. The reality is that there are so many people involved in producing the kind of outstanding work that comes from Ogilvy and Im grateful to have been given exposure to that entire process. Says Olivia Huang, another Goliath graduate and now account executive: The program has prepared me for the role I now have because I have a view as to how the whole business operates. Im also now more empathetic and appreciative of what others do. Isabella Smith, account executive said the program also gave graduates a strong sense of Ogilvys culture and community: By spending time in every department within the agency, you meet far more people in the Goliath program than you would going straight into a role. And 3 months gives you a really good feel for Ogilvys people and culture, which in my opinion, are the agencys greatest assets. I genuinely feel so lucky to be surrounded by a group of interesting, down to earth, intelligent, hard-working and brilliant people. This is the third year Ogilvy has offered the program which is open to not only tertiary graduates but anyone with the passion and desire to succeed within a creative agency. Applications close on November 23. More information can be found here. This set of 28 footprints, made by an early reptile-like creature about 315 million years ago, are the oldest vertebrate track marks ever to be found in Grand Canyon National Park. Editor's Note: This story was updated on Aug. 24, 2020 date to include the journal where the research, which was initially presented at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology annual meeting in 2018, was eventually published. About 315 million years ago long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth an early reptile scuttled along in a strangely sideways jaunt, leaving its tiny footprints embedded in the landscape, new research finds. It's anyone's guess why this ancient, clawed critter walked sideways (although experts have several ideas), but one thing is certain: The animal's prints represent the oldest-known vertebrate track marks ever discovered in Grand Canyon National Park, said Stephen Rowland, a professor of geology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who is studying the fossilized trackway. The trackway is so old, that it was made a mere 5 million years after the first known reptiles emerged on Earth, just as the ancient supercontinent Pangaea was forming. "This is right in that little window of the very first reptiles," Rowland told Live Science. "We don't know much about that real early history." Related: Photos: Dinosaur tracks reveal Australia's 'Jurassic Park' The research, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, was presented at the annual Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Oct. 17. (Editor's note: Research on these footprints has now been published online on Aug. 19 in the journal PLOS One.) The trackway preserved on a slab of sandstone measuring about 3.2 feet long and 18 inches wide (1 meter by 45 centimeters) contains 28 prints from the mystery animal's front and back feet. A friend of Rowland's first noticed the fossilized tracks in 2016 while hiking along the Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Trail, located on the Manakacha formation in northern Arizona. When Rowland visited the site in May 2017, the 2-inch-long (5 cm) prints befuddled him. At first glance, the track marks looked as if they were left by two animals walking side by side, "which is very bizarre for an early reptile," he said. After lying awake at night, turning the images over in his mind, Rowland had an epiphany: The animal that left the tracks was moving sideways. The mystery reptile-like creature walked sideways as it made these track marks. It's unclear why the animal did this, but perhaps it was blown by the wind, doing a mating dance or even facing an aggressor. (Image credit: Illustration by Stephen Rowland) Normally, four-legged animals walking forward obscure some of their footprints, with the rear foot stepping on top of the front footprint. "In this case, that didn't happen," Rowland said. He noticed that while the animal's tiny claws were pointing forward, the animal was moving sideways, about 40 degrees toward to the right (each row is offset to the right by about 8 inches (20 cm) compared with the previous row, Rowland said.) Perhaps, a strong wind from the left was blowing against the creature, pushing it sideways. Or, maybe the creature was trying to climb a steep incline and was walking up the slope diagonally. It's even possible that the reptile was walking sideways because it was injured, circling an aggressor or doing a mating dance, Rowland said. "I don't think we'll know with any confidence," Rowland said. When the prints were made, during the Carboniferous period (about 359 million to 299 million years ago), Arizona lay close to the equator. At that time, the mysterious reptile walked over a coastal sand dune near a shallow sea to the west, according to co-researcher Mario Caputo, a retired adjunct professor of sedimentology at San Diego State University. The next-oldest fossilized vertebrate track marks in the Grand Canyon are about 20 million years younger, from the Coconino Sandstone formation, Rowland noted. These date to the Permian period, (about 299 million to 251 million years ago). Because the different trackways look so similar, it's likely that they will be given the same scientific name of Chelichnus, Rowland said. (Like species, fossilized prints are given scientific names.) "That doesn't mean it was the same animal living in different places," Rowland said. Rather, because the prints look so similar, they're given the same name, even if a different animal made them, he said. Originally published on Live Science. It may sound counterintuitive, but people who are supersensitive to coffee's bitter taste actually drink more of it, a new study finds. This sensitivity isn't simply a matter of taste, either, but rather is influenced by a person's genetic makeup, the researchers said in the study, which was published online today (Nov. 15) in the journal Scientific Reports. "You'd expect that people who are particularly sensitive to the bitter taste of caffeine would drink less coffee," study senior researcher Marilyn Cornelis, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said in a statement. "The opposite results of our study suggest coffee consumers acquire a taste [for] or an ability to detect [the bitterness of] caffeine due to the learned positive reinforcement elicited by caffeine." [10 Things You Need to Know About Coffee] Put another way, people who have a heightened ability to taste the bitterness of coffee, and especially the distinct bitter flavor of caffeine, learn to associate "good things with it," Cornelis said. This finding is surprising, given that bitterness often serves as a warning mechanism to convince people to spit out harmful substances, the scientists said. Researchers conducted the study to understand how genetics influences people's consumption of tea, coffee and alcohol, which tend to taste bitter, said lead study researcher Jue Sheng Ong, a doctoral student in the Department of Genetics and Computational Biology at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia. "While all bitter flavors might seem the same, we perceive the bitterness of Brussels sprouts, tonic water (quinine) and caffeine separately," Ong told Live Science. "The degree to which we find these flavors bitter is, in part, determined by your genes." To investigate, the researchers looked at the genetic makeup and daily bitter-beverage consumption of more than 400,000 people from the United Kingdom. "Using the genes related to our ability to taste bitterness, we were able to assess whether those that have a higher genetic predisposition to tasting bitterness are more likely to prefer tea over coffee," Ong said. The results showed that people with the genes to taste the bitterness of green vegetables (such as Brussels sprouts) or tonic water are more likely to prefer tea over coffee, the researchers found. In addition, people who were more sensitive to quinine's bitter flavors and those found in green vegetables tended to avoid coffee. Meanwhile, people with the genes to taste the bitterness in Brussel sprouts were less likely to drink alcohol, especially red wine, than people without those gene variants, the researchers found. This insight may help scientists studying addiction, Ong said. Ong noted that the researchers didn't look at flavorings, such as cream or sugar, that people sometimes pour into coffee to temper its bitterness. "One can imagine that, at a personal level, there are a lot of factors that determine a persons coffee intake socioeconomic status, ability to metabolize caffeine and smoking," he said. "On top of that, people drink all sorts of coffee black coffee, flat white [and] cappuccino." So, the researchers chose to look for big trends in how genes relate to bitter-beverage consumption, he said. "[The results] suggest that perhaps most types of coffee still share very similar bitter-taste profiles," Ong said. Originally published on Live Science. PG&E Corp. shares saw their deepest single-day plunge in a decade and a half Wednesday after the San Francisco energy company warned of potentially serious financial strain if its equipment is deemed responsible for the devastating Camp Fire. Shares of the corporate parent to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. fell as much as 32 percent following the companys disclosure in a regulatory filing that potential losses due to the fire burning in the Sierra Nevada foothills outside Chico threaten to exceed its insurance coverage. The shares later recovered a bit and closed at $25.59, down nearly 22 percent from the prior days close. Wednesday was PG&Es worst day on the stock market since Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the companys utility subsidiary, emerged from a bankruptcy caused by the California energy crisis in 2001. It also marked the fifth straight day of declines for PG&E, over which time the stock price has fallen by nearly half, dropping by 47.6% from the $48.80 close on Nov. 7. That translates to about $12 billion in value. State fire investigators are still looking into the cause of the Camp Fire, which has consumed 138,000 acres, destroyed 10,321structures and killed at least 56 people. It is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history. While the cause of the Camp Fire is still under investigation, if the utilitys equipment is determined to be the cause, the utility could be subject to significant liability in excess of insurance coverage that would be expected to have a material impact on PG&E Corporations and the utilitys financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows, PG&E said in the Tuesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jaimin Patel said the risk of bankruptcy is very real for these guys. With each passing wildfire, that risk increases, he said. In the filing, PG&E also said it had exhausted its revolving credit lines, signaling it was shoring up its cash to prepare for a possible credit downgrade to junk. The company has a total of $3.46 billion in cash and cash equivalents, and $1.4 billion in wildfire insurance coverage, according to the regulatory filing. Damages from the deadly Northern California wildfire may reach as much as $15 billion, Citigroup Inc. analyst Praful Mehta wrote in a research note Wednesday. Its important to remember that the cause of the Camp Fire has yet to be determined, Matt Nauman, a PG&E spokesman, wrote in an email. Right now, our entire company is focused on supporting first responders and assisting our customers and communities impacted by the fire. He said PG&E drew down its credit facility to provide greater financial flexibility for general business purposes, including to pay down upcoming debt maturities. In an interview with The Chronicle on Tuesday, PG&E CEO Geisha Williams said the company was making meaningful improvements to its power grid to address wildfire hazards but added that climate change remains the bigger and more elusive issue. Williams vowed to continue safety enhancement efforts such as strengthening electrical equipment, cutting back dry vegetation along hundreds of miles of transmission lines and preemptively shutting off power during heavy winds. Weve been doing a lot, she said. But the more extreme weather fueled by climate change has elevated fire risks statewide and demands collective action, she added. Were at an absolutely unprecedented moment in history, Williams said. To me, its about taking a step back and asking how we address this broader issue of climate change. While state officials havent announced a cause of the Camp Fire, PG&E told regulators last week a power line near the fires origin point had a problem right before the fire started. Separately, a Butte County woman has said she received an email from PG&E the day before the fire saying the utility needed to repair equipment on or near her property. But PG&E said Tuesday evening that the message in question referenced future planned work on a different transmission line in the area. The line had previously been de-energized and was not operational when the Camp Fire started, utility spokesman Paul Doherty said in an email Tuesday. PG&Es legal battle related to the Camp Fire has already gotten under way. A group of victims filed suit Tuesday, accusing the utility of negligence in maintaining its equipment. A lawyer representing the victims said he believed the suit was the first against the utility related to that fire, and he expected more to be filed soon. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Kurtis Alexander and Bloomberg News contributed to this report. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris The cold temperatures didn't stop locals from getting some of the best food in San Antonio at the 6th annual Hot Wells Harvest Feast. More than 30 of the best chefs gathered to share their tasty creations with event-goers Wednesday night. The food was also paired with delicious drinks from local mixologists. Similar to her sentencing in 2011, Bernadette Perusquia showed no emotion when 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez ordered her to serve 15 years in prison Wednesday. Lopez granted her credit for time served for the five years she spent in prison from 2011 to 2016. Perusquia was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for fatally shooting her 26-year-old husband, Juan Perusquia, but she was granted a re-trial after she won an appeal. The first trial happened in 2006, however, it ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. Perusquia's second re-trial began Nov. 5. Jurors deliberated the verdict Tuesday night and found her guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. READ ALSO: Two women arrested after fight breaks out in Laredo Walmart The murder case revolved around whether Perusquia, a former school nurse, shot her husband in self-defense. She claimed he would physically abuse and sexually assault her. But prosecutors said there was never any evidence of that. They also said there was no evidence she acted in self-defense when she shot her husband in their home in 2003. Two women who were in a relationship with Juan Perusquia testified Friday that he physically abused them. That same day, Bernadette Perusquia's ex-husband testified that she had once pointed a gun at him. Judge Lopez told Perusquia during the punishment phase on Wednesday that he looked at the range of sentence through three factors. He took into account the crime itself, the defendant's character and the community, he said. "Within the crime itself, you must pay for your crime," Lopez said. "Character makes a difference. And (the question is) what type of message do we send others to the community? How do you help deter the conduct of others?" He told Perusquia that the jury found her guilty of manslaughter and it must not have been easy for them. "The jury said no to murder," he said. "(They) said no to self-defense. "Somebody did die. Somebody who was loved. No matter what, circumstances should've been different." Perusquia's attorney, Robin Norris, told the judge that this is a time for healing. "She is the sole supporter of (her children)," he said. "She will very likely lose the money that will help support them. (Juan's son) will be distant from the grandparents on both sides. All of them are willing to try and establish a relationship with (Juan's son) and have him acquainted and close with his Perusquia family." Norris requested the court make it as easy as possible for the relationship between the families to happen. It is a time to heal and for people to move forward, Norris said. Webb County Assistant District Attorney Pete Garza reminded the judge that Perusquia took the law into her own hands. "The community needs to know that there are consequences," Garza said. "That this court knows that this was wrong. That it was a bad decision, but that somebody is no longer here with us. She had no right to take his life that day." Garza asked for the maximum of 20 years because this is the kind of case that merits the maximum amount of prison time. READ ALSO: Family grieves Laredo business owner, son of elected official killed in crash "The death of a loved one is difficult," he said. "It's even more difficult when someone else takes that from them. It doesn't matter how much time has passed. The heart never heals." Perusquia took the stand and apologized to Juan Perusquia's family, saying that she regrets not calling the police when she should have. "I'm sorry," she said. "I couldn't tell you before because I had an order not to contact you. And I'm sorry for the loss of your son, your brother, your uncle, cousin and friend. If I could bring him back, I would. There were so many bad decisions I made and I regret them." She told the court that while she was in prison, she became involved in a braille program where she learned how to make books for blind children. Perusquia said she supports her three children and her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Maria Perusquia, the victim's mother, told the court that she and her husband went into a deep depression when her son died. "How am I not going to miss him if he's my son," she said. "I miss him at parties, Christmas, New Year's and on his birthday as well." She told the court that she wishes she could have a relationship with her grandson because he is the only thing that her son left her. Jesse Perusquia, the victim's brother, said his family respects the decision of the jury and the judge. RELATED: Jury finds Laredo woman guilty, convicted of a lesser charge in the fatal shooting of her husband "We thought we had found justice back in 2011, but unfortunately she appealed the decision and it was overturned," he said. "We thought we had put it to rest, but we didn't. It's not the outcome that we expected. It's taken us 15 years, but at the end of the day, we are happy. "It's a no-win situation on her end and ours. OK, she got convicted 15 years, but we don't get our brother back." He said his family's focus is now on reestablishing their relationship with Juan Perusquia's son. "The District Attorney's Office was not going to rest until Bernadette Perusquia answered to her crime and justice could be given to Juan's family. She pulled the trigger and now she finally pays for it," Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz said. Maria Salas may be reached at 728-2580 or msalas@lmtonline.com A man has been arrested following a scuffle with authorities in north Laredo, police said. Alan Sanchez, 21, was arrested on the charges of assault on a police officer, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. Jacksonville city leaders have approved a memorandum of understanding in light of laws that would change the distribution of funds across the Jacksonville Police Department and the Central Illinois Enforcement Group. Police Chief Adam Mefford said that with the change of a law that specifies the way federal funds are disbursed to law enforcement agencies, the memo had to be approved by City Council to implement the changes. | BY Ricki Green | Passion Pictures has taken out gold and bronze awards, and Animation Company of the Year at the 2018 Ciclope Awards, held this week in Berlin. Dedicated to celebrating the craft of execution, Ciclope Festival this year also awarded work from Spike Jonze and Hiro Murai (of Atlanta and This is America fame). Says Katie Mackin, MD, Passion Pictures Australia: Its extremely gratifying to see Joy Story: Joy & Heron being recognised (with gold) on the global stage, particularly amongst such esteemed individuals, and up against some really impressive films. Two Passion directors collected bronze; Reuben McNaughton, for his Together Again spot for Dementia UK, and Salon Alpin for the Iceland Foods Theres a Rang-Tan in my Bedroom spot, which has exploded online after being deemed too political and banned in the UK. Adds Mackin: Its a pleasing testament to the power of the story and the importance of its message. Two days before learning what would become of Norfolk's embattled lesbian bar, a group of students and activists toured the city's LGBTQ history. It was filled with graveyards - a hotel that used to be a gay bookstore, a parking garage where drag queens used to dance. When the group stopped at the Hershee bar - Norfolk's only dedicated space for bisexual, lesbian and queer-identifying women - the owners were packing up 35 years of history, piling it on tables around the bar. The last of its kind in Norfolk and one of the oldest lesbian bars on the East Coast, the Hershee was shuttered Oct. 31 to make way for a planned revitalization of the Five Points corridor. Last week, activists who spent months trying to convince Norfolk officials to save the bar learned what would replace it: A dog park. "There's this sacred spot filled with 35 years of history," said Kathleen Casey, a professor at Virginia Wesleyan University. "And dogs are literally going to be s-----ing on it." The announcement rattled those at a Norfolk City Council meeting who were prepared to continue lobbying city leaders for an alternative plan that didn't involve razing the property. Several people cried. "It means a little more to some of us than a place for people to walk their dogs," said Jennifer Alomari, who stood before the council in a white T-shirt that bore the words "We are Hershee bar." She took deep breaths to steady herself before continuing. "It's a little more than a park. They closed the door to our home." Council members and Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, D, didn't respond to numerous requests for comment about the bar, the park or redevelopment plans. Activists who have lobbied them since June said they have been denied meetings with city officials. Until last week, they said, they didn't know a plan was in works. Jackie Rochelle, who addressed the city council on behalf of the Five Points task force, which has been forming a revitalization strategy for the area, said the dog park was "an accumulation of years of planning." "We did . . . decide that the property's best use should be for all citizens," Rochelle said at the council meeting last week. "A dog park, for our friends that have four legs and wear fur outfits as well, and for many of us who feel that this is also our family." In February, council members unanimously voted to purchase for $1.5 million the four-building lot where Hershee had operated since 1983. There was no discussion about the potential impact on Norfolk's LGBTQ community. There are three dog parks within 3 miles of the bar's longtime home at 6107 Sewells Point Road. "First of all, that's a really busy intersection to want to put a dog park there," said Sarah Hustead, a member of the Hershee Action Coalition, which has tried to save the bar. "Two, I think we have enough dog parks. But we don't have anything else like the Hershee bar." Norfolk City Councilwoman Andria McClellan wrote on Facebook that she was blindsided by the dog park announcement. "For the record, I don't support paying $1.5M for a dog park," McClellan wrote. "I had not heard of these plans before they were presented this week and I don't agree with this direction at all." Activists have called Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam's office and sought input from groups that nominate places to become designated as historical sites. But according to Virginia regulations, a site must be at least 50 years old to be considered for historical designation. On the LGBTQ history tour through Norfolk last week, the lost history was on display. Students from Old Dominion University and Virginia Wesleyan University were joined by activists, community members and historians. They wanted the same thing: To see where their history once stood - even if all that's left is a vacant building or an empty lot. "One of those things that's meaningful to people when we go on our queer history tours is they get to stand in the places where other LGBTQ people stood," said Cathleen Rhodes, a professor at Old Dominion University whose students orchestrated the tour. "We don't have monuments. We don't have museums. There really aren't many places where we can go and stand in our own history." When they got to the Hershee bar, the owners invited them inside. The place was dark and quiet. A heavy stillness hung in the air. The space, usually full of life, felt odd and eerie. "One of my students said to me at one point, 'I feel like I'm walking through a funeral,'" Rhodes said. "And we were." | BY Ricki Green | Superannuation. Just the mere mention of the word is enough to make you yawn, especially when using terms like contributions, retirement savings and asset classes are anathema to their happiness and wellbeing. WA Super, Western Australias largest independent super fund, knows this to be true, and wanted to do something about it. So its partnered with Meerkats to create a campaign that bravely smashed through the industry stereotypes and advertising jargon to deliver something bold and fresh to the market. The campaign has launched with a rollout of high-impact outdoor across some of Perths biggest static and digital sites, with support media including a 2 minute song on Perths largest digital radio station, Smooth FM, a Boring book for members and staff, social integration across Linkedin, catch up TV and Coles Radio in-store. Says Fabian Ross, CEO, WA Super: After extensive stakeholder interviews a common theme around superannuation was boring, so boring in fact most peoples eyes rolled back in their head when we said the word superannuation. So when Meerkats came to us with a solution that not only flipped the script in terms of marketing, but actually had something really honest and fresh to say about the whole industry, we were very excited about the possibilities. Its simple really. By doing something boring with your super today, like contributing a little extra or understanding your investment options, you can relax enjoy the benefits one day in retirement. The lightbulb moment for the new campaign came when the creative and strategic team at Meerkats started to play around with the language of boring, and discovered something surprising. Says Josh Edge, creative director, Meerkats: We knew we had a human insight with the Super is Boring message. But it wasnt until we really started to play away around with the Boring is Super idea that things really started to fit into place. You dont get to do the fun stuff in life without getting through the boring bits, from weddings to holidays to school and retirement. This opened up the campaign in a way that none of us were expecting, but were stoked with the results. Says Barry Walker, senior strategist, Meerkats: The research groups did something really interesting when we started to talk to them about the things that were important in their lives. They were quite passionate around topics like money, retirement, death, security, and happiness. But superannuation, as a word, was quite distant from all that important life stuff. By opening the door to admitting that, yes, this topic is a little boring and dry at the beginning, we were able to talk about the power of boring in a really engaging and human way. And once we started to talk about super, people acknowledged that yes, super is boring. But they also agreed it was very important. The campaign was launched to staff with a grey iced boring cake, that exploded with colour and chocolate candies when cut. The campaign has already garnered tremendous support within WA Super, with a recent staff polling tracking the campaign approval ratings at 4.62 out of 5, with over 48 staff rating it a perfect 5. Amongst the staff feedback comments, one in particular stood out: We need to be differentand it is. I love that its so different and engaging in our industry! VIEW THE SUPER IS BORING BOOK HERE Book_Inside_Boring_Complete_small.pdf Meerkats Business Director: Lucy Stoelwinder Business Manager: Anita Swami Senior Strategist: Barry Walker Chief Creative Officer: Martin Beecroft Creative Director: Josh Edge Associate Creative Director: Rikki Burns Design Director: Melissa Radman Writers: Gordon Haynes and Annie Sullivan Finished Art: Ben Mills Illustrator: Blake Cantrell Experience Strategist: Isabelle Hooper Technical Director: Marcus Collier Developer: Kenrick Wu Production Director: Danny Coleman Project Manager: Gemma Pavlovic Sound Production: Soundbyte Engineer: Brad Habib and Shaun Sandosham Music: Shaun Sandosham and Robert Woods Media: Match & Wood Seven women accuse Dartmouth College in a lawsuit of allowing three prominent professors to harass and sexually assault students in a "21st-century Animal House" atmosphere. For more than a decade, the lawsuit contends, female students in the school's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences "have been treated as sex objects by tenured professors Todd Heatherton, William Kelley, and Paul Whalen. These professors leered at, groped, sexted, intoxicated, and even raped female students." The lawsuit describes a culture in which well-regarded professors who helped build a powerhouse department at the Ivy League school acted with impunity and repeatedly mistreated students. It asserts that professors regularly held professional lab meetings in bars, invited students to late-night hot-tub parties, and conditioned academic support on participation in a hard-drinking party culture and tolerance of unwanted sexual attention. Kristina Rapuano, one of the six named plaintiffs, alleges that while she was a graduate student at Dartmouth in 2014, Whalen sent her a text message summoning her back to his office after they had finished grading exams. When she arrived, he closed the door, the complaint alleges, turned the light off and began trying to touch her. When she tried to leave, the lawsuit says, Whalen pinned her to the wall and repeatedly tried to put his hands down her pants despite repeated demands that he stop, until she forcefully removed his hands. "Sexual misconduct and harassment have no place at Dartmouth," Justin Anderson, a spokesman for Dartmouth, responded in a written statement. "As a result of the misconduct we found earlier this year" by the three faculty members, Anderson said, Dartmouth "took unprecedented steps toward revoking their tenure and terminating their employment." The former professors are banned from campus and from all Dartmouth-sponsored events. Anderson said the college applauds the courage displayed by those who brought the allegations to Dartmouth's attention last year. "And we remain open to a fair resolution of the students' claims through an alternative to the court process. "However, we respectfully, but strongly, disagree with the characterizations of Dartmouth's actions in the complaint and will respond through our own court filings." He wrote that the school's board of trustees and leaders are dedicated to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus, and remain committed to improving the school's culture. Over several months in 2017, more than two dozen complainants participated in a Title IX investigation, according to the suit. Last month, the New Hampshire attorney general opened a criminal investigation into the allegations against the professors. A spokeswoman for the attorney general did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The lawsuit claims that even after serious complaints were lodged, Dartmouth encouraged the women to continue working with Heatherton, Kelley and Whalen. "Dartmouth warned the victims that the accused professors would likely retaliate against students who discontinued working with them by disparaging them and revoking their academic support, actions which could result in the victims being expelled or placed on academic probation," the lawsuit said. "Thus, at Dartmouth's suggestion, the victims continued working with their harassers for nearly four months." One woman was sexually assaulted 20 days after a group of women had filed a complaint, the lawsuit alleges. The former professors could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday morning. An attorney for Heatherton did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump threw his support Wednesday behind legislation that would loosen some mandatory minimum sentencing laws - a measure backed by powerful Senate Republicans and Democrats, but which could run into opposition from some tough-on-crime conservatives. At an afternoon event at the White House, Trump officially endorsed the "First Step Act," which he said included "reasonable sentencing reforms while keeping dangerous and violent criminals off our streets." He urged lawmakers to send him a bill, saying: "I'll be waiting with a pen." "Today's announcement shows that true bipartisanship is possible," Trump said. "This is a big breakthrough for a lot of people . . . They've been talking about this for many, many years." The compromise criminal justice measure, which was hammered out in principle over the summer by a bipartisan group of senators, adds four provisions to a House-passed bill that focused on reducing prisoner recidivism. The new Senate package includes language that lowers mandatory minimum sentences for drug felonies, including reducing the "three-strikes" penalty from life behind bars to 25 years. That provision would not be allowed to take place retroactively, a major concession from Democrats. It also would include Senate language that retroactively applies the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which reduces the disparity in sentencing guidelines between crack and powder cocaine offenses. And it would reduce mandatory minimum sentences that go into effect when a firearm is used during a violent crime or drug offense. The latter also would not apply to people already sentenced for these crimes. In addition, the agreement lets judges take advantage of "safety valves" - which allow them to issue sentences shorter than mandatory minimums for low-level crimes - in more cases. Trump was privately briefed on the legislation's contents at a meeting Tuesday. There, he signaled that he favors the bill, but did not explicitly commit one way or the other and indicated that he would like more law enforcement groups to endorse the measure. The influential Fraternal Order of Police, the world's largest group of sworn law enforcement officials, gave the bill significant momentum by endorsing the latest compromise. "Criminal justice reform has been on the agenda for the last two administrations, but it seems like President Trump is going to be able to get it done," said Chuck Canterbury, the national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, who was standing beside Trump when he announced his support of the bill. Also standing with Trump was Paul Cell, the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who have worked jointly on the bill for years, said Wednesday that "by ensuring that punishments fit the crimes, we can better balance the scales of justice." "We are grateful for the White House's ongoing engagement to make these long-overdue reforms a reality," Grassley and Durbin said in a statement. "With the President's support and [Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell's pledge to hold a vote on the broadly popular package, we can quickly take a critical first step towards reforming our criminal justice system." Yet McConnell, R-Ky., has so far taken a hands-off approach to the bill, whose earlier versions had driven deep rifts through the GOP conference. "We need an actual proposal, then we would take a whip count, see where we stand and then weigh it at that point against the other things that absolutely have to be accomplished" such as the farm bill and spending bills for government agencies, McConnell said Wednesday. "We don't have a whole lot of time left." It's unclear now whether there are 60 votes in the Senate in favor of the compromise, although advocates are optimistic that with Trump's endorsement giving cover to Republicans, they can reach that threshold. People working to pass the bill believe that Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., James Risch, R-Idaho, and John Neely Kennedy, R-La., are out of reach, but that every other Senate Republican either support the bill or could be persuaded in favor of it. And another obstacle for the bill's supporters was removed when former attorney general Jeff Sessions, an avowed opponent of any measure that would relax sentencing laws, resigned from his post last week. Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, has worked closely on the criminal justice issue for months. Still, "I think it's more coincidental" that the new push is coming after Sessions left the administration, a White House official said Wednesday. "There was no correlation between those two." Senators have also added language that would bar prisoners who had been convicted of certain fentanyl offenses - primarily those that involved five- and 10-year mandatory minimums - from being able to receive credit for time served. Canterbury said a sticking point for the FOP was language in the original bill that would have allowed dealers of illicit fentanyl to receive reduced sentences. "We wanted it to be well-defined that violent felons wouldn't get reduced sentences," said Canterbury, who said his organization endorsed the legislation when that change and others was made. Many sentencing reform advocates applauded Trump's endorsement, including Families Against Mandatory Minimums, one of the leading organizations that has pushed for criminal justice changes. "Today's endorsement of federal criminal justice reform legislation by President Trump is a modern-day "Nixon goes to China moment," said Kevin Ring, the group's president. Durbin, the chief Democratic negotiator on the bill, will work on rounding up votes on his side, but could struggle with the more liberal members of his caucus who dislike the concessions made to Republicans. Indeed, the Sentencing Project, another advocacy group, expressed reservations about the legislation for not going far enough, but said Trump's endorsement of the bill is "progress." Even if the bill gets through the Senate, it has to pass the House again since it revises a prison reform bill that the House cleared earlier this year. Supporters will now begin rounding up votes in favor of the compromise, but Trump's endorsement of the measure could ease Republican resistance to the changes. The White House official said the administration has been in touch with key House leaders and lawmakers as the Senate crafted changes. "My sense is that the House will be very constructive," the official said. The revisions "are ones that we think will be able to go down in the House as well, so we're not as worried about that." - - - The Washington Post's Sari Horwitz contributed to this report. --- Video Embed Code Video: President Trump announced his support for the bipartisan bill H.R. 5682, known as the 'First Step Act,' on Nov. 14.(The Washington Post) Embed code: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 4:23PM Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla Google's Pixel smartphones have buiilt a reputation for being the very best smartphone cameras without resorting to multiple cameras or larger image processors. A lot of the advantages of Google cameras lie in the computational power and AI (artificial intelligence) that is built into their devices. More impressive is the HDR + functionality which can pull colour and detail while maintaining depth and clarity. All generations of Pixel devices now get another superpower in the latest Night Sight mode. This uses computational power to take bright and clear photos even in the dimmest conditions. I took my Pixel 3 with a beta version of the Night Sight feature to New York City and was amazed at the colours and detail of the images I took. Google explains how this all works. "Night Sight constantly adapts to you and the environment, whether youre holding Pixel or propping it on a steady surface. Before you press the shutter button, Night Sight measures your natural hand shake, as well as how much motion is in the scene. If Pixel is stable and the scene is still, Night Sight will spend more time capturing light to minimize noise; if Pixel is moving or theres significant scene motion, Night Sight will use shorter exposures, capturing less light to minimize motion blur." NIght Sight will be rolling out to the front and rear cameras of the three generations of Pixel phones which is awesome for users of older devices. YANGON, Myanmar - A memo sent to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last summer gave the greenlight for a tough U.S. response to systematic slayings and mass expulsions against Myanmar's minority Rohingya Muslim population. Key bureaus inside Foggy Bottom signed off on the memo's conclusion: Myanmar's military and its allies committed "crimes against humanity" in a series of actions documented in a State Department report, over a year in the making. Such a declaration would have been a powerful warning shot to Myanmar's leaders and military, signaling that the United States would side with other nations calling for harsh punishments that could include international prosecution. It also would have marked a turning point in U.S. policy toward Myanmar, after largely celebrating its gradual steps toward democracy since 2011. But the recommendations in the August memo did not ultimately become U.S. policy, according to several people familiar with the process. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. There was no determination of "crimes against humanity." The State Department assessment was held back and a summary was quietly released in late September - a month after the United Nations took the lead in calling for possible prosecution against Myanmar's generals. Now, months later, major questions persist over Pompeo's handling of the Myanmar report, a $1.4 million undertaking. A bipartisan push in Congress seeks to obtain the full version of the report and get explanations on why Pompeo did not follow the memo's recommendation for a "crimes against humanity" designation. At the State Department, meanwhile, officials have initiated a diplomatic security investigation seeking to identify the person who leaked to a Politico reporter details of the deliberations on the "crimes against humanity" label, said the people familiar with the process. A State Department spokesman declined to comment on the leak investigation or the internal memo. Myanmar and its de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faced strong pressure at regional summits this week in Singapore, where some in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations pushed on the rushed return of refugees from Bangladesh and finding a solution to the crisis there. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday took direct aim at Suu Kyi, saying she was trying to "defend the indefensible" over the Rohingya abuses. A day later, Vice President Pence, in a tense meeting with Suu Kyi, said that violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse" and pressed her on accountability for those responsible - the most senior U.S. official to meet the Myanmar leader since the crisis. Still, Pence and other officials have shied away from labels like "crimes against humanity" that could force the United State to act more strongly - giving Myanmar continued breathing room at a critical time. Inside the State Department, meanwhile, regional specialists and human rights experts grimaced at what they viewed as a missed opportunity for the United States to throw its full weight behind growing international denunciations of Myanmar for the abuses, which drove out more than 700,000 Rohingya to refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh. The report, packed with damning details, was ready to go Aug. 17, the same day the United States sanctioned Myanmar generals and military units responsible for the atrocities. Its delay and quiet after-hours release over a month later launched another round of criticism of the Trump administration as unpredictable and erratic on human rights issues on the global stage. In late August, a United Nations fact-finding mission found that Myanmar's campaign against the Rohingya bore the hallmarks of genocide and called for military generals to be investigated and prosecuted. Following the U.N. report, Canada's legislature in September voted unanimously to call the actions there genocide, and the European Union is considering removing Myanmar from a preferential trade status. The United States, however, has struggled to define its position on Myanmar and decide on action to take in response. The part of the State Department report made public - a 20-page executive summary released after hours on Sept. 24 - does not hold back. It noted a "pattern of planning and premeditation," punching holes in Myanmar's narrative that it was simply responding to attacks by Rohingya militants. Almost half of the Rohingya interviewed witnessed rape, and almost all witnessed killings. "In some areas, perpetrators used tactics that resulted in mass casualties, for example, locking people in houses to burn them, fencing off entire villages before shooting into the crowd, or sinking boats full of hundreds of fleeing Rohingya," the report said. Still, some lawmakers demand to see the full report, not just the executive summary. Rights groups, meanwhile, complain that it fails to spell out any next steps against Myanmar's leaders. "While the facts of the State Department investigation are strong, what's missing is a clear indication of how the U.S. government intends to respond," said Sarah Margon, Washington director at Human Rights Watch. In a rare bipartisan initiative, Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., have taken the lead in calling for more answers from the Trump administration. In late September, the two senators sent a letter to Pompeo noting that the State Department report "did not specifically define these atrocities as genocide or crimes against humanity." It went on to request a formal legal determination regarding the "actions of the Burmese military to Congress without delay," using another name for the country. The State Department has not yet responded to the letter, a committee aide said. When asked about why the report included no determination on crimes against humanity, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told reporters in September that "there weren't legal judgments expressed in it because that wasn't the point of the report." "It was basically a forensic examination of what happened," he said. Several people familiar with the report, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media, speculated that Pompeo was upset by a leak of a speech intended to coincide with the report's planned release in August and that it prompted him to cancel the rollout. The same day the report was released, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, announced $185 million in aid to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and those who remain in Myanmar. Haley announced on Oct. 9 that she would be resigning from her post by the end of the year. Some congressional aides attributed the change of State Department thinking to national security adviser John Bolton's hard-line opposition to the International Criminal Court. The United States is among several dozen nations, including China, India and Israel, that do not recognize the ICC, based in The Hague. If the United States had formally accused Myanmar of crimes against humanity, Washington would have come under pressure to refer the allegations to the ICC through a U.N. Security Council resolution. "It would've put the administration in an awkward position, that it's okay for the ICC to go after Burma but not the United States," said a congressional aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss government deliberations. Myanmar is also known as Burma. A State Department spokesman denied the United States had stumbled, pointing to Pompeo's call for Myanmar to take "concrete steps" to investigate the human rights abuses chronicled in the U.S. and U.N. reports. "The United States will continue to work with our allies and partners to help promote . . . justice for victims, and [ensure] that those responsible for mass killings, gang rapes and other atrocities are held accountable," the spokesman said. - Hudson reported from Washington. On a winter day in 1992, a neighbor heard screams coming from the home of Robert Moreno Ramos. Had they gone inside, they might have seen the bodies, the blood. And, later, the dug up bathroom floor where the slain family was buried. Instead, it took two months for police to stumble across the murder of the Hidalgo County man's wife and children - but Ramos has long said he wasn't the one who did it. More than a quarter-century later, the mentally ill and brain damaged Mexican immigrant was put to death Wednesday night, amid claims of lousy lawyering and international treaty violations. The execution was delayed more than three hours, as prison officials waited for the Supreme Court's ruling on the condemned man's final two appeals. In his final words, Ramos thanked his nation's consulate for its support, and Texas prisons for their humane treatment of him. "I am getting my gold watch that it took the governor 30 years to forge," he added. "Thank you God, Lord send me a chariot. I'm ready." He died at 9:36 p.m., according to prison spokesman Jeremy Desel. READ MORE: Mexican national scheduled for execution in Texas despite claims of treaty violations "Justice had been delayed in this case for over two decades," the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office in a statement late Wednesday. "We hope that the sentence brings peace to the family of the victims." The punishment, they said, was merited by the facts of the case and was "in the interest of justice." Ramos was arrested for capital murder in 1992, after he was picked up on a traffic warrant. Police questioned him without a lawyer, and eventually he let them search his Progreso home. When they found blood in the bathroom, he agreed to make them a map. Investigators followed it, and found the bodies of his wife - Leticia Ramos - and her children, Abigail and Jonathan. Even though his drawing led police to the gruesome scene, Ramos said he wasn't the killer. Instead, he said, he found the bodies one day when he came home - and he only buried them in the bathroom so his other son wouldn't find out. Ramos was charged, but he didn't get a lawyer until three months after his arrest, according to court records. During his trial, prosecutors argued that he'd beaten his wife and youngest children to death - then married another woman days later. Defense lawyers argued that unknown drug dealers committed the triple slaying. Ramos was convicted in 1993 and sentenced to death in a matter of hours. In the punishment phase - the part of the trial where a jury decides whether or not to vote for a death sentence - attorneys for Ramos offered no evidence, made an "almost incomprehensible" five-page closing argument, gave no reason to oppose a death sentence and didn't even bother to ask the jury to spare their client's life, according to court records. The jurors never heard evidence of his brain dysfunction, lifelong mental illness or shockingly brutal childhood with a father who regularly whipped him with a chain and hung him upside down. As a foreign national, Ramos should have been told of his right to notify his country's consulate of his arrest long before trial, as dictated by the Vienna Conventions on Consular Relations. But Mexican officials only found out through news reports nearly a year after the fact, according to court records. During appeals, attorneys for Ramos said that late notification could have made a difference because Mexico typically provides added defense support in capital cases. And in a case troubled by bad lawyering, that support could have helped. The state argued, among other things, that extra help from Mexico wouldn't have made a difference in the outcome of the case. The courts refused to side with Ramos on the alleged treaty violations, in part because the Vienna Conventions are only enforceable between countries - so it's not up to American federal courts to enforce the application of international treaties in individual criminal cases. But hours before he was set to die, the United Nations put out a statement asking Texas to call it off. "Any death sentence carried out in contravention of a government's international obligations amounts to an arbitrary execution," U.N. officials wrote. "We call for his death sentence to be annulled and for Mr. Ramos Moreno to be re-tried in compliance with due process and international fair trial standards." In recent weeks, Ramos has focused in on claims that his early appeals attorneys weren't up to the task. Starting in the mid-1990s, the Court of Criminal Appeals appointed Ramos a post-conviction lawyer with no experience in capital cases, who later admitted he didn't have the resources or training necessary and "was simply not equipped" to do the job. He filed a bare-bones appeal without conducting any sort of investigation or presenting any new claims outside the trial record - so he never caught the bad lawyering Ramos allegedly suffered during trial. When the justices turned Ramos down in the days before his execution, his current attorney - Houston-based lawyer Danalynn Recer - filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the court of violating the condemned prisoner's constitutional rights to counsel, due process and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. "The people of Texas have a strong interest in not allowing this freakishly improbable injustice to go on any longer," Recer said in a statement early Wednesday. "Mr. Moreno Ramos is not asking for his second or third bite at the apple; he is still waiting for his first." But a federal court rejected his lawsuit on Wednesday and, roughly three hours after the execution was slated to begin, the Supreme Court turned down his two remaining appeals. "The death penalty is supposed to be reserved for the 'worst of the worst' murders and the 'worst of the worst' murderers," Death Penalty Information Center executive director Robert Dunham tweeted afterward. "This case was the 'worst of the worst' in another way it represents the worst of the worst legal process." Texas has executed 10 men this year, and - excluding Ramos - six more are scheduled to die in the coming months. A sharp-eyed Fulshear resident recently documented a close call with a snake camouflaged into the ground next to a water valve. The resident, who presumably was shutting of their water because of the freeze warning, shared the photo of the snake with police on Tuesday. "If you are cutting off your sprinkler system due to the possible freeze tonight, make sure you stay aware and observant," according to the department's Facebook post. Snakes typically can't tolerate extreme cold and normally hibernate in the winter, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. They like temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees, or else they find a place to get warm. Hopefully, the next time a snake wants to warm up, they won't become invisible next to your water valve. 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 A man in his 60s was found dead in his living room Thursday afternoon on the East Side. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said family members made the discovery when they visited his home in the 1200 block of Burnet. "The family of the deceased male hadn't seen him since Tuesday. Came by the house to check on him and they went in they found him deceased," McManus said. See SAPD's McManus' full interview on YouTube. The man appeared to have blunt force trauma to his head, McManus said. The family told police that they last saw the man Tuesday. McManus said he may have been dead between a day to a day and a half. RELATED: Suspicious device found near Alamo Plaza was not an explosive No one else was at the residence when his body was discovered, police said. A woman who had been living with him is now being sought as a person of interest, the chief said. According to McManus, there had been a history of 911 calls to the home over the past few days. "It was a back-and-forth, assaultive-type relationship," McManus said. "Each time we came, there was not enough there to arrest anyone. On one occasion, no one answered the door when police knocked. In another service call, the man told police he did not want to pursue charges against the woman, McManus said. Police did not say how old the woman is but do know her identity. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA A 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted during a visit to a San Antonio lazy river, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Deputies arrested Donald McKinney, 39, on Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault of a child, a week after the teen's mother filed a report. Almost two months after Bexar County deputies caught a man having sex with a minor outside a San Antonio strip club, they arrested the man again when a continuing investigation uncovered he had been forcing the girl into prostitution and having her recruit others, officials said. Eric Taylor, 24, was taken into custody on one charge of continuous trafficking of persons. He remained silent as he was taken to the magistrates office. READ ALSO: Medical professor among 14 arrested or charged with child sex crimes in October in Bexar County Taylor was initially arrested during a prostitution sting at the MGM Cabaret, which deputies believed was a hot spot for prostitution. Deputies found him in his car with a 16-year-old girl who was a runaway from out of town, Salazar said. At the time, authorities believed Taylor's arrest was unrelated to the prostitution bust. But investigators continued looking into Taylor. And they kept interviewing the girl, knowing that often victims are willing to open up more over time. RELATED: Prostitution operation at San Antonio strip club leads to unrelated child sex crime arrest The girl told deputies Taylor would get her work at strip clubs across the state with fictitious documentation. She also said Taylor forced her into prostitution, making $1,000 a day off her, authorities said. To make matters even worse, Taylor was inducing her to recruit other young females," Salazar said. Detectives believe Taylor pimped out at least 10 women, some of whom are runaways and juveniles. The MGM has been shut down and heavily fined since the prostitution sting. Salazar said his team is not finished investigating that case. READ ALSO: 15-year-old girl sexually assaulted on San Antonio lazy river Were cautiously optimistic were going to make more arrests in this case, Salazar said. To anybody else that might find themselves as a codefendant, wed rather they approach us now as a witness before we come looking for them. Anyone with additional information on Taylor or any other instances of human trafficking is asked to call investigators at 210-335-6000. 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 The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man who police said was fatally shot by a 15-year-old Monday on the South Side. Abram Garcia IV, 20, is believed to have gotten into an argument with the gunman moments before the shooting at 9:45 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 700 block of Drury Lane. RELATED: SAPD: 15-year-old gunman fatally shoots man after argument at South Side apartment Garcia and his girlfriend were getting into a vehicle to leave the when the 15-year-old suspect approached Garcia, who was sitting in a passenger seat, and opened fire, authorities said. Garcia was shot three times, police said. His girlfriend tried to rush him to a hospital, but she stopped to meet with paramedics at a motel in the 1000 block of South Laredo, where they pronounced him dead. Responding officers arrested the teenager at the scene and charged him in Garcia's death. Because he is a minor, his identity will not be released. Garcia was a former correctional officer at a state prison in Hondo, according to Robert Hurst, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He left that job in January 2018 and began working with MBP General Contract Services under Jason Mata, his boss and friend. RELATED: NTSB releases preliminary report of helicopter crash that killed young newlyweds, pilot "Abram was a great young man who always tried to help anybody and however he could," Mata said. "Every customer that he worked for held him in high regard as a hard worker and good quality individual with great morals." After news of the shooting broke, many of his friends took to social media to memorialize him. A GoFundMe was also created in his honor. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns With as many as 100,000 gang members operating in Texas and multiple cartels using the border as smuggling points, the Lone Star State has no shortage of gang-related violence and drug trafficking. A new report released by the Drug Enforcement Administration listed 11 street gangs in Texas that have working relationships with two cartels more gangs than any other state on the -- albeit not all-inclusive -- list. The street gangs typically act as drug-dealing retailers for the Mexican cartels, who focus more on smuggling narcotics and distributing to various hubs around the country. Though the partnerships vary by gang and cartel, they are typically somewhat casual agreements between individuals rather than binding contracts between entire gangs and whole cartels. RELATED: Mexican cartel cocaine trafficker 'La Muneca' extradited to United States "The street gangs generally remain opportunistic and will work with any organization that provides them the greatest profit," the report said. The gangs don't limit themselves to drug trafficking, but tend toward it since it typically proves to be the most profitable business move, and violence often erupts when other gangs attempt to hijack their territories. In recent years, "federal, state, and local law enforcement reported increases in large-scale drug trafficking," according to the report, possibly indicating an attempt by gangs to boost drug trafficking activities beyond the street level. RELATED: Cartel group dons military gear, warns of impending violence in Juarez Only two Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations, the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas Cartel, have listed presences in Texas, according to the report, but others use Texas' proximity to Mexico to transport drugs and other items. The Gulf and Los Zetas cartels have hubs in Dallas, Houston and Laredo. The Sinaloa Cartel, which has the largest international reach, uses crossing points near west Texas as smuggling routes. The Juarez Cartel, a rival of Sinaloa, targets drug consumer markets primarily in El Paso, according to the report. Though both use the border to smuggle drugs, neither has a presence in Texas. Texas' most dangerous gangs are Tango Blast and associated Tango cliques, with an estimated 19,000 members, Texas Mexican Mafia, with about 4,100 members, Latin Kings, with 1,300 members, and Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13 with 500 members in Texas. The DEA targets those four for their presences across the state, relationships with Mexican cartels, consistent criminal activities across country borders and violent dispositions. Click through the slideshow to see which 11 street gangs and 2 Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations are working together in Texas. S. M. Chavey is a breaking news and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | sarah.chavey@express-news.com | @smchavey I married Neil Jones in 1982 and made Wellsford my home. In those 34 years I have raised three children, played/coached tennis, trained M. Ed (Hons), worked as a specialist teacher for learning difficulties, managed a growing dairy farm business and worked for several community groups. My husband is a buyer for Silver Fern Farms and between us we have valuable connections to both the town and rural sector. Why are you standing for election? Because I think Wellsford is on the cusp of major changes and this area needs a top performer to see them through these. What are the three main issues facing Wellsford? Blair Outhwaite has completed a year of study into the Hauraki Gulfs bottlenose dolphins. He encountered many bottlenose dolphins last year, as his research took him around Whangaparaoa waters. Photos, Blair Outhwaite. More than a year of fieldwork and a further year of writing resulted in Blair Outhwaites 181-page thesis called The Ecology of the Bottlenose dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf, which he completed last month. Data was collected through Facebook, a dedicated research vessel and the local whale and dolphin watching boat (Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari) around the Whangaparaoa and North Shore coastlines. Among the focus points of Blairs work was the contribution that citizen science the observations of members of the community could make to dolphin research. Blair became aware of the Whale and Dolphin Watch Whangaparaoa Facebook page, which started in 2014. Here, members post photos of local sightings that became a resource for Blairs studies (HM October 1, 2015). He has dedicated a chapter of his thesis to citizen science, using the Facebook page as a key example. It is clear that citizen science has been really helpful in finding bottlenose dolphins, because they normally come close to the coastline, he says. The Facebook page gave us eyes and ears and photos that were helpful in identifying what species had been seen. He says since then, he and a colleague started a North Shore page and similar pages have been set up in East Auckland, Waiheke Island, Wellington and Dunedin. It definitely added to what people already knew about dolphin movements in the area, he says. These groups have provided a large number of bottlenose dolphin reports in an area previously lacking dedicated surveys. The inner Hauraki Gulf is such a large area, but the Facebook page drew attention to more occurrences of bottlenose dolphins these may have been missed or underrepresented in previous studies. He says earlier studies found that bottlenose dolphins were encountered most frequently in winter and autumn within the inner Hauraki Gulf, and the least in summer. The Facebook groups data detected a similar trend as most independent reports occurred in winter followed by spring and autumn. It is possible that bottlenose dolphins are using the inner Hauraki Gulf more frequently than what has been reported during autumn, winter and spring, but are not concentrated in a particular area and thus, more difficult to locate than in other parts of their range. He says that the distribution of bottlenose dolphins during summer appears to be concentrated towards the middle and northern areas of the inner Hauraki Gulf. Travelling was the most recorded behavioural state, which is similar to other populations in New Zealand. It is possible that bottlenose dolphins use the Whangaparaoa and North Shore coastlines as a corridor to other foraging areas either within, or outside the inner Hauraki Gulf, Blair says. Now that his thesis is done and dusted, Blair is taking a break after more than six years of study for his Masters degree. The absence of bottlenose dolphins from the study area during summer is expected given these results, as bottlenose dolphins are generally sighted in deeper waters, if at all, during summer periods and the Facebook sightings are largely limited to land based observations. A company has launched a High Court action aimed at preventing a hotel in Co Leitrim it claims it is entitled to purchase from being used to house refugees. The action has been brought by Paradub Limited, which wants to develop the Shannon Key West Hotel at Rooskey on the Leitrim/Roscommon border into a tourist hotel, against businessman James Kiernan, who owns the 39-room property. The company claims that it has an agreement to buy the hotel, which closed in 2011, from Mr Kiernan, which they allege he has failed to complete. In recent days the company discovered from local media reports that a plan has been put in place to use the property to house refugees. The company claims this breaches the purchase agreement and is an attempt to frustrate the sale of the property. In its proceedings, Paradub seeks orders including an injunction restraining the defendant from entering into any agreement to lease, transfer and dispose of the property to any other person other than the plaintiff. Paradub also seeks an order restraining the defendant from carrying on works at the property pending the determination of the proceedings. The case was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Thursday afternoon. The judge, on an ex parte basis, granted Paradub permission to serve short notice of the proceedings on the defendant. The Judge made the matter returnable to Tuesday's sitting of the court. Richard Kean SC, instructed by solicitor Georgina Robinson, said his client had brought proceedings aimed at compelling the defendant to specifically perform the sale agreement for the hotel. It had recently learned that the hotel, which his client wants to redevelop, is to be used for other purposes which the company seeks to block. In a sworn statement Ashton Doherty a director of Paradub said that in 2016 an option agreement for the sale of the hotel was entered into between the company and Mr Kiernan of Glenart Avenue Blackrock, Co Dublin for almost 600,000. The allegedly agreed option was to be exercised by December 2017. When the company decided to exercise the option in October 2017 it claims Mr Kiernan ignored their requests to issue draft contracts. This resulted in the company initiating legal proceedings against Mr Kiernan in 2017, and it issues a Lis Pendens, an official notice to the public that a lawsuit involving a claim on a property has been filed, against the hotel. Mr Doherty said that earlier this year it appeared Mr Kiernan was attempting to enter into a lease agreement with another party who was applying to the Department of Justice for the purpose of using the hotel to house refugees. However, Mr Kiernan Mr Doherty said gave an interview in March to local Radio stating he was not going ahead with the plan to use the property as a centre to house asylum seekers and that he fully intended to sell the property, but was frustrated with the pace of the sale. Despite this interview, Mr Doherty said Mr Kiernan did not communicate with the buyers, who he said had funding available to complete the purchase. Despite the assurances given last March Mr Doherty said the company became aware in recent days that the plan to use to the hotel to house refugees had been resurrected. This left the company with no option other than seek relief from the High Court. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin revealed on Wednesday the reason why the President has not made a visit to the United States. "Nikki Haley asked me last year, Why is your president still not coming to the U.S.? I said, He never will until the Bells of Balangiga are returned," Locsin said in a tweet. Haley and Locsin were both former Ambassadors of the United States and the Philippines, respectively, to the United nations. "She took note and added when we get the bells, no more excuse not to accept Trump's invitation," Locsin said. The U.S. has turned over the historical bells on Wednesday. Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Babe Romualdez said the three bells seized by American soldiers in the 1901 Balangiga masscre will hopefully be back in the Philippines by the end of 2018. President Rodrigo Duterte said the U.S. must return the bells, emphasizing this in his second State of the Nation Address in 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump first invited Duterte to the White House in April 2017. Since then, however, no trip has been scheduled to the United States. The two presidents have already met in Manila during the Philippines' chairmanship of the 31 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in November 2017. An unusual koru-shaped cloud has been spotted off the east coast of the South Island. MetService shared a satellite image of the low hanging cloud that caused fog in Christchurch and Kaikoura on Thursday morning. "Koru in the cloud! This low cloud off of the east coast of the South Island has had Christchurch and Kaikoura in fog, but is gradually moving offshore now," a MetService tweet reads. New York politicians complaining about subsidies are really just upset they didn't get a seat at the table The news that Amazon the nations largest retailer will site a main office in western Queens, bringing at least 25,000 well-paying jobs to New York City, was met with howls of scorn and anger Wednesday by local politicians and activists. State Sen. Mike Gianaris and Councilman Jimmy van Bramer, representing Long Island City, condemned a deal that would offer Amazon some $3 billion in combined state and local subsidies as massive corporate welfare from scarce public resources. At a protest, state Sen.-elect Julia Salazar described it as valuing corporate interests over public education. It is true that public subsidies for private corporations to encourage them to relocate is bad policy. It encourages a race to the bottom between jurisdictions, and rarely delivers promised results. However, none of the elected officials sounding off against the Amazon deal are angry about the supposedly lavish package that New York is offering. They are just mad that they werent invited to the table. Consider the actual magnitude of the subsidies Amazon is getting. Roughly $3 billion in tax credits and abatements, many to which Amazon was legally entitled in any event, are stretched over at least 15 or 20 years. That amounts to about $200 million annually, on the high side. The combined budget of New York City and State for 2019 is roughly $235 billion. As a point of reference, in 2016 the city paid out $1.7 billion just in overtime. The Amazon package, in the context of city and state spending that will amount to trillions of dollars over the course of the next decade, is a rounding error. Continue reading the entire piece here at the New York Daily News ______________________ Seth Barron is an associate editor of City Journal and project director of the NYC Initiative at the Manhattan Institute. Roy Clark, the country guitarist who charmed television viewers on "Hee Haw" died, on Thursday. He was 85. Clark spokesman Jeremy Westby told KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City that Clark died due to complications from pneumonia at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Clark played the guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and other instruments. His skills made him a popular guest performer with many top orchestras, including the Boston Pops. He scored hits with "Yesterday When I was Young" and "Honeymoon Feeling." However, Clark was perhaps best known as the co-star with Buck Owens of "Hee Haw," which premiered in 1969. CBS canceled the show after two-and-a-half years, despite its Top 20 ranking during the network's infamous "rural purge." The series continued in syndication, where it remained in production until 1992. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Clark was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009. He was honored seven times with Country Music Association Awards, two Academy of Country Music trophies and a Grammy. Clark is survived by Barbara, his wife of 61 years; a sister; four children; and four grandchildren. SPRINGFIELD- MGM Springfield reported making more than $22 million in gross gaming revenue in October, down $4.7 million from the previous month which came on the heels of the Aug. 24 grand opening. According to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, MGM reported $22,242,742.41 in gross gaming revenues for October, which includes over $14 million from slot machines and more than $7 million from table games. The total was a drop of $4.7 million over September, when MGM reported $26,952,096.39 in gross gaming revenue. In October, the casino profited from slots gambling at a rate of 8.83 percent for the month, (compared to 9.55 percent in September) as a total of $165,684,708.76 was wagered on slot machines. The October payout to the state from MGM Springfield was $5.560.685.60 in taxes, the commission said. So far, the $960 million MGM Springfield resort casino has generated $58,651,815.70 in gross gaming revenues with a total of $14,662,953.93 in taxes paid to the state. MGM Springfield previously reported to the gaming commission that it expected around $418 million in gross gaming revenue from the first year of operations, with that number normalizing to around $500 million annually by year three. That projection was given with the assumption that there were two other full-service casinos and a slots parlor operating in the state. But as of October, MGM's resort casino and the Plainridge Park slots parlor are the only operating gaming facilities in Massachusetts. Encore Boston Harbor, which will be owned and operated by Wynn Resorts, is under construction and the gaming commission has so far declined to issue a license for southeastern Massachusetts. MGM Springfield, as a Category 1 resort casino, is taxed on 25 percent of its gross gaming revenue and those revenues are allocated to several specific state funds as determined by state law. Under its host community agreement, MGM pays the city of Springfield approximately $17.6 million annually in lieu of taxes. Those payments began this fiscal year. The Plainridge Park Casino, which opened in 2015 in Plainville, reported $13,525,789.45 in gross gaming revenue in October. Plainridge, a Category 2 slots facility, is taxed on 49 percent of its gross gaming revenue, with 82 percent paid to local aid and 18 percent allocated to the Race Horse Development Fund. Plainridge, which is owned and operated by Penn National Gaming, paid $6,627,636.83 in taxes to the state in October. To date, the state has collected approximately $285,489,004 in total taxes and assessments from the Plainridge Park Casino and MGM Springfield since the respective openings of their gaming facilities. The ACLU of Massachusetts is suing the Boston Police Department for access to its gang database. Lawyers for the ACLU say police are too secretive about how they track believed gang members, a practice that can have "catastrophic consequences for a young person's life," according to the suit filed in Suffolk Superior Court Thursday. Boston Police Commissioner William Gross is named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges the Boston Police Department is misusing public records exemption, in an attempt to keep key information about the tracking system private. "Being labeled as a gang member can have catastrophic consequences for a young person's life, including being targeted for surveillance and police stops, facing harsher outcomes in the criminal justice system, and for noncitizen youth-being detained and deported," lawyers wrote in the suit. "Yet, under BPD rules, police can place children in its 'Gang Assessment Database' and label them as "active" gang members based on nothing more than the clothing they are seen in and the classmates they are seen with." In particular, the data is being used increasingly in immigration court, according to the ACLU lawyers. Lawyers say police use a point system to determine whether or not to add a person to the database. People added to the database are not notified, according to ACLU lawyers. Ten points place a person in the database as a gang member, while people with six to nine points are labeled as a gang associate. People can be allotted four points for wearing a Chicago Bulls hat (identified as gang paraphernalia) and two points for appearing in a photograph with a gang member, even if that person is a classmate or family member. Being the victim of a gang-related act of violence earns a person 8 points, according to the suit. The suit focuses on three young immigrants affected by their placement on the database: Martin, a Salvadoran teenager who fled gang violence and lives with family in East Boston; Lucas, a Central American boy in the process of becoming a legal citizen; and Victor who came to the United States from Central America seeking protection from violence and parental neglect in 2012. The names used for the young men are pseudonyms, according to the suit. Martin ended up on the gang database because he was a victim of an assault at school and was seen with two other young people who are alleged to be gang members, according to lawyers for the ACLU. He is being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and his attorney's request to review the database records have been denied, according to the suit. Though Lucas has never been charged with a crime, he was detained by ICE solely based on the Field Interrogation/Observation/Encounter reports, or FIOEs, that help Boston and school police report potential affiliations. He had a valid petition for permanent status in the United States pending, but now faces likely deportation, lawyers said. Victor was about to awarded his green card in 2018 when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services found that five years earlier, a school officer alleged he was a gang member. "The government has threatened to revoke its previous approval of his status and deport him based on that allegation," according to the suit. The ACLU, along with other community organizations, submitted a public records request in May seeking access to the police data. Boston Police declined to provide certain information including the number of people in the system. The ACLU is asking the court to issue a declaratory judgment that the records the plaintiffs have requested are public record and to enter a permanent injunction requiring Boston police to disclose all of the records requested. Boston Police Sgt. John Boyle said the department does not comment on ongoing litigation. Update: The breakdown lane of the westbound side of the highway is now open. Delays are expected. BECKET - A construction worker was killed at a work site on the Massachusetts Turnpike Thursday afternoon. Massachusetts State Police are investigating the death. They did not give details about how the worker died. The accident happened at about 2:25 p.m. all westbound lanes of Interstate-90 were closed for several hours at the 17.2 mile marker near Westfield, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The breakdown lane has since been reopened but as of 4:45 p.m., transportation officials were reporting that traffic is backed up for miles. The Massachusetts State Police Collision Reconstruction, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Crime Scene and Berkshire detective units are all on scene at the accident, police said. "We offer our condolences to the company and family of (the) victim," police said on Twitter. The payroll records of former Massachusetts State Police union president Dana Pullman have been drawn into a federal investigation, amid a wide-ranging inquiry into the union's spending, nonprofit foundation and political contributions. The Massachusetts State Police denied a MassLive public records request for Pullman's payroll details on Thursday. To justify that denial, they said that those records are currently related to an ongoing federal investigation -- the first confirmation that Pullman's pay has also attracted federal attention. "The documents you have requested are the subject of/ connected to an active and ongoing investigation by federal officials," State Police legal counsel Siobhan E. Kelly wrote. "Those officials have confirmed to the Department that disclosure of the records at issue would jeopardize their investigation." It is unclear what in Pullman's payroll records would be relevant to the federal investigation. As State Police Association of Massachusetts President, Pullman worked full-time for the union and was paid by the State Police -- an arrangement set under the union's contract. He did not work regular state trooper shifts, and state payroll records show he did not earn significant overtime pay during 2016 or 2017. Martin G. Weinberg, Pullman's attorney, said he had no knowledge of any federal inquiry into his client's payroll records. "Just because a record may relate to an investigation does not in any way suggest that the investigation's targets or objectives or focus relate to that record," Weinberg said in an interview. "The guy was working 18 hours a day as a union president. He was a quintessential union advocate." Other details of the investigation into Pullman and the union were first reported by the Boston Globe. Pullman, a 31-year veteran of the state police, resigned as president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts in late September, citing personal reasons. The FBI and IRS are investigating whether Pullman misused union funds for his personal benefit and have subpoenaed records from a charity run by Pullman's wife, the Globe has reported. Investigators are also scrutinizing whether the union laundered political contributions through straw donors and have asked questions about the union's Benevolent Fund, which provides aid to injured or ill troopers and the families of fallen first responders, according to the Globe. Pullman earned just over $91,000 from the State Police last year. He took in another $71,000 from the union in 2017, the Globe reported. The State Police's refusal to release Pullman's payroll records marks the second time in recent months that the agency has declared public records requested by MassLive secret because of their relevance to a state or federal investigation. State payroll records are public documents that are frequently obtained by reporters through legal requests to state agencies. But the State Police claim that because Pullman's payroll information is now connected to an investigation, it is exempt from the state public records law. The agency made a similar argument to MassLive in July, claiming that records of gun transfers from the State Police armory were not public because they were relevant to a grand jury investigation. The state's Supervisor of Records Office has repeatedly granted MassLive's appeal of this denial, but State Police have ignored orders to turn over the records or submit them to the Supervisor's office for inspection. The investigation of Pullman comes as the series of scandals afflicting the State police has finally landed on SPAM's doorstep. In November of last year, when former Col. Richard McKeon stepped down following allegations that he had pressured troopers to scrub embarrassing details from the arrest report for a judge's daughter. Since then, allegations of payroll discrepancies uncovered by WCVB have spiraled into an overtime fraud investigation that has implicated over 40 troopers, led to the elimination of State Police Troop E and prompted state and federal charges against troopers accused of being paid for no-show overtime shifts. The civilian head of the department's payroll department has pleaded guilty to stealing over $23,000 from the agency. And former Trooper Leigha Genduso resigned after her past as a cooperating witness in a federal drug case came to light. MassLive also reported earlier this month that Pullman's replacement as union president, Sgt. Mark Lynch, crashed an unmarked cruiser after the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2013. A legal expert interviewed by MassLive described the investigation of Lynch's crash as perfunctory, questioning why the department did not conduct a more thorough inquiry. On the day of Pullman's resignation, State Police Col. Kerry Gilpin sent the union a letter saying the department would begin cracking down on allegedly improper uses of publicly funded union business leave. Per the union's contract with the State Police, SPAM can allocate 10,000 hours per year of paid leave for union representatives to attend disciplinary hearings, union board meetings and other union functions. Gilpin also intends to end the practice of State Police paying the salaries of the union's full-time president and treasurer. The union has strongly disputed her conclusions and has obtained a court order blocking the policy changes, according to the Globe LONGMEADOW - Hundreds of Longmeadow High School students walked out of their classes Thursday morning to protest the school committee's decision not to renew Superintendent Martin O'Shea's contract. The committee, on Wednesday night, voted 4 to 3 not to renew O'Shea's contract Students, many of them carrying signs of support of for O'Shea, chanted "We want Marty! We want Marty! as they walked out of the high school and onto the edge of the school property along Grassy Gutter Road. "We are just here because we want to put Marty back in the spot," said a student, one of a number who met with the media during the demonstration. "He is a great guy. He's always out at the school functions. "As the student body, we have seen what he has done," said another student. "We have seen all his accomplishments and we sincerely believe he is best for the school." School committee members reportedly cited a lack of communication between O'Shea and the school committee. The walkout lasted about ten minutes and then the students returned to the building. SPRINGFIELD -- Two of the women whose bodies were found at Stewart Weldon's home were bound with electrical cords and other cables, according to unredacted court papers released Thursday. The documents, which include a 13-page list of items logged as evidence, offer the most complete account to date of the grisly scene police found at 1333 Page Blvd. after Weldon's mother Constance White, who owns the home, called 911 on May 30 to report "a rancid smell and an unusual amount of flies." While the documents do not shed any new light on how the women died -- each death certificate said the cause was "homicidal violence" -- the evidence list and a detective's affidavit offer a grim portrait of the brutality the women endured. "In the north area of the basement, officers observed a human body in a state of decomposition," Detective Joseph E. Brodeur wrote in his application for a search warrant. "The body's hands were tied together as were the body's feet." Two more discoveries quickly followed. Officers looked through a window of the home's single-car garage and saw a body under a tarp. Outside a tool shed was a shovel and a pile of dirt "possibly concealing more bodies," Brodeur wrote. Weldon, 41, has since been charged with murder for the deaths of the women found in the basement, in the garage and under the shed: Kayla Escalante, 27, of Ludlow, and Springfield residents Ernestine Ryans, 47, and 34-year-old America Lyden. He was also indicted on four dozen counts including strangulation, rape and kidnapping involving eight living victims. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. The Republican / MassLive and The Boston Globe went to court in June seeking the release of a police report on Weldon's alleged assault on a woman in February. In later motions, the news organizations sought the release of search warrant materials from the weeklong probe at the Page Boulevard property. The Hampden district attorney's office first agreed to the release of a version of the evidence list with all 196 items blacked out. In late July, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Dunphy Farris told a judge she'd reviewed the list and decided some items no longer need to be impounded. That led to the release of information on about 120 items, which included rosary beads, numerous items of clothing and turkey bones recovered when investigators dug up the yard. But Weldon's attorney, Brian Murphy, joined prosecutors in arguing against the release of the full list. Some of the roughly 75 items remaining were "quite sensational," he told a Springfield District Court judge that Among those items were "bindings from hands, feet, ankles and face" of one of the victims, according to the documents released Thursday. The description of another victim mentions "bindings (tan cad cable, electric cable with plug, black coaxial cable)." One of the details blacked out in earlier versions of the list is an acronym that shows up 18 times: "RBS." The police shorthand for potential blood stains appears in descriptions of items ranging from a bamboo stick to clothing, sheets and towels. The list released Thursday also offers details about where in and around the home each item was found. Investigators collected 60 items from the home's basement, including 18 from a cedar closet and 16 from a bathroom -- areas where police sources say they found significant amounts of blood. On the home's first floor, police gathered 57 items, with many coming from a kitchen trash can. The car Weldon was driving at the time of his May 27 arrest -- which, according to Brodeur's affidavit, his mother retrieved on May 29 -- yielded 10 pieces of evidence, including a knife blade and a blood-stained sheet. Also on the full list is an item described as "(2) wooden sticks with wire attached." MassLive previously reported on a court motion in which prosecutors said "two sticks wrapped with wire" had been used to assault at least one victim, and that DNA collected from the weapon allegedly matched Weldon's genetic profile. Weldon's next court date is Jan. 16. SPRINGFIELD -- Authorities on Thursday identified the woman killed this week following a crash on Page Boulevard as Aida Hernandez, 26, of Springfield. Hernandez was a passenger in a vehicle that apparently crossed into the path of the tractor trailer, according to Jim Leydon, spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. There were a total of four occupants in the vehicle, Leydon said. Two of them were young children, ages seven and three. Neither child appeared to have been in a car seat, according to the DA's office. Previously, firefights said the children were seriously injured. The crash occurred just before noon Tuesday in the area around 1460 Page Blvd. Firefighters used hydraulic equipment to extricate the two children from the wreck. SFD firefighters use hydraulic equipment to extricate two children with life threatening injuries in front of 1460 Page Blv pic.twitter.com/bSFgS4HcBY SPRINGFIELD FIRE (@SFD_HQ) November 13, 2018 The crash remains under investigation by the Springfield Police Department's Traffic Bureau and the Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit of Hampden District Attorney's Office. The investigation remains open, according to Leydon, and no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. SPRINGFIELD -- A chance conversation between a woman's boyfriend and a man driving him to a medical appointment led the woman to tell police she believed Stewart Weldon kidnapped her in February, newly released documents show. The Republican / MassLive and The Boston Globe went to court in June seeking the release of a police report on the incident. In later motions the news organizations also sought the release of search warrant materials from the weeklong investigation at the Page Boulevard home where Weldon lived with his mother, where investigators recovered the remains of three women. A previously released version of the report, detailing the police interview with the 43-year-old city woman, was heavily redacted. The documents released Thursday include the full text of the narrative written by officer James M. Crogan, including a previously redacted section describing how the woman identified Weldon as a potential suspect. The woman and her boyfriend went to Springfield police headquarters at 130 Pearl St. at about 11:30 a.m. on May 31. The woman's interview with police led to Weldon being charged with kidnapping and assault with intent to rape. He was arraigned on those charges on June 4 and pleaded not guilty. Weldon, 41, was eventually charged with murder in the deaths of of Kayla Escalante, 27, of Ludlow, and Springfield residents Ernestine Ryans, 47, and 34-year-old America Lyden. Their bodies were found in and around the 1333 Page Blvd. property where he lived. A grand jury indicted Weldon on a total of 52 counts, including kidnapping and aggravated rape. The indictments list a total of 11 victims. The woman who went to police on May 31, who is one of the 11 listed victims, said Weldon offered her a ride sometime in February as she was walking on Main Street in the South End near Winthrop Street. She thought it was because she was walking with a limp because of recent surgery. The Globe first published an account of the incident based on an interview with the woman. According to the report released Thursday, the woman said Weldon locked the car door and would not let her get out. He "told her he wanted to 'f--- her' while complimenting her looks," the police report said. When she tried to exit he raised his hand and threatened to hit her. Weldon drove her around for a few hours, eventually going to his house on Page Boulevard, where she said he dragged her out of the car and toward the house. She was fighting him and screaming, the report said, and it was only because a neighbor started to walk by that she was able to break free. The neighbor gave the woman a ride home to School Street, where she told her boyfriend what happened. "She said she did not report the incident to police because she has prior prostitution arrests and was afraid of not being believed," the police report said. In the May 31 interview, the boyfriend said a driver who brings him to medical appointments told him about an article about Weldon published on MassLive earlier that morning. The woman was already at the place where her boyfriend was dropped off, and the boyfriend showed the woman the story. "She immediately became hysterical and told him that's the same guy that kidnapped her," the police report said. Crogan spoke with the driver, who confirmed he shared the news story with the boyfriend. The driver said when the boyfriend told the woman about the story she "immediately started freaking out. He said they asked him to drop them off at Springfield Police Headquarters and he drove them here." Another section of the report that was previously redacted describes a "a Green Duffel Bag" in the car Weldon was allegedly driving. The woman said during the ride Weldon noticed her looking at the bag in the back seat and told her not to look at it, because "its contents would get him arrested," Crogan wrote. When he got to his house, the woman said, Weldon grabbed the duffel bag before pulling her out of the vehicle. An evidence list released Thursday did not appear to include information about the bag or its contents. In an interview for a previous story about the case, Elizabeth Dineen, executive director of the Springfield-based YWCA of Western Massachusetts, spoke to the reluctance sex workers often have in reporting sexual assaults. The women in the often-overlapping scenes of drugs and sex work are a vulnerable population, she said. "I think it's hard for people to accept that prostitutes can be victims," Dineen said in June. An armed, 59-year-old New Hampshire man who was shot by Auburn police Wednesday afternoon has died. The Worcester County District Attorney's Office identified the man as Joseph Loughery of Dublin, New Hampshire. Officials said Loughery was shot by police after he ignored repeated commands by officers to disarm in the parking lot of the Shell Station at the corner of Swanson Road and Southbridge Street. Loughery was approached by officers around 1:15 p.m. while sitting in a red pickup truck in the gas station's parking lot. The DA's office said he was holding a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle and moving his arms while officers shouted at him to drop the gun. Officers in a video capturing the incident can be heard shouting "drop the gun" and "let us help you" before opening fire on Loughery. Loughery was brought to University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester where he was pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is expected to perform an autopsy Thursday. Authorities said a relative of Loughery called the Dublin, New Hampshire, police department around 11 a.m. asking for a welfare check on him. The same relative had earlier contacted the department saying Loughery was missing. Using a cell phone application, the relative tracked Loughery's vehicle to Auburn, according to the DA's office. Police were notified to be on the lookout for the red pickup truck. Loughery was indicted on three counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon in August after allegedly firing a .22 caliber rifle at a home in Roxbury, New Hampshire, on April 7, according to the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. The house was hit at least three times during the shooting, but nobody was injured, the Keene Sentinel reported at the time. The officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave based on department policy while an investigation continues. The State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office, State Police Crime Scene Services, State Police Firearm Identification Section, State Police Crime Lab, and Auburn police are investigating. A two-alarm fire heavily damaged a Park Avenue laundromat in Worcester early Thursday morning. The blaze broke out at Dalena's Laundry and Dry Cleaning just after midnight. The Worcester Fire Department said there was no damage to the other businesses in the strip mall. The plaza, located at 2 Coes Square just off of Park Avenue, is also home to Cow Farm Mini Mark, T&V Nails and Spa, and Bahn Thai Restaurant. Fire investigators were on scene to document the blaze and interview witnesses. "Their work continues for hours and days after a fire is extinguished," the department tweeted. The Worcester Fire Department has not yet released a cause of the fire. An Uxbridge doctor and her former employee were arrested Thursday and charged in federal court in Boston in connection to a federal drug conspiracy involving Adderall. Leslie Caraceni, a 56-year-old doctor from Uxbridge, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute Adderall and three counts of distributing and dispensing Adderall. Rene Ruliera, a 51-year-old Southborough resident, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute Adderall, and four counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute Adderall. Authorities said Caraceni and Ruliera conspired with one another and others to distribute Adderall, an amphetamine, for reasons other than a legitimate medical purpose between March 2016 and February 2018. They were arrested Thursday and will appear in federal court in Boston. Each charge provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Since the Senate has a constitutional role to play in approving a president's selection for attorney general, shouldn't the Senate also have a say in approving a replacement after the post becomes open? One would logically think so. But that's not how President Donald Trump sees it. And that's not how the Justice Department sees it, either. On the day after the midterm elections, Trump finally forced Attorney General Jefferson Sessions to resign. That's technically what happened, anyway. But in reality, Trump effectively fired our nation's top law-enforcement official. Or at a minimum, badgered him into jumping ship. Though one might rationally assume that Sessions' No. 2, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, would assume the duties of the former chief upon his departure, that's not how our reality TV star president wanted things to go. Instead, he moved to install Matthew Whitaker, who'd been Sessions' chief of staff. Oh, and Whitaker also just happened to be a harsh critic of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's probe of Russian interference in our nation's 2016 presidential election and possible connections between Trump's presidential campaign and those efforts. Yes, the probe Trump has repeatedly branded a "rigged witch hunt." Almost immediately after Trump named Whitaker to be Sessions' temporary successor, the legal questions began to mount. On Tuesday, the state of Maryland filed suit to block Whitaker's appointment, arguing that federal statute mandates the post be filled by Sessions' deputy, Rosenstein. A day later, the Justice Department answered back with a 20-page argument that cited historical precedent for the sort of move Trump made. This dispute, of course, won't be easily resolved. The opinion from the Justice Department is only that -- an opinion. Until a federal judge weighs in, it's still an open question. But that's only a part of the matter. In addition to questions involving federal statutes, some have also argued that Trump violated the Constitution by sidestepping the Senate in naming to a senior post someone who has never been confirmed by the Senate. After the concerns on those two legal tracks, there are the very real questions about whether Whitaker should recuse himself from oversight of the Mueller probe because of disparaging comments he's made in the past about the special counsel. Though the arguments for, and against, Whitaker's ascension to the job his boss had held can seem arcane beyond all reckoning, taking a step back to look at the bigger picture can be illustrative. Because once you break it down, it's all about Russia. A brief history tells the tale: Sessions had been in contact with Russian officials both before and after Trump's election, but had been less than forthcoming about those contacts. Once the contacts, and his obfuscation, came to light, he had no choice but to recuse himself from all matters pertaining to Russia. As such, when Trump rashly fired then-FBI Director James Comey -- and actually admitted that he did so with Russia on his mind -- Rosenstein named Mueller special counsel. Though one could suggest that that was the moment when Trump went off the rails, such an argument would be not a little facile. He'd not exactly been a paragon of normalcy since he was first in the public eye as a New York City real estate magnate and man about town. If, as the president has said repeatedly, his campaign did not collude with Russian operatives who were working to tilt the presidential election his way, then why is he so obsessed with Mueller's probe? One might reasonably suggest that he's acting like someone who's got something to hide. The president's decision to tap Mueller-critic Whitaker to fill the post, even temporarily, only further fuels those suspicions. Back when Trump axed Comey, his surprise decision came after the president had asked the FBI chief for a pledge of loyalty. At least that's how Comey tells the tale. And given Trump's longstanding concern with unflagging fealty from subordinates, there's every reason to believe that Comey's story accurately reflects what happened before he was given the boot. As the legal machinations play out going forward, -- with talk of federal statutes and the Constitution dominating the discussion -- it'll be important to keep Russia in mind all the while. It is, after all, a fundamental part of the story. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts called on three American consulting firms Thursday to detail services they have provided for Saudi Arabia's government, arguing that such transparency is needed in wake of the high-profile death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Massachusetts Democrat sent a letter to the heads of Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte Consulting LLP and Boston Consulting Group Wednesday seeking information on the scope of services they provided to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including any government-affiliated entities. Offering that the firms' own materials highlight their business ties to the Saudi government and government entities, Warren pointed to reports suggesting, among other things, that Booz Allen has advised the Saudi army, Boston Consulting Group has landed a contract to help overhaul its defense ministry procurement systems and Deloitte has been a significant contributor to a plan to diversify Saudi Arabia's oil-dependent economy. The senator argued that while Booz Allen and BCG have reportedly placed limits on their work for the Saudi government, the companies have reportedly "stayed close" even after Khashoggi's alleged assassination. Warren questioned why the firms continue to work with the kingdom. "The government of Saudi Arabia brutally silences critics including Jamal Khashoggi and continues to engage in a bombing campaign in Yemen that has killed thousands of civilians, brought millions to the brink of starvation and sparked near-worldwide condemnation," she wrote. "Given the kingdom's recent actions, your firms' continued business relationships with this government appear to be inconsistent not only with American values, but with your stated principles." Calling for a "full, transparent accounting of (the) firms' consulting services to the Saudi government or any Saudi government-affiliated entity," Warren asked for records of all consulting contracts with the Saudi government in which compensation was received between 2013 and 2018. She also requested all reports and other deliverables provided under the contracts, as well as information on whether any current or former Trump administration officials were involved in any part of the negotiation of the contracts. Further, the senator asked that the firms to clarify whether they intend to continue providing any consulting services to or on behalf of Saudi officials, how they evaluate which foreign governments they will accept as clients and if they have a review or risk management process in place to evaluate prospective business projects with foreign governments that could result in potential human rights abuses. Warren requested such answers by the end of November. The letter comes just weeks after Warren called on McKinsey & Company officials to provide similar information on how its work may have enabled Saudi Arabia to repress critics and commit other human rights abuses. Warren's office noted that it has been in contact with McKinsey, which is working to provide answers to the senator's inquiries. Over the past five years, Massachusetts' Medicaid program has doubled its spending on drugs - from around $1 billion to $2 billion. Nationally, spending on prescription drugs makes up around 17 percent of total U.S. health care spending. Pharmacy spending is the single largest reason that health care spending in the U.S. is much higher than in Europe and other developed countries. While a dialogue on drug spending is starting in Washington, Gov. Charlie Baker's administration is planning to propose changes to the way drugs are priced and purchased in Massachusetts, with details of the proposal expected in January. Speaking to reporters after addressing a Massachusetts Association of Health Plans conference in Boston, Baker said Thursday that he is looking at approaches to addressing prescription drug costs "that ensure people have access to the medications they need, but also in a way that creates a process around affordability." For the state, controlling drug prices is an important part of budgeting. MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program, comprises 40 percent of the state budget, with half reimbursed by the federal government. Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders described the problem in an op-ed in CommonWealth Magazine last week. Sudders wrote that MassHealth costs per member for drugs have risen by 20 percent since 2015, driven by a growing number of expensive drugs that are new and do not have competition. "The rise in high-cost drug prices that have no competition is outpacing our ability to keep MassHealth sustainable," Sudders wrote. After a new drug is developed, the developer generally has exclusive rights to sell it for some time. Drug makers say this is necessary to incentivize the industry to develop new drugs and allow them to recoup the costs that went into research and development. Baker, in his speech at the MAHP conference, said there is enormous value to innovative drugs. But at the same time, MassHealth today is spending $600 million to cover just 30 drugs. "There has to be some kind of conversation that balances the importance of innovation with issues and questions around affordability," Baker said. "There's a grownup dialogue that needs to be had on this. We are anxious to have it." Baker said while innovation matters, "The flip side is innovation that no one can afford is nowhere near as effective as innovation that people can afford." Sudders said, during a panel discussion at the MAHP conference, that 23 drugs now heading toward FDA approval are expected to add $80 million to $100 million to MassHealth's spending on drugs. The Baker administration last year proposed letting the state limit the drugs it covers through MassHealth, a proposal the pharmaceutical industry opposed. The federal government rejected the state's request for flexibility. Massachusetts lawmakers considered other proposals to lower MassHealth drug costs as part of a larger health care bill, but negotiations on the bill fell apart. Now, Baker and Sudders say the administration is planning to release another proposal. Sudders said Thursday that the governor could lay out some specifics in his annual State of the Commonwealth address in mid-January. Baker said he will likely include some health care reforms in his budget proposal, due in late January. Asked whether he might propose limiting the MassHealth drug formulary again, Baker said the state "got a pretty clear message from the feds on that issue last year." But he said the issue is one that needs to be talked about and "there's a bunch of different options and opportunities there." Sudders wrote in CommonWealth that the administration will push for reforms in how drugs are purchased, transparency in prices and flexibility and leverage in negotiating prices. She did not provide specifics. Sudders said Thursday that the administration plans to talk to the Legislature about Medicaid drug pricing strategies. Baker was noncommittal on whether any proposal would affect private sector insurance, saying he needs to talk to lawmakers. Stuart Altman, a Brandeis University health economist who chairs the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, urged private insurers attending the MAHP conference to address drug pricing. Otherwise, he said, drug companies will use private insurers to make up any loss from public payers. "If the government, through Medicare or Medicaid, do it and the private sector is left there hanging, you will again become the cash cow for the drug companies," Altman warned. The issue is not unique to Massachusetts. Nationally, President Donald Trump has talked about the need to lower drug costs. In late October, Trump unveiled a proposal to let Medicare set the price it pays for drugs based on prices internationally. A federal study of 16 other developed countries found that the U.S. pays on average 44 percent more for drugs than those countries. European countries tend to more closely regulate drug pricing than the U.S., which generally lets companies set prices. "For decades, other countries have rigged the system so that American patients are charged much more -- and in some cases much, much more -- for the exact same drug," Trump said in a speech laying out the proposal. "It's wrong." Ezekiel Emanuel, who advised the Obama White House on health care policy and chairs the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke at the MAHP conference and predicted that Congress will have to address pharmaceutical spending. Emanuel said spending on drugs accounts for 3 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Government officials project drug spending will increase by 6.3 percent annually for the next several years, due to higher prices and more use of specialty drugs. For example, Emanuel said a new gene therapy treatment for hemophilia has the potential to cure 20,000 people - at a cost of around $2 million per patient. "I do believe the heart of the affordability complaint is drug prices for most Americans," Emanuel said. "It's not getting better, and no one's predicting it's going to get better." Emanuel predicted that nothing will happen in 2019 and 2020 due to a lack of will to compromise before the presidential election. But he speculated that by 2020 "it will be one of the top three issues in the presidential election," which will lead to action in 2021. Sudders said Massachusetts anticipates moving forward regardless of what happens federally. With MassHealth comprising so much of the state budget, Sudders said, "We don't have that luxury of waiting to 2021." All 11 members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation called on President Donald Trump Thursday to declare a series of gas explosions that ravaged parts of the Merrimack Valley in September a "major disaster." U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, joined House lawmakers from across the state in urging the White House to grant Massachusetts' request for a Major Disaster Declaration -- a designation which would allow the state to recover emergency management-related costs. Noting that the Sept. 13 explosions in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover damaged homes, injured dozens and killed one person, lawmakers argued that "federal assistance is critically needed to help the Commonwealth repair and replace infrastructure." They added that both the state and these communities "have incurred significant disaster response and recovery costs as a result of the short- and long-term problems associated with the Columbia Gas pipeline over-pressurization." "We respectfully urge your timely approval of this request and we thank you in advance for your fair and full consideration," the Democrats wrote in a joint letter to Trump. As of mid-November, local, regional and state entities had reportedly spent a total of $2.7 million in response to the incident. The delegation's letter came shortly after the National Transportation Safety Board released its initial recommendations following the September natural gas pipeline disaster. Warren and Markey urged NiSource, Columbia Gas' parent company, Thursday "to implement these recommendations immediately." The senators further criticized Columbia Gas protocols that reportedly contributed to the Merrimack Valley explosions. "Columbia Gas failed to keep track of what projects were being done on their gas system. It failed to prioritize safety when conducting those projects. And it failed its customers, the residents of the Merrimack Valley, and the public trust," they said in a joint statement. Markey announced earlier this week that the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will convene a full panel hearing on the Merrimack Valley explosions at the South Lawrence East Middle School's gymnasium on Nov. 26. An NTSB report, released in October, detailed the Sept. 13 explosions and fires caused by over-pressurization of a Columbia Gas distribution system. It suggested that a crew working to replace a gas line in Lawrence neglected to remove the pressure sensors from the old line -- an error that is believed to have triggered a flood of high pressure through the system, resulting in fires and explosions. By Michael P. Norton STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE NOV. 15, 2018.....Two more Massachusetts communities have been selected to participate in a seven-year-old state program that officials say has led to 3,400 new small-scale solar installations in homes and businesses across Massachusetts, in part by aggregating the buying power of participants. Springfield and Longmeadow will participate in the Solarize Mass program, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center announced Wednesday, joining a program that has taken hold in Boston and its surrounding suburbs, as well as many communities in western Massachusetts and on the Outer Cape. Sixty-nine cities and towns have participated in the program, under which communities utilize a competitive bidding process to select installers "that feature the most attractive pricing, outreach and community education packages." Homeowners and business owners who want to participate can purchase the solar electricity systems directly or enter into a lease or power purchase agreement with the installer, if those options are offered. Under a lease or power purchase agreement, the installers own, operate and maintain the systems, and homeowners and business owners agree to buy power at a specific rate. Program sponsors say it increases the adoption of solar electric systems by using grassroots educational campaigns. Solarize Mass installations have created 23 megawatts of solar capacity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 1,900 cars off the road annually, according to the center. "We look forward to seeing low-income communities participate in the Solarize program as we continue to a move Massachusetts towards cleaner energy while working to meet our climate goals," Rep. Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield) said in a statement. "This truly is great news for Longmeadow and the entire Pioneer Valley," added Rep. Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow). The number of communities added to the program, and the associated solar installations and capacity, fell in 2017 and 2018, compared to the program's earlier years. In 2017, five communities participated, with 90 contracted systems. By comparison, 15 communities participated in 2014 and 932 contracted systems were logged under the program that year. And while most communities have not yet participated in Solarize Mass, six communities have participated in the program twice. Lincoln, Sudbury and Wayland participated twice as part of a joint program, and Newburyport, Provincetown and Wellfleet also participated twice, according to the clean energy center. According to Craig Gilvarg, a spokesman for the clean energy center, all communities that have applied for the program have been selected over the past two years. While characterizing demand for the program was "strong," Gilvarg also said the center was not receiving more applications than could be accepted. In a statement regarding the additions of Springfield and Longmeadow, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton said, "Solarize Mass is focused on bringing affordable clean energy into the homes of residents across the Commonwealth while diversifying the state's energy portfolio. In addition to lowering energy bills for homeowners, this program will help the Commonwealth meet our greenhouse gas reduction requirements." A Solarize Mass Plus program, first piloted in 2017, is underway in Lowell and features the Solarize Mass model with additional offerings associated with solar hot water or air source heat pumps. Massachusetts has 2,240 megawatts of solar capacity installed statewide, enough to power more than 354,000 homes, according to the clean energy center. The Solarize Mass program is one of many efforts underway in government to reduce carbon emissions and ramp up renewable energy. Beacon Hill lawmakers have debated the pace of growth in the renewable energy sector this session and last session, leading to two major clean energy laws, and the issue will likely be on the table again in the 2019-2020 session, with many in the Legislature concerned that the state will miss its statutory emissions reductions targets. In the just-completed election cycle, clean energy advocates at 350 Mass Action and the Massachusetts Sierra Club endorsed Democrat Jay Gonzalez over Gov. Baker, and renewable energy advocates are likely in the new session to again lean on the Legislature to accelerate renewable energy growth. "While we applauded Governor Baker's decision to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement, the time for incremental action to tackle climate change is over," David Rudolph, chair of the Massachusetts Sierra Club Political Committee, said in a statement about a month before the election. "Our solar industry lost jobs the last two years in a row. We need a leader in Massachusetts who will act decisively to reduce our carbon emissions by growing our local renewable energy industry and electrifying our transportation system." SPRINGFIELD -- With a proposal to connect Boston and Western Massachusetts via rail gaining widespread support and attention from candidates ahead of the 2018 election, state Sen. Eric Lesser committed Wednesday to ensuring the issue remains at the forefront of lawmakers' agendas in the coming months and years. The Longmeadow Democrat, who has been the driving force behind the "East-West" rail proposal, told reporters that while he appreciates politicians like Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal's focus on the issue in 2018, he's not done pushing for it to become a reality. "It's not going to fall by the wayside. There's way too many people who care too deeply about this and know how important it is -- from the business community to the advocates, to just everyday people," he said following an event at Western New England University. "We're not going to let it go away." Arguing that "rail is meeting its moment," Lesser pointed to the state's decision to study the feasibility of increasing rail traffic between Western Massachusetts and Boston. Beyond that, he offered, federal lawmakers could soon set aside funding for such a project, with both Neal, D-Springfield, and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, expected to hold some of the most powerful positions on Capitol Hill come 2019. "The stars are hopefully aligning for some major forward momentum," he said. Lesser said it is expected to take the Massachusetts Department of Transportation about 12 to 15 months to conduct its $1 million study on the feasibility of East-West rail, which began this fall. Following the study's completion, the state senator said he will push lawmakers to "get to work." "We start to build the political will and the consensus to make it happen," he said. "We've lost our sense of ambition, I think, in this country about what we can do. Much harder projects have been pulled off -- the Erie Canal was built well over 100 years ago without power tools. So, we can make it happen if we build the political will to make it happen." Stressing that "this is no longer a Western Mass. project," Lesser argued that "the whole state is involved in this, the whole state is excited about it, the whole state is invested in it." Warren, who initially backed East-West rail in March 2017, reiterated her support for the transportation proposal throughout her 2018 campaign, calling East-West rail "one of (her) priorities" during an October U.S. Senate debate in Springfield. Neal, who is expected to take over as the next U.S. House Ways and Means Committee chairman, also touted East-West rail during his 2018 re-election bid. He joined Gov. Charlie Baker in announcing the state's feasibility study in June. State officials said in October that they had retained a consulting firm to study the feasibility of East-West rail from Boston through Worcester to Springfield, and as far west as Pittsfield. Consultants will look at six options, each with different speeds and a different number of stops along the way, including a 90-minute service from Springfield's Union Station to Boston's South Station. For years, Beacon Hill legislators have toyed with the idea of east-west rail. In 2016, a proposal to study the measure made it into the final state budget, but was vetoed. Baker recommended replacing the study with another that would also consider other forms of transit. The House did not override Baker's veto, and the measure died. A year later, the study was included in the Senate's version of the budget before it was cut in secret budget negotiations with the House prior to reaching Baker's desk. MassDot's 2018 rail plan included a proposal to study ways to connect Boston and Springfield with passenger rail. by Sara Guaglione , November 14, 2018 The reader-funded, Netherlands-based news site De Correspondentannounced in May that it had raised $1.8 million to help launch an English version of the Dutch site. Now, the English-language version, The Correspondent has launched a membership campaign to raise $2.5 million in the next 30 days. De Correspondent was formed in 2013 with a crowdfunding effort that raised $1.7 million from about 19,000 backers. The ad-free site now has 60,000 paying members. About 85% of its revenue comes from readers, memberships and events. The English-language version of The Correspondent, based in New York, has a pay what you will program, similar to The Guardians model online. (The Guardian announced earlier this month it has 1 million supporters.) advertisement advertisement The Correspondents membership program will give its supporters a year of access to the platform. If The Correspondent does not reach its $2.5 million goal by the end of the month, supporters will be refunded. As of Wednesday afternoon, the site had nearly 5,500 members and more than $350,000 raised. The site has received public support from big names, like FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver, activist DeRay Mckesson, musician Rosanne Cash, comedian Baratunde Thurston and NYU professor Jay Rosen. The Correspondent has 20,000 members signed up for a newsletter. In an email to subscribers, cofounders Rob Wijnberg and Ernst Pfauth urged readers to support the site because news as we know it leaves us cynical, divided and less informed; news organizations prioritize the needs of advertisers over the needs of readers (thats you!); and all-too-often, the news talks to you, rather than with you. Wijnberg and Pfauth market The Correspondent as an antidote to the daily news grind. The Correspondent wants to redefine what news is about, shifting the focus from the sensational to the foundational, it says on the website. We dont cover the weather, we cover the climate, informing you about how the world really works. Just this week, a number of publishers have asked readers to pay for online content: New York Media, QuartzandYahoo Finance all put up paywalls. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, November 15, 2018 Centro has signed on 100 agencies for self-serve software contracts in the first three quarters of 2018. The growth has promoted the company to budget between 140 and 150 employees to the payroll in 2019. Shawn Riegsecker, Centro CEO, said the companys growth is partially attributable to its platform Basis, which took more than five years to build. It automates direct-to-vendor media buying, programmatic advertising, and universal campaign reporting that includes search and social, business intelligence reporting, and media operations. About 649 employees support Centros business. The company budgeted to hire up to 150 employees by the end of 2019, he said. The majority of investment will focus on growing its product, engineering, data science, sales and service teams. advertisement advertisement Most of Centros clients are regional, independent agencies that need complete business solutions, from front-end to back-office services. More than 90% are U.S. based, but Centro also has clients in Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe. Agencies dont want to work with independent, siloed teams. The trend is to have media-buying functions, analysis and financial reconciliation that work together. Riegsecker said the integrations work in slightly different ways, depending on the media required for the campaign. For ad servers, its a bidirectional integration where Basis automatically creates and sends the campaign information to the ad server along with tracking instructions. It then pulls the ad-serving data back into Basis. For search and social media, the platform retrieves all of the performance data in real-time and presents it in a dashboard alongside the DSP and direct buying data, so the user has a complete view of the entire campaign. Since the platform also integrates with Facebook, Instagram, Sizmek, Google Marketing Platform, Google Ads Manager, and YouTube, the biggest challenge in 2018 came from merging Centros separate programmatic and digital media-buying teams into one. In the first half of 2018, we had to educate and train our entire digital media team -- more than 300 people -- to become programmatic buying experts, he said. At the same time, we needed to educate and train our programmatic buyers to become all-around digital media experts as well as move them into client-facing roles. The second significant challenge was to retrain its entire sales team or more than 100 sellers to learn how to sell software. Most of Centros sales team had never sold software in their careers. Rather than build a separate software sales team, the company decided early on to invest in retraining its sales force. Riegsecker declined to disclose the privately held companys annual revenue, but did say Centro surpassed $100 million in net revenue in 2016 and our growth rate has continued to accelerate over the past two years. In 2019, the company will focus on improving its social and search integrations, as well as its addressable and CTV/OTT capabilities. Community music programs may help combat loneliness in older adults and heighten their interest in life, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. Share on Pinterest Could singing in a choir help combat loneliness? A recent study that featured in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences looked at a novel way to fight loneliness in older adults joining a choir. The aim of the program, called Community of Voices, was to measure the impact of art-based interventions on well-being and quality of life. People are now living longer thanks to medical and technological advances. However, as our average lifespan steadily increases, the issue of loneliness grows in parallel. Loneliness on the rise In one paper , researchers propose several reasons why loneliness might be increasing. They note that it is less common for multiple generations to live together in modern society, families often move apart, and one-person households are more common than ever. All of these factors raise the risk of loneliness among those in older populations. Studies have also shown that older people tend to be more lonely than younger adults. There is an association between loneliness and health problems too. For instance, studies have found that people who are lonely may be more likely to become ill. Research also indicates that loneliness and social isolation are risk factors for early mortality. This means that there is a pressing need to find ways to reduce loneliness in older adults. Improving quality of life To create the Community of Voices program, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) collaborated with the San Francisco Community Music Center (CMC) and the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services. The intention of the project was to discover if this type of social intervention could improve quality of life for older people. The study took place over the course of 3 years and involved 12 senior centers in the San Francisco area. These centers all aim to engage adults aged 60 years and above in activities that help them with their thinking skills and boost their physical health. The researchers worked with 390 older adults, whom they enrolled in one of two groups. The first group began rehearsing immediately, while the second group had a 6-month wait. Professional choir directors and accompanists led each group. They chose material that was suitable for older adults, regardless of their level of ability, and that would help them improve their skills over time. Participation improved emotional well-being The team tested a number of parameters during the course of the study, including memory, coordination, and balance. The participants also answered questions about their emotional well-being. The results showed that the participants enjoyed being part of a group and working together toward a common goal. The enjoyment of this activity resulted in a happier outlook on life and reduced loneliness. Our current health and social systems are not prepared to help support our rapidly increasing population of older adults, said lead author Julene Johnson, PhD, associate dean for research and professor at the UCSF School of Nursing. Theres a high percentage who experience loneliness and social isolation, and depression also is relatively high. Theres a need to develop novel approaches to help older adults stay engaged in the community and also stay connected. Julene Johnson Multitasking might be an illusion, but it is a helpful one. A new study, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that merely perceiving one or several activities as multitasking is enough to boost performance. Share on Pinterest Multitasking or rather, believing that youre multitasking might improve your performance. An established body of neuroscientific research suggests that the ability to multitask is nothing but a myth. Since the mid-1990s, a series of experiments have shown that rather than actually doing several things at once, the human brain can only switch between tasks. And task-switching comes with its costs. Some older studies have shown that even when the tasks we switch between are predictable, or we have done them hundreds of times before, it still takes longer for people to complete them, compared with doing the same task repeatedly. Functional MRI studies have also backed the claim that multitasking is a myth. For instance, a study that examined the brain activity involved in switching between two tasks found a 29 percent and 53 percent decrease, respectively, in brain activity when the participants were asked to switch tasks. New research, however, suggests that this collection of studies does not tell the whole story. The new results indicate that even if multitasking is a myth or an illusion, this very illusion can boost performance. Shalena Srna of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who led the research, explains, Multitasking is often a matter of perception or can even be thought of as an illusion. EDMONTON Nov. 15, 2018 Canada Alberta Danielle Larivee Alberta Canada Alberta Canada $33 million Alberta Canada Canada Alberta Alberta First Nations Barry Philips Alberta Jordan's Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson . He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba born with multiple disabilities which required him to stay in a hospital from birth. At 2 years of age, doctors said he could move to a special home for his medical needs; however, the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his home-based care. This is because different levels of government fund different services for First Nations children, especially those living on-reserve. As a result Jordan stayed in the hospital until he passed away at the age of 5. . He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in born with multiple disabilities which required him to stay in a hospital from birth. At 2 years of age, doctors said he could move to a special home for his medical needs; however, the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his home-based care. This is because different levels of government fund different services for First Nations children, especially those living on-reserve. As a result Jordan stayed in the hospital until he passed away at the age of 5. Jordan's Principle makes sure all First Nations children can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. It can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs. Nationally, from July 2016 to September 30, 2018 , there have been more than 165,000 requests for products, services and supports approved for First Nations children under Jordan's Principle, including 8129 requests approved in Alberta for the same timeframe. This includes mental health supports, medical equipment, speech therapy, educational supports, and more. to , there have been more than 165,000 requests for products, services and supports approved for First Nations children under Jordan's Principle, including 8129 requests approved in for the same timeframe. This includes mental health supports, medical equipment, speech therapy, educational supports, and more. The 11 partner Nations of the First Nations Health Consortium are: Bigstone Cree Nation Loon River First Nation Lubicon Lake Band Peerless Trout First Nation Whitefish Lake #459 First Nation Woodland Cree First Nation Samson Cree Nation Louis Bull Tribe Montana First Nation Ermineskin Cree Nation Siksika Nation For requests for support under Jordan's Principle, caregivers can call 1-855-JP-CHILD (1-855-572-4453), open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Canada and TREATY 6 TERRITORY, AL,/CNW/ - The Government of, Government of Alberta and First Nations partners are working together to ensure that First Nations children incan access the supports and services they need, when they need them.Today the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, along with the signatory Chiefs from Maskwacis, Siksika Nation, Bigstone Cree Nation and Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (which are represented by the First Nations Health Consortium) and, Minister of Children's Services for the Government of Alberta, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing for the full implementation of Jordan's Principle inThis MOU on Jordan's Principle is the first of its kind between the federal government, provincial government and First Nations. This allows the Government of, the First Nations Health Consortium and Government of Alberta to address gaps, and share information ensuring that children and families inare receiving the supports they need including mental health supports, medical equipment, speech therapy, educational supports, and more.In 2016, the federal government announced funding to allow Jordan's Principle to be implemented across. This funding ensures timely access to necessary products, services and supports that address the needs of First Nations children, regardless of whether they live on- or off-reserve. Since 2016,in funding has been provided for implementation of Jordan's Principle inThe Government of Alberta is committed to reconciliation and working with Indigenous partners to improve services for First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples. This MOU fulfils one of 16 immediate actions set out in A Stronger, Safer Tomorrow, Alberta's four-year public action plan to improve the child intervention system and strengthen supports for Indigenous families.The Government ofis committed to a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples in the spirit of reconciliation, recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. The federal government continues to work with all partners in developing a long-term approach to better address the unique health, social and education needs of First Nations children."This first-of-its-kind trilateral agreement sits at the heart of what Jordan's Principle is meant to achieve. This ensures that all orders of Government and First Nation partners are working together to support First Nations children and families in getting the supports and services they need, regardless of where they live, and without jurisdictional disputes. I am honoured to sign this Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Government of. I want to thank the First Nations Health Consortium and the Province of Alberta for this step forward in fully implementing Jordan's Principle in.""This Memorandum of Understanding agreement is significant because ourhave come together to ensure a First Nations driven program is set in place to meet the needs of First Nations children throughout our province. We continuously work together honouring and advocating for the needs of our First Nation people. We are passionate about our role in improving the lives of our children and families.""Every child deserves the same access to services, regardless of where they live in. Our government is committed to reconciliation and to fully implementing Jordan's Principle. This agreement is an important step towards ensuring that all First Nations children and families receive the services they need and the supports they deserve."Jordan's Principle Jordan's Principle representatives A Stronger, Safer TomorrowStay connectedJoin the conversation about Indigenous peoples inTwitter: GovCan Indigenous Facebook: GovCan Indigenous Peoples Instagram: @gcIndigenousYou can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada This year marks 35 years since the illegal and unilateral declaration of independence of the pseudo-state, which has been condemned internationally by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984). Today's sad anniversary for the international community, reminds everybody of the flagrant violation of the fundamental Principles of the UN Charter that resulted from the illegal Turkish military invasion, the occupation of a part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, and the establishment of settlers. Turkey must comply with the aforementioned UN Security Council Resolutions that call for the withdrawal of the illegal and void proclamation of the pseudo-state in the occupied part of Cyprus. Furthermore, we call upon Turkey to work towards the achievement of a fair, viable and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue, which will safeguard fundamental human rights for the entire people of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as all the rights and freedoms deriving from Cyprus European Union membership. Greece, standing by the Republic of Cyprus, shall never accept the faits accomplis of the Turkish invasion and occupation, and shall continue to steadfastly and responsibly contribute to the restoration of international Law in Cyprus. This can only be achieved through termination of the occupation, abolition of the anachronistic system of guarantees, and the reunification of Cyprus on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolutions. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) hailed Congress for passing a bill banning corporal punishment against children. "Last week, Congress passed a law on positive parenting and also protecting children from physical punishment in the home and so on. This is a really great step forward," UNICEF representative to the Philippines Lotta Sylwander told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday. The House passed Monday on third and final reading House Bill No. 8239 or the Positive and Nonviolent Discipline of Children Bill which seeks to protect children from physical, humiliating or degrading acts as a form of punishment. The Senate passed its version in October. READ: These are the countries where spanking is illegal The bill will shield children from these forms of punishment in homes, schools, institutions, alternative care systems, the juvenile welfare system, places of religious worship and in all other settings where there is direct contact with children. The measure does not impose additional penalties for harming children and instead mandates that the barangay chairman refer the offender and the offended party to mediation and reconciliation or recommend temporary restraining orders. In case of repeat offenders, the barangay chairman should recommend the offender to undergo seminars on positive discipline, anger management and children's rights, counselling or therapy, or other rehabilitative services. The measure would now be tackled by a bicameral conference committee consisting of members from both chambers of Congress, where they will thresh out the differences in the bills passed by the House and the Senate. While the UNICEF praised the passage of this bill, it also warned that there are "threats" pending in the legislature, like the lowering of the age of criminal liability championed by Senate President Tito Sotto. "The law (on the age of criminal liability) in place is actually a good law, but there are issues surrounding the implementation of the law," Sylwander said. Sotto filed in September Senate Bill No. 2026 which seeks to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act to lower the age of criminal liability to 12 years old and one day from 15 years old. Similar measures in the lower house have remained pending since 2016. President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly assailed the juvenile justice law for increasing the age of criminal liability to 15 years old. JUNIATA TOWNSHIP Three new Juniata Township board members are on the job less than a week after being elected Nov. 6. The new board members took the oath of office Friday from Tuscola County Clerk Jodi Fetting, and on Monday conducted their first board meeting after ousting three incumbents who had been targeted for recall. Supervisor Garrett Tetil, a Republican, received 516 votes. Clerk Brenda Bigham received 441 votes, and Treasurer Judy Cockeril received 441 votes. Bigham and Cockeril both declared no party affiliation, and each secured a partial term that ends Nov. 20, 2020. They were vocal against the wind farms development. Ousted from office were incumbents Supervisor Neil Jackson, a Democrat, received 294 votes; Clerk Heidi Stark, a Republican, received 280 votes; and Treasurer Andrew Stark, a Republican, received 259 votes. Although a fourth board member, Trustee Elaine Schunn, was named in a recall petition, it was dismissed by the Tuscola County Election Commission because the wording did not meet the requirement for recall consideration. The fifth member, Trustee Brenda Wachner, was not named in recall filings. They each retained their seats. Because three of the five members of the township board were being recalled, the county clerk oversaw the election. It was a great first meeting Monday interacting with the public," said Bigham. "We accomplished a few things. We have a lot to learn and we will get there. According to Fetting, it is up to the new officials to learn the ins and outs of their duties because outgoing board members are not obligated to help with the transition. They (newly elected) can call the Michigan Township Association for help or other area officials, explained Fetting. There will also be training sessions coming up for those newly elected. The township has been a hotbed of contention for years after the previous board leadership approved NextEra Energy Resources LLC request for special land use permits to develop a wind farm in Juniata Township as part of their Pegasus Wind Energy Center. A grassroots group, Concerned Citizens of Juniata Township was formed, opposing the wind project. The wind farm pitted neighbors who want wind development against neighbors who do not. Because of the difference of opinions, some of the former board members allegedly received assassination threats, which were turned over to authorities. After that was announced during a meeting, the board decided future township meetings would be at the Tuscola Tech Center, at 1401 Cleaver Road in Caro, until the end of the year. Also, the Juniata Township Hall only has a seating capacity of 45, which has been exceeded at times. Pegasus Wind is constructing the Pegasus Wind Energy Center in Juniata, Fairgrove, and Gilford townships pursuant to required approvals from the three townships and from Tuscola County. We are waiting for a handful of remaining authorizations in order to complete the project, said NextEra Director of Communications Bryan Garner. We appreciate the strong support that we have received from landowners and members of the Tuscola County community, where we have two other successful operating wind projects. Just as our other projects have done, Pegasus Wind will create good-paying local jobs, and will generate clean, renewable energy and millions of dollars in tax benefits to the community. The wind farm is a $200 million investment that is part of the Tuscola Wind I and Tuscola Wind II in Tuscola County, and with Pheasant Run Wind Farm in Huron County. CASEVILLE The state of Michigan, along with Huron County, witnessed a high voter turnout during last week's midterm election. At this week's city of Caseville board meeting, officials discussed the fact that voter turnout in the city reflected those increased numbers at the state and county level. "It went well," said Treasurer Laura Horkey. "It was a good turnout." So good, in fact, that the 373 city residents that voted in the midterms outdid the 2016 presidential election by a wide margin. "Three-hundred seventy-three people turned out to vote in the city, which is one of the highest numbers I can ever recall," said Clerk Jamie Learman. Learman estimated the number of voters in the 2016 presidential election to be around 240. According to Horkey, of the 373 votes cast at last week's midterms, 130 were absentee ballots and the rest were walk-ins. The total population in Caseville is 755. In other business, the board: Was asked about the status of the city's former film production studio. Learman said it is for sale, but has not been listed yet because the Building and Grounds Committee has not met to make that determination. Heard from DPW Supervisor Troy Hartz, who reported that Vine and Huron streets have both been paved. Heard from Police Chief Kyle Romzek, who reported the department has cut back on its part time help for the winter season. NEW HAVEN The Black Student Alliance at Yale on Wednesday denounced the posting of flyers promoting a Union of Yale White Students (sic) and said the incident Tuesday was not an isolated case of racism at the university. Yale University police are investigating the reports that two masked people posted the flyers on Cross Campus Tuesday, which was first reported by the Yale Daily News. The flyers quoted white supremacist and slave-owner John C. Calhoun, a U.S. vice president who was a member of the Yale class of 1804, as saying, In looking back, I see nothing to regret, and little to correct. By invoking the sentiment of an unapologetic white supremacist, the vandals who posted these flyers made their racist intentions clear, the Black Student Alliance stated on their Facebook page. Their cowardly decision to wear masks evokes imagery of the Ku Klux Klan and the mere possibility of a White Students Union of Yale threatens the livelihood and safety of Yales students of color. The alliance said the posting of the flyers was not an isolated incident students of color at Yale are constantly demeaned and provoked by their peers and alumni who see them as being undeserving and out-of-place. The posters were removed and replaced by messages of support for people of color, according to the Yale Daily News. Kimberly Goff-Crews, Yale secretary and vice president for student life, said police were reviewing video footage to try to identify the people who posted the flyers. Yale President Peter Salovey wrote an email to the Yale community Tuesday night in which he said, I find the sentiments signified by these flyers deeply troubling, and I want to be clear: hate is not welcome on our campus. Salovey said it was not clear whether the people who put up the signs were associated with Yale and that they violated the universitys rules because the group is not a registered student organization. He said both the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups nationally, and the Anti-Defamation League had been notified. One of Yales first residential colleges was named for Calhoun, igniting decades of controversy until its name was changed in 2017 to honor Grace Murray Hopper, who earned two advanced mathematical degrees at Yale and served as an admiral. The Black Student Alliance said it called on Yales administration to prioritize the safety of its students of color while renewing its commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive community. On a campus where many students of color have had negative interactions with the police, it is imperative that students of color feel supported by the administration. In his email, Salovey wrote, As I have said in the past, the answer to speech one finds repugnant is more speech. I have no doubt that the members of the Yale community will respond to expressions of hate, racism, and exclusion on this campus with even stronger affirmations of our values and a renewed commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive community where all people are welcomed. Thank you for joining me in this important and ongoing work. Cross Campus is the lawn in front of Sterling Memorial Library, off College Street, between Berkeley Colleges two buildings, Grace Hopper College and Harkness Hall. After years of controversy over the outspoken supporter of slavery, Calhoun College became the focus of protests after a white man killed nine black worshippers in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015. It was later renamed for Hopper. The slayings brought out calls to remove symbols of the Confederacy, such as the taking the Confederate battle flag off the grounds of the South Carolina state Capitol. Salovey, after first deciding not to rename Calhoun College despite protests that Calhoun was an ardent and vocal supporter of slavery, in 2015 formed a Committee to Establish Principles on Renaming. Based on the committees report, Salovey reversed course and renamed the college. In May, Goff-Crews promised to commit the school to addressing the racial divide on campus after a black graduate student was reported to campus police for sleeping in a common room. Goff-Crews said in a campus-wide email at that time that she was deeply troubled by the incident in the Hall of Graduate Studies, in which philosophy major Sarah Braasch, who is white, called police to report Lolade Siyonbola, an African studies major. In that email, Goff-Crews wrote, As Vice President for Student Life, I have worked with administrators, faculty and students to strengthen the resources available to address incidents of racial bias, discrimination and harassment. This incident and others recently reported to me underscore that we have work to do to make Yale not only excellent but also inclusive. I strongly believe we must strive to create an environment that values equity and justice and in which all students are empowered to pursue their personal and professional goals an environment that is diverse, intellectually challenging, and broadly welcoming. TORRINGTON The co-owner of the Christmas House plans to work late into the night this week to keep his decorating schedule on track before the official holiday kicks off Nov. 23. Ron Merriman said he has about half of the display pieces in place so far, for whats almost certainly going to be the last year of the light show and house tour. The home is the subject of a foreclosure auction on Nov. 3, which is being held to collect a mortgage debt of $11,350. Records show that no mortgage payments have been made since spring 2017. Asked what hell do if he, his mother and sister, who are also co-owners, lose the house, Merriman said, I dont know where Ill live. It will take a lot of fixing up, Merriman said of the house that was built in 1900. If they want it they can take it, he added. Merrimans sister, Donna, said she also doesnt know where she and her 87-year-old mother, Alice, will live. Donna Merriman said the family had mortgage problems a few years back, after she lost her job, and the mortgage holder, Webster Bank, was going to work with us. The family also talked about selling the house, Donna Merriman said. Her brother, she said, was against the idea. Foreclosure proceedings began in Aug. 2017. According to court records, the family repeatedly refused to enter into mediation proceedings. A transcript of a mediation hearing in March shows that Ronald Merriman expressed his unwillingness to complete or submit any documentation. Mr. Merriman expressed his discontent with Webster Bank... Ronald Merriman also expressed his discontent with his sister. He said he recently filed an eviction notice against her. However, Donna Merriman said she was never served with the papers. You cant evict an owner of the house, she said. The three family members had paid equal shares of the mortgage, Donna Merriman said, since they bought the property in 1987. She said her mother paid all of the other bills over the years as well. A dispute over who paid for what expenses seems to be at the core of the siblings fractious relationship. He wouldnt sign off on the idea of selling the house, Donna Merriman said. So now theyll take it. My mistake was buying a house with my family. A neighborhood business owner said this week that he wont miss the display. He asked that his name not be used. I cant wait until its gone, he said. The traffic is terrible. I cant get out of my parking space to go home. Everybody enjoys it. I think the town will miss it, said another employee, who declined to give her name. She added that the sheer number of lights has caused the breaker to blow a couple of times. Ronald Merriman has installed 20 light switches in the entry hall to wire his mega-watt display. Ive gone inside twice. Its a little creepy. Its overwhelming, said an unnamed employee. However, she added, the kids like it. Its too bad, but you have to pay your mortgage, said another neighbor. She said she recently checked Ronald Merrimans GoFundMe account. It has $100 in it. The fundraising goal is $35,000. On the day of the auction, attorney J. Michael Schonyers of Ackerly Brown LLP in Bantam said he will arrive at the house at 10 a.m. I knock on the door and tell them I wont bother you. I just wanted to let you know Im here, he said. Schonyers serves on the committee hired to supervise the auction process. I think a lot of people will show up, just to see what happens, he said. An interested party could buy the house for as little as $30,000, Schonyers noted. But he said that at the recent auctions hes overseen, the only bid has been from the bank that owns the mortgage. The lack of bidders, in Schonyers opinion, is because if you cant see inside, you dont know what youre getting. At the Christmas House, the buyer will be getting a lot of memories, but not rooms full of holiday decor. I wont sell my collection, Merriman said. It took years to collect it. I might set it up out of state. The Air Force has identified the pilots involved in Tuesday's T-38 Talon crash at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. Capt. John F. Graziano, 28, an instructor pilot with the 87th Flying Training Squadron, was killed in the crash, officials said. Graziano was from Elkridge, Maryland. The crash was the 5th involving a T-38 in just the last 12 months. Capt. Mark S. Palyok, also an instructor pilot with the unit, was injured in the crash. Palyok was transported to Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Texas, where he was treated for his injuries. He was released Wednesday, officials said in an announcement on the official Laughlin Facebook page. "Knowing how everyone is affected by this tragedy, my immediate concern is making sure that every member of our Laughlin family is okay," Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, said in the post. "Together, we are Laughlin and now is the time that we stand together to take care of one another." Related content: The Air Force T-38 Talon went down at 7:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday at the base, officials said. Emergency crews responded to the scene. The cause of the incident is under investigation. "Our investigators are doing everything possible to ensure they investigate this incident to the fullest," Gentile said. The 87th is responsible for training student pilots and, to include specialized undergraduate pilot training for the active-duty, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard as well as foreign allied air forces. The latest crash comes as the Air Force is on the path to receive new trainer jets to replace its current Northrop Grumman-made T-38s. There have been four previous crashes involving T-38s in the last 12 months, one of them deadly. In September, the service awarded Boeing Co. a $9.2 billion contract to build the service's next aircraft for training future pilots. The new trainer cannot come too soon for the service as it struggles to maintain its aging Talons, as well as its T-6 Texan II aircraft. The Texan has had its share of problems as well. The Air Force cleared its fleet of T-6 trainers to resume training operations at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph after a "brief pause" following a crash near the base Sept. 18. Both pilots safely ejected from the aircraft. The Texan was also grounded in February after ongoing reports of pilots suffering breathing problems. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Texas on Wednesday and visited troops deployed to the border. Mattis is spending about an hour with active-duty Army soldiers in Donna, Texas who are living in what some have called substandard living conditions. Unlike a deployment overseas, these 5,900 troops are not getting combat pay. Their living conditions are Spartan -- most are living in tents and eating pre-packaged MREs, even though fast food and grocery stores are nearby. Mattis called the deployment legal and justified, and said it was necessary to make sure the U.S. border with Mexico was properly secure. On Wednesday, outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. called the deployment of thousands of active-duty troops to the border a "stunt." "I think it's unfortunate that we have the soldiers [deployed to the border]," Flake told MSNBC. "You can't call it anything but a stunt here, and it's unfortunate that they're going to be away from family during the holidays coming up, and we just don't know what really for." Flake said the work at the border should be handled by civilians -- not military personnel. "We shouldn't be doing this," Flake said, "and this wasn't an issue that Congress was involved in, it was an executive decision." The Pentagon has been unwilling to answer questions about how much this deployment will cost. Unlike the past, the Department of Homeland Security will not be paying for it. The Pentagon will. Early estimates point to a $200 million bill, which some worry will mean less money to fix planes and maintain equipment. "We'll update you on costs as they become known," Mattis said. "Obviously, the units executing the border mission have got to report them right up here. We are capturing the costs." At first, the name of the mission was made very public, "Operation Faithful Patriot." But since the election, the message from top brass has been to drop the name and tell the public the U.S. military is supporting the Border Patrol. The president mentioned the migrant caravan heading to the southern border many times ahead of the midterm elections, but has not mentioned it much since. It's still not clear why the Pentagon took the unusual step of deploying active-duty forces and not the National Guard, as it has done in the past. Five of the 39 units deployed to the border are public affairs units -- suggesting the Pentagon knows this is more about messaging than reinforcing the border. The orders signed by Mattis stand to expire on December 15, indicating the troops could be home by Christmas. Mattis said the Military Police are the only military personnel who will provide force protection for those service members supporting the mission at the border. He said the service members are only there in an engineering capacity and will be laying out barbed-wire fences. "The troops doing that obviously are not armed," Mattis said, "they don't need their weapons." Jennifer Griffin currently serves as a national security correspondent for FOX News Channel . She joined FNC in October 1999 as a Jerusalem-based correspondent. You can follow her on Twitter at @JenGriffinFNC. For the first time, a female U.S. soldier has made it through the physically and mentally challenging selection process required for entering the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course. The 24-day Special Forces Assessment and Selection was reserved for men only until the Pentagon opened all combat arms jobs to women in January 2016 at the order of outgoing Defense Secretary Ash Carter. "Since that time, several females have attempted SFAS which consists of a continual assessment of each candidate by professional cadre throughout a 24-day rigorous test of mental and physical stamina," Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for Army Special Operations Command, told Military.com in a statement today. The news was first reported by the Fayetteville Observer. "Recently, a female successfully completed Special Forces Assessment and Selection and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course," Bymer said. "We're proud of all the candidates who attended and were selected to continue into the qualification course in hopes of earning their Green Beret." Bymer would not identify the woman. "It is our policy to not release the names of our service members because Special Forces Soldiers perform discrete missions upon graduation," he said. Despite her accomplishment, her challenge is only beginning, Bymer said, explaining that the qualification course can take up to 24 months, depending on the candidate's military occupational specialty. The course is currently being redesigned, Bymer said, but traditionally it involves training in small unit tactics and military occupational specialty skills as well as language and culture before the culminating exercise known as Robin Sage -- an ordeal that forces students to apply skills in guerilla warfare, infiltration and exfiltration techniques, unconventional warfare mission analysis and planning, rapport building and supporting a resistance movement. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. VA officials acknowledged Wednesday that a $16 billion project aimed at finally providing common, easily searchable electronic health records for the VA and the Department of Defense has already been hit with a $350 million cost overrun. John Windom, executive director of the VA's new Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization, said the original estimates for the program had not included the $350 million projected costs over 10 years for the salaries of the government employees who would work on it. At a hearing of the new House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, which was formed in July primarily to oversee the project, Windom said Congress had been forewarned that the salaries of the employees would not be included in the contract with Cerner Corp., but he was met by skepticism. "I find it hard to believe that such a basic part of the program -- government salaries -- could be overlooked," said Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, the subcommittee's chairman. Banks said the cost overrun emerged "before any real work actually began" on the project to make health records of two huge departments compatible. "How can that be?" he asked. "I'm not ready to sound the alarm yet," Banks said, but added that the cost overrun increased his concerns over whether the program was feasible. "The more I learn, the more daunting it has become," Banks said. "Some thought we could merely install the Cerner system. That apparently is not enough." Windom said he expected efficiencies would be developed as the project proceeds to hold down future costs. "There are going to be efficiencies gained we can't forecast at this point," he said. Previous attempts to mesh the electronic health record systems have either failed or been abandoned, most recently in 2013 when then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki dropped an integration plan after a four-year effort and the expenditure of about $1 billion. In the latest effort, then-acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie in May awarded a $10 billion, 10-year contract to Cerner, of Kansas City, to develop an integrated electronic health record system. Related costs over the course of the contract were estimated to put the total cost at about $16 billion. In comments at the hearing, and in his questioning of witnesses, Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, chairman of the full committee, said he had warned Wilkie, who was sworn as VA Secretary in July, of pitfalls in the enormously complex task of meshing VA and DOD health records. "If we don't get this right, you and I need to go in the witness protection program," Roe said he told Wilkie. Even if the VA and DOD systems could be successfully merged, "what are we going to do about outside practitioners?" Roe said. Roe noted that about 35 percent of the veterans currently receiving VA health care have chosen to opt for private care, and that number was expected to rise under the VA Mission Act signed into law by President Donald Trump earlier this year to expand community care. "That is a challenge, definitely," said Dr. Laura Kroupa, acting chief medical officer of the VA's Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization. "We're working on that." Problems have already emerged in Seattle and Spokane, the first sites chosen by the VA for the installation of the new EHR systems, said John Short, chief technology integration officer at the newly established office. Nearly all of the five-year-old computers in Seattle and Spokane will have to be replaced to adapt to the new system, Short told the subcommittee. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com. NATO has committed to a long-term military training effort in Iraq, where the Iraqi Security Forces are still struggling against pockets of ISIS fighters in several areas despite declaring victory over the terror group nearly a year ago, a British officer with the U.S.-led coalition said Tuesday. Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, deputy commander for strategy for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, also announced that the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces had renewed a stalled offensive in northeastern Syria against an estimated 1,500-2,000 fighters of the Islamic State in and around the town of al-Tanf. In a video briefing from Baghdad to reporters at the Pentagon, Ghika said the new, open-ended NATO training mission in Iraq would begin early next year and would essentially involve teacher-on-teacher instruction. "It's going to focus its efforts on the institutional education establishments, such as the National Defense University, the Staff College, the institutional structure of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense," Ghika said. In addition, the NATO instructors will be involved with some of the schools "which are building military capability in areas such as engineering, such as infantry fighting and things like that," Ghika said. The NATO instructors "will focus themselves on teaching the Iraqis, who will be instructing in those schools, rather than actually instructing in some of the combat skills," he said. He declined to say which NATO countries would be participating or how many personnel they would contribute. Last December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared "final victory" over ISIS, but Ghika described recent fighting in widely separated areas of the country. Ghika said the Iraqi Security Forces were now conducting Operation Last Warning, which he said was "a series of coordinated military efforts" that began in the Anbar region, targeting small pockets of ISIS fighters, and has broadened to include the whole country. In Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces, which include significant numbers of Kurdish fighters, resumed the offensive against al-Tanf, although Ghika said operations in the Middle Euphrates River Valley had never completely ceased. Late last month, the SDF announced that it was suspending the al-Tanf operation because of cross-border shelling and attacks by the Turkish military. Turkey considers the Kurdish fighters to be allied with the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, which has been branded a terror organization by Turkey and the U.S. In reference to Turkey's attacks on the SDF, Ghika said he thought "it would serve everybody's interests to de-escalate it so we can concentrate on the enduring defeat of ISIS." "I think that we should not be surprised that this is a hard fight," Ghika said of the effort to collapse the al-Tanf pocket. "The people who are in there --- the ISIS fighters in the [Middle Euphrates River Valley] -- are some of their most hardened fighters." "They have nowhere to go. They are being contained, [but] they have had time to construct a series of defense positions, IED [Improvised Explosive Device] belts, underground tunnels, things like that," Ghika said. "And so we shouldn't be surprised that this takes time." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com. A Navy SEAL who allegedly stabbed a wounded ISIS fighter to death last year is also accused of shooting two noncombatants, one of them a woman; posing for photos with and holding a reenlistment ceremony next to a human corpse; and using and possessing controlled substances, according to his charge sheet. The charge sheet, obtained and first reported by Task and Purpose, alleges that Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Gallagher also fired his weapon at noncombatants at various occasions during a 2017 deployment in the region of Mosul, Iraq with Naval Special Warfare Group One. During that deployment and in the year following, he is accused of attempting to impede the probe into his alleged wrongdoing by discouraging members of his unit from talking to investigators. Navy Times first reported in September that a SEAL had been confined to Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar, California, amid allegations he executed a detainee in Iraq. The outlet reported this week that nearly a dozen current and former SEALs were on standby to testify in Gallagher's Article 32 investigative hearing, which began Wednesday morning in San Diego. A second SEAL, Lt. Jacob Portier has also been arrested in connection with the alleged crime, Task and Purpose reported in October. According to the newly unearthed charge sheet, dated Oct. 2, Gallagher faces charges of premeditated murder for allegedly stabbing the wounded ISIS fighter "in the neck and body with a knife" on May 3, 2017. He's charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon for shooting two noncombatants, one male, one female, with his firearm on separate occasions in June and July of that year. In three charges of novel specification, Gallagher is accused of posing for a picture with a human corpse, completing his reenlistment ceremony next to the corpse and operating a drone over it, according to the charge sheet. These alleged crimes are charged the same day he is accused of killing the detainee; Task and Purpose reported that evidence introduced by the prosecution includes photos appearing to show Gallagher posing with the murdered man and the knife he allegedly used to kill him. Gallagher also allegedly used Tramadol Hydrochloride, a prescription-only pain reliever, and possessed Sustanon-250, an injectable testosterone, according to the charge sheet. The hearing that began today will determine whether Gallagher will face court-martial on the charges. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Four enlisted special operations troops, two Marines and two sailors, now face criminal charges in the alleged strangulation last year of Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar during a deployment to Mali, the Navy announced Thursday. The announcement comes at the conclusion of a lengthy Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation into Melgar's June 4, 2017 death in the Mali capital of Bamako. "The report was forwarded to Commander, Naval Region Mid-Atlantic, designated as the Consolidated Disposition Authority by the Secretary of the Navy to review all relevant information pertaining to Staff Sergeant Melgar's death and make determinations regarding administrative or disciplinary actions as appropriate," NCIS officials said in a released statement. Charged in the alleged murder are a Marine staff sergeant and gunnery sergeant assigned to Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, whose names are redacted in military charge sheets; and two SEAL chief special warfare operators assigned to Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as SEAL Team Six. The two SEALs under investigation in Melgar's death had previously been identified as Tony DeDolph and Adam Cranston Matthew. The charges against the four individuals were finalized yesterday, according to a release from Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. All four service members face charges of conspiracy and assault. They're accused of driving to the Marine Corps quarters in Mali to obtain duct tape, breaking into Melgar's locked bedroom, physically restraining the Green Beret by tying him up with duct tape, and strangling him by placing him in a choke hold, according to charge sheets. They're also charged with felony murder and involuntary manslaughter in Melgar's death and of hazing by breaking into his room and restraining him. One of the SEALs is accused of performing a cricothyrotomy, in which a throat tube is inserted to create an airway, on Melgar's dead body to hide evidence of the soldier's strangling. All four are accused of obstructing justice by providing false timelines of events to their chain of command, omitting facts and making false statements to investigators and secretly disposing of alcohol kept in Navy and Army headquarters. An NBC news report in May revealed that NCIS was investigating two Marines and two SEALs for possible involvement in the death of Melgar, 34. The alleged assault reportedly occurred in embassy housing in Bamako in retaliation for a perceived offense at a party. Navy officials said an Article 32 preliminary hearing for all four men is scheduled for Dec. 10. Rear Adm. Charles Rock, the commanding officer for Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, has been appointed to oversee the prosecutions. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. In the upcoming 2020 election, President Trump may face off against an Army combat veteran who helped vote him into office. West Virginia State Sen. Richard Neece Ojeda II, a retired Army major, announced his intention on Monday to run on the Democratic ticket in the next presidential election. Since then, many news stories have described Ojeda as a former paratrooper, but offered few other details about the 21 years he spent in uniform. Ojeda, 48, served as a "general engineer and bridge crewmember in the Army from April 1990 to August 1993; in the West Virginia Army National Guard from September 1993 to May 1995; and in the Army from May 1997 to December 2013," according to a statement Army spokeswoman Elizabeth Chamberlain provided to Military.com. Out of his four deployments, three were to combat zones. Ojeda deployed to Iraq from November 2004 to October 2005 and from July 2007 to January 2008. He deployed to Haiti from January 2010 to March 2010, the year the Caribbean nation sustained a devastating hurricane and the U.S. military provided months of humanitarian aid. He then deployed to Afghanistan from October 2010 to October 2011, according to Army records. Ojeda was awarded a Combat Action Badge, but the limited records the Army released did not say whether he earned his CAB in Iraq or Afghanistan. In addition, Ojeda earned a Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Sapper Tab and Diver and Mechanic Badge (wheeled vehicle). Army records show Ojeda also received the following awards: Bronze Star Medal (2nd award); Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award); Army Commendation Medal (7th award); Army Achievement Medal (5th award); Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal (2nd award); Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars; Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon (4th award); NATO Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd award) and Army Superior Unit Award. The Army did not provide the units Ojeda served in during his career. After retiring from the Army, Ojeda co-founded a nonprofit group that gave shoe vouchers to schoolchildren and provided meals to the poor and elderly, according to the Associated Press. A relatively new face in politics, he lost a 2014 primary race for the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the West Virginia senate in 2016, the AP reported. But before being elected in 2016, Ojeda was brutally beaten at a Sunday barbeque by a man he claimed to have known all of his life, NBC News reported May 8, 2016. Ojeda, who was beaten unconscious, said witnesses told him Jonathan Porter kicked and struck with him with brass knuckles, NBC reported. Local police found no evidence of the weapon, but Ojeda suffered eight bone fractures and three lacerations to his face, as well as exterior swelling to his head, NBC News reported. Porter pleaded guilty to beating Ojeda in 2016, and in 2017, a judge sentenced him to serve one to five years in prison and pay a fine of $500, according to a report by WSAZ News Channel 3. Ojeda lost his most recent election Nov. 6, a bid for West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House, according to Newsweek. Ojeda has been a Democrat ever since he first registered to vote, but he voted for Trump in 2016 because he believed his party had "lost touch with their roots," according to the article in Newsweek. "The Democratic Party is supposed to be the party that fights for the working class, and that's exactly what I do. I will stand with unions wholeheartedly, and that's the problem -- the Democratic Party wants to say that, but their actions do not mirror that," Ojeda said, according to the Newsweek report. Ojeda told Politico Magazine in March that he now regrets voting for Trump "because he hasn't done s---." Ojeda earned a bachelor's degree in general education from West Virginia State University in 1997, and a master's in business and organizational security from Weber University in 2010, according to Votesmart.org. Ojeda's favorite books are "Blood on the Risers: An Airborne Soldier's Thirty-five Months in Vietnam: by John Lepplemann, "Biggest Brother: The Life Of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led The Band of Brothers" by Larry Alexander and "About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior" by Col. David Hackworth, according to Votesmart.org. His favorite movies, according to the site, are "Saving Private Ryan," "Glory,"" Hamburger Hill," "Black Hawk Down," "Platoon," and " Stalag 17." And Ojeda's favorite quote, according to Votesmart.org, is "Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!" -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. 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Summary of all keyboard shortcuts ANN ARBOR, MI - November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and a researchers at the University of Michigan are seeking volunteers to help them learn more about early detection of the disease and how it progresses. The clinical trial is being conducted by the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, the ADNI research team is studying how quickly cognition and function changes in the aging brain, with a specific focus on the early detection of Alzheimer's and tracking how it progresses. The study is looking for healthy, local volunteers ages 55-90 who have mild memory problems, as well as those who have been diagnosed with mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. "Essentially, if people have any symptoms of memory problems, memory loss or progressive change in thinking, we are interested in possibly enrolling them," said Dr. Michael Weiner, lead researcher for the ADNI study. Alzheimer's Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with 1 in 3 seniors dying from Alzheimer's or another dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Overall, an estimated 5.7 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's. In Michigan, 180,000 seniors over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's disease. By 2025, that number will be 220,000, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Weiner said trials like the one being conducted by ADNI could help with diagnosing the disease. "The overall goal of ADNI is to determine the best ways to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and to monitor its progression," Weiner said. "The results from ADNI are used for clinical treatment trials. We make all data publicly available." For more information about volunteering, patients can go through an eligibility screening online on the ADNI website or call 734-418-6506. BAY CITY, MI -- Judges are in the process of resentencing 50 prisoners initially sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murders they committed when they were juveniles in Bay, Saginaw, Arenac, and Genesee counties. Of those killers, two committed their crimes in Bay County, 21 in Saginaw County, 26 did so in Genesee County, and one did in Arenac County. In Michigan, a conviction of first-degree murder comes with a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The resentencings result from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 ruling that mandatory life sentences for those 17 and younger is a form of cruel and unusual punishment. In 2014, Gov. Rick Snyder gave judges the discretion to sentence teen killers to life in prison or 25 to more than 60 years in prison to comply with the Supreme Court decision. Then, in a 6-3 decision in 2016, the nation's highest court ruled its 2012 decision applied retroactively. At the time, there were 367 Michigan inmates requiring resentencing due to the mandatory life sentences they received for crimes they committed as juveniles. In Bay County, the two pending resentencings are for Dominic P. Burdis, 42, and Shawn M. Commire, 27. Burdis, then 17, in June 1994 beat Leona Patricia "Pat" Stevenson with a wrench and stabbed her about 35 times. Burdis had been a friend of Stevenson's son and the prosecution alleged he had tried to sexually assault her before striking her 15 to 20 times in the head. Commire in June 2007 broke into the Bay City home of 83-year-old Rita M. Salogar with his cousin Robert M. Commire. The cousins bludgeoned and stabbed Salogar after she awoke to find them rummaging through her bedroom, putting jewelry and coins into their pocket. Shawn Commire was 16 at the time, while his cousin was 19. "Based on the facts of these cases, we have filed motions with the court requesting that the original sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole be maintained," said Bay County Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko. "The court has the option of maintaining the sentence of life without the possibility of parole or giving a term of years. If a term of years is given, the minimum sentence is between 25 and 40 years. The maximum has to be at least 60 years." One convicted murderer in Bay County who committed his crime while still a juvenile is up for his first sentencing -- Rodrick D. Williams. Now 17, Williams was 16 when he fatally choked and stabbed Steven A. Bouza, 59, inside Bouza's South End Bay City home on Nov. 22, 2016. A jury in May 2018 found Williams guilty of second-degree murder and related charges, but his sentencing has yet to take place. Williams' codefendant, DeMarckeon M. "Marcus" Jackson, in February 2018 pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and armed robbery. Jackson was 20 when he participated in Bouza's killing and in June received a sentence of 35 to 60 years in prison. The lone case in Arenac County is that of TJ J. Tremble, now 36 and incarcerated at Alger Correctional Facility in Munising in the Upper Peninsula. At just 14, Tremble in April 1997 broke into the Au Gres home of Peter and Ruth Stanley, both 71, shot them to death with a .22-caliber rifle, and stole their vehicle. Tremble confessed to police, but since his December 1997 sentencing, has filed several appeals arguing the confession was illegally obtained and that he had ineffective legal counsel at trial. TJ J. Tremble's prison mug shot Arenac County Prosecutor Curtis G. Boughton said his office has filed a motion seeking for Tremble's sentence to continue, though he doesn't yet know when Tremble will come before a judge for resentencing. Saginaw County judges have already resentenced five of their 21 juvenile lifers. They are: Kenneth L. Hendrick Henry Hill Jr. Dennis L. Johnson Michael L. Perry James Washington III Two more Saginaw County murderers, Mark L. Reedy, 44, and Fredrick A. McKinney, 42, have had their resentencings scheduled for Dec. 19 and Feb. 5, respectively. Reedy committed murder in 1991 at age 17, while McKinney murdered someone in 1993, also at age 17. Genesee County judges, meanwhile, have so far resentenced six of the 26 prisoners in their jurisdiction. They are: Thomas J. Armstrong Norman Buck Jr. William R. Cooke Norman W. Sego Eddie D. Spiller Joe F. Wesley Search the database below to see those Michigan inmates sentenced to life without parole for crimes committed as juveniles: FLINT, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder made a last-minute, personal appeal to keep Flint connected to the Detroit water system before it began using the Flint River for drinking water, former Mayor Dayne Walling says. Testifying in Genesee District Court on Wednesday, Nov. 14, Walling told Judge Jennifer Manley that the governor met privately with him and former Flint emergency manager Ed Kurtz in Detroit early in 2013, asking them to give Detroit the opportunity to make a best and final offer for a long-term water contract. The meeting came just days before the Kurtz, with Walling's support, pushed ahead instead with plans to buy into the Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline project to Lake Huron. Walling -- as have state official since -- said he did not know emergency managers in Flint would go on to make separate decisions that led to the city using the Flint River as its source of drinking water until the KWA pipeline was put into service. The former mayor testified for the second straight day Wednesday in the preliminary examinations for four current and former officials with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, testimony that grew contentious as the day wore on. Detroit's best and final offer was known before Flint bought into the KWA, only to leave the partnership after the city's water crisis, but Snyder's personal intervention has been less known. Under questioning from Mark Kriger, an attorney for Stephen Busch, one of the DEQ defendants, Walling said he was involved in a larger meeting between state officials, including Snyder, and representatives of the city in early 2013. The governor took Walling and Kurtz into a side room alone and asked them to reconsider staying with Detroit, which like Flint was in a shaky financial condition at the time. The mayor said Kurtz asked him what he thought, "and I said there was no reason not to uncover every stone in an attempt to make the best decision." But Walling continued to maintain Wednesday that Kurtz, with support from the Department of Treasury, alone had the authority to act on behalf of Flint. Walling said he ultimately agreed with Kurtz that the final offer from Detroit still wasn't as good as the prospect of owning part of the KWA's pipeline. By April 2013, former state Treasurer Andy Dillon gave the green light for Flint's KWA membership to Kurtz, who ultimately rejected Detroit's final offer. Flint's use of the Flint River was calculated to gave the city millions of dollars while construction of the KWA pipeline occurred, but instead it triggered the city's water crisis. Walling testified Tuesday, Nov. 13, that he only learned of the city's plans to use the Flint River when he reviewed a new budget for the coming fiscal year and found no money to continue water purchases from Detroit. From April 2014 until October 2015, the city attempted to treat river water but the experiment led to problems with levels of bacteria, lead and chlorination byproducts in water. Busch, Michael Prysby, Liane Shekter-Smith and Patrick Cook worked at the DEQ during the water crisis and are four of the 11 remaining defendants facing charges of wrongdoing related to Flint water. Walling was challenged repeatedly Wednesday by Kriger, who pointed to the mayor's request for $30 million to help compensate the city for water problems in September 2015. The former mayor said he made the request because Flint residents didn't deserve to be left with the bill for cleaning up after the crisis. "The city was under emergency management for a number of years while these water problems festered...," Walling said. "Privately, I was prepared for the city to pay that full amount, but I negotiated for the state of Michigan (to pay) because I thought I it would be absolutely unfair ... to just put another burden (on city taxpayers)." FLINT, MI -- Ridgway H. White feels the sense of responsibility laid upon his shoulders. White has been named the new chief executive officer of the nonprofit foundation his great-grandfather, Charles Stewart Mott, started more than 90 years ago in Flint. His appointment by Mott Foundation Board of Trustees makes White the fourth leader in the history of the foundation whose philanthropic efforts have aided schools and neighborhoods in the city of Flint but also grown to national and international efforts. "I think one of the key things here is my father took the foundation international and built on a huge legacy that C.S. (Mott) started," Ridgway White said. The foundation started in 1926 with a $320,000 endowment that has grown to more than $3 billion, with $3.2 billion in grants awarded to organizations in more than 60 countries under the leadership of C.S. Mott, C.S. Harding Mott, and William S. White, Harding Mott's son-in-law and Ridgway's father. William S. White will remain on with the foundation as board chairman but has retired from the CEO position. "I'm proud to watch Ridgway contributing to the sector and leading the Mott Foundation," he said in a statement. "I'm also pleased to say I believe C.S. Mott would recognize today's Foundation and the work we're doing as his own. We've maintained a focus on our donor's intent, even as we've evolved to remain relevant." Mott was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who served two terms as the mayor of Flint. He was also one of the original partners in the creation of General Motors Corp. Mott served on the GM board of directors for 60 years until his death in 1973 at the age of 97. It's important, Ridgway White said, to "continue the vision and mission that C.S. (Mott) started for the foundation and continue to try to help the city of Flint that C.S. Mott loved as his adopted hometown." Over the years, the foundation has evolved, including Mott and Frank Manley teaming up to create a community schools' model in Flint to in more recent years providing funds in the face of the city's water crisis. Ridgway White began at the foundation as an intern in 2002, hired on as a program assistant two years later, and worked up to vice president for special projects and chairman and became the foundation's president in January 2015 as the city's water crisis unfolded, which has caused a shift in grant-making priorities. At least 50 percent of total grant funding in the past three years has gone to aid the city "recover and rise from the water crisis," he said. The foundation has committed more than $100 million over five years to help in the efforts, from safe drinking water to community engagement, economic revitalization, as well as educational opportunities. He stressed the importance of building on those aspects including the revitalization of the downtown area and spreading it to the rest of the city, while also using those lessons learned here to provide some assistance where needed in other communities. "We have to build a strong, more robust civil society and make sure people can connect to their community in a more meaningful way," said Ridgway White. He noted one of the major lessons learned of late is "during the water crisis when trust was lost in governments and government really broke down," local organizations such as the United Way, Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Hurley Medical Center became "first responders" that helped "to lessen the struggles that residents were going through." He stressed that a "robust nonprofit section" is needed to accomplish more things, such as education -- from birth to college to career -- that will have a lasting impact on shaping the city's future. "The macroeconomic headwinds, the overall economy that has been pushing against Flint for decades are really strong," White said. "Our goal is to make Flint a place where people want to live, work and enjoy. If we want to have a person born in Flint to have an equal opportunity of success as elsewhere...that's a huge responsibility." GAYLORD, MI -- The Catholic Diocese of Gaylord has created an online list of priests and deacons who have been "credibly accused" of sexual abuse of a minor dating back to 1971. As of Thursday, Nov. 15, the list featured 10 clergy. Eight of the priests are deceased. The two living priests -- Ronald Gronowski and James Holtz -- have been "permanently removed from public ministry." The release of the list comes amid a state investigation of sexual abuse by priests being led by the Michigan attorney general's office. In August 2018, the state agency began investigating the handling of allegations dating back to 1950. The diocese said it has previously released information about the allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving priests or deacons, but chose to publish and maintain the list because it "may be helpful to the healing process for victim-survivors," and to continue efforts for increased transparency. A "credible and substantiated allegation," as used by the diocese, is an accusation that, after an investigation and review of available information, appears more likely true than not and has been accepted as credible by the bishop, according to the diocese. The diocese says the most recent credible incident of sexual abuse of a minor involving clergy in the Diocese of Gaylord is alleged to have occurred three decades ago. Similar state investigations are underway in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, and Florida. The list Patrick Barrett -- Ronald Gronowski -- Lionel Harnish -- James Holtz -- Benedict Marciulionis -- Raymond Pilarski -- Terrence Raymond -- Robert Gordon Smith -- Laurus Rhode -- Leo Olschaysken -- Gronowski resigned from churches in Lake City and Manton in 2002 because of a 1995 allegation of sexual misconduct during the 1970s, according to a report by the Midland Daily News. "I cannot express how profoundly sorry I am for any anguish this person has suffered from my actions," Gronowski said in a letter to parishioners announcing his resignation, according to the report. "Nor can words share the depth of my sadness and grief for any embarrassment and pain caused to my own family, my brother priests, the diocese and our beloved Catholic Church." Holtz resigned as pastor of the parishes of St. Mary of the Woods in Kalkaska and St. Aloysius in Fife Lake in 2002, according to a report by the Traverse City Record Eagle. He was accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the early 1980s. Since 2002, the Gaylord diocese said it has fully implemented the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and Essential Norms established by the United Stated Conference of Catholic Bishops. Included in the charter are things like mandatory background checks for employees and volunteers who work with minors, as well as training for adults and children to help identify warning signs, maintain appropriate boundaries and what to do should abuse be suspected. An independent annual audit is completed each year which evaluates the diocese's compliance with the charter. The diocese said it has been found in compliance every year since 2002 when the charter was established. In 2017, a 44-year-old priest within the diocese was found not guilty of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He spent five months in jail after being accused of sexual assault against a fellow priest. The Diocese of Gaylord includes the 21 most northern counties of the Lower Peninsula. The area includes 75 parishes and nearly 54,000 Catholics. To report allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy -- past or current -- individuals are encouraged to contact U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Victim Assistance Coordinator Larry LaCross at 989-705-9010. In Michigan many professionals, including clergy, teachers, doctors and counselors, are mandated reporters. These individuals are required by law to make an oral report immediately to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is being neglected or abused in any way. Further, the Diocese of Gaylord said in its online post that it encourages anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected to report the matter to local authorities. The MDHHS maintains a 24-hour statewide reporting hotline at 855-444-3911. ALLEGAN TOWNSHIP, MI -- Fire investigators are looking at a wood-pellet stove as a possible source for a fire that destroyed a former country store north of Allegan that stood for more than a century. The fire at the former Miner Lake Store, 2607 122nd Avenue, was reported about 2:40 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14. Allegan Township Fire Chief Nick Brink said the store had stopped operating several years ago and the structure was used as a family home. He said a man, woman and two children and two dogs escaped the fire. Firefighters arrived to find the back of the structure on fire and the flames spread quickly from there. "It was a very dry old building," he said. "We did the best we could to save it." Fire departments from Hopkins, Salem Township, Hamilton and Gobles nPine Grove assisted Allegan Township firefighters. A web page was established to raise funds from the occupants. According to that page, the structure was built around 1900 and, in the past, had been a post office, train depot and country store. GRANDVILLE, MI - Grandville Calvin Christian Schools is looking to reimagine education for students who participate in its new Ambassador High program next school year. The faith-based program is launching the innovative school model, Big Picture Learning. The model incorporates personalized student learning plans framed off the student's interests and the integration of real-world problem solving through internships. "I think the short-term impact will be an increase in student engagement and students seeing the value of what they are doing in the classroom having an immediate connection to their future interests,'' said Sara Hoeve, a longtime Calvin Christian teacher, who was named director of the new program. The school will be accepting 15 to 25 incoming ninth-graders for Fall 2019 from throughout the community. An informational meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Calvin Christian High School, 3750 Ivanrest Ave. SW. Students will spend Tuesday and Thursday at internships working with job-site mentors and the other three school days in project-based learning classrooms, completing all requirements of the Michigan Merit Curriculum like other students. "One day the student is in the classroom acquiring new content skills, and the very next day, they are applying that new knowledge to authentic project at their internship job-site,'' Hoeve said. Mike Jacobs, STEM instructor for the program, said students will graduate college and career ready and have a firm understanding of where they can uses their knowledge and skills in their life's work. "Ambassador High is an innovative program designed to help students increase their engagement and ownership by pairing students up with organizations related to their specific interests,'' he said. Hoeve said students won't be evaluated solely on standardized tests but things such as exhibitions and demonstrations of achievement. She also said students will also be evaluated on motivation, and on the habits of mind, hand, and heart, --"reflecting the real-world evaluations that we encounter every day, which prepare students to excel in both their college and career goals.'' Grandville Calvin Christian is not the first to embrace this model in Michigan. Locally, NorthPointe Christian Schools adopted Big Picture Learning and Perry Innovation Center in Grand Blanc. The model is being used in schools in 18 states. "I think this is a great approach for certain kids,'' said Head of School Timothy Steenstra, about some students thriving in a non-traditional setting. "We hope as a school to provide an education that ensures success for all kids.'' Hoeve said they will begin accepting applications in early February and their will be interviews to ensure students and their families fully understand the program. She said tuition at Grandville Calvin Christian Schools is $8,780 but tuition assistance is available. For more information about the program, visit the website. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Residents and visitors looking to enjoy a meal or catch live music in downtown Grand Rapids could soon have a new destination. Ambiance GR is expected to open this spring inside the Ledyard Building, 125 Ottawa Ave. NE, and will serve contemporary southern cuisine for lunch and dinner, and host performances by jazz and blues musicians, as well as DJ's and comedians. Jamiel Robinson, who's part of the group opening the restaurant and lounge, said Ambiance will be reminiscent of the type of lounges found in cities such as Detroit and Atlanta. "We're looking to be an oasis for everyone in the community that is looking for bigger city urban life with some really good food," said Robinson, who added that Ambiance would currently be the only African-American owned restaurant and lounge downtown. Ambiance would occupy the space that formerly housed the bar Rags to Riches. Ambiance's request for a liquor license was approved Wednesday by the city's Downtown Development Authority. In its application, representatives of the business said it would have seating for 100 people, and improvements made to the space before it opens are expected to total $300,000. With several hotels being built downtown, geared towards visitors in town for conventions and other events, Robinson said there's a strong market for a restaurant and lounge in downtown Grand Rapids with food, live music and dancing. "It's the right time, right place, right location," he said, adding that the lounge is just a short walk from DeVos Place and other downtown hotels, and would serve area residents as well as visitors who are in town for events such as LaughFest and ArtPrize. "We're looking to bring everyone of all backgrounds together," said Robinson, who's the founder of Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, a business development organization. "It will be a cultural experience that we are providing." GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Health officials will begin drawing blood next month from up to 800 people who've been exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals in their drinking water as part of a research effort that could lead to a formal epidemiological study in Kent County. The announcement of a possible epidemiological study, which would examine possible links between chemical exposure and specific diseases, was made Thursday, Nov. 15 in a joint press conference held by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Kent County Health Department. The agencies are currently prepping for series of clinics in which certain people in the Rockford and Belmont areas will give blood samples and answer questions about their exposure to PFAS, a persistent class of toxic chemicals dumped into the northern Kent County groundwater by shoemaker Wolverine World Wide. "No other area in Michigan, frankly, has so many wells exceeding the (PFAS) advisory level nor are any of the test results as high as what we've experienced here, in the north Kent County area," said Eden Wells, the state's top medical officer. The agencies are first embarking on what's called an exposure assessment, which compares local PFAS levels among those exposed through contaminated drinking water to national averages. If study participants average higher blood PFAS levels than the U.S. population, the epidemiological study may follow. "We do expect some elevation" in local PFAS levels, Wells said. Wells said called the new exposure assessment the "first of its kind" in Michigan and "one of a few" in the United States. Blood draws will begin Dec. 8 and officials expect the analysis to take most of 2019. The effort is expected to cost up to $2.4 million. A community meeting is being planned Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Northview High School in Plainfield Township. Officials are planning a similar exposure assessment in Parchment, where high PFAS levels were found in municipal drinking water this summer. Wells said it's possible similar assessments could take place in others areas of Michigan, like Oscoda, where PFAS is contaminating drinking water. Participation in the Kent County study is by invitation. Researchers are seeking about 800 volunteers, both children and adults. About half would come from homes where the well water tested above the Environmental Protection Agency health advisory level of 70 parts-per-trillion for the individual compounds PFOS and PFOA. Homes with water testing below 70-ppt will be randomly selected. Brian Hartl, Kent County epidemiologist, said study participants must live in a home where the well has already tested positive for PFAS, and must have been living in that home recently. The county will test both blood samples and well water for 24 different PFAS compounds. Test results will be analyzed at the state lab and are expected to come back within two to four months, he said. Along with levels of PFAS in the water, researchers will also look into other contamination factors, such as occupations of the participants. PFAS is an acronym for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Exposure to PFAS has been linked in other epidemiological studies to some cancers, thyroid disorders, elevated cholesterol and other diseases. The compounds are called "forever chemicals" because they accumulate in the body and do not breakdown in the environment. In northern Kent County, about 130 households are have private wells testing above the EPA health advisory level, Hartl said. Decades ago, Wolverine World Wide dumped tannery waste in unlined landfills and gravel pits around Plainfield and Algoma townships. Wolverine used 3M Scotchgard to waterproof leather at its Rockford tannery starting in 1958. The chemicals were found to be coming from the company's long forgotten landfill on House Street in Belmont in April 2017. The chemicals have been found at other Wolverine dump sites since then. Many residents in the area are suing Wolverine, claiming lost property values and health issues caused by the contamination. Wells said Wolverine is not involved in the health assessments. "This is within the public health purview," she said. The exposure assessment follows a local cancer registry review released in August that returned inconclusive results. Blood testing has been a point of controversy around Michigan as ever more PFAS contamination sites have been discovered. Officials have resisted calls to offer blood testing, arguing that not enough is known about how PFAS impacts a person's health to offer clinical guidance to those with knowledge about their blood levels. As a doctor, if someone came to her with a blood number, "I would not know what to do with that blood result," Well said. "Does that mean they are going to have a certain disease outcome? Will it affect how many years they live? I just don't know. We only have these association studies done on a population level." But, "at a population level, we can begin to determine impacts on a community even if we can't determine the individual health outcome." GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Covenant House Michigan, a faith-based nonprofit organization, dedicated West Michigan's first shelter for homeless and trafficked youth Wednesday, Nov. 14, south of downtown. Officials say these are young people currently couch surfing, sleeping in cars and parks, living in abandoned buildings, and other unsafe places in need of sanctuary and a support system. The residential campus, located at 26 Antoine St. SW, is slated to open Nov. 26 and will eventually serve 28 men and women between ages of 18 and 24 but will begin with six youth - three males and three females. "In the short-term, we will be able to provide an immediate solution to someone who is homeless that does not have any place to go,'' Covenant House Michigan Executive Director Gerald Piro said. "In the long-term, the goal is to prepare them for employment, get them a job, and to work with them and prepare them to have their own households.'' Pam Spaeth, chief operating officer for Covenant House Michigan Grand Rapids, doesn't call the facility a shelter but a transitional program of self-sufficiency. She said the Covenant House will provide a numerous wrap around services to remove barriers to the young people achieving success including: education, health, employment, financial literacy, life-skills training, and socialization. "Our youth are our future talent and if Covenant House along with our community partners can support their successful transition into adulthood rather than them slipping into chronic homeless, it is an asset to the community,'' she said. "We have to recognize the jewels of talent that we have and help them to develop. Their dreams and aspirations are different, so we work with every youth to dig deep, identify what they want to do in life and build a plan.'' The 17,000-square-foot facility has three floors with the 28 beds for 14 men and 14 women on the second and third floors designed for residential living. The place has the vibe of modern dorm. Each person will have their own private room with lounge areas on each floor. There are enclave meeting rooms for case management, resident adviser stations, laundry facilities, technology areas equipped with computers, and a cafe. The first floor features administrative offices, a commercial kitchen, student assessment areas, and a large multi-purpose room. The residential campus is located next door to the year-round charter high school for homeless and at-risk youth, Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids, located at 50 Antoine St. SW. The school has 320 students and approximately 20 percent are homeless at any given time. Five years ago, Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees voted to authorize the charter school and its three sister academies in Detroit. When the school was first announced, a shelter was said to be a future goal to support youth at the school and in the region. Covenant House Michigan also operates a youth shelter in Detroit near the schools that have been successfully placing young people in permanent jobs and housing, Piro said. Staffing at the Grand Rapids campus consists of a program director, two case managers, education workforce development director, and 14 resident advisers. Kevin Ryan, president of Covenant House International, said Covenant House is in six countries and 31 cities with Grand Rapids. He said they reach about 80,000 young people per year. He said a third of the young people in their facilities have aged out foster care and one in five have survived human trafficking. "Covenant House is a bridge for young people from poverty to opportunity,'' Ryan said. "Our job is to get young people believing in themselves again. Nothing makes a bigger difference in the lives of kids than an adult who convinces a young person they are worthy of love, deserving of joy and capable of making a positive contribution to the world.'' More than $3.5 million of the $4.5 million fundraising campaign Covenant House Michigan launched is earmarked for construction. A quarter-million dollar challenge is underway through Dec. 31, with dollar-for-dollar matches up to $250,000. People can make online donations at www.covenanthousemi.org, call 616-401-2336, or email pspaeth@covenanthouse.org. Donations can also be mailed to Beyond These Walls, Covenant House Michigan Grand Rapids, P.O. Box 150350, Grand Rapids, MI 49515. Piro said the closest youth shelter to Grand Rapids that serves and men and women is in Jackson. Mel Trotter Ministries, 225 Commerce Ave. SW, has a youth shelter specifically for men but it has a limited number of beds for those in need of emergency shelter. Grand Rapids HQ is a drop-in center, not a shelter for homeless and runaway youth, located at 320 State St. It was created to help young people find a place to rest, obtain resources, and receive support through professional skill building. DETROIT, MI - Beware! A "Hamilton" ticket scam is making the rounds on Facebook ahead of its upcoming debut in Detroit, and it could fool people out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Tickets aren't even on sale yet for the hit musical's run in Detroit from March 12 - April 21, 2019 at the Fisher Theatre. That's red flag No. 1. But a Facebook events page is somehow selling "tickets." Not only that, the site is selling ridiculously expensive parking passes for $55 even though parking is FREE! It looks legit. The Facebook events page is titled: "Hamilton in Detroit, MI at Fisher Theatre - MI." It shows a picture from the musical with a link to allmusicaltickets.info. The site's email and phone number don't even work. We tried to reach out to them. Broadway in Detroit posted this warning on Facebook that this is indeed a scam: "If you see this page in your news feed IT IS A FRAUDULENT SCAM. You should report it immediately to Facebook. Not only is this page selling tickets that are not on sale and WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE, they are selling PARKING for $55. Parking in the Fisher Building Lot and Garage will be included with every Hamilton ticket when they go on sale early next year." What about season ticket holders who are guaranteed tickets? Couldn't those tickets be on sale through a secondhand site? "Those tickets haven't even been printed yet," said Scott Myers, Dir. of Corporate Sales at Broadway in Detroit. "Season ticket holders just received their letter with a performance date and seat assignments." Myers says once they receive their tickets, they can sell them through third party, but could have them revoked if they do that. However, season ticket holders can resell them through Ticketmaster without worry. What about sites like StubHub which guarantees your tickets and is a legit secondhand site? "They are speculating their tickets," said Myers. "They are taking money without actually having tickets yet. They believe they have a way to get these tickets." So basically, you're buying tickets and may or may not get those actual seats, but will get a comparable seat or your money back. Legit "Hamilton" tickets are on sale for Detroit: Three organizations are selling tickets for one show each as part of fundraisers: Congregation Shir Tikvah for opening night, Hillel Detroit for April 4, and Mosaic Youth Theatre for April 9. MLive will report ahead of time when a date is announced for "Hamilton" on sale tickets, which should be sometime in January through BroadwayInDetroit.com Meantime, the musical will be at the DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids for the 2019-2020 season with exact dates not yet announced. It will also be in Lansing at Cobb Great Hall from May 14 - June 2, 2019. YOUR BEST WAY TO SCORE 'HAMILTON' TICKETS FOR DETROIT & GRAND RAPIDS Before 2018, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette had only lost one major election. In 1990, Schuette - who at that point had served in Congress since 1985 - challenged former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and got walloped, losing by 16 points. But he went on to have a successful career as a member of former Gov. John Engler's cabinet, a state senator and then as a judge and Attorney General, a statewide position he won handily in 2010 and 2014. That trajectory seemed to come to a standstill in Schuette's quest for Michigan's top executive position. After winning the Republican nomination for governor following an often combative primary cycle, Schuette struggled to build favor among general election voters, and ultimately lost the governor's race to Democrat Gretchen Whitmer by about 9 points. It wasn't a foregone conclusion that Whitmer would win going into the general election cycle, said John Clark, a political science professor at Western Michigan University. But Schuette had a much harder time transitioning from the primary to the general than Whitmer did, Clark said, and that coupled with widespread Democratic enthusiasm in the midterms worked against Schuette's chances. "I just don't think he was able to get much traction once the primary was over," Clark said. "He just didn't seem to be very effective at making the transition from the primary to general." After facing months of attack ads in the primary, polls showed Schuette with a high unfavorability rating that didn't let up as the election drew closer. Other setbacks to Schuette's campaign included never receiving an endorsement from sitting Gov. Rick Snyder - who'd endorsed Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley in the Republican primary - and a lack of campaign cash late in the cycle that forced the campaign to pull ads from several major Michigan television markets. Part of Schuette's problem was a lack of a focused message for voters, said TJ Bucholz of Lansing-based firm Vanguard Public Affairs. Schuette spent considerable time attacking Whitmer's record and comparing her to former Governor Jennifer Granholm without fully developing his own policies, Bucholz said: "He talked about this 'paycheck agenda' but never really brought that to light." "In a state like Michigan, you know, in an open seat like this, people don't want to hear what you don't like about your opponent, they want to hear about your plan," Bucholz said. "His plan for roads was, 'Trust me, I'll solve it when I'm governor.' She had a plan for how she was going to do that." Any Republican candidate for governor would have struggled in Michigan's midterms this year, but Schuette's campaign "took a bad situation and made it worse," said political pundit Bill Ballenger, who publishes The Ballenger Report. "Bill Schuette ran a terrible campaign, just terrible," Ballenger said. "His message was poorly delivered, poorly thought out and he chose the wrong issues to accentuate." Throughout his campaign, Schuette leaned on an early endorsement he'd received from President Donald Trump. Despite several assertions from Schuette that the president would be visiting Michigan on his behalf, Trump ultimately did not include the state on his campaign rally tours during the general election cycle. A Trump visit might have mobilized the Republican base, Clark said, but also might have further encouraged opponents to show up to the polls. "I don't know in the case of Schuette whether or not it would have made a difference," he said. Ballenger, comparing speculation over whether or not Trump would come to Michigan to the play "Waiting for Godot," said Trump's no-show likely came down to the president running out of time as he focused his attention on states with competitive U.S. Senate seats. With the election over, Ballenger said he thought Schuette and other Republicans like U.S. Senate candidate John James "had everything to gain and nothing to lose" if Trump had visited, noting that a rally from the president might have made the election closer. It's unclear what Schuette's next move will be, although he told the Detroit Free Press, "I'm going to spend time with my wife...I have some lawn furniture I need to bring in before winter and I got to sweep the back deck." On election night, Schuette chalked up his loss to the tough political climate for Republicans and suggested the Republican Party "will have to be rebuilt" following the loss of key statewide elected positions. After conceding, Schuette told reporters: "I had a terrific victory speech in my pocket. We'll save that for another time." "What an honor it's been being the Republican nominee for governor," he said. "It's a challenging time in many respects, but it's been an incredible honor. I learned so much about Michigan." MLive reporter Emily Lawler contributed to this report. The once-reliable Republican enclave of Oakland County turned blue on election night. Democrats there won four congressional races, flipped four seats in the Michigan Legislature and gained a majority on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for the first time in 40 years. "They won everything," said Oakland University political science professor David Dulio. "Nationally there was no blue wave but there was a lot of localized flooding. That localized flooding was really significant here in Michigan and I think you could say Oakland County was the epicenter of that." The same county that went for Republican Rick Snyder in a big way in 2014 went for Democrat Gretchen Whitmer in a much bigger way this year. In 2014, 247,876 county residents voted for Snyder and 191,375 for Democrat Mark Schauer, a difference of 56,501 votes. In 2018, 344,358 voted for Whitmer while 244,019 voted for Republican Bill Schuette, a difference of 100,339. The county voted similarly blue for Jocelyn Benson in the Secretary of State race and Dana Nessel in the Attorney General's race. 2014 GUBERNATORIAL RACE Above is a map of how Oakland County voters cast ballots in the 2014 governor's race. Below is a map of how the county voted in the 2018 governor's race. Precincts that were majority Republican votes are colored in red and precincts that went Democratic are blue. 2018 GUBERNATORIAL RACE Blue creeps north Oakland County is something of a swing region, according to Dulio. It's gone blue in the last three presidential elections, but Republicans have held a local grip for decades. But that's changing. "You could see 15 years ago the county starting to change," he said. "Demographically, you started to see it becoming more diverse. That started in the southern tier of the county and has gradually moved north. That has brought about different election results." The southern part of the county - places like Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Berkley and Ferndale - have been Democratic for years. But Dulio said the blue line is moving north into places that used to be more conservative. "Now you're starting to see it creep into places like Birmingham and Troy," he said. "I think that this last election is evidence of that." Democrat David Woodward, a county commissioner whose district covers Royal Oak and Berkley, echoed the professor's analysis. "The southeast corner of Oakland County has been where our traditional strong Democratic base was," he said. "But this last election you saw wins in Novi, which Democrats have never represented on the county board. You saw wins in Waterford and the West Bloomfield area. We saw wins in Clawson and Troy (in) a seat that's gone back and forth over the years." But Dulio warned Democrats from getting too comfortable. He said the "Trump effect" was big in 2018 but might not always be. "Democrats shouldn't get too excited yet," he said. "The trends are going in their favor, but 2018 was a different kind of year in terms of Democratic enthusiasm. There was a big Trump effect. That may or may not be present in future elections." Board of Commissioners Perhaps the most significant result for Democrats in 2018 was gaining the majority of the board of commissioners, according to Dulio. Before the November election, Republicans enjoyed a 14-7 majority. Come January, Democrats will have a 11-10 majority and, for the first time since the 1970s, will have equal footing with Oakland County's best-known politician, L. Brooks Patterson, the outspoken Republican who has been county executive for 24 years. Dulio refers to Patterson, known for his battles with the city of Detroit over the years and for his stodginess to develop a regional transit plan, as an "institution." Woodward, who has been an Oakland County commissioner for 14 years, said the board will continue to work with Patterson like they always have - just with more power. "I've been working with Brooks Patterson one way or the other," he said. "Either he was steamrolling over me or we were pushing back." When contacted for comment, Patterson's office deferred to a statement released by his office on election night. "The results of (the Nov. 6) election were not unexpected," Patterson said in the statement. "My administration has always reached across the aisle, especially at budget time, to pass a bipartisan, balanced, three-year budget. We will continue to do so." Woodward says Democrats plan to take advantage of their majority on the board starting in January. "We pledge to do more," he said. "Investing in our communities. Fixing our roads. Protecting our water. There's a lot of very big issues on the horizon. I think when voters (were) given the choice, they gave us the opportunity to lead and we're prepared to do it on day one." From activist to senator The victory of Rosemary Bayer to the state senate is emblematic of what happened in Michigan's wealthiest county on election night. It's the story of a woman who had never held office before toppling a member of the Republican establishment. Rosemary Bayer (From campaign website) The engineer worked in the private sector her entire career, mostly with computer companies including Sun Microsystems. She was motivated to get into politics after the election of Trump in 2016. "Like many people, I was pretty upset about the 2016 presidential election," Bayer said. "I was worried enough about it that I volunteered and campaigned for Hillary (Clinton, and and) I have not worked on a campaign since I was in college. But I was very concerned about what might happen. When it did, I was one of those people that kind of jumped up off the couch and got engaged in a lot of different ways." Bayer volunteered with Voters Not Politicians, the group behind Proposal 2, a successful ballot measure that will create an independent commission to redraw Michigan's voting districts. But volunteering wasn't enough for Bayer, of Beverly Hills. The 59-year-old figured she'd throw her hat in the ring in the state's 12th senate race. The seat had been held since 2010 by Republican Jim Marleau, who couldn't run due to term limits. Bayer's opponent was Michael McCready, an established Republican member of the Michigan House from Bloomfield Hills. Bayer had never run for office before. She admits she was nervous. "It was a little terrifying," she said. "I really didn't know (anything). I had a team of volunteers who also didn't know what we were doing. It really was a grassroots campaign for quite a while." The 12th District is as diverse as it gets in Michigan, stretching from the ritzy suburbs of Bloomfield Township and Franklin up to Pontiac and areas suburban and rural in between. "We have a lot of differences from one end to the other," she said. "But every person I talked to hates the way we fund our education system. Everybody is worried about the water. Everybody is worried about the cost of healthcare and prescriptions. So there's some really basic things that everyone's going to be happy with when we make them better." Bayer said she encountered many folks who identify as Republicans while campaigning in the district, an experience that gave her some insight into the current political moment. "Most of them were not really Republicans in the sense that the Trump administration and that group of people are Republicans. They're more centrists," she said. "The labeling is what gets us into trouble. We are artificially divided into groups, but I don't think most people belong on either edge." The race was a squeaker. Bayer beat McCready 48.65 percent to 49.34 percent - by just 935 votes. "I think this is a transition that began awhile back," she said about Oakland County turning blue. "I think part of it is women getting more active, and more independent in the way they approach these things. Generationally, women often voted the way their dads and their husbands did. I think that's shifting now. That's a piece of it. But I also think overall, in the county, people are becoming a little more Democratic in their value systems." Other results Here's how the county went in other races: 8 9 11 14 In state races, Democrats Jeremy Moss, Bayer and Mallory McMorrow all won a place in the state Senate. Bayer and McMorrow won by very slim margins. Republicans Ruth Johnson and Jim Runestad will represent two other state Senate districts in the county. In state House races, two of the four state house seats Democrats flipped statewide are in Oakland County: Democrat Mari Manoogian flipped state house District 40 by beating Republican David Wolkinson and Democrat Padma Kuppa beat Republican Doug Tietz in District 41. In District 39, Democrat Jennifer Suidan may have fared better against Republican opponent Ryan Berman had she not been accused of embezzling money from her own party. Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner said Suidan stole about $100,000 from his coffers in her capacity as campaign record keeper. Berman won the race 54 to 42 percent. Future Despite the big gains, Dulio has a warning for Democrats, especially on the board of commissioners. "Certainly those new commissioners will have the advantages that come with incumbency when they're up for reelection, but it's not a guarantee it's going to stay that way," he said. "I think Republicans are looking back on this and learning some lessons. They're not going to sit idly by and let Democrats run roughshod over the county." Oakland County Republican Party Chairwoman Theresa Mungioli conceded her party was unhappy with the election results. "The end result was not what we were hoping for," she said But she demurred when asked if she felt it was a blue wave and said time will tell if the county is becoming more Democratic. The chairwomen said there needs to be two data points to see if there's any real trend and looks forward to the next election. "We'll look to 2020 to see if Oakland County is tending more purple than red," she said. SIDNEY, OH -- A 22-year-old Michigan man is facing up to nine years in prison after he was arrested in Ohio last week following a traffic stop. Daveonta Reid, of Eastpointe was stopped by troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol on Nov. 8 for a traffic violation. When officers approached his 2010 Chevy Malibu, they noticed the smell of raw marijuana coming from the car. While searching the vehicle, they discovered 20 pounds of marijuana, one pound of hashish and 11 oxycodone pills. They also found a loaded handgun in the car. Reid was arrested and faces charges of possession of marijuana and hashish, both third-degree felonies, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony and possession of oxycodone-hydrochloride pills and criminal tools, both fifth-degree felonies, according to the OHSP. Along with the possible prison sentence, Reid faces a fine of up to $30,000. CARELTON, MI -- The police chief in a small town roughly 45 minutes southwest of Detroit shot himself in the foot Thursday after he slipped on ice, according to the Associated Press. Carleton Village President Larry Buckingham told the Monroe News that police chief Roy Johnson suffered a minor gunshot wound and was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center. The gunshot was described as a "through and through." Johnson is expected to be OK. He slipped on the ice while investigating a breaking and entering call at a residence in the small village.The resulting fall caused his gun to discharge and strike him in the foot. Police apprehended a suspect in the investigation. JACKSON, MI - Five men have been arrested and charged in the death of a Jackson man shot and killed in 2013. After a grand jury hearing before Circuit Judge John McBain, Winston Russell, Joshua Long, Robert Brown Jr., Donald Long and Anthony Wade all were indicted in the death of Phillip Sango, according to a statement from the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office. Sango, 34, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head about 4:40 p.m. Dec. 22, 2013, at a home in the 600 block of First Street, records show. "The City of Jackson Police Department, particularly, Detective (Brett) Stiles, has been diligent in investigating this incident," Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka said. Russell, 38, is charged with open murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation of murder, armed robbery and felony firearm. Brown Jr., 30, is charged with open murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation of murder, armed robbery and felony firearm. Wade, 29, is charged with open murder, conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, and felony firearm. Joshua Long, 28, is charged with open murder, conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, felony Firearm and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Donald Long, 38, is charged with open murder, conspiracy to commit Murder, Armed Robbery, and Felony Firearm. Investigators claim the group coordinated and plotted to rob and kill Sango. Jarzynka noted Michigan courts typically do not use a grand jury to indict a person of a crime, but the option is available according to state law. Bond was denied for all five men and they are currently lodged in the Jackson County Jail awaiting trial. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 27 before Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson. JACKSON, MI - Board members and residents alike addressed an election night incident and a contentious recall at Tuesday's standing-room-only Leoni Township Board of Trustees meeting. Board members Patrick Clemente and Mark Carpenter, elected in the Nov. 6 recall, won't take over until the county certifies the election results. Clerk Michele Manke and Treasurer Lori Stack, who were recalled, didn't attend the Nov. 13 meeting. "I'm going to ask that this board start working together, now that the election is over," resident Kimberly Dean said. "It's time to put aside differences and work for the betterment of this township and our residents." Multiple residents addressed the board, asking for the bickering and side taking to end. "We have a whole new opportunity here, folks, to question these people on everything they do," resident Russ Jennings said. "Whether they're your friends or not, this is business. This ain't about friendship." The drama came to a head on election night, when members from both sides of the recall found each other at the township hall after midnight - with both sides calling police. Former trustee Bob Sutherby is pressing charges against Supervisor Howard Linnabary - who allegedly knocked Sutherby's phone out of his hand. Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka said he's received a warrant request from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Per normal procedure with elected officials, he said he forwarded it to the Michigan Attorney General's Office to appoint a special prosecutor "due to a conflict of interest and/or the appearance of impropriety." It hasn't been determined who the special prosecutor will be, Jarzynka said, although he expects a decision in the next week. Board members addressed the incident at the end of Tuesday's 30-minute meeting. Trustee Jerry Cox, among other citizens who spoke, was upset with Sutherby and trustees Corey Kennedy and Kurt Cole for coming down to township hall on election night and "scaring the crap" out of the officials still working there. Cox called it nonsense and said he's "utterly disgusted" about their behavior. He added Sutherby should get a role in Hollywood for the act he put on. "I hear a lot of you guys tonight saying 'It's time for a new start,' 'It's time for transparency' and - the biggest thing that cracks me up - 'It's time for us to work together,'" Cox said. "We should have started working together two years ago when this board was elected. But certain individuals on this board at the time decided not to work with one another and made it very hard." Despite stern words for each other, board members didn't raise their voices and vowed to move on from the drama. The incoming board members, watching from the audience, were introduced and citizens clapped and shook their hands. "It's time for a new day. It's time for a fresh start," Dean said. "And I expect better than what I have seen." LANSING, MI - Attempts to recall Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand have been delayed again, as the state Board of Canvassers unanimously rejected three more versions of petition language. Despite failing, the board agreed Dean Schuette Sr.'s petitions were one change away from being on solid ground. Schuette Sr. is the father of Jackson County Sheriff's Office Lt. Tommy Schuette - who's suing Rand in federal court for being a "multifaceted bigot" and making discriminatory comments toward a swath of minorities. The state Board of Canvassers must approve petitions for clarity and factuality before signatures can be gathered. Schuette Sr.'s submitted recall language for his first two petitions read as follows: On August 8, 2017, Sheriff Rand accidentally discharged a hand gun in his office, causing damage to the floor and carpet. Sheriff Rand did not report the incident, and attempted to cover it up. This is a violation of The Jackson County Board of Commissioners requested Rand resign his position by May 1, 2018 or lose all county benifits (sic). Action was caused by several statements Rand made during staff meetings at the Sheriff's Dept. Sheriff Rand said of a court employee: "I always wanted to do a snuff film with her, and she could be the star. I would put one in the back of her head as I (ejaculate)." The third petition is nearly identical to the second. "Some of these, I think, (are) so close," board member Colleen Pero said. "But you just have to stop it at some point and not add on additional language that is more subjective." Pero recommended Schuette resubmit the language with just the first sentence in each. She also recommended bringing the Jackson County board meeting minutes from May 1 as official evidence. Schuette Sr.'s only pieces of evidence were MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot articles. Multiple board members were uncomfortable with the use of the words "attempted to cover it up" in the petition language involving the discharge of Rand's weapon in his office. Schuette argued that is a fact - since officials from the sheriff's office confirmed the discharge occurred and no report was officially filed. "The fact is, they tried to repair the damage without anybody knowing," Schuette Sr. said. "Which is a cover up." The board also took issue with Schuette's lack of evidence in his description of why the board asked Rand to resign. "I just think common sense has lost its way," Schuette Sr. said. "This is the first time they've given me anything concrete." Unlike the first two recall petition language attempts, Rand did not submit an official response to the board for these petitions. Schuette Sr. resubmitted the petition Friday, Nov. 16. The new language likely will be reconsidered at the board's Nov. 26 meeting, officials said. With the delay, more signatures are now required to get a recall to the ballot. The number of signatures required is 25 percent of the votes cast for governor in the district in the most recent election. Due to record-setting Jackson County voter turnout on Nov. 6, the number of signatures necessary bumps from 13,606 to 15,213. If it's approved, Schuette Sr. and volunteer supporters have a 60-day window within the next six months to collect the signatures. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Activists are publicly calling Kalamazoo County Sheriff Rick Fuller to create a policy ending cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials. Wednesday, several human rights organizations held an informational town hall at the YWCA of Kalamazoo about voluntary local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Speakers said detaining undocumented immigrants after their release date is an optional practice that should end in Kalamazoo. An ICE detainer is a written request that a local jail detain an individual for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released to give ICE agents time to put them in federal custody. Detainers are placed on people who were arrested for local offenses. The meeting was openly critical of Fuller for honoring ICE detainer requests. Speakers said the sheriff is making a conscious choice to help ICE do its job. "I cannot be more clear that there is a local choice to honor detainers or not honor detainers," said Susan Reed, managing attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. Fuller declined to comment Wednesday. According to ICE's website, law enforcement agencies that fail to honor immigration detainers undermine ICE's ability to protect public safety. If ICE does not take custody of a person after 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, the local law enforcement agency is required to release them. Nelly Fuentes, a volunteer organizer with Movimiento Cosecha Kalamazoo, organized three weeks of vigils outside the county jail in July. Pressure from the community helped push forward a resolution prohibiting county resources from assisting federal immigration enforcement activities. Kalamazoo County's Democratic commissioners passed the resolution 6-4 along partisan lines in August. The resolution explicitly states it is not a mandate for county officials to violate federal law. County Administrator Tracie Moored said the resolution addresses the use of county resources but does not give the sheriff's office additional direction. Moored said she doesn't know if resolutions passed by the board can impact elected officials like the sheriff. When the resolution was passed in August, Fuller said he was comfortable with its language. He said the sheriff's office was working with attorneys as well as other law enforcement jurisdictions on the issue. Reed acknowledged that people may support ICE holds when it helps remove dangerous people, but said it's important to note that an ICE detainer is put into effect after that person would be walking out of the jail. A person is held only because of their immigration status, she said. Reed said people who commit violent crime are not the only ones being held. Detainers can imprison people without due process, she said. Fuentes shared the story of an undocumented woman who was directly affected by an ICE detainer. The woman's abuser had her arrested during a fight at her home and she was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail, Fuentes said. Charges against the woman were dropped, but she was detained and trainsported to the Calhoun County Detention Center. Fuentes said the woman was issued an ankle monitor as she awaits a deportation hearing. The woman is fearful of calling police if her abuser returns, Fuentes said. Reed said it's time to end local cooperation with ICE. She is encouraged by local momentum around the issue and the result of the November election, which strengthened an 8-4 majority on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. The city of Kalamazoo's decided Wednesday to reject a U.S. Department of Justice grant due to concern that requirements to comply with immigration enforcement would clash with the resolution. The Kalamazoo City Commission passed a July resolution prohibiting resources from assisting federal agencies in separating undocumented children from their families and detaining people based on their immigration status. In June, the Oshtemo Township Board of Trustees passed a similar resolution denouncing the indefinite detention of families at the southern U.S. border. KALAMAZOO, MI -- An outdoor holiday street market will return to downtown Kalamazoo with vendors offering merchandise, food and beverages to help attendees alleviate holiday shopping stress with a cold beer or glass of mulled wine in hand. After a two year hiatus, KalamaTopia will return to downtown Kalamazoo with vendors lining the Kalamazoo Mall from East Michigan Avenue to Water Street from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. 2018 KalamaTopia Poster The free event, run by the Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center (KELC), aims to bring the community together to embrace the the chilly holiday season while celebrating all things made in Kalamazoo County. To avoid to the cold, attendees can warm up next to a heater or in a tent with locally made beer, cider or mulled wine. Vendors include: Buy Local Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Sportwear West Lake Metal Works Pet Wants Broken China Jewelry & More Dog House Donuts Downtown Deals Table New Year's Fest Billberry Jams & Jellies Great Lakes Thrift Company KB Knit Company Specialty Cheesecake and Dessert Company Deborah Droppers, executive director of Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center, said KELC managed the 2014 and 2015 markets with sponsorship through Downtown Kalamazoo Inc., now called Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership. Attendance nearly doubled from the first year, 2014, to the second in 2015, Droppers said. KalmaTopia is returning this year with KELC managing and funding the event entirely for the first time, she said. "One of the reasons why KELC wanted to also host this event is to provide a learning experience for our college students," Droppers said. Most of the volunteers for this year's KalamaTopia are from service fraternity Phi Gamma Delta or are event management minors at Western Michigan University, Droppers said. "We are super excited about the event and the opportunity to bring this event back with a little WMU student flair," she said. KALAMAZOO, MI -- A new provost was chosen to lead Kalamazoo College. Danette Ifert Johnson is the new provost, according to a press release from the college. Formerly the vice provost at Ithaca College in New York, Johnson "brings a wealth of experience to Kalamazoo College," the release said. "In addition to her extensive administrative experience, Danette has a long record of teaching success, and her scholarly accomplishments are considerable," President Jorge Gonzalez said in the release. "Danette will lead a talented and engaged academic community and partner with other leaders of the College to build upon and support an innovative vision to advance Kalamazoo College." The college's provost is a key leadership appointment, the website said. They are charged with providing direction and vision for the academic programs. She replaced Michael McDonald, who left the college to become the president of the Great Lakes Colleges Association. Johnson earned her bachelor's degree in speech communication and history from West Virginia Wesleyan College, a master's degree in educational psychology from West Virginia University, and her master's degree and Ph.D. in communication studies from Northwestern University. Photo: Contributed Penticton resident Joseph Bourque spent days stressing over an expensive error made by ICBC. Bourque got an insurance renewal reminder in the mail, but when he opened it, he couldn't believe his eyes. Insurance on his truck had suddenly increased $1,570 per year. "I went to an Autoplan (office) and explained how ridiculous this was. They phoned ICBC and said 'it is what it is, insurance rates went up.' I just could not figure it out," Bourque said. The Penticton resident sent Castanet a copy of his renewal as well as recorded phone conversations with ICBC's head office in Vancouver. ''I think there is a computer malfunction. I can't see anybody's insurance going up 75 per cent in two years, I just can't let this slide," he told an ICBC representative. "That is what it is, even my own insurance has gone up. I'm paying twice as much as what I was in the past," the ICBC rep replied. The next day, Bourque printed out all the paperwork and took it back to his local Autoplan outlet. "I looked it over, and I noticed there was an extra zero on my insurance policy. The value of the truck was set at $140,000, and it is only worth $14,000." "This extra zero has cost me two days of anguish and loss of revenue at work trying to figure this out," he added. Bourque went back to a different Autoplan outlet, and they adjusted the error right away. ''Instead of my insurance being $3,140. It was now (less than) $2,000. The autoplan I went back to couldn't believe it. Thankfully, they changed the misprint." ICBC did not wish to comment on the matter. SOUTH HAVEN, MI -- The body found on the Lake Michigan shore in Allegan County was identified as a Wisconsin man. Michigan State Police troopers were called about 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, to the shoreline just north of South Haven, according to a press release from the MSP. Daniel Sprecksel, 59, of Racine, Wisconsin, was identified as the person found dead on the shoreline, the release said. He was last seen fishing on a pier in Racine on Saturday, Oct. 13 and reported missing on the following Wednesday, the release said. Preliminary results from an autopsy showed no sign of injury, trauma or a struggle, Lt. Bryan Fuller said in an interview with MLive. Wisconsin police are handling the investigation on how the man ended up in the water, he said. The death remains under investigation. MUSKEGON, MI - The developer behind Muskegon's new Berkshire senior citizen apartments is planning to build another 73-unit apartment complex downtown. The city of Muskegon has agreed to initiate the sale of a downtown parking lot located at 1021 Jefferson Street near Apple Avenue to General Capital for $455,000. The developer plans to build low- to moderate-income apartments on that lot, which likely would include 55 one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units, according to design concepts shared with Muskegon City Commissioners. Commercial space is also planned for the first floor of the proposed three-story complex. It would be the second General Capital development built in Muskegon within the last two years. The company recently completed the $16 million, 84-unit Berkshire Muskegon senior apartment community in the core of downtown on a block bordered by First Street and Clay and Webster avenues. The designs for General Capital's new three-story project look similar to the Berkshire development, which is currently at 100 percent occupancy. City commissioners approved a letter of intent outlining General Capital's new plans at their Tuesday, Nov. 13 meeting. While the development was welcomed by commissioners, some wondered what it would mean for city parking - especially for city of Muskegon employees who frequently use the lot. Commission approval means Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson can now move forward with the sale of the lot. General Capital's Josh Hafron said his company likely would start construction in late 2019. Peterson told commissioners that this type of affordable housing development was "one of the biggest pieces we've been missing" in Muskegon's downtown urban core. "They're not really low-income housing for what we would expect in Muskegon," Peterson said. "A single parent with two kids could still be qualified. I think it gives a good opportunity for people to live downtown in the Nelson Neighborhood, especially as housing prices are rising rapidly. "This will be a way to make sure the downtown area doesn't get too segregated or exclusive." Likely rent options in the new development would range between 30 percent to 80 percent of the city's area median income. At least 59 percent of the units would be designated for residents who make at least 60 percent of the median income. A calculation provided in the design concepts package breaks down possible pricing per unit with those rent restrictions in mind. They include: 10 units at 30 percent - one-bedroom for $260 a month. Nine units at 40 percent - one-bedroom for $371, two-bedroom for $444 a month. 11 Section 811 units - one-bedroom for $482. 14 units at 60 percent - one-bedroom for $594 a month. 29 units at 80 percent - one-bedroom for $817, two-bedroom at $978 a month. Because affordable tax credit pricing has fallen since General Capital financed the Berkshire project, the developer was not able to include what it called "pure market rate" units in the project. A Payment In Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, agreement with the city of Muskegon would also be established to pay a percentage of total rents charged at the facility instead of property taxes. The PILOT will help the development score points with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which will be asked to award low-income housing tax credits for the project. General Capital struck the same deal with the city for the Berkshire development. Peterson told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle that General Capital and two other companies had expressed interest in building low- to moderate-income housing downtown in Muskegon. Each of them, including General Capital, were looking for land in Muskegon and Peterson presented the Jefferson and Apple lot as their best option. General Capital's $455,000 was the highest bid for the property, Peterson said. A public request for proposals was not issued for the sale of the lot, nor was one issued for the new development. City Commissioner Byron Turnquist wondered aloud if the lack of a formal RFP affected the price offered on the lot, and if General Capital's bid was market value. Peterson responded that the selling price was "generous," and that the company saw a growing value in the property. The only major question left on the table was what to do about downtown employee parking. Peterson said he and city staff have had some discussion with a nearby church and Fifth-Third Bank about using their lots until the city can secure alternative parking. In its letter of intent, Hafron wrote that the company would be open to developing a new lot or structured parking if need be. SAGINAW, MI -- After a spring bank robbery spree in Saginaw, a 61-year-old man will serve time in prison. Derrick Morris in September pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. He also pleaded as a habitual offender. Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello on Wednesday, Nov. 14, sentenced Morris to two terms of eight to 25 years and one term of 46 months to 25 years. All three terms are concurrent. The judge also ordered Morris to pay $594 in court costs and fines, as well as $1,400 in restitution to one of the financial institutions he robbed and $2,989 in restitution to another. The prosecution offered Morris no plea deal and no other charges were dismissed. Morris' first holdup occurred about 9 a.m. on April 6 at the Chemical Bank at 100 S. Michigan Ave. Three days later, authorities issued a warrant for Morris' arrest. Morris committed his second holdup about 11:40 a.m. on April 13 at Saginaw County Employees Credit Union at 1700 Court St. He attempted his third robbery on at 3:40 p.m. on April 16 at Family First Credit Union, 1011 N. Michigan Ave. Morris obtained money in the first two robberies, but left empty handed in the third. Late on April 18 or early the next morning, Michigan State Police troopers conducted a routine traffic stop on East Holland near 20th Street in Saginaw. Troopers discovered Morris in the vehicle and arrested him. While NASA says the once-global dust storm on Mars has ended, the space agency still has not heard back from its long-tenured Opportunity rover in more than five months. This update comes from NASA covering the week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 7, which NASA says the atmospheric opacity levels have dropped to a dust storm-free level of 0.8. Since last hearing from the Opportunity rover on June 10, the space agency has sent more than 250 recovery commands with no return transmission. "Opportunity likely experienced a low-power fault, a mission clock fault and an up-loss timer fault," NASA reports in its most recent update. "The team has been listening for the rover over a broad range of times, frequencies and polarizations using the Deep Space Network Radio Science Receiver. "They have been commanding 'sweep and beeps' throughout the daily DSN pass with both right-hand and left-hand circular polarization, to address a possible complexity with certain conditions within the mission clock fault." NASA previously said that it has a two-step plan "to provide the highest probability of successfully communicating with the rover and bringing it back online." #OppyPhoneHome Update One month since increasing commanding frequency, we've yet to hear from Opportunity. @NASA hasn't set deadlines for the mission, and will be briefed later this month on progress and prospects for the active recovery campaign. https://t.co/YvoDCwT3Vw pic.twitter.com/6pXoUXfRXf Spirit and Oppy (@MarsRovers) October 11, 2018 In a more playful manner, the space agency has also been playing a wake-up-themed song each day in an attempt to "inspire" Opportunity into waking up. Fans of the Mars Opportunity rover can even hop on NASA's website and send it a well-wishes postcard. The Opportunity rover has lasted nearly 15 years in action despite only being designed for a 90-day mission back in 2003. On top of that, the rover was designed to travel about 1,000 yards while it has logged more than 28 miles in reality. "Even if the team hears back from Opportunity during either phase, there is no assurance the rover will be operational," NASA previously reported. "The impact of this latest storm on Opportunity's systems is unknown but could have resulted in reduced energy production, diminished battery performance, or other unforeseen damage that could make it difficult for the rover to fully return online." WALKER - After remaining hidden for more than 50 years, a time capsule concealed inside a hollow brick near the front of the school building that currently houses Kenowa Hills' Central Elementary was discovered by construction workers this past summer. Staff, students and others got to see what was inside the capsule for the first time at the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education meeting held Monday, Nov. 12, at the elementary school. Dr. Cherie Horner, principal at Central Elementary, and two student helpers, Katherine Burde and Knight Yancey, both 11 years old, did the honors Monday, revealing all five of the items that had sat dormant inside the copper-colored box upon which the words "Kenowa Junior High" were written in faded marker for so many years. Among the contents were a 1967-68 Walker Junior High student handbook called "The Crest;" a program listing sections of different classes available to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students; a document produced by the Michigan Association of School Boards showcasing research-approved approaches to organizing a middle school, and a calendar with photos of past school board members and some classrooms as they appeared in 1967. The final item was a newspaper clipping with a memorial for David Michael Raap, a boy who would have been a sixth-grade student at the school in the fall of 1967 had he not passed away at the age of 10 in January of that year. Horner noted it was odd that the words Kenowa Junior High should appear on the exterior of the box when the school was constructed as Walker Junior High in 1967 and all of the artifacts inside referred to the school as such. Each of the paper documents, she said, was fascinating in its own way. She said it was especially interesting to read from the document produced by the Michigan Association of School Boards, which evidently held a keen interest in preserving the distinct nature of middle schools. "They were really invested in this whole middle school concept and at the end, in the conclusion, they gave boards of education some advice as far as what to follow (when) creating your middle school," Horner said. "The last few sentences of the document say: 'Be a watch dog. Do not allow the middle school concept to be lost by regressing to the junior high school patterns of the last two decades or adopting the sophistications of the high school tradition. Be vigilant.'" Included in the program listing class sections for the different grades, Horner said options included math, science, tumbling, foreign language, independent study, crafts and ceramics, home economics, shop and graphic arts, among others. One other interesting item she pointed out was a message to students printed on page 11 of "The Crest" student handbook, which, Horner said, reads as follows: "Your parents invested $1.6 million in this beautiful, new facility to house you, school you and give you ample recreation facilities. They expect all of us to keep it in the same condition as it was delivered to us. We know you will want to do your part." As of Tuesday, Nov. 13, Horner said the school district had not been able to get in touch with anyone who would have attended what was then Walker Junior High in 1967. "We put it out on Facebook and said, 'Hey, do you know what's in this time capsule?' ... and there's been lots of speculation," she said. "Other people have said that there are time capsules in other places. "Our entire building is going to be undergoing construction until basically 2020, so if there are additional time capsules, I'm sure we're going to find them in the next few years." Wayland Union Schools is in the process of researching how the district could use solar power as a renewable energy source that could also save the district money. Pat Velie, the district's director of finance and operations, presented options to the Board of Education at the meeting on Monday, Nov. 13. "I believe solar energy has a wonderful potential as a renewable energy source to save on electrical utilities' costs, and it is a very "green" alternative that is good for the environment," Superintendent Norm Taylor said. Velie said there are three ways to get solar energy in the district. One is to purchase it outright like Martin Public Schools did. "They have taken out a very large loan and expect to pay off their solar in seven years, netting back all savings." She said another way to obtain solar is through a lease." You can lease just about anything these days," Velie said. The third option is through a purchase power agreement. Velie outlined how a PPA works for the board at the Nov. 13 meeting. "What that means is that the district would take advantage of tax savings that are only given to corporate companies," Velie said. "A school district cannot take advantage of these PPA savings on our own. It would have to go through a corporate organization." The corporation then would file for tax incentives and share the district savings on kilowatt hours, according to Velie. In other words, "the way it works is that some of what we generate returns to the district as savings on our killowatts," Velie said. Velie said from one presentation she attended she learned that the district could save roughly $30,000 to $35,000 annually using solar. In a 25-year PPA agreement the savings would be roughly $700,000. "We could also get two five-year extensions of that solar equipment which would be 25 plus five plus five," Velie said. "The savings would continue in those other two five-year increments." Velie told the board that Michigan is doing away with PPAs "probably by July 1." "It's something that has to be done in a timely fashion, which is unfortunate for us because we don't really like to just move on things without doing more investigation," Velie said. Velie said she and John Huyck, the district's building and grounds supervisor, have been gathering information from several solar companies about solar energy to present to the school board. The companies they met with included Quality Solar, Standard Solar, Arc Energy, and Verde Solutions. Representatives from Quality Solar came to an Oct. 29 school board work session to answer any questions from the board about solar. Velie said she and Huyck have also received information from Michigan Schools Business Officials, or MSBO. Velie said the MSBO organization brings in speakers regarding various topics including those versed in solar energy. "They are a leading source of information for school district business managers," Velie said. The finance director asked the board to give the decision some consideration and let her know which direction the district would like to go. "We'll continue to review this option with our Board of Education in the coming weeks," Taylor said. Photo: Wikipedia CFB Esquimalt The Ministry of Defence says it takes seriously allegations of sexual assault at CFB Esquimalt. The office of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan released a statement Wednesday, following a Vancouver Island woman's revelations that she was drugged at a bar and then raped on the Victoria-area base. The woman alleges she woke up to a man sexually assaulting her, and that she had no recollection of how she ended up on the base. The case is under investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service. "We take all allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously ... definitive action is being taken to eliminate this kind of behaviour," Sajjan's press secretary said in a press statement. "We will not stop until all our members are able to perform their duties in an environment free from harassment and discrimination." with files from CTV Vancouver Island Photo: Facebook A teen killed in a gang-related shooting in Abbotsford, Monday, is being remembered as a class clown. Jagvir Malhi, 19, was shot and killed and left on the street, just a block from his parents' home. "He was just the class clown, could make anybody laugh," friend Janet Stahl recalled. The University of the Fraser Valley, where Malhi attended, is making counselling available to students. Police believe his death is linked to ongoing gang conflict in the Lower Mainland, but have not said how Malhi may be connected. with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: Contributed A protest sign held in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls at an event in the North Okanagan in 2017. Keremeos will host an event honouring the lives and memories of missing and murdered Indegnous women and girls as part of National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week next week. "The violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada is a national tragedy," said Leslie Fabriz, one of the event coordinators. To date, there are over 1,200 missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls in this country." On Nov. 21 at Victory Hall in Keremeos, there will be a dinner featuring various speakers, starting at 5:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., a memorial walk will take place at Memorial Park. The number of missing and murdered women is disproportionate within Canadian society as a whole, Indigenous women are significantly overrepresented as victims of homicide," Fabriz said. Their loss is felt in every Indigenous community from coast to coast. Those left behind spend a lifetime wondering what happened, and why. The event is a new addition to the National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week for the local hosts, the Okanagan Nation Transition Emergency house, Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. It replaces an event that was due to happen in October, called Sisters in Spirit. Addictions Awareness Week takes place every November as a national movement to try and dispel stigma around addictions and recovery. "We have seen the correlations between addictions and violence in our communities, said Darryl-Jean Cerenzie, coordinator of the You, Empowered, Strong Project with Okanagan Nation Alliance. We need to start addressing this correlation, and finding solutions to decrease the instances of violence within our communities." The Nov. 21 event is open to all, though participants are reminded to dress for the weather, as the memorial walk will take place outdoors. Photo: File photo Stephen Fuhr will be hosting all of B.C.'s Liberal MPs in Kelowna this weekend. B.C.'s federal Liberal MPs are coming to Kelowna, Friday but it doesn't look like the prime minister will be making an appearance. The province's 18 members of parliament will be making their way to the Okanagan for the 2018 Liberal Party of Canada in B.C. Convention, which runs through the weekend. The federal Liberals have met in Kelowna twice in the past two years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, will be in Singapore Thursday and Friday, before travelling to Papua New Guinea Friday night. This weekend's convention comes less than a year before the October 2019 federal election. In 2015, Stephen Fuhr unseated longtime Conservative MP Ron Cannan from the Kelowna-Lake Country riding, the first time a Liberal has held the riding since the 1960s. Fuhr will seek re-election in next year's election, while former Kelowna councillor Tracy Gray and local businesswoman Renee Wasylyk are seeking the nomination for the Conservative Party. Alanna Kelly UPDATE: 1:15 p.m. A representative from the Canada Revenue Agency has picked up a confidential package that was mistakenly placed inside someones information. Susan Munroe received the package addressed to her on Thursday to her home in Kelowna. When she opened it, CRA information for a man living in Surrey was inside. This included his address, employer, social insurance number and his banking information. Munroe tried to reach the CRA multiple times but could not get through. Once Castanet reached the CRA they said they would immediately retrieve the package We have made contact with the individual that you did the story on and we will be making arrangements for someone to pick up the package, said a CRA spokesperson. On Thursday afternoon Munroe confirmed someone did come to pick up the package. ORIGINAL: 5 a.m. A Kelowna woman is sounding the alarm after she was sent a stranger's confidential information by the Canada Revenue Agency. Susan Monroe received the package at her home on Thursday addressed to her. Inside was a mans social insurance number, his address, employer, bank information and salary. The mans address was for a residence in Surrey. I have everything I need to steal his identity, she said. Monroe didnt feel comfortable looking at the information and called the CRA number listed on the documents. She called three times to warn them of their error, but no one answered. I feel very sorry for him, she said. And what am I supposed to do with it? How do I go about getting this to him? Do I phone him and let him know myself? The CRA takes its responsibility to safeguard taxpayer information very seriously. Any incident of misdirected mail is thoroughly investigated, CRA spokesperson Etienne Biram told Castanet, offering no explanation as to how the mistake happened. The CRA continuously reviews quality assurance practices pertaining to our mailing processes to prevent such occurrences. Munroe says she plans on keeping the confidential information safe, but is now concerned about her own private information. How is it being safeguarded and protected, because I dont think it is, she said. Biram says the CRA sends about 110 millions pieces of mail a year, and misdirected mail incidents occur in 0.003 per cent of all mail. In many cases of misdirected mail, a persons privacy is not at risk, he said. This would include, for example, cases where a letter does not contain personal information but was sent to the wrong individual, or where the information was publicly available. According to Biram, the CRA retrieves virtually all misdirected mail. Munroe said she contemplated reaching out to the individual to inform him, but didnt feel comfortable with it. I now feel responsible for safeguarding his information to make sure it doesnt fall into unscrupulous hands, she said. Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn Canada Post has issued what it calls a "time-limited" contract offer to its employees in hopes of ending rotating strikes that have created a historic backlog of undelivered parcels. The offer Wednesday to members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers came just hours after online sales and auctioning giant eBay called on the federal government to legislate an end to the contract dispute. The Crown corporation's four-year offer includes annual two per cent wage hikes, plus signing bonuses of up to $1,000 per employee. The proposal, which the agency said was worth roughly $650 million, also contains new job-security provisions, including for rural and suburban carriers who have complained about precarious employment, and a $10-million health-and-safety fund. But Canada Post said the offer was only viable if it can be agreed to before the holiday shopping rush. It has imposed a deadline of Nov. 17 for Canadian Union of Postal Workers members to accept the deal. "This measure is to ensure we can reach a just-in-time resolution and deliver for Canadians ahead of the holiday rush," the Crown corporation said in an email. "The time limit is necessary as this offer is only affordable if we can clear the backlogs caused by the union's strike activity and effectively deliver the quickly arriving massive Black Friday and Cyber Monday volumes." CUPW said on its website late Wednesday that Canada Post "has made some movements towards addressing our key priorities, however, we have a long way to go to achieve a negotiated collective agreement." Key issues missing from the offer include job security, pay for all hours worked and guaranteed minimum hours, the union said, adding that its national executive board would be meeting to discuss the next steps. Earlier in the day, the head of eBay Canada sent a letter to the prime minister late Tuesday, urging him to force an end to the labour dispute. Andrea Stairs, eBay's general manager for Canada, also warned that quick action was needed to ensure retailers don't lose out on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. "I encourage the government to explore all available legislative solutions to alleviate the current situation," Stairs wrote in the letter, which was also sent to Labour Minister Patty Hajdu and Public Services Minister Carla Qualtrough. Continued rotating strikes at Canada Post will result in significant losses for small and medium-sized businesses across the country, Stairs warned, noting that smaller firms are unable to negotiate lower shipping fees with other delivery services. While many businesses have adapted as best they can since the strikes began on Oct. 22, Stairs said adjustments online sellers have made so far to avoid delivery disruptions are unsustainable. "Black Friday and Cyber Monday are critical sales opportunities for Canadian small and micro retailers, particularly those that sell into the U.S. the largest consumer market in the world," she wrote. "Should the Canada Post service disruptions continue through this key retail moment, these (smaller businesses) will be seriously disadvantaged in competing for U.S. demand." Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are annual shopping days known for their deep discounts, fall this year on Nov. 23 and 26. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned last week that his government would look at "all options" to bring the Canada Post labour dispute to an end if there was no significant progress in contract talks. Trudeau did not elaborate on what actions could be taken, although the previous Conservative government passed legislation to end a two-week lockout of postal employees in 2011. A spokeswoman for Hajdu said Wednesday the government recognizes Canadians and small businesses rely on the postal service, and encouraged corporate and union negotiators to keep talking. "We urge both parties to reach a deal soon to reduce the impacts to Canadians, businesses, Canada Post and their workers," Veronique Simard wrote in an email. Canada Post said Wednesday it was facing an unprecedented backlog of shipments and warned the situation could escalate quickly. Postal union members picketed in Toronto on Tuesday for the third time in the past two weeks. The latest job action in Toronto was over by Wednesday morning, but the shutdown added to the backlog of items already waiting to be sorted and shipped, said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton. "We have now surpassed 260 trailers of parcels and packets waiting to be unloaded," Hamilton wrote in an email, referring to the Gateway parcel processing plant in Toronto. "The union just took down their pickets but we are backed up beyond anything we've ever seen in our history. With Toronto out on strike, we also missed two days of customer pickups, which will likely push that trailer total over 300 today." The previous peak for backlogged trailers reached 220 during last year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping period, he said. The union is negotiating contracts for 50,000 of its members in two divisions urban carriers and rural and suburban workers. It said Tuesday that Canada Post had failed to address key issues, including health and safety, staffing levels and job security. The two sides have been negotiating for almost a full year, with little success despite the assistance of government-appointed mediators. Air India (Commons) Loss-making national carrier Air India plans to mop up Rs 700-800 crore by selling over 70 residential and commercial properties spread across the country, a senior airline official said Thursday. This fresh bid is a part of the airline's real estate assets monetisation plan approved by the then UPA government in 2012. As per the plan, Air India had to the garner funds to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore between April 2014 and March 2021, with an annual target of Rs 500 crore from FY13 onwards. The properties, which are spread over 16 cities pan India, will be e-auctioned through the state-run auctioneer MSTC. "We are expecting to raise about Rs 700-800 crore by e-auctioning of these over 70 properties, which comprises both residential as well as commercial. Some of these properties are those which we put up on the block earlier but could not get a buyer," the official said. Last month, Air India had put 14 properties on sale, in cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune and Amritsar. Air India's debt burden stands around Rs 55,000 crore, besides huge accumulated losses. According to its audited accounts, the airline's total losses stood at Rs 47,145.62 crore in 2016-17. The government had in May said that Air India has mopped up Rs 543.03 crore from monetisation of its assets in prime locations, such as Mumbai and Chennai. The national carrier had also collected Rs 291 crore as lease rentals from its iconic 23-storeyed building, its erstwhile headquarters, at Nariman Point in the city, between FY13 and January 2018, it had said. Even as talks between the Tata Group and Jet Airways advance, Etihad Airways may take the opportunity to press the exit button from the Indian airline. The Middle-East aviation major owns 24 percent in Jet Airways. However, it will need some hard bargain from the Tatas, as Etihad wouldn't want to make a hasty and unprofitable exit. "In all probability, the Tatas will have to buy out Etihad. But the airline itself will make sure that any sale of the stake makes business sense," said an executive from the industry. Etihad had invested in Jet Airways in 2013, buying a 24 percent stake for about Rs 2,060 crore. The deal came soon after the Indian government changed a policy, allowing foreign airlines to invest in their Indian peers. The Jet board had approved preferential allotment of 27 million shares to Etihad at Rs 754.74 a share. It was about a 30 percent premium on Jet's then prevailing share price. Market conditions, and Jet Airways's precarious health, have seen the company's shares nosediving over 60 percent in one year. On Thursday, the company's stock was up 6.89 percent at Rs 275.50 a share, thanks to news on Tatas' interest in taking a stake. Jet Airways reported a loss of Rs 1,297 crore in the second quarter of the year, its operations hit a rising crude and depreciating rupee. This was the third straight quarter of losses for the airline. "It is unlikely that Etihad will agree for anything below Rs 700 a share. It will be in no hurry," said another executive from the industry. Am email sent to Etihad remained unanswered. Deal buzz Etihad had strongly refuted reports of stake sale after consultancy firm CAPA said in March that the airline may exit Etihad by the end of this year. Etihad had then termed reports "speculative". The deal buzz around Etihad though had started months before, in 2017. Executives in the industry said Etihad was keen to exit, even as Jet Airways was in talks with Delta Air Lines to raise funds through a stake sale. But the talks, both with Etihad and Delta, seem to have petered out over differences on valuation. Interests have renewed though, with the Tatas now pursuing for a deal with Naresh Goyal. Reports on Thursday pointed out that Tata Sons Chairman may present a plan to the board on Friday. Executives had earlier told Moneycontrol that the Tata Group will look to merge Jet Airways with Vistara, the joint venture with Singapore Airlines. "If the deal does go through, then it's unlikely that Singapore Airlines and Etihad would remain partners in the new entity," said the executive quoted above. Trivitron Healthcare, one of India's largest medical devices maker, may consider an initial public offering within two years to provide an exit to private equity (PE) investors. The Chennai-based company has so far raised around $100 million from PE investors India Value Fund Advisors ($24.5 million in 2013) and Fidelity Growth Partners in India ($75 million in 2012) to fund expansion including acquisitions and building factories. Both IVFA, now called as True North, and Fidelity, renamed as Eight Roads, together are significant minority shareholders in the company, while GSK Velu, the Founder Chairman and Managing Director hold a controlling stake. In an interview to Moneycontrol, Velu said the investment horizon for PE investors is around 7-8 years and he may consider an IPO to provide them with an exit. Before that Velu has set a revenue target of Rs 1000 crore in the next two years and plans to commercialise a newborn screening solution in the US. The company currently has revenues of close to Rs 700 crore. Trivitron has 10 manufacturing facilities in Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Helsinki and Ankara producing multiple medical equipment like ultrasound machines, analog and digital X-Ray, ECG Machines, patient monitors, reagents, and diagnostic products. Founded in 1997, Trivitron for more than a decade was largely a wholesale distributor and after-sales support provider for multinational (MNC) device makers including companies such as Boston Scientific, Fresenius, McKay, Covidien, Hamiliton Medical, among others. Velu says that he helped the struggling Boston Scientific business in India to grow from Rs 20 crore to Rs 200 crore in a matter of 5 years. For German-devices maker Fresenius he helped them to scale up sales from 20 to 3800 dialysis machines. Trader to Manufacturer But with MNCs changing their strategy to go straight to the market, instead of through distributors - Trivitron was faced with an existential crisis. "Unfortunately those days the distribution contracts were terminable. The agreements were one-sided, they put jurisdiction for legal matters in the US and Europe. We are still coming up, and as you know beggars can't be choosers. All these guys used and dumped us," Velu said. To avert an imminent fall, Velu decided to switch the strategy from trader to the manufacturer. But it wasn't easy, as he needs technology to become a producer. JVs and acquisitions He entered joint ventures with Japans Hitachi and Spains Biosystems for manufacturing ultrasound equipment and laboratory diagnostics reagents, respectively. In 2011, the company acquired stake in Kiran Medical Systems, a specialist in x-ray equipment. Trivitron next year bought Finland-based invitro diagnostic solutions company Ani Labsystems for $22.2 million. Trivitron further acquired 60 percent stake in Turkish firm Bome Sanayi Urunleri Dis Tic Ltd Sti for 5 million euros in 2016. "In 2010, we were 250-300 crore company, almost all of that was trading. Today we are almost 650-700 crore company, almost 80 percent of that is coming from manufacturing," Velu said. Velu said he is considering two more acquisitions in the coming quarters. Velu added that he raised money from PE investors at a low valuation as the company is shifting the gears from trader to the manufacturer. Velu says that there is no support for local medical equipment manufacturers in the country. The tender documents in India with conditions like USFDA, CE accreditation requirements are designed to benefit multinational companies, unlike countries like China, Russia, Turkey that have preferential access to the markets for local producers. China today supports domestic companies, the local companies contribute around 70-80 percent, while in India it is reverse. Indias medical equipment sector is still emerging and dominated by imports. The sector in India is worth a mere $4 billion. Photo: John Goudie The Green Lake Road wildfire burning on the westside of Okanagan Falls in 2018. Provincial funding has been announced to support communities recovering from the 2018 wildfire season. An additions $10 million was announced on Wednesday. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and the Solicitor General said even though the wildfires are now out, British Columbians can rest assured that government support will be sustained. Our province is facing a long-term and complicated recovery process for the second year in a row, and the effects to communities and local economies that were impacted by the 2018 wildfire season have been significant, he said. The funds will go a long way to helping wildfire victims get back on their feet, said Farnworth. For a second straight year, the 2018 wildfire season went down as the worst on record in B.C. Funds will be distributed through an agreement with the Canadian Red Cross and the new funding is in addition to the $3.1 million raised through the public and donations. Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice said many parts of the province were heavily impacted and need support as they rebuild. "Our government has been working diligently to ensure the immediate critical needs in impacted communities have been met and this additional funding can now help wildfire victims through the next stage of their recovery, said Rice. Along with the announcement, Red Cross will providing additional support to assist with longer term needs. Funds will be used to carry out relief, recover and resiliency efforts. These included things such as debris removal on private land and repairs from wildfires, refrigerator and freezer disposal, alternative heating source supplies, travel expenses and project equipment, and health and wellness supports. Assistance will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will not duplicate assistance provided through insurance, government or other agency programs. SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar in Mumbai The largest public sector bank on November 15th assured the financial sector of no liquidity crisis in the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) sector. Rajnish Kumar, chairman, State Bank of India told reporters on November 15 that the sector was not facing any liquidity crisis. "There is no liquidity crisis in the NBFC sector... Rollovers have been successful and all of them have been able to meet their commitments as far as their obligations are concerned," the chairman said. His comments come in the backdrop of the friction between the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) over the liquidity issue. While the government has been persistent on its stand that the financial sector was reeling under severe stress after IL&FS, one of the largest NBFCs, defaulted on its payment obligation, the central bank has maintained that the sector was not facing any crisis. The central bank is said to have assured the government of "stepping in as and when required" to address the liquidity situation even as it has asked for data from the government on the basis of which the latter claims it a crisis, sources have told Moneycontrol. During the 19th Financial Stability and Development Council's (FSDC) meeting, held earlier this month, the RBI indicated the government that if liquidity was acceptable till September, what makes it believe that the situation has worsened? "Share the data with us (regarding crunch in NBFCs)... The liquidity situation is not as bad as it is being projected to be," the RBI told the government. The central bank has called for its board meeting on November 19th to solve issues with the government. The agenda is to provide relief on liquidity-related issues for NBFCs and devise simpler lending norms for MSMEs, a top government official has said. "Some resolution on liquidity and credit-related issues is expected in the meeting," the official said. Recently, SBI had agreed to buy loan assets worth Rs 20,000 - Rs 30,000 crore from NBFCs. The bank had initially planned for a growth of Rs 15,000 crore through portfolio purchase during the current year which is now being enhanced," SBI said in a statement. Portfolio purchase from NBFCs is, generally, a route for banks to meet its regulatory requirement for priority sector lending. NBFCs, on the other hand, find easy buyers for such sell-offs when they are looking at selling their assets after holding them for a long time. India's refined copper consumption is set to more than double over the next eight years amid rising demand from the power, auto and consumer sectors, the chief executive of one of the country's top copper smelters said on Thursday. The nation's consumption of the metal is expected to rise to 1.433 million tonnes by 2026 from 650,000 tonnes in 2018, Birla Copper CEO JC Laddha told delegates at the Asia Copper Conference in Shanghai. However, he added that this projection did not include the boost copper may receive from a boom in copper-intensive electric vehicles. "If you add that, I think by 2026 the total consumption would be 2.5 million tonnes," Laddha said. Birla Copper is a unit of Hindalco Industries. "India's demand for overall copper has risen rapidly over the years and is expected to rise further as a result of various projects like 'Make in India' (and) infrastructure investment," Laddha said. The government's 'Make in India' initiative is a campaign to boost foreign direct investment into the country. The nation's refined copper production is set to hit 843,000 tonnes this year, Laddha said, outstripping demand, which is expected to reach 642,000 tonnes. But following the forced shutdown of Vedanta Ltd's 400,000 tonne per year copper smelter in May, production will shrink to 450,000 tonnes in 2019, versus demand of 700,000 tonnes, he said. The smelter was closed after the Tamil Nadu state government cut power supply to the unit following violent protests over alleged pollution that resulted in the death of 13 people in police firing. Vedanta has denied that the plant, India's second biggest copper smelter located in the port city of Thoothukudi, pollutes the area. Imports from ASEAN countries, Japan and the Middle East are increasing, benefiting from the disruption to supply in India, Laddha said, putting the share of imports at 41 percent currently, versus 28 percent before. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan Addresses Media The government is planning to soon make hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery sold in the country, Food and Consumers Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Thursday. The hallmarking of gold, which is voluntary in nature at present, is a purity certification of the precious metal. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Consumer Affairs Ministry, is the administrative authority of hallmarking. "BIS has set standards for hallmarking of gold jewellery in three grades of 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat. We are going to make it mandatory soon," Paswan said at a BIS event organised to commemorate World Standards Day with a theme on 'Global Standards and the fourth Industrial Revolution'. Paswan, however, did not specify the date of implementation of the mandatory gold hallmarking, but stressed on the need to adopt the standards in the interest of consumers. India has over 220 BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking centres; and maximum of them are located in Tamil Nadu, followed by Kerala. As fourth industrial revolution would be of smart technologies, the minister said the BIS has a challenge to speed up the work in setting standards to ensure the country is not lagging behind in this area. Paswan launched the revamped website of BIS and the pre-standardisation report on smart manufacturing. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs C R Chaudhary too emphasised that the need of the hour is to discuss setting of standards for new smart technologies like artificial intelligence that are being embraced by the industry. BIS Director General Surina Rajan said committees have been set up already to study standardisation of smart technologies to be used in fourth industrial revolution, when machines will be working like human beings and vice versa. There are numerous standards development organisations which are working in the direction to develop standards that will be conducive for the fourth industrial revolution, which refers to emerging technologies that are blurring the traditional boundaries between the physical, digital and biological worlds, she said. India's government and its central bank are getting close to ironing out some of their policy differences, said two sources familiar with the discussions, as they seek to defuse worsening tensions that had threatened to unnerve investors. While the rift is far from healed, the sources said enough progress had been made to avoid acrimony at a board meeting of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) next Monday. The threat that RBI Governor Urjit Patel would quit, as reported by some newspapers last week, is also thought to be off the table for now, they said. The uneasy truce is likely to see the RBI ease up on some lending restrictions to help the government stimulate the economy, said the sources. One source said the RBI could agree to tweak restrictions on lending to improve credit flows for smaller companies with a borrowing limit of 250 million rupees ($3.4 million). Neither the RBI nor the finance ministry responded to requests for comment for this article. The prime ministers office declined to comment. It is unclear how much of a role Prime Minister Narendra Modi played in defusing the tension. Local media reported that Modi met Patel last week in an attempt to sort out the contentious issues but officials in the prime minister's office and the RBI said they did not know of such a meeting. Modi had appointed Patel as the RBI governor in 2016 for a three-year term that ends in September next year. For weeks, government officials in New Delhi have been pressuring the Mumbai-based RBI to accede to a range of demands, from easing lending curbs to handing over surplus reserves to the government. This prompted RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya to warn late last month that undermining a central bank's independence could be "catastrophic," bringing the feud into the open. Tensions were expected to come to a head at Monday's meeting as government representatives on the board appeared to be ready to turn up the heat on Patel and accuse the RBI of being intransigent in the face of government demands. Now, it seems likely there will be a more constructive atmosphere with agreement on some issues, and disputed questions shelved for another day, the sources said. CAN'T AGREE TO EVERYTHING The government is keen to provide more stimulus to the economy heading into next year's election, especially as the incomes of many farmers have been hit by low crop prices. At the same time it doesn't want a bust-up with the central bank, which could badly affect investor sentiment and provide political fodder to the opposition Congress party. "The government understands the regulator will remain a regulator and can't agree to all demands," said a government official, who declined to be named, referring to the RBI. While the official did not give any details of the solutions being worked out with the RBI, he acknowledged that the government did not want to trigger Patel's departure at such a sensitive time. There are five key state elections in the next few weeks and a general election due by May. The Congress party has already been harrying the government over allegations of corruption in a military jet deal with France and infighting between the top officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A RBI board member said that helping to ease tensions was the idea that both sides wanted a healthy economy. It was just a question of how to get there. "The main issue is how to boost credit growth," the member said referring to the credit crunch facing small companies. Economics Affairs Secretary S.C. Garg is expected to make a presentation in the board meeting to outline the concerns of the finance ministry and could bring up the question about the transfer of surplus cash reserves held by the RBI, the sources said. The board member said that an expert panel may be set up to work out the appropriate level of contingency reserves for the RBI, effectively kicking that question down the road. The RBI introduced a so-called corrective action plan in 2014 for 11 state-run banks with bad loan issues and depleted capital. That plan included curbs on risky lending and RBI officials said, as a result, the banks' loan growth fell to zero and had remained there since 2016, from 10 percent in 2014. According to the RBI board member, the government wants the RBI to ease those curbs and lower capital requirements for the 11. Some improvements in the balance sheets of those lenders might give the RBI leeway to do that, although the RBI would prefer to give the mending process more time, said another official who is aware of discussions within the central bank. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More In a bid to expand its portfolio and gain India's instant noodles market share, Sunfeast Yippee launched 4 new flavours of instant noodles on November 15. With this launch, the company intends to compete with Nestles Maggi, which has a market share of 60 percent in the instant noodle space. When we got into this space, there was one very large competitor. So we figured out what new offerings can we bring into the noodle market. Today, after 7.5 years, we have a 22 percent market share, said Hemant Malik, Divisional Chief Executive-Foods Division of ITC. According to Euromonitor, in terms of sales, Nestles Maggi is followed by ITCs Sunfeast Yippee, the Chaudhary Group's Wai Wai, Nissin Foods Holdings Top Ramen and Hindustan Unilevers Knorr Soupy Noodles brands. Some of the other notable brands in India's instant noodles market include Ching's Secret, GSK's Horlicks Foodles, Festers, Tasty Treat and Smart Choice. According to the World Instant Noodles Association, India is the fourth-largest noodles market, accounting for an annual demand of 5.4 billion servings in 2017, out of 100 billion globally. ITC has tied up with Bigbasket for selling YiPPee's My range. The products will be available on Bigbasket for one week, following which it will be distributed to all modern format and general trade stores across India. Digital e-commerce is an important opportunity area. The digital world, including e-commerce platforms, are effective tools to strengthen the brands visibility and build a consumer franchise. This collaboration with Bigbasket is a meaningful endeavour to bring that flavorful experience of YiPPees new variants closer to our customers, Malik said. Sunfeast YiPPee will be available in 4 flavours: My Crazy Chow, My Madly Manchurian, My Mystery Masala and My Truly Chicken. Each pack is of 60 g and all vegetarian variants will be available for Rs 15, while the non-vegetarian, Truly Chicken variant is priced at Rs 18. ITCs Sunfeast Yippee, which entered the noodle space about 7.5 years ago, has become a Rs 1,000 crore brand. The Sunfeast Yippee has strong presence in South India with 37 percent market share. ITC Foods business exports its products to North America, Africa, Middle East and Australia. ITC branded packaged foods business includes popular brands like Aashriwad, Bingo, Sunfeast, Fabelle, Sunbean, Yippee, Kitchens of India, ITC Master Chef, Farmland, mint-o, Candyman and Frozen Foods. Trading information for KKR & Co is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid - RC12BF3F5E50 The New York-based private equity firm KKR is looking to raise $1.5 -2 billion for its first Asia infrastructure fund, according to a Mint report. The discussions for launching the Asia infrastructure fund are on and the firm will reach out to investors, the publication said quoting sources. KKR is eyeing India's infrastructure space, and is looking to invest in IL&FS Transportation Networks road projects, Mint reported last month. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the news. Also read: KKR India says NBFC crisis will lead to correction in valuations A KKR spokesperson declined Mints request for a comment. The company reportedly appointed Brookfield Asset Management's Hardik Shah to head its India infrastructure business. The Asia infrastructure fund will be the first time for KKR to set up a geography-specific fund. In September, the company had closed its third global infrastructure fund after raising $7.4 billion. The new fund will focus across various segments within infrastructure right from telecom to roads and energy, a source told the paper. It is not yet clear whether the funding will take place via solely the infrastructure fund or both the global and Asia funds, the report added. The new fund will also have a bias towards control transactions, a source told the publication. Industry experts told Mint that India and China will likely receive the bulk of the investments from the new fund. Vodafone Idea (Image: Reuters) Moneycontrol News Brokerages have reacted positively to Vodafone Idea's announcement proposing raising capital of Rs 25,000 crore. The combined entity reported results for the first time on November 14, posting a consolidated loss of Rs 4,973 crore for the September quarter. Deutsche Bank has a 'Buy' rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 100. Motilal Oswal has a 'Buy' rating with a target price of Rs 55. "Financials are tad weak, fund infusion by promoters is positive" Deutsche Bank said. Citi research said the equity raising should lessen concerns, but added that the investment amounts to dilution of 70 percent at current levels. Research firm ISEC said Vodafone Idea is the weakest among the three telecom companies in India. Vodafone Idea's competitors are Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries' Jio. "We believe that Vodafone Idea remains on weak footing and is turning out to be the weakest among the surviving three private telcos and in a need of urgent capital infusion," ISEC said in a research note. Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. Ravindra V. Rao In November so far, WTI oil has slumped 18%. Surging supply and expectations of faltering demand have pressured crude prices. OPEC said recently in a monthly report that global oil demand in 2019 would rise by 1.29 million barrels a day, 70,000 b/d less than predicted last month and the fourth consecutive reduction in its forecast. Worried by the drop in oil prices and rising supplies, OPEC is talking again of reducing production just months after having increased it. Such a shift would anger U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged OPEC not to cut production. Oils slide that has taken it into a bear market has been exacerbated by a U.S. decision to grant some nations waivers from its sanctions, allowing them to continue buying some Iranian crude. Meanwhile, rising American output and inventories are pointing to an emerging glut and speculation is swirling over whether OPEC and its allies, including Russia, will act to stem the price slump. The group reported the worsening outlook as traders assess mixed signals regarding its next step. Following a closely watched meeting of OPEC and its allies in Abu Dhabi over the weekend that yielded no formal change in production policy, a producer committee warned that they may need ?new strategies.? Top group member Saudi Arabia said output needs to be curbed by about 1 million b/d from October levels. Still, OPEC secondary-source data suggest the kingdom fully abandoned cuts for the first time in October. Meanwhile, another key producer, Russia, signalled it?s not ready to act immediately, with Energy Minister Alexander Novak highlighting the need to wait and see how the market develops. Hence, prices have tanked in the last few days. The momentum from now on looks weak, but, as prices have contracted nearly 27% from recent highs, the possibility of a technical bounce-back is not ruled out. MCX crude oil is likely to bounce up in short term. Hence, we recommend remaining cautiously positive. The author is Head - Commodity Research & Advisory, Anand Rathi Commodities. The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on Moneycontrol are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Operating profit is the amount realized from a business's ongoing operations. It serves as a highly accurate indicator of the business's potential profitability because it excludes all extra factors. Moneycontrol analysis showed there are 7 companies from the BSE universe that have given at least 15 percent operating profit growth in FY20 compared to the previous fiscal year (FY19). We considered only companies where FIIs and MFs, both, increased stake in the first two quarters of FY21. Interestingly, in FY21 so far, all of them have been trading in the green and have gained between 20 percent and 190 percent. (Data Source: ACE Equity) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Global brokerage house Credit Suisse has maintained its underperform rating on Page Industries and slashed target price by 15 percent after weakest growth in second quarter. The stock price dropped nearly 5 percent intraday Thursday. The research house cut target price of the stock to Rs 22,000 from Rs 26,000 per share after it reduced earnings estimates by 5-12 percent over FY19-21. Credit Suisse sees downside risk to earnings if recovery in festive season does not plan out. Page Industries is the exclusive licensee of Jockey International Inc. (USA) for manufacture, distribution and marketing of the Jockey brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UAE. The company is also the exclusive licensee of Speedo International for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of the Speedo brand in India. Its revenue during the quarter ended September 2018 increased 10 percent YoY, the weakest growth in over a decade, Credit Suisse said. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) & profit also grew by 10 percent YoY, which were significantly below estimates, it added. Sales volumes were flat YoY & the entire growth was price & mix led. Male innerwear saw 3 percent decline in volume YoY, which is a serious concern, the brokerage house feels. At 11:20 hours IST, the stock was quoting at Rs 26,779.05, down Rs 1,068.05, or 3.84 percent on the BSE. For eight-year-old Jhanvi*, who hails from a mid-income family where her father is the sole bread earner, life has posed a serious challenge. All was well until she was diagnosed with Wilson's disease, a rare condition that affects vital organs, which damaged her liver 90 percent. The diseases can not only be fatal but extremely expensive to treat. In cases similar to Jhanvi's, most of the medical expenses need to be borne by the family. Reports suggest that over 60 percent of the medical expenses are met with personal savings. Government schemes and insurance plans are generally not sufficient to cover medical expenses for serious and rare ailments. The next step for such patients is to seek support from extended family and friends. According to government data, roughly 5 percent of urban and rural households seek help to cover medical costs. However, with diseases like say cancer or a rare condition like meningitis, one would still need to seek further assistance. This is where crowdfunding steps in. Technology is the enabler of entrepreneurial ideas and crowdfunding is one of them. The process of crowdfunding could earlier be defined as raising small sums for new ventures. However, it has now taken a bigger leap with advancements in technology and wider reach via social media. In the last three years, crowdfunding has become one of the primary ways to meet medical costs, especially if the amount is north of Rs 10 lakh. The concept of borrowing from kin is an established behaviour among people. What a crowdfunding website does is that it brings offline behaviour online. Crowdfunding: A simple process The ease and immediacy of the process have helped crowdfunding become one of the top choices to raise funds for such emergencies. Ketto, Milaap, FuelADream, ImpactGuru and Wishberry are leading the crowdfunding websites in India. To start a campaign, all you have to do is visit one of these websites and create a funding page at no cost. Those who wish to seek support, need to explain the cause and highlights their problems. Crowdfunding websites then go through authentication processes to make sure cases are genuine. Patients have to submit an estimation cost, acquired from a hospital for further verification. This helps in gaining confidence for those who wish to donate to support the cause. The websites, with every development, notify donors of how their money is being used. Mayukh Choudhary, co-founder and CEO of milaap.org, says that trust and validation from those engaging with the platform are the most important things, everything else follows. "The trust is built over time. The process is simple and it is as easy as shopping online. We have made sure all methods of payments are available so that its not the technical issues that hold people back," he said. People can use internet banking, debit and credit card services to fund a cause on the websites. Choudhary has found some successful trends in India that have supported those in need. "Indians have shifted from the desktop ecosystem to mobile ecosystem, which is a great help to this industry. The use of messenger apps like WhatsApp and Facebook have also helped in disseminating information with efficiency. The penetration of social media and smartphones has enabled middle-class Indians to have this option of crowdfunding for their urgent needs," he said. However, he acknowledged the process has some flaws. The platforms generally are English-based, hence it gets difficult for the rural populace to access such services. "Our next aim is to venture into different languages so that a lot more people could benefit from crowdfunding," he said. How the concept of crowdfunding got popular Crowdfunding is not the first thing that comes to mind when a person is in need of financial assistance. There is ambiguity in the medium, it may work or it may not. Nonetheless, crowdfunding has made its presence felt and is now one of the top options for financing medical needs. "Baseline behaviour of giving already exists, which this industry has further highlighted. Success stories have been one of the most helpful things for crowdfunding. The media has been very helpful to us in this respect. These stories have helped instil hope in people that even if there isnt a 100 percent guarantee, this method is worth a shot," Choudhary added. Atrocious rates of borrowings have pushed people towards crowdfunding as well. The platform's revenue model Crowdfunding websites charge a platform fee for making and running campaigns. For Milaap, the fee is 5 percent of the total donation collected, Ketto charges 5 percent, Wishberry charges 10 percent and FuelADream charges 9 percent. Many powerful stories are lost amid varied campaigns. Hence, these websites promote some cases which have fallen short of funds due to lack of networking. "If some stories may be presented to the audience in a credible way, if they do not know the person directly, there will be a propensity to donate. Hence, we started paid channels, layering on top of the existing model," the CEO added. How people see crowdfunding now Over the years as the industry has grown, one huge social stigma attached to crowdfunding has been lost. It was a huge problem platforms faced, as people would be hesitant to share their problems with the rest of the world, especially if they were financial in nature. With the growth of these websites and the business as a whole, people now consider it okay to pursue crowdfunding. "Am I going to the crowd? Will I tell them all about my problems? It still exists, there is much more to be done. There is, however, a sizeable crowd which believes that crowdfunding is a viable option. The propensity to donate is coming from those people who put themselves in the shoes of those suffering. They ask themselves, what if this were me? And the will to donate appears," Choudhary noted. When crowdfunding did not exist, a middle-class family would deem it impossible to fund expenses for specialised operations and transplants. What crowdfunding has managed to do is breach that tag. Even if there is no guarantee, there is still a possibility that this new avenue might help. Crowdfunding has helped bring about hope and goodwill among people. Jhanvi's campaign was hugely successful. She received a total of Rs 2,518,782 through August to November. Her operation went perfectly and she is now recovering. (*Name of the person has been changed on request) Photo: The Canadian Press Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives for a media availability in Singapore, Thursday November 15, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government wants answers from Saudi Arabia on the country's "perspective and their participation, potentially," in the killing of a journalist. Earlier this week, Trudeau became the first Western leader to publicly confirm that Canadian intelligence officials had heard tapes Turkey released of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, but he isn't going into any more detail about the contents of the recordings. Khashoggi's killing last month at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul further strained relations with Canada and renewed public outrage over Ottawa's $15-billion arms deal with the regime. Trudeau says he is looking at the fate of future deals with Saudi Arabia, adding many companies and countries around the world are reconsidering their ties to the kingdom. Twice today, Trudeau was pushed to defend his government's human rights record, including earlier in the day during a question-and-answer session with university students. Trudeau is making the argument that Canada can nudge or influence countries into better human rights practices through closer economic ties. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Moneycontrol, Indias No 1 financial and business media platform, is set to host the first edition of the Wealth Creator Awards. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will address the audience virtually while Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry, and Civil Aviation, will be the chief guest. The event will take place on November 16 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The Wealth Creator Awards has been conceptualised with the aim of honouring companies, people and leaders behind Indias robust financial services sector, which has helped it achieve great heights and even kept the country on its feet during times of crises. Moneycontrol has taken it upon itself to host a momentous celebration to acknowledge financial powerhouses that have helped India become an economically-stable nation. What sets the Wealth Creator Awards apart is the propertys holistic approach that takes into consideration tangible performance-oriented achievements like claims settlement ratio and gross insurance premium, as well as the humane aspects of each nominee. Some of the categories for the Wealth Creator Awards 2018 include Best Bank of the Year, Best Broking Firm of the Year and Social Impact Investment Firm of the Year. The winners were selected during a Grand Jury round that was held at 25 South: Bespoke homes by the Bay - a project by The Wadhwa Group and Hubtown, on August 18, 2018. The jury panel comprised Deepak Parekh, Chairman, HDFC; Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI; Rashesh Shah, Chairman and CEO, Edelweiss Capital; Ramesh Damani, Member, BSE; A Balasubramanian, CEO, Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund; Bhargav Dasgupta, CEO, ICICI Lombard; Tarun Davda, Partner and Managing Director, Matrix Partners; Upasana Taku, Founder, Mobikwik; and Santosh Nair, Managing Editor, Moneycontrol. For the first edition of the awards, KPMG is the Process Advisor and Evaluator while Acquist Marketing & Information Solutions is the Research Partner. Moneycontrols internal team of experts devised the award categories and drew up the selection criteria. Setting the tone for the evening will be a one-on-one session between the chief guest, Suresh Prabhu, and Gaurav Choudhury, Deputy Executive Editor, Moneycontrol. The topic of the discussion: Long term wealth creation strategy in India through investment into high-quality businesses. Besides the felicitation ceremony, there will be a panel discussion on the The NBFC crisis and its implications for financial markets, moderated by Ravi Krishnan, Deputy Executive Editor, Moneycontrol. Commenting on the announcement of this award property, Manish Maheshwari, CEO, Network18 Digital, said As Indias economy takes bold strides, marching confidently into a new world, so does its industries and services across the board. Crucial, however, to the overall health of the economy is its financial sector, which contributes over 6% to the GDP. The financial sector forms the economys backbone when it comes to creating wealth for not only the country, but also its citizens. Through the Wealth Creator Awards, we applaud the world of finance and the people who make India the most financially stable economy to invest in. We strongly believe that strong financial fundamental is critical for a diverse economy like India to grow into a superpower. Commenting on the announcement of the Wealth Creator Awards,, Moneycontrol, said: With a market of over 1.2 billion people, the opportunities of India as a great investment destination and a financial powerhouse isnt lost on anyone in the biggest global platforms. The respect it got in the recently-concluded 49th Davos Summit is just a glimpse of the kind of authority that India as an economic superpower is likely to hold in the future. Creating that powerhouse with a rock solid base will mostly be thanks to its sound fiscal policies and financial structures. It is with that in mind, Moneycontrol, through the Wealth Creator Awards, aims to felicitate these pole bearers of financial services that have often set global best standards, and forced the biggest and the strongest around the world to sit up and take note of India. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Transport Corporation of India (TCI) and TCI Express (TCIX) reported their second quarter earnings in the first week of November. TCIX had a stellar quarter as it delivered strong topline growth and operational performance. In contrast, TCI posted a mixed set of numbers with healthy double-digit revenue growth, but profits remained flat as increase in operating costs weighed on margin. Both these logistics companies have gained market share since the introduction of Goods & Services Tax (GST) and remain well-positioned to reap benefits of industry reforms. Sales for the Multi-modal logistics service provider -- TCI grew 19 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 621 crore. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) came in flat despite higher topline, even as margin declined by 100 basis points (100 bps = 1 percentage point). Sharp increase in fuel prices and change in business mix dragged operating margin. Growth in revenue and profitability during Q2 was hampered by multiple factors. Delay in festive season and truckers strike in July had a compounding effect on volumes of its three business lines. Kerala floods and adverse coastal conditions on the west coast impacted cargo movement for its seaways segment. On the cost front, the company reported higher operating expenses due to sharp jump in crude oil prices. Topline for the freight division stood at Rs 293 crore in Q2, implying segmental revenue growth of 27 percent. Revenue for the supply chain solutions segment came in 9 percent higher at Rs 255 crore due to a high base last year. Strong demand from the automobile industry drove sales growth in this segment. Seaways division reported its strongest ever revenue growth (36 percent) across its three business verticals in Q2 FY19. Topline growth in Q2 was boosted by fleet expansion. In March, TCI added another ship to its existing fleet of five, which operates on the east and west coast. Margin for the seaways segment contracted on higher energy prices. The company incurred a capital expenditure of Rs 113 crore in H1 FY19. The same for FY19 is pegged around Rs 200 crore. The new investment will primarily be used for acquiring a new fleet of trucks and ships as current capacities are nearing optimum utilisation. The investment will be funded through a combination of debt and internal accruals. Its Balance Sheet remains healthy and the debt-to-equity ratio is expected to remain at current levels of 0.6 times as majority of the debt is required to meet its working capital needs. Revenue increased 21 percent to Rs 247 crore. EBITDA came in 38 percent higher than last year at Rs 27 crore. Profit after tax rose 25 percent to Rs 16 crore. Revenue continues to be on an uptrend as the company delivered its fourth consecutive quarter with topline growth in excess of 20 percent. This has been aided by strong demand from pharmaceuticals, automobile, retail and SME (small and medium enterprises) sectors. TCIX added around 2,000 customers during H1 and its total number of clients at the end of Q2 stood at nearly 2 lakh. Expansion in operating margin has been achieved through technology integration as well changes in its distribution strategy. TCIX has been able to maintain margin on a sequential basis in spite of rising fuel prices as it follows a fuel surcharge-based pricing mechanism and has been able to selectively pass on crude-related costs to clients during the quarter gone by. The company provides express cargo delivery services through a network of 28 sorting centres. It follows an asset-light model and operates majority of these (18) on a leased basis and owns the balance. Going forward, the management plans to own sorting and distribution centres in a few strategic business hubs (Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai) as it allows greater control on business operations. However, it will continue to lease centres at other locations. Capex spend for H1 stood at Rs 16 crore and the same for FY19 is pegged around Rs 60 crore. Increase in economic activity has been driving demand for the logistics industry. Recent government initiatives (Dedicated Freight Corridors, Sagarmala and BharatMala) along with GST, e-way bill and change in axle load norms is aiding growth as well as formalisation in the sector. We remain optimistic on earnings growth of both these companies and expect them to deliver healthy earnings growth over the next couple of years. From a valuation standpoint, TCIX trades at 25 times FY20 price-to-earnings multiple and appears priced to perfection. Investors with a medium to long term view should look to accumulate TCIX on dips given its strong fundamentals, low leverage (D/E ratio of 0.1 times at FY18-end) and market share gains from competitors. TCIs performance was fairly robust considering business conditions in Q2 was hit by a number of adverse factors. Margin is expected to recover in the short to medium term as fuel-related costs will be passed on to clients over the next two quarters. Over the long run, growth in revenue and profitability will be driven by seaways and supply chain solutions segments. This should further boost profitability as these segments enjoy higher margins compared to its core freight business. TCI trades at a significant discount to its sister company TCIX and offers a fairly attractive long term investment opportunity at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 15 times, with significant scope for a re-rating. Follow @Sach_Pal In 2016, Jayesh Mathur residing in Delhi purchased a home by taking a loan from PSU bank. At that time he had over-stretched his financial capability while buying this property. Nowadays, with ease of getting loans from banks, housing finance companies and NBFCs there are several millennial like Mathur who opt to purchase a home at start of their professional life. They enjoy to the fullest while paying partly through EMIs. However, with other prior financial commitments towards his family and rising children education expenses he started defaulting on home loan EMIs from following year. This led to face-off with debt collectors (recovery agents) from bank at his door step very often. Impact of defaulting on home loan EMIs Amit Wadhwani, Co-founder, Sai Estate Consultants said, If the default continues for six months, banks give the borrower a two month grace period to regularise the repayment. Failure to do so will result in banks declaring the loan a non-performing asset (NPA). Bank can auction the property/collateral to recover its debt and reduce their NPAs. Banks are primarily interested in getting their money back than in taking legal recourse. A legal recourse involves auctioning a house which is time consuming. Hence, banks follow up the matter with the borrower through debt collectors for at least six months before taking any legal action on property. Rights of borrowers while face-off with debt collectors on default of home loan EMIs With increasing number of frauds roaming around in the city, borrowers are provided with the right to ask and check the ID cards of recovery agents as issued by banks and NBFCs before starting with the conversation about pending dues. As per this right, agents cant share or discuss the issue of your impending debts with other people. Rachit Chawla, Founder and CEO, Finway said, If you found them doing so, you can file a complaint against him with banks and NBFCs and can even take a legal action. Chawla explained, According to this, recovery agents need to be decent and civilized in their approach. Respecting your personal space, the recovery agents are clearly directed to contact the borrowers between 7 am and 7 pm. On violation, borrowers are free to take legal action supported with all the valid proofs. Things that should be legally pursued by the borrower on default of home loan EMIs Inform your bank about the current financial situation, this will act as a proof for the recovery agent to know the borrower well. The borrower has an option to restructure his loan when there is a financial crunch. Wadhwani said, In many cases the banks offer the borrower a flexible and easy option to repay the home loan while restructuring. After checking the restructured proposal from bank and understanding details the borrower can then decide to accept it and continue to repay outstanding loan instead of defaulting. The borrower can be in a dreadful situation when he cannot pay any amount to the bank or NBFC. Wadhwani suggested, You can settle the loan via a small payment where up to 90% of the principal and 100% interest amount is waived off. However, in this case if the borrower has accepted to do so, the credit report will reflect the fact that you could not repay the loan amount completely and it was settled with one time payment. This will henceforth, affect your credit score while borrowing. Issuing a stern warning to states who have tweaked the Central Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA), union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri on November 15 made it clear that the government would not amend any provision of the legislation at any cost and that states resorting to such practices would have to "fall in line, otherwise the consequences would be very harsh". "Provisions of RERA will not be tweaked at any cost. States that have tweaked their rules, they have to fall in line, otherwise the consequences would be very harsh, he said at the third regional workshop on RERA - A New Era of Transparency and Accountability in Real Estate, Two Years of Implementation and Way Ahead held in the Capital. This is the third workshop being organised by the ministry that has held similar workshops in Pune and Chennai in September and October, respectively. The fourth workshop on North Eastern and Eastern states would be held in Ranchi on December 15. Lt. Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal, Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, developers, bankers, homebuyers associations and RERA authorities from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Delhi, attended the workshop. On the issue of notices being issued by RERA authorities and not being followed by developers, Puri said that RERA authorities have the power to summon, advise and punish. "RERA authorities will have to start using it (the power). Homebuyers should start questioning the authorities," he said. He also said that the "full benefit" of RERA will be realised only when its provision is implemented in letter and spirit. Asked about several home-buyers not being delivered their houses by developers on time, the Union minister said, "We will not hesitate from naming and shaming (of those developers not delivering flats on time)." Puri said that so far 33,750 projects and 26,018 agents have been registered pan India under RERA. Maharashtra has the highest number of projects and agents registration. In Maharashtra, a total 18,392 projects and 17,188 agents have been registered, he said. He also said that a committee was constituted by the government of Uttar Pradesh under chairpersonship of secretary, MOHUA to address the issues of home buyers and affected parties of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway. The recommendations of the committee are aimed at providing solution to the completion of homes in the stalled projects of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway. "None of the recommendations put any additional burden on the homebuyers, rather they will smoothen completion of the projects to deliver possession to home buyers at the earliest," Puri said. During the discussions at the workshop, Secretary MoHUA Durga Shanker Mishra, informed the audience that the Noida and Greater Noida committee made series of recommendations directed towards solving their problems. "The government of UP will very soon come up with their position on their recommendations and that will solve their (homebuyers) problems in a big way." He also said that the biggest challenge that remains is that of registration of real estate projects. "What worries me is that while the country wide registration of projects is almost 34,000, in NCR less than 4000 have registered and if you take out UP, the number is insignificant. Why are people not coming forward to register their projects, this needs to be addressed," he said. Real estate developers who attended the workshop said that the focus should be on completing the projects. They said that developers do not resist RERA but they are "nervous about refunds". They also said that the approving authorities should be brought under the ambit of RERA. Homebuyers said that amenities in a project should not subject to change, that no state government should tweak rules concerning completion certificates and that orders being issued by the authorities should be executed. Vandana.ramnani@nw18.com The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is holding a workshop in the national capital for home-buyers, agents, real estate developers and bankers from northern states on Thursday, officials said. States expected to be represented at the November 15 workshop include Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Punjab, Haryana, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) and Union Territory of Chandigarh. The ministry had held similar workshops in Pune and Chennai in September and October, respectively. Titled 'A New Era of Transparency and Accountability in Real Estate 2 Years of Implementation and Way Ahead', the workshop will be held in Vigyan Bhawan. It has been two years since RERA was implemented. Home buyers are yet to fully benefit from it due to which a sense of frustration has set in. At the conference, both the Housing Ministry and RERA authorities will get a chance to hear home buyers side of the story on a common platform. It is also important that participants are informed much in advance so that they come prepared and share their experience. After the workshop, key takeaways should be looked into and shortcomings bridged so as to reinfuse confidence about RERA among buyers, says Abhay Upadhyay, president, Forum For People's Collective Efforts. The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is planning to hold a workshop in Ranchi next month for home buyers, agents and real estate developers from eastern and north-eastern states, ministry sources said. The conference will be held on December 15, sources told Moneycontrol. In the northeast, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim have not notified the legislation due to land-related issues. West Bengal has notified its own version of the Real Estate Act the Housing and Industrial Regulation Act, 2017 (HIRA). The ministry has asked the state government to repeal it as there cannot be two legislations on the same subject. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 was enacted two years ago. As many as 13 states and Union territories have appointed a permanent regulator, while 14 have interim regulators. Kerala is in the process of setting up a regulator. As many as 22 states and Union territories have functional web portals under the law. As many as 32,923 real estate projects have been registered under this legislation across the country. Also, 25,247 real estate agents have been registered under it. Barring West Bengal, six northeastern states and Jammu & Kashmir, all states and Union territories have implemented its provisions. Vandana.Ramnani@nw18.com Growth of Cafe Coffee Day in india (Image: Reuters) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Coffee Day Enterprises slipped 6 percent intraday Thursday after company reported poor set of numbers for the quarter ended September 2018. The company's consolidated Q2FY19 net profit was down 54.7 percent at Rs 21.2 crore against Rs 46.8 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. Revenue of the company was up 11.6 percent at Rs 979.7 crore against Rs 878.1 crore. The board of the company at its held on 14 November 2018 discussed the potential restructuring of the company's business to segregate the coffee business and its subsidiaries from their non-coffee businesses. At 10:36 hrs Coffee Day Enterprises was quoting at Rs 278.95, down Rs 14.95, or 5.09 percent on the BSE. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Share price of Suzlon Energy shed 3.6 percent intraday Thursday as company posted net loss for the quarter ended September 2018. The company's Q2FY19 net loss was at Rs 625.7 crore against profit of Rs 79.68 crore in Q2FY18. Meanwhile, the company's net loss widened against June quarter net loss at Rs 573.29 crore. Revenue was up 4 percent at Rs 1,204 crore against Rs 1,157 crore. At 14:06 hrs Suzlon Energy was quoting at Rs 5.67, down Rs 0.14, or 2.41 percent. The first leg of Tata Group's plan to acquire a controlling stake in Jet Airways may see a merger of the beleaguered airline with Tata SIA Airlines, a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines that operates Vistara, The Economic Times reported. Talks between the managements of Tata group, Singapore Airlines and Jet Airways gathered pace after US private equity giant TPG Capital opted to go slow on its talks to acquire a stake in Jet Airways. As per the report, Jet Airways will first merge with Tata SIA through a share swap, with the Naresh Goyal family, Etihad, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines all become partners in the new company. Read Opinion | With eye on Jet Airways, could Tata be biting more than it can chew? In the second leg, Singapore Airlines may purchase the entire stake of Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal's family in the combined entity, sources told the paper, adding that Etihad may continue with the venture as a minority shareholder. Naresh and wife Anita Goyal own 51 percent in the airline and UAEs Etihad Airways holds 24 percent stake. "If Etihad needs an exit, we are ready to buy them out as well. Eventually, Tatas and Singapore Airlines will control the entity," a source told the paper. If the deal is successful, Tata Group will secure Jet Airway's landing rights, routes and related infrastructure amenities. Read Tata Group conducts due diligence to buy Jet Airways from Naresh Goyal: Report Tata and Singapore Airlines are expected to infuse capital to enable Jet-Vistara to combine their functions effectively, the report said. "The buyout will give access to slot landings that Tatas are keen on and not the relationships that Jet has with various partners. The attempt is to work out a way where there would not be substantial cash payment involved in the buyout," a source told the paper. Once the deal basics are ironed out, sources added it would come to the Tata Sons board, Singapore Airlines and then Vistara. Media reports said Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran is keen to work out the deal as it would strengthen the groups position in the aviation business and give it a much-needed heft. Read: In Jet Airways, N Chandrasekaran sees his vision for Tata's aviation business taking flight Jet Airways has a considerable presence on the ground with its 124 aircraft that operate nearly 700 flights a day. The airline flies to and from 66 destinations and has a market share of 15.8 percent Its Chief Financial Officer Amit Agarwal, however, said there was considerable investor interest both in the cash-strapped airline and the miles reward programme - Jet Privelege - it co-owns with Etihad. The airline has been in talks with both strategic and financial investors to sell assets and a major chunk of its business to stay afloat. Read Jet Airways stake sale: Investors keen, but talks stuck over Naresh Goyal's role As of August, Jet Airways' domestic market share has fallen to 15.8 percent (including the share of Jet Lite, its low-cost unit) from 18.2 percent in 2017 and 19.7 percent in 2016. On the other hand, its competitor IndiGo has seen its share increase to 40.6 percent from 38.2 percent over the two-year period. Rising fuel costs haven't helped Jet Airways' cause. It posted a loss of Rs 1,323 crore in Q1 FY19, following an Rs 1,045 crore dip in Q4 FY18. After reporting its first quarter results in August, Jet Airways' CEO Vinay Dube had said the airline has a turnaround plan, which includes a cost reduction programme of Rs 2,000 crore over two years. US President Donald Trump on November 15 launched a fresh attack on the Russia investigation, branding it a "disgrace to our Nation" a week after he fired his attorney general, raising questions about the probe's future. "They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump wrote on Twitter. "They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin." The president has frequently lashed out at the probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller into Moscow's interference in the 2016 US elections and whether there was collusion by the Trump campaign. But his latest missive takes on new significance in the wake of his appointment of Matthew Whitaker, a past public critic of the probe, as acting attorney general replacing the sacked Jeff Sessions. The move puts Whitaker, Sessions' former chief of staff, in charge of overseeing the Mueller probe. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a critic of the president, and Democratic Senator Chris Coons attempted to introduced a measure to protect Mueller, but it was blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has said that if Whitaker refuses to recuse himself from the probe, as Sessions had done, Democrats will seek to attach legislation protecting Mueller to a must-pass spending bill that will be up for consideration in the coming weeks. The Income Tax Department has issued notices to around 400 high net-worth individuals (HNIs) in India under the Black Money Act for not disclosing all their foreign assets, interest and income earned on them, according to The Economic Times. The HNIs have been asked to provide details of "foreign bank accounts, bank account statements since 2015 and complete narration of debit/credit entries in these bank accounts". The notices were issued following investigations by taxmen and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), sources told the paper. This comes two years after 500 prominent Indians, including film personalities and businessmen, were named in the Panama Papers leak. Also read | Panama Papers: All you need to know about the leaked documents According to the report, ED and Income Tax Department summoned those HNIs who were named in the leak and has sought an explanation. At that time, most individuals claimed they had used the liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) route, which allows Indians to remit up to $250,000 every year, to buy properties and make investments outside of India. "Most of the people named in Panama Papers stated that the investments were made out of the disclosed source and money was remitted through authorised dealer-complying FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) regulation. In some cases, where the assesse had made some error in not disclosing the full asset value, though remitted officially, the tax department is attempting to levy penalty under the Black Money Act," Dilip Lakhani, a senior Chartered Accountant, told the paper. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. Most of these individuals created offshore accounts in the British Virgin Islands, after hiring a law firm in Panama. The deposited amount was later either invested in real estate or on assets in the UK, US and Dubai. Authorities discovered that not all the assets and income arising from these assets were disclosed in written submissions by individuals who were sent notices. This is the first time that notices have been issued under the Black Money Act (Undisclosed Income and Assets). If found guilty of evading taxes, the individuals would have to cough up 120 percent as fines, along with additional Rs 10 lakh penalty. "During the course of assessment, if its discovered that tax has been evaded by not disclosing foreign income and assets, heavy penalties could follow. Taxpayers who did not take advantage of the black money disclosure scheme would now be required to submit necessary documents to the tax department, which may be followed by penalties and prosecution in case of adverse findings," Amit Maheshwari, Partner, Ashok Maheshwary & Associates said. Photo: The Canadian Press Cody Gifford-Coffman, who was killed in the Borderline Bar & Grill mass shooting, is remembered during a service at Perez Family Chapel in Camarillo, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Sheriff's deputies knew him as a cop's cop, one who would "go to the ends of the earth" to solve a crime. To family and friends, Ron Helus was a devoted husband and father who loved to go fly fishing with his son. On Thursday, Helus will be hailed as a hero a man who courageously sacrificed his own life to save others' when he raced into a Southern California bar crackling with gunfire and immediately engaged the shooter in a firefight. The act would take Helus' life when he was struck by several bullets, but it would also allow others a few precious moments to escape. In all, 13 people died, including the gunman, who killed himself. "There's no doubt that they saved lives by going in there," former Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean, who retired last Friday, said of the actions of Helus and a California Highway Patrol officer who followed him through the door. Helus' funeral was scheduled for noon at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, followed by burial at a nearby cemetery. Gov. Jerry Brown was among those expected to attend. Helus, 54, was a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department who had planned to retire next year. India was committed to a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday as he called for enhancing multilateral cooperation, economic and cultural ties among member nations at the 13th East Asia Summit in Singapore. It was Prime Minister Modi's 5th East Asia Summit (EAS). India has been participating in the EAS since its very inception in 2005. "At the East Asia Summit in Singapore, I shared my thoughts on enhancing multilateral cooperation, economic and cultural ties among member nations. Also reiterated India's commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Pacific region," the prime minister tweeted. The EAS consists of 10 ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. It was formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's vision of a peaceful, open and inclusive Indo Pacific region, strengthening maritime cooperation and commitment to a balanced Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. The RCEP, involving 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) as well as China, Japan, Australia, India, New Zealand and South Korea, would cover about half the world's population and a third of its GDP. Prime Minister Modi also interacted with leaders of other countries, including his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, before the East Asia Summit Retreat. Later, the EAS leaders posed for a customary group photograph. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit where he underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. "Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet," Modi tweeted. Prime Minister Modi also met with the NCC cadets who got the opportunity to visit Singapore as a part of a cadet exchange programme. "Wonderful moments with my young friends. Spent time with NCC cadets, who got the opportunity to come to Singapore as a part of a cadet exchange programme. They shared their memorable learnings and experiences with me," Modi tweeted. Prime Minister Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival. He also held separate bilateral meetings with US Vice President Mike Pence and the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. Before leaving for Singapore, Modi had said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolised India's "continued commitment" to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. Looking to retain power in Rajasthan, the BJP has denied tickets to its 43 sitting MLAs, including four ministers, even as some leaders who have crossed over from other parties have been fielded for the upcoming assembly elections. The ruling party has released two lists so far of 162 candidates for the elections to be held on December 7 for 200 assembly constituencies. Names of more candidates are expected to be announced soon. The BJP had released its first list of 131 candidates on November 11, while the second list of 31 candidates was announced on November 14. In the second list itself, the party denied tickets to 14 sitting MLAs and three ministers. In the two lists, a total of 92 sitting MLAs have been fielded again in the election. The BJP had won 163 seats in the last 2013 elections, while its arch-rival Congress could get just 21. Traditionally, these two parties have ruled the state one after another. So far, the saffron party has given tickets to 19 women candidates. Besides, four leaders who have joined the BJP from some other parties have also got the party ticket for the polls. These include Abhinesh Mehrishi, who would contest from Ratangarh seat after quitting BSP, Congress leaders Ashok Sharma and Mahesh Pratap Singh (for Rajakheda and Nathdwara seats, respectively) and two-time independent legislator Gurdeep Shahpini (Sangaria seat). Those having been denied a ticket include Gyandeo Ahuja, a sitting MLA from Ramgarh seat of Alwar. When contacted, Ahuja declined to comment on denial of ticket from his existing constituency. "I would comment only after meeting the office bearers of the RSS, Ahjua told PTI. He said he has not met Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje so far on this issue. The BJP ministers who have been denied ticket by the party from their existing seats include Babulal Verma, Dhan Singh Rawat, Rajkumar Rinwa and Surendra Goyal. Goyal has resigned from the party and has announced he will contest the election independently. The denial of ticket to leaders like Gyandeo Ahuja and Dhan Singh Rawat has come as a surprise to many, even as they have been known for their hardliner comments that have often triggered controversies. Sheo constituency MLA Manvendra Singh has joined the Congress while the Nathdwara assembly seat fell vacant after the demise of BJP legislator Kalyan Singh Chouhan. The saffron party has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate so far. It is also being keenly watched what would be the fate of Chief Minister Raje's close aide Yunus Khan, who was fielded from Deedwana Assembly seat in last election. The party has not announced any candidate from that seat so far. Also, there is no clarity so far on candidature of erstwhile royal family member Diya Kumari from Sawai Madhopur seat. The counting of votes for December 7 elections would take place on December 11, along with the same for four other state assemblies -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (Image: Reuters) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to be the chief guest at India's 2019 Republic Day parade, according to a report by The Indian Express. Ramaphosa, who assumed office in February this year after a long drawn tussle with then president Jacob Zuma, has accepted Indias invitation, the news daily reported. The South African president would become second the leader from his country to attend the event. Former president Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at the 1995 parade. Ramaphosa was reportedly invited by India for the Republic Day event after US President Donald Trump declined the governments invitation. Ramaphosa is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. In April, he led around 5,000 people at the annual Gandhi Walk event in Lenasia near Johannesburg, to promote community awareness and fitness. India has been stepping up its outreach to African countries over the last few years. The third India-Africa Forum Summit had witnessed participation of 51 African countries that included representation of the King of Morocco and then South African president Jacob Zuma. South Africa is also a key BRICS association partner for India. Generally, chief guests of the parade are heads of states of countries that are strategically important to India, or heads of neighbouring countries. Trump declines invite According to reports, the White House said that Trump would not be able to attend the Republic Day parade because of scheduling issues. Reports had also suggested that the reason for Trump declining the invitation was that the date of the US Presidents annual State of the Union address could collide with the event. The opposition Democratic Party in the US has a decisive say in when the State of the Union address will take place. Trump was invited to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to US in June 2017. This invitation was later converted into an invite for the 2019 Republic Day parade. Had Trump attended the parade, he would have become the second US president to be the chief guest of the annual parade, which takes place in New Delhis Rajpath. In 2015, Barack Obama became the first US President to attend the parade, which aims at displaying Indias cultural diversity and military advancement. The 2018 Republic Day parade was attended by heads of the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Moneycontrol News Regional parties are ahead in the race to build a war chest ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. According to a report by The Economic Times, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) with a fund reserve of Rs 35 crore for 2017-18, as topped this list. Out of this, DMK has already spent Rs 27 crore. Annual audited accounts and income tax returns of various regional political parties for 2017-18 reveal that parties such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in Tamil Nadu, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana, National People's Party (NPP) and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) are in the Rs 1 crore plus club. After DMK, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) comes second in the list with a fund reserve of Rs 27.2 crore, the report suggests. TRS is followed by Andhra Pradeshs ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with Rs 19 crore. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) both declared reserves of Rs 14 crore each. Other parties such as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are yet to declare their funding details, the report adds. Janata Dal United (JD(U)), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) stand at Rs 12 crore, Rs 2 crore and Rs 3.9 crore, respectively. Janata Dal Secular (JD(S)) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declared reserves of Rs 8 crore each, the report adds. Some parties are spending more than what they have raised. For example, YSR Congress has spent Rs 16 crore with a fund reserve of Rs 14 crore. Similarly, SAD which raised Rs 3.9 crore has spent Rs 14.9 crore. In addition, money flow for many political parties has increased manifold. Naveen Patnaiks BJD has seen a seven-time increase in the funds raised this year. Last year, the party had raised Rs 1.88 crore. All major parties in Telangana have shelled out more than Rs 12 crore for the upcoming Assembly polls and it is likely that the amount could rise, the report added. As much as Rs 50 crore was seized as of November 1 in Telangana. This is 70 percent more than what was seized in other poll-bound states, according to the report. Bikaner district, in the western part of Rajasthan, is famous for its bhujia and namkeen all across the world. But what not many people may be aware of is that the district is also known for its production of chana and groundnut crops. More than 33 percent of chana production in the state comes from Bikaner alone. Ahead of the state going to polls on December 7, the Moneycontrol team visited the district farmer's market to interact with traders as well as farmers. There is happiness over the new minimum support price, but most complained about the lack of infrastructure for procuring crops and corruption of government officers. A middle-aged farmer, Rameshwar, who came to sell groundnut at the mandi, told Moneycontrol, The government has increased minimum selling price of commodities, which is good. However, they have put a limit of 25 quintals of groundnut per farmer, which is creating problems. Since the average acreage of each farmer is not less than 100 to 200 quintals, farmers have to either sell their remaining produce to local traders or get a government certification for the crops, and officials seek money for the same." Sanjay Padiwal, who is in commodity trading for the last two decades, told Moneycontrol, The government has introduced favourable policies for farmers in the last five years. However, farmers are not able to reap the benefits due to lack of infrastructure and conservative ways of selling the commodities. Since a lot of them have already taken advances for their crop from local traders, which is known as 'arditiya, farmers are not able to sell their crops to government agencies, which gives higher rates compared to these traders. However, it takes 2-3 months for money to arrive from government sources while local traders make payments in a weeks time. However, all said and done, increasing MSP increases rates of commodities, which is good for farmers." A veteran trader, during our conversation with Padiwal, told Moneycontrol that after this MSP increase move, farmers at least come at the level of break-even. Another farmer, who wished to remain unnamed, spoke at length about corruption in government offices from the village level to government offices. He told us that it starts right from the patwari level, when farmers go and ask for girdawari. Girdawari is a certificate about area-wise crops they farmed last year. "After taking the certificate, we come to the mandi for selling, but our commodities are not accepted, not without bribes to officials. If we refuse to pay, we have to wait for 2-3 days, but it is a costly affair to stay in Bikaner for that long," the farmer said. He added that the government tried to rectify this problem, but online processes make it difficult and most farmers are either unable to register or come to the mandi on the allotted day. Jay Dayal Dudi, a young trader at the mandi, spoke about the real issues of farmers and traders. He told Moneycontrol, The government should implement 'bhaavantar' scheme in Rajasthan, just like they did in Madhya Pradesh, which allows farmers to sell to anybody. The government can also use the direct benefit transfer scheme for sending money. Another way is the government sends money to electricity department or banks directly to clear farmer dues. On one hand, farmers will get proper prices MSP is Rs 3,000 and farmer sells at Rs 2,500. The remaining Rs 500 can be transferred by the government via DBT. Farmers just need sale buy-sell deed." He added, "We raised this issue and shut down the mandi for seven days. However, no fruitful results came out," he added. Moneycontrol wanted to find out more about the condition of farmers in Bikaner district. The team moved to Jamasar village, which is on Sri Ganganagar Road. The Indira Gandhi canal passes by this route. In this village, farmers have small acreage and most are happy with the increase in MSP. They are happy that they have got toilets at home, courtesy government schemes. One Muslim priest told Moneycontrol, We are happy with the work of Narendra Modi ji and farmers also acknowledge the government's move to increase income of farmers via MSP." He added that other facilities had also improved in the last five years, including electricity and water conditions. However, some villagers are not happy with the mob-lynching activities by BJP workers in the state. One farmer said, Sometimes, bulls enter our farms and destroy crops. But now, the atmosphere is such that we are scared to even chase them away. We dont know what action will be taken against us, since we belong to the minority community." However, he did add that income had increased over the last five years. Bikaner is also known for political pundits and the tradition of patta'. Our team interacted with some pundits who said, "The condition of BJP has improved now and the party could easily win four out of seven seats in the district. The remaining three seats may also witness a neck-and-neck fight." The Congress on November 14 alleged a "Rs 8,935.61-crore scam" in allotment of e-tendering contracts under the BJP's watch in Madhya Pradesh, which is going to polls on November 28. Announcing that the Congress would probe the "irregularities" if voted to power, the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the estimate of the scam could go up to "Rs 50,000 crore" after investigation. For its part, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the matter was being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the state police. Surjewala claimed the Congress had in its possession documents pertaining to the alleged irregularities. "We have documents of the e-tendering scam in which private companies were given contracts worth Rs 8,935.61 crore for various schemes of irrigation and other departments. Prima facie, the scam began in 2014," Surjewala told reporters here. He alleged that the incumbent BJP government had hired a private company to develop an e-tendering software, which he said was "tampered with" to lower the value of the online bids quoted by select private companies so as to bring it on par with the lowest bids. "These firms were then allotted the big-ticket government contracts," he alleged. Surjewala said, "The value of the scam which has been executed through collusion between the government machinery and private companies could cross Rs 50,000 crore after a probe". He said the role of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state Chief Secretary BP Singh was also suspect in the matter. "The Congress was apprehensive that the computer hard disk and other evidence might be destroyed," he alleged. Terming the alleged scam "an organised loot of public resources", the Congress leader said his party would constitute a "public commission" to probe the matter. Responding to a query, Surjewala defended the Congress' poll promise to not allow holding of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) shakhas in government premises and cancel the order that allowed officers and employees to participate in shakhas. "Congress feels that if a political organisation (Sangh) is allowed to use government offices then similar permissions will have to be given to the bodies associated with the Congress, the Left and other parties, which won't be proper," he said. The Congress leader also dismissed Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier's statement, denying any wrongdoing in the Rafale deal. The Congress has been alleging "corruption and cronyism" in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. The party has been targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his "industrialist friends" over the Rafale deal, calling it a "scam". The Centre has already denied the allegations of price escalation and favouritism. When contacted, Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesman Anil Soumitra said the e-tendering matter was being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). "We are already probing the matter through the EOW. If Congress is dreaming of coming to power, let them also investigate the matter," he said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that "dirty politics" is going on in the name of publication of the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam as names of genuine voters have been struck off the list. The Trinamool Congress supremo asserted that she was not against the Assam government, but she does not support NRC. "I still believe that dirty politics is being played in the name of the NRC. Names of genuine voters have been struck off the list. We do not support this," Banerjee said during her visit to Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. She was here to take part in the birth centenary celebrations of Binapani Devi Thakur, known as 'Boroma', the revered 'mother' of the Matua community. The community originally hailed from present-day Bangladesh and migrated to India over the past five decades. Banerjee has been very critical of the BJP-led government at the Centre since the publication of the final draft of Assam's NRC on July 30. She had accused the BJP of resorting to "divide and rule" politics in the country and the Narendra Modi government of trying to make millions of people "stateless" in Assam for political gains. The TMC supremo had warned that stripping the people of their citizenship could lead to "bloodbath" and a "civil war" in the country. "They (the Centre) are driving away Bengalis from Assam. In Gujarat they are trying to drive away Biharis. We never do this here in West Bengal. We have assured them (Bengalis in Assam) that we are beside them. They must not forget Bengal is also their home. "We are not against Assam (government). But in the name of the NRC, lakhs of people have been kept out of the list. It is not a crime to speak in Bengali?" the chief minister asked. Asserting that many people from erstwhile East Pakistan had come to India as refugees, she said, "All those who came to India before 1971 are very much Indian citizens. They have their name on the voters' list, have ration cards and caste certificates." "You are an Indian citizen and that is your identity. It cannot be taken away from you. Those trying to snatch it are doing a wrong thing," she said. A delegation from the Matua community of Assam was present at the programme. A huge number of people of the community did not find their names in the Assam NRC list. She said that Matua community member and TMC MLA Mamata Thakur, and seven other party leaders were not allowed to leave Silchar airport in Assam when they had gone there after the publication of the final draft of NRC. Names of over 40 lakh people were excluded from the citizens' register. Out of the 3.29 crore people who had filled their applications for the NRC, 2.89 crore found their names in the draft list. Raigarh: Congress President Rahul Gandhi waves at the crowd during an election rally at Kharsia, Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018. (PTI Photo) (PTI11_13_2018_000140B) The Congress on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national interests on the Rafale issue, with party chief Rahul Gandhi alleging that the latest skeleton to tumble out of the "Rafale cupboard" is that there is no guarantee by the French government backing the deal. Gandhi asked if the Rafale jet deal can be called a "Government to Government" contract with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying there is only a letter from the French government promising to be faithful. "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: No Guarantee by the French Government backing the deal. "BUT, our PM says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful. That's enough to call this a Government to Government deal?" he asked on Twitter, using the hashtag "BikGayaChowkidar". The government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The French government has, however, given a "letter of comfort" to India which would be good enough "governmental guarantee", Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court. Echoing his party president, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the only forum to investigate acts of omission, commission and corruption in the "biggest defence scam" of India is to have a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone as far as to sabotage his own nation's interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends," he said at a press conference, alleging that the prime minister had waived the sovereign guarantee requirement in the deal. New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi (R) with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu during a meeting, in New Delhi, Thursday, Nov 01, 2018. (PTI Photo)(PTI11_1_2018_000114B) Amar Devulapalli On December 11, we will know which party forms the government in each of the five states heading for polls. More importantly, on December 11, the results will decide the fate of the anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) front. In the 119-member Telangana assembly, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is contesting alone, with an understanding with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Their main opponent is the grand alliance comprising of the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), a new party floated by activist M Kodandram. Earlier this year, TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) was the first to pitch the idea of a third force, an alternative to the Congress and the BJP at the Centre. It was followed by KCR touring the country seeking the support of representatives of major political parties, including Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and JD(S) President and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. However, the initiative lost steam faster than one expected as KCR cozied up to the BJP. When the Telangana Cabinet was dissolved on September 6 and the names of 105 candidates were announced on the same day, the TRS had a first-mover advantage over other political parties. The Opposition, mainly the Congress, appeared unprepared for early elections. Since then, political developments in Telangana have been at breakneck speed. Though there are four other states Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram going to polls, the elections in Telangana are being keenly observed especially after Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu fast-tracked his efforts to form an anti-BJP front. Even as the Congress' and the TDP's state-level leaders were negotiating the terms and conditions of an anti-TRS coalition in Telangana, Naidu flew to Delhi and met Congress President Rahul Gandhi. In a span of two weeks, Naidu met Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader MK Stalin, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury, among others. The Congress-TDP coalition in Telangana it is the first time the two parties are joining hands is being keenly watched as the precipitator for a grand alliance at the Centre for the 2019 general elections. Its another thing that Congress leaders in Telangana are struggling to douse dissidence within the party and at the same time, convince allies on an amicable seat-sharing formula. On November 14, the TJS announced that it would contest 12 seats, thereby widening the rift in the anti-TRS coalition. In some of these seats, the TDP and the Congress had already announced their candidates. The TJS' latest move has created more confusion among voters and party cadre. The CPI leaders are unhappy as only three seats have been allotted to them, but they accepted the offer after they were assured of more MLC posts. Naidu has asked TDP leaders in Telangana to lie low and not insist on more seats in order to ensure that the opposition is united in the state. If the grand alliance trounces the TRS, it will be a big boost for the anti-BJP front. The victory will strengthen the position of Naidu, who may try to rope in Banerjee, Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Partys Mayawati and others for the 2019 general elections. The BJP is wary of what is happening in Telangana and is treading cautiously. If the grand alliance is successful, the model can be replicated at the Centre. This will adversely affect the BJP and the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the most powerful contender in 2019. Its no secret that the BJP in Telangana is not putting up an aggressive battle and is focusing on the handful of seats it has at the moment. There is also no news of when Modi or Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will campaign in Telangana. For now, it seems that the BJP does not want to hamper the TRS' prospects. For the BJP, a TRS win will also give it an option to explore an open tie-up for 2019. Most importantly, if the TRS wins in Telangana, it will discredit the grand alliance. The results in Telangana will set the tone for the Opposition for 2019. (Amar Devulapalli is a Hyderabad-based senior journalist. Views are personal) Supporters of Congress party are framed by the party's symbols installed at the venue where Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally at Bardoli The Assembly elections of 2014, held before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, was no less than a nightmare for the Congress. Andhra Pradesh was regarded as a bastion for the party since the formation of the state in 1956. This was until Telugu matinee idol-turned-politician NT Rama Rao launched his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982, ending the single-party rule. TDP ruled the state for much of the next two-and-half decades, before Congress found its feet again, under the leadership of YS Rajasekhara Reddy (popularly known as YSR). YSR helped Congress win the state from TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh in 2004 and retained it in 2009 general and assembly elections. But his untimely death in September 2009 spelt doom for the party in the state, which was later bifurcated into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The vote share of Congress dropped from 36.69 percent in 2009 to 12.07 percent in 2014. The party was able to win just 21 seats (all in Telangana region) out of 286 seats it contested from in 2014, against winning 156 seats out of 294 contested seats in 2009. The defeat in the Telangana region was a big setback for the party, which played a prominent role in carving it out as a separate state, as the voters preferred the regional Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS). As Telangana inches closer to voting for a fresh government in the state, Congress is trying hard to win the battle this time. Also read: Key facts about the 1st independent election of Telangana Let's take a look at the key reasons behind Congress decimation in Telangana in 2014: Anti-incumbency The Congress had won and came to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2004 under chief minister YSR. The party then retained power in 2009. YSR continued as the CM of the state, but his term was abruptly cut short by his death on September 2, 2009. It was followed by the appointment of senior Congressman K Rosaiah as chief minister. This is when came the twist in state politics, as YS Jaganmohan Reddy, son of YSR, revolted against the party. The Congress leadership soon realized that Rosaiah was no match for the large leadership vacuum left by YSR. Also, given his old age, Jagan's open revolt and intensification of Telangana statehood agitation, the party decided to replace him with the much younger N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Kiran Reddy's appointment was also seen as an attempt by the party leadership to placate the politically strong Reddy community that always aligned with the Congress as well as nullify Jagan's rebellion. Jagan finally broke away from Congress with a few of his loyal MLAs and formed a regional party named YSR Congress. The Congress managed to complete the tenure with the help of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, who merged his Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with the former. The general anti-incumbency, in addition to infighting and the party's flip-flops on Telangana, led to political unrest and the administration was always under siege due to agitation. Formation of Telangana The demand of a separate Telangana state was first raised in 1969. After almost 40 years, the statehood demand took centrestage with K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) sitting on a fast-unto-death in 2009. With KCR's health deteriorating and the Centre sensing law and order breakdown in the state, they bit the bullet by announcing the process for formation of the state on December 9. But it was soon put on the back burner for want of consultations. Also read: Know the journey of the 'architect' of Telangana movement - KCR It was only in 2014, ahead of Lok Sabha and AP assembly polls, the UPA government approved the division. Though the Congress had perceived the decision as a way to gain support of people, it spinned negatively. The party was seen as pro-Telangana in AP (for letting the division) and anti-Telangana in the new state (for delaying the process). This led to the party being turned into a cipher in Andhra and a loser in Telangana. TRS emerging as champion of Telangana statehood cause For Congress, the division of Andhra resulted in a stunning defeat. The party was decimated in Seemandhra and lost ground in Telangana, with the mandate going in favour of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) a party formed with the single-point agenda of the formation of Telangana by K Chandrashekar. Also read: Here's why the battle gets tougher for KCR this time KCR and other TRS members managed to convince people that the state was granted as political compulsion and not to respect sentiments of the people. Another reason was the mindset of voters in Telangana to have a ruling party that was solely dedicated to them. This weighed heavily against Congress. The Modi factor Another factor that ate into Congress votes in 2014 was Narendra Modi and his popularity at the time. The assembly elections for Telangana was held alongside 2014 Lok Sabha elections which resulted in some gains for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also read: Here are the key issues gaining steam ahead of elections The BJP entered into an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and both parties together swept most constituencies in Greater Hyderabad, where there is significant Andhra settler population and resentment against Congress. Out of the five seats BJP won in 2014, four Musheerabad, Goshamahal, Khairatabad and Uppal were ruled by Congress. Photo: The Canadian Press CNN's Jim Acosta walks to the the Federal Court in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, to attend a hearing on legal challenge against President Donald Trump's administration. President Donald Trump's administration is trying to fend off a legal challenge from CNN and other outlets over the revocation of journalist Jim Acosta's White House "hard pass." U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly heard arguments Wednesday afternoon from lawyers representing CNN and the Justice Department. The news network is seeking an immediate restraining order that would force the White House to return Acosta's press credentials which grant reporters as-needed access to the 18-acre complex. Kelly said he would announce his decision Thursday afternoon. Acosta has repeatedly clashed with Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in briefings over the last two years. But the dynamic devolved into a near-shouting match during a combative press conference last week following midterm elections in which Republicans lost control of the House. Acosta refused to give up a microphone when the president said he didn't want to hear anything more from him. Trump called Acosta a "rude, terrible person." The White House quickly announced that Acosta's White House access would be revoked. The CNN lawsuit calls the revocation "an unabashed attempt to censor the press and exclude reporters from the White House who challenge and dispute the President's point of view." The Associated Press joined with a group of 12 other news organizations, including Fox News, in filing an amicus brief Wednesday in support of CNN. "Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized," said a statement by Fox News President Jay Wallace. "While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people." On Wednesday, Justice Department lawyer James Burnham argued that Acosta was guilty of "inappropriate grandstanding" and deserved to lose his access over "his refusal to comply with the general standards of a press conference." Burnham also pointed out that CNN has dozens of other staffers with White House credentials, so excluding Acosta would not harm the network's coverage. The network's lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, contended that Acosta was being singled out for his body of work, not his alleged rudeness during a press conference. "The White House has made very clear that they don't like the content of the reporting by CNN and Jim Acosta," Boutrous said. "Rudeness really is a code word for 'I don't like you being an aggressive reporter.'" Jack Dorsey: There were reports that the founder of microblogging website Twitter spent more time pursuing yoga and fashion designing than running the company. This led to his ousting in 2008. He returned to Twitter as Executive Chairman in 2011. Even as Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey makes the right noises on his maiden visit to India, experts feel the social media platform has missed several opportunities to make itself relevant in the country. In its most recent earnings announcement in October, Twitter reported annual increase of 29 percent in revenue to $758 million. But its monthly active users fell to 326 million in the September quarter, a number Twitter expects to drop further as it tries to rid the platform of fake profiles to tackle abuse, which has been a growing problem among users. Twitter does not break up its users or revenue by geography. In his maiden visit to India this week, Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey reiterated the company's commitment to the Indian market, but analysts feel Twitter hasn't quite done enough. "Twitter does not even account for 5 per cent of revenue from social media platforms in India," said Meenakshi Tiwari, a forecast analyst who looks at business technology and digital marketing at research firm Forrester. Facebook, she added, has the majority chunk of social media in India. The reach of Facebook in tier-3 and tier-4 places is much more than that of Twitter. Celebrities, who are a huge draw for users, are now more active on Instagram, which is again a Facebook property, Tiwari said. Fall from grace Over the years, Indian users of Twitter have developed a love-hate relationship with the platform. "Twitter was, until about a decade ago, a very good platform to get a fair idea of what people were talking about on a given day. But today, most of that organic discovery is gone, and replaced by obviously promoted trends," said a social media manager at a Delhi-based advertising firm who did not wish to be named. With the trigger-happy nature of the medium taking a toll, users have chosen to quit the platform because of trolling or hate speech through anonymous accounts. Twitter also suspends abusive or problematic accounts if reported by other users. "Twitter has not capitalised on localisation tools either, which will be critical for expanding into India. The result has been that newer, local platforms like Gutrgoo, have sprung up that will prove a challenge to Twitter in the local language space," said Sanchit Vir Gogia, co-founder and CEO at Greyhoud Research. Gutrgoo is an Indian social media platform that is slowly gaining popularity. It promises a cleaner, more moderated form of discussion and is cashing in on its Indian origin to lure people in the country. But experts said another reason why marketers no longer consider Twitter seriously is its high ad rates, which are six to eight times more expensive when compared to Facebook. "More specifically, on the ad rates, the company needs to work out a local billing system with pricing that works for the country," said Gogia. Acquisitions "missed opportunity" Twitter acquired live video streaming app Periscope and Indian missed call startup Zipdial in 2015. While Periscope saw some traction initially, it never really got the kind of mass appeal that Facebook Live videos did. The Zipdial deal, rumoured to be in the ballpark of $30-40 million, was also never capitalised on in a meaningful way, and Twitter shut down the engineering division at Zipdial in 2016. "They had acquired Zipdial to tap onto the missed call market but nothing concrete has been seen yet from Twitter to capitalise on the missed call market in India and expand to Tier-2 and 3 towns. If Twitter indeed wants the pecking order in the local social media ecosystem, then it must manage such local nuances better," said Gogia. Tiwari of Forrester said Twitter has not been able to cash in on video trends. In October 2015, Twitter also launched its curated stories feature called Moments, a curated section of the platform with the most popular or relevant stories of the day. The feature found decent acceptance in the US market around the time it was launched, but has slowly fizzled out. "They also missed the opportunity to build Moments as a product in India," said Gogia. India's general elections the next opportunity? Earlier this week, Dorsey landed in India and visited the Dalai Lama, Jaipur city, attended a townhall with students at Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, and also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. Also Read: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's India visit: Here's what he had to say on fake news and artificial intelligence Ahead of India's upcoming general election, it is clear that Dorsey is looking to promote conversations on Twitter and get more people to join the platform. During his IIT-Delhi visit, he launched the #Powerof18 campaign -- an initiative aimed at young voters -- asking them to take to Twitter and discuss issues they find relevant. On the other hand, Twitter is also grappling with the issue of weeding out fake news from its platform. "It is very easy for fringe elements to develop a narrative on Twitter or Facebook. To my mind, curbing this is the biggest challenge they face because of the need to balance freedom of expression and what could be seen as communally coloured commentary," said an executive with a media management company who did not wish to be named. Getting new users is key to the success of Twitter, because that will eventually lead to more ad revenue. After months of teasers and speculation, Mahindra Group has finally resurrected the iconic motorcycle brand Jawa in India. The Czech motorcycle brand has launched three new models -- Jawa , Jawa 42, which is the classic variant, and a custom bobber model named Jawa Perak. The motorcycles have been developed from the ground-up and don a retro look reminiscent of the golden era of the past. While bookings for Jawa and Jawa Forty Two will begin today, the Jawa Perak will take a while to arrive. Pricing has been announced at Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.55 lakh for the Jawa Forty Two and Jawa, while the Perak is expected to cost Rs 1.89 lakh -- all prices ex-showroom, Delhi. In pics: Check out the Jawa, Jawa Forty Two and Perak "The Jawa and Jawa forty two break cover as the brand's new torchbearers, bringing back the classic appeal of Jawa with a retro - cool twist. These modern machines have the authentic Jawa character that balances performance, capability and quality," the company stated. Mechanically, the Jawa and Jawa 42 are powered by a 293cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that churns out 27 PS and 28 Nm of peak torque. The motor comes with modern fuel-injection technology but resembles the 2-stroke engines and twin-exhaust layout of the Jawas of old. Interestingly, the motor is BS-VI ready, making it the first made-in-India engine of its kind. The bikes sport a 6-speed constant mesh gearbox. All the models are built around a double-cradle frame suspended by telescopic front fork and gas-charged dual rear shock absorbers. Braking duties are handled by a 280 mm disc up front and a rear drum, with single channel ABS. The Jawa will be available in three colour options while the Jawa 42 gets six. "It's rare to get an opportunity to resurrect a legend. Jawa is an authentic and iconic brand that represents the desire and yearning in all of us for freedom and adventure," said Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, during the launch. US_China_Trade_Trade war_Tariff China has delivered a written response to US demands for wide-ranging trade reforms, three US government sources said on Wednesday, a move that could trigger negotiations to bring an end to a withering trade war between the world's top economies. US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on the list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the two countries. China has responded with import tariffs on US goods. Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Argentina at the end of November and in early December. The US president has repeatedly railed against Beijing over intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, Chinese entry barriers to American businesses and the US trade deficit with China. Three US government sources told Reuters on Wednesday that China had sent a response to US demands on those and other issues. The sources gave no further details on the content of the response. It was unclear if the response contained concessions that would satisfy Trump's demands for change. A US team led by Treasury Under Secretary David Malpass discussed trade issues with a Chinese team via videoconference on Tuesday, a US Treasury spokesperson said on Wednesday. The United States had said it would not start negotiations on trade until it saw concrete proposals from China to address its concerns. Earlier this month, after a phone conversation with Xi, Trump said he thought the United States would make a deal with China on trade but stood ready to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods if no progress is made. The tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1. Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports, about $267 billion worth, if Beijing fails to address US demands. The two countries resumed talks after the call between the two leaders, ending a three month hiatus that saw relations deteriorate as the US accused China of interfering in US domestic politics and seeking to undermine Trump. US Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday said Beijing needed to change its behaviour to avoid a new cold war with the United States. Imran Khan Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Malaysia next week where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. The Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Khan would be accompanied by a high-level delegation during his official trip to Malaysia on November 20-21. This would be Khan's first bilateral visit to Malaysia. Khan and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks. The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Khan's visit "would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit," the statement said. Pakistan was facing a USD 12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the International Monetary Fund by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials here believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. Meanwhile, Malaysia's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ikram Bin Mohammad Ibrahim called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here and discussed a wide range of issues. Qureshi briefed the High Commissioner about Prime Minister Khan's upcoming visit to Malaysia. He also highlighted that the prime minister's visit would help further strengthen bilateral relations between two countries and open new avenues of bilateral cooperation. The Malaysian diplomat assured his government's full support to enhance bilateral relations with Pakistan and said that the Malaysian leadership looks forward to Khan's visit. This is the first time a North Korean leader has met a sitting President of the US. (Photo: AP) US Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday President Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the new year but won't repeat past mistakes of allowing promises to be broken on pledges to end arms programmes. The United States and North Korea have been discussing a second meeting between their leaders to follow up the Singapore summit in June and lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes. "The plans are ongoing. We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," Pence told reporters after meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes that prior administrations, frankly in both political parties, have made over the last several decades where promises are made, sanctions are lifted, economic support comes and then promises are broken." Pence and Moon were meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit hosted by Singapore. A U.S. think tank said on Monday it had identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons programmes. North Korea had entered into agreements with regional powers in 1994 and in 2005 to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for economic benefits and diplomatic rewards, but those deals broke down after Pyongyang clandestinely continued to pursue building weapons of mass destruction. With scant sign of progress on negotiations since the June summit and recent high-level meetings cancelled, Trump said last week he's now in "no rush" but still wants to meet with Kim for a second time. U.S. officials have said sanctions forced North Korea to the negotiating table and vowed to keep pressure until complete denuclearisation. But North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the world's biggest powers. Pence said Moon agreed to work closely with the United States towards the second U.S.-North Korea summit, as Washington maintains the "maximum pressure" campaign by keeping the sanctions against Pyongyang in place. North Korea has not tested a nuclear device or ballistic missile since last year, and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site with plans to dismantle several more facilities. But it has warned it could restart its nuclear programme if the United States does not drop the sanctions regime. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May waits for the result of the vote in her constituency at the count centre for the general election in Maidenhead, June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville - RTX39QYF Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May on November 15 faced a possible "coup" after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Indian-origin minister Shailesh Vara and two other ministers resigned from her divided Cabinet over UK's "half-baked" divorce deal with the European Union. Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, Prime Minister May was hit by a bigger blow as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the withdrawal agreement with the 28-member bloc. Amidst a spate of resignations, prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg directly challenged 62-year-old May in the House of Commons. He later submitted a letter of no confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party. May's opponents need 48 letters from Tory MPs to trigger the confidence vote. However, Brexiter Tory MPs are nowhere near the numbers they need (158) to defeat May in a confidence vote, British media reported. Rees-Mogg told reporters that "coup" is the wrong word, as he is following legitimate means to try and oust the Prime Minister. "Leaving the European Union is the most fantastic opportunity for the United Kingdom. This opportunity is being thrown away," he said. "The problem is that the negotiations have given way on all the key points," the Conservative lawmaker said. Another Conservative MP, Henry Smith has also submitted his letter, requesting a vote of no confidence in May. Rory Stewart, a minister of state at the Ministry of Justice, attacked MPs attempting to trigger a leadership challenge against May, saying it "feels like a sort of coup d'etat taking place in Parliament." Earlier, Vara, the Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office since January, said, "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better." He attacked the draft withdrawal agreement which would form the basis of the UK's exit from the EU by March, 29, 2019 as a "half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation". The resignation of Raab, the man involved with the actual drafting of the agreement with EU counterparts, throws Prime Minister May's leadership in turmoil. Raab, who took charge as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU after his predecessor David Davis stepped down in protest over May's Brexit negotiations in July, said the proposed arrangement to avoid a post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". Raab's resignation was followed by another pro-Brexit minister, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, announcing that she is resigning from the Cabinet over the issue. Another junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit over Brexit, shortly after her former boss Raab quit office. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who defended the deal before belligerent MPs in the House of Commons. Making a statement on the withdrawal agreement, dubbed the Outline Political Declaration, at the heart of the intensifying rebellion, May said she respected the views of her Cabinet members who chose to resign but delivering Brexit involves difficult choices. "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated....," the defiant prime minister said. While she claimed the Cabinet had collectively given its backing to her deal, many ministers had spoken out against it and were not entirely happy with the final text. The biggest sticking point remains over what is termed as a Northern Ireland backstop, which leaves the EU with the option of keeping the whole of the UK within a common Customs Union if a future trading relationship fails to be thrashed out during the 21-month transition period, set to run until December 2021. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, attacked Prime Minister May in his response to May's statement on Brexit to the House of Commons. He said May's negotiations that resulted draft Brexit deal with the European Union had ended in a "huge and damaging failure." Corbyn demanded that the government should withdraw the deal. "The government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected," he said. The markets also reacted sharply, with the British Pound falling heavily against most major currencies after Raab's resignation. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up the minority Tory government, have also been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. The fresh turmoil comes as Britain continues to try and thrash out the basis of its exit from the EU, after a referendum over its membership of the economic bloc resulted in a 52 percent vote in favour of Brexit in 2016. Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday took America's "pressure campaign" against North Korea to a summit of world leaders, as concerns mount over Pyongyang's key allies easing sanctions imposed over its nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year, signing a vaguely worded deal on denuclearisation. But there has been little progress since, with the two countries sparring over the exact meaning of the agreement. The isolated, impoverished North is under heavy sanctions imposed over its atomic weapons programme, which it has pursued in violation of UN resolutions. Washington insists they must be maintained until the North denuclearises. But US officials acknowledge enforcement of the sanctions by the North's traditional trading partners China and Russia has eased. Meanwhile, Seoul has said it is mulling lifting its own measures against Pyongyang. In remarks at the opening of a meeting with Southeast Asian leaders, Pence said America's regional "partnership also includes our pressure campaign regarding" the North. The meeting in Singapore is also being attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in. "We will very much be talking about the need to maintain the pressure programme," a senior US official said. "It is what got Kim Jong Un to the table. It is incredibly important that the pressure stays on." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also stressed in a meeting with members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) the need to fully enforce sanctions. "He urged ASEAN countries to collaborate on concrete measures such as ship to ship transfer of prohibited materials, including fuel," said foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga. US officials insist on the final, fully verified denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before sanctions are lifted. The North has rejected demands for what it calls "unilateral" disarmament, and has instead sought unspecified reciprocal US measures in a gradual process. It has also called for sanctions to be eased as a reward for coming to the table, warning Washington's stance is undermining confidence. While Trump has struck an optimistic tone in public, there are indications Pyongyang is not moving quickly enough towards abandoning its nuclear weapons. Trump has skipped this week's Singapore summit, the biggest annual meeting organised by ASEAN, raising new questions about US commitment to Asia. Taking his place, Pence insisted America's commitment to the region was "steadfast and enduring". "In all that we do the United States seeks collaboration not control," he said at the meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. He also took a swipe at Beijing, whose growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia and the United States. "Empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you for freedom of navigation and our determination to ensure your nations are secure in their sovereign borders, on land and at sea." Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, even areas approaching the coastlines of other countries, and has been establishing military installations on disputed outcrops. After Singapore, Pence is heading to Papua New Guinea for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.(AFP) RUP . ProPublica interviewed the District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine about the suit, what it might uncover and why the Founding Fathers put the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution. Theres lots of talk about congressional investigations of the Trump administration that may be coming. Meanwhile, there is already a push to pull back the veil on the presidents conflicts. And its making progress. This month, a federal judge ruled that Maryland and Washington, D.C., can move ahead with a lawsuit claiming the president has violated the Constitutions Emoluments Clause, which bars presidents from accepting payments from foreign and state governments without congressional approval. That means the president may soon have to turn over all sorts of documents related to his businesses. We spoke about the case with one of the lawyers behind it, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine Racine explains that the Emoluments Clause is the countrys first anticorruption law. The framers created it to ensure that a president the United States as well as other federal officers would be loyal to the interest of the United States, not to their purses or to their pocketbooks. The Department of Justice has fought the case, disputing that the president is violating the Emoluments Clause. This case, which should have been dismissed, presents important questions that warrant immediate appellate review, a department spokesman said after the judges order. Racine also talked with us about what exact documents theyre hoping to get, and the time a Republican Congress investigated whether another president was receiving emoluments. ( He wasnt. Listen to the whole episode. Several lenders of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) have opposed the 90-day moratorium over loans taken by the debt-laden group and its subsidiaries. Lenders also requested the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to allow them not to classify IL&FS accounts as non-performing assets (NPAs) in case of defaults. However, there was no decision and the NCLAT fixed 17th December as next date of hearing. Last month, the NCLAT had stayed all proceedings against IL&FS group and its 348 group companies till further orders, over an urgent petition moved by the government. During the hearing on Tuesday before the Appellate Tribunal, the government submitted a revival plan for IL&FS, which is likely to take shape over the next six to nine months and also sought continuation of the moratorium for a three-month period. Earlier, the ministry of corporate affairs had approached the appellate tribunal after the Mumbai bench of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) turned down its plea to grant 90-day moratorium over the loans taken by IL&FS and its subsidiaries. On 1 October 2018, the NCLT suspended the board of IL&FS on the government's plea and authorised reconstitution of the board by appointing seven directors two days later. The government has released the latest version of Mumbai Development Plan 2034 - Development Control Promotion and Regulation (DCPR 2034). This plan took everyone by surprise as it is significantly different from the DP 2034 passed by BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in February 2018. The current DP has several positives and, in a way, is a step in the right direction, but implementation of some of the objectives may be a challenge, says Knight Frank India. The international property consultant has released a report titled "DCPR 2034 - Deciphering Mumbai's Future" which delves into the fine print of the DCPR 2034 and what it spells for the residential and office sectors. Commenting on the report, Shishir Baijal, chairman & managing director, Knight Frank India, said, "With the release of DCPR 2034, the last level of uncertainty has ended. The developer community can now progress with confidence. The policy provides clarity and focus for future development of Mumbai. The development plan (DCPR 2034) is a crucial policy, which can shape the future of our city, hence, it should be given paramount importance. The current DCPR 2034 has several positives and is a step in the right direction, however, we believe that there will be areas to work on further." "The DCPR 2034 has provided a fillip to the commercial sector in Mumbai by way of incentivised floor space index (FSI), however, the high cost of the FSI could be a challenge. On the residential front, measures such as opening up of land for promoting affordable housing and unification of carpet area definition will prove to be a boon for homebuyers. All in all, the current DCPR 2034 has something to offer to all stakeholders and we are optimistic that it will have far-reaching implications on Mumbai's growth over the next two decades," he added. Here are key findings of Knight Frank from the DCPR 2034 Linking of Permissible FSI to Road Width Past policies have been limited in checking congestion, leading to construction of tall residential/commercial towers on narrow roads By linking permissible FSI to road width, the DCPR 2034 would ensure that taller buildings can be constructed only if the road width can support it, thereby reducing congestion Minimum Road Width of 12 Metres for Higher FSI for Commercial The DCPR 2034 provides higher FSI for office developments, only if the road width is greater than 12 metres or else it is the same as residential As the number of vehicles moving in and out of a commercial building throughout the day is higher than residential, the incidence of traffic jams outside commercial buildings can be reduced, to some extent. Increasing FSI through Increase in Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Limits and Premium FSI The FSI for island city has been increased in the DCPR 2034. This increase in FSI accrues from increase in FSI on payment of premium and the increase in the quantum of TDR that can be loaded on the plot; This would ensure that there is demand for TDR generated through - surrendering land for road widening, slum rehabilitation and surrendering of reserved plots; Further, the government and the municipal corporation would earn revenues from selling premium FSI. Increasing Development Rights for Area Surrendered The state urban development department, in its November 2016 notification, had increased the TDR generated for land surrendered to the BMC due to reservation on the plot. This was increased to 2.5 times the area of land surrendered in the island city and 2 times the area of land surrendered in the suburbs. Prior to that, TDR under both was 1. The same regulation has been continued in the DCPR 2034; This would ensure that there would be incentives for the stakeholders to expedite the process of slum rehabilitation and surrendering of reserved plots Adopting Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) Definition of Carpet Area DCPR 2034 has altered its definition of carpet area from the one defined by the Maharashtra Ownership Flat Act (MOFA) and has adopted RERA's definition of carpet area. Aligning to a uniform definition will help reduce ambiguity amongst buyers. Slum Rehabilitation Only 100,000 slum units have been rehabilitated over the past 20 years under the current slum rehabilitation policy. At this pace, it would take approximately 300 years to rehabilitate the 1.5 million-1.6 million slum units in Mumbai. The inadequacies of the past policy may get carried forward under the current DCPR 2034, as it continues the same norms. Reduction of Consent Clause for Redevelopment of Buildings in Certain Categories The minimum irrevocable consent required for redevelopment of cessed and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) buildings has been reduced from 70% to 51%; Redevelopment of buildings under these categories is stuck due to other reasons, hence, reducing consent may not help in addressing the issue completely. Key Findings - Office Increasing FSI for Office Development The DCPR 2034 aims to create eight million jobs in Mumbai by increasing the supply of office space The FSI given under DCPR 2034 for commercial development is higher than residential for road width more than 12 metres. The additional/higher FSI is aimed at incentivising commercial development over residential development. This additional FSI (incentive) for commercial development has to be purchased from the BMC by paying a premium @ 50% of Annual Schedule of Rates (ASR); As per our analysis, the current set of incentives in the form of additional FSI may not sufficiently promote office developments to the extent required. Development of Smart Fintech Centres Photo: Facebook Advocates say a disturbing video showing a Cape Breton teen's classmate walking over him in a stream demonstrates how the lives of people with disabilities are often devalued. Brett Corbett, who has cerebral palsy, told his mother Terri McEachern that he has forgiven the bullies who apologized to him, but he still feels unsafe returning to his high school. His story has captured the world's attention, and John Rae of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities said Corbett may have grounds for a human rights complaint against his school. "It shows how the lives of people with disabilities are devalued," Rae said. The 14-year-old boy's family saw the video, but it didn't become public until a girl posted it on social media to counter those who said the incident didn't happen. The video shows Corbett lying down in a stream surrounded by other students. A girl steps on his back to cross while at least 20 other students stand back and watch, some filming with their phones. A video posted to Facebook on Nov. 8 has since been viewed more than 490,000 times. The story has been picked up by international media outlets, and people around the world have shared their outrage. For Rob Benn-Frenette, Corbett's story hit especially close to home. Benn-Frenette founded the anti-bullying charity and website Bullying Canada after years of harassment and bullying over his cerebral palsy while growing up in New Brunswick. His organization hears from a number of youth with disabilities who are victims of bullying. Individuals often reach out to Bullying Canada after exhausting other options in trying to deal with a pattern of abuse. "Sadly, young people with disabilities face a tough world, much harsher than it needs to be. They are no strangers to violence, and they share that with us on a regular basis," Benn-Frenette said in an email. Benn-Frenette said it's vital that parents talk to the youths involved, as these adolescent experience can have lifelong impacts. Bullying Canada hears from adults in their 80s who are still haunted from their experiences with bullying. "Bullying often has long-term consequences that never abate. From first-hand experience I can tell you that nightmares can be part of your life well into your adult years, if not forever," he said. The video has prompted an outpouring of support for Corbett. The Special Olympics posted a video on Twitter in support of Corbett, featuring athletes like figure skater Michelle Kwan and Special Olympics board member Matthew Williams speaking out against the incident and against the abuse of people with disabilities. The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education issued a statement last week saying the school and regional police are investigating the incident. Former secretary Ashok Chawla, who has been named in a charge-sheet by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Aircel-Maxis scam, has resigned as non-executive chairman of Yes Bank. Mr Chawla, however, continues to be chairman of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). According to Yes Banks disclosure to the stock exchange, Mr Chawla ostensibly resigned since he cannot devote the substantial time required from the chairman during the transition period when a new managing director is to be appointed to replace Rana Kapoor. Mr Kapoor will step down in line with a directive from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which refused to extend his term. The RBI directive was made public on 17 October 2018 and Mr Kapoor will remain in the job until at least 31 January 2019. In the circumstances, Mr Chawlas claim of having to devote substantial time to the job seem rather premature. It also raises another important questionat a time when independent directors, especially those in powerful government positions and regulatory bodies, are commanding marquee board directorships with huge sitting fees and a commission out of the profits earned. Wouldnt they be expected to stay with a company in good times as well as when the going gets rough and more of their time is required? Speculation in the market is that Mr Chawlas decision has more to do with the Aircel-Maxis case than work pressure. But that raises the issue of his continuance as chairman of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) as well. Sources close to the Exchange say it is their understanding that RBI and the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), have had no issues with Mr Chawla continuing as NSE chairman until the government decides whether or not to grant permission for his prosecution to the CBI. Mr Chawla, who was finance secretary before retiring in 2011, is one of 12 individuals and six firms named in the Aircel-Maxis charge-sheet filed in July this year. The investigation agency had filed the charge-sheet against former minister P Chidambaram, his son Karti and 16 others. This includes former Union secretary for economic affairs Ashok Kumar Jha, then additional secretary Mr Chawla (chairman of NSE), two serving IAS officersjoint secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna and director Deepak Kumar Singh and an undersecretary Ram Sharan, and private persons A Palaniappan, Tatparanandam Krishnan, Augustus Ralph Marshal, S Bhaskaraman and V Srinivasan. In the Yes Bank case, according to reports, last month the Bank's board had received letters questioning Mr Chawla's continuation as chairman after being named in the CBI charge-sheet. Quoting a person with direct knowledge of the meeting, a report from Economic Times says, "Following these letters the board asked the bank to take an advice from the RBI. The RBI was non-committal about the continuation of Mr Chawla on the board but had warned about implications if the finance ministry asks questions on his continuation." Mr Chawla is also non-executive director of Jet Airways (India) Ltd, which is in deep financial trouble and has seen at least one independent director exit the board in the past week. A Gujarat cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Mr Chawla has been associated with several prestigious and important institutions, including government and private. He served as a director of State Bank of India (SBI) from 13 May 2009 to 31 January 2011. He was also director of Life Insurance Corp of India (LIC) during the same period while on the SBI board. During the same period, he was director of India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd as well. During his long and varied experience, Mr Chawla has held positions in various areas including finance, civil aviation, chemicals & fertilisers and other industries. He has been the non-executive chairman at NSE since 25 April 2016 and has been public interest director of the Exchange since 28 March 2016. Mr Chawla, who was director of RBI, also served as chairman and managing director of Indian Petrochemicals Corp Ltd (IPCL) and a director on the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) from 5 December 2005 to 8 March 2007. Prior to that, Mr Chawla was non-executive director of National Fertilizers Ltd between 21 October 2004 to 25 April 2005. He served as a special secretary in the department of economic affairs and secretary of civil aviation. He also served as an additional secretary and financial advisor of department of fertilizers. Mr Chawla was managing director of several public sector units (PSUs) like Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd and Gujarat Industrial Investment Corp (GIIC). For six months in 2018, he was also independent director of Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Co Ltd. He was also director of Madras Fertilizers Ltd. November 15, 2018 U.S., Saudis Fight Over Crown Prince Advisor - White House Tries To Appease Erdogan The chief prosecutor of Saudi Arabia cleared his boss, clown prince Muhammad bin Salman, of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. A number of easily replaceable people were indicted. In a coordinated move the U.S. Treasury sanctioned a number of the people who played a role in the Khashoggi case. There is an interesting difference between the Saudi and the U.S. list of the involved people. Meanwhile the White House is looking for ways to induce Turkey to finally settle the case. The Saudi prosecutor indicted eleven people and demands the death penalty for five of them. It is not yet known under which article of Saudi law the people were indicted. Death penalties under some articles often end with pardons. Ten other persons are still under investigation. The story told in the briefing of the Saudi investigation results gives a new version of the events. (No names are given in the briefing. They were added below based on earlier reports.) The briefing says: The former Deputy President of the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), Major General Ahmed al-Asiri, issued an order to the mission leader Maher Mutreb to bring Kashoggi back to Saudi Arabia by means of persuasion or by force. The leader of the mission formed a 15-member team that consisted of three groups (negotiations/ intelligence/ logistics) to persuade and return the victim. Mutreb consulted with the now fired advisor to MbS, Saud al-Qahtani, because Qahtani knew Khashoggi. A forensic expert was included in the team "for the purpose of removing evidence from the scene in the case force had to be used to return the victim." The mission leader contacted a collaborator in Turkey "to secure a safe location in case force had to be used return the victim." "After surveying the Consulate, the head of the negotiation team concluded that it would not be possible to transfer the victim by force to the safe location in case the negotiations with him to return failed. The head of the negotiation team decided to murder the victim if the negotiations failed." if the negotiations failed." The investigation concluded that the crime was carried out after a physical altercation with the victim where he was forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death. The bod was dismembered. Five people carried the parts out of the consulate and one of them later handed them over to a collaborator. One member of the mission put on Khashoggi's clothes, walked outside for a while and disposed them in a trash can. The leader of the mission agreed with the leader of the negotiation team to write a false report which claimed that that Khashoggi had left the consulate. So far the story the Saudi investigation tries to sell. It effectively absolve the clown prince. It absolves his media advisor Saud al-Qahtani and MG Ahmed al-Asiri. The leader of mission will probably be sentenced for falsifying his report, while the head of the negotiation team and some of his helpers will take the brunt of the penalties. They are commoners, three or four levels below the top, and of no further value. The story is of course not believable. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. No low level employee would dare to decided to kill a person of higher interests when the order says to bring the person back alive. Neither the mission leader nor the negotiation team leader would take such a step without consulting with Riyadh. The murder was clearly planned at a higher level and well before the team landed in Istanbul. One does not bring a person that looks like the victim to make it look like the victim walked out 'just in case' something bad happens. If an abduction is planned one does not bring a 'forensic expert' -who in reality is a well known doctor specialized in autopsies- to 'cleanup' the scene. The Saudi release was coordinated with the White House. Shortly after the Saudi prosecutor went public, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned several persons under the Global Magnitzky Act over the case: Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Saud al-Qahtani, his subordinate Maher Mutreb, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, and 14 other members of an operations team for having a role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The inclusion of al-Qahtani, who was the closed advisor to MbS, is quite interesting. The Saudi investigation tale does not give a him role besides consulting with the mission leader. It even tries to exculpate him by explaining his patriotic motive: The former advisor met with the leader of the mission and the negotiation team; to share with them information relevant to the mission based on his specialization in media. The former advisor expressed his belief that the victim was coopted by organizations and states hostile to the Kingdom and that the victims presence outside of Saudi Arabia represents a threat to national security and he encouraged the team to persuade the victim to return, noting that his return represents a significant achievement of the mission. The Treasury designation gives him a way more active role: Saud Al-Qahtani is a senior official of the Government of Saudi Arabia who was part of the planning and execution of the operation that led to the killing of Mr. Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, 2018. This operation was coordinated and executed by his subordinate Maher Mutreb, and involved participation of at least 14 other Saudi government officials: ... The sanction designation describes Maher Mutreb as "subordinate" of Qahtani. The Saudi report does not mention any such relation. This is of interest as one of the tapes the Turks have is of a phone call by mission leader Maher Mutreb with an unnamed person in Riyadh. In the call Mutrab says: "Tell your boss the deed is done": While the prince was not mentioned by name, American intelligence officials believe your boss was a reference to Prince Mohammed. Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, one of 15 Saudis dispatched to Istanbul to confront Mr. Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate there, made the phone call and spoke in Arabic, the people said. The killer team was set up by Ahmed al-Asiri, but al-Asiri is not mentioned in the Treasury designation, while al-Qahtani is. The U.S. seems to believe that it was al-Qahtani who actually directed the operation and who sent his subordinate Maher Mutreb to lead the mission. Qahtani's one and only boss is clown prince MbS. Saud al-Qahtani with Mohammad bin Salman - bigger MbS probably wants Qahtani back in his role as a personal and political advisor. The Saudi investigation puts him in a positive light while the Treasury gives him a leading role. The U.S. seem willing to let MbS stay in his job but it wants to remove Qahtani from his inner circle. The Trump administration is also actively looking for ways to appease the Turkish President Recep Erdogan. One price Erdogan has long demanded is the head of the Gulen movement, the Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Erdogan claims that Gulen was behind the failed 2016 coup attempt against him. In the late 1990s Gulen was settled in Pennsylvania with a green card the CIA's Graham E. Fuller organized for him. Trump seem to be willing to hand Gulen over to Erdogan: The White House is looking for ways to remove an enemy of Turkish President Recep Erdogan from the U.S. in order to placate Turkey over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to two senior U.S. officials and two other people briefed on the requests. Trump administration officials last month asked federal law enforcement agencies to examine legal ways of removing exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen in an attempt to persuade Erdogan to ease pressure on the Saudi government, the four sources said. The effort includes directives to the Justice Department and FBI that officials reopen Turkey's case for his extradition, as well as a request to the Homeland Security Department for information about his legal status, the four people said. The four sources talking to NBC are likely from the CIA out to sabotage Trump's plan. Gulen and his network of schools in Turkey, now closed, and in Central Asia are major deep state assets. Erdogan has milked the Khashoggi case as well as he could. He still has not published the tapes taken within the Consulate and the recordings of the various phone calls. He will try to use these to get more benefits from the case. Trump will not be able to hand Gulen to him. The deep state will do its best to prevent that. Another demand Erdogan has is the removal of U.S. support from their Kurdish proxies in Syria. Without U.S. protection for the Kurds he could pursue his plan for annexing the whole northern border region of Syria from the Mediterranean to Iraq. Would Trump willing, and able, to deliver that? Posted by b on November 15, 2018 at 19:41 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Photo: The Canadian Press Canadian police have not seen a spike in cannabis-impaired driving one month since legalization, but there needs to be more awareness of laws around storing marijuana in vehicles and passengers smoking weed, law enforcement officials say. The Canadian Press canvassed police forces and provincial and territorial Crowns across the country and while some said it was too early to provide data, others said initial numbers and anecdotal impressions suggest stoned driving isn't on the rise. "Even before the legislation we were catching a lot of high school kids because marijuana has seemed to be kind of mainstream forever," said Sgt. Joe Cantelo of the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force in New Brunswick. "In our department, there's certainly no rise in impaired driving by (marijuana)." Police forces in Vancouver, Regina, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Truro, N.S., and Kensington, P.E.I., all said they hadn't noticed a significant change in driver behaviour since pot was legalized on Oct. 17. Cantelo said there were three impaired driving charges in his community over the last few weeks and they were "strictly older adults with alcohol." Manitoba RCMP conducted three cannabis-impaired driving investigations in the three weeks since Oct. 17, compared with one such investigation in the three weeks prior to legalization. There were about 50 alcohol-impaired driving charges laid during each of the same periods. Const. Jason Doucette said Vancouver police have issued 18 violation tickets under provincial cannabis laws since Oct. 17. The majority of traffic-related tickets were issued because pot was not properly stored or passengers were consuming weed in the vehicle. During one roadblock campaign, he said Vancouver officers noted six events specific to cannabis impairment, which led to four 24-hour driving suspensions. "As expected, we haven't seen a dramatic increase in cannabis-related offences," he added. Provinces and territories established their own laws around cannabis storage in vehicles, but generally weed must be in closed packaging and out of reach of the driver. Manitoba took a step further and required pot to be in a secure compartment, such as the trunk. In Newfoundland and Labrador, there have been at least six charges related to open or accessible cannabis in vehicles, RCMP said. Obviously drivers can't consume weed, but many provinces, including British Columbia and Ontario, have banned passengers from toking as well. A joint-smoking passenger in Saanich, B.C., was slapped with a $230 fine a day after legalization, police said. The B.C. Public Prosecution Service said it doesn't classify impaired-driving charges by intoxicant, but in the three weeks after legalization it approved 43 such charges, while in the three weeks before legalization it approved 52 charges. Photo: The Canadian Press South Korea exploded a front-line guard post Thursday, sending plumes of thick, black smoke into the sky above the border with North Korea, in the most dramatic scene to date in the rivals' efforts to reduce animosities that sparked last year's fears of war. Last week the two Koreas finished withdrawing troops and firearms from some of the guard posts along their border before dismantling them. The steps are part of agreements signed in September during a meeting between their leaders in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital. On Thursday, South Korea's military invited a group of journalists to watch the destruction of a guard post with dynamite in the central border area of Cheorwon. The journalists were asked to stay hundreds of meters (yards) away as black smoke enveloped the hilly border area. They later watched soldiers and other workers bulldoze another guard post. While most of the South Korean guard posts are being destroyed with construction equipment for environmental and safety reasons, dynamite was used for the first structure because of its location on a high hill where it was difficult employ excavators, the Defence Ministry said. North Korea is demolishing its guard posts with explosives, according to South Korean media. The guard posts are inside the 248-kilometre-long, 4-kilometre-wide border called the Demilitarized Zone. Unlike its name, it's the world's most heavily fortified border with an estimated 2 million land mines planted in and near the zone. The area has been the site of violence and bloodshed since the 1945 division of the Korean Peninsula, and civilians need special government approval to enter the zone. The Koreas each agreed to dismantle or disarm 11 of their guard posts by the end of this month before jointly verifying the destruction next month. South Korea had about 60 posts inside the DMZ guarded by layers of barbed wire and manned by troops with machine-guns. North Korea was estimated to have 160 such front-line posts. 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. Photo: The Canadian Press Bank towers are shown from Bay Street in Toronto's financial district, on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Online banking, industry consolidation, and changing regulations are making the divisions between credit unions and private banks fuzzier than ever, though some key differences remain. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan Distinctions between credit unions and private banks are fading as online banking, changing regulations, and competition have changed the retail banking landscape, but a few fundamental differences remain for those undecided between the two. Credit unions, a member-owned banking model, once had the advantage on value, while the greater resources of banks offered convenience and scale. However, both sides have recently pushed deeper into the other's turf, said Tom Drake, founder of financial advice website MapleMoney. "I think the lines are getting blurred quite a bit now. It used to be that credit unions were sort of the one place to get what you can count on being a good deal, but with offers like Tangerine and Simplii Financial and even EQ Bank, it's getting a little harder to see that difference." While Scotiabank's Tangerine and CIBC's Simplii now offer pared down no-fee chequing and savings accounts pioneered by credit unions, financial co-operatives have countered by expanding their collective no-fee ATM network in 2015 to become the second largest in Canada. Credit unions are also in the early days of eroding one of the remaining differentiators that they're provincially-based. Surrey, B.C.-based Coast Capital Savings, which boasts of being Canada's largest credit union by membership (outside of the Desjardins network of Caisse de depots in Quebec), recently announced it had secured approval to become a national credit union under legislation passed in 2012. The credit union, the second in the country to get approval to go national after New Brunswick-based UNI credit union, has not announced details of its expansion but says it presents a new front of competition in the financial services space. "It's never been an option at the national level," said Dave Cunningham, head of public affairs for the credit union. "Right now, because we're confined to our own province, like every other provincial credit union, if our members move to another province, they have to leave us." The switch to a national union, while pushing into banks' turf, would also mean an end to some advantages of being provincially regulated, like not being required to meet more stringent federal mortgage thresholds, and having unlimited deposit coverage in some provinces. So what are the remaining differentiators in retail banking? Credit unions maintain that because they're owned by their customers, they're motivated to offer better service and more community investments. "The whole objective is different. They serve their members," said Martha Durdin, CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association Credit unions have won the Ipsos overall customer service award 13 years in a row, Durdin points out. They also give away a much bigger share of earnings, though it amounts to less because banks are just so much bigger. "Banks give what, one per cent of pre-tax profits? Credit unions give five per cent on average. That's a huge difference," said Durdin. The generosity is possible because credit unions aren't solely focused on profit, she said. Solar power, that is. He became an independent contractor with Powur, which essentially crowdsources access to solar energy, both in terms of awareness and in terms of installation. In other words, anyone who hooks up with Powur acts as a broker of sorts for solar companies in getting their product out to consumers. For broker owners who are dealing with multiple originators whose production is down, they might be facing tough choices in the months to come, among them deciding whether or not to keep those originators on board. But incorporating a new revenue stream thats complementary to origination can add income, and offering solar energy in particular can give originators a reason to reach out to borrowers. Right now, if you bought a house in the last five years, or any time, if you havent refinanced by now, its too late. And every loan officer went through his whole list of homeowners in the last two years and refinanced then. So whats a loan officer going to do today? Call them up and say, I know you got a 3% rate a year ago, but howd you like a 5% rate now? Doesnt go over really big, its not a good reason to call a homeowner. Instead, McGoldrick said, originators can solar this as a way to provide an added value to their clients, offering them the opportunity to get solar panels with no out-of-pocket costs, a decrease in their electric bills, and increasing value to their homes. You know what the biggest pushback is? Sounds too good to be true! Wheres the catch? And I say, there is no catch. Two applications for sites to serve as interim storage locations for high level nuclear waste in Andrews County and in Lea and Eddy counties, New Mexico, are drawing concern about the risks they pose. "There is as much nuclear radiation in one cask as was released in Chernobyl in 1986, and they want to eventually bring 20,000 casks here," said Tommy Taylor, director of oil and gas development for Fasken Oil and Ranch. "One cask has as much radiation as the nuclear bomb dropped on Nagasaki." Taylor addressed the Midland chapter, Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists Wednesday in an effort to raise awareness of the impact the sites could have, not just on Permian Basin communities but on the region's oil and gas industry. More Information --Monday is the deadline for public comments on the WCS site in Andrews County. To submit a comment, go to regulations.gov. More information is available at www.protectthebasin.com. --The Midland City Council and Midland County Commissioners' Court have passed nonbinding resolutions on the nuclear waste issue, according to previous Reporter-Telegram articles. See More Collapse "The Permian Basin is the No. 1 oil producing region in the U.S. It has changed the geopolitical environment around the world," he said. "This region is too important to U.S. security to allow this." SIPES member Stephen Robichaud agreed, pointing out that a serious leak from one of the casks could shut in 100 percent of the nation's oil and gas production as well as the Ogallala Aquifer, a main source of water for the middle of the country. Beyond the environmental impact, "we're talking about monetary damages in the many trillions of dollars. The impact could be enormous," Robichaud said. While Taylor disagreed that a leak would shut in all oil and gas production, he said most production would be affected. "I have nothing against nuclear power," he said, noting that 20 percent of the nation's electricity comes from nuclear power plants. "Nuclear power has its pluses and its minuses, and a minus is high-level waste." And there is no solution to safely disposing of the waste, even as more and more is produced each year, he said. The applications are for interim storage sites, which Taylor said is between 40 and 100 years. "What we're worried about is, it could be stored here permanently," he said. "The government has been looking for a permanent site for 40 years and hasn't found one yet. This waste could be for our lifetime, our children's lifetimes, maybe even our grandchildren's lifetimes." Fasken Oil and Ranch owns 10 percent of the land in Andrews County, which explains its interest in the Andrews County site. But Taylor said there is also concern for Midland-Odessa, because a trainload of the waste would come through Midland each week for the next 24 years, heading for the Orano-Waste Control Specialists site in Andrews County. "We've had a lot of train wrecks," Taylor said, among them a two-train collision in Monahans in April. He told the audience that officials overseeing nuclear-waste disposal estimate one train wreck per 10,000 trips. A leak would impact a 50-mile radius, he said. "The risk is small, but the consequences are humongous," Taylor said. He also cited the explosion of several drums of low-level radiation stored at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Eunice, New Mexico, that took three years and several billion dollars to clean up. He said a representative of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was asked what would happen if a cask was found on the street. He said the representative replied that it would be checked with a Geiger counter, "and if it's leaking, we'll send it back." That "is as far as they've thought," Taylor said. "I'm a drilling guy. Something happens every day. We're dealing with people; we're dealing with mechanical things. Things will happen. It took WIPP a month to discover a truckload of waste hadn't arrived. That load was found on a ranch in North Texas. It's human nature. We need to plan for the next step. We need to plan for the next five steps. This is a poorly thought-out plan." Even though county commissioners in Andrews County and in Eddy and Lea counties wrote the government saying they welcomed the sites, Taylor said most residents in Andrews, Hobbs and Carlsbad are unaware of the plans or their potential impact on the health and environment of their towns. "Hopefully, when we're done, everyone will know about it," said Taylor. Photo: RCMP Grade 9 students stand and watch as Cst. Greg Barnard, a member of the RCMP Southeast District Tactical Team, demonstrates the deployment of a smoke grenade Click here to view gallery Photo: RCMP Photo: RCMP Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed A group of junior high school students got the chance to see what a day in the life of an RCMP officer looks like. The students took part in National Take Our Kids to Work Day, where junior high school students spent the day in the boots of a police officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Students got a first-hand look at many of the diverse career opportunities within the force, from front-line emergency response to forensics specialists. "Today's activities brought police work to life and gave the students a sense of what's possible within the RCMP," said Cst. Lesley Smith, School Resource Officer. "Students were involved in a number of active police scenarios which required the use of the support services like Police Dog Services (PDS), the Forensic Identification Section (FIS) and many more RCMP resources." The day featured scenarios, demonstrations and presentations from a variety of departments, including traffic services, general duty investigations, Police Dog Services, the Southeast District Tactical Team, the Southeast District Emergency Response Team (ERT) and emergency telecoms operators. The day was very authentic with students being sworn-in, before being given the opportunity to investigate, identify and arrest a culprit. Take Our Kids to Work Day happens annually on the first Wednesday of November. Students from a variety of schools who have a connection or family member with the Kelowna Detachment and or the Southeast District Head Quarters signed up to participate. Photo: Contributed A man has been charged with violently sexually assaulting a woman he met online, and police think there could be more victims. Edmonton police charged Vincent Noseworthy, 39, in connection with the assault. He is active on online dating websites and uses the name Vinnie Worth. A woman says she met Noseworthy online through the Tinder dating app. The two drove to a rural location outside of Edmonton in the womans vehicle. Noseworthy allegedly confined her and violently sexually and physically assaulted her, states police. He was arrested on Oct. 31 and has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and choking with the intent to overcome resistance, assault and unlawful confinement. He was released from custody. Investigators believe there may be additional complainants and are concerned that he may commit another offence against someone while in the community. Passavant Area Hospital on Wednesday received a Magnet Hospital Designation for the third time after the American Nurses Credentialing Center recognized the facility for its patient care and nursing autonomy. Members of Passavants staff gathered Wednesday to hear the final decision about the designation from Donna Havens, chairwoman of the Magnet Recognition Commission. Leanna Wynn, affiliate vice president and chief nursing officer, said this is the third time Passavant has received the distinction. This is a testament to the care we give our patients, Wynn said. This is one of the highest honors received by a nursing institute, but its not just about the nurses. Its about the entire team. Passavant is one of 43 institution in Illinois and one of 469 in the country out of more than 6,300 healthcare institutions to receive the honor. After each designation, Wynn said the American Nurses Credentialing Centers Magnet Recognition Program increases the standards needed to obtain it the next time. Roughly 7 percent of hospitals in the country received the designation the first time, with 6 percent receiving a second designation, and only 3 percent for a third time, Wynn said. They continue to raise the bar each time, Wynn said. The standards make sure we continue to grow and improve. To receive magnet status, the hospital has to create a report showing how it reaches certain standards in patient care. After that, the report is reviewed, then appraisers visit the hospital before submitting the report to the committee for review. Havens told those gathered Wednesday that the hospital received its recognition and had two areas in which it really succeeded. The hospital received distinction on the continuity of patient care, which is the continued care and followup a patient receives to help avoid re-admittance. The hospital has continued to decrease the number of patients readmitted with congenital heart failure through its heart failure clinic. The second area was the autonomy of nurses to help develop policy and programs within their areas. There is the ability for nurses to be involved in the broader care of patients and influence changes and policies, Havens said. Carrie Carls, director of professional nursing practice and the magnet program director, said the hospital encourages its nurses to take part in decision-making processes and help develop program and policy ideas. Its a part of the nursing culture here at the hospital, Carls said. All of our nurses are at the same decision-making level, instead of a hierarchy. Passavant CEO and President Harry Schmidt said the recognition speaks to the quality of care the hospital gives. It speaks to our commitment to our mission and two the excellence we reach for to be national leaders in healthcare, Schmidt said. It is the entire staff that made the designation possible, Wynn said. Any nurse can be a good nurse, Wynn said. It takes a whole team behind her to have great patient care. Its the pharmacist and the physical therapist. Its the entire team. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha. ALBANY - Voting on the weekend could be coming in 2020 for New Yorkers. An overhaul of the state's election procedures is expected to be one of the consequences of the Democratic takeover of the state Senate, which will likely be more receptive to proposed reforms that had passed the Democratic-controlled state Assembly, including early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, and a single legislative primary date. Progressive activists and Senate Democrats anticipate voting reforms will be near the top of the Legislature's agenda when state lawmakers return to Albany in January. Many of these proposals were held up in the state Senate's committee process during GOP control of the chamber. Adding seven days of voting had been approved the last three years by the Assembly, and is supported by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whose early voting language in the state budget was stripped away this year by Senate Republicans. Speaking at an Assembly hearing on Thursday in New York City, state Board of Elections co-Director Bob Brehm said early voting could improve the "customer service" experience for voters. Any expansion of voting days, though, would mean local boards would have to find additional staffing and polling sites. Brehm noted that the governor's proposal in the state budget didn't include adequate funds to cover the new local costs. The Assembly's early voting bill would require counties to offer at least one polling site per 50,000 voters, with a minimum of one site per county and no more than seven. Sites offering early voting would have to be open for at least eight hours on weekdays and 5 hours on weekends. Early voting, under the proposal, would last seven days and end on the Sunday before a primary, special or general election. The legislation wouldn't take effect until the year after it is adopted. The League of Women Voters of New York State recommends 12 days of early voting, which would include two weekends to cast a ballot. Their proposal comes with an estimated price tag of $6.4 million. Natalie Tennant, of the Brennan Center for Justice, argued in written testimony for Thursday's hearing that early voting would give local boards time to discover and correct problems before the window to accept votes closes. "A longer voting period creates more time to recalibrate voting machines, re-check electronic systems like scanners, and fine tune poll site management, all which helps systematically eliminate the small glitches that can lead to major errors during the increased pressure of Election Day," she said. Critics of early voting cite the cost and note that late campaign surprises could occur after voters already cast their ballot. Brehm added that early voting would need to be accompanied by changes to the primary election calendar. That will likely be addressed this year, as Democratic state legislators have supported consolidating the September state primaries and June federal primaries to a single date in June. Senate Republicans previously backed a consolidated primary in August. Democrats also support the creation of no-excuse absentee voting, which expands the use of mail-in ballots beyond the narrowly prescribed reasons, but it would require a constitutional amendment. First passage of the amendment could occur in January, although voters wouldn't get to give their approval until 2021 at the earliest. Other voting changes raised at Thursday's hearing, such as the adoption of electronic poll books and voting at any polling site, will also take time to address, let alone implement. There is also support for automatic voter registration when applying for a driver's license or graduating high school, but that legislation hasn't passed either chamber. "I think we should be voting online," said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, a Westchester County Democrat. "But that's down the line." David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87 Photo: The Canadian Press Johnny Bobbitt Jr., left, Kate McClure, right, and McClure's boyfriend Mark D'Amico pose at a Citgo station in Philadelphia. A feel-good tale of a homeless man using his last $20 to help a stranded New Jersey woman buy gas was actually a complete lie, manufactured to get strangers to donate more than $400,000 dollars to help the down-and-out good Samaritan, a prosecutor said Thursday. Burlington County prosecutor Scott Coffina announced criminal charges against the couple who told the story to newspapers and television stations along with the homeless man who conspired with them to tell the story. He said the money, donated to the homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt, will be refunded to people who saw the story and contributed to him through a GoFundMe page set up by the couple, Mark D'Amico and Katelyn McClure. "The entire campaign was predicated on a lie," Coffina said. "It was fictitious and illegal and there are consequences." Bobbitt was arrested Wednesday night by U.S. marshals in Philadelphia and remained in custody Thursday on probation detainers and a $50,000 bond. A message was left with a previous attorney of Bobbitt's. D'Amico and McClure surrendered to authorities Wednesday night and were released. Their attorney said they have no comment. All were charged with theft by deception. Investigators searched the Florence, New Jersey, home of D'Amico and McClure in September after questions arose about what happened to the money they raised for Bobbitt. The couple claimed he helped McClure get gas after she became stranded on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia last year. McClure said that in an attempt to thank Bobbitt for his help, she set up the fundraising page, which brought in more than $400,000 and landed them in the national news. Coffina said almost no part of the tale was true. McClure didn't run out of gas. Bobbitt didn't spot her in trouble and give her money. Less than an hour after the couple set up the page to solicit donations, McClure sent a text message to a friend acknowledging the story was "completely made up." Prosecutors began investigating after Bobbitt claimed he wasn't getting the money that had been raised on his behalf. He later sued the couple. It's not exactly clear what happened with the money, though Bobbitt's attorney has said it's all gone. Photo: Faith Dunkin Penticton resident Paul Klyne working the grill at a wildfire evacuee camp in Northern California. A Penticton couple has turned their vacation to Northern California into a humanitarian mission, contributing to the outpouring of support for thousands of hungry evacuees who lost their homes in the Camp wildfire. Paul and Destinee Klyne booked their trip to visit friends in Paradise, Cali. months ago, prior to its destruction at the hands of the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in state history. Paradise is close to my heart, Paul said, explaining the people they were intending on visiting lost their home and possibly their pets. The AirBnB they had booked also burned. So the pair booked a hotel in Sacramento, about 90 minutes away, and have been driving into Chico, the closest city to Paradise where most of the evacuees are settling. Weve made our way to make-shift hub in a Walmart parking lot, Paul said, where he met a food truck operator out of Sacramento that was helping feed evacuees. I spent about 11 hours yesterday just on the grill just cooking. As quick as I could cook anything, these people are coming by and they are starving for food they have nothing to eat, no running water, they dont even have any clean clothes, anything. The Camp wildfire has killed 56 people, with dozens more missing and destroyed 7,000 structures, mostly homes, since it broke out Nov. 8. Paul said FEMA is set up on the other side of the city, but many are settling in the Walmart parking lot until the backlog for federal assistance clears. They are in tents in the Walmart parking lot. Some dont have tents, they have blankets in the car windows. All the shelters are full. The stories that weve heard from people, oh my gosh, it's just unbelievable, Paul said. One guy tried to run back to save his mom and the fire chased him out of there and his mom perished. Destinee said the disaster has also brought out a beautiful outpouring of support from the city of Chico and beyond. People and restaurants continually just show up with food, she said. I watched one lady pull into the parking lot yesterday, she opened up her SUV and it was jam full of brand new blankets and they just walked around and handed out. Paul said they raised $1,400 CAD on Wednesday through direct donations from friends and family that they are breaking into $25 Walmart gift cards and prepaid Visas to hand out in the food lines. While the $25 is a drop in the bucket for a person that just lost their home, the spirit that it engenders is far stronger than $25 can buy, he said. Destinee said they are telling everyone that receives the gift cards they are coming from Canada, with love. The couple are hoping to change their flights home to extend their trip until Sunday so they can continue to help out. Governor Jerry Brown surveys damage of deadly Camp Fire disaster in Paradise, Calif., Nov 14 2018 View Photos Paradise, CA The damage tally continues to increase for the most destructive wildfire in the states history. The Camp Fire in Butte County has now destroyed 8,756 homes, 1,310 outbuildings and 260 commercial buildings. 56 people are now confirmed dead and many more remain unaccounted for. The fire is now 140,000 acres and 40-percent contained. While touring the fire area yesterday, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke stated, This is my fourth trip to California, and unfortunately every trip has had forest fires. Each trip I say this is the worst fire I have seen, and now were here today, and Ill say this is the worst fire that I have seen. Governor Jerry Brown escorted Zinke on the trip, and stated, Ive issued an executive order that will speed up recovery and cut red tape. It will overcome some regulations and other kinds of laws that get in our way. It looks like a war zone, and it is. It is the devastation that only fires of this kind can bring about. Following Zinkes trip, this morning President Donald Trump tweeted, Just spoke to Governor Jerry Brown to let him know that we are with him, and the people of California, all the way! There are now 5,473 firefighters assigned to the incident, 105 air tankers and 75 helicopters. Photo: School District 22 In one single weekend, the provincial-wide Starfish Pack program feeds more than 1,200 students in need. The Starfish Pack Program recently hit the 1,200 student milestone. The Vernon Starfish Pack alone currently delivers 93 backpacks to School District 22 elementary schools. These backpacks feed approximately 130 children in Vernon each week. We started a pilot program with 20 backpacks in April 2016, said Carmen Larsen, of Kalamalka Rotary and Starfish Pack program director. We had overwhelming support for the program from students, parents, and the community. With the continued support from individuals, businesses and organizations, we can continue to expand this program to meet the needs of many children who go hungry on weekends. The program began seven years ago with a single school in Abbotsford feeding six students in need. It has now grown to 18 B.C. communities serving 116 schools across the province. Starfish Pack is a practical way to tackle poverty that is affecting our next generation, Larsen said. We want to provide nutritious food to all children who need it, to make sure they are able to thrive in school, and in life." "For only $525 we can feed a child for a full school year and give them a proper start to the rest of their life. The program has seen just a great response across the province that it's grown across borders into Washington State. Starfish Packs provides two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and snacks every Friday for students in need to take home with them on the weekends. Provincially, about one in five children live in poverty and routinely go more than a full day without getting adequate calories for healthy living and growth. To find out more about the Vernon Starfish Pack program, go online. At least two major factors have influenced recent drug trends and routes both domestically and internationally: the opioid epidemic and the state-level legalization of medical- and/or recreational-use marijuana. While Mexico is still the greatest source of marijuana in the U.S., that is rapidly changing. More states are producing their own product, and the border along Texas and Mexico has shown a steep decline in marijuana trafficking in recent years. There's still a strong route along the California-Mexico border, however. HELP: Amid drug crisis, spiritual first responders hit the streets Of note is that since marijuana is still federally illegal, it's not covered by insurance. In the event that it ever did become federally legal -- unlikely in this political climate -- we might see a vast drop-off in Mexico-sourced weed. The opioid threat is now a national epidemic. This problem is created by both legal and illegal substances, or worse, by both combined. Prescribed pain killers as well as heroin are to blame for a wave of recent domestic deaths. "Controlled Prescription Drugs are still responsible for the most drug-involved overdose deaths and are the second most commonly abused substance in the United States," a report from the DEA states. "As CPD abuse has increased significantly, traffickers are now disguising other opioids as CPDs in attempts to gain access to new users." AWFUL: Infant found among clouds of marijuana smoke, other drugs during Katy bust For many addicts, the problem begins with legitimate use. "Most individuals who report misuse of prescription pain relievers cite physical pain as the most common reason for abuse," the DEA states. "These misused pain relievers are most frequently obtained from a friend or relative." As for methamphetamine, it remains prevalent though it has escaped notice while the country focuses on opioids. Cocaine has interestingly seen a spike in use after a temporary decline around 2012. The rebound appears to have started around 2014, but has only multiplied since. Supply appears to be keeping up with demand. The main source is Colombian. The product makes its from along the eastern Pacific side of South America into Mexico, then into the U.S. There's a curious tie between cocaine, an "upper," and opioids, "downers." "The increasing appearance of fentanyl into the cocaine supply, likely related to the ongoing opioid crisis, is exacerbating the cocaine abuse problem by accelerating cocaine involved overdose deaths," the DEA reports. Despite the recent increases in certain drug-related deaths, the most pressing issue remains the opioid crisis, which shows no signs of abating any time soon. Scroll through the slideshow above for an in-depth look at how drugs enter the country through the southern border. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Friday, Nov. 9 Plainview police arrested a 32-year-old woman Friday for possession/delivery of drug paraphernalia and failure to identify or giving false/fictitious information. Officers who responded to the scene, which was reported just after midnight at the 2600 block of Olton Road, also found narcotic equipment at the scene. Police were called to the 2600 block of Dimmitt Road on Friday just after 11:20 a.m. in reference to someone tampering with a consumer product. The incident report for the case shows the product in reference was food. Officers arrested two women Friday at the 300 block of W. Fourth St. following a traffic stop. Officers who responded to the scene just before 8:40 a.m. charged 37-year-old Jessica Euan Padilla with tampering/fabricating physical evidence, which is a felony. A 46-year-old woman with Padilla was charged with driving with no license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and having no motor vehicle liability insurance. A 26-year-old woman was arrested Friday at the 300 block of Ennis St. just after 4:20 p.m. for outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Officers responded to the 600 block of W. 20th St. Friday just after 6 p.m. in reference to fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. A car crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported Friday at 6:12 p.m. at Yonkers and Fifth Streets. An 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman were arrested Friday during a traffic stop at the 1100 block of N. Columbia just before 11 p.m. Both women were charged with possession of marijuana. A theft was reported Friday just after 6:20 p.m. at the 2600 block of Olton Road. Saturday, Nov. 10 A car crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the 3100 block of Olton Road. A burglary of a vehicle was reported Saturday at the 1100 block of E. Fifth St. just after 11 a.m. Police arrested 28-year-old Larry Matthew Carrillo and 31-year-old Matthew Thomas Haakinson Saturday at the 3500 block of Olton Road. Each individual was arrested for outstanding misdemeanor warrants and a charge of check forgery, which is a state jail felony. Officers responded to a call about burglary of vehicles Saturday at the 700 block of Nassau St. around 11:15 a.m. A 32-year-old man was arrested Saturday when police responded to a call about graffiti at the 420 block of N. Broadway just before 10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 Theft of fuel was reported Sunday at the 1300 block of W. 24th St. just after 1:30 p.m. A 39-year-old woman was arrested Sunday and charged with driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana. The report was made at 2:19 a.m. and the individual was arrested at the 300 block of W. 16th St. Officers responded to criminal trespassing with a motor vehicle at the 600 block of W. 10th St. around 11:45 a.m. Sunday. Criminal mischief resulting in damage to a vehicle was reported Sunday just before noon at the 1200 block of Dallas St. Officers responded to a report of a hit and run crash causing damage to public property at the 500 block of W. Sixth St. Sunday. The report was made at 1:45 p.m. A burglary of a vehicle was reported Sunday just after 3 p.m. at the 1600 block of Nassau St. A car crash resulting in damage to a vehicle was reported Sunday just before 2 p.m. at the 500 block of N. Columbia. Plainview Fire/EMS has a new chief. The Plainview City Council on Tuesday night approved the appointment of Timothy Gibson as the next fire/ems chief. Gibson said he's excited to move and start his new position. The decision to apply for the position was an easy one. Fire Chiefs in Texas are a small group and they always talk about any openings, Gibson explained. When he heard about the position in Plainview, he applied, and then started doing research. He had previously heard positive things about Plainview from friends who had family in the area and a co-worker who worked as Fire Chief in Borger. "I heard nothing but good things," he said. After doing his own research, he said Plainview looked like a community that holds Texas values, which was something very important to him, his wife Tina and their four children. "My wife looked at me and said don't apply anywhere else," he laughed. After the vote to appointment him Tuesday, Gibson said he was impressed at the effort and activity the city is putting towards the community. Adding that it is not something every city does. Gibson, who officially starts on Dec. 1, says he's excited to learn more about his people. "I want to know about them and their goals," he said. "The more I know about them, the better I can help them achieve their goals and align them with our goals and the city's." Gibson added his children are the most excited about seeing snow, adding for the past two years they've asked to see snow. "This is a part of Texas they haven't seen yet," he said. "They're excited to experience seasons." Gibson is looking forward to meeting the members of the community and says he's always open to talk. Gibson has been a firefighter for more than 27 years. Prior to that, he served in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserves for nine years. He most recently served as the Managing Director of Harris County Emergency Services District 9 and a Research Associate at the Hobby School for Public Affairs at the University of Houston. "We are excited to have Tim join our team at the City and be a part of this community," said Jeffrey Snyder, Plainview city manager. "He brings a wealth of experience in Fire/EMS operations, training and Fire Station construction that will be a great asset not only to the Fire Department but for the City as well." Photo: Contributed The federal government is adding to marine traffic monitoring with more radar coverage along the British Columbia coast in order to improve safety for ships travelling through narrow and challenging waterways. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says six new radar installations will fill in existing gaps in coverage for busy and risky stretches of water from the northern end of Georgia Strait to Queen Charlotte Strait and in the waters off Prince Rupert. Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the new installations Thursday at the Canadian Coast Guard station in Richmond. A government news release says the expanded radar coverage is part of the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan designed to improve marine safety and safeguard Canada's marine environment and coastal communities. One new radar is one slated for Seaforth Channel on the central coast where a grounded tug leaked more than 110,000 litres of diesel and other lubricants in October 2016, fouling shellfish beds near the community of Bella Bella. Wilkinson says the six new stations will add to the reliable and accurate information about vessel movement along the B.C. coast. "This information will increase marine safety and reduce the risk of marine emergencies. This is another example of how we are partnering with Indigenous and coastal communities in B.C. to make our waters and coasts safer, cleaner and healthier," Wilkinson says the in the release. The new radar stations will be located within the traditional territories of a number of First Nations and the federal government says it has their support for the upgrades. Houston Shell & Concrete, a name in the construction industry for more than 70 years, has unveiled new branding with a color scheme of orange, blue and white. The Houston-based ready-mix concrete supplier, also known as HSC, serves smaller contractors and do-it-yourself customers. As part of global building materials company Cemex since the 1980s, HSC delivers concrete from 21 locations in the Houston area as early as 4 a.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers disputes the contention made by Rice University researchers that the Corps used out-of-date storm and modeling information in its preference for a 70-mile coastal barrier known as the Ike Dike. The agencys modeling system used state-of-the-art storm simulations to test how its proposed barrier would hold up against the worst possible storms along the Texas coast, Dr. Kelly Burks-Copes, the project manager for the Army Corps study, said in an interview Wednesday. We did not use the FEMA flood mapping model, Burks-Copes said, referring to comments made to the Houston Chronicle by Larry Dunbar, a project manager at Rices Severe Storm Prediction, Education & Evacuation from Disasters Center. At issue are two proposals that would create a coastal barrier to protect the Houston and Galveston region from devastating storm surge during hurricanes. The preferred plan from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office would create a complex 70-mile system of levees and sea gates running from High Island to the San Luis Pass at a cost of $31 billion. The alternative plan proposed by Rice professors and environmental groups is a 25-foot, mid-bay barrier system that would protect the industrial complexes and densely populated areas in the west and northwest sections of Galveston Bay. The mid-bay system's estimated cost is between $3 billion to $5 billion. Dunbar and Jim Blackburn, a Rice professor and co-director of the SSPEED Center, told the Chronicle that the Army Corps of Engineers initial Ike Dike study was incomplete because it did not account for the more powerful storms that have swept through the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean in recent years. Dunbar added that Rice researchers were using updated storm information while the Corps was relying on an out-of-date modeling system to make it. RELATED: Ike Dike raises questions from environmentalists, Rice University Those assertions were inaccurate, Burks-Copes said, noting that Dunbar was referring to an older system the Army Corps used for FEMA flood mapping and that the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center uses a state-of-the art Coastal Storm Modeling Suite. Burks-Copes said that the Army Corps uses a complicated sampling system to assess tropical cyclone events impacting the entire Texas coast and parts of the western Louisiana coast. They formulated 100 storms, and we just ran another 75 this month that potentially have never occurred before, a lot of model storms, ranging from Category 1 to Category 5, which, she added, included the rarest, 10,000-year event storms. We actually funded ERDC to build brand new models with a new mesh underneath a mesh is basically a topographic map of the bottom of the ocean all the way up to land, Burks-Copes said. That mesh is brand new and then we put the (simulated) storm on top of that. So basically what its capturing is all the geomorphological changes that occurred since the FEMA flood mapping. Blackburn, speaking on behalf of the SSPEED Center, said their main issue with the Corps' coastal barrier proposal is that it does not adequately protect Harris County and that the barrier would take more than a decade to complete, leaving the region vulnerable to major storms in the meantime. "The SSPEED Center's issue with the Corps' proposed alternative plan is that it does not provide adequate protection to Harris County and the city of Houston, especially in the ship channel area, against large storm events," Blackburn said. The SSPEED Center has proposed a mid-bay sea gate that would be built in Galveston Bay as a supplemental project to the Ike Dike to protect the Houston Ship Channel and Harris County from major storm surges. "Of great concern to us is the 2035 construction timeframe," Blackburn added. "We think we can get protection for Harris County and the ship channel and the Clear Lake area in north Galveston County built much faster than 2035." Burks-Copes said that some of these misunderstandings about the 440-page coastal protection study will be further clarified when the Army Corps holds its public meetings along the Texas coast. I havent gone out and actually explained how the Corps process worked and how we have to make decisions based on engineering whether its environmentally acceptable, whether its economically feasible those types of things will come out in the public meetings, Burks-Copes said. The first of six public meetings is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 27 in Port Lavaca and will continue through December with meetings in Corpus Christi, Port Isabel, Winnie, Galveston and Seabrook. A 75-day public comment period began Oct. 26. For more information on the meetings and how to submit public comment, go to the Army Corps of Engineers website. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office released the first phase of the coastal protection study in October. Plans are still at least a decade away from completion. The corps and the land office expect to release a final study in 2021 before sending it to Congress to consider funding the project. Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com University of Houston regents are expected to select the future site of its planned medical school Thursday. The site will either be on campus or in the Texas Medical Center. UH President Renu Khator will present the board the options: a 43-acre tract of undeveloped land near MacGregor Park at Old Spanish Trail and Martin Luther King Boulevard, which is a few blocks from the southeast corner of the campus; and 1.1-acre property at Moursund Street and Braeswood Boulevard, which is the southern part of the medical center proper. Khator said Wednesday she currently is not planning to recommend a specific one. Dr. Stephen Spann, the proposed school's planning dean, said he favors the campus site. RELATED: Higher ed board approves UH med school plan Regent selection of the school's location would be one of numerous steps in UH's effort to create Houston's first new medical college in nearly half a century. Plans call for a focus on training primary-care doctors, half of them minorities, to practice in underserved areas. UH received Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval for the school in late October. It hopes to submit an application for accreditation to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in December. School officials are targeting fall 2022 for the building's opening, which would coincide with its third freshman class, assuming UH is granted accreditation to open in 2020. Until then, students would have classes in an existing UH building. RELATED: Anonymous $3 million gift to fund tuition for UH med school's first class Medical students typically spend the first two years in the classroom and the last two in clinics. A few details about the options: TMC Site The TMC location would require demolition of an existing UH structure that is in need of renovation from damage sustained during Hurricane Harvey. Under a hypothetical design, it would stand 18 stories with 375,000 square feet of space and cost $142 million. Its location would facilitate collaborative research with other institutions in the medical center. UH MacGregor Site There are actually two proposed campus locations, one at the intersection and slightly closer to the METRO rail station, the other about 400 feet north. Both would house a 150,000-square-foot, four-story building and cost an estimated $65 million. Both locations would provide room for expansion and allow easier integration with the existing UH colleges and programs. Todd Ackerman covers medicine for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at todd.ackerman@chron.com or twitter.com/ChronMed. A man gave the Nazi salute and yelled "Heil Hitler, heil Trump!" from the balcony during a Wednesday night performance of "Fiddler on the Roof" in Baltimore. Audience member Rich Scheer, who witnessed the outburst during the intermission at the Hippodrome Theatre, told the Baltimore Sun that some people thought the salute was the prelude to a shooting and quickly exited out of the theater and into a hall. "People started running," Scherr said. "I'll be honest, I was waiting to hear a gunshot. I thought, 'Here we go.'" Ushers reportedly rushed to the man and police were called. Security escorted him out and the show resumed. The Sun reported that the audience cheered when the man was removed. A police spokesman said the man, who was not identified, was not arrested. MORE : Hate crimes wound scores of victims beyond headlines "Fiddler on the Roof" is the story of a Jewish dairyman trying to keep his family adhering to their religious and cultural traditions even as they face persecution in tsarist Russia. The "Heil Hitler" shout occurred immediately following a scene that depicts a wedding interrupted by a pogrom an attack that can range from destruction of homes or property to outright slaughter. The incident comes only days after the FBI released its 2017 hate crime statistics, which showed instances of the crime up 17 percent nationwide in the first year of Donald Trump's presidency over the previous year. Eleven people were shot and killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue last month. --- Read Mike Moffitt's latest stories and send him news tips at mmoffitt@sfchronicle.com. Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news. Marijuana edibles have long been an area where rapid growth is anticipated. Now, a marijuana market research company has put a number to it: $4.1 billion. Thats the amount consumers in the United States and Canada are expected to spend on marijuana edibles by 2022, according to projections in a report from ArcView Market Research and BDS Analytics. It seems far from a pie-in-the-sky estimate considering consumers in both countries spent $1 billion on edibles in 2017. Marijuana edibles have moved so fast into the mainstream that they were named a food trend of the year for 2018 and have quickly created opportunities for entrepreneurs. Legal cannabis-derived edible products, from candy and chocolate to infused beverages, is a sector worth watching over the next few years, the report stated. It has become clear that the legal cannabis market is about much more than inhaling the smoke of smoldering cannabis flower. Related: Marijuana Wins Big in the Midterms Key Takeaways Other than the stunning $4.1 billion number by 2022, highlights from the reports other findings included the following. In Colorado, 64 percent of adult-use marijuana customers tried an edible; the number is 55 percent in California Edibles are projected to grow from 12 percent to 14 percent of the total cannabis market by 2022, while flower drops from 50 percent to 36 percent Edibles share of the total cannabis market has already more than doubled, from 5.4 percent in 2011 to the current 12 percent Worldwide sales of cannabis-based products are expected to reach $32 billion by 2022 (it was $9.5 billion in 2017) All this signals opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs who want to get in early on what ArcView and BDS Analytics expect to become one of the biggest areas of growth in the adult-use cannabis industry. As the report notes, branding and standing out from competitors is easier with edibles, where individualized packaging and marketing can distinguish a brand on a dispensary shelf. Related: Hemp Oil vs. CBD Oil: What's the Difference? Attracting Big Industry The potential for edible marijuana sales already has attracted the attention of giants in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, according to a letter in the report from Tom Adams, the editor-in-chief of ArcView and managing director of BDS Analytics. He noted the several recent develops in the marijuana-infused beverage market. They include the $4 billion investment by Constellation Brands into Canadas Canopy Growth Corp., the plan at Molson Coors Brewing Co. to develop a cannabis beverage and the fact Heineken NVs Lagunitas brand already sells a non-alcoholic, THC-infused beverage. Its even more impressive when considering that beverage sales make up only about 6 percent of edible cannabis sales in the U.S. Clearly, these companies see the potential for big growth. That is clearly just the start of what will be a product innovation explosion as major CPG companies come rushing into the legal cannabis market in the years ahead, Adams wrote. Follow dispensaries.com on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news. Related: Cannabis Edibles Market Set to Quadruple in U.S., Canada to $4B Flower, Vape or Edible? Survey Offers a Glimpse of What California Cannabis Users Prefer 5 Valuable Things To Know Before Digging Into the Edibles and Beverage Biz Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Houston's skyline is looking sleeker than ever. Six major skyscrapers were completed or came close to completion in 2018, according to building database The Skyscraper Center. The biggest addition to Houston's skyline is Capitol Tower in downtown, a 579-foot green office space. In second place is The Post Oak, a 499-foot luxury hotel by Landry's. It's the second year in a row six buildings have been completed in Houston. Before that, the last time that many skyscrapers joined Houston's skyline was in 2003. Curiously though, it seems that streak is coming to an end since no skyscrapers are lined up to be completed until 2020. To see Houston's newest family members, check the gallery of skyscrapers above. RELATED: 50-acre oyster reef build planned in Galveston Bay 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. The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the person or people responsible for the death of a poodle found starving in a San Antonio alley. Last week, a good Samaritan found the 8-year-old poodle in an alley in the 5800 block of Babcock Road, unmoving and still. Animal Care Services staff said the woman was weeping when she brought the dog to the shelter for help. The poodle was thin, jaundiced and cold. Her fur was heavily matted, dirt, with greenish mold growing on her body. RELATED: 'Up to his neck in charges': Man's mugshot quickly goes viral ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said veterinary staff found two collars embedded in the middle of the mildewed, matted fur. This was an owned dog, she said. We named her Hope, we felt it was an apt name. We believe that in the short time she was with us we were able to give her comfort she hadnt felt in a very long time. Norwood said chief veterinarian, Dr. Marilyn Gotbeter, said the dog had suffered from neglect over a long term period. Animal Care Services officials said the shelters veterinary staff tried to save the poodle, but in her last hours all they could do was try and make her comfortable. Norwood said the collars were an example of what some members of the community believe pet ownership is about. RELATED: Suspicious device found near Alamo Plaza causes evacuation We know it is not, she said. The overwhelming number of our community knows it is not. This is unfortunately an example of out right neglect. She said HSUS is known for promoting responsible pet ownership and the prevention of animal cruelty. HSUS officials said a donation from a board member allowed the standard cruelty reward to be raised from $2,500 to $5,000. Anyone with information about the case can call the citys 311 call center. Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis Seguins chief of police stepped down Wednesday, saying he lost confidence in the citys leadership after the departure of two members of his command staff this month. Former Chief Kevin Kelso said he resigned because of how leadership handled the departures of former Deputy Chief Bruce Ure and Captain Victor Pacheco. Kelso said he could not describe exactly what occurred, nor did he wish to identify who was involved. I just lost confidence and said its time for me to go, too, he said. Ure, who injured in the Las Vegas shooting that left 58 people dead in 2017, chose early retirement at the beginning of the month. Pacheco resigned a few days earlier. RELATED: Seguin deputy police chief injured in Las Vegas shooting Kelso said Ure and Pacheco left for separate, unrelated reasons. Seguin City Manager Doug Faseler confirmed Kelsos resignation Wednesday. We want to thank him for his service to the City of Seguin and wish him well in his future endeavors, Faseler said via email. Kelso, who has been the citys police chief for 10 years, said he was proud of the accomplishments he and his staff made, including introducing new technology and having the department recognized by the Texas Police Chiefs Association's Law Enforcement Recognition Program. When one door closes another door opens. I gotta figure out where that door is and where that leads, Kelso said. I'm excited for myself and the future of the Seguin Police Department and the city of Seguin. I gave it my heart and soul for 10 years so it is very important to me. RELATED: SAPD leaders among city's top-paid employees, records show City officials said in a news release that Kelso will receive a severance package including pay and benefits. Lt. Mike McCann will assume responsibility for administration, criminal investigation and animal services. Lieutenant Jaime Rusty Suarez will oversee the patrol and telecommunications divisions, according to the release. The search for a new police chief begins immediately. The main thing is that the sky isnt falling, everything is fine, Kelso said. We have developed our employees into good leaders and the department is going to carry on just fine. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA The helicopter pilot who crashed while ferrying a newlywed couple from their wedding in Uvalde to their honeymoon smashed into a 1,400-foot hill about 100 feet from the apex, according to a preliminary report of the crash from the National Transportation Safety Board. The groom and bride, William Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler, both 24, were killed upon impact, just after midnight on Nov. 4. The helicopter pilot, 76-year-old Gerald Lawrence, was also killed. ON EXPRESS-NEWS: Newlyweds and their veteran pilot mourned after chopper crash The preliminary report released by the NTSB on Tuesday does not list a definitive cause for the crash. According to meteorological data gathered by the safety board, visibility was at 10 miles and cloud conditions were clear. Winds were at about 6 knots, a light breeze. The hill Lawrence crashed the Bell 206B helicopter into is located about 5 miles east of the Byler's ranch, from which the group departed, and about 71 miles west of the San Antonio International Airport, their destination. Shortly after the collision, "the Uvalde County Sheriff's Office was notified of a possible downed aircraft northwest of Uvalde, Texas," reads the report. "A search effort of authorities and local volunteers found the wreckage about daybreak." At a press conference the day after the crash, Game Wardens Dennis Gazaway and Rachel Kellner described the search. They said an automatic distress signal from the helicopter alerted authorities at about 1:30 a.m., an hour and a half after the crash. At daybreak, they used ATVs to reach the crash site. They found the helicopter totally destroyed, its wreckage scattered over about 100 yards of the hillside. RELATED: Helicopter pilot in Uvalde crash that killed newlyweds is identified "The helicopter was in a terrible state, multiple pieces," Kellner said. Authorities pronounced all three victims dead at the scene. Craig Hatch, the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and technical representatives from the airframe and engine manufacturers inspected the crash site. According to the preliminary report, they had to use ropes to steady the wreckage and keep it from tumbling down the hillside. "The hillside also prevented a detailed examination of the wreckage on site," the report notes. After investigators documented as much of the wreckage as they could, the helicopter was taken to a salvage facility for further examination. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns When it was announced it seemed so far away: President Barack Obama visiting Rice University for a conversation with former Secretary of State James A. Baker III. And now it's nearly upon us, and more details are available. The 44th president of the United States of America will participate in a 45-minute talk with Baker, the honorary chair and namesake of the Baker Institute at Rice on Nov. 27. The event is part of a celebration of the Baker Institute's 25th anniversary programming: "A Quarter Century: Making History." More South Texas boys are choosing to join cartels instead of a the Boy Scouts, according to a border scouting official. Rudy Gonzalez, scout executive for the Rio Grande Council of the Boy Scouts of America, told the Rio Grande Guardian the organization does not want cartels to take over the area. Special counsel Robert Mueller III's investigation into the Russia scandal is very much on President Donald Trump's mind at the moment, as evidenced by Thursday morning's Twitter tirade: "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't. . . ". . ..care how many lives the ruin. These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They won't even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY!" I'm not even going to bother with the false and ridiculous details of this rant, other than to note that when the president is using ALL CAPS to make his point, it's pretty clear evidence that he's the angry one. And I suspect I know why. The president's dismissal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and appointment of Matthew Whitaker to be acting attorney general - which was in large part, if not entirely, so that Whitaker could end or at least restrict Mueller's investigation into the Russia scandal - is turning out to be a disaster. Whitaker's appointment has produced a wave of embarrassing stories about the patent company he worked for that was shut down after allegations of fraud by the Federal Trade Commission. He's even being mocked on late-night TV. Most importantly, Whitaker has now been hamstrung from fulfilling the purpose for which he was installed. You might object that I can't know for sure that Trump appointed Whitaker so that he could go after Mueller. But let's look at Trump's own words. Wednesday, the president sat for an interview with the Daily Caller, a conservative website. In this remarkable excerpt, the interviewers ask him what his thinking is on a permanent replacement for Sessions, and after referencing a memo written by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel affirming that Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general is permissible, Trump suddenly shifts - unprompted - to talking about the Russia investigation: --- THE DAILY CALLER: Could you tell us where your thinking is currently on the attorney general position? I know you're happy with Matthew Whitaker, do you have any names? Chris Christie - POTUS: Matthew Whitaker is a very respected man. He's - and he's, very importantly, he's respected within DOJ. I heard he got a very good decision, I haven't seen it. Kellyanne, did I hear that? WHITE HOUSE ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY: 20 pages. POTUS: A 20-page? THE DAILY CALLER: It just came out right before this, sir. POTUS: Well, I heard it was a very strong opinion. Uh, which is good. But (Whitaker) is just somebody that's very respected. I knew him only as he pertained, you know, as he was with Jeff Sessions. And, you know, look, as far as I'm concerned this is an investigation that should have never been brought. It should have never been had. It's something that should have never been brought. It's an illegal investigation. And you know, it's very interesting because when you talk about not Senate confirmed, well, Mueller's not Senate confirmed. --- If this sounds familiar, it's because it's exactly what happened when Trump was interviewed by Lester Holt of NBC News in May 2017 and he blurted out that he fired FBI director James Comey because of the Russia investigation. Like the Daily Caller interviewers, Holt didn't mention Russia at all in his question; he asked Trump about a report that he had ordered Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to write about Comey (seemingly to offer justification for firing him), and inquired about whether Trump had already decided to fire Comey when he got that report. Trump then said, "But regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it. And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself - I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should've won." Here we have two cases where Trump is asked questions about personnel moves at the Justice Department, and both times, without prompting, he makes it clear that he made the decision in order to quash the Russia investigation. He just can't help himself. The scenario Trump would have preferred for this whole thing would have been that the Whitaker appointment attracted little attention other than people saying, "Well, he seems like a capable fellow," then Whitaker could either fire Mueller and shut down his investigation or find some other way to strangle it. But with Whitaker's colorful past and his lengthy record of statements on TV criticizing the investigation before he joined the administration, everyone is now watching Whitaker closely, and if he moves against Mueller it will be considered a crisis. Trump's repeated insistence that the fact that Mueller wasn't confirmed by the Senate somehow delegitimizes him may also be a tell that the confirmation issue is on his mind. When he does appoint a permanent attorney general, that person will be subjected to lengthy, detailed questioning about how he (and it will presumably be a man) plans to conduct himself with regard to Mueller - whether he has spoken to the president about the investigation, whether he believes there has been any misconduct on Mueller's part, and so on. If he can't answer those questions in a way that gives assurance of his objectivity, he might not get confirmed. Whitaker, on the other hand, has the benefit of not needing confirmation, so he won't have to answer those questions. But it may be too late. As each day passes, Mueller gets closer to reaching the end of his inquiries, and he has no doubt prepared for the moment when he's fired by making sure the evidence he has gathered can either be passed to other prosecutors or made public in some form. According to CNN, Mueller has already begun writing his final report even as it looks like more indictments are coming. It has been clear all along that Trump has desperately wanted to mount a frontal attack on Mueller, but he's too impulsive to do it without telling everyone exactly what he's up to, which then makes it harder to carry out his plan. He can't even obstruct justice properly. The affluent Chicago suburb of Lake Forest seemingly has it all: sprawling estates, major corporate employers, country clubs, beaches on Lake Michigan, and two symphony orchestras. A few years ago, however, with home sales noticeably lagging, local real estate agents and town leaders agreed that Lake Forest had one glaring deficityoung home buyers. The problem, the Lake Foresters decided, wasn't the city itself. Rather, it was the millennial generation's perception of it. Lake Forest was in need of some serious rebranding. "The reputation [of Lake Forest] was, that's where affluent people live in big houses with big yards," says Prue Beidler, an alderman (an elected official) on the City Council. "We were thought of as stuffy, mired in the past." Lake Forest is among a growing number of cities and towns using marketing campaigns and social media blitzes to spruce up their image and attract younger residents. Millennials tend to favor walkable, urban-style living, so sleepy suburbs defined by 2-acre house lots don't have much natural appeal. The current thinking: They need to be hyped a bit. Lake Forest's air of exclusivity, once vital to its stature, had become a turnoff to a younger generation. High home prices, with a median around $845,000, may also be at fault. Beidler and others wanted to round out the suburb's image by showing all that it had to offer800 acres of open space, high-performing schools, and the lowest property taxes in Lake County. So with about $100,000 in city funding, they hired a branding firm and put together a promotional campaign with the optimistic tagline "Welcome Home." After all, if modern marketing techniques can be deployed to sell everything from political candidates to Sprite Zero, why not use them to push towns as well? Branding "can begin to raise awareness or shift perception," says Diana Ichton Nelson, co-owner of Black Fly Media, a public relations firm working on rebranding a suburb of Portland, ME. "By promoting a town's positive attributes, people might consider it for the first time." A little over a year into the three-year Lake Forest campaignwhich includes videos, ads, social media outreach and a revamped city websitehome sales have climbed, and inventory levels have decreased, according to Deborah Fischer, a broker with Berkshire Hathaway/KoenigRubloff Realty Group. The city of Lake Forest, IL, launched a branding campaign to encourage millennials to move in. City of Lake Forest Is branding alone enough to revitalize a community? Branding can be especially helpful to towns that already have plenty to offer home buyersespecially when coupled with efforts to produce more of the kinds of housing and amenities that appeal to millennials, according to Ed McMahon. He's the senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute, a Washington, DCbased real estate research group. Areas without walkable downtowns, bike paths, and lots of entry-level housing? Well, they're still going to be a tough sell, regardless of how brilliant a social media campaign might be. Communities that go through the branding process, but "aren't willing to do the other hard work to increase the quality of life in their community," will probably find it doesn't work for them, says Ben Muldrow, a partner at Arnett Muldrow & Associates, in Greenville, SC. The firm has worked on branding campaigns in more than 500 communities in 40 states. "A focus needs to be placed on the way the community looks, and events that create a sense of community," Muldrow says. These can include art walks, brew fests, and water or road races that make people excited about living in the area. "Branding should be the tail end of the process." He's recently been working on a campaign unveiled in September for the former textile hub of Eden, NC, dubbed "Our Community, Our Nature." It presents the city's outdoor recreational activities as a prime reason to move there. The campaign is being accompanied by improvements to city parks and walking trails. "They've also got some pioneer businesses trying to create a cool factor," Muldrow says. "But they still have work to do for sure." Does rebranding a community really increase home sales? Emily and Matthew Delamater moved to Bridgton, ME, after seeing the town's promotional campaign. Provided by Emily Delamater So does branding really work? Well, the town of Bridgton, ME, about 40 miles from the city of Portland, came up with the warm and fuzzy tagline "Love Always, Bridgton," after working with PR firm Black Fly Media. The town of roughly 5,000 has an aging population, about half of them 45 or older, and about one-third of all homes are seasonal or second homes. Town leaders wanted to attract more year-round young families to keep the town vital. A series of in-depth interviews with residents, businesspeople, and town officials revealed that the town's most cherished assets were its lakes, streams, and ski area, Shawnee Peak, and its affordability relative to Portland, says Black Fly Media's Nelson. "The most predominant thing that kept coming up is that people loved the town, for different reasons," Nelson says. Because the word "love" has long been spelled out in the form of ski trails on the side of Shawnee Peak, incorporating that into the tagline "was a no-brainer." The campaign, which included videos, a series of ads, a new logo, an upgraded town website, and various public events, highlighted the sense of community pride. Emily and Matthew Delamater and their 2-year-old daughter moved to Bridgton from Portland early this year, after deciding they wanted more room to spread out. In Bridgton, where the average home sells for around $236,000 (including lakefront properties), they could get far more for their money than in Portland, where the median list price is $385,000. While the town's main street was a far cry from bustling downtown Portland, it supplied what Emily, 34, considered her bare necessities: a smoothie shop, a yoga studio, and a cafe. So they purchased a four-bedroom home, formerly a tourist lodge, on 17 acres for $260,000. Before buying, they'd seen some of the early ads for Bridgton, and the tone gave them more confidence in the move, says Emily, a professional photographer. Her husband is an actor and also works as finance director for a Portland brewing company. "It's nice to see a community that's putting effort forth to draw people," she says. "It felt like they were excited about getting new people and businesses to come in." The post Can Suburbs Rebrand Themselves to Snare More Millennial Home Buyers? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and one of his top lieutenants, Tendai Biti, and other opposition leaders implicated in post-election violence will next week be subpoenaed to give evidence before the commission of inquiry into the August 1 shootings, which left six dead and 24 others nursing gunshot injuries. Ballistic and forensic experts have also been summoned to appear before the Kgalema Motlanthe-led commission, but it was not yet clear if Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga would be asked to testify in view of the recent High Court ruling implicating him in the deployment of soldiers who turned on unarmed civilians on the fateful day. Secretary to the commission, Virginia Mabiza, said as the inquiry enters its penultimate stages that include public hearings, it would subpoena all people fingered by witnesses as having incited violence, both in pre- and post-election times. The commission will be subpoenaing all those who were implicated in inciting violence, pre- and post-election. The law empowers the commission to use legal instruments to bring these people before it so that they can answer to the allegations made against them, she said. Chamisa, MDC deputy chairperson Biti and Jim Kunaka, Zanu PFs Terrence Mukupe, Chiwenga and former Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Josaya Hungwe have all been accused of inciting violence ahead of the polls. Chamisa, who faces arrest after Zanu PF, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba, the army and the police fingered him and his executive as the main instigators of the violence which unfolded on August 1, will be the main target, according to insiders. The MDC has taken a decision not to be part to the proceedings of the commission, dismissing it as a farce, set up with predetermined outcomes. After the army distanced itself from the shootings, the commission, which said it was armed with evidence that soldiers using AK-47 rifles fired live rounds of ammunition into fleeing unarmed civilians, would invite ballistic experts to give evidence. Head of presidential guard,Brigadier-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, said the soldiers under his command only fired warning shots and never shot at anyone, leaving the commission grappling for answers on who fired at civilians. A commissioner, who refused to be named, said the ballistic experts would give evidence on the damage an AK-47 could cause and would also review video footage of military activity on the day. The issues that were raised by army commanders, especially that they did not shoot anyone and that the soldier captured on video kneeling while shooting, was firing in the air at 45 degrees, the commission would want to get an expert opinion on the matter so that it arrives at a conclusion as to who shot and killed the six now-deceased, the commissioner said. The ballistic expert, according to Mabiza, would be provided by the police, who have openly told the commission that they were still clueless regarding who shot the victims. The ballistic expert will give evidence on November 21 before the commission, I dont have a name now, but the expert will obviously be connected to the police, the commissioner added. Journalists who shot the video footage, including South African Thulasizwe Simelane of eNCA, John Ray of ITV News, and the SABC news crew, could also be asked to appear before the commission to give evidence. Some foreign journalists were reportedly assaulted by soldiers deployed on the streets on August 1 and told of the horror they suffered at the hands of the military. But Sanyatwe insisted that the journalists were only able to do the video footage because they were guaranteed safety. Mabiza confirmed that the commission had reached out to established media outlets to favour the commission with credible video footage and depending on how it is availed, the journalists who were part of gathering the news could be asked to give evidence. During the public hearings, commissioner Lovemore Madhuku, who has taken lead in fielding most of the tough questions, said the commission had evidence that the army fired at people. NewsDay Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News WAR veterans in Mashonaland West province on Tuesday resolved to recall Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairperson Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa on allegations of sowing divisions. Cde Mutsvangwa also stands accused of alienating himself from the membership after being appointed President Mnangagwas Special Advisor, a post he no longer holds. When contacted for comment last night, the usually loquacious Chris Mutsvangwa refused to comment on the issue. The war veterans provincial leadership comprising the executive, national members from the province and district chairpersons met in Chinhoyi on Tuesday where the resolution was passed. ZNLWVA provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West Cde Cornelius Muoni confirmed the resolution by the war veterans. He, however, revealed that the provincial executive was yet to write to him. I can confirm that war veterans met in Chinhoyi and passed a resolution to recall national chairman Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa for utterances that have been attributed to him lately and causing divisions among the membership, he said. War veterans distanced themselves from the utterances that he has been making in denigrating the Command Agriculture programme. The war veterans, he said, believed that his utterances were his personal views and not those of the general membership.Cde Muoni said the war veterans were of the view that their chairman was no longer representing their interests. As such, he said, the former freedom fighters were angry and bitter with their leader saying they feel neglected after promises to start businesses and projects for them failed to materialise. Cde Mutsvangwa was quoted in some sections of the media denigrating the Command Agriculture programme as a conduit for alleged state capture. The former freedom fighters said as the province that sponsored his ascendence to the helm of the association, they were now recalling him as they felt he no longer represented their interests. War veterans are bitter and angry that Cde Mutsvangwa has abandoned them from the time that he was appointed the special advisor to the President. From that time he has not returned to meet the membership and worse still requests by them to meet him have not yielded anything. He does not attend meetings when called by the members, Cde Muoni said. Cde Mutsvangwa was also accused of fanning divisions through utterances insinuating disharmony in the Presidium. War veterans said Cde Mutsvangwa only came to them when he wanted relevance. Cde Muoni said the meeting was called to update senior leadership in the province on the outcome of meetings with the Minister of War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Zanu-PF party secretary for administration Cde Obert Mpofu. The issues discussed, he said, would be cascaded to the lower levels of the association. War veterans provincial leadership also met President Mnangagwa. We called the meeting so that we could brief senior provincial and district leadership on the outcome of meetings we held with Government and Zanu-PF party leadership including Cdes Muchinguri-Kashiri and Obert Mpofu, he said. Chronicle Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Controversial Harare businessman, Genius Kadungure popularly known as Ginimbi has been arrested at the Harare Magistrates Court this afternoon for yet to be known crime. Kadungure was picked up by detectives soon after appearing in court to answer to a fraud case involving his partner in crime, Wicknell Chivayo in which they allegedly swindled Chegutu West legislator, Dexter Nduna. Allegations are that Kadungure swindled Ndunas construction firm, Badon Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, and a Kadoma-based miner only identified as Gatawa of R1 581 890. Sometime in November 2012, Kadungure and Chivayo allegedly connived with unknown accomplices and created a fictitious company, Transco Civil Engineering, purportedly based in South Africa and opened a company account with Absa bank. The State alleges the pair created an email account named procurement@marangediamonds.com pretending to be legitimate representatives of Marange Resources. It is alleged Kadungure then contacted the complainants through the phone and misrepresented himself as Marange Resources chief buyer and said he was looking for mining pumps at competitive prices. The State alleges Kadungure referred Nduna to his bogus company, Transco Civil Engineering, in South Africa, on the pretext that it was a recommended supplier. On December 4, 2013, Gatawa sent his brother Enock to South Africa to purchase the pumps. He was ordered to deposit R1 046 890 for the purchase of 10 flight pumps into the Absa account. After the transfer, Enock was told by Transco Civil Engineering that they would send the pumps via DHL in three days time. It is alleged on December 12 Gatawa went to DHL Airport branch, to collect the pumps and was shocked to receive a parcel of mobile phone chargers. That is when he realised that he had been duped. More to follow Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Statement on the recent political and economic developments in Zimbabwe 15 November 2018 1)Introduction The Movement for Democratic Change has been following political and economic events in the country. Among other ills, we note with concern the unpalatable suffering of the masses, price hikes and currency shortages. Drugs are now either being sold in US dollars or are unavailable. Shortages continue unabated and the government continues to intensify the suffering of people by imposing heavy, unjustified taxes. Further to that, we have noted events at the commission of inquiry into the murder of innocent and unarmed civilians on the 1st of August 2018. Given the clear constitutional provisions governing the deployment of armed forces in Zimbabwe, the Commission of Inquiry was largely unnecessary. The answers are clearly located in the Presidents office. The testimonies of some of the leaders of our State institutions have exposed to the world the absolute disregard of the truth on their part. This is, however, common in largely corrupt, irresponsible and unaccountable governance systems worldwide. It appears to us that these leaders seem to have temporarily forgotten that these events took place in the full glare of the public and received comprehensive, fair, balanced and uncompromised reporting from the local and international media. Various media organisations took and aired live footages of events as they unfolded on the 1st of August. The brazen lies and perjuristic testimonies by high ranking state security and government officials have vindicated what we have always said about the culture of our governance. Historically, we have been at pains to explain how Zimbabweans are living under oppression and subjugation from a captured state. It is characterised by the following;- i. There is no iota of accountability ii. There is total disregard of constitutionalism and the rule of law iii. There is blatant abuse of State institutions iv. Absence of transparency v. Total disregard of peoples rights and freedoms The democratic movement and the Peoples Party, we owe a responsibility to the people of Zimbabwe, the region and our international partners to set the record straight in view of the brazen lies being concocted at the Commission of Inquiry. The sole purpose of this concoction is covering up the heinous crime against humanity perpetrated against the people of Zimbabwe. The MDC wishes to set the record straight regarding i. Why the MDC is not participating in the Commission of Inquiry ii. The history of state sponsored, state sanctioned and state protected violence in Zimbabwe iii. The founding and existential values of the MDC iv. The publicly known events of the 1st of August v. The Vanguard vi. The internal procedures of the MDC for Party demonstrations vii. Our rights as enshrined under s59 of the Constitution and the MDCs commitment to peace viii. The testimonies heard at the Commission of Inquiry ix. Relationship between the MDC and state institutions 2) The Commission of Inquiry The MDC was invited to make written, as opposed to oral submissions to the Commission of Inquiry. That was totally unacceptable to us as it amounted to giving evidence in private. However, regardless of these preliminary misgivings, the Party leadership met in October to deliberate on the role and work of the Commission and took a well-considered and informed decision not to participate in the proceedings of the Commission for the following reasons. The MDC regards the Commission of Inquiry as a perpetuation of the fruitless and wasteful expenditure characteristic of the Zanu-PF government which has brought untold suffering to our people. In any case there is a constitutional commission in the form of the NPRC whose terms of references are dependent on the constitution not a conflicted individual. We concur with the common sentiment among our people that the shooting and killing of unarmed and innocent civilians by the military happened in the full view of everyone and therefore what happened is public knowledge which means the Commission is completely unwarranted. The Terms of Reference of the Commission of Inquiry suggest a compromised process deliberately calculated not to answer the key and only important question which is Who ordered the killing of innocent unarmed civilians? The Terms of Reference are clearly calculated to achieve a sinister agenda of imputing the responsibility of the 1 August killings on leaders of the democratic movement. The appointment of the Commission appears to be a mere cover-up for government PR purposes rather than a truth and fact-finding process. The appointment of some compromised and conflicted members of the Commission casts doubts on the transparency, professionalism and integrity of the both the process and outcome thereof. The deployment of the military is clearly and deliberately the prerogative of the President in terms of the Constitution. President Mnangagwa cannot establish a Commission of inquiry to investigate himself. We have precedent from South Africa where the Constitutional Court ruled that where the President is conflicted, he cannot appoint a commission of Inquiry in the matter. If the military did not act in terms of the orders from the Commander-in-Chief therefore he was supposed to take action on those members of the armed forces without any need for a Commission of Inquiry. If President Mnagagwa did not deploy the military, he was simply supposed to take action on whoever did, thereby acting illegally and in violation the Constitution. The proper procedure for appointing of the Commission was not followed which casts doubt on the legitimacy of its work and the outcome thereof. In that the President ought to exercise his powers through Cabinet in terms of the Constitution of which no cabinet was in place at the time of appointment of the commission. The police had already pre-empted the Commission by vicariously imputing liability on the MDC for uninvestigated actions. 3) The History of Violence To those in the know, there is nothing new or surprising about the killing of innocent unarmed civilians by the state. The only difference is that the 1st of August killings happened in front of international cameras. Zimbabwe has a long and perilous history of state sponsored, state sanctioned and state protected violence against civilians. The MDC and other civic organisations have kept records of these footprints of torture and brutality that Zimbabweans have had to endure. At each and every turn, the State comes up with flimsy and unfounded allegations to justify harassing and killing citizens for political reasons. We have seen this established culture from The mass murders of civilians in Matabeleland in the 80s in what is commonly known as the Gukurahundi The cold blooded murder of democracy activists such as Tonderai Ndira, Tichaona Chiminya, Gift Tandare, and others by state security agents who are known but protected by the state. The shooting of Former Gweru Mayor the late Patrick Kombayi by known perpetrators who were later pardoned by the head of state Robert Mugabe. The brutal daylight attacks of many democratic movement leaders including MDC President Nelson Chamisa. The mass and brutal killings of civilians following the MDC electoral victory in 2008 which closely resembles the 1 August killings. The forced disappearance of democracy activists such as Itai Dzamara at the hands of the state. These are just examples of documented state brutality. The 2008 killings in particular, again show how the state behaves in the face of Zanu-PF electoral defeat. There is nothing new about what happened on 1 August. History tells us that when Zanu-PF loses elections to the MDC, they employ brutal tactics by abusing state security agents to silence dissent and suppress the true expression of the peoples will. 4) The events on the 1st of August 2018 The people of Zimbabwe were quite expectant of a new bright era of transformation, opportunities and prosperity. That hope which culminated in a record voter turnout invariably caused anxiety when it became clear that results were not going to be announced in time to possibly allow for manipulation. The demonstrations that took place on the 1st of August were clearly neither organised nor sanctioned by the MDC. Ordinary citizens were protesting on their own volition, it was normal for them to have been singing or chanting the name of the peoples movement. Ironically and for reasons best known to themselves, the Police were permanently stationed at our Headquarters throughout the elections. What is quite telling is that the police present at MRT House on the day enjoyed a very cordial relationship with the anticipating MDC members gathered at their headquarters. Pictures and videos taken on the day cause an estimation of scores of people including excited and hopeful passersby. Only after the killings by the armed forces when the town had been cleared was there a raid on the MDC Headquarters primarily targeted at disrupting and collapsing the Partys internal voter tabulation system. The killing of civilians and demonstrations on the day in question happened in the full view of everyone. The demonstrations took place under the watch of the police without any need for the use of force. Of course the MDC associates itself with the victims and commiserates with those who lost their loved ones in this sad event. 5) The Vanguard It is clear through the constitution that there is only one army in the country and one police service in the country. These are meant to serve everyone irrespective of party, gender, ethnicity, race or class. The attempt to paint of a military wing within the MDC is a step towards the State responding militarily to the opposition. A lot has been said about the MDC Vanguard and that it is responsible for the killing of innocent unarmed civilians on the 1st of August. These are blatant lies and part of a narrative to cover up the evil machinations of the regime. History tells us that when the state wants to destroy the MDC and democracy activists, it creates stories and blames them for all kinds of ills before unleashing instruments of terror. The MDC Vanguard was a non-violent peaceful youth group that was disbanded in February 2018 following a party decision to that effect. There is no relationship between the concept vanguard and violence and neither was there ever intention that the Vanguard should be involved in any violent activities. We must state categorically that the MDC Vanguard was not an armed group. It had no capacity to procure any weapons and neither did it ever have any intentions of having any weapons. Any blame on the Vanguard for the violence that took place on the 1st of August is once again part of this shameless cover up. The Vanguard no longer exists. The Vanguard could not therefore have brought people into the CBD only to shoot and kill the same. 6) The MDC Founding Values There is also an idea that is being peddled at the Commission that the MDC is some kind of a violent terrorist Party. Again, the MDC reiterates the point that when the Zanu-PF government wants to decimate the opposition with state sponsored violence, it peddles serious allegations. Since the MDC was formed in 1999 its main objectives were and remain to promote and advance human rights, freedom and good governance in line with Party character as outlined in article 4 of constitution that The MDC is a pro-poor, people-centred social democratic, non-racial and non-sexist movement. The MDC is against all forms of violence and does not believe in the use of violence as a way or means of attaining any political, social, economic or religious objective. The MDC considers democracy as a core value, to that extent, its policies are to be determined by its membership, and further, its leadership shall be accountable to the people. The MDC firmly believes in freedom of speech, freedom of expression and further, the free circulation of ideas and information within the movement. Above all this the MDC believes in the smooth transfer of power through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means. That is why we have continued to participate in a series of blatantly manipulated elections as rightly reported by all credible observer missions. We have sought legal recourse when in fact it was illogical to do so. We have sought dialogue with our erstwhile oppressors. That has been the life and character of the MDC in the face of brutality of suppression. Internally, any of our members who have been fingered in any activity that violates the core values of the MDC has been disciplined by the Party. There are numerous examples of such cases. Pretending that the MDC is a prohibited organisation that harbours terroristic ambitions is absolute nonsense and must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. The MDC is by far the biggest political party in Zimbabwe. The MDC control 28 out of 32 Urban Councils. The MDC has 88 parliamentarians in the National House of Assembly alone The MDC President received more than 2 million votes across the country and that is more than any other candidate for that matter. The MDC was in Government from 2009 to 2013. Despite winning elections that were stolen, the MDC has never resorted to any violent take over. We have struggled to maintain a democratic party in very difficult circumstances but we continue to do so. 7) The nature of MDC Demonstrations There is an attempt by others at the Commission of Inquiry to try and attribute the demonstrations of the 1st of August to the MDC. For the avoidance of doubt, the MDC would like to make it clear that the Party did not organise any demonstrations for the 1st of August. Equally so, it is undeniable that the young and urban people of this country see their future under an MDC government. Most importantly, it is common sentiment that Zanu-PF was working with ZEC to manipulate the election. Therefore the people who would demonstrate would invariably be those that are tired of poverty and oppression and therefore associating themselves with the MDC vote. When the MDC organises demonstrations a certain process is followed The organ that wants the party to demonstrate proposes the issue through the Secretary Generals office The Secretary General tables the matter before the standing committee In some cases the issue goes up to the NEC and the NC When a decision is taken by the Party it is referred to Party administrators to address the administrative issues which includes notifying the police This is a rigorous internal process. No single individual gathers people for a demonstration in the MDC. That is why: Our demonstrations are always peaceful They are attended by hundreds of thousands yet not even one flowerbed is trampled on Party leadership always lead from the front No one is injured No property is destroyed In this sense, it is mischievous and largely dishonest to ascribe the few hundred demonstrators of the 1st of August to the MDC. When the MDC demonstrates, it does so after following through a rigorous internal process. There is always public notification and meticulous organising. In fact, the MDC through its Secretary-General, had warned of possible spontaneous reactions if ZEC would not urgently release results which were already in its possession. It is therefore clear that the main cause of the demonstrations was the anxiety that was created by ZECs failure to manage the electoral process to the satisfaction of the electorate. 8) Section 59 Rights and the MDCs commitment to peace After all is said and done, it must not be forgotten that the people of Zimbabwe have rights enshrined under the constitution. Section 59 of the Constitution clearly states that every person has the right to demonstrate and to present petitions The MDC is committed to holding authorities accountable to the dictates of our Constitution and the law. In view of this, we are committed to exercising our democratic right to demonstrate in a peaceful manner as required by the constitution. We are the agents of peace, we have always shown. We will continue to pursue our peaceful and democratic means to end the oppression and suffering of our people, regardless of the lies and mechanisations of this Commission of Inquiry. 9) Commission of Inquiry Testimonies We have followed the testimonies presented at the Commission of Inquiry. Although the Party maintains its reservations about the legitimacy of this Commission of Inquiry, we have certainly been moved by witnessing the most untouchable State officials appearing before the Commission despite earlier signs of resistance. One thing we must all learn going forward is that no one is above the law. However, the wanton and shameless lies by full grown and respectable men and women we have witnessed shows that Zimbabwe has a serious dearth of leadership. The bare denials by the army Generals that soldiers did not shoot civilians is shocking. The lie that civilians had already died before the military arrived is sad. The fabrication that the MDC youths are armed is absolute nonsense. The narrative that the kneeling soldier who was slapped by his superior was shooting into the sky at 45 degrees is quite embarrassing. The further narrative that he was being slapped to shoot from a standing position assumes that Zimbabweans are stupid. The estimation that there were about 25 000 demonstrators betrays logic. The narrative that demonstrators shot civilians with rifles is nonsensical. 10) Relationship between the MDC and State institutions The MDC wishes to clarify an important issue regarding its existence and the agenda thereof. The MDC is a democratic political party in terms of the laws and the constitution of Zimbabwe. The Party participates in elections to occupy the democratic space and offer the people a new democratic order with transformation opportunities and prosperity. The MDC was not formed to fight State institutions. In fact, we are always cooperative with all State institutions including institutions such as ZEC that have shown bias in total disregard of the law and the constitution. After all, we are already in government by virtue of our presence in Parliament and the fact that we control the majority of local authorities in the country. We report all our cases to the police. We approach the courts of our land for legal recourse. No terrorist organisation holds rallies and campaigns. When we participate in elections, we do not do so to fight state institutions such as the army, the police and others. We do so to compete against other political parties to sell an alternative agenda to the people. State institutions exist beyond political parties, therefore there is absolutely no ground for the cat and mouse relationship between the MDC and state institutions. State institutions are there to serve the people not to work against the people. They must be prepared to accept the peoples will and not conflate themselves into political formations lest they become instruments of political repression. Most importantly, the propaganda that the MDC seeks to negate the gains of our liberation struggle is an old and discredited story. We are the solution to the challenges facing this country. It is only the MDC which seeks to preserve he freedom and independence inherited from our forefathers. We are not trying to fight the army or the police or the judiciary. We are competing for political space to provide the country with better political leadership. 11) Conclusion The MDC would like to clearly state that it is a non violent party which wants to take power through peaceful and democratic means. It has always pursued dialogue in resolving key national issues. It has laid out its national programme through a five point plan. The MDC feels vindicated as the world gets a first-hand account of our crisis. It is the people who are sovereign. Behold the New. Change that Delivers! Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News These raccoons arent rabid, theyre just drunk, police in West Virginia say USA Today (Kevin W) Watch: 5-foot long cobra sneaks into businessmans BMW; rescued Mirror Now News Tickborne diseases such as Lyme hit record highs in the U.S., CDC says CDC (David L) Passenger complains about lack of window, flight attendant draws him one (PHOTOS) RT (chuck4) US States Are at Risk for Catastrophic Flood Damage, Climate Scientists Say Inverse (David L) Watch the warming ocean devour Alaskas coast in this striking time-lapse video Washington Post (furzy) Electriq~Global Says Its Water-Based Fuel Can Power Your Car Forbes (David L) New Insights into the Aging Brain EurekaAlert (David L) New techniques may soon make designer babies a reality are we ready? New Scientist Robots Have a Diversity Problem The New New (Dr. Kevin) Our Richard Smith, pursuer of scammers! This is a cracking story about murky deals in Uzbekistan from @LeaskyHT with this line from @ncsmiff https://t.co/4yj1uRjm80 pic.twitter.com/OKvnfCKfqi Oliver Bullough (@OliverBullough) November 14, 2018 Brexit Syraqistan Big Brother is Watching You Watch Google Maps keeps track of your conversations with local businesses engadget (David L) Imperial Collapse Watch Trump Transition Save Us, Al Gore New York Times (David L) Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels in two lawsuits against Trump, is arrested on suspicion of domestic violence Washington Post (furzy) California Burning Kill Me Now Gunz How Doctors And Nurses Cope With The Human Toll Of Gun Violence NPR (David L) Fake News This thread is to congratulate Prof. Steve Keen for having his co-authored paper accepted by the Journal of Ecological Economics, and to thank him for the attached preprint. The correct role of energy in production has been absent from conventional economic theory for centuries. https://t.co/uhMPHS2Sdj Limits to Growth (@Limits2Growth) November 14, 2018 Houston Got Hammered By Hurricane Harvey And Its Buildings Are Partly To Blame NPR (David L) CalPERS slashed their pensions. Now theyre trying to get their money back Sacramento Bee (Kevin W). They have no case but this still looks bad for CalPERS. Makes beneficiaries nervous about their pensions. Crudes Collapse Is Sending Shockwaves Across Global Markets Bloomberg US shale oil forecasts too optimistic, even IEA agrees DW Guillotine Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour: And a bonus from Ignacio: I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. (CNN) Against long odds and after months of wrangling, Britain's tortuous Brexit journey took a significant leap forward Wednesday when British Prime Minister Theresa May secured support for from her Cabinet for her draft divorce deal with the European Union. Standing outside Downing Street, May announced that she had won the backing of her senior ministers after debate that had lasted five hours. "This is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead," she said. Hours earlier, there had been talk that some mutinous members of her Cabinet might resign and that remained a possibility on Wednesday night. Even as the meeting drew to a close, rumors swirled in Westminster that May could face a vote of no-confidence from within the ranks of her own Conservative Party. But on the steps of Downing Street, May seized the upper hand. She acknowledged the debate had been difficult, and that decisions had not been taken lightly. "I believe that what I owe to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest. And I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of our entire United Kingdom," she said. May's success in facing down a rebellion at least for now marked a pivotal moment for her leadership. Cabinet backing gives the Prime Minister crucial breathing space, but her troubles are far from over. May must now get the deal through the House of Commons, where her Conservative Party does not command a majority, and opponents smell blood. The Conservative Party is deeply divided between hardline Brexit supporters and others who voted to remain in the EU, and Wednesday's breakthrough is only the beginning of what is expected to be a protracted and painful political process. Chief among hardliners' concerns is that the agreement will tie the UK to the EU's customs union and parts of the single market free-trade area for years to come, without any say in how the bloc is run. Boris Johnson, a leading Brexiteer who quit Mays Cabinet earlier this year, led the charge. "It is vassal state stuff," he told ITV News on Tuesday evening. "Chuck it out." A sign of the peril faced by May came at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons earlier Wednesday, when one of her own MPs, Peter Bone, accused her of "not delivering the Brexit people voted for." Bone said May would "lose the support of many Conservative MPs and millions of voters across the country." The opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, laid into the PM's deal. "After two years of bungled negotiations, from what we know of the government's deal, it's a failure in its own terms," Corbyn said, repeatedly describing the negotiations as "shambolic." He slammed May for offering a choice between a "botched deal and no deal." It seems unthinkable that his party would support May's deal when it comes to a vote. Opponents of the deal take issue with the part of the agreement that deals with the border between Ireland, which remains in the EU, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. Critics say the border agreement would, at least temporarily, tie the UK to the EU's trading rules without a way out. May must now attempt to secure the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, whose 10 MPs prop up her minority government. DUP leader Arlene Foster said in a statement on Wednesday that the party's "desire for a deal will not be superseded by a willingness to accept any deal." But May insisted that she felt the draft withdrawal agreement was "the best that could be negotiated." She also made it clear that if Brexit-supporting MPs in her own party conspired to kill the deal, they could end up destroying their ultimate goal of leaving the EU. The choice, she said, was stark: "This deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings us back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all." That line was intended as a warning to rebels that if they vote down her deal, they risked precipitating a political crisis that could end with a second referendum. It was the first time that May had acknowledged that Brexit could, in theory at least, be stopped. May's strategy is to seize the momentum. With the UK Cabinet now in line, an emergency summit of the EU council the 28 member states that make up the European Union is likely to be called for November. At this summit, the member states will agree to the withdrawal text, allowing it to move to legislative chambers of both the EU and the UK. The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, welcomed Wednesday's developments. "This agreement, is a decisive, crucial step on concluding these negotiations," he said. "It is also the achievement of a methodology which has been a negotiation carried out in transparency from the word go and fully in respect of our respective mandates." EU Parliament chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt echoed the sentiment, saying in a tweet that while he hoped "one day the UK will return" that "in the meantime this agreement will make a Brexit possible, while maintaining a close relationship between the EU and UK." This story was first published on CNN.com "Brexit takes leap forward as Theresa May secures Cabinet support" The NATO Deputy Secretary General, the Honourable Rose Gottemoeller, will travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada between Friday 16 November and Monday 19 November 2018, where she will participate in the Halifax International Security Forum and the 64th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. At the Halifax International Security Forum, the Deputy Secretary General will take part in a panel discussion and will hold a number of bilateral meetings. At the 64th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Ms. Gottemoeller will address the plenary on 19 November. More details on the Halifax International Security Forum can be found at http://halifaxtheforum.org. More details on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly can be found at https://www.nato-pa.int/node/18611. With respect to Assembly press arrangements, please contact Mrs. Roberta Calorio at +1 902-402-5346 / press@nato-pa.int. Transcripts of the Deputy Secretary Generals remarks will be published on the NATO website after the events. Still pictures will be made available on the NATO website after the events. Follow the Deputy Secretary General on Twitter (@Gottemoeller). Also follow us at @NATOPress and @dylanpwhite. (Natural News) The Democrats have only one prerequisite when it comes to opposing POTUS Donald Trump and it is this: Never, ever approve of anything he does, no matter how legal and/or constitutional it may be. That includes opposing the presidents recent appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting Attorney General after he sought former Attorney General Jeff Sessions resignation following the midterm elections last week. The Justice Department, however, has now clarified that not only are Democrats wrong to oppose POTUS Trumps interim appointment of Whitaker, but they are also incorrect in their demand that he recuse himself from overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers hoax investigation of Russian collusion, even though Whitaker has been a vocal, public opponent of it. In a 20-page memo, the DoJ noted that the presidents appointment is lawful under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, Appointments Clause and is in compliance with the U.S. Constitution. As we have previously recognized, the President may use the Vacancies Reform Act to depart from the succession order, the memo says. We also advised that Mr. Whitakers designation would be consistent with the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the President to obtain the Advice and Consent of the Senate before appointing a principal officer of the United States. Although an Attorney General is a principal officer requiring Senate confirmation, someone who temporarily performs his duties is not, DoJ continued. All three branches of government have long recognized, the President may designate an acting official to perform the duties of a vacant principal office, including a Cabinet office, even when acting official has not been confirmed by the Senate. Democrats tried to make an issue of the fact that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was not appointed to the acting AG post, and that Whitaker, who was Sessions chief of staff prior to his resignation, was instead. (Related: DEMOCRAT calls for stopping Robert Mueller and draining the swamp, or public faith in government justice will be shattered forever.) This process dates back to 1792 Some years ago, Whitaker was confirmed by the Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa after being nominated by President George W. Bush. He did not have to be confirmed for his most recent position, Townhalls Katie Pavlich reported. In addition to citing the law and the Constitution, the Justice Department also notes there is plenty of precedence for the appointment. The one thing the opinion makes clear is that we provide a wealth of history that demonstrat[es] that over 150 persons were designated as acting officers as heads of departments, a senior DOJ official told reporters during a conference call Wednesday morning. Theres a long history of thisPresident Trump has done this five times before, so did President Obama. There have been just dozens and dozens of examples going back, the official noted further. We found Thomas Jefferson exercising authority that had been given to George Washington designating acting power to the Secretary of WarThere have been acting Secretaries of State that have not been Senate confirmed. By law, Whitaker can serve in his interim AG role for up to 210 days. Congress did not first authorize the President to direct non-Senate-confirmed officials to act as principal officers in 1998; it did so in multiple statutes starting in 1792, the DoJ memo said. In that year, Congress authorized the President to ensure the governments uninterrupted work by designating persons to perform temporarily the work of vacant offices. The department noted that in its brief survey of the history, there were at least 160 times prior to 1860 that non-Senate-confirmed candidates were temporarily appointed to serve in high offices of government including secretaries of War, the Navy, the Interior, and Postmaster General. Democrats opposition to what POTUS Trump did is just an extension of their general opposition to anything he does. Read more about President Trumps White House at WhiteHouse.news. Sources include: Townhall.com TheNationalSentinel.com (Natural News) There are many savvy consumers out there these days, watching out for tricky food labels and sketchy doctors with bad advice. Weve heard stories, weve been fooled, and now were educated through trial and error, and weve found legitimate research that Google, YouTube, and Apple have yet to ban. Still, its hard to know the difference sometimes between real research and all that Big Food and Big Pharma propaganda. Plus, old habits are hard to break, especially when you thought wholeheartedly that you were doing it right for so long. Its time to fess up, and change your ways if youre partaking of these insidious food products or participating in the most insidious medical treatments that most Americans still believe are beneficial. Lets take an inside look right now at the seven most insidious food labels and medical treatment tricks that lead us right into long-term health detriment: #1. Not just conventional canola, but even USDA Certified Organic and expeller-pressed canola oil still coagulates in human blood, causing weight gain, memory loss, and dementia. #2. Foods labeled Gluten Free can still be loaded with processed ingredients. #3. Foods labeled Natural usually still contain plenty of GMOs (study reveals). #4. The CDC removed mercury from all childhood vaccines, except for the FACT that dangerously high levels of mercury are still in many influenza vaccines (flu shots) that are recommended by the CDC for pregnant women and infants starting at 6 months young. #5. Most liquid over-the-counter (OTC) medications for headaches, fever, and coughs, contain industrial-based, chemical-laced artificial coloring and toxic artificial sweeteners, like aspartame and sucralose. #6. About half of all organic food products are sold by corporations that push GMOs and fund agendas to keep GMOs from ever being labeled. #7. Mammograms often result in false-positives (causing immense stress) while also causing breast cancer due to radiation, as groundbreaking research reveals. Canola oil, whether organic or not, expeller pressed or not, coagulates and causes the blood to clog Got neuronal dysfunction? Did you forget what you just read? Maybe you should put down the canola oil, because it contributes to memory problems. Temple University researchers recently conducted a study revealing how canola oil literally causes weight gain, decreases learning ability, worsens memory, and leads to Alzheimers disease. It doesnt matter if that canola oil contains zero pesticides or even how its processed, because every kind of canola oil increases amyloid plaques in the brain that cause neurofibrillary tangles, contributing to neuronal dysfunction, degeneration, and memory loss. This means there are significantly fewer contacts between neurons in the brain a distinct sign of extensive injury, according to scientists. This research is a game-changer and was published in Scientific Reports. Bottom line: Canola oil comes from rapeseeds. Consuming the oil from rapeseeds causes cancer and the dysfunction of your key cleansing organs the liver and kidneys. Canola oil also depletes your levels of vitamin E while raising your levels of triglycerides by almost half. You should completely avoid consuming any kind of canola oil, ever. Study reveals most foods labeled Natural are still loaded with pesticide-laden GMOs If you think consuming GMOs isnt that bad, think again. Just removing GMOs from your daily intake can improve nearly 30 health conditions. GMOs are crops that not only contain bacterial pesticides in their DNA, but theyre sprayed with weed killer that, when consumed by humans, literally pulls nutrients from your body and kills the good bacteria (flora) in your gut, thus crippling your immunity to pathogens, parasites, harmful bacteria, and viruses. A recent study by Consumer Reports, an independent product testing organization, revealed that most U.S. packaged food labeled natural contains high levels of genetically modified ingredients. Were talking about 80 percent of foods labeled natural containing genetically mutated Franken-corn or Franken-soy. Thats very scary. That label is totally misleading and should be regulated by the FDA, but its not, because theyre behind the insidious trick themselves. The FDA believes all chemical pesticides are healthy for humans to consume, and thats why there are no regulations on the term all natural. Check your wheat and oat products for the cancer-causing GMOs and never trust the natural label. Stick to organic grains for food safety. Tune into Food.news to uncover more insidious tricks being played on us by Big Food and Big Pharma, so you can continue to eat clean and avoid those well-devised and evil Allopathic medicine pitfalls. Sources for this article include: ThinkProgress.org NaturalNews.com WorldHealth.net Food.news FDA.news Vaccines.news (Natural News) Some say garlic elevates savory dishes, while others avoid it like the plague. However, if you tend to shy away from eating garlic, you might want to think twice as studies show it works remarkably well at killing resistant bacteria and fighting chronic infections. Closely related to vegetables with pronounced flavors like onions, chives, shallots and leeks, garlic has been used in cuisines around the world for thousands of years. While its full of nutrients like iron, magnesium, selenium and zinc, it is perhaps best known for its medicinal purposes. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen carried out a study that showed a compound in garlic can destroy the important components of bacterias communication systems involving regulatory RNA molecules. This can also have the effect of helping antibiotics work again in difficult cases where it once failed to make an impact. In addition to stopping DNA molecules in the bacteria, the garlic compound can also destroy the protective slimy matrix that surrounds the bacteria known as biofilm. Once the biofilm has been weakened or destroyed, the bodys own immune system and antibiotics can attack the bacteria more directly and get rid of the infection with ease. The researchers say that they believe their garlic drug could help treat patients whose outlook is otherwise poor. A biotech firm is developing the compound for use against bacterial infections, and human clinical trials are expected to be carried out soon. The group has been studying garlics effect on bacteria since 2005, when they learned that garlic extract can inhibit bacteria. In 2012, they found that its a sulfurous compound in garlic known as ajoene that is responsible for this effect. The new study, which is published in the Nature Scientific Reports, explores the ability of ajoene to destroy this bacteria in depth. They looked at Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are two very different types of bacteria that generally must be fought using different methods. The fact that the garlic compound can address them both at the same time is extremely promising. Dont shy away from garlic As aggressive multi-resistant infections continue to challenge medical professionals around the world and put patients health at risk, this natural treatment could prove quite useful. While the researchers emphasize that garlic contains such a small amount of ajoene that people would need to consume mass quantities of it to get the benefits, there are still plenty of reasons to start using more of it in your own kitchen. For example, it can boost heart health, regulating cholesterol levels and preventing blood clots from forming. Its antiseptic properties make it useful in treating infected wounds, ear aches, and other infections, and raw garlic can also be used to address colds and coughs. Although it has a strong flavor that sticks with you long after youve eaten it, it can actually help digestion quite a bit by supporting intestinal function, reducing gastric canal swelling. By killing damaging bacteria in the intestines, it can help ease diarrhea, colitis and even dysentery. It has also been linked to preventing cancers like those of the esophagus, stomach and colon, in addition to inhibiting the growth of breast tumors. You can add garlic to nearly any savory dish, whether you use it to marinate meats or add it to salads, soups, or sauces. Its particularly enjoyable roasted in the oven until soft, but if you dont enjoy its flavor, you can get garlic in capsule form so you dont miss out on the benefits. Read more stories about natural antibiotics at NaturalAntibiotics.news. Sources for this article include: HealthSciences.KU.dk Naturalpedia.com ScienceDaily.com (Natural News) Toxic chemicals such as fungicides and antidepressants entering waterways and aquatic ecosystems may cause adverse behavioral changes in aquatic animals even at relatively low levels, a study published in the Environmental Pollution journal has revealed. According to experts, fungicides used on staple crops such as rice, oats, wheat, and potatoes are found in great concentrations in waterways in Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. The scientists have also noted that traces of antidepressants are detected in urbanized rivers across the world. Antidepressants are also known to enter both freshwater and marine environments, the scientists added. As part of the study, a team of researchers at the University of Barcelona in Spain and the University of Portsmouth in the U.K. examined the effects of both toxic chemicals on amphipods or shrimp-like creatures in a laboratory setting. The research team observed that the creatures swam faster when exposed to either fungicides or antidepressants, but moved more sluggishly when exposed to both toxins. The scientists have also noted that while the creatures preferred eating leaf littler in the riverbeds, the presence of fungicide in the water made the food source less palatable for the animals. In addition, the research team observed that traces of antidepressants in the water made the animals eat less. The experts have also noted that these changes in feeding and swimming behaviors were detrimental to the animals growth, reproduction, and survival, which in turn may impacted the food chain. Most of the worlds urban waterways receive a cocktail of pollutants from agricultural run-off to human sewage containing sometimes high concentrations of medicines like antidepressants. Such cocktails may stop short of killing marine species, but we are concerned at what sub-lethal effects certain pollutants maybe having. There can be thousands of different chemicals in our rivers and seas, from agricultural run-off to sewage effluent, and though they stop short of being lethal, these contaminants can damage the health of aquatic ecosystems, study co-author Professor Alex Ford told Science Daily online. These findings underline the importance of understanding and knowing the impact of complex mixtures of pollutants are having. One of the great conundrums for environmental toxicologists is how can we possibly determine or predict the effects of every combination of chemicals when there are simply thousands released into the environment, many of which have had quite limited toxicity assessment, Professor Ford added. Antidepressants are also found in the Great Lakes regions fishes A study conducted by researchers at The State University of New York at Buffalo has revealed that traces of antidepressants have been seen in the brains of certain fish species commonly found in the Great Lakes region. The researchers examined 10 fish species including several types of bass, perch, walleye, and bowfin to carry out the study. The research team observed that rock bass samples had the highest concentrations of norsertraline at 400 nanograms per gram of brain tissue. Norsertraline is the active ingredient in Zoloft. The experts also discovered that the same fish species exhibited relatively high concentrations of citalopram and norfluoxetine According to the scientists, citalopram is the active ingredient in Celexa while norfluoxetine is a metabolite of the active ingredient in Prozac and Sarafem. (Related: Great Lakes fish found heavily contaminated with antidepressant drug chemicals.) The results also showed that sertraline levels found in the tissue samples of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and rock bass as well as white bass and walleye were about 20 or more times higher than levels observed in river water. More than 50 percent of the fish brain samples showed norsertraline levels of 100 nanograms per gram or higher, the experts added. These active ingredients from antidepressants, which are coming out from wastewater treatment plants, are accumulating in fish brains. It is a threat to biodiversity, and we should be very concerned, lead researcher Diana Aga has stated in university release. Sources include: ScienceDaily.com Buffalo.edu There has been an outbreak of norovirus at a shelter housing people who evacuated their homes to escape the massive wildfire in Northern California. Butte County public health spokeswoman Lisa Almaguer said that lab tests confirmed the virus and 21 people who were sick have been quarantined at the shelter in Chico, California, but in an area separate from healthy evacuees. There are 179 evacuees at the shelter, according to Almaguer. "There may be reports of similar illness in other shelters, but none are lab confirmed at this time," she said. Staff mopped floors with bleach Wednesday at the Neighborhood Church in Chico, where a large room has been converted into a makeshift medical care center. Norovirus is highly contagious and can cause diarrhea, fever and body aches. It spreads commonly when people are in close quarters. To protect yourself from the virus, health officials said to wash your hands often, rise fruits and vegetables and cook shellfish thoroughly. NBC Bay Area's Kiki Intarasuwan contributed to this report. What to Know The Butte County Camp Fire has burned 141,000 acres and is 40 percent contained More than 5,600 fire personnel are working to control the wildfire burning in Northern California's Sierra Nevada foothills The blaze, which has been burning for one week, has wiped out more than 8,756 residences and 260 commercial buildings Cool weather helped fire crews gain ground Thursday against the nation's deadliest wildfire in a century, as the search went on for more bodies. At least 63 people were killed and 631 were unaccounted for a week after the flames swept through. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ENTIRE LIST OF MISSING PEOPLE The nearly 220-square-mile blaze in Northern California was 40 percent contained, the state fire agency said, and firefighters succeeded in slowing the flames' advance toward populated areas. More than 450 searchers were assigned to look for remains in Paradise, which was all but destroyed Nov. 8, and in outlying areas such as Magalia, a forested town of about 11,000. Many of the missing were elderly and from Magalia. "If this town does recover, it's going to take many, many years," said Johnny Pohmagevich, an 18-year Magalia resident who lives up the road from many burned homes. Police drove around town, searching for those still in their homes and checking if they needed food and water. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Wednesday night that 130 people were missing. His office later released a list of 300 who were unaccounted for, though spokeswoman Miranda Bowersox said some of those may simply not have checked in with officials or family. At the other end of the state, crews continued to battle wildfires in Southern California, including a blaze of more than 153 square miles that destroyed over 500 structures in Malibu and nearby communities. At least three deaths were reported. Officials in Northern California put the number of homes lost there at nearly 8,800, and the sheriff said the task of recovering remains had become so vast that his office brought in 287 more searchers Wednesday, including National Guard troops. The search crews used 22 cadaver dogs. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke joined California Gov. Jerry Brown on a visit to Paradise on Wednesday, saying it was the worst fire devastation he had ever seen. "Now is not the time to point fingers," Zinke said. "There are lots of reasons these catastrophic fires are happening." He cited higher temperatures, dead trees and the poor forest management. The governor said officials would need to learn how to better prevent fires from becoming so deadly . It will take years to rebuild, if people decide that's what should be done, said Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "The infrastructure is basically a total rebuild at this point," he said. While most of Paradise was wiped out, in Magalia there was a sharp dividing line between homes that burned and those that were spared. "Magalia has so many trees. I honestly can't believe it just didn't get leveled," said Sheri Palade, an area real estate agent. Tom Driver, the office manager and elder at Magalia Community Church, said he heard the church made it through the blaze, though he did not know whether his home did. "I've been able to account for all of the congregation," said Driver, who is staying with family in Oakland. "They're all over the place, but they got out in pretty good time." Kim Bonini, one of those who got out safely, left after hearing someone on a bullhorn two blocks over urging people to leave. The power in her home had gone out that morning, leaving her with only her car radio. "My cell didn't work, my house phone didn't work, nothing. Nothing except for me crawling into my car," Bonini said from her daughter's home in Chico. "If I wouldn't have heard them two blocks down, I wouldn't have known I had to evacuate." Associated Press writers Janie Har and Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco, Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California and Andrew Selsky in Salem, Oregon, also contributed to this report. With only weeks left in office, Gov. Jerry Brown named one of his senior advisers Wednesday to fill a long-running vacancy on the California Supreme Court. The Democratic governor nominated Joshua Groban, 45, of Los Angeles, who has overseen Brown's appointment of about 600 judges since 2011. Brown said the appointments have been praised as the most diverse in state history. Groban "has vast knowledge of the law and sound and practical judgment" and will be a strong addition to California's highest court, Brown said in announcing his pick. If confirmed, Grogan, a Democrat, will be paid $253,189 a year. Brown waited nearly two years to fill the vacancy created by Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar's retirement. It's the fourth justice he has named to the seven-member court. "I am truly humbled by this nomination and, if confirmed, I look forward to working alongside the highest court's truly exemplary jurists," Groban said in a statement. The nomination now goes to the State Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and must be confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. Brown's office expects Grogan to take the bench before the governor leaves office in January. Announcing the appointment after last week's election gives Grogan four years before he faces voters for a retention decision. Justices serve 12-year terms. Groban would be the court's next Jewish justice after two other Jewish justices died over the years, Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert of the Second District Court of Appeal said in a statement provided by the governor's office. Gilbert said that "reflects the diversity that makes our Supreme Court reflective of the society it serves." Court of Appeal justices have been helping the high court while it was short one justice, but they don't write majority opinions. Aside from taking the lead on all judicial appointments for the administration, Groban also advised Brown on lawsuits and policy decisions involving education, the judiciary, criminal justice, national security and constitutional interpretation, the governor's office said. He was the legal counsel for Brown's gubernatorial campaign in 2010, a private attorney at two different law firms from 1999 to 2010, and a law clerk for U.S. District Judge William Conner in the Southern District of New York from 1998 to 1999. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, both with honors. Officials say there has been an outbreak of norovirus at a shelter housing people who evacuated their homes to escape the massive Camp Fire in Northern California. Butte County public health spokeswoman Lisa Almaguer said that lab tests confirmed the virus and those who were sick have been quarantined at the shelter in Chico but in an area separate from healthy evacuees. She said she did not know how many people had contracted the virus. Staff mopped floors with bleach Wednesday at the Neighborhood Church in Chico, where a large room has been converted into a makeshift medical care center. Norovirus is highly contagious and can cause diarrhea, fever and body aches. It spreads commonly when people are in close quarters. A San Francisco doctor is leading a counterattack to a National Riffle Association tweet telling doctors to "stay in their lane" in the gun control debate. Forensic pathologist Judy Melinek knows what bullets do to bodies so when she saw the NRA tweeting, "Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane. Half of the articles in Annals of Internal Medicine are pushing for gun control," she fought back. "It was like a gut punch because were the ones who have to deal with the consequences of Americas lax gun laws," Melinek said. Do you have any idea how many bullets I pull out of corpses weekly? This isnt just my lane. Its my highway, said Melinek, who conducts autopsies and teaches forensics for a living. Her hashtag #ThisIsMyLane went viral. Doctors posting pictures of blood soaked scrubs and operating rooms where gunshot victims died from homicides or suicides. "Suicides are much larger in number of wounds and deaths and they actually are much more preventable," she said. The NRA tweet was in response to an American College of Physicians Report calling gun violence a public health threat. Melinek said physicians and NRA members can and should find common ground. "The majority of their [NRA] members are not necessarily behind the silencing of scientists that is going on right now," she said. According to Melinek, physician activism has worked before -- most recently in the ongoing anti-smoking battle with big tobacco. "This is the responsibility of doctors, to speak out on behalf of their patients," she said. The Illinois Senate failed on Wednesday to overturn a veto on legislation that would withdraw Illinois from contentious multistate voter registration system. The vote to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto was 35-21 Wednesday. An override requires 36 votes. Chicago Democratic Sen. Kwame Raoul's measure would have removed Illinois from the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program run through the Kansas secretary of state's office. It was designed in 2005 as a way to help four neighboring states share information and clean voter rolls by making sure voters weren't registered in more than one state, intended to flag duplicate registrations across state lines. The program has grown to include about two dozen states, including Illinois, which began submitting information in 2011. Critics say the program is inaccurate and vulnerable to hackers. Questions have have been raised in Illinois and elsewhere about the security of passwords, accuracy of the information and the political leanings of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who oversees Crosscheck and helped lead President Donald Trump's now-disbanded election fraud commission. It was investigating unproven claims of illegal voting in 2016. The Illinois Legislature voted to withdraw from the system after the Board of Elections rejected a similar effort on a 4-4 partisan vote, with Republicans against leaving and Democrats in favor. Rauner's veto message said the battle against vote fraud is fought by cross-referencing voter information from several states. The Illinois Senate voted Wednesday to reverse Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto on legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to those under 21. Deerfield Democratic Sen. Julie Morrison's proposal was OK'd 36-19. The veto override required 36 votes and will now move to the House. The ban would include cigarettes and cigars, snuff and chew, e-cigarettes and vaping materials. Morrison said smoking "is not a right or a benefit, it's an addiction." Opponents complained that young adults who can vote and serve in the military should decide on tobacco use. And they noted the legislation has no penalties for buyers or sellers. That was a key to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto. Proponents say the state may restrict sales of a product. They say penalties would unnecessarily mar a young person's future. A 3-year-old boy was left alone, still strapped in on a school bus in Indiana for two hours, his mother said, after the driver apparently overlooked him. The boys mother said she put her son, Luke, on his bus to West Lake Pre-School on Tuesday and didnt realize he was missing until she went to the school with another child for a book fair. She said, Hes at home with you, Lauren Collin said. I said, He is not at home with me. Where is my son? Collin said the school was put on lockdown while she searched frantically for her son. I didnt know where he was, she said. Hes 3. Hes 3 years old and the school doesnt have him. You dont think its, like, really happening because you put your child on a school bus that brings your child to school. I did not get a phone call. I did not call him in absent. So from 8:25 until 10:30, where is he? Collin said administrators seemed more concerned about her pregnancy than Lukes whereabouts. I am like what the f do you mean you lost my little one, Lukes father, Scott Collin, said. Like where is he? Scott Collin said administrators told him they were trying to calm his wife because she is pregnant. But then, after they locked the doors and counted the students, school employees called the bus drive at the School Town of Munster bus barn and that is where the child was found. Then Collin got a call that Luke had been found safe and sound at the Munster bus barn, still strapped in to his seat. He was in the bus, alone, for two hours, she said. A school spokesperson told NBC 5 Thursday that an investigation is underway. "We are currently investigating the incident to determine if all procedures were followed. Upon completion of the investigation, if it is determined that our policies and procedures need to be updated or rewritten, then we will do so," Jeffrey Hendrix said in a statement. "Our goal is to ensure that all students are kept safe at all times during their transportation to and from the School Town of Munster, as well as, the time spent in our buildings during the school day.But Collin and her husband said they want to see changes." The family said they are keeping Luke home while they consider their options. A knife-wielding Palestinian attacker snuck into a Jerusalem police station and lightly wounded four police officers before he was shot and captured, Israeli police said Thursday. The assault came on the heels of a fragile truce that was reached between Israel and Islamic militants in the Gaza Strip that ended two days of heavy fighting, the area's most severe violence since the 50-day Gaza war in 2014. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the knife-wielding attacker climbed over the station's fence late on Wednesday night and began stabbing officers inside. Other officers then shot the assailant and captured him; he was later taken to hospital. In the two days of heavy fighting, Palestinian militants had fired 460 rockets and mortars into Israel, while Israel carried out airstrikes on 160 Gaza targets. Seven Palestinians, including five militants, were killed. A rocket fired from Gaza killed a Palestinian laborer in Israel. The latest round of violence was triggered by a botched Israeli raid on Sunday that left seven Palestinian militants and a senior Israeli military officer dead. Before the raid, Egyptian and U.N. mediators had made progress in reducing tensions. In recent days, Israel had allowed fuel shipments to increase the power supply in Gaza, which suffers from frequent blackouts, and agreed to additional Qatari assistance to allow Hamas to pay the salaries of its thousands of government workers. The cease-fire led to the resignation of Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who had demanded a far stronger Israeli response to the Palestinian rocket onslaught but appeared to have been overruled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The resignation threw the government into turmoil and pushed the country toward an early election. Netanyahu presented the decision to step back from a full-blown conflict as a unified one made by his Security Cabinet and based on the military's recommendations. But Lieberman and fellow hard-liner Naftali Bennett later expressed reservations, saying they favored a stronger response. Hamas has staged near-weekly border protests since March in an effort to lift the Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after the Islamic militant group seized control of the coastal strip in 2007. This has inflicted heavy damage on Gaza, but Hamas remains firmly in power. Demonstrators each week approach the border fence, throwing firebombs, grenades and burning tires at Israeli troops. Israeli snipers have killed about 170 people, most of them unarmed. The Cheshire High School PTO will host a presentation Wednesday night to educate parents about the dangers of teen vaping. "A lot of parents brought up the fact that this vaping was occurring," PTO member Maura Esposito told NBC Connecticut. Esposito is the Chesprocott Health Director and the mother of two Cheshire High School students. "Ive told them I disapprove of it," she said. The goal of the presentation by a Sacred Heart University nursing student is to inform parents about the health consequences and different types of vaping devices, Esposito said. "Vaping was sold to the public as a means to help adults curb their smoking habits," Esposito said, "but when you look at flavors like tootie fruitie that really doesnt appeal to the adults so much." Esposito said she wants parents to know what to look for because without the distinct smell of cigarettes, vaping can be harder to detect. "When you start showing (parents) what that little device looks like, it looks like a flash drive, parents, its not a flash drive its a Juul," she said. E-cigarette company Juul Labs announced it will stop selling flavored pods in stores, but products can still be purchased online. "So parents need to be monitoring whats being delivered to the house," Chesprocott Public Health Specialist Kate Glendon said. Studies have found teens that vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes, Yale School of Medicine Professor Dr. Deep Camenga said. "We worked for 30, 40 years to reduce cigarette smoking rates among teens in America and really theres a huge concern because we may be reversing all those gains weve made over the years because of the popularity of vaping," Camenga said. While some long-term consequences are still unknown, teens exposed to nicotine from vaping are more vulnerable to addiction because their brains are still developing, Camenga said. "Sometimes we want to be really great friends with our kids," Esposito said, "but ultimately you are the parent and if I know its harmful for them, their brains are still developing and they can think that theyre making the best decision but we know where addiction has led us." One Juul vaping pod contains the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes and some teens report using one pod each day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to release a detailed plan on how to curb teenage vaping this week. Some New London residents are again voicing concerns about coyotes lurking in their yards or near their pets on the south end of the city. "Its little bit unnerving because they dont seem to be frightened of us," said Vickie Videll, who lives on Lower Boulevard. Coyotes frequent the woods that surround her yard and Videll thinks people need to be on alert. "Thats a little scary at night or at dusk when they seem to be very active and my motion detector lights are going on all the time," Videll said. She took a picture over the summer of three coyotes in her backyard and said she called the city about the sighting. Videll also mentioned recent talks about coyotes on an online neighborhood forum. Lori Rembetski, who also lives on Lower Boulevard, said these coyotes are bold. She was walking with her dog Tuesday night when she saw one in Vidells yard. Her dog wanted to chase it and said the coyote just slowly sauntered away. "Its only a matter of time before the coyotes decide that they dont really care and theyre going to come after him," Rembetski said. In the last two years there have been at least two reported coyote-related dog deaths, along with other animal attacks in New London. In April 2017, the city had a wildlife biologist from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection address community concerns. New London police and Bennie Dover Jackson Middle Schoolers went door to door with informational fliers and lawn signs about coyote safety. Police Chief Peter Reichard said their last coyote complaint was made in February of this year. If it does become a widespread concern, Reichard said police have information on coyote safety on their website and they can re-distribute informational fliers, too. Several neighbors on Lower Boulevard said they havent seen the animals nor are they concerned about it. "I dont think they are after humans. I think they are doing what they do naturally and looking for food," Carol Rogovin. NBC Connecticut reached out to DEEP. A spokesperson sent information from their website that warns people to never feed coyotes, which includes leaving food out. It also mentions to not let pets run free, especially small pets. A deteriorating facility and combining emergency resources into one building are two reasons why the Town of East Lymes first selectman is asking taxpayers to fund a new public safety building. First Selectman Mark Nickerson said the town is looking to move the police department from a leased spot on Main Street to the Honeywell property at 227 West Main Street (Route 156). The project will cost around $6 million to buy the 30,000 square foot office/warehouse building and renovate it. It sits on 17 acres. About $2.8 million would go toward purchasing the space and an estimated $3.2 million would be used toward updating and renovating the building to public safety building standards. The proposed complex would be the first time the police departmentincluding jails and evidence lockers that are rented from Waterford policethe dispatch center, the fire marshals office and the emergency operations center would all be under one roof. The police department would also be a 24/7 facility, Nickerson said, instead of the lobby closing at night and on the weekends. "You have a building that has water intrusion on a regular basis, so you have items that are being ruined. That would be records, that would be the armory a couple of months ago we had water intrusion there," East Lyme Police Chief Michael Finkelstein said. He gave NBC Connecticut video that showed the police station last month with pooled with water on the floor. The new facility would also provide more avenues for officers to get to different parts of town, Finkelstein said. Taxpayers would foot the bill through a 20-year bond, Nickerson said. There will be public forums and if it passes several boards and commission, the plan would be up for a referendum vote. In the last 14 years, two attempts to create a public safety complex failed to gain community support. In 2004, a $6.5 million proposal to partner with state and federal organizations to build a multi-purpose facility on the grounds of Camp Niantic did not receive approval from the town's Board of Finance. Four years later, a $14 million complex was rejected by voters at referendum, according to a press release sent out by the First Selectmans office. A former Connecticut College employee who was accused of embezzling more than $170,000 from the school has pleaded guilty. Michael Kmec, 40, of Marlborough, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Wednesday in Hartford federal court to one count of wire fraud related to an embezzlement scheme, according to the office of John Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kmec began working at Connecticut College in New London in 2006 and he was promoted in 2014 to director of auxiliary services of the college, overseeing the print shop, bookstore, vending machines, transportation, laundry services and residence halls as well as the Camel Card program, which is an identification and debit card used at the college, according to federal officials. They said Kmecs responsibilities also included overseeing approval of third-party reimbursements for services to the college. From 2014 until he was fired in April 2018, Kmec is accused of stealing $173,010 by receiving funds from the college through fraudulent billing, diverting checks to the college to a bank account he controlled, diverting money from the Camel Card program to bank accounts he controlled, misappropriating a college laptop and fraudulently depositing more than 80 reimbursement checks that a contractor for the college had issued to Connecticut College students into a bank account he controlled. Kmec is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 12. A Texas National Guard member serving at the U.S.-Mexico border is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a motel, authorities said Wednesday. Police in Alpine arrested Luis Carlos Ontiveros, 30, on Monday. The Texas National Guard confirmed that Ontiveros was serving in a mission launched in April following President Donald Trump's call for the National Guard to go to the border. According to an affidavit obtained by KOSA-TV, the woman told police she had been drinking and Ontiveros offered to take her back to her motel room. The woman alleged that Ontiveros started kissing her, then removed her clothes and touched her. The woman said she fled after Ontiveros told her he would perform oral sex. A witness told police the woman knocked on his door, saying Ontiveros had tried to rape her. Ontiveros was released Tuesday on $20,000 bond. A message left at a number listed for Ontiveros was not immediately returned. The Associated Press generally does not identify victims in sexual assault cases. The Texas National Guard said it would cooperate with authorities in Alpine, a remote West Texas town in the region of Big Bend National Park. The Guard would not confirm whether Ontiveros had been suspended or how long he had served in the Guard. Ontiveros is the second guardsman in Texas known to have been arrested since the Guard was sent to the border. Edwin Baez , 20, was charged in August with stealing 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Federal prosecutors said Baez was detailed to an international bridge in Laredo, Texas, when he allegedly ended up in the hospital for a "drug-induced emergency." Investigators determined he had taken meth from a picture frame being used to smuggle the drugs that he was supposed to have thrown away. Baez has pleaded not guilty. About 1,000 National Guard members in Texas are currently serving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Arizona, California, and New Mexico also sent Guard members to their borders with Mexico. Trump has since ordered the active-duty military to the border, and around 5,800 troops have deployed. A Mexican citizen on death row in Texas was executed Wednesday night for the sledgehammer killings of his wife and two children more than 26 years ago. Roberto Moreno Ramos was condemned for the 1992 deaths of his 42-year-old wife Leticia, 7-year-old daughter Abigail, and 3-year-old son Jonathan at their home in Progreso, located along the Mexico border. When asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Ramos thanked the Mexican consulate for its assistance with appeals in his case and said he was grateful for "the humane treatment I got in prison in Texas." "I'm getting my gold watch that it took the governor 30 years to forge," he said. "Thank you God. Lord, send me a chariot. I'm ready." As the lethal dose of the powerful sedative pentobarbital began taking effect, the 64-year-old Ramos took a couple of deep breaths, sputtered once and began snoring. Within seconds, all movement then stopped. Eleven minutes later, at 9:36 p.m. CST, Ramos was pronounced dead. He became the 21st inmate put to death this year in the U.S. and the 11th given a lethal injection in Texas, the nation's busiest capital punishment state. No friends or relatives of Ramos or his victims witnessed the execution. Mexican officials had called for his execution to be stopped, arguing he was part of a group of Mexican citizens condemned in the U.S. who were never told when first arrested that they could get legal help from the Mexican government. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday night cleared the way for the punishment when it denied two appeals seeking to halt the lethal injection. Ramos' attorney on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to stop his execution, arguing that Ramos' constitutional rights were violated as lower courts refused to fully review his claims that his trial lawyers failed to present any evidence about his mental illness and abusive childhood that could have persuaded jurors to spare his life. Three retired justices who had served on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals filed court documents with the Supreme Court on Wednesday in support of stopping the execution. The ex-judges alleged the appeals court appointed an incompetent appellate attorney who early in the post-conviction process failed to investigate Ramos' case. Also Wednesday, a federal judge in Austin dismissed Ramos' request to temporarily block the execution. The request had been part of a lawsuit Ramos filed against the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals a day earlier. The suit alleged the appeals court had not allowed Ramos to present claims he had ineffective trial and appellate lawyers. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously turned down requests to halt Ramos' execution. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday declined to recommend either a commutation of his sentence or a six-month reprieve. In court documents, Ramos' appellate attorney, Danalynn Recer, had argued Ramos suffered from bipolar disorder most of his life, including during the time of his family's killings, as well as brain damage that affected his ability to control his impulses and regulate his emotions. Recer said Ramos was also brutally beaten as a child by his father. Ramos was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and grew up in Guadalajara and Tijuana before his family moved to the United States in 1970. "No fact-finder or decision-maker entrusted with Mr. Moreno Ramos' life has ever been provided with evidence of (his) `diverse human frailties' to assist them in dispensing the most severe punishment under law," Recer said. But the Texas Attorney General's Office said Ramos' death sentence was appropriate due to his "violent and dangerous nature." Authorities said Ramos bludgeoned his family members and then buried them underneath his home's bathroom floor so he could marry the woman he was having an extramarital affair with at the time. In court filings, the attorney general's office highlighted testimony from Ramos' then-19-year-old son, who told jurors at Ramos' 1993 trial that his father "would continue to commit criminal acts of violence." In 2004, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, found Ramos was part of a group of 52 Mexican citizens awaiting execution in the U.S. who weren't advised of their consular rights under the Vienna Convention when first arrested. It recommended they be tried again to determine if consular access would have affected their cases. Then-President George W. Bush directed states to reopen the cases. But the Supreme Court in 2008 overruled Bush's directive, saying only Congress can require states to follow the international court's ruling. Including Ramos, six Mexican citizens have been executed since being named in the international court ruling and all the executions were carried out by Texas, according to the Mexican government. A North Texas non-profit that's been caring for kids impacted by HIV and AIDS for 30 years says its program is at risk. Bryan's House in Dallas cares for kids with several kinds of special needs, though a large percentage remain those impacted by HIV and AIDS. After all, that's why the program started three decades ago. "We were established in Dallas right at the height of the HIV and AIDS crisis. There was no one to care for the children. There was such a stigma and there still is," CEO Abigail Erickson-Torres said. Since the program's inception, new medication has meant HIV and AIDS is no longer a death sentence for children born with the disease. Still, they face a whole slew of developmental and physical symptoms that Bryan's House staff is equipped to help with. "A lot of them can't walk, and then they begin to walk. A lot of them can't eat, and they begin eating. It's really good," said volunteer and former staff member Margaret Walker. Walker has been there since the beginning. She cared for both the children living with HIV and AIDS, along with others, like a little girl who lost her birth mother to the disease. "After we put all of the kids down, I was wondering why this little girl would just be sitting up in bed just sitting there and not asleep. So I started getting her up just rocking her and singing to her and she went on to sleep, and it got to be an every night thing for me," Walker said. That little girl became the first of two Walker would adopt from the program. That is why she continues to give her time today, calling Bryan's House home. But like others, she's worried the program is in jeopardy after she learned the federal Ryan White Grant it's relied on for years no longer covers daily care. "The reality is the children would have to be dropped in the middle of their education. The families may lose their jobs because they have to work. And because of the specialized care we offer here and specialized programming, there's nowhere else, literally," Erickson-Torres said. Erickson-Torres said they're now short $117,000 needed to make it through the end of the program's school year in August. Without it, they can't afford the eight hours of care five days a week, that includes two meals and treatment when needed. While she's hopeful she'll find a new source for the money in years to come, she said it will require donations from the community to get through this one. The David Crowley Foundation has pledged to match the first $50,000 in donations. A Parker County deputy was shot with his own gun on Monday and was not ambushed by an illegal hunter, Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler says. Investigators initially believed Deputy Jarrett Turner was shot by a hunter while investigating a complaint about poaching on private property along Cattlebaron Road. The investigation found Turner was shot by his own backup gun, which malfunctioned, Fowler said. Turner was shot in the foot and was treated and released from a Fort Worth hospital. Fowler said he has six years of experience and has been with Parker County since April 2016. "This investigation has led us down several avenues," Fowler said. "This incident was not an accidental discharge. It was a weapons malfunction from a concealed backup weapon which was secured and holstered on his person." Video from the deputy's body camera showed two shots were fired with a bullet striking the approaching deputy in the foot, a sheriff's spokesman said. Fowler said it is not clear how the gun malfunctioned but said the video showed the deputys hands were not on the gun when it discharged. The sheriff had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The Texas Rangers, Texas Game Wardens, ATF and Parker County deputies were searching the area with dogs Tuesday. Tarrant County Sheriff's Office also assisted in the incident. Update: Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said Deputy Jarrett Turner was shot by his own gun when the weapon malfunctioned. You can read an update here. Investigators are offering $10,000 for information on the person who shot a Parker County Sheriff's Deputy from an illegal deer blind Monday evening. Body camera footage was released Wednesday. The deputy was identified Tuesday night at 27-year-old Jarrett Turner, who has been with the sheriff's office since 2016 and in law enforcement for six years. A Parker County Sheriff's Officer spokesperson said Turner was at home in good spirits and grateful for the support he has received since Monday night. A Parker County property owner called the sheriff's department at about 5:30 p.m. to report someone had set up an illegal deer blind on their property along Cattlebaron Road. As a deputy began to approach the deer blind someone inside opened fire. Video from the deputy's body camera showed two shots were fired from someone hiding inside the deer blind, with a bullet striking the approaching deputy in the foot, a sheriff's spokesman said. The area was too dark for the camera to pick up an identifying image of the gunman. The footage has not been released to the public. The deputy, who has not yet been identified, was taken to JPS Hospital in Fort Worth with a broken foot. The shooter, meanwhile, escaped into the darkness. Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said in a statement Tuesday the deputy was discharged from the hospital and is expected to fully recover. The deputy's name has not been released, but Fowler said he has six years of experience and has been with Parker County since April 2016. We would also like to thank so many local organizations, law enforcement agencies and citizens who have reached out to our department on behalf of our deputy with hospitality offerings and prayers, said Fowler. After the shooting Monday, several agencies and local departments responded to assist in searching for the hunter who fled the scene.

Update: Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said Deputy Jarrett Turner was shot by his own gun when the weapon malfunctioned. You can read an update here. A Parker County property owner called the sheriff's department at about 5:30 p.m. to report someone had set up an illegal deer blind on their property along Cattlebaron Road. As a deputy began to approach the deer blind someone inside opened fire. The Texas Rangers, Texas Game Wardens, ATF and Parker County deputies resumed searching the area with dogs Tuesday. No further information about the shooter is known; anyone with information about the shooter is asked to call the Parker County Sheriff's Department. NBC 5's Scott Gordon, Chris Blake and Courtney Gilmore contributed to this report. The U.S. government has awarded a $167 million contract to build 8 miles of border wall in south Texas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the contract Wednesday. Construction will begin in February. CBP already announced a $145 million award for another 6 miles in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley. Galveston, Texas-based construction firm SLSCO won both contracts. CBP says it plans to install fence posts on the levee north of the Rio Grande, the river that separates the U.S. and Mexico in Texas, as well as lighting, patrol roads, and the clearing of vegetation. Environmental advocates warn that construction will damage sensitive areas and endanger wildlife. President Donald Trump has made the border wall a priority, promising during his campaign that Mexico would pay for it. What to Know A New Jersey couple as well as a homeless man in the GoFundMe controversy are all accused of making up the story, a source said. Mark D'Amico, Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt allegedly conspired with one another to make up a story in order to raise more than $400,000. The couple turned themselves in to Burlington County prosecutors Wednesday, the source said. It is not clear if Bobbitt turned himself in. EDITOR'S NOTE: The newest version of this story can be found here, including the confirmed arrest and extradition of Johnny Bobbitt Jr. by Philadelphia police on Wednesday night. It will also host the livestream of a 2 p.m. press conference by prosecutors making a major announcement in the case at Old Burlington County Courthouse. The New Jersey couple who became famous for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for a homeless man after he helped with their disabled car as did the homeless man himself will all face charges for allegedly providing a false story in order to raise money for themselves, a source familiar with the case told NBC10. Mark D'Amico, Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt Jr. will face charges including conspiracy and theft by deception, according to the source. A complaint obtained by NBC10 alleges that the three conspired with one another to make up a false story in order to raise more than $400,000. Investigators say the three deliberately prevented donors for their GoFundMe campaign from gaining information "that would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort." D'Amico and McClure turned themselves in Wednesday to Burlington County prosecutors, the source said. The source did not confirm whether or not Bobbitt turned himself in as well. A close source to the case says a New Jersey couple and a homeless man made up the entire Good Samaritan story, then created a GoFundMe account. All three involved will face charges for the false story they allegedly created. A lawyer for the couple had no comment Thursday. NBC10 has also reached out to a lawyer for Bobbitt for comment. The three initially gained fame in 2017. The couple claimed Bobbitt used $20 to help McClure get gas when her car ran out on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. McClure and D'Amico then launched a GoFundMe page to supposedly raise money for Bobbitt, and the page brought in over $400,000 from 14,000 contributors. At first, the account led to appearances for Bobbitt and McClure on national TV programs. But it turned into a dispute over the money. Bobbitt accused the couple of dipping into the funds and using them as a "personal piggy bank" to bankroll a lifestyle they couldn't afford. Bobbitt later sued the couple over mismanagement of the funds and a judge ordered sworn statements to determine what happened to the cash, which Bobbitt's attorney, Chris Fallon, said had disappeared. Handout The couple denied any wrongdoing and accused Bobbitt of spending $25,000 in less than two weeks last year on drugs as well as paying for overdue legal bills and sending money to family. The couple's lawyer, Ernest Badway, later said Bobbitt had gotten about $200,000. But Fallon said his client had received only about $75,000. The couple also bought Bobbitt a camper with some of the cash and parked it on land McClure's family owns in New Jersey. But Bobbitt became homeless again after D'Amico told him in June that he had to leave the property. In September, police raided the couple's home in Florence, New Jersey, hauling away a new BMW on a flatbed truck. Badway said that all the couple's personal and business financial statements, along with jewelry and cash, were seized in the raid. At that point, officials said the couple was under investigation, though no charges had been filed. D'Amico was arrested in September in Burlington County on an unrelated $500 warrant for an October 2017 traffic stop, according to officials. At the time, he was driving on a suspended license and also had a broken tail light. He also failed to appear in court on two separate occassions, according to court records. As Democrats ratcheted up their attacks on Georgia Republican Brian Kemp, he claimed Wednesday that results certified by county election officials confirm he has an "insurmountable lead" in the governor's race. At a news conference, Georgia Democrats cast doubt on the legitimacy of any election count that ends with the former secretary of state being certified as the winner of a fiercely fought election against Stacey Abrams, who's seeking to become the first black woman elected governor in the U.S. "We believe that Brian Kemp mismanaged this election to sway it in his favor," said Abrams' campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo, surrounded by Democratic lawmakers at the Georgia Capitol. Democrats beyond Georgia have started to echo the notion that a Kemp victory would be illegitimate. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said Wednesday that if Abrams loses it's because Republicans stole the election. "If Stacey Abrams doesn't win in Georgia, they stole it. I say that publicly, it's clear," Brown, speaking at a briefing for the National Action Network. Kemp's campaign, which has repeatedly called on Abrams to concede, repeated that call Wednesday, saying Abrams and her supporters have used "fake vote totals," ''desperate press conferences" and "dangerous lawsuits" to try to steal the election. "After all of the theatrics, the math remains the same," Kemp campaign spokesman Cody Hall said in an email. "Abrams lost and Brian Kemp won. This election is over." Since he declared himself governor last week and resigned as secretary of state, Kemp's lead has narrowed as counties have tabulated more ballots. And the numbers could change again as federal courts issue new guidance on counting certain provisional and absentee ballots. Groh-Wargo said Tuesday that the Abrams campaign believes she needs a net gain of 17,759 votes to pull Kemp below a majority threshold and force a Dec. 4 runoff. Kemp's campaign said even if every vote that Abrams campaign is arguing for is granted by the courts and counted for her, she cannot overcome his lead or force a runoff. The Associated Press has not called the race. Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones on Wednesday ruled that the secretary of state must not certify the state election results without confirming that each county's vote tally includes absentee ballots on which the voter's date of birth is missing or incorrect. The order stems from a request in a lawsuit filed Sunday by the Abrams campaign. But Jones also rejected the campaign's other requests. He declined to extend the period during which evidence could be submitted to prove the eligibility of voters who cast provisional ballots. He also declined to order that provisional ballots cast by voters who went to a precinct in the wrong county be counted. The lawsuit was one of several election-related complaints filed before multiple federal judges. U.S. District Judge Leigh May ordered Gwinnett County election officials Tuesday not to reject absentee ballots just because the voter's birth year is missing or wrong. She also ordered the county to delay certification of its election results until those ballots have been counted. Jones' ruling effectively extended May's order to the other 158 counties in Georgia. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg late Monday ordered state officials not to do their final certification of election results before 5 p.m. Friday. State law sets a Nov. 20 deadline, but secretary of state's office elections director Chris Harvey testified last week that the state had planned to certify the election results Wednesday, a day after the deadline for counties to certify their results. He said that would allow preparations to begin for any runoff contests, including those already projected in the races for secretary of state and a Public Service Commission seat. Totenberg's order left untouched the county certification deadline. Candice Broce, a spokeswoman for secretary of state's office, said Wednesday that all counties but Gwinnett have certified their totals. Totenberg ordered the secretary of state's office to establish and publicize a hotline or website enabling voters to check whether their provisional ballots were counted and, if not, why not. And she ordered the secretary of state's office to review or have county election authorities review the eligibility of voters who had to cast provisional ballots because of registration issues. With state lawmakers gathered at the Georgia Capitol Tuesday for the start of a special legislative session, dozens of protesters gathered in statehouse rotunda, loudly chanting "Count every vote!" and waving signs with the same slogan. Police arrested 15 people, including state Sen. Nikema Williams, an Atlanta Democrat. Police zip-tied Williams' hands behind her back and led her to one of two vans holding other arrested protesters. She gave a tearful speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, saying she was booked and strip-searched at the Fulton County jail and held for five hours. She said her 3-year-old son heard news of her arrest on the radio and told a baby sitter: "That's mommy." "I didn't do anything to obstruct anyone from doing their job or their business on the floor," Williams said. "What I did was I stood with my constituents as they wanted their voices to be heard." The Georgia Constitution says legislators "shall be free from arrest during sessions of the General Assembly ... except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace." Four Democratic lawmakers delivered remarks in the Senate condemning Williams' arrest. No Republican senators stood to address Williams' arrest. GOP Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle asked the Republican chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee to meet with authorities "to look at the facts surrounding this issue and see if we can bring some kind of resolve to the matter at hand." ___ Associated Press writer Russ Bynum in Atlanta and Juana Summers in Washington contributed to this report. The White House is looking for ways to remove an enemy of Turkish President Recep Erdogan from the U.S. in order to placate Turkey over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, two senior U.S. officials and two other people briefed on the requests told NBC News. Trump administration officials last month asked federal law enforcement agencies to examine legal ways of removing exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen in an attempt to persuade Erdogan to ease pressure on the Saudi government, the four sources said. Gulen has been living in Pennsylvania since the late 1990s. Career officials at the agencies pushed back on the White House requests, the U.S. officials and people briefed on the requests said. "At first there were eye rolls, but once they realized it was a serious request, the career guys were furious," said a senior U.S. official involved in the process. The FBI and a spokesman for the National Security Council declined to comment, as did a lawyer for Gulen. The departments of state, justice and homeland security did not respond to requests for comment. President Donald Trump will travel to California on Saturday to meet with people affected by the state's deadly and historic wildfires, according to the White House. Details about locations President Trump will visit were not immediately available. The visit was announced as the death toll in the Northern California Camp Fire grew to 56. Hundreds more remain unaccounted for in the most destructive and deadliest wildfire on record in California,which devastated the town of Paradise. Nearly 9,000 homes have been destroyed. In Southern California, firefighters were taking advantage of calmer wind conditions to increase containment of the 98,000-acre Woolsey Fire. Three deaths were reported in connection with the fire, which began Nov. 8 in Ventura County before burning into Los Angeles County and the Malibu area, destroying at least 500 structures. Hundreds of thousands of residents across the state have been forced to evacuate. The visit will be on the heels of Trump's statements about "forest management" in California. As the fire roared through California communities, he tweeted: "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests." But scientists who research fire behavior said forest management did not play a major role. They said both nature, including years of drought and strong Santa Ana wind gusts that can quickly spread flames and embers, and humans share some blame. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke joined Gov. Jerry Brown this week on a visit to Paradise. "Now is not the time to point fingers," Zinke said. "There are lots of reasons these catastrophic fires are happening." Brown said he spoke with Trump, who promised federal assistance. "This is so devastating that I don't really have the words to describe it," Brown said. The fires' causes remain under investigation. Both broke out at about the same time and place that two utility companies reported equipment problems. Fall is historically one of the most dangerous times of the year for wildfires in California. Seven of the state's 10-most destructive wildfires occurred in October -- many fueled by monster winds, including Santa Ana gusts. What to Know Migrants say they are fleeing poverty, violence and political instability in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and others US troops have been deployed to help border officials prepare for the arrival of the caravan Mexico has offered refuge, asylum or work visas to the migrants Members of a migrant caravan that traveled through Mexico reached the beachside fencing that separates the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday. Images and video show members of that caravan atop the fence as they hooted and hollered, showing their excitement of reaching their destination. After several migrants were told there were no shelters, they continued west to Border Field State Park in Imperial Beach, California, where a fence crosses the beach and ends in the water of the Pacific. Once they arrived, some of them climbed up onto the and sat for a moment to see up close the dream that had motivated them to walk thousands of miles through Mexico. About a dozen migrants stood on the sand on the U.S. side of the fence before eventually returning to the Mexico side. No arrests were made. Footage shows towering flames in San Francisco as crews battle a fire caused by a gas explosion. The group of 357 migrants who arrived Tuesday in Tijuana is only the second group that has arrived in the region. Authorities expect an average of 5,000 more people to Baja California in the following days in search of asylum. Border Field State Park has a long history and involves government entities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico Border. The Border Infrastructure Project is a fenced corridor between an older fence once constructed along the border and a new fence built in 2008 2009. It is owned by the federal Department of Homeland Security. Friendship Park stands within the DHS-owned land. It is a half circle that marks the starting point for the land survey that established the border between the two countries. Families and friends who are separated will meet up with each other through the fence at Friendship Park. Access is managed by officers with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The area north of Border Field State Park is a river estuary and wildlife refuge. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan announced Wednesday that nearly three dozen community meetings will be held across the region to give residents the opportunity to discuss and give input on potential vote center locations to be placed within their neighborhoods in 2020. The first of the 33 community meetings, which will continue through mid-January, will be held this Friday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Salvation Army in Compton, 736 E. Compton Blvd. Residents from surrounding communities are welcome to attend, according to Logan's office. The next several meetings will be held Saturday at the Petit Park Granada Hills Recreation Center, 16730 Chatsworth St. at 2:30 p.m.; on Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at Pacoima City Hall, 13520 Van Nuys Blvd; and on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Albert O. Little Community Center in Artesia, 18750 Clarkdale Ave., and at the Los Angeles Fire Station in North Hollywood, at 7063 Laurel Canyon. In March 2020, Los Angeles County will implement a new voting model utilizing vote centers in compliance with the California Voter's Choice Act passed in 2016. "Vote centers will offer an 11-day voting period in convenient and accessible locations within the county and allow all voters to visit any site in the county to vote regardless of their residential address," according to the registrar's office. View the full list of community meetings with locations, hours and study areas, or an interactive map showcasing the community meetings with the same information, at www.lavote.net. What to Know Local Health Emergency is put in place for areas affected by the wildfires. Avoid unnecessary exposure to fire debris. Follow the County Public Health Department's safety recommendations. A public health emergency was declared in California Wednesday as crews to the northern and southern regions of the state battle deadly fires. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar's announcement comes on the heals of President Donald Trump declaring the fires a federal disaster. The designations allow for health providers and services more flexibility in meeting the need for help following the fires. In addition, Ventura County declared the Woolsey blaze a local health emergency. The county would be coordinating with local and state officials to help residents with fire debris removal in the wake of the 97,000-acre blaze. County officials were asking residents to avoid removing fire debris and ash until professional cleanup services can be obtained. The County Public Health Department recommends the following safety recommendations when searching through debris. When exposure to dust or ash cannot be avoided, use a well-fitted NIOSH- certified air-purifying respirator N-95 mask. Children should not be in the vicinity while cleanup is in progress. Even if care is exercised, it is easy to stir up ash that may contain hazardous substances. Clean ash off house pets and other domesticated animals if they have been in contaminated areas. Do not allow pets in these areas for their health and because of their ability to spread contamination. Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants to avoid skin contact. Goggles are recommended. Change your shoes and clothing prior to leaving the site, to avoid tracking ash into your car and other areas. You can registed for recovery notifications and find additional resources on the Ventura County Recovery page. Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing Stormy Daniels in her legal battle with President Donald Trump, was arrested Wednesday in the Los Angeles area on suspicion of domestic violence. He was released on bail hours later. The police report was filed Tuesday night by an unidentified victim at a residence on the 10000 block of Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD tweeted that it was an "ongoing investigation." The department would not reveal the identity of the reporting party or the exact nature of the person's injuries. We can confirm that today LAPD Detectives arrested Michael Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available. LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 15, 2018 Avenatti was arrested and booked on felony domestic charges Wednesday afternoon, police said. He was released from custody around 5:30 p.m. and his bail was set at $50,000, according to jail records. "I wish to thank the hard working men and woman of the LAPD for their professionalism they were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me. I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated," he said in a statement released by his Newport Beach law firm. Although the LAPD would not release any details regarding the alleged victim's relationship to Avenatti, his estranged wife Lisa-Storie Avenatti and first wife Christine Avenatti-Carlin, both defended him. "My client states that there has never been domestic violence in her relationship with Michael and that she has never known Michael to be physically violent toward anyone," Storie Avenatti's lawyers said in a statement. Avenatti-Carlin, who was married to Avenatti for 13 years, said "he has never been abusive to me or anyone else." The case will be presented to the LA County District Attorney for prosecution. Avenatti is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 5. NBC News Investigations' Andrew Blankstein contributed to this report. Sgt. Ron Helus was on the phone with his wife of three decades when he got the late-night call one week ago about gunfire at a Thousand Oaks bar. What he did next came as no surprise to Karen Helus and colleagues of the veteran Ventura County Sheriff's Department sergeant. Helus and a California Highway Patrol officer rushed toward the danger -- likely saving people desperately trying to escape from a gunman who opened fire during a college night event at the Borderline Bar. The phone conversation, one of many calls Karen Helus received from her husband as he checked in during his shift over the years, was their last. The 54-year-old Helus was struck by gunfire and later died at a hospital. "He said, had to back someone up, and he said he loved me," Karen Helus said in a "Today" show interview with 24-year-old son Jordan at her side. "And, I'm glad that I said I loved him. That was the last time I talked to him." Using a police scanner app on her phone, Karen Helus listened to the emergency response communications after the call and found out why her husband had to go. "I never listen to the scanner," she said. "Except that I had just got the app on my phone, and I don't know what made me turn it on, but I did hear what was happening and in some ways it gives me a lot of comfort to know I don't have a lot of questions. So yeah, as hard as it was to hear it, I know the answers to what I need to know right now." Helus, a member of the sheriff's department for nearly 30 years, was one of 12 victims killed in the horrific mass shooting. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday, when his law enforcement colleagues, family and friends will gather to remember his career and honor his legacy. "I can't bring him back," Karen Helus said. "But you know what? He died doing what he would have wanted to do. And he's in a better place. "He would have said he was just doing his job, but you know what, he is a hero, and I want him to be known for that, because that's what he did. He had a heart of gold. He would've done anything for anyone." By confronting the gunman and exchanging fire, he provided others in the bar with time to escape. Sheriff Geoff Dean, who retired Friday, choked up early that morning when he had to announce Sgt. Helus' death at a news conference. "There's no doubt that they saved lives by going in there," Dean said. Helus also was making plans for retirement, which was just a few months away. He went back to school for a master's degree and opened a business training people in gun safety. Sgt. Helus joined the sheriff's department at about the time the two were married. Karen Helus said her husband was protective, but that the couple also laughed a lot. "I'll miss that," she said After news of his death spread throughout the community northwest of Los Angeles, hundreds of people lined the streets to pay their respects as a hearse carried his body from Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks to a coroner's office. Firefighters saluted from freeway overpasses in honor of the lawman and positioned two ladder trucks with a U.S. flag suspended between them along the route. Those who worked alongside Helus remember his as that rare individual who could be trusted in the worst of times -- a ray of light shining through the darkness. He took on the toughess assignments, working SWAT operations and in narcotics and investigations "The fact that he was the first in the door doesn't surprise me at all," said sheriff's Sgt. Eric Buschow, a colleague and longtime friend. "He's just one of those guys who wouldn't hesitate in a situation. "If you were a victim of a crime, you want him investigating the case. He would go to the ends of the earth to find a suspect." The lobby of the sheriff's station is filled with flowers and messages, items left by residents in memory of the slain sergeant. For son Jordan, he will not only remember his father's heroic actions, but also their fishing and annual camping trips. "It's a life of good memories," Jordan Helus said. Investigators say the gunman, a former machine gunner in the Marine Corps, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. What to Know Workers put the last ballots to be counted through machines at election headquarters in Lauderhill around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night. A federal judge is refusing to suspend looming election recount deadlines in the battleground state of Florida. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Thursday rejected a request by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Democrats to give counties more time to finish recounts. All 67 counties were required to submit the results of a machine recount by 3 p.m. Shortly after the deadline passed, Palm Beach's election supervisor told reporters her county was not able to finish on time. In his ruling, Walker said he was concerned that some counties may not complete their work by the deadline. But he said there is a lack of information on when Palm Beach County would wrap up its work. Walker said he cannot "fashion a remedy in the dark." Meanwhile, after days of being in the national spotlight and being criticized by everyone from candidates to protesters from both major political parties, Broward County completed their machine recount of votes for three offices in the 2018 election ahead of Thursdays deadline. Workers put the last ballots to be counted through machines at election headquarters in Lauderhill around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night. Officials spent the remaining time before the 3 p.m. deadline Thursday going through ballots that were mailed in or not able to be read by the machines. At the same time, the countys elections supervisor Dr. Brenda Snipes will be the subject of two court hearings Thursday one from current Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who holds a razor thin lead in the race for U.S. Senate. Scott was in Washington D.C. on Wednesday with other Republicans who had been elected to the chamber, even though he has not been declared the winner over incumbent Nelson. The second case will involve the Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, Matt Caldwell, who saw his election night lead over Democrat Nikki Fried evaporate as the statewide recount commenced. Earlier in the day, Walker slammed Florida for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems, and said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. "We have we have been the laughing stock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this," Walker said in court. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers but also Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. Walker also said he's not happy about the idea of extending recount deadlines without limit. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision, by locking in procedures that don't allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in Tallahassee. Earlier Thursday, Walker ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they haven't been counted due to mismatched signatures. Nelson and Democrats have argued election officials aren't handwriting experts and should not be allowed to throw out ballots because of the mismatch. State officials testified in court that nearly 4,000 ballots have already been rejected because local canvassing boards decided the signature that was mailed-in doesn't match the signature on file. The campaign for Scott immediately said they would appeal the "baseless" decision. "Bill Nelsons high-priced Washington lawyers went to court to argue against a process that they previously argued for," the statement read in part. "Another day, another chance for (Nelson lawyer) Marc Elias to rack up massive legal fees regardless of the blatant hypocrisy or the damage this will do to Bill Nelsons legacy. The machine recount required by state law for any race where the difference is less than .5 of a percentage point may essentially bring a conclusion to the governor's race, where Republican Ron DeSantis leads Democrat Andrew Gillum by 0.41 percentage points in unofficial results. While some counties like Miami-Dade and Broward finished before the deadline, some counties such as the Democratic stronghold of Palm Beach County, have warned that they may not be able to make the deadline. Lawsuits that could spur further delays are still swirling, including one filed by Nelson and Democrats that seeks to set aside the looming deadline. Still, more than a week after Election Day, the sense of resolution could be lacking Thursday. Once the machine recount is complete, state law requires a hand review of races with margins of less than 0.25 percentage points. That means the Senate race, where unofficial results have Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.14 percentage points, is almost certain to go to another recount that will last through the weekend. Nelson, a three-time incumbent, has defended his legal strategy, saying in a statement Wednesday that "it remains the most important goal of my campaign to make sure that every lawful vote be counted correctly in this Senate race, and that Floridians' right to participate in this process is protected." But Republicans have criticized the effort, saying Democrats are trying to change election rules once the voting was complete. Republicans have filed their own lawsuits and fought back against Nelson and Democrats. "We will continue to fight to defend Florida law and uphold the will of the voters," said Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Scott. That legal fight will continue again Thursday with hearings scheduled in federal court in two of the six outstanding lawsuits pending in Tallahassee. The developments are fueling frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats have urged state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every vote is counted. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Another big question looming Thursday is whether all counties will finish the machine recount. Tallying machines overheated earlier this week in Palm Beach County. That caused mismatched results with the recount of 174,000 early voting ballots, forcing staffers to go back and redo their work. Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher said the machines underwent maintenance right before the election, but "I don't think they were designed to work 24/7." Commissioners investigating the causes of the Parkland school massacre heavily criticized the actions of a sheriff's deputy assigned to the school campus, calling him a coward for not confronting the gunman. Members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission said Wednesday that Broward sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson was "not a real cop," ''lacked intestinal fortitude" and was "a coward" as they reviewed video and photos of his actions during the Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 dead. Peterson did not enter the building to confront the alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz, but stayed outside. "It's a mindset, determination, he didn't have it," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. His attorney did not respond to an email Wednesday seeking comment. Peterson is scheduled to testify before the commission Thursday. A step-by-step animation showed how close campus security monitor Andrew Medina came to intercepting the shooter. He recognized him, chased him, saw his gun bag and radioed another campus monitor, but did not radio a code red. "The failure to call a code red immediately cost dozens of lives," said commission member Ryan Petty, who lost his daughter in the massacre. "You have to do the right thing regardless of the policy." The commission also looked into Cruz's internet search records that show he looked up "school massacre" three months before the massacre. Pinellas County Sgt. John Suess told the commission that Cruz's searches about the 1999 Columbine High shooting in Colorado and other school massacres increased over the coming months. He also wrote about killing people, took photos of himself with guns, kept racist screenshots on his cellphone and in the minutes before the Feb. 14 shooting sent love notes to his ex-girlfriend by text message. Five days before the shooting, Cruz did an internet search for "therapist for homicidal," which some commissioners think means he was having second thoughts. But within days, videos on his phone show he had committed himself to the massacre. (He has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges.) "That's one of the reasons we encourage all media outlets to please don't say the shooter's name ... give him the glory which his kind seek," said Tony Montalto, father of victim Gina Montalto. Earlier Wednesday, the Broward Sheriff's Office announced Cruz was charged with attacking a jail guard on Tuesday. The Associated Press and NBC 6's Ari Odzer contributed to this report. Miami city commissioners have voted in favor of moving the Ultra Music Festival to Virginia Key's Marine Stadium - a proposed move that officials, community leaders and residents of Key Biscayne have strongly pushed back against. Commissioners voted 4-1 in a meeting Thursday. Further details were not immediately available. "The City of Miami Commission's vote in favor of an agreement with Ultra Music Festival keeps this world-renowned event in our global city, while providing operating funds for a long-desired African American History Museum at Historic Virginia Key Beach," City Manager Emilio Gonzalez said in a statement. "We will continue to work with Ultra to ensure that our sacred natural resources are protected, and to mitigate any negative impacts to our residents." The festival, which drew hundreds of thousands of people to Downtown Miami each year, used to be held at Bayfront Park until commissioners voted against a contract that would keep the event there. Now, festival organizers have an eye on Virginia Key, abundant with marine and plant life, as Ultra's new home, but a coalition of business, community and government organizations are vehemently opposing it. "This isn't about anti-Ultra," Key Biscayne mayor-elect Mike Davey said. "This is about, this is the wrong spot for Ultra." Critics are citing traffic, safety and environmental impacts as reasons to keep Ultra away from Key Biscayne. The festival has come under fire in recent years over issues relating to crowd control and arrests, including a security guard being critically injured after a fence collapse during the 2014 event when a large group attempted to enter. A video PSA voiced over by Davey warned of the effects they claim could come out of the festival, such as immense traffic gridlock, drug abuse, violence and pollution. A Nov. 10 statement from Ultra festival organizers called the video "patently false and inaccurate." "It unfairly disparages our brand and potentially criminalizes our patrons," Ultras spokesperson Ray Martinez is quoted in the statement. Event organizers went on to say they are consulting with experts, scientists and other professionals to reduce any problems. "It could potentially be harmful to surrounding marine organisms and sea life," said marine biologist Robbie Roemer, who offered insight on the dispute Wednesday and has no affiliation with either party. "But if it's done properly, it can be properly mitigated, Im sure, if enough attention is focused on the natural environment." But homeowner Jenny Ibarra's concerns have to do with her kids' safety. "I thought, oh no, this is not the right place for Ultra," she said. "I think Ultra is not a family event. This is where families come and enjoy being a family and outdoor activities and Ultra does not belong here." The supervisor of elections in Florida's Palm Beach County said her office missed the deadline to recount ballots Thursday. Given 3-4 more hours we may have made the deadline, Susan Bucher told reporters after her office didn't meet the state-mandated 3 p.m. deadline. Bucher defended her office Thursday morning, saying the incomplete recount wasn't "for lack of human effort." Bucher explained that the elections office in Riviera Beach shut down Wednesday night because "when you work about 45 hours in a row, you have to let people sleep." Bucher says she believes her office did everything it could despite not completing the U.S. Senate race recount. She blamed aging equipment for the delays in meeting Thursday's deadline for machine recount results. A federal judge earlier rejected a request to give counties more time beyond the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline to finish their recounts. The election will be certified Tuesday. The state's 67 counties were required to do machine recounts of more than 8 million ballots cast in the contentious midterms. The U.S. Senate and governor's races were among the three within the vote margin to trigger a machine recount. Several lawsuits have been filed by Democrats and Republicans in the wake of the close election. Every inch of Jorge Hernandezs body is covered in tattoos that tell a story of a life many would find hard to believe. Its unbelievable sometimes because it is kind of like a movie, Hernandez said. Inside a Miami plastic surgery center, Hernandez talked to NBC 6 as he etched the next chapter into his body. This time, its not a new tattoo but a Brazilian Butt Lift. I consider myself a manly man but when I see myself Im just very unhappy, explained Hernandez. The surgery is uncommon in men but Hernandez is used to breaking the mold. He was raised by his grandmother in Hialeah and graduated from the University of Miami in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks. The terror attack influenced his decision to join the military. Having been born in Cuba but raised here, I always had like a certain sense of allegiance, like a certain sense of responsibility to pay back. So I took that as an opportunity to join the Army and serve, he said. In the Army, Hernandez became an Arabic translator. He served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his seven years of service. Unfortunately, I end up injuring myself and was honorably discharged, he said. Back home in South Florida, Hernandez said he had trouble fitting back in until he discovered the Miami party scene, drugs and all. Miami has a vibe about it. You can go anywhere and youre hanging out with surgeons, or youre hanging out with drug dealers. Youre hanging out with escorts or youre hanging out with attorneys, Hernandez said. In the clubs, he said he noticed an increasing demand for the synthetic drug molly. Along with another war veteran, Hernandez began importing it from China. Im a natural problem solver," he explained. "I saw a problem and I found a need and I was able to fill out some of those gaps and became very good at what I did." So good, the feds said he ran one of the largest Molly drug rings in Miami history. He recalls the money was rolling in faster than he could spend it. He even purchased a $100,000 Bentley in cash. The money is easy come, easy go," he said. "When you come from nothing and youre making 10, 15, 20, 30 thousand dollars a week, it doesnt give you a chance to process that, he recalled. But his fast and furious lifestyle would come to a screeching halt in June of 2015. Video obtained by the Miami Herald shows federal agents arresting Hernandez outside of a gym in Sunset Place. The feds had picked up his best friend months before and were able to get him to turn on Hernandez. They gave me the alternative, the only way you can help yourself and help everyone else is by cooperating, he said. Thats when Hernandez says he became an informant and helped the feds dismantle the rest of the ring. He spent two years behind bars. Hernandez was recently released from his prison sentence. He is now looking for a fresh start and decided a physical transformation could help him restore his self-confidence. He went to Spectrum Aesthetics to enhance his looks. A week and a half later, Hernandez showed off results. He described what was done as more than just skin deep. It makes me want to go out and do things and be a little bit more proactive about getting back on my feet and trying to figure out whats next in my life, he said. Hernandez still hasnt figured out what is in his next chapter. He said as a kid he dreamed of being one of two people: G.I. Joe or Tony Montana from Scarface. He ended up being a little of both. Hundreds of soldiers saluted the flag-covered casket of a Utah mayor who was killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan and whose remains were returned to his home state Wednesday. A couple hundred motorcycle riders carrying American flags waited in salute outside the gates of the National Guard base in Salt Lake City until the hearse emerged. They revved up their engines and followed the hearse north to Brent Taylor's hometown of North Ogden in a procession. Taylor, 39, had taken a yearlong leave of absence as mayor for his deployment to Afghanistan, where he was training commandos as part of an effort to train and build the capacity of the Afghan national army. He was killed in a Nov. 3 attack from small arms fire by an Afghan commando he was training, military officials said. Taylor, a military intelligence officer with Joint Force Headquarters, served two tours in Iraq and was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, Jennie, and their seven children, ranging from 11 months to 13 years old. His family has said there is "heartache but no regret" because Taylor was trying to bring freedom to others. His wife, Jennie Taylor, said in a statement that she wore yellow to welcome home her "hero" and "sweetheart" as women have done since World War II. She said her husband was escorted home by his brother, a fellow National Guard member. "Major Taylor is home to his brothers In arms_his fellow soldiers in the Utah National Guard," Jennie Taylor said. "This is a tender day for all of us, and we hope you will celebrate as we do, and I'm sure Brent is, this momentous homecoming event." The Patriot Guard Riders who organized the motorcycle group carried seven teddy bears on motorcycles one for each of Taylor's children. "It's the least we can do. Some of us are veterans, some us aren't, but we are all patriots and we understand and respect the ultimate sacrifice and his family gave for us," said Reed Newman, ride captain with the Patriot Guard Riders of Utah. "He's been such a patriot and such a civil servant." A public viewing for Taylor will be held Friday night at the Dee Events Center on the campus of Weber State University in Ogden. His funeral is planned for Saturday in the same location. Taylor became mayor in 2013 of the small city of North Ogden, a community of about 17,000 people located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City. He was given a local hero's farewell when he was being deployed last January with residents lining street to see him off as police escorted him and his family around the community. In his final Facebook post that was widely shared after his death, Taylor implored Americans to vote in a message that drew a connection between democracy abroad and at home. What to Know Online searches for homes in Long Island City soared 248 percent last week, amid then-rumors that Amazon HQ2 would open there One broker says "I've had past sellers contracting me and saying, 'We want to invest in LIC.' It's great." An economist says he believes NYC will be able to avoid the predicament that Amazon had on Seattle, where house prices skyrocketed Amazon has just sparked a real estate frenzy to rival Cyber Monday. A three-bedroom condo with Manhattan views that had sat on the market for months, priced at $1.7 million, is suddenly drawing would-be buyers now that Amazon has announced plans to build part of its new second headquarters in Long Island City. Online searches for homes in Long Island City - long an industrial area in Queens - soared 248 percent last week, the real estate brokerage Redfin said. Searches in the other winner of Amazon's sweepstakes, Crystal City, Virginia, jumped 84 percent. Real estate agents say they're hearing from investors who'd like to become landlords and from sellers who've decided to pull their homes off the market, sit back and wait for prices to go up, up, up. The surge of interest has followed Amazon's selection of those two areas to each receive 25,000 new jobs paying an average of $150,000. The two localities already reflect the ultra-pricey New York and Washington metro areas, though real estate sales there had been relatively modest of late. Worries are arising, in fact, that housing prices in both places- whether for renters or buyers - are destined to price out all but the most affluent in the coming years. The same trend, critics note, has long been evident in such high-tech centers as San Francisco, San Jose, California, and Seattle, where Amazon is based. In those cities, low- and moderate-income families increasingly struggle to afford housing anywhere near their workplaces. By choosing the New York and Washington areas, Amazon has inadvertently thrown a spotlight on the gulf between a small group of thriving but high-cost U.S. cities and the rest of the country. Housing in Amazon's two new hubs are well more than twice the median home price nationwide of $255,000, according to ATTOM Data Solutions. In Queens, the median price has risen 7 percent to $630,000. Amazon executives were drawn to the sizable pools of well-educated and skilled workers in the two areas, which they chose over 18 other finalists with housing that has generally been less expensive. "Home affordability was not a prime deciding factor for Amazon," said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president of ATTOM. In some ways, Amazon had injected adrenaline into a New York City market where price growth had exceeded wage gains to the point that sales had begun to slow. Until last weekend, real estate agents say, attendance at open houses for condos in Long Island City had been sparse. The $1.7 million condo at the Foundry building, with its private terrace and skyscraper views, was once the kind of showcase property that triggered competing bids within a few weeks. Buyers, though, had adopted a wait-and-see stance as mortgage rates rose, luxury construction flooded the market and interest from foreign buyers waned. Yet over the weekend, open house attendance in Long Island City suddenly tripled as word of Amazon's announcement became public, said Christopher Austad, a real estate broker with Douglas Elliman. "We just caught a huge breath of fresh air - it's like someone just resuscitated us," Austad said. "I've had a dozen new buyers and investors reach out this week. I've had past sellers contracting me and saying, 'Chris, we want to invest in LIC.' It's great." In the Seattle area, Amazon's presence, along with that of other tech giants like Microsoft, is thought to have contributed to home values that have priced out even relatively affluent families and have left poorer residents with few options. Homelessness has worsened. Over the past five years, the median home value in Seattle has rocketed 73 percent to $739,600, according to an analysis by the real estate firm Zillow, which is also based there. Partly in response, the city approved a series of increases to its minimum wage that will reach as high as $16 an hour next year. It approved a corporate tax this year to help the homeless, though the tax was repealed after being challenged by the business community, including Amazon. Aaron Terrazas, a senior economist at Zillow, said he thinks metro New York and Washington will avoid the same predicament. "I don't think we should expect a similar jump," Terrazas said. "Both New York and D.C. have demonstrated a capacity to add supply in ways that Seattle was reluctant to." Both metro areas are already comfortable with building blocks of apartment and condo towers, he said. Their high-density construction makes it easier to accommodate the job growth than cities that prioritize single-family housing. They also contain extensive mass transit networks. In theory at least, the New York and Washington subway systems can ease housing price pressures by enabling workers to spread out. Still, the benefits of mass transit depend on New York and Washington maintaining and improving their systems - a severe challenge in recent years amid breakdowns, deteriorating tracks and rising expenses in both transportation systems. Yet the underlying message from Amazon's two selections is that big tech companies seem not to view housing costs as a barrier for hiring workers. Companies in Seattle and San Francisco have increasingly expressed concern that tech talent there would migrate to Salt Lake City, Boise or other cities where homes are more affordable. Amazon appears less concerned. "There was anxiety in Silicon Valley that there are all these up-and-coming tech hubs that would challenge them," Terrazas said. "What the selection of D.C. and New York underlines is how the dominant players continue to be dominant." What to Know An argument on the subway led a man to slash another man in his face late Wednesday, police say The victim was cut from his eye to his mouth after the attack on the train in Downtown Brooklyn The suspect ran off and the victim was rushed to an area hospital; no arrests have been made A man was slashed from his eye to his mouth while on the subway by a fellow passenger in Brooklyn, police say. The 38-year-old man had gotten into an argument with the 40-something-year-old suspect on the 2/3 train line at the Nevins Street Station in Downtown Brooklyn around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the NYPD. The argument got physical and the suspect sliced the victims face with some sort of sharp object, police said. The suspect ran off the train once it stopped at the Hoyt Street station, officials said. Witnesses rushed in to help the victim, who was quickly rushed to an area hospital, where he is in serious condition, officials said. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing. Two elite Navy SEALs and two Marine Raiders were charged with felony murder in the June 2017 strangulation death of U.S. Army Green Beret Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar, NBC News reports. The U.S. Navy brought the charges against the four service members on Tuesday, painting a gruesome picture of the effort to kill Melgar, 34. The suspects are accused of driving to Marine quarters to obtain duct tape, breaking into Melgar's room while he was sleeping, restraining him with the duct tape, and strangling him in a chokehold. The four U.S. service members, which include two members of the famed SEAL Team Six, killed Melgar "while perpetrating a burglary," according to their charge sheets. In addition to felony murder, the charges against the four men include conspiracy, obstruction of justice, hazing and burglary. Trump confidante Roger Stone was told that Hillary Clinton's "campaign will die this week" six days before WikiLeaks began releasing her campaign chairman's emails, according to copies of text messages Stone provided to NBC News. The message came from Stone's friend, radio host Randy Credico, who told Stone he had insights into WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's plans through Assange's lawyer. The messages show that Credico appeared to be providing regular updates to Stone on Assange's plans ahead of the release of the hacked emails that changed the trajectory of the 2016 presidential campaign. Stone is a focus of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, sources have said. Stone has denied colluding with WikiLeaks and said the messages he shared support his claim that his only information on WikiLeaks came from Credico. Credico told NBC News that the messages don't show he "had any knowledge of anything that Assange was going to do because I didn't." What to Know A New Jersey couple as well as a homeless man in the GoFundMe controversy are all accused of making up the story, a source said. Mark D'Amico, Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt allegedly conspired with one another to make up a story in order to raise more than $400,000. The couple turned themselves in to Burlington County prosecutors Wednesday, the source said. The New Jersey couple and a homeless veteran at the center of a long-running $400,000 GoFundMe controversy have been charged with conspiracy and theft by deception for an alleged scheme that "hoodwinked an awful lot of people," authorities said Thursday. GoFundMe said immediately after charges were filed that all 14,000 donors to the campaign last year would be refunded in full. NBC10 first reported that Johnny Bobbitt Jr. and the South Jersey couple, Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico, would all face criminal charges of conspiracy and theft by deception on Thursday for the GoFundMe campaign that began in 2017. Burlington County Prosecutor's Office Burlington County, New Jersey, Prosecutor Scott Caffina alleged the three conspired with one another to make up a story and raise more from online donors. The GoFundMe campaign garnered national headlines and news segments, eventually raising more than $400,000. Authorities believe the three met at least a month before the campaign was launched, possibly on one of many trips McClure and D'Amico made to SugarHouse Casino. Bobbitt was homeless and often stayed near an Interstate 95 off-ramp near the casino. Handout Caffina said that, within hours of the three launching the campaign on the GoFundMe website last November, McClure texted a friend that the majority of the story was fabricated. "Ok, so wait. The gas part is completely made up. The guy isn't," McClure allegedly texted the friend after the campaign went live Nov. 10 with a photo of a smiling McClure and Bobbitt. "So shush about the made up stuff," she added, according to Caffina. D'Amico and McClure turned themselves in Wednesday to Burlington County prosecutors, the source said. On Thursday, James Gerrow, another attorney for McClure, released a statement on her behalf. Im confident that in the end the evidence will reveal that Kate had only the best intentions," Gerrow said. "She was used by Mr. DAmico and Mr Bobbitt and she thought throughout that this money was going to a homeless veteran. She was unaware that they had concocted this scheme. It wasnt until September when meeting with prosecutors that she came to realize that she had been used by both of them. The backbone of the story was that Bobbitt used $20 to help McClure get gas when her car ran out on I-95 at the Girard Avenue exit. McClure and D'Amico then launched a GoFundMe page to supposedly raise money for Bobbitt, and the page brought in over $400,000 from 14,000 contributors. At first, the account led to appearances for Bobbitt and McClure on national TV programs. But it turned into a dispute over the money. Bobbitt accused the couple of dipping into the funds and using them as a "personal piggy bank" to bankroll a lifestyle they couldn't afford. Bobbitt later sued the couple over mismanagement of the funds and a judge ordered sworn statements to determine what happened to the cash, which Bobbitt's attorney, Chris Fallon, said had disappeared. The couple denied any wrongdoing and accused Bobbitt of spending $25,000 in less than two weeks last year on drugs as well as paying for overdue legal bills and sending money to family. The couple's lawyer, Ernest Badway, later said Bobbitt had gotten about $200,000. But Fallon said his client had received only about $75,000. The couple also bought Bobbitt a camper with some of the cash and parked it on land McClure's family owns in New Jersey. But Bobbitt became homeless again after D'Amico told him in June that he had to leave the property. In September, police raided the couple's home in Florence, New Jersey, hauling away a new BMW on a flatbed truck. Badway said that all the couple's personal and business financial statements, along with jewelry and cash, were seized in the raid. At that point, officials said the couple was under investigation, though no charges had been filed. D'Amico was arrested in September in Burlington County on an unrelated $500 warrant for an October 2017 traffic stop, according to officials. At the time, he was driving on a suspended license and also had a broken tail light. He also failed to appear in court on two separate occassions, according to court records. After a homeless veteran lent them a hand, a New Jersey couple raised $400,000 for him online but, the veteran says, he never received all of the money. Instead, he accused them of spending thousands of it. On Tuesday, the man accused of misusing the funds appeared in court for an unrelated traffic violation and claimed the truth would... A firefighter battling the Woolsey Fire early Thursday morning suffered severe chest injuries after being hit by a vehicle. The firefighter, a Washington man in his 40s, was hit by a vehicle near Deer Creek on Pacific Coast Highway, according to California Highway Patrol. The firefighter was deployed to California from South Kitsap Fire and Rescue in Washington, to assist in battling the Woolsey Fire. "Our focus at this time is on the firefighter, his family, our fire district and our community," said the South Kitsap Fire Department in a statement. The firefighter was airlifted to Los Robles Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The Woolsey Fire began one week ago in Ventura County, then jumped the 101 Freeway and spread toward Malibu. It has destroyed more than 500 structures, left three people dead, and forced tens of thousands of evacuations. Three people have been killed in the fire, estimated Thursday morning at about 98,000 acres with containment at 57 percent. The San Diego Symphony is one step closer to developing a permanent venue for performances featuring a top-notch stage located in a familiar, scenic spot overlooking the bay. The project, called Bayside Performance Park, includes an outdoor stage in Embarcadero Marina Park South, behind the San Diego Convention Center the same site where the Symphony has hosted its popular "Bayside Summer Nights" concert series since 2004. Through this plan, the stage will become a permanent fixture. On Nov. 8, the California Coastal Commission voted to unanimously approve the development. Senator Toni Atkins expressed excitement over the decision on Twitter. This will enrich our citys cultural experience and further activate an underused space! Atkins posted on her social media account. Thrilled with @TheCACoasts unanimous decision to approve the Bayside Performance Park for @SanDiegoSymph at Embarcadero Marina Park! This will enrich our citys cultural experience and further activate an underused space! Senator Toni Atkins (@SenToniAtkins) November 13, 2018 According to the San Diego Symphony, the estimated cost of the project is $45 million all of which will be funded by the non-profit organization. So far, the Symphony has raised $6 million and expects to raise the remainder without a hitch. The Symphonys vision for Bayside Performance Park is two-fold: to serve as an acoustically superior stage for Symphony performances and to become a year-round community gathering space for a wider range of other performances when not in use by the Symphony. According to the nonprofit's proposal, the venue will take up about 3.5 acres of the existing nearly-11-acre park space. It would be open to the public during non-event hours, approximately 85 percent of the year. The covered stage set to be designed by SoundForms, a company based in London, England will boast a technologically-advanced sound system. Itll include 13,000-square-feet of performance space and a fabric-wrapped shell design acoustically-engineered to minimize the bleeding of sound. Tucker Sadler Architects All seating would be temporary, with an adjustable capacity of up to 10,000 seats. When not in use, the lawns surrounding the stage will be clear and open to the public. The Symphony estimates that average attendance at Bayside Performance Park would be 3,131 people per event but more could be accommodated, with the maximum capacity of 10,000 seats only utilized up to six times per year. The development would also add a new "bay viewing deck" at the back of the stage for public use during non-event hours. Also included in the project: 66 new, permanent restrooms, new lighting, park enhancements and a "reconfigured" parking lot. A public promenade around the venue would be widened by an additional 4 feet and would also be open to the public at all times. Currently, the Symphony assembles and disassembles its stage every year for its summer concert series, along with bleachers, seating, ticketing booths, food stands and portable bathrooms. This project would replace all of that in the form what the Symphony refers to as the park inside the park. The Symphony hopes the stage with its dramatic, shell-like look will eventually become a landmark along the famous San Diego waterfront and a place that the nonprofit can present as a gift to the region. Tucker Sadler Architects On Jan. 9, the Port of San Diego approved several items to advance the project, including approval of a Port Master Plan Amendment (PMPA) and authorization of a binding letter of intent with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Now that the project has been voted on by the Coastal Commission, a media relations representative for the Symphony told NBC 7 that the next step is for the Port to adopt the certified PMPA and amended South Embarcadero Public Access Plan. The Port staff expects to take this to the Port Board for consideration on Dec. 11. After that, in early 2019, the Port Board is expected to approve a real estate agreement with the Symphony. Then, in February 2019, the Coastal Commission is expected to approve the final acceptance of the adopted PMPA. If all approvals go according to plan, construction of Bayside Performance Park could begin any time after fall 2019. To learn more about the Bayside Performance Park proposal, click here. The San Diego Symphony performed its first concert in December 1910. Today, the Orchestra performs more than 140 concerts annually, offering a wide range of musical experiences that add to San Diegos arts culture. What to Know The San Ysidro port of entry processes only about 100 asylum claims a day, Associated Press reports. The wait for asylum seekers was approximately five weeks before the arrival of the most recent caravan. The bulk of the caravan appears to be about 350 miles from the border. As the first members of the migrant caravan arriving in Tijuana begin the asylum process, we take a look at what you need to know about the thousands of people making the journey to the U.S. through Mexico. What is the migrant caravan? Thousands of migrants have been traveling by foot or by vehicle from Central American countries through Mexico to the U.S.-Mexico border. Small groups who have obtained transportation have arrived in Tijuana ahead of the rest of the caravan. Many say they are fleeing rampant poverty, gang violence and political instability. How many will arrive in the Tijuana/San Diego area? Buses and trucks began bringing migrants to the Tijuana area on Sunday, Nov. 12. The numbers of new arrivals each day could be in the hundreds until the majority of the caravan arrives. As of Thursday, it was estimated there were 1,660 migrants in the Tijuana area. What's the asylum process? People who fear for their safety in their home country due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a group can request legal protection in the U.S. To be eligible, an individual must apply for asylum within a year of their arrival to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers say they will process the migrants seeking asylum as space is available in the San Ysidro and Otay Port of Entries. The agency's employees also monitor shipping and trade, stop illegal drug and human smuggling and screen pedestrian and vehicle traffic through one of the busiest land border crossings in the world. Under current regulations, an applicant is allowed to stay within the U.S. while the case is pending. People requesting asylum are held in detention centers until they can be interviewed. Then, when they are released to the U.S. and waiting for a court hearing, they are outfitted with ankle monitors. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 to deny asylum to migrants who enter the country illegally. The plan was immediately challenged in court. What are U.S. troops doing along the border? As of Nov. 16, the Pentagon said there were 5,800 troops deployed as part of the mission to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. Here is how the U.S. government describes the duties of the thousands of military personnel deployed to the border: "Department of Defense personnel are installing concertina wire, and pre-positioning jersey barriers, barricades, and fencing as requested by CBP under Operation Secure Line." Who is helping the migrants? Various religious organizations in Tijuana and San Diego have been preparing for the caravan's arrival. NBC 7 spoke with the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego who suggested donations may be dropped off at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in UTC area, 4321 Eastgate Mall. The group organizing the caravan, Pueblo Sin Fronteras, has a crowdfunding website collecting donations. Border Angels is providing a way for people interested in donating goods to order items from retail stores and request they be shipped to the organization's San Diego headquarters. What to Know A summit is set to take place Nov. 25 for EU leaders to endorse a draft Brexit deal Many members of British PM Theresa May's Cabinet backed the deal reluctantly Wednesday The agreement requires the consent of both the European and British Parliaments Prime Minister Theresa May defied mounting calls to quit or change course Thursday over Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, warning that abandoning her Brexit plan would plunge the country into "deep and grave uncertainty." Britain's long-simmering divisions over its future in the EU erupted into turmoil just a day after the government agreed to a divorce deal with the bloc. Two Cabinet ministers resigned and some lawmakers from May's own party called for her to be replaced. The crisis threatened to destroy the Brexit agreement, unseat the prime minister and send the U.K. hurtling toward the EU exit without a plan. In an evening news conference aimed at regaining some control, May said she believed "with every fiber of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for our country and all our people." "Am I going to see this through? Yes," she said. The hard-won agreement with the EU has infuriated pro-Brexit members of May's divided Conservative Party. They say the agreement, which calls for close trade ties between the U.K. and the bloc, would leave Britain a vassal state, bound to EU rules it has no say in making. May insisted that Brexit meant making "the right choices, not the easy ones" and urged lawmakers to support the deal "in the national interest." But she was weakened by the resignation of two senior Cabinet ministers, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Hours after he sat in the meeting that approved the deal, Raab said he "cannot in good conscience" support it. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey followed Raab out the door. She said in a letter that it is "no good trying to pretend to (voters) that this deal honors the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesn't." A handful of junior government ministers also quit, and leading pro-Brexit lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg called for a vote of no-confidence in May. Rees-Mogg said May's deal "is not Brexit" because it would keep Britain in a customs union with the EU, potentially for an indefinite period. He said May was "losing the confidence of Conservative members of Parliament." Rees-Mogg called for May to be replaced by a more firmly pro-Brexit politician, naming ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, former Brexit Secretary David Davis and Raab as potential successors. Under Conservative rules, a confidence vote in the leader is triggered if 15 percent of Conservative lawmakers currently 48 write a letter to the party's 1922 Committee of backbenchers, which oversees leadership votes. Only committee chairman Graham Brady knows for sure how many missives have been sent, but Rees-Mogg's letter is likely to spur others to do the same. If a confidence vote is held and May loses, it would trigger a party leadership contest in which any Conservative lawmaker except her could run. The turmoil is the latest eruption in the Conservative Party's long-running civil war over Europe. Ever since Britain joined what was then the European Economic Community in 1973, the party has been split between supporters and opponents of Britain's membership. In 2016, then-Prime Minister David Cameron called a referendum "to settle this European question in British politics" once and for all. He was confident the country would vote to remain, but voters opted by 52 percent to 48 percent to quit the EU, a result that left both the Conservatives and the country more divided than ever. Cameron's successor, May, has been struggling ever since to deliver a Brexit that satisfies those who want to leave, reconciles those wanting to remain and doesn't rock the economy a near-impossible balancing act. Thursday's political mayhem prompted a big fall in the value of the pound, which was trading 1.5 percent lower at $1.2797 as investors fretted that Britain could crash out of the EU in March without a deal. That could see tariffs on British exports, border checks and restrictions on travelers and workers a potentially toxic combination for businesses. Business groups have warned that if there is no deal by next month, companies will have to enact contingency plans that could include cutting jobs, stockpiling goods, and relocating production overseas. May and her supporters say the alternatives to her deal leaving the bloc without a deal or a second vote on Brexit are not realistic options. If the agreement was abandoned, "nobody can know for sure the consequences that will follow," May said. "It would be to take a path of deep and grave uncertainty when the British people just want us to get on with it." News that a deal had been struck after a year and a half of negotiations was welcomed in Brussels, and EU chief Donald Tusk called for a Nov. 25 summit of leaders so they can rubber-stamp the agreement. The deal requires the consent of the European Parliament, whose chief Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt, welcomed it as "the best agreement we could obtain." It also needs approval from Britain's Parliament before the U.K. leaves the bloc on March 29 and even if May survives as leader, the chances of that look slim. Her Conservative government doesn't have a parliamentary majority, and relies on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland. But the DUP has rejected the deal, saying its provisions to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland would impose new barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., weakening the bonds that hold the United Kingdom together. Opposition parties also signaled they would vote against the agreement. Main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said May should withdraw the "half-baked" Brexit deal and that Parliament "cannot and will not accept a false choice between this deal and no deal." Ian Blackford, who heads the Scottish National Party in Parliament, said the deal was "dead on arrival" and urged May to "stop the clock and go back to Brussels." An EU official warned that Britain was unlikely to get a better deal. Speaking on condition of anonymity because the process is still ongoing, the official said both sides "exhausted our margin of maneuver under our respective mandates." In Brussels, where some EU officials hold out hope that Britain will change its mind about Brexit, officials watched the political upheaval with interest. Tusk said it was "not for me to comment on the latest developments in London." "All I can say is that the EU is prepared for a final deal with the U.K. in November," he said. "We are also prepared for a no deal scenario but of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario." Raphael Satter and Pan Pylas contributed. Death isn't always the end of a story, especially when it comes to family secrets. That's precisely why Jim Johnson and Eileen Poole say they are sharing their story now. "We had to keep it hush-hush when he was here," said Poole. "And all this trouble in the churches, I want to let people know that they all aren't bad." The siblings, now in their late 50s, are talking about Father Ralph Maher, a Catholic priest who died in 1982. "When he smiled, he had like this twinkle in his eyes. And he was very kind, very gentle," Johnson recalled fondly. But he and his sister told the News4 I-Team there was a lot they didn't know about Maher and their family while growing up in Maryland in the 1960s and '70s. They said they lived with their mom and two older siblings; their father had returned from the Korean War with mental issues and was in and out of St. Elizabeths Hospital. "He kind of never really wanted me with him," said Johnson. "It was hard. It was hard because I wanted that love and affection from my father." He says that relationship tore at him for years. As a teen he got involved with drugs and even went to jail. He was in his late teens when he learned why the man he'd known as his father never embraced him as his son. "Because he didn't think Jimmy was his, but he thought I was," said Poole. She was a couple of years older than her brother and says she'd started to notice some strange behavior involving their mother, Betty. "It was just something. She was like a little girl all over again, her first high school crush," Poole said. But the siblings said this was no ordinary affair. "He was always wanting to spend time with us," said Johnson. "He was our Uncle Ralph." At least that's what they called him. Father Ralph Maher was a friendly Catholic priest from the local church. Johnson and Poole said he was around a lot and had been as long as they could remember. "It didn't dawn on me as a little kid. I just thought he was from the church and he was here to help," said Poole. They said their mother finally came clean when they were teenagers and told them her love story. Betty Johnson said she'd first connected with Ralph Maher while she was growing up in Pennsylvania, before he was a priest. But her mother intervened, saying his path to priesthood was more important. Decades later, Betty Johnson was a struggling mother of two young children with a husband at St. Elizabeths Hospital; she went to a Maryland church looking for help. "And she ran into Father Maher; now he's a priest," said Jim Johnson. "I think that was fate you know, it was meant to be." In a stunning confession, the siblings said their mother told them Father Ralph Maher was their actual father. "There was a couple of times when I looked at him and he looked at me like, 'What do you know?'" Johnson said. "And I wanted to ask him but I knew my mom told me not to ever say anything to him because he felt uncomfortable, because they're not supposed to have children." But Father Paul Sullins, a research professor at The Catholic University of America, told the I-Team under church law, it's far more serious than that. "To have a sexual relationship with a woman, once you've been ordained a priest, is a crime," said Sullins. Sullins added that it isn't just the breaking of a priest's vow to God, a sexual relationship is an abuse of power over a member of the church and an injustice toward the children. "They grew up without the full active participation of their father in their life. Well, we know that that's not good for a child," said Sullins. The Catholic Church relocated Father Ralph Maher twice in two years around the time Poole and Johnson were born. But the Archdiocese of Washington told the News4 I-Team, "There is nothing in his record that indicates a move for any other reason than what might be considered a routine rotation between parishes." "It's consistent with a bishop who had some idea what was going on, but there's no way to know," said Sullins. When the siblings where just 5 and 7 years old, Maher became the priest at Our Lady's Parish in St. Mary's County. When he died in 1982, Johnson said he and his mother attended the funeral. Maher rests in the shadow of that church today. "Oh it broke her heart," said Johnson, adding that his mother still spoke fondly of Father Ralph until her death in 2016. Poole and Johnson promised never to tell anyone about their parents' relationship until after their mother was gone. "They both were very careful about it," said Poole. "My mom took a lot of pictures of us kids growing up but we didn't find any with him in it." But the I-Team found Jim did tell someone about his pain 35 years ago. In a court record dated just seven months after Father Maher's death, a psychiatrist noted Johnson's "natural father is a deceased Catholic priest" and that "his mother had an ongoing affair with his father for many years." "We'd tease her about sitting close to him on the couch. They'd want to hurry up and kiss before we came back in the room so we wouldn't see them; but we'd catch them at it," said Poole. Johnson added, "They hugged, kissed; they spent time together." Poole and Johnson said much of that time was at a small home Maher owned along Breton Bay, not far from the church. They called it "the beach house" and remember it fondly. "It was a special place to all of us. It was a place where we could go and relax," said Johnson. Their mother told them Mather planned to "retire" from the church and grow old there with her, eventually leaving that home to his children. But when he died, the I-Team found his will made no mention of that home at all, let alone Poole, Johnson or their mother. "It may have hurt her a little bit because his memories would still be there in the house," said Poole. "It was getting closer to him retiring from the church, and they were planning on getting married." Sullins does not think the church will ever allow existing priests to marry. But he said priests who father children have a duty to leave the church and take care of their family. He believes thousands of priests have struggled with that decision. "Definitely there are more children of priests than we know. They are not going to come forward and advertise their existence, usually," said Sullins. Vincent Doyle, the son of a Catholic priest, founded the organization Coping International to offer guidance and support for others dealing with the same situation. He told the I-Team he's spoken with nearly 500 people from around the world who said they were fathered by priests. "There's no way to know how many priests have fathered children," said Doyle. "Our website started in 2014 and 60,000 people have already visited. The U.S. is among the top five countries for web traffic every month." Doyle and his organization are advocating for the Catholic Church to issue and publicize guidelines for how priests should handle their responsibilities, if they become a father. In a statement to the I-Team, the Archdiocese of Washington said it has no statistics on frequency of priests fathering children in the Washington, D.C., area. A spokesperson said Father Maher was "an exemplary priest and a beloved parish pastor" and that it has no record of the church ever being made aware "of any relationships he may have had, or that the archdiocese received any allegations of abuse or misconduct." When asked about the standard discipline in a case like this, the spokesperson added, "If the archdiocese is made aware of, for example in this case, a priest fathering a child or children, he would be withdrawn from ministry and a formal investigation would be launched." The siblings understand how some might see their parents' relationship as abuse, but for him them its much more complicated. "I know that he wasnt supposed to have children, but he was a good person. I mean if it wasn't for Father Maher, I wouldn't be here," said Johnson. The I-Team reached out to some of Father Maher's surviving relatives. One niece said his family was not aware of any of this and that there's no proof. She said since he isn't here to defend himself, she will choose to remember him as a good person. "Father Maher would talk about his sister's kids here and there. Sometimes he'd show us pictures while we were at the beach house," said Poole. "I just wish I got to know him better and his family." Reported by Jodie Fleischer, produced by Rick Yarborough and shot and edited by Jeff Piper. Police say a fourth person has been arrested in the murder of Makiyah Wilson, the 10-year-old girl who was gunned down while heading to an ice cream truck in Northeast D.C. this summer. The arrest was made Thursday morning and comes one day after three other suspects in the case appeared in court. Mark Tee Price, 24, was charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed. Police said Price was already in DC Jail when he was charged in the murder. Wilson was killed on July 16 after four men jumped out of a car and opened fire on a group of people outside on a hot summer night. The little girl, who had recently finished fourth grade, was heading to an ice cream truck when the shooters fired on the 300 block of 53rd Street NE. Three other men have been charged in the case. Gregory Taylor was arrested last month while Quentin Michals and Qujuan Thomas were taken into custody in August. In court Wednesday, prosecutors said Michals was the ringleader, organizing the shooting because of a beef he had with someone in Wilson's neighborhood. The men were ordered to remain in jail after a judge found that there was strong enough evidence, including text messages, to keep them there. Juveniles Shot in DC in 2018 The victims include a 10-year-old girl who was killed and a 3-year-old boy who was hurt. In one of the text messages, Thomas told Michals that he was going to bring a "100 Roun." Police believe they were talking about one of the weapons that was used in the shooting. The night that Wilson was killed, the gunmen fired more than 60 shots, got back into the Infiniti sedan and sped off. The little girl's family tried to save her, but she died. Four other people, including Wilson's 18-year-old sister, were shot and wounded. A D.C. woman is looking for a good Samaritan who was caught on a surveillance camera returning a wallet she dropped in the street. Katie Egger Makris got a security camera to try to deter crimes including package theft. But the camera caught someone in the act of committing a good deed. "There's so much negativity going on. To actually catch someone in the act of doing something really good and kind was amazing," she said. Makris was rushing to leave her Michigan Park home in Northeast Washington Thursday morning and didn't notice that she dropped her wallet in the street. While setting up for a 6 a.m. spin class, she received an alert from the Ring security camera outside her home. Makris saw the man, dressed in a plaid shirt and Dallas Cowboys hat, on her front porch, but she wasn't sure what he was doing. It wasn't until she got a call from her husband that she learned what the man had done. After stopping his van in the street to pick up the wallet, the man checked the address and walked up to Makris' home. He can be seen on camera searching for a place to put the wallet before settling on a space under the mat. Makris expressed her gratitude for the stranger's actions in a post on her Facebook page, but she also wants to thank the man personally. "Anyone who lives in DC knows this is pretty much unheard of- you drop a wallet, you lose a wallet, and you usually lose everything in your accounts if youre not quick," she wrote. "Counting my blessings today - I'm damn lucky." Police are looking into the possibility that a man found dead in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Tuesday was accidentally killed by a kitchen appliance delivery truck, sources said. Dammeon Powell, 34, was seen underneath the truck in the Flower Hill neighborhood about 7:45 a.m. A neighbor said he appeared to be passed out or asleep. I didnt see any blood or anything, because I looked, Ryan Davis said. I just thought he was sleeping and I kept on walking to go to work. The driver of the truck may have got in and drove off without realizing anything had happened, sources said. Police were called to the scene about 8:41 a.m. How Powell ended up under the truck is under investigation. His mother said he left the house Monday night to meet with friends. She tried to call him Tuesday morning but got no answer. Times like this pulls the family closer together too as well, said Powells brother Troy Martin. You realize how precious life is and how quickly it can be gone from not one day to the next day but from second to second. Powell worked for a moving company and was the youngest of six siblings. A viral video shows a public school librarian in Prince George's County, Maryland, apparently admit to yelling a racial slur at an African-American man in a Walmart parking lot. Dawn Tolson-Hightower posted a video on Facebook in which she asks the white woman, "Did you just call my husband the N word?" The woman responds, "Yeah, I did." "For a moment, I was in complete shock and I was, like, did she just really say what I think she said?" Tolson-Hightower told News4. She said the incident happened while she and her children were in the car with her husband in a Walmart parking lot in Charles County. "I was hoping that she would say, 'You know what, I was upset. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say what I said,' but you see from the video that she was entrenched in what she was saying and she was proud of what she said," Tolson-Hightower said. The woman in the video is a librarian at Potomac Landing Elementary School in Fort Washington. "Diversity and tolerance are core values of the school system. We expect all members of the PGCPS community administrators, faculty, staff and students to behave in a respectful manner," Prince George's County Public Schools said in a statement. "My daughter loves the library, and to have someone like that working the library, that's crazy," Potomac Landing Elementary parent Marqui Evans told News4. The school system said the woman has been reassigned and is not working inside a school pending the outcome of its investigation into the incident. A used car dealer and an inspection station face possible administrative charges after a Maryland mans used car broke down on his drive home after he bought it. Kamel Winfield bought a 2006 Cadillac STS in august from Auto Wholesalers of Rockville for $4,200. He says it broke down on the Beltway just a few miles from the lot. The dashboard completely went blank, everything just shut down, he said. Auto Wholesalers of Rockville had given him a piece of paper saying the Cadillac passed a state inspection that same day, Winfield said. That's the only reason I felt comfortable purchasing this vehicle, he said. Winfield had the car towed to a Cadillac dealership and spent more than $1,300 to get it running again and have it inspected again. The dealership found nine items on the inspection checklist failed. The owner of Auto Wholesalers of Rockville refused to take the car back, Winfield said. His friend Sandra Johnson called NBC4 Responds. I called you because I felt that something was wrong, she said. If you are going to put me in a car and tell me that it's safe and I'm on the motorway driving and that car cuts off, you're putting my life in danger, and not just my life, anyone else that's around me, she said. She also filed a complaint with Maryland State Police. Their Automotive Safety Enforcement Division is in charge of inspection stations. They told Johnson and Winfield to take the car back to the original inspection station, a Shell on Rockville Pike. They said the same inspector replaced the fuel line and passed the vehicle again. State police performed its own inspection and failed it on seven issues. Winfield took the car back to the dealer, but the owner, Brandon Storm, again refused to take the car back. State police asked the Motor Vehicle Administration to investigate the practices of the dealer. The MVA investigator ruled in favor of Winfield and Johnson. According to the report, Auto Wholesalers of Rockville knew the Cadillac failed a state inspection in May and Storm never provided proof the necessary repairs had been made. The investigator also requested Storm be charged administratively for mispresenting the vehicle at the time of the sale. According to the MVA report, Maryland State Police are pursuing a six-month suspension for the mechanic. At Auto Wholesalers of Rockville, the owner said to come back in an hour, but then the gate was closed. Over the phone, Storm said he did not want to be interviewed for the story. Neither the mechanic who passed the vehicle nor the manager of the Shell station where he works wanted to be interviewed for the story. The MVA decision allowed Winfield to file a claim against the dealer's bond. He is waiting to hear whether he will get the thousands of dollars back that he has put into a car that sits parked, unable to be driven. I'm still paying interest and I can't even drive the car, he said. Used cars can be a gamble, especially if theres no warranty, so its recommended spending a little extra money to have an independent mechanic check it out first. Reem Omar is only a high school freshman, but she's already preparing for her shot to work for Amazon. Omar is a student at Arlington Tech, an Arlington County program that trains high schoolers for jobs in science and technology. It's located about three miles from Crystal City, where Amazon announced Tuesday that they will open an additional headquarters. High schools and colleges in Virginia are already training students for the 25,000 jobs Amazon promised to bring to Northern Virginia. Omar, the high school student, said she wants a shot at working for the tech giant. "I would love to go into the engineering or the IT field," she said Wednesday. Arlington Tech teacher Trevor Wilcox said his students are budding members of Arlington's growing tech scene. "They never cease to amaze me with the creative solutions they come up with," he said. Also in Arlington, George Mason University is planning to expand its tech education offerings. They're building the Institute for Digital Innovation, and planning to grow the number of computer science students from 5,000 to 15,000. University President Angel Cabrera said he wants to contribute to the region as a "hub of IT and computer science." Florida's acrimonious U.S. Senate contest is headed to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over Thursday, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded on Election Night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that "it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted." The recount has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. "We gave a heroic effort," said Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered this past weekend to conduct a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see if there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. It's time for Nelson "to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served," the governor's statement said. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. "We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this," Walker said at a hearing Thursday. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had the equipment to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he couldn't extend the recount deadline because he didn't know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision, by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. Six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee, and at least one in state court. Walker also ordered voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they haven't been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will now be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge refused the request as "inappropriate." Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was 0.41 percent. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelson's campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Associated Press writers Tamara Lush and Kelli Kennedy contributed to this report. What to Know Women could end up holding the majority in two state legislative chambers at the same time the Colorado House and Nevada Assembly The state lawmakers are part of a wave of women who ran and won this year for state and federal offices Women's winning streak in this year's elections has extended to statehouses across the country. More than 2,000 women will serve in state legislatures when those chambers convene for their upcoming sessions, representing roughly a quarter of all state lawmakers across the country. That mark will eclipse the record of 1,875 who served this year, according to reports Thursday from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The number could rise as ballot-counting concludes in close contests across the country. The Associated Press has not yet called 216 state legislative elections, races that include about 185 female candidates, according to the center. In another first, women could end up holding the majority in two state legislative chambers at the same time the Colorado House and Nevada Assembly, according to tallies by the center and the National Conference of State Legislatures. "It's about time," said Lisa Cutter, a Democrat who won a Colorado House seat in her first time seeking office. Her victory came in a state with a long history of electing women. In 1894, Colorado became the first state to have women in its state legislature, when three were elected to the House. The only previous time women comprised the majority in a state legislative chamber was in 2009 and 2010 in New Hampshire's state Senate. The state lawmakers are part of a wave of women who ran and won this year for state and federal offices, most of them Democrats motivated by the election of President Donald Trump. They campaigned amid a spotlight on sexual harassment cast by the #MeToo movement, although polls showed that gender was only a minor concern for most voters. Improving access to health care, expanding early childhood development and boosting funding for K-12 education were cited as top priorities by many female candidates during this year's campaigns. Doreen Gallegos, a Democrat who was easily elected to a fourth term representing a Las Cruces-area district in the New Mexico House, said she believes those topics will get increased attention by having more women in state legislatures. "There are certain issues that are closer to our hearts and our minds maybe more than our male counterparts," Gallegos said. Nationally, women led the Democrats' return to control of the U.S. House of Representatives as the number of GOP women serving will be down from the current 23 to as few as 13. Overall, there will be at least 102 women in the House next year, an increase of at least 18 over the current mark. The peak number of women in the House at one time was 85 for a brief period in 2016. The U.S. Senate will have at least 23 women, tying the current total and record. That number would rise by one if Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith wins a runoff election in Mississippi next month. At the state level, at least nine women will be governors, tying the record set in 2004 and 2007. Ballots are still being counted in Georgia, where Democrat Stacey Abrams is hoping to push the governor's race to a runoff. Despite this year's gains, American politics remain dominated by men, who will account for more than three-fourths of the seats in Congress and hold the governor's offices in four-fifths of the states. It's at the state legislatures where women will hold a slightly larger proportion of the 7,383 seats at least 27 percent. "We are very encouraged by these results. This is the largest increase in women's representation in state legislatures we've seen in some time, after more than a decade of relative stagnation," Debbie Walsh, direct of the Rutgers center, said in a statement. "The only question that remains is whether 2018 was a one-off or a new norm." In Colorado, Cutter found an easier path than expected to winning a suburban Denver district previously held by Republicans when incumbent Timothy Leonard dropped out of the race over the summer. An organizer of the 2017 Women's March in Denver, Cutter said she anticipates a different course in the Colorado Legislature if one chamber is dominated by women. She expects issues such as health care and the environment to be more prominent and a better spirit of cooperation to prevail. "When more women are in power or at the table, you get better results," she said. The president of George Soros' foundation blasted Facebook executives over allegations that the company had funded a Republican-opposition research firm to discredit Soros in part by leveraging anti-Semitic sentiment toward the billionaire liberal donor. The New York Times initially reported the allegations Wednesday evening as part of an investigation into Facebook's handling of data exposure through the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the spread of false information linked to Russia. According to the Times investigation, Facebook engaged Washington-based consultant Definers Public Affairs to help maintain its image as it trudged through a wave of negative coverage. The Times said reporters received a research document from Definers after the House hearing this summer that suggested Soros was behind a movement against Facebook. An official from Soros' foundation reportedly told the Times it had not supported the "Freedom from Facebook" group targeted by the company and had not made grants in support of campaigns against Facebook. Soros has long been a target by the political right and was one of the recipients of a pipe bomb last month that were also sent to many liberal politicians. Following the Times investigation, Facebook ended its relationship with Definers, Facebook said in a blog post Thursday. In a letter addressed to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and copying CEO Mark Zuckerberg along with several Facebook investors and Washington politicians, Open Society Foundations President Patrick Gaspard denounced Facebook's alleged efforts to disparage Soros. "As you know, there is a concerted right-wing effort the world over to demonize Mr. Soros and his foundations, which I leadan effort which has contributed to death threats and the delivery of a pipe bomb to Mr. Soros' home," Gaspard wrote in the letter, which was also posted on his Twitter account. "You are no doubt also aware that much of this hateful and blatantly false and Anti-Semitic information is spread via Facebook." Gaspard said that beyond Soros, "Your methods threaten the very values underpinning our democracy," and asked to speak with Sandberg in person about how Facebook plans to move forward. In the blog post Thursday, Facebook said there were "a number of inaccuracies" in the article and said that while it did hire Definers to look into who funded an anti-Facebook group, "To suggest that this was an anti-Semitic attack is reprehensible and untrue." Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. Here is the full text of the letter from Patrick Gaspard: Dear Ms. Sandberg: I was shocked to learn from the New York Times that you and your colleagues at Facebook hired a Republican opposition research firm to stir up animus toward George Soros. As you know, there is a concerted right-wing effort the world over to demonize Mr. Soros and his foundations, which I leadan effort which has contributed to death threats and the delivery of a pipe bomb to Mr. Soros' home. You are no doubt also aware that much of this hateful and blatantly false and Anti-Semitic information is spread via Facebook. The notion that your company, at your direction, actively engaged in the same behavior to try to discredit people exercising their First Amendment rights to protest Facebook's role in disseminating vile propaganda is frankly astonishing to me. It's been disappointing to see how you have failed to monitor hate and misinformation on Facebook's platform. To now learn that you are active in promoting these distortions is beyond the pale. These efforts appear to have been part of a deliberate strategy to distract from the very real accountability problems your company continues to grapple with. This is reprehensible, and an offense to the core values Open Society seeks to advance. But at bottom, this is not about George Soros or the foundations. Your methods threaten the very values underpinning our democracy. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter with you in person, and to hear what steps you might take to help remediate the damage done by this deeply misguided--and dangerous--effort carried out at Facebook's behest. Sincerely, Patrick Gaspard President | Open Society Foundations This story first appeared on CNBC.com. More from CNBC: Firefighters battled a blaze early Thursday in freezing temperatures at a laundromat in Worcester, Massachusetts. The 2-alarm fire was reported at 12:10 a.m. and crews responded to a strip mall on Park Avenue. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to one building and the four nearby businesses were unaffected by the flames. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, but the laundromat owner told the Telegram that an electrical issue may have sparked the blaze. No injuries were immediately reported. A New Hampshire man who was shot by police Wednesday afternoon in Auburn, Massachusetts, has died, according to the Worcester District Attorney's office. Authorities said Joseph Loughery, 59, of Dublin, was shot by police after he ignored repeated commands by officers to disarm. Loughery had been approached by officers at about 1:15 p.m. while he was sitting in a red pickup truck in the parking area of a Shell gas station on Southbridge Street. Authorities said Loughery was holding a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle and moving his arms while officers shouted for him to disarm. The incident was recorded by witness Dean Ghanoum on his cell phone. Ghanoum said police unloaded several shots at Loughery. "All I heard was the cop yelling, 'drop your gun, drop your gun,'" Ghanoum recalled. No officers were hurt in the confrontation. The district attorney said a relative of Loughery had called police in Dublin at about 11 a.m. requesting a welfare check. Police were able to track his truck to Auburn. Authorities said the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues. Activists for immigrants' rights filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in Burlington, Vermont, against several defendants, including the U.S. Homeland Security secretary. After a march through the streets of Burlington, activists from the group Migrant Justice and many allies from other organizations called for greater protections for immigrants, regardless of legal status. When the march arrived at the federal courthouse, plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging Vermont's Department of Motor Vehicles gave personal information to U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security about members of the state's undocumented farmworker community. That community's labor is critical to Vermont's famous dairy industry. Advocates with Migrant Justice, who are outspoken on a host of immigration issues, say they were retaliated against for their activism, claiming ICE used that DMV info to track down undocumented community leaders and make arrests. "As we stand up and fight for our rights, we are hunted down and targeted by ICE," Migrant Justice activist Enrique Balcazar said through an interpreter at a rally outside the federal building. Migrant Justice, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the ACLU of Vermont, and other plaintiffs claim the federal government is targeting activists nationwide. Their suit calls on Vermont's DMV to stop sharing info with the Feds, and for ICE to stop detaining advocates for immigrants, arguing they have a Constitutional right to rally and speak up for the farmworker community without fear. "ICE is a rogue agency who needs to be restrained, and eventually abolished," said Angelo Guisado, a staff attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights. Christina Nolan, the U.S. Attorney for Vermont, declined to comment Wednesday about the demonstration taking place outside the federal building. However, the man who appointed Nolan before her unanimous U.S. Senate confirmation, President Donald Trump, has regularly spoken about his enthusiastic support for ICE. "We will never surrender our nation," President Trump said in August at an event applauding the work of federal agents. "We will not stand for the vile smears, the hateful attacks, and the vicious assaults on the courageous men and women of ICE and Border Patrol and law enforcement." A spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, told necn the governor's office is still reviewing the lawsuit and its claims about the DMV. Scott's office said the governor's expectation is that the state follow human rights standards and fair and impartial policing practices along with state and federal laws. ICE told the Associated Press it could not comment on pending litigation. Boston civil rights groups are suing city police to release information about how it tracks suspected gang members. The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and others say they filed the suit in state court Thursday after police largely denied their May public records request. They're seeking how many people are in the database, how the individuals ended up on the list and how the information is shared with other authorities, among other things. Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, argues people should be able to challenge their inclusion because it can have "catastrophic consequences." The lawsuit cites three Boston youths who say they're facing detention and deportation to Central America because they were wrongly included in the database. A police spokesman declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. Authorities say a man making a cross-country trip on a recumbent bicycle to raise money for children with cancer was struck and killed on a Mississippi highway. James Dobson of Lebanon, Maine, started in New Hampshire on Oct. 1 for the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. His goal was to ride 60 miles daily, to San Diego. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said the 32-year-old Dobson was on Highway 98 west of Hattiesburg on Tuesday afternoon when he was struck from behind by a car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is under investigation. Keith Loud, the hospital's physician in chief, said in a statement he was moved not only by Dobson's dedication, but the courage it took to ride across the country in an effort to give back. A school in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts was placed on lockdown Thursday morning following a threat made on a smartphone app. At approximately 7:15 a.m., police responded to East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School after they were informed that a threat referencing the 1999 Columbine High School shooting was made toward the school. The threat was made on StopIt, an anonymous tip messaging application. School officials notified police and placed the campus under lockdown. Nearby schools also had students shelter-in-place out of caution. Police searched the school and determined that the threat was not credible. "We went through the entire schoolnot only all the lockers, buildings, hallways, classroomsbut we went through each of the classrooms with students, searched bags for the sole purpose to ensure the building was safe," said East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen. Officials cleared the scene at 10:15 a.m. and said there was no threat to the campus. The school day resumed shortly thereafter. School officials and police are continuing to investigate. "The district takes all threats seriously and will take all precautionary and necessary measures to contain the possibility of a threat and to keep all students, staff, and personnel safe," School Superintendent Elizabeth Legault said. Rehearsals begin for Corn Exchange's Jack & The Beanstalk The festive season is officially upon us as rehearsals have just begun for this years Corn Exchange pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk - opening on Friday, November 30. N2 spotted some familiar faces arriving for a read-through yesterday, including Matthew Grace, who plays Newbury favourite Billy Bumpkin, and Joshua Coley - nominated for Best Double Act at last years Great British Pantomime Awards - as Pickle Onion. Joining them are Emma Fraser, who made her debut appearance here last year, as Fairy Alfalfa, and Danny Stokes, who returns for his third Corn Exchange pantomime, playing the villain Sir Dastardly. Making their Corn Exchange debuts are Harry Downes as Jack, Hannah Ponting as Jill the Giant Tamer and experienced pantomime dame Eamonn Fleming as Dame Betty Bumpkin. Completing the cast are Lauren Anderson-Oakley, Danny Chesworth, Eva Ross-Davie and Mikulas Urbanek. Written and directed by Corn Exchange favourite Phil Willmott, Jack and the Beanstalk is packed with catchy songs, high-energy dance routines, comic thrills and outrageous silliness. Will the gang save Newbury Bottom from the giant? Will they rid the village of the evil Sir Dastardly? Will they be reunited with their beloved cow? As the cast prepares for the opening night on Friday 30 November, tickets are selling fast and are limited for some shows. Jack and the Beanstalk runs to Sunday, January 6. Ticket prices and booking details online, visit www.cornexchangenew.com/panto NEW MILFORD As a Jewish girl in 1930s Germany, Susi Leiter quickly learned a knock on the door or the shuffle of boots outside was never a good sign. Everything was frightening, she said. We lived in constant fear. The dreaded knock came with a shattering of glass at midnight on Nov. 9, 1938, when the Gestapo arrived to arrest her family. They were herded onto a truck with other Jewish families and kept in a dark chamber at the local jail. Leiter said it could have been days, weeks or months that she and her mother were separated from her father. Her home was one of hundreds vandalized during Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass when Nazis and German civilians destroyed hundreds of Jewish businesses and synagogues, arrested thousands of Jews and killed nearly 100 Jewish men. It marks the beginning of what the Nazis referred to as The Final Solution. Leiter, 92, a Holocaust survivor who lives in Sherman, shared her story during a memorial service at Temple Sholom in New Milford on Friday, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht and honoring the 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust, or about two-thirds of the the Jews in Europe at the time. She lost 27 relatives in concentration camps during the war, including her brother. She was only one of three in her family to escape to the U.S., arriving here when she was 14 after 2 1/2 years hiding in France. Her parents had papers to leave because a high school friend of her fathers was willing to sponsor the family in the U.S. But after being smuggled to the American embassy in a friends moving truck, they learned Leiter wouldnt be able to get a visa because she was adopted. Instead, her father arranged for her to be brought to France through a Jewish underground organization. She moved to several different detention camps while in France, staying mostly in air raid shelters because the Nazis were bombing Paris daily. At the camps, the 2,000 or so children looked after each other, crying for their parents and then crying for each other. We became the nearest thing to a family, she said. Of those children, only she and another were able to reconnect with their parents through the French kinder transports, far less successful than the English operations of the same name. Leiters story was especially poignant following the Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh that killed 11 people, making it what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of the U.S. We look at our history and ask if this is how it begins, Rabbi Ari Rosenberg said. But both he and Leiter acknowledged that America in 2018 is not the same as Nazi Germany as Kristallnacht was carried out by the government and supported by the people. Still, they said they were worried by the increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. Its deja vu, Leiter said. Im nervous. Its scary. As Jews, we have to stand together now and fight it. She said anti-Semitism steadily increased in Germany during the 1930s, with ugly caricatures of Jews depicted in newspapers. She wasnt allowed to wear braided pigtails or participate in the military parades at school with the other girls. She remembers it escalated to J being written on Jewish businesses to deter people from going there, isolating the Jews. Then came Kristallnacht. We saw them take take torahs out of temples, burned them and danced around them, Leiter said. This is a nightmare Ill never forget. Rosenberg said its important to honor the memory of the Jews killed by the Nazis and show the world that they will never abide by this again. We must never forget the Holocaust, he said. kkoerting@newstimes.com, 203-731-3345 Age-related declines in abstract reasoning ability predict increasing depressive symptoms in subsequent years, according to data from a longitudinal study of older adults in Scotland. The research is published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. "Mental health in later life is a topic of increasing importance given aging populations worldwide," says researcher Stephen Aichele of the University of Geneva. "Our findings suggest that monitoring for cognitive decrements in later adulthood may expedite efforts to reduce associated increases in depression risk." Many adults will experience some degree of cognitive decline in the latter decades of life. Research has also shown that cognitive impairments and depression are correlated in older adults - generally, as cognitive abilities decline, depressive symptoms increase. Yet, researchers have not been able to conclusively determine the direction of causation. That is, does cognitive decline lead to depression, does depression lead to cognitive decline, or do the phenomena mutually reinforce each other? To achieve a clearer picture of the dynamics of this relationship over time, Aichele and colleagues examined data collected as part of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, a longitudinal study of adults in Scotland. Their analyses included data from 1,091 adults who were assessed at age 70 and up to three additional times in roughly 3-year intervals until age 79. Although other work has examined depression risk in relation to memory deficits and other cognitive impairments associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, the researchers chose to look at participants' abstract reasoning, a cognitive ability that is closely related to functioning in daily life. Participants in the study completed several measures of abstract reasoning, performing tasks such as identifying missing elements from geometric patterns and reproducing visuospatial models using component parts. The participants also provided information about their depressive symptoms via the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. On average, participants' abstract reasoning ability and depressive symptoms worsened over the course of the study. Additionally, relatively lower cognitive function at each assessment was associated with subsequent increases in depressive symptoms, and this association became stronger over time. Aichele and colleagues used advanced statistical models to analyze the dynamic relationship between these two measures over time. They found that lower abstract reasoning scores at one assessment were associated with increased depressive symptoms at later assessments; increased depressive symptoms at a given assessment were not linked with subsequent changes in abstract reasoning. Sociodemographic and other health-related factors -- such as education level, socioeconomic status, and diagnoses related to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes - did not appear to influence the relationship between abstract reasoning and depressive symptoms. Understanding why age-related decrements in abstract reasoning lead to increased depressive symptoms remains a question for future research. Aichele and colleagues note that there are several potential mechanisms that could be at work, including unmeasured disease processes, genetic susceptibility, and declines in daily functioning. The researchers hope to continue this work by examining factors such as training, treatment, and social support that might weaken the link between cognitive decline and depression. "We hope this research will be of broad interest, both for individuals directly affected by age-related cognitive decline and also for family members and care providers who wish to help older persons adversely affected by changes in mental health," Aichele says. Researchers have made rapid advances in understanding how to manipulate the immune system safely to destroy cancer cells. Adoptive transfer of haploidentical natural killer (NK) cells has shown promise as a treatment option to target and kill cancer cells in a less toxic way than conventional therapies. Now for the first time, scientists will combine NK cell therapy with an immunocytokine to target children with relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma including those with bulky tumors. Solving Kids' Cancer, The Catherine Elizabeth Blair Memorial Foundation, and Wade's Army provided a $136,000 grant to support the novel immunotherapy clinical trial for childhood cancer. Researchers will use a humanized monoclonal antibody linked to IL2, known as hu14.18-IL2, which specifically targets neuroblastoma tumor cells and binds to them, while the IL2 activates NK cells. It is expected that the humanized monoclonal antibody may be more effective at activating the NK cells for killing the cancer cells. Using a novel technique, scientists will collect, expand, and infuse donor NK cells--originating from a parent--into children with neuroblastoma. The phase I clinical trial is now open and currently recruiting children at the American Family Children's Hospital, part of University of Wisconsin's Carbone Cancer Center. The trial is led by Kenneth DeSantes, M.D., Division Head and Paul Sondel, M.D., Ph.D, Research Director of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at the University of Wisconsin. "We believe this novel immunotherapy approach may potentially provide some benefit for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, whose prognosis has historically been extremely poor despite the use of aggressive chemotherapy regimens. The NK cells utilized in this trial have an enhanced ability to kill tumor targets. We anticipate that the administration of these activated NK cells, given in combination with an immunocytokine that specifically recognizes neuroblastoma, will result in significant anti-cancer activity," said Dr. DeSantes "Previous research has already shown that adoptive transfer of haploidentical NK cells can be effective in reducing disease without the side effects of graft-versus-host disease," said Solving Kids' Cancer Executive Director Scott Kennedy. "We are very excited to support a trial addressing the need for treating children with immunotherapy in this cutting-edge clinical trial because they currently have very toxic treatment options." Source: https://solvingkidscancer.org/blog/clinical-trial-harnesses-power-of-natural-killer-cells-to-treat-neuroblastoma/ The American College of Cardiology will host the ACC Latin America Conference in partnership with the Peruvian Society of Cardiology in Lima, Peru, on November 16-17, 2018, bringing together top experts to review and discuss new, relevant cardiovascular science pertinent to the region. This is the first time the conference will be held in South America. Hector Michelena, MD, FACC, and Jose Manuel Sosa Rosado, MD, FACC, will serve as co-chairs of the conference, which will feature original, educational content to meet the needs of the cardiovascular care team throughout the region. The conference will provide a platform for cardiovascular professionals to increase their knowledge in important areas of practice such as prevention, coronary artery disease, valvular disease, heart failure and more. "Achieving the ACC's mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health around the world requires that we recognize different regions have different needs," Michelena said. "ACC Latin America Conference was crafted by global and local experts so cardiovascular care team professionals from around the region can take what they learned home and use it to transform their communities, we come to inspire and be inspired." Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is the featured speaker at the ACC Latin America Conference. Fuster's lecture at the start of the second day will examine strategies to move away from evaluating and managing heart disease to prevention of heart disease. Fuster will also give a special address during the ACC's Third Annual Latin America Conference Closing Celebration. Other key sessions specifically crafted for the region include The Power of Transformation: A Path to High-Quality Heart Care, The Power of Data: A Path to Evidence-Based Excellence, and a panel discussion on leadership. (CNN) Boeing was facing mounting pressure Wednesday over the Indonesia airplane disaster as the owner of the doomed jet joined a U.S. pilots' group in alleging the company failed to warn pilots about the potential hazards of a new safety feature implicated in the crash. A top Lion Air official told CNN that the manual for Boeing's 737 MAX 8 the model that crashed into the Java Sea last month, killing all 189 on board did not include a warning about a critical feature that could cause the plane to dive. Zwingli Silalahi, the Indonesian airline's operational director, said the manual did not tell pilots that in certain situations, the plane's stall-prevention system could automatically trigger a response, such as lowering the airplane's nose, to prevent or exit a stall. "We don't have that in the manual of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. That's why we don't have the special training for that specific situation," Zwingli said Wednesday. Investigators are examining whether a sensor on the outside of the plane transmitted incorrect data that could have triggered the stall-prevention system. The airline's claims come after Boeing was similarly accused Tuesday by the Allied Pilots Association (APA) of withholding information about the potential danger of the plane's new features. Lion Air Flight 610 crashed shortly after taking off from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on October 29. Investigators believe the MAX 8 plane may have experienced problems with several sensors. Boeing said last week that a safety bulletin issued to aircraft operators in the wake of the crash was merely meant to reinforce existing procedures. Both Lion Air and the APA have now rejected the company's assertion. "They (Boeing) didn't provide us all the info we rely on when we fly an aircraft," Capt. Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the APA group, told CNN on Tuesday. "The bulletin is not reaffirming, it's enlightening and adding new info." Zwingli added that Boeing's safety bulletin did not suggest additional training for pilots operating that aircraft. "We didn't receive any information from Boeing or from regulator about that additional training for our pilots," he said. Zwingli said that if the result of the ongoing investigation conducted by Indonesia's National Transportation Commission, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, and Boeing found that additional training was necessary, Lion Air pilots would undertake it. On Wednesday, a Boeing spokesperson said in an email that it could not "discuss specifics of an ongoing investigation" and that the company had "provided two updates for our operators around the world that re-emphasize existing procedures for these situations." "We are confident in the safety of the 737 MAX. Safety remains our top priority and is a core value for everyone at Boeing," the spokesperson said. The head of the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations (DOAAO) at the Indonesian Transportation Ministry told CNN that the agency was in the process of intensive discussions about additional training for the pilots who fly the MAX 8 planes, but did not elaborate on what any additional training would involve. On Tuesday, the APA said while there were no immediate safety concerns about the MAX 8 planes, "the fact that this hasn't been told to pilots before calls into question what other info should we know about this aircraft." "What seems to have happened here is that a new version or a modified anti-stall capacity was added which pushes the nose down automatically. If it's true, it is beyond comprehension that Boeing did not tell the airline and pilots about this," said CNN aviation correspondent Richard Quest. He added that if important information hadn't been communicated to pilots, it would be a matter for aviation regulators, rather than individual airlines. "The issue is how much information to give the pilots about the systems on board so they can respond in an emergency," Quest said, adding that pilots are often overloaded with readouts and signals from multiple devices and monitors that can risk distracting them at the worst possible moment. Lion Air sensor replaced Boeing's operational bulletin, released last week, pointed airlines to "existing flight crew procedures" to address any erroneous readings related to "angle-of-attack" (AOA) sensors. An AOA sensor is an instrument, similar to a small wind vane, that sits outside the plane just below the cockpit and sends information to its computers about the angle of the plane's nose relative to the oncoming air. The sensor helps to determine whether the plane is about to stall and dive. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later issued its own directive that advised pilots about how to respond to similar problems. Last week, investigators said the AOA sensor on board the aircraft had been replaced the day before the incident, but problems persisted. Indonesian authorities confirmed last Wednesday that the AOA sensor was replaced after a flight from Manado, in North Sulawesi, to Denpasar, Bali, on October 28. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 then made another flight to Jakarta that same day, and the pilots reported further problems. Investigators said the jet experienced problems on its last four flights including, crucially, the flight that crashed, according to Soerjanto Tjahjono, the head of Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT). The FAA's directive affects 246 Boeing 737 Max aircraft worldwide, with 45 of these operated by U.S. carriers that include Southwest, American and United Airlines. Voice recorder still missing More than two weeks after the crash, authorities are still searching for the plane's cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which is believed to be buried under deep mud. If found, it should reveal what happened in the cockpit in the final seconds of the flight. Investigators are already examining the flight data recorder (FDR) that was pulled off the seabed, some 30 meters under water, on November 1. Preliminary findings suggested there were problems with the airspeed indicator on the past three flights before the crash. The airspeed indicator is like a speedometer and tells the pilot how fast the plane is moving through the air. It does this by gathering data from the plane's pitot tube and the static port, which essentially compare differentials in the air pressure to arrive at the plane's speed and altitude. After problems were reported with the airspeed indicator, the AOA sensor was replaced by a Lion Air technician in Bali before the plane departed for Jakarta on its penultimate flight. Passengers on that flight told CNN that the plane experienced a significant drop in altitude shortly after takeoff. "After 10 minutes in the air the plane dropped as if it was losing power. People panicked. It dropped about 400 feet," passenger Robbi Gaharu said. Once in Jakarta, a Lion Air technician checked the plane again and gave it the green light to fly on its final flight, from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang. This story was first published on CNN.com "Lion Air joins US pilots in claiming Boeing withheld info on plane model that crashed" The treatment of intestinal infections caused by some strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli, present in unsanitized or contaminated foods, may have a new ally. A study published in PNAS reports that the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a lipid mediator released during the process of infected cell clearance (efferocytosis) in the intestine, enhanced the ability of mice to combat infectious colitis. "Tissue cell death is intense during a bacterial infection. Many immune cells recruited to the site of the infection also die. We found that during the removal of dead and infected cells, a process called efferocytosis, there was an increase in the release of proteins and of the lipid mediator prostaglandin E2. However, the presence of PGE2 impaired the differentiation of Th17 [or T helper 17] cells, lymphocytes that play a key role in the resolution of intestinal infections," said Alexandra Ivo de Medeiros, a professor at Sao Paulo State University's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF-UNESP) in Araraquara, Brazil, and principal investigator for the study. To prove this hypothesis, the researchers inhibited the production of PGE2 using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and ibuprofen. The inhibition of PGE2 resulted in increased differentiation of Th17 cells. "Th17 cells play a key role in resolving bacterial intestinal infection by promoting the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the production of natural antibiotics," Medeiros told. The study funded by Sao Paulo Research Foundation -FAPESP also showed that blocking only one PGE2 receptor, EP4, reversed the suppressive effect of PGE2 on the differentiation of Th17 cells. Different functions "Prostaglandin E2 can perform different functions depending on the type of cell and receptor involved. Our use of the EP4 prostaglandin receptor antagonist enhanced the resolution of infectious colitis," said Naiara Naiana Dejani, first author of the article. Dejani earned her PhD with a scholarship from FAPESP. Another finding of the study was that inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis or signaling by treatment with the EP4 antagonist L-161,982 favored the expression of defensins, which are considered natural antibiotics, in the colon. "The use of a specific antagonist of the PGE2 receptor, such as the EP4 receptor antagonist, offers advantages in terms of an auxiliary proposal for the treatment of infectious colitis. Nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as indomethacin and ibuprofen, are inexpensive but can cause adverse events that have been well described in the literature," Dejani said. Despite the protective effect of Th17 cells in bacterial infection, these same cells may cause chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease, so while the discovery points to an important potential ally of antibiotics in treating infections, a buildup of Th17 cells in the intestine could result in future complications. Infection The study resulted from a project led by Medeiros with a Young Investigator grant from FAPESP. Two of its authors besides Dejani also received scholarships from FAPESP: Allan Botinhon Orlando and Felipe Fortino Verdan. Carlos Henrique Serezani, a researcher at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Texas (USA), also participated in the collaboration. Serezani was Dejani's supervisor during a FAPESP-funded research internship abroad that resulted in the publication of an article in the journal Diabetes. In the experiment, mice were orally infected with a bacterium (Citrobacter rodentium) that mimics infection by E. coli in humans. After 24 hours, they began receiving a one-week treatment. Indomethacin was administered every two days to one group, while a second group received a daily dose of L-161,982 (the EP4 antagonist). Controls were given an innocuous substance. Analysis of the intestine in all groups at the end of the treatment showed that the use of an EP4 antagonist may be a promising strategy for the auxiliary treatment of infectious colitis. However, further research is required to show whether combining the EP4 antagonist and antibiotic therapy improves the resolution of this bacterial infection. A new study by Ohio University faculty members showed that people who are afraid to have their blood drawn believe more people faint or have other symptoms than what statistics show actually occurs. "Based on our prior study we did expect that people would over-estimate the risk of fainting, and we did anticipate that the predicted risk would increase as a function of level of fear," the authors said. "However, we were nonetheless surprised at the degree to which the sample overestimated the risk." The study, titled "Fear of blood draw is associated with inflated expectations of faint and pre-faint reactions to blood donation," was conducted by Ohio University College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Professor Christopher R. France and Senior Researcher Janis L. France. It was published in Transfusion in September. The study built on previous research the pair did in 2014, when they teamed up with researchers from the University of Toledo to do a similar study of college students. They found that participants vastly overestimated how common it is to have reactions. At that time, however, they did not consider whether the respondents had fear about the blood donation process. This time, Christopher and Janis wanted to conduct a study that would be more applicable to society as a whole rather than just college students - including the fear factor. "...We know that fear is a significant barrier to blood donation, particularly among new donors and young donors," said the authors. "In the most recent study we wanted to further explore these overestimations about faint and pre-faint reactions to donating blood. In particular, we wanted to examine the role of fear in people's assessment of risk for these reactions," said the authors. In the study, participants were asked if they had donated blood anytime in the past two years. They were then asked how much fear they had when it came to having their blood drawn and asked to predict how many people out of 100 would faint, have no symptoms or get light-headed or dizzy when donating blood. Nearly half of those surveyed reporting having no fear of having blood drawn, while 4.6 percent reported being extremely afraid. The results show that while less than 1 percent of those who donate blood actually faint and less than 4 percent experience other pre-faint reactions when donating blood, this study's respondents, regardless of their level of fear, predicted that 11.5 percent of people would faint and 27.5 percent of people would experience pre-faint reactions. The assumed number went either up or down depending on a participant's fear of having their blood drawn. Those who reported being extremely afraid of having their blood drawn had a significantly higher perceived risk than those who reported having no fear at all when it came to both fainting and having pre-faint reactions. Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a tool that speeds up the analysis and publication of biomedical data from many months or years to mere minutes, transforming the way researchers communicate results of their studies. Until now, the primary method available to share biomedical research data has been through print publication in scientific journals. The new tool, BioJupies, relies on cloud technologies to analyze and visualize large amounts of data, such as that acquired by genome sequencing, as described in the November 2018 issue of Cell Systems. RNA sequencing is the most common experimental method used to profile cells in biomedical research. In recent years, sequencing technology has revolutionized the way scientists examine genetic data, and this advancement plays a crucial role in drug discovery and development. Traditionally, RNA sequencing analysis requires extensive computer programming skills and access to local high performance computing facilities, slowing down the speed at which biomedical data can be analyzed, shared, and published. Through the creation of BioJupies, users can now upload and analyze their RNA sequencing data in a fraction of the time as done previously. The platform utilizes a cloud computing pipeline that reduces the cost of RNA-sequencing data processing to less than one cent per sample. BioJupies also produces a complete, open source, interactive report from the processed data allowing for 300,000 publicly available RNA sequencing datasets to be fetched, reanalyzed, and reused to bolster biomedical research. "As the amount of biomedical data generated continues to climb exponentially, so should the tools used to analyze and share them," said Avi Ma'ayan, PhD, Director of the Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Professor, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, faculty of Icahn Institute for Data Science, and senior author of the publication. "BioJupies not only accelerates the manner in which we analyze and interpret data, but it also provides a completely new way to share results with the global research community." As new genomic technologies have allowed for the collection of massive amounts of biomedical information that can be harnessed for precision medicine efforts, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of this data has become crucial to scientific research. BioJupies paves the way for researchers with no computational background to perform RNA sequencing analysis without the need to collaborate with bioinformaticians, enabling more medical and scientific advancements to flourish in our data rich world. There is no denying the fact that tourists across the world visit Italy to explore not just its scenic sports, but also to gorge on the luscious food items available. But who knew Italy would soon emerge as the top wedding destinations amongst celebrities. With the much-awaited wedding of actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh making headlines, here is a quick lowdown on other celebrity couples who got married in Italy. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: Aamir Khans Thugs Of Hindostan which was one of the biggest anticipated drama film went awry in contrary to fans expectations. Uniting Bollywoods biggest stars for the first time, Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khans Thugs Of Hindostan was a slop botch to Johny Depps, Pirates of the Caribbean. While fans and critics have given one of the worst reviews to the most awaited movie, Shah Rukh Khan as an actor himself has more to say about the pirate flick fiasco. Also Read | Kapil Sharma and Sunil Grover united by THIS Khan The movie which was made on a 300-crore budget has continued to dwindle down with just over 250 crore at the first week of Diwali release. King Khan, who is also a close friend of Aamir Khan shares the agony of this actor friend. He said that peoples response on the film have been too harsh which is heart-breaking to see. He added, "I would like to say something. Its a little personal and I dont know whether its right to say it or not. This is something thats saddened me and so I want to share it. When it happened to me personally, I wasnt so sad, but this time I am," the Zero actor said, as quoted by India . "There are people who have given excellence to cinema for years. A film can be good, a film can be bad; none of us can ever claim ki maine duniya ki sabsi achchi film banayi hain. Mr Bachchan and Aamir have been people who have constantly contributed to the excellence of cinema," he added. Shah Rukh further said, "The greatest contribution to Hindi cinema in the last 10 years has been from Aamir, and with Amitji, its been even longer. Now if a film of theirs doesnt reach the level that you expected it to, does it take away from what they have done for cinema? I think some people have been a little too harsh. Its heartbreaking. It doesnt mean that their spirit is broken, they are all amazing artistes who will bounce back." "But one needs to be a little less harsh. I think Stree was fabulous and we need to make 20,000 films like that. But I also think that Thugs of Hindostan is fantastic. Sometimes we do go wrong, but Aamir has never done a film in which he hasnt put in his best. Ive known him for 20 years. And if theres anyone who can put in even more effort than Aamir which Aamir will also agree its Amitji... and at this age! So theyve come in with good hearts and great talent and tried to make a film which tries to open up a new genre." While praising Aamir for attempting an action-adventure film like Thugs of Hindostan, Shah Rukh said, "I may be speaking out of turn, but just like we have embraced Stree, we need to give some leeway to films like Thugs, that attempt something different. An adventure film has not been made in India in decades probably Parasmani (1963) in black and white was the last one." Also Read | Angad Bedi faced backlash from parents after revealing pregnancy news "Thugs has tried to introduce this genre and kabhi kabhi upar neeche ho sakta hai. But the fact remains that in our cinema, we havent made an Indiana Jones and screw the comparison yaar, humne Pirates of the Caribbean bhi nahin banayi. So props to them for the attempt," the actor further went on to say. Well, Thugs Of Hindostan opened on a good note and made Rs 52 crore. However, its numbers sinked by the end of the week. The total collection of the film so far has been Rs 133.75 crore. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amazon Prime Video Original's Mirzapur is gearing up for its big launch this Friday and while the premier awaits, the cast and crew had a gala time at the recent event in Mumbai. Also Read | Deepika Padukone - Ranveer Singh wedding pictures finally revealed The entire starcast including Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Vikrant Massey, Divyendu Sharma, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Harshita Gaur and Amit Sial attended the press conference along with makers Ritesh Sidhwani, Karan Anshuman, Gurmeet Singh, Puneet Krishna, and Vijay Subramaniam. The event was hosted by renowned actress Shruti Seth, where the actors and makers interacted with the media as well as unveiled a song from the series. With heart-pounding action, violence at an operatic scale, gangsters with sharp minds and dry humor, Mirzapur is a hinterland story that is as raw as it gets. Mirzapur is a lawless land filled with moments of heart-pounding action where the only rules are laid by none other than Kaleen Bhaiya aka Pankaj Tripathi. The recently released trailer showcases the journey of two brothers lured by the idea of power only to get consumed by it. With heart-pounding action, violence at an operatic scale, gangsters with sharp minds and dry humor, Mirzapur is a hinterland story that is as raw as it gets, the makers say. Also Read | 'Thugs of Hindostan' box-office collection day 7: Aamir Khan starrer continues to crash The thrilling and gripping crime drama stars an ensemble cast of Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Vikrant Massey, Divyendu Sharma, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Rasika Dugal, Harshita Gaur, and Amit Sial promising a powerhouse of talent in the same frame. Created by Karan Anshuman and Puneet Krishna, produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment, Amazon Prime Video's Mirzapur is directed by Gurmeet Singh and will start streaming from November 16th. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: With cyclone Gaja approaching the coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the Indian Navy was put on high alert on Wednesday, officials said. Gaja is expected to make landfall between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday afternoon. Navy officials said the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance as the cyclone is poised to cross the coast of the two states on Thursday evening. It's expected that #GajaCyclone will make landfall late night today, may be in South of Cuddalore, in Nagapattinam district. People should be well-prepared. Govt is making its best efforts in this regard: Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Special Officer for Disaster Management. #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/t1Ol9l5Lqn ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Tamil Nadu: Latest visuals from Silver Beach in Cuddalore. #GajaCyclone is likely to make landfall between Pamban and Cuddalore today afternoon. pic.twitter.com/ME9UA1k3Cr ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 "Two Indian Naval ships -- Ranvir and Khanjar -- are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid and distress relief," said a Navy official. He said these ships will have additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material on board. Read More | High alert as Cyclone Gaja to make landfall in Tamil Nadu today The official said helicopters, Dornier aircraft and one P8I aircraft are on standby to undertake reconnaissance, rescue and casualty evacuation. Several district collectors in Tamil Nadu have declared holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday. Besides Tamil Nadu, all educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions will remain closed in view of the cyclone. The Tamil Nadu government has already declared that 30,500 rescue personnel are on standby. The district collectors of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram have declared holiday for schools and colleges. On Wednesday, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy held a review meeting with officials of various departments at Thirunallar in Karaikal district and took stock of the preparedness. Also Read | After controversial comment on Kashmir, Afridi slams Indian media The chief minister directed the district authorities to keep stock of relief materials. Urging officials to ensure supply of protected drinking water to all areas, Narayanasamy said if needed he would camp in Karaikal to coordinate the activities. Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have arrived here to provide emergency assistance. The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a major breakthrough to Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) president Ankiv Baisoya's fake degree case, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students' wing of the RSS, on Thursday asked him to resign from his post. The ABVP also relieved him of all organisational responsibilities till the enquiry in the fake degree case is over. "We have asked DUSU President Ankiv Baisoya to resign from his post and also expelled him from all the responsibilities of the organization till the inquiry is over (in fake degree case): Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)," the news agency ANI reported. ABVP issues fresh statement says Ankiv Baisoya has been suspended, not expelled as said in the earlier statement. https://t.co/jCuZBJwC9B ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Read | Telangana Elections 2018: Rahul Gandhi appoints Jetti Kusum Kumar as TPCC working president Earlier on Monday, the Delhi High Court gave the varsity time till November 20 to verify the authenticity of DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya's bachelor's degree from a university in Tamil Nadu. The rift started days after Baisoya beat NSUI student leader Sunny Chillar and had been elected the DUSU president in September 2018. Apart from NSUI, the students' wing of the Congress, several other organisations started raising questions about the authenticity of Ankivs degree. NSUI leader Chillar filed a plea seeking to set aside of Baisoya's election, alleging that the registrar of Thiruvalluvar University in Tamil Nadu "unambiguously and unequivocally" declared that Baisoya's certificate was "fake and forged". Talking about the latest development, ABVP state secretary Bharat Khatana said, This incident is tarnishing the image of DUSU so we request DU administration to complete the verification process as soon as possible. Read | Sabarimala Temple Row: Congress, BJP walk out of all-party meet called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan In case Baisoya is found guilty he must go through legal procedures, Khatana added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Security agencies have been put on high alert following specific inputs about the presence of at least seven Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, including Zakir Moosa aka Zakir Rashid Bhatt in Amritsar, Punjab. According to a statement, released by intelligence agencies this evening, Moosa, the dreaded terrorist, who is in charge of 'Ansar Gazwat ul Hind' was spotted in Amritsar and is said to be planning a fedayeen attack on police personnel deployed in the state of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. In view of this possible terror attack in Kashmir valley, the Dinanagar police station has released posters of Moosa, SSP Gurdaspur said. Read | Afghanistan: Taliban kill 30 policemen in western Farah province in overnight attack In early November, another intel report warned of a terror strike in the Kashmir Valley by Al-Qaeda commander Zakir Moosa in collaboration with some Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists, who were spotted hiding in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. Meanwhile, Police personnel in Punjab and national capital region have been alerted after discovering about the presence of at least half-a-dozen terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Ferozepur area. The terror group is said to be moving towards the national capital and would infiltrate into Indian border anytime soon. Read | Bhima Koregaon violence: Pune Police files charge sheet against Shoma Sen and four others arrested in June A letter issued by the Counter Intelligence Inspector General reads, "At least six to seven terrorists are reportedly in Punjab (possibly Ferozepur area) and planning to move towards Delhi from Punjab side." The note advised the authorities to beef up security, especially along the border and keep an eye on all movements in and around Delhi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: JDU leader and former Bihar social welfare minister Manju Verma, who had stepped down under relentless pressure to take moral responsibility for her husband's alleged links to Muzaffarpur shelter home case, on Thursday was suspended from the party. "Muzaffarpur shelter home case: JDU leader and former state minister Manju Verma has been suspended from the party," the news agency ANI reported. Muzaffarpur shelter home case: JDU leader and former state minister Manju Verma has been suspended from the party. #Bihar ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 In July, over 30 girls, aged among seven to 14 years, were drugged, scalded with boiling water, raped and forced to sleep naked at the shelter home run by Brajesh Thakur, the chief of a state-funded NGO. The alleged sexual exploitation of the minor girls was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to the state's social welfare department. Read | Muzaffarpur shelter home case: CBI finds human bones at cremation ground Since then, RJD leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav has been critical of the Nitish Kumar government. The political furore further took a dramatic turn after media accessed several pictures of Brajesh Thakur, with prominent political leaders from Bihar including Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. The Supreme Court in July had also come down heavily on the Bihar government, saying the state had financed the NGO in a way by giving public funds to the accused shelter homes. Read | Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case: CBI raids Manju Verma's residence The CBI is currently investigating the case, which relates to the mental, physical and sexual exploitation of the girls residing at the Balika Grih of Bihar's Muzaffarpur. So far, 17 people have been arrested in connection to the same. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: After US President Donald Trump turned down Indias invitation to the 2019 Republic Day event, sources say that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been invited to grace the occasion. According to The Indian Express, Ramaphosa, who became South Africas President in February this year, has accepted the invitation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa likely to be the chief guest at the Republic Day event next year: Sources (file pic) pic.twitter.com/XqSIsxydKS ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 Read More |US President Donald Trump turns down India's Republic Day invitation: Reports Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Ramaphosa on the sidelines of BRICS summit in June. The South African President, who is reportedly a Gandhi follower, led a 5,000-odd people at the annual Gandhi Walk at Lenasia in Johannesburg. That was the first time that a sitting head of the state joined the walk. Ramaphosa served as the Deputy President of South Africa from 2014 to 2018. The report said that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which celebrates Gandhis return from South Africa, has been shifted to the second half of January to coincide with the Republic Day celebrations. When Ramaphosa took over the reins of his country, he pledged for an economic and political turnaround and appealed to the citizens that the country was entering a new dawn and promised to turn the tide on corruption, according to media reports. Also Read | Sri Ramayana Express flagged off from Delhi's Safdarjung station 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. US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster had said that Donald Trump declining India's invitation to be the chief guest at 2019 Republic Day celebrations was completely a scheduling issue. India had officially sent the Republic Day invite to the US president in April this year. The US authorities had confirmed receiving the invite, but said the final decision would be taken after the inaugural 2+2 dialogue in September. The foreign ministry has not given a statement. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have walked out of the all-party meeting on Sabarimala called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday. The chief minister had called the meeting to discuss the row over entry of women in the age group 10-50 years at the Sabarimala temple ahead of the two-month long annual Mandala Makkaravillakku or the pilgrimage season, set to start on November 17. The doors of the Lord Ayyappa shrine will open on Friday. As many as 500 young women have registered on the website of the Kerala police, for darshan, over the last one week. Last week both the BJP and the Congress protested in Kerala against the Supreme Courts order, lifting ban on girls and women in 10 to 50 age groups, from entering the temple. While the BJP took out a rath yatra called Save Sabarimala Campaign, the Congress organised padyatras across the state. Read More | Cyclone Gaja: Navy on high alert as storm to make landfall in Tamil Nadu today Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the BJP and the RSS of conspiring to create trouble at Sabarimala. The odious politics and perfidious ways of the BJP stand exposed. Evidence has surfaced that BJP leaders in the state connived to create trouble, Mr Vijayan said on November 9. The Sabarimala temple saw massive protests when it opened for monthly pujas for five days in October and two days earlier this month. Not a single woman in menstruating age groups has been able to enter the shrine so far. Also Read | Afghanistan: Taliban kill 30 policemen in western Farah province in overnight attack On Wednesday, woman rights activist Trupti Desai asked for complete police protection during her visit to the temple starting Friday. Activist Rahul Eashwar promised to fight her tooth-and-nail to prevent her from entering the shrine. As many as 3,505 protesters have been arrested and around 529 cases were registered in connection with a series of incidents of violence in the state after the opening of the temple gate in October, according to NDTV. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A full-blown constitutional crisis has descended on Sri Lankas democracy that has caused serious divisions within the body politic. There is utter confusion over where the countrys politics and governance are headed. Thursdays brawl between lawmakers in Parliament has led to an adjournment of the House until November 21 with no decision on who is the countrys prime minister. What triggered off the crisis in the first instance was President Sirisenas sacking of prime minister Wickremesinghe with whom he had of late had strained relations and his abrupt decision to replace him with his erstwhile bete noire Mahinda Rajapaksa who Sirisena had defeated and replaced in a fair and square election in January 2015. The return of Rajapaksa came as a big surprise because of their past animosity. Read More | Shilpa Shinde trolled for covering Sreesanth on washing utensils With the parliamentary speaker not accepting Sirisenas diktat on appointment of Rajapaksa as new prime minister and ordering a floor test which Rajapaksas supporters lost on Wednesday by a hotly disputed voice vote, there are two prime ministers in place Rajapaksa appointed by the President and Wickremesinghe who ostensibly has the majority of legislators on his side and insists that he continues to hold office. It is indeed a piquant situation which has put Sri Lankan democracy on the edge as never before. The principal actors in the drama are flexing their muscles for the final round even as Sirisena, who set the cat among the pigeons, is groping cluelessly. On top of it, there is a snap election announced by Sirisena which has been overturned in the apex court as being violative of the constitution. What would be the future course of action and how the constitutional crisis would be resolved is a question that plagues politics in the country. Also Read | Ranveer Deepika are Married now! First LEAKED video from the venue As if all this confusion was not enough, Rajapaksa has snapped links with Sirisenas party the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and made common cause with the newly-formed Sri Lanka Peoples Party. Confusion could hardly have been worse confounded. Allies of Rajapaksa say they do not recognise the legitimacy of Wednesdays voice vote taken by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya even as the government remains paralysed. Wickremesinghe said after the voice vote that he had submitted a petition with the signatures of 122 MPs supporting lack of confidence in his opponent Rajapaksa. Also Read | Afghanistan: Taliban kill 30 policemen in western Farah province But it is steeped in uncertainty who is the prime minister, and consequently who commands state institutions such as the police and public service. Wickremesinghe issued a statement making it clear to all government servants and police that you cannot carry out illegal orders from the purported government that has failed to demonstrate the confidence of the people. If Sirisena as president chooses to ignore the vote against Rajapaksa in the House, he would be defying the mandate of Parliament. If he appoints Wickremesinghe, he would have to swallow his pride and would infuriate Rajapaksa and his supporters. He could leave it to the Supreme Court to take the final call but whatever stand the apex court takes would predictably be unacceptable to some. Sirisena could annul the appointment of Rajapaksa and choose a new person as prime minister but that would open a Pandoras box. Read More | This Day That Year: Sachin Tendulkar makes his Test debut vs Pakistan China, which has been the principal prop of Rajapaksa right since he was President until nearly four years ago, is mum on the issue due to sensitivities among people in Sri Lanka while India which has high stakes in the political battle in Colombo is also silent until the issue is resolved internally. All eyes are therefore on the principal actors in the dramaSirisena, Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe as also on the Sri Lankan Supreme Court for a solution to the imbroglio. Through all this, one man who has come out scarred is President Sirisena who has betrayed lack of political finesse. Who will have the last laugh is the million-dollar question. New Delhi: Scientists are redefining the definition of the kilogram we use every day. The 129-year-old standard for the kilogram will change very soon. On November 16, scientists from around the world are meeting at the General Conference on Weights and Measures in Versailles, France, to vote on a new the definition of a kilogram that ties it to a universal constant in nature. ALSO READ | Shahid Afridi right in saying that Pakistan doesnt need Kashmir, says Home Minister Rajnath Singh When the definition changes, the General Conference on Weights and Measures will complete the original dream of the metric system, which was embraced amid the French Revolution. The metric system which evolved into the International System of Units, or SI was designed to be for all times, for all people, says Stephan Schlamminger, a NIST scientist involved with the redefinition. Objects always change, says Stephan. With the new definition, he says, we go from an object on Earth to the stuff thats in the heavens, he said. Ian Robinson, materials and engineering specialist at Britain's National Physical Laboratory, told Reuters that the block doesn't always weight the same. Though its ensconced in three glass bell jars, it can still get dusty, and is affected by the atmosphere. "We live in a modern world. There are pollutants in the atmosphere that can stick to the mass." ALSO READ | Cyclone Gaja: Navy on high alert as storm to make landfall in Tamil Nadu today "In the present system, you have to relate small masses to large masses by subdivision. That's very difficult - and the uncertainties build up very, very quickly," Robinson said. "One of the things this (new) technique allows us to do is to actually measure mass directly at whatever scale we like, and that's a big step forward," he said. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Samsung is gearing up to launch its new smartphone Galaxy S10. Samsung Galaxy S10 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Galaxy S-series. Samsung doesnt always announce its Galaxy S flagships there, but recent models have all been announced in the first few months of the year, so Samsung fans be surprised if you dont see the Samsung Galaxy S10 by the end of March 2019. Earlier, Samsung revealed Galaxy X, the companys flagship foldable phone. ALSO READ | Cyclone Gaja: Navy on high alert as storm to make landfall in Tamil Nadu today afternoon One leak from OnLeaks suggests those colors may be Black, Grey, Blue, Red, Green and Yellow, while in announcing some software Samsung may have hinted that the phone will come in silver, green, black, blue and pink shades and will have a 3.5mm headphone port. Samsung Galaxy S10 expected specifications Samsung Galaxy S10 can also feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner instead of the in-display fingerprint scanner. Samsung Galaxy S10 models with Infinity Display panel as well as curbed edges, there will be the recently announced the Exynos 9820 SoC or the upcoming Snapdragon 855 SoC under the hood. It should be noted that the Exynos 9820 SoC comes with 8nm LPP (Low Power Plus) FinFET process, integrated NPU for on-device AI processing and a performance boost of 15 per cent along with an increased power efficiency of up to 40 per cent. ALSO READ | Ranveer Deepika are married now! First LEAKED videos from the venue are here! The smartphone will be offered in three configurations 4GB + 64GB, 6GB + 64GB, and 6GB + 128GB, according to reports. Connecticut added 1,500 jobs in October led by a sustained surge in the New Haven area, putting the state back on a growth track as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy winds down his final weeks on the job after taking office after the Great Recession. The states unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent in October, according to Thursday estimates by the Connecticut Department of Labor, compared to the U.S. jobless rate of 3.7 percent. Connecticuts private-sector employers averaged more than $1,100 in weekly pay, a 3.4 percent increase, as companies hired in the wake of a 3.1 percent expansion of the state economy last spring. In August, Connecticut topped the 1.7 million jobs mark for the first time since June 2008, marking a fourth consecutive month of job gains before a contraction in September that the state said was more severe than an earlier estimate, at 900 jobs lost. Connecticut employment remains about 11,400 jobs short of the states peak employment set in March 2008, with DataCore Partners economist Don Klepper-Smith stating at the time that the state might need another full year to recover all the jobs lost in the recession. The financial sector led Connecticuts October hiring with a net gain of 900 jobs for a 0.7 percent gain, with a catch-all category of transportation, trade and utilities seeing the steepest drop at 400 jobs. Gov.-elect Ned Lamont has pledged to make the economy his top priority, commencing a revitalization tour as he dubbed it last week, and convening a roundtable of prominent Connecticut employers that included Farmington-based United Technologies; the Electric Boat subsidiary of General Dynamics in Groton; the Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft unit of Lockheed Martin; and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals in Ridgefield. Lamont was adamant during the campaign that he would not make incentives the cornerstone of his economic development strategy, stating instead he would use the power of persuasion to convince businesses to consider expanding here, and where possible knock down regulations. The hope is that Lamont and his administration will focus in on who gets on trains headed to (New York) each day and what they do professionally, and turn that into the right kind of incentive for those considering relocating to (Connecticut), said David Lewis, CEO of OperationsInc in Norwalk and a board member of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. We have all this talent here that would happily not commute if you put your business here. Metropolitan gains in bottom third of U.S. In October, the labor market area that includes metropolitan Bridgeport and Stamford saw a loss of 100 jobs, with employment having last peaked in the summer of 2000. The Danbury area that includes New Milford offset that with employers adding 100 jobs to maintain peak employment above 79,000 jobs, with New Haven leading the state with 1,300 jobs in October to hit a record milestone of more than 287,000 jobs. Southwestern Connecticut has ranked consistently this year in the bottom third of metropolitan areas nationally for employment gains, however, including in September when the region generated a jobs gain of less than 1 percent over the intervening 12 months. The statewide job count was up 1.3 percent as of October for a gain of 22,300 jobs. Several employers list at least 50 open jobs in the region, including Stamford-based Gartner, Western Connecticut Health Network and CVS; but there have been ample numbers of companies offsetting that growth with layoffs, to include Danone, which is in the process of closing a YoCrunch production plant in Naugatuck at a cost of 130 jobs; Sears Holdings, which is closing Sears and Kmart stores in Milford; and Edible Arrangements, which is moving its Wallingford headquarters to Atlanta. While Florida municipalities have dominated job growth as tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some Northeast communities have fared well including Atlantic City, N.J., which ranked third nationally with 7 percent growth; and the New London area, which led Connecticut with a 2.1 percent increase to crack the top third of metropolitan areas nationally. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman As a whole, the restaurant industry in Connecticut is a healthy one, with thousands of new locations newly open or on the way. But for individual proprietors, even in busy downtowns with plenty of potential customers, it can be an unforgiving trade. Connecticuts stock of eateries has increased to nearly 8,000 with continued growth slated, according to the state Restaurant Association, which projects that by 2027 the industry will grow by roughly 7 percent. But along with that growth comes a large number of new restaurants every year that will fail to make it past their first year. Its a very difficult time in the restaurant business throughout the entire region, said Kelvin Ayala, owner of Moes Burger Joint and chair of the Downtown Bridgeport Merchants Association. In general, the restaurant business is very volatile anyway, so the mortality rate of restaurants is really high, and thats in all markets. Finding foot traffic Plenty of potential restaurateurs have promising ideas, even as many find that opening and running their own place comes with a laundry list of challenges. In Bridgeports case, parking and accessibility have proven to be headaches for many, along with foot traffic that hasnt met local expectations and increased rents. It makes people go out of business and makes customers not come down here. That doesnt help people stay in business, said Val Fernandes of Funchal Cafe, which has been a part of the local restaurant scene since 2010. In that time, Bridgeport has seen a number of downtown establishments come and go, including Barnum Publick Houses, Amici Miei Cafe and more. While those spaces dont stay vacant for long, the obstacles to longevity remain. For those who have been able to stick it out, being accessible to residents as well as visitors has played a crucial role in their success. Theyve adopted us, and we try to keep the prices moderate and we try to treat everybody with regard, said Ralph n Richs co-owner Rich Ndini, who acknowledged that having their own parking lot played a crucial role in the eaterys tenure, which stands at 28 years and counting. In lieu of more foot traffic, some restaurants have opted to use different methods to draw in business. Now youre seeing a lot more GrubHub and DoorDash and UberEats and those types of platforms to drive traffic because the customers are no longer coming through the front door, Ayala said. But that comes at a cost. Coming and going Downtown Stamford continues to see noticeable restaurant turnover. Factory Bar & Grill, at 261 Main St., closed last month, only four months after its debut. They were delayed in opening for a few months, and then it felt like they never really gained traction once they did open, said Michael Marchetti, owner of the neighboring Columbus Park Trattoria, at 205 Main St., and president of the Stamford Tables downtown restaurant association. Its unfortunate to see another dark storefront. We were excited about having them open. Neighboring restaurateurs said they hoped another establishment could make the space work. Factory succeeded McFaddens Saloon, which closed in early 2017. We hope that someone comes in with the same enthusiasm they brought to the neighborhood, said Victor Mathieu, co-owner of Peruvian restaurant Fiesta on Main, Factorys next-door neighbor, at 249 Main St. We will always be welcoming to newcomers to the block, as we were welcomed a little over a year ago by the established group that is there now. The restaurant row around Columbus Park has seen this year a number of closings including Laylas Falafel at 245 Main St., Aria Restaurant at 1033 Washington Blvd., and Aguapanelas at 84 W. Park Place. Teenas Apizza moved, in June, into the Laylas space, while an Indian restaurant, Adyar Ananda Bhavan, plans to open in the building that was occupied by Aria. Keeping up with the times Shifting trends in what customers are looking for have also added to the mix. Greenwich has seen encouraging changes in its restaurant scene, said Marcia OKane, president and CEO of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. She cited the recent arrival of several establishments that aim to serve healthier fast-casual fare, a list that includes Myx, on West Elm Street, in downtown Greenwich; Skinny Pizza, on Greenwich Avenue; SoBol, on East Putnam Avenue, in the towns Cos Cob section; and Cava, a block from Greenwich Library. As people desire more nutritious lunches, we would expect this trend to continue, OKane said. Along the Washington Street restaurant row in South Norwalk, eateries have taken root in some storefronts while flipping in rapid succession in others. Only this month, Cask Republic closed quietly after a 12-year run including its prior incarnation as The Ginger Man under parent company SKAL Restaurant Group, which recently opened Evaritos Mexican Kitchen & Bar around the corner. After a brief run in 2014 for Guvnors Brewery on Washington Street, Hell or High Water took over the space in April 2017 with a rotating menu of beers brewed both on site and sourced from other craft breweries in the region. The venture lasting only six months, however, with the pub space snagged by Iron Brewing, which is now hitting its one-year anniversary in South Norwalk under brewers John Commander, Adam Letize and Shane Nunes. At the time, Commander told Hearst Connecticut Media we figured between the three of us, we could figure it out. In Redding, the Georgetown Saloon is now undergoing renovations under a new proprietor who has yet to announce plans. It marks the fourth attempt in the span of six years to create a successful venue at the Main Street storefront, even as other local establishments like Milestone, the Redding Beer Co. and the Wire Mill Saloon & Barbecue have gotten off the ground; and others like Lombardis Trattoria and Rancho Alegre have shown staying power. This story includes contributions from Paul Schott and Alexander Soule. Jordan.grice @hearstmediact.com City said in a statement on Wednesday that Mendy had an operation on a meniscus problem after withdrawing from the France squad. DANBURY A Rogers Park Middle School teacher has been selected as a Connecticut state finalist for one of teachings highest national honors, the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Sixth grade math teacher Kim Moran is one of 108 teachers nationwide to receive the honor from the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. NEW MILFORD The local American Legion is asking the town to pay the first year of membership dues for veterans who work with the town as a way to introduce more veterans to the organizations benefits. American Legion Commander Jeff McBreairty made the request during this weeks Town Council. He said he believes he has a good chance of having every town employee who is a veteran, especially if the town helps with the dues. The American Legion strives to promote membership and maintain our strong stature as the oldest military organization in this country, McBreairty said. We are presently 2.2 million strong, and when we go to Washington to vie for benefits for the veterans, our volumes in numbers speak. Dues are $35 per veteran. It will become the veterans responsibility to pay the dues after that first year and maintain their good standing with the organization. Veterans deserve to be recognized and helped as much as possible, McBreairty said. The Town Council did not respond to the request because it came during public comment, which is usually just a chance for the residents to speak. McBreairty said he left 39 applications with the mayor though in case they approved covering the dues. The town has a history of honoring veterans. It hosts numerous ceremonies and Mayor Pete Bass gave up his parking spot at Town Hall for veterans. Our town honors our veterans in so many ways and it humbles me to know we are recognized and cared for and recognized for the services rendered, McBreairty said. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 STAMFORD Stamford Ford President Dominic Franchella honored two local veterans this week with new cars. It was a very touching event that brought tears to a lot of eyes, Franchella said. Retired U.S. Marine Cpl. Andrew Burns was presented with a new Ford Explorer and retired U.S. Army Col. Vanessa Benson received an Army green Ford F-150 pickup truck. They each received three-year leases for the vehicles. Franchella said he tried to give away his first lease to a veteran last year, but because the recipient was in the Army Reserve, he was unable to accept more than $1,000 in benefits. So Franchella decided to give away two leases this year. I realized that we have our freedoms and liberties because of these young men and women are sacrificing their own time and this country does not take care of these veterans the way they should when they retire, Franchella said. For me, it is a worthy cause to help some of them. Franchella said he is selling new and used cars to veterans this month for the same price his dealership pays for them. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com With social media becoming such a big part of our everyday lives, its no surprise that employers are increasingly using social networks to research potential hires and gather more information than they would otherwise obtain during the interview process. In fact, 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process, and about 43 percent of employers use social media to check on current employees, according to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey. Related: What You Should Be Looking at in Potential Hires' Social Media Posts As with most things, the more information you have, the better decisions you can make. Here's a look at how companies are analyzing social media to make hiring decisions, and the impact that can have on potential candidates. Having an online profile is important. Some 47 percent of prospective employers said that if they couldn't find a job candidate online, they were less likely to call that person in for an interview. For the 30 percent of American adults who dont have an online presence, this could be an issue when they're job hunting. Employers do look at social media profiles to make hiring decisions, and can, so long as it does not violate federal or state anti-discrimination laws such as race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, etc., Sergei Lemberg, managing partner at Lemberg Law, told me in a phone interview. At a time when almost 70 percent of American adults have an online presence, it has become more of an expectation to be able to find everyone online. And employers are no different; in the CareerBuilder survey, employers said they expected candidates to have an online presence and that they typically gathered more information prior to calling a candidate for an interview. Confirm the candidates qualifications online. Companies are no longer just pre-screening applicants through phone interviews and personality assessment tests; now they have social media profiles at their fingertips to take a deeper dive into the personal lives and previous job experiences of candidates. Information that once used to be private is now readily available to anyone willing to take a little time to dig around the web. That way, ideally, a candidates background listed online should match the qualifications he or she has stated on a resume or shared during the interview. Thats what employers look for, and any discrepancy in this information can lead to potential employers questioning the accuracy of a candidates resume. Related: Why It's a Mistake to Rely on a 'Social-Media Background Check' Furthermore, of those companies that have researched candidates online, 57 percent, according to the CareerBuilder survey, have found content that caused them not to hire candidates. A professional online persona Is key. While its not constructive for companies to scour the internet looking for reasons not to hire someone, it is beneficial to ensure the candidate is a professional. What hiring managers should look for is anything alarming in a candidates social profile or posts that could directly be cause for concern for the company. Specifically, that means anything that indicates the candidate may not align with the companys values or mission. Candidates and employees, from their end, meanwhile, should make sure to be familiar with company policies, as they can differ from one company to another. But what are the implications of using information that potential hires have shared in a non-work related environment without thinking about those posts' implications for a future job opportunity? Significantly reducing the applicant pool you, as hiring manager, have is one down side; you may have to eliminate too many candidates after you've peered into their personal lives. Basically, once you put something on the internet publicly, theres no expectation of privacy and an employer can use it against you unless doing so would otherwise violate law, Lemberg said. Job-seekers should keep that in mind and keep their personal social profiles, such as Instagram or Facebook, private. Meanwhile, they should maintain business social networks, such as LinkedIn or Shapr, making sure to update their skills, job history and affiliations with professional organizations. Lots of employers have workplace internet or social media policies to help deal with these issues, Lemberg added. And employees have also been fired for posting social media content. An example? Most of us remember Juli Briskman, who lost her job after she was photographed extending her middle finger at President Trumps motorcade last year. A photo of Briskman circulated on social media and went viral, so she brought it to the attention of her employer. The employer stated that she had violated the companys social media policy on obscenity by sharing the image on Facebook and Twitter. Briskman went on to sue her former employer for wrongful termination. Related: How Recruiters Creepily Troll Social Media for Job Candidates (Infographic) She was fortunate enough, however, to also see the positive impacts social media can have: She subsequently received thousands of dollars in donations and even new job offers following the news of her employer letting her go. Related: Neutral Assessment: Keeping Bias Out of The Hiring Grid New York Is Giving Amazon a Helipad and New Yorkers Are Furious 3 Ways Companies Are Analyzing Social Media To Make Hiring Decisions Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved As snow continues to fall in Connecticut, there have been numerous crashes locally and on state highways. Snow day picks: Movies to help you escape the cold One-to-four inches of snow could mean slippery Thursday commute First responders are begging motorists to get off and stay off the roadways until the crews have cleared the snow. Below is the most up-to-date information regarding weather-related problems, including crashes, possible power outages, road closures and more. UPDATE: 9:30 P.M. New York State issued a tandem tractor trailer and empty trailer ban on I-84 in both directions between the Connecticut and Pennsylvania state lines until further notice. Nothing of the sort issued in Connecticut as of now. UPDATE: 9:15 P.M. traffic ANDOVER Route 6 closed at Shoody Mill Road because of a jackknifed truck. Reported at 8:49 p.m. SOUTHBURY Interstate 84 west closed between Exits 16 and 15 because of a disabled tractor trailer. Reported at 8:47 p.m. UPDATE: 9:10 P.M. SNOWFALL TOTALS Bethel: 6.5 inches (as of 7 p.m.) Weston: 5.8 inches (as of 6:45 p.m.) Newtown: 5.1 inches (as of 6:15 p.m.) Darien: 4.6 inches (as of 7 p.m.) New Canaan: 4.6 inches (as of 5:50 p.m.) Ridgefield: 4 inches (as of 6:10 p.m.) Greenwich: 4 inches (as of 6:45 p.m.) Danbury: 2 inches (as of 5:15 p.m.) New Haven: 4.6 inches (as of 6:45 p.m.) Groton: 1.8 inches (as of 4:45 p.m.) UPDATE: 9 P.M. NEW MILFORD The train gates on the Bridge Street railroad crossing are currently down. The Housatonic Railroad has been notified. Please use caution and, if possible, find an alternate route, said Mayor Pete Bass. Some part of the town have seen nearly 10 inches of snow thus far. UPDATE: 8:55 P.M. power outages Eversource is reporting 196 customers out of power across the state. Danbury: 33 Deep River: 39 Haddam: 5 Hartford: Less than 5 North Stonington: Less than 5 Putnam: 117 United Illuminating is currently reporting 0 outages. UPDATE: 8:50 P.M. Winds are starting to pick up along the coast and here comes the sleet, too. UPDATE: 8:40 P.M. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE A winter weather advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. for souther Fairfield, New London, New Haven and Middlesex counties. Those areas can expected mixed precipitation with additional snow accumulations of up to 2 inches and ice accumulations of around one-tenth of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. Plan on slippery road conditions, NWS said. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. NEWTOWN - traffic State police said Interstate 84 east between Exits 9 and 10 in Newtown is shut down. Interstate 84 west was closed between Exits 10 and 9 for two hours. As of 8:38 p.m., state police said it reopened. METRO-NORTH RAILROAD Various lines of service are seeing delays because of the weather and weather-related problems that have popped up. Visit www.mta.info/mnr for updated schedule information or check the Metro-North Twitter page. DANBURY The road by public works is impassable with cars spun out all over the road, the fire departments dispatch radio indicated. STAMFORD Officer are attempting to team up with plows and sanders and get them through the traffic but stuck buses, accidents and heavy traffic is hindering operations, police said. Take it slow if you have to be on the road. If youre home stay there. ORANGE Police said the conditions of many town roads are too hazardous for driving. If you don't need to be out and on the roads, please stay home, police said. There are multiple vehicles stranded at a variety of points around town. The towns highway department is out plowing and sanding, but hazardous conditions persist. Use an abundance of caution while traveling and ask yourself prior to leaving whether your trip is absolutely necessary, police said. UPDATE: 7:20 P.M. NEW MILFORD The town continues to see heavy snow as the department of public works is out plowing the roads. Local state DOT is having mechanical difficulties with some of their plow trucks, causing delays with plows getting to town roads by the state roads. Motorists are urged to drive with caution. NORWALK Crashes and disabled vehicles throughout the city due to slick roads are keeping us busy, police said. Please stay off the roads if you dont need to be out. UPDATE: 7 P.M. FAIRFIELD Police said theyve responded to over 25 accidents and numerous disabled vehicles. Stay off the roads and allow crews to clear and treat them, the department said. Additional snow, moderate to heavy at times, this evening. Forecast to change to mix of sleet/rain around 8 p.m. METRO-NORTH RAILROAD The New Canaan Branch of service was delayed as of 6:40 p.m. because of a car on the tracks near the New Canaan station. Shortly before 7 p.m., the car was removed. UPDATE: TRAFFIC The following areas are closed or seeing delays because of active crash sites or disabled vehicles: A truck accident on Interstate 84 west has the highway closed between Exits 39 and 38 in Farmington. Reported at 6:02 p.m. The following areas have been cleared and reopened to traffic: Route 15 north is closed between Exits 35 and 36 in Stamford because of many motor vehicle accidents and disabled vehicles. Reported at 5:14 p.m. CLEARED AS OF 9 P.M. A three-vehicle collision involving a tractor trailer on Interstate 95 south between Exits 32 and 31 in Stratford was reported at 5:24 p.m. The left lane is closed. CLEARED AS OF 7:50 P.M. A disabled vehicle on Interstate 95 north between Exits 8 and 9 in Stamford was reported at 5:28 p.m. The right lane is closed. CLEARED AS OF 7:50 P.M. A disabled tractor trailer on Interstate 95 north between Exits 10 and 11 in Darien has the center lane closed. Reported at 5:45 p.m. CLEARED AS OF 7:50 P.M. The ramp from Route 8 south to Interstate 95 north in Bridgeport is closed because of a disabled tractor trailer as of 6:03 p.m. CLEARED AS OF 7:50 P.M. The ramp from Route 8 south to Interstate 95 north in Bridgeport is closed because of a disabled tractor trailer as of 6:03 p.m. CLEARED AS OF 7:50 P.M. Interstate 95 north between Exits 4 and 5 in Greenwich has the left and center lanes closed for a disabled motor vehicle. Reported at 6:19 p.m. CLEARED AS OF 7:50 P.M. A one-car crash on the Milford Connector headed north has the left lane closed in Milford. Reported at 6:51 p.m. CLEARED AS OF 7:50 P.M. Route 44 west is closed at Avon Mountain in Avon because of disabled vehicles. Reported at 7:13 p.m. CLEARED AS OF 9 P.M. Interstate 84 west between exits 10 and 9 in Newtown closed due to motor vehicle crash. Reported around 7:15 p.m. State police urge motorists to avoid the area. CLEARED AS OF 9 P.M. UPDATE: 6:50 P.M. GREENWICH Major roadways in western Greenwich including King Street and Glenville Road were quickly covered as conditions became a whiteout. Parts of Glenville Road, Weaver Street and others were soon closed. The Police Department is pretty maxed out, Greenwich Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha said a couple of hours into the storm. He reported multiple accidents and disabled cars throughout town. Central Greenwich came to a halt soon after the heavy, wet snow began falling as drivers, struggling to see, slowed to a crawl. The downtown area is in complete gridlock, Warzoha said, adding the state had failed to pretreat the Post Road, for which it is responsible, making it treacherous to drive on. The slick slopes of the major artery proved too much for several cars, which slid to the curb or skidded out in-lane, causing backups that reverberated through the central district in particular. This is the first storm of the season so maybe people didnt take it seriously enough, Warzoha said. Crews were out throughout town working to make roads passable as snow continued to pour down. The Parks Department and Highway Department has everyone out there doing their thing, Warzoha said. UPDATE: 6:35 P.M. BETHEL The town has seen 4.25 inches since snow started around 4 p.m. The Office of Emergency Management for Bethel said road conditions are terrible and there have been multiple reports of spinouts in town. STAMFORD Roads are dangerous, police said. Stay home. Please. HAMDEN Hamden Hills Drive and Sherman Avenue at Whitney Avenue are currently closed to traffic because of stuck cars and accidents, Mayor Curt B. Leng said. FAIRFIELD Roads in town are slippery, the fire department warned. Units have responded to numerous accidents. DANBURY Slow going out there, said Mayor Mark Boughton. If youre in a traffic jam so are our trucks. Stay home please. WEST HARTFORD Several accidents have been reported, the department of public works said. Use caution if you must drive, DPW said. Unpredictable driving conditions on all roads and highways. Drive safe. Be safe. UPDATE: 6:30 P.M. Eversource is reporting two outages in the area of north Stamford, though it was unclear if they were directly related to the weather. One was reported at 5:08 p.m. and there are less than 5 customers without power. That outage is expected to be fixed and power restored by 7:45 p.m. The second outage was reported at 5:47 p.m. and also has less than 5 customers without power. The outage is expected to be fixed and power restored by 8:30 p.m. United Illuminating is reporting no outages. UPDATE: 5:40 P.M. NORWALK We are still experiencing an uptick with crashes, police said. Please stay off the roads if you can. UPDATE: 5:30 P.M. HAMDEN Mayor Curt B. Leng said the public works director said roads are extremely slippery. Please drive with caution and drive slowly, Leng urged. Quinnipiac University announced all shuttle service was suspended as of around 6:30 p.m. because of road conditions. The public safety team is continuing to monitor the road conditions and the suspension will be lifted once the shuttles can safely resume travel. UPDATE: 5:15 P.M. DANBURY In Danbury, where the National Weather Service said about 6 to 8 inches of snow was expected to fall, Mayor Mark Boughton said residents seemed to heed warnings about getting off the roads. People have been pretty good about getting home early, so (its) not like we normally have, Boughton said. He said many residents were able to leave work early to avoid the worst of the storm during the typical evening rush hour commute. Around 5 p.m., Boughton said about 2.5 to 3 inches of snow had already accumulated in Danbury and that the snow was still falling heavily. Theres a lot of snow coming down right now, he said. But things are going smoothly the plows are out there ... We would encourage people to stay off the roads. BRIDGEPORT As soon as the snow started, we started to get these accidents starting to pop up, said Scott Appleby, Bridgeports director of director of emergency management and homeland security. He said there have been sporadic bands of intense snowfall, but the city would see an estimated 2 inches of snow, in the worst case, Appleby said. Our biggest challenge right now has been the commute, the travel, Appleby said. UPDATE: 5:10 P.M. Ted Jankowski, director of public safety for Stamford, said the storm is worse than expected. Its going to be horrible conditions, he said, referring to rush hour as well as later in the night when snow is expected to turn to rain. He said the city saw 35 accidents in a little over an hour, from about 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jankowski said the Google Maps layout of Stamford streets was littered with bright red lines, indicating gridlock. Everything is red. Weve never seen it like this, he said. He added that the city had 50 vehicles plowing the roads, and another 10 smaller vehicles with plows clearing city sidewalks. Jankowski encouraged Stamford residents to stay off the roads. Our emergency vehicles are having a difficult time responding to traffic, he said. If you dont have to be on the roads, stay off the roads. UPDATE: 4:55 P.M. The NWS issued a wind advisory for the area from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday. Winds are expected to be between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. The winds will come later Thursday evening and last into Friday. Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees and power lines, the NWS said. Scattered power outages are expected. UPDATE: 4:50 P.M. In Bridgeport, Police Chief Armando Perez is begging people to stay off the roads. Its terrible, he said. Its sticking and its icy so people are sliding all over the place. Theyre going slow, but accidents are happening. If you dont need to be out here, dont go out. UPDATE: 4:25 P.M. Ted Jankowski, director of public safety for Stamford, said the storm is worse than expected. Its going to be horrible conditions, he said, referring to rush hour as well as later in the night when snow is expected to turn to rain. Jankowski said the city was already seeing a spike in car collisions with the weather worsening. According to Stamford police, there have been 24 accidents in the city as of 4:15 p.m. Please stay off the roads, the Stamford Police Department tweeted. Roads are dangerous. Stay home. Please. UPDATE: 4:15 P.M. Metro-North customers can expect to see weather-related delays throughout the storm. With temperatures dropping and snow falling, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is urging anyone who sees a homeless person in need of help to call 212-533-5151, or to alert a MTA officer. UPDATE 4:10 P.M. The NWS said an area of heavy snow will hit southern New London, Fairfield, Middlesex and New Haven counties Thursday evening. The area of heavy snow was spotted on radar near Columbia County, N.Y., at 3:59 p.m., moving northeast at 30 mph. In Connecticut, Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Norwalk and Danbury will see some bad weather. Visibility will drop quickly to less than a quarter of a mile in the area of heavy snow. Snowfall rates will average between 1 to 2 inches per hour. Travel will be difficult and should be avoided where possible, the NWS said. Icy roads are possible as the snow melts on the roads then quickly refreezes. UPDATE: 3:55 P.M. Snowflakes are starting to fall in Bridgeport not yet sticking to the ground, but definitely to car windshields. UPDATE: 3:45 P.M. Snow is beginning to fall in Fairfield. Remember to take it slow while driving in ice and snow, police said. UPDATE: 3 P.M. DANBURY The city issued a Level 1 snow emergency for Thursday. Danbury is estimated to get several inches, followed by sleet and freezing rain like much of the state. Driving this evening during rush hour will be dangerous, police said. Please move your car off the street and remember to shovel your sidewalk. NEW MILFORD Mayor Pete Bass is urging resident to be careful and extremely safe if they have to be on the roads at any point during the storm. Once the snow starts our DPW team will be out plowing our roads, Bass said. Please be careful when driving. BROOKFIELD No parking is allowed on any town road at any time during winter storms. Unless you really need to drive, stay off the roads during the storm so crews can clear and make them safe, police said. MILFORD The city has declared a snow emergency Thursday. Alternate side street parking will take effect at 4 p.m. Vehicles should be parked on the odd side of the street for Thursday. The ban will be lifted at 6 a.m. Off-street parking should be utilized where possible. Garbage/recycling pickup for Milford will not be affected by the storm. Regular pickup is planned for Friday. HAMDEN A parking ban goes into effect at 6 p.m. Thursday until 12 p.m. Friday. It prohibits any person from parking on any odd numbered portion of a town street or highway. Hamden PD is authorized to remove any vehicle in violation of the ordinance. Such removal will be at the expense of the owner of the vehicle. The transfer station will be closed until further notice. All fire stations and the police department front foyer are open 24/7 and can be used as warming center. Also, the Keefe Center and town libraries will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To get information on warming center, call 211. For further information, please contact Fire Chief Merwedes office at 203-407-5880 and in cases of emergency always call 911. Warming centers have been opened in town at the following locations in Hamden: -Government Center - 2750 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 -Miller Library Complex - 2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 -Whitneyville Library - 125 Carleton Street, Hamden, CT 06517 -Community Branch Library - 91 Circular Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514 -Keefe Community Center - 11 Pine Street, Hamden, CT 06514 -Police Department - 2900 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 -Fire Station 2 - 71 Circular Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514 -Fire Station 3 - 441 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden, CT 06517 -Fire Station 4 - 2372 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 -Fire Station 5 - 2993 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 -Fire Station 9 - 245 Johnson Road, Hamden, CT 06518 UPDATE: 2 P.M. The Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security said snow is expected to spread across the state starting later Thursday afternoon in Fairfield County. Please take it slow for the afternoon commute, the agency warned. SCHOOL DISMISSALS AND CANCELLATIONS: -Sacred Heart University called evening class as of 6:15 p.m. University offices will remain open. Chartwells food service will remain open. Shuttle service will be suspended as of 7 p.m. -Southern Connecticut State University will close at 4 p.m. Evening classes are canceled. Check www.southernct.edu for updates. -Housatonic Community College will close at 4 p.m. -University of Bridgeport campus and Waterbury location will close at 3:00 p.m. This includes classes and UB Clinics. Wahlstrom Library will remain open until 10 p.m. -Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury will close at 4 p.m. -Danbury schools, including Abbott Technical High School and Wooster School, will dismiss early -Bethel, early dismissal -Bridgeport, after-school activities canceled, including report card conferences and the Aquaculture Schools Angies Seafood Market. Emailed orders will be available for pickup in Friday between 3-6pm. -Milford canceled all after school activities. The YMCA after-school program is operating on its regular schedule. -Shelton, early dismissal. -Bridgeport Adult Education has canceled evening classes for Thursday -Brookfield, early dismissal -Easton, early dismissal -Fairfield, afternoon and evening activities canceled -Greenwich, afternoon and evening activities canceled -New Fairfield, early dismissal -New Haven, afternoon and evening activities canceled. -New Milford, accelerated early dismissal -Newtown, three-hour early dismissal -Region 12, canceled after-school activities -Region 15, canceled after-school and evening activities -Ridgefield, early dismissal -Shelton, after-school activities canceled -University of Connecticut is canceling classes as of 3:30 p.m. at all campuses except UConn Health. Non-essential employees are also being dismissed at that time. -Western Connecticut State University will close at 2:30 p.m. Campus and student centers will be open until 7 p.m. and the dining hall until 6:30 p.m. Last shuttle pickups are at 3:30 p.m. -Yale Peabody Museum has canceled a talk this evening wtih Todd McLeish In this series, Instagram Icon, Entrepreneur speaks with the individuals behind popular Instagram accounts to find out the secrets of their success. On a weekday at 3 a.m., Jamel Saliba sat in her parents Massachusetts home drawing a girl with wavy hair, seated in front of a vanity mirror and surrounded by makeup and perfume. The girls face was hidden, but you could see her striking high heels -- red soles a la Christian Louboutin -- pointed towards an ornate mirror. Saliba called her Vanity Girl, and she woke her mother to show her. Its beautiful -- go to sleep, Saliba remembered hearing. She decided that every year, shed create a new version of the drawing, and eventually, shed have a collection. Saliba is the woman behind Melsys Illustrations, an Instagram account (and business) with 108,000 followers and counting. Inspired by a birthday gift of a fashion illustration for her wall, shes been illustrating since 2013 -- and the hobby helped her through tough times at her full-time job at a Massachusetts-based defense company. Saliba has since turned that hobby into a full-time business, and this year, she said shes poised to make almost 14 times the salary at her former job. Entrepreneur chatted with Saliba about the risk she took to follow her dream, what a typical day looks like for her and her advice for budding Instagrammers. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. How did you get your start with illustrating and with Instagram? One year, a friend gifted me a fashion illustration for my birthday, and I thought it was cute and wanted to have more -- maybe 10 -- around my room. I thought, I cant buy all of these -- theyre way too expensive. Maybe I can draw my own. I started using it as a creative outlet because I had been working at a Massachusetts-based defense company for years, and I was miserable at my job. It wasnt for me -- I felt too creative for it, and although I always wanted to get out, I just didnt know what I wanted to do. Illustrating helped me get through the hard times at my my job. I couldnt wait to go home and draw. When I first started drawing in 2013, Instagram was still pretty new. People were just posting regular pictures on there -- they didnt use it much for business back then. I started a lifestyle account and posted my drawings, used different hashtags and tagged people. Back then, it was easier to get recognized because the algorithm was different. I started getting a lot of feedback and people asking me to create illustrations for them, and I eventually changed the account name to Melsys Illustrations. I also posted on Facebook and Pinterest, and after I saw my Instagram doing well, I opened up an Etsy shop. How did you transition from your former job to running Melsys Illustrations full time? I started off with about 500 followers when I created my lifestyle account, and it wasnt much, but when I started illustrating, people would say things like, This is so cute! and be more interactive on my posts. I think I got about 5,000 followers in a month, and from there it just kept growing and growing. I directed my followers to my Etsy shop, and I still wasnt making a lot of money, but I decided to move out of my apartment and move back home because I knew that if I left my job while I still had my apartment, I wouldnt be able to afford rent. My parents told me not to leave because it was a steady job with a great 401(k) and amazing benefits, but I told them, I need to leave. Im not happy here, and its not worth it. After I moved back in with my family in Boston, I had that cushion and felt like I could afford to do Melsys full-time. I went to my boss in November 2013 to give my two weeks notice. I got a part-time job from mid-December to May to supplement my earnings from Etsy because I needed to be able to afford my supplies, such as paper and markers. In May, I got a tent at a pop-up market in Boston. I would only go two days a week -- Saturday and Sunday -- and I made more money in those two days than I would in a week at my former job. In 2015, I applied for a pop-up spot in the Bryant Park Winter Village, and they said they loved my stuff. At that point, my Instagram had about 22,000 followers, and I feel like Instagram definitely played a role in the acceptance because it made me more reputable, and it was my online portfolio. The spot was really expensive, and to pay for it, I pulled money from my 401(k). In the end, my former job was worth it because it gave me a chunk of money that I used towards my booth. At the Winter Village, my Instagram blew up, and people from all over the world -- Italy, Switzerland, China, Dubai -- came to visit my booth. I wouldnt have been able to do it without Instagram. I know you use Instagram to get the word out about your business. How much do you make today? Ive only been open at the Winter Village for about two weeks, and in that time, weve made about $50,000. When I started my former job, I was making $48,000 a year. Every year, revenue from Melsys goes up, but we made $130,000 in 2015, $230,000 in 2016, $500,000 in 2017, and this year, were projected to hopefully make $709,000. As far as projects, Ive worked with Reebok, Bloomingdales and Randi Zuckerberg -- I did illustrations for promotional items she used to promote her new book. I gained my first partnership through Etsy, and that was a Massachusetts-based company called Graphique de France. They contacted me during my first year on Etsy and told me they loved my stuff and wanted me to be a licensed artist. I thought, What is this? I dont even know what this means. I think this is fake. I asked who their clients were, and they mentioned Marshalls, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods. I thought, This is a lie. I had a friend who was an attorney go through their licensing agreement, and she told me it was legitimate. Now, I have a whole Christmas collection with them. I also work with Hallmark, and I reached out to Hallmark Signature through an Instagram message. I told them I loved their designs and asked if they wanted to collaborate. Because of Instagram, they said yes! Take us through a typical day. This season, the Winter Village booth hours are between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., so I aim to be to open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. I wake up and take a shower, then sometimes I have to bring a bunch of the inventory to the booth because we run out of stock so fast. A couple of my employees and I bring entire IKEA bags filled with illustrations, and sometimes we have to take a dollie for a few blocks on the New York sidewalks from my apartment to Bryant Park because theres so much traffic in the morning. After that, I have an employee working there, and I go back to my office and work on filling Etsy orders and answering Instagram messages, emails, Etsy messages and texts. I can answer all of my messages and then get 40 more within a couple of minutes. Sometimes at my booth, I dont even have time to go to the bathroom or eat sometimes. Its definitely exhausting, but its exciting -- and a lot of fun, too, because its what I love to do. It doesnt really feel like a job because its become my life now, and its a way of life. Every single day is different. What advice would you give others who want to build a brand on the platform? Definitely dont get discouraged easily. I feel like now, people think, theres so many other people out there doing the same thing, or, the algorithm changed. But it doesnt matter as long as you have something unique and you use Instagram to your best ability. You can even pay for sponsored posts and build your following. Be interactive on Instagram because businesses love it. I love when people comment on my stuff, but I have to do the same in return. Know that it definitely takes a lot of time -- it took me years. You just have to be patient with it and just keep posting new content. Consistency is huge; you have to post stuff every day. See below for five of Salibas favorite posts. Meeting SJP was such a dream of mine. Shes been such an inspiration to my artwork and career. This was so fun to see at Hallmark when Melsys launched its very first collection of signature Hallmark cards. It was so fun to create my artwork in real life! It was my first time in Paris, and I had to take a photo in front of the gorgeous storefront to bring my artwork to life. I will never forget this day. It was the day I bought my very first Chanel handbag. Related: This Illustrator Is Projected to Make $700,000 This Year, and She Says She Couldn't Have Done It Without Instagram The Creator of WeRateDogs Makes Five Figures a Month By Posting Cute Canines Online. Here's How. How Two Millennials Spun Celebrities' Instagram Comments Into a Full-Time Job and 800,000 Followers Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Merging teams, products and processes is one of the most challenging efforts a company can undertake. Yet, M&A is big business. And with a failure rate of at least 50 percent, one has to wonder: If the impact of an acquisition can be so monumental, why are so many of these deals proving more troublesome than they're literally worth? Related: Why Prioritizing Company Culture Is the Key to a Successful Acquisition Despite their best efforts, many of those deals fall apart due to poor planning or a lack of understanding and care during the execution phase. Oftentimes the people structuring the deals look at the economics (an attractive, long-term client base) or the products (complementary solutions that would be more impactful together). Typically they're not looking at the people who will actually have to make the disparate products and teams (and their existing ways of operating) work together, quickly enough to be advantageous to the bottom line. In many cases it comes down to motivation -- why buy? This isn't to be confused with the age-old question of "build or buy?" Many times I see acquisitions like Slack's deal with Atlassian, in which Slack acquired HipChat and Stride to remove competition and thereby grow their own customer base. The question wasn't, "Should we integrate a feature it would take us a year to build ourselves?" The motivation was market leadership. Those acquisitions are easier to deal with in many ways: Shutter a business while migrating clients onto a similar (hopefully better) solution. Oftentimes you can back into some of the deal terms by watching how long key executives stay on at their new parent (did they actually love the business, or stay until the day the earn-out ended?). In other cases, acquisitions are truly about obtaining individuals' skills and the technology for the long term, encouraging business growth by transforming it into one that's even better and continues to have the bench required to innovate over time. The technology and talent acquired -- especially in high tech -- are the most valuable assets secured from an integration. That's not to say this school of thought doesn't apply to software deals, but the challenges are different. For example, computer engineers and software developers typically have a broader skill set that offers more flexibility to transfer their skills into new businesses. But, for people who are trained in a more specialized industry like Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) technology -- full disclosure, I run a hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology company -- their skill set and experience is so specific that their value is high in one particular arena, but it's much harder to transfer. Related: Don't Even Think 'Merger' Without Taking These 5 Steps First Having just recently completed the acquisition of American Fuel Cell, a premier developer of MEA technology, I've been reminded of some key ways high tech acquisitions can pay off. And although we're only a couple of months into that integration cycle, it's already showing signs of success with the launch of our first product born from both our teams' ingenuity. With decades of experience leading acquisitions, I've learned that it's essential to keep the technology and talent at the forefront of all decisions. Use what you buy. When considering an acquisition, be surgical about it, pay attention to the minutia and think strategically about the impact each component will have on the future of your business. Will acquiring a vertical company that integrates easily with your business enable the organization to grow and expand most effectively? The goal should be to maximize what you've paid for -- technology, data, people. From the start, identify those features that made the business attractive in the first place and incorporate every one of them into your integration plan. If something's getting left behind, take the time to understand why -- don't let it go to waste. It takes a lot of work to pull these off well. Onboard quickly. Each team member brought on through an acquisition, from sales to engineering to marketing, brings with them a level of expertise, whether that's through a deep understanding of the customer relationships, the technology or knowing the best way to target prospects. Merging that institutional knowledge into your existing teams is arguably more essential than the technical integrations; it ensures defenses remain low and collaboration remains high (greater productivity and creativity). In my experience, the ability to start the integration and design process almost immediately empowered our business to start production and deploy new product offerings within the same year as the acquisition -- a testament to the people collaborating and figuring out how to make the tech work -- together. Furthermore, diversity among teams fosters an environment that inspires unique products. When we acquired ReliOn, an HFC company focused on the backup power market, we were able to bring new technical experience in-house, which helped us expand into other industries such as railway and utility telecom. Related: How to Make a Successful Acquisition to Grow Your Company Set hard, yet achievable goals. Goal setting is proven to have a positive impact; according to McKinsey, 91 percent of companies that have effective performance management systems say that employee goals are linked to business priorities. Goals have the power to encourage and motivate people, whether they're employees, investors or the board of directors. Give your team challenging, yet achievable targets to help push them in the right direction and encourage them to continue performing even when they're dealing with new people and initially unfamiliar technologies or processes. Motivate and inspire new team members. It can be challenging for employees who transition to a new business via an acquisition, often leaving them feeling like the new kid transferring into high school. While some elements might be similar, there is a lot of change as well, which can make it easy to lose motivation. It's essential to the success of an acquisition, really the business as a whole, to keep these employees happy. Research from 5 Dynamics says that happy employees are 20 percent more productive than unhappy employees. There are many ways to drive motivation, including team activities and goal setting. Find a mixture that works for your business and employees -- old and new -- and dedicate time to ensuring they feel fulfilled. Acquisitions are hard. One thing is certain: The people of the acquired organization have spent time and energy building and growing something they believe in and the technology they've created ignited something great that captured your interest. Understand that value, encourage that passion and build something even stronger together. Related: When Acquiring a Company, Don't Forget About the People Your Cannabis Company Was Acquired. Now What? Instagram, Oculus, WhatsApp and More: Here's How Things Panned Out for 5 Founders Who Sold to Facebook Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved In Illinois, the landscape surrounding cannabis is changing. The state launched its medical marijuana program three years ago, and for most of that time patients had to have one of about 40 conditions, such as cancer or AIDS, to qualify. Chronic pain was not included. But this summer, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation that allows people prescribed opioids to use medical marijuana, a change that is expected to take full effect early next year. Even before Rauner signed the law, Illinois growers began to expand as more patients gained access to weed. There are currently more than 48,000 qualified patients, nearly double the number from a year ago. Drandakis and three friends started the company in Athens in 2011 as a taxi-finding app during Greece's debt crisis. At first, they had to recruit drivers by handing out leaflets on the street. But the business took off once drivers saw it actually helped them get more passengers. Now, about a third of the city's 3.1 million people use the service, according to Drandakis. EAST BLOOMFIELD, NY -- Brooklyn's Other Half Brewing Co. is still working on its plan to open an Upstate New York brewhouse and tap room near Canandaigua in the Finger Lakes. In the meantime, it's using the location on Routes 5 and 20 in East Bloomfield for one of its periodic releases of limited-supply, and much sought-after, beers. Other Half releases cans of its double dry-hopped Mosaic Dream and Cheddar India pale ales from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the former Nedloh Brewing Co. brewery at 6621 Routes 5 and 20. Sales will continue Saturday if the beer doesn't sell out Friday., Other Half said in an Instagram post. The beers are $20 per 4-pack, with a one case (24 can) limit per person. These are the kinds of beers that fans of breweries like Other Half line up for hours to buy. The popularity of such pop-up can releases in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo in recent years prompted Other Half to search for its own home in Upstate New York. In July, Other Half's owners announced they would buy the former Nedloh Brewing Co. and turn it into Other Half Rochester. The brewery and tasting room is still under construction. Nedloh closed in the fall of 2017, after just four years in business. Other Half is also just four years old, but has built a big reputation, expecially among fans of hazy, dry-hopped and imperial (strong) IPAs. Many of these beers have a relatively short shelf life, which is another reason fans line up to snag them. Other Half, by the way, is warning customers not to drink the beers on site in East Bloomfield this weekend., Among other reason, the locations does not yet have working bathrooms. This won't be the only chance Upstaters have to try some Other Half this weekend. The brewery will pour samples Saturday at the New York Craft Brewers Festival at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse. Other Half beers are also available this week at Now & Later, a bottle shop/tap room in Syracuse's Tipperary Hill neighborhood. Here's Other Half's Instagram post on the can release in East Bloomfield: Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. NEW HAVEN Keeping children and vulnerable older adults safe has become a priority for religious congregations because of the sexual abuse scandals that hit the Roman Catholic Church especially hard but affected other religious communities, as well. On Saturday, Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Ave., will hold safe-church training for those who work with children and the elderly, including religious education teachers and youth ministers. If theres a policy in place, there will either be a requirement or there will be an expectation for what kinds of people are to be in ministry with children and youth, said the Rev. Tim Keyl, pastor of Bethesda Lutheran. What numbers should be there, gender mixes there should be. Among the concepts taught are making sure theres more than one adult who participates with transportation and meetings with youth, Keyl said. Churches and other parish buildings also have been retrofitted so adults and children can be seen at all times. In my time weve added windows to doors, Keyl said. The presenter Saturday will be the Rev. William Barter, a licensed forensic child psychologist, who trains clergy, staff and volunteers for the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States, with about 4 million members. Barter said clergy have specialized boundaries training, which he said focuses on sexual and financial boundaries and being aware of power dynamics of ministry. For lay staff and volunteers, safe church is really geared toward safety for children and seniors, the two most vulnerable populations in the church, Barter said. He said that the biggest risk among the elderly is self-neglect. For nonclergy members, the training is not required; the synods and national church bodies cannot set policy for parishes, Barter said. In the New England Synod, the Lutherans dont require that, he said. We really cant force them to do it, but church insurance companies are requiring them to do it. Most parishes do comply, he said. When a volunteer comes forth in a church, we have certain guidelines, Barter said. The volunteer must be a member of the parish for six months, undergo a criminal background check, offer references and fill out an application. Any of our churches that have what we call a safe church policy should include background checks, he said. The safe church policy of a church depends on a lot of things, for example the size of the congregation, the size of the staff, Barter said. No adult is ever alone with kids. Nobody ever drives kids alone in a car. The volunteer must be at least 25 years old and have a copy of their drivers license on file. Nothing is supposed to happen behind closed doors. No child is unsupervised in a space, Barter said. We have really high compliance, amazingly so, he said. Almost all of our current parishes have been through the boundaries training. Also, any adult in a classroom is a mandated reporter of suspected abuse, Barter said. Having such policies protects both children and the adults who care for them, Barter said. We know we dont always catch everyone who might be harmful to children. The response is always surprise. People dont always expect it. Theres really no psychological profile of a sexual abuser. The safe church policies really are the firewall that I hammer home to people. Dont make any exceptions to the policies, because, in most churches where the persons were harmed, someone made an exception, he said. Once youve set the policies you have to do them. False accusations are very, very, very rare. We know that in the forensic field. Additional steps taken are to publicly announce to the congregation when a registered sex offender wants to join the parish and to make sure hes never at a youth event or on the property alone. Its not just a Catholic issue, Barter said. Its just a bigger church and the coverup of all those years of abuse is coming back to haunt them. I think now a Catholic church is a safe place to be a kid. Erin Neil, director of safe environments for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, has been making sure that is the case since the diocese started using the Virtus program in 2003. Our diocese requires something called Protecting Gods Children, Neil, a licensed social worker, said. All priests, deacons, seminarians, lay employees anyone who is a volunteer in our diocese, whether you work with youth or not is required to go through Virtus training and undergo a background check. Virtus includes videos that include interviews with abuse survivors. Those who work directly with children must be recertified every five years and all other volunteers and even independent contractors must undergo retraining every 10 years. The training is required if youre going to paint lines in our driveway, [if] youre going to be fixing our roof, so that everyone will recognize signs of potential harm. Neil said clergy, staff and volunteers must be at all times appropriate, at all times avoiding physical contact that could be misconstrued. Handshakes and high-fives are OK, but hugs and other forms of affection are forbidden. We do that not only to ensure the safety of the children but of the staff and volunteers, Neil said. We actually educate adults of what are grooming behaviors in sexual predators so they can spot the signs early and stop abuse before it happens, she said. Such behaviors include wrestling, tickling, bending the rules with kids, allowing [them] to engage in activity that their parents wouldnt allow and sharing secrets, she said. The children in the dioceses schools are also taught at an early age what is appropriate behavior through the Child Lures Prevention program called Think First & Stay Safe, Neil said. According to the diocesan website, more than 130,000 adults and children have been trained to recognize and report abuse and neglect since 2003 and an average 5,500 adults are trained each year. Also, in October, Bishop Frank Caggiano named retired Superior Court Judge Robert L. Holzberg as counsel and lead investigator for the dioceses Clerical Sexual Abuse Accountability Investigation being conducted for the Diocese of Bridgeport, according to the diocesan website. Holzberg, who is expected to complete his work in spring 2019, will have complete and unrestricted access to all Diocesan files, records and archives dating from 1953, when the Diocese was founded, to the present, and the opportunity to interview Diocesan clergy and administrators with information relevant to his inquiry, the website states. In the Archdiocese of Hartford, Kathleen D. Nowosadko, victim assistance coordinator for the Office of Safe Environment, declined to comment on the archdioceses safe environment program but referred to Archbishop Leonard Blairs letters and other materials on the archdioceses website, https://promise.archdioceseofhartford.org, under Our Promise to Protect. The safe church training at Bethesda Lutheran Church will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, followed by lunch. A $10 donation is asked to cover the cost of lunch. RSVP to Anne-Marie Begin or Maureen Anderson at administrator@bethesdanewhaven.org or 203-787-2346. SEYMOUR A Valley icon and former, longtime vice president of Griffin Hospital, William C. Powanda, died this week at 78. Powanda, a Seymour resident, leaves his wife of 47 years, Glynis, along with his two sons and several grandchildren. Often claiming he was born in his office at Griffin, Powanda enjoyed a nearly 40-year career at the hospital before retiring in 2013. A 1957 graduate of Ansonia High School and an Army veteran, Powanda leaves behind a legendary legacy in his beloved Valley, according to Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell. Bill was a remarkable man whose love affair with the Valley inspired all of us to do more for our community, said Purcell. His ability to forge regional alliances is legendary, and his spirit will live on in so many organizations that he founded. As a senior executive at Griffin Hospital and community leader extraordinaire, Bill, in the words of author and motivational speaker Sir Ken Robinson, clearly had found his element, the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. He will be sorely missed. Purcell noted Powanda about two months prior to his death penned a poignant piece in response to Connecticut Magazines Valley Issue published earlier this year, tracing the history of the Valleys remarkable growth and many successes. Right up to the end, Bill was fighting to protect and enhance the image of his beloved Valley, Purcell added. Purcell said Powanda will long be remembered for being a catalyst for many collaborative initiatives that made the Valley a better place, including receiving the All-America City Award, where a delegation of Valley leaders, including Purcell who just came onboard to the chamber in 2000, traveled to Louisville to bring home this coveted prize. Bill was a wonderful friend and colleague, said Griffin President/CEO Patrick Charmel. After nearly four decades of service Bill was viewed as the patriarch of the Griffin Hospital family which revered him for his many talents, unrestrained optimism, generous spirit and wise counsel. His contribution to the success of our organization was wide ranging. His positive impact extended far beyond the walls of the hospital where he lead many collaborative efforts to strengthen the social fabric of our community, improve community health and well-being and increase community pride. Powanda also helped launched the Valley Council of Health & Human Service Organizations, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next month, and the Healthy Valley initiative, which in 1999 caught the attention of former President George H.W. Bush, who designated it one of nations Points of Light. Powanda met six U.S. presidents, including Ford, Carter, Reagan, G.H. Bush, Clinton and G.W. Bush. A former officer/volunteer with Seymours Citizens Engine Co. and 17th District state senator in the 1970s, Powanda began his career at Griffin in 1975 and served as vice president until he retired in 2013. Powanda was proud to boast that Griffin was named by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies To Work For for 10 consecutive years and was named by Health Leaders magazine as having The Top Leadership Team in Healthcare in the country. FormerValley United Way Executive Director Jack Walsh worked alongside Powanda on many committees and was proud to make many memories with his friend. I think winning the All America City award in Louisville in 2000 was one of the best, said Walsh. It was Bills idea from the very beginning to go after the award which was a culmination of much of the work done during the previous decade including the Valley Council and the Healthy Valley project. Walsh recalled the pure joy Powanda felt when the Valley was announced as a finalist during a minor league game in Louisville, as he swung a bat over his head and ran back into the crowd. He always knew that the Valley is a very special place and at that moment he had national validation that he was right. Walsh added. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Church of the Assumption in Ansonia at noon Saturday with military honors. Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Griffin Hospital Development Fund, 130 Division St., Derby, CT 06418. jean.sos@snet.net iStock/Thinkstock(BARABOO, Wis.) -- A Wisconsin school district and local police are investigating a photo of a group of mostly white high school boys giving what appears to be the Nazi salute after it drew strong backlash on social media. The image of students in the Baraboo School District was posted on the @GoBaraboo parody account on Sunday. The tweet has since been taken down, but police and school officials promised to investigate. The photo in question is from last spring, according to District Superintendent Lori Mueller. "The school district is investigating this situation and is working with parents, staff and local authorities," Mueller said in a statement to students and parents. "If the gesture is what it appears to be, the district will pursue any and all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to address the issue." In a separate tweet posted on Monday, Mueller wrote, "The photo posted under the hashtag is not reflective of the educational values and beliefs of the School District of Baraboo." Baraboo police also tweeted that they are assisting the district's investigation since being made aware of a "controversial photo of a group of high school students." The photo drew widespread disapproval, including from Wisconsin Gov.-elect Tony Evers and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland. "This is why every single day we work hard to educate. We need to explain what is the danger of hateful ideology rising. Auschwitz with its gas chambers was at the very end of the long process of normalizing and accommodating hatred," the Auschwitz Memorial tweeted. Not all the students in the photo participated in the gesture. Jordan Blue, a student in the top right of the photo whose arms remain at his sides, said in a statement that the photo was taken as students gathered at the Sauk County Courthouse for professional prom photos and that he "couldn't leave the photo as it was taken within five seconds." The photographer told us to raise our hands kind of in a way, and I knew at that point that some my classmates are very immature," he said in a separate interview. "So didnt want to do that, and I saw what was happening and I felt so upset. Jonathan Schieber, a senior who appears in the photo, told ABC News there was no discussion of any racist aspect to the photo when it was taken. It was only after the photo garnered social media attention over the weekend that he started to hear about it. Schieber, who is black, was singled out due to his race, though he had both arms at his side in the photo. "Somebody had made a meme or something, saying, 'We even got the black kid to throw it up,'" Schieber told ABC News. "I couldn't go nowhere without people being like, 'Are you that kid from the picture?' Everybody was sharing it, talking about racial profiling. I went to school on Monday and people were trying to take pictures with me -- you're going viral, all that stuff." "I left school because I was not having it," he added. Wheel Memories posted thumbnails of several photos from the shoot on its website in the spring, including the one in question. The photos have since been removed and the agency wrote on its site in a message that it blames "jerks" and online negativity. "It is too bad that there are those in society who can and do take the time to be jerks; knowingly and willingly to be jerks! The internet can be a wonderful tool but for some there is an overwhelming urge to destroy. The destruction may not be physical but instead it can be bullying that is intellectual or emotional," the photo agency wrote on its website. "To anyone that was hurt I sincerely apologize," the agency said. "To those who have harmed them, we as society often ignore them I have chosen not to do that. YOU ARE JERKS! Grow up! Be kind, Be gentle, Be civil!" ABC News has reached out to several other students in the photo who were identified through social media. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. NEW HAVEN After years of litigation, most viewed as nuisance suits filed to tie up a competing developer, the PMC Property Group of Philadelphia and the city of New Haven have come to a cooperative agreement. Mayor Toni Harp Thursday, in a statement, said the deal is expected to create a positive and productive ongoing relationship. The majority of the suits were directed at Spinnaker Real Estate Partners, which years ago got city approval to build 223 apartments at the former Comcast building on Chapel Street and on a lot adjacent to the Strouse Adler apartments, commonly known as the Smoothie Building, at 78 Olive St., which is owned by PMC. Spinnaker won all of those legal challenges and was fighting one more appeal when the city announced the agreement. PMC also had sued developer Noel Petra and David Adam Realty to tie up their proposal to build 299 apartments on Union Street. Petra eventually sold that property to New York developers Epimoni and Adam America, who are expected to start the project next month. Spinnaker has had to delay the project proposed for Chapel and Olive streets, but the larger Audubon Square development on State, Grove, Orange and Audubon streets is well underway. The one suit against the city and the Water Pollution Control Authority involved New Havens sewer and stormwater systems, which PMC blamed for backups into properties it owns on Crown Street. In its statement, the city said it will improve and upgrade the ventilation system and waste managment operations in the Chapel Square underground tunnel. Spinnaker can celebrate not only the end of the suits, but also the second and third phases of Audubon Square having been appproved by the City Plan Commission Wednesday night. Part of the deal with PMC involves landscaping and site improvements at the Strouse Adler apartment complex, as well as landscaping around 900 Chapel St., also owned by PMC, which is adding almost three-dozen more housing units at that site. Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson said the mayor wanted to reach a consensus based on honesty and transparency with PMC, a major investor here whose suits might have benefitted the company in the short term, but not in the long run. Nemerson said he invited Ron Caplan, the president of PMC Property Group, to come to New Haven and they had a long lunch to talk things out. He said the city will look at the lighting and sidewalks at 900 Chapel St, as well as push to lease the ground floor retail spaces there. Nemerson said there might have been slights going back many years that were part of the reason for the companys bad relationship with the city. He said Caplan ended up involved in New Haven real estate after investments by a protege, David Nyberg, went bad. Im very pleased Mr. Caplan has agreed to permanently withdraw two lawsuits that impact New Haven: one involving Spinnaker Real Estate Partners market rate apartment project at the corner of Chapel and Olive Streets, and the other challenging the adequacy of the citys sewer and storm water systems, administered by the City of New Haven and the Water Pollution Control Authority, Harp said in a release. These lawsuits have been expensive to defend and threatened to persist for years. We got off on the wrong foot with New Haven a while ago, but I am delighted that Mayor Harp and I could reset our relationship and address some of our concerns, Caplan said, in the statement. We are looking forward to remaining a great partner with the City, maintaining and improving our substantial investments in the City, and even looking at new development opportunities. mary.oleary@ hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 NEW HAVEN Visitors looking to stay in New Haven in the near future could have the choice of bedding down in the famous Marcel Breurer Modernist building on Sargent Drive, but it took a heated discussion Wednesday before a vote was taken to allow conversion to a hotel. Portraits of immigrants go up around New Haven as part of art installation The debate was over jurisdiction and why an assertion from aldermanic leadership that it needed to first deal with the reuse of the building something that for two months failed to generate a legal review the City Plan Commission ultimately voted 3 in favor of the new use, one against and one abstaining. Attorney James Segaloff represented the owner of the property, Ikea , the Swedish furniture store, which sought to get all the necessary site plan approvals for the conversion in place so it would be an attractive investment for an interested hotel operator. Segaloff said they had a high-end hoteliere who wants to run a 165-room hotel in the building, but he could not talk about that at this time. The potential delay in the approval Wednesday had all the hallmarks of the last fight involving a hotel plan before the commission, when an upgrade of the Duncan Hotel stalled over pressure to unionize the staff there that came from persons affiliated with UniteHERE. It eventually was approved. The application for the reuse of the striking architectural structure, known locally as the Pirelli building, was signed off by the commission staff as having met all the necessary criteria. The Ikea property was developed as a Planned Development District in 2002 and it has always been assumed that the Pirelli building would be put to a new use. A hotel reuse was among the potential conversions contained in the PDD. The concrete Breurer tower originally was built as the headquarters for the Pirelli Tire Co., before the site was sold to Ikea. The proposal first was submitted to City Plan in early September, but approval was put off over extensive discussions about storm drainage and parking. By this point, a vote had to be taken on the plan within about a week, according to zoning law, unless the developer requested a time extension. It would be approved automatically without an extension, if there was no vote. An angry Segaloff told the commission repeatedly over the hour that it should not abdicate its jurisdiction over this detailed site plan approval to alders, but there was concern from some members that it not generate a legal battle. The approval of the PDD in 2002 specifically allows for a hotel. .... I dont get this. It is all very clear. We have been here for two or three months; we have had four or five meetings with site plan review. We have three of our people here one came in from New York. We are ready to go and it is a clear black-and-white item, the frustrated attorney said. Seven leaders of the aldermanic board wrote to Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson Sept. 17 asking that the use change for the Pirelli building be sent to that body. As you know the practice is for changes to current uses in a PDD to be communicated to the Board of Alders so that it many get proper consideration, they wrote. The letter says it was copied to commission Chairman Edward Mattison, but he said he never got it. Segaloff said this turn of events was a complete surprise. Acting City Plan Executive Director Michael Piscitelli, after the meeting, said the letter did go to the corporation counsels office, but there was no ruling. I think there was a lot of anticipation that if we could just get it resolved ... it was sort of a timing thing. Piscitelli, when asked by Mattison earlier in the meeting, if they could discuss the plan, even if they never took a vote, said they could as a lot of people had come to the meeting. But it is not something the city is prepared to recommend that you vote on tonight, Piscitelli said. He said the technical review was done, but in terms of where the city is as a corporate body, it is going to take a little bit more time to sort that out. He offered that he did not think it was as big a dispute as it is being played tonight. I dont mean to be obtuse here, but the idea that you cant vote on it. What is the issue that the board is grappling with? Some internal amorphous issue? There is no issue, Segaloff said. What is behind this? What is this all about? What is it really about? another attorney asked from the audience. Mattison said in other instances, if there was an internal city disagreement, we want it resolved before we vote on it. We are not going to do it, he pledged at that point, but admitted he was not sure what the issue was. Anne Hartjen, senior project manager on the City Plan staff, commented: I will say, and I will get in trouble for saying this, we would not have brought in a report if we did not feel it had met the applicable requirements. I have heard absolutely no rebuttal to the principle that the hotel is an acceptable use under the zoning laws, Segaloffs partner advised the commission. Your obligations are clearly set forth, Segaloff said. He added that detailed plans do not go to the alders. If you walk away from this on some theory that it has got to go back to the alders to review it, then I think you have really abrogated your rights as a City Plan Commission, Segaloff said. Commission member Leslie Radcliff led the commission out of its dilemma by making a motion to approve the plan based on the expertise of the staff versus the unsubstantiated assertion by aldermanic leaders as to their purview over the matter. Commission members Jonathan Wharton and Mattison, in the end, also voted to approve the plan; Elias Estabrook voted against it and Alder Adam Marchand, D-25, abstained. Marchand and Estabrook both have connections to UniteHERE. Marchand at the beginning of the discussion said there was no determination whether the application required a major amendment to the PDD and it was most prudent to keep it tabled. Earlier in the evening, Mattison, Radcliff and Wharton voted to allow the discussion on the site plan to occur by voting to take the hotel plan off the table. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 NEW HAVEN A relic of St. John Vianney, known as an ideal priest, will be venerated at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church Sunday in a solemn vigil for purification from the sexual abuse scandals that have shaken the Church, according to a press release from the Knights of Columbus. The vigil venerating the saints incorrupt heart begins a national Heart of a Priest relic tour initiated by the Knights. It will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the church at 5 Hillhouse Ave. and will be preceded by prayer services at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, led by St. Marys priests. The Knights of Columbus laymen, priests and chaplains together will have an important role to play in rebuilding the Church, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson wrote in an Aug. 21 letter to K of C chaplains and other members who minister to those who have been sexually abused. We must commit the Knights of Columbus to work for repentance, reform and rebuilding of the Church. The vigil will be led by the Rev. Patrice Chocholski, rector of the Shrine of Ars, France, and St. Jean Vianneys successor as Cure dArs, or pastor of the church in Ars, a town that had mostly lost its faith but was converted by Vianney, the release said. Chocholski will lead reflections at 7, 8 and 9 p.m., focusing on personal sanctification by all Catholics. The relic, which will be visible in its reliquary, will then be on view at the Knights of Columbus Museum, 1 State St., through Nov. 23 (the museum will be closed on Thanksgiving). Chocholski will give a lecture there at 6 p.m. Monday. Anderson said St. John Vianney is an example to help the church recover from the abuse scandals. The possibility of a tour was offered to us by the Shrine at Ars some months before the recent scandal, he said in the release. We now welcome as providential this opportunity to invoke the intercession of the patron of parish priests, whose holiness and integrity is a singular model for clergy. St. John Vianney was born in France in 1786, after the French Revolution when churches were attacked and priests were martyred. He led the parish in Ars, a small farming community, and was famous for hearing confessions for up to 18 hours a day as people came to see him from across Europe, the release said. He died in 1859 and his life has been held up as a model for priestly ministry. The relic is kept at the Shrine of St. John Vianney in Ars. In Catholic tradition, neither the relic nor the saint is worshiped but they are venerated as holy. The Knights of Columbus, based in New Haven, was founded at St. Mary in 1882 and now has 1.9 million members and operates an insurance company. Editors note: This story was edited to add Supreme Knight Carl Andersons first name and title. NEW HAVEN Police in Washington, D.C., have closed their investigation into an allegation that suspended Yale student Saifullah Khan sexually assaulted two people, and authorities will not pursue charges against him, Khans attorney said Wednesday. After receiving the news, Khan quickly wrote a letter to Yale College Dean Marvin Chun, asking him to lift the emergency suspension the university imposed against him when the allegations were published in the Yale Daily News. There was no immediate response when the New Haven Register asked a university spokesman for comment. But Norm Pattis, Khans attorney, said: The Yale Daily News story about the so-called assault in D.C. was ridiculous and defamatory. The D.C. police department sees that. Why cant Yale? Mr. Khan should be re-admitted forthwith. Hes not a threat to anyone, and Yale knows it. In his letter to Pattis, Detective Darryl Richmond wrote: The Metropolitan Police Departments Sexual Assault Unit has closed its investigation of a sexual offense in which your client, Saifullah Khan was a suspect and Jonathan Andrews is the complainant. The said assault was reported to this unit on Aug. 29 and it was closed on Nov. 13. Pattis also provided to the New Haven Register a copy of Khans letter to Chun. Khan wrote: As you might be aware, there are no charges against me in any jurisdiction and certainly Yale has no jurisdiction over claims outside the university premises. According to the rules stated in your own suspension letter, which I find fault with regardless, the matter has been resolved. Khan concluded the letter: As such, I would request that you lift the emergency suspension immediately so that I can get back on track for school. Please do what America stands for and what Yale stands for. I believe in both. In his suspension letter, sent to Khan in October after the Yale Daily News reported the allegations, Chun wrote: An emergency suspension may be imposed when it appears necessary for your physical and emotional safety and well-being and/or the safety and well-being of the university community. Chun told Khan he was being suspended based on allegations that you engaged in violent behavior toward Jon Andrews and another person. After that suspension, Pattis filed a motion in Superior Court in New Haven seeking an order to permit Khan to return to classes. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 8. Patttis has acknowledged too much time has elapsed for Khan to resume the courses he had begun in September. But Pattis is hoping the judge will reinstate Khan for the next semester, which begins in late January. Khan, 25, a Yale senior, has been suspended twice. The first suspension happened after another Yale student alleged Khan had sexually assaulted her in her dormitory in the early-morning hours of Nov. 1, 2015, after an off-campus Halloween party and a concert at Yales Woolsey Hall. A New Haven Superior Court jury last March found him not guilty of sexual assault in the first, second, third and fourth degrees. Khan was allowed to resume his studies in September because the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct had not ruled on whether he was guilty of such misconduct. The Yale Daily News story of Oct. 5 reported new sexual assault allegations, this time by Andrews, who is not a Yale student. Andrews said he and Khan had entered into a romantic relationship. Andrews alleged that Khan sexually assaulted him and a woman during a three-way sexual encounter in Washington, D.C., last June. Andrews also alleged that Khan attacked him two other times, hitting him across the face and suffocating him. Khan and Pattis denied those allegations. Meanwhile, under an agreement by Yale representatives and Khan, he is undergoing a psychiatric examination by an independent expert. The exam was scheduled after a Yale official reported Khan told her he was contemplating suicide. Pattis has said Khan is not suicidal but may have talked about taking his own life because he is under so much stress from being ostracized on campus. randall.beach@hearstmediact.com Just how much food can you stuff into a Jeep or a police cruiser? Thats what both Ansonia and Derby police want to find out this weekend, when each department holds their annual food drive to help stock the shelves of local food banks. In Ansonia, police will be conducting their Stuff-a-Jeep food drive from noon to 6 p.m. Friday outside Stop & Shop,100 Division St. Along with Fitzpatricks car dealership and Stop &and Shop, police will be accepting donations of nonperishable food items and cash. The drive benefits the local food banks of the Birmingham Health Group, Christ Church and Assumption Church. We had overwhelming support from the community in the past several years, said Ansonia Police Chief Kevin Hale. We filled several Jeeps with food and we collected quite a bit in terms of cash donations, which we converted into gift cards. Hale said the department is happy to lend a helping hand. It is important for police offices and the public to join together to help those who are less fortunate and who may be struggling, especially during the holidays, Hale said. We are all humans and we all have a responsibility to help whenever we can. In neighboring Derby, the Derby Police Departments Auxiliary Police will hold its annual Stuff-a-Cruiser food drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Shoprite, 49 Pershing Drive. In years past, the drive has raised more than $25,000 in nonperishable food items, and last year alone, 18 large SUVs were jam-packed with food the community donated, according to Auxiliary Lt. Chris Pizzi, event organizer. Pizzi said the Stuff-a-Cruiser drive started in 2016 as an opportunity to provide additional support to St. Vincent de Paul Societys thrift shop and food banks mission to feed those in need in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. The first year collecting donations for St. Vincent de Paul we had a goal of filling just four cruisers full of food, Pizzi said. We began at 9 a.m., and by early afternoon the community had shattered our goal. We ended up with thirteen-and-a-half cruisers full of food valued at about $15,000. It was a truly amazing feeling of joy to turn all that food over to the food bank. Derby Police Lt. Justin Stanko credited Pizzi with spearheading the annual drive. Anytime there is an opportunity to get involved with the community is a positive thing, said Stanko. When it is for such an important and worthy cause like truly helping those in need, it is the kind of service that can truly bond a community. Derby Police Auxiliary Lieutenant Chris Pizzi deserves all the credit for organizing this great event. Pizzi said the drive is a great thing for the community. The Derby Auxiliary Police unit is dedicated to neighbors helping neighbors, said Pizzi. Whether on patrol, at city events or in times of emergency, we are here to support the Derby Police Department and the citizens of Derby. We are happy to do our part in making Derby a great place to live and work. jean.sos@snet.net What you need to know This content is sold by Nintendo of Europe GmbH. The payment will be made with Nintendo eShop funds usable through the Nintendo Account used to complete the purchase. 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Depending on the system/console/hardware model you own and your use of it, an additional storage device may be required to download software from Nintendo eShop. Please visit our Support section for more information. In the case of games that use cloud streaming technology, only the free launcher application can be downloaded. Please make sure you have enough storage to complete the download. The details of the offer are displayed based on the country settings of your Nintendo Account. The Nintendo Account Agreement applies to the purchase of this content. The use of an unauthorised device or software that enables technical modification of the Nintendo console or software may render this game unplayable. This product contains technological protection measures. A woman was seriously injured when her car struck the back of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 287 in Bergen County on Thursday morning. The crash took place on southbound near milepost 65 in Mahwah at around 6:40 a.m., State Police said. She was flown to Hackensack University Medical Center, according to Trooper Alejandro Goez. Her age and hometown were not available. There were no passengers in her vehicle and the driver of the truck was not hurt. The right lane remains closed as of 10 a.m., as State Police investigate the cause of the crash. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. UPDATE: GoFundMe campaign was a complete lie from the very start, prosecutor says The homeless veteran and the couple who started the controversial GoFundMe fundraiser supposedly to raise money for him have been charged in the alleged scheme. The couple, Mark D'Amico and Katelyn McClure, was charged Wednesday with theft by deception over $75,000 and conspiracy, according to court records. Their charges are not a surprise, as investigators raided their home in September and their attorney said in a court filing that he expected them to be indicted. But Johnny Bobbitt, who had previously claimed he was the victim of a scheme by the couple to keep the money raised for him, is now charged in the alleged con with them. Bobbitt, 35, was taken into custody in Philadelphia, jail officials said. Officials did not release what he was charged with. Bobbitt arrived at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia just after midnight Thursday, said Shawn Hawes, a spokeswoman for the city prisons. Bail was set at $50,000, she said. An employee at the Burlington County Jail who answered the phone Thursday morning confirmed D'Amico had been detained and released. However, there is no record that McClure was ever booked at a jail, which would be the case if she was issued a summons. The charges were filed in municipal court in Florence Township, where the couple live, but will be transferred to superior court. Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina plans to announce an update in the investigation during a press conference Thursday afternoon at the county's administration building. NBC10 reported Wednesday night that the three are being charged because they allegedly fabricated the entire story to raise money. The trio went viral last Thanksgiving in a feel-good GoFundMe campaign, after Bobbitt, a homeless veteran, reportedly spent his last $20 on gas for McClure when she was stranded along I-95 in Philadelphia. She started the campaign seeking to raise around $10,000, hopefully enough to get Bobbitt a used truck and a few months rent in an apartment while he got back on his feet. But donors fueled by the holiday spirit ended up contributing just over $400,000 to the account. In the weeks that followed, it looked like Bobbitt's story might get a happy ending. It was not immediately clear Thursday morning if McClure had been booked as well. Thursday's update comes after months of inquiries into the whereabouts of the money. Late this summer, Bobbitt claimed that he had been unable to access most of the money, and had to ask McClure and D'Amico for cash. He also accused the couple of spending it on lavish vacations and a BMW. They have denied the allegations, saying they spent their own money on the luxuries. They did acknowledge withholding it from Bobbitt, saying he had an ongoing drug problem and blown through some $25,000 in just 13 days. Bobbitt sued for the remainder of the cash, but his attorneys soon discovered there was no money left. GoFundMe promised Bobbitt would get the cash he was owed, but was unable to provide updates on its distribution when asked several times over the past two months when he would see the cash. A spokesman for GoFundMe did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning. NJ Advance Media reporter Rebecca Everett contributed to this report. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The story seemed too good to be true. The feel-good story about a New Jersey couple who started a GoFundMe campaign to help a homeless veteran who had helped a stranded driver was "predicated on a lie," Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced Thursday. All three are charged with theft by deception over $75,000 and conspiracy. In fact, the couple from Florence Township, Katelyn McClure and Mark D'Amico, met Johnny Bobbitt about a month before they cooked up the plan. The couple frequented the Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia and Bobbitt panhandled nearby, Coffina said at a press conference in the Burlington County Administrative Building Thursday. The couple later texted each other that they wanted to help Bobbitt -- beyond the $10 they had given him when they last saw him. By Nov. 10, 2017, the three had come up with a plan, Coffina said. D'Amico, 39, took a photo of McClure, 28, and Bobbitt, 35 on the I-95 off-ramp and they used it on the GoFundMe page started a year ago as they claimed Bobbitt had used his last $20 to get gas for McClure when she was stranded. Just two weeks after the campaign was started -- while the three were doing a media blitz that helped bring in hundreds of thousands in donations -- McClure texted her friend that it was a lie. "I had to make something up to make people feel bad," she texted, according to a probable cause statement filed by the prosecutor's office. The story they concocted "worked in a big way," Coffina said, bilking 14,347 donors out of just over $400,000. They planned to split the $367,109 that they made after GoFundMe's fees, he said. He declined to say which one of the three had first suggested the scheme, but noted that Bobbitt had posted something remarkably similar on his Facebook page in 2012. He posted that he had spent his last dollars to help a woman with a flat tire and no gas, Coffina said. Bobbitt, originally from North Carolina, at one point was living in a camper on the couple's property, but then the relationship soured and he gave an interview to Philly.com, accusing the couple of withholding money meant for him and using it on luxuries and trips. If he hadn't made the accusation and later filed suit against them, the group might not have ever been found out, Coffina said. The couple, already in debt, had spent the money quickly, buying a car, clothing and trips, he said. By March, McClure and D'Amico were already texting each other concerned that they only had $10,000 left, but D'Amico texted that they would get a book deal and the money would be pouring in soon, Coffina said. In May, they used the car as collateral to get a high-interest loan for $10,085 in McClure's name. When Bobbitt told a reporter in August that the couple had spent the money meant for him, McClure and D'Amico denied the allegations on NBC News's Megyn Kelly TODAY. They did acknowledge withholding it from Bobbitt, saying he had an ongoing drug problem and blown through some $25,000 in just 13 days. But out of public view, the three were messaging each other about how to not get caught in the lie, according to the probable cause statement. The couple brainstormed ways to get Bobbitt out of Philadelphia. By the end of August, Bobbitt's attorneys discovered there was no money left. At the time, GoFundMe promised Bobbitt would get the cash he was owed. In a statement, GoFundMe said all donors will receive a full refund. A spokesman for the company also said the prosecutor's office is seeking to "recover every dollar withdrawn by Ms. McClure and Mr. D'Amico," but didn't mention money used by Bobbitt. Bobbitt remains held in Philadelphia jail waiting extradition after being arrested Wednesday night. McClure and D'Amico were booked and released by Thursday morning. The second-degree crimes they're facing generally are punishable by sentences of five to 10 years, Coffina said. The Department of Transportation, where McClure worked as a secretary, confirmed she is still employed there but did not disclose whether the charges had changed her work status. NJ Advance Media reporters Amanda Hoover and Joe Brandt contributed to this report. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips UPDATE: Homeless vet, good Samaritan in custody as GoFundMe saga continues A Burlington County couple and the homeless vet for whom they launched a fundraising campaign will all face charges for supposedly making up the viral sob story in order to scam money, NBC reported Wednesday night. The couple, Mark D'Amico and Kate McClure, of Florence, and the homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt, will face charges that include conspiracy and theft by deception after they allegedly fabricated the story to raise over $400,000 through an ultra-successful GoFundMe campaign, the report stated. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office did not confirm the charges Wednesday. The prosecutor has announced a 2 p.m. press conference Thursday about the case. McClure and D'Amico turned themselves over to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday, but it was unclear if Bobbitt also turned himself in, NBC reported. McClure said last November that she ran out of gas and became stranded on I-95 in Philadelphia and that Bobbitt spent his last $20 to help her fill her tank. The couple launched a GoFundMe campaign to repay him and help get the 35-year-old former North Carolina resident back on his feet as the story garnered national attention. The couple and Bobbitt's relationship soured after he filed a lawsuit in September saying that he had not been given full access to the funds. The couple's home was raided in September and their personal and business financial statements were seized, but no charges were filed against them, according to NBC. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. After a bruising race, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez cruised to victory over his Republican challenger, Bob Hugin. But he didn't come out unscathed. Menendez, a Democrat, topped Hugin by more than 10 percentage points in last week's election. That's significantly less than his margin of victory in 2012, the last election, when he defeated Republican challenger Joe Kyrillos by nearly 19 percentage points. Kyrillos and Hugin were two very different opponents in two very different times. Kyrillos, a former state senator, was blamed for running a lackluster campaign that didn't go on the attack enough against Menendez. For his part, Kyrillos said he lost significant support because Hurricane Sandy suppressed voter turnout in the closing days of the campaign. Menendez may have also received a boost because 2012 was a presidential year, with Barack Obama atop the Democratic ticket running for his second term. Hugin, a former pharmaceutical company executive, was endorsed by President Donald Trump and spent more than $30 million of his own money on his campaign. And he capitalized on Menendez's federal bribery and corruption trial that ended in a hung jury. Despite that, Menendez's margin wasn't far from that of his 2006 campaign, when he beat Republican Thomas Kean Jr. by about 9 percentage points. Below, see the towns where Menendez gained and lost the most support between 2012 and 2016. The green areas indicate gains, while the purple areas indicate losses. A note about the data: These are unofficial results compiled by NJ Advance Media and are subject to change as counties finish counting provisional and mail-in votes and certify results. Drag to explore the map. Hover over or tap a municipality to see how it voted in 2012 and 2016. Unable to see the map? Click here. Loading... Read more N.J. election coverage See how your town voted in the 2018 U.S. Senate election These 3 maps show how a Democratic 'blue wave' washed over N.J. The N.J. counties where Menendez and Hugin received the most votes Carla Astudillo may be reached at castudillo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @carla_astudi. Find her on Facebook. Erin Petenko may be reached at epetenko@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @EPetenko. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Professors hired to work for a New Jersey college at its satellite campus in China have been told they are now effectively employees of the communist Chinese government, union leaders say. The professors, including more than 50 American citizens, were hired at Wenzhou-Kean University, a satellite campus Kean University launched in 2012 amid a trend of colleges partnering with the Chinese government in search of big profits. The faculty have always been employees of Kean University, paid in U.S. dollars and been members of a local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, according to the union. Now, they will be employees of Wenzhou-Kean University, paid in Chinese currency and have been told they can no longer be in an American union. While Kean University oversees academic departments as part of the partnership agreement, the Chinese government is in charge of non-academic functions and appoints eight members to the 15-member governing board, though 10 votes are needed for major decisions, according to the university. Professors are concerned about the potential impact on academic freedom and academic integrity and whether the shift is aligned with the goals of a public university, union leaders said. "Does the state of New Jersey have any idea what is going on there?" said James Castiglione, president of the Kean Federation of Teachers. "Given these developments, it needs to find out." Kean University said the move will have no impact on academics. "To be clear, academic management, standards, policies, assessment and accreditation will be managed by Kean USA, with all senior managers remaining Kean USA employees," Kean President Dawood Farahi wrote in a letter to faculty. Curriculum and degree requirements will continue to be based on those at Kean's campus in New Jersey, he wrote. The 102 faculty members will now be paid in Chinese currency, straight from Wenzhou-Kean University, a change that had long been planned, according to Kean. That setup mirrors other U.S. colleges that have campuses in China, Farahi wrote. The goal is for the satellite faculty to have comparable salary, benefits and other privileges as those who work at the campus in Union Township, according to Kean. The Wenzhou-Kean University faculty members, including 58 from the United States and nine from New Jersey, will no longer be part of the local union since they do not work directly for Kean University. The satellite campus in Wenzhou, a port city on the East China Sea south of Shanghai, has about 2,000 students, mostly Chinese students taking classes in English to earn Kean degrees. It's been controversial from the start, adding to longstanding conflicts between Farahi and Kean's faculty union. Most recently, the union bashed a job posting for two non-academic jobs at Wenzhou-Kean University in 2015 that said "membership in the Chinese Communist Party is preferred." Both jobs included close contact with students, the union said. With the change in the faculty's direct employer, state lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy should monitor the situation, said Donna Chiera, president of AFT New Jersey. "We should have complete accountability and transparency into what we have invested into the multi-year project of developing a foreign campus and how this new arrangement serves the taxpayers of New Jersey," Chiera said. NOTE: This story was updated to clarify that the Chinese government does not have a controlling majority for all decisions of the Wenzhou-Kean University governing board. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A parent calls the timeout space at his son's South Jersey school "solitary confinement." A Monroe Township School District official says the special room is designed to protect special needs students from hurting themselves or others when they act out and allow them to have a place to retreat when they feel overwhelmed. Concerns about the padded "timeout" or "seclusion" room are now going to be reviewed by the district board of education in the Gloucester County community. "Our son came home one day and said he was put in a room for time out and we asked him to describe the room," Scott Reiss recounted Wednesday. "He said it was a little room. 'It's like a jail,' he said." "We didn't know if it was real or not," said Reiss of himself and his son's mom, Stephanie Reiss. But on a recent visit to Whitehall Elementary School in Williamstown where their 8-year-old son is in the third grade, they saw -- at their request -- the timeout room firsthand. "My son was being generous," Reiss said of his reaction after seeing the space. "This is solitary confinement. This is unacceptable." Their son -- NJ Advance Media is not naming him -- has ADHD and is on the autism spectrum, Reiss said. The seclusion room as it is called is a space sectioned off in a corner of a special needs classroom, with interior walls and the floor padded with mats usually found in a gymnasium. NJ Advance Media reviewed photos provided by Reiss on his Facebook page and those provided by Monroe Township Superintendent of Schools Richard Perry. Perry says the space is designed as an area where students can regain their composure if they experience problems with anxiety or behavioral issues, Perry said. "This area is utilized in conjunction with special education related services and interventions, involving behavioral disabilities in which students may become violent toward other students and staff and/or causing harm to themselves," according to the superintendent. "Also, other students, who are classified, utilize this space as a means of safety when they feel emotionally overwhelmed. A view of the seclusion or timeout room in the corner of a classroom at Monroe Township's Whitehall Elementary School. Parent Scott Reiss took the photo after asking to see the special room. He posted it on Facebook. (Photo provided/Scott Reiss via Facebook) "When a child is in there they are not locked in or closed in," Perry said. "There is an adult with them." Perry said parents know about this space through visits during back to school nights and other communication. He says Monroe Township keep students with behavioral problems in the district and provides education there rather than send them to other districts. "With that said, the district is looking into all concerns and we are re-evaluating its use through possible implementation of a new policy. The safety of all of our students and staff are of the utmost concern to us," Perry said Wednesday. Perry said the issue will discussed with the board of education. The board meets Thursday night, but it's not clear if it will be brought up then. Before leaving office early this year Gov. Chris Christie signed a new law outlining rules for seclusion or restraint for students with disabilities. It says "physical restraint is used only in an emergency in which the student is exhibiting behavior that places the student or other in immediate physical danger." It requires those who restrain students receive proper training from "an entity" the board deems qualified to provide the guidance. Any student who is restrained, the law says, must be "continually visually monitored to ensure the appropriateness of its use and that it (the restraint) was used in accordance with established procedures set forth in a board policy ...." Each instance of restraint must be documented and parents must be "immediately" notified, the law says. Reiss claims after initially finding out about the room, he sought, but didn't receive answers. "I have no idea of how many times they have been put in there," he said, claiming he and his son's mother were never notified of any visits by his son to the room. Reiss said the lack of answers prompted him to a make the decision to go public with his concerns via Facebook. Other parents have told him since the post that they didn't know about the room either. The Reisses met with school officials on Wednesday afternoon. Afterward, Scott Reiss called the meeting "a step in the right direction, but the case is not closed." Perry said because they were discussing matters concerning the Reiss' son, he could not publicly comment any further Wednesday. "The only thing I want to accomplish is a better situation for my son and the other kids," Scott Reiss said. Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Thank you, Hudson County residents I want to take this opportunity to thank the residents of our county who recently participated in the November Election. As with any election, there is an excitement which is raised by the candidates, supporters, issues, and residents. This time, there was extreme excitement and fight in our residents who heard enough. Senator Robert Menendez, who has always delivered, was under a smear tactic campaign at a cost of 40 million dollars! At no time did his opponent, millionaire Bob Hugin discuss issues, his objectives, or goals for our county or New Jersey's future. On Election Day, this excitement was brought to our voting polls by a massive number of residents. It was an awesome sight to see, but there are many thanks that need to be acknowledged. First, to our poll workers who were under the stress of making sure that everyone who wanted to vote had that opportunity. Secondly, to our challengers who work for the various candidates and assist with increasing our voter turnout by documenting voters. And last, but certainly not least, is to our neighbors that took the time from their day to come out and vote. Some locations had long lines, machines that jammed, and mistakes of not being listed on the voting rolls, not to mention heavy rain too! Yet, those obstacles never stopped our drive and produced over 120,000 votes which certainly helped in re-electing Senator Menendez. Team work, will make the dream work. I am proud to say that I was a volunteer, with many others for our Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO). Under the guidance and direction of newly elected Chairwoman Amy DeGise, our elected officials, and team members, we worked the city I love; Jersey City. We worked along with the tireless effort of our committee members, other volunteers, and numerous community groups. Our victory, yes our (the people) victory, which is shared by all, was a great accomplishment! A strong Democratic Voice in the end was worth much, much, more than the millions of dollars spent by a millionaire with limited knowledge of government and the neighborhood concerns of our urban areas. In moving forward, along with leadership from County Executive Thomas DeGise, we will continue helping our senator and other elected officials deliver resources and government services to our great county. Sean Connors, Jersey City, former State Assemblyman Texas gets the worst of the vote The election is over and Menendez won. I voted for him reluctantly. His stance on most issues closely resembled mine. The indictments surrounding him did give me some concern; but his opponent was a Trump supporter and major donor, who made his money by overcharging the terminally ill for their prescription drugs. The "lesser of two evils" doctrine came into play. Fortunately the House of Representatives is now controlled by Democrats, who can place a partial check on Trump's lunacy. We'll just have to hope that the four liberal leaning Supreme Court Justices can survive for the next two years. I'd hate to see the Senate advise and consent to another Brett Kavanaugh. A 6-3 conservative majority in the SCOTUS for the next 30 years would be hard to stomach. The promising Senatorial candidates like Beto O'Rourke ran in states like Texas. O'Rourke put up a Quixotic battle, but couldn't overcome the overwhelming landslide in some rural precincts. He lost some places by votes of 98-3 and 105-6. Cruz showed his true character when he swallowed every insult and put aside every ounce of decency that he might have once had, by embracing a man like Trump, who insulted his wife and then accused his father of somehow being involved in the JFK assassination. Congratulations Texas. You're guaranteed six more years of a Senator far worse than Bob Menendez. Robert Woolsey, Jersey City Blue Wave with green tide washes over NJ With this election we not only saw blue waves in New Jersey but we had a green tide too. Our Congressional delegation is now 13-1 of people Sierra Club endorsed, making our delegation one of the greenest in our history and the country's. It is important that we have this stronger leadership in our state to stand up to Donald Trump on offshore drilling, protecting green jobs, and cleaning up toxic Superfund sites. New Jersey now has fighters like Mikie Sherill who will protect the people of this state and of this nation. With Tom Malinowski in Congress, he will make the Trump Administration enforce protections for clean air, water, and climate change. Andy Kim will protect the public from polluters and make sure our communities are safe and healthy places to live in. Senator Menendez has been an environmental champion for 3 decades and we are happy to see his legacy continue in the Senate. Democrats also swept dozens and dozens of county and local races. Most importantly our democratic incumbent, Congress Pallone can now lead as the new chair of the House Commerce and Energy Committee. The midterm election is a big game changer. Republicans have been trying to block climate change protections and drill off our coast. Now we have people in Congress who will protect and preserve our environment and our public health on a state and national level. Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com JERSEY CITY -- A man charged with more than a dozen offenses was using his Bayonne apartment as home base for his illegal drug sales operation, a prosecutor said Thursday in arguing that he be detained through his trial. Joshua Arroyo, 31, of West 19th Street, was arrested on Nov. 9 and charged with gun offenses related to a .223 assault rifle, a modified AK-47, a high capacity magazine and drug offenses related to marijuana, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia. A single shot being fired into a residence late on Nov. 8 led Bayonne police to the block, between Kennedy Boulevard and Avenue C, and subsequently a search of an apartment leased by Arroyo. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Adam Salzer moved to detain Arroyo because he is charged with operating a drug-manufacturing facility and he is considered a flight risk because the charge carries a possible life sentence upon conviction. Defense attorney Joel Silberman argued that Arroyo was not home when the apartment was searched and there is nothing connecting him to any of the charges other than the fact that he leased the residence. He also noted that his client turned himself. In the end, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul Depascale agreed with Salzer and ordered Arroyo detain. Arroyo's next court appearance is set for Dec. 6 before Depascale in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. A few days later, a 29-year-old West 19th Street man, Terrell B. Williams, was charged with multiple drug offenses, including possession with intent to distribute marijuana and ecstasy, police said in a press release. Bayonne police say the two arrests are not related. JERSEY CITY -- Jersey City is now one step closer to building a pedestrian pathway that will stretch from the Hackensack River to the Hudson River waterfront. The city announced Wednesday it was awarded $3.5 million in grant money for the construction of the Morris Canal Greenway, an 8-mile path that will follow a portion of the original canal. The grant, awarded from the state Department of Transportation, will be used to build both on-road and off-road pedestrian pathways that will begin at the edge of the Hackensack River in Lincoln Park, run through the southern portion of the city and lead into Morris Canal Park on the Hudson River waterfront. "Transforming this historic pathway into the Morris Canal Greenway is a major step forward for Jersey City and the State, providing open space and off-street, multimodal paths for safe transportation that will improve connectivity between neighborhoods," Mayor Steve Fulop said in a press release. A good day. We just got word weve been awarded a $3.5million federal grant for construction of the Morris Canal Greenway in #JerseyCity - weve been chasing this $ for years! Were thinking of going to the NJ Infrastructure Bank for a low interest loan to do knock out more now pic.twitter.com/EjOt5RBzP2 Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) November 14, 2018 Ashley Manz, a spokeswoman for the city, said construction is expected to begin in the next two years. The Morris Canal, a 102-mile canal built in the early 19th century, functioned as a corridor for coal traveling from Pennsylvania into the heart of New Jersey's iron district. Once completed, Jersey City's greenway will be a segment of a continuous pedestrian and bicycle trail running through six counties in northern New Jersey, stretching from the Hudson to the Delaware River. The $3.5 million was awarded to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and will be used to link portions of the contiguous route, a city spokesperson said. Much of the pathway will not , but a significant portion of the path in Greenville will run along roadways. The plan to build the greenway was first announced in 2013 as a way to provide "much-needed space dedicated to bicyclists and pedestrians for circulation and recreation." Additionally, city officials say this project will bolster efforts to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2026. "The City is committed to the Vision Zero initiative, aiming to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2026, making our roads safe for travelers on bike, foot, car and more," Fulop said. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. By John Milan Sebik In the summer of 2018, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez declared that a Democratic Socialist, yes, a dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America is the "Future of the Party." This candidate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also believes in abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, open borders and also claiming illegal aliens deserve "right of passage" into the United States. If this is the future, we can all say goodbye to the United States of America. This "progressive socialist" also wants to offer free tuition, and Medicare for all. The United States government has enough debt and and higher debt, and higher taxes on the rich isn't even close enough to cover a fraction of all the "free" offers. I think we can all agree that our taxes are already high enough living in NJ. I'm trying to figure out what math classes she forgot to take and if the campaign slogan of choice is now to just offer free stuff that will never happen My parents, emigrated here from Germany and Slovakia and like millions others, legally waited and followed the law to emigrate to the USA. They fought to live, to find work, to pay bills, raise a family and live the American Dream by following the law. What has changed? Who changed the narrative? Why is it that our representatives care more about those not even in the USA yet? What about the voters, here and now who live here, work here and pay some of the highest taxes in NJ. I'm worried about the direction of Democrats in Hudson County. Why must everyone stay in line and be all rubber stamps? Yes, I can agree with the party being stronger together, but has life really gotten better in Hudson County the last 6 years? Have we elected true problem solvers who are fighting for the little guy, the middle class, small business owners, tax paying citizens? Are the Democratic Party leaders speaking from both sides of their mouth? It took over a year and a half to finally believe a state worker who repeated complaints of sexual misconduct and finally was forced to go public. Where are the #believeher rallys now? What about Hillary Clinton's comment about Senator Booker and Eric Holder looking alike? Where is the outrage? Why is is always "do as i say and not as I do?" Recently shady individuals were hired by the state. The state hired an individual who served time for bribery/corruption, which is clearly against the law. Another hire who made fun of Special Ed student was hired then fired as a Director of Professional Learning. Ask yourself this, has any politician fought to lower your taxes as a middle class citizen or small business, the engine of our economy? Has any politician found any solution or introduced any legislation to lower property taxes? How about introducing solutions that show true and solid savings? These are items that are important and should be in the forefront. We have all heard about free this and free that but in all honestly, nothing is ever free and the taxpayer will ultimately pay the price like we have for years. I believe the voters want someone different and not just a tool, a mouthpiece, a follower. Voters want true leadership, and someone who dares to be different. By the way, what ever happened to that "Public Bank", the governor campaigned on? John Milan Sebik is a resident of Bayonne and a frequent letter writer to the jersey Journal. Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com. This week, the Catholic bishops of the U.S. gathered in Baltimore for their first semi-annual conference since the summer of sexual abuse allegations, including former Newark Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. The elephant in the room was obvious: The Vatican instructed them to wait until the February Vatican meeting to vote so all they could do was talk. How I wish I had been a fly on the wall of their closed sessions as they discussed, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, "a series of concrete measures to respond to the abuse crisis, including ... a third-party reporting mechanism, standards of conduct for bishops, and protocols for bishops resigned or removed because of abuse." I am too limiting. It should be more than flies allowed into that room if they are truly to engage and enlighten the laity of the church, the major stakeholder in its future. And that's part of the problem the bishops still do not get: They cannot solve this alone. Up until now, they have responded as royalty might, suggesting that as our shepherds they know all the right moves. Were they right, we would not be facing the third, and perhaps most serious, crisis of clerical sexual abuse since the early 1980s. And laypeople -- who pay the bills, volunteer, staff most of the institutions and partially fill the benches -- are truly disenfranchised. Before this meeting, each diocesan bishop should have commissioned each pastor to consult the people of the parish about the crisis -- and share the report with him. I know of two parishes and my own in the Archdiocese of Newark who did that very thing. One Bergen County parish had a turnout of 200 people. Hoboken had 25, mostly younger people, and it took one hour for the entire group to share what was on their minds and in their hearts. Not desiring it to be a one-shot deal, we asked parishioners to answer six questions on our website. Fifty-four did. And their responses ran the gamut. "Betrayal, loss of ability to trust the Church, at least those in the upper echelons of the hierarchy," one person wrote. "What leads the Church to value its institutional reputation over the lives of the children?" wrote another. Placing blame ranged from celibacy of clergy, fear of going against the church and homosexuality to the observation that women and laypeople are powerless in the church. We sent our report to Cardinal Joseph Tobin with recommendations like overhauling seminary formation, conducting truth finding, holding wrongdoers accountable, allowing for a married clergy, and greater acceptance for gay clergy, among others. "Church authority figures have to get out of the process; it needs to be an independent, lay process," one read. Tobin has already announced that he plans to empanel an archdiocesan pastoral council by the end of the year. In a letter last week, he wrote to the archdiocese: "In a few weeks, I will be announcing further structural changes and new policies within the Archdiocese of Newark itself - step-by-step reforms that I hope will be embraced by other dioceses throughout the state." Tobin, unlike most U.S. bishops, has no suspect past on this matter since he has only been a bishop in the U.S. for six years. He can be a national leader on the matter and also has the ear of Pope Francis. He also wrote: "But with the resignation of Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, we are now realizing that some bishops did not enter into the covenant we call the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People wholeheartedly. This is sinful and unacceptable. It has caused irreparable harm to every priest's and bishop's relationship with the faithful. Only intentional acts of restorative justice can help us reform and renew our deeply wounded Church." On Sept. 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Tobin led a packed cathedral in prayer and reflection and gave a survivor of clerical sexual abuse a prominent pulpit. Bishops have to come down from the pulpit and mix it up with the people in the pews now more than ever to restore the church's credibility. The last question posed on our website was: What do you see as the future of the Church? "I think a more progressive stance on all issues is needed for the Church to survive and thrive, as well as to keep in step with a changing world and to attract younger generations who believe the church is an outdated, archaic concept," one person wrote. Will the church cling to the past or embrace a bold future? The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken. A woman was killed and three others injured in a house fire in Trenton on Thursday morning, police said. All four were pulled from the fire on the 400 block of Reservoir Street. The fire broke out around 10 a.m., Lt. Darren Zappely said. In all, 11 people in five different buildings were displaced, according to the Red Cross of New Jersey. Firefighters were called to the two-alarm fire and learned at least one person was trapped on the second floor, according to Battalion Chief Chief Todd Willever of the Trenton Fire Department. Heavy fire ripped thorough the first floor of the home before firefighters brought it under control in about an hour, the battalion chief said. Several people were displaced. Officials didn't immediately have information on the cause of the fire or where it began. Video from the scene shows significant damage to the roof and side of the home as well as several missing windows. Arson detectives are at the house early this afternoon, though it has not been determined of the fire is suspicious, Zapley said. The age and identity of the woman killed was not immediately available. The Red Cross arrived on scene to help residents forced out of their homes. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Editor's note: Do you have a family member on the pediatric unit at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, or have information about the facility? NJ.com would like to hear from you. You may reach us at (732) 902-4559, or contact Susan Livio at slivio@njadvancemedia.com, Spencer Kent at skent@njadvancemedia.com, or Ted Sherman at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. By the time the two young boys arrived at the hospital they were already dying. The victims of a deadly adenovirus outbreak were in such severe medical distress that it was already too late to save them, according to an emergency room doctor. "Both were in irreversible shock upon arrival," recalled Dr. Frank Briglia, who manages the pediatric emergency room where the two boys were taken. The illness that has rampaged through the pediatrics ward of the 92-bed Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell targeted the "medically fragile," those children on ventilators with compromised immune systems, who had significant health problems. So far, 10 children have died and 23 others have been infected. Briglia said the medical charts that accompanied the two young patients revealed both had shown signs of serious distress long before they arrived in the emergency room for more rigorous medical intervention. "According to Wanaque's records, both had been exhibiting signs of shock days before they were sent to the ER," said Briglia, who once served as medical director of the Wanaque pediatric facility and has a whistleblower lawsuit pending against its previous ownership. He asked that the hospital where he works not be identified. Shock is a critical condition caused by a sudden drop in blood flow through the body, sharply curtailing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to vital organs. Its symptoms include cold and sweaty skin, weak but rapid pulse, irregular breathing, dizziness, and profuse sweating. If left untreated, shock is usually fatal. Briglia could not say if the boys would have lived if they had been rushed to the hospital sooner. Others, though, have separately complained there were significant delays in seeking treatment for several children being cared for at the Wanaque Center. In the wake of those allegations, first reported by NJ Advance Media, the state made an unannounced inspection visit last week. And on Wednesday, a worker said that based on information from a colleague, the facility was under scrutiny by a team of federal inspection agents who had shown up at the site. Also on Wednesday, the state health department in an enforcement action ordered the owners to hire two more medical experts and halt all admissions, citing serious failings in infection control. Wanaque Center officials did not return calls for comment. Among those raising issues about the delays in treatment is the mother of a 4-year-old girl who later died. In an interview, she remembers repeatedly asking that her daughter be sent to the emergency room, as her temperature spiked. "I said, send her to the hospital," said Auguste Dolcin of East Orange, a Haitian native who spoke as a neighbor translated. "They said they were waiting for the doctor." She said they were still waiting the next day, even after a nurse told her there was blood around the trach tube of her daughter, Dorcase. Dorcase Dolcin, one of the first of 10 children who died in the viral outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell. (Photo courtesy of the family) And two Wanaque Center pediatric workers, who spoke to NJ Advance Media on the condition of anonymity over fears of losing their jobs, charged that senior administrators of the nursing facility intentionally delayed sending kids to the hospital because they wanted to keep Medicaid funds flowing. Wanaque only gets paid for the days a patient is in its facility, according to Tom Hester, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Human Services. At the same time, Hester said the facility must keep the bed available for 10 days if a patient is sent to the hospital. The state Senate is planning to hold a hearing next month, looking into how the crisis at Wanaque Center unfolded. Adenovirus is a respiratory virus which can cause mild or serious illness, though serious illness is less common. Symptoms may include the common cold, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, bladder inflammation or infection, inflammation of the stomach and intestines and neurological disease. The Medicaid payout issue looms large in Briglia's ongoing lawsuit, originally filed in 2014 and amended last year, which alleges a long history of systematic Medicaid fraud and chronic understaffing. While his allegations predate the current owner of the facility, which changed hands four years ago, Briglia claimed many of the practices he observed still persist. His attorney, Jeremy Abay of Sacks Weston Diamond in Philadelphia, said that while the ownership changed, several key personnel remained in place. He added that the medical records for the two children brought to the Briglia's emergency room revealed problems similar, if not identical, to what he cited in his ongoing lawsuit, including the allegations of understaffing. That lawsuit against Wanaque Convalescent Center and Seniors Management North, which sold the New Jersey nursing facility to Continuum Healthcare in late 2014, claimed that the former operators of the facility moved to drastically increase the number of residents dependent on ventilators to breathe, also to take advantage of higher Medicaid billing. "The facilities at Wanaque could not keep up with the population growth. Many of the children required technology that Wanaque could not provide, such as backup ventilator equipment and alarms. The staff-to-patient ratio was also inadequate," the lawsuit said. Briglia worked at what was then Wanaque Convalescent Center from 2003 until he was terminated as medical director in 2008, said in written responses to questions posed through his attorney, that "Wanaque was always more interested in keeping its beds filled so that it could continue to bill Medicaid, even if that meant keeping children with contagious diseases in rooms with noninfected children." An attorney for Wanaque Convalescent Center, Eric Breslin of Duane Morris in Newark, declined to comment on Briglia's allegations, but said, "this is a billing issue that had nothing to do with the standard of care." The attorney said he does not represent the current ownership of the facility and a spokesman for the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation did not respond to requests for comment on Briglia's allegations. In its filings with the court, the former nursing facility operators are seeking a dismissal of Briglia's complaint, calling it "nothing more than speculation and guesswork," based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the medical insurance markets. "At worst, it is a repeated attempt to harass and exact some kind of revenge upon Wanaque," said attorneys for the facility. The ongoing adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center began when the first kids started getting sick on Sept. 26, according to the state Department of Health, when officials said the first child was diagnosed with a respiratory ailment. But it would not be until two girls were already dead when the Wanaque Center notified local health department officials on Oct. 9 of a cluster of respiratory illnesses. And the state did not send inspectors there until Oct. 21. Staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed to this report. 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. After years of fighting, a New Jersey Native American tribe is once again officially recognized. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced Thursday the state settled with the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. As part of the settlement, the state will pay the tribe $2.4 million, and officially proclaim it has recognized the 3,000-member Native American tribe. The state made no admission of wrongdoing in the agreement. "Tribal rights are important rights, and through this settlement we've been able to affirm the status of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation as an American Indian Tribe formally recognized by the state," Grewal said in the statement. "As a result of this settlement, there is no more ambiguity regarding the tribe's official status, and the tribe's forward progress cannot be impeded by any state-related recognition issues. I'm heartened that, through good faith negotiation, we've been able to resolve this matter fairly and bring an end to years of legal dispute." The battle for recognition began in late 2012 when New Jersey decided to no longer recognize three tribes: the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, Ramapough Mountain tribe and Powhatan-Renape Nation. The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribe filed state and federal civil rights lawsuits in 2015 after trying to negotiate with Gov. Chris Christie's administration. As part of the lawsuit, the group claimed the decision not to recognize the tribes was a "racial-stereotype-driven and irrational fear that any American Indian Tribe, if recognized as such, will seek to conduct gaming in competition with New Jersey's politically powerful non-Indian gaming interests." As part of its beliefs, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape have tribal laws banning gambling. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2016 after Superior Court Judge William Anklowitz disagreed with the tribe and upheld a motion from then-acting Attorney General John Hoffman to dismiss the lawsuit, because a resolution made in 1982 to recognize the tribe was never submitted to the governor's office, making the tribe's status unofficial. However, in 2017, a three-member Appellate Court ruled the lawsuit would be able to continue, saying the superior court "applied the wrong legal standard and incorrectly failed to accept plaintiff's factual allegations in the complaint as true." The tribe lauded Thursday's settlement, saying the agreement will have a wide-reaching effect for other Native American tribes. "The two other state-recognized tribes in New Jersey whose status was undermined will have it reaffirmed," it said in a statement. "And tens of thousands of members of the more than sixty state-recognized tribes in other states may rest more easily. This settlement establishes that states may not retroactively undermine tribal recognition by violating a tribe's rights to due process and equal protection of the laws." Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips A New Jersey woman is in Northampton County Prison, accused of using fake $50 bills to bet at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Katrina Davis, 27, of Newark, went on the fraudulent $1,300 betting spree over three days, Oct. 15, Oct. 17 and Nov. 8, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The fake bills were first discovered Oct. 18 during the table count at the Bethlehem casino, troopers said. Troopers reviewed video surveillance at the gaming tables, and said Davis used 24 fake $50 bills over the two days in October. State police were able to identify Davis because she used her New Jersey driver's license both days at the casino's bus entrance. Davis then used two more fake bills on Nov. 8. The next day, troopers filed 26 counts of felony forgery against Davis. She was arraigned Wednesday and sent to county prison in lieu of $40,000 bail. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. New Jersey's attorney general has begun issuing subpoenas to force the state's Catholic dioceses to turn over records and files related to its clergy sexual abuse investigation, church officials said. The Archdiocese of Newark, the state's largest diocese that represents more than 1 million Catholics, was asked to turn over documents, said James Goodness, a spokesman for the archdiocese. "The archdiocese has received a subpoena," Goodness said Wednesday, declining to provide additional details. "We are cooperating with the AG task force." The subpoena to the Archdiocese of Newark is one part of what is expected to be a lengthy and wide-ranging investigation into potential priest sex abuse cases across all five dioceses and thousands of Catholic churches and schools. New Jersey's other four dioceses - Camden, Paterson, Trenton and Metuchen - are also expected to turn over documents. But none would confirm if they have received subpoenas yet. "The Diocese of Camden is cooperating with the attorney general's task force," said Michael Walsh, a spokesman for the diocese, declining to comment further. A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Trenton referred questions to the state attorney general's office. The dioceses of Paterson and Metuchen did not immediately respond to requests to comment. Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal declined to say who has been subpoenaed or what types of records are being sought. However, he said Pennsylvania's attorney general investigation into priest sex abuse is being used as a model. In that two-year probe, Pennsylvania used subpoenas to gather decades of files, records, notes and letters from six dioceses that revealed more than 1,000 children were sexually abused by at least 300 priests. The investigation also showed top church officials repeatedly transferred accused priests and tried to cover up the abuse allegations. New Jersey plans to issue a similar public report at the end of its investigation, the attorney general said. The report could name priests accused with sexual misconduct in cases where the statute of limitations for criminal charges has expired. In other cases, there could be criminal charges, he said. "Like any criminal investigation, where criminal charges are viable, we'll pursue them," Grewal said. New Jersey is one of several states, including New York, where officials have recently launched sweeping investigations into how the Catholic Church handled sexual abuse allegations dating back decades. The state investigations were sparked by the Pennsylvania report and recent church scandals, including the pending church trial of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick on sexual misconduct charges. Grewal announced New Jersey's investigation in September. His office set up a task force with subpoena power through a grand jury that can demand documents and force people to testify. The task force also set up a hotline -- (855) 363-6548 - for people to report allegations of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. The hotline was quickly overwhelmed with calls. "We had to get additional call-takers and put additional resources in place," Grewal said. Since then, the calls have "slowed, but not stopped." It is unclear how extensively the task force will use its subpoena power. Some Catholic school officials say they have been told they will be required to produce records about abuse allegations in their schools dating back decades. But other Catholic schools said they have yet to hear from their dioceses or the attorney general's office about what, if anything, they will need to produce. In New Jersey, some Catholic schools are run by their local dioceses. Others are overseen by religious orders of monks or nuns. Delbarton School, an independent school run by the Benedictine monks of St. Mary's Abbey, was among the large Catholic high schools schools that said earlier this week said they had not received any legal requests from the attorney general's task force for records. "We have not received a subpoena," said Jessica Fiddes, a Delbarton spokeswoman. In a July letter, Delbarton School and St. Mary's Abbey acknowledged for the first time that 30 individuals alleged abuse by 13 priests and monks and one faculty member over a three-decade period. Abbey officials said they notified the Morris County prosecutor's office about the cases, but charges were filed in only one case at the time. The attorney general's task force declined to say how many people have called them with abuse allegations since the hotline was established in September. Bruce Novozinsky, an alleged abuse survivor who wrote a book about clergy abuse in New Jersey, said he was among the callers to the hotline who was later interviewed by a task force investigator. Novozinsky said told the investigator he would be happy to turn over a box of files and handwritten documents he gathered from Catholic churches and schools in Ocean County during his research for his 2012 book, "Purple Reign: Sexual Abuse and Abuse of Power in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey." "I fully expect to be subpoenaed," Novozinsky said. "I made it clear to the attorney general's office . . . they can have what I have." However, the investigator made it clear the state's probe into clergy sex abuse will be lengthy, he said. "They said it might take a long time before I contact you again," Novozinsky said. New Jersey's bishops have been among those meeting this week in Baltimore for a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting to address the sexual abuse scandal. Numerous bishops called on their colleagues at the meeting to issue a formal repudiation of Theodore McCarrick, the ex-cardinal facing allegations he repeatedly sexual abused or harassed men and boys as he rose to be one of the highest-ranking members of the church. McCarrick is accused of sexual abuse of boys and sexual misconduct with young seminarians and fellow priests, including during the years he was head of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Metuchen. In a letter to parishioners sent earlier this month, the current head of the Archdiocese of Newark said the McCarrick case will lead to changes in how the church handles abuse cases. "In a few weeks, I will be announcing further structural changes and new policies within the Archdiocese of Newark itself - step-by-step reforms that I hope will be embraced by other dioceses throughout the state," Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, wrote. Staff writer S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. A Toms River man who went missing while on vacation in Europe was found in a German hospital Tuesday after a three-week search, but friends and family here were still searching for answers. Joram Heilbronner, 64, was located in a Nuremberg hospital and was in critical, but stable condition Wednesday, after he injured his leg during the trip and developed sepsis, according to Rabbi David Amar, of Congregation Ahavat Olam in Howell, where Heilbronner serves as president. Joram Heilbronner, 64, of Toms River (Courtesy Rabbi David Amar) "They're slowly waking him up out of an induced coma," Amar told NJ Advance Media Wednesday evening. "He told us that he injured his leg when he first got to Germany." Amar originally announced Heilbronner's disappearance on the congregation's Facebook page on Nov. 5. Heilbronner planned the the trip abroad after he was invited to take part in his former employer's 25th anniversary celebration in Athens, Greece, Amar told NJ Advance Media. The rabbi said his wife exchanged text messages with Heilbronner about synagogue business on Oct. 19, a day after the Ocean County man returned to Munich following a four-day stay in Greece for the celebration, and that nobody had heard from him since. The rabbi said he reported Heilbronner missing to Tom River Police on Nov. 4, but Chief Mitch Little said last week that he was unable to locate hum even after even after he contacted several hospitals in Munich and entered him into the National Crime Information Center as a missing person. However, on Tuesday, Amar learned that someone had checked Heilbronner into the Nuremberg hospital on Oct. 23 but that nobody there tried to reach out to anyone in the states or the U.S. Consulate in Germany. He has not been able to find out who dropped him off at the hospital. Amar said his friend does not have any family in New Jersey, but that he has a brother, Dan Heilbronner, who lives in Georgia. After finding Heilbronner, Amar said he contacted his brother in Israel who then got in touch with a "team that specializes in finding people" and they filed a missing person's report there and "pushed it through to the U.S. Consulate in Germany" to try to find more information. "I got on the phone with them, asked them some questions and they told me a few things but they said they needed to speak to his brother, so I connected them," Amar said. The rabbi said he and Heilbronner's brother, Dan Heilbronner, were planning to travel to Germany in the next few days to "give him some comfort." A GoFundMe page was set up to help pay for Dan and Amar's travel expenses, and as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, it was about $2,000 short of its $7,000 goal. Amar said he wants to find out who brought Heilbronner to the German hospital and why nobody in the U.S. or the consulate was contacted sooner. "I'm going to stay on top of this," he said. "I will not leave one stone unturned." Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Amazon.com's announcement that it had chosen two places -- not just one -- to split its second U.S. headquarters clearly disappointed 236 cities and regions on its long list and 18 of them on its short list. The losers immediately tried to order spin machines from the world's largest online retailer, but quickly discovered that the only ones that Amazon sells are for exercising. However, the unsuccessful bidders soon learned they could order mass quantities of grapes -- sour ones, presumably -- from Amazon's Whole Foods unit. Don't buy the official "Maybe its better that Amazon didn't choose us, anyway," chatter. Mayors, legislators and civic boosters wouldn't have tried to make Amazon drool over tax breaks if they didn't want the company and its up to 50,000 jobs. If Amazon had selected New Jersey's official entry, Newark, the state and city would have offered a staggering $7 billion in sweeteners. Newark wasn't selected, nor was Philadelphia, although both had reached Amazon's top 20. Actually, its final choices give people in South Jersey the right to be depressed, perhaps uniquely. With HQ2 and HQ2.1 going respectively to the Long Island City section of New York City and Washington, D.C.'s Virginia suburbs, its as if Amazon lobbed a neutron bomb into the Delaware Valley with enough precision to leave standing the two next closest major metropolitan areas. Newark may be in New York City's sphere, but Amazon's out-there Queens destination is distant enough that North and Central Jersey probably won't benefit from daily commuters. Amazon obviously didn't go for the biggest pile of cash, since Northern Virginia and New York City both ponied up less than New Jersey's gargantuan aid package. Philadelphia, with Harrisburg's help, also offered more funding than the winners. Nor did the company make a social or lifestyle statement that Philly and Newark were powerless to counter. It didn't pick an industrially savaged Midwestern city that really, really, needs the jobs. If didn't go for the better year-'round weather of Los Angeles or Miami. What we're left with in New Jersey and the Philadelphia region is a huge case of "So close, but yet so far." It's a level of frustration that leaves us wondering what factor or factors made us also-rans. Degenerating mass transit and road systems? Maybe, but the New York City subways and the Washington Beltway are no picnic. Too few recent college graduates sticking around? That's a well-known problem in New Jersey, but you'd think Amazon could lure many of them back with its $150,000 salaries. The post-mortems will go on for while. After that, there's something better to do than sit around grousing about how Amazon would have caused housing prices to skyrocket and further worsen traffic if they'd told us "Yes." Here's what it is: Amazon will require many subcontractors, vendors, partners, etc., when it moves half or more of its white-collar and tech operations east. For Amazon-servicing businesses that don't need daily, in-person interaction with HQ2 or HQ2.1, our region offers this: lower housing prices; top college graduates likely to work for a little less than in D.C. or N.Y.C.; decent transportation hubs that can get you to Arlington or Queens fairly effortlessly -- if you don't need to do it twice a day, every day. Local economic development officials should be scouting out what Amazon needs and who it can supply it. With all of that economic data that was developed for Amazon in hand, go after these smaller businesses. When life gives you sour grapes, make lemonade. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. If you wonder what partisan hackery looks like, here's an example: On Monday, the day we saluted the men and women who risked their lives to protect our democracy, the President of the United States said we should cease counting the outstanding absentee ballots from military personnel abroad. "The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged," Donald Trump tweeted. "An honest vote count is no longer possible --ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!" And Happy Veterans Day from the Commander-in-Chief. It would be easy to dismiss this as just another presidential brain cramp - even if it sounds more like the president of Zimbabwe - but the more troubling development is that Floridians from Trump's party are just as eager to spread the same poison and delegitimize our democracy rather than lose an election fairly. It is a shameless attempt to avoid counting every vote, which leaves little doubt where the real fraud is, and to deliberately subvert the electoral system - not only in a state as dysfunctional as Trump himself, but throughout the country. Here's the state of play: Florida is in the midst of an automatic machine recount that was triggered by the slim margins for both Scott and DeSantis in the Senate and gubernatorial races, respectively. Nothing can stop that. But Scott has cited "rampant fraud" without offering a shred of evidence, and he has sued Florida election officials even though his appointees in the State Department and Department of Law Enforcement both said there is "no allegation of criminal activity" to look at. Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio has spread conspiracy theories that have become increasingly baroque, claiming that "Democratic lawyers" were trying to "change the results" in Broward County, which is also rubbish. The recount squabble is so toxic that the Republican judge handling the Broward recount told both sides to zip it, because "We need to be careful what we say. These words mean things these days, as everybody in the room knows." There is no denying that Broward County has a history of poor election administration. But it is now in the purview of a canvassing board of judges and court-appointed monitors in that county. If the machine recount shows that there is only a quarter-point separating the candidates, there will be a manual recount. Yet the accusations continue, with no evidence to support fraud claims or stop the count, much to Scott's squirrelly panic, because his lead has been cut from 56,000 to 12,000 since Election Day. So he is repeatedly delivering a message that "Sen. (Bill) Nelson is trying to commit fraud to win this election." Compare that with Senate election in Arizona, where Republican Martha McSally held a slim lead over Democrat Kyrsten Sinema last Friday. That inspired a screed from Trump which read: "Just out - in Arizona, SIGNATURES DON'T MATCH. Election corruption - Call for a new Election? We must protect our Democracy!" Four days later, McSally lost by 38,000 votes and conceded with dignity. She did not attempt to abrade the trust of voters in democratic institutions. Which means, any day now, Trump will call her a loser. This is the president who said losing the House of Representatives last Tuesday was "very close to complete victory," and that the drubbing was proof that "people like me" - just the latest example that he is incapable of accepting objective reality. His party is guided more by phony accusations and temper tantrums rather than by facts and presidential equipoise. It makes you dread what 2020 might be like if one candidate acts like a petulant child who cannot accept defeat, especially if that candidate controls the 7th Fleet. As soon as Democrats sent their best Election stealing lawyer, Marc Elias, to Broward County they miraculously started finding Democrat votes. Dont worry, Florida - I am sending much better lawyers to expose the FRAUD! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2018 Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. By Ray Lesniak I was born in Elizabethport and raised in the Bayway section of Elizabeth. At that time you couldn't ride past Turnpike Exit 13 with your windows open. Toxic emissions from chemical plants felled workers painting the Goethals Bridge. While tougher industrial emissions standards have improved our air quality, in some neighborhoods in Elizabeth, Newark and Bayonne, air pollution is worse than way back then, due to increased heavy duty diesel truck traffic to and from port areas. Gov. Phil Murphy has announced his plans to use the $72 million Volkswagen settlement to reduce smog-forming pollution by curbing diesel emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, particularly in environmental justice communities. Lesniak: To reduce diesel emissions from heavy-duty trucks, ban pre-2007 trucks from operating in New Jersey as has been proposed in the state Senate and Assembly -- and as California has already done. (Ben Margot | Associated Press) The goal of the plan is laudable, but it was short on specifics. Here's what should be the specifics of how the settlement money should be used and why, starting with the why. The Union Of Concerned Scientists has concluded, "With mounting evidence that diesel exhaust poses major health hazards, reducing diesel pollution has become a public priority." And the major concentration of the diesel exhaust health threat is in Newark, Elizabeth and Bayonne communities adjacent to our ports. "In the Ironbound district of Newark where there are 200 trucks thundering through the streets leading in and out of the Port Newark-Elizabeth every single hour, the residents are collateral damage in the pursuit of commerce," The Star-Ledger Editorial Board wrote in 2016. New Jersey's map of diesel exhaust pinpoints concentrations of pollution in Port Newark-Elizabeth where diesel levels are 100 to 1,000 times the benchmark that's considered safe for humans to breath . That's the why. Here's the how: Ban pre-2007 heavy duty trucks from operating in New Jersey as has been proposed in the New Jersey Senate and Assembly and as California has already done. There are approximately 3,800 trucks with a pre-2007 engine model year going to and from our ports. Most of the owners are individuals, many of whom live in port communities, and need financial help to upgrade their trucks. The Port Authority has a financial assistance program to help replace old trucks, but 3800 are still polluting neighborhoods in Newark, Elizabeth and Bayonne and along roads throughout the state. Have you ever been stuck behind one of these trucks bellowing black smoke from its exhaust? You couldn't wait to get past it. Residents near port areas, including vulnerable children and seniors, don't have that option. They have to live with it every day. Murphy, the most effective and quickest way to reduce New Jersey's most serious air pollution problem: Dedicate funds from the Volkswagen Settlement to help replace these dirty trucks and ban them from New Jersey's roads as soon as possible. Ray Lesniak, a former state state senator, is founder of New Jersey policy think tank The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Count your blessings this Thanksgiving: As the president appoints a sycophantic hack to the most powerful law enforcement office in the land, New Jersey still has Gurbir Grewal. Not only is our state Attorney General fighting this administration on everything from rolling back our dirty tailpipe emission standards to capping our tax deduction; he's proving himself a true man of justice, by going after bad actors even when it's politically inconvenient. The latest is a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, a powerful player in our state's economy. Grewal's office is suing its offshoot, Janssen Pharmaceuticals - one of New Jersey's largest employers - for marketing opioids in the sleazy style of Big Tobacco, by minimizing the risks of addiction to maximize profits. Murphy's AG sues N.J. pharma giant for 'fueling' opioid crisis In a brief statement, a spokesman for Janssen told us the allegations are "baseless and unsubstantiated." We'll see. What we know already is that although the Trump administration promised to file "major" lawsuits and "spend the money" on treatment, it has done neither, while lavishing big tax cuts on corporations. It's state attorneys general, like Grewal, who are leading this fight. His civil suit, based on an investigation of business practices going back decades, accuses Janssen of violating the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and helping to fuel an opioid crisis that kills an average of eight New Jerseyans a day. The company deceptively portrayed its painkillers as "safer, milder and less addictive" than those of its competitors and expanded its market by deliberately targeting the elderly and those with little knowledge of opioids, according to the lawsuit. It sought to convince doctors and patients that its drugs were not just for short-term relief, but long-term treatment of chronic pain. Voter guide: Who cares more about corporations than your kid on opioids? | Editorial "New Jersey's pharmaceutical industry is the envy of the world, with a long history of developing vital, life-saving drugs," Grewal said. "But we cannot turn a blind eye when a New Jersey company violates the law and threatens the lives of our residents." No. Janssen also promoted the debunked theory of "pseudoaddiction," the AG says, falsely claiming that signs of opioid addiction were actually symptoms of being undertreated for pain, and simply required more opioids. And it marketed its drugs through websites that appeared independent but were really just a front for the company, and in aggressive visits to doctors. Among the many victims were public employees and state taxpayers. One patient on the state health plan reportedly got the equivalent of a daily, more than seven-and-a-half-year supply of Janssen's opioids within a single year, costing more than $48,000 - prescriptions written by a doctor who had been visited hundreds of times by Janssen salespeople. New Jersey is not the only state suing Big Pharma over exploitive behavior, but it's the only one known as "the medicine chest of the world" for being a central spoke of the industry. Grewal's lawsuit sends a strong warning: New Jersey can't be bought. It's the opposite of Trumpland, where industry sharks get appointed to federal agencies like the Education Department, then shut down fraud investigations into the shady for-profit colleges where they once worked. Grewal's message is most welcome: We'll do all we can to attract the companies that power our state's economy. But prey on our residents with unscrupulous business practices, and we'll take you straight to court. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. A lot of my fellow journalists are upset that CNN's Jim Acosta was banned from White House press conferences. Not me. I would prefer that all press conferences be restricted to the press, by which I mean the print media. I've been a print journalist since before Acosta entered kindergarten. For the first five years or so of my career I never attended a press conference that included TV and radio people. That made for a much more informative interchange between journalists and politicians. The reporters wanted simply to have their questions answered. The answers could then be incorporated into an article. Not so with the TV guys. All too often the TV journalist is more concerned with turning the press conference into a talk show in which he serves as the host. If the guest says something the host dislikes, the host feels obligated to correct him. Acosta is one of the worst offenders. I happened to be watching that exchange that got him banned with my wife, a former newspaper reporter. Even before that tussle over the microphone began we both said the same thing: He's not asking a question. He's giving a lecture. "I want to challenge you on one of the statements that you made in the tail end of the campaign," Acosta said. He then launched into an attack on Trump for calling that migrant caravan in Mexico an "invasion" in the run-up to the mid-terms. (BELOW: Here is how a real journalist asks a tough question - as a question, not a lecture. If Gov. Murphy wanted to dodge the question, that was his problem, not mine.) "As you know, Mr. President, the caravan was not an invasion," Acosta said. After Trump responded, "Thank you for telling me that. I appreciate it," Acosta should have let the microphone go to one of the many reporters who had real questions to ask. Instead he went into a harangue that was followed by a question on a different subject. That ended only when he got into a tugging match with a White House intern who wanted to take the microphone and give it to one of the many other journalists waiting to ask their questions. Now he's suing to get his White House credentials back. But he's not getting any sympathy from the dean of print media in Washington. At an event in Florida, Bob Woodward said too many media figures quote, "have become emotionally unhinged." Woodward said, "the remedy isn't suing the administration....it's more serious reporting about what he's doing." A sage thought. Instead of serious reporting, too many media types believe it is their responsibility to lecture Trump on his choice of terms. Trump got a similar scolding from the media for using the terms "Pocahontas" and "anchor babies." He dismissed the latter by asking the questioner, "You want me to be politically correct?" I certainly don't. In other countries it's the politicians who try to enforce speech codes on the media. Only in America do the media try to enforce speech codes on the politicians. It's not the job of the reporter to tell politicians which terms they should use. The reporter's job is to faithfully report the politician's words and let the reader decide which are objectionable. We opinion writers can then weigh in as well on the politician's choice of words. I'll pass. I can't think of any rule that could be applied to politicians that couldn't be applied equally to us ink-stained (or pixel-stained) wretches. Imagine the late, great Hunter S. Thompson adhering to such a code. Though his politics were liberal, Thompson wrote books on politics in which every page contained words not mentionable on television. Here's a passage in which he described the crowd at a Bill Clinton victory party in 1992: "They were mainly Arkansas people, beady-eyed drunks and depraved-looking country lawyers and stylish blondes with huge pointed (slang word for "breasts") and tortured honky-tonk eyes." Thompson died in 2005. But if he had stuck around for the Trump era I suspect he would have responded to Trump's colorful language with language even more colorful. But then he was a lifelong print journalist and he had no liking for the talking heads of television. If those talking heads were all kept out of press conferences, we'd get a lot less posturing and a lot more questions on the issues of the day. That would be a better world, but I don't expect to see it. Once those TV guys get a hold of the microphone, they don't want to ever let go. BELOW: The video of the press conference at which CNN's Jim Acosta hogs the microphone. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and two other senators sought to stave off what they warned would be a "constitutional crisis" by forcing a vote on legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller. The effort went for naught Wednesday as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blocked debate on the bipartisan measure co-sponsored by Booker, D-N.J. The bill would make it harder to dismiss the special counsel investigating possible collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russian officials failed Wednesday on the Senate floor. "There is a urgency to uphold an idea and principle that no one, not a congressperson, not a senator, not a mayor, not a governor, no one in this country is above the law," Booker said on the Senate floor. "This is a reasonable, modest check and balance on presidential power." Under the bill, Mueller could only be fired only for good cause by a senior Justice Department official under reasons given in writing. He would have 10 days to appeal his dismissal to a federal judge. Booker and U.S. Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., tried to act in response to Trump's dismissal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The bill earlier passed the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee. Trump bypassed Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who had been overseeing the investigation, and instead named Matthew Whitaker to take over the Justice Department and the probe. Whitaker has been critical of the investigation and lawmakers have expressed concern that he will dismiss Mueller or severely restrict his activities. "With the firing of the attorney general, and, in my view, the improper installation of an acting attorney general - who has not been subject to confirmation by this body - the president now has this investigation in his sites, and we all know it, Flake said. Flake, who made the motion that McConnell blocked, said he would not support the confirmation of any more federal judges until the bill is voted on. With the Republicans holding just a two-seat majority in the Senate, a second Republican holdout could doom Trump's chances of continuing to fill the federal judiciary with conservative justices for the remainder of the year. 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 day after former Gov. Chris Christie stole the spotlight in Atlantic City at an annual event that draws thousands of officials, lobbyists and business leaders, current Gov. Phil Murphy took a victory lap and some swipes at his predecessor. Murphy, a Democrat, touted his first 10 months in office in New Jersey, citing how he restored funding to Planned Parenthood, enacted an equal pay law and sick leave for workers, toughened the state's already strict gun laws and expanded voter registration in the state. Christie, a Republican, opposed many of those measures when the state's Democrat-controlled Legislature sent bills to his desk over the last decade. "There is no denying we have put our state on an entirely new path," Murphy said during a speech at the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities conference at the Atlantic City Convention Center. "We have pointed ourselves in a new direction -- one that makes our future brighter, more prosperous, safer, and fairer for everyone," he added. "We are undoing, bit by bit, the poor decisions of the past that were made in the name of political ambition, and are replacing them with sound policies educated by listening and a desire to simply do the right thing." While condemning the "spectacle we see daily in Washington," Murphy again took a not-so-subtle jab at Christie, who was known for his brash governing style. "We will not reflect the hyper-partisanship that has eroded our national dialogue," Murphy said. "The name-calling is in our past." Christie mostly avoided the League's annual conference for the eight years he was governor and the nearly seven he spent before that as U.S. attorney. But he was here Wednesday for the 103rd installment to deliver a speech on one of the issues he's most passionate about: fighting the opioid addiction epidemic affecting the U.S. Christie told a group of Morris County Republicans that the issue has "gone off the front page in New Jersey since I left" and that leaders are not talking about it enough now. "And that's shameful," Christie said. Murphy fired back Thursday. "Any notion that tackling this epidemic has become a lesser priority is completely and utterly wrong-headed," the new governor said. "Solving this is a daily, evidence-based grind." Though Murphy did cancel the high-profile anti-opioid ad campaign that Christie once starred in, he also pledged to spend $100 million in state dollars on fighting addiction. Meanwhile, Murphy's administration announced this week it's suing a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson for allegedly using "deceptive marketing" and helping fuel the state's opioid epidemic. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. If Chris Christie really is a contender to become America's next attorney general under President Donald Trump, he hasn't heard from the White House about it. At least that's what the former New Jersey governor said Wednesday. Such was Christie's coy message Wednesday after reports surfaced saying he's on the short list to be the full-time replacement for former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who resigned under pressure from Trump last week. Surrounded by reporters shortly after delivering a surprise speech in Atlantic City, Christie was asked if Trump's administration has reached out to him about the position. "No," the ex-governor said. "I read the papers," Christie added. "I know the position's open. No one needs to tell me." But would he take the position? "The only person I owe that answer to is the president of the United States, and he hasn't asked," Christie told reporters after his speech at the New Jersey League of Municipalities' annual conference in Atlantic City. "And, if he asks, I'll answer like I always do." Christie has worked as a private lawyer and a political analyst for ABC News since finishing his second and final term as New Jersey governor in January. He said Wednesday: "I love my life that I have right now." "I'm more relaxed than I have been in 16 years," Christie added. "(Wife) Mary Pat and I are enjoying our time." "I love my country and I've always been willing to serve, but I'm not somebody out campaigning," he concluded. Would he ever say "never" to the job? "I don't think you ever say 'never' to a president," Christie said. "If a president calls, you take the call and you listen. If it works for you, you say, 'Yes.' If it doesn't work for you, you say, 'No.'" Christie has said in the past that while he turned down other jobs in Trump's administration, he'd be interested in becoming attorney general, the top law-enforcement official in the U.S. Trump, a fellow Republican, passed over Christie, a former federal prosecutor, in favor of Sessions as he took office as president last year. Sessions resigned last week at Trump's request, and the president chose Session's chief of staff, Matt Whitaker, as acting attorney general. Trump said last week that while he likes Christie, he hasn't spoken to him about becoming A.G. and that his administration was "looking at other people." If Trump nominated Christie, he'd still need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before assuming the post. If chosen as Sessions' full-time successor, Christie would oversee special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has been heavily critical of the probe, dismissing it as a "witch hunt." But Christie has often defended Mueller, whom he worked with while Mueller was director of the FBI and Christie was New Jersey's U.S. attorney. Christie was asked Wednesday if his support of Mueller might hurt his chances of becoming A.G. "I have no idea," Christie said. "My job is to tell the truth and answer them as I know it and believe it. And I always found Bob Mueller to be a person of integrity and honesty and a hard worker. And he deserves great credit for the fact that there has been absolutely no leaking out of that operation." Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. A man was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison Wednesday for killing his girlfriend and her daughter nearly three years ago. Ramon Cadiz, of Raritan, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of murder. He admitted that he fatally beat Sandra Guiseppe, 51, and Kim Streath, 15, in their home on First Avenue in the Borough on Dec. 11, 2015. Previous reports state Cadiz, who also went by "Ray," was angry about money and was falling behind on the rent before he killed Guiseppe, a single mother of two, and Streath, a sophomore at Somerset County Vo-Tec. After killing the two, Cadiz was found the next morning sleeping in his car in North Brunswick and arrested. Judge Robert Reed sentenced Cadiz in Superior Court in Somerville. Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains will host a presentation on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. by V. Lakshmi, author of "Finding Your Way When Life Changes Your Plans: A Memoir of Adoption, Loss of Motherhood and Rediscovering Home." Sponsored by the synagogue's Sisterhood, the event is free and open to the community. The book is a cross-cultural, adoptive-family love story. Born in a remote village in India, Lakshmi was adopted and raised by a white Jewish family in America. In her memoir, she writes about the emotions surrounding adoption and describes her encounters with racism. The book also relates Lakshmi's struggles to cope with, and ultimately accept, her own feminine health issues that led to her loss of motherhood, including endometriosis, infertility, failed adoption and hysterectomy. "As Jews and as women, we have so many shared experiences, yet the conversations sometimes never happen," said Lisa Melville, Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood president. "V's story will resonate with everyone in some way, as well as expand our sense of community, connectedness, and Jewish identity." The couple became the latest in a long line of buyers paying big dollars for condo units in the building, which is known as No. 9 Walton. Less than a week earlier, Sara Lurie, daughter of philanthropist Ann Lurie and her late husband, Bob, paid $5.725 million for a four-bedroom, 4,776-square-foot unit on the 22nd floor that is directly below the Books new unit. Spirit Airlines is adding nonstop flights from New Orleans to Denver and Philadelphia in 2019. The low-cost airline said Thursday (Nov. 15) it plans to operate daily nonstop flights between Louis Armstrong International Airport and Denver International Airport starting in February. Flights to Philadelphia International Airport will be seasonal and operate four times a week starting in May. This is the second new route announcement this week for Spirit Airlines in New Orleans. The airline said Wednesday it plans to start daily nonstop flights to Austin in early 2019. Austin is a new destination for Spirit, which, up until now, only had Dallas and Houston as its Texas destinations. Spirit has seen steady growth in New Orleans, starting flights to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Columbus, Ohio, earlier this year. Roughly 290,000 travelers have flown into New Orleans on a Spirit flight so far this year, up 64 percent from last year, according to New Orleans airport data updated Sept. 30. Spirit operates just under 10 percent of all flights in and out of the city, up from last year, but still small slice compared to Southwest Airlines, the airports largest airline. Southwest operates more than a third of the citys commercial flights. The additions comes as the New Orleans airport prepares to open its new terminal, which will completely replace the existing airport facility. The new terminal is expected to open in May 2019. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Flights to Denver and Austin start Feb. 14, 2019, in time for Mardi Gras Day, which falls on March 5 next year. Seasonal flights to Philadelphia start May 2, 2019. Spirit adding daily nonstop flight from New Orleans to Austin Jennifer Larino covers residential real estate, retail and consumer news, travel and cruises, weather and other aspects of life in New Orleans for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Reach her at jlarino@nola.com or 504-239-1424. Follow her on Twitter @jenlarino. Apparently high on drugs and upset over his mothers fatal overdose, a Slidell man shot his wife, carjacked and killed a man and was later fatally wounded while trying to rob an acquaintance at an apartment complex last week, Slidell authorities said Thursday, providing the first details about the bizarre triple shooting that occurred between Thursday night (Nov. 8) and Friday morning (Nov. 9). Dead are Joshua Cox, 29, and Christopher Evans, 38, both of the Slidell area. Cox shot and killed Evans while carjacking Evans at Monaco and Queens drives shortly after Cox shot his wife, who is expected to survive, police said. Cox was later fatally wounded during an encounter with an acquaintance at an apartment complex on Lee Street, police said. Police Chief Randy Fandal told reporters Thursday (Nov. 15) the series of violent events isnt the norm for this community. The common thread in everything that took place was drugs, Fandal said. We have a horrible situation with the heroin problem in this area, he said. The odd sequence of events began to unfold when officers received a 10:15 p.m. call Nov. 8 about a drug overdose on Gwen Drive. When Cox learned of his mothers death, he asked his wife to drive him to Slidell Memorial Hospital to see her, Fandal said. On the way to the hospital, the couple got into an argument and Cox shot her once in the chest while she was driving. The shooting occurred at or near the hospital, and Cox dropped his wife off there and fled, a police department spokesman said. The woman remains hospitalized and is expected to survive, police said. Around midnight, Cox encountered Evans, who was working on his girlfriends Chevy Tahoe near Monaco and Queens drives. Cox abandoned his Kia Forte down the street and apparently tried to carjack Evans and drive a different vehicle in an effort to evade police, Fandal said. At some point, Cox shot Evans in the head and drove off in the Chevy with Evans' body inside, according to police. Investigators arent sure what Cox did or where he was between midnight and about 4:30 a.m. Nov. 9, when gunshots were reported at the apartment complex on Lee Street. There, officers found Cox with a gunshot wound to the abdomen; he died the following day. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Police believe Jamile Robinson, 26, who lives at the apartment complex and knew Cox, shot Cox in self-defense inside his apartment. Cox apparently went there to rob and/or kill Robinson, Fandal said. While investigating at the apartment complex, officers found car keys inside the pants that had been worn by Cox and left at the scene by paramedics. They determined the keys were to a Chevy Tahoe at the complex, where officers made the shocking discovery of Evans' body inside, Fandal said. Evans' girlfriend told authorities she had been frantically searching for him after he failed to pick her up from her workplace at midnight as planned. Robinson was not booked in the shooting of Cox, but he was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and a probation violation. This is a very unfortunate series of events that resulted in three people losing their lives, Fandal said. The common denominator in this . . . is narcotics. All of this started over drugs, which led to bad, irrational decisions being made by Cox. Fandal said of Cox: I think it is safe to say he was under the influence of drug use. The chief said the community must do all it can to solve the problem of opioid addiction. What happened last week is a direct result of how local communities and families are ruined by the use of narcotics. Mayor Greg Cromer said the shootings were atypical for our community, noting that the city had recorded only three homicides in 2018 prior to last weeks events. Cox was no stranger to law enforcement, Fandal said. St. Tammany Parish court records show that Cox, since 2007, has pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace, possession of a Schedule IV drug, second-degree battery, theft under $300, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Some in the Queens Drive neighborhood Thursday were unaware of the carjacking that had taken place there last week, suggesting that it must have happened at some other Queens street in the area. One woman, however, said she was told about the incident. She described the neighborhood as serene, saying, "Its quiet, mostly older, retired people. Its definitely shocking. Police arrested a 39-year-old man suspected of firing a gun at another mans head after demanding drug money early Saturday (Nov. 10) in Algiers, according to an arrest warrant. Jamaal Williams was charged with attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and simple battery, police said. Around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, police met with a man in the 4600 block of General De Gaulle Drive (map) who told them that another man known as Black pointed a handgun at him and demanded money for $20 worth of crack cocaine, police said. The man told the armed man, later identified as Williams, that he had previously paid for the drugs and didnt have any money on him, according to the warrant. After the man finished talking to the police and started to walk back to his apartment, Williams approached the man again, police said. Williams pulled out his gun again, pointed it at the mans head and fired once, according to the warrant. The bullet missed the mans head. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up He then walked with the man back to his apartment, said he had no where else to go and asked to sleep at the mans apartment, police said. The man let Williams inside his apartment and they both began to argue, police said. When Williams pulled out his gun for the third time, the man tried to grab the gun from him. Williams then struck the man in the face with his gun and the man started to bleed above his left eye, according to the warrant. When police arrived back at the scene, Williams was arguing with the man. As officers arrested Williams, he was very uncooperative and verbally resistant, according to the warrant. Williams bond was set at $35,000. He was appointed a public defender, according to court records. Two men were booked in connection with a carjacking and three armed robberies that occurred over the course of three days in St. Roch, Mid City and the Seventh Ward, court records show. Police used descriptions by victims, cellphone records and surveillance footage to track down and identify the duo days after their crime spree. The first robbery occurred Nov. 6 around 2:16 p.m. when four unknown men approached the order window of the Tacos Tampico food truck located in the 2500 block of Elysian Fields Avenue in St. Roch. One man asked how long it took to serve tacos. When the employee responded, Five minutes, a different man jumped halfway through the narrow window, pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the employees and demanded money. The Tacos Tampicos employees handed over roughly $1,600, while the other three man stood on lookout. The employees noted one of the robbers had an Ace bandage on his arm. Later that night, two men carjacked and robbed a man near the intersection of Columbus and North Dorgenois streets in the Seventh Ward. The duo surrounded a white Chevrolet Silverado. One of the men aimed a black revolver at the driver and told the him to get out of the truck and hand over his wallet. The man exited the car and the men fled in the truck. Then, on Nov. 7 around 3 a.m., a man was robbed at gunpoint by two men at Fin McCools in Mid City. The man handed over two cellphones, car and house keys and his wallet. The duo then fled. The robbed man noticed one of the men had a cast on his right arm. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up A day later, on Nov. 8 around 12:50 a.m., a man was robbed of his cellphone and cash by two men one armed with a handgun near the intersection of Marias and Columbus streets in the Seventh Ward. According to surveillance video of the robbery later reviewed by detectives, the robbers pulled up the location in a white truck matching the description of the truck stolen in the Nov. 6 carjacking. The man from the Nov. 8 robbery tracked his cellphone to Wagners Meat Market in the 3200 of St. Claude Avenue in St. Claude. Police reviewed surveillance footage from this location, observing the white truck pull up and two men exit the car. Later that night, police noticed the stolen white truck and two men meeting the descriptions of the assailants in the previous days robberies near the intersection of Pauger and North Miro streets in the Seventh Ward. When officers attempted to apprehend the suspects, they fled. After setting up a perimeter in the area, police located Charles White, 24, who later admitted to his involvement in the carjacking and armed robberies with an accomplice known as Hustler Man." Police later identified that accomplice as Tyrone Brown, 32. Both White and Brown were charged with five counts of armed robbery and one count of armed robbery with a firearm for a total bond of $300,000 each. Less than a year ago, White pled guilty to weapons and domestic battery charges, but Brown does not appear to have any past convictions in Orleans Parish. It was not immediately clear if police were pursuing or had leads on the other two men involved in the Nov. 6 food truck robbery. Investigators are searching for a second man wanted in the September shooting death of an employee during a robbery at a Little Woods gas station, New Orleans police said Wednesday (Nov. 14). Frank Sams Jr., 25, is wanted on a charge of second-degree murder in the early Sept. 18 killing at the Fuel Express Mart, 7220 Hayne Blvd., in New Orleans East. Another man, Farnell Jackson Jr., who turned 19 last month, is also accused of second-degree murder in the shooting. Jackson turned himself in to the NOPDs 4th District station on Sept. 19, after seeing photos of himself published by local media, police said. The NOPD had released surveillance images from the gas station. The robbery and shooting occurred about 1:20 a.m. Responding officers found the employee, identified as 58-year-old Olah Bessid, fatally shot inside of the gas station. Bessid was behind the counter when two men entered the store in a robbery attempt. He died at the scene, authorities said. According to Orleans Parish court records, Sams has failed to make several scheduled court appearances, stretching back to June and continuing through Wednesday, when he failed to appear for a probation status hearing. Sams was sentenced in June 2017 to five years of probation in connection with a 2014 guilty plea to marijuana and gun-related charges, court records show. His probation status hearing has been rescheduled for Dec. 12. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Frank Sams Jr. is asked to call NOPD Homicide Detective Everett Briscoe at 504-658-5300 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. 1 of 2 suspects arrested in fatal shooting during gas station robbery: NOPD The man accused of shooting a 15-year-old girl inside of an abandoned Algiers home had been sexually abusing her for several years, with at least some of the acts occurring in the same vacated house on Thayer Street, arrest documents said. Eric Irons, 20, was booked last week with aggravated battery after police say he shot the teen in the chest Nov. 4 in the 400 block of Thayer Street. Irons was rebooked Tuesday (Nov. 13) after the teen told investigators that Irons had repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with her, according to documents for Irons arrest. He is accused of sexual battery, carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with juveniles, all felonies. The crimes occurred between March 31 and Nov. 4, states an affidavit for the arrest warrant sworn by NOPD Special Victims Section/Child Abuse Unit Detective Charles Augustus Jr. Though the new charges stem from occurrences this year, the 15-year-old told investigators that Irons had begun a sexual relationship with her three years ago. During an interview Monday at the New Orleans Childrens Advocacy Center, the teen said she met Irons when she was 12 and he was 16. When she was 13 and Irons was 17, the two had oral sex inside of an abandoned house in the 400 block of Thayer Street, the teen told investigators. According to the affidavit, the relationship continued. Within the past year, the now 20-year-old Irons had sex with the girl, now 15, in the abandoned house. The shooting occurred about 1:15 a.m. Nov. 4, after Irons again had the teen meet him at the vacant home to perform oral sex, the warrant states. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up At the house, an argument began between the two, and Irons allegedly pulled a gun from his backpack, pointed it at the girl and squeezed the trigger. The girl was struck in the upper chest. Irons fled, police said. The girl apparently went to a nearby home in the 1300 block of Eliza Street and was then taken to a hospital by EMS. She was released from the hospital Nov. 8, according to the warrant, which does not elaborate on her injuries from the shooting. Irons was booked Nov. 7 into the Orleans Justice Center jail, where he remains with bond set at $80,000 on the aggravated battery charge and $15,000 on the three sex-crimes charges. The court also issued a stay-away order in the case, Orleans Parish court records show. Irons' court-appointed attorney has since filed a motion to reduce his bond for the aggravated battery charge. A Nov. 28 hearing is scheduled to determine whether Irons bond will be reduced. Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayunes Hanna Krueger contributed to this report. Man accused of shooting 15-year-old girl in Algiers Praline Connection, the soul food restaurant that has long anchored Frenchmen Street, has been sold and will move to the French Quarter, reports The New Orleans Advocate. Aaron Motwani, who runs the Willies Chicken Shack chain and also a local Halal Guys franchise, bought the business. He will close the nearly 30-year-old Frenchmen Street location on Nov. 26 and reopen the Praline Connection at 301 Decatur St. on Nov. 30. Motwani is the son of real estate developer Kishore Mike Motwani, who owns a large amount of real estate around the French Quarter. Aaron Motwani told the Advocate that his father was not involved in the Praline Connection purchase. Motwani hopes to open more Praline Connection locations in Louisiana and around the country. Correction: The original version of this story gave an incorrect address for the new French Quarter location of Praline Connection. See the original story at the New Orleans Advocate. A New Orleans school counselor is asking for jackets after seeing students show up to class this week in short sleeves in 40-degree weather. Just this morning I had a kindergartener come into the building with only a T-shirt on, said Nekira Williams, the school counselor at ReNEW Schaumburg Elementary in New Orleans East, Thursday morning (Nov. 15). The family told her thats all they had for the child. The school serves students PK-4 through 8th grade and was hit hard by a tornado last year. The early cold snap has left some of the students' families unprepared in terms of winter clothing and the expenses related to it. Williams said shes hoping to get at least 30 jackets donated by the end of the school day Thursday before the students leave for Thanksgiving break, but the school will gladly take donations after Thanksgiving as well. The school is in need of jackets sizes 4/5T to adult large for boys and girls. New and used jackets are welcome. The school has a washer and dryer on campus and Williams said she can get donations cleaned within a day. Donations will be accepted at two drop-off points: Uptown at ReNEW McNair campus 1607 S. Carollton Ave. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. New Orleans East at ReNEW Schaumburg campus 12000 Hayne Boulevard 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Students are in class Thursday and out Friday for a teacher development day. The schools are closed all next week for Thanksgiving. Anyone with questions about donating jackets should call Williams at 504-304-1532. Williams and ReNEW school spokesman Scott Satchfield said any extra jackets will be given to students in need at ReNEW schools. Correction: A photo with this story previously misidentified the school location. Carlie Kollath Wells is a morning reporter at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Have an early-bird tip? Send it to her: cwells@nola.com or Twitter @carlie_kollath. Fourteen parents of Jefferson Parish public school students have been appointed to a new advisory council, an initiative of Superintendent Cade Brumley to solicit advice on educating almost 50,000 pupils in Louisianas largest school system. Its members held their first meeting Friday (Nov. 9). Strong parent collaboration is one of the most important components in helping all students achieve their academic goals, said Brumley, who started work March 26. Not only do we need parents to partner with our schools, but we need avenues like this council where we can understand their concerns at the district level. The parent advisory council is one tool Brumley is using to improve the C-rated school system. Among others, he convened a teacher advisory council in October. These 20 teachers are advising Cade Brumley, Jefferson schools superintendent At Fridays meeting, some of the topics discussed were teacher communication, the academic calendar, dress code, public perception of the school system and what factors keep families from choosing Jefferson public schools for their children, Brumleys office said. An estimated one-fourth to one-third of Jefferson families, one of the highest percentages in the United States, send their children to private schools. Members of parent advisory council, identified by the school their child attends, are: Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Tabbatha Arnold -- Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High See Jefferson Parish elementary schools grades and performance scores See Jefferson Parish middle school grades and performance scores See Jefferson Parish high school grades and performance scores . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and education, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. There is no shortage of high drama in this opening. Chef Mari Katsumura is the daughter of the late Yoshi Katsumura, of Yoshis Cafe, and Nobuko Katsumura, who continues to run her late husbands restaurant. This will be Mari Katsumuras first stint as head chef, though she has enjoyed a strong reputation for her pastry work over the years. The news that a North Dakota woman died after eating raw oysters in New Orleans has revived questions about the risks of this popular seafood. So, how dangerous is it to slurp down a raw oyster? It depends, according to a report by WWNO. People with weakened immune systems have a very high mortality rate after eating raw oysters with Vibrio vulnificus, a common marine bacteria and the likely culprit in the North Dakota womans death, health scientist Fred Lopez told the station. As other Gulf states struggle to revive oysters, Louisiana makes strides Other factors that increase risk: alcoholism, cancer, diabetes and eating raw oysters during warm-weather months, when Vibrio thrives. This is why many locals dont eat oysters during months that dont have a letter R in their name -- May to August. While raw oysters arent considered 100 percent safe, illness is still very rare at least for now. Climate change is warming the Gulf of Mexicos waters, increasing the likelihood of harmful levels of Vibrio in oysters. Read and listen to WWNOs full report. Cross your fingers Rolling Stone fans. Some clues have surfaced that suggest Mick, Keith and company might be headlining the 50th anniversary Jazz Fest. Nothings official and event organizers arent talking, but theres room for optimism. Heres what we know. An enormous banner bearing the lurid lips of the Rolling Stone logo has appeared on the side of Broncos Stadium in Denver, leading reporters for Denvers 9News website to surmise that the venerable rockers are heading to the mile high city sometime in the spring. And if the Stones are going to Denver, why not Gentilly? The Broncos Stadium banner is a fact. What follows is merely speculation. The Rolling Stones fan club website has been so bold as to list the New Orleans Jazz Fest as the May 2 stop on the bands spring tour schedule. That unofficial, unattributed rumor dovetails nicely with the news last week that Jazz Fest has added an eighth day to the 2019 schedule. May 2 is the Thursday before the second weekend of Jazz Fest, which is a less expensive locals day at the festival. But this year, locals day has been moved to April 25. The complete fest dates are April 25-28 and May 2-5. New Orleans Jazz Fest 2019 adding an extra day From the start, we speculated that the Stones would be the perfect act to take Jazz Fest into its next 50 years (we also proposed Beyonce, Paul McCartney and ABBA), but there was no real reason to believe it was possible until now. When we called a Jazz Fest representative to seek confirmation of an appearance by the Stones, we were politely told that no such announcement would be made until December. ESPN's Keith Olbermann thinks Doug MacCash should be fired. Here's what MacCash thinks. The last time I saw the Stones was in 1981 at the Superdome. Were you at the Tattoo You tour too? Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream. Ban the bean counters for now; its time to dream. If money were no obstacle, what one public project or program would be best for Jefferson Parish? Parish President Mike Yenni and Parish Council Chairwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng were questioned about their dream projects at a Jefferson Chamber luncheon Wednesday (Nov. 14). Nows your turn to fantasize, freed from the quotidian constraints of money. Write your suggestions in the comment stream of this story. If money were no obstacle, heres what Mike Yenni and Cynthia Lee-Sheng would do To prime the pump, would you: Elevate more houses above the flood plain? Dont be limited to those ideas. Use them, instead, to stimulate your own thinking. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up At Bucktown Harbor, a new vision for recreation Jefferson government plans to spend $652 million on public services in 2019. Most of it goes for the annual humdrum installments of things such as drainage, sewerage and streets. But forget about the number. If money were no obstacle, what one public project or program would be best? Were looking forward to your suggestions in the comments stream. Lets try to minimize the snark, OK? . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and education, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. New Orleans is rich in civil rights history. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s Southern Christian Leadership Conference was formed at New Zion Baptist Church on Third Street on Feb. 14, 1957. A photo of 6-year-old Ruby Bridges integrating William Frantz Elementary School on Nov. 14, 1960, became an iconic image of the push for freedom. The young protesters Rudy Lombard, Lanny Goldfinch, Cecil Carter Jr. and Oretha Castle who held a sit-in at the McCrorys lunch counter on Canal Street in 1963 became the faces of a lawsuit decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. There are dozens of other civil rights heroes who put their lives at risk for the cause of freedom. Their stories deserve to be memorialized in a civil rights museum in New Orleans, as the state promised almost 20 years ago they would be. For now, the Latitude team at NOLA.com wants to help tell those stories. If you took part in marches or protests or someone in your family did, tell us about it. Send your story to latitude@nola.com or call 504-826-3433. Terri Troncale is the editor of the Latitude team at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Latitude is a place to share opinions about the challenges facing Louisiana. Follow @LatitudeNOLA on Facebook and Twitter. Write Terri at ttroncale@nola.com. 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 A task force searching for ways to fund courts with tax money instead of fines and fees wants to draft some hard recommendations by the end of the month, though it has only a fraction of the information it has requested. Such consistency isnt possible, or even desired, with stouts aged in bourbon barrels. The genre pioneered in Chicago and celebrated this weekend at the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer is responsible for some of the most interesting and sought-after brews in the industry, precisely because they arent the same with every release. Layoff notices have been issued at the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility project, according to a person familiar with the matter as well as communication obtained by the Aiken Standard. Project management delivered the first round of Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification act notices on Thursday, Nov. 8, according to internal bulletins issued by David Del Vecchio, the MOX Services president. The process, contacting the batch of employees affected, took hours. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, NNSA chief attended White House MOX meeting Both U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and National Nuclear Security Administration chief Lisa Gordon-Hagerty attended and participated in a "I understand completely that this is a very stressful time for everyone," one of Del Vecchio's messages reads, "and ask that you please remain focused on your safety and your assigned work." It is not immediately clear how many workers the imperiled project employs roughly 1,700 people were set to receive WARN notices on Thursday. One MOX worker, who the Aiken Standard has been in contact with, described the Thursday morning scene at MOX as "depressing." "People are just sitting around waiting to see if they get a notice today or not," the person said. "It's like a messed up lottery." According to Del Vecchio's initial message, a second communication would be sent out when everyone in the first layoff round had been notified. That communication, also obtained by the Aiken Standard, was pushed out around 4 p.m. The WARN act is a labor law that requires major employers to notify staff of mass layoffs or plant closures ahead of time. The WARN act affords workers 60 day's notice. Del Vecchio, in a prior employee-bound message, has said MOX layoffs would come in waves. The subsequent schedule, though, is unclear. Del Vecchio has also said those laid off in the first round will not leave the project until after Jan. 1, 2019. The project president on Thursday said the employee exit process will happen "during days 61 through 74." That process includes securing one's last paycheck and turning in one's badge. MOX Services is the prime contractor for the MOX project, an effectively dead and incomplete nuclear venture at the Savannah River Site. MOX, once complete, was designed to turn weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for commercial reactors. Federal appeals court upholds plutonium removal order from 2017 A federal appeals court has affirmed a lower court's injunction requiring the U.S. Department of Energy to remove weapons-grade plutonium from After months of trying, and an intricate legal back-and-forth, the National Nuclear Security Administration executed MOX contract termination on Oct. 10. U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has repeatedly expressed his contempt for the project it's over budget, behind schedule, and there's a better, cheaper alternative, he's said. Meanwhile, the NNSA and the U.S. Department of Defense want to turn MOX into a plutonium pit production hub. The NNSA-DOD joint wish was made in May. Plutonium pits are nuclear weapon cores. The NNSA and the DOD want to produce them at SRS and at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. It will take about one year of work to fully mothball MOX, according to a NNSA statement of work, an official document that lays out expected closure timelines. The Aiken Standard obtained that document, which was attached to the NNSA's MOX termination notice, last month. Questions posed to the NNSA about the layoffs were redirected to project contractors. Now, about the traditional pour. In Spain, pouring txakoli usually ends up being a brief moment of spontaneous theater. To pour like a Spaniard, hold the bottle high, at least at shoulder height, and aim for a glass below. A good way to try this time-honored tradition is to rely on a simple speed-pourer spout, which delivers a stream as precise as a tight piece of string. Once you get comfortable with that, graduate to free-style and pour straight from the bottle first from shoulder height with a glass on a table or countertop (or over your sink as I did when I tasted the wines below), eventually working your way up to full arm extensions with a bottle held high in one hand and a glass in the other. Of course, theres always the porron, a decanter of sorts with a spout for pouring streams of wine into glasses or more fun waiting mouths. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Theres also a surprising amount of conversation regarding the provenance and ownership of most priceless museum artifacts, stolen here, relocated there, in ethically dubious circumstances. The films shift in focus and rhythm at the midpoint may throw some viewers off track. It worked for me, though. Museo is the work of a genuinely creative directorial talent, and the early family scenes, richly detailed and shrewdly acted, provide just the right emotional context for this squabbling, indecisive gang of two. I heard Andrew Yang, the founder of Venture for America (a kind of private equity version of Teach for America) and a long-shot Democratic Presidential candidate for 2020, speak this week in Rhode Island. Yang argued that everyone in Silicon Valley well knows that the manufacturing jobs wiped out in Midwestern states were just the beginning. Within just a few years almost certainly within your lifetime most human jobs in retail, food service and trucking are also about to disappear, with humans supplanted by either robotics or some version of artificial intelligence. These are the job categories that employ the majority of Americans, a majority of whom still do not graduate from college. This change coming very soon will, Yang argued, provoke a crisis of social unrest in the traditional manufacturing states of such a unprecedented scale that it needs to be anticipated now. And its not as simple as retraining workers: retraining for what jobs? At Barack Obama 's two inaugural ceremonies, she saw diversity and "a representation of America." On January 20, 2017, she saw something else. "When I sat on that stage, I saw sameness. That was the first time it struck me that this is going to be different. And then I listened to the speech and I said, 'This is going to be really different.' And my heart sunk." The Museum of Arts and Design and Sterling Ruby have worked out what might be called an equitable exchange of power. With the exhibition Sterling Ruby: Ceramics, the museum raises its game while the artist tones his down a welcome step on both counts. Once named the American Craft Museum, the Museum of Arts and Design remains craft-haunted, and not in a good way. It presents too much work that is pointlessly fussy, technique-obsessed and uncreative no matter whether you parse it as art, design or craft. It needs to feature more artists who complicate, transcend or decimate these categories. At his best, Mr. Ruby accomplishes all of the above. Its gratifying to see the work of this Los Angeles artist in a relatively modest museum rather than more predictably at the Whitney or the Modern. Hes cooling his jets after a meteoric if bumpy rise during which he cycled across several mediums and through several blue-chip New York galleries in about seven years. Add on Mr. Rubys many collaborations with the designer Raf Simons culminating in projects for Calvin Klein, where Mr. Simons is now creative director, and youve got someone with ambition and talent to burn. Meanwhile, back in the art world, he landed at Gagosian in 2014, which tried him out with shows in its Hong Kong and Paris galleries as if he were on probation before staging a large exhibition of paintings and ceramic sculptures last year in New York. While overcrowded, it was his best here in a while. Its official: 2018 is toxic. Well, lexicographically speaking, at least. Oxford Dictionaries has chosen toxic as its international word of the year, selecting it from a shortlist that included such politically inflected contenders as gaslighting, incel and techlash. Katherine Connor Martin, the companys head of U.S. dictionaries, said there had been a marked uptick of interest in the word on its website over the past year. But the word was chosen less for statistical reasons, she said, than for the sheer variety of contexts in which it has proliferated, from conversations about environmental poisons to laments about todays poisonous political discourse to the #MeToo movement, with its calling out of toxic masculinity. In fact, Martin said, the committee initially considered choosing toxic masculinity, until it realized how widespread toxic itself had become. So many different things, she said, are tied together by the word. Oxfords word of the year is chosen to reflect the ethos, mood or preoccupations of a particular year, but also to highlight that English is always changing. Last years winner, to the consternation of many, was youthquake. In 2016, it was post-truth. A new category, for translated literature, was introduced this year; The Emissary, by Yoko Tawada and translated by Margaret Mitsutani, won the inaugural award. Elizabeth Acevedos novel The Poet X won the award for young peoples literature. Written in verse, the story follows a 15-year-old girl from a Dominican family in Harlem navigating the perils of adolescence and finding solace in her poetry notebook. Justin Phillip Reeds Indecency won the poetry prize. In their citation, the judges praised the collection as a formally explosive work that makes intimacy both refuge and weapon. The prolific Chilean writer Isabel Allende accepted the foundations lifetime achievement award, becoming the first Spanish-language author to receive the prize. The values and principles that sustain our civilization are under siege, she said in her acceptance speech. If we listen to another persons story, if we tell our own story, we start to heal from division and hatred. This years fiction finalists included a mix of experimental fiction from independent publishers like Soho Press and Graywolf (10 of the 25 finalists were books published by small presses), and works by established novelists. The finalists also included Lauren Groff, who was on the shortlist for Florida and had been widely expected to win in 2015; and Rebecca Makkai, the author of three previous books, who was nominated for The Great Believers, about a group of queer friends living in Chicago in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic. Some of the biggest surprises in the fiction category involved not the five writers who made the shortlist, but the critical and commercial darlings who were overlooked. Two of this years most popular and acclaimed novels, There There by Tommy Orange and An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, were longlisted but failed to make the finalist cut. Apart from Wednesdays ceremony, it has generally been a lackluster literary awards season. The Nobel Prize for Literature was canceled this year because of a sexual misconduct scandal that engulfed a prominent man with close ties to the Swedish Academy. The Man Booker Prize, which went to the Northern Irish author Anna Burns for Milkman, did not generate the kind of buzz and controversy it has in previous years. And there have been few breakout debut novels or runaway best-sellers that the literary world has rallied around. Fiction sales over all have slipped while readers have been glued to the nonstop news cycle. If the utility is forced to increase rates sharply, the costs may take an economic toll. Manufacturing companies could choose to move their businesses out of the service area or even the state. Residential customers within the utilitys territory then could be left to cover the costs. This becomes a humongous challenge, Mr. Cooper said. If they try and raise the prices, they may not be able to get them. Should they even be allowed to recover all the cost, if they were guilty of imprudent behavior? PG&E said its liability insurance for the year that began Aug. 1 amounted to $1.4 billion. Lynsey Paulo, a spokeswoman for PG&E, said the utility was focused on helping fight the current wildfires rather than the companys economics. The company has set up a base camp with 800 employees in the area of the Camp Fire, she said, a figure that is expected to grow to 1,000 by the end of the week and could reach 3,000. Were not going to speculate on what may or may not be impacting the stock market, Ms. Paulo said. Critics of the utilities say poor maintenance of power poles and failure to trim vegetation around power lines is a major cause of fires. On a walking tour last spring in San Jose, a former state regulator showed overloaded poles bending under the weight of wires and cables, as well as power lines running through tree foliage. PG&Es safety culture has been the subject of a three-year investigation by the states Public Utilities Commission. The agency is expected to act on the inquirys findings as early as this month. The vehicle is Shot Up Car, an art instillation by Canadian artist Viktor Mitic, and it will travel for three days throughout Chicago beginning Thursday outside New City Fellowship Church in the 1300 block of North Rockwell Street. It will then be on display Friday at City Hall, Millennium Park, The Bean and Grant Park. On Saturday, the exhibit will roll through spots in Wicker Park and Lincoln Park and end up at Wrigley Field. Until the Guzman trial, American prosecutors have never had the chance to publicly lay out what they know about a major Mexican cartel, as they have done with other criminal organizations like Al Qaeda and the Mafia. But Mr. Zambada, who said he worked for the cartel from 1987 until his arrest in 2008, acted as a tour guide of sorts, telling the jury how its operatives would waterproof packages of cocaine in multiple layers of rubber, and once used deep-sea divers to retrieve a shipment that had sunk in a container vessel off the coast of Puerto Vallarta. Having risen through the ranks, from an accountant to becoming the cartels main person in Mexico City, Mr. Zambada seemed to know almost every aspect of the organizations operations: from who ran its plaza in Guerrero to the various names Sapphire, Pacman and Coca-Cola it used to brand its product. In general, Mr. Zambada said, in a nonchalant manner, the cartels cocaine originated in Colombia and was shipped by fast boats to Cancun, where it was brought ashore by a human chain of haulers. From there, he said, it was typically trucked to warehouses in Mexico City often in gas tankers and then moved north to border towns, like Ciudad Juarez and Agua Prieta, to be smuggled into the United States. Image Ismael Zambada Garcia The profits were apparently enormous. Mr. Zambada, who has an accounting degree, testified that a $9 million investment in a 15-ton shipment of cocaine could earn its backers after transportation costs $39 million if sold in Los Angeles. If the same shipment were sold in Chicago, where prices were higher, he explained, the profits would be $48 million. In New York, he said, an investor could see a return of $78 million. INTERNATIONAL An article on Nov. 1 about new research and methods for studying ocean temperatures included a conclusion from a study about ocean warming that is now in doubt. The researchers are working to revise their study because of errors detected in their calculations, and it appears unlikely that they will be able to support their original conclusion that the oceans have warmed an average of 60 percent more per year than the current official estimates by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. An updated version of the article can be read at nytimes.com/climate. CORRECTIONS: November 15, 2018 NATIONAL An article on Wednesday about celebrities who lost houses in wildfires in California erroneously included Shannen Doherty among the actors whose homes were destroyed by the Woolsey Fire. Ms. Doherty said that a home she had described as having burned down belonged to her best friend, and that her home was intact. A picture caption with an article on Wednesday about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attending a protest in Nancy Pelosis office misidentified a freshman member of Congress. She is Veronica Escobar, not Deb Haaland. BUSINESS An article on Wednesday about the University of Minnesotas response to the arrest of the Chinese billionaire Richard Liu misidentified the language on several signs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. They are written using Japanese kanji characters, not Chinese hanzi characters. For more than a year, Facebook has endured cascading crises over Russian misinformation, data privacy and abusive content that transformed the Silicon Valley icon into an embattled giant accused of corporate overreach and negligence. An investigation by The New York Times revealed how Facebook fought back against its critics: with delays, denials and a full-bore campaign in Washington. Here are six takeaways. Facebook knew about Russian interference In fall 2016, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, was publicly declaring it a crazy idea that his company had played a role in deciding the election. But security experts at the company already knew otherwise. They found signs as early as spring 2016 that Russian hackers were poking around the Facebook accounts of people linked to American presidential campaigns. Months later, they saw Russian-controlled accounts sharing information from hacked Democratic emails with reporters. Facebook accumulated evidence of Russian activity for over a year before executives opted to share what they knew with the public and even their own board of directors. When I covered crime in Boston and Florida, I typically knocked on doors to find families and friends of victims. That often led to harrowing but fruitful interviews. Now Im usually trying to find people who dont want to be found and that sometimes means Im not well received. That was the case on one of my first door-knocking experiences. My professor at Boston University, Dick Lehr, a longtime investigative reporter, took me under his wing to examine a 30-year-old questionable arson murder conviction. We showed up to the apartment of the man we suspected had actually started the fire in question. He was home, and appeared to be on drugs. We were invited in and, as we questioned where he was the night of the crime, we eyed a large knife on his table. When he became belligerent because I began writing, we left. In a past life you covered Google. Now you cover Apple. So, iPhone or Android? Ive had both and have a controversial opinion: Theyre basically the same. (Apple will not like this answer.) The top phones for either operating system are excellent, easy-to-use devices with virtually the same features and apps. The biggest difference is the business model. How so? Apple makes money by selling consumers expensive iPhones. Google makes money by giving away its Android software and services and then charging advertisers for access to the billions of users it attracts. Googles approach has given it enormous data about the world and its inhabitants. Google is well positioned to use its mass collection of personal data for new products, like artificial intelligence, but it also draws new scrutiny to the company. Apples less data-focused approach has allowed it to take the high road on privacy. That strategy has potentially insulated the company from regulations and public scorn, but it also could leave Apple with dumber products than its rivals. Internet trolls have targeted you for your coverage. What happened and how did you fend them off? I wrote a series of articles when I previously worked for The Wall Street Journal about problems with YouTubes algorithms that led the company to make changes that affected some YouTube video creators. One YouTube star accused me of doctoring evidence, and thousands then descended on my Twitter account and flooded my email inbox with hate mail and death threats. Though they more or less speak the same language, Guk Minsung and Yoo Nanhee often dont understand each other, especially in moments of attempted levity. Is that a joke? one will ask the other, sometimes with a postscript: A South Korean joke? or A North Korean joke? Even the language of physical attraction seems to be less universal than they might have expected. Is it sexy to apologize during sex in North Korea? Minsung (Peter Kim) asks Nanhee (Michelle Krusiec) after a coital encounter in Hansol Jungs Wild Goose Dreams, which opened on Wednesday at the Public Theater. Such are the difficulties of conducting an affair when its participants come from opposite parts of a divided peninsula. And differences of geographical origin are just the start of the complexities that besiege Minsung and Nanhee in this overwhelming play about being overwhelmed in a very confusing century. Our leading lovers (though they might question being so described) are also both citizens of a vast global nation in which instant communication has never seemed easier or more impossible. They belong to the all-embracing culture of the internet, which for them turns out to be a confounding Tower of Babel. PARADISE, Calif. Ron Westbrooks house is gone. The burned hull of a washer is visible in the rubble. A mangled satellite dish, too. In his collapsed garage, two cars, including a beloved 1941 Plymouth, are no more than blackened shells. But at the end of Mr. Westbrooks driveway, in the shade of charred pines, a 103-year-old Ford Model T somehow escaped with only minor paint damage, standing out like a museum piece in a vast landscape of destruction. The wooden steering wheel, the leather bench seat, the brassy grill, even the for-sale sign on the back Runs Very Well, it attests were left untouched as the Camp Fire tore an indiscriminate path through the town of Paradise. For Mr. Westbrook, 74, the cars survival was only slight comfort. Like most other Paradise residents, he has been through hell. The fire has scorched 135,000 acres, killed at least 56 people and left the quiet town of retirees uninhabitable. MIAMI It was only a week ago that Rick Scott, the Republican governor of Florida and candidate for the United States Senate, claimed on television that rampant fraud was perhaps imperiling his election to Congress, and that he was asking the state Department of Law Enforcement to investigate. Earlier in the day, at the Georgia State Capitol, Secretary of State Brian Kemp defended his decision to oversee an acrimonious election in which he was a candidate for governor and, by his own preliminary assessment, a victorious one. The elections in the Southeasts two most populous states remained undecided Wednesday, more than a week after the balloting, embroiled in lawsuits and accusations. Much of the turmoil is attributable to the high-profile political prizes at stake. But some can be traced to decisions by Mr. Scott and Mr. Kemp to mix, by design or duty, their public roles with their political lives. That two powerful Republicans helped to oversee elections in which they had overwhelming personal interests prompted bipartisan misgivings, fueled some of the sparring that has spilled into the courts and intensified the most stinging criticisms of their campaigns. Their approaches to navigating the thicket of runoffs and recounts, litigation and delayed certifications, show that there is no set playbook for candidates whose political fates are up for grabs. WASHINGTON A day after Melania Trump took the extraordinary step of issuing a statement condemning Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security adviser who had made enemies throughout her tenure, Ms. Ricardel was spotted in her office on Wednesday, packing her bags. Hours later, the White House said that Ms. Ricardel was indeed leaving her post but that she would still work in the administration just not under the first ladys roof. Mira Ricardel will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. The president is grateful for Ms. Ricardels continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities. When a first lady is crossed by an aide, she usually gets results when it comes time to oust that person. Michelle Obama did it. Hillary Clinton did it. But rather than working behind the scenes, Mrs. Trump had her own way of getting her point across. Hi. Welcome to On Politics, your guide to the day in national politics. Im Lisa Lerer, your host. [Get On Politics delivered to your inbox.] Dont say we didnt warn you: The 2018 midterm isnt even over (so many Florida recounts), but 2020 has already begun. Democratic candidates are making their ambitions known. People inside the party are fighting over its direction. Theres even been a poll. Now, like all super-duper-early presidential polls, this one mostly gauges one thing: name recognition. But a development worth noting? Coming in third, after Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders, is Beto ORourke, the Texas Senate candidate who lost to Senator Ted Cruz. As my colleagues Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns detailed on Sunday, Mr. ORourke is at the center of much of the Democratic Partys post-midterm debate. From immigration to tax cuts to who won Florida, there is very little that Republicans and Democrats seem to agree on these days. But there may be one thing: the need to repair the nations criminal justice system. It is a cause that has made for strange alliances, including the liberal Center for American Progress, the conservative Koch brothers, law enforcement groups, Kim Kardashian and now, President Trump, who on Wednesday endorsed a bill that would improve prison conditions and lower some sentences. The view that punishment is too harsh, and rehabilitative measures too scarce, is broadly supported in public opinion polls, especially as crime has hovered at a 20-year low. That popular support has translated into political backing. Out in the real world where people live, its not even controversial anymore, said Mark Holden, who leads Koch Industries work on criminal justice issues. Of course, not all the everyday people and the politicians who represent them arrived at this shared conclusion via the same path. The left is persuaded by vast racial disparities and the fact that the United States is a global outlier, with the worlds highest incarceration rate. Those on the right often point to unsustainable costs. The policy wonks arm themselves with reams of data on the systems failure to lower recidivism or protect from wrongful conviction. RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. The nuns at Zina Rodriguezs Catholic school in the Bronx thwacked her knuckles to punish sloppy handwriting, so she was shocked when her mail-in ballot in Florida was rejected because her signature did not match the one on record with elections officials. Ms. Rodriguez, a registered Democrat, found the rejection notice in her mailbox at 7 p.m. the night before the Nov. 6 election, two hours after the deadline for appeal had passed. When she protested at the Palm Beach County Board of Elections the next morning, she learned that the culprit was a drivers license signature, hastily squiggled on an electronic signature pad two years earlier. There were 13 amendments on that ballot. The only reason I chose to write in was because I wanted time to research all the questions. I was fulfilling my responsibility, said Ms. Rodriguez, 47, a behavioral health care consultant from Lake Worth, Fla. All of that got thrown away because I wanted to get out of the D.M.V. office as fast as I can. It is incredibly upsetting. The issue of faulty signatures, especially on mail-in ballots, has emerged as a central point of contention in the county-by-county recounts taking place in Florida, with lawsuits spinning off the 2018 election like tornadoes off a hurricane. At a news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Bolsonaro described the arrangement with the Cuban doctors as slave labor, adding that: I couldnt agree to it. He also posted a tweet in English accusing the Cuban government of dismissing the impact the decision to pull the doctors would have on Brazilian patients, and wrote that Havana was refusing to fix the deplorable situation of these doctors in clear violation of human rights. More than 8,000 of the 18,000 doctors currently employed by the Mais Medicos program are Cuban, and their sudden departure would have a significant impact on Brazils neediest communities. The end of the program would also negatively affect Cubas bottom line. The governments medical service export program is among its main sources of revenue. According to Cubas Health Ministry, nearly 20,000 Cuban doctors have worked in Brazil as part of the program over the last five years, treating more than 113 million patients. Brazilian authorities say more than 60 million Brazilians who did not have access to a doctor now do as a result of Mais Medicos. Cuba sends doctors to dozens of countries, sometimes to help with humanitarian crises and often as part of medical services contracts. Countries have paid the government millions of dollars every month to provide doctors, effectively making the doctors Cubas most valuable export. But in Brazil, a growing number of the Cuban doctors have rebelled in recent years. Scores have filed lawsuits in Brazilian courts to challenge the arrangement demanding to be treated not as agents of the Cuban state but as independent contractors who should earn full salaries. WASHINGTON Lawmakers in Washington are trying to compel the Trump administration to take strong measures against Chinese officials for their mass repression of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in China. Legislators introduced companion bills on Wednesday in the House and Senate following months of discussions on how to punish China for its treatment of the Uighurs, including sanctioning specific officials and limiting sales of products from American companies to certain Chinese state agencies. The push comes as Chinas treatment of the Uighurs has come under increasing scrutiny by Western news organizations and international agencies. The bills would put more pressure on the Trump administration to take action on what international officials and scholars say is Chinas worst collective human rights abuse in decades. In Washington, administration officials are already starting to take a much harder line on China, including on trade, human rights and its military buildup in the Pacific. Senior American officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, say Chinese officials are holding hundreds of thousands and perhaps more than one million Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in internment camps across the northwest Central Asian border region of Xinjiang. Reports have emerged of torture, starvation and death in the camps, with officials forcing detainees to renounce standard Islamic practices and swear fealty to the Communist Party. Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran have each racked up more than 15 billion views on YouTube. Justin Bieber beats them both, with 18 billion views. But none of those megastars come close to T-Series. Although not widely known in the United States, T-Series, an Indian music label and film production company, has the most-watched YouTube channel in the world. Its videos have been seen 53 billion times. The channel gains over 100,000 subscribers a day and is about to pass the controversial personality PewDiePie to become the most-subscribed channel on YouTube. And thanks to a rapidly growing online Indian viewer base and increasing international interest, its rise is not likely to slow anytime soon. While T-Series may be thriving in the internet age, it began far before the internet became popular. The company was founded in the early 1980s by Gulshan Kumar, previously a fruit-juice seller, as a cassette tapes operation. It rose from issuing pirated recordings to producing film music for Bollywood blockbusters like Aashiqui (1990). By the mid-1990s, the company was a large conglomerate and a central part of Indias media landscape, with subdivisions in film, television, real estate and even toothpaste and detergent. 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. EIKO at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (Nov. 20, 7 p.m.). In The Duet Project: Distance Is Malleable, this Japanese dancer and choreographer explores interdisciplinary collaborations, which are prompted by the following questions: How can two artists collide and return changed but whole? How can two individuals encounter each other and discuss their differences with or without words? For this iteration, Eiko works with the filmmaker Alexis Moh, the poet and artist Mark McCloughan and the rapper and painter DonChristian Jones. Projections will also allow Eiko to perform with her deceased grandfather, the Japanese painter Chikuha Otake. For her, a duet can appear in many forms. Open rehearsals will be held on Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 212-316-7490, stjohndivine.org/visit/calendar/events GIBNEY DANCE COMPANY at Gibney Dance (Nov. 16, 8 p.m.; Nov. 17, 4 and 8 p.m.; Nov. 18, 2 p.m.). The notion of home is both personal and expansive; for some, it can evoke safety, while for others, it brings up trauma and pain. Gibney Dances latest program, Home, features two premieres by the guest choreographers Adam Barruch and Shamel Pitts, who is working with the visual artist and director Deville Cohen. In Imprint Ghosts, Barruch considers the emotional reverberations of a physical space, while Pitts and Cohen offer Menagerie. Here, the artists, inspired in part by Tennessee Williamss The Glass Menagerie, respond to the individuality of six dancers. 646-837-6809, gibneydance.org VELOCITY at the New Victory Theater (Nov. 16, 7 p.m.; Nov. 17, 2 and 7 p.m.; Nov. 18, noon and 4 p.m.; through Nov. 25). In this high-energy production, the much-lauded champion dancers James Devine and David Geaney look at the past, present and future of Irish dance. Featuring live music by a Celtic band, along with a D.J., Velocity performed by Geaney, AnneMarie Keaney and Gabriella Wood is a celebratory jam session and suitable for all ages. 646-223-3010, newvictory.org THE PROGRESSIVE REVOLUTION: MODERN ART FOR A NEW INDIA at Asia Society (through Jan. 20). The first show in the United States in decades devoted to postwar Indian painting continues a welcome, belated effort in Western museums to globalize art history after 1945. The Progressive Artists Group, founded in Bombay (now Mumbai) in the afterglow of independence, sought a new painterly language for a new India, making use of hot color and melding folk traditions with high art. These painters were Hindus, Muslims and Catholics, and they drew freely from Picasso and Klee, Rajasthani architecture and Zen ink painting, in their efforts to forge art for a secular, pluralist republic. Looking at them 70 years on, as India joins so many other countries taking a nativist turn, they offer a lovely, regret-tinged view of a lost horizon. (Farago) 212-288-6400, asiasociety.org/new-york SCENES FROM THE COLLECTION at the Jewish Museum. After a surgical renovation to its grand pile on Fifth Avenue, the Jewish Museum has reopened its third-floor galleries with a rethought, refreshed display of its permanent collection, which intermingles 4,000 years of Judaica with modern and contemporary art by Jews and gentiles alike Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman and the excellent young Nigerian draftswoman Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze. The works are shown in a nimble, nonchronological suite of galleries, and some of its century-spanning juxtapositions are bracing; others feel reductive, even dilettantish. But always, the Jewish Museum conceives of art and religion as interlocking elements of a story of civilization, commendably open to new influences and new interpretations. (Farago) 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org SOUL OF A NATION: ART IN THE AGE OF BLACK POWER at the Brooklyn Museum (through Feb. 3). It will be a happy day when racial harmony rules in the land. But that days not arriving any time soon. Who could have guessed in the 1960s when civil rights became law that a new century would bring white supremacy tiki-torching out of the closet and turn the idea that black lives matter, so beyond obvious, into a battle cry? Actually, African-Americans were able to see such things coming. No citizens know the national narrative, and its implacable racism, better. And no artists have responded to that history-that-wont-go-away more powerfully than black artists have. More than 60 of them appear in this big, beautiful, passionate show of art that functioned as seismic detector, political persuader and defensive weapon. (Cotter) 718-638-8000, brooklynmuseum.org THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS: STANLEY KUBRICK PHOTOGRAPHS at the Museum of the City of New York (through Jan. 6). This exhibition of the great directors photography is essentially Kubrick before he became Kubrick. Starting in 1945, when he was 17 and living in the Bronx, he worked as a photographer for Look magazine, and the topics he explored are chestnuts so old that they smell a little moldy: lovers embracing on a park bench as their neighbors gaze ostentatiously elsewhere, patients anxiously awaiting their doctors appointments, boxing hopefuls in the ring, celebrities at home, pampered dogs in the city. It probably helped that Kubrick was just a kid, so instead of inducing yawns, these magazine perennials struck him as novelties, and he in turn brought something fresh to them. Photographs that emphasize the mise-en-scene could be movie stills: a shouting circus executive who takes up the right side of the foreground while aerialists rehearse in the middle distance, a boy climbing to a roof with the city tenements surrounding him, a subway car filled with sleeping passengers. Looking at these pictures, you want to know what comes next. (Arthur Lubow) 212-534-1672, mcny.org TOWARD A CONCRETE UTOPIA: ARCHITECTURE IN YUGOSLAVIA, 1948-1980 at the Museum of Modern Art (through Jan. 13). This nimble, continuously surprising show tells one of the most underappreciated stories of postwar architecture: the rise of avant-garde government buildings, pie-in-the-sky apartment blocks, mod beachfront resorts and even whole new cities in the southeast corner of Europe. Titos Yugoslavia rejected both Stalinism and liberal democracy, and its neither-nor political position was reflected in architecture of stunning individuality, even as it embodied collective ambitions that Yugoslavs called the social standard. From Slovenia, where elegant office buildings drew on the tradition of Viennese modernism, to Kosovo, whose dome-topped national library appears as a Buckminster Fuller fever dream, these impassioned buildings defy all our Cold War-vintage stereotypes of Eastern Europe. Sure, in places the show dips too far into Socialist chic. But this is exactly how MoMA should be thinking as it rethinks its old narratives for its new home next year. (Farago) 212-708-9400, moma.org ANDY WARHOL FROM A TO B AND BACK AGAIN at the Whitney Museum of American Art (through March 31) and SHADOWS at Calvin Klein Headquarters, 205 W. 39th Street (through Dec. 15). Although this is the artists first full American retrospective in 31 years, hes been so much with us in museums, galleries, auctions as to make him, like wallpaper, like the atmosphere, only half-noticed. The Whitney show restores him to a full, commanding view, but does so in a carefully shaped and edited way, with an emphasis on very early and late work. Despite the shows monumentalizing size, supplemented by an off-site display of the enormous multipanel painting called Shadows, its a human-scale Warhol we see. Largely absent is the artist-entrepreneur who is taken as a prophet of our market-addled present. What we have instead is Warhol for whom art, whatever else it was, was an expression of personal hopes and fears. (Cotter) 212-570-3600, whitney.org diaart.org Beginning in 1969 and continuing through the last two years of her life, Diane Arbus traveled regularly by bus to New Jersey to photograph people at residences for the developmentally and intellectually disabled. Her first destination, the coeducational Woodbridge State School, was just across the Hudson from her Manhattan apartment. Quite soon, though, she determined that an all-female institution in Vineland, in the southern part of the state, provided richer opportunities. The photographs in the Untitled series, at the David Zwirner gallery through Dec. 15, are mostly taken in Vineland. Departing significantly from the work that built Arbus's reputation, they include some of the most mysterious and haunting pictures of her 15-year artistic career. The Untitled exhibition is the first in Zwirners new partnership with the Fraenkel Gallery of San Francisco to co-represent the Arbus estate. Rather than start with her iconic portraits of sideshow freaks, cross-dressers, pro-Vietnam war demonstrators and nudists, the New York gallery opted to show this less familiar, late work, which until now has never been seen in its entirety. The plants are white as ghosts, and they float in fields as sharply blue as the waters off Dover. Each one is a little miracle, their neuron-like roots winding across the page, their leaves revealing every branching vein. These are photographs, produced only with the light of the sun and an amateurs chemistry set. There was no precedent for them in the early 1840s when a woman invented the photobook. She was the British photographer Anna Atkins, who may not be as well known as Louis Daguerre, William Henry Fox Talbot and other men from the mediums first decade. But her intensely beautiful blueprints of marine plants, which she began making in 1843, are as significant for the development of photography as for the history of science. Her magnum opus, Photographs of British Algae, whose first sections she published 175 years ago this fall, was the first volume ever to be illustrated with photographs, albeit ones made without a camera. Dozens of pages from that book are on view in Blue Prints: The Pioneering Photographs of Anna Atkins, on the interplay of science and art at the main branch of the New York Public Library. VENICE So you are a young college student, American, on your first whistle-stop tour of Europe. You have fought through the multitudes in front of the Mona Lisa and Las Meninas, tried to concentrate on the Sistine Chapel ceiling as the tour groups jostle you. But when you wash up here in the lagoon, and make your way to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco a 16th-century clubhouse for middle-class Venetians you step into something youd forgotten: silence. Inside there are fewer than a dozen people, and all around you, in the half-light, are some of the boldest paintings of the Italian Renaissance, depicting the life of Christ with a directness you have never seen before. You gasp before the burly bodies that loom amid shearing bolts of white and divine blasts of amber. You walk out of San Rocco half an hour later, and the light outside seems too bright. Everything you thought you knew about painting is wrong. Some peoples whole lives get upended when they first discover Tintoretto, the most Venetian of artists and the world champion of painterly turbulence. The Victorian art critic John Ruskin nearly fainted outside San Rocco. Henry James became ecstatic. Today, some visitors are reduced to tears. Tintoretto left me powerless, too, when I first visited San Rocco in my youth, and did so again for different reasons this October, just before record flooding turned St. Marks Square into a swimming pool. Whether Capra ever set eyes on Fall Street, or walked across the steel truss bridge thats a dead ringer for the one in the movie, remains up for debate. But that potential connection aside, the place certainly looks, feels and sounds like Bedford Falls each December, especially when snow is falling and the church bells are ringing. The lure is inescapable for the thousands of movie buffs who flock to town for a hefty dose of holiday cheer. CASTLE IN THE SKY at select movie theaters nationwide (Nov. 18, 12:55 p.m.; Nov. 19-20, 7 p.m.). The eminent Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki created his own version of Gullivers Travels in this 1986 film, although it has no Gulliver and assigns its travels to a pair of children: Pazu, a boy apprenticed to an engineer, and Sheeta, a girl who literally falls from the sky. Together, the two set out to find Laputa, an island that Jonathan Swift described as floating above the earth. Fathom Events and the distributor GKids are bringing Pazu and Sheetas adventure back to the screen as the concluding feature in Studio Ghibli Fest 2018, a celebration of work from Miyazakis groundbreaking studio. Participating theaters will screen the movie in English on Sunday and Tuesday, and in the original Japanese, with English subtitles, on Monday. fathomevents.com COMMUNITY CARE FAIR at the Museum of the City of New York (Nov. 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.). Ever wish you could get your children to wash their hands more often? This event, which features local health care organizations, might do the trick. The fair will invite young visitors to swab their hands for microbes, learn how to use petri dishes to culture what is growing on their skin and observe similar bacteria under a microscope. (Adults can participate, too; they can have their cellphones swabbed for Weill Cornell Medical Colleges StuckOnU, a study of urban microbiomes.) Held in conjunction with the museums exhibition Germ City: Microbes and the Metropolis, which explores the history of New York Citys public-health challenges, the festival will also help young visitors build small take-home models of DNA from Twizzlers, marshmallows and toothpicks. But dont worry about the candy: The program will compensate with tastings of nutritious food from organizations like Edible Schoolyard NYC. 212-534-1672, mcny.org Opera is an art form awash with preposterous endings. If there were a competition, Bizets Les Pecheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers), which returned to the Metropolitan Opera on Wednesday night, would win the Could Not Be Bothered Prize. Two men, friends since childhood, love the virgin priestess Leila, who is sworn to chastity. But she falls for one of them,the hunter Nadir, and a terrible storm pummels the village of pearl fishers. So Zurga, a local leader, condemns his friend and Leila to death. But then! Zurga has a better idea. He sets fire to his village so Nadir and Leila can escape. They seem as confused as the audience at this point, but Zurga only tells them to be on their way and settles down to wait for the police to arrive. Curtain. Even Penny Woolcocks intelligent production, set in a tsunami-prone shantytown in Sri Lanka, cant paper over the musical flaws of this musically luscious opera. And yet tension crackled on Wednesday thanks to a mid-performance cast change that provided the suspense that had eluded Bizet. A very Andris Nelsons July Mr. Nelsons, the Boston Symphonys music director, will spend July in Tanglewood conducting an array of programs beginning July 5 with Mahlers Symphony No. 5 and Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat, with the pianist Emanuel Ax. He will also conduct Dvorak, Debussy, Ravel, the premiere of The Brightness of Light and a performance of the Verdi Requiem, among other programs. And Mr. Nelsons, a sought-after opera conductor, will continue his efforts to give Tanglewood the flavor of a Bayreuth-in-the-Berkshires by leading the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in an episodic concert performance of Die Walkure. Starring Amber Wagner, Christine Goerke and Simon ONeill, it take place throughout one weekend: Act I at 8 p.m. on Saturday July 27; Act II at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday; and Act III at 6:30 p.m. that evening. Hearing it all will require two tickets: one for Saturday and one for Sunday. Andre Previn turns 90 Tanglewood is planning several events to mark the 90th birthday of the conductor and composer Andre Previn. The star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, who was once married to Mr. Previn, will perform his violin concerto Anne-Sophie, which he wrote for her in 2001. And Ms. Fleming will join the Emerson String Quartet to perform the world premiere of Penelope, by Mr. Previn and the playwright Tom Stoppard. A music festival by Thomas Ades Mr. Ades, the composer, will return to organize his second Festival of Contemporary Music, planned for Aug. 8-12. It will feature the world premiere of a piece by Andrew Hamilton and the American premieres of works by Richard Ayres, Gerald Barry, Erika Fox, Gyorgy Kurtag, Hilda Paredes, Poul Ruders and Nathan Shields. The festival will honor the British composer Oliver Knussen, who died last summer at 66 and who had been involved with Tanglewood for more than four decades, including as the director of its composition program, between 1986 and 93. A concert on Aug. 10 will feature his complete piano works, and Mr. Ades will conduct Knussens Whitman Settings, for soprano and orchestra, on Aug. 12. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox. A Cocoon of Bitterness The midterm election results are looking worse every day for President Trump and the Republicans. With late results still arriving in a number of races, things have generally been coming up roses for Democrats. Stephen Colbert seized on reports that Trump was growing despondent as the news rolled in. Youre serving a long sentence, and if you want freedom, youll need to take matters into your own hands. Its the plot of Escape at Dannemora, and its also the experience of watching it. The escape of the convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat from the Clinton Correctional Facility in 2015, aided by the prison employee Joyce Mitchell, captured the imagination because of its sensationalistic elements: a desperate manhunt in the forests and fields of upstate New York that ended in violent death, accompanied by lurid reports of prison sex. It was the stuff great B movies are made of. Thats not what the writers Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkin and Jerry Stahl and the director Ben Stiller have made in Escape at Dannemora, a seven-hour mini-series that begins Sunday on Showtime. (Johnson and Tolkin are credited as the shows creators.) It doesnt have the energy or excitement of a B picture, though it does, despite its general somberness, manage to feel exploitative. Set mostly inside the state penitentiary where Matt (Benicio Del Toro) and Sweat (Paul Dano) plan their escape and have furtive couplings with the discontented Mitchell (a thoroughly deglamorized Patricia Arquette), their supervisor in the prison tailor shop, Dannemora is a series of misses a not very thrilling thriller, a social-problem story that lacks conviction, a satire without teeth. The age of the sequel is over. Now its the age of the sequel to the sequel. Also the prequel, the reboot, the reunion, the revival, the remake, the spinoff and the stand-alone franchise-adjacent film. Canceled television shows are reinstated. Killed-off characters are resuscitated. Movies do not begin and end so much as they loiter onscreen. And social media is built for infinite scrolling. Nothing ends anymore, and its driving me insane. No property may rest: Not Jersey Shore, not Twins, not Mr. Mom. The series finales of Roseanne, Murphy Brown and Will & Grace were not finales after all. The speed with which stories are expanding is beginning to outpace our capacity for language. The term sequel is insufficient to describe this summers conspicuously titled Avengers: Infinity War, an extension of 18 previous Marvel Cinematic Universe movies which in turn, fed into the fifth season of a television show, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Recently the man who spun the Despicable Me Minions off into their own franchise threatened a reboot of Shrek, but featuring the same characters and the same cast: a ghastly re-enactment of blockbusters past. Meanwhile, on smaller screens, social media has given rise to self-perpetuating content machines. Didnt endings used to mean something? They imbued everything that came before them with significance, and then they gave us the space to reflect on it all. More than that: They made us feel alive. The story ended, but we did not. This had been true at least since the novel supplanted the oral tradition. In his essay The Storyteller, Walter Benjamin wrote that the novelist invites the reader to a divinatory realization of the meaning of life by writing Finis. He continued, What draws the reader to the novel is the hope of warming his shivering life with a death he reads about. We needed stories to end so we could make sense of them. We needed characters to die so we could make sense of ourselves. Sometimes it seems as if were living under a constant barrage of heavy news. But it isnt all bad out there. This feature is meant to send you into the weekend with a smile, or at least a lighter heart. Want to get The Week in Good News by email? Sign up here. Here are seven great things we wrote about this week: Better management of grasslands, soils and forests in the United States could offset as much as 21 percent of the countrys annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study published on Wednesday. Strategies like replanting trees on degraded lands, changing logging practices and sequestering more carbon in farmland soils could be on the high end of projections roughly equivalent to taking every single car and truck in the country off the road. Now, the children Reece, 8, and Caris, 7 each have a card, which their parents manage using an app on their phones. They have $1 for each year of age, per week, automatically transferred each week to the cards, which the children can use to buy items like snacks at their neighborhood swimming pool. They can also get more money transferred by going above and beyond like extra time spent practicing the piano. They can check their balances on an iPad. Ms. Kraftchick said they were even learning to round up prices to include tax. It takes the pressure off me, said Ms. Kraftchick, who typically keeps the cards in her wallet and hands them out when its time to make a purchase. The Kraftchicks are part of a growing group of busy parents who are trying out app-controlled debit cards to give their offspring allowance, manage chores and teach them about money. Despite talk of a cashless society, physical cash is still widely preferred for small purchases, according to the Federal Reserve. But children may lose cash, or parents may not have it on hand when its time to pay up. We got tired of having a drawer full of dollars, said Brandi Tzonev, a sales manager and personal trainer in Lawrenceville, Ga., who uses goHenry with her 15-year-old son, Alex, and 10-year-old daughter, Gabriella. Some banks have long had accounts aimed at children and teenagers, and many families use prepaid debit cards rather than traditional debit cards, linked to a checking account as a way to help children manage money. But the newest generation of smart debit cards are managed by advanced mobile apps that give parents detailed control over how much the young people spend and even where they spend with a few taps on a phone. Now Lets Talk About the Youngs Many of my colleagues are very young and seem to think that they all are equally effective at their jobs (or maybe equally ineffective?) and freak out when someone is let go, without seeming to consider that their colleague may not have been good at their job, or that the situation was unfixable. Ive been a rank-and-file staffer and Ive been management, and I know some of this is important for worker solidarity! But a workplace where management isnt trying to be recklessly cruel still has to be a business. I feel like I learned this by my second or third job, but how do new-to-the-work-force people learn it? Manhattan Nothing helps here except time. That being said its hard for managers to remember how information-starved employees are. In America, theyre socialized to not ask Does this company actually make money? or Is Bob suddenly gone because you finally found out he touched all those butts on accident? Add an H.R. system thats often captured by the concerns of lawyers, insurance companies and management, and is therefore bound to enforce a huge amount of silence, and we have an office of under-informed, overly group-bonded, hypervigilant people searching for any clue to whats really happening. Yeah, theyre maybe sad because Bob is walking out with a cardboard box. But really theyre asking: Is this systemic? Is the company in trouble? And, at heart: What if Im also a bad employee? Take a load off their minds and tell them how bad they are today. Also? They might just be hungry. Dont forget to feed and water your millennials! They have to eat their daily four pounds of Chipotle or they get fussy by 3:30 p.m. Slack it to Me, Kiddo My company has been using Slack for a couple years now. At first it was slightly annoying to have one more thing to monitor, but it did replace some unwieldy email threads. It was a marginally useful piece of software. But at some point Slack became something more complicated. Certain people in the office clearly established themselves as being good at Slack. I dont mean they used emojis and GIFs well. They were good at a kind of quick-twitch banter that I simply cannot keep up with. Im not an old person (Im 35), Im just not good at instantly being clever in a chat window at work. Recently, some people got promoted and Im convinced a large part of it was this maddening new skill. How do I get good at Slack, or whatever comes next? Am I seriously going to have a worse career because of this? Brooklyn Heights Because people who run the tools at companies are not usually the same people who run the culture of companies, and because people who are more senior are generally also locked in senseless endless meetings all day, the adoption of Slack in offices is extremely haphazard and hazardous. Communities of people begin working in different ways in the same workplace. Messy! Some of us Gen Xers and many (most?) millennials grew up chatting online all day, every day, and we have taken to Slack perhaps too enthusiastically, we know. You email people will never be like us! (Though learn to adjust your notifications make Slack work for you.) Companies often claim that misconduct was just the product of rogue employees who do not reflect the true corporate culture of their organization. And so far thats the defense Goldman has put forth. On the sidelines of the DealBook conference this month, Lloyd C. Blankfein, Goldmans chairman and former chief executive, tried to brush the case aside: These are guys who evaded our safeguards, and lie. Stuff like thats going to happen. If only it were just some questionable shenanigans in the back room. Three Goldman Sachs partners have been implicated in paying bribes to win business from the investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB, as part of a multibillion-dollar fraud. Tim Leissner, who led Goldmans Southeast Asia business until 2016, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits bribery of foreign officials to win business. His former deputy, Roger Ng, is named in an indictment that also accuses the Malaysian businessman Jho Low of looting 1MDB of billions of dollars. A third Goldman partner, Andrea Vella, a co-head of the firms Asian investment banking business who has been placed on leave, has been identified as an unindicted co-conspirator. Goldman earned $600 million from helping to arrange bond offerings of about $6.5 billion for 1MDB in 2012 and 2013. Goldmans management was sure to notice fees of that size, and it has been reported that Mr. Blankfein met with the former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, Mr. Low and Mr. Leissner. But those fees were apparently not enough to raise questions about how the firm won a lead role in the transactions. An important question for prosecutors in determining Goldmans potential liability will be whether the company made any effort to review how the deals were approved or whether those responsible for vetting the transactions simply took the word of Mr. Leissner and Mr. Ng. The charges in the 1MDB case offer a fairly damning description of how the firm conducted itself, which will make it difficult to claim that the violations were the work of a few miscreants. According to Goldmans quarterly filing made the day after the charges were announced, the indictment highlighted how Mr. Leissner and Mr. Ng misled the firms compliance committee and legal department about Mr. Lows role with 1MDB. The indictment also alleged that Goldmans internal accounting controls could be easily circumvented and that the culture in Southeast Asia prioritized consummation of deals ahead of complying with the law. Theres a chance that Ford and Amara Enyia, director of the Austin Chamber of Commerce on the West Side, could even cancel each other out. Enyias campaign recently gained steam with an endorsement by Chance the Rapper. There is evidence that younger people, in particular, are listening to what shes saying about bringing a new vision to Chicago. But she has been criticized for accepting $200,000 in donations from Kanye West, whose controversial relationship with Donald Trump is problematic for many African-Americans. But, there are conditions: Brex insists the card be paid in full every 30 days, and it monitors the companys bank account balance daily to ensure the start-up is not recklessly burning through cash. If theyre spending $50,000 a month and have $60,000 left in their bank account, I know theyre going under in the next month so Im going to stop giving them credit, he said. The automated online application process is fast. We can issue a card in five minutes, Mr. Dubugras said. He added that he hadnt seen a single default. And investors are clearly optimistic about the companys outlook: Brexs latest round of financing last month valued the firm at $1.1 billion, making it one of the youngest start-ups to be valued at $1 billion or more. Silicon Valley Bank, which has been offering corporate cards to start-ups since 2008, goes one step further than Brex, offering charge cards, whose balances are due monthly, and regular corporate cards with revolving lines of credit. We do not use the personal credit history of the founders or FICO scores to assess risk, said Eduardo Vergara, head of Global Treasury Services at Silicon Valley Bank. Well look at how much capital theyve raised, who the investors are, who the founders are, and whats their track record as entrepreneurs. SVB also relies on instinct, having extended financing to start-ups for the past 34 years. We can really see and assess which ones are more likely to be successful which ones we should be offering credit, which ones to lean in on, Mr. Vergara said. Some disrupters require the entrepreneur to personally guarantee the corporate card, said Mr. Dubugras, which means, if the business fails, the entity could go after the founders home, car and assets to cover the credit card losses. Elon Musk has described Teslas troubles in getting cars to customers as delivery logistics hell. Jim Fyfe knows what Mr. Musk, Teslas chief executive, was talking about. A 44-year-old technology specialist at a bank in Jacksonville, Fla., Mr. Fyfe paid a $2,500 deposit in June to order a black Performance version of the Model 3 priced at $70,000. He was given a delivery date in early September, but when he went to collect the car, he was told that it was still in California, Mr. Fyfe recalled. Two weeks later, with no update, Mr. Fyfe called the delivery center and was given bad news: His Model 3 had been involved in an accident in transit. Days later, Mr. Fyfe asked for his money back, but quickly received an email saying Tesla had another car for him. Delivery was set for Oct. 27, but as Mr. Fyfe was heading to the rendezvous, his phone rang. A Tesla sales representative said this second car was no longer available because it, too, had been in an accident. A Tesla spokeswoman said that was a mistaken reference to the original car. Want climate news in your inbox? Sign up here for Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. The deadly wildfires that are devastating communities in parts of Northern and Southern California first ignited in an expanding part of the American landscape: not in forests, not in cities, but in the areas that experts call the wildland-urban interface. It is the transition zone between wildlands such as forests, grasslands and scrublands and human development. Researchers say that wildfires pose the greatest risk to people along the wildland-urban interface. This is partly because the homes in those areas butt up against the vegetation that can fuel fires, putting their occupants in significant danger. And there are more fires in those areas because of the presence of humans, who often ignite them. Despite the risks, an increasing number of Americans are living in the wildland-urban interface. There were 12.7 million more houses and 25 million more people living in these zones in 2010 than in 1990. For more than two decades, SweetWater Brewing Companys best-seller has been its floral 420 Extra Pale Ale, the numerals slyly nodding to the beers April 20 birth date and the brewerys fondness for marijuana: 420 is drug-subculture slang for cannabis. Weve had to hide these things, said Freddy Bensch, who helped found the Atlanta brewery in 1997. In June, SweetWater removed the cloak by releasing 420 Strain G13 I.P.A. It mimics the dank pungency of the G13 variety of marijuana minus the high by blending hops, hemp flavor and terpenes , organic compounds that are responsible for the distinctive fragrances of plant products from oranges to pine trees to, yes, cannabis. Theres nothing better than watching a consumer pop a G13 cap, put it to his nose, take that first smell and see his eyes light up, Mr. Bensch said. Within two months, G13 became SweetWaters second-best-selling draft beer available year-round. The F.D.A. said it would provide more detail on how to restrict access at a later date. But Dr. Gottlieb said putting the vaping products under counters would not be sufficient. What we are envisioning is a separate room or a walled-off area, he said. It needs to be a complete separate structure. A curtain wont cut it. Industry lawyers challenged the commissioners authority to impose such requirements. The Tobacco Control Act is clear that the F.D.A. cant discriminate against one type of retail outlet and thats what theyre trying to do here, said Doug Kantor, counsel to the National Association of Convenience Stores. There is a very good chance this will end up in litigation and lawyers are looking at that right now. Critics said that exempting menthol and mint e-cigarettes from the restriction was misguided, because of the large number of youth vapers who buy them. But Mr. Chowdhury considered Juuls pre-emptive move to limit visible flavors to mint, menthol and tobacco shrewd. If indeed a ban on menthol cigarettes is enacted, he said, Juul is in a good position to offer an alternative product for smokers who are used to their menthol flavor. Because Juul has market dominance, they stand to benefit from an ultimate ban. But a prohibition against menthol cigarettes would have to clear the usual federal regulatory hurdles, a process that could take at least two years. If successful, the menthol ban could make a significant dent in cigarette sales. Menthol cigarettes account for about 35 percent of cigarette sales in the United States. [Answers to common questions about the health effects of e-cigarettes and teenage vaping] Murray Garnick, the general counsel for Altria Group, which sells vaping products like MarkTen Elite and Apex through its Nu Mark subsidiary, said in an email that the tobacco giant welcomed the F.D.A.s new e-cigarette policies. But, he predicted a lengthy debate over the proposed prohibition on menthol cigarettes: We continue to believe that a total ban on menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars would be an extreme measure not supported by the science and evidence. The Taliban attacked the valley of Khust in Khak-e-Safed District. At least 45 police officers were killed in the clashes and 90 others tried to flee but finally surrendered to the insurgents. They spent two days hiding in the mountains without supplies or equipment, hoping for reinforcements that never came; local elders then negotiated their peaceful surrender to the Taliban, who disarmed them but promised not to harm them. There originally had been 180 local police officers in the remote valley. A woman, two children and four men were also killed during the fighting. The insurgents burned down 10 houses belonging to local and national police officers. The houses were abandoned, but full of their belongings. The Taliban captured several police outposts in the area and took the control of the valley. (This report was updated Nov. 23 to reflect new reporting that came in days later.) Nov. 12 Zabul Province: one police killed The Taliban attacked a police outpost in Mizan District, killing one police officer and wounding three others. Four Taliban fighters were also killed and seven others were wounded in the fighting. Nov. 12 Kunduz Province: two soldiers killed Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded in an insider attack in the Dobande area of Chahar Dara District. The attacker was a Taliban infiltrator, who joined the insurgents after the attack. Nov. 12 Kabul city: one member of security forces and five civilians killed One member of the security forces and five civilians men were killed and 20 people, including three members of security forces, were wounded in a suicide attack in Kabul city targeting a protest. Nov. 11 Oruzgan Province: 10 soldiers killed The Taliban attacked army outposts on the outskirt of Tarinkot, the provincial capital, killing 10 soldiers. Insurgents captured four of the outposts. Nov. 11 Baghlan Province: 12 security forces and three civilians killed The Taliban launched an assault on army and police outposts in Burka District, killing nine soldiers, three police and three civilians. Two police officers and one civilian were wounded. One army outpost that was captured by the Taliban was later recovered by security forces. Nov. 11 Faryab Province: one police killed The Taliban attacked and captured a police outpost in the Mehrabad area of Qurghan District. One police officer killed and three others were wounded. The outpost was later retaken by security forces. Its a freezing, snowy day on the border between Estonia and Russia. Soldiers from the two nations are on routine border patrol, each side accompanied by an autonomous weapon system, a tracked robot armed with a machine gun and an optical system that can identify threats, like people or vehicles. As the patrols converge on uneven ground, an Estonian soldier trips and accidentally discharges his assault rifle. The Russian robot records the gunshots and instantaneously determines the appropriate response to what it interprets as an attack. In less than a second, both the Estonian and Russian robots, commanded by algorithms, turn their weapons on the human targets and fire. When the shooting stops, a dozen dead or injured soldiers lie scattered around their companion machines, leaving both nations to sift through the wreckage or blame the other side for the attack. The hypothetical scenario seems fantastical, but those battlefield robots already exist today in an early form. Milrem Robotics, a company based in Estonia, has developed a robot called THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System), which consists of a mobile body mounted on small tank treads, topped with a remote-weapon turret that can be equipped with small or large-caliber machine guns. It also includes cameras and target-tracking software, so the turret can pursue people or objects as programmed. This is a human-controlled system for now (and Milrem, for its part, insists that it will remain that way), but the components are there for a robot that can interpret what it sees, identify likely combatants and target them, all on its own. The possible uses for the THeMIS, the robots builders gush on the website, are almost limitless. [Sign up for the weekly At War newsletter to receive stories about duty, conflict and consequence.] The decision to use a lethal weapon in battle against combatants has always been a decision made by a human being. That may soon change. Modern advancements in artificial intelligence, machine image recognition and robotics have poised some of the worlds largest militaries on the edge of a new future, where weapon systems may find and kill people on the battlefield without human involvement. Russia, China and the United States are all working on autonomous platforms that pair weapons with sensors and targeting computers; Britain and Israel are already using weapons with autonomous characteristics: missiles and drones that can seek and attack an adversarys radar, vehicle or ship without a human command triggering the immediate decision to fire. Under what circumstances can and should militaries delegate the decision to take a human life to machines? Its a moral leap that has raised fundamental questions about the nature of warfare and that military planners, human rights organizations, defense officials, research analysts and ethicists have yet to reach a consensus on. WANG BING: THE WEIGHT OF EXPERIENCE at the Film Society of Lincoln Center (Nov. 16-18) and WANG BING at the Metrograph (Nov. 17-24). This Chinese director is visiting New York for a whirlwind tour of the citys repertory cinemas whirlwind not being a word many associate with this documentarian, who is known for taking his time. His breakthrough feature, the nine-hour Tie Xi Qu: West of Tracks (showing in installments at the Film Society on Friday and Saturday), captures the profound economic shifts in an industrial district in northeast China. The effects of Chinas transition to capitalism are the subject of several of Wangs films, including the recent Bitter Money (on Sunday at the Metrograph), but the weekend will also include the New York premiere of his eight-hour Dead Souls (on Sunday at the Film Society), featuring the testimonies of former political prisoners, and a showing of Til Madness Do Us Part (on Saturday at the Metrograph), filmed at a mental hospital that resembles hell on Earth. Wang will appear at that screening and a number of others, including one of Mrs. Fang on Saturday at the Museum of the Moving Image. 212-875-5601, filmlinc.org 212-660-0312, metrograph.com For Of Fathers and Sons, the Berlin-based director Talal Derki spent more than two years in his native Syria making a documentary about a radical jihadist family. By presenting himself as a war photographer sympathetic to the cause, Derki gained the trust of Abu Osama, a founder of the Syrian affiliate of Al Qaeda. Abu Osama happily speaks of sending a son off to battle and has named some of his children after terrorists. Derki dwells most on two brothers: Osama and Ayman. How is it that these boys, who ask questions in such innocent-sounding voices (Dad, how were your fellow fighters martyred?), could eventually attend a training camp that requires them to jump through hoops of fire? Making a serial-killer movie without a slew of slaughters requires that tension be generated by other means. And because, almost from the start of The Clovehitch Killer, the identity of the offender already seems clear, a second source of suspense bites the dust. Accordingly, the director, Duncan Skiles, has chosen a quieter, cooler and more atmospheric route, one that burrows more deeply into small-town religious rot than into the killers damaged psyche. When the movie opens, the titular predator (named for the knot he favored for trussing his victims) has been inactive for a decade. But the unsolved crimes still haunt the small Christian community in Kentucky where Tyler (Charlie Plummer), a pale and awkward teenager, lives with his punctilious mother (Samantha Mathis) and jovial yet strict father, Don (Dylan McDermott). Its a life of church and charity and Boy Scout badges until Tyler finds a disturbing magazine image in his fathers truck. Public outreach, the most tangible piece of the environmental justice program, is spotty in Illinois. According to records obtained by the Tribune, over the past 3 years, no outreach was conducted in more than half the cases in which the state Environmental Protection Agency considered a permit that could affect air, water or soil quality in an environmental justice area. No public hearings were held in nearly two years for such cases. Even when notices were sent to neighborhood groups, the letters didnt detail how the public could become involved. Nor did they outline the period of time the public had to respond. Widows is a heist movie in a somber mood, a thriller not entirely comfortable with thrills. Though it has plenty of mayhem and a plot that twists, buckles and swerves, this movie, directed by Steve McQueen (Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave) from a script he wrote with Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects), moves at a slow, contemplative pace, driven by grief, dread and desperation rather than the more familiar motives of greed, ambition and rebellion. [Where was Widows? Steve McQueens heist movie didnt receive any Golden Globe nominations. Read about more movie snubs and surprises.] At first, Veronica (Viola Davis), who works for the Chicago Teachers Union, is the furthest thing from a criminal mastermind. That line of work belongs to her husband, Harry (Liam Neeson), until he dies in a robbery gone awry. In addition to their austere and elegant high-rise apartment, which Veronica now shares with a fluffy white dog named Olivia, Harry leaves behind an inconvenient debt and access to secrets shed rather not know. [Read our recent interview with Viola Davis and a conversation about the film.] The men whose money he stole on his last job demand repayment, and so Veronica recruits the widows of some of Harrys former accomplices to help her clear the obligation. A notebook points the way to $5 million stashed in a safe room somewhere in the city, and since Veronica owes only $2 million theres incentive for everyone. By movie-money standards, its a pretty modest haul, which is part of the point. Two months after Hurricane Florence, the water that flooded four feet of Brian Corneliuss home in New Bern , N.C. , has receded. In the weeks since Hurricane Michael pounded the Gulf Coast, power and water service have returned to Tim and Ramona Moseleys neighborhood in Panama City, Fla. But the recovery of their communities, which were struck by powerful storms that claimed dozens of lives in September and October, is a continuing process. Right now, it does weigh on you, said Mr. Moseley, 51. When you wake up, its still there, and it will hit you in the face again. The City Council could try to alter or eliminate the tax breaks promised Amazon by the city, public policy experts said, but those are not unique to Amazon, and any changes would similarly affect other companies tax packages. The State Legislature soon to be dominated by Democrats will also at some point have to extend the Excelsior tax credit program, which is providing $1.2 billion in tax incentives to Amazon and expires in 2026. The cap on those credits may also need to be raised. But nothing has to be done imminently, and the opposition in Albany is not uniform. Carl Heastie, the Assembly speaker, said in a statement that if the states economic projections are correct, this deal has the potential to more than pay for itself. The Bronx Democrat added, Of course we take our role in approving aspects of this deal very seriously and we will be closely reviewing it. Wait. Arent there people who review this sort of thing? There will likely be a state-run environmental review to examine the impact of the Amazon development. But the input from local officials is only advisory. Opponents would not be able to block the deal something they could have done if it went through the City Council. One or more government boards must also review elements of the plan and the incentive package before it goes into effect. One of those, the Empire State Development board, is controlled by Mr. Cuomos executive branch and is an unlikely avenue for opponents. Detractors may find that they have the most leverage at the obscure, five-member Public Authorities Control Board, which reviews and approves certain financing deals by state authorities. Some aspects of the Amazon deal, such as a $500 million state grant, are likely to go before that board, experts said. The Public Authority Control Board will likely have to approve the agreement, said David J. Friedfel, director of state studies at the nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission. The tale of the New Jersey couple who wanted to help out a homeless man by starting a GoFundMe campaign has taken another turn. The couple, Mark DAmico and Kate McClure, and the man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., are all being charged with second-degree conspiracy and theft by deception, the prosecutor for Burlington County, N.J., said on Thursday. They face five to 10 years in prison if found guilty, the prosecutor, Scott A. Coffina, said at a news conference on Thursday. The entire campaign was predicated on a lie, Mr. Coffina said. They conspired to pass off a fake feel-good story that would compel donors to contribute to their cause; it worked in a very big way but it was fictitious and illegal. Mr. DAmico and Ms. McClure turned themselves in to the authorities on Wednesday. They were later released and were expected to be back in court on Christmas Eve. Mr. Bobbitt was arrested in Philadelphia and was being extradited to New Jersey. Herbert Fingarette, a contrarian philosopher who, while plumbing the perplexities of personal responsibility, defined heavy drinking as willful behavior rather than as a potential disease, died on Nov. 2 at his home in Berkeley, Calif. He was 97. His daughter, Ann Fingarette Hasse, said the cause was heart failure. Professor Fingarette challenged the theory that alcoholism is a progressive disease that can be dealt with only by abstinence, and he concluded that treatment could include moderated drinking. Many academics and medical professionals denounced those views as heresy. But they were invoked by the United States Supreme Court in the 1988 decision Traynor v. Turnage. In that ruling, the court affirmed the governments denial of education benefits to two veterans who had argued that they missed filing deadlines for those benefits because of their addiction as recovering alcoholics. The overall sense of this year is that the brilliant digital minds who told us they were changing the world for the better might have miscalculated. Opinion Conversation The climate, and the world, are changing. What challenges will the future bring, and how should we respond to them? What should our leaders be doing? Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States, finds reasons for optimism in the Biden presidency. Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States, finds reasons for optimism in the Biden presidency. What are the worst climate risks in your country? Select a country, and we'll break down the climate hazards it faces. Select a country, and we'll break down the climate hazards it faces. Where are Americans suffering most? Our maps, developed with experts, show where extreme heat is causing the most deaths in the U.S. Our maps, developed with experts, show where extreme heat is causing the most deaths in the U.S. What does climate devastation look like? In Sept. 2020, Michael Benson studied detailed satellite imagery. Here's the earth that he saw and the one he wants to see. Dan Lyons, a longtime tech observer and author of the new book Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable for the Rest of Us, recently tweeted: Nobody in Silicon Valley can solve homelessness or figure out how to hire with diversity, but 11 electric scooter companies have raised VC funding. Oh, and a company that uses robots to make pizza. You wonder why theres a tech backlash. Actually no one wonders that anymore, which is why its probably time to think about where the industry goes from here. While I can be hard on tech, I still have hope that it can regain its innovation, inspiration and sunny approach to the future. To do this, I have five suggestions: Embrace Transparency As seen in the Facebook mess, the biggest error of all is the slow dribbling out, and outright covering up, of bad news. There is no greater threat to innovation than this kind of behavior, which suggests a company that wants to hold on to its power rather than be honest about its faults. Google has also failed to be transparent enough in regard to its creation of a search engine in China, its payoffs to men accused of sexual harassment and its work with the Defense Department. At Twitter, it is still unclear how it makes decisions about the removal of hateful content on its platform. And it sure would be nice if Uber would release the full Eric Holder report on how that company behaved or, more precisely, misbehaved. Hold Leaders Accountable The fact that no one seems to get fired for anything at these companies is really quite breathtaking. Techies are fond of the obviously false bromide that failure is O.K. If it is so fine, one wonders why no one is being held publicly responsible for anything, aside from the tiresome apology tours that are on replay in Silicon Valley. Privacy breaches at Yahoo and Facebook and Google and everywhere? So sorry. Payoffs to alleged sexual harassers all over the system? So sorry. Questionable financing? So sorry. Yeah, I am sorry that they are so sorry, too, but actions should follow words. Avoid Groupthink In early 2017 at an event in Germany, I asked Elliot Schrage, then Facebooks top policy and communications executive who also stars in the Times article if there were any irritants among the companys managers. By this, I was asking if there was a consistent effort to bring out the concerns and worries of staff members and to introduce doubt about the companys products and efforts. He never answered and I knew the answer anyway: Facebooks ruling class pushed cohesion over disagreement and chastised those who went against the grain. Witness the experience of Alex Stamos, the companys security chief, who was apparently yelled at for how he moved forward with exploring his early worries about Russian interference, rather than celebrated for what he unearthed. Invest in Diversity Tech companies record on diversity is just abysmal and has not budged in years, despite all the promises. They need to increase diversity because it is the right thing to do. But numerous studies have also proven that a heterogeneous staff including differences in age, gender, race and background is the best thing for businesses in the long term. Does it happen? It does not. As I have said time and again: Silicon Valley thinks it is a meritocracy, but it is a mirrortocracy. MEXICO CITY An iconic photo from 1993 shows Colombian police officers smiling as they crouch over the bullet-ridden corpse of Pablo Escobar, who Forbes magazine had claimed was the richest drug trafficker on the planet . The picture was taken by Steve Murphy , an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, who helped track down the kingpin accused of fomenting mass murder in his homeland. Mr. Escobars fate should serve as an example to others who traffic in death and misery, said the drug czar Lee Brown, amid celebrations in Bogota and Washington. Fast forward 25 years, and a new supervillain, Joaquin Guzman Loera, known as El Chapo, sits in a federal court in Brooklyn, accused of trafficking enough heroin, cocaine, marijuana and crystal meth to Americans to have made $14 billion over two and a half decades. Mr. Guzmans infamy, including escaping from two maximum-security prisons in Mexico, puts him alongside Mr. Escobar and indeed the bootlegger Al Capone as the most notorious traffickers of modern times. In the years between Mr. Escobars death and Mr. Guzman s trial, which began this week, the war on drugs has stumbled on. In terms of taking down kingpins and burning heaps of their narcotics, it has been a stunning success. It terms of reducing the number of Americans killed from overdoses or Latin Americans murdered over smuggling profits, it has been a resounding failure. The Drug Policy Alliance estimates the fight against the illegal drug trade costs United States taxpayers $58 billion a year. But 2017 claimed a record 15,900 heroin overdose deaths, as well as highs in fatalities from cocaine, meth and fentanyl. In Mexico, the many-sided battle between rival drug cartels and an array of security forces is estimated to have killed more than 119,000 people over a decade. Thats comparable to some of the worst continuing armed conflicts around the world and has destabilized swaths of the country. Netanyahu sees no better outcome for Israel in Gaza than to accept what amounts to a kind of low-grade fever in Hamass violent but relatively controlled and predictable rule. If anything, Gaza serves him as a political billboard of sorts a warning to the Israeli public of what it can expect of a Palestinian state should one ever come into being. This is a policy of palliatives, and maybe its better than the conceivable alternatives: stronger Israeli military action that results in more Palestinian casualties, and more international condemnation; a war to remove the Hamas leadership by force, which would be considerably bloodier without guaranteeing that Hamas wont return to power once Israel leaves; or full-scale re-occupation of the Strip, which leaves Israel with responsibility for the lives of some two million Palestinians. Then again, Israelis also pay a steep price for restraint. Casualties on the Israeli side of the latest round of fighting may have been relatively light 18 wounded and one dead but hundreds of thousands of Israelis were forced into safe rooms during the fighting; Israel spends vast sums trying to defend itself militarily against Palestinian rockets, tunnels and crowds; and Israelis living near Gaza exist in a permanent state of precaution and fear. Worse, by accepting Hamas as the quasi-legitimate power in Gaza, Netanyahu has helped tilt Palestinian politics in a radical direction, a combination of Islamist intolerance, anti-Semitic bigotry, and a cult of violence and martyrdom. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president-for-life, is a sad excuse for a moderate, but there can be no hope of genuinely moderate Palestinian politics when Hamas is the pre-eminent actor in them. Beyond Gaza, Israel cut short its 2006 war against Hezbollah after 34 days, leaving the group far more powerful now than it was then. In Iraq, the U.S. ended up in a forever war in part because the first Bush administration left Saddam Hussein in power after the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Barack Obama surged U.S. forces in Afghanistan, but only with the intention to degrade the Taliban rather than to defeat them. Today, the Taliban continues to gain ground, and Americans continue to die, in a struggle Obama once called a war that we have to win. To the Editor: Re Parsing Signatures, Not Chads, in Florida Vote (front page, Nov. 15): Im a Florida 2018 midterms voter who had asked for a mail-in ballot. As I was finishing it up, I saw the notice that my signature must match the one in their records or my vote would be no good. Realizing that my vote would likely be rejected because my signature has always been a scrawl, I decided to go in person for early voting instead. I brought my mail-in ballot with me to the polling place. When I was about to vote, even though I was there in person and had shown a photo ID (my drivers license), I was told I still had to give my signature, and that it must match their records in order for my vote to count! The signature required was on one of those electronic pad devices. And you dont sign the same way on those as you do on paper let alone the same way you did however many months or years ago when the signature of record was made. How can politicians get away with taking away your vote, ostensibly to protect against fraud, without in any way demonstrating that there is any fraud? In the Nov. 7 Observer, Hooks wrote: Something happened this year that has not happened before Republican-leaning voters studied specific down-ballot races and broke ranks. Thats a terrible omen for Republicans, who spent the month before the election begging voters to vote straight-ticket R. Once voters get in the habit of splitting their ballot, theyre more likely to do so in the future. Hooks reported a conversation he had with ORourke last July in a crummy hotel bar in Lubbock, Tex. when ORourke talked not only about winning, but also about the effect he hoped his race would have on the people around him. He would go to places Democrats dont go, engage people in a politics that was collaborative, spontaneous and felt good, and hope that it gave them tools and encouragement to keep going after he was done. The success of that project was dependent on ORourke doing well enough, and proving the haters wrong. He did. Only time will tell what the race left behind. But according to his own terms and lets use a damn cuss here, in tribute to the man it looks like he knocked it out of the park. In the Atlantic, Hooks cautioned that it was too early in the process of partisan transition to suggest that Texas is on the verge of turning blue, but that the Nov. 6 results just might be the beginning of the end of Republican dominance. Hooks compared ORourkes losing bid to that of John Tower one of the first Republicans to break the pre-1965 Democratic stranglehold on Texas who lost in his first attempt to win a Texas Senate seat in 1960 but went on to win in a 1961 special election. Towers victory demonstrated to Texas Republicans that their ambitions were not hopeless, that the party could bide its time, be smart, and pick off races when it could, Hooks wrote. That might just be with a very strong emphasis on might what happened to Texas Democrats in 2018. Despite his caution, Hooks appeared to be convinced that the 2018 election marked a turning point: Something very strange happened here this year. Like Towers bid, the full payoff may not come for many years. But the state party now has what the Republican Party then needed more than anything else: A reason to start building in earnest. Thats not much, doubtless. But it just might be enough. Perhaps the most trenchant insights concerning Texas politics were offered by a prominent Republican, Joe Straus, who is retiring after serving 10 years as Speaker of the state House of Representatives. Despite a lifetime career in Republican politics, in a postelection interview with the Texas Tribune, Straus described his own distaste for some of the leaders of the partys right wing. He acknowledged that he split his ticket more than I ever have before and cited the infectious enthusiasm (in the ORourke campaign) which was brighter than what a lot of his opponents were offering. Trump, who campaigned extensively for Cruz, demonstrated borderline racism at times, Straus said. Some of Trumps rhetoric is extremely divisive and Its dark. Its not unifying. Its not factual in many cases, and I think thats the wrong direction for the leader of any party. For her part, Julie McCarty, the Tea Party stalwart in North Texas, remains firm in her commitment. She wrote her supporters: I am called to fight for freedom and righteousness, and that is all I know to do. We continue to educate and push back as long as we have the chance and we do still have the chance because even though we had some squeakers and some tough losses, TEXAS IS STILL A RED STATE. Straus was more considered in his assessment of Texas politics: The Republican Party and the state of Texas are moving in opposite directions. I invite you to follow me on Twitter, @Edsall. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. The details of Robersons employment at the bar are also murky. He was licensed to carry a firearm as a security guard, according to state records, but its unclear if he was licensed to work as an armed security guard at Mannys specifically, since employers are also required under most circumstances to be licensed. Bar owners did not return multiple calls for comment, and state officials requested that the Tribune obtain records via an open records request. The request has been made, but the states response is still pending. Myrickes said he and Roberson were not initially armed but that Roberson might have had the suspects gun when Roberson was shot, or might have at some point retrieved his weapon from the car. Many Americans who voted in last weeks midterm elections were hungry for change. They pinned their hopes on politicians who they felt embodied the values and diversity of the nation as a whole, and who could lift up their communities. The result will be a Congress significantly more representative of America today. But merely putting people in office will not produce the seismic change needed to sufficiently improve local communities and the lives of the most disenfranchised people. The stunningly diverse 116th Congress, which starts in January, was made possible by grass-roots community organizing around the country. But those same communities cant stop there. Real change must come from the ground up. We saw this in Flint, Mich., where political leaders failed to maintain safe water infrastructure for poor and black residents. As a result, children and families drank water contaminated with lead, poisoning a generation. Elected officials at the state and federal levels did nothing. Instead, local activists, doctors and families exposed the contamination and forced the authorities to take action. Volunteers spread awareness about the risks of drinking tap water. Bottled water drives gave the community strength to withstand the crisis. Flint is not out of danger, but it is on a better path today precisely because its residents took on the challenge themselves. One of the great things about Matt is that when he determines there is something beneficial, he gets laser-focused about the process, Ms. Yasuoka, 27, said. He started scheduling viewings left and right. Apartments came and went quickly. Mr. Cody would send hasty texts to Ms. Yasuoka, who works at a tech company in the East Village, asking if she could rush over for viewings. Along the way, he encountered a revolving door of agents. I thought it was going to be more of a relationship-type thing, he said. The couple checked out one of the areas few prewar elevator rental buildings, which had a basement gym. The doorman pointed them to several vacancies. A studio on a low floor with little light was going for $3,375 a month, while one on a higher floor, with a bright westward view of the Hudson River and New Jersey, was $3,825. Image A one-bedroom in a building on Perry Street had its own washer-dryer, but the bedroom was tiny and the balcony was barely there. Credit... Katherine Marks for The New York Times I instantly fell in love, but we didnt exactly love the price, Ms. Yasuoka said. At a one-bedroom on Perry Street, with its own washer-dryer, they were excited to hear there was a balcony. But the bedroom was barely large enough for a bed, and most of the Juliet balcony was consumed by the door swing. Mr. Cody carried a tape measure as they went, and they mapped out their furniture on the computer. This one was the most Tetris out of all of them, he said of the one-bedroom. They were worried that what little furniture they had wouldnt fit. And the rent was pushing $4,000. In these real estate listings, there is a little bit of embellishment involved, and this certainly was one of those cases, Ms. Yasuoka said. I wouldnt call it a balcony. There was a piece of metal that you could sit on. How is the American dream of homeownership working out for immigrants? To find out, LendingTree recently looked at the share of primary residences owned by the native-born and foreign-born in the 50 most populated metropolitan areas in the United States. The company reviewed census data on naturalized citizens and others born outside the country, and also examined the relationship between homeownership by immigrants and home values. Of all the metropolitan areas in the study, Miami had the highest rate of immigrant homeownership (26 percent), as well as the largest percentage of immigrants in its population (41 percent). Miami also had a relatively modest median home value of $278,700, close to the national median of about $220,200. But that was an anomaly among cities with large immigrant populations and ownership rates. As for you challenging her word choice, I hope you did it by explaining the trouble she may cause for you with your boyfriend. You could also remind her gently that you understand her desire for grandchildren but that your life has taken you in another direction that you really like. Of course, you know her better than I do. But dont rush to judgment. She helped you babysit, after all. Image Credit... Christoph Niemann Not Him Again My wife and I give an orphans Thanksgiving, inviting friends and colleagues who dont have another place to celebrate the holiday. Its usually wonderful. But last year, I had a terrible time, arguing with one guest for most of the afternoon about politics. Now Ive learned that my wife mistakenly invited this guy back again. Is there any way to rescind this mistaken invitation? JAMES You twice refer to the invitation as a mistake, James. But I wonder: Did your wife use the wrong list, or was she simply hewing closer to the spirit of your kindhearted gathering by including those without another place to go? In either case, taking back an invitation seems at odds with the events origin story. If youre worried about spending another afternoon feuding with this fellow, call him and say: Im glad youre joining us again. Can we agree to steer clear of politics this year? I found it upsetting last time. Either he will, or he can find someone else to debate over dessert. No Petting! My partner and I have a very cute Brussels Griffon dog. The breed is uncommon where we live, so he attracts a lot of attention. Many people are eager to touch him, which our dog doesnt like. When people ask to pet him, we say hes not friendly or joke that he doesnt like people messing up his hair. Still, people try to touch him anyway, and our dog growls or snaps. Then theyre upset! Should we train our dog to be friendlier with strangers or be more direct with them? Sharon Tate, the tragic ingenue who epitomized the breezy Hollywood style of the late 1960s, has been gone for nearly five decades, but these days she seems anything but dead. With the approach of the 50th anniversary of her gruesome 1969 murder at the hands of the Manson family, which to many symbolized the end of the 60s, Ms. Tate is the subject of three coming films, including Quentin Tarantinos star-studded Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, with Margot Robbie as Ms. Tate. But fans who cannot wait for the screen bonanza can get their own piece of the Tate legacy on Nov. 17, in an auction of a vast trove of designer clothing and personal possessions at Juliens Auctions in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Online and telephone bids will also be accepted.) The artifacts, which have been in the Tate family for five decades, are a boutiques worth of period fashion collectibles: Betsey Johnson minidresses (estimate: $600 to $800), a black Christian Dior minidress Ms. Tate wore to a film premiere in 1966 ($15,000 to $30,000) and the ivory silk moire minidress from her 1968 wedding to Roman Polanski ($25,000 to $50,000), as well as mod-era sunglasses, scarves and jewelry. SAN FRANCISCO Facebook said Thursday that it had ended its relationship with a Washington-based consulting firm, Definers Public Affairs, which spread disparaging information about the social networks critics and competitors. The move followed a New York Times article on Wednesday that described the kind of work that Definers did on Facebooks behalf. Among other things, Definers worked to discredit activist protesters who were against Facebook, in part by linking them to the liberal financier George Soros. It also tried to deflect criticism of the social network by pressing reporters to look into rivals like Google. Late Wednesday, Facebook decided to terminate its relationship with Definers after the publication of the Times article prompted an outcry, said a person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Top Facebook executives including Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg were not aware of the specific work being done by Definers, the person said. In a statement, Facebook said it had not hidden its ties to Definers and disputed that it had asked the firm to spread false information. The first act of Fiddler on the Roof, one of the most popular American musicals, which is performed frequently across the country, had just ended at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore on Wednesday night. The Russians had staged a pogrom against the Jewish residents of a village an organized act of ethnic persecution storming a wedding celebration. Connor Drew and his girlfriend had just stepped into the lobby after the house lights went up when he heard a disturbance in the upper balcony. There was shouting. In a display that shocked audience members, a man stood up and yelled Heil Hitler, Heil Trump repeatedly during the intermission, according to several witnesses. It was the latest in a recent string of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. Mr. Drew said the man was escorted out minutes later. Everyone was whispering and consoling everyone because a lot of people were really startled, Mr. Drew said in an interview. A woman sitting nearby was on her phone expressing fear that there was about to be another mass shooting, he added. I wasnt afraid of violence. I was just more afraid of the situation in general and seeing how people were shaken by it. SLAVE PLAY at New York Theater Workshop (previews start on Nov. 19; opens on Dec. 9). Whatever Jeremy O. Harriss characters are gone with, it probably isnt the wind. In this New York Theater Workshop production, sex, race and power collide on an imagined plantation. The play is directed by Robert OHara (Bootycandy), another artist who enjoys provocation. 212-460-5475, nytw.org WHAT TO SEND UP WHEN IT GOES DOWN at A.R.T./ New York Theaters (in previews; opens on Nov. 19). Aleshea Harriss tenacious neo-western Is God Is was a play bent on revenge. This new show, which mixes poetry and protest, is more concerned with healing. A reaction against racial violence, it asks audiences to join in imagining a safer and more joyful world. themovementtheatrecompany.org Last Chance BERNHARDT/HAMLET at the American Airlines Theater (closes on Nov. 18). Good night, sweet prince. In Theresa Rebecks semi-biographical play, Janet McTeer gives her final performances as the tragedienne Sarah Bernhardt, taking on one of the greatest challenges of her career: that melancholy Dane. The play, according to Jesse Green, is so clever it uplifts, so timely it hurts. 212-719-1300, roundabouttheatre.org HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE at the Duke on 42nd Street (closes on Nov. 29). A man who went away to war and returned after a long absence is about to disappear yet again. In the spring, when the Wheelhouse Theater Company presented an Off Off Broadway production of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.s update on The Odyssey for the Vietnam era, Laura Collins-Hughes described it as a shaggy but zingingly relevant comedy. 646-223-3010, dukeon42.org UNCLE VANYA at the Frederick Loewe Theater at Hunter College (closes on Nov. 18). Richard Nelsons hushed staging of Chekhovs tragicomedy, in a new translation by Nelson, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, empties its samovar. Ben Brantley wrote that the production, which features Jay O. Sanders in the title role, is as naked and fully human an Uncle Vanya as were likely to see. 212-772-4448, hunter.cuny.edu/kayeplayhouse/tickets Dont count out Cyber Monday or Black Friday But not all who analyze airfare data agree that the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is necessarily worth waiting for. Skyscanner found that in 2017 it was the Monday after Thanksgiving better known as Cyber Monday that yielded the greatest overall savings from this period. The companys latest data analysis indicates that this year, booking on the Friday after Thanksgiving Black Friday will save travelers the most, with an average discount of $23 for domestic flights and $55 on international flights compared to the average airfare costs during the rest of the year. Analysis of 2017 bookings from another travel company Hipmunk revealed that Cyber Monday was the most popular of the holiday shopping days in terms of travelers searching for and purchasing airfare. Shop sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Buy on Tuesday if you dont catch a sale But Kelly Soderlund, Hipmunks content manager, said that the idea of Tuesday being a particularly good day for deals, does seem to hold some weight. She compared economy booking prices for Hipmunks 30 most popular domestic routes and found that Tuesday offered 11 of best deals when matched against the median booking price for November compared to the other two days. These routes included flights between New York and Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Boston and Philadelphia and Orlando. My advice is that if you find a sale that piques your interest on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, pull the trigger, Ms. Soderlund said. If youre waiting for a lowered price to a particular destination and a sale fails to manifest Travel Tuesday could be your best bet. I told the owner, George Sher Ali, that Id been in his shop before, several years before, and his ears perked up. Tell me what you bought, he said, and reached for a tall stack of old assignment notebooks. I will tell you exactly when you came in. I said Id been into his art and print shop, LAraba Fenice, roughly eight years ago on a trip to Leh, a town in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, in the far north of India. I bought two or three postcards, as had a friend who had come with me. He flipped through the pages of a few dog-eared notebooks for several minutes before announcing decisively, This is you. Five postcards. And he pointed at a hand-scrawled entry in a ledger dated Sept. 19, 2010. It was eight years ago to the day that Id visited his store. Leh (pronounced LAY), once the royal seat of a former Buddhist kingdom, is a place with a seemingly undying memory, ageless and eternal as the mountains that surround it. The Ladakh region, dotted with poplars and dominated by the Himalayas, has changed noticeably over the last decade, welcoming more tourists, restaurants and guesthouses. But it remains a wondrous destination for the adventurous traveler, full of captivating scenery, generous and friendly people, and accessible monasteries and holy places nearby. And it doesnt hurt that it can all be done fairly inexpensively. A couple of planning tips: Youll probably want to arrive by plane. The flight to Lehs Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport from New Delhi is about an hour, compared to a 25-hour drive. Flights, fortunately, can be cheap. I bought a one-way ticket directly through Air India for about 2,800 Indian rupees, or less than $40. Because of the unpredictable mountain climate at such high altitude (Leh is at around 11,500 feet), flights arrive and depart in the morning. Dont plan to hop an evening flight. I wish to thank the hard working men and woman of the LAPD for their professionalism they were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me, a statement from his law office read. I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated. The utility was responsible for several of last years wildfires that burned through Northern Californias wine country. In fact, Cal Fire has determined that of the 21 major fires last fall in Northern California, at least 17 were caused by power lines, poles and other equipment owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. This year, the utility said that it would begin pre-emptively turning off the power to some customers to avoid causing wildfires under certain conditions. Cal Fire, once it determines a cause, can seek compensation for firefighting costs which in the case of the Camp Fire will be staggering, whoever foots the bill. More than 5,600 firefighters were still on the lines on Wednesday, with 23 helicopters in the air and 630 fire engines were on the ground. The fire has burned 138,000 acres and was 35 percent contained. Whatever set off the blaze which was first reported early Thursday, just east of Paradise, a town of about 27,000 people in the Sierra Nevada foothills strong winds roaring through the dry terrain were the reason it spread so quickly and caused so much devastation. A changing climate is potentially part of the Camp Fires story, in deepening patterns of drought in California. Some researchers said that logging in the burned area after a fire in 2008, which was intended to clear out fuels and make this part of Northern California safer, may have had the opposite result. The logging may have left fast-burning weeds and young trees in the fires path. When it got to the logged area, it spread very rapidly and people just didnt have much time to evacuate in Paradise, so this whole notion that logging so-called hazardous fuels reduction was going to save the town is a dangerous falsehood, said Chad Hanson, a fire ecologist at the John Muir Project, an environmental group that has been critical of land-management policies and logging practices on public lands. The speed at which the fire spread has raised concerns about the more than 600 who are missing. Seven women are suing Dartmouth College for sexual assault, harassment and discrimination that they say they experienced from three prominent professors who, according to the suit, turned a human behavior research department into a 21st-century Animal House. For over a decade, the professors Todd Heatherton, William Kelley and Paul Whalen leered at, groped, sexted, intoxicated and even raped female students, according to the court papers, which were filed Thursday in federal court in New Hampshire. The lawsuit, which seeks $70 million in damages, says this behavior went back as far as 2002, and it accuses the college administration of looking the other way for more than 16 years. Dartmouth, an Ivy League university in Hanover, N.H., announced in October 2017 that it was conducting a sexual misconduct investigation of the men, who were tenured professors in the schools psychological and brain sciences department. After that inquiry, as the college began the seldom-used process required to fire tenured professors, Mr. Heatherton retired and the other two resigned. They have been barred from campus events and property and from ever working for Dartmouth again. But people close to Mr. Gillum said he had few illusions about pulling out a victory at this point, and his decision to remain in the race was less about strategy than recognizing voters and supporters who wanted him to keep fighting until every alternative had been exhausted. [Follow the latest Florida election results] Mr. DeSantis said the new results were clear and unambiguous, just as they were on election night. Mr. Gillum initially delivered an emotional concession speech to his supporters late on Election Day, then withdrew his concession as the vote margin narrowed and Democratic lawyers filed a flurry of lawsuits to allow additional ballots to be counted. Meanwhile, state officials ordered a manual recount in the Senate race, where Mr. Scott held a 12,603-vote lead over Mr. Nelson, a margin of 0.15 percentage points. Under state law, a manual recount is ordered when the margin is less than 0.25 percentage points. The Associated Press said it would not call any of Floridas races until the results were certified by state elections authorities. That is scheduled to happen on Nov. 20. Mr. Scott, who has joined Mr. Trump in publicly berating Mr. Nelson for not quitting the race, renewed his call for Mr. Nelson to drop out immediately. Last week, Florida voters elected me as their next U.S. senator and now the ballots have been counted twice, Mr. Scott said in a statement. Our state needs to move forward. We need to put this election behind us, and it is time for Bill Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end, rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result, and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served. CHICO, Calif. Within hours of the flames igniting in Northern California last week, an instant new homeless crisis was born. In a state already suffering an acute housing shortage, the fire that swept through the town of Paradise and neighboring hamlets has once again laid bare one of Californias biggest vulnerabilities: With each disaster wildfire, mudslide or earthquake there are thousands of people who cannot find homes in a market that for years has had very little vacancy. Over the past several days, the thousands of people who lost homes in fires at both ends of the state have scattered across California and beyond, to motels, government shelters and places like the East Avenue Church, where Patty Saunders, 89, ended up after barely escaping the mobile home community where for years she has subsisted on a $900 monthly Social Security check. Ms. Saunders said she had hoped to go to her daughters house outside Los Angeles. But her daughter had been forced to evacuate her home as the Woolsey Fire, which still rages west of Los Angeles, approached. So Ms. Saunders ended up at the church. WASHINGTON Two members of the Navys elite SEAL Team 6 and two Marine Corps Special Operations troops have been charged in the strangling of an Army Green Beret last year in Mali, a highly unusual fratricidal killing that cast a spotlight on little-known military missions in Africa. The two Navy commandos and the two Marine Raiders face charges that include murder, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, burglary, involuntary manslaughter and lying to investigators in the June 2017 death of the Green Beret, Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar, 34, a veteran of two tours in Afghanistan. The charges against the four commandos, announced by the Navy on Thursday, were brought a day earlier by Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock, the commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic in Norfolk, Va. Admiral Rock was assigned this month by the Navy secretary, Richard V. Spencer, to oversee the case. A preliminary hearing in military court in Norfolk is scheduled for Dec. 10 to determine whether the four men face court-martial or some other punishment. Sergeant Melgars killing was one of several violent deaths last year under mysterious circumstances for American troops on little-understood missions in West Africa. Four American soldiers were killed in an ambush in October 2017 in neighboring Niger while conducting what was initially described as a reconnaissance patrol but was later revealed to be part of a much more dangerous counterterrorism mission against Islamic militants in the area. Jared Golden, a Marine Corps veteran and Democratic state lawmaker in Maine, defeated New Englands lone House Republican, Bruce Poliquin, on Thursday, just two days after Mr. Poliquin filed a lawsuit to stop the counting of votes under the states new ranked-choice voting system. Mr. Poliquins defeat in Maines Second Congressional District added to a swell of bad news for northeastern Republicans, who suffered heavy losses on Election Day, and gave Democrats another Republican seat in their takeover of the House. And it added an intriguing new angle to the nations ferment over voting rules and options when Mr. Poliquin, the candidate who was the first choice of more voters, lost the race to Mr. Golden, who won on the basis of being the second or third choice of voters who initially chose two independent candidates who together got 8 percent of the vote. A spokeswoman for the Maine secretary of states office said the results remained unofficial pending certification by Nov. 26. But, if certified, the results would make Mr. Golden the winner of a four-candidate race in which Mr. Poliquin received 2,632 more first-choice votes but failed to reach the 50 percent needed to win. I understand the report, yes, answered Mr. Vitiello, who was the acting deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection when the zero-tolerance policy was put in place. He did not say whether he agreed with the reports findings. ICE has become a political flash point for its role in immigration enforcement, which has included arresting, detaining and deporting thousands of undocumented migrants many of whom have no criminal records. Photographs and videos of raids at work sites or of ICE agents arresting undocumented immigrants have incited a backlash. Several prominent Democrats have called for the agency to be abolished. As part of her bid for Congress, Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist from New York, pressed for ICE to be dismantled. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, considered potential 2020 presidential candidates, have joined Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats in demanding that the agency be eliminated. Legislation is also pending in the House to abolish ICE in a plan pushed by Democratic representatives including Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and Pramila Jayapal of Washington. In his testimony, Mr. Vitiello rejected such calls. If confirmed, one of my highest priorities will be to better demonstrate to the public, Congress and the media the importance of our mission to homeland security and public safety and why our agencys existence should not be up for debate, he said. Mr. Vitiello received letters of support from several people who have worked with him, who described him as a quiet and thoughtful leader willing to engage with people who have opposing opinions. His success will be that he has established a record as a nonpolitical law enforcement officer, said R. Gil Kerlikowske, who was the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection during the Obama administration. His decisions will be guided by whats best from the law enforcement perspective, not politics. WASHINGTON Republican lawmakers, facing a possible government shutdown in December and the end of one-party control of Congress in January, are searching for a way around President Trumps demands that they fully fund his wall on the southern border or risk a veto of legislation to keep the government open. Democrats, buoyed by their midterm success, have little incentive to give the president what he wants unless Republicans are willing to offer significant concessions. And some Democrats hope to attach legislation that would protect the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to one of seven remaining appropriations bills. The bills, which have a Dec. 7 deadline, would fund a number of federal agencies, including the Homeland Security, Agriculture and Commerce Departments. Mr. Trumps lingering threat to veto any bill that does not have billions of dollars in funding for the border wall has raised the tension around what could be routine spending measures. Lawmakers and aides in both chambers say they want to avoid even a partial shutdown, and they do not want to fall back on a stopgap spending bill to keep the government open into the new Congress Good Thursday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ President Trump threw his support behind a substantial rewrite of the nations prison and sentencing laws on Wednesday, opening a potential path to enacting the most significant criminal justice overhaul in a generation. Read the story and six takeaways on what the rewrite would do. From immigration to tax cuts, there is very little that Republicans and Democrats seem to agree on these days. But there may be one thing: the need to repair the criminal justice system. Thousands of ballots have been rejected in Florida because voters signatures dont match whats on file, and Democrats are calling it disenfranchisement. Heres more on the status of the ballots. Several of Mr. Trumps former aides have struck deals with the special counsel team in exchange for their cooperation in the investigation. This week, Jerome Corsi, a friend of Roger J. Stone Jr., a longtime informal adviser to the president, announced that he expected to be charged with lying to federal investigators after two months of cooperation with the special counsel team. Mr. Mueller, whose appointment did not require approval from the Senate, has sought to ask the president about any possible coordination with Russia during the campaign and whether he intended to obstruct the investigation. The special counsel team has negotiated over a possible presidential interview for nearly a year. After months of back-and-forth with the presidents personal lawyers, Mr. Muellers team agreed to accept answers in writing about possible conspiracy with Russia. On obstruction matters, investigators acknowledged that issues of executive privilege could complicate the prospect of an interview, but they did not abandon pursuit of it. The presidents lawyers are said to believe that the special counsel investigation is winding down, though Mr. Muellers team has given no public indication about its timeline. Mr. Trumps lawyers have blanched at the idea of the president sitting down and being interviewed by Mr. Mueller and his team out of concern that the president might make a false statement. Lying to federal investigators is a felony that could carry up to five years in prison. Mr. Trumps comments on Thursday renewed concerns on Capitol Hill that the president could move to fire Mr. Mueller and end his investigation. Democrats and a handful of Republicans are pushing for Congress to vote before the end of their session next month on legislation providing job protections to special counsels like Mr. Mueller. During an interview with the Tribune in June, Kenneth Johnson, who became a Chicago cop in 1986 and took over as Englewoods commander in 2016, also credited some of the districts violence reduction at that point to inroads that officers had made with anti-violence outreach workers and citizens in the communities who long distrusted the police. I think judges are going to be very important to how much this memo undermines the effectiveness of consent decrees, she said. Judges are going be very important, and public pressure at the local level is going to be very important. Four administrations, four approaches The federal governments use of consent decrees has long depended on who is in charge of the executive branch. The decrees were made possible by a crime bill signed into law during the Clinton administration in 1994. One provision, Section 14141, allowed the attorney general to sue to eliminate unconstitutional conduct by law enforcement officers. At the time, the police in Pittsburgh had been accused of targeting black people for arrest and abuse. A galvanizing moment came in 1995, when Jonny Gammage, a black businessman, died of asphyxiation during a struggle with white police officers in the suburbs. The Justice Department intervened by giving Pittsburgh the chance to avoid a federal lawsuit if it agreed to certain reforms. That agreement the countrys first federal consent decree for police reform was reached in 1997. The Justice Department backed away from the use of consent decrees under President George W. Bush. Under President Barack Obama, it made the agreements a vital part of its aggressive approach to addressing allegations of police misconduct. Several major cities negotiated their consent decrees during Mr. Obamas second term, a period of widespread protests over police killings of unarmed black people. The agreements call on officers to form partnerships with community groups in Ferguson, receive training on de-escalation tactics in Baltimore and work to develop unbiased policing policies in Cleveland. Do consent decrees work? Consent decrees can last for years and cost cities millions of dollars. Their ultimate impact can be hard to discern because crime rates can go up and down for various reasons, and because it can be hard to measure and explain fluctuations in things like racial discrimination or feelings of safety. Unlike Harvard, which makes no secret of its race-conscious admissions but says it does not discriminate, the nine undergraduate colleges that make up the University of California are prohibited by state law from even considering the race or ethnicity of applicants. California has banned affirmative action in colleges and universities since 1996. Professor Sander, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, is a prominent proponent of the contentious mismatch theory, which holds that students who receive substantial admissions preferences some racial minorities, for instance, but also so-called legacy applicants and athletes often flounder and fail, whereas they would flourish if they went to universities to which they would be better matched. He said that he believed the damage was greatest when universities weighed race heavily over other factors and that he was not opposed to the use of slight racial preferences. But Professor Sander said he also believed that researchers and universities were too focused on admissions data when analyzing campus diversity. They should also be looking at outcomes data, he said, which includes majors, grades, how long it took students to graduate, whether they went to graduate or professional school and even their earnings after graduation. That is the type of data Professor Sander is seeking in his lawsuit. He said he had received several years worth of similar data from the University of California in 2008, and found that even though the number of black and Hispanic students admitted to Berkeley and U.C.L.A. fell after the affirmative action ban the drop was more than offset by increases in enrollment at other campuses and increases in graduation rates. More talented students applied to the top schools, he said, while others began at less elite campuses and transferred up. KABUL, Afghanistan More than 28,000 Afghan police officers and soldiers have been killed since 2015, the Afghan president revealed this week, breaking with his governments longstanding suppression of casualty totals. The admission from President Ashraf Ghani came during a particularly bad week for Afghanistans beleaguered government forces, with at least 242 security force members killed from Nov. 9 to 15, according to casualty reports compiled by The New York Times. In the Jaghori district of Ghazni Province, once regarded as the safest rural district in the country, an entire company of 50 elite commandos was wiped out, all but a handful killed or wounded. Taliban insurgents also killed dozens of police officers and soldiers in a series of attacks in Farah Province, and an additional 14 police officers in an attack on a police station in the central city of Ghazni. [Read The New York Times weekly report on Afghan casualties.] Speaking by video link on Monday from Kabul, the Afghan capital, to an audience at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, Mr. Ghani noted that some 2,000 American soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan through 2014, at the end of which responsibility for security was handed to the Afghans. HONG KONG A lot of people dont use computers. Most of them arent in charge of a nations cybersecurity. But one is. Japanese lawmakers were aghast on Wednesday when Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, the minister who heads the governments cybersecurity office, said during questioning in Parliament that he had no need for the devices, and appeared confused when asked basic technology questions. I have been independently running my own business since I was 25 years old, he said. When computer use is necessary, he said, I order my employees or secretaries to do it. I dont type on a computer, he added. Asked by a lawmaker if nuclear power plants allowed the use of USB drives, a common technology widely considered to be a security risk, Mr. Sakurada did not seem to understand what they were. The two leaders will meet at the end of the month at the Group of 20 gathering in Buenos Aires. Mr. Pences remarks came after the release of a congressional report that said China appeared to have eased up on the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea. The annual report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission asked the United States Treasury Department to list Chinese businesses, entities and individuals doing business with North Korea that might be subject to United States sanctions. Also on Thursday, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed that trade talks with the United States had resumed following a phone call this month between Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi. Those talks had been on hiatus since August, with Mr. Trumps top economic advisers feuding over how the United States should proceed. Mr. Pence also said that he had a cordial encounter with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Tuesday at the gala dinner hosted by the regional bloc, known as Asean. We exchanged greetings, but nothing more than that, he said of Mr. Putin, whose July meeting with Mr. Trump drew fierce criticism in the United States over what many viewed as Mr. Trumps fawning behavior. Mr. Pence and Mr. Putin also had a brief conversation on Thursday. Mr. Pence is essentially standing in for Mr. Trump at the Asean meeting, and the presidents absence was conspicuous; not only is Mr. Putin in Singapore, but Mr. Xi will attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders forum this weekend in Papua New Guinea. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka When the parliamentary speaker tried to call a vote, several lawmakers heckled him, and a gang of them swarmed the podium and broke his microphone. Someone threw a garbage bin at him. Then a bound copy of the Sri Lankan Constitution soared through the air. Fists swung wildly. Several lawmakers were injured. The speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, 78, had to be hurried out a back door and the session canceled. Several members of Parliament were left dabbing their wounds with tissue paper. But the chaos on the floor of Sri Lankas Parliament on Thursday may have finally focused the deeply divided government. For the first time since a constitutional crisis erupted last month, pitting the president against his own prime minister, the two sides are meeting. Lawmakers in Colombo, the seaside capital, said Thursday night that they had talked to the president, trying to find a way to break the deadlock. The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau chief. Sign up to get it by email. Heres where to find all our Oceania coverage. ______ Thanksgiving is an American holiday that comes with both flaws (it oversimplifies colonization) and traditions that are widely beloved (turkey and thankfulness). This weeks newsletter aims to bring a small piece of the holiday to Australia. More specifically, every year (in my house at least) we go around the dinner table and ask people to share at least one thing theyre thankful for. So this year Im doing the same with all of you and our bureau of diverse global Australians. Ill start. Here are some of the especially Australian things Im thankful for this year: Sydney sounds. My days start with kookaburras and lorikeets, followed by one particular motorcycle, then the sounds of children. Theres a rhythm to it that Ive grown to really love. In Parliament this spring, the opposition Conservatives pounced on a government estimate that it cost 1,500 Canadian dollars, or about $1,100, to use government workers to assemble a new play structure for Mr. Trudeaus children at the prime ministers official country house, in a park north of Ottawa. (Mr. Trudeau paid the $5,600 for the structure itself out of his own pocket.) In 1971, the government stopped charging the prime minister rent for lodging, but Mr. Trudeau pays for his food, internet service and a caregiver for his children. Because the kitchen at Rideau Cottage is meant for a family, not a team of cooks, the kitchen staff for the prime minister still works at the official residence, and the Trudeau familys meals are driven across the street from 24 Sussex, a practice that has aroused indignation from the Conservatives (whose own party leader lives in an official residence reserved for the head of the opposition). Mr. Martin, the former prime minister, said the best solution to the 24 Sussex problem would be for Mr. Trudeau to turn over all the decisions about its future to a group of nonpartisan experts. Still, he welcomed Canadians stinginess when it comes to spending money on their politicians. I think its a good thing, he said. When you take a look at the ethical problems that occur around the world, I think the facts that this is something that a Canadian politician would shy away from is really a sign that Canadians do have their ethical priorities in shape. MOSCOW Russias multiple arrests of the opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny during street protests amount to a politically motivated campaign to silence him, Europes top human rights court ruled on Thursday, in a rare finding that a government had abused its prosecutorial powers with political intent. Observers of the work of the European Court of Human Rights called the decision an embarrassment for the Russian government, as it was only the 11th ruling on abuse of such powers in the courts nearly 60-year history. Russia has for years faced a barrage of criticism over hard-line domestic politics under President Vladimir V. Putin, who has squelched independent news outlets and routinely jailed opponents. But the ruling came at a delicate time in relations between the European Court of Human Rights and the Russian government, raising fears that in response to a decision vindicating an opponent of Mr. Putins, Russia could drop out of the treaty that formed the court. [This article has been updated to reflect the results of the vote in Parliament on Jan. 15.] LONDON After delays, stumbles and negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May finally presented her plan for Britains withdrawal from the European Union to Parliament. Then, on Tuesday, British lawmakers resoundingly rejected it, 432 to 202. It was one of the biggest defeats in the House of Commons for a prime minister in recent British history, and the humiliating margin has put Mrs. Mays government on the verge of collapse Supporters of Brexit, as the withdrawal is known, had once promised that leaving the European bloc would be quick and simple. It has turned out to be neither. To understand why, it helps to understand the origins of the plan, and how that history is playing out today. Groups like the Salvation Army often use coat distribution to help connect people in need with more services, while others, like a national nonprofit that was holding its biggest fundraiser of the year Thursday, focus largely on helping local groups make sure people are warm in the winter. At the same time, many local food pantries and charitable groups also take and give away coats. For those seeking refuge from war and violence, Hungary has been an unwelcoming place. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been at the vanguard in casting refugees as an insidious menace, best kept at bay by barbed wire and locked up in detention centers. His government made it a crime to even assist people in the country applying for asylum. So it was somewhat awkward this week when the former prime minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski, who was supposed to begin a two-year prison sentence on Monday after being convicted of abuse of power announced on Facebook that he had fled his homeland and was in Budapest seeking asylum. After more than 24 hours of silence, the Hungarian government confirmed late Wednesday night that Mr. Gruevski was in the country and seeking asylum but provided few other details, including how a convicted politician managed to get into the country considering that both his personal and diplomatic passports had been confiscated. Mr. Gruevskis flight stoked outrage in Macedonia, which issued a warrant for his arrest and demanded that he be extradited. It has also highlighted the competition between the European Union and Russia over the values and allegiances of countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. A criminal trial in Ireland, in which the lawyer of a man accused of rape cited the lacy underwear worn by a woman as a sign of her consent, has ignited outrage across the country and beyond. During the closing argument, the defense lawyer asked the jury to consider the underwear worn by the 17-year-old woman at the time prosecutors said she was raped in a muddy alleyway by a 27-year-old man. Does the evidence out-rule the possibility that she was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone? the lawyer asked, according to The Irish Times. You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front. The man was acquitted, and the case immediately drew calls for accountability and sparked a national dialogue about consent and victim blaming. Hundreds of women and men with posters and lace underwear in hand protested in five cities across the country on Wednesday. JERUSALEM Last year, when the Trump administration was still trying to entice the Palestinians into peace talks with Israel through cooperation rather than coercion, it encouraged the two sides to team up on small-scale infrastructure projects as a way to rebuild trust while improving conditions in the here-and-now. Deep in the Negev Desert, a group of Israeli and Palestinian civilians did just that. They hammered out creative ways to bring solar power, sewage treatment and clean water to the impoverished Gaza Strip, where the lights are out more than they are on, the aquifers are befouled, and raw sewage has been pouring into the Mediterranean sometimes overwhelming a nearby Israeli desalination plant with pollution. Their plans were aimed at creating jobs, improving public health and, above all, sustaining hope in a place where that is in short supply. But in the time it took them to see to the nuts and bolts business plans, site selection, Israeli military approvals, and the hiring of engineers and workers in Gaza the political context changed radically. The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital. Angry Palestinians began regularly denouncing the White House, and the administrations approach to them became no-carrot, all-stick. The accident happened around 1:05 a.m. An Illinois state police car had been northbound on State Street, not far behind the SUV, and a trooper got out and chased after the fleeing driver, a witness said. Through the morning, police officers on foot and in cars could be seen throughout the surrounding streets, searching for the driver. He remained at large. In a few decades, this iconic American landscape will not be the same. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK On a recent fall afternoon in the Lamar Valley, visitors watched a wolf pack lope along a thinly forested riverbank, 10 or so black and gray figures shadowy against the snow. A little farther along the road, a herd of bison swung their great heads as they rooted for food in the sagebrush steppe, their deep rumbles clear in the quiet, cold air. In the United States, Yellowstone National Park is the only place bison and wolves can be seen in great numbers. Because of the park, these animals survive. Yellowstone was crucial to bringing back bison, reintroducing gray wolves, and restoring trumpeter swans, elk, and grizzly bears all five species driven toward extinction found refuge here. Bison in Yellowstone. But the Yellowstone of charismatic megafauna and of stunning geysers that four million visitors a year travel to see is changing before the eyes of those who know it best. Researchers who have spent years studying, managing, and exploring its roughly 3,400 square miles say that soon the landscape may look dramatically different. Over the next few decades of climate change, the countrys first national park will quite likely see increased fire, less forest, expanding grasslands, more invasive plants, and shallower, warmer waterways all of which may alter how, and how many, animals move through the landscape. Ecosystems are always in flux, but climate change is transforming habitats so quickly that many plants and animals may not be able to adapt well or at all. Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, is one of the Unesco World Heritage sites threatened by climate change. It is home to some of the countrys oldest weather stations, including one at Mammoth Hot Springs. Data from the park and surrounding area has helped scientists understand and track climate change in the Western United States. Since 1948, the average annual temperature in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem an area of 34,375 square miles that includes the park, national forests and Grand Teton National Park has risen about 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers report that winter is, on balance, 10 days shorter and less cold. At the northeast entrance, for example, about 60 fewer days fall below freezing than did 30 years ago. The snow that blankets the park each winter is a vital part of the Yellowstone ecosystem. But the snow often doesnt stay as long, or accumulate the way it used to. Inches of water trapped as snow No Change -2 in. -4 in. or more Colors show projected decrease in snowpack compared to current averages. By mid-century, scientists predict that the snowpack in some areas of the park will decrease sharply. For the Northern Rockies, snowpack has fallen to its lowest level in eight centuries, said Patrick Gonzalez, a forest and climate change scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. Because snow is a cornerstone of the parks ecology, the decline is alarming to some ecologists. The Grand Prismatic Spring. Summers in the park have become warmer, drier and increasingly prone to fire. Even if rainfall increases in the future, it will evaporate more quickly, said Michael Tercek, an ecologist who has worked in Yellowstone for 28 years. By the time my daughter is an old woman, the climate will be as different for her as the last ice age seems to us, Dr. Tercek said. Yellowstones unusual landscape of snow and steam, of cold streams and hot springs is volcanic. Magma gives rise to boiling water and multihued thermophiles, bacteria that thrive at high temperatures. The Grand Prismatic Spring from above. In 1883, The New York Times described the park as an almost mystical wonderland. For many visitors, Yellowstone represents American wilderness: a place with big, open skies where antelope and bison still roam. You run into visitors and they thank you for the place, said Ann Rodman, a park scientist. They are seeing elk and antelope for the first time in their lives. Far left, an elk at Mammoth Hot Springs. Ms. Rodman, who has been working in Yellowstone for 30 years, has pored over temperature and weather data. The trends surprised her, as well as the urgency. When I first started doing it, I really thought climate change was something that was going to happen to us in the future, she said. But it is one of those things where the more you study it, the more you realize how much is changing and how fast. Then you begin to go through this stage, I dont know if it is like the stages of grief, Ms. Rodman said. All of a sudden it hits you that this is a really, really big deal and we arent really talking about it and we arent really thinking about it. Ann Rodman, a scientist at Yellowstone. Ms. Rodman has seen vast changes near the town of Gardiner, Mont., at the north entrance to Yellowstone. Some non-nutritious invasive plants like cheatgrass and desert madwort have replaced nutritious native plants. Those changes worry Ms. Rodman and others: Give invasives an inch and they take miles. Cheatgrass has already spread into the Lamar Valley. This is what we dont want to turn into what it looks like in Gardiner, Ms. Rodman said. The seeds come in on peoples cars and on peoples boots. Pronghorn antelope, with cheatgrass in the background. Cheatgrass can thrive in disturbed soils and can ignite like tissue paper, she said. It takes hold after fires, preventing native plants from regrowing. If cheatgrass and its ilk spread, bison and elk could be affected. Cheatgrass, for instance, grows quickly in the spring. It can suck the moisture out of the ground early, Ms. Rodman said. Then it is gone, so it doesnt sustain animals throughout the summer the way native grasses would. In recent years, elk have lost forage when drier, hotter summers have shortened what ecologists call the green wave, in which plants become green at different times at different elevations, said Andrew J. Hansen of Montana State University. Drier summers can mean less food for grazing. Elk leave the park to forage on private land. Migration patterns are already changing. Some elk now stay in valleys outside the park, nibbling lawns and alfalfa fields, Dr. Hansen said. And where they go, wolves follow. It is a very interesting mix of land-use change and climate change, possibly leading to quite dramatic shifts in migration and to thousands of elk on private land, he said. Drier summers also mean that fires are a greater threat. The conditions that gave rise to the fires of 1988, when a third of the park burned, could become common. By the end of the century, the weather like the summer of 88 will likely be there all the time rather than being the very rare exception, said Monica G. Turner of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As the climate is warming, we are getting fires that are happening more often. We are starting to have the young forests burn again before they have had a chance to recover. Evergreen forest damaged by bark beetles. Trees, and new growth, after a forest fire. In 2016, a wildfire swept through trees in a section near the Madison River that had burned in 1988. Because young trees dont have many cones on them, Dr. Turner said, they dont have as many seeds to release to form new forest. The cones they do have are close to the ground, which means they are less likely to survive the heat. Repeated fires could lead to more grassland. The structure of the forests is going to change, Dr. Turner said. They might become sparse or not recover if we keep doing a double and triple whammy. Forests shade waterways, and those too are experiencing climate-related changes. We can very definitely see warming trends during the summer and fall, said Daniel J. Isaak of the United States Forest Service. Stream and river flows are declining as snowpack declines. As fish become concentrated in smaller areas, Dr. Isaak said, disease can increase in a population because transmission is easier. Sour Creek. In 2016, the Yellowstone River famous for its fly fishing and its cutthroat trout, which thrive in colder waters was closed to anglers for 183 miles downstream from the park after an outbreak of kidney disease killed thousands of fish. The feeling was that this was a canary in the coal mine, said Dan Vermillion of Sweetwater Travel Company, a fly-fishing operation in Livingston, Mont. Lower flows and warmer water are one consequence of spring arriving earlier. Quickly melting snow unleashing torrents is another. Flooding has affected the nesting of water birds like common loons, American white pelicans, and double-crested cormorants. All their nesting is on lakes and ponds, and water levels are fluctuating wildly, as it does with climate change, said Douglas W. Smith, a park biologist. Fishing for trout in the Gardner River. And Yellowstones trumpeter swans are declining. By the early 20th century, hunters had wiped out most of the enormous birds in the continental United States, killing them for food and fashionable feathers. But 70 or so swans remained in the Yellowstone region, some of them safe inside the park. Those birds helped restore trumpeters nationwide. Now only two trumpeter pairs live in the park, and they have not bred successfully for several years. Part of the reason, said Dr. Smith and a colleague, Lauren E. Walker, may be the loss of nests and nesting sites during spring floods. A pair on Swan Lake, just south of Mammoth Hot Springs, has spurned the floating nest that the Park Service installed to help the birds. Heritage-wise this is a really important population, Dr. Walker said. If this is no longer a reliable spot, what does that mean for the places that may have more human disturbance? On the shores of Yellowstone Lake, dozens of late-season visitors watched two grizzly bears eating a carcass, while a coyote and some ravens circled, just a hundred or so yards from the road. If they run this way, the ranger called out, get in your cars. Grizzlies are omnivores, eating whatever is available, including the fat- and protein-packed nuts of the whitebark pine. That pine is perhaps the species most visibly affected by climate change in Yellowstone and throughout the West. Warmer temperatures have allowed a native pest, the mountain pine beetle, to better survive winter, move into high elevations and have a longer reproductive season. In the last 30 years, an estimated 80 percent of the whitebark pines in the park have died by fire, beetle, or fungal infection. A grizzly bear in Yellowstone. For want of the whitebark pine, a great deal could be lost. The trees are a foundation species, meaning they play a central role in the structure of the ecosystem. They colonize exposed mountain sites, allowing other plants to get a root-hold. Their wide canopies protect snowpack from the sun. They are also a keystone species. They provide food for birds like the Clarks nutcracker, which, in turn, create whitebark pine nurseries by caching nuts. And they are an important food source for squirrels, foxes and grizzlies. When pine nuts are not plentiful, bears consume other foods, including the elk or deer innards left by hunters outside the park. And that can bring the Yellowstone-area grizzlies, relisted as threatened this September, into conflict with people. The loss of the pines has far-reaching implications for the entire ecosystem, said Jesse A. Logan, a retired Forest Service researcher. The rest of the landscape, even in the mountainous West, has been so altered that Yellowstone becomes even more important, Dr. Logan said. Yellowstone provides a refuge for people seeking and delighting in a sense of wilderness. It offers a landscape unlike any other: a largely intact ecosystem rich in wildlife and rich in geothermal features. Yellowstones unusual beauty was forged by volcanic heat; heat from humanity could be its undoing. People think of Yellowstone as representing wildness because it does, Dr. Logan said. This is kind of the last wild place. In handing down the sentence, Norgle acknowledged Vasquezs many problems, including his need for mental health care and substance abuse treatment. The judge also ordered he pay back $32,780 in buy money he pocketed from selling the firearms and cocaine to the confidential source working for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Shortly after 9 a.m., witnesses said several people jumped out of an SUV and chased the man to the 7900 block of South Paulina Street where they shot him. Police said he was shot in the head four times and taken to Holy Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Kevin Foley Much has been made of the current climate of incivility in politics. While its true Republican and Democratic politicians contribute to the tone and tenor of the debate, social media compounds the problem by providing anonymity to many of those expressing their views. I write a weekly progressive column in a deep red countys local newspaper. As you might expect, my views receive a lot of pushback. Letters to the editor are generally civil, primarily because the writer must identify him or herself. In contrast, my opinions are also posted on the newspapers website where anonymity shields writers, so the critiques tend to be far more personal and uncivil and therein lies the rub. The writer can say what he or she wishes because they dont have to take responsibility for their words. The same can be said for social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram or Reddit. Post whatever you please, no matter how inflammatory or false, and its not necessary to tell the world who you are. The predictable result is incivility and tribalism. It cuts both ways, no question. We see anonymous posts by progressives and conservatives that cast those with opposing views as not just wrong, but evil people bent on the destruction of the other tribe. For example, we see memes of political leaders as Nazis or Communists, caricatures that evoke the worst possible extremes. These are often mindlessly shared on social media without any thought given to the underlying facts or if the content will offend others. Feeding this monster are radio, internet and cable news opinionators, many of whom repeat falsehoods in terms designed to incite anger and fear. Like animals in the jungle, audiences fight or flee when the other side attacks. Nobody wins the debate. People just get angry, alienated and more tribal. This is what is dividing America along with the incendiary comments from politicians on both sides who seek to encourage members of their respective tribes to go after each other. I was never a big fan of President Ronald Reagan, but I cant remember him ever casting his political opponents or media critics in nasty, divisive terms. Dutch could be patronizing or condescending at times, but he was never vicious, never hostile. One of my favorite shows back then was the McLaughlin Group on PBS. There, well-spoken and respected progressives and conservatives civilly debated the issues, disagreeing agreeably. It serves as an example of what political debate should be today but, sadly, isnt. Its a vicious cycle that can only be stopped if we take a few moments to remember were all on the same team; that civility begins with each of us. *** Kevin Foley owns KEF Media in Atlanta. Matt Rhoades Facebook has cut ties with Definers Public Affairs following a New York Times article of an effort to discredit anti-Facebook protesters by linking them with George Soros. The campaign tied the billionaire investor, whom the NYT on Nov. 14 called a longtime boogeyman to mainstream conservatives and the target of intense anti-Semitic smears on the far right, as the driving force behind the anti-Facebook movement. The NYT reported that Definers tapped its business relationships, lobbying a Jewish civil rights group to cast some criticism of the company as anti-Semitic. In a blog post, Facebook said it ended its contract with Definers on Nov. 14. The social media giant took aim at the NYT, calling its report that it hired Definers to spread misinformation or write articles on its behalf incorrect. Facebook blogged on Nov. 15: Definers did encourage members of the press to look into the funding of 'Freedom from Facebook,' an anti-Facebook organization. "The intention was to demonstrate that it was not simply a spontaneous grassroots campaign, as it claimed, but supported by a well-known critic of our company. "To suggest that this was an anti-Semitic attack is reprehensible and untrue. Matt Rhoades, who was Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign manager, launched Definers in 2015. Earlier he was VP at DCI Group in Washington. Definers made news in December 2017 after it quit a $120K media monitoring contract with the Environmental Protection Agency after Mother Jones reported the information was used to track coverage of employees critical of now-former EPA chief Scott Pruitt. Fine Gael Offaly County Councillor, Noel Cribbin, has called for a strategic plan for the massive Bord na Mona landbank at the Edenderry Municipal November meeting. He asked for such a plan which would include over 100,000 acres to be implemented immediately. "This landbank starts at the Timahoe works less than 25 miles from Dublin city centre and stretches down to Birr," Noel said. Cribbin also met this week with Communications Minister Richard Bruton in his office regarding the job losses in Bord na Mona in recent weeks. In the meeting, Cribbin says he "expressed the view to him that this massive landbank is a unique opportunity, never to be repeated and urged that a high-level strategic plan be put in place to put the right projects in the right locations." "This plan requires a high-level representative group with the imagination to see and plan for all possibilities now and into the future that this opportunity opens up. There is room for everything; housing, business zones, industrial zones, tourism, industrial hubs, renewable energy, water reservoirs, fish farms, horticulture, forestry, waste disposal, tyres reclining and so on," Cribbin claimed. "However, all of this has to be planned out strategically and properly and the full maximum use made by the government of this unique and once off landbank" "This opportunity has to be used to replace over 70 years of great employment for thousands with Bord Na Mona with new and sustainable job opportunities for thousands into the next 70 years," Cribbin concluded. An Offaly pub has been crowned the Midlands and Overall gastro pub of the year at the 2018 Food Awards. The Station House in Edenderry, owned and run by Ian and Paula Greer, scooped the awards at a glittering gala ball at Dublin's Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Food Awards Ireland celebrate the very best of the Irish food industry and the organisers welcomed over 30 national finalists to the awards ceremony last weekend. Having scooped the regional award for best gastro pub in the Midlands, the Edenderry establishment and their team were genuinely shocked when they were announced as the overall national winners. "We dont even know what to say. I shook like a leaf on that stage. We were absolutely delighted to win regional but then to get All Ireland Gastro Pub of the year was fantastic," owner Paula Greer told the Offaly Express. "From the depths of our hearts, thanks to our incredible loyal devoted staff and to all our customers and your families and kids and cousins and the whole lot," Paula added. To celebrate their most recent win, The Station House team are hosting a party to thank their staff and customers with live music from local performer Yakety Yak on Thursday evening. All welcome. Just after 1:25 am. Thursday, police officers got a call of a person down and found a man, who appeared to be in his 50s and white, unresponsive on the ground in the 1100 block of South Keeler Avenue. The caller said hed looked out the window and seen the man face up on the sidewalk. Montgomery said family members still dont know details about the pursuit, including the route the officer took during it, how fast the officer was driving or what information was given to dispatchers. He said they are still waiting for the release of GPS records of the police car, which he said the Civilian Office of Police Accountability is supposed to release within 30 days of the incident. After the shooting, Kapas said, the men went to an acquaintances Aurora apartment, and Calderon burned the clothing he was wearing along a path near the apartment building. Using the surveillance video, investigators traced the car to Guillen and on Nov. 10, found it parked about a block from his residence in Rockford. Ajit Jogi factoring into Chhattisgarh Assembly elections especially in plains India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Nov 15: Though the first phase of Chhattisgarh elections are over but poll results will actually be decided by the voters of the plain area of the state stretching across from north to south. The real triangular contest in the state is being witnessed in this region only making things seemingly easy for the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, the Congress managed to make some better moves in the state. Sources said that if the alliance between Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) is effective on any seat that will impact not only performance but result on that particular seat. Emergence of former Congress leader and former chief minister of the state Ajit Jogi is actually troubling the Congress because it is the alliance that would eat into the Congress vote especially anti-incumbency voters. Chhattisgarh elections: Jogi can be the X factor, needs just 10 seats to play kingmaker Alliance is weaved into such manner that Richa Jogi, daughter-in-law of Ajit Jogi, is contesting election from Akaltara Assembly constituency as a BSP candidate but the most interesting story is that once founder of BSP Kanshi Ram tried his luck from Janjgir Lok Sabha seat of which Akaltara is a segment. But the seat is known for clear division between Dalits and the rest of the communities. Last time the Congress had won this seat when Jogi was with the Congress but this time uncertainty prevails over this seat. Political analyst say that wherever there is a triangular or multi-cornered contest, the BJP stands beneficiary. But there are some adjoining seats like Janjgir-Champa seats where the BJP candidate defected to the BSP and it has become difficult to predict about over a dozen seats in Bilaspur and Janjgir. The equation is also changed in the state with Satnami Guru Baladas joining hands with the Congress. The community has 14 per cent population in the state helping the BSP-JCC alliance emerging a strong force in the region. Sources said that the alliance is going to claim six-seven per cent votes in the state but it is certainly not correct to say that which party it is going to harm. It may harm and benefit both depending upon seats and candidates contesting elections. Moreover, polarisation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) will also be a deciding factor. The biggest OBC group Sahu is predominantly with the BJP which is 22 per cent of the 45 per cent of the OBC communities. Chhattisgarh elections: This candidate's income rose by 2,590 per cent The BJP has fielded more Sahu candidates than thhe Congress but no big Sahu leader emerged in the state so far. So besides triangular contest candidate on the particular seat will also be the major factor. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 10:14 [IST] AJL land case: Bhupinder Singh Hooda to be prosecuted India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Bengaluru, Nov 15: Haryana Governor on Thursday gave sanction to prosecute former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Associated Journal Limited case. Hooda will be the first Congress leader to be prosecuted in the National Herald case. Reacting to Haryana Governor's sanction, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said, "All this is politically motivated. The decision was taken by the entire authority and not one person. I have full faith in the judiciary." AJL claims authorities begin eviction at Herald House Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court did not grant stay order in the AJL case (L&D office can go ahead with initiating the eviction proceedings). JL-National Herald Panchkula land grab scam case, allegedly against Bhupinder Singh Hooda currently in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). This case pertains to Hooda's alleged role for misusing his position as then Chief Minister of Haryana to cause wrongful gains to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and corresponding loss to the Government of Haryana, by illegally allotting a government plot of land worth several crores rupees (billions) to AJL for INR 59 lakh (5.9 million). Government, RBI set for truce; Urjit Patel unlikely to quit: Reports In May 2016, the state vigilance bureau had registered a case against Hooda for cheating and corruption in allotment of land to the AJL in Panchkula by HUDA. Naga pact only a 'formula', will talk to other CMs: Zeliang All North Eastern States commit to declaring ODF by Dec 2018 India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Guwahati, Nov 15: Non-Open Defecation Free states from the northeast on Wednesday committed to declaring themselves as ODF by December 2018. A regional review meeting of the North Eastern States was held in Guwahati, Assam, today. The workshop comprised discussions on sustaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM), and rural water supply. Teams from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim joined the review. Assam shared highlights of "Mission Sambhav", under which more than one lakh pit digging activities were initiated on a single day during the Swachhata Hi Seva fortnight. Mizoram elections: Where all parties have allied with BJP, all claim to be anti-BJP! Key aspects of sustainability such as geo-tagging, verification of ODF villages, conversion of dysfunctional toilets, IEC expenditure, Swachhagrahi engagement were reviewed. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation emphasized the importance of the joint effort being made by the Central and State SBM teams towards sustaining gains made under the program so far. He spoke about the importance of continued focus on behaviour change communication and periodic verifications to ensure that the safe sanitation habits and practices developed over the past few years are sustained in the future as well. Mizoram Legislative Assembly Speaker Hiphei joins BJP Shri Akshay Rout, Director General, Special Projects, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation pointed to the criticality of the sustainability phase of SBM and the necessity for the managers for regular monitoring. A parallel session was held for the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) at the review meeting. Ms V. Radha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, spoke about the need to increase the coverage of household water supply connections by taking up community-managed, low-cost schemes. The Dy Commissioners of Assam interacted with the central team through a video Conference. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 12:01 [IST] Guided by ex-Pak army officials, operating in buddy pairs: Why the Poonch encounter has dragged so much Army hits a double century in J&K, but there is a long way to go India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Srinagar, Nov 15: The Army appears to have hit a double century in Kashmir. This year alone a little over 200 terrorists have been gunned down by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. While 109 were killed in the terrorist hub of South Kashmir, the rest were reported from the other parts of the state. In addition to this the forces have also apprehended 50 terrorists belonging to various outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen. Terror infrastructure in Pak remains intact as over 100 terrorists wait to infiltrate Among the 200, the Army has managed to kill some Grade A++ terrorists as well. They include the likes of Sameer Tiger, Abu Maviya, Abu Qasim. Another top terrorist to be killed was Usman Haider, who was the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Maulana Masood Azhar. Incidentally Haider is the second nephew of the Jaish chief to be killed in the Valley. Last year in November, the Army had gunned down Talha Rashid at Pulwama. The high rate of terrorists killing has been attributed to perfect coordination between the Army, Intelligence and more importantly the local police. Army officials say that while the number of terrorists deaths is high, there is also the other issue of a high number of terrorists waiting to infiltrate at the border. Lt. Gen. Singh, who has served in all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, said, "140 to 160 terrorists at different locations in Pakistan are being pushed into the state." "The terror infrastructure is intact, and Pakistan's intentions have not changed. The Pakistan Army and the ISI's complicity in planning infiltration and terror attacks is evident and it continues," the officer, who has a vast experience in high-altitude warfare, said. Third Army soldier killed by Pakistani sniper along LoC in J&K To a question on the situation along the LoC, he said ceasefire violations have abated after the DGMO-level talks. "For troops on the LoC, there is no ceasefire... though periodic unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Army and attempts to cause harm to forward posts continue. We do not initiate fire, but we give it back in adequate measure. There is no let up on preparedness and our counter-infiltration grid is strong to deal with infiltrators," he said. Talking about challenges during winter, Lt Gen Singh, who is part of the elite Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), said the Army anticipates that Pakistani troops will make an attempt to push infiltrators through heavy snow-bound areas and non-traditional routes. "We have all contingency plans ready. We have coordinated with all security agencies, and plans are being implemented smoothly," said Lt Gen Singh, who commanded a special forces' battalion that participated in the surgical strikes after the attack on an Army brigade in Uri in 2016. Referring to the recent incident of firing of 107-mm rocket on the Poonch brigade, he said, "Despite Director General of Military Operations-level talks in May during which the two countries agreed to abide by the 2003 ceasefire agreement, Pakistani troops targeted these locations." "In response, we conveyed that Pakistan must exercise caution before indulging in any misadventure," Lt Gen Singh said. Dhanush is a formidable artillery gun, but why army preferred M777 Howitzer? Replying to another question about causalities suffered by Pakistani troops in retaliatory fire by the Indian Army, the officer said, "Pakistan has never been open about its causalities unless the soldier is from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir". As Major General General Staff at the Northern Command headquarters, Lt. Gen. Singh played a pivotal role in strategising military response to agitations that erupted in 2016 after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 15:45 [IST] Can you spot the Tiger in this picture? Image from Dampa Tiger Reserve goes viral Avni's cubs left to die, forest dept making no efforts to trace them, alleges Maneka Gandhi India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Nov 15: Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday shot off a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis alleging that the local forest department is making no effort to rescue the cubs, in fact, their team has been advised not to catch them till they died or to see that they were killed. It's been almost two weeks since Tigress Avni was shot dead in the Yavatmal region in Maharashtra, but there is still no trace of her cubs. "We had sent a team of NGOs to Yavatmal recently and found that no attempts was being made by the local forest department or the CWLW to catch the cubs," Gandhi wrote. "They were told by the villagers that the team had been advised not to catch them [the cubs] until they died or to see that they were killed," she added. The Union minister also urged the State government to appoint a team of vets and experts from different States to assist its efforts. Tigress Avni shot dead, now question looms large on her cubs "May I suggest that, in the face of national anger and the killing of the mother and concern at the plight of the cubs, you get the team of veterinarians and forest people from outside," she wrote. The union minister had also suggested that the team of vets could be led by Sandeep Agrawal and Akhilesh Mishra, who had successfully captured and relocated over 60 tigers in MP, and named some other specialists including from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It may be recalled that Avni was shot dead by city based hunter Asghar Ali Khan and since then, the entire episode has been surrounded by serious controversy over the way the tigress was killed, charges of violations of government laid down protocols by the hunter and his team as well as Maharashtra Forest Department. Tigress Avni killed: Post-mortem report reveals she hadn't eaten for days Incidentally, the last known meal that Avni's two cubs, aged about 11 months had was not later than October 28. The autopsy on Avni's body had shown that the tigress ate her last meal about five days before it was shot dead in Pandharkawda forest of Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. This means the last known meal the two cubs had after their mother made her last kill, was at least 18 days ago. A section of wildlife lovers said they suspect the cubs could have died by now. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 12:29 [IST] State vs national issues: Key lessons for the BJP to learn in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Haryana BJP set to hold bike rally in UP Lok Sabha constituencies, CM Yogi to lead in Gorakhpur India oi-Deepika S Lucknow, Nov 15: The BJP has organised a motorcycle rally on Saturday to mobilise support from each of the 80 parliamentary constituencies in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to lead the rally in Gorakhpur. 'Kamal Sandesh bike rallies' would witness senior party leaders riding bikes and touching each booth in the state. BJP workers will bring at least five motorcycles from each booth of a Lok Sabha seat for the rally. According to reports, the UP CM accompanied by deputy chief ministers of the state, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, party's organisational secretary in-charge of UP, Sunil Bansal and state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey will participate in bike rallies which will be held in each of the 80 parliamentary constituencies across the state. Name changing spree in UP: Latest demand is for renaming Sultanpur to 'Kushpur' All lawmakers, ministers and legislators will also take part in the rallies. State office-bearers, members of legislative councils and Rajya Sabha members have also been told to participate. Samajawadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had undertaken a similar Cycle Yatra before 2012 assembly elections to become the Chief Minister. He had led a group of young party workers who had covered 10,000 km to seek support for the Samajwadi Party. Schools shut, Anna University postpones exam All educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions would remain closed today in view of the cyclone. In view of the impending landfall of the storm, Chennai's Anna University has cancelled examinations scheduled for Thursday, stating that new dates will be announced later. Navy on standby Two Naval ships Ranvir and Khanjar are on standby to proceed to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief, evacuation, logistic support&medical aid.Ships will be embarked with additional divers,doctors, inflatable rubber boats,integral helicopters and relief material. 6,000 relief centres have been set up across the state. 10 NDRF teams are on stand by. Bengaluru expected to receive showers Bengaluru, Mysuru and a few other places in southern Karnataka are expected to receive rain showers this week due to the influence of cyclone Gaja, set to make landfall in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has predicted cloudy weather with light rains in Bengaluru on November 16. 1,500 boats moved to safety With cyclone Gaja expected to unleash gale winds with speeds of up to 100 km per hour while making landfall on Thursday, about 1,500 mechanised and country boats anchored in the Palk Bay have been moved to the Gulf of Mannar. Following the Meteorological Department's warning, the Fisheries Department, as part of its precautionary measures, has assisted fishermen in moving about 500 mechanised boats and 1,000 country boats. The boats, anchored in the Palk Bay, north of Pamban and Mandapam, have been moved to the Gulf of Mannar in the south side, which is considered safer for the boats due to the presence of the islands that constitute the biosphere. 2 NDRF teams on standby in Pondy A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Wednesday conducted a recce of the low-lying areas in Puducherry. A 25-member team from the NDRF fourth battalion, led by Commander Avinesh Kumar Amar, arrived in Puducherry on Tuesday to assist the district administration in relief work. Another team led by a commander was rushed to Karaikal. Flagged and cleared: The basis on which law ministry gave Rafale Deal a go-through India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Nov 15: The Supreme Court was told that the Union Law Ministry had flagged the absence of a sovereign guarantee from France for the Rafale Deal. The point in question was what would happen to India's security if the deal falters and results in the non-delivery of the jets and the French government fails to guarantee the recovery of funds. Attorney General, K K Venugopal told the court that although India did not have a guarantee, it had a letter of comfort and this satisfies concerns that could arise in case of the failure of the deal. Rafale: Govt defends decision, petitioners question it, SC reserve verdict The law ministry is understood to have cleared the deal based on an assurance given by the French Prime Minister. Further the fact that there was an adequate in-built mechanism in the Inter Governmental Agreement also led to the clearing of the deal, an official said. Further Venugopal said that the secrecy is not regarding the price, but relating to the weaponry and avionics. Rs 670 crore is of the barebone jet and not any of the specifications. We cannot renegade on the agreement with France to disclose confidential information on the specifications about avionics and weaponry. If such details come out in public domain, our adversaries will take advantage of such a disclosure. It is only out of respect for the SC that the details of the weaponry and avionic were provided, Venugopal also said. The AG then questioned how the court could look into this issue. While opposing a judicial review the AG said that it is for the experts to examine what kind of weaponry and avionics are required. The question is whether the court is competent to deal with such an issue. The court cannot look into all this, the AG also said. No new jets since 1985 IAF tells SC at Rafale hearing Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi then said, any discussion on the price will be only if we commit that it should come into public domain. The court also said that the government does not need to respond to the petitioners' contentions on pricing at the moment. Until we decide that the pricing needs to be debated, there is no need for you to reply on this aspect, the CJI told the AG. The court then asked if the base aircraft under the new Rafale Deal is the same as the one that was under the agreement with HAL. The AG said that the base aircraft remains the same. However the AG added that the details of the weaponry etc was not disclosed under the old deal as well. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 6:36 [IST] Government, RBI set for truce; Urjit Patel unlikely to quit: Reports India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Nov 15: The government and Reserve Bank seem to be veering around to ironing out some of their policy differences ahead of the RBI board meeting on November 19. The threat that RBI Governor Urjit Patel would quit, as reported by some newspapers last week, is also thought to be off the table, for now. If not in this board meeting, reports said, the issue of relaxation of PCA framework which the finance ministry has been pitching for would be reached in the next few weeks. As a result of relaxation, some banks may come out of the PCA framework by the end of the current fiscal. Of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework. These are Allahabad Bank, United Bank of India, Corporation Bank, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Dena Bank and Bank of Maharashtra. The PCA framework kicks in when banks breach any of the three key regulatory trigger points namely capital to risk weighted assets ratio, Net non-performing assets (NPA) and return on assets (RoA). RBI Governor Urjit Patel met PM Modi on Nov 9 amid govt's face-off with central bank: Report The RBI is also likely to agree to easing of lending norms for the MSME sector including strict rating criteria to improve credit flow to this sector, sources said. Besides, the central bank is expected to consider special dispensation for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) which have been facing liquidity issues. The government feels that the MSME sector which employs about 12 crore people plays a critical role in the economy, and the sector hit by demonetisation and implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) needs support. RBI vs Govt: What is Section 7 and why has it taken centrestage However, the central bank has been averse to government demand for special dispensations for MSME and NBFC sectors as it consider them vulnerable. Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said there is a need to minimise NPAs in order to maintain the strength of the banking system and enable it to help the economy grow. It is only a strong banking system that will be able to improve credit in those sectors which really need credit, the Finance Minister had said, adding, "The MSME sector needs credit, several other players in the market need credit. NBFCs today need credit because a large part of lending is done by them." PM Modi met Patel last week in an attempt to sort out contencious issues. It is unclear how much of a role Modi played in defusing the tension. Local media reported that Modi met Patel last week in an attempt to sort out the contentious issues but officials in the prime ministers office and the RBI said they did not know of such a meeting. Modi had appointed Patel as the RBI governor in 2016 for a three-year term that ends in September next year. There are reports of growing tensions between the RBI and the government, with the Finance Ministry initiating discussion under the never-used-before Section 7 of the RBI Act which empowers the government to issue directions to the RBI Governor. RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya had in a speech last month talked about the independence of the central bank, arguing that any compromise could be "potentially catastrophic" for the economy. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 11:36 [IST] 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 J&K: Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist arrested in Pulwama, case registered India oi-Madhuri Adnal Srinagar, Nov 15: Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces on Thursday apprehended a terrorist of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Rafeeq Ahmed Bhat at Lassipora-Achan Axis in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. [Army hits a double century in J&K, but there is a long way to go] The police also recovered Arms & ammunition. Following the arrest, a case has been registered. On Wednesday, at least two persons were arrested in Poonch in possession of weapons. Two terrorists of terror outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen were also arrested from Pulwama's Awantipora, news agency ANI had reported. Further, arms and ammunition were also recovered. The matter was being further investigated, Jammu and Kashmir Police told ANI. [The lady terrorists of Kashmir: Tough nuts with patronage from the state] On November 9, one Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist had been gunned down by security forces in Tral area. Arms and ammunition were recovered from them. A policeman was also injured during the encounter and was rushed to the hospital. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 23:51 [IST] I think Mayor Emanuel doesnt want to be a caretaker mayor, which is why he stepped aside and let Chicagoans decide who their next mayor is going to be. To be mayor of a city like Chicago, you need to have endless energy, and youve met someone who might have energy equal to me, thats the mayor, Mendoza said. Weve seen that over the last few years, he himself will tell you he doesnt think he can do another five years at the level of energy that you need to really run the city effectively. 'Power Star' Pawan Kalyan makes electoral debut but will he pose challenge to TDP, YSR Congress 2024 in focus, BJP and Pawan Kalyan announce alliance, emerge as third alternative in Andhra 'Vakeel Saab': Pawan Kalyan wraps up shoot, producer says, 'we all had a BLAST working with Power Star' Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan escapes unhurt after convoy hits truck in Andhra Pradesh India oi-Madhuri Adnal Hyderabad, Nov 16: Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan's private security vehicle on Thursday met with an accident at Kakinada on Rajamandri highway on Friday. He was accompanied by security officers who were escorting Pawan Kalyan during his Praja Porata Yatra at Kakinada and nearby places. The actor-turned-politician was traveling from Kakinada to Rajanagaram to attend a political gathering when his convoy had a head on collision with a truck. Pawan Kalyan was unhurt in the accident but his security personnel were injured. The security officers of Pawan Kalyan are presently being treated at a hospital near Kakinada and are said to be out of danger. Pawan Kalyan has started the Praja Porata Yatra from Tuni on November 2 and has been addressing several issues keeping the welfare of the people under consideration. What is Sabarimala Thantri's view over use of halal jaggery to prepare prasadam: plea in Kerala HC Kerala CM responsible if something happens to me: Trupti Desai India oi-Vikas SV Pune, Nov 15: Activist Trupti Desai, who has vowed to visit Sabarimala Temple in Kerala amid protests over entry of women into the shrine, on Thursday said the state government and the police would be responsible for her security. Desai, founder of the Bhumata Brigade, earlier wrote to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and sought police protection for her group when they visit Sabarimala on November 17. Trupti Desai to visit Sabarimala temple on Nov 17, seeks security "I have not received any response from the Kerala government. If any incident occurs, its responsibility will be on Kerala CM and DGP," the Pune-based women's rights activist told news agency ANI. Desai along with six other women would be arriving in Kerala on Friday for a visit to the Sabarimala temple on Saturday. The entry of women in the age group of 10-50 years is prohibited in Sabarimala Temple and it is a custom that is being followed for over a century, but the Supreme Court in September ruled against it and said that women of all ages must allowed into the shrine. Sabarimala order will continue, no stay, SC reiterates Following this, massive protests broke out across Kerala last month when the portals of the Lord Ayyapa shrine were opened for the first time this season. In 2016, Trupti Desai had led a group of women activists to Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra that ended a 60-year tradition of women not being allowed to enter the shrine. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 14:56 [IST] K'taka Govt proposes 125 ft tall statute of Mother Cauvery at KRS reservoir India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Bengaluru, Nov 15: Karnataka government has proposed to erect a 125 feet statute of Mother Cauvery at the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir in Mandya district. The government has also proposed to build a museum complex, two glass towers measuring 360 feet providing a bird's eye view of KRS reservoir. A bandstand, an indoor stadium and a replica of historical monuments to boost tourism in the region. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,200 crore. Karnataka Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar and Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh held a meeting with officials on Tuesday. Statue of Unity: Sardar Vallabhai Patel's Statue Cost, Height, Location, Facts DK Shivakumar said, 'A new lake would be created next to the reservoir on which structures will come up. The statue will be installed atop the museum complex and b/w the glass towers. The statue will be taller than the KSR reservoir. Except for land, govt isn't making any investments'. However, Shivakumar told reporters, "It is not exactly a statue, it will be like a tower. The land already belongs to the govt and we will be inviting investors to invest in it, no govt money will be used. It will be a tourist destination." According to reports, the government is getting around 6 crore annual revenue and once Disneyland-like amusement park comes up the annual turnover of is expected to touch around 300 crore and the state government hopesmake an income of 30 crore a year. The project is expected to be completed within two years. Muzaffarpur shelter home case: JDU leader Manju Verma suspended from party India oi-Madhuri Adnal Patna, Nov 15: Janata Dal (United) leader and former state minister Manju Verma has been suspended from the party on Thursday. [Muzaffarpur shelter home case: Search for missing Bihar ex-minister Manju Verma continues] The Supreme Court on Monday (November 12) rapped the two top most officials of Bihar asking why a former minister linked to the probe could not be traced. The top court also summoned the Director General of Bihar Police to appear before it on November 27 if the police fails to arrest Manju Verma by then. The Bihar government on October 31 told the Supreme Court that Manju Verma had gone missing. Chandrashekhar Verma, the husband of Manju Verma, had last month surrendered before the District Court Manjhaul in connection with Muzaffarpur shelter home case. A team of CBI, investigating the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, had raided the former minister's house in Patna and Begusarai simultaneously on August 17 and recovered a huge cache of ammunition. [Muzaffarpur case: Former minister Manju Verma's husband surrenders before Court] Manju Verma had resigned as the Social Welfare Minister in the Bihar government in the wake of Muzaffarpur case, where several women at a shelter home were allegedly raped and sexually abused, after it came to light that her husband Chandrashekhar Verma had spoken to prime accused Brajesh Thakur several times between January and June this year. Chandrashekhar Verma was the owner of the home. The alleged sexual exploitation of the girls was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to the state's social welfare department. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 18:50 [IST] Muzaffarpur shelter home case: Search for missing Bihar ex-minister Manju Verma continues India oi-Vikas SV Patna, Nov 15: Even a week after the Supreme Court pulled up the Bihar Police for not being able to trace Manju Verma, from whose residence arms were recovered during the probe into Muzaffarpur shelter home case, the former minister contiues to remain missing. Reports say that the Bihar Police has been conducting raids at several palces in Bihar and Jharkhand to locate the missing ex-minister. "Fantastic. Ex-minister not traceable": Supreme Court pulls up Bihar police The Supreme Court on Monday (November 12) rapped the two top most officials of Bihar asking why a former minister linked to the probe could not be traced. The top court also summoned the Director General of Bihar Police to appear before it on November 27 if the police fails to arrest Manju Verma by then. "Fantastic! cabinet minister (Manju Verma) on the run, fantastic. How could it happen that cabinet minister is absconding and nobody knows where she is," Justice Madan Lokur had said. The Bihar government on October 31 told the Supreme Court that Manju Verma had gone missing. Chandrashekhar Verma, the husband of Manju Verma, had last month surrendered before the District Court Manjhaul in connection with Muzaffarpur shelter home case. A team of CBI, investigating the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, had raided the former minister's house in Patna and Begusarai simultaneously on August 17 and recovered a huge cache of ammunition. Manju Verma had resigned as the Social Welfare Minister in the Bihar government in the wake of Muzaffarpur case, where several women at a shelter home were allegedly raped and sexually abused, after it came to light that her husband Chandrashekhar Verma had spoken to prime accused Brajesh Thakur several times between January and June this year. Chandrashekhar Verma was the owner of the home. The alleged sexual exploitation of the girls was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to the state's social welfare department. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 13:19 [IST] UP BJP chief to workers: Have tea with Dalits, make them understand votes are cast on nationalism, not caste Nehru became country's first PM on "compassionate grounds": BJP hits back at Tharoor India oi-PTI New Delhi, Nov 15: Slamming Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his remarks that India has a tea seller as its prime minister today because of the country's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru, the BJP on Wednesday retorted that rather Nehru became the PM on "compassionate grounds". "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only person who became the country's PM due to massive public support and majority whereas former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru could become the first PM of the country on compassionate grounds," BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said in a news conference. "And Indira Gandhi (became the PM) due to her syndicate," he added. Trivedi, however, did not elaborate further upon his observations. Speaking about Nehru on the eve of his birth anniversary (November 14), Tharoor had said Tuesday that it was because of the institutional structure created by Nehru that even a "chai wala" (tea seller) can become India's prime minister today. 'Nehru is the sole reason why humanity exists': BJP's sarcastic jibe at Tharoor over Chaiwala remark "If today we have a chai wala as prime minister, it is because Nehru created the institutional structures through which any Indian can aspire to rise to the highest office of the land," Tharoor had said. Trivedi said only two prime ministers, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, were accepted as undisputed leaders before becoming PM. He said it was the sole example in the world of a person from a common family background becoming prime minister of a democratic India. Talking about the "tussle" within the Congress over ticket distribution, Trivedi said its state leaders have already announced their candidature for assembly polls even before the party declaring its candidates. Nehru's precious legacy is being undermined daily: Sonia Gandhi He said while Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot and party's state chief Sachin Pilot have announced to contest, another leader Harish Chaudhary has filed nomination, and it's all before declaration of candidates. "Congress is taking one step forward and the next step backward. The situation seems awkward. Delay in finalising the candidates' list indicates that the ticket distribution is stuck in a tussle over the shares of its top leaders' candidates in the list," he said. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 8:46 [IST] Rafale: Comfort letter vs Sovereign guarantee, how legally is India covered India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Nov 15: The arguments before the Supreme Court in the Rafale Deal case focused substantially around the 'no sovereign guarantee,' issue. The point came up when the petitioners challenging the deal said that the law ministry had initially red-flagged France's refusal to provide sovereign guarantee for the execution of the Rs 59,000 crore deal involving 36 Rafale fighter jets. The government however went ahead and inked the deal in September 2016. Attorney General, K K Venugopal told the court that the deal was inked after the French government provided a comfort letter. He further went on to contend that the comfort letter provided was as good as a governmental guarantee. Flagged and cleared: The basis on which law ministry gave Rafale Deal a go-through How crucial is not having a sovereign guarantee to the deal. Experts say that there have been several deals where this phrase does not find a mention. In many government to government deals with countries such as Russia and US, this phrase has not been used. Instead the quality, prices apart from other assurances are built into them. Now that brings us to the question is whether a sovereign guarantee is as good as a comfort letter. The sovereign guarantee is considered to be much stronger legally when compared to a comfort letter. Officials however explain that in the inter-governmental agreement or the IGA inked between India and France is a sovereign guarantee by itself. The IGA has enough assurances apart from the associated commercial protocols that have been inked with Dassault Aviation that manufactures the jets. Hence these assurances backed by a comfort letter make the deal absolutely safe, an official explained. Rafale: Govt defends decision, petitioners question it, SC reserve verdict The law ministry had in its opinion said that the French government must take full responsibility for the performance of the entire contract. It said that the French government must take responsibility for the supply of the jets and also their performance to the discharge of the 50 per cent offsets through a direct sovereign guarantee. The French government however said that it cannot take direct responsibility, while adding that India would have to enter into an arbitration with Dassault Aviation if there were to be any dispute at a later stage. It was after much deliberation that the Cabinet Committee on Security accepted the comfort letter in August 2016. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 11:32 [IST] Rafale issue: 'Modi government lies again', tweets Rahul Gandhi India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Nov 15: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national interest on the Rafale issue. He also alleged that the latest skeleton to tumble out of the "Rafale cupboard" is that there is no guarantee by the French government backing the deal. [Rafale: Comfort letter vs Sovereign guarantee, how legally is India covered] The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: NO Guarantee by the French Govt. backing the deal. BUT, our PM says theres a letter from the French promising to be faithful! Thats enough to call this a Govt to Govt deal?#BikGayaChowkidar pic.twitter.com/Epw3J62JbV Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 15, 2018 Taking to Twitter, Gandhi along with hashtag #BikGayaChowkidar tweeted,''The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: NO Guarantee by the French Govt. backing the deal. BUT, our PM says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful! That's enough to call this a "Govt to Govt" deal?." The government has denied any wrongdoing in the deal while the BJP has dismissed as "lies" allegations of corruption levelled by the Congress. [No new jets since 1985 IAF tells SC at Rafale hearing] The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on four petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into 36 Rafale fighter jet deal with French firm Dassault Aviation. Meanwhile, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier, in a media interview, defended the multi-crore-Rafale deal between India and France. He had claimed no wrong-doing and said his company chose Reliance as an offset partner. Rahul Gandhi's old tweet goes viral: 'Mark my words, govt will take back anti-farm laws' Rahul Gandhi not a leader, he is still learning, says Congress veteran Hansraj Bhardwaj India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Nov 15: Former union minister and senior Congress leader Hansraj Bhardwaj has said that party president Rahul Gandhi is not a leader and will become one only when public accepts him. "Rahul Gandhi kaun sa neta hai, main nahi manata. (Is Rahul Gandhi a leader, i don't think so)," he told news agency ANI. When asked that the Congress is trying to counter the BJP by indulging in politics of religion, he said, "That is why Congress is losing." Congress not in a state to counter Modi juggernaut: Senior Congress leader HR Bhardwaj "Politics in the name of religion is wrong. Whether Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi, they never practised communal politics," he added. He said Rahul Gandhi is still learning and will become a leader only when public accepts him. #WATCH: Former Union Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj says, "I don't consider Rahul Gandhi a leader yet. He'll understand when he gets a post. Congress fails because it indulges in politics of religion. Rahul Gandhi is learning. He will become a leader when public accepts him" pic.twitter.com/efiXSV6Eov ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 This is not the first time that Bhardwaj has been critical of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. In 2015, former Karnataka Governor had said Congress was is too weak to counter the ruling BJP at Centre. He has said Congress and Rahul Gandhi were "out of touch with the ground reality". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 15:54 [IST] Rahul gives in to pressure of Gehlot on many issues including making him candidate in Rajasthan India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Nov 15: Congress President Rahul Gandhi had to succumb to the pressure of national general secretary of the party Ashok Gehlot on the issues related to the organisation. This was the biggest reason that Gandhi was forced to field state Congress president Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan. The Congress had earlier decided that chief ministerial faces of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh like Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia and in Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot would not contest Assembly elections. The argument behind this decision was that they would get more time for election campaign across the state. This was the reason that Kamal Nath and Scindia are not contesting Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: BJP releases second list of 31 candidates The most interesting thing is that Gehlot announced his contesting Assembly election himself from the party headquarters in New Delhi and general secretary in charge of the state Avinash Pandey was also present while announcement was being made. But he was not given that much importance that he could make this announcement about Gehlot and Pilot contesting Assembly elections. It is also very interesting that before the name of candidates for Assembly elections are announced, the decision of Gehlot and Pilot contesting election was made public. Gehlot said that he and Pilot would be contesting elections because their not contesting election was being made a controversial issue while pilot said that he was contesting election on instructions of party president Rahul Gandhi. Congress puts all speculations to rest as its senior leaders in Rajasthan to Contest Assembly polls Sources said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi wanted to give more free hand to state Congress president Sachin Pilot therefor he had appointed Gehlot in the three-member committee to look into contentious seats of Madhya Pradesh but he deserted this committee in the middle by handing over his responsibility to Mukul Wasnik on pretext of his busy scheduled in Rajasthan. It clearly means Rahul Gandhi has failed to keep Gehlot engaged in other activities of organisations to keep him away from Rajasthan. Preckwinkle introduced the budget last month. It includes an increase of more than $700 million in spending over the current years plan, driven largely by growth in the public health system. She touted the budget as one that builds on the progress we have made to reform and reshape Cook County into a government that truly serves all of its residents. What is Sabarimala Thantri's view over use of halal jaggery to prepare prasadam: plea in Kerala HC Sabarimala row: All party meet inconclusive; Will stick to SC order, says CM Vijayan India oi-Deepika S Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 15: The Congress and the BJP have walked out of the all-party meeting on Sabarimala called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The meeting comes just a day before the shrine opens for the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. "Everyone has to understand that we have to abide by the Supreme Court's order...it applies to everyone," said the Chief Minister after the two opposition parties walked out of the meeting. "The opposition said that the state did not take a measured call. We have made it clear that we have only followed the SC verdict and we have not challenged it," he said. "Supreme Court clearly says that the September 28 verdict stands. It means that the entry of women should be allowed. Govt cannot take any stand against this verdict. We respect the feelings of the devotees. We are bound to implement court verdict," he added. "Our responsibility is to implement the order. All kind of protection will be given to all kinds of devotees. We want Sabarimala to go to greater heights and glories," he further said. The cheif minister is set to meet representatives of Pandalam Palace and the tanthri family later in the day. An oral plea seeking a stay on the Sabarimala verdict has been rejected by the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The plea was made before a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India. The CJI, Ranjan Gogoi said that whatever order has been passed regarding Sabarimala will continue. Wait until January 22, when the review petitions will be heard in open court, the CJI said. The two-month long annual 'Mandala Makkaravillakku' season will start on November 17 and the meeting will also take stock of the arrangements made for devotees. Trupti Desai to visit Sabarimala temple on Nov 17, seeks security In a related development, social activist Trupti Desai has said she, along with six other women of the previously banned age group, would visit the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala on November 17. Desai has even written to Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan, seeking security for her visit. In her email, she wrote, "We will not return to Maharashtra without darshan at the Sabarimala temple," adding, "We have faith in the government that it will provide security for us." She said, "It is the responsibility of the state government and the police to provide protection and take us to the temple as the Supreme Court has permitted all women to offer prayers at the shrine." The temple had witnessed a string of protests from devotees when it opened for monthly pujas for five days in October and two days early this month. Sabarimala order will continue, no stay, SC reiterates Over 3,700 persons have been arrested so far and 546 cases registered against various people for violence during protests across the state after the top court permitted women of all ages to pray at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Over 500 young women registered for darshan in the online queue website of Kerala police last week. Kerala: Police considering choppers to airlift women devotees to Sabarimala On September 28,the apex court ruled by a 4-1 majority that no woman can be stopped from entering Sabarimala temple, ending a traditional ban on the entry of women between 10 and 50 years of age in to the shrine. Women of reproductive age were restricted from entering the over 800-year-old shrine in south Kerala's Pathanamthitta district because its presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is considered to be a celibate. New Motor Vehicle Rules 2019: What is the new fine for driving without license Sabarimala: Vehicle parking will not be permitted on roadside from Nilackal to Pamba, says Kerala HC Spoke in Punjabi dialect, posed as Army men, the mystery behind the missing Innova India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Pathankot, Nov 15: In an incident that brought back memories of the Pathankot attack, a vehicle was snatched from a cab driver at gun point. The security officials are not ruling out a terror angle. Six teams have been formed to crack the case and Inspector General (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said that a search had been launched to nab the accused persons. Pathankot attack: Punjab SP, Salwinder Singh sacked The police say that the four persons had conducted a recce before hiring the cab and even paid an advance of Rs 3,550. These persons hired the cab in the name of Major Sarvjeet Singh. The cab was Pathankot bound. It may be recalled that in 2016, the Pathankot air base was attacked by terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad after they had robbed a cab at gun point. After robbing the silver coloured Innova bearing the registration number JK 02 AW-0922 they stopped at Kathua for dinner. At the Lakhanpur toll post, the four occupants told the staff that they were from the Army and hence exempted from paying toll tax. The police say that they even asked the toll booth operator, why he had not checked their ID, if these persons claimed they were from the Army. The driver, Raj Kumar told the police that the four persons were speaking in Punjabi dialect, which is spoken in Pakistan's Punjab. The police say during the questioning of the driver, they were unable to get much information as he kept changing his statement. He will continue to be questioned for more leads. Did NSG ignore plea to rescue security guards during Pathankot attack? While a terror angle is not being ruled out, the police in Jammu and Kashmir say that this could be the handiwork of some mischief mongers. All possibilities are being explored, an officer from J&K informed OneIndia. Meanwhile a high alert has been sounded in Pathankot as the leads suggest that the four men were bound to this place. The Army and Air Force authorities have been informed about the incident. Security around the Army ammunition dump in the Mamun cantonment has been stepped up following the incident. Tiger blocks elephant's path, what follows next will amuse you Can you spot the Tiger in this picture? Image from Dampa Tiger Reserve goes viral Can you guess who's the mom and who's the daughter? Tigress Avni's cubs spotted in Maharashtra's Yavatmal today India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Nov 15: Two weeks after Tigress Avni was killed, the two cubs have been sighted in a forest in Maharashtra and could be rescued and rehabilitated, reports said on Thursday. Maharashtra state's forestry department's AK Mishra said the cubs were "healthy and are surviving" and that specialists would assess whether they had acquired a taste for humans from their mother, reported news agency AFP. "The cubs may or may not have become man-eaters, depending on their proximity to their mother when she attacked humans," it added. The mother was shot dead in early November after being accused of killing more than a dozen villagers, capping off one of the country's most high-profile tiger hunts and angering conservation activists. Translocated Royal Bengal tiger found dead in Odisha, poachers' trap suspected For more than three months, Forest Department officials were planning to catch her with the help of latest technology. Trained sniffer dogs, trap cameras, drones and a hang-glider, expert trackers, sharp-shooters and around 200 ground personnel were roped in for the task. In October, an elephant that was part of a group hunting a man-eating tigress in Maharashtra ran astray overnight and trampled a woman to death. In September this year, the Supreme Court had said Avni could be shot at sight, which prompted a flurry of online petitions seeking pardon for the tigress. Avni's cubs left to die, forest dept making no efforts to trace them, alleges Maneka Gandhi Animals rights organisation PETA India condemned the killing. Its Lead Emergency Response Coordinator, Meet Ashar, in a statement said, "Avni was killed illegally satisfying a hunter's lust for blood in possible contempt of court and in apparent violation of the Wildlife Protection Act and the guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority." "This matter must be investigated and treated as a wildlife crime. Whether sanctioned by the state or not, nobody can be above the law. This is a dark day for our nation and we must hang out heads in shame now and again if this killing goes unpunished," the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals functionary said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 15:37 [IST] Weather forecast for Nov 16: As Cyclone Gaja intensifies, rainy days ahead for Chennai India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Nov 15: Gaja, currently a severe cyclonic storm, is heading towards Tamil Nadu and is expected to make landfall late evening today. Cyclone would give heavy to very heavy rains with some extremely heavy spells over South Coastal Tamil Nadu. Places such as Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai and Thanjavur would see the major spell of rains. Right after the landfall, Gaja would degenerate rapidly. However, it is expected to re-emerge in Arabian Sea as a low pressure area on November 18. Here is the weather forecast for Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai on November 16. Bengaluru: As per Skymet Weather, a cyclonic storm named Gaja is moving towards Tamil Nadu Coast. This Cyclone will hit Tamil Nadu by November 15 evening. With its landfall, scattered light to moderate rains over Rayalaseema, South- interior Karnataka, coastal Karnataka and Kerala are expected. However, the maximum temperature will be recorded around 31 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 36 per cent. Delhi: On November 13 and 14, the entire Delhi-NCR received scattered rains. The reason for these rains can be attributed to the formation of induced Cyclonic Circulation over North Rajasthan. As per Skymet Weather, between November 16-18, people will witness a relief and easy breathing patterns will make a comeback. Icy cold winds will drop the minimums in Delhi by 4-5 degree-Celsius. Maximums are expected to fall marginally. Chennai: Chennai rains had seen a good end of October wherein the rainfall activity had even spilled over to November. Moreover, from October 28 to November 6 was the time when rainfall had occurred in the city of Chennai. As per Skymet weather, Chennai may receive another good spell of rain on November 20 and 21. Therefore, it is safe to say, that rainy days are ahead for the city of Chennai. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 31 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 66 per cent. Hyderabad: As per Skymet weather, during the next 24 hours, Light to moderate rains with one or two heavy spells may occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 32 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 32 per cent. Cyclone Gaja: A list of do's and don'ts during and before the landfall Mumbai: The month of November is considered as the rainiest month for the southern parts of the country. The state of Maharashtra being located in the western and central parts of the country, generally experiences dry weather. The city of dreams, Mumbai, being its state capital lies on the western coast of India by the bank of Arabian Sea. Being a coastal town, warm and humid weather persist throughout November month. As per Skymet weather, as of now, no rains are expected for at least next five months, which is nothing new for the city. Why India badly needed S-400 air defence systems and how is it a 'gamechanger' in true sense India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Nov 14: Despite the threats of sanctions looming large, India went ahead with the S-400 deal with Russia and inked the pact to procure the air defence systems during Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi in October. The S-400 Triumph missile defense system is a significant strategic upgrade in India's military hardware. In fact India badly needed such a system given the hostile surroundings and growing capabilities of China and Pakistan. Defence and strategic matters expert Major General PK Sehgal told OneIndia that India was virtually defenceless against the incoming aerial attacks. He said that growing proximity between Pakistan and China, especially in defence matters, has emerged as a major concern for India. Maj General Sehgal reiterated what Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa had said about the S-400 systems that it is indeed a gamechanger. "When General VK Singh was chief of the Army staff, he had written an open letter to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the air defence capability of the country was zero. We were defenceless against air strikes. We needed it to protect against cruise missiles, surface-to-surface missiles , against drones, against UAVs, against helicopters and rockets. We must have a system that is best in the world. It is completely a gamechanger as far as Indian sub-continent is concerned," he told OneIndia. [Sanctions over S-400 deal: Why India seems unperturbed?] The reason why Major General PK Sehgal is calling the deal a game changer is because of the multiple intercept missiles the S-400 system can fire. The S-400 supports four different missiles - the very long range 40N6E-series (400 km), the long range 48N6 (250 km), the 9M96e2 (120 km) and the short range 9m96e (40 km). It can prioritise the incoming attacks and take action appropriately. "Given its powerful radars which can pick up any movement in the air upto a distance of 600 kms. Any aircraft taking off from its (Pakistan's) airfields can be picked up by us and we can knock it down before it comes anywhere near the border. This is one system which can track more than 300 aerial objects concurrently and can destroy upto 30 of them. It can prioritise which is more threatening and take appropriate action. It also gives you the capability of overlapping air defence systems," he said. [Why US will not impose sanctions on India over S-400 deal? Find out from Maj Gen P K Sehgal] The system if deployed along Pakistan border will provide India an edge of 600kms radar coverage with option of shooting down incoming aircraft from 400kms from its territory. The system has a multi-function radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers besides a command and control centre. [Akash, PAD, AAD and now S-400 triumf air defence missile system] "We did not have anything (in terms of air defence) between 400 kms and 25 kms. This is a system which can take on the enemy from 30 kms to 400m kms. Then you are also buying Israeli Barack 8 systems which has a range of 70 kms extendable upto 100 kms. So, you will have a layered air defence to take take on threats from China and Pakistan," said Major General PK Sehgal. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 5:20 [IST] Yogi Adityanath to address 21 rallies in Rajasthan between November 23 and November 30 India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Nov 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not want to leave any stone upturned to return to power in Rajasthan once again where the party is facing the maximum anger against the state government. So as per the demand made by the Rajasthan BJP, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath would be the leader addressing maximum 21 rallies in Rajasthan between November 21 to November 30. Sources said that the firebrand leader is maximum in demand and party president Amit Shah wants states to take his services as much as possible where it can benefit the party. Right from the very beginning, it was indicated that he was maximum in demand. Yogi Adityanath will start his rally from the Kota region where he will address his first three rallies on November 23. Congress puts all speculations to rest as its senior leaders in Rajasthan to Contest Assembly polls However, earlier it was indicated that the UP CM will address rallies in the areas which are close to Uttar Pradesh or areas dominated by Rajput community but he will be addressing rallies all across the state. On November 23, he will address three rallies one in Ramganj Mandi, Sangod and Kota South and the very next day he will again be addressing three rallies in Pali, Sojat and Marwad Junction. From these place he will move to Jalore district to address rallies at Bhinmal, Sanchor and Raniwada on November 25 while he will be around Jaipur when he will address rallies in Shahpura (Jaipur), Phulera and Chomu while on November 27 he will address two rallies at Kumbhalgarh and Nimbahera while on November 28 at Pilani and Surajgarh. The UP CM will have two rallies at Jahajpur and Mandalgarh on November 29 while his last three rallies will be at Alwar city, Kishanpole and Mundawar. Rajasthan elections: Raje prevails yet again, shows she is the boss The rallied are very meticulously planned as the Prime Minister will start his first rally on November 23 from Alwar while the UP CM will have his last rally at Alwar so maximum number on people not only covered by the PM but also by the UP CM. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 16:28 [IST] Mothers Day 2021: Google Doodle wishes mothers all around the world with adorable pop-up card Google celebrates 44th anniversary of Arecibo Message with a doodle International oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Nov 15: Google, the giant search engine on Friday celebrated 44th anniversary of the Arecibo Message with a doodle. On November 16, 1974, scientists Frank Drake and Carl Sagan, among others, sent a message from the Arecibo radio telescope, located in the community of the same name in Puerto Rico. Their three-minute radio message-a series of exactly 1,679 binary digits (a multiple of two prime numbers) which could be arranged in a grid 73 rows by 23 columns-was aimed at a cluster of stars 25,000 light years away from earth. This radio signal was the first message that humanity deliberately sent to another solar system. Engineers translated it into sound in order that those gathered could perceive it during transmission. But the mediator itself is a silent, invisible radio pulse travelling at the speed of light. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, November 16, 2018, 1:57 [IST] Journalist Jamal Khashoggi murder: US hits 17 Saudis with sanctions International oi-Madhuri Adnal Washington, Nov 15: The United States (US) on Thursday imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their alleged involvement in the murder case of Washington Post columnist and Journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The 17 Saudi officials include top aides of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The US sanctions are the first in the Jamal Khashoggi murder case. The sanctions were declared after Riyadh's public prosecutor announced that five officials face a possible death sentence in the case but exculpated the prince. "The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. PM Modi with other East Asia Summit leaders It was Prime Minister Modi's 5th East Asia Summit. India has been participating in the East Asia Summit since its very inception in 2005. The members of EAS consists of 10 ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. PM Modi at East Asia Summit The EAS was formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity. Prime Minister Modi interacted with leaders of other countries, including his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, before the East Asia Summit Retreat. Later, the EAS leaders posed for a customary group photograph. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit where he underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi meets US Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore; discusses H1-B visa issue PM Modi at the first ever Singapore-India Hackathon "Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet," Modi tweeted. Prime Minister Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival. PM Modi with with Japan PM Shinzo Abe He held separate bilateral meetings with US Vice President Mike Pence and the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. Before leaving for Singapore, Modi had said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolised India's "continued commitment" to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. OneIndia News with PTI inputs PM Modi arrives in Delhi after attending ASEAN summit in Singapore International pti-PTI Singapore, Nov 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for home on Thursday after a two-day visit to Singapore during which he attended the ASEAN and the East Asia Summits besides holding a number of bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including US Vice President Mike Pence. "PM @narendramodi departs for Delhi after a productive 36 hour visit to Singapore that highlighted our importance to East Asia Summit and ASEAN-led mechanisms to regional peace, prosperity & security," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Prime Minister Modi on Thursday participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit here and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Later, he attended the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) during which he reiterated India's vision of a peaceful, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and strengthening maritime cooperation. Modi also felicitated the winners of the first India-Singapore Hackathon, a platform for the youth of the two countries to harness and showcase their innovations. The prime minister, who arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, held extensive talks with Vice President Pence on a wide range of bilateral and global issues of mutual interests, including defence and trade cooperation, ways to counter terrorism and the need for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, where China is flexing its muscles. Modi on Wednesday also held bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. He also delivered the keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival - the first head of government to address the world's largest event on financial technology. It was Prime Minister Modi's 5th East Asia Summit. India has been participating in the East Asia Summit since its very inception in 2005. The EAS consists of 10 ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. PTI Chicago boosted the minimum legal tobacco age from 18 to 21 in 2016. Rauner this summer vetoed the plan to do the same thing statewide, but the Senate voted 36-19 on Wednesday to override him, sending the legislation to the House for final review. The 36-vote tally was the bare minimum supporters needed to override Rauner, and their success in the House is far from guaranteed. UK PM Theresa May faces no confidence threat, Indian-origin minister quits in fresh Brexit jolt International pti-PTI London, Nov 15: Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday faced a possible "coup" after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Indian-origin minister Shailesh Vara and two other ministers resigned from her divided Cabinet over UK's "half-baked" divorce deal with the European Union. [Brexit blows to UK again: Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab & many other ministers quit] Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, Prime Minister May was hit by a bigger blow as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the withdrawal agreement with the 28-member bloc. Amidst a spate of resignations, prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg directly challenged 62-year-old May in the House of Commons. He later submitted a letter of no confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party. May's opponents need 48 letters from Tory MPs to trigger the confidence vote. However, Brexiter Tory MPs are nowhere near the numbers they need (158) to defeat May in a confidence vote, British media reported. Rees-Mogg told reporters that "coup" is the wrong word, as he is following legitimate means to try and oust the Prime Minister. "Leaving the European Union is the most fantastic opportunity for the United Kingdom. This opportunity is being thrown away," he said. "The problem is that the negotiations have given way on all the key points," the Conservative lawmaker said. Another Conservative MP, Henry Smith has also submitted his letter, requesting a vote of no confidence in May. Rory Stewart, a minister of state at the Ministry of Justice, attacked MPs attempting to trigger a leadership challenge against May, saying it "feels like a sort of coup d'etat taking place in Parliament." [PM Theresa May set for Cabinet clash over Brexit deal] Earlier, Vara, the Conservative Party MP for North-West Cambridgeshire, who has been a minister in the Northern Ireland Office since January, said, "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better." He attacked the draft withdrawal agreement which would form the basis of the UK's exit from the EU by March, 29, 2019 as a "half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally become a sovereign nation". The resignation of Raab, the man involved with the actual drafting of the agreement with EU counterparts, throws Prime Minister May's leadership in turmoil. Raab, who took charge as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU after his predecessor David Davis stepped down in protest over May's Brexit negotiations in July, said the proposed arrangement to avoid a post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland is a "very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". Raab's resignation was followed by another pro-Brexit minister, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, announcing that she is resigning from the Cabinet over the issue. Another junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman quit over Brexit, shortly after her former boss Raab quit office. The resignations are being seen as a sign of bigger troubles ahead for May, who defended the deal before belligerent MPs in the House of Commons. Making a statement on the withdrawal agreement, dubbed the Outline Political Declaration, at the heart of the intensifying rebellion, May said she respected the views of her Cabinet members who chose to resign but delivering Brexit involves difficult choices. "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated....," the defiant prime minister said. While she claimed the Cabinet had collectively given its backing to her deal, many ministers had spoken out against it and were not entirely happy with the final text. The biggest sticking point remains over what is termed as a Northern Ireland backstop, which leaves the EU with the option of keeping the whole of the UK within a common Customs Union if a future trading relationship fails to be thrashed out during the 21-month transition period, set to run until December 2021. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, attacked Prime Minister May in his response to May's statement on Brexit to the House of Commons. He said May's negotiations that resulted in Wednesday night's draft Brexit deal with the European Union had ended in a "huge and damaging failure." Corbyn demanded that the government should withdraw the deal. "The government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected," he said. The markets also reacted sharply, with the British Pound falling heavily against most major currencies after Raab's resignation. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up the minority Tory government, have also been vocal in their criticism, threatening to break their deal with the Conservatives and vote down the deal. The fresh turmoil comes as Britain continues to try and thrash out the basis of its exit from the EU, after a referendum over its membership of the economic bloc resulted in a 52 per cent vote in favour of Brexit in 2016. As the chaos within government circles gathers momentum, calls for a second "people's vote" over the issue of Brexit is also gaining ground. PTI Five people arrested The accused have been identified as Shankar, 23, Saddam, 24, Ashawani, 21, Ash Mohd, 23, and Kishan Kumar ,44, they said. Police constable robbed "On the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, a Delhi Police constable was looted by some culprits at gun-point in a moving auto-rickshaw while he was returning to his training centre at PTS Wazirabad," said a senior police officer. Robbed at gun point The accused had dropped him near Yamuna Vihar after robbing his purse, mobile, carry bag and other articles. He managed to read some figures of the number of auto-rickshaw, he added. Constable robbed in a moving auto rickshaw After registering a case, police apprehended the accused persons from near Nand Nagri flyover with their auto-rickshaw where they were searching a person to commit another robbery, he said. Delhi: Bank robbed, cashier shot dead in Dwarka One auto, one mobile phone and a bag along with a wallet were recovered from their possession, the officer said. OneIndia with PTI inputs Lately, the mayor has focused particularly on trying to decrease e-cigarette use among teens and young adults. Young people are gravitating to the products because they come in fruity flavors and tobacco companies are aiming their marketing efforts toward them to try to hook them, according to Emanuel. Springfield: Lawmakers are trying to negotiate a compromise on dueling proposals aimed at curbing ethylene oxide gas emissions by companies such as Sterigenics in west suburban Willowbrook. An ongoing Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that President Donald Trumps political appointees at the EPA and Rauners administration were aware of risks posed by Sterigenics in December 2017 but failed to warn the public for eight months. The Tribune also has reported that the Trump and Rauner administrations have done nothing to caution neighbors about abnormally high cancer risks from pollution emitted by Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee and Medline Industries in Waukegan. Read here. The company and two other entities were indicted in February for participating in an effort to sway American public opinion through social media posts ahead of the election. Thirteen Russians were also charged. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed mounting frustration with Saudi Arabia over its conduct of the war and, more recently, its role in the killing of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Pressure to curtail U.S. involvement in the war is expected to increase in the wake of last week's midterm elections, which handed control of the House to Democrats critical of President Trump's Yemen policy. The names of the service members who have been charged are redacted in the charging documents. Beth Baker, a Navy spokeswoman, said the Navy is prohibited at this time from releasing the names of the accused as well as their civilian lawyers. The service members are not in confinement, Baker said. Stahl said his focus is now his other daughter, who is 11 and was at a doctor's appointment on the day of the crash. He said she is struggling with emotions that no child should have to face. Boeing markets the 737 Max as being similar to the previous generation, which means training pilots is relatively easy and inexpensive. According to The Wall Street Journal, Boeing didnt highlight the risk of a sudden plummet because designers couldnt picture a scenario in which bad data, pilot response and nose overcorrection would conspire to risk a crash. Pilots criticized Boeings handling of the issue. Its pretty asinine for them to put a system on an airplane and not tell the pilots especially when it deals with flight controls, Capt. Mike Michaelis, chairman of the safety committee of the Allied Pilots Association at American Airlines, told the Journal. Boeing said it was working with investigators but noted that there were existing procedures for this situation. Beginning in January, the Illinois governor, all constitutional offices, and the state legislature will all be under control of Chicago Democrats. The super-majority legislature, in theory, could easily overrule the Illinois Supreme Court through the constitutional amendment process. There will be no one to fight in Springfield and no excuses not to deliver on any of their promises. Promises like: providing a good breakfast to every needy school child, affordable college, tax cuts for the middle class, higher taxes on the wealthy, lower property taxes for the middle class, more jobs, higher wages, balanced budgets, repairing infrastructure, improving the states credit rating, addressing the ballooning pension obligations and others. My father was friends with Scala years ago they all used to have bets on who was who, she said. Of course, I have feelings. We are the first! We are the original! And if anybody, Id say Serrellis and Scala, they were about neck and neck when they started. The other guys (like Als) just kinda came along after. Theyre just a little bigger than me. 347 S. Columbia St., Naperville: $2,490,000 | Listed: Sept. 9, 2021 This four-bedroom brick and stone home has six bathrooms, a gated entry and an office with a fireplace. The kitchen has double Wolf ranges and an oversized refrigerator. The second level of the home features two bedrooms and the homes primary bedroom, which has a renovated en suite bath, a walk-in closet and laundry room, and opens to a terrace. The fourth bedroom and en suite bath are on the upper floor, along with a sitting area and loft. The homes basement features a wine cellar and tasting room, as well as a full bath and recreation room with a wet bar. Additional features include a first-floor laundry, three-season room, detached garage, and backyard deck and patio. Agent: Katie Minott and Kim Marino, @properties, 773-750-9535 and 630-634-0700 *Some listing photos are virtually staged, meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options. To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com. Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news. Telecom Millimeter Wave Market 2026 Major Top Companies are Millitech, Inc., NEC Corporation, E-Band Communications, Bridgewave Communications, Sage Millimeter, Keysight Technologies Telecom Millimeter Wave Market https://bit.ly/2Dqu6s3 https://bit.ly/2RVQQUF https://bit.ly/2RVQQUF https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/ North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The presence of established telecom and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing demand for mobility services drive the market growth in the region. The rising penetration of mobile devices, and technological advancements further support market growth in the region. The high penetration of 4G LTE, and the testing of 5G technology is expected to support market growth in this region during the forecast period.The Telecom Millimeter Wave Market is anticipated to reach around USD 5,869 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the E-band frequency band dominated the global telecom millimeter wave market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.Get PDF Sample Brochure:The growing need for bandwidth intensive applications coupled with growing mobile data traffic has boosted the adoption of telecom millimeter wave. The rising penetration of mobile devices, and rising adoption of mobile-connected devices further support the growth of telecom millimeter wave market. Additionally, the increasing demand of telecom millimeter wave in small-cell backhaul networks has supported market growth over the years. Increasing investments by vendors in technological advancements, growing demand from consumer electronics, and exoanding applications in security applications would accelerate the adoption of telecom millimeter wave during the forecast period. However, adverse environmental impact, and range issues are expected to hinder the telecom millimeter wave market growth. Growing demand from emerging economies, increasing adoption in autonomous vehicles, and use in 5G technology are expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years.Inquire For More Information:The companies operating in the telecom millimeter wave market include Siklu Communication Ltd., Farran Technology Ltd., Millitech, Inc., NEC Corporation, E-Band Communications, LLC, Bridgewave Communications, Inc., Sage Millimeter, Inc., Keysight Technologies, Inc., LightPointe Communications, Inc., and Smiths Group PLC. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.Speak to Analyst for Extra Research:About Polaris Market Research:Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises.Contact us:Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: neel@polarismarketresearch.comWeb: Global Wheeled Tractor Market Analysis and opportunities assessment, product types and application, regional outlook, leading players during the forecast period 2018-2025 https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/664943/global-wheeled-tractor-market https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/00cfc0129923f8d4bee70101f60f0091,0,1,Global%20Wheeled%20Tractor%20Market%20Insights%252C%20Forecast%20to%202025 www.qyresearch.com www.qyresearch.com/expert/list This report presents the worldwide Wheeled Tractor 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.Tractors provide the power and traction to automate agricultural jobs, especially tillage. Agricultural implements are towed behind a tractor, which then provides a source of power for the mechanization of implements.The agricultural usage of tractors is the largest segment in the sector. Improvement in efficiency is one of one of the reasons why tractors are popularly employed by farmers. Besides, demand from emerging economies and the high level of government support in these regions are fueling the growth of the industry.The Wheeled Tractor market was valued at Million US$ in 2017 and is projected to reach Million US$ by 2025, at a CAGR 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 Wheeled Tractor.Request Sample Copy of Report@The following manufacturers are covered in this report:DeereCNH GlobalMahindra & MahindraAGCO TractorFarmtrac Tractor EuropeMassey FergusonEscortsWheeled Tractor Breakdown Data by Type20 40 Hp40 80 Hp80 120 Hp120 160 Hp>160 HpWheeled Tractor Breakdown Data by ApplicationStone QuarriesMining ZonesConstruction SitesMilitary & DefensePublic SectorsWheeled Tractor Production by RegionUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanOther RegionsOther RegionsWheeled Tractor Consumption by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaBenefits of Purchasing QY Research ReportAnalyst Support: Get you query resolved from our expert analysts before and after purchasing the reportCustomers Satisfaction: Our expert team will assist with all your research needs and customize the reportInimitable Expertise: Analysts will provide deep insights about the reportsAssured Quality: We focus on the quality and accuracy of the reportBuy Full Report Now, Report delivery time within 24 hours @QY Research established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc.QY Research, INC.17890 Castleton, Suite 218,Los Angeles, CA 91748USA: +1 6262 952 442China: +86 1082 945 717Japan: +81 9038 009 273India: +91 9766 478 224Emails enquiry@qyresearch.comWeb Expert News: Grain Seed Market Study | Manufacturers Analysis, Market Size and Future Prospects 2018 to 2025 - Dow, DuPont, Monsanto, Syngenta, etc. Grain Seed Market http://bit.ly/2OIfJBa http://bit.ly/2Dmti7g http://bit.ly/2RXraqP Global Grain Seed Market OverviewA grain is a small, hard, dry seed, with or without an attached hull or fruit layer, harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legumes.Check out For Sample Report Here:Food and Beverage industry is one of the most rapidly growing industry after the food industry. Emerging trends such as changing customer preferences, food safety, and food sustainability and corporate responsibility has witnessed diverse patterns across the world. Changing lifestyles and shift in consumer preferences have influenced companies to improve the quality and quantity of products to earn the trust of customers.The Grain Seed Market report provides an in-depth analysis and fundamental insights along with the complete details regarding the Global Grain Seed Market. Researchers and analysts have examined every corner of this study including the overall sales and its revenue generation. In addition, it provides a detailed analysis of the market trends and several governing elements along with the advancements in every segment of the market.Top Market Players: Bayer CropScience, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto, Syngenta, Gansu Dunhuang, Hefei Fengle, KWS, Limagrain, Mahyco Seeds, Nuziveedu Seeds, Rallis India, Burrus Seed Farm, Land OLakes, Gansu Dunhuang Seed, Stine Seed, Krishidhan Seeds.The scope of Grain Seed Market:Global Grain Seed Market provides the latest information on the present and the future industry trends, allowing the readers to identify the products and services, hence driving the revenue growth and profitability. The research report provides an in-depth study of all the leading factors influencing the market on a global and regional level, including drivers, restraints, threats, challenges, opportunities, and industry-specific trends.Grain Seed Market segment by Regions/Countries: United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Central & South America.Competitive landscapeThe Grain Seed Industry is intensely competitive and fragmented because of the presence of several established players participating in various marketing strategies to expand their market share. The vendors available in the market compete centered on price, quality, brand, product differentiation, and product portfolio. The vendors are increasingly emphasizing product customization through customer interaction.Go For Interesting Discount Here:Major Types of Grain Seed covered are: Rice, Wheat, Millet, Soybeans, Other.Major end-user applications for Grain Seed market: Natural Planting, Artificial Cultivation.Points Covered in The Report:A. The key points mentioned in the Global Grain Seed Market report include the leading competitors functioning in the global market.B. The report also includes the company profiles of the companies operating in the global market.C. The production, manufacture, sales, future strategies, and the technological advancements of the leading players are also included in the report.D. The growth factors of the Global Grain Seed Market is discussed thoroughly, wherein the different end-users of the market are explained meticulously.E. The report also discusses the key application areas of the global market, hence providing a precise description of the market to the readers/users.F. The report comprises the SWOT analysis of the market. In the last section, the report consists of the opinions of the industry experts and professionals. The experts within the industry are in an effort to analyze the export/import policies that are positively influencing the growth of the Global Grain Seed Market.G. The report on the Global Grain Seed Market is a valuable source of information for every enthusiast, policymaker, stakeholder, investor, service provider, supplier, manufacturer, and player interested in buying this research document.Reasons for Buying Global Grain Seed Market Report:A. The report provides a detailed analysis of the changing competitive landscape that keeps the reader/client ahead of the competitors.B. It also provides an in-depth view of the different factors driving or restraining the growth of the global market.C. The Global Grain Seed Market report provides an eight-year forecast evaluated on the basis of how the market is estimated to grow.D. It assists in making informed business decisions by having thorough insights into the global market and by making a comprehensive analysis of the key market segments and sub-segments.Access full Report Description, TOC, Table of Figure, Chart, etc. @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like Asia, United States, Europe.Garner Insights is a Market Intelligence and consulting firm with an all-inclusive experience and vast knowledge of the market research industry. Our vast storage of research reports across various categories gives you a complete view of the ever-changing and developing trends and current topics worldwide. Our constant endeavor is to keep on improving our storage information by providing rich market reports and constantly improving them.Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, Above Rupee Bank, Kondhwa Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India. ATM Global Market 2018: Key Players NCR, Diebold,Hitachi Payment Services, Synkey Group, Perto, Fujitsu, OKI, Nautilus Hyosung, SPL Group https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2820655-global-atm-market-research-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2820655-global-atm-market-research-report-2018 This report studies the global ATM market status and forecast, categorizes the global ATM market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia).The major manufacturers covered in this reportNCRDieboldWincor Nixdorf InternationalGRG Banking EquipmentHitachi Payment ServicesSynkey GroupPertoFujitsuOKINautilus HyosungSPL GroupHantleRoyal Bank TechnologyKingTellerEastcomRequest a Sample Report @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, 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 intoCash DispenserAutomated Deposit TerminalRecycle TypeOn 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, includingBankingRetailOthersThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global ATM capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key ATM manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.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.Table of Contents - Key PointsGlobal ATM Market Research Report 20181 ATM Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of ATM1.2 ATM Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global ATM Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global ATM Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Cash Dispenser1.2.3 Automated Deposit TerminalRecycle Type1.3 Global ATM Segment by Application1.3.1 ATM Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Banking1.3.3 Retail1.3.4 Others1.4 Global ATM Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global ATM 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 ATM (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global ATM Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global ATM Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global ATM Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global ATM Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global ATM Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global ATM Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global ATM Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global ATM Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers ATM Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 ATM Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 ATM Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 ATM Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global ATM Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global ATM Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global ATM Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.8 Japan ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.9 Southeast Asia ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.10 India ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)........7 Global ATM Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 NCR7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 NCR ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Diebold7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Diebold ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Wincor Nixdorf International7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Wincor Nixdorf International ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 GRG Banking Equipment7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 GRG Banking Equipment ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Hitachi Payment Services7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Hitachi Payment Services ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015-2018)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Synkey Group7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Synkey Group ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Perto7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Perto ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Fujitsu7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 ATM Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Fujitsu ATM Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.8.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinuedAccess Complete Report @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 LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market Demand, Top Key Players Analysis Merck, Pfizer, 3M et al. | Business Opportunity during 2018 - 2025 Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/683370 https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/683370 https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/683370 www.orianresearch.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/ Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Industry 2018 Global Market research report provide detailed study of Growth Factors of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control industry and it gives detailed overview of Market share, Latest trends, Size and Forecast until 2025. The Hospital-Acquired Infection Control industry report has studied key opportunities in the market which is beneficial for market growth.Get Sample Copy of this ReportThe Global Hospital-Acquired Infection Control market 2018 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global Hospital-Acquired Infection Control market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive Hospital-Acquired Infection Control analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.Global Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Industry 2018 Market Research Report is spread across 143 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and competitive Hospital-Acquired Infection Control details in this niche sector.Inquire more or share questions if any before the purchase on this report @Analysis of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Key Manufacturers: Merck, Pfizer, 3M, Alere, BD, Cepheid, Getinge Group et al.Key segments covered in this report:Geography segment, end use/application segment and competitor segment. The key countries in each region are taken into consideration as well, such as United States, China, Japan, India, Korea, ASEAN, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, CIS, and Brazil etc. For end use/application segment, this report focuses on the status and outlook for key applications. End users also can be listed.With tables and figures helping analyze worldwide Global Hospital-Acquired Infection Control market, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.For competitor segment, the report includes global key players of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control as well as some small players. The information for each competitor includes: Company Profile Main Business Information SWOT Analysis Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Market ShareMajor chapters covered in Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market Research are:Chapter 1 Executive SummaryChapter 2 Abbreviation and AcronymsChapter 3 PrefaceChapter 4 Market Hospital-Acquired Infection ControlChapter 5 Market Trend AnalysisChapter 6 Industry Chain AnalysisChapter 7 Latest Market DynamicsChapter 8 Trading AnalysisChapter 9 Historical and Current Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market in North America (2013-2018)Chapter 10 Historical and Current Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market in South America (2013-2018)Chapter 11 Historical and Current Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market in Asia & Pacific (2013-2018)Chapter 12 Historical and Current Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market in Europe (2013-2018)Chapter 13 Historical and Current Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market in MEA (2013-2018)Chapter 14 Summary for Global Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market (2013-2018)Chapter 15 Global Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market Forecast (2019-2023)Chapter 16 Company ProfileOrder a copy of Global Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market Report 2018 @Few Points from List of Tables and Figures:Table Abbreviation and Acronyms ListTable Research Scope of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control reportTable Primary Sources of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control reportTable Secondary Sources of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control reportTable Major Assumptions of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control reportTable Hospital-Acquired Infection Control ClassificationTable Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Applications ListTable Drivers of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control MarketTable Restraints of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control MarketTable Opportunities of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control MarketTable Threats of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control MarketTable Key Raw Material of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control and Its SuppliersTable Key Technologies of Hospital-Acquired Infection ControlTable Cost Structure of Hospital-Acquired Infection ControlTable Market Channel of Hospital-Acquired Infection ControlTable Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Application and Key End Users ListTable Latest News of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control industryTable Recently Merger and Acquisition List of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control industryTable Recently Planned/Future Project List of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control industryContinuedAbout UsOrian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact UsRuwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS: +1 (415) 830-3727 | UK: +44 020 8144-71-27Email: info@orianresearch.comWebsite:Follow Us on LinkedIn: Global Children Life Insurance Market by Technology, Future Trends, Top Key players Like Allianz, Assicurazioni Generali, China Life Insurance, MetLife, PingAn and more... Children Life Insurance Market https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request_sample/187204 Children Life Insurance MarketSummary:The Global Children Life Insurance Market is an emerging market in the ICT Media sector at present years. The report covers current Market Trends, advancements in Technologies over a period of time. The report offers profound insights, revenue generation information, and other significant information related to the global Children Life Insurance market, as well as the latest trends, driving and restraining factors, and threats in the overall market by the end of the forecast period. The Global Children Life Insurance Market report includes PEST analysis, Porters five forces analysis, as well as opportunity map analysis, for a thorough understanding of the market.Go for Sample Copy of Global Children Life Insurance Market Report & Get 30 Min Free Consultation!Furthermore, the Children Life Insurance report offers insightful and comprehensive information regarding the various players functioning in the global Children Life Insurance market, along with their revenue details, key developments, technological advancements, SWOT analysis, mergers & acquisitions, future strategies, and market footprint. The global market is segmented on the basis of product type, technology, end-user, industry vertical, and geography.Market Segment by Top Manufacturers, this report covers : Allianz, Assicurazioni Generali, China Life Insurance, MetLife, PingAn, AXA, Sumitomo Life Insurance, Aegon, Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance, CPIC, Aviva, Munich Re Group, Zurich Financial Services, Nippon Life Insurance, Gerber Life Insurance, AIG.Market segment by Type, the product can be split into: Term Child Life Insurance, Permanent Child Life Insurance.Market segment by Application, split into:About US:Reports Monitor is a Market Research Firm which is engaged in data analytics and aids clients in due-diligence, product expansion, plant setup, acquisition intelligence to all the other gamut of objectives through our research focus.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911 (U.S.)+44 203 318 2849 (U.K.)Email: sales@reportsmonitor.com Finished Lubricants Market Overview to 2026 - Castrol Lubricants, Shell Oil Marketing Company, Essar Oil, Sinopec Corp., Universal Lubricants, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, Reliance Oil, Gulf Oil Corporation etc. Finished Lubricants Market https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/finished-lubricants-market/request-for-free-sample https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/finished-lubricants-market/inquire-before-buying https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/finished-lubricants-market/ www.polarismarketresearch.com The study on the global market for Global Finished Lubricants has evaluated the historical and current performance of this market, especially highlighting the key trends and growth opportunities. According to the study, the rising demand for this product is driving the global market for Global Finished Lubricants significantly. The expansion in the various related industry is also expected to reflect positively on the sales of Global Finished Lubricants product over the next few years.Finished lubricants are among the most demand products of the oil marketing companies worldwide. Lubricant manufacturers have been paving their way for sustainability within the industry. The industry participants are focused in developing and maintaining their brand image in order to combat the increasing competition. Owing to these factors product offerings of finished lubricants has significantly increased over the past few years, as an attempt from the companies to increase, penetrate and tap new target markets.Request sample copy of this report @The lucrativeness of this industry is one aspect of the presence of a large number of companies across every regional market, but outperforming amidst the intense competition within the industry is yet another aspect of it. Industry participants are constantly involved in rising awareness of their presence in the industry space through mechanics and dealer meets, TV broadcastings, advertisements, and shutter printings etc.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: -BPCastrol LubricantsShell Oil Marketing CompanyEssar OilSinopec Corp.Universal LubricantsBharat PetroleumHindustan PetroleumReliance OilGulf Oil Corporation etc.The manufacturers aim at entering into agreements with OEMs, automobile manufacturers, and several end-use industry participants. Oil marketing companies significantly work on product costings, and competitive pricing at varying rates with immediate customers and even dealers in an attempt to differentiate their product image from their complementary brands in the market space. Amidst the rising competition in the finished lubricant industry, increase in sales volume is highly dependent on the company marketing campaigns.Make Inquiry about this report @The manufacturers and OMC are completely focused on strategies such as channel marketing for tapping new markets in the automotive industry, through different type of retail establishments, adjacent industry and service providers. The automotive finished lubricant industry is also influenced by the dynamic developments in vehicle design and different fuel quality in different geographies. Lubricant performance requirements are mainly driven by the OEM demands especially from the industrial sector for reduced carbon foot print, optimized consumption of fuels and improved efficiency.Asia Pacific countries demand for finished lubricants was the highest in with increasing industrial activities including significant developments in the manufacturing industry and the growth automotive fleet in countries such as China, India, South Korea and the Southeast Asian countries. Product demand is anticipated to be comparatively flat in the developed economies such as the Western Europe and North America, where the efficiency gains will offset the effects of rising industrial and economic output.Browse Complete Report Details @However, growth in sales volume will be restrained in these regions. The finished lubricant manufacturers will experience higher demand in the coming years from rising demand for high-value and premium products including the bio-based and semi-synthetic finished lubricants.About Polaris Market ResearchPolaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers.Contact us-Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.comWeb: Wound Care Products 2018 Global Industry Key Players 3M Health Care , Integra Lifesciences Corporation, Medline Industries, Inc. , MPM Medical, Inc. Market Analysis And Forecast To 2025 Global Wound Care Products Market, Global Wound Care Products Market Trends, Wound Care Products Industry https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3508775-global-wound-care-products-market-study-2015-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3508775-global-wound-care-products-market-study-2015-2025 Global Wound Care Products MarketWiseGuyReports.com Global Wound Care Products Market 2018: Global Analysis, Industry Size, Share, Trends, Application Analysis and Growth Opportunities Forecast to 2025 report has been added to its Research Database.Description:-The global Wound Care Products market will reach xxx Million USD in 2018 and with a CAGR if xx% between2019-2025.Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Collagen ProductsAntimicrobial DressingsFoam DressingsHydrocolloidsFilm DressingsHydrogelsAlginate DressingsDemand Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Consumer Distribution):Acute WoundsChronic WoundsSurgical WoundsOthersRequest a Sample Report@Company Coverage (Sales data, Main Products & Services etc.):3M Health Care (U.S.)Acelity L.P., Inc. (U.S.)Smith and Nephew Plc. (U.K)Integra Lifesciences Corporation (U.S.)Molnlycke Health Care (Sweden)ConvaTec, Inc. (U.S.)Coloplast Corp. (Denmark)Organogenesis Inc. (U.S.)Medline Industries, Inc. (U.S.)MPM Medical, Inc. (U.S.)Major Region MarketNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaTable of Content1 Industry Overview1.1 Wound Care Products Industry1.1.1 Overview1.1.2 Products of Major Companies1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Industry Chain1.2.2 Consumer Distribution1.3 Price & Cost Overview2 Wound Care Products Market by Type2.1 By Type2.1.1 Collagen Products2.1.2 Antimicrobial Dressings2.1.3 Foam Dressings2.1.4 Hydrocolloids2.1.5 Film Dressings2.1.6 Hydrogels2.1.7 Alginate Dressings2.2 Market Size by Type2.3 Market Forecast by Type3 Global Market Demand3.1 Segment Overview3.1.1 Acute Wounds3.1.2 Chronic Wounds3.1.3 Surgical Wounds3.1.4 Others3.2 Market Size by Demand3.3 Market Forecast by Demand4 Major Region Market4.1 Global Market Overview4.1.1 Market Size & Growth4.1.2 Market Forecast4.2 Major Region4.2.1 Market Size & Growth4.2.2 Market Forecast5 Major Companies List5.1 3M Health Care (U.S.) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.2 Acelity L.P., Inc. (U.S.) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.3 Smith and Nephew Plc. (U.K) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.4 Integra Lifesciences Corporation (U.S.) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.5 Molnlycke Health Care (Sweden) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.6 ConvaTec, Inc. (U.S.) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.7 Coloplast Corp. (Denmark) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.8 Organogenesis Inc. (U.S.) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.9 Medline Industries, Inc. (U.S.) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.10 MPM Medical, Inc. (U.S.) (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)6 ConclusionTOC Continued..Browse full report @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 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:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltdsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Maharashtra, Pune 411028 Public Liability Insurance Market is touching new level A comprehensive study with key players: AXA, Churchill Insurance, Novas Insurance, NatWest Business Insurance, Allianz, HSBC, Zurich https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=193918 https://www.researchnreports.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=193918 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=193918 www.researchnreports.com www.researchnreports.com The Public Liability Insurance carries natural flavonoids and anti-oxidants which helps it to achieve the cleansing effect inside the human body. The healing benefits of Public Liability Insurance have created a huge consumer base in the developing regions owing to the large sedentary population present in there. The Public Liability Insurance market is expected to be driven the growing application of natural remedies and traditional herbs globally. Public Liability Insurances market is expected to be dominated by North America, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The global Public Liability Insurance market is expected to witness high progress during the forecast period.The report wraps up-to-date business data on real and potential market situation, segmentation, competitive landscape, regional failures and future outlook. An information security consultant evaluates vulnerabilities in software, computer systems, and networks, and then designs and implements the best security solutions for your organization's needs.This report gives an in-depth research about the overall state of Public Liability Insurance market and projects an overview of its growth market. It also gives the crucial elements of the market and across major global regions in detail. Number on primary and secondary research has been carried out in order to collect required data for completing this particular report. Sever industry based analytical techniques has been narrowed down for a better understanding of this market.The report also explains the key market drivers, trends, restraints and opportunities to give a precise data which is required and expected. It also analyzes how such aspects affect the market existence globally helping make a wider and better choice of market establishment. The Public Liability Insurance markets growth and developments are studied and a detailed overview is been given.For Sample Report:Top Key Venders of Market: AXA, Churchill Insurance, Novas Insurance, NatWest Business Insurance, Allianz, HSBC, Zurich, Bank of Scotland, Catholic Church Insurance, Blue fin Group, and MoreVarious factors are responsible for the markets growth trajectory, which are studied at length in the report. In addition, the report lists down the restraints that are posing threat to the global Public Liability Insurance market. It also estimates the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat from new entrants and product substitute, and the degree of competition prevailing in the market. The influence of the latest government guidelines is also analyzed in detail in the report. It studies the Public Liability Insurance markets trajectory between forecast periods.For more Information:Charts, graphs, statistics, and tables have been included wherever required to present the information in a clear manner. This study is also presented on geography wise. Every region key factors are provided which is attracting this market towards growth. The report also elaborates on the opportunities the emerging markets of North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America offer. The research report also analyzes the market hierarchy carrying out a SWOT analysis of the key players operating in the global Public Liability Insurance market.The report analyzes the technical data and key manufacturing plants of Public Liability Insurance market across the globe. Factors such as commercial production, capacity production, research and development status, technology sources, and various manufacturing plants of Public Liability Insurance are estimated in the report. Various manufacturers, regions, and types are considered to analyze the production, capacity, and revenue of Public Liability Insurance Market. Further, revenue, cost, gross, and price of Public Liability Insurance Market are studied by considering different regions, types, and manufacturers.Ask For Discount:Table of Content:Global Public Liability Insurance market Research Report 2018-2023Chapter 1: Global Public Liability Insurance market OverviewChapter 2: Global Public Liability Insurance Market Economic ImpactChapter 3: Competition by ManufacturerChapter 4: Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2018-2023)Chapter 5: Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2018-2023)Chapter 6: Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7: Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8: Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10: Public Liability Insurance Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11: Public Liability Insurance Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12: Public Liability Insurance Market Forecast (2018-2023)Chapter 13: AppendixContact us:(Research N Reports)10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064,Sunny Denis(Sales Manager)+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.comOur research will change the way you think about problems. We provide global consulting that can transform businesses and give you an experience of innovative solutions and outcomes.Research N Reports helps clients harness the power of innovation to thrive on change. We have successfully guided businesses throughout the world with our market research reports. We are uniquely positioned to lead digital transformations, thus creating greater value for clients by presenting growth opportunities in the global market.Our profound experience provides a clear and confident vision to help clients navigate the future. Research N Reports techniques encompasses both qualitative and quantitative modes to provide customized and highly flexible tailored research studies so that you get information that is just the best-fit to make informed strategic organizational decisions. Research N Reports helps clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative.Contact us:(Research N Reports)10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064,Sunny Denis(Sales Manager)+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.com Worldwide Polyurea Coating Market By Raw Material -Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2023 Worldwide Polyurea Coating Market https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report-sample/CM081142 https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/check-discount/CM081142 https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/checkout/CM081142 North America ruled the worldwide Polyurea Coating Market with a share of more than 35.0% in 2015. Rising concern in regards to environment protection in construction and manufacturing enterprises, especially in Canada and Mexico is anticipated to fuel market request over the figure time frame. 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Polyurea Coatings helps in security of the substrates including concrete, metal, and wood from unfavourable climatic conditions. These are utilized in of manufacturing, construction and transportation divisions by virtue of superior characteristics including excellent corrosion protection and good abrasion resistance. Additionally, polyurea coating are equipped for giving high prolongation and predominant elasticity which makes it appropriate for use over different counterparts. The product has been progressively supplanting other coating materials, for example, acrylic, epoxy, and alkyd coating as it is eco-friendly and has no VOC content. Rising significance of coating as a surface protection medium in aerospace, oil & gas, automotive and civil construction is foreseen to positively affect the business.Get Sample Report of Polyurea Coating Market here @Polyurea Coating Market-Competitive InsightsSherwin-WilliamsArmorthane IncLonza GroupNukote Coating Systems Intl LLCRhino LiningsAlbemarle CorporationVersaFlex IncKukdo ChemicalPPG IndustriesWasser Corporation and Specialty Products IncCheck Discount of This Report here@Polyurea Coating Market-Product Outlook and Trend AnalysisThe market is dominated by hybrid polyurea coating and is anticipated to develop at a significant CAGR of because of low cost and application in roofing, truck bed liners, flooring, pipeline, and marine applications. Pure polyurea coating are anticipated to encounter significant development over the figure time frame because of developing usage in framework applications including pilings and bridges.Polyurea Coating Market-Technology Outlook and Trend AnalysisSpraying is a Spraying that is machine based which helps in decrease of application time of these coating, builds productivity, and permits to control covering thickness productively. The fragment ruled the worldwide market with share of more than 50.0% in 2015. Pouring technology, otherwise called casting, is anticipated to witness a considerable CAGR over the forecast period. The hand mixing procedure requires skilled work and is used for anti-static flooring, decorative flooring, and industrial floors.Polyurea Coating Market-Application Outlook and Trend AnalysisBuilding and construction section ruled the market with more than 40.0% share in 2015. Expanded usage of these covering to waterproof constructions is probably going to move request over the estimate time frame. High resistance from humidity of the product expands its application scope in containment liners, roofing, membranes, car parking, and decks, offshores, and bridges, therefore increasing interest.The Polyurea Coatings Market is segmented as follows-By Raw Material:Aliphatic Isocyanate-BasedAromatic Isocyanate-BasedBy Product:Hybrid PolyureaPure PolyureaBy Technology:PouringSprayingHand MixingBy Application:IndustrialBuilding & ConstructionTransportationOthersPolyurea Coating Market-Table of Contents1. Introduction2. Executive Summary3. Market Overview4. Market Analysis by Regions5. Polyurea Coating Market, By Raw Material6. Polyurea Coating Market, By Product7. Polyurea Coating Market, By Technology8. Polyurea Coating Market, By Application9. Polyurea Coating Market, By Region10. Company Profiles10.1. Versaflex Inc.10.1.1. Business Overview10.1.2. Product Portfolio10.1.3. Strategic Developments10.1.4. Sales, Revenue and Market Share10.2. The Sherwin-Williams Company10.2.1. Business Overview10.2.2. Product Portfolio10.2.3. Strategic Developments10.2.4. Sales, Revenue and Market Share10.3. Covestro10.3.1. Business Overview10.3.2. Product Portfolio10.3.3. Strategic Developments10.3.4. Sales, Revenue and Market Share10.4. Nukote Coating Systems10.4.1. Business Overview10.4.2. Product Portfolio10.4.3. Strategic Developments10.4.4. Sales, Revenue and Market Share10.5. Lonza Group AG11. Global Polyurea Coating Market Competition, by Manufacturer12. Polyurea Coating Market Forecast (2018-2023)...Reasons to Buy a Exclusive report?Our experts provide in depth coverage of the market from various aspects right from global market scenario to future trends and opportunities.Our research methodologies are designed in such a way that our clients are able to find the answers theyre looking for, in the way they want.We offer 24/5 research support to solve all your queries through a team of our industry experts having holistic knowledge of local as well as global markets. Our research services help transform clients organizational data into intelligence to support fact based business decisions.We offer best in industry consultation services by a group of experts to advice our clients on growing their business portfolio.We understand unique requirements of our clients so as to provide tailored - made research services.We focused on maintaining long lasting relationship with our clients by catering to their research requirements and providing them with consulting services.We highly respect our clients confidentiality by adherence to advanced methods for data security and privacy.Buy Full Report @About Crystal Market Research:Crystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contacts UsJudy | 304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesE-mail: sales@crystalmarketresearch.com | Ph: +1-888-213-4282 Middle East and Africa Capsule Market to Move up from $224 Mn in 2017 to Near Around $365.44 Mn in 2022 Middle East and Africa Capsule Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2633 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/capsule-market-2633 The Middle East and Africa Capsule Market is growing at a good rate. The markets driving factors are rising demand for vegetarian and halal-based capsules, growing consumer preference towards capsule-based formulations, growing use of capsules in the pharmaceutical and neutraceuticals. Other factors driving the growth of capsules are ease of use, greater patient conformance and technological advancements such as delayed released and modified release capsules. Development of non-gelatin capsules such as those made from hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), starch based etc. are further driving the market. Growing use of soft gelatin capsules such as suppositories is another factor affecting the market positively. On the basis of segmentation, the development of veterinary drug market is driving the growth of the Middle East and Africa capsule market.Taking all factors into consideration, we expect the Middle East and Africa capsule market to reach around $365.44 million in 2022 from $224 million in 2015 growing at a CAGR of 8.5 %.To Get Sample Report visitThe markets constrains include high cost of vegetable capsules, low tamper resistance of capsules as compared to tablets, higher cost of formulation as compared to tablets among others. However the critical threat for the capsule industry remains outbreaks of diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) which has resulted in temporary scarcity of healthy raw material thereby pushing raw materials costs. Societal and religious considerations have also impacted the industry negatively. Another restraint is strict and tightened regulations. For example, many European nations such as France has imposed immediate ban on bovine gelatin until EU safety guidelines were put into practice.Taking all factors into consideration, we expect the Middle East and Africa capsule market to reach around $365.44 million in 2022 from $224 million in 2015 growing at a CAGR of 8.5 %.Key Players for Global Middle East and Africa Capsule MarketMarket Research Future (MRFR) recognizes the following companies as the key players in Middle East and Africa Capsule Market: There are plenty of large and small market players which operate in this market all over the globe.The Middle East and Africa capsules market are highly competitive and fragmented. ACG Associated Capsules, Qualicaps, Roxlor LLC, Suheung Co. Ltd, Capsugel, Roxlor LLC, Medi-Caps and others are some of the major players operating in the market. The existing market players are aiming to consolidate their market presence by adopting various strategies such as mergers, innovations, product launches, partnerships, collaboration, and others.Industry UpdatesThe emerging trend in the global capsule market is the rising use of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules which are a new variety of capsules with superior physical and operational features.Another emerging trend in the capsule market is the use of polymer capsules which provides a separate chemical environment to protect the capsule interior.Activated charcoal capsules are the new addition to the global capsules market. This new trend is a powerful natural treatment that traps toxins and chemicals and helps flush them out of the body rather than reabsorbing them.Segments for Global Middle East and Africa Capsule MarketThe Middle East and Africa capsule market has been segmented based on type, raw material, route of administration and end-user. By type, the market has been segmented into hard capsules and soft capsules. By raw materials, the market has been segmented into bovine, porcine and non-gelatin. By route of administration, the market has been segmented into oral and others. By end-users, the market has been segmented into pharmaceuticals and others.To Browse Complete Report visitRegional Analysis for Global Middle East and Africa Capsule MarketUAE is dominating the capsule market in the Middle East and Africa and is closely followed by Egypt. The rest of Africa is projected to grow at a speedy rate owing to massive number of unmet medical needs. Prevalence of substandard capsules is a restraining factor to the market.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 Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) Market 2018 Revenue And Gross Margin Analysis By Airhop Communications, Nokia, Samsung, Texas Instruments and Forecast Up To 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4643 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/heterogeneous-network-market-4643 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/press-release/heterogeneous-network-market The global heterogeneous network market is expected to reach approximately USD 34 Billion by the end of 2023 with 15 % CAGR during the forecasted period from 2017 2023. The market for global heterogeneous network is segmented on the basis of deployment, component, technology, end users and by region. The factors that drive the growth of heterogeneous network market is the increased number of mobile broadband data subscribers and limited resourcesMarket Research Future published a research report on Heterogeneous Networks (HetNet) Market Research Report Forecast to 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Get Sample of Report @Market Scenario:A heterogeneous network is termed as a network of computer and other devices connected with each other, across different operating systems and protocols. The mobile data operators cope with the challenge of limited resources by increasing the capacity of radio spectrum, adding different multi-level antenna techniques and implementing more efficient coding techniques. Acknowledging the exponential growth, the market perceives currently and gauging the potential the market holds to grow in the forthcoming yearsThe Global Heterogeneous Network Market has been segmented into deployment, components, technology, end user and region. The global heterogeneous network market is expected to grow significantly during the forecasted period and the factors that drive the market growth is the increased usage of mobile phones for mobile data communicationThe proliferation of cloud-based services is driving the market growth, witnessing huge uptake by the growing number of enterprises. Also the huge penetration of smart mobile devices and connecting workforce solutions are the major factors that propel the global Heterogeneous Network market. Augmented uptake of BYOD policy in organizations, along with the rising demand for high-speed data services, is further fuelling the market growth.HetNet are proving helpful to mobile operators, enabling novel network deployment models and thus provide a high quality experience for customers. The adoption of small cells carrier and Wi-Fi in the telecom industry is growing phenomenally. Telecom sector attributes to the major driving force to the market growth of HetNets, with the increasing mobile data traffic, cost reduction through mobile data offload and an insufficient spectrum. It is also useful in accommodating the growing requirement for spectral efficiency and hot-spot distribution.On the other hand, the interference issues are anticipated to cause hurdles in the market growth during the review period. Nevertheless, the market will witness a huge increase in the investments for infrastructure as Mobile Data Traffic Grows, which will provide impetus to the market growth.Market Segmentation:The Heterogeneous Network Market can be segmented into five key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding;By Deployments: Cells in Hotspot, Macro Pico, Macro Femto and Macro & Small Cell.By Components: Macro Base Station, Small Cells, Distributed Antenna System, Wi-Fi Access Point.By Technologies: Enhanced Intercell Interface Coordination (eICIC), LTE WAN, and Cloud RAN (C RAN).By Industry Vertical: Telecommunication, Commercial, Residential, Transportation, Government, Others.By Regions: North America, Europe, APAC and Rest-of-the-World.Geographical Analysis:North America region being a hub for numerous enterprises and early adopter of innovative technology offers a favorable platform to the Heterogeneous Network to evolve significantly. Resultantly, the market perceives a higher growth in terms of advancements in technology, development process, operations, and industrial infrastructure. The presence of major market players, rising mobile workforce and increase in demand for high-speed data services are also some of the key factors, driving the market in this region.Asia Pacific is following the lead because of the market proliferation of mobile communications and internet penetration from mobile devices for data downloading such as audio and video files increasing the mobile broadband traffic. Increasing opportunities in emerging countries, their adoption of cloud services and inclination to the automation are also one of the key factor driving the growth of the regional market.Growing numbers of prominent players continually innovating, present cost-effective solutions, which in turn, drive the market growth.Competitive Analysis:The market is fiercely competitive and fragmented. Several big and small organizations and the new entrants adorn the competitive landscape. Through constant innovation, these leaders seek the market expansion increasingly.Increasing investments in research and development and various strategic mergers and acquisitions remain the key strategies of these players. Major players are investing in internal R&D and, most of all, in acquiring other firms. Prominent vendors of HetNet try to invest more in the research and development of technologies and thus, try to create a revenue pocket for themselves.The rising government funding motivates the key companies to develop new technology that matches the changing trends and needs across enterprises. These players possess state of the art R&D labs and strong sales and distribution network that has helped them to gain the leadership position in the market. An ever-increasing emphasis on branding-oriented efforts has been observed among the vendors.Key Players:Nokia Networks (Finland),Airhop Communications Inc. (US),Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (South Korea),NEC Corporation (Japan),Texas Instruments Inc. (US),Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (US),Ceragon Networks Ltd (Israel),IP access Limited (UK),TE Connectivity (Switzerland),CommScope Inc. (US)Industry/Innovation/ Related News:June 25, 2018 M1 Limited (Singapore), a mobile carrier (telecom handling) company announced its partnership with Nokia for conducting a test 5G small cells by Dec.2018. The trial is to take place through M1's 4.5G NB-IoT (narrowband Internet of Things) heterogeneous network, using Nokia's Flexi Zone Wi-Fi equipment and small cells.June 28, 2018 EverestIMS Technologies Pvt Ltd. (India), a software Product Company launched its new version of its flagship product - Everest IMS 5.0. The update not only invalidates the effort of managing numerous devices and critical IT components in a heterogeneous network but also using a unified dashboard, minimizes network downtime.Browse Full Report Details @TABLE OF CONTENTS1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope Of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market StructureContinuedLIST OF TABLESTable 1 Heterogeneous Network Market, By DeploymentTable 2 Heterogeneous Network Market, By ComponentsTable 3 Heterogeneous Network Market, By TechnologyContinuedBrowse Full Report PR @LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1 Research DeploymentFigure 2 Heterogeneous Network Market, By Deployment (%)Figure 3 Heterogeneous Network Market, By Components (%)ContinuedAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Carcinoid Tumor Market To Reach Around 10.0% CAGR till 2023 by Top Players as Novartis AG, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Chiasma, Aegis Therapeutics, etc Carcinoid Tumor Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4813 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/carcinoid-tumor-market-4813 Carcinoid tumor is a type of the neuroendocrine tumor. The most common site of carcinoid tumors is the GI (gastrointestinal) tract and the lungs. However, it can also be developed in pancreas, testicles, and ovaries. The increasing prevalence of the carcinoid tumor is expected to drive the market growth. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in 2016, approximately 8,000 adults in the US were diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor in their GI tract. Moreover, it was also estimated that each year approximately 4,000 adults in the US are diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor in their lung. Moreover, growing geriatric population along with rising healthcare expenditure is likely to boost the market growth during the forecast period. However, lack of awareness, high treatment cost and related side effects may hamper the market growth during the forecast period.The Global Carcinoid Tumor Market is expected to grow at an approximate of CAGR of 10.5% during forecast period.To Get Sample Report visitKey Players for Global Carcinoid Tumor MarketMarket Research Future (MRFR) recognizes the following companies as the key players in Carcinoid Tumor Market: There are plenty of large and small market players which operate in this market all over the globe.Some of the key players in the global carcinoid tumor market are Novartis AG (Europe), Amgen Inc. (U.S.), Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Europe), AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S.), Chiasma, Inc. (U.S.), Aegis Therapeutics, LLC (U.S.), CRINETICS PHARMACEUTICALS (U.S.), Delcath Systems Inc. (U.S.), Exelixis, Inc. (U.S.), and others.Segments for Global Carcinoid Tumor MarketThe global carcinoid tumor market is segmented on the basis of site, diagnosis, treatment, and end users.On the basis of the site, the market is segmented into gastrointestinal, lung, and others. Furthermore, the gastrointestinal segment is sub-segmented into rectum, small intestine, appendix, and others. Lung segment is sub-segmented into typical, atypical, and others.On the basis of the diagnosis, the market is segmented into serology, imaging, biopsy, and others. The serology segment is sub-segmented into blood test, urine test, molecular test, and others. The imaging segment is sub-segmented into X-ray, CT scan, PET scan, and others.On the basis of the treatment, the market is segmented into surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and others. The surgery segment is sub-segmented into local excision, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and others.On the basis of the end users, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, academic institutes, research organization, and others.Regional Analysis for Global Carcinoid Tumor MarketAmerica dominates the global carcinoid tumor market owing to a well-developed healthcare sector and huge patient population. Apart from this, increasing healthcare expenditure and presence of developed economies like the U.S. and Canada within the region have boosted the growth of the market in America.Europe is the second leading market across the globe, which is followed by Asia Pacific owing to availability of funds for research, huge patient population, and strong government support for research & development. According to the National Health Service in 2015, each year about 1,200 people are diagnosed with carcinoid tumor in the UK.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the market due to the presence of a huge patient population and continuously developing economies like India and China, which have rising healthcare expenditure. Moreover, favorable governmental policies and the presence of huge opportunity in the untapped market within the region are likely to fuels the market growth during the forecast period.On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa holds the least share in the global carcinoid tumor market due to presence of poor economy, especially, in Africa region. Majority of the market of this region is held by the Middle East due to a well-developed healthcare sector and huge healthcare expenditure. The presence of developed economies like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and others within the region fuels the market growth.To Browse Complete Report visitAbout 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 Chinese Rice Wine Market Huge growth | China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp, Kuaijishan, Jinfeng Wine Chinese Rice Wine Marke https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1451765-global-chinese-rice-wine-market-study-2015-2025-by-segment https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1451765-global-chinese-rice-wine-market-study-2015-2025-by-segment https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1451765 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1451765-global-chinese-rice-wine-market-study-2015-2025-by-segment https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NidhiBhawsar-SEO_Expert?rel=author Global Chinese Rice Wine Market Study 2015-2025, by Segment (Glutinous Rice Wine, Millet Rice Wine, Red Kojic Rice Wine, ? ?), by Market (Commercial Use, Home Use), by Company (China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp, Kuaijishan, Jinfeng Wine, ? ?) is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk side analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing capital structure of the Global Chinese Rice Wine Market. Some of the key players profiled in the study are China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp, Kuaijishan, Jinfeng Wine, PAGOOA, Nuerhong, Jimo, Jiashan, Shazhou, Shanhao & Guyueloutai.The global Chinese Rice Wine market will reach xxx Million USD in 2018 and with a CAGR if xx% between 2019-2025. Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Chinese Rice Wine Market Overview:If you are involved in the Chinese Rice Wine industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. Its vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Commercial Use & Home Use, , Glutinous Rice Wine, Millet Rice Wine, Red Kojic Rice Wine, Rice Wine & Others and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.Enquire for customization in Report @Chinese Rice Wine Market: Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023Research study is to define market sizes of various segments & countries in previous years and to forecast the values to the next 5-8 years. The report is designed to comprise each qualitative and quantitative elements of the industry facts including: market share, market size (value and volume 2012-17, and forecast to 2023) with admire to each of the areas and countries concerned inside the examination. Furthermore, the report additionally caters the detailed statistics about the vital elements which includes drivers & restraining factors which will define the future growth of the market.Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2013-2017Base year 2018Forecast period** 2018 to 2023 [** unless otherwise stated]Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.The designated segments and sub-section of the market are explained below:The Study is segmented by following Product Type: , Glutinous Rice Wine, Millet Rice Wine, Red Kojic Rice Wine, Rice Wine & OthersMajor applications/end-users industry are as follows: Commercial Use & Home UseSome of the key Manufacturers Involved in the Market are China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp, Kuaijishan, Jinfeng Wine, PAGOOA, Nuerhong, Jimo, Jiashan, Shazhou, Shanhao & GuyueloutaiYou can get free access to samples from the report here:For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies. If opting for the Global version of Chinese Rice Wine Market analysis is provided for major regions as follows: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Buy this research report @Key Answers Captured in Study areWhich geography would have better demand for product/services?What are the strategies adopted by big players in the regional market?Which country would see the steep rise in CAGR & year-on-year (Y-O-Y) growth?What is the current & expected market size in next five years?What is the market feasibility for long term investment?What opportunity the country would offer for existing and new players in the Chinese Rice Wine market?What is risk involved for suppliers in the geography?What factors would drive the demand for the product/service in near future?What is the impact analysis of various factors in the Global Chinese Rice Wine market growth?What are the recent trends in the regional market and how successful they are?Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Chinese Rice Wine market.Chapter 1, About Executive Summary to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global Chinese Rice Wine market, Applications [Commercial Use & Home Use], Market Segment by Regions North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America & Middle East & Africa;Chapter 2, objective of the study.Chapter 3, to display Research methodology and techniques.Chapter 4 and 5, to show the Overall Market Analysis, segmentation analysis, characteristics;Chapter 6 and 7, to show the Market size, share and forecast; Five forces analysis (bargaining Power of buyers/suppliers), Threats to new entrants and market condition;Chapter 8 and 9, to show analysis by regional segmentation[North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America & Middle East & Africa ], comparison, leading countries and opportunities; Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 10, focus on identifying the key industry influencers, overview of decision framework accumulated through Industry experts and strategic decision makers;Chapter 11 and 12, Market Trend Analysis, Drivers, Challenges by consumer behaviour, Marketing Channels and demand & supply.Chapter 13 and 14, describe about the vendor landscape (classification and Market Positioning)Chapter 15, deals with Global Chinese Rice Wine Market sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia or Oceania [Australia and New Zealand].About Author:HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us at Carbon Black Market Trend by 2026 - Leading Players: Cabot Corporation, Phillips Black Limited, OCI Company Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Tokai Co. Ltd. Carbon Black Market http://bit.ly/2PXwqNB http://bit.ly/2Q1Hjhi www.polarismarketresearch.com Carbon Black Market is expected to grow from USD 11.11 billion in 2017 to USD 17.58 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period acording to a study published by Polaris Market Research.Asia Pacific Carbon Black Market is expected to emerge as the largest regional market by 2026. Presence of a fairly established automobile manufacturing base in many nations of the region along with Indias increasing automobile production along with the other Southeast Asian countries are the major factors driving the tire industry and hence demand for carbon black.Request Sample for more Professional and Technical insights @Carbon Black finds its applications as majority of it is reinforced material into vulcanized rubber components, which is nearly over sixty percent devoted only for manufacturing of tires for motor vehicles only. The special blacks introduced in the Carbon Black Market in the last decade command for significantly higher prices per kilogram as compared to the commodity blacks. The special blacks are still in their developing stage of product cycle and manufacturers have been investing considerably on research and development activities.Inks, paints, coatings, plastics etc, are some of the most used components in the construction and infrastructure industry, which has been witnessing strong growth for Carbon Black Market in the developed countries and above an average growth rate in the emerging nations especially in Asia Pacific. Latin Americas construction sector is a booming market for the past three to four years owing to shift in manufacturing base from the U.S. mainly. The Asia Pacific region has been developing itself as a manufacturing hub with certain economic efforts from countries such as India, Japan, South Korea and the South East Asia countries.Some of the leading industry participants in the Carbon Black Market include : - Cabot Corporation PJSC Shandong Huadong Rubber Materials Co. Ltd. Asahi Carbon Co. Ltd. Suzhou Baohua Carbon Black Co. Ltd. Nippon Steel & Sumikin Chemical Co. Ltd. Shandong Lion King Carbon Black Co. Ltd. Himadri Chemicals & Industries Ltd. Longxing Chemical Stock Co Ltd. Ralson Goodluck Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation SID Richardson & Energy Co. China Synthetic Rubber Corporation OCI Company Ltd. Jiangxi Cat Inc. Ltd. OMSK Group OOO Tokai Co. Ltd. Phillips Black Limited Orion Engineered S.A. Thai Carbon Black Public Company Limited.Presence globally leading car manufacturers such as Japan and South Korea in the region has led to the development of the rubber and especially tire manufacturing base in the region. India and Chinas tire manufacturing industry has witnessed significant growth since 2010. Both the countries have been a major exporter not only within the region but also to other geographies worldwide. Owing to these factors demand for carbon black has also experienced significant growth in terms of consumption. Production of carbon black India is also growing.For 'Queries' related to this research report, Make an Enquiry @Several research and development projects undertaken by many industry participants along with universities have been the major factors for the developing enhanced quality Carbon Black Market of the region. Presence of a well-established automobile and tire manufacturing base in the U.S. and significantly growing automobile production especially in Mexico and Canada apart from the U.S. are the major factors driving the North American industry.The report provides an extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market trends and growth prospects of the Global Carbon Black 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.Carbon Black Market Key Segments: -Product Type: Granular Carbon Black Powdered Carbon BlackApplication: Gaseous Phase Liquid PhaseRegion: North America Europe Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East and AfricaTOC of Carbon Black Market:Chapter 1. Overview and ScopeChapter 2. Market SummaryChapter 3 Carbon Black Market Size and ForecastChapter 4. Dynamics and SegmentationChapter 5. Detailed Insight on Key CompanyChapter 6. Research Methodology and ReferenceChapter 7. Competitive LandscapeTOC Continued...!!!!!About Us:Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers.Contact Us:Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market Research and ConsultingPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.comWeb: Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market Is Booming Worldwide | Ajinomoto General Foods, Asahi Group Holdings, Cargill, Coco-Cola Company Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1452155-global-ready-to-drink-coffee-beverage-industry-market-analysis-forecast-2018-2023 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1452155-global-ready-to-drink-coffee-beverage-industry-market-analysis-forecast-2018-2023 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1452155-global-ready-to-drink-coffee-beverage-industry-market-analysis-forecast-2018-2023 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1452155 https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NidhiBhawsar-SEO_Expert?rel=author Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Industry Market Analysis & Forecast 2018-2023: Breakdown Data by Type, Application, and Top Manufacturers is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk side analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing capital structure of the Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Ajinomoto General Foods Inc., Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., Cargill, Coco-Cola Company, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Dunkin Brands Group, Ferolito Vultaggio & Sons, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters & Japan Tobacco Inc..Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market Overview:If you are involved in the Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. Its vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Home, Restaurant & Others, , It covers Regional Segment Analysis, Type, Appliction, Major Manufactures, Industry Chain Analysis, Competitive Insights and Macroeconomic Analysis., Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market: Regional Segment Analysis, North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia & India and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.Enquire for customization in Report @Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market: Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023Research study is to define market sizes of various segments & countries in previous years and to forecast the values to the next 5-8 years. The report is designed to comprise each qualitative and quantitative elements of the industry facts including: market share, market size (value and volume 2012-17, and forecast to 2023) with admire to each of the areas and countries concerned inside the examination. Furthermore, the report additionally caters the detailed statistics about the vital elements which includes drivers & restraining factors which will define the future growth of the market.Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2013-2017Base year 2018Forecast period** 2018 to 2023 [** unless otherwise stated]Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.The designated segments and sub-section of the market are explained below:The Study is segmented by following Product Type: , It covers Regional Segment Analysis, Type, Appliction, Major Manufactures, Industry Chain Analysis, Competitive Insights and Macroeconomic Analysis., Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market: Regional Segment Analysis, North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia & IndiaMajor applications/end-users industry are as follows: Home, Restaurant & OthersSome of the key Manufacturers Involved in the Market are Ajinomoto General Foods Inc., Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., Cargill, Coco-Cola Company, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Dunkin Brands Group, Ferolito Vultaggio & Sons, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters & Japan Tobacco Inc.You can get free access to samples from the report here:For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies. If opting for the Global version of Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market analysis is provided for major regions as follows: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Key Answers Captured in Study areWhich geography would have better demand for product/services?What are the strategies adopted by big players in the regional market?Which country would see the steep rise in CAGR & year-on-year (Y-O-Y) growth?What is the current & expected market size in next five years?What is the market feasibility for long term investment?What opportunity the country would offer for existing and new players in the Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage market?What is risk involved for suppliers in the geography?What factors would drive the demand for the product/service in near future?What is the impact analysis of various factors in the Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage market growth?What are the recent trends in the regional market and how successful they are?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage market.Chapter 1, About Executive Summary to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage market, Applications [Home, Restaurant & Others], Market Segment by Regions North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific etc;Chapter 2, objective of the study.Chapter 3, to display Research methodology and techniques.Chapter 4 and 5, to show the Overall Market Analysis, segmentation analysis, characteristics;Chapter 6 and 7, to show the Market size, share and forecast; Five forces analysis (bargaining Power of buyers/suppliers), Threats to new entrants and market condition;Chapter 8 and 9, to show analysis by regional segmentation[North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific etc ], comparison, leading countries and opportunities; Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 10, focus on identifying the key industry influencers, overview of decision framework accumulated through Industry experts and strategic decision makers;Chapter 11 and 12, Market Trend Analysis, Drivers, Challenges by consumer behaviour, Marketing Channels and demand & supply.Chapter 13 and 14, describe about the vendor landscape (classification and Market Positioning)Chapter 15, deals with Global Ready-to-drink Coffee Beverage Market sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia or Oceania [Australia and New Zealand].HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us at Surgical Lasers Market Key players 2017-2025 : Lumenis, Alma Lasers, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Spectranetics Corporation, Fotona d.o.o https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1904 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1904 https://www.tmrresearch.com/surgical-lasers-market Global Surgical Lasers Market: OverviewSurgical laser products are used in laser surgeries to destroy or cut abnormal or diseased tissues, destroy or shrink lesions and tumors, seal lymph vessels, remove moles and tattoos, and close off blood vessels and nerve endings among various other uses. They are available in different types such as argon, diode, neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet, and carbon dioxide. They are used in several procedures, including laparoscopic surgeries, percutaneous surgeries, and open surgeries and in various fields such as dermatology, urology, gynecology, cardiology, oncology, ophthalmology, and dentistry.Global Surgical Lasers Market: Key TrendsThe increasing prevalence of targeted diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases and expanding base of patients suffering from ophthalmic disorder are the leading factors providing a fillip to the global surgical lasers market. The growing preference for minimally invasive surgeries is also creating an upthrust in the global demand for surgical laser products. Moreover, the rising investments in the field from both public and private sectors are augmenting the market.On the other hand, the stringent regulatory scenario related to the approval of surgical lasers is inhibiting the growth of the market. Furthermore, the high costs of laser surgeries coupled with the shortage of suitable medical reimbursement policies are keeping the global surgical lasers market from realizing its utmost potential.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Surgical Lasers Market: Market PotentialEmerging regions are expected to present immense growth opportunities. As a result of which, players in the global surgical lasers market are expected to shift their focus towards developing countries. The rising expenditure on healthcare and improving medical practices are boosting the uptake of surgical lasers in these countries. Moreover, the booming medical tourism sector in these regions attracts people from all over the world, which makes them promising markets.Rapid advancements in surgical lasers are opening new avenues for market players. The introduction of laser surgeries in the field of veterinary care is unfolding tremendous growth opportunities for the global surgical lasers market. Surgical lasers are now being used to address pain, injury, and chronic health conditions in companion pets.Global Surgical Lasers Market: Geographical SegmentationThe key segments analyzed in the research report are Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America will be a prominent market throughout the forecast period, with the U.S. being at the forefront of growth. The increasing number of clinical trials and availability of favorable reimbursement policies for laser-assisted surgeries are triggering the adoption of novel technologies among healthcare professionals, which in turn is propelling the growth of the region. A large number of manufacturers headquartered in the region are also facilitating the widespread adoption of surgical laser products.Request TOC of the Report @Asia Pacific will register a healthy growth rate during the same period, owing to widening base of patient population for target diseases. The rising initiatives by governments to improve healthcare facilities are providing a significant push to the growth of the region. Moreover, the increasing awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the procedural benefits of surgical laser equipment and growing geriatric population are driving the growth of the region.Global Surgical Lasers Market: Competitive LandscapeThe majority of companies are focusing towards product launches to enhance their visibility in the high competitive arena of the global surgical lasers market. Mergers and acquisitions are also among the primary growth strategies adopted by key players to expand their product portfolio in the market. Some of the prominent companies operating in the market are Lumenis, Alma Lasers, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Spectranetics Corporation, Fotona d.o.o., Biolitec AG, Boston Scientific Corporation, and Cynosure Inc.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Adult Diaper Machine Market Analysis 2018 | Growth by Top Companies: Zuiko, GDM, Joa, Fameccanica, CCS, Peixen, JWC, HCH, Pine Heart and more Adult Diaper Machine https://www.researchreportsinc.com/sample-request?id=238070 https://researchreportsinc.com/enquiry?id=238070 https://www.researchreportsinc.com/check-discount?id=238070 https://researchreportsinc.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=238070&&attribute_pa_choose-license=single-user&&quantity=1 www.researchreportsinc.com http://www.linkedin.com/company/research-reports-inc-com The "Organic Photovoltaics Market by Technology, by Spectrum, by Installation Type, New Installation, Retrofit, by Application, by Geography - Global Market Value, Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast, 2017-2023" report has been added to researchreportsinc.com offering.Download Sample @Global Adult Diaper Machine Market to reach USD XX billion by 2025.Global Adult Diaper Machine Market valued approximately USD XX billion in 2017 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than XX% over the forecast period 2018-2025. The major driving factor of global adult diaper machine market are rising disposable income of the individuals, surging incidence of chronic & infectious diseases and large geriatric population coupled with the growing cases of incontinence among men and women. Moreover, the escalating demand for products which are skin friendly, odor-free and offer superior absorption is anticipated to further propel the market growth of adult diaper in the global market. The major restraining factor of global adult diaper machine market is availability of substitutes. An adult diaper (or adult nappy) is a diaper made to be worn by a person with a body larger than that of an infant or toddler. Diapers can be necessary for adults with various conditions, such as incontinence, mobility impairment, severe diarrhea or dementia. Adult diapers are made in various forms, including those resembling traditional child diapers, underpants, and pads resembling sanitary napkins (known as incontinence pads). The Adult diaper machine includes the process such as Manufacturing, threading packaging and labelling. There are many benefits of adult diapers such as people facing the problem of urinary and fecal incontinence can use them to get comfort and relaxation, diapers are fit for those with a bad bladder control, dementia patients or those facing mental issues to feel safe & secure and you can use them for comfort and be tension-free even when you travel.The regional analysis of Global Adult Diaper Machine Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America accounted leading share of total generating revenue in 2017 across the globe. Asia-Pacific region region is also anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025, due to increase in growth of the overall economy.Make an Enquiry @The major market player included in this report are:Zuiko, GDM, Joa, Fameccanica, CCS, Peixen, JWC, HCH, Pine HeartThe objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:By Type:Full-Automatic Adult Diaper MachineSemi-Automatic Adult Diaper MachineBy End-User:Pull-Up Type Adult DiaperTape-On Type Adult DiaperGrab Discount @By Regions:North America, U.S., Canada, Europe, UK, Germany, Asia Pacific, Chinam, India, Japan, Latin America, Brazil, Mexico, Rest of the WorldFurthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2015, 2016Base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2025Target Audience of the Global Adult Diaper Machine Market in Market Study:Key Consulting Companies & AdvisorsLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprisesVenture capitalistsValue-Added Resellers (VARs)Third-party knowledge providersInvestment bankersInvestorsPurchase Now @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 worldwide. We take pride in curating a database covering virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories. We are one of the premier sources for such reports & report customization services.David(Sales Manager)Research Reports INC.#766, 99 Wall Street, New YorkNY 10005,USA/Canada: +1-8554192424UK: +44-0-330-808-7757Website:Email: sales@researchreportsinc.comConnect with us on LinkedIn @SOURCE Research Reports Inc. Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market Key players 2017-2025 : Quantumclean, SEMES Co. Ltd, Onboard Solutions Pvt Ltd., Tokyo Electron, Ultron Systems, Inc https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1922 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1922 https://www.tmrresearch.com/wafer-cleaning-equipment-market Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: OverviewUbiquity of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other portable electronic devices in the past decade has had a pied piper effect on the electronic industry. Innovation is in full swing too, consistently introducing new products that offer improved performance, are durable, and cost efficient. In this scenario, the demand for semiconductor wafers, which are among the basic building blocks of any electronic device along with PCBs, ICs, MEMS, and memory devices, has escalated exponentially in the recent past. Wafer cleaning an essential operation in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, particularly for the advanced ULSI silicon circuits in next generation electronic devices. Consequently, the global wafer cleaning equipment market is projected for a robust growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Key TrendsDiversifying conventional application of MEMS and increase in the number of cleaning steps required by the wafer manufacturing sector are two of the key factors that are expected to fuel the demand in the global water cleaning equipment market. In addition to that, the shift to single wafer processing from conventional processes and increasing demand for smart gadgets and printed electronics are other two favorable factors that may positively influence the global wafer cleaning equipment market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The growing popularity of light emitting diode (LED) is a trend that may prove to be a boon for the global wafer cleaning equipment market in the near future. Involvement of smaller players in the recent past has substantially reduced the prices of LEDs and demand has surged, owing to their strikingly better lighting and longevity. Conversely, high capital required to establish in this market is restricting the emergence of new players with novel concepts, and thereby challenging the prosperity of the market.Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Market PotentialWith constant research in the field in the past few years, the understanding of defects and surface contamination in the semiconductor industry has evolved multi-fold. Moreover, researchers are now more aware of factors such as particle adhesion, measurement, and deposition, which has enabled them to device better removal strategies. This advancement in the technology pertaining to semiconductors is expected to boost the global market for wafer cleaning equipment during the forecast period.Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Regional OutlookChina is the most prominent country-wise market for wafer cleaning equipment, but with growing demand from the countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, Asia Pacific overall has quickly turned into the most lucrative region for the players in this market. Constantly evolving production quality standards and rapidly increasing demand for portable consumer electronics is expected to maintain an escalating demand from this region. North America is showing steady progress in the market for wafer cleaning equipment for the lack of manufacturing industries in the region.Request TOC of the Report @Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Competitive AnalysisSCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd., Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation, and Tokyo Electron Limited are three of the leading players dominating the Chinese demand in the global wafer cleaning equipment market, while Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, Modutek Corporation, Entegris, Inc., and PVA TePla AG dominate in other parts of the world. Research and development of new products with enhanced attributes and partnerships with regional players are the common strategies adopted by these players to maintain their stronghold over the market.Quantumclean, SEMES Co. Ltd, Onboard Solutions Pvt Ltd., Tokyo Electron, Ultron Systems, Inc., Strabausch, Speedline Tech, and Stoelting Llc are some of the other notable players in this market.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Dealer Management Services Market to reach USD 10.10 billion Analysis by 2025 Dealer Management Services https://www.researchreportsinc.com/sample-request?id=238085 https://researchreportsinc.com/enquiry?id=238085 https://www.researchreportsinc.com/check-discount?id=238085 https://researchreportsinc.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=238085&&attribute_pa_choose-license=single-user&&quantity=1 www.researchreportsinc.com http://www.linkedin.com/company/research-reports-inc-com The "Dealer Management Services Market by Technology, by Spectrum, by Installation Type, New Installation, Retrofit, by Application, by Geography - Global Market Value, Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast, 2017-2025" report has been added to researchreportsinc.com offering.Global Dealer Management Services Market to reach USD 10.10 billion by 2025.Download Sample @Global Dealer Management Services Market valued approximately USD 6.0 billion in 2017 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than % over the forecast period 2018-2025. The major driving factor of global Dealer Management Services market are growing demand across automotive sector, rise in adoption fleet management analytics and optimization of product lifecycle management. Growing challenges in manufacturing, consumer goods, and automobile sectors related to handling multiple levels of dealers/distributors globally or locally has given rise to dedicated dealer management systems. The one of the major restraining factor of global dealer management services is lack of skilled professionals. A dealer management system provides a centralized application to collect customer and vehicle inventory information. It covers vehicle sales, pre-sales, customer relationship management, workflow automation, and financial accounting information. Manufacturers deploy dealer management systems to improve inventory management, dealer operations, and customer retention along with a remote help desk. New government initiatives and regulations are also expected to contribute to the market growth. There are many benefits of dealer management services such as high flexibility for dealers in rapidly changing markets, better administration of key financial figures and sales data, recording & monitoring of customer satisfaction and end-to-end services help dealers focus on core business.Make an Enquiry @The regional analysis of Global Dealer Management Services Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America has accounted the leading share of total generating revenue in 2017 across the globe due to innovation in the dealer management system market and rise in the number of vendors of dealer management services. Asia-Pacific region region is also anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025, due to booming logistics industry in the region. Furthermore, the highly connected and advanced economies of Southeast Asian countries along with the increasing awareness about dealer management systems is adding to this already growing market.The major market player included in this report are: IBM CA COX Automotive CDK Global Reynolds and Reynolds RouteOne DealerSocket Internet Brands Dominion Enterprises Wipro Epicor SAPGrab Discount @The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:By Type:On-PremisesCloudBy Application:AutomotiveRetailManufacturingOthersBy Regions:North AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeUKGermanyAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of the WorldPurchase Now @Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2015, 2016Base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2025Target Audience of the Global Dealer Management Services Market in Market Study:Key Consulting Companies & AdvisorsLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprisesVenture capitalistsValue-Added Resellers (VARs)Third-party knowledge providersInvestment bankersInvestorsResearch 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 worldwide. We take pride in curating a database covering virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories. We are one of the premier sources for such reports & report customization services.David(Sales Manager)Research Reports INC.#766, 99 Wall Street, New YorkNY 10005,USA/Canada: +1-8554192424UK: +44-0-330-808-7757Website:Email: sales@researchreportsinc.comConnect with us on LinkedIn @SOURCE Research Reports Inc. Cognitive Security Market Is Thriving Worldwide | Intel Security, XTN, Symantec Corporation, IBM Corporation Cognitive Security Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/837569-cognitive-security-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/837569-cognitive-security-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/837569-cognitive-security-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=837569 https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NidhiBhawsar-SEO_Expert?rel=author HTF MI added a new research study in its database with title 'Cognitive Security Market in IT & Telecommunication Global Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Trends, and Forecasts up to 2023' that includes detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like Canada, the US, China, India, Japan, and Germany and important players/vendors such as Intel Security, XTN, Symantec Corporation, IBM Corporation, Cisco Systems The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2018-23Request a sample report @Overview:The Cognitive Security Market in It & Telecommunication is defined as security that uses data mining, machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and human-computer interface for securing data from cyber-attacks and virus. In addition, the cognitive system even helps in analyzing the security developments and discrete the structured and unstructured information data into relevant information. It also provides security to businesses and helps in improving the productivity of the business. The increasing shift toward the use of cognitive security services for data storage of confidential and private data of an organization and the rise in employee mobility contribute to the need for cognitive security in IT & telecommunication.With the increasing adoption of the cloud-based services in various business platforms, such as enterprize business, has led to the need to secure the information of organizations. The implementation of cloud-based cognitive security by small and medium enterprises is increasing rapidly and fuels the growth of the market.Market Analysis:According to HTF Research, the cognitive security market in IT & telecommunication is expected to reach $3.68 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 30.36% during the forecast period. Cognitive security is widely being adopted across diverse set of industries for the protection of crucial information that includes public safety and utility companies. An increase in the adoption of the cloud-based services and the Internet across the IT & telecommunication sector, the need to protect the data has irapidly increased.Furthermore, the Americas is experiencing significant growth due to the developed infrastructure in the region boosting the cognitive security market, followed by APAC and EMEA during the forecast period.Market Segmentation Analysis:The report provides a wide-range evaluation of the market. It provides an in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and supportable projections and assumptions about the market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions based on the vendors portfolio, blogs, whitepapers, and vendors presentations. Thus, the research report serves every side of the market, and is segmented based on regional markets, deployment, organization size, and end-users.Countries and Vertical Analysis:The report contains an in-depth analysis of the vendor profiles, which includes financial health, business units, key business priorities, SWOT, strategy, and views; and competitive landscape. The key and the prominent vendors covered in the report include Intel Security, XTN, Symantec Corporation, IBM Corporation, Cisco Systems, CA Technologies, Inc., CSC, Fortinet, Inc., Cato Networks, and Check Point Software Technologies. Most of the major players are in the Americas. The vendors have been identified based on the portfolio, geographical presence, marketing & distribution channels, revenue generation, and significant investments in R&D.The counties covered in report are Canada, the US, China, India, Japan, and Germany. Among these, Japan, the US, and China are expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period (2017-2023) owing to an increase in the penetration rate of e-commere, connected devices, and increasing number of data centers.Competitive AnalysisThe report covers and analyzes the cognitive security market. Various strategies, such as joint ventures, partnerships, collaborations, and contracts, have also been included accordingly. In addition, as customers are in search for better solutions, a rising number of partnerships is expected. There is likely to be an increase in the number of mergers, acquistions, and strategic partnership during the forecast period.Get customization & check discount for report @The report includes a complete insight of the industry, and aims to provide an opportunity for the emerging and established players to understand the market trend, current scenario, initiative taken by government, and the latest technology related to the market. In addition, it also helps the venture capitalists in understanding the companies better and take informed decisions.Regional AnalysisThe Americas is the dominating region, which holds the largest share for of the cognitive security market owing to the high adoption of cloud security by small and medium size enterprises as the benefits and cost factors are advantageous. In addition, they have the largest base for technological innovations and adoption, and are primarily one of the global producers of automation equipment and is home to several domestic industries. Asia Pacific is among the fastest growing markets for cognitive security. The region boasts of major developing economies with focus on the increasing data centers and the growing penetration rate of connected devices across this region. In addition, the government is focused on ICT infrastructure development owing to the increasing demand for safety and security of information. EMEA is the third largest contributor to the cognitive security market due to the increasing demand from the IT industries. The companies are utilizing IoT, analytics, cloud, and various tools to differentiate their services.Cloud-based solution is the major driving factor in the region. The proliferation of connected devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and drones, is driving the market in the region. The major telecommunication industries are also partnering with cognitive security vendors to secure their products and services. Thus, the Cognitive Security Market in IT & Telecommunication is expected to witness significant growth in this region.BenefitsThe report provides an in-depth analysis of the cognitive security market aiming to secure the data and services, reduce operational cost, improve business efficiency, and operational performance. With the help of cognitive security, various organizations can increase the productivity and efficiency and can ensure the protection of the data. They can easily be integrated with other applications. They can be installed either on-premises or even through the network of the vendors. In addition, the solutions are proven to be reliable and improves scalibility. The report discusses about the organization size, deployment mode, end-users, and regions. Further, the report provides details about the major challenges impacting the market growth.View Detailed Table of Content @Table of Contents1 Industry Outlook 101.1 Industry Overview 101.2 Industry Trends 101.3 Pest Analysis 112 Report Outline 122.1 Report Scope 122.2 Report Summary 122.3 Research Methodology 142.4 Report Assumptions 143 Market Snapshot 153.1 Total Addressable Market (TAM) 153.2 Segmented Addressable Market (SAM) 153.2.1 Market Segmentation 173.3 Related Markets 173.3.1 Intrusion Detection System/ Intrusion Prevention System Market 173.3.2 Encryption Software Market 174 Market Outlook 174.1 Overview 184.2 Market Definition HTF Research 184.3 Market Trends and Impact 184.4 Market Segmentation 194.5 Porter 5 (Five) Forces 195 Market Characteristics 21....ContinuedThanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Place a Purchase Order For Market Study (Single User License) at:HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us at CPAP Devices Market Trend to 2025 Resumed, Philips Healthcare, Fisher & Paychex, 3B Medical, Apex Medical, Apria Healthcare, Armstrong Medical, BMC Medical, Cardinal Health, Curative Medical https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2809742/?utm_source=OPR-SL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2809742/?utm_source=OPR-SL https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/global-cpap-devices-market-research-report-2018-market https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/global-brain-monitoring-devices-market-research-report-2018-market This report studies the global CPAP Devices market status and forecast, categorizes the global CPAP Devices market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia).The Competitive landscape of the CPAP Devices Market profiles the key players participating in the global Resumed, Philips Healthcare, Fisher & Paychex, 3B Medical, Apex Medical, Apria Healthcare, Armstrong Medical, BMC Medical, Cardinal Health, Curative Medical. The report also details the market positioning, strategies, and revenue procured by each of these manufacturers.Get sample copy of this report:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCPAP MotorsCPAP HosesCPAP MasksOn 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, includingHospitalsClinicsOtherThis report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.The industry is analyzed in terms of products, applications, regions, and the key manufacturers holding a prominent share of the global revenue.The report further details the market share to be procured by each of these products over the coming years.A detailed analysis of the contribution of these application segments to the overall market revenue and volume has been included in the report.Enquire about this report @Regional segmentation of the report includes North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Central & South America, Brazil, Rest of Central & South America, Middle East & Africa, GCC Countries, Turkey , Egypt and South AfricaDetailing the consumption and production rate of CPAP Devices in these regions, the report outlines the growth curve of this industry in terms of market volume and share over 2018-2025.The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global CPAP Devices capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key CPAP Devices manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.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 CPAP Devices 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 StakeholdersCPAP Devices ManufacturersCPAP Devices Distributors/Traders/WholesalersCPAP Devices Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAvailable CustomizationsWith the given market data, big market Research offers customizations according to the company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:Regional and country-level analysis of the CPAP Devices market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Access Full Summery @Table of Contents :Global CPAP Devices Market Research Report 20181 CPAP Devices Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of CPAP Devices1.2 CPAP Devices Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global CPAP Devices Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global CPAP Devices Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Extra Virgin CPAP Devices1.2.3 CPAP DevicesCPAP Devices1.3 Global CPAP Devices Segment by Application1.3.1 CPAP Devices Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Cooking1.3.3 Cosmetics1.3.4 Pharmaceuticals1.3.5 Other1.4 Global CPAP Devices Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global CPAP Devices 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 CPAP Devices (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global CPAP Devices Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global CPAP Devices Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global CPAP Devices Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global CPAP Devices Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global CPAP Devices Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global CPAP Devices Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global CPAP Devices Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global CPAP Devices Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers CPAP Devices Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 CPAP Devices Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 CPAP Devices Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 CPAP Devices Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global CPAP Devices Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global CPAP Devices Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global CPAP Devices Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.8 Japan CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.9 Southeast Asia CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.10 India CPAP Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)4 Global CPAP Devices Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)4.1 Global CPAP Devices Consumption by Region (2013-2018)4.2 North America CPAP Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.3 Europe CPAP Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.4 China CPAP Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.5 Japan CPAP Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.6 Southeast Asia CPAP Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.7 India CPAP Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)Related Reports: -Global Brain Monitoring Devices Market Research Report 2018This report studies the global Brain Monitoring Devices market status and forecast, categorizes the global Brain Monitoring Devices market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia). The major manufacturers ...About Us:Industry executives tend to keep a tab on their business competitors. This keeps them updated on strategic business activities and investment trends. Company profiles are crucial to participating players of interconnected verticals.Contact Us:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United Statescall answer Direct:+1-971-202-1575call answer Toll Free:+1-800-910-6452email help@bigmarketresearch.com Protein A Resins Market Forecast By 2026 | General Electric Company, GenScript, Novasep, Expedeon Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., REPLIGEN CORPORATION, Tosoh Bioscience, Merck Millipore and Expedeon Ltd. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1720 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-1720 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/protein-a-resins-market https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Protein A resin is a surface protein that occurs naturally in the cell wall of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. It is used in affinity chromatography owing to its ability to bind proteins such as antigens, immunoglobulins and others. The increasing demand for affinity chromatography, coupled with the rising number of procedures for separating biochemical mixtures, is the prime driver of the market. The growing demand for affinity chromatography procedures is a direct outcome of the growth of the biotechnology industry, particularly the development of antibodies, enzyme and protein-based therapies & drugs. Protein A resin is in high demand in the research and development sectors owing to the high intensity of affinity chromatography for the separation of antigens & antibodies, receptor & ligand or protein & nucleic acids during the course of research. Another driver of the protein A resin market is the key advantages of protein A resin-based affinity chromatography such as high selectivity, very rapid mass transport, superior capacity vs. flow rate, the separation of complex mixtures and the final highly purified product.To know key findings Request Sample Report @:Global Protein A Resin Market: OverviewThe global protein A resin market size is generating lucrative growth owing to the rapid adoption of biologics, growth of the biopharmaceutical sector and the growing research expenditure of biopharmaceutical industries. Advancements in manufacturing technology, such as recombination technology, have resulted in the growing volume and concurrent growth of the global protein A resin market. At present, most protein A resin is produced by recombinant Escherichia coli and engineered protein A resin modified to suit and increase usability in industrial applications. This has resulted in higher yields and a reduction in cost.The development of resin technology, which has led to the creation of packaged and immobilized forms of protein A resin and the availability of protein A resin in a variety of forms, such as beads, powder and customised supports, is rapidly driving the adoption of protein A resin. Protein A resin is also available in the form of couplings with other molecules, such as a fluorescent dyes, colloidal gold or radioactive isotopes, along with the growing usage of magnetic, latex and agarose beads as supports, is also driving the protein A resin market. Thus, product development is an attractive strategy pursued by leading companies around the world. Currently, the protein A resin market share is dominated by developed regions, which include North America, followed by Western Europe and Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, China & South Korea/ Majority of companies manufacturing protein A resin are based in the U.S. and Europe.Request for Report customization @Global Protein A Resin Market: Forecast & AnalysisAccording to a latest research by Future Market Insights (FMI), the global protein A resin market size is estimated to be valued at US$ 840.4 Mn by the end of 2026. The report on the global protein A resin market also projects significant growth potential at a substantial CAGR of 8.2%.According to FMI, based on the product type, the natural protein A resin segment accounted for over 65.5% revenue share in the overall protein A resin market in 2016. The recombinant protein A resin segment is expected to grow at an impressive 9.4% CAGR. The advancements in recombinant technology are driving the market owing to the greater yields and customisation of protein A resin according to the demand of customers.According to FMI, based on the matrix type, the agarose-based segment in Protein A resin accounted for over 84.91% revenue share in the overall global protein A resin market in 2016. The agarose-based segment in Protein A resin is expected to grow at an impressive 8.5% CAGR, thus driving the protein A resin market to greater heights. Glass or silica-based segment in Protein A resin accounts for the second-largest share of the global protein A resin market by matrix type followed by organic polymer-based protein A resin. Advancements in resin and binder technology, such as the development of pre-packed columns available in a wide variety of forms such as beads, powder and others suitable for differential applications with a wider spectrum and resistant to other chemicals, is significantly driving the global protein A resin market.According to FMI, based on the applications, the antibody purification segment accounted for over 77.06% revenue share in the overall protein A resin market in 2016. The immunoprecipitation segment in Protein A resin is expected to grow at an impressive 9.9% CAGR during the forecast period. Growing research and development expenditure is the prime driver of the immunoprecipitation segment, particularly immunoglobulins.According to FMI, based on end users, the biopharmaceutical manufacturers in segment in Protein A resin accounted for over 77.7% revenue share in the overall protein A resin market in 2016. The clinical research laboratories segment in protein A resin is expected to grow at an impressive 9.9% CAGR, followed by academic institutes at 6.9%. The increasing market of biologics, owing to the growing incidence of diseases such as cancer and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, diabetes & others, are the demographic drivers of the global protein A resin market.However, the high cost of protein A resin, lack of standardisation, non-transparency of the final composition by vendors and the poor substitution of products manufactured by different vendors are some of the factors restraining the growth of protein A resin market. Moreover, in terms of performance, protein A resin is highly susceptible to impurity and contamination, owing to which it has poor robustness.The developed regions of North America and Europe are expected to possess a larger market equity and share as compared to the developing regions of Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, China, & South Korea owing to ecological research, the presence of large players and the high expenditure on research & development. However, the growing economies of China and India are expected to be the major drivers of the Asia Pacific protein A resin market owing to their large population base. Japan is another attractive market owing to its large research expenditure and the larger adoption of biologics owing to increasing geriatric population and large income. The rising disposable income in Asia Pacific is expected to surge the demand for more advanced protein A resin products.Get access to full summary @:Global Protein A Resin Market: CompaniesFMIs report tracks some of the key companies operating in the protein A resin market, which include General Electric Company, GenScript, Novasep, Expedeon Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., REPLIGEN CORPORATION, Tosoh Bioscience, Merck Millipore and Expedeon Ltd., among others. Most companies in protein A resin have adopted product development as well as the development of functional enhancements, such as a larger spectrum of purification, as strategies to boost their protein A resin market penetration.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact UsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: Chemotherapy Induced Nausea And Vomiting Treatment Market - Growing Applications 2028 | Merck & Co. Inc., Pfizer, Inc https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=4029 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=4029 https://www.tmrresearch.com/chemotherapy-induced-nausea-and-vomiting-treatment-market Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting Market: OverviewThe demand within the global market for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting is expected to rise on account of the rising incidence of various types of cancers across the world. Chemotherapy is a painful medical process meant to kill the cancerous cells inside the human body, and the process has several side-effects such as hair loss, vomiting, nausea, and breathlessness. Despite the severity of the treatment and its adverse side effects, a number of oncologists recommend it as the penultimate option for alleviating the effect of cancer in the body. Nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy is in turn treated with other drugs and medications, and this increases the demand within the global market for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. In the contemporary times, NK1 receptor antagonists are given in conjunction with serotonin receptor antagonist as treatments for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The global market for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting can be segmented on the basis of the following parameters: drug class and region. Since this market is directly related to the field of oncology, it is essential to understand the dynamics prevailing in each of the segments to get a better understanding of the market.A report on the global market for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting is a succinct analysis of the forces that have accelerated the growth wheel of this market. The opportunities that are floating in the global chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting market have also been elucidated within the report.Request TOC of the Report @Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe treatment of nausea and vomiting post chemotherapy was done by administering antiemetic agents and corticosteroids, but both of these drugs are believed to cause further harm. Hence, in recent times, new drug lines are being used for the treatment of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. This factor has played a key role in the growth of the global market for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting and has given a launch pad for the success of the market players. Cancer has been amongst the greatest causes of deaths around the world, and hence, there is a dire need to effectuate swift treatment post diagnosis. The survival rate of cancer patients has been miserably low, and several treatment procedures are carried out by oncologists and medical practitioners.Doctors and medical practitioners have been focusing on improving the health standards of cancer patients and ensuring that they are subjected to minimal pain and suffering. In this quest, several new drugs for the treatment of nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy are being developed. Hence, it is safe to prognosticate that the demand within the global market for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting would reach new heights in the years to come.Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting Market: Geographical OutlookBased on geography, the demand for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in North America has been rising on account of the presence of several cancer-relief campaigns and organisations in the US and Canada. Furthermore, the market for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in Asia Pacific has also been expanding on account of the rising population in India and China.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the key players in the global market for chemotherapy induced nausea are ProStrakan, Inc., Merck & Co. Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Solvay Pharmaceuticals, and Sanofi-Aventis.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Socks Market 2017 Global Analysis By Key Players Renfro Corporation,The Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation,Gildan Activewear Inc,Kering Group,Stance, Inc.,Under Armour, Inc.etc https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/sample/1696 https://www.xploremr.com/cart/reports/buynow/1696 https://www.xploremr.com/report/1696/socks-market The global socks market is revolving around fashion trends across the globe that has encouraged market players to launch various lengths of socks such as no show, liner socks and anklets. Consumers now-a-days are more aware of allergies associated with synthetic fabrics because of which they prefer socks with less synthetic components and more natural components. Keeping this in view the key players in global market are now focusing on offering natural and eco- and skin-friendly socks.This new publication titled Socks Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) & Forecast (2017-2025), provides exclusive insights to readers on the development of new products in the global socks market. We have observed that companies are focusing on manufacturing products that offer special features such as antibacterial, antifungal properties and are more breathable. An influence of technology has helped manufacturers to use material such as Kevlar, which offers comfort and mobility yet offering protection and durability just like shoes.Our analysts have noted that companies are also expanding their geographic presence by opening their stores in the developing market and are also launching various segments of socks in order to enhance their customer base. After inspecting the market in detail, we have come to a conclusion that three segments such as athletic socks, specialty socks, and casual socks are expected to register high growth rate over the projected period.We have also studied the regional outlook and our research indicates that China represents huge potential, followed by India and other ASEAN countries. Among all the geographies, APAC and Europe will represent more than half of the overall socks market value share in 2017.Click Here to Get the Sample Copy of the Report@Report StructureWe have covered 20 key players across the globe to get a clear picture of the current scenario of mergers and acquisitions in the global socks market. While studying these top vendors in the market we have put these companies under the scanners of recent development, various financial strategies, SWOT analysis, key ratios and an overview of their performance in the last few years.Regulatory scenario, standards and levels of barrier protection and the classifications by level are considered while inspecting the global socks market. Year-on-Year growth and absolute $ opportunity has been evaluated for every segment along with market attractiveness analysis.In another section, we have covered the dynamics of the global socks market for the period of eight years. These dynamics include supply and demand side drivers, macro-economic drivers, restraints, opportunities and trends.Buy Now Full Report @Market structure and relative share by different groups of companiesThe global socks market is primarily characterized by fragmentation, wherein large multinational players, local, as well as regional players operate in the worldwide market. Multinational players channelize the market through their established distribution channels and are targeting the market of Asia Pacific region owing to increasing brand awareness coupled with rising disposable income of the middle class in the region.Retail apparel chains, online retail and supermarket/hypermarket are the key distribution channels that manufacturers are using for offering their products. The market is characterized as highly unorganized in developing and emerging economies. Local players are entering into mergers and collaborations with other multinational companies in order to expand their brand presence.Research MethodologyXploreMR is committed to offering a comprehensive report to our clients backed by in-depth secondary research to ascertain the overall market size, top industry players and products. Our report delivers industry insights and information in an easy-to-understand format.Our expert team of analysts has conducted interviews with industry players, experts, retailers and distributors to make sure that the final product will fulfill the expectations of our clients.Report overview @We have considered market indicators such as R&D expenditure and research funding from government and non-profit organizations to arrive at the indicated market numbers. Further, historical consumption trend has been analyzed to track data.The bottom-up approach has been used to assess market numbers for each product category, while top-down approach has been used to counter-validate the reached numbers.About UsXploreMR is one of the worlds leading resellers of high-quality market research reports. We feature in-depth reports from some of the worlds most reputed market research companies and international organizations. We serve across a broad spectrum from Fortune 500 to small and medium businesses. Our clients trust us for our unwavering focus onquality and affordability. We believe high price should not be a bottleneck for organizations looking to gain access to quality information.Contact UsXploreMR111 North Market Street, Suite 300San Jose, CA 95113, United StatesTel: +1-669-284-0108Email: sales@xploremr.com Hologram Market Size, Insights, Trends, Outlook 2018 | Top Key Players: Lyncee Tec, zSpace, Inc, HoloTech Switzerland AG, Vision Optics GmbH, Eon Reality, Inc Hologram Market Size https://www.reporthive.com/enquiry.php?id=1630145&req_type=smpl https://www.reporthive.com/enquiry.php?id=1630145&req_type=purch http://www.reporthive.com Hologram refers to the acquisition and processing of holograms with a digital sensor array, typically a CCD camera or a similar device.The Hologram Market report offers a detailed Outlook and future prospects of the Industry. The Hologram market report includes various topics like market size & share, Competitive Analysis, applications, key market drivers & restraints, challenges, growth opportunities, key players, competitive landscape, Regions etc.Key questions answered in this report: What will the market size be in 2025 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?Request for the Sample Copy:Company Coverage (Sales data, Main Products & Services etc.): Lyncee Tec zSpace, Inc HoloTech Switzerland AG Vision Optics GmbH Eon Reality, Inc Holoxica Limited 4Deep inwater imaging Geola Leia, Inc Ovizio Imaging Systems NV/SA RealView Imaging Phase Holographic Imaging Mach7 Technologies OthersProduct Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.): Hardware (HW) Software (SW) ServiceDemand Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Consumer Distribution): Entertainment Healthcare Automotive Retail Sector OthersMajor Region Market North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East & AfricaResearch objectives:To study and analyze the global Hologram consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2013 to 2017, and forecast to 2025.To understand the structure of Hologram market by identifying its various subsegments.Focuses on the key global Hologram 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 Hologram with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.Click For Buy Full Report:Get detail analysis of TOC:1 Industry Overview1.1 Hologram Industry1.1.1 Overview1.1.2 Products of Major Companies1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Industry Chain1.2.2 Consumer Distribution1.3 Price & Cost Overview2 Hologram Market by Type2.1 By Type2.1.1 Hardware (HW)2.1.2 Software (SW)2.1.3 Service2.2 Market Size by Type2.3 Market Forecast by Type3 Global Market Demand3.1 Segment Overview3.1.1 Entertainment3.1.2 Healthcare3.1.3 Automotive3.1.4 Retail Sector3.1.5 Others3.2 Market Size by Demand3.3 Market Forecast by Demand4 Major Region Market4.1 Global Market Overview4.1.1 Market Size & Growth4.1.2 Market Forecast4.2 Major Region4.2.1 Market Size & Growth4.2.2 Market Forecast5 Major Companies List5.1 Lyncee Tec (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.2 zSpace, Inc (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.3 HoloTech Switzerland AG (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.4 Vision Optics GmbH (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.5 Eon Reality, Inc (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.6 Holoxica Limited (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.7 4Deep inwater imaging (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.8 Geola (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.9 Leia, Inc (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.10 Ovizio Imaging Systems NV/SA (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.11 RealView Imaging (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.12 Phase Holographic Imaging (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.13 Mach7 Technologies (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.14 Fraunhofer IPM (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.15 Nanolive SA (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.16 FoVI 3D (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.17 Jasper Display Corporation (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.18 Kino-mo (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)6 ConclusionToc continued!About Report Hive ResearchReport Hive Research delivers strategic market research reports, statistical survey, industry analysis & forecast data on products & services, markets and companies. Our clientele ranges mix of global Business Leaders, Government Organizations, SMEs, Individual & Start-ups, Management Consulting Firms, and Universities etc. Our library of 600,000+ market reports covers industries like Chemical, Healthcare, IT, Telecom, Semiconductor, etc. in the USA, Europe Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific. We help in business decision-making on aspects such as market entry strategies, market sizing, market share analysis, sales & revenue, technology trends, competitive analysis, product portfolio & application analysis etc.500, North Michigan Avenue,Suite 6014Chicago, IL - 60611United StatesContact UsMike RossMarketing Managersales@reporthive.comPhone Number: +1-312 604 7084 Growing Adoption of Veterinary Care Services to Bolster Adoption of Canine Stem Cell Therapy https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/15550 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/15766 Persistence Market Research (PMR) has published a new research report on canine stem cell therapy. The report has been titled, Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market: Global Industry Analysis 2016 and Forecast 20172026. Veterinary research has been used in regenerative and adult stem cell therapy and has gained significant traction over the last decade. Canine stem cell therapy products are identified to have gained prominence over the past five years, and according to the aforementioned research report, the market for canine stem cell therapy will expand at a moderate pace over the next few years.Though all animal stem cells are not approved by FDA, veterinary stem-cell manufacturers and university researchers have been adopting various strategies in order to meet regulatory approvals, and streamline and expedite the review-and-approval process. The vendors in the market are incessantly concentrating on research and development to come up with advanced therapy, in addition to acquiring patents.Request to Sample Report @In September 2017, VetStem Biopharma, Inc. received European patent granted to the University of Pittsburgh and VetStem received full license of the patent then. This patent will eventually provide the coverage for the ongoing commercial and product development programs of VetStem and might be also available for licensing to other companies who are rather interested in this field. The other companies operating in the global market for canine stem cell therapy are VETherapy Corporation, Aratana Therapeutics, Inc., Regeneus Ltd, Magellan Stem Cells, Animal Cell Therapies, Inc., and Medrego, among others.According to the Persistence Market Research report, the global canine stem cell therapy market is expected to witness a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period 2017-2026. In 2017, the market was valued at US$ 151.4 Mn and is expected to rise to a valuation of US$ 218.2 Mn by the end of 2026.Burgeoning Prevalence of Chronic Diseases in Dogs to Benefit MarketAdipose Stem Cells (ASCs) are the most prevalent and in-demand adult stem cells owing to their safety profile, ease of harvest, and use and the ability to distinguish into multiple cell lineages. Most early clinical research is focused on adipose stem cells to treat various chronic diseases such as arthritis, tendonitis, lameness, and atopic dermatitis in dogs. A large area of focus in veterinary medicine is treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs, which becomes more prevalent with age. Globally, more than 20% dogs are suffering from arthritis, which is a common form of canine joint and musculoskeletal disease. Out of those 20%, merely 5% seem to receive the treatment. However, elbow dysplasia in canine registered a prevalence rate of 64%, converting it into an alarming disease condition to be treated on priority. Thereby, with the growing chronic disorders in canine, the demand for stem cell therapy is increasing at a significant pace.Request Report TOC @Expensive Nature of Therapy to Obstruct Growth TrajectoryExpensive nature and limited access to canine stem cell therapy has demonstrated to be a chief hindrance forestalling its widespread adoption. The average tier II and tier III veterinary hospitals lack the facilities and expertise to perform stem cell procedures, which necessitates the referral to a specialty vet hospital with expertise veterinarians. A trained veterinary physician charges high treatment cost associated with stem cell therapy for dogs. Generally, dog owners have pet insurance that typically covers maximum cost associated with steam cell therapy to treat the initial injury but for the succeeding measures in case of retreatment, the costs are not covered under the pet insurance. The stem cell therapy is thus cost-prohibitive for a large number of pet owners, which highlights a major restraint to the market growth. Stem cell therapy is still in its developmental stage and a positive growth outcome for the market cannot be confirmed yet.ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesT: +1-646-568-7751Tollfree: +1 800-961-0353 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard 2018 Global Market SWOT Analysis and Opportunities To 2023 | Key Players : Razer, Corsair Components, Patriot Memory, Logitech, G.Skill, Roccat Studios Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Industry https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3519217-global-programmer-gamer-keyboard-market-2018-by-manufacturers https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3519217-global-programmer-gamer-keyboard-market-2018-by-manufacturers https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=3519217 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard 2018 Global Market SWOT Analysis and Opportunities To 2023 | Key Players : Razer, Corsair Components, Patriot Memory, Logitech, G.Skill, Roccat Studios.Description:-Programmer/ gamer keyboard are a computer hardware device which is set up externally. It is incredibly responsive due to its advance technology and also requires less to strike each key. There are two types of g programmer/ gamer keyboard such as mechanical keyboards and membrane keyboards.Scope of the Report:Rapidly expanding software developing industries all across the globe is creating upsurge demand for advance keyboards for fast typing with longer durability. This factor is anticipated to positively impact the growth of global Programmer/Gamer keyboards market.The worldwide market for Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard 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 GIR (Global Info Research) study.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis report focuses on the Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversRazerCorsair ComponentsPatriot MemoryLogitechG.SkillRoccat StudiosSteelSeriesCooler Master TechnologyAsusTek ComputerFujitsuMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth 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 etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversMechanical KeyboardsMembrane KeyboardsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoOffline StoreOnline StoreThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard market.Chapter 1, to describe Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard, with sales, revenue, and price of Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard, 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 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;ContinuedEnquiry About Report @Table Of Contents Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Mechanical Keyboards1.2.2 Membrane Keyboards1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Offline Store1.3.2 Online Store1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Razer2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Product A2.1.2.2 Product B2.1.3 Razer Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Corsair Components2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Product A2.2.2.2 Product B2.2.3 Corsair Components Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Patriot Memory2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Product A2.3.2.2 Product B2.3.3 Patriot Memory Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Logitech2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Product A2.4.2.2 Product B2.4.3 Logitech Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 G.Skill2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Product A2.5.2.2 Product B2.5.3 G.Skill Programmer/ Gamer Keyboard Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)ContinuedBuy 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. Critical Infrastructure Protection Market Detailed Analysis & Focusing on Key Leaders Axis Communications AB, Robert Bosch, IBM Corporation, McAfee Inc. and Symantec Corporation https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4817 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/critical-infrastructure-protection-market-4817 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/press-release/critical-infrastructure-protection-market Global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market: by Technology (Cyber Security, Physical Security), Service (Consulting, Managed, Risk Management, Maintenance & Support), Vertical (Transportation Services, Energy & Power) Forecast till 2023Key PlayersSome of the prominent players in the global critical infrastructure protection market: BAE Systems (UK), General Dynamics Corporation (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), Raytheon Company (US), Airbus Group SE (Netherlands), Hexagon AB (Sweden), Johnson Controls International PLC (Republic of Ireland), Thales Group (France), Teltronic S.A. (Spain), OptaSense (UK), Motorola Solutions, Inc. (US), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China), Axis Communications AB (U.S.), Robert Bosch (Germany), IBM Corporation (U.S.), McAfee, Inc. (U.S.) and Symantec Corporation (U.S.).Get Sample Report @Market HighlightsThe global critical infrastructure protection market is projected to witness a rapid growth during the forecast period. Increasing emergence of cloud-based technologies is a major factor driving the growth of the market. Moreover, increasing demand for critical infrastructure protection across various industry verticals such as BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and IT & telecommunications is fueling the growth of the global market.The global critical infrastructure protection market, by geography, is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. As compared to other regions, the critical infrastructure protection market in North America is expected to witness a significant growth and hold the largest market share during the forecast period. U.S and Canada are anticipated to drive the growth of the North American critical infrastructure protection market owing to the presence of a large number of established key players such as General Dynamics Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Raytheon Company in this region. Due to the drastic fall in the usage of native applications and a considerable shift towards the adoption of cloud-based technologies and services in the region, the market is likely to show immense growth in the coming future. Additionally, North America has a well-established infrastructure, which allows a higher penetration of devices and ultimately provides better connectivity. Increasing need for innovations and advancements in the technology are other major factors responsible for the growth of the global critical infrastructure protection market.In the global critical infrastructure protection market, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a relatively faster adoption at the highest CAGR during the forecast period as compared to other regions owing to the growing adoption of cloud computing technologies and increasing deployment of businesses over cloud across different countries in the region.The global critical infrastructure protection market is projected to reach USD 220 billion at a CAGR of over 15% by the end of the forecast period 2017-2023.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Critical Infrastructure Protection Market Research Report-Forecast to 2023.Critical Infrastructure Protection Market Segmentation:The global critical infrastructure protection market is segmented on the basis of technology, service, and vertical. The service segment is classified as consulting services, managed services, risk management services, and maintenance and support services. However, the managed services are expected to hold the largest market share of the critical infrastructure protection market. Critical infrastructure protections offer various benefits to the businesses at low costs owing to the increasing deployment of the cloud-based services.Get Report Details @Market Research Analysis:North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market, whereas Europe market is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The North American market is witnessing a rapid growth due to technological advancements and increasing demand for mobile application development platforms across different industry verticals in this region. The U.S. holds the majority of the market share both in terms of revenue as well as the adoption of mobile applications.Regional Analysis:The global critical infrastructure protection market is studied for Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World.It has been observed that North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market, whereas Europe is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The North American market growth is attributed to technological advancements and increased adoption of mobile devices enabled with NFC services across various industry verticals.Intended Audience Technology Investors Research/Consultancy firms Technology Solution Providers Government Bodies CIP system and solution vendors CIP software vendors Independent software vendors System integrators Managed CIP service providersTABLE OF CONTENTS1 Executive Summary2 Scope Of The Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast Model4 Market LandscapeContinuedLIST OF TABLESTable 1 Global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table 2 North America Critical Infrastructure Protection Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 3 Europe Critical Infrastructure Protection Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 4 Asia-Pacific Critical Infrastructure Protection Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 5 Middle East & Africa Critical Infrastructure Protection Market: By Country, 2017-2023ContinuedGet More Information @LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 Global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market SegmentationFIGURE 2 Forecast MethodologyFIGURE 3 Five Forces Analysis Of Global Critical Infrastructure Protection MarketFIGURE 4 Value Chain Of Global Critical Infrastructure Protection MarketFIGURE 5 Share Of Global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market In 2017, By Country (In %)Continued.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst membersContact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Oncology Drugs : Business and Market Outlook with Trends, Types, Applications, Key Players (Novartis A.G, Laboratrio Cristlia, Medley Genomics and More) https://www.inforgrowth.com/samplerequest/r/133814/global-oncology-drugs-market-insights-forecast https://www.inforgrowth.com/customizationrequest/r/133814/global-oncology-drugs-market-insights-forecast This report studies the global market size of Oncology Drugs in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Oncology Drugs in these regions.This research report categorizes the global Oncology Drugs 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.Oncology Drugs Market Report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Oncology Drugs market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.The Global Oncology Drugs market analyzes and researches the Oncology Drugs development status and forecast in United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India & Central & South America.The Global Oncology Drugs Market focuses on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out.Key Players covered in this report are Novartis A.G, Laboratrio Cristlia, Medley Genomics, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Icon Plc., Sanofi S.A., Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, Eurofarma Laboratrios S.A., Ach Laboratrios Farmacuticos S.A., Laboratorios IMA.Report analysed by applications like Targeted Therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormonal Therapy, Biologic Therapy. Then report is analysed on the basis of type Oral Therapy, Injectable Therapy.Download Sample of This Premium Report atThe Oncology Drugs industry development trends and marketing channels are analysed. Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With the tables and figures, the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.The Oncology Drugs Market report provides key statistics on the market status of the Oncology Drugs manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:1 Study Coverage2 Executive Summary3 Breakdown Data by Manufacturers4 Breakdown Data by Type5 Breakdown Data by Application6 North America7 Europe8 Asia Pacific9 Central & South America10 Middle East and Africa11 Company Profiles12 Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis13 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis14 Research Findings and Conclusion15 AppendixAsk for Custom Requirements or Queries about this Report atAbout InForGrowth:We are a market-intelligence company formed with the objective of providing clients access to the most relevant and accurate research content for their growth needs. At InForGrowth, we understand Research requirements and help a client in taking informed business critical decisions. Given the complexities and interdependencies of market-intelligence, there is always more than one source to explore and arrive at the right answer. Through our smart search feature and our reliable & trusted publishing partners, we are paving way for a more simplified and relevant research.For all your Research needs, reach out to us at:Address: 6400 Village Pkwy suite # 104, Dublin, CA 94568, USAEmail: info@inforgrowth.comPhone: +1-909-329-2808 Hormone Replacement Therapy Market Segments And Key Trends 2018-2028 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2224 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=2224 https://www.factmr.com/checkout/2224/S www.factmr.com/ www.linkedin.com/company/factmr/ Top Five Companies Account for 35% Share of the Overall Hormone Replacement Therapy MarketThe hormone replacement therapy market is a fragmented landscape with presence of few tier one companies and upcoming players. Top five companies involved in the hormone replacement therapy formulations account for a significant share of the overall hormone replacement therapy market. Top 5 players Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Janssen NV (a Johnson & Johnson company), Novartis AG and Bayer AG collectively collectively account for 35 percent revenue share of the hormone replacement therapy market from on the global front.Tier 1 hormone replacement therapy companies are focused on carrying out clinical trials for new product development (NPD). Moreover, these companies are adopting vertical, horizontal and backward integration in a bid to achieve rapid expansion and pace in technological development.In addition, tier 1 hormone replacement therapy companies are forming alliances to co-develop and commercialize hormone replacement therapy drugs. For instance, Pfizer Inc., and Merck KGaA have formed a strategic alliance to develop avelumab (BAVENCIO) to manage hypothyroidism and other thyroid disorders.Request For Report Sample atAgreement between FDA and NASEM to Impact Hormone Replacement Therapy Market GrowthFood and Drug Administration (FDA) has signed an agreement with NASEM (National Academies of Science, Engineering & Medicine) and is carrying out expanded agreements with University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University Centers for Regulatory Science and Innovation. Main focus behind this initiative was to conduct research and inform consumers regarding compounded drugs.NASEM is examining the utility of treating individuals with compounded BHRT (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy) products. Compounded Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy products such as testosterone and progesterone are used instead of FDA approved hormone replacement therapy drugs as BHRT drugs are considered more safe and natural for patients. This factor is likely to impact the clinical trials of new hormone replacement therapy products in turn challenging the growth of hormone replacement therapy market.Use of Low Cost Generic Versions of Hormone Replacement Therapy Drugs An Upcoming TrendAffordability has always remained a major challenge for any pharmaceutical drug or formulation. Moreover, insufficient healthcare reimbursements have resulted in individuals opting for cheaper drugs with unclear drug effectiveness. This prompted manufactures of hormone replacement therapy drugs to produce generic versions of the formulations in a bid to bridge the gap between purchasing power of people and hormone replacement therapy drug pricing. Companies developing generic hormone replacement therapy drugs are also acquiring FDA approvals, which is direct inference apropos to drug effectiveness. For instance, Teva pharmaceuticals has introduced generic version of Estrace cream and estradiol vaginal cream in 2018. The trend is expected to auger well for the overall growth of the hormone replacement therapy market.Rising Prevalence of Osteoporosis to Influence Hormone Replacement Therapy DemandGrowing life expectancy is closely associated with degeneration that further translates into osteoporotic fractures. In addition, this condition further results in an increase in gap between spine bones during menopause with diminishing estrogen levels. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis causes over 8.9 million fractures annually on the global front and is likely to grow in the coming years. Rising prevalence of osteoporosis among women is expected to trigger the demand for hormone replacement therapy.Ask an AnalystHormone Replacement Therapy Associated with Reduced Dementia Key Growth PropellantHormone replacement therapy can protect memory which is required to carry out short-term cognitive tasks after menopausal stress. Estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy can facilitate lower stress levels without impacting memory. In addition, hormone replacement therapy also reduces possibilities of both vascular dementia and Alzheimers disease.Combination Hormone Replacement Therapy Associated with Cancer Key Growth DeterrentUse of hormone replacement therapy can lead to cancerous cell development. The use of combination hormone replacement therapy (combination of progesterone and estrogen) can increase the risk of breast cancer by 75 percent even if used for a short timeframe. According to the U.S Womens Health Initiative, the use of combination hormone replacement therapy comes with the risk of development of several cancers including ovarian and uterus cancers. This aspect is expected to confine the growth in adoption of hormone replacement therapy in the forthcoming years. Other hormone replacement therapy related disorders such as stroke, cardiac disorders and blood clots are further expected to negatively impact the growth of the hormone replacement therapy market.To know about other key influencing factors, request a free hormone replacement therapy market report sampleCompetitive LandscapeThe report on hormone replacement therapy market offers intelligence on key participants in the hormone replacement therapy market. The key companies involved in the formulation of hormone replacement therapy products are thoroughly assessed and profiled in the report. Various facets of competition including SWOT analysis, product portfolio analysis, drug developments and innovations, strategies and key financials are covered. Key companies profiled in the report include Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Mylan N.V and Pfizer Inc.Major companies in the hormone replacement therapy market are concentrating on expanding their current product portfolio. New hormone replacement therapy formulations being the core focus, companies are carrying out trials and gain FDA approvals. For instance, Novartis AGs research and development department delivered 6 critical FDA breakthrough therapy designations and 16 submissions in 2017. In May 2017, Novartis AG announced U.S. FDAs approval for its hormone replacement therapy tablets for hormone receptor positive and metastatic breast cancer treatment in postmenopausal women.In February 2018, Novo Nordisk A/S concluded main phase of REAL 1 the pivotal phase 3 trial along with somapacitan, a long-acting growth hormone to treat adults with growth hormone deficiency.Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. introduced Vagifem in 2017 for the treatment of atrophic vaginitis. In January 2018, the company launched Estrace cream to treat moderate and severe symptoms of vaginal and vulgar atrophy occurring due to menopause. Likewise, Mylan N.V expanded its US portfolio in the womens healthcare range with U.S. FDA approval for Estradiol Vaginal Cream to treat vaginal atrophy.Private equity firms are focused on acquiring emerging participants that are involved in drug delivery systems in the hormone replacement therapy space. For instance, Riverside Company has acquired DoseLogix in a bid to provide innovative dosing dispensers for ensuring accurate dosing medications of hormone replacement therapy and other conditions.Click to know more on competitive scenario in the hormone replacement therapy market to understand key strategies of market participantsDefinitionHormone replacement therapy, also referred to as menopausal hormone therapy, is used to treat various symptoms related to menopause among women. Hormone replacement therapy replaces hormones that are low in level as women near menopause. There are various types of hormone replacement therapy such as estrogen hormone replacement therapy, thyroid hormone replacement therapy and growth hormone replacement therapy.About the ReportThe report on hormone replacement therapy market provides incisive insights on all aspects influencing growth in demand for hormone replacement therapy worldwide. The report provides a thorough analysis on demand of hormone replacement therapy across key regions in the globe along with sales of various hormone replacement therapy products.Key drivers, challenges, trends and opportunities shaping the growth of the hormone replacement therapy market are also covered in the hormone replacement therapy market report. The hormone replacement therapy market report provides historical data assessment on use of hormone replacement therapy, current hormone replacement therapy scenario and future demand of hormone replacement therapy. The forecast projections provided cover a timeline of 10 years (2018-2028).Market StructureThe hormone replacement therapy market is segmented in detail to cover every angle of the hormone replacement therapy space. The hormone replacement therapy market has been segmented on the basis of product type, by dosage form, by indication, by distribution channel and by region.Various hormone replacement therapy products such as estrogen hormone replacement therapy, thyroid hormone replacement therapy and growth hormone replacement therapy is covered. By dosage form, hormone replacement therapy market is segmented into tablets, patches, injections, implants and creams. By indications, hormone replacement therapy market is categorized into menopause, osteoporosis, thyroid and growth hormone deficiency. By distribution channel, it is segmented by hospital pharmacies, clinics, retail pharmacies and online pharmacies.The hormone replacement therapy market is assessed across key regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Japan.Additional Questions AnsweredApart from key findings mentioned above, the hormone replacement therapy market report also answers additional questions such as:Which is the most attractive regional market for hormone replacement therapy?Which dosage form is largely preferred for using hormone replacement therapy worldwide?Due to which indication is the hormone replacement therapy market is witnessing a significant upswing in demand?Which country in the APEJ region accounts for a higher market share in the APEJ hormone replacement therapy?Which is the most lucrative hormone replacement therapy distribution channel?Research MethodologyThe hormone replacement therapy market is drafted using a unique research methodology comprising of a combination of secondary and primary research methodologies. The data gleaned from primary and secondary research is assessed along with information from external sources. All the statistics are compiled using triangulation method to gain highly accurate projections on hormone replacement therapy market.To Buy This Report atAbout FactMRFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Follow Us on Linkedin: Global Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Market is Expected to Grow at a High CAGR By The End of 2025 Qyresearchreports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1909576&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-wi-fi-chipsets-wifi-chipsets-market-insights-forecast-to-2025.htm https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-wi-fi-chipsets-wifi-chipsets-market-insights-forecast-to-2025.htm/toc Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Market Insights, Forecast to 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.This report presents the worldwide Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) 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.A wireless chipset is a piece of internal hardware designed to allow a device to communicate with another wireless-enabled device. This type of chipset can be found inside computers as well as a number of other wireless products. Types of hardware that might contain a wireless chipset include wireless Computer (Notbook and Desktop PC) hardware like wireless local area network (WLAN) cards and external WLAN adapters. Other types of hardware that might include a wireless chipset include routers and any other wireless devices that transmit or receive a wireless signal.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @The emergence of dual-band routers is also expected to aid market growth by 2020. Wi-Fi technology uses 2.4 GHz and 5GHz frequencies for data transfer. As most devices, from baby monitors to Bluetooth, use the 2.4 GHz frequency, it is becoming over-crowded and slower. A large number of vendors are focusing on developing dual-band routers. These routers consist of two different types of wireless radios to support connections on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. They also allow users to pick and connect to the strongest Wi-Fi signal.The Smartphone end user segment accounted for more than 71% of the market share during 2015 and is expected to retain its market leadership until the end of 2020. With the continuous evolution of mobile devices since the late 2000s, manufacturers have been integrating new features such as Wi-Fi into these devices. This has resulted in increased demand for Wi-Fi chipsets in the smartphone segment. The latest smartphones that are available in the market are equipped with Wi-Fi and cellular technologies. This has improved mobile data services, which has boosted mobile traffic rapidly and is likely to accelerate the demand for Wi-Fi capability in smartphones.During 2015, North America dominated the market, accounting for more than 24% of the market share. The US is the major revenue contributing country in this region. Currently, the North American market is at the stage of saturation. The market has limited growth potential, especially in the Americas, due to an already established infrastructure and high penetration of Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones and tablets. Analysts predict that the market growth in this region will be limited during the forecast period. Developing from multi chip to single chip, internal and external WiFi chip manufacturers play games.Actually, in the products of mobile phone, and other products, independent WiFi chip having only the function of connecting and transferring single processing and transmission protocol TCP/ IP must be placed at the end of AP having strong performance, so that it can form a complete communication architecture. However , a lot of intelligent hardware in the field of internet of things , such as kettle , electric rice cooker , lamps and lanterns , soybean milk machine etc, have no powerful AP originally .Therefore , independent WiFi chip of course have difficulty.The Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) market was valued at 16000 Million US$ in 2017 and is projected to reach 22200 Million US$ by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.2% 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 Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets).The following manufacturers are covered in this report:BroadcomQualcomm AtherosMediaTekMarvellIntelRealtekSTMicroelectronicsTexas InstrumentsCypress SemiconductorMicrochipObtain Report Details @Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Breakdown Data by Type802.11n802.11ac802.11adOthersWi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Breakdown Data by ApplicationComputer (Notbook and Desktop PC)Smart Home DevicesMobile PhoneOthersWi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Production by RegionUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSouth KoreaOther RegionsWi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Consumption by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandVietnamEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalyRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaRead Complete Table of Content @The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.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 Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) :History Year: 2013 - 2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year: 2018 - 2025This report includes the estimation of market size for value (million USD) and volume (K Units). Both top-down and bottom-up approaches have been used to estimate and validate the market size of Wi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) market, to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets in the overall market. Key players in the market have been identified through secondary research, and their market shares have been determined through primary and secondary research. All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns have been determined using secondary sources and verified primary sources.For 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 StakeholdersWi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) ManufacturersWi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Distributors/Traders/WholesalersWi-Fi Chipsets (WIFI Chipsets) Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAbout Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com BIM Extraction Software Market 2018 Global Rapid Growth, Competitive Analysis, Industrial Landscape and Forecasts To 2022 - Assemble Systems, Autodesk, Aveva, Bentley, ClearEdge3D, FARO BIM Extraction Software Market https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/116197 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/116197/single https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/116197 Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Report 2018 explores future trends for supply, demand and market growth rate, market size, prices, trading, competition and value chain as well as Key Players of the industrys information with forecast from 2018 to 2022.Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Overview:According to Market Analyst, Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2022.Request Report Sample@Building information modeling (BIM) is the digital representation of the 3D-based model process that is required for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Key drivers of the market are the demand for feasible architectural and engineering solutions, increase in BIM implementation by companies across industries, and technological advancements in the construction industry. There has been a significant need for technological solutions for architects and engineers in the construction industry in order to design and plan effective and efficient models.Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market is segmented based on software deployment, end use industry and by region. On the basis of software deployment, the global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software market is segmented as on-premise and cloud based software. The cloud-based BIM extraction software market is anticipated to experience flourishing growth during the forecast period. This is mainly due to increasing penetration of cloud technology across the world.In term of end use industry, Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market further segmented into water and wastewater, rail and transit, energy generation facilities, houses and apartments, factories and warehouses, educational institutes and commercial spaces, government buildings, dams, and others. Houses and apartments segment is projected to dominate the global BIM extraction software market.Regionally, North America is expected to hold the largest share of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market by 2022, and it holds a tremendous potential for the market in the coming future. In terms of new opportunities, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa (MEA) regions are expected to witness healthy growth during the forecast period.Purchase this premium research report with 125 Pages and No. of Table of contents, List of table atThe Market is segmented and projected on the basis of major key players:1 Assemble Systems2 Autodesk3 Aveva4 Bentley5 ClearEdge3D6 FARO7 Geo-matching8 Gexcel9 Innovaya10 Leica11 Microsoft And More..The Market is segmented and projected on the basis of major Region Segmentation1 North America Country (United States, Canada)2 South America3 Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)4 Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)5 Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @Key Questions Answered in this Report:1 How has the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?2 What will the market size be in 2022?3 What are the key factors driving the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market?4 What are the challenges to market growth?5 What is the structure of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software industry and who are the key players?6 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players?7 What are the profit margins in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software industry?TABLE OF CONTENTS1 Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Definition2 Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Major Player Share and Market Overview3 Major Player Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Business Introduction4 Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Segmentation (Region Level)5 Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Segmentation (Type Level)6 Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Segmentation (Industry Level)7 Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Segmentation (Channel Level)8 Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Market Forecast 2018-20229 Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Segmentation Type10 Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Segmentation Industry11 Building Information Modeling (BIM) Extraction Software Cost Analysis12 ConclusionAbout UsBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940 Antibiotics and Corticosteroids Market Rapid Growth By Top Players Novartis, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Abbott Laboratories, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Sumitomo, AstraZeneca, Cipla, and Astellas Pharma. Antibiotics and Corticosteroids Market https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/781 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/781 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/781 Antibiotics are used to terminate the bacterial growth or bacteria itself in the case of bacterial infection, whereas, corticosteroids are used to treat the allergy and inflammatory condition. There are some functions which corticosteroids can perform while antibiotics cannot perform and vice-versa. At times, the physician prescribes the dose of antibiotics in addition with corticosteroids so that antibiotic will help attack the microorganism cell wall whereas the inflammatory process can be tackled by the corticosteroids. Corticosteroids also decreases the pain related to inflammation by inhibiting chemical mediators. Over dosage or misuse of both compounds might lead to adverse effects such as failure of immune system.Download PDF Brochure@Efficacy of combine treatment of antibiotics and corticosteroids on several chronic diseases is the major factor for growth of antibiotics and corticosteroids marketThe use of antibiotics with the combination of corticosteroids has proven effective in the treatment of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infection, Cepacia syndrome, S. Aureus arthritis, pneumonia, Zika Virus, and Ebola. According to the data published in Journal of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, in 2016, around 6.3 million children died in 2013, wherein 51.8% died due to infectious diseases and largest was accounted due to pneumonia for around 935,000 deaths. However, around 3.4 million children are infected with the human Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which is associated to acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI). Supportive government activities in the favor of antibiotics and corticosteroids production is helping to boost the antibiotic and corticosteroids market. For instance, introduction of Antibiotics Incentives Now (GAIN) act which has the provisions to facilitate the development of therapy against antigen resistant pathogens is expected to propel the approval for antibiotics.However, some of the restraints which are likely to hamper the growth of antibiotics and corticosteroids market include the adverse effect on high intake or misuse of both antibiotics and corticosteroids, use in animals which are later consumed by humans, and regulations and policies on use of antibiotics and corticosteroids.Rise in population with pneumonia is contributing to the growth of this disease segment in antibiotics and corticosteroids marketThe global antibiotics and corticosteroids market is segmented by application, by antibiotics type, by end user, by disease type, and by regionRequest for Customization@Rising cases of infectious diseases and established healthcare sector is fuelling to the growth of antibiotics and corticosteroids market in North AmericaRegional segmentation of antibiotics and corticosteroids market by Coherent Market Insights comprises of North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. North America hold the major share in the antibiotics and corticosteroids market due to the high prevalence rate of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and the need of antibiotic and corticosteroids treatment of such diseases. For instance, the data given by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 2.1 million children are diagnosed with RSV and 14, 000 adult population die due to this disease annually. Latin America also hold the large share in the antibiotics and corticosteroids market followed by Asia Pacific due to the progress in pharmaceutical industry.Industry players are involved in the regional expansion and collaborations with other companies to hold the larger share in the antibiotics and corticosteroids marketKey industry players operating the global antibiotics and corticosteroids market include Novartis, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Abbott Laboratories, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Sumitomo, AstraZeneca, Cipla, and Astellas Pharma. The generic drug manufacturers are dominating in the antibiotics and corticosteroid market due to the presence of key drugs that are helping to generate the revenue with availability of few patent products. Adoption of various strategies such as regional expansion, novel product development, collaborations, and partnerships by the industry players to hold the major share in the antibiotics and corticosteroids market. For instance, Pfizer made an agreement with AstraZeneca in 2016, which has helped to acquire the commercialization and development right to the Pfizers business mostly outside the U.S.On the basis of application, the antibiotics and corticosteroids market is segmented intoHumansVeterinaryOn the basis of antibiotic type, the antibiotics and corticosteroids market is segmented intoMacrolidesTetracyclineBeta-lactamsLincosamidesGlycopeptidesAminoglycosidesSulfonamidesOthersOn the basis of end user, the antibiotics and corticosteroids market is segmented intoHospitalsMedical clinicsOn the basis of disease type, the antibiotics and corticosteroids market is segmented intoPneumoniaCepasia SyndromeHuman Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infectionAureus ArthritisSinus InfectionOthersRequest a Sample Copy @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.1001 4th Ave,, #3200, Seattle, WA 98154 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market 2023 Top Vendors are IBM Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, General Electric Company, Siemens Healthineers GmbH, Google, Inc. Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5681 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/upcoming-reports/Healthcare-artificial-intelligence-market-5681 The Market Research Future has been published New Research Reports which is Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market & In This Report the Information has been Provided like Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends & Forecast which is making through primary and secondary research which is done by professional healthcare researcher.Market Scenario:Artificial intelligence (AI) or machine intelligence is a range of technologies so as to enable machines to sense, comprehend, and learn tasks requiring human intelligence. Artificial intelligence in healthcare is all set to unleash its potential ranging from financial, diagnosis to marketing. AI uses complex algorithms which mimic human intelligence capabilities such as reasoning, learning, pattern recognition and problem solving, and others to aid a v. Furthermore, AI is applicable in medication management, treatment plans, and drug discovery.Get Premium Sample Copy @The financial drivers of healthcare artificial intelligence market are savings and reduction of waste and duplication, market demand forecasting, financial growth and risk assessment, and others. The growing seed and venture funding is another bright spot for the market as the AI market benefits a small player with advanced proprietary technology over a large firm. The cost of up scaling once the technology is developed is lower as compared to development costs which reduces the barrier for a start-up company. The clinical drivers of the market are automated diagnosis by pattern recognition in imaging, voice etc., advancements in robotic surgery, rise in adoption of precision medicine, growing number of clinical trials and others.The restraints include high cost of development and maintenance, nascent state of the technology, concerns about data safety and others.Global Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market Top Key players:IBM Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., NVIDIA Corporation, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Deep Genomics, Inc., General Electric Company, Siemens Healthineers GmbH, Google, Inc., CloudMedx Inc., Johnson & Johnson, General Vision, Inc., Stryker Corporation, Medtronic Plc., and others.Segments:The Global Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market is segmented on the basis of types, technology, applications, end users and regions so as to gain an accurate assessment of the market.Based on the types, the market has been segmented as hardware, software, and services.Based on the technology, the market has been segmented as language and image processing, context awareness, deep learning, querying, pattern recognition and others.Based on the application, the market has been segmented as robot-assisted surgery, workflow assistance, financial and risk management, prognosis and treatment assistance, clinical trials, diagnosis, cybersecurity, drug discovery and others.Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as providers, payers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, marketing, and others.Based on the regions, the market has been segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa and rest of the world.Regional analysis:U.S. accounts for the largest market share owing to faster adoption of latest technology, large buying power and presence of global players such as IBM Watson. Europe led by Germany, U.K. and France is the second largest market. The developed regions are expected to maintain their hegemony over the future after which the market is estimated to shift to the developing regions of the Asia Pacific. Asia pacific region is anticipated to be the fastest region led by China and India. The Middle East and Africa market will be skewed in favor of the gulf nations particularly Saudi Arabia and UAE. The poor regions of Africa is expected to be a laggard due to poor economic and political conditions.Table of Content1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations3 Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentContinued!Browse Full Reports @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Chromoblastomycosis Treatment Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 6.3% By 2023 Chromoblastomycosis Treatment Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5685 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/chromoblastomycosis-treatment-market-5685 Market Research Future has added a report titled Chromoblastomycosis Treatment Market Research Report -Forecast to 2023 to its offering. The report provides an in-depth analysis of regional data and an accurate projection of the market size and share of the Top 10 market players across the globe.The Global Chromoblastomycosis Treatment Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 6.3% during the forecast period, 2017-2023.Market Scenario:Chromoblastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by species such as Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Cladophialophora carrionii, Phialophora verrucosa, Fonsecaea compacta, Rhinocladiella aquaspersa, Chaetomium funicola and others. This disease mostly affects the skin and the subcutaneous tissues. Globally, there is about a million type of fungal species, yet nearly 300 are capable of causing infections or disease in humans. Most of these cases are seen in people with compromised immune systems and can occur almost in any part of the body.Get Sample Copy @A type of fungal infection known as systemic mycosis is affecting the internal organs of the body. During this, fungal infection can spread and affect other organs of the body. The rising cases of immunological diseases is a reason for increased probability of systemic mycosis. Thus, the developing novel treatment for chromoblastomycosis with fewer side effects is the primary objective of manufacturing companies.The newly launched azoles such as voriconazole and itraconazole, are the gold standard drugs for antifungal therapy. Chromoblastomycosis infections need to be treated with antifungal medication such as itraconazole, terbinafine, posaconazole, amphotericin B. Often, the treatment for chromoblastomycosis requires surgery to scrape off the infected tissue. The growth of the market is primarily driven by increasing incidents of fungal infections, rising prevalence of immunological diseases, availability of wide range of products, and increasing awareness about the fungal infections. However, the existence of misbranded drugs and their side effects may slow the growth of the market. The treatment of fungal infections is available in multiple dosage forms such as oral and intravenous medicines. Furthermore, the medications are also available in the form of sprays, creams, solutions, and shampoos.Key Players:Top Key Players of global chromoblastomycosis treatment market are Astellas Pharma (Japan), Biocon Limited (India), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Merck Sharp and Dohme (U.S.), Gilead Sciences (U.S.), Mylan Labs (U.S.), Bristol Myers Squibb (U.S.), Bayer AG (Germany), Lonza Group (Switzerland), Sanofi (France), F. Hoffman La Roche (Switerzland), Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited (India), Johnson & Johnson (U.S.), Pfizer Inc. (U.S.), Novartis AG (Switerzland), and othersSegmentation:The global chromoblastomycosis treatment market is segmented on the basis of species, types, diagnosis, treatment, and end-users.On the basis of the species, the global chromoblastomycosis treatment market is segmented into Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Cladophialophora carrionii, Phialophora verrucosa, Fonsecaea compacta, Rhinocladiella aquaspersa, Chaetomium funicola, and others.On the basis of the disease type, the global chromoblastomycosis treatment market is segmented into nodular type, tumoral type, verrucous type, plaque type, and others.On the basis of the diagnosis, the global chromoblastomycosis treatment market is segmented into blood test, immunodiagnosis, histopathology and mycological examination, tissue biopsy, and others. The immunodiagnosis is classified into enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), and immunodiffusion, and others.On the basis of the treatment, the global chromoblastomycosis treatment market is segmented into surgery, antifungal drugs, amphotericin B therapy, thermotherapy, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy, adjuvant therapy, and others. The surgery is classified into cryosurgery, curettage, electrodesiccation, surgical excisions, and others. Furthermore, the antifungal drugs are categorized into oral itraconazole, oral terbinafine, posaconazole, isavuconazole, and others.On the basis of the end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, medical institutes, research organization, and others.Regional Analysis:The global chromoblastomycosis treatment market consists of countries namely the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.The Americas dominate the global chromoblastomycosis treatment market owing to a huge patient population for chromoblastomycosis and well-developed healthcare sector. This disease commonly affects the agricultural workers in rural regions of South America, Central America, and North America.The European region is the second largest market for the global chromoblastomycosis treatment owing to the rising occurrence of fungal infections among the patients, and advancements in the surgeries procedure and the use of surgical devices. It was estimated that about 20% of these cases were found in countries such as the Czech Republic, Romania, and Finland.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for chromoblastomycosis treatment market due to increasing prevalence of fungal infections, and regional expansion for the development of this market. Japan is considered to exhibit the highest prevalence rate for chromoblastomycosis in the Asia Pacific region.The Middle East & Africa region contributed the lowest share of the global chromoblastomycosis treatment market, in 2016. Several different Latin American and the African countries, such as Colombia, Gabon, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, have high prevalence rates for this condition.Browse Full reports @TABLE OF CONTENTChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Treatment Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor AnalysisContinued!About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Chinese Rice Wine Market to 2025: China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp, Kuaijishan, Jinfeng Wine, PAGOOA, Nuerhong, Jimo, Jiashan, Shazhou, Shanhao, etc Chinese Rice Wine Market https://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012318154/sample https://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012318154/discount https://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012318154/buying Chinese Rice Wine Market provides an in-depth insight of Industry covering all important parameters including development trends, challenges, opportunities, key manufacturers and competitive analysis. Reports has published an innovate data titled Chinese Rice Wine Market. The effective statistics about facts and figures are presented by using effective methodologies. Collectively, it focuses on historical records, and current trends along with future predictions.ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Chinese Rice Wine Market The report focuses on major leading players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.Get sample copy of report atChinese Rice Wine market: Company Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp, Kuaijishan, Jinfeng Wine, PAGOOA, Nuerhong, Jimo, Jiashan, Shazhou, Shanhao, Guyueloutai.Chinese Rice Wine market: Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.): Glutinous Rice Wine, Millet Rice Wine, Red Kojic Rice Wine, Rice Wine, Others.Demand Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Consumer Distribution): Commercial Use, Home Use.Chinese Rice Wine market: Region Coverage (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries etc.): North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East & Africa.Get discount on Purchase report atThe study objectives are:To analyze and research the global Chinese Rice Wine status and future forecast involving, production, revenue, consumption, historical and forecast.To present the key Chinese Rice Wine 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.Table of Content:1 Industry Overview2 Chinese Rice Wine Market by Type3 Global Market Demand4 Major Region Market5 Major Companies List5.1 China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.2 Kuaijishan (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.3 Jinfeng Wine (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.4 PAGOOA (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.5 Nuerhong (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.6 Jimo (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.7 Jiashan (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5.8 Shazhou (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)6 ConclusionApart from the mentioned information, growth rate of Chinese Rice Wine Market is also explained. Additionally, type wise and application wise consumption tables and figures are also given.Know more about report:About UsReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.The market research industry has changed in last decade. As corporate focus has shifted to niche markets and emerging countries, a number of publishers have stepped in to fulfil these information needs. We have experienced and trained staff that helps you navigate different options and lets you choose best research solution at most effective cost.Contact UsPhone : +1-646-491-9876E-Mail : sales@reportsweb.com Yellow Oyster Mushroom Global Market 2018: Key Players Guan's Mushroom, WALSH MUSHROOMS GROUP, Fancy Fungi, FreshPoint https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3429430-global-yellow-oyster-mushroom-market-insights-forecast-to-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3429430-global-yellow-oyster-mushroom-market-insights-forecast-to-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=3429430 https://www.wiseguyreports.com Yellow Oyster Mushroom IndustryDescriptionWiseguyreports.Com Adds Yellow Oyster Mushroom -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Of Top Key Player Forecast To 2023 To Its Research DatabaseThis report studies the global market size of Yellow Oyster Mushroom in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Yellow Oyster Mushroom in these regions.This research report categorizes the global Yellow Oyster Mushroom 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.In 2017, the global Yellow Oyster Mushroom market size was million US$ and is forecast to million US in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2018. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Yellow Oyster Mushroom market based on company, product type, application and key regions.The various contributors involved in the value chain of Yellow Oyster Mushroom include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers. The key manufacturers in the YellowOyster Mushroom includeGuan's MushroomWALSH MUSHROOMS GROUPFancy FungiFreshPointMarket Size Split by TypeFreshDryOthersMarket Size Split by ApplicationRestaurants and HotelsSchools and InstitutionsHouseholdsOthersRequest for Sample Report @Market 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 Yellow Oyster Mushroom 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 Yellow Oyster Mushroom 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 Yellow Oyster Mushroom 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 Yellow Oyster Mushroom with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Yellow Oyster Mushroom 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.Leave a Query @Table of Contents1 Study Coverage1.1 Yellow Oyster Mushroom Product1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global Yellow Oyster Mushroom Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 Fresh1.4.3 Dry1.4.4 Others1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Yellow Oyster Mushroom Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 Restaurants and Hotels1.5.3 Schools and Institutions1.5.4 Households1.5.5 Others1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Yellow Oyster Mushroom Market Size2.1.1 Global Yellow Oyster Mushroom Revenue 2016-20252.1.2 Global Yellow Oyster Mushroom Sales 2016-20252.2 Yellow Oyster Mushroom Growth Rate by Regions2.2.1 Global Yellow Oyster Mushroom Sales by Regions2.2.2 Global Yellow Oyster Mushroom Revenue by Regions....11 Company Profiles11.1 Guan's Mushroom11.1.1 Guan's Mushroom Company Details11.1.2 Company Description11.1.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Yellow Oyster Mushroom11.1.4 Yellow Oyster Mushroom Product Description11.1.5 Recent Development11.2 WALSH MUSHROOMS GROUP11.2.1 WALSH MUSHROOMS GROUP Company Details11.2.2 Company Description11.2.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Yellow Oyster Mushroom11.2.4 Yellow Oyster Mushroom Product Description11.2.5 Recent Development11.3 Fancy Fungi11.3.1 Fancy Fungi Company Details11.3.2 Company Description11.3.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Yellow Oyster Mushroom11.3.4 Yellow Oyster Mushroom Product Description11.3.5 Recent Development11.4 FreshPoint11.4.1 FreshPoint Company Details11.4.2 Company Description11.4.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Yellow Oyster Mushroom11.4.4 Yellow Oyster Mushroom Product Description11.4.5 Recent Development12 Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis12.1 Market Opportunities and Drivers12.2 Market Challenges12.3 Market Risks/Restraints12.4 Key World Economic Indicators13 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis13.1 Value Chain Analysis13.1.1 Typical Suppliers of Key Yellow Oyster Mushroom Raw Material13.1.2 Yellow Oyster Mushroom Customers13.2 Sales Channels Analysis13.2.1 Sales Channels Analysis13.2.2 DistributorsBuy 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 Network Traffic Analytics Market By Key Vendors: Accenture, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Juniper Networks, Microsoft, Nokia, Palo Alto Networks, SolarWinds, Symantec, Cisco https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2818 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2818 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/network-traffic-analytics-market https://www.openpr.com/news/1369470/ABB-Group-Schneider-Electric-Profiled-in-Smart-Water-Management-Market-Growth-by-Key-Players-Itron-Elster-Group-Seimens-Suez-IBM-AVEA-Trimble-Topcon-Takadu-Arad-Metering-Technologies-Nalco-Sensus-i20-Water.html https://www.gminsights.com http://solutionrocket.com The European network traffic analytics market held around 26% of the industry share in 2017. The region has the presence of some of the leading telecom companies in the world, such as Vodafone, SoftBank Group, and Telefonica S.A., fueling the market demand. Furthermore, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) implemented by the government in May 2018 has laid down effective data privacy and security guidelines. This will prevent the companies from sharing the customer personal data without their consent and boosting the network traffic analytics market growth.Request for a sample of this research report @Network Traffic Analytics Market size is set to exceed USD 2,500 million by 2024, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. The rapid growth in cloud-based traffic is mainly driving the network traffic analytics market. The IT industry has adopted cloud technology as a flexible networking solution to meet the increasing needs of enterprises and consumers. The cloud data center traffic is projected to rise exponentially from 3.8 ZB in 2015 to around 14 ZB by 2020. As the cloud traffic increases, there is a corresponding increase in the need to monitor, manage, and secure the ever-growing big data. Owing to this, the network traffic analytics for cloud auditing is important so that the users can maintain their information security on the network. For instance, in April 2017, SoftBank, a Japanese telecom leader invested USD 16.5 million in Dome9 Security, an Israeli company offering cloud infrastructure security services.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: Accenture Allot Ascom Holding AG Bradford Networks Cisco Flowmon Networks Genie Networks Ltd Huawei Technologies IBM Juniper Networks Kentik Microsoft Netreo Nokia Palo Alto Networks Plixer SolarWinds Symantec ZenossOrganizations across the world are witnessing threats due to the increasing number of cyber occurrences and their ramifications. The cyber incidents targeted toward businesses increased from 82,000 in 2016 to approximately 159,700 in 2017, primarily driven by WannaCry ransomware and other attacks. To curb the rising cyber risks, organizations worldwide are investing huge funds in numerous data security tools and the overall spending on security solutions is projected to reach USD 113 billion by 2020. This huge spending in security has given a boost to the network traffic analytics solutions market.The on-premise deployment model held the highest market revenue of USD 670.1 million in 2017. As these models are installed within the enterprise, they offer high regulatory compliance and data protection. Furthermore, they assist in reducing latency, maintaining peak performance, and availability. Due to these advantages, companies are still relying on this platform and raising funds to expand their businesses. For instance, in April 2017, Sapho, a company in the U.S. raised USD 14 million to build a global sales team for expanding its business by serving large companies using on-premise models. However, the large capital investments, responsibility for maintenance, longer implementation times, and increasing data produced are the major factors that may lead to a steady growth of network traffic analytics market over the forecast timeline.The network security solution is growing at the fastest rate with a CAGR of 24.1% over the forecast timeline. Due to the rising advent of digitalization and the adoption of technologies, such as IoT and cloud computing, the amount of data generated grew tremendously. This growth in big data requires effective monitoring and storage as they fall prey to various malicious attacks. Therefore, network security solutions are used to detect and block malicious attacks throughout the network. The governments worldwide are investing funds and implementing rules and regulations to enhance the cybersecurity offerings of their country. For instance, in 2017, the Australian government invested USD 50 million over a period of seven years in the Corporate Research Center for cybersecurity. This investment will establish the countrys reputation as a secured market to do business, thereby enabling national security.The consulting services in the network traffic analytics market are growing at the fastest rate as they assist in managing cybersecurity throughout the products lifecycle by building a vigorous security strategy, identifying & evaluating threats, finding the network infrastructure vulnerabilities, and strengthening the security architecture. Furthermore, various companies operating in the network traffic analytics market are launching new consulting services to expand their service offerings and gain a share in the competitive market. In February 2017, NEC Corporation, a Japanese MNC delivering IT products and services, launched a consulting service, TMS Professional Service. This consulting service allows communication service providers to manage and devise strategies based on the analysis of their network traffic.The fastest growing segment in the network traffic analytics market comprises cloud service providers. These service providers are highly prone to cyber attacks due to the rise in the malware attacks including ransomware, banking malware, and scareware. Moreover, around 400,000 new malware attacks that target public clouds and SaaS providers and damage the critical data daily have been recognized. Hence, it is necessary for the cloud service providers to monitor network traffic, data movement, and application activity at all stages of the cloud environment, boosting the network traffic analytics market growth.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @The IT & telecom enterprises are anticipated to dominate the network traffic analytics market by 2024. The increased worldwide adoption rate of the internet with an enhanced usage of social networking platform and the rise in smartphone penetration rate are the major factors driving the network traffic analytics market demand. Telecommunication companies are investing millions of dollars and entering into strategic partnerships to boost their network traffic management platform, enhancing their service offerings and gaining a competitive edge in the market. For instance, in July 2017, KDDI Corporation, a Japanese telecom operator entered into a partnership with Kentik, a leading network traffic intelligence firm. This will allow KDDI to deploy the companys Kentik Detect solution for real-time network monitoring and planning efficiencies.North America dominates the network traffic analytics market with a revenue of USD 411 million in 2017. The region is home to the most advanced software and IT industry including AT&T, Cisco, IBM, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Juniper Networks and is a world leader in the cloud computing market. Other factors contributing to the market growth include the accessibility to advanced infrastructure, the rise in the number of cyber-attacks, the emergence of IoT devices, and advanced technology adoption. The government is also investing funds in various technologies, which has a positive impact on the network traffic analytics market. For instance, the government of the U.S. is also planning to invest USD 10 billion in cloud computing technology by 2023. Due to the advancements in these technologies, the data traffic is projected to grow tremendously leading to an increase in the network traffic analytics market demand.Browse Full Report:New product launches and partnerships are the main strategies adopted by the companies operating in the network traffic analytics market. The prominent vendors functioning in the market include Allot Communication, Ascom Holding, Accenture, Bradford Networks, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft Corporation, Nokia Networks, Juniper Networks, Flowmon, Kentik, Huawei, Palo Alto Networks, Genie Networks, SolarWinds, Symantec, Zenoss, and Plixer.Browse Related Report:Smart Water Management Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, GCC, South Africa), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018 2024About 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:Blog: Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market to Reflect Steady Growth by 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2613 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2613 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Diabetes has evolved as one of the primary healthcare epidemic characterized by high sugar levels and principle cause of mortality worldwide. In 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 8.5% of adults living with diabetes. A diabetic person cannot either synthesize enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or either does not make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin produced by the body (type 2 diabetes). Another type of diabetes that occur in women during her pregnancy is gestational diabetes. However, gestational diabetes is usually resolved after delivery but can precede towards type 2 diabetes later in a womens life.Most of the continuous glucose monitoring devices are invasive and involves use of needles leading to increased chance of infection. Furthermore, the invasive glucose monitoring device is considered to be discrete glucose measurement system which cannot be practically used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose. Certain evidences of hyperglycemia between measurements are however not recorded thus resulting in false or no representation of the blood glucose pattern. Noninvasive monitoring of glucose levels eliminates the need of painful pricking with increased risk of infection, and amount of damage caused to the finger tissue.Request to Sample of Report @Therefore, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring devices are being widely investigated and studied over the past few years for their ability to monitor glucose continuously under highly controlled (e.g. in-clinic) conditions. Various techniques that involves measurement of blood glucose levels non-invasively includes, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Mid -Infrared Spectroscopy (Mid-IRS), Raman Spectroscopy, Photo-acoustic Spectroscopy (PA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and many more.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring DevicesMarket: Drivers & RestraintsRising prevalence of diabetes globally is expected to result in greater use of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring devices among the prevalent population. Owing to the several disadvantages imposed by the use of invasive blood glucose monitors and growing need to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring diagnostic techniques, the market for non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices is expected to rise at a greater pace during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2015, researchers in U.K. developed blood glucose device that utilizes low-powered lasers in order to measure the blood glucose levels on the skin surface. Also a bench-top version of the system is currently in clinical trials studies which might land in the market over the next few years. This includes, a finger-touch device similar to a computer mouse and a wearable version for continuous blood glucose monitoring.In addition, increasing efforts by several startup manufacturers, for example, Prediktor Medical- a Norway based manufacturer is developing a wearable device for estimation of blood glucose levels based on the combination of several principles determining the noninvasive glucose monitoring including, advanced multivariate analysis and dynamic models for insulin or glucose interaction. The device is expected to be in the form of a watch or bracelet communicating with the mobile phone or a tablet for data presentation. This would enable patients monitor their glucose levels continuously without the need for an implant. Currently available blood glucose measuring devices lacks specificity and sensitivity due to the substantial physical and chemical interference. Non-invasive glucose monitoring devices use multivariate regression analyses converting optical signal to glucose concentration. Hence the device should be designed in such a way that it leads to accurate detection of blood glucose levels imperative for optimum therapy and disease management.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: SegmentationNon- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices marketis segmented by technology, modality end user and geography:By TechnologyMIR/NIR (Mid/Near Infrared Spectroscopy)Raman SpectroscopyOcclusion SpectroscopyOptical Coherence TomographyThermal Emission SpectroscopyPhotoacoustic SpectroscopyImpedance/Dielectric SpectroscopyElectromagneticPolarimetryFluorescenceBy ModalityWearable Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsNon-wearable /Table top Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsBy End UserHospitalsHome Care SettingsClinicsNon- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: OverviewRising prevalence of diabetes worldwide imposes significant economic consequences on the individuals life. Currently, there are 350 million people worldwide estimated to live with diabetes. Thus continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential in order to manage the ever increasing prevalent population living with diabetes currently. For this reason manufacturers are focusing on developing diagnostic techniques that are highly reliable and monitors individuals blood glucose levels with greater accuracy with the capability to improve glycemic control and patient wellbeing. By integration of sensing elements, electronics along with a reliable power source in a single unit, noninvasive blood glucose monitors are offering immense opportunity for all the device manufacturers along with patients and various healthcare providers across the world. Accelerated regulatory approvals of blood glucose monitors is one of the another important factor leading to increased revenues of noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Growing number of diabetic population in U.S. is the leading factor contributing towards higher adoption of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems. Center of Diseases Control and Prevention estimated 29.1 million of U.S. population with diabetes in the U.S. The data also estimated adult population with diabetes are at 50% higher risk of death. Furthermore, growing need of continuous non-invasive method of blood glucose diagnosis among patients is expected to create higher demand for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems worldwide. The incidence of diabetes is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. Presence of several pipeline blood glucose monitoring systems and their expected launch is expected to drive the market for noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Request Report for TOC @Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices market are, Abbott, Animas Technologies, Bayer Healthcare, Cercacor, Pendragon Medical, OrSense, and Bayer Healthcare.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: Metal Stamping Market 2025 Haitong Metals, D&H Industries, Inc., Martinrea International Inc., American Industrial Company, ThyssenKrupp AG,Hayes Lemmerz International,Magna International Inc., Harvey Vogel Manufacturing Co https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upsample/120124726/Metal-Stamping-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/TOC/120124726/Metal-Stamping-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/upcomming/120124726/Metal-Stamping-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com Market Overview:Metal Stamping is a process that use dies to transform flat metal sheets into shapes. Odds are you have a product in your home that has parts created throughmetal stamping because it is a process used in everything from your household appliances to automotive industries.Global Metal StampingMarket was valued USD XX million in in 2018, the market is expected to grow with the CAGR of XX % in the forecasted period and to reach USD XX million by 2025.Market Dynamics:The increasing utilization of sheet metal in automotive industry and consumer electronics is expected to drive the demand for stamping as it is used in manufacturing automotive chassis, transmission components, and interior & exterior structural components of electronics.Increasing usage of sheet metal across consumer electronics and automotive industry is expected to positively impact the growth of metal stamping market. Low raw material prices has been witnessed to compliment usage of light-weight corrosion resistive metal stamping for enhancing stability of electrical & electronic and consumer electronic products.Request For Report Sample:Key Players:The Metal stamping market consists global and regional players includingAlcoa Inc., Haitong Metals, D&H Industries, Inc., Martinrea International Inc., American Industrial Company, ThyssenKrupp AG,Hayes Lemmerz International,Magna International Inc., Harvey Vogel Manufacturing Co., Dongguan Fortuna Metal Stamping Company, and American Axle & manufacturing, Inc.Market Segmentation:The Metal stamping market is bifurcated on the basis of application, process and region. On the basis of application, the metal stamping market is classified into Automotive, Industrial Machinery, Consumer Electronics, Aerospace, Electrical & Electronics, Telecommunications and Others.Consumer electronics is expected to emerge as the fastest growing application segment for stamped parts on account of the growing utilization of lightweight components to improve the durability of electronics. Further, based on process the market is fragmented into blanking. embossing, bending, coining, flanging and others.Metal stamping market by region segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa. In 2017, Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the metal stamping market due to rising capital investments by oil & gas companies in exploration activities, deep-water projects, and refining base expansion, particularly in India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, are factors expected to propel market growth.Request For Report TOC :Market segmented on the basis of application:- Automotive- Industrial Machinery- Consumer Electronics- Aerospace- Electrical & Electronics- Telecommunications- OthersMarket segmented on the basis of process:- Blanking- Embossing- Bending- Coining- Flanging- OthersMarket segmented on the basis of region:- North America US Canada Mexico- Europe UK Germany France Rest of Europe- Asia-Pacific China Japan India Australia Rest of Asia-Pacific- Latin America Brazil Rest of Latin America- Middle East and Africa (MEA) South Africa Saudi Arabia Rest of MEAResearch Report Insights (RRI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver a host of services including custom research reports, syndicated research reports, and consulting services which are personalised in nature. RRI delivers a complete packaged solution to clients; this combines current market intelligence, technology inputs, statistical anecdotes, valuable growth insights, 360-degree view of the competitive framework, and anticipated market trendsResearch Report Insights (RRI42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website:Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com Remote Patient Monitoring Device Market 2024 | Medtronic, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Jude Medical, LifeWatch AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Nihon Kohden Corporation, and Abbott Laboratories. https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114693/Remote-Patient-Monitoring-Device-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114693/Remote-Patient-Monitoring-Device-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114693/Remote-Patient-Monitoring-Device-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ Today, there is an unprecedented economic pressure on clinical device manufacturers, payors as well as healthcare providers due to rapid radical change in the healthcare industry. Actually medical technology is experiencing a major shift from expensive healthcare innovation to enhanced productivity solutions, improved outcomes and cost reduction. Remote monitoring is the major element in this shift. The merging of pervasive cloud technology, noninvasive biosensors, wireless networks, and miniaturization is promptly introducing the patients monitoring concept. This kind of convergence proffers major price competences to the system. As per the Research Report Insights (RRI), the global remote patient monitoring devices market is anticipated to see a strong growth between 2017 and 2024. By 2024 end, the global remote patient monitoring devices market is estimated to reach US$ 1,502.9 Million revenue.From the bang of wellness applications to chronic illness management, industry leaders to start-ups and remote monitoring to innovative software solutions, healthcare innovation in healthcare industry is rushing to support a trade that is facing challenges related to rising tension among increasing demand and tightening capacity as well as growing care cost and new models of reimbursement aiming towards controlling costs.Request For Report Sample:Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is an ambulatory healthcare allowing patient to perform his routine test and then send that data to healthcare professional by using mobile medical device. It is also known as homecare tele-health. It uses the base of digital technology for gathering medical and several other health data from people at different locations and communicating through electronic medical mobile device.Market DriversFactors that are boosting the revenue growth of the global market of remote patient monitoring device include rising availability of solutions that effective in treatment and growing expenditure on healthcare. Increase in the geriatric population who have chronic diseases are propelling the demand of RPM devices which in turn driving the market growth. Moreover, growing awareness among patients as well as doctors regarding RPM devices and chronic diseases diagnosis in rural areas based on opinions due to shortage of standard diagnostic tests is further fueling the revenue growth of the global RPM device market in the coming years.However, shortage of skilled professionals to help with RPM devices is hindering the market growth of remote patient monitoring device globally. Lack of awareness regarding RPM devices as well as insufficiency while maintaining the security and privacy of stored data and lack of regularity in functionality of device are the major factors hampering the global market of remote patient monitoring device.Request Report Discount:Globally, the segmentation of RPM device market is based on product, application, end user and regions. Based on product, the global market of remote patient monitoring device is segmented as Respiratory Monitors, Cardiac Monitors and Hematological Monitors. On the basis of application, the global market of remote patient monitoring device is segmented as Diabetes, Chronic respiratory diseases, Cardiac Arrhythmia, Sleep apnea, Ischemic diseases, Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia. While based on end use, the global market of remote patient monitoring device is segmented as Long-term Care Centers, Hospitals and Homecare Settings.Regionally, the global market of remote patient monitoring device is segmented as APEJ, North America, Europe, Latin America and MEA. North America will dominate the global market of RPM device in terms of value and will exhibit revenue share of 31.4% by the end of 2016. While the Europe market is estimated to exhibit 22.8% revenue share of the global market of RPM device by the end of 2016.Major PlayersThe leading companies operating in the global remote patient monitoring device market are Medtronic, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Jude Medical, LifeWatch AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Nihon Kohden Corporation, and Abbott Laboratories.Report Analysis:Research Report Insights (RRI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver a host of services including custom research reports, syndicated research reports, and consulting services which are personalised in nature. RRI delivers a complete packaged solution to clients; this combines current market intelligence, technology inputs, statistical anecdotes, valuable growth insights, 360-degree view of the competitive framework, and anticipated market trends.Contact Us:Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website:Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com 3D Printing Market Size Overview, Business and Industry Statistics|3D Systems, Stratasys, Envisiontec, Exone, Luxexcel, Materialise NV, MCOR Technologies Ltd, Optomec Inc, Voxeljet AG, , Amazon.Com, Inc., HP Inc, Canon Inc. https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=53670 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=53670 www.researchnreports.com Research N Reports announces the addition of a new research report titled Global 3D Printing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2023. The statistical surveying comprehensive publication studies the current market landscape and makes forecasts about its future growth prospects. Making use of tables and figures, the report packages various data and trends in a more informative manner.According to Stratistics MRC, the Global 3D Printing Market is estimated at $3.47 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $12.53 billion by 2023 growing at a CAGR of 20.1% from 2018 to 2023. The factors driving the market include high degree of precision, ability to build customized products, and competency over traditional technique. However, higher production cost, expensive 3D printing software, shortage of skilled labor and inability to manufacture massive outputs are inhibiting the market growth. Moreover, application of 3D printing in different industries and manufacturing process are creating opportunities for the market. The economies of scale gained due to advancement in technology and enhanced manufacturing process will boost the market in future.For Sample Copy of this Report:Some of the key players in the market include 3D Systems, Stratasys, Envisiontec, Exone, Luxexcel, Materialise NV, MCOR Technologies Ltd, Optomec Inc, Voxeljet AG, Microtec Gesellschaft Fur Mikrotechnologie MBH, Amazon.Com, Inc., HP Inc, Canon Inc., ARC Group Worldwide, Inc., Oxford Performance Materials Inc., EOS GmbH and SLM Solutions Group AG.Stereolithography has the largest revenue and accounted for more than 30% of the total market. While, Electron beam melting is anticipated to be the fastest growing technology segment with a CAGR of around 30% during the forecast period. Polymer occupies major share of the global market and Metals segment is estimated to be the fastest growing segment and is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 38% during the forecast period. Consumer products segment remains the largest application segment with more than 20% of the market share, whereas healthcare application segment is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period.To Avail the Discount on this Report:North America is expected to represent more than 35% of the market share, while Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market led by the rapid adoption of 3D printing in the developing industrial sectors. Demand for 3D printing is anticipated to increase in countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea owing to the rising adoption and implementation of 3D printing in diverse industrial applications.The forecast of the sales growth of market products sales have also been calculated on the basis of type, application, and region. A section on the evaluation of market effect factors has shed light upon some of the most crucial aspects such as an environmental change due to economic or political reasons, change in consumer preference, and technological evolution in associated sectors. This study has been expected to provide the much-required insight of how the sales will fare in the foreseeable future.The performance of the key product and application segments of the 3D Printing Market in each regional market has been explained in the report. Likewise, each regional markets competitive dynamics have been elaborated upon by providing information about the hierarchy among the leading players operating in it. This helps provide a thorough granular analysis of the global gem quality diamonds market. The report also provides 2018-2023 forecasts for each product, application, and geographical segments of the Global 3D Printing Market.Table of Contents3D Printing Market Research ReportChapter 1 3D Printing Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Global Market ForecastAbout Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently, we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Sunny DenisResearch N Reports10916, Gold Point Dr,Houston, TX, Pin 77064,+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.com Global Pizzas Market 2018 Growth by Key Players Boston Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, Dominos, Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Papa Murphys, Tele-pizza, Yum! Brands https://www.researchreportsinc.com/sample-request?id=231703 https://www.researchreportsinc.com/check-discount?id=231703 https://researchreportsinc.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=231703&&attribute_pa_choose-license=single-user&&quantity=1 Pizza is a savory dish of Italian origin, consisting of a usually round, flattened base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and various other ingredients (anchovies, olives, meat, etc.) baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven.Download Sample Report of Pizzas Market @Leaders Of The Industry:- Boston Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, Dominos, Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Papa Murphys, Tele-pizza, Yum! Brands, and so on.Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:The historical year 2013, 2016The base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2023Target Audience of the Global Pizzas Market in Market Study: Pizzas Key Consulting Companies & Advisors Pizzas Large, medium-sized, and small enterprises Pizzas Venture capitalists Pizzas Value-Added Resellers (VARs) Pizzas Third-party knowledge providers Pizzas Investment bankers Pizzas InvestorsGrab Guaranteed Discount:By Category: Pizzas Video Content Pizzas Digital Text Content Pizzas Digital Games Content Pizzas Digital Audio ContentBy Device: Pizzas Mobile Content Pizzas Non-Mobile ContentBy Regions: Pizzas North America U.S. Canada Pizzas Europe UK Germany Pizzas Asia Pacific China India Japan Pizzas Latin America Brazil MexicoWe 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 Pizzas Consumption Market Report1 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 Pizzas Market report contains all study material about overview, growth, demand, and forecast research report in all over the world.2.1 World Market Overview2.1.1 Global Pizzas Consumption 2013-20232.1.2 Pizzas Consumption CAGR by Region2.2 Pizzas Segment by Type2.2.1 Electrical Polisher2.2.2 Pneumatic Polisher2.3 Pizzas Consumption by Type2.3.1 Global Pizzas Consumption Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Pizzas Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3.3 Global Pizzas Sale Price by Type (2013-2018)2.4 Pizzas Segment by Application2.4.1 Automotive Repair Shop2.4.2 Automotive Care Shop2.4.3 Others2.5 Pizzas Consumption by Application2.5.1 Global Pizzas Consumption Market Share by Application (2013-2018)2.5.2 Global Pizzas Value and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)2.5.3 Global Pizzas Sale Price by Application (2013-2018)3 Global Pizzas by Players3.1 Global Pizzas Sales Market Share by Players3.1.1 Global Pizzas Sales by Players (2016-2018)3.1.2 Global Pizzas Sales Market Share by Players (2016-2018)3.2 Global Pizzas Revenue Market Share by Players3.2.1 Global Pizzas Revenue by Players (2016-2018)3.2.2 Global Pizzas Revenue Market Share by Players (2016-2018)3.3 Global Pizzas Sale Price by Players3.4 Global Pizzas Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types by Players3.4.1 Global Pizzas Manufacturing Base Distribution and Sales Area by Players3.4.2 Players Pizzas Products Offered3.5 Market Concentration Rate Analysis3.5.1 Competition Landscape Analysis3.5.2 Concentration Ratio (CR3, CR5, and CR10) (2016-2018)3.6 New Products and Potential Entrants3.7 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion4 Pizzas by Regions4.1 Pizzas by Regions4.1.1 Global Pizzas Consumption by Regions4.1.2 Global Pizzas Value by Regions4.2 Americas Pizzas Consumption Growth4.3 APAC Pizzas Consumption Growth4.4 Europe Pizzas Consumption Growth4.5 the Middle East & Africa Pizzas Consumption Growth5 Americas5.1 Americas Pizzas Consumption by Countries5.1.1 Americas Pizzas Consumption by Countries (2013-2018)5.1.2 Americas Pizzas Value by Countries (2013-2018)5.2 Americas Pizzas Consumption by Type5.3 Americas Pizzas Consumption by Application5.4 United States5.5 Canada5.6 Mexico5.7 Key Economic Indicators of Few Americas CountriesAbout 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 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... Officials from the National Marine Fisheries Service have approved an application from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to kill California sea lions at Willamette Falls in an effort to try to save the states beleaguered winter steelhead and spring Chinook. Protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the state needed federal approval to take lethal action against the pinnipeds, which have been observed gorging themselves on endangered fish at the foot of the iconic waterfall. This is good news for the native runs of salmon and steelhead in the Willamette River, said Shaun Clements, a policy analyst for the state on the sea lion issue. Before this decision, the states hands were tied as far as limiting sea lion predation on the Willamette River. The agency said that sea lions were responsible for consuming roughly 25 percent of the steelhead run in 2017. The state applied to kill the sea lions because their analyses showed that the high levels of predation by sea lions meant there was an almost 90% probability that one of the upper Willamette steelhead runs would go extinct, the wildlife agency said in a statement. Predation was lower for spring Chinook, between seven and nine percent, but the predators still increased the species chances of extinction by 10 to 15 percent, the agency said. Clements said lethal removal was only looked at as a last resort. We did put several years effort into non-lethal deterrence, none of which worked, he said in a statement. The unfortunate reality is that, if we want to prevent extinction of the steelhead and Chinook, we will have to lethally remove sea lions at this location. After decades of hunting, the estimated number of California sea lions dipped as low as 10,000 in the 1950s, a sparse population inhabiting the waters stretching from Mexico to Alaska. In 1972, President Nixon signed the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which barred the killing of sea lions, among other pinnipeds and cetaceans, except under very specific circumstances. Fast forward to 2018 and California sea lions have seen a resounding recovery throughout their range. Some 300,000 of the animals now swim in the waters of the Pacific and haul out on beaches, outcroppings and public docks from the Channel Islands in Southern California to Pier 39 in San Francisco to the fish processing plants in Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River, often numbering in the thousands. Shea Steingass, marine mammal program lead for the state, said that, at their peak, there are between 50 and 100 sea lions that congregate at Willamette Falls. Removal of these sub-adult and adult males will have no impact on viability of the sea lion population but will greatly improve the outlook for threatened upper Willamette winter steelhead runs, she said. Steingass said there are roughly a dozen sea lions that have become habituated to the falls and return every year. Critics of the plan have long said that salmon runs have been declining on the Willamette and Columbia rivers for a variety of reasons including degrading water quality, sea lions and numerous dams that impede the natural migration of salmon. Sharon Young, marine issues field director for the Humane Society of the United States, said killing more sea lions fixes nothing and is a "draconian solution." Its a complete distraction from dealing with the actual problems facing the fish, Young, who has participated in marine mammal protections workgroups since 1992, told The Oregonian/OregonLive last year. To kill a sea lion, the state must meet one of two criteria mandated by the federal government. The animals must be observed between the falls and the mouth of the Clackamas River or be seen preying on salmonids. When either of those criteria are met, will be transported to a secure facility and humanely euthanized by a veterinary staff, the state said in a news release. The agency requested and was granted authority to remove up to one percent of the populations potential biological removal level, a metric that translates to a maximum of 93 animals a year on the lower Willamette. -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 @sfkale Nearly a year after a methamphetamine-crazed passenger stepped to the front of a Greyhound bus on Interstate 84 and slashed the throat of its driver, a Multnomah County judge called that driver a hero for safely steering the bus to the side of the freeway as blood gushed from his neck. Clint Lawson, 56, teared up as Circuit Judge Gregory Silver spoke Wednesday. You saved the lives of at least 28 people that day by your actions, Silver said, referring to the number of riders aboard. ... As a society, we thank you. The judge then sentenced Robert Moran-Vasquez, 33, to 7 years in prison. Moran-Vasquez pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, recklessly endangering another person and other charges. The dramatic story unfolded last Nov. 29 as Lawson drove the bus along the freeway through Troutdale, headed east toward Idaho. Moran-Vasquez, who had been using meth and hadnt slept in three days, demanded that Lawson stop the bus and let him off, according to a probable cause affidavit. When Lawson refused, Moran-Vasquez grabbed the steering wheel, slashed Lawsons throat and tried to crash the bus, investigators said. The attack left the driver with a 2- to 3-inch wound. Two other passengers -- Stephen Danca and John Owens -- rushed to the front of the bus to try to stop Moran-Vasquez. In the process, Moran-Vasquez stabbed Danca in the face and back. As Lawson stopped the bus, Danca and Owens were able to shove Moran-Vasquez off the bus. Arrested Nov. 29, 2017. After the sentencing hearing, Lawson told reporters that he has fully recovered from his physical injuries. He and investigators said he was lucky because the knife missed an artery. Lawson, a Greyhound driver of 16 years, hadnt realized he was wounded. I didnt even know I was cut until I pulled over and a passenger told me, Youre bleeding through from your neck, Lawson recounted. And then I looked down and I saw what had happened. Adrenaline must have kicked in. I just wanted to get that bus pulled over," he said, "and get Mr. Vasquez off board and just try to save everybody that I could. Prosecutor David Hannon said Lawson suffers from recurring nightmares and must take medication for the trauma hes suffered. Lawson has switched careers, and although he once planned on retiring in his early 60s, it now looks as if hell have to work into his 70s because his new job pays less. Lawson and the two passengers prevented a much bigger tragedy and all three are heroes, Hannon said. The District Attorneys Office took into account Moran-Vasquezs lack of a violent criminal history, his remorse and the influence of drugs in agreeing to the prison sentence, Hannon said. Defense attorney Jon Martz said Moran-Vasquezs mother, who lives in California, realized her son was going through some sort of difficulty. She had stuck him on the Greyhound bus so he could visit his brother in Idaho, Martz said. Moran-Vasquez is shocked by his actions and is truly sorry, Martz said. The judge said that while meth isnt an excuse, he doesnt believe Moran-Vasquez would have done what he did without it. I would just hope that anyone anywhere who is even considering trying meth to see what its like maybe just once reads the reports of this hearing ... and understands what the consequences can be, Silver said. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee WASHINGTON Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Wednesday that he would not vote for any more of President Donald Trumps judicial nominees until the Senate votes on a bill to prevent special counsel Robert Mueller III from being fired a pledge that could complicate Republicans' hope to confirm dozens of conservative judges before the end of the year. Flake's warning will likely force Republicans to rely on Vice President Mike Pence to confirm any of the 32 judicial nominees pending before the full Senate, as Democrats have little incentive to support those who Flake has committed to oppose. It also means that Republicans will likely have to go around the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Flake is a member and the GOP has only a one-seat majority, to advance any of the 21 nominees waiting for that panel's endorsement. That also will require Pence's tie-breaking vote. Flake issued his threat after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blocked Flake and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., from holding a vote on the bill, which would give any fired special counsel the ability to swiftly challenge their termination before a panel of three federal judges. Most Republicans including co-authors Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have argued that the bill is unnecessary because Trump would never dare fire Mueller, whose ongoing probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election has sought to learn whether anyone in Trumps campaign conspired with those efforts. Flake challenged that rationale, given Trump's recent decision to appoint Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general and give him oversight of the Mueller probe. Whitaker has made past statements that are critical of the investigation. Flake said he believes Whitaker should recuse himself from the Russia probe, letting deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein reassume authority over it. "The president now has this investigation in his sights and we all know it," Flake said on the Senate floor Wednesday, emphatically asking his colleagues why they were content to allow a potential constitutional crisis to unfold. "Why? Why do we do this? To protect a man seemingly who is so incurious about what Russia did during the 2016 elections?" Flake said, referring to Trump. "Why do we do that? Do we have no more institutional pride here?" Flake, who is retiring at the end of the year, has become one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics in Congress. His pledge to vote against Trump's judicial nominees unless the special counsel bill is voted on is the most concrete step he has yet taken to try to deny Trump something tangible, instead of just decry his actions on the Senate floor. "You use what leverage you have," Flake told reporters, explaining why he made his threat. "This is a priority now." By himself, Flake cannot completely foul up GOP leaders' plans to confirm more conservative judges this year. But he and Coons said they hope to convince other Republicans to join their effort. If one more Republican does, they and the Democrats would be able to prevent Trump from getting any additional judicial nominees confirmed in 2018 - a move that Flake guessed would at least send a strong message about the importance of the special counsel bill. "We are confident [the bill] would get 60 votes if given a vote," Coons told reporters. "It is time for us to move from speech to action." One senator that Coons and Flake may target in the days ahead is Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Last week, she said that she thought the Senate should vote on the bill, which would give any fired special counsel the ability to appeal their termination to a panel of three federal judges. "Senate debate and passage of this bill would send a powerful message that Mr. Mueller must be able to complete his work unimpeded," Collins said in a statement, in which she also said she was "concerned" about Whitaker's views on Mueller's probe. Even if senators succeed in passing the bill, its fate in the House is uncertain. Though House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has defended Mueller's right to conduct his probe unimpeded, he has also determined that a bill to protect him is not necessary. Still more Republicans have charged that the legislation is unconstitutional, as it allows the courts to review the president's hiring and firing decisions, which are considered his purview. Given those circumstances, the best chance of passing the bill this year is if senators manage to convince leaders to include it in must-pass legislation, such as the spending bill lawmakers need to approve early next month. In the meantime, it is unclear whether Whitaker will indulge his previously stated desire to constrain Mueller's probe, or permit it to continue unrestricted. This week, the state of Maryland filed a lawsuit, challenging the constitutionality of Whitaker's appointment. Some legal experts have suggested that Whitaker, who was former attorney general Jeff Sessions' chief of staff, is ineligible for the top Justice Department job, even on an acting basis, because he was not confirmed by the Senate. Earlier Wednesday, the Justice Department issued a memo defending the legality of Whitaker's appointment. This is not the first time Flake has broken from his party to team up with Coons. Last month, the duo joined forces to push the Senate to demand an FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations made against Brett Kavanaugh before voting on his nomination to the Supreme Court. In that instance, they succeeded. The Washington Post A female employee at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center has filed a $2.7 million lawsuit against Multnomah County claiming she was sexually assaulted by a 15-year-old inmate while in his cell. The county didnt warn the employee that the teenager was in custody because he had been accused of sexually assaulting a pregnant teacher at his Troutdale school 3 months earlier, according to the lawsuit. The suit also says the county failed to warn the woman that the 15-year-old was a danger to female employees. On April 16, the employee was called to the teens cell at the detention center in Northeast Portland as part of her job duties as a juvenile correction services specialist, the suit says. The teen tackled her, removed some of her clothes, forced his hand between her legs and molested her, according to the lawsuit. Julie Sullivan-Springhetti, a spokeswoman for Multnomah County, declined comment because of the pending litigation. According to the lawsuit, after the attack, the employee learned that the teen -- David Michael Ferris -- had been charged as an adult under Measure 11 with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly pressing his body up against the teacher, the lawsuit says. The teacher worked as a speech therapist at Arata Creek School, which enrolls students with severe emotional or behavioral problems. Ferris was accused of pinning the teacher against a wall and thrusting his hand down her shirt on Jan. 3. She was four months' pregnant. Ferris was found mentally unfit to be criminally prosecuted in that case and a judge ordered that he be transferred out of the Donald E. Long Detention Center and into a secure treatment facility, the suit says. That transfer didnt happen, and Ferris was still at the detention center and able to sexually assault the juvenile correction services specialist, the suit says. Ferris has been charged as an adult under Measure 11 with first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and first-degree sexual abuse for the alleged attack at the detention center. That case is pending. The suit was filed last Friday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee A woman with developmental disabilities who befriended a Portland firefighter but then was ordered to stay away from him and certain fire stations under threat of a criminal trespassing charge is suing the city for alleged discrimination. Brandy Tuchscherer first encountered firefighters while rowing with the Wasabi Paddling Clubs Special Dragons team. She is in her 30s and on the autism spectrum, according to the federal lawsuit filed by her mother. She considered firefighter Colin McGladrey a mentor and would visit him at different fire stations where he was assigned last year. She told McGladrey of her dream to work as an emergency medical technician and he offered to help her look for jobs, the lawsuit says. She often would sit on a bench overlooking the Willamette River near the riverside Fire Station 21 before or after her dragon boat practices. Having lost her father in June 2017, she also found solace at that site, her attorneys wrote in the lawsuit. The city, though, contends she began stalking McGladrey. The Fire Bureau suggested she limit her visits to once every two weeks unless she had official business at a fire station. She left repeated notes and letters for McGladrey and text messages and voicemails on his city-issued cellphone, according to the city. Fire Bureau supervisors tried to make it clear to her and her mother, Randi Jones, that the repeated contact interfered with bureau employees and caused safety concerns, a deputy city attorney said in a response to the suit. Fire Lt. Jason Anderson, for example, went to her home on Sept. 29, 2017, to discuss her conduct and asked that she not contact McGladrey again. Anderson also sent her a text message that day, saying this wasnt about anyone being in trouble but about the need to establish boundaries at the workplace, according to court papers. The city contends the plaintiff and her mother were warned that any further unwanted contact with the firefighter could bring a citation for trespassing. These reasonable requests were ignored, Deputy City Attorney Ryan C. Bailey wrote in the citys response. The city and its employees had valid, lawful, objectively reasonable and non-discriminatory grounds for all actions taken with respect to plaintiff. The plaintiffs lawyer Daniel Snyder, said that the Fire Bureaus actions, including excluding her from all bureau properties under the threat of a criminal trespass arrest and a threat to revoke her limited EMT license, were unnecessary and baseless. She posed no threat to firefighters, the city never obtained a civil stalking order against her and she couldnt trespass on a public sidewalk, Snyder said. She was befriended by a nice fireman who mentored her, Snyder said. What this case boils down to is it appears some people in the Fire Bureau werent comfortable having this developmentally disabled woman around. The lawsuit alleges the city violated the womans rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act by denying her contact with the firefighter she befriended, issuing a trespass order against her and excluding her from public property and posting her photo in fire stations. The city acknowledged in court papers that her photo was placed in some fire stations so that staff would be aware of potential safety risks. In November 2017, after Tuchsherer left a note and cookies at Fire Station 6, Anderson ordered her to stay away from all fire station properties or she could face a criminal trespass citation. At one point, Officer Chad Bryson, then assigned to the Police Bureaus Behavioral Health Unit, contacted the woman by phone. Portland police also contacted her when she was spotted near Fire Station 17, where McGladrey was working last Feb. 21. Police stopped and held her to investigate why she was there and if any potential crimes, such as trespass or telephone harassment, had occurred, according to the citys response. No charges were filed. The city contends the officers had probable cause to detain the woman. It calls the suit meritless and urges the plaintiff to cover the citys attorney fees. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian For the past 14 months I have served as a volunteer attorney visiting immigration detainees held at the Northern Oregon Correctional facility in The Dalles, Oregon. I wish immigrant-haters could go with me to listen to the stories that I hear weekly from the women and men detained there. I have interviewed more than 100 detainees and none of them is a violent criminal. All of them came to America to flee abject poverty, gang violence and other criminal activity. Many have been here for decades, doing jobs that most Americans don't want to do and paying taxes into social programs that they will never benefit from. They were not on welfare, used food stamps or other public benefits; they survived by working multiple jobs. More than 90 percent have U.S. citizen children. All of them desperately wish they could have a pathway to citizenship but without sponsorship from a qualifying relative, or an employer in a select category, most of them have no way to legally immigrate. Some have valid asylum claims but only a small percentage will win their cases, especially those without access to legal representation since an attorney is not provided for them by the court. I wish that instead of fear mongering the current president would show some leadership and craft a bipartisan solution to this issue. Ronald Reagan set a good example by granting amnesty to farm workers who had been here for decades. Yes, we need border security but we also need a way to keep Dreamers and their families together, an expanded guest worker program and employer incentives to help workers become legal permanent residents. If the president were better at collaboration and strategic planning he would convene a summit of Central American leaders and World Bank officials to improve economic conditions enough that citizens of these countries would no longer want to emigrate to the United States. Unfortunately, it is easier to hurl insults and tell lies about immigrants than to engage in diplomacy. Jean Sheppard, Hood River Authorities are asking for help finding a Hood River woman who's been missing for over 14 years. Kimberly Ann Forbes is pictured in 2004 photos. Kimberly Ann Forbes was last seen Oct. 30, 2004, at her home on Jeanette Road outside Hood River, according to Crime Stoppers of Oregon. The nonprofit said Forbes planned to meet a friend for breakfast the next morning and then go shopping in Portland, but she didn't show up to breakfast and was never again heard from. Her car was later found abandoned in the parking lot of Don Pedro restaurant on Southeast Stark Street in Gresham. There are no leads in the case. Forbes was described as a reliable and punctual person who wasn't likely to leave without warning, according to Crime Stoppers. The nonprofit said she wasn't thought to have been in a mental health crisis or amid any other strain when she went missing. Crime Stoppers said Forbes had graying brown hair and pierced ears at the time she disappeared. She has blue eyes, stands between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9 and was about 200 lbs. when she disappeared. Crime Stoppers said people can submit tips online, by calling 503-823-4357 or by using the P3 Tips mobile application. Crime Stoppers offers rewards of as much as $2,500 for information, reported to the nonprofit, that leads to arrests in unsolved felony cases. Tipsters can stay anonymous. Jim Ryan Workers at a Southeast Portland Burgerville said they plan to unionize, a move that would allow them to join two other locations in negotiating a contract with the company. Employees of the fast-food chain's Southeast Hawthorne and 11th Avenue restaurant made the announcement Wednesday. The group said the company had until Friday to voluntarily recognize the Burgerville Workers Union at the store. Should the Vancouver-based company decline, workers will petition the National Labor Relations Board for a government-administered election, which a pair of stores successfully held earlier this year. In April, workers at the chain's Southeast 92nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard location made history by becoming the first in decades to organize a union drive at a fast-food establishment. Members of the Industrial Workers of the World better known as the Wobblies in 2016 helped launch the union campaign, which has been led by restaurant employees. Employees at the Gladstone Burgerville voted to join the union less than a month later. The elections legally require a company to negotiate a contract with workers at both locations. They've been at the bargaining table since summer. Union members want a $5 an hour raise, paid holidays and health care for all workers. They are also seeking protections for undocumented workers. According to a news release from the campaign, 80 percent of Hawthorne employees want to join the Burgerville Workers Union. "Hawthorne workers are excited to take our seat at the bargaining table and fight alongside our fellow union members," said Emmett Schlenz, a campaign spokesman and Hawthorne employee. Burgerville, owned by Holland Inc., has about 1,500 employees across 42 locations in Oregon and southern Washington. The company did not respond to a request for comment. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh skavanaugh@oregonian.com 503-294-7632 || @shanedkavanaugh Portland air quality was unhealthy for some people early Thursday as authorities say wildfires, wood burning and stagnant air have caused smoky skies. Air quality throughout much of western Oregon and parts of southern Oregon was also listed as "unhealthy for sensitive groups." Central and eastern Oregon air quality was generally moderate the second tier on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's monitoring map. Health officials on Wednesday issued a mandatory wood burning restriction to Multnomah County residents, saying they are banned from using woodstoves, fireplaces or other wood burning mechanisms until the restriction is lifted. "Winter wood smoke is one of our major contributors to air pollution," Andrea Hamberg, who oversees air quality programs for the Multnomah County Health Department, said in a statement. "We might not be able to control the smoke coming up from across state lines, but we can certainly help by doing our part. And that means not using your wood stove, fireplace or fire pit until the air clears up." People who have no other way to heat their home are among those exempt from the restriction. A massive wildfire in Northern California has killed at least 56 people, left 130 unaccounted for and destroyed thousands of homes. Multnomah County said a shift in wind may bring some relief Friday. Jim Ryan UPDATE: Police identified the pedestrian who died as Victoria Lynn Pettibone, a 66-year-old Portland woman. A pedestrian died Wednesday after being hit by two cars in Northeast Portland, police say. The drivers of both vehicles drove away before officers arrived. The woman was reported hit around 5:20 p.m. near Northeast 162nd Avenue and Halsey Street and pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers believed to be involved haven't yet been found, police said. Vehicle descriptions and the woman's identity have not yet been released by police. An investigation is ongoing. Northeast 162nd Avenue is closed temporarily between Northeast Multnomah Street and Halsey Street. Portland police ask anyone with information about the crash to contact them via their non-emergency line at 503-823-3333. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey Digital First Media/Orange Count/Digital First Media via Getty Im Viewing the Woolsey Fire burn areas from above "brings a greater understanding that each house is a home," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell in a tweet on Tuesday. McDonnell shared photos from a Tuesday aerial survey of Los Angeles County that illustrates the Woolsey Fire's destruction. One striking image shows a single swath of land: half is completely scorched, while the other looks green and vibrant. Other photos showed the fire's path just barely skirting buildings and houses. ALSO READ: Lady Gaga visits wildfire shelter, brings pizza "Each home has a life and memories attached to it," McDonnell continued. He acknowledged the "frustration" of evacuees, eager to return to their homes, and thanked them for cooperating with officials. As many as 250,000 people were ordered to evacuate parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties after the Woolsey Fire flared before sunrise Thursday in rugged wilderness at the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains. The fire was 47 percent contained after scorching more than 152 square miles (394 square kilometers), engulfing homes, scenic canyon getaways and celebrity estates. Authorities allowed residents back into several more communities on Tuesday, including a section of Malibu. Officials tempered optimism with caution, saying there were hotspots and pockets of unburned vegetation that could ignite. "We are not out of the woods yet. We still have some incredibly tough conditions ahead of us," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said Tuesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@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. A pet rescue facility to temporarily house dogs and cats is planned on a 22-acre piece of property in Lee Township, a quarter mile off M-20. Gwen Malone, a longtime champion for animals in need, sold her house in the city, bought the land and plans to build the facility there as well a house for her family on the opposite side of the property. She hopes once the facility is built, the community will rally and help sustain it. "If I have less, I can give more," Malone said of her philosophy on giving up a house she loves to build on a compassion that actually took root when she was a child. The non-profit pet rescue is named Midland County Pit Stop. It is not associated with Humane Society of Midland County. The main building will be 60 feet by 60 feet, with two kennel concourses, and will be readily seen from the road, Malone said. The entire facility will contain 7,200 square feet. Malone, who owns Lil' Pear Tree in downtown Midland, said one of the rescue's primary goals is to keep pets with their families, even if it means a temporary separation. "We will provide traditional rescue services. But many times, life throws people a curve such as loss of job, home, relocation, flood, deployment and other unexpected circumstances," she said. "Many times, these events result in the need for a family to temporarily or permanently surrender their pets." Malone wants Pit Stop to be a resource for these people. Residents with pets, displaced by the 2017 fire at Green Hill Apartments could have benefited from the pet rescue as well, she said. "Our goal is to help during difficult times in hopes of eventually getting the pet back to the family." Once the facility is up and running, Malone hopes to add more space for cats as well as more kennels, so Pit Stop also can be a place where people pay to board their pets. "We want the rescue to make its own money." Malone, who has long been associated with pet rescue in this region, said a rescue facility is needed in Midland County. Evidence of this, she said, is seen daily on the page of a popular Facebook group she helped start. The group, Lost Pets in Midland MI, has grown to nearly 5,000 members and is the go-to place for people who lose pets or people who see a dog or cat running loose. Many strays whose owners aren't found are fostered and hopefully adopted, injured or sick animals are medically helped, and hungry strays are fed. "We've done a lot of rehoming," Malone said of her and her volunteers' efforts. "Seven to 10 people, I work with a lot. Three to four, I work with daily," she said of volunteers. Since May, Malone said 20 pets have been adopted, two are in long-term foster care due to an owner's life situation, five are in volunteers' care not yet available for adoption and two dogs, who were living outside, were surrendered to the group. Malone, who fosters and adopts pets herself, said she knows exactly when her passion for the wellbeing of animals took hold. She was in elementary school and in the car with her dad when the vehicle he was driving struck a dog. The dog ran home and her father followed it and gave the owners his name and phone number if anything was wrong, she recalled. "For me, that was life changing," Malone said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Seeing his compassion for an animal and the people he didn't even know." She also points to an aunt who was a missionary for 45 years in Africa and her mother who was always giving as her role models. "I am at a place in my life where I can give back." She said the community needs to be a resource in fostering, donations (financial and supplies), helping at events and general support. "It's not your job," she said of one person being asked to help out. "It's not my job. Two, though, can do it together." Malone hopes to host meetings at the facility to educate people on fostering, neutering, chipping -- things to help keep down the unwanted pet population -- and plans to open up the facility's multi-purpose room to the immediate community. She hopes to break ground for the facility in late spring or early summer. A board of directors has been meeting for a year. Malone has several fundraisers set. This Friday, Malone and helpers will be at the BP gas station, 309 Jerome St., from 5 to 7 p.m. pumping gas for customers. All donations will directly fund the build of the rescue and care of local animals in need. On Dec. 26, Buffalo Wild Wings will contribute 20 percent of some sales to the pet rescue. In March, a fundraiser is planned at which people can buy trees as well as stones that can be engraved. The trees will be planted on the property and stones placed at their bases. Information, www.midlandcountypitstop.org A young Marine named Elton Mackin served in World War I later writing his memoirs of that war. His Marine platoon was comprised of young men like himself. At the beginning of their first battle he wrote, "Suddenly we didn't wa(nt to die.") Alva Henry Cook was born on a farm in Ithaca, Michigan in 1895. His schooling ended after graduating from the eighth grade. He continued working on the farm until he was drafted into the Army on June 5, 1917, the first day of the draft for World War I. His draft card listed him as "short," "slender" and "single." He was 22 years old. On Sept. 21, 1917 Cook was sent to Camp Custer in Battle Creek, and on Oct. 24, 1917 the contingent was transferred to Camp MacArthur based in Waco, Texas where they became part of the 32nd Division of the U.S. Army. The 32nd Division was made up almost exclusively of young men from Wisconsin and Michigan and most of the officers were from the regular Army or from the National Guards in those two states. Basically there was an insufficient number of officers to train a rapidly growing army. The winter of 1917-18 was unusually cold in the United States. Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas consisted of pyramid-shaped tents large enough to hold eight men with a wood-burning stove in the middle to serve as heat. Wooden floors were put over the dirt floors in an effort to make the tents warmer. Electric lines were strung throughout the Army camp for electric lights. Training went on relentlessly to shape an Army out of the raw recruits. A shortage of officers and a plethora of outdated or worn out weapons added to the problem. In bayonet practice sometimes the recruits had to use broomstick handles for practice because real bayonets were not available. They had to learn how to use grenades. How to dig trenches. How to use gas masks. Wearing 80 pound backpacks, young men learned to march in the daytime and in the pitch black nighttime. Machine gun and artillery brigades lacked proper equipment, too. It wasn't just the infantry. The supply chains for food, clothing and shelter were unprepared to handle the thousands and thousands of soldiers suddenly needing those things. Unfortunately, many of these conditions continued almost until the end of the war on Nov. 11, 1918 with the front line troops suffering the most. Training continued at Camp MacArthur until Jan. 17, 1918 when Cook among those of the 32nd Division was transferred to Camp Merritt in New Jersey. They stayed there for 10 days before leaving for Hoboken, New Jersey to board the USS Martha Washington on Feb. 7, 1918 with the ship finally sailing on Feb. 10 for France. The men were on the ship for 14 days, enduring rough seas, before reaching Brest, France on Feb. 24, 1918. Once the new troops had arrived, they became part of the American Expeditionary Force under the command of Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing. The 125th Regiment was part of the 32nd Division and was put to hard labor building railroads and warehouses. The 32nd Division was tasked to protect the supplies of the American Expeditionary Force that now began pouring into France. Once Pershing arrived in France and saw the severe shortcomings of both men and supplies, things began changing. Statistics show that the initial number of AEF men shipped to France came to a mere 140,000 but at the end of the war, American forces numbered almost 4 million. When the 32nd Division entered the battle of the Marne, Cook had been promoted to "runner," delivering messages to the trenches. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star for saving a platoon. The platoon was to "go over the top" at 6 p.m. to attack the Germans. Cook, dodging sniper fire, managed to get to the platoon with the message not to attack. The lives of the platoon leader and his 27 men were saved because Cook reached the platoon in time to abort the attack. On another occasion, Cook's company of 250 men were ordered to "go over the top" at Cierges, France in the Second Battle of the Marne. By the end of the battle, only 90 were left in the company. On the early morning of Aug. 29, 1918, Cook was wounded at Juvigny by German machine gun fire ripping into his lower abdomen, hip and right arm. Bullets had also hit his helmet and the gas mask canister. He was able to help an officer who had also been wounded and later received a Silver Star for that. But the reality was that he laid on the battlefield for 12 hours before Signal Corps personnel found him and took him to an aid station in a large cave at Tatars, France. The only thing that saved his life was that the bullets forced his army clothing into the wound, stopping the bleeding. The injuries led to two years of operations and hospitalizations. He was discharged April 3, 1920. He returned home to Ithaca briefly and then lived in Alma before moving to Midland, where he lived out his final years. He married, had children and grandchildren. He became an advocate for disabled veterans, putting in more than 100 years of service to the three organizations: Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Cook's bravery is attested to by the medals he proudly received for his service: the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, a Purple Heart, the Silver Victory Button for being wounded and honorably discharged, the Inter-Allied Victory medal with three battle clasps and the U.S. Silver Star medal. Cook's grandson Dan Anthony summed up his grandfather's life writing: "His anguish of war was veiled yet the pain of his wounds lasted a lifetime. But he was a hero and fighter to his last breath. Neither my mother Sandra nor I would exist today had he died on the field of battle. Our nation is strong. Protect and respect veterans. WWI was not the end of all wars but we would not be the great nation of today had we not participated in that war." Air transport technology specialist SITA has completed the installation of its automated border control gates at Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic. The automated gates use the latest biometric technologies to capture a live facial scan of the traveler which is then verified against the image stored on the passports electronic chip. The new gates will be primarily used to automate the clearance process for US and Canadian passengers, as well as those departing for the UK, Spain and France. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Frank Elias Rainieri, CEO, Punta Cana International Airport, said, As the Dominican Republics busiest airport, we are always looking for new ways to make the journey better for our passengers. We chose to work with SITA because we knew that they could provide a fully integrated solution and would collaborate with us and the immigration authority to deliver a world-class service for our passengers. Since we started using SITAs automated border gates, we have seen a significant reduction in queue times, with passengers taking as little as 10 seconds to go through the border checks. Elbson Quadros, vice president, Latin America, SITA, said, Our aim is to make this process as simple as possible for passengers, airlines, the border agency and the airport. Creating that simplicity requires collaboration and integration across all the stakeholders. This is a great example of how collaboration can improve the passenger experience. Yesterday Amazon, the all-consuming corporation from the paranoid dystopian sci-fi story that has become our lives, finally announced where it would build its second headquarters. The site will be split between two cities, with campuses in Long Island City in Queens and outside of Arlington, Virginia. To seal the deal both states offered up huge amounts of taxpayer money, with New Yorks contributions to Amazon exceeding $1.5 billion, and Virginias subsidies totaling over $500 million. Thats billions in public funds going to a company that hit a market cap of $1 trillion earlier this year, whose CEO is the richest person in the world, and who treats its underpaid employees like chattel. Given the impact Amazon and other tech giants have had on the housing markets and local economies of their home cities, New York and Virginia basically took money from its citizens to give to a fantastically wealthy company whose presence will eventually force those citizens to move. Its irresponsible, immoral and inexcusable, and yet also completely unsurprising. As soon as Amazons HQ2 was announced cities started bending over backwards to pay the company to take over some of its neighborhoods. Thats how business works todaytax breaks and other incentives draw businesses who dont even need them to a city with desperate leadership, with hardly any long-term benefit to the so-called winners. The grotesque bidding process was widely discussed across the media, even inspiring a particularly bad Saturday Night Live sketch from early this year. And since I am a comedy editor writing for a comedy section, that sketchand what it says about SNLs priorities and awarenessis what Im writing about today. If you want to understand whats wrong with SNL today, this sketch is as clear of an example as youre going to get. Here it is again. It aired in January, in an episode hosted by Jessica Chastain. It is bad. I apologize for asking you to watch it. So here we have an absurd process where a world-conquering corporation richer than most states is trying to steal as much money from the public coffers as possible, in an era when most states have been reducing public services for years on end. Our infrastructure is rotting, public assistance has been squeezed more and more every year, healthcare is an economic disaster waiting to happen, and yet local governments fall over themselves to offer obscene sums to a company that has no loyalty to anything outside itself. Its a sign of a real sickness deep at the heart of this country, and it should be really easy to make fun of that. Instead the best our highest profile source of satire could do is wheel out a bunch of hackneyed stereotypes and cliches about some of the cities that were dying to get ripped off. SNL took the most glaring and disgusting case of corporate welfare weve seen yet and did absolutely nothing with it. The only joke at Jeff Bezoss expense is when his creepy robot servant program mispronounces his last name. At no point does the sketch ever mock or question the glaring problems with business development through public funds, or try to say anything about why politicians would be so desperate to give out billions of taxpayer dollars for something that will almost definitely wind up hurting those taxpayers. It doesnt attempt to say anything, which makes us wonder why they bothered to talk about Amazon at all. Instead of criticizing Bezos or Amazon, it shows them having to suffer through a procession of fools offering gifts from their various cities. None of them mention the billions that were really being offered to Amazon. Instead its an ostentatious Atlanta preacher and Paula Deen showing up with a bag of Chick Fil A and a heart attack joke. Its Boston accents and Pitbull giving shout-outs to Miami. If we were being charitable wed say that this was actually a revealing look at the cynicism with which companies like Amazon view these belittling auctionsBezos sits patiently while buffoonish local figures embarrass themselves for his approval. Thats giving too much credit to a sketch that starts by uncritically repeating the pipe dream that the city that lands Amazon will make billions of dollars, though. This shouldve been batting practice for professional comedians. A trillion dollar company with a bad labor record shaking down cities for billions with the promise of mythical benefits is a big, slow-moving meatball right over the middle of the plate. It perfectly sums up the exploitation and inequality that define our times. Not only didnt SNL knock it out of the park, but they somehow struck out and hit into a triple play at the same time. You might be tired of hearing about how good satire should punch up, and not down. That maxim might be overused today but that doesnt make it untrue, and its only so overused because too many comedians today forget it. This sketch doesnt necessarily punch downits more like a sideways elbow, or perhaps a spinning back fistbut punching up in this scenario would be targeting Bezos and Amazon, and it certainly doesnt do that. SNL had a perfect opportunity to justifiably savage an unlikable tycoon using detestable practices to commit grand larceny against entire states, and instead they went with a Casey Affleck impression. And now that we know how successful Bezos was at fleecing local politicians, this sketch is even more disappointing than it was ten months ago. But this is Saturday Night Live: a corporate sketch show and cultural institution that long ago lost the desire to say anything incisive or critical about the world we live in. Garrett Martin edits Pastes comedy and games sections. Hes on Twitter @grmartin. OnePlus sure knows how to make an entrance. Arriving at the tail end of a jam-packed Android season that included nothing less than the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, LG V40 ThinQ, Google Pixel 3, and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, the OnePlus 6T could have easily been a victim of flagship fatigue. Christopher Hebert/IDG OnePlus did a fantastic job designing the 6T. But OnePlus took a different tack with the 6T. Rather than try to garner attention with over-the-top features or specs, it elevated the phone by delivering the one thing fans have been hoping for since the OnePlus One: U.S. carrier support. The 6T marks the first OnePlus phone to be sold at T-Mobile stores, so the 6T actually has a chance to steal sales from its premium peers. And it probably will. The 6T continues OnePluss breakneck pace of refreshes, coming just six months after the 6, and bringing a gorgeous design, higher-end specs, and a price that exposes just how much of a premium were paying for other high-end smartphones. Pretty in purple The past four OnePlus phones have each significantly increased screen real estate, from 5.5 inches on the 5, to 6 inches on the 5T, 6.28 inches on the 6, and now 6.4 inches on the 6T. But while the display has increased by nearly a full inch since the 5, the footprint has barely budged: OnePlus 5: 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.25 mm OnePlus 6T: 157.5 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm Like the 6, the OnePlus 6T includes a display notch, but its one of the smallest youre going to finda tiny teardrop cutout thats barely big enough to contain the camera. The bezels have shrunk as well, giving the 6T one of the highest screen-to-body ratios and a truly immersive design that rivals the iPhone XS in aesthetics. Christopher Hebert/IDG The side of the purple OnePlus 6T has a cool gradient to match the back. Around the back, the 6T looks pretty much the same as the 6, with a vertically aligned camera array set against a clean piece of glossy or matte glass. The midnight and mirror-black color schemes have returned, and OnePlus is also offering a brand new color, which it calls Thunder Purple. Its darker than Samsungs Lilac Purple and fades into total darkness at the top, somewhat reminiscent of the glow around a lightning strike (hence the name). The sides of the phone follow the same gradient, so the power button is purple but the alert slider is black. Theres also a subtle S curve down the middle when it hits the right light. In a strong season of smartphone colors, the purple 6T is one of the best, and anyone who rushed to buy a black one will likely be a little miffed. Blowing out biometrics One thing you wont find on the back of the OnePlus 6T is a fingerprint sensor. Thats because its returned to the front, under the displaybut not like it was on the OnePlus 5. Instead, its literally underneath the display on the 6T, making it one of the highest-profile phones to adopt this new technology. Michael Simon/IDG The in-display fingerprint sensor on the 6T looks all futuristic when it works. The sensor tech is still optical, so it needs a burst of light to work. Activating this burst can be jarring in a dark room (as its unrelated to screen brightness), but theres no denying the coolness of the animation. Setting it up for the first time is downright exciting, as the system prompts you to turn your finger on the display as it learns the contours of your fingerprint. Youll want to show it off to your friends with Pixels and Galaxy phones, and it definitely gives the 6T bragging rights over other premium phones. But it also feels very much like a first-gen sensor, which is a bit of a step backward. Without a defined area to place my finger, I often missed the sensor on my first try. Other times I simply placed my finger at the wrong angle. Even when it worked on the first tryId say 7 times out of 10, on averageit took a few milliseconds longer than a traditional sensor would. OnePlus offers face unlocking too, but its nowhere near as secure. So if the fingerprint sensor frustrates you like it did on the Galaxy S8, your only option is a PIN or passcode, which is decidedly low-tech. Power and performance on display Once you get the screen unlocked, the OnePlus 6T is a delight. The 6.4-inch OLED screen is still 1080p, but its every bit as crisp and vibrant as the 1440p displays on the Pixel 3 XL and Galaxy Note 9. The 6T is loaded with the top-level specs weve learned to expect from OnePlus: Processor: Snapdragon 845 Snapdragon 845 RAM: 6GB/8GB 6GB/8GB Storage: 128GB/256GB 128GB/256GB Battery: 3,700mAh 3,700mAh Rear camera: Dual 16MP, OIS, f/1.7 + 20MP, f/1.7 Dual 16MP, OIS, f/1.7 + 20MP, f/1.7 Front camera: 20MP, f/1.7 Its not without its downsides, though. You still dont get wireless charging or water resistance, and this time around OnePlus removed the headphone jack (though it does include a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter in the box). On the flipside, OnePlus has added a few extra milliamp-hours to the battery, and just like the 6, its more than capable of powering through most days. Christopher Hebert/IDG Sorry yall, theres no more headphone jack on the 6T. You also still get a great power-to-price value. While the entry-level 6T is $20 more than the 6, it gives you twice as much storage, which carries a $50 premium on the S9 and costs $100 extra on the Pixel 3 XL. You can increase RAM to 8GB for just $30 more. That $579 configuration is the only one being offered in the Thunder Purple color, but its the best possible combination of storage and RAM. If you really need 256GB of storage, you can get that in either of the black varieties, but 128GB should be plenty for most people. The model I tested was specd 8GB/128GB, and its a screamer. Im well accustomed to the Snapdragon 845 chip by this point, and OnePlus OxygenOS makes it feel nearly as fast as it does on the Pixel 3 XL, along with a minimal interface, gesture navigation, and full Android 9 Pie support. OnePlus does things a little differently than Google, and I found the 6Ts home button-less gesture navigation a little confusing. But the fact that the OnePlus 6T is one of the only phones to support the latest version of Android out of the box bodes well for future updates. OnePlus has rarely been at the front of the line when it comes to the latest software, so perhaps this is a sign that its turning a new leaf. Christopher Hebert/IDG If you hate notches, you still might like the OnePlus 6T. Now would be a good time to do so. The 6T will be sold in T-Mobile stores, marking the first time that a OnePlus phone will be sold in any U.S. retail store, which will surely do wonders for its visibility. It works with Verizon SIMs as well, but that takes a little more doing. Out of the box, my OnePlus was able to make and receive calls, connect to LTE, and send texts but not receive them. After lengthy correspondence with customer service, its still not resolved a few days later. However, Verizon did concede that its a known issue about the device not having the CDMA-less feature. So even though I didnt get it fully working for this review, Verizon is on board with the OnePlus 6T, and thats a big deal, if not for the 6T then certainly for the 7. A good, but not great, camera Cameras have always been OnePluss weakest link, and that hasnt really changed with the 6T. The hardware is identicalright down to the Sony IMX sensorsbut OnePlus has enhanced its image processing to compensate. Michael Simon/IDG The OnePlus 6T (right) handled the various shades of green slightly better than the OnePlus 6 (center), but neither were a match for the Pixel 3s superb detail. Most notably, theres a new Night mode that boosts brightness in ultra-dark scenes. Its kind of like Night Sight on the Pixel 3 XL, though not nearly as successful. Where there was available light, the OnePlus tended to blow out details with too much exposure, and it struggled to pull out recognizable images when shooting in intense darkness. Still, its a definite improvement over the standard auto mode. Michael Simon/IDG With Night Mode on (right), the OnePlus 6T blows out the light, which can be problematic at times. Elsewhere, the OnePlus 6T still behaves like a mid-range camera. The pictures I took werent bad by any stretch, but they also didnt stand up to the output of the Pixel 3 XL or Note 9. You can argue that those phones cost way moreand many people willbut thats a hard pill to swallow when OnePlus is positioning itself as a premium phone at an affordable price. It tells us to never settle, but consistently asks us to compromise when it comes to the camera. That said, OnePlus has made measurable advancements in computational photography with the 6T, and its also bringing it to earlier models, which gives hope that the 6T will only get better. Should you buy a OnePlus 6T? Theres a lot to like about the OnePlus 6T. It has the core silicon best specs you can get in an Android phone, an excellent screen, fantastic design, and a super-cool, next-gen unlocking method. It costs hundreds of dollars less than its Snapdragon 845 peers do. And the new purple color is straight-up gorgeous. Christopher Hebert/IDG The OnePlus 6T in Thunder Purple But while the OnePlus 6T punches above its weight when it comes to raw power, it still comes up short in the things the make premium Android phones premium. It doesnt have wireless charging or rated water resistance, its camera is an also-ran, and its even lost the headphone jack. These are all things someone buying a $550 phone might overlook, but OnePlus wants to be known as an affordable premium phone, not a powerful budget phone, so these things matter. Now OnePlus will literally be side-by-side with its rivals in T-Mobile stores. For many people, the 6T will be their introduction to OnePlus, and it definitely makes a strong first impression. But when competing against the likes of Google, Samsung, and Apple, its more about the second, third, and fourth impressions. Still, if OnePlus can address those shortcomings, it might truly become the flagship killer it wants to be. What are people looking for the most for the holiday shopping season? BlackFriday.com took a look at the Google search trends to see which products and retailers consumers in the United States are searching the most. In Pennsylvania it is Xbox One, which is the most popular search in five other states as well. In most states people are looking for Apple products and video games. In addition to Xbox One, other search trends that top a states trends include: Apple products, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and laptops. Home appliances top the list in two states and so do televisions as well. As for specific stores, Walmart is at the top of the list in three states and Best Buy is number one in Alaska. The website performed a month-over-month comparison (Oct. 11 through Nov. 9, versus the previous month-long period) using data gathered from Google Trends to show which products and/or stores are being searched for the most. Take a look at the map above. Good Thursday Morning, Fellow Seekers. If we were watching one thing about last weeks U.S. Senate contests, it was how Democrats performed in the so-called Trump 10 - those 10, must-win states, held by the Democrats, that President Donald Trump carried in 2016. Turns out we werent the only ones who were curious. The crew at Crystal Ball, the political prognosticating newsletter run by University of Virginia political sage, Larry J. Sabato, were also keeping track of those linchpin states - whose ranks include the Rust Belt States of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, along with the very litigious state of Florida. Heres the bottom line, from Crystal Balls J. Miles Coleman: Overall, Republican Senate candidates ran well behind Trump in nine of these 10 states, although that didnt prevent at least three of those candidates, Sens.-elect Mike Braun (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), from winning, he wrote. The one exception, Florida, has yet to be officially decided, although Rick Scott (R) seems to have a leg up on Bill Nelson (D). Meanwhile, as we look ahead to 2020, Trump will need to replicate his 2016 performance -- and not the performance of GOP Senate candidates -- to carry key states that voted for him in 2016 such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In Pennsylvania, more astute readers will recall that incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., handily turned away a challenge from Republican U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta of Hazleton. So what did that win look like? Heres a glance at the Election Night topography in Pennsylvania: Here's a breakdown of how Pennsylvania went on election night in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Lou Barletta. Heres the bottom line for Pennsylvania, according Coleman: "Pennsylvania saw a notable east/west divide. President Trump narrowly flipped the Keystone State in 2016; this year, one of his strongest supporters in Congress, Rep. Lou Barletta (R, PA-11), ran for this seat. After initially looking competitive, Barlettas campaign faded; he ultimately lost by 13% to Sen. Bob Casey (D). "Caseys family has been popular in Pennsylvania, especially the west, since his fathers days as governor in the 1980s and 1990s. The western part of the state, especially south of Pittsburgh, was where Barletta fared the worst in relation to Trump. Barletta did better in many urban centers in the east, where he had room to improve over Trumps relatively weak showing in 2016. Philadelphia, as well as the state capital of Harrisburg (Dauphin County), gave Barletta some of his best relative showings," Coleman wrote. The rest of the days news starts now. Long-serving Philly controller (and ex-state Rep.) Alan Butkovitz has announced hell seek the Democratic nomination for city mayor, The Inquirer reports. Heres how Pittsburgh is adjusting to the news that it wont be the site of Amazons HQ2. The Post-Gazette has the story. BillyPenn has the details of the incentive package that Philadelphia offered to Amazon. From The Incline: Heres how Pittsburgh is saving the massive Tree of Life sidewalk memorial. Heres your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day: The Morning Call has the Lehigh Valleys rejected HQ2 pitch. WHYY-FM has the results of one contested congressional race in New Jersey. Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon has been sworn in to represent Pennsylvanias soon-to-vanish 7th Congressional District, PoliticsPA reports. Shes the first female member of Congress from the Keystone State since 2015. From Politico, heres a look at how Illinois' new governor spent an eye-watering $171.5 million of his own money to win on Election Day. Congressional Republicans are eyeing changes to the way they select their committee leaders, Roll Call reports. WolfWatch. Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today. Heavy Rotation. Heres one from Old 97s frontman Rhett Millers 2018 solo record The Messenger. Its called Close Most of the Time. Thursdays Gratuitous Hockey Link. Sentimental favorites Winnipeg got past Washington 3-1 on Wednesday night. The Jets' Blake Wheeler extended his points streak on the way to the win. And now youre up to date. Even police and prosecutors say they have rarely seen the rage they say is evident in a womans brutal, fatal beating, allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend. "This was a brutal killing, said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan told the Pottstown Mercury newspaper. It is not easy to kill somebody with just your fists and feet, Hogan added. But the defendant was determined to kill the victim. This is the ugly face of domestic violence.'' That defendant is the womans 53-year-old boyfriend, Mark Turner, of East Pikeland, Pa., who has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder of his girlfriend, Rachel Yeager. Police say the brutal beating on the night of Nov. 1 took place after Turner accused Yeager of cheating on him. Details from the Pottstown Mercury: Turner, who works as a handyman, allegedly punched Yeager in her head with a closed fist repeatedly, hit her on both sides of her jaw, and used his steel-toed work books to kick her in the vaginal area multiple times. Police responding to a domestic disturbance call, found Yeager unresponsive on the couch. She was rushed to a hospital, placed on life support, but died the next day. An autopsy determined Yeager died of blunt impact injuries to her head. Turner remains in Chester County Prison with no bail. A 65-year-old New Jersey woman was arrested Tuesday after police found 44 dead dogs and another 161 dogs living in her feces-filled home, State Police said. Donna Roberts was arrested after county health officials inspected her home in Shamong Township, Burlington County, and found evidence of animal cruelty inflicted upon various dogs, as well as strong odor of ammonia and animal feces, causing responders to become dizzy. After further investigation, detectives found 161 living dogs - four in critical condition - and 44 deceased dogs packaged in plastic bags and stored in freezers around her home, cops said. The investigation is ongoing, state police said. Roberts was charged with animal cruelty and released with a pending court date. "Although the circumstances surrounding the demise of the 44 dogs that were discovered inside plastic bags in freezers remain under investigation, the deplorable and inhumane living conditions the rescued dogs were forced to endure is tragic," State Trooper Patrick Callahan said. In 2015, the American Kennel Club fined Roberts $500 and suspended her privileges for six months after refusing to make her dogs and their records available for inspection. A woman who said a homeless man gave her his last $20 to get gas when she was stranded in Philadelphia reportedly has been charged as have her boyfriend and the homeless man with theft by deception. From NBC10 in Philly: The New Jersey couple who became famous for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for a homeless man after he helped with their disabled car as did the homeless man himself will all face charges for allegedly providing a false story in order to raise money for themselves, a source familiar with the case told NBC10. Mark DAmico, Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt will face charges including conspiracy and theft by deception, according to the source. Heres how it started: McClure's car ran out of gas one night in November 2017 on I-95 in Philadelphia, and a homeless veteran used his last $20 to put gas in the tank. McClure promised she would return to pay the man, Bobbitt. McClure and her boyfriend, DAmico, started a GoFundMe fundraising page to raise money for him. "He saw me pull over and knew something was wrong. He told me to get back in the car and lock the doors. A few minutes later, he comes back with a red gas can. Using his last 20 dollars to make sure I could get home safe," McClure wrote on GoFundMe. Bobbit is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as a former firefighter and paramedic. Hes also struggled with drug addiction, hes said. In this Nov. 17, 2017, file photo, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., left, Kate McClure, right, and McClure's boyfriend Mark D'Amico pose at a Citgo station in Philadelphia. (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) The fundraising campaign went worldwide, eventually collecting $400,000. In August, however, fighting over money started. The couple said they had given Bobbit money and a place to live, but feared he spent too much on drugs. Bobbit, on the other hand, said they treated him like a child who had to beg for cash. In September, authorities said theyd opened a criminal investigation and executed a search warrant at the New Jersey home of McClure and DAmico. Bobbit had sued them. GoFundMe also said it was investigating. A news conference on the case is planned for Thursday afternoon, CBS Philly reported. Theres really no way to sugarcoat it. Amazon gave out three big prizes in its site selection derby Tuesday, and Pennsylvanias two major league business destinations - Philadelphia and Pittsburgh - came up empty. Thats a defeat that, for those in the Wolf Administration, took a bit of the shine off a big re-election win, and demonstrates Pennsylvania still has room for improvement when it comes to touting itself as what former Gov. Tom Ridge liked to call a leader among states; and a competitor among nations. But however disappointing the news that northern Virginia, Queens and Nashville ate our business recruitment lunch this week, Wolf and other state officials are publicly taking the approach that Pennsylvania can gain from the experience. First off, Wolf noted after an unrelated appearance Wednesday, "Amazon chose Pennsylvania as one of two states that had two finalists in their list of 20, so I think there are a lot of reasons we should look on this and think very well of ourselves... That really announces to the world that Pennsylvania is open for business. The Seattle-based company said it plans to invest a total of $5 billion to develop at least four million square feet of offices each at sites in Arlington County, Va., near Washington D.C., and Long Island City, N.Y., in the borough of Queens, creating more than 50,000 jobs across the two locations. Additionally, it said it would make a $230 million investment in a new operations center in Nashville, designed to oversee the on-line retailers package delivery and supply chain operations, a niche that many in Pennsylvania felt this state was especially well-prepared to compete for. Amazon has not spoken specifically about where the Pennsylvania bids came up short, and the company had not responded to questions about that from PennLive as of Wednesday evening. But state Department of Community and Economic Development spokesman Michael Gerber told PennLive early indications are that it had more to do with available workforce concerns. Ultimately, Amazon noted to us that the decision primarily was made based on workforce, Gerber said in a email response to questions about the decision. The difficulty in finding a suitable workforce likely played into their decision to split HQ2 among two cities. State officials believe they are not being caught flat-footed in that area, given the states modest growth in aid to public schools in recent years and a new $30 million initiative to help school districts introduce or enhance computer science and other STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs. State officials also released Tuesday the framework of an economic development incentive they had prepared for Amazon. While details were sketchy, DCED shared letters to Amazon detailing an offer of up to $4.5 billion over 25 years that would have been indexed to income taxes collected from the companys employees, along with $100 million to support transportation improvements. The state program - which would have required legislative approval - would have made the company eligible for an annual grant for up to 25 years, based on the amount of personal income tax collected annually from Amazon employees. It was paired, in Philadelphia, with local tax breaks estimated at at least $1.1 billion to the company over 20 years. Some critics have slammed the Amazon process as an effort by a major corporation to wring as much as it can out of desperate municipal suitors, and argued that governments would be better served by concentrating on the fundamentals that can improve their own business climates. I think we have to do both, Wolf said, reserving the right to go all in on the next big site selection derby if the prize is worthy. Dont forget, our offers were performance-based, the governor stressed Wednesday. We were not going to give away any money to anybody if they didnt create good jobs... I will continue to look for ways to bring good companies into Pennsylvania and grow companies that are already here. But it also reinforces the notion that weve got to invest in things like education, like infrastructure, like health care, to make sure Pennsylvania is the kind of place people want to live and work in. One top state business leader argued Wednesday that the Amazon turndown should also be a moment for introspection by all Pennsylvania policy-makers about the states current business climate. Maybe Pennsylvania was never going to compete with the D.C. metro area and its proximity to the nations political power center, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Eugene Barr said in an interview with Pennlive. But, he added, why New York and not, say, Philadelphia? Are there signals that we are sending off as a state - or from the City of Philadelphia in particular - that are a negative for them? I think we have to ask ourselves those questions. At the state level, Barr pointed to the states high 9.9 percent corporate net income tax. At the city level, he pointed to the soda tax, which the chamber has decried as a tax on a single product for general social goods, and more recent proposals to dive into worker scheduling issues. If we simply say: Oh well. too bad we didnt get Amazon, and forget about it, I believe were making a big mistake, Barr said. Pennsylvania has ranked in the bottom half of all states in new job creation in recent years. The state did claim one major site selection victory in 2016, when Royal Dutch Shell opted to build a $6 billion plant in Beaver County that will make feedstocks for plastics and other products. That project, which is touted as a potential catalyst for additional manufacturing growth, is currently under construction. Philadelphia officials were especially hopeful about their Amazon bids because they felt the city had all the ingredients that Amazon was looking for, in a host city thats large enough to absorb such a major project without causing local housing prices to skyrocket or creating other major growing pains. Amazon, several city boosters told PennLive earlier this year, wouldnt dominate Philadelphias economy; but it could super-charge it. Wolf, sounding very much like a guy who has just spent a year touting his administrations top accomplishments, pointed to the 200,000 new jobs created in his first term and said he is confident the state will have more economic wins in the future without major changes in trajectory. I think I know Pennsylvanias business climate as well as anybody, and I think its a great place to do business, Wolf said. With regard to Amazon, he told Pittsburghs KDKA on Tuesday morning, I think they made a mistake. Saying it is not in the publics interest, a Dauphin County judge has rejected a plea by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg to delay action on a sex-abuse lawsuit by a former altar boy. Judge John J. McNally III did, however, grant a similar request from the other defendant in the suit, former priest John G. Allen, because Allen is the subject of an ongoing criminal probe by the county district attorney. McNallys decisions support requests from the former altar boys attorney Nathaniel L. Foote, who opposed the diocese request for a stay to delay discovery in the civil case. Foote did not oppose a limited stay regarding Allen, given the criminal investigation against the ex-priest. The plaintiff in the suit, identified in court filings only as John Doe, accuses the diocese of failing to protect him from a known predator priest. The man, now 29 and a Maryland resident, claims Allen repeatedly molested him at the St. Margaret Mary Alacoque parish in Penbrook in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The ex-altar boy sued the diocese and Allen in August amid the furor over an investigation by the state attorney generals office that found widespread sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Pennsylvania and accused the church leadership of covering it up. In asking for a delay in the suit, the diocese noted it prompted the criminal investigation of Allen by notifying the DA and Child Line of the allegations against Allen as soon as the suit was filed. Diocese attorneys argued that a delay is needed because Allen might impede the civil process by invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in the criminal probe. They argued the plaintiff wouldnt be harmed by having to wait until the criminal investigation is finished, and might even have a stronger case if Allen is charged. Foote countered by stating allegations that diocese officials have long known about multiple sex-abuse allegations involving Allen. He insisted those were the reason for Allens defrocking in 2006. Any possible overlap between the suit and the criminal probe is speculative, Foote contended. He said key questions he wants to pose to the diocese through discovery include what church leaders knew about Allens alleged sexual misconduct, when they knew and what they did about it. In his ruling, McNally noted there is no assertion that the diocese itself is the subject of a criminal probe. The plaintiff would be harmed by a stay because some witnesses in the case may be of advanced age, the judge found. The resolution of the criminal investigation is not believed to eliminate the need to litigate any issues in this civil case or that allowing proceedings to continue against (the) diocese will interfere with the district attorneys criminal investigation ofAllen, McNally wrote. LOCK HAVEN - It took only two days to select a jury for trial of a man accused of killing a co-worker in Clinton County 27 years ago. Loyd Groves The 12 regular jurors and four alternates will hear testimony beginning Monday in the trial of Loyd W. Groves, 69. He is accused in the 1991 death of Katherine Dolan Heckel, 40, who was last seen leaving for lunch from the former International Paper Co. mill in Lock Haven on July 15, 1991. Heckel's body has never been found but she was declared legally dead in 1998. A question that Senior Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Dye asked each prospective juror was whether the lack of a body would influence their verdict. The prosecution must prove Heckel is dead plus that Groves was responsible, defense attorneys David I. Lindsey and George E. Lepley Jr. told the nearly 80 individuals questioned Wednesday. The court had scheduled four days to pick a jury but the process took only two, with the final alternate picked late Wednesday afternoon. Before this week there was concern due to the high profile nature of the case it would be impossible to find an impartial panel in Clinton County and the trial would have to be moved or a jury imported. Lycoming County Senior Judge Kenneth D. Brown, who is specially assigned, told jurors they would not be sequestered during the testimony phase but they could be while deliberating. Groves is charged with first- and third-degree murder and has been in jail without bail since his arrest in January 2015 in Beaver where he was living. He became a suspect soon after Heckel's disappearance when investigators learned she was trying to end an extramarital affair with him. On the day she disappeared she called her children telling them she planned to run an errand and grab lunch alone, investigators said. READ MORE: Newspaper article is no reason to dismiss charges in 27-year-old murder case: judge Groves, an industrial hygienist at the mill, was seen leaving shortly after Heckel. He is accused of decomposing the body in a manner that caused it never to be found. A statewide grand jury presentment states DNA evidence established to a mathematical certainty that blood found in the area where carpet was removed from Groves' van belonged to the woman. That report also states witnesses observed Groves' hostile behavior toward Heckel before her disappearance but a lack of dismay or concern after she went missing. Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said Thursday that he plans to conduct a new audit of the state Health Departments oversight of nursing homes. Two years ago, DePasquale conducted a similar audit and found a number of deficiencies in the states oversight. In that 2016 audit, he found the Health Department wasnt properly reviewing staffing levels at nursing homes. In addition, the department wasnt doing enough to sanction substandard facilities or properly handle complaints, the 2016 audit found. My audit contained 13 findings and 23 recommendations an enormous scope of issues and the Department of Health pledged to make improvements," DePasquale said in a statement Thursday. "I have directed my team to follow up to measure just how much progress the Department of Health has made since then. The announcement of the new audit comes the same day as PennLive published a special investigation of the states nursing homes. Despite pledges from the Health Department to get tough on substandard homes, some advocates and families say the state isnt doing enough to protect some of Pennsylvanias most vulnerable residents. Pennsylvanias nursing homes care for more than 90,000 residents. The health department has said it is working diligently to protect nursing home residents. The department also said it is developing new regulations governing the nursing home industry. PennLive examined homes that had previously been run by the Golden Living chain and found many are still racking up citations from state regulators. In 2015, the state Attorney Generals office sued the company for chronic understaffing and failing to provide basic care. Golden Living later sold its licenses to its 36 homes in Pennsylvania to other companies. The PennLive investigation found many homes still arent providing top-notch care. Some homes have as many state citations now as they did under Golden Livings management, according to PennLives analysis of state records. Some homes have even more citations, PennLive found. PennLives Daniel Simmons-Ritchie spent several months producing this special report. You can read the full report here: Still Failing The Frail. PennDOT has restricted the speed limit on a number of major roadways in central Pennsylvania as Winter Storm Avery pounds the region with snow. The Pennsylvania Turnpike has also reduced the speed limit for a big swath of the toll road. The PennDOT speed limit restriction, which went into effect at noon Thursday, reduces the speed limit to 45 mph on the following roadways: Interstate 81 in Franklin, Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon counties Interstate 78 in Lebanon County Interstate 83 in York, Cumberland and Dauphin counties Interstate 283 in Dauphin County PA 283 in Dauphin and Lancaster counties US 22/322 in Dauphin County and Perry counties PA 581 in Cumberland County US 11 in Franklin and Cumberland counties US 15 in Adams, York and Cumberland counties US 11/15 in Cumberland and Perry County counties US 30 in York and Lancaster Counties US 222 in Lancaster County, from US 30 to Berks County line The Pennsylvania Turnpike has also reduced the speed limit to 45 miles per hour for most of the toll road. The lower speed limit is in place between the Valley Forge exit (326) and the Donegal exit (91). Palmyra Borough police are searching for a man they say demanded money from a clerk at a Sheetz convenience store at 811 E. Main St. Police said the man entered the store about 4:01 a.m. Saturday and demanded that a clerk hand over money from the cash register. Palmyra Borough police are seeking information about a man who demanded money from a Sheetz clerk Saturday before fleeing in a red, four-door car. The clerk refused, and the man ran from the store, fleeing in a red, four-door car, police said. Police described the man as a white male, wearing a green hoodie, black pants with a gray stripe and gray shoes. The man fled, heading west on East Main Street, police said. Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to call 717-838-8189. The sale of Steeltons water system is one step closer to completion. Pennsylvania American Water announced today it has signed an agreement to acquire the water assets of the Steelton Borough Authority for $22.5 million. The two will next seek approval of the acquisition from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and other necessary approvals from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, according to the company. The sale should be complete by the third quarter of 2019, pending regulatory approvals. By signing the agreement, Pennsylvania American Water officials say it culminates the negotiations between the company and the authority, which voted Aug. 27 to accept the companys proposal. We look forward to the opportunity to provide quality, reliable water service to Steeltons homes and businesses, Pennsylvania American Water President Jeffrey L. McIntyre said in a press release today. We are well-prepared to bring both the technical expertise and financial resources needed to ensure the system addresses all the regulatory challenges it faces now and in the future. He said upon closing, the company will welcome the authoritys current employees to help operate the system. The company also committed about $36 million in improvements to the system over the next 10 years. Steeltons water system services nearly 2,400 metered residents, commercial and large industrial connections. The borough just outside of Harrisburg had found itself in an untenable position due to the age of its water treatment plant, which was built in 1973, and stricter drinking water standards that are expected in the coming years. The potential sale was hotly debated over the summer, as an HRG engineering-firm report found substantial rate increases would be needed to address the systems needed repairs should Steelton hold on to it. Last year, borough manager Douglas Brown said the plant fixed a number of leaks in its system. That improved efficiency for them but resulted in the loss of $400,000 worth of billable water for the borough. The resulting deficit led Steelton to put off other infrastructure projects and to spend $250,000 from its reserves. Brown was pleased Thursday to hear the news and said this is a positive development for Steelton. The proceeds from the sale itself mean a lot for the borough that often has to budget in triage mode. We can financially plan for the future of the borough and be proactive rather than reactive, Brown said. This will free up $400,000 or $500,000 per year to help pay down Steeltons debt and open up avenues to plan for the future, Brown added. And the $36 million investment in improvements the company is making is more than the borough would have been able to handle with its budget. This post has been updated to include comments from Borough Manager Douglas Brown. A Mississippi truck driver accused of being drunk with a suspended license and causing an October highway crash that killed three people in Dauphin County waived his preliminary hearing. The hearing for Jack E. Satterfield, 29, was set for Friday Nov. 16, where prosecutors would have been expected to prove their allegations against Satterfield support the elements of each crime he is facing. He remains in jail with no bond. Satterfield was charged with 12 felonies, which break down into three counts each of: leaving the scene of a fatal accident; causing a fatal accident while not properly licensed and homicide by vehicle while under the influence. Prosecutors also charged Satterfield with the misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. Court records alleged that Satterfield consumed five double-shot margaritas and three beers at a New Jersey restaurant before driving his truck through Pennsylvania. His truck plowed into slowed or stopped traffic on Interstate 83 at Union Deposit Road, police said. Two men and a 16-month-old girl died in the fiery crash that involved nearly a dozen vehicles and injured six people. Court records said Satterfield shouldnt have been behind the wheel at all: his commercial drivers license had been suspended. PennLive found that Satterfield had been arrested on two drug charges in February. Police found Satterfield in the rig of a truck Feb. 15 that was parked behind an abandoned building in Mississippi with a crack pipe, a meth pipe and less than one-tenth of a gram of methamphetamine, according to court records. The truck was running and Satterfield was with several other people. He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor drug charges the next day and was ordered to attend drug treatment. Its unclear if he attended treatment but he was ordered to probation Oct. 2, just ten days before the fatal crash in Dauphin County. The fact that he was behind the wheel eight months after a drug arrest and while his license was suspended illustrates the lack of a national database for trucking companies to be better able to track their drivers. By waiving his preliminary hearing, Satterfield is acknowledging the state would have been able to prove that their allegations, if true, meet the elements of each crime he is facing. Thats known as making a prima facie case. A waiver, however, is not an admission of guilt or that prosecutors will ultimately prevail, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Johnny Baer. Instead, its just an indication that Satterfield didnt have much if anything to gain by going through a preliminary hearing. Years ago, preliminary hearings used to be potentially beneficial for defense attorneys to learn new information or cross-examine witnesses, but the Superior Court ruled in 2015 that hearsay evidence alone can be enough to prove what needs to be established at a preliminary hearing. That means a police officer could testify about what he learned during his investigation instead of having to bring in victims or witnesses. That change, known as the Ricker ruling, was not popular with defense attorneys and has resulted in more waived preliminary hearings. The next step for Satterfield will be a formal arraignment, and his is scheduled for Jan. 4. Such proceedings actually are quite informal, Baer explained, where prosecutors read the charges, defendants can enter pleas and court dates are set. These arraignments occur outside the presence of a judge, Baer said. Formal arraignments are often waived, Baer said. After Satterfields formal arraignment, he will likely have a series of miscellaneous court dates set that will determine whether he will ultimately plead guilty or request a jury trial. A winter storm warning remains in effect for large portion of Pennsylvania as Winter Storm Avery continues to pummel the state with snow. The warning, which is in effect until 8 a.m. Friday, includes counties as far north as Elk and Cameron, and as far south as Franklin. Heavy snow mixed with some sleet will likely turn to freezing rain or drizzle, or even plain rain early tonight, according to the National Weather Service. The precipitation will likely end as a second period of heavy snow early Friday morning." Police departments from throughout central Pennsylvania are encouraging residents to stay off the road. PennDOT has restricted the speed limit on a number of major roadways, and meteorologists say snow is falling at about an inch an hour. Multiple crashes along major Central Pennsylvania roadways have been reported Thursday by PennDOT officials. According to 511PA, disabled vehicles are limiting traffic along multiple sections of I-83. Shortly before 3 p.m., PennDOT officials reported that a disabled vehicle on I-83 northbound resulted in the closure of all lanes between the interstates Leader Heights and Reesers Summit exits in York County. City's Public Works crews will begin plowing streets this afternoon. Please stay off roads to allow plows to clear the streets. City of Harrisburg (@thecityofhbg) November 15, 2018 A similar all-lane closure was reported on I-83 southbound, where a disabled vehicle is restricting traffic between the interstates New Cumberland and Fishing Creek exits. Numerous crashes and lane restrictions have been reported throughout Central Pennsylvania. SPEED RESTRICTIONS: The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph throughout PA. For up-to-date info visit https://t.co/uKuZOUFmHi. #PAWinter #DriveSafe pic.twitter.com/F20roqPkiC PA Department of Transportation (@PennDOTNews) November 15, 2018 The closures come at the same time of Winter Storm Avery, which is expected to dump up to 5 inches on the area Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker is enjoying the shortest of honeymoons. In office for about a week, he now faces a court challenge by the state of Maryland requesting that he be removed from his new position and replaced by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the man Whitaker now supervises. And, high-ranking Democrats are calling for his recusal from oversight of Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and other Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General in charge of ethics at the Department of Justice urging him to advise Whitaker to do just that. The Justice Department stated that Whitaker will consult with senior ethics officials about his oversight responsibilities and matter[s] that may warrant recusal. In their letter Democrats claim Whitaker should not be overseeing the Mueller investigation because he has a history of hostile statements toward the investigation, has prejudged the investigation and has served as chairman of Sam Clovis 2014 campaign for Iowa state treasurer and stayed in close contact with him since then. Yet, making unfriendly or antagonist statements or prejudging the investigation do not meet the legal test for recusal. But, what about Whitakers personal and political relationships? According to DOJ regs, Whitaker may not participate in a criminal investigation if he has a personal or political relationship with any personsubstantially involved in the conduct that is being investigated or if he knows that personhas a specific and substantial interest that would be directly affected by [its] outcome ... Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who served as a top foreign policy adviser on the Trump campaign, cited these grounds in support of his recusal. Whitaker, not having served on the Trump campaign, will have to dig deeper in his analysis. The regulations define a personal relationship as close and substantial of the kind that would normally induce partiality. Whether a friendship rises to that level is a determination Whitaker must make based upon his own subjective opinion. What about a political relationship? That might exist if Whitaker has a close identification with Clovis, the former Iowa Treasurer candidate , that arose from Whitakers service to him as a principal adviser on his campaign. So, its possible Whitaker could have a personal or political relationship with Clovis. But thats not the end of the analysis. Clovis must have been substantially involved in the conduct being investigated or have a specific and substantial interest that would be directly affected. Democrats point out that Clovis served as the national co-chairman of the Trump campaign, and in that capacity supervised George Papadopoulos, the Trump foreign policy adviser who sought to set up a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, and who has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI regarding his contacts with agents of the Russian government. Also, Clovis has been interviewed by Muellers team and has testified before the grand jury and House and Senate committees investigating this matter. What exactly is the conduct being investigated? Mueller was appointed to investigate any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation. Because the letter appointing Mueller gave such a broad mandate on his authority its possible that Clovis could meet the substantial involvement or interest test. But even if Whitaker makes each of these determinations that point toward recusal thats still not enough. Whitaker can supervise the investigation if he determines that notwithstanding his relationship with Clovis and assuming Clovis has a substantial involvement or interest in the investigation, he believes hell be able to conduct himself in a fully impartial and professional manner and that his participation would not create an appearance of a conflict of interest likely to affect the public perception of the integrity of the investigation or prosecution. Theres the rub. Although he may reasonably believe hell be fair and impartial, Democrats are ginning up the appearance of a conflict to create in the publics mind the perception that Whitaker will harm the integrity of the investigation. In short, theyre trying to answer that question for him by creating that very public perception that would, assuming the other factors are met, require his recusal. But, at the end of the day, its Whitakers decision, not theirs. If Whitaker believes he can be fair and impartial he should resist the massive pressure placed upon him by Democrats. It being so obvious there is no collusion, Whitaker may be the best person for the job. If he has the personal strength to resist the gale force winds calling for his recusal, he may also have the strength to shut down an investigation that a year-and-a-half later, and $17 million in tax dollars, and despite filing over 100 criminal counts against 32 people and three companies, has not produced one shred of evidence of collusion. PennLive Opinion contributor Marc A. Scaringi, of Camp Hill, is an attorney and radio host. His work appears biweekly. By Vince Carocci PennLive Opinion contributor Bob Quarteroni doesnt believe in prayer (Guest editorial, This is why youll never catch me in prayer Nov. 10, PennLive). I say, So what? When I first read the Pennlive Opinion headline, I just passed it by for non-interest. Initially, I thought, So, he doesnt believe in prayer. Okay, hes entitled to his opinion. But the more I thought about it, the more curiouser and curiouser I became. Why is that I wondered. Three days later, I read his rationale. And I was offended. Very offended. I was offended because his views were, in my view, smug, arrogant, elitist (I know better than the poor peasants who pray.) As a prayerful peasant, I had to respond. I dont need an Annie Dillard or a Jeremy E. Sherman, Ph.D in psychology, or a Gustasf Lindberg (never heard of them) or a Shakespeare, a Nietzche or a Bertrand Russell (heard of them, though) to validate what I believe and dont believe. I know what I believe, and I know why. At this point, I am compelled to ask: What makes Quarteroni such an accomplished, credentialed commentator in the space to which he regularly is afforded as a contributor by PennLive/Patriot News. We are told he was during his professional career a columnist and editor for the Centre Daily Times in State College. By way of contrast, I was a Capitol Hill reporter for the Associated Press and the Philadelphia Inquirer (9 years); a senior staff member for the Pennsylvania Senate (13 years); a member of the senior staff of the governor of Pennsylvania (8 years, 1987-94). Id have no reservation whatsoever in matching my credentials to comment as an informed observer/commentator on public issues, policy, affairs, politics against his any day, though, I must emphasize, I have no desire to do so. But back to the subject at hand: I hold my faith above no woman or man. Each of us is entitled to our own beliefs or, for that matter, non-beliefs as our intellect tells us. For me, I believe in God, and I apologize to no one for that. I dont wear my faith on my sleeve. I dont shout it from the rooftops or the street corners. I simply practice my faith in a quiet, private way as my conscience , my head and my heart tell me to do. Evangelical I am not. I do not denigrate those who are. I do, however, resent those like Quarteroni who presume by their elevated powers of thought to dismiss or diminish the hundreds of thousands of us who do believe in and pray to a higher power. My value structure is strong, deep, resilientstronger, deeper, more resilient than anything non- believers such as Bob Quarteroni can throw at me. I dont need them, or him, to tell me where I find my emotional and spiritual comfort. My faith tells me so. Quarteroni and his ilk may call it blind faith. I call it a faith in a Being more loving, more caring, more compassionate than anyone or any institution known to man and woman kind. My faith tells me of a Christ on the cross who prayed for his crucifiers: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. To Quarteroni and his clan, I say: Father, forgive them for they know not what they say! Vince Carocci is a veteran journalist and author. By Karen Tumulty PHOENIX -- What finally did it for Kathy Hoffman was watching the confirmation hearing of Betsy DeVos nearly two years ago. Hoffman, then a 31-year-old speech therapist in a suburban Phoenix public school district, could not contain her dismay as she saw President Donald Trump's nominee for education secretary stumble over basic policy questions and suggest that guns should be allowed in schools at which a grizzly bear might appear. "It was very clear from many of her statements she had never spent any time in a school," Hoffman recalls. So she turned to her husband, Justin, and said, "You're going to think I'm crazy . . ." Thus began one of the most unlikely stories of an election season that has seen more than its share of them. A few weeks later, Hoffman announced her candidacy to become Arizona's superintendent of public instruction. Over the next 21 months, she drove so many miles across this vast state that she wore out her 2004 Prius and had to buy a new one. Everywhere she went, her message was the same: "I kept talking about my students and my colleagues. I kept it very focused on my classroom experience." Initially, not even the teachers' unions took her seriously. But astonishingly, Hoffmans Prius-powered campaign succeeded. She upset seasoned politicians in both the primary and general contests, and became the first Democrat in more than a quarter of a century to be elected the states education superintendent. Now, she is preparing to take the reins of a system that ranks third lowest in the country on spending per pupil. Earlier this year, thousands of Arizona teachers walked out of schools to protest low pay and cuts in resources. On Nov. 6, the state's voters also gave a resounding no to Proposition 305, which would have drastically expanded publicly funded vouchers for private schools, potentially starving public education even more. Hoffman's victory speaks to some of the larger themes for which the 2018 midterm election will be remembered - one of them being the flood of first-time candidates up and down the ballot who ran and won. With their life experiences and outsider credibility, they were the antidote to cynicism. Hoffman also ran at a moment of burgeoning activism by frustrated educators across the nation. There were statewide teacher strikes not only in Arizona but also in West Virginia and Oklahoma, and smaller protests in Kentucky, North Carolina and Colorado. The American Federation of Teachers counts Hoffman as one of more than 300 of its members who ran for office - triple what the organization had seen in the past. More than 100 of them won, including more than 80 who will be joining state legislatures across the country, where most public education policy is set. In Congress, 2016s National Teacher of the Year,Jahana Hayes, will become the first African-American woman to represent Connecticut. The main thing Hoffman had going for her, however, was her own tenacity. "Most people would have said she wouldn't have had a chance to win, but she just kept knocking out opponent after opponent," said Arizona Federation of Teachers President Ralph Quintana, who noted that neither his organization nor the Arizona Education Association endorsed Hoffman in the Democratic primary. It was easy to understand the skepticism, given how outmatched she seemed. Her primary opponent, David Schapira, was a former minority leader of the state Senate. Hoffman won by four percentage points. In the general election, Hoffman was up against Frank Riggs, a charter-school movement leader who had also been a three-term congressman in California. Riggs called Hoffman a very nice young person, but shrugged her off as inexperienced and extreme. When Hoffman went to bed on election night, she was 11,000 votes behind. By the time she woke up, the gap had narrowed to 8,000. Over the next few days, with most attention riveted on the counting of ballots in Arizona's photo-finish U.S. Senate race, Hoffman obsessively refreshed the secretary of state's website, watching her own progress as she steadily gained and eventually overtook Riggs by more than two percentage points. She also, for the first time in months, managed to make it to a yoga class. Bigger challenges await. The legislature and governorship, which hold the real power over education in the state, remain in GOP hands. "She can't control the one thing we really need, which is more funds," Quintana said, "but we have someone in the capital advocating for our needs." And with the votes of more than 1.1 million Arizonans to back her up, the political establishment would do well to listen to what Hoffman has to say. Karen Tumulty is a columnist for The Washington Post. Her work appears frequently on PennLive Opinion. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) An Alaska salmon boat skipper who killed endangered Steller sea lions with a shotgun and hindered an investigation has been fined $20,000 in federal court. Jon Nichols, 31, of Cordova, was sentenced Tuesday to five years' probation, three months of home confinement and 400 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Smith also ordered Nichols to publicly apologize in a national commercial fishing magazine. One of Nichols' crewmen, Theodore ``Teddy'' Turgeon, 21, of Wasilla, also shot the endangered animals. He was sentenced to four years' probation,... Health official: 'Unlikely we will reach a level of immunity in the next few years' Last week the Health Department of Northwest Michigan announced it had reached 70% of its residents 16 and older who've received their first dose. Did you know you can save your preferences across all your digital devices and platforms simply by creating a profile? Would you like to get started? Yes, I'd like to register/log in Not right now No, never ask again Cheyenne, Wyoming Wyoming Governor-elect Mark Gordon announced co-chairs for his official transition committee today, tapping two longtime Wyoming leaders with deep experience in state government and public policy. Gordon announced that Dr. Pat Arp, the current Wyoming Deputy State Treasurer, and Gale Geringer, Gordon for Governor campaign manager, will serve as co-chairs of his transition team. In these roles, Arp and Geringer will assist Gordon in setting up his gubernatorial office, guide staffing decisions, administrative procedures and initial policy rollouts. Im honored to h... Serving in the United States military was not a new idea to Stephen "Steve" Kravitsky. "From the time I can remember, I always wanted to be in the military." Kravitsky stated. "When I was about eleven years old, my cousin would come home from leave and show me these wonderful pictures and tell me great stories of the Air Force.!" he added. It was the excitement from these stories and pictures that made his decision that he would join the United States Air Force as his branch of choice when he was old enough. Throughout high school, Kravitsky never faltered on enlisting in the Air Force. Whi... SHERIDAN, Nov. 9, 2018-Todd Fornstrom, of Laramie County, was elected to his third term as President of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) at the organization's 99th annual meeting in Sheridan. "Serving as president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is very rewarding and I appreciate the opportunity to serve," Fornstrom stated. "Advocating for agriculture is something Farm Bureau members do every day and I'm honored to be counted in that group as your Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation President." "This position has enabled me to meet a lot of people and build relationships and it... Mugu Peaks in Nepal, new route climbed by Anna Torretta, Cecilia Buil, Ixchel Foord The report by Italian mountaineer Anna Torretta who with Cecilia Buil from Spain and Ixchel Foord from Mexico made the first ascent of Couloir SW (600m, A1, 6a, M5), a new climb up the virgin Mugu Peaks (5467 meters) in the Karnali district of NW Nepal. The history of Mugu Valley goes back a long way, its relatively unknown in the western world and its wealth and poverty fascinated me. Our expedition came about casually, thanks to the Grit & Rock Award which last February awarded this women's expedition project with the first prize of 4,000. A publication in the Alpine Journal a few months earlier, with a photo, mentioned Mugu Peaks, an unclimbed mountain opened up recently by the Nepalese government. We immediately fell in love with the peak. Getting to Mugu, however, is not so simple! We started with a flight from Kathmandu to Nepaljung, on the southwest border with India, on the opposite side of Nepal compared to where we wanted to go... From here the nearest airport to Mugu is Gamgadhi, close to Rara Lake, but flights are not regular and at least another 5 days on foot are needed to get to the village. Thanks to the help of our agency Arun and to Ian and Ixchel Foord, we decided to fly from Nepaljung by helicopter to the village of Mugu, and therefore save almost a week and perhaps even more. "The eye of Mugu" immediately attracted our attention, its a rock arch of impressive proportions. Our expedition was marked by days of beautiful weather but also by the slow, progressive and inexorable arrival of winter, with days becoming shorter and colder. The Mugu valley is exposed to constant, at times gusty winds, which never cease. One stormy night resulted in us changing our plans about climbing Mugu's "eye"! So, after having attempted the central section of the face, we chose the easiest line, ie the SW gully, in order to climb to the main summit. We made one intermediate bivouac and climbed past difficulties up to A1, 6a and M5. Base Camp was located at 4,200 meters, advanced base camp at 5,030m. We were forced to turn around 50 meters below the summit, at an altitude of 5420m, due to the strong winds, the intense cold and the poor rock quality. All the inhabitants of Mugu were behind us all the way, and have seen in this ascent the possibility of the valley opening up to tourism. This would be major change for the village; Mugu used to be an important trading post between Tibet and the neighboring villages, in fact it used to the the valley focal point and a long time ago Mugu was even part of Tibet. The Chinese then arrived, the border was closed and everything changed. As a result Mugu transformed from being a trading village to becoming a summer "residence", for the relatively rich who work in Kathmandu, for young people in search of earnings, and for the extremely poor. In spring the Mugu valley is home to Yarchagumba, a parasitic fungus which immobilizes and embalms larvae of moths. It can be used to treat many types of illnesses, including heart and kidney diseases, and it is also known as the "Himalayan viagra". The Yarchagumba is worth its weight in gold for the Chinese and is the valleys primary source of income. The mayor of Mugu asked us to talk about this forgotten valley, and I have now told you its story. It is most certainly somewhere remote, for those who like to put in the extra effort and walk long distances, in order to discover what isnt written in any books. Mugu Peaks offer plenty of potential for other climbs. We retuned to Gamghadi on foot and this provided us with the chance to see the real side of Nepal, one not yet touched upon by tourism. Links: FB Anna Torretta, Grivel, Guide Alpine Courmayeur, www.gritandrock.net, FB Grit & Rock Share Tweet 640 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard (Reuters) A Republican U.S. representative of Utah who is trailing her Democratic challenger filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to halt vote counting while a four-term California Republican congressman conceded, more than a week after the U.S. midterm elections. The races are among about a dozen high-profile contests that remained unresolved. But the outstanding races will not tip the balance in Congress after Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Republicans extended their majority in the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 6 vote. A high-profile recount of votes continued in Florida, where initial vote tallies showed outgoing Republican Governor Rick Scott leading in the race for a U.S. Senate seat and Republican Ron DeSantis leading to succeed Scott as governor. Both had narrow margins of victory within 0.5 percentage point, the state threshold requiring machine recounts, which began five days ago. If the recount finds that Scotts margin of victory over Democratic incumbent Senator Bill Nelson or DeSantis margin over Democrat Andrew Gillum is at 0.25 percentage point or lower, a second round of recounts conducted by hand would begin. In Utah, Republican first-term U.S. Representative Mia Love filed a lawsuit in Utah state court on Wednesday seeking to halt vote counting. She argued that election officials are not allowing poll monitors to challenge their findings during vote verification. Love was trailing Democratic challenger Ben McAdams by around 1,200 votes, less than 1 percentage point, with some ballots still uncounted. The lawsuit was brought against the county clerk in Salt Lake County, the only county of the four that are included in Utahs 4th congressional district where McAdams leads Love, according to a copy of the complaint. Loves decision to sue only in SLCo as she continues to trail in this race is unfortunate and smacks of desperation, McAdams said on Twitter. Loves attorney, Robert Harrington, said in a statement, We are not accusing anyone of anything. Simply put, we have submitted this petition to improve the elections process. At least one other congressional race was resolved in Democrats favor on Wednesday. In California, Republican U.S. Representative Jeff Denham, who represents a district east of San Jose, conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in a statement. (Reporting by Michael Moline in Tallahassee; additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Tampa, Florida and Joseph Ax in New York; writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Leslie Adler) 207 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) Rick Gates, a former business partner of President Donald Trumps ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, is still cooperating with several ongoing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to a court filing on Wednesday. The joint filing by Special Counsel Robert Muellers office and Gates lawyer suggests that Gates may be helping investigators on matters that do not pertain just to his former boss Manafort. It was not clear which probes Gates is helping with, but he was deeply involved in running the Trump campaigns day-to-day operations and played a key role at the Republican National Convention where Trump was chosen as the partys nominee. He stayed on in the campaign even after Manafort resigned in August 2016 over a controversy about cash payments from Ukraine, and also served on the presidential transition team. In the filing, prosecutors and Gates lawyer said he was not ready for sentencing and asked to postpone filing a status report until mid-January. Gates was a star witness over the summer in the high-profile trial of Manafort, after he previously pleaded guilty in Muellers probe in exchange for agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors under a deal that could lead to a reduced sentence. Gates testified before a federal court jury in Alexandria, Virginia, that he helped Manafort file false tax returns and hide his foreign bank accounts. Manafort was convicted on eight counts of financial wrongdoing. Manafort was due to stand trial a second time in Washington over charges related to his lobbying activity for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government, but he opted to plead guilty in September in exchange for cooperating with Mueller. The special prosecutor has not filed any new cases since July in his probe into whether Trumps campaign colluded with Russia. Trump denies colluding and has called the probe a witch hunt. But Muellers office has been busy interviewing witnesses such as Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen. Several associates of Trumps longtime political adviser Roger Stone have also testified before a grand jury. One of Stones associates, Jerome Corsi, told Reuters this week he was expecting Muellers office to offer him a plea deal. Trump is expected to provide written answers to questions from the special counsel as soon as this week. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Peter Cooney) 1.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Melania Trump has a Romanov complex. There were signs of it with the casual way she throws tax payer money away, beginning with her decision to stay in New York for several months following her husbands inauguration. Yes, she cited Barrons schooling as the reason and perhaps she was truly concerned about that. But, the fact remains, while her husband was looking for ways to take healthcare away from people, most of those people were paying for additional security to spare Barron of the hardship that comes with moving in the middle of a school year. More recently, on her first solo trip to Africa, Melania spent $100,000 on a hotel room that she never intended to use. Then we saw the wardrobe choices when meeting with people in distress. When she joined Donald in Puerto Rico, following Hurricane Maria, Melania still insisted on attire that was perhaps a bit impractical for the occasion. Then there was the jacket with a message she denied was a message until recently. These incidents, while revealing of a woman who lives in an especially privileged bubble, bear little consequence.But, Melanias Romanov complex kicked into high gear after mid-terms. Perhaps the timing is merely coincidental, but the political message is unmistakable. Melania is under the mistaken impression that by virtue of her marriage to Donald Trump, national security personnel and Donalds Chief of staff are accountable to her. This is wrong on so many levels, but it is also revealing of a Melania that is more like her husband than, perhaps we would like to admit. Again, we had the warning signs when she acknowledged being a birther. Ok, there was room for the possibility that Donald forced her to join him on television to sell the racist conspiracy theory as a reality. Perhaps when she went on the campaign trail with Donald, Melania was forced into silence about his regular incitement of hatred of pretty much everyone in America except racist white guys. When Melania lied about her academic credentials, and her ability to speak five languages maybe it was because Donald made her indulge in the over sell. But there is still more, as we see a Melania who seems distant to the plight of other human beings. Melania showed zero sympathy for immigrants, despite being an immigrant. She said she supports her husbands views on undocumented immigrants, even though the available information suggests that she may well have been an undocumented immigrant for a period when she first started modelling in the United States. Theres the broken promise of the press conference to explain the gaps in her story, like the small detail that immigrants with work permits dont have to return home every six months to get their passports stamped. When Melania was caught plagiarizing one of Michelle Obamas speeches, she showed an unwillingness to take responsibility for her actions. Instead she did something very Trumpian. She blamed staff. Melanias be best campaign was a poor attempt at a knock off of the Obama administrations effort to address cyber bullying. But maybe thats because she lives with the biggest cyber bully so criticism would be seen as criticizing him. In various degrees of absurdity, one can find some way to deny the possibility that Melania is very much like Donald.All doubt was removed when she took it upon herself to recommend in the form of a public statement delivered by her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham; that a senior National Security advisor, Mira Ricardel, be fired over seats on an airplane. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that (Ricardel) no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, The First Lady is not supposed to have a public position on whether a member of the presidents staff is deserving of their position or not. Its so crazy, I had to wonder, whats next. Will Kellyanne get fired if she refuses to buy Barron a pony? Not that Melania Trump has any constitutional authority to influence White House personnel decisions and indirectly policy. And last time I checked, former models whose first priority is being a wife and mother generally arent national security experts.But Melanias inner Romanov wasnt a fluke as proven when she went after John Kellys job as Donald Trumps chief of staff.Apparently, she had disagreements with General Kelly so she wants him fired. One can only imagine reaction had word have gotten out that Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton even thought of having their husbands chiefs of staff fired, or anyone else in the White House. Yes, the comparison matters, because like her husband is changing norms not for any other reason than to expand their respective powers while neglecting responsibilities like honoring Vets on Veterans Day. This is so very unlike America. Its more consistent with the mindset and practices of a despot or a Tsar in old Russia. If you were employed by the Tsar or a despot, then yes, deference and submission to family members was a thing. In America, First Ladies are strong and independent women. Melania is not the first to have those traits. As we know, first ladies have a history of using their voices some more effectively than others. We also know Melania is no Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Onassis, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama. But, they managed their staffs and focused on the parameters of their job, rather than interfering with the personnel and policies made by the person who is elected to make those decisions. 9.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Rachel Maddow laid out a big clue on Wednesday that Robert Mueller may have more dirt on Donald Trump than we previously thought. In an updated court filing, the special counsels office said it would need more time with former Trump campaign deputy Rick Gates because he is cooperating with them on several ongoing investigations. But as Maddow pointed out on Wednesday, when the special counsels office filed a similar update in August, they noted that Gates was only cooperating with a single investigation. Todays document suggests there are additional probes the former Trump official is now involved in, which is probably not the news the White House wanted to hear. Video: Rachel Maddow points out an interesting detail in a court filing from special counsels office. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/abNFxhWejk PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) November 15, 2018 Maddow explained: So they told the court in August that they would need another 90 days before they check in again. That 90 days is now up. Today, Muellers office filed a new update with the court about Rick Gates. And in the new update just filed, Muellers office says they still are not ready to finish with Rick Gates. Theyve asked the court for another 60 days with him. They want to check in with the court again in mid-January. But this time, this is interesting, this time they say the reason they need more time with him is because Rick Gates, quote, continues to cooperate with respect to several ongoing investigations. Oh. So 90 days ago the investigation Rick Gates was helping them with was ongoing, The investigation. Now today its Several investigations that he is helping them with, and they are all still ongoing. Trump is becoming increasingly nervous The fact that, over time, Robert Muellers investigation has taken on more angles not fewer should worry the White House. After all, if youre on the path to being cleared of criminal conduct, the number of legal inquiries and questions should decrease over time. In the case of Trump and his cronies, though, the longer the special counsels office looks into his potential crimes, the more evidence they seem to uncover. As a result, one investigation has seemingly morphed into multiple investigations. Its no wonder Trump has spent the days since last weeks election completely imploding. Not only is Trump about to crash into a wall of Democratic oversight, but Robert Mueller may have more dirt on the president than we previously thought. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook. 1.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Newly re-elected Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio took a sledgehammer to the laughable myth that Donald Trump is a populist who cares about the struggles of working Americans. In an interview with MSNBCs Chris Matthews, Brown who is reportedly considering a presidential run said Trump isnt a real populist. Real populism isnt racist, the popular Democratic senator said. Real populism isnt anti-semitic. Real populism doesnt push people down, it lifts people up. It doesnt divide workers, it doesnt call people names. Video: 2020 watch: Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown goes after Trump for conning working Americans. #ctl #p2 pic.twitter.com/ubADOTw2sl PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) November 15, 2018 The Ohio Democrat said: You get [working class voters] back by talking about the dignity of work. I think you point out this sort of phony populism of Donald Trump, where he talks about working-class voters, but he divides them. He probably doesnt know too many of them, number one. Number two, the White House looks like a retreat for Wall Street executives. But he has put this phony populism out there. And real populism isnt racist. Real populism isnt anti-semitic. Real populism doesnt push people down, it lifts people up. It doesnt divide workers, it doesnt call people names. And a campaign against Donald Trump is, you put up his phony populism thats really for Wall Street against real populism thats for workers and as I said there, when you talk about workers, youre talking about all workers, whether you punch a clock, whether you work for a salary, whether you work at a hospital, working construction. Sherrod Browns message could be a winning one in 2020 With the Democratic field already shaping up to be massive, Sherrod Browns unique message one that has broken through in increasingly red Ohio could make him a formidable candidate. The Ohio Democrat isnt just an unabashed liberal, but hes somebody who has shown that a true blue progressive candidate can win in a state thats trending red all without compromising his liberal roots. In 2016, enough voters in rust belt states fell for Trumps phony and racist version of populism. As the 2018 midterm elections showed, these Americans arent about to make the same mistake again. Sherrod Brown is betting that his version of populism can pull these midwestern voters back into the Democratic column and prevent Donald Trump from winning a second term in 2020. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook. 248 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard On Wednesday night British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that shed won her cabinets backing for her draft proposal on how the U.K. should pull out of the European Union (Brexit). At the time May appeared upbeat and optimistic. Then on Thursday morning everything turned around. Mays Brexit secretary quit along with another member of her cabinet and several junior ministers. All of a sudden the entire British government was in turmoil, and Mays entire Brexit strategy is now in doubt. The secretary who quit, Dominic Raab, had been leading her negotiating team in Brussels to hammer out the Brexit draft with the European Union. Raab said the draft agreement reached with Brussels would have the effect of leaving Britain in a position where they must follow the rules and regulations of the European Union. It even gave the EU the power to stop the U.K. from withdrawing from the agreement in the future. He said he could not in good conscious support the terms of the deal that he helped to write. Unfortunately for May, Raab wasnt the only member of her government to resign on Thursday. Her Junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara, junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman, and parliamentary private secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan also stepped down, adding to the feelings of chaos. Each government official who resigned said that he or she could not support the 600-page draft Brexit agreement that May presented to her cabinet on Wednesday. They made clear that everyone considered it insufficient including Brexit backers and those who want to stay in the EU. The next step for the Brexit deal is to get the British Parliament to approve it. However, its unclear whether May has the numbers to push it through at this time. Its also unclear whether she will be able to remain in office long enough to bring the new deal to a parliamentary vote. The ministers who resigned on Thursday joined the 10 others who had resigned from Mays government over the last year. With chaos growing, it appears more likely that there will be a challenge to her leadership. If that happens it is very possible that there would be a new Prime Minister within a fairly short time frame. May spoke to lawmakers on Thursday morning and she appeared firm in her resolve. She told her audience that they would have the opportunity to vote on the Brexit deal before the U.K. leaves the EU. She reiterated that she would ask them to support it because it is in the national interest. In her remarks to Parliament she made the argument that her draft agreement with the EU represented, the right choices, not the easy ones. May also confirmed that she is adamant that her government is not planning for any alternative that does not include a British exit from the European Union. 172 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Terray Sylvester PARADISE, Calif. (Reuters) Fire crews in northern California seized on improved weather on Wednesday in their six-day-old battle to suppress the deadliest wildfire in state history as authorities reported at least 100 people still missing and National Guard troops arrived to help search for victims. The confirmed death toll from the Camp Fire stood at 48 as the footprint of the blaze grew by 5,000 acres to 135,000 acres (55,000 hectares), even as diminished winds and rising humidity allowed firefighters to carve containment lines around more than a third of the perimeter. Progress is being made, said Ken Pimlott, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) at a news conference flanked by Governor Jerry Brown, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and other officials. Late on Wednesday, the Butte County Sheriffs Office released a list http://www.buttecounty.net/Portals/24/pdf/CampFireMissingPersons.pdf?ver=2018-11-14-082238-507 of 103 people reported missing by relatives, the majority of them over the age of 65. Initially 230 people were reported missing. Most are from Paradise, California, a town in the Sierra foothills, about 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco, that was largely incinerated last Thursday. More than 8,800 buildings, most of them houses, burned to the ground in and around Paradise, a hamlet once home to 27,000 people. An estimated 50,000 people remained under evacuation orders. This is one of the worst disasters Ive seen in my career, hands down, Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told reporters in the nearby city of Chico. NO FINGER POINTING After touring some of Californias earlier wildfire zones in August, Zinke blamed gross mismanagement of forests because of timber harvest restrictions that he said were supported by environmental terrorist groups. But pressed by reporters on Wednesday, Zinke demurred. Now is really not the time to point fingers, he said. It is a time for America to stand together. The killer blaze, fueled by thick, drought-desiccated scrub, has capped two back-to-back catastrophic wildfire seasons in California that scientists largely attribute to prolonged drought they say is symptomatic of climate change. But lawyers for some of the victims are pointing to lax maintenance by an electric utility as the proximate cause of the fire, which officially remains under investigation. The Butte County disaster coincided with a flurry of blazes in Southern California, most notably the Woolsey Fire, which has killed at least two people, destroyed more than 400 structures and displaced about 200,000 people in the mountains and foothills near the Malibu coast west of Los Angeles. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said the remains of a possible third victim were found in a burned-out dwelling. In northern California, 100 National Guard troops trained to seek and identify human remains are joining dozens of coroner-led recovery teams, cadaver dogs and forensic anthropologists already sifting through the charred, ash-strewn rubble of what was left in Paradise, a spokeswoman for the Butte County Sheriffs office said. ITS UNREAL Cal Fire investigator Stewart Morrow was assessing property losses in Paradise, comparing piles of scorched rubble where houses once stood with online photos of the structures before the fire. He also was keeping an eye out for human remains. Ive been a firefighter for 20 years and Ive never seen a place so destroyed, Morrow told Reuters on Wednesday. A group of three law firms representing multiple victims of the Camp Fire has filed a lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric alleging PG&E failed to properly maintain and replace its equipment and that its inexcusable behavior contributed to the cause of the Camp Fire. The lawsuit alleges that prior to the Camp Fire, PG&E began warning customers it might turn off power because of the elevated risk of wildfires from high winds but never did so. Its important to remember that the cause (of the Camp Fire) has yet to be determined, PG&E said in a statement. Wind-driven flames roared through Paradise so swiftly that residents were forced to flee for their lives. Anna Dise, a resident of Butte Creek Canyon west of Paradise, told KRCR TV her father, Gordon Dise, 66, died when he ran back inside to gather belongings and their house collapsed on him. Dise said she could not flee in her car because the tires had melted. To survive, she hid overnight in a neighbors pond with her dogs. It was so fast, Dise recounted of the fire. I didnt expect it to move so fast. The fatality count of 48 from the Camp Fire far exceeds the previous record for the greatest loss of life from a single wildfire in California history 29 people killed by the Griffith Park fire in Los Angeles in 1933. (Reporting by Terray Sylvester; Additional reporting by Noel Randewich and Sharon Bernstein in Paradise and Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; writing by Bill Trott and Steve Gorman; editing by Steve Orlofsky, James Dalgleish and Lisa Shumaker) 1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Floridas Republican Governor, Rick Scott, along with the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has filed an appeal of a federal judges decision to give voters in Florida until Saturday to correct issues with their mail-in and provisional ballots. A federal judge on Thursday ruled that mail-in and provisional ballots that had been rejected because of signature issues will have two more days to resolve the problems. This would give them a chance to have their votes included in the totals for this years elections. Because U.S. District Judge Mark Walkers order allowed voters extra time, Republicans thought this was unfair. The judge, however, explained his reasoning: The precise issue in this case is whether Floridas law that allows county election officials to reject vote-by-mail and provisional ballots for mismatched signatures with no standards, an illusory process to cure, and no process to challenge the rejection passes constitutional muster, Judge Walker wrote in his decision. The answer is simple. It does not. Walkers order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed last week by Scotts opponent Sen. Bill Nelson and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee challenging the states signature-matching statute. Scotts attorneys filed an appeal Thursday morning in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta to challenge that ruling. When voters submit provisional or mail-in ballots in Florida, election officials are required to make a determination that the signature on the ballot is an exact match with the signature that appears in the individuals voter file. If the signatures dont match, they must deem the ballot illegal and it is not counted. In his ruling, Walker, appeared to agree with Nelsons attorneys who had asserted that Floridas current process for evaluating provisional and mail-in ballots with mismatched signatures lacked uniform standards. As a result, they said, it gave Florida voters only an illusory process to cure the issues. We are immediately appealing this baseless decision and we are confident we will prevail in the Eleventh Circuit, Lauren Schenone, the press secretary for Scotts campaign, said in a statement. Scotts appeal came just a few hours before local election officials in Florida were coming up against the 3 pm deadline to submit the results of machine recounts. Florida had three close statewide races that required recounts: the races for Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner. Candidates in each of those races were separated by less than 0.5 points after the initial voting was tabulated. Election results were submitted to state election officials on Saturday, forcing machine recounts of all three races. This also led to a series of legal challenges from both Republicans and Democrats, which are still continuing. The Senate and agriculture commissioner races will probably require hand recounts after the machine recount results are submitted on Thursday. A hand recount is required under Florida law if two candidates are separated by 0.25 percentage points or less. The lawsuit over the signature matching requirement is only one of several filed by Senator Nelson and Democratic groups over the past few days. They had also filed lawsuits asking the court to delay the deadlines for completing recounts, and they have challenged the states standards for evaluating voter intent on unconventionally marked ballots. Scott has also filed other lawsuits, and has charged voter fraud. The outcome of Scotts appeal could be significant since at last count his lead over Nelson was approximately 12,000 votes out of over 8 million that were cast. 4.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A federal judge has ruled that Special Counsel Robert Mueller can move forward in his case against a company charged with interfering in the 2016 election. ABC News reported: A U.S. district judge ruled on Thursday that special counsel Robert Muellers case against a Russian firm allegedly involved in the state-sponsored effort to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election can proceed, denying the firms motion to dismiss for a second time. Concord Management and Consulting, LLC, which is purportedly owned by a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is among the three Russian entities and 13 individuals who were indicted in February on charges related to the alleged interference operation. Concord, which has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge, is specifically accused of funding an infamous St. Petersburg troll factory that prosecutors say created hundreds of fake social media accounts in which Russians pretended to be Americans online to sow discord, inspire doubt in democratic institutions and support then-candidate Donald Trump. This is bad news for Trump Special Counsel Mueller is also investigating whether people in Trumps personal orbit were involved in the Russian email hacking of the DNC. Any legal ruling that makes it possible for Russian assets to potentially flip and speak to investigators is bad news for Trump. Since Election Day, it has become more obvious why the president is trying to shut the Russia investigation down. Robert Mueller was making consistent progress in his pursuit of the truth. Any ruling that leads to Russians being accountable for what they did in 2016 to support Trump is a problem for the White House and the Republican Party. Trump installed Matthew Whitaker as attorney general, but this ruling is a reminder that Robert Mueller is relentlessly grinding toward justice. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. Since 2009, millions of monthly readers rely on and trust PoliticusUSA for real independent liberal news. We arent owned by a corporation, we dont take any special interest money. We have no shareholders, and we are here to deliver you the unfiltered truth that the mainstream media and their corporate owners dont want to talk about. PoliticusUSA is completely independent, and our goal is to bring you the news with truth and integrity. We are committed to keeping the news free to every reader, but we could use your help. For as little as $1, you can support PoliticusUSA, and keep delivering the message to the corporate media that both sides dont do it. The facts still matter, and truth rises above all. Please give today, and if you cant donate subscribe to our newsletter. 8.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Anxiety is running high at the White House as the Trump administration believes that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is ready to pounce. Politico reported: Half a dozen people in contact with the White House and other Trump officials say a deep anxiety has started to set in that Mueller is about to pounce after his self-imposed quiet period, and that any number of Trumps allies and family members may soon be staring down the barrel of an indictment. . Adding to the unease is a spate of anonymously sourced media reports suggesting Muellers self-imposed quiet period that started about two months before 2018 Election Day is about to transition into a Category 5 hurricane. Also on indictment watch: Donald Trump Jr., the presidents oldest son, who has told his friends in recent weeks that he believes he could be facing charges from Mueller, according to one of those people. MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace reported that Trump is in the midst of a Mueller fueled meltdown and the presidents mental state is the worst that it has been in years. With Democrats taking back the House, the Mueller investigation has sharper teeth than it had before. The consequences of the Mueller are impeachment. Whether or not Trump could be removed from office isnt the question. The lesson from the Bill Clinton impeachment is that such proceedings effectively shut down and end a presidency for years. Trumps term would be effectively over if the nation was plunged into an impeachment crisis. Impeachment made Bill Clinton toxic on the campaign trail, and cost Al Gore the 2000 election. A president who was impeached, even if not convicted, who has just gotten swept in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan midterm elections would be virtually doomed in a reelection campaign. Robert Mueller cant bring down Trump on his own, but he can deliver the evidence that the country needs to set itself straight and put the people who committed crimes against America behind bars. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 264 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Saudi Arabia will seek the death penalty for the killers of government critic Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, a Saudi prosecutor said Thursday. Eleven people have been charged in Khashoggis murder out of 21 people held in the case. Khashoggi, a fierce critic of the Saudi royal family, was strangled to death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and his body dismembered, the Saudi chief prosecutor said. Turkey has shared an audio recording of the killing with the U.S., France, Canada, Germany, U.K., but did not blame Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder. The 33-year-old prince is in charge of the affairs of the Saudi kingdom day to day. The Saudi Arabian government has strongly denied he had any knowledge of the operation. They initially denied knowing anything about Khashoggis disappearance but later said they had discovered it was an interrogation gone wrong leading to the journalists death. Saudi prosecutors issued a statement saying that the former deputy head of intelligence, Ahmed al-Asiri, had sent a team to Turkey to negotiate Khashoggis return to Saudi Arabia. The responsibility for the death of Khashoggi fell on the man in charge of the Saudi team in Istanbul, the prosecutor clarified. A Saudi royal adviser and a senior intelligence official played key roles in the mission that ultimately led to the killing of Khashoggi. The prosecutor announced that he will seek the death penalty for the five people who have confessed to the murder. The Saudi government demands the death penalty for those who ordered and executed the killing and theyre five people, the prosecutor said at a news conference in Riyadh. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no knowledge of the mission, the prosecutor said. Khashoggis killing led to a global outcry and has harmed the reputation of the young prince, whose efforts to cast himself as a bolder reformer and trusted U.S. ally have often been in conflict with his policies abroad. Officials in several countries have said it is unlikely Khashoggi could have been killed without the knowledge of Crown Prince. 2.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The Stacey Abrams campaign is hailing a judges ruling that more than 1,000 ballots that Georgia election officials tossed by counted as a victory. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported: Georgia elections officials scrambled Thursday to count a cache of potentially more than 1,000 ballots that were previously rejected as they raced to comply with the latest federal ruling in the too-close-to-call contest for governor.Democrat Stacey Abrams hailed the judges order as a major victory to extend her quest to become the nations first black female governor, but Republican Brian Kemp said it would hardly dent his insurmountable lead in the race for Georgias top job. The latest tally showed Abrams is roughly 55,000 votes behind Kemp and needs to net more than 17,000 votes to force a Dec. 4 runoff. Georgia law requires a runoff if no candidate gets a majority of the vote, which is only a possibility because a third-party contender netted about 1 percent. Stacey Abrams Is Fighting For Every Vote To Count Stacey Abrams wants to be the next governor of Georgia or to at least force a runoff so that voters get a chance to decide, but there is also an important principle at stake. Abrams is fighting for every single vote to be counted. She is waging this battle so that every single person who cast a ballot has their voice. Your vote is your voice, and when Republicans dont count votes, they are attempting to silence the voices of the people. It isnt just about winning or losing. The integrity of the electoral process is at stake. People need to believe in their election and that their participation matters. The election for governor shows that Georgia is changing. Republicans are trying to stop the tide of progress through voter suppression. Stacey Abrams is fighting for an election result today, and she is also leading the charge for Georgias tomorrow. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 171 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Several powerful Democratic members of the House of Representatives issued a press release Wednesday evening saying that they are beginning an probe into possible illegal actions by acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. Specifically they will be investigating Whitakers involvement in a company that was deemed to be a scam by federal law enforcement agencies. Because Mr. Whitaker was not confirmed by the Senate, both Republican and Democratic constitutional law experts warned that his appointment was, and continues to be, unconstitutional, Reps. Elijah Cummings (Md.), Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) , Frank Pallone, Jr. (N.J), and Adam Schiff (Calif.) said in the joint release. In addition, because the Senate was not given an opportunity to properly vet Mr. Whitakers background, serious questions are now arising about his fitness to serve in this position of trust. The Democrats who signed the statement are some of the most powerful in Washington. When the new Congress convenes in January: Cummings is likely to to become chairman of the House Oversight Committee Nadler is likely to to become chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Schaff is likely to to become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and Pallone is likely to to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. As chairs of these powerful committees they will have vast powers to subpoena witnesses and to launch investigations. They will be able to operate independent of and parallel to the Department of Justice which Whitaker now is in charge of. The four Congressmen said that they have mailed seven letters and they hope to receive back documents with information about Whitakers role at World Patent Marketing. The letters were sent to people with knowledge of the companys operations including Whitaker and the former founder and CEO of the company. Whitaker reportedly received monthly payments of $1,875 for serving on the companys advisory board. His role in World Patent Marketing has been under increasing scrutiny over the past week since Whitaker was appointed to his current role as acting attorney general. World Patent Marketing allegedly bilked thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars by promising inventors lucrative patent agreements, according to a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in March 2017. The company did not admit or deny wrongdoing in the settlement. The FTC shut down the company and ordered it to pay a $26 million settlement in May after accusing it of duping aspiring inventors. Whitaker reportedly was involved in such a way to assist the scam operations. For example, the congressmen expressed concerns over reports that Whitaker had sent an email to a former customer who had complained about the company in August 2015. Whitakers email was reportedly very threatening and was intended to intimidate the person who had complained about being scammed. A spokesperson for the Justice Department said last week that Whitaker has said he was not aware of any fraudulent activity. Jerrel Floyd is an Alabama raised reporter who covers Summerville and Dorchester County for The Post and Courier. Michael Majchrowicz is a reporter covering crime and public safety. He previously wrote about courts for the Daily Hampshire Gazette in Northampton, Massachusetts. A Hoosier native, he graduated from Indiana University with a degree in journalism. Assistant Columbia bureau chief Adcox returned to The Post and Courier in October 2017 after 12 years covering the Statehouse for The Associated Press. She previously covered education for The P&C. She has also worked for The AP in Albany, N.Y., and for The Herald in Rock Hill. Chloe Johnson covers the coastal environment and climate change for the Post and Courier. She's always looking for a good excuse to hop on a boat. 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. LAMBERTON, Minn. Sometimes everything just comes together with a lot of hard work, effort and planning. That is the sentiment at Red Rock Central High School in Lamberton in regards to its first-year project that has brought together private industry, the University of Minnesota and the local Future Farmers of America chapter. "Its really the brainchild of the students," said Jeff Strock, FFA adviser, U of M professor and soil scientist at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center (SWROC) near Lamberton. "This is not a funded research project. This is one of those things where a person, or a group of people, tries to have a positive impact on the next generation." The Red Rock FFA students wanted to do research projects and learn about the logistics involved in research, farming and land management. "At an advisory board meeting with the students last year, it was discussed that maybe we acquire some land," Strock said. "In the past, (the FFA chapter) used to have property it used for variety trials and raise money for projects. "One of the other board members suggested we approach the local ethanol plant to see if they had a little plot of land that we could use." The students contacted Highwater Ethanol and pitched their idea. Highwater Ethanol was open to the idea and "leased" 13 acres to the FFA chapter for research and other projects. "At the end of the day, we landed on three things and then added a fourth," Strock said about the research and projects students proposed. "They were very interested in butterflies, perennials, pollinators and diversifying the landscape." The students put a border around the 13 acres they are now managing. It has been planted and managed with perennials for pollinators, bees and butterflies. The next thing the students wanted to do was grow pumpkins as a fundraiser. "There was a lot of discussion about how do we go about growing pumpkins," Strock said. "How do you fertilize pumpkins? Whats weed control for pumpkins? There was a learning process there. The students found out there was a lot more to growing pumpkins than just sticking the seeds in the ground. They eventually planted an acre and a half of pumpkins." The students pitched their research ideas. Strock said they talked about manures, cover crops, insects and dealing with soybean aphids. Strock said the conversation then turned to logistics what treatments would be used? Who would apply the treatments? How could they replicate projects? Who was going to plant the crops? Who would harvest them? "The students found out you dont really think about all the details of what you have to do until you are actually doing it," Strock said. The students and advisers settled on a cover-crop study. They planted crimson clover and annual rye in corn, and then planted corn with no cover-crop as a control. The corn was planted in three stages to see if there was a negative impact on the yield due to competition with the cover-crop. The students also contacted local seed companies, asking that seeds be donated. Wondercheck Ag Services in Lamberton and other dealers stepped up and partnered with the students. "The results of our studies arent in," said Red Rock Central FFA President Kennedy Vold, a sophomore. "As you know, weve had some precipitation this year, and the field is still too wet to harvest. "In addition, the area we planted into soybeans for harvest flooded out completely several times this year. So that whole area is a loss." These are some of the hard lessons the students are learning along the way, Strock said. "It is my belief that students learn the most when they are doing hands-on projects and can see the results of their efforts," said Hunter Klontz, ag science teacher and FFA adviser. "Anything that kids can physically see happening is where the most learning comes from." Vold said that once the acres are harvested and the data is analyzed, the students will begin planning projects for next year. One change is imminent. "We are definitely going to plant fewer pumpkins," she said. "An acre and a half of pumpkins is a lot of pumpkins." SAN FRANCISCO California voters overwhelmingly approved a measure last week requiring that all eggs sold in the state come from cage-free hens by 2022. Proposition 12 also bans the sale of pork and veal in California from farm animals raised in cages that dont meet the new minimum size requirements. The rules will apply to farmers nationwide whose eggs, veal and pork are sold in the state. Supporters say the measure is a big step toward more humane farming practices, while opponents say it is misleading and maintains cruel practices for animals. Dubbed the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act, Proposition 12 builds on Proposition 2, that passed in 2008 and banned keeping hens, calves and pigs in tiny cages so cramped they couldnt stand up, lie down or turn around. That measure took effect in 2015, but lacked specific size requirements and did not apply to out-of-state farmers whose products were sold in California. Proposition 12 specifies how much floor space each animal needs. "Change is coming," said Josh Balk, vice president at the Humane Society of the United States, which sponsored and financed the measure. "This vote is a massive blow against industrial animal agricultures abusive confinement systems." It requires that, starting in 2020, calves confined for production have at least 43 square feet of usable floor space, while breeding pigs be given at least 24 square feet of floor space in their pens. Starting in 2020, egg-laying hens must be been given 1 square foot of floor space each on the way to being cage-free by 2022. The measure also had support from several animal welfare groups, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Sierra Club and Center for Food Safety, and a variety of veterinarians and religious organizations. The Humane Society says the upgrade will strengthen the earlier measure and restore California as a leader in the ethical treatment of farm animals. A decade ago, Proposition 2 was the farthest-reaching law for farm animals in the country. Since then, a dozen states have banned or restricted confinement for at least one farm animal. Among those opposed to the measure were the National Pork Producers Council and the Association of California Egg Farmers, which said it will raise costs for farmers and, as a result, prices for consumers. Bradley Miller, a spokesman for Californians against Cruelty, Cages and Fraud, which led a "No on Proposition 12" campaign, said the measure makes misleading claims and does little to end cruelty to animals in the near term. If you love the blues, its time to get happy Kenny Wayne Shepherd is coming to Rochester. Hes had two platinum records and has collaborated with everyone from B.B. King to Stephen Stills. His music has even been used in Batman cartoons and covered by Five Finger Death Punch. Now, hes bringing his "Blue on Black" attack to Rochester for some ripping guitar slinging thatll sear your ears, and he even took some time to answer questions for 507 readers. You got your first guitars when you were 3 years old. What memories do you have of those first instruments? I carried those things around with me everywhere. They were little toy, plastic guitars with plastic nylon strings that my grandmother got with S & H Green stamps. I learned my first notes on that guitar. I dont know how old I was, but I think it was "Smoke on the Water." What were the early days of your music career like? I got on stage the first time when I was 13, did my first demo recordings at 14, put a band together at 15, and signed a record deal at 16. All I knew is that I loved playing music, and I had an opportunity to make an album. They got it on the radio, and people started buying it. You never know if youre going to be successful or not It was just thrilling for me because I was getting out on stage and people were showing up every night. What was it like working with blues legends for 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads? Meeting up with B.B. King in his home town of Indianola, Mississippi and playing with him in Club Ebony, which is a very small juke joint, that was a unique experience. Going to Etta Bakers house. She was in her 90s. I sat with her in her kitchen, and we made music together. Reuniting some of the guys from the Muddy Waters band and Howlin Wolfs band, that was amazing. The whole thing was incredible We are actually in the planning stages of doing another version of that. What was it like making music with Stephen Stills and Barry Goldberg from your project, The Rides? They are like my big brothers, and obviously Stephen is one of the greatest American song writers of our time. It was an honor and a pleasure to be a in a band with him. Just writing songs and performing, I learned a lot from them Weve done two great records together and three tours together. Stephen was just texting me the other day, so I think the wheels are in motion for a third album. If you could recommend just one track from your most recent release, Lay It on Down,what would it be? "Diamonds & Gold." I think thats my current favorite off that record. It sounds really fresh and current Its a song I think everyone can appreciate. What was the recording process like for that record? Weve always done our albums one way: thats to get everybody in the room together and play together as a band doing the least amount of overdubs as possible, because I dont want it to sound manufactured. I want it to sound like the band is playing together as a band, as human beings in the same room interacting. What will fans hear at the Rochester show? We are featuring a lot of songs from the new record and some older stuff. We are putting some songs in the set that we havent played in many, many years that people have been listening to for a while. If people have heard us several times, theyll hear things they havent heard in previous shows. What:Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Peterson Brothers Where:Presentation Hall, Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Dr. SE, Rochester When:8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 Cost:$35-$89.50, at Ticketmaster or the Mayo Civic Center Box Office POTTSTOWN Heavy snow caused some headaches for more than just commuters around the Pottstown area. On Thursday, snow began to fall around 11 a.m. and started picking up speed as the afternoon began. By early afternoon, more than 100 accidents were reported in Montgomery County, prompting an alert from Montgomery County officials urging folks to stay off the roads. By 2:40 p.m. the number of accidents had climbed to 250 and the number of disabled vehicles had reached 350. The weather also prompted a number of early school closings in the area including Abington, Boyertown, Cheltenham, Colonial, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Merion, Lower Moreland, Methacton, Norristown, North Penn, Perkiomen Valley, Pottsgrove, Pottstown, Souderton, Springfield, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, Upper Moreland, Upper Perkiomen, and Wissahickon School Districts. Spring-Ford Area School District was the exception and parents were not happy, particularly given the number of weather-related accidents being reported in Montgomery County, and expressed that unhappiness on social media. Many schools were out by 10 and 11 not caring about the half- or full day-rules but the safety of students and staff. Why cant (Spring-Ford) ever seem to get these calls right? Jen Tornetta posted on the school districts Facebook page. Embarrassing! I picked my kids up at 1:20 and it took me 45 minutes to get there and I just got home, Janine Nicole posted at 3:30 p.m. What makes you think its safer for them to ride a bus when me alone took two hours to get home imagine how long the bus will be! New superintendent PLEASE! You closed a day last year for rain, posted Gene Suski. Give us a break. Just admit you screwed this up. Please understand that we make the decisions to open or close the schools in bad weather based on the analysis of many factors, Spring-Ford officials posted on the districts web page. Earlier this morning the weather forecasters were predicting the height of the storm would hit our area at the same time the high school students would be dismissed, officials wrote. We do our absolute best in this process and no perfect decision exists in most cases. Stephen Rodriguez, superintendent of schools for Pottstown School District, addressed the early school dismissals in a Facebook video, noting that these instances arent always the easiest to call. Weve been tracking Winter Storm Avery for three days and the forecast changed. I know because I actually took a picture of it and said, I wonder what its going to be in a few hours,' said Rodriguez. Today was a tough call because if you look at just the accumulation, you might think, Hey just tough it out. Let the kids stay in school. But knowing that things could be very dangerous and the fact that I usually have to make the call five hours before anything actually happens, like today we made the call at 8 a.m. for something that might not happen until much much later, its very difficult. In his video, Rodriguez added that there are several factors that need to be considered for such a call, including sidewalk safety for students who walk, the accuracy of the forecast and the safety of the students in the district who are bused to other schools. In some areas, an early dismissal was not enough to keep travel woes at bay, however. In Pottsgrove School District, parents reported on Facebook that their childrens buses were running behind schedule after the students were dismissed two hours early. Others felt that the call wasnt made early enough. We looked at the report and we decided to do a two hour early dismissal. We made that decision at around 9 a.m. and since then the storm has moved a little quicker and has gotten more intense than anticipated. We are starting to get our kids home right now but were doing the best we can,said Gary DeRenzo, director of community relations and co-curricular programs for Pottstown School District. By 2:30 p.m., Pottsgrove School District had sent out an update on the status of the buses. Currently, the high school bus runs are completed with the exception of Bus #4 which continues to drop off students. The Middle School currently has 75 percent of their students en-route with the remaining 25 percent still at the Middle School. The Elementary School buses have just begun their routes. The buses are now running approximately 1 1/2 hours behind their normal scheduled time. We will continue to update you as we monitor the situation. Thank you and we appreciate your patience, read the update. DeRenzo added that because the storm is different than first anticipated, the school district plans to play it by ear and make a decision regarding school schedules for Friday early tomorrow morning. Lower Pottsgrove Police also updated residents about the conditions of the roads by mid-afternoon warning that road conditions were poor and that they had already responded to a large number of disabled vehicles and crashes in the area. We have numerous patrol units out and the Township Public Work Crews have been working to keep up with the storm. Penn DOT is also out. If you dont need to go out, stay home. If do need to travel, use extreme caution: Clear windows, drive slowly and leave plenty of stopping room, warned Lower Pottsgrove Police. PennDOT announced Thursday that speed restrictions had been placed on highways, reducing speed limits to 45 mph. Additionally, Pottstown Area Rapid Transit reported that they were suspending night service for Thursday evening due to the weather. Updates on state road conditions and restrictions can be found by visiting 511pa.com According to the National Weather Service, a winter weather advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Thursday and a hazardous weather outlook has been issues for central New Jersey, northern New Jersey, northwest New Jersey and southeast Pennsylvania. Tonight, sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain can be expected before 7 p.m., then rain. The low is expected to be around 32 degrees. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible, according to the National Weather Service. Tomorrow, there is a chance of rain and snow before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of rain between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Weather will be cloudy, then gradually become mostly sunny, with a high near 42. In the third installment of our preview of the new (Fall) issue of the Claremont Review of Books (subscribe here), Angelo Codevilla reviews Julian Jacksons new one-volume biography of Charles de Gaulle. De Gaulle was one of the great men of our time. As Professor Codevilla writes: Charles de Gaulle famously said of Henri Petainthe French Armys savior in the Great War who then betrayed his country to the Nazis in the Second World War, and whose death sentence for treason de Gaulle himself commuted to life imprisonmentthat he had been a great man who had died circa 1925. Had de Gaulle died in 1945, his biography would have been one of unalloyed success: his every quirk and misjudgment buried by the near-infallible prescience, intellectual brilliance, tactical skill, massive integrity, and grit by which a relatively junior army officer placed himself at the head of a defeated country that ended the war ranked among the worlds victorious powers. Thats not quite the impression many of us had growing up with de Gaulle playing on the world stage. Professor Codevilla explains: [D]uring the years between his 1946 resignation as chief of Frances provisional government and his second resignation in 1969 after a decade as president of the Fifth Republic, he compiled a far more checkered personal and professional record. De Gaulles ideas and objectives for his country remained what they had been. And as before, his immanent task was to assemble popular consensus and marshal officials and politicians cooperation to serve those objectives. Absent the war and Nazi occupations compelling focus, however, that task was inherently more difficult and the proper path ahead was less clear. There wasnt the same pressure on those involved to compromisemuch less to sacrifice. Under these circumstances de Gaulle courted support by telling, or leading people to believe, what they wanted about his intentionsthe oldest and most short-legged of political tactics. He also sought to dispense with persuasion by seeking and exercising discretionary power. That sufficed substantially for dealing with the technocratic aspects of government. But since the problem that brought de Gaulle back to power in 1958the Arabs war against Frances 130-year presence in Algeriaraised the most inherently divisive political passions, handling it as he did injured France severely. It also produced a de Gaulle very different from the man who had liberated Paris a quarter-century earlier. We have much to learn from the life of de Gaulle, from his memoirs and from his other writings. Professor Codevillas review A certain idea of France suggests why this is the case (along with the limits of the case): De Gaulle will be studied for centuries because of what he did during World War II, and how he did it. Frances entire socio-political establishmentits government, bureaucracy, armed forces leadership: in short, the statehad abdicated the historical entity they were supposed to represent. He understood, as no one else did, that power in France would flow to whomever the people identified with the idea of a France unbowed, honored, and ultimately victorious. Thats what history tells us, anyway. Scott Rasmussen, at his new web site ScottRasmussen.com, offers some reassuring facts: From 2000 to 2016, there were a total of 4,687 statewide elections in the United States, and 26 of them have been close enough to require a recount. Three of those recounts overturned the results declared on election night: a 2004 governors race in Washington, a 2006 state auditors race in Vermont, and a 2008 U.S. Senate race in Minnesota. We remember that one. In all three cases, the change in votes was very small, 440 or less. According to an analysis by FairVote, the average change was about two-hundredths of a percentage point (0.019%). In all three cases, a Republican was initially declared the victor and the Democrat won on the recount. This year, the Florida Senate and governors races are both involved in a recount. The initial recount is scheduled to end on Thursday at 3 p.m. While the elections were very close, the leads currently held by Republicans Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis are much larger than the number of votes that typically shift during a recount. By more than an order of magnitude. Scott Rasmussen is an accomplished guy. He and his father founded ESPN back in the 1980s. They eventually sold out, and Scott founded Rasmussen Reports. I have long thought that Rasmussen Reports is the best of the pollsters, not so much on account of superior accuracy as because it is creative about asking interesting questions that often yield interesting answers. Rasmussen sold Rasmussen Reports a few years ago and was out of the polling business for a while, I assume because of a non-compete agreement. But now he is back with ScottRasmussen.com, which is well worth checking out. He has also just published a book, The Sun is Still Rising: Politics Has Failed But America Will Not. I plan to review the book when I have had time to finish it. Yesterday, Scott spoke at an event sponsored by my organization, Center of the American Experiment. We billed the speech as an analysis of the 2018 election results, but it turned out to be more (and better) than that. Rasmussen offered an upbeat assessment of where we are as a country, and why the younger generation offers reason for hope, not pessimism. It was a much needed tonic, and Rasmussen, whom I also interviewed for our magazine, is a genuinely nice guy. Yesterdays program will be re-broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio tomorrow at noon and 9 p.m. Central. Sometime tomorrow or the next day it will be posted here if you want to listen. I recommend it. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 15:31:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 508 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DEL MAR, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / American Diversified Holdings Corporation (OTC PINK: ADHC) announced today that the company will be unveiling its Cannabis Ecommerce website on Thursday 12-13-2018. ADHC web developers have been creating a state of the art ecommerce website over the last few weeks and are currently beta testing the shopping cart and web interface.The first step for ADHC is to develop a distribution model to provide CBD Infused beverages to the US consumer markets primarily through ecommerce technology. US Federal Regulations are rapidly evolving in the Cannabis arena. With the Canadian legalization and legalization in many large US states, there will be tremendous motivation for the US congress to fully legalize Cannabis. Analysts have estimated the legal Cannabis business could well exceed $50 billion in the US alone. When this occurs American Diversified Holdings Corporation "ADHC" will be very well positioned to capitalize on the billions of dollars of business in the legal cannabis industry.In additional news the company is creating a new website for it's bio device division developing the AURACISTM TENS migraine treatment device. More exciting updates will follow in the coming weeks.ADHC management is meeting with Cannabis growers, suppliers and technology providers for the Cannabis business sector. In addition to our cannabis infused beverages, we are targeting growing operations as acquisition candidates. Management is actively monitoring and excited about the new developments in Washington that shows a positive change toward Cannabis sector. The ADHC team has been working diligently with our partners to setup up a solid operating business with strong potential for enhancing shareholder value.OTC-QB Up-listing: ADHC has met with our SEC counsel and SEC Auditors and has received proposals to provide the necessary audits and legal filings to up-list to the OTC-QB. Management believes that trading on the OTC-QB will provide significant advantages to building shareholder value by attracting more institutional investors, providing more transparency to the market and creating a more appealing investment opportunity for raising capital and broadening our shareholder base.ADHC is a holding company that provides executive management, corporate governance, administrative support, financial advice, and introductions to capital sources to various micro-cap private and public companies that have proven revenues and business models.This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's plans to change and are in no way intended to guarantee that the Company will be successful in executing its plans. common stock currently trades on the over-the-counter under the symbol ADHC. This press release in no way constitutes any recommendation regarding the securities of ADHC or its affiliates. Any person reading this press release is advised that this release should be considered in the light of all facts and circumstances regarding the business and financial condition and prospects of ADHC, and no reference has been made that this release contains all information.Contact: adhcinvestor@ gmail.com Tel: 858-259-4534SOURCE: American Diversified Holdings Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 14:21:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 808 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FISHERS, INDIANA / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / American Resources Corporation (OTCQB: AREC), a mining company focused on the extraction, processing, transportation and selling of metallurgical and premium thermal coal, is pleased to announce the appointment of three new independent members to its Board of Directors. Joining the Board of Directors are Randal Stephenson, Ian Sadler and Courtenay Taplin."We're very excited about the addition of these accomplished executives to American Resources' team", stated Mark Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of American Resources Corporation. "Their individual expertise and collective guidance will be instrumental in the continued execution of our growth objectives".Information on the new American Resources board members are included below:Mr. Stephenson brings over 25 years of experience and relationships in the finance, private equity, and investment banking sector to advise and assist American Resources as the company continues its path of growth. He is co-founder and CEO of a boutique FINRA-licensed broker dealer focused in the natural resources industry and has started and expanded several successful investment banking platforms at Merrill Lynch, Jefferies, CIT Group and Duff & Phelps. He has worldwide relationships with corporations, financial sponsors, entrepreneurs and governments and has closed over 200 transactions valued in excess of $40 billion. Mr. Stephenson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and has a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University and his Juris Doctorate (with honors) from Boston College Law School.Mr. Sadler brings decades of direct leadership and experience in the steel industry and has demonstrated expertise in successfully leading rapidly-growing companies, optimizing operational efficiencies and performance enhancements to advise American Resources with its operations as it continues to grow. Prior to retirement, Mr. Sadler was the President and CEO of Miller Centrifugal Casting International in Cecil, PA. He has a history of leadership with the Pennsylvania Foundry Group, Shenango LLC, Johnstown Corporation, Blaw-Knox Corp., and National Roll Company. Mr. Sadler received his Bachelor's Degree, with First Class Honors, and Master's Degree in Metallurgy from Cambridge University and was a prior President of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) and previously served as President of the Iron and Steel Society.Mr. Taplin brings over 40 years of experience of sourcing and supplying iron ore, coke and metallurgical coal to the steel industry to assist and advise American Resources with their supply chain, logistics, and customer strategy. He has a vast knowledge of both the global and domestic marketplace where he works with both suppliers and consumers. Mr. Taplin currently manages his own company, Compass Point Resources, LLC which he founded in 2007. His prior experience includes Crown Coal & Coke Company and Pickands Mather & Company out of Cleveland, OH. Mr. Taplin attended Hobart College and received his degree from Case Western Reserve University.American Resources Corporation continues to focus on its growth objective by efficiently leveraging its large number of core mining permits and through identifying strategic, supplemental acquisitions. The company is committed to being one of the lowest cost operators in CAPP and throughout all its coal mining, processing, and transportation operations.About American Resources CorporationAmerican Resources Corporation is engaged in diversified energy services including mining, processing and logistics, with a primary focus on traditional energy sources such as coal and oil and gas. American Resources Corporation plans to expand its business by continuing to develop its currently leased properties and further expanding its processing and logistics business, and through the pursuit of strategic acquisitions.Website:Institutional/Retail/Individual Contact:RedStone Communications, LLCAnthony D. Altavilla, President317-569-1617 Office317-590-3780 celltony@ redstonecommunications.com Company Contact:Mark LaVerghetta, Vice President of Corporate Finance and Communications investor@ americanresourcescorp.com Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Companys actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The words "believes", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "seeks", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "estimates", or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.SOURCE: American Resources Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 15:23:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 566 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / On Oct 30, 2018, BDR officially laid the foundation for the construction of its new factory in Jia Xing, Zhejiang province, China. On the same day afternoon, BDR 7th industry forum is also held in Jia Xing. Under the joint witness of many local government leaders, relevant association experts and more than 500 HVAC practitioners, BDR declared that China has entered a new era of development and started a new journey in China.The building of the new plant in China fall address in Zhejiang Sino-German Jia Xing industrial cooperation park of Zhejiang province Jia Xing economic and technological development zone, plant land occupies a total of 30 mu, investment exceeds one hundred million yuan, in the future, the total sales value will exceed 1 billion yuan, it is a bigger factory after the former Shanghai factory in China.Why build factories in China continuously? Jan Van Ooijen, the Chief Operating Officer of BDR group, said in an interview, "In recent years, China has become the world's largest market for heating products and can compete with the UK market, with China's urbanization and the development of the 'coal to gas' project, this market has experienced explosive growth." China's wall hanging furnace heating market is in increasingly vigorous demand, not only because of the huge space brought by the energy structure adjustment, but also because of the huge potential from third-level and fourth-level markets. The growth of demand also puts forward higher requirements on the quantity and quality of product production. As a world-class HVAC company, BDR is in line with the trend and will go a long way.Jia Xing, where BDR China's new factory is located, is the golden hinterland of the urban agglomeration of the Yangtze river delta in China. It has a superior geographical position and a perfect transport and shipping channel, which is of great benefit to the introduction of talents and the construction of logistics system. When Jia Xing factory is completed, it will radiate the whole Chinese market. In addition, the government leaders in Jia Xing, China also gave high support and high expectations to BDR group's entry.On the day of Jia Xing factory's foundation, it also ushered in the seventh heating forum of BDR. The European headquarter senior management of BDR group, together with BDR China distributors, suppliers and trader partners, will discuss the new trend of industry development with the theme of " Dialogue New Era".As China's market is increasingly expanded, BDR kept increasing investment in China, including setting up factories, increasing the localization product research and development and production, initiating innovation on logistics system construction and sales channels development, developing HVAC talent cultivation, and executing marketing and brand communication. Under all above efforts, BDR achieved excellent results. The successful hosting of the seventh heating forum is a good example.2018, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. As a leader of the HVAC industry, BDR has witnessed the rise and prosperity of China's HVAC industry as well as the rapid development of China's economy. Now, BDR has entered a new era and ushered in a new journey of development in China. How will BDR China continue to prosper in the broader market in the future? It is worth expecting.Connect with BDR Thermea:Website: https://www.bdrthermeagroup.com Email: info@ bdrthermeachina.com SOURCE: BDR Thermea Group PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 09:07:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 715 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC/ ACCESSWIRE / November 15th, 2018 / Weekend Unlimited Inc.("Weekend" or the "Company") (CSE: YOLO FSE: 0OS1) willbe represented by Canna Candys, with which the Company has signed a letter ofintent to acquire as previously announced, at MJ Bizcon in Las Vegas throughthe conference dates of November 14th 16th.Canna Candys brand will establish Weekend Unlimited's presence in the ediblesspace as a new cannabis entrant with a fun focused, adult use strategy.Aspreviously noted, Canna Candys has distribution throughout Southern Californiain over 340 retail locations and is looking to expand in the US throughout stateswhere adult use is legal for recreational or medicinal purposes."We are excited to work with Canna Candys to reveal and launch its newlyformulated line of hard CBD Candys powered by VESIsorb at MJ Bizcon," said Mr.Cody Corrubia, President and CEO of Weekend Unlimited. "The product developmentleadership and brand savvy of the team at Canna Candys have been a strongaddition to Weekend Unlimited's team and we are working to integrate thatexpertise with our other brand leadership teams to grow the company's brandproduct portfolio," added Mr. Corrubia."Having years of experience pioneering cannabis formulation with candymaking craftsmanship, our partnership with VESIsorb will technologically set us apart from any other edibles company," said Mr.Paul Chu, CEO of Canna Candys."MJ Bizcon will allow us to advance our objectives of rolling out ourproducts across the US. We are seeking distributors and retailers to expandtheir cannabis offerings with our product lines," added Mr. Chu."As we gear up for multi-brand rollout, we are continuing ourpartnerships with experienced, licensed producers for packaging and licensingof our premium branded products, leveraging our vertically integrated resourcesfrom tissue culture to cultivation, extraction and manufacturing," noted Mr.Chu About VESIsorb:VESIsorb is the leading delivery system innovation for dramaticallyimproving the bioavailability of poorly absorbed ingredients. It is naturallyself-assembling colloidal droplet delivery system. Since 2007, close to 200 millionconsumers in all six major continents have safely and effectively used aVESIsorb formula. Peer reviewed published study showing 622% faster and betterabsorption of CBD by the body. www.vesisorb.com For further information, please contact:Mr. CodyCorrubia, President and CEOTelephone: 1(236) 317-2812 - Toll free1(888) 556-YOLO (9656)E-mail: IR@ weekendunlimited.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor itsRegulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of theCanadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy oraccuracy of this release.Forward Looking StatementsCertain information set forth in this news release may containforward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks anduncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact areforward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regardingfuture financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporatevision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategicalliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of orinvolving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management'scurrent beliefs and is based on information currently available to management.Often , but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the useof 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. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 14:35:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 561 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MUNICH, GERMANY and COPENHAGEN, DENMARK / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / The highly successful twenty-fourth annual BIO-Europe(R) international partnering conference wrapped up in Copenhagen, Denmark, last week with a record-breaking 4,200+ attendees from the life sciences who engaged in over 26,000 one-to-one partnering meetings vying for 3,145 licensing opportunities on offer. The event welcomed 2,325 companies overall, including 450 delegates from Denmark and Sweden.The event was produced by EBD Group in conjunction with Copenhagen Capacity, Invest in Skane, LEO Pharma, Lundbeck Fonden, Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes."We are very pleased with the overwhelming success of BIO-Europe in Copenhagen. Thank you to our hosts throughout the Medicon Valley of Denmark and southern Sweden for their invaluable help presenting this event to facilitate favorable deals among biotech, pharma and investment executives toward the development of therapies and cures," said Anna Chrisman, Managing Director of EBD Group and KNect365 Life Sciences. "We look forward to another great event in Hamburg, Germany, in 2019."The local hosts Copenhagen Capacity and Invest in Skane commented that they were "honored and happy to host BIO-Europe 2018 in Copenhagen and hope we got you so hooked that we will see you return in a couple of years to Scandinavia's strongest Life Science cluster Medicon Valley." The event program highlighted pharma and VC collaborations, the microbiome, European biotech creation, new research in CNS, partnering opportunities with China, cell and gene therapies, digital medicine, and a Startup Slam highlighting the innovations of very early-stage biotech. Look for detailed coverage soon on Partnering Insight.BIO-Europe(R) 2019 will be held in Hamburg, Germany, November 11-13, 2019, hosted by Life Science Nord."As we have seen again by the number of meetings this year in Copenhagen, BIO-Europe is of high importance for the life-science-sector," said Dr. Hinrich Habeck, Managing Director of Life Science Nord Management GmbH. "We are excited to be regional host of BIO-Europe in 2019 for the third time. The conference once again will provide the opportunity to present the Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein life science region as an innovative, attractive and cosmopolitan location to more than 4,000 conference attendees." For springtime partnering, be sure to consider BIO-Europe Spring(R) 2019, March 25-27 in Vienna, Austria.About EBD GroupEBD Group's overriding mission is to help collaborations get started across the life science value chain. Our range of partnering conferences has grown to become the largest and most productive conference platform in the industry. Each one of our landmark events held in key life science markets around the world is powered by our state-of-the-art partnering software, partneringONE(R), that enables delegates to efficiently identify and engage with new opportunities via one-to-one meetings.Today our events (BIO-Europe(R), BIO-Europe Spring(R), BioPharm America(TM), Biotech Showcase(TM), BioEquity Europe, ChinaBio(R) Partnering Forum, Cell & Gene Connect, Digital Medicine & Medtech Showcase and China Showcase) annually attract more than 15,000 senior life science executives who engage in over 50,000 one-to-one partnering meetings. These vital one-to-one engagements are the wellspring of deals that drive innovation in our industry.Tune into EBD Group's Partnering Insight for timely coverage of news that influences the business strategies of the life science industry. EBD Group is an Informa company. For more information please visit www.ebdgroup.com Media contact:Kari Bennett, EBD Group: +1 760 930 0500; kbennett@ ebdgroup.com European media supportAnne Hennecke, MC Services AG: +49 211 529 252 22; anne.hennecke@mc-services.eu SOURCE: EBD Group PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 00:01:02 A net 51% of business leaders plan to raise investment levels Vietnam and China top targets for cross-border investment Majority of business leaders creating more jobs as a result of technology 65% call on governments to do more to develop STEM skills Rising concerns about moving data across borders PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Business leaders across Asia Pacific remain confident that their companies revenues will grow over the next 12 months despite increasing trade frictions. In its latest survey of 1189 business leaders across the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, PwC found that 35% were very confident of revenue growth, down slightly from 37% a year ago, while a net 51% plan to increase investments over the next year. PwC carried out the survey in the lead up to the APEC CEO Summit which takes place this week in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Business leaders in the United States and Thailand were among the most confident, with 57% and 56% very confident of revenue growth while respondents in China and Mexico - two of the largest trading partners with the US - showed below average confidence. Following the imposition of further tariffs between the US and China in September, a second survey of 100 business leaders in the US showed a majority (69%) expect a positive impact on their revenues from tariffs and only 27% expect a negative impact from tariffs on company costs. In addition to being positive on revenue growth, a net 51% of business leaders are planning to raise levels of investment, up from 43% two years ago. The biggest winners across APEC for foreign investment will be Vietnam, China, The US, Australia and Thailand, with Australia entering the top five investment destinations as a new entry among respondents, and Indonesia dropping out of the top five this year. Business leaders are also looking beyond the largest markets for future investment targets. When asked which APEC economy (beyond the US and China) has the right conditions to spark the next fast-growing unicorn start up, Singapore and Japan top the list. While business leaders do not like uncertainty in any aspect of business, let alone flows of trade, they are learning to adapt to the new reality and finding ways to grow and thrive, said Raymund Chao, Chairman PwC Asia Pacific and Greater China. While around a fifth of the business leaders we spoke to had experienced new barriers to trade this year the number of CEOs who are seeing new opportunities coming out of the new trade arrangements has doubled over last year. While there are winners and losers in any trade war, our research clearly shows that businesses are uncovering new paths to growth. The market for employment is also looking positive with 56% of business leaders creating more jobs and only 9% actively reducing headcount as a direct impact of technology on their workforce. However, the right talent is not always readily available with 34% of business leaders struggling to find the people that they need with the right skills and experience. The gap is felt acutely across science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills with 65% of business leaders stating that their governments need to do more to train STEM professionals and only 14% feeling their government is doing enough in this area. This sentiment is also reflected when business leaders were asked what could be done to make growth more inclusive for more people across APEC. The number one factor that business leaders identified was expanded access to high-quality education at all levels followed by improved transport. The issues of training and education are very clearly on the top of the agenda for business leaders in APEC, giving a clear message to heads of state as they meet this week in Port Moresby about what more help could be done for business to secure long term success, said Raymund Chao. APEC business leaders are also very well aware of the need to invest more in becoming digital. With the internet economy projected to reach over US$200 billion in Southeast Asia alone by 2025, the top investment priority for business leaders is digital customer interactions closely followed by digital skills for their workforce. Business leaders also know they need to do more when it comes to being digital. Only 15% of business leaders describe their use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as highly competitive while 33% are not making use of AI at all. Those companies that describe themselves as highly competitive at AI are clear what they need to do to build on their perceived lead: increase investments, build more capability in AI and invest in local start-ups. But while technology can provide part of the answer to sustainable growth, it is also presenting challenges in the new trade environment with moving data across borders identified as the area where businesses have experienced the biggest increase in new barriers in the last year - 20% - up from 15% in 2017. As APECs businesses become more digital and embrace new technologies such as AI, data flows will increasingly become the fuel that will drive global trade. Dealing with concerns about increased barriers to data flow will remain a priority for business for some time, added Raymund Chao. ENDS Notes to editors: Find the full report at www.pwc.com/apec PwC is the knowledge partner to the APEC CEO Summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 16-18 November 2018. PwC surveyed 1189 APEC business leaders from May-July 2018. And a further 100 US business leaders in October 2018. Follow us on twitter: @PwC About PwC At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. Were a network of firms in 158 countries with over 250,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at www.pwc.com. PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. 2018 PwC. All rights reserved Contact Mike Davies, PwC Tel: +44 (0)7803 974136 mike.davies@pwc.com More details: www.pwc.com/apec Follow/retweet: @pwc PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 00:02:01 Expansion into Asia is in response to strong demand for Ducos self-service data quality and reconciliation solutions by global financial institutions Duco Continues Global Growth: Opens New Office in Singapore Chris Peacock, press@du.co, +44(0)2031119294 Duco, the global provider of enterprise data quality and reconciliation services, today announced that it had opened new offices in Singapore to support the rapid demand for its services and solutions in the region. The new office will cater to customers across Asia Pacific ensuring they receive the superior customer service and support that Duco has become known for. This is the latest office to open amid rapid growth and adoption of Ducos self-service, data agnostic platform. Duco is used by global financial institutions to accelerate digital transformation programs helping to solve a range of data quality, integrity and reconciliation challenges across multiple departments. Christian Nentwich, CEO, said, The data quality and reconciliation market is moving towards self-service, which Duco helped pioneer. To better support our customers, we see Singapore as a fantastic hub due to its strong support for Fintech and innovation, and the presence of both local and global customers. We are excited to be open for business in Singapore as we continue to focus on helping clients solve their most difficult data quality and integrity problems. Keith Whelan, Interim Head of Singapore, commented, We are delighted to open our newest Duco office. Singapore was the obvious choice considering how many major financial institutions are based here and its access to high quality Fintech talent. This will be critical as we rapidly expand our team in Asia to support our growing client base. At Duco we believe in doing things a little differently, said Victoria Harverson, Business Development Director, Asia Pacific. We are focused on leveraging machine learning and self-service technology to solve long standing data problems that have traditionally suffered from manual and legacy point solutions. Customers love our enterprise-ready SaaS platform and are looking to Duco to be the data integrity and control point in their future architecture. Our new office will support our continued expansion across Asia, ensuring clients get the best possible service and support from Duco. We look forward to joining and working with the Singapore Fintech community - especially those that are as focused as Duco on innovation through machine learning and artificial intelligence. About Duco Ducos mission is to make managing data easy. Financial services firms rely on us to reduce costs and dramatically improve efficiency in reconciliation and other data quality controls. Our self-service, cloud-based tools empower users to aggregate, normalise and reconcile any type of data on demand. Customers are live in 24 hours, with results in 7 days and tangible business value in 30 days. Headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Luxembourg, Edinburgh, Wroclaw and Singapore, Ducos customers include global banks, brokers, asset managers, exchanges and middle and back office outsourcers. For more information go to www.du.co View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114005 Our new office will support our continued expansion across Asia, ensuring clients get the best possible service and support from Duco. We look forward to joining and working with the Singapore Fintech community. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 20:08:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1008 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / Far Resources Ltd (CSE:FAT) (FSE:F0R) (OTC:FRRSF) ( www.farresources.com) ("Far" or the "Company") is excited to announce that is has commenced its fifth round of drilling--starting ahead of schedule--at its 100% owned Zoro Lithium Project in Manitoba, where it is completing a twenty-one hole programme focusing on both existing discoveries and new targets. Three holes will be drilled to complete metallurgical test studies.The first hole drilled during this campaign (FAR18-017), which targeted the newly discovered Dyke 8, intersected 13 metres of well-mineralised spodumene, extending the zone of lithium mineralisation to the east by approximately 30 metres.The Company will complete its previously announced 2,000-metre diamond drill campaign (October 23, 2018 news release), with operations based at the historic mining community of Snow Lake in mining-friendly Manitoba."Once again, Far delivers on its strategic plan by initiating its fifth round of drilling at Zoro, starting well ahead of schedule," stated Toby Mayo, President and CEO of the Company. "It comes as no surprise to us that the very first hole of this important phase of exploration has extended the known potential for mineralisation by expanding Dyke 8 to the east of the discovery hole. This news reinforces our absolute conviction that Zoro has the potential to be a major economic deposit in a previously unrecognised lithium belt, with the potential to be a major North American lithium supplier. As this campaign continues, we will be making further discoveries, while de-risking the project through the completion of our metallurgical test programme. Manitoba deserves to be recognised as prime lithium real estate." The current programme will test up to 15 high-priority lithium targets based on an integrated database including previous drill results, prospecting, geological mapping and Mobile Metal Ions soil geochemistry. The drill program will also assess the potential for expanding high-grade lithium mineralization at recently discovered Dyke 8 as well as obtaining additional material from Dyke 1 for the ongoing metallurgical test work programme. It received its work permit from the office of Sustainable Development, Manitoba Government in early November.Management believes that this fifth phase of drilling will continue to demonstrate the vast potential of Zoro. As previously announced, the Zoro Lithium Project now hosts at least eight lithium-bearing dykes with over a million tonnes identified at Dyke 1 so far. With an additional fifty targets, the Project represents a great opportunity for delineating significant tonnage of economic value.Figure 1. 2018 autumn programme drill targets at the Zoro Lithium Project. (To view the full-sized image, please click here)Currently the cutting and preparation of helicopter and drill pads is ongoing by Far's field crew. Westcore Drilling and Gogal Air Services have mobilised the drill to Dyke 8 and drilling scheduled to commence November 7. The plan is to start drilling at Dyke 8 followed by a drill move to test targets at Dyke 1. Three holes will also be drilled from representative zones of spodumene mineralization at Dyke 1 to acquire sufficient material for the commencement of metallurgical studies to be undertaken at the Lakefield (Ontario) facility of SGS Mineral Services. The drill will then move northwards from Dyke 1 to test the remainder of the high-contrast targets (Figure 1). The Company's technical crew and core technologist have also mobilised to site to prepare the core logging and sampling facility for a busy fall drill program.The fall drill programme contract has been awarded to Westcore Drilling with air support provided by Gogal Air Services.Core samples will be logged, cut, bagged and shipped from Far's core logging and preparation facility in Snow Lake and shipped to Activation Laboratories (Ancaster, Ontario) for the analysis of lithium and a multi-element suite of elements referred to as UT-7. This method is based upon a sodium peroxide fusion which captures total amounts of lithium and related elements in the sample.About the CompanyFar Resources is actively drilling its Zoro Lithium project located near Snow Lake, Manitoba, which covers a number of known lithium pegmatite occurrences. The Company has recently acquired an option on the Hidden Lake Property in NWT and is initiating drilling for continuity of spodumene mineralization to depth. In the United States, the Company owns the Winston project in New Mexico, an historic mining property with additional potential for silver and gold. Please visit our website at www.farresources.com for full details on our current projects.The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mark Fedikow P.Geo., a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101.###ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFAR RESOURCES LTD.Toby Mayo, President and CEOFOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACTRenmark Financial Communications Inc.Steve Hosein: shosein@ renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance (including our planned exploration for the Winston Project, the Zoro Lithium Property and the Hidden Lake Property) and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualificat PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 07:24:01 Andrew Boshoff steps into the newly-created role following strategic investments from Minor Hotel Group and Pan Pacific Hotels Group Global Hotel Alliance Appoints Chief Financial Officer Global Hotel Alliance Jelena Kezika, Strategic Planning Director, +97144214287 jelena.kezika@gha.com Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the worlds largest alliance of independent hotel brands, and operator of the award-winning, multi-brand loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, today announced the appointment of Andrew Boshoff as Chief Financial Officer. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114006 Andrew Boshoff, Chief Financial Officer, Global Hotel Alliance (Photo: AETOSWire) This newly-created role further strengthens the GHA management team and it follows the announcement earlier this month of investments into GHA by two of the alliances longest-serving member brands, Minor Hotel Group and Pan Pacific Hotels Group. Boshoff has more than 20 years of experience working with the worlds leading hotel and travel industry companies, as well as major US and European financial investors. He has a track record of providing financial advice and strategic insights in senior roles at international firms including Credit Suisse and Dresdner Bank. He was a co-founder of Otus Corporate Finance, the hospitality-focused corporate advisory firm based in London, and he has advised the shareholders and board of GHA on strategic issues and transactions for several years. As we welcome new shareholders and accelerate our growth plans, we are creating this new CFO role to strengthen the senior management team, and were delighted that Andrew has accepted this exciting challenge, says Chris Hartley, GHAs CEO. GHAs collaborative model is unique in its ability to support independent upscale and luxury hotel brands to compete against consolidating global major hotel operators and aggressively expanding online travel agents. Andrews financial insight and deep understanding of the hospitality and travel sector will help us to meet GHAs ambitious growth goals, as we reach our 15th anniversary in 2019 and approach US$2 billion in annual room revenues generated by DISCOVERY, our multi-brand loyalty programme. Boshoff was born in South Africa, educated in the UK and began his professional career working as a corporate lawyer with Linklaters in London and Paris. He will be based at the GHA head office in Dubai. Editors Notes: About Global Hotel Alliance Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the worlds 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. GHAs award-winning loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, provides 13 million members exclusive opportunities to immerse themselves in local culture wherever they travel. GHAs 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 About DISCOVERY Loyalty A memorable trip demands more than a comfortable stay. DISCOVERY, an award-winning global loyalty programme, provides 13 million members recognition and perks across over 550 hotels, resorts and palaces in 77 countries. Elite members have the opportunity to immerse themselves in local culture through Local Experiences, distinctive activities that capture an authentic taste of each destination. For more information, visit discoveryloyalty.com *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114006 PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 10:04:01 Goodwin Adds Life Sciences and Technology Partner Sophie McGrath in London Goodwin Somna Maraj 212.459.7212 smaraj@goodwinlaw.com Global law firm Goodwin announced today that Sophie McGrath has joined the firms European Life Sciences practice as a partner in the London office. With a focus on the life sciences, technology and impact investment industries, McGrath represents venture capital and private equity investors, management teams and companies through all stages of development. Goodwin is a unique international law firm as it arranges itself along sector lines rather than legal practice areas. This suits my practice perfectly, given my focus on the life sciences and technology sectors. Goodwins multi-disciplinary approach to these sectors, enlisting lawyers across different jurisdictions and specialist areas, is a fantastic approach to serving the legal needs of clients in these sectors, said McGrath. I am excited to be joining this market leading platform, which is perfectly suited to the needs of investors, management teams and companies across these sophisticated and ever expanding sectors. McGrath advises clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including private and public financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and restructurings and is a recommended lawyer for Venture Capital and M&A in the Legal 500 UK. In addition to her work in the life sciences and technology sectors, McGrath has a particular interest in the impact investment sector, acting for both investors and companies that are targeting a double bottom line, either through environmental or social impact. Bringing innovative companies and investors together is a Goodwin hallmark, said Mitchell Bloom, Chair of Goodwins Life Sciences practice. This connectivity is one of the main reasons that our life sciences platform has become the leader in the U.S. market, leading to our expansion in Europe earlier this year with the addition of a powerhouse life sciences team that includes partners Graham Defries and Andrew Harrow in London. The addition of Sophie to the London team further strengthens our capability in Europe as we continue to build-out Goodwins international life sciences platform for the benefit of our clients. We are thrilled to welcome Sophie to the Goodwin partnership. Goodwins Life Sciences practice was named Practice Group of the Year for the past two years by Law360, which called the firm a top choice for high-profile pharmaceutical clients, particularly in licensing deals, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings. Goodwin has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report Best Lawyers as Biotech Firm of Year for five out of last six years. The firm was also named 2017 IP Law Firm of [..] by LMG Life Sciences. Over the past five years, our London office has grown from just 15 lawyers in one practice to nearly 100 across four of Goodwins six key areas of focus, said Samantha Lake Coghlan, Co-Chair of Goodwins London office. We have been able to attract some of the best talent in the market as much because of our strategy as because of our culture, which is attractive to highly collaborative individuals with an entrepreneurial streak. Sophie is a perfect fit, both for our growing life sciences practice and for our culture. We are pleased to welcome her to Goodwin London. McGrath can be reached on smcgrath@goodwinlaw.com or 44.207.447.4821. Earlier this year, Goodwin extended its Life Sciences [..] with the addition of a top-ranked team led by partners Kristopher Brown, Graham Defries, Andrew Harrow and Jonathan Schur. Over the past several months, this team has been involved in some of Europes major biotechnology transactions for clients including Gadeta B.V., Zealand Pharma, and Orchard Therapeutics. Goodwin has advised clients in roughly 580 public offerings with an aggregate value approaching $80 billion over the past five years. In 2018 to date, the Life Sciences practice represented twenty five biotechnology companies on their public offerings with a collective value close to $4.4 billion. Goodwin earned top spots across a number of categories and regions in Mergermarkets Global & Regional M&A Report Q1-Q3 2018 report, moving into the leading positions and demonstrating that its platform is in more demand than ever before across the life sciences, technology and private equity sectors. About Goodwin At Goodwin, we use law to achieve unprecedented results for our clients. Our 1,000 plus lawyers across the United States, Europe, and Asia excel at complex transactions, high-stakes litigations and world-class advisory services in the financial, private equity, real estate, technology and life sciences industries. We partner with our clients to practice law with integrity, ingenuity, agility and ambition. To learn more, visit us at www.goodwinlaw.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005 PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 07:03:01 An investment in the offered shares involves substantial risks and uncertainties. Prospective investors should read the entire Prospectus that will be prepared by the Company, and, in particular, should see the section Risk Factors of the Prospectus for a discussion of certain factors that should be considered in connection with an investment in the offered shares. The risk factors that will be described in the Prospectus will include the risks that Sequana Medical has incurred operating losses, negative operating cash flows and an accumulated deficit since inception and may not be able to achieve or subsequently maintain profitability, that Sequana Medical's future financial performance will depend on the commercial acceptance of the alfapump (Sequana Medical's only commercial-stage product to date), the alfapump DSR and/or any future products in target markets, that Sequana Medical will likely require additional funds in the future in order to meet its capital and expenditure needs and further financing may not be available when required or could significantly limit Sequana Medical's access to additional capital, and that, not taking into account any proceeds of the Offering, Sequana Medical does not have sufficient working capital to meet its working capital needs for a period of at least 12 months from the date of the Prospectus. All of these factors should be considered before investing in the offered shares. Prospective investors must be able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the offered shares and should be able to sustain a partial or total loss of their investment. Press Release UK NICE recommends use of the alfapump for the treatment of refractory ascites caused by cirrhosis under special arrangements Ghent, BELGIUM November 15, 2018 Sequana Medical NV (Sequana Medical, the Company), a commercial stage medical device company focused on the development of innovative treatment solutions for the management of liver disease, heart failure, malignant ascites and other fluid imbalance disorders, announces today that the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published updated Interventional Procedures Guidance (IPG) supporting the use of the alfapump for the treatment of refractory ascites caused by cirrhosis. The updated IPG recommends use of the alfapump under special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research and replaces the previous guidance of February 2014 recommending the alfapump for research use only. The updated guidance is a result of the additional safety, efficacy and quality of life data published for the alfapump. Ascites, a key complication of liver cirrhosis, is the accumulation of ascitic fluid in the abdomen. Patients may accumulate as much as 10 to 15 litres of ascitic fluid within the abdomen every 15 days. Patients suffering from liver refractory ascites have limited treatment options and often have severely impacted quality of life due to the severe swelling of the abdomen, resulting in pain, difficulty breathing, moving, sleeping and eating, severe nausea and constipation. Existing treatment options for refractory ascites carry the risk of significant or life-threatening side effects, provide only short-term symptomatic relief or have very limited availability. The alfapump is a fully-implanted, programmable, wireless, CE-marked system that automatically pumps ascites from the peritoneal cavity into the bladder, where the body eliminates the ascites naturally through urination. Clinical studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in the need for large volume paracentesis, which is paracentesis where at least 5 litres of fluid is removed (i.e., the current standard of care), and a significant improvement in patients quality of life. The new IPG recommends patient selection for the alfapump to be done in specialist centers, by clinicians experienced in managing liver disease and in the various options available for managing ascites. Refractory ascites has a huge effect on a patients quality of life commented Judi Rhys, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust. Those affected report feelings of isolation and depression as they cannot do their daily activities. The updated NICE guidance for the use of the alfapump in patients suffering from this debilitating complication of liver disease is an important step forward for the patient community and their caregivers. We are enthused by the possible reduced hospital admissions and improved quality of life this new treatment option may offer. The NICE guidance reinforces our strong conviction that the alfapump has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of patients suffering from refractory ascites said Ian Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer at Sequana Medical. We are strongly committed to making the alfapump available to those patients in need of a better alternative treatment that gives them and their family the chance of living a normal life again. The forecast growth in cirrhosis and refractory ascites as a result of NASH makes the need for a modern and convenient treatment option all the more important. The offering KBC Securities and Kempen & Co are acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners. Mirabaud has been appointed as Lead Manager. Subject to the approval of the prospectus by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority ("FSMA") and market conditions, it is expected that the price range, as well as other details of the Offering will be published when the Offering period is expected to commence. After its approval, the prospectus is expected to be made available at the Company's registered office and on the websites of Sequana Medical (www.sequanamedical.com) and KBC Securities NV/SA (www.kbc.be/sequana, www.bolero.be/nl/sequana and www.kbcsecurities.com.) The Offering is expected to consist of (i) a public offering in Belgium and (ii) private placements to institutional and other qualified investors in Belgium and elsewhere outside the United States. In the United States, only qualified institutional buyers are expected to be eligible, in accordance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Contacts: Sequana Medical Lies Vanneste Director IR Tel: +32 (0) 498 05 35 79 Email: IR@sequanamedical.com Consilium Strategic Communications Alexandra Harrison, Sukaina Virji, Laura Thornton Tel: +44 (0) 203 709 5000 Email: sequanamedical@consilium-comms.com ENDS Note to Editors About the NICE guidance for the alfapump The publication of the interventional procedures guidance has recommended use of the alfapump for the treatment of refractory ascites caused by cirrhosis, with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research. More information can be found on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg631 . About British Liver Trust The British Liver Trust is the leading UK patient organisation supporting adults with liver disease and their families across the UK. They offer information and support, including a telephone Helpline, a range of publications and an online community with over 13,000 members. This is a nurse moderated forum where patients can access peer to peer support and discuss a range of topics including refractory ascites. For further information, please visit www.britishlivertrust.org.uk . About Sequana Medical Sequana Medical is a commercial stage medical device company focused on the development of innovative treatment solutions for the management of liver disease, heart failure, malignant ascites and other fluid imbalance disorders. Sequana Medicals alfapump is a fully implantable, programmable, wirelessly-charged, battery-powered system that is CE-marked for the management of i) refractory ascites (chronic fluid build-up in the abdomen) due to liver cirrhosis and ii) malignant ascites (with a life expectancy of six months or less). The number of patients with liver refractory ascites is forecast to increase dramatically due to the growing prevalence of NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis). Over 650 alfapump systems have been implanted and since April 2018, the alfapump has been included in the EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver) clinical practice guidelines for decompensated cirrhosis. The alfapump MOSAIC North American IDE feasibility study in patients with liver refractory or recurrent ascites has been completed and initial results were presented at the AASLD (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases) in October 2017. The alfapump has not yet received regulatory approval in the United States (the U.S.). The alfapump is one of the first safe and effective, long-term alternatives to large-volume paracentesis which is a lengthy, invasive and painful procedure, only providing short-term symptomatic relief, requiring hospital visits and placing a significant burden on the healthcare system and patient quality of life. By automatically and continuously moving ascites to the bladder, where the body eliminates it naturally through urination, the alfapump prevents fluid build-up and its possible complications, improving patient quality of life and nutrition, and potentially reducing hospital visits and healthcare costs. The alfapump DirectLink technology allows clinicians to receive pump performance information and more effectively manage patients treated by the alfapump. Sequana Medical is developing the alfapump DSR, built upon the proven alfapump platform, to deliver a convenient and fully implanted system for Direct Sodium Removal therapy (DSR), a novel and proprietary approach for the management of volume overload in heart failure. Data from animal studies presented at EuroPCR 2018 and HFSA 2018 indicate that DSR therapy is effective and safe. Treatment of volume overload in diuretic-resistant heart failure patients is a major clinical challenge. There are an estimated one million hospitalisations due to heart failure in the U.S. each year, of which 90% are due to symptoms of volume overload. The estimated cost of heart failure-related hospitalisations in the U.S. is $13 billion. Sequana Medical is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium and investors include NeoMed Management, LSP (Life Science Partners), VI Partners, BioMedPartners, Capricorn Venture Partners, Entrepreneurs Fund, Salus Partners, Newton Biocapital, PMV and SFPI-FPIM. For further information, please visit www.sequanamedical.com . Important Regulatory Disclaimer Any statement in this press release about safety and efficacy of the alfapump does not apply to the U.S. and Canada because the device is currently undergoing clinical investigation in these territories. Important Information This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for shares of Sequana Medical NV (the "Company"). Any purchase of, subscription for or application for, shares in the Company to be issued in connection with the intended offering that was announced by the Company on 8 November 2018 should only be made on the basis of information contained in the prospectus in connection with the intended offering and any supplements thereto, as the case may be (the "Prospectus"). This announcement is not a prospectus. The information contained in this announcement is for informational purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. Investors should not subscribe for any securities referred to in this document except on the basis of information contained in the Prospectus that the Company expects to publish after its approval by the Belgian Financial Services Markets Authority. The Prospectus will contain detailed information about the Company and its business, management, risks associated with investing in the Company, as well as financial statements and other financial data. This announcement cannot be used as basis for any investment agreement or decision. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or to any U.S. person within the meaning of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). It does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities mentioned herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The Company has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the intended offering of the offered shares in the United States, and does not intend to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. This announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons in member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") other than Belgium who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in the relevant Member State of the EEA, and together with any implementing measure in each relevant Member State of the EEA, the "Prospectus Directive"). In addition, in the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities, etc. falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, and (iii) any other person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The intended offering, as the case may be, will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise acquire securities will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents. This announcement and the information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities of the Company and it does not constitute a prospectus or a similar communication within the meaning of article 752, 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. This announcement and the information contained herein are not for publication, distribution or release in, or into, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where to do so would be prohibited by applicable law. The date of completion of listing on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels may be influenced by things such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that such listing will occur and investors should not base their financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to such listing at this stage. Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing the entire amount invested. Persons considering such investments should consult an authorised person specialising in advising on such investments. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the intended offering. The value of the shares can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the intended offering for the person concerned. No action has been taken by the Company that would permit an offer of Company's shares or the possession or distribution of these materials or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction outside of Belgium where action for that purpose is required. The release, publication or distribution of these materials in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which they are released, published or distributed, should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. The issue, the subscription for or purchase of shares of the Company can be subject to special legal or statutory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. The Company is not liable if the aforementioned restrictions are not complied with by any person. The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategies, plans, objectives, targets, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, its results of operations, prospects, growth, strategies and dividend policy and the industry in which the Company operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. New risks can emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such risks, nor can the Company assess the impact of all such risks on its business or the extent to which any risks, or combination of risks and other factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Given these risks and uncertainties, the reader should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Without prejudice to the Company's obligations under applicable law in relation to disclosure and ongoing information, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update forward-looking statements. KBC Securities NV/SA, Kempen & Co N.V. and Mirabaud Securities Limited (the "Underwriters") are acting for the Company and no one else in relation to the intended offering, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections offered to their respective clients nor for providing advice in relation to the intended offering. The Company assumes responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. None of the Underwriters or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Each of the Underwriters and each of their respective affiliates accordingly disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement or any such statement or information. No representation or warranty express or implied, is made by any of the Underwriters or any of their respective affiliates as to the accuracy, completeness, verification or sufficiency of the information set out in this announcement, and nothing in this announcement will be relied upon as a promise or representation in this respect, whether or not to the past or future. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 12:01:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 924 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BISHOPGATE, LONDON / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2018 / SolGold (LSE & TSX: SOLG) will hold its Annual General Meeting at the offices of HopgoodGanim Lawyers located at Level 7, Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia on 20 December 2018 at 11:00 a.m. (Brisbane, Australia time). A complete notice and related documents are now available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and SolGold's website at www.solgold.com.au and are being sent to shareholders of record as at 15 November 2018.You can find the Notice of AGM, Management Information Circular and our 2018 Annual report here:By order of the BoardKarl SchlobohmCompany SecretaryReferences to figures and tables relate to the version visible in PDF format by clicking the link below:CONTACTSNicholas MatherSolGold Plc (Chief Executive Officer)nmather@ solgold.com.au Tel: +61 (0) 7 3303 0665+61 (0) 417 880 448Karl SchlobohmSolGold Plc (Company Secretary)kschlobohm@ solgold.com.au Tel: +61 (0) 7 3303 0661Anna LeggeSolGold Plc (Corporate Communications)alegge@ solgold.com.au Tel: +44 (0) 20 3823 2131Gordon Poole / Nick HennisCamarco (Financial PR / IR)solgold@ camarco.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 3757 4997Andrew Chubb / Ingo HofmaierHannam & Partners (Joint Broker)solgold@ hannam.partners Tel: +44 (0) 20 7907 8500Clayton Bush / Trystan Cullen / Laura HamiltonLiberum Capital Limited (Joint Broker)solgold@ liberum.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2222Follow us on twitter @SolGold_plcABOUT SOLGOLDSolGold is a leading exploration company focussed on the discovery and definition of world-class copper and gold deposits. In 2017 SolGold's management team was recognised by the "Mines and Money" Forum as an example of excellence in the industry, and continue to strive to deliver objectives efficiently and in the interests of shareholders. SolGold is the largest and most active concession holder in Ecuador and is aggressively exploring the length and breadth of this highly prospective and gold-rich section of the Andean Copper Belt.Ecuador dedicated to become a serious mining nationEcuador has, over the last 5 years, been recognised globally as a frontrunner in emerging mining nations as it develops regulatory and fiscal frameworks to facilitate the development of a fiscally, socially and environmentally strong and responsible mining industry.Dedicated stakeholdersSolGold employs a staff of over 400 and at least 90% are Ecuadorean. This is expected to grow as the operations at Alpala, and in Ecuador generally, expand. SolGold focusses its operations to be safe, reliable and environmentally responsible and maintains close relationships with its local communities. SolGold has engaged an increasingly skilled refined and experienced team of geoscientists using state of the art geophysical and geochemical modelling applied to an extensive data base to enable the delivery of ore grade intersections from nearly every drill hole at Alpala. SolGold has 86 geologists, of which 25% are female, on the ground in Ecuador looking for copper and gold.About Cascabel and AlpalaThe Alpala deposit is the main target in the Cascabel concession, located on the northern section of the heavily endowed Andean Copper Belt, the entirety of which is renowned as the base for nearly half of the world's copper production. The project area hosts mineralisation of Eocene age, the same age as numerous Tier 1 deposits along the Andean Copper Belt in Chile and Peru to the south. The project base is located at Rocafuerte within the Cascabel concession in northern Ecuador, an approximately three hour drive on sealed highway north of Quito, close to water, power supply and Pacific ports.Alpala has produced some of the greatest drill hole intercepts in porphyry copper-gold exploration history, as exemplified by Hole 12 (CSD-16-012) returning 1560m grading 0.59% copper and 0.54 g/t gold including, 1044m grading 0.74% copper and 0.54 g/t gold.Having fulfilled its earn-in requirements, SolGold is a registered shareholder with an unencumbered legal and beneficial 85% interest in ENSA (Exploraciones Novomining S.A.) which holds 100% of the Cascabel concession covering approximately 50km2. The junior equity owner in ENSA is required to repay 15% of costs since SolGold's earn in was completed, from 90% of its share of distribution of earnings or dividends from ENSA or the Cascabel concession. It is also required to contribute to development or be diluted, and if its interest falls below 10%, it shall reduce to a 0.5% NSR royalty which SolGold may acquire for US$3.5m.Over 160,000m of diamond drilling has been completed on the project. With numerous rigs currently active on the project, SolGold produces up to approximately 10,000m of core every month. SolGold is encouraged by recent drilling results, expected to further expand and enrich the existing resource base at Alpala. The Company is also excited about notable drill hole results outside the previous resource area which promise further growth for the 2019 drilling campaign ahead. The 2019 drilling campaign will focus on further expansion of the existing resource base at Alpala, namely high priority drill targets at Alpala SE, Alpala NW, Trivinio and Alpala Western Limb.Since the publication of the Alpala Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in January 2018, which outlined a contained metal inventory of 5.2 million tonnes of copper and 12.6 million ounces of gold, the Company has more than doubled both drilled and reported meterage and will produce a revised resource statement addressing the evident growth in the size of the deposit at the conclusion of the current Alpala drill programme. Investors should consult the technical report dated 18 December 2017 for a detailed account of the assumptions on which the estimates were based as well as any known legal, political, environmental and other risks that could materially affect the development of the resources.Getting Alpala advanced towards developmentSolGold has appointed feasibility management to initially address the production of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA), prior to the prefeasibility and feasi PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 01:01:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 302 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BRITISHCOLUMBIA / ACCESSWIRE / November 14, 2018 / Sunvest Minerals Corp.(TSX-V: SSS) ("Sunvest Minerals" or the "Company") announces it has determined to focus its efforts in2019 on the Clone Gold project located in the Golden Triangle, BC. To this endit has decided to release the McKinnon-Hawkins Gold project back to the vendorsat this time.The Company also announces the resignation ofVictor Bradley as Director and Chairman of Sunvest Minerals. The Board thanksMr. Bradley for his contributions over the years and wishes him well in hisfuture endeavours.Assays from the summer work program at the CloneGold project 2018 work program are expected to be released imminently.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Mike England"Mike England, CEO&DIRECTORFOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:Telephone: 1-604-683-3995Toll Free: 1-888-945-770Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX VentureExchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release containsforward-lookingstatements, which relate to future events orfuture performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's currentbeliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees,and are subject to risksand uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and,except asrequired under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assumeany obligation to update or revise them to reflect newevents or circumstances. All of theforward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada(available at WWW.SEDAR.COM) SOURCE: SunvestMinerals Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 05:00:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 408 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 A new telehealth service has been launched, called MultiMed360, which streamlines the healthcare service. It provides direct access to doctors and nurses, reduced waiting times, and less cost.ORO VALLEY, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / November 14, 2018 / A new telehealth service has been launched, called MultiMed360, which offers a range of advantages for patients looking for fast, safe and reliable care and services. The service is designed to offer patients the best healthcare on their own schedule and location.More information can be found at: https://multimed360.com/go/telehealth With MultiMed360, patients get on-call access to health professionals. This means that any time they have worries or concerns about their health, they have the peace of mind knowing they can get expert help and guidance.MultiMed360 establishes provider and patient connection through a powerful telemedicine platform. This gives patients the healthcare they need, wherever and whenever they need it.Consumers demand high quality, personalized care and want assurance that their personal information will be safe. Many consumers said that they would be willing to switch healthcare providers if they could access them faster than their regular provider.Getting telehealth services through MultiMed360 aims to solve these issues and problems with high quality service. Patients get direct care access, with cloud based, secured and encrypted connectivity with their doctor or nurse. Most patients experienced even better quality on care services by MultiMed360 in comparison to their regular practitioner.MultiMed360 only uses the very best, state of the art technology to provide patients with the best service. By allowing remote connection to doctors and nurses, the service cuts out the transportation costs and waiting time, and streamlines the healthcare process.The team states: ''Enjoy face-to-face video sessions with your practitioner so you know exactly who you're talking to. Our friendly experts provide the clear, effective diagnoses you need to secure better ongoing health and wellness solutions.'' Patients can benefit from reduced or no waiting time, and easy access to specialist care and services. As consultation is remotely, the patience is not exposed to diseases in doctor offices or hospitals. In addition to this, the service can help people to overcome barriers to their healthcare including disabilities, transportation costs, pain, and more.Full details can be found on the URL above.Contact Info:Name: Donald BrooksOrganization: Go Doc, LLC dba MultiMed360Address: 1846 E Innovation Park Drive Ste 100, Oro Valley, Arizona 85755, United StatesFor more information, please visit https://multimed360.com/ SOURCE: MultiMed360 PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 10:03:01 Secures Top Ten position in Functionality, Customer Satisfaction and Market Presence Wolters Kluwer Wins Regulatory Reporting Category Award in Chartis RiskTech100 Rankings Paul Lyon Director of Global Corporate Communications, Banking & Regulatory Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance Division Wolters Kluwer paul.lyon@wolterskluwer.com +44 20 3197 6586 Twitter: @PaulJLyon Wolters Kluwer is this years Category Winner for Regulatory Reporting in the annual RiskTech100 report. This comprehensive study of the worlds leading risk and compliance technology companies is compiled by Chartis Research. Notably, this is the seventh time in eight years that Wolters Kluwer has achieved this honor. OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting, offered by Wolters Kluwers Finance, Risk & [..], uses a single source of data to ensure consistency, reconciliation and accuracy and includes the firms Regulatory Update Service. This unique service is maintained by Wolters Kluwer experts who actively monitor regulation in approximately 30 countries. Other significant Wolters Kluwer achievements in the report include ranking #2 out of the Top 25 providers for Customer Satisfaction and achieving a Top 10 overall position in the RiskTech100 for Market Presence. Wolters Kluwer also ranked in the top five overall in the Functionality category. This score reflects the wide range of integrated regulatory compliance and reporting solutions offered by its FRR business, along with the regulatory change management and operational risk offerings from Wolters Kluwers Compliance Program Management (CPM) business, in addition to wider Wolters Kluwer product offerings in the compliance field. According to Chartis, one aspect of functionality in the rankings refers to the level of sophistication and detailed features in the software product. Aspects assessed include: innovative functionality, practical relevance of features, user-friendliness, flexibility and embedded intellectual property. High scores are given to those firms that achieved an appropriate balance between sophistication and user-friendliness. In addition, functionality that links risk to performance is given a positive score. Following in depth analysis into the marketplace, we determined that Wolters Kluwer was category award winner for Regulatory Reporting an accolade it has enjoyed for several years in our rankings, said Rob Stubbs, Head of Research at Chartis. Wolters Kluwer scored well, achieving Top Ten positions in Functionality, Customer Satisfaction and Market Presence, as well as securing the category winner award. Wolters Kluwers FRR business, which is part of the companys Governance, Risk & Compliance division, is a global market leader in the provision of integrated regulatory compliance and reporting solutions. These solutions support regulated financial institutions in meeting their obligations to external regulators and their own boards of directors. Other key accolades for the business this year include winning Risk magazines coveted Regulatory Reporting [..] and being named Central Banking magazines Best Technology [..]. Both awards celebrate success in the field globally. Just last week, Regulation Asia also named Wolters Kluwers OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting the Best Solution in Regulatory Reporting in its Awards for Excellence, 2018. Leading financial services firms from across the world have implemented the companys award winning OneSumX solution for integrated Regulatory Reporting, Risk and Finance. Major financial services providers that have recently announced their use of Wolters Kluwer solutions include ABN AMRO, SME Development Bank Malaysia Berhad, Bahrain Middle East Bank, Bank of Beirut, China Merchants Bank, China Everbright Bank, LGT and Nordea. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, stay competitive and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. About Chartis Research Chartis Research is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global market for risk technology. It is part of Infopro Digital, which owns market-leading brands such as Risk and WatersTechnology. Chartis goal is to support enterprises as they drive business performance through improved risk management, corporate governance and compliance, and to help clients make informed technology and business decisions by providing in-depth analysis and actionable advice on virtually all aspects of risk technology. RiskTech100, RiskTech Quadrant, FinTech Quadrant and The Risk Enabled Enterprise are Registered Trade Marks of Infopro Digital Services Limited. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005 PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-15 15:05:01 Telecommunications company, ZephyrTel, showcases its products and services at AfricaCom 2018 ZephyrTel Meets the US Consul General and Deputy Mayor of Cape Town For further information please email: Mike Shinya, CEO mike.shinya@zephyrtel.com Martyn Lambert, Chief Marketing Officer, martyn.lambert@zephyrtel.com Paula Elliott, Managing Director, C8 Consulting paula@c8consulting.co.uk ZephyrTel, an ESW software company, dedicated to serving the global telecommunications industry, met with the US Consul General in Cape Town, Virginia Blaser and Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, Ian Neilson at AfricaCom 2018. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005 Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, Ian Neilson -ZephyrTel's CMO Martyn Lambert - US Consul General in Cape Town, Virginia Blaser - ZephyrTel's SVP of Customer Success, Buddie Ceronie (Photo: Business Wire) AfricaCom is the biggest and most influential tech and telecoms event on the continent, and the only place to see innovators driving Africa's digital transformation. Virginia Blaser, Ian Neilson along with the US commercial and economic officials attended the conference to learn more about what support the US government can provide to US companies expanding their presence in Africa. The US Diplomatic Mission in South Africa was keen to highlight US firms, technology and products at AfricaCom and this is why it organised an exhibition floor visit for the US Consul General and the Deputy Mayor to find out more about the products and services of US companies attending the event. This gave Zephyrtels CMO, Martyn Lambert and SVP of Customer Success, Buddie Ceronie the opportunity to talk through ZephyrTels software solutions and services in the global telco industry. The companys primary objective is to offer software as both on-premise and SaaS and deliver industry-leading throughput, robustness, scale and value to its customers. ZephyrTel is currently serving the telecommunications industry worldwide with software products for retail, infrastructure, mobile, cloud, and customer experience. Martyn Lambert commented: AfricaCom is an important event for us to be part off because we are keen to expand our presence in the African market. We are also keen to meet up with a number of our existing customers in the region to talk about our customer value programmes. We were delighted to have the opportunity to meet with the US Consult and pleased that they recognised the importance of this event and US company participation. For more information about ZephryTel please visit www.zephyrtel.com - ENDS - View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181115005 Renewed sell pressure embarked by investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) took further toll on the market indices, with index dropping to 31,000 mark. Specifically, the All-Share Index on Thursday nosedived by 244.12 points or 0.76 per cent to close at 31,864.80 against 32,108.92 achieved on Wednesday. Similarly, the market capitalisation which opened at N11.722 trillion shed N89 billion or 0.76 per cent to close at N11.633 trillion against N11.722 trillion on Wednesday. An analysis of the price movement indicated that International Breweries led the losers table, shedding N3.35 to close at N30.20 per share. Guaranty Trust Bank trailed with a loss of N2.40 to close at N34, while Mobil Oil dipped N1 to close at N150 per share. Zenith Bank declined by 75k to close at N23.30, while UACN was down by 50k to close at N9.50 per share. On the other hand, Nestle led the gainers table, increasing by N50 to close at N1, 500 per share. Nigerian Breweries followed with a gain of 50k to close at N83, while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria added 50k to close at N18.50 per share, Union Bank grew by 20k to close at N5.05, while Eco Bank Transnational Incorporated advanced by 5k to close at N15.75 per share. In spite of the drop in market indices, the volume of shares traded rose by 52.34 per cent as investors staked N2.45 billion on 349.25 million shares transacted in 2,595 deals. This was in contrast with a turnover of 229.26 million shares valued at N2.49 billion achieved in 2,726 deals on Wednesday. Diamond Bank was the most active stock, exchanging 208.68 million shares worth N185.36 million. FCMB Group followed with an account of 34.68 million shares valued at N53.83 million, while Stanbic IBTC exchanged 15.09 million shares worth N724.72 million. United Bank for Africa traded 13.62 million shares valued at N107.31 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank sold 11.93 million shares worth N423.54 million. (NAN) The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State in this interview denies he submitted fake credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as alleged by his critics, including members of his party. He also denies he signed any political agreement with other PDP aspirants during the partys governorship primary in Kaduna. Mr Ashiru denies he signed any document issued by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) before they voted for him at the primary election. He then speaks on how he hopes to defeat Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the 2019 election. Excerpts: PT: A gubernatorial aspirant in the last PDP primaries recently accused you of not honoring an agreement you all agreed to before he reportedly withdrew for you during the primary. Was there any agreement? Ashiru: I promised never to speak on this issue but let me speak now. One aspirant who recently left the PDP raised two issues. I was told that he said we had an agreement, myself, himself and Senator Ahmed Makarfi before the primaries and that was what necessitated his withdrawal from the contest. I want to tell you now that I have never sat with anybody to write an agreement. We were 11 in the contest before his withdrawal. I cant sit with one out of 11 to write an agreement even though I do not know what was the content of the agreement he was talking about. I dont know if he has availed you the opportunity to see the agreement. There was no agreement, if you are supposed go into any agreement with an aspirant, the party needs to be involved. What I know is that I met with him and Senator Makarfi and (he) agreed that he is going to withdraw for me at the primaries and that is because he has seen clearly that I am ahead of him. He has been relating very well with Senator Makarfi and that was why the senator brought us together for the brief meeting so we can understand ourselves and if subsequently we triumph at the general election and form a government, we should understand each other. That was what we discussed but there was nothing like signing an agreement at the meeting. He is entitled to his own opinion and he has his reasons. He is not the only politician that left the PDP. Sagir Takai from Kano and Abubakar Hafiz also left. Sani has his personal reasons for doing what he did. PT: Are you also aware of the attack coming from some politicians including Sani Bello that your educational qualifications are not authentic, that you submitted a fake WAEC certificate. Did you submit a fake certificate? Ashiru: All my educational results and certificates are authentic. There is no single one that I have doubt about. I wrote my WAEC and got into the polytechnic in Katsina. I did my HND in Kaduna Polytechnic afterwards. I also did my PGD (post-graduate studies), in Kaduna Polytechnic and participated in the mandatory NYSC. I served in Borno State. I also got my masters degree from Bayero University Kano. I worked in Kaduna civil service at the Ministry of Trade and Tourism. I retired in 1997 and right now, I am a pensioner. Mohammed Ashiru Isa NYSC certificate Ashiru WAEC Ashiru Diploma PT: Back to Kaduna, if you win, what are you bringing to the state? Ashiru: I was elected member representing Kudan constituency in the state House of Assembly for seven years, from 1999 to 2007 and later elected House of Representatives member and I served two terms. Re-uniting our people is my priority. El-Rufai has destroyed the civil service. We dont have a civil service in Kaduna State anymore. Kaduna was a point of reference before we left in 2007. People come to Kaduna to seek for guidance when it comes to administration. That is not what we have now in Kaduna. All the inherited asset were sold by this government, but let me tell you, it is just a matter of time. By the grace of God we will be there and we will bring our people together. PT: You decamped from PDP in 2015 to the APC and not quite long you moved back to the PDP, what went wrong? Ashiru: Same thing that made me decamp from the PDP to the APC made me move back to the PDP again. At first, in 2015 some people hijacked the party and did not allow some of us to participate as members of the party. We were denied every opportunity to participate then, so we left and joined the APC. I participated in the governorship primaries with Governor Nasir El-Rufai and when they say I did not win, I joined hands with him to deliver Kaduna to the APC. But later everything changed. The system became a master-servant relationship, we then formed the APC Akida so we can salvage the party in the state but it did not work out so I and other aggrieved loyal party members sought for option elsewhere. I returned to the PDP. The impunity that is in APC is greater than what people say PDP did. I still feel PDP is the only way to go in the state. PT: What is your view of El-Rufais 2019 Muslim- Muslim ticket and choice of a woman? Ashiru: It is quite unfortunate that he had to go that way thinking that he will have his way. Whether we like it or not, we must live together as one in the state. We are destined to come from same geographical entity and we must live together as one. It is only fair that one does the right thing. He thinks even after what he did to Kaduna people, he can manipulate his way by bringing in a woman as his running mate and win. Kaduna people have not forgetten what he did to them and time will tell. PT: Was it also true that you signed an agreement with Southern Kaduna elite that when you win you will share equally responsibilities of the state with them and give them juicy appointments? Ashiru: That is absolutely not true. I heard that too but let me tell you what happened. I met with some leaders of the Southern Kaduna groups including SOKAPU leaders and in the course of our discussion we rubbed minds and I told them that I will surely be a governor for everybody in the state notwithstanding which part you come from. I told them I will make right decisions for the best interest of everyone in the state. But there was no signing of agreements. PT: Do you think you can defeat El-Rufai in 2019? Ashiru: Power belongs to Almighty Allah. If Nasir can be governor in Kaduna, I can also be governor of Kaduna. But by the special grace of Allah, with what is on ground, surely we (are) beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We shall triumph and everybody in the state will be happy with us. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to provide evidence he (Oshiomhole) was bribed or be taken to court. The chairman made this known in a statement by his chief press secretary, Simon Ebegbulem, in the early hours of Thursday. This is in apparent reaction to a call by Mr Saraki on Wednesday in Ilorin that the national chairman should resign as he lacks the moral ground to continue to lead the party. The table seems to have turned as only a few months ago, it was the national chairman calling for the resignation of Mr Saraki following his defection from the ruling APC to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Mr Saraki, who spoke on the allegation that Mr Oshiomhole was induced to influence the results of the contoversial party primaries, said till date, the issues remain unresolved in some states. Mr Oshiomhole, who recently returned to the country, was earlier grilled by the State Security Service over the controversial primaries which have turned governors of states like Ogun, Zamfara and Imo against the former labour leader. The statement said the attack by Mr Saraki on the character of the party chairman is unwarranted, pathetic and irresponsible. The chairman also said Mr Saraki lacks moral grounds to make such accusations. He said Mr Saraki, an usurper of and pretender to the position of Senate President, had no moral ground to call for the resignation of the national chairman. It is equally sad, but not unexpected, that Saraki, who is politically drowning, would make such libelous comments against the national chairman of the APC. And I challenge Saraki to mention one name of an aspirant that gave money to the national chairman or we file a legal action against him. Whereas, the basis on which he made those comments was tenuous and unjustifiable, it is on record that Saraki has been in the eye of investigations by the EFCC and the ICPC for sundry cases of corruption, the statement read. We challenge him to mention one person who has claimed that he gave money to Oshiomhole to influence him and the decision of the partys national working committee (NWC) in the just-concluded primary elections. The Senate Committee on Gas on Wednesday said it has uncovered a fresh illegal withdrawal of $1.15 billion from the dividends accounts of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. The new revelation is different from the $1.05 billion which the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, had earlier admitted was withdrawn on the presidential directive, a report by Punch notes. Two weeks ago, PREMIUM TIMES published documents of how the federal government illegally diverted $1.05 billion (N378 billion at N360 to a dollar) to secretly fund subsidy payment on petroleum products. Documents published by this newspaper show that the fund was sourced at the height of the fuel scarcity crisis between last December and January and was secretly diverted into payments on petrol supply and distribution. Dividends from the gas firm are meant to be shared by the federal, state and local governments of Nigeria. The funds are supposed to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation rather than spent unilaterally by any tier of government. PREMIUM TIMES, in the report, confirmed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government unilaterally without required consultation with states and the National Assembly tampered with the NLNG funds. That was also done without appropriation by the National Assembly. The Senate in a reaction mandated its committee on gas to look into the issue. On Wednesday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, Bassey Akpan, explained that the $1.05 billion was withdrawn to bridge the gap of losses being suffered by the corporation on landing cost of imported fuel which is N185 compared to the pump price of N145. The same panel was mandated by the Senate, two weeks ago, to probe the $1.05 billion which the NNPC withdrew from the accounts in April this year without authorisation by relevant authorities. The committee subsequently ordered the NNPC and the CBN to submit documents relating to the withdrawals made from the NLNG dividends account within the last two years. While going through the NLNG documents presented to it on Wednesday by the Chief Operating Officer (Finance) at the CBN, Babatunde Adeniran, the committee observed a series of cash debited from the account from November 2016 to June this year totalling $2.201 billion. The breakdown of the withdrawals not supported by required approving documents as observed by the committee are $86.5 million withdrawn from the account on November 22, 2016, allegedly being payment on Paris Club loans to the Nigerian Governors Forum, and the $1.05 billion withdrawn on April 17, 2018, as National Fuel Support Fund. Others are $650 million withdrawn from the account on June 7 this year to offset the Joint Venture Cash Call by the NNPC which ordinarily supposed to be a budget item payment, and $415, 063 million withdrawn from the account also in June without clear explanation on the purpose for which it was meant for. Not satisfied with the series of withdrawals, the Senate panel ordered officials of the CBN and the NNPC who represented their bosses on Wednesday to forward to it, latest by Tuesday next week, supporting and approving documents for the withdrawals. Mr Akpan registered his displeasure at the conduct of the two agencies involved. From the available documents before us, apart from the $1.05 billion that we are mandated by the Senate to investigate, we have also discovered that several withdrawals were made from the NLNG dividends account without the required supporting documents to back them. This is unacceptable to us. We are also not happy that the GMD of NNPC and CBN Governor are not here personally. We are, therefore, not going to continue with the session today. Both the NNPC and the CBN must furnish this committee with other relevant documents on the withdrawals latest by Tuesday next week and the NNPC GMD, the Corporations Group Executive Director, Finance, Isiaka Abdulrasak, and the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, must also appear before us. Mr Akpan said a document tagged, Memo NNPC GMD 49 signed by Mr Baru and sent through the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, had no clear-cut language of a request for approval for the withdrawal of the $1.05 billion but a mere notification. Approval for withdrawal from such fund was supposed to be given by the National Economic Council being an account or dividends owned by the three tiers of government. The Nigerian Governors Forum says it will re-strategise and dialogue with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issues associated with the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage. To drive the process, the forum has constituted a committee to meet the president to work out a formula to quickly resolve the issues. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, told journalists at the end of an emergency meeting of the governors on Wednesday in Abuja that payment of N30, 000 wage was impracticable. Mr Yari, however, said the proposed wage would be paid if labour would agree to downsizing of the workforce across the country or Federal Government itself accedes to the review of the national revenue allocation formula. He listed members of the committee to interface with the Presidency as governors of Lagos, Kebbi, Plateau, Bauchi, Akwa |bom, Ebonyi, Enugu and Kaduna. Mr Yari alleged that the Tripartite Committee on the minimum wage did not include governors submission of N22,500 in its proposal to Buhari because it said that the governors decision came late. Situation where our report was not taken or considered by the tripartite committee in the presentation to the president, then, I dont know how the committee wants us to work. We still said that we want to pay but the issue is the ability to pay. If we say no, just pay, I dont know how this formula will work and I dont know how we can get solution to the issue. Today it is N18, 000. In 2015 when the president assumed office, 27 states were not able to pay, not that they chose not to pay. Now you say N30, 000, how many of us can pay? We will be bankrupt. So as Nigerians, we should look at the issues seriously, he said. Mr Yari said that if the minimum wage was pegged at N30, 000, only Lagos would be able to pay its workers. Like Lagos that is paying about N7 billion as salaries now, if you say it should start paying N30, 000 the cost of salary will be N13 billion. From our calculation, it is only Lagos state that will be able to pay 30,000. As Nigerians, this is our country, there is no other country we have and we should be fair to this country. He added that it was the same labour leadership pushing for N30, 000 that would turn around to say that governors did not build any infrastructure and how are we going to achieve that by paying only salaries. On way forward, Mr Yari said that the governors would continue to talk with labour leaders to let them see reasons why the governors have difficulties in paying the proposed wage. Apart from Lagos, even Rivers cannot pay. So, we have been crying out about this since 2011 but no one will listen. One critical example is that some states ration their salaries while some others put everything they earn on the table and ask labour to come and see and ask them to suggest how much should go for capital and personnel cost. Some say 70 per cent for personnel cost and 30 per cent for capital projects and yet the states cannot pay and they put the remaining as outstanding. On submission of states audited account, Mr Yari said that the account was submitted to the committee, adding that we are going to use the report of the audited committee to make further presentation. He disclosed that the governors also discussed the issue of Tax for Health services and had a presentation on human capital. (NAN) Boko Haram gunmen on Wednesday night killed one person and burnt down an entire village, during an attack on Mammanti, a community located just outside Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Eyewitnesses who spoke to journalists in the smoke-filled village on Thursday morning, said the attackers arrived the village at about 11 p.m. and began to shoot sporadically. The gunmen who rode bicycles were said to have immediately torched houses, mostly built of thatch roofs and walls. Some of the villagers who had retired to their beds earlier, due to the cold of the early harmattan, said it was the sound of gunshots that saved them from being roasted alive. We were jolted out of our bedrooms by the sound of the gun to see that half of the village is on fire, said Muhammed Mammanti, a ward head in the attacked community. He said the gunmen also looted several barns and pens where they made away with food items. In the village, our reporter saw chatted remains of looted grain storage as well as carcasses of roasted animals killed in the fire set by the gunmen. Women and children were seen digging out popped grains buried by the burnt debris of their charred homes. At the Eastern flank of the attacked village, a small crowd of mourners gathered to prepare the corpse of a 25 years old man, Alhassan Kwali, who was the only victim that lost his life. His name is Alhassan Kwali, an operative of the Civilian-JTF who was killed during the attack, said Mr. Mammanti. We all fled and escaped being killed, but suddenly Alhassan remembered that his livestock were still tethered inside his compound, so he decided to go back to free them. We all begged him not to go back, but he said he would be fine. He never came out until we found his corpse near his home. He was shot and his livestock were all dead killed by the fire. Also burnt were two cars parked in the palace of the district head, whose home was also completely burnt. The attack is the latest in a series of daring onslaughts that the Boko Haram have been carrying out lately around the city of Maiduguri. Last week Saturday, residents of Juddumri, a suburb of Maiduguri, located right behind Federal High Court complex, flooded the main streets of the state capital as they fled a late evening attack by Boko Haram. The military and the police are yet to comment on Wednesdays attack. The police on Thursday used tear gas to disperse lawmakers, staff and supporters of various factions of the Anambra State House of Assembly as the crisis in the assembly entered day 3. The House became factionalised on Tuesday with the controversial removal of the speaker, Rita Maduagwu, by about 20 of the 30 state lawmakers. She was replaced by Ikemba Uzoezie. But backed by some state officials, she later regained access into the chamber, on Tuesday and held a session with 11 members of the assembly. She also described her removal as a bundle of illegality but Mr Uzoezie on Wednesday said her removal was irrevocable. He also denied that the removal was a plot targeted at the state governor, Willie Obiano. Interestingly, both speakers adjourned the sitting of the house till today, Thursday. But obviously in a bid to prevent outbreak of violence between both factions and their supporters, the police cordoned off the complex. Over 300 armed police officeers, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, cordoned off the complex from the Alex Ekwueme Square entrance from 8 a.m. This affected workers of the nearby judiciary complex. Others who had businesses in the area were also denied entrance. Later, some lawmakers mobilised their supporters to the House, allegedly to show solidarity with Ms Maduagwu. Police repelled the protesters with tear gas. Consequently, the entire environment was filled with tear gas as police officers attempted to to ward off everybody in the area. A member of the House, Beverly Nkemdiche, who was affected by the tear gas shouted and screamed on end, They have killed me! Im a member of the House. Please, dont kill me When the tear gas became too hot, journalists and other onlookers scampered for safety. President Muhammadu Buhari has given consent for the renewal of three Oil Mining Licences (OML) belonging to oil and gas firm, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc. A disclosure sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday said the president gave consent for the renewal of the three licencesOMLs 4, 38 and 41to a new expiry date of 21 October 2038. (http://www.nse.com.ng/Financial_NewsDocs/24435_SEPLAT_PETROLEUM_DEVELOPMENT_COMPANY_PLC_CORPORATE_ACTIONS_NOVEMBER_2018.pdf). Mr Buhari, who is also Nigerias petroleum minister granted the approval after the company paid a renewal bonus of $25.9 million, the disclosure said. Seplat Petroleum Development Company is a Nigerian indigenous oil and gas company listed on both the Nigeria Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange. According to the disclosure, signed by Roger Brown, Seplats Chief Financial Officer, the company holds a 45 per cent working interest in OMLs 4, 38 and 41. Mr Brown added that in the first nine months of 2018, production from the licenses accounted for 92 per cent of Seplats total oil production and 100 per cent of Seplats gas production. In connection with the licence renewal Seplat has paid in full a Renewal Bonus of US$25.9 million, thus ensuring all conditions for license renewal have been met, the disclosure said. The Company is now working with the Department of Petroleum Resources to obtain the updated title deeds in connection with the renewal. On his part, Austin Avuru, Seplats Chief Executive Officer, assured that after the renewal, the company would now invest in the Nigerian oil and gas industry with confidence. We are delighted to have concluded the early renewal of our core producing licenses, OMLs 4, 38 and 41, he was quoted to have said. With the extension of the license to 2038 secured, we can now invest with confidence long into the future as we seek to further realise the full oil and gas potential of the licenses and continue to deliver value to all of our stakeholders. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is investigating the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) over the misapplication of N2.5 billion seed grant released to the agency by the federal government for its digital switch-over programme. The commission, in a statement signed by Rasheedat Okoduwa, its spokesperson, on Thursday said it has so far quizzed the NBC Director General, Ishaq Kawu, and other top management staff of the agency over their alleged involvements in the misapplication of the fund. The presidency had in 2016, released N10 billion to the Ministry of Information and Culture for the digital switch-over programme which entails migration of telephone lines from analogue to digital platforms and a White Paper was issued directing that the process be specifically handled by government-affiliated companies. Based on the guidelines provided by the White Paper, two companies were nominated to handle the process, one of which was ITS, an affiliate of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). About N1.7 billion was released to it as seed grant for the commencement of the switch-over. However, ICPC said on Thursday that through investigation, it discovered that the process was fraught with alleged corrupt practices. It was alleged that Mr Kawu fraudulently recommended a private company called Pinnacle Communications Limited, to the Minister of Information and Culture, for the release of N2.5 billion against the guidelines contained in the White Paper. The N2.5 billion was paid into the Zenith Bank account of Pinnacle Communications Limited in May/June, 2017 for the programme. The DG NBC during interactions with the Commission could not justify why the government White Paper was flouted leading to the release of money to an unqualified company, the statement said. It added that the Managing Director of Pinnacle, Dipo Onifade, during interrogation confirmed the release of the funds to the company. He could not justify that the money was used for the purpose of digital switch-over. The commission also said through investigation, it discovered several suspicious transfers of large sums of funds from the account of the company into the bank accounts of several organisations and individuals. It found out that N100 million of the fund was paid into the personal bank account of Mr Onifade in Zenith Bank which he claimed was for legal services that he had rendered to the same Pinnacle Communications where he is employed. Also investigation revealed that another N450 million was transferred into the account of Sabdat Investment Limited, a Bureau de Change, which then converted the money into dollars and handed it over to the Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited, Lucky Omoluwa, in his Kaduna residence as he usually did with other funds. Mr Omoluwa had repeatedly failed to honour invitations, the Commission said. He had also sought the leave of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the investigation as well as unfreeze the Zenith Bank account of the company that was frozen by ICPC, but was however ordered by the same court to appear before ICPC for interrogation before the next adjourned date of 3rd December, 2018 before his case would be heard. In compliance with the court order, Mr. Omoluwa has appeared before the Commission where he made useful statements to investigators, the ICPC added. General Electric on Thursday said it has handed over the leadership of a consortium chosen to run Nigerias rail concession to South Africas Transnet. The development, according to Reuters, came after the U.S. company decided to spin off its transport business. PREMIUM TIMES reported Thursday that the company has pulled out of the concession deal, struck to maintain and operate narrow-gauge rail lines across Nigeria. The railway concession project was worth around $2 billion for two lines connecting cities in the northern part of the country to others in the south. The concession was meant to cover about 3,500 km (2,200 miles) of existing narrow-gauge lines from the nations commercial hub, Lagos, through to Kano in the north. It is also expected to extend from Port Harcourt in the South-south to Maiduguri, Borno State capital, in the North-east. The consortium led by GE had submitted the only bid for the project in partnership with Transnet CGETR.UL of South Africa, Dutch-based APM Terminals and Chinas Sinohydro Consortium. GE will be transitioning leadership of the International Consortium, selected to execute the Nigerian narrow-gauge railway concession, to Transnet, the company said in a statement Thursday. This development is in line with GEs decision to exit the Transportation business from its portfolio. GE in its statement said Transnet has been a trusted partner for several decades and that it has confidence in its ability and that of the other consortium members Dutch-based APM Terminals and Chinas Sinohydro Consortium to execute on the rail concession project. Transnet has however not reacted to the development. Similarly, Ibeleme Israel, spokesperson for Nigerias minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, parried PREMIUM TIMES questions when contacted Thursday evening. Mr Ibeleme promised to get back to our reporter but has failed to do so as at the time of this report. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Amaechi was quoted to have said that the pull out by GE was no setback for the railway project. Speaking in Lagos during a visit to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, the minister said that GE was withdrawing from the railway concession and handing it over to Transnet SOC Limited in line with its strategy of exiting the transportation business. The Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), has revoked licences of 30 courier companies in the country. The General Manager, CRD, Ishaya Diwa, made the disclosure at a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday. Mr Diwa said that the licences of the companies were revoked because the operators were not complying with the rules and regulations governing courier services. For the past two years, the CRD of NIPOST has consistently been trying to sanitise the courier industry with its continuous events such as clamping down of companies. We need our courier operators in the country to work with the best standard as courier business is a worldwide business and any form of infringement will tell bad for the country. This revocation is also a means of making the environment conducive and worthwhile for operators to thrive, he said. He said that the revoked courier operators were spread across the country but majority of them were in Lagos. Mr Diwa said that the criteria for revoking the licences were based on lack of renewal of licence upward to three years and activities done not in tandem with rules and regulations of NIPOST. He, however, cautioned the public to be aware of the revoked operators and desist from working with them. Mr Diwa said that revoking an operators licence was not a death sentence. He said that if an operator changed the mode of operations, it would have to meet certain criteria, pay the backlog of the penalty; before it would be taken back. Mr Diwa said that the biggest challenge facing the CRD was that the smaller operators did not have fixed addresses where they would be seen physically. He said that economic reasons were good reasons for the operators to be cutting corners. The department has always been relaxed in enforcing rules but unfortunately Nigerians like to take advantage of things with impunity. It is good to have a small and neat courier business in the country than having the proliferation of services. Presently, we have 108 courier companies that are healthy and financially stable unlike when they were 300. The operators renewal fees in the country is about the cheapest in the world; N350,000 in a year. It is just that our people like taking short corners and that is not good for business, Diwa said. He listed them as: Abex Express, Benop Courier Ltd., Best Courier Ltd., Betkey International Venture Ltd., B-Flex Express Service Ltd., Blue Star Courier and Logistics Services Ltd., Business Messenger Nigeria Ltd., Dealdey Swift Ltd., and Fair Plus. Others are: Fleet Courier Ltd., Gbuzzorr Delivery Service, Greater Washington Capital Ltd., Green White Express Logistics, IMO Transport, Kaoline Ventures Ltd., Macdon Express Courier Ltd, Migfo Express Courier Freight, Okoli Express, and Vee Express Delivery Services. The remaining ones are: One-on-One Parcels Ltd., Pele Express, Quick Link Express, Quo Courier and Logistics, Skyhigh Express Nigeria Ltd., Speed Express Courier Ltd., Speed Mails Express Ltd., Speedmark Courier, Thanet Deliveries, Total Quality Express Services, and Universe Courier. (NAN) Four members of a family in Ilorin were feared dead after the consumption of `amala meal, suspected to be poisonous. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that four others who took from the corn meal, had also been hospitalised at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). The incident happened at Magaji-Ogo community behind Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, in Ilorin West Local Government Area. A source told NAN that the victims took the meal on Sunday night before three of them were found dead the following morning. According to him, the fourth casualty, who was the head of the family, died on Wednesday. Those feared dead are the family head, his sister and two children, while those recuperating in the hospital are the mother and three other children. The corpses of the deceased had been buried in accordance with Islamic rite. They were eight that took the meal. Though we are not sure yet of the cause of death, there is a suspicion that they died of poisoning. Officials from the state Ministry of Health were in the community to take samples of the meal for test but nothing was yet to be said of the findings, the source said. The family, NAN learnt, is an extension of the District Head of Adewole, popularly known as Alangua Adewole in Ilorin. Meanwhile, Oluwatosin Fakayode, Director, Public Health and Disease Control in the state Ministry of Health, confirmed the incident. He, however, said that the ministry was yet to identify the cause of the ugly and unfortunate occurrence. Mr Fakayode told NAN that samples from the meal were taken for laboratory investigation, which would be out within the next 24 hours. As it stands, it is difficult to say the cause until the result is out. However, we are definite that it is food poison because of the symptoms, but we are not sure of the food item that is culpable. We learnt they took these amphibian that they hawk around with it. So we are not sure if it is the source of the death because some of them are poisonous. Though we have not identified the culprit in terms of whether it is organism or chemical, definitely, it is a symptom of food poison. But our suspicion is the amphibian. It could be preservatives that were used on the items that were used for the meal, he said. When a NAN correspondent sought confirmation of the police in Kwara on the incident, its spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi, said the command was not aware of the incident. (NAN) The defence counsel has asked the judge to recuse himself from the corruption trial of Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former domestic aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The judge, Mohammed Idris, was promoted to the Court of Appeal but was granted special status to conclude all the cases he was handling at the Federal High Court while simultaneously resuming duty at the appellate court. Gboyega Oyewole, the counsel of Mr Warimo-Owei, on Thursday told Mr Mohammed to step down from the case, arguing that an amended charge according to the law should be treated as a fresh charge. Your Lordships jurisdiction is a very special one now and is only limited to concluding a part-heard matter. Immediately a charge is amended, the defendant is at liberty to call all witness called by the prosecution for further cross examination. Is Your Lordship clothed with such jurisdiction? he asked. Your Lordship is to conclude a part-heard matter only, within a reasonable amount of time. They waited until our written address is seen and must have seen that there is no way the charge can be sustained, they now want to steal a match on the defendant by amending the charge. We urge Your Lordship to strike out the amended charge. Similarly, Ige Asemudara, the counsel to the second defendant, Joseph Iwejuo, asked the court to decline further jurisdiction all together in the matter. We urge this court to decline jurisdiction to continue to entertain this charge as constituted and as amended as it constitutes fresh arraignment. Our submission is simply that the court lacks jurisdiction to continue especially with the amended charge. With the amendment, we have a duty to recall our witness because fresh allegations of forgery have been levelled against the second defendant, which means the case of the prosecution cannot be said to have been closed and it means Your Lordship cannot be said to still have jurisdiction over the matter. No matter how we look at this case as constituted, Your Lordship has lost jurisdiction and is urged to decline jurisdiction. Responding, the counsel representing the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the prosecution intends to amend the charges in line with evidences already presented in court and that the case was not starting anew. Before the filing of the final written address, the prosecution had informed the defendants in open court that it intends to amend its charge in line with evidence given and we have informed the court that the case will not start de novo because we will not call another witness, he said. On the issue of prejudice, we are only amending our charge along the line of evidence already presented. We are not saying anything new. Under the law, My Lord has the power to convict a defendant on an evidence proved before it even if its not charged. Since the amendment is only in line with evidence already adduced before this court, I urge My Lord to allow the amendment. The judge, Mr Idris adjourned the matter to November 15 for ruling on the amended charge. He said, I had read all arguments from all parties and I had been prepared to issue a bench ruling but having listened orally to all arguments, I would like to go back and assess what I felt I had read. I am very careful and would not want to take anything for granted. I would prefer to err on the side of caution. The case is adjourned to 15th of November for ruling on the amended charge. Messrs Waripamo-Owei and Iwejuo are standing trial on an alleged N1.6 billion fraud involving the office of the National Security Agency and the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said it is organising a three-day session of praise and worship in anticipation of victory in the forthcoming general elections. In a statement on Saturday, the association said the praise and worship session is also to serve as a form of prayer for Divine Intervention against possible attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2019 elections. Although the statement was signed by Adebayo Oladeji, the special assistant to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the CAN statement said the directive was given by its acting general secretary, Joseph Daramola. The association, in the statement, called on all churches across the country to join in the three days program of praise and worship, which is intended to hold November 18 to 20. The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared 18-20 November, 2018 as days of Non -Stop Praise of God for the much-awaited Divine Intervention over the next year general election and other problems facing the country. The 72 hours Praise and Worship is to be organized in all churches nationwide between 18th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 as from 7:00 am on the 18th 6:00 pm 20th November, 2018. The Programme is to celebrate the envisaged victory Nigeria is going to experience over economic, security challenges, social, religious and political problems we are facing as a Nation. CAN, through the Acting General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola, has asked all bloc leaders and their Secretaries, all Zonal chairmen, all State Chairmen and all denominational leaders to organize their church members in non-stop praise of Gods majesty over the victory he has given us in Nigeria on all our challenges, especially His intervention over the coming general election. Having noted various challenges the country is going through, the CAN Leadership considered the need for us to organize a strategic three days of non-stop praise over them in the country (as was done in the Bible in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20), especially the forthcoming 2019 elections with a view to stopping a crisis-ridden election that will not be free, fair and credible. According to the statement, the three days or praise and worship is about the victory that God has given the church in Nigeria against the forces of darkness. The praise is also about the victory we believe God has given the Church in Nigeria over all powers of darkness that want to engulf the Church in whatever guise. We should praise God that bloodshed will be no more in Nigeria. A bad leader will not be elected as our President in 2019. All human efforts to manipulate elections will fail and Leah Sharibu and all those in captivity will be released. All churches in the country are urged to participate in the programme to usher the country into a new era of peace, unity, safety and all round prosperity. CAN has been notable for its criticism of the President Muhammadu Buharis administration, accusing the President of nepotism and alleged violation of the federal character in crucial appointments of government. Mr Oladeji explained in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES that the statement quoted Mr Daramola because the directive was initially given by Mr Ayokunle in a letter, for his secretary to issue the statement. A senior lawyer, Femi Falana, has written the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, seeking powers to prosecute Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Zinox Group and Technology Distributions Limited (TD), Chris Eze Ozims, along with six others, for alleged fraud. Mr Falanas request comes barely a week after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned two suspects for their roles in the N170.3 million contract fraud against a computer retail firm, Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, Lagos. In a letter dated November 1, signed on his behalf by Deji Morakinyo, Mr Falana listed the names of others he wants prosecuted. On Saturday, Mr Falana confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES the letter actually came from his law chambers. In the letter, he listed the names of the other suspects he wants prosecuted to include Folashade Oyebode, Charles Adigwe, Onny Igbokwe, Princess Kama, Obilo Onuoha and Deborah Ojeabu. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria requested the minister to grant him fiat to prosecute the accused persons for their alleged roles in the scam pursuant to section 104(2) of the administration of criminal justice Act. EFCC Arraigns Two On October 24,the EFCC arraigned just Messrs Igbokwe and Kama before Justice D. Senchi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on a four-count charge of committing the alleged crime. The arraignment followed months of investigations by the anti-graft agency based on a petition by the managing director of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, Benjamin Joseph, to the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, accusing the suspects of involvement in the scam. Although the EFCC had, since July 2017, concluded its investigations and submittedits findings to its legal department for necessary action, prosecution of the suspects lingered following protracted disagreements on the persons to charge to court. While Mr Joseph insisted all the persons identified in his petitions to the police, EFCC and vice president were culpable and should face trial, EFCCs legal department recommended the arraignment of only Messrs Igbokwe and Kama. EFCC court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed the duo were charged for conspiring to hijack and illegally execute the contract awarded by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to Citadel Oracle Limited in 2012 Alleged Roles Of Suspects Mr Joseph had also identified Mrs Oyebode, a director of TD, a Zinox Group subsidiary; Mr Adigwe, an accountant at TD, of complicity, along with Messrs Onuoha and Ijeabu, two staff of Access Bank Plc. In his petitions, Mr Joseph had detailed how the fraud was committed, along with each suspects role, which the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Lagos of the Nigeria police confirmed after its investigations. According to the businessman, after the fraud was uncovered in August 2013, preliminary investigations revealed the suspects had impersonated Citadel Oracle by cloning its official headed paper and signatures to issue an acceptance letter for the contract. To facilitate payment for the contract, Mr Joseph said the suspects approached officials of the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi branch of Access Bank (Messrs Onuoha and Ijeabu) who released to them the original copies of documents used by Citadel Oracle to open its corporate account. To open the controversial account, Mr Joseph said a fake Board resolution purportedly issued by Citadel Oracle management was procured, with Messrs Ozims, Oyebode and Igbokwe conferred the power of attorney to act as directors of the company and authorised signatories to the account. For Mr Adigwe, Mr Joseph said he was the one, as accountant at TD, who on January 25, 2013 advised Chioma Ekeh, the managing director of TD and wife to the Chairman of Zinox Group, Stanley Leo Ekeh, to effect several transfers from the fictitious account to members of the fraud syndicate, hours after the FIRS made payments. Court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed about N115.268 million was moved from the fictitious account to TDs account at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB). Another N43.685 million was transferred from Admas Digital Technology account operated by Mr Igbokwe at Access Bank to TDs account at GTB. Apart from about N38.057 million transfer to Admas Digital Technologys account No. 1010699686 at Zenith Bank, the documents also showed Mrs Ekeh also approved another N115.268 million to be wired from the fictitious account to TDs at GTB, and another N38.057 million to Admas account at Zenith Bank. Falana seeks justice But, obviously sensing EFCCs exclusion of Mr Ozims and four other suspects from prosecution might portend a miscarriage of justice, Mr Falana said as a law firm committed to the enthronement of rule of law, human rights and social justice in Africa, his chamber was committed to seek justice. Believing the moral fabric of the society and indeed the rule of law is gravely undermined if persons are recommended for prosecution and almost five years later nothing is done, we have decided to seek your intervention. No one should be seen in our society to be above the law. According to him, in 2012, Mr Joseph had reported to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Lagos about his suspicion that a contract awarded to his company was diverted by members of a fraud syndicate who opened an account in his companys name using forged documents. Although on completion of investigation the police sent a duplicate of the case file to the Lagos office of the Directorate for Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr Falana said after studying the file, a prima facie case of fraud and forgery was established and prosecution recommended for all the suspects. Even where the accused persons expressed dissatisfaction with the legal advice and directly petitioned the DPP, a fresh review of the case file still confirmed there was sufficient ground to prosecute the suspects. However, more than four years since prosecution of the suspects was ordered, the police flagrantly refused to comply. Despite attempts by both the Attorney-General and the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, to intervene at various times to get the police and EFCC to investigate the case, Mr Joseph expressed sadness he was the victim currently standing trial for alleged false petitioning to misled the then Inspector general police. In August 2013, after the fraud was uncovered, Mr Joseph said he petitioned the police two months later, to accuse the suspects of conspiring to swindle his company of N170.3 million. Despite several reminders, including the one dated May 8, 2015 to the then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, Mr Joseph said the police remained adamant, refusing to take action. Petitioner turned accused However, on June 16, 2016, three days before the exit from office of then IGP, Mr. Joseph said he was charged to court by the police, accused of providing false information in his petition against the accused. Mr Joseph said the former IGP had alleged his July 3, 2014 petition accusing the suspects of using fictitious signatures on the board resolution of Citadel Oracle to open a fake account in Access Bank, was false. He said on July 2, 2016 he was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja on a one-count charge of false petitioning IGP Arase with intention of misleading him over a case of identity theft, impersonation and criminal conversion of contracts against the accused. Interestingly, Mr Joseph said all those he accused in his petition of being behind the fraud were used by the police as witnesses against him. In a petition to the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Joseph had alleged victimization by the police. He blamed his travails on insider manipulations orchestrated by a senior ministry of Justice official, Stella Anukam, the director of International & Comparative Law. Following his petition, the AGF directed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to immediately take-over the case to avoid miscarriage of justice. He also ordered a probe of Mrs Anukams role in the whole saga. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has said he is willing to let Nigerias oil producing states have absolute control of crude oil revenues from their domains, but added he is reluctant to immediately implement such policies at this stage of national development. The PDP candidate told The Africa Report that federating units once had considerable control of their resources, unlike the current federal laws that only allow 13 percent derivation for states in the Niger-Delta, where Nigerias sweet crude is extracted. Although Mr Abubakar acknowledged the appropriate sharing formula might be difficult to say at this point suggesting it would depend on negotiations he recommended a limited role for the federal government in appropriating crude revenues. Nigerian states can get more because in the First Republic the regions had 50/50, Mr Abubakar told The Africa Report in an interview published Wednesday. I dont mind giving even 100% [], but I would tax those states to maintain the federal government. But the former vice president recognised this is not advisable at this stage of our development. Even during the First Republic there was this derivation sharing between revenues and resources, or between the regions and the federal government. So I think we could have a middle course. It would be unfair to ask me for specifics; that will depend on negotiations, he added. Of all the presidential candidates for the 2019 election, Mr Abubakar has emerged the most vocal advocate of restructuring, an ideological standpoint that canvasses more powers for states at the expense of the central government. He believes Nigerias subsisting Constitution, which recommends a federal system but implements a unitary one, should be urgently reviewed and replaced with a sovereign document that would engender a more peaceful and economically viable nation. Oil revenues still account for over 80 percent of the Nigerian governments revenues as of 2017, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, despite efforts towards economic diversification. In the face of a floundering agriculture and services sector, reducing the federal governments share of oil revenues to only taxes paid by about nine oil-producing states could be difficult to achieve soon. It is a good thing that the former vice president said he cannot go ahead with giving the Niger-Delta total control of oil income right now, Busola Odukoya, an economist, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday morning. The only problem here is that it could cause some people in the region to resume violent agitation for resource control, especially if Mr Abubakar is elected. Ms Odukoya said it would be difficult to predict any negotiation that would result in allocating up to or more than 50 per cent of crude earnings to the states. Apart from the offshore oil revenues which the government in Abuja can easily control, the crude lifting within states borders in the Niger-Delta cannot be shared even 50/50 with the centre, the economist said. The negative impact on some states in the northern or central parts of the country can only be left to imagination. You have to allow decades of regular economic growth, some of which I have seen the candidates talk about this year, before you can be thinking of cutting oil revenues from federal government, she added. British Brexit Minister, Dominic Raab, resigned on Thursday over Prime Minister Theresa Mays deal to leave the EU. He said in a statement on Twitter I regret to say that, following the Cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal, I must resign. Mr Raab resigned on Thursday, thrusting Mays government into turmoil just two days after she clinched an EU divorce deal that was mauled by opponents, allies and mutinous members of her party. Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election, Mr Raab said. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. I cannot support the proposed deal, Raab said. Also, the Work and Pensions Minister, Esther McVey, quit on Thursday over the Brexit deal agreed between London and Brussels. The deal you put before the Cabinet yesterday does not honour the result of the referendum, McVey wrote in a letter to May, joining Brexit Secretary Mr Raab in quitting. May gained collective but not unanimous approval for her Brexit plan from senior ministers on Wednesday, and McVey said that the withdrawal agreement was not what Britons voted for when they chose to leave the EU in 2016. It will be no good trying to pretend to (Britons) that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone it doesnt, she wrote. The proposals put before Cabinet, which will soon be judged by the entire country, means handing over around 39 billion pounds to the EU without anything in return We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. The resignations of the senior ministers thrust the United Kingdom into a political crisis just as May was attempting to garner support for a Brexit deal which her opponents have warned could sink her premiership. It also throws the future course of Brexit into uncertainty: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of Mays deal, potentially ending her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendum. Raab said Mays plan threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom and he could not support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU held a veto over Britains ability to exit. UKs May prepares to reveal her draft Brexit deal. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement, Raab said in his resignation letter. The 44-year-old was appointed to the role of Brexit minister in July this year following the resignation of his predecessor David Davis, who also quit in protest at Mays Brexit strategy. European Union leaders will meet on Nov. 25 to endorse the divorce deal. British journalists said anger among Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers was so high that they might call for a vote of no confidence in Mays leadership. There was no confirmation. ITV reporter Robert Peston said enough demands for a no confidence vote could be lodged by lunchtime on Thursday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Raab was the 15th minister to leave the May cabinet since November 2017, and just a week after Jo Johnson left as Junior Transport Minister, also citing disagreements in the Brexit deal. (Reuters/NAN) The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed the threat by the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) that states may have to sack workers if forced to pay N30,000 as minimum wage. The union said the threat is not new and that workers are standing firm on the figure agreed by the tripartite negotiation team as the new national minimum wage. The Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, who is also the chairman of the NGF, said on Wednesday after a NGF meeting that N30,000 minimum wage was impracticable. He said the proposed figure could only be paid if labour would agree to downsize its workforce across the country or federal government itself accedes to the review of the national revenue allocation formula. Mr Yari said only Lagos State would be able to pay its workers N30,000 as minimum wage. Like Lagos that is paying about N7 billion as salaries now, if you say it should start paying N30, 000, the cost of salary will be N13 billion. From our calculation, it is only Lagos State that will be able to pay 30,000, Mr Yari said. As Nigerians, this is our country, there is no other country we have and we should be fair to this country, the governor said. Reacting to the governors comment through a statement he personally signed, NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, on Thursday advised state governors to sacrifice their huge salaries and allowances to pay the proposed new minimum wage. We propose that since a few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabeled as salaries, we urge such elected public officials to subject their humongous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world, pro rata with the minimum wage they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers. We, therefore, urge each state governor to go to their respective states and inform workers and their families their individual position on the new national minimum wage of N30,000, Mr Wabba said. Mr Wabba said the bargaining process for a new minimum wage under the 1999 Constitution only recognises individual states and not the NGF, noting that the states had already defended their positions during negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee. The 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) recognises individual states in the Collective Bargaining Process NOT Nigeria Governors Forum. The states, like the other social partners, have already defended their positions during negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee vis-a-vis counter proposals, he stated. The NLC president urged workers to remain firm in the struggle for a new national minimum wage, adding that Nigerians should vote out any political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000. We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000. We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour governors and politicians in the forthcoming 2019 general election. The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Organised Labour urge workers to remain steadfast and firm on our rights to decent wages and improved living conditions. To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you We will never sleep on our rights! he said. Mr Wabba advised Mr Yari to desist from using the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum to seek political relevance. Former Gov. Abdulazizi-Yari of Zamfara State. His tactics of blackmail against workers are already timeworn and the stench is already offensive, he said. Academic activities have resumed at the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe, where Boko Haram insurgents abducted 110 schoolgirls on February 19. The Principal of the school, Adama Abdulkarim, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Dapchi that, at least, 80 per cent of the students and teachers had resumed. More than 80 per cent of the students has resumed, likewise the teachers. Almost all of them are around except very few who are away for one or more official reasons. School activities are moving smoothly as they were before the ugly incident, she said. Mrs Abdulkarim said that the school had taken some measures to alleviate the students trauma for effective learning. Before the incident, there were no matrons in the school, but now, with the help of the local government and permission of the ministry of education, we have been able to source for six elderly women. We instructed the matrons to always be around, especially in the hostels, after class hours, to comfort and encourage the students. On the side of the government, the military, police and civil defence personnel have been around the school at all times, she said. The principal told NAN that the state government had created admission spaces in the school for 700 students in the next academic session. By the grace of God, the incident will not happen again, she said. She called on governments, non-governmental organisations and public-spirited individuals to assist the school. The school needs to be rehabilitated with essential facilities that will attract parents to bring their children to learn and actualise their dreams, the principal said. One of the students, Aisha Kolo, told NAN that the students were being well taken care of. She called on students, yet to resume as result of the abduction, to return. She prayed that such an incident would not happen anymore. NAN reports that the insurgents released the abducted students a month later, with the exception of Leah Sharibu and five students who died in captivity. They held Miss Sharibu back for reportedly refusing to renounce her Christian faith. (NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has uncovered 340 million Tramadol tablets in 12 containers at the Apapa port in Lagos. Head of public affairs of the agency, Jonah Achema, stated this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Mr Achema said that the tablets which were in various dosages ranging from 120 milligrams to 250 milligrams were recovered from 12 containers in the ongoing search in Apapa port. He said the containers were on the watchlist of NDLEA since November, 2017 and were brought to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for search based on the agencys reasonable suspicion of the containers containing tramadol. He stated that the NCS on Wednesday dropped 28 of 62 containers slated for search, among which 12 of them were been found to contain tramadol. The search is still ongoing. Tramadol is a pharmaceutical drug which has been subject of abuse by the populace. In one single operation in November last year, the agency intercepted 160 million tablets of tramadol at the Apapa port which ranged from 220 to 250 milligrams. They were imported from India using false documents in the name of an unregistered company, Mr Achema said. According to Muhammad Abdallah, Chairman, NDLEA, it is doubtful that this influx of Tramadol is for legitimate use. Tramadol, which is a derivative of Opiate is for post-surgery application but even if everybody in Nigeria undergoes surgery every year, we do not need the quantity that enters our country. It only suggests their diversion for illicit use, he said. (NAN) The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has announced the withdrawal of its presidential candidate, Olusegun Mimiko, from the 2019 presidential election. The National Chairman of the party, Dan Nwanyanwu, made the announcement at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. He said the party would approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Mr Mimikos name and file same for the Senate. According to him, looking at the political barometer, Nigerians have zoned the office of the president to the North. He said the North had produced two powerful candidates President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. Mr Nwanyanwu said Mr Mimiko has the records to show and the capacity to replicate what he did in Ondo across the country. We are starting the process to persuade Mimiko to withdraw and take a senatorial ticket; after all, we need strong men at the senate to pass the necessary laws after the election next year. He is a loyal party member and I can assure you, with the discussions we have had, by tomorrow we should be filing his name as a senatorial candidate after withdrawing it from the presidential race. ZLP will be part and parcel of the making of a new president, we shall support one of the big parties but that is left to the party to meet and decide. We have to look at all the options and all that has happened since 2015, what is on ground and who is able to deliver for the common good, he said. Mr Nwanyanwu said there were too many candidates running for the 2019 presidential elections. According to him, these candidates have formed themselves into groups, supporting one presidential candidate or the other. It does not work like that and we should stop deceiving ourselves, the election for next year appears to be between the incumbent president and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. I do not know how people will keep deceiving themselves; if you are a presidential candidate of a party and you are either supporting Buhari or Atiku, it does not work, that is deceit. Drop your presidential ticket, narrow it down so that votes would not be lost. If you pretend to be a candidate and close to election, your people will meet, an agreement is reached and then you announced you are supporting Buhari or Atiku; you should not be taken seriously, he said. Mr Nwanyanwu said such candidates have between now and Saturday to withdraw their presidential candidacy to support anybody of their choice. He said it was important to do so to avoid confusion and possible loss of votes in the 2019 presidential race. Mr Nwanyanwu said every vote is important in the 2019 presidential election urging contestant willing to drop at the last minute to do so before November 17 to cut down the number of names on the ballot paper. Withdrawing close to the election will not make any meaning but withdrawing early enough will reduce the number of names on the ballot paper. This is because those in the villages who wanted to vote for you and does not know what you are doing here in Abuja will still go on to vote for you and such votes will be lost, this is to avoid confusion, he added. (NAN) A meeting between the Nigerian government and university lecturers has ended Thursday evening without resolution of the nationwide strike by the teachers. The teachers said the strike which began on November 4 would continue. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called the strike over its demands for improved funding of universities and welfare of lecturers. Thursdays meeting began 3p.m and ended 8:15 p.m. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said governments discussion with ASUU will continue next week . Mr Ngige earlier said the meeting with the university teachers was late in coming due to the minimum wage negotiation. He appealed to ASUU to put the interests of student as who are at the receiving end into consideration. ASUU president, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the union have tendered its request and also said the meeting has been adjourned till next week. According to him, no date has been fixed but we will communicate the date to you tomorrow, he told waiting journalists. He said the union was forced to call the strike after its plea for the implementation of the 2009 agreement fell on deaf ears. Our meeting with the education minister in May and September to remind him about federal government promises to implement the agreement yielded no result, he said. Mr Ogunyemi earlier said the government had promised to take action on issues raised in the last MOU signed by the two parties but it does appears that federal government is dribbling the union. Details later The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has filed a N3 billion lawsuit against Jaafar Jaafar, publisher of Daily Nigerian newspaper for alleged defamation over publications of videos clips showing the governor collecting bribes in hard currency from a contractor. In the writ of summons obtained by PREMIUM TIMES in the suit filed at a Kano State High Court on November 13, counsel to the governor, Nuruddeen Ayagi, demanded the defendants to appear before the court within 14 days. The counsel prayed the court to declare that the act of publishing and circulating libelous statements, false and doctored video clips attacking and impugning the character and integrity of the plaintiff amounts to defamation of character of the character plaintiff by the defendants and thus wrongful. Mr Ayagi also asked the court to outrightly declare that unqualified imputation of theft, fraud, corruption and dishonesty which are all criminal offenses by the defendants publication against the plaintiff without any conviction by a court of law, is slanderous, libelous, injurious and wrongful. The governors lawyer also prayed the court to further grant the following: An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing the said defamatory story and sharing the said doctored video clips howsoever to whichever type of audience. An order compelling the defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum of N3, 000,000,000 ( Three Billion Naira) as damages for the defamation of the plaintiff character and standing. An order compelling the defendants to write a public apology to the plaintiff and broadcast such apology through their online platforms and news media with global accessibility. In a statement of oath sworn at the High Court registry, Kano and attached to the writ of summons, Mr Ganduje claimed that as royal prince of Ganduje village and seasoned administrator, he has never been accused or indicted for fraud or any other corrupt practices. The governor stated that As a responsible senior citizen, the publications of the defendants have hurt my image, impugned my character and lowered my esteem in the estimation of all reasonable persons. Daily Nigerian has reported Mr Jaafar saying his lawyers would study the process and respond appropriately after he and the company are duly served. The FCT Administration will generate 5,073 plots of land from the four new districts designed recently in the Phase IV south of the Federal Capital City, Abuja. These four new districts namely Mamusa North, Mamusa East, Parfun North and Parfun South have been designed based on neighbourhood concept of various densities of high, medium and low. The FCT Director of Land Administration, Adamu Jibrin, who made this disclosure today in his office, noted that the design with necessary supporting facilities has plots of various sizes. The director further disclosed that out of this number of plots, Mamusa North will generate 1,404; Mamusa East-1,313; Parfun North-1,156, while Parfun South will provide 1,204. Mr Jibrin remarked that these four new districts will provide a total of 4,818 Residential plots; 117 Commercial plots, 42 Public Institution, 34 Religious Institution, 41 Green Area Open Space/Recreational while Education and Agriculture have 19 and 2 respectively. He noted that the Department of Survey & Mapping is presently undertaking the detailed surveying work of the four districts in order to make them available for allocation. The Director reiterated that the current leadership of the FCT Administration is making frantic efforts to reduce the enormous number of applicants awaiting Land Allocation and thus, the creation of these four brand new districts. According to him, the design of these four new districts was deliberately made to ensure expansion and opening up of planned districts contiguous to the already designed and detailed districts in accordance with the phased programme of the Abuja Master Plan Implementation. Mr Jibrin emphasised that plots generated will also be used to address cases of double/multiple land allocations that this government inherited but is assiduously working to resolve in the territory. The director recalled that in recent time, the department has been able to resolve over 1,000 double/multiple land allocations that were hitherto prevalent in the Federal Capital Territory. He revealed that the Land Department has also thoroughly gone into its vaults and has so far identified over 1,500 uncollected Certificates of Occupancy, which the government intends to place advertisement to enable owners to come forward to claim. He paid tribute to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, for repositioning the Land Use and Allocation Committee (LUAC), which he has strengthened and allowed to function without influence thereby making objective and transparent resolution of knotty issues. His words: This time around, all stakeholder technical departments are all members of LUAC thus, creating uncommon synergy since all matters pertaining to land pass through LUAC. Mr Jibrin also revealed that this administration has institutionalised Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms by making it an effective tool of reducing court cases, which used to be the order of the day. The director reiterated that this administration has been able to sanitise the department by making proactive moves in tandem with the Ease of Doing Business of the Federal Government; stressing that a visit to our Customer Service at the front Desk of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) can attest to this. He however called on allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up their title bills like ground rents and premium charges; warning that non-payment of ground rents for at least three years can be a ground for revocation of title. Mr Jibrin advised residents to stop patronizing touts whenever they have anything to do on land; stressing that due diligence should be observed before transaction on any property. He added, Our Customer Service is always opened to the public, so anybody wanting to transact on any property in the Federal Capital Territory should avail themselves to our first class services at the front desk of AGIS Customer Service. An Upper Area Court in Kasuwan Nama, Jos, on Thursday ordered the remand of a 14-year-old boy, Useni Abdullahi, for four months for stealing from the University of Jos. The judge, Yahaya Mohammed, found the teenager guilty of conspiracy, trespass and theft, and remanded him without an option of fine. Mr Mohammed ordered that the teenager be remanded at the Young Peoples Home. Earlier, the prosecutor, Ibrahim Gukwat, said Awara Adara of the Security Section of the University of Jos reported the case on July 29. The prosecutor submitted that the teenager and one other boy still at large conspired, entered into the generator house of the institutions hostel and stole some items. We caught them with electrical control box, armoured cable wire, water steaming wheel and electrical switch control. Their value is still unknown. The items have been recovered from him after a thorough investigation, the prosecutor told the court. He said that the offences contravened Sections 96, 342 and 286 of the Penal Code and punishable under Sections 97, 343 and 288 of the code. (NAN) The Social Democratic Party (SDP) says Ahmed Abu, the member of the House of Representatives for Mokwa/Edati/Lavun in Niger State, has joined its fold. Spokesperson of the party, Alfa Mohammed, in a statement he made available to journalists on Thursday, said SDP was expecting more federal lawmakers to join it in the next 48 hours. According to the spokesperson, the party has submitted Mr Abus name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a substitute for its candidate in his constituency. Hon. Ahmed Abu, member representing Mokwa/Edati/Lavun has defected to the Social Democratic Party, SDP. His name has been submitted to INEC as the partys substitute candidate for Mokwa /Edati/ Lavun Federal constuency,he stated. When PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Mr Mohammed to get the details of the candidate replaced and why, he said the candidate withdrew for personal reasons but did not give the name or any other details. Mr Abu was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives. He is the son of the late Isah Mokwa, a popular grassroots politician and political adviser to late Governor Abdulkadir Kure. More details later A Sagbama High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday remanded five suspects who allegedly attempted to rob Governor Seriaki Dickson in his country home at Toru Orua. The accused, Esther Engbeke, Tamnatony Jacob, Wodu Ebikebomu, Emmanuel Dorgu and Sinclair Thursday are being tried for alleged conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Justice E.T Okara ordered their remand in prison after they denied the charges, and adjourned the case till December 6 for hearing. The prosecutor, Ayebatonye Jumbo, told the court the accused conspired to procure arms with the intent to invade Mr Dicksons country home at Toru Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area. Mr Jumbo alleged that one of the accused, a construction worker at Mr Dicksons residence, had discovered a room stuffed with cash. This was after their initial plan to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission under the whistle blowing policy to get commission had failed, the senior state council said. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Robbery and Firearms Act of 2004. Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson speaking The prosecution witness, Richman Ebipade, told the court that the accused had during investigation, confessed to procuring arms for the proposed operation. However, Mr Ebipade, under cross examination by the defence counsel, Julius Iyekoroghe, told the court that his investigative team did not recover the said arms from the accused. (NAN) The factional speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Ikemba Uzoezie, on Wednesday described the removal of the speaker of the house, Rita Maduagwu, as irrevocable and irreversible. Mrs Maduagwu was controversially removed on Tuesday by 20 out of the 30-member assembly. But, backed by some state officials, she later regained access into the chamber and held a session with 11 members of the assembly. She also described her removal as a bundle of illegality. Interestingly, both speakers adjourned the sitting of the house to Thursday. Mr Uzoezie, on Wednesday evening, told journalists that the removal was final. The factional speaker, who was flanked by 15 other members of the assembly during the briefing, maintained that due process was observed in the removal of Mrs Maduagwu. He debunked insinuations that the assembly was being sponsored by the opposition with the intent to remove the state governor, Willie Obiano, thereafter, as untrue and unfounded. According to him, the assembly is loyal to the governor and the lawmakers have no reason to rise against Mr Obiano. We have nothing against the governor, so no one should begin to think that the impeachment of the speaker was targeted at governor. We remain loyal to the governor, and there is nothing to fear. We are just tired of the several sins of Rita Maduagwu and (we) needed to effect a change of leadership, hence her removal, Mr Uzoezie said. The wife of Jim Nwobodo, the former Governor of old Anambra State, Pat Nwobodo, has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as Junior Jim, who has exhibited outstanding leadership qualities similar to that of her husband when he was governor. Mrs. Nwobodo added that she was proud to call Mr Ugwuanyi Junior Jim and speak well about him because he has remembered and accorded past leaders of the state their due respect. The wife of the former governor, who spoke during this years Annual Constituency Outreach/ Empowerment programme of the Deputy Leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly and Member representing Enugu South Rural Constituency, Onyinye Ugwu, also commended Mr Ugwuanyi for entrenching peace and security in the state, saying that everybody now has rest of mind. She equally applauded Mr Ugwuanyi for his recent benevolence to the family of the iconic highlife musician, Mike Ejeagha, stressing that such rare gesture depicts the governors humility and why she calls him Junior Jim. Mrs. Nwobodo maintained that Mr Ugwuanyi has unique leadership qualities of humility and compassion for the people, recalling: I opened a newspaper few days ago and I saw our governor and Chief Mike Ejeagha as they were seated on a chair. Who would have remembered such a person? That is humility, that is why am here. She also thanked the governor for giving Mr Ugwu the opportunity to serve the state and equally appreciated the organiser of the empowerment programme for her contributions to the upliftment to the wellbeing of the downtrodden in the community, pointing out that such gesture was in tandem with the vision and leadership style of the governor. Responding, Mr Ugwuanyi thanked Mr Nwobodos wife for her kind words, saying that I am proud to be a Junior Jim one of our foremost and revered Leaders. The Oyo State Muslim Community on Wednesday appealed to the federal government and the National Assembly to intervene in the ongoing controversy surrounding the use of hijabs by female Muslim students at the University of Ibadan International School. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the International School of the University of Ibadan was shut following controversy over wearing of hijab to school by some of the students, who were reported to have being accompanied by their parents to the school. However, in further reaction to the development, the Muslim Community, at a press conference jointly organised with Muslim Parents Forum of the school, declared that the issue must be urgently addressed. They alleged that the management of the school was tampering with the constitutional rights of the female students of Muslim background. The secretary general, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Ismail Busari, while addressing journalists, said there is an urgent need for the federal government, national assembly, state government and the authority of the University of Ibadan to intervene in the matter, before the issue escalates. He explained that wearing of hijab by female Muslim students is a God-given right which is enshrined in the constitution. He noted that Muslims will not allow anyone to tamper with their rights, unchallenged. We are calling on (the) government, and those in positions of authority to intervene to ensure that this does not escalate. Hijab is a global phenomenon, it is a God-given right. It is our right. We have seen case of judges, nurses and even uniform women in other countries putting on hijab, he said. We want the authority of (the) University of Ibadan to intervene. We want the government; the national assembly to come to the aid of the school, before it escalates. They are calling (for) anarchy. We want those in government to come before our God-given right is tampered upon, he stated. He reiterated further that they should desist from calling Muslim names and Muslims should not be labelled as terrorists again. Tell those victimising us to desist from victimising us. If Muslims can wear hijab in USA, Britain and other countries, we are Nigerians, our children should be allowed to wear hijab. The chairman, Muslim Parents Forum of the School, Abdulrahman Balogun, while speaking to journalists, added that the Muslim parents and their children have over the years, called for the use of hijab but all efforts to make it work have been turned down by the school management. He also explained that several letters written to the management of the school on the issue are yet to be responded to. Here we are, we want you to hear our own side of the story. I am a parent; my children are in the school. They are profiling Muslim students separately. I have been to many countries; no one does that. Putting Muslims in a separate class and putting Christians in a separate class. We have written several letters to the principal but up till now they are yet to reply us. We have been suffering in silence. However, when journalists visited the school for reaction of the principal, Phebean Olowe, all efforts were unsuccessful as the principal was said to be in a meeting. A gateman at the school, identified as John Mike, told journalists to leave the school premises following directive from the management that they, (journalists), should not go beyond the school gate. The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community and Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the counsel to Monica Osagie, a victim at the centre of sex-for-marks scandal, have reacted to the decision of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) decision to arraign Richard Akindele, a dismissed lecturer of the institution. The ICPC, in a release on Wednesday, announced that Mr Akindele will be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Osogbo for allegedly demanding sex from Ms Osagie in order to upgrade her academic result from fail to pass. PREMIUM TIMES reported in April how the randy lecturer was caught in a leaked phone recording seeking five rounds of sex from the female student. In the audio, the student repeatedly addressed the other person in the conversation as Prof Akindele, who later protested, saying, stop calling my name! Also, several members and a reverend of the Anglican Diocese of Ife, Osun State where he worships as a minister, confirmed the voice in the audio to PREMIUM TIMES as that of Mr Akindele. Following the condemnation from the public, OAUs management set up a panel to look into the scandal. The panel suspended Mr Akindele indefinitely at the end of April. It later dismissed him in June, having found him guilty of inappropriate relationship with one of his students, a claim to which he admitted. Mr Akindele later said the demand for five days of sex was a deliberate attempt to play along with the student, an argument the university did not buy. Also, in August, the victim, Ms Osagie said she has been unable to secure a job after exposing the lecturer. However, ICPC said the professor will be docked on November 19 on a 3-count charge contrary to Sections 8 (1) (a) (ii), and 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, punishable under the same sections. Mr Akindele has reportedly asked for plea-bargain, having admitted guilt and also cited ill-health as a factor that may make him unable to stand the rigours of prison life. He pleaded that his prayers for plea-bargain be considered, more so as he was already serving punishment for his offence, having been sacked by the university. Reacting to this development, Mrs Akiyode-Afolabi, a counsel to Ms Osagie, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that the lecturers arraignment is victory for the feminist movement and in particular, Monica Osagie and thousands of men and women sympathetic to Monicas cause. The fact that he has pleaded guilty and ready for plea bargain will serve as a deterrent to others, who exploit students. If his plea is accepted, it will not avail him of still being a convict. The option is a short cut for him though, but a great lesson for the university communities in Nigeria. We will continue to insist that institutions must brace up to free students from other predators like Prof Akindele. Effective mechanism should be in place to prevent occurrences and respond to cases where it occur. My client is quite excited. It has been a tortuous journey. My client will continue to advocate for other young women and encourage them to speak out against this and other forms of abuse. We commend ICPC for the professionalism displayed to ensure that this case got to this level, she said. The chairman of Congress of Universities Academic (CONUA) in OAU, Niyi Sunmonu, while reacting, said the maximum punishment in the book of the university has been done. For us in the university, we have done the needful. However, since it emanated from OAU, what we do as a union is to continue to sensitise our members on sex scandal(s) which we have done a seminar (on), earlier. Also, students who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, applauded the decision of ICPC and hoped that it will be a lesson for other randy lecturers in the school. A student, who simply identified herself as Bukola said Mr Akindeles arraignment is a welcome development. This will surely serve as lesson to other randy lecturers. I hope other institutions lecturers having scandals around their neck also face the court of law, she said. Another student, Rachael, said Mr Akindele deserves the punishment. The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has been criticised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities for saying that university teachers, especially professors, were doing better in terms of welfare under the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Mr Fayemi, who reportedly made the comments during an interactive session with Nigerians living in France, said the current ASUU strike was needless as the Buhari government had done more for education than any other government. The governor noted that most professors in Nigerian universities earn N500,000 monthly, the same salary he also earns as a governor. However, ASUU at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, on Wednesday chided the governor over his comments while disagreeing with his position. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Bola Oniya, ASUU said its members had been going through hard times since the beginning of the current administration. Since the inception of the current administration, there has been several untoward interference by certain dramatis personae in the guise of oversight functions in public universities and thus challenging the autonomy of universities in Nigeria, the statement read. These dictations from various quarters are unwholesome for the smooth running of the universities and against the global best practices. Since December 2015, workers in public universities (state and federal) have been plagued with shortfalls in salaries. For three years running, the same problem persists and the Ekiti State University will rank high on the list of state universities with the shortfall problem as the university is owing workers for five months. The governor may claim that the debt was inherited, but the clock is ticking. Where did the governor source his information? The basic salary of a professor at bar (to his family) is less than N300,000 monthly, and with his other allowances he earns about N500,000 till he retires at 70. A similar reaction from ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, also challenged Mr Fayemi to return to the university as a lecturer rather than the governorship position if he thinks university lecturers earn a better pay. Chairman of the chapter, Deji Omole, in a statement, said the union would not be distracted in its struggle for the revitalisation of public education by Mr Fayemis comments, whom he descrived as a political opportunist. He also challenged Mr Fayemis source of information on the salaries of a professor, urging him to publish same, as no newly promoted professor earns N500,000 monthly. A newly promoted professor in the slave enclave called Nigerian universities earns below N400,000 and will only be able to receive N500,000 monthly after 10 years of becoming a professor and this includes all allowances, said Mr Omole. It is sad that someone living on state resources with his family and countless aides with juicy salaries will not be circumspect in thought. Fake news and propaganda have been the trademark of the ruling APC. Fayemis utterances revealed the mental state of those ruling us. We challenge him to publish what a professor earns as salary and allowances and what governors earn and allowances. If lecturers earn more than governors, why did Fayemi run away? Fayemi should tell the world how much he spent on capital grants to EKSU during his first sojourn in office. Nigerians should ask him why he failed to pick up the appointment offered him as an associate lecturer by the University of Ibadan. ASUU has not made monetary issue the main issue but her members are entitled to allowances owed them since 2010. We are more concerned with a revitalised university that is adequately funded to attract foreign scholars. Fayemi should attract an international professor and offer to pay him $1500 per month and let us see how many of them he can bring to Nigeria. A person who bought nomination form for N22.5 million to become governor and spent billions to campaign, with his party listed among those who bought votes, Fayemi should tell lies to his party men who are not discerning. The former Ondo State Commissioner for Works, Gboye Adegbenro, has dropped his senatorial ambition to allow his former boss, Olusegun Mimiko to replace him. The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Thursday in Abuja, announced that it has officially withdrawn from the presidential race and its candidate, Mimiko would now be fielded for Senate. Mr Adegbenro, who is the Ondo Central senatorial candidate of the ZLP, said in Akure on Thursday that he has withdrawn for Mr Mimiko. It became imperative that I bring to a close, my aspiration to represent Ondo Central Senatorial District at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this critical juncture, he said. According to him, having consulted far and wide with his family, business associates, followers and constituents, he is bowing out before the full race commences in the interest of the party and state. More than the above, I am convinced that the candidacy of our leader, Mimiko, will better serve the interest of the district now and the overall goal of the south west. I am eternally grateful to my constituents, followers and party leaders who have been with us all through the processes that culminated into taking this decision and renew my commitment and unalloyed dedication to the Zenith Labour Party. l remain a firm believer and supporter of my brother and leader, Mimiko, who invited me into partisan politics and who has always provided selfless leadership, he said. (NAN) The Osun State University says no fewer than 62 of its students will bag first class degrees during the institutions 7th Convocation Ceremonies holding between Thursday and November 22. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Lamode Popoola, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday in Osogbo, the state capital. The university will graduate a total number of 1,647 students among which are 62 students with first class in various degrees. Also, 693 students will be awarded second-class upper and 756 students would bag second class lower honours. A total of 131 students finished with third class while only five students would be awarded pass degrees, he said. Mr Popoola further said that three prominent citizens would be awarded honorary degrees. According to him, those to benefit include a former governor of the state, Bisi Akande, the outgoing governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the Managing Director of Niger Delta Exploration and Production Plc, Francis Fatona. He also said the convocation lecture entitled, Six Decades of Chequered Nationhood: Nigeria Still holds the Key to Africas Development, would be delivered by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He said the university would continue to be a centre of excellence by providing high-quality teaching and learning to groom quality human resources for the country. The vice-chancellor also said the Senate had approved the creation of an Institute for Global Affairs and Sustainable Development for postgraduate programmes. (NAN) Nine of the 26 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the amended version of the 2018 Appropriation Act despite warnings by the other 17 members that such amounted to illegality. The budget was earlier presented to the house by the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, shortly before the house erupted in an impeachment crisis last Friday. Majority of the members had impeached the speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, and his deputy over allegations of corruption and elected Olamide George as the new speaker. But Mr Oleyelogun, backed the police and thugs regained control of the assembly, forcing the other members who carried out the impeachment to flee the state for fear of further attacks. Mr Georges faction raised the alarm on Thursday over plans by Mr Oleyelogun and eight other members to pass the amended budget which they said had a number of questionable clauses which needed to be scrutinised. In a statement signed by the majority leader of the house, Araoyinbo Olugbenga, the group warned that the minority and sacked leaders do not have the powers to pass financial appropriation of the state. It has come to our attention that the impeached speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly will be passing what is unconstitutionally known as a Re-Ordered Budget today, Mr Olugbenga said. We wish to state that the request for the passage of this bill is one of the major reasons why we chose to remove and suspend the former leadership of the House on Friday, 9th November, 2018. Rt Hon Oleyeloogun had informed us that the Governor was desirous of passing the bill into law as quickly as possible under a procedure unknown to our Standing Rules, indeed, unknown to any known Law of our State or Nigeria. By this bill, the government seeks to cover the many shady and un-appropriated approvals and spending which are in excess of what is authorized by the Budget. In the instant case, there are so many cases of moving funds from one head of expenditure to fund another head to the detriment of the expectations of our dear people of Ondo State and there are so many cases of unjustified spendings particularly under some ministries that are under the purview of persons who are dear to the heart of the governor. There are many curious and inexplicable expenditures particularly under the Government House and Protocols while important heads of expenditure specifically designed to ameliorate one hardship or the other for our people would have their allotted funds moved into heads that are only important to Mr Governor and his hangers- on. Oleyelogun acting in cahoots with the Governor and some other House leaders insisted that we could not ask for the Years Budget Performance and could definitely not hold a Public Hearing even to enquire from affected ministries why they chose to either overspend beyond what is in the Budget or asked the Finance Commissioner why they condoned so much illegality by allowing virements ab initio. We were informed that the Governor would rather simply give us some hush money while they would employ what they called Oku Oru system by which they would just generate some papers to appear as if the bill had gone through a normal process. We refused and demanded that the right thing must be done. We have been made to know that the Governor has compelled the Staff of the House of Assembly in spite of the present danger his action of calling thugs into the House has placed their lives in to sit with the impeached speaker and his fellow companions (who do not form a quorum) on the Highway to Infamy and pass this illegal contraption of a bill into Law. We want the general public to know that a bill of such importance was moved from the First to the Second Readings and committed to the Committee in one single sitting on Monday and is ready to be passed into Law only three days later! How thorough could they have been? We wish to state that as unacceptable as this is, it is still a tad better than the earlier proposed Oku Oru system developed and perfected by the Leadership of Oleyeloogun whereby bills are passed, resolutions are given clandestinely for the use of Mr Governor. Please note that our law provides that financial bills shall be passed by only two thirds majority of members of the House. Any financial bill that does not enjoy this consent must of necessity be null and void. Let the whole world know and indeed every investor who brings their money into this cesspool being manned and supervised by the Governor of Ondo State, Gov Oluwarotimi Akeredolu know that they do so at their own risk. Despite the alarm raised by Mr Olugbenga and his group of lawmakers, the Oleyelogun faction did not only pass the amended budget, but went ahead to dissolve all standing committees of the house. With Mr Oleyelogun presiding as the speaker at plenary on Thursday, a report on the budget was presented by the chairman of the committee on finance, Sunday Olajide, which was considered and accepted, leading to the passage of the budget. Submitting the committees report, the chairman, Sunday Olajide, explained that members of the committee did a thorough job and invited concerned MDAs for proper scrutiny. The committee further recommended that the state government should ensure that the provisions of the re-ordered funds were conscientiously applied to the needs stated therein so that the good intention behind the dispensation would be fully attained. The lawmakers after debating on the report of the amended version of the 2018 appropriation law unanimously passed it. Mr Oleyelogun, in his remarks, said it was necessary to pass the amended appropriation bill to enable the state governor meet his financial obligations to the workers in the state, especially the payment of Paris Club refund which was not initially appropriated for in the 2018 budget. He also praised the governor for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of the state workforce, noting that what the Assembly was doing is in accordance with the dictates of the law. Besides dissolving the standing committees, Mr Oleyelogun and the eight lawmakers appointed Jamiu Maito as the new majority leader of the house, while Abayomi Akinruntan as deputy majority leader and Kaseem Suleiman as parliamentary secretary. 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. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784853/Ceuta_Chief_Executive_Edwin_Bessant.jpg ) The Group is an official partner of the publication, and one of a number of selected companies that share with the Prince the values and passion for the next generation of business growth. Celebrating a lifetime of achievement and heralding his current and future roles and responsibilities, this high-quality, coffee-table book will chart the Prince's seven decades; from his early years through to his present status as one the most significant figures on the world stage. Our Future King: Prince Charles at 70 is edited by the best-selling, award-winning author Robert Jobson, who has chronicled the story of the House of Windsor for the past 30 years. It also gives a detailed look at the many areas in which the Prince has contributed to society through his various charitable associations, and includes exclusive pictures from his Royal Tours over the last 18-months. Ceuta's Chief Executive, Edwin Bessant, founded Ceuta Healthcare in 1994 with joint-founding partner Annette D'Abreo after discovering a gap in the market for companies wanting an alternative and more affordable solution to calling on pharmacies, before making strides in the European and Global economies with the formation of Ceuta Group. Bessant says: "I noticed over time that brand owners were struggling to bring external agencies together to work on specific projects to manage and grow their brand. This became the catalyst for expanding our offering and forming Ceuta Group." The fully illustrated hardback was launched in the refined setting of the Ritz London hotel in Piccadilly. Contacts: Clem Watts Group Communications Manager | Ceuta Group O: +44(0)844-243-6661 | D: +44(0)7824-356819 A: 41 Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6HS W: www.ceutagroup.com SOURCE Ceuta Group Despite the lack of direct-to-consumer promotion, frequent brand requests from EU5 patients drive prescribing behaviour, DRG Digital | Manhattan Research data show LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Just over half of consumers across the EU5 markets reported asking their doctor for a specific medication in the past 12 months and half of these patients said they were always prescribed the requested drug. In some countries and conditions, product requests and resultant prescribing were higher: In Spain , 78% of cancer patients requested a specific medication, and 64% said they always received it. , 78% of cancer patients requested a specific medication, and 64% said they always received it. In France , 76% of respiratory patients requested a specific treatment, with 57% saying they always received it. "These data underscore a need for pharmaceutical firms to provide patients with condition information online and at the point of care," said Gintare Greenfeld, Senior Patient Analyst at DRG Digital. "We find that one third of EU5 consumers are searching online when experiencing new symptoms. Directing these patients to non-promotional education and support resources can improve consumer perception of a manufacturer and potentially inform a product request." When it comes to supporting patients, pharmaceutical firms are perceived particularly harshly in Germany, where just 22% of consumers see drug companies providing patients with anything more than the most basic resources. Consumer perceptions of patient support are only slightly better in the UK, where 25% of consumers are aware of beyond-the-pill offerings from pharmaceutical manufacturers. "With brands focused on promotional efforts for healthcare professionals in EU5 markets, many pharmaceutical companies neglect to offer any quality communications centred on the patient," said Jeff Wray, Director of Europe and APAC Research at DRG Digital. "However, we see strong unmet need for education and support from the pharmaceutical industry among consumers in these markets, and companies can meet that need with non-promotional resources." DRG Digital | Manhattan Research has expanded its European research offering in 2018, opening a London office anchored by Mr. Wray and European Commercial Director Carlos Casanova. The company has also added to its portfolio of European studies, which include the long running Taking the Pulse Europe physician studies and Cybercitizen Health Europe patient studies, along with a new study publishing in December entitled Global Multichannel Payer Communication. That study will feature insights into pricing and reimbursement stakeholders' information-seeking and decision-making behaviours across several European and global markets. A poster presentation drawing on a related study of U.S. payers was accepted for presentation at this week's congress of The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). The aforementioned findings come from Manhattan Research's 2018 Cybercitizen Health Europe 2018 study of 3,000 consumers in the UK (600), Germany (600), France (600), Italy (600), and Spain (600). Full results of the studies, fielded online during fall 2018, are available to pharmaceutical companies and industry partners. To request information about patient, physician and payer studies, specific data segments or study methodology, email Digital@TeamDRG.com. About DRG Digital | Manhattan Research DRG Digital, part of DRG, is the life science industry's partner for data-driven customer engagement and commercial innovation. DRG Digital's Manhattan Research studies are the longest-running studies of multichannel attitudes and behaviours among healthcare customers. Brands, marketers and digital teams at 40+ leading life sciences companies rely on DRG's experts, research and intelligence to understand their customers and communicate with them through the right channels, content, messaging and innovations. Visit www.DRGDigital.com or follow @DRGDigital to keep up to date on Manhattan Research analysts' thinking and access eBooks, infographics, webinars and other resources. About Decision Resources Group DRG, a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd., is the premier source for global healthcare data and market intelligence. A trusted partner for over 20 years, DRG helps companies competing in the global healthcare industry make informed business decisions. Organisations committed to developing and delivering life-changing therapies to patients rely on DRG's in-house team of expert healthcare analysts, data scientists, and consultants for critical guidance. DRG products and services, built on extensive data assets and delivered by experts, empower organisations to succeed in complex healthcare markets. To learn more, visit www.decisionresourcesgroup.com. Media contact: Sydney Ferber, +1-212-414-7598, sferber@teamdrg.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/75057/decision_resources_group_logo.jpg Related Links http://www.decisionresourcesgroup.com SOURCE Decision Resources Group (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/783768/Swarovski.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/783769/Swarovski.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/783770/Swarovski.jpg ) During the event, the Star was raised to the top of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, where it will first be lit during the official tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 28. Swarovski Star by Daniel Libeskind The new Swarovski Star is the first redesign of the famed crystal tree-topper since the inaugural Swarovski Star was unveiled in 2004, when the company first partnered with Rockefeller Center co-owner Tishman Speyer to present the Star. Libeskind's Star is a brilliant showcase of Swarovski's 120-year heritage of turning light into delight. The 900-pound star is 9-foot 4-inches in diameter and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million Swarovski crystals, harnessing the company's innovative crystal technology and mastery of the refraction of light in a dazzling, three-dimensional structure. The dramatic architectural lines push through space, bursting with dynamism in a radiant reflection of Libeskind's design vision. Star Boutique and Holiday Ornaments Later this month, Swarovski will debut the Star Boutique on Rockefeller Plaza, also designed by Daniel Libeskind. The 200-square foot shop is crystalline and star-like in form, with a faceted construction created from glass panels and video screens. Visitors can purchase jewelry, ornaments and gifts from Swarovski and Atelier Swarovski, including a new range designed by Daniel Libeskind for Atelier Swarovski Home. An exact replica of the Swarovski Star, also created with 3 million Swarovski crystals, will be on display at ground level next to the Star Boutique, enabling visitors to explore its design close-up. Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, commented: "We are honored to work with one of the world's greatest creative talents, Daniel Libeskind, on his thrilling new design for the Swarovski Star atop the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Each holiday season the Star brings joy to New Yorkers and visitors from around the world, and will shine as a beacon of hope for many years to come." Daniel Libeskind, Principal Design Architect of Studio Libeskind, commented: "The new Swarovski Star for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is inspired by the beauty of starlight - something that radiates meaning and mystery into the world. The Star is a symbol that represents our greatest ambitions for hope, unity and peace. I am tremendously honored to collaborate with Swarovski on the Star, and with the entire design team, to bring cutting-edge innovation and design to crystal technology." A previous Swarovski collaborator, Libeskind is renowned for his design of cultural spaces and monuments, including the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the Denver Art Museum and the master plan for the reconstruction of New York's World Trade Center site. In 2016, Libeskind created a crystal and marble chess set for Atelier Swarovski, with pieces inspired by his cutting-edge architectural designs. Projects such as the Swarovski Star honor Swarovski's heritage of collaboration and innovation, partnering with visionary design talent to push the boundaries of crystal creativity and craftsmanship, with the aim to create a more sparkling world. Recognized globally as a symbol of hope, community and holiday cheer, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree brings together New Yorkers and visitors in a celebration of the holidays. The tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dates back to 1931. About Swarovski Swarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, the company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality crystals, genuine gemstones and created stones as well as finished products such as jewelry, accessories and lighting. The Swarovski Crystal Business is run by the fifth generation of family members and has a global reach with approximately 3,000 stores in around 170 countries, more than 27,000 employees, and revenue of about 2.7 billion euros in 2017. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasives), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group. In 2017, the Group generated revenue of about 3.5 billion euros and employed more than 32,000 people. A responsible relationship with people and the planet has always been an integral part of Swarovski's heritage, and is embedded today in the company's well-established sustainability agenda. In addition, the global Swarovski Waterschool education program has reached 500,000 children on the world's greatest rivers, and the Swarovski Foundation, set up in 2013, works to support culture and creativity, promote human empowerment, and conserve natural resources to achieve positive social impact. http://www.swarovskigroup.com About Daniel Libeskind Studio Libeskind is involved in designing and realizing a diverse array of urban, cultural and commercial projects around the globe. Our Studio is a collaboration of architects and designers that believe architecture is a practice of optimism. We approach our projects with the attitude that to make great places, you must believe in the future, but also remember the past. Studio Libeskind's architecture emerges from the idea that a building should be expressive and reflect contemporary life. Innovation is at the core of our design process. We believe that bold design must be realized with sustainable technology and we strongly believe that the art of architecture lies in creating a maximum impact within the constraints of budgets and functionality. We know from experience that great architecture comes from working with great clients; however, architecture is a public art and we hold ourselves accountable not only to the client, but to the communities, and cities in which we build. Daniel and his partner Nina Libeskind established Studio Daniel Libeskind in Berlin, Germany, in 1989 after winning the competition to build the Jewish Museum Berlin. In February 2003, Studio Daniel Libeskind moved its headquarters from Berlin to New York City when Daniel Libeskind was selected as the master planner for the World Trade Center redevelopment. http://www.libeskind.com About Tishman Speyer Tishman Speyer is a leading owner, developer, operator and fund manager of first-class real estate around the world. Founded in 1978, Tishman Speyer is active across the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia, building and managing premier office, residential and retail space in 28 key global markets for industry-leading tenants. The firm has acquired, developed and operated a portfolio of over 167 million square feet with a total value of approximately US $88 billion spread over 406 assets. Signature assets include New York City's Rockefeller Center, Sao Paulo's Torre Norte, The Springs in Shanghai, Lumiere in Paris and OpernTurm in Frankfurt. Tishman Speyer currently has projects at different stages of development in Boston, Brasilia, Frankfurt, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Washington, DC. The firm also operates portfolios of prominent office properties in Berlin, Chicago and London. For more information, visit tishmanspeyer.com and find us on social @tishmanspeyer. SOURCE Swarovski TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AdValue Photonics, Inc. (Tucson, AZ) is highly honored to announce that they have been selected by the American Ceramic Society (ACerS) as the winner of its 2018 Corporate Technical Achievement Award for the company's highly rare-earth doped silicate glass fibers. The award recognizes the development of this technology and its application in making innovative fiber lasers by AdValue Photonics. This AcerS award "recognizes a single outstanding technical achievement made by an ACerS corporate member in the field of ceramics. The achievement must show significant technical merit and represent a gain to society through commercialization of the technology within the preceding eight years." Past winners of this award include Corning for its "Gorilla Glass," GE for its "Gemstone Ceramic Scintillator" (enabled an ultra premium CT imaging system), SCHOTT for its "Manufacture of laser glass by continuous melting," and Lucent for its "10 Gb/s lithium niobate modulator," to just name a few. At the heart of the AdValue Photonics' technology of Highly Rare-Earth Doped Silicate Glass Fibers is the company's capability to design and control the glass composition, doping concentration and fibers' mechanical and geometrical properties to optimize laser performance. By using higher doping concentrations and shorter fiber lengths, we are able to minimize nonlinearities to obtain higher pulse energies and higher peak powers than otherwise achievable with commercial off-the-shelf laser fibers. With our development and manufacturing teams co-located in Tucson, Arizona, we are able to quickly customize our laser solutions to suit customers' specific requirements. About AdValue Photonics: AdValue Photonics is a leading manufacturer of innovative fiber lasers for materials processing, scientific, LIDAR, and medical markets. Founded in 2007, with a reputation for delivering groundbreaking products based on its proprietary technology, the company leverages its unique capabilities in specialty glasses and fibers to optimize the performance and reliability of its fiber lasers. Our mission is to provide the most innovative and reliable laser products to our customers that "Add Value" to their businesses and markets. For more information, please visit: http://www.advaluephotonics.com. Contact: Dr. Katherine Liu, Director of Marketing & Sales, +1 (520) 790-5468, [email protected]. SOURCE AdValue Photonics, Inc. Related Links http://www.advaluephotonics.com WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- America's Promise Alliance, the nation's largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, today announced the launch of the 'Every School Healthy' campaign to create healthy and safe schools where all young people can thrive. Driven by the belief that every student deserves a healthy school that advances their education and promotes their social, emotional, physical, and mental health, the campaign is investing $1.8 million in six communities to accelerate progress of innovative solutions that create learning environments where students can thrive. Set against a backdrop of increased student activism where students are speaking out about the challenges they face, the campaign will help accelerate on-the-ground efforts to support the social emotional needs of youth. Not meeting the social and emotional needs of youth is emerging as an identifiable barrier to academic success. To raise awareness and spark action, Every School Healthy will also engage partner organizations and individuals to tell the stories of schools and communities working to create healthy schools. The campaign will not only highlight collaborative successes and solutions, but also amplify the voices of young people working within their schools and communities to transform them into spaces where youth can truly thrive. Through these efforts, the campaign will provide proof points and motivation to inspire more people to take action to create healthy schools in their community. "The research is overwhelming on the connections between health, education, and youth development," said John Gomperts, President and CEO of America's Promise Alliance. "By paying close attention to students' social and emotional well-being in addition to their physical well-being, schools will see the better educational outcomes they seek and prepare students to lead longer, more fulfilling lives." A Critical Moment for Student Success As new research brings into focus the rippling hardships many young people experience and the increased urgency to support their healthy development, the campaign comes at a crucial moment. Key findings from this research include: Youth of color are at increased risk for poor health outcomes due to a lack of access to the social supports, opportunities, and experiences essential for healthy development, according to a report ( Barriers to Wellness) by The Center for Promise, America's Promise research institute. by The Center for Promise, America's Promise research institute. Students are increasingly absorbing stress and anxiety experienced by teachers, as more professional development and support is needed to prevent a trickle-down effect impacting students, according to a recent report (Creating Policies to Support Healthy Schools) by Child Trends, a nonprofit research organization and America's Promise partner. "Every child deserves to be in a school that promotes their well-being and allows them to be at their best," said Jennifer M. Ng'andu, Interim Managing Director-Program at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Sadly, this is not the reality for too many kids in America. All of us have a role to playfrom families and businesses to young people themselvesin creating supportive schools that allow every child to grow, thrive, and meet the challenges of the world around them." Supporting Innovative Solutions at the Community Level Communities across the country are already leading on-the-ground efforts to make schools places where youth can thrive. Every School Healthy will support several of those communities, funding acceleration work in six communities (in five states) already engaged in cross-sector efforts to create healthy schools. Each acceleration site represents what is possible when organizations and schools come together to collaborate on addressing challenges standing in the way of creating healthier schools. These six sites were selected through a competitive process from a pool that included more than 145 communities from 20 states across the country, and include: Adelante Mujeres ( Forest Grove, OR ) Adelante Mujeres provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low-income Latina women and their families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community. One of their key programs is the Chicas Youth Development Program, which provides girls ranging from third to 12 th grade the opportunity to participate in weekly afterschool sessions that develop their leadership potential, build strong cultural identity, and foster healthy lifestyles and academic success. They carry out this program by partnering with local public schools and working with more than 500 local families each year. Adelante Mujeres provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low-income Latina women and their families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community. One of their key programs is the Chicas Youth Development Program, which provides girls ranging from third to 12 grade the opportunity to participate in weekly afterschool sessions that develop their leadership potential, build strong cultural identity, and foster healthy lifestyles and academic success. They carry out this program by partnering with local public schools and working with more than 500 local families each year. Alive and Well Communities (St. Louis, MO) Alive and Well Communities is a nonprofit organization that is focused on activating communities to address the trauma experienced by residents and develop pathways to healing, well-being, and equity. They believe that the impacts of trauma prevent schools from being an environment that supports health and well-being for students and staff alike. The work of Alive and Well Communities is led by community members and works to promote trauma-informed practices at an institutional, community, and national level. Alive and Well Communities is a nonprofit organization that is focused on activating communities to address the trauma experienced by residents and develop pathways to healing, well-being, and equity. They believe that the impacts of trauma prevent schools from being an environment that supports health and well-being for students and staff alike. The work of Alive and Well Communities is led by community members and works to promote trauma-informed practices at an institutional, community, and national level. Better Together Central Oregon ( Crook County, OR ) Better Together Central Oregon and six key community organizations are partnering with Crook County School District in a comprehensive effort to create healthier students and staff and build a Culture of Care in schools and across the community. At its core, the model includes whole school development through staff engagement in trauma-informed practices, increased capacity in schools for mental health support, and amplifying youth and community voice in a movement to de-stigmatization mental illness and increase positive interactions between students and the adults they encounter in schools. Better Together Central Oregon and six key community organizations are partnering with School District in a comprehensive effort to create healthier students and staff and build a Culture of Care in schools and across the community. At its core, the model includes whole school development through staff engagement in trauma-informed practices, increased capacity in schools for mental health support, and amplifying youth and community voice in a movement to de-stigmatization mental illness and increase positive interactions between students and the adults they encounter in schools. FIT2gether ( Cherokee County, SC ) Cherokee County School District has launched FIT2gether, a student-driven initiative designed to catalyze a culture of health through empowerment and collective action. FIT2gether has three components that each focus on a different population: FIT2Learn (students), FIT2Serve (staff), and FIT2Prosper (community). With student-led teams at each school in the district, young people will identify barriers to health and well-being and design solutions to make healthier school environments and communities for all. School District has launched FIT2gether, a student-driven initiative designed to catalyze a culture of health through empowerment and collective action. FIT2gether has three components that each focus on a different population: FIT2Learn (students), FIT2Serve (staff), and FIT2Prosper (community). With student-led teams at each school in the district, young people will identify barriers to health and well-being and design solutions to make healthier school environments and communities for all. Partnership for Child Health ( Jacksonville, FL ) Partnership for Child Health is working with the schools and broader community in Health Zone 1, known as Jacksonville's Urban Core , to integrate trauma-informed and child rights-based approaches to advance whole child health. This effort will be fully integrated into existing initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of students in Health Zone 1 that include the Wolfson Children's School Based Health Center and Full Service School program. Partnership for Child Health is working with the schools and broader community in Health Zone 1, known as , to integrate trauma-informed and child rights-based approaches to advance whole child health. This effort will be fully integrated into existing initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of students in Health Zone 1 that include the Wolfson Children's School Based Health Center and Full Service School program. Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness ( Staten Island, NY ) Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness is partnering with North Shore schools and community partners to empower young people, parents, and faculty to advocate for healthy schools. The approach puts young people in the leadencouraging them to identify health disparities in the schools and community, develop site-specific suggestions, and forge positive change through authentic dialogue and strong partnerships. America's Promise Alliance is leading the Every School Healthy campaign in partnership with ChildObesity180, Communities In Schools, FoodCorps, National Association of Community Health Centers, and Turnaround for Children. The Every School Healthy campaign is a part of Together for Healthy and Successful Schools, a collaborative initiative working to advance the vision that all schools support education and health. Together for Healthy and Successful Schools is comprised of America's Promise Alliance, Child Trends, and Healthy Equity Works at Washington University in St. Louis, and it is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For more information about Every School Healthy, please visit our website at EverySchoolHealthy.org. CONTACT INFO Dennis Vega 202.657.0682 [email protected] America's Promise Alliance leads more than 450 organizations, communities, and individuals dedicated to making the promise of America real for every child. For more information, visit www.AmericasPromise.org. SOURCE America's Promise Alliance Related Links http://www.americaspromise.org CHANDLER, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Attribytes, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that works to improve how foodservice suppliers and distributors connect and share data, has secured $1.7 million in Series A funding from Scottsdale-based Canal Partners and Tallwave Capital. CEO Mike Kovarik says the money will help the three-year-old company continue to grow. In the past year alone, Attribytes has almost tripled the number of foodservice manufacturers and distributors that use its platform, from 3,000 to 8,500. Part of the new investment will be used to add up to 15 more people to focus on sales and further product development. "The funding really positions us for scale," Kovarik said. "We've done an amazing job growing the business in our niche, but this allows us to double up on our positions, get the right people to support current clients and the capacity for new business to come on board." The $300 billion foodservice industry includes any food not consumed at home such as meals eaten in restaurants, cafeterias, at catered events, or in facilities like schools or nursing homes. The sector also includes nonfood items, such as kitchen supplies and paper products. Attribytes' software solution allows manufacturers and distributors to more easily collect, share and manage data to drive sales growth. For distributors, this means a suite of tools providing comprehensive product information and analytics that allows them to identify both problems and opportunities. Suppliers, meanwhile, gain insights on how their products are being displayed on distributor point-of-sale systems and see who is buying. Attribytes is a winner of the Arizona Innovation Challenge, and a client of Chandler Innovations, the city's business incubation and entrepreneurial development program. The company worked closely with Chandler Innovations Executive in Residence, Tom Fulcher, who has extensive experience in the foodservice industry with management positions at Bumble Bee Foods and Heinz. "Chandler Innovations has made sure that we are positioned correctly," Kovarik said. "They've definitely been a big supporter, from hiring people to raising capital to getting connected with local angel investors." Attribytes is also busy with renovation work at Gangplank, the cooperative workspace that now houses about 33 businesses in downtown Chandler. Kovarik is the manager of the nonprofit that operates the space, and Attribytes is one of the largest companies housed there. Learn more about Attribytes at https://attribytes.com/. SOURCE Attribytes Related Links http://attribytes.com BOSTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- We are proud to announce that C-4 Analytics has completed all requirements to participate in the Digital Advertising Program under the GM Dealer Digital Solution. This allows Dealers the opportunity to leverage in-Market Retail (iMR) funds to reimburse themselves for the cost of their Digital Advertising services. Please refer to the iMR Dealer Program guidelines located at www.gmlam.com for further information. Providers who are participating in the Digital Advertising Program provide advertising solutions that include: Improved efficiency, coordinated spend and strategy across all tiers of advertising Participation commitment for: Streamlined packages each offering full service solutions for sales and fixed ops A single, managed monthly fee with cap Performance accountability Day 1 Go-to-Market readiness Strategic and tactical advertising coordination with brands and LMAs Dashboard for visibility into performance If you have any questions about the benefits of Digital Advertising Program, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Support Team at 313-636-6346 or via email at [email protected] for further details. SOURCE C-4 Analytics Related Links http://www.c-4analytics.com CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CareerBuilder, a leading technology company providing Hello to Hire human resources solutions to global customers, is proud to announce that Mom365, the largest professional in-hospital photography producer in the U.S. for new parents, has selected them as their exclusive consultative partner. CareerBuilder will consult on best practices and compliance as Mom365 utilizes CareerBuilder's employment screening services, building upon a highly successful six-year relationship that has resulted in faster hires, fiscal efficiencies, and a best in class candidate experience. CareerBuilder logo (PRNewsfoto/CareerBuilder) "At Mom365, we are dedicated to celebrating and preserving families' most cherished memories, which can only be accomplished through a best in class team of photographers," says John Johnson, CEO of Mom365. "Building out our national footprint has been made possible because of our strategic partnership with CareerBuilder. Together we have been able to streamline our hiring processes to help us find the most qualified and trusted photographers in every market, ensuring we have the right hire on hand to capture the very first moments of a baby's life. We're excited to be building on our work with CareerBuilder as they support our continued growth across the country." Mom365 has a team of more than 1,700 photographers that capture the first moments of a baby's life in maternity wards nationwide. As Mom365 vets potential new hires, CareerBuilder's concierge services minimize stress during the complex medical screening process to make sure photographers are safe to be close to newborns, and reduces candidate drop-off during the hiring process by providing a faster solution that also meets the individual requirements of the 1,900 partner hospitals in Mom365's network. "Mom365's work is so important to helping families build memories, and we are proud to be their exclusive partner in helping grow their talented team," says Sasha Yablonovsky, EVP of Customer Experience. "The technological innovations and efficiencies offered by CareerBuilder help Mom365 streamline the screening process to make sure they don't lose out on great candidates during the Hello to Hire process." For more information about CareerBuilder's solutions, visit www.hiring.careerbuilder.com. About CareerBuilder CareerBuilder is a global technology company that provides end-to-end solutions designed to help employers find, hire and onboard great talent, and job seekers build progressive careers as the modern world of work changes. A known disruptor for nearly 25 years, CareerBuilder is the only company that offers both software and services to cover every step of the Hello to Hire process enabling its customers to free up valuable resources across their HR tech supply chain to drive their business forward. Specializing in talent acquisition and engagement, managed services, including award-winning employment screening, and talent management software, CareerBuilder is the largest provider of AI-powered hiring solutions serving the majority of the Fortune 500 across five specialized markets. CareerBuilder is majority-owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC and operates in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com. CareerBuilder. Work Can Work. About Mom365 Mom365 is the country's largest professional newborn photography service. We grew rapidly after our start in 1947, becoming the first to offer color processing for in-hospital newborn photography in the 1960s. Mom365 provides moms with lasting and heartfelt experiencesand marketers with dynamic, awareness-building and response-generating programs that create lifetime customers. Media Contact Amanda Kelley [email protected] 212.584.4272 SOURCE CareerBuilder Related Links http://www.careerbuilder.com SAN FRANCISCO and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Two leading U.S. health systems Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health who announced a Definitive Agreement to combine their health ministries in December 2017, have chosen "CommonSpirit Health" as the name of their new organization. The two systems expect to complete the transaction by the end of 2018. CommonSpirit Health was chosen because of its strong association with the two systems' missions of service and positive resonance with the diversity of people served. It evokes the strategic vision and aspiration of the new ministry to advance health for all and make a positive change for the people and communities served; a belief that all people deserve access to high quality health and health care; and a passion to serve those who are sick and injured, including those who are most vulnerable. The new name was selected after a comprehensive review of more than 1,200 names, which were evaluated for their association with faith-based health care, legal considerations, and consumer research. Lloyd H. Dean, President/Chief Executive Officer of Dignity Health, stated, "It was important that our name could provide a connection between all people: our employees, physicians, patients, families, and neighbors alike. CommonSpirit does just that." Kevin E. Lofton, Chief Executive Officer of CHI, said, "We appreciate how the manifestation of the Spirit is woven into so many messagesGod's gift of compassion, the calling to heal others, and serving the common good. Each comes together and is reflected in just one powerful word, CommonSpirit." Among the many reasons for selecting CommonSpirit Health, it was embraced for the following attributes: As support for the mission of the new organization to contribute to the "common good" as a core tenet of Catholic social teaching; In recognition of the power of a faith-based ministry as a healing force to serve all people in an inclusive and welcoming way; As an expression of gratitude for the courage of the women religious who established their health ministries in the face of significant obstacles to meet the most pressing health needs of people and communities; and In acknowledgement of providers and employees who hold a shared purpose and unyielding commitment to advance the health of the people and communities served. With the selection of a new name, the organization will develop a visual identity to convey the story and strength of the new $28.4 billion health care system. Dignity Health and CHI previously announced that the new ministry will follow a "house of brands" strategy, retaining the names of local facilities and services in the communities where they are located. CHI and Dignity Health signed a definitive agreement to join their ministries on Dec. 7, 2017. Since then, the organizations have been planning integration efforts for the new system. On Oct. 16, the Board of Stewardship Trustees for CommonSpirit Health was selected and announced. Further information is available at: AdvancingHealthCareTogether.org. About Catholic Health Initiatives Catholic Health Initiatives, a nonprofit, faith-based health system formed in 1996 through the consolidation of four Catholic health systems, expresses its mission each day by creating and nurturing healthy communities in the hundreds of sites across the nation where we provide care. One of the nation's largest nonprofit health systems, Englewood, Colo.-based CHI operates in 18 states and comprises 100 hospitals, including two academic health centers; major teaching hospitals and 30 critical-access facilities; community health-services organizations; accredited nursing colleges; home-health agencies; living communities; and other facilities and services that span the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care. In fiscal year 2018, CHI provided more than $1.14 billion in financial assistance and community benefit for programs and services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. Financial assistance and community benefit totaled approximately $2.1 billion with the inclusion of the unpaid costs of Medicare. The health system, which generated operating revenues of $15 billion in fiscal year 2018, has total assets of approximately $20.5 billion. About Dignity Health Dignity Health, one of the nation's largest health care systems, is a multi-state network of 10,000 physicians, more than 60,000 employees, 40 acute care hospitals, and 400-plus care centers including neighborhood hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. In FY 2018, Dignity Health provided $2.1 billion in charitable care and services. For more information, please visit our website at DignityHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Contact: Dan Loeterman Michael Romano Dignity Health Catholic Health Initiatives [email protected] [email protected] 626-744-2384 303-383-2720 SOURCE Catholic Health Initiatives; Dignity Health REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Course Hero today announced it ranked No. 245 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Course Hero's chief executive officer, Andrew Grauer, credits the passionate Course Hero team and the growing number of resources available on the platform with the company's growth. He said, "It's an honor to be a part of this list of amazing companies, and I am more energized than ever before as Course Hero looks to build towards a world where every student graduates, confident and prepared." Course Hero previously ranked 250 as a Technology Fast 500 award winner for 2017. About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Course Hero Course Hero is an online learning platform where members can access over 20 million course-specific study resources contributed by a community of students and educators. The platform includes Practice Problems, study guides, videos, class notes, and step-by-step explanations to help with every college classfrom economics to literature, biology to history, accounting to psychology, and everything in between. Course Hero has been recognized as one of the 2017 Technology Fast 500 by Deloitte and named a 2018 Best Place to Work in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal. Connect with Course Hero at www.coursehero.com or on LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , or Pinterest . PR Contact: Course Hero, [email protected] SOURCE Course Hero Related Links http://www.coursehero.com MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ariste Reno has joined global consulting firm Protiviti as a managing director based in Protiviti's Chicago office. A credit risk management expert, Reno brings extensive experience in helping financial institutions with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) regulations, from readiness and implementation to risk modeling, business process accounting, reporting and controls. Prior to joining Protiviti, Reno was a partner and National Credit Analytics Practice Leader at a Big Four firm, providing credit risk analytics, model validation, loss reserving, counterparty credit risk, loan review and other credit risk management services to financial services clients. Earlier in her career, she served as a director at a second Big Four firm where she led its commercial credit risk management consulting practice. She has also held leadership roles at several banks, including Bank of America, Rabobank International and Harris Bank/Bank of Montreal. "Many financial services organizations are now under significant time pressure to comply with the FASB's CECL standard before it begins to come into effect in 2020," said Michael Brauneis, a Protiviti managing director and leader of the firm's North America financial services industry practice. "Ariste's deep technical expertise is an asset to our team of highly experienced risk professionals as they help our clients address CECL requirements and provide other credit-related services." Reno earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree in economics from DePaul University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a frequent public speaker. About Protiviti Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Through its network of more than 80 offices in over 20 countries, Protiviti and its independently owned Member Firms provide clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Named to the 2018 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, Protiviti has served more than 60 percent of Fortune 1000 and 35 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index. Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services. Editor's note: Photos available upon request. SOURCE Protiviti Related Links http://www.protiviti.com "As the skills gap in the U.S. widens, CVS Health recognizes the important role externships, which offer on-the-job training with classroom instruction, play in building a pipeline of future skilled talent," said David Casey, Vice President, Workforce Strategies, and Chief Diversity Officer. "By working with these important Philadelphia youth organizations, we are able to provide traditionally underserved groups with opportunities for employment at CVS Pharmacy, as well as help build a talented and diverse workforce for our company." Through the new initiative, Philadelphia Job Corps will recruit and screen students interested in the pharmacy technician pre-apprenticeship program. The mock pharmacy, which includes valuable classroom, hands-on and field-based clinical instruction, will give trainees an opportunity to gain life and career skills over a 12-week period. "We are so excited to see the opportunities provided through the partnership with CVS Health grow, which will allow more students in Philadelphia to receive the engaged training and employment they need to start a meaningful career," said Matthew Waltman, Center Director, Philadelphia Job Corps. "With partners like CVS Health, Philadelphia Youth Network and Philadelphia Works, we're able to address the skills gap and reduce poverty in the city of Philadelphia. Our students are so grateful for the opportunities to learn and be supported as they take their skills to the next level." Upon completion of the training, eligible students have the opportunity to work in a paid externship at a local CVS Pharmacy, as part of a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and managed by Philadelphia Works. Students then receive a certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), and are able to apply for a position with CVS Pharmacy through a virtual job tryout. "Real-life work experience is a pinnacle feature of any successful job training program," said Mark Genua, Apprenticeship Program Director, Philadelphia Works. "Our work to expand the apprenticeship model into new and innovative industries is opening doors of opportunity for young people across the region. We applaud CVS Health on the opening of its new mock pharmacy and look forward to continuing this important partnership for job creation." "I am excited about this new opportunity for our young people in Philadelphia," said Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Youth Network. "We are proud to partner with CVS Health, Job Corps and Philadelphia Works in this endeavor, as we continue creating high quality career pathways to meet the interest of both our young talent and also our local economy." The opening of the new mock pharmacy in Philadelphia is an expansion of a longstanding partnership between CVS Health and Job Corps. Over the past two decades, the two organizations have worked together on several workforce initiatives that have helped fill entry level roles with strong talent, with many individuals advancing to pharmacist and management positions within the company. The relationship with Job Corps is part of the myCVS Journey Pathways to Health Care Careers that introduces students of all ages to career opportunities in health care. The STEM-enriched program is designed to engage young people (aged 5-24) in age-appropriate awareness, exploration, and preparation for careers at CVS Health in pharmacy, professional management, nursing and information technology. About CVS Health CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, approximately 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 93 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com. About Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute The Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute is a federally funded education and career training program, administered by the U.S Department of Labor, for youth ages 17 through 24 years old to improve their lives through career technical and academic training. At the Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute, we support the Job Corps program's mission of teaching eligible youth the skills they need to become employable and independent by placing them in meaningful careers, advanced education, or the military. At the Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute, technical training is offered in the following programs: Medical Assistant, Culinary Arts, Emergency Medical Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Facilities Maintenance and Nursing Assistant. For more information on how to enroll in Job Corps, visit https://philadelphia.jobcorps.gov/ or call (267) 386-2922 or attend an Information Session every Monday at 3:45 pm. About Philadelphia Works Philadelphia Works is the city's Workforce Development Board, investing in solutions and services to grow Philadelphia's economy by connecting employers to workforce talent and career seekers to jobs. We influence the public policies that support economic growth, and optimize funding and resources to invest in regional solutions to build a skilled and thriving workforce. For more information about our dedicated board members and staff, workforce research, labor market data, services and initiatives, and to view success stories, please visit http://www.philaworks.org. About the Philadelphia Youth Network The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a solutions-builder forging together significant players to alleviate a root cause of poverty by preparing 12-24-year-olds to become productive working adults. Our work is grounded in the understanding that young people need access to both education and employment, proven factors in being prepared for a career. With a track record of increasing impact, PYN funds and brokers action with the right partners to collectively address barriers. PYN constructs systems to create change, while innovating to meet evolving needs. Together with our partners, PYN dramatically changes the trajectory of individuals' lives by giving voice to underserved youth, and ultimately creating a pipeline for an educated, engaged workforce. For more information, visit www.pyninc.org. Contact: Mary Gattuso 401-770-9811 [email protected] SOURCE CVS Health Related Links http://www.cvshealth.com DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DataBank, a leading provider of enterprise-class data center, connectivity, managed services and cloud solutions, announces today the completion of KC3 , a Tier III facility in the growing Kansas City market. Located in Lenexa, KS, KC3 will form the keystone of DataBank's new South Lake Data Center Campus. KC3 is DataBank's third data center location in the region and demonstrates the company's leadership position in the greater Kansas City metro market. The facility provides redundant power and cooling configurations, diverse network entry points and multiple fiber providers to deliver exceptional network resiliency and uptime. KC3 will also provide connectivity to public cloud on-ramps enabled via Megaport SDN offerings. In addition, KC3 offers customers direct access to the DataBank FedRAMP-certified CloudPlus 5 , (CP5), platform, an advanced high-performance computing and storage solution which helps enterprises meet increased compliance and security requirements. CP5 allows customers to leverage hybrid cloud capabilities, by combining on premise colocation with secure private infrastructure and public cloud via DataBank's partnership with Megaport. "The Kansas City market continues to grow and DataBank is proud to invest in this exciting region," states Raul K. Martynek , CEO of DataBank. "With the completion of KC3, our third data center in the region, we show our continued commitment to providing superior infrastructure solutions and customer support to leading enterprises in the area." "DataBank offers the KC market the excitement of a growing tech company and adds to our region's competitive advantage in attracting jobs, talent and corporate investment in a sector that is essential for our region's future," said Tim Cowden, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council. "We join DataBank in celebrating today's news and look forward to their continued growth in the KC region." KC3 brings 25,000 square feet of raised white floor and 3MW of power capacity in Phase I, expandable to 106,350 square feet and a total design capacity of 8MW. KC3 is connected via diverse dark fiber connections to DataBank's KC2 and KC1 facility and 1102 Grand Street, further increasing connectivity and backup options. The addition of KC3 brings the company's total data center count to 15. For more information, please visit www.databank.com. About DataBank DataBank is a leading provider of enterprise-class data center, cloud, and connectivity services, offering customers 100% uptime availability of data, applications, and infrastructure. DataBank's managed data center services are anchored in world-class facilities. Our customized technology solutions are designed to help customers effectively manage risk, improve their technology performance, and allow them to focus on their core business objectives. DataBank is headquartered in the historic former Federal Reserve Bank Building, in downtown Dallas, TX. For additional information on DataBank locations and services, please visit www.databank.com or call 1 (800) 840-7533. SOURCE DataBank Related Links http://www.databank.com GILBERT, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte, a leading professional services organization, has announced an expanded relationship with Arizona State University (ASU). At a Smart Regions conference sponsored by ASU, Deloitte said this collaboration with ASU will provide, among other things, full-time internships, learning opportunities, and direct pathways for students in various disciplines to work alongside Deloitte professionals with industry-leading experience in innovative and emerging technologies. "Consistent with our commitment to the City of Gilbert and our collaboration with state, local and higher education officials in Arizona, we are pleased to create a new focus that emphasizes the STEM disciplines and provides real-world skills and experience to ASU students, an important source of talent for Deloitte's local Delivery Center," said Josh Nisbet, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, and lead client services partner for the states of California and Arizona. "ASU's participation in our University Relations program, along with Deloitte's investment in Gilbert and our plans for expansion, will help us to continue to make a positive impact in the greater Phoenix community." In addition to expanding opportunities for traditional students, Deloitte will also work with ASU's Pat Tillman Veterans Center to provide a clear path from "boots to suits." Together, the center and Deloitte will match veterans with the skills and attributes Deloitte needs in its three U.S. Delivery Centers, including the Gilbert facility. "Deloitte already recruits from ASU, and this new program will further set ASU on the course to offer its students a set of broader experiential learning opportunities," said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president and chief research and innovation officer, Arizona State University. "We are excited that our students and veterans will be part of a solid pipeline of high-demand talent that can get to work now on the technology projects that will be shaping and transforming our future." In June, Deloitte announced the opening of its new 1000+ seat U.S. Delivery Center in Gilbert, which develops and implements emerging technology solutions and business transformation initiatives for federal and civilian agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. Deloitte professionals are leading the way on projects in cloud, Salesforce, robotic and cognitive automation, blockchain, artificial intelligence, SAP, Workday and smart environments for a variety of industries throughout the United States. Their Delivery Center capabilities include custom development and testing, digital services, packaged software implementation, analytics and information management, application management and support, cloud delivery, digital enablement and HR transformation, and risk management and security. Deloitte's investment in Gilbert is expected to ultimately generate 2,500 high-tech jobs for the region. About Deloitte Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including more than 85 percent of the Fortune 500 and more than 6,000 private and middle market companies. Our people work across more than 20 industry sectors to make an impact that matters delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthy society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. About Arizona State University Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. SOURCE Deloitte Related Links http://www.deloitte.com/us WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The ongoing prosecution of two businessmen accused of involvement in the 2016 killing of activist Berta Caceres is based on false claims, riddled with procedural failings, and driven by a political pressure campaign, argues a new white paper published by Amsterdam & Partners LLP. The white paper, entitled "War on Development," is based on a review of thousands of pages of evidence and digital forensic data, containing alarming revelations regarding the events of 2016 and the conduct of Caceres' former organization, the Consejo Civico de Organizaciones Populares e Indigenas de Honduras (COPINH). These facts presented in the white paper contradict many of the presumed narratives reported by media and non-governmental organizations with regard to this case. "Evidence uncovered by expert witnesses shows how these activists have sought to manipulate public opinion, resulting not only in the cancellation of the hydroelectric project and the jailing of two innocent executives, but also in a nationwide freeze on most infrastructure projects," said Robert Amsterdam of Amsterdam and Partners LLP, which represents Desarrollos Energeticos S.A. (DESA). "With more than 1,500 jobs lost on this project alone, and a quarter billion dollars of investment in other projects frozen, if anyone is still wondering why caravans of migrants are leaving Honduras they should take a second look at the facts in this case," says Amsterdam. Featuring lengthy transcripts of chat messages recovered from phones and devices of the victim and accused, "War on Development" addresses the fundamental lack of evidence against DESA executives Sergio Rodriguez Orellana and Roberto David Castillo, who both have languished in pretrial detention for an extended period. The paper also details the history of the Agua Zarca project and its compliance with social responsibility standards, featuring exclusive witness testimony from numerous members of the indigenous communities near the project site. These interviews not only show ongoing support for the project, but also harrowing accounts of acts of violence and intimidation allegedly perpetrated by persons associated with COPINH against them. "There could be no possible worse outcome, nothing more catastrophic to the interests of DESA, than the murder of Berta Caceres," said Amsterdam. "As this white paper will prove, including in Caceres' own words, relations between her and company leadership were cordial and professional, and that they had already moved past this dispute by the time of this tragedy." Amsterdam continued: "We join with all other international observers in the demand that justice is served in this case, and that the true culprits are brought to accountability. But the false prosecution of innocent parties on no evidence must not be seen as an acceptable response to this tragedy." The White Paper and other documentation is available for download in English and Spanish at http://casocaceres.com. More information about Amsterdam & Partners LLP is available at https://amsterdamandpartners.com. SOURCE Amsterdam & Partners LLP Related Links https://www.amsterdamandpartners.com CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Atrium Health, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the North Carolina Office of Attorney General have reached a settlement agreement that brings an end to litigation over language in certain health insurance contracts. There is no admission on the part of Atrium Health of wrongdoing in this settlement agreement, and Atrium Health did not violate the law. In addition, Atrium Health will not pay any penalties or fines. The language in question is from contracts created as long ago as 2001 and was originally added to ensure Atrium Health was provided an equal opportunity to compete for patients. As the healthcare landscape continues to rapidly evolve, Atrium Health's contracting language has also evolved to reflect current healthcare practices. Throughout the litigation, Atrium Health has shared its perspective and position with the DOJ and the North Carolina Office of Attorney General, and is pleased to be able to reach a mutually acceptable settlement agreement. Atrium Health has always been a champion for patient choice, and believes its unparalleled quality, value and world-class services are the reason why more people continue to choose Atrium Health over any other healthcare provider in the region. Atrium Health's focus remains on providing an individualized care experience for the thousands of patients who rely on its services for health, hope and healing each and every day. Key points to know about this settlement agreement: There is no admission of wrongdoing on the part of Atrium Health, and Atrium Health is not required to pay any penalties or fines. The language in question is from contracts created as long ago as 2001 and was originally added to contracts to ensure Atrium Health was provided an equal opportunity to compete for patients. Atrium Health has always been a champion for patient choice. Atrium Health's proposition of quality, value and world-class services is unparalleled in the region and differentiates Atrium Health as the best choice for care. Atrium Health believes in and welcomes competition based on value. Competition drives improvements in healthcare quality and services ultimately benefitting every patient. The settlement will be submitted to the court for approval and a final judgment will be available to the public. About Atrium Health Atrium Health, previously Carolinas HealthCare System, one of the nation's leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout the Southeast region. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. Atrium Health works to enhance the overall health and well-being of its communities through high-quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives. SOURCE Atrium Health LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Shawn Achor, happiness expert and bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential, has been selected to headline GS1 Connect 2019, the conference and exhibition hosted by GS1 US, June 19-21, 2019 at the Gaylord Rockies in Denver, Colorado. The conference theme, "Elevate," signifies the many opportunities for attendees to boost their knowledge, their business, and their industry amid increasing customer demands and technological advancements. Mr. Achor has worked with more than a third of the Fortune 100 companies and several government organizations, including the Pentagon and the U.S. Treasury, to discuss the connection between happiness and success. To conduct his research on mindset, he traveled to 51 countries, speaking to farmers in Zimbabwe, CEOs in China, doctors in Dubai and schoolchildren in South Africa. During his 12-year tenure at Harvard, Mr. Achor won more than a dozen distinguished teaching awards, and his research on happiness was a featured cover story in the Harvard Business Review. His TED talk "The Happy Secret to Better Work" has more than 16 million views online. During the keynote speech, Mr. Achor will discuss how happiness can be a key competitive advantage that drives change. He will share how success is primarily based on optimism, social support, and the ability to manage energy and stress in a positive way. Attendees will learn how to apply practical strategies for maintaining a more positive approach during rapidly changing and challenging times. "Shawn explores how we can redefine our own formulas for success, and eliminate the obstacles that keep us from achieving our fullest potential," said Bob Carpenter, president and CEO of GS1 US. "Much like our 'Elevate' theme, Shawn's perspective encourages everyone to consider how an optimistic outlook can positively impact our ability to rise above new hurdles and meet today's challenges." During the conference, industry leaders from the healthcare, retail, foodservice and grocery sectors will present their experiences leveraging GS1 Standards to achieve supply chain traceability, product information transparency, launch successful blockchain implementations and other key objectives driven by new consumer and business dynamics. This includes a new Innovation Track, where attendees can explore the intersection of GS1 Standards and disruptive technology that could soon have an impact on their businesses, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) and robotic process automation (RPA). GS1 Connect also features other unique opportunities for attendees to connect and learn: "How to Do Business With" sessions, Trading Partner Roundtables, the "Standardsville" exhibit area, and a Tech Track showcasing the latest products and solutions. GS1 US University certificate courses and workshops are also offered for those looking to build their GS1 Standards foundational knowledge and maximize the conference program. To learn more about GS1 Connect 2019, visit https://gs1connect.gs1us.org/. About GS1 US GS1 US, a member of GS1, is an information standards organization that brings industry communities together to solve supply chain problems through the adoption and implementation of GS1 Standards. More than 300,000 businesses in 25 industries rely on GS1 US for trading-partner collaboration and for maximizing the cost effectiveness, speed, visibility, security and sustainability of their business processes. They achieve these benefits through solutions based on GS1 global unique numbering and identification systems, barcodes, Electronic Product Code (EPC)-based Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), data synchronization, and electronic information exchange. GS1 US also manages the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC). www.gs1us.org. SOURCE GS1 US Related Links http://www.gs1us.org ARCHBOLD, Ohio, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- F3Logic has struck a deal with Veracity Capital LLC. Formerly part of AYCO, a Goldman Sachs company, the team managed approximately $2.5 billion in assets. F3Logic has grown rapidly over their inaugural year and is excited to add Veracity Capital to their growing list of partnered firms including CIG Financial Services, Compass Point Retirement Planning, Financial Consultants of America, and Kusske Financial Asset Management. F3Logic is a national RIA, headquartered in Ohio, providing best-in-class consulting, investment platforms, and technology to independent Advisors and RIAs. The experienced executive team, led by Michael Childs, includes Kevin Nentwich, Robert Dearman, and Richard DeSalvo. Drawing from their thorough, individual expertise, they work as "RIA architects" to engineer and maintain firms that are independent from large financial institutions. F3Logic invests time learning about advisors' needs and their practice, mapping out the most beneficial structure, and helping build that solution. Richard DeSalvo, F3Logic COO, says, "The Veracity Capital team stands on the idea that truth builds trust. In our industry, that means offering true fiduciary services to our clients. Through F3Logic, Veracity Capital will have the support to provide a fiduciary focus and establish a deeper trust with their clients." Veracity Capital is a wealth advisory firm with offerings that include strategic wealth management, financial planning, investment management, and risk management. Veracity Capital serves on behalf of their clients as trusted fiduciary partners with methods that are efficient, objective, and strictly focused on each client's best interest. Veracity Capital CEO, Kevin S. Gray said, "We're excited to work in tandem with the F3Logic team and tap into the intellectual capital and technology they provide." Both parties are confident that this new partnership will result in improved service and thus better outcomes for clients. F3Logic is an RIA Architect. Built to break the traditional mold cast by large financial institutions, F3Logic empowers advisors to offer their clients the same high level of service and products they have come to expect without the bureaucracy of larger organizations. While providing best-in-class investment platforms and technology to advisors is an important aspect of F3Logic, the experienced executive team also works closely with each firm to provide support in all facets of an advisory business from initial planning to technology and compliance. F3Logic has the tools required to build a sturdy advisory structure and maintain it over time. Visit www.f3logicllc.com for more information. Advisory services are offered through F3Logic, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Securities offered through Independent Financial Group, LLC, a registered broker dealer. Member FINRA/SIPC. IFG is not affiliated with any of the entities listed. Additional advisory services may be offered by the respective entities listed as permissible by state law. If you would like more information about this topic, please call Richard DeSalvo at 201-787-0799, or email [email protected]. SOURCE F3Logic Related Links http://www.f3logicllc.com SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FamilySearch International announced free access to over 150 million Italian historical genealogical recordsthe largest online collection of its kind. The unprecedented initiative is the result of collaboration between FamilySearch, the Italian government, the Italian State Archives (Direzione Generale per gli Archivi or DGA), and many other archives. The free collections include over 200 years of digitized images of birth, marriage, death, and other significant family history records from all regions of Italy. Search the free Italy collections online at FamilySearch.org. Enzo Ferrari, founder of Ferrari sports cars. His civil registration birth certificate says he was born in Modena, Italy, February l8, 1898. Over 100 million people worldwide claim Italian roots. Today, tracing their origins to Italy is much easier. FamilySearch launched a massive collaborative effort with the National Archives of Italy (DGA) in 2011 that is proving to be "La Stele di Rosetta" (Rosetta Stone) for Italian family historians. The effort includes digitized birth, marriage, and death records from 1806 to 1945 found in the civil registrations of Italy in every state archive, and 15 million more are added yearly. FamilySearch is now using online volunteers to make every name, place, and date in each record (estimated to be over 500 million names) easily discoverable onlinefor free. (To help go to FamilySearch.org/Indexing). The civil registration records are the most complete of FamilySearch's Italy collections, but some Church records in Italy date back to the 1500s. Today, these are a gold mine for Italian family history researchers. Through agreements with Italian governments and other repositories, FamilySearch is essentially helping to open Italian archives to patrons all over the world and protect them against loss. Explore Italy's rich historical records: Find and share the complete announcement online in the FamilySearch Newsroom. RELATED: ABOUT FAMILYSEARCH FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch's free services to discover their family history. FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 5,000 family history centers in 129 countries. SOURCE FamilySearch Related Links http://www.familysearch.org OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- This November, Feed the Children launched its No Hunger Holidays campaign to feed thousands of families across the United States throughout the holiday season. With the help of many corporate and community partners, volunteers and donors, Feed the Children is working to bring a brighter holiday to vulnerable children by providing struggling families with much-needed food and daily essentials. No Hunger Holidays is a campaign designed to feed families during the holidays, as well as bring awareness to the important issue of childhood hunger. With 6.5 million children in the U.S. living in food-insecure households, many feel left out of the festivities while their parents are concerned with just making ends meet. That's the reason why Feed the Children has planned many community events across the country with corporate and local partners to transform hunger into hope during this season of giving. At each community event, families will receive a 25-pound box of food; a 10-pound box of much-needed essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion and personal-care items; a 5-pound box of Avon products; as well as additional items like books, toys and more. In addition to community events, Feed the Children is encouraging people around the world to use #ShareYourGood on social media to share the good they are doing or that they are seeing happen in their own communities. The goal is to raise awarenss on the issue of hunger in our own back yard, as well as spread holiday cheer to children through the power of good. "We believe that no child should go to bed hungry, especially during a time full of warmth, love and sharing," said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children president and CEO. "But the reality is, millions of children in our own backyard face this hardship every day. Thanks to our generous partners, we are able to help these families rest a little easier knowing they don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from this holiday season." Visit feedthechildren.org/nohungerholidays to learn how you can activate the #ShareYourGood challenge and give back during No Hunger Holidays. About Feed the Children Established in 1979, Feed the Children exists to defeat childhood hunger. It is one of the leading U.S.-based charities and serves those in need in the U.S. and in 10 countries around the world. It provides food, education initiatives, essentials and disaster response. It operates five distribution centers located in Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. In fiscal year 2017, Feed the Children distributed 79.8 million pounds of food and essentials to children and families in the U.S. Internationally, it provided nutritious food or other benefits to 1,080,000 children, empowered 291,000 parents to make better decisions for their children, and positively impacted more than 1,200 communities and schools in 10 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Visit feedthechildren.org for more information. SOURCE Feed the Children The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship is a product of a partnership between the Council on International Exchange (CIEE) and the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) created to increase access to study abroad opportunities for MSI students. It is named in honor of the African-American social reformer, abolitionist, and international statesman Frederick Douglass and is bestowed each year on 10 outstanding freshmen and sophomores from Minority Serving Institutions. It covers all fees and travel costs of participation in a four-week experiential education program designed to provide a global perspective and strengthen the leadership and intercultural communication skills of each participant. Peire Wilson, part of the first cohort of Frederick Douglass Global Fellows who studied in London in the summer of 2017, was a co-presenter on a panel entitled "Attitudes on Policing in U.S. International Education." Carmen Crusoe and Juan Duran, from the second cohort who studied in Cape Town in the summer of 2018, were featured speakers at the conference breakfast where they discussed what was meaningful to them about being part of the Frederick Douglass Fellowship program. "We're so proud of the alumni of the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship program," said Marybeth Gasman, the Judy and Howard Berkowitz Professor of Education and the Director of the Center for Minority Serving Institutions. "They fully engaged in the study abroad experience and committed to sharing what they learned with their campuses after their return home. Their outreach makes them encouraging examples for other students at Minority Serving Institutions and beyond." The 2018 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows were an extremely ethnically, regionally, and culturally diverse group of students including among others, students of Hmong, Dominican, Liberian, Mexican, African American, Venezuelan, and Nigerian backgrounds. "The student's own cultural diversity and interest in cultural nuances became a wonderful enhancement to how they interacted with each other, with the course, and with the host country in meaningful ways," said Keshia Abraham, Director for Strategic Initiatives at CIEE. "Students committed to learning indigenous languages, sought out residential advisors for cultural dialogues, and both men and women participated in traditional dance classes in the evenings." "The carefully crafted international experience for diverse students shared by the Frederick Douglass Global Fellows has proven to be very effective at developing students' intercultural competence," said James Pellow, President and CEO of CIEE. "Fellows' Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessment score jumped significantly between pre and post-program testing, increasing by an average of almost 12 points a far greater increase than students in the Georgetown Consortium study who achieved only a 1.32-point gain after an unfacilitated study abroad program." CIEE and CMSI are currently accepting applications for 2019 Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship. The deadline for students from MSIs to apply is February 14, which is Frederick Douglass' adopted birthday. Details on eligibility requirements and the application process can be found here. New this year, all qualified students who apply, but are not selected for the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, will be awarded a $1,500 grant that can be applied to select CIEE summer programs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Cape Town, Paris, and Shanghai. About CIEE CIEE, the country's oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, transforms lives and builds bridges by promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences. To help people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world, CIEE sponsors a wide variety of opportunities for cultural exchange, including work exchange programs, teach abroad programs, and a worldwide portfolio of study abroad and internship programs for college and high school students. Visit www.ciee.org. About the Center for Minority Serving Institutions The Center for Minority Serving Institutions brings together researchers and practitioners from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. CMSI's goals include: elevating the educational contributions of MSIs; ensuring that they are a part of national conversations; bringing awareness to the vital role MSIs play in the nation's economic development; increasing the rigorous scholarship of MSIs; connecting MSIs' academic and administrative leadership to promote reform initiatives; and strengthening efforts to close educational achievement gaps among disadvantaged communities. For further information about CMSI, please visit www.gse.upenn.edu/cmsi . Media Contact: Leslie Taylor, (207) 553-4274, [email protected] SOURCE Council On International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Related Links https://www.ciee.org LANDOVER, Md., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Giant Food, the leading greater Washington D.C. regional grocery chain, announced today the donation of 6,000 Nature's Promise turkeys to the five Feeding America food banks within its region: Capital Area Food Bank, Maryland Food Bank, Food Bank of Delaware, Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. The 6,000 turkeys will help feed 72,000 people this holiday season. The donations kick off a three-week food drive held at all 164 Giant stores that will also benefit each of the food bank partners. The drive 'To Donate a Holiday Meal to Those In Need' will take place from November 1 to November 23 and customers can donate at their local stores in a variety of ways: Purchase a Hunger Box that will be donated directly to the closest of the five food banks Purchase and donate one of the "healthy most -wanted items" featured in stores Bring and/or purchase any non-perishable food items and place in store collection bins, located at the front of stores "As a grocery store and a member of this community, we recognize the important role we play in the fight against hunger," said Gordon Reid, President of Giant Food. "In our region, food insecurity is a major issue, so we are proud to donate these holiday turkeys in the hopes that they help those in need rest a little easier this holiday season." New this year, Giant is partnering with Six Flags America for the hunger drive. When a customer buys at least two Hunger Boxes at any store location checkout, they will receive a coupon for a free ticket to Six Flags America's Holiday in the Park, valued at $69.99. "Six Flags America loves participating in a cause that empowers a community and plays a vital role in feeding needy families," says park Communications Manager, Denise Stokes. "We look forward to this partnership being a great success and entertaining families that visit our park during Holiday in the Park." Since 2011, Giant has donated a total of 33,750 turkeys to local Feeding America food banks to help alleviate hunger and make celebrating the holidays possible for families in the Mid-Atlantic region. To learn more about Giant's hunger relief initiatives, visit https://giantfood.com/community/. About Giant Food Giant Food is headquartered in Landover, Md. and operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. Giant Food employs approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 164 stores are 154 full-service pharmacies. For more information on Giant, visit www.giantfood.com. SOURCE Giant Food Related Links https://giantfood.com ALBANY, New York, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The global organic acids market is witnessing high competition among its players. Product differentiation is the strategy used by players to maintain their position in the market. A recent trend adopted by various players is that they are focusing on the production of bio-based organic acids. Leading players are also heavily investing in research and development activities extensively. Acquisition, partnerships, expansion, and agreements are some of the key strategies that are being adopted by the players to strengthen their position in the global market. E. I. Dupont De Nemours and Company, Celanese Corporation, Corbion N.V., Eastman Chemical Company, Fuso chemical co. ltd, Elekeiroz S.A, and Genomatica are some of the key players operating in the market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) In a recent report published by TMR, the global organic acids market is projected to rise at a steady 5.8% CAGR during the forecast period between 2017 and 2022. Rising at this rate, the market is anticipated to reach US$10.61 bn by 2022 progressing from US$8.02 bn earned in 2017. Request a Sample of Organic Acids Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2729 Based on the product type, acetic acid has generated the maximum amount of revenue in the past few years, as its demand is extensively high in food and beverages market. Antifungal and antibacterial properties of acetic acid have increased the demand for acetic acid for preserving food that led its dominance in the global market. On regional front, North America is leading the global due to widespread use in the food and beverage market. Presence of state-of-art infrastructural system and positive economic condition led to the growth of organic acid in this region. Increasing Demand for Organic Acid in Pharmaceuticals to Fuel Market Performance Application of organic acids is seen in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and in industrials use. Rapid development in the pharmaceuticals industries has grown the demand for organic acid significantly. The use of organic acid is widely seen in the food and beverages industry as it in preserving food for longer hours. A type of organic acid named acetic acid is the form of citric acid and vinegar that is commonly used for preserving beverages. In addition, the demand for organic acid is also increasing in the petrochemical industry for the production of intermediates and end-use petrochemical products. These factors are expected to boost the demand for organic acids and expand the market at the global level. Request For Multiple Chapters of Organic Acids Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=MC&rep_id=2729 High Cost of Raw Material to Impede Demand for Organic Acids Despite the growing demand for organic acid and rising application in various industries, there are certain restraining factors that could deter the market growth. One of the factors is rising government concerns on the growing use of synthetic acids and strict government regulations are likely to impede the market's growth. High price and availability of raw material and poor supply chain are also affecting the growth of this market. As the cost of raw material is high, the cost of production is also high, thus less profit has remained with the manufactures. However, players are now investing in developing bio-based acids that are expected to reduce the negative effects of synthetic organic acids. Request For Custom Research: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=2729 The information presented in this review is based on a TMR report, titled "Organic Acids Market (Product Type - Acetic Acid, Formic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Propionic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Fumaric Acid, Malic Acid; Application - Bakery and Confectionery, Dairy, Beverages, Poultry, Meat and Seafood, Livestock Feed, Companion Animal Feed, Pharmaceuticals, Industrial) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2022." Global Organic Acids Market has been segmented as presented below: Global Organic Acids Market, Product Analysis Acetic Acid Formic Acid Lactic Acid Citric Acid Propionic Acid Ascorbic Acid Gluconic Acid Fumaric Acid Malic Acid Global Organic Acids Market, Application Analysis Bakery and Confectionaries Dairy Beverages Poultry, Meat, and Seafood Livestock, Companion Animal Pharmaceuticals Industrial Global Organic Acids Market: By Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Poland Rest of Europe Asia Pacific excluding Japan China India ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Israel Nigeria Japan Browse More Chemical & Materials Market Research Reports Popular Research Reports by TMR: Nitric Acid Market - (End Use - Fertilizers, Nitrobenzene, Toluene Di Isocyanate (TDI), Adipic Acid, and Metal Processing; Application - Chemicals & Allied Industries and Metallurgical Industries): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/nitric-acid-market.html Butyric Acid Derivatives Market (Product - Sodium Butyrate and Calcium Butyrate; Animal Feed - Poultry, Swine, Ruminants, Aquaculture, and Pets): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/butyric-acid-derivatives-market.html Sulfur Dioxide Market (Application - Sulfuric Acid, Bleaching Agent, Refrigerating Agent, and Food Preservative; End Use - Chemical, Textiles, and Food & Beverages): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/north-america-sulfur-dioxide-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://cmfenews.com SOURCE Transparency Market Research DUBLIN, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Telecom Managed Services Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global telecom managed services market is expected to reach revenue of $26.03 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of around 12.1% during the forecast period. Managed services have now become essential criteria for organizations who primarily want to focus on their core business functions, improve agility, customer service, and reduce costs & complexity. Managed services are much more radical in the present connected world, in which cloud, analytics security, and IoT all play an important role. They enable organizations to get benefits from operational and network transformation. It is estimated that the internal IT costs within organizations can be reduced by almost 30-40% with managed services, while improving efficiency by approximately 50%. Telecom industry has witnessed extensive growth during the past few years. Telecommunication companies are facing constant pressure to deliver innovative services at lower costs to retain their customers in the competitive market. For addressing a complex competitive environment, managed services have become a widespread demand for operators. Telecom companies, due to lower margins, are focusing on minimizing their costs, maximizing customer satisfaction & loyalty, and thereby generate maximum revenue. The market is expected to witness a surge in the next few years. The factors such as the continuous need for network optimization & high level of network performance, advancements in technologies such as 5G, SDN, & NFV, rising smartphone usage & BYOD trends, and increasing number of cyber-attacks will further foster the growth of the telecom managed services market during the forecast period. Competitive Analysis The report covers and analyzes the telecom managed services market. Major vendors across different verticals are planning for high investments in this market, and as a result, the market is expected to grow at an impressive rate in the upcoming years. The key players are adopting various organic as well as inorganic growth strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, collaboration & partnerships, joint ventures, and few other strategies to be in the strong position in the market. The report contains an in-depth analysis of the vendors profile, which includes financial health, business units, key business priorities, SWOT, strategies, and views. The prominent vendors covered in the report include Cisco Systems, Huawei Technologies, Ericsson, Fujitsu, ZTE, Tech Mahindra, Comarch, Subex, NCS, Unisys, and others. The vendors have been identified based on the portfolio, geographical presence, marketing & distribution channels, revenue generation, and significant investments in R&D. Cisco Systems, Huawei Technologies, Ericsson, and Fujitsu are the key players in the telecom managed services market. Cisco has signed a 3-year managed service agreement with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to transform STC's core network and operations, and prepare it for the digital era. Huawei has partnered with various carriers to jointly build premium broadband networks and to implement the approach of value-driven network deployment. Regional Analysis North America held the largest market share in 2017 and is expected to dominate the telecom managed services market during the forecast period. The market will experience a steep rise in this region. The factors driving the growth of the market in North America include rapidly evolving technological developments, the presence of the world's largest telecom companies looking for optimizing their network investments & enhance customer satisfaction, and growing network cyber-attacks in this region. Key Topics Covered: 1 Industry Outlook 1.1 Industry Overview 1.2 Industry Trends 1.3 PEST Analysis 2 Report Outline 2.1 Report Scope 2.2 Report Summary 2.3 Research Methodology 2.4 Report Assumptions 3 Market Snapshot 3.1 Total Addressable Market (TAM) 3.2 Segmented Addressable Market (SAM) 3.3 Related Markets 4 Market Outlook 4.1 Overview 4.2 Market Trends and Impact 4.3 Market Segmentation 5 Market Characteristics 5.1 Ecosystem 5.2 Value Chain 5.3 Market Dynamics 5.3.1 Drivers 5.3.1.1 Growing demand for high productivity & improved network performance 5.3.1.2 Improving Quality of service (Qos) and Quality of experience (QoE) 5.3.1.3 Increasing need for CAPEX and OPEX savings 5.3.2 Restraints 5.3.2.1 Privacy and Security Issues 5.3.3 Opportunities 5.3.3.1 Growing demand for cloud based offerings 5.3.3.2 Ability for disaster control and recovery 5.3.4 DRO - Impact Analysis 6 Service Types 6.1 Overview 6.2 Managed Network Services 6.3 Managed Data Center Services 6.4 Managed Security Services 6.5 Managed Mobility Services 6.6 Managed Communication Services 7 Regions 7.1 Overview 7.2 North America 7.2.1 Market Size and Analysis 7.2.2 DRO For North America 7.2.3 US 7.2.4 Canada 7.3 Europe 7.3.1 Market Size and Analysis 7.3.2 DRO For Europe 7.3.3 UK 7.3.4 Germany 7.4 APAC 7.4.1 Market Size and Analysis 7.4.2 DRO for Asia Pacific 7.4.3 China 7.4.4 India 7.4.5 Japan 7.5 RoW (ME, Latin America, Africa) 7.5.1 Market Size and Analysis 8 Vendor Profiles 8.1 Cisco Systems 8.2 Huawei Technologies 8.3 Ericsson 8.4 Fujitsu 8.5 ZTE 9 Other Prominent Vendors 9.1 Tech Mahindra 9.2 Comarch 9.3 Subex 9.4 NCS 9.5 Unisys 10 Competitive Landscape For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hlp6bj/global_telecom?w=5 Did you know that we also offer Custom Research? Visit our Custom Research page to learn more and schedule a meeting with our Custom Research Manager. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Group1001 announced today it will acquire 100% of Lackawanna Casualty Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Lackawanna American Insurance Company and Lackawanna National Insurance Company, together known as "Lackawanna Insurance Group." Lackawanna is currently the 7th largest writer of workers' compensation in Pennsylvania. Group1001 plans to expand its Clear Spring Insurance brand of insurance companies by purchasing Lackawanna and leveraging all of its employees and technology. "Lackawanna Insurance Group has grown from a company with written premium of approximately $8 million in the late 1990s to $120 million today. Our growth is a testament to our talented employees, key broker network relationships, and prudent approach to managing our business. I'm thrilled that all of our employees will be applying our sound business principles and excellent service in order to support continued growth and a nationwide expansion plan," remarked Kenneth Weaver, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lackawanna Insurance Group. "We have owned and operated Lackawanna for more than 75 years, and because of Kenneth Weaver's fine leadership and the dedicated and exemplary work of the company's managers and staff, Lackawanna is rightly regarded as a premier workers' compensation insurance company with a well-deserved reputation for excellence. We are proud of our history and our people, thankful for all they have done and will continue to do in the months and years to come," stated Michelene Pagnotti, Chairman of the Boards of Pagnotti Enterprises, Inc. and Lackawanna Insurance Group. Lackawanna Insurance Group will continue to operate out of its current Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania offices and all of its employees will remain in their current roles. "This is a key transaction for our Clear Spring Insurance growth plans. We look forward to maintaining 100% of the Lackawanna staff and want to integrate their experience and technology," said Michael Camilleri, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Spring Property and Casualty Company. Group1001 Chief Executive Officer Dan Towriss noted that the Lackawanna acquisition speaks to the growth and breadth of new offerings. "This transaction represents a reaffirmation of Group1001's expansion and growth strategy. We will pursue opportunities to bring new products and services to a wider range of people and continue with our commitment to deploy capital at attractive return levels. This transaction will further diversify our risk portfolio and revenue sources," said Mr. Towriss. While terms of the agreement are not publicly disclosed, Group1001 expects to close the transaction by the end of March 2019. Merger & Acquisition Services, Inc. served as financial advisor and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP provided legal services to Group 1001. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods served as financial advisor and Cozen O'Connor provided legal services to Lackawanna Insurance Group. About Lackawanna Insurance Group Lackawanna Insurance Group is a Pennsylvania workers' compensation specialist with assets of more than $300 million and statutory surplus of $100 million as of September 30, 2018. Lackawanna Insurance Group has been writing business exclusively in the State of Pennsylvania for over 75 years. Currently the 7th largest writer of workers' compensation in the State, Lackawanna Insurance Group is Rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Lackawanna maintains a local presence across the Commonwealth. For more information about Lackawanna Insurance Group, Please visit Ligins.com About Clear Spring Insurance With offices based out of Boca Raton, FL, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Company is an insurance company in the Group1001 family of companies that is focused on workers' compensation and property & casualty. About Group 1001 Group One Thousand One, LLC ("Group1001") is an insurance holding company in the United States, with current combined assets under management of approximately $37 billion as of December 31, 2017, and a mission to make insurance and retirement products more useful, intuitive, and accessible so everyone can get the most value from their money. For more information about Group1001, please visit Group1001.com . SOURCE Group1001 Related Links https://www.group1001.com Insight by Ross Duff, Senior Vice President, Operations, HGS CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- (Feature Article) - The metaphor of the Emotional Bank Account (EBA) is arguably one of the most pervasive concepts introduced in Stephen Covey's groundbreaking book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. A few years ago, HGS examined how we could apply Covey's principles within the contact center environment. The result was the HGS Customer Experience Blueprint, which identifies, models and documents best practices when handling inbound customer service calls. The result is higher resolution rates and a dramatic transformation in customer satisfaction. According to Covey's metaphor, every interpersonal relationship, whether with friends, family members, co-workers or business partners, can be managed by "accounting" for the health of the relationship. While the "account" begins with a neutral balance, we continuously make deposits and withdrawals as we interact. These deposits and withdrawals influence trust which is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship. When we make emotional deposits into the EBA, trust grows, even allowing us to occasionally make mistakes without "overdrawing" the account. Too many withdrawals and a resulting low or "overdrawn" EBA means that the relationship becomes fraught with mistrust and contention. There are 6 key ways we make deposits into an EBA: Demonstrate effort to understand. Keep commitments. Clarify expectations. Attend to the "little things." Demonstrate personal integrity. Recognize, and apologize sincerely, when a withdrawal is made. One of many examples where the HGS Customer Experience Blueprint makes use of Stephen Covey's principles is in the context of giving a little before we can ask of someone. For example, customer authentication and verification is a step in many of our standard call flows that must be performed before a customer service call can progress. However, this necessary step in the process can be viewed negatively by the customer, potentially setting the stage for conflict. According to Covey's theory, we are withdrawing from the EBA by asking the customer to verify that they are who they say they are, essentially creating an atmosphere of mistrust. In this situation, before we have even begun the transaction, we are starting the interaction in arrears and working "against the current." To minimize this "customer experience friction point," the Customer Experience Blueprint addresses the "Top of the Call" by immediately transferring control from the agent to the customer and requires that our agents immediately make a deposit in the EBA at the very beginning of the interaction. Agents begin by simply asking the customer, "How are you today?" followed by asking clarifying questions about the problem and restating to ensure, and demonstrate, clarity (seeking first to understand). They then ask permission to ask questions to support verification by asking "Before we can solve your problem, may I ask you a few questions?" The "Top of the Call" portion of the Customer Experience Blueprint process also includes "sowing a seed" which means that agents may communicate a potential upsell offer to a client, stating "Remind me to discuss this with you after we resolve your problem." This strategy creates interest, leaves control in the hands of the customer, and allows customers to benefit from additional value added offers that they may not have been aware of before they called. By implementing the Customer Experience Blueprint, HGS was able to demonstrate immediate improvements, including: Higher call resolution rates More satisfied customers Fewer escalations Higher customer lifetime value Higher average revenue per call through upselling and cross selling Lower average handle time Covey's theories and their effective application in the contact center environment remind us that contact center agents play a crucial role in building the relationship between a brand and its customers. A structured approach to developing soft skills to enhance and strengthen this relationship is a key component of building a customer-centric culture, increasing customer loyalty and satisfaction. About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS): A global leader in business process management (BPM) and optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, HGS is helping make its clients more competitive every day. HGS combines technology-powered services in automation, analytics, and digital with domain expertise focusing on back office processing, contact centers, and HRO solutions to deliver transformational impact to clients. Part of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a true "globally local" approach, with over 44,528 employees across 75 delivery centers in seven countries making a difference to some of the world's leading brands across nine key verticals. For the year ended 31st March 2018, HGS had revenues of US$ 597 million. Visit https://www.teamhgs.com to learn how HGS can help make your business more competitive. HGS Media Contacts: Andrew Kokes +1 888 747 7911 [email protected] Diana Dixon + 1 312 758 1380 [email protected] SOURCE Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) Related Links http://www.teamhgs.com/ NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF), in collaboration with longtime partner the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, is building a global base of movement disorder specialists to provide expert patient care and lead complementary research and drug development. Launched in 2014, The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders annually awards funding to five academic centers worldwide to each train a new movement disorder specialist over two years. Recently, the five fellows in the inaugural Class of 2018 completed training and began prestigious movement disorders careers around the world. "The first graduating class exemplifies the aims of The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders," says Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. "These talented and passionate professionals are committed to delivering high-quality and personalized care to their patients while standing at the forefront of Parkinson's research. We anticipate expanding this impressive network with each graduating class." Answering Patient and Research Needs Worldwide Each Edmond J. Safra Fellow is using the knowledge and skills gained in fellowship to embark on a unique career path that combines patient care and research investigation, allowing them to serve as direct links between their patients and research toward improved disease understanding and therapies. David Breen, BSc (Hons), MBChB, MRCP (Neurol), PhD Fellowship Site: Toronto Western Hospital; Ontario, Canada David is a senior research fellow and honorary consultant neurologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. There, he is developing a new program at the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic to care for people with movement disorders and connect them to research studies. He also is leading epidemiological studies to understand risk factors for Parkinson's (both genetic and environmental) and studying the influence of sleep on brain health, including the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's. Marissa Dean, MD Fellowship Site: UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham); Birmingham, Alabama Marissa has remained at UAB, accepting a position as assistant professor of neurology. In this role, she evaluates and treats people with all types of movement disorders, including Parkinson's, Huntington's, ataxia and others. She also leads several clinical trials; her main interests are the genetics of movement disorders and underrepresented populations in Parkinson's research (such as African-Americans). Lenora Higginbotham, MD Fellowship Site: Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia Lenora is a senior associate of movement disorders at Emory University. She divides her time between seeing people with movement disorders in the clinic and looking for biomarkers (objective measures to diagnose and track Parkinson's and other diseases that don't yet have a diagnostic test) in the research lab. Christine Kim, MD Fellowship Site: Columbia University; New York, New York Christine joined Yale University as an instructor of neurology to treat movement disorders patients and conduct research. She leads studies to understand the mechanisms of focal task-specific dystonia (such as writer's cramp and musician's dystonia) with the goal of developing novel treatment strategies. Christine says, "Through The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship, I learned to see the whole picture and put everything together. I don't look at a patient or research in isolation; my eye always goes to how current treatments may be falling short and how my research can help the patients I see." Gerrit Machetanz, MD Fellowship Site: University of Tubingen; Tubingen, Germany Gerrit is a clinician-researcher at the University of Tubingen, treating patients in the Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders Outpatient Ward (a clinic he established) and serving as an investigator on Parkinson's and other movement disorder trials. He's working to separate the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson's to advance personalized treatment approaches. Because German neurology and movement disorder training is structured differently than in the United States, Gerrit still has a few neurology requirements to complete. When he is finished, he plans to pursue a career at an academic university seeing patients with parkinsonian disorders and connecting this clinical work closely with research. Read more about these movement disorder specialists. Movement Disorder Fellowship Meets a Growing Need Movement disorder specialists neurologists with additional training in Parkinson's and other movement disorders can balance complicated medication regimens, integrate the latest therapies and round out a person's care team with other experts. When also skilled as researchers, movement disorder specialists use insights from their patients to inform studies toward improved understanding of disease and treatments. People with Parkinson's who see specialists typically report feeling more informed and better equipped to manage their disease. But not everyone sees a movement disorder specialist, often because there aren't enough of them, and this disparity is growing. Estimates hold that 6 million people across the world are living with Parkinson's and this number will double by 2040. The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders is bridging the gap in funding to train movement disorder specialists and build the global base of clinician-researchers. By the year 2021, the program is on track to graduate 20 new movement disorder specialists around the world. "The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders allows young physicians to train with renowned movement disorder specialists and researchers at distinguished institutions across the world," says Lily Safra, chairwoman of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation and member of the MJFF Board of Directors. "We are proud of the inaugural graduating class as well as the other fellows currently in training, and look forward to celebrating their achievements in Parkinson's care and research for many years to come." Watch a video about the fellowship program. A Devotion to Advancing Parkinson's Research and Care Late banker and philanthropist Edmond J. Safra's namesake foundation has long made Parkinson's disease care and research top priorities. Mrs. Safra, chairwoman of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, has been an MJFF Board member since 2001. In addition to generous gifts to centers and programs providing direct care to people with Parkinson's disease, Mrs. Safra and her foundation have driven vital scientific investigation into new treatments. The fellowship is the latest among many partnerships between the Edmond J. Safra Foundation and MJFF, including the Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research, which supports MJFF's central grantmaking initiatives. Applications for the Class of 2022 Now Open The Michael J. Fox Foundation is accepting applications from academic centers worldwide to train the Class of 2022 Edmond J. Safra Fellows. Deadline is December 19, 2018. Learn more and apply. About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $800 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us on the Web , Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest. About the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Edmond J. Safra, one of the 20th century's most accomplished bankers and a devoted philanthropist, established a major philanthropic foundation to ensure that individuals and organizations would continue to receive his assistance and encouragement for many years to come. Under the chairmanship of his beloved wife Lily, the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation draws continuing inspiration from its founder's life and values, and supports hundreds of organizations in more than 40 countries around the world. Its work encompasses four areas: Education; Science and Medicine; Religion; and Humanitarian Assistance, Culture and Social Welfare. The Foundation has provided significant funding for Parkinson's disease research and patient care at dozens of hospitals and institutes in places as varied as Natal (Brazil), Toronto, New York, Grenoble, Paris, London and Jerusalem. For more information, visit www.edmondjsafra.org. SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Related Links http://www.edmondjsafra.org LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Investment in Israel's telecoms infrastructure under the spotlight Israel has a highly developed telecoms sector with wide coverage of fixed broadband services as well as both 3G and 4G mobile broadband available. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5313300 The Communications Minister has however expressed concern that the highly competitive mobile market had caused operators profits to decline and this in turn was driving down the investment directed towards developing and updating infrastructure. This may create problems if the infrastructure cannot keep up with future demand. Israel offers a highly competitive mobile sector, with several operators all competing for customers who enjoy cheap 3G mobile services. While 4G coverage in Israel is significant, the adoption of such services remains below 20% and this has been partly attributed to the prohibitive cost of services and devices. Israel has a very high household internet penetration rate, almost all of which are broadband connections. There are various competing broadband platforms the DSL and fibre network of fixed-line incumbent Bezeq, the HFC network of HOT and the fibre network from Partner. Bezeq and HOT are both subject to broadband universal service obligations which has resulted in fixed broadband being available to 99% of all households. Israel has developed worldwide recognition has a premier location for start-up incubation and many innovations have emerged from the country over the past few years. Interest in the high-tech sector is still a key growth area for Israel with the US and China, in particular, setting up and investing in various research labs and solutions. Recently Israel turned its attention towards the opportunities presented by the growing cyber-security sector. Key developments: There are concerns being raised that telecoms infrastructure investment is falling behind in Israel. The regulator recently approved a network sharing and hosting deal between Cellcom and Electra (which has acquired Golan Telecom). In mid 2017 the Israel Securities Authority launched an investigation into Bezeq regarding possible securities law violations. In mid-2016 both Cellcom and Partner were given approval by the MoC to purchase a controlling stake in Israel Broadband Company (IBC). Companies mentioned in this report include: Bezeq, Bezeq International, Pelephone, HOT Telecom, HOT Mobile, Cellcom, 013 NetVision, Partner (Formerly Orange), 012 Smile, Xfone, Golan Telecom (Electra Communications), Israel Broadband Company (IBC); Remi Levy, Mobile 019. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5313300 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com PEORIA, Ill., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Joel E. Brown, Attorney at Law has made the list of America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys. A Peoria criminal defense and personal injury lawyer, Joel E. Brown is receiving this distinction for his work in the fields of criminal defense litigation, personal injury litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and wrongful death litigation. The goal of the Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys list is to highlight the most accomplished white-collar and general criminal defense attorneys in the nation and provide a reliable guide for perspective consumers in need of criminal defense representation. Membership is determined through propriety algorithms and qualitative analysis, which cross references case results, awards, community engagement, media profile, major accomplishments and overall standing in the legal community. Candidates are peer-nominated by other elite attorneys or identified through an intensive third-party research process. This multi-step selection method ensures that only the most skilled legal minds in the field of criminal defense end up on the final Top 100. The Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys stamp of approval is the latest honor for Joel E. Brown in his long career of fighting for the people of Peoria, IL. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and Lawyers of Distinction. Brown has 25 years of experience handling personal injury and criminal defense matters including serious injury cases, product liability cases, defective medical device cases, defective drug cases, as well as state and federal drug charges and white-collar crime charges. Brown strives to be a trusted advocate for people across Illinois and Missouri, and to provide a personalized, honest, and compassionate approach for all his clients. To learn more about Joel E. Brown, Attorney at Law, visit https://www.joelebrown.com/about-us/. SOURCE Joel E. Brown, Attorney at Law Related Links https://www.joelebrown.com LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kenya's mature m-commerce sector looking to network interoperability Kenya's telecommunications market continues to undergo considerable changes in response to increased competition, improved international connectivity, and rapid developments in the mobile market. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5355160 The landing of four fibre-optic international submarine cables in recent years dramatically reduced the cost of phone calls and internet access, allowing internet services to be affordable to a far greater proportion of the population. In parallel, the sector's regulator has reduced interconnection tariffs and implemented a range of regulations aimed at developing further competition. The incumbent fixed-line telco, Telkom Kenya, which was managed by Orange Group from 2007 until it was sold to Helios in November 2015, has struggled to make headway in the competitive market. Numerous competitors are rolling out national and metropolitan fibre backbone networks and wireless access networks to deliver services to population centres across the country. Several fibre infrastructure sharing agreements have been forged, and as a result the number of fibre broadband connections almost tripled in the year to September 2017. The mobile market has continued to grow steadily, supported by a mobile subscriber base of about 41 million by early 2018. Some market consolidation occurred following the acquisition by Airtel and Safaricom of Essar Telecom's yuMobile business. While all network operators have invested in mobile technologies and infrastructure upgrades to support mobile data services, competition has nevertheless presented challenges to their profitability, with uneven revenue growth reported in recent years. However, Safaricom has seen very strong growth on the back of its popular M-PESA payment platform. This market dominance, however, encouraged the government to consider, and later dismiss, recommendations from a 2016 report that Safaricom split off its M-PESA business from its voice and data offerings. To encourage the development of LTE services the government has pursued an open-access approach. Disputes centered on licence fees delayed the launch of LTE services by MNOs, though they continued to invest in infrastructure and technology upgrades using trial licences. A number of major WiMAX deployments and FttP rollouts have been undertaken, which have pushed fast broadband connectivity to a greater number of subscribers in urban areas. Nevertheless, the vast majority of broadband subscribers remain on mobile networks. Key developments: - Government cuts back on scale of second phase national broadband network project; - Telkom Kenya completes first phase of a KES600 million network upgrade project; - Universal Service Fund extends mobile coverage to underserved northern regions; - Telecom regulator loses certain powers to the Competition Authority of Kenya; - Test phase of m-money interoperability starts; - Jamii Telecom launches cut-price LTE services; - Regulator rejects proposal for Safaricom's M-PESA service to be split off from voice and data services; - Telkom Kenyas revamped m-money platform to be relaunched; - Kenya Power trials fibre access on its electricity network; - AccessKenya completes metropolitan fibre network rollout in Nairobi and Nakuru; - International internet bandwidth continues to rise; - Government progresses with national broadband strategy. - Report update includes the regulator's market data to September 2017, operator data to Q3 2017, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Telkom Kenya, Jamii Telecom, Access Kenya (Dimension Data), Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC), Wananchi, Safaricom, Bharti Airtel, MTN, Liquid Telecom, Safaricom, Essar Telkom Kenya, Mobile Pay (Tangaza Pesa), Zioncell Kenya, Finserve Africa (Equitel), Kenya Data Networks (KDN), SimbaNet, Africa Online, Swift Global, Internet Solutions Kenya (InterConnect), Gilat Satellite Networks, Afsat Communications, Inmarsat, Indigo Telecom (Thuraya), Nation TV (NTV). Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5355160 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leadfeeder and LinkedIn Sales Navigator are teaming up this year, and we're excited to share this announcement with our customers and future customers. As many marketers and sales people know, LinkedIn Sales Navigator empowers its users with access to LinkedIn's more than 590M+ member network. With the two powers combined, now sales and marketing professionals can find and build relationships with prospects and customers with even greater speed and efficiency. According to LinkedIn research , on average, sales leaders who use LinkedIn Sales Navigator experience: 45 percent more opportunities created 51 percent more likelihood to achieve quota 80 percent more productivity When combined with Leadfeeder , these two platforms help marketing and sales teams identify the companies visiting their website and transform this traffic into qualified leads. Leadfeeder's mission is to help marketing and sales professionals identify who is visiting their website, transform their traffic into qualified leads, and connect to key decision makers. Jaakko Paalanen, CRO at Leadfeeder, says, "Leadfeeder and LinkedIn Sales Navigator are at the forefront of modern sales enablement, which is why we are so thrilled to bring the power of LinkedIn Sales Navigator into the Leadfeeder platform. This integration will make it easier for our users to streamline their follow-up process and efficiently convert web visits into sales." With this new integration, Leadfeeder users can research and reach out to prospects using LinkedIn Sales Navigator - without leaving the Leadfeeder app. Let's dive into some of the more detailed features and benefits of this new integration. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1r0nGOkoYs Benefits of the Integration Leadfeeder's integration with LinkedIn Sales Navigator (Team or Enterprise editions) provides a couple of great additions to your Leadfeeder interface, providing relevant context alongside your Leadfeeder data and enabling more efficient outreach so that you can connect to the right stakeholders. Relevant Company Data. Gain more insights on a company through LinkedIn Sales Navigator's company card. Find The Right Contacts. Find out if you have existing LinkedIn Connections, review LinkedIn Recommended Leads, and view a person's recent activities on LinkedIn. Quick Outreach. Send a message to your existing connections, or send a Connection Request or InMail to new leads from inside the Leadfeeder platform. Pekka Koskinen, Leadfeeder's founder and CEO notes, "With more than 30,000 companies on our platform, we've been busy throughout the year asking our users what they would like to see in the Leadfeeder platform, and integrating with LinkedIn Sales Navigator was high on the list. Our mission is to automate lead generation for B2B companies, and this integration is one big step towards that vision." For more information: Pekka Koskinen CEO [email protected] +358-405905670 Jaakko Paalanen CRO [email protected] +358-46-922-0210 Leadfeeder is one of the world's best website visitor tracking tools for sales and marketing. It uses your Google Analytics data to show real companies visiting your website and it integrates to your CRM and email marketing tools to increase your sales intelligence. See more information at https://www.leadfeeder.com/ This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/leadfeeder/r/leadfeeder-partners-with-linkedin-sales-navigator,c2672980 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Public/14808/2672980/b4b748e7603bc34b.pdf Press release - Leadfeeder Partners With LinkedIn Sales Navigator http://news.cision.com/leadfeeder/i/linkedin-leadfeeder-logos,c2528542 LinkedIn-Leadfeeder-logos http://news.cision.com/leadfeeder/i/jaakko-paalanen-left-and-pekka-koskinen-at-linkedin-hq,c2528545 Jaakko Paalanen left and Pekka Koskinen at LinkedIn HQ http://news.cision.com/leadfeeder/i/leadfeeder-linkedin-sales-navigator-eng,c2528544 Leadfeeder-Linkedin-Sales-Navigator-ENG http://news.cision.com/leadfeeder/i/leadfeeder-linkedin-sales-navigator,c2528543 Leadfeeder-LinkedIn-Sales-Navigator SOURCE Leadfeeder "Never have I seen, among farmers, such a broad quest for (soil health) knowledge as I'm seeing now," says Barry Fisher, United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service. "And this interest in soil health extends far beyond the farm gate," adds Bill Buckner, President of the Noble Research Institute and Chair of the Board of SHI. "Consumer packaged goods companies, environmental groups, financial investors, and many others are recognizing the importance and value of improving soil health." Living Soil captures the background of the current soil health movement and its momentum, beginning with painful images of the Dust Bowl, and then transitions to personal experiences of innovative women and men who are managing their land to enhance soil health. The film features rural and urban farmers from Maryland to California, selling everything from corn to bouquets, united by their care for the soil. The documentary is directed by Chelsea Myers, founder of Tiny Attic, a video production company located in Columbia, Missouri that specializes in documenting real moments and real people. Myers has evolved as a visual storyteller for a diverse range of projects as a director, producer, editor, illustrator, cinematographer, and animator. With a fiercely creative spirit, Myers and her Tiny Attic crew pursue meaningful work regionally and around the world. "This is a film for everyone who cares about our natural resources," says Wayne Honeycutt, President & CEO of the Soil Health Institute. "The innovative farmers in this documentary are showing us the way to grow our food in concert with the environment." The documentary is available online. To download the documentary, visit https://livingsoilfilm.com. For information on SHI, to become involved in the soil health movement, and to subscribe to SHI communications, visit www.soilhealthinstitute.org. About the Soil Health Institute The Soil Health Institute (www.soilhealthinstitute.org) is a non-profit whose mission is to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement. The Institute works with its many stakeholders to identify gaps in research and adoption; develop strategies, networks and funding to address those gaps; and ensure beneficial impact of those investments to agriculture, the environment and society. About Tiny Attic Tiny Attic Productions (https://www.tinyatticproductions.com) is a multimedia company based in Columbia, Mo. The firm specializes in filming, editing, animation, sound design, branding, and capturing stories about real people in real moments. FOR INFORMATION: Byron Rath +1-919-230-0303 [email protected] SOURCE Soil Health Institute Related Links http://www.soilhealthinstitute.org HELSINKI, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MediSapiens, a leading developer and provider of genomic, biomedical and health data solutions, has partnered with Terveystalo, a leading private healthcare service provider in Finland, to support their biobank operations with scalable, interactive and secure genomic and clinical data solutions. MediSapiens is providing Terveystalo with an integral solution to support Terveystalo's biobank, enabling effective use of genomic and clinical data in the daily operations of Finland's largest private biobank. The solution is based on the Genius and Biond software modules for integral data management and analysis, complimented with the Accurate technology for clinical data curation. MediSapiens provides cost- and time-effective solutions to curate and harmonize the legacy clinical data accumulated over the years by Terveystalo, making it significantly easier to apply the data for further analysis and new insights. Using the Genius data management module, Terveystalo ensures that their biobank operation has a cost-effective and scalable solution in place for the ever-increasing amount of genomic data. The solution provides real-time querying capabilities and together with Biond, the graphical analysis module, it enables combining the genomic data with the vast amounts of clinical data to support Terveystalo researchers in finding new insights to improve the quality of care, healthcare and drug development. "We are extremely happy to start this project with Terveystalo and to provide the management and analytics solutions for their infrastructure", stated Sami Kilpinen, CEO of MediSapiens. "The new insights that can be found from the clinical and genomic data Terveystalo is working with can in the future improve the quality of healthcare as well as future drug development, and MediSapiens is proud to be supporting this progress." "We are pleased to find a partner that meets our needs. MediSapiens' data solutions allow us to develop our biobank and take several steps towards being a world-class actor in the field of precision medicine in clinical use", said Lasse Parvinen, Director, Biobank and Clinical Research of Terveystalo About MediSapiens MediSapiens Ltd. is a Bio-IT and bioinformatics company specialized in pharmaceutical research and translational genomics, providing life science and biomedical companies and research organizations with tools that help them manage and interpret large genomic, biomedical and clinical data sets. Established in 2009 and based in Helsinki, Finland and Cambridge, Massachusetts, MediSapiens creates intuitive software platforms to manage, integrate, and visualize complex multi-dimensional datasets, such as genomic sequencing data. The company's goal is to drive medicine forward by developing tools that provide scientists with a way to quickly analyze and visualize vast amounts of data and turn it into knowledge that fuels innovation. For further information, please visit www.medisapiens.com About Terveystalo 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, Terveystalo 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's services carry the Key Flag symbol and the company is a member of the Association for Finnish Work. For further information, please visit www.terveystalo.com Contact MediSapiens Sami Kilpinen CEO, MediSapiens Ltd. Email: [email protected] Phone: +358-45-847-8878 MediSapiens +358-45-847-8878 www.medisapiens.com [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/medisapiens/r/medisapiens-to-support-terveystalo-with-biobank-data-management-and-analytics-solutions,c2673098 SOURCE MediSapiens Related Links http://www.medisapiens.com NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced the recipients of its 2018 Community Partnership Award, which annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. "All of the 2018 honorees are leaders in society, creating innovative and effective solutions to help those in need," said John R. Greed, Chairman, President and CEO of Mutual of America. "Through the Community Partnership Award, Mutual of America is proud to recognize, support and help extend the reach of these vital partnerships." This year's recipient of the Governor Hugh L. Carey Award, presented to the national award-winning program, is the Baltimore City Deconstruction Project. Humanim's pioneering collaboration with the Baltimore City Housing and the Office of Sustainability, U.S. Forest Service, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and Room & Board, is helping transform once-blighted blocks of dilapidated, vacant houses in Baltimore's inner city into thriving green space. They're doing this, not by clogging landfills with demolition debris, but by hiring and training local residents, many who were formerly incarcerated, to take apart these buildings, piece-by-piece, and then salvaging bricks and boards for resale. Each 2018 recipient is delivering solutions to critical challenges facing our country, including providing services to veterans and families experiencing homelessness, as well as addressing issues ranging from education to gun violence to job skills training. Governor Hugh L. Carey Award Recipient Baltimore City Deconstruction Project (Humanim, Inc., Baltimore, MD ) Honorable Mention Award Recipients Merit Finalist Award Recipients Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 230 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube. About Mutual of America Mutual of America has specialized in providing retirement products and related services to organizations and their employees, as well as individuals, for over 70 years. As a mutual company, we do not have stockholders and are not publicly traded. We operate solely for the benefit of our customers, managing the Company for their long-term interest, rather than for the short-term demands of stockholders. Mutual of America is a leading provider of retirement products, offering personalized service at a competitive price to help plan participants and individuals build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. Integrity, prudence, and reliability are the values that have guided us since our inception and that continue to serve us well. For more information, please visit us at mutualofamerica.com. SOURCE Mutual of America Related Links https://www.mutualofamerica.com SUMMERVILLE, S.C., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Spectrum Consortium recently held its annual General Membership Meeting, during which industry representatives from the Consortium's more than 200 member organizations heard from government leaders about the challenges the U.S. faces to manage increasing demands for the electromagnetic spectrum. The National Spectrum Consortium (NSC) is a research and development organization that incubates new technologies to revolutionize the way in which the electromagnetic spectrum is used. As the only U.S. trade association focused entirely on the electromagnetic spectrum, related technologies, standards, and policies, the NSC provides a forum for government, industry, and academia to collaborate and develop crucial spectrum-related technologies. This year's NSC General Membership Meeting focused on the need to address increased defense and commercial demands for the spectrum, as well as the need for new capabilities in the areas of C4ISR, electronic warfare, and cyber operations. "With President Trump's October 25 memorandum urging the heads of the Executive Departments and Agencies to develop a sustainable spectrum strategy for America's future, the NSC is well-poised to act as the voice of U.S. industry and academia in efforts to advance spectrum-related policies and standardsNSC hopes to become the go-to entity for developing 5G enabling technologies in a collaborative environment," said Tony Melita, NSC's Executive Director. The 2018 membership meeting was a resounding success, with participation by high-level Department of Defense personnel, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), Congressional staff, and leaders from industry and academia. Representatives from all areas of the field came together to discuss and address critical spectrum issues facing our nation, with advances toward 5G and its resulting economic benefits on the near horizon. "The NSC, through its leadership in spectrum, is helping the U.S. overcome the toughest obstacles it faces related to spectrum access in congested and contested environments," said Dr. Apurva N. Mody, Chairman of NSC's Board of Directors. "We are supporting the Federal Government as it undergoes a paradigm shift on spectrum, while advancing the available technologies by including innovative businesses in this effort, enhancing the pool of intellectual property and the economic impact of spectrum technologies." To learn more about the NSC, visit nationalspectrumconsortium.org or email [email protected]. SOURCE ATI (Advanced Technology International) Related Links https://www.ati.org LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Netherlands regulator imposes wholesale access conditions on VodafoneZiggo In common with other telecom markets in the region, the Dutch market is seeing a continuing decline in the fixed-line voice market as customers migrate to VoIP and mobile platforms for voice calls. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5257930 In addition, the physical copper infrastructure is being replaced with fibre and as part of the process some customers in rural areas, where the cost of deploying fibre is prohibitive, will be served with 5G for voice and data services in coming years. This trend will gain pace once 5G becomes widely available from about 2022. The country has one of the highest fixed broadband penetration rates in the world, with effective cross-platform competition between DSL and HFC networks further stimulated by numerous fibre deployments. By mid-2018 about a third of fixed-broadband connections provided data of at least 100Mb/s. Under regulatory measures adopted in October 2018 the main cableco VodafoneZiggo is obliged to offer wholesale cable broadband access to competitors. KPN has similar obligations on wholesale copper and fibre access. VodafoneZiggo since late 2018 has trialled DOCSIS3.1 technology with a view to deploying services based on the new standard across its network during 2019. Given these developments, the market share held by DSL, once the dominant platform, has fallen consistently for several years as customers migrate to faster cable and fibre-based networks. By the end of 2018 fibre is expected to account for only about 20% of all fixed-line broadband connections. In the mobile segment, the decline in the number of traditional SIM cards is partly the result of higher mobile penetration and also of competition on pricing which has meant that subscribers have less cause to acquire SIM cards from different providers to capitalise on cheaper on-net tariffs. In common with other European markets, the LTE sector is the main driver in the sector. While operators are concentrating investment on 5G some, including KPN, have begun the process of closing 3G infrastructure with a view to refarming spectrum and other assets for LTE and 5G services. The mobile market is fairly concentrated though the triopoly of T-Mobile Netherlands, KPN and VodafoneZiggo is supplemented by a good number of MVNOs and resellers. Some further market consolidation with the merger of T-Mobile Netherlands with Tele2 Netherlands awaits the approval from European competition regulators. This report details the key aspects of the Dutch telecom market. It provides data on fixed network services, profiles the major operators, and reviews the key regulatory issues including interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability, carrier preselection, and the provisions for competitor access to cable and fibre infrastructure The report also examines the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets, including statistics and analyses on technologies including ADSL2+, vectoring VDSL, FttP, powerline broadband, wireless broadband, Wi-Fi and internet via satellite. I addition the regulator covers the mobile voice and data markets, including a review of the key operators and regulatory issues, an assessment of emerging mobile data services and details of technologies based on LTE-B, LTB-M and 5G. Key developments: MNOs call for auction of 3.5GHz spectrum; T-Mobile Netherlands merger with Tele2 remains under scrutinya KPN preps for 5G trials, plans 3G network shutdown in 2022; Tele2 Netherlands launches VoWi-Fi service; T-Mobile launches '4G For Homea solution; VodafoneZiggo completes LTE-M network roll out; KPN extends LTE-M services; MNOs refarm 3G spectrum in the 2100MHz and 2600MHz bands for LTE; T-Mobile Netherlands launches CA LTE-A services; MNOs join with banks to launch m-payments system; T-Mobile and Tele2 sign network sharing agreement; KPN extends vectoring VDSL on a wholesale basis, upgrades FttP to 1Gb/s in select areas; VodafoneZiggo starts DOCSIS3.1 trial; Utility NLE launches DSL and fibre-based telecom services; KPN expands trials of Vplus technology; VodafoneZiggo deploys Wi-Fi hotspots to thousands of street cabinets Report update includes the regulatoras market data for Q4 2017, telcosa operating and financial data to Q2 2018, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: KPN, Orange Netherlands, Tele2, Versatel, Vodafone Netherlands, Ziggo, T-Mobile Netherlands, KPN, Reggefiber, VodafoneZiggo, UPC Netherlands. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5257930 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert "Bob" Rhoad is the latest partner to join the growing ranks of Nichols Liu LLP. Rhoad is a trial lawyer with more than 25 years of experience litigating matters involving the federal False Claims Act, state false claims laws, fraud and abuse matters, and criminal and civil government enforcement actions initiated by whistleblowers. Rhoad joins Nichols Liu from Sheppard Mullin where he was a partner in the Government Contracts, Investigations & International Trade Practice Group. Prior to Sheppard Mullin, he was a partner at Crowell & Moring, where Rhoad and Nichols Liu partner Andy Liu co-led the firm's Government Procurement Fraud/False Claims Act team. Rhoad also led Crowell & Moring's Health Care Litigation team. "Bob is a dynamic and highly-regarded litigator and his experience in handling high-stakes False Claims Act cases, investigations and health care and financial services fraud matters will be a tremendous asset to our clients," said co-founder Andy Liu. "His addition gives us exceptional depth in a number of key areas and we are excited to welcome Bob to the firm." "I couldn't be more elated to practice with many of my former colleagues and join them in building a powerhouse government contracts firm," said Rhoad. "The firm's entrepreneurial spirit and top-flight team are a perfect fit for me and my clients." In recognition of his success, among other accolades, Rhoad has been listed as a Washington, D.C. "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers in the Civil Litigation category and as a "Top Lawyer" by Washingtonian magazine in the Whistleblower Defense category one of only six attorneys so designated. Among Rhoad's high-profile cases is a jury reversal in U.S. ex rel. Purcell v. MWI Corp., a case in which the government intervened. Defending MWI Corp. against claims filed in 1998 over alleged false submissions to the Export-Import Bank of the United States in connection with loans it guaranteed for Nigerian irrigation projects, Rhoad and his team convinced the D.C. Circuit in 2015 to overturn a $22.5 million verdict for the government. The jury verdict itself was a fraction of the $225 million sought by the government. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the circuit decision. "With the addition of Bob to our already-strong FCA and investigations capabilities, Nichols Liu has one of the top procurement fraud practices in the country," said co-founder Robert Nichols. Rhoad began his career in the Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps in successive assignments as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and as a civil litigation attorney. During his six-year tenure in the JAG Corps, he assembled an almost perfect winning record. Rhoad served as lead counsel in numerous felony cases involving complex fraud issues. As a civil litigation attorney, Rhoad was lead agency counsel for the Department of the Navy working with U.S. Attorney Offices throughout the country in the litigation and trial of healthcare-related cases brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Since 2002, Rhoad has taught as an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University Law School, where he also earned a LL.M., summa cum laude, in 1999. He received his J.D. from Vermont Law School in 1994 and B.A. from the University of Vermont in 1989. About Nichols Liu Nichols Liu LLP is a multidisciplinary boutique law firm dedicated to serving the needs of government contractors. Our unique advantage is our combination of premium expertise, modern approaches, and value-driven service. Nearly all of our professionals have experience working inside government agencies as well as representing Top 100 contractors and Fortune 100 companies. The firm is headquartered in the heart of Washington D.C. with national and international reach. Contact: Andy Liu Partner 202.846.9802 [email protected] SOURCE Nichols Liu LLP Related Links http://www.nicholsliu.com BOSTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, Northern Light (www.northernlight.com) has made a $50,000 challenge grant to The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division to help fund this year's annual distribution of Thanksgiving food baskets to individuals and families in need in the Greater Boston area. Northern Light is hopeful that the $50,000 challenge will encourage other corporate and individual donors to give, as well, so that The Salvation Army can reach its goal of $100,000 for the Thanksgiving meals program. The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division Each year, The Salvation Army provides Thanksgiving food baskets which include a variety of items such as full turkeys, stuffing and pumpkin pie to individuals and families in need. Baskets will be distributed on November 17 in a coordinated, city-wide distribution effort at the five Salvation Army locations in Boston. "The baskets are filled with good food, but the best things in there are a sense of normalcy, dignity, family, and hope," said C. David Seuss, Northern Light's CEO. "In this case, we saw a clear-cut opportunity for one-on-one charity where we could provide the solution to one problem for at least one identifiable group of people." The Massachusetts Salvation Army Massachusetts Division has seen a dramatic spike in need for its meal services year-round. From 2016 to 2017, meal services increased 26 percent, from 2.4 million to 3.1 million. "For many individuals, providing basic necessities such as food and clothing for their families during the holiday season, and throughout the entire year, is a struggle," said Carlisa Brown, Chief Advancement Officer, The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division. "The economy continues to be a real hardship for those living in poverty. Across the entire state, The Salvation Army continues to see an increase in need, even in families where one or more adults in a household is working." In addition to financial contributions, The Salvation Army is also accepting donations of turkeys and all the traditional fixings from those wishing to assist others this Thanksgiving and holiday season. For more information, please visit https://massachusetts.salvationarmy.org/MA/Thanksgiving. About The Salvation Army Whether it is shelter for a displaced family or a warm cup of coffee for our brave first responders hope and healing is the message of The Salvation Army. Since 1865, The Salvation Army has been providing social and spiritual services to communities throughout the world. People given purpose, hearts given hope and souls finding redemption this has been The Salvation Army's mission for more than a century. With heart to God and hand to man, The Salvation Army an international movement is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. About Northern Light Northern Light has been providing knowledge management platforms for competitive intelligence and market research insights to global enterprises since 1996. The company pioneered the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence for the automated analysis and extraction of meaning from large collections of market research and competitive intelligence. Northern Light's current clients include seven of Boston Consulting Group's 50 "Most Innovative Companies" of 2018, and Fortune 1000 leaders across multiple industries such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and life sciences. Northern Light has over 250,000 users of its strategic research portals. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Northern Light has unique content aggregation partnerships with more than 150 of the world's leading syndicated technology and industry research publishers, aggregates business and technology news from over 6,500 news sources, and is a charter member of the Center for Complex Systems and Enterprises at the Stevens Institute of Technology. Media Contact: David Domeshek 508.873.7068 [email protected] SOURCE Northern Light Related Links http://www.northernlight.com ATLANTA, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation announce the winning team of Go Green in the City 2018, its international student case study competition focusing on innovative energy solutions for smart cities. Zvirevo Chisadza and Tariro Cynthia Mutsindikwa of Team Latent Innovations from the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences in Algeria created a new Organic Photovoltaic Greenhouse System that generates energy from the greenhouse cover material. It can generate sustainable energy off-grid, to in turn increase crop production and take a step forward in the global fight against hunger. Powered greenhouses have emerged as an innovative solution to increase crop production with the potential to reduce hunger by up to 20 percent. However, powered greenhouses consume large amounts of energy. Team Latent Innovations' creation introduces a greenhouse cover made of flexible organic solar cells that enables sustainable, off-grid generation to power the greenhouse. "We're excited to work with Schneider Electric to introduce our innovation to the world," said Team Latent Innovations. "We're passionate about the possibilities for powered greenhouses in a sustainable way to solve world hunger and are honoured to be recognized as the winner team in the Go Green in the City competition." In addition to the overall competition winner, Schneider Electric also announced that Thanh Nguyen Thi and Ha Doan Thi Thu from Duy Tan University in Vietnam received the "Women in Business Award" recognizing an all-female team among the 2018 participants. Finding bold ideas to fight climate change The Go Green in the City awards coincide with the upcoming COP24 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, that will take place in Katowice, Poland, at the beginning of December. "As COP24 approaches, we need to be ready to rethink our collective approach to climate change for the sake of our planet," said Olivier Blum, Schneider Electric's Chief Human Resources Officer. "The high quality of submissions, particularly from the finalists, is proof that young people with vision will transform the way we live and do business for a sustainable future. Schneider Electric has a bold vision for solving the world's energy paradox, and the winners have demonstrated how this vision can be put into action." 24,000 students submitted innovations for the competition Now in its eighth year, Go Green in the City has become a major event for business and engineering students around the world. This year, more than 24,000 young innovators from 3,190 universities in 163 countries took part, including 58 percent women. Winners and runners-up received mentoring from Schneider Electric experts, gained networking opportunities, travel, and cash prizes. Ten finalist teams, from the USA, China, Germany, Algeria, Indonesia, Brazil, India, Spain, Canada and Vietnam gathered in Atlanta, USA, in conjunction with the Schneider Electric North American Innovation Summit to present their ideas in front of a VIP panel of international Schneider Electric business leaders and technical experts. This Innovation Summit North America brings together 1,200+ of the brightest entrepreneurs, executives, and industry leaders from across North America on November 13-14, 2018, at Hilton Atlanta Downtown. Zvirevo Chisadza and Tariro Cynthia Mutsindikwa will be offered the chance to start a career at Schneider Electric, and will be given the opportunity to visit and explore any two cities in the world of their choice where Schneider Electric is present with opportunities to network with energy industry professionals. For more information, please visit: www.gogreeninthecity.se.com, http://china.gogreeninthecity.com/ About Schneider Electric Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment. www.schneider-electric.com Discover Life Is On Follow us on: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Google+ YouTube Instagram Schneider Electric Blog Hashtags: #GoGreen #GoGreenInTheCity #WhatsYourBoldIdea #Meaningful #InnovationSummit SOURCE Schneider Electric Related Links http://www.schneider-electric.com GILBERT, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Government leaders, corporate executives and even young children joined in ground breaking events today for a state-of-the-art medical facility designed to serve women and children in the East Valley. The project is a partnership between Dignity Health, one of the nation's largest health systems, and Phoenix Children's, Arizona's only nationally recognized pediatric hospital. Called the Women's and Children's Pavilion, the five-story 373,947 square-foot building will be located on the Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center campus in Gilbert, Ariz. It is expected to be completed in 2020. Helping with today's ceremonial event were children of all ages who grabbed miniature shovels to till the first soil on the construction site. All the participating children were either born at Mercy Gilbert or had been cared for at Phoenix Children's. The Women's and Children's Pavilion will include 24 labor and delivery rooms -- including six dedicated to high-risk patients and 48 post-partum beds, operated by Mercy Gilbert. It will also include an emergency department dedicated to obstetrics. Phoenix Children's will operate 48 pediatric beds, a 12-bed pediatric emergency department, pediatric operating rooms and a new 60-bed Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The new facility is a strategic expansion of the long-standing partnership between Phoenix Children's and Dignity Health aimed at bringing together the state's top experts for both women and children. That partnership included Phoenix Children's opening a 22-bed unit inside Mercy Gilbert in 2014. "Since we first brought our strengths together, Phoenix Children's and Dignity Health have become a tremendous force in the care of children and women in this country," says Linda Hunt, president and CEO of the Dignity Health Arizona Service Area. "This pavilion is an extension of those initial efforts and will mean better care for families in this rapidly growing part of the greater Phoenix area." Bob Meyer, President and CEO of Phoenix Children's, continued, "The new women's and children's facility will be a home to many of Phoenix Children's pediatric specialists and those looking to join the PCH family--many of whom live here in the East Valley. We are thrilled to work closely with our partners at Dignity Health and bring vital services to our patients' families, right here in their backyard." Dignity Health and Phoenix Children's have worked together to improve access to high quality care since 2011. Both systems participate in the Arizona Care Network, an affordable care organization with more than 5,000 clinicians, and most recently, Arizona Mother-Baby Care. Arizona Mother-Baby Care provides personalized care coordination by connecting patients to the best specialists and caregivers. Many of these specialists within the Arizona Mother-Baby Care network will soon be located together in the new East Valley facility. In addition, and in coordination with the Arizona Care Network, Phoenix Children's Care Network (PCCN), the state's only clinically integrated pediatric network, includes more than 1,000 pediatric clinicians. The new facility will support the PCCN members in the East Valley. About Phoenix Children's Hospital Phoenix Children's is Arizona's only children's hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals. For 35 years, Phoenix Children's has provided world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children's hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children's delivers care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. Recognized specifically for its patient-focused innovation, medical education, growth and research, Phoenix Children's was named Business of the Year and Exceptional Innovator by the Greater Phoenix Chamber in 2018. For more information about the Hospital, visit http://www.phoenixchildrens.org. About Dignity Health in Arizona Dignity Health in Arizona includes six acute care hospitals: Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, which includes Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Westgate Hospital, Arizona General Hospital Laveen and Arizona General Hospital Mesa. From this foundation, Dignity Health in Arizona has expanded into a comprehensive health care system, which includes clinics, specialty hospitals, urgent cares, insurance providers, an accountable care organization and other clinical partnerships. The Dignity Health Medical Group includes hundreds of physicians in Arizona and a wide range of specialties. Dignity Health in Arizona is part of Dignity Health, one of the nation's largest health care systems. SOURCE Phoenix Childrens Hospital Related Links http://www.phoenixchildrens.org WILLIAMSPORT, Md., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has been recognized by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Baltimore Business Journal for its commitment to philanthropic efforts that improve the quality of life of Maryland residents. In the past year, Potomac Edison and the FirstEnergy Foundation have provided more than $250,000 in grants and donations to health and human services, educational and community involvement initiatives in Maryland. These efforts include Potomac Edison employees donating more than $18,000 and nearly 450 pounds of food to support the 2018 Harvest for Hunger campaign. In addition, more than 30 employees dedicated their time and talent to the 2018 United Way Day of Caring, helping local nonprofit agencies tackle meaningful projects that revitalize Maryland communities. "It's an honor to be recognized by the Maryland community for our longstanding commitment to the prosperity and vitality of the communities where we live and work," said James Sears, President of Maryland Operations for Potomac Edison. "It's especially gratifying for our employees, whose volunteer efforts and other contributions help those in need and provide vital support to charitable organizations across our service area." Potomac Edison is considered a medium business as part of the selection process. Awards are presented annually to one small (1-100 employees), medium (101-500 employees) and large (more than 500 employees) business that demonstrates outstanding support for local non-profits, 501(c)(3)s and schools throughout the state. Winners are chosen by a panel of business and community leaders based on the extent of service provided to the community, the impact on the community and the commitment the business has shown to the community over time. Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., serves about 265,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and about 140,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at www.potomacedison.com, on Twitter @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacEdison. FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Editor's Note: Photos of Potomac Edison employees at the 2018 United Way Day of Caring are available for download on Flickr. SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Related Links http://www.firstenergycorp.com NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerInbox, the trusted audience engagement and digital monetization partner for publishers and marketers, today announced it ranked No. 14 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in North America, and No. 3 in the Tri State of New York. This recognition comes on the heels of several other recent award wins, including ranking number four on Crain's New York Business's list of the 50 fastest growing companies in NYC. Inc. Magazine also named PowerInbox as the 30th fastest-growing private company in America in 2018. PowerInbox's CEO, Jeff Kupietzky, credits his team's relentless dedication to customer service and product innovation with the company's three-year growth of 7,534 percent. Over the past year alone, the company has seen a 51% increase in new customers, including the addition of marquee publishers like Crains, HarperCollins, New York Magazine, Palm Beach Gazette, and Seattle Times, driven by surging demand for its unique email-based content personalization platform. "This recognition is well-deserved," said Rob Schwertley, Manager of Yield and Advertising Systems for The Seattle Times. "PowerInbox provides superior customer service, and its flexibility to meet its partners' needs is unmatched. By using its innovative email advertising technology, we have seen great success in monetizing our newsletters, and we are excited to continue our relationship with PowerInbox as we grow together." "It's an incredible honor to be recognized among the elite groups of both technology innovators in North America and the business movers and shakers in New York City. This is no doubt a direct result of our team's agility and ability to meet changing customer needs," said PowerInbox CEO Jeff Kupietzky. "I'm also proud that we're profitable, which is rare among venture-backed companies. By investing more in research and development, and spending less on fancy office space and a large sales team, we're able to deliver the product advancements our customers need, while also moving the revenue needle." "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About PowerInbox PowerInbox provides comprehensive, multichannel digital monetization solutions that help publishers and marketers drive new revenue with personalized subscriber engagement. Venture backed, PowerInbox supports 120+ million unique users a month from more than 600 leading publishers including The Atlantic, Bonnier, Hearst, and Salem Web Network. For more information about PowerInbox, please visit, www.powerinbox.com. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Contact: Kate Weckerly, 1-330-858-5149, [email protected] SOURCE PowerInbox Related Links http://www.powerinbox.com ST. GEORGE, Utah, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PrinterLogic , a leading innovator in enterprise print management software solutions, today announced it ranked 376 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. PrinterLogic's chief executive officer, Ryan Wedig, credits the company's award-winning cloud solutions and talented team for the company's rapid revenue growth. "We are honored to be listed on the Deloitte Fast 500 for the second year in a row," said Ryan Wedig, CEO of PrinterLogic. "This recognition shows that our innovative approach to print management solutions, along with our partnerships with leading MSPs, is changing the way people view print services." PrinterLogic delivers an on-premise web application that simplifies the management, migration and provisioning of printers. PrinterLogic's innovative, centrally managed direct IP print management software delivers mobile, pull and virtual printing capabilities to customers and eliminates print servers and their associated maintenance costs. In addition, it reduces printing waste, provides end users more secure options for printing and simplifies the users' workload. "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." PrinterLogic previously ranked 99 as a Technology Fast 500 award winner for 2017. Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 143 percent to 77,260 percent from 2014 to 2017, with median growth of 412 percent. About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About PrinterLogic Thousands of enterprises use PrinterLogic's patent-pending printer and driver management platform to deliver mobile, pull and virtual printing, while eliminating print servers and providing a self-service portal that empowers end users to install their own printers. The company has been included multiple times on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in North America. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Media Contact Zachary Allen Method Communications (801) 461-9751 [email protected] SOURCE PrinterLogic Related Links https://www.printerlogic.com SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Car Journal has identified the all-new RAM 1500 as the 2019 Green Truck of the Year and the redesigned Ford Transit Connect as the 2019 Commercial Green Car of the Year. The prestigious awards were announced today during a Green Car Awards press conference at the San Antonio Auto & Truck Show in San Antonio in the heart of 'truck country.' 2019 Green Truck of the Year - RAM 1500 2019 Commercial Green Car of the Year - Ford Transit Connect "Recognizing trucks and light commercial vehicles for their environmental achievement is important considering the sheer number of these vehicles operating on our city streets and highways," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com. "This is especially true since pickups represent the best-selling vehicles in the country. Higher fuel efficiency, lower tailpipe emissions, and reduced carbon emissions here can make a huge impact." The highly-anticipated 2019 RAM pickup offers hard-working truck functionality along with appealing style, connectivity, and car-like comfort. Lighter than the previous generation with greater payload and towing capability, fifth-generation RAM 1500 pickups look to the future with their available 3.6-liter eTorque V-6 and 5.7-liter eTorque HEMI V-8 mild-hybrid powerplants. Available in short- and long-wheelbase versions, the redesigned 2019 Ford Transit Connect offers up to 146 cubic feet of cargo capacity, a 1570 pound payload rating, and the convenience of twin sliding side doors. Among its available powerplants is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivering 29 highway mpg. A highly-efficient 1.5-liter EcoBlue turbodiesel available in early 2019 is expected to net at least 30 highway mpg. Both the Transit Connect and RAM 1500 feature the latest connected and driver assist technologies. In addition to the RAM 1500, finalists for 2019 Green Truck of the Year included the Chevrolet Colorado, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, and Ford Ranger. Vying for 2019 Commercial Green Car of the Year along with the Ford Transit Connect were the Ford Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan, Mercedes-Benz Metris, RAM 1500, and RAM ProMaster City. By virtue of their environmental achievement, each of these exceptional 2019 Green Car Awards finalists is recognized with Green Car Journal's 2019 Product of Excellence distinction. "We are proud to host the Green Car Awards each year and highlight the tremendous strides being made by today's pickups and light commercial vehicles," said Pam Crail, president of San Antonio Auto Dealers. "The new models on display at the San Antonio Auto & Truck Show reflect the increasing sophistication and driver-centered features so desired by today's new car and truck buyers, as well as the all-important move toward greater efficiency and environmental performance." About Green Car Journal The Green Car Awards are an important part of Green Car Journal's mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. The award-winning magazine and GreenCarJournal.com are premier sources of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and connected vehicles. Green Truck of the Year, Commercial Green Car of the Year, Green Car Awards, and Green Car Product of Excellence are trademarks of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc. About San Antonio Auto & Truck Show The San Antonio Auto and Truck Show (SAATS), produced by the San Antonio Auto Dealers, is a preeminent automotive event, bringing all things automotive to South Texas each November. Dubbed "the largest showroom in South Texas," show visitors may shop and compare all makes and models of cars and light trucks, under one roof. The show is also the Truck Capital of the South. SAATS offers up exciting automotive manufacturer displays of the newest model vehicles and the latest, cutting-edge technologies every year. For more information, visit www.saautoshow.com . Media Contact: Tanya Sammis [email protected] 512.431.8940 SOURCE San Antonio Auto & Truck Show Related Links https://saautoshow.com NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Residence, Inc., a world-renowned real estate brokerage firm, is pleased to announce that Mr. Richard Pino, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Broker, will be traveling to Nashville to host "New York Property Consulting Days" from November 23rd through November 26, 2018. As the community has been informed by Amazon, Long Island City, New York, is one of three HQ2 locations. The other two HQ2 locations are Nashville and Crystal City. Amazon's new HQ2 headquarters in Long Island City is expected to bring 25,000 jobs to the region and the opportunity to become the next tech hub. The expansion by Amazon is fantastic news for the local real estate market and a unique opportunity for buyers, investors, and those willing to relocate for employment opportunities, as demand for housing will no doubt increase. Over the last decade, Mr. Pino has traveled to Croatia, Italy, Columbia, Panama, China, Hong Kong, Russia, Ireland, and throughout the US to meet with customers, real estate professionals, and to represent New York Residence at international trade shows. New York Residence was ranked within the top five of Manhattan Boutique Firms in the years 2014 through 2016. In addition, New York Residence was ranked number 20 in closed transactions amongst all firm sizes. In early 2018, New York Residence was ranked number 22 in listing dollar volume amongst all firm sizes. New York Residence is a real estate brokerage firm that was formed in February 2005, and specializes in advisory services, residential, commercial, and investment property brokerage sales and rentals for the international and domestic markets. New York Residence maintains three offices in New York, with international offices located in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Singapore. New York Residence' corporate headquarters is located at 1501 Broadway, 26th floor, in the iconic Paramount Building in the heart of Times Square. Private and confidential appointments for November 23rd through November 26, 2018, may be arranged in advance by sending an email to Richard Pino at [email protected] or calling 212-360-7000 x125. Media Contact: Richard Pino Chief Financial Officer / Associate Broker New York Residence 1+212-360-7000 x125 [email protected] SOURCE New York Residence, Inc. Related Links http://nyr.com TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ReliaQuest, the leader in Security Model Management, today announced it ranked 214th on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. ReliaQuest grew 451 percent during this period. ReliaQuest's Chief Executive Officer, Brian Murphy, credits a strong culture and hardworking employees with the company's 451 percent revenue growth. "It's amazing to see our teams deliver outcomes for our customers and our business that are both rewarding and help them grow in their careers," said ReliaQuest CEO Brian Murphy. "I couldn't be prouder of the work the ReliaQuest team has done to build and maintain such a high-performance culture." "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 143 percent to 77,260 percent from 2014 to 2017, with median growth of 412 percent. About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About ReliaQuest For the past 11 years, ReliaQuest has worked to reshape the cybersecurity industry by helping enterprise security teams rethink their reliance to any one technology, automate security outcomes, and elevate the security team within the enterprise. ReliaQuest leverages a discipline called Security Model Management to help organizations configure consistent security models that evolve over time. By combining existing tools and technologies with ReliaQuest's proprietary technology, people, and process, ReliaQuest transforms organizations into their own security platforms. The result is unmatched visibility and optimized security spend. ReliaQuest operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from Security Operations Centers in Tampa, FL; Las Vegas, NV; and Dublin, Ireland. http://www.reliaquest.com/ About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Media contact: Dan Yesenosky 724.713.5363 [email protected] SOURCE ReliaQuest Related Links http://www.reliaquest.com With its innovative design and broad list of unique features, it's the planner and notebook you've always needed but never imagined. At first glance, SayYes Planners may look like your typical planner or notebook, but they go beyond the status quo. Wrap your head around this, the planner doubles as a portable phone charger it's like a smart planner for your smart phone. Experience the convenience of wireless charging with its built-in Qi fast wireless charging pad that's equipped to double as a bookmark. It's compatible with any Qi capable devices like iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S8/S7. In addition, the notebook allows you to simultaneously charge three devices, both iOS or Android. It comes with an 8000mAh Power Bank on the back cover which can be fully charged in 4 hours and is powerful enough to fully charge your phone 3 times. Not to mention a built-in magnetic phone stand to transform any phone into a hands-free device. "We will completely revolutionize the way busy professionals accomplish their daily goals," said Founder and Miss District of Columbia United States 2016 Porscha Lee Taylor. "My team and I have studied the market and designed a luxe, tech-savvy notebook with the convenience of an all-in-one portable phone charger that both women and men will equally benefitCombining technology, fashion, and functionality has never looked so good!" Celebrating today's announcement, SayYes LLC is rewarding customers who subscribe to their site an early-bird discount code of $20.19 OFF during their pre-order sale. Pre-sale ends Sunday, 12.2.18 at midnight EST. For more information visit www.sayyesplanners.com and follow SayYes Planners on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. About SayYes LLC Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia SayYes LLC is a women-owned tech startup that aims to revolutionize the way technology is used to help busy professionals achieve the perfect work-life balance through innovative tech-based products and services. SayYes Planners are designed to offer the ultimate organizational experience that is convenient and innovative for the 21st century women and men. To contact our media relations team email [email protected] SOURCE SayYes LLC Related Links http://www.sayyesplanners.com AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Self Lender, a leading fintech startup offering Americans a way to build their credit while also saving money, today announced a $10 million round of Series B financing, led by Altos Ventures, with additional participation from Silverton Partners, Accion Venture Lab and others. The funding will be used for expanding the team, building new products and increasing marketing efforts. According to the Center for Financial Services Innovation, there are approximately 53 million people with no to low credit in the U.S. The funding validates Self Lender's commitment to helping lay the foundation for people's financial journeys through its unique technology and strong team. With more than 175,000 consumers and $140 million in CD-secured loan originations, the company has quadrupled its growth in the past year by offering a way for consumers to build credit. Self Lender works in three steps: First, Self Lender customers get a small credit builder loan that's held in a CD (certificate of deposit) for safekeeping. Next, customers repay the loan on a monthly schedule while payments are reported to the credit bureaus. Finally, once the obligation is paid, the customer has established credit history and the CD unlocks with the customer's money. To date, Self Lender customers have seen an average increase of 45 points to their credit score, with new-to-credit users reaching an average score of 670 starting from nothing. Individual results vary. "We believe in the truly meaningful financial solutions Self Lender is offering to U.S. consumers and have been continually impressed with their core value proposition," said Anthony Lee, Managing Director at Altos Ventures. "We have a shared vision in empowering people to take control of their financial lives so they can ultimately better control their own destinies. We're looking forward to the continued success of Self Lender." "We are incredibly grateful for the commitment from Altos Ventures and our ongoing support from existing investors," said James Garvey, CEO of Self Lender. "The cost of having poor credit in the U.S. is high and unfortunately hits those who are most vulnerable in our country the hardest. This backing will keep us steadfast in our goal of helping the millions of Americans with no credit score or poor credit history achieve financial stability and peace of mind." About Self Lender Self Lender is a leading fintech startup offering Americans a way to build their credit without the use of credit cards while also saving money. The company has helped over 175,000 people improve their financial journey with a credit-builder account, a simple way to build credit and save money at the same time. For more information, visit www.selflender.com. About Altos Ventures Altos Ventures is a global venture growth investor dedicated to backing exceptional founder-led companies. Altos takes a different approach to building companies, focusing on pragmatic growth and patient partnership. Based in Silicon Valley, Altos manages a portfolio of fast-growing companies that together generate billions in revenue and employ over 10,000 people around the world. For more information, visit www.altos.vc. Source: Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) 2017 Financially Underserved Market Size Study SOURCE Self Lender, Inc. Related Links http://www.selflender.com HOUSTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentinel Trust Company, LBA, one of the nation's leading boutique wealth management firms and multi-family offices, is pleased to congratulate Chief Fiduciary Officer Leslie Kiefer Amann, JD, on her election as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). As Sentinel Trust's Chief Fiduciary Officer, Leslie works to ensure consistency and best practices where Sentinel Trust is named as trustee, executor, or agent. "We are all very proud of Leslie and congratulate her on this incredible accomplishment," remarks Lissa S. Gangjee, President, "Leslie has always exemplified the highest level of skill, integrity, and commitment to professional excellence." About Sentinel Trust Company, LBA Sentinel Trust Company, LBA is an independent wealth management firm and multi-family office that provides comprehensive wealth and succession planning, fiduciary, investment management, philanthropic, and family office services to a select group of affluent families and their closely held entities and foundations. Founded in 1997 as the successor to two 40-plus-year old single-family offices, Sentinel Trust currently serves more than 30 multi-generational families nationwide and is responsible for approximately $4 billion in assets as of December 31, 2017. To learn more, visit www.sentineltrust.com . Media Contact: Lissa S. Gangjee, JD, CFP, President Executive Assistant: Stephanie N. Niehaus | d: 713.630.9637 | [email protected] SOURCE Sentinel Trust Company, LBA Related Links https://www.sentineltrust.com HERNDON, Va., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Serco Inc., a provider of professional, technology, and management services, announced today that the Company recently processed their 4 millionth patent application for the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). USPTO is the government agency that grants U.S. patents and registers trademarks. Since 2006, Serco has performed classification and other analysis services through awarded contracts including Pre-Grant Publication (PGPubs) Classification Services, Initial Classification and Reclassification (ICR) Services, and Full Classification Services (FCS) contracts. Serco's Intellectual Property (IP) team is responsible for the analysis of the full disclosure including claims, specifications, and drawings in patent applications to identify the subject matter contained in each application and to assign the appropriate U.S. and international classification symbols representative of proposed inventions. These classifications are critical elements to the patent process and are used to enable examiner and public search as well as for internal routing of documents at the USPTO. In processing 4,000,000 applications, Serco patent classification experts have analyzed more than 56,000,000 claims, and assigned more than 18,000,000 classification symbols with a quality measure greater than 95%. Serco exceeded contractual timeliness measures by delivering over 99.99% of these applications to the USPTO on-time. Serco has received multiple awards and recognitions from the government for exceeding quality and timeliness standards. On the program, Serco has driven innovation by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and other automated toolsets into business processes that streamline the classification decision process and enhance classification quality. The Serco IP Program is located in Harrisonburg, VA and currently employs over 100 scientists, engineers, and IP professionals. Additionally, the team supported the USPTO's classification transition to the Cooperative Patent Classification system launched as a joint effort between the USPTO and the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2010. U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who has visited the facility on multiple occasions, congratulated Serco for their support of the USPTO and processing their 4 millionth application. "America is the world leader in innovation and creativity," said Congressman Goodlatte. "The strength of our economy and American jobs rely on a strong patent system that fosters an environment of innovation. Congratulations to Serco on achieving this milestone and continuing to help make America more competitive." "We take great pride in the work our team does for the USPTO because it promotes U.S. innovation and assists the USPTO in achieving their mission of providing timely and high quality protections to U.S. inventors," said Tom Watson, Senior Vice President of Serco's Federal Services Business Unit. In addition to the patent classification services to the USPTO, the Serco IP team offers a variety of search, analysis, and training services to legal practitioners and corporate clients. The team provides the strategic framework for efficient and successful approaches to identifying relevant prior art in patent litigation or patent prosecution. For more information on all of our IP services visit www.SercoPatentSearch.com. About Serco Inc. Serco Inc. is a leading provider of professional, technology, and management services. We advise, design, integrate, and deliver solutions that transform how clients achieve their missions. Our customer-first approach, robust portfolio of services, and global experience enable us to respond with solutions that achieve outcomes with value. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Serco Inc. has approximately 6,000 employees and annual revenue of $1 billion. Serco Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Serco Group plc, a $4 billion international business that helps transform government and public services around the world. More information about Serco Inc. can be found at www.serco-na.com. SOURCE Serco Inc. Related Links http://www.serco-na.com PHOENIX, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTCQB-CELZ) Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. announced today an update of its activities: The company has timely filed its 10Q on 11-14-18, contained in the 10Q is predominantly financial information so as is customary we are providing an update to our Shareholders; To summarize what is being discussed herein; We are continuing to recruit physicians in the USA and abroad. Patients are being treated in the USA and abroad. We are continuing to expand our marketing capabilities. We are continuing to develop our patent portfolio. We are cash flowing. We are continuing to grow the business. CaverStem domestic activities: As previously reported, we are continuing marketing to physicians across the United States. There are currently 14 locations at various stages of development, training marketing, recruiting and treating patients. We are recruiting additional marketing representatives to gain increase our exposure to physicians. CaverStem.com; since implementing Patient Gain on 11-5-18, we have trained physicians and their staff in five locations. The primary training involves use of the CRM for patient recruitment, interaction between the physician and the patient and patient retention. All in HIPAA compliance. The responses to the benefits of this platform and its ease of use has been positive. Training of other physicians is ongoing. Implementing the Patient Gain platform at this time is of great value as increased proficiency in data management is expected to result in reaching a much larger potential patient market with an ongoing reduction in patient acquisition costs and appointment scheduling and patient follow up directly with each physician's office, which also is expected to increase efficiency and reduce administrative costs. The platform enables the company to quickly replicate and implement our system with each physician joining CaverStem, resulting in much greater efficiency as we scale the business upward. CaverStem International: As was announced by publication across social media outlets and our press conference, the company successfully sponsored the treatment of two patients in Moscow by Dr. Dmitri Pushkar, Urology General of Russia using the CaverStem procedure. We also are progressing with the CaverStem program in Switzerland and expect to release more information on the treatment of patients in this region soon. Interest in the CaverStem procedure remains strong in other EU countries. Setting up such relationships and navigating all legal obligations to conduct business in each country takes a great deal of effort and time on the part of CaverStem executives and our counterparts in each medical practice. As we reach milestones as we have in Russia, future disclosure will be made. LA Biomedical Institute clinical trial: As we've previously announced, it is our intent to disclose the data via a joint publication with LA Bio Med as contractually agreed upon as well as submission to clinicaltrials.gov. The CaverStem team members involved in this aspect of the business are working with LA Bio Med to bring this to fruition. FemCelz; as previously announced, we are progressing with the development of the FemCelz procedure for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction using stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow. Following the same model as CaverStem, we anticipate launching this program in Q1 2019. Revenue; our revenue has increased in Q3, it was however impacted by delays in training and launch of physicians. The company determined that delays in training some physicians until which time as the Patient Gain technology was implemented and our Generation 2 device technology was secured was of benefit to the company, the physicians and to their patients than booking sales in a given quarter opposed to the following quarter. About Creative Medical Technology Holdings Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. is a commercial stage biotechnology company currently trading on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol CELZ. For further information about the company go to www.creativemedicaltechnology.com . For more information on our Caverstem procedure please go to www.caverstem.com . Forward-Looking Statements OTC Markets has not reviewed and does not accept 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 clinical trials and laboratory results, marketing efforts, funding, 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. See the periodic and other reports filed by Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Commission's website at www.sec.gov . SOURCE Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://creativemedicaltechnology.com STOCKHOLM, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Revenue of USD 38.8.0M; EPS of USD .09 Financials Total revenue decreased USD 9.6M, or 20%, to USD 38.8M for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 when compared on a year over year basis ("YoY"). When compared to Q2 2018 ("QoQ"), revenue increased USD 4.8M, or 14%, When compared to Q2 2018 (QoQ), revenue from the sale of goods during Q3 2018 decreased USD .4M or 1%. Revenue from project development increased sequentially USD 5.4M, or 490%, to USD 6.5M USD 1.1M. Third quarter gross profits totaled USD 6.2M compared to USD 6.5M during Q3 2017 and USD 5.4M during Q2 2018, an increase of 15% QoQ. Fully diluted earnings per share were USD .09 in the third quarter, compared to USD .14 in Q3 2017 (YoY) and versus USD .02 in Q2 2018 (QoQ). Overview Results continued a reprioritization of businesses according to bottom line performance and guided by stricter cost control and capital expense rationale for each. In aggregate, all business segments maintained the 16% gross profit margin from the previous quarter, while increasing net income USD 2.57M, or 285%, to USD 3.47M versus the previous quarter. This was mainly due to higher revenue, lower non-operating expenses, and higher income from SIAF's Investment Associate, Tri-way, Industries Ltd. These efforts have resulted in each standalone business stabilizing or improving. Integrated Cattle (SJAP) is being deemphasized in the near term due to adverse market conditions; however, it is self-sustaining, showing a small net operating profit in Q3. Seafood and Meat Trading has had consistent revenue with consistent gross margins over many quarters. The Organic Fertilizer (HSA) and the Cattle Farms (MEIJI) segments are both exhibiting generally growing trends expected to continue as previous capital investments are beginning to generate returns and/or strategic partnerships are adding revenue without new capital investment. The same is true of the Plantation segment, although it must recover from some damage suffered as a result of Typhoon Mangkhut. During the third quarter, because the benefits of business reprioritization had not yet overcome obligations incurred before the reprioritization, equity shares were issued to cover some current and non-current other payables that typically would have been covered through normal cash-flow levels in the past. The Company has adopted austerity measures to reduce equity funding, and has made substantial strides in that direction. The Company expects the benefits of its reprioritization to more fully materialize in the current quarter. Other Key Points SIAF's income from its full 36.6% equity investment in Tri-way ("TRW") increased USD .4M , 0r 29%, to USD 1.8M in Q3 2018 on a YoY basis. QoQ, the income growth was to USD .2M , or 12%. Capital expenditure is being restricted to shorter-term, positive profile returns for all businesses to improve cash flow, resulting in all segments booking positive gross profits. As of September 30 2018, the Company had net working capital of USD 173.1M , an increase of USD 4.8M YoY, USD 2.5M more than the previous quarter. Stockholders' equity increased YoY by USD 10.1M to USD 622.5M . Annual Comparison (USD M, except per share and margin data) Q3 '18 Q3 '17 % Revenue 38.8 45.4 (20) % Gross Profit 6.2 6.5 (5) % Gross Profit Margin 16.0 % 14.4 % 11 % Earnings Per Diluted Share (FD) (USD) from continuing and discontinued operations .09 .14 (36) % Sequential Comparison The Company achieved the following results, comparing the third quarter of 2018 to the second quarter: (USD M, except per share and margin data) Q3 '18 Q2 '18 % Revenue 38.8 34.0 12 % Gross Profit 6.2 5.4 15 % Gross Profit Margin 16.0% 16.0% 0 % Earnings Per Diluted Share (FD) (USD) .02 .17 (88) % The following table breaks out revenue by business segment, comparing the third quarter of 2018 to the second quarter: Revenue (USD M) Q3 '18 Q2 '18 % Integrated Cattle Farm (SJAP) 3.5 5.1 (31) % Organic Fertilizer (HSA) 2.5 2.5 0 % Cattle Farms (MEIJI) 8.0 6.1 31 % Plantation (JHST) 1.0 1.0 0 % Seafood & Meat Trading 17.3 18.2 5 % Sale of Goods Total 32.9 31.4 (5) % Project Development Total 6.5 1.1 490 % Group total 38.8 34.0 12 % Integrated Cattle (SJAP) The Integrated Cattle Farm business segment (SJAP) discontinued its value-added processing subsidiary (QZH) December 30, 2017. In addition, the SJAP is downsizing its business until such time as market conditions rebound. It has longer term plans to revitalize and develop the HuangYuen City Center into a trading center for the cattle and beef industry, capitalizing on its current and proposed commercially zoned land bank used by local farmers who contribute to the region's sale of four million head of cattle annually. Factoring out QZH, SJAP revenue decreased by USD 2.8 M, or 44% from USD 6.3M in Q3 2017 to USD 3.5M in Q3 2018. The smaller operations maintained gross margins of about 33%. The live cattle market remaining depressed negatively impacted sales of livestock feed. SJAP increased fertilizer sales by incentivizing district farmers to plant new crops, overcoming the loss of traditional sales to local cooperative cattle raisers. Overall, despite continued depressed market conditions, and reflecting stricter cost controls, SJAP demonstrated financial self-sufficiency, recording a net operating profit of USD .4M in its standalone financial report, only .17M less than Q3, 2017. Organic Fertilizer (HSA) Revenue at HSA increased by USD .72M, or 43% from USD 1.7 M in Q3 2017 to USD 2.4M in Q2 2018. Gross profits increased by USD .42M or 95% from USD .44M in Q3 2017 to USD .86M in Q3 2018. HSA's production had been capacity constrained due to the retrofitting of a production plant. The second production plant started operation, producing 3,690 tons of mixed organic fertilizer and sales of USD1.6M in Q2 2018 versus 0 in the comparable 2017 period. Mixed organic fertilizer accounted for 81% of HSA's gross profit. Fertilizer sales returned to normal levels after retrofitting two production plants. Cattle operations at HSA have been delayed due to the Company's restriction on capital expenditures, as well as limited progress made by the local government with its industrial development plan. HSA will maintain its direction to keep its capital expenditure as low as possible and to lease out some of its assets that are currently unproductive until such time as it will have built up enough of a cash flow position to afford further capital expenditure. During this quarter HSA leased out its cattle buildings and related facilities to a third party for a period of one year at USD 300,000/year. There are cost savings (i.e. cost of maintenance and general administration etc.) aiding the bottom line. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, in October, 2018 HSA also leased out 10 acres of land situated at the front entrance of its property for annual rental of USD 80,000 for 24 months. Cattle Farms (MEIJI) Revenue for Q3 2018 totaled USD 8.0M, a YoY increase of USD .75M, The QoQ increase was 1.9M or 31%, representing a strong trend. Gross profit in Q3 2018 was USD .1.3M, a 40% increase YoY and a 125% increase QoQ. MEIJI revenue and profit in the quarter would have been greater, but were restrained by 357 head of cattle being quarantined, delaying their sale until Q4. Plantation (JHST) Revenue at JHST decreased by USD .5M, or 33% from USD 1.5M in Q3, 2017 to USD 1.0M in Q3 2018, which was about the same as Q2 2018. The decrease was primarily due poorer quality flowers and consequent lower market prices, resulting from root disease caused by excessive rain in past years. Gross profits totaled USD .17M, also about the same as the previous quarter. The experimental crop of Passion Fruits harvested during the quarter had good reception with reasonable and stable prices averaging over RMB20 / kg (or approximately US$3 / kg). These results are encouraging; we are working on improving the yield per acre targeting to start commercial production in spring 2019 with about 100 acres. At the same time we have successfully attracted the interest of a health-products purveyor to market our Immortal vegetable plants (IVP) under their brand label via their e-commerce platform with shipments covering all corners of China. In this respect, we are redesigning and repackaging our IVPs with the aim to have this sales program launched with commercial harvests beginning from Spring 2019. There were good crops of passion fruit ready and targeted for harvest in Q4 2018, but unfortunately Typhoon Mangkut damaged all 25 acres of passion fruit. Flooding spoiled part of the cash vegetable crops (about 100 acres) which will impact income in Q4 2018. The storm also damaged staff quarters, necessitating repair. The storm also damaged the fruit trees planted on approximately 150 acres that will not affect JHST's 2018/2019 revenues and income, but will take some time before recovery. Seafood and Meat Trading (Corporate) Revenue from Seafood and Meat trading increased USD 1.7M, or 24% from USD 15.6M in Q3 2017 to USD 17.3M in Q3 2018. Gross profits decreased by USD .13M, or 8% from USD 1.72M in Q3 2017 to USD 1.59M in Q2 2018. These results are primarily due to the Company's decision to trade selective products to maintain certain margins developed with select clients. The Company is confident that this strategy provides a solid basis for growth from its consistent performance. Engineering Technology, Consulting and Services -- Project Development (CA) Revenue from project development totaled by USD 6.5M in Q3 2018, an increase of 118% from Q3 2017, and an increase of 490% from Q2 2018. Gross profit of USD 1.0M increased USD .3M, or 39% YoY. The increase stemmed from SIAF's investment associate, Tri-way Industries Ltd., undertaking several projects, to finish construction and retrofit work on its indoor A Power Module farms and about 20 acres of open dam recirculating system farms. CEO Commentary Solomon Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Sino Agro Food, commented, "This was a positive quarter for the Company as we saw a continuation of the trends reported in Q2 2018 in the form of a sequential increase in revenues and stable gross margins. This is the direct result of our restructuring strategy implemented in 2017 that involved divesting some businesses that had become unprofitable, streamlining others, and implementing strict cost controls across several areas of the business. The current operations are leaner and more efficient which, as seen this quarter, is positively impacting our bottom line, with net income increasing 285% to USD 3.47M, compared with the second quarter of 2018. These positive trends are expected to continue as we leverage this platform to continue to steadily grow the business. "We are pleased to see increased activity at Tri-way, our investment associate, which generated slighter higher income to SIAF on both a year over year and sequential basis. Tri-way's activities also generated revenues to Capital Award, our provider of engineering technology, consulting and services, as we supported its development projects, including the construction and retrofit work on its indoor A Power Module farms and about 20 acres of open dam recirculating system farms. "As previously discussed, we have downsized our Integrated Cattle farm (SJAP as we adapt to increased market competition, especially from foreign imports. This strategy is working and we are pleased to report an operational profit for the third quarter, in line with our expectations. We partially compensated for the fall in cattle sales by ramping up fertilizer sales. We will continue to monitor this business and seek ways in which we can adapt and grow with changing market dynamics. One longer-term strategy is to establish a trading center for the cattle and beef industry. "We are particularly pleased with our progress at HSA selling organic fertilizer, which benefited from two fully operational production plants. We also successfully leased out its cattle buildings and related facilities to a third party to provide additional income and maintain control over costs. Likewise, we reported strength from Cattle Farms (MEIJI). As in prior quarters, we saw strength from our seafood and meat trading business, which is well positioned to leverage trends in the market as a result of our transition toward higher quality, and higher margin, products. This remains a core part of our business and we will continue to focus on expanding sales. "To conclude, although sales are not as high as they were a year ago, we are pleased with the trend toward improved profitability and more sustainable margins. These results validate our strategies to "right size" businesses in the near term while reducing legacy debt until expansion or new initiatives are funded. In the meantime, we are encouraged that positive operational trends will continue to drive improved financials, and grow the value of SIAF, which we believe is deeply undervalued. We are confident in our long term prospects and, therefore, plan to issue a dividend before year-end." Q3 2018 Interim Report For detailed segment operational performance and developments, please take the time to read our latest 10-Q filing, or refer to the Q3 2018 Interim Report posted to the Company website at http://sinoagrofood.investorroom.com/download/Sino-Agro-Food_Q3-2018-Interim-Report.pdf. Earnings Call Information The Company will host an earnings call on December 7, 2018 to discuss quarterly financial results. Please submit questions by email to [email protected]. These will be organized and answered on the call. To listen to the conference call please use the following information: SIAF Q3 2018 Results Call Information Date: December 7, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM, EDT/16:00 PM CET Participant Dialing Instructions: SE: +46 8 5059 63 06 UK: +44 203 139 48 30 NO: +47 23 50 05 59 CN: +86 400 681 54 21 US: + 1 (866) 928-7517 Conference PIN code: 28684242#The earnings call will also be available over the web.To access, click the following link: Sino Agro Q3 2018 Earnings Call CONTACT: Peter Grossman Investor Relations 1-(775)-901-0344 [email protected] Todd Fromer / Elizabeth Barker 1-(212)-896-1215 / 212-896-1203 [email protected] Nordic Countries +46-(0)-760-495-885 [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/sino-agro-food/r/sino-agro-food--inc--reports-q3-2018-results,c2673488 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/13869/2673488/945624.pdf PDF http://mb.cision.com/Public/13869/2673488/980ed3b57346a3c3.pdf 0001488419 Sino Agro Food Inc 10-Q 2018-11-14 pdf http://mb.cision.com/Public/13869/2673488/b3624c2a6bafca28.pdf Sino Agro Food - Q3 2018 Interim FINAL SOURCE Sino Agro Food Southwest will also add a third daily flight to Denver International Airport (DEN) effective June 9, 2019, departing ONT at 10:45 a.m. with a return flight arriving at 3:40 p.m. The new service will operate Monday through Friday. Southwest currently serves DEN from ONT with daily, nonstop departures at 6:20 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. local time. "Our proudest moments come when our airline partners add new flights to their schedules, giving our customers more options for air travel in Southern California," said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). Said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the OIAA, "Our mission is to develop Ontario into an appealing, low-cost gateway airport that will meet the increasing demand for air service in the region. If airlines are expanding flight schedules, we are accomplishing our mission." Southwest is the fourth airline in recent months to begin or announce new flights at ONT. Frontier Airlines launched daily nonstop service to Orlando in August and JetBlue Airways initiated nonstop service to New York City in September. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines announced plans for service to Atlanta beginning in April. Southwest currently serves the Bay Area with seven flights a day to Oakland and five flights a day to San Jose. With passenger volumes consistently rising by double-digits on a year-over-year basis, ONT is the fastest-growing airport in Southern California. The airport is on pace to welcome five million passengers this year, the greatest number of passengers since 2008. About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is located in the Inland Empire, approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 19 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro-Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). News Media Contacts: Atif Elkadi, Deputy Executive Director, (858) 361-9319 [email protected] Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected] SOURCE Ontario International Airport Related Links http://www.flyontario.com LAS VEGAS, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors ("Board") for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SWX) announced today the election of Ms. Jane Lewis-Raymond, a partner with Parker Poe Adams and Bernstein in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Ms. Leslie T. Thornton, a senior executive with WGL Holdings, Inc. as directors of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. effective January 1, 2019. "We are pleased to welcome Ms. Lewis-Raymond and Ms. Thornton as new directors. These proven leaders bring decades of experience to the company and strengthen our culture and commitment to safety, growth and sustainability," John P. Hester, Southwest Gas Holding's President and Chief Executive Officer, said. "They join Southwest Gas at an exciting time as we continue to aggressively grow our natural gas operations and utility infrastructure services business segments. To attract such high caliber industry executives, who we expect to bring new and diverse perspectives to our Board, is an honor." "The addition of these directors complements our Board's skills and experiences, and we are confident they will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to execute our strategy, drive profitability and enhance value for all Southwest Gas Holdings shareholders. We look forward to their contributions and are excited that they have chosen to be a part of Southwest Gas Holdings." As directors, Ms. Lewis-Raymond will serve on the Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees and Ms. Thornton will serve on the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Company's Board. Concurrent with the election of Ms. Lewis-Raymond and Ms. Thornton, the Board approved a resolution increasing the size of the Board from ten to twelve directors, joining Chairman Michael J. Melarkey, and directors Robert L. Boughner, Jose A. Cardenas, Thomas E. Chestnut, Stephen C. Comer, LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr., John P. Hester, Anne L. Mariucci, A. Randall Thoman, and Thomas A. Thomas. About Jane Lewis-Raymond Ms. Lewis-Raymond has served the natural gas industry for nearly three decades. Currently, Ms. Lewis-Raymond is a partner with Parker Poe Adams and Bernstein in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she co-leads the Governance, Risk and Compliance Practice Group and is a member of the firm's Energy Practice Group. She retired from Piedmont Natural Gas Company Inc. ("Piedmont") in 2016, following the acquisition of Piedmont by Duke Energy Corporation, where she was a senior officer and member of the Executive Management Team, leading top line growth and measurable strategic and sustainability directives to build long-term value for shareholders. During her ten-year tenure with the company, she rose from General Counsel and Corporate Secretary to Senior Vice President, Chief Legal, Compliance and External Relations Officer. During her time at Piedmont, she implemented several corporate governance initiatives relating to enterprise risk management, cybersecurity readiness, crisis management planning and board succession planning. Earlier in her career, she was with the American Gas Association, as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Ms. Lewis-Raymond is the Co-chair for the Teach For America Charlotte-Piedmont Triad Advisory Board and serves on the National Advisory Council for Teach For America, the Board of Directors for MeckEd, the Steering Committee for The Keystone Energy Board, and is a member of Women Executives. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and an Order of the Coif graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law. About Leslie T. Thornton Ms. Thornton began her career in the utility industry as a senior executive in 2011 for WGL Holdings, Inc. ("WGL") and Washington Gas Light Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of WGL and served in elevated roles until becoming the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in 2014. She assumed the position of Senior Vice President, Merger Transition Counsel following the 2018 acquisition of WGL by AltaGas and will end her employment with WGL on November 30, 2018. During her WGL tenure, Ms. Thornton earned her Master of Laws degree in National Security Law with a cybersecurity focus from Georgetown University Law Center and provided legal counsel on a broad range of issues including critical infrastructure cybersecurity and data protection. Before joining WGL, Ms. Thornton was a partner at two national law firms focusing on internal corporate, federal and state attorney general investigations, appellate litigation, and homeland security issues. In the Clinton administration, she served in the U.S. Department of Education and was Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Education. Since 2005, she has been a member of the Board of Directors for Career Education Corporation, where she serves on the Audit Committee and chairs the Compliance and Risk Committee. Previously, she served as Lead Independent Director of Career Education Corporation. Ms. Thornton is a Board Leadership Fellow for the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Thornton serves on the Metropolitan Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Board of Trustees for the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, and the Board of Governors for the District of Columbia Bar. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University Law Center. About Southwest Gas Holdings Southwest Gas Holdings has two business segments: Southwest Gas Corporation provides safe and reliable natural gas service to over 2 million customers in Arizona, Nevada and California. Centuri Construction Group, Inc. is a comprehensive infrastructure services enterprise dedicated to meeting the growing demands of North American utilities, energy, and industrial markets. Centuri derives revenue from installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance of energy distribution systems, and developing industrial infrastructure solutions. SOURCE Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.swgasholdings.com International Study Monitoring Real-time Cannabis Treatment for the Symptoms of Endometriosis Will Leverage Strainprint's Comprehensive Research Platform TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Strainprint Technologies Ltd., the leader in cannabis data and analytics, today announced a partnership with Israeli research leaders, Lumir Lab and Gynica to conduct the world's first international clinical study on the use of cannabis to treat endometriosis. Endometriosis, a condition where tissue from the uterine lining migrates to other organs inside the body affects roughly 180 million women worldwide. It is estimated that 1 in 10 women between the ages of 15 to 49 will be affected by symptoms of endometriosis during their lifetime. Strainprint's VP of Research, Michelle Arbus, will work closely with world-renowned cannabis scientist, Professor Lumir Hanus, along with Gynica's Professor Moshe Hod, President of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tel Aviv University medical school. The intention of the study is to develop clinically-validated cannabinoid-based products that can be approved for international distribution. Gynica holds a federal license by the Israeli Ministry of Health to research the effects of cannabinoids on women's health and gynecological disorders. "Endometriosis remains one of the most misdiagnosed and least understood medical conditions, and currently, there is no cure," said Professor Hod. "Strainprint's early observational studies show that medical cannabis treatment has a positive effect on symptoms related to endometriosis, but much more research is required. Our objective is to identify which active cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, in relative combination, provide the most effective relief, reduce pain and prevent reoccurrence." Simultaneous studies in both Israel and Canada will leverage Strainprint's research-ready platform to provide ethics approval, validated questionnaires, custom surveys, real-time treatment tracking and data visualization in support of in-clinic visits. Gynica Senior scientist, Dr. Sari Prutchi Sagiv, will develop the joint-study protocol to be used for clinical trial applications in both countries, based on a common product formulation. Drawing first from Strainprint's 900,000+ real-time patient outcomes and 40 million medical cannabis data points, Lumir Lab will narrow and validate a formulation to focus on at the study. Together, the parties will use Strainprint's recently launched community portal to recruit up to 1,000 patients in each country. Dr. Prutchi Sagiv says "The combination of Strainprint's big data analytics combined with Gynica's scientific team and clinical research capabilities create a unique and innovative approach for providing evidence-based products to patients worldwide, and moreover for women who are under-treated by current solutions." Gynica, Lumir Lab and Strainprint expect the clinical study to run on Q2 of 2019. "It's truly amazing for all of us at Strainprint to get to work with this team of world-renowned scientists and doctors on such a significant medical issue," said Strainprint CEO, Andrew Muroff. "We're committed to helping improve the lives of millions of women suffering from endometriosis." About Strainprint Founded in Toronto in 2016, StrainprintTM Technologies Ltd. is the leading demand-side cannabis data and analytics company. With the world's largest longitudinal, observational data-set of its kind and a mission to advance the scientific understanding of cannabis and its legitimization as a mainstream therapy, Strainprint helps medical cannabis patients and doctors to use cannabis in the most effective and responsible way possible. StrainprintTM data platform supports global cannabis research and provides advanced business intelligence and treatment guidance to producers, retailers, medical practitioners, pharmacies, government and industry. Strainprint is HIPAA, PIPEDA and PHIPA privacy compliant, military-grade encrypted and all patient data is completely anonymized and at rest in Canada. Strainprint can be seamlessly embedded or integrated with most electronic medical records (EMR) and seed2sale software systems. Strainprint Analytics is accessed by customer subscription. The Strainprint App is free to patients and can be downloaded from both the iOS App Store and GooglePlay Store. www.strainprintanalytics.com. facebook, twitter, linkedin. About Gynica. Gynica focuses on clinically proven cannabis-based solutions in the field of women's health, developing optimal therapeutic results based on innovative technology and understanding of the pharmacological effects of different cannabinoids and compounds, targeted to specific female-related diseases. The team is led by the President of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, Professor Moshe Hod, who is also a Tel Aviv University medical school professor of obstetrics and gynecology. Gynica is owned by Asana Bio Group, an Israeli holding company specializing in scientific advancements in the field of medical cannabis. About Lumir Lab. Lumir Lab is a research & development lab focused on cannabinoids, led by Prof. Lumir Ondrej Hanus, a world-renowned analytical chemist and a leading figure in the field of cannabis research, who is responsible for some of the greatest discoveries in the field of cannabis. During his career of 49 years as a cannabis researcher, he isolated and identified the first known endocannabinoid in the human brain, Anandamide. Lumir Lab has established a world-leading position in the development of cannabinoid-based therapeutics through analytical methods and clinical validation, offering a wide range of solutions for companies operating in the medical cannabis industry. Lumir Lab is owned by Asana Bio Group, an Israeli holding company specializing in scientific advancements in the field of medical cannabis. SOURCE Strainprint Technologies Ltd. "For more than a decade, the Subaru Share the Love Event has contributed to improving the lives of those it touches and worked to fulfill our Love Promise ," said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. "Working with these longstanding charity partners and the local charitable organizations has allowed us and our retailers to support those in need across the country in meaningful ways, and we are excited to reveal this new creative campaign to shine a light on those efforts." Starting today, the new spots, created by Subaru of America in collaboration with agency partner Carmichael Lynch, will air in :30s formats on national television, and be featured in :30s and :15s formats in targeted digital and social media promotions. Each spot in the campaign highlights the impact made on each of the national Subaru Share the Love Event charity partners: Silent Awe When we protect our parks, we protect our future. This commercial follows the journey of a grandmother taking her granddaughter to a national park for the first time. We witness her guide and teach her granddaughter as they climb to the summit. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped support more than 100 national parks with the National Park Foundation . When we protect our parks, we protect our future. This commercial follows the journey of a grandmother taking her granddaughter to a national park for the first time. We witness her guide and teach her granddaughter as they climb to the summit. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped support more than 100 national parks with the . Becoming a Hero When we grant wishes, we give hope. In this heartfelt commercial, we witness a little boy experience his wish of becoming a firefighter. As the firefighters arrive and pick him up over their shoulders, his parents soak in this moment of hope. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped grant over 1,800 wishes with Make-A-Wish . When we grant wishes, we give hope. In this heartfelt commercial, we witness a little boy experience his wish of becoming a firefighter. As the firefighters arrive and pick him up over their shoulders, his parents soak in this moment of hope. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped grant over 1,800 wishes with . Dinner Date When we feed seniors, we also feed their souls. This commercial tells the story of a new friendship created through Meals on Wheels. We meet an older gentleman sitting in his home, waiting. Walt meets his friend, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, at the back door. Suddenly we're thrust into a lively scene of the two playing dominos, enjoying their time together. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped deliver nearly 2 million meals with Meals on Wheels . When we feed seniors, we also feed their souls. This commercial tells the story of a new friendship created through Meals on Wheels. We meet an older gentleman sitting in his home, waiting. Walt meets his friend, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, at the back door. Suddenly we're thrust into a lively scene of the two playing dominos, enjoying their time together. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped deliver nearly 2 million meals with . New Friends When we rescue pets, we build families. This happy commercial tells the story of a girl learning the power of volunteering and helping an animal find a home. We witness a young volunteer give a lonely pet attention. As she does, a younger girl joins out of curiosity. We see the pride of the volunteer's mother seeing her daughter create a connection between a pet and family. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped rescue over 50,000 animals with the ASPCA . When we rescue pets, we build families. This happy commercial tells the story of a girl learning the power of volunteering and helping an animal find a home. We witness a young volunteer give a lonely pet attention. As she does, a younger girl joins out of curiosity. We see the pride of the volunteer's mother seeing her daughter create a connection between a pet and family. Over the past 10 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its retailers have helped rescue over 50,000 animals with the . Share the Love Compilation When we share love, we all win. By the end of this, our 11th year, Subaru and its retailers will have donated over $140 million through the Subaru Share the Love Event to charities like the ASPCA, Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels, the National Park Foundation, and over 1,170 hometown charities. These spots are available to view on Subaru of America's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/Subaru. To complement the creative campaign, Subaru is working with several partners to develop unique integrations that will spread the reach of the Share the Love Event with as many people as possible. On Tuesday, November 20, as part of the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru will exclusively debut the work being done with their charity partners on ABC's top national morning show Good Morning America. The automaker will also be collaborating with ATTN:, a media company that breaks down important societal topics and conversations into digestible, entertaining videos and series across all platforms, to develop a video series centered around the national charity partners and the ripple effect that happens when individuals spread positivity, volunteer, and help others. Throughout the campaign, Subaru will also participate in a series of episodes on the popular podcast, Science Vs, where local Subaru retailers will discuss the importance of the Share the Love Event and the relationship each has fostered with their hometown charity. From November 15, 2018 to January 2, 2019, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at more than 628 participating Subaru retailers nationwide to the customer's choice of the following national charities: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and National Park Foundation. In addition to the four national charity partners, Subaru retailers across the country have selected 681 local charitable organizations to support during this year's Subaru Share the Love Event. With some retailers adding their own donations to the hometown charities, total contributions by Subaru and its participating retailers are expected to exceed previous years. Eleven years running, this year's Subaru Share the Love Event marks the third consecutive year there will be no cap placed on the total donation from Subaru of America to its charitable partners. By the end of this year's event, the automaker hopes to exceed a grand total of $140 million donated since the Subaru Share the Love Event started in 2008. To learn about the Subaru Share the Love Event, view terms and conditions for the social media campaign and hear some of the incredible stories of those touched by the event, please visit www.subaru.com/share. About Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise , which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com . Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . Diane Anton Subaru of America, Inc. 856-488-5093 [email protected] Joe Perri Jaclyn Bingold MWWPR [email protected] SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc. Related Links http://www.subaru.com LONDON, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovator Tempus Energy successfully challenges fossil fuel bias in UK power market 5.6bn committed in customer-funded subsidies favouring polluting fossil fuels ruled unlawful Ruling paves the way for cleaner, cheaper energy market Cleantech innovator Tempus Energy has successfully challenged a UK subsidy scheme that allows fossil fuels to dominate the market. The European Court delivered the landmark ruling today. The ruling opens to the door to an overhaul of UK energy policy. The UK's National Grid caters for 'peak demand' scenarios via the Capacity Market established by the UK Government in 2014. Tempus Energy brought its challenge on the basis that the design of this market ensures profits for coal, gas and diesel generators, leaving cheaper, cleaner alternatives virtually unable to compete. Using billpayers' money to finance fossil fuels without their consent - with several billion pounds committed so far - shuts out more innovative solutions for guaranteeing supply, which are actually cheaper for customers. Commenting on the ruling by the European Court, Sara Bell CEO of Tempus Energy said: "A customer revolution is on the cards. This ruling opens the door for cheaper energy - greater use of demand-side innovation would change the way we use electricity in practice, and place customers at the heart of the energy system for the first time. "Consumers know it pays to be flexible - we've been using off-peak trains for years. The energy system is exactly the same. Off-peak power should mean off-peak prices. "This ruling should ultimately force the UK Government to design an energy system that reduces bills by incentivising and empowering customers to use electricity in the most cost-effective way - while maximising the use of climate-friendly renewables. "Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and increasing our use of renewables has the added benefit of delivering better air quality and bigger carbon cuts across the country." As the government seeks ways to fulfil energy demand and reduce CO2 emissions, 'demand-side' solutions have so far played far too small a role in discussions. A recent study by Poyry Management Consultants and Imperial College found integrating new sources of flexibility - such as customer demand flexibility - to manage the energy system would save between 3.2bn and 4.7bn each year. By streamlining their energy use, customers can participate too. As 'demand-side' energy providers, customers can earn revenue and make significant savings by avoiding using the grid at peak times. New, 'smart' technology allows customers to do this automatically and easily. Bell said: "Customers are not only footing the bill for this ill-designed scheme, they are also being prevented from accessing its potential benefits themselves." Commercial customers are already taking advantage of the economic benefits of renewables and electricity storage. However, UK policy has not kept up with the way in which customers are using and generating clean, cost-efficient energy. Bell added: "If the Government is serious about decarbonising energy at the lowest cost to the customer, it must design a market that encourages, not stifles, environmental friendly technology. "The energy transition is about supporting smart technology and equipping the consumer to manage their own energy - not funding fossil fuels." Notes to Editors: Demand management - explainer Smart technology on the demand side can bring benefits both to households and to large energy customers such as those who have factory processes that can automatically shift to a time when energy demand (and prices) are low and renewables are abundant e.g. when the sun shines or the wind blows - or use power from a battery. By tapping into energy when overall demand is low and supply is plentiful, non-time critical customer appliances and equipment that do not need to run at the same level continuously - such as charging a fleet of electric delivery vans or running a dishwasher - can be operated at a much lower cost. About Tempus Energy: Tempus is an energy technology company, with a presence in several energy markets globally, including the UK. Tempus has developed software that interacts with existing DSR technology and smart appliances to help customers to be "demand-flexible", by actively reducing their electricity demand at peak times and shifting usage to cheaper, off-peak times, usually when renewable power is plentiful. Tempus is currently piloting its technology with Australia's largest energy retailer, Origin Energy. After seeing positive results and savings on average of 22% they have extended the pilot to include all states of Australia. https://www.tempusenergy.com/ Contact: [email protected], +44(0)7412228056, +44(0)7411739412 SOURCE Tempus Energy Technology "Tencent considers Korea an important market, with its advanced and highly competitive game sector", said Dao Feng, Vice President of Tencent Cloud, "Tencent Cloud is committed to providing leading cloud services, enriched by its gaming know-how, for game developers and publishers in Korean and worldwide." In line with the exhibition's theme, Connecting Players Around the World, the Tencent Cloud Korea Conference featured a wide range of capabilities and case studies to highlight its worldwide services, including Tencent Cloud's global infrastructure, its network optimization, Internet information security protection, service interfaces and its Global Application Accelerate Platform (GAAP) developed to address common challenges on latency and network lag for game companies. Tencent also introduced the experience in developing and operating its game business, including the breadth of its gaming ecosystem and its key capabilities in gaming solutions as supported by Tencent Cloud. Tencent Cloud's global network of high-speed interconnection covers the vast majority of players around the world and provides 24x7 Full Path Control customer service. Experts from Tencent Cloud gave in-depth introductions on key priorities for games, including reliable cloud migration solutions that enable seamless migration between servers, object-based storage, database, big data and other Tencent Cloud solutions. The conference showcased Tencent Cloud's strength in boosting the global expansion of its game business and international game companies. Tencent Cloud aims to enhance its customer and partner network in the global market. About Tencent Tencent uses technology to enrich the lives of Internet users. Our social products Weixin and QQ link our users to a rich digital content catalogue including games, video, music and books. Our proprietary targeting technology helps advertisers reach out to hundreds of millions of consumers in China. Our infrastructure services including payment, security, cloud and artificial intelligence create differentiated offerings and support our partners' business growth. SOURCE Tencent Cloud SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Applitools ( applitools.com/ ), the leader in Application Visual Management, today announced Test Automation University - a community-driven collection of educational training resources to help improve test automation skill sets. With initial offerings by test automation experts Angie Jones , Dave Haeffner , Jonathan Lipps , Joe Colantonio , Amber Race , Elisabeth Hocke , Manoj Kumar , Jason Arbon , Raja Rao , and Gil Tayar , 'Test Automation U' aims to bring a community of technical professionals - including testers, engineers and developers - together to build, identify, aggregate, and amplify best practices in test automation strategies and techniques. Additional experts will be added throughout 2019 with courses offered for syndication and live training through global industry events. Full details of the initiative including descriptions of initial courses, curriculum, and community engagement opportunities will be unveiled in an upcoming webinar hosted by Angie Jones. Enroll here for free to join Test Automation U, get involved with the community, and register for the webinar with Angie Jones detailing the initiative at ( http://go.applitools.com/181129-Test-Automation-U-Unveiled.html ) "We feel it is in everyone's best interest to invest in people's understanding of test automation and how to implement it the right way from the very beginning," said Angie Jones, former automation engineer at Twitter and now a senior developer advocate at Applitools. "Providing a quality source of community-driven, vetted information - for all stages of skill sets and career paths within test automation - will help individuals and companies alike close the talent gap in automation engineering. I am thrilled to join the Applitools team, which is committed to a collaborative and self-learning education program for all to benefit and all to be involved." Jones is the most recent test automation expert to join the growing Applitools' roster, as the company continues to expand its operations globally in support of best-of-breed test automation practices. Angie, an internationally recognized thought leader and technology mentor, joins recent hire Dave Haeffner, author of The Selenium Guidebook , veteran Gil Tayar, senior architect and evangelist , and former Salesforce developer evangelist Raja Rao as initial collaborators on the Test Automation U project. "The goal is to encourage a wide range of expert contributions to help businesses create a world with higher quality applications, released faster with better customer experiences than ever before," Jones continued. "With a growing demand for test automation and the advent of testing practices shifting left in the software delivery lifecycle, we want to create a shared space to support the top practices needed for successful test automation." Test Automation U Curriculum: More Than 10 Free Courses Planned In Next Six Months Over the course of the next several months, collaborators will unveil courses and associated curriculum to aid in the development of skill sets related to test automation. While the first courses will launch on January 2019, eleven initial courses have been identified including: Foundational Test Automation Courses Setting a Foundation for Successful Test Automation ( Angie Jones ) ) A Guide to Codeless Test Automation ( Dave Haeffner ) ) Performance Testing Tools and Techniques: Preparing For The Masses ( Amber Race ) ) The Whole Team Approach to Continuous Testing ( Elisabeth Hocke ) Automated Visual Testing Courses Automated Visual Testing: A Fast Path To Test Automation Success ( Angie Jones ) ) How To Visually Validate Your Mobile Applications ( Jonathan Lipps ) ) CI/CD, UI Version Control and Root Cause Analysis: An Advanced Course In Automated Visual Testing ( Raja Rao ) ) Visual Validation For Frontend Developers ( Gil Tayar ) Test Automation for Real World Problems Testing In The Real World: Success Stories You Can Learn From ( Joe Colantonio ) ) An Inclusive Web for Everybody: Test Automation for Accessibility ( Manoj Kumar ) ) AI for Element Selection: Erasing the Pain of Fragile Test Scripts ( Jason Arbon ) An initial course from Angie Jones entitled "Setting a Foundation for Successful Test Automation" will launch Test Automation U in January 2019 focusing on training and tutorials in seven chapters including: How to Design an Automation Strategy Creating a Culture of Success in your Organization Developing for Testability Tooling for Testability Future-proofing your Test Automation Efforts Test Automation Optimization and Scaling Quantifying and Sharing the Value of Test Automation "The talent gap is huge when it comes to test automation initiatives, and many programs get delayed or even fail because of this," explained Jones. "What is great about Test Automation U is that we're opening the doors to all schools of thought, capturing the knowledge, and distributing it openly in relevant locations. No matter what role you're playing in the software development process, it's extremely important for everyone to collaborate and work together." To learn more about test automation practices from the Applitools team, visit: ( https://applitools.com/blog ) About Applitools Applitools is the creator of Application Visual Management (AVM) to help companies release, test and monitor flawless mobile, web, and native apps in a fully automated way. Founded in 2013, Applitools uses sophisticated AI-powered image processing technology to ensure that an application appears correctly and functions properly on all mobile devices, browsers, operating systems, and screen sizes. Applitools has customers from a range of verticals, including Fortune 100 companies in software, banking, online retail, insurance, and pharmaceuticals. Applitools is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with an R&D center in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, please visit applitools.com . Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760, ext. 16 [email protected] SOURCE Applitools Related Links http://applitools.com AMSTERDAM, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Last year, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced it would relocate its headquarters from London to Amsterdam. The move solidifies the Netherlands' position as a European leader in biopharma innovation. With world-class research institutions, a highly educated workforce and a strong distribution network, the Netherlands is a hub for biopharmaceutical companies. Top multinationals including AstraZeneca, Janssen, MSD, Amgen and Teva rely on Dutch operations for both R&D and distribution activities. Key Dutch logistics partners like DHL, pharma supply chain manager Movianto and HealthLink Europe provide logistics outsourcing for more than 130 life science manufacturing companies. "The Netherlands has one of the top healthcare ecosystems in the world, which has fostered a rich network of biopharma innovation," said Sandra de Wild-Chardonnens, Life Sciences Sector Specialist at the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). "The relocation of the EMA reinforces the Netherlands' position as a desirable location for bioscience companies." Dutch companies and researchers are known particularly for their expertise in the fields of immuno-oncology, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine and stem cells. Holland is home to diverse companies developing cancer therapeutics and immunotherapy techniques, including Genmab, Kite Pharma, Janssen and MSD. Cell therapy CMO Lonza has nearly 70,000 sq. ft. of Dutch facilities. The Dutch pharma ecosystem also supports drug discovery companies, like OcellO and Ncardia, and manufacturers like Synthon and Aspen. PRA also has a state-of-the-art facility in Groningen. At Hubrecht Institute, a Dutch team led by molecular geneticist Hans Clevers is pioneering "organoids" aka mini organsincluding livers, lungs and intestinesgrown from stem cells to test specific drugs outside the body. The Netherlands' network of research parks and university hospitals contribute to biopharma innovation. For example, Holland's Pivot Park in Oss features a new medicines Screening Centre with two fully automated robotic systems, while the Rotterdam Science Tower is home to an incubator called LabHotel. Leiden Bio Science Park ranks as one of Europe's most successful science parks. These research parks are examples of the Dutch's rare triple helix ecosystem, which combines academics, industry and government to grow business and support innovation. NFIA helps North American companies expand to the Netherlands from its regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Toronto. To learn more, visit: investinholland.com. SOURCE Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency Related Links http://www.investinholland.com SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The State Bar of California issued a fraud alert to warn the public to watch out for and report potential fraud in response to the recent fires across the state. (The fraud alert is also available in Spanish and Chinese.) As a result of California's ongoing fires, many people may wish to seek legal advice for various reasons, including insurance disputes, landlord tenant disputes, consumer fraud and more. A legal hotline is now available for survivors of the wildfires in California in Butte, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties (additional counties may be added). Disaster survivors facing legal issues in Butte County who are unable to afford a lawyer may call the hotline at 800-345-9491. Disaster survivors facing legal issues in Ventura or Los Angeles county who are unable to afford a lawyer may call the hotline at 877-301-4448. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. The type of legal assistance available includes: Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster survivors; Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims; Help with home repair contracts and contractors; Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster; Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures; Counseling on mortgage and foreclosure problems; Counseling on landlord-tenant problems. California law prohibits lawyers or others acting on behalf of a lawyer from: Soliciting clients at an accident scene, at a hospital, or on the way to a hospital; Soliciting clients who, due to their physical, emotional or mental state, may not be able to have reasonable judgment about the hiring of an attorney; Seeking clients by mail unless the letter and envelope are clearly labeled as an advertisement; Promising a particular outcome from the legal representation In the wake of the fires, there is also the risk of victims being approached in person, by mail, email or other means, by people posing as attorneys. Consumers must carefully check that people offering legal services are legitimate and licensed to provide such services. Before hiring an attorney, Californians should check the State Bar website for the status of an attorney's license to practice law and whether they have any record of discipline. State Bar's additional resources for consumers: The State Bar, which regulates the practice of law in California, cannot represent clients or refer them to a particular attorney. People needing a lawyer can contact the State Bar of California to connect with a certified lawyer referral service at 415-538-2250 or send an email to [email protected]. SOURCE The State Bar of California Related Links www.calbar.ca.gov BOSTON and DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Topcoder, the world's largest workforce marketplace (1.4 million designers, developers and data scientists in 190+ countries), is hosting the 17th annual Topcoder Open (TCO) coding competition in Dallas at Southfork Ranch, from November 13 to 16. Topcoder became a part of Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) in November 2016. In this competition, companies of all sizesfrom Fortune 500 to SMBsshare insight on digital transformation within their industries, and a handful will provide current software development challenges facing in-house IT teams for the most coveted Topcoder Community members to solve. "Topcoder empowers organizations, like IBM, Booz Allen, NASA, Harvard Medical School, the U.S. Department of Energy and more, to develop unequaled software that accelerates innovation and speeds time to market," said Mike Morris, CEO, Topcoder. "The TCO also provides them with direct access to the most coveted IT workforce on the planet, while celebrating Topcoder's global community of designers, developers and data scientists." The TCO is the ultimate programming and design tournament. It enables Topcoder Community members of all ages, locations and abilities a chance to earn recognition as the best technologists in their field, win cash prizes and an all-expense paid trip to the U.S., solve real-world business problems, and market themselves as IT resources for hire in the areas of mobile/enterprise application design/development, data science, QA, cognitive solutions, web design/development, advanced algorithms and more. Topcoder Community members from Argentina, China, France, India, Japan, Poland, Russia, United States, Vietnam and other countries round out the top five TCO finalists across 10 competition tracks. Companies sponsoring challenges, Topcoder Executives and TCO finalists are available for interview. Learn more at http://tco18.topcoder.com/. About Topcoder Topcoder, a Wipro company, is a workforce marketplace with 1.4 million developers, designers, and data scientists around the world. For more than a decade, Topcoder has helped organizations including IBM, Honeywell, GE, BMC, Booz Allen, NASA Tournament Lab, Harvard Medical School, U.S. Dept. of Energy and Land O'Lakes accelerate innovation, solve challenging problems and tap into hard-to-find skills. Enterprises distribute work to our global network through the Topcoder platform where individuals with the right skills participate in competitions to win money, build skills and earn recognition. For more information, visit www.topcoder.com. Media Contact Jessica Ann Morris [email protected] 781.608.0499 About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 175,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property, and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. SOURCE Topcoder SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC Pink: TREP) Trucept Inc., which recently marked a third consecutive profitable quarter, will offer accounting/controller services to the Professional Employer Organization market beginning Dec. 1. "Trucept has lined up a seasoned staff well familiar with the intricacies of the PEO market," CEO Norman Tipton said. "This is a challenging area for many start-up PEOs. We have already signed two clients to this new service." Tipton said that the company is on track to a return to profitability for the end of the year. Trucept is the marketing and consulting arm of several nationally known Professional Employer Organizations. Safe Harbor: Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future revenues and sales projections, plans for future financing, the ability to meet operational milestones, marketing arrangements and plans, and shipments to and regulatory approvals in international markets. Such statements reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional financing that will allow us to continue our current and future operations and whether demand for our products and services in domestic and international markets will continue to expand. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Company's success are more fully disclosed in the Company's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-K. SOURCE Trucept Inc. Related Links http://www.trucept.com/ NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- UB40 is embarking on a worldwide tour to celebrate 40 years and will bring their fans the timeless hits they've loved over the last four decades. UB40, an English reggae band have hit over 100 million records sold and have had dozens of chart-topping singles including "Red Red Wine" and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You." The band has had over 50 singles on the UK single chart and has been nominated for the Grammy Award for the Best Reggae Album. Now, with the 40th Anniversary Tour, there is going to be a lot to celebrate. To mark the milestone, in addition to going on tour, the group will be releasing a new album, "For The Many", their 19th studio album. The band will also be releasing two companion versions of "For The Many", as Brian Travers explains, "We have really enjoyed making this album, a huge amount of work went into it. It became a massive piece of work so, in addition to the regular version of the album, there will be a dub version and a collaboration version, featuring guest artists from all around the world." Co-vocalist and guitarist Robin Campbell added, "'For The Many' is a great mix of reggae styles, while the different artists we have collaborated with will appeal to more fans and tastes in reggae - it really is an album for the many. The 2019 tour is a continuation of our 40th year celebrations, as well as sharing tracks from our latest album. Twenty-three dates around the US instead of a few arenas means that our fans from all over the USA can get to see us much more locally and up close - truly a tour for the many." "It's incredibly exciting having the opportunity to revisit some of our favourite cities," said Brian Travers,"to travel the world playing our music to some of our oldest friends is a huge privilege and now we are back with our new album 'For The Many'. Looking forward to seeing you all out there ... ." In UB40 prime time, many of their songs hit #1 on the Billboard charts including "Red Red Wine", "Can't Help Falling In Love (From "Sliver")", "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" and "I Got You Babe". UB40's 40th Anniversary Tour will also kick off in early 2019, with shows across the U.S., the U.K., Europe and Australia. UB40 consists of Five of the Six founding members Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan in addition long-time members Duncan Campbell (vocals), Martin Meredith (saxophone), Laurence Parry (trumpet) and Tony Mullings (keyboards). Tour Dates Date City Location Friday, August 2, 2019 Detroit, MI Chene Park Saturday, August 3, 2019 Cincinnati, OH Riverfront Live Thursday, August 8, 2019 Huntington, NY The Paramount Friday, August 9, 2019 Boston, MA The Wilbur Saturday, August 10, 2019 West Long Branch, NJ Monmouth University - Pollak Theater Sunday, August 11, 2019 Washington, DC Maryland Hall Thursday, August 15, 2019 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre Saturday, August 17, 2019 Bonita Springs, FL Ibis Theater @ SWFEC Sunday, August 18, 2019 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues Tuesday, August 20, 2019 New Orleans, LA House of Blues Friday, August 23, 2019 Kamas, UT Dejoria Center Thursday, August 29, 2019 Tempe, AZ The Marquee Friday, August 30, 2019 Winterhaven, CA Paradise Casino Saturday, August 31, 2019 Indio, CA Spotlight 29 Casino Friday, September 6, 2019 Suquarmichs, WA Suqyamish Clearwater Casino Resort Sunday, September 8, 2019 Whitecourt, MB To be announced soon Monday, September 9, 2019 Edmonton, AB To be announced soon Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Calgary, AB To be announced soon Thursday, September 12, 2019 Regina, SK To be announced soon Friday, September 13, 2019 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings Theatre Saturday, September 14, 2019 Minneapolis, MN The Cabooze Friday, September 20, 2019 Waukegan, IL Genesee Theatre Sunday, September 22, 2019 Montreal, Quebec Canada The Olympia SOURCE UB40 PHOENIX, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Phoenix is proud to be a recipient of a WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) State Authorization Network (SAN) 2018 SANsational Award in the licensure programs category. This award recognizes outstanding efforts by SAN member institutions and organizations in developing a high-quality, comprehensive solution to any challenging state authorization issue. Work recognized by the SANsational Awards presents solutions that meet the needs of regulators, the institution and, most importantly, students. These efforts serve as models which can be adapted or replicated by other entities. University of Phoenix was recognized for developing a comprehensive, multi-step system to provide clear information to both current and prospective students regarding licensure preparation programs. The disclosures are available to prospective students via the University of Phoenix website, online catalog and corresponding marketing materials prior to enrollment. Upon enrollment, they are available throughout the student's program, with multiple checkpoints along the way. University of Phoenix utilizes both specialized and cross-functional teams to ensure notifications and disclosures are current and provide clear and relevant information to students. "We are honored to receive this award. University of Phoenix believes students should make informed decisions about whether to enroll in a licensure program and these disclosures help them do just that," said Bridget Beville, senior corporate counsel at University of Phoenix. "Our goal is to provide students with clear, accurate information as they achieve their educational goals." About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc., University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu. About WCET WCET the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies - is the leader in the practice, policy, & advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education. WCET is a national, member-driven, non-profit which brings together colleges and universities, higher education organizations and companies to collectively improve the quality and reach of technology-enhanced learning programs. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), WCET's parent organization, serves states, students, and institutions throughout and beyond the American West, and is one of four U.S. regional interstate compacts. Learn more: http://wcet.wiche.edu About the State Authorization Network (SAN) Working collaboratively, institutions can navigate the state regulations processes more efficiently than working on their own. WCET's State Authorization Network (SAN) is the leader for guidance and support for navigating regulatory compliance for out-of-state activities of post-secondary institutions. https://wcetSAN.wiche.edu SOURCE University of Phoenix Related Links http://www.phoenix.edu LAS VEGAS, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TRUSTEEL, LLC ("TruSteel" or the "Company"), the creator and manufacturer of the AutoVap Series of falling-film evaporation technology, has finalized strategic alignment with pioneer technology integration firm Vanguard Scientific Systems. The announcement of this go-forward partnership comes on the eve of the largest annual Cannabis industry conference, the 'Marijuana Business' MJ BizCon held November 14-16, in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The TruSteel partnership with Vanguard brings us both one step closer to our vision to offer this industry clean, efficient, scalable, end-to-end solutions. While current consumer demands can now be met, there can be a strong focus on innovation and development with our partners. 2019 is looking to be a progressive year for TruSteel and for the extraction industry as a whole." Ray Van Lenten Founder / Chief Technology Officer - TruSteel "As Vanguard begins to rapidly scale through 2019 to address the domestic and international markets of both Cannabis and Hemp, the ability to find such strong synergies between both Vanguard and TruSteel leadership and equipment offerings significantly increase our capability to understand and unlock Value for our customers." Matthew Anderson CEO - Vanguard Scientific Systems The AutoVap falling film, rapid evaporation technology created by TruSteel has revolutionized what has traditionally been the largest bottleneck and cost-center in scaling commercial cannabis and hemp processing operations. The primary AutoVap unit, the AV30, is capable of solvent reclamation rates more than 10-times that of currently available rotational evaporative systems, with an average of greater than ninety-five percent total solvent recovery. Vanguard and TruSteel are optimizing procurement and manufacturing capabilities through the integration of the AutoVap series onto the integrated ISO-9001 compliant manufacturing platform Vanguard has established. This significantly increases the production capability of the AV30 in order to meet increasing customer demand. Both companies are also harmonizing sales, marketing and on-going customer service-engineering functions. In addition to the AutoVap series of technologies, the combined design and engineering teams of Vanguard and TruSteel have initiated research and development efforts to develop integrated system technologies aimed to address underserved needs of the processing cycle. With a collective effort to develop these revolutionary end to end solutions, the two engineering teams are aided by experts in the fields of medical devices, oil & gas, defense and aerospace. About Vanguard Scientific Systems Vanguard Scientific Systems is a premium provider of the equipment, systems and performance solutions servicing the botanical extraction industry today. The Company's mission is to deliver customers the capability to manufacture the highest quality, most valued, full-spectrum oils, extracts and distilled isolates routinely and cost effectively. Vanguard's service and support teams translate customers' needs and knowledge into systems, performance and deliverables, optimizing their entire resource chain to the one goal of extraction profit maximization. T: (888) 247 - 3427 E: [email protected] www.vanguardscientific.com SOURCE Vanguard Scientific Systems Related Links https://www.vanguardscientific.com DENVER, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer awareness of quality measures like Star ratings is on the rise, and a growing number of Medicare eligible consumers are choosing plans based on these measures. With the recent release of the 2019 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings, plans across the nation are strategizing to target or maintain specific areas to keep a competitive edge. Based on work with the nation's leading Medicare Advantage plans, Welltok has introduced its integrated Medicare Quality Solution designed to precisely identify risk for gaps in care like cancer screenings or medication refills, and boost Star ratings by getting seniors continuously engaged in their health. Welltok's Medicare Quality Solution combines its leading SaaS technology with the latest cutting-edge advanced analytics and multi-channel engagement to personalize year-round quality interventions with members. Welltok uniquely leverages both traditional data (claims and clinical) with consumer data (e.g., purchasing and voting habits) to accurately predict members at-risk and identify opportunities for plans to make an impact. Seniors are then engaged with through their preferred communications channel (e.g., mobile, direct mail, automated voice and live agent), and are connected to personalized resources, support and incentives that drive action and outcomes. "The disparity among the senior population is only growing while some seniors are more tech savvy and prefer a purely digital experience, others still welcome a phone call or a postcard in the mail," said April Gill, vice president of health plan market solutions for Welltok. "Our solution is built to systematically understand and activate all types of seniors in a scalable and personalized way. We've designed best practices that impact quality initiatives and lower risk profiles, improving Star Ratings and the member's experience." Partnering with regional and national Medicare Advantage plans, Welltok has driven measurable and specific quality improvement results, including: Diabetes care: 48 percent improvement in gaps in care closure Medication adherence: 85 percent improvement in medication refill rates Cancer screening: 56 percent improvement in the rate of colorectal cancer screenings The Quality Solution is designed to support one, a few or up to 30 quality measures, such as flu vaccinations, diabetes screenings or care coordination, based on the goals and objectives of a Medicare Advantage plan. Another differentiator of the offering is the use of proprietary consumer data on 275 million Americans, compiled from public and private sources over the past seven years. This data, including social determinants of health, adds a level of precision and targeting that results in an unparalleled, personalized experience that members want and expect from today's plans. Added Gill, "By implementing data-driven, targeted multi-channel campaigns to close critical gaps in care and engage members in the appropriate care and condition management programs or facilitate access to valuable resources, we are helping plans not only retain members, but attract new ones too." About Welltok Welltok is a data-driven, enterprise SaaS company that delivers the healthcare industry's leading consumer activation platform. Welltok's solutions empower leading health plans, employers, providers and public entities to connect consumers with personalized health improvement resources, making it easy and rewarding for consumers to complete actions that optimize their health and wellbeing. Only Welltok leverages a machine-learning, multi-channel approach proven to help innovative organizations power growth and retention initiatives, improve healthcare value, and streamline the consumer experience, while upholding the highest security and compliance standards. Follow on Twitter on @Welltok.com. Media Contact: Erica Sniad Morgenstern 415.697.3496 [email protected] SOURCE Welltok NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeel, the Massage On Demand company and national wellness provider, today announced it has partnered with Stride Health, the leading benefits platform for gig and independent workers, to offer the 11,000+ massage therapists on the Zeel platform access to simple, affordable health, dental, and vision insurance. "We are committed to providing every massage therapist on our platform access to the best insurance for individuals and their families," says Eva Carey, National Community Director for Zeel. "Through our partnership with Stride, each massage therapist will be able to find the best available insurance plan for them. As a wellness company, we're not only focused on the health of our customers, but also in delivering access to the best wellness options to therapists." Specifically, Stride Health's growing suite of offerings includes access to all major medical plans and personalized recommendations and customized dental and vision insurance. "We're excited to offer comprehensive benefits and guidance to the massage therapists on Zeel's platform," said Noah Lang, co-founder and CEO of Stride Health. "Massage therapists are healers who need access to benefits, security, and financial stability that are traditionally available only to full-time employees. Our partnership with Zeel will ensure that these independent workers receive the essential support they need to thrive." Wellness On The Way Zeel brings Massage On Demand to customers in homes, hotels, workplaces, and events in more than ninety cities across the country. Massages are booked on the Zeel app for iPhone or Android, and on zeel.com, and can be scheduled with start times as early as 8am and as late as 10:30pm, 365 days a year. Customers select their preferences, including the time, duration, and location for the massage and the desired massage technique. Zeel then dispatches massage therapists from its network of 11,000 licensed, vetted, experienced professionals. Powering Massage Everywhere Zeel also offers an award-winning staffing solution for spas with Zeel Spa; a platform for hotels to provide in-room massage with Zeel Concierge; and in-office chair massage with [email protected]. About Stride Stride is the first benefits platform for gig and independent workers, helping them save time and money on insurance and taxes. The company partners with the world's largest on-demand work marketplaces and employers of independent and part-time workers, including Uber, Postmates, Etsy, Airbnb, Gap Inc., Darden Restaurants, GrubHub, Care.com, Rover.com, Avis, TaskRabbit and others. Launched in 2014, Stride ( www.stridehealth.com ) is backed by the leading health and consumer venture finance firms, including Venrock, New Enterprise Associates, and F-Prime Capital Partners. About Zeel A rapidly-growing global wellness brand, Zeel created Massage On Demand in 2012 and was the first company to bring same-day, in-home massage to its customers. Named one of the "Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America" by Entrepreneur and one of the fastest-growing companies in the country by Inc., Zeel is the leading and largest on-demand massage provider with over 11,000 licensed massage therapists delivering massage across the country. With best-in-class security protocols, Zeel offers on-demand, at-home massages in as little as an hour, 365 days a year, with start times as early as 8am and as late as 10:30pm. Zeel is also home to Zeel Spa, the on-demand staffing solution for spas; Zeel Concierge, which enables hotels to provide in-room massage bookings for guests; and [email protected], which brings chair massage to companies, events, and workplaces. SOURCE Zeel Related Links http://zeel.com ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Analytic Strategies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Culmen International, is pleased to announce that they have been awarded the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Quantitative Research Analytical Data Support (QRADS) Channel 5 contract for Analytical Methods and Support. SEC QRADS Channel 5 is a multiple award Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract with an estimated value of over $5.6 million. The company's role in this effort will be to provide highly skilled technical expertise to assist SEC economists in developing text analytics capabilities, and any related support, such as: developing and writing project-specific programs to process data sets using modern econometrics methods, statistical modeling techniques, machine learning and statistical process; analyzing and interpreting statistical data; computing supporting metrics; producing and maintaining models or other analytical products. Culmen International's President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Paul McQuillan, said of the award, "We are excited to assist the SEC in its mission to protect investors and maintain fair, and efficient markets. The award of QRADS further validates our leadership in Big Data Analytics and software solutions in an enterprise environment." About Culmen International Culmen International is dedicated to enhancing domestic and international security, military readiness and support, technology enhancements and stability operations through facilitating global collaboration and optimizing capabilities of governments and partners. Media Contact: Cindy Powell, Senior Marketing Manager, Culmen International, [email protected], 703-663-2034 SOURCE Culmen International PETALUMA, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury companies make money hand over hand for products that, frankly, aren't that hard to match in quality. Now, there is a standard of quality that they do have to uphold, but they aren't charging what it takes in material and labor. They're charging prices that exceed hundreds of times what it takes to make them. But people pay those prices all the time. But why is that? Brandon Frere, successful entrepreneur and CEO of several companies, says that part of getting those high profit margins that many entrepreneurs dream of comes from not just having a product worth the cost, but having customers believe the cost is worth it. Perceived exclusivity and luxury is the key to making a profit for goods and services well beyond the cost of what it takes to provide them. "It doesn't take several grand to make a Rolex watch," said Frere. "But that's what they charge, and that's what people pay for. They're paying for the name as much as the product." If a product is deemed worth the price by customers, not only will they pay it, but it winds up building its own momentum because then other people see that others are willing to buy if for the high cost, and suddenly they want it, too. Because they have perceived the item as high quality, now they have to have it, too. Building up to that point where people are willing to pay the higher prices for a company's goods will take time. But an entrepreneur that is in the business for the long haul can wait for that time, working on multiple projects at once and heading towards that long-term goal. "When planning out a business and the model, it's good to have a goal, but it's equally important to be open to change and be flexible when things don't go according to plan," said Frere. About Brandon Frere Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers alike. His website, www.BrandonFrere.com, is used as a means of communicating many of the lessons, fundamentals, and information that he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors, most recently in advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide. As experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. Through those efforts, he gained an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the often confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his future endeavors, and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for available federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs. BrandonFrere.com Related Images image1.png luxury-atop-a-glass-building.jpg Luxury Atop A Glass Building janstarstud/Bigstock.com Related Links Brandon Frere website SOURCE Brandon Frere Related Links http://www.BrandonFrere.com WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Jetpac and MPower Change today released a report, "The Rise of American Muslim Changemakers," documenting the 127 American Muslims elected or appointed to public office since the election of Donald Trump in 2016 and the subsequent rise in anti-Muslim bigotry. That report profiles newly-elected Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Cleveland City Council Member Basheer Jones, among many others. The report shows that these and other American Muslim candidates were unapologetic in the face of relentless political attacks on their faith, heritage and political orientation. It also outlines successful Muslim political campaign strategies and grassroots organizing techniques. [MEDIA ADVISORY: One of the authors of the report, CAIR Research & Advocacy Director Dr. Abbas Barzegar, will outline its findings live Friday, November 16 on CAIR's Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational - at 11 a.m . (Eastern).] READ THE ENTIRE REPORT: The Rise of American Muslim Changemakers https://www.cair.com/muslimchangemakers "What we are witnessing is the beginning of a truly historic moment in American democracy. American Muslims are taking control of their own narrative and refusing to be silenced by the rising Islamophobia that has swept the country since 2016. The individuals profiled in this report are guided by faith, but not defined by it. The America they want to create is a more just, inclusive and equitable one for all Americans, not just Muslims. However, our efforts as a community cannot end here. This report also reveals the work that must be done to create stronger faith-based support systems, increase community involvement and extend civic engagement beyond the ballot box." Nihad Awad, CAIR National Executive Director "Jetpac is honored to have been a part of the increase in American Muslim involvement in the 2018 midterms, and in the subsequent creation of this report. It's more important than ever that our community mobilize votes, funds and candidates to harness our political capital. The grassroots movements that were built around this election cycle can only have a positive effect on both policy and rhetoric that affects Americans of all races, religions and backgrounds. The profiles and data in this report tell the story of Americans who happen to be Muslim rising up to the challenge of Islamophobia and answering it with the call to public service. They campaigned, and they will serve, not for themselves, not just for Muslims, but for all Americans." - Shaun Kennedy, Executive Director Jetpac "There were many incredible Muslim-led victories in the 2018 election, which will allow our communities to build toward even bigger wins in 2020. In order to do so, we must understand that electoral politics are just the tip of the iceberg. We have to build nationwide community organizing infrastructure. The next two years present us with an opportunity to transform not only how Muslims are civically engaged, but to build a strong, national infrastructure of grassroots organizing for Muslim communities." - Linda Sarsour, Executive Director MPower Change Highlights of the Report Include That Since 2016: 276 Muslim candidates have filed election paperwork 4 Muslim congressional candidates won races 135 Muslim candidates ran races at the local level, with 75 winning races* Of the 134 Muslims in partisan races, 91 percent ran as candidates for the Democratic party* Muslim congressional candidates raised over $16 million *does not include Muslim candidates that filed paperwork for more than one race Report Findings Include: The report profiles successful American Muslim electoral campaign winners Michigan Congresswoman-elect Rashida Tlaib ; Minnesota Congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar ; Cleveland City Council Member Basheer Jones; and other Muslim resonating candidates like Michigan candidate for governor Abdul El-Sayed ; Arizona candidate for Senate Deedra Abboud; Massachusetts congressional candidate Tahirah Amatul-Wadud ; and Georgia candidate for State House Assembly Aisha Yaqoob. Congresswoman-elect ; Congresswoman-elect ; Cleveland City Council Member Basheer Jones; and other Muslim resonating candidates like candidate for governor ; candidate for Senate Deedra Abboud; congressional candidate ; and candidate for State House Assembly Aisha Yaqoob. The report found that these American Muslim candidates are unapologetic in the face of relentless attacks on their faith, heritage, and political orientation. Muslims campaigning for office, and serving the public, come from various backgrounds and are proactive and bold about their identity as empowered citizens who are committed to their faith and ready to serve their constituents on issues that affect all Americans. American Muslim candidates are most likely to prioritize people before profit, with their campaigns rooted in grassroots organizing, strategizing, and fundraising. As the profiles in this report show, these candidates' policy priorities are grounded in local interests. Issues such as fair wages, affordable and accessible healthcare and equitable housing top their strategic priorities. In the face of rising Islamophobia embraced partisans on the political right, rather than retreating from an uninviting political arena or acquiescing to the rampant cynicism that defines much of the average citizen's attitude to formal politics, Muslim candidates have jumped directly into the combative public arena, exemplifying that principled and purposeful civic engagement is the only way to repair what so many see as a failing system. African-American Muslim candidates like Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones and Massachusetts attorney Tahirah Amatul-Wadud have carried the legacy of African-American Muslim contributions to the formal political arena. They laid the groundwork and set the precedent for their coreligionists to be grassroots-oriented, service-committed and unapologetically Muslim. About the Report Authors: CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. Jetpac (Justice Education Technology Political Advocacy Center) is a training and educational organization that seeks to build a strong American Muslim political infrastructure and increase the community's influence and engagement. MPower Change is one of the largest Muslim-led social and racial justice organizations in the United States. Rooted in the Islamic faith and the Prophetic model, it believes in building a more just world for all people. CONTACT: CAIR Research and Advocacy Department Director Dr. Abbas Barzegar at (202) 742-6413, [email protected], Jetpac Executive Director Shaun J. Kennedy at (626) 538-7221, [email protected]; and, MPower Change Campaign Director at (917) 981-8919, [email protected] SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Related Links http://www.cair.com HAIKOU CITY, China, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Pharma Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT: CPHI) (" China Pharma ," the " Company " or " We "), an NYSE American listed corporation with a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceuticals subsidiary based in China, announced today its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. Third Quarter Highlights Revenue was $2.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , which represented a decrease of 27.3% compared to $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 ; for the three months ended , which represented a decrease of 27.3% compared to for the three months ended ; Gross profit was $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2018 was 22.3%, compared to 13.3% in the same period 2017; and for the three months ended and 2017, respectively. Our gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2018 was 22.3%, compared to 13.3% in the same period 2017; Loss from operations was $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $2.1 million in the same period of 2017; in the third quarter of 2018, compared to in the same period of 2017; Net loss was $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $2.2 million in the same period of 2017. Loss per common share was $(0.04) per basic and diluted share in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $(0.05) per basic and diluted share in the same period of 2017. In a statement from Ms. Zhilin Li, China Pharma's Chairman and CEO, "It is the Company's top priority to actively and steadily increase sales. We experienced certain market fluctuations in the third quarter of 2018, but through the continued implementation of sales promotions, our sales revenue in the first nine months of 2018 was comparable to the same period a year ago. Management will continue to vigorously promote sales through active participation in recent provincial market openings to receive new drug tender offers and through further penetration into the market." Ms. Li continued, "The ongoing generic drug consistency evaluations and reform of China's drug production registration and review policies will continue to have a significant impact on the current performance and future development of Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturers, including us, and may gradually change business patterns of the industry. We will continue to actively adapt to state policy guidance and further evaluate market conditions for our current existing products, pipeline products, and competition in the market, in order to optimize our development strategy." Third Quarter Results Revenue was $2.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. This decrease was mainly due to market volatility. Gross profit was $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2018 was 22.3%, compared to 13.3% in the same period 2017. Our selling expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 were $0.9 million, which accounted for 40.3% of the total revenue in the third quarter of 2018. For the same period in 2017, our selling expenses were $0.7 million, which accounted for 21.7% of the total revenue in the third quarter of 2017. When comparing selling expenses in 2018 to those in 2017, the increase in the percentage of selling expenses to total revenue was mainly due to the decrease in revenue in this quarter, along with many adjustments in our selling processes under healthcare reform policies. Despite the decrease in sales, we still need to maintain personnel and continue our sales activities to support the sales and collection of accounts receivable. Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, were both $0.3 million. General and administrative expenses accounted for 14.2% and 11.0% of our total revenues in the third quarters of 2018 and 2017, respectively. Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $1.9 million, compared to $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The change in the net result was mainly due to the decrease in revenue, and the increase in selling expenses being offset by a decrease in impairment of long term assets in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to the same period of 2017. Nine Months Results Revenue decreased by 3.0% to $9.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $9.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $2.1 million, compared to $1.8 million in the same period of 2017. Gross profit margins for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were 24% and 19%, respectively. The increase was mainly due to the increase in sales of higher margin products in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our net losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $3.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively, which represented an improvement of $2.3 million for the period in 2018. Financial Condition As of September 30, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $0.7 million, compared to $2.0 million as of December 31, 2017. Our accounts receivable balance was $0.8 million as of September 30, 2018, compared to $2.3 million as of December 31, 2017. Conference Call The Company will hold a conference call at 8:30am E.T. on November 15, 2018, to discuss the financial results of the third quarter 2018. Listeners may access the call by dialing 1-866-519-4004 for domestic callers or 65-671-350-90 for international callers, Conference ID # 4389333. A recording of the call will be accessible through November 23, 2018 by dialing 1-855-452-5696 or 61-281-990-299 for international callers, Conference ID #4389333. About China Pharma Holdings, Inc. China Pharma Holdings, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets a diversified portfolio of products, focused on conditions with high incidence and high mortality rates in China, including cardiovascular, CNS, infectious, and digestive diseases. The Company's cost-effective, high-margin business model is driven by market demand and supported by new GMP-certified product lines covering the major dosage forms. In addition, the Company has a broad and expanding nationwide distribution network across all major cities and provinces in China. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hainan Helpson Medical & Biotechnology Co., Ltd., is located in Haikou City, Hainan Province. For more information about China Pharma Holdings, Inc., please visit www.chinapharmaholdings.com. The Company routinely posts important information on its website. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements set forth above that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to: the achievability of financial guidance; success of new product development; unanticipated changes in product demand; increased competition; downturns in the Chinese economy; uncompetitive levels of research and development; and other information detailed from time to time in the Company's filings and future filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations, except as required by applicable law or regulation. Contact: China Pharma Holdings, Inc. Ms. Diana Na Huang Phone: +86-898-6681-1730 (China) Email: [email protected] - FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW - CHINA PHARMA HOLDINGS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS September 30, December 31, 2018 2017 ASSETS (Unaudited) (Audited) Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 667,629 $ 2,030,214 Restricted cash 1,476,344 709,796 Banker's acceptances - 39,867 Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $18,658,490 and $18,209,734, respectively 793,779 2,293,120 Other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $39,323 and $40,010, respectively 177,314 162,981 Advances to suppliers 332,698 461,307 Inventory 6,099,999 6,407,155 Prepaid expenses 162,628 185,647 Total Current Assets 9,710,391 12,290,087 Advances for purchases of intangible assets 22,478,660 23,722,954 Property, plant and equipment, net 20,056,635 23,541,003 Intangible assets, net 289,054 398,856 TOTAL ASSETS $ 52,534,740 $ 59,952,900 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Trade accounts payable $ 588,717 $ 1,141,138 Accrued expenses 182,692 276,368 Other payables 3,347,444 2,858,701 Advances from customers 632,852 581,132 Other payables - related parties 1,354,567 1,354,567 Current portion of construction loan facility 2,184,508 2,305,430 Bankers' acceptance notes payable 1,476,344 709,796 Total Current Liabilities 9,767,124 9,227,132 Non-current Liabilities: Construction loan facility 4,369,016 6,916,291 Deferred tax liability 765,477 738,175 Total Liabilities 14,901,617 16,881,598 Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12) Stockholders' Equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding - - Common stock, $0.001 par value; 95,000,000 shares authorized; 43,579,557 shares and 43,579,557 shares outstanding, respectively 43,580 43,580 Additional paid-in capital 23,590,204 23,590,204 Retained earnings 2,321,761 5,479,809 Accumulated other comprehensive income 11,677,578 13,957,709 Total Stockholders' Equity 37,633,123 43,071,302 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 52,534,740 $ 59,952,900 CHINA PHARMA HOLDINGS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited) For the Three Months For the Nine Months Ended September 30, Ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenue $ 2,298,472 $ 3,162,222 $ 9,087,867 $ 9,364,605 Cost of revenue 1,785,927 2,740,683 6,942,141 7,576,856 Gross profit 512,545 421,539 2,145,726 1,787,749 Operating expenses: 22.3 13.3 23.6 19.1 Selling expenses 925,654 686,825 2,320,204 2,207,896 General and administrative expenses 327,161 348,963 1,172,314 1,377,640 Research and development expenses 62,059 27,543 107,946 75,053 Bad debt expense 1,129,105 229,466 1,481,786 954,518 Impairment of long term assets - 1,184,103 - 2,162,083 Total operating expenses 2,443,979 2,476,900 5,082,250 6,777,190 Loss from operations (1,931,434) (2,055,361) (2,936,524) (4,989,441) Other income (expense): Interest income 16,113 21,947 27,931 43,296 Interest expense (101,683) (130,816) (361,365) (411,985) Net other expense (85,570) (108,869) (333,434) (368,689) Loss before income taxes (2,017,004) (2,164,230) (3,269,958) (5,358,130) Income tax benefit (expense) 160,485 (31,198) 111,910 (92,106) Net loss (1,856,519) (2,195,428) (3,158,048) (5,450,236) Other comprehensive income - foreign currency translation adjustment (1,535,424) 2,083,398 (2,280,131) 3,571,880 Comprehensive income (loss) $ (3,391,943) $ (112,030) $ (5,438,179) $ (1,878,356) Loss per share: Basic and diluted $ (0.04) $ (0.05) $ (0.07) $ (0.13) Weighted average shares outstanding 43,579,557 43,579,557 43,579,557 43,579,557 CHINA PHARMA HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net loss $ (3,158,048) $ (5,450,236) Depreciation and amortization 2,499,114 2,447,866 Bad debt expense 1,481,786 954,518 Deferred income taxes 69,614 92,106 Impairment of long term assets - 2,162,083 Changes in assets and liabilities: Trade accounts and other receivables (514,428) 21,325 Advances to suppliers 106,981 (251,306) Inventory 471,995 1,237,573 Trade accounts payable (516,263) (1,303,944) Accrued taxes payable (114,432) 1,719 Other payables and accrued expenses 580,689 188,557 Advances from customers 86,675 (265,092) Prepaid expenses 14,005 69,284 Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities 1,007,688 (95,547) Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Purchases of property and equipment (33,332) (67,324) Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (33,332) (67,324) Cash Flows from Financing Activity: Payments of construction term loan (2,303,410) (1,469,349) Net Cash Used in Financing Activity (2,303,410) (1,469,349) Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash (33,531) 90,857 Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents (1,362,585) (1,541,363) Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 2,030,214 2,665,802 Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 667,629 $ 1,124,439 Supplemental Cash Flow Information: Cash paid for income taxes $ - $ - Cash paid for interest $ 351,206 $ 410,509 Supplemental Noncash Investing and Financing Activities: Issuance of banker's acceptances $ 847,527 $ 126,652 Accounts receivable collected with banker's acceptances 462,642 366,889 Inventory purchased with banker's acceptances 502,473 344,848 SOURCE China Pharma Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.chinapharmaholdings.com The MASHAMA 2019 Spring/Summer show, "Aceso's Practice", was held around the theme of the self-determination of female identities, in reflection of how modern women today have the power to define and reshape themselves. Masha Ma's collection showcased at this year's Paris Fashion Week utilizes cascading polished fabrics and reconstructed leather lace as well as colorful serpentine and floral patterns, while highlighting the female form via streamlined cutting and neat silhouette design. All of these design elements combine to showcase a modern woman's innermost emotions enveloped by a hard, protective shell. In addition, Masha Ma, in partnership with Perfect Diary, has introduced a co-branded package at the fashion show that consists of dreamy matte lip glosses in three selected colors, as part of her efforts to create the ultimate matte lip makeup kit for supermodels and assume a leadership role in the lip product market. The gift package uses marine blue as its basic color and features undulating and swaying flowers in a design inspired by the science fiction film Annihilation, reflecting modern women's embracing of colors and enjoying life by constructing multiple identities on their own. The close partnership between Perfect Diary and Masha Ma is the perfect embodiment of "Women are not born, but formed", the core theme of the MASHAMA 2019 Spring/Summer show. Perfect Diary, a brand established in 2016 by Guangzhou Yatsen C-commerce Company Limited, develops cosmetics, including makeup foundation, eye makeup and makeup remover. The young and fashionable Chinese cosmetics brand is committed to developing a series of high quality and elaborately designed cosmetic products for Chinese women, with a view to encouraging the young generation to enhance themselves by pushing boundaries and exploring more possibilities in life. This philosophy is in line with Masha Ma's design concept of highlighting the female persona through delicate craftsmanship and structured profiles. SOURCE Perfect Diary SHANGHAI, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon China The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which sustains and integrates open source technologies like Kubernetes and Prometheus, today announced that JD.com , China's largest online and overall retailer, has won the CNCF End User Award in recognition of its contributions to the cloud native ecosystem. The retail giant relies heavily on innovative technology, including its container-based infrastructure, AI and big-data analytics to revolutionize e-commerce. At a time when the Chinese cloud native market is experiencing growth like never before, JD.com's work within the community as an end user boosts the region's demand for open, born-in-the-cloud technologies. "As one of the largest Chinese adopters of and contributors to CNCF projects, we're thrilled to present this award to JD.com," said Chris Aniszczyk, COO of Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "The company spearheads the use of cloud native technologies at scale within the APAC market, and serves as an excellent example of how CNCF end user contributions significantly benefit the greater ecosystem." As one of China's largest companies and the first Chinese Internet company to make the Global Fortune 500 list, JD.com runs one of the world's largest Kubernetes clusters in production. In a move called JDOS 2.0, the company shifted its OpenStack-based containerized infrastructure to Kubernetes to accommodate its clusters. JD currently manages tens of thousands of bare metal servers to run numerous containers including online applications, middleware systems, databases, and offline computing jobs. The company serves as the largest end user of Vitess , and is a significant contributor to the Prometheus, Vitess, and Kubernetes projects. It also has plans to release its own internal and homegrown projects. "We're honored to receive this recognition for our contributions to the CNCF end user community," said Haifeng Liu, chief architect of JD.com. "Our commitment to open source technologies is very much in line with our broader Retail as Service strategy, in which we are empowering our partners, suppliers, and other industries with our own capabilities and resources. We've benefitted significantly from partnering with the CNCF, and look forward to continuing to deepen our commitment to existing CNCF projects and contributing our own to the ecosystem." JD.com is one of more than 65 organizations in the CNCF End User Community , which meets regularly to share adoption best practices and feedback on project roadmaps and future projects for CNCF technical leaders to consider. Additional Resources About Cloud Native Computing Foundation Cloud native computing uses an open source software stack to deploy applications as microservices, packaging each part into its own container, and dynamically orchestrating those containers to optimize resource utilization. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of cloud native software stacks, including Kubernetes and Prometheus. CNCF serves as the neutral home for collaboration and brings together the industry's top developers, end users and vendors including the world's largest public cloud and enterprise software companies as well as dozens of innovative startups. CNCF is part of The Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization. For more information about CNCF, please visit www.cncf.io . The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contact Kristen Evans The Linux Foundation [email protected] SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation Related Links http://www.cncf.io Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Dejero has been trusted by the biggest names in various industries around the world for broadcast-quality video transport and high-bandwidth network connectivity. Dejero blends wired and wireless Internet connections from multiple network providers and diverse transport technologies to deliver fast and dependable connectivity required for cloud computing, online collaboration, and the secure exchange of video and data. The esteemed Emmy Award accolades Dejero for helping transform how broadcasters contribute live content from the field, providing newsgathering crews with greater flexibility from where they can transmit a live shot, and at a fraction of the cost of conventional uplink technology. Specifically, Dejero received the award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Science (NATAS) for excellence in engineering creativity for their work in 'Pioneering Reliable Transmission Method for Live Contribution and Distribution TV Links'. "We are honored to have won such a prestigious award as we celebrate our tenth anniversary," said Bogdan Frusina, founder and chief innovation and strategy officer at Dejero. "We started this journey a decade ago, driven by the desire to solve the connectivity challenges of television journalists in the field. We are proud to have greatly simplified and dramatically reduced the cost of broadcasting live from remote locations, helping to transform how news and live event coverage is delivered. We continue to advance the reliability, availability and convenience of remote connectivity in broadcast, while also solving similar first-mile connectivity challenges in other markets." The technology provides greater mobility and time savings, enabling broadcasters to be live within minutes. Dejero has also simplified the ingest and routing workflow with cloud-based services, enabling the geolocation, management, and remote control of field transmitters, routing of feeds to playout and online delivery workflows, and sharing of content amongst stations. One of Dejero's latest innovations is CellSat, one of the most advanced connectivity solutions in broadcast, in partnership with Intelsat. A blended cellular and Ku-band IP satellite solution, CellSat takes the best attributes of both transmission paths and fuses them into one, reliably delivering the bandwidth needed to transmit broadcast-quality video in real time. This year, Dejero will have managed over 10 Petabytes of data traffic, an impressive and fitting number to round off its 10th year. Counting one byte every second, it would take over 317 million years to count 10 Petabytes. Dejero will be honored at the 70th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards on Sunday, April 7, 2019 in Las Vegas, NV in partnership with the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) exhibition and conference. # # # About Dejero Driven by its vision of reliable connectivity anywhere, Dejero blends multiple Internet connections to deliver fast and dependable connectivity required for cloud computing, online collaboration, and the secure exchange of video and data. With its global partners, Dejero supplies the equipment, software, connectivity services, cloud services, and support to provide the uptime and bandwidth critical to the success of today's organizations. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Dejero is trusted for broadcast-quality video transport and high-bandwidth Internet connectivity around the world. For more information, visit www.dejero.com. All trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Dejero ROUND ROCK, Texas, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Final per share offer of $120 cash, subject to an increased aggregate cash cap of $14 billion , or 1.5043-1.8130 Class C shares; increases aggregate implied value to Class V stockholders by approximately $2.2 billion cash, subject to an increased aggregate cash cap of , or 1.5043-1.8130 Class C shares; increases aggregate implied value to Class V stockholders by approximately Binding agreements to vote in favor of the enhanced transaction executed with Dodge & Cox, Elliott Management, Canyon Partners and Mason Capital Management, collectively holding approximately 17% of the Class V common stock Up to 59% of the total consideration will be payable in cash, increasing certainty of value; variable exchange ratio protects Class V stockholders who receive stock More robust corporate governance structure and enhanced Class C stockholder rights, including the ability for Class C stockholders, as a class, to elect an independent director Dell Technologies today announced that it has agreed with the Dell Technologies Special Committee to amend the proposed Class V common stock transaction to increase the consideration payable to Class V stockholders, following extensive investor outreach and engagement. Under the final proposal, Class V stockholders can elect to receive for each share of Class V common stock either (1) $120, in cash, subject to an aggregate $14 billion cap, or (2) between 1.5043 and 1.8130 shares of Class C common stock, determined as described below. Given there will be no public market for Dell Technologies Class C shares prior to closing, the variable exchange ratio is specifically designed to provide protection to Class V stockholders on the value of the Class C stock consideration. The exchange ratio will be determined based on (1) the volume weighted average trading price of the Class V shares during the 17-day trading period ending on the election deadline, which is the eighth trading day after announcement that stockholders have approved the transaction, and (2) the total amount of cash consideration that is elected. Appendix A to this release provides further information on the calculation of the exchange ratio. The revised Class V transaction is a result of significant, detailed input from Class V stockholders and the Dell Technologies Special Committee regarding value, consideration mix and corporate governance. An overwhelming number of shareholders contacted by Dell Technologies supported the revised transaction. Funds affiliated with Dodge & Cox, Elliott Management, Canyon Partners and Mason Capital Management, who collectively owned approximately 17% of the total outstanding Class V common stock on the record date for the December 11, 2018 stockholders meeting, have entered into binding agreements to vote in favor of the revised Class V transaction. The $120 implied value per share implies a total market capitalization of $23.9 billion for the Class V common stock. The increase in consideration provides Class V stockholders with an additional $2.2 billion in aggregate implied value. Immediately following completion of the proposed transaction, the Class V stockholders will own approximately 17%-33% of Dell Technologies, depending on the amount of cash and stock elections and the final exchange ratio. The $5 billion increase in the maximum aggregate cash consideration provides those Class V stockholders who would prefer to receive cash with greater value certainty and increases the ability for stockholders to receive their preferred mix of cash and Class C common stock. Approximately 59% of the consideration, equivalent to approximately $70 per Class V share, will be payable in cash if all Class V stockholders make cash elections. Dell Technologies expects to fund the increase in the maximum aggregate cash consideration with up to $5 billion of debt financing. The Company does not expect a ratings downgrade following the incurrence of such financing. Class V stockholders will continue to have the option to elect Class C common stock, representing a direct economic interest in Dell Technologies, an unmatched technology platform with the most complete portfolio of technology solutions across software, hardware and services. Furthermore, the interests of Class C common stockholders will be aligned with those of Michael Dell and Silver Lake, the two largest holders of Dell Technologies stock who are long-term investors and are focused on driving stockholder value. Dell Technologies has also enhanced the governance rights associated with the Class C common stock by agreeing that Class C stockholders will have the right, as a class, to elect one director starting at the 2020 annual meeting. Dell Technologies will also establish a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which will select or recommend the Company's nominee for such Class C director. The Board of Directors of Dell Technologies will also select a fourth independent director to be appointed to the Board by June 30, 2019. Charles Pohl, Chairman of Dodge and Cox, said: "We believe the revised terms announced today align with the best interests of all Class V shareholders. They offer a significantly increased cash consideration and the opportunity to realize long-term potential upside through ongoing ownership of Dell Technologies." Jesse Cohn, Partner at Elliott Management, said: "We believe this transaction represents a favorable outcome for all Class V stockholders, who will receive greater value certainty through the increased cash component and downside protection on the value of the Class C common stock. Additionally, by simplifying Dell's capital structure, this transaction provides a clear path for Class V stockholders to participate alongside Michael Dell and Silver Lake in what we believe will be substantial stockholder value creation at Dell Technologies over the long term." Jonathan Heller, a Partner at Canyon, said: "The new terms offer a constructive compromise that we believe benefits all stockholders. The revised deal and the increase in cash consideration for Class V stockholders demonstrate Dell and Silver Lake's positive outlook on the prospects for Dell Technologies' future." Dell Technologies' Special Committee and Board of Directors have unanimously approved the amended proposal. Dell Technologies' Special Committee, which represents the interests of the Class V stockholders, unanimously recommends that the Class V stockholders vote "FOR" the proposed transaction as it believes the proposed transaction is fair to and in the best interests of the Class V stockholders. The Dell Technologies' Board of Directors unanimously recommends that all stockholders vote "FOR" the proposed transaction as it believes the proposed transaction is fair to and in the best interests of all stockholders. "We're excited about the opportunity ahead for Dell Technologies and we're excited to share that opportunity with our public investors," said Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies. "Dell Technologies has an unmatched portfolio of leading solutions to support customers' digital transformation. We are driving integrated innovation from the edge to the core to the cloud, and we are delivering outstanding financial performance. We put forward a very attractive offer and look forward to the stockholder vote." Egon Durban, Managing Partner and Managing Director of Silver Lake, commented: "As we have previously stated, Silver Lake remains an enthusiastic long-term stockholder of Dell Technologies. We recently reaffirmed our commitment with the announcement that we have received approval from our investors to complete a fund-to-fund transaction that will allow us to extend our investment horizon in Dell Technologies. We believe Dell Technologies remains an attractive long-term investment opportunity as a result of the dramatic transformation the Company has completed since we initially partnered with Michael more than five years ago." David Dorman and William Green of the Special Committee commented: "With the significant increase in value and enhanced deal terms announced today, including at least an additional $2.2 billion of overall value, an additional $5 billion in cash consideration, enhanced downside protection through the collared floating exchange ratio and the right to elect a Class C member of the Board of Directors, our conviction in this transaction has grown. Notably, the increased cash consideration to up to $14 billion represents 59% of the total consideration, substantially increasing certainty of value for DVMT stockholders. The Special Committee, with the support of stockholders representing approximately 17% of shares outstanding, continues to believe that the proposed transaction represents the best option for all Class V stockholders and recommends they approve the transaction." Dell Technologies has received commitments from Barclays, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBC Capital Markets and UBS Investment Bank (in alphabetical order) to provide up to $5 billion of debt financing. With its robust cash generation, Dell Technologies will continue to benefit from a strong balance sheet and ample financial flexibility following the proposed transaction with $6.7 billion of cash and investments on its balance sheet (excluding publicly traded subsidiaries and after adjusting for the $600 million September debt paydown) and approximately $4 billion in undrawn revolver capacity as of the second quarter of fiscal year 2019. The Company will continue to focus on debt repayment and achieving an investment grade corporate credit rating while making the right investments in the business. The proposed transaction remains subject to approval by the Class V stockholders representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Class V common stock other than those held by affiliates of Dell Technologies. The proposed transaction is also subject to other customary closing conditions. The stockholder vote for this transaction remains scheduled for December 11, 2018 and it is expected to close by the end of 2018. About Dell Technologies Dell Technologies is a unique family of businesses that provides the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform IT and protect their most important asset, information. The Company services customers of all sizes across 180 countries ranging from 99 percent of the Fortune 500 to individual consumers with the industry's most comprehensive and innovative portfolio from the edge to the core to the cloud. Appendix A: Calculation of the Exchange Ratio The exchange ratio will be at least 1.5043 and may be increased under certain circumstances (such increase, the "exchange ratio adjustment"). The exchange ratio adjustment will be a number of shares equal to (a) 0.01998 multiplied by (b) the lesser of (x) $15.45 and (y) the amount (which may be zero but, for the avoidance of doubt, not less than zero) by which the volume weighted average trading price of the Class V shares in the 17-day trading period ending on the election deadline is less than $120.00 multiplied by (c) the lesser of (x) one (1) and (y) a fraction (i) the numerator of which is equal to the aggregate amount of cash consideration elected by Class V holders as of the election deadline and (ii) the denominator of which is equal to $14,000,000,000. In no event will the exchange ratio be less than 1.5043 nor more than 1.8130. The exchange ratio adjustment increases as the amount of cash elected to be received by holders of Class V common stock as of the election deadline increases, and will also increase as the volume weighted average trading price of the Class V shares in the 17-day trading period ending on the election deadline decreases. The tables below illustrate the range of possible exchange ratios and corresponding ownership in Dell Technologies of the Class V holders immediately after closing, assuming certain Class V trading prices and cash election amounts as of the election deadline: Exchange Ratio: Aggregate Illustrative Class V Trading Price ($) Cash Election $120.00 $118.00 $116.00 $114.00 $112.00 $110.00 $108.00 $106.00 $104.55 Amount ($B) (or more) (or less) $0.0 1.5043 1.5043 1.5043 1.5043 1.5043 1.5043 1.5043 1.5043 1.5043 $2.0 1.5043 1.5100 1.5157 1.5214 1.5271 1.5328 1.5386 1.5443 1.5484 $4.0 1.5043 1.5157 1.5271 1.5386 1.5500 1.5614 1.5728 1.5842 1.5925 $6.0 1.5043 1.5214 1.5386 1.5557 1.5728 1.5899 1.6071 1.6242 1.6366 $8.0 1.5043 1.5271 1.5500 1.5728 1.5956 1.6185 1.6413 1.6641 1.6807 $10.0 1.5043 1.5328 1.5614 1.5899 1.6185 1.6470 1.6756 1.7041 1.7248 $12.0 1.5043 1.5386 1.5728 1.6071 1.6413 1.6756 1.7098 1.7441 1.7689 $14.0 1.5043 1.5443 1.5842 1.6242 1.6641 1.7041 1.7441 1.7840 1.8130 Corresponding ownership in Dell Technologies of the Class V holders immediately after closing: Aggregate Illustrative Class V Trading Price ($) Cash Election $120.00 $118.00 $116.00 $114.00 $112.00 $110.00 $108.00 $106.00 $104.55 Amount ($B) (or more) (or less) $0.0 33.1% 33.1% 33.1% 33.1% 33.1% 33.1% 33.1% 33.1% 33.1% $2.0 31.2% 31.3% 31.4% 31.5% 31.5% 31.6% 31.7% 31.8% 31.8% $4.0 29.2% 29.4% 29.5% 29.7% 29.8% 30.0% 30.1% 30.3% 30.4% $6.0 27.1% 27.3% 27.5% 27.7% 28.0% 28.2% 28.4% 28.6% 28.8% $8.0 24.8% 25.1% 25.4% 25.6% 25.9% 26.2% 26.5% 26.7% 26.9% $10.0 22.4% 22.7% 23.0% 23.4% 23.7% 24.0% 24.3% 24.6% 24.8% $12.0 19.8% 20.2% 20.5% 20.9% 21.2% 21.6% 21.9% 22.3% 22.5% $14.0 17.0% 17.4% 17.8% 18.2% 18.5% 18.9% 19.2% 19.6% 19.8% The table below illustrates the number of shares of Class C common stock to be issued, the total number of shares of common stock of Dell Technologies that will be outstanding and the ownership percentage in Dell Technologies that will be held by current Class V stockholders, in each case, assuming that holders elect to receive $14 billion or more of cash: Illustrative Class V Trading Price ($) $120.00 $118.00 $116.00 $114.00 $112.00 $110.00 $108.00 $106.00 $104.55 Class C Shares Issued (millions) 124.4 127.7 131.0 134.3 137.6 140.9 144.2 147.5 149.9 Total Common Stock (millions) 729.9 733.2 736.5 739.8 743.1 746.4 749.7 753.0 755.4 Ownership % 17.0% 17.4% 17.8% 18.2% 18.5% 18.9% 19.2% 19.6% 19.8% Further details on the exchange ratio adjustment are contained in the amendment to the merger agreement which will be filed with the SEC today. Stockholders electing to receive stock will receive, for each share of Class V common stock, a number of shares of Class C common stock that is equal to the exchange ratio. Stockholders electing to receive cash consideration will receive $120 per share, unless the aggregate cash elections exceed $14 billion, in which case the amount of cash to be received per share will be pro-rated and the remainder of the consideration will be paid in stock, based on the exchange ratio. If all stockholders elect to receive cash, then all stockholders will receive $70.23 per share in cash and a number of shares equal to 41% multiplied by the exchange ratio. No Offer or Solicitation: This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and otherwise in accordance with applicable law. Additional Information and Where to Find It: This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dell Technologies with and into Dell Technologies, with Dell Technologies as the surviving entity, pursuant to which each share of Class V common stock of Dell Technologies will, at the election of the holder, convert into the right to receive shares of Class C common stock of Dell Technologies or cash and each existing share of Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock of Dell Technologies will be unaffected by the merger and remain outstanding. The proposed transaction requires the approval of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class V common stock other than those held by affiliates of Dell Technologies, in each case, voting as a separate class, and all outstanding shares of common stock of Dell Technologies, voting together as a single class, and will be submitted to stockholders for their consideration. Dell Technologies has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-226618). The registration statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on October 19, 2018, and a definitive proxy statement/prospectus was mailed to each holder of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class V common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting in connection with the proposed transaction on or about October 23, 2018. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. You may get these documents, when available, for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or by visiting Dell Technologies' website at http://investors.delltechnologies.com. Participants in the Solicitation: Dell Technologies and its consolidated subsidiaries and their directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees, and Silver Lake Technology Management, L.L.C. and its managing partners and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Dell Technologies in favor of the proposed merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the exchange of shares of Class V common stock of Dell Technologies for shares of Class C common stock of Dell Technologies or cash. Information concerning persons who may be considered participants in such solicitation under the rules of the SEC, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the aforementioned proxy statement/prospectus that has been filed with the SEC. Dell Technologies Inc. Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "may," "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "aim," "seek," and similar expressions as they relate to Dell Technologies or its management are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. All statements by Dell Technologies regarding its expected financial position, revenues, cash flows and other operating results, business strategy, legal proceedings, and similar matters are forward-looking statements. The expectations expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements may not turn out to be correct. Dell Technologies' results could be materially different from its expectations because of various risks, including but not limited to: (i) the failure to consummate or delay in consummating the proposed transaction, including the failure to obtain the requisite stockholder approvals or the failure of VMware to pay the special dividend or any inability of Dell Technologies to pay the cash consideration to Class V holders; (ii) the risk as to the trading price of Class C common stock to be issued by Dell Technologies in the proposed transaction relative to the trading price of shares of Class V common stock and VMware, Inc. common stock; and (iii) the risks discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-226618) that has been filed with the SEC and declared effective as well as its periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date as of which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, Dell Technologies undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement after the date as of which such statement was made, whether to reflect changes in circumstances or expectations, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise. SOURCE Dell Technologies LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunleer, LLC ("Dunleer"), a Los Angeles-based private real estate investment and development firm, announced the sale of a land assemblage located in the up-and-coming Echo Park submarket in Los Angeles. The parcel included a Letter of Determination from the City of Los Angeles to build 34 apartment units. Given the proximity to major transit corridors, Dunleer was able to increase the allowable height and density of the project. The developable land is located in one of Los Angeles's premier submarkets, Echo Park, and is only a few minutes driving distance to downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood. BJ Turner, Founder of Dunleer, said the transaction "was an example of Dunleer providing extraordinary risk-adjusted returns for investors. This trade yielded an unlevered 1.63x multiple net to investors. After we acquired the site in 2015, we were able to accurately forecast the significant demand the Echo Park submarket would soon experience, and we were able to work with the city to provide solutions for an attractive infill development that would add apartment unit count to a region the City of Los Angeles wanted to densify. Furthermore, we were delighted to forecast the inclusion of units reserved for affordable housing, especially given the shortage of affordable housing unit count in the City of Los Angeles." Newly planned and proposed developments are experiencing cumbersome government approval processes, a lack of developable land and increased construction costs, which all culminate in limited new development projects. "The city of Los Angeles is in dire need of more housing supply and we were happy to help by providing more market rate and affordable units in the wonderful city of Los Angeles," BJ Turner said. A limited pipeline of competing multifamily properties and a high barrier to entry for new multifamily development makes the Echo Park and Silver Lake submarkets extremely supply constrained, despite continued demand increases. ABOUT DUNLEER, LLC Dunleer LLC is a real estate investment and development company that specializes in niche-focused, value-add real estate investing in Southern California. Dunleer offers a differentiated approach to investing through deep industry knowledge, operational expertise, a design-driven philosophy and long-term partnerships. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities or investment advice, nor is it intended to be a description of all material factors an investor should consider before making any investment. This press release, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by the Company, may contain certain 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. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Dunleer, LLC BJ Turner [email protected] SOURCE Dunleer, LLC HOUSTON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Elevate Midstream Partners, LLC ("Elevate" or the "Company"), a full-service midstream company headquartered in Houston, Texas, today announced the acquisitions of Woodland Midstream Partners, LP ("Woodland") and the assets of Orion Pipeline, LLC ("Orion") which consist of gas gathering, treating and processing assets in East Texas (the "Woodland Acquisition", the "Orion Acquisition", or together the "Transaction"). The Transaction was completed in partnership with Elevate's financial sponsor, Tailwater Capital, an energy-focused private equity firm based in Dallas. Elevate provides a comprehensive suite of midstream services for exploration and production companies including natural gas gathering, processing, compression, dehydration and liquids stabilization. Through these acquisitions, the Company has established a strong asset base in East Texas and will continue exploring additional opportunities for growth in and around the existing system. Following the completion of the Transaction, Elevate will own and operate more than 180 miles of active pipelines, 19,000-horse power of compression, an 80 MMcf/d gas processing plant, and related dehydration and NGL stabilization equipment. "We are pleased to complete the Woodland and Orion acquisitions," said Roger Fox, Chief Executive Officer of Elevate Midstream. "With assets strategically located in the core of the Haynesville and Cotton Valley formations and significant opportunities for continued growth and development across the combined company, Woodland and Orion provide a strong platform for Elevate and we look forward to growing our asset base as we continue to service our East Texas producers." "Since partnering with Elevate in October 2017, we have worked closely with Roger and his team to execute on the Company's growth strategy," said Joel Fry, a Principal at Tailwater Capital. "These acquisitions are a prime example of Elevate's commitment to identifying underutilized assets with the potential for growth through improved operational and business development initiatives and further strengthen Elevate's growing platform." The Woodland Acquisition includes systems throughout both Texas and Louisiana, providing Elevate with an existing natural gas gathering, treating, compression and processing footprint. Additionally, the acquisition and strategic positioning of the Woodland asset includes several opportunities for growth, leveraging existing relationships around the extensive pipeline network acquired in the Transaction. In conjunction with the Transaction, select members of the Woodland management team will join Elevate, enhancing the Company's operational and business development capabilities. Orion provides natural gas gathering, treating and compression services for production, also primarily from the Haynesville and Cotton Valley formations, in Western Panola and Eastern Rusk Counties in East Texas. The Orion Acquisition is a complementary asset base comprised of five systems that provide additional scale and the opportunity to drive synergies across the combined platform. About Elevate Midstream Partners LLC Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Elevate Midstream Partners LLC is a private midstream service company focused on providing responsive, scalable, value enhancing midstream solutions to exploration and production customers across the US onshore oil and gas production basins. Elevate Midstream's services include natural gas gathering, compression, treating, processing and transportation; crude oil and condensate gathering, stabilization, transportation and storage; produced water gathering and disposal, and related marketing services. Elevate Midstream is backed by Tailwater Capital LLC with an initial equity commitment of $100 million. For more information, please visit: www.elevatemidstream.com. About Tailwater Capital, LLC Dallas-based Tailwater Capital is a highly specialized, growth-oriented energy private equity firm with a well-established track record, having executed more than 100 energy transactions in the upstream and midstream sectors representing over $18.8 billion in transaction value. Tailwater currently manages over $2.7 billion in committed capital, over $800 million of which is available for new investments. For more information, please visit www.tailwatercapital.com. Media Contact Jon Keehner / Julie Oakes / Kate Clark Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 212-355-4449 SOURCE Elevate Midstream Partners, LLC Related Links https://elevatemidstream.com PARIS, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) today announces that the European Association for Biometrics (EAB), Europe's leading voice on Digital ID and biometrics has joined its ranks as an Advisory Observer. With the complex challenges facing identity in Europe and across the world - whether it relates to migration, national security or the privacy rights of the individual - both organizations share a common goal in promoting the development and responsible use of identity technologies, and a commitment to work across the identity ecosystem to develop best practices that serve and empower citizens in Europe and beyond. Today's announcement underscores this collaborative approach and further enhances the ability of both the SIA and EAB to drive the digital transformation of identity across the sector spectrum - from eGovernment and public safety through the development inclusive financial services to border management, eHeath and more. Commenting on joining the SIA's Advisory Observer program, Michiel van der Veen, Chief Executive of the EAB says: "Digital ID is a force for good. Biometrics and Digital ID technologies are enabling people to verify who they are with greater ease and security. There are many challenges and opportunities that require a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, academia and industry. "EAB is a non-profit and nonpartisan association that ultimately serves the citizens of Europe in the advancement of modern biometric ID systems that are fair, accessible and secure, while respecting privacy. With a shared mission, we are proud to partner with the Secure Identity Alliance." Welcoming the EAB, Frederic Trojani, Chairman of the Board of the Secure Identity Alliance, commented: "As one of Europe's leading voices in the Digital ID and biometrics arena, EAB's presence within the SIA is of tremendous value. Its unbiased and in-depth expertise on biometrics and identity will offer crucial insights into our Work Group programs and support our mission of supporting the provision of legal, trusted identity for all, and to drive the development of inclusive digital services necessary for sustainable, worldwide economic growth and prosperity. I am delighted to welcome EAB and look forward to working together." The SIA's Advisory Observer program brings together governmental agencies, academics and leading industry organisations across the global identity value chain to review, advise and support SIA's global advocate, policy and technical guidance roles. Note to Editors: Secure Identity Alliance is dedicated to supporting the provision of legal, trusted identity for all, and to drive the development of inclusive digital services necessary for sustainable, worldwide economic growth and prosperity. We believe legal, trusted identity is the cornerstone of rights protection, social inclusion and digital economic development - and the access point to a wide range of essential public and private services. We bring together public, private and non-government organizations to foster international collaboration on the issues of legal identity, to help shaping policy and to provide technical and implementation guidance for national and international ID systems. Its Board Members are De La Rue, Gemalto, Idemia, IN Groupe and Veridos. For more information on the Secure Identity Alliance, visit: http://www.secureidentityalliance.org. Follow the Secure Identity Alliance at @secureidentity1 About European Association for Biometrics The European Association for Biometrics (EAB) is the leading voice for digital ID & biometrics in Europe. We are a non-profit, non-partisan association. The EAB's mission is to tackle the complex challenges facing ID in Europe, ranging from migration to privacy rights. Our role is to promote the responsible use and adoption of modern digital identity systems that enhance people's lives and drive economic growth. Through a series of EAB initiatives we support all sections of the ID community across Europe, including governments, NGO's, industry, associations and special interest groups and academia. Our initiatives are designed to foster networking and debate, whether at an EAB hosted event across Europe, or in providing impartial advice & support to individual members. We ultimately serve the citizens of Europe in the advancement of modern biometric identity systems that are fair, accessible, secure, while respecting privacy. More info: http://www.eab.org SOURCE Secure Identity Alliance SOMERVILLE, Massachusetts and ALISO VIEJO, California, November 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergage, The 1-to-1 Platform company, and UST Global, a leading digital transformation solutions company, today announced a strategic partnership. Blending Evergage's award-winning personalization and customer data platform (CDP) technologies with UST Global's implementation, integration and consulting services, the partnership extends the benefits of personalization to more retailers worldwide - helping them unify and activate their customer data across online and offline channels to drive increases in conversions and loyalty. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/540539/UST_Global_Logo.jpg ) UST Global provides end-to-end services and solutions for leading companies across the world, including 12 of the world's top 20 retailers. Following a rigorous review, UST Global selected Evergage as its exclusive personalization and CDP technology partner in the retail sector. As part of UST Global's aim to create stronger, more beneficial connections between retailers and their customers, its partnership with Evergage enables retailers to: Consolidate customer data for a 360-degree view of each customer. Evergage collects in-depth behavioral data, contextual information and explicit survey responses - and combines it with first- and third-party information from other systems (e.g., CRMs, email service providers and data warehouses) - to generate insights and make the data actionable. Evergage collects in-depth behavioral data, contextual information and explicit survey responses - and combines it with first- and third-party information from other systems (e.g., CRMs, email service providers and data warehouses) - to generate insights and make the data actionable. Deliver 1-to-1 personalization across digital and human channels. Evergage's rich data and real-time decisioning engine power individualized experiences across websites, web and mobile apps, onsite search and email campaigns. In addition, UST Global is applying Evergage as the 'brains' to orchestrate personalization into human channels (such as through in-store point-of-sale systems and in contact centers) for its retail clients - and to store that new data for future personalization. Evergage's rich data and real-time decisioning engine power individualized experiences across websites, web and mobile apps, onsite search and email campaigns. In addition, UST Global is applying Evergage as the 'brains' to orchestrate personalization into human channels (such as through in-store point-of-sale systems and in contact centers) for its retail clients - and to store that new data for future personalization. Extend Evergage's power and core capabilities. Taking advantage of the new Evergage Gears framework and open architecture, UST Global can integrate disparate and siloed systems into Evergage with ease - helping retail clients create more next-generation personalization functionality, business-specific experiences and custom reports, and apply Evergage's machine learning and predictive analytics in new ways. "As our retail clients look to execute cross-channel marketing campaigns that resonate with each and every shopper, they are seeking the most cutting-edge and results-driven marketing technologies," said Subhodip Bandyopadhyay, Practice director for retail and CPG at UST Global. "Our partnership with Evergage gives them that - combining Evergage's acclaimed personalization and CDP solution with our integration capabilities and expertise, so retailers can synthesize and act on their customer data, and drive meaningful business results." Matt Thompson, senior director of partnerships at Evergage, said: "We're thrilled to welcome UST Global as an Evergage services partner, and team up with one of the most experienced and successful integrators in the world. Their expertise, in conjunction with Evergage's powerful technology, will help more retailers deliver personalized and cohesive experiences across touchpoints - supporting and delighting customers, and growing engagement and loyalty." About UST Global UST Global is a leading digital technology solutions company that provides advanced computing and digital services to large private and public enterprises around the world. Its clients include Fortune 500 companies in banking and financial services, healthcare, insurance, retail, technology, manufacturing, shipping, and telecom. UST Global believes in building long-lasting, strategic business relationships through agile and client-centric global engagement models that combine local experts and resources with cost, scale, and quality advantages of global operations. For more information, please visit: http://www.ust-global.com About Evergage Only Evergage's real-time personalization and customer data platform (CDP) delivers The Power of 1, enabling companies to transform the dream of 1:1 engagement, across channels, into reality. Combining in-depth behavioral analytics with advanced machine learning, Evergage provides the one solution you need to systematically understand and interact with each person that visits your site, uses your app or opens your emails - one at a time, 'in the moment' and at scale - to deliver a maximally relevant, individualized experience. Evergage's powerful and flexible cloud-based platform delivers personalization to billions of web visitors, improving revenue growth, demand generation and customer success for leading organizations across industries, including Citrix, Endurance International Group, Lenovo, Publishers Clearing House, Rue La La and Zumiez. Evergage is a four-time winner in the Stevie American Business Awards and Golden Bridge Awards, three-time winner in the Best in Biz Awards, and two-time CODiE Award winner. For more information, visit http://evergage.com or contact the company at [email protected] or 1-888-310-0589. Evergage Media Contact: Katie Sweet Email: [email protected] Phone: +1-888-310-0589 UST Global Media Contact: Divya Singh Email: [email protected] Phone: +91-8552944004 SOURCE UST Global EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Evid Science announced that Anil S. Jina, M.D., will join the company's Scientific Advisory Board. A former practicing physician, Dr. Jina has held executive roles across the biopharmaceutical industry, from small biotechs to major pharmaceutical companies. "With this addition, Evid Science gains a significant level of expertise and experience in medical affairs and commercialization. Dr. Jina will provide invaluable insights, gleaned from his significant roles across the spectrum of companies," said Matt Michelson, CEO of Evid Science. Dr. Jina studied medicine in Ireland and, after practicing as a physician for a number of years, moved to the biopharmaceutical industry in 2001. Since then he has gained extensive experience across different companies, geographies and therapeutic areas and in roles of increasing responsibility, including as Global Medical Director, Psychiatry at Pfizer; Europe Region Medical Officer at Sanofi; Head of Drug Development Consulting at PPD; Head of Global Medical Affairs at Shire and most recently as Chief Medical Officer for several pre-commercial biotech companies. Said Dr. Jina: "I'm truly excited to join Evid Science. I believe strongly in technology as an accelerator and enabler in healthcare, and Evid Science's AI is a great example of that. By combining AI's ability to extract crucial medical evidence with scientists and physicians' insights, I see a future where immediate and personalized evidence-based decision making becomes a reality." With the appointment of Dr. Jina, Evid Science continues to craft its Scientific Advisory Board, filling it with some of the most forward-thinking and preeminent scientists and physicians in the fields of biopharmaceuticals, medical affairs and health economics and outcomes research. About Evid Science Evid Science (evidscience.com) is a digital health company that democratizes access to patient-level outcomes evidence. Our mission is to provide the most comprehensive and easily accessible database of evidence in the world, in the most efficient manner possible. Discover more at https://www.evidscience.com SOURCE Evid Science Related Links https://www.evidscience.com SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Camp Fire continues to impact northern California as the deadliest and most destructive in the state's history, Eye Medical Clinic of Santa Clara Valley is immediately providing aid for those impacted by the fire. To assist affected and displaced individuals, families, and first responders, Eye Medical Clinic is: Providing free eye exams to anyone suffering from exposure to smoke or other irritants because of the fire, through December 8th, 2018 . to anyone suffering from exposure to smoke or other irritants because of the fire, through . Offering free repair or replacement of prescription eyeglasses to anyone whose glasses were broken or lost due to the wildfire. We will try to accommodate as many patients as possible. Some restrictions will apply. to anyone whose glasses were broken or lost due to the wildfire. We will try to accommodate as many patients as possible. Some restrictions will apply. Accepting donations of water, non-perishable foods, hygiene kits, diapers, and baby formula and will distribute them to aid organizations, including the Red Cross, to help affected individuals and families. Eye Medical Clinic is located at 220 Meridian Avenue in San Jose. Patients can call (408) 869-3402 or visit www.EyeMedicalClinic.com for more information. "At times like this, we must do everything we can to care for our neighbors who are suffering," said Dr. Mona Bagga, Ophthalmologist at Eye Medical Clinic. Eye Medical Clinic is a comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry practice that has served patients for more than 70 years and maintains a long-standing commitment to helping the community of San Jose and the greater Santa Clara Valley. Contact: Haynes Hudson, Miller Public Relations Phone #: (817) 281-3440 SOURCE Eye Medical Clinic Related Links http://www.EyeMedicalClinic.com Now in its third year, the 2018 Cox Scholarship applicants were matched with rare disease patients or families to offer a glimpse into their lives and lack of understanding often received from the medical community. First place recipient of the award is a rare patient herself from McGill University. Diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) at 12 years old, Kristin Hunt was inspired by her disease to pursue a medical career. Collectively, rare disease affects 30 million Americans and 350 million people worldwide. That's 1 out of 10 people affected by rare disease, yet, medical professionals often do not recognize or encounter one of the 7,000 that exist today. Hunt confirmed that as a medical student they are not familiarized with the majority of rare diseases. As a patient, Hunt would like to see rare disease taught more thoroughly to future doctors. "I am humbled and grateful to Elizabeth for letting me into her world and opening my eyes to aspects of rare disease, that even as a rare patient, I never truly appreciated before," Kristin Hunt wrote on her time spent with her patient match. Motivated medical students started the David R. Cox Scholarship for Rare Compassion and named it after an extraordinary physician who accelerated the search for a treatment to a rare and debilitating genetic disorder, ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). Global Genes is committed to growing this necessary program each year, engaging universities and encouraging increased medical student involvement. "The Cox Scholarship, created by a group of students including Colton Margus, whose two brothers have a rare neurodegenerative disease, is making critical connections between future clinicians and rare disease patients often neglected by the healthcare system," said Tiffany Leite, Chief Operating Officer of Global Genes. "Global Genes is focused on easing the rare disease burden for patients and families. The Cox Scholarship program is vital to increasing rare disease understanding in the medical community, diagnosing patients more quickly, accelerating research and potential cures." Global Genes would like to congratulate the three rare compassion recipients: Global Genes will accept David R. Cox Scholarship for Rare Compassion program requests for 2019 between January 2, 2019, and February 15, 2019. To get involved in a local event, to donate, or to learn more please visit https://globalgenes.org. About Global Genes Global Genes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to connect, empower and inspire the rare disease community. We provide hope for more than 350 million people affected by rare disease around the globe. To date, we've educated 6 million people in 100 countries about rare disease, equipped 30,000 patients and advocates with tools and resources, and provided $400,000 in support for innovative patient impact programs. This is just the beginning of what we can achieve together. Visit globalgenes.org to get involved today. SOURCE Global Genes Related Links http://globalgenes.org NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that the Governors' Scholarship for Foster Youth program was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2018 Community Partnership Award competition. College Success Foundation (CSF), which encourages and inspires youth who are disadvantaged to graduate high school and earn their college degree, created the program after recognizing that students from foster care often face unique challenges to funding college. In 2001, CSF partnered with then-Washington Governor Gary Locke, to provide scholarships and support for college-bound students from foster care. CSF staff provides continuous support to Governors' Scholars throughout college. Working with colleges and universities across the state, CSF also hosts an annual three-day immersive event so that high school-age youth from foster care can directly experience college life. Finally, CSF partners with colleges and community organizations to deliver wrap-around support that provides students from foster care with housing assistance, transportation, clothing and other basic needs, along with academic support and case management to help ensure success. "As of 2017, close to 500 students have been awarded a Governors' Scholarship and approximately half have earned their college degrees 15 times the national rate," said James Dorsey, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As proud as we are of that achievement, we know more is needed. Through the advocacy efforts of CSF and our partners, we're working to bring more attention to the need for greater funding to help youth in foster care to achieve their dream of a brighter future." About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 230 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube. About Mutual of America Mutual of America has specialized in providing retirement products and related services to organizations and their employees, as well as individuals, for over 70 years. As a mutual company, we do not have stockholders and are not publicly traded. We operate solely for the benefit of our customers, managing the Company for their long-term interest, rather than for the short-term demands of stockholders. Mutual of America is a leading provider of retirement products, offering personalized service at a competitive price to help plan participants and individuals build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. Integrity, prudence, and reliability are the values that have guided us since our inception and that continue to serve us well. For more information, please visit us at mutualofamerica.com. SOURCE Mutual of America Related Links http://www.mutualofamerica.com NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Highland Imports is very excited to bring the True Colours Cava product to the U.S. market. Highland Imports is constantly searching for unique wines and spirits from around the world. When Highland Imports discovered True Colours Cava, they immediately noticed the colorful bottle and enjoyed the bright, crisp and dry finish to the cava. The message behind the bottle is what really attracted Highland Imports attention and made the decision easy to bring this product to the U.S. market. Signature Rainbow Bottle of True Colours Cava Altia Sweden, the creator of True Colours Cava, recognized the growing consumer interest in products that support social issues and decided to join the movement. They created True Colours Cava in support of the social movements within the European markets for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendar and queer (LGBTQ) communities. They developed a fun product that promotes and promises "Love is Sparkling...and Social!" Altia Sweden took it one step further and a portion of the proceeds from the sales of True Colours Cava, support The Rainbow Foundation and their efforts to the LGBTQ communities within Europe. Altia Sweden believes in doing good and having fun while doing it. When Highland Imports heard this message, the decision was easy to bring True Colours Cava to the U.S. market to continue doing good while having fun and keeping the promise that "Love is Sparkling....and Social!" True Colours Cava is from the Penedes region of Spain and produced using a blend of Macabeo, XAREL.LO, Parellada, and Chardonnay grape varietals. It has an aging process of 14 months. Highland Imports committed to bring the momentum of True Colours Cava from the European markets to the U.S. market and continue the support to the LGBTQ community. Highland Imports is proud to announce our strategic alliance with GLAAD and keeping the "Love is Sparkling...and Social!" promise. A donation will be made for every bottle of True Colours purchased in the U.S. Highland Imports has committed a minimum donation of $100,000 to GLAAD within the first year of True Colours Cava being sold in the U.S. market. This commitment will support GLAAD and their continued efforts to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community. "Highland Imports is boldly displaying their support for LGBTQ people at a time when the community needs brands to stand up proudly and loudly," said Zeke Stokes, GLAAD Vice President of Programs. "This generous commitment to GLAAD will help accelerate LGBTQ acceptance as we work to create a world where LGBTQ people can let their true colors shine brightly." True Colours Cava is thrilled to announce our national partnership with Cost Plus World Market. Beginning in November we will be available in the 30 states in which World Market retail stores carry wine. True Colours Cava is also being distributed throughout the following states through these distributors: Connecticut - Highland Imports, Georgia - Ultimate Distributors, Maine - Nappi Distributors, Massachusetts - Global Wines Inc, New Hampshire - Martignetti Companies of New Hampshire, Rhode Island - Rhode Island Distributing, Tennessee - Best Brands Inc, Vermont-Vermont Wine Merchants. For more information about the True Colours Cava U.S. and how to become a distributor please visit www.trucolourscava.com, email [email protected] or call 203.538.6818. Related Images true-colours-cava.jpg True Colours Cava Signature Rainbow Bottle of True Colours Cava highland-imports-logo.jpg Highland Imports Logo Highland Imports is the distributor of True Colours Cava for the US and importer or wines and spirits throughout the world. glaad-logo.png GLAAD Logo altia-logo.jpg ALTIA Logo SOURCE Highland Imports RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans continue to view Europe as a preferred holiday travel destination, according to travel destination data collected and analyzed by Allianz Global Assistance. The top 20 European destinations saw airline tickets increase in sales an average of 26 percent from last year, nearly tripling the nine percent increase from 2016 to 2017. Three of those cities experienced impressive growth of more than 50 percent: Barcelona (50.2 percent), Zurich (54.8 percent) and Lisbon (103.2 percent). This upward trend demonstrates the growing interest in Europe as a holiday travel destination. Allianz Global Assistance reviewed Americans' travel plans* during the peak holiday travel season, Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, and found a 22.5 percent increase in total ticket purchases, compared to the same time period last year. While the top five European holiday travel destinations for Americans London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Madrid remain unchanged from 2017, each saw exponential growth in travel plans. Of the top 20 European destinations, Lisbon, Portugal saw the largest increase in travel, with an astounding 103.2 percent jump over last year. Lisbon also experienced the biggest shift in the overall ranking, rising from the 21st to the 12th most popular destination, bringing it within striking distance of the top 10. London maintained its status as the most popular European destination among American travelers, and Heathrow saw a 32 percent increase in tickets compared to 2017. Paris is still the second most sought after European destination for American holiday travelers. Consistent with the general trend, the number of Americans making travel plans for Paris increased 42.7 percent over last year, nearly triple the rate of last year's annual increase of 16.3 percent. Rome, Amsterdam and Madrid similarly remained the third, fourth, and fifth most popular travel destinations, respectively, with Amsterdam seeing the largest increase in travel (22.5 percent increase from 2017). Last year, Rome had the largest increase among the three cities (56.4 percent increase from 2016). "We're pleased to see that American interest in European travel has continued to grow over the past year," said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA. "With flights cheaper and more accessible than ever, we expect Europe to continue to gain in popularity as a holiday travel destination among Americans for some time to come. Severe weather, trip cancellations, trip interruptions or trip delays are all possibilities when traveling to a foreign country, but with the right insurance policy, you may be reimbursed for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses. Knowing your trip is protected can help ease your mind during a busy holiday season." Allianz Global Assistance offers travel insurance** through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz Global Assistance and the policies offered for travelers, please visit: http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllianzTravelInsuranceUS. *Methodology: The data of U.S. travelers' booking intent to purchase flights to European airports was gathered by analyzing the number of customers that went through the online booking process of airfare and package paths for partners offering Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance from June 1 to October 15, 2018 to generate itineraries for travel to Europe from the US during peak Holiday travel season (11/21/2018 1/06/2019), compared to the same purchasing in 2017 to peak 2018 Holiday travel dates (11/22/2017 1/08/2018). Destination (Airport Code) % Change in U.S. Visitors 2017-2018 2017 Rank 2018 Rank Rank Change 2017-2018 London, United Kingdom (LHR) 31.6 percent 1 1 0 France, Paris (CDG) 42.7 percent 2 2 0 Rome, Italy (FCO) 11.9 percent 3 3 0 Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) 22.5 percent 4 4 0 Madrid, Spain (MAD) 14 percent 5 5 0 Barcelona, Spain (BCN) 50.2 percent 7 6 1 Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) 9.3 percent 6 7 -1 Munich, Germany (MUC) 19.6 percent 8 8 0 Dublin, Ireland (DUB) 15.6 percent 9 9 0 Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH) 54.8 percent 11 10 1 Keflavik, Iceland (KEF) 36.6 percent 10 11 -1 Lisbon, Portugal (LIS) 103.2 percent 21 12 9 Milan, Italy (MXP) 37.4 percent 13 13 0 Brussels, Belgium (BRU) 4.4 percent 14 14 0 London, United Kingdom (LGW) -5.9 percent 12 15 -3 Vienna, Austria (VIE) 15.3 percent 16 16 0 Manchester, United Kingdom (MAN) 7.2 percent 15 17 -2 Venice, Italy (VCE) 34.2 percent 21 18 3 Prague, Czech Republic (PRG) 16.9 percent 18 19 -1 Athens, Greece (ATH) -0.5 percent 17 20 -3 Allianz Global Assistance USA Allianz Global Assistance USA is a leading consumer specialty insurance and assistance company with operation centers in 35 countries. In the United States, Allianz Global Assistance USA (AGA Service Company) serves 35 million customers annually and is best known for its Allianz Travel Insurance plans. In addition to travel insurance, Allianz Global Assistance USA offers tuition insurance, event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. The company also serves as an outsource provider for in-bound call center services and claims administration for property and casualty insurers and credit card companies. To learn more about Allianz Travel Insurance, please visit allianztravelinsurance.com or Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllianzTravelInsuranceUS. **Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your plan, carefully review your plan's Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101C series or 101P series, depending on state of residence. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, a brand of AGA Service Company. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Noninsurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by AGA Service Company. SOURCE Allianz Global Assistance USA Related Links http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com According to the World Bank, urban populations today account for 55% of the world's total population, which is expected to grow to two thirds by the middle of this century. Cities in both developed and developing countries face a common challenge: how to use digital technologies to respond to citizens' demands for better quality living environments in a more efficient and dynamic manner, and create more efficient commercial environments. The SCEWC's mission is "to empower cities and collectivize urban innovation across the globe," and the World Smart City Awards seek to recognize the most outstanding initiatives and projects. Yu Dong, President of the Industry Marketing and Solution Department of Huawei Enterprise Business Group, said: "Huawei believes the primary driver of Smart City development is to offer more benefits and higher efficiency to citizens and businesses. Huawei regards a city as an organic being and strives to build the city nervous system that will enable the city to perceive, think, self-learn and grow. We have consolidated the core elements required for smart city development to build our Digital Platform, which can aggregate the diverse resources of the city and connect all facilities and city applications to make efficient use of the data available. Artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities have been added to Huawei's Digital Platform following the announcement of our full-stack, all-scenario AI solution, and this will dramatically accelerate innovation for smart city development. We congratulate Gaoqing and Qingdao in China and Rustenburg in South Africa for their achievements in Smart City construction. Global smart city construction signals the advent of a platform-based era. Huawei will continue to build digital platforms to help more smart cities achieve true digitalization." China's Gaoqing Wins the Digital Transformation Award for Creating a Replicable Small and Medium Smart City Model As the first comprehensive county-level smart city in China, Gaoqing serves as a smart city model for small and medium cities. Gaoqing leverages Huawei's Digital Platform to achieve smarter city administration, industry development, and multiple benefits for citizens. Based on a comprehensive city information network supported by a full-coverage eLTE government-exclusive network, the solution integrates the city's big data, geographic information system (GIS), video cloud, command and dispatching resources, and cloud computing resources. In addition, more than 30 smart applications have been implemented to improve areas such as city governance, enterprise transformation, safe manufacturing, and environment protection. This solution helps Gaoqing accelerate digital transformation and sustainable development as well as improve the standard of living for more than 400,000 citizens. The Smart City initiative allows Gaoqing to achieve modern city governance, improve government services to benefit its citizens, and drive a digital economy through the use of smart industry. To date, Gaoqing has worked with Huawei and more than 20 other partners to establish China's Small and Medium Smart City Industry Alliance, promoting the application of its city governance solution to surrounding counties and other cities. Rustenburg in South Africa is in the finalist for the Governance & Finance Award for Building a Safer and Smarter Digital Ecosystem During the last decade, the population of Rustenburg has increased by 400%, leading to challenges related to social security and economic development. Through the use of smart infrastructure, Rustenburg's Smart City project provides real-time data and other key indicators, using technologies such as big data analytics and IoT to make accurate, data-driven decisions for sustainable city development. Key applications such as an integrated payment platform, smart street lighting, smart parking, and a smart transportation system have been implemented to improve the management of public utilities and the usage of municipal facilities. As a result, municipal power consumption decreased by 50% and use of public transportation has increased. Improved city connectivity and productivity has elevated the standard of living for more than 600,000 citizens. In terms of public safety, police now use advanced communications, monitoring, and video data analysis with identification systems to reduce response times, which has decreased the crime rate by more than 50% and made the city safer. In the digital transformation of Rustenburg, free Internet has been deployed in poverty-stricken areas and more than 1,500 jobs were created. In addition, the Smart City project in Rustenburg has led to the creation of multiple city applications and entrepreneurial applications, as well as the formation of a comprehensive entrepreneurship platform connecting citizens, the government and small and medium enterprises. The city remains committed to building a digital economy and an innovative ecosystem. Qingdao in China was in the finalist for the Innovation Idea Award for its Agricultural Rice Improvement Project that Revitalizes Uncultivated Land Academician Yuan Longping led the Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Research and Development Center to develop a type of saline-alkali rice. This kind of rice yields a maximum of 620 kg per mu (an area roughly equivalent to 666.66m2) in China and 500 kg per mu in the desert areas of Dubai. The achievement is dually attributed to the scientific invention and Huawei's Element IoT system. In the IoT system, surface and underground sensors collect various kinds of data, such as light, humidity, salinity, and alkalinity data, which is sent to Huawei Cloud Big Data Center through eLTE networks. AI systems and experts then analyze this data and provide targeted pesticide spraying, fertilizer and insect control solutions to improve the performance and yields of saline-alkali rice. This has led to a 30% reduction in water consumption, a 40% reduction in fertilizer consumption, and a 20% increase in economic benefits. The transformation of 100 million mu of saline-alkali land can yield 30 billion kg of rice and feed 80 million people. This scientific and technological innovation is set to benefit people across the world. Moreover, the Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Research and Development Center led by Huawei and Yuan has set up the Agricultural IoT Global Joint Innovation Center to develop an "Agricultural Fertile Soil Platform" for the global agriculture industry, aimed at accelerating the development of smart agriculture 4.0 supported by IoT, big data, mobile connectivity and cloud computing technologies. Huawei's Smart City Solution has served more than 160 cities in over 40 countries. The Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) 2018 is being held in Barcelona, Spain from November 13 to 15. Huawei's booth is located at B200 of the Gran Via 2 exhibition hall (Hall 2). For more information about Huawei's Smart City Solution and best practices, please visit: http://e.huawei.com/topic/smartcity2018/en/index.html SOURCE Huawei LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile broadband penetration surges in Indonesia Indonesia still faces some big challenges if it is to successfully continue the building of the telecommunications infrastructure required to support a large population spread over what is a uniquely complex geography. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5373018 Continued progress in the development of the telecom sector will need further government action on restructuring the industry. Indonesia is ranked 17th on the Asian Telecoms Maturity Index with an Index score of 33. Indonesia is also ranked 10th in the 'Market Challengers" category out of 16 countries. (BuddeCommas "Asian Telecoms Maturity Index", is an index (on a scale between 0 and 100) that measures and ranks the relative maturity of the telecoms industry in all of the 34 countries in Asia.) Compared to other Asian nations, Indonesia has very low fixed line and fixed broadband penetration, high mobile penetration and moderate mobile broadband penetration. Fixed broadband penetration in Indonesia remains relatively low mainly due to a limited number of fixed lines and the dominance of the mobile platform. The fixed broadband market has grown slightly over the past five years from a very small base. Over the next five years to 2022 moderate growth is expected to continue from this very small base. 4G mobile services offering mobile broadband is now relatively advanced in Indonesia and act as a direct substitute to fixed line broadband. This also inhibits further fixed broadband rollouts. Mobile broadband subscribers have grown rapidly over the past five years in Indonesia. Strong growth is predicted over the next five years to 2022. Not only is wireless-based mobile broadband helping to get more people online; it is also bypassing the problem of inferior telecommunications infrastructure that has been impeding fixed broadband expansion. Indonesiaas mobile market has displayed very strong growth over the last five years and particularly during 2016 to 2018. Growing use of mobile broadband has been a significant driver of this strong growth. The market has seen a strong increase in subscribers from the market leader Telkomsel, supported by very strong growth from XL Axiata and Indosat Ooredoo. Industry consolidation is possible towards 2019 as intense data competition may force smaller and unprofitable mobile operators to be pushed out of the market. Industry consolidation is more likely to have a positive impact on the local telco sector as it will reduce the overcapacity in the market and bring more stability to data tariffs. Mobile subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years to 2022 as the market further matures in a highly competitive market. The market will be driven by the uptake of both 4G and 5G services. Key Developments Indonesia is ranked 17th on the Asian Telecoms Maturity Index with an Index score of 33. The fixed line market (wireless and wireline) continues to suffer setbacks with a rapidly declining subscriber base. The fixed broadband market has grown slightly over the past five years from a very small base. 4G mobile services offering mobile broadband is now relatively advanced in Indonesia. Telkomsel and Huawei held a live demo of 5G technology in Jakarta, which they claim is capable of producing data speeds of up to 70Gbps. Industry consolidation is possible as intense data competition may force smaller mobile operators to be pushed out of the market. Strong growth is predicted over the next five years to 2022 for the mobile broadband segment. Key companies mentioned in this report: PT Telkom; PT Indosat; Bakrie Telecom; PT Satelindo; ThaiCom. PT Telkomsel, Temasek, TelkomNet, Telkomsel. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5373018 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com PITTSBURGH, Pa., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- JazzHR, the leading recruiting solutions provider for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced a partnership with Collage, an all-in-one platform for HR, benefits, and payroll management. This partnership will provide a full scope of tools to support the employee lifecycle, users of both solutions will save both time and money, while improving their quality of hire. JazzHR's applicant tracking system simplifies and standardizes all aspects of the recruiting process from candidate sourcing to offer letters and everything in between. JazzHR's platform includes job postings and syndication, applicant tracking, interview and assessment tools, Offer Management & electronic document & eSignatures, and reporting and compliance so that businesses may fully optimize their recruiting process results. Collage provides an all-in-one people management platform that streamlines everything from onboarding, to time off requests, as well as payroll and benefits management. By offering a platform that encompasses multiple HR needs into one system, Collage is able to offer growing organizations the technology they need to streamline mundane activities, improve complicated tasks, and stay organized. "Providing Canadian SMB employers with a best-in-class recruiting solution represents a new market opportunity for JazzHR. We are thrilled to welcome Collage as a partner," says Peter Lamson, CEO of JazzHR. "JazzHR is focused on making SMB recruiting powerful, affordable, and results driven. . Our partnership with Collage helps us to extend that approach throughout the HR lifecycle by simplifying and automating a full suite of tasks for HR professionals." "With the increased focus on providing a great candidate and employee experience, our integration with JazzHR made perfect sense", says Elijah Moore, CEO of Collage. "We're now able to offer a complete end-to-end solution to our customers, allowing them to source the right talent, faster, and keep them employed longer." For more information, please visit www.jazzhr.com or contact [email protected]. About JazzHR JazzHR is powerful, user-friendly, and affordable recruiting software that is purpose-built to help growing companies exceed their recruiting goals. JazzHR's best-in-class software replaces time-consuming and manual hiring tasks with intuitive software designed to help recruiters and hiring managers recruit, and hire the right talent, fast. To learn more about JazzHR, visit www.JazzHR.com or follow us at twitter.com/JazzDotCo. About Collage Collage is an all-in-one software platform for simplifying HR, payroll, and benefits administration. Collage provides a paperless, automated, and compliant system for the tedious but important tasks required to onboard and manage employees, including employee record keeping, time off management, performance reviews, payroll and online benefits enrolments. Collage also makes it easier for HR and group benefits advisors to sync benefits data directly with carriers, streamlining plan changes, enrolments and terminations. To learn more about our HR, payroll, and benefits solutions, go to www.collage.co SOURCE JazzHR Related Links http://www.jazzhr.com SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kentik, the provider of network analytics for the cloud-native world, today announced the expansion of its platform to provide integrated agentless cloud visibility into Amazon Web Services (AWS). With Kentik's cloud analytics suite, enterprises and service providers gain control over cloud and hybrid environments, enabling greater performance, security, cloud cost-control, and ultimately, a better experience for customers. Across leading cloud providers, virtual private cloud (VPC) Flow Logs act as a detailed source of raw data for organizations to see the IP traffic to, from, and within their cloud-hosted applications. However, many of these organizations do not have the modern network analytics needed to derive critical networking insights from this raw data. When an issue or outage occurs, a lack of visibility into a cloud environment can stall availability and result in the loss of revenue, reputation, and customers in an instant. Kentik's added support for AWS Flow Logs help organizations maintain visibility across environments without the deployment of agents or cloud appliances. "While cloud providers take away the huge overhead of building, maintaining, and upgrading physical infrastructure, network management doesn't disappear after migrating to the cloud. In fact, a majority of organizations find that understanding the network behavior of their cloud-deployed applications is a critical part of ensuring their performance and security and directly ties to maintaining revenue and customer experience," said Avi Freedman, co-founder and CEO of Kentik. "Adding support for AWS Flow Logs into our platform is just one more way the Kentik team is working to provide pervasive visibility of network traffic regardless of which infrastructure an organization chooses to host its applications in." With the addition of AWS VPC Flow Logs to Kentik's AWS monitoring, enterprise and service providers gain: A data-driven approach to cloud management Network operators and engineers can leverage AWS VPC Flow Logs in Kentik to see traffic flows between regions, understand service dependencies within or between cloud and on-premise infrastructure, and more clearly understand cloud infrastructure planning, growth, and cost management. Network operators and engineers can leverage AWS VPC Flow Logs in Kentik to see traffic flows between regions, understand service dependencies within or between cloud and on-premise infrastructure, and more clearly understand cloud infrastructure planning, growth, and cost management. Instant situational awareness and faster MTTR DevOps and SRE teams get automated insight into performance, cost, and security anomalies and can instantly filter, pivot, and drill-down into issues faster than ever to more quickly get to root cause and gather details needed to restore services to a healthy state. DevOps and SRE teams get automated insight into performance, cost, and security anomalies and can instantly filter, pivot, and drill-down into issues faster than ever to more quickly get to root cause and gather details needed to restore services to a healthy state. Faster incident response and forensic analysis Security engineering and operations teams gain pervasive instrumentation of potential threat activity to, from, and within AWS environments. Security engineering and operations teams gain pervasive instrumentation of potential threat activity to, from, and within AWS environments. Cost analytics to tame bandwidth spend Cloud providers charge a premium for outbound bandwidth to the Internet, inter-VPC, or across cloud direct connect links, often adding up to a significant fraction of cloud spend. With Kentik, teams can instantly be alerted to, investigate, and optimize new and growing spend for network data transfer. Cloud providers charge a premium for outbound bandwidth to the Internet, inter-VPC, or across cloud direct connect links, often adding up to a significant fraction of cloud spend. With Kentik, teams can instantly be alerted to, investigate, and optimize new and growing spend for network data transfer. Business insights for executives Customizable dashboards and an intuitive UI enables executives to get a big-picture understanding into areas such as user/customer experience KPIs and cloud infrastructure spend, budgets, and expectations. News of Kentik's cloud visibility expansion for AWS comes on the heels of the company's announcement of support for Google Cloud Platform VPC Flow Logs . This is a component of Kentik's multi-cloud analytics suite, which includes Flow Logs, virtual appliance, and host-based traffic monitoring from the major public clouds, seamlessly combined with visibility from enterprise and service-provider private clouds and data center infrastructures. For more information on Kentik's cloud analytics suite and AWS Flow Logs, read the technical brief or see a live demo by visiting Kentik at AWS re:Invent booth #112 in Las Vegas from November 26 - 30, 2018. ABOUT KENTIK Easily the world's most powerful network insight and analytics for the cloud-native world, Kentik uses real-time flow analysis, uniquely enriched with application, routing, and internet context to power the network operations of leading enterprises and cloud and communication service providers (CSPs). Kentik's SaaS platform is built on a patented big data engine to deliver modern network analytics that is both powerful and easy to use. Kentik is based in San Francisco - learn more at kentik.com . SOURCE Kentik Related Links https://www.kentik.com DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.00 per share. The dividend is payable on January 3, 2019, to stockholders of record on December 7, 2018. This represents the 46th consecutive year that Kimberly-Clark has increased its dividend and the 84th straight year that the company has paid a dividend to shareholders. The company also announced that it will hold its next annual shareholder meeting on May 2, 2019. About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 146-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. [KMB-F] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648588/Kimberly_Clark_RGB_Blue_Logo.jpg SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation Related Links http://www.kimberly-clark.com TAMPA BAY, Fla., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KnowBe4 today announced it ranked number 34 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. KnowBe4 grew 3,726 percent during this period. "We're honored to be listed on the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 list for the third year in a row," said Stu Sjouwerman, CEO, KnowBe4. "Our revenue growth has been up for 22 consecutive quarters, and we attribute that success to our best-in-class new-school security awareness training and simulated phishing platform along with the increasing realization that people are the weakest link in organizational security." "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." KnowBe4 previously ranked number 70 as a Technology Fast 500 award winner for 2017. About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About KnowBe4 KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest integrated security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 20,000 organizations worldwide. Founded by data and IT security expert Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness of ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to security awareness training. Kevin Mitnick, internationally recognized computer security expert and KnowBe4's Chief Hacking Officer, helped design KnowBe4's training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations worldwide trust KnowBe4 to mobilize their employees as their last line of defense. Number 96 on the 2018 Inc. 500 list, #34 on 2018 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 and #2 in Cybersecurity Ventures Cybersecurity 500. KnowBe4 is headquartered in Tampa Bay, Florida with European offices in England, the Netherlands, Germany and offices in South Africa and Singapore. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. CONTACT: Kathy Wattman 727-474-9950 [email protected] SOURCE KnowBe4 LOS GATOS, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyvos Insights, a big data analytics company, today announced the availability of Kyvos Version 5, providing businesses with a cloud native way to elastically scale and draw intelligence from exponentially growing data workloads. The platform update delivers enterprise-class OLAP with instant response times and unlimited scalability, allowing enterprises to glean critical insights from today's largest data sets while also enabling real-time queries to be run on data as soon as it arrives. The new platform updates have been designed to better allow business users to gain real-time intelligence from ever increasing data sets. Developed specifically for the cloud, the updates expand upon the commitment to scalability inherent in the Kyvos platform by introducing elastic scalability for querying, allowing businesses to scale up and down more seamlessly as data loads change. This elasticity also allows for improved segmentation of data workloads within organizations, meaning different business units can more readily run queries without slowing down other teams. "As businesses move their Big Data workloads to the cloud, they are faced with the challenge of delivering self-service, interactive BI to their business users. The elastic OLAP capabilities being delivered in Kyvos version 5 allow enterprises to cost-effectively utilize cloud resources and deliver business intelligence with instant response times to users at a scale that was not possible before," said Ajay Anand, vice president of products at Kyvos Insights. Kyvos Version 5 updates also allow businesses to run more real-time queries on data before it enters the cube, as well as gain deeper insights on query patterns and data profiles, allowing for the development of smarter data cubes. Key highlights of the Kyvos Version 5 update include: Elastic OLAP designed natively for the cloud : Companies can now more easily and affordably scale up and down elastically with no disruption to deal with peak workloads and usage patterns : Companies can now more easily and affordably scale up and down elastically with no disruption to deal with peak workloads and usage patterns Smarter analytics : Analysis of query patterns provides insights into how data is being used by business analysts, and this is used for auto tuning and guidance for optimized cube design : Analysis of query patterns provides insights into how data is being used by business analysts, and this is used for auto tuning and guidance for optimized cube design Data profiling: Kyvos provides the ability to profile data that is stored in data lakes and use machine learning to optimize how the data can be transformed or added to the cube "Most large enterprises have either moved applications and/or data to the cloud or plan to move these in the next few years. Kyvos delivers sub-second responses for most queries using almost any size or type of data, making it possible for these enterprises to build high-performing, cost-effective BI on Big Data solutions in the cloud," said Claudia Imhoff, president of Intelligent Solutions. To learn more about Kyvos Version 5, click here. Kyvos Insights is a sponsor of the upcoming AWS re:Invent Conference, taking place Nov. 26-30, 2018 in Las Vegas and will be at booth 116. Members of the media and analyst communities interested in meeting with the company at the conference should contact [email protected] . About Kyvos Insights Kyvos Insights is committed to unlocking the power of big data analytics with its unique "OLAP on Big Data" technology. Backed by years of analytics expertise and a passion for big data, the company aims to revolutionize big data analytics by providing business users with the ability to visualize, explore and analyze big data interactively, working directly on Hadoop or Cloud platforms. Headquartered in Los Gatos, California, Kyvos Insights was formed by a team of veterans from Yahoo!, Impetus and Intellicus Technologies. The company has partnered with companies including Amazon, Cloudera, Hortonworks, MapR, Qlik and Tableau. For more information, visit www.kyvosinsights.com or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn . Media contact Brianna Bruinsma LEWIS for Kyvos Insights 619-502-5220 [email protected] SOURCE Kyvos Insights Related Links http://www.kyvosinsights.com PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New research in the November issue of JNCCNJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network examines disparities in care for Latino men with prostate cancer. The team of researchers from UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford Cancer Institute, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai looked at 2,421 Latino and 8,636 non-Latino white men diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer across California between 2010 and 2014. They found the Latino men were 21% less likely to receive definitive treatment for high-risk localized prostate cancer than non-Latino white men, which has been shown to result in worse outcomes. "This disparity seems to be largely accounted for by sociodemographic and other non-clinical factors, including neighborhood socioeconomic status, health insurance, marital status, as well as care at an NCI-designated cancer center," explained Daphne Lichtensztajn, MD, MPH, Epidemiologist, UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. "However, the influence of patient age, tumor grade, and insurance status, was significantly different between the two populations. This study reinforces the need for training in cultural competency and patient-centered communication, in addition to ensuring the availability of trained interpreters and in-language materials and resources." The data came from the California Cancer Registry, which is comprised of four registries within the SEER program. Only men with high-risk disease were included, as defined by the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Prostate Cancer1. Definitive treatment was defined as radical prostatectomy, radiation (with or without ADT), or cryoablation. "Prostate cancer can potentially be cured with multimodal therapy, even when it presents with high-risk features. It is critical that best practices, such as recommending definitive treatment for high-risk, localized prostate cancer, are clearly translated to community urologists and oncologists," said Tanya Dorff, MD, Medical Oncologist, City of Hope National Medical Center, and a Member of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Prostate Cancer. "Furthermore, given the complexity of decision-making in localized prostate cancer, culturally tailored communication and education guides for Latino men may increase utilization of these treatments, which have been shown to improve survival." The researchers found that for both ethnicities, a lack of health insurance was associated with undertreatment, but the impact was significantly higher for Latinos. Uninsured non-Latino white men were 37% less likely to receive definitive treatment than those with insurance, while uninsured Latinos were 66% less likely to undergo definitive treatment compared to their insured counterparts. Additionally, receiving treatment at an NCI-designated cancer center was associated with a 57% higher likelihood of definitive treatment for non-Latino white men, but had no such boost for Latinos. Dr. Lichtensztajn suggests communication barriers, and the influence of implicit bias, could account for some of these disparities. "Implicit bias is pervasive in our society, and addressing it at a societal level is a complex task," said Dr. Lichtensztajn. "However, acknowledging its existence and increasing awareness is a crucial first step. As individuals become more mindful of their spontaneous reactions to people, they can begin to check these unconscious responses and make conscious efforts to change them." Other factors potentially contributing to disparities include varying safety-net care availability and eligibility criteria across the different counties of California. The researchers also pointed out some cultural factors, for instance the fact that younger Latino men are more likely to be primary wage earners unable to withstand income disruption, which could contribute to the differing approaches to disease management. The study's authors recommend targeting interventions towards those who are at the highest risk of undertreatment, specifically Latino men who are younger and/or uninsured. To read the entire article, visit JNCCN.org. Complimentary access to "Undertreatment of High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer in the California Latino Population" is available until February 10, 2019. For more on the topic of disparities in care, join NCCN at the upcoming NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit: Advocating for Equity in Cancer Care on December 10, 2018, in Washington, DC. Visit NCCN.org/policy to learn more, or join the conversation online at #NCCNPolicy. About JNCCNJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network More than 25,000 oncologists and other cancer care professionals across the United States read JNCCNJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. This peer-reviewed, indexed medical journal provides the latest information about best clinical practices, health services research, and translational medicine. JNCCN features updates on the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines), review articles elaborating on guidelines recommendations, health services research, and case reports highlighting molecular insights in patient care. JNCCN is published by Harborside Press. Visit JNCCN.org. To inquire if you are eligible for a FREE subscription to JNCCN, visit http://www.nccn.org/jnccn/subscribe.asp. Follow JNCCN on Twitter @JNCCN. About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 27 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is dedicated to improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The NCCN Member Institutions are: Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH; City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA; Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center | Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, and Rochester, MN; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH; Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA; UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO; University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN; and Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital, New Haven, CT. Clinicians, visit NCCN.org. Patients and caregivers, visit NCCN.org/patients. Media, visit NCCN.org/news. Follow NCCN on Twitter @NCCNnews and Facebook @National.Comprehensive.Cancer.Network. 1 Definition of high-risk prostate cancer as having at least one of the following characteristics: Gleason score of eight to ten, clinical stage T3, or PSA level >20 ng/mL. Mohler JL, Lee RJ, Antonarakis ES, et al. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Prostate Cancer. Version 3.2018. Accessed October 2, 2018. To view the most recent version of these guidelines, visit NCCN.org. Media Contact: Rachel Darwin 267-622-6624 [email protected] SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network Related Links http://www.nccn.org KELOWNA, BC, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Liht Cannabis Corp. (CSE: LIHT) (OTCQX: LIHTF) (FSE: 2M0) ("Liht") or (the "Company") invites the public to attend information sessions. On November 17th, 2018 the Company is holding two public information sessions on Liht Cannabis Corp's proposed operations in Celista, BC. We are passionate about the cultivation of top-quality organic cannabis. Our mission will be to provide access to affordable premium cannabis to medical patients. In addition to the development of pure product, the Company is designing the facility to leave a minimal environmental footprint by creating its own energy to run the facility, prohibiting the use of any toxic chemicals and re-using the waste it produces. Topics will include: The science behind our systems, facility design, medical cannabis, organic cultivation methods, community impact and employment opportunities. Key Speakers from Liht Cannabis Corp. will include: Gabe Cipes, Josef Tyls, M.Sc. Ph.D, Richard Huhn, Cody Hamilton, Tylor Herold, Linda Sampson and Jay Simpson, recently appointed Area F Director for the CSRD. Time: 10:00am Location: North Shuswap Community Hall 5456 Squilax-Anglemont Road Celista, BC Time: 2:00pm Location: Cedar Heights Community Center 2316 Lakeview Drive Blind Bay, BC ABOUT LIHT CANNABIS CORP. www.lihtcannabis.com Liht Cannabis Corp. is a publicly traded company investing in the medical and recreational cannabis space, since 2014. Liht has rapidly expanded to include cultivation, production and dispensary locations in the key North American states of Washington, Nevada, and California, and are seeking expansion opportunities worldwide. SOCIAL MEDIA: twitter.com facebook.com STOCK EXCHANGES: Liht trades in Canada, ticker symbol LIHT on the CSE, in the United States, ticker symbol LIHTF on the OTCQX, and in Europe, ticker symbol 2M0 on the FSE. The Company also trades on other recognized platforms in Europe including Stuttgart, Tradegate, L & S, Quotnx, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Berlin. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider, the FSE nor the OTCQX has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. MARIJUANA INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT: Canadian listings (CSE) will remain in good standing as long as they provide the disclosure that is rightly required by regulators and complying with applicable licensing requirements and the regulatory framework enacted by the applicable state in which they operate. Liht owns marijuana licenses in California and Nevada. Marijuana is legal in each state however marijuana remains illegal under US federal law and the approach to enforcement of US federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that adverse enforcement actions could affect their investments and that Liht's ability to access private and public capital could be affected and or could not be available to support continuing operations. Liht's business is conducted in a manner consistent with state law and is in compliance with licensing requirements. Copies of licenses are posted on Liht's website. Liht has internal compliance procedures in place and has compliance focused attorneys engaged in jurisdictions to monitor changes in laws for compliance with US federal and state law on an ongoing basis. These law firms inform any necessary changes to our policies and procedures for compliance in Canada and the US. FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which includes, the effective trading date for the new name and symbol, the expected outcomes of its business, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon a number of factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express or implied by such statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, present and future business strategies, the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events, level of activity, performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: that laws and regulations may become more onerous; the ability of the Company to obtain necessary financing; the economy generally; the future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospectus and opportunities; changes in and the effect of government policies; demand for products; competition; anticipated and unanticipated costs; reliance on management; claims and legal proceedings; conflicts of interest; and market price and volatility of the Common Shares. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants, technology failures, failure to obtain a license from Health Canada or from other government agencies, failure to develop new and innovative products, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations and fees charged by service providers. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, litigation, global economic climate, loss of key employees and consultants, additional funding requirements, changes in laws, competition, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, nor approved the contents of this news release. SOURCE Liht Cannabis Corporation Related Links http://www.marapharm.com/ In this impoverished part of Central America, 80% of the people are malnourished a number that is even higher among children. Maryknoll Sister, Sr. Connie Pospisil, M.M., heads the Integral Nutrition Project in Lemoa to help feed malnourished children and return them to good health; to educate their parents on proper nutrition; and to secure sources of clean drinking water. Sister Connie tells us the story of the Lopez family, who have placed three of their five children (Ignatius, Sebastian and Luis) in the Project's care: "Both parents of these children collect tin cans in the garbage dump. They receive 33 cents per pound, and it takes 30 cans to make a pound. Because they don't have a steady income they have to risk working at night, when the garbage trucks dump their contents. They don't have sufficient food or adequate nourishment, and none of the children are going to school due to lack of finances. They don't have water or electricity in their home, and they have to confront this situation every day. "In the Integral Nutrition Project the children are usually from 6 months to 5 years old, but in this case we have accepted Ignatius even though he is 8 years old." Maryknoll Sisters give witness to God's love and devote our lives in service overseas. As nurses, doctors, teachers, theologians, social workers, environmentalists and more, we serve the needs of the people the poor, the ailing and the marginalized where we are missioned. To learn more about our organization, please visit www.maryknollsisters.org. Contact: Communications Manager Person's Name: Chelsea Waller Contact information: 914-941-0783, ext. 5687 SOURCE Maryknoll Sisters Related Links http://www.maryknollsisters.org "While Miami-Dade County has become a leading global destination for banking, technology, art and entertainment, tourism and trade continues to be the backbone of our economy," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "With more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. destination, there is no other world region more closely tied to our local economy, which is why we gladly welcomed the 2018 ACI-LAC Conference to our community this week." The 2018 edition of the conference featured a diverse schedule of presentations addressing the state of the industry and best practices for topics such as airport infrastructure and capital investment, passenger experiences, leveraging technology, and air cargo. Top industry executives such as ACI Director General Angela Gittens and Federal Aviation Administration Deputy Associate Administrator Winsome Lenfert were among the keynote speakers. "As the busiest gateway airport of the Americas, serving 79 percent of all passengers between the U.S. and the LAC region, MIA was proud to host the 2018 ACI-LAC Conference," said Lester Sola, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director and CEO. "In a year when MIA celebrates its 90th anniversary, it was fitting that we would serve as the host airport this year as well. I think the lessons learned and connections made during this year's conference will go a long way toward strengthening air travel across our region." ACI is the only global trade representative of the world's airports, and the ACI-LAC Annual Conference is widely regarded as the most important aviation industry event in the Western Hemisphere. ACI-LAC is the only professional worldwide association of airport operators, representing 60 airport operators and over 270 airports in 32 countries of the Latin America and Caribbean region. The organization's airports handle 95 percent of commercial air traffic in the area and represent over 584 million airport passengers, 5.1 tons of freight and more than 8.7 million aircraft movements each year. "We are very happy to have landed for the first time ever in Miami for this unique airport conference," said ACI-LAC Director General Javier Martinez. "The highly-anticipated conference, which brings together top senior airport and industry executives to discuss and review the region's key issues, was sold out three weeks in advance." Miami International Airport offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport, is America's third-busiest airport for international passengers, boasts a lineup of more than 100 air carriers and is the top U.S. airport for international freight. MIA, along with its general aviation airports, is also the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, generating business revenue of $30.9 billion annually and welcoming nearly 60 percent of all international visitors to Florida. MIA's vision is to grow from a recognized hemispheric hub to a global airport of choice that offers customers a world-class experience and an expanded route network with direct passenger and cargo access to all world regions. MIA is committed to sustainable practices. Learn more at www.MIAefficiency.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Chin 305.876.7017 [email protected] www.miami-airport.com SOURCE Miami International Airport Related Links http://www.miami-airport.com LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Encouraging signs for fixed broadband development in the Middle East While the Middle East has relatively low levels of fixed broadband penetration when compared at a global level; there are still some very progressive developments occurring in this diverse region. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3468617 Mobile is the predominant broadband platform in many Middle Eastern countries - but there are also many examples of countries investing and encouraging the build-out of fixed broadband networks and National Broadband Networks (NBNs). Israel and Saudi Arabia are two examples of countries in the Middle East which have a higher level of fixed broadband penetration when compared to other markets in the region, although the majority of these subscriptions are based on DSL. In Saudi Arabi however there is evidence that DSL subscriptions are in decline as consumers switch to either mobile broadband or FttH/FttP service offerings. Fibre-based access technologies are already dominant in The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. In Turkey we see significant investment in expanding fibre-optic broadband networks underway but in the meantime DSL retains it status of having the largest market share of all the fixed broadband access technologies. Government support is crucial for fixed broadband development and some governments are encouraging infrastructure sharing in order to create competition and speed up fixed broadband progress. A significant development occurred in early 2018, when Iran introduced fibre-based infrastructure sharing. Bahrain's telecommunications industry is guided by its Fourth National Telecommunications Plan which focuses on fibre-optic infrastructure deployment and establishing affordable prices for high-speed access. The development of a national broadband network based on fibre is well underway in Jordan and the Ministry of Communications (MoC) in Kuwait is also expanding Kuwait's fibre broadband infrastructure. Lebanon has also been working on improving its fixed infrastructure in recent years, driven by the telecoms ministry. In 2018 we are seeing significant progress in this area with the awarding of licenses which allows three existing services providers to operate and supply FttH services to consumers, using Ogero's government-owned network. As part of Oman's National Broadband Strategy, the Oman Broadband Company (OBC) hopes to have all homes and businesses connected to its national broadband infrastructure by 2040. Looking at Iran from a broad perspective; it appears to offer significant opportunities for telecoms growth. Its population is one of the largest in the Middle East, it has a youthful population and there is an unmet demand for both fixed and mobile telecoms services. Overall the political unrest in Iraq has battered its telecommunications sector and created a challenging environment for the telecoms operators in recent years. In 2018 however there are signs of stability with the installation of thousands of new fibre-optic cables. Syria and Yemen have also struggled to maintain telecoms infrastructure and services under the pressures of civil unrest. In 2018 there are reports Syria's situation is stabilising and this perhaps offers optimism that the fixed broadband sector may be once again restored and developed. The Middle East is a diverse region and while its fixed broadband penetration and average speeds are still comparatively low it is encouraging to see that many governments and operators are supportive of national broadband development. Once substantial high-speed networks based on fibre are place, the Middle Eastern region offers many opportunities for services and industries to grow that require high-speed access such as e-commerce; data centres; start-ups; e-health and smart communities. Key developments: Many unique challenges and opportunities exist in the Iranian telecoms market. Fixed broadband subscribers have been declining in Bahrain since 2014. Israel has a higher level of fixed broadband penetration than many other countries in the region. The improvements to Lebanons broadband infrastructure will boost the already flourishing digital economy as well as the start-up culture that has attracted international interest and recognition. The UAE has gained international recognition for its high FttH broadband penetration rates. Once stability is firmly in place in Iraq, the opportunity to build-out fixed and mobile infrastructure will arise in some of the areas which have low coverage or suffered the brunt of destruction. National Broadband Network deployment continues in Jordan. Improvements to Kuwait's fibre-broadband infrastructure are underway in 2018. Oman has a well-established mobile sector and is now growing its fibre-optic broadband infrastructure. Increasing international capacity will assist in Qatars long-term development goals as stated in its National Development Strategy document Qatar National Vision 2030. Turkey offers substantial opportunities for fixed broadband growth considering its current penetration is only around 15%. The civil war in Syria showed signs of stabilising in 2018 and this has raised hopes that infrastructure and economic reconstruction activities may begin. This can only be positive for the telecoms sector which has paid a heavy toll from the years of destruction. Until telecommunications infrastructure can be improved across Yemen and the civil unrest stabilises there will be very little progress ahead for the sector in the short term. Internet penetration in Saudi Arabia has reached around 80%, well above the average for the Middle East. Companies mentioned in this report: Batelco, MenaTelecom (acquired by VIVA), Kalaam Telecom, Noor-sat, Zain Bahrain, Viva Bahrain; Bezeq, Bezeq International, Pelephone, HOT Telecom, HOT Mobile, Cellcom, 013 NetVision, Partner (Formerly Orange), 012 Smile, Xfone, Golan Telecom (Electra Communications), Israel Broadband Company (IBC); Remi Levy, Mobile 019, Ogero Telecom, Touch (Zain), Alfa Telecom (Orascom); Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company (ITPC), Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel); Ooredoo Oman; Oman Broadband Company (OBC); Awasr-Oman; Etisalat; du; Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI); Ooredoo Qatar, Qatar National Broadband Network (QNBN); Turk Telekom (formerly Avea), Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, Turksat, Superonline; Saudi Telecom Company (STC)/Bravo, Integrated Telecom Company (ITC)/Bayn Consortium, GO Telecom/Etihad Atheeb; TeleYemen, Public Telecommunications Corporation (PTC); Syrian Telecommunication Establishment (STE); Jordan Telecom Group/Orange; Mobile Telecommunications Co (MTC) / Zain. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3468617 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) today announced that Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma group companies will present pharmacokinetic (PK) data on an investigational oral suspension formulation of edaravone for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the 29th International Symposium on ALS/MND being held December 7-9 in Glasgow, Scotland. The Phase 1 study showed oral edaravone is expected to have similar PK parameters to the current intravenous infusion. The intravenous (IV) formulation of edaravone, known as RADICAVA (edaravone), is a treatment option previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to slow the loss of physical function in ALS patients. "The creation and development of an oral suspension of edaravone for the treatment of ALS could provide a beneficial new therapy option for this progressive disease," said Joseph M. Palumbo, M.D., Vice President, Head of Medical Science and Translational Research, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Development America. "We are committed to furthering the development of this new formulation as quickly as possible in an effort to advance care for people with ALS." The initial Phase 1 dose-ranging PK study confirmed that a single oral dose of edaravone has a similar PK profile when compared to IV infusion. No new safety findings were observed relative to IV infusion. Data collection is ongoing, and the latest results and its anticipated development plan will be presented at the upcoming Symposium. Additional details regarding the oral formulation development program will be released when available. About RADICAVA (edaravone) IV The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved RADICAVA (edaravone) on May 5, 2017, as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).1 In a clinical trial, people given RADICAVA demonstrated a slower rate of decline in the loss of physical function compared to placebo, as measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), a validated rating instrument for monitoring the progression of disability in people with ALS.1,2,3 Edaravone was discovered and developed for ALS by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) and commercialized in the U.S. by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. MTPC group companies began researching ALS in 2001 through an iterative clinical platform over a 13-year period. In 2015, edaravone was approved for use as a treatment for ALS in Japan and South Korea. On October 3, 2018 edaravone was granted market authorization in Canada. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Before you receive RADICAVA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have asthma. are allergic to other medicines. are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if RADICAVA will harm your unborn baby. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if RADICAVA passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will receive RADICAVA or breastfeed. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. What are the possible side effects of RADICAVA? RADICAVA may cause serious side effects including hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions and sulfite allergic reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions have happened in people receiving RADICAVA and can happen after your infusion is finished. RADICAVA contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may cause a type of allergic reaction that can be serious and life-threatening. Sodium bisulfite can also cause less severe asthma episodes in certain people. Sulfite sensitivity can happen more often in people who have asthma than in people who do not have asthma. Tell your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following symptoms: hives; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; fainting; breathing problems; wheezing; trouble swallowing; dizziness; itching; or an asthma attack (in people with asthma). Your healthcare provider will monitor you during treatment to watch for signs and symptoms of all the serious side effects. The most common side effects of RADICAVA include bruising (contusion), problems walking (gait disturbance), and headache. These are not all the possible side effects of RADICAVA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. at 1-888-292-0058 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . For more information, including full Prescribing Information and Patient Information, please visit www.RADICAVA.com . About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. Based in Jersey City, N.J., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation's (MTPC) 100 percent owned U.S. holding company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Holdings America, Inc. MTPA is dedicated to delivering innovative products that address the unmet medical needs of patients in North America. It was established by MTPC to commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in North America with plans to expand its product line through collaborations with partners. For more information, please visit www.mt-pharma-america.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Overview of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, which was founded in 1678, has its headquarters in Doshomachi, Osaka, which is the birthplace of Japan's pharmaceutical industry. With business centered on ethical pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is a well-established company and has the longest history of any listed company in Japan.4 In accordance with the corporate philosophy of "contributing to the healthier lives of people around the world through the creation of pharmaceuticals," the Company formulated the key concept of Open Up the Future under the Medium-Term Management Plan 2016-2020. Through the discovery of drugs that address unmet medical needs, centered on its priority disease areas autoimmune diseases, diabetes and kidney diseases, central nervous system diseases, and vaccines Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma will strive to contribute to the health of patients around the world. MTPC is the parent company of MTPA and the license holder of RADICAVA. For more information, go to http://www.mt-pharma.co.jp/ . Media inquiries: Debbie Etchison 908-340-8578 [email protected] 1 RADICAVA U.S. Prescribing Information. August 2017. 2 Simon, N. G., Turner, M. R., Vucic, S., Al-Chalabi, A., Shefner, J., Lomen-Hoerth, C., & Kiernan, M. C. (2014). Quantifying Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Annals of Neurology, 76(5), 643657. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.24273. 3 The Writing Group on behalf of the Edaravone (MCI-186) ALS 19 Study Group (2017). Safety and efficacy of edaravone in well defined patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Neurology. 16(7), 505-512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30115-1. 4 Research by TOKYO SHOKO RESEARCH, LTD. SOURCE Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. "Everything we do in supply chain is for the patient," says Cindy Gueltzow, Baptist Health's executive director of supply chain services. "When we reduce our expenses and meet our budgetary goals, it's easier for us to procure capital equipment such as MRI's and upgraded cardiac cath labs. Reducing costs by removing unnecessary clinical variation not only helps us meet our budget, it improves our delivery of care." Patients, System Win with New Savings Strategy Baptist Health, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., works with patients across the state, plus parts of southern Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee. The system's acute care hospitals offer 2,700 licensed beds and more than 300 points of care including outpatient services, urgent care, physician offices, occupational medicine, physical therapy, home care and diagnostics. "Medline and Baptist Health teams are constantly challenging each other to find new ways to drive behind-the-scenes savings to support clinicians and patients," says Senior Vice President of Acute Care at Medline Brian Motter. "Baptist Health has an evolving patient base and some demographic differences amongst its facilities. Our goal is to use the nimbleness of Medline to find even more ways to help the system over the next five years." Smart Solves for Everyday Obstacles Advanced supply chain logistics played a major role in the savings when the system implemented Medline Supply Chain Optimization solutions. Par optimization has been implemented at 90 percent of nursing floor storerooms at Baptist Health Louisville, the system's largest hospital. This helps ensure clinicians have the right amount of supplies based on actual demand. Additionally, Medline's Put-Away-Ready Program for low unit of measure cart supply delivery, is being utilized at Baptist Health Lexington, Baptist Health Louisville and Baptist Health Richmond hospitals. The ability to remove touchpoints from the distribution process and streamline delivery times across far-flung facilities has saved Baptist Health millions in spending on non-clinical items, which will be reallocated toward patient care. "The improvement in inventory management over the past few years has been remarkable," said Steve Oglesby, Baptist Health's chief financial officer. "A key benefit is improved customer service to our physicians and other clinicians by ensuring access to the right supplies at the right place, at the right time, at the right price. Accomplishing this requires efficient and effective daily management. The system has also benefited from lower inventory carrying costs as expired, damaged or lost items are reduced, as well as better expense-revenue matching, which improves financial statement reporting and cost accounting data." Co-Create for Future-State In addition to announcing the results to date of the partnership with Medline, Baptist Health also announced the next step of its supply chain transformation will focus on physician preference items traditionally difficult and costly for systems to manage. Baptist Health will implement non-traditional distribution using Medline's PriorityPath Physician Preference Item 3PL service. "We plan to inventory physician preference items at Medline's warehouse for daily hospital distribution, which is projected to save $500K-$1M annually in shipping and acquisition costs while enabling physicians to select specific tools and products they prefer," says Gueltzow. "We are excited to see what future, creative supply chain efficiencies Medline can help us realize. Baptist Health is well on its way to achieving a best-in-class supply chain." See how Medline and Baptist Health are working together to improve patient care through supply chain solutions at https://youtu.be/JmyizfmcXsg. Learn how Medline tailors solutions across the entire continuum of care as a strategic partner at https://www.medline.com/pages/supply-chain. About Medline Medline is a global manufacturer and distributor serving the healthcare industry with medical supplies and clinical solutions that help customers achieve both clinical and financial success. Headquartered in Northfield, Ill., the company offers 550,000+ medical devices and support services through more than 1,600 direct sales representatives who are dedicated points of contact for customers across the continuum of care. For more information on Medline, go to www.medline.com or http://www.medline.com/social-media to connect with Medline on its social media channels. About Baptist Health Founded in 1924 in Louisville, Ky., Baptist Health is a full-spectrum health system dedicated to improving the health of the communities it serves. The Baptist Health family consists of nine hospitals (eight owned and one managed); employed and independent physicians; more than 300 points of care in 75 Kentucky counties, seven counties in Illinois, six counties in southern Indiana and two counties in Tennessee, including: outpatient facilities, physician practices and services, urgent care and retail-based clinics; outpatient diagnostic and surgery centers; home care; occupational medicine and physical therapy clinics; and fitness centers. Baptist Health's eight owned hospitals include more than 2,400 licensed beds in Corbin, La Grange, Lexington, Louisville, Madisonville, Paducah, Richmond and New Albany, Ind. Baptist Health manages Hardin Memorial Health, a 300-bed hospital in Elizabethtown, which is expected to become part of the Baptist Health family in December 2018. Baptist Health employs more than 20,000 people in Kentucky and surrounding states. Baptist's physician network, Baptist Health Medical Group, has about 1,100 employed providers, including about 600 employed physicians, plus more than 2,000 independent physicians. SOURCE Medline Related Links http://www.medline.com LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippines prepares for the transition from 4G to 5G Telecommunications investment in the Philippines will continue to see increasing emphasis on supporting high speed broadband access. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5492736 The bulk of the fixed services are in urban areas. In contrast, the fixed line market in the Philippines remains underdeveloped and fixed line penetration continues to show stagnant growth. A major reason for this is due to the dominance of the mobile segment and the rapid expansion of the mobile broadband segment. Despite competition from new carriers and mobile operators, PLDT has continued to be the Philippinesa dominant fixed-line provider. However, in recent years, Globe Telecom in particular has been pushing hard to overhaul the incumbent and now is the leading mobile provider in term of overall subscribers. In 2018 the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) published its guidelines to accommodate the entry of a third major telecoms operator in the local market. In recent few years, the major operators have also been forced to cope with the pressures of slowing growth in traditional areas. In particular, there has been good progress in the rollout of optical fibre infrastructure. PDLT announced plans to accelerate a network modernisation plan that will see it switching to fibre over the following two years. Fixed broadband penetration in the Philippines remains relatively low mainly due to a limited number of fixed lines and the dominance of the mobile platform, which has in turn driven the mobile broadband market. Despite declining prices in both fixed and mobile broadband, this type of service is still not affordable for the majority of the population. Operators have been pushing hard with competitive low entry-level packages, but the market continues to struggle. However, the market has grown very strongly over the past five years from a small base. Over the next five years to 2023 strong growth is expected to continue from this very small base as both major fixed broadband operators, PLDT and Globe Telecom continue with their rollouts. There has been a major push by market leader PLDT to offer fibre-based services; Globe has been trying to match the PLDT push where it can. PDLT is also deploying hybrid technology, such as G.fast, under a wider three-year program. PDLTas ongoing nationwide fibre-optic rollout program, has already set up a number of so-called 'PLDT Smart Citya areas. In 2018 a consortium of Filipino-Chinese developers were scheduled to begin work on an extensive smart city project that will give rise to a mixed-use development off the coast of Manila. A feature of the Philippines mobile market has been the near duopoly with Smart together with Globe Telecom maintaining a tight hold on the industry. The two leading providers continue to battle to win subscribers and introduce new services, and both lost subscribers during 2017 as the market went through consolidation. Mobile ARPU levels have been on a downward trend for a long time in the Philippines as competition in the mobile industry has intensified. The operators continue to engage in aggressive price competition in an effort to grab market share. The Philippines has seen a very rapid increase in mobile broadband penetration over the past five years driven by a rising level of wireless broadband users. Strong growth is predicted over the next five years to 2023, however at a slower and declining rate as the market further matures. The Philippines is already preparing for the move from 4G to 5G. PLDT Inc. has set up what it is calling a '5G technolaba into the research and development of the next generation platform and Globe Telecom announced its intention to launch 5G services in the Philippines by the middle of 2019. Key Developments Telecommunications investment will continue to support high speed broadband access. The fixed line market in the Philippines remains underdeveloped. Globe Telecom is now challenging PLDT in both the fixed and wireless markets. Fixed broadband penetration remains relatively low but is growing strongly from a small base. DICT has published its draft terms of reference for the selection of a New Major Player (NMP). An extensive smart city project off the coast of Manila is scheduled to begin. The Philippines has seen a rapid recent increase in mobile broadband penetration. Mobile subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years to 2023. The Philippines is already preparing for the move from 4G to 5G Key companies mentioned in this report: PLDT, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Liberty Telecom, Bayantel, Bell Telecom (BellTel), Digitel, Eastern Telecom (ETPI), Innove (Globe), PT&T, ABS-CBN Corp, Broadband Philippines, Vega Telecom, Extelcom. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5492736 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com Extension of maturity dates of Line of Credit and OID Loans to September 2024 Implementation of cost control measures to significantly reduce operational burn and extend cash runway Substantial reduction in R&D costs of up to $30 million in 2019 versus 2018 Successful Type C meeting with FDA: agreement on proposed plan of action for Ryplazim TM (plasminogen) manufacturing process Q3 revenues of $12.3 million Granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation by FDA for PBI-4050 to treat Alstrom Syndrome LAVAL, QC, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Prometic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: PLI) (OTCQX: PFSCF) (Prometic or the Corporation) reported today its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018. "Several initiatives that we have been pursuing during the past quarter should bear fruit in the coming weeks and months," said Pierre Laurin, Prometic's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have implemented cost-control measures to reduce our cash use while at the same time have made significant progress to advance our two lead drug candidates, Ryplazim (plasminogen) and PBI-4050. As previously stated, our current business plan calls for a significant reduction in R&D expenditures of up to $30 million in 2019 as compared to this year's budget. Our primary objective remains to close the gap between the fundamental enterprise value we have built and our current market valuation by strengthening our financial position through the closing of commercial partnerships and equity-related initiatives." Commenting on the third quarter 2018 financial results, Bruce Pritchard, Prometic's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, said, "We are ahead of target with the financial guidance provided during the AGM in May 2018 and our last few conference calls. We have effectively implemented cost control measures as evidenced by the trending quarterly decrease in R&D, Administration and Sales & Marketing expenses as well as decreases in net loss and cash flows used in operating activities. Cash used in operations year-to-date was $57 M compared to $95 M for the same period in 2017". Small Molecule Therapeutics Highlights PBI-4050 Received a Rare Pediatric Disease designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Alstrom syndrome Received a Rare Pediatric Disease designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Alstrom syndrome PBI-4050 Published a paper further elucidating the mechanism of action of its lead drug candidate, PBI-4050, on liver fibrosis in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. The paper entitled "PBI-4050 reduces stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis through modulation of intracellular ATP levels and LKB1-AMPK-mTOR pathway" details the antifibrotic signaling pathway modulated by PBI-4050. Published a paper further elucidating the mechanism of action of its lead drug candidate, PBI-4050, on liver fibrosis in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. The paper entitled "PBI-4050 reduces stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis through modulation of intracellular ATP levels and LKB1-AMPK-mTOR pathway" details the antifibrotic signaling pathway modulated by PBI-4050. PBI-4050 Hosted a Key Opinion Leader meeting in New York on PBI-4050 as a novel treatment for Alstrom syndrome and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Plasma-Derived Therapeutics Highlights RyplazimTM (Plasminogen) - Completed a Type C meeting in which the FDA agreed with the Company's proposed action plan for the implementation of additional analytical assays and in-process controls related to the RyplazimTM (plasminogen) manufacturing process. As a result of the feedback received during the Type C meeting, Prometic is finalizing the process performance qualification (PPQ) protocols in anticipation of commencing the manufacturing of additional RyplazimTM (plasminogen) conformance lots. Subsequent Events to Third Quarter 2018 Closed a deal with Structured Alpha LP (SALP), an affiliate of Thomvest Asset Management Inc., to extend the maturity dates of the USD $80 million (CAD $100 million ) line of credit and the Original Issue Discount Notes to September 2024 . 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results Revenues Total revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 were $12.3 million and $36.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Revenues from the sale of goods, representing most of the 2018 revenues to date, were $35.3 million during the first nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $11 million during the corresponding 2017 period. The $24.3 million increase for 2018 is mainly due to $19.7 million in sales of normal source plasma which occurred in the second and third quarters of 2018 following a change in the production forecast due to the delay of the BLA approval for RyplazimTM (plasminogen). The remainder of the increase of $4.6 million for the nine month period is due to an increase in third party sales in the bioseparation segment. 2018 bioseparation sales are expected to exceed $21 million, which would represent a 30% increase compared to 2017 bioseparation revenues. A comparable level of revenue growth for 2019 is anticipated and is mainly due to the expansion of manufacturing activities by existing clients who utilize Prometic's products in their production processes, the adoption of products by new clients, the introduction of new products and the continuing expansion of the market for bioseparation products. Cost of sales and other production expenses Cost of sales and other production expenses were $9.2 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $3.8 million for the corresponding period in 2017, representing an increase of $5.5 million. Cost of sales and other production expenses were $30.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $7.7 million for the corresponding period in 2017, representing an increase of $22.7 million. The increase was due primarily to the cost of the plasma inventory sold. Research and Development (R&D) Total R&D expenses were $24.1 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $23.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. Total R&D expenses were $70.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $72.2 million for the corresponding period in 2017, representing a decrease of $1.7 million. The completion of the pivotal phase 3 clinical programs for IVIG and for Ryplazim (plasminogen) and termination of non core preclinical and clinical programs will translate into a significant R&D cost reduction in 2019 compared to 2018. Administration, Sales & Marketing Administration, selling and marketing expenses were $6.2 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $7.7 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. The $1.4 million decrease was due to a reduction in consulting fees and employee compensation expenses. Administration, selling and marketing expenses declined slightly at $20.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $22.7 million for the corresponding period in 2017. Finance Costs Finance costs were $5.9 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $2.1 million during the corresponding period of 2017, representing an increase of $3.8 million. Finance costs were $15.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $5.3 million during the corresponding period of 2017, representing an increase of $10.2 million. This increase reflects higher debt levels during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Net Loss Prometic incurred a net loss of $28.9 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to a net loss of $17.8 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. Prometic incurred a net loss of $96.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a net loss of $78.4 million for the corresponding period of 2017. The main reason for the increase in the net loss is that the results for the quarter and the nine months ending September 30, 2017 included $19.7 million in milestone and licensing revenues related to the licensing agreement signed with Jiangsu Renshou Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd. With the delay of the anticipated launch of its most advanced product, RyplazimTM (plasminogen), the Corporation had to finance its R&D activities via various sources. To date, the Corporation has financed its activities through the sale of products in the bioseparations segment, collaboration arrangements and licensing arrangements, the issuance of debt and equity, operational restructuring as well as investment tax credits. Prometic is currently actively involved in negotiating both equity and equity-linked financing initiatives and continues to be in dialogue with potential licensing partners. Although the Corporation believes that it will be able to obtain the necessary funding as in the past, there can be no assurance of the success of these plans. Conference Call Information Prometic will host a conference call at 11:00 am (ET) on Thursday November 15, 2018. The telephone numbers to access the conference call are (647) 427-7450 and 1-888-231-8191 (toll-free). A replay of the call will be available as of Thursday November 15, 2018 at 2:00 pm. The numbers to access the replay are 1-416-849-0833 and 1-855-859-2056 (passcode: 1190238). A live audio webcast of the conference call, with slides, will be available through the following: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1875420/A5BAEDCB1DAD05CDD9CCBE59D000BB89 Additional Information in Respect to the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2018 Prometic's MD&A and condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 will be filed on SEDAR (http://www.sedar.com) and will be available on the Company's website at www.prometic.com. About Prometic Life Sciences Inc. Prometic (www.prometic.com) is a biopharmaceutical corporation with two drug discovery platforms focusing on unmet medical needs. The first platform (small molecule therapeutics) stems from the discovery of two receptors which we believe are at the core of how the body heals: namely, promoting tissue regeneration and scar resolution as opposed to fibrosis. One of the lead drug candidates emerging from this platform, PBI-4050, is expected to enter pivotal phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). The second drug discovery and development platform (plasma-derived therapeutics) leverages Prometic's experience in bioseparation technologies used to isolate and purify biopharmaceuticals from human plasma. The Corporation's primary goal with respect to this second platform is to address unmet medical needs with therapeutic proteins not currently commercially available, such as Ryplazim (plasminogen). We are also leveraging this platform's higher recovery yield potential to advance established plasma-derived therapeutics such as Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG). The Corporation also provides access to its proprietary bioseparation technologies to enable pharmaceutical companies in their production of non-competing biopharmaceuticals. Recognized as a bioseparations expert, the Corporation derives revenue from this activity through sales of affinity chromatography media which contributes to offset the costs of its own R&D investments. We are headquartered in Laval, Quebec (Canada) and have R&D facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom ("UK") and the United States ("USA"), manufacturing facilities in Canada and the Isle of Man and corporate and business development activities in Canada, the USA, Europe and Asia. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about Prometic's objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are "forward-looking" because they are based on our current expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to, Prometic's ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize value-added pharmaceutical products, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of Prometic to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current expectations in Prometic's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017, under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties related to Prometic's business". As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and regulations. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless indicated otherwise. SOURCE ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. Related Links http://www.prometic.com Pundi X's Singapore HQ will oversee the rollout of its technology, including the world's first blockchain-based point of sales device, the XPOS, and the first mobile phone to employ blockchain-based telephony, the XPhone, to markets in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Announcing the decision at the Singapore Fintech Festival, company CEO Zac Cheah said: "We've been encouraged by the dynamism of the Singaporean blockchain market. The country's connectedness to the Asian region, talent pool and the early recognition of the economic potential of blockchain industry have cemented our decision". In addition to the new corporate structure, much of Pundi X's key executive team will now be based in the new headquarters, including recently-appointed Chief Investment Officer, Vic Tham, a former COO for Transaction Banking, Asia Pacific for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Pundi X's international full-time equivalent workforce now exceeds 150 people; the Singapore headquarters will oversee other regional offices in Jakarta, Seoul, Sao Paulo, Shenzhen, Tokyo, and London. 5,000 Pundi XPOS units have begun shipping last month to international retail clients in Brazil, Colombia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and more. The company has also publicly displayed a prototype of the XPhone, the first mobile telephone to run telephony and messaging on blockchain technology and independently of a central carrier. The phone will be released to consumers in Q2 2019. About Pundi X Pundi X is a leading developer of blockchain-powered devices, including the world's first point-of-sales ("POS") solution enabling merchants and consumers to do transactions on the blockchain in the physical stores. Its POS, the XPOS, has been shipped to markets including in the UK, Switzerland, Korea, Colombia, Taiwan and Brazil; 100,000 of the devices are being targeted for a rollout to the global retail market by 2021. Headquartered in Singapore its international presence includes offices in London, Jakarta, Sao Paulo, Seoul and Tokyo. The company is also a member of Singapore Fintech Association, Fintech Association of Hong Kong, ACCESS, and Swiss Finance and Fintech Association. For more information, please visit https://pundix.com/ . SOURCE Pundi X Related Links https://pundix.com/ Iranian director Majid Majidi talks about his filmmaking at a master class in Beijing. Iranian director Majid Majidi is known for making films centered on children. His 1997 classic, Children of Heaven-about two young siblings who share a pair of tattered sneakers-was the first Iranian film nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign language category. His other acclaimed films include The Color of Paradise, a best feature winner at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1999, Baran (2001) and The Willow Tree (2005). During his recent visit to Beijing, Majidi revealed how he manages to bring out the most natural on-screen emotions in his young actors and actresses-by "cheating" a little as well. "I wrote another script for the children, but they didn't know in advance," Majidi, 59, said in Persian of Children of Heaven at a master class organized by the China Film Foundation's Wu Tianming Film Summit for Young Talents, which was held in Beijing from Nov 4 to 9. LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Romania's telcos move further into multi-sector service offerings Romania's telecoms market continues to evolve under the influence of competition and technological change. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5257931 Alternative operators have launched competing services in the liberalised fixed-line voice market, with cable TV operators such as UPC being particularly successful in attracting new customers. The market overall continues to evolve with operators expanding into the provision of multiple services. To this end Vodafone Group acquired Liberty Global's local unit UPC Romania in May 2018, thus allowing Vodafone Romania to compete more effectively with the service offerings from orange Romania and telekom Romania. All operators are investing in network capacity upgrades in response to the shift towards offering IP-delivered content. The broadband market benefits from effective infrastructure-based competition. The fibre sector has become one of the strongest in Europe in recent years, with a rapidly growing share of the fixed-line broadband market by subscriber lines. As a result, the country has one of the highest FttP penetration rates in the region, with about two-thirds of connections offering data above 100Mb/s. Romania's mobile market is served by four network operators, three of which are the local subsidiaries of the major regional players Vodafone Group, Orange Group and Deutsche Telekom. Penetration rates are average for the region, though this is partly attributed to customers opting to have multiple SIM cards. Mobile broadband growth has been strong following network investments which have extended the reach of LTE services. This report provides an overview of Romania's fast-developing telecommunications market, covering regulatory developments, major players and fixed-line infrastructure, and offering a variety of operational and financial statistics. The report also reviews the mobile market, covering technological developments as well as profiling the major operators and their strategies in a competitive and highly regulated environment. In addition, the report covers the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband segments. Key developments: Vodafone Romania signs fibre network access deal with Telekom Romania; Two-thirds of fixed broadband connections accessing 100Mb/s or above; NetCity to increase Bucharest open access fibre network to 2,100km by 2020; Telekom Romania expanding 1Gb/s FttP offering; RCS&RDS launches free shared Wi-Fi network for subscribers; Liberty Global sells UPC Romania unit to Vodafone Group; Orange Romania conducts FWA 5G network trials, anticipates 5G as fixed-line broadband replacement from 2020; Regulator outlines strategies for multiple spectrum award, proposes 2019 date for 470-790MHz band auction; Vodafone Romania trials NB-IoT; Digi Mobil seeks collaboration with MNOs for 5G development; MNOs expand m-ticketing functionalities; Regulator adopts Action Plan 2018; Report update includes the regulator's market data to December 2017, State Statistics data for 2017, telco's operating and financial data to Q2 2018, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: UPC Romania, RCS&RDS (Digi Mobile), Telekom Romania (Cosmote Romania), Vodafone Romania, Orange Romania, Telemobil, GTS Telecom, SN Radiocomunicatii Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5257931 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com LONDON, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Spain's telcos sign more fibre sharing agreements Spain's telecom market is one of the largest in Europe, supported by a population of more than 46 million. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5608437 The poor economic climate which followed the GFC in 2008/9 was exacerbated by high unemployment and reduced disposable income among consumers. A five-year recession, with falling GDP, effectively ended in 2014 when the economy showed a steady return to growth and this has been sustained since then: growing confidence among investors has been palpable since 2015. Revenue from the telecom sector has grown since 2016 in line with the overall economic recovery. The improved business climate should augur well for the sector into 2019. Mobile penetration is on a par with the European average and there remains room for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband segment which has been supported by continuing investment in infrastructure among operators, with a particular emphasis on 5G. There is effective competition from four MNOs and a growing number of resellers and MVNOs. This competition, together with regulated roaming and mobile termination rates, has driven down the cost of mobile calls. The market has seen considerable changes in recent years, including the acquisition of Yoigo by Masmovil, by which the latter has become a full-service provider. Orange Spain and Vodafone Spain have acquired fixed-line operators in a bid to compete more effectively with Telefonica in bundled service offerings. Masmovil, operating under the Yoigo banner, has also become one of the main FttP providers in the country through its own network infrastructure as well as through network share agreements with Telefonica, Vodafone Spain and Orange Spain. In recent quarters Spain's broadband market has shifted from copper to fibre infrastructure. By mid-2018 fibre accounted for half of all fixed broadband connections. Telefonica continues to invest heavily in fibre infrastructure while its recent access deal with Vodafone Spain has significantly increased the latter's footprint. Vodafone offers a 1Gb/s service across much of its network, while in the cable sector the company has also invested in DOSCIS3.1 technology. This report on the Spanish telecom market provides sector statistics and profiles of the main players, as also an analysis on the main regulatory issues. The report also examines the fixed and wireless broadband markets, noting developments in technologies including fibre and broadband powerline. In addition the report covers statistics and analyses on the mobile voice and data sectors, including an appraisal of regulatory issues and technologies, and the strategies of the major providers in a fiercely competitive market. Key developments: Regulator concludes 3.7GHz spectrum auction; Telefonica joins the 5G Technological Cities project; Orange Spain teams up with Ericsson to trial 5G; Vodafone Spain launches Spain's first NB-IoT network; Vodafone Spain contracts Huawei to upgrade its HFC network with DOCSIS3.1, launches a 1Gb/s broadband service to four million premises; Regulator sets pricing for competitors to access Telefonica's fibre network; Fibre broadband accounting for 50% of all fixed-line broadband connections; Report update includes the regulator's market data updates to June 2018, telcos' operating and financial data to Q2 2018, recent market developments Companies mentioned in this report: Telefonica (Movistar), Orange Spain, Vodafone Spain, Lebara, Lycamobile, Masmovil, YouMobile, Ono, Jazztel Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5608437 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com Revenue Growth and Strong Margins Highlight the Quarter and Year to Date CALGARY, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Tervita Corporation ("Tervita" or the "Company") (TSX: TEV) announced today the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. All financial figures are in millions of Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. Message from the President and CEO "In Q3 2018, our combined operations delivered strong performance with Adjusted EBITDA increasing 69% year over year to $71 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 35%. These results reflect our recent merger with Newalta and contributions from our growth and expansion investments in key regions," said John Cooper, President and CEO. "The integration is progressing well and synergies are on track with the combination of the two companies delivering exactly the kind of incremental benefits we had envisioned. We expect annualized run rate synergies of $20 to $22 million by the end of 2018, and to deliver $40 to $45 million of annualized synergies by August 2020." "This is a period of significant development for our business and we intend to make the most of our expanded infrastructure and services while also driving continuous improvement across all operations," continued Cooper. "Although the overall industry outlook is somewhat tempered due to current challenges facing the Canadian oil and gas sector, our expanded network is well positioned to provide our customers with opportunities to obtain the best available price for their products. We expect to finish the year with continued positive momentum. With a strong balance sheet underpinned by more stable production-related revenue, we remain well positioned to deliver double-digit growth and to capitalize on emerging market catalysts as they arise." Q3 2018 Highlights On July 19, 2018 , Tervita and Newalta completed the Plan of Arrangement (the "Arrangement") culminating in the amalgamation of the two companies into one publicly traded company, Tervita Corporation, representing a significant transformative transaction that strategically positions the merged business for future growth. , Tervita and Newalta completed the Plan of Arrangement (the "Arrangement") culminating in the amalgamation of the two companies into one publicly traded company, Tervita Corporation, representing a significant transformative transaction that strategically positions the merged business for future growth. Q3 2018 Adjusted EBITDA was up 69% year over year to $71 million , primarily due to higher Energy Services Divisional EBITDA related to increased terminalled and marketed oil volumes, increased volumes to landfills, contributions from the Newalta acquisition and positive contributions from 2017 growth spending in Energy Services facilities and Industrial Services metals yards. , primarily due to higher Energy Services Divisional EBITDA related to increased terminalled and marketed oil volumes, increased volumes to landfills, contributions from the Newalta acquisition and positive contributions from 2017 growth spending in Energy Services facilities and Industrial Services metals yards. The acquisition of Newalta contributed $17 million of additional Adjusted EBITDA including $4 million of Adjusted EBITDA synergies. We anticipate 2018 earned synergies of $8 to $10 million representing an annualized run rate of $20 to $22 million by the end of 2018. One-time costs incurred by the end of 2018 are estimated to be $9 to $10 million . We continue to expect to realize $40 to $45 million in annualized synergies at a one-time cost of $15 to $20 million . of additional Adjusted EBITDA including of Adjusted EBITDA synergies. We anticipate 2018 earned synergies of to representing an annualized run rate of to by the end of 2018. One-time costs incurred by the end of 2018 are estimated to be to . We continue to expect to realize to in annualized synergies at a one-time cost of to . YTD 2018 Adjusted EBITDA increased 22% year over year to $141 million , primarily due to the Newalta acquisition and higher throughput of marketed oil volumes in Energy Services. , primarily due to the Newalta acquisition and higher throughput of marketed oil volumes in Energy Services. Q3 2018 revenue increased by $347 million (118%) over Q3 2017 primarily driven by higher West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") prices on increased marketed and terminalled oil volumes. In addition, the Newalta acquisition contributed $53 million . YTD 2018 revenue increased by $455 million (41%) over YTD 2017 due to the same reasons as Q3 2018. (118%) over Q3 2017 primarily driven by higher West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") prices on increased marketed and terminalled oil volumes. In addition, the Newalta acquisition contributed . YTD 2018 revenue increased by (41%) over YTD 2017 due to the same reasons as Q3 2018. Tervita recognized a $2 million net loss for Q3 2018, consistent with the net loss in Q3 2017, as the improvement in Adjusted EBITDA and lower depreciation expense were offset by transaction costs related to the Arrangement as well as higher interest expense associated with new debt. net loss for Q3 2018, consistent with the net loss in Q3 2017, as the improvement in Adjusted EBITDA and lower depreciation expense were offset by transaction costs related to the Arrangement as well as higher interest expense associated with new debt. YTD net profit improved by $17 million over 2017 YTD to $1 million primarily due to the improvement in Adjusted EBITDA and a decrease in corporate expenses and depreciation, partially offset by transaction costs and interest expense. In addition, the YTD 2017 net loss included the recognition of a $12 million onerous contract provision for head office space and $6 million of legal provisions. over 2017 YTD to primarily due to the improvement in Adjusted EBITDA and a decrease in corporate expenses and depreciation, partially offset by transaction costs and interest expense. In addition, the YTD 2017 net loss included the recognition of a onerous contract provision for head office space and of legal provisions. General and Administrative ("G&A") costs YTD 2018 improved from 11% to 8% of revenue (excluding energy marketing) compared to YTD 2017, reflecting our continued focus on overhead cost discipline. Excluding severance and $3 million from acquired Newalta operations G&A YTD 2018 decreased by $2 million over YTD 2017. from acquired Newalta operations G&A YTD 2018 decreased by over YTD 2017. Tervita spent $48 million on capital projects in the YTD 2018, a $12 million increase over YTD 2017. Virtually all the increased spending was directed towards expansion and customer growth activities focused in the higher activity areas of Energy Services. Operational Highlights Tervita's acquisition of Newalta positively impacted our Q3 2018 and combined YTD 2018 Divisional EBITDA with a contribution of $20 million . Q3 2018 and YTD 2018 Divisional EBITDA were also positively impacted by our growth in terminalled and marketed oil volumes in the Montney play and throughout our expansive network due to pricing inefficiencies created by a shortage of egress pipeline capacity in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin ("WCSB"). play and throughout our expansive network due to pricing inefficiencies created by a shortage of egress pipeline capacity in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin ("WCSB"). Energy Services Q3 2018 Divisional EBITDA increased $32 million , 74% ahead of Q3 2017 to $75 million , with $19 million from the Newalta acquisition. The remaining increase was due to the increased volumes at our Treatment Recovery and Disposal ("TRD") facilities and higher soil remediation volumes at landfills, including volumes sourced from environmental services related-projects from Industrial Services. , 74% ahead of Q3 2017 to , with from the Newalta acquisition. The remaining increase was due to the increased volumes at our Treatment Recovery and Disposal ("TRD") facilities and higher soil remediation volumes at landfills, including volumes sourced from environmental services related-projects from Industrial Services. Industrial Services Q3 2018 Divisional EBITDA was $10 million , $1 million ahead of Q3 2017 primarily due to acquired Newalta operations. Financial Highlights (1) Three Months Ended September 30 Nine Months Ended September 30 2018 2017 Increase (Decrease) % Change 2018 2017 Increase (Decrease) % Change Energy Services revenue Facilities revenue 117 73 44 60% 260 218 42 19% Onsite revenue 20 - 20 100% 20 - 20 100% Energy marketing revenue 439 161 278 173% 1,129 744 385 52% 576 234 342 146% 1,409 962 447 46% Industrial Services revenue 69 64 5 8% 168 162 6 4% Intersegment eliminations (3) (3) - 0% (5) (7) 2 -29% Revenue 642 295 347 118% 1,572 1,117 455 41% Revenue excluding energy marketing 203 134 69 51% 443 373 70 19% General and administrative expenses (14) (10) 4 40% (35) (41) (6) -15% Profit (loss) from continuing operations (2) (2) - 0% 1 (17) 18 106% - per share ($), basic and diluted (0.02) (0.02) - 0% 0.01 (0.16) 0.17 106% Net profit (loss) (2) (2) - 0% 1 (16) 17 106% - per share ($), basic and diluted (0.02) (0.02) - 0% 0.01 (0.15) 0.16 107% Adjusted EBITDA(1) 71 42 29 69% 141 116 25 22% - per share ($), basic and diluted 0.62 0.40 0.22 55% 1.30 1.11 0.19 17% Adjusted EBITDA margin(1) 35% 31% 4% 32% 31% 1% Energy Services Divisional EBITDA (1) 75 43 32 74% 154 125 29 23% Industrial Services Divisional EBITDA (1) 10 9 1 11% 21 24 (3) -13% Divisional EBITDA (1) 85 52 33 63% 175 149 26 17% Capital expenditures 19 17 2 12% 48 36 12 33% Discretionary free cash flow (1) 49 30 19 63% 82 64 18 28% Adjusted Working Capital (1) 88 71 17 24% 88 71 17 24% Total assets 1,859 1,257 602 48% 1,859 1,257 602 48% Total non-current financial liabilities 1,196 744 452 61% 1,196 744 452 61% Shares as at September 30 (000's of shares) (2) Shares outstanding 117,557 104,626 12,931 12% 117,557 104,626 12,931 12% Weighted average shares outstanding 114,887 104,626 10,261 10% 108,084 104,626 3,458 3% (1) Refer to Tervita's Q3 2018 Management's Discussion and Analysis and unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. These financial measures are Non-GAAP measures and are, therefore, unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. These Non-GAAP financial measures are defined and reconciled in Tervita's Q3 2018 MD&A. (2) As at November 14, 2018 Tervita had 117,557,112 common shares and 2,702,649 common share purchase warrants issued and outstanding. Outlook The evaluation of the combined businesses' expansion and growth opportunities over the next several years is underway and progressing well. In this current environment, we continue to see customer demand and opportunities for an attractive pipeline of organic growth capital projects. Assuming stable levels of market activity consistent with 2018, and in addition to Newalta transaction synergies, the pipeline of organic capital projects (including tuck-in acquisitions) continues to support double-digit growth in Adjusted EBITDA over the next two to three years. Tervita's Energy Services revenues are significantly underpinned by ongoing oil and gas production in Western Canada . While egress challenges exist, Western Canadian oil and gas production is expected to increase over 300 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day ("boepd") in 2018 and a further 200 thousand boepd in 2019 according to forecasts by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and National Energy Board. This is expected to provide stability to Tervita's ongoing revenues. . While egress challenges exist, Western Canadian oil and gas production is expected to increase over 300 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day ("boepd") in 2018 and a further 200 thousand boepd in 2019 according to forecasts by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and National Energy Board. This is expected to provide stability to Tervita's ongoing revenues. We believe above average Canadian price differentials will persist in 2019. This supports Tervita's ability to attract and optimize crude oil volumes throughout our expansive network of facilities and continue to assist our customers to maximize the price they receive for their products in a challenging environment. Drilling activity in Western Canada can be a significant driver of changes in Tervita's Energy Services revenues. Approximately 5.6 million metres were drilled in Q3 2018, 5% higher than Q3 2017. We expect the remainder of 2018 and 2019 drilling activity to remain relatively flat with YTD 2018 activity, as producers drill to maintain existing production volumes. can be a significant driver of changes in Tervita's Energy Services revenues. Approximately 5.6 million metres were drilled in Q3 2018, 5% higher than Q3 2017. We expect the remainder of 2018 and 2019 drilling activity to remain relatively flat with YTD 2018 activity, as producers drill to maintain existing production volumes. We anticipate revenues from our Industrial Services segment for project-related services, which are seasonal in nature, will decrease in Q4 2018 compared to Q3 2018. Although environmental project opportunities increased in 2018, the average revenue available on those projects has softened compared to prior years, particularly in Alberta , and we do not anticipate this will change for the rest of this year and into 2019. , and we do not anticipate this will change for the rest of this year and into 2019. We anticipate $8 -10 million of realized synergies in 2018 with $20 -22 million of annualized run rate synergies by the end of 2018. We continue to see $40 - $45 million in annualized synergies to Adjusted EBITDA with estimated one-time costs of $15 - $20 million . We estimate the synergies will take approximately 18 - 24 months from July 2018 to achieve. -10 million of realized synergies in 2018 with -22 million of annualized run rate synergies by the end of 2018. We continue to see - in annualized synergies to Adjusted EBITDA with estimated one-time costs of - . We estimate the synergies will take approximately 18 - 24 months from to achieve. We have reduced expected 2018 maintenance capital spending to $25 - $30 million from the previously disclosed $40 - $45 million . The reduction is due mainly to below budget and ahead of schedule execution of our summer projects, principally related to landfills. Additionally, our enterprise-wide planning resource system ("ERP") project was completed under budget. The remaining reduction is a result of deferring certain non-critical maintenance at recently added Newalta facilities. We continue to expect maintenance capital in the $40 million range for 2019. Tervita is focused on maintenance capital spending sufficient to provide the high quality, consistent level of service our customers have come to expect, and at the same time ensuring the capital discipline to deliver stable and significant Discretionary Free Cash Flow to the business appropriate to fully fund our pipeline of growth and expansion projects and continue to reduce balance sheet leverage. - from the previously disclosed - . The reduction is due mainly to below budget and ahead of schedule execution of our summer projects, principally related to landfills. Additionally, our enterprise-wide planning resource system ("ERP") project was completed under budget. The remaining reduction is a result of deferring certain non-critical maintenance at recently added Newalta facilities. We continue to expect maintenance capital in the range for 2019. Tervita is focused on maintenance capital spending sufficient to provide the high quality, consistent level of service our customers have come to expect, and at the same time ensuring the capital discipline to deliver stable and significant Discretionary Free Cash Flow to the business appropriate to fully fund our pipeline of growth and expansion projects and continue to reduce balance sheet leverage. The majority of planned 2018 spending towards brownfield growth and expansion projects has proceeded on budget and as scheduled. This includes new disposal wells, the expansion of four of our landfills, and the engineering and preparation work for several smaller opportunities to grow Energy Services, including energy marketing, capacity in the Alberta Montney and Duvernay and in the British Columbia Montney. The 2018 landfill expansion program was completed on schedule and under budget. Expansion projects at two of our TRD facilities in the Alberta Montney were delayed as part of the post-close evaluation of expansion and growth opportunities. These two projects are now underway. Most of the remaining spend is anticipated to be complete by the second half of 2019 and supports the continued growth in our customer service offerings and financial performance. and in the British Columbia Montney. The 2018 landfill expansion program was completed on schedule and under budget. Expansion projects at two of our TRD facilities in the Alberta Montney were delayed as part of the post-close evaluation of expansion and growth opportunities. These two projects are now underway. Most of the remaining spend is anticipated to be complete by the second half of 2019 and supports the continued growth in our customer service offerings and financial performance. After adjusting for the above noted changes, we anticipate total 2018 capital spending, including maintenance, growth and expansion, to be approximately $75 - $85 million . Management's Discussion and Analysis and Financial Statements The Q3 2018 MD&A and Interim Financial Statements, which contain additional notes and disclosures, are available on SEDAR under Tervita Corporation at www.SEDAR.com or on our website at www.tervita.com on the Investor Relations page. Third Quarter 2018 Conference Call Tervita will host a conference call on Thursday November 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. MT to discuss details related to the third quarter. To participate in the conference call, dial 647-427-7450 or toll free 1-888-231-8191. To access the simultaneous webcast, please visit www.tervita.com. For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped broadcast will be available at www.tervita.com and, until midnight on Thursday November 22, 2018 by dialing 855-859-2056 and using the pass code 1691305. About Tervita Tervita has close to 40 years of operational experience in Canada as a leading environmental solutions provider. Our integrated earth, water, waste and resource solutions deliver safe and efficient results through all phases of a project by minimizing impact, maximizing returns. Our dedicated employees are trusted sustainability partners to oil and gas, construction, mining, government and communities. Safety is our highest priority: it influences our actions and shapes our culture. Tervita trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the trading symbol TEV. For more information visit Tervita.com. Advisories Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain statements that may be "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are often, but not always, identified using words or phrases such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "estimated", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or stating that certain actions, events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "might", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved or other similar terminology. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements or information pertaining to, the expected continued benefits of the Arrangement involving Tervita and Newalta, our plans and objectives for future operations, anticipated operational and financial performance (including expected synergies and cost reductions), the nature of our operations since completion of the Arrangement, our growth strategy and our ability to take advantage of future growth opportunities, our cash flow, liquidity and financial position, our expectations regarding our maintenance capital spending, growth and expansion capital projects and sources of funding for our capital program, our expectations regarding condensate-directed activity, our expectations regarding higher oil and gas industry activity, our expectations regarding pipeline capacity constraints and their effect on our operations, our expectations regarding unfavourable seasonal conditions in respect of our Industrial Services segment, our expectations that oil and gas producers will continue to outsource waste by-product treatment and disposal and that it is difficult for third parties to replicate the expensive footprint of our facilities. By their nature, forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown opportunities, costs, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results; to differ materially from those anticipated. Risks and uncertainties that may affect actual results include, without limitation, our ability to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement, decreases in exploration, drilling and production activity levels in the markets where we offer our services, customers may decide to no longer outsource their waste management and other environmental service activities, risks related to non-compliance with environmental laws or delays resulting from such non-compliance, legislative and regulatory initiatives that impact our business, competition, fluctuations in commodity prices and exchange rates and volatility in global financial conditions. With respect to the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release, Tervita has made assumptions regarding, among other things: our ability to integrate our business with that of Newalta, the realization of the anticipated benefits and other synergies and cost savings of the Arrangement, the stability of the industries in which we operate, the creditworthiness of our customers, commodity prices, no material changes in the legislative and operating framework our business, our ability to access capital, our ability to successfully market our business in the areas in which we operate, conditions of the oil and gas industry in our current and proposed market, general economic, business and market conditions, our future debt levels and the impact of increasing competition. Although Tervita believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements and information are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Tervita's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Tervita undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. The forward-looking statements and information included in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Tervita cautions that the foregoing list of assumptions, risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and Tervita does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, change in management's estimates or opinions, future circumstances or events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. Any financial outlook in this document, as defined by applicable securities legislation has been approved by management of Tervita. Such financial outlook is provided with the purpose of providing information about management's current expectation and management's plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Certain financial measures in this news release are not prescribed by Internal Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and therefore are considered non-GAAP measures. All non-GAAP measures presented herein do not have any standardized meaning and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Therefore, these non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. All non-GAAP measures are included because management uses the information to analyze operating performance and results, and therefore may be considered useful information by investors. Any non-GAAP measure presented herein has been identified and the applicable definition and reconciliation of such non-GAAP measure can be found in Tervita's Q3 2018 MD&A. SOURCE Tervita Corporation Related Links http://www.tervita.com/ LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientology Network's INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY, the exclusive series that provides unprecedented access to the facilities and behind-the-scenes operations of the Church of Scientology, presents Archival Project on Nov. 19, 2018. INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network. ABOUT THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY'S ARCHIVAL PROJECT Throughout history, every religion has sought to preserve its scripture against decay, and Scientology alone had all its original material fully intact. But paper and magnetic recordings deteriorate over time and, hence, the writings and recorded lectures of founder L. Ron Hubbard, which form the scripture of Scientology, had a finite lifespan one that was about to expire. This episode explores the church's race against time to safeguard those materials, the very substance of the religion itself. It's the story of how passion and perseverance fueled one of the largest independent archival projects in history. Cameras venture into the flexible underground vault designed to withstand even a nuclear blast exploring the engineering of innovative time capsules where the church's sacred scripture is stored. This fascinating episode illuminates how an elite team of experts drew on ancient techniques and pioneered new technology to defy the elements, preserving the church scripture and ensuring that it will survive the test of time. The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in 237 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists; showing the church as a global organization and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross-section of cultures and faiths, but share a common purpose of uplifting communities. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network can be streamed at Scientology.TV and is available through satellite television, mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. CONTACT: Media Relations (323) 960-3500 [email protected] Related Images behind-the-scenes-operations.jpg race-against-time.jpg inside-the-flexible-underground.jpg archival-project.jpg Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LskCS7ft58s SOURCE Scientology Network Related Links https://www.scientology.tv/series/inside-scientology/scientology-media-productions.html SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectra today announced it ranked 116th on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Vectra grew 1,099 percent during this period. Vectra CFO Howie Shohet, credits the company's growth to how its Cognito platform enables enterprise security teams to detect the behaviors of cyberattackers that have evaded other security controls to prevent loss of critical data. "We are honored to be recognized on Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 list," said Shohet. "This recognition validates our customers' adoption of AI to address the requirement to automate real-time cyberattack detection and empower threat hunting." "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 143 percent to 77,260 percent from 2014 to 2017, with median growth of 412 percent. About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. 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 About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. SOURCE Vectra Related Links http://vectra.ai VANCOUVER, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Pacton Gold Inc. (TSXV: PAC, OTC: PACXF, FSE: 2NKN) (the "Company" or "Pacton") is pleased to announce that it has scheduled a helicopter and ground supported rock chip sampling and detailed geological mapping program on its 62 km2 Boodalyerrie tenement (E 45/3586). Boodalyerrie is located 85 km northeast of the town of Nullagine, and Novo Resources Corp's (TSXV: NVO) Beatons Creek project. (Figure 1). Highlights of exploration undertaken at Boodalyerrie to date: Multiple quartz vein reefs extend over a total cumulative strike length of at least 23 km within an area of 25 km 2 , and range in thickness between 1 to 10 m Significant high-grade rock chip samples of up to 200g/t Au (Plenty River Corporation Ltd, 2000) Channel sampling results of up to 3 m at 88.6g/t Au (Plenty River Corporation Ltd, 2000 ) Multiple small scale historic high grade workings documented Potential exists for high-grade vein hosted gold mineralizing system associated with the Yilgalong Granite quartz veins. Target style has never been drill tested Although half of the Boodalyerrie tenement is covered by sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Fortescue Group, including surface exposures of the Mount Roe, Hardey and Kylena formations, the focus of the immediate exploration program will be to define the extents and controls of gold mineralization within steeply dipping quartz veins hosted in older Archean granitic basement rocks. This extensive swarm of gold-bearing, quartz veins have thicknesses ranging from 1 to 10 m and extend along strike lengths of up to 2.5 km throughout a 25 km2 area. Geological mapping indicates that the veins were emplaced into the Archean granitic basement rocks before the deposition of the overlying Fortescue Group. Accordingly, the mapped vein system is expected to extend under the thin cover of Fortescue formations. (Figures 2 & 3). Exploration conducted in 2000, indicated the Boodalyerrie veins are prominent, protruding surface features that dip steeply in a north and north west criss-cross pattern and extend along strike for several kilometers. The 1 m to 10 m thick veins are composed of white and/or grey quartz, and carry minor sulphides, principally pyrite and galena. Surface and grab samples have been reported by Plenty River Corporation Ltd, in 2000, as grading up to 200 g/t gold, and with a channel sample returning 88.6 g.t gold over 3 m. Image analysis suggests that a secondary target type of interest consists of dense swarms of smaller quartz vein stockworks that extend throughout the tenement. (Figure 5). Pacton has not independently verified the Boodalyerrie sampling results but considers them to be sufficiently reliable to justify more detailed exploration. Mr. Robert Jewson, BSc., Mineral Exploration & Mining Geology, and Managing Director of Geonomics Australia will be supervising the implementation of the Boodalyerrie exploration program. The November-December Boodalyerrie work program will consist of detailed geological mapping and rock chip sampling in order to define the controls and extents of mineralization. Unexplored parts of the vein swarm, together with areas of intense vein stockworks will be mapped and surface sampled. Additionally, a preliminary reconnaissance sampling program will be undertaken in the southwestern portion of the Boodalyerrie tenement, which is underlain by the Mount Roe and Hardey formations of the Fortescue Group. About Pacton Gold Pacton Gold is a well-financed Canadian junior with key strategic partners focused on the exploration and development of conglomerate-hosted gold properties located in the district-scale Pilbara gold rush in Western Australia. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved Peter Caldbick, P.Geo., a director of the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. The qualified person has not yet verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in the written disclosure. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF PACTON GOLD INC. Alec Pismiris Interim President & CEO This news release contains or refers to forward-looking information based on current expectations, including, but not limited to the Company completion of the proposed transaction described herein, the prospect of the Company achieving success in exploring its properties and the impact on the Company of these events, including the effect on its share price. Forward-looking information is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, as actual results may differ materially from forecasted results. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. Neither TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their 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 SOURCE Pacton Gold Inc. Washington, Nov 15 : More than 600 undocumented immigrants were detained along the Arizona-Mexico border in the last 48 hours, according to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Most of them are groups of families or unaccompanied juveniles from Guatemala, who, totalling to 654 immigrants, voluntarily surrendered to CBP agents in different operations on Monday and Tuesday, the federal agency said on Wednesday. However, these migrants have no connection with the caravan that, coming from Honduras, currently travels through Mexico, Efe news reported. They entered the country illegally near the border crossing of San Luis, where, according to the federal agency, there is an "outdated" border wall infrastructure that allows migrants to cross. CBP further said that "larger numbers have started to illegally cross shallow portions of the Colorado River near Yuma". The statement added that "at approximately 8.30 pm Monday night, a group of 55 Central Americans waded across the river near County 9th Street and surrendered to agents after walking around vehicle barriers. The area lacks infrastructure that would deter pedestrian entries." Detentions of groups of immigrants continue to be made at the Arizona-Mexico border although the administration of President Donald Trump announced last week new regulations that would prevent those who enter the country illegally from seeking political asylum. Those who want to request this type of protection must now present themselves at the ports of entry along the border with Mexico. Currently, in the border town of Nogales, Arizona, there are more than 60 families waiting their turn to apply for political asylum. CBP indicated that during the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, arrests within the Yuma Sector were up over 150 per cent, compared to the same date in the previous fiscal year. Washington/Jakarta, Nov 15 : Boeing was facing mounting pressure over last month's Indonesia plane crash as the owner of the doomed jet joined a US pilots' group in alleging that the company failed to warn pilots about potential hazards of a new safety feature. Zwingli Silalahi, Lion Air's operational director, told CNN on Wednesday that the manual for Boeing's 737 MAX 8, the model that crashed into the Java Sea last month killing all 189 on board, did not include a warning about a critical feature that could cause the plane to dive. Zwingli said the manual did not tell pilots that in certain situations, the plane's stall-prevention system could automatically trigger a response, such as lowering the airplane's nose, to prevent or exit a stall. "We don't have that in the manual of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. That's why we don't have the special training for that specific situation," he said. Investigators were examining whether a sensor on the outside of the plane transmitted incorrect data that could have triggered the stall-prevention system. The airline's claims come after Boeing was similarly accused on Tuesday by the Allied Pilots Association (APA) of withholding information about the potential danger of the plane's new features. Lion Air Flight 610 crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta on October 29. Investigators believe the MAX 8 plane may have experienced problems with several sensors. Boeing said last week that a safety bulletin issued to aircraft operators in the wake of the crash was merely meant to reinforce existing procedures. Both Lion Air and the APA have now rejected the company's assertion. Zwingli added that Boeing's safety bulletin did not suggest additional training for pilots operating that aircraft. "We didn't receive any information from Boeing or from regulator about that additional training for our pilots," he told CNN. Mumbai, Nov 15 : Filmmaker Milan Luthria has been roped in to direct the debut film of actor Suniel Shetty's son Ahan. A tweet from the official account of Nadiadwala Grandson welcoming Luthria read: "A great journey is about to begin! Another step for Ahan Shetty's debut, welcoming the new member Milan Luthria to the NGE Family." Luthria is known for directing films like "The Dirty Picture", "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai", "Kachche Dhaage", and "Baadshaho". Ahan will make his debut with the remake of Telugu hit "RX 100", which will release in 2019. It is being bankrolled by Sajid Nadiadwala. The Telugu version of "RX 100", a drama film, stars Kartikeya Gummakonda and Payal Rajput in the lead. Other details about the film are still under wraps. Singapore, Nov 15 : US President Mike Pence on Thursday reiterated Washington's firm commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) during the bloc's annual summit here. Describing Asean as an "irreplaceable and indispensable" strategic partner, Pence said the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region was "steadfast and enduring", reports Efe news. "In all that we do, the US seeks collaboration, not control," he said. Pence, who attended the summit in the place of US President Donald Trump, emphasised the security principles that his country shares with the group, including freedom of maritime navigation and border guarantees. "We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific," Pence said in an apparent reference to the territorial disputes that China has with four Asean members (Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines), as well as Taiwan, over islands in the South China Sea. Asean, comprised of Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, has been holding its annual leaders' summit in the city-state, as well as staging meetings with some of its main partners, including the US, China, Japan, Russia, Australia and India. The Chinese version of the Goncourt Prize, the most prestigious award in French literature, will be presented for the first time on Nov. 24 in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, according to a press conference held in the city Tuesday. The winner of the "Le Choix Goncourt de la Chine" prize will be selected from four French literary works, designated by France's Goncourt Academy, by a jury comprised of celebrated professors in francophone literature from Chinese universities, including Peking University, Beijing Foreign Studies University and Wuhan University. Such prizes have been founded in over 10 countries and regions, including Belgium, Spain, Italy and Switzerland, whereas China is the first in Asia, said Didier Kimmoun, cultural attache of the French consulate general in Wuhan. "China has been a major importer of French literature in the past few years, and the establishment of Le Choix de la Chine will further enhance the exchange between French and Chinese literary circles," said Olivier Guyonvarch, French consul general in Wuhan. A variety of sideline activities will also be held, including lectures and film screenings. The Goncourt Prize is France's oldest prize in literature, and given by Goncourt Academy to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year." London, Nov 15 : Oxford Dictionaries announced that it has chosen "toxic" as its annual "Word of the Year", arguing that it was "the sheer scope of its application that has made it the standout choice". Strictly defined as "poisonous", Oxford Dictionaries said on its website Thursday that its research showed that "this year more than ever, people have been using 'toxic' to describe a vast array of things, situations, concerns and events", CNN reported. "In its original, literal use, to refer to poisonous substances, 'toxic' has been ever-present in discussions of the health of our communities, and our environment," it said, pointing, among other examples, to the recent increase in discussion surrounding the "toxicity of plastics". But it adds that "toxic" has "truly taken off into the realm of metaphor, as people have reached for the word to describe workplaces, schools, cultures, relationships and stress". Oxford Dictionaries said that the "Me Too" movement has "put the spotlight on toxic masculinity" whereas in politics more broadly "the word has been applied to the rhetoric, policies, agendas and legacies of leaders and governments around the globe". Part of Oxford University Press (OUP), a department of the University of Oxford, the dictionary has, in the past, turned to neologisms to describe the zeitgeist, CNN said. In 2017, its Word of the Year was "youthquake", defined as "a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people". Previous years have also been influenced by the political landscape, with 2016 taking its cue from the Brexit referendum and US presidential election to choose "post-truth" as its word. The year before, however, it broke with tradition to choose the "tears of joy" emoji. The Oxford Dictionaries' Word of the Year is chosen from a shortlist "drawn from evidence gathered by (its) extensive language research programmr, including the Oxford Corpus, which gathers around 150 million words of current English from web-based publications each month". New Delhi, Nov 15 : President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended their greetings to the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day on Thursday. "Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on Statehood Day. The state is blessed with vast natural resources and a rich culture that we are all proud of. May Jharkhand go from strength to strength in the years to come," the President tweeted. Jharkhand celebrating its 18th foundation day. The Prime Minister in his congratulatory tweet, wished for progress in the state that has been at the centre of Maoist insurgency. "Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day. With the blessings of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, may this state scale new heights of growth and glory in the coming years," he said. Jharkhand celebrates Statehood Day commemorating the birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda, who was an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. New Delhi, Nov 15 : Former US First Lady, Michelle Obama is distressed by the "behaviour and political agenda" of US President Donald Trump but has "no intention of running for office", she has stated in her just published memoir. Her recent return to the public eye with quite a few social initiatives on voting and girls' education had left many wondering if the former First Lady was planning to run for President in 2020. She has responded directly in the epilogue of her memoir "Becoming", a copy of which is with IANS. "Because people often ask, I'll say it here directly: I have no intention of running for office, ever. I've never been a fan of politics, and my experience over the last ten years have done little to change that," she has stated. She elaborates that she continues to be "put off by the nastiness", expressing uncomfort at "the tribal segregation of the red and blue, this idea that we are supposed to choose one side and stick to it, unable to listen and compromise, or sometimes even to be civil". She acknowledges that politics, "at its best", can be an instrument of positive change but maintains that this (political) arena is "just not for me". Obama, an American lawyer, university administrator, and writer who was the first African-American First Lady, however, asserts that her unwillingness to run for office is not to suggest that she does not care deeply about the future of her country. "Since Barack (Obama, her husband and the 44th U.S. President) left office, I've read news stories that turn my stomach. I've lain awake at night, fuming over what's come to pass." She says that "the behaviour and political agenda of the current president" has been "distressing" for her as it has led to many Americans doubting themselves and fearing one another. "It's been hard to watch as carefully built, compassionate policies have been rolled back, as we've alienated some of our closest allies and left vulnerable members of our society exposed and dehumanised. I sometimes wonder where the bottom might be," she adds. Notwithstanding her distress, she quips that she is not going to allow herself to be "cynical". "In my most worried moments, I take a breath and remind myself of the dignity and decency I've seen in people throughout my life, the many obstacles that have already been overcome." She describes "optimism" as an "antidote to fear" and reminds her readers that everybody plays a role in American democracy. She presses on the "need to remember power of every vote". "Becoming" is part of the two-book agreement -- one by Barack Obama and one by Michelle Obama -- that has reportedly earned a $65 million advance. Singapore, Nov 15 : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte missed several meetings at the Asean summit because he was taking "power naps", the presidential office said on Thursday. Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President missed four scheduled events on Wednesday and had "worked late and had only less than three hours of sleep", the BBC reported. Duterte and other world leaders are in Singapore attending the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) meeting. When asked if he was fully rested, Duterte added that the naps were "still not good enough, but enough to sustain the endurance for the last days". Panelo also clarified that Duterte's absence had "nothing to do with his health". The 73-year-old defended his actions, saying: "What's wrong with my nap?" Duterte has previously missed events at other international summits as well as in the Philippines. His health has been a constant source of speculation over the year, and he revealed in October that he had a cancer scare. But Duterte wasn't the only official caught napping at this year's Asean meetings. A Washington Post columnist captured a picture of South Korean president Moon Jae-in, in which he appeared to be asleep. Singapore, Nov 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reaffirmed India's cooperation in the maritime domain during a India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Breakfast Summit here. "Reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain and centrality of trade and investment towards prosperity of Indo-Pacific," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting. Under New Delhi's Act East Policy, India has been increasing its engagements with the Asean regional bloc. The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. In January 2018, India hosted the Asean-India Commemorative Summit to celebrate 25 years of dialogue partnership, 15 years of summit-level interaction and five years of strategic partnership. In an unprecedented gesture, all 10 Asean leaders attended the Commemorative Summit and graced the Republic Day celebrations as chief guests. Rome, Nov 15 : Italy will only allow refugees and asylum seekers to enter Italy by plane, not on human trafficking boats, Italy's anti-migrant Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has said. "The only way to arrive... is by plane. Not aboard the people smugglers' boats which are operated by criminals who buy arms and drugs with their human trafficking revenues," Salvini told reporters on Wednesday. He spoke to the press at Pratica di Mare airport south of Rome where he greeted 51 refugees and asylum-seekers who arrived from Niger on Wednesday after they were held in detention centres in Libya and screened for international protection by the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Refugees and asylum seekers need not fear Italy's contested security and immigration decree, which toughens the rules for migrants, Salvini stated. "It doesn't change anything, whoever is granted international protection will be welcomed as they have been until now," he said. "I wish these kids the brightest future," he said, adding that he wanted to see fewer and fewer people forced to resort to human traffickers to escape conflicts in their homelands. The 51 refugees and asylum-seekers who arrived in Italy on Wednesday include three men and many mothers and children, mainly from Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan who will be sheltered in community homes across Italy run by a Catholic charity. Future humanitarian flights bringing refugees and asylum seekers to Italy will follow, Salvini said. New Delhi, Nov 15 : Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has asked the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to probe the sexual harassment cases from the All India Radio (AIR) stations across the country. Maneka's letter comes in response to reports that the women working as casual announcers in AIR's stations are being sexually harassed. "I would like to submit that the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act is equally applicable to a woman employee irrespective of her being a permanent, temporary or a casual employee," the Minister wrote in the letter. She also said that despite the women complaining to the appropriate authorities, no action has been taken so far. "I understand that an organisation would have a natural tendency to dismiss a casual woman employee the moment she reports sexual harassment. But this is not good. A responsible organisation must provide justice to each and every woman if she complains of sexual harassment," she added. New Delhi, Nov 15 : "Kabali" director Pa. Ranjith is excited to trace the life of freedom fighter Birsa Munda on the big screen and says the film will appeal to Indian as well as international audiences. After the release of "Beyond The Clouds", producer duo Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishor Arora are collaborating with Ranjith for the biopic on the life of the tribal leader, who was an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. "When I first read about Birsa seven years back, in Mahasweta Devi's 'Aranyer Adhikar' ('Jangal Ke Davedar' in Hindi), I knew that one day I will narrate this story," Ranjith said in a statement. "When Namah Picture's Shareen, Kishor and I met to discuss Birsa early this year, we realised that we shared the same passion to narrate this inspiring story that will make a brilliant feature film, which will appeal to the Indian audience as well as the international audience. "I am happy to be working with Namah and excited by the commitment that they have expressed towards telling Birsa's story. Birsa's life transcends time and I am sure it will inspire the audience, as it has all of us," he added. On the occasion of Munda's birth anniversary on Thursday, the makers announced the film. The makers have also acquired the rights of "'Jangal Ke Davedar". Kedia said: "The life and times of Birsa Munda are an inspiration and it's a remarkable story that needs to be told. There are very few parallels in history of so much being achieved at such a young age. "We at Namah Pictures feel privileged to bring this story to screen and are excited to collaborate with Pa.Ranjith to direct the film." Singapore, Nov 15 : US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday confirmed that a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would take place next year. The first summit between Trump and Kim was held on June 12 in Singapore, in which the North Korean leader had agreed to work towards denuclearizing the country and the US President had guaranteed security for the regime, reports Efe news. "We believe that the summit will likely occur after the first of the year, but the when and where of that is still being worked out," Pence told the media here after meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Trump said last week that the meeting with Kim would take place at the beginning of 2019 and added that he was happy with the discussions with Pyongyang, despite recent reports that missile bases in North Korea remained active. Pence said that Trump was determined to maintain sanctions and maximum pressure on the North Korean regime to avoid a repeat of past mistakes, referring to Pyongyang not sticking to commitments once sanctions were lifted. The US Vice President lauded Chinese efforts on the issue and added that Trump would discuss North Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two meet in Buenos Aires later this month during the G20 summit. Pence stressed the need to maintain close collaboration between Washington and Seoul after his meeting with Moon in which the two leaders formally approved the objective of achieving a complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, set to conclude on Thursday. Kolkata, Nov 15 : Twice Oscar-nominated director Roland Joffe will return to India for his next film -- his third venture in the country -- in spring. This time, he will be shooting in the idyllic hills of Darjeeling. "It's a love story at its core that revolves around the life of a young Catholic Brother, his love for children and humanity, and the confrontation that follows when he falls irrevocably in love with a woman," says Andy Khaitan, CEO of Los Angeles-based Mridula Productions LLC, which is producing the film. Kolkata-born Khaitan, who also wrote the screenplay, says he "got lucky" when Joffe agreed to direct the film, titled "Sweet Surrender". "I knew he (Joffe) would be the perfect director for 'Sweet Surrender'," Khaitan told IANS over email. "He has enormous love for India, especially Calcutta, and it would be fun working with him there." Though some scenes will be shot in Kolkata, the film will be shot primarily in Darjeeling -- preferably in Kurseong town where Khaitan went to school. Shooting is tentatively scheduled for April-May 2019. "When I was in 8th or 9th grade in Kurseong (1978-1979), I came to know that one of our favourite Brothers didn't come back to school that year because he fell in love with a woman and decided to renounce Brotherhood. That thought stuck with me for several years," said Khaitan, explaining his choice of locales, and what inspired the film. The storyline appealed to Joffe, whose 1986 film "The Mission", starring Robert De Niro, told the story of conflict between Jesuit missionaries trying to convert Guarani Indians in South America, and Portuguese and Spanish colonisers who wanted to enslave the natives. Joffe earned an Oscar nomination for Best Director for "The Mission", which went on to win an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. He had earlier been nominated for the 1984 film "The Killing Fields". He also has two films based in India -- "City of Joy" (1992) and "The Lovers" (2013); Patrick Swayze starred in the first and Josh Hartnett in the next. Indian stars in the two films included Om Puri, Shabana Azmi and Bipasha Basu. Khaitan says "Sweet Surrender", too, will have an ensemble of Indian, European and American actors, with the lead actors being from Hollywood and the UK. "Casting is in progress and the names will be released when they are set." The $10-million film does not have an Indian partner yet, but Khaitan says he is open to the idea. "This is an international film, geared toward a worldwide theatrical release, and India has a huge film-going audience, so it would only be prudent to have an Indian partner." (Anik Basu can be contacted at basu.anik@gmail.com) You are here: Arts China National Theater for Children's last new drama of 2018, The See-Saw Tree will premiere at China Children Art Theater on Dec 22 as a new year's gift for children. The See-Saw Tree is an original drama written by David Wood, an English writer whom The Timescalled "the National Children's Dramatist". This time, artists from China and Britain will cooperate to reproduce the classic drama on the Chinese stage. British dramatist Adam Stafford and Chinese director Mao Ernan will jointly direct this drama. By discussing whether to cut down a 300-year-old oak, the drama promotes environmental protection with vivid performance. According to Yin Xiaodong, the president of CNTC, introducing foreign classic works symbolizes CNTC's broad-mindedness and cultural confidence. "I hope we can maintain its original style as a British drama, and also show Chinese artists' understanding of this work," said Yin. Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 15 : An all-party meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday ahead of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season starting on Friday failed to end the temple row, with the Congress-led UDF and the BJP walking out. After the meeting, Vijayan met representatives of the Pandalam royal family, the Sabarimala Tantri and the Travancore Devasom Board (TDB). The opposition accused Vijayan of sticking to his original stand that the government would abide by the apex court directive. The all-party meeting was called soon after the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay its September 28 verdict which allowed all females, including those in the hitherto banned age group of 10-50, to pray at the temple. The meeting ended after when United Democratic Front (UDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders announced they had to walk out as Vijayan insisted that his government had to abide by the apex court ruling. Both in his opening and closing remarks, Vijayan insisted that the law of the land was above issues of faith. "The state government is not at all prejudiced. The Supreme Court on two occasions has made its point very clear. Hence the state government has to abide by the verdict," said Vijayan. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala told the media: "This was a golden opportunity for the Kerala government to see things in perspective as the temple opens tomorrow (Friday). But Vijayan was adamant that the temple tradition will have to be breached. "We just cannot agree to anything that affects the emotion of the Sabarimala devotees. So we felt there was no point in continuing with the meeting," he said. State BJP President P.S. Sreedharan Pillai the meeting was a waste of time. "The meeting was just dramatics. Its script was done at the CPI-M headquarters. The attitude of the government is now clear. It is to thrash the devotees who come for the pilgrimage. We will continue with our protests," said Pillai. A fresh two-month festival season at Sabarimala starts on Friday at 5 p.m. It ends on January 20. Speaking to the media, Pandalam royal family member K.P.S. Varma said there was no change in their stand on the entry of women into the temple. "The meeting was very cordial and the CM presented his views. We said we will have to talk about it in detail," said Varma. Sabarimala Tantri Kanteraru Rajeeveru said his plea to women was: "Please do not come to the temple." Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra reached the temple town on Thursday morning to oversee the security arrangements. Around 5,000 police officials will be posted in and around the town. According to the temple authorities, more than 800 women in the banned age group have already registered in the virtual Q online system and have taken their time for visiting the temple. Riyadh, Nov 15 : Saudi prosecutors said on Thursday that they have requested the death penalty for five people who they say were involved in murdering Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A total of 11 people were charged, the Saudi Public Prosecutor's office said, adding that the five people facing capital punishment were directly involved in "ordering and executing the crime", according to a report in CNN. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, was killed inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 after he went there to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. The Saudis had presented conflicting stories about the journalist's death, initially denying any knowledge before arguing that a group of rogue operators were responsible for his death. After the kingdom admitted that Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Turkey, five high-ranking officials were dismissed, including Bin Salman's media chief and the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence service, and 18 people were arrested. New Delhi, Nov 15 : OYO Hotels on Thursday announced the appointment of Aditya Ghosh, who headed the budget carrier IndiGo as its President until July, as the company's CEO for India and South Asia, with effect from December 1. "Aditya is entrusted with the responsibility to oversee and grow OYO Hotels business in South Asia, which will include India, Nepal and the other upcoming markets in the region," OYO Hotels said in a statement. The company said he will report to Ritesh Agarwal, founder and Group CEO, OYO Hotels and Homes. Agarwal said: "As we grow our business, we feel it is essential to continue to invest in building one of the most influential leadership teams and bringing in professionals with an entrepreneurial mindset and from diverse backgrounds, that can help lead the next wave of growth at OYO Hotels." New Delhi, Nov 15 : In a bid to expand business geography, home diagnostic service provider Healthians on Thursday announced that it is set to hire 1,500 employees in the next 12 months. The 1,500 new employees would include 1,100 phlebotomists -- people trained to draw blood from a patient for clinical or medical testing --, lab technicians along with specialised wellness consultants with lifestyle disease expertise. "With a strong and growing presence in north India, we now aim to expand across the country and hire over 1,500 people," Deepak Sahni, CEO and Founder, at Healthians, said in a statement. "From being the India's largest trained fleet of phlebotomist, with the additional specialised force, Healthians will soon support the largest wellness team too," he added. Currently, Healthians has more than 500 employees in the team and this number is growing exponentially every month. The company has raised multiple rounds of funding from various investors including Yuvraj Singh's investment venture YouWeCan, Health Start and some of the marquee investors from Japan such as BEENEXT, Asuka Holdings and Digital Garage among others. Kolkata, Nov 15 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced the foundation of a new university for the Matua community here. Matuas are primarily Hindu refugees from Bangladesh and are considered to be Bengal's second most influential scheduled caste community, with an estimated population of nearly 30 lakh. The university, to be named after Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur -- the founding fathers of the sect, would be built on 8.1 acres of land in North 24 Parganas district's Chandpara, five km from the headquarters of All India Matua Mahasangha, the representative body of the community, Banerjee said at an event marking the birth centenary of Dalit Matua community matriarch Binapani Debi, better known as 'Baro-ma'. "The land has been identified and given to the Education Department for constructing the university," she added. "The Mahasangha has played a vital role in protesting against the atrocities on the poor. It has always promoted and believed in unity among all communities. The university is our gratitude for their contribution. We have also created Matua Sangha Vikash Parshad (welfare board)," the Chief Minister said. Banerjee also said she has instructed the state Tourism Department to build two gates for the 'Thakur-bari' -- the residence of the founding family -- and aesthetically decorate the premises. Accusing the Maharasthra government of stopping certain facilities given to the backward classes, Banerjee claimed the scheduled castes and minorities in Bengal are treated with respect and equality. "In Maharastra, many facilities for the scheduled caste community have been withdrawn. They are also not getting the caste certificate. That is not the case in Bengal. Here, our brothers and sisters of the scheduled castes, Matuas and minority communities stay together," she added. The Matuas have been a big political force behind Mamata Banarjee's win in the 2011 and 2016 legislative assembly elections in Bengal. Singapore, Nov 15 : A 48-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to 10 months in jail and banned from driving for eight years for killing an elderly woman in a fatal accident while he was drunk. Tibrewal Sunil Kumar, a Singapore permanent resident, was sentenced on Wednesday for the crash that took place in February 2016 and resulted in the death of 61-year-old Tan Powi Kim, the Strait Times reported. Deputy Public Prosecutor Li Yihong said the accident happened after a drinking session that lasted about nine hours. He was charged in the accident in November 2016. Kumar had initially failed a breathalyser test at the scene of the fatal accident, leading to his arrest. Later, a second analysis found that he had 32 microgrammes of alcohol -- three microgrammes under the limit, the report said. The Indian man in an intoxicated state had left Orchard Towers with a colleague around 6.20 a.m. on the day of the accident and was driving his black BMW on Collyer Quay towards Esplanade Drive when he started feeling sleepy. Kumar, then Vice-President of a firm here dealing with shipping vessels, was intending to take a bend when he took his eyes off the road and removed one hand from the steering wheel to wake his colleague who was travelling with him. This caused his car to swerve to the extreme left lane and hit Tan, who was standing at the rear of her stationary lorry. She was flung onto the roof of Kumar's car before landing on its bonnet, while her husband Cheng Kiat Yan, who was standing on the lorry's rear deck at the time sent flying onto the road. Tan was later pronounced dead in hospital while her husband Cheng sustained several injuries. Later, Kumar said he had been awake for more than 19 hours before the accident and failed to notice the lorry. He said he did apply the brakes but was unable to prevent the collision. He has appealed the sentence. New Delhi, Nov 15 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioning if the pact to buy 36 Rafale jets from France was at all a government-to-government deal. "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the Rafale cupboard: No guarantee by the French government backing the deal. "But, our Prime Minister says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful! That's enough to call this a government-to-government deal," Gandhi tweeted, adding "#BikGayaChowkidar" (watchman sold out). Gandhi's latest jibe at Modi comes a day after the Centre told the Supreme Court that there was no sovereign guarantee by the French government backing the deal but only a letter of comfort. The submission was made by Attorney General K.K. Venugopal before a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K.M. Joseph, which reserved its verdict on PILs on the fighter jet deal. New Delhi/Kolkata, Nov 15 : Great Eastern Energy Corporation (GEEC), leading Indian coal-bed methane (CBM) gas producing company, is planning to explore shale gas exploitation at its Raniganj (South) block in West Bengal, an official said on Thursday. The independent reserve engineers, Advance Resources International, Inc. has assessed original-gas-in-place (OGIP) of up to 9.25 trillion cubic feet (tcf) in the block, including estimated shale gas resource of 6.63 tcf and 2.62 tcf of CBM. "We are delighted to report the significant uplift in the OGIP for our Raniganj (South) block of up to 9.25 tcf, with an undiscounted value of $13.78 billion and a discounted value of $4.31 billion," company's Managing Director and CEO Prashant Modi said. He said the company believes the shale gas resources can be explored and developed cost-effectively in tandem with the ongoing CBM development programme through the sharing of surface and other infrastructure facilities. "We are currently planning the initial exploration programme for exploiting shale in our block. This is an opportunity for us to leap to the next level in the unconventional energy space. We continue to be confident and excited about the future of our Raniganj (South) block," he said. The company is currently producing gas at the block covering 210 sq. km and it has second licence for the Mannargudi block in Tamil Nadu, which covers 667 sq. km with 0.98 tcf of OGIP. According to the company, the centre has permitted exploration and exploitation of all types of hydrocarbons including shale resources under the existing CBM contracts. Mumbai, Nov 15 : Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, who has collaborated with megastar Amitabh Bachchan in several films and commercials, says the actor makes the atmosphere so relaxed and friendly that it hardly feels like work. "Shooting with him is more like having a fulfilling conversation with a friend, as we talk about movies, sports, books and all that's happening around the world. It never felt like work with him , although when he delivers a shot, it is always pitch perfect," Sircar said in a statement. After working together in hit films like "Pink" and "Piku", the actor-filmmaker duo has now joined forces for an advertisement in which Amitabh is playing a Sikh army man. On Big B's role in the commercial and how he used to get emotional while playing the character, Shoojit added: "Mr. Bachchan told me that every time he gets to play a Sikh character, he remembers his mother, Teji Bachchan. His mother was Sikh and representative of the robust Punjabi culture. "He feels that both his mother and his grand father would have been very proud to see him play a Sikh army man." Mumbai, Nov 15 : Bollywood's dancing diva Madhuri Dixit Nene will take Bollywood fans on a nostalgic trip as she pays tribute to her contemporary of the 1980s, the late Sridevi, at the third edition of Lux Golden Rose Awards. This year's event, to be held on Sunday, has extended its support to the UN's HeForShe cause and will see Bollywood's stalwarts lend their support for the initiative, where the men pledge to stand in solidarity with women and face gender inequality together. Madhuri will dance on superhit tracks of veterans Hema Malini and Rekha, but the highlight of the performance is scheduled to be a heartfelt tribute to Sridevi, a statement said. "When I was approached to do this performance, it left me both overwhelmed and excited. Given that the Awards are supporting the HeforShe movement, I thought it was also time for the women, especially in Bollywood, to celebrate each other and express solidarity with each other. "The Lux legends are truly iconic and inspirational, and my performance is purely to take fans down memory lane while reveling and celebrating their magic," Madhuri said. Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor and her "Dhadak" co-star Ishaan Khatter will put on an act inspired by their film at the event, to be co-hosted by Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawan. Janhvi said: "This stage is special to me because my mother was a Lux superstar. I am glad to be performing for my first ever awards night with my favourite co-actor and friend Ishaan, since he has always supported me up to this stage in my career. "Since this is my first performance, I am working extra hard on perfecting my moves and I hope the audiences will shower us with lots love again." Shah Rukh is looking forward to celebrate cinema's beautiful ladies. "Hosting for this very special audience has always thrilled me and continues to fill my heart with lots of love for these superwomen," he said. Varun said: "It is humbling and delightful to be chosen to host for the ladies. This ye'r's theme HeForShe is something I want to take a stand for. Shah Rukh Khan is the God of hosting and to get a chance to applaud the divas alongside him is a dream come true. I have coveted his title of the 'King of Romance' and 'Ladies Man' for a long time, and if I am able to live up even to half of his legacy, I will call myself fortunate." Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has also pledged his support to HeForShe, along with TV actors Nakuul Mehta and Mohit Malik. Ayushmann said: "As a part of the industry, it is our responsibility and not a choice to make the space we work in safe, equal and encouraging for growth for one and all. HeForShe states just that - standing in solidarity for positive change. "In my personal experience I have seen the kind of honesty and hard work my female co-actors have put in and if they are not given due credit then it is a pity for us and the industry as a whole." Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan said Wednesday that the ministry would provide full support for the development of private enterprises. Since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, private companies have become a new force for commercial development, contributing to 90 percent of domestic trade, 48 percent of export and 49 percent of overseas investment, Zhong said in an interview. "To support the development of the private economy, the ministry will encourage private firms to participate in trade fairs, including the China International Import Expo and the Canton Fair, take part in the Belt and Road Initiative, and go to free trade zones and overseas economic and trade cooperation zones," Zhong said. "The ministry will also give them better policies, including the implementation of policy on export rebates, trade financing and trade facilitation," he said. A more amicable environment will be created for the better development of private enterprises by further relaxing market access, improving filing-based management and promoting fair law enforcement, according to Zhong. "The ministry will also support private firms to explore overseas market and search for new methods of product distribution to expand consumption," he said. New Delhi, Nov 15 : The Congress on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of sabotaging country's interest to favour his "crony capitalist friends" and claimed the agreement to purchase the 36 French Rafale jets from France was in violation of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). Reiterating its demand for a JPC probe into the controversial deal, the opposition party also sought to know from the Prime Minister why he set a higher "benchmark price" and waived the bank guarantee or French government's sovereign guarantee. "The Prime Minister enhanced the benchmark price for Rafale by Euro 3 billion (Rs 22,743 crore). Why did he set a higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62,166 crore) from Euro 5.2 billion (Rs 39,422 )? Why did he waive the sovereign guarantee requirement," Congress spokeperson Randeep Singh Surjewala asked at a press conference. "The Prime Minister has gone as far as to sabotage the nation's interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends," he said. The Congress leader said the only forum to investigate the acts of "omission, commission and corruption" in the "biggest defence scam" of India is to have a Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) probe. Surjewala, later, in a statement said the negotiating team had a serious dispute on the fixing of benchmark price, which was referred to the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. "Parrikar as the head of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and the three armed forces chiefs also didn't agree and decide on the higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 billion (Rs 62,166 crore). DAC referred it to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by PM Modi and he in CCS accepted the higher benchmark price," he said. Surjewala also sought to know why National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was allowed to negotiate with the French, and not the negotiations committee of IAF and the Defence Ministry. "Did PM Modi ask him to do so and for what reason?" he asked. New Delhi, Nov 15 : Peak power demand in Delhi this winter is expected to go up to 4,800 MW and the two BSES discoms in the national capital are gearing up to ensure that adequate electricity is available in this period, the company said on Thursday. A BSES release said the peak power demand in BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) areas had reached 1,888 MW and 1,1136 MW, respectively, during last winter. "This year, it is expected to reach 1950 MW and 1225 MW for BRPL and BYPL respectively. Besides long-term arrangements, BSES discoms are also using advanced techniques like Banking and Backdown to dispose off surplus power and making arrangements to get power during summer months," the statement said. "In case of any unforeseeable contingency, BSES discoms will buy short term power from the exchange which is available at economical rates," it added. The company said that for taking care of the summer demand and to optimally manage the winter surplus, BSES discoms export and bank surplus electricity with other states. "BRPL will bank between 300 MW and 400 MW with states like Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. On its part, BYPL will return around 200 MW to states like Himachal Pradesh, from whom it had taken the quantum during the summer-months," a BSES official said. To better meet present day demand, BSES said it uses a mix of in-house advanced statistical forecasting models and state-of-the-art weather forecasting solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. "This accurate day ahead, intraday and medium term demand forecasting is vital for optimal and cost effective power planning, ensuring reliable power supply to consumers at an optimal cost," the spokesperson added. According to BSES, "the day ahead forecasting accuracy" achieved has been close to 97 per cent while that of intra-day accuracy upto 98 per cent. Dhaka/Naypyidaw, Nov 15 : Bangladesh on Thursday suspended the first planned phase of repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, officials said, citing a lack of volunteers. The first phase of their return to Myanmar, from where hundreds of thousands of them fled from a military crackdown in 2017, was due to begin on Thursday, as per an agreement signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar on November 23 that year. Dhaka and Naypyidaw had agreed to repatriate 2,251 refugees in the first batch. The process was expected to take two weeks with 150 people due to be transferred every day. The repatriation was to be done on voluntary basis. "We waited here until 4 p.m. but no one came", Bangladesh's Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Abul Kalam told Efe news. "It was already getting dark and Myanmar is one hour ahead of us, so we (...) suspended our activities today. We will now analyse the situation before we decide the next course of action". Over 723,000 members of the mostly Muslim minority fled to Bangladesh escaping a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state in August 2017. International observers, including the UN, had urged Bangladesh to halt the plan, warning that the repatriation would violate international law and put the lives of the Rohingyas at serious risk. Rohingya community leaders echoed those concerns, saying it was too soon to start the repatriation. "This repatriation is not going to be sustainable," said Abdur Rahim, a leader of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights. "They (Myanmar authorities) are going to keep people in camps," he said. Another community leader, Dil Mohammad, said the situation in Myanmar was not yet conducive for the refugees' return. "We will go back only if the security of our life and livelihood is ensured." A UN report released in September said the military campaign against Rohingyas in Rakhine had elements of genocidal intent and experts had found evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Myanmar classifies Rohingyas as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, denying them citizenship and imposing a number of restrictions, including limits on their freedom of movement. Colombo, Nov 15 : Sri Lankan lawmakers scuffled in Parliament on Thursday, a day after a no-confidence motion was passed against now disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, in the latest escalation of the political crisis that has left the country without an agreed Prime Minister or Cabinet. The session in the morning was abandoned after Rajapaksa's supporters rushed at Parliament's Speaker Karu Jayasuriya after he upheld the motion. "According to the no-confidence vote held yesterday, there is no Prime Minister or Cabinet of ministers as of now as all those posts are invalidated by the vote," he told Parliament. Following his remarks, a wastepaper basket, a folder and a copy of the Constitution were thrown at him, according to a report in Daily Mirror. The men in Parliament pushed and jostled each other. Some punched one another while others were seen tumbling down the stairs from the podium. The no-trust motion was passed on Wednesday, the first session of the Sri Lankan Parliament since the beginning of a constitutional crisis on October 26 when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister. Howvever, Sirisena late on Wednesday refused to accept the no-confidence vote, leaving a power vacuum. In a speech in Parliament on Thursday, Rajapaksa said he had stepped into the prime ministership to rescue the country from Wickremesinghe's "poor and corrupt leadership", not out of a hunger for power. "Even though the prime ministership and the presidency is a big deal to you, it's not for me. "When the President hands the country over to us in order to prevent a major catastrophe from taking place, it is our duty to accept that responsibility. I suggest that we take this matter before the 15 million-plus voters in the country instead of trying to resolve it among the 225 persons sitting in this house," he said. After the speech, the Speaker attempted to hold a vote for MPs to endorse or reject the remarks, but was unable to do so after MPs loyal to Rajapaksa rushed to approach his chair, were resisted by Wickremesinghe's supporters and the fighting broke out. Rajapaksa loyalist Dilum Amunugama got hurt as he tried to take the Speaker's microphone, bloodying his shirt. He was later admitted to hospital, the media reported. The Speaker, Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe all eventually left the chamber as the fighting continued. Harsha de Silva, an MP from Wickremesinghe's United National Party, said the violence was "the most shameful day in Parliament". The party later held a rally in Colombo's Lipton Square against the "suppression of democracy". They carried signs reading "Abolish the executive presidency" and "Chase away the rogue Cabinet". "Fake Prime Minister, better listen to the people and respect democracy. You have no confidence in the Legislature. Go for God's sake, Go!," De Silva tweeted. Wickremesinghe told the crowd: "Take this message to your villages. We will take this fight for democracy to every village." Around the same time, Rajapaksa announced he was lowering the cost of fuel from midnight -- both an assertion of his disputed power and an attempt to rally support around his leadership, according to the Guardian. The Parliament was adjourned till Friday afternoon due to the chaos. Dhaka, Nov 15 : A Bangladeshi court on Thursday granted bail to veteran photojournalist Shahidul Alam, who was arrested in August on charges of spreading anti-government propaganda. Alam, 63, was arrested on August 5 after he spoke to international broadcaster Al Jazeera about student protests demanding greater road safety in the country and has been in custody ever since. "The court granted bail to Shahidul Alam without setting any pre-conditions. We are expecting him to be released as soon as the order reaches the jail authorities," Alam's lawyer Jotirmoy Barua told Efe news. Barua said the process to release Alam from prison could take a day or two. The veteran photographer, whose arrest had sparked outrage in the country and globally, was accused of defaming the government and spreading rumours on social media regarding the student demonstrations. Alam was arrested under the controversial Information and Communication Technology Act, widely criticized by journalists and human rights organizations, who say the government uses the law to target dissidents. On September 19, Bangladesh had passed another controversial law -- the Digital Security Act -- also denounced as a tool for cracking down on freedom of expression. Singapore, Nov 15 : Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong handed over the presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-ocha at the conclusion of an annual summit on Thursday. Lee handed a baton to Prayut to symbolize the handover of the rotating Asean presidency during the summit's closing ceremony, Efe news reported. In accepting the 2019 presidency, the retired Royal Thai Army general officer said his country would prioritize the bloc's stability, development and economic growth through "trust, respect and mutual benefit". Among the challenges the bloc faces will be concluding negotiations on a free trade agreement with Australia, China, South Korea, India, Japan, and New Zealand, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP, a free trade pact being negotiated since 2012, which is expected to be finalized by 2019, seeks to bring almost half of the world's population, 40 per cent of world trade and more than a third of global GDP under the umbrella of a single trade zone. The first draft of the newly-proposed South China Sea code of conduct will also be discussed during Thailand's Asean presidency, an agreement which aims to reduce tensions arising from territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Brunei, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam have competing territorial claims to islands in the South China Sea. Lucknow, Nov 15 : Twenty-two children from Nagaland, on a tour organised by the Indian Army, called on Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Thursday. The children will visit various places of interest and historical significance in Lucknow on Friday. New Delhi, Nov 15 : The Congress on Thursday raised its Rafale 'scam' pitch, accusing Prime Minister Modi of sabotaging country's interest for the sake of his cronies and alleging he fixed a higher benchmark price for the French fighter jets. A day after the Centre conceded that there was no sovereign guarantee by the French government backing the deal but only a letter of comfort, Congress President Rahul Gandhi took on Modi, saying the "Chowkidar (watchman) has sold out". "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the Rafale cupboard: No guarantee by the French government backing the deal. But, our Prime Minister says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful! That's enough to call this a government-to-government deal," Gandhi tweeted, adding "#BikGayaChowkidar" (watchman sold out). Congress' fresh attack comes amid Attorney General K.K. Venugopal admitting before the Supreme Court that there was no sovereign guarantee by the French government backing the deal but only a letter of comfort. Later in a media conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala questioned why Modi set a higher "benchmark price" and waived the bank guarantee or French government's sovereign guarantee. "The Prime Minister enhanced the benchmark price for Rafale by Euro 3 billion (Rs 22,743 crore). Why did he set a higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62,166 crore) from Euro 5.2 billion (Rs 39,422 )? Why did he waive the sovereign guarantee requirement," asked Surjewala. "The Prime Minister has gone as far as sabotaging the nation's interests in favour of his capitalist cronies," he said. The Congress accused Modi of "overruling" then defence minister Manohar Parrikar and the defence acquisition council and "ignoring" the advice of the Law Ministry and the air acquisition wing of the Air Force to insist on a sovereign guarantee from France. "Parrikar as the head of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and the three armed forces chiefs also didn't agree and decide on the higher benchmark price of Euro 8.2 billion (Rs 62,166 crore). DAC referred it to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by PM Modi and he in CCS accepted the higher benchmark price," he said. "These revelations further expose brazen corrupt practices in Rafale scam. The entire spectrum of deception lies at the doorstep of Modi," said Surjewala wondering why National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was allowed to negotiate with the French, and not the negotiations committee of IAF and the Defence Ministry. Reiterating its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)probe, the party said it was the only forum to investigate the acts of "omission, commission and corruption" in the "biggest defence scam" of India. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston New Delhi, Nov 15 : Delhi's Lt. Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday asked Delhi Police to set up its own online portal for receiving and monitoring public grievances. Baijal, in a meeting to review the public grievance redressal system of Delhi Police, also directed the police to train its officers in soft skills to improve public interface, the Raj Niwas said in a statement. At the meeting -- attended by Commissioner of Police, Special Commissioners of Police and Joint Commissioners of Police -- the Delhi Police made a detailed presentation to inform Baijal that they receive written and online complaints through various sources. The police also told Baijal that Public Facilitation desks had been set up in police stations to provide conducive atmosphere to public, the statement said. Baijal stressed that public grievances redressal was an important aspect of policing which required review and monitoring of grievances and complaints on a continuous basis at all levels. He said that focus should be given on handling the complainants in a judicious and speedy manner. Islamabad, Nov 15 : Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday ordered an immediate inquiry into the murder of a police officer who was allegedly kidnapped in Islamabad and was later killed in Afghanistan. Khan made the announcement on his Twitter account, saying that he followed the "shocking tragedy" of the murder of Superintendent of Police Tahir Khan Dawar who was chief of Peshawar police's rural circle. The Prime Minister ordered the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province government to coordinate with Islamabad police in holding an inquiry immediately. According to reports and officials, Dawar was kidnapped in Islamabad on October 26 and his body was found in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Tuesday. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that the tortured body found in Nangarhar was certainly that of Dawar, a police officer renowned for his armed encounters with militants. According to Dawn online, the slain officer's body had been handed over to Pakistani authorities in Afghanistan on Thursday, which would be transported to Peshawar for the funeral. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor condemned "the brutal murder" of "a brave police officer", and suspected the involvement of an entity "more than a terrorist organisation". No group has claimed the incident yet. The DG ISPR also urged "Afghan security forces to cooperate in border fencing" to "deny use of Afghan territory against Pakistan". BYD, a Chinese private company playing a leading role in electric-based road transport, has announced a partnership with Aramex, global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions that is listed on the Dubai Financial Market. The partnership ties in with Aramex just beginning to electrify its fleet in some key stations, starting with its operations in the Jordanian Capital of Amman with the adoption of 10 BYD pure electric T3 vans delivered by BYD's local agent Future Motors. The T3 is powered by BYD's proprietary battery pack, producing a maximum torque of 310N.m. Its 3.5 cubic meter spacious rear cargo area is manufactured using an advanced process for multi-purpose vehicles. The vehicle can reduce operational costs by 60 percent compared to fossil fuel courier service vehicles of the same class, according to a BYD press release issued Wednesday. Apart from the T3, BYD has also launched bigger electric models for courier services including T5 and T7. With their advanced technology and excellent quality, the company says its electric vehicles for courier services have gained recognition from companies such as DHL, UPS, Beijing Environmental Sanitation Engineering Group, and DSTcar. Riyadh/Ankara, Nov 15 : Saudi prosecutors said on Thursday that they have pleaded for the death penalty for five people who they say were involved in murdering Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country's consulate building in Istanbul in early October. At a press conference here, Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the assassination of Khashoggi, saying that a total of 11 people -- the five accused by the kingdom of directly ordering and executing the crime and six others -- were charged in the crime, according to a report in CNN. Turkey, meanwhile, said it was "unsatisfied" about the Saudi prosecutor's explanation. The Saudi prosecution shared details of the journalist's murder, saying Khashoggi was killed on October 2 following "a fight and a quarrel" at the kingdom's consulate in Turkey. He had gone there to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Prosecutors said Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of the Crown Prince Mohammad, was tied up and injected with an overdose of a sedative that killed him. His body was later chopped up and given to a local collaborator. The Saudi Public Prosecutor's office added that former Saudi deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri ordered a mission to force Khashoggi to go back to Saudi Arabia and formed a team of 15 people. They were divided into three groups, it said: A negotiation team, an intelligence team and a logistical team. According to the prosecution, it was the head of the negotiating team who ordered the journalist's killing. The prosecution also revealed that the Royal Court adviser, Saud Qahtani, was banned from travelling pending the investigation into the murder. Qahtani led the communications team of the Crown Prince and was removed from his role last month following Khashoggi's death. Following the Saudi move, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his country was not satisfied about the Saudi prosecutor's explanation in the murder case. "I want to say personally that the explanation is unsatisfying. The real instigators need to be revealed. We will follow this issue," Cavusoglu said in a televised speech, as quoted by state-run Anadolu Agency. On Wednesday, Cavusoglu called for an international investigation into the case, reiterating that suspects of the murder should be tried in Turkey. The Saudis had presented conflicting stories about the journalist's death, initially denying any knowledge before arguing that a group of rogue operators were responsible for his death. After the kingdom admitted that Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Turkey, five high-ranking officials were dismissed, including Bin Salman's media chief and the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence service, and 18 people were arrested. Kolkata, Nov 15 : Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has successfully saved the prints of most of his films, an expert said on Thursday. Founder and Director of Film Heritage Foundation Shivendra Singh Dungarpur said Bachchan asked the producers to give him the prints of his films. "When we approached Bachchan, we found it interesting to note that he used to ask the film producers to give him a copy of a subtitled print and another print. In that process he maintained most of his films," Dungarpur said at the 4th Preservation and Restoration Workshop's opening at KIFF. He said film restoration is the need of the hour. There has to be awareness about it, as there was a need for trained archivists. "I am really glad with such concerted efforts for restoring great works of Bengali cinema. We are celebrating the centenary of Bengali cinema. So saving our work is of utmost importance," said KIFF chairman and leading Bengali actor Prasenjit Chatterjee. Bachchan is the brand ambassador of the initiative. He shared a video message wishing it great success. "West Bengal produced some of the greatest filmmakers of Indian cinema such as Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwick Ghatak and so on. I would thank the government for supporting the initiative, so the future generations would be able to see these works," Bachchan said. At least 100 Bengali classics have been identified for restoration. Shillong, Nov 15 : The bodyguard of Meghalaya's Social Welfare Minister and his two friends were arrested on Thursday after he assaulted a Bhutanese truck driver and his aide in West Jaintia Hills district. A police officer said Thmu Bait I Dhar, the Personal Security Officer of the minister, Kyrmen Shylla and his friends Chanky Lhuid and Deibormi Lyngdoh assaulted Passang Dorji and Jity Kami at Hill Top Dhaba in Riat Turim Khliehtyrshi area. Dorji, who is Bhutanese national and his helper Kami, who hailed from West Bengal's Alipurduar district, were transporting coal from Bhutan to Bangladesh via India's Meghalaya Dawki Land Customs station. "The victims have formally lodged a police complaint against the three accused. We have arrested the accused and the matter is under investigation," Lakardor Syiem, the district police chief of West Jaintia Hills told IANS. He said that there are eight trucks laden with coal of Bhutan origin. India had notified Nakugaon-Dalu and Tamabil-Dawki land customs stations as dedicated port for Bangladesh-Bhutan for trans-shipment export-import trade. The trade between Dhaka and Thimpu is insignificant with imports from Bhutan standing at US$18.48 million as against exports from Bangladesh worth only US$ 3.12 million in 2010-11, showing Bhutan enjoining a comfortable trade balance. Dhaka had earlier offered Thimpu duty-free access of some products and to use Chittagong and Mongla Ports while Thimpu extended cooperation to meet the power deficit of Bangladesh. New Delhi, Nov 15 : Calling the government's standoff with the RBI a part of India's thinking ecosystem which depends on American ideas, RBI board member S. Gurumurthy on Thursday said the government was not asking for the central bank's surplus reserves but only wanted formulation of a policy as to how much reserves it must have. Gurumurthy said there were two studies on the matter -- one suggesting 12 per cent reserves and the other 18.76 per cent -- while according to its latest balance sheets, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) already had reserves amounting to 27-28 per cent of its assets. Ahead of the November 19 board meeting of the central bank, he also made a case for loosening liquidity norms for lenders, saying restricting banks in a bank-driven economy was like restricting the economy itself. The RSS ideologue said while the standoff was not a "happy thing at all", some policy needed to be worked out. "You can't say dollar has appreciated this much and give me that money. The government is not asking for that. As per my understanding, the government is only asking for formulation of a policy as to how much reserves the central bank must have," he said while delivering a lecture at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) here. On the government's demand to loosen liquidity norms for lenders, Gurumurthy said: "Banks are the lifeline. But Indian policy making is based on American model in which the stock market is the prime mover and bank is the subordinate player. But in India, bank is the main player. So in a bank-driven economy, if you restrict the banks, you are restricting the economy. You are restricting the flow of funds into the economy." He said there were set norms prescribed for banks on how much capital it must have. "In Japan, for the internationally active banks, capital norm is 8 per cent and for domestic banks it is 4 per cent. In India, it is 9 per cent for both. I don't know from where this 9 per cent was brought by the regulator," he said. "So banks have less money to lend. There is no discourse on this in India. There are only four internationally active banks in India and all others are domestic banks. They need not have 8 per cent capital. But they are also forced to having not only 8 per cent, but 9 per cent capital," he added. "We create problems for ourselves where problems do not exist and you get praised for that all over the world... how great an institution you are, how independent you are. So we are now guided by the same thought, and are not truly independent." Gurumurthy said while the US printed 4.5 trillion dollars between 2008 and 2014, India gave up its right to print its own currency in 2002 through Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. "So the Indian rupee gets expanded when dollar comes to India. There is no other way Indian rupee gets generated. We have given up our right to print. That means the government cannot borrow from the RBI. "It is not necessary that if they (US, Japan) print, we should also print. But if we need, can we print today? There is a liquidity problem. Can the government of India say I will give you (RBI) Rs 1 lakh crore worth of securities and you give me the cash? It cannot do that because it passed a law giving up that power. It's an issue which needs to be discussed. "Can you have a national economics based on inflow of foreign currency? These are issues which will decide the state of economy of India." He said India needed to think, debate and discuss making amendments to the FRBM Act so that the government can print Indian currency in time of need. Bengaluru, Nov 15 : Global software major Infosys on Thursday appointed its executive Vice-President Jayesh Sanghrajka as interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with effect from Saturday in place of outgoing CFO M.D. Ranganath. "The Board of Directors at its meeting on Thursday appointed Sangharajka as the interim CFO and key managerial personnel of the company with effect from November 17," said the city-based IT major in a statement. The Board is in the process of selecting the next CFO as Ranganath steps down on Friday. "Sanghrajka has spent 13 years in the company over two stints and performed leadership roles in the finance division and even as Deputy CFO," said the statement. Sanghrajka, who has 20 years of experience in chartered accountancy, worked with the company in the first stint between 2000-2007 as General Manager (Finance) and re-joined in 2012 as Corporate Financial Controller. Ranganath, 55, who resigned on August 18 after 18 years of service to pursue opportunities in new areas, is the third CFO to quit the $11-billion IT firm in the last 5-6 years after Rajiv Bansal in October 2015 and V. Balakrishnan in December 2013. According to the company's 37th annual report, Ranganath's annual compensation in fiscal 2017-18 was Rs 7.98 crore, including Rs 7.03 crore as salary, Rs 24 lakh as retrials and 71 lakh shares as stock options. Ranganath, who owned 9,256 shares at the beginning of fiscal 2017-18, exercised 7,662 shares and held 16,918 cumulative shares at the end of last fiscal. While Bansal resigned from the executive post in October 2015 amid a raging controversy over governance issues between the co-founders and previous Board, Balakrishnan was elevated as a Director and head of its back-office operations (Infosys BPO) in October 2012. Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy also objected to the hefty severance package (Rs 17.37 crore) to Bansal, who was party to the "costly" acquisition of the US-based Panaya software firm in February 2015 under its first non-promoter Chief Executive Vishal Sikka, who too resigned on August 18, 2017. The Arbitral Tribunal of Justice R.V. Raveendran (retired) on September 17, orderedAthe company to pay Bansal Rs 12.37 crore with interest as part of the severance package. The Tribunal also rejected the company's claim for a refund of Rs 5.2 crore paid earlier to Bansal as part of the severance package. On legal advice, the company complied with the order and paid Bansal the balance amount. Kolkata, Nov 15 : In a bid to boost jobs creation and achieve food security along with providing homes and low cost healthcare, Kenya is keen on Indian investments in the four strategic areas of manufacturing, agriculture, housing, healthcare sector, an envoy said here on Thursday. "The Kenyan government has decided to focus on four strategic areas for foreign investment. The country wants investments in agriculture as it seeks food security. The country is encouraging investments in manufacturing as this will create jobs," said Willy K. Bett, High Commissioner of Kenya in India. He said the east African country is interested in investments in housing, particularly in low cost homes, as Kenya needs one million homes. Bett, in an interactive session with members of Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the country was seeking funds for healthcare system as it had a large number of people below poverty line. According to him, the investors should take advantage of the "political stability of the country" in the East African region, an area which has at times been unstable. According to the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), India is the second largest investor in Kenya. Over 60 major Indian companies have invested in various sectors including manufacturing, real estate, pharmaceuticals, telecom, IT & ITES, banking and agro-based industries. India is the third largest source of inbound tourists to Kenya. Over 60,000 Indian tourists visited Kenya in 2017. Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has launched a marketing campaign in major Indian cities to increase tourist arrivals from India. Many Kenyans visit India for medical treatment. Pune (Maharashtra), Nov 15 : The Pune Police filed its first chargesheet against 10 prime accused in the Koregaon-Bhima caste riots case of January 1 2018, charging them, among others, with conspiring to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi and overthrow the democratically elected government with violent means. The accused activists are: Sudhir P. Dhawale, Rona J. Wilson, Surendra P. Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh S. Raut -- all arrested from different parts of the country on June 6 and currently in judicial custody. Besides, there are other absconding accused: Milind Teltumbde, Ritupan Goswami, Prashanto Bose, comrades Manglu and Dipu, all described as having gone 'underground' in various parts of the country. All the accused are charged under provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activists (Prevention) Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code, in the 20-page chargesheet filed before a Pune Special Court this evening, through ACP Shivaji P. Pawar of Swargate Division. The detailed primary chargesheet comes in the ongoing investigations into the Elgar Parishad organized by the Kabir Kala Manch in Pune on December 31, 2017, and the subsequent caste riots which erupted in Koregaon-Bhima on New Year Day. The 10 accused chargesheeted today are among several other activists-accused nabbed in the same case probed by the Pune Police, including Shubha Bharadwaj, Vernon S. Gonsalves, Arun T. Ferreira, Gautma Navlakha, and P. Varavara Rao in August. Besides the Koregaon-Bhima violence, the chargesheet said that the 10 accused had links with various Maoist and Kashmir terror groups, they were hatching a conspiracy to execute a high-level political assassination, procuring illegal funds, arms and ammunition, seeking to incite disturbances and violence among people and communities around the country to topple the democratically elected government. "Shoma Sena and Prashanto Bose, secretary of the outlawed CPI (Maoist)'s Eastern Regional Bureau, along with other underground activists hatched a conspiracy to kill the Prime Minister of India. All the five (arrested) accused conspired to wage a war against the nation with bombs and arms to topple the government with violent means," says the chargesheet. During the raids carried out on the homes and offices of the five (arrested) accused and other activists during the past 10 months, the police said they have recovered laptops, computers, hard-disks, pen-drives, mobiles, memory cards, letters, documents, photographs, details of their social media accounts, emails, their meetings and discussions, besides other inflammatory literature from them. Raut also gave Rs 500,000 each to the remaining four accused, the money was illegally acquired from the CPI (Maoist) to keep the Koregaon-Bhima passions alive. He also recruited two students of Mumbai's Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) who were sent for guerilla warfare training in the forests in Maoist heartlands, as revealed in the communication between Wilson and Goswami, said the charge-sheet. The police have also named various frontal or connected frontal organisations like Kabir Kala Manch, CPI (Maoist), Indian Association of Peoples Lawyers, Anuradha Ghandi Memorial Committee, to propagate or carry out its plans. Kolkata, Nov 15 : A civil society network on Thursday claimed that starvation was a major problem in West Bengal and said several people's organisations would join hands to start a movement on the issue. The Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal, made the statement following the death of seven members of the tribal Sabar community allegedly due to malnutrition in West Bengal's Jhargram district earlier this month. Accusing the state's Mamata Banerjee government of being in a "state of denial" regarding starvation related deaths in Bengal, the forum said research suggests poor children, women and elderly in rural areas are the worst affected. "We shall be launching an investigation on November 18 into the six alleged hunger related deaths in Jhargram's Lalgarh. Also the hungry people from 17 districts and 25 people's organisations will join hands to initiate Bhukha Manusher Abhijan or the hungry people's movement on December 16 to fight for an end to the problems," Jamiruddin Khan, secretary of the campaign said. The release issued by the forum also alleged that the coverage under Pradhan Mantri Matrutva Vandana Yojona for maternity benefits is nil in West Bengal while only 18 per cent of the eligible elderly persons in the state get pensions. It also said the state government has reduced its food budget to Rs 8,037 crore in 2018-19 from Rs 8,791 crore in 2017-18 despite the problems and a state food commission with proper grievance redressal mechanism as per the National Food Security Act, 2013 is yet to be formed here. "We appeal to the state government that it should stop being in a state of denial about starvation. It should recognise that hunger, starvation and malnutrition are the problems facing a large number of the state's population and take up appropriate measures to tackle this," Khan added. New Delhi, Nov 15 : India and Morocco signed three major agreements, including in the areas of legal and judicial cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, during the course of Moroccan Minister of Justice Mohamed Auajjar's ongoing visit to India. According to a statement issued by the Moroccan Embassy, Aujjar, who is visiting India from November 11 to 18, met Minister of Law, Justice, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on November 12. During this meeting, Auajjar and Prasad signed the Agreement on Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters between Morocco and as well as a Joint Declaration of Intent between the two ministries, according to the statement. The same day, Auajjar met Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju following which the two sides signed the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. On November 13, Auajjar met Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh. "During this meeting, the two Ministers signed the Extradition Agreement between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of India," the embassy statement said. This was followed by a meeting between Auajjar and the Attorney General K.K. Venugopal. During the course of his visit, the visiting Moroccan minister will also attend the 19th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World being held in Lucknow from November 14 to 20. Shillong, Nov 15 : The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday directed the Director General of Police R. Chandranathan to provide security to frontline women rights activist Agnes Kharshiing and her aide Amita Sangma who were brutally attacked recently. On the other hand, the Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment will ask Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police in-charge East Jaintia Hills to appear before it on November 26 in connection with the attack on the two activists. Sangma has filed a petition in the High Court demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the murderous attack on her and Kharshiing by some coal mafia at Tuber Sohshrieh, a coal belt area in East Jaintia Hills district on November 8. In his order, Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir noted that the petitioners have prayed for a CBI probe as they apprehend a threat to their life from the same assailants. The petitioner has pleaded that the investigation is not being carried out in the real spirit giving rise to their apprehension, the Court order stated. Moreover, the Court has asked the investigating officer to file the latest status of the investigation and to remain present in the Court along with the case diary on November 27. Following the attack, Kharshiing and Sangma were admitted at North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) hospital. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said that he will consult his cabinet colleagues whether the murder attempt on Kharshiing warrants a judicial or a CBI probe. President Xi Jinping has highlighted the significance and urgency of pushing forward reform on military policies and institutions to build a socialist system of military policy and institution with Chinese characteristics. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and head of a CMC leading group for deepening reform on national defense and the armed forces, addressed a CMC meeting on the reform of policies and institutions held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Xi called for consensus, firm confidence, concerted action and effective implementation to carry out the reform. He stressed that a systematic and profound reform is urgently needed to address deeply-rooted problems in military policies and institutions, fully release the efficacy of national defense and military reforms, open a new ground for building strong armed forces, and seize the initiative in military competition and warfare. The reform should be guided by the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, ensure the Party's absolute leadership over the military, aim for combat effectiveness, and enhance the motivation, initiative and creativity of service personnel, Xi said. Xi stressed safeguarding the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership and ensuring the Party's absolute leadership over the military, while deepening reform on the institution of Party building in the military. Xi ordered efforts to innovate the policies and institutions on the application of military strength, adapt to the needs of national security strategy and focus on how to win when it is called on. He called for restructuring of policies and institutions on military strength building, strengthening institutions and system-designing for military human resources, and focusing on combat, innovation and military-civilian integration. Xi also called for reform on policies and institutions of military management, including establishing a system to manage military spending and further reform on the military judicial system, in order to enhance the efficiency of the whole military system. "Implementing the decisions by the CPC Central Committee and the CMC on the reform is a major political responsibility," Xi said, ordering the military to strengthen their sense of duty, as well as carefully and orderly implement the decisions. They should fully recognize and grasp the significance of the reform, understand, support and comply with the reform, he said. Noting that pushing forward the reform is the common mission of both military and civilian authorities, Xi asked both central and state organs and local Party committees and governments to support the military reforms. Jaipur, Nov 15 : Of the 162 BJP candidates, announced so far in two instalments for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly polling for which is due on December 7, one absence the observers have marked is of any Muslim candidate, strengthening the perception that the party is playing the Hindutva card. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, who comes from Alwar, strongly denies the Hindutva slant, yet there are others in the party who say the BJP knows it well that Muslims in Rajasthan don't constitute a vote bank. One of the sitting MLAs, Habibur Rehman from Nagaur, on Wednesday joined the Congress when he failed to find his name in the list released on Sunday. Rahman said the BJP is playing the Hindutva card in Rajasthan. Another state minister Yunus Khan too failed to find his name. But, unlike Rehman, Khan has expressed his loyalty to the party. Soon after the BJP released its first list of candidates, general secretary of BJP's Minority cell M Sadiq had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his concern as to how party members would reach out to the community if Muslims don't get the party nomination. The BJP in 2013 had fielded four Muslim candidates. Two of them were elected: Habibur Rehman from Nagaur seat and Yunus Khan from Deedwana. "The BJP is a democratic party unlike the Congress where a board decides a candidate. The candidates are selected keeping in mind a variety of factors, including candidates' strengths," said Mahesh Sharma. Avinash Rai Khanna, BJP's Rajasthan election in-charge, said party candidates are shortlisted after 'raishumari' in consultation with grassroots workers as well as top leaders. He said the final BJP list is yet to come and until then no conclusion should be drawn on the composition of candidates based on caste and religion. Rajasthan Congress vice-president Archana Sharma said, "The BJP could not perform in the state. Now they are trying to polarise the situation. But this won't work... Rajasthan is no Uttar Pradesh." Salawat Khan, General Secretary, BJP Minority Morcha, said in the last elections, the party gave four tickets to Muslims. "So far we have not been given any party nomination. We are still hopeful that the party would consider candidates from the community," he said. In 2013 polls, the BJP had swept 163 of 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan. (Archana Sharma can be contacted at arachana.g@gmail.com) New Delhi, Nov 15 : National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala on Thursday said digitising its self help group (SHG) bank linkage programme could generate up to $4 billion of banking opportunity. "It's a business opportunity for banks because we expect on an average of around $3 billion to $4 billion worth of business which will be incrementally available by digitising this programme (SHG-bank linkage programme)," Bhanwala said at the 25th World Congress here. Addressing the congress hosted by the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI), he said Nabard has started digitising some of the program's operations on a pilot basis and it has observed digitisation leads to higher linkage with banks and other benefits. "We saw wherever digitisation has happened, there is a better attendance in groups. Social capital formation is much better, group dynamics improve, there is transparency and also we are able to converge with various other programs," Bhanwala said. He said digitisation will yield a business opportunity of Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore in the first year itself and business worth $3 billion to $4 billion can be achieved in three years. Channelising small savings into the banking fold in the SHG-bank linkage programme has been the world's largest micro-finance programme being run by the banks of this country, he said. "This is a program which is being implemented in India through 60,000 bank branches, 4,000 NGOs and state entities and has an actual participation of 100 million women who regularly save. And, the annual business by these poor women with small savings of Rs 5 or Rs 10 is almost $15 billion," he said. The total business of $15 billion comprises Rs 17,000 crore worth own savings, inter-lending of Rs 40,000 crore and bank loans worth Rs 65,000 crore, he said. Mumbai, Nov 15 : Yes Bank on Thursday said that former Chairman of State Bank of India O.P. Bhatt has resigned as an external expert of the 'Search and Selection Committee' which has been set up to find a successor to the company's MD and CEO Rana Kapoor. The committee has been mandated to evaluate both internal and external candidates and make suitable recommendations to the Board of Directors within stipulated timelines for Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) final approval. Last month, RBI had reaffirmed that a successor to Yes Bank's MD and CEO Kapoor should be appointed by February 1, 2019. "We would like to inform that Mr. 0.P. Bhatt has tendered his resignation from his duties as an external expert of the 'Search and Selection Committee' ('S&SC') with immediate effect citing that there may be a potential conflict of interest," the bank said in a regulatory filing on Thursday. "The 'Nomination and Remuneration Committee' of the bank while accepting Mr. Bhatt's resignation has recognised his guidance and inputs during his association with the S&SC as an external expert." On Wednesday, the bank had said that its non-executive independent part-time Chairman Ashok Chawla has resigned. "Yes Bank announces that Shri Ashok Chawla, non-executive independent part-time chairman, has tendered his resignation from the Bank's Board, with immediate effect, mentioning that during the current transition period, the bank would need a Chairman who could devote more time and attention," the private lender said in a BSE filing on Wednesday. Riyadh, Nov 16 : Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir on Thursday insisted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "absolutely" had nothing to do with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Al-Jubeir made the statement at a press conference in Riyadh, hours after Saudi Public Prosecutor requested death penalty for five key suspects involved in Khashoggi's murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, Xinhua reported. The kingdom is committed to holding those involved in the murder accountable through the judiciary, and investigations into journalist's killing will continue until all questions are answered, Al-Jubeir said. He highlighted that the defendants and the victim in the Khashoggi case are Saudis and that the incident took place on Saudi land. The top Saudi diplomat said that there has been an attempt to politicize Khashoggi's case, which is regrettable. "The Qatari media has launched an organized campaign against Saudi Arabia and are exploiting Khashoggi's case," Al-Jubeir noted. Riyadh has cut ties with Doha since June 2017, citing Qatar's support to terrorism and extremism and close ties to Iran, Saudi's top rival in the region. Earlier Thursday, Saudi Public Prosecution revealed the details about the murder of Khashoggi, saying that he was murdered with an injection of a drug and his body was dismembered, after an altercation with a group of Saudi agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a journalist for The Washington Post and a strong critic of Saudi government, disappeared on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get documents for his marriage, sparking an investigation by the Turkish government and international pressure on Riyadh to reveal his whereabouts. After initial denials, Saudi authorities admitted late last month that Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate and 18 individuals in relation to the case were arrested. Asked about possible international sanctions on Saudi Arabia for the Khashoggi case, Al-Jubeir said there is a difference between imposing penalties on those accused and holding the Saudi government responsbile. At the same time, US Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions on 17 Saudi officials over the murder of Khashoggi. The historic New England high country property, Prestwick has been sold prior to auction. Meares & Associates had been scheduled to auction the property today. It sold to a Sydney investor with other rural interests. The farm had been initially listed in autumn by Roger Grant, the Tamworth-based cattleman who had $5 million to $5.5 million hopes. With a history dating back to the 1840s when botanist and explorer Cunningham took up the land grant at Prestwick, it was marketed as a well managed and improved cattle breeding property enjoying all the features of the high country, including strong principally trap and basalt soils, normally high rainfall, with over 50% established with well improved pastures, including a mix of phalaris, cocksfoot, rye and clovers. Located 55km southwest of Walcha and 53km from the regional centre of Tamworth, the 1,171 hectare (2,893 acres) property has traditionally carried 450 Angus breeding cows and heifers, with the progeny regularly topping the Tamworth premium weaner sale in January, at 8 10 months of age. Prestwick has seen an extensive development program over the past three years with now approximately 565 ha (1,250 acres) of well developed pasture country and a further 60 ha (150 acres) recently cleared and being prepared for new pasture sowing next autumn. There is also a potential to develop a further 160 ha (400 acres) with minimal timber clearing and pasturing. The property has also enjoyed a good top- dressing history in recent years with super applied again as recently as April this year. The property includes a series of sheltered valleys, with excellent generic features including the principally rich trap and basalt soils. At an altitude ranging from 800m just under 1,000m above sea level, there's an annual average rainfall of approximately 36 per annum, and excellent water from the 2.5km frontage to the permanent Mulla Creek, approximately 31 large spring-fed dams, an equipped bore and a series of seasonal spring-fed creeks. Hotelier Ben May and wife Lucy have sold their Wunulla Road, Point Piper harbour front for more than $16 million. It has been reported it's been bought by a billionaire. The 1958 home which was built by Hugh Buhrich sits on 795sq m. It was bought around two years ago for about $12 million. There are lime-washed oak floors, multiple spacious living areas and terraces, a designer gas kitchen with Norwegian Rossa marble benches and European appliances, along with five bedrooms. Ben and Lucy had previously bought the Windsor Castle Hotel conversion for $11.85 million, before opting for the Point Piper home to be closer to better schools. They sold just six months after their purchase for the same price to Goldman Sachs executive director David Nolan and wife Anita. Sydneys Pitt Street Mall has remained as the worlds 7th most expensive retail precinct, with rents remaining steady at $14,000 sqm, according to the latest rankings from Cushman & Wakefield. The annual Main Streets across the World report, released annually by Cushman and Wakefield, found that Pitt Street Mall has maintained its premium position despite relatively flat rental growth and an ongoing rise in online retail sales. According to the report, strong foot traffic and the increased demand for experiential shopping is supporting rents and most retailers continue to trade strongly within the precinct, particularly in the high-end luxury category. Rankings for the Asia Pacific region shows Pitt Street was third most expensive behind Hong Kongs Causeway Bay and Tokyos Ginza district, with Melbournes Bourke Street Mall climbing the APAC rankings from 6th to 5th at $7,000 sqm. Brisbanes Queen Street has maintained it's 8th place spot in the APAC region, with retail rents averaging $4,500 sqm. Matt Hudson, National Director of Retail Leasing, Cushman & Wakefield Australia and New Zealand, said Australia has firmly maintained its position as host to one of the worlds top ten most expensive retail streets, encouragingly, demand for large stores has been strong." "A number of key locations are under development and currently seeking large scale flagship tenants, which is providing heightened competition for key shopping malls which do not offer the street or brand exposure of a flagship location. In Sydney, there are also a minimum of 6 new retail precincts under development in and around the CBD, providing opportunity for retailers," noted Mr Hudson. Michael Di Carlo, Director of Retail Leasing, Cushman & Wakefield Australia and New Zealand, added, while rents have remained at stable levels, with continued growth in online sales and uncertainty in consumer confidence, there has been a general increase in retailer requests for break clauses and/or shorter leases. He said, "this is evident in the rise of small businesses opting for try before you buy or lease options via pop up retail licenses as well as increased levels of landlord incentives." Despite a small decline in average rents, Hong Kongs Causeway Bay area took the number one spot, with a figure of USD$2,671 per square foot/year. This is primarily due to a a decline in New York rents which has seen Upper 5th Avenue slip back to second place globally, with average rents at USD$2,250 psf/yr compared with USD$3,000 in the previous 12-month period. Londons New Bond Street meanwhile is the most expensive European location, in third place globally, with rents broadly flat year-on-year at USD$1,744 psf/yr. Tokyos Ginza is the highest-ranked Asian street, with rents on average costing (USD$1,219 psf/yr). According to the report, streets in emerging markets in Africa and Latin America account for most of the locations at the other end of the rankings, with rents as low as USD$20-30 psf/yr. REA Group have announced the departure of Realestate.com.au chief executive Tracey Fellows, who will become the president of News Corp's global digital real estate based in New York. She will start her new role early next year and will be responsible for driving strategy and growth across all of News Corps digital real estate interests. Over her tenure, the REA Group share price has gone from $46 to $76, peaking at $94 in June. Fellows, who took the helm in 2014 having previously been in senior positions at Microsoft and Australia Post, said it has been a privilege working the the team and the board at REA, which has News Corp as its majority shareholder. Its one of the exciting things about the opportunity; it allows me to take on a new challenge while continuing to work alongside these incredible people - all in an industry I am so passionate about," Fellow said. "I feel very fortunate. There could not be a more exciting time for a role like this. Fellows will stay on the REA Group board on behalf of News Corp. News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson said Fellows is an inspiring leader and is able to bring out the best in teams and individuals. Tracey has driven the rapid expansion of the digital real estate business in Australia and Asia and we believe her leadership internationally will ensure that all of our digital property companies realize their extraordinary potential," Thomson said. Audiences, revenue and profits at REA Group have all expanded significantly during Traceys tenure as CEO. She has been an irrepressible innovator and has led the company into intelligent adjacencies, such as financial services and property data, which have broadened the revenue base and built a platform for future growth. We are keen to capitalize on our sterling success in digital real estate by driving even faster growth in our existing businesses, such as realtor.com, where Ryan OHara and his team have successfully transformed the business, and in seeking out new investment opportunities. "Tracey is the perfect person to deliver on both of those imperatives for our company and our investors. Hamish McLennan, chairman of the REA Group board of directors, said REA Group has seen exceptional transformation and growth since Tracey took the helm in 2014. "She has the extraordinary ability to harness the power of people, technology and data and has built strong cultural and operational foundations that will drive our growth into the future. "The Board and I are enormously grateful to Tracey for all she has done and wish her every success in her exciting new role and look forward to continuing to work with her. It's the second major move by a real estate listing website this year. Earlier this year Domain appointed former Google managing director Jason Pellegrino after the shock departure of Anthony Catalano. Strongbuild has collapsed into voluntary administration after the developer Frasers Property Australia cancelled a $45 million contract which left the builder unable to pay its bills. The Strong family-owned company that employed 150 staff in three divisions was a prefabricated construction pioneer. Administrator BRI Ferrier was appointed this morning to Strongbuild Manufacturing, Strongbuild Commercial and Strongbuild Propriety. The company is owned by the Strong family from the New South Wales South Coast. It had a turnover last year of $160 million, but had been suffering from a "lull" in work, BRI Ferrier administrator Brian Silvia advised. "They had a bit of a downturn in work before June and they were anticipating coming out of a bit of a lull with an order book of $120 million, and a major client pulled a contract two weeks out from the start date, which had a value of $45 million," Mr Silvia told The Australian Financial Review. "With the loss of the contract it meant the short-term future of the company was too bleak for the directors to be able to carry on." Silvia said Strongbuild had made a claim against Frasers over the cancelled stage two $45 million contract for its Edmondson Park project in south-west Sydney of 104 townhouses. Frasers recently advised only three 1-bedroom townhomes remained following its recent launch. A spokeswoman for Frasers told Fairfax Media it was a commercial matter and declined to comment. Some 1,800 homes were envisaged in the now stalled Frasers Property community. Strongbuild managing director Adam Strong told The Fifth Estate that Frasers gave no reason for "reneging" on the arrangement, other to cite matters of convenience. Strong said 22 townhouses in stage one had already been successfully delivered by his company. We had a debt facility approved that would have been more than enough to get through this squeeze last week. And whats happened is Frasers terminated a contract on Friday last week without allowing us to address any of their concerns," Adam Strong said. The company had worked on the award winning Putney Hill project, an earlier Frasers Property community. Putney Hill represented the Singaporean Frasers Property's first delivery of off-the-plan houses in Australia. Frasers are set to face residential challenges in 2019. Just 2,300 units are planned for completion and settlement in FY19 by Frasers Property Australia, compared to over 3,000 units settled during FY18. They had success at Ed.Square, their mixed-use community in south west Sydney, when seeking commercial tenants earlier this year. Rick Otton, the Australian property spruiker posted 40 videos on YouTube giving potential clients insights on doing deals on the eve of being fined a record $6 million for misleading conduct. Otton has been seeking investors to buy into overseas real estate, including Athens. The Federal Court has imposed an $18 million fine on Ottons company We Buy Houses Pty Ltd. About 2000 people across Australia paid Otton $3000 to attend boot camps between 2011 and 2014. Otton presents himself as a self-made multi-millionaire property investor and real estate consumer advocate. Some 700 people paid up to $26,000 each for individual mentoring. They had been lured by Ottons buyer of buying a home for $1. Some $20 million was raised by Otton before the Rod Sims at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission began legal action against Otton and We Buy Houses Pty Ltd alleging false or misleading conduct. The Telegraph wrote he now spends much of his time travelling in the UK, Spain, and Greece. We will be bringing this judgment to the attention of authorities overseas, Sims said. Sims told 2GB's Ross Greenwood that Otton would raise up peoples hopes, then dash them and left [sic] them out of pocket. His recent videos on YouTube includes a 2002 ABC documentary on him. Seven people have been arrested for a chemical leak on Nov. 4 that affected around 20 hectares of fish farms in east China's Fujian Province, local authorities said Wednesday. Police in the city of Quanzhou arrested three people from Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Industry Co. Ltd., which caused the leak when loading C9 aromatic solvent into a tanker at a local port, as well as four crew members on the vessel. A massive cleanup operation was initiated after the leak. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, all chemicals in the fish farming area have been cleared, according to the local information office. A total of 53 people were sent to a local hospital after suspected contact with the chemicals following the incident, and 11 stayed in the hospital for further observation. So far, two of the patients remain hospitalized. Matternet, developer of the world's leading autonomous drone logistics platform. What impresses me most about Matternet is the companys focus and passion, said Michael Whitaker. Matternet, developer of the world's leading autonomous drone logistics platform, today announced the appointment of Michael Whitaker and Dr. Laurence Marton to the companys board of directors. Whitaker brings extensive expertise in regulatory aviation affairs as FAA Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer with the Obama Administration, while Dr. Marton brings decades of healthcare experience from academia and industry. Were honored to have Michael Whitaker and Dr. Laurence Marton on our board, said Matternet founder and CEO Andreas Raptopoulos. With deep knowledge in their respective fields, they will be instrumental in helping Matternet expand healthcare operations in the U.S. and overseas. As we continue to lead in the urban drone delivery space, we are eager to leverage their wisdom and insight to help us achieve our growth goals. Whitaker has spent his entire career in aviation focusing on legal and regulatory affairs. Most notably, he spent 15 years at United Airlines and rose to Senior Vice President of Alliances, International and Regulatory Affairs, and in 2013 was appointed by President Obama to serve as Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer of the Federal Aviation Administration. During his time there, he worked closely with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to run the worlds busiest, most complex and safest air traffic control system. Whitaker currently advises airlines and aerospace companies, and as a member of the Matternet board, he is focused on helping the company achieve the ability to offer routine medically-related drone deliveries in the United States. What impresses me most about Matternet is the companys focus and passion, said Michael Whitaker. While it seems at times there are unlimited use cases for drones, Matternet has stayed focused on UAS delivery in a very specific and important area: connecting healthcare providers. With this focus, I am confident in their ability to solve the safety, technical and economic challenges with medical drone delivery. Dr. Marton has an extensive career in the healthcare sector. He was Dean of the University of Wisconsin Medical School and Chaired the Department of Laboratory Medicine at UCSF, where he was a Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Neurological Surgery. Dr. Marton now serves as a consultant to nonprofit, government, industry, and academic institutions, and serves on the boards of nonprofit and for-profit entities including the American Association for Cancer Research Foundation, Cancer Commons, RenovoRx, TOMA Biosciences and Cellsonics. With their stellar management, determination, laser focus and devotion to quality, Matternet is on a path to make a significant difference in the healthcare space, said Dr. Laurence Marton. They are approaching the integration of drone delivery in healthcare in a way that makes medical and financial sense. I am extremely motivated to help them achieve their goals. To learn more about Matternets autonomous drone logistics platform, please visit: https://mttr.net About Matternet Matternet is the developer of the worlds leading technology platform for on-demand aerial delivery in urban environments. The company provides its technology platform as a service to healthcare, e-commerce and logistics organizations. In March 2017, Matternet became the first company in the world to be authorized for full operations of drone logistics networks over densely populated areas in Switzerland. In May 2018, Matternet was selected to carry out drone logistics operations for US hospitals under the FAA's drone integration program. In June 2018, Matternet formed a strategic partnership with Boeing to shape the next generation of transportation solutions. Matternet is also the exclusive partner of Mercedes-Benz Vans for integrating its drone logistics system with Mercedes-Benz Vans. For more information about Matternet, please visit: https://mttr.net. Michael Stone, former GeoBlue senior web developer and solutions architect, has joined Appluent Business Solutions, Valley Forge, PA-based Salesforce silver consulting partner, as its senior developer. Stones history of architecting highly scalable and successful enterprise applications across multiple business spectrums and technology systems made his experience an ideal fit for the Companys talent expansion strategy. As Salesforce integrations and implementations continue to grow in complexity, we at Appluent want to make sure were equipped with the minds able to understand the intricacies of an organizations unique needs and customize an elegant and efficient engineering solution that results in the least amount of technical debt for a given budget, said Greg Brown, CEO of Appluent. For that reason, we chose to hire Michael as our senior developer to lead our development team surrounding integrations and Lightning development. Appluents leadership purposefully timed the addition of new team members to align with the demands of a newly acquired project for a leading fashion and luxury image-making agency. Talent Acquisitions Mr. Stones hiring is one in a coming list of notable stars to join the Appluent team in 2018. With offices in both the US and India, the Company is actively seeking skilled and driven professionals to fill positions in Salesforce Administration, Apex & Lightning Development, Business Analysis, and Project Management. Just a month before Stones recruitment, former Vitalyst account manager Nicole Carelli was brought on to head all new business development and sales efforts. One of Carellis many notable achievements includes consistently exceeding all sales quotas by 200%. To learn more about Appluents open positions and its plans for expansion, please visit their website https://appluent.net or send an email to careers(at)appluent(dot)net. Appluent Business Solutions is a Silver Salesforce Consulting Partner located in Valley Forge, PA. Founded in 2013, the company has delivered over 250 projects in the mid-market segment. For more information about Appluent, please visit: https://appluent.net "At Nightingale College, every collaborator understands its mission, which is, simply stated, to improve the human experience, believing improved health is the gateway to having an experience infused with happiness, meaning, and peace." For a third time, the Salt Lake Tribune has recognized Nightingale College as a Top Workplace of 2018. The College ranked number 23 in the Small Business category. Top Workplaces is more than just recognition, said Doug Claffey, CEO of Energage. Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC (formerly WorkplaceDynamics), a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. Becoming a Top Workplace isnt something organizations can buy, Claffey said. Its an achievement organizations have worked for and a distinction that gives them a competitive advantage. Its a big deal. Nightingale College is a blended-distance nursing school providing accredited pre-licensure associate and bachelors degree nursing programs, and a post-licensure RN-to-BSN Program for nurses looking to obtain a BSN degree. The College was founded in 2010 and over the eight years, has grown to offer three accredited nursing degree programs with goals to expand into other health care disciplines within the next several years; currently educate 500 enrolled learners across the three programs; graduate 665 nursing learners; provide nursing education centers throughout Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming with more states projected to open in 2019; deliver the online RN-to-BSN Program to thirteen states; and employ over 130 collaborators. At Nightingale College, every collaborator understands the mission of the College, which is, simply stated, to improve the human experience, believing improved health is the gateway to having an experience infused with happiness, meaning, and peace. Accordingly, we seek 'like-minded, like-hearted' individuals who are both motivated and rewarded by serving others. We believe the consequences of serving others are growth and satisfaction, said Kevin Smith, Director of Collaborator Experience at Nightingale College. Nightingale College is excited to see the proof of the organization's vision and mission coming to life through collaborator feedback and engagement. We recognize all of us have the same needs in our employment relationships, some people are simply more aware of these needs at any given time. For those who are yearning to contribute, to belong, to help, to serve, to discover and to develop their talents, and to love others, we simply provide a values-driven framework to do so and prop open the door, Smith said. ABOUT NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE Nightingale College pioneers a unique and innovative delivery of nursing education focused on helping communities grow and maintain a pool of confident, competent, and compassionate nurses. Through the partnerships with numerous health care facilities across multiple states, accessibility of its accredited nursing degree programs (associate and bachelors degree nursing programs), and with collaboration of a dedicated staff of innovative thinkers, the College enables communities and health care facilities to better manage safe and effective patient care with local nurses dedicated to serving their community. This unique education model and collaboration with partners increase the pool of qualified nurses in the area, provides an additional pathway to a nursing degree where there may have not been one, and promotes quality patient care and safety. To find out more about Nightingale College, its programs, and how the College is reshaping nursing education, visit https://nightingale.edu/. ABOUT ENERGAGE, LLC Headquartered in Exton, Pa., Energage (formerly known as WorkplaceDynamics) is a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools that help leaders to unlock potential, inspire performance, and achieve amazing results within their organizations. The research partner behind the Top Workplaces program, Energage has surveyed more than 47,000 organizations representing well over 16 million employees in the United States. Humanium Material Cycle Power of truth is more powerful and enduring than the power of gun. Therefore, the Humaniam Metal Initiative is a laudable effort at making this world more peaceful through concrete human action Past News Releases RSS The Humanium Metal initiative and with the help of local governments, illegal firearms are seized and destroyed, to be refined into metal for fabricating different commercial goods. Financial support from the Humanium Metal initiative go towards rebuilding conflict-torn communities that are affected by armed violence. Thus, every individual who supports Foreverspin and the Humanium Metal project is making a tremendous contribution and is acting to become a part of the solution to one of the worlds most pressing problems. Power of truth is more powerful and enduring than the power of gun. Therefore, the Humaniam Metal Initiative is a laudable effort at making this world more peaceful through concrete human action, Says Dalai Lama Small arms are weapons of mass Destruction. I support the Humanism Metal Initiative as an important action towards a more civilized word. Says Hans Blix, Swedish Diplomat. Research shows that most crimes of gun violence are committed by someone who obtained a gun illegally. Aside from the gruesome cost of human life, there is also a global cost to insecurity at an estimated $400 billion and the growth and sustainability of developing countries and communities becomes almost impossible with the presence of gun violence. Why Spinning Tops? Simplistic in nature, spinning tops helps spark creativity. There is a sense of serenity and calming in getting back to something so minimal and tactile. The MetalMuseum collection sparked international interest among designers, collectors, and in the educational sector. In 2016 Foreverspin launched its corporate gift division and has worked with some of the worlds largest brands. The addition of Humanium Metal will bring ethical values into their collection in time for the holiday season. Get Involved and Get a Spinning Top, To become part of the movement to help eradicate the world of illegal firearms, contribute to Foreverspins Kickstarter campaign. https://kck.st/2OFpiAQ About ForeverSpin Founded in 2014, ForeverSpin is a Canadian company that makes elegant, high-quality metal spinning tops out of 19 different metal and finishes. All ForeverSpin products are manufactured and cared for in Toronto, Canada, before being shipped out to customers in over 140 different countries. ForeverSpin, with the amazing support of the global community has become one of Canadas fastest-growing companies, listed 3rd in 2017 and 10th in 2018 by Macleans magazine and Canadian business. To learn more about ForeverSpin, visit https://foreverspin.com/. The property offers access to the mid-Atlantic regions enormous distribution, consumer and employment base," shares Jim Mackintosh, co-owner of Mackiintosh Realtors. The City of Frederick, MD annexed 327 acres of agricultural county land that is among the largest contiguous industrial zoned properties for sale in the Washington DC / Baltimore MD metro area. City annexation of the Renn Farm was approved in August by the Frederick County Council. City officials cited the need for more light industrial or M-1 zoned property as the reason for the lands transfer and rezoning. Richard Griffin, director of The City of Fredericks Department of Economic Development says the annexation provides Frederick with an important economic development opportunity. Having available zoned land with appropriate infrastructure is critical to attracting quality employers and investment, he said. The annexation contributes to the potential for new employment and an increased City tax base, which is vital to long term municipal sustainability. Jim Mackintosh, co-owner of Mackintosh Realtors, represents the property owners and says, the Renn Farm is sizeable enough to accommodate a number of large companies that want to purchase and locate there. Mackintosh says it has a total 3,000,000 sf. build-out and is among the closest such industrial properties to Washington, DC that is currently on the market. The property offers access to the mid-Atlantic regions enormous distribution, consumer and employment base. Helen Propheter, director of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, agrees with Griffin and believes that the availability of industrial zoned land is imperative to Frederick Countys overall business development. About once a month we receive a request from an industrial business that is interested in purchasingnot leasingbut purchasing property. Having a variety of land and zoning options is vital to being able to respond to need. Mackintosh says some industrial land does exist in Frederick County. There are small industrial zoned properties, owned by developers, that can be leased. There are also some smaller industrial properties that can be purchased. But the Renn Farm is by far the largest industrial zoned parcel available for purchase in Frederick County. Making the Renn Farm especially desirable, he says, is the fact that the property has water and sewer service. Well and septic fields can provide for the needs of small users. However large users need the guarantee of adequate water service for business-related needs and fire protection. The M-1 zoning allows for a wide range of uses, according to Chris Smariga, president and CEO of Harris Smariga, a long-time planning, engineering and surveying company based in Frederick, MD. Although M-1 is considered industrial, it is not heavy industrial, he says. M-1 can include manufacturing, storage, office, and some ancillary type businesses. Many businesses conform to this kind of zoning. Smariga believes there is the need for more industrial zoned land in Frederick County. The problem is that if you dont have land available when businesses are making inquiries you often lose them to other counties or states. Having industrial land available keeps you in the conversation. The property also has an additional 60-acre parcel that will retain its agricultural zoning. Macktintosh is hopeful that uses on the property might be expanded to include agricultural-related businesses such as wineries, distilleries, animal petting farms and day camps. Propheter says the Renn Farm enjoys the advantage of excellent locationminutes from I-70, Frederick Municipal Airport, downtown Frederick, Fort Detrick, National Cancer Institute, and Riverside Research Park, which is home to Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. Adding to the appeal, she says, is the incentive of The City of Fredericks Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Credit for manufacturing, fabricating or assembling operations. Griffin believes businesses locating on the Renn Farm will also be supported by other economic development initiatives located nearby, including East Frederick Rising, a 2,235 acre area on Fredericks east side, adjacent to the annexed property, where a number of new mixed-use development projects have already taken place, with others underway. In addition to its many amenities, Mackintosh says the Renn Farm and Frederick County land in general offers the additional benefit of financial economy. Land in neighboring Maryland and Virginia counties is breaking record sale prices, he says. Here, businesses have the benefit of affordability, an enormous consumer marketplace, a lower cost of living and a higher quality of life. "System4 of Utah clients enjoy many benefits. From our proprietary work order software which is FREE to clients, our capabilities and money savings, we deliver the value clients want," Stambaugh said. "We are honored to be the preferred go-to partner for facilities management." In 2018, it comes as no surprise that forward-thinking business leaders worldwide are adopting technology solutions to increase efficiency and maximize returns on investment. Now, facilities management professionals are able to reap the same benefits with software solution ServiceSync provided by System4 of Utah, a leading management company in the industry. System4 of Utah President Rick Stambaugh says word is getting out about ServiceSync, a full-scale software solution for comprehensive facilities management. Businesses across the country are using the technology to find solutions through data management, automate outdated and repetitive tasks, and control costs. "System4 of Utah clients enjoy many benefits. From our proprietary work order software which is FREE to clients, our capabilities and money savings, we deliver the value clients want," Stambaugh said. "We are honored to be the preferred go-to partner for facilities management." System4 of Utah ServiceSync software is a step ahead because it helps management avoid the hassle and expense of juggling multiple vendors for common building maintenance needs, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, general repairs, commercial cleaning, and much more. How does ServiceSync work? ServiceSync is a web-based facility work order management solution. It provides the speed and flexibility to manage one or more facilities from a single platform. This powerful tool provides customized reporting options, full work order management, and alerts. ServiceSync users enjoy complete visibility and control in overseeing facilities, along with the time and cost saving benefits of: 1. Use of a single vendor partner in System4, rather than having to choose and juggle separate service vendors for each maintenance task 2. Ease of scheduling with an automated work order process that saves the time and work of reviewing maintenance timelines and scheduling needed work on the facility 3. Client enters the work order and the rest is handled by System4 start to finish 4. Comprehensive data capturing and documentation to avoid compliance issues 5. Automated budget management, with settings built in to prevent expenditures that exceed controls 6. Full reporting for total visibility, to help organizational leadership make good decisions 7. The software is FREE for System4 clients The complete System4 of Utah package provides both the people and software needed to implement a full-scale solution to building maintenance. In most cases, System4 of Utah is able to show a 10 percent savings in total facilities management costs for organizations that adopt the solution. To learn more, visit System4 of Utah online to learn more about ServiceSync, set up a call to schedule a consultation, or receive a comprehensive quote. Rick Stambaugh is available to discuss ServiceSync and additional service options through System4 of Utah by calling 801-994-6924, or by email at rstambaugh(at)system4usa(dot)com. ABOUT SYSTEM4 OF UTAH System4 of Utah offers a wide array of facility management services, including commercial cleaning, that can help businesses save time and money. The company is a 'one contact' solution, offering nearly two-dozen interior and exterior facility services, a comprehensive software technology platform for management, and the expertise of a team dedicated to service and excellence. Some of the System4 of Utah facility services offers include: janitorial services; painting; preventative maintenance and repairs; HVAC; plumbing; electrical; pest control; floor care; landscaping; window cleaning; power washing; and parking lot repair and maintenance. It also offers superior cleaning services for companies that require highly specific cleaning criteria and/or medical-grade disinfection. The RISMedia Tech Titan Award was presented to Arthur Darmanin, CEO of Sellstate Realty Systems, and his team for their 2018 technological achievements. Sellstate was recognized during the November 2nd RISMedia Power Broker Dinner, which was part of The National Association of REALTORS annual conference in Boston. Homes.com, leading online real estate destination and provider of real estate marketing solutions, sponsored this years RISMedias Tech Titan Award. The Tech Titan Award is presented to individuals transforming the industry by integrating new forms of technology into their companies to improve and enhance overall consumer experience. Arthur Darmanin and the Sellstate team are dedicated to embracing technology and providing innovative tools to enhance and expand their brokerage. Im thrilled and honored to receive the Tech Titan Award on behalf of everyone at Sellstate Realty, said Darmanin. We look at technology from a simple point of viewhow is this technology going to help our advisors close more deals? It may sound overly simplistic, but at the end of the day, our purpose, our goal, and our mission is to make sure that we give our advisors the tools they need to close more deals. Sellstate Realty Systems technology vision combines the flexibility of mobile technology and automated, time-saving tools to give their busy advisors everything they need to manage their business on the go. The Sellstate Power Suite, powered by Homes.com, offers a comprehensive technology package that includes single property websites, a cloud-based CRM, monthly newsletters, email marketing, a design center and more, is offered to all advisors along with extensive training and support to ensure a high level of service to their clients. Homes.com is pleased to recognize Arthur Darmanin and Sellstate Realty with the RISMedia Tech Titan award for their technology accomplishments, said Dave Mele, president of Homes.com. As Sellstate Realty continues to expand into new markets in the coming years, Homes.com is proud to be part of their technology solution. About Homes.com A top real estate search destination, Homes.com is visited by more than 10 million consumers each month. Homes.com leverages search visibility to connect this in-market audience with real estate professionals in their local areas of interest. Offering real estate marketing and media services such as brand advertising, property listing exposure and syndication, search engine marketing and instant response lead generation, Homes.com helps real estate agents and other real estate industry partners succeed online. From lead aggregation and customer relationship management to website management, email marketing and so much more, Homes.com Connect offers agents access to all the tools necessary to convert leads into transaction-ready clients in one centralized and easy to use system. For more information, visit http://www.Homes.com. About Sellstate Sellstate Realty Systems Network, Inc. is a national real estate franchise. Based out of Fort Myers, Florida, Sellstate has expanded its operation into several states across the country. With a focus on high commission, breakthrough technology and revenue sharing, Sellstate strives to provide the best possible experience for its brokers, agents and their clients. Through its strategic alliances, Sellstate is able to provide clients listings with a monthly global consumer reach of two hundred million unique visitors. http://www.sellstate.com. # # # Dustin Dulin, Doug Carignan, Paul Downey, Jay Pritcher, and Viking Tao At KRCL, we believe that opportunities are flourishing for foreign investors in real estate right now, and we are grateful for the chance to discuss these opportunities and analyze best practices with some of the top real estate professionals in DFW. On Friday, November 9th, Kane Russell Coleman Logan and the US-China Chamber of Commerce of Dallas hosted a commercial real estate forum at the Tower Club in Dallas, Texas. The forum, titled "Commercial Real Estate Investment 2.0, focused on the recent increase of Chinese investment in US commercial real estate. Seasoned real estate attorneys from Kane Russell Coleman Logan and brokers from Jones Lang LaSalle shared their insights into the unique challenges facing investors with more than 70 attendees. Topics addressed included: What is the current state and future trend of commercial real estate in the US and in DFW? How will the US-China relations impact Chinese investment in US commercial real estate? How will the newly enacted Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) affect Chinese investment in US commercial real estate? What are the common pitfalls and unique challenges faced by Chinese investors? What is the typical process of a commercial real estate acquisition? How to negotiate a purchase and sale agreement as a buyer. What due diligence does a buyer need to conduct prior to closing? How should a company negotiate loan documents if financing is involved? How should a company negotiate an office or warehouse lease as a tenant? Thanks to everyone who helped make this fantastic forum possible, as well as all of the attendees who joined us on Friday, said Viking Tao, leader of the firms China Practice Group. At KRCL, we believe that opportunities are flourishing for foreign investors in real estate right now, and we are grateful for the chance to discuss these opportunities and analyze best practices with some of the top real estate professionals in DFW. The presenters from Kane Russell Coleman Logan included Viking Tao, Paul Downey and Jay Pritcher, all of whom are members of the firms well-known Real Estate section. The attorneys represent owners, developers, investors and lenders in sophisticated and innovative real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, development and construction, leasing, lending and finance, partnerships, joint ventures and funds, land use and entitlements, environmental, insurance and ancillary services. These speakers and their colleagues at Kane Russell Coleman Logan have handled some of the most significant deals in the market. Members of the firm's Real Estate section have been rated by Chambers and U.S. News & World Report for their excellence. Kane Russell Coleman Logan is a full-service law firm with offices in Dallas and Houston. Formed in 1992 with five lawyers, today KRCL employs more than 90 attorneys. The Firm provides professional services for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to medium-sized public and private companies to entrepreneurs. KRCL handles transactional, litigation and bankruptcy matters in Texas and throughout the country. NMC paramedic using ambulance tablet Kiipo EMS system This type of leapfrog technology allows the country to skip over the outdated systems currently used in many countries, and build an entire EMS system using new technologies that are simply more efficient. This week marks the 3-year anniversary of Ethiopias first full-circle Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system. This EMS system was launched in 2015 by Taiwan-based Health-Technology social enterprise Kiipo, in partnership with the Nordic Medical Centre, one of Ethiopias leading hospitals. It allows Emergency Call Centre (ie.911/119) dispatchers and ambulances to immediately locate and help any person in need of assistance in Ethiopia. A country with a population of over 107 million people, Ethiopia does not have a 911/119-type centralized EMS dispatch centre or the infrastructure in place to provide relatively quick emergency services. In a country where street names are limited, it becomes nearly impossible to accurately describe the location of an emergency. Along with unreliable infrastructure, including frequent power outages, road closures, and cellular data network outages, it would be impossible to simply import an EMS system from another nation into this fluctuating environment. However, this bleak outlook has been able to start shifting in recent years. In 2015, Kiipo Co-founders Chris Peng and Jordan Masys teamed up with Nordic Medical Centre (NMC) to launch Ethiopias first full-circle EMS system serving a pilot group of under 10,000 residents in Addis Ababa. The system is, in addition, the worlds first full-circle EMS system using cloud-based location technology. This system enables anyone with a mobile phone to be located regardless if the often-fluctuating cellular data (3G/4G) network is down, while also connecting users, dispatchers, ambulances, and hospitals via various specified Apps and modules, said Chris Peng, Co-founder, Kiipo. The EMS system was specifically designed to continuously adapt itself to Ethiopias unique infrastructure challenges. With time playing a critical role in any emergency response, having the ability to be immediately located could be the difference between life and death, said Dr. Kjell Kiplesund, CEO, NMC, who in 2018 was awarded Norways Royal Order of Merit by H.M. King Harald of Norway for his outstanding contributions to improving health services in Ethiopia. With no EMS system previously in place in Ethiopia, this type of leapfrog technology allows the country to skip over the outdated systems currently used in many countries, and build an entire EMS system using new technologies that are simply more efficient, said Jordan Masys, Co-founder, Kiipo. To accompany the system, Kiipo and NMC also created localized operational protocols and launched a training team (comprised of EMS operations experts, paramedics, etc) that provides the necessary training for staff utilizing the system. NMC and Kiipo are currently looking to expand this life-saving system within Ethiopia. We dream of providing Ethiopia, from rural to urban communities, the capability to establish their own Emergency Medical Services, Jordan Masys said. Kiipo is looking to help establish an official National EMS capability, aiming to expand the service to the entire greater Addis Ababa region (~9 million people), with the goal to provide all 107 million Ethiopians access to emergency medical services in the near future. About Kiipo Based in Taipei, Kiipo is a health-technology company that is founded on the principle that everyone has a fundamental right to a healthy life. They bridge the gap between cutting-edge medical breakthroughs and people, striving to make the most advanced health technology available to everyone in the world. Their current ecosystem of services includes projects to increase access to emergency care, tools to increase the quality of care, and research and development initiatives to facilitate scientific breakthroughs. Learn more at https://www.kiipo.com. About Nordic Medical Centre Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, NMC is known as one of Ethiopias leading hospitals. Established in 2012 by Norways Nordic Clinic Foundation, NMCs inception is rooted in making a positive health impact beyond the walls of the facility. All proceeds from the medical services provided at NMC are used to make critical healthcare accessible to the less privileged as well as to strengthen the pool of human resources for health in Ethiopia by actively supporting and providing higher medical education. Learn more at https://www.nordicmedicalcentre.com. Media Contact: Jessica Ianniciello hello(at)kiipo.com (+886) 2365-1164 Related links: http://www.kiipo.com/ethiopia.html 2018 Next-Gen 250 We are very pleased to be named for the third year in a row to CRNs 2018 Next-Gen 250 list, said Jim Walker, CEO and Managing Partner of CloudHesive. This is an exciting time for CloudHesive, we've had significant growth and I believe that is due to our true commitment in helping clients." CloudHesive, an Amazon Web Services Advanced Consulting and Managed Services Partner, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named CloudHesive to its 2018 Next-Gen 250 list. The annual list identifies IT solution providers who have embraced emerging technologies and are setting the pace for the rest of the channel in their adoption. Those on the list have been able to meet their customers ever-changing IT needs in leading-edge technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, virtualization, mobility, business analytics and business intelligence. CloudHesives core services include assisting customers in building their cloud strategy, developing governance processes, implementing DevOps automation and code pipelines, automating security controls, and managing their customer environments. CloudHesive also has helped enterprise in Cloud-based Call Centers and the setup, tuning, and maintenance of video streaming platforms. In todays accelerated marketplace, technology companies such as CloudHesive play an important role in helping companies leverage innovative technologies without straining their budgets, over taxing their internal resources or losing focus on their essential business. We are very pleased to be named for the third year in a row to CRNs 2018 Next-Gen 250 list, said Jim Walker, CEO and Managing Partner of CloudHesive. This is an exciting time for CloudHesive, we've had significant growth and I believe that is due to our true commitment in helping clients." These innovative solution providers have adapted to a rapidly-evolving marketplace and learned to leverage new technology as a competitive advantage, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. Our 2018 Next-Gen 250 list is comprised of forward-thinking companies who deliver solutions designed to meet an unprecedented set of customer needs. We congratulate each team on its vision and influence in the overall progression of the IT channel. A sampling of the Next-Gen 250 list will be featured in the December issue of CRN. The complete list will be available online at http://www.crn.com/nextgen250. About CloudHesive: CloudHesive is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advanced Consulting Partner and Managed Services Partner headquartered in Miami / Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They are a cloud solutions consulting, DevOps, managed security, and cloud managed services provider with a focus on security, reliability, availability, and scalability. CloudHesives cloud computing services help companies reduce their operating costs and increase productivity while improving their cloud security posture by migrating and securing mission-critical workloads on to Amazon Web Service (AWS) and other cloud partners. CloudHesive partners with the leading cloud providers and security companies to build highly secured, scalable and robust cloud solutions. They architect and manage environments to meet stringent uptime SLAs. CloudHesive also offers proprietary tools such as Centricity to help their customers consume cloud services. For more information about CloudHesive, please visit http://www.CloudHesive.com. Follow CloudHesive: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook About the Channel Company: The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. http://www.thechannelco.com Copyright 2018. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook The Channel Company Contact: Jennifer Hogan The Channel Company jhogan(at)thechannelco.com You are here: China Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province arrested two suspects for drug trafficking and seized around 40 kg of drugs, local police said Wednesday. The police in Changning County received a tip-off in mid-September that drug dealers were planning to smuggle drugs from Myanmar to southwest China's Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality via Yunnan. On Nov. 10, police apprehended two suspects who were transporting drugs with a motorcycle. The police found 13 blocks of heroin and 34 bags of methamphetamine, weighing about 40 kg in total. The suspects surnamed Ran and Tang respectively, have been detained and further investigation is underway. Yunnan is a major front in China's battle against drug crime as it borders the Golden Triangle, an area notorious for rampant drug production and trafficking. Tonelight Security Alarm The combination visual and audio alert system allows the Tonelight Security Alarm from Transducers USA to provide an additional level of security and/or notification as an enhanced annunciator. The combination visual and audio alert system allows the Tonelight Security Alarm from Transducers USA to provide an additional level of security and/or notification as an enhanced annunciator. The TRIP-6692 system from Transducers USA provides this dual notification for any number of events, only a few of which are listed here: Equipment operations started, halted or completed Laboratory operations started, halted or completed Production start-ups, completions, jams, or procedural shut-downs Process operation events completions, below or above limit conditions, and more Security or safety conditions for institutions, such as hospitals, schools, military and government offices Exterior perimeter intrusion Access control intrusion notification Mobile alerts Area lockouts All Clear notification Other conditions threatening life safety The siren and strobe light alerts on the Tonelight Security Alarm can operate simultaneously or separately, and the sound can be delayed for workspace-friendly warnings. This gives workers time to respond to the visual alert before the audible siren begins perfect for restaurant kitchens, factory floors or other environments where excess noise is undesirable. TRIP-6692R includes a red lens, and the siren and strobe light operate together. TRIP-6692LG includes a green lens, and the siren and strobe light operate together. TRIP-6692RLS includes a red lens, and the siren and strobe light are each wired individually for separate operation. Available in a lightweight and space-saving package of 5 x 3 x 1.5, the TRIP-6692R weighs only four ounces. The alarm generates over 100dB at 30 cm of wave siren output, along with its red strobe light with an operating frequency range of 2.4 3.7 kHz. The package includes a 2-wire lead and a 3-wire lead (TRIP-6692RLS) and is configured for industry-standard junction box panel mounting. Product specifications include: Rated Voltage: 12VDC Operating Voltage: 6 15VDC Max. Rated Current: 300mA Operating Frequency 2.4-3.7 KHz Min. Sound Pressure Level: 110dB +/- 3dB Transducer USAs Tonelight Security Alarm is currently available from stock from the companys warehouse and headquarters in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. For more information on the new Tonelight Security Alarm TRIP-6692R, please visit: http://www.tusainc.com. FREE samples of the new TRIP-6692 Security Alarms are available to editors upon request. Please contact Joe Sieracki at 847-956-1920. About Transducers USA Transducers USA produces quality audible signal devices at very competitive prices for Original Equipment Manufacturers. The company manufactures a comprehensive line of audio indicators and transducers in piezo and electro-mechanical varieties, including microphones, speakers, and ultrasonic components. Products are manufactured in ISO-9000 and RoHS certified facilities in Asia. Transducers USA provides customer support and engineering assistance from their local headquarters in Elk Grove Village, IL. Over 1,300 production workers and 100 specialized audio engineers support Transducers USA. In addition to hundreds of standard audible signal devices, custom products are also available at Transducers USA, based on either a customers design or one created by Transducers USA engineers. CAD drawings and tooling will be provided at no charge for qualified orders. Distributors and sale representatives are utilized as a channel to market. Local contacts can be found on http://www.tusainc.com. Arcadia Data, provider of the first visual analytics software native to Apache Hadoop and the cloud, today announced it has been issued a patent for its incremental materialized view capability on distributed systems to enable faster analytics results and immediate updates on changing big data sets. The capability covered in the patent lets Arcadia Data customers get fast and accurate calculations on complex aggregates from their data using modern analytical approaches and platforms. Traditional approaches that are applied to analyzing big data involve significant IT effort due to data movement, data copies, data flattening, data extracts, governance risks, and additional administrative overhead. Furthermore, connecting traditional business intelligence (BI) tools to modern data platforms like Hadoop or cloud-based data lakes poses its own set of challenges around user concurrency in production environments. Arcadia Data delivers analytics and BI without the traditional process overhead and deployment limitations. And through its flagship platform, Arcadia Enterprise, it provides Analytical Views, which seamlessly accelerate BI dashboards to support thousands of business users. Analytical views significantly boost performance, scale, and user concurrency to enable fast responsiveness, as demonstrated by the 88x performance improvements in a recent report by Enterprise Strategy Group, Native Business Intelligence Performance for Data Lakes. Unlike traditional materialized views, Analytical Views can be updated incrementally as new data is added to more quickly deliver analytics to end users. Incremental maintenance is particularly important in cloud-based data warehouses and data lakes, where remote object storage incurs larger access penalties than precomputed results served from memory. Arcadia Data understands how challenging it can be to quickly analyze the scale of todays data sets and user bases, even on modern platforms, like Hadoop and the cloud, said Shant Hovsepian, CTO and co-founder, Arcadia Data. We are pleased that Arcadia Data technology helps customers democratize their data to derive important insights in a manner that is far more efficient than is possible with traditional platforms. This patent enables us to share with customers and partners the details of our innovations, to enhance the benefit they receive from using our platforms. The invention in the patent, No. 10,120,898, is titled, Apparatus and Method for Allowing Complex Aggregates in Analytical Views in a Distributed Database, with Arcadia Data database architect and founding engineer Anjali Norwood as the lead inventor. It enables fast and accurate calculations on complex aggregates via Analytical Views for recently updated data. Certain complex aggregatessuch as number of distinct values, average, analytic window functions, and standard deviationtypically require scans of the entire database, thus making it resource intensive to calculate these values. Analytical views store these calculations, and when the underlying database is updated, the patented technology efficiently computes the new values in an incremental manner and stores them back into the Analytical Views. These values can be delivered quickly to dashboards since Analytical Views avoid re-calculation and rereading of the underlying data. This ability to compute partial results from incremental additions to the database leads to faster refreshes of the database and Analytical Views, while also ensuring accurate calculations after the incremental update. This functionality helps Arcadia Data customers get a broad range of analytics capabilities without sacrificing performance and expressivity. Read more about Analytical Views on the Arcadia Data blog or see Arcadia Enterprise in action by registering for a live demo. About Arcadia Data Arcadia Data provides the first visual analytics and BI platform native to big data that delivers the scale, performance, and agility business users need to discover and productionize real-time insights. Its flagship product, Arcadia Enterprise, was built from inception to run natively within big data platforms, in the cloud and/or on-premises, to streamline the self-service analytics process on data in Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, Apache Kafka, and Apache Solr. It enables real-time, high-definition insights in use cases like data lakes, cybersecurity, connected IoT devices, and customer intelligence. Arcadia Enterprise is deployed by some of the worlds leading brands, including Procter & Gamble, Nokia, Royal Bank of Canada, Kaiser Permanente, HPE, and Neustar. To learn more, follow @ArcadiaData or visit http://www.arcadiadata.com. "Kirusa envisages a future where users in any part of the world can buy phone numbers in any country, via ReachMe.", said Surinder Anand, CTO and VP-Product Management at Kirusa. In response to increasing demand from African people traveling abroad, businesses wanting to have local numbers for overseas customers, and operators looking for new avenues to maximize ARPU, Kirusa today announced the feature allowing users to buy foreign numbers from its InstaVoice ReachMe app. These virtual numbers, called ReachMe Numbers, are now available from US, UK, Canada, and France for just US$1 a month with additional countries to follow shortly. The numbers are available from InstaVoice ReachMe app (which can be downloaded from Google Play or App Store) and do not require any additional activation steps or physical liaison with the operator. The new numbers can be used alongside a persons existing mobile number(s) and activated instantly. ReachMe uses a multi-ID architecture, allowing up to 20 numbers to be linked to an account and used on any device. This eliminates the need to carry additional phones to use multiple phone numbers. After buying a +1, +44 or +33 number from the ReachMe app, users will receive calls to that number when they are connected to the internet via mobile data from any SIMs, or Wi-Fi. When they are offline, callers can leave voicemails in the app which can be listened to when the recipient is back online. Surinder Anand, CTO, and VP Product Management of Kirusa said Virtualization of numbers promises a new business stream for carriers. Expats and inbound tourists become new segments of the population that can be reached out to, increasing the size of the telecom pie. Sim-less nature of the numbers made possible by multi-ID, allows users to own several phone numbers, without the hassles of owning several phones. This incentivizes the users to buy add-on lines for each aspect of their life one for work, one for family and perhaps one for dating! This also drastically reduces the cost of user acquisition an important consideration in low ARPU markets like Africa. Kirusa envisages a future where users in any part of the world can buy phone numbers in any country, via ReachMe. InstaVoice ReachMe App was launched at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2018, as a Roaming App, targeted at International travelers. Kirusa further announced the apps ability to integrate with carrier networks, to roll-out customized roaming packages and plans for subscribers. Unlike other OTT apps, ReachMe doesnt require both the calling parties to have the app installed. The callers experience remains the same as when making a regular mobile call to a ReachMe user (via the phone dialer), with no need for the app or a data connection. Athena Software is among the 500 fastest growing technology companies in North America, as ranked by Deloitte. Our highly configurable SaaS-based platform helps provide our customers with a single source of truth about their clients. Athena Software today announced it ranked No. 435 on Deloittes Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Athena Software grew 174 percent during this period. Athenas chief executive officer, Geoff Bellew, credits the growing demand across the health and social services sector for case management software thats flexible and client-centric with the companys impressive 174 percent revenue growth. He said, "Our customers need case management software that supports their mission of providing value-based frontline care to their clients, while also enabling high-quality outcomes reporting for their funders and stakeholders. Our highly configurable SaaS-based platform helps provide our customers with a single source of truth about their clients, and allows them to manage multiple workflows, services, and reporting needs within a single, secure, cloud-based setting." Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement, said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth. Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics, said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloittes audit and assurance practice. This years ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth. About Deloittes 2017 Technology Fast 500 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companiesboth public and privatein North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Athena Software Since 2001, Athena Software has been delivering cloud-based case management software and a growing suite of client engagement products to health and social service organizations worldwide. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, with employees also situated in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, Athena is also ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified for its information security management systems. Athena relentlessly partners with health and social service agencies around the world to: achieve their missions and client service outcomes, meet evolving accountability reporting requirements, and deliver the best experience possible to their customers via use of Athenas highly acclaimed Penelope SaaS Technology platform supported by best practice insights, training, tools, and 24/7 support. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see https://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Many customers initially look to implement a document management solution for AP automation only. But DocLink is unique in its ability to help companies automate processes beyond AP by allowing them to take everything digital across their enterprise. Altec, a leader in enterprise document management and process automation solutions, is a platinum sponsor at todays MicroAccounting Client Event in Dallas, TX. Warren DAvirro, Midwest Sales Director for Altec, will be presenting, Taking Everything Digital with DocLink, Sage Document Management for the 100+ clients in attendance. DocLink, the only Sage-endorsed document management solution, allows users to digitally transform their operations to go paperless in any department, across the entire enterprise. DAvirro comments, Many customers initially look to implement a document management solution for AP automation only. But DocLink is unique in its ability to help companies automate processes beyond AP by allowing them to take everything digital across their enterprise. DocLink connects people, processes and data for competitive advantage and as Sages only endorsed document management solution, DocLinks full integration to Sage ERPs provides significant value. There is no limit to the processes that DocLink can streamline and automate, and I look forward to sharing this during the event. About Altec Altec is a leading provider of integrated document management and process automation solutions. Its flagship product, DocLink, helps companies connect people, processes and data providing them with the ability to store, search, retrieve and send any document securely. DocLink effectively eliminates the need for paper while automating processes that improve organizational efficiency and reduce costs associated with human errors. With thousands of customers globally, Altec enjoys collaborative partnerships with Sage, Microsoft, Acumatica, Intacct, Key2Act, SAP B1, Amtech, Epicor and more that deliver flexible, comprehensive solutions to adapt to an ever-changing global market. Learn more at http://www.altec-inc.com. Apothca Logo Apothca, Inc., is set to open Lynns first Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD) at 491 Lynnway, Lynn, Massachusetts 01905 on Friday, November 16, 2018. This is Apothcas second medical marijuana dispensary in Massachusetts with the first location, in Arlington, MA, located at 11 Water Street, Unit 3b (third floor), having opened on October 26, 2018. Apothca is launching new special pricing programs and promotions for the benefit of Massachusetts medical marijuana patients. Apothca will offer the same promotions in both the Lynn and Arlington cannabis dispensaries. Starting November 16, 2018, Apothcas promotions will include: New Medical Patient Card: All patients receiving their new or renewed Massachusetts medical program cards will be eligible to receive $200 in discounts on their purchases at Apothcas Massachusetts locations. New Apothca Patient Card: All patients who visit an Apothca dispensary for the first time will be eligible to receive $100 in discounts on their purchases at Apothcas Massachusetts locations. Patient Referral Program: Any Apothca patient who brings a new patient for their first visit to an Apothca location in Massachusetts is eligible to receive a $50 discount on their purchase that visit. The terms and conditions of Apothcas promotions can be seen at http://www.apothca.com. Apothca would like to thank the Lynn community and all Lynn City officials for the opportunity to serve the medical marijuana needs of Lynn patients and those of the surrounding communities, said Joseph Lekach, co-founder of Apothca, Inc. We are excited and humbled to be the first cannabis dispensary to open in the City of Lynn and we hope to work closely with our neighbors to make sure the patient experience is nothing short of extraordinary, continued Mr. Lekach. With Apothcas 4,600 square foot flagship retail location and ample parking directly on the Lynnway, the patient experience in Lynns Apothca will be unrivaled in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Patients will have access to a wide variety of medical cannabis products including flower, concentrates, pre-rolled joints, edibles, tinctures, and full spectrum CBD products in an opening and welcoming atmosphere. Apothca, Inc has received a Special Permit from the Lynn City Council to operate an Adult-Use Retail Marijuana Dispensary and plans to locate a dual-use medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary at the same 491 Lynnway location. We are waiting for the Cannabis Control Commission to issue a Retail Marijuana License. As soon as they do, we will be ready to serve all guests in the same store. We have built our Lynn location to comply with both the Department of Public Health and Cannabis Control Commission regulations. Our Fitchburg cultivation campus is currently working hard to prepare enough cannabis products to serve all patients and guests, added Lekach. Apothca, Inc. currently operates the first climate-controlled greenhouse for marijuana cultivation in its 26 acre Fitchburg cannabis campus, a former Bayer Pharmaceuticals facility. Apothca, Inc. plans to open its third location in Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Jamaica Plain in early 2019. About Apothca, Inc Apothca, Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company operating in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Colombia. Apothca, Inc. currently has two dispensaries in Massachusetts, located at 11 Water St, Unit 3b (third floor), Arlington, Massachusetts 02476 and 491 Lynnway, Lynn, Massachusetts 10905. Our state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation campus is in Fitchburg, Massachusetts with the first ever cannabis greenhouse in Massachusetts. Apothca, Inc. also has a retail operation in Eugene, Oregon and is launching a cultivation, extraction, research, and export operations in the country of Colombia. For more information on Apothca, Inc., its operations, or its team, please visit http://www.apothca.com. For all inquiries, please email info@apothca.com. Were honoured and very proud to be featured on this list for the fifth consecutive year," says Appnovation CEO Arnold Leung. Our innovative team continues to deliver engaging, integrated and omni-channel digital experiences to our clients, helping them achieve more, faster." Appnovation today announced it ranked No. 420 on Deloittes Technology Fast 500 a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Appnovation grew 184 percent during this period. Were honoured and very proud to be featured on this list for the fifth consecutive year," says Appnovation CEO Arnold Leung. Our innovative team continues to deliver engaging, integrated and omni-channel digital experiences to our clients, helping them achieve more, faster." Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement, said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth. Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics, said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloittes audit and assurance practice. This years ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth. Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 143 percent to 77,260 percent from 2014 to 2017, with median growth of 412 percent. About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Appnovation Appnovation is a global Digital Solutions and Managed Services provider, delivering strategy, application development and enterprise integration on leading open technologies. Appnovations in-house experts strategize, build, and deploy high-performing, secure digital experiences across many industries, while also offering a wide range of creative capabilities, with 24/7 support and maintenance. The firm boasts an impressive, cross-industry client roster ranging from Start-Ups to Fortune 500, government entities, nonprofit organizations and beyond. Since its inception in 2007, Appnovation has worked with hundreds of clients, delivering thousands of projects, achieving international recognition for development, innovations, and business success. Open Digital Delivered. Visit appnovation.com today. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Media Contact: Vanessa Burley Appnovation vanessa(at)appnovation.com http://www.appnovation.com Since IT environments are becoming increasingly complicated, federal agencies, like the Department of Homeland Security, are finding new ways to manage their complex and changing access control needs. Axiomatics Federal, Inc., the leader in fine-grained dynamic authorization for customers and partners of the federal government, announced today they have won an American Security Today 2018 ASTORS Homeland Security Award. Axiomatics Federal, Inc. received the Platinum Award in the Innovative Access and Authentication System Solutions category. On November 14, 2018 Craig Gilley, President of Axiomatics Federal, Inc., accepted the top award at the 2018 ASTORS Homeland Awards Luncheon. The luncheon took place during ISC East at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Axiomatics Federal, Inc. wins the award for the Axiomatics Policy Server, the core engine of the Axiomatics Dynamic Authorization Suite, used by enterprises and government agencies to manage complex access control use cases. The Axiomatics Policy Server delivers externalized dynamic authorization to provide the fastest policy engine on the market and the most complete solution available for agency-wide roll out of policy-based access control. The Axiomatics Policy Server is built on an Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC) approach. ABAC has quickly become the standard access control model for the Federal Government. The ABAC model ensures sensitive data remains secure across innumerable applications and databases, solving many of the data leakage challenges that are present today. Since IT environments are becoming increasingly complicated, federal agencies, like the Department of Homeland Security, are finding new ways to manage their complex and changing access control needs, said Craig Gilley, president of Axiomatics Federal, Inc. The Axiomatics Policy Server does just that. This award establishes the Axiomatics Policy Server as the go-to dynamic authorization solution for Federal agencies and I couldnt be prouder of this accomplishment. The American Security Today 2018 ASTORS Homeland Security Awards honored the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, first responders as well as the federal, state, county and municipal government agencies for their outstanding efforts to keep the United States safe and secure. These prestigious awards offered 86 categories that address a wide variety of evolving homeland security threats. We were pleased to announce Axiomatics Federal, Inc., as the platinum award winner in the Innovative Access and Authentication Systems Solutions category, said Michael Madsen, co-founder and publisher of American Security Today. With an increasing amount of threats both home and abroad, companies have taken it upon themselves to provide the government with the best security solutions possible. Since the United States is focusing on protecting IT/cyber security networks now more than ever, its great that we have companies like Axiomatics working diligently to prevent data breaches and protect our citizens. For more information on Axiomatics Federal, Inc., visit: http://www.axiomatics.com/federal. For more information about American Security Today and the awards, visit: https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/. About Axiomatics Federal, Inc. Axiomatics Federal, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Axiomatics Inc., is a U.S. company with offices in Reston, Virginia. The federal team works closely with customers and partners of the federal government to meet mission-critical access control needs with a policy-based approach delivery through externalized dynamic authorization management. About Axiomatics Axiomatics is the leading provider of fine-grained access control. Axiomatics' solutions are utilized by government agencies and Global Fortune 1000 companies around the world to enable digital transformation: share and safeguard sensitive information, meet compliance requirements and minimize data fraud. Axiomatics provides Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC) for applications, databases, Big Data, APIs and microservices. To learn more, please visit: http://www.axiomatics.com or @axiomatics. Our goal is to build upon the great services offered by Metamorphosis by bringing new and fresh ideas. We look forward to continuing and adding to the legacy established by Metamorphosis! BayMark Health Services announced the acquisition of Metamorphosis, an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) with locations in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah earlier this week. Providing medication-assisted treatment since 1995, Metamorphosis has established themselves as a high-quality, trusted provider of evidence-based treatment for opioid addiction. The Metamorphosis programs will become BAART Programs Salt Lake City and BAART Programs Ogden. Metamorphosis was founded in 1995 to provide much needed services to the greater Salt Lake City area where there wasnt a large number of options for those seeking medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, stated Shannon Terwedo, President of Metamorphosis. We have worked over the last 20 years to create safe and effective recovery programs for our patients and to educate our community about the benefits of this proven treatment modality. We feel confident that BayMark will continue our mission and maintain the highest levels of care for our patients. BAART Programs, a BayMark Health Services company, provides outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction and dependency. Medication-assisted treatment combines medications, such as methadone and buprenorphine, with addiction counseling and behavioral therapies. This approach provides an evidence-based, comprehensive treatment plan, individualized to meet the needs of each patient. David K. White, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of BayMark Health Services, added, As the opioid epidemic persists, accessibility to proven treatment options for opioid addiction is critical. BayMark has over 50 years of cumulative experience in treating this disease and looks to work with organizations who have established a foundation of quality care and compassion in their practices. Our goal is to build upon the great services offered by Metamorphosis by bringing new and fresh ideas. We look forward to continuing and adding to the legacy established by Metamorphosis! For more information on BAART Programs visit: http://www.BAARTPrograms.com. About BayMark Health Services: BayMark Health Services provides medication-assisted treatment to more than 46,000 patients in recovery from opioid use disorder. Our outpatient programs deliver medically supervised treatment, in a variety of modalities and settings, to meet the diverse needs of our patients who struggle with the use of prescription pain medication or other opiates. The BayMark continuum of patient-focused services includes highly structured opioid treatment programs utilizing methadone or buprenorphine and office-based buprenorphine programs, both of which incorporate counseling as part of an individualized treatment plan; as well as, ambulatory withdrawal management services with naltrexone therapy, residential treatment and recovery support services. Annual Tech Day In Mendoza We were delighted to welcome everyone to Tech Day, and provide an introduction to programming, what a programmer's day is like, and offer insight into what it's like to work with technology. Belatrix Software, a leading software development company, held its annual Tech Day in Mendoza, Argentina. Belatrix and Champagnat University invited high school students from different schools to the day-long event. More than 100 people attended. Tech Day has become a regular occurrence at Belatrix, as part of our efforts to introduce teenagers to technology, and promote technology-focused careers. A trained team of volunteers supported the students during the activities. The goal was wake-up to IT vocations. It is targeted at youths who have no or limited knowledge or experience with coding or programming. We sought to demystify it and demonstrate that it's not boring to programme. We aimed to show that it is enjoyable, a passion, and that it can show you how to take or change decisions. The labor market is changing rapidly in many countries, but a constant concern from employers is the challenge in finding people with technology skills. Executives know that technology is vital to meeting their core business challenges. The shortage of tech talent means that those youngsters who develop tech skills, will be well-placed in the labor market in the coming years. In addition to hosting this annual event, Belatrix is active throughout the year in promoting technology at schools and universities, for instance regularly inviting students to visit its offices. Belatrix experts regularly provide talks and training courses. During the event students used a programming language called Scratch. Researchers at MIT designed Scratch to be an easy way to introduce people to coding and programming. Belatrix collaborators were on hand to help, and also answer questions about what it is like to work with technology on a daily basis. While the main purpose was to introduce youngsters to programming, there was also a competitive element, as the students were challenged to create computer games using the skills that they had just learnt during the day. Prizes included complete scholarships to study at Champagnat University. Monica Colombo, Belatrixs Director of Knowledge & Growth Integration Area, hosted the event, and commented, We were delighted to welcome everyone to Tech Day, and provide an introduction to programming, what a programmers day is like, and offer insight into what it's like to work with technology. For those that won scholarships to study at university, I wish them all the best with their studies. And for everyone who participated, I hope they enjoyed the event and will now be even more motivated to learn about the potential for tech-focused careers and understand their impact in the world of work. About Belatrix Software Belatrix Software helps companies thrive in the digital world. Organizations partner with Belatrix to turn ideas into high quality, innovative software based on highly-tuned Agile development processes. Customers use Belatrixs digital transformation services to create best-in-class software products, lower time to market, and gain competitive edge. Belatrixs dedicated labs, focusing on UX, continuous delivery, mobile, DevOps, and QA automation, help organizations become digital leaders. Belatrix's clients include both established Fortune level and emerging, venture backed firms. Some of the firm's clients include Disney, Adobe, AOL, PwC and Shutterfly. Belatrix is a South American company with offices in Florida, New York, San Francisco, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Bogota and Lima. For more information, visit https://www.belatrixsf.com. Large volumes of water from a lake created by landslides on the border of Sichuan province and the Tibet autonomous region headed downstream with a vengeance on Wednesday, washing away a bridge over the Jinsha River in Sichuan and putting flood control authorities farther downstream in Yunnan province on alert. The discharge from the lake began on Monday through a man-made channel. The collapse of the bridge, in Sichuan's Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture, disrupted traffic on a major highway connecting the province with Tibet, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday, citing Sichuan's traffic and transportation department. Completed in 2007, the 270-meter bridge-on a primary route linking Sichuan and neighboring Tibet-had been reinforced with steel wire and weights before the flood, Xinhua said. Traffic is unlikely to be restored soon, and drivers heading to Tibet should find an alternative route, Sichuan Traffic Radio said. The ministry urged flood control authorities in Sichuan and Yunnan early on Wednesday to be on high alert. Meanwhile, flood control authorities in Lijiang, Yunnan, issued the highest-level emergency warning to alert people of potential danger. According to a circular released by the Lijiang government early on Wednesday, the flood would reach Lijiang at around 9 pm, posing great risk to residents along the river. The circular urged flood control authorities to ensure "zero casualties" and to minimize economic losses. It required that residents in vulnerable areas be evacuated by 5 pm and not allowed to re-enter the danger zone until the emergency warning is lifted. Special attention should be paid to those engaged in farming, it added. The controlled discharge from the lake that began on Monday was intended as a safety measure, said Xu Chong, a researcher at Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration. Water backing up in the lake had threatened the upper reaches of the Jinsha River. Since it formed on Oct 11, the lake had retained about 524 million cubic meters of water, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. As of Wednesday at 7 am, 492 cubic m of water-almost all of it-had been discharged, the ministry said. But the large volume created trouble downstream. The lake formed on the border of Sichuan and Tibet when two landslides-one in Chamdo, Tibet, and the other in Garze-blocked the Jinsha River. Some 34,200 people were evacuated along the river as the lake's water level continued to rise, the ministry said on Sunday. Taking the road less traveled has been a hallmark of Benzer Pharmacys expansion into smaller communities across the country. But at times, those efforts have brought the brand to densely populated places as well. The latest introduction in the latter category comes by way of Providence, Rhode Island, the largest city in the state and now the new home to the 29th Franchisee in the system. Although Rhode Island may be tiny in terms of geographical size, the establishment of Benzers first storefront in Providence is big news for the brand, says President Alpesh Patel, who suggests theres a historical precedent at work in the companys recent growth spurt. Providence is one of the oldest cities in the country. Founded in 1636, the New England stronghold has been a place of inspiration for generations of Americans, Patel said. In a region where the state motto is summed up in one word, Hope, we bring our own hopes with us as we seek to improve the way the pharmacy business does business here in Rhode Island and beyond. Central to that idea, according to Patel, is that there is no single big-box store retailer thats going to be all things to all people. In fact, hes counting on Benzer being the better choice for the growing number of people who are looking for something more than a virtual drugstore vending machine. Our first and foremost goal is to keep the friendly, personal feel intact within every retail outlet thats part of Benzer Pharmacy Franchise, explained Patel. If Providence can rebrand itself as the Creative Capital for its commitment to education and the arts, Benzer can absolutely play a role in bringing back the best elements that make the neighborhood pharmacy preferable to its bigger neighbors down the block. Located at 265 Waterman Street in Providence, Rhode Island, the new Benzer Pharmacy Franchise is now open for business weekdays from 9 am to 5:30 pm. Phone: 401-340-1800; Fax: 401-340-1801. To find the closest Benzer Pharmacy near you, visit https://www.benzerpharmacy.com/locations Learn more about Benzer franchise at https://www.benzerfranchise.com/ About Benzer Pharmacy. Founded in 2009, Benzer Pharmacy is a chain of independent retail pharmacies specializing in compounding and specialty medication. Currently, there are 66 corporate-owned and 29 franchise locations situated throughout 23 states, including Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Louisiana, New York, Missouri, Mississippi, Maryland, Indiana, and Idaho. Projections call for continued rapid growth as the organization seeks to substantially increase its customer base while ensuring experiences match expectations at every touchpoint. Benzer Pharmacy has made four straight appearances on Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America from 2015-2018; correspondingly, the company earned a 39th place on the 2015 Florida Fast 100 list, while concurrently placing 67th on the 2015 TBBJ 200 list of Tampa Bays largest private companies. Benzer was also voted favorite pharmacy in 2015 Best of Fuquay Varina in North Carolina and achieved PCAB compounding accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). All Benzer Pharmacy medications require a doctor's prescription. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenzerPharmacy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benzerpharmacy Instagram: https://instagram.com/benzer_pharmacy Vijaya Knight, MD, PhD, (D)ABMLI, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Colorado Children's Hospital Primary immune deficiencies (PIDs), otherwise known as inborn errors of immunity, are a group of disorders in which a portion of the immune system is missing or is not functioning properly. PIDs result in enhanced susceptibility to infection, often with organisms of low pathogenicity. Additionally, PIDs increase susceptibility to autoimmunity and malignancy. While severe presentations of PID are more readily recognized and referred to tertiary centers for follow up and treatment, more subtle manifestations of PIDs may go unrecognized and untreated. During this presentation, Dr. Vijaya Knight, MD, PhD, (D)ABMLI will discuss the basic components of the immune system, when to suspect primary immune deficiency and the laboratory workup when immune deficiency is suspected. Knight will further elaborate on phenotypic and functional immunological analysis for specific immune disorders. Dr. Knight headed the Advanced Diagnostic Immunology and Flow Cytometry laboratories at National Jewish Health from 2008-2018 and was an Assoc. Professor in the Department of Medicine. In June of 2018, she joined the Dept. of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital, Colorado where she is developing a translational and diagnostic immunology and allergy laboratory. Dr. Knight has been involved for many years in the development of new diagnostic assays for patients with immune deficiency and autoimmune conditions, as well as the development of immune monitoring tools for clinical trials. Join this webinar on November 29, 2018, at 9am PST. To learn more about this event, the continuing education credits offered, or to register for free, click here. About Binding Site Binding Site provides specialized diagnostic products to clinicians and laboratory professionals worldwide. Our people are dedicated to improving patient lives, delivering innovative medical solutions that improve the diagnosis and management of blood cancers and immune system disorders. Founded by researchers at the University of Birmingham, Binding Site has continued to build on its strong scientific foundations, supporting research and development within our field and responding to the changing needs of patients, researchers and clinicians for over 25 years. About LabRoots LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website, offering top scientific trending news and premier educational virtual events and webinars. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning. We have become a primary source for trending scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences and more. Offering more than articles and webcasts that go beyond the mundane and explore the latest discoveries in the world of science, LabRoots users can stay atop their field by gaining continuing education credits from a wide range of topics through their participation in the webinars and virtual events. Join for free and become part of the largest scientific learning community in the world. Foss Reservoir in Oklahoma The study showed that a repeat of paleo droughts could have far greater impacts on reservoir yield than the observed drought of record. The Bureau of Reclamation has released a report that identifies innovative approaches to improve drought resiliency within the Washita Basin in Oklahoma. The study specifically looked at Foss and Fort Cobb Reservoirs, and the approach can be applied anywhere across the Western United States. The study showed that a repeat of paleo droughts could have far greater impacts on reservoir yield than the observed drought of record. The study also predicted the probability of paleo droughts being worse than the observed drought of record, and hence quantified the risks of a reservoir not fulfilling its intended purposes under different drought scenarios. For Foss Reservoir, the firm yield, as determined by the observed 1970s drought of record, is 19,700 acre-feet per year. Through the Enhanced Drought Response Reservoir Operations model, it is predicted that the reservoir firm yield under five paleo drought scenarios would range from 14,000 to 7,400 acre-feet per year. If the maximum demand were to be placed on the reservoir, the demands would need to be reduced between 32 and 66 percent in order to prevent the reservoir from going dry. The probability of a paleo drought being worse than the observed drought of record was found to be about 30 percent. For Fort Cobb Reservoir, the firm yield as determined by the observed 1950s drought of record, is 19,200 acre-feet per year. Through the model, it is predicted that the reservoir yield during the five paleo droughts will range between 18,700 to 15,300 acre-feet per year. If the maximum demand were to be placed on the reservoir, the demands would need to be reduced between 36 and 53 percent to prevent the reservoir from going dry. The probability of a paleo drought being worse than the observed drought of record was found to be about 10 percent. This information will better inform long-term planning efforts and preparation for the next drought. The new modeling tools developed for this study also can be used in real-time during a drought to inform decisions on how much demands need to be curtailed to prevent a reservoir from going dry. Firm yield is the amount of water a reservoir can reliably deliver to customers. The challenge to water managers is that the observed hydrologic record encompasses a narrow period of time. This study combined existing tree ring data and reconstructed the annual Palmer Drought Severity Index over a 600-year historical period to generate new inflow sequences that were used to calculate reservoir firm yield. By having the longer historical record, a more robust calculation of a range of reservoir firm yields that can be used to assist water managers to inform decisions that affect water supply reliability. Foss and Fort Cobb Reservoirs are located in central Oklahoma and are responsible for 90 percent of the surface water supply in the area, providing municipal water for about 40,000 people. Although Reclamation maintains ownership of the dam and conveyance facilities, operations and maintenance responsibilities have been transferred to the Foss and Fort Cobb Reservoir Master Conservancy Districts. This study was conducted as part of Reclamation's Reservoir Operations Pilot Initiative, which aims to identify innovative approaches to improve water management strategies in the Western United States. This program assists stakeholders to develop guidance for identifying and implementing changes that increase flexibility in reservoir operations in response to future variability in water supplies, floods and droughts. The full report may be viewed at https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/pilots/. It is part of Reclamations WaterSMART Program. Through WaterSMART, Reclamation works cooperatively with states, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply through investments to modernize existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. Visit https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart for additional information about the program. "STRmix is currently being used following laboratory validation in 58 laboratories across the United States, Australasia, and the rest of the world," ruled Judge Tamara L. Wood. A California Superior Court has ruled that STRmix is generally accepted by the relevant scientific community and that evidence produced using STRmix is admissible in California v. Juan Manuel Venegas (#17 CR F 2383). The defense had questioned both the admissibility of STRmix a sophisticated forensic software used to resolve mixed DNA profiles previously thought to be too complex to interpret and whether the criminologist in the case had used the correct scientific procedures in administering STRmix. The ruling by Judge Tamara L. Wood found that STRmix is generally accepted by the scientific community. Judge Wood noted, Peer review is the process by which two anonymous referees are appointed by an editor to examine the quality of a draft scientific article If the draft passes peer review, it will be published to the relevant scientific community. STRmix has been published in 47 peer review publications. The Court added, STRmix is currently being used following laboratory validation in 58 laboratories across the United States, Australasia, and the rest of the world. These laboratories include the FBI, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Lab, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. It also noted that the validation of STRmix by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) laboratory (the laboratory involved in the Venegas case) was done in accordance with the primary guidelines for probabilistic genotyping validation produced by the Scientific Working Group, DNA Analysis Methods. Those guidelines are effectively mandatory in the U.S. Addressing defense contentions that the DOJs senior criminologist, Eric Halsing, failed to follow DOJ guidelines and correct scientific procedures in administering STRmix, Judge Wood ruled that differences between Halsing and defense expert Marc Taylor in interpreting the number of contributors to the DNA profile in question do not demonstrate or support a conclusion that Halsing failed to follow the proper procedures, but rather go to the weight of the evidence of Halsings interpretation of the profiles. The Court concluded, The jury is free to determine the weight to be given each experts opinions and the significance of the likelihood ratio results from STRmix. To date, there have been at least 24 successful admissibility hearings for STRmix in the U.S., while DNA evidence interpreted with STRmix has been used successfully in numerous court cases. A new version of STRmix, STRmix v2.6, recently was introduced. The new version features a user interface that has been completely redeveloped and refreshed, providing users with vastly improved usability and workflow. Version 2.6 also enables a range of contributors to be entered when performing a deconvolution, and any type of stutter to be added and configured. STRmix was developed by John Buckleton, DSc, FRSNZ, and Jo-Anne Bright of the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), and Duncan Taylor from Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA). For more information about STRmix visit http://www.strmix.com. We provide onsite professionals, marketing, finance, reservations and other services, which brings much relief to so many hard working volunteers who own properties. United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR) will be exhibitors at the Christian Camp & Conference Association (CCCA) 2018 Bold Conference to be held Dec 3-6 in Palm Springs, CA. The Conference is the CCCAs Annual National gathering for people involved in the Christian camping industry. This is the first time UCCR has attended the event. Making connections with camp, conference and retreat centers who may be looking for help in operations management of their sites is the primary goal for the non-profit camp and retreat management cooperative. UCCR has been an expert in site management since the inception of the organization in 1970. As a non-profit UCCR has worked with mostly church-owned properties, but has experience in working with other types of owner groups as well. Mike Carr, CEO and President of UCCR will be in attendance and available to answer questions and provide information to those seeking property management services. We currently manage 14 sites, and plan to continue to bring on 1-3 new sites every 2 years. We are letting our community know we are available for service. Carr said. We find that many camp and retreat property owners are struggling to make ends meet. We provide onsite professionals, marketing, finance, reservations and other services, which brings much relief to so many hard working volunteers who own properties, says UCCR Chief Operating Officer Kent Shelby. UCCR will be in booth 419 on Monday Dec. 3rd from 6:30 pm to 9 pm and Tuesday, Dec. 4 from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Three free In-Booth Seminars are scheduled on Tuesday at 10:00 am - Wearing the Customer Hat, 1:00 pm - Minimizing Operations and Focus on Program, and 3:00 pm Assessing Customer Feedback. There will be a sign up in the booth to receive a free slideshow titled: Marketing your Summer Camp Program. To reach Mike Carr, CEO you can contact 707-762-3185 X205 or visit camppropertymanagement.org for more info. Im proud and honored to see CardFlight recognized on Deloittes Fast 500 list. Our team works hard to deliver the best-in-class payment acceptance technology to our partners, and to enable them to serve tens of thousands of small businesses across the United States. CardFlight, the leading mobile POS and SaaS payment technology company, announced today that it ranked 48 on Deloittes Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. CardFlights 2,916% three-year growth rate placed the company on this years list. Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved median growth of 412%. Founded in 2013 and with operations in New York City and Lincoln, Nebraska, CardFlight prides itself on being the leader in payment technology and mobile point-of-sale solutions. The company partners with merchant service providers, banks, and independent sales organizations to serve more than 45,000 small businesses in all 50 U.S. states. Derek Webster, CardFlights Founder and CEO, credits the companys commitment to delivering superior products for enabling the companys revenue growth. He said, "Im proud and honored to see CardFlight recognized on Deloittes Fast 500 list. Our team works hard to deliver the best-in-class payment acceptance technology to our partners, and to enable them to serve tens of thousands of small businesses across the United States. The teams talent and dedication enable CardFlights growth and success and I want to thank them. I would also like to thank Deloitte for honoring us on the Fast 500 list this year." Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement, said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth. About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500: Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About CardFlight: CardFlight is the leader in payment technology and mobile point-of-sale solutions for merchant service providers, banks, and independent sales organizations. CardFlights customers include 10 of the top 30 merchant acquirers in the US. CardFlights SwipeSimple payment acceptance technology provides easy-to-use SaaS solutions for tens of thousands of merchants across all 50 states. As one of the fastest growing companies in America, CardFlight was named in 2018 by Inc. magazine to the Inc. 500 and by Deloitte to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. Additionally, according to Inc. magazine, CardFlight is the 5th fastest growing company in the Financial Services sector. CardFlight takes pride in building and maintaining solutions that are a step ahead of the curve in technology, reliability, and user experience. As the US leader in EMV Quick Chip enablement, CardFlight makes it easy, accessible, and secure for partners and merchants to accept payments. Learn more at https://cardflight.com. About Deloitte: Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. The legal team at Cates Mahoney, LLC is honored to announce their partnership with the Clyde C. Jordan Food Bank, Inc. in hosting the organizations annual City Wide Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner event. The event, which takes place on Thursday, November 15, will welcome families and individuals of any age for a full-course Thanksgiving meal in a family-friendly setting of hospitality and camaraderie. In years past, the event catered only to senior citizens. This year, due to dwindling funds and decreased government assistance, the situation is especially desperate for citizens in and around the East St. Louis, Illinois area, and so the event will open its doors to anyone in need of sustenance. The City Wide Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner will provide a joyful occasion where residents in need can experience the fellowship and welcome embrace of the community, but the need goes beyond just one day. That is why Cates Mahoney, LLC partner, Ryan Mahoney, a Clyde C. Jordan Food Bank, Inc. board member, is encouraging members of the community to donate whatever they can to the organization, which provides year-round assistance to those in need in this extremely impoverished community. Cates Mahoney, LLC will be donating food and supplies for the event, and members of the legal team will also be volunteering. Anyone wishing to help can donate any amount. Checks should be made out to the Clyde C. Jordan Food Bank, Inc., and sent to Ryan Mahoney at 216 W. Pointe Drive, Suite A, Swansea, Illinois, 62226. Since the Clyde C. Jordan Food Bank is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, donations are tax-deductible. All donations go toward feeding the poor and hungry in the Greater East St. Louis community. To learn more, please call Ryan Mahoney at 618-277-3644, or contact the Food Bank directly at 618-293-6700. Cates Mahoney, LLC represents the victims of employment discrimination, workplace harassment, and personal injury. We serve each client with tireless determination and a passion for victims rights. We represent individuals and families throughout southern Illinois and the Metro East region from our Swansea office, including the communities of Belleville, Carbondale, East St. Louis, Granite City, Edwardsville, Chester, Waterloo, and St. Louis, including St. Clair County, Madison County, Randolph County, and Monroe County. To learn more or to schedule an evaluation of your case, please call us at 618-277-3644, or visit their website at https://www.catesmahoney.com/. Scott and Suzy Phillips watch as Woodcraft Product Development Manager Ben Bice demonstrates Woodpeckers Ultra-Shear Turning Tools, a Holiday Gift Guide choice. And dont forget the Woodcraft Gift Card is the perfect way to make sure that the woodworkers in your life get exactly what they want. Scott and Suzy Phillips, co-hosts of The American Woodshop on PBS, are ready to share their 2018 Holiday Gift Guide after shopping at Woodcraft. They teamed with six Woodcraft product experts to make a video that shows their product choices, along with demonstrations and information to help shoppers make their selections. Most of the Gift Guide items are listed below with a brief explanation, but to get all the details, view the video by clicking here. Scott also reminds shoppers: And dont forget the Woodcraft Gift Card is the perfect way to make sure that the woodworkers in your life get exactly what they want. TOOLS & ACCESSORIES Razertip P80 & P80X Digital Pyrography Unit & Expansion Module The new P80 is super easy to use, and its capacity can be doubled or tripled with expansion units. No sharpening needed for the Woodpeckers Ultra-Shear Turning Tools, thanks to replaceable nano-grain carbide inserts. The Porter-Cable Restorer Handheld Drum Sander easily removes paint and finish from wood and other surfaces. JessEm Ultimate Router Table is a turnkey router table system featuring superior components. BOW Products GuidePRO Bandsaw Guide is a featherboard that is great for thin stock, odd shapes, and tall panels. Tackle carcass construction, doors and frames, and more with the BORA Portamate 4-Piece Parallel Clamp Set. BESSEY GearKlamps are ideal for clamping in cramped spaces. SHOP & SAFETY Use the KREG Track Horse to make a workspace anywhere. Continuously purify air in a 680-square-foot area with the Powermatic PM1250 Micro Dust Air Filtration System. GVS Elipse OV/P100 Respirators (S/M, M/L) feature active carbon filters. The WoodRiver LED Magnifying Shop Lights adjustable base clamp fits most work desks. Six drawers in the WoodRiver Sandpaper Organizer keep sandpaper neatly organized. The NEBO EYE Light magnetically rests inside its base, allowing a 360 rotation to direct light where it is needed. Designed for ultimate comfort, the Woodcraft Trucker Hat is stylish too. PROJECTS & FINISHING Prefinished Bally Block Cherry and Walnut Tops make beautiful countertops and tables. PlayWood Connectors allow construction of furniture without screws, nails or glue. Make a cool gift with a Camillus Knife Kit or give a kit as a gift. Kits include the HIDE Fixed Blade Machete, Chunk Fixed Blade Knife, and Mask Fixed Blade Knife. WoodRiver Mosaic Pins add decoration to knives and aid in attaching knife scales to a blades tang. Pequia Slabs cut from a tree in Brazil that is over 1,000 years old have been surfaced planed and sanded for projects. Spray more projects easier with the new 450-watt HOMERIGHT Super Finish Max HVLP Paint Sprayer. RUST-OLEUM Varathane Weathered Wood Accelerator replicates natures aging process. Howard Cutting Board Cleaner safely cleans and neutralizes odors on cutting surfaces. System Three Quick Cure-15 Kit sets in 15 minutes to allow more working time. For more information about Woodcraft, please contact the store nearest you, visit http://www.woodcraft.com or call (800) 535-4482. Brenda Ng Brendas expertise in strategic consulting, product development, and consumer insights in highly competitive categories will help guide the development of solutions that leverage both CMBs and ITA Groups core competencies. CMB is excited to welcome Brenda Ng as Vice President of Strategy and Account Planning. A high-impact marketing executive, Brenda joins CMB with over 20 years of management and activation experience delivering critical insights that drive product development, market strategy, and global corporate strategic planning for some of the worlds leading brands. Based in Seattle, Brenda will spearhead the development of CMBs engagement solutions in partnership with CMBs parent company, ITA Group. Were thrilled to have Brenda join the CMB team, says Jim Garrity, CEO of CMB, Brendas expertise in strategic consulting, product development, and consumer insights in highly competitive categories will help guide the development of solutions that leverage both CMBs and ITA Groups core competencies. Prior to joining CMB, Brenda was the Founder and Principal of The Trio Group, a Seattle-based consulting firm, where she built strategic roadmaps to develop, launch, and sustain products and initiatives for clients like Amazon, Sonos, and Qualcomm. Brenda formerly led Customer Insights and Competitive Intelligence as an executive at T-Mobile and Microsoft, where she was a member of the original Xbox incubation team. A visiting Market Research guest lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Brendas multinational and cross-industry experience leveraging insights to drive innovation are an excellent fit for CMB and will be a tremendous asset as the company continues to grow. About CMB CMB, a Gold Top 50 market research and consulting firm, delivers critical insights to the worlds leading brands. CMB collaborates on game-changing initiatives, including market identification and segmentation, brand health, rejuvenating tired trackers, loyalty and advocacy growth, and product and service development. Our highly custom approach, innovative design, and rock-solid execution ensure executives get the answers they need to engage, grow, and stay ahead of the competition. For more information visit cmbinfo.com. Codan Radio Communications has announced the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) certification for its Sentry-H High Frequency Radio. The JITC certification further strengthens Codans position as a leader in the tactical communications industry, with secure interoperability that supports the US, Department of Defense (DoD) and their associated partner networks. JITC verifies product interoperability for all products used in Department of Defense networks. In addition the JITC certification confirms that Codans Sentry-H radio system is qualified as meeting the Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) requirements of Military Standard MIL-STD-188-141B, Performance and Interoperability Standards for Medium and High Frequency (HF) Radio devices. Codans Sentry-H is now listed on the JITC website. The JITC certification establishes a common waveform for ALE operations, a crucial development to support multinational, coalition, and partnership Peacekeeping operations. Further, this certification guarantees interoperability between Codan and other compliant HF radio suppliers. A major advantage of ALE is that it rapidly selects the best frequency available for a radio operator initiating a call, thus alerting the operators on both ends to facilitate immediate communications. Concurrently, ALE automatically scans predefined channels and chooses the best channel available which eases the burden on the radio operator and the network as a whole. The Sentry-H clearly meets interoperability criteria with other HF radios according to the DoD standard, Codans VP Business Development and Government Relations, Gene McConville explains. This certification demonstrates Codans continued investment in defense applications to support interoperability among militaries operating in unique and challenging environments. The JITC certification confirms the Sentry-H radio surpasses security and interoperability standards for top US military operations, humanitarian and UN peacekeeper efforts, as well as securing established communication networks in partner nations. About Codan Radio Communications Codan Radio Communications is a leading international designer and manufacturer of premium communications solutions. With operations in the US, we deliver our capability worldwide for the military, defense, humanitarian, peacekeeping, commercial, security and public safety markets. We provide tactical communications solutions that enable our customers to be heard to ultimately save lives, create security and support war fighters to enable peacekeeping worldwide. With almost 60 years in the business, we have garnered a reputation for quality, reliability and customer satisfaction, producing innovative and industry-leading technology solutions. With recent wins from defense and military based customers, Codan Radio Communications continues to experience strong growth in the military sector and continues to expand on their military offering. Codans tactical product range includes; Sentry-H, Sentry-V, Patrol 2110M Manpack and the 9300 antenna series. For more information about Codan Radio Communications, visit: codanradio.com. Contact Gene McConville, VP Business Development and Government Relations M +1 571 919 6432 E: Gene.McConville@codanradio.com Media Contact Francesca Doyle, Director of Marketing M +61 407 095 986 E: francesca.doyle@codanradio.com You are here: China College students from Northeast China's Heilongjiang province have taken photos of the moon's far side via microsatellite, Dutch TV broadcaster NOS reported on its website. The students from Harbin Institute of Technology were highly praised in the report, the university said in a press release on Monday. "Longjiang 2", the microsatellite, was developed by the university and launched via a Long March 4C carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province in May. A team of students from the university participated in the research and development of the microsatellite, making HIT the first university in the world to send such a device into lunar orbit. With complex geological conditions, the far side of the moon has long held the interest of scientists. In recent months, the microsatellite, partly controlled by the students, has taken many photos of the moon and the earth. The cost of an open-heart surgery in Uganda is $5,000 to $10,000, while treatment for a child with penicillin for one year costs less than $1, says Dr. Sable. Investment in prevention strategies holds the best promise on a large scale to eradicate rheumatic heart disease. Craig Sable, M.D., associate chief of the division of cardiology and director of echocardiography at Childrens National Health System, earned a lifetime achievement award, formally known as the 2018 Cardiovascular Disease in the Young (CVDY) Meritorious Achievement Award, on Nov. 10 at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2018. The CVDY Council bestows the prestigious award to individuals making a significant impact in the field of cardiovascular disease in the young. The CVDY Council supports the mission to improve the health of children and adults with congenital heart disease and acquired heart disease during childhood through research, education, prevention and advocacy. Dr. Sable is recognized for his entire body of research, education and advocacy focused on congenital and acquired heart disease, but especially for his rheumatic heart disease (RHD) research in Uganda. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Sable has brought more than 100 doctors and medical staff to Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda, partnering with more than 100 local doctors and clinicians to develop a template for a sustainable infrastructure to diagnose, treat and prevent both RHD and congenital heart disease. RHD is a result of damage to the heart valves after acute rheumatic fever (ARF). The process starts with a sore throat from streptococcal infection, which many children in the United States treat with antibiotics. For patients who develop strep throat, their bodys reaction to the strep throat, in addition to resolving its primary symptoms, can result in attacking the heart, says Dr. Sable. The initial damage is called acute rheumatic fever. In many cases this disease is self-limited, but if undetected, over years, it can lead to long-term heart valve damage called rheumatic heart disease. Unfortunately, once severe RHD develops the only treatment is open-heart surgery. In 2017, Sable and the researchers published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine about the global burden of RHD, which is often referred to as a disease of poverty. RHD is observed more frequently in low- and middle-income countries as well as in marginalized communities in high-income countries. RHD has declined on a global scale, but it remains the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality from heart disease in children and young adults throughout the world. In 2017 there were 39.4 million causes of RHD, which resulted in 285,000 deaths and 9.4 million disability-adjusted life-years. In 2018 the World Health Organization issued a referendum recognizing rheumatic heart disease as an important disease that member states and ministries of health need to prioritize in their public health efforts. The common denominator that drives Dr. Sable and the global researchers, many of whom have received grants from the American Heart Association to study RHD, is the impact that creating a scalable solution, such as widespread adoption of vaccines, can have on entire communities. The cost of an open-heart surgery in Uganda is $5,000 to $10,000, while treatment for a child with penicillin for one year costs less than $1, says Dr. Sable. Investment in prevention strategies holds the best promise on a large scale to eradicate rheumatic heart disease. Sable and the team have screened more than 100,000 children and are conducting the first randomized controlled RHD trial, enrolling nearly 1,000 children, to examine the effectiveness of using penicillin to prevent progression of latent or subclinical heart disease, the earliest form of RHD. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Dr. Sable and a team of surgeons will fly back to Uganda to operate on children affected by RHD, while also advancing their research efforts to produce a scalable solution, exported on a global scale, to prevent RHD in its earliest stages. Dr. Sable and colleagues from around the world partner on several grant-funded research projects. Over the next few years, the team hopes to answer several important questions, including: Does penicillin prevent the earliest form of RHD and can we develop a vaccine to prevent RHD? To view the teams previously-published research, visit Sables PubMed profile. To learn about global health initiatives led by researchers at Childrens National, visit http://www.GHICN.org. Media contact: Jessica Frost | 301-828-7521| 202-476-4500 Being headquartered in New Jersey, CEG is especially honored to be included in this prestigious business ranking. Being named to the NJBiz Fast 50 in our first year of eligibility is a testament to the great team we have in place. -- Mike McClain, CEO of Critical Environments Group. Critical Environments Group (CEG), a leading provider of data center infrastructure optimization solutions, has been named to NJBiz Magazines Fast 50 list. The award celebrates New Jerseys most dynamic companies that significantly contribute to the strength of the states economy. CEG ranked 30th on the list, solidifying its position as one of the fastest-growing data center solution providers in the Northeastern United States. The NJBiz Fast 50 honor adds to CEGs significant momentum this year. The Company has also been recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of Americas fastest-growing private companies, as well as placing 9th on the Philadelphia Business Journals 2018 Soaring 76 list. Being headquartered in New Jersey, CEG is especially honored to be included in this prestigious business ranking, says Mike McClain, CEO of Critical Environments Group. CEGs success is due to our employees commitment to excellence, our loyal customers, and the strong support of our investors and strategic partners. Receiving this award in our first year of eligibility is a testament to the great team we have in place. To qualify for the list, CEG had to meet selection criteria that included a revenue size of at least $500,000 within the past two out of three years, and growth in revenue over a three-year period dating from fiscal year 2015 to 2017. Companies were then ranked according to revenue growth over the three-year period. Both dollar and percentage increases were taken into consideration. About Critical Environments Group Critical Environments Group (CEG) enables its clients to effectively manage, maintain and optimize their data centers and other IT environments. Were meeting the needs of this rapidly evolving industry by achieving value for channel partners or end users throughout the data center lifecycle. CEGs team of experts is unmatched in its ability to provide intelligent assessments and solutions for achieving readiness, reliability and efficiency today and tomorrow. For more information about CEG and its comprehensive offerings, please visit http://www.criticaleg.com Curae & DCH Partnership: Patient Financing Unlike other non-recourse patient financing solutions in the market, Curae lines of credit address the entire credit spectrum, serving a broad range of customers, not just prime borrowers. Atlanta-based Curae and the Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based DCH Health System to provide flexible, non-recourse patient financing offered by Curaes bank partner, a leader in consumer financing products. The newly formed relationship will provide DCH Health System with flexible patient payment solutions, higher utilizations, improved patient loyalty, and increased patient yield. Curae branded lines of credit help patients with the sometimes unexpected burden of higher healthcare expenses, and offer providers financial security with a fiscally responsible non-recourse patient financing solution, said Mark Starr, Executive Vice President, Curae. Unlike other non-recourse patient financing solutions in the market, Curae lines of credit address the entire credit spectrum, serving a broad range of customers, not just prime borrowers. Patient out-of-pocket payments continue to be on the rise. Recent data suggests that 50 percent of healthcare patient receivables are for bills between $1,000 - $10,000. In tandem with other studies showing a majority of Americans have less than $1,000 in their bank accounts, theres a significant need for Healthcare providers to offer financing solutions, and help patients access needed healthcare with the convenience of flexible payment options. By offering Curae lines of credit, DCH will enable the following: Flexible non-recourse financing Simplified, streamlined patient payment enrollment processes Integrated multi-touch communication options between DCH providers and their patients Funding to DCH within 48 hours from the time of service A reusable line of credit for eligible patients No impact to the patients credit score to view available offers We realize the need for patients who wish to move forward with procedures that can be expensive, but still necessary to achieve a higher quality of life, remarked Michael G. Wilson, Director of Patient Accounts at DCH Health System. Financing is often the answer to this challenge. We are excited about the innovative solutions the Curae product brings to our patients, and look forward to working with their team to improve the affordability of healthcare at our West Alabama facilities. About DCH Health System: Under local ownership and leadership for more than 90 years, the DCH Health System has continually evolved to offer advanced care to West Alabama. Today, the DCH Health System includes DCH Regional Medical Center, Northport Medical Center, and the Fayette Medical Center. To learn more about DCH Health System, visit https://www.dchsystem.com/. About Curae: Believing the revenue cycle model in healthcare is fundamentally broken, Curae exists to empower providers to serve more patients through a suite of flexible, non-recourse-based financing options. Headquartered in Atlanta, Curae works with healthcare providers across the United States. For more information, visit https://curae.com. Len Crosson, Chief Revenue Officer, Coronet Coronet, the leader in data breach protection for businesses that use the cloud, today announced that it has hired Len Crosson, a 25-year-veteran of the cybersecurity and software industries, as its first Chief Revenue Officer. Amidst transcendent growth, Crosson will focus his efforts on North America revenue acquisition and retention effort, including partner strategy, marketing and sales. He will report directly to Guy Moskowitz, Coronets founder and CEO, and will be based near Philadelphia. The cybersecurity landscape is ever evolving, and bad actors take the path of least resistance leaving SMBs particularly vulnerable given a lack of expertise, adequate tools, and complexity of implementing solutions with exorbitant cost, said Crosson. Coronet solves this very real issue with a software-as-a-service solution that provides enterprise grade security, that is easy to use and installs in minutes. I am excited to join Coronet and help continue to bring this much needed solution to the people and organizations that need it most. Prior to joining Coronet, Crosson served as the vice president of sales & business development at Identity Guard, leading revenue acquisition in channel partnerships, digital marketing, government and technology licensing. Prior to that, Crosson was the chief revenue officer at ScientiaMobile and the vice president of sales at BioCatch and LifeLock. He is currently an Advisory Board Member for Rutgers University Cybersecurity Certificate Program. Len is a strategic hire for Coronet at a time when we continue to rapidly accelerate growth in North America, said Moskowitz. Lens expertise in revenue acquisition and channel sales combined with our innovative data breach protection platform for small and mid-sized businesses is a recipe for continued scale and customer success in 2019 and beyond. We are thrilled to have Len on the team and look forward to his impact. Coronet provides data breach protection for over two million users, devices and SaaS applications in an all-in-one cloud-based platform. For more information, to sign up or request a demo, visit http://www.coro.net and follow us @coronetworks. About Coronet Coronet brings an all-in-one enterprise grade cybersecurity platform to organizations of any size, at an affordable price, eliminating the complexity and laborious nature of traditional security platforms. One of the fastest growing security platforms, Coronet uses AI to automatically detect and mitigate threats and data breaches in SaaS applications, devices, networks and users behavior. Provided as a subscription service, with nothing to install on premises, Coronet serves over two million users who use Coronet to prevent data breach and comply with cyber insurance and regulatory requirements. I would like to integrate disciplines from STEM into this course that has largely been based in history and humanities, said Donald Wright, Ph.D., professor of French and Arabic at Hood College Hood College has been granted $120,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to bolster its Arabic and Middle Eastern studies program. The money, from an Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages (UISFL) Grant, will fund a project called Creating Global Citizens of the 21st Century. The project goals are to strengthen the major, minor and certificate in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies, and to expose Hood students to the global community locally. To strengthen the programs, faculty will revise and create courses to include perspectives from multiple disciplines. To expose students to the global community, they will learn about cultural differences and cultural understanding, including nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, class and religion. Students will work with Arabic-speaking immigrants in the community on oral histories. The project will also link the Arabic and Middle Eastern studies program high-impact practice (HIP) activities including the study abroad program and field trips. This project was conceived out of a need for more graduates in foreign languages, including in government intelligence positions. Over the past few years, the U.S. government has realized the proficiency level of graduating students in foreign languages has decreased considerably, said Donald Wright, Ph.D., professor of French and Arabic at Hood and director of this project. This leads to a lack of understanding of other cultures and a mono-culture within our own country. Wright says the grant will help move away from the Eurocentric curriculum base that is the staple of American universities and diversify the areas of focus. He will teach a course on cultures of the Middle East that will draw upon faculty from various programs in the sciences. I would like to integrate disciplines from STEM into this course that has largely been based in history and humanities, said Wright. Additions to the course will include talks about the impact of climate change on the Middle East, the history and evolution of math in the Middle East and the importance of cybersecurity in diplomatic relations with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Some courses will be co-taught by professors from different departments. Paige Eager, Ph.D., professor of political science, and Corey Campion, Ph.D., assistant professor of history and global studies, will be teaching a course together on the history of U.S. foreign relations. Eager will also be taking students on a HIP field trip to the Osgood Center for International Studies in Washington, D.C., for a conference in January. The Osgood Center is a nonprofit that advances understanding of public affairs and contemporary international issues. In addition, Hood will be hosting the Great Decisions series starting in the spring. Great Decisions is a series of foreign policy discussions that has been hosted by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) since the 1950s. Hood is partnering with other Great Decisions groups in the Frederick area to host the inaugural lecture on cybersecurity and geopolitics on Jan. 27. The invited guest speaker is Megan Reiss, Ph.D., a senior national security fellow at R Street, a think tank in Washington, DC. The UISFL grant period started Oct. 1, and students will feel the effects soon. The faculty will be attending a series of conferences focused on enhancing international studies among undergraduate students, and they will be completing a three-day training in the Department of Global Languages and Cultures to make their assessment standards align with those of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Historically, graduates of the Arabic and Middle Eastern studies program at Hood have successfully pursued a variety of professional career paths. Graduates have leveraged their language skills to secure positions on Capitol Hill working with the subcommittee on North African Affairs, working with NGOs focused on the MENA region, as well as positions at the CIA, NSA, FBI and various consulting groups. XXX Hood College is an independent, liberal arts college, offering 32 undergraduate majors, four pre-professional programs, 17 graduate programs, two doctorates and 11 post-baccalaureate certificates. Located in historic Frederick, near Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the I-270 technology corridor, Hood gives students access to countless internships and research opportunities. Those who are interested in learning more about the potential of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery in their lives will soon be able to access a new-and-improved online resource created by industry-leading Dr. Alton Ingram, MD. After months of work, Alton Ingram, MD, created the now-popular blog website http://www.draltoningrammd.com/ earlier this year. His goal at the time was to provide a user-friendly website filled with tips ad information about the reconstructive and cosmetic surgery process, as well as the post-operative care associated with it. Although the site did feature a relatively clean design, Dr. Alton Ingram decided to redesign the site as part of his ongoing efforts to improve the guest experience. The website redesign will include the following: engaging content and a new videos tab. Ingram plans to unveil the newly redesigned site by the end of the year. Ingram plans to update his website with cutting-edge industry information that aligns with his website visitors needs and interests. He will post new blogs each month that will delve into procedures such as breast implants, mommy makeovers, eyelid surgery, and liposuction. Ingram current lives in Nashville, Tennessee, but grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He earned his math and philosophy degree at Yale University, then went on to study medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He ended up earning his medical degree and completing residencies in both general surgery and plastic surgery. Over the years, Ingram has become a widely recognized expert in his field due in part to his publishing peer-reviewed articles on subjects including surgical techniques, the anatomy of the human body, and medical devices. He looks forward to continuing to share his cosmetic and reconstructive surgery knowledge with the masses to show them how they can easily enhance their quality of life long term with help from the right surgeon. Five franchisees with Showhomes, the nations largest and most successful home staging franchise system, experienced major growth in 2018, with each of those franchise locations seeing a sales increase of more than 60%. The Showhomes Main Line franchise, which is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, close to Philadelphia, saw sales go up by 114%. The Showhomes Houston franchise saw sales go up by 79%. Showhomes Santa Fe sales went up by 83%. Showhomes Folsom Lake, located close to Sacramento, saw sales go up by 69%, while Showhomes Woodlands, located outside of the Houston area, saw sales go up by 86%. Showhomes Main Line franchisee Allyson Piccolomini attributes her locations growth to having established itself and getting the name out there. Weve done our own Google Ad work and we now have a professional marketing company doing our social media, Piccolomini said. Weve also been shifting our focus towards more social media and Internet ads versus print ads. She also attributes her locations success in 2018 to the corporate teams installing Proposify, a digital proposal tool that helps make for a more seamless client transaction and a more professional look overall for the business. The Showhomes corporate team paid for the Main Line franchise to use the service. The Showhomes brand can work in any market, but the Main Line franchise does have some unique market qualities. Its very unique in the Philadelphia area, Piccolomini said of Showhomes. Philadelphia was one of the first cities in the country and it has a very unique demographic of people and properties. Were working in older homes and newly-constructed homes, and there are also a lot of townhomes in the city. Piccolomini credits the Showhomes brand with providing franchisees with a solid, proven system and customers with a trusted name. The Showhomes name has helped us get our brand out there more and people recognize us, Piccolomini said. Homeowners feel better knowing they are working with a franchise location and a brand that protect their most valuable asset, which is why we worked with Showhomes to begin with. Its that corporate structure and name recognition. Shelley Barndollar is the franchisee for Showhomes Houston. She attributes much of the 2018 growth to the bounce back from 2017s Hurricane Harvey. Our growth in 2018 has been very, very big because we suffered Hurricane Harvey last year towards the end of the year, and from September really until December the industry just stopped in Houston, Barndollar said. This year, thank goodness, there have been no hurricanes and it has been a really strong market. In particular, our Home Manager Staging portion of Showhomes has grown. The Houston location also worked extra hard in 2018 to get the Showhomes brand out there. I think its also that we have done some strategic planning from last year to this year, Barndollar said. Weve really made the commitment to get out there and really work hard at getting everybody to know who we are and we are seeing some benefits from that. The Showhomes Houston franchise also hired a Marketing and Business Development Manager, and that has made a big difference in really focusing in on getting our name out there to certain groups, Barndollar said. Were doing a lot more partnering with title companies and real estate companies, Barndollar said. Stewart Title, Gallery Furniture and Showhomes have partnered together to give talks on the importance of customer service and making sure people respect you and know youve got the integrity that other companies may fall behind on. Barndollar also spoke to the support provided by the Showhomes corporate team. Theyre always very supportive, she said. Theyre a great group of people and theyre always there for us if we ever have any questions or concerns. They have our back. Showhomes is thrilled with the success these particular five franchises saw in 2018. We are convinced we have some of the best franchisees in the country, and Allyson and Shelley, as well as the other three franchisees who saw exponential growth, are stellar representatives of the brand, Showhomes COO Matt Kelton said. Were excited to see what they and the rest of our franchisee system will accomplish in 2019. ABOUT SHOWHOMES: Founded in 1986, the Showhomes franchise system has helped Realtors and homeowners sell more than 25,000 residential properties worth more than $8.5 billion, by transforming high-end vacant houses into fully-furnished, inviting, valued Showhomes homes. Currently serving prominent communities in 18 states, the Showhomes system is a rapidly expanding franchise with nearly 60 offices nationwide. Boasting the expertise of long-time real estate and interior design professionals, Showhomes businesses are a one-stop-shop for home staging, home redesign, One-Day Makeovers for currently occupied homes, and the proprietary Home Manager program a proven model to get upscale vacant homes sold faster. Many major national media outlets in the U.S. have praised the work of Showhomes businesses and the brand has been prominently featured on Oprah, HGTV, DIY Network and the Travel Channel. For more information and to learn about franchise opportunities, please visit http://www.showhomes.com. On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Georgia General Assembly introduced legislation to assist to forest landowners impacted by Hurricane Michael. The Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) supports the legislation, House Bill 4EX, which is focused on providing a tax refund for landowners to support cleanup and reforestation efforts across 28 counties in southwest Georgia. Lawmakers will weigh in on the legislation during a special legislative session which is scheduled through the end of the week. Hurricane Michael, which hit the Florida panhandle and the southwest corner of Georgia as a category four hurricane, impacted 7,000 forest landowners and damaged more than two million acres of forestland with an estimated timber value of $763 million, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). Sustained winds of 125-150 miles per hour caused widespread damage to forestland ranging from broken limbs and leaning trees to uprooting and full stem breakage. Landowners in Seminole, Decatur and Miller counties received the most damage, where more than 50 percent of the stems are broken or blown down and limbs are stripped or trees are bent more than 45 degrees. For some landowners, a salvage operation is considered unlikely and the landowner will not recuperate any money from the damaged trees. Footage of the impacted area and interviews with local landowners can be seen here: https://youtu.be/a__IfUL3YGs. This is possibly one of the most catastrophic timber events in our nations history, Andres Villegas, GFA President and CEO, said. For some impacted landowners, forestland was their retirement or an investment in their childs college expenses, and now they will not be able to count on that investment. It is very important that Georgia legislators pass this critical piece of legislation to assist landowners in salvaging what they can, cleaning up downed trees and reforesting their property. Working forests are one of the most environmentally and economically beneficial classes of land for our state, and it is important that we keep that land in trees. The storm damage to forestland can also increase risk of forest health issues that can put local communities in danger. Downed, damaged and stressed trees from the storm are also more heavily prone to experience infestation from pests, such as pine beetle, and disease. In addition, broken or uprooted trees, when left on the ground, can become fuel for extreme high-heat wildfires, such as the wildfires seen in California. It is imperative to the health and longevity of private forests and the safety of our communities that we act quickly to clean up damaged timber rather than leaving it on the ground, Chuck Williams, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), said. GFC is the state agency focused on the protection and conservation of the states forest resources. Eligible counties in the current legislation include Baker, Blekley, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooley, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Laurens, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pulaski, Randolph, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth (a map with these counties can be seen here). Landowners who have experienced damage to their forests may contact the Georgia Forestry Association at 478-992-8110 or visit http://www.gfagrow.org/hurricane for more information and links to resources to help with salvage and recovery efforts. Guidant Financial "We believe that having a second location in Boise will help broaden our impact. With a second headquarters in Boise, were well positioned for more exciting growth, says David Nilssen, CEO of Guidant Financial. Guidant Financial, a leader in small business financing, is expanding its footprint in the Pacific Northwest with the opening of a new office in Boise, Idaho. The companys strong growth and the tightening labor market in the Greater Seattle area gave Guidant the impetus to further its expansion in a new market with a second office location. Guidant will be celebrating the opening of the new office on Pinnacle Square off W Emerald St in Boise, scheduled to open on Jan 7th. We have helped over 20,000 entrepreneurs go into business for themselves and work every day to increase the number that succeed. We believe that having a second location in Boise will help broaden our impact. The city represents an opportunity to access another strong talent pool and provide a great quality of life for our team while creating additional jobs and developing more future entrepreneurs. We are excited to tap into its vibrant business community, says David Nilssen, CEO of Guidant Financial. With a second headquarters in Boise, were well positioned for more exciting growth. Mayor Dave Bieter added, Im pleased to welcome Guidant Financial to Boise. By bringing 100 new jobs to our city they are creating even more economic opportunity for our citizens. The new Boise office will be led by Jeremy Ames, president and co-founder of Guidant Financial. The office is located at 9196 W. Emerald, Boise 83704, and it is anticipated that nearly 100 employees will be working in the new office in the next 2-3 years. New employees will work in sales, customer service, administration, and other areas. According to Ames, Boise is an excellent choice for Guidant for many reasons. One key factor for us is how the city is known for having and valuing a tight-knit community. Community is one of Guidants core values. We wanted to choose a location where we felt we could provide a great employee experience and make a meaningful impact to the local area. Guidant Financial is dedicated to maintaining and expanding its competences and expertise as it continues to grow. Guidant is committed to helping people succeed in small business, from helping first-time business owners identify and secure the right financing to investing in technology and providing a continuum of services to customers through the life of their business. Ive been with Guidant for over three years and have earned many opportunities for growth. Im excited to relocate to Boise, take a leadership role at Guidant, and get started identifying great people to add to this amazing team, adds Katie Impecoven, Guidant Financial employee. About Guidant Financial Headquartered in Bellevue, WA Guidant Financial helps business owners secure financing to start, buy or grow a business. An industry leader in business and franchise financing, Guidant works with new and existing entrepreneurs to identify, evaluate and deploy customized financing solutions. Their services include, but are not limited to, 401(k) business funding, SBA loans, unsecured credit, and portfolio loans. In total, Guidant has helped over 20,000 entrepreneurs in all 50 states to invest more than $4 billion in funds to start small businesses, resulting in more than 85,000 U.S. jobs created. Visit Guidant on the web at guidantfinancial.com. The amended regulation strengthens international judicial assistance and facilitates cross-border cooperation in the fight against economic fugitives on the run overseas. "When I decided to return to China to plead guilty, I finally felt a sense of relief," said Li Huabo, one of China's most-wanted corrupt officials, who returned in 2015 after spending fours years on the run in Singapore. In January last year, Li was given a life sentence by Shangrao Intermediate People's Court in Jiangxi province after being convicted of embezzlement, and 4.83 million yuan ($692,000), a small proportion of his ill-gotten gains, was returned to the State. Li, 57, a former local government official from Poyang county in the eastern province, was accused of embezzling 94 million yuan in total. "When I was hiding in Singapore, I gradually became anxious, self-doubting and timid due to nervousness and fear. I became unsociable and refused to communicate with other people," he said. "But my wife and daughter didn't give up on me, and consistently urged me to come back to face trial, then seek a lenient punishment." He said his father and father-in-law both died while he was on the run. "As a son, I felt deeply sorry and ashamed because I couldn't look after them at the end of their lives," he said. "They always told me to be an honest, trustworthy person, but I betrayed their trust. Eventually, I showed remorse for my illegal acts." Li fled to Singapore in 2011, after funneling 29 million yuan through banks in the city state. He obtained permanent residence in Singapore, but was later arrested by local police at a casino. In July 2014, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail by a Singaporean court for "dishonestly accepting stolen property", and in May 2015, he returned to Beijing after serving 10 months of his sentence. "Over the years since I fled, I have noticed progress in human rights in China, and improvements in the legal system," he said. "In particular, China launched the global Operation Skynet to hunt down fugitives. I could not expect to escape, so it was better to surrender." Li was one of more than 4,000 fugitives accused of economic crimes, including 800 officials who have been brought back from more than 90 countries and regions to face trial since 2015. In 2015, the Chinese authorities launched a special program to target fugitives on the run overseas and confiscate their ill-gotten assets. "No matter where the fugitives escape to, we will make every effort to arrest them and bring them back to face justice," said La Yifan, director of the International Cooperation Bureau at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the leading anti-corruption watchdog. In recent years, a large number of corrupt officials or directors of State-owned companies have fled to destinations such as the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand to exploit a lack of bilateral extradition treaties or differences in the laws. In addition, they have sent millions of yuan in illicit assets to banks overseas via illegal channels, such as money laundering or underground banks. Between 2015 and October, 4,833 fugitives suspected of economic crimes were repatriated or persuaded by Chinese police to return from more than 90 countries and regions. Meanwhile, police confiscated 10.46 billion yuan in illicit assets held overseas, according to CCDI statistics. The commission said more than 900 fugitives are still at large overseas, especially in Western countries, and it has ascertained the whereabouts of 360 of them. Huang Feng, a professor of law at Beijing Normal University, said evidential materials are essential for detaining suspects and repatriating them to face trial. "Chinese law enforcement officers face practical difficulties in providing foreign counterparts with sound evidential documents in places such as the US and Canada to form a 'complete chain of evidence'," he said. This evidence, prepared to better meet the requirements of judicial procedures in foreign countries, is required to break a gridlock of legal technicalities considered to be the biggest obstacle to cooperation on law enforcement between China and other countries, he said. Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director-general of the Department of Judicial Assistance and Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, said solid information is crucial to requesting assistance in law enforcement from other countries in "identifying, freezing and confiscating the illicit assets that have been sent abroad". Zhang added that the information mainly includes proof of bribes accepted by officials who abused their power to obtain ill-gotten funds which were then transferred overseas illegally. Shift of focus Since late 2012, when China's current leadership took office, an anti-graft campaign has become a top priority nationwide. At international forums, President Xi Jinping has stated repeatedly that China will strengthen judicial cooperation with other countries to combat cross-border corruption and dissuade relevant countries from offering "safe harbors" for suspects. In 2015, Chinese authorities set up the Central Anti-Corruption Coordination Group, led by the CCDI, and launched Operation Skynet to chase economic fugitives overseas. In April 2015, Interpol issued red notices - international alerts requesting provisional arrest with a view to extradition - for 100 major fugitive officials. To date, 55 have returned from more than 17 countries and regions, including Li, who was ranked No 2 on the list, and Yang Xiuzhu, ranked No 1, who returned to China in November 2016 after 13 years on the run in the US. As part of a new focus in the hunt, police will not only repatriate officials, but also pay more attention to recovering assets they sent abroad, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Lei Ming, a senior official at the ministry's Economic Crimes Investigation Bureau, said police will also work closely with the Anti-money Laundering Department of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, to monitor suspicious flows of assets to other countries, while strengthening management of officials' private passports and tightening border controls to prevent them fleeing the country. Moreover, authorities will enhance law enforcement cooperation with their counterparts in Western countries on important individual cases, and will share intelligence and conduct joint investigations to locate, freeze and recover stolen assets, he said. Legal changes Last month, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the national legislature, reviewed and officially accepted the International Criminal Judicial Assistance Act, which includes articles related to the transfer of fugitives from overseas. "This law clarifies the conditions and procedures for transferring criminals between China and other countries," said Yang Weidong, a professor of law at the Chinese Academy of Governance. He added that the new law provides "a legal basis for judicial authorities to enhance cooperation in fighting cross-border, organized crime, including apprehending fugitives and confiscating their illegal assets." Wan Juan, an official at the CCDI's International Cooperation Bureau said that under the new law if people accused of corruption are on the run overseas the courts will be allowed to issue rulings in their absence. Before, courts were unable to issue rulings on absent offenders, which meant judicial officers were unable to offer their foreign counterparts judgments required as evidence to detain and repatriate the fugitives, she said. Thanks to the new law, which took effect on Oct 26, Chinese officials for the first time have the right to request assistance from foreign counterparts in seizing, freezing, confiscating and returning illegally obtained assets. The law, which clearly defines the tasks and responsibilities of the relevant authorities, is considered "a powerful weapon to legally solve the difficulties that hamper judicial cooperation between China and other countries to enhance the hunting down of fugitives and cutting off the source of their dirty money", said Jiang Laiyong, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Twenty-nine years ago, Lauralton welcomed the greater community to the first Christmas in the Mansion... This year visitors will experience a reimagined event along with many beloved time-honored traditions" Lauralton Hall will host Christmas in the Mansion, Sunday, Dec. 2, noon to 5:00 p.m., at 200 High Street, Milford, Conn. Admission is $10 at the door; children age 12 and younger are free of charge. At Christmas in the Mansion visitors are invited to: Tour the Schools decorated Victorian Gothic mansion built in 1864. Shop for holiday gifts from among 50+ vendors offering items ranging from glass works and modernized vintage jewelry to gourmet foods and up-cycled decorative items. Visit the creche in Lauraltons century-old chapel in Mercy Hall. Bring children to see Santa in his workshop and enjoy baked goods, hot chocolate and crafts facilitated by Lauralton student elves. Take a chance on winning raffle items including gourmet baskets, handcrafted goods and Christmas trees decorated by Lauralton students, faculty, and staff. View special collections on loan including vintage candy dispensers made by PEZ Candy, Inc., a variety of antique teacups, and a large assortment of angel figurines. Meet guest authors including poet and Lauralton alumna Amanda Rose and Damien Connolly, Lauralton religion teacher, award-wining professional musician and writer of several theology books. For those who want to shop early, a reservation-only Preview Party will be held Saturday, December 1, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The party also includes hors d'oeuvres and light buffet provided by Fitzgerald's Fine Catering, wine and beer, raffles, Christmas music performed by Lauralton Hall vocal ensembles and more. For details and to purchase Preview Party tickets go to https://www.lauraltonhall.org/christmas. Twenty-nine years ago, Lauralton welcomed the greater community to the first Christmas in the Mansion, said Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall Director of Advancement Kathleen Donahue. This year visitors will experience a reimagined event along with many beloved time-honored traditions. We look forward to sharing Christmas cheer and hospitality as our campus is transformed to All that glitters, this years theme, she added. All profits from Christmas in the Mansion are directed to the Lauralton Hall Annual Fund and will be used to support students in the 2018-2019 Academic Year. For more information or to purchase tickets to the Preview Party, go to https://www.lauraltonhall.org/christmas. For questions email Christmas@lauraltonhall.org or call 203.877.2786, ext 143. About Lauralton Hall Founded in 1905 by the Sisters of Mercy, Lauralton Hall is the first independent Catholic college-prep school for young women in Connecticut. The student body of more than 390 attends from 35 towns. Inspired by the Mercy Tradition, Lauralton Halls mission is to empower young women to pursue their highest potential through lifelong learning, compassionate service, and responsible leadership in a global society. For more information, visit http://www.lauraltonhall.org. Lauralton Hall is located at 200 High Street, Milford, CT. Lauralton Hall is a member of the Connecticut Association of Schools, Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, Mercy Secondary Education Association, National Association of Independent Schools, and Online School for Girls. monday.com, the team management tool connecting people to workplace processes, was determined to be a strong performer in the Collaborative Work Management (CWM) market in the esteemed report, The Forrester Wave: Collaborative Work Management Tools for The Enterprise, Q4 2018. In the report, monday.com was evaluated along with nine other CMW vendors, all of whom disclosed at least $30 million in annual recurring revenue. Forrester determined that the Collaborative Work Management market is poised for continued innovation and evaluated the vendors on a 0-5 ranking scale against 34 criteria, that were assessed under three buckets; Current Offering, Strategy, and Market Presence. monday.com received the highest possible score of 5.00 on the criteria of go-to-market strategy, cost, and customer satisfaction, giving them the highest score in the Strategy bucket. Forrester also recognized monday.com on its evolving product that places the customer at the center of the experience. They also stated the company offers excellent customer support and user community. Customer feedback in the report showed that monday.com actively partners with its customers to develop its road map, optimizing the product and continued customer usability. Our product trajectory has always and will continue to be customer driven, says Yoni Osherov, Head of Sales at monday.com. Were thrilled that Forrester recognized us in the CWM space, especially as we believe our emphasis on our customers will keep building us as industry leaders. In 2018 we've invested in strengthening our monitoring and API capabilities, while streamlining integration and automation functionalities. In the coming year we will continue to expand our platform, while maintaining monday.com as a solution our customers love to use. In its Vendor Profile, the report states that, monday.com excels at work management, delivering highly flexible planning and tracking capabilities that enable users to create and link activities through nesting and tagging. The vendor offers excellent customer support and user community...monday.com is well-suited to cross-functional product teams that have to support different approaches yet require robust collaboration. monday.com provides a fundamentally different way for teams to work together. The product structure is adaptable to the needs of two or more people working together, for vastly complex workplace operations of thousands, spanning different departments and time zones. Customizable to any team's work process, monday.com has widespread appeal across over 200 business verticals. Active paying companies include Carlsberg Group, Discovery Channel, McDonalds, and WeWork, among over 45,000 others. About monday.com monday.com is a team management platform designed to connect people to processes while creating an environment of transparency in business. As a web-based SaaS company, monday.com facilitates a more efficient and intuitive way to manage teams and entire operations. monday.com has raised $84.1 million to date and investors include Stripes Group, Insight Venture Partners, Entree Capital, and Genesis Partners. With offices in Tel Aviv and New York, the tool is fully customizable to suit any business vertical and currently has over 45,000 paying companies around the world, from over 140 countries. Litmus Health Wins Contract from the NIH Litmus was a particularly strong fit for the contract since its existing platform is being built to similar specifications and has already achieved initial market traction with a 500 patient, 3-year study funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Litmus Health, the research-ready infrastructure platform for real world data, today announced that the company has been awarded a $225,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The pursuit of useful, well-structured data gathered outside the clinic has been a longstanding priority in the pharma industry. Increasingly, digital endpoints can be used to indicate outcomes in between office visits in early-stage clinical trials and large-scale observational studies alike. Litmus is built to capture and position data from wearables, smart devices, and home sensors in a way that makes it easy to conduct subsequent analysis and auditing. Litmus is standards-based and compatible with common data science toolsets and EDC systems. The NCI SBIR solicitation called for a centralized software platform to obtain wearable, implantable, and/or external device data and to facilitate analytics over multiple data streams to help aid cancer patients, clinician assessment, and clinical trial design and invited small businesses to submit their proposals for the development of such a solution. Increasingly, innovative clinical trials are using wearables in order to collect real world data. As of 2016, close to 300 clinical trials had wearables incorporated into their studies. Were grateful that in the NIH weve found a partner that is equally as committed to helping clinicians and researchers evidence the full value of real-world data, said Dr. Sam Volchenboum, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Litmus Health. It is rare to be awarded a contract that so perfectly matches a companys mission and technology foundation. Its encouraging that the entire industry researchers, regulators, pharma, and technologists is aligned on a vision for the future that heavily incorporates wearables and sensors into clinical trials to speed the pace of research and allow for the development of novel digital endpoints. Litmus was a particularly strong fit since its existing platform is being built to similar specifications and has already achieved initial market traction with a 500 patient, 3-year study funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and run by Dr. David Rubins Digestive Diseases Center at the University of Chicago. Litmus work with Takeda and the University of Chicago has enabled the company to gather reliable data from smartphones and Fitbits to help better understand the relationship between sleep, activity and flares in Crohns and Colitis patients. This partnership demonstrated the capabilities of the Litmus platform, collecting, positioning, and parsing information that will eventually be used to better predict disease. Leveraging real world data in modern research is critical. Litmus has a compelling candidate technology in development, says Samuel Blackman, MD, PhD, Head of Clinical Development at Mavupharma, Inc. We need better data engineering to ensure wearables and remote sensors can be used to improve the drug development process. Often data science gets all the headlines, but its the unglamorous work of shaping, positioning, augmenting, and auditing data that is holding us all back. The award of this contract signifies that Litmus has the sophistication and execution to deliver the results were all hoping for. In conjunction with the announcement, Litmus published the companys first ever Device Census Report, which profiles the wrist and body-word wearables market, comprised of over 170 brands and manufacturers. The report recommends the top 15 devices for clinical research based on a detailed scoring rubric. The Device Census Report is available to the public on the Litmus website. The report will be updated quarterly; subsequent volumes will focus on other sensor classes. As part of the SBIR program, a full, updated, free and publicly-available database of the Device Census results will be made available via a web application in early 2019. To download the report, please visit: https://bit.ly/2TeqC12 With the Device Census Report, clinical researchers now have a definitive source to assist with device selection and comparison, assembled and maintained by experts with experience integrating wearables into studies and trials. The most important criteria always have been and will be the same, said Litmus co-founder Josh Jones-Dilworth, who runs sales, marketing, and business development. Can the researcher access raw data that has not yet been transformed by proprietary, black box algorithms? Is data provenance available in accordance with 21 CFR Part 11 requirements? Does the device measure along multiple simultaneous dimensions? And are the form factor, battery life, and comfort of the device viable for adherence? The device report follows fast on the heels of a survey paper titled Use of Wearable, Mobile, and Sensor Technology in Cancer Clinical Trials, which was authored by Litmus team members Sam Volchenboum, Suzanne Cox and Ashley Lane, and published in the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). To download a fully licensed reproduction of the JCO article, please visit: http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/CCI.17.00147. About Litmus Health The answers we need are all around us. Litmus Health is research-ready infrastructure for real life data. We help our customers understand patient behavior and environment in multiple dimensions. We use real life data collected at the point of experience from wearables, smart devices, and home sensors to guide management and to inform both new and traditional endpoints. We help our customers describe the full value of their work in observational studies, therapeutical trials, and post-market research. From small observational studies to large scale registries, we help researchers unlock fundamentally new insights from remote and telemetric patient data. To learn more, please visit: litmushealth.com Weve always prescribed to the idea that if you take care of your team members, they will take care of you. LIVEbe is a testament to that notion," said Rucker. LIVEbe, a premier apartment developer and operator, today announced that Jennifer Rucker, vice president of operations, has been named the John M. Gallagher, CPM Property Management Professional of the Year by the Property Management Association. Rucker will be honored Thursday night at the PMA Past Presidents Award Banquet at the Bethesda Marriott. The PMA will also announce that LIVEbe Vice President Elaine De Lude has been named to the board as the organizations secretary/treasurer. It is humbling to receive such a prestigious honor, but this is truly a team award, said Rucker, who will be featured in an upcoming PMA bulletin. Weve always prescribed to the idea that if you take care of your team members, they will take care of you. LIVEbe is a testament to that notion, as our onsite ambassadors have been amazing and empowered us to reach truly transcendent service levels. LIVEbe recently was honored with numerous 2017 SatisFacts Resident Satisfaction awards, both for individual communities and for the company as a whole. LIVEbe developments 2Hopkins (Baltimore) and The Remy (New Carrollton) reached lease-up within a year, and The Remy earned a Delta Associates Excellence Award for Best Lease-Up Pace for a Suburban Maryland Apartment Community. In her role, Rucker is responsible for property management operations, revenue and expense management, asset preservation and recruiting in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan markets. The Highpoint University graduate has more than 20 years of property management experience and previously held roles at ROSS Companies, LCOR, The Mark Winkler Companies and Charles E. Smith Residential. Jennifer has been a longtime supporter of PMA and views this honor as an opportunity to provide career development for our ambassadors at all of our communities, De Lude said. LIVEbe and Berman Enterprises are proud of her well-deserved accomplishment and know how gracious she is to receive it. De Lude is a longtime PMA participant and has received the organizations Vision Award, the Carole Worley Distinguished Service Awards and several MAE Awards. Another multifamily veteran who previously served as the chief marketing officer for ROSS Companies, De Lude has facilitated training programs for PMA Associates and a speaker at national industry events. She holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Maryland. The PMA is a great platform for multifamily professionals to get involved in the industry and give back to the community, De Lude said. The organization has a number of resources that provide learning, leadership and networking opportunities, including a community service committee. The PMA has played a pivotal role in successfully advancing the careers of hundreds of associates, and Im honored to have this opportunity to serve on the board as secretary and treasurer. About LIVEbe Headquartered in Rockville, Md., LIVEbe was founded in 2016 and is helmed by multifamily veterans Elaine De Lude and Jennifer Rucker. LIVEbe is the multifamily division of Berman Enterprises and was established with a specific focus on fostering a sense of community by offering an unparalleled living experience for residents and employing LIVEbe Ambassadors who are forward thinking and passionate about providing exceptional customer service. About Berman Enterprises Berman Enterprises is a multi-generational real estate and investment company founded on the principles of honesty, integrity, hard work, hands-on management, community and philanthropy. Employing a conservative financial strategy, Berman Enterprises has experienced sustained growth since brothers Melvin J. Berman and I. Wolford Berman founded the company in 1952. Today, the Company and its affiliates own and manage more than 9 million square feet of commercial office, retail, industrial/flex and residential properties in Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The Company also owns several hundred acres of developable land representing thousands of units of residential and hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial and retail development potential. Media contact Elaine De Lude 240-621-3200 edelude(at)LIVEbe.com https://www.livebe.com/ We are honored to be named among Canadas top companies-to-watch. Weve always strived to build a great Canadian technology company, and this recognition lets us know were on the right path, said Loopio Co-founder and CEO, Zakir Hemraj. Loopio, the leading request for proposal (RFP) and security questionnaire response software, is named one of Canadas Companies-to-Watch in the 2018 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards. The award spotlights emerging companies that exhibit strong growth and show potential to be a future candidate of the Technology Fast 50 award. We are honored to be named among Canadas top companies-to-watch. Weve always strived to build a great Canadian technology company, and this recognition lets us know were on the right path, said Loopio Co-founder and CEO, Zakir Hemraj. He credits Loopios success to their focus on customer-centricity, thoughtful growth, and company culture. The Companies-to-Watch award is yet another validation of Loopios high growth and success. Earlier this year, Loopio was selected as one of LinkedIn's 2018 Top Startups in Canada and also earned a Silver Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service. In addition, the company has been recognized as a leader in the Proposal Software market by G2 Crowd. Companies-to-Watch winners are new companies headquartered in Canada, demonstrating superior technology, effective management experience, and common traits of Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award winners. To be eligible, candidates must also devote a significant portion of their operating revenues to creating proprietary technology or intellectual property. Were proud to recognize this years Companies-to-Watch winners, not only to celebrate their early achievements, but also their potential moving forward, said Erica Pretorius, Partner and National Leader for the Technology Fast 50 program at Deloitte Canada. This years winners are integral in setting the example for younger, emerging companies on how to be courageous, seek opportunity, and take calculated risks. About Loopio Based in Toronto, Canada, Loopio is the leading RFP response solution that streamlines the way enterprises respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), and Security Questionnaires. Since 2014, Loopio has empowered more than 500 of customers including world-leading organizations like Thomson Reuters, IBM, New Relic, Sprinklr, and Citrix. For more information, visit loopio.com and follow: LinkedIn | Loopio Twitter | @loopioinc Facebook | Loopio About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program is Canadas pre-eminent technology awards program. Celebrating business growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, the program features three distinct categories including the Technology Fast 50 Ranking, Companies-to-Watch Awards (early-stage Canadian tech companies with the potential to be a future Deloitte Technology Fast 50 candidate) and the Leadership Awards (companies that demonstrate technological leadership and innovation within the industry.) Program sponsors include Deloitte, 3C Innovation, BCF Business Law, Bank of Montreal, Bennett Jones, CBRE, First West Capital and OMERS Ventures. For further information, visit http://www.fast50.ca Lydia Estes, a retired public-school teacher, founder of a local cat-rescue organization, and owner of a successful pet-sitting service, has completed her new book My Many Tails of Pet Sitting: a gripping read on the enthralling and meandering moments of pet sitting that inspire love and endearment for animals. Author Estes shares wonderful perspectives of animal caring that relate to readers in a fun and profound way: Soon I took on another new client who had two cats and one dog. Things worked out well with Foxy so I was confident I could handle the new gig. The two cats were sweet and easy to care for. Dewey, the dog, was a big German Shepherd. When I met Dewey, he was friendly, calm and seemed easy to handle. The client showed me how to work the retractable lead. Based solely on my experience with aged, blind Foxy, I figured walking Dewey would be a walk in the park. Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Lydia Estess riveting compendium will surely engage readers in a series of entertaining, thrilling, and emotional rides of human/pet relationship. Readers who wish to experience this exquisite work can purchase My Many Tails of Pet Sitting 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. MacStadium data center in Las Vegas, NV MacStadiums primary mission is to support iOS and Mac app development teams by providing genuine Apple hardware available in the cloud. MacStadium, the leading provider of Apple Mac infrastructure-as-a-service, today announced it ranked 182 on Deloittes Technology Fast 500, which recognizes the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. This is the third time MacStadium has appeared on the prestigious list, ranking 20 in 2016 and 125 in 2017. MacStadiums primary mission is to support iOS and Mac app development teams by providing genuine Apple hardware available in the cloud, said Gregory McGraw, MacStadium CEO. Appearing on Deloittes Technology Fast 500 for the third consecutive year recognizes our commitment to growth within this unique ecosystem and drives the MacStadium team to continue building innovative solutions for DevOps teams that dont want to manage physical Mac infrastructure in-house. The Deloitte announcement comes on the heels of a newsworthy year for MacStadium. Last month, MacStadium was recognized by Tom Boger, Apples senior director of Mac product marketing, during the keynote at Apples Special Event where the company released its new Mac mini. The Apple executive highlighted MacStadiums data centers which house over 8,000 Mac minis and provide developers with the Mac infrastructure to create popular apps like Spotify, Day One, and Candy Crush. During the period evaluated for the Fast 500, MacStadium experienced growth of 536 percent. Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 143 percent to 77,260 percent from 2014 to 2017, with median growth of 412 percent. About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About MacStadium MacStadium is the leading provider of Apple Mac cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), offering bare metal Macs and private cloud solutions for organizations of all sizes. MacStadium, a Summit Partners portfolio company, is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with growing operations in Las Vegas, Silicon Valley, Dublin, Ireland, and Frankfurt, Germany. Learn more at macstadium.com or on Twitter @macstadium. Apple and Mac are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Other product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. These are the sort of common-sense, bipartisan solutions students and families need from Washington, D.C., and we applaud these Senators for their commitment to removing barriers to a postsecondary education. On Tuesday, Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced the bipartisan Faster Access to Federal Student Aid Act of 2018 (S. 3611), a bill that would, through better integration with the Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service, simplify the application, verification, and student loan repayment processes. This bill takes the important step of amending both the Internal Revenue Code and Higher Education Act (HEA) to allow for cross-agency data-sharing that would improve the federal student aid system for students and borrowers. The bill would simplify the financial aid application process for students and families and streamline enrollment in and renewal of income-driven repayment plans for borrowers. In addition, the bill would take meaningful steps to reduce verification burden, a process that remains overly complex, disproportionately affects low-income students, and is burdensome for students and aid administrators. Last month, NASFAA released an issue brief on verification calling on Congress to take action to address this issue. The FAFSA Act not only makes the application process easier for students, but does so while preserving the integrity of the student aid programs, NASFAA President Justin Draeger said. "These are the sort of common-sense, bipartisan solutions students and families need from Washington, D.C., and we applaud these Senators for their commitment to removing barriers to a postsecondary education. The financial aid community urges swift action on this bill so that work can begin to reduce the application and data verification burden that continues to overwhelm students and institutions. For more information on the FAFSA Act, see NASFAAs summary of the bill. NASFAA policy experts are available to speak more about FAFSA simplification and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. To set up an interview, please email Erin Powers, NASFAA director of marketing and communications. About NASFAA The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 20,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every ten undergraduates in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. For more information, visit http://www.nasfaa.org. You are here: China A total of 681 Australian alpacas have arrived in Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China's Henan Province, on a chartered flight from Melbourne, Australia. It is the province's first time to import Australian alpacas, according to the local customs. The alpacas, 54 males and 627 females, will be sent to the city of Xinzheng for quarantine. The alpacas that pass a health test will be distributed to a farm in north China's Shanxi Province for breeding. Alpacas are one of the major domestic animals of South America. Because the animal reproduces slowly, countries often impose export restrictions on the species. In the 1980s, Australia introduced the alpacas to improve its breedings and fiber quality. Henan has received about 68,000 imported animals since January 2016, including giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers, leopards and elephants. In this months NEPC Education Interview of the Month, Lewis and Clark College Emeritus Professor of Education Gregory A. Smith and Cornell University professor Noliwe Rooks discuss school privatization, segregation, and the end of public education. Greg and Noliwe, who also chairs the American Studies Program at Cornell, explore issues that have arisen from the range of privatizing reforms prevalent over the last decade, and their impact on our ability to create equitable schools. Dr. Rooks has researched the roots of school privatization going back to the 19th century, when, she points out, there was the same kind of deep-pocketed interest from philanthropists that exists today. Dr. Rooks coined the term segrenomics, referring to the profit for businesses that offer to educate children in economically and racially segregated communities. She attempts to understand the meaning of a society in which those with access to wealth and power are invested in education reform for poor black childrenbut only with models of education that dont look like the education their own children get. We try everything except for the education the wealthy provide for their own kids, Dr. Rooks says. This is the education for you, they say, instead of having a sense of what makes a quality education for everyone. In her work she consistently finds this discrepancy in education quality dependent on the economic status and race of the child. Policymakers must take a long view towards equity, Dr. Rooks believes no one election or candidate will resolve the issue. She argues that what is needed is a much broader form of organizing beginning at the local level, looking at what each individual school needs, and figuring out how to fill that need. NEPC Education Interview of the Month, hosted by Gregory A. Smith, is released each month from September through May. Dont worry if you miss a month. All NEPC Education Interview of the Month podcasts are archived on the NEPC website and can be found here. Coming Next Month In December, Gregs guests will be Dr. Rick Mintrop and Miguel Ordenes of the University of California Berkeley. Greg, Rick, and Miguel will explore the universal implementation of school vouchers and privatization in Chile, and what might happen in the U.S. if similar policies were to become more widespread here. Stay tuned in to NEPC for smart, engaging conversations about education policy. Find Documents: Press Release: https://nepc.info/node/9511 NEPC Publication: https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/smith-rooks The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: nepc.colorado.edu www.employeehotlines.com Attendance hotlines assist HR managers with improving labor compliance." Direct Line Tele Response, Californias most awarded call center, launches a new division exclusively for confidential employee hotline services. Employee Hotlines was created specifically to support Human Resource Managers with streamlining their absentee management processes. Employee Hotlines' signature service is a 24/7 employee call-off line, also known as an attendance hotline. Human Resource managers and shift supervisors have come to rely heavily on this service because it assists them in reducing work stoppage, improving business operations and ensuring accurate employee documentation. This is of particular value for businesses that have a large employee population and/or a union based workforce such as trade industries, manufacturers, warehousing, trucking, etc. "We work with a lot of HR Managers and most have always managed this process in-house. They tell us all the time that when they outsourced their attendance line service to us, it's really helped them organize their employee documentation, not to mention reducing employee disputes," says Ken Goldenberg, President. An employee reporting hotline is a dedicated telephone number that employees can call to report their absence, tardy or provide an FMLA update. A professionally certified call agent will answer and gather specific information then dispatch the message to the appropriate shift supervisor/department in real-time. Employee Hotlines' proprietary advanced call center technology allows its call agents to document the telephone number the employee called from, record, time/date stamp and provide a confirmation code to the employee. Employee Hotlines offers other confidential hotline services including harassment, employee relations, ethics and compliance, whistle-blower and many more. Theyre also able to provide timely updates and information to employees regarding emergency plant or site shut downs due to inclement weather or other situations. This win is significant not only does it continue the superb efforts of the current Noblis team working with the AF DCGS, but it also represents an important milestone for Noblis in providing advanced technology solutions critical to Air Force and DoD mission priorities. Noblis, a leading provider of science, technology, and strategy services to the federal government, is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded a 3-year, $22M contract by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Centers Command and Control, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) Division, located at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. With this award, Noblis will provide engineering technical services to enable rapid integration of the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS) Open Architecture (OA) pilot capabilities into the global AF DCGS enterprise. AF DCGS is the Air Forces primary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ground system, employing a global communications architecture for multi-intelligence processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED) activities. Noblis and its wholly owned subsidiary, Noblis ESI, have been working with AF DCGS since 2014 to advance engineering and sustainment efforts across the systems life-cycle. This win is significant not only does it continue the superb efforts of the current Noblis team working with the AF DCGS, but it also represents an important milestone for Noblis in providing advanced technology solutions critical to Air Force and DoD mission priorities, said Vernon Ingram, President of Noblis ESI. Were proud to partner with AF DCGS in its efforts to modernize and deliver next-generation ISR capability to the warfighter. About Noblis Noblis is a dynamic science, technology, and strategy organization dedicated to creating forward-thinking technical and advisory solutions in the public interest. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis has consistently been named a top workplace, and was named one of the 2018 "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Together with our wholly owned subsidiary, Noblis ESI, we tackle the nation's toughest problems and advance our clients' most critical missions. Paul Cardall Christmas debuts on 9 Billboard charts! Paul Cardalls latest release, Christmas is undeniable. A stirring and timeless work of art, this Christmas collection embodies the spirit of the holiday in all its gravitas and wonder. Christmas debuted today on 9 Billboard Charts including #1 New Age Album, #1 Heatseekers Mountain, #4 Classical Album, #4 Classical Crossover Album, #8 Heatseekers, #11 Christian Album Sales, #31 Independent Album, #36 Top Christian Album Sales, and #42 Holiday Album. Cardalls skill as a composer shines on this record with his characteristic blend of new-age piano performance and rich classical strings. This marks the sixth #1 album for Cardall. In support of the release Cardall will perform at the National Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington, D.C. on November 28. The nearly 100 year-old tradition is a production of the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service, and the ceremony will be aired on December 2 at 10 p.m. EST on Ovation TV and the Reelz Channel. Cardall is also slated to take the stage at Nashvilles Historic Ryman Auditorium this Sunday, November 18 for the annual Thanksgiving episode of the annually broadcast Tokens Show. He will perform O Holy Night with 12-time Grammy Award winner CeCe Winans the pair collaborated on the song for Christmas. The show will air Thanksgiving evening on WMOT from 7-9 p.m. Central. Tokens is a live theological variety show, and the Thanksgiving episode centers around themes of gratitude, hospitality, and community. The show features some of Nashvilles finest musicians, world-class vocalists, and compelling interviews. Paul Cardall is currently one of Americas most successful independent artists. With more than 2 BILLION lifetime digital streams, he currently averages over 25 million streams monthly. In addition to his work as an artist, Paul also founded Stone Angel Music, a label providing services in artist development, merchandising, and recording. The Stone Angel Music label currently has nine signed artists and has released over 50 instrumental and compilation albums. Phoenix area entrepreneurs Shelley Bade and Jill Pogrant are proud to announce the conversion of their four My Office Business Suites locations to Office Evolution franchises. Their locations add Peoria, Surprise, North Phoenix and Central Phoenix to the Office Evolution system. The support of Office Evolution, a national B2B franchise that offers coworking spaces, virtual office services and fully furnished suites to independent professionals and small business owners, will provide local entrepreneurs with additional resources, tools and products to help run and grow their businesses. Shelley and I decided to convert our businesses into Office Evolution franchises because we want the support of an established brand, more efficiencies for our members, and the opportunity to continue to grow our business, said Pogrant. Theres a high demand for coworking and shared office space concepts in the Phoenix area and we aim to fill that void. Office Evolution offers a proven model that will help us expand further throughout Phoenix and into other areas of the state. We look forward to seeing what were able to accomplish with their guidance. As part of the Office Evolution franchise system, members can still choose from several similar packages including hourly, daily, month-to-month and long-term rentals. These packages include professional address and mail services along with telephone answering. All four locations offer 24/7 access, with private offices and collaborative spaces for conferencing and training. Before opening the first My Office location in 2009, Pogrant owned a travel agency and operated the business out of her home. She was faced with a common dilemma: invite clients to her home, or meet them at their homes. After connecting with Bade, an experienced commercial real estate broker, at a networking event, Pogrant was introduced to the concept of executive suites, a place where small business owners can have a professional presence at an affordable price. The conversation sparked an idea that led the two to create My Office. Since then, Phoenix has become one of the healthiest small business climates in the nation and shows no signs of slowing down, creating great opportunity for Pogrant and Bade to support independent business professionals looking for shared office space. While these conversions are a first for Office Evolution, we plan to make this a larger part of our future growth strategy, said Mark Hemmeter, Founder and CEO of Office Evolution. Jill and Shelley have proven as independent business owners that they understand what it means to put the customer first and are no strangers to hard work. Now, with our support, they have access to the resources and best practices that have helped Office Evolution thrive for more than a decade. Were thrilled to see what theyre able to accomplish as a part of our Ohana. Hemmeters vision for Office Evolution is to provide entrepreneurs with a highly professional coworking space that offers flexible solutions, monthly memberships and all-inclusive pricing. The brands expansion in Arizona is reflective of the demand for a model like Office Evolutions. By offering conference rooms as well as private and shared office spaces, professionals can connect with peers or have an all-inclusive area to call their own. Interested in becoming a member? Please visit: Peoria: https://www.officeevolution.com/locations/peoria or call 623.505.0966 Surprise: https://www.officeevolution.com/locations/surprise or call 623.223.8181 North Phoenix: https://www.officeevolution.com/locations/north-phoenix or call 623.910.6188 Central Phoenix: https://www.officeevolution.com/locations/central-phoenix or call 602.892.3562 ABOUT OFFICE EVOLUTION Office Evolution is a Colorado-based national B2B franchise offering co-working spaces, virtual office services, and fully furnished offices and suites. The company built and successfully operated seven business centers across the Colorado Front Range before beginning to franchise in 2012. To date, they have awarded 129 franchise locations throughout the United States. Please visit http://www.officeevolution.com for more company information. For more information on Office Evolutions franchising opportunities, visit http://www.officeevolutionfranchise.com or call 877.475.6300. PhyMed Healthcare Group (PhyMed), a physician-led and owned anesthesia and pain management service provider, has completed a transaction with Grand Canyon Anesthesia (GCA), a Phoenix-based anesthesiology practice organization. Grand Canyon Anesthesia has a distinguished track record of high-quality care in the Phoenix area, says Marty Bonick, chief executive officer of PhyMed. Fueled by our data and analytics capabilities, PhyMeds focus on operational, clinical and service excellence will support GCA as they continue to expand in the market. Founded in 2009, GCA currently operates across the Phoenix valley, providing anesthesia services to both inpatient, outpatient and office-based healthcare partners with a team of over 65 physicians anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists. We share PhyMeds commitment to the highest clinical quality standards in the delivery of care to our patients and facilities, alike., said Hafez Azadeh, M.D., co-founder of GCA. Given todays dynamic healthcare environment, PhyMed puts us on a strong footing with the necessary support and resources that come with being affiliated with a larger organization., said Nizam Missaghi, M.D., co-founder of GCA. GCA was advised by Houlihan Lokey and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton LLP. PhyMed was advised by Bass, Berry & Sims PLC and LBMC PC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About PhyMed Healthcare Group Based in Nashville, PhyMed Healthcare Group is a physician-managed and owned leader in the delivery of anesthesia and pain management services. Committed to providing focused, innovative business support that fosters high-quality, care-centered results, PhyMed is a trusted, strategic partner across the perioperative continuum. PhyMed proudly serves healthcare systems; ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and office-based anesthesia needs in multiple states with more than 900 clinicians. https://www.phymed.com For more information on GCAC, visit: https://grandcanyonanesthesiology.com Print Mates, the growing San Diego-based company revolutionizing the photo printing industry, announced today that the companys new retail kiosks are scaling nationwide. The kiosks make instant photo printing possible in a convenient, self-serve machine. Customers can quickly print from their smartphone camera roll or through text. Users can also connect their Facebook, Instagram or Google Photos account and then select from multiple size prints, borders and finishes. The company looks to capitalize on the reported 1.2 Trillion photos taken over the last year, thanks to smartphone technology. Before the birth of digital cameras, customers went to in-store photo labs for their printing needs. We wanted to bring this local service offering back to retailers but without them having to manage or staff the process, says Frank Yates, CEO of Print Mates. We designed everything to be 100% automated, with a small footprint in order to attract retail partners. In addition to photo prints, the kiosk also allows for users to create premium photo goods that are then shipped to the customers home. The product collection includes metal and wood prints, canvas products, frames and more. Theyve piloted the kiosks around San Diego for the past year and the results have been promising with the average customer returning 2-3 times monthly, on average. Due to the success and popularity of the pilot, Print Mates will be expanding with existing and new channel partners. Large retail chains have been contacting us with partnership opportunities. Were very pleased with the reception, says Yates. Contrary to popular belief, the demand for printed photos has never been larger and the growth of Print Mates demonstrates the enormous potential. For more information, visit PrintMatesKiosk.com "The automotive technology industry is experiencing a transformative period of change, and we attribute our growth this year to consistently evolving and delivering new, innovative solutions." PureCars today announced it ranked 234 on Deloittes Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. PureCars grew 390 percent during this period. "We are proud to be included in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 list," said Sam Mylrea, CEO of PureCars. "The automotive technology industry is experiencing a transformative period of change, and we attribute our growth this year to consistently evolving and delivering new, innovative solutions that fully utilize the latest advancements in data and technology to help dealers better serve their customers." To meet the demands of its growing clientele, PureCars has hired more than 75 employees in the past year. Additionally, it has recently expanded its efforts to the Canadian market, bringing more than a decade of experience to its Canadian customers. Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement, said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth. Overall, 2018 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 143 to 77,260 percent from 2014 to 2017, with median growth of 412 percent. Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics, said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloittes audit and assurance practice. This years ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth. To learn more about PureCars and its products, leadership and accolades, visit purecars.com. # # # About PureCars: Since 2007, PureCars has provided dealers with the tools and resources needed to thrive in a digital-first world. Its suite of solutions combine marketing automation with business intelligence to optimize digital campaigns and maximize growth through sales. More than 3,000 dealers partner with PureCars on their digital strategies between the US and Canada. To learn more about the company and its solutions visit http://www.purecars.com. About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500: Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Deloitte: Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. CMSA continues to forge the future for this rapidly expanding healthcare profession. Through educational content, resources, exhibits, technology, public policy, peer-to-peer networking, attendees will have a custom experience meeting specialized professional needs. Registration is now open for the 29th Annual Case Management Society of America (CMSA) Conference & Expo, the only case management conference enriching the entire healthcare continuum. The conference is scheduled for June 10-14, 2019 at The Mirage in world famous Las Vegas, NV. Industry professionals will convene to elevate their careers and experience an event designed for case managers, where the conference theme is Navigating the Full Spectrum of Case Management. This years content aims to spark conversations and provide strategies, solutions and practical tools to help build successful collaborative care teams. Through educational and poster sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to learn and share best practices in demonstrating impact and improving outcomes in medical, social and behavioral health across the continuum. Additionally, concurrent sessions will explore eight key practice settings: acute care, discipline specific case management, leadership, legal/regulatory, long term care, managed care, population health and workers compensation. Breakfast and lunch symposia will enhance attendee knowledge of specific disease states such as stroke, diabetes and asthma. Our annual conference provides a unique opportunity to network and learn from other case management professionals and industry leaders about our vital role in healthcare transformation, said CMSA President Jose Alejandro, PhD, RN, FAAN. Conference participant feedback consistently demonstrates the value of our conference in terms of professional development and deployment of evidence-based practice within their organization. In addition, this is the perfect setting to celebrate our contributions to the healthcare delivery system. A leadership pre-conference session and workshop is new to the schedule this year, empowering case managers to lead not only themselves but also their colleagues and peers through the areas of education, certification, mentoring, preceptorship and experience. The content is designed to explore the paths to advanced case management how case managers should be properly educated, trained and certified to meet the complex needs of all patients, healthcare systems and plans, whether private or government. The 2019 event expects to welcome over 2,500 healthcare professionals to the main conference, pre and post conference educational activities, certification courses and a special daylong event dedicated to our military, VA and DoD case managers. Over 250 companies will welcome attendees at CMSAs 2019 Expo, providing information and demonstrations regarding the most current products and services. Attendees will accrue new resources and connections to advance their abilities to recommend and implement the latest technologies when they return to their practice. Keynote presenters include Vernice FlyGirl Armour, Americas first African American female combat pilot. With her fresh, edgy style, contagious energy and gutsy essence, FlyGirl will help attendees create a breakthrough mentality and life! The main session keynote, Anton J. Gunn, MSW, CDM, CSP, best-selling author, hospital executive and former healthcare spokesperson for the President of the United States, will share five keys to unlock greater influence and impact as a leader. Closing keynote, Colette Carlson, a human behavior expert, will inspire attendees to connect and communicate in relevant ways. Get ready to laugh-out-loud while learning to make positive, long-lasting changes in the way you manage time and stress. CMSA executive director, Kathleen Fraser, remarked, Weve listened to what our attendees and members want, and each year we tailor our conference experience to the feedback we receive. Whether its the pre-conference offerings, keynote presentations, sessions or multiple networking opportunities, case and care managers across the care continuum will find what theyre looking for at our growing event. CMSA continues to forge the future for this rapidly expanding healthcare profession. Through educational content, resources, exhibits, technology, public policy, peer-to-peer networking, attendees will have a custom experience meeting specialized professional needs. Learn more and register for CMSAs 29th Annual Conference and Expo at cmsa.org/conference. About the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) Established in 1990, the Case Management Society of America is the leading non-profit association dedicated to the support and development of the profession of case management. CMSA serves more than 30,000 members, subscribers and participants, and 85 chapters worldwide, through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy and established standards to advance the profession. For more information, visit http://www.cmsa.org or follow CMSA on Twitter @CMSANational. You are here: China Customs officers from South China's Guangdong province and the Hong Kong special administrative region have seized 10 African ivory pieces weighing a total of 323.7 kilograms, after cracking down on a major smuggling case in a joint operation. Meanwhile 17 suspects, including six Hong Kong residents, were detained for further investigation according to Ma Dongsheng, a senior customs officer with the Anti-Smuggling Bureau at Shenzhen Customs. "A major smuggling channel active in smuggling African ivories to the mainland has been destroyed following a major smuggling gang being busted during the operation," Ma said at a press conference on Thursday. Led by the General Administration of Customs, a special task force was set up to start further investigations when customs officers in Zhanjiang in Leizhou peninsula seized smuggled ivory in a special operation late last year. A smuggling gang, including members from both the mainland and Hong Kong, were suspected to be smuggling African ivories into Guangdong via Hong Kong, Ma said. The special task force consisted of officers from Shenzhen, Zhanjiang and Fuzhou customs. SJS Executives, LLC is proudly veteran owned and actively encourages veteran applicants for its 250+ positions. Our company has a culture of service and ethics that is informed by the military experience of our employees SJS Executives, LLC (SJS), a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in facilities maintenance and sustainment services for military and federal agencies, won an inaugural 2018 Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award from the US Department of Labor in recognition of its veteran hiring practices and the career development options it offers to formerly active servicemembers. This award acknowledges that 25% of SJS's workforce is composed of veterans and SJS actively considers veterans for employment opportunities within every echelon and division of the business. For example, almost every employee in its J & J Powder Coating division is a veteran. "Everyone at SJS is tremendously proud and excited to receive this honor from the Department of Labor," says Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and majority owner Gino Gonzalez. "Our company has a culture of service and ethics that is informed by the military experience of our employees, and our customers ultimately benefit from that, because we are conscientious about providing reliable, trustworthy, quality solutions to support our customers' missions." The Department of Labor took into account SJS's annual charitable giving toward non-profit foundations that assist service disabled veterans with obtaining specialty support services, including EQUI-VETS of Virginia Beach, which uses equine therapy to help individuals healing from combat and service-related anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. SJS is 100% veteran owned. Gino Gonzalez is a service disabled veteran of the United States Navy who served aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Roger M. LaPlante, co-owner and Chief of Operations (COO), is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) who specialized in avionics systems on F-4 Phantom jets. SJS appreciates the special skills and talents its veteran employees bring to the company as a result of their military service, including their leadership and management acumen, and continuously seeks additional veteran job candidates for its more than 250 positions across 13 states. Our customers have been driving amazing business results with the software they have created with Skuid...With Skuid, our customers can be truly agile, responding instantly as the needs of the business and their users evolve. Skuid, the leading cloud application platform, today announced it ranked 69th on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 Award. The Technology Fast 500 is the leading technology awards program, combining technological innovation, entrepreneurship and rapid growth. We are thrilled to be recognized in this list of emerging technology innovators, said Ken McElrath, CEO and founder of Skuid. Skuid has already helped hundreds of companies to unify disparate data and services into seamless, simple applicationswith no code required. Our customers have been driving amazing business results with the software they have created with Skuid. They get truly useful, game-changing apps built much faster, and their customers and employees love to use them. With Skuid, our customers can be truly agile, responding instantly as the needs of the business and their users evolve. Skuid was selected for its innovative products and its proven success in helping enterprise companies digitally transform. Skuids simple-to-use and robust design-and-deploy platform allows companies to easily connect to disparate data sources and assemble complex, made-to-order applications all without writing code. Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement, said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth. Recently, Skuid has received numerous industry accolades for its growth and innovative platform. In the last 12 months, Skuid was named to the Inc. 5000 list, won the Best in Biz Awards 2018 International, was named by Tech Tribune as one of the best startups in Tennessee, and was a finalist in the 2018 Stratus Award for Cloud Computing, the 2018 SaaS Awards, the TechXLR8s Best Cloud Platform Award, Cloud & CyberSecurity Innovation Awards and many others. Combining technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and rapid growth, Fast 500 companies large, small, public, and private hail from cities far and wide across North America and are disrupting the technology industry. Representing industries from software to biotech, Fast 500 companies play in the SaaS, cloud computing, data analytics and mobile sectors. Learn more about how Skuid allows enterprises to create what they imagine. About Skuid Skuid was founded in 2013 on the simple belief that enterprise software should stop forcing people to behave like machines. Instead, apps should behave more like the humans who use them, so everyone can thrive in the digital world. With Skuids simple-to-use but incredibly robust cloud front-end design-and-deploy platform, anyone can connect to disparate data sources, assemble highly complex, made-to-order applications, and instantly make changesall without writing code. More than 5 million users across 32 countries use Skuid to engage with each other, with data, and with new customers in meaningful ways. For more information, visit https://www.skuid.com/. About Deloittes 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. SOMA Global is a forward-thinking solutions provider that leverages the latest technology to maximize our policing efficiency and effectiveness. SOMA Global has entered into an agreement with the University of Kentucky to implement their Public Safety as a Service Platform to help protect the students and campus. The SOMA Platform features an advanced CLERY Reporting module to help the University Police Department comply with the Department of Education reporting standards. The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety. Clery Act fines were originally $25,000 per violation but have recently increased to over $53,000, so efficiency and accuracy is important. SOMA has always worked with its agency partners to innovate platform features, said Peter Quintas, Founder and CEO of SOMA Global. Together with the University of Kentucky, the SOMA Platform is expanding to streamline CLERY Reporting and Compliance. Using the SOMA Platform, the University of Kentucky will benefit from an integrated CLERY Reporting experience, including: Streamlining collection of CLERY incidents for reporting from criminal incident reports, campus security authorities (CSA) and other integrated sources; End-to-end curation of CLERY incidents for reporting, with incident validation and reconciliation for submission; Automated crime log publishing to the university website; and Integrated timely notification initiation and distribution. CLERY Act compliance is a top priority for UK providing timely, accurate reporting from a single location ensures we can keep our community informed and exceed the expectations of Federal guidelines, asserted Chief Joe Monroe, University of Kentucky Police Department. SOMA Global is a forward-thinking solutions provider that leverages the latest technology to maximize our policing efficiency and effectiveness. This ground breaking partnership in advancing the ability for campus law enforcement to report accurately will make SOMAs product a necessity in higher education environments. The University of Kentucky is planning a go-live in early 2019 on the SOMA Platform. The deployment includes SOMA Dispatch, SOMA Records (including the CLERY modules), SOMA Mobile and SOMA Hub for integrated distributed search. About SOMA Global SOMA Global was founded to redefine and deliver modern, best-of-breed public safety solutions with a primary focus on saving lives and protecting first responders. SOMA Global is a team of public safety and technology veterans that understands and respects the value of a partnership with an agency. Their Public Safety as a Service Platform offers the best Computer-Aided Dispatch, Mobile Dispatch, Records Management and Jail solutions on the market. Find more information about SOMA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or at http://www.somaglobal.com. Media Contacts Company Name: SOMA Global Email Address: media@somaglobal.com Website: http://www.somaglobal.com Superior Controls, Inc., a leading 25-year-old control system integrator of custom industrial automation and IT solutions with 140 employees on both the east and west coasts, today announced the company has successfully renewed its Control Systems Integrators Association (CSIA) Certification. CSIA Certified control system integrators must pass an intensive audit every three years to demonstrate that they meet stringent performance standards. Jose M. Rivera, CEO of the CSIA said, Congratulations to Superior Controls for their successful CSIA re-certification. They lead the pack as the only system integrator with seven consecutive certification rounds to date. I congratulate Superior Controls for their leadership and for having made the CSIA Best Practices part of their company culture. Keep it up! By supporting the CSIA Certification program Superior Controls is not only advancing their company, they are also elevating the playing field for the entire control systems integration community." The intensive CSIA audit process is conducted by an independent third-party consulting firm measuring criteria in general management, financial management, project management, quality management, technical management, human resources, and business development. CSIA Certification ultimately provides benefits to end-users of automation technology by ensuring CSIA Certified control system integrators are financially healthy companies capable of completing projects in a professional and technically sound manner. In addition to being seven-time certified by the CSIA, Superior Controls has passed over fifty quality management and validation audits and is a Rockwell Automation Solution Partner. In July of 2018, Superior Controls announced the company had joined the Rockwell Automation Solution Partner Program. Superior Controls primarily serves the biotech and life sciences industries. The company specializes in complex FDA validated automation systems. Superior Controls offers coast-to-coast capabilities with multiple offices in the biotech and life science hubs of New England and California. Superior Controls is headquartered in Seabrook, NH and has an office in Albany, NY. Banks Integration Group, a Superior Controls company, serves the west coast with offices located in Vacaville, and South San Francisco, CA. About Superior Controls, Inc. Since 1993, Superior Controls, Inc. has reliably delivered professionally executed automation and control systems integration services to leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies in 36 states and 15 countries. In addition to being seven-time certified by the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA), Superior Controls has passed over fifty quality management and validation audits and is a Rockwell Automation Solution Partner. With the 2017 addition of Banks integration Group, a ten-year Rockwell Automation Solution Partner on the West Coast, the company works nationally with industry leaders such as Pfizer, Biogen, GE Healthcare, Genentech, Gilead and more. Superior Controls and Banks Integration Group have four engineering offices located in Seabrook, NH, Albany, NY, Vacaville, CA and South San Francisco, CA. To learn more, visit http://superiorcontrols.com/ and http://banksintegration.com/. Synagro has donated more than $200,000 to Taft College over the last decade. Synagro Technologies, Inc., the preeminent provider of biosolids and residuals solutions services in the United States since 1986, donated $25,000 to the Taft College Foundation (TCF) at its annual Cougar Cookout on Thursday, October 11, 2018 in Taft, California. The donation is part the $75,000 annual commitment Synagro made to Taft and the surrounding communities when it established the South Kern Compost Manufacturing Facility (SKCMF). Synagro has donated more than $200,000 to Taft College over the last decade, said Sheri Horn-Bunk, executive director, TCF. In celebration of Synagros commitment to student success at Taft College, the Taft College Foundation is pleased to announce the naming of the Synagro Writing and Language Lab at the Taft College Learning Center. Synagro has been pleased to support a variety of Taft College programs over the years, explained Robert Rankin, site manager, SKCMF, Synagro. The SKCMF facility leadership team evaluates all opportunities to determine which best support Synagro's vision a cleaner, greener world so these have included energy technology, veterans center engineering, the Transition to Independent Living program and the mobile STEM Lab. The Synagro Writing and Language Lab will serve approximately 2,000 students each year providing a quiet environment where students can work on class assignments and papers. An unveiling ceremony is being planned for January 2019. About Synagro Founded in 1986, Synagro Technologies, Inc. provides environmentally sustainable solutions for commercial and municipal organizations that generate organic by-products. Synagro consistently transforms industrial and municipal waste into environmentally friendly resources that benefit our communities. As the largest recycler of organic by-products in North America, Synagro uses best-in-class processes, from beneficial reuse to renewable energy, that adhere to the strictest of environmental regulations to provide compelling solutions for communities across the continent. Serving more than 600 municipal and industrial water and wastewater facilities in the United States and Canada, Synagros leading systems of organic by-product management services support municipalities of all sizes in saving money and meeting environmental regulations. Visit synagro.com to learn more. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Team members from the founding agencies of the 3% Pledge for Pay Equity on Nov. 9, 2018 at The 3% Conference. Photo credit: Bronac McNeill Pay equity is not just important for employees financial well-being, engagement and productivity, its also fundamental to agencies capacity for creativity and growth. ~Amanda Enayati, Head of Culture Innovation for The 3% Movement Seventeen agencies have ensured equal pay in their workplaces by becoming founding members of the 3% Pledge for Pay Equity. The gender pay gap is still a prominent issue for working women and their families, and as the creative industrys leading voice for women and diversity overall, The 3% Movement has developed an opportunity for advertising agencies to bridge the gap. The 3% Pledge for Pay Equity encourages agencies who have conducted or are planning to conduct wage audits and displayed a commitment to equal pay, to be the first to sign up and become founding members of the 3% Pledge for Pay Equity. Through its research, consulting and 3% Certification programs, The 3% Movement has learned that despite pay equity analyses and dedication by agencies, theres still widespread skepticism around equal pay in the workplace. In fact, according to The 3% Movements proprietary Belonging, Inclusion, Leadership and Talent (BILT) survey, over 40% of women at creative agencies report they believe they are not being paid comparably to their male peers even at those agencies that have completed wage audits and made adjustments accordingly. The 3% Pledge for Pay Equity is a way for The 3% Movement and agencies to work together to help solve the disconnect between women and equal pay in a way that offers communication, collaboration and action. The signatory agencies have committed to upholding three distinct pillars: Agencies have conducted a wage review within the last two years or plan to within the next 12 months; Agencies have ensured true pay equity by rectifying like-for-like disparities or will do so following review; Agencies have committed to advancing pay equity through collaboration, communication and continued identification and promotion of best practices to close the wage gap in the advertising industry. The following are being recognized as Founding Agencies of the 3% Pay Equity Pledge: Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) Campbell Ewald Deutsch Doner Eleven Forsman & Bodenfors New York Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) Golin Havas Mekanism Momentum Worldwide PMG Swift The Martin Agency Vladimir Jones Wong Doody Zambezi During the 7th annual 3% Conference in Chicago from Nov. 8-9, 2018, these agencies will receive special acknowledgement for their commitment to rectifying the gender pay gap. In addition, The 3% Movement will create an ongoing feature on its website to highlight agencies that sign the pledge. The 3% Movement, working with the Pledge for Pay Equity Founding Agencies, will extend the impact of the Pledge by developing tools, sharing research and best practices, and hosting seminars and convenings, with the goal of creating and driving momentum in the movement to close gender pay gaps. We honor and congratulate the Founding Members of the 3% Pledge for Pay Equity for their commitment to driving the momentum to close gender pay gaps in our industry, says Amanda Enayati, Head of Culture Innovation for The 3% Movement. Pay equity is not just important for employees financial well-being, engagement and productivity, its also fundamental to agencies capacity for creativity and growth. In our consulting work with agencies across the country, we discover again and again that pay equity is seen by people as one of the most important work-related issues. If youd like to sign or learn more about the 3% Pledge for Pay Equity, please visit: http://3PercentPayEquity.com. ABOUT THE 3% MOVEMENT Started as a passion project to spotlight a huge business opportunity in advertising -- the lack of female creative leadership and its impact on connecting with an overwhelmingly female marketplace -- the 3% Movement has grown exponentially since its 2012 launch and has hosted events in 24 cities globally. Moving beyond awareness to activation, the 3% team now offers consulting services with agencies and brands to support more diverse leadership and a 3% Certified program that awards those companies demonstrating true leadership around gender diversity. For additional information about The 3% Movement, please visit: http://3percentmovement.com. The Dodge Tuning Course From The Tuning School Until now, Dodge owners could customize the look of their cars, but had to rely on a few in the know to tune for maximum performance. This course changes that... For the first time Dodge owners and automotive professionals can learn how to tune these vehicles using the HP Tuner 4.x line. This course will teach students a safe, repeatable, process-based system for everything from the basics of tuning the stock car all the way through heads / cam, and turbo / supercharged applications up to 10 PSI. Like all courses from The Tuning School, students can learn online, in-person, or at home using printed course materials. Bob Morreale the companys President summarized why the new course was an important step forward for Dodge owners. Until now, Dodge owners could customize the look of their cars, but had to rely on a few in the know to tune for maximum performance. This course changes that by teaching Dodge owners, automotive professionals, and aspiring tuners, everything they need to make their cars perform as good as they look. Our course includes sections on changing injector sizes, torque management, fuel, spark, engine size, variable cam angle adjustment, artificial neural network, and much more. This course is also the first time automotive and tuning professionals are able to gain access to the necessary information to tune Dodge vehicles. Said Brett McClelland the companys Lead Course Instructor. This course also benefits aftermarket performance companies that can now design products for Dodge vehicles that will work perfectly with their computer systems. Anyone interested in learning more about the new Dodge course or wanting to make a purchase can visit the Dodge course page at http://www.DodgeTuning.com. You can contact The Tuning School online at http://www.TheTuningSchool.com or call them directly at 727-264- 8875. About The Tuning School: It is the mission of The Tuning School to guide our customers on their journey to achieving the best performance, driveability and fuel economy possible for their vehicles. We will do this by teaching safe, repeatable methods and providing outstanding customer support. To learn more visit http://www.TheTuningSchool.com Theres a really great Foot and Ankle Practitioner near you, and he isnt like all the others Im inquisitive, have a great attention to detail, and provide informed and tailored treatment plans. Austin, Texas has welcomed Podiatrist Dr. Shine John, DPM to a new location near Barton Creek. Dr. John has been in Podiatry for over 10 years as a Fellowship-trained, Board Certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon; he was even selected as a 2018 Three Best-Rated Podiatrists in Austin, as a step up from being awarded the Texas Podiatric Medical Association, 2015 Young Practitioner of the Year Award. Dr. John is eager to continue providing exceptional service to his current patients and to share his love for Podiatry with new ones. Dr. Shine John, DPM works with everyone, from athletes to active adults to children to those who are looking for a second opinion on their previous Foot and Ankle diagnoses. Because Dr. John had misdiagnosed foot, shin, and knee problems related to Foot and Ankle issues when he was a young child, he knows what its like to feel like your pain is untreatable. Dr. John takes a different approach to Podiatry. Instead of pigeonholing your symptoms, Dr. John thinks outside the box and works hard to find the actual source of your pain to help you find relief. Im inquisitive, have a great attention to detail, and provide informed and tailored treatment plans. Dr. Shine John, DPM takes his Christian faith very seriously and models his practice after those values; it is important that patients are treated respectfully and ethically. Dr. John also believes it is his duty to treat your Foot and Ankle issues as uniquely and individually as you are, no matter how long it takes to find the source of your discomfort. Building relationships with his patients is as much a part of his job as diagnosing and treating your Foot and Ankle issues. Im not in a rush to see you and leave, Im in a rush to get you better. I make plans that are both short and long-term, so you can live your life without pain and discomfort! Youre not just another chart. Dr. Shine John, DPM is located within the Bee Cave Urgent Care at 11614 FM2244 (Bee Cave Road) Suite 130, Austin, TX 78738 and is now accepting appointments. Schedule your consultation today at https://www.capitalfootandankle.com/contact.html or call (512) 474-6666. Learn more about Dr. John at https://shinejohn.com/. In a move to further bolster their position as a leading resource provider for real estate investors, Think Realty is announcing a new partnership agreement with Irvine, California-based ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nations premier property database. The agreement, which was finalized in October, transitions publishing and distribution of ATTOMs award-winning Housing News Report to Think Realty. This monthly publication will join the suite of resources, including Think Realty Magazine, available to Think Realty subscribers and members. ATTOM Data will continue to provide proprietary housing data, analytics and articles for Housing News Report. We are thrilled for this opportunity to deliver even more in-depth market insights, analytics and data to the investors we serve, said Eddie Wilson, President and CEO of Think Realty. ATTOM Data Solutions is a highly respected organization and this move allows them to focus on their expertise in data management, while leveraging Think Realty to expand distribution of Housing News Report directly to investors across the country and in markets abroad. Were honored to have ATTOM real estate data and analytics now integrated in the Think Realty universe of trusted resources and content for real estate investors, said Kara Taylor, Vice President of Marketing at ATTOM Data Solutions. Given its strong publishing credentials, were confident that Think Realty will continue to grow and enhance the Housing News Report product, giving it a broader audience and adding even more value for current subscribers. The transition of publishing and distribution is underway and will be reflected on both ATTOMData.com and ThinkRealty.com in early 2019. About Think Realty Think Realty is a central education and information resource for new real estate investors and seasoned professionals, providing members with valuable tools that help them to optimize their competitive advantage, succeed in the industry, achieve wealth-building goals, and live lives of greater purpose. Think Realty is part of Affinity Worldwide. More information can be found at http://www.thinkrealty.com and http://www.affinityworldwide.com. About ATTOM Data Solutions ATTOM Data Solutions provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nations population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes and enhances the data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID the ATTOM ID. The 9TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, APIs, market trends, marketing lists, match & append and more. For additional comments or questions please call or email Abby Tillman, Director of Content & Editor in Chief Think Realty 816-398-4102 atillman@thinkrealty.com ### SSG Travis Mills with his wife Kelsey, daughter Chloe, and son Dax, in front of the Travis Mills retreat Thank you to Ms. West for standing with us to show our recalibrated veteran families that their sacrifice for our freedoms is never forgotten. Ms. Lerynne West of Iowa, the recent winner of the $688 million Powerball Jackpot from Iowa, donated $500,000 to the Travis Mills Foundation, in support of recalibrated veterans and their families. In a letter from SSG Travis Mills, his wife Kelsey, and the Travis Mills Foundation Board of Directors and Staff, he humbly thanks Ms. West for her gift: "We feel incredibly honored to be chosen as the recipient of Ms. Wests generosity, and her gift will be a catalyst for new projects as the Travis Mills Foundation continues to grow our mission to serve Americas recalibrated veterans and their families. When my family and I started our recovery journey, so many Americans from around the country lifted us up. When Kelsey and I started the Travis Mills Foundation in 2013, our vision was to give that same support to other recalibrated veteran families through our national retreat facility in Maine. This moment is living proof of that vision. Since our inception, the Travis Mills Foundation mission has been supported by everyday proud Americans who come together to uplift these veteran families: to honor their sacrifice and encourage their futures. Thank you to Ms. West for standing with us to show our recalibrated veteran families that their sacrifice for our freedoms is never forgotten." To support the Travis Mills Foundation, go to travismillsfoundation.org. [http://www.travismillsfoundation.org __title__ Travis Mills Foundation] To follow the Travis Mills Foundation on Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/travismillsfoundation/ ABOUT TRAVIS MILLS In 2012, SSG Mills was on a mission during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. He set his backpack down and a buried IED exploded on impact. When Travis woke up four days later on his 25th birthday, he had lost all four limbs. Travis is one of only five veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his quadruple amputee injuries. [http://www.travismills.org ABOUT THE TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION The Travis Mills Foundation supports combat injured veterans and their families through long-term programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. http://www.travismillsfoundation.org. Wharton Online Alumni Badge The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) awarded Wharton Online, the Schools digital learning platform, prestigious Accredited Provider status. As the first business school in the world to receive this gold standard accreditation, Wharton may now offer certified Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to adult learners who wish to advance their careers through Wharton Onlines world-class business education curriculum, available anytime and anywhere. Launched in 2013, Wharton Online has expanded access to Whartons high-quality business courses to more than 150,000 online learners around the globe. As an IACET Accredited Provider, Wharton Online may now issue credentials allowing learners to signal to current and future employers competencies gained and skills earned. Starting December 1, all Wharton Online learners who complete a course will receive a digital badge through Credly, a leader in the digital credential movement. These badges can be shared via social networks including LinkedIn, as well as via personal websites and resumes. While Wharton Online will initially issue CEUs through their Leadership and Management four-course certificate program, they plan to expand the list of qualified programs in the coming year. Since many companies reimburse employees for the cost of earning CEUs, this new accreditation will make Wharton Online appealing to a far wider audience of learners, including managers, analysts, strategists, entrepreneurs and marketers. We are proud to receive IACET accreditation since it is widely acknowledged as one of the highest achievements in continuing education, said Anne Trumbore, Senior Director of Wharton Online. Were confident that digital credentialing is the future of learning and, as a result, anticipate attracting half a million new users to the Wharton Online platform in the next two years. To obtain this prestigious accreditation, Wharton Online completed a rigorous six-month application process, including a site visit by IACET. We are pleased to recognize Wharton Online as an Accredited Provider, stated Peter Finn, President of IACET and the Director of Learning and Development for the Society of Women Engineers in Chicago, IL. Finn added, Wharton joins nearly 500 organizations around the globe that have had their programs vetted by third-party experts in continuing education thereby ensuring the highest possible standards are met. About Wharton Online Wharton Online, the Wharton Schools digital learning platform, makes high-quality business education available to learners anytime and anywhere. From certificate programs that issue Continuing Education Units to specializations across a variety of business and management topics, Wharton Onlines offerings equip learners to advance their careers. And with 100K certificate-earning learners and more than one million total learners who have accessed courses, Wharton Online boasts an impressive network of business leaders around the globe. About the Wharton School Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates economic and social value around the world. The School has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 13,000 participants in executive education programs annually; and a powerful alumni network of 98,000 graduates. Windsor care centers have a code of conduct that all employees are expected to follow. The code calls on employees to act openly and truthfully in all their endeavors and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Keeping up its tradition of encouraging employees to follow the highest of standards of corporate compliance, Windsor skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers across California and Arizona announced today their participation in Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week. The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics & Health Care Compliance Association (SCCE & HCCA) organizes the annual event, which scheduled this years event from November 4 through 10, 2018. Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week is an extension of Windsors ongoing compliance and ethics program, which is overseen by Marissa Kirby, Compliance Director at S&F Management Company, a healthcare consulting company. Windsor care centers have a code of conduct that all employees are expected to follow. The code calls on employees to act openly and truthfully in all their endeavors and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Windsors team members played Compliance and Ethics Bingo to reinforce the Compliance and Ethics Program in a fun way. Bingo winners were entered into a drawing for prizes. Each team member was provided with an Awareness, Recognition and Reinforcement bracelet and inspirational quotes were shared each day. I am thrilled to use this week to highlight the outstanding record the Windsor employees have toward compliance and recognizing the compassionate excellence they bring to every facet of their work, said Tim Lehner, COO of S&F Management Company. Company-wide compliance and ethics education, held upon hire, and at a minimum annually, provides the opportunity to roll-out new and updated compliance and ethics program policies and reinforces with employees their compliance and ethics obligations. About Windsor: Windsor nursing and care centers are providers of short-term and long-term healthcare, and rehabilitation services throughout California and Arizona. These centers employ professionals that provide nursing, therapeutic, sub-acute and rehabilitation care to over 4,000 patients daily. For more information, please contact 310-854-8424. At the 69th National Book Awards, held, as has become tradition, at Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan this Wednesday night, it did not take long for the presenters to crack subtle jokes alluding to the cultural significance of the number of this year's awards, even as the political fervor underpinning the past few ceremonies remained. In fact, those jokes were cracked immediately, as comedian, actor, and author Nick Offerman, of Parks and Recreation fame, took to the stage as the evening's emcee. "I should hope that I and you, the esteemed intellectuals gathered in this hallowed dining area, are here to celebrated not sins of the flesh, but those loftier accomplishments," he said, adding: "In an age when our First Amendment rights and truth itself are very much in peril, books remain the ultimate repository of creative ideas and irreplaceable knowledge. In our inexorable pursuit of freedom and human rights, books serve us as weapons and also as shields. They are, perhaps, the greatest creation of humankindone that is living, and always growing. What can I say? They make me horny. I'm a fan." Offerman then introduced Hidden Figures author Margot Lee Shetterly, who introduced this year's Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, v-p and program director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. "Doron Weber is a man of facts, but he is also a man who knows that facts alone are not enough to kindle the human imagination, that facts are not alone to provoke empathy." Stories, Shetterly added, wedded to facts, are the currency in which Weber trafficksand for that, she said, "we thank you." Weber, in accepting his award, noted that when he came to the Sloan Foundation, the foundation did not support the artsbut once he joined, they let him "put their money where my mouth was." He was especially proud, he said, of his ability to use Sloan funding to support women writers and writers from marginalized communities. He added: "I don't have to remind you that especially today we need to safeguard creative freedom for writers of every stripe... we must defend their rights, or lose them." The second lifetime achievement award of the evening, the Medal for Distinguished Contributions to American Letters, was awarded to Chilean author Isabel Allende, the first Spanishlanguage author and second not born in the United States to receive the award, by the writer Luis Alberto Urrea. "In despotic times, she speaks of human hope, survival, connection, wonder, tragedy, and joy against all odds," Urrea said of Allende. He added: "If dictators like Chile's Pinochet could not silence these kinds of voices, could not silence words, then what Isabel does is a calling to us to be bolder," continuing: "This prize honors American writers, yes. Isabel is quite aware that America spans from Tierra del Fuego to the Arctic Circle." Allende, in an emotional speech, accepted the award "on behalf of millions of people like myself who have come to this country in search of a new life," noting her status as a former political refugee in addition to an immigrant in the United States for more than 30 years. "I look Chilean, and I dream, cook, make love, and write in Spanish. Making loveit would feel ridiculous panting in English. My lover doesn't speak a word of Spanish." Pivoting back to politics, Allende said: "This is a dark time, my friends. It is a time of war in many places and potential war everywhere. A time of nationalism and racism." She added: "I write to preserve memory against the ocean of oblivion, and to bring people together. I believe in the power of stories." Following the presentation of the pre-announced awards, dinner was served, and shortly after National Book Foundation executive director Lisa Lucas and chairman David Steinberger took to the mic to congratulate the finalists and lifetime achievement honorees, thank their sponsors, present a video on the community-focused nationwide initiatives of the Foundation, and introduce the awards portion of the evening. The duo also noted the newly revamped mission of the Foundation: "to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture." That literature, they noted, includes a new category, literature in translation, presented for the first time this year. Isabel Allende: "I write to preserve memory against the ocean of oblivion, and to bring people together. I believe in the power of stories." Offerman then brought to the stage last year's winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, Far from the Tree author Robin Benway, chair of this year's YPL category, who announced that Elizabeth Acevedo won this year's award in the category for The Poet X. "I walk through the world with a chip on my shoulder," Acevedo said in her acceptance speech. "I go into so many spaces where I feel like I have to prove that I'm allowed to be in that spaceas a child of immigrants, as a Black woman, as a Latina, as a person whose accent holds certain neighborhoods, whose body holds certain stories." She added: "Thank you so much to the readers who time and again remind me why I took this leap, why it matters, and why books matter." Offerman then called Harold Augenbraum, former executive director of the National Book Foundation, up to the podium to award the brand new National Book Award in Translated Literature, where Augenbraum, chair of the category, introduced the new award in three languages: English, Spanish, and Indonesian. He then announced that Yoko Tawada won the inaugural National Book Award for Translated Literature for The Emissary, translated by Margaret Mitsutani. Tawada could not be in New York for the awards, so a representative of the author, writer Monique Truong, read a note from the author: "I'm truly sorry not to be able to travel to New York for the National Book Awards," she said through Truong, as she had prior reading engagements in Japan and did not want to cancel them for fear of disappointing those who had already bought tickets, continuing: "I think it's great that the Translated Literature category for the National Book Awards has been resurrected." (There was, once, a National Book Award for "Translation," which was cut years ago.) "Translation," Tawada added through Truong, "gives a book wings to fly across national borders." Poet Mary Jo Bang"a fellow midwesterner," as Offerman called her, and chair of this year's jurors for the poetry categorythen announced that Justin Phillip Reed won the National Book Award in Poetry for Indecency. Reed, who accepted the award in honor of his grandfather, said: "I am standing here with ancestral hands on my shoulders still not knowing what to make of this epithet, 'winner of the National Book Award for Poetry.' As a poet, it is kind of my business to get hung up on words," he continued, adding: "What's next? I want to feel a fullness: to love the vast proliferation of voices and blurred countenances that have allowed me, and you with me, to have libraries...." Annette Gordon-Reed, winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2008 and chair of this year's nonfiction judges panel, named Jeffrey C. Stewart the winner of this year's award in that category for The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke. "I have to say, it's unbelievable to me," Stewart said upon accepting the award, "that the scholars and readers chose this book, and that the National Book Foundation existsespecially in the times we live in, in which many people just don't read." He added that Locke never won such an award, but his own achievement, no lesser, was to "create a family" among writers, artists, and dancers, and to call them "a New Negro, for a New America." Finally, Offerman invited Laila Lalami, author of The Moor's Account and chair of this year's fiction judges, to the stage to announce that Sigrid Nunez is this year's winner of the National Book Award in Fiction for her book The Friend. "I became a writer not because I was seeking community, but rather because I thought it was something I could do alone, and hidden, in the privacy of my own room," Nunez said. "How lovely to realize that writing books made the miraculous possible: to be removed from the world and to be part of the world at the same time. And tonight," she added, "how happy I am to be part of the world." Facts and Tidbits Behind This Year's Finalists and Winners Between the five categories, there were five writers who have been previously honored by the National Book Awards: M. T. Anderson, a 2002 YPL Finalist, 2006 YPL Winner, and 2015 YPL Longlister Rae Armantrout, a 2009 Poetry Finalist Lauren Groff, a 2015 Fiction Finalist Terrance Hayes, a 2010 Poetry Winner and 2015 Poetry Finalist Jhumpa Lahiri, a 2013 Fiction Finalist, who appears on this years list as a translator in the new Translated Literature category Five of the twenty-five finalists were debuts 18 of the 31 finalists (five Finalists per category, but with author and translator for Translated Literature and with one YPL title with two authors) were women None of the winners have ever been nominated for NBAs before No debut titles took home a prize Facts courtesy National Book Foundation At Tuesday's annual Community of Literary Magazines and Presses, billed as a "Night of a Thousand Small Publishers," outgoing CLMP executive director Jeffrey Lependorf welcomed his successor, former associate director and director of content for the Academy of American Poets, Mary Gannon, into the position. As he did so he passed her a cardboard cutout of Liberacea "flame," and not a "torch," as Manhattan's Church of the Holy Apostles, which housed the event, did not allow open fire. "May Liberace," he said, "watch over you as he watched over me." The evening saw honors presented to John Freeman, author and editor of Freeman's, who received the Energizer Award for Exceptional Acts of Literary Citizenship, and Brigid Hughes, the former Paris Review editor and founder and editor of literary magazine A Public Spacewhich will publish its first book this coming springwho received the Golden Colophon Award for Paradigm Independent Literary Publishing. The evening's focus, however, remained on Lependorf, whose 17 years as executive director of the 51-year-old CLMPwhich he renamed "Community" from "Council" during his tenurewill clearly be remembered fondly by its membership, which has grown to roughly 500 members from what Graywolf Press publisher Fiona McCrae called "a handful" at the time of Lependorf's arrival. "Since 1991, he has been there for us. He has listened, encouraged, helped, read, and advocated for usmade us feel like we were the special ones with our books and our magazines and our authors and our boards and our needs and our problems," McCrae said in her address honoring Lependorf. "But now I understand just how special he was, and I think I've identified his superpower. Our books and our magazines and our authors and our needs and our problems are very largely invisible to the greater public. This, in fact, is one of our problems. So when it comes to an organization that serves us, you enter some very dark invisibility indeed. Yet Jeffrey took on this challenge, and has been ingenious and indefatigable in bringing us all, including CLMP, into the light." Lependorf, calling himself "humbled" to be following "publishing heroes of mine," said: "What's happening with small press publishing now, and magazine publishing, is just phenomenal. The fact that Fiona may very well come home with two National Book Awards [Wednesday] night is case in point." Upon taking the reigns, and the Liberace cutout, Gannon noted that while many CLMP members are small presses or magazines, "together, they are many and mighty, and we need them to keep thriving, as they are often the first place where our most important literary voices are heard. CLMP works to advocate for and support all of them, and the stakes for that endeavor have never been higher." She added: "We find truth in the words that literary magazines and presses are devoted to sharing with readers, and as the poet Clint Smith has put it, 'Reading stories, poems, and essays can give us the gift of radical empathyshifting, enriching, and broadening our perspectives, often when we need it most." Over the years, people with albinism in Africa have faced a lot of challenges in their quest to gain acceptance in society. It is not surprising that, apart from the fact that they are often ostracised, they are also hunted for their body parts which are believed to have strong ritual values in many parts of Africa. In some parts of the African countries, it is speculated that Albinos do not die, instead, they vanish into thin air. Nonetheless, there are still some African countries who believe in oneness hence promote that agenda. Kenya, in quest to host a contest for albinos known as the Mr. and Ms. East Africas Beauty Contest which come of at the end of November, 2018 , Uganda has held its first-ever beauty contest for people with albinism to select the candidates that will represent the country at the contest. Reports indicates that, twenty-two candidates from six districts in the country competed for the opportunity to represent Uganda in November, but only 5 males and 5 females were picked by the judges to fill the required slots. Director of the Malengo Foundation and a judge at the event, Michelle Omamteker said the event was important because it gives albinos a worthy representation and champions the need for society to see people with albinism as equals. Michelle said, "today was an important opportunity because we had the first hearings in Uganda of people with albinism for Mr. and Ms. Albinism from East Africa. This is extremely important because representation is important. That says a lot about how society perceives this difference". Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! This follows a transportation challenge some Kenyan citizens face. They often use crowded minibuses, known as matatus, as their main form of transport around the city. According to Loic Amado Ubers East Africa General Manager, Uber wants to be part of the transportation ecosystem in Nairobi and matatus are a big part of how people move around. He added that the feature would be available on the Uber app for customers to be able to use it. Uber, was launched in Kenya four years ago and currently has 6,000 active drivers, nonetheless it is pursuing an effort to have an advantage over rival operators in the East African nation, such as Estonian ride-hailer Taxify and Little, set up by Nairobi-based Craft Silicon. Amado said that once the app is proven in Nairobi, Uber could be expanded to Kenyas neighbours, such as Ugandas capital Kampala and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The idea would be to apply it to vehicles carrying up to 16 people, he added. He further explained that, the new Uber product will allow customers to track and trace the minibuses. The company already operates Uber Pool and Uber Express Pool in cities such as London and New York, so taxi drivers can carry more passengers heading to the same or nearby destinations. The Kenyan governments stand The government announced this week measures to bring more order to the matatu industry, seeking to curb traffic violations and overcrowding. Matatu drivers view Jackson Onyinkwa, chairman of one of Nairobis Matatu associations said the intervention would help reduce idle time at the bus stop during slow hours. His association has 46 vehicles. A report by parent24.com says doctors had set Bao Kou Julie Yang and Bao Nhia Julia Yang's due dates just two days apart. However, shockingly, on November 4, both beautiful twins reportedly went into labour and Bao Kou gave birth to her baby girl, Nadalie. Reports say less than two hours later, Bao Nhia also welcomed baby girl, Candra. The twin mothers are as amazed at the development as the general public. Bao Kou is quoted as saying: We both werent expecting this, to say the very least. I was definitely in shock, but I was happy for the both of us. Its really a miracle. Briefly.co.za reports that the twins had earlier suffered miscarriages, but the experience brought them closer. It further reported that Nadalie is Bao Kou's first child while Candra is Bao Nhia's third, and they shared the same hospital ward after delivery. READ ALSO: Minister resigns after his masturbation video went viral Admirations started pouring in after the hospital where the deliveries happened released their photos online. One social media user said: Baby cousins sharing the same birthdays just like their mommies! Congratulations. He said this while presenting the 2019 budget statement in Parliament Thursday (November 15, 2018). However, Mr. Ofori Atta indicated that the government is only certain this phase will be pass considering the measures being taken to ameliorate the plight of Ghanaians. READ ALSO: Why is Kejetia Market is not opened for business? - Mahama asks gov'tWhy is Kejetia Market is not opened for business? - Mahama asks gov't We have in the last 2 budget years taken some tough decisions to have the country running. The nation is moving forward under this government and is moving forward in the right direction. We are not proud of the fact that there are still hardships in the country but weve managed to ease the hardships, he said. Labour unions in the country had earlier conceded to the hardship in the country. Most of them argued that the cost of doing business in the country is on the rise. The budget comes in the wake of concerns by the various labour groups in the country over the rising cost of doing business. General Secretary of the Federation of Labour Abraham Koomson this year has not been too good despite the Adwuma budget. This year things are bad and we must say it as it is. The cost of doing business in this country is very high. Looking at what is happening in this country, if God does not descend, these politicians will kill us. We have been promised 1D:1F among others. Where are the factories? I cant see any factory anywhere. On their part, the Food and Beverages association says the economy has been unfriendly to business despite the economic boom rhetoric by the government. He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has fulfilled its 2016 election campaign of settling the deposits of customers of the firm. Speaking on the floor of Parliament in his 2019 "Ahotor" budget presentation, Ofori-Atta said: "Ninety percent of DKM claims of depositors have been paid." READ ALSO: Aggrieved customers call for the arrest of DKM CEO Though the central bank subsequently lifted the ban on the companys operations, DKM was unable to pay its customers their locked up cash. ece-auto-gen Nana Akufo-Addo prior to the 2016 elections said he will launch an investigation into circumstances surrounding the Diamond Microfinance Company (DKM) scandal if voted to office. Today there is so much innovation happening that consumers arent always aware of all of the solutions available to them from AgriTech to FinTech to ecommerce and beyond. READ ALSO: Heres how much the collapse of 7 banks cost govtHeres how much the collapse of 7 banks cost govt Kicking off in Ghana, the MEST Innovation Market will create a space that brings together startups, corporates, investors, consumers, and more for a day of interactive learning and exploration. The event is taking place this Saturday, November 17th at the Association of African Universities in East Legon. A full day event, the MEST Innovation Market will kick off at 10AM and feature a wide variety of events throughout the day that visitors will be able to enjoy. From Ask Me Anythings with key players in the entrepreneurship and innovation scene to a Design Thinking workshop, there will be numerous opportunities to learn. Some of Ghanas best DJs will also be performing throughout the day and even leading a workshop on DJ techniques for aspiring musicians. READ ALSO: Govt isnt proud of hardships in Ghana Ofori AttaGovt isnt proud of hardships in Ghana Ofori Atta Several local artisans and restaurants will also be joining so attendees will be able to snack on local food while exploring the market. Local restaurant Little Havana will be cooking up tacos and empanadas to bring some Afro Cuban fusion flavor to the market, while some of Ghanas best bartenders will be mixing up cocktails. Booths are still available for the market so if youre interested in taking advantage of this exciting opportunity please reach out to sylvana@meltwater.org! From local restaurants to top startups, everyone will be at the MEST Innovation Market this weekend and we hope you will be, too! About MEST Mr Mahama was speaking to delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Subin constituency as part of his four-day flagbearership campaign tour of the Ashanti region. READ ALSO: Former mine workers invested huge severance pay in Menzgold AubynnFormer mine workers invested huge severance pay in Menzgold Aubynn According to him the government he led saw the market development as an important activity because Kumasi has one of the biggest markets in the West African sub-region, adding that his administration secured funding for the second phase of the project as well. ece-auto-gen I thought by now, the market would be open for business, whereby traders at the phase two site would have been moved to the new place for the second phase to start but nothing is happening as at now. READ ALSO: Here are your 20 most credible banks in GhanaHere are your 20 most credible banks in Ghana ece-auto-gen According to Mr Mahama, Kumasi is very strategic when it comes to business and the Akufo-Addo-led government must treat with urgency the opening and continuation of phase 2 of the market to enable traders to conduct their business. According to him, the country is dominated by Christ-believing fellows, yet things have failed to improve due to the attitudes of some Christians. READ ALSO: 14 peacekeeping policemen accused of sexual misconduct recalled14 peacekeeping policemen accused of sexual misconduct recalled He expressed worry at the trend that seems to point the involvement of Christians in corrupt and negative acts. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante was speaking at the climax of the 60th anniversary of the Church of Christ Spiritual Movement in Cape Coast. ece-auto-gen 70 percent of the people in Ghana claim to be Christians but in spite of this fact, the police have a very hard time. 70% of the country's problems are Christian problems because we pay lip service. That's why we are where we are," he said, as quoted by Myjoyonline. The Peace Council Chairman also expressed concern about the growing rate of crime and corruption activities in the country. In his view, such untoward acts could be reduced in society should Christians adopt good attitudes worthy of emulation. He further touched on self-styled preachers who are more interested in talking about themselves than preaching the word of God. He advised Christians to be on the lookout for fake pastors in order not to be misled or deceived. According to him, many teachings and preachings in todays churches do not reflect the real teachings of Christ. Reports gathered by Pulse indicates that he touched down at the Kotoka International Airport in the early hours of today. Adoboli was flown out of London's Heathrow Airport on Wednesday evening after being detained in Scotland from Monday. Kweku Adoboli has been battling with British authorities over the past year in his bid to resist his deportation. He argued that he has lived in the UK for 26 years therefore deporting him to a country that he left at age 10 was unfair. READ ALSO: Kweku Adobli weeps in court after losing deportation review Mr Adobolis local MP, Hannah Bardell, told the BBC he would transit in Casablanca and then on to Ghana. ece-auto-gen His unauthorised trading cost the bank 1.3bn, with an even greater hit to its share values, but he insists he never personally benefited financially from his crime. The products are unregistered body enhancement cosmetic creams and drugs. The affected products are Soft Curve Booty Hip Cream, Bobaraba Cream, Breast Uplifting Fast Cream, Hip Up Cream, Yodi Cream, Bazooka Syrup, Yodi Capsules etc. READ ALSO: Obengfo doctor granted bail The products are purported to be used for the enlargement of the breasts, hips, buttocks, as well as the quest to satisfy female counterparts in bed has dramatically increased among men, as there is now a very high demand for penis enlargement. Regional Head of FDA addressing the press noted that "Information has it that most users are young people in our secondary and tertiary institutions." ece-auto-gen The enhancement cosmetic creams, she said, are being imported from Nigeria into the country. She also warned consumers to stop using the products and consult with a health-care professional if they have used any of these products and have health concerns. She added that the FDA is collaborating with the police to identify the importers and peddlers to bring them to book. We were standing on the pavement in front of the Conference Centre opposite parliament house.Police and soldiers stationed at the gate of the Conference Centre asked that we move few steps away since Vice-President Dr Bawumia was coming to the Conference Centre for a function before going to parliament for budget presentation and we obliged.I started taking pictures of those holding the messages on RTI Bill.Then, about 3 police officers came and asked that we leave the place entirely.We asked for their reason and one of them said it is an order from above.Another one said the road and pavement where we were standing are all part of State House and constitutes a security zone.One of the police men called his commander to report to him.In the midst of the exchanges, the convoy of the Vice - President passed by to the conference centre. READ ALSO: Christians responsible for 70% of Ghanas problems Peace Council chair Immediately, another police personnel and a military personnel joined the exchanges.The military personnel then forcibly took the placard from Gilbert, crossed the road to parliament gate, broke the placards with his feet and dumped it into a dust bin.While this was happening, I was on my phone ready to grant interview to Neat FM.At this point, I cut the call from Neat FM in order to take photo of the military personnel destroying the placard.One police man held my hand shouting that I have no right to take photo of the military personnel or the police men.The military personnel joined the policeman to wrestle the phone from me.They then said they have arrested me.I told them I want to walk to the parliament police station and they rejected it.They ordered me to join their car to the police station in parliament.On our way, the military personnel said "when you people go to take money from people, then you come and do these things. Go and lock him up"When we got to the police station, the military personnel drove off.The police officer who said he is a chief inspector told those on duty why he arrested me and ordered me to sit at the counter back which I did.The statement was taken by a female police officer.The chief inspector actually went through my photo gallery on my phone to narrate the message on the placards since I took photos of some.I requested to make a call and the chief inspector who arrested me said "once you are arrested you lose your rights".So, he refused to give me my phone.One of the police personnel on duty asked my name, where I work and my phone number which I provided.He then searched me.I had to remove everything in my pocket.After he was satisfied, he asked me to put the items back into my pocket.It took over 20 minutes for the commander of the station to arrive.He invited me to his office and then explained the public order act and said we were required to inform the police about our action of standing on the pavement and displaying messages.According to him, it was important for us to inform the police for our safety since people with hidden motives could attack us or infiltrate our ranks and cause problem.In the midst of the Conversation, Daniel Dadzie and Kojo Yankson arrived to find out what was happening to me.The commander assured them that I was not arrested.The commander requested that my phone be brought to me.After some further interactions, I was allowed to go.Thank you all for your supportRTI - Power To The Power (PTTP) According to him, the Nana Addo administration has so far failed to honour its promises made in the build-up to the 2016 elections. READ ALSO: Mahama wasn't matured for the Presidency - Alban BagbinMahama wasn't matured for the Presidency - Alban Bagbin The ex-president is currently on a four-day flagbearership campaign tour in the Ashanti region. Speaking to some National Democratic Congress (NDC) delegates at Agona in the Afigya Sekyere East constituency, he said the NPP government prefers to shift blame rather than tackle the issues confronting Ghanaians. ece-auto-gen In opposition, the NPP told Ghanaians that their lives had been made miserable as they were sitting on money but were very hungry. They blamed the NDC government for everything, Mahama said. This comes after the NDC presidential aspirant also criticised the government over its 'woeful' handling of small scale miners, popularly known as galamsayers. According to him, small-scale mining will be regulated should be voted back into power in 2020. We were using the military in fighting galamsey but it didnt take us anywhere so we had to stop them. We decided to regulate them with some laws so the galamseyers can operate effectively, Mahama said. This was made known by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta when he delivered the 2019 budget to parliament on Thursday, 15 November. He said the "government's promise to protect the public purse, His Excellency the President remains committed to the fight against corruption." "In this budget, the Special Prosecutor's Office has been allocated an amount of GH180 million from GoG with a commitment to provide additional resources during the course of 2019 to enable the Special Prosecutors Office to carry out its mandate," he added. In an article, the former Attorney General said his office has so far had "woefully inadequate" infrastructure and has been under-resourced since its establishment a year ago. Amidu compared his situation to that of that of Acting Attorney General of the US Mathew Whitaker, insisting a lack of resources has left the Special Prosecutor's Office in an almost hopeless situation to fight corruption. He said despite President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's sincere commitment to fighting corruption, government has done very little to support the Special Prosecutor's Office. According to him, the office has so far lacked the resources to adequately deliver on its mandate. The Office of the Special Prosecutor was established in November 2017 with a specific mandate to oversee cases of corruption, involving public officers and individuals in the private sector. Many Ghanaians were upbeat following the appointment of Amidu as the country's first-ever Special Prosecutor. The said amount is expected to be taken from the $40 million facility government received from the World Bank. READ ALSO: Mahama wasn't matured for the Presidency - Alban BagbinMahama wasn't matured for the Presidency - Alban Bagbin Accra-based Citi FM reports that $10 million will be used for capacity building, while another $4 million of the fund will be used for branding of the Tourism Ministry. The Ministry maintains that most of its personnel lack of necessary training when it comes to the hospitality industry. This, the Ministry said, has resulted in the delivery of poor services to guests and has negatively affected the countrys image as a preferred tourism destination. ece-auto-gen Sector Minister, Catherine Afeku, explained that part of the fund will be put into building two training institutions in the Eastern and Western Regions which will be dedicated to training personnel for the tourism industry. This was disclosed during her interaction with Parliaments Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee on Wednesday. The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts explained that the facility will be applied to set up two training institutions in the Eastern and Western Regions dedicated to training personnel for service delivery in the Tourism Industry, a report by the committee read. She indicated that the level of education expertise and experience of practitioners in the Tourism Industry in Ghana is low as compared to what pertains in other African countries that compete with Ghana. READ ALSO: Nana Addo is governing Ghana well Emir of Qatar praisesNana Addo is governing Ghana well Emir of Qatar praises Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has described as unjustifiable the $14 million being allocated for capacity building and branding. He said the repercussions of voting for Nketia again will be grave for the NDC going into the 2020 general elections. Speaking on Accra based Peace FM, he said Nketia, who is popularly known as General Mosquito, has become so arrogant. He doesnt respect leadership. Asiedu Nketia doesnt respect leadershipIm in my party; I say he doesnt respect leadership. He undermined me but thats past tense. Weve all paid for it but he doesnt respect leadership. Now, he appears to be NDC. Hes all-in-all NDCLets forget 2020 if we vote for Asiedu Nketia, he said. READ ALSO: NDC slams Nana Addos my appointees are clean claims The utterances of the NDC incumbent General Secretary, in Allotey Jacobs' voice, "stinks" so bad that it's unfit of a character as the General Secretary of a major opposition party, yearning to come back to power, come 2020. ece-auto-gen Michelle Obama says her eldest daughter, Malia, was her "wing-woman" when she tried to sneak out of the White House once. As the former first lady wrote in a passage of her new memoir "Becoming" target="_blank", it was June 26, 2015 and she had just returned from attending the funeral service for the Charleston church shooting victims. She was headed to bed when she noticed a "purplish glow" coming in through one of the north-facing windows of the White House. That same day, the Supreme Court had announced its decision in a pivotal case, effectively legalizing gay marriage across the country. It was then that Obama remembered the staff planned to illuminate the residence in rainbow lights for the occasion. Seeing the hundreds of people who had gathered outside the White House to celebrate the decision, she found herself "suddenly desperate to join the celebration." So she started going around, asking each of her family members whether they wanted to join her. BusinessInsider She recalls: "I stuck my head into the Treaty Room. 'You want to go out and look at the lights?' I asked Barack. 'There are tons of people out there.' He laughed. 'You know I can't do tons of people.' "Sasha was in her room, engrossed in her iPad. 'You want to go see the rainbow lights with me?' I asked. "'Nope.' "This left Malia, who surprised me a little by immediately signing on. I'd found my wing-woman." Obama explains that normally, they have to check in with the Secret Service agents posted by the elevator anytime they want to leave the residence, but this time they broke the rules and strode on past. "Malia and I just busted past the agents on duty, neither one of us making eye contact," she wrote. As they descended the stairs, they could hear the agents tailing them. "Malia gave me a devilish smirk. She wasn't used to flouting the rules," Obama wrote. Once they got downstairs, they came across the night usher who also asked if she could help them. "Oh we're just going outside, to see the lights," Obama said. They started descending the stairs that led to the North Portico but hit a roadblock when the door was locked. Obama explains that nine months before, a knife-wielding man had broke into the White House through this very door and since then they had started locking the door. The usher also reminded Obama that all of the news cameras were trained on that very entrance, and someone else suggested that they use a loading door on the ground floor that was more out of the way. "We're getting out!" Obama remembers telling her daughter. She wrote: "We made our way down a marble staircase and over red carpets, around the busts of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin and past the kitchen until suddenly we were outdoors. The humid summer air hit our faces. I could see fireflies blinking on the lawn. "And there it was, the hum of the public, people whooping and celebrating outside the iron gates. It had taken us 10 minutes to get out of our own home, but we'd done it. We were outside, standing on a patch of lawn off to one side, out of sight of the public but with a beautiful, close-up view of the White House, lit up in pride. Angola, Republic of the Congo and Zambia are among the most indebted to Chinese creditors, according to a new report by Moody's. The report, Sovereigns Africa, China's lending supports growth, exacerbates fiscal and external pressures in Sub-Saharan Africa, examines the level of impact of China debt on African markets. According to the report released on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, and made available to Business Insider Sub-Saharan Africa, Chinese lending to SSA governments rose nearly tenfold to more than $10 billion a year between 2012 and 2017, from less than $1 billion in 2001. Moody's says much of the lending has focused on infrastructure projects, including the power, transport, and communication sectors which are expected to support economic growth but with credit risks for countries with already high debt burdens. Some of the countries feeling the heat include Ghana, Angola, Zambia, and Nigeria where interest payments on those loans already absorb more than 20% of revenue. Zambia's external position is particularly fragile, given its very low foreign exchange reserves, the report states. David Rogovic, a Moodys Assistant Vice President-Analyst and co-author of the report, said, Unless African investment financed by Chinese loans generates substantial economic gains that boost debt servicing capacity of Sub-Saharan African governments, the credit implications of such lending include higher debt burdens, weaker debt affordability and weaker external positions. China's willingness to renegotiate existing loans and the terms of these renegotiations will influence credit trajectories in Sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years. Further analysis of the report showed an increase in China's lending - or even maintaining the current pace of lending - should go some way to addressing Africas financing gap. On Monday, November 12, 2018, global attention turned to a leak detected by Internet research firm ThousandEyes over a "Potential hijack traced to African ISP, MainOne. ThousandEyes detected that "traffic to certain Google destinations appears to be routed through an ISP in Russia and black-holed at a China Telecom gateway router." Main One Cable Company owned up to the responsibility, saying it accidentally caused the problem during a network upgrade. ThousandEyes experts give more insights into the impact of the leak on Nigerian users Responding to email enquiries from Business Insider SSA, Ameet Naik, ThousandEyes technical marketing manager, and author of the report said the rerouting would not have impacted customers of MainOne within Nigeria. Google has a direct presence at IXP Nigeria which is an Internet Exchange Point where major global networks interconnect. MainOne has a direct relationship with Google, so traffic from MainOne users within Nigeria would flow directly to Google. ece-auto-gen Naik said the only impact the rerouting could have caused Nigeria is to overwhelm the network and crippled Internet service in the country for a brief period. The glitch had the potential to send a significant portion of Google traffic from around the world to MainOne in Nigeria, which could have overwhelmed the network and crippled Internet service in the country for a brief period. Luckily, all of this traffic was stopped by the Great Firewall of China and did not make it to Nigeria. No cause for alarm in Nigeria Just as the much-talked likely hacking of U.S election by Russia is still a matter of public discourse, the intelligent team at ThousandEyes say no cause for alarm as Nigeria prepares for the general election. Theoretically there shouldn't have been any real effect on ISP users of MainOne inside Nigeria since for them the way to get all the services hadn't really changed, Alex Henthorn-Iwane, an executive at ThousandEyes told Business Insider SSA. ece-auto-gen Despite the trouble-free scenario, ThousandEyes, however, encouraged all organisations connecting to the Internet to continuously monitor their reachability from around the globe and detect such incidents quickly. Other ISPs had as much responsibility here as MainOne. The internet research firm said an error like can quickly spread throughout the Internet as there are no foolproof ways to prevent the occurrence. Digital rights expert calls for clarity and more explanation Adegoke Adeboye, Digital Rights Program Manager at Paradigm Initiative, said MainOne needs to further clarify the matter and implement new processes to attend quickly to global issues like this. Adeboye also called on the Nigerian regulatory body and other institutions across West Africa to investigate and demand more answers from MainOne. ece-auto-gen Again, this has brought to the fore again the issue of lack of Data protection laws in Nigeria and many other countries on the continent. The absence of regulatory frameworks makes it hard to hold service provider accountable and makes transparency requirement vague. This is another learning opportunity and a wake-up call. Clearly, a data protection law is required like yesterday, he told BISSA in a chat on Wednesday. Google says users' data is safe The beautiful actress gave a hint of her move when she took to her Instagram page on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. She shared a photo of the plastic surgeon who carried out her previous surgery and herself and it looked liked she was all set for another body enhancement from the caption of the photo. "How horrible Am I for wanting more ??#KINGTONTO #MAMAKING #DRAYO #COSMETICSURGERY #TEAMOLIVERTWIST," she wrote. Just in case you don't know, Tonto Dikeh had earlier in the year undergone plastic surgery to increase the size of her butt. Yes, guys, this isn't a new feat among celebrities but Tonto Dikeh was just bold enough to reveal that she had gone under the knife. ece-auto-gen Tonto Dikeh is so happy because of her new body ece-auto-gen Tonto Dikeh is pretty excited about her new body look. On Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018 Tonto Dikeh thanked her surgeon for the work he did on her body. She wished him and his team a happy new year. "HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY SURGEON AND HIS CREW. Wish you all a great and fulfilled new year, Thanks for all you do for humanity...Thanks for letting God use you in my life as a great source of Joy!! For the first time I took my time to appreciate my new body(Damn too sexy by the way), I cried, I leaped with joy and all I can say is am so ready to conquer the world with my new found confidence...Thank you so much Dr. Ayo @grandvillemedlaser and thanks to all the pretty nurses & doctors (recovery center) Super thanks to my Executive producer You are awesome honey, Love you so much, Mama. Thanks "#KINGTONTO #MAMAKING #RADICAL4JESUS #KINGTONTOREALITYTV #LINDAIKEJITV #YOU ARE MOT READY YET I TELL YA #REALITYATITSPEAK #EXCITED #MOTHERHOOD #SEXYMUM #SURGERY #COSMESTIC SURGERY #GANG #FULL BODY RECONSTRUCTION #LIPO #NOPASTIC #NATURAL #HAPPYOLDIE #AM ALL FOT MAKING MAMAKING LOOK BETTER #KINGSMOM #2018 #BODY UNVEIL PARRY LOADING #WE ARE NOT REGULAR," she wrote. ece-auto-gen Earlier in the year, Femi Kuti released his 10th stuido album, ''One People, One World'' and as I sat in the crowd watching him perform and interact with his fans at the listening party in September, one could not help but try unravel how his journey has fared leading him to become one of the biggest, most respected and successful musicians of his generation. Being the son of the late Abami Eda, Fela Anikulapo Kuti is enough weight to bear for any individual, being constantly compared to him and then leading your own band, The Positive Force is extra pressure, one that Femi Kuti's smile every time he steps on stage does not reveal. Femi released his debut effort, the eponymously titled album, ''Femi Kuti'' in 1995, with two other projects [''Shoki Shoki'' and ''Fight To Win''] delivered within six years. Then he took a break, a very long one, not from performing or touring but from recording music and it took him seven years from when he released his third studio project, ''Fight To Win'' in 2001 to when he released the ''Day by Day'' album in October 2008. The theme of the 12 track album at the point stayed true to Femi's message but it was a strong project that further showcased his unique identity, growth, influences, confidence and vocal discipline. From 'Oyinbo' where the bass drums welcome you to his world as he refuses to be distracted by happenings around him while finding joy and peace through music, ''Oyinbo don kill Africa finish'', he declares. The longest record on the tape, 'Demo Crazy' runs for over 7mins 30 seconds as Femi goes on a journey of the ills fostered under the guise of democracy; the instrumentals, drums and horns at play on this is the reason why Afrobeat as a genre always makes a delightful live concert. He challenges the African man to ask poignant questions on 'You Better Ask Yourself', with his rich and controlled vocals highlighting denials, the contradiction in being the richest continent but also one of the poorest people and underhand practices over an infectious jazzy beat. 'Tension Grip Africa', 'Dem Funny', 'Inside Religion' and 'One Two' are other notable gems birthed from the album. While the huge cloud of bearing the same last name as that of a giant in Fela Anikulapo Kuti will in some quarters hang over him till the day he stops making music, ''Day By Day'' was perhaps that landmark project that saw Femi come out of his shadows and fully become his own man. A few months ago, Vice President, ProfessorYemi Osinbajo became the toast of millennials when he announced the immediate restructuring of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), terrorizing Nigerians into another body and ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to immediately make arrangements to that effect. For that, the Vice President became Pulses Prop of the Week Ending, August 19, 2018. However, Nigerians harbored fears that the people causing problems under the name was still going to remain within the job and under a different name when they are really the problem, not the name. Those fears have been confirmed as valid. Late on November 14, 2018, a Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based lady, Olorogun Mabel Peters narrated how she was extorted, intimidated and sexually assaulted by members of SARS while she was moving on her own. ALSO READ: Two female OOU students fight over boyfriend (Video) She narrated this account via her Instagram page, @prettymaa_. This comes after members of the Nigerian Police recently killed the daughter of ex-Minister, Anita Akapson. She narrated that, Today is definitely one of my worst days. I woke up a bit feverish with a slight headache so I canceled my activities for the day, at about 6:30 pm I decided to go get drugs because my condition seemed to be getting serious and also get pizza for my mum just 7mins drive away from my estate. On getting back to my estate, a blue Prado jeep stopped right in front of me and some armed men in uniform came out asking me to park for a search, I obliged, they went through all the vehicle papers and drivers license etc. very much complete. The next question I was asked was they needed to see my company Id , I tried to explain to them I didnt have it on me because I just drove out to get pizza from the next bus stop and they said I was under arrest for stealing a vehicle and I couldnt give them an ID of where I work. I obliged and we drove to their station and the whole story changed. One of the officers made a phone call and he said I was among the criminals they received a call about. I tried to beg, I even showed proof of the medications I got, they gave me a paper to make a statement. In the process, they took my phones from me and started going through my phone, from my chats call logs down to my bank mails etc. After spending 2hrs with them they demanded a sum of 2million naira as my bail, for a crime I do not know. This is pure wickedness and evil I never stole, robbed, violated any rules etc We finally came to an agreement after keeping me hostage from 6 pm till 12 am that I should pay them 100,000naira. One of the officers even approached me trying to sexually harass me!! This same men didnt even mind the time they comfortably drove me to an ATM machine so I could make a withdrawal for them. These men are criminals!! I was granted bail by 1:30 am after spending 7good hours Someones hard earned money. This Is totally unacceptable, Are you guys not meant to be protecting lives? Why will you extort someone of their hard earn sweat!! I thought SARS had ended. When stakeholders of peace in Afghanistan sit together, the debate is almost always centering over sticking to the military option or pursuing dialogue. With civilian losses rising 39 percent year-on-year and reaching the highest since 2014, few sane minds are advocating for the former. The war has continued to grow deadlier killing an average of 30 to 40 Afghan soldiers and 10 civilians every day, according to a New York Times report on October 7, 2018. With every single one of them gone, it leaves another family devastated and pushes the country another step towards the socio-economic collapse. Afghanistan's losses have spiraled on many levels. Repeated attacks on schools, for example, have been affecting children's education and consequently the nation's building process. Likewise, no significant water conservation projects have been launched as a result of the war, thus causing severe drought in western parts of the country. The second largest stakeholder in the war-torn country, after its own people, appears to be the United States. Yet Americans believe that their government has failed in this conflict of seventeen years. According to research carried out by Washington-based Pew Research Center, about half of adult U.S. citizens (i.e. 49 percent) reckon that their country has not been able to achieve its goals in Afghanistan. Only 35 percent, on the other hand, are optimistic about the war's results. This is exactly why President Donald Trump's Afghanistan policy needs a reality check. Despite a continuous increase in casualties, nobody in the administration has been able to convince him to give it a revisit. During the presidential campaign, he considered it convenient to announce a swift U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, but as shocking as his victory in the election was, the announcement saw a complete reversal. Last August annulling his commitment as an "original instinct to pull out," Trump pledged to send more troops and vowed "a fight to win." A year later, there is no stability in Afghanistan and the changeover from Obama to Trump has not ensued any shift in balance of power among the belligerents. And all this while, the U.S. has been placing the blame of its Afghan-policy failure on Pakistan, disregarding the fact that Pakistan's ability to influence Congress and Pentagon advisories would ironically be an overestimation. Since any improvement in Afghanistan has not emanated from this finger pointing, it has to be understood that Pakistan is not part of the problem it is rather part of the solution. Afghanistan and Pakistan share age-old cultural and economic ties. Any security-related situation in one of them immediately affects the other. Afghanistan's ongoing insurgency also spilled into western regions of Pakistan where locals suffered the most. Pakistan is today advocating at all global forums for a peaceful and dialogue-based settlement of issues that threaten Afghanistan. Pakistan encourages taking all major stakeholders onboard for any possible solution that can avoid the military option. The U.S. has been voicing for a peaceful settlement too but the multi-billion-dollar war speaks otherwise. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi firmly conveyed Pakistan's reservations when meeting his counterpart Mike Pompeo last month after the U.S. discontinued reimbursing costs of the war on terror to Pakistan. The interaction nevertheless culminated on a positive note by breaking some ice. At the same time, a new bloc having major concerns on Afghanistan has been emerging. Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran are making joint efforts to end the conflict since the security situation in Afghanistan is bound to affect them. The four countries have held discussions to hammer out a solution to the longstanding issue and bring peace to the region. China and Pakistan have specifically been working with Afghanistan to come up with strategies that can streamline the rebuilding process. The first foreign ministers' dialogue between the three was held in December last year where a consensus was achieved on adopting an "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" reconciliation process. While the second meeting in this series is due any time this year, Russia has just concluded a landmark conference of major countries of the region, including China and Pakistan, to chalk out a dialogue-based strategy for Afghanistan. It is now the region's unanimous assessment that war cannot go on in Afghanistan for eternity. If the stalemate has to be broken, the 17-year bombing of the landlocked nation should be wound up with a launch of a Marshall plan that is guaranteed by the international community. Peace will then be achieved by establishing self-sustaining educational facilities, generating profitable economic opportunities and speeding up the rebuilding process. Daniel Hyatt is a Pakistan-based freelance journalist and commentator. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. This time, Rev. Father Hosea Jatau Titus of Lafia Diocese, Nasarawa State died in an auto accident three days after a thanksgiving to celebrate his one year in priesthood. ece-auto-gen According to Linda Ikejis Blog, the late priest held his thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 11, 2018 and died on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Upon the sad news breaking, praises and encomiums have rained in from friends and colleagues. One of them, Ezeifedi Ugonna Julius writes, After ten years of intense and tasking seminary training, you died after one year of priesthood. After joyfully celebrating your one year in the priesthood, you left sorrowfully. But how can you say goodbye when you were on a mission when you suddenly died in an accident. The deceased used to be a seminary newscaster. Rest in paradise Fr Hosea Jatau Titus of Lafia Diocese ALSO READ: Two female OOU students fight over boyfriend (Video) Another one Mike Raphael wrote, A SUDDEN AND SAD DEATH OF A YOUNG PRIEST. After ten years of intense and tasking seminary training, you died after one year a priest. After planning to joyfully celebrate your one year in the priesthood, you left us sorrowfully, after a nice time with people of God during Sunday Thanksgiving you left on Tuesday without a goodbye. But how can you say goodbye when you were on a mission when you suddenly died in an accident. My dear seminary newscaster, your memory will ever remain green in the heart of many. Rest in Paradise Fr Hosea Jatau Titus of Lafia Diocese, until we meet to behold the face of God forever. 1. The Book Dealer The book dealer is an online store run by a female powerhouse. On Twitter, Instagram and a website, @thebookdealerng reads, reviews, recommends and, when your interest has been piqued enough, offers you the option to get the book and more. Check out 10 books about Fela you should read before you turn 30. 2. 1k Bookstand The 1k Bookstand is a Nigerian thrift bookstore which sells books for N1000 or less. They deal in a wide range of titles from African literature to Harlequin titles to classics. You can also get your books delivered to you wherever you are. 3. Roving Heights Based in Lagos, Roving Heights delivers books worldwide. The store deals in all kinds of genres, from self-help to autobiographical to fiction. When you order via any of their platforms, Instagram, Twitter and the website, you get a complementary bookmark from the store. 4. Patabah Bookstore Patabah Bookstore has been serving book lovers for 30 years now. With a physical store in Adeniran Ogunsanya mall in Surulere, Patabah also runs a working store on Instagram. 5. AMAB books Many visas perish for lack of knowledge. The US visa is one of the most sought-after visas in the world, and the probability of getting one is slimmer by the day, especially for countries like Nigeria. But once you have it though, the United States is not the only country you can visit with your visa and a Nigerian passport. This doesn't need a special visa, just the regular B1/B2 multiple entry US visa. The Canadian visa, on the other hand, is currently the top visa for Nigerians. Many Nigerians are seeking the Canadian visa, as well as the passport. But Canada is not the only place you can visit with your Canadian visa. The Nigerian passport, which was recently ranked 94th in global passport rankings, sort of acts as a barrier for some of these countries. There are many conditions and one of them is to have visited the country that owns the visa at least once before you can use that same valid visa to travel to any of these destinations. Here is a list of 15 countries that Nigerians can visit with a valid US or Canadian visa. 1. Albania: See the beautiful architectures in Albania with a valid US Visa you can get into Albania and stay for up to 90 days. 2. Belize: Located just by the Caribbean sea coast is the country of Belize. It is known for its white sands, bright blue waters and colourful festivals. It is quickly rising as a top tourist spot, especially if you have a US tourist visa. 3. Mexico: Bet you didn't know this. Mexico is a country brimming with carnivals, spicy food, exciting music and beautiful people. It's also just across the border from the United States of America. With a tourist visa or permanent residence from the United States, Canada or Japan, you can gain entry into Mexico for tourism, business or transit. 4. Dominican Republic: Dominican Republic is another Caribbean nation in North America. It is known for its white beaches and lots of sun. 5. Georgia, Europe: Not to be confused with the Georgia state in America, the nation of Georgia in Europe is the epitome of a hidden treasure. There are list of visas from 50 countries that are allowed entry into Georgia and visas or permanent residence from the United States and Canada are included. You are allowed entry and stay in Georgia for 90 clear Calendar days in any 180-day period. 6. Jamaica: Jamaica needs no introductions. A place of sun, sand and enjoyment, it is the perfect destination for a real vacation. Cruise ships love to stop here so someone with a valid US visa can actually step off and enjoy a day here. Other cruise destinations such as the Bahamas and Cuba also allow this. 7. Turkey: With a valid US visa, you can get a visa-on-arrival in Turkey, the middle-eastern nation that straddles Europe and Asia. You can visit the historic city of Istanbul or the thermal springs in Pamukkele when you visit. 8. Panama: The beautiful country of Panama allows visa-free entry to persons who have United States, Canadian or Australia visas, which must have been used at least once. 9. Serbia: Enjoy the beautiful architectures of Serbia when you have a valid US visa. 10. South Korea: Did you know that South Korea allows you into its country if you are in transit to or from the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand? It even gives you a 30-day grace. 11. Turks and Caicos Islands: If you have a US or Canadian tourist or residence visa, you can enter into the Turks and Caicos Islands visa free. 12. Bermuda: Just as in South Korea, you can be granted entry into Bermuda if you are in transit to or from the United States or Canada. 13. Antigua and Barbuda: If you are stopping on this island off a cruise, you will be allowed visa-free access for one day. 14. Montenegro: Montenegro is a European country known for rugged mountains, medieval villages and narrow strip of beaches along the coast. You can enter and stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days with a US visa. 15. All US Territories: US territories work the same way UK territories do. No matter how far they are, you can gain access to them if you have a valid US visa. American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and all the US Virgin Islands allow you access into them on this condition. Some of these places are top tourism destinations. If you are receiving interview invites like this, beware fake recruitment agents have got your name on their list. Many fresh graduates and job seekers have fallen victims of messages like this because they don't understand how the scammers operate. Here are five things you should look out for when you receive an interview invite to establish the authenticity of the invite. 1. Website/Social media page ece-auto-gen It is 2018, any company that is recruiting should have an online presence. If the invite sent to you does not show the organization's website or social media pages, then don't bother to go for the interview. 2. Check the job title Companies looking for an employee to fill a vacant position in their establishments must have a job title for the position. If this is not stated in the email or invite you sent to you, forget it. 3. Did you apply for the job? ece-auto-gen Before any reputable organization sends you a job interview invite, you must have applied for a position in the company. If you don't apply for any job and you receive a message saying they have looked at your resume and they will like to invite you for a job briefing on Monday, November 19, 2018, at No 4, Ogidan street, Maryland, Lagos, don't honour the invitation. No organization can have your CV if you do not apply for a job in the company. 4. Payment before interview One sure way to identify job scammers is that payment always comes before service. If you're looking for a job and the interview invite you receive states that you have to pay some money to qualify for the interview, beware it is a scam. 5. Grammatical errors The graduates' struggle to get a job in Nigeria is underscored by the high rate of unemployment in the country. According to the statistics attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the youth unemployment rate in Nigeria increased in the third quarter of 2017 to 33.10%. This percentage represents the highest ever in the country. Despite this figure, Nigerian tertiary institutions churn out graduates every year, the same way the NYSC releases graduates into the labour market after serving the country for one year. As these graduates get into the labour market, they face the hash reality of unemployment waiting for them. While some are lucky to get a job immediately after their NYSC experience, many others have no choice but to wait a little longer before they get a job offer. ece-auto-gen However, in the face of this struggle, some graduates, considering their certificates and the skills they've acquired over the years may be prompted to reject certain job if the offer is not juicy enough. For instance, some graduates might reject a job that promises to pay them less than N70,000. After all, some companies start with 150K and above for their starters. But check around, how many organizations in Nigeria pay their starters more than N120,000 apart from oil companies? ALSO READ: 7 things you should no longer have in your resume There is nothing wrong to think a certain amount is too small for you as a starter, but starting with N70,000 is not so bad given the economic and employment realities of the country. If the organization that offers you N70k is based in Lagos, you might think the pay is very ridiculous when you consider transportation and other expenses. Prof. Muhammed Haruna, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NASENI, made the appeal on Wednesday in Lagos when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NASENI is an agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. It was established in 1992 with the primary goal of fast tracking home initiated and home-grown industrialisation through local machine design and machine building capabilities. Haruna said NASENI had in the past manufactured an Agriculture Based Unmanned Area Vehicle (AB-UAV), tricycles commonly referred to as Keke NASENI" and was involved in the successful development of the Gulma Drone in collaboration with the Nigeria Air Force. He expressed confidence that the made-in-Nigeria helicopter project would be a success through the support of the NCAA and other stakeholders. Haruna said the project was a ministerial and presidential directive and was in line with NASENls mandate in Aviation and Aeronautics Technology, stressing that the agency was targeting its actualisation before the end of 2019. The CEO said the agency had selected Dynali Helicopter Manufacturing Company of Belgium as a willing partner to fast-track technology acquisition and domestication. Haruna said : The company is the manufacturer of a wide range and models of Dynali H3 easy flyer sport ultralight helicopters. The company produces the simplest, easy to maintain and operate helicopters of high quality and of international standards. The cost is less than N50 million. Dynali Helicopter was selected because their technology is easier to copy, learn, domesticate and modify. They are willing to build the capacity of our staff for maintenance, repair, assembly, and manufacturing of helicopters in Nigeria. He said the agency had placed order for one unit of Dynali H3 easy flyer sport ultralight helicopter for the purpose of reverse engineering and technology domestication. The helicopter has been produced, tested and ready for delivery to Nigeria. In order to take delivery of the aircraft, we have requested for a clearance to import the aircraft from the Ministry of Transportation through our supervising ministry. The NCAA is an important stakeholder in this effort and that is why we reached out to you for support and guidance, he said. Haruna, therefore, urged the NCAA and NASENI teams to consider the project as a national one, due to the importance of its success to national development. Responding, Usman said the NCAA was charged with economic and safety regulations of the aviation industry and would continue to partner with other agencies and stakeholders towards actualising that mandate. Usman said there was need for Nigeria to develop home grown technology to boost economic development and for the country to be at par with its contemporaries. He said Aviation is highly regulated and it is international in nature. That is why the NASENI came today for us to partner and work to ensure that international standard and recommended practices are maintained because aviation is high precision industry. It involves safety and security. During an interview with The Africa Report, published on Wednesday, the former vice president said he'll deal with the terrorist group through negotiations and military action. He also disclosed that the group came into being after politicians used them for political thuggery to win elections before abandoning them. "I happen to know how Boko Haram came into being. They were offshoots of political thuggery. Politicians used those boys in Boko Haram to win elections and then abandoned them and then there were no jobs for them. "It was the same thing with the Niger Delta. In 1998, I saw it myself and I warned people," he said. Since the terrorist group's insurgency escalated in 2009, tens of thousands of people have been killed with millions also displaced and scattered in internally displaced people's camps across the country. How I'll fight corruption - Atiku When questioned on how he'll fight corruption if elected president, Atiku said punitive measures will not be enough to deter perpetrators of corrupt practices. He said, "One way of trying to reduce corruption to the barest minimum is also to introduce e-governance. If you are applying for a permit, if you are applying for a passport, why not apply online? Why can't we also employ preventive measures to stop corruption?" "If we have evidence against you we arrest you and prosecute you, and take away the money," he added. 2019 presidential election While next year's election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is expected to be keenly-contested between Atiku and President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, they both face competition from other candidates including Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Obiageli Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC). Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Olusegun Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more. Buratai stated this on Thursday when he received the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Army at armys headquarters in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committees visit was part of their oversight function. Buratai told the committees chaired by Sen. George Akume and Rep. Rimande Shawulu, that funds appropriated for the army in the budgets in the last three years were judiciously spent. He said the army achieved a lot with the funds in building and reconstruction of facilities across its formations and barracks nationwide. With the efforts of the National Assembly in the last three years, we have achieved a lot, and as you go round, you will see the efforts in terms of facility development and uplifting of barracks facilities. But, there is still much to be done; funding still remains a challenge. It couldnt have been a challenge if the various infrastructure had been maintained over the years, he said. Buratai pointed out that infrastructure in the army had remained in poor state as a result of inadequate funding, and solicited for more. Earlier, Akume had commended the army for the various operations it was conducting, especially in the North-East, saying they had helped in maintaining law and order as well as security in the country. We want to commend the army for carrying out its constitutional responsibilities of protecting the territorial integrity of the country and for also maintaining law and order. Akume, however, urged the army to do more in securing the country. On the oversight visit by the joint committee, he said it became necessary because of time. Some social media reports had alleged that a helicopter belonging to the force landed at St. Paul Primary School, Omuaran, Kwara to off load cash into a vehicle belonging to Mr Tunji Ajuloopin, the APC candidate for the Nov. 17 by-election in the state. A statement by the force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood on Thursday in Abuja, said the helicopters were deployed for surveillance and airlift of officers in the Saturday Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Federal Constituency by-election. He implored the public and the media to disregard and discountenance the publication. Moshood said that the police helicopter and vehicle in the picture being circulated were not used to convey any cash and the vehicle does not belong to Ajuloopin as claimed. He emphasized that the helicopters were deployed for surveillance patrols and support services to ensure secure environment during the by-election. The spokesman urged the public to discountenance the report which he described as a deliberate blackmail to misinform the public. The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, disclosed this to the media after the Federal Executive Council (FEC)meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. He said the rifles, alongside 20,000 rounds of ammunition, will cost the sum of N272 million. The minister attributed the procurement to the lack of adequate arms and ammunition in the prison service. He made particular reference to the June 2018 jailbreak that happened in Minna, Niger State. He said, "If you recall, not too long ago, our prison in Minna was attacked from the outside and some of the dangerous prisoners were freed. "The prison has an armed squad. We realised after an investigation of that attack that one of the major shortcomings within that prison was lack of adequate arms and ammunition." Over 200 inmates had escaped from the Minna Medium Security Prison when a group of gunmen attacked the prison, located at Tunga area of Minna metropolis, and engaged in a shootout with prison officials on June 3, 2018. A prison official and a motorcyclist were killed during the attack. Two of the escaped inmates were condemned individuals whose death warrants were due to be signed by state governor, Abubakar Bello, the next day. According to the last update by the NPS in July, only a total of 51 inmates had been recaptured with the others at large. FG orders 116 new vans to transport inmates The government's decision to buy new firearms for prison officers comes just a week after the FEC approved the purchase of 116 new vehicles, at the cost of N1.5 billion, to ease transportation issues in the prison system. "We are procuring 116 vehicles which will cost N1,584,064,560. You'll agree with me that because of lack of logistics, the vehicles, that has contributed in the past and even now we're still not having enough vehicles that'll be able to take inmates and those awaiting trials to court," Dambazau said. Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The Trump administration has nominated John Abizaid, the former head of U.S. Central Command, to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The nomination comes amid increased tension between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, as suspicion hangs over the kingdom about its involvement in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Abizaid attended West Point, and rose from an infantry platoon commander to a four-star general during his distinguished military career. During the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada, Abizaid led an Army Ranger rifle company and reportedly ordered one of his soldiers to start up a nearby bulldozer to use as a tank and allow the company to advance on enemy positions. The unorthodox move inspired a scene in the 1986 Clint Eastwood film Heartbreak Ridge, where the Hollywood star similarly used a bulldozer to advance on a Cuban position. Abizaid is unique among high-ranking military officials for his intimate knowledge of the Arab world. The grandson of Lebanese-Christian immigrants, Abizaid is fluent in Arabic and obtained a masters degree from Harvard University in Middle Eastern area studies. Many considered his passion for the Arab world to be an asset during the early years of the Iraq War, when Abizaid oversaw the effort as CENTCOM commander. Now, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Abizaid will be tested in the Arabian peninsula. Questions linger over the possible involvement of Saudi officials in the killing of Khashoggi, including de facto ruler Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has emphasized that the United States will hold all of those involved accountable, and pressed Saudi Arabia to do the same. The Trump administration recently announced it would stop midair refueling of Saudi military flights to Yemen, and the State Department announced 21 Saudi suspects would have their U.S. visas revoked, or be deemed ineligible for a U.S. visa. Congress has also triggered an executive branch investigation into whether Saudi Arabia should face Global Magnitsky Act sanctions for human rights violations. The appointment of a four-star general like Abizaid underscores how much the Trump administration values its military relationship with Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump went to Saudi Arabia on his first overseas trip, and touted a $110 billion arms deal with the kingdom. The $110 billion figure represents offers of intent or interest, according to Bruce Riedel, director of the Brookings Intelligence Project and a former CIA officer. He described the deal as a wish list of what the U.S. would like to sell Saudi Arabia in the next four to five years, but it is not guaranteed that all the deals will come to fruition. Saudi Arabia has purchased $14.5 billion in arms so far. The arms sales have been a focal point of Trumps deliberations on whether, and how much, to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing of Khashoggi. "I don't want to lose all of that investment being made into our country. I don't want to lose a million jobs, I don't want to lose $110 billion dollars in terms of investment," Trump told reporters in October. Another question looming over Abizaids nomination is whether Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, will maintain his close relationship with Saudi officials, and whether Kushner will hinder Abizaids ability to conduct diplomacy. The ambassador post has remained vacant for nearly two years of the Trump administration, but Kushner has a close relationship with the prince and has made multiple trips to Saudi Arabia. Kushner clashed with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson over a Saudi campaign to blockade Qatar, as the Gulf states accused Qatar of harboring terrorists. Kushner sided with the Saudis, while Tillerson attempted to defend Qatar, which hosts an enormous U.S. air base. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Flash The Shanghai Tourism Administration said on Thursday morning it is investigating several five-star hotels in Shanghai after they were exposed undertaking unsanitary cleaning practices. Fourteen luxury hotels, including seven in Shanghai, were exposed in an online video, which showed a variety of sanitation problems, including cleaners using bath towels and dirty sponges and towels to clean cups, washstands and toilets, as well as soaking cups in shampoo. A cleaner at Bulgari Hotel Shanghai was shown collecting disposable plastic cup covers from garbage bins, and using towels used by guests to clean cups and washstands. Four Seasons Shanghai was exposed using the same cleaning sponge that had been used in a bathroom to clean washstands and cups the dirty sponge was then used in different rooms. In addition, its worker was shown using dirty towels to clean cups. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai was seen soaking cups in shampoo and using bath towels to wash bathroom glass, while a cleaner at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai was shown using the same sponge to wash cups, washstands and toilets. Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Le Royal Meridien Shanghai and the Puli Hotel and Spa were exposed for similar problems. The administration said it will impose severe punishment if these issues are verified as factual. It would also advise China's authorities assessing hotels' star ratings to improve relevant evaluation criterion to stamp out similar incidents, it said. GE and the federal government signed a contract to proceed with the interim phase of the narrow-gauge concession which is expected to grow freight haulage capacity in the country ten-fold to 500,000 metric tonnes annually. Minister of Transport, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, had signed on the federal governments behalf. The agreement meant that GE would commence interim phase of concession of Nigerias 3,500km narrow-gauge Rail network. A consortium is taking over from GE However, Bloomberg reports that the agreements GE reached with the Nigerian government are now being negotiated by Transnet and its consortium partners including SinoHydro of China and APM Terminals. ece-auto-gen Transnet has been a trusted partner of GE for several decades. We have confidence in their ability and that of the other consortium members to execute on the rail concession project successfully, Bloomberg quotes GE as saying in an emailed statement. GE will now focus on infrastructure development in Nigeria in areas such as health care and power, the company said. A presidency spokesperson declined comments for this story on the basis that an official press statement was being prepared. Nigeria is opening up its rail system to private investors following decades of government control. He said the clarification become necessary following a purported petition flying in the social media indicating that he had been invited for questioning by anti-graft agencies over alleged corruption. Eze, represented by his spokesperson, Mr Steve Oruruo described the development as a smear campaign to tarnish his image. He, however, said that the smear campaign would not affect the APC chances at the poll. We are aware of a petition flying in the social media but Ayogu Eze has not been invited by any anti-graft agency for that. The character of our candidate is almost impeccable but we allow the anti-graft agencies to carry out their investigations if such petition exists, he said. Eze advocated for a fair contest in the forthcoming poll in order for the most popular candidate to emerge. He said that they had uncovered a grand plot by the State Government to subvert the will of the people during the election. He alleged that workers, traders and retirees were being coerced to surrender particulars of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) with a view to using same to manipulate the poll. We are aware of this and we call on security agencies to investigate the issue. The people should know their rights and should be properly guided, Eze said. When contacted, the states Commissioner of Information, Mr Ogbuagu Anikwe dismissed the allegation of coercing workers and traders to submit particulars of their PVCs. Anikwe said: I think it is a political propaganda. However, I am hoping that journalists will verify every information they get so that in this campaign season their reports will be fact-based, Anikwe said. Meanwhile, both the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state and their Enugu State Amalgamated Market Traders Association counterpart had also dismissed the allegation. Mr Virginus Nwobodo of the NLC and Mr Temple Udeh, president of amalgamated traders said that government officials had not accosted any trader to submit particulars of his PVCs. On his part, Udeh said that the intentions of the state government in the traders empowerment scheme was clear and needed not be misconstrued. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, told newsmen at the end of an emergency meeting of the governors on Wednesday in Abuja that payment of N30, 000 wage was impracticable. Yari, however, said the proposed wage would be paid if labour would agree to downsizing of the workforce across the country or Federal Government itself accedes to the review of the national revenue allocation formula. He listed members of the committee to interface with the Presidency as governors of Lagos, Kebbi, Plateau, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Enugu and Kaduna. Yari alleged that the Tripartite Committee on the minimum wage did not include governors submission of N22, 500 in its proposal to Buhari because it said that the governors decision came late. Situation where our report was not taken or considered by the tripartite committee in the presentation to the president, then, I dont know how the committee wants us to work. We still said that we want to pay but the issue is the ability to pay. If we say no, just pay, I dont know how this formula will work and I dont know how we can get solution to the issue. Today it is N18, 000. In 2015 when the president assumed office, 27 states were not able to pay, not that they chose not to pay. Now you say N30, 000, how many of us can pay? We will be bankrupt. So as Nigerians, we should look at the issues seriously, he said. Yari said that if the minimum wage was pegged at N30, 000, only Lagos would be able to pay its workers. Like Lagos that is paying about N7 billion as salaries now, if you say it should start paying N30, 000 the cost of salary will be N13 billion. From our calculation, it is only Lagos state that will be able to pay 30,000. As Nigerians, this is our country, there is no other country we have and we should be fair to this country. He added that it was the same labour leadership pushing for N30, 000 that would turn around to say that governors did not build any infrastructure and how are we going to achieve that by paying only salaries. On way forward, Yari said that the governors would continue to talk with labour leaders to let them see reasons why the governors have difficulties in paying the proposed wage. Apart from Lagos, even Rivers cannot pay. So, we have been crying out about this since 2011 but no one will listen. One critical example is that some states ration their salaries while some others put everything they earn on the table and ask labour to come and see and ask them to suggest how much should go for capital and personnel cost. Some say 70 per cent for personnel cost and 30 per cent for capital projects and yet the states cannot pay and they put the remaining as outstanding. On submission of states audited account, Yari said that the account was submitted to the committee, adding that we are going to use the report of the audited committee to make further presentation. Last week, President Muhammadu Buharireceived the recommendation of the tripartite committee he had set up last year to propose a minimum wage. The president expressed his commitment towards getting the recommendation passed by the National Assembly as soon as possible, with the new wage pegged at N30,000. Despite what many had assumed to be the logical conclusion of the issue, the NGF has disclosed that it might have to resort to tough measures to afford the proposed wage. After an emergency meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, NGF chairman and Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, said organised labour will have to agree to a nationwide downsizing of the workforce for the effective implementation of the new proposed wage. He said a new committee has been inaugurated to meet with President Buhari over the issue. "Following a meeting of the Nigeria Governors' Forum where we deliberated on the national minimum wage, governors resolved to re-strategise and put together another committee to meet with the President once again, to work out another formula towards quickly resolving the problem associated with the proposed N30,000 minimum wage which is impracticable unless labour agrees to a downsizing of the workforce all over the country or the Federal Government itself accedes to the review of the national revenue allocation formula," he said. Members of the committee are Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu; Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong; and Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar. Others are Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel; Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi; Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Before the proposed N30,000 was presented to the president, state governors had insisted they could only increase the minimum wage, currently pegged at N18,000, to N22,500. According to Yari, the committee failed to take the governors' submission into consideration before a final decision was reached. He lamented that many states cannot afford to pay the proposed N30,000 and will most likely go bankrupt if compelled to do so. He said, "As a member of the committee, our representative there said the committee did not take our submission of N22,500 because it came late. I am surprised. How can you do this without the input of the states because the states are the key stakeholders in this business. "So, a situation whereby our report was not taken or considered by the Tripartite Committee then I don't know how the committee wants us to work. "But we still say we want to pay, but the issue is the ability to pay. If we say no, it is not about the ability to pay, just pay, I don't know how this formula will work and I don't know how we can get a solution to the issue. "We are paying N18,000 (as minimum wage today), but when the President assumed office, about 27 states were not able to pay, not that they chose not to pay. "So, now you say N30,000, how many of them can pay? We will be bankrupt (if we pay). So as Nigerians, we should look at the issues seriously. "While other people are saying that governors are riding jets and living in affluence, that one is not luxury but compulsory. "Like Lagos that is paying about N7 billion as salaries; if you say it should pay N30,000, now it will be N13 billion. From our calculation, it is only Lagos State that will be able to pay N30,000." He called on all the parties involved in the negotiations for the new minimum wage to consider all possible outcomes so as to reach an agreeable decision. "So, let us look at this matter seriously to see how we can do it properly. It is our primary responsibility to see that everybody is happy," Yari said. NLC fires back at downsizing threat In response to the NGF's resolution, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, told ThePunch that minimum wage and downsizing the workforce are two different conversations. "We are not discussing downsizing of the workforce or employment of workers. What we are discussing is the minimum wage. We want to know exactly what the minimum wage is. The issue of downsizing is of collective bargaining. The issues should not be mixed," he said. The NLC is pushing for N30,000 as the new minimum wage for the country. After threatening to embark on a strike, the federal government asked for a deadline day meeting with labour leaders and representatives of the organised private sector, took their proposal and promised to enact same into law with the help of the National Assembly. But what does the NLC really do and how has their activity affected the plight of the average Nigerian worker? Heres a brief history of the NLC since you asked The NLC was founded in 1978 as an umbrella organisation for trade unions in Nigeria. At inception, four labour unions merged to form the NLC. There were: Nigeria Trade Union Congress, Labour Unity Front, United Labour Congress and Nigeria Workers Council. The numerous affiliated unions were then restructured into 42 industrial unions. The founding President of the NLC was a man called Wahab Goodluck. Today, the NLC has over 29 affiliate unions including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Textile workers, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), among others. Mr. Ayuba Wabba is the current president of the NLC. The NLC is affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation. The NLC has fought so many battles for Nigerian workers through the years It is imperative to state here that the NLC was as resilient during the military era as it was during Nigerias civilian dispensation. The umbrella body of workers has taken on struggles like improved welfare/salaries for workers, reduction in the pump price of petroleum products, review of the national minimum wage, decent pay for state workers, child and slave labour etc. Under the military regimes of Generals Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) and Sani Abacha, the NLCs national organs were dissolved twice. ece-auto-gen During the military era, labour leaders were often hounded and jailed and labour meetings were disrupted by soldiers. When Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, the NLC was reformed and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole became President of the new look, reformed NLC. The minimum wage review battle in Nigeria has always been a fierce one Even though Goodluck was NLCs founding president, the first elected President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was a man named Hassan Sunmonu. He was elected President of the NLC in 1978. Before Sunmonu, there was no structured minimum wage for Nigerian workers. When political office holders were handed a pay rise at the time, Sunmonus NLC commenced agitation for a structured minimum wage. In 1981, the NLC clamoured for a minimum wage of N300. When the Shehu Shagari led federal government refused to pay this amount, labour called for a nationwide strike that paralysed the economy. Eventually, the Shagari administration and Sunmonu led NLC settled for a minimum wage of N125. ece-auto-gen In 1989, labour asked for a new minimum wage. During this period, Pascal Bafyau was NLC President. When it got down to negotiations, a certain Adams Oshiomhole who was Bafyaus deputy, led the talks with government. The minimum wage was increased to N250 afterwards. Between 1989 to 2001, the minimum wage went from N250 to N3000 and from N5,000 to N7,500. In 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan increased the nations minimum wage to N18,000. Three NLC Presidents after BafyauAdams Oshiomhole, Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar and Ayuba Wabba, were instrumental to the review of the minimum wage from the late 80s to the present day. For what the term 'Minimum Wage' really means, kindly open this link. Is NLC really that important for workers today? Yes, it is. As stated earlier, whether you work in the private or public sectors, you are under the NLC and the minimum wage fight is often for workers in the private and public sectors. As cheesy as it may sound, strike action is one sure way to bring the Nigerian government to the negotiating table because embarking on a strike will paralyse the Nigerian economy. When the NLC called for the #OccupyNigeria strike of 2012 under Jonathan, over the increase in the pump price of petrol, the Nigerian economy almost ground to a halt until labour was called to the negotiating table and soldiers deployed to the Ojota Park in Lagos to chase away protesters. ece-auto-gen Strike means tanker drivers will stop dispensing petroleum products and oil workers in the creeks and elsewhere will shut down flow stations. And you know how critical petrol is to the functioning of the Nigerian economy. Some NLC strikes have been effective, others less so. The most effective strikes have always been those that involve the private sector, with markets shuttered and big businesses threatened with fines and picketing should they open shop. The Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar said the competition was to imbibe the culture of self reliant among NAF personnel. Represented by AVM Muazu Suleiman, the chief of air staff added that the annual competition was also to showcase the innovative ideas, solve operational and other service problems as well as reduce over dependence on foreign inputs. The equipments would go along way in addressing some contemporary challenges such as terrorism, banditry and general lawlessness that is prevalent in many areas of our society. The innovations showcased are testimony to the resilience and enormous potentials within Nigerians; many of these things are problems that are clearly afflicting the air force and the needs that they would address its very immediate. The theme for the event was Harnessing technological innovations for enhance operation. NAN reports that 13 projects displayed by different commands included Radio Frequency Identification Device, Mobile Under Vehicle Inspection System, Base Information Management System to enhance access and control of NAF bases, Flying Training Management System among others. Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja and said that the force had already recorded successful strikes against the insurgents. He said that the operation which commenced on Wednesday was air interdiction targeting selected Boko Haram locations within the fringes of Lake Chad and areas around Alagarno Forest near Sambisa in Borno. Daramola said this is with a view to further degrading the remnants of the terrorists, curtailing their freedom of action and denying them bases from where they can launch attacks. He said air strikes in the morning of the first day resulted in the neutralisation of many insurgents at Sharama on the Lake Chad Green Fringes. The attack was conducted following series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that showed the presence of significant number of Boko Haram fighters in buildings under trees spread across the settlement. However, two testimonies from celebrities and a couple of others from members of the public, should leave Osinbajo and PEBEC very worried and embarrassed. We'll begin with actor Aremu Afolayan,who called out the Nigerian government for the shabby treatment he received at the airport. ece-auto-gen Afolayan says he was asked to part with money before his family would be allowed to see him off to the check-in point area. He also narrated how Ethiopian Airlines refused to airlift a passenger for no reason. Afolayan ended his now viral rant with the following words: Check the airport. All you see are Nigerians running away from the country. I have never seen an EMIRATI or an AMERICAN that will run away from their country. Until you have no one to be governor or be a president before you know. Long live scared Nigerians! The second celebrity to be sore displeased with Nigerian airport officials is movie producer Kemi Adetiba. She tells the story of sexist treatment at the hands of Immigration officials who made her regret traveling with speakers and a bottle of perfume. According to Adetiba, she was treated shabbily after refusing to offer bribe money to the officials. Asides from the attempt to shake us down for money without conscience, the fact that this gentleman refused to speak to me about my own property is absolutely disrespectful. Insisting to speak to the man in the group is a downright shame. The government really needs to do something about customs officersI was speaking to an expatriate just hours before in Paris and he was complaining about his treatment at Nigerian airports. At every single stop, they try to get money off him by cuddle or by force. Corruption has eaten so deep into our core and it is an absolute shame. Our airports need an entire overhaul. From the workers to the actual infrastructure, Adetiba writes. Yet these are the same airports that should act as gateways to all the foreign investments we need to revive a failing economy. These corrupt and decaying airports are being relied on by the Buhari led federal government as the first port of call in a bid to improve a chaotic and corrupt Nigerian business environment. As part of our work on the Ease of Doing Business, on making the environment friendly, not just for local businesses but also for those who want to come and do business in Nigeria, the airport obviously is one of the major places where we need to ensure that facilities are working and that things are being run properly,Osinbajo said in February of 2017. ece-auto-gen At about the same time, Osinbajo paid a surprise visit to the Murtala Mohammed airport in Lagos to inspect toilets, carousels, immigration points, etc. The vice president just wanted to see things for himself, Laolu Akande, Osinbajos spokesperson, said at the time. At this rate, Osinbajo will need to pay surprise visits to the nations airports every other day. Nigeria is currently ranked 182 out of 190 countries on the Ease of Trade index, according to the World Banks 'Trading Across Borders' survey; amid complaints of extortion, rude and overzealous personnel, and missing luggage at the nations airports. Ms Samantha Newport, Head of Communications, COHA, made disclosure on Thursday in Lagos while addressing newsmen on the UNs humanitarian efforts in the North-East. Newport said the humanitarian crisis in the North-East Nigeria that had spilled into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and was one of the most severe in the world today. She said: More than seven million people are affected in the three worst affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. 1.8 million people are displaced internally. With other global crises competing for scarce resources, the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), a funding mechanism, was set up in May 2017. The NHF is managed by COHA under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon. The NHF has raised 70 million dollars to date in contributions and pledges, thanks to the generous support of the following countries: Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium. Others are Norway, Ireland, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, Iceland, Canada, Spain, Luxembourg, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development, Malta, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka. According to her, the funds have been allocated to urgent life-saving needs, with an emphasis this year on assisting new arrivals with food, shelter and safe water. She said the NHF had continued to assist internally displaced people in crowded camps and host communities where services were stretched with new arrivals and hunger, malnutrition and sickness were rife. Newport said the NHF had also provided funding to help contain the cholera outbreak in the north-east which was considered to be the worst outbreak in the past 10 years. She said the UN currently had 3,000 workers and volunteers carrying out the services in the region, adding that no fewer than 2,500 of them were Nigerians. He posted, ""40 million Nigerians are mad and are suffering from mental illness" - President Muhammadu Buhari, Paris, Nov. 11th 2018. "Buhari went to France and told the world that one quarter of the Nigerian people are mad? I am at a loss for words! May God deliver us from this man!" Fani-Kayode lied (which is ironic because he has 'Servant of truth' in his Twitter bio, another lie). The statement attributed to Buhari about mental illness in Nigeria was actually made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdullahi, who disclosed on Monday that an estimated 20%-30% of Nigeria's population is believed to suffer from mental disorders. Abdullahi was actually lamenting about the inadequacy of the attention that mental disorders get in the country and advocated for better awareness. So, not only did Fani-Kayode attach the statement to the wrong person, he completely misrepresented the true context of the subject. If you give Fani-Kayode full credit for a man of his standing, it's easy to conclude that he knows for certain that President Buhari did not make that statement in Paris. I believe him to be a smarter man than that. Why then would Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have deliberately tweeted a falsehood against the president without a shred of evidence to back his claim? Easy answer - for political convenience. Given President Buhari's penchant for making uncharitable remarks about Nigeria and Nigerians almost every time he touches down in foreign countries, Fani-Kayode's false attribution was quite easy for the untrained mind to believe. ece-auto-gen From saying he'll favour certain regions that helped him become president over others, to saying his wife belonged in the kitchen, and more recently sort of calling Nigerian youths lazy people waiting on government handouts, it's a wonder the president's handlers still allow him near a microphone when he's abroad. This is why it's easy for someone like Fani-Kayode to feed on this established history to attempt to spread an easy-to-debunk story like the one in his tweet. It's why the tweet has already been retweeted by over 1,800 people with most unwilling to even fact-check the information to be sure of its authenticity. Just two days before the tweet in question, Fani-Kayode had also tweeted that the current President Buhari is not actually him, a conspiracy theory that was birthed by the separatist leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. "The true identity of the man in the Villa that claims to be Buhari will only be made known after he is defeated and steps down from power. When that happens Nigerians will be shocked to the marrow. In 2015 I warned about his fake certificate. Today I warn about his fake identity," he posted on Sunday. If you distort logic hard enough, Fani-Kayode's attempts to spread falsehoods may appear harmless, but it's a window into how problematic fake news will continue to be in Nigeria for the forseeable future. The business of peddling fake news is sure to be a very profitable one as the 2019 general elections draw closer. The most troubling concern is no matter how insane a false information is, there are going to be people who'll completely believe it without conducting checks for accuracy, and this is dangerous. The social media space has made it even easier for people to deliberately or ignorantly pass around information that has been weaponised to achieve a set goal. Why would Fani-Kayode deliberately falsely attribute that crass quote to Buhari? An easy guess would be that he was trying to sully his fragile image even more in the eyes of the Nigerian public, and it absolutely works to some extent. The problem begins when the consequences of false information goes past this. In September 2018, the PDP took to its official Twitter account to raise an alarm over electoral violence allegedly committed during the Osun governorship election which its candidate lost. Of all the four pictures of battered and murdered victims attached to the tweet, only one actually happened during the Osun election, as a quick Google Image Search proved. The party eventually deleted the tweet a couple of hours later after it got a barrage of reproach from what was a surprisingly disapproving crowd on Twitter. This kind of misinformation could have had far worse consequences if the post had been allowed to fester for more than it did. While it's easy to conclude that it's only the opposition party that's dabbling in the dark arts of misinformation, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not left out. Back in July 2018, the Lagos APC publicity secretary, Joe Igbokwe, posted a clearly doctored photo to claim that President Buhari had appointed an Igbo man as his Chief Security Officer. Alongside the image, he posted, "Please meet ACP Obinna Chukwuka, the tear rubber Chief Security Officer to Mr President." ece-auto-gen The post was an attempt to dismiss public discontent with the president's perceived biased appointments in favour of northerners. The information, as well as the image, was false as the president had not replaced his CSO, Bashir Abubakar, when Igbokwe clicked publish to expose his tens of thousands of followers to a bad Photoshop job. He failed to take responsibility for the erroneous post, claiming that he merely copied it from a trusted source and didn't bother to verify. When then-Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, was accused of skipping the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme and forging an exemption certificate to get government jobs, Igbokwe also posted a doctored image of her in NYSC uniform to rubbish the allegations. ece-auto-gen More recently in September 2018, President Buhari's Special Adviser on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, was publicly ridiculed for using a random stock image as proof of the construction work being done by Buhari's administration on the Nasarawa-Jos road. She later apologised for the tweet. ece-auto-gen It's easy to see how spreading misinformation, over the past few months, has become a common strategy used by the political class to weaponise their agendas. It's easy to see why any of the aforementioned culprits would either deliberately misinform the public or lazily fail to carry out the required due diligence before they click publish. If the misinformation works out well, it means there's an army of new converts who can scurry to your side because they think the other side must be as bad as painted. It's such a simple-minded scheme. It is important to note that the success or failure of misinformation, deliberate or not, depends most prominently on the ability of the consumers to show good judgement. The truth is that fake news is easy to figure out most of the time. However due to the laziness to properly scrutinise or the eagerness to latch onto something that reinforces your established position, you're likely to internalise false information and pass it along to the next unsuspecting person. This is why it was easy for hundreds of people to fail to question Fani-Kayode's tweet on Buhari's purported speech in France - it reinforced their opinion of the president as a loose talker, especially when he's abroad, leading them to not probe further whether he actually made the statement in question. A more conscious population is less likely to completely fall for misinformation, half-truths, rumours and insinuations that should have very limited lifespans. It really is not that hard. With the general elections mere months away now, the frequency of fake news will most likely go up because the political class will do everything to gain advantage over one another. Typically, the goal of this misinformation drive would be to influence the decisions of Nigerians who'll trudge to the polls again next year to make electoral choices that'll shape the nation for another four years. Flash Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday called for enhancing the economic cooperation between China and Singapore. Li, who is on an official visit to Singapore, made the remarks while addressing a welcoming banquet hosted by the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. China is ready to work with Singapore to set up cooperation platforms for connectivity, financial support and third-party cooperation, so as to upgrade economic and trade cooperation and deepen financial cooperation, Li told more than 1,000 people from Singapore's economic and business circles. Over the last 40 years, the development of Singapore has provided China with precious experience, while the development of China has brought about important opportunities for Singapore, Li said. China will advance reform and opening-up with greater efforts, more practical measures and faster pace, promote high-quality development, and maintain the continuity and stability of macroeconomic policies without adopting strong stimulus policies, he said. The premier also reiterated China's policies to continue streamlining administration, cutting taxes and reducing fees, and create a business environment of fair competition where Chinese and foreign enterprises are treated equal. He sent a welcoming message to companies from all countries including Singapore to seize business opportunities and expand investment in China, enhance economic and trade cooperation and achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results. On the Chinese economy, Li said it is performing with overall stability and within the reasonable range. As the international environment has gone through remarkable changes, the Chinese economy faces a certain degree of downward pressure, which China has relatively big room and resilience to accommodate, he said. The Chinese economy's long-term positive fundamentals will not change and the prospects of China's development will surely be brighter, Li said. Li started his official visit to Singapore on Monday. This is the first visit by a Chinese premier to Singapore in 11 years. During the visit, Li will also attend the 21st leaders' meeting between China and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) as well as the 21st ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea leaders' meeting, respectively known as 10+1 and 10+3, as well as the 13th East Asia Summit. The former Rivers State governor dumped the PDP in November 2013 after months of a power tussle between him and the party's leadership. He defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with four other state governors to boost the chances of the then-opposition party for the 2015 general elections. During an interview on Arise News Television on Thursday, November 15, 2018, Amaechi said he'll never return to his former party. "I'm no longer in PDP. People should leave me alone now, I don't want to go back to PDP. I'll never return to PDP. Mark my words. I remain in APC," he vowed. Despite the minister's apparently strong commitment to the ruling party, it's not rare to see Nigerian politicians walk back on their words to jump parties. In fact, seven months before he dumped the PDP, Amaechi had vowed he would not jump ship. "I am still in the PDP. I am a member of the PDP. PDP is the only national party in the country for now. Why will one want to leave a national party and go to another party?" he said in April 2013. Rita Maduagwu (Nnewi South II Constituency), was impeached as the Speaker of the House due to alleged incompetence, docility, financial impropriety and high-handedness and Ikemba Uzoezie (Aguata II Constituency) was elected as new Speaker on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. The 51-year-old kicked against the impeachment and referred to the lawmakers that impeached her as 'rascals' whose actions she branded a "bundle of illegality". When the Assembly resumed on Thursday, policemen were stationed around the Assembly area from the Alex Ekwueme Square entrance of the complex as early as 8 am, according to a report by ThePunch. Despite the fact that workers of the complex and others were denied entrance, a crowd of supporters showed up reportedly in solidarity with Maduagwu. Officers soon shot tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd, sending everyone running for safety from the smoke that filled the air. According to ThePunch, a member of the Assembly, identified as Beverly Nkemdiche, was caught up in the commotion. Atiku, a former vice president, met with Igbo leaders in Enugu State on Wednesday, November 14, as part of his campaign as the PDP's presidential candidate for the 2019 presidential election. During the meeting, Atiku expressed his displeasure with the state of infrastructure in the southeast region and promised that restructuring would solve many of the regions complaints about marginalisation. "My commitment is to fix this country. I think of the future this country will have, if I do not struggle to fix it," he said. Before the meeting took place, elders, traditional and religious leaders of the region had engaged in a nonpartisan meeting tagged 'Ndigbo 2019 and Beyond Summit' and announced an endorsement of Atiku's candidacy whose running mate is former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, who's from the region. According to a communique read by a lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, the summit concluded that an Atiku/Obi ticket puts "Ndigbo back in the center of governance". "We identify with the Atiku/Peter Obi ticket on the restructuring agenda as has been reiterated by four zones of the country namely: South South, South West, North Central and South East. "We believe that as long as the federating units remain weak the center will continue to be weak. We equally move to appreciate the position of the Atiku/Obi ticket in promoting national unity. "In conclusion, the Summit reiterated that the time is now for Ndigbo to mobilize and organize effectively to realize the Atiku/Obi ticket. "We are not campaigning against anybody, we are simply campaigning for our very survival. Igbo votes must count wherever Ndigbo live in Nigeria," the communique read. The APC has not taken too kindly to the meeting and endorsement of the former vice president's candidacy due to PDP's perceived failure in the region during its 16 years reign in the center. According to a statement signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Thursday, November 15, the endorsement is an affront on the people of the region. ece-auto-gen He said the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has done more for the region in three and a half years and will get the support of "very discerning Igbo people" at the polls next year. The statement read, "Our response to the purported endorsement of Atiku by some Igbo leaders. APC considers Atiku and his PDP co-travellers as people who have lost any sense of shame. "The purported endorsement of Atiku and PDP by some leaders of the South East for the 2019 general elections is an affront on the the Igbo people who were frontline victims of the 16 years of the PDP misrule. "It will be interesting to know what the PDP will be telling the Igbo people during the campaign. The South East people have three and half years of visible progress in terms of massive infrastructure and the thousands of common people who are benefiting from the social programme investments under APC to compare to the PDP's 16 years of retrogression. "We in APC are confident that the Igbo won't be fooled by any group, by whatever name, to sell a thoroughly discredited party like the PDP to the very discerning Igbo people." 2019 presidential election While next year's election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is expected to be keenly-contested between President Buhari and Atiku, they both face competition from other candidates including Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Obiageli Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC). Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Olusegun Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more. The president took part in presidential debates in the run up to the 2007 and 2011 presidential elections which he lost, but he failed to debate ahead of the 2015 election which he won. With early signs from the presidency indicating that he might not show up for any presidential debates again ahead of next year's polls, many contestants have called on him to debate them. While speaking during an interview on Arise News Television on Thursday, November 15, 2018, Amaechi said he made the decision for the president to not appear for the 2015 debate because it was unnecessary. "I made that decision as the DG of the campaign that it was unnecessary. That it was better that he spoke to Nigerians as he went on the campaign. The debate does not offer the solution," the Minister of Transportation said. ece-auto-gen When questioned about if the president would show up for a debate this time around, Amaechi said the president's campaign committee will make a decision at a later date. He said, "What will inform that decision (to attend presidential debate) will be when we have sat as a campaign committee and we'll look at the issues. What do you want to debate about? "The campaign committee will make that decision when the time comes. We can't make that decision now." He later added, "I didn't say the president won't come. I said that when the time comes, we'll evaluate what the issues are." 2019 presidential election While next year's election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is expected to be keenly-contested between Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), they both face competition from other candidates including Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Obiageli Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC). Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Olusegun Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more. In a series of video tapes recorded with a spy, lapel camera, Ganduje was seen grinning sheepishly at contractors as he received wads and wads of dollar notes as kickbacks, before stashing them into his out-sized Babanriga (traditional clothing worn by northern Nigerians). Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari who rode to power on the back of a promise to crack down on endemic corruption in Nigeria, refused to utter a word about the Ganduje Gandollar videossince they first hit the internet in October, until he arrived Paris this week for the Peace Forum alongside other world leaders. Speaking before the Nigerian community in Paris, President Buhari called Ganduje a responsible leader. ece-auto-gen "I commend the governor for doing so much. He once invited me and I went to Kano. The good projects started by Kwankwaso in education and healthcare, Ganduje completed them. "He completed the projects and now the people of Kano are enjoying the benefit. I think that is very responsible of him, Buhari said of Ganduje. And then in the same breath, Buhari tore into Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Gandujes predecessor in Kano Government House, for diverting public funds to further his political interest. Kwankwaso diverted the balance of Kano money to contest for presidency, Buhari alleged without providing a shred of evidence. Those who say President Buhari has been waging a selective war against corruption, one that allegedly targets only members of the opposition, have just been handed one more weapon for their armory. It is interesting that Buhari would label Ganduje 'responsible' and Kwankwaso a thief at a time when Ganduje is still being investigated for corruption and Kwankwaso is not. The only reason Buhari could have said what he said in Paris is simply because Ganduje is a member of the APC and Kwankwaso has since jumped ship to the PDP from the APC. It appears that this president only labels people corrupt once they are no longer a member of his team or political party. Which probably explains why former Abia Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, for instance, has not been labelled corrupt by the federal government even though he is standing trial for an alleged N7billion fraud. In September, Kemi Adeosun resigned as Buharis finance minister, but no onenot least anyone in governmentis talking about prosecuting her for benefiting from a forged NYSC exemption certificate and using that certificate to game the system. Two other high ranking officials of the Buhari administration have been accused of dodging the mandatory one year national service and certificate forgery, but the president has preferred to look the other way. APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has been accused of corruption, but no one in the presidency or in the upper echelons of the governing party, is talking about it. ece-auto-gen Other public officials who have been accused of corruption and who belong to the governing APC, are often given a silent treatment while opposition party members are labelled corrupt in TV appearances and press statements. There appears to be one rule for APC members and another for everyone else. However, no political leaderwhether from the APC or PDP, and not least a president who says he harbours a disdain for corruptionshould be seen backing Ganduje at this time until the Kano governor has been cleared of the allegations. What Buhari should have done in Paris was assure his audience that he would allow the anti-graft agency and other investigators do their jobs without interference from the presidency. He could have done anything but refer to Ganduje as 'responsible'. No one is saying Ganduje is guilty because the law says hes innocent until proven otherwise. But a president who flaunts an anti-corruption badge on the local and international stages, had no business calling Ganduje a responsible leader and performer at this time. The allegation was contained in a petition written by some Governors to the DSS. According to The Cable, the APC chairman was grilled for nine hoursby the spy police. 2019 election According to Daily Post, the spokesman of the group, Barr. Stanley Onu called on President Buhari to sack Oshiomhole before he destroys the partys chances of winning the 2019 elections. Onu also said As you are all aware, our party, the APC is in serious crisis following the most reprehensible, divisive and widely condemned primaries across the states. Today, the APC which was gaining grounds and welcoming new members is far from the all-embracing party it was when Mr. Oshiomhole took over as National Chairman. Given the various allegations of corruption by respected chieftains and members of the APC, we are here calling on the various anti-corruption agencies to begin a comprehensive probe of not only these allegations, but his time the governor of Edo state. ALSO READ: For the avoidance of doubt, we are well aware that Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence criminal proceedings against Mr. Oshiomole for allegedly diverting state funds into personal use. While speaking at the Inauguration of King's College London Global Leaders Engagement Series in London on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, the former president said politicians should more meaningfully engage youths in politics. He said, "Enough of using other people's children as experimental subjects and keeping ours in safe havens; enough of using other people's children as political thugs and ballot box snuffers, while we send ours to Ivy League schools; enough of thinking we know what is right for young people without their input or the courtesy of asking for their opinions." The former president called on the ruling political class to be more deliberate in passing on their knowledge to the younger generation and giving them opportunities to learn. He said, "Succession planning is a culture that Africa needs to imbibe. It increases the number of people who are capable and available to assume leadership roles when the incumbent is no longer available to do so. This is a deliberate process. "We cannot continue to assume that by mere observation from afar, young people understand why we do what we do. We must introduce them to our networks and partners; set them up to represent us in important meetings while we can still guide and nurture them. An organisation should not go kaput because one person is no longer available to lead. "If constitutional changes are required, let us begin now. If policies and political party structures have to change, let us begin now. Of what use is a law that allows young people contest for a particular office only to be confronted with the hurdle of outrageously exorbitant cost of party nomination forms and campaign costs?" Obasanjo also called on African youths to realise their place in the big picture and work hard to build on established legacies to afford the continent a brighter future. "I see hope in that the future of Africa is in the hands of its youth. I see hope of a continent where the creative energies, intellectual prowess and ingenuity of our youth is capable to lead us to our promised land. "I see hope in the courage of our youth to hold government accountable and their resistance to tyranny and despotism," he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Thursday in Abuja, announced that it has officially withdrawn from the presidential race and its candidate, Mimiko would now be fielded for Senate. Adegbenro, who is the Ondo Central senatorial candidate of the ZLP, said in Akure on Thursday that he has withdrawn for Mimiko. It became imperative that I bring to a close, my aspiration to represent Ondo Central Senatorial District at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this critical juncture, he said. According to him, having consulted far and wide with his family, business associates, followers and constituents, he is bowing out before the full race commences in the interest of the party and state. More than the above, I am convinced that the candidacy of our leader, Mimiko, will better serve the interest of the district now and the overall goal of the south west. I am eternally grateful to my constituents, followers and party leaders who have been with us all through the processes that culminated into taking this decision and renew my commitment and unalloyed dedication to the Zenith Labour Party. In a report by Punch News, Oshiomole is accused of collecting money from party members to help boost their ambition. He denies this in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Simon Ebegbulem. It is sad that Saraki, who just woke up from slumber occasioned by his crushing defeat at the Port Harcourt presidential primary of his party, could degenerate to such a low level. It is equally sad, but not unexpected, that Saraki, who is politically drowning, would make such libelous comments against the national chairman of the APC. And I challenge Saraki to mention one name of an aspirant that gave money to the National Chairman or we file a legal action against him. Whereas the basis on which he made those comments was tenuous and unjustifiable, it is on record that Saraki has been in the eye of investigations by the EFCC and the ICPC for sundry cases of corruption. That is the same man that has taken it upon himself to question Comrade Oshiomholes credibility. We challenge him to mention one person who has claimed that he gave money to Oshiomhole to influence him and the decision of the partys national working committee in the just-concluded primary elections." Saraki eager for Buhari's response ece-auto-gen Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki is hopeful about a good response from President Muhammadu Buhari over the rumours surrounding the APC party chairman Oshiomole. ALSO READ: Saraki asks Oshiomhole to resign from politics In a statement issued through Yusuph Olaniyonu, his Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Saraki thinks the president's fight against corruption might carry no significance if he fails to look into the allegations levelled against his party chairman. "Nigerians are waiting to see how the President will handle the serious allegations against his party chairman. "We expect the President with his anti-corruption campaign to institute thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations against his party chairman. "Our families have been destroyed" says the 55-year-old. Mendiola shows up at the Mar del Plata base because, like the others, she has nowhere else to go. "We cannot go to our homes. We go to the base every day -- morning and evening. We need to see the bodies of our children, have them as best we can," says Mendiola. AFP She is one of several women who have been living for the past 12 months in a military hotel near the base, nearly 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from her home in the northern city of Jujuy. She is still waiting to find out what happened to Petty Officer Leandro Cisneros, her 28-year-old son. Last contact The navy lost contact with the submarine on November 15, some 450 kilometers from the Argentine coast. It was on its way back to base from Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina. A massive air and sea search began 48 hours later involving units from 13 countries, but the majority withdrew before the end of 2017, as the wintry South Atlantic refused to give up its secrets. The navy has been fiercely criticized for its handling of the operation since first reporting the submarine overdue at Mar del Plata on November 16. It was only several days into the tragedy that navy officials acknowledged the old, German-built submarine had reported a problem with its batteries in its final communication on November 15. And nearly 10 days later, the navy confirmed there had been an explosion on board, which experts said was likely linked to the battery problem. Several senior officers were dismissed, including navy chief Marcelo Srur. The navy has a poor reputation in Argentina. During the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, some navy facilities, like the one at Mar del Plata, served as detention and torture centers, and an estimated 30,000 people disappeared. AFP Authorities have opened a criminal investigation on orders from a judge in the city of Caleta Olivia, a port in Patagonia where maritime cases are usually heard. The judge has so far heard testimony from 70 people but says she is no closer to knowing what happened. Families of the missing crew have kept up pressure on the government not to give up on the search, staging protest marches and camping out in front of the local assembly. More than 25 million dollars has been spent on the search, defense ministry official Graciela Villata told a congressional committee this week. Still believing Some of the mothers still hope that the sub had another destination other than the bottom of the ocean and that, fanciful as it may seem, the crew is still alive. "It's coming up to a year now. And we will be there waiting for him to come back," said Zulma Sandoval, 56, mother of 39-year-old submariner Celso Vallejos. "It would be a huge miracle if the submarine showed up and we saw them return, because truthfully, nobody knows what happened," she said. AFP Far from her house in the northern city of Santiago del Estero, a tearful Lourdes Melian, 21 continues a lonely vigil with other relatives in Mar del Plata. "I feel that my brother is no longer here," she says of officer David Melian, 32. "I prefer that to thinking he's still there, or that they have been kidnapped." The loss of the San Juan is the first major tragedy to hit the navy since the Falklands War in 1982. Argentina, which refers to the islands as Las Malvinas, lost the war to Britain. Some crew members had told their families they had been shadowed on previous trips by British ships. That has led some family members to believe the sub may have been in the exclusion zone around the still-disputed islands. AFP "I dream of my husband. I asked him where he was and he told me he was in the Malvinas and that he couldn't talk," Andrea Mereles told AFP. In those dreams, she says her husband tells her: "What I told you about what happened us in the previous trip -- that we were followed by a British submarine -- the same thing happened again." Where the submarine disappeared, on the edge of the Argentine shelf, depths plummet from 200 meters (650 feet) to more than 3,000 meters. Flash China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday adopted a key document to chart the course for their ties till 2030. The China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 was approved at the 21st China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting held in Singapore. At the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting held in Manila, the Philippines in 2017, China and ASEAN agreed to issue the vision on their future ties and contribute to building an open, inclusive, and sustainable world that enjoys peace, security and common prosperity. The document elaborates on China and ASEAN's consensus on overall bilateral relations and plans for political and security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation. According to the vision, the two sides voiced firm opposition to the growing protectionist and anti-globalization sentiments, and reaffirmed that international trade and investment are important engines for realizing sustainable economic growth, reducing social inequality, and securing a better life for people. China and ASEAN welcome continued strong and rapid growth of trade, investment and tourism flows between them, said the vision. In the document, the two sides agreed to realize a goal of one trillion U.S. dollars in two-way trade volume and 150 billion U.S. dollars in investment by 2020. They also look forward to yielding more fruitful results from trade and investment by 2030. The vision also reaffirms China and ASEAN's commitment to expedite the negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and to work towards early conclusion and adoption of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Hailing the vision as a blueprint for the long-term development of bilateral ties, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said at the meeting that the two sides should, under the guidance of the vision, synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with the ASEAN Vision 2025, and strengthen the building of the three pillars -- the political security, economy and trade, and people-to-people exchanges, so as to lift China-ASEAN relations to a higher level. Co-chairing the meeting with Li, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose country holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year, said in the opening remarks that the vision will chart the future direction of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership. He said ASEAN and China share a strong, substantial and mutually beneficial relationship and their bilateral economic ties are "robust," adding that China has been ASEAN's top trade partner for continued years and the upgraded bilateral free trade agreement will open up new opportunities for businesses and further increase the two-way trade. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. China has pledged that ASEAN is a priority of China's diplomacy and will support the construction of the ASEAN Community and its centrality in regional cooperation in East Asia. Established in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The far-right party of Education Minister Naftali Bennett, one of Netanyahu's main rivals, demanded Wednesday he be given the defence portfolio or its eight seats would be withdrawn from the coalition. In a speech Thursday, Bennett did not reiterate the threat, but made his case for why he should be defence minister. "The most dangerous thing for the state of Israel is that we begin to think that there is no solution to terrorism, to terrorists, to missiles," said Bennett, who heads the Jewish Home party. "There is a solution. When Israel wants to win, we will win." AFP Netanyahu and Bennett were reportedly set to meet on Friday, but there were increasing signs the coalition's days may be numbered. Another key coalition partner, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon of centre-right Kulanu, reportedly told Netanyahu elections should be called because a stable government was needed to keep the economy on track. Netanyahu was seeking to contain the political fallout of his decision to accept a ceasefire deal Tuesday that ended the worst escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war. Lieberman said it was "capitulating to terror" when announcing his resignation and also criticised Netanyahu's recent decision to allow Qatar to send millions of dollars in aid to the blockaded Palestinian enclave. AFP Beyond that, there have been protests calling for tough action against Hamas by Israelis living near the border whose communities were targeted by barrages of rockets from Gaza this week. A poll published Thursday found 74 percent of respondents were unhappy with Netanyahu's handling of the escalation with Gaza and its Islamist rulers Hamas, though it also showed his party would still win the most seats. Giving further ammunition to Netanyahu's political critics, Hamas has portrayed the ceasefire and Lieberman's resignation as a victory. 'Mr. Security' Netanyahu's popularity is in large part due to his reputation as Israel's "Mr. Security", as he has often been dubbed, and he has defended his decision saying: "Our enemies begged for a ceasefire." AFP His Likud party has hit back at suggestions he will be forced to call elections soon, saying Netanyahu will take over the defence portfolio at least temporarily -- in addition to the premiership, foreign affairs and health portfolios he already has. A Likud spokesman said Netanyahu was continuing consultations on Thursday aimed at stabilising his coalition. Netanyahu did not publicly comment on the coalition crisis, but said in reference to Gaza that "we are in the middle of a campaign. "Patience, cool and determination are necessary," he said. "We are preparing for what comes next." There has long been speculation that Netanyahu may call elections before they are due in November 2019, particularly with police having recommended charges against him in two corruption probes. The attorney general is expected to announce in the coming months whether to pursue charges against him, and some analysts believe he would be better positioned to combat them with a fresh electoral mandate. But Netanyahu would want to make the move at the most advantageous time and likely not with public attention focused on the Gaza ceasefire. Qatari cash The Gaza violence had erupted Sunday with a botched Israeli special forces operation inside the territory that turned deadly and prompted Hamas to vow revenge. AFP Palestinian militants responded with rocket and mortar fire, as well as an anti-tank missile that hit a bus that Hamas says was being used by Israeli soldiers. A soldier was severely wounded in the attack. Around 460 rockets and mortar rounds were fired from the Gaza Strip, wounding 27 people, three of them severely. A Palestinian labourer from the occupied West Bank was killed when a rocket hit a building in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Israel hit back with widespread air strikes on some 160 targets in the Gaza Strip before the Egyptian-brokered truce took effect Tuesday. Seven Gazans were killed. The escalation came despite Netanyahu's decision to allow Qatar to transfer millions of dollars in aid to Gaza for salaries as well as fuel to ease a chronic electricity shortage. The cash transfers and fuel had led to calmer protests along the border after months of deadly unrest. More than 720,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar's Rakhine state into Bangladesh after a military crackdown in August 2017 that the UN has said calls for a genocide investigation. Many brought horrific tales of murder, rape and razed villages and vowed never to return. AFP Not one of the first 150 Rohingya meant to cross back Thursday under an accord with Myanmar turned up nor wanted to return, acknowledged Bangladesh authorities, under pressure from the United Nations and aid groups. Community leaders said many on a Bangladesh repatriation list of 2,260 people had gone into hiding. Bangladesh's refugee commissioner went to a border transit point for the scheduled handover. But no Rohingya were present to be put on a bus across the river that marks the frontier. AFP At a special camp near the transit point, five buses were waiting to carry volunteers to the border. About 1,000 Rohingya men, women and children took part in the demonstration against repatriations, shouting "we want justice". Tajul Mulluk, 85, who is on the repatriation list, said: "They killed two of my sons. I escaped to Bangladesh with two others. Please don't send us back. They will kill the rest of my family. I am too old to flee the camp." Social problems The United Nations had urged Bangladesh to suspend the programme, with rights chief Michelle Bachelet saying it would be like "throwing them back to the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades." Bangladesh government refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said his team was "completely ready" to start sending back people but stressed that the Rohingya had to be volunteers. AFP "If we get anyone willing to go, we will carry them to the border point with respect and dignity." Kalam said there would be no forced repatriation and acknowledged that the UNHCR refugee agency had found no family ready to go. "None feels safe to go back now," Kalam told AFP. The mass influx of refugees joined about 300,000 Rohingya already in camps around the Bangladesh city of Cox's Bazar having fled earlier violence. It has left the poor South Asian nation struggling to cope with about one million Rohingya facing an uncertain future in the vast camps with huge social problems. UN agencies say they have received only a fraction of the billion-plus dollars needed to pay for their operations for the year. 'Reckless' Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed in October last year to start repatriations. But with Myanmar still refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing in its treatment of the Rohingya, the operation has faced mounting opposition. US Vice President Mike Pence told Myanmar's de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a summit on Wednesday that the violence against the Rohingya was "without excuse". As deadline day loomed, community leaders said nearly all those on the repatriation list had fled to other camps and nearby hills. AFP UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet said many refugees were panicking at the prospect of being sent back against their will. A confidential UNHCR document seen by AFP said the agency would only provide aid if returnees were allowed back to the villages they had left or to other locations chosen by them. Amnesty International on Wednesday called the planned repatriation "reckless". "These women, men and children would be sent back into the Myanmar military's grasp with no protection guarantees, to live alongside those who torched their homes and whose bullets they fled," said Amnesty's Nicholas Bequelin. jpegMpeg4-1280x720Human Rights Watch had also called on Bangladesh to "immediately halt" the planned repatriation. The rejection -- the first time in modern history that Sweden's parliament has spurned a speaker's prime ministerial candidate -- was widely expected. Kristersson leads the four-party Alliance coalition which received marginally fewer votes on September 9 than the previous governing centre-left coalition. Both blocs have struggled to build a majority after refusing to make a deal with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, which has roots in the neo-Nazi movement. The far-right party, which has demanded a tightening of migration policy in exchange for their support, voted for Kristersson on Wednesday. But two of his coalition partners, the Centre and the Liberals who both vehemently oppose giving the far-right any influence, voted against him in order to shut out the Sweden Democrats. "Today's vote is not about Ulf Kristersson as prime minister. It's about not giving the Sweden Democrats decisive influence," Centre Party leader Annie Loof told parliament just before the vote. The Sweden Democrats, which won 17.6 percent of votes in the election and are the third-biggest party, have long been shunned by all mainstream parties. "We expect concessions proportionate to our size. It's a very pragmatic attitude," Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson said. Kristersson, 54, told reporters he was "not surprised" by Wednesday's outcome, which he called "a shame" and "a lost opportunity". He said the split in the Alliance was "the most serious crisis ... I've experienced in my years in politics". Speaker of parliament Andreas Norlen told reporters he would summon all party leaders to individual consultations on Thursday to find a way forward. In Sweden, the speaker has four attempts to task a candidate to form a government that parliament will accept. If all four attempts fail then new elections must be held. Led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and his Isiolo counterpart Fatuma Dullo, the lawmakers asked that the surgical procedure is done on people who engaged in sexual activities with underage girls. Severe Punishment According to the Senators, this was the only way to reduce the recent reports of multiple school girls who sat for their national exams while pregnant. The legislators agreed that there was a need for the current Sexual Offenses Act to be reviewed to include castration for offenders. ece-auto-gen Anybody who sees a woman in a ten-year-old child and has sex with them does not deserve to be called a man. Apart from being jailed for life, such a person should also be castrated, Senator Wetangula remarked. Dullo, who is the Deputy Majority Leader, on her part argued that castration was the harshest sentence that can be meted on sexual predators, noting that after the procedure they were likely not to repeat the same offence. "Being a severe punishment, it will stop other men from engaging in the criminal activity, Dullo stated. Reduce Teenage Pregnancies Other Senators supported their sentiments, noting that early pregnancies change the lives of school going minors. Nominated Senator Naomi Shiyonga stated that some paedophiles are left to walk free by the courts arguing that castration was the only way to stop them. ece-auto-gen The leaders were reacting to a statement by Vihaga Senator George Khaniri, who tabled chilling statistics of the rate of teenage pregnancies in the country. Published on: 14 November 2018 Artists impression of Barnard's star b orbiting Barnards Star. Credit ESO-M. Kornmesser Artists impression of Barnard's star b orbiting Barnards Star. Credit ESO-M. Kornmesser The study was co-led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London, and from the Institut dEstudis Espacials de Catalunya and the Institute of Space Sciences/CSIC in Spain. The potentially rocky planet, known as Barnards star b, is a super-Earth with a mass of at least 3.2 times that of the Earth, and it orbits around its host star once every 233 days. The results, published in the journal Nature, show the planet lies at a distant region from the star known as the snow line. This is well beyond the habitable zone in which liquid water, and possibly life, could exist. The planets surface temperature is estimated to be around -170 degrees Celsius meaning it is likely to be a frozen world which is uninviting to Earth-like life. However, if the planet has a substantial atmosphere the temperature could be higher and conditions potentially more hospitable. Dr Guillem Anglada Escude, from Queen Marys School of Physics and Astronomy, said: Barnard's star is an infamous object among astronomers and exoplanet scientists, as it was one of the first stars where planets were initially claimed but later proven to be incorrect. Hopefully we got it right this time." The hunt for exoplanets At nearly six light-years away Barnards star is the next closest star to the Sun after the Alpha Centauri triple system. It is a type of faint, low-mass star called a red dwarf. Red dwarfs are considered to be the best places to look for exoplanet candidates, which are planets outside our solar system. Barnards star b is the second closest known exoplanet to our Sun. The closest lies just over four light-years from Earth and was also discovered by a team led by Queen Marys Dr Anglada Escude in 2016. That exoplanet, called Proxima b, orbits around the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri. Wobbling stars The researchers used the radial velocity method during the observations that led to the discovery of Barnards star b. This technique detects wobbles in a star which are likely to be caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. These wobbles affect the light coming from the star. As the star moves towards the Earth its spectrum appears slightly shifted towards the blue and, as it moves away, it is shifted towards the red. This is the first time that this technique has been used to detect a planet this small so far away from its host star. The researchers re-examined archive data obtained over a 20-year period, and added new observations with the latest generation of instruments, namely the CARMENES spectrometer in Spain, the ESO/HARPS instrument in Chile and the HARPS-N instrument in the Canary Islands [1]. This wealth of data provided the extraordinary accuracy needed to identify the influence of the planet with near certainty. The wobble observed in the stars motion corresponds to speeds of only just over 1 metre per second about walking speed. Dr Ignasi Ribas, from Institut dEstudis Espacials de Catalunya and the Institute of Space Sciences in Spain, said: After a very careful analysis, we are over 99 per cent confident that the planet is there, since this is the model that best fits our observations. However, we must remain cautious and collect more data to nail the case in the future. What else is out there? Further observations to increase the confidence of this result are already under way at various observatories, and the system is an excellent candidate for observation by the next generation of instruments specifically designed to image exoplanets directly, such as NASAs planned Wide Field Infra Red Survey Telescope (WFIRST). If the planet can be observed directly it will provide vital information about its properties and extend our understanding of the kinds of planets that form around red dwarf stars. An award-winning public engagement campaign, known as Pale Red Dot, allowed the public to follow in real time the observations and analysis that led to the discovery of Proxima b. The public have also been able to follow the observations leading to this new discovery, a result of extending the search to other very nearby red dwarfs, via a similar web-based campaign known as the Red Dots project (http://reddots.space, @reddotsspace on twitter). The study includes contributions from Professor Richard Nelson and research student John Strachan, both members of Queen Marys School of Physics and Astronomy. This research was supported in part by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council and a Queen Mary University of London Principals Postgraduate Studentship. More information: BULGARIA: The European Union is providing more than 293m from the Cohesion Fund to support modernisation of the 293 km line from Plovdiv to the Black Sea port of Burgas. The route forms part of the Orient/East Med TEN-T corridor connecting central and southeastern Europe. AFGHANISTAN: A memorandum of understanding for the development of the freight terminal at Aqina on the Afghan-Turkmenistan border, including the construction of 10 track-km of main line and sidings, was signed by the Afghanistan Railway Authority and Turkmenistans Ministry of Railways in Ashgabat on November 2. Flash China and Singapore vowed to work together to promote bilateral ties and help boost relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is on an official visit to Singapore, met with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob Wednesday. During their meeting, Li first extended President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to her. Upholding the tradition of friendship, China and Singapore have had frequent high-level visits and close personnel exchanges, with pragmatic cooperation expanding to new areas and benefiting people of the two countries, Li said. China is willing to work with Singapore to achieve greater progress of bilateral relations in the new era, he said. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. Li said China always views ASEAN as a priority in foreign relations, and appreciates Singapore's active role in promoting China-ASEAN relations as the China-ASEAN country coordinator and the ASEAN's rotating chair. China is willing to work with Singapore to promote further development of China-ASEAN relations and make new contributions to the peace and development of the region and the world, Li said. For her part, President Halimah Yacob said the reform and opening-up that China launched 40 years ago has not only put China on a fast track of growth, brought about benefits to China and the world, but also started a new journey for Singapore-China ties. The more than ten cooperation deals signed during Premier Li's visit will not only provide a new platform for deepening bilateral cooperation, but also lift Singapore-China relations to a new level, she said. The Singaporean president also expressed hopes that the two countries expand cooperation areas and deepen people-to-people exchanges in the fields of culture and tourism, so as to consolidate the foundation for bilateral relations. Singapore is ready to work with China to promote greater development of ASEAN-China relations, the president said. Online video giant Amazon and Viacom International Studios (VIS) have closed a content deal for Latin America that will bring two new VIS productions to Prime Video. Created by Porta dos Fundos , a Brazilian comedy content provider and part of the VIS portfolio of brands, Homens? is a comedy series starring Fabio Porchat that follows four very close friends who are dealing with the conflicts of understanding what it means to be a man.Recently produced in Brazil and slated for a 2019 premiere, Homens? takes a look at what men want and can do in todays world.Meanwhile, in the dramatic series Dani Who?, created and produced by VIS, Dani and her friends investigate their shared origin after the disappearance of a friend. They discover they possess unique abilities, which leads them to believe they may not be from this world, but they later find out their story hides even darker and deeper secrets. Dani Who? is scheduled to begin production in 2019.Amazon is committed to delivering great content to our Prime Video members across Latin America and this new relationship with the VIS team will bring two new and compelling stories to our service for audiences to enjoy, said Pablo Iacoviello, head of content for Latin America, Amazon Prime Video . We remain focussed on adding locally relevant content, so were especially thrilled about adding Homens? to our catalogue of titles as an exclusive Brazilian series.Pierluigi Gazzolo, president of VIMN Americas, added: We are very happy to be working with Amazon on this important deal for our Viacom International Studios. Since presenting our new slate of programming earlier this year, we have worked closely with the team at Amazon to create a tailor-made package to fulfil their content needs for Latin America and to extend the reach of our product throughout the region. We look forward to continuing this partnership to deliver high-quality series to our shared audiences across the region. Indicating the importance of the region for its advertising offer, CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) has appointed two specialist digital directors based in Tokyo and Singapore. The expansion is claimed to capitalise on what CNN sees as its leadership position in the digital space and will see Menglye Liu joins from Mashable to be CNNs digital director for South East Asia based in Singapore, and Noriyuki Imai come onboard from MediaMath to be digital director for Japan based in Tokyo.The executives will be tasked with growing CNNs existing commercial partnerships in the region and creating new relationships with digital-first brands. As well as direct contact with brands and agencies, they will also work with CNNICs advertising sales team to take a range of CNN propositions to the APAC market. This includes building brand partnerships around properties such as the recently launched CNN Business and video network Great Big Story, as well as advising clients on how to utilise distribution and data solutions such as CNN Reach and CNN AIM.Menglye and Noriyuki will both report into Brandon Keenen, senior digital commercial director, CNNIC , and will work in close collaboration with Sunita Rajan, senior vice president, APAC, for CNNIC, and her sales teams.We are seeing significant appetite for digital right across APAC either in digital-first campaigns or as part of a multi-platform mix, where 70% of our campaigns combine CNNs TV, online and mobile platforms for maximum impact, Rajan remarked. To supercharge this growth and provide clients with greater consultancy and specialist know-how, we are delighted to welcome Menglye and Noriyukis expertise and vast experience. Their hires will augment what weve already been doing in this space and capitalise on CNNs leadership in digital and commercial innovation. Viewers in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro are to gain access to new content delivered by Telekom Srbija from the SES key orbital location at 23.5 degrees East. Serbias main telco which began working with SES in 2011 and in February 2018 moved its complete channel bouquet to SES satellites at SES 23.5 degrees East orbital location has signed a multi-year and multi-transponder contract for service on the SES Astra satellite to launch Telekom Srbijas new direct-to-home (DTH) platform which will start broadcasting in all three countries simultaneously mid-December 2018.The new DTH platform will enable Telekom Srbija to broadcast more than 150 channels, including up to 30 in high-definition. All Serbian public television channels will also be available on the platform. Additional channels will be offered as free-to-air for viewers.Telekom Srbija has chosen cardless set-top boxes for this service, and for those that dont have reception equipment already this platform will be accessible using a 60-cm dish. We are pleased to be launching such an important DTH platform with SES, said head of content management Marijana Vukasinovic.As we embark on our most ambitious project yet, we have complete confidence thanks to the quality of service and experience SES brings to the table. We look forward to fostering growth in the local broadcasting landscape by bringing a powerful new platform to viewers.The former Yugoslavian countries are a dynamic growth market that SES has been focused on for several years, and we are glad to be strengthening our relationship with Telekom Srbija , added Martin Ornass-Kubacki, vice president, Central Eastern Europe, sales at SES Video. Our orbital location at 23.5 degrees East is SES' fastest-growing orbital position for central and eastern Europe and the Benelux countries, with many pan-European operators broadcasting their content from there. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/15/2018 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. stars Larissa Christina Dos Santos Lima Jonathan Rivera , and Colt Johnson have gotten into a huge brawl on social media.Larissa, a 31-year-old from Brazil, recently posted a throwback photo of herself posing in a sexy blue jumpsuit in front of a police car, seemingly making light of her arrest this past weekend for domestic violence following a dispute at home with Colt, a 33-year-old from Las Vegas, NV.When the photo was reposted on a fan page, Fernanda, a 19-year-old from Mexico, made it known she believes the arrest and the events that led up to it -- which included Larissa repeatedly pleading for help from her Instagram followers -- are nothing to laugh at."How can you make fun. A lot of people were genuinely concerned about you," Fernanda wrote in the comments section of the picture.Fernanda's comment then appeared to spark a war on social media in which Fernanda's significant other -- Jonathan, a 32-year-old from Lumberton, NC -- came to her defense and Colt had Larissa's back.Even David Toborowsky from Season 5 of got involved!"I agree. Everyone was worried," Dave replied to Fernanda's comment about Larissa's photo.Larissa then fired back at Fernanda, writing, "The only way you can stay relevant and try to convince people you're not boring is to insert your self in my affairs."Larissa explained her intent behind sharing the police photo was to be positive during a negative time in her life. She then suggested Fernanda is just trying to get more followers on Instagram, which prompted Fernanda to take her shot."When you make your affairs public and appear to be threatened people worry," Fernanda wrote to Larissa. "Don't confuse boring with class. I don't need to be arrested for attention."Colt then accused Fernanda of faking the scene at the club that aired on Sunday night's episode of 's sixth season.As fans recall, Fernanda caught a blonde woman trying to dance with her fiance, and so she threw a drink in the woman's face and screamed at Jonathan in the parking lot outside for being careless and disrespectful."Humm, didn't I see you throw water at a paid actress's face and almost assault her in a painfully obvious staged and fraud scene at a night club last week?" Colt asked on Instagram.And it didn't stop there, as Larissa chose to slam Fernanda again."Girl stop to be jealous you copy everything that I do inclusive your bio did you forget that you copy and past. No personality at all. Be careful next time that you assault someone hahaha I know that the scene was staged and you feel so sad for we make more success," Larissa wrote."She is hypocrite and DEEP jealous of my body and success by the way I don't need to copy people like she does with me hahahhah."That's when Jonathan apparently felt the need to get involved. He wrote to Colt, who lives with his mother Debbie and their cats, "Wellll..here comes Batman, I mean Catboy to save the day. Please Colt this isn't for you."Larissa continued to rub her "success" in Fernanda and Jonathan's faces. She then called Jonathan "ridiculous" and insisted, "Nobody likes you.""What success..two days in jail and your new couch?" Jonathan countered."Go buy another child... you know that this season not happened," Larissa replied.fans offered their input along the way, and Larissa told two Instagram users that Fernanda is simply "so jealous" and "deeply hurt" because no one is talking about her and "her staged scene."Colt then bashed Jonathan with the following post: "Hello my name is Jonathan, perhaps you remember me from such things as being a douche bag on the Internet and buying a child bride."Colt continued, "This is the second time you or someone in your life has interfered in my affairs. You are not welcomed, go back to hawking your scarves or whatever side gig you are desperately trying to squeeze from your 5 minutes of fandom."David chimed in afterward and said, "Domestic violence is no joke. However in the US you are innocent until proven guilty so I have no comment.""Go find a job 90 day fiance is not forever grandfather," Larissa sniped at David, who is married to Annie Suwan from Thailand and was shown struggling to find a job on the most recent season of the reality franchise's : Happily Ever After? spinoff.Larissa later added of David, "People online make joke of him because he don't know anything and is a LOSER without job but spend hours online.""I dont understand what you are saying sorry," David replied. "Yet Grandfather has a happier life then you. The Cats and the Las Vegas PD. Bwhaaaaaaaaaa."David alleged that Larissa blocked him after their heated exchange."Great now she can focus on important issues like health care reform and cat nip," David commented. "They are both Psycho." Flash China and New Zealand agreed on Wednesday to promote bilateral efforts on upgrading free trade agreement (FTA), showing their determination to further open markets and safeguard free trade. The agreement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on the sidelines of a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation this week. China-New Zealand FTA, signed in 2008, is the first FTA between China and a developed country. "China is willing to work with New Zealand to continue advancing the upgrade of the FTA in a positive and pragmatic spirit so as to further expand the two-way trade and investment," said Li. Ardern said that by promoting FTA upgrading, New Zealand and China have sent a clear signal to the world that the two nations are committed to upholding free trade and further opening markets. Hailing the steady development of bilateral ties, Li said China-New Zealand cooperation has always led in China's cooperation with western developed countries. China stands ready to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation with New Zealand to better benefit the two peoples and contribute to regional development, said Li. Li said Chinese government supports Chinese companies to invest in New Zealand and hopes that New Zealand can provide a fair and transparent business environment for them. He also encouraged New Zealand companies to expand investment in China and boost technological cooperation with China, saying that China will conduct the cooperation on the basis of strict protection of intellectual property rights. Li said that facing the current international political and economic situation, China stands ready to work with all relevant parties to push for an early conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) talks so as to safeguard multilateralism and free trade. The RCEP is a proposed FTA between the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the six FTA partners of ASEAN -- China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India. It is expected to be one of the world's largest trading blocs, accounting for 45 percent of the world population, 40 percent of global trade and one third of the global GDP. Noting that New Zealand has attached great importance to its ties with China, Ardern said the bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results as the two nations created many "firsts," which are not only conducive to both sides' development but also to the regional prosperity. New Zealand will continue its positive policy toward China, which includes the cooperation with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting the trade on dairy and wooden products and sharing the technology and experience in the areas such as agriculture, Ardern said. She said New Zealand would like to strengthen cooperation and coordination with China under multilateral frameworks, and enhance communication on the issues including the reform of the World Trade Organization and climate change in order to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Asia Pacific region. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Kanye West gives his daughter Chicago West a kiss in a cute new photo. ADVERTISEMENT The 41-year-old rapper and designer spent some quality time with Chicago, his 9-month-old daughter with "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star Kim Kardashian , on Tuesday. Kardashian captured a picture of West giving Chicago a smooch on the side of her head. The snapshot had received over 2.3 million likes on Instagram by Wednesday morning, with many remarking in the comments. "Lovely picture," one person wrote. "kanye... You are an incredible dad." "So precious," another added. "Such a beautiful family @kimkardashian." West and Kardashian are parents to Chicago, 2-year-old son Saint and 5-year-old daughter North. Kardashian shared a photo last week of herself with her three kids. "North is always in a mood," she wrote, adding a tears of laughter emoji. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! West, Kardashian and their family fled their home last week due to the California wildfires. Kardashian was flying into the Los Angeles area Thursday when she saw the fires from her plane window. "Pray for Calabasas," she later wrote on Instagram Stories. "Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe." Kardashian's sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian also evacuated with their children. Kourtney is parent to Mason, Penelope and Reign, while Khloe is mom to daughter True. Flash Diplomats from European countries and experts on China-EU relations attended an academic conference at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss connectivity cooperation between China and the European Union. Fruitful achievements have been made in the cooperation between China and European countries in the fields of infrastructure, trade, finance, and people-to-people exchanges since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed in 2013, experts said at the conference, which was co-organized by the Institute of European Studies with CASS and 16+1 Think Tank Network with CASS. "The Belt and Road Initiative means you create interconnectivity across the Eurasia Continent," said Nicolas Chapuis, EU ambassador to China. In order to better connect Europe and Asia, EU in September adopted a new and comprehensive connectivity strategy, emphasizing that China would be a priority for bilateral cooperation, and highlighting the China-EU cooperation on the connectivity platform. This connectivity strategy, together with the China-proposed BRI, have provided a strong signal of cooperation between China and European countries, sending a reassuring message to people around the world concerned about the consequences of resurging unilateralism and protectionism. "We need China, and China needs Europe to create interdependence and reconcile the world with globalization," said Chapuis. Feng Zhongping, vice president of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, pointed out that both China's BRI and the EU's connectivity strategy powerfully demonstrate that the two sides still believe in an open economy and free trade, and support globalization. "The two sides, by working more closely in connecting Asia and Europe, would make a great contribution for regional peace and prosperity," he said. Inna Steinbuka, professor with the University of Latvia, noted that the connectivity cooperation between China and EU, two of the biggest traders in the world, will become a new impetus for global partnership. In addition to trade, investment and climate change, the EU and China could work closely in many other fields, such as science, research, and innovation, she said. During the 2018 midterm elections, under particular scrutiny were Georgias polling machines, which are 16 years old. November saw breakdowns of these machines, as well as battery depletion and a lack of power chords. Not only that, but these outdated machines were proven to be hackable and left no sort of paper trail. House Bill 316 looks to address these problems by implementing new voting machines in the state. Flash The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Thursday welcomed the lifting of sanctions imposed on Eritrea. The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution lifting the sanctions imposed on the Horn of African nation since December 2009. "Yesterday's decision is a further step towards the consolidation of the recent positive developments in the Horn of Africa, marked by an improvement of bilateral relations between the countries of the region, as well as by a renewed determination to promote good neighborliness and foster regional cooperation," the Chairperson of the AU Commission said in a statement. "These developments are a major contribution to the African Union drive towards silencing the guns by 2020 and advancing continental integration in the context of Agenda 2063 flagship projects," he said. Mahamat encouraged the regional leaders to sustain the momentum, by taking all steps required to address any outstanding issue in their relations and deepening their cooperation in the pursuit of the shared objective of peace and prosperity. He further expressed AU's readiness to assist this process in any way deemed appropriate, according to the statement of the pan-African bloc. The state of Georgia has been holding its breath since the night of Nov. 6 when neither Republican Brian Kemp nor Democrat Stacey Abrams defin The state of Georgia has been holding its breath since the night of Nov. 6 when neither Bria When Estefania Palacios moved to the U.S. two years ago from Ecuador to get her Ph.D. in geography at the University of Georgia, she spent her As wholesalers largely failed to meet GST norms, companies were in a fix. According to industry veterans like Sunil Duggal, chief executive of Dabur, the hazard led many to look beyond third-party distribution and take the leap to cover unattended markets directly. Photograph: Reuters. Last year, ITC brought 300,000 retail outlets under its fold. While its direct reach touched 2.5 million outlets by mid-2018, it is adding new territories with direct distribution. The fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) conglomerate, which sells everything from notebooks and deodorants to branded flour and cigarettes, now plans to double up its reach by 2023. Ayurveda major Dabur is working on similar lines. It doubled its sales team last year by hiring 700 people to strengthen its rural distribution, which was largely dependent on wholesalers. This year, the company has invested heavily in development of distribution infrastructure. It had to cut allocations for bonuses and reduce spending on advertisement as well as promotions. Industry leaders like Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Nestle and Patanjali, too, are gaining new grounds every quarter, where large players had never set foot on. The recent push comes after implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in mid-2017, which unsettled the wholesale distribution channel disrupting business for months in the rural market. As wholesalers largely failed to meet GST norms, companies were in a fix. According to industry veterans like Sunil Duggal, chief executive of Dabur, the hazard led many to look beyond third-party distribution and take the leap to cover unattended markets directly. The FMCG industry had been depending on wholesalers and sub-stockiest for decades to cater to the hinterland. Till early 2017, over 35 per cent of their sales were coming from these third-party trade partners. But finally, that structure is changing and for good reason. The implications of this transformation are already visible, said experts. Dabur India, which saw subdued volume growth during the past few years, posted 21 per cent growth in volume sales in the June quarter. Volumes expanded 8.1 per cent in September -- higher than 7.2 per cent in the corresponding quarter last fiscal year. According to Edelweiss Securities, improving distribution reach played a key role in its recent performance. Duggal told recently that Dabur is adding 400 people to its sales team that underwent realignment. "In the rural market, we divided the portfolio and team into health care and personal care, put in massive infrastructure, and increased the density. These measures have earned us rich dividends in recent quarters," he said. B Sumant, president (FMCG) at ITC, said: "We are constantly adding the number of salesmen, which today stands at 40,000. In last three years, the number of distributors has gone up to 1,800 from 1,400, and over 100,000 villages are now covered (directly)." ITC's cigarettes volume grew 5.5 per cent in September, beating Street estimates. HUL has unleashed a distribution drive to better serve the most populated state Uttar Pradesh, where nearly 78 per cent of consumers reside in rural areas. It now plans to drive sales of ice cream by expanding distribution in smaller town and rural markets, against the top 25 cities earlier, noted market analyst firm Antique Stock Broking. HUL's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew 20.3 per cent in the September quarter, compared to 5.2 per cent last year. Volumes grew 10 per cent and 12 per cent in September and June, respectively, compared to 4 per cent in September last year. Nestle India posted 30 per cent growth in net profit and 17.5 per cent in top line, backed by broad-base volume growth, it said. The new era of growth followed decentralisation of decision-making in marketing, earlier in 2018. The move, aimed at revamping market reach, led to the formation of 15 virtual teams in charge of the same number of clusters. These monitor operations in the regions, decide on promotion and distribution, and send insights to headquarters. According to Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director of Nestle India, the firm has increased direct reach since mid-2017 when GST became effective. It now reaches over 4.2 million outlets, compared to 3.5 million in late 2015. Patanjali Ayurved, which depended heavily on branded outlets till 2017, is now going deeper into the market by adding mom-n-pop stores. To strengthen its sales and distribution in general trade, Patanjali hired 11,000 field personnel in July and August, and is planning to double the number by the year-end. The firm used to get 70 per cent of its sales from branded Patanjali stores till early-2018. It now wants to reach 3 million outlets by end-2019. The board of Tata Sons is likely to meet on Friday to discuss a proposal to take over the Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways, which is looking for investors to tide over liquidity crunch that it has been saddled with, according to people familiar with the development. IMAGE: Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata group, with N Chandrasekharan, chairman of Tata Sons. Photograph: PTI Photo The airline's deputy chief executive and chief financial officer Amit Agarwal had admitted earlier this week that the company was in talks with "multiple interested parties" for fund infusion as well as selling six of its Boeing 777 planes and a stake in its loyalty programme Jet Privilege. "Tata Sons board is meeting tomorrow (Friday) to consider the proposal to bid for Jet Airways," people in the know of the development told PTI. While a spokesperson of Tata Sons, which already runs two airlines -- the full-service carrier Vistara in a JV with Singapore Airlines, and the low-cost carrier AirAsia India in JV with Air Asia of Malaysia -- refused to comment on "speculation," Jet did not respond to PTI queries on the same. "We do not comment on speculation," a spokesperson for Tata Sons, which originally owned the present national carrier Air India, said when asked for confirmation. Besides Goyal, who along with his family owns 51 percent stake in the carrier, Gulf carrier Etihad Airways holds 24 percent stake in the cash-strapped airline which earlier this week reported Rs 1,261 crore loss for the September quarter against a profit of Rs 71 crore y-o-y, making it the third straight quarters of heavy losses. This had the airline also putting as many as six of its Boeing 777s on sale to part-fund liquidity. Media reports suggest that the parent company of Vistara, Tata-Singapore Airlines, is looking at all-stock merger with Jet Airways as part of the Tata group's plans to board Goyal's full service carrier. In an exchange filing, Jet Airways described the media reports as speculative. "...the subject news is speculative in nature and that there is no discussion or decision in the board which would require a disclosure...," the airline informed BSE. According to reports, the two sides are inching towards a two-step transaction that would first see Jet Airways merging with Tata-SIA that runs Vistara through a share swap to form a new JV, which will have the Goyal family, Etihad, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines as its partners. "We are currently at various stages of discussions with multiple interested parties for both part stake sale in Jet Privilege and fresh equity infusion," Agarwal had told analysts during the post-earnings concall Tuesday. He had also said the company hired investment bankers and consulting firms to carry out these tasks. The cash paucity in the country's second largest airline by market share has resulted in delayed payments to some vendors and salaries to a section of its over 16,000 employees. The strategic illiteracy on display in the arguments put forth on the Rafale deal before the Supreme Court is breathtaking, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd). As someone working in the area of national security for the last 30 years, one is aghast at the drama unfolding before the apex court on the Rafale issue. The strategic illiteracy on display in the various arguments put forth, both inside the courtrooms and in the media, is simply breathtaking. This column is an attempt to try and bring some sanity and common sense to bear on the issue. India faces three basic external threats to its national security. One is the strategic nuclear threat, second is the conventional threat and third is the proxy war that is ongoing. To deal with the first, we have a robust nuclear deterrence centred on land-based missiles, nuclear capable aircraft (like the Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI and nuclear missiles on board the submarine INS Arihant that has just completed its first operational patrol). Since the aim of these strategic forces is to 'deter' by a show of overwhelming force, details about the capability of missiles are regularly put out in the public domain. Everything about the missiles, except where they are located and their electronic countermeasures, is known to the public and our adversaries. Even in case of conventional forces, the overall strength and most of the weapons held is also not a secret. The aim being that our known strength should hopefully deter even an all-out conventional conflict since that can easily escalate into a nuclear exchange and as everyone knows, or ought to know, nuclear wars can never be won and therefore should never be fought. The third and the most challenging threat is the proxy war that India has been facing for over three decades. This is being fought by instigating unrest in the interiors as well as through terrorist attacks. Need we be reminded that we are only days away from observing the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks of 26/11? Indian strategy till a few years ago has been essentially passive. We had concentrated on shoring up our defences. But since the last two years there has been a change and India has decided to carry the attack to enemy territory. So far the response has been confined to ground forces, but surgical air strikes are a potent option. The acquisition of Rafale aircraft fits into this strategy. Combined with Special Forces (commandos), air power can play a vital role in punishing the adversary for a 26/11-like misadventure. In short, and in layman's terms, Indian military power can be broadly divided into deterrent forces and 'usable' force. Secrecy about the exact capability of the 'usable' force component is absolutely necessary if we have to succeed in punishing the enemy for 26/11 -like misadventures. Attorney General K K Venugopal hinted at the possible role of the Rafale when he referred to the Kargil conflict of 1999. The Rafale was not around then, yes, but what was intended to convey to the honourable court was that in a future conflict, the Rafale would be of great use. It is in this context that the detailed configuration of weapon systems on the Rafale needs to be a closely guarded secret. Giving out the details of pricing will surely help our adversaries to guess the configuration and take countermeasures. I am not an aviation expert, but I disagree with the argument that national security is being compromised because we are not getting the 126 Rafales as envisaged earlier, but 'only' 36 aircraft. My guess is that given the emphasis on 'Make in India', the Indian Air Force may well have worked out a combination of Rafales and an increased number of Tejas indigenous fighters to make up the perceived shortfall. Also, not to forget the recent agreement to buy the Triumph S-400 defensive missile shield from Russia despite American opposition. Logically, with deep penetrating antiaircraft missiles in our inventory, we could do with fewer fighter aircraft. This is only an educated guess and experts could throw more light on this issue. The Indian Air Force has vast experience in flying different types of aircraft in lethal combination. In the recent air exercises, our combination of Su-30 and old MiGs got the measure of the US air force. PIL addicted lawyers may be aghast, but let me tell them one truth. While India has a declared policy of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons, we are obviously ready to pre-empt our adversary if we receive definite information from our satellites that it is about to launch a nuclear strike on us. In such a situation we will try to catch enemy aircraft and missiles on the ground. It is in such a scenario that advanced manned fighters like the Rafale will play a crucial role. The PILwallahs should actually raise this question as to why we are likely to change our policy of 'no first use' at the last moment and that too without following 'due procedure', the term so loved by this fraternity. To paraphrase the German military thinker Carl von Clausewitz who wrote 200 years ago, woe to a nation that tries to fight a war with rules when the adversary knows no rules other than its own power. Finally, a small piece of advice to the legal fraternity. Now that you have entered the dangerous terrain of security policy making, educate yourself by at least reading these two books -- Arms and Influence and Strategy of Conflict by the doyen among strategic thinkers of the 20th century, Thomas C Schelling of Princeton University. Colonel Anil A Athale (retd) is a military historian. The new PM would be more than unwise to attempt steering away from India into an all-encompassing Chinese embrace that would ultimately swamp Bhutanese identity, says Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd). IMAGE: Bhutan's Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering. Photograph: Kind courtesy PMO Bhutan/Facebook Bhutan's geographical location provides the Chinese one of the best avenues of ingress to India's worst vulnerability -- the Siliguri corridor. The corridor links the Indian mainland through this narrow neck that tapers down to barely 27 km in width at a point, with its eight north eastern states; some of them often restive. In October, 2018, the Bhutanese people gave a decisive vote to the left of centre Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party in the final round of election to its national assembly. Lest that be considered as an indicator of Bhutan turning away from India, its old umbilical connect, and lean the Chinese way, it would be prudent to delve into the election process and a few other relevant issues. The Bhutanese election process is held over two rounds. Only the top two contesting parties in the preliminary round, are allowed to contest the final round. The ruling People's Democratic Party led by then prime minister Tshering Tobgay lost out in the preliminaries itself. In the finals, the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party led by Dr Lotay Tshering, a surgeon, won an overwhelming 30 of the 47 seats contested. The Druk Phensum Tshogpa party won the balance 17 seats to sit on the Opposition benches. The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa's reputation of being Chinese leaning was visible only in the run-up to the preliminary round of the elections. With the mood in the streets, in fact embedded deep in the Bhutanese psyche, being anything but pro-Chinese, Dr Lotay Tshering avoided any reference to China, and focused more on promises of better healthcare for the Bhutanese during the final round of the election process. A few factors weigh heavy against Bhutan prioritising China over India in its foreign policy priorities. The Bhutanese are aware of the attempted Hanisation of Tibet. The Bhutanese are also proud of their Bhutanese identity and are sceptical about the Chinese intent. IMAGE: For centuries, the concept of 'happiness' has been central to the Indian and Himalayan culture. Photograph: Smiti and Claude Arpi As a country, Bhiutan has tried to keep away from the race to rapid industrialisation. Its yardstick of progress is the Gross Happiness Index as opposed to GDP. It is a society that is happy with far lesser materialistic possessions; quite difficult to understand with a very competitive routine being intrinsic to our lifestyles. Hence, a Chinese package of developing infrastructure and industry may not lure the Bhutanese to the tipping point. Under the circumstances, a shift in foreign policy is hardly expected. The new PM would be more than unwise to attempt steering away from India into an all-encompassing Chinese embrace that would ultimately swamp the Bhutanese identity. Notwithstanding the transition in Bhutan's national assembly post elections, the king of Bhutan remains a hugely revered institution that provides stability even as the political leadership changes with the elections. Bhutan has a serious apprehension of becoming a pawn in an India-China brawl. The standoff at Doklam, in close proximity to the tri-junction between Bhutan, India and China, is an example. At Doklam, the Chinese had advanced into Bhutanese territory. India sent in its troops to stop the Chinese from coming any closer to the Siliguri corridor. Chinese and Indian troops stood eye ball to eye ball for 79 days. In between, the soldiers of the two nations jostled with each other providing an antithetical display of muted violence between two the nuclear armed aspiring Asian powers. IMAGE: Then President Pranab Mukherjee meets with Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at Tashichhodzong in Thimphu. Photograph: Rashtrapati Bhavan India will have to handle Bhutan with kid gloves. The first requirement, especially of smaller countries, is being given due respect as a sovereign State. India cannot be micromanaging in Bhutan. Bhutanese affairs need to be managed by Bhutan. Such realism is already reflected in the agreement of 2007 between the two governments. While the 1949 Friendship Treaty had a provision for Bhutan to be 'guided' by India in its foreign policy, the clause was dropped at Bhutan's insistence in the 2007 treaty. The new clause adopted states 'cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests'. Bhutan's economy is closely linked to India. Electricity sold to India is already its biggest foreign exchange earner. However, debts owed to India account for the maximum repayments and the Bhutanese are anxious about it. IMAGE: A view of Bhutan's airport. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Pinakin Shah India needs to provide greater funding and grants to Bhutan while viewing it as a sovereign partner when it comes to foreign policy issues. It would be prudent for India to focus on Bhutan's development, especially in such areas as those that promise the maximum trickledown effect to the lower income strata of the Bhutanese populace. Such areas include agriculture, tourism, entrepreneurship and micro finance, education and the prime minister incumbent's priority -- healthcare. Education and infrastructure development could also be priority areas. The trade imbalance also needs to be addressed. Bhutan's faith in India needs to be strengthened. India will have to ensure that the Chinese influence does not gain traction in Bhutan, be it among the political leadership or the populace. Whenever they are announced, the bypolls to 20 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be a mini referendum on the state governments performance. It will also be a do-or-die battle for the ruling AIADMK, opposition DMK, as well as the rebel AMMK, says N Sathiya Moorthy. With the 18 disqualified MLAs belonging to the ruling AIADMK but identifying with breakaway AMMK of T T V Dhinakaran declaring that they were challenging the Madras high court verdict in the Supreme Court, political parties in Tamil Nadu are bracing up for by-elections in all these constituencies. Already, two vacancies existed for the Tiruvarur and Tirupparankundram seats following the death of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi and AIADMKs A K Bose, with the result that the by-elections to an unprecedented 20 of 234 seats in the state assembly have acquired the status of a mini-general elections, and along with that a referendum on the AIADMK government of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS). The question is, when will the by-elections be held -- with the parliamentary polls due by May 2018, or earlier? At least in the case of the death vacancies, the six-month gap might have ended if the Lok Sabha polls in the state is slated only for May. Of course, the law empowers the Election Commission to delay by-polls if any larger election was due so that the results of the one does not influence the voter in the other. Even without it, technically the EC will have to wait until the period of limitation available to the disqualified MLAs to file appeals in the Supreme Court, and cannot be expected to take their public statements as true intention. Already, the EC got caught in an avoidable controversy when it postponed the by-elections for the Tiruvarur and Tirupparankundram seats, based on a letter from the state chief secretary Girijia Vaidhyanathan that it was north-east monsoon time when election-related work would be affected. The Opposition parties lost no time in charging the ruling AIADMK in the state and the BJP at the Centre, saying that the two had politicised even the Election Commission and the meteorological department. As they pointed out, when state assembly polls in Telangana could be held in the midst of very same monsoon, why delay only two-seat by-polls in Tamil Nadu! Coming as it did after the unprecedented rains and destruction in neighbouring Kerala, the ECs decision was taken well by the TN voters at the time. However, with the simultaneous red alert issued by the nations weatherman for Chennai City and the rest of the state coming a cropper that very weekend, no one was impressed by any of the allied decisions. Now, independent of polling day announcement, all major political parties in the state have commenced preparations for the 20 assembly seats along with those for the 39 Lok Sabha seats. The ruling AIADMK is more visible and is also seen as being more proactive than the other two, namely, the Opposition DMK under M K Stalin and Dhinakarans AMMK. The three parties, which are the main players in the fray, have three distinct styles of campaigning. The DMK has traditionally left poll campaign to local-level leaders and cadres, with the top leadership giving broad guidelines, addressing poll rallies and patching up factionalism at lower-levels. The AIADMK, especially under late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, had developed a scheme of putting individual ministers or ex-ministers in charge of campaign in individual areas in individual constituencies. They invariably take houses on lease in the area, reside there and run the partys campaign for a month and more, ahead of polling day. Dhinakaran, under his late maternal uncle M Natarajan, husband of jailed Jayalalithaa aide V K Sasikala, had developed a hybrid campaign style. In this case, the campaign managers in a given constituency are all loyal outsiders, ensuring that factionalism in the constituencies did not impact the result. Dhinakarans massive by-poll victory in Jayalalithaas R K Nagar constituency owed to such a style of operations. Like the AIADMK ministers, Dhinakarans men would camp in the constituency concerned for months, before drawing up the campaign style. However, the DMK, in the last five years or so, has been relatively stingy in opening up its purse-strings. According to party cadres, this was a major reason for its candidate losing his security deposit in R K Nagar. Now, cadres are said to be impressing upon Stalin to go beyond his principled campaign style of R K Nagar. It is a do-or-die by-polls for all three main contenders, though they too have little known allies, or even better-known allies like the Congress and the two communist parties in DMKs company, but with little electoral value. But the DMK cannot afford to antagonise the Congress in particular because of prevailing public perception that the minority votes would get divided if the two parted company. For the AMMK, fielding the disqualified MLAs in those 18 seats is an easy decision and it needs to look for new faces only in Tiruvarur and Tirupparankundram. The AIADMK has a problem on hand, as these 18 became MLAs under its flag and symbol, and losing them means that they would have to look for new candidates in all 20 constituencies, so to say. The DMK is likely to consider the losing candidates in 19 of the 20 constituencies, except in Tiruvarur where Karunanidhi scored the highest margin of 65,000 votes in election 2016. Though no one is talking about the new DMK candidate matching that figure, they would want to win, and win with a decent margin. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter. Unless Indians learn to speak freely and fearlessly, 'true greatness will elude this nation, no matter how brilliant the individual at the helm may be,' says Aakar Patel. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com If you ask Indians what sort of India they want, almost all will say they want a powerful and prosperous one. The most powerful nation in the world is the United States of America, which is also one of the most prosperous. It has an economy 10 times the size of India's and it has one fourth the population. This means that in terms of Gross Domestic Product, it is 40 times India's size per person. We want to be a nation like the United States of America, which is rich, large, militarily powerful and feared and respected by the whole world. There is another type of powerful nation which is China. It is also rich (China's economy is six times bigger than India's) and strong militarily. What is the difference between the power of these two nations? I think that comes down to another question: Who and what makes the country powerful? In India, the assumption is that it is the government. It is a strong leader like the current prime minister who will produce something special with his genius. He will do the work that is required to transform India. I have known Narendra Damodardas Modi personally for many years and I can say that he himself also believes that. China has more or less followed the same philosophy of the government taking the lead. It is undeniably true that the Chinese people are very talented and extremely hardworking and if you go the nations of Southeast Asia, like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and to places like the western United States, you will notice this quality in the Chinese immigrants. But it has been the Communist government and one-man rule that has led the way to their modern strength. In many ways, however, this has been a limited strength. The lack of freedom has meant that China is not particularly inventive. And this will ultimately stop it from matching America. In the US, the assumption and the belief is that it is the people who make the nation and the people who will bring greatness. All that is required from the government is to give them to space and freedom to do so. The first amendment of the American constitution was written 227 years ago. It says that the government can make no law that restricts free speech. If you are wondering what that means, it means that one can say the most hateful and vulgar things in the United States without fear of being called anti-national or urban Naxal. Modern pornography comes out of magazines like Playboy and Penthouse which were taken to court for obscenity and won the cases because of the First Amendment. US governments continued to write laws restricting free speech, but their courts continued to uphold the rights of the speaker, even when the speech was disliked or rabid or vulgar. It is this freedom that has in large part produced American greatness. Indeed, across the history of what is called the Western world, the emphasis has been on individual freedoms and the right to defy authority and society intellectually. It goes back to the beginning and the ancient Greeks (called Yunani or Yavana in India). Socrates was sentenced to death about 2,400 years ago because he refused to accept the Athenian form of government. But he was already very old at the time that he was sentenced, showing that for decades he was tolerated in Athens. Aristotle and Plato produced theories that rejected the gods as the Greeks knew them but they were not only allowed to work, but were revered for their original thinking and their defiance. If there is a period when the Western world saw decline it is the period in which free thinking was curbed, as it is being in India today. This period is called the Middle Ages. A mix of feudalism, illiteracy and the church produced this period of decay. In this same period, the Islamic kingdoms in Baghdad and southern Spain valued learning and free speech and they became great powers. The history of man has usually supported the American form of a nation's rise to greatness rather than the Chinese form. It is freedom that produce greatness and not uniformity. In India we have traditionally had a lot of freedom when it comes to expression of the nature of God and of reality. But there is not much freedom when it comes to expressions of the nature of the nation and its people. The levels of tolerance are low both from the government and society on many things. Unfortunately, we have not had much support from our courts as the Americans have had. And so there has not been much resistance to the suppression of free speech. This is why most Indians today believe that it is not only wrong to say certain things, but also that there should be no right to say them. Till we continue to go down that path, true greatness will elude this nation, no matter how brilliant the individual at the helm may be. Aakar Patel -- winner of the 2018 Prem Bhatia Award for Political Reporting -- is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has asked the Delhi University Students' Union president Ankiv Baisoya to resign from his post and also suspended him from the students body till an inquiry into the allegations that he furnished a fake degree is completed, drawing criticism from the National Students' Union of India that the decision was taken under pressure ahead of the high court hearing. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad said in a statement it has asked Baisoya to step down as the DUSU president and also relived him of all responsibilities in the ABVP till the Delhi University completes the verification process. The ABVP said the decision was taken to maintain the "genuineness" of Delhi University Students Union. But the NSUI said this was clearly a decision taken under pressure ahead of the high court hearing on November 20. "This is an attempt to save whatever little face the ABVP can. They waited for two months in an attempt to keep the DUSU presidentship with the ABVP instead of asking him to step down when the matter came to light. The ABVP also didn't set up any inquiry committee of its own. So, this decision at this belated hour is clearly cynical and cowardly," the National Students Union of India said. The Delhi high court on Monday gave the DU time till November 20 to verify the authenticity of Baisoya's bachelors degree from a university in Tamil Nadu. The two-month period within which a re-election could be held ended on November 13. Baisoya was elected DUSU president in September. The NSUI and the All India Students Association have accused the DU administration of deliberately delaying an investigation of the alleged fake degree of Baisoya. The high court is hearing the case on a plea of NSUI student leader Sunny Chillar, who has sought from the court that Baisoya's election be set aside after news reports said the registrar of Thiruvalluvar University had "unambiguously and unequivocally" declared Baisoya's certificate "fake and forged". Chillar has also alleged that DU was "deliberately delaying" the verification process as no fresh polls would be held for DUSU presidency in case Baisoya's election is set aside over the fake degree issue after expiry of the two-month period. According to Lyngdoh Committee guidelines on university elections, if a post fell vacant within two months of declaration of results, fresh polls would be held, his plea has said. Flash China's support for multilateralism is "incredibly" important for the United Nations at current times, said Michael Moller, director-general of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), here on Wednesday. In an interview with Xinhua, Moller said "China is supporting us in all kinds of ways," and cooperation between China and the UNOG is "friendly," "practical" and "useful." "It's very important to have a permanent member state of the size of China to be a champion of multilateralism in a world where the UN is a little bit under attack, just like multilateralism is," he said. "Time and time again, China sets a good example," said Moller, noting that China is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and China has lifted millions of people out of extreme poverty. China is actually "walking the talk" when it pledges to support the United Nations, he commented. Moller recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping went to Geneva last year and made a speech in which "he very clearly spoke about the support of China for multilateralism for the United Nations." Speaking of Xi's vision of building a community with shared future for mankind, Moller said: "It gives a lot of hope and a lot of positive energy in the sense that it encourages us to go in the same direction and to push even harder on in that direction." The vision is exactly what the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are all about -- leaving no one behind; everything is interconnected and everybody has a responsibility to make it happen, he added. The SDGs are a set of UN-facilitated global goals adopted by 193 UN member states in a bid to eliminate poverty, combat climate change and promote common prosperity. On SDG implementation, Moller said: "The UN is already playing and will strengthen this role as a facilitator, as a provider of expertise and knowledge and human capital with experience." The SDGs have really become a global roadmap, said Moller, noting that it is important to capture the best practices in the process of implementation and share them across the world. Moller established an SDG lab within the UNOG in a bid to transfer expertise and knowledge into policy, practice and action to support SDG implementation. "It's an innovation place where you come up with new ideas, new conversations," he said, adding that the lab aims to make things work out in a more effective way for SDG implementation. On SDG financing, Moller is quite optimistic as private financing is very much looking for sustainable projects to fund. Climate change is the most "urgent" and "dangerous" problem that the world needs to deal with, said Moller. "We need to have a much bigger, much greater international solidarity and multilateral approach to it." While acknowledging that multilateralism and globalization are under pressure, Moller called on every one to be part of the solutions to world challenges since "our planet cannot afford a walking away from a collective management of its affairs." "It's too easy to say that globalization is disappearing. It simply is not possible," he said. "Globalization, you can call it many different names, but the fact is that it's here and it's here to stay." The Election Commission on Thursday appointed IAS officer Ashish Kundra as poll-bound Mizorams new chief electoral officer, replacing S B Shashank in accordance with the demand of some civil society groups. The groups were asking for Shashanks ouster over a row on allowing Bru voters lodged in Tripura relief camps to exercise their franchise from there. The Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Mizoram hereby nominates Ashish Kundra as the chief electoral officer for the state of Mizoram with immediate effect, a notification issued by the EC said. The poll panel had earlier asked the Mizoram government for a panel of names to replace Shashank. Mizoram goes to polls on November 28. The agitation against Shashank was launched a fortnight back with the NGO Coordination Committee, the apex body of civil societies and students organisations in the north-eastern state, demanding that the officer be replaced as chief electoral officer and transferred outside the state. It also demanded that 11,232 Bru voters in six Tripura relief camps be allowed to exercise their franchise at their respective polling stations in Mizoram and not in Tripura as committed by the poll panel in 2014. The committee had called for Shashanks exit from the state shortly after the Election Commission removed the states principal secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo. Shawshank had reportedly sought the deployment of additional Central Armed Police Forces in the state. This did not go down well with the committee. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. As people have lost faith in him (Shashank), the only solution for the smooth conduct of the Assembly elections 2018 would be removal of CEO S B Shashank from office forthwith, he said. The EC sent a deputy election commissioner to Aizawl to talk with the agitators. Thousands of people from the Bru community fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes. They have since been living in six relief camps in Tripura. Civil society organisations have opposed the Election Commissions decision to conduct electoral revision of Bru voters in Tripura relief camps in the past too. They urged the EC to disenfranchise all Bru voters who chose to stay back in Tripura and did not return to Mizoram. Some Maoist leaders were conspiring to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and planned to procure arms and ammunition to wage a war against the country, Pune police claimed in its chargesheet in the Elgar Parishad case filed on Thursday. The police also said that the Maoists are trying to mobilise and incite Dalits and the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune last December was part of this strategy. The Maoist-backed conclave "aggravated" the violence at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, the chargesheet said. The over 5,000-page chargesheet named 10 persons, including activists Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhavale, all arrested on June 6. Besides, it named five Maoist leaders believed to be underground: Dipak alias Milind Teltumbade, Kishan Da alias Prashant Bose, Prakash alias Rituparn Goswami, Deepu and Manglu. "Maoist leaders including...Rona Wilson and fugitive Kishan Da were conspiring the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and waging war against the country for which they were planning to procure arms and ammunition," it stated. The police cited several documents seized from the Maoist leaders to make the claim on Modi's assassination plan. The larger conspiracy of Communist Party of India-Maoists was to overthrow the democratic system in the country, and the accused were working in that direction, the chargesheet claimed. The chargesheet, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC, was filed in the court of district and sessions Judge Kishor D Vadane in Pune. The Elgar Parishad had been organised with "inspiration, money and directions" of Maoists, it alleged. "It is the policy of the CPI-Maoists... to mobilise Dalit community's sentiments and mislead them and provoke them to take violent path against the system," it said. "As a part of this strategy, Sudhir Dhavale and other members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM, a cultural group) spread hatred by giving inciting speeches, presenting distorted history and staging provocative skits and songs," it said. On the directions of CPI-Maoists Dhavale and KKM, under the banner of Bhima-Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerana Abhiyan, galvanised Dalit organisations and organised Elgar Parishad on December 31, the charge sheet said. "During the conclave, inciting speeches were made, inflammatory songs and street plays were played...all these things aggravated the violence on January 1, 2018 at Bhima Koregaon (in Pune district) during 200th commemoration of Bhima Koregaon battle," it said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar, the investigating officer, said Pune Police recorded the statement of surrendered Maoist leader Pahad Singh. "Singh gave details of Milind Teltumbade's role. He revealed that Teltumbade has the responsibility of spreading Maoist network in urban areas and he is particularly involved in mobilizing the Dalit community for Maoist activities," he said. Singh's statement is part of the chargesheet. Vishrambaug police station in Pune had initially registered a case on the complaint of Tushar Damgude who alleged that "provocative" speeches at Elgar Parishad led to violence at Bhima Koregaon in which one person was killed. In August, Pune Police arrested rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj, Telugu poet Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Gautam Navlakha in the case. The charge sheet does not name them. Dalits at a commemoration event of the Bhima Koregon battle -- in which the forces of the Peshwa, ruler of Pune, were defeated by the British East India Company -- came under attack on January 1. While Dalits see the victory as an assertion of their identity as the British forces included Mahar (a formerly untouchable caste) soldiers, some Hindu right-wing organisations were opposed to the celebration. The Congress on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national interest on the Rafale issue, with party chief Rahul Gandhi alleging that the latest skeleton to tumble out of the "Rafale cupboard" is that there is no guarantee by the French government backing the deal. The Congress also accused the prime minister of accepting in the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by him, the higher benchmark price' of Euro 8.2 billion instead of Euro 5.2 billion for the 36 aircraft, despite objections by the defence acquisition council and the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar not approving it. The government has denied any wrongdoing in the deal while the Bharatiya Janata Party has dismissed as "lies" allegations of corruption levelled by the Congress. The opposition party also charged Modi with waiving the condition of arbitration between India and France by converting it into an arbitration between the supplier company Dassault and the Indian government, as also changing the venue of arbitration from India to Switzerland. Gandhi asked if the Rafale jet deal can be called a "Government to Government" contract, as there is only a letter from the French government promising to be faithful. "The latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: No Guarantee by the French Government backing the deal. "BUT, our PM says there's a letter from the French promising to be faithful. That's enough to call this a Government to Government deal?(sic)" he asked on Twitter, using the hashtag "BikGayaChowkidar". The government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The French government has, however, given a "letter of comfort" to India which would be good enough "governmental guarantee", Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court. Echoing his party president, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the only forum to investigate "acts of omission, commission and corruption in the biggest defence scam" of India is to have a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Surjewala alleged, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone as far as to sabotage his own nation's interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends" and added that the prime minister had waived the sovereign guarantee requirement in the deal. Surjewala claimed that new revelations further expose "brazen corrupt practices" in Rafale scam. "The entire spectrum of deception lies at the doorstep of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he alleged. "The bottom line is, Prime Minister Modi has gone as far as to sabotage his own Nation's Interests in favour of his crony capitalist friends," he alleged. "The new expose in Rafale scam. Why did PM Modi set a higher benchmark price' of Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62166 crore) instead of 5.2 Billion Euro (Rs 39422 crore). "Why did PM Modi compromise National Interests by waiving Bank Guarantee/French Government's Sovereign Guarantee' in violation of DPP," he asked. The Congress leader claimed that a senior official of the Defence Ministry has spilled the beans' indicting the Modi Government for "corrupt practices" in fixing a higher benchmark price'. Surjewala said on August 24, 2016, a day after the Law ministry raised objections on the sovereign guarantee, PM Modi in the CCS, accepted the Letter of Comfort' and waives off the condition of Bank Guarantee/French Government Sovereign Guarantee'. On the arbitration waiver, he said on December 11, 2015, the Law Ministry opined that India should be the venue of arbitration in case of a dispute and the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 be made applicable, but the Modi government agreed to arbitration with Dassault instead of French Government. "If the agreement is between Indian and French governments as stated, how can the arbitration be held between India and Dassault Aviation. Why has PM Modi compromised on national interests," he asked. Surjewala also alleged that the national security adviser was negotiating the Rafale deal, and not the Negotiations Committee' of IAF and the defence ministry. "Did PM Modi ask him to do so and for what reason. On January 12/13, 2016, NSA Ajit Doval negotiated the Rafale deal in Paris and then defence minister on March 7, 2016 recorded about a meeting held by NSA with the French side in Paris to negotiate the deal. "The simple question is, why was NSA Ajit Doval negotiating the Rafale deal in Paris and under whose authority," he asked. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day parade, sources said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit meeting earlier in July this year. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended an invitation to United States President Donald Trump, but he had expressed his inability citing scheduling conflicts. Cyril Ramaphosa will be the second leader from South Africa to attend Indias Republic Day parade as the chief guest. Former President Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at the 1995 Republic Day parade. South African President Ramaphosa is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. A few months back, he led as many as 5,000 people at the annual Gandhi Walk event organised at Lenasia, a few kilometres away from Johannesburg in an attempt to promote fitness and community awareness. India and South Africa are making efforts to develop bilateral relations in order to boost trade and investment relations. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg. During the meet, the two-state heads signed memorandums of understanding in the areas of defense, trade, culture, agriculture, and dairy cooperation. 'Whether I die in Calcutta or in Paris, on a Wednesday or a Saturday, it does not matter, but you would not want me to come to India's door and then return to France without having visited India.' 'Either I will die or I will visit India!' Claude Arpi hails Georges Clemenceau, French prime minister during the Great War, a great man who loved India. IMAGE: Georges Clemenceau, France's prime minister during World War I, in Ellora, 1920-1921. More than 60 heads of states commemorated the 100th year of the end of World War I between the Allies and Germany. A hundred years after the bitter war, German Chancellor Angela Merkel participated in the Armistice celebrations, perhaps because today there is no longer a victorious or defeated nation. The entire world, including India, suffered too dearly between 1914 and 1918. For what? Nobody is sure now. The French daily Le Figaro explains the dichotomy: 'Commemorate means making choices. French President Emmanuel Macron decided to go for a week-long 'memorial and territorial journey' through the different sites of the Great War. For the French, the numerous functions were more than a celebration of a victory; there was a triple message in the event: One, to remember the poilus ('the unshaven ones') as the French soldiers were known during the War; to celebrate the capacity of the French nation to rebuild itself and finally, and perhaps most importantly, to promote a 'recast multilateralism'. The presence in Paris on November 11 of the representatives of all those who participated in the War, including Germany, demonstrated this choice. France has not forgotten India's participation in the War. Paris recently offered India a piece of land to construct the Indian Military Memorial for Indian troops at Villers Guislain, in northern France. The memorial comprises a bronze Asoka emblem and a plaque honouring the Indian soldiers who died in the War. But there is more to the relations between India and the War. IMAGE: Georges Clemenceau on his desk with Bodhisattvas during the Great War. A Tiger among Politicians Whenever one thinks of the Great War, a name comes to mind: Georges Clemenceau. Born in 1841 in Vendee, the hotbed of the monarchists during the French Revolution, Clemenceau came from a lineage of physicians. His father never really practiced, but he was attracted by political activism, following the Radicals, a party not enamoured of Catholicism. Though a lifelong atheist, Clemenceau had an interest in religious matters from an early age. He joined politics as an anti-clerical, often fighting the French Catholic Church, strongly believing that that the Church and the State should strictly be kept separate. From November 1917 to January 1920, he was the prime minister of France and played a central role in the Allies's victory. He then became known as 'Pere la Victoire' ('Father Victory') or 'le Tigre' ('The Tiger'), as he always favoured total victory over the German empire and militated for the restitution of Alsace-Lorraine to France. In 1919, he became the main architect of the Treaty of Versailles at the Paris Peace Conference. Clemenceau, the philosopher There is another aspect to George Clemenceau: He was a great humanist, thinker, traveler and lover of India and its philosophies. Mao once said: 'The philosophers have so far only interpreted the world, the point is to change it.' Clemenceau first changed the world by giving Victory to the Allies while being a philosopher at the same time. This reminds me of Sir Francis Younghusband, the British 'imperial adventurer'. During his stay in Lhasa in 1904, he had become fond of the Ganden Tripa, the senior-most Tibetan Lama. In spite of the political difficulties and their personal backgrounds, they often sat together to discuss religion and philosophy. They developed a very close rapport. On his return to England, Sir Francis became a great adherent of the philosophy of Ahimsa. But in Clemenceau's case, it was not a 'sudden conversion' as it was for Younghusband. He had spiritual inclinations from his early years in French politics. In July 1885, he gave a speech in the French parliament: 'Inferior race, the Hindus? With this great refined civilisation that is lost in the mists of time!' He also spoke of the Buddhist religion which later migrated from India to China, but left 'this great efflorescence of art of which we still witness today the magnificent remains.' He would always remain fond of Buddhism. IMAGE: The Ceremonie Guimet Museum in Paris in 1898 with Buriat monk Agvan Dorjee. The Guimet Museum Clemenceau was involved in the creation of the Guimet Museum in Paris. He was close to Emile Guimet, a rich industrialist from Lyon who was passionate about Oriental religions. He traveled all over Asia and once back in France, he decided to create 'a didactic place dedicated to Buddhism, and, in general, to religions around the world'. The Guimet Museum was inaugurated in Paris in 1889; Clemenceau even attended Buddhist ceremonies organised by the museum. On February 21, 1891, when a puja in honor of the founder of the Shinshu sect was performed by two Japanese monks, Clemenceau sat in the front row. A journalist asked the future French prime minister: 'Now, you can't stop us going to Mass?' Clemenceau quipped: 'What to do, I am a Buddhist!' For him, Gautam Buddha was at the top of the thinkers' hierarchy; 'the greatest preacher of peace and fraternity that has appeared in the world'. Clemenceau called him the 'sublime monk' who preached the love of his neighbour and this without proclaiming the existence of an almighty God. He greatly preferred Buddha to Jesus, probably due to the omnipresent Catholic Church in France at that time. The Tiger also liked the fact that Buddhists did not proselytise. In 1905, he told L'Aurore, a French newspaper: 'With what impatience do I wait for the day when we will see Buddhist and Shinto missionaries coming to Marseilles who will come and try to convert us!' From 1917 to 1920, when he served as prime minister and war minister, he kept several statuettes of Bodhisattvas placed prominently on his desk. IMAGE: Georges Clemenceau attended a Japanese ceremony with his wife. Clemenceau the Traveler Clemenceau knew it was not enough to read books about philosophy, he decided to immerse himself into the cultures he was studying. Months after his retirement, at the age of 80, he embarked on a long journey to Egypt, Sudan, Ceylon, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma and finally India. As soon as he arrived in Calcutta on December 5, 1920, he fell extremely sick; worried doctors advised his immediate repatriation to France. The Tiger was not going to listen to the doctors: 'Whether I die in Calcutta or in Paris, on a Wednesday or a Saturday, it does not matter, but you would not want me to come to India's door and then return to France without having visited India. Either I will die or I will visit India!' He recovered and went on a long journey in India starting by Benares. He often wrote to his friend, the great Impressionist painter Claude Monet: 'I have come to Benares to take the most prodigious bath of light ... A large clear blue river, with an imposing curve of white palaces, which fades in the powder of dawn.' He tried to attract Monet to India: 'If my name was Claude Monet, I would not like to die without having seen Benares.' Clemeanceau wrote about 'a humanity crazy with expressive colors' which animates India. 'I do not want to go to heaven if Benares is not there,' he asserted, adding that even 'The incomprehensible cult of these sacred cows, coming in the morning to eat the flower mala s with which I was garlanded,' finds an explanation. Clemenceau was very fond of Asoka, the king who renounced violence. 'The reign of the great Asoka is one of the purest human glories', he wrote, an antithesis of what Father Victory had been known for during the Great War. IMAGE: Georges Clemenceau in Ajanta, 1920-1921. Le Soir de la Pensee (The Evening of the Thought) On his return from India, Clemenceau worked on his philosophical testament Le Soir de la Pensee, which shows not only his great erudition, but also his deep understanding of India's philosophical thought. Several chapters mention India. One is entirely consecrated to The Philosophies of India. Clemenceau admitted having experienced a 'delicious joy' in discovering the Ramayana, the Vedas and the Buddhist scriptures. He acknowledged that he had grasped only the superficial aspects of Indian Thought. 'I do not know by what excess of daring I try to summarise aspects and developments of the Hindu thought in a few lines. [But] this subject holds me and leads me.' Elsewhere he says: 'By her Vedic hymns and her great poems, we find unexpected resemblances to Greece... The genial feature is that it does not formally reject any affirmation which could bring some doubt to the proclaimed belief.' 'The cosmogonies of India cannot be counted. All contradictions accumulate, without ever losing confidence, always ready to assimilate everything.' A hundred years after the Armistice, this aspect of Father Victory should be remembered though his philosophical views never interfered in his political decisions as one of the main actors of the Great War. Claude Arpi writes: I am grateful to my colleague Christine Devin for her numerous inputs to this feature. Flash Worse living conditions and fragile security have pushed many Iraqis to leave their houses to refugee camps in many areas previously under control of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group. Jassim al-Afri, head of al-Alam town council in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, told Xinhua that the displacement of these Iraqis this time is not because IS group seizes their lands but because security forces can not guarantee their safety after dozens of attacks by remnants of IS militants. The IS attacks paralyzed the agriculture which makes the living of most population of the villages in the northern part of Salahudin province and Hawijah area in west of the neighboring Kirkuk province. "The authorities in the town of al-Alam, some 15 km east of Salahudin's provincial capital Tikrit, received some 4,000 families, who left their homes again from many villages in Hawijah area," Afri told Xinhua. About 3,500 of the displaced families are living in squalid squatter settlements and many of them are living on casual jobs, while some 400 families resorted to the former refugee camps which are sponsored by the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement as well as some international relief organizations, according to Afri. "There are some 50 families of IS militants who are living separately in a camp and are receiving humanitarian aid from the international organizations," Afri added. Afri said that the town's authorities had let the displaced people to choose their shelters, and most of them preferred to live outside the camps even if in abandoned buildings without roofs. "They are facing difficulties especially as winter has come with its cold and rainy weather, but the administration of al-Alam and its people are presenting some basic needs to those families," he added. The town of al-Alam had received thousands of families during the years between 2014 to 2017 when IS group made a significant blitzkrieg and seized large territories in the predominantly Sunni provinces in northern and western Iraq. In December 2017, Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas under control of IS, which led most of the displaced families who fled their home due to the battles to return to their towns and villages. However, during the past few months many families have left their towns and villages again because of security concerns and lack of jobs. Ibrahim Mahmoud, a householder who lives in an under construction building at the edge of the town of al-Alam said "my son was killed in terrorist attack on my house in Hawijah, so I decided to return to al-Alam to protect my young boy and six daughters." "Security in areas in west of Hawijah is absent and IS militants control all the surrounding areas at night while security forces control the main roads only. Therefore, during the night IS militants attack civilian houses to kill and terrorize the residents," Mahmoud said while he was sipping a cup of tea near a ruined house where his family lives. Mahmoud used to make his living in his farm in west of Hawijah, but things differ now in the liberated areas after fierce battles that defeated IS group from Hawijah area. "Almost everything is destroyed in our villages in Hawijah and the agricultural system which we used to live on has been heavily collapsed, let alone the acute shortage of electricity which we depend on it to convey water to the farms, and most importantly the lack of security," Mahmoud added. "Here in al-Alam I live in peace and feel secure, I work sometimes here and there and my family frequently receive aid from residents of the town and international relief organizations," he added. Um Ahmed, 65 years old, told Xinhua the tragedy of her family when IS militants took control of her village in al-Masalkha area, some 60 km north of Tikrit. She said one night in 2015, the extremist militants attacked her house and kidnapped her husband and her elder son and killed them later after they accused them of cooperating with the security forces. The crime of IS forced Um Ahmed and the rest of her family members to leave their house and resort to the town of al-Alam. After the liberation of al-Masalkha area, Um Ahmed returned to her house and hoped to work in her farm, but the reemergence of IS militants in the previous months near her village and the nearby Makhoul Mountain forced her to consider leaving her house again and go to al-Alam. "Recently, Daesh (IS group) attacks against security forces and civilians have increased in my area, and I asked my sons to leave again but they refused until one day my other son was killed more than a month ago when a huge explosion of a roadside bomb went off at our farm," Um Ahmed said. "I am here in al-Alam because I want to save my 13 and 14 years old sons and my three daughters," she said with tears. At the edge of refugee camp in al-Alam, some 50 families of IS militants are kept in fenced area and have been living under security restrictions to be separated from other displaced families. A father of one of IS militants complained that they are "paying the price of a crime that they didn't do. One of my family's sons made a mistake and joined Daesh without asking my permission." However, the man who refused to be named said that he and his family members are getting humanitarian assistance and have been treated well by the officials responsible for the camp. Iraq declared the defeat of IS group late in 2017, paving the way for millions of Iraqis to return to their homes in the liberated towns and villages. However, groups and individuals of extremist militants melted or regrouped in urban or fled to desert and rugged areas, and are carrying out attacks against the security forces and civilians. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has sought Tata Sons Ltd.'s help to rescue struggling Jet Airways India, people familiar with the matter said. Tata Sons is in talks with the government about a potential haircut to state-run banks on Jet's loans as part of the plan, while Airports Authority of India may forgo some of its dues, one person said Thursday, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. The Tata Sons board is due to deliberate on the matter Friday, sources said. The structure of the potential deal has not been finalized, they said. One option is to combine Jet with Vistara, an airline venture Tata runs with Singapore Airlines Ltd., one person said. India's Economic Times said earlier that the companies are weighing a potential all-stock merger of the carriers - something Jet said was speculative. Jet shares rose 24 percent, the biggest single-day gain on record, to close at 320.90 rupees in Mumbai. A Tata spokesman declined to comment, while an aviation ministry spokesman did not answer multiple calls and a text message sent to his mobile phone. Any investment by Tata Sons will catapult the group to the top league of Indian aviation, dominated by budget carrier IndiGo, while providing a lifeline to Jet, which is falling behind on payments to lessors and staff. A deal that prevents the airline from going bust will save Modi the embarrassment of a business meltdown ahead of a general election due early next year. Kingfisher Airlines, founded by beer tycoon Vijay Mallya, ended operations in 2012 after failing to clear its dues to banks, staff, lessors and airports. SpiceJet Ltd. almost collapsed two years later before its founders returned to gain control and revive the company. A deal with Jet Airways, in which Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways PJSC owns a 24 percent stake, will give parent Tata Group access to some lucrative assets in the aviation business - including landing and parking slots in airports from Bangkok to Amsterdam, a large fleet of aircraft, and an established domestic network based in Mumbai. One obstacle to Jet-Vistara combination could be the difference in fleets and brand identity, which might mean keeping the two separate in the shorter term, one person said.Tata Sons also runs a local low-cost airline with Malaysia's AirAsia Group Bhd. The two existing Tata-operated carriers had a combined Indian domestic market share of 8.2 percent in September, versus Jet's 15.8 percent, a figure which stood at 35 percent a few years ago. Jet Airways is struggling to survive in a market where intense competition has depressed fares and high fuel prices, made expensive by local levies, negate gains from a surge in travel. The company reported its third straight quarterly loss Monday with surging liabilities that signaled a deepening of financial distress. A weakening rupee also added to its woes. Losses at Indian carriers will balloon to as much as $1.9 billion in the year ending March 2019, and they need to raise more than $3 billion in working capital in the near term, according to Sydney-based consultancy CAPA Centre for Aviation. Most of them have cash balances that can cover expenses for only two to three weeks, according to CAPA. A deal between Tata and Jet Airways won't change those dynamics immediately, said Rahul Kapoor, a transportation analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence. "Tata Group's white-knight act to take a stake in Jet Airways is unlikely to alter the Indian aviation market," he said. "Perennial weak profitability and competitive intensity will remain a bane for the foreseeable future." Jet failed to make a profit in nine of the past 11 fiscal years. Besides pledging to cut costs, its board in August proposed to pare debt and sell its stake in JetPrivilege, a loyalty program. There's plenty of interest in the Jet Airways brand, Chief Financial Officer Amit Agarwal said on a conference call Tuesday. Mistakes discovered Tuesday night in two towns have triggered a recount for state House District 64, a week after the Republican candidate conceded to the Democratic challenger. Just 51 votes separated the two candidates according to the Secretary of the State website Wednesday afternoon within the 0.5 percent threshold that triggers an automatic recount. Democrat Maria Horn has 5,876 votes, or 50.22 percent, and Republican Brian Ohler has 5,825 votes, or 49.78 percent, according to the website. All nine towns that make up the 64th district Kent, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon and Torrington must now recount their results by Friday. Each town will arrange the recount on its own and report to the state. Last week, Ohler conceded to Horn the day after the election and sent a letter to the editor of Hearst Connecticut Media last week about the concession. It was unclear Wednesday afternoon what his plan was in light of the recount. Neither Ohler or Horn could be reached for comment. As the polls closed and various towns began reporting their numbers it was clear that our race was going to be very close, Ohler wrote in the letter. Due to the massive voter turnout and some isolated mechanical issues it took registrars longer than usual to tabulate their numbers. In the end, however, we did come up short in our bid to be reelected for a second term. Ohler then went on to commend Horn for her race and reiterated his love and dedication to the Northwest Corner and the people who live there. Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesman for the Secretary of the States Office, said a concession is not an official way to end the race. Rosenberg said he is unsure what mistakes North Canaan and Norfolk made in reporting the returns. The officials involved for either town could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. Rosenberg also questioned why the errors were found days after the statutory deadline. Towns must give the amended results to the state by the Thursday following the election and the state will announce if there is a recount that Friday. He said that didnt happen in this race because the recount wasnt triggered until this Tuesday. Its not ideal, Rosenberg said, adding that neither town will face penalties. Creating jobs that offer higher wages, especially in the Northwest Corner, was the biggest issue for both candidates but they differed on how to do it. Ohler proposes state incentives for small businesses that hire Connecticut residents, veterans and new graduates from the states high schools and community colleges. He also recommended that businesses and companies speak with students early on. He said there also needs to be more of an emphasis on vocational training at schools. Horn has said funding education should be the states priority, spanning from the K-12 level up through the state colleges so that higher education can be accessible and affordable, as well as making sure community colleges have job training and apprenticeships. She said small business owners have a lot of expenses and the state should help offset those, including for health care, so they can increase their employees wages. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 NEW HAVEN A former Meriden dentist has been sentenced to serve seven years in prison for sexually assaulting two of his patients, stalking one of them and possessing child pornography. Jeffrey Krahling, 53, of Summerhill Road, Wallingford, avoided a longer sentence by pleading guilty to two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault as well as third-degree burglary, intimidating a witness, tampering with a witness and possession of child pornography. His two dental victims delivered statements in New Haven Superior Court, describing how Krahlings actions have resulted in ongoing anxiety and fear. The warrant by Meriden police quoted the victims stating Krahling made sure he had them alone in his office during the dental procedures, then rubbed his genitals against their heads and shoulders. The first victim, who was then 39, came to the Meriden police headquarters in April 2016 and reported Krahling had assaulted her during a dental crown procedure three days earlier at his office on Curtis Street. She said when she arrived at the office, Krahling was very abrupt and stern with his staff but he was pleasant with her, the warrant stated. During the procedure, Krahling was seated on a stool by her head and kept asking her if he could tilt the dentist chair further back to access her mouth. She was quoted telling police Krahlings legs were wrapped around her head as she was leaning back in the dentist chair. Then Krahling began grinding on the top of her head as she recognized the feel of his belt buckle on her head. The victim told police she could feel his genitals on her head. The female victim reported Krahling was breathing heavily and moaning, according to the warrant. The victim said she was too upset to go to work that day. She told police Krahling called her the next day to see how she was doing and stated he would have no problem fitting her in if she needed to come back, the warrant said. She told police he called her four more times on the Saturday after the assault. She did not answer. The victim concluded her interview with police by describing Krahlings behavior as creepy and not normal. According to the warrant, when police checked into Krahlings criminal history, they learned he had five battery convictions in Maryland and had pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Wallingford in August 2015. Meriden Police Detective Shane Phillips, who wrote the warrant, said Krahling refused to cooperate with the investigation. The second victim, who was 23 at the time of the crime against her, came to the Meriden police department in September 2016 after she saw a news article on Krahlings arrest and decided she should come forward too. She told police the assault occurred in January 2016 at his office. She noted that during previous visits Krahling wasnt creepy but was touchy and feely, according to the warrant. The victim said she was at his office for a minor dental procedure and that as he began working on her, she could feel his stomach on her ear. She noted only the two of them were in the room. She told police that as Krahling stood next to her, she could feel him grinding his genitals on her right shoulder. She quoted Krahling telling her he wanted to give her the prettiest smile possible. The victim said she was crying when she came home afterward and told her husband what had happened. The husband later confirmed with police she had been visibly upset and crying. Phillips noted in the warrant that her version of events was very similar to the report made by the previous victim. Krahlings attorney, Norm Pattis, told the New Haven Register: Obviously its a very sad case. He had it all and then lost it all. I think hed attribute it to a failed struggle with alcohol. I wish him all the best, to re-group, Pattis added. The first victim read a statement during the sentencing hearing in which she said she believed it had been her responsibility to report what had happened because she was not the only patient Krahling had assaulted. Dr. Krahling sexually assaulted me during a medical procedure, a time when I was both physically and mentally vulnerable, she said. She noted the assault came after he told his hygienist he did not need her assistance. This resulted in leaving Dr. Krahling and I alone in his office as the staff left for lunch, creating the best environment for him to assault me. After the assault, she added, Dr. Krahling began vandalizing my house and property, and continued until my house was completely destroyed. She said he spray-painted her driveway and walkway as well as the front of her house. She said he also broke windows on her home with a hammer and broke into her house. I believe Dr. Krahlings persistence shows he will continue to disregard the law and try to hurt me and my property at any cost, she said. I was in constant fear for my safety, she added. Because Jeffrey Krahling was stalking me, I was forced to move out of my home. She said she missed more than a month of work. I still constantly feel like I have to be vigilant when it comes to my safety and whereabouts, she said. The victim said that when Krahling is released from prison, he should be monitored closely and should be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford ordered that Krahling be on the sex offender registry for 10 years upon his release. The second victim told Clifford: Since being sexually assaulted, I have been formally diagnosed with PTSD and I attempted to go into therapy. I continue to struggle with trusting others. She said she had hoped that when Krahling was sentenced, she would be relieved. But that relief never came for me. I still have anxiety. My relationships have suffered as a result and my heart hurts for the people who love me. She added, I have lost a lot of sleep and spent countless hours blaming myself for what happened. But she said, Today, I want the court to know that the shame I have been carrying so heavily does not belong to me. It belongs to him. She asked: How can I be certain I am safe when he is released? The child pornography charge came out of an investigation by state police. The warrant for that case stated police found 38 images and 15 videos of child pornography on Krahlings laptop. According to the warrant, the girls appeared to be between 4 and 14 years old. The total sentence imposed by Clifford was 15 years, to be suspended after Krahling serves seven years. He will then be on probation for 10 years. randall.beach@hearstmediact.com American cheese will never die. It has too many preservatives. But it's melting away. One by one, America's food outlets are abandoning the century-old American staple, with many replacing it with fancier cheeses. Wendy's is offering asiago. A&W's Canada locations switched to real cheddar. McDonald's is selling the Big Mac's soft, orange square of American cheese with a version that doesn't contain artificial preservatives. Panera Bread ditched its old-fashioned grilled cheese made with American and replaced it with a four-cheese combo of fontina, cheddar, monteau and smoked gouda. The result: higher sales. American cheese is "an ingredient we're looking to less and less in our pantry," said Sara Burnett, the chain's director of wellness and food policy. American (cheese) culture is at a crossroads. The product, made famous by the greatest generation, devoured by boomers on the go, touted as the basis for macaroni and cheese, and the well-documented love object of Gen X, has met its match with millennials demanding nourishment from ingredients that are both recognizable and pronounceable. Don't rely on anecdotal evidence. The data show it, too. U.S. sales of processed cheese, including brands like Kraft Singles and Velveeta, a mainstay of delicacies such as ballpark nachos, are projected to drop 1.6 percent this year, the fourth straight year of declines, according to Euromonitor International. The end of the affair is also evident at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where 500-pound barrels of cheddar used to make American cheese are selling at a record discount to 40-pound cheddar blocks, the cheddar that shows up on party platters. That's because demand for the cheese in the barrels has been dwindling for years, according to Alyssa Badger, director of operations at Chicago-based HighGround Dairy. American cheese isn't the point of a lot of the barrel production, Badger said. It's for the byproduct whey, a staple of pricey protein shakes. Decline is also evident when looking at the manufacturing landscape. The number of U.S. cheese factories increased 40 percent between 2000 and 2017, but the growth is from small, specialty cheesemakers, said Matt Gould, editor at Dairy & Food Market Analyst Inc. Prices at the grocery store for processed American cheese have been slipping, too, dipping below $4 a pound for the first time since 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Gayle Voss, owner of Gayle V's Best Ever Grilled Cheese in Chicago, takes two slices of fresh-baked sourdough and fills them with not American cheese but Wisconsin-made butterkase cheese. Made in small batches by farmers who know the names of their cows, it's melty and slightly stretchy, and yes, buttery. It's what people want these days, she said. "I could buy preservative-filled cheese and butter," Voss said. "But I'm all-out on supporting small businesses and offering a good, quality product, and the minute people bite into it, they know -- because it's so good." Pause here to imagine taking a bite of crunchy bread and melted cheese that forms a string as mouth and sandwich separate. "People want to know where their food is coming from," she said, "and my sales reflect that." Voss said her husband will use Kraft Singles to whip up a quick sandwich for himself at home, something that cheeses her off. But it's what he grew up with, she said. Most Americans did. American cheese was born at a time when utility reigned. James and Norman Kraft invented processed cheese in 1916 and sold it in tins to the U.S. military during World War I. Soldiers kept eating it when they returned home and its popularity soared. It wasn't until 1950 that Kraft perfected the slicing. Soon after came a machine that could individually wrap the slices, and in 1965, Kraft Singles were born. Like Wonder Bread, society marveled at the uniformity of the product, the neatness of the slices, the long shelf life and its ability to stay moist even in the desert, in the middle of the summer, at noon. Ingredients include substances that sound like a chemistry set: sodium citrate, calcium phosphate, natamycin, modified food starch. And, of course, milk. Though 40 percent of U.S. households buy Kraft Singles, overall sales are flat, according to Peter Cotter, general manager of cheese and dairy for Kraft Heinz Co. Kraft has a 30-person research-and-development team working on ways to get American cheese into more homes, he said, offering qualities that healthier, more natural cheeses can't. For instance, "the melt." "Honestly, you can't get that in a natural cheese," Cotter said. "It's a very unique product. The creamy smooth texture and melt of the cheese. The natural cheeses, they just don't melt that way." The backlash to the backlash remains robust, with about $2.77 billion in retail sales this year, according to Euromonitor. Some trendy restaurants are going retro on their menus, hearkening back to somebody's idea of what a classic America might've been like before fancy cheeses ruined the youth. After all, Homer Simpson pulled an all-nighter eating 64 slices of American cheese -- not gouda, provolone or even butterkase, which, after all, just means butter cheese in German. Burger joint Mini Mott opened this summer in Chicago's trendy Logan Square neighborhood, and when diners order a cheeseburger they'll get American cheese and nothing else. Chef Scott Sax said he buys it in five-pound bricks from a supplier in Minnesota. "There's nothing pure or organic about it," Sax said. "The ingredients are very American." SHARON Sharon Hospital will host its second State of the Hospital community update at 9 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Sharon Town Hall, 63 Main St., Sharon. Space is limited and reservations are requested by Friday, Nov. 30. TORRINGTON The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Radiological Society of Connecticut recently recognized State Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington). Cook is the recipient of the AANPs 2019 Advocate State Award for Excellence, and will be honored during the AANPs 2019 National Conference in June. according to a press release. The annual award is given to one advocate in each state who has made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and recognition of nurse practitioners. I am honored to be recognized as a 2019 State Advocate by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for my dedication to key public health issues and those concerning nurse practitioners, said Rep. Cook said in a statement. I will continue to advocate for policies that protect Connecticut residents right to healthcare and to address issues relating to the scope of practice of nurse practitioners. As a member of the Public Health Committee, Rep. Cook was nominated for her extensive work on issues affecting the health and wellbeing of Connecticuts residents, particularly Public Act 14-12, which expanded the scope of practice for advanced practical registered nurses (APRN), association members said in the release. More for you Torringtons Michelle Cook wins sixth term in 65th House District The Radiological Society of Connecticut recognized Cook for her advocacy of patients and legislation that will encourage women to have life-saving breast cancer screenings, according to a press release. The award was timely, since October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The radiologists gave Rep. Cook their Patient Hero award during their semi-annual meeting in New Haven on Sept. 13. Cook was a strong advocate of House Bill 5208 this past session that will enable women to have their annual breast exam using the latest technology without having to pay a deductible or co-pay, society members said in a statement. The technology, called Breast Tomosynthesis, is a three dimensional mammogram which enables the radiologist to better determine if small cancers are present in the breast. The test has been shown to reduce patient callbacks for an additional test due to the uncertainty of images by 40 percent. Rep. Cook serves on the Public Health Committee where she has advocated for many patient-friendly policies. The legislation passed in both the House and Senate this year and was signed into law by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as Public Act 18-159. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2019. Flash Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said here Thursday that Japan is willing to work with China on infrastructure projects, including in the Pacific island countries. Kono, who is in Papua New Guinea to attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting, told a press conference that Japan is willing to work with China on infrastructure projects. Kono said Japan is open to broader cooperation with China. "The idea of cooperation between Japan and China for third countries including the Pacific island countries is very welcome," he said. As the second and third largest economies, China and Japan need to stand shoulder to shoulder to tackle global issues, "so this will be a good opportunity," said Kono, while he warned that the international free trade regime is under challenge. Kono also recalled the recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to China, during which very good discussion was held between the leaders of the two countries. "So I think there are a lot of opportunities to cooperate between the two countries, I am looking forward to that," he said. TORRINGTON The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council (NCAC) honored seven individuals at the 5th Annual CultureMAX Awards Ceremony, held Tuesday at the Warner Theatre in Torrington. The annual event celebrates the inspiring contributions of local cultural leaders, organizations, and businesses. The event also serves to educate the 25-town regions community about the positive forces that influence their cultural environment, according to a statement. The 2018 CultureMAX Awardees are: Thomasina Levy of Litchfield, Etablished Artist. She was the CT State Troubadour for 2005 and 2006, which allowed her to be Connecticuts Ambassador for music and song. Leslie Elias of Cornwall & Grumbling Gryphons, Arts Educator. Elias has operated Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Childrens Theatre for 38 years and taught all aspects of theatre to local children of all ages. Luke Pepper of Torrington, Emerging Artist. His films and photography highlight the special moments and beauty of life in NW CT. Carol Ascher of Sharon, Heritage Professional. Ascher shone light on the history of Russian Jewish immigrants to Sharon and Amenia through her exhibit at the Sharon Historical Society and her book, A Chance For Land and Fresh Air. Ken Buckbee of Torrington, Volunteer. Buckbee has restored and preserved the cemetery behind Torringtons City Hall and helped residents understand and appreciate the history of their town. Washington Art Association, Cultural Organization. A nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community in NW CT through education, exhibitions, and special events. Thomaston Savings Bank, Culture-Loving Business. The bank has generously supported numerous cultural organizations and is artist-friendly on several levels. Panel judget Martha Bernstein said, I have enjoyed participating in previous years CultureMAX Awards as a nominator, supporter, and attendee, but it was a special pleasure to be on the panel this year. I gained a deeper view of the vibrancy within our community of the Northwest corner. The Northwest CT Arts Councils new Executive Director, Rufus de Rham, made his first public appearance at the awards ceremony. The CultureMAX Awards presented this year were seven double-helix-shaped blown glass sculptures. The DNA-shaped award represents the inherent creative energy and artistic structure that continues to grow with support and community from individuals and organizations within the Northwest corner of Connecticut, according to the statement. The annual CultureMAX awards were established in 2014 by the NCAC to recognize artists (inclusive of all disciplines), heritage professionals, cultural organizations, volunteers and businesses that have elevated the stature of arts and/or heritage within the region of northwest Connecticut. This years CultureMAX event is sponsored by Litchfield Distillery, Litchfield Bancorp, Aquarion Water Company, The Waterbury Republican-American and The Warner Theatre. The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council serves as a central source for cultural information for 25 towns in the region and surrounding areas. It provides many free or low cost services including networking and roundtable sessions; the CultureBEAT emailed newsletter; promotional tools; an extensive cultural events calendar; opportunities listings such as auditions, calls for artists, jobs, funding, space sharing; listings for instruction in the arts and fine crafts; as well as a directory of artists and cultural organizations, fiscal sponsor services, and guidance about other available resources. The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is supported in part by the DECD/Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation and the Connecticut Community Foundation. For more information about the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council call 860-618-0075 or go to www.artsnwct.org Rep. Jim Himes is on the record as advocating a new generation of leadership among House Democrats, but hes not burning his bridges with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who is poised to resume the reins as Speaker of the House come January. Himes is glad to talk about the future of Democratic control of the House (This is a two-year audition) and to warn against overdoing it on investigations of Trump and Friends (We have to be the adults in the room). But when it comes to Pelosi and whether he will support her or not, hes curiously mum. Its too early to answer that question, he told me in an interview shortly after Election Day. We dont know who (the) candidates are. Fast forward to nine days after the election and the preliminary results are in: There are no candidates to challenge Pelosi. But that doesnt mean she wins the speakership in a slam-dunk. Eight to 10 Democratic House incumbents and blue-wave newbies oppose Pelosi. And depending how some of the as-yet undecided House races work out, that could be enough to block her path to the gavel. But rather than twiddle his thumbs, Himes is rallying centrist colleagues in his role as chairman of the 68-member New Democrat Coalition. The NDC will have a sit-down (or two) with prospective leadership nominees, hoping to put its imprint on the selection prospects. The coalition is inviting all those interested in leadership to make their pitch, said Himes spokesman Patrick Malone. This is going to be a golden opportunity for members to get their questions answered. The guest list is either not finalized or not for public dissemination or both. And not all Dems are centrist, thanks to a couple of electrifying newcomers like Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York, an unabashed leftist. Himes himself will want to tread lightly, because he intends to let the presumed speaker know of his interest in chairing the House intelligence committee a position that appears likely to go to the current ranking Democrat, the ubiquitous (on cable news) Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. But Himes, to his credit, is not into cutting his own throat needlessly. So this silent movie has another reel or two to go before the denouement. House rules The numbers might change, and losers now may be later to win. But when the Election Day dust finally settles, Democrats will still be in the minority in the Senate. But even if he drank alcohol, teetotaler Sen. Richard Blumenthal would not be crying in his beer. The Democrats victory in the House changes the political dynamic on Capitol Hill, even if Republicans continue to hold the Senate and White House, he insists. The bills that come over from House will set the agenda for the Senate, so Democrats will be the critical fulcrum, he said. There may be opposition from Senate Republicans, but we are the deal-makers. Although there is widespread expectation that House-Democrat legislation will die in the Senate, Blumenthal says it isnt necessarily so. Infrastructure, immigration, even guns the chances of carving out compromise have not been as good in years, he said. The bipartisan Senate passed an immigration bill in 2013 with a path to citizenship, only to see it die in the GOP House. The ground also has shifted on guns, Blumenthal said. The Manchin-Toomey background-check bill that narrowly lost in the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting could be revived. And this time the House could approve instead of burying it. Some Democrats, such as Himes, are worried that the House may overdo it on investigations of Trump & Company much like Republicans overdid the Benghazi probe in an effort to take down Hillary Clinton. Blumenthal doesnt preclude legitimate investigative oversight as long as there are no fishing expeditions. And there is no reason for Democrats to walk softly as part of an effort to reach compromise on legislation, he added. Its like walking and chewing gum at the same time. dan@hearstdc.com Cambodias Court of Appeal, which has come under fire for what are widely seen as politically motivated verdicts issued at the behest of Prime Minister Hun Sens one-party government, failed to provide a reasoned judgment in nearly three-fourths of cases it tried over the last two years, a rights group said Thursday. In a report for its Fair Trial Rights Newsletter, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) said its staffers were present for the verdicts of 338 cases between Nov. 1, 2016 and Aug. 31, 2018 at the Phnom Penh Court of Appeal, and found that in 244 instances, or 72 percent of the time, judges only announced their decision without explaining it. According to CCHRs findings, the percentage of cases where no reasons were given for the judgment has drastically increased since last year, ranging from 61 percent between May and July of 2017 to 89 percent between May and July 2018. Unfortunately, in nearly all of the cases monitored by CCHR the judges failed to provide detailed reason for their judgment, instead only announcing the ruling, CCHR said. It is essential that more attention is given on this issue in order to protect fair trial rights in Cambodia. According to the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, to which Cambodia is a party, and Cambodias own Code of Criminal Procedure, parties have the right to a reasoned judgment, meaning that a criminal judgment rendered against an individual must explain why and how the verdict has been reached, and why the person was found guilty or innocent. To do so, the judgment must set out the facts for which the person is convictedincluding dates, locations and eventsby referring to evidence, and the legal framework on which the ruling is basedboth in terms of the crime and liability. CCHR said that the right to a reasoned judgment is intrinsically linked to the right to appeal, noting that such details allow the parties to see how judges evaluated evidence, and reached factual and legal conclusions, so that they can identify points they would like to challenge before a higher court. Reasoned judgments also allow upper courts to properly review and analyze the judgment of the lower court, it added. Additionally, CCHR said, reasoned judgments promote transparency in the judicial system and are critical to the development of jurisprudence and legal certainty about the interpretation and application of the law. The rights group noted that in March this year, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith, called for greater transparency in judicial decision-making, as well as more consistent decisions on evidence and on the application of the law, and recommended that plans to make public judgments and legal reasoning should be progressed in the nation. In order to protect the right to a reasoned judgment, CCHR called on Cambodias government and judiciary to require that all judges cite relevant articles of law and list the key evidence on which they rely for their ruling in their judgment, and set out detailed guidelines indicating the kind of information which must be included in a judgment and ensure that those guidelines are strictly implemented. It also recommended that defendants be guaranteed to receive reasoned written judgments within a reasonable time, and that those judgments are made publicly available. When asked for comment, Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin told RFAs Khmer Service he had yet to see CCHRs report and questioned the methods used to compile it, saying it was unclear whether the group had approached the Court of Appeal to verify its findings. We are planning to discuss the methodology for this report with CCHRs staff, he said. If we find that the report is accurate, we will accept the findings and correct the problem. Chin Malin said the ministry is currently training judges to provide defendants with written judgments. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (right) speaks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN summit in Singapore, Nov. 15, 2018. Empire and aggression have no place in the region, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in Singapore on Thursday, slamming Beijing for what he called its illegal and dangerous militarization and territorial expansion in the South China Sea. All nations should be secure in their sovereignty, Pence told the East Asia summit that brought together leaders of the ASEAN bloc and Asia-Pacific powers including the United States and two of its rivals, China and Russia. We hold that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific, and that progress is built on a foundation of independence and partnership, said Pence Our vision excludes no nation, requiring only that they treat their neighbors with respect. Pence was representing U.S. President Donald Trump at the annual 18-nation summit, which was held in parallel with the 33rd summit of ASEAN leaders. In a wide-ranging speech in which he asserted Washingtons commitment to closer investment, trade and security ties with nations in the Indo-Pacific region, the American vice president did not hold back in criticizing China directly. Let me be clear: Chinas militarization and territorial expansion in the South China Sea is illegal and dangerous. It threatens the sovereignty of many nations and endangers the prosperity of the world, he said, according to a transcript from the White House. For our part, the United States will continue to fly and sail wherever international law allows and our national interests demand. Harassment will not deter us; it only strengthens our resolve, Pence added. Pence praised the Philippines and Thailand two longtime ASEAN countries that are building bilateral ties with Beijing as being among several old and cherished U.S. allies in the region. He also assured ASEAN leaders that the 10-nation bloc is at the center of our Indo-Pacific strategy and has a pre-eminent role to play in regional affairs. Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of host country Singapore, which holds the ASEAN chair, said the bloc was trying to balance relations with both Beijing and Washington. The U.S.-China relationship has profound implications to ASEAN, Lee said. ASEAN countries want to be able to engage with both U.S. and China, and maximize the scope and advantages of our cooperation, he added. Therefore, we hope that the US-China relations remain stable and hope that all will work out. Disputed waters Pences comments on the South China Sea came less than a week after the U.S., in a rare statement, demanded that Beijing withdraw its missile systems from the disputed Spratly islands off the Philippines in the South China Sea. Last month, Pence also hit back at Chinas alleged aggression, and what security analysts had described as false benevolence by using its debt-trap strategy of giving smaller nations massive infrastructure loans and demanding unreasonable returns in kind when they default. Analysts say that China has been applying the same strategy in the region, ingratiating itself to countries such as the Philippines by giving it huge loans allegedly in exchange for its silence on issues like the South China Sea. The Philippines, along with ASEAN countries Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, have been contesting parts of the sea region along with China and Taiwan. China and the ASEAN bloc have been working on a code of conduct to govern actions in the region. On Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the East Asia summit that Beijing hoped that this code would be finished in three years time. The Philippines leader, Rodrigo Duterte, said the timeframe given by China would mean radical changes in the laws governing international waters. And all of these things, China is there. Thats a reality and America and everybody should realize that they are there, Duterte told reporters. He cautioned against military drills in the disputed region, noting that China is already in possession of parts of the disputed region. Its now in their hands. So why do you have to create frictions (a) strong military activity that will prompt a response from China, Duterte said. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. A U.S. congressional panel focusing on Chinas economic and security policies on Wednesday released a report urging policymakers to take a hard-nosed approach to Chinese challenges to American interests globally after decades of hoping that trade and contacts would liberalize the communist country. The 2018 annual report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) said that the strategy of encouraging Chinese economic liberalization in the hope of eventually leading to political liberalization was flawed, especially as China under Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) transform itself into a global power both economically and militarily without fundamentally reforming. For several decades, U.S. policy toward China was rooted in hopes that economic, diplomatic, and security engagement would lay the foundation for a more open, liberal, and responsible China. Those hopes have, so far, proven futile, said the authors in an opening statement. "U.S. policy makers have difficult decisions to make, but one choice is easy: reality, not hope, should drive U.S. policy toward China," the report said. This transformation under Xi, who has eliminated term limits and taken control of nearly all important decision-making bodies in his country, suggests that Chinas ascension as a direct challenge to the existing world order. In word and deed, the CCP has abandoned any inclination for economic and political liberalization, it said. President Xi now appears able to focus on personally guiding Chinas political, economic, military, and diplomatic policies for the foreseeable future. Under his control, it is already clear that China is growing increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad, said the panel. Citing the high price of access to the Chinese market, unfair trading practices and the increasing trade deficit, the report says that a trade-based approach has been damaging to U.S. interests. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xis signature development strategy publicly advertised by the Chinese government as a bid to enhance regional connectivity and embrace a brighter future, represents a new type of colonialism, the report suggests. Beijing often contrasts its so-called no-strings-attached approach to development with the established global norms which condition financing on good governance, sustainability, transparency, and freedom from corruption, it said. In practice, however, accepting an offer of Chinese money often means also agreeing to purchase the services of Chinese companies and the labor of Chinese workers, aligning certain policies with Beijings preferences, and possibly ceding sovereign rights over strategic assets or infrastructure, said the report. The report says that recipient countries of BRI projects have been pushing back, by canceling or renegotiating deals, due to predatory economic practices, lack of transparency, and failing to adhere to global governance standards. Some have also criticized China over its influence operations and use of the Belt and Road Initiative to establish a new type of colonialism, it said. World-class military force Supporting Chinas attempts to dominate regional and global economics, Chinese military modernization raises deep concerns, the report said. It cited the CCP under Xis leadership hastening the modernization of the military so that it can more quickly become a world-class force. A stronger military enables China to project more confidence in diplomatic negotiations, making international cooperation in responses to crises more difficult, it said. In addition, military might only has the effect of emboldening China in its regional territorial disputes. The military has been preparing for possible future clashes with the U.S. military, the report said. Today, while working to overcome significant military shortcomings, China is already more assertively advancing Beijings sovereignty claims throughout the Indo-Pacific, intensifying preparations for combat, and enhancing its capabilities to deter and defeat the U.S. military should it be required to do so in a future conflict, said the report. Among several key recommendations to the U.S. Congress, the USCC called for efforts to blunt the impact of Chinese security threats, while protecting trade interests through enhanced transparency. The commission called for the Office of Management and Budget to prepare an annual report that rates U.S. government agencies plans to limit industrial supply chain vulnerabilities, with special attention to cybersecurity and communications technology, 5G networks and smart devices manufactured in China. The proposed report would also make recommendations each year on how to better prevent these vulnerabilities as technology evolves. The USCC also recommended exploring the possibility of bringing a case to the WTO against China to legally nullify specific international agreements, or to charge China with violating its commitments to the U.S. and its allies. It also called for the identification of trade-distorting practices of Chinese enterprises and how to lessen the anticompetitive impact of such practices. The panel also recommended efforts to monitor Chinas propaganda activities within the U.S. and to clearly label information from foreign entities, such as the China Daily, the largest English-language newspaper in the PRC that also has wide distribution in the U.S. and also publishes paid inserts in American domestic newspapers. Other recommendations aimed at strengthening the U.S. strategy on North Korea included putting sanctions on Chinese business entities that continue North Korean activities in violation of U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang aimed at halting its nuclear and missile programs. Bangladesh did not begin planned Rohingya repatriations on Thursday because no refugees agreed to return to Myanmar, while hundreds protested in refugee settlements demanding justice and restoration of their citizenship rights in the neighboring country. Rohingya chanted We wont go back, as officials arrived with five buses and three trucks at the Unchiprang refugee camp in Coxs Bazar to carry them and their belongings to the border. We could not start the repatriation today as the Rohingyas were not willing to go back voluntarily. We waited there til 4 p.m., Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission chief Md. Abul Kalam told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. In Dhaka, Foreign Affairs Minister H. Mahmud Ali repeated assurances that Bangladesh would not repatriate any Rohingya by force, while adding that efforts for their peaceful repatriation will continue. Bangladesh will send a team to Rakhine state to observe how congenial the situation is for repatriation of Rohingya, Ali told reporters at his office. Bangladesh and Myanmar had agreed to start repatriating some 2,200 refugees verified by Myanmar officials as suitable for return, over the objection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and rights groups who warned their safety could not be guaranteed in Myanmar under current conditions. The first group was to be sent Thursday, but it soon emerged that the Rohingya had not been consulted. Bangladesh officials said they had asked UNHCR officials to confirm whether the individuals wanted to return. About 720,000 Muslim Rohingyas fled Myanmars Rakhine state to Bangladesh following a military crackdown that began in August 2017. U.N. human rights investigators have accused Myanmars military of committing ethnic cleansing against the minority group. Many residents of Buddhist-majority Myanmar regard Rohingyas as Bengalis who entered illegally from Bangladesh, even though they have lived in Myanmar for generations. Most of them have been denied citizenship and prevented from traveling outside Rakhine state. We will be happy to go back Rallying next to the empty buses brought in to carry them to Rakhine state, Rohingya carried signs demanding citizenship, security, return of their homes and lands in Myanmar, as well as prosecution of people involved in violence against them. Most of the listed Rohingya have already fled, Mohammad Yousuf, 40, a leader of the demonstrating refugees, told BenarNews. We will not go back until our demands are fulfilled. They have to give us Burmese citizenship, we dont want anything else, and if they give us citizenship, then we will be happy to go back right now, Rohingya Aman Ullah told BenarNews, referring to Myanmar by its old name. Kalam spoke to reporters at midday at the Unchiprang camp, admitting that no Rohingya had volunteered to return thus far. You know we have all logistical preparations. The medical teams are also here to do the medical check-ups, he said. We also have the support, three days rations for them, and from the morning, actually, many people gathered here, including the ones who are on the list, cleared by the Myanmar side. We also listened to them, they are actually asking for other basic things, he said without elaborating. Speaking to reporters in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state, Myanmars minister for social welfare, relief, and resettlement Win Myat Aye said Rohingya who wanted to return were being prevented from doing so. Those who wanted to come back were stopped or threatened in the refugee camps by those who do not want to. Some didnt get the forms they are required to fill in and some were not allowed to fill in the forms, he said. Among those in the camps over there who said they wanted to return, some were threatened or beaten up and killed in some cases. He did not say what this assertion was based on. "I do not want to blame anybody, its not my style. Im just asking for cooperation from the Bangladesh government. All the physical details of the arrangements have been spelled out and I just want to call on the Bangladeshi side to help implement them." In Dhaka, an analyst said Bangladesh should expect Rohingya refugees to remain in the country for a long time. It has become clear that the Rohingya will not go back so easily. There will be a long-time presence of Rohingya in Bangladesh, Delwar Hossain, director of the Center for Genocide Studies of Dhaka University, told BenarNews. The international community needs to take a role for their repatriation. In a statement Thursday, Human Rights Watch urged Bangladesh to halt the repatriation effort. The Myanmar authorities have done nothing to create conditions for safe and dignified returns or to address the root causes of the crisis, including systematic persecution and violence, statelessness, and impunity for grave violations by the military, the U.S.-based rights watchdog group said. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, and by Min Thein Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Visitors walk along the nearly 500-foot-long Cau Vang Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills near the coastal city of Danang in central Vietnam, July 31, 2018. Authorities in central Vietnams coastal city Danang on Friday ordered the detention of at least 10 protesters who opposed being forcibly evicted from their homes in the latest development in a long-running land grab case in Con Dau parish, one of the evictees told RFAs Vietnamese Service. About 500 people, including policemen and security guards, were mobilized along with an ambulance, a fire truck, and a digger to forcibly evict seven families and demolish their homes in the Catholic community in Cam Le district to make way for an ongoing ecotourism development project, said evicted resident Huynh Ngoc Truong. Two families including at least 10 people were detained, he said. The families say they have been shortchanged on the compensation that officials have offered them for their homes and the land on which they cultivate rice. They have been offered 50,000 dong (U.S. $2.14) per square meter for farmland, though officials have resold the plots to developers for 20 million-40 million dong (U.S. $856-$1,712) per square meter, Truong said. My family has 7,000 square meters of farmland and 1,600 square meters of housing, he said, but did not state the amount of money he had been offered. Danang officials have offered new settlements to the parishioners, but many do not want to move to the sites, preferring instead to relocate to an area near their church, Truong said. On Thursday, national radio broadcaster Voice of Vietnam and daily state newspaper Tuoi Tre quoted parish officials as saying that the compensation amount should be enough for residents to be able to move and for those who have already relocated to new settlements to have better lives. Those arrested are part of a larger group of 100 remaining families in the parish who have been slated by officials for relocation to make way for the Hoa Xuan urban ecological zone. The development project was initiated in 2008 with investment from the privately-owned Vietnamese real estate developer Sun Group after the Danang government decided to expropriate the land of Con Dau parish a year earlier and to demolish all houses there. At that time, officials asked about 400 families from the parish to move out so the land on which their homes sat could be leased to the investor. But the residents opposed the project, citing inadequate compensation and housing alternatives in a distant location. They were also rattled by the idea of having to abandon the parish cemetery, a national culture heritage site, which authorities later demolished and removed to a remote area. The map shows Con Dau parish located just south of the Danang in central Vietnam. Credit: RFA graphic Violent clash with police Though many of the 400 families did not want to move and complained that the compensation offered to them was not enough, some of them agreed to relocate, while others fled to Thailand after a violent clash with police in 2010. In October of that year, Vietnamese authorities sentenced two people to jail for clashes over the land dispute between residents and Con Dau parish authorities that highlighted alleged police brutality and religious persecution. A Danang court ordered one resident to 12 months in jail on accusations that he led a May funeral protest that sparked the confrontation between villagers and police. He was one of six people held without trial by police for their roles in the protests. A female resident received nine months in jail for "throwing dirty stuff" at police during the cemetery clashes at the funeral of an 82-year-old woman. Police prevented the burial because the land was to be transferred for the ecotourism project. Four others, also convicted for alleged offenses at the funeral protests, were given suspended nine-month jail sentences and were released and placed under probation. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a religious watchdog set up by U.S. law, called for the unconditional release of those arrested after its staff conducted interviews with Con Dau residents and found "credible evidence of intimidation, harassment, restrictions on peaceful religious ceremonies, and torture in detention." Hundreds of residents later left the parish in 2013 on account of threats and the forced destruction of some of their homes, as land use rights were reportedly being sold by lots to private individuals, according to a statement issued in March 2014 by the U.N.s human rights office (OHCHR). The Danang government gave the remaining hundred or so families a deadline of April 15, 2014, to forfeit their land and move, while the compulsory demolition of homes continued. U.N. human rights experts took up the plight of the Con Dau residents and called on the Vietnamese government to intervene in the forced evictions of the last remaining residents. This appears to be a clear case of land grabbing for the benefit of private entrepreneurs and at the expense of local communities, Raquel Rolnik, the U.N. special rapporteur on the right to housing, said in a statement at the time. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The mountain paths leading out of Jaghori, a district in the remote highlands of central Afghanistan, teem with trucks and cars crammed with men, women, and children. Despite freezing conditions, others make the journey by foot, trudging alongside the hastily formed convoys with their meager possessions slung over their shoulders. They are escaping the Taliban, which launched a major attack last week to seize control of Jaghori and Malistan, districts in Afghanistan's central Ghazni Province heavily populated with members of the country's beleaguered Hazara minority. Those who successfully make the hazardous journey -- many head to the provincial capital, Ghazni city, others all the way to Kabul -- find little solace in their new surroundings. No Food, Medicine Arrivals to Ghazni city, where Taliban fighters are clashing with government forces on the outskirts of town, say the government has failed to provide them with basic necessities. "We have gone from one grave to another," says Abdullah, a resident of Jaghori who fled to Ghazni city on November 13 with his family of nine. "We don't have any food or blankets. Two of my children are sick from the cold, and there's no medicine." "We left in the middle of the night in a crowded truck," adds Abdullah, who only goes by one name. "People left any way they could." Abdul Khaleq Ahmadi, the head of the provincial department for refugees, says that more than 1,000 families from Jaghori and Malistan have escaped to Ghazni city in the past week. Most families are living in schools, mosques, and hostels in the city, while others are staying with relatives. The government and aid agencies are scrambling to set up temporary accommodation for the displaced and supply them with basic provisions. Many of the new arrivals say the response has been slow. "I came here with my wife and children," says Mohammad Ali, whose family found shelter in a mosque in Ghazni city on November 11 after leaving their home in Sang-e Masha, the main town in Jaghori district. "There's no food. People are getting sick." Taliban Threat The Taliban still pose a threat to many who have fled to Ghazni city, which itself was briefly overrun by the militants following a massive offensive in August. Hundreds of people were killed in the ensuing fighting that destroyed parts of the city. While the militants were beaten back, they have continued to attack government forces on the outskirts of the city. The militants are estimated to control more territory than any time since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 that ousted the Taliban regime. The Afghan government this week sent air and ground reinforcements to help Afghan special forces and Hazara militiamen fighting the Taliban in Jaghori and Malistan. The ongoing clashes have killed hundreds on both sides. Many people have expressed anger and frustration over the government's slow response in sending reinforcements. The fighting prompted demonstrations in Kabul and Ghazni city by Hazara, who have complained of official neglect after their community was targeted in a string of militant attacks. A suicide attack close to where demonstrators had been gathering in Kabul killed at least six people on November 12. The Taliban terrorized Hazara during its oppressive 1996-2001 rule, when the militants seized control of central Afghanistan through brute force and a campaign of targeted killings. The current fighting in Ghazni between the mostly Pashtun Sunni Taliban and Shi'ite Hazara has heightened fears of ethnic and sectarian violence, even as the Taliban has denied it is specifically targeting Hazara. 'We Don't Have Anything' While many have sought refuge in Ghazni city, others have made the hazardous road journey through Taliban-controlled areas to the capital, Kabul. "We travelled for three days and nights by truck until we finally arrived in Kabul," says Fatima, a resident of the town of Anguri in the Jaghori district, adding that they used back roads to avoid Taliban checkpoints in the region. "There was fierce fighting in our area," adds Fatima, who only goes by one name. She says she fled after the Taliban overran her town. She arrived in the capital on November 12 with several other families from the same town. She says she left with only a few pieces of extra clothing. "We're staying here with relatives, but we don't have anything," she says. "We don't have any money." Nesar Ahmad arrived in Kabul on November 13 with more than 20 family members and relatives. He is staying with relatives in Dasht-e Barchi, a predominately Hazara area that has been hit by a series of deadly suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. Ahmad acknowledges the threat of staying in Dasht-e Barchi, but he says staying in Jaghori was not an option. "Everyone fled in every direction to stay alive," says Ahmad, who adds that people escaped to Bamiyan and Dai Kundi, Hazara-majority regions that neighbor Ghazni. "The government should know its responsibility," says Ahmad with a sigh of frustration. "There are hundreds of people here like me that need help. We don't have money or food. The government needs to clear out the Taliban so we can go back to our homes." China says Western diplomats exceeded their diplomatic roles by issuing a letter expressing concern about mass detentions in the northwestern province of Xinjiang. A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told reporters on November 15 that it would be "problematic" if the diplomats were attempting to put pressure on authorities in Xinjiang. A group of foreign ambassadors to Beijing have asked in writing to discuss the situation in the province, where investigations by the United Nations revealed in August that an estimated 1 million Muslims from Xinjiang, mainly ethnic Uyghurs, were being held in "counterextremism centers" and millions more have been forced into reeducation camps. Inmates and relatives say the detainees are forced to renounce their religion and culture while swearing fealty to President Xi Jinping and the ruling Communist Party. The letter to the Chinese government has not been made public, but the Reuters news agency reported it was signed by 15 Western ambassadors, including the Canadian, British, French, German, and European Union envoys. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the letter was based on hearsay and violated the terms of the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations. Last month, dozens of ethnic Kazakhs originally from Xinjiang held two separate public protests in Almaty, Kazakhstan, appealing to German and French officials for help in seeking the release of relatives from camps in China. Also in October, Kazakhstan denied asylum to Sairagul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh Chinese citizen whose court testimony helped expose "reeducation camps" in China. Sauytbay is wanted in China for illegally crossing the border, but a Kazakh court in August refused to allow her extradition. She fled Xinjiang in April and testified in the Almaty court that thousands of ethnic Kazakhs, Uyghurs, and other Muslims in Xinjiang are undergoing "political indoctrination" at a network of "reeducation camps." Uyghurs are the largest indigenous community in Xinjiang, followed by Kazakhs, and the region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, and Tajiks. Han, China's largest ethnicity, are the second-largest community in Xinjiang, which borders Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, and Tajikistan. With reporting by Reuters and AP Thousands of protesters have demanded Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis's resignation in downtown Prague, while his coalition partners discussed whether to quit the government. The pressure against Babis followed a media report in which Babis's son said his father had wanted him to go into hiding to impede a criminal investigation into Babis and two of his children on suspicion they illegally took a 2 million-euro ($2.27 million) EU subsidy a decade ago. In reaction, the opposition called a parliamentary vote of no confidence. The house speaker said on November 15 the vote would likely take place on November 23. Billionaire businessman Babis, the EU and NATO member country's most popular politician, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the report, published by news website Seznam.cz, as part of a media campaign against him. In Prague's Wenceslas Square, several thousand people chanted "resignation" and "shame" on November 15. Some waved Czech and EU flags and carried slogans including "Down with Babis." The center-left Social Democrats, a coalition partner of Babis's ANO party in the minority administration, have been considering "all options" regarding further action, party leader Jan Hamacek said. If the government loses the no-confidence vote, it must resign. A new prime minister would be appointed by President Milos Zeman. Babis could find support elsewhere to survive at the helm of the government. The far-right opposition SPD, an anti-EU and anti-NATO party, has indicated it may be willing to back a Babis-led cabinet without Social Democrat ministers if it changes some of its policies. Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa Taliban insurgents attacked a joint police and army outpost in Afghanistans western Farah Province, killing at least 38 officers and soldiers, as the onslaught against the countrys security forces mounts, officials say. Provincial council member Khair Mohammad Noorzai told the dpa news agency that the four-hour attack occurred in the early morning of November 15 and killed nearly all of the soldiers and police officers stationed at the joint base. In Kabul, lawmaker Samiullah Samim told the AP that air strikes killed 17 of the Taliban attackers but most managed to flee. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack and said about 80 weapons and several vehicles were captured by militants. Meanwhile, fighting with Taliban militants in two districts of central Ghazni Province has displaced thousands of people, most of them from the minority Shiite Hazara population. Some 100 Afghan security forces have been killed in those battles. The resurgent Taliban have mounted increasing numbers of a provincial attacks in their battle to bring down the Western-backed government in Kabul and force out foreign troops. Unofficial reports have estimated that some 45 Afghan police officers or soldiers are killed daily or wounded in attacks by the Taliban and other militants. Afghan security forces have struggled to counter attacks from militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO combat troops in 2014. The remaining Western forces mainly train and advise the Afghan military, although some are still occasionally caught in firefights. U.S. special envoy Zakmay Khalilzad is involved in an effort to persuade Taliban officials to take part in peace talks with Kabul to end the decades-long war. Separately, Russia held peace talks in Moscow on November 9 that included Taliban representatives, but little progress was reported. Based on reporting by dpa, Reuters, and AP YEREVAN -- Eleven political parties and alliances have submitted documents to vie for seats in the Armenian parliament in the snap elections scheduled for December 9. The deadline to file with the Central Election Commission (CEC) was at the end of the day on November 14. The process of registering the parties will run through November 19. The campaigning period will be from November 26 through December 7, with December 8 to be declared a day of silence in which no campaigning will be allowed ahead of the vote. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced in October that he was resigning from the post of prime minister in order to dissolve parliament and force early elections. He has continued to perform his prime-ministerial duties until a new parliament and prime minister are elected. Pashinian pushed for early parliamentary elections following his bloc's landslide victory in the mayoral race in the capital, Yerevan, in a bid to unseat his political opponents in the Republican Party (HHK), who have maintained a majority in parliament. Pashinians My Step alliance consists of current government members and supporters of the movement that came to power in a wave of peaceful street protests last spring. The list of candidates of the former ruling HHK is headed by former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian. Armenias ex-president and ex-prime minister, Serzh Sarkisian, who was ousted by Pashinian in what many in Armenia call a velvet revolution in April and May, is not among the candidates and will not be involved in the campaign, according to his party. Vigen Sargsian declared that the HHK is aiming to finish second in the polls because it is now the sole genuinely opposition force in Armenia. Pashinian allies have voiced skepticism that the HHK can win any seats in the next parliament. The Prosperous Armenia Party headed by tycoon Gagik Tsarukian is also among parties that will bid for seats in the 101-member National Assembly. The list of the newly created Sasna Tsrer All-Armenian Party is headed by Varuzhan Avetisian, one of the leaders of an armed group that seized and for two weeks held a police compound in Yerevan in July 2016, making political demands to the then-government. Avetisian and most other members of the group were arrested but later released and eventually amnestied under the new Armenian administration. The group has vowed to cease armed struggle and engage in the political process. Other parties that submitted documents include: Bright Armenia, headed by lawmaker and former Pashinian ally Edmon Marukian; the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun); the Orinats Yerkir Party; the alliance of the Hanrapetutyun (Republic) and Free Democrats parties called We. Three little-known parties -- the Christian-Democratic Rebirth Party, the National Progress Party, and the Citizens Decision Social Democratic Party -- have also registered. BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has said it is cutting its financial assistance to Moldova by 20 million euros ($22.7 million) per year for both 2017 and 2018 amid concerns about the rule of law and the democratic backsliding of the country. The financial assistance earmarked by the European Union for the two years amounted initially to a total of 140 million euros ($158 million). Furthermore, EU Neighborhood Commissioner Johannes Hahn told RFE/RL the 100 million-euro macrofinancial assistance (MFA) program for the country had now been suspended until further notice after being initially frozen temporarily in July. The decisions come one day after the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution highly critical of Moldova, saying it has become a "state captured by oligarchic interests" that exert their influence over most parts of Moldova's society. "It's also a question of our own credibility," Hahn said, adding, "if we pursue European standards and if all this is not respected or [worse], it's even done the opposite way, of course we have to react. Otherwise people would believe we are in a way a lame duck" a reference to the current outgoing European Commission, whose term expires next year. Hahn said the decisions were meant to penalize the government rather than ordinary Moldovans. It's important to understand this is not something which is against the [Moldovan] citizens, quite the opposite; the programs which are still in place are targeted and aiming to support the interests of citizens, for instance to invest in certain infrastructure measures, waste-treatment [stations] where there's clearly a benefit for ordinary citizens. Both the suspension of the MFA and the cutting of direct support could be reversed, Hahn said, if authorities address EU concerns regarding issues such as the "very dubious" voiding of mayoral elections in the capital which had been won by an anticorruption candidate, or the disappearance in 2014 of an estimated $1 billion from Moldova's banks -- a huge fraud known as "the robbery of the century" in Moldova -- one of the poorest countries in Europe. Addressing concerns that the EU could cancel the visa-free traveling regime to the Schengen zone, which Moldovans have been enjoying since 2014, Hahn said the issue is not being "currently discussed." However, he warned that Moldova is very proactively advertising Moldovan citizenship, for instance in the [Persian] Gulf region for economic reasons, and cautioned that the 28-member bloc doesn't have "any evidence of who is getting Moldovan citizenship." With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak BRUSSELS -- The European Union is set to add five individuals involved in the organization of the weekend elections in the areas controlled by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to its sanctions list, according to sources in Brussels. The blocs foreign ministers are due to agree to the move when they meet in the Belgian capital on November 19, several EU sources familiar with the matter who could not speak on the record told RFE/RL on November 15. A formal decision is expected to be taken later in the month, they also said. The five individuals would join 155 other people from Russia and Ukraine who are currently subject to EU asset freezes and travel bans. The bloc has also frozen the assets of 44 entities from both countries since Moscow's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014 and its support for separatists in a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. Kyiv and its international backers, including the European Union and the United States, have denounced the November 11 polls in the areas held by the separatists in the Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk regions as a sham. They say the elections to choose the separatists heads in the two regions will further hamper efforts to put an end to the fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. However, Moscow argues that the vote didn't violate the Minsk agreements signed in September 2014 and February 2015, laying out steps for settling the conflict. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Russia violated opposition politician Aleksei Navalnys rights over numerous arrests and jailings, calling them unlawful and arbitrary and politically motivated. The human rights court in Strasbourg, France, on November 15 delivered its ruling, rejecting an appeal filed by Russia over a previous judgment favoring Navalny. The court upheld its previous decision that found Navalnys seven arrests and two instances of pretrial detentions by Russian authorities between 2012-14 violated his rights, lacked a legitimate aim," and had not been necessary in a democratic society. He immediately hailed the decision, writing on Twitter, Won. Fully. The government is crushedHooray! He also told reporters that the ruling was an example of "genuine justice" and was "very important not just for me but for other people all over Russia who are arrested every day." As part of the ruling, the court ordered Russia to pay Navalny about 64,000 euros in compensation, costs, and expenses and said its decision was final and binding. Moscow did not immediately comment on the court's ruling. Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critics, attended the hearing, along with his brother Oleg, and posted a photograph of the two of them at the ECHR on Instragram. Russia's Constitutional Court has previously ruled that officials can ignore judgments by the ECHR if they are found to contravene the Russian Constitution. Russia has lost a number of high-profile cases in Strasbourg and been ordered to pay out hefty compensation in scores of politically embarrassing cases. Navalny was originally prevented from boarding a flight out of Moscow on November 13 to attend the hearing. The Federal Bailiffs Service (FSSP) said he was barred from leaving due to what it said was debt he owed Kirovles, a state timber company at the center of a politically charged criminal case in which he has now been convicted twice. The FSSP later said the fine was paid and that restrictions on Navalny's travel abroad had been lifted. He said he would sue the FSSP over what he called "illegal activities" and demand compensation for the 29,542 rubles ($436) in financial losses he said he and his lawyer sustained due to the FSSP's decision to bar him from leaving. The ECHR ruling was on an appeal filed by Russia over a court decision in February 2017 that ruled in favor of Navalny, but Russia filed an appeal to challenge the decision. Navalny, 42, has organized large street protests on several occasions since 2011 and has published a series of reports alleging corruption in Putin's circle. He has repeatedly been jailed for periods ranging from 10 days to a few weeks, usually for alleged infractions of laws governing public demonstrations. Navalny had spent nearly 200 days in jail since 2011, including 140 days since the start of his attempt to challenge Putin in the March 2018 presidential election, his spokeswoman has said. Electoral authorities barred Navalny from the ballot, citing convictions in two financial-crimes cases he and his supporters contend were Kremlin-orchestrated efforts to punish him for his opposition activity and for the reports alleging corruption. Navalny was convicted in 2013 of stealing money from Kirovles and was sentenced to five years in prison. But the sentence was later suspended, sparing him from serving time in prison. In 2016, the ECHR ruled that the Kirovles trial was unfair and that the two men had been convicted of actions "indistinguishable from regular commercial activity." The Russian Supreme Court then threw out the 2013 convictions and ordered a new trial. In February 2017, the lower court again convicted the two men and handed down the same suspended prison sentence. INFOGRAPHIC: All The Times Aleksei Navalny Has Been In Jail (swipe left and right to view full panorama) Armenias top court has overturned an earlier decision by a lower court to release former President Robert Kocharian from custody following coup charges leveled against him. Kocharian was arrested in July on charges stemming from his government's deadly repression of opposition protests during the final weeks of his 1998-2008 rule. He is specifically accused of illegally using force against opposition supporters who protested against alleged fraud in a disputed presidential election held in February 2008. Law enforcement authorities say that amounted to an overthrow of the constitutional order. Eight protesters and two police personnel were killed when security forces repressed those protests on March 1-2, 2008. Kocharian strongly denies the accusations, saying that Armenias current government is waging a political vendetta against him. Kocharian, who is 64, was freed on August 13 by a court of appeals which argued that the Armenian Constitution gives him immunity from prosecution in connection with the 2008 violence. Both state prosecutors and Kocharian appealed against that ruling. The latter claimed that there were also other legal grounds for his release. The Court of Cassation, the countrys highest body of criminal justice, rejected Kocharians appeal and only partly met the prosecutors demands on November 15. It ordered the Court of Appeals to reexamine the case. This means that the ex-president will not be held in detention pending another court ruling on his pretrial arrest. Kocharian announced his return to politics just days after his release from prison. He has since repeatedly accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government of endangering the countrys national security, undermining its relations with Russia, and lacking economic programs. However, he has decided not to run in snap parliamentary elections slated for December 9. Pashinian, who played a key role in the 2008 protests, has strongly defended the criminal case against Kocharian. All murderers will go to prison, he declared on August 17. Four guards at a penitentiary in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk have been handed prison terms for beating an inmate to death. A court in Chelyabinsk on November 15 found the four men guilty of abuse of power with violence and sentenced them to prison terms between three and eight years. Inmate Sultan Israilov was found dead in the Corrective Colony No. 2 penitentiary in December 2015. The prison authorities initially claimed the death was a suicide. But some 500 inmates started a hunger strike, demanding an investigation into Israilov's death, which led to a probe in which five prison guards were arrested. One of the guards committed suicide in May 2016 while under house arrest. Abuses by prison guards, police, and other law enforcement officers have long been rife in Russia. The issue turned into a hot topic in recent months across Russia after a video showing at least 17 guards beating an inmate at a prison in Yaroslavl became public in July. On November 13, deputy head of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Valery Maksimenko said Russia needs more prisons to hold police officers and other law enforcement agents who have been convicted of crimes. Based on reporting by Znak and Interfax German police late on November 14 cleared the area around the Russian Embassy in Berlin for hours after finding a suspicious object in a car parked near the embassy on Berlin's famed Unter den Linden street. A police spokesperson said only the area around the embassy was blocked off and that one person, the owner of the car with the suspicious item, was detained. Bomb-disposal teams went to the scene to investigate the item. The Russian news agency TASS, citing a policeman at the site, reported early on November 15 that investigators had found no threat and left the scene. Unter den Linden stretches from one of the city's main squares -- Alexander Square -- to the Brandenburg Gate. The street is lined by embassies, hotels, museums, and performance halls. The car owner was detained earlier in the day, but police did not say why. The car was discovered while police were investigating him. TASS quoted the Russian Embassy press service as saying that a foreign national, presumably from Poland, parked a car with a Polish license plate by the embassy building. "After leaving the car, he tried to enter the diplomatic mission with a request to grant him protection. Policemen detained him. There is a suspicion that he might be mentally ill," TASS quoted the embassy's press service as saying. Based on reporting by dpa and TASS Former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski escaped Macedonia through Albania in a Hungarian diplomatic car, police in Tirana have said after Budapest formally denied any involvement. Gruevski left Albania on November 11 "at 7:11 p.m. using the border crossing Hani i Hotit, to enter Montenegro," a police statement said. Gruevski traveled in a car with the number plate CD 1013A, it said. Montenegrin police confirmed that Gruevski entered the country on November 11 "and left Montenegro the same day," adding that they had "fully respected legal procedures in this case." Gruevski, the former leader of the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, was sentenced in May to two years in prison for unlawfully influencing Interior Ministry officials over the purchase of a luxury vehicle valued at 600,000 euros ($680,000). Facing jail after his appeal was rejected, Gruevski fled to Hungary, a European Union member, where he sought asylum. Earlier on November 15, the Hungarian government formally denied having actively provided assistance in Gruevski's escape. "The Hungarian state authorities had nothing to do with him leaving the territory of his own country," Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief, Gergely Gulyas, told reporters. "The Hungarian state had nothing to do with him leaving Macedonia." A Hungarian government representative said later that it did not want to comment on the information released by Albania. In the past, Gruevski has indicated he was close to Orban. In 2017, Orban offered his public backing to Gruevski during his campaign for municipal elections, in which his party lost to the ruling Social Democrats. Both have accused U.S. billionaire philanthropist George Soros of stoking illegal immigration -- claims that Soros denies. Based on reporting by AFP and dpa Protests took place in Pakistan following the apparent abduction and killing of a high-ranking police official. Protesters gathered November 15 in the capital, Islamabad, and in the northwestern city of Bannu after authorities said they found a body believed to be that of Tahir Khan Dawar in eastern Afghanistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 15 ordered an investigation into the death of a high-ranking police officer whose body was found dead in eastern Afghanistan. The body of Tahir Dawar was found by locals in Dur Baba district of Nangarhar Province near the Pakistani border on November 13, Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry quoted Afghan authorities as saying. Dawar, 50, disappeared on October 27 in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. He had been serving as head of the Peshawar polices rural circle. Khan said he had ordered authorities to carry out "an inquiry immediately," while the Foreign Affairs Ministry said it had twice summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires in Islamabad to "seek clarity."Dawars abduction, move to [Afghanistan], murder, and follow up behavior of [Afghan] authorities raise questions which indicate involvement or resources more than a terrorist organization in Afghanistan," Pakistani military spokesman Major General Asif Ghrafoor tweeted. Afghan officials were not immediately available for comment. Dawars body was delivered to tribal elders near the Pakistani border on November 15 before being taken to Peshawar. Pictures circulated on social media on November 13 appeared to show his badly tortured body with a hand-written Pashto letter placed on his chest, purportedly written by Wilayat Khorasan, a name used by the militant Islamic State affiliate that operates in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Pakistani Senate discussed the apparent murder in its session in Islamabad on November 14-15. Opposition parties criticized the federal government for failing to protect the police official and claimed authorities did not investigate the case properly. Meanwhile, supporters of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) protested in several Pakistani cities to denounce Dawars apparent killing. The demonstrators also chanted slogans against the Pakistani army, which the group accuses of conducting heavy-handed operations in the militancy-hit tribal regions. With reporting by Reuters A Russian man was sentenced to 14 years in prison after cutting off his wife's hands with an ax. A court in the Moscow region sentenced 27-year-old Dmitry Grachyov on November 15 after finding him guilty of premeditated infliction of serious injury, abduction, and other charges. The court also ordered him to pay to his former wife a sum equal to $30,000 in compensation for moral damages. Investigators said that in December 2017 Grachyov took his wife, Margarita, to a forest near Serpukhov, a town located some 80 kilometers south of Moscow, and tied her hands. He then ordered her to confess she had been unfaithful and hacked her wrists with an ax at least 10 times before chopping her hands off. A month before the incident, Grachyov brought his wife to a forest and threatened to kill her for alleged adultery, according to investigators. The wife then filed a lawsuit against a local police officer, who refused to open an investigation into her complaint. Charges of alleged criminal negligence are being pressed against the officer. The couple officially divorced in September. In his final testimony at the trial, Grachyov said he regretted what he called "his very big mistake" and apologized to his ex-wife and his two children. A psychiatric examination found that the defendant had a personality disorder, but that he was of sound mind when he committed the crime. Both Grachyov and his ex-wife told journalists they will appeal the sentencing. Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS A 75-year-old researcher at a Russian rocket and spacecraft design facility who is charged with treason has rejected a deal with investigators and will remain in custody, his lawyer says. Ivan Pavlov wrote on Facebook on November 14 that his client, Viktor Kudryavtsev, refused to plead guilty and testify against an unidentified colleague in exchange for being released from pretrial detention. According to Pavlov, despite his age, ill health, and desire to be with his loved ones, Kudryavtsev had chosen to stay in Moscow's Lefortovo jail with "a clear conscience." Kudryavtsev, who worked with the Central Research Institute for Machine Building, was arrested in July on suspicion of passing classified data on hypersonic technology to a research group in Belgium. The case is one of several in recent years in which Russian citizens have been accused of treason or disseminating classified or sensitive information. The newly elected leader of an area controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine has promised closer integration with Russia following polls denounced as a sham by Kyiv and the West. "A course toward the Russian Federation will be continued," Denis Pushilin, the head of the separatists in the Donetsk region, said on November 14 in his first media appearance since the weekend elections. "This is not only cultural and social integration, but also economic," he said. "We have already learned to live without Ukraine." Kyiv and its international backers said the November 11 polls in the areas held by the separatists in both the Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk regions would further hamper efforts to end a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014. However, Moscow argued that the elections would not violate the Minsk agreements signed in September 2014 and February 2015, laying out steps for settling the conflict. The separatists said on November 14 that the polls in Donetsk and Luhansk endorsed the two men who were already acting as leaders -- 37-year-old Pushilin and 48-year-old Leonid Pasechnik. The previous separatist leader in Donetsk, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, died in an explosion in August. Moscow pointed the finger at Ukraine, while Kyiv blamed internal fighting between the separatists and their Russian sponsors." Kyiv's Central Election Commission dismissed the results of what it said were "illegal" votes in Donetsk and Luhansk and said the polls were simply an excuse for Moscow to cement its grip on the regions. The United States and other Western countries have condemned the elections as a "sham" and illegal." However, the Kremlin said the regions had "nothing left but to self-organize" after being "abandoned" by Ukraine. Separatists seized territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions after a popular uprising ousted Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovich in February 2014 and Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula a month later. The West has imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and its backing of the separatists. However, Moscow has repeatedly denied financing and equipping the separatist forces despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, insisting that the fighting is a civil, internal conflict. Fighting in eastern Ukraine persists despite cease-fire deals reached as part of the Minsk agreements, and implementation of other measures set out in the deals has been slow. With reporting by AFP and Interfax A 20-year-old Ukrainian man charged with abetting terrorism has refused to testify at his trial in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. "I am not guilty and refuse to give any testimonies," Pavlo Hryb told the North Caucasus Regional Military Court where the trial resumed on November 15. Hryb, whose family contends he was set up by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), went on trial on July 23, but the court halted it after finding that the formal charge against the defendant was based on a clause of the Criminal Code that had not been in place at the time of the alleged crime. Prosecutors sent the case back to the court in October after correcting what Russian media called a procedural mistake. Hryb went missing in August 2017 after he traveled to Belarus to meet a woman he met online. Relatives believe he walked into a trap set by the FSB, which later told Ukraine that Hryb was being held in a detention center in Russia on suspicion of abetting terrorism. Russian investigators accuse Hryb of using the Internet to instruct a teenage girl in Russia's southern city of Sochi to carry out a terrorist act using an explosive device. Hryb's father, Ihor Hryb, has argued that the case against his son was Russian retaliation for Internet posts that were openly critical of Russia's interference in Ukraine. Russia seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 after sending in troops and staging a referendum dismissed as illegal by at least 100 countries. Moscow backs separatists in a war against government forces that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax The United States is claiming that Iran spends nearly $1 billion a year providing support to Hizballah, Hamas, and other allied militant groups in the Middle East. U.S. Ambassador Nathan Sales, a coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department, told reporters in Washington late on November 13 that Iran spends about $700 million a year on Hizballah, the Lebanese militia that has fought wars with Israel and has provided critical support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his seven-year civil war against Sunni rebels. In addition, Sales said Tehran gives Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip, and other "Palestinian terrorist groups" another $100 million a year. He did not specify where the rest of the funding goes, but he claimed the total spending by Iran supporting militant activities primarily in the Middle East is close to $1 billion a year. "Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. It has held that dubious distinction for many years now, and it shows no signs of relinquishing the title," Sales said. "Sadly, it is the Iranian people who are forced to pay this price. The resources that Iran uses to fund its global terrorist ambitions are resources that come directly out of the pockets of everyday, average Iranians." U.S. President Donald Trump has said the sanctions he reimposed on Iran this year were aimed in part at forcing Tehran to curb its support for militant activities in the Middle East, making such financial outlays more difficult and burdensome. A principal goal of the U.S. sanctions imposed last week was to cut Iran's revenues from exporting oil, which have provided a large share of funding for the government and Iran's military, including its Quds Force, which conducts foreign military operations involving Hamas and Hizballah. Iranian officials have said the sanctions will do nothing to deter the country's support for allies in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and elsewhere. But in street protests that broke out in Iran earlier this year, some demonstrators expressed concern about the money the government is spending in Syria and elsewhere outside Iran. Sales made his comments as the United States announced a new round of sanctions against the son of Hizballah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, as well as other senior commanders of Hizballah and Hamas. The department announced it was offering up to $5 million for information leading to Hamas leader Salih al-Aruri and Lebanese Hizballah leaders Khalil Yusuf Mahmud Harb and Haitham Ali Tabatabai. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Michael Evanoff said Harb is Hizballah's military liaison with Hamas while Tabatabai commands Hizballah forces fighting alongside the Syrian Army in Syria. Sales claimed that Hizballah's extensive military operations and growing political clout in Lebanon pose a danger for the Lebanese people. He made that claim on the same day that Lebanon's prime minister accused Hizballah of blocking the formation of a government in Beirut. "Inside Lebanon, Hizballah's destructive actions have endangered the Lebanese people," Sales said. "Thanks to Iran's backing, Hizballah has built a fearsome arsenal. The group has stockpiled more than 100,000 rockets and missiles inside Lebanon, and we see this as a massive and destabilizing buildup." "As we all know, Hizballah hides its missile factories in population centers, effectively using innocent civilians as human shields," Sales said. The ambassador claimed that Iran's ties with Hamas have grown recently and also pose a danger in the region. "We are also deeply concerned about Tehrans growing ties to Hamas," he said. "After a brief split early in the Syria conflict, Hamas and Iran have rebuilt their relationship. Iran is once again providing Hamas with much-needed funding." The Republican leader of the U.S. Senate has blocked a bipartisan effort to pass legislation to protect the special counsel investigating ties between Russia and President Donald Trump's election campaign. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on November 14 said he wouldn't allow a vote on the legislation because he doesn't believe it is needed, despite Trump's replacement of Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week with an aide who has repeatedly criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. "Theres been no indication...that the investigation will not be allowed to finish, and it should be allowed to finish," McConnell said. Trump has frequently called the investigation a "hoax" and a "witch hunt" and repeatedly asserted he has the authority to fire Mueller. "We know how the president feels about the...investigation, but he's never said he wants to shut it down," McConnell said. "I think it is in no danger. So I dont think any legislation is necessary." Democrats in Congress, who gained control over the House of Representatives in elections last week, have been pushing for legislation to protect Mueller from being fired. Several Republicans in the Senate have allied with Democrats in demanding legislative protections for Mueller. Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a critic of Trump who is retiring at the end of the year, co-sponsored the legislation and joined Democrats in their bid to pass it in a unanimous consent vote on the Senate floor on November 14. "The president now has this investigation in his sights and we all know it," Flake said after McConnell blocked the move to unanimously approve the legislation. "This is not a moment for our national leadership to be weak or irresolute or compromised in any way," Flake said. Flake said the bill has enough support in the Senate to pass and he and the bill's Democratic sponsors will try "again and again" to bring it up for a vote before Congress adjourns at the end of the year. Flake also threatened to block Senate votes on dozens of Trump's judicial nominees who are awaiting confirmation until the Senate votes on the Mueller protection bill. McConnell has said confirming judges is a top priority for Republicans in the remaining weeks of the congressional session. The bipartisan legislation knocked down by McConnell was approved on a 14-7 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee in April and was written to ensure that Mueller could be fired only for good cause and provide him with recourse to challenge any dismissal in federal court. It received support from the panel's chairman, Chuck Grassley, as well as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Several other Senate Republicans also have expressed support for the bill, which likely would receive every Democratic vote. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has said that if acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker refuses to recuse himself from overseeing the investigation, Democrats will seek to add the legislation protecting Mueller to a giant spending bill that Congress must pass before the end of the year to keep the government running. Trump's elevation of Whitaker gave him the authority to fire Mueller or otherwise undermine the Russia investigation, such as by cutting its budget -- something he advocated doing before joining the department as Sessions' chief of staff last year. Despite assurances from McConnell and other Republicans that Mueller and his investigation are safe, Trump has repeatedly called on Sessions and others at the department to rein them in. In one Twitter post on August 1, Trump called the investigation "a terrible situation" and demanded that Sessions "stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now." With reporting by AFP, Reuters, AP, and dpa SHYMKENT, Kazakhstan -- An unregistered Uzbek opposition group says it has been prevented from holding a two-day congress in southern Kazakhstan, where it had planned to establish itself as a political party to challenge the leadership in its home country. The Birdomlik (Unity) People's Democratic Movement said it intended to hold the meeting at the Dostyq Hotel in the city of Shymkent on November 15-16. But Birdomlik leader Bahodir Hon Turkiston, who is also known as Bahodir Choriev, told RFE/RL that Uzbek authorities prevented more than 50 members of his movement from crossing the border into Kazakhstan on November 14. Hotel officials told RFE/RL that a gathering had been scheduled for the facility but that it was canceled at the last moment. Witnesses reported seeing dozens of police officers near the hotel in the morning on November 15. Choriev also said he and some 10 other members of the movement were traveling by car from Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, to Shymkent when unknown individuals stopped them and forced them to leave Kazakhstan for neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Until yesterday, there were no problems with the plan. The individuals who stopped us brought us to the Kyrgyz border and we left Kazakhstan. I think that was done on Uzbekistan's request," Choriev said. Officials from the Kazakh National Security Service in a statement sent to RFE/RL said that its forces were not involved in any action against the group. Choriev said his movement's congress is now being held via the Telegram online messaging system from the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. The agenda of the original meeting included changes to Birdomlik's status to turn the movement into a political party and the election of new leadership. Choriev, who has been known for his opposition political activities, had to leave Uzbekistan with his family in June 2004, fearing for their safety. In 2005, Choriev and his family were granted political asylum in the United States. He returned to Uzbekistan in 2009 to continue his political activities. Uzbek police arrested him on arrival but released him later following an international outcry. Uzbekistan is led by President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who took the helm from the late Islam Karimov in 2016. Mirziyoev has sought to open up Central Asia's most populous country and move away from Karimov's oppressive policies. While praising many of the efforts, rights groups have continued to express concerns about free speech, censorship, and prosecutions of journalists in the country. The Birdomlik movement's first founding congress was held in April 2014 in the U.S. city of St. Louis, Missouri. Thousands have fled to escape fighting in two ethnic Hazara-majority districts in Afghanistan. Taliban militants have been battling Afghan special forces and ethnic Hazara militia in the previously safe districts of Jaghori and Malistan in Ghazni Province in the past week. Some described horrific fighting. Municipal and Playacar officials come to entrance fee agreement Playa del Carmen, Q.R. A meeting between municipal officials and Playacar administration has resulted in an agreement that will ensure free access for tourists units. The meeting was called after a new administration body for the residential community of Playacar attempted to impose a fee for tourist vans to enter the area and drop off guests. Acting as a mediator, Playa del Carmen mayor Laura Beristain Navarrete attended the meeting along with Sigfrido Paz Paredes of the General Directorate of Economic Development and Federico Martinez Diaz, administrator of Playacar. Beristain Navarrete called the meeting as an early intervention after learning via third-party of a conflict between Playacar and tourist service providers. She says they have agreed to ensure free access for tourist units to avoid damaging the tourist image of the area. Last week, tourist providers took to social media to show their dismay at an attempted charge of 700 peso per unit to enter the residential community to drop off guests at hotels and other attractions resulting in drivers threatening to leave tourist outside the gates. Paz Paredes explained that After learning of the conflict, a meeting was called to seek a solution so that the main source of income and jobs in the municipality would not be affected, adding that it was the goodwill of both parties involved to establish agreements for the good of Riviera Maya. Federico Martinez Diaz, administrator of Playacar said that while some points need to be refined, a good approach and good communication was achieved with an advance in important agreements such the pre-registration of the units that enter the property. Roberto Rubio, representative of the Mexican Association of Tourist Transporters said that the priority will always be not to affect tourism. Talks are expected to continue. Robert A. Coons, who joined Rose-Hulman in 1989, received the President's Outstanding Service Award in 2010 and was named an honorary Rose-Hulman alumnus by the Alumni Association in 2013. The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Board of Trustees, meeting today, voted unanimously to name Robert A. Coons as the institutes 16th president, effective immediately. Coons, who has been serving as acting president since the resignation of Jim Conwell on Nov. 7, has nearly 30 years of service to Rose-Hulman, most recently as senior vice president and chief administrative officer for the last six years. He also served as interim president during the 2012-13 school year; was chief administrative officer from 2005 to 2012; and formerly served as vice president for business and finance, and controller. Rob is well prepared for this key leadership role, and the Board of Trustees has full confidence that he is the right person to keep Rose-Hulman moving forward in meeting its future challenges, said Board Chair Niles Noblitt. Rob has earned the respect of trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, and many encouraged the trustees to select him. Noblitt noted that Coons played a key role in organizing the framework for the formulation of the goals and strategies in the institutes Strategic Plan 2013-2018. Under Coons guidance many of these strategies are now being implemented through the Mission Driven Campaign for Rose-Hulman, an initiative thats well on the way to achieving its $250 million fundraising goal by December 2020. Coons, who joined Rose-Hulman in 1989, received the President's Outstanding Service Award in 2010 and was named an honorary Rose-Hulman alumnus by the Alumni Association in 2013. Rose-Hulman is a special place with a real sense of community and a commitment to excellence, Coons said. We have made great strides with our strategic plan, yet still have much progress to make in diversity, strategic partnerships, scholarship support, and community involvement. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure that Rose-Hulman not only remains a national leader in science, engineering and mathematics education, but also continues to set the bar for others. Coons has served as vice president of the Indiana Risk Management Association Board of Trustees and past president of the Indiana Association of College and University Business Officers. He is a former member of Indianas TechPoint Board of Directors. He also has held various committee appointments on the Central Association of College and University Business Officers. In 2014 he was a finalist for the Indiana Business Journals Chief Financial Officer of the Year award. In the Terre Haute community, Coons serves as a member of the Union Health Systems (UHS)/Union Hospital Board and its medical group and audit committees, and chairs the governance committee. He is a past treasurer and finance committee chair of the United Way of the Wabash Valley, a past president of Vigo County Lifeline, a graduate of Leadership Terre Haute, and a member of the Terre Haute Rotary Club, which presented Coons with its Vocational Service Award in 2014. Coons earned a masters of business administration from Indiana State University and a bachelor's degree in business from Indiana University. He was recognized with IU Easts Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Institute for Education Management. Coons and his wife, Tammy, live in Terre Haute. L-R TOP: Iqlak Yousaf , Asif Ali, Tanweer Ali: BOTTOM L-R; Salah El-Hakam, Nabeel Kurshid, Mohammed Imran Akhtar SIX men who sexually abused vulnerable teenage girls will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court tomorrow (Friday). Mohammed Imran Akhtar, Nabeel Kurshid, Asif Ali, Iqlak Yousaf, Salah El-Hakam and Tanweer Ali were convicted of 22 child sexual exploitation offences against five girls following an eight-week trial at the court which ended last month. The men were convicted as part of the National Crime Agencys investigation into non-familial child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, known as Operation Stovewood. It was the biggest sub-operation of Stovewood to date and brought the total number of people convicted to 14. The men showed no remorse for their offences, which included rape, indecent assault and procuring a girl to have sex with another between 1998 and 2005. The guilty men were in their late teens and early 20s when they were exploiting the schoolgirls plying them with alcohol and drugs. The girls, who were aged between 13 and 15 when they first met the men, were said to have unsettled home lives. Mohammed Imran Akhtar (37), of Godstone Road, Rotherham, was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault, one count of rape, procuring a girl to have unlawful sex with another, aiding and abetting Tanweer Ali to commit rape, and sexual assault. Nabeel Kurshid (35), of Weetwood Road, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one of indecent assault. Asif Ali (33), of Clough Road, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault. Iqlak Yousaf (34), of Tooker Road, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault. Salah El-Hakam (39), of Tudor Close, Sheffield, was found guilty of one count of rape. Tanweer Ali (37), of Godstone Road, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault, two counts of rape, and one count of false imprisonment. A seventh man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of two offences and will be sentenced at a later date. A SEXUAL health service is encouraging people to attend a series of free confidential HIV testing sessions which can give immediate results. National HIV Testing Week starts on Saturday and Rotherhams Integrated Sexual Health Service is encouraging people to get tested. The team, based at Rotherham Hospital, is holding a series of events to raise awareness and encourage testing. There will be a stall in the hospitals main entrance on Tuesday, November 20, to promote National HIV Testing Week and to answer any questions. They will also be holding a bake sale to raise money for the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity and the HIV awareness charity Saving Lives UK. In addition, on Tuesday the team will be offering free, confidential HIV testing with immediate results in the sexual health clinic on C level of the hospital. On Friday, November 30, the team will have a stall to raise awareness near the cafe in Riverside House in Rotherham town centre where they will be offering HIV testing and giving out advice. Nadi Gupta, consultant in genitourinary medicine at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said: It is really important to encourage all sexually active people of all ages to get tested for HIV. The treatment has revolutionised the prognosis. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that people living with HIV, who continue to take their treatment consistently, cannot transmit HIV to a sexual partner. So, it is definitely worth getting tested. The HIV test is quick and simple either a simple blood test from a vein or you can have a pin-prick test from a fingertip if you prefer an immediate result. Cllr David Roche, Rotherham Councils cabinet member for adult social care and health said: Its really important that people take care of their health, and a simple test can help protect you and your partner. Treatment for HIV is very effective now, making it a manageable illness with normal life expectancy, especially with an early diagnosis. So Im really pleased that the Integrated Sexual Health team are not only raising awareness and answering questions next week, but that they will be offering testing at their two drop-in stalls at the hospital and in Riverside House, giving easy access to a quick and easy test that could help people immeasurably. In the UK there are over 10,000 people living with an undiagnosed HIV infection and late diagnosis can lead to significant long-term ill health or death. Early diagnosis combined with effective treatment and care means people with HIV can have a normal life expectancy. Someone living with HIV who has an undetectable viral load will not pass HIV to their sexual partners. (club-k.net) - It is being established as a new private diamond trading company in Belgium and the sources following the process describe it as a "solution" to circumvent the embargo introduced by Angolas President Joao Lourenco through the state-owned SODIAM and imposed on the interests of Isabel dos Santos in the sector. The main enthusiast and initiator of this project is Sindika Dokolo, who in his turn hired an Israeli citizen, Jacob Karko as an official face of this initiative. Based in Angola for several years, Jacob Karko is well versed in the diamond business. Incidentally, he worked for Isabel dos Santos in the past as the manager of her company, Ascorp. During the last two months, Sindika Dokolo and Jacob Karko met twice in Brussels to discuss the main issues related to this topic. According to Club-K, on his return to Luanda Jacob Karko contacted one of SODIAMs administrators, Jose das Neves Goncalves Silva and received guarantees for licensing the new company, which will be presented in the market as "independent." Jose Silva "Neves," who is also rumored to be associated with Edeltrutes da Costa in the diamond sector, is a former friend of Jacob Karko, which is why the preference for contact. At the time that Jose Eduardo dos Santos was the President of Angola, his daughter Isabel dos Santos bought diamonds at symbolic prices and then resold them in international markets at their real value. The scheme of Isabel dos Santos caused damages and financial losses to the Angolan state, and this was the reason why the new head of state, Joao Lourenco ordered to put an end to the exclusivity they enjoyed in the diamond sector. On December 1, 2017, state-owned SODIAM, which is responsible for the commercialization of the country's diamonds, announced its divesting from De Grisogono, the Swiss-based luxury and jewelry group controlled by Isabel dos Santos and her husband Sindika Dokolo. In July this year, SODIAM also terminated the contract for the purchase of rough diamonds with Odyssey Holding, saying it was due to sustained losses. Odyssey is the company based in the United Arab Emirates and linked to Isabel dos Santos. It is following this siege that Sindika Dokolo came up with the initiative to create a new company, which is expected to operate in the market as a Belgium-based company with the purpose of buying rough diamonds in the country. Saudi Arabia said 21 people are now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial. The public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five out of 11 suspects charged in the murder. It was proved that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing of the operation. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters: His royal highness the crown prince has nothing to do with this issue. Journalist Jamal Khashoggi Spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan told media that the Washington Post columnist was murdered after negotiations for his return to the kingdom, possibly ordered by former deputy intelligence chief General Ahmed al-Asir, failed. The killing was decided by the head of a 15-man negotiating team sent to repatriate Khashoggi after he was convinced it was unfeasible to remove the journalist from the consulate. The remains have never been found. Chief Saudi prosecutor Saud al-Mojebs decision to seek the death penalty before trial is not unusual in Saudi Arabia. We did not find some of his explanations to be satisfactory, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu however said after the Saudi announcement. Khashoggi had been living in self-imposed exile abroad for nearly a year. He was especially critical of the crown prince. Diabetic foot ulcers can take up to 150 days to heal. A biomedical engineering team wants to reduce it to 21 days. They're planning to drop the healing time by amplifying what the body already does naturally: build layers of new tissue pumped up by nitric oxide. In patients with diabetes, impaired nitric oxide production lessens the healing power of skin cells and the Centers for Disease Control reports that 15 percent of Americans living with type II diabetes struggle with hard-to-heal foot ulcers. However, simply pumping up nitric oxide is not necessarily better. The long-term plan of Michigan Technological University researchers is to create nitric oxide-laden bandages that adjust the chemical release depending on the cell conditions. To do that, they first have to figure what's going on with nitric oxide in skin cells. Assessing nitric oxide under diabetic and normal conditions in human dermal fibroblast cells is the focus of the team's latest paper, published this week in Medical Sciences. Diabetes stats from the World Health Organization, International Diabetes Federation, "Diabetic foot ulcers and their recurrence" in New England Journal of Medicine, and "Advanced biological therapies for diabetic foot ulcers" in Archives of Dermatology reveal the challenge researchers in this field face: 1.5 million deaths globally in 2012 425 million people worldwide live with diabetes 15 percent or more live with diabetic foot ulcers 2.5 times more likely to die 90-150 days to heal $176 billion spent in U.S. every year on diabetes Cell-mediated Symphony of Complexity Megan Frost is the interim chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology as well as an associate professor of biomedical engineering and an affiliated associate professor of materials science and engineering. She runs a polymeric biomaterials lab at Michigan Tech where she works on nitric oxide-releasing technology. advertisement "Nitric oxide is a powerful healing chemical, but it's not meant to be heavy-handed," Frost says. "We're looking at the profiles of healthy and diabetic cells to find a more nuanced way to recover wound function." As a wound heals, three types of skin cells step in. Macrophages are the first responders -- and the most widely studied cells -- that arrive within 24 hours of damage. Next, fibroblasts arrive, which are like the body's engineers. They help lay down the extracellular matrix that makes it possible for the next cells, keratinocytes, to come in and do the heavy-lifting and rebuilding. "Wound healing is a complex, cell-mediated symphony of events, progressing through a series of predictable and overlapping stages," Frost and her team write in their Medical Sciences paper. When any part of that orchestra is out of tune, the whole process falls flat. Fibroblasts, which are not as well studied as macrophages in the healing process, are a key instrument and past studies have shown their delayed response in patients with diabetes may be a major factor in slow healing time. Nitric Oxide vs. Nitrite That's where nitric oxide steps in, a kind of chemical metronome to get the process back into the right rhythm. But the body's dermal orchestra is not so simple -- just as playing a metronome louder and louder isn't necessarily going to make a musician's timing improve, flooding a wound with nitric oxide isn't a cure all. advertisement "The old approach is to add nitric oxide and sit back to see if it works," Frost says. "What we're finding is that it's not enough to apply and leave; we have to keep tabs on how much nitric oxide is actually needed." A big problem that Frost and her team address is how nitric oxide is measured in the first place. Current practice substitutes measuring nitrite for nitric oxide -- a misleading switch, Frost says, because nitrite is a byproduct with no time signature. While stable nitrite is easier to measure, by itself it cannot relay the real-time healing status like nitric oxide levels can. So, Frost's lab built a nitric oxide-measuring device for their study by hand. That creates a challenge since it means taking measurements is much harder, which limits the dataset size, but Frost has an agreement with Zysense, LLC to streamline the building process and produce commercial nitric oxide measurement devices that would improve their research. Next Steps Collaboration is a key part of the engineering design process. To build a nitric oxide bandage with personalized healing power, the team plans to work next with the UP Portage Health System to gather cell samples from local patients. By expanding their cell samples -- and applying the tech to real-world patients -- the team will continue to broaden their database while deepening their knowledge of nitric oxide mechanisms. In a few years, they plan to have a working bandage prototype, one that leaves off the clunky nitrite proxies and nitric oxide dumps. Instead, patients dealing with diabetic foot ulcers will see a light at the end of the tunnel much sooner than half a year or more -- the nitric oxide-releasing bandage could help heal one of healthcare's toughest diseases in less than a month. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that around 45 million tons of phosphorus fertilizers will be used around the world in 2018. Much will be applied to soils that also received phosphorus fertilizers in past years. According to a new study, much of that could be unnecessary. "Previous application of phosphorus fertilizers increases the effectiveness of subsequent applications," says Jim Barrow, lead author of the study. Barrow is a scientist at the University of Western Australia. He says better understanding soil phosphorus dynamics can have many benefits. It could lead to more judicious use of phosphorus fertilizers. "At a world level, phosphorus is a limited resource. We need to use it wisely." At a local level, excessive use of phosphorus fertilizers can pollute water. And at the farm level, purchasing phosphorus fertilizers is a major expense for farmers. "If farmers use only as much as is required, it will help the environment," Barrow states. "It will also save them money." When phosphorus fertilizers are applied to soils, only a fraction is taken up by plants. That's because most of the phosphorus is stuck on soil grains; only a small proportion is in solution. "When the portion in solution is high, plants can get phosphorus quickly from the soil," says Barrow. "Low fertilizer application rates are sufficient." advertisement Phosphate, the compound used in fertilizers, can react with and penetrate soil particles. Barrow points out that when this happens, it's "scarcely available to plants. This is a major reason why farmers have to reapply phosphorus fertilizers." But this has its upside. "When phosphate penetrates soil particles, it makes the soil particles more negatively charged," Barrow explains. Since similar charges repel each other, negatively charged soil particles repel the negatively charged phosphate. That means there is more in solution. Plants get it faster, and therefore need less fertilizer. Barrow and colleagues explored whether phosphate would continue to penetrate soil particles at the same rate over time. They reasoned that the rate would decrease as the negative charge built up. They showed that when a lot of phosphorus has been applied over time the penetration of phosphate slows down and ultimately stops. "When this happens, you only need to replace phosphate used (and removed in produce) in the previous year," says Barrow. It's similar to repairing a gravel road. The potholes and other gaps need to be filled first before a smooth, functional top layer is applied. Barrow worked with colleagues at Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University in West Bengal, India. They used soil from a site about 65 miles west of the city of Kolkata, India. To mimic phosphorus application over time, the researchers applied phosphorus and then kept the soil at 140F (60C) for more than a month. "It is quite slow at ordinary temperatures," says Barrow. "This way we don't have to wait around for years before we can do an experiment." The findings can help farmers use phosphorus fertilizers more efficiently. Farmers could also save money. "But these findings need to be conveyed to farmers," says Barrow. "The effectiveness of the soluble phosphate fertilizers has been grossly underestimated." Not all polar bears are in the same dire situation due to retreating sea ice, at least not right now. Off the western coast of Alaska, the Chukchi Sea is rich in marine life, but the number of polar bears in the area had never been counted. The first formal study of this population suggests that it's been healthy and relatively abundant in recent years, numbering about 3,000 animals. The study by researchers at the University of Washington and federal agencies is published Nov. 14 in Scientific Reports, an open-access journal from the Nature Publishing Group. "This work represents a decade of research that gives us a first estimate of the abundance and status of the Chukchi Sea subpopulation," said first author Eric Regehr, a researcher with the UW's Polar Science Center who started the project as a biologist in Alaska with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Despite having about one month less time on preferred sea ice habitats to hunt compared with 25 years ago, we found that the Chukchi Sea subpopulation was doing well from 2008 to 2016. "Sea-ice loss due to climate change remains the primary threat to the species but, as this study shows, there is variation in when and where the effects of sea-ice loss appear. Some subpopulations are already declining while others are still doing OK." Of the world's 19 subpopulations of polar bears, the U.S. shares two with neighboring countries. The other U.S. subpopulation -- the southern Beaufort Sea polar bears, whose territory overlaps with Canada -- is showing signs of stress. "The southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation is well-studied, and a growing body of evidence suggests it's doing poorly due to sea-ice loss," Regehr said. advertisement Polar bears were listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2008 due to the threat of declining sea ice, which the animals depend on for hunting, breeding and traveling. But the new study suggests that such effects are not yet visible for bears in the remote waters that separate Alaska from Chukotka, Russia. "It's a very rich area. Most of the Chukchi Sea is shallow, with nutrient-rich waters coming up from the Pacific. This translates into high biological productivity and, importantly for the polar bears, a lot of seals," Regehr said. Previous studies by the State of Alaska show that ringed and bearded seals have maintained good nutritional condition and reproduction in the Chukchi Sea region, Regehr said. "Just flying around, it's night and day in terms of how many seals and other animals you see," Regehr said. "The Chukchi Sea is super productive and the Beaufort Sea is less so." The area also has an abundance of whale traffic, and when carcasses wash up on shore the polar bears can feed on them in summer, when the sea ice melts and a portion of the Chukchi Sea subpopulation waits on land for the ocean to refreeze. advertisement Recent ecological observations had suggested that Chukchi Sea bears are doing well. A study led by co-author Karyn Rode, at the U.S. Geological Survey, showed the top predators have similar amounts of body fat as 25 years ago, a good indicator of their overall health. The current study is the first assessment of the subpopulation size using modern methods. It estimates just under 3,000 animals, with generally good reproductive rates and cub survival. As a federal wildlife biologist based in Alaska until 2017, Regehr and colleagues gathered the data by tagging roughly 60 polar bears in most years from 2008 to 2016. He flew by helicopter over the area just north of Alaska's Seward Peninsula, looking for tracks on the sea ice. The helicopter then would follow tracks in the snow to locate the bear and use a tranquilizer dart to sedate the animal. Over about an hour, researchers would weigh the bear, collect biological samples, apply individual tags and, in some cases, attach a GPS transmitter. All the data were incorporated into a new model designed to estimate population size for large carnivores that are highly mobile and whose territory spans a large region. The authors made the model publicly available in the hope that it will be used on other populations or species. "Polar bears can travel thousands of miles in a year. But with the GPS tags, we can see when a bear leaves our study area but is still alive, because it's moving. This information is key because there are bears that we see once and never see again, and to get a good population estimate you need to know if these animals died or just moved to a new area," Regehr said. For the first time, the model also considered local and traditional ecological knowledge collected by the North Slope Borough of Alaska from Native hunters and community members who have generations of experience with polar bears. "It was important to bring our science together with the observations and expertise of people who live in polar bear country year-round and understand the animals in different ways," Regehr said. A joint U.S.-Russia commission is responsible for management and conservation of the Chukchi Sea subpopulation. In response to the new assessment, the commission raised the sustainable level of subsistence harvest, which is nutritionally and culturally important to Native people in Alaska and Chukotka. "These polar bears move back and forth between the U.S. and Russia, so it's very much a shared resource," said Regehr, a longtime scientific advisor to that commission. As part of his current research at the UW, Regehr spends about two months each year working with Russian scientists on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean, where hundreds of Chukchi Sea polar bears spend their summers. "These findings are good news for now, but it doesn't mean that bears in the Chukchi Sea won't be affected by ice loss eventually," Regehr said. "Polar bears need ice to hunt seals, and the ice is projected to decline until the underlying problem of climate change is addressed." An international team lead by researchers from the Centre for GeoGenetics at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen have discovered a 31-km wide meteorite impact crater buried beneath the ice-sheet in the northern Greenland. This is the first time that a crater of any size has been found under one of Earth's continental ice sheets. The researchers worked for last three years to verify their discovery, initially made in the 2015. The research is described in a new study just published in the internationally recognized journal Science Advances. The crater measures more than 31 km in diameter, corresponding to an area bigger than Paris, and placing it among the 25 largest impact craters on Earth. The crater formed when a kilometre-wide iron meteorite smashed into northern Greenland, but has since been hidden under nearly a kilometre of ice. "The crater is exceptionally well-preserved, and that is surprising, because glacier ice is an incredibly efficient erosive agent that would have quickly removed traces of the impact. But that means the crater must be rather young from a geological perspective. So far, it has not been possible to date the crater directly, but its condition strongly suggests that it formed after ice began to cover Greenland, so younger than 3 million years old and possibly as recently as 12,000 years ago -- toward the end of the last ice age" says Professor Kurt H. Kjr from the Center for GeoGenetics at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Giant circular depression The crater was first discovered in July 2015 as the researchers inspected a new map of the topography beneath Greenland's ice-sheet. They noticed an enormous, but previously undetected circular depression under Hiawatha Glacier, sitting at the very edge of the ice sheet in northern Greenland. "We immediately knew this was something special but at the same time it became clear that it would be difficult to confirm the origin of the depression," says Professor Kjr. advertisement In the courtyard at the Geological Museum in Copenhagen just outside the windows of the Center for GeoGenetics sits a 20-tonne iron meteorite found in North Greenland not far from the Hiawatha Glacier. "It was therefore not such a leap to infer that the depression could be a previously undescribed meterorite crater, but initially we lacked the evidence," reflects Associate Professor Nicolaj K. Larsen from Aarhus University. The crucial evidence Their suspicion that the giant depression was a meteorite crater was reinforced when the team sent a German research plane from the Alfred Wegener Institute to fly over the Hiawatha Glacier and map the crater and the overlying ice with a new powerful ice radar. Joseph MacGregor, a glaciologist at NASA, who participated in the study and is an expert in ice radar measurements adds: "Previous radar measurements of Hiawatha Glacier were part of a long-term NASA effort to map Greenland's changing ice cover. What we really needed to test our hypothesis was a dense and focused radar survey there. Our colleagues at the Alfred Wegener Institute and University of Kansas did exactly that with a next-generation radar system that exceeded all expectations and imaged the depression in stunning detail. A distinctly circular rim, central uplift, disturbed and undisturbed ice layering, and basal debris. It's all there." In the summers of 2016 and 2017, the research team returned to the site to map tectonic structures in the rock near the foot of the glacier and collect samples of sediments washed out from the depression through a meltwater channel. advertisement "Some of the quartz sand washed from the crater had planar deformation features indicative of a violent impact, and this is conclusive evidence that the depression beneath the Hiawatha Glacier is a meteorite crater, " says Professor Larsen. The consequences of the impact on the Earth's climate and life Earlier studies have shown that large impacts can profoundly affect Earth's climate, with major consequences for life on Earth at the time. It is therefore very resonable to ask when and how and this meteorite impact at the Hiawatha Glacier affected the planet. "The next step in the investigation will be to confidently date the impact. This will be a challenge, because it will probably require recovering material that melted during the impact from the bottom of the structure, but this is crucial if we are to understand how the Hiawatha impact affected life on Earth," concludes Professor Kjr. Restoring the United States' lands and coastal wetlands could have a much bigger role in reducing global warming than previously thought, according to the most comprehensive national assessment to date of how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced and stored in forests, farmland, grasslands, and wetlands. The peer-reviewed study in Science Advances from The Nature Conservancy and 21 institutional partners found that nature's contribution could equal 21% of the nation's current net annual emissions, by adjusting 21 natural management practices to increase carbon storage and avoid greenhouse emissions. The study is the first to include the climate benefits of coastal wetlands and grasslands in a comprehensive mix along with forests and agriculture. In October the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report called for global action immediately to limit warming to 1.5?Centigrade (approximately 3? Fahrenheit) to avoid the most damaging climate change impacts. This new study highlights how, and which, natural solutions in the United States offer the most promise to help limit temperatures below that 3? Fahrenheit goal. Joe Fargione, Director of Science for The Nature Conservancy, was the study's lead author: "One of America's greatest assets is its land. Through changes in management, along with protecting and restoring natural lands, we demonstrated we could reduce carbon pollution and filter water, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and have better soil health to grow our food -- all at the same time. Nature offers us a simple, cost-effective way to help fight global warming. In combination with transitioning to zero carbon energy production, natural climate solutions can help protect our climate for future generations." Lynn Scarlett, Chief External Affairs Officer for The Nature Conservancy and former Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, spoke to practical elements of the study's findings: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so we should reduce carbon pollution where we can. But we also need to put natural solutions to work as a tool to insulate ourselves from global warming. This study provides good news that making investments in nature will make a big difference, while offering the potential for new revenue to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and coastal communities at the same time." Of the 21 natural solutions analyzed, increased reforestation (the planting of trees) emerged as the largest means to achieve greater carbon storage, equivalent to eliminating the emissions of 65 million passenger cars. Other high-performing forest solutions include allowing longer periods between timber harvest to increase carbon storage; increasing controlled burns and strategic thinning in forests to reduce the risk of megafire; and avoided loss of forests from urban sprawl. advertisement The study identified a maximum of 156 million acres that could be reforested, 304 million acres where forest harvest rotations could be extended, and at least 42 million additional acres of forests that would benefit from fire risk reduction treatments. In addition, almost a million acres of forest are being converted to non-forest habitat a year, largely due to suburban and exurban expansion, which could be addressed through better land use planning. The study also finds that urban reforestation can add important carbon storage benefits. "Planting trees and improving the health of existing forests will be a deciding factor in whether we are able to get ahead of the climate curve," said Jad Daley, CEO of American Forests. "This breakthrough analysis clarifies the highest impact actions for keeping our forests as a growing and resilient carbon sink and the potential scale of climate benefit." Grasslands are underappreciated for their carbon storage opportunity. Grassland is being lost at a rate of over one million acres per year. When grassland is converted to cropland, about 28% of the carbon in the top meter of soil is released to the atmosphere. This trend could be reversed by re-enrolling 13 million acres of marginal cropland in conservation programs and restoring them to provide habitat and storage of carbon in the soil. Existing croplands have an important role to play. Farmers can optimize their nutrient application, saving money and avoiding emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Farmers can also plant cover crops, which suck carbon out the atmosphere and return it to the soil during times of the year when fields would normally be bare. "Farmers are some of our best land stewards, and Danone North America is partnering with farms across the country to find climate solutions through our soil health initiative. Improved nutrient management, cover crops, and crop rotations are examples of practices that can help reduce GHG emissions and over time improve a farm's bottom-line. Farmers and the food industry depend on a predictable climate, so it's important to work together to reduce the risks of climate change." said Chris Adamo, Vice President Federal & Industry Affairs at Danone North America. Natural solutions can be found under water as well. An estimated 27% of tidal wetlands have been disconnected from the ocean, increasing the release of methane. Reconnecting tidal wetlands to the ocean virtually eliminates those methane emissions, and also restores fish habitat important for coastal communities. "Shellfish growers make a living on the water and have witnessed salt marshes losing productivity due to freshwater inundation. Not only does this damage important waters and increase emissions, but it also harms their ability to make a living growing oysters, clams, mussels and other species that support many coastal communities and other important stakeholders. By restoring salt marshes, we can help shellfish farmers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants and the climate all at the same time," said Davis Herron, Director, Retail & Restaurant Division, Lobster Place, spokesman for the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition. Not only do natural climate solutions have strong benefits for personal enjoyment, healthier water, air, wildlife, and soil, many are quite affordable. As states and the federal government evaluate rules and markets for greenhouse gas emissions, these low-cost reductions from natural solutions offer the United States a powerful tool to address a warming planet. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have studied flight routes to determine how far willow warblers migrate in the autumn. The results show that the willow warbler holds a long-distance migration record in the ten-gram weight category -- with the small birds flying around 13,000 kilometres or longer to reach their destination. The recently completed study investigated willow warblers that breed during the summer in north-east Russia. Biologists at Lund University together with Russian researchers from Magadan, close to the Kamtjatka Peninsula, managed to get a good overview of the route and distance travelled by the small birds during their autumn migration. The measurements were taken by small data loggers attached to the backs of the birds. The next year, the birds were recaptured and the researchers downloaded and processed the data. From their breeding habitats in eastern Siberia, the willow warblers fly to staging areas located in south-west Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. From there, they continue to their winter destinations, located in Kenya and Tanzania -- a distance of around 13,000 kilometres. "Our measurements show that they migrate 13,000 kilometres, but we have not been able to measure the entire distance because the data logger batteries ran out. My guess is that they fly at least another 1,000 kilometres to south-east Africa," says Susanne Akesson, professor at the Department of Biology at Lund University. Other studies have shown that there are birds that migrate farther, but they looked at larger birds that weigh more. Willow warblers weigh 8-9 grams during the breeding period and about 10 grams when they migrate. "I think it's fascinating -- they are so small and migrate at least 13,000 kilometres one way. There are no other studies that show that birds of that size can migrate that far. Even more impressive perhaps is that they make the journey alone in their first year of life," says Susanne Akesson. In addition to the record for long-haul migration, the study is also the first to show where the most easterly willow warblers spend the winter in east Africa. Moreover, the researchers compared alternative compass routes with the routes the birds actually take. Based on this, they identified two alternative mechanisms that the willow warblers can use during their long migration -- a solar compass that compensates for time shifts during the migration, and a magnetic compass based on the assumption that the birds can measure the inclination angle of the Earth's magnetic field. The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the resolution of three actions against the CFO of a Chicago-area information technology company, who was previously charged by the SEC and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Dhru Desai was ordered, in the SEC's civil action, to pay approximately $1.63 million in disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty; suspended by the Commission from practicing before the Commission on the basis of his guilty plea in the parallel criminal action; and sentenced to 39 months in prison in the criminal action. The SEC's complaint, filed on June 29, 2017 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleged that former chief executive officer Nandu Thondavadi and former chief financial officer Dhru Desai stole more than $4 million from Schaumburg, Illinois-based Quadrant 4 System Corp. ("QFOR") over a nearly five-year period. The former executives also allegedly caused QFOR to understate its liabilities and inflate its revenues and assets, evading scrutiny by lying to the company's auditors and providing them with forged and doctored documents. According to the SEC's complaint, the alleged scheme continued until November 2016, when Thondavadi and Desai were arrested and criminally charged with fraud. QFOR announced their resignations in December 2016 and disclosed that the company's financial reports could no longer be relied upon and required a restatement. On November 30, 2016, Thondavadi and Desai were charged with wire fraud and certifying false financial reports. U.S. v. Thondavadi and Desai, 16-cr-772 (N.D. Ill.). On June 29, 2017, the U.S. Attorney's Office expanded the charges against Thondavadi and Desai to include many of the allegations in the SEC's complaint. On May 31, 2018, Desai pleaded guilty to wire fraud in this parallel criminal action. On June 25, 2018, the Court in the SEC's action entered a Final Judgment against Desai, which imposed a permanent injunction, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains totaling $1,293,694, prejudgment interest thereon of $150,117, and a $184,767 civil penalty. On September 26, 2018, the Commission issued an order against Desai on the basis of his criminal conviction, suspending him from practicing before the Commission as an accountant. On September 28, 2018, in the criminal action, the Court sentenced Desai to 39 months in prison and $2,869,226 in restitution (jointly and severally with Thondavadi). For additional information, please see: Press Release 2017-122 Litigation Release 24210 Google is sunsetting the Google Dance, well, at least the name Google Dance. Instead, Google is going to rename the Google Dance to something else and continue to host "dozens" of events like it across the world - like they have been doing in the past year or so. Gary Illyes from Google, who has been at most, if not all of these new events, said on Twitter "To go ahead of mistranslations, #GoogleDanceOsaka was the last Google Dance, not just in Japan, but worldwide." "Going forward, while we'll have dozens of similar @googlewmc events, the name will be different," he added. What will it be renamed to? Some think "Fred," but Google said "Stay tuned for more information on our official channels!" As you know, Google has been hosting smaller Google Dance events around the world. Google Dance events started at their headquarters around the SES conference in the early 2000s. Google hosted webmasters and advertisers at their home as a token of appreciation for the content they build and the ad dollars they spend with AdWords. That ended in 2004 and then came back in 2016 and 2017. It was super awesome for webmaster relations but in 2018, Google did not host the Google Dance at their headquarters. They began doing smaller events in Singapore, Zurich, Osaka, Tokyo and other places. But it won't be named the Google Dance anymore, at least going forward. But Google said they will be having these events under a new name in the future, many of them, in many regions around the world. Maybe one in NYC? Forum discussion at Twitter. The state Supreme Court rejected AC Transits appeal of a jurys $15.3 million damage award to a Richmond woman whose spine was fractured after a bus careened over a speed bump at 30 mph, twice the speed limit. Maria Francisco, then 21, was riding with her 4-year-old daughter, her mother and a cousin to buy gifts at a shopping mall in August 2011 when the bus hit the speed bump in a school zone in San Pablo. She was thrown 2 feet in the air, then landed while the seat was accelerating upward an impact, according to a ruling in the case, equal to having her spine hit with a sledgehammer. In agony, she was confronted by the bus driver, Dollie Gilmore, who told her according to the same court ruling that she was a faker and that if she needed an ambulance, she would have to pay for it. Gilmore later testified that she was not trying to berate Francisco, but was just expressing her frustration at fakers in general. Francisco was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a severe burst spine fracture that had torn her ligaments and bone apart. After spinal surgery, she developed a potentially life-threatening infection and underwent another operation. She needed a third operation in 2013 to relieve pain caused by the initial surgery, but doctors said they were unable to fully repair her spine. Due to the severe spinal fractures, she will have chronic pain and disability for the rest of her life, Spencer Lucas, one of Franciscos lawyers, said Wednesday. Shes done the best she can with physical therapy and pain management and is relieved to finally be able to receive the damage award, he said. After a trial in 2014, an Alameda County Superior Court jury awarded Francisco $14.3 million for lost earnings, medical expenses and pain and suffering, and $1 million for emotional distress. Lucas said the still-unpaid damages, plus interest, now total $20.1 million. AC Transit appealed the verdict, arguing that the damages were excessive and that both Franciscos trial lawyer and the judge, Gail Brewster Bereola, had committed misconduct. The appeal cited the lawyers comment during closing arguments that AC Transit directors would be clicking Champagne glasses if jurors gave them a discount on damages. Bereola acted improperly, the transit agency argued, when Francisco started telling the agencys lawyer during lengthy testimony that she couldnt remember what happened. The judge stepped in, said Francisco was obviously in discomfort and called a brief recess. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In a ruling in August that upheld the verdict, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said the lawyers comments, though gratuitous, would not have prejudiced the jury. The court also said Bereola had not intervened on Franciscos side by expressing concern about her condition. AC Transit appealed to the state Supreme Court, which denied review Wednesday. Representatives of the transit agency did not respond to requests for comment. The case is Francisco vs. AC Transit, No. S251638. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitterr:@BobEgelko Sarahbeth Maney / Special to The Chronicle 2018 San Francisco State University officials on Wednesday canceled classes and closed the campus for the rest of the week amid unhealthy air quality and smoke blanketing the Bay Area skies from the deadly Camp Fire. The universitys main campus, the Downtown Campus and the Estuary and Ocean Science Center at the Romberg Tiburon Campus closed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, when the Bay Area saw its sixth consecutive day of unhealthy air quality. All campus will remained closed until at least Saturday, Nov. 17. Bay Area transit officials are pursuing an all-electronic toll system on regional bridges, a plan that would likely include ripping out existing booths and replacing them with cameras. Were already very much wedded to the idea of electronic toll collection, said Andrew Fremier, deputy executive director of operations at the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission, during a meeting of the commissions Toll Authority Oversight Committee on Wednesday. To underscore that point, Fremier delivered a presentation with slides showing that by 2020, 80 percent of motorists who cross the Bay Areas seven bridges will pay with FasTrak transponders instead of cash. Nationally, 21 percent of tolled bridges and tunnels use an all-electronic system. In the cashless universe of the future, motorists crossing Bay Area bridges would either pay with FasTrak, by invoice or by setting up a license plate account similar to the payment setup now in use on the Golden Gate Bridge. The proposed change drew enthusiastic support from several commissioners, since it would shave up to five minutes off the average commute, reduce fuel use and emissions, eliminate robberies and prevent accidents that happen because vehicles collide with toll booths and have trouble merging in and out of toll plazas. Weve seen accidents that have been just devastating, said Commissioner Julie Pierce, who applauded the open-road tolling system on the Benicia Bridge, which may serve as a model. It really makes a difference, because you dont have (traffic) splitting into a gazillion lanes and merging, which leads to crashes, Pierce said. Last year the California Highway Patrol logged about 250 such accidents. Besides beefing up safety, officials could also use an all-electronic configuration to try new ideas such as congestion pricing to control the flow of traffic, or a dual toll system on the Bay Bridge, with collection eastbound and westbound. 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. Commission staff recommended pioneering the new system on the Carquinez Bridge near Vallejo because its manned booths suffer the most robberies police reported 26 between 2005 and 2017. That idea sat well with Commissioner James Spering, who represents Solano County. He encouraged staff members to set a concrete date for toll booths to be removed. Despite what appeared to be unanimous approval, the change will take years to implement. Staff will return to the commission in December with a schedule to phase in the seven spans, beginning with an environmental review. From there, they will have to come up with new engineering designs and negotiate with the toll collectors union, since those jobs would be cut. Whatever the sequence, the Bay Bridge will likely be last, since it presents the greatest challenges, Fremier said. Its toll plaza would have to be demolished and its labor force disbanded and reassigned. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan On Friday, as smoky air laid siege to Oakland, draping the city in a gray-and-yellow haze like an Instagram filter, J. Redwoods breathed new life into an old idea. Redwoods tweeted that the organization Mask Oakland was going to hand out masks to people for free, as it did after the Wine Country fires last year. But this year, donations were being sought. On Friday, Mask Oakland handed out almost 200 masks, according to Redwoods, a transgender educator who prefers to be referred to as they. Theyre an activist from Arlington, Va., who moved to Oakland in 2014 because they were drawn to the Bay Areas active queer community. On Saturday, Mask Oakland gave away 300 masks. On Sunday, because donations were pouring in, the organization handed out more than 2,000 masks. They passed out 1,500 more on Monday. Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle I spent time with Redwoods and five college students who volunteered for Mask Oakland on Monday afternoon, the day the Bay Area Air Quality Management District extended an air alert through Friday due to smoke impact from the Camp Fire. The alert warns people to limit outdoor activity. And when indoors, windows should be kept closed. But what if you dont have a home? Closing windows and staying inside isnt an option for the thousands of homeless people living in Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco and other Bay Area cities. Theyre stuck outside until the smoke clears. Its pretty simple math that the more time youre exposed to unfiltered pollution, the more damage you experience, said Redwoods, 30. And if youre outside all the time, you are getting the worst of it. Redwoods criticized local governments for not doing enough to protect their most vulnerable residents. Justin Berton, a spokesperson for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, told me outreach workers with Alameda County are distributing masks, just as they did after the Wine Country fires. Mask Oakland is what Oaklanders do they jump into action and with compassion first, Berton said. Unfortunately, the need for masks appears to be the new normal in the Bay Area. Paul Kuroda / Special to The Chronicle Sherri Willis, public information officer for the Alameda County Public Health Department, said the county is working on a plan to distribute 5,000 masks to homeless people. Mask Oakland, which has focused distribution in homeless encampments in West Oakland, East Oakland and Berkeley, has already surpassed what the county health department is planning to do. And Redwoods said Mask Oakland will keep buying and handing out masks until the air quality improves. Air quality in the Bay Area has hovered at hazardous levels for a week. Ratings above 150 particles per million are considered unhealthy. On Monday, the air quality was 170 in Oakland and 165 in Berkeley, according to AirVisual, a company that monitors air quality. Prolonged exposure to smoke can cause respiratory and other health-related issues. Poor air quality makes living on the streets even harder. Were going into encampments and were giving away masks, and people are certainly grateful, but it makes me even more aware that theres so much more need out there, Cassandra Williams, the 36-year-old Mask Oakland co-founder, told me after she spent the afternoon in East Oakland. I want to show up with food, water and toiletries, because there is such a need. An N95 particulate respirator mask, which sells for about $2 at stores such as Home Depot, is what the Bay Area Air Quality Management District recommends for wearing outside. Last year, Mask Oakland sold masks on the street for a few bucks apiece so they could buy more masks to give away. They gave away 4,000, according to Redwoods. By Monday, Mask Oakland had raised more than $15,000 in three days, mostly through the mobile payment service Venmo, Redwoods told me. The student volunteers, who found Mask Oakland through social media, are members of the Students of Color Environmental Collective, a UC Berkeley campus organization. They gathered at Redwoods house in Emeryville. Gisela Tarifa, 21, who is majoring in political science, said she has spent a lot of time outside on Saturday. And on Sunday, she felt sick. I felt like I had a fever, she said. I was just imagining all the people that are breathing all the smoke right now, 24/7, just out there. I could only imagine how sick they must be feeling. Markus Supply, a hardware store near Jack London Square, delivered 2,000 masks to Redwoods on Monday afternoon. Mask Oakland is buying in bulk so it doesnt empty inventory at local stores. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The group ordered a total of 9,000 masks to give away this week. You need a mask? Redwoods asked the delivery driver, as they slipped the receipt into their pocket. Mask Oakland is looking for a volunteer bookkeeper. Hey, do you want a mask? Redwoods said to a woman riding a bike down the street. She made a U-turn to pick one up. As Redwoods and the volunteers carried boxes into the house, a neighbor who was on the way out of their house stopped Redwoods. Did you say you had a mask? the man said. For me, watching people look out for one another is always a breath of fresh air. This is not a fringe benefit, Redwoods said to me. This is air were talking about. You die without it. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr Oracle lost a challenge to the Pentagons $10 billion cloud contract, as the Government Accountability Office dismissed its argument that the winner-take-all contest violates federal procurement standards and unfairly favors Amazon. The decision issued Wednesday deals a blow to Oracles push to expand its federal defense contracts, leaving the Redwood City company with fewer options to improve its chances. It also frees the Pentagon to pursue the single-source solution it has opted for all along. The Defense Departments decision to pursue a single-award approach to obtain these cloud services is consistent with applicable statutes (and regulations) because the agency reasonably determined that a single-award approach is in the governments best interests for various reasons, including national security concerns, as the statute allows, Ralph White, the Government Accountability Office managing associate general counsel for procurement law, said in a statement. He said the agency also rejected Oracles allegations concerning conflicts of interest on the project. The announcement follows a months-long lobbying campaign in Washington by Oracle, IBM and Microsoft. They argue the Defense Department should split the contract among several suppliers to prevent vendor lock-in and reduce security risks. The result of this protest reinforces what has been the narrative of this competition, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Bach. Amazon is likely still the front-runner with Microsoft running behind them. We shouldnt be surprised if this goes to Microsoft. Amazon and Microsoft declined to comment on the ruling, and Oracle and IBM didnt respond to requests for comment. While the Defense Department declined to comment officially, Chris Lynch, who has helped shape the cloud project as director of the Pentagons Defense Digital Service, said on Twitter, Today matters. Our team did such an amazing job. Losing bidders can file additional protests with the accountability office or in federal court once the contract is awarded. The Pentagon has said it will choose a winner by April. The Pentagon project involves moving huge amounts of Defense Department information to a commercially operated cloud system. Amazon, the dominant provider of cloud services, is widely perceived as the front-runner for the deal because it won a cloud contract for the CIA that has been praised by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes IBM also submitted a challenge last month over the terms of the contract. Though the Wednesday decision probably answered many of the questions raised by IBM, the government watchdog agency will have to prepare a separate decision for company. Under the law, the agency can deny protests or sustain them and recommend that the federal agency overseeing the project make changes to the solicitation. An agency isnt required to act on the recommendations, but if it doesnt Congress will be notified. Naomi Nix and Tony Capaccio are Bloomberg writers. Email: nnix1@bloomberg.net, acapaccio@bloomberg.net Months after Salesforce opened its headquarters in San Franciscos tallest tower, it is committing to long-term expansion in the city with another office deal steps away. The site known as Transbay Parcel F is a dirt lot. In five years, the site at 564 Howard St. is set to become a soaring 800-foot glass high-rise with space for 1,500 workers, along with 165 condos and 190 hotel rooms. All those workers will be Salesforce employees: The tech giant confirmed it signed a lease for 325,000 square feet of space Wednesday at Parcel F. The deal fills the entire office portion of the $1 billion tower, which will be taller than the Bank of America Building, which at 779 feet is the citys fourth-tallest high-rise. Salesforce is signing on even before the tower has won key city approvals, a testament to the severe space crunch pushing large tenants to scramble for offices downtown. Its a sign of strength for Salesforce, which recently became the citys largest private employer with 8,500 workers. The cloud computing company now has space for its goal of 10,000 workers in San Francisco, and may grow even further, said Elizabeth Pinkham, Salesforces executive vice president of global real estate. Steelblue Location was key, she said. Like Salesforce Tower, Parcel F will have a direct pedestrian bridge to Salesforce Park, the citys new rooftop green space on the Transbay Transit Center. (The center has been closed for weeks as officials determine the cause of two cracked steel beams.) When we realized Parcel F was the last panel connected to the park and transit center, it felt like a great move, Pinkham said. It just really felt like the right way for us to grow and scale the campus while keeping everyone together. With 2.5 million square feet of offices spread among five Transbay Transit Center area buildings, Salesforce has one of the most significant urban corporate campuses in the world, said Robert Sammons, Northwest research director at real estate brokerage Cushman & Wakefield. Other examples include Amazon in Seattle, JPMorgan Chase in New York and Coca-Cola in Atlanta. They keep investing in this neighborhood. Theyve also been tremendous, civic-minded business folks, said Andrew Robinson, executive director of the East Cut Community Benefit District, which promotes the area that includes the Transbay Transit Center. Robinson cited the companys policy to not have corporate cafeterias, instead encouraging employees to eat out, as a boon for local merchants. Its a really different thing having Salesforce here as opposed to others, Robinson said. It makes the whole corridor more vibrant. Pinkham said the company is exploring potential signs on the tower. As it does in other towers, Salesforce will have an Ohana Floor in the Parcel F building, an event space that will be available to nonprofits for free. It really does make a difference, said Laura Steinfeldt, vice president of development at the American Heart Association, which has held two events at Salesforce Tower. Were really grateful. Salesforces deal is a major boost for one of the last undeveloped pieces of the Transbay district, San Franciscos tallest neighborhood. Parcel F is the last office tower to be built in the area and the final project over 600 feet in the citys development pipeline. The long-awaited Central South of Market plan, running from near Market Street south to Townsend Street and from Second Street to Sixth Street, was tentatively approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The Central SoMa plan, eight years in the making, is expected to receive final approval at the next supervisors meeting. Developers Hines and Urban Pacific, along with financial partner Goldman Sachs, expect the Saleforce project to be approved early next year and that they will break ground by the end of 2019. Financing has been secured, said Cameron Falconer, senior managing director at Hines. Hines, based in Houston and one of the countrys largest developers, won the rights to build what is now Salesforce Tower in 2007, but was delayed by the 2008 recession. In 2014, Salesforce leased 714,000 square feet in Salesforce Tower, the citys biggest deal at the time and a bellwether for the tech industrys surging growth. Its since expanded further in the tower. Hines now owns 5 percent of the tower, and Boston Properties owns 95 percent. Salesforce Towers architect, Pelli Clarke Pelli, also designed the transit center and Parcel F. It is in a lot of ways the completion of their headquarters campus, Falconer said. Falconer declined to disclose the rent Salesforce will pay. Asking rents for new towers in the Transbay area exceed $100 per square foot annually, according to brokerage data. The Parcel F site had setbacks. Its next to the transit center bus ramp and spans a narrow lot, which limits the design space. Residential developer Crescent Heights scrapped a 2015 deal to buy the site due to its 35 percent affordable housing requirement. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes A year later, Hines, Urban Pacific and Goldman Sachs bought the land for $160 million for a mixed-use project. Falconer said commercial space helps make the current project financially viable. The developers have proposed 713 apartments that would replace part of the nearby Temporary Transbay Terminal. That project, known as Block 4, will have 49 percent affordable housing to satisfy the citys requirements for Parcel F. The new tower will include a public plaza next to a future ground-level park called Under Ramp. The projects hotel portion will be on the ground floor, which will help keep the area active at all times of day, Falconer said. Salesforce recently moved out of its older offices at the Landmark at One Market and Rincon Center at 101 Spear St. The tight market has made that vacant space evaporate: Google leased the entire One Market space last week, and Twilio, a San Francisco cloud communications company, leased the Rincon Center offices, according to brokerage data. The competitive market isnt a surprise to Salesforce, which was founded in a Telegraph Hill apartment building in 1999. Weve been here since the beginning. For us, this is normal, Pinkham said. Other companies are realizing the benefits of being in San Francisco. Even with a slew of big deals this year, office demand remains robust. Cushman & Wakefield is tracking 158 San Francisco tenants 62 percent of which are tech seeking a total of 5.8 million square feet of office space. At the end of the third quarter, only 5.6 million square feet was available for lease. Theres minimal new supply. Only two large office projects are under construction: the two-tower Oceanwide Center complex, which is also in the Transbay area, and the renovated 633 Folsom St. in South of Market. Minimal San Francisco supply could push tenants to Oakland or San Jose, which already have benefited from some spillover, said Sammons of Cushman & Wakefield. This has certainly been San Franciscos decade, but the next decade could just be San Joses, especially if we stymie development here, Sammons said. Roland Li is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf PARADISE, Butte County A pink ribbon decorates the town police station. That means the buildings been cleared. So everyone reports to work all 21 sworn officers even though there is no community left to serve. After the Camp Fire destroyed much of Paradise, the local cops had hundreds of welfare and property checks to complete. So they were busy until they were done, and then the small force was suddenly thrust into the quiet in-between. Theres not much to do here, not until the victims bodies are recovered, the electrical lines repaired and the checkpoints removed from the edge of town. The dispatch center has been moved to Chico, because most of the towns infrastructure burned. Few of the remaining residents, who defied evacuation orders when the blaze swept through last Thursday morning, can call 911 even if they want or need to. Cell service is practically nonexistent. Half of the officers are on days, the rest on nights. Before their shifts, they gather in the stations back room, dressed in blue uniforms or yellow, fire-resistant Nomex. They drink coffee and compare air filters, finding solace in camaraderie. Then they leave to patrol a ghost town. Usually, they patrol alone, but now theyre pairing up for support. Theyre both protectors and victims. Eight of the 10 officers who lived in Paradise or neighboring Magalia lost their homes. On Wednesday morning, Sgt. Robert Pickering, 46, drove across Paradise, over tree branches that crunched under his tires. Over an electrical line, barely pausing. A week ago, a downed power line would have been a big deal, demanding the placement of orange cones and a call to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Traffic would have snarled. Its still pretty treacherous, Pickering said. But now its just, like, drive over the power line and keep going. At this point, its a weird holding pattern. What we are doing is important, but its not what we would normally be doing. Were just kinda bearing witness. Theres really no one to watch over and protect. Its a horrifying new normal in a town that held 27,000 residents a disaster that Pickering doesnt yet fully grasp. How can Ponderosa Elementary School be gone? How did the fire take out nearly every mobile home park and half of the churches? As he drove, wind chimes continued to whir from the front lawns of decimated homes. The ordinariness of their circling the cheerfulness jarred him. The police station got lucky. The fast-moving Camp Fire was cruel but almost random in what it torched, and it missed the headquarters on Black Olive Drive. Now its a staging area, with a small cell tower in the parking lot that casts service in a half-mile radius. Nearby, water heaters are hooked to propane tanks for showers. Safeway dropped off a truckload full of Gatorade. The Novato Police Department sent fresh uniforms, and another department delivered bulk boxes of Costco snacks. Thirty pairs of work boots showed up Tuesday. Pickering isnt sure who sent those. He has worked in Paradise for 20 years, longer even than the chief. Normally, theres some tension between law enforcement and the community. Not now, Pickering said. Everyone is on the same side. Hes never seen anything like this show of support, and hes seen a lot. He trained most of the force some rode in his car for one week, some for six weeks. They call him Pick, and he calls them his kids. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle He has a curled mustache, not so much for fashion but because decades ago officers had been barred from growing mustaches longer than the bottom lip. So he began curling his in an act of insubordination, and the look stuck. Turning on a side street, Pickering said, We get around town by landmarks. All of a sudden, we dont recognize anything. He was checking on a few homes and whether they were still standing. Desperate calls were still coming in, and it was the least he could do. For residents, the unknown was worse than knowing, he knew, but he still agonized over how to deliver bad news. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California His radio crackled. A man on Gate Lane had stayed behind. Some officers were bringing him coffee. Pickerings car went silent again. From the window, burnt-out cars lined the side of the road, their doors marked with a big orange X meaning theyd been checked. Pickerings birthday was Monday, and he ate dinner that night at the Italian Cottage in Chico with his wife and four children. The next morning, someone brought in Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which he loved even though he knew they fit every cop stereotype. It hadnt felt like a normal birthday. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle He drove north, toward Magalia, where huge swaths of homes had burned, including his mother-in-laws. As the flames approached, he had broken through the window, swiping family photos from the wall, just in time. Now, he parked at the end of one driveway and unfolded himself from the drivers seat. Every day, around lunchtime, he makes this same pilgrimage, and takes in the same sights. The tree fort in the backyard: gone. The yard gnomes, childrens bikes, furniture: all gone. Trees smoldered, releasing the scent of pine. Crows rasped from branches. Pickering walked closer, toeing the rubble. He once knew this property. It was his own. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn PARADISE, Butte County Before walking out of a gas station in Chico, a man looked back at the cashier, smiled and said he would be returning to his Magalia home soon. Theyre going to turn the power back on, he called out before running out of the gas station market toward his white SUV. His words, though full of hope, were only a rumor. Crews were working furiously on Thursday to bring evacuated residents one step closer to returning to their properties in Paradise and Magalia to assess the damage. But there is still a lot to do before authorities can consider repopulating the areas of Butte County that were devastated by the Camp Fire the deadliest and most destructive blaze in California history thats killed at least 56 people and destroyed 10,317 structures. Melted power lines need to be replaced. Wooden poles that had previously held up the power lines are now broken into pieces, some suspended from wires, and need to be restored. Trees that had burned from the inside out and are threatening to plummet to the ground at any moment need to be demolished. What do we do with people when they come back? said Capt. Chris Vestal, a spokesman for Cal Fires Camp Fire incident. Its really a function of trying to get as much back into place because when people return, the city needs to be operational. Arborists on Thursday lined Skyway, the main thoroughfare leading into Paradise, cutting down damaged trees. The trees throughout Paradise and Magalia had been assessed and labeled with green or yellow paint into two priorities. P1 was must go now and P2 was must go eventually. Trees determined to be P1 were to be uprooted and removed. Crews from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. were standing guard until arborists arrived to begin cutting the branches before taking down the oversized trunks. Its a wildland urban interface, Vestal said, pointing to the dozens of blackened trees surrounding what used to be homes in Paradise. You have homes mixed with whats essentially a forest. Crews had assessed the trees and power lines on the main roads, but neighborhoods like Skyway and Princeton Way remained untouched. Power lines had melted and fallen onto the ground. A red bike in the front yard of a now-destroyed home was still standing on its kickstand even though its tires had been burned off. Behind it, a tree had split down the middle after the blaze burned it from the inside. The trunk was broken into two large pieces that drooped toward the ground. People cant come into these areas until the power lines and the trees are rendered safe, he said. Typically repopulation is allowed in phases. Once an area is out of danger people can go back. So far, it is too soon to tell which areas are out of danger. Dozens of crews have set up makeshift command centers throughout Paradise and Magalia. PG&E workers removed downed power lines and replaced them with new ones. Wooden poles were brought in to hold the power lines up. Others hammered stop signs into place to function where the destroyed stoplights are. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California And still, members of the search and rescue crews, dressed in white hazmat suits, face masks and equipped with rakes, scoured the border of Paradise and Magalia for human remains. Concerns remain that a blaze could spark again, Vestal said. Some piles of debris were still smoking and people like Joe Pearce, a water tender operator, checked to make sure that no more blazes would break out. Pearce leaned against his water tender, a tanker that can funnel water from a hydrant or some other source, in the Magalia Plaza parking lot. We put out the containment line, and now our job is to make sure the fire doesnt escape, he said. Im just waiting here to see if anybody needs water. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Pacifica resident Richard Solin follows a routine when he goes to the greatest Taco Bell in the world. He finds a seat in the high-ceiling interior of the wood building, positioning himself to face outside one of the enormous picture windows, and looks to see if there are any whales. You can see whales out there, just (below) the horizon, flopping their tails, the retired 60-year-old says. Three or four at a time. They get really close. The Linda Mar Taco Bell, as it is known to the locals, is isolated on the beach side of the Pacific Coast Highway on the southern tip of Pacifica. It is a miracle of location, architecture and exemption from coastal land use regulations. It also has become a tourist destination, making guidebooks and various online lists. Locals say its not unusual to see the parking lot filled with rental cars. Taco Bell officials dont know the complete the history of the building. But it has been passed down through generations in Pacifica,. Every resident seems to have worked there, or given birth to someone who worked there. At the very least, everyone has a good story to tell about it. The structure was built alongside Pacifica State Beach in the late 1960s, and was an A&W hamburger franchise for at least a decade. Don Southworth, who managed that restaurant for a couple years in the 1970s, confirms there used to be a gas-powered fireplace in the restaurant. Business was almost entirely driven by the weather, Southworth remembers. When it was sunny, especially on the weekends and in the summer, the place was packed with people. When it was foggy, which was most of the time, it was really slow. Kathy McGuire, vice-president of the Pacifica Historical Society, says the restaurant was grandfathered in before Proposition 20, the 1972 California initiative which established the Coastal Commission. The initiative makes it nearly impossible for a restaurant, much less an international chain with 7,000 locations, to establish roots west of Highway 1. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle For decades, the Taco Bell was a locals place, until a 1990s national travel article established the Taco Bell as an unofficial landmark. About 25 years ago it was listed in Conde Nast, as one of the worlds most scenic fast food establishments, McGuire remembers. One of the other ones was in Nome, Alaska. I definitely remember that. In just the last five years, the Pacifica Taco Bell has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Trip Advisor, Buzzfeed and KPNX Channel 12 news in Arizona each story adding a new round of social media attention. Tom Douglas, vice president of Golden Gate Bell LLC, said he was informed about the uniqueness of the location shortly after he was hired in February. When I moved here I was told, Hey theres an article that says the Taco Bell youre going to be running is the greatest in the world, Douglas remembers. Sure enough, I Googled Greatest Taco Bell in the World, and up pops our Taco Bell here in Pacifica. Douglas said the Taco Bell holds high esteem in Golden Gate Bell LLC, which franchises the Pacifica Taco Bell and about 80 others in the Bay Area. And it wont be going anywhere soon. He confirmed plans to upgrade the location to a Taco Bell Cantina early next year, with a new interior and menu changes including alcoholic beverages. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle If the Pacifica Taco Bell isnt the greatest in the world, its almost certainly the loveliest fast food location in the Bay Area an honor that has been uncontested since the 1996 closure of the Presidio Burger King, which offered both Whopper Juniors with cheese and a sterling view of the Golden Gate Bridge. (The old Presidio Burger King building is scheduled for demolition this week, as part of an urban park project to improve Presidio views.) Despite dozens of 1-star Yelp reviews many tied to the continued disoperation of a soda machine last summer a visit to the Linda Mar Taco Bell lives up to the hype. From a distance the Taco Bell looks like a high-end ski resort warming hut, with rakishly angled wooden walls resting on white pillars that make the restaurant appear to levitate. Its the only large structure on a pristine half-moon of coast bookended with a cliff wall and a tree-lined hill. Up close, the Taco Bell is arguably even more impressive. A walk-up window for surfers is available on the wooden deck that circles the building. Inside, the huge windows are complemented by tiered seating and picture windows that wrap around the front, for optimum whale- and surfer-watching. The colorful abstract wall hangings have a primitivistic flair. A very inexperienced eye, who misses the subtle Taco Bell logos painted near the bottom, might mistake the artwork for Jean-Michel Basquiat prints. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle The menu is a regular Taco Bell, although that will change next year. Along with alcoholic beverages, the Las Vegas Taco Bell Cantina serves something called the Twisted Freeze, which looks like someone spiked a Snoopy Sno-cone Machine with vodka, tequila or rum. In a city known for its heavy cloud cover and being the birthplace of comedian Rob Schneider, where the local school district and Safeway are the two largest employers, there seems to be pride for the Taco Bell. Run into a longtime Pacifica resident, and they probably have a good Linda Mar Taco Bell story. Natie Juvland, 83, who volunteers in the Pacifica Coastside Museum gift shop, has a daughter who worked there almost four decades ago. She once walked in on a huge group of guests who all seemed to know each other. They said, Oh, were here for the wedding reception, Juvland says. Then they pointed out the couple. They said they wanted the reception (at) Taco Bell. I guess thats one of their favorite places. Back inside the Taco Bell, a crowd has developed, and Solin and Steve Winkler, a Pacifican who has been patronizing the restaurant since the 1970s, have been waiting a while for their orders. Rather than complain, they continue to list positive attributes. Its very convenient, inexpensive, you cant beat the view, Solin says, as a couple surfers finishing their set stroll toward the building. And you know what youre getting. Its a Taco Bell. Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub Oakland International Airport is breathing new life into its dining scene with an influx of popular local businesses. The additions are the result of the Port of Oakland recently approving four concession packages that came to fruition through various airport concession partnerships. Within the packages were opportunities for 17 new food and drink vendors to open between Terminals 1 and 2. The airport did not provide a time frame for the debuts. Whats notable about the roster of new businesses is the emphasis placed on homegrown talent. Tanya Holland, the Oakland soul food maven behind Brown Sugar Kitchen, has been given the green light to open her first airport location. The East Bay chef will put into place an outpost of her growing counter-service venture, Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter, which is also putting down roots in the San Francisco Ferry Building and in Uptown Oakland. The restaurant will be part of a 5,553 square-food hall called the Hangar, located in Terminal 2 near Gate 25. Joining Holland there will be San Leandros Drakes Brewing and Red Bay Coffee, a black-owned coffee company based out of Oakland. Like Holland, the opening for Red Bay Coffee is part of the brands ongoing push to expand its national footprint. But when it comes to the largest stand-alone projects in the avalanche of new airport tenants, the two biggest at least in terms of individual scale are beer-focused ventures. The grandest is a 3,878 square-foot sports-themed bar and restaurant called the Oakland As Club House, located at Terminal 1 near Gate 8. Following it closely is a 2,279 square-foot project from beer behemoth Sierra Nevada at Terminal 2 near Gate 28. Theres much more: Tay Ho Oakland, a spinoff of the Oakland Chinatown Vietnamese restaurant, will open at Terminal 2 near Gate 23. An outpost of Lukas Taproom and Lounge will take shape at Terminal 1 near Gate 9. The list of popular Oakland spots goes on Calavera, Southie and A16 will all open new airport outposts as well. On the coffee side, Peets Coffee will add three new locations between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Farleys in Uptown Oakland is opening a cafe at Terminal 2 near Gate 22. And at Terminal 1 near Gate 4 will be the Oaklandish Coffee Collective. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The push to expand food options by the Oakland International Airport is reminiscent of what has been happening over the last few years at the San Francisco International Airport. Local operators are flooding its terminals, too, introducing a new wave of airport dining in the region. Recently, Farmerbrown opened its first location there outside of the Tenderloin, and theres still a massive food hall in the works from Tartine, Kin Khao and Cala. See the full list of new projects below: Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips How could anyone buy this guy? That was my instant thought on seeing Jim Jones in person. He was a newly named member of San Franciscos public housing commission, a civic panel I was assigned to cover. He brought two busloads of elderly African Americans with him who applauded his every remark, from agreeing with a staff report to wishful thoughts on improving building conditions. Nothing sinister, just jarringly odd. As for his followers, you couldnt talk to them. They shied away from saying a word to a stranger, heeding minders who escorted them. Jones came with a flock of aides, all white, who said hed call later to answer any questions, just not now. When the call came, the sound quality was weak, a sign I took to mean others were listening in. Jones was polite and banal, saying little that was controversial or striking. Why all the fuss for a routine meeting? I asked. Our church feels its important to stand up and be counted, he said. Looking around San Francisco circa 1975, there were other examples of the churchs overwhelming presence: long lines of members who circled the low-income International Hotel, poised for demolition, and political rallies where Jones-supplied crowds filled storefronts and halls. He was a new addition to the landscape, an ingredient that stood out unavoidably for any reporter, especially for someone covering City Hall and local issues. It was all slightly amazing, especially when the Peoples Temple members wouldnt talk and performed on cue. Organizers of various causes who dialed up the church for help at rallies said the crowds sent by Jones were strange, but it was nothing compared with the picture that showed up on the 6 p.m. news. Still, was it a news story that an odd reverend, new to town, was ingratiating himself into local politics with a tightly run religious operation? I thought so. I pitched my editors. The temple inner circle its ever-present lawyer, press person, and a series of aides all said no, claiming Jones needed privacy to perform his good works. More notice would only draw out angry foes, or chase away down-and-outers who needed help, so leave him alone. This brush-off worked, at least with my Chronicle city editor. Jones had invited him to temple services and shown him the child care center, health clinic and after-school program, all in operation before one of his song-and-sermon services. Id gotten the same walk-through. The church was a social curative, not just a Sunday stop. Jones wanted credit and respect but on his terms, which meant limited coverage. Besides, when Jones was first named to the housing panel, the paper had run a modest profile that had drawn scores of fawning letters. My story pitch was spiked. Then, as now, a newspaper can be a sensitive beast. It needs to cover communities in its area, even where its not trusted. In this case it was San Franciscos Fillmore district, flattened by urban renewal projects and facing uncertain changes. The Chronicle was an outsider there, a situation it wanted to change. My editor saw Jones an as entry point, a person who would help break down the barriers and give the paper credibility. What a mistake. Thats because pursuit of the truth, not favor, is our mission. Jones knew this more than anyone. The more influential he grew, the more risks he ran in being examined. His arguments about needing anonymity for his good deeds couldnt hold much longer. My initial doubts about Jones proved to be pretty trivial as later events bore out, but the full picture never appeared in The Chronicle until much later. Because my boss wanted to curry favor, the city missed out on the early warning signs. I sulked over my setback and then went outside the newspaper to New West magazine, now defunct. First one editor turned me down again, after Jones crew used the same line about needed privacy until a second braver soul approved the story. Then, the real news began to surface. Ex-members, whod heard about my travails in finding a publisher, poured out personal stories about beatings to enforce discipline, heavy pressure to turn over money, and faked faith healings to win converts. The church was built around Jones, not any set of teachings the definition of a cult. Within a few months of the storys publication in 1977, elderly members, parents with children and Jones himself took off to Guyana, where their lives ended a year later. The Chronicle wasnt alone in its negligence. The Jones-friendly politics of his day made it easy for him to prosper. He earned favor in a wide circle of renowned leaders Mayor George Moscone, Supervisors Harvey Milk and Willie Brown, to name a few who saw the useful part of Peoples Temple and never wanted to look beyond its too-good features. Thats one way to describe the cynicism that allowed an oddball preacher to degenerate into a hellish personality. For me, it was a long slog to get the story known. My own role in this awful chapter of San Francisco history doesnt bring me any peace. The church needed to be exposed and explained that was plainly my job but the consequences that followed that story were profound. What if the scandal of Peoples Temple had remained bottled up? Jones in all his madness might have taken another turn. Nearly 1,000 people might not have died in a faraway jungle and a congressman and journalists never shot. Or was a tragic ending inevitable? I will never know what might have happened if I had skipped that routine housing commission meeting. Marshall Kilduff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkilduff@sfchronicle.com Marshall Kilduff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkilduff@sfchronicle.com Even as gun control advocates celebrated election gains last week, the country was in the grip of terror following mass shootings in Pittsburgh and Thousand Oaks. This terrorism is not purely a domestic phenomenon, but a product of Americas relationship with the world: Terrorism in American life is inseparable from American violence in the world. Easy access to firearms makes trauma and bigotry related to the war on terror lethal at home as much as abroad. Even for mass shooters seemingly uninvested in that conflict, the attraction of assault-style weapons lies in the image of combat-style American masculinity associated with it. The Pittsburgh shooter harbored venomous hatred for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which offers aid to refugees, including, recently, Muslims from Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East what the shooter saw as filthy evil jews Bringing the Filthy evil Muslims into the Country!! These refugees emerge from conflicts unleashed by the American war on terror that began in 2001, accompanied by widespread Islamophobia. The Afghanistan war is Americans longest war, without end in sight. The Thousand Oaks shooter had served there. Whatever the emotional motivations behind mass shootings loneliness, trauma, hatred at a deeper level they are coldly impersonal. They are not about personal enmity but random slaughter, mimicking the violence of the war zone with weapons designed for impersonal mass violence. The same weapons are on all sides of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria. The Islamic State has American arms. Two days before the Thousand Oaks shooting, Taliban soldiers attacked security bases across Afghanistan to seize their firearms and other weapons, killing dozens. We hear little of these affairs, thanks to a discreet drone-based strategy, until a traumatized veteran reminds us of the wars toll. These shootings, here and there, are shaped by the business of arms. While many struggle to curtail the firearms industrys access to American civilians, arms makers push to keep markets everywhere open: The war on terror helped destabilize Yemen, making it a site of civil war and Saudi aggression with American arms. President Trump is committed to those arms sales, despite news of famine in Yemen. Historically, war often shapes civilian violence. After World War I, which ended 100 years ago last weekend, traumatized British soldiers engaged in new kinds of gun violence until tight gun legislation stopped it in 1920. Our culture of mass shootings is also historically specific and it need not go on. To be sure, the National Rifle Association peddles the myth that gun culture is American culture. But Americans have always had gun control. Kentucky and Louisiana passed bans on carrying concealed weapons in 1813. The idea of America as a place of unregulated gun ownership is recent, actively produced by a gun industry desperate for markets. As the rest of the world strives to regulate global firearms sales (e.g., the 2014 U.N. Arms Trade Treaty), the Trump administration plans to ease firearms exports by moving their oversight from the State Department to the looser jurisdiction of the Commerce Department, where some sales may not even require licensing. Meanwhile, tight gun laws in other countries make American civilians the single most important market for firearms manufacturers. American civilians own nearly half the firearms in the world. The American government, and governments around the world, have an interest in keeping this market open to support the health of an industry essential to national security. A revolving door between defense agencies and arms firms facilitates this military-industrial complex. With such support, the NRA holds the nation in a death grip. The Thousand Oaks shooter modified his handgun with an extended magazine that would have been illegal to possess by California law, but a lawsuit by Californias NRA affiliate has blocked that law in federal court. Witnessing the destruction wreaked by his arms in Afghanistan, the Marvel comic book arms maker Tony Stark forswears arms manufacturing but winds up weaponizing himself as Iron Man, launching a new arms race as his embittered partner makes a bigger, more monstrous suit. The 19th century firearms maker Sarah Winchester was haunted by the ghosts of those killed by the Winchester rifle, but bad conscience only drove her into building a crazy mansion in the heart of todays Silicon Valley. She still went on with arms manufacturing. We must do better than Iron Man and Sarah Winchester and reckon with a military industrial system in which we are collectively complicit. The gun control movement is pressuring companies to disengage from the firearms industry, and sustained activism can produce cultural change, just as NRA activism did. Disgust at Saudi arms deals is also forcing moral assessment to economic decisions. Executives in Silicon Valley, where Saudi money provides crucial liquidity, are expressing scruples about accepting it going forward. Google employees have stymied renewal of a Pentagon contract to provide artificial intelligence technology for drones. Taxpaying power can be leveraged in decisions about local, state and federal contracts for arms. We might imagine more peaceable ways in which government contracts can drive economic prosperity. We may reconsider industrial life itself, as did Mahatma Gandhi, William Morris, and others with mass following. Instead of Tony Stark, might we take inspiration from Black Panthers Wakanda, where technologys power is restrained by deeply human commitments to culture? The ties between violence and industrial capitalism are deep and systemic, dating from the 18th century. Until recently, we actively explored alternative modes of social organization rather than accepting industrial capitalism, with all its human and environmental wreckage, as an inescapable default. It is time to invent new ways forward. On the night of the Thousand Oaks shooting, more than a billion people were celebrating Diwali, which teaches us that a single oil lamp can vanquish the blackest night. Let us confront the place of arms making in our global economy and its production of mass shootings in America and devastation in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. The NRA is our Frankensteins monster. To stop it, we must insist that our manufacturers turn swords into ploughshares, at last. Priya Satia is a professor of history at Stanford University. She is the author of Empire of Guns: The Violent Making of the Industrial Revolution (Penguin, 2018). With wildfires still ablaze in California, thousands of homes and dozens of lives lost, millions of Americans are asking how they can help. But, far too often in the wake of disaster, good intentions lead to misguided donations that do more harm than good. Last fall, when the Wine Country fires ravaged my hometown of Napa, I visited Puertas Abiertas, a nonprofit that does outreach to the Latino community, to see how I could help. The executive director led me to their backyard to show me the mountain of dog food they had received from donors in the days after the fire. She said, What can I do with this? Most of our clients dont have dogs. They need money to buy groceries and deposits for new housing. Shes not alone. In Newtown, Conn., when a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, the community had to rent a warehouse to fit 67,000 stuffed animals donated from across the country, most of which ultimately got sent away. In China, after a major earthquake shook Sichuan Province, leaving millions homeless, volunteers clogged the tiny mountain roads trying to donate blood and bring in donated items, preventing emergency supplies from reaching the people and organizations who needed them most. As someone who has worked with nonprofits, time and again Ive seen people get so obsessed with the idea of helping that they often fail to stand back and consider whether what theyre doing is effective. Good intentions simply arent enough. If you truly want to help victims in the aftermath of disaster, then take the time to educate yourself before you give. Consider donating cash instead of goods. During the 2017 Wine Country wildfires, just 1 to 2 percent of the donated goods were used. In less than a week since the outbreak of the California fires in Butte and Ventura counties, the same scenario is playing out: Camp Fire evacuation centers are filling up with used and unusable items. While donors mean well, they dont realize that this stuff is taking up valuable space and requiring desperately needed volunteer time to clear. Instead, in the aftermath of disaster, cash donations that benefit victims can be one of the most powerful ways to make impact. As one victim of the 2017 fires described, Some people think that $10 isnt a lot, but when 10 people donate just $10, that fire survivor now has $100 to buy new clothes and underwear for their kids. You can find victims to support directly on GoFundMe by searching the name of the disaster. Or find an evacuation center in the area to deliver gift cards from Visa, large grocery store chains, gas stations and drugstores. Donate to local nonprofit organizations that provide crucial social services to victims. Emergency relief isnt just about getting through the immediate aftermath of a disaster, its also about addressing long-term needs like housing, employment and mental health in the months and years to come. This is especially true for those who were living close to the poverty line before the disaster, who are likely to be most adversely affected when tragedy strikes. Local poverty-fighting organizations are in the best position to support poor populations because they have close relationships and trust with the communities they serve. If you arent familiar with nonprofits in the area, you can donate to community foundations like the North Valley Community Foundation, based in Chico that work directly with local nonprofits to serve the greatest needs. Give collectively with your friends, colleagues and your own community to enlarge your contribution. Last year when fires struck, the Petaluma Mothers Club put out a call on Facebook that it was raising funds for $25 gift cards to distribute at local shelters, and money poured in from mothers around the country. The group raised nearly $45,000 for families that had lost everything. Companies can play a role. In 2017, big tech companies including Salesforce and Twilio teamed up with a leading foundation Tipping Point Community to present a benefit concert and raise $33 million for nonprofits that were providing crucial support for those affected by the Northern California fires. The companies encouraged their employees to contribute by matching their donations. If you do feel compelled to give goods instead of cash, make sure you are in direct communication with organizations distributing donations, and donate new as opposed to used items, to avoid sending useless items and creating costly cleanup. By taking the time to educate ourselves before we give, we can turn good intentions into desperately needed disaster relief for the most vulnerable among us. Kathleen Kelly Janus is a social entrepreneur, author and lecturer at the Stanford Program on Social Entrepreneurship. She is the author of Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference. The Camp Fire looked like a nuclear firebomb had gone off, said field scout Ed Migale, who was evacuated last weekend from the fire zone in Butte County. At one point, it looked like the fire was breathing down our necks and yet we found out that we were 10 miles away, thats how big it was, Migale said. Although the Camp Fire has devoured some recreation facilities, many sites have dodged the paths of the fire. A review of the damage to recreation sites from major wildfires this year in the Sierra Nevada and Northern California show a crazy-quilt pattern of destruction. Some sites were incinerated, and yet others nearby escaped all harm, according to district rangers, fire specialists and field scouts on site. As the week started, 7,579 fires this year had burned 1.67 million acres, the highest burned acreage recorded in California history, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Those numbers are the latest available and will go up with the next report. Of the big fires in Northern California, here is what burned, what did not and how recreation sites will be impacted over the winter and into 2019: Camp Fire, Butte County Paradise: The early stages of the 138,000-acre (and growing) Camp Fire roared through Pentz Road, a major country route that connects north Oroville to Magalia, and also the site of the Quail Trails Village RV Park. The owners made it out OK, but their RV park burned to the ground, said Beverly Simonson, who owns a sister RV park. To the north, the fire scorched the hills surrounding Magalia Reservoir, Concow Reservoir, and Paradise Lake as well, after first stalling for a day near the dam and boat ramp. Lake Oroville: The West Branch Feather River Arm at northwest Lake Oroville, located from the Highway 70 Bridge on upstream, has been plundered. This week, the fire burned through Lime Saddle Campground. Its on fire right now, said Supervising State Parks Ranger Aaron Wright when we spoke Monday and who provided updates through the week. Nearby Lake Oroville Marina is under threat, but infrastructure was intact, Wright said. Inspections had not occurred yet at boat-in camps in the Bloomer Camp Primitive Area, but all were jeopardized. South of Highway 70, two sites for hand-launching boats were burning Wednesday: Vinton, set in a deep cove, and across the lake, Dark Canyon, located just north of the North Fork Feather arm, said Adeline Yee at State Park headquarters. To the south, about 90 percent of Lake Oroville and its recreation facilities remained untouched. At central Lake Oroville near the Visitor Center and up the major Middle Fork Feather Arm, each area has escaped the fires paths. The webcams near the dam, which post live shots at the State Parks website, have been operating intermittently because of ash and heavy smoke reducing the ability of small solar collectors to power the batteries for the cameras, Yee said. Backcountry: The fire has extended east into Plumas National Forest, and though only 5 miles from Bucks Lake, several ridges and canyons likely would allow a fire line to be constructed and stall its approach. The fire has slowed when burning downslope, according to a fire-science specialist. Highway 70 is closed. The Oroville-Quincy Highway was under threat with remote and primitive Rogers Cow Camp at risk. The chance of damage is far less to the south at Milsap Bar Campground, adjacent to hidden Seven Falls, along the Middle Fork Feather River. The trail to Feather Falls, located in the wilderness on a tributary of the Middle Fork, appeared to be at no risk. Info: Lake Oroville Rec Area, 530-538-2219, www.parks.ca.gov; Plumas National Forest, 530-283-0555, www.fs.usda.gov/plumas. Delta Fire, Shasta-Trinity Upper Sacramento River Canyon: This is the 63,000-acre blaze that started right in front of me as I drove south on Interstate 5 between the exits for LaMoine and Delta/Dog Creek. Several canyons along I-5 burned down to blackened ground, and if hydro-seeding doesnt hold surface soils, they could face severe erosion from winter storms, with rain-washed silt poured into the river system. The silver lining: No campgrounds were damaged. Out of Sims Flat Campground, a put-in for rafting a popular spring float from Sims to Pollard Flat, for whitewater and fly-fishing, rafters will start surrounded by green forest and then encounter fire damage during the approach to the takeout at Pollard. Info: Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 530-926-2511, www.fs.usda.gov/stnf. Hirz Fire, Shasta-Trinity At Shasta Lake, the Hirz Fire started just above the campgrounds on the upper McCloud River Arm, and then burned north and devoured 46,000 acres. In the interior, fire managers said selective-cut timber areas and plantations of young trees were 100 percent destroyed (so much for logging to reduce fire danger). In a miracle, none of the lakeside campgrounds at Shasta Lake was affected. This includes McCloud Bridge, Pine Point, Ellery Creek, Moore Creek and Dekkas Rock campgrounds; all open and clear. Info: Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 530-275-1587, www.fs.usda.gov/stnf. Carr Fire, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area It was an RV with a flat tire where a metal rim hit the road, set off sparks and torched the RV that ignited the Carr Fire along Highway 299. It then burned 229,651 acres, including much of the 40,000-acre Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Oak Bottom and its campground and marina were destroyed, including docks and 40 boats. On the other side of the lake, Brandy Creek had minimal impact, and when water and restrooms can be restored, will be reopened. In more remote areas, the Carr Fire impacted Sheep Camp, Dry Creek and Horse Camp, and before being reopened in 2019, each site will be assessed for hazard trees and erosion issues. In the parks interior, hazard trees would be inspected and removed, said Lisa Wilkolak at park headquarters, and only then would the trails to four waterfalls be considered for reopening. As at many fire areas, erosion this winter is another concern in the steep canyon watersheds. Redding: On the Sacramento River Parkway, a 7-mile (one-way) route is still available for cyclists, from Sundial Bridge to the Ribbon Stress Bridge. Elsewhere on the parkway, the fire burned four bridges. Info: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 530-242-3400, www.nps.gov/whis. Donnell Fire, Upper Stanislaus In the face of so many other major blazes, the 36,000-acre Donnell Fire in the High Sierra was off the radar for many. But for campers, it could have the biggest impact of all; 10 campgrounds along (and near) Highway 108 are at risk. The fire impacted both the Upper Stanislaus and Clark Fork watersheds. Pending clearing of hazard trees and erosion issues from storm runoff, each camp will be assessed in 2019 whether to open for next years summer season. The camps affected are: Sand Flat, Clark Fork and Horse Camp, Boulder Flat, Brightman Flat, Dardanelle, Pigeon Flat, Eureka Valley, Niagara Creek and Niagara Creek OHV. Over winter, were worried about hazard trees and debris flows, said Diana Fredlund, public affairs officer for Stanislaus National Forest. Info: Stanislaus National Forest, 209-965-3434, www.fs.usda/stanislaus. Ranch Fire, Mendocino The scope of the Ranch Fire, at 459,123 acres, the largest wildfire in California history, is beyond the comprehension for many. It is also difficult to believe how the fire bypassed many recreation facilities. Along Highway 20, for instance, the fire burned right down to the road, but ended there, and at Blue Lakes, all four lakeside resorts on the other side of the road were untouched, reported Pablo Jimenez at The Lodge at Blue Lakes. We all made it, Jimenez said. At Clear Lake, the fire burned across wildlands for miles and approached within a mile of the lake, reported field scout Terry Knight at Lakeport, but lakeside infrastructure at Clear Lake emerged with no damage. The fire approached Lake Pillsbury in Mendocino National Forest, and the owner of Lake Pillsbury Resort said that everybody had feared the worst, but a fire line held and the resort was protected. Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicles outdoor writer. His Outdoor Report can be heard at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Saturdays on KCBS (740 and 106.9). Email:tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom SACRAMENTO Despite the landslide defeat of a rent-control measure on the statewide ballot, the fight between tenants and housing interest groups is far from over. Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, says he and other lawmakers are discussing bills to help tenants for the legislative session that begins Jan. 7, including proposals to prevent steep rent increases during housing crises and to strengthen just-cause eviction laws. Chiu said lawmakers need to find a way to help renters in the aftermath of Proposition 10s defeat. The measure, which would have allowed cities to expand rent control, was thumped in last weeks election, 61 to 39 percent. Just because Prop. 10 lost doesnt mean the problems we are facing disappear, Chiu said. Far from it. California continues to be in the worst housing crisis in history. But the lopsided defeat may make it more difficult for advocates to bring the other side to the bargaining table. Sid Lakireddy of the California Rental Housing Association said it flatly Prop. 10s resounding loss is a sign that voters dont believe rent control is the answer. That goes for incremental changes in the states 1995 law that sharply limits the rent controls that cities can impose, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, as well as Prop. 10s goal of outright repeal of the measure, Lakireddy said. Its time to move on, Lakireddy said. We need to address the problem. Doing what it takes to solve the problem may not be politically popular in the short term. Lakireddy said addressing the problem means reducing regulatory burdens under the California Environmental Quality Act and removing local zoning policies when they get in the way of needed housing development. We need to look at everything, Lakireddy said everything except rent control. Debra Carlton, senior vice president for the California Apartment Association, said housing groups are discussing how to pressure cities to approve more development. The association led the opposition to Prop. 10, helping to raise the $76 million used to defeat the measure. Proponents raised $26 million. I dont know what the answer is yet, but it has to be a balance of housing-producing and a conversation about, how do we ensure people arent displaced in our community? Carlton said. We need to find a way to ensure communities arent just creating jobs without housing coming with it. Chiu, who has tried to bring tenants and housing groups together in the past, said his interest is in coming up with something that can pass the Legislature. In January, a bill to repeal Costa-Hawkins that Chiu co-authored quickly died amid fierce opposition from property owners. That prompted tenants groups to go to the ballot with Prop. 10. They say theyre already looking at another attempt in 2020, despite last weeks shellacking. Amy Schur, state campaign director for the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, one of the groups that campaigned for Prop. 10, said proponents didnt consider last weeks results a message that voters oppose rent control. In early 2017, we could count lawmakers who supported a repeal of Costa-Hawkins on one hand, Schur said. The movement for rent control is bigger and stronger today than it was before the election. Schur said tenants groups will meet in December to plot their next move. She expects pro-rent control forces to focus on persuading local governments to enact the strongest price caps allowable under Costa-Hawkins. Small measures arent going to do it, she said. Nipping around the edges and taking action that will help us five or 10 years from now will not do it. We need to act fast to stem the tide of displacement. Chiu said a full repeal of Costa-Hawkins is probably off the table as far as the Legislature is concerned. He said voters have made their opinion clear on that. But changing some parts of the law could be possible, he said. I am hopeful with our new governor-elect that we will be able to get something meaningful done for renters this session, Chiu said, referring to Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. The state already has anti-price-gouging protections that apply to rental housing during the aftermath of emergencies such as fires and earthquakes. Chiu said hes looking at whether similar protections should be offered to tenants when theres a housing crisis. The states housing problem has only been exacerbated in the past week by the loss of thousands of homes in fires in Butte County and Southern California. Steps to help homeowners rebuild quickly should be another priority for lawmakers, Chiu said. Ive already reached out to my colleagues about that, Chiu said. Melody Gutierrez is The San Francisco Chronicles Sacramento bureau chief. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez Le nouveau est arrive! Today is the third Thursday in November, which marks the annual release of Beaujolais nouveau, the young, just-bottled wine from this years harvest. If you have memories of the ubiquitous Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais nouveau bottles that crowd the market this time every year, the memories probably arent pleasant. Debuted in raucous street parades in New York and Paris, most nouveau in recent decades has been insipid, weak and marked by a Bazooka bubble gum flavor that tends to overstay its welcome on the palate. But you can always count on California to reclaim a derided wine tradition and turn it hip again. Two years ago, I did a deep dive into the revival of nouveau efforts in the Golden State and was shocked to find nine (9!) examples. Well, the scene now has fully ballooned: On Friday, Oakland natural-wine temple Ordinaire will host 23 (!!) nouveau producers for its now-annual celebration, including Inconnu, Frenchtown Farms, J. Brix and En Cavale. (No cost of admission; just show up to the shop and buy some wine. And Kronner might cook as usual, Ordinaire owner Bradford Taylor tells me, referring to Kronnerburger chef Chris Kronner.) Im all for fun harvest party wine which is nouveaus original intention. My question remains: Are we taking nouveau a little too seriously? Look, nouveau is something for French college kids to get trashed on, says Cruse Wine Co. winemaker Michael Cruse. Thats basically the idea. Sometimes, we make it and were like, Oh, thats actually something. 2018 was such a year for Cruse. This year, he made his customary nouveau of Valdiguie a grape long confused for Gamay, the variety of Beaujolais and it came out much more like a rose than a red wine. Cruse put the juice through a full, proper carbonic maceration, the traditional method used for nouveau, which leaves the resulting wine with almost no tannin. In past years he has blended in a little bit of conventionally fermented Valdiguie wine to supplement some body and color. But this year I just thought it was pretty, Cruse says. I didnt want to mess with it. The Cruse 2018 Valdiguie Nouveau ($22) is fuchsia-colored, and once you sift through a little bit of pleasant funkiness on the nose, youll smell rose petal, watermelon and, yes, some Bazooka Joe. Its tangy, fruity and needs a chill. Drink it as a warm-up before dinner. Its not bad at all. Where Im drinking Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Angler is the blockbuster new restaurant thats supposed to be the casual offshoot of San Franciscos very not-casual Saison, and its elaborate wine and cocktail situations are the subject of my Drink Up review this week. Theres a White Russian that involves putting Pedro Ximenez Sherry through a cold-brew machine, and a daiquiri that incorporates hearth-grilled pineapple. Theres also a treasure trove of Burgundy pilfered from Saisons wine vault. If you cant commit to a full (and quite expensive) dinner at Angler, I explain why stopping in for drinks can be just as delightful. What Im drinking Sign Up for the Newsletter Want to get the wine world in your inbox every week? Subscribe to Drinking with Esther. See More Collapse Speaking of warm-ups before dinner, Ive been drinking a lot of vermouth lately and have enjoyed those from Mommenpop, a label made by Poe winemaker (and, incidentally, nouveau specialist) Samantha Sheehan. Her three renditions Vin dOrange (based on Seville orange), Vin dSange (blood orange) and Vin dPampe (grapefruit) are hard to compare to other styles of vermouth you might be familiar with, eschewing the traditional herbal and bitter aspects for bright, exuberant fruitiness. (All are $22/375ml.) They taste less like components of cocktails, and more like full cocktails in themselves. By the way, Sheehan is one-half of a Napa power couple: Her husband Michael McDermott is a sought-after wine label designer. Check out Leilani Marie Labongs profile of the couple in The Chronicles Style section. What Im reading Napa viticulturist Debby Zygielbaum died last week in an accident involving a truck and a tractor. The longtime Robert Sinskey vineyard manager and an editor of Whetstone magazine, Zygielbaum was just 44. Whetstone founder Stephen Satterfield posted an Instagram eulogy for his friend. In other sad news, Washington winemaker Jesus Gullien has died of cancer, and Calistoga farmer Al Frediani died at age 96. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The Taub family, which owns large wine importer Palm Bay International, purchased Saracina Vineyards in Mendocino County from John Fetzer and Patty Rock, Wine Spectator reports. Fetzers family sold their eponymous winery to Brown-Forman Corp. in 1992. Gedeon Tsegaye may be selling $45 mixed drinks to well-heeled patrons at Alexanders Steakhouse, but the Ethiopia-born bartenders dream is to launch a food and beverage business that provides sustenance in bulk quantities to African countries, writes my colleague Justin Phillips. In her most recent Napa report for Robert Parkers Wine Advocate, critic Lisa Perrotti-Brown awarded a perfect 100-point score to 26 wines. Some have been skeptical about the Advocates growing comfort with doling out 100 pointers. Perrotti-Brown explains herself. Archaeologists have found traces of rice wine in a 2,000-year-old tomb in China! And while you cant taste any 2,000-year-old wine, Seppeltsfield Winery in South Australia specializes in giving visitors tastes of wines that are more than a century old. Writer Joanna Lobo describes the experience. Donald Trump tweeted about wine this week, and wine people went nuts over it. Bloomberg adds a little bit of context to Trumps claims. The Hollywood Reporter details how the Woolsey Fire is threatening one of Californias lesser-known AVAs: Malibu. Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob NEW YORK A former operations chief for the Sinaloa drug cartel took the witness stand Wednesday and offered a master class on the inner workings of the trafficking operation, identifying Joaquin Guzman Loera, known to the world as El Chapo, as one of its chief leaders. The witness, Jesus Zambada Garcia, provided details of the cartels logistics, financing and central personalities among them, his own brother, Ismael Zambada Garcia. At the high point of the afternoon, Zambada rose to his feet and pointed at Guzman, naming him one of Mexicos most powerful drug traffickers. Zambada testified on the second day of Guzmans drug conspiracy trial in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. The government has charged Guzman with making nearly $14 billion in illicit profits and protecting his empire with a sprawling payroll of corrupt officials and professional assassins. Zambada told the jury how operatives would waterproof packages of cocaine in multiple layers of rubber, and once used deep-sea divers to retrieve a shipment that had sunk. Zambada said the cartels cocaine was generally shipped by boat from Colombia to Cancun. From there, he said, it was trucked to warehouses in Mexico City and then moved north to be smuggled into the U.S. The prosecution filed an unusual motion late Tuesday to strike the entire presentation, saying it was based on hearsay and violated an evidentiary ruling issued before the trial by Judge Brian M. Cogan. On Wednesday morning, Cogan denied the motion, but told the jury to ignore any references to official corruption and focus on the charges Guzman is facing. 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. Zambada will back on the stand Thursday, likely to be cross-examined about the numerous murders he is said to have committed for the cartel. Alan Feuer is a reporter for the New York Times. San Francisco's newly renamed Frida Kahlo Way will be unveiled Friday morning in the Ingleside neighborhood. Supervisor Norman Yee, who oversaw the renaming efforts of the street, formerly known as Phelan Avenue, will host the new street-sign celebration, alongside San Francisco City College faculty and students. It's been over a century since the street was first named after James Phelan, a 19th-century real estate and wheat mogul so a celebration of signage seems in order. Frida Kahlo Way is surrounded by City College buildings, beginning in front of the student health center and ending at Ocean Avenue, just beyond Phelan Loop. Both Phelan Loop and the former Phelan Avenue were named after the real estate tycoon, but through years the moniker has become more closely associated with Phelan's son, James Duval Phelan, a former San Francisco mayor and U.S. senator. The younger Phelan promoted racist and anti-immigrant policies, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Immigration Act of 1924, which limited immigration from China and Japan to the U.S. During an unsuccessful run for a second term in the Senate, Phelan ran on a slogan of keeping "California white," proclaiming the need to save the state from "Oriental aggression." To some, having the Phelan name on the street was a tacit endorsement of a racist stain on San Francisco's history. Spearheaded by Yee, who represents Ingleside, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to rechristen Phelan Avenue in June. Yee organized a public outreach campaign thereupon to decide what the street should be called instead. "Frida Kahlo" was chosen. Supporters say the Mexican artist, who died in 1954, is a fitting contrast to Phelan's legacy. Kahlo, a woman of color, is celebrated for her artistic contributions, as well as upheld as a figurehead in the LGBTQ community and among those with disabilities. Frida Kahlo Way will be unveiled on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Old City College Bookstore Annex, between the bus loop and Multi-Use Building. Dominic Fracassa, a Chronicle staff writer, contributed to this report. Cisco Systems gave a forecast in line with analysts projections for the current quarter, signaling confidence in continued corporate spending on computer infrastructure. The San Jose company said Wednesday that its first-quarter profit was $3.5 billion (75 cents per share), compared with $2.4 billion (48 cents) in the same period a year earlier. Analysts were expecting net income of 72 cents per share. Ciscos revenue rose 7.7 percent to $13.1 billion. Sales in the fiscal second quarter will increase 5 to 7 percent from the same period a year earlier, the company said. That indicates revenue of about $12.6 billion, compared with analysts average estimate of $12.55 billion. Adjusted profit will be 71 to 73 cents per share in the period that ends in January. Analysts had been projecting profit of 72 cents per share. Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins has returned the largest maker of networking gear to growth by updating its main hardware products and buying companies to push further into software and services. Cisco has also benefited from a spending spree by corporations on their infrastructure. Wednesdays forecast indicates that may continue as the company projected a fifth consecutive quarterly expansion. Robbins and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kramer said corporate spending remains strong. There was no slowdown in orders from price increases caused by tariffs that are a consequence of the ongoing trade dispute between China and the United State. When we implemented the pricing changes, we saw absolutely no demand change, Robbins said on a conference call with analysts. He said hes confident that an agreement with China is a priority for the Trump administration and he predicted that would happen before further escalation of tariffs. Cisco shares have largely avoided the broader sell-off in technology shares this year. After closing at $44.33, down less than 2 percent, the stock was up more than 5 percent in after-hours trading. Cisco reported higher revenue from all of its regions and all of its major product areas. The hardware division posted sales of $7.64 billion, up 9 percent from a year earlier. The Americas, the biggest source of sales, grew 5 percent. Sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa climbed 11 percent, and Asia had 12 percent growth. Cisco, which still gets the majority of its sales from hardware, is trying to compensate for a shift to cheaper machinery. Its new products help customers better monitor data traffic, control user access, and diagnose and fix problems. Many of those functions are offered as add-on subscriptions, which provide future opportunities to cash in. Ian King is a Bloomberg writer. Email: ianking@bloomberg.net San Jose has been sued by two nonprofit groups over a planned campus for Google, and what they contend are illegal nondisclosure agreements signed by city officials to help seal a $67 million land deal. The agreements were signed by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and at least 17 officials, including City Council members, according to a petition filed this week in Santa Clara County Superior Count. The litigation comes amid a larger effort by advocacy groups to use public deals to wrest concessions from huge Silicon Valley companies for the benefit of subcontractors and service employees. City officials signed agreements designed to transform public records, on such crucial issues as transit and environmental compliance, into private ones that the public does not see, according to the filing. The city and Google went to extraordinary lengths to keep the public in the dark. The plaintiffs say that the agreements are invalid under San Joses municipal code, which restricts officials from entering into contracts without council approval, and violate state law barring agencies from letting outside parties control disclosures to the public. Google, based in Mountain View, and San Jose have been negotiating over the sale of nine parcels of city-owned land as part of a development that would grow to 6 million to 8 million square feet and accommodate 15,000 to 20,000 employees in a site near San Joses Diridon Station. This project is huge, and is going to really change this city forever, said Maria Noel Fernandez, deputy director of Working Partnerships USA, a union-backed nonprofit and one of the two plaintiffs in the case. Shes also a member of the advisory group convened by the city for input on the project. We dont know what the city is hiding, she said. City leaders have a real incentive to deal with Google, and Google knows that, said David Snyder, executive director of plaintiff First Amendment Coalition, a government-transparency nonprofit. They can dictate the terms. Snyder said that, despite partial document production by the city, his group has been largely stonewalled in its requests for information about the deal. The San Jose City Council has scheduled a vote for Dec. 4 on whether the project can proceed. The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to release documents tied to the deal and a declaration that the nondisclosure agreements are invalid. San Jose City Attorney Rick Doyle said the agreements are valid, and that the city manager exercised his legal authority allowing officials to sign them. To the extent weve withheld documents, its deliberative, and directly related to the negotiations, and its not a question of withholding, he said. Its a question of timing of when were releasing them. Google, which isnt named as a defendant, didnt respond to requests for comment. Companies make widespread use of nondisclosure agreements, University of Pennsylvania management Professor Peter Cappelli said in an email, in an effort to safeguard business secrets and avoid tipping competitors off to their plans. The main policy concern, he said, arises when they prevent exposure of behavior that some would consider unethical, or at least unflattering to leaders who otherwise cannot be held accountable. Josh Eidelson is a Bloomberg writer. Email: jeidelson@bloomberg.net Uber is still working to stem its losses before going public next year. The San Francisco ride-hailing company said Wednesday that it lost $1.07 billion in the third quarter, more than in the prior period and slightly less than in the same period a year ago, as it has invested heavily outside of its core business in areas such as bicycles, scooters and freight shipments. At the same time, Ubers growth appears to be slowing. The companys revenue rose 38 percent in the third quarter from a year ago to $2.95 billion, down from a gain of 51 percent in the prior quarter. Gross bookings, which is what Uber earns before paying commissions to drivers and delivery people, totaled $12.7 billion, up 34 percent from the previous year. The report card comes as Uber is preparing for an initial public offering next year, in what is expected to be one of the biggest technology offerings. The IPO is set to be a test for other highly valued private tech companies, such as Airbnb and Lyft, which are also considering going public in 2019. As a private company, Uber is not obligated to publicly report its earnings but has made a habit of doing so. As we look ahead to an IPO and beyond, we are investing in future growth across our platform, including in food, freight, electric bikes and scooters, and high-potential markets in India and the Middle East where we continue to solidify our leadership position, Nelson Chai, Ubers chief financial officer, said in a statement. Uber, which is led by Dara Khosrowshahi, is one of the worlds most highly valued privately held companies. When Toyota invested in Uber in August, the ride-hailing company was valued at about $76 billion. According to proposals from Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, the company could be worth up to $120 billion, which would make Ubers IPO the largest since Alibaba Group debuted on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014. Uber is in something of a race with rival, Lyft, to go public. San Franciscos Lyft, which was last valued in a fundraising round at $15 billion, recently picked JPMorgan Chase to lead its public offering. Ubers IPO will probably create an enormous financial bonanza for its many investors and shareholders, including co-founder Travis Kalanick, as well as venture capital firm Benchmark and Japanese conglomerate SoftBank. To get ready for a public offering, Khosrowshahi has trimmed Ubers money-losing businesses. Uber has withdrawn from markets including Southeast Asia and Russia, where it faced stiff competition and was spending a lot of money. It has focused on other ventures, like food delivery, as well as other regions that show more potential for growth. On Wednesday, Uber began a loyalty program that will give riders access to extra perks the more frequently they use Uber services. Uber said Uber Eats, its food delivery business that began in 2015, was growing rapidly, with bookings through its separate app up 150 percent from last year. Yet Ubers spending also continues to rise. The company said its total costs and expenses were $3.7 billion in the third quarter, up from $3.5 billion in the previous quarter. Kate Conger is a New York Times writer. PARADISE, Butte County Authorities made a distressing revelation Thursday as firefighters gained ground in containing the worst blaze in California history: the number of missing has skyrocketed to 631. The news, delivered at a news conference Thursday evening by Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea, came after search crews recovered the remains of seven more victims, bringing the death toll in the disaster to 63. Earlier in the day, the Sheriffs Department released a list of nearly 300 people who were unaccounted for. By evening, Honea said the doubling of the number of missing individuals was the result of a comprehensive review of 911 calls or other early reports of people who could not be located. Its possible many of those people have not been in contact yet with family or friends, he added. Firefighters made progress on controlling the 141,000-acre wildfire, increasing containment lines to 40 percent Thursday. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, and officials have said theyre looking at the possibility that it was sparked by electrical equipment. But Thursday, they revealed that they have identified a possible second origin of the blaze near Concow. They provided no additional details. Meanwhile, officials said that more than a dozen patients including three firefighters have been treated at Northern California burn centers in the days after the fire that started Nov. 8 leveled Paradise and surrounding Butte County communities. In addition, officials were alerted that President Trump planned to visit the disaster area Saturday to meet with individuals impacted by the wildfires, according to a White House statement. On Thursday, officials at the Oroville headquarters of the Sheriffs Department began collecting DNA samples from people who may have lost loved ones. Several families arrived in the morning to submit cheek-swab samples to help authorities possibly identify their loved ones. The samples are needed because, in many cases, fire victims were burned beyond recognition. The county has brought in a Colorado company, ANDE, to expedite the process. Honea said that of the 63 victims, authorities have tentatively identified 53 but are waiting for DNA results to confirm who they are. ANDEs technology, which looks like a large microwave oven, can analyze DNA within about two hours, a lot faster than older methods. The FBI authorized the companys technique as part of the Rapid DNA Act of 2017 for use in solving crimes or assisting in war zones. This is the first time the firm has been called to a natural disaster, said spokeswoman Annette Mattern. Were just honored we could in some small way be helpful, Mattern said. The search and recovery effort is a huge undertaking. It includes nearly 500 crew members who have been sifting through debris for signs of remains. In Paradise and the neighboring community of Magalia, search workers wearing white hazardous-materials suits and face masks and carrying rakes scoured properties Thursday. Toward the center of each town, crews worked furiously to bring evacuated residents one step closer to returning to their properties to assess the damage. But there is still a great deal to do before authorities can consider repopulating the fire zone and opening the checkpoints, officials said. Melted power lines must be replaced, along with wooden utility poles that are now broken into pieces, some suspended from wires. Trees that burned from the inside out threaten to crash to the ground. People cant come into these areas until the power lines and the trees are rendered safe, said Capt. Chris Vestal of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Typically repopulation is allowed in phases. Once an area is out of danger, people can go back. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. workers were out in force replacing power equipment as authorities installed stop signs to replace ruined stoplights. Piles of debris were still smoking around the towns. Complicating recovery efforts Thursday was an officer-involved, fatal shooting in the evacuation zone near Paradise. A man wanted in connection with two homicides in 2014 was located in a parking lot and subsequently led authorities on a car chase that ultimately ended with the suspect shot and killed after he appeared to point a metallic object at officers, according to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. A Sutter County sheriff police dog named Bandit was killed in the encounter, as was a pit bull that was with the suspect. As of Thursday, the blaze had destroyed 11,862 structures, including 9.700 homes, Cal Fire said. Smoke from the wildfire continued to plague Northern California, closing down schools across much of the Bay Area as well as cable car lines in San Francisco. Chronicle staff writers Nanette Asimov and Evan Sernoffsky contributed to this report. Sarah Ravani, Jill Tucker and Gwendolyn Wu are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com, jtucker@sfchronicle.com, gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Twitter: @sarravani, @jilltucker, @gwendolynawu Firefighters from the Foster City Fire Department (San Mateo County) who were dispatched to Butte County to battle the Camp Fire rescued a burned and injured cat on Monday. According to a Facebook post from the fire department, firefighters spotted an injured cat in the bushes on a property that they were checking. The cat had burns on the bottom of its paws and whiskers, and appeared to be dehydrated and malnourished. CAMP FIRE UPDATES: Death toll grows to 48, Butte County requests National Guard help in search for remains "Firefighter Downing was able to coax the cat out and as you can see, an instant friendship was formed," the department wrote on Facebook. The firefighters called the cat "Foster" and provided it with food and water. Local animal services are now treating and caring for the cat. Last week, the Foster City Fire Department sent an engine and two San Mateo County strike teams to assist ongoing efforts to combat the Camp Fire, the most destructive and deadly wildfire in California history. RELATED: Do you recognize any of these lost pets displaced by Camp Fire? So far, the blaze has killed 48 people and destroyed 8,817 structures. Over 52,000 people remain evacuated. Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email him at eting@sfchronicle.com and follow him on Twitter 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. Editor's Note: The weather forecast was updated Friday morning, indicating the smoke could linger in the Bay Area longer than originally thought. Read the latest here. As air quality measures dance near all-time-highs around California, Bay Area residents are looking for relief from smoky skies. "The air quality will likely be worse Friday," said Kristine Roselius, a spokesperson for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "We'll see readings in the 'unhealthy' to 'very unhealthy' range." Conditions don't look much better for the rest of the weekend. Meteorologists believe Saturday will also have unhealthy air quality, with winds finally picking up on Sunday. A weather system that could bring rain to the Bay Area should sweep in later in the week, clearing out more smoke from the Camp Fire, burning 200 miles away in Butte County. Air quality measures all over the Bay Area were cresting over 200 on Thursday, a range considered "very unhealthy." People with respiratory issues, such as asthma, should avoid outdoor activity. All people, particularly children, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Poor air quality can result in fatigue or difficulty breathing. You may also experience coughing, a runny nose or wheezing. MORE: Is being indoors really enough to save you from wildfire smoke? National Weather Service meteorologist Drew Peterson says smoke from the fire is filling the Sacramento Valley, creating a deep reservoir of polluted air. The current weather pattern has a light wind gently pushing the smoke from the valley to the southwest toward the Delta. When the smoke hits this narrower opening in the valley, it fans out, spreading across the Bay Area. Here the air is stagnant, and little smoke is escaping through the Golden Gate's skinny opening. "More smoke is able to enter through the Central Valley than is able to exit through the Golden Gate," explains Peterson. "We're just getting this steady feed of smoke from the Central Valley and then once it's here, it doesn't have a way to get out." ALSO: This is how far you'd have to drive to get out of the bad air He adds: "Within the last 36 hours, this is definitely the worst air quality we've seen. Very little of the smoke is leaving the state. The only smoke that has left the state is going through the Golden Gate Gap and through Point Reyes. Pretty much all the smoke generated by this fire is ending up here." At 1 p.m. Thursday, San Francisco had among the most polluted air in the region, with an air quality index reading of 211. The index in San Jose was 182, 174 in San Rafael and 198 in Oakland; these readings are in the "unhealthy" range. "Good" air quality falls in the 0 to 50 range. The blanket of wildfire soot suffocating the San Francisco Bay Area got thicker Thursday, and air quality quickly deteriorated. At 3 p.m., San Francisco had among the most polluted air in the region, with an air quality index reading of 235. That's in the "very unhealthy" range, meaning outdoor activity should be avoided. This marks the the highest reading the city has seen since the Camp Fire started a week ago. This afternoon, the index was 182 in San Jose, 186 in San Rafael and 217 in Oakland; these readings are in the "unhealthy" range. "Good" air quality falls in the 0 to 50 range. MORE: Is being indoors really enough to save you from wildfire smoke? Residents have been choking on toxic, eye-stinging smoke for days, as the Camp Fire in Butte County continues to rage. The horrid conditions have shut down schools San Francisco schools will be closed on Friday cancelled sporting events and led many to purchase special masks to filter out the particulate matter. San Francisco Airport has seen delays due to low visibility in recent days. National Weather Service meteorologist Drew Peterson says smoke from the fire is filling the Sacramento Valley, creating a deep reservoir of polluted air. The current weather pattern has a light wind gently pushing the smoke from the valley to the southwest toward the Delta. When the smoke hits this narrower opening in the valley, it fans out, spreading across the Bay Area. Here the air is stagnant, and little smoke is escaping through the Golden Gate's skinny opening. ALSO: This is how far you would have to drive from SF to find 'good' air "More smoke is able to enter through the Central Valley than is able to exit through the Golden Gate," explains Peterson. "We're just getting this steady feed of smoke from the Central Valley and then once it's here, it doesn't have a way to get out." He adds: "Within the last 36 hours, this is definitely the worst air quality we've seen. Very little of the smoke is leaving the state. The only smoke that has left the state is going through the Golden Gate Gap and through Point Reyes. Pretty much all the smoke generated by this fire is ending up here." What's more, a temperature inversion is helping to trap the smoke. "During the days, we're seeing 70s, but at night the temperatures are really cold in the 30s and 40s," explains Simrun Dhoot, a spokesperson with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "That's creating an inversion layer and that's what trapping the air pollution near the ground." Livermore sits just south of the Delta and the smoke is pouring into this area, creating another reservoir of crummy air. At 8 a.m., Livermore registered the worst reading in the region with an air quality index creeping into the "very unhealthy range" at 205. By noon, things had improved slightly and the index dropped to 193. On Thursday morning, visibility in the East Bay town was one mile; on a day with clean air, it's more than 10 miles. The current weather pattern is expected to hold through the weekend with the bad air quality continuing. The overall air quality will likely be worse on Friday than on Thursday. "Tomorrow is expected to be in the 'unhealthy' to 'very unhealthy' range," says Dhoot. ALSO: There's a sad twist to that viral horse rescue story Sunday night a weak system is expected to kick up more powerful winds that will mix up the atmosphere and clear out some of the smoke. Later in the week, rain is expected to clear up the air even more. "I want people to know they're not the only ones suffering," says Peterson. "The air quality is worse in Sacramento and Butte County. As bad as this is, there are still people who have lost everything in this fire." A 52-year-old man was killed Wednesday night in San Franciscos Mid-Market neighborhood, authorities said. Officers responded at 11:30 p.m. to the 1000 block of Market Street and pronounced the man dead at the scene. The city medical examiner identified the victim as San Francisco resident Bart Kylstra. Security guards along the block Thursday morning recalled police officers swarming the area the prior night. Jose Marquez, a guard standing on Market Street, said a police officer told him there had been a shooting. Authorities have not confirmed a cause of death. A LinkedIn profile for Kylstra shows that he was CEO of Rio Mobility, a wheelchair mobility company located in a mixed-use building on the block where the crime occurred. Rio Mobility, also known as Daedalus Wings, creates electric wheelchair attachments that make it easier for users to climb hills. Joe Castellano, a 24-year resident of the apartments in the building, said he often saw Kylstra around the building, which is located between a taqueria and an eyebrow salon. A door on the second floor had a city medical examiners seal on it when Castellano passed by Thursday morning, but he said he did not hear or see anything suspicious Wednesday night. (Kylstra) was well-dressed and he seemed like a nice guy, said Castellano, who helps manage the building. No suspects have been identified in the case. Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu Two Bay Area men who abducted a mother after she left a nightclub in the Mission District in 2016 have pled guilty to charges of human trafficking and kidnapping, the San Francisco district attorneys office announced in a statement Wednesday. Earl Prince, 32, of Oakland, pled guilty to two counts of human trafficking and witness initimidation on Tuesday, while Anthony Taylor, 24, of San Francisco, pled guilty to one county of kidnapping in late October. Officials said that the two drove up to the victim and her friend as they were leaving Beauty Bar. Both women fled, but Prince got out and followed the victim and at one point, told her pimp rules, youre mine. Taylor then blocked her in so that Prince could force her into the car, where two women prevented her from leaving, authorities said. The latter demanded a $1,500 ransom from the victims family, authorities said. The five then fled to Oakland, where one of the women tried to book her a room at a Motel 6. After being told they didnt have enough cash, the victim convinced the woman to go get more cash from the car. Authorities said the victim then alerted the clerk that she was being kidnapped. Police found Prince, the victim and one of the women in a motel room, where he was then arrested. Taylor, who fled the motel parking lot in his car after police arrived, was arrested three days later. Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery and it will be met with consequences, District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement. I want to commend the victims for their bravery, for coming forward, and for ensuring these individuals were held accountable for their actions. Taylor pled guilty late last month and was sentenced to eight years in prison, while Prince agreed Tuesday to a plea deal that would drop additional charges of pandering and kidnapping for ransom. Princes sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 14. Human sex trafficking has been on the rise in San Francisco in recent years, with the city reporting a 243 percent increase in cases in October. I think theres a different connotation than people associate with the term human trafficking, said Max Szabo, a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorneys office. They think of people being smuggled into the country, but they dont realize that human trafficking occurs right here, born and bred in San Francisco. Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu LOS ANGELES As the battle against the Woolsey fire enters its seventh day, fire officials are optimistic that improved weather might help them get the upper hand in the devastating blaze. The Woolsey fire has charred 98,362 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties since last week. The remains of three bodies considered fire-related deaths have been discovered, and more than 500 structures have been destroyed. Firefighters stopped the fires expansion and increased containment to 57 percent overnight. The boost in containment comes as strong winds that had battered the region for three consecutive days finally diminished. It has been a welcome scenario for those on the front lines, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Chris Anthony. I think were all hoping today will be a turning point for us in this fight, Anthony said. The Woolsey fire is expected to transition from being wind-driven to terrain-and fuel-driven. Humidity hovering in the single digits means that shrubs, trees and other potential fuels are as dry as the firewood sold at hardware stores. Northeast winds dropped to around 15 to 25 mph early Thursday. Officials said the winds wont be nearly as severe as the 50 mph gusts that previously fanned flames toward homes. Definitely a lot less wind out there today than we have seen the last several days, but its still very dry out there, meteorologist Rich Thompson said. Anthony said firefighters will continue to build containment lines around the fire and extinguish hot spots in an effort to prevent spot fires like the one that broke out in the Santa Monica Mountains on Tuesday. On Wednesday, about 50 people gathered at a town hall meeting in Thousand Oaks. Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen asked the crowd how many had lost homes. A third of the hands went up. About half of the room knew someone whose home had been destroyed. In Ventura County, 95 structures were lost to fire. Lorenzen emphasized that despite the damage, many homes had been saved. Also Thursday, firefighters battled a new wildfire near the Ventura County city of Santa Paula, the Associated Press reported. The new blaze is estimated at between 75 and 100 acres. Hannah Fry, Javier Panzar, Sarah Parvini and Melissa Etehad are Los Angeles Times writers. Bay Area Rapid Transit officials will present their latest plans Thursday to build a second Transbay Tube connecting San Francisco to the East Bay and perhaps start 24-hour service. The idea has been in the works for a while, and if it all goes according to plan, BART would begin construction on a second transbay connector in 10 years. BART tweeted about the presentation Wednesday night, saying BART is taking early steps to create a second Transbay Tube; although we are calling it the second Transbay Rail Crossing for now. A second crossing would double capacity and improve connections with other rail systems, officials say. Its unclear when the system could move to 24-hour service, if at all. Officials released some details Wednesday afternoon, but said they intend to award a contract to an organization to conduct a feasibility study to narrow multiple alternatives for the crossing to a list of two to four options. BART officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. BARTs Twitter account went as far as sharing a photo illustration of a BART train traveling on the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge, prompting dozens of Twitter users to express their excitement, opinions and bewilderment. The second rail crossing connecting San Francisco to the East Bay is not a new conversation among riders and transportation officials. In early 2018, BART planning officials agreed it would be important to speak with San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda County officials about how future riders could connect to housing and jobs before even analyzing the potential tubes location and alignment. Transit officials assured riders in a lengthy Twitter thread Wednesday night they would coordinate with other transportation and city agencies including AC Transit, Caltrain, SFMTA, the Water Emergency Transportation Authority and others. In a 15-page presentation detailing the rail crossing, BART officials project more people will want to cross the bay by 2040 than can be accommodated by the current system. Despite BARTs plan to increase capacity through the existing Transbay Tube, planners project demand for transbay transit will outpace capacity by 2040 in medium or high demand growth scenarios, read a BART statement. The BART board of directors meeting will be streamed online at https://www.bart.gov/about/bod/multimediaat 9 a.m. on Thursday. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez @sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LaurenPorFavor SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Two men accused of kidnapping a woman as she walked in San Francisco's Mission District in 2016 and threatening to force her to work as a prostitute if she didn't pay a $1,500 ransom pleaded guilty Wednesday in court, according to the District Attorney's Office. Earl Prince, 32, of Oakland pleaded guilty to human trafficking and witness intimidation, while Anthony Taylor, 24, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty to kidnapping. Prince faces 20 years in state prison and Taylor faces 8 years in state prison. "Our humanity is not for sale," District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement. "Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery and it will be met with consequences." According to prosecutors, in Oct. 2016, as the victim walked near Mission and 19th Streets after leaving a nearby bar, Prince got out of a car being driven by Taylor and began chasing the her. After bumping her hip, he told her, "pimp rules, you're mine," and forced her into the vehicle. Although she tried to escape, she was unable to and, once in the car, two other females inside helped subdue her. At one point, the victim was able to use her cellphone to contact a family member, but Prince then demanded $1,500 in exchange for her freedom, telling her he'd force her work as prostitute if the money wasn't paid. Upon arriving at an Oakland motel, the victim and one of the other women were given $100 and told to check into a room under the victim's name. At the front desk, however, they were told they needed more money and the victim sent the other female to go back to the car for more money. Alone with the motel desk clerk, the victim asked them to call the police and report her kidnapping after the group went into the room. Once Prince and one of the two females and the victim were in the room, police arrived and arrested Prince. Taylor was arrested three days later, according to jail records. "I want to commend the victims for their bravery coming forward, and for ensuring these individuals were held accountable for their actions," Gascon 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. Butte County sheriff's officials said the remains of another eight people were found today in the area destroyed by the Camp Fire and more than a hundred are unaccounted for. Butte County Sheriff-Coroner Kory Honea said all eight were found in the town of Paradise, where the fire did enormous damage. The total number of confirmed dead is 56, Honea said at a news briefing at 6:01 p.m. today. The remains of 46 people have been tentatively identified. Honea offered some good news. Two hundred people who were on a list of unaccounted-for persons are off the list. Currently, 130 people are unaccounted for. "This is still an emergency situation," Honea said at the beginning of the briefing. "This is still an evolving situation." As of this morning, most of the missing persons were residents of either Paradise or Magalia, both small communities in Butte County. Sheriff's deputies are asking the public to review a list of unaccounted for persons, which deputies posted on their website, and are urging anyone whose name is on the list to contact them. The full list is available at http://www.buttecounty.net/Portals/24/pdf/CampFireMissingPersons.pdf?ver=2018-11-14-082238-507. Those whose names are listed should call the sheriff's office's Missing Person Call Center at (530) 538-6570, (530) 538-7544 or (530) 538-7671. Residents are also encouraged to check www.safeandwell.org, a website run by the American Red Cross, to locate friends and family. To request a welfare check or to file a missing persons report, residents may call the Butte County Sheriff's Office at (530) 538-7322. The number of people forced to evacuate remains at 52,000 and 1,385 are in shelters. The Camp Fire began last Thursday, and as of today the fire had burned 138,000 acres and was 35 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. The blaze has destroyed at least 8,650 single-family homes and at least 260 commercial structures, according to Cal Fire. The smoke has blown into the Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California, causing widespread poor air quality. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke toured the devastation in Butte County today and said that "now is really not the time to point fingers." In a tweet today, Zinke described the devastation as "Worse than any war zone I saw in Iraq." Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott said that the fire is the most deadly in the state's history. Pimlott said there are 9,000 firefighters spread out across the state and that many of those who are not fighting the Camp Fire in Northern California are battling the Woolsey Fire in Southern California. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco Unified School District officials expect to see the number of high school students taking City College classes to rise after the Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday to increase accessibility. The resolution calls for an increase in the ties between the school district and City College to allow more students access to college classes, as well as apprenticeship and language courses. "Research shows that when high school students have the opportunity to take college courses, they are more likely to attend college after they graduate," school board President Stevon Cook said in a statement. Cook authored the resolution along with school board Vice President Mark Sanchez. "I am excited to see even more of our students attain the goal of a college degree," Cook said. During the 2014-2015 school year, only 486 high school students completed City College courses. However, during the 2017-2018 school year that number nearly tripled to 1,149, district officials said. Research shows that students simultaneously enrolled in both high school and college courses have greater chances of success in college, according to the school district. 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. Multiple colleges and universities around the Bay Area are closed today because of poor air quality resulting from the Camp Fire in Butte County. California State University East Bay, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, De Anza College in Cupertino, Mission College in Santa Clara and Mills College in Oakland are among the schools that have closed for today and some are closed through the rest of the week. Many schools that remain open today are keeping students inside for activities that would otherwise be done outdoors. The Camp Fire has burned 140,000 acres and the death toll from the blaze is at 56 as of this morning. The fire, which started Nov. 8, has destroyed more than 8,700 homes and 260 commercial buildings and is only 40 percent contained. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued Winter Spare the Air Alerts all week through Friday because of poor air quality in the region. Two men died in homicides in different parts of Oakland Wednesday afternoon and evening, police said today. At about 3:35 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a home in the 1700 block of 28th Avenue in East Oakland on a report of an unresponsive male suffering from apparent trauma, according to police. The officers located the victim, a 51-year-old Oakland man, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. At about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to the 500 block of Williams Street near Telegraph Avenue in the city's Uptown area after receiving a report of a shooting, police said. The officers found a 35-year-old man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Paramedics took him to a hospital but he died there a short time later, according to police. A 52-year-old man died in a suspected homicide on San Francisco's Market Street late Wednesday night, police said. The homicide was reported at about 11:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of Market Street. The San Francisco medical examiner's office identified the victim as Bart Kylstra, a resident of the city. Police did not release any information about how Kylstra died and said no arrest has been made in the case. According to his LinkedIn page, Kylstra was the chief executive officer of Daedalus Wings Inc., which develops wheelchairs and related products. The Niles Fire burning in unincorporated Alameda County near Sunol is 60 percent contained this morning, Cal Fire and Alameda County fire officials said. The fire started at 2:56 p.m. Wednesday off of Palomares Road and Niles Canyon Road northwest of Sunol and has burned 20 acres. Cal Fire officials said firefighters stopped the forward progress on Wednesday evening. Alameda County fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said crews will remain at the scene throughout the day today. Palomares Road is still shut down in both directions from Interstate Highway 580 to Niles Canyon Road as of this morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. Cal Fire crews have extinguished a half-acre vegetation fire east of Yountville in Napa County, spokesman Will Powers said. The fire was reported in the 4500 block of Dry Creek Road near Oakville Grade. The Napa County Sheriff's Office issued a Nixle alert about the fire around 6:05 a.m. The alert said Dry Creek Road would be closed until 7 a.m. due to downed power lines caused by a contained small fire. Powers said crews at the scene were mopping up around 8:30 a.m. and he had no information about the power lines. One person was hospitalized after a car crashed into a tree in Concord on Wednesday night, a police spokeswoman said. The crash was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. near East and Bacon streets, Concord police Cpl. Summer Galer said. Galer did not have information on the extent of injuries caused by the crash. She said impairment is being investigated as a possible factor in the crash. A fire this morning at a four-story apartment building in San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood displaced five people, including two children, fire officials said. Around 7:30 a.m., firefighters responded to the blaze in the 1600 block of Eddy Street near Steiner Street. Upon arrival, firefighters located the blaze at a unit on the top floor. Firefighters reportedly had to open the roof in order to access the flames and were able to eventually bring the fire under control. No injuries were reported, fire officials said. The Fremont City Council has voted unanimously to approve a one-year pilot program that allows San Francisco-based scooter and bicycle company Lime to place electric scooters, e-bikes and pedal bikes in their city early next year. The council's vote on Tuesday night also allows scooter or bike share companies to do business in Fremont after the pilot period if the program is successful, but would require them to obtain permits before placing scooters and bikes in the city's public areas. The ordinance approved by the council requires Lime to include an age check feature in its app that mandates that riders scan their identification to prove they are 18 or older. It also requires Lime to provide quarterly updates on how its scooters and bikes are being used so that information can be factored into future permit requirements. San Francisco Unified School District officials expect to see the number of high school students taking City College classes to rise after the Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday to increase accessibility. The resolution calls for an increase in the ties between the school district and City College to allow more students access to college classes, as well as apprenticeship and language courses. During the 2014-2015 school year, only 486 high school students completed City College courses. However, during the 2017-2018 school year that number nearly tripled to 1,149, district officials said. Research shows that students simultaneously enrolled in both high school and college courses have greater chances of success in college, according to the school district. The areas of the Point Reyes Peninsula and Olema Valley dairy ranches have been designated as national historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places. The recognition of their national significance will inform the federal government's plans for the future of Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's north district, Point Reyes National Seashore spokeswoman Melanie Gunn said. The ranching history in the area dates back to the 1870s when the ranches established Marin County as the leader in the state's butter and cheese production. Their inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places recognizes their architectural, historical and archeological significance, and ensures they will be part of the planning of state and federally assisted projects, Gunn said. Firefighters in Contra Costa County are buying three new sets of extrication hardware for rescuing people who are trapped inside of crashed cars, using $93,000 in state grant money. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District will be getting a set of Hurst eDraulic extrication tools for their rescue squad while the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District will be getting two sets of Amkus extrication tools. The new equipment will be stronger and lighter, improving efficiency at the scene of the crash and reducing the time it takes to complete a rescue. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A fire this morning at a four-story apartment building in San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood displaced five people, including two children, fire officials said. Around 7:30 a.m., firefighters responded to the blaze in the 1600 block of Eddy Street near Steiner Street. Upon arrival, firefighters located the blaze at a unit on the top floor. Firefighters reportedly had to open the roof in order to access the flames and were able to eventually bring the fire under control. No injuries were reported, fire officials said. The American Red Cross and city services are assisting the five displaced residents. 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. When pilots fly into Portland International Airport and have to circle around the Forest Park neighborhood in Portland, OR, a stone castle with two peaked towers serves as their beacon. This 13,000-square-foot estate, which sits on 6 acres, is straight out of a fairy tale. After building Blackberry Castle as their forever home, the original owners' story doesn't end in a happily ever afterunlike classic Disney films. Unfortunately, says listing agent Daniel Lowe, "the home is for sale because life happened and things didnt go as planned for the current owners. The castle is now on the market for $4 million. Entryway realtor.com Blackberry Castle took seven years to complete, with artisans and craftsmen working tirelessly to bring the original owners dream to life. Stone, wood, and other fixtures were flown in from around the world and now adorn every nook and cranny of the castle. Kitchen realtor.com When the original owners decided not to live in the home, they put it on Airbnb as a vacation rental. You could stay at Blackberry Castle for $2,000 a night, says Lowe. The residence served as a getaway for many a prestigious guest, including the late recording artist DJ Avicii. The indoor atrium bar realtor.com "Avicii and his entourage stayed at Blackberry Castle for seven weeks," says Lowe. In the castles sweeping library, the musician wrote and recorded his final albumwhich is yet to be releasedbefore his untimely death this past spring. Theater realtor.com It's fit for modern royalty, with a fusion of medieval influence and French chateau design. Unlike the castles of yore, this Portland fixture features all sorts of 21st-century amenities. The kitchen rolls right into the great room, which is designed for feasting and entertaining, says Lowe. Theres this rolling 700-plant vineyard right outside the great room that produces fabulous pinot noir and chardonnay. Library and clock realtor.com Among the many luxe features in the sprawling kitchen is a $50,000 custom-built range from Italy. A two-story atrium bar, dubbed The Oasis, channels the cobblestone streets of Europes historical cities. The library is a winding two-story turret filled with books in floor-to-ceiling shelves. It's also adorned with a handmade ceiling clock. Its the largest clock on the West Coast, says Lowe. The castle also features a gym with top-of-the-line equipment, and the opulent theater was influenced by those of 1950s Argentina. A 20-minute drive from downtown Portland, the fortress is nestled within the northwest hills that drape the corner of the city. The post Lo and Behold, Portland's Blackberry Castle Summons a New Royal Family appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. (Inside Science) -- Algorithms that computers use to translate something written in one language into another are easy to find. Some even work. But every writer has a unique style -- what writers call voice -- that identifies them and distinguishes them from other writers. Getting computers to take the words of one author's style and convert them into another's style while leaving the meaning intact is much harder. Style translation algorithms could be used to render texts readable that normally are not, like a program that translates a legal document into lay language or makes a work of English literature understandable to someone who is learning English as a second language or is too young to understand many of the words. A small group of computer scientists at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Indiana University in Bloomington has taken a step toward producing such an algorithm, using various editions of the Bible. They used 34 English language versions of the New and Old Testaments to train and test the system. The Old Testament originally was written in Classic Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic. The New Testament was originally written in Greek. Some translations reflect the time period when they were produced, so the King James Version, first published in England in 1611, is full of "thees" and "thous," and modern ones are not. "The goal was to see if we could basically use the translation framework to do some form of style translation," said Dan Rockmore, a professor of mathematics and computer science at Dartmouth. The researchers chose the Bible for the study because it is perhaps the most annotated and indexed literary text in existence. It comprises 31,000 verses and enabled the construction of 1.5 million unique pairings of words from one version with words from other versions, which provided data needed for training the system. For instance, Genesis 1:1 in one Bible translation matches Gen. 1:1 in all the others. However, using the Bible as the texts -- or corpus -- with which to train and test the system may be a weakness in the study, said Shlomo Argamon, a forensic linguist and computer scientist at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. It has multiple styles, sometimes within one book. "You have the prophetic books, some of which are full of very high poetry, and stories about marrying prostitutes. You have Proverbs, which itself has multiple styles," he said. "We treat every version of the Bible as a single style for our work," said Keith Carlson, a computer science doctoral student at Dartmouth who worked on the project. To train the algorithm, the Dartmouth and Indiana researchers used a definition of style that included such characteristics as sentence length, the use of the passive or active voices, and vocabulary. The experiment is a proof of concept, said Rockmore. The research is published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Besides altering style for the audience, another long-range goal, said Rockmore, is for the algorithm to be able to learn the style of one author, and translate it into the style of another author as a test of agility. That is not easy, and the Dartmouth algorithm cant do it yet. Readers generally ignore or don't notice a particular writer's style since in many cases it is not very strong, or writers learn to control it when necessary. Trying to identify an author by style is more difficult than one can imagine, Argamon said. It would be possible to run Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick" through an algorithm designed to identify individual writers' styles and erroneously conclude the novel had two authors, he said, because there seems to be two styles. Ernest Hemingway, however, might be easier. He was noted (some might say notorious) for his unique and obvious writing style. The writer Joan Didion, who also had a style of her own, dissected the famous opening paragraph of Hemingways masterpiece, "A Farewell to Arms," for the New Yorker in 1998. She noted the paragraph had four simple sentences, 126 words. Only one word had three syllables, 22 had two, all the rest, one. Twenty-four of the words were the, 15 and. There were only seven adjectives. And each word was placed deliberately to create a rhythm. That is information a computer algorithm could use to recreate Hemingways style, if it were trained to do so. The new algorithm can't do that yet, but at Inside Sciences request, the researchers asked it to do the reverse: They fed some Hemingway into the computer and changed the style to various editions of the Bible. The changes were subtle. In Hemingway's novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls," a man describes how he was so much in love with a woman he just met, it is as if he had known her all his life. HEMINGWAY: "I love you when I saw you today and I loved you always but I never saw you before." 1599 GENEVA BIBLE: "I have loved thee, when I have seen thee this day, and have loved thee always, and have not seen thee before." INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS BIBLE: "I loved you when I saw you today. I loved you always, but I did not see you before." Argamon, a forensic linguist known for his work on computational stylistics, said he would find the corpus of Bible texts the Dartmouth and Indiana researchers created useful in his research, but was critical that the researchers treated the corpus as undifferentiated data -- typical of computer scientists, he said -- and not as words with context, a weakness linguists (and English majors) would understand. There is, he said, more to the words than just the words. Reprinted with permission from Inside Science, an editorially independent news outlet of the American Institute of Physics, a nonprofit organization supporting the dissemination of science news and information to society. A woman who says she endured a bedbug-filled stay at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif., is suing the resort for physical and emotional damage. Ivy Eldridge stayed at the resort with family on an April trip to the Disneyland theme park, and received what looked to be bite marks on her shoulders, neck, back and ears, according to photos included with the lawsuit, the Los Angeles Times reported. HONG KONG A lot of people dont use computers. Most of them arent in charge of a nations cybersecurity. But one is. Japanese lawmakers were aghast this week when Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, the minister who heads the governments cybersecurity office, said during questioning in Parliament that he had no need for the devices, and appeared confused when asked basic technology questions. I have been independently running my own business since I was 25 years old, he said. When computer use is necessary, he said, I order my employees or secretaries to do it. I dont type on a computer, he added. Asked by a lawmaker if nuclear power plants allowed the use of USB drives, a common technology widely considered to be a security risk, Sakurada did not seem to understand what they were. I dont know details well, he said. So how about having an expert answer your question if necessary, hows that? The comments were immediately criticized. I cant believe that a person who never used a computer is in charge of cybersecurity measures, said Masato Imai, an opposition lawmaker. Even before his admission, Sakurada, who is also overseeing the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, had occasionally attracted media coverage for head-scratching public comments. A week before his comments on cybersecurity, The Asahi Shimbun wrote that he showed a knack for giving baffling replies. His responses to questions about Olympic preparations showed a stunning lack of understanding of basic issues concerning the event, the newspaper wrote. He fumbled questions about how much the event would cost and whether North Korean officials would be attending, frequently turning to his aides for help, according to the newspaper. He said he had stumbled because he did not know the questions ahead of time. In 2016, he apologized after saying comfort women Koreans who were abducted and forced to become sex slaves for the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II were prostitutes by occupation and that people had been heavily misled by propaganda work treating them as if they were victims. Daniel Victor is a New York Times writer. This adorable puppy found itself in an unlikely scrape after trying to play with a snake which wrapped itself around its body. The two-month-old dog was heard whimpering in the grounds of a Buddhist temple in Songkhla province, southern Thailand on November 14. The harmless golden tree snake - which normally feeds on lizards, bats, and small rodents - had tried to bite off something far bigger than it could chew and coiled itself around the curious puppy, which was trying to play with it. Luckily, a temple visitor Panida Kanwong, 32, heard the puppy's cries for help and went over to look. She filmed the scene while using a steel girder to prod the green snake away. It slithered away under a building. The little dog then lay on the ground crestfallen - and a little shaken - as it recovered from the ordeal. Panida said: ''I had heard the dog crying for about half an hour. But there are often dogs making noises so I didn't think anything was wrong. ''When it kept crying I thought I better go to look. That's when I found the snake around it. It looked like they were playing, but the snake wouldn't let go. The puppy also couldn't escape. ''I think the puppy had been curious and tried to play with the snake. He looked so cute. Then he was so sad afterwards. I had to laugh a little bit, it was a situation I have never seen before.'' The puppy, which lives at the Buddhist temple, was unhurt in the incident. Golden tree snakes have small teeth and are mildly venomous. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Jack King has been selected to serve as the grand marshal of the 55th annual Staten Island Saint Patricks Parade, to be held March 3, 2019. Representatives of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Ladies AOH county boards and dozens of their officers voted unanimously for King. He accepted the honor and said he was thrilled that his son, Sean King, was going to march with him as the aide to the grand marshal. King said he believes it is the first time in the parades history that a son served as his fathers aide. I am very proud to serve my community to honor our Irish heritage and Roman Catholic faith, and especially to represent our community as the grand marshal," he said. King moved to Staten Island in 1953 and became a devoted member of Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church in Tottenville. He went on to attend New Dorp High School and eventually enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving with the Second and the Third Divisions, until he received an honorable discharge as a corporal. He joined the New York City Police Department in 1973. While he was in the NYPD, he received more than a dozen commendations, including two NYPD Chief of Detectives Awards. He retired in 1993 as a detective. Involvement in the Irish-American community King is a member of the NYPD Emerald Society. He joined the AOH St. Columcille Division No. 4 on the South Shore in 1999, and is now the current chief of the AOH Cu Chulainn Celtic Warrior Major Degree Team. He has also served as a director and the president of the Columcille Irish Cultural Center on Staten Island and serves as chairman of the Staten Island Irish Fair. In 2011, he served as an aide to the grand marshal of the Staten Island St. Patricks Parade. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Monique Roiter says she has always been a do it yourself type of person. Whether that was celebrating a birthday and making a centerpiece, or creating an invitation, I was always trying to figure out a way to do something myself, she said. And her career as a fashion designer -- working for various brands and even launching her own line of womens contemporary clothing -- for more than 10 years fostered this creativity. I got to the point in my career where I felt I needed a change, said Roiter, noting she always had aspirations of owning her own business. Thats when she attended a class at Board & Brush Creative Studio, a franchise that teaches patrons how to create their own unique wooden signs in New Jersey. I fell in love with the concept. It felt fun. I decided at that time that I had to change my life and open one, she said. noting that at the time she has just become a mom to a baby girl. I also liked that this was something that really brings value to peoples lives, added Roiter. To house the business, Roiter leased a 1,550-square-foot space in South Shore Commons in Charleston, which opened in October. SIP AND CREATE CONCEPT Similar to the "sip and paint" concept, Board & Brush -- a Wisconsin-based franchise with 190 locations nationwide -- offers patrons a night out where they can drink beer or wine while learning how to create their own decorative wood signs that have the look of vintage heirlooms. Patrons are taught to wax wood and properly use hammers, sand paper, and/or power tools. Anything can be personalized with your name or things like a wedding date, or we have signs where you can list your childrens names, she said. Its really something more than just this class. A lot of this has meaning. STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS While some people might be intimidated by using tools -- like hammers and sandpaper -- to create a sign, Roiter said the classes and teachers make the process easy. The step-by-step process is really simple. We breakdown the process of how to distress the wood. We give you the tools to do it, and we show you step-by-step how to do it. We then go into the staining process; we have nine colors of stain to choose from, she said. Everyone can pick their own project on any night, and we have over 200 projects in our gallery, Roiter added, noting all colors can be customized. She hosts private events as well as classes. The business will host a grand opening event on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Flagship Brewery and Nero Black Coffee will be at the event. When you come to Board and Brush, it is a night out. You are not just coming to make a sign. You are coming to socialize and have a good time, she said. I wanted to provide a service that was enjoyable and empowering at the same time. BOARD AND BRUSH AT A GLANCE Address: 2955 Veterans Rd. West, Charleston Website: https://boardandbrush.com/statenisland/ Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOARDANDBRUSHSTATENISLANDNY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boardandbrushstatenislandny/ New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island businesses owners. If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com. MORE NEW BUSINESSES IN FOCUS COLUMNS: FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The arrests of 14 defendants including the alleged supplier of four narcotics-trafficking rings whose drugs were tied to at least 21 overdoses, including eight deaths, strikes a critical blow to the boroughs illegal drug trade, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said Thursday. This is a major undertaking in the battle against our heroin and opioid epidemic, McMahon said at a press conference announcing the busts. This takedown drives a stake into the heart of some of the most notorious pushers in our borough. Simply put, lives will be saved with these individuals securely behind bars. Five of the defendants are purported gang members, said Assistant Chief William Aubry, commanding officer, Citywide Investigations, who announced the arrests along with McMahon and Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, the NYPD Staten Island Borough Commander. McMahon said the main target, repeat felon Damien (Drama) Rice, 46, has operated with impunity for decades. Rice, a reputed Bloods gang member, acted as both a wholesaler and retailer of the illicit drugs the defendants peddled, he said. Dating to 1988, Rice has eight criminal convictions and has served four prison sentences for drug-related convictions, according to officials and online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He was most recently convicted in 2012 and paroled in April 2015, those records show. Rice has been charged as a major trafficker for allegedly supplying the drug organizations, which peddled and possessed large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone across Staten Island, authorities said. FATAL OVERDOSES Those drugs were linked to eight deaths since 2016, with the victims ranging in age from 25 to 64 years old, said officials. The defendants were charged under six separate indictments with various counts of conspiracy, criminal sale and criminal possession of controlled substances and criminal weapon possession, authorities said. Rice was arraigned Wednesday in state Supreme Court, St. George, on multiple drug counts, to include operating as a major drug trafficker, a class A-I felony, whose maximum penalty for a repeat nonviolent offender is 24 years. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. To be designated a major drug trafficker is a very unique thing and very rarely used because its difficult to prove, said Mario F. Gallucci, Rices lawyer. I have reviewed most of the indictment and accompanying eavesdropping warrants, which are very intricate since they deal with a violation of a privacy. My firm has litigated many of these cases successfully, and Mr. Rice looks forward to his day in court. DRUGS AND GUNS Authorities said more than 500 grams of heroin and more than 300 grams of cocaine worth tens of thousands of dollars were seized during the probe. Cops also recovered two guns and more than $190,000. In addition, police found nearly 2,000 glassine bags of heroin, three more guns and some cocaine while executing search warrants Wednesday at two locations, said officials. McMahon said Rice headed his own drug organization and was the main supplier to three separate rings based on the North Shore, but which operated Islandwide. Aubry said the drugs were funneled to Staten Island from Brooklyn, New Jersey and Arizona. OD RESPONSE INITIATIVE McMahon said investigations conducted under the Overdose Response Initiative his office started in 2016 helped trace the source of the drugs. The NYPDs Narcotics Borough Staten Island launched the original investigation in this case in April 2017, targeting a heroin and cocaine distribution ring. Tyrone Ford, one of the defendants, headed the group, which entailed several runners, including Jake Pankey, a co-defendant, working under him, authorities allege. Ford was arrested in a police chase in January during which cops recovered a large amount of heroin, said authorities. Afterward, Quran Neischer and Julius Jones, who are also charged, continued to run the operation, officials allege. It was later revealed in May of this year that Rice, who was the target of two separate ongoing NYPD probes, supplied Fords group, allege authorities. Rice had already been the subject of an investigation began in October 2017 focusing on a high-volume heroin, fentanyl and cocaine distribution ring which he headed in the borough, officials said. A 24-HOUR OPERATION, COPS SAY Rices operation took orders both day and night and delivered the drugs by cars to customers around the borough, said officials. Some of the runners and dealers who worked for him were co-defendants Robert Daniels, Dolores Malech, Nakiem Sanders and Nicky Ricks, authorities said. In a separate ring, Rice supplied a co-defendant Nollie Tillman with cocaine, which he distributed in the borough, said officials. Police recovered more than $5,000 in cash from Rices vehicle when they arrested him in August, said officials. In September, authorities seized 80 grams of heroin and/or fentanyl, 115 grams of cocaine, nearly $190,000 in cash, a loaded gun and drug paraphernalia in searches of a stash house on Targee Street, Stapleton; Rices Holland Avenue apartment in Mariners Harbor; his car and an undisclosed Brooklyn location, authorities said. Three other defendants were nabbed during an investigation the NYPD Staten Island Gang Squad started in February targeting alleged gang members running a drug distribution ring, said authorities. Lahquan McGrew allegedly led the operation whose runners included Kerron Teixera and Hydia Smith, said officials. Rice supplied the group, said officials. 91 DRUG DEATH SO FAR THIS YEAR Despite the arrests, authorities said theres more work to do. They are currently investigating 91 drug deaths thus far this year on Staten Island, along with 220 overdose saves. Aubry said additional officers have been assigned to the Staten Island Narcotics Bureau. He declined to say how many. Corey implored individuals struggling in the grips of addiction to call authorities who will get them help. He also said law enforcement will aggressively pursue drug dealers. Our communities will no longer stand to have this poison sold in our neighborhoods and the violence that goes along with it, he said. Said McMahon: This is not over. We won a battle, but we have a war to win. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Willowbrook woman, who was convicted of drunk driving three years ago, apologized to the court on Wednesday as she was sentenced to jail time for an unrelated DWI conviction. Im just very sorry, Veronica Gallagher, 41, told state Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Rooney. Moments earlier, Gallagher had pleaded guilty to a felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from an arrest during the early-morning hours of May 18. In doing so, she admitted to driving while her blood alcohol content was at least .08 percent, the legal threshold for driving while intoxicated in New York. During the proceeding, Gallagher confirmed she was previously convicted in Criminal Court of driving while intoxicated in July 2015. She was sentenced the following month to three years probation. Gallagher was also convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2007 in Suffolk County, according to Advance reports, citing a criminal complaint. The defendant, who was garbed in a pink shirt and tan pants, addressed the court in a clear voice. She said, Yes, when Rooney asked if she wished to be sentenced after pleading guilty as opposed to waiting for a Probation Department pre-sentencing report that takes a few weeks to compile. Gallagher was sentenced to 30 days behind bars and five years probation. Her license will be revoked for a year. In addition, Gallagher for one year, must install an ignition-interlock device on any vehicle she drives. Attorney Louis E. Diamond represented Gallagher. Assistant District Attorney Travis Atkinson prosecuted the case. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A new, high-tech van with LED screens will be bringing information about the NYPDs Crime Stoppers program to the streets of Staten Island and the other four boroughs. The Police Department and the New York City Police Foundation unveiled their state-of-the-art truck Wednesday at the 32nd Precinct stationhouse in Manhattan. The truck, which will have the ability to reach every neighborhood in the city, will prominently display the Crime Stoppers phone number, website, text line and social media channels on several large LED screens. The Crime Stoppers program, and this new vehicle dedicated to our mission of fighting crime and keeping people safe, are helping the NYPD leverage the power of Neighborhood Policing to reduce violence and disorder by building trust and strengthening relationships in all the communities we serve, Police Commissioner James P. ONeill said in a press release. Since its inception in 1983, the New York City Police Foundation-funded program has contributed to solving 1,526 murders and attempted murders, 2,186 robberies and has paid out over $2.4 million in rewards, according to an NYPD press release. Just as the NYPD has evolved over time in the way they keep New Yorkers safe, the Crime Stoppers program, too, has evolved, Andrew Tisch, chairman of the board of trustees of the New York City Police Foundation, said. NYPD detectives assigned to the unit receive 22,000 calls on average every year, providing year-round assistance. If you would like to report any information regarding a crime call, contact the program at 1-800-577-TIPS, visit nypdcrimestoppers.com, or text Tips577 to CRIMES (274637). Information providers will always remain anonymous and could be entitled to $2,500 as a reward for a tip that leads to an arrest. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the New York state Legislature comfortably under Democratic control, state Sen. Diane Savino said that shes confident that New York will legalize recreational marijuana. Savino told the Advance on Wednesday that she believes Gov. Andrew Cuomo will successfully push for recreational marijuana to be legalized through the 2019 state budget. I thought it was going to happen regardless. This is not a red or blue issue," Savino told the Advance in a phone interview during a weeklong trip to Nevada. "The state Im standing in right now, they have a new governor coming in who is a Democrat, but most states did marijuana under Republicans long before Democrats got involved. On Nov. 6, Democrats won five seats held by Republican incumbents in the state Senate and won three open races, erasing the GOPs one-seat majority and giving Democrats control of the legislature for the first time since 2009. But despite their majority, Savino said she suspects that the issue will be bipartisan. "There were a lot of members in the Republican conference who were interested in marijuana because they see it as an economic development issue, particularly in upstate New York, she said SAVINO IN NEVADA Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) -- the architect behind New Yorks medical marijuana program -- told the Advance that shes worried that New Yorks medical marijuana program could be disrupted by introducing adult-use recreational marijuana. Savino is currently in Nevada meeting with officials, business owners, and touring facilities to bring back some of the states best practices. Some states like Oregon, Washington and Colorado saw a drop in product sales and dispensaries tied to its medical marijuana program, but Nevada introduced a single-stream model, which allows for recreational and medical marijuana to be distributed in the same location. Youll have professionals who want to advise you and can say why are you here -- do you want to relax, are you interested in the recreational model, do you have a qualifying condition?" Savino said. "And they can steer to the products that make sense for you and your particular condition. I am very concerned about what bringing adult use [marijuana] will do to the medical program. We now have 31 states that have medical marijuana and nine of them have implemented adult use. Not all of them have done it in a successful way, up-ending the medical program or creating a whole new set of problems," said Savino. "So I wanted to take a look at Nevada, which by everyones estimation has done this in the most successful, cohesive way. Savino has met with the author of the Nevada referendum that brought adult-use marijuana to the state, the states tax and finance commissioner, licensing officials, and law enforcement to go over how Nevada implemented the two programs. The North Shore lawmaker also said that shes interested in creating more rigorous testing and also wants to reduce the barriers of entry into the marijuana industry, including for minority and women-owned businesses. New Yorks vertical integration model requires a company to do everything from seed to sale" and since traditional lending services dont do business with the marijuana industry, enormous amounts of cash is needed to enter the market. Just that high barrier of entry creates a lack of diversity in this industry," said Savino. "What were looking at going forward is how do we allow people into the market place at various points of entry. You have to be able to have networks of people who you know you can turn to who are willing to invest significant amounts of capital. New York state passed the Compassionate Care Act in 2014 which brought medical marijuana. Currently, the only conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana in New York are cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, Lou Gehrigs disease (ALS), Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, Huntingtons disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. HEADING TOWARD LEGALIZATION The state rapidly moved towards legalization of recreational marijuana in 2018. After Cuomo commissioned a study on the potential effects of legalizing marijuana in Jan. 2018, New York states Department of Health released a 74-page report in July, which concluded that marijuana should be legalized for recreational use. The report said that the positive effects of legalizing marijuana outweigh some of its potential negative effects" and estimated that the industry could generate up to $678 million in tax revenue. On Aug. 2, Cuomo, who called marijuana a gateway drug last year, announced the creation of a 20-person workgroup, made up of Cuomo administration officials, law enforcement officials, and professors. State lawmakers whove sponsored or created marijuana legislation, including Savino, are also involved in the process. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Australians are notoriously obsessed with real estate, and a byproduct of that obsession is an extremely sophisticated market for spruiking houses. But can Australia's real estate market provide lessons elsewhere? Some prominent figures seem to think so. REA chief executive Tracey Fellows is moving to new York to head up News Corp's global online real estate arm. Credit:Fairfax Media On Thursday, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp elevated Tracey Fellows, the chief executive of REA Group, to run its global digital real estate assets, including Realtor.com, from its head office in New York. It's a sign the media conglomerate, which is best known for its newspapers, but increasingly reliant on digital real estate, believes Fellows can replicate her success in Australia, where REA is dominant, in other markets. Including the US. Rising fears of summer blackouts in Victoria have spurred a fresh push from the national energy market operator to pay businesses to power down during spikes to ensure lights stay on in the state. In an assessment of the looming summer, to be released on Friday, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) repeated concerns over the fragility of Victoria's electricity grid and outlined plans to pay major power users to commit to reducing their consumption during peak demand and in emergencies. Having warned in August of a one in three chance of power failures in Victoria this summer, AEMO said in its new report that it was piecing together commitments from big users to shut down their usage. The Australian Energy Market Operator is leaning on big businesses to avoid a potential shortfall in available electricity. Credit:Photo: Pat Scala The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a hotter and drier summer which, coupled with other risks we have identified, suggest we have a challenging summer awaiting us, AEMO chief executive Audrey Zibelman said. Loading She's now earning $434,690 running an independent agency with 800 employees that provides free advice for Australia's 12 million workers and 2 million businesses about the workplace relations system. It also takes legal action on behalf of underpaid workers against employers when they breach fair work laws. Migrant workers and young people in hospitality jobs are among the most exploited, accounting for a third of Fair Work Ombudsman's legal disputes. From a young age, Parker's father impressed on his daughter the importance of treating and paying staff well. He had a strong work ethic too. Now aged 85, he still works as a butcher in a small town outside Burnie in Tasmania. His wife Janine is a retired nurse. After finishing school, Parker trained as a social science teacher in Tasmania when she won a scholarship. But when she finished the degree, there were no teaching jobs available. She taught shorthand and typing at a local grammar school before moving to Canberra to work as a social science teacher. Having learned how to play the piano and guitar, she also taught music and English. After 10 years as a teacher, including a year in London, she applied for a public service job in the ACT. That was 20 years ago and despite her plan to return to teaching after trying something new, she became a career public servant. "I really enjoyed teaching," she says. "I always intended to go back, but I didn't. I kept getting interesting things. I thought I'll just do that and go back. "Doors have opened and I've put my hand up for things and volunteered for things and I've been really lucky. I've had great jobs." After working on school education and vocational education and training (VET) policy she applied for a promotion into the Commonwealth department responsible for VET. "One of the key issues that we grapple with in the Fair Work Ombudsman around VET is a lot of migrant students who also have working visas," she says. Many migrant students work more hours than the 40 hours per fortnight their visas allow, which stops them coming forward about being underpaid because they are fearful of "being dobbed in". During her time in Canberra, Parker worked for both sides of politics. She helped former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard produce the Fair Work Act and former Coalition prime minister Tony Abbott and his minister Eric Abetz re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Senator Eric Abetz. Credit:Andrew Meares She won a public service medal for her work in workplace relations and policies, including the second incarnation of the ABCC and the abolition of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT). She has also worked on reforms in work health and safety. Trade unions strongly oppose the ABCC and road safety policies and the ALP will likely dismantle the ABCC if it wins government next year. Parker acknowledges that members of the public "really struggle to understand" how she can support certain policies. But she feels "totally agnostic" when it comes to the politics in what is a "polarising" portfolio. "When you are a public servant, you do what the government of the day wants you to do. I've worked for both sides of government," she says. Her job is to advise the government on how it can deliver its election commitments and the pros and cons of a policy. It is then up to the government to "shepherd it through the parliament". Former prime minister Julia Gillard. Credit:AP "When we worked with Julia Gillard, we ran consultations all around the country with big and large employers and unions and got everyone in a room together to thrash out what was going to be in the legislation," she says. "We facilitate, but at the same time we give them all the evidence. 'Here's what policy holders are saying, but ultimately it's your call'." Parker worked with her predecessor, Natalie James, in developing the Fair Work Act and Parker also helped set up the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission. Thousands of people gathered for the ACTU rally through the streets of Melbourne led by Premier Daniel Andrews and union leaders Lisa Fitzpatrick, Luke Hilakari and Sally McManus. Credit:Justin McManus Unions criticised Parker as "anti-worker" after she wrote to employers on October 10, warning that workers joining ACTU rallies around the country were potentially breaking the law by not turning up for work. She says it is her job to help employers understand complex Fair Work laws. "I think when you are trying to be an umpire, there will always be people who object to what you are doing and which parts of the law you are enforcing. I was doing my job," she says. "I'm an impartial regulator. I'm a career public servant. I am here to be balanced. I am not here to take sides. I will be independent and impartial. Loading "The parliament decided what the law is. The community put that parliament in. If the law changes, we change our approach. But I will do that without fear or favour." Parker says she has no affiliation with any party. "That's how I will approach the job. And at times we will be criticised for that," she says. The bulk of her agency's work is around underpayments and ensuring that staff are paid properly. To help, Parker wants to enlist consumers to put pressure on businesses to ensure farm workers are paid properly. She also wants to continue her predecessor's work in making franchisors take responsibility for the underpayment of workers by franchisees. While the FWO has been making use of laws that make a franchisor liable for the conduct of a franchisee, Parker says they are hard to use because it needs to prove a second party actually knew about the alleged underpayment. "That is always going to be a difficult thing to prove," she says. Complex wage awards can also make it difficult for employers to ensure they are paying workers correctly. "There is no question they are complicated," Parker says. "There is no question that small businesses struggle with it." It can also be a struggle for the Ombudsman to enforce compliance with Fair Work laws. The agency recently released a report that showed 38 per cent of 479 businesses found in breach of workplace laws between 2012 and 2015 were still underpaying workers or failing to provide them with payslips within three years later. Fair Work inspectors also found 62 per cent of the 479 employers previously found in breach of their obligations were now fully compliant. "In some ways you could argue it is a positive result, but of course it is not good enough and we need to keep going back and addressing it," Parker says. While most regulators in Australia say they need more resources, Parker believes she can work within her means. Credit:Nick Moir The FWO's annual report also shows that 96 per cent of requests for its help were finalised through dispute resolution. Parker says that is not too high and is proud of the result. She says the FWO will not resile from litigation where necessary. "We have got 85 cases in court at the moment. Absolutely litigation is critical," she says. While most regulators in Australia say they need more resources, Parker believes she can work within her means. "I would say always happy to have more resources, but happy to work with what we have," she says. "That's why we absolutely prioritise the work we do and we make sure that we are going after the things that are going to give us the best outcome." University researchers from the University of NSW and University of Technology in Sydney recently reported that fewer than one in 10 migrant workers has taken action to recover unpaid wages, even though they know they are being underpaid. The remaining nine in 10 suffered wage theft in silence. The survey of 4322 temporary migrant workers from 107 countries found that for every 100 underpaid migrant workers, only three took their complaint to the Fair Work Ombudsman. More than half of the low proportion of workers that did complain said they recovered nothing. New research shows many supermarket shoppers are willing to pay up to $1 per kilo more for their fruit and vegetables if the workers that picked them were not underpaid. The study showed that most people would pay up to 50 cents more per kilo and some would pay around $1 more if the products they bought were produced under fair work conditions. Credit:Louie Douvis The study, commissioned by the Fair Work Ombudsman, shows that while consumers are driven by choice and convenience, they are willing to pay more for ethically-sourced produce. Many are unaware that some farm workers are paid below the minimum wage and do not believe this should happen. The study showed that most people would pay up to 50 cents more per kilo and some would pay around $1 more if the products they bought were produced under fair work conditions. The survey of 1025 people found that 15 per cent would not pay more and 14 per cent said they did not know. When two Canberra students discovered their school was looking to scrap its long-running Indonesian language course, they unwittingly found themselves at the centre of a potential international incident. Year 11 students Joseph Armstrong and Aidan Brooke of Narrabundah College started an online petition last week after learning they would be left in the lurch halfway through their ATAR studies if the school followed through on its plans to drop the subject next year. In just a few days, the boys had attracted more than 5000 signatures, many of them from former students and Indonesians, as well as interest from media overseas and outrage from the Indonesian embassy in Canberra. Narrabundah College students Joseph Armstrong and Aidan Brooke are worried their ATARs and future plans will be jeopardised if Indonesian is cut from their studies. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong They also drew the support of several prominent Australian Indonesian experts, who stressed the study of the language was vital to international relations between the two nations but had been chronically underfunded by governments across Australia. While the Indonesian program has been running successfully at Narrabundah for the past 40 years, it is understood there are only 11 students ready to enrol for 2019, four short of the school's minimum requirement of 15. Emma Thompson is hilarious! yelps a title to a compilation of clips on YouTube. Click on it and you will see Thompson jiving with chat-show host Stephen Colbert, throwing herself on the floor in front of Graham Norton and making animal noises with Ellen DeGeneres. Colbert reads out her biography from a program for Cambridge Footlights, where she mucked in with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie when the group won the first Perrier award at the Edinburgh Fringe. It describes her as shaven-headed, a wearer of baggy trousers, hater of depilatories, soaker of dried pulses and voter for the Socialist Workers Party. Not much has changed, Thompson says airily. Although she does shave her legs now. I was a bit earnest, I think. She is still earnest, really, under the theatrical flamboyance. There are very few moments of hilarity in The Children Act, in which Thompson gives a dramatic performance as a Family Court judge working with creased concern as only she can, as the Irish Times put it. The Children Act is directed by Richard Eyre and based on the eponymous novel by Ian McEwan, who also wrote the script. The story is based on a real case heard by McEwans friend, Family Court judge Sir Alan Ward. Ward told McEwan how he had to decide as Thompsons judge Fiona Maye must decide in McEwans story whether a teenage Jehovahs Witness with leukaemia should be compelled to have a blood transfusion. It will save his life, but his religion forbids it; he is adamant he doesnt want it but, as a minor, he is not responsible. Emma Thompson plays Family Court judge Fiona Maye in The Children Act. Maye is a serious woman in authority, married to a mild-mannered academic called Jack (Stanley Tucci) with whom she lives in a fine apartment uncluttered by childish things. If Fiona seems somewhat self-important, Thompsons view is she could hardly be otherwise. What is so interesting about that world is that I would say its very, very difficult to avoid, she says. The system of the law is designed to make you feel like a god. First of all, you sit above everyone, you sit in judgment and its an immense responsibility. So, number one, that. Then, when people come to you, they are very, very respectful. Backstage, there is a red carpet and only judges and their clerks are allowed to walk on it. Really! If you are treated in that way its very difficult not to ingest some of that sense of importance. Thompson spent a lot of time behind the scenes in the courts to prepare for the role, thanks to the good graces of Ward; he not only acted as an adviser to the film on legal niceties, but was able to swing her access to the judges chambers. I know quite a lot of female judges now and I worship the f---ing ground they walk on, she says. Unlike Maye, they dont take their authority home with them. But they work so hard and theyre so clever and some part of me goes 'well, theyve every right to feel important', because they make decisions that impact on peoples lives in ways that very rarely other professions do. Well, doctors. She stops short; consultants are actually terribly pompous, arent they? There are whole sitcoms written about that! "These findings shed light upon the developmental trajectory of perceiving, understanding and performing [heroism], suggesting that our admiration for and emphasis upon such acts so prevalent in thousands of stories across human cultures is rooted within the preverbal infants mind, the scientists later stated in Human Nature Behaviour. Theres also something deeply compelling about ordinary people who suddenly become something more, clinical psychologist and expert on the phenomenon of superheroes, Robin Rosenberg wrote in The Smithsonian Magazine. That transformation, usually through either trauma (as in the case of Batman), destiny (see Wonder Woman) or chance (that would be our boy The Flash) allows people to be what they secretly want to be. At their best, superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity, finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths and using them for good purpose, Rosenberg said. Origin stories show us not how to become super but how to be heroes, choosing altruism over the pursuit of wealth and power. Ive learned this through hundreds of conversations at comic book conventions, where fans have been remarkably candid about their lives and the inspiration they draw from superhero stories. Thats a view shared by actor Lynda Carter who played Wonder Woman in the original 1970s TV series. Superheroes are really just a personification of who we believe ourselves to be, she says in the documentary series Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle. Pioneers and heroes. The Flash in action. And nowhere is that more obvious than in The Flash. When Barry Allen discovers the accident that nearly killed him has transformed him into a meta human instead, with the aforementioned powers, his first thought isnt how he can enter the Olympics and make off with as many gold medals as he chooses. With a bit of friendly advice from Oliver Queen (AKA The Green Arrow) he decides to put on a mask and try to stop the criminals who have targeted his city and maybe solve the mystery of who murdered him mother years before, a crime his father had been jailed for even though Barry knew he was innocent. Its a classic heros journey, one that gives him a way through the adversity of his life and does something even a six-month old baby would approve of he gets to step up and save the day. Take a look at Barry Allens path to becoming a superhero in The Flash here: https://www.stan.com.au/watch/the-flash And hear from Lynda Carter and a host of other superhero experts in Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle here: https://www.stan.com.au/watch/superheroes-a-never-ending-battle Stan is Australias leading local SVoD service, providing unlimited access to thousands of hours of entertainment for the whole family. Get access to the biggest Hollywood shows, blockbuster movies, cult classics and popular kids content on your favourite device. Start your free 30-day trial at Stan.com.au. In my book Happy Never After, I named a chapter "Look For The Helpers" as I explored ways to cope with the seemingly endless onslaught of bad news that defines modern life. Its a phrase coined by the childrens TV host Fred Rogers and one that continues to provide comfort when a perfect storm of life challenges and depressing world events threaten to overwhelm me. I will continue to look for the goodness in people and in the world. Even when its hard. When Fred was a boy and he saw scary things on the news his mother would say, Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. Its a potent reminder of the incredible resilience of the human spirit and the goodness that prospers even amid the most senseless tragedies. We saw it in Bourke Street last week when ordinary members of the public rushed to help police, with a shopping trolley, a chair, whatever they could do to keep strangers safe from harm. Loading We saw it with the police who put their lives at risk to protect ours, or the hospital staff who cared for the injured. And we see it whenever communities face tragedy or adversity the number of people who show courage, compassion and kindness, always vastly outweighs the small minority who are cruel, indifferent or seek to do us harm. Barack Obama talked about the audacity of hope and in a tumultuous modern age it truly is an act of defiance to focus more on what binds us than divides us. But that is surely what we must do. To surrender to despair would be to abandon the marginalised and maligned, and send a message to future generations that the world they will inherit is not worth fighting for. So while our hearts may break for the loss of good people like Sisto Malaspina, the Pellegrinis icon killed on Bourke Street last week, I wont let mine harden with fear or hate. Instead I find hope in the outpouring of love for a man who was himself a helper and touched the lives of so many in Melbourne with his warmth, generosity and openness. We would do well to be more like Sisto. It is in these simple, everyday acts of human connection that hope abides. As the sign on Pellegrini's window said recently: "It is necessary to still create beauty. To still find joy." And people are creating that beauty in myriad ways in every corner of the globe. I find hope in the proliferation of projects such as Kindness Factory and Wake Up Project led by ordinary people who understand that even the smallest gesture of goodwill can change lives and create a ripple effect far beyond the individual. There is hope in movements like Refugees Welcome and Welcome to Australia that are helping to unite us by inviting refugees and people seeking asylum into their homes and communities. And I also find comfort in Positive News, part of a growing "constructive journalism" movement that replaces "if it bleeds, it leads" news priorities with an "if it succeeds, it leads" focus. Here youll find stories that might not ordinarily gain prominence, like endangered species making a recovery after being pushed to the brink of extinction, women who clear deadly landmines, or the worlds first plastic-free supermarket aisle. ACT Policing are investigating an incident in which a car appears to have intentionally swerved at a motorcyclist on Majura Parkway. Vision of the incident uploaded to social media last month was mentioned in ACT Assembly annual report hearings during discussions about lane filtering permanently being made legal in the ACT, after a 24-month trial. Motorcyclists or scooter riders have been allowed to move between stopped or slow traffic in strict conditions since the trial began in February 2015. A week after the footage was posted, ACT Policing said it wanted to speak to the person who provided the footage and asked them to get in touch. More than $8.5 million worth of jewellery, cars and other luxury items have been seized by federal police with two Chinese nationals allegedly using the proceeds of crime to buy property in Australia. Officers from the Australian Federal Police seized the luxury goods which included boxes of what appeared to be Penfolds wine in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of an investigation into offshore funds allegedly being laundered in Australia. Police believe two Chinese nationals travelled to Australia three years ago to establish shell companies to transfer proceeds of crime. They are then alleged to have used the money to purchase residential and development property in Australia. Surely between the 74 Coalition MPs on Capital Hill someone could volunteer to man the Christmas party bar late into the evening? With just over two weeks until the Canberra knees-up, chief government whip Nola Marino has taken to rallying the troops, in a very understated way telling her colleagues: Thank you to those who have already responded for the bar roster. There are still spots available. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: Putting aside his section 44 woes, pharmaceuticals investor and Victorian Liberal MP Chris Crewther has already put his name down for the in-demand early shift for the December shindig over in the Prime Ministers Courtyard. Hell be making the caipirinhas with Attorney-General Christian Porter, Education Minister Dan Tehan and North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman, who last pulled a beer two decades ago at Kingstons Durham Castle Arms, managing to deposit the change at the bottom of a full schooner. The PM is unconvincing in maintaining that our proposed trade deal with Indonesia was a completely separate issue from the possible move of Australia's Israeli embassy to Jerusalem. Morrison's announcement was a "captain's call", without taking advice from foreign policy advisers, and his decision to consider scrapping decades of bipartisan foreign policy has made him look amateurish. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Credit:AAP It's time for Morrison to relax and be natural, instead of role playing the typical Aussie beer-loving, sporty male, which comes across as just as panicky as the embassy thought bubble. His reasons for the backdown on the move to Jerusalem will be interesting pre-Christmas reading. - James Moore, Kogarah Morrison is not "clearing the way for an embassy retreat" as your headline would have it. He's admitting the whole "we'll consider moving the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem" charade was nothing but a blatant, cynical attempt to buy the Jewish vote in Wentworth, with a "less than 5 per cent" chance of ever being implemented. - Richard Mason, Newtown When will PM Morrison stop shooting from the hip? Surely it's time to stop eating meat pies and begin calmly thinking important issues through to a good conclusion. - John Golden, Newport The PM's refusal to come clean over his retreat on moving our Israel embassy to Jerusalem to secure a trade deal with Indonesia will spell his future political demise. Morrison's gross error of judgement proves beyond any reasonable doubt his unfitness to lead our nation's democracy in the 21st century. - Vincent Zankin, Rivett (ACT) Morrison has told Indonesia that he will make a decision about the embassy by Christmas. Read "an announcement will be buried on Christmas Eve". - Ian Kerr, Galston Unhelpful to bring politics into alleged abuse dispute Cate Faehrmann is less than sincere when she claims that some women who report sexual assaults are motivated by political factionalism ("I detest abuse but mob rule isn't justice", November 15). As a self-described feminist, she would know that sexual crimes are under reported, that only a minority reach the courts, and that a majority of those cases that make it to court do not achieve convictions. Faehrmann's conclusion that because no finding has been made in a case, no incident could have occurred, is disingenuous. The young woman who made a complaint about a Greens MP was not a member of the Greens when the complaint was made, and so had no factional allegiances. It is not helpful to bring in a political theory to explain an alleged sexual assault. That in itself could be seen to be factionalism. Claiming to be a feminist and then having a go at survivors is like saying "I'm not racist, but" - Amalina Wallace, Erskineville Faehrmann's spirited defence of her colleague ignores the appalling judgment of her own party officials in not investigating this matter until some years after the event, and only then when pressured by media exposure. - Paul Jones, Glebe If only it were as simple as just being stroppier (Letters, November 15). Women don't or can't call out inappropriate behaviour as and when it happens because there are so many other societal and personal factors involved. Some women are shocked that it happened, some might be paralysed by the experience and scared of the consequences. Others go into denial that something so abhorrent has happened to them after so many years of consciously striving for their own and women's rights, doubting and saddened by their own experience. Childhood trauma of abuse can leave women with a deep inability to know what to do and a sense of terror of speaking out. And after all of this, we don't believe them anyway - especially when it's her word against his. - Roz Townsend, Bathurst The onus is not on women to speak up when they experience inappropriate behaviour. Knowing such behaviour can make people uncomfortable, the default position should always be "don't touch other people". - Hannah Lane, Wollstonecraft Precisely when are males no longer regarded as children? Women shouldn't have to teach adult men that it's inappropriate to touch them at work. - Samantha Chung, Newtown As a retired professional woman, I do wonder whether the established courtesy of shaking hands will eventually be regarded as physical harassment. I do hope not. - Ruth Rees, Lane Cove North Jacarandas: Beauty or pest? Good to see tourists appreciating some of our natural beauty that had been thoughtfully provided by our parents and grandparents ("'Annoying': Tourists transforming a quiet Sydney backstreet into selfie-city", November 15). We had a jacaranda near our home until recently, so big it lit up the sky in November and made you feel good on the way to work. Ripped out with the permission of our alleged planners to make way for yet another rather ugly block of apartments. - Rod Hughes, Epping Kirribilli's jacarandas remind me of Grafton, NSW, where we lived in 1951. Almost every street was lined with jacaranda trees and the ground strewn with fallen purple blossoms. A sight well worth seeing. - Kevin Orr, Blakehurst The jacarandas are brilliant at the moment but so are the gorgeous golden silky oak and the stunning scarlet Illawarra flame tree. - Michael Deeth, Como West Well, here we go again, the annual jacaranda worship festival when the Brazilian natives invade the Australian native landscape with short-term purple beauty only to turn into a dangerous mess of rain-soaked flowers. - Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook Imported weed. - Tim Schroder, Gordon Climate change numbers don't lie Congratulations to Joseph Stiglitz on his well-reasoned article, and to the children in the US who are prepared to fight for their environmental future ("Forsaken children sue Trump to save their planet", November 15). I, like many others, despair at the thought of what sort of environment our children and grandchildren will live in, as a direct result of continued government inaction to address the pressing issue of climate change. Government ministers argue that we are such a small country, and therefore our actions will make little difference, but on a per capita basis Australia is among the highest emitters in the world. If all of the 90 or so nations that contribute less than 1 percent of emissions were to act, that would account for around a third of the global total. We must put climate change action front and centre at the forthcoming election and make our politicians accountable too. - Alan Marel, North Curl Curl Stiglitz outlines the disaster we are leaving for our future generations by not dealing with climate change. More specifically how simple and cost effective it would be with a carbon price. And he has a Nobel Prize in economics. Those who tore down our carbon price should face similar scrutiny, for both ruining our economy and our environment. - Peggy Fisher, Killara Our Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor calls out Woodside's chief executive Peter Coleman's call for a price on carbon as a cynical ploy to sell more gas ("Taylor, Woodside boss lock horns in climate debate", November 15). The notion that a business leader may also have a genuine desire to save the planet from climate change seems inconceivable to our politicians. The Liberals and Nationals backed the wrong horse on renewables and climate change action during Kevin Rudd's first term of office. They continue to spend good political capital on that dud investment and it will cost them big time into the future. - Jim Lavis, Raglan The Energy Minister criticises Woodside because of their position on a carbon price because they are "touting their own book". So Woodside can't "talk up" gas, but it's OK for the entire government to talk up the coal "book"? Maybe a compulsory course in irony could be organised for our ministers. - Tony Mitchell, Hillsdale $2b fund boost for small business Christmas must be coming ("Banks welcome $2b small business loan plan", November 15). At last we have an excellent initiative from the federal government on helping to develop small business, with the proposed small business loan fund. Too often the government has been focused on reducing tax rates for such entities, with debatable benefits. Allowing small businesses to access cheaper funds will enable them to invest and create job opportunities and at the same time get a tax deduction for their borrowing costs. - Michael Blissenden, Dural Is the announcement of a $2 billion finance guarantee for small business another thought bubble by the Treasurer? We remember his free movie tickets and cash refunds from turning off our air conditioners last summer to save power. How many energy customers received these benefits? - Cecil White, Yamba Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Simple equation on penalty rates It has been my experience that the only people who oppose penalty rates for shift work or weekend work are people who have never been awarded a Nobel Prize for anything at all and have never done shift work or worked weekends ("Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has backed unions on penalty rates", November 15). It's just that simple. Brian Pymont, Frenchs Forest Gene tests threaten diversity With "landmark genetic testing to start for future parents", if the options for future parents who carry genes for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and cystic fibrosis are to "choose not to have children" or for the pregnant mother to "consider termination", then are we sending a message to those who have such health conditions that we'd rather they not exist ("Landmark genetic testing to start for future parents", November 15)? Let the genetic awareness help us all plan to support the true diversity of humanity and continue to research for medical cures instead of eradicating through non-procreation. - Polly Seidler, Darlinghurst Morrison's Aussie speech habits As a former student of historical linguistics may I suggest another perspective to your correspondent's criticisms of the speech habits of the Prime Minister and many others (Letters, November 15). Rather than regarding his observations of "water/warder", "Parramadda", etc as a symptom of laziness, perhaps it could be viewed as a development of a linguistic pattern. It is a natural linguistic phenomenon for unvoiced consonants such as "t" to become their voiced consonant partners such as "d", especially if occurring between two-sounded vowels. Erol Tokcan became a father for the first time just months before he was stabbed to death. It was a milestone Mr Tokcan - who had a brain injury - never thought he would get to experience. The 38-year-old was "a gentle man and a threat to no one", police say. Erol Tokcan, 38, was stabbed to death in a violent home invasion at his Dharruk home in March. Credit:NSW Police Media That is what made his killing at the hands of an unknown attacker, during a home invasion in the western Sydney suburb of Dharruk, so incomprehensible to his tight-knit family. We cannot believe he has been taken from us in such a violent and senseless way," his younger sister Fatosh Tokcan said. "He was very generous and we want justice for him. My son was born here and he used to play up there. There was a big rock up there where we used to play where you could see all of Brisbane. Ms Kruck said it was a good idea to put walkways through Stephens Mountain. It could do with some walkways, yes it could. Certainly not housing. Not here, maybe down in the lower part, she said. Stephens Mountain bushland creeps around the Greenslopes hospital and down towards the South East Busways Coorparoo bus stop. The city views from Stephens Mountain at Greenslopes behind Greenslopes Hospital. Credit:Tony Moore Brisbane City Council on Tuesday night approved the Coorparoo Neighbourhood Plan, which drew 421 submissions. Protecting Stephens Mountain is part of the Coorparoo Neighbourhood Plan and generated considerable debate on Tuesday night in City Hall. Greens councillor Jonathan Sri said the plan missed the opportunity to preserve all of Stephens Mountain as a bushland park for a fast-growing area. He described the plan to preserve only part of the mountain as environmental vandalism. The administration has quite correctly preserved some of the site for conservation. I congratulate the administration for doing that, Cr Sri said. But almost half the site almost 20,000 square metres is being rezoned for emerging community. That will allow development that will pretty much clear that vegetated area. Cr Sri said he disagreed with the councils planning that valued the higher section of Stephens Mountain as ecologically significant, while dismissing the old quarry areas as less valuable. I think the evidence presented by local environment groups and community groups shows very clearly that the areas provides important wildlife and habitat corridor for a range of reptiles, birds and mammals, he said. Stephen Mountain in Greenslopes is partially saved from redevelopment in new Coorparoo Neighbourhood Plan. The site is the former Ekibin Quarry. Credit:Tony Moore Cr Sri said the loss of sections of Stephens Mountain was a special place and not just another example of creeping habitat loss. It feels vibrant and alive because it has been largely left alone," he said. "There arent many places where you can go and sit under the trees and feel you are a long way from the city and this is one of those spaces and to develop half of it as residential is wrong. Coorparoo councillor Ian Mckenzie (LNP) said planning had taken three years and was designed to guide the future development of Coorparoo. We have had multiple meetings with residents, Cr McKenzie said and said the plan added 10 places to the councils heritage register. However he said Cr Sris comments were a big continued statement. Sometimes I wonder if we are talking about the same area, Cr McKenzie said. The area we are looking at here (emerging community) is mainly rubble from the freeway." Cr McKenzie said it was unlikely houses would ever, ever be built there. I am very pleased that the final plan will protect the valued green space of Stephens Mountain totally, he said. Girls will receive free tampons and pads at Victorian state schools if Labor is re-elected, premier Daniel Andrews has pledged. In an announcement on Twitter on Thursday morning, he said" "Its an Australian first. Its the right thing to do." Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the Australia-first initiative followed similar moves in the US and Scotland, where research showed girls who couldn't afford sanitary products often missed school. Young women and girls at school shouldnt have to worry about having access to a basic necessity like tampons and pads and Labor will make sure they dont have to, she said. A married Perth couple have been jailed for a combined total of 16 years over a string of sexual abuse charges relating to the mans teenage daughter. The abuse took place in March and April this year. Credit:File photo/John Donegan Harrowing details surrounding the abuse of the girl were read out in the WA District Court on Thursday as the man and woman were both sentenced. They cannot be named to protect the girls identity. The man was jailed for nine years and six months, while his wife was given a sentence of six years and six months. An engineering contractor has confirmed it has "demobilised" two of its workers following an impromptu strike at a mine site in WA's North West earlier this week. About 200 workers at the Rio Tinto Nammuldi iron ore mine did not board the 5am company buses for the one-hour trip on Monday, and instead sent a message to management demanding they are either compensated for their commute time or the shift is reduced to 10 hours rather than 12. It was the second last day until shutdown. Credit:FIFO Construction Workers 3/1 Forum During this time workers claimed they were visited by a Rio Tinto spokesperson on site, who asked them to return to work or face potential demobilisation. After about eight hours of protest, Linkforce and Rio Tinto said the action had been resolved and employees were back at work. Australia will buy at least a dozen armed Reaper drones in a major step towards a future in which air strikes are increasingly carried out remotely. The aircraft, made by US company General Atomics, will be used mainly to provide cover to Australian soldiers on operations, flying overhead while looking for threats and striking them with bombs or missiles. Defence Minister Christopher Pyne will announce the planned purchase of the new drones on Friday morning. Fairfax Media understands the Morrison government plans to buy between 12 and 16 of the aircraft which, at a cost of about $23 million each, will put a price tag of at least $400 million on the fleet when extras are included. Mr Pyne, in a statement released before the announcement, said a Reaper could watch from the skies for longer than manned aircraft. The dividends paid by state-owned water companies to the Queensland government have surged by 490 per cent in just one year. A report by the Queensland Audit Office shows dividends to the state government increased from $8.1 million in 2016-17 to $47.8 million in 2017-18. Wivenhoe Dam, which supplies water to south-east Queensland. Credit:Robert Rough Auditor-general Brendan Worrall said the increase was mostly due to SunWater declaring dividends in 2017-18 and retaining all of its $36 million in profits in 2016-17 for future dam improvement works. Due to operating losses, Seqwater continued to make no dividend payments to the state in 2017-18. China Aviation Daily | Nov. 14, 2018 Potential customers from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia can learn about functionality of brand new Mi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters during their demonstration tour through Southeast Asia. The first demonstration of the new products by Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) will be held on November 16 in Vietnam. Mi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters finished their participation in Airshow China 2018, an international exhibition which took place in Zhuhai (China) on November 6-11. The helicopters were displayed statically, and demonstration flights were arranged as part of the airshow flight program. Recently, both machines flew to Hanoi (Vietnam), where they are prepared to demonstration flights. "Following Airshow China, I can note that interest in Russian helicopters increases significantly, especially after their participation in the exhibition's flight program. Russian Helicopters has reliable partner relationships with Southeast Asian countries, so we expect that the demonstration of Mi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters' functionality will allow us not only to hold meaningful negotiations with potential customers, but also to sign soft contracts for these machines," said Andrey Boginsky, CEO of Russian Helicopters. He added that, generally, Southeast Asian operators highly appreciated helicopters made in Russia, especially for firefighting, as well as transport and building and assembly work in hard-to-reach areas. Also, Russian Helicopters rapidly develops the service center infrastructure in the region. Helitechco, a Russia-Vietnam joint venture, has operated since 1994. It repaired over 80 civil helicopters of state and commercial customers from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, India, Australia and New Zeeland. Helitechco is the only repair service in Southeast Asia where professionals from Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant monitor the repair processes. In February 2018, a memorandum of intent was signed with a Thai company Datagate. Assistance on arranging a service center for maintenance of Russian helicopters in Thailand is among areas of cooperation mentioned in the document. This center is expected to provide with routine and repair operations, troubleshooting, and replacement of components. Additionally, parties determined a capacity for supply of replacement parts and repairing assemblies for civil helicopters under stand-alone contracts. Ansat is a light twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter massively produced by Kazan Helicopters. According to the certificate, the helicopter design allows transforming it into a freight or passenger version suitable for transportation of up to 7 people. High-altitude tests of Ansat have been successfully completed, which confirmed the possibility of its use in mountainous terrain at altitudes up to 3,500 meters. In August 2018, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) gave Kazan Helicopters an approval for the main change in increasing the capacity of several assemblies and systems of Ansat based on the results of certification, which makes the helicopter more attractive for operators and potential customers. The helicopter equipped with the medical module can be used to administer first aid and evacuate patients even in difficult terrain and remote areas with lack of transport accessibility. Moreover, the Ansat medical module provides for patient resuscitation, intensive therapy and continuous monitoring of the injured persons' vital functions during their transportation to hospital. Mi-171A2 is the latest modification of Mi-8/17/171 helicopters. The helicopter is equipped with VK-2500PS-03 engines with a digital control system, as well as with more efficient X-shaped anti-torque rotor and an updated lifting rotor with composite blades and a refined airfoil section. The cruise and maximum speeds of the Mi-171A2 helicopter are 10 percent higher and the payload capacity is 25 percent greater than that of the mass-produced Mi-8/17 helicopter. The helicopter can be used successfully day and night, in high altitude, extreme temperatures, high humidity and over water. Mi-171A2 is equipped with KBO-17 digital on-board glass cockpit equipment suite, including both the aircraft navigation system and the data display general helicopter equipment system, which allowed to reduce the crew up to two members. Video cameras improved the view while operating with external load. The safety level was increased due to using terrain awareness warning and collision warning systems. The helicopter provides passenger transportation and is available in transport, passenger, and VIP versions. Contributed by JSC Russian Helicopters After facing near-extinction, mountain gorillas are slowly rebounding. On Wednesday, the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature updated mountain gorillas' status from "critically endangered" to "endangered," a more promising, if still precarious, designation. There are now just over 1000 of the animals in the wild, up from an estimated population of 680 a decade ago. "In the context of crashing populations of wildlife around the world, this is a remarkable conservation success," said Tara Stoinski, president and chief scientist of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. A mountain gorilla in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. Credit:Shutterstock The Atlanta-based non-profit organisation is named for the primate researcher whose work helped draw international attention to mountain gorillas and whose memoir became the basis for the 1988 Sigourney Weaver film Gorillas in the Mist. "This is a beacon of hope - and it's happened in recently war-torn and still very poor countries," said Stoinski, who is also a member of the IUCN's primate specialist group, which recommended the status change. Beijing: A group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing, spearheaded by Canada and including Australia, are seeking a meeting with the top official in China's restive, heavily Muslim Xinjiang region for an explanation of alleged rights abuses against ethnic Uighurs. The envoys are making their request in a letter to Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang's Communist Party boss, according to a copy of a draft letter seen by Reuters. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government was concerned about the situation in Xinjiang and officials had conveyed these concerns to China on a number of occasions. An angry crowd of Uighur Muslims jostle police during protests in Urumqi in 2009. Credit:EPA The move represents unusually broad, co-ordinated action by a group of countries over a human rights issue in China, and illustrates the mounting backlash Beijing is facing over its crackdown in the western region. Prime minister Theresa May has doggedly pursued what she insists are the countrys best interests. Those interests, she says, are to respect the spirit of the referendum vote from 2016, but also not to hurt business and the economy too much, but also not to screw up the Good Friday Agreement which guarantees peace on the island of Ireland. Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Credit:Bloomberg There's not much overlap in that Venn diagram, even before the EU's own negotiating aims (such as maintaining the integrity of the single market) are added in. The deal was, inevitably, going to be a compromise on one or more of these aims. And the government isnt pretending otherwise. Its language is grim: accept this deal because its the best we can get, we know its not great but it could have been worse, is the narrative tone out of Downing St. The choice before us is clear, May said on Wednesday. This deal or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all. Loading That last option was a surprise. Until now, May has always insisted it was a binary choice between her deal or no deal. Some Brexiters now say Britain must take option two: reject the deal entirely and go its own way. This is dangerous bravado. No deal would see short-term economic chaos, even food and medicine shortages. In the longer term it would mean a hard border in Ireland, and the EU would take legal action to reclaim the billions the UK had previously agreed it owed. Britain would have alienated and infuriated its biggest and closest trading partner hardly a recipe for economic success. Only the most foolhardy want this option. Its unclear how May envisions there being no Brexit at all, because she didnt elaborate. The government could just give up (possibly after the parliament rejects the deal next month, which is a very good chance), and ask the EU if it can cancel the whole thing. Its hard to see May's prime ministership - or indeed the government - surviving this decision. Or parliament could insist on a new referendum, something May has repeatedly, unambiguously ruled out, and which would exasperate much of Britain. Or May could call an election. Either of these two options might not have their intended effect anyway, because its hard to see how to get them done with time left to avoid a no deal Brexit, due by force of EU treaty on March 29. So that leaves Mays deal. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May. Credit:AP The deal describes what Boris Johnson and others have rather old-fashionedly but not inaccurately called vassalage. For the whole of the transition period, set to end in December 2020, the UK will obey all EU rules but will no longer have any votes in any EU bodies. If a new trade and customs partnership is not signed by its end, the transition period could be extended to a date described in the deal text as up to 31 December 20XX. Well, at least the UK can know its vassalage wont last beyond 2099. Once the transition ends the UK has agreed to a backstop that would keep the UK in a customs union with Europe, following EU customs rules, and force Northern Ireland to keep following many single market rules and regulations, unless and until a trade deal is done. The backstop may never come into effect, because both sides say a permanent customs and trade arrangement can be negotiated before its required. Many observers take this with a grain of salt, noting how many years previous EU trade deals took to negotiate. And in the end the UK may still stay subject to EU rules, perhaps forever, because of the problem of the Irish border and the only solution that has yet been found to keep it seamless: see above. One wonders how Australia will negotiate a trade deal with a country like this. Maybe you just go to Brussels, and then let the UK know whats left to sort out. So where does that leave Britain? With a deal widely regarded as odious and with obvious, admitted flaws, pushed by a minority government plagued by ministers who hate what theyre doing. Washington: The Trump administration is exploring possible ways to remove US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, a foe of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, NBC News reported on Thursday. The US is mulling the move to convince Turkey to ease pressure on Saudi Arabia, a longterm US security partner, over the killing of a Saudi journalist. Exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the US. Credit:AP A White House official told Reuters the NBC story was "not accurate," but did not elaborate. NBC, citing four sources, said Trump administration officials asked federal law enforcement agencies to look into whether Gulen, accused by Erdogan of instigating a failed 2016 coup, could legally be forced out of the United States. Washington: Liberal philanthropist George Soros has called on Facebook to initiate an independent, internal investigation of its lobbying and public relations work. The call comes after The New York Times published a report claiming the company had hired an opposition research firm to discredit critics by linking them to Soros, a frequent target of conservatives and anti-Semitic vitriol from the far right. Liberal philanthropist George Soros. Credit:AP "These efforts appear to have been part of a deliberate strategy to distract from the very real accountability problems your company continues to grapple with," wrote Patrick Gaspard, the president of the Open Society Foundations, a philanthropic organisation founded by Soros. Gaspard published the letter on Wednesday night, after publication of the Times report, and addressed it to Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, along with Facebook board members and congressional leadership, were also on the address list. Washington: Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after first lady Melania Trump's office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first lady's staff over her visit to Africa last month. The office of first lady Melania Trump was reportedly unhappy with Mira Ricardel. Credit:AP Ricardel threatened to withhold National Security Council resources for the trip unless she or another NSC staffer was included in the first lady's entourage, according to a person familiar with the matter. Melania Trump and Ricardel have never met, the person added. Huntsville, Texas: A Mexican citizen on death row in Texas was executed on Wednesday night for the sledgehammer killings of his wife and two children more than 26 years ago. An undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice of Roberto Moreno Ramos. Credit:AP Roberto Moreno Ramos was condemned for the 1992 deaths of his 42-year-old wife Leticia, seven-year-old daughter Abigail, and three-year-old son Jonathan at their home in Progreso, located along the Mexico border. When asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Ramos thanked the Mexican consulate for assisting with appeals in his case and said he was grateful for "the humane treatment I got in prison in Texas". "I'm getting my gold watch that it took the governor 30 years to forge," he said without elaborating. "Thank you God. Lord, send me a chariot. I'm ready." Michael Avenatti, the lawyer who has sparred with US President Donald Trump on behalf of an adult film star and has flirted with running for president himself, has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. Avenatti was arrested on Wednesday and remained in custody, Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Mike Lopez said. Avenatti praised the department for its "professionalism" while calling the allegations "completely bogus". "I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night," Avenatti said in a statement issued by his law office. Loading Publicly, Trump has been increasingly absent in recent days - except on Twitter. He has cancelled travel plans and dispatched cabinet officials and aides to events in his place - including sending Vice-President Mike Pence to Asia for the annual summits in November that past presidents nearly always attended. Jordan's King Abdullah was in Washington on Tuesday and met Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, but not the President. Also on Tuesday, Defence Secretary James Mattis announced plans to travel on Wednesday to near the US-Mexico border to visit troops Trump ordered there last month in what is ostensibly a mission to defend against a caravan of Central American migrants moving through Mexico and still hundreds of kilometres from the United States. Trump had reportedly considered making that trip himself, but has decided against it. Nor has he spoken of the caravan since the midterm elections, after making it a central issue in his last weeks of campaigning. Unusually, early on Monday, the White House called a "lid" at 10.03am local time, informing reporters that Trump would not have any scheduled activities or public appearances for the rest of the day. Although it was Veterans Day, Trump bucked tradition and opted not to make the three-kilometre trip to Arlington National Cemetery in northern Virginia to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as presidents since at least John F. Kennedy have done to mark the solemn holiday. Trump's only public appearance on Tuesday was at a short White House ceremony marking the start of the Hindu holiday Diwali at which he made brief comments and left without responding to shouted questions. He had just returned on Sunday night from a two-day trip to France to attend ceremonies marking the centennial of the armistice that ended World War I. That trip was overshadowed, in part, by Trump's decision not to attend a wreath-laying at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, the burial place for 2289 soldiers 95 kilometres north-east of Paris, due to rain. Kelly, a former Marine Corps general, and Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did attend to honour the US service members interred there. Trump stayed in the US ambassador's residence in Paris, making no public appearances. Loading Other heads of state also managed to make it to World War I cemeteries in the area for tributes to their nations' war dead on Saturday. Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin were the only world leaders to skip another commemoration, on Sunday, at the Arc de Triomphe, where about 80 heads of state walked in unison - under umbrellas in the pouring rain - down Paris' grand Champs-Elysees boulevard. Trump arrived later by motorcade, a decision aides claimed was made for security reasons. Nicholas Burns, the former US ambassador to NATO under George W. Bush, said the moment, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of a war in which 120,000 Americans were killed, was ripe for soaring words, which Trump failed to provide. "Not only did he barely show up, he didn't say anything that would help Americans understand the scale of the loss, or the importance of avoiding another great war," Burns said. "He seemed physically and emotionally apart. It's such a striking difference between the enthusiasm he showed during the campaign and then going to Paris and sulking in his hotel room." He added, "The country deserves more energy from the President." Trump took heavy flak on social media, including from former secretary of state John Kerry, especially for his no-show at the military cemetery. Nicholas Soames, a member of Britain's Parliament and grandson of Winston Churchill, tweeted, "They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn't even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen." Trump, clearly feeling on the defensive days later, tried to explain himself on Tuesday, in a tweet. In that tweet, Trump falsely described the weather at the Sunday visit to another US cemetery. Rather than "pouring rain", photos showed him standing without a hat or an umbrella under overcast skies. Just as Trump was returning to Washington on Sunday evening, Pence was heading to Asia in the President's place, and at his first stop greeted Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Trump's absence was notable and a glaring affront to many Asian leaders, experts say. "It matters more in Asia than other regions because 'face' is so important," said Matthew Goodman, a senior vice-president at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and a former White House co-ordinator for Asia-Pacific strategy during the Obama and George W. Bush administrations. "Your willingness to go out there is a sign you're committed and not going is a sign you're not." Putin is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit, looking to expand his country's influence in Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea are also attending regional summits. And China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang are simultaneously attending meetings across the region looking to broaden their country's influence in the South China Sea and expand multilateral trade agreements. Loading Although Trump is set to meet Xi at the G-20 Summit of wealthy countries in Buenos Aires later this month, his absence from the major Indo-Pacific meetings for a second straight year will "have some consequences for our position and our interests in the region", Goodman continued. "Other countries are going to move ahead without us." What makes Trump's perceived snub to the Asian powers more significant is that it comes on the heels of his brief European trip, which showcased his growing isolation from trans-Atlantic allies. French President Emmanuel Macron rebuked Trump in a speech, stating that "nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism" as the US President looked on sullenly. Trump's relations with Latin America, already strained, are little better after the White House last week announced that he was reneging for a second time on a commitment to visit Colombia. He had planned to go there later this month on his way back from the G-20 meetings. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent plenary public meeting on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The Urgent Plenary Public meeting is scheduled for 10.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor will be present. The agenda point is: Discussion on the results of the survey regarding the Dump fumes and the health hazard this carries (IS/305/2018-2019 dated November 07, 2018) (This meeting was requested by MP A.M.R. Irion, MP S.E. Jacobs, MP E.J. Doran, MP W.V. Marli, and MP C.T. Emmanuel) Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.com and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten. The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Barcena, affirmed today that small island developing states will not achieve the sustainable development committed to in the 2030 Agenda if they do not find an effective way to adapt to climate change. The senior United Nations official participated today, via teleconference, in the special session Pathways to resilience in climate-affected SIDS: A Forward-Looking Resilience Building Agenda. Promises, results and next steps, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, in New York, and led by Inga Rhonda King, President of ECOSOC, and Luis Alfonso de Alba, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2019 Climate Summit. During her remarks, Alicia Barcena said it is essential that the issue of the resilience of small island developing states (SIDS) be on the General Assemblys agenda in 2019. Climate change in the Caribbean is very real, she stressed, adding that the damage caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in seven of the countries most affected by the storms exceeded $6.9 billion dollars. This estimate does not include islands like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Cuba, which were also gravely affected, she said. She recalled that, in 2017, ECLAC implemented the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology in five Caribbean countries that suffered major impacts, and it continues to offer support through technical advice on reconstruction and rehabilitation. ECLACs Executive Secretary noted that the DaLA methodology is not just an external evaluation but rather a tool for developing countries capacities to evaluate on a permanent and endogenous basis their risks and financing alternatives with the aim of reducing their vulnerability, strengthening their institutions, and gathering and analyzing relevant data and information. It is true that, for the international community in general, measures for climate change mitigation are urgent and necessary, but for the SIDS, the implementation of adaptation measures is an imperative, she stated. Barcena added that Caribbean countries face an additional challenge: they are among the most indebted nations in the world with a total debt burden that has risen to $52 billion dollars (a little over 70% of subregional GDP). For that reason, she indicated, ECLAC is promoting the Debt for Climate Adaptation Swap Initiative, a measure that represents our contribution to addressing the stifling debt of Caribbean economies and their need to generate resources to finance stronger resilience. This is an innovative strategy that seeks to transform the subregions debt into a source of investment in resilience, while also revitalizing growth and promoting the transformation of its economies through investment in adaptation projects and green industries, she explained. ECLACs most senior representative also highlighted the Caribbean First strategy, which seeks to call attention to the subregion and is being implemented in Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda. Caribbean First is ECLACs renewed determination to promote a more effective defense on behalf of the countries of that region, taking advantage of the international communitys good will, solidarity and support, she concluded. PHILIPSBURG/WILLEMSTAD:---Every year the Oranje Fonds, from the Netherlands, hosts the Appeltjes van Oranje (Apples of Orange) award, all highlighting NGO-work and accomplishments, mainly work that is focussed on connecting people and ensuring community participation. This years theme focused on volunteerism: The power of togetherness, with volunteers you achieve more, recognizing NGOs that achieve mobilizing volunteers in a unique way while being able to keep them motivated. The semi-finals for the Dutch Caribbean region took place on Curacao, this past Sunday, on November 11th. Out of the 10 pre-selected semi-finalists, a total of four made it through from Sint Maarten. With four stemming from Curacao, one from Aruba and one from Bonaire. A very special accomplishment, especially considering the circumstances post-Irma, whereby much of the recovery work was accomplished through NGOs and (their) volunteers. And that being recognised on a special day such as Sint Maartens day. The two finalists selected during this special day, from the top 10, have been invited to attend the Dutch semi-finals in the Netherlands in January 2019 and later the finals in May 2019 at Paleis Noordeinde (The palace of the King and Queen of the Netherlands the official patrons of the Oranje Fonds, since its inception). Director Peter Douwes: We believe in a socially connected Kingdom where everyone can participate. For this, you need passionate hands on persons, ones that stay involved. That is why volunteers are crucial, and why we are searching for people that know how to get the volunteers involved and achieve more together. These people, they are heroes. The are the ones making the difference. And that is what we want to recognize, and thus award, with an Apple of Orange. The four NGOs hailing from Sint Maarten, pre-selected as semi-finalists, were the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation, Voice of the Youth, Player Development, and K1 Britannia. All being recognized for their great achievements through volunteerism. These NGOs, together with 6 others from the other Dutch Caribbean islands vied for two spots in the finals, where they will go head to head with eight other Dutch NGOs. Of the 10 NGOs, all of whom received a check worth 2.500,- , the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation and Tur Ta Konta, from Curacao, were selected as the winners to go on to the finals in the Netherlands in May 2019. The Appeltjes van Oranje prize, which includes a 15.000 cash prize and a bronze Appeltjes statue designed by Princess Beatrix, will be handed over by the Honourable King and/or Queen. Fleur Hermanides, the local project coordinator for Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben (SFC), of whom the Oranje Fonds is one of the funders, was very proud and humbled to see so many initiatives from Sint Maarten make it this far. A true recognition of all the hard work NGOs and (their) volunteers do for Sint Maarten, for society, and as a whole. The Samenwerkende Fondsen representative wishes to congratulate all the semi-finalists, and especially the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation on this great accomplishment, as well as recognise them for the great work they have been doing for the community for so many years, especially in times where it has been very hard to find adequate support to tend to the needs of their target groups. The Oranje Fonds, which is one of the 6 funding agencies forming the Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben / Cooperating Foundations for the Dutch Caribbean, has a history of supporting social initiatives in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Since the inception of Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben in 2004, over 20 million has been invested in supporting initiatives that allow for people to meet each other, feel less of a sense of loneliness, understand each other and make an effort for one another. In 2017 alone, this was over 2.3 million in the Dutch Caribbean. PHILIPSBURG:--- Five men, all nationals from India and one man from the French side were arrested by police in Philipsburg in the vicinity of former Suki Supermarket on Tuesday, November 13th at approximately 6.45 p.m. An off-duty police officer, while driving in his private vehicle, noticed four unknown men walking on Kerkhof Straat towards former Suki Supermarket carrying backpacks. The clothing these men were wearing were soaking wet as if they have been swimming. The officer did not trust the situation and suspected that something was not right. The officer also noticed that a Hyundai Tucson with license plate 6074 AAB, in which two other unknown men were sitting, was parked in front of the supermarket. The four unknown men walked towards the SUV and stepped into the vehicle. The officer approached the vehicle, identified himself to the driver who is resident from the French Side and asked him what was going on. The driver could not give acceptable answers to the questions he was asked and became very nervous. The officer immediately contacted the Central Dispatch, who immediately sent other officers to the scene to assist in this situation. All six persons were arrested on the spot suspected of human trafficking/ human smuggling. They were all taken to the Philipsburg Head Quarters where they are being held for questioning and further investigation by Detectives. KPSM Press Release. ~Antiguan Police confirm identities of bodies.~ MARIGOT:--- Media personnel of Antigua and Barbuda are trying to confirm whether or not the two bodies that were fished out of Lucas Bay Oyster Pond on Tuesday and Wednesday may have originated from their island as two men are missing there. The two missing men have been identified as Pedro Jerome Potter a Government employee and Ozandee Benjamin. So far it is not clear if the missing person's report were filed in Antigua and Barbuda. On Tuesday morning around 10:30 am Gendarmes were called to Lucas Bay Oyster Pond when a passerby noticed a body floating in the water. At the time Colonel Sebastien Manzoni said that the person a male of probably Caribbean or Antillean decent may have died from drowning. However, on Wednesday afternoon the Gendarmes were called again to Lucas Bay to fish out another dead body. The second man is also probably of Caribbean or Antillean descent. Manzoni said that the Gendarmes also received photos but he did not say if the photos sent to the Gendarmerie are those of the men recovered at Lucas Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday. Manzoni said at the moment they are busy with the investigation to determine the identity of the two corps as well as the cause of deaths. SMN News also got confirmation from Antigua where the Police on that island has confirmed that the two bodies found on Lucas Bay Oyster Pond are that of the missing men in Antigua identified as Ozandee Benjamin and Pedro Jerome Potter. So far the Gendarmes on St. Martin have not released the identity of the bodies discovered at Lucas Bay. hte develops accelerated catalyst aging protocol for hydrotreatment application together with MOL Group hte ? the high throughput experimentation company has been commissioned by MOL Group to develop an accelerated catalyst aging protocol for a diesel hydrotreatment application. With the results, MOL will be able to better predict long-term performance when selecting refining catalysts. Selecting the right catalyst in a refinery is crucial for optimizing economic profit and efficiency. When selecting a new diesel hydrotreatment catalyst it is important to consider the start of run activity and selectivity, but also to predict the lifetime, which can be several years. Evaluating long-term stability can be costly and time-consuming. Hence, hte has been commissioned by MOL to develop an accelerated catalyst aging protocol. This protocol simulates catalyst deactivation under realistic process conditions but with a much reduced test duration. Aging catalysts under actual process conditions provides more reliable information about long-term stability than empirical laboratory aging protocols. The project was completed in the third quarter of 2018. With the results, MOL is able to predict the long-term activity of its pre-selected catalysts. ?Diesel hydrotreatment is an important refinery process. Being able to predict catalyst activity during the entire life span gives us more confidence in selecting the right catalyst for our refineries,? says Thomas Raetzsch, Head of Downstream Research and Development at MOL Group. ?We are pleased that MOL has chosen to work with hte again. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with MOL and our role in the European refining market,? says Wolfram Stichert, CEO at hte. He adds that this type of protocol is adaptable to other processes and will be included in hte?s R&D Solutions offering. At hte ? the high throughput experimentation company, we make R&D in the area of catalysis faster and more productive. We enable cost-effective innovations and reduced time to market for new products, thereby allowing our customers in the energy & refining, chemical & petrochemical, and environmental industry to keep ahead of the competition. Our technology and services comprise: R&D Solutions: highly efficient contract research programs at hte?s state-of-the-art laboratories in Heidelberg, Germany; Technology Solutions: integrated hardware and software solutions, enabling our customers to establish high throughput workflows in their own laboratories. Our customers benefit from a broad technical and scientific expertise, an exceptional customer orientation, complete end-to-end solutions, and an outstanding data quality. Our close ties with BASF guarantee long-term orientation and stability. For more information, visit our website www.hte-company.com. Copper Mountain Mining Files NI 43-101 Technical Report on its Eva Copper Project and Copper Mountain Mine Posted by Publisher Internet Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (TSX:CMMC | ASX:C6C)? (?Copper Mountain? or the ?Company? http://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298551) announces that it has filed a technical report on the Feasibility Study for its Eva Copper Project (the ?Eva Copper Technical Report?) prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects (?NI 43-101?). ?The Eva Copper Technical Report is in support of the Company?s October 1, 2018 news release announcing the Feasibility Study results on the Eva Copper Project. The Company has also filed a technical report on its Copper Mountain Mine (the ?CMM Technical Report?) prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. ?The CMM Technical Report is in support of the Company?s October 1, 2018 news release announcing an updated Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimate for its Copper Mountain Mine. The Technical Report also includes the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the New Ingerbelle Project.? The Company has corrected the Copper Mountain Mine Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource in the CMM Technical Report to 323 million tonnes grading 0.26% copper, 1.05 g/t silver and 0.08 g/t gold for 1.82 billion pounds of copper, 10.9 million ounces of silver and 0.87 million ounces of gold (compared to the October 1, 2018 press release of 344 million tonnes grading 0.26% copper, 0.82 g/t silver and 0.08 g/t gold for 1.96 billion pounds of copper, 9.05 million ounces of silver and 0.93 million ounces of gold). Copper Mountain Mine?s Mineral Reserves and life of mine production plan remains unchanged. The Eva Copper and CMM Technical Reports are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company?s website www.CuMtn.com. Qualified Persons The Mineral Resource estimate for the Copper Mountain Mine was prepared by Mr. Peter Holbek, B.Sc (Hons), M.Sc. P. Geo, who is the Vice President, Exploration of Copper Mountain Mining Corporation. Mr. Holbek serves as the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Holbek consents to the inclusion of the Mineral Resource in this news release and has approved the Mineral Resource information included in this news release.? ? About Copper Mountain Mining Corporation: Copper Mountain?s flagship asset is the 75% owned Copper Mountain mine located in southern British Columbia near the town of Princeton. The Copper Mountain mine produces about 90 million pounds of copper equivalent per year with a large resource that remains open laterally and at depth. Copper Mountain also has the permitted, development stage Eva Copper Project in Queensland, Australia and an extensive 4,000 km2 highly prospective land package in the Mount Isa area. Copper Mountain trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ?CMMC? and Australian Stock Exchange under the symbol ?C6C?. Additional information is available on the Company?s web page at www.CuMtn.com. Note:? This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.? These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results.? Readers are referred to the documents, filed by the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.? The Company undertakes no obligation to review or confirm analysts? expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement. Editor's Note: This article was updated Nov. 15 with a new launch date and time; the launch has been delayed again due to weather. An Antares rocket is due to launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, early on Saturday (Nov. 17) morning and should be visible, weather permitting, from parts of the Eastern Seaboard. In good weather, those who live near and along the Atlantic seaboard and west to the Appalachians will get a great opportunity to see the two-stage rocket, developed by Northrop Grumman, carry cargo toward the International Space Station. The craft will launch from Pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) located at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. This flight (NG CRS-10), will be the 11th planned flight of the uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and the vessel's 10th flight to the International Space Station under a Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Previous flights were under the branding of Orbital ATK, which was absorbed by Northrop Grumman on June 6. To reach the space station, Antares must launch when Earth's rotation carries the launch pad into the plane of the station's orbit. For this upcoming mission, that will happen at 4:01 a.m. EST (0901 GMT) on Nov. 15. Besides watching the early morning sky, you can view the launch online here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV. [Launch Photo: Orbital ATK's Antares Rocket & Cygnus OA-9 Soar to ISS!] This mission's launch configuration is noticeably different from those of the space station resupply missions launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Those launches, originating from the state's "Space Coast," bring the path of the resupply cargo craft nearly parallel to the U.S. East Coast. But in the case of Antares, the launch trajectory will be toward the southeast and on a course directly away from the U.S. mainland. The Cygnus spacecraft for this mission is named the S.S. John Young in honor of the former astronaut and U.S. Navy officer. As a NASA astronaut, Young logged 835 hours in space participating in six missions: Gemini 3 and 10, Apollo 10 and 16, and STS-1 and 9. What to expect This NASA graphic shows where and when to look to see launch of Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Nov. 17, 2018. The rocket will launch a Cygnus spacecraft carrying cargo to the International Space Station the launch, at 4:01 a.m. EST (0901 GMT), will be visible across much of the U.S. East Coast. (Image credit: Stephen Wlodarczyk/NASA) Above, you can see a map provided by Northrop Grumman that shows the rough time at which you can expect to first see Antares after its launch. The diagram shows the time at which the rocket will reach 5 degrees above the horizon, which varies depending on your location. (Five degrees is the cutoff because it's unlikely that you'll be able to view the rocket when it is lower, due to buildings, vegetation and other terrain features.) As an example, using this map when observing from New York shows that Antares will reach 5 degrees above the horizon at approximately 150 seconds after launch (+150 sec). Antares will be visible for most locations by virtue of the light emanating from the craft's first stage. The first stage uses kerosene and liquid oxygen as propellants. Cygnus will be launched into orbit using Northrop Grumman's Antares 230 launch vehicle, which features RD-181 engines. Antares should appear as a bright, moving star. Observers who use binoculars might also be able to see a short contrail. Because the first stage of Antares is liquid-fueled, the rocket's ascent is slower than those of the solid-fuel Minotaur rockets that have launched from Wallops in past years. Antares will jettison its first stage once that component has spent all its fuel, about 3 1/2 minutes after launch. This stage will then harmlessly break up in the atmosphere and fall into the Atlantic Ocean. Then, comes a coasting phase after the first-stage shutdown. The second stage is a solid-fuel rocket, the Castor 30. This second stage, along with the Cygnus spacecraft, is put into a low Earth orbit. After separating from the second stage, Cygnus will then use its own engines to continue on its mission to the space station. The rocket, of course, will not return to Earth; it will continue its ascent, speeding higher and faster toward space. Where to concentrate your gaze South Carolina/Georgia/Florida: liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily toward the northeast. liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily toward the northeast. North Carolina/coastal Virginia: liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily toward the northeast. liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily toward the northeast. Interior Virginia/West Virginia: liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily toward the east-southeast. liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily toward the east-southeast. Maryland, central/western Pennsylvania: liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, southeast. liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, southeast. Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania: liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily south. liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, primarily south. New Jersey/southeast New York: liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, south-southwest. liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, south-southwest. Coastal southern New England and Long Island, NY: liftoff to Stage 1 shutdown, southwest. Contingency plans Should the launch be scrubbed again, Antares will lift off approximately 22 minutes earlier per day. On each day, the launch window will last for exactly 5 minutes. Viewing details The Visitor Center and grounds were set to open on Thursday at 1 a.m. ET to support the viewing of the Northrop Grumman commercial resupply flight to the International Space Station; check the site for details about current plans for the new launch date. "The Visitor Center is located approximately 4 miles [6 kilometers] from Wallops Island with a clear view of Pad OA," according to the Visitors Center web page. "Limited parking and seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Arrive early to ensure a space." For more information about the Visitors Center, including directions, see: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/events/viewing_launches.html The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge/Assateague National Seashore will be open for watching the launch. See: http://www.chincoteague.com/viewing-rocket-launches.html Live launch coverage will begin Thursday, likely at around 3:40 a.m. EST on NASA Television and the agency's website. (And you can watch it here on Space.com, as well, as stated above.) Keep in mind that the video webcast of the launch is sometimes delayed by up to 1 minute. You can watch Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket launch live here courtesy of NASA TV. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for Verizon FiOS1 News in New York's lower Hudson Valley. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com. An artist's depiction of the brightest known galaxy, WISE J224607.57052635.0, and the three companion galaxies it is stripping material from. The most luminous galaxy known appears to have devoured three smaller galaxies at the same time, revealing details about why it shone so brightly. This discovery may help explain how the giant black holes behind such extraordinary light shows reached exceedingly large sizes early in cosmic history, according to the new study. Supermassive black holes with masses millions to billions of times that of the sun are thought to lurk at the centers of most, if not all, galaxies. When these giants devour matter, previous research suggested they release extraordinarily large amounts of light and likely are the driving force behind quasars blazing dynamos that are among the brightest objects in the universe. [Behold the Mighty Quasar: The Science Behind These Galactic Lighthouses] Astronomers can see quasars that shine from the farthest corners of the cosmos, which makes them among the most distant objects known. The farthest quasars are also the earliest quasars to have formed in the universe the more distant a quasar is, the more time its light took to reach Earth. Explaining how black holes could have devoured enough matter to reach supermassive sizes early in cosmic history has proved to be extraordinarily challenging for scientists. As such, researchers want to examine as many early quasars as possible to learn more about their growth. For this new study, scientists focused on the quasar WISE J224607.57052635.0, located about 25 billion light-years from Earth. This galaxy is relatively small only about a tenth as wide as the Milky Way, study lead author Tanio Diaz Santos, an astrophysicist at Diego Portales University in Santiago, Chile, told Space.com. However, this small, dusty quasar is the most luminous galaxy known. It blazes about 10,000 times more brightly than the Milky Way and more than 100 trillion times more brightly than the sun, study co-author Andrew Blain, an astrophysicist at the University of Leicester in England, told Space.com. An image from the ALMA telescope in Chile showing the quasar WISE J224607.57-052635.0 using transgalactic streamers of gas and dust to feed off three nearby galaxies. (Image credit: T. Diaz-Santos et al.; N. Lira; ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)) WISE J224607.57052635.0 is also among the earliest known quasars, dating back 12.4 billion years, just 1.3 billion years after the universe was born in the Big Bang. WISE J224607.57052635.0 and its brethren are collectively known as hot, dust-obscured galaxies, or Hot DOGs for short, the researchers said. The scientists analyzed WISE J224607.57052635.0 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope in Chile and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array in New Mexico. They detailed their findings online today (Nov. 15) in the journal Science. An artist's impression of WISE J224607.57-052635.0, the most luminous known galaxy. It is 1/10th the size of the Milky Way but puts out more than 10,000 times that galaxy's energy. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Blain's group discovered three small galaxies linked with the quasar via bridges of carbon-rich dust similar to diesel soot. "These galaxies and bridges extend over a region of space around W2246 that matches approximately the size of the Milky Way," Blain said. The amount of dust in the quasar alone was equal to up to 1.7 billion times the mass of the sun, and its satellite galaxies contained at least as much dust in total. "We believe this is the first detection of dusty streamers connecting galaxies in a multiple merger event at such an early cosmic time," Diaz said. The elements in this dust are produced and scattered around galaxies by nuclear reactions within giant stars. This suggests that the gas seen around this quasar was linked with star formation before its dramatic flare-up of light, a finding that could help illuminate how gas and dust help build galaxies, Blain said. The researchers suggest that mergers between galaxies and smaller companions might not only supply the raw material to power bright quasars but also provide large amounts of dust to obscure it. As such, these findings might help explain the appearance of these bright, dusty galaxies early in cosmic history, they said. Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com. NASA and Northrop Grumman have postponed the launch of an Antares rocket carrying fresh supplies for the International Space Station for 24 hours due to bad weather. The launch will now lift off early Saturday, Nov. 17, NASA officials said. The Antares rocket and its payload, an uncrewed Cygnus cargo ship also built by Northrop Grumman, were originally scheduled to launch to the station today (Nov. 14) from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, but severe weather from storms along the U.S. East Coast prompted a delay to Friday. That same dismal weather forecast led mission managers to push the launch back another day. Liftoff is now scheduled for Saturday at 4:01 a.m. EST (0901 GMT). You can watch the Antares launch live here, beginning at 3:30 a.m. EST (0835 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV. Weather permitting, the launch should be visible to spectators along the U.S. East Coast. "The teams decided to wait another day for launch after assessing continuing unfavorable weather conditions, including high winds and high seas, forecast for Friday morning," NASA officials said. "The forecast for a launch Saturday is significantly improved with a less than five percent chance of weather conditions preventing a launch." A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus NG-10 cargo ship stands atop Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The rocket is scheduled to launch a resupply mission to the International Space Station on Nov. 17, 2018. (Image credit: Joel Kowsky/NASA) The Cygnus cargo ship is carrying about 7,400 pounds (3,356 kilograms) of new experiments, food and other supplies for the three-person Expedition 57 crew on the International Space Station, NASA officials said. If it is able to launch Saturday, Cygnus will arrive at the station early Monday (Nov. 19), when it will be captured by astronauts with a robotic arm and berthed at an open port on the orbiting lab. Antares and Cygnus aren't the only things launching to the space station this week. On Friday, a Russian Soyuz rocket will launch an uncrewed Progress cargo ship, called Progress 71, from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver nearly 3 tons of food, fuel and supplies to the orbiting lab. That mission will arrive at the station on Sunday (Nov. 18), one day ahead of Cygnus, NASA officials said. Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com. A pre-flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has aced another launch-and-landing mission. The two-stage Falcon 9 lifted off at 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT) today (Nov. 15) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. About 32 minutes later, the rocket successfully deployed its payload, the Es'hail-2 communications satellite, into an elliptical geostationary transfer orbit. The rocket's first stage was already back on Earth at that point, standing tall on the deck of the SpaceX droneship "Of Course I Still Love You," which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast. The booster touched down on the robotic ship about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. [See more photos of SpaceX's Es'Hail-2 satellite launch!] The landing was the second for this particular first stage, which also helped launch the Telstar 19 Vantage communications satellite on July 22. "Of Course I Still Love You" served as the landing platform on that day as well. SpaceX has now pulled off 31 first-stage landings and reflown landed boosters on 17 occasions. These activities are part of SpaceX's plan to cut the cost of spaceflight dramatically, thereby making the settlement of Mars and other ambitious exploration feats economically feasible. Indeed, company founder and CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly said that he founded SpaceX in 2002 primarily to help make humanity a multiplanet species. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Es'Hail-2 communications satellite launches into space from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Nov. 15, 2018. (Image credit: SpaceX) SpaceX did not attempt to recover the payload fairing the protective nose cone that surrounds spacecraft during launch today, because its net-equipped boat, Mr. Steven, is on the West Coast. (Mr. Steven has tried to snatch falling fairings out of the sky on several occasions but has come up empty so far.) [See the Evolution of SpaceX Rockets in Pictures] The Es'hail-2 spacecraft was built by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and will be operated by Qatar-based company EshailSat. Es'hail-2 "features multi-transponder Ka-band capacity, providing business and government sectors with secure communications across the Middle East and North Africa region," SpaceX representatives wrote in a mission press kit. The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on the deck of the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" after launching the Es'hail-2 satellite on Nov. 15, 2018. (Image credit: SpaceX) "The spacecrafts multi-mission architecture will enable Es'hailSat to respond to demand for the fastest-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa, including content transfer, broadcast distribution, enterprise communications and government services," they added. Today's launch was the first leg of a scheduled spaceflight trifecta that runs through Saturday morning (Nov. 17). Russia plans to launch a robotic Progress spacecraft toward the International Space Station (ISS) on a cargo mission tomorrow afternoon (Nov. 16), and the American company Northrop Grumman will loft its own uncrewed resupply craft, known as Cygnus, in the predawn hours Saturday. You can watch both of those liftoffs here at Space.com when the time comes. Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate) is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Originally published on Space.com. SpaceX Launches Es'Hail-2 SpaceX On Nov. 15, 2018, SpaceX launched a used Falcon 9 rocket carrying a satellite for Qatar, then returned the booster's first stage to Earth for a pinpoint landing. See photos from the awesome launch here! (You can see launch video read our full story here.) Shown here: Launch Streak SpaceX The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Qatar's Es'Hail-2 satellite streaks into space in this long-exposure view taken of the launch from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 15, 2018. Punching Through a Vapor Cloud SpaceX A vapor cloud forms around the nose of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Es'Hail-2 satellite into space in this dazzling photo of the launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 15, 2018. Liftoff! SpaceX A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Es'hail-2 communications satellite for Qatar from Launch Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 15, 2018. It was the second launch for the Falcon 9's first stage. Soaring to Space SpaceX The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Es'hail-2 satellite rises into the Florida skies on Nov. 15, 2018. The View from Here SpaceX The Falcon 9's first-stage engines power the rocket to space on Nov. 15, 2018. Satellite in Transit SpaceX This view from a camera on SpaceX's Falcon 9 second stage shows the Es'Hail-2 satellite as it rides into space. Separate Stages SpaceX The Falcon 9's first (left) and second (right) stages go about their separate business during the Es'hail-2 launch. First Stage Touchdown! SpaceX The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on the deck of the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" after launching the Es'hail-2 satellite on Nov. 15, 2018. Es'Hail-2 in Space SpaceX Qatar's Es'Hail-2 communications satellite (right) separates from the second stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to enter an initial orbit in this view from a camera on the Falcon 9 stage taken after its Nov. 15, 2018 launch. The milestone marked the end of SpaceX's role in the satellite's mission. You can see launch video read our full story here. SpaceX on the Pad SpaceX The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Launch Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida ahead of launch. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Gen Z is entering the workforce at a rapid pace, with the eldest of them now 23. A far larger group than their millennial counterparts, youth and young adults born between the mid-1990s and late 2000s have aptly been named Gen Z. Employers should be excited as a flood of talent will be joining the workforce soon -- comprising 36 percent of the workforce by 2020 -- but be aware, they have short attention spans, even shorter than millennials, and expect a lot from their employers. With this massive influx of new talent, the workplace is once again going to experience significant change. These five tips will get you ready for the new arrivals. 1. Position yourself as a technology-based company. These digital natives are looking to get ahead in the workplace by leveraging technology and collaboration strategies. This is evidenced by Google, Amazon, and Apple being three of the top six most desirable employers and 75 percent of high school students having indicated interest in STEM fields according to the National Society of High School Scholars. If you aren't a tech startup, it is in your interest to prepare your company by having an end-to-end software strategy or tech-enabled workplace that works across various devices. Having seamless and usable software is particularly important as 60 percent of Gen Z indicated that they wont use an app or website if it is too slow. They also prioritize the ability to access information and people instantly, and expect cross-functional teamwork. Optimize communication through collaborative workspace software options such as Slack, a file management system like Dropbox or any other alternative. Ensure that there is company-wide training so that your current and future employees can collaborate well regardless of their age or experience. Related: Millennials Are Old News: What Does Generation Z Want From Work? 2. Real-time development and feedback. A Robert Half Study indicated that Gen Zs top priority when considering prospective employers is the opportunity for growth, and identified it as an important retention tool for Gen Z employers. Gen Z are voracious learners who are eager to expand their skillsets through formal and informal development opportunities and crave frequent and consistent feedback. The annual performance review just wont cut it. Ensure that you establish a development plan in partnership your Gen Z talent. Create a timeline, define formal learning opportunities, establish informal feedback mechanisms for ongoing two-way performance dialogue, and where possible, provide mentorship and individualized support. Development is essential because Gen Z is entering the workforce at an earlier age -- foregoing post-secondary education in many cases, meaning on-the-job training must address any skills gaps. It is worthy to note, these gaps are different than with previous generations, and you may have to offer training for some soft skills such as interpersonal communication. Related: These Are the Companies That Millennials and Gen Zers Most Want to Work for 3. Focus on your employment brand and candidate experience. Your organizations first impression is crucial in generating high-quality applicants. They expect diversity, fair treatment and a respectful environment. Gen Z wants employers that are collaborative, honest and involved in their community, and it's important to make sure that the candidate experience convinces applicants that they do want to work at your company. Treat candidates like clients, focusing on clear communication and timely follow-up. Ensure the careers section of your website is usable and attractive, make your job description wording authentic and reflective of your culture, get a certification that reflects your values, and keep the application process simple and transparent. 4. Offer benefits that encourage a balanced lifestyle. According to a Deloitte study, Gen Z values employment that allows them to live a balanced lifestyle even more so than Millennials, with a greater emphasis on physical, mental and social well-being. They want flexibility and control within their schedules. For example, they want to be able to go to an afternoon doctors appointment without feeling like it reflects poorly on their work ethic. Employers must investigate providing flexible work hours, the ability to work from home when possible, and progressive benefit plans that include a Wellness Spending Account. Shopify, for example, offers a WSA that includes eligible spending categories such as gym memberships, financial planners and house cleaning. Related: We Offer Time Off to Volunteer as a Unique Perk -- But It's Also Good for Business 5. Listen well. Gen Z was raised to be curious, they want to be part of the solution and make a difference. Ask for their input and ideas, whether obtained through survey responses or conversations. The insights garnered from engagement are what facilitate innovation. Their contribution may improve a product line, make a process more efficient, or change the culture of your organization in a meaningful way. Above all else, when an organization values curiosity, it creates a positive feedback loop which encourages further idea sharing and reinforces that employees are heard and appreciated. Across nearly every industry and market, employers were caught flat-footed for the paradigm shift that millennial workers represented. The next decade of business will be dominated by employers who take the lessons learned from adapting to millennials and apply them to Gen Z. By engaging their curiosity, unique skills and tech-savvy minds, you can distinguish yourself as an employer of choice and create a real competitive advantage. Related: Facebook's Crisis Response Included Sneaky Redirections, New York Times Reports Jayesh Sanghrajka to Take Over as the Interim CFO of Infosys How Indian Startups Are Grabbing A Larger Slice of Chinese Investments Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Contributed Photo / Department of Justice / Contributed Photo NORWALK A citizen of Honduras, last residing in Norwalk, was sentenced Thursday to serve 29 months in prison for illegally re-entering the United States after deportation, the Department of Justice said Thursday. Court records showed Franklin Omar Rodriguez, 37, a citizen of Honduras who was last living in Norwalk, was convicted of statutory rape in Carroll County, Ga., in Dec. 2005. He was sentenced to time served and three years of probation. Houston Police Department A Houston security guard was charged with aggravated assault Tuesday after allegedly shooting a suspected thief and a 6-year-old girl outside a T-Mobile store at Tidwell near Airline Monday. According to Houston police officers, Christopher Jermaine Bradley, 28, was out of uniform when he pointed his gun at Earnest Hudson, who set off security alarms while allegedly stealing an iPhone from the mobile phone store. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is among several Democrats exploring the idea of suing the Trump administration to invalidate the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general. Ive spoken to some of my colleagues, but were not ready to make a formal decision, Blumenthal said. President Donald Trump last week ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, replacing him with Whitaker, a loyal Trump ally who has been critical of Robert Muellers Russia investigation and is now in a position to oversee it. Blumenthal has been critical of the appointment, but so have others on both sides of the aisle who question Whitakers qualifications and whether he would limit the investigation or bury its findings. If filed, Blumenthals lawsuit would argue that Trumps appointment of Whitaker is an unconstitutional violation of the Senates advise and consent powers because the new attorney general, appointed on a temporary basis, has not been approved by the Senate. If the lawsuit were successful, it would force the president to either formally nominate a replacement for Sessions or elevate, on an acting basis, someone from within the department who had already received Senate confirmation. Some legal scholars say it might be difficult for Democratic senators considering the lawsuit against Whitaker to have standing in court - which means being able to prove they have been harmed. Political analyst Norm Ornstein warned, If the administration is upheld by the courts on Whitaker, it erases the confirmation power of the Senate. Presidents can bypass the Senate at will, choosing temps who have never been confirmed, and who cannot be confirmed, for 7 months, renew them, and then pick another, Ornstein tweeted. Maryland this week became the first state to challenge Whitakers appointment. The Maryland lawsuit argues the selection is illegal and unconstitutional and that Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who was overseeing the Mueller investigation before Whitakers appointment, should be acting attorney general. The Maryland suit contends that the appointment of Whitaker violates the legal processes for filling high-level federal vacancies. A ston Martin skidded again on Thursday in its maiden results as a listed company despite revealing a strong ramp-up in sales and production of its luxury motors. The UK marque, featured heavily in James Bond films, saw its shares plunge 6.5% to 1506p amid a volatile trading session hit by Brexit fears and concerns about whether Aston Martin can live up to its promises. The shares are down more than 20% since its jumbo 4.3 billion flotation last month, mainly due to fears about the risk of launching new motors and Brexit. chief executive Andy Palmer said of the UK and EU trade deal unveiled last night: I dont know whether we have any more clarity or less clarity as a result of today but at least we have a plan on the table which is good. The float, which had 12 banks working on it, attracted significant attention due some suggestions it had been overpriced. Palmer said investor concerns about the IPO had focused on the execution challenges of ramping up Astons production of cars like the DB models. However, he said Aston had hit some of the de-risking fears out of the park, especially on opening a new construction site at St Athan in Wales, which will be ready in the first half of next year. Ive been sanguine that the risks are in the things I can control and the things Im good at, like operational, he said. Total wholesale units of cars shifted almost doubled to 1776 for the third quarter on surging demand in China, where sales rose thanks to DB11 models and the new Vantage model. Revenue rose 81% to 282.4 million from 156.4 million for the third quarter of 2017. Chief executives from across different business sectors share their initial thoughts on the latest Brexit deal. Patrick Dardis at Youngs: We wanted to avoid a cliff edge. This is great news for business. We have to press upon politicians to grab this opportunity and put aside personal ambitions and support this deal. We have got as much as we can from a business perspective and we need politicians to support this. Franco Manca parents Fulham Shores chairman David Page: Plenty more agony and indecision to come Im afraid This countrys wealth and health rely on a stable political environment - the last two years have been a chaotic disaster. The last 24 hours even worse. Our employees and customers need a secure financial environment, the trust in our national political system is currently at zero. Helen Brocklebank at luxury goods trade body Walpole: Were encouraged theres a customs union with the EU until the end of 2020. We are resigned to it being the best deal we could expect. Were relieved there is finally some kind of clarity. But the fact remains it was never going to be as helpful to British luxury businesses as we had as a member of the EU, and thats the tragedy of Brexit. Jon Di-Stefano at Telford Homes: We are looking at the agreement with cautious optimism. We really need certainty that there will be a stable outcome and this is a significant step in the right direction. I suspect market sentiment will not improve until, and if, it gets the backing of parliament as a whole and so that is the next big question. Bellway boss Jason Honeyman: The London residential market tends to be the most sensitive to the potential impact of Brexit. As the political picture becomes clearer it gives Bellway more confidence to invest in London albeit there is still long way to go. Gerry Hughes, boss of property agent giant GVA: I am pleased to see a step towards establishing the greater certainty that the real estate industry craves. Although the market has been more resilient than many would have feared over the last 2 years it is has been a difficult time. The worst outcome would be a no deal Brexit as this sets up a very uncertain future. A small step forward, but a long way to go. Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium: Until a withdrawal agreement is approved by both Parliament and EU member states, we have continuing uncertainty and the risk remains of consumers facing higher prices and reduced availability of products in March 2019. M inistry of Defence supplier Qinetiq was upbeat on Thursday about clinching a big deal with the department worth around 100 million a year. The group is in talks with the MoD about an amendment to the long-term partnering agreement, which provides training and facility for the military. The deal is Qinetiqs biggest contract and is currently worth 300 million per year in sales. Chief executive Steve Wadey said negotiations were proceeding well and would conclude before March. We are modernising how we deliver these services, he said. This would bring us good visibility and we would have a commitment if we secured this agreement until 2028. An amendment was agreed for some of the contract in December 2016 and a new deal would cover the elements that were not included in the original deal. Half-year revenue was up to 420.3 million from 392.5 million and organic orders rose 9%. C hemring took a 13 million cost hit on Thursday from legal fees for an ongoing Serious Fraud Office probe. The provision, made over two years until 2019, is linked to an investigation into concerns about possible bribery and corruption at UK-based subsidiary Chemring Technology Solutions, which the company reported to the SFO and revealed in January. The legal charge forms part of a balance sheet shake-up under new chief executive Michael Ord. The firm is also planning to exit some parts of its energetics business, which makes pyrotechnics for plane ejector seats, leading to a 68 million impairment charge, it said. The business, based in Derby and Florida, will be shut and more attention will be focused on sites in the US and Norway, which make niche equipment. A separate 48 million cost was also recorded on a number of items, including the legal costs for the SFO investigation. Ord said the overhaul would lead to a stronger business for the future. Chemring has faced a number of challenges this year, including an explosion a factory in Salisbury, which led to a cut in profit forecasts. Deal - by Nick Boles MP (Con) To lose one Brexit Secretary may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. The Prime Minister has agreed a Brexit deal but she has lost Dominic Raab and Esther McVey . She survives but only just. Its not hard to find fault with the deal. It will give us less control over the rules that govern our economy than membership of the EU. But it will deliver the core of what people voted for: the UKs exit from the political institutions of the EU. It will also preserve close alignment with most of the single market and the customs union and that is what matters most for British businesses. By securing a temporary customs union for the UK, she has avoided the worst version of the Irish backstop. For this reason and because I cannot under any circumstances countenance Brexit with no deal I will vote for the withdrawal agreement if it reaches the Commons. It is not obvious it will win. The meaningful vote is a very narrow needle. It will take a miracle for Theresa May to thread it. Thats why I have been working with MPs from all parties to put together a workable Plan B. We propose to keep the withdrawal agreement in almost all respects but to write a new political declaration about our future relationship. At the end of the transition, the UK would move into the European Free Trade Association and stay in the European Economic Area, the common market that binds the economies of the EU with the economies of three of the four EFTA states. We would also maintain our current customs arrangements, until we agree new arrangements to maintain frictionless trade and no hard border in Ireland. "As part of the common market but outside the EU, the UK can find its destiny as Europes greatest ally" We would no longer be caught up in the EUs drive towards ever closer union. We would have the right to be consulted about any new single market regulations. We would leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and be bound instead by the EFTA Court, which respects parliamentary sovereignty. We would no longer be part of the Common Agricultural Policy or Common Fisheries Policy. Although freedom of movement would still apply, we would acquire the power to exercise an emergency break. As members of Europes common market but outside the European Union, the UK can rediscover its natural destiny as Europes greatest ally and closest friend. Peoples vote - by Ellie Reeves MP (Lab) Ellie Reeves is a Labour MP for Lewisham West/Penge / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament I respect the 2016 referendum, but it does not mean that we all must blindly accept the Governments approach or its draft agreement. The people need to be given their voice again. The political landscape has changed utterly, and it has become excruciatingly apparent that the promises made to the British people during the 2016 referendum campaign are far from the reality of today. We need to look at all options to help us avoid entering a further period of protracted political deadlock. Nobody voted for a Brexit that would see Britain giving away control and leaving people poorer. Whether its a no deal or this terrible deal, the result would be the same a miserable Brexit for the UK, threatening business confidence, our NHS and the future of our young people. Its only going to get worse, with the biggest issues unresolved while we follow rules over which we will no longer have any say and suffer long-term damage to our economy. I have previously vowed to not support any form of Brexit that would be detrimental to my constituents. London voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the European Union and in Lewisham West and Penge this was by a factor of two to one. A bad deal would be devastating for London. Analysis has shown a no-deal Brexit could see 87,000 jobs go in London alone and the capitals economic output would be two per cent lower in 2030 than that which would be expected under a softer Brexit. This is the harsh reality we now face. "The people need to be given their voice again. The political landscape has changed utterly" The referendum in June 2016 was one of the most important democratic exercise in our nations history, but the only way we can resolve the existing political deadlock of the Brexit process is to go back to the people. In calling for a Peoples Vote, I believe the electorate should again be allowed to exercise the democratic right to have their say in the make-up of our future relationship with the European Union with an option to remain. This vote should not be thought of as running the Brexit referendum again, but what we now face is something that wasnt on the ballot paper in 2016. The negotiations have been shambolic and the promises of that original campaign are a distant memory. It is only fair that the people decide what comes next. No deal - by Lee Rowley MP (Con) Lee Rowley is a Conservative MP for North East Derbyshire (Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament ) / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament In the past 24 hours, a false choice has been put forward to us; accept a flawed and inadequate deal or stare out into the unknown. That is nonsense. The agreement put forward yesterday is unacceptable and I cannot vote for it. It fails on so many levels because it starts from a single, wretched premise that Britain cannot make its own way in the world. This is more than a failure of technical detail; it is a failure of negotiation, a failure of ambition and a failure of leadership. On page after page last night, the horror of what we have agreed became painfully obvious. The European Court of Justice remains substantially involved in our legal system. We outsource a sovereign decision about whether we leave to an unelected bureaucracy. We are bound into EU rules forever as if we are incapable of governing ourselves. Chequers remains, hidden behind new euphemisms as if spin changes the substance of what we are agreeing. Our flexibility is gone. Our ability to innovate is constrained. Our self-belief is missing. It is just painful to read. While I did vote Leave, I never intended to come into politics to fight for Brexit. I knew, when I was lucky enough to be elected for the place I grew up in, that leaving the European Union would be likely to dominate the first years of the parliament. At the time, the Government had the right ambitions and deserved support. No more. "On page after page last night, the horror of what we have agreed became painfully obvious" Outside London, the view is very different from within the M25. People did not make their decision in 2016 based on Russian bots or lies or buses. They were ready to reject the EU years before. I remember walking down an affluent street in my constituency in 2013 and resident after resident wanting to leave. The decision has been made. It must be delivered. This deal does not. I know many people in London remain unreconciled to Brexit because I used to live and work here for more than a decade before the election. You might not think it but we share the same values; internationalism, openness and friendship to all of our neighbours. T heresa May was right when she told the nation last night: When you strip away the detail, the choice before us is clear: this deal, or leave with no deal, or no Brexit at all. This morning one of those options disappeared. The deal she has struck with the EU is dead. Downing Street will for a while claim the deal is still alive as the PM did in the Commons this morning but this agreement lives only in the way that a headless chicken still has a few steps forward left in it. The departures of Mr Raab and Ms McVey makes it now impossible for the deal to pass through the House of Commons in its current form. It also makes a leadership challenge to Theresa May much more probable and any candidate to replace her could not win on a platform which supported her current deal. In the Commons, the numbers were already looking heavily stacked against it. The self-described European Research Group had already made it clear that they and their 40 or so hardcore Brexiteers could not support it. Nor could the 10 MPs of the DUP. Keir Starmer, a voice of reason in the strange world of Jeremy Corbyn, came out this morning and made it clear that Labour MPs wouldnt back it and the idea that there was some other large group of Labour moderates out there ready to rescue a Tory PM seemed unlikely. Mr Raabs addition to these numbers, while only in himself one vote, also signals that the Brexiteers who post-Chequers had swallowed their reservations to remain in government are now deserting the ship. He also sees himself as a possible future leader; and if his calculation is that he is more likely to win the prize by voting against the deal, you would expect others with similar ambitions whether realistic or not to follow suit. It was no accident that Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Penny Mordaunt, Andrea Leadsom and Gavin Williamson all spoke out against the deal in a private Cabinet meeting they knew would quickly become public. Fresh options So what happens next? The assumption in some parts of government, and in financial markets, is that even if the deal in its current form is voted down, MPs will come back and vote through an amended deal. In 2008 the US Congress initially voted down a financial rescue package and then, when confronted with the ensuing economic chaos, passed it. That remains a possibility with Brexit, except it is hard to see how the current deal could be amended to make it more acceptable to the hard Brexiteers or the Labour opposition. Mrs May had already stripped out of it anything definite on the permanent future economic partnership between the EU and the UK; all that remained was the bare bones of a transition agreement and the backstop that Brussels and Dublin have made a red line. What could possibly be agreed with the EU now that would make the likes of Mr Raab reverse ferret, or persuade Mr Corbyn to forgo the chance of an election and save the prime ministerial skin? Perhaps the only option that hasnt yet been explored is a series of continuity arrangements literally to keep airlines flying and medicines flowing after our exit in March. That is not the same as a Brexit deal; its an arrangement for no deal. That, of course, is one of two other options that Mrs May set out to the country last night leave with no deal. The near-universal view of the Bank of England, the Office for Budget Responsibility and global markets is that it would deliver a severe economic shock to the UK. That is why the pound is falling sharply today. Those who think the political representatives of this country would never do something so stupid obviously have not studied their history of many nations that have committed similar acts of self-immolation. There is, however, Mrs Mays third option no Brexit at all. That requires a second referendum. Today, as Theresa Mays government fell apart, they have got a whole lot more likely. Get ready you may soon be asked to vote again. Meghan Markle's royal wardrobe is notably more high designer than high street. For the centenary of WW1 over the weekend the pregnant Duchess of Sussex stuck to sombre dark hued ensembles by fashion houses Givenchy and Prada. Last Friday evening she also attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in what we presumed was another luxe look. The chic black tie-detail coat and bag was by sustainability champion and designer Stella McCartney, but the rest of the outfit was far more affordable. Meghan wore a Stella McCartney coat over the M&S dress / AFP/Getty Images To everyone's surprise label-loving Meghan subtly gave a nod to the British high street during the black-tie event, which was also attended by the Queen, wearing a bodycon dress by Marks and Spencer. The high street retailer confirmed the news to the Standard this afternoon, revealing Meghan had worn the brand's Double Crepe Bodycon Dress, which retails for only 49.50. M&S describe the dress on its website as being "carefully crafted to flatter and stun." Boasting "added stretch in the double crepe material helps it hug your curves, while the elegant off-shoulder neckline folds down the bust to create a truly stunning piece." The Duchess of Sussex at the Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall / AFP/Getty Images The new-in item is still available to purchase in every size from 6 to 24 but, thanks to the 'Meghan Effect', we can't imagine it will stay in stock for very long. Double Crepe Bodycon Dress, 49.50 (Marks & Spencer) / Marks & Spencer This is by no means the first time Meghan has shown a penchant for the much-loved British store. During a visit to Brixton back in January Meghan donned a 45 M&S jumper that sold out within hours and a 29.50 fascinator by the brand to Princess Diana's niece's wedding in June. While royals, even thrifty Kate Middleton, usually opt for more premium ensembles for evening events, we fully applaud Meghan's bargain black gown - proving once and for all that you don't have to pay big bucks to look luxe. A mbience 3/5 Food 3/5 Because I used to work in Holborn, the connective flank of central London that, despite a sustained rebranding effort, absolutely no one calls Midtown, it is a part of the city I regard with a specific, oddly proprietary fondness. It will forever mean an overstuffed chip butty procured from the gleaming time warp of The Fryers Delight. Or the noise and mingled food-stall scent hitting the cold air on Leather Lane at lunchtime. Or my feet leading me into some pristine menswear place on Lambs Conduit Street, so I can spend too much money on a workwear jacket that I already own in four separate colours. But even places we feel we know intimately can wrongfoot us. And so (despite more than a decade of accumulated memories and my general love of the area), I had completely missed that Loscar London a new luxury hotel with a similarly swanky restaurant called the Baptist Grill attached opened here at the start of this summer. It is in a painstakingly restored location (a Grade II-listed former Baptist church on Southampton Row) with a decorated executive chef (Tony Fleming, who won a Michelin star at Angler near Moorgate) and a menu that fits the current vogue for grill revivalism. Arriving for Thursday lunch in the sort of London rain that verges on cliche, my wife and I were led up into the domed opulence of a dining room where the design brief seems to have been Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, properly off on one. Extravagantly fringed purple chairs, cushions embroidered with peacock feathers, a whole aviary of bird-shaped light fittings, a central, octagonal wooden balcony and, in the toilets, crystal butterfly taps. Im not sure whether its meant to be really Nineties or if I just never come to places like this, whispered my wife, as inoffensive spa music played and muttered business lunches happened at a handful of other tables. Mostly, this mad, aesthetic maximalism is contrasted by straightforward food. Warm bread came with a sheeny blob of caramelised yeast butter that carried a great, slow-blooming tang and sourness. Mushroom agnolotti little crinkle-edged pasta parcels topped with nicely meaty portobellos, pickle brine and tarragon was effective if stingily sauced. Beetroot salad, a mega-mix of coal-roasted gold and red halves and thin, raw slices with hazelnuts and date rose yoghurt, was hampered by some crispy fronds of the frisee lettuce I mostly associate with bags of cheap, bin-bound supermarket salad. Inside The Baptist Grill / The Baptist Grill On it went. Roast cod and orzo just about standing up to the full-bore sweetness of chicory marmalade. Truffle mash, and spinach with pine nuts and raisins in dinky cast iron pots. Succulent, hulking bavette under timidly spiced chimichurri and, finally, a shared little girder of dark chocolate cheesecake with nicely zippy lime sorbet. None of it bad especially. But none of it particularly innovative or precise or decadent enough to leave much of a dent. Baptist Grill isnt shamelessly expensive (two and a half courses and a mid-list glass of wine each cost about 110 with some serendipitous set lunch savings). But it does present itself as luxury dining, despite offering neither Sexy Fishs deranged wagyu-topped extravagance or the white-jacketed sophistication of somewhere like The Ritz. It is plonked, instead, in an uncomfortable no mans land serving mildly tweaked grill dishes in an incongruous Liberace-grade boudoir. Which might be fine for a solid client lunch in a grand, talking point of a building. Sometimes, however, luxury can just be something effortless combined with the gift of a free afternoon. The best steak in London 1 /17 The best steak in London Flat Iron There are six Flat Iron sites for a reason: they do a decent meal for 10. The house cut, for which the restaurant is named, is what used to be known at Butlers steak. Traditionally it is a flavoursome but tough little slab of stark pink, but somehow here they seem to source meat thats surprisingly tender. Sides can add up (though the aubergine is a must), and if youre hungry, youll want another steak (spending another 10), but otherwise, the chains a good-un, with our favourite on Denmark St. If youre spending a little more, the various specials they have on usually dont go above 18. Try to resist the urge to steal the butchers style cutlery. Beef and Brew Casual neighbourhood favourite Beef & Brew up in Kentish Town opened under the same premise, once upon a time serving either hanger, rump cap or flat iron for somewhere around a tenner. Only the hanger has survived, still at 10 for 200g or 15 for 300g. The other two have been replaced with galacian sirloin and rib-eye (decent at 19.50) or a 200g cut of Chateaubriand for 16.50, which is a bargain. Kick things off with a Picon Bierre. If Kentish Town is out of your way, theyre hoping to open a new site in Haggerston. Foxlow As Hawksmoors little brother, Foxlow has steak in its blood. Five years after opening, theyre no longer completely obsessed with adding meat and salt to absolutely everything onions once squelched with sausage meat here and theyve got just the three steak cuts. Dry-aged sirloin and ribeye come in at 24.50, so hardly inexpensive, and the specials board can run over 30, but if youre looking for a cheaper bite, a flat iron is 15.50. Wine starts at 4.50 a glass and 8ish for a cocktail, and the three branches in Soho, Clerkenwell and Balham are what you might call Scandi-style, bare bones smart. Cooking is usually expert. Constancia On Tower Bridge road, Argentinian spot Constancia does do slightly pricier cuts, but a 10oz fillet for around 30 is still a steal. For lunch, though, 16 get a healthy hunk of sirloin, but its worth a few more quid to go for the rib-eye. Theyre generous with the sides, the wine is uniformly gluggable and its always busy, which says it all. Tramshed Mark Hix is rightly proud of the meat served at all his restaurants, which plate up award-winning Glenarm Himalayan salt-aged beef. Out of all of them, the Oyster & Chop House is a nice mix between price (in the 20s) and decent cuts, and is celebrating its tenth birthday this year, but its arguably more fun at Tramshed, especially if you split the 135 Shoreditch strip club. They recommend it for five or six, but a hungry pair with plenty of time to spare and no concern for their credit card can give it a proper go, too. Macellaio RC At all four Macellaio RC sites, their is glory in their Fassone beef from Piedmonte. It's low in fat and cholesterol, but has bags of flavour. Beef is aged for six weeks; come for incredibly rich rib-eyes and rumps that get a light charring before hitting the plate. The recipe is just damn good meat, olive oil and fire, and nothing else is needed. Utter gorgeousness. The Guinea Grill Its not unfair or an undersell to call the Guinea Grill in Mayfair a pub, because thats exactly what it is; popping in for a pint, its as unstuffy as one would hope. It just so happens that, on the left, there is a doorway that for sixty odd years has had a cabinet full of glistening Scotch beef. The steaks arent cheap, but they arent a fortune either (37 for a fillet) and the room is charmingly untouched; its been the same since the 50s, meaning youll eat in the same surroundings Sinatra did. The wine list is cracking, the service is the way it used to be done. Theres a reason Clapton likes to spend his cash here. Rowley's Steakhouse If old-school goodness is your thing, Rowleys restaurant on Jermyn St has been drawing a crowd since the mid-70s and accordingly, havent had any reason to change much. They do rib eye, chateaubriand and the like but its the aged Entrecote steak thats the best of it; this house speciality, around 30, is plated up with a herb, Roquefort and butter sauce and unlimited fries (all the steaks come with unlimited fries). Meat is kept warm over a gas-flame, too. Its not all fancy and fussy, but its very good. Boisdale If youre happy to pay for it, the Boisdale restaurants rarely fail for a good (read: boozy) time. The four sites all seem to reflect their owner, Ranald Macdonald; faintly aristocratic, game for a laugh, possibly slightly mad. Good fun, then. Since the first one opened in 1989, theyve proudly served Scottish beef; their best is the tournedos fillet (around 30). They do things straightforwardly, but well; the fun of it is coming for the live music and then taking a cigar out on the terrace. Probably the last of its kind still doing any sort of decent business. Hawksmoor We cant all be right all of the time, and not everyone thinks grass-fed British beef is the best, but, after tasting meat from around the world, Hawksmoor do. Hawksmoor are right. They charge by the 100g which means that, because hunger is a light that needs to be switched off, its easy to spend a fortune by vastly overestimating your growling stomach. All six London sites are first rate, the beef usually near perfect, but though the original Spitalfields site is cooler and the downstairs bar terrific, and the Air Street site more beautiful the Guildhall site is the best, where theyre less heavy handed with the salt. The city boys are more demanding, maybe. Whichever one you go to, Hawksmoor usually does end up being the best in town. Smith & Wollensky Smith & Wollensky is the place for an American steak. Since opening in 2015, everything has been fine-tuned, upgraded, made better: director of operations Nathan Evans has evidently cracked the whip. The dining room is art deco gorgeous, the bar is first rate and the wine list justifiably pricey. Steaks are slabs of the New York highlife; the 28 day dry-aged T-bone is a whopping 700g and probably the most convincing evidence in London that USDA beef tastes remotely of anything. They also do Irish beef for those who prefer grass fed to grain fed. Just a word of advice: be sure to stick to your guns when they ask how you want yours cooked we were swayed by (otherwise charming) staff insisting on the meat being medium rather than rare, and regret it. Still, its the sort of place to come for dry martinis, lobster and white wine, rib-eyes and red wine, and brandy to cap it all off. Eat lots, drink lots, feel magnificent. Goodman There are three Goodman steakhouses across London, in Mayfair, the City and Canary Wharf. Of course, TripAdvisor means nothing, but its half reassuring to know that the site thinks this is Londons best steakhouse. We cant quite agree, but they are very decent. Meat is aged on site, then cooked up on a charcoal oven thats burning up at 400C. Beef is mainly USDA, or comes from the Lake District and Yorkshire. The Cut menu is the one to choose from, where its really the best of what they have. Have the truffle fries too. MASH If the way the Yanks do the stuff is your thing, then the Modern American Steak House (MASH) would seem the obvious choice, except the name of this Danish place is misleading. They do grill up corn-fed beef from great Omaha, though the menu is interesting for its global approach: theres also Japanese Kobe (a snip at 115 per 100g), Scottish slices, and, of course, Danish beef too. Most curious of all are the Uruguayan cuts; MASH is one of only a handful of places in London serving it, and people go crazy for it. Theyre big on American spirits, too; the selection of rye and bourbon is staggering. 45 Park Lane Oscars chef, occasional Frasier extra and man of 40 restaurants Wolfgang Puck is behind Cut at upmarket hotel 45 Park Lane. Their boast, besides the Damien Hirsts on the wall and the views out over Hyde Park, is the selection of Wagyu on offer, which is the largest in London, sourced from America, Australia and, of course, Japan. Steaks go from 35ish to 100ish, and its the Wagyu you want, though they do serve British beef, from South Devon. Cut and its high ceilinged lobby is a long way from relaxed, but will suit those who like the safe kind of elegance. Gaucho Theres exclusivity at the Gaucho restaurants too, whose Pampas-sourced beef isnt served anywhere else in the UK (though, to be fair, theyve 12 sites in London alone). The sirloin with the crackling on the side is a star, but its the Tapa De Ancho (top of the ribeye) which is the most gorgeous little beast, with fat all crispy along one side. The dont move the meat around much on the grill here, so it comes nicely charred, burning with salt, full of flavour. The decor of the restaurants wont be for everyone, but theres something fun in all the dark. The one off Piccadilly Circus is their best. David Griffin M Restaurants Gaucho was also the training ground for Martin Williams, who was the managing director there for nine years, where he picked up the nickname Mr Gaucho. After leaving, he founded M Restaurants, starting with the clubby one in the city, which remains very much a boys affair. Now theres on in Victoria and theyve recently opened in Twickenham too. The latter two are more approachable, in part because theyre simply better decorated and draw a (slightly) more diverse crowd. They do a world tour of beef: theres stuff from America, Argentina, Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Scotland (Scottish wagyu, apparently), South Africa and even Botswana. There is, clearly, an element of novelty, but they take it all very seriously and the stuff is reliably well done. Some of it isnt a fortune (at Victoria, Argentinian rump steak is a bargainous 19.50), but some of it is (at Threadneedle St, the Kobe is 1 a gram and youll want about 300g). Theyre big on wine, too, especially in SW1. Lurra Lurra dont have plenty to choose from, and theres no flash or fireworks. They simply have an 800g serving of Basque beef, the Galician Blond, which comes from a 14-year-old Rubia Gallega. This is practically decrepit in cow years, especially in the UK where we tend to slaughter cattle before they are three, sometimes two. Accordingly, the beef is darker, richer, meatier. Its dry aged on the bone, cooked out over charcoal and wood grill and comes blackened and charred on the outside, red like Royal robes on the inside, with a thick trim of fat thats entirely moreish. Simple; little slices of joy, though. Baptist Grill 2 Water 6 1 Mushroom agnolotti 12 1 Bavette 8oz 22 1 Steamed spinach 4 1 Potato mousselin 6 1 Glass Clos St Fiacre, Orleans 12 1 Glass Salceto, Umbria Rosso 10 1 Set lunch beetroot 10 1 Set lunch roast cod 10 1 Set lunch cheesecake 10 1 Double espresso 4.50 1 English Breakfast tea 5.50 Total 112 G iven that Charlie Brookers 2005 satire of Shoreditch idiots, Nathan Barley, turned out to be a prophecy rather than a comedy, its perhaps unsurprising that the first episode of his tech-fantasy drama, Black Mirror, should anticipate the news by including a storyline in which a politician copulates with a pig. That story Brookers fiction rather than Lord Ashcrofts unsupported claim about a prime minister appeared in The National Anthem, which was broadcast on Channel 4 in 2011. It wasnt always going to be a pig. For a while the sex act was going to be a loving embrace between the PM and a cheese-wheel. Beyond that, the idea for the plot came from watching the speedy thriller 24, and imagining an episode in which Jack Bauer was presented with an obscene dilemma. And then, says Brooker, I thought if you played it totally straight it would be hilarious. Brookers pig-gate is emblematic of a sense of humour which mixes righteousness and disgust, and sometimes forgets to be funny. His television criticism, as published in The Guardian and practised on the BBC series Screenwipe, was similarly emetic. As a critic, Brooker was a carpet-bomber of nihilistic scorn. Again, he was ahead of the times. Psychopathic flame-throwing has since become the default mode of social media psychopaths everywhere, though with Brooker there was always the suggestion that his rage was tickled by disappointed ideals. Certainly, Black Mirror takes a nuanced view of technology, social media, the whole narcissistic electro-apocalypse. This book, an uncritical compendium of interviews about the shows 19 episodes, suggests that the original focus of the show wasnt always going to be technology it was mentioned along with terrorism and generally contemporary things. But gradually, as it always does in science-fiction, technology has taken over. When Brooker started work on Black Mirror in 2010, tech was a good thing. Fast-forward to now and suddenly smartphones are twice as addictive and harmful as cigarettes and your timelines full of fascist memes and photographed atrocities. How do they do it? Well, the show doesnt come with a manual. Producer Barney Reisz suggests that the key is thinking outside the box. In fact, to Charlie, there is no box. It is more like an endlessly squidgy, expanding mass of possibility. A better clue can be found in the list of influences, because Black Mirror is a show in which Brookers internal television critic tries to resolve its differences with his inner fan-boy. Accordingly, its influences range from horror film Cannibal Holocaust to CivilWarLand in Bad Decline (George Saunderss first story collection), and those are just two consecutive entries under C. You could also have Hammer House of Horror and Heaven is a Place on Earth (Belinda Carlisles chart-topping power ballad). Or The Year of the Sex Olympics and The Young Ones. For the sake of brevity, its probably best to stick with The Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks, dramas in which normality was royally warped. Because, says Brooker, it turns out that f***ing lunacy is the new norm. D avid Szalays last book, All That Man Is, of 2016, a collection of nine linked short stories, looks increasingly like the masterpiece of British fiction from the past few years. Narrated in the present tense, each story presents a moment of crisis in a mans life, running progressively in age from a 17-year-old to a 73-year-old, in different places around Europe. Immediately telling, not bothering with context, backstory or psychology, they present these men as defined primarily by their age, in a brutal study in the transience of life. Theyre points on an arc, rather than being arcs in themselves, Szalay has explained. Formally and stylistically, as well as in the bleakness of its perspective on life, All That Man Is already seems much more original than it did when it first appeared. Now Szalay has pared his approach down even further in Turbulence. In just 136 pages he tells 12 stories, this time overtly linked in a handing-on the baton fashion, travelling around the globe, since each one involves a flight, all being named after airport acronyms. In the first, a woman in her 70s returning from London to Madrid, after a visit to her son in his 50s, who is being treated for prostate cancer, falls ill herself on the flight. What she hated about even mild turbulence was the way it ended the illusion of security, the way it made it impossible to pretend she was somewhere safe. In the second, horribly ominous, the fellow passenger who has helped her on the plane goes on to Dakar, gradually understanding as he approaches home that death has come to his family. In the third, a cargo pilot, accidentally involved in that, flies on from Dakar to Sao Paulo and remembers the drowning of his three-year-old sister when he was five and his realisation that this new situation was one that was going to last forever. And on it goes, until the last, in which the daughter of the man in the first story flies in to London from Budapest, to accompany him to hospital for his much- feared scans So the subject again is not just human displacement, separation and loneliness but mortality itself, the way things happen and then nothing will ever be the same again. Turbulence, told so limpidly that it may seem quite slight, is a chilling achievement. T hink of your local corner shop and you might think of harried commuters seeking last-minute dinner ingredients, students stockpiling pasta, children clutching fistfuls of fizzy laces or smokers after Rizlas. There was a time when it seemed they might be suffocated by the proliferation of Tesco Express but, now, convenience stores are thriving, with sales of 38 billion last year and the number of shops rocketing by 21 per cent to 16,500 in the past five years. For many, they are a welcome antidote to online shopping. Dr Polly Russell, food historian and a curator at the British Library, reminds us that they are a focus of activity, exchange of conversation and a place where social encounters can take place. At a time when technology encourages physical disconnection, this face-to-face encounter is increasingly precious. Corner shops have become the cornerstones of local London. This sense of inclusivity and community has never felt more vital, so its no surprise that brands are acknowledging the power of that and using it as a reference in their work. Indeed, this everyday space has become part of the cultural zeitgeist, serving as an imaginative playground for artists, writers and the fashion community. In recent months, the convenience store has become the backdrop to everything from novels to fashion campaigns. The corner shop is cool. Ever one step ahead, Selfridges launched The Corner Shop concept space last year. A riff on the eclectic British meeting place, projects that have taken place there include the Fendi Kiosk, Balenciagas Track sneaker launch and Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuittons stunning collaboration. The corner shop is a British institution, says Selfridges buying director Sebastian Manes. Selfridges has always been a local shop, open to the world. The Corner Shop distils that idea, focusing on the unexpected and unusual. Last week, Gucci took over the space (until 6 January), turning it into a joyful explosion of pink tinsel, where you can snap up everything from a handbag to a (more attainable) scented candle. Elsewhere, for its AW18 campaign, London-based label Rixo brought its 1970s-inspired pieces to the streets of Fulham. A model emerges from a convenience store next to a fish and chip shop in Rixos best-selling sequin Coco dress accessorised with a packet of Quavers. In another image, she skulks the aisles in a scarlet-sequined mini dress and gold platforms, toting a wire shopping basket. We wanted to show our pieces in a real space, says Henrietta Rix, co-founder and creative director of the brand. No matter how glamorous you are, weve all popped out to the shop. Rixos intricate designs are juxtaposed with the everyday, which Rix explains is exactly how we see Rixo girl wearing the brand she wears her Rixo pieces constantly. They fit into her lifestyle. Yolke SS19 / Yolke This sartorial leitmotif is set to continue into next season, with luxury sleepwear label Yolke using E Price & Sons, a fifth-generation family-run store on Golborne Road, as the setting for its SS19 lookbook. The Yolke girls languish in its silk nightwear, holding string bags of lemons and pomegranates, reinventing the faux pas of running to buy groceries in your pyjamas. The brand has also launched a new corner shop-inspired pop-up in Harrods, open until Christmas. Back on the high street, Zara has launched its new online Corner Shops concept. From maternity wear to street style, each section offers a curated look at the latest pieces, much like a frenzied dash around your local one-stop store. So why are fashion brands and retailers hijacking the humble corner shop? What makes this quotidian scenario so visually alluring and marketable? Ultimately, this trend reflects the rise of street culture, with designers such as Vetements and Off-White elevating symbols of mass consumerism to objects of aspiration. By deconstructing trademark typography and household-name logos, they democratise the luxury fashion sphere and translate it to a whole new audience. More than ever, sales are driven by Instagram, and brands have had to adapt to a fast-paced style of digital merchandising that delivers instant impact. The garish colours of the convenience store aesthetic offer the perfect backdrop. Browns Fashion regularly posts shots of products styled with grocery store staples such as Simon Millers clear vinyl lunch bag crammed with Monster Munch and a Mars bar, or Sophia Webster heels propped against cans of 7 Up. Browns Fashion Interest in these everyday institutions was arguably ignited by contemporary artist Lucy Sparrow and her critically acclaimed 2014 installation, The Cornershop, for which she and a team of assistants hand-sewed every item in a Bethnal Green store, from Spam to newspapers to Parma Violets. Visitors queued around the block for a chance to handle these tactile items. I think it came at a time when people needed a bit of light relief from doom and gloom, Sparrow says. Theres something so incredibly comforting about the familiar. At 15, Sparrow took a job at her local corner shop. It was my job to stock up the sweets and make sure it was all looking nice, she reminisces. I loved that job, especially putting together the 10p penny sweet mixes. Every now and then, Id put in 11 or 12 for the lucky punter. For her, corner shops symbolise independence and autonomy. It was always the first taste of freedom you had as a kid. They are having a comeback with nostalgic millennials, too, who see value in their grassroots approach. James, 25, says the Nisa Local on Woolwich New Road brings back memories of his childhood corner shop Mr Jollys and going in after primary school to get a chocolate bar. I associate the smell of the shop with buying Panini stickers or magazines. Gucci at Selfridges Corner Shop / Dave Benett/Getty Images for Nad Patrick Mitchell-Fox, senior business analyst at the Institute of Grocery Distribution, agrees that younger generations are key to driving this growth. He also argues that the demographic has high expectations that need to be met. Throughout London, we are already seeing a new breed of convenience store addressing this demand, with corner shops such as Walthamstows Eat 17 offering fresh coffee, out-of-the-oven pastries, flowers and refillable wine stations. Theres also a growing market for zero waste stores such as Tootings BYO and Hetu in Clapham, where they are redefining consumerism by selling sustainable produce without packaging and even kombucha on tap. This years cult novel, Convenience Store Woman, by the Japanese author Sayaka Murata, is a love-letter to the institutions. Since childhood, the storys eccentric protagonist, Keiko, has been puzzled by human interactions, but, after finding a job at the Hiiromachi Smile Mart, she is reborn through the scripted phrases and anonymous uniforms. Once sheltered from the judgemental gaze of society, Keiko finds freedom in the self-effacing rituals of convenience stores, believing shes at long last pulled off being a person. Significantly, Keikos 24 /7 Smile Mart is a melting pot of all generations and social backgrounds. H ome is The old BBC Television Centre in White City. I live with my wife, interior designer Sophie Ashby. Favourite pub? The Pigs Ear in Chelsea. My first job was there. A few weeks in, I shattered a chandelier when the cork flew off from a bottle of champagne I was trying to open. I was swiftly asked by the owners to grab my things and leave. The Pigs Ear Pub / Alamy Stock Photo If you could buy any London building, which would it be? 2 Willow Road, Erno Goldfingers house. Its the ultimate modernist London home. I wouldnt change a thing about it. Where do you stay in London? New Road Residence in Whitechapel. Much less hotel, more guesthouse. Its an 18th-century townhouse. I like the pared-back aesthetic and find it incredibly tranquil. Bus, Tube or taxi? Tube. I plug in my headphones and bowl through the underground listening to Popcaan as if Im in a music video. I call it the sly dutty wine its when youre breaking to a song but in stealth mode. Best place for a first date? Lounge Bohemia on Great Eastern Street. A real gem discreetly hidden in between a newsagent and a kebab shop. The interior can only be described as Eastern Bloc meets communist Prague. Sheila Atim Last play you saw? Othello at Shakespeares Globe (with Sheila Atim) was amazing. I loved the way the set and props were completely stripped back it was all about the acting. Favourite shops? Willer for interiors, LN-CC for clothes when Im not wearing Casely-Hayford, Faulkners on Kingsland Road for fish and chips (I grew up in Dalston and have been going since I was five) and Idea on Wardour Street for reference books. Biggest extravagance? I eat five meals a day. Two to three of those are pasta. I get proper grief from my wife but for now, pastafarianism is the only way for me. What do you collect? Red socks, I wear them every day with my suit, T-shirt and 12-hole black boots. I must have around 40 or 50 pairs. Where would you most like to be buried? Springfield Park in Hackney. Its the one place Ive always gone for some alone time. Most memorable meal? The pappardelle with slow cooked pork followed by Dover sole with mash and Cafe de Paris butter at Spring. Whats your London secret? British Invisible Mending Service in Marylebone. These guys reweave thread by thread over holes in your clothes, from moth holes to cigarette burns. Its a serious indulgence as its not cheap, but for those garms that have a strong sentimental value, it really is worth it. What are you up to at the moment? Weve just opened our first Casely-Hayford mens and womenswear store on Chiltern Street. Charlie Casely-Hayford and Joe Casely-Hayford ( David M. Benett/Getty Images) / David M. Benett/Getty Images Who is your hero? My old man, Joe. Fortunately I get to work with him every day. O livier Saillard is recalling the time he made Mick Jagger cry. You dont really expect to see someone crying at an exhibition, notes Frances premier fashion historian, drily. I remember seeing Mick and then, yes, by the end he was crying. But so were many people. It was very He reaches for the French word, emouvant. The show in question was The Impossible Wardrobe, a 2012 exhibition-cum-performance created by Saillard and actor Tilda Swinton, in which Swinton improvised with genuinely priceless garments worn by the likes of Salvador Dali, Marie Antoinette and Napoleon. Tilda was always sniffing Napoleons coat, Saillard chuckles. She thought she would be able to smell the man himself. Ah, it was a nice performance. If The Impossible Wardrobe sounds a tad unorthodox as exhibitions go, its positively conventional compared to some of Saillards other shows. In his two decades of critically lauded fashion curation, the 51-year-old has staged retrospectives of Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Madame Gres and Yohji Yamamoto, presenting clothes strewn across the floor, hung alongside stone sculptures and even left outside their glass cases for visitors to touch and try on. Since the beginning, I was always trying to do things differently, he explains. The New York Times has described Saillard, rather excellently, as a rare combination of historian and showman, but now the Frenchman has added another string to his bow: designer. After 25 years of curating, studying and writing about haute couture, Saillard has finally decided to make his own. In January, he left his post as director of Palais Galliera Frances most prestigious fashion museum to join JM Weston as the shoe brands artistic, image and culture director, overseeing everything from shoe design and shop floor layouts to marketing and publicity. And in July, during Paris Couture Week, he unveiled his first ever solo collection Moda Povera in which banal and basic 4 T-shirts were exquisitely re-draped and stitched in the style of his couture hero, Madame Gres, into one-off pieces. So, after all these years watching from the sidelines, why enter the fray now? To change! Saillard says, blue eyes twinkling behind his wire-frame glasses. When you are 50 years old, you suddenly want to change everything. In more than 20 years as a museum director, Ive done over 140 exhibitions. I was very lucky to grow up [admiring] these great designers Azzedine Alaia, Christian Lacroix, Martin Margiela but there is no one left that I would like to curate an exhibition for. I must confess Im not very excited by Virgil Abloh or Simon Jacquemus. But maybe Im just getting old However, if Moda Povera was born out of frustration with fashion present, its still very much rooted in fashion past. Saillard enlisted models and dressmakers who worked personally with the late, great French couturier Madame Gres to assist him in mimicking her iconic draping techniques. The idea was to take something very ordinary cheap T-shirts bought on the internet and prove it could still be placed in the [realm] of couture, he explains. I had only ever made performances or exhibitions, so to make something physical and visible with my own hands was very exciting. Very He opts again for the French, Rassurant. So reassuring was this first foray into design that Saillard is already sketching plans for a second. I want to do something else inspired by ordinary, banal clothes making them more sophisticated. This obsession with humble garments extends into his work at JM Weston, too. He leaps up enthusiastically to explain the sprawling mood board hes created for the brands 2019 womens collection: a chaotic collage of obscure poets, ancient film posters and lumpen, clay-covered farm boots. Im very inspired by agricultural work footwear at the moment, he grins. Olivier Saillard / Supplied Clearly, Saillard is a man for whom one project is never enough. As well as splitting his week between JM Westons 16th arrondissement HQ and his own atelier on Rue des Petits-Champs, hes also writing a book about the history of Western fashion, plotting a new show with Swinton (I want her to improvise with Pasolinis [film] costumes) and working on a mens style event for Italian cultural collective Pitti Immagine (Id love to do an exhibition [attended by] just one person at a time But maybe thats a dream!) How on earth does he balance all his commitments? Its very fluid, he shrugs. For more than 20 years I was spending every day inside a museum. Now I enjoy wearing all these different hats. I feel very free. Saillard was born in 1967 in the tiny French town of Pontarlier. The son of taxi driver parents (yes, both of them) and the youngest of six siblings, as a fashion-mad boy he was already out of the ordinary. By age 12, the Greta Garbo-obsessed schoolboy was producing his own rudimentary style magazine, complete with fictionalised correspondents (All named Olivier; not very humble, he says, laughing). After completing a masters in art history at Montpellier University, he was installed as director at Marseilles Musee de la Mode, aged 27. There, his penchant for outside-the-box-thinking quickly incurred the wrath of the museums president and one of his all-time heroes the late, legendary Tunisian couturier Azzedine Alaia. Azzedine was always shouting at me, Saillard says. He didnt agree with my ideas at first. It wouldnt be the last time Saillards boundary-pushing would irk his colleagues (his Palais Galliera co-curators were very against him handing Napoleons sacred garments to an actress), but the animosity soon dissolved, and he and Alaia became firm friends. Today, along with his critically adored 2011 Madame Gres exhibition, Saillard cites his 2014 Alaia retrospective as the finest moment of his career. For me, Azzedine was the most important couturier of his time [Alaia died last year]. I would watch him cutting and stitching a sleeve. He was like an author, weaving a story into the dress. Tilda Swinton and the Napoleon Jacket The passion and eloquence with which Saillard speaks about fashion goes some way to explaining why his shows are so unorthodox. For him, you feel, the works of Alaia or Madame Gres are more than just clothes theyre poems, statements, historical artefacts and deserve to be displayed as excitingly and flamboyantly as possible. Even now I am designing, I see it like another form of exhibition, he says. The Moda Povera collection is also a tribute to Madame Gres, a lesson about the history of couture. For Saillard, downtime is rare. Any he gets is spent at home in the first arrondissement with his fashion archivist partner Gael and their two cats. And while he cites Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix as close friends (We spend Christmas Days with Christian), youre unlikely to spot him at Pariss hippest parties. I dont get invited! he erupts in mock fury. As the interview draws to a close, I ask if hes concerned about the current state of luxury how quickly new designers can be chewed up and spat out. Hes characteristically optimistic. Its very difficult to stay [relevant] for 20 years or more, but Im convinced that, for new designers, the first 10 years are the most beautiful. Z oe Kazan is an acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and an actor familiar to British audiences for indie hits such as The Big Sick and Ruby Sparks. Despite this, I almost miss the slight, dark figure who slips past me in the lobby of the Corinthia Hotel. Kazan is tiny and looks younger than her 35 years, which is one of the reasons she is vocal about correcting journalists preconceptions on Twitter. I felt like being youthful looking and being diminutive and having big eyes made people sitting across from me make assumptions about who I was that were not true, she says. I didnt like feeling underestimated. She is extraordinarily focused. We spend quite some time discussing her role in the new Coen Brothers movie, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and Wildlife, the film co-written with and directed by her long-term partner, actor Paul Dano, before she reveals that she and Dano have also just had their first child. Their six-week-old daughter, Alma, is upstairs sleeping. Back home, her parents flew from LA to Brooklyn to help out but, for this trip, London friends (their circle includes Eddie Redmayne) have helped them arrange emergency childcare. Its a really weird time, its very, very strange, Kazan says, widening her eyes. Any piece of this fall would feel like a red letter day, but altogether its a little overwhelming. Everything looks different on the other side of having a child. Its terrifying. Were only six weeks in so we are trying to learn a lot about this person and what they need, and how to do the really simple things that seasoned parents know how to do. We both [planned to] put aside this time not to work so we could be with our baby, but at four weeks I was doing fittings for press events. STELLA McCARTNEY dress, 910 (stellamccartney.com). BY PARIAH necklace, 1,450 (bypariah.com) / Anya Holdstock Thats showbiz: you wait ages to do an exciting film and then two come out in the UK a month after youve had a baby. We turn first to Buster Scruggs, an anthology of brutally comic Western stories in which Kazan plays Alice Longabaugh, a solemn girl riding a wagon train towards an uncertain future in Oregon. When the email came from my agent I didnt have to read past the Coen Brothers before saying, Ill be wherever they want me to be, whenever they want me, she says. To work with them was a complete dream. Reading the script I had an uncanny feeling that doesnt come often Oh, this could be my part. I felt so anxious going into the callback [after the first audition], I felt like I was going to die. On the day, she found herself acting alongside actor Bill Heck, with whom shed co-starred for six months in Angels in America on Broadway, and both of them were duly cast. The film depicts a wry but bloody world of murderous singing outlaws and Injun war parties, sideshow freaks and bank robbers, but although there are few women in it, Kazan describes the set as one of the most gender neutral places Ive ever been in my life. The brothers were humorous, quiet presences behind the camera, with a shorthand that comes from working with the same crew for 30 years. Wildlife is, arguably, even more of a labour of love. She and Dano who acted Daniel Day-Lewis off the screen in There Will be Blood, and more recently played Pierre in the BBCs War & Peace got together while they were performing in an off-Broadway play in 2007. Theyve since co-starred in Meeks Cutoff and Ruby Sparks about a writer whose fictional romantic ideal comes to life for which Kazan wrote the script. DIOR jumper, 1,200 (dior.com) / Anya Holdstock Weve acted together three times, she says. I dont think well do that again. Its very hard because youre spending all day together on set, and then youre going home together. Theres no other person in the relationship making sure that theres food in the fridge and toilet paper. Dano had wanted to direct for a long time, and wrote a screenplay based on Richard Fords book, Wildlife, about a son observing his parents marriage failing in 1960. He asked Kazan to read it and I kept saying, This is not a script, and we started to argue over it, and finally I said, I think it would be simpler if I just rewrite this, and he agreed. They batted the script back and forth. He caught the spirit of the book, she did the structure: I like to put things in order, Im a systems kind of person. Our spices at home are beautifully alphabetised. There seems to be no element of competitiveness in their relationship. I actually cant imagine being jealous of him or him being jealous of me, says Kazan. His happiness means so much to me. I think its easier for me to be proud of him than it is for me to be proud of myself and vice versa. The film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, is an accomplished, quietly moving work. Its also, like two of Kazans plays, about an unhappy family. But it seems any conjecture that they are autobiographical works is another journalistic assumption. I honestly think I had one of the happiest childhoods you could ever ask for, she says. No life is without its challenges, but mine werent because of my parents. Kazan was anorexic in her teens and 20s, and wrote a brilliantly frank account of conquering the condition in The New York Times in 2016. It was just after the election, and they gave me an open-ended assignment, she says, and the only thing I could think of was to say something that might make other women feel less lonely and feel stronger. Also I had seen some chatter in my Instagram comments and on Twitter about thinspiration and felt really angry, because I dont want any girl to look at me and think that Im torturing myself to have my body look a certain way, because Ive worked so hard to not have that be true. She grew up a showbiz insider with screenwriter parents, Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, but insists it wasnt a glamorous childhood. She and her younger sister, Maya, were denied video games and forced to play outside. My dad was nominated for an Academy Award [in 1991 for Reversal of Fortune] when I was seven, but it wasnt Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, she says. Almost everyone I knew growing up was in the business in some very unglamorous way; like, their parents were jobbing actors or carpenters building sets. Zoe Kazan and director Paul Dano / Getty Writing did not initially appeal. It looked lonely to me, she says. I was an explosively emotional child. When I found acting, it felt like I had found a place for all my messy bits. She started writing later, to fill up the downtime between jobs, and she now sees it in a very clear-eyed way as a means of sustaining a career in the face of the decline in opportunities for older actresses. Would she bring a play to London? I have no plans, but that would be wonderful, she says. Thanks to War & Peace, London is the only place she and Dano have been shadowed by the tabloids, which she finds hilarious. Her sister Maya also became an actor, and I wonder if the Kazan name was a help or a hindrance to them. Though her parents were respected but not famous, her grandfather, a Greek born in what is now Istanbul, became a major figure in postwar Hollywood, directing On the Waterfront and East of Eden. But he also gave up the names of left-wing colleagues to Joseph McCarthys anti-communist witch hunt. Kazan says she fought hard against accusations of nepotism, turning up for her first Broadway callback an adaptation of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie starring Cynthia Nixon having learned the whole play. She was also bemused by the hostility that pursued her grandfather an immigrant who perhaps felt he had to prove his own American-ness until his death in 2003. It felt like people were standing in judgment from a place of safety, Kazan says. Well, now it feels a lot less safe. If you felt you would have done differently to him, now is a good time to prove that you would have. Weve acknowledged the orange elephant in the room. Kazan, whose friends include Lena Dunham and Meryl Streeps daughters, campaigned for Hillary Clinton, was devastated by Donald Trumps election and was lobbying her fans on Twitter to vote for the Democrats in last weeks midterms. Im tremendously heartened by the enormous spike in voter registration and in the numbers of women running for office in our country, she says. But she is wary of hoping too much. She was vocal, too, about the climate of sexual harassment in showbiz but thinks recent talk about the first anniversary of the #MeToo movement suggests the outpouring of anger was a one-off, a blip that can now be consigned to history. As a new mother of a very young daughter, the UN report on climate change also upset her badly: the rights of women and minorities may recover from recent onslaughts, but our planet wont recover. Im very scared and horrified and I dont know how to speak my rage and outrage clearly enough. She tears up when she speaks of this, which is why she would never consider a career in politics herself. Too emotional, she says. Dano has a big Showtime series coming up, Escape at Dannemora, directed by Ben Stiller, but once the hubbub for that, and Wildlife and Buster Scruggs, has subsided, he and Kazan will return to Brooklyn to get on with the job of being parents. Not that their life was exactly showbizzy before Almas arrival. We read, we go to movies, we make pasta and watch the Great British baking show, she says. A pretty quiet life. She gets up to go, and disappears again into the crowd. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is on Netflix from November 16. Hair by Akiko Kawasaki using Davines. Make-up by Camilla Hewitt using MAC. " I will stab you because I want to," says Gavin coolly, fixing me with his stare. "It's not the fact that I need to. But I want to stab you. I'd get a joy out of it. Fighting, to me, is cool. I like the enjoyment of getting home with a black eye and knowing I beat the crap out of you." I shift uncomfortably. Gavin is not about to hurt me - the 21-year-old ex-gang member hasn't laid a finger on anyone in years - but his criminal record includes almost three years for a stabbing. I know he isn't bluffing. Unlike the fictionalised version of life in a Hackney gang as portrayed in Top Boy, the new Channel 4 drama, Gavin is talking from first-hand experience. When I meet him in a Stratford church he is likeable and sincere about going straight. But there's no getting around the fact that he used to like hurting people - and he talks about it with relish. Gavin was what they call a gang banger - an enforcer; someone you'd call to get the job done. He was good at it because he liked it, and he was motivated by "pain and anger", which he now recognises stems from his childhood. Gavin's home life was violent. From the age of three he watched his father rape his mother. His father would beat him. The stress and impotence he experienced had lasting repercussions. "That rage in me was a different kind of rage. I was one of the angry ones 'cause of what I witnessed as a kid," he says. "So I started beating up people. Then I started stabbing. Then I started having guns, and it just went crazy." Gavin was a player in a breed of street gang members who live day to day without fear of the repercussions of their actions. To call them disenfranchised is to put it mildly. They are the most ruthless members of a gang, the tinderbox ready to ignite at the mention of a wrong word. They are also the least likely to fear Cameron's promised "crackdown" on gang culture, as outlined in a new Government strategy today which seeks to help young people, particularly girls, escape a culture of drug-dealing, robbery and violence. The Home Office is also promising to get tough on those refusing to give up their gang lifestyle. This crackdown makes Sheldon Thomas angry. Sheldon is the 46-year-old ex-gang member who helped Gavin leave his old life behind. He's an ex-gang banger himself, called upon to extract money through intimidation and violence. "I think anyone with a bit of stronghold will think, hang on a minute, I didn't mess up this country. Where is those bankers' jail? Why haven't they gone to jail for smashing up the country? Why haven't they experienced the outrage [of other people] that these young people have experienced for [the summer] looting?" In Top Boy, gangs are tight-knit and make significant sums of money - but Sheldon argues that the perception that the gangs who form on London estates are so organised is wrong. "These kids are not gangsters," he says. "When you look at The London Fields Boys, you have to ask yourself what part of them is a gangster. There's no hierarchy. They all live in some downtown beat-down place. Real gangsters don't live in downtown. Real gangsters live in some two point something million pound house in some hot, rich place." Like Gavin, he says his driving force was not poverty but an incident that shaped his childhood. When he was 12, his brother was nearly killed by the National Front. It had a profound effect on him. "No one was arrested for nearly killing my brother. No police officer was reprimanded for laughing at my brother. My dad was too scared, so I saw my dad as a weak man, and my mother was crying. My other brother and sisters were too young, and I was the next in line, so I was like, I'm gonna be the defender of the family." Before he had even hit his teens, Sheldon had started a gang, and was walking the streets of London with a knife. "It was easy to pick up a weapon - because my brother was nearly killed by skinheads - and say 'I'm gonna kill every white man I see'. That was what happened." A chance encounter with Tottenham MP Bernie Grant in the Eighties led to a three-year mentorship that saw Sheldon explore Christianity and begin to fight gang culture. Charismatic and passionate about his cause, he is now something of a father figure to many of the 250 gang members he has worked with. While most charities and youth workers who tackle gangs deal with teenagers who self-refer, Sheldon and his team of ex-gang members actually hunt down gangs, to talk them out of a life of crime. It is a mad, dangerous mission but it gets results - and, importantly, it shows gang members that there is another way. The founder of youth charities TAG (Target Against Gangs) and Gangsline, Sheldon works full-time for little reward, picking up donations here and there to keep him going. His band are all volunteers, all with scant resources and most with criminal records - the kind of profile that means they will probably never secure much funding. They nevertheless have access to some of London's most notorious gangs. What Sheldon describes is not an organised criminal underworld but mid-teens in loose-knit groups - a frustrated, disenfranchised underclass. "I work with a lot of gang members and they have told me categorically that they feel this country has no time for them whatsoever," he says. "These guys are more intelligent than people think. People think they're just a bunch of nitwits, on the street causing chaos. What people don't understand is that they've seen the double standards. They've seen MPs stealing money and getting off scot-free." Sheldon says he saw the summer riots coming, and knows gangs were involved, but reiterates that he doesn't believe they were organised. He thinks it doubtful that a member of the London Fields Boys, the rival gang portrayed in Top Boy, could make "more than four to five hundred pounds a week from drugs", while Mario, a 24-year-old former gang member who works with Sheldon, says gang members don't watch each other's backs. "There's no loyalty. One day you're in a gang. The next day you're in two different gangs. When there's money, drugs, any sort of crime involvement in that friendship, there's no such thing as loyalty. The only loyalty I found in this country is my dog. But human beings? Nah, bruv." With little to lose, however, life is cheap. And for people who give little thought to the consequences of their actions, a crackdown from the authorities is not a deterrent. Camila Batmanghelidjh, from disadvantaged children's charity Kids Company, has a name for the most ruthless gang members. She calls them "initiators" and says they tend to conform to a pattern of abused childhoods. "These are kids who've had disturbed upbringings so the boundary to violence has been broken already in the family home," she says. "They're passively suicidal, and very brave. They take all risks. The police are saying there's a new kind of kid on the block: they stand there and they shoot when the police arrive and don't bother to run away. "In some places you're getting kids as young as 12 having access to firearms. So the numbers of children who go on to violate other children is rising." On estates where gang culture has taken hold, opting out of criminal behaviour is not always easy. Mario was involved in gangs from his arrival in the UK from Mexico seven years ago but his brother took to it less easily. "He was a very soft guy when he came to this country," says Mario. "He was about 14. He was a young kid, innocent. He was one of those kids that if you take his ball he'd go crying to mum. "I went to prison for two years and eight months. When I came out, I'm hearing 'your brother shot this. Your brother stabbed that'. I'm thinking, we're talking about a different guy here. Later on, I'm starting to get to know why he turned out like that. He was getting robbed. He was getting violated as a man. You know as a man you have some sort of pride in you, and that was taken away from him." Joining a gang was an easier option for Mario's brother, and it remains to be seen whether tougher policing can help communities so gripped by gang culture. But Sheldon thinks it's impossible to sustain the chaotic life required to be in a London gang for ever. 1 . When will Britain leave the European Union? a) On March 29, 2019, definitely. (If you are the average Londoner, you might want to add mores the pity. Or, if you are a member of the European Research Group, hurrah, hurrah, exsultate!) b) Probably March 29, 2019, though the deadline to leave could be extended if all 28 member nations were to agree. c) Given the reaction to Theresa Mays draft agreement with the EU from Jacob Rees-Mogg and others, it seems likely the UK will be stuck in an endless purgatory of negotiations and bitter party infighting until the end of time, or until Theresa May stands down (whichever is the sooner). 2. How will the Irish Border question be solved? a) Oh, it will work itself out. The people of Northern Ireland and the Republic are reasonable folk. The problem has been overstated, frankly. b) Its still to be determined, and depends on a future trade deal with the EU: the UK wants a common rulebook for food and goods passing between the EU and the UK across the land border between northern and southern Ireland. Which is different to the common regulatory area proposed by the EU, which would involve a border in the Irish Sea. If no trade deal is reached, a backstop will come, which will keep the UK and EU in a single Customs Territory but leave Northern Ireland tied more closely to EU regulations than the rest of the UK. It will be legally harder for the UK to exit the backstop than to leave the EU. Got it? c) By patrols of unicorns. People's Vote March for the Future in London, 20 October 2018 / EPA 3. What exactly is the transition period? a) Arent we in the transition period? And to paraphrase Yvette Cooper, havent we ONLY GOT FIVE MONTHS! b) Assuming the withdrawal agreement goes through, its a period running until December 2020 to allow further details to be hammered out; free movement of people into the UK will continue, but we will be able to negotiate external trade deals. c) The time it takes to sign up to an Irish passport, if you can. Or if you are Nigel Farage, to get German ones for your kids. 4. What is your view on a second referendum? a) That it is impossible/that it is inevitable. b) That it is undesirable, given what happened last time. c) *Impersonates Brenda from Bristol on BBC news when told of the 2017 snap election*: Youre joking! Not another one! Oh no! 5. What is the main impact of Brexit? a) It enables us to be a sovereign nation again and to take back control of our borders/it is an act of national self-harm equivalent to a man hanging heavy weights off three limbs while repeatedly stabbing himself in the face with the fourth. b) There is no main impact: it will affect trade, borders, immigration, the movement of peoples, satellites, research, pet passports, everything. c) It affects the brains of certain senior ministers who had direct responsibility for delivering Brexit for two years, then resigned and started criticising the Government they were a part of for not delivering it. 6. OK, but what issues are you most concerned about after Britain leaves the EU? a) The colour of my passport/the sexy thrill of describing myself as European. b) The availability of medication and food; reduced collaboration with former EU partners in areas such as science, security and the arts; reduced opportunity for the young and a drop in the standard of living; and, to be honest, how much more time were all going to spend in airport security when flying to Greece. c) Chlorine-washed chicken. Dominic Raab / AFP/Getty Images 7. What is Labours position on Brexit? a) They were mostly against it, now they are mostly for it. b) They are hopelessly stuck between a majority of MPs who voted against it and a large number of members and traditional supporters who voted for it, with a pro-EU grassroots movement Momentum supporting a furiously anti-EU leader. So they are prevaricating and hedging, trying to capitalise on the Governments disarray and angling for power, while trying not to get the blame if left holding the bad Brexit baby. c) They believe in a Schrodingers Brexit, which simultaneously can and cannot be stopped. 8. Where are we with regard to resignations from Theresa Mays government? a) In addition to the past resignations of Boris Johnson, David Davis and Jo Johnson, four people resigned before 10.30am this morning: Dominic Raab, thingy McVey and two others no one had ever heard of. b) Thats Esther McVey, Shailesh Vara, and Suella Braverman. And you forgot the earlier resignations of Guto Bebb, Steve Baker, Ben Bradley and Maria Caulfield. More resignations were expected this lunchtime. c) The entire Cabinet will probably resign by Monday. Apart from Theresa May, of course Esther McVey / Jeremy Selwyn 9. How important is fishing to the post-Brexit world? a) Very important maritime nation cod war trawlermen braving the high seas b) Very important if you are one of the 13 Scottish Tory MPs who have refused to sign the draft deal unless it promises more support for the industry. Not so important in economic terms: fishing is worth about 1.4 billion to the economy compared to the 30 billion the fashion industry contributes, for instance. c) Important enough for Nigel Farage to dump rotten haddock in the Thames: not important enough for him to turn up to 41 of the 42 meetings of the EU fisheries committee, of which he was a member, over a three-year period. 10. How many times does the draft agreement mention Scotland? a) Id guess between 10 and 20 times b) Scotland is not mentioned once. Nor is Wales. Northern Ireland is mentioned 141 times, and Gibraltar 30 times. c) God knows the document is 585 pages long, you know. 11. How likely is it that Theresa May will get her outline deal with the EU through Parliament? a) Very likely. MPs of all parties are tired of fighting and just want to agree on something. b) Highly unlikely, as ardent Brexiteers on both sides of the House will dismiss it as a sellout, some of them using words like vassalage, if not Vaseline. Jacob Rees-Mogg has urged all Tory MPs to oppose it and a vote of no confidence in May could be proposed any minute. c) Its 51.9 per cent likely to pass. No, wait, 48.1 per cent... No, wait, there are some Russian votes just coming in 12. Who will emerge as the winner(s) once Brexit finally happens? a) Britain, when the EU realises how much it needs us/the EU, once we realise how much we need it. b) No one: the EU will be weaker without us; we will be weaker without the EU; the world will be less stable; so will Ireland; those who tied their political careers to it will reap the whirlwind; the advocates of a low-tax, low-regulation economy may glean financial rewards but their consciences will torment them (well, we can always hope). c) Bailiffs, repo men, payday loan companies. AP 13. Apart from the Irish backstop, and the 39bn divorce bill, and the guarantee of EU citizens rights, what is the most contentious part of the draft agreement for Brexiteers? a) Um, is it written in French? b) The fact that the European Court of Justice will still have influence in the UK over questions of EU law. c) The fact that the UK has guaranteed to respect the regional status of things like Parma ham, Feta cheese, Tokaj wine and Jerez vinegar. What about Britains struggling Tokaj makers and Parma farmers? 14. What is the difference between the single market and the customs union, hard and soft Brexit, a Norway deal and Canada double plus? a) Dont know. b) Dont ask. c) Dont care. 15. Are we all losing the will to live? a) Yes. b) Yes. c) Yes. ANSWERS Mostly A Whether you voted leave or remain, you have only the vaguest understanding of whats actually going on with Brexit, but dont worry: in this case ignorance really is bliss. Mostly B You appear to have a deep understanding not just of the structures and strictures surrounding Brexit, but the ramifications too. Which is deeply worrying. L ocated just 30 kilometres east from Shanghai's city centre at the Sheshan Mountain Range, you'll find the 'world's first underground hotel'. The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel will open to the public on November 20 - and 16 of the floors will technically be underground. The top floor will be located at ground level with a roof covered in greenery, while the rest of the hotel will be below ground. This is because the hotel has been built into the side of an 88-metre high abandoned quarry. What's more is the bottom two floors are completely submerged underwater to form the hotel's 10-metre deep aquarium. The five-star hotel has taken over a decade to complete and is quite the spectacle. Built in part by British firm Atkins, the same minds behind the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, it took over 5,000 people to help complete the hotel as it required innovative engineering solutions. The finished product offers 336 rooms, each with a balcony - except for those rooms located underwater - and each room will have a view of the purpose-built waterfalls flowing down the quarry walls. Along with the aquarium, you'll also find a restaurant, pool and a watersports centre on the subterranean levels. Thrillseekers will also be able to partake in bungee jumping over the quarry and rock climbing up the quarry walls. N otorious prisoner Charles Bronson has praised the British justice system, hailing it as the best in the world, after being cleared of GBH. The 66-year-old danced with joy as his not guilty verdict was read out in Leeds Crown Court following a trial. Bronson had been accused of pinning HMP Wakefield governor Mark Docherty to the ground and threatening to bite his nose off. The infamous prisoner, who was played by actor Tom Hardy in a self-titled film, denied attempting to seriously harm Mr Docherty before he was due to attend a welfare meeting. Representing himself at Leeds Crown Court, Bronson claimed he had intended to give Mr Docherty a "gentle bear hug" and whisper in his ear, but tripped, or was tripped by someone, and fell. A court sketch of Bronson in Leeds Crown Court / PA The defendant admitted he partly blamed the governor at Wakefield's segregation unit after he was told photographs of his prison wedding to actress Paula Williamson two months earlier would no longer be allowed to leave the jail until his release. Bronson said he intended to whisper "where's my wife's photos?" in what he described as a "wake-up call" to the governor to not mess with his family. Jurors found Bronson not guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, after deliberating for just short of three hours on Thursday. Appearing on video link from HMP Frankland, Bronson - who has changed his name to Charles Salvador - pursed his lips together after the verdict was delivered by the jury foreman and then did a celebratory jig as he waved his arms around. A van carrying Charles Bronson arriving at Leeds Crown Court / PA Judge Tom Bayliss QC said to the defendant: "You seem pleased with that, Mr Salvador. You are discharged from this." Before the link to the court was cut, Bronson smiled and replied: "British justice, best in the world. Thank you." His supporters in the public gallery welcomed the jury's decision and laughed. L ondon's first paper straw factory was today hailed a huge step forward in the war against single-use plastic as it opens for business. The first biodegradable straws were coming off a specialist machine at the Walthamstow factory of Paper Straws London, one of the first of its kind in Europe. They are made of paper, glue and ink all sourced from the UK and Europe, and come in boxes made of recycled card, costing about 3.20 for 250 straws. They passed stringent European tests earlier in the year and now the firm will send their first batches out to potential customers. By the end of the year, Paper Straws London hopes to be producing one million biodegradable straws every week for use across London. Husband-and-wife founders Tim and Anna Clifton, from Barnet, are behind the eco-friendly operation. Mr Clifton, 49, said the launch would help reduce importing paper straws from China. Today is a big day for us, he said. At the moment, most of the paper straws used in this country are made in China, which obviously isnt great for the carbon footprint. For many, paper straws are something produced in the 50s and 60s, and so are a step back. But were making them here now which is a huge step forward... shipping paper straws in from the other side of the world defeats the object of trying to help the environment. The couple founded Cliftons bookbinders and paper converters 20 years ago and have been working out of their Walthamstow factory ever since. They launched Paper Straws London in June after learning about the countrys single-use plastic problem through campaigns such as the Standards The Last Straw. Single-use plastic became a big issue, Mr Clifton said. Sky did their campaign, the Standard did, and there was the David Attenborough show Blue Planet, which made a big impact. We have our background in paper, so we thought there might be something we can do here. The couple bought their straw machine from China after a research trip there earlier this year. T ory Remain campaigner Anna Soubry demanded a People's Vote during a speech in the Commons amid turmoil over Theresa May's Brexit deal. Speaking on Thursday in Parliament, she commended the efforts of Theresa May but said the deal was simply not what had been promised. Addressing Mrs May, she said: Nobody but nobody can doubt the prime ministers absolute commitment and dedication to doing her duty and trying to deliver on the result of the EU referendum. But the harsh cruel truth of it is is that this is not the promised deal. Theresa May leaving Downing Street to attend PMQs on Wednesday / Getty Images She then explained she believed that pledges to the public not been enacted upon had left the electorate fed up. She said: The reason why the people of this country are so fed up is because theyve been made so many promises, none of which have been delivered upon because they cant be delivered upon. I agree with the Prime Minister we face three choices We either accept this agreement - and I respectfully suggest there is now no majority in this House for it - or we accept no deal - which would be profoundly irresponsible and catastrophic for this country. "Or we have no Brexit. We remain in the EU, the best deal that we have with the EU. After this, she made her plea for a Peoples Vote, and said: On that basis would she undertake not to rule out taking this back to the British people and having a People's Vote?" Mrs May responded to this and said she would disappoint her fellow politician. Im afraid on that particular issue I will disappoint my right honourable friend, I am not going to change the position I have taken in this house and indeed taken more widely. I believe that it is the duty of members of this Parliament to ensure that we deliver on the choice that was made by the British people. A choice that this Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give them. That means that we will not be taking the option as she said of remaining in the European Union and we will be leaving the European Union. The comment came as Mrs May faced a tumultuous day, with multiple high-profile resignations from her Cabinet and a grilling in the House of Commons. T heresa Mays leadership is looking increasingly precarious after her most tumultuous ever day as Prime Minister. Several high-profile ministers, including Dominic Raab and Esther McVey, quit in protest at her Brexit deal on Thursday amid rumours that no confidence letters were flooding in to the 1922 Committee. Odds on her leaving her post have been slashed, despite her spokesman stating she would fight any confidence vote and would not be stepping down. Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Moog publicly submitted a letter of no confidence in the afternoon amid rumours that the number of letters submitted was nearing the 48 needed to trigger a confidence vote. But who could replace the Prime Minister? TODO: define component type apester Bookmakers have three Tory politicians as potential frontrunners for the top job should she go. They differ on who they see as top choice, but Boris Johnson, Sajid Javid and David Davis feature high up with the majority. Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, who quit on Thursday morning, has also been tipped as a future leader after resigning his post. Jacob Rees-Mogg, Michael Gove, Amber Rudd and Jeremy Hunt are all also rumoured among those who could possibly throw their hat into the ring if there was a potential leadership contest. Boris Johnson Boris Johnson speaking at the Conservative Party annual conference / PA Former Foreign Secretary and ex-Mayor of London Boris Johnson has long been touted as a future Conservative leader. In July, he resigned over the Chequers deal, which he has blasted ever since. He gave a speech at the Conservative conference and branded the Chequers deal a "cheat". He is known as a charismatic figure but he is also not adverse to controversy, which has scuppered him in the past. The Brexiteer put himself forward for the Tory leadership after David Cameron quit in 2016. But he then announced he would not run, after Michael Gove, who led the Leave campaign with him, appeared to stab him in the back and go for the leadership himself. Sajid Javid Sajid Javid is currently Home Secretary / PA The Home Secretary Sajid Javid has held a multitude of Parliamentary posts and has a wealth of experience in the inner circle of the Cabinet. In recent times he has publicly questioned Mrs May on a range of policies, for example he queried her net migration target of below 100,000. He also denounced the "hostile environment" term in regards to immigration, which had been Mrs May's stance during her time as Home Secretary. This steadfastness on his views might have upped his stock as potential leadership material. David Davis Former Brexit minister David Davis, who quit his position in July / EPA The former Brexit Secretary has vied for the position before, unsuccessfully, in 2001 and 2005. He was previously touted as an interim leader by one of his fellow MPs, Nadine Dorries and is said to have lined himself up before when there were rumours of a potential leadership contest after she lost the General Election. He quit his post as Brexit Secretary after two years over the Prime Ministers stance on negotiations with the EU. Dominic Raab Dominic Raab, the now former Brexit Secretary leaves his home in Surrey / Alex Lentati After quitting as the Brexit Secretary the day after Mrs May announced that she had passed the divorce deal with her Cabinet, Dominic Raab has now been deemed a potential successor should she go. He was recently criticised for comments such as admitting that until recently he did not fully appreciate the importance of the Dover-Calais crossing for UK trade. Mr Raab has served as an MP since 2010 and held three Ministerial posts. Jacob Rees-Mogg Mr Rees-Mogg said that what had been achieved was "not Brexit" / AFP/Getty Images Among the staunchest advocates for Brexit, Jacob Rees-Mogg publicly asked Mrs May in the Commons today if there was any reason he should not back a vote of no confidence in her leadership. He is a well-known politician due to his outspoken views and has been relentless in criticising how Brexit has been dealt with so far. His constant criticisms of Mrs May and the Brexit deal along with his backing by Eurosceptics tout him as a potential figurehead for the Party. Michael Gove Environment Secretary Michael Gove was held up on route home from a Cabinet away day / AFP/Getty Images Parliamentary sources suggest the Environment Secretary has rejected the role of Brexit secretary. It is now unclear what his plans are. He ran for the leadership in 2016 but was eliminated in the second round of voting. He has previously served as the Justice Secretary, between May 2015 and July 2016, and Education Secretary, between May 2010 and July 2014. As well as this he held the position of Chief Whip between July 2014 and May 2015. Jeremy Hunt Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt delivers a speech at the British embassy in Paris / AP Former Health Secretary and now Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been accused of angling for the position in the past. He held the position of Health Secretary for longer than anyone else ever has. Though he backed remain in the referendum, he has also expressed Eurosceptic views in the wake of it. Amber Rudd Amber Rudd recently held the position of Home Secretary / AFP/Getty Images Though ranked 40/1, Amber Rudd has been widely tipped as a future leader in the past. She stepped in for Mrs May during the live TV debates in the run-up to the General Election last year. But she had to resign from her post as Home Secretary earlier this year over the Windrush scandal. How could a leadership contest be sparked? Theresa May could resign Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons / PA If Theresa May were to resign, it would trigger a leadership contest. The Prime Minister faced down calls to quit from Labour's Mike Gapes in the Commons today, who asked if she should recognise "reality" and make room for "someone else who could take this country forward in a united way". She replied simply: "No." Day of drama: Theresa May / AFP/Getty Images No confidence vote A 'no confidence' vote is a formal motion in the House of Commons, with the wording: "That this house has no confidence in HM Government". To put it more colloquially, it would mean MPs feel the Prime Minister is no longer deemed fit to hold her role. A total of 48 MPs must write to the 1922 Committee chair Graham Brady to request a vote of confidence. If the Prime Minister won the confidence vote, she would remain in office and be awarded immunity for a year. Just seven Tory MPs - or all of the DUP MPs - would need to vote against May for her to lose the vote. If the Prime Minister loses a confidence vote, she is obliged to resign and would be barred from standing in the leadership election that follows. Theresa May on the day after she announced the cabinet had approved her deal with the EU / Jeremy Selwyn What would happen in the event of a leadership contest? T heresa May is braced for a furious backlash from Tory Brexiteers as she presents her deal on Britain's EU withdrawal to the Commons. The Prime Minister cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers approved the draft terms of her agreement with Brussels at a stormy five-hour meeting on Wednesday. But she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs, and some Remainers, lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels. Following the release of the 585-page agreement document, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group, wrote to all Tory MPs urging them to vote against it. Theresa May delivers a Brexit statement at Downing Street / Getty Images Rumours continued to swirl at Westminster that the tally of Conservative MPs who have submitted letters of no confidence in Mrs May is about to reach the 48 threshold needed to trigger a vote on her position. Mr Rees-Mogg said that he was not among those MPs who had written to the chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, but suggested he could be "very close" to doing so. "Certainly this has dented my confidence," he told ITV's Peston programme. "Politics depends on trust and this document is shattering to trust." But presenter Robert Peston himself fuelled rumours that a vote of no confidence was imminent, saying on Twitter before the show a source told him there would be enough letters to force one by lunch on Thursday. Leading Conservative Party Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg / REUTERS Tory Brexiters become angrier and angrier as they wade through 585 pages of the Withdrawal Agreement, he wrote. They tell me there will be enough letters in with Brady of [the committee] by lunch tomorrow to force vote of confidence! While the Cabinet agreed to collectively support the agreement, there was speculation that some ministers were so unhappy that they could still quit in protest. Reports suggested as many as a third of the 28 ministers attending the meeting in No 10 voiced doubts about the deal. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey was said to be particularly upset amid reports she was shouted down after she tried to press for the agreement to be put to a vote. Barnier: Brexit draft deal is a decisive step Mrs May described the debate around the Cabinet table as "long, detailed and impassioned", in a clear indication her proposals had come under intense challenge from ministers. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street minutes after the meeting concluded, she acknowledged she faced "difficult days ahead" as she attempts to win round critical MPs. "I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United Kingdom," she said. At the same time she warned Brexiteers that if they failed to back her plan they risked ending up with "no Brexit at all". Chief Whip Julian Smith has said he is confident the Government will get the support of Parliament for the deal. But with the DUP - whose 10 MPs prop up Mrs May in the Commons - voicing their unhappiness at the agreement, and the prospect of a significant Tory backbench revolt it is hard to see how ministers can make the numbers add up. Jeremy Corbyn again made clear that Labour was unlikely to come to the Government's rescue. "I don't believe that the deal that I've heard of so far is in the national interest. It doesn't meet the interests of all parts of Britain, it doesn't give us a security of our trading relationship with Europe in the future," he said. Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator gave a press briefing today from Brussels after Theresa May's cabinet backed a draft EU-UK agreement. / EPA Meanwhile European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker issued a statement that "decisive progress" had been made, clearing the way for a special summit for leaders of the remaining 27 EU states to give their stamp of approval, probably on November 25. Senior UK Government officials said the final text of the withdrawal agreement featured important gains for the UK on the so-called backstop arrangements to be implemented if no trade deal can be reached. The outline political declaration - which will be subject to further negotiation over the coming weeks - expresses an ambition to achieve zero tariffs and no quotas in EU-UK trade, something the officials said no other major economy had achieved. The facilitated customs arrangements and "common rulebook" proposed in Mrs May's Chequers plan are replaced by the concept of a "sliding scale" of commitments and market access, which means the UK would not be tied to an off-the-shelf deal of the kind previously offered to countries such as Canada. Under backstop arrangements designed to keep the Irish border open, if no trade deal is agreed by the end of the transition period in December 2020, a temporary "EU-UK single customs territory" would be established. This could be terminated only by mutual consent of Brussels and London but each side would be legally bound to make "best endeavours" to bring it to an end by sealing a permanent deal on their future relations. There will be a provision to allow the two sides to extend the transition to a fixed date rather than activate the backstop. Labour will tomorrow seek to force the government to release its own legal advice on the Irish border backstop. Jeremy Corbyn's party will use an arcane procedure known as a "humble address" during an opposition day debate. It's an attempt to make guidance by Attorney General Geoffrey Cox available to MPs once a Brexit deal is ready to be put before the Commons. The procedure was used last year to force the publication of Brexit impact assessments. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: "It's simply untenable for the government to put forward any Brexit deal to Parliament without providing the legal advice on what's been agreed. "At this critical stage, MPs can't be kept in the dark nor can we risk Parliament being bounced into a decision without having all of the facts available." T heresa May could face a leadership challenge within the next 24 hours amid the fallout over her Brexit deal, it was reported today. Political sources have claimed a vote of confidence could be forced through by lunchtime on Thursday as the prime minister faces a fierce backlash from both sides of the Brexit divide. Mrs May cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers finally approved the draft terms of her EU withdrawal agreement at a stormy five-hour meeting on Wednesday. But she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as Brexiteer Conservative MPs - as well as some Remainers - condemned the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and handing control back to Brussels. Theresa May could face a move against her on Thursday / Getty Images The BBCs political editor Laura Kuenssberg reported: One senior Tory told me tonight there is likely to be a move against the prime minister in the next 24 hours. Another said they would be amazed if enough objections to start a contest hadn't emerged by lunchtime. TODO: define component type apester She added that this could be the moment the Tory party falls into a leadership contest almost by mistake. Rumours continue at Westminster that the tally of Conservative MPs who have submitted letters of no confidence in Mrs May is about to reach the 48 threshold needed to trigger a vote on her position. ITV political editor Robert Peston also fuelled rumours that a vote of no confidence was imminent, claiming a source told him there would be enough letters to force one by lunch on Thursday. Politicians react to PM May's statement Tory Brexiters become angrier and angrier as they wade through 585 pages of the Withdrawal Agreement, he wrote. They tell me there will be enough letters in with Brady of [the committee] by lunch tomorrow to force vote of confidence! Nicola Sturgeon said she wouldn't bet on Theresa May still being prime minister on march 29 / PA Nicola Sturgeon, appearing on Pestons show on Wednesday night, said she wouldnt put money on Mrs May still being prime minister on March 29, the day the UK is due to formally leave the EU. She said: The prime minister has proved to be resilient over the last month so you know lets not count her out in that respect. I thought, and remember Im doing this interview just after shes made her statement, all sorts of things could have changed, but I thought her language about the collective decision of the Cabinet not a unanimous decision said something, I thought her body language looked very shaky and I wouldnt rule out cabinet resignations tonight, obviously I dont know that thats going to happen and right now I cannot see how she gets this deal through the House of Commons. Now you know a week is a long time in politics as the old saying goes and in this climate a day, a few hours, is a long time in politics but right now things are looking extremely dicey for the Prime Minister and who knows whether shell still be in office by the end of the week, let alone by the 29th of March. Following the release of the 585-page agreement document, Jacob Rees-Mogg - the leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group - wrote to all Tory MPs urging them to vote against it. Rumours continued to swirl at Westminster that the tally of Conservative MPs who have submitted letters of no confidence in Mrs May is about to reach the 48 threshold needed to trigger a vote on her position. "Certainly this has dented my confidence," he told ITV's Peston programme. "Politics depends on trust and this document is shattering to trust." Esther McVey is reportedly on the brink of resigning from the Cabinet / AP While the Cabinet agreed to collectively support the agreement, there was speculation that some ministers were so unhappy that they could still quit in protest. Reports suggested as many as a third of the 28 ministers attending the meeting in No 10 voiced doubts about the deal. Nick Timothy, Theresa May's former chief of staff, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Parliament will "surely" reject the proposal. "The proposal presented to Cabinet is a capitulation," he wrote. Donald Tusk: Brexit is a 'lose-lose' situation "Worse, it is a capitulation not only to Brussels but to the fears of the British negotiators themselves, who have shown by their actions that they never believed Brexit could be a success. "This includes, I say with the heaviest of hearts, the Prime Minister." Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey was said to be particularly upset amid reports she was shouted down after she tried to press for the agreement to be put to a vote. Mrs May described the debate around the Cabinet table as "long, detailed and impassioned", in a clear indication her proposals had come under intense challenge from ministers. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street minutes after the meeting concluded, she acknowledged she faced "difficult days ahead" as she attempts to win round critical MPs. "I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United Kingdom," she said. At the same time she warned Brexiteers that if they failed to back her plan they risked ending up with "no Brexit at all". Chief Whip Julian Smith has said he is confident the Government will get the support of Parliament for the deal. But with the DUP - whose 10 MPs prop up Mrs May in the Commons - voicing their unhappiness at the agreement, and the prospect of a significant Tory backbench revolt it is hard to see how ministers can make the numbers add up. Jeremy Corbyn again made clear that Labour was unlikely to come to the Government's rescue. "I don't believe that the deal that I've heard of so far is in the national interest. It doesn't meet the interests of all parts of Britain, it doesn't give us a security of our trading relationship with Europe in the future," he said. Meanwhile European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker issued a statement that "decisive progress" had been made, clearing the way for a special summit for leaders of the remaining 27 EU states to give their stamp of approval, probably on November 25. Senior UK Government officials said the final text of the withdrawal agreement featured important gains for the UK on the so-called backstop arrangements to be implemented if no trade deal can be reached. The outline political declaration - which will be subject to further negotiation over the coming weeks - expresses an ambition to achieve zero tariffs and no quotas in EU-UK trade, something the officials said no other major economy had achieved. The facilitated customs arrangements and "common rulebook" proposed in Mrs May's Chequers plan are replaced by the concept of a "sliding scale" of commitments and market access, which means the UK would not be tied to an off-the-shelf deal of the kind previously offered to countries such as Canada. Under backstop arrangements designed to keep the Irish border open, if no trade deal is agreed by the end of the transition period in December 2020, a temporary "EU-UK single customs territory" would be established. This could be terminated only by mutual consent of Brussels and London but each side would be legally bound to make "best endeavours" to bring it to an end by sealing a permanent deal on their future relations. There will be a provision to allow the two sides to extend the transition to a fixed date rather than activate the backstop. S enior Cabinet ministers including Dominic Raab and Esther McVey have resigned in protest at Theresa May's Brexit divorce deal. The high profile exits, after Cabinet endorsed Mrs May's deal on Wednesday night, follow several other resignations from senior ministers in previous months including Boris Johnson, his brother Jo and David Davis. As the Prime Minister faces continuous turmoil as she navigates Britain's departure from the European Union, the Standard has put together a recap on every Minister who has resigned over Brexit far. Suella Braverman Suella Braverman has resigned as a Brexit minister / PA Suella Braverman has left her position as a Brexit minister. She became the fourth minister on November 15 to leave and, in a letter to the PM, said: "It is with deep regret and after reflection that I have had to tender my resignation today as a Brexit Minister. Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working to support Brexit from the Backbenches. This has not been an easy decision." Esther McVey Quitting over Brexit: Esther McVey / PA Esther McVey, the former Work and Pensions Secretary, became the third minister to walk in the aftermath of Theresa May agreeing her deal with the Cabinet. She wrote in a letter to Mrs May: "We would not be taking back control, we would be handing over control to the EU." Dominic Raab Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab / Reuters Dominic Raab left his post as the Brexit Secretary and chief negotiator with the European Union the morning after Theresa May announced her Cabinet backed the deal that had been secured. He posted his letter of resignation this morning and wrote online: "Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU." Mr Raab had served as the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union since July 2018. He took up the position after David Davis quit. Shailesh Vara North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement / PA Shailesh Vara, the now former Minister of State for Northern Ireland, became the first minister to resign after Theresa May's deal announcement. Mr Vara was promoted to his Government post in July, after previously being a parliamentary private secretary in the Northern Ireland Office. In his resignation letter, he said the deal "leaves the UK in a half-way house with no limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". Jo Johnson Jo Johnson announced his resignation 'with great regret' on Friday afternoon / PA Archive/PA Images Jo Johnson quit his role as Transport Minister on Friday, November 9. Writing in the Evening Standard, he accused the PM of trying to conceal from voters the bitter price of leaving the European Union. The Conservative MP announced his resignation in a lengthy statement and said: "It has become increasingly clear to me that the Withdrawal Agreement, which is being finalised in Brussels and Whitehall even as I write, will be a terrible mistake." Guto Bebb Defence minister Guto Bebb voted against the Government on its Brexit Customs Bill / PA Guto Bebb effectively quit his role as Minister for Defence Procurement when he decided to vote against the Government on its Brexit Customs Bill in July. He had served in the post since January 2018. Boris Johnson Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson has warned the draft Brexit deal will turn the UK into a 'vassal state' / AFP/Getty Images Staunch Brexiteer Boris Johnson quit as Foreign Secretary in July. He has been a consistent critic of Brexit negotiations since and at the time he wrote: "Brexit should be about opportunity and hope. It should be a chance to do things differently, to be more nimble and dynamic and to maximise the particular advantages of the UK as an open, outward-looking global economy. "That dream is dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt." David Davis Former Brexit minister David Davis left his post in July / EPA The original Brexit Secretary David Davis quit his post in July, to be replaced by Dominic Raab, who has now also vacated the position. At the time, leaving just hours before Boris Johnson, he stated that Theresa May's approach to negotiations could leave the UK in a weak position. In his resignation letter he wrote he was "unpersuaded that our negotiating approach will not just lead to further demands for concessions." Other resignations As well as Ministers leaving, a number of figures in the Government have resigned. Rehman Chisti Rehman Chisti joined the resignations following the Cabinet accepting Theresa May's deal / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament (Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)) Rehman Chisti left his roles as Conservative vice-chairman and prime ministerial trade envoy to Pakistan. In his letter of resignation, he said he was for going for two key reasons. He said he cannot support the draft withdrawal agreement and also said he was disappointed by the "lack of leadership" shown by the Government in the case of Asia Bibi, who was accused of blasphemy in Pakistan. Ranil Jayawardena Conservative MP Ranil Jayawardena who has quit his post as a parliamentary private secretary in the Ministry of Justice / PA Ranil Jayawardena, Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Justice quit and said the deal "does not deliver a good and fair Brexit". The North-East Hampshire MP, who had served at the non-ministerial rank of PPS since January this year, backed Leave in the 2016 referendum campaign. Nikki da Costa Nikki Da Costa/Facebook Nikki da Costa, the director of legislative affairs at Downing Street handed her resignation on Thursday, November 15. She told Guido Fawkes: It has been an honour to serve the PM and I have huge respect for her. This decision was very hard. Anne-Marie Trevelyan Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (L) walks with Anne-Marie Trevelyan / AFP/Getty Images Joining the resignations on November 15, Parliamentary Private Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan left her post. She said she could not support the withdrawal agreement decided upon by the Prime Minister. Steve Baker Steve Baker also stepped down in July / PA Steve Baker, Conservative MP for Wycombe, resigned his position as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union. He did so shortly after then Brexit Secretary David Davis quit and cited concerns over the the plans for the future relationship between Britain and the EU. Ben Bradley The former vice-chairman quit his post in July / PA Conservative Party vice-chairman Ben Bradley quit after the Chequers deal was disclosed. At the time he said the proposals would damage the UK's opportunities to develop global trade and be "an outward-looking nation in control of our own destiny" following Brexit. Maria Caulfield Getty Maria Caulfield, a then vice-chairwoman of the Conservative Party, quit on the same day as Ben Bradley. "This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party," she said of the so-called Chequers deal as she resigned. TODO: define component type apester Scott Mann Scott Mann, former PPS for the Treasury Scott Mann, a Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Treasury, resigned in protest to the Chequers plan and said he would not deliver a "watered down Brexit". Robert Courts Robert Courts who quit over the Chequers plan / Getty Images Another Parliamentary Private Secretary, Robert Courts, quit his post following the formation of the so-called Chequers plan. He did so to vote against the Government's trade bill and said it was a "difficult decision" to do so. Andrea Jenkyns Eurosceptic Andrea Jenkyns left in July / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament (Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)) Andrea Jenkyns, an ardent Eurosceptic, called for Theresa May to be replaced after David Davis quit. She left her post as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in July. Chris Green Chris Green, who quit his post in July / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament (Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)) Chris Green, who was a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport also quit in July. T heresa May is reeling from a series of ministerial resignations over her deal to leave the EU, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Sterling plunged as Mr Raab walked out of the Cabinet saying he could not in good conscience support a deal that broke promises to voters. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey followed an hour later with a personal attack on the Prime Minister for accepting a deal that failed to meet the tests you set from the outset of your premiership. Suella Braverman, Brexit Minister at the Department for Exiting the EU was next to go. Northern Ireland Minister Shailesh Vara went at 7.30am with a letter protesting that Mrs Mays terms left the shackles to the EU in place. Another Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt was tipped to be on the way out after demanding in Cabinet a free vote for MPs on the deal, which would probably kill it. The International Development Secretary is said to have asked to see Mrs May in private. Esther McVey's letter to the Prime Minister Ominously, a source close to Michael Gove, the big beast Brexiteer who sided with Mrs May in a Cabinet showdown yesterday, declined to give guidance on his current intentions. Tory MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned as a PPS or aide in the Department for Education, attacking negotiations built on the UK trying to appease the EU. The resignations came as Mrs May gave a fighting statement in the Commons to try to rally support to her deal. She looked composed as she told the House: The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated: This deal. TODO: define component type apester But MPs believed that a dozen junior ministers and ministerial aides are ready to quit, raising the spectre of a morale-sapping rolling series of orchestrated walkouts of the type last seen in 2006 when supporters of Gordon Brown forced Tony Blair to pre-announce his retirement. The Brexodus from the Government benches raised serious doubts about whether the Prime Minister can deliver the deal she forced through a reluctant Cabinet last night. By mid-morning the Pound was down 1.4 per cent against the euro and 1.5 per cent against the dollar. Dominic Raab's career at a glance Dominic Raab became Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union in July after the resignation of David Davis. Since the 2017 election he has also held the positions of Minister of State for Courts and Justice and Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The 44-year-old was first elected as an MP in his Esher and Walton constituency in 2010 and was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice in May 2015. He studied law at university and a solicitor at Linklaters in London before he got involved in politics, working as Chief of Staff to David Davis when he was Shadow Home Secretary and Dominic Grieve when he was Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. As knives were being sharpened on the Tory backbenches, with open calls for a leadership challenge, Mrs May came under stinging attack from one Tory MP. Brexiteer MP Marcus Fysh tweeted: I cannot see how a Prime Minister presiding over and pursuing this abject surrender and the worst terms for such in British parliamentary history can with honour remain in post. Esther McVey is reported to have asked for a show of hands in support of the deal at the Cabinet meeting / Getty Images Tory MP Anne Marie Morris, a controversial right winger, plunged the knife into Mrs May by claiming the 48 letters required to force a confidence vote had already been sent to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady. This was not confirmed. The dramatic departure of Esher MP Mr Raab - a rising star on the Right who was brought in to keep Tory Brexiteers on board - was the biggest blow to Mrs May. In a resignation letter, he said it was a matter of trust and said the deal failed to honour the Governments manifesto promises to the people. It emerged that he refused to fly over to Brussels after Cabinet last night to seal the agreement. Mr Raab replaced David Davis who resigned over the Chequers proposals in July. Labour MP Jon Trickett said the Government was falling apart before our eyes. Remain-supporting Tory MP Anna Soubry said his resignation marks the end of PMs Withdrawal Agreement and possibly her premiership. Mr Vara attacked the deal for leaving the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation. The North-West Cambridgeshire MP and lawyer, who is seen as a centrist Tory, said: We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. In her resignation letter, Ms McVey launched a series of criticisms of Mrs May. The Tatton MP wrote: The deal you put before the Cabinet yesterday does not honour the result of the referendum. Indeed, it doesnt meet the tests you set from the outset of your premiership.... It will trap us in a customs union, despite you specifically promising the British people we would not be. It also threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom, which as a Unionist is a risk I cannot be party to. The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesnt. She concluded: In politics, you have to be true to the public and also true to yourself. Had I stayed in the Government and supported this deal with the EU I wouldnt be doing that. Experts said the Pounds turmoil was linked to doubts about Mrs Mays ability to govern. James Hughes, chief market analyst at Axi Trader, said: It seems sterling is now a barometer of the PMs ability to hold onto her job. E sther McVey has quit her post as Work and Pensions Minister over the Brexit divorce deal. The Tatton MP resigned from her post on Thursday morning saying "it was obvious to everyone" the EU withdrawal deal "did not honour the result of the referendum." In her fiery resignation letter, she said Theresa May's plan "threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom" and that she "could not look her constituents in the eye" were she to vote for it. She said: "This is a matter of trust. It is about the future of our country and the integrity of our democracy. Quitting over Brexit: Esther McVey / PA "The deal you put before the Cabinet yesterday does not honour the result of the referendum. Indeed, it doesn't meet the tests you set out from the outset of your premiership." She added: "British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone it doesn't. "We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. "I cannot defend this, I cannot vote for this deal. I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. I therefore have no alternative but to resign from the Government." She added that the proposals put before Cabinet, in a mammoth five-hour meeting on Wednesday night, meant handing over 39bn to the EU "without anything in return". "It will trap us in a customs union, despite you specifically promising the British people we would not be," she said. Ms McVey went on: "We wouldn't be taking back control, we would be handing over control to the EU and even to a third country for arbitration." Ms McVey has been Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since January this year. TODO: define component type apester She was elected MP for Tatton in 2017 having lost her Wirral West seat, which she held for five years, in 2015. V oters have rejected Theresa Mays deal and want another referendum in which they would vote to stay in the European Union, a poll reveals today. A YouGov survey of 1,153 Britons taken overnight the first taken after last nights Cabinet meeting suggests the Prime Ministers claim that her terms would take back control from the EU has been firmly dismissed by the public. A majority now want a fresh public vote if the Government deal is voted down, with a choice on the ballot paper to keep Britains place in the EU rather than crashing out with no protection, the survey suggests. Key findings of the poll, which was commissioned by the Peoples Vote campaign for a second referendum, show: Voters have changed their minds about Brexit and would now vote to stay in the EU, with 54 per cent voting Remain, versus 46 per cent Leave. Among Londoners, the margin was an even bigger 57-43. Loading.... Backing for a fresh referendum is the highest recorded so far, with 48 per cent in favour and only 34 per cent against. Excluding dont knows, the margin is 59-42. If Mays deal is voted down, that jumps higher to 64-36, excluding dont knows. Voters want a new Brexit referendum, a poll reveals today / Jeremy Selwyn Those who have made up their minds about Mrs Mays deal are overwhelmingly against it, by 63-37. A clear majority of 75 per cent think Mrs Mays deal fails to match promises made two years ago. Just 12 per cent think Britain is heading for a good deal, while 85 per cent think the process of leaving is a mess. Seven in 10 say Brexit-backers gave false promises. People do not believe Mrs Mays claim, made outside No 10 last night, that her deal will take back control of our borders, our laws and our money, while protecting jobs. Just 30 per cent agree while 50 per cent disagree. Peter Kellner, a past president of YouGov, said: These results are bad news for Theresa May. Voters believe overwhelmingly that the deal is nothing like what was promised two years ago. Other results help to explain this stark verdict. By more than two-to-one, voters say that Brexit is turning into a disaster for businesses, our public services and the future of our young people. TODO: define component type apester T heresa May is to face a vote of no confidence later tonight with the result expected at around 9pm. Here's everything you need to know. How will the vote of no confidence take place? Tory MPs will troop into Committee Room 14 in Parliament, which overlooks The Thames, between 6pm and 8pm this evening. It is a secret ballot so MPs can pledge total loyalty to the Prime Minister while wielding the knife to oust her. Theresa May is facing pressure from fellow Tory MPs to stand down over her Brexit plans / AFP/Getty Images Why is there a vote? It was triggered after the threshold of 15 per cent of the parliamentary party was passed after at least 48 MPs wrote to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs, demanding a vote. When will the result be known? The ballots will be counted immediately and Sir Graham has pledged to announce the result as soon as possible this evening. There are currently 315 Tory MPs so if they all vote the winning threshold is 158. TODO: define component type apester What are the possible outcomes if Theresa May wins? Under the rules, if she wins by one vote she can continue as Tory leader and PM. However, in reality, she would be left in an almost impossible position if nearly half her party were against her. If around a third of her party, some 100 MPs, vote against her, she might be able to limp on in the short term but badly wounded. If fewer than 80 rebel against her, she would be able to argue she had seen off a revolt by hardline Eurosceptics but she may still not be able to get her Brexit plans through the Commons. British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to discuss Brexit / REUTERS What happens if Theresa May loses the vote? She would not be able to stand in the subsequent leadership contest. How would that work? Candidates for the leadership must be nominated by two Conservative MPs. If only one candidate comes forward, he or she becomes leader but that looks highly unlikely with Boris Johnson, Sajid Javid and several others expected to enter the race. So the list of contenders would be whittled down to a shortlist of two in a series of vote by MPs. The final pair then go to a postal ballot of all Tory party members, with the position of leader - and Prime Minister - going to the victor. Participants in the postal vote need to have been Conservative party members for more than three months. When David Cameron decided to step down as prime minister and Conservative leader after the EU referendum in 2016, five candidates came forward. The field was narrowed to Mrs May and then-junior minister Andrea Leadsom, but she pulled out before members voted, leaving Mrs May to become leader unopposed. Dominic Raab is one of the bookies' favourites to replace Theresa May should she lose a vote of no confidence. / AFP/Getty Images How long would that take? T he Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara has resigned over Brexit. The MP for North West Cambridgeshire said he "cannot support" the agreement between Britain and the EU. Mr Vara became the first minister to quit following Wednesday's announcement, stating he does not believe it delivers fully on the result of the referendum. In a Tweet, Mr Vara said: "With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. Shailesh Vara said he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement / PA "It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories." Mr Vara was promoted to his Government post in July, after previously being a parliamentary private secretary in the Northern Ireland Office. Alongside his announcement, Mr Vara shared a picture of his letter, on headed paper and addressed to Theresa May. North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland / PA It read: "I write to offer my resignation as a Minister in your Government. I do so with sadness but I cannot support the Withdrawal Agreement that has been agreed with the European Union. "The EU Referendum offered a simple choice - to either stay in or leave the EU. "The result was decisive with the UK public voting to leave and that is what we, their elected representatives, must deliver. "The Agreement put forward however, does not do that as it leaves the UK in a half-way house with no limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation." TODO: define component type apester After this, he expressed his concern Britain could be "locked in a customs union indefinitely" and bound to rules "over which we have no say". He then commented upon the Irish border issue, which has proved contentious throughout negotiations. On this, he said: "Whilst I agree there should be no hard bored between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom must be respected." Mrs May had stated that the choice in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop had been "difficult". EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier holds the draft withdrawal agreement / AP Concluding, Mr Vara wrote: "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better. The people of the UK deserve better. That is why I cannot support this agreement." Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, backed Mr Vara's decision, and on Twitter said: "Well done Shailesh Vara. This deal is not in the interest of the UK in general and Northern Ireland in particular." While the move was called a "heroic resignation" by Steve Baker, Conservative MP for Wycombe. Mr Vara's decision comes after Mrs May held discussions with Cabinet ministers on Wednesday, who approved the draft terms of her EU withdrawal. Theresa May confirms draft Brexit agreement Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, minutes after her meetings with Cabinet Ministers concluded, she said: "I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of the United Kingdom." However, she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament. Brexiteer Conservative MPs, alongside some Remainers, have condemned the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and handing control back to Brussels. Amid the turmoil, reports have claimed a Conservative leadership challenge against Mrs May could be imminent. Political sources have claimed a vote of confidence could be forced through by lunchtime on Thursday. P olice have warned they may not have the resources to cope with widescale disruption and dangers for the general public that could result from a no-deal Brexit Officers also said they have not been given much information or guidance about how to prepare for such a scenario, and may even need to call on the military. The operational policing lead for the Police Federation of England and Wales, Simon Kempton, told Sky News police fear a return of violence to Northern Ireland and have even warned about the possibility of food rationing should the nation resort to panic-buying. In a no-deal Brexit, Mr Kempton said police forces would face a very, very steep learning process in how to cope. The PM sips water during a press conference in Downing Street on Thursday / AP Mr Kempton added that he was describing the worst case scenario. He warned about the possibility of border crossing delays leading to a shortage in essential supplies, like food and medicines. He told Sky News: This is 2018, it's the year people dialled 999 because KFC ran out of chicken. If that can happen, imagine what will happen if we start to see food or medical supply shortages. We live in a liberal democracy. Protest is good, protest is part of being a democracy. "Where that moves into disorder, though, to violence - that's the concern. And where people can't feed themselves, potentially, where people can't get their insulin, potentially, it's a real concern that those protests might escalate into disorder. (Anthony Devlin/PA ) / Anthony Devlin/PA "That would obviously need policing and that brings dangers for the general public." On Thursday, Theresa May vowed she would see Brexit through, on a day of political chaos where various senior members of her cabinet resigned. The Prime Minister said she would continue to strive to secure a Brexit deal that the British people voted for after her future was thrown into doubt following a fierce backlash to the EU exit agreement. But here are fears the UK could leave the EU in March without a deal. Mr Kempton said if the demand on officers was higher because of possible disruption the force may not be able to cope. He said: "If we were that low on resources and demand was that high that we had to start asking the military to step up and assist us in our day-to-day job then that is a real line in the sand. S hailesh Vara has resigned from his post as the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office over the draft Brexit deal. He announced his resignation saying the EU withdrawal agreement would leave the UK in a half-way house outside the EU. Mr Vara was the first minister to announce he was quitting over the deal on Thursday morning. Other resignations followed including from senior Cabinet ministers Dominic Raab, who was the Brexit secretary, and Esther McVey, who was the Work and Pensions Secretary. Who is Shailesh Vara? North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement / PA Mr Vara, a former lawyer, was appointed Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office on July 23 2018. He is the MP for North West Cambridgeshire. Previously, he worked as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions and at the Ministry of Justice. Why has he resigned? Brexit Secretary is second minister to resign in fallout from Theresa May's deal Mr Vara said of the deal: "We are going to be locked in for an indefinite period... over which we will have no say, and will effectively be taking rules and regulations from the EU. And if we want to leave the customs arrangement then we can't." TODO: define component type apester In a tweet displaying his resignation letter, he wrote: "With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. "It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories." T heresa May has called a press conference on one of her most tumultuous days as prime minister. The PM will speak to the media at 5pm following a series of ministerial resignations and a furious response from Tory MPs to her deal to leave the EU. It comes with her leadership under threat as the threshold of 48 letters required to trigger a confidence vote draws close. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the influential eurosceptic, earlier asked Mrs May to her face why he should not send one - and later confirmed he was doing so. Jacob Rees-Mogg denies treachery after declaring no confidence in PM He went on to say that what had been achieved was "not Brexit." Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, the man the prime minister appointed to reassure Brexiteers, quit his post saying he could not in good conscience endorse a deal that broke promises to voters. Dominic Raab, the now former Brexit Secretary leaves his home in Surrey / Alex Lentati Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey also resigned, along with Brexit Minister Suella Braverman, Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara and ministerial aides Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Ranil Jayawardena. At least two more major cabinet resignations looked possible. Michael Gove was said by MPs to have rejected an offer of the post of Brexit Secretary. Environment Secretary Michael Gove leaves after a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street last night / AP Sources close to the Environment Secretary were unable to say if he was staying or going after reading the document in full overnight. Another cabinet minister, Penny Mordaunt, was visibly agonising over whether to resign as she made an appearance for questions in the House. Theresa May's Brexit statement in 90 seconds Mrs May made a dignified statement in the Commons promoting her withdrawal agreement. She told MPs: The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated: This deal. TODO: define component type apester Mr Rees-Mogg, the leader of the European Research Group (ERG), then gathered his troops in Committee Room 10 in the Palace of Westminster. News emerged that he would indeed send a letter demanding a vote of no confidence in Mrs May, something he had hinted at in an exchange with the prime minister in the Commons chamber an hour earlier. But not all members of the ERG agreed - Sir Edward Leigh departed from the meeting saying there was a "genuine difference of opinion" about whether to support the prime minister's position. He said he would not be submitting a letter to the powerful backbench 1922 Committee calling for a no confidence vote. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson remained tight-lipped, refusing to answer questions about whether he would be writing his own letter. Speaking outside Parliament, Mr Rees-Mogg denied he was attempting a "coup" against Mrs May. He said a coup involved using "illegitimate procedures" to remove someone from office, while he was making use of Conservative Party rules in an "entirely constitutional" way. "I am not offering my name as leader," he said. "This is nothing to do with the ambition of Brexiteers. It is everything to do with the ambition of Brexit for this country." Discussing Mrs May's plan, he said: "This is not Brexit. It is a failure of government policy. It needs to be rejected." T heresa May is facing a confidence vote in her leadership in the fallout following her major Brexit announcement last night. A number of high-profile ministers have quit already today, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, minister for work and pensions Esther McVey and Brexit minister Suella Braverman. Jacob Rees-Mogg has now submitted a letter of no-confidence to Sir Graham Brady, saying the Prime Minister's Brexit deal "has turned out to be worse than anticipated". As ministers resign and former Brexit secretary urges the Prime Minister to change course on Brexit, take a look below at how Mrs May's crisis day unfolded. 7am Shadow Brexit secretary slams second-rate document Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer appeared on Good Morning Britain to share his views on Mrs Mays draft agreement which was approved by a Cabinet majority last night. Calling the draft a miserable failure of negotiation and a second-rate document, he said: Its a chaotic ending and the root cause is the utter division on the Conservative benches. Britain's Shadow Secretary of State for exiting the European Union, Keir Starmer / REUTERS 7.23am Minister of State for Northern Ireland resigns Shailesh Vara MP announced his resignation by saying he cannot support Mrs Mays Brexit agreement, which he said leaves the UK in the house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". Announcing the news with "regret, Mr Vara said in a letter to the Prime Minister that he cannot support the withdrawal agreement that has been agreed with the European Union. He said: We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. His resignation was later welcomed by MPs Kate Hoey, Zac Goldsmith and Sammy Wilson, among others. 7.29am - MP Nadine Dorries has already submitted a vote of no confidence. She hoped to remind others she has already submitted her own letter to 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady "weeks ago". 7.45am Meeting announced for EU27 on November 25 European Council president Donald Tusk said that the 27 member states of the EU will hold an emergency summit at 9.30am on November 25 "if nothing extraordinary happens" in the meantime. At a press conference in Brussels, Mr Tusk was presented by the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier with a copy of the 585-page agreement approved by Mrs May's Cabinet. Mr Tusk said that the agreement was already being analysed by all the member states and by the end of this week the EU27 ambassadors will meet in order to share their assessment. 8.20am Nicky Morgan comfortable with draft deal Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Conservative MP Nicky Morgan said she was comfortable with saying yes to the Prime Ministers deal but said it is not perfect. She said: It is not perfect. It was a negotiation, it will involve compromises. I havent got all of what I want but, at the end of the day, I wish we werent in this situation at all. 8.53am - Brexit Secretary resigns from the cabinet Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab quit and said he cannot in good conscience support the draft agreement. Tweeting his letter of resignation, Mr Raab said: "Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. Ultimately, you deserve a Brexit Secretary who can make the case for the deal you are pursuing with conviction. I am only sorry, in good conscience, that I cannot. Dominic Raab / EPA Following the Brexit Secretary's resignation, former Ukip leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "Well done Dominic Raab, a few more and we will be rid of this duplicitous Prime Minister." Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith says Mr Raab's resignation is "devastating" for the Prime Minister and said: It sounds like he has been ignored. 9.18am Government falling apart before our eyes Speaking about Brexit chaos, Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said: "The Government is falling apart before our eyes as for a second time the Brexit Secretary has refused to back the Prime Minister's Brexit plan. "This so-called deal has unravelled before our eyes. This is the 20th minister to resign from Theresa May's Government in her two-year premiership. Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her Cabinet - let alone Parliament and the people of our country." 9.23am Pound falls heavily after Raabs resignation The pound fell heavily against most major currencies after Mr Raab's resignation. Sterling dropped 1.1% to 1.28 US dollars and was 1.2% lower at 1.13 euros. 9.30am Letter of no confidence Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris told Sky News that she has submitted a letter of no confidence in Mrs May to the 1922 Committee this morning. Odds on the Prime Minister resigning or being ousted by the end of the day sit at 5/1. Prime Minister Theresa May / Jeremy Selwyn 9.58am Esther McVey announces resignation Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey announced her resignation, saying that the Brexit agreement put forward by Mrs May does not honour the result of the referendum. Her letter said the deal threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom and added: We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal. I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. 10.20am Anne-Marie Trevelyan announces resignation Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned as a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Education. She said she cannot support the Brexit agreement after negotiations "built on the UK trying to appease the EU". In her resignation letter, she wrote: Sadly, the deal which you and your Cabinet have approved is not one which I can support. It is now clear to me that the negotiations have been built on the UK trying to appease the EU and we have allowed ourselves to be led into a deal which is unacceptable to the 17.4 million voters who asked for us to step away from the EU project and become an independent nation once again. 10.22am Suella Braverman announces resignation Suella Braverman, a Brexit minister, announced her resignation with deep regret and after reflection. Tweeting her resignation letter, Ms Braverman wrote: Throughout this process, I have compromised. I have put pragmatism ahead of idealism and understand that concessions are necessary. However, I have reached a point where I feel that these concessions do not respect the will of the people the people who put us here and whom we humbly serve. We must not let them down. 10.30am Theresa May tells Commons not a final deal Speaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister said her draft Brexit agreement is not a final deal but instead a draft treaty, which sets out the framework for a future relationship with the EU. There was laughter as she said that it would allow the UK to leave "in a smooth and orderly way" on March 29. "It takes back control of our borders, laws and money. It protects jobs, security and the integrity of the United Kingdom, and it delivers in ways that many said could simply not be done," she said. Deal aftermath: Theresa May's leadership is under growing threat / REUTERS 10.47am Theresa May: 'Not a comfortable process' Setting out details of the arrangements for a possible "backstop", Mrs May said: "I do not pretend that this has been a comfortable process, or that either we or the EU are entirely happy with some of the arrangements which have been included in it. "But of course this is the case. This is an arrangement that we have both said we never want to have to use. "But while some people might pretend otherwise, there is no deal which delivers the Brexit the British people voted for which does not involve this insurance policy - not Canada-plus-plus-plus, not Norway-for-now, not our own White Paper. The EU will not negotiate any future partnership without it." 10.50am Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responds to agreement Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration as a "huge and damaging failure", adding: "After two years of bungled negotiations the Government has produced a botched deal that breaches the Prime Minister's own red lines and does not meet our six tests. "The Government is in chaos. Their deal risks leaving the country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say. When even the last Brexit Secretary, who theoretically at least negotiated the deal, says 'I cannot support the proposed deal', what faith does that give anyone else in this place or in this country? "The Government simply cannot put to Parliament this half-baked deal that both the Brexit Secretary and his predecessor have rejected. No deal is not a real option and the Government has not seriously prepared for it." Jeremy Corbyn said: After two years of bungled negotiations, from what we know of the Governments deal its a failure in its own terms 10.55am - Mayor of London: Please vote against this bad deal Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged all MPs to "please vote against this bad deal" and repeated his call for a second public vote on Brexit. In a statement, he said: "My officials have now combed through all 585 pages of the Withdrawal Agreement and it's crystal clear that this is a bad deal for London and the UK that will worsen life chances and reduce the opportunities available to the next generation. "This deal still needs to be approved by Parliament and ratified by the EU - and it is not too late to set a better course. The Prime Minister has now said we have a choice between her deal, no deal, or no Brexit at all. Faced with a bad deal and a catastrophic no deal, the British public must be given the final say, with staying in the European Union an option on the ballot paper." 11.14am Theresa May: No plans for no Brexit Mrs May, when asked by Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable about contingency planning, said: "We are making no plans for no Brexit because this Government is going to deliver on the vote of the British people." Sir Vince had suggested such planning would include informing the European Commission that Article 50 would be withdrawn. 11.20am DUPs Nigel Dodds speaks against deal Democratic Unionist Party's deputy leader Nigel Dodds tore into the Prime Minister over her deal's handling of Northern Ireland. He told MPs: "I could today stand here and take the Prime Minister through the list of promises and pledges she made to this house and to us, privately, about the future of Northern Ireland in the future relationship with the EU. But I fear it would be a waste of time since she clearly doesn't listen." Mr Dodds, the DUP's leader in Westminster, went on to praise the five ministers who quit on Thursday morning, saying: "The choice is now clear: we stand up for the United Kingdom, the whole of the United Kingdom, the integrity of the United Kingdom, or we vote for a vassal state with the breakup of the United Kingdom, that is the choice." 11.32am Rees-Mogg to submit letter of no confidence Jacob Rees-Mogg will submit a letter today calling for a no confidence vote in Mrs May, the Political Editor of the Daily Telegraph quotes a source as saying. Mr Rees-Mogg warned he could add his name to the ranks calling for a leadership contest. Jacob Rees-Mogg to submit a letter of no confidence in Theresa May / AFP/Getty Images 12.18pm May to fight any no confidence votes Speaking to Sky News, a Downing Street spokesman said Mrs May expects to be Prime Minister when the UK leaves the EU next year. The spokesman said the Prime Minister would fight any vote of confidence against her. 12.19pm Prime Minister should change course over Brexit Explaining his resignation Dominic Raab said he believed Mrs May should stay on as Prime Minister but change course over Brexit. "I have been fighting for a good Brexit deal but the terms proposed to the Cabinet yesterday had two major and fatal flaws," he told the BBC. "The first is that the terms being offered by the EU threaten the integrity of the UK. "The second is that they would lead to an indefinite, if not permanent, situation where we are locked into a regime with no say over the rules and the laws being applied, with no exit mechanism. Theresa May / Getty Images 12.32pm Brexit strengthens case for independence Scotlands First Minister Nicole Sturgeon speaks on the deal to say Brexit has strengthened a case for Scottish independence. She said she had no doubt Scotland would choose independence when the time comes. She earlier tweeted: "I just hope Esther McVey takes the travesty that is Universal Credit out the door with her." 12.40pm MP Ranil Jayawardena resigns Conservative MP Ranil Jayawardena resigns as Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. In a letter to the Prime Minister, he wrote: I cannot agree, in the cold light of day, that the deal in front of us today is right for our country. It does not deliver a good and fair Brexit. 1pm Jacob Rees-Mogg no confidence motion Jacob Rees-Mogg has handed in his letter of no-confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee. He said Mrs May's Brexit deal "has turned out to be worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation by the Prime Minister". 1.34pm - Conservative MP Henry Smith enters a vote of no confidence. "It's time to put up or shut up," he told the BBC. 2.07pm - Prominent Tory Brexiter Steve Baker submits a vote of no confidence letter. 2.58pm - Conservative MP Rehman Chishti has resigned The party's Vice Chairman publishes his letter of resignation, due to his disappointment in a "lack of leadership". 3.08pm - Sheryll Murray submits her No Confidence letter 3.28pm - Carwyn Jones issues joint letter with Nicola Sturgeon The First Ministers of Wales and Scotland issue a demand for new talks at the UK's body for its individual union nations. 7.05pm - Anne-Marie Morris confirms her vote of no confidence. E U chief Donald Tusk today insisted he wanted to make Britains divorce from the EU the least painful possible. But the president of the European Council also warned that Brexit was a lose-lose situation. In a press conference in Brussels, with a beaming EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, Mr Tusk also confirmed that there would be an EU summit on Brexit on November 25 if nothing extraordinary happens. However, this was thrown into doubt within hours by the resignation of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab despite the Cabinet last night collectively backing the 585-page agreement drawn up by EU and UK negotiators. Mr Tusk said: Of course, I do not share the Prime Ministers enthusiasm about Brexit. TODO: define component type apester Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and our negotiations are only about damage control. Thanking Mr Barnier for his work, Mr Tusk added: You have achieved our two most important objectives: You ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and you secured the vital interests and principles of the 27 member states and of the European Union as a whole. In a message to the British people, Mr Tusk tweeted: As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us. Labour MP Wes Streeting responded, saying: This sounds like something your dentist says when he is about to pull out a couple of teeth. However, Mr Barnier argued that what had been agreed by the negotiating teams was fair and balanced. He insisted that it took into account UKs positions, organised the withdrawal in an orderly fashion, ensured no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic and laid the ground for an ambitious new trade partnership. European Parliament chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt warned that if the proposed deal was blocked by Parliament there was not a lot of room to renegotiate after more than two years of talks. He stressed that delaying Britains exit in March would need the agreement of all EU states, adding: I dont see this happening. He also said that the proposed withdrawal agreement meant maintaining common rules on environmental measures and social standards, among other things. He said: I think it secures that there is no big disruption, certainly not in the first years, for neither the European economy nor the British economy, and so I hope that everybody will understand that when they are voting. N ikki Da Costa, director of Legislative affairs at Downing Street has handed in her resignation. She told Guido Fawkes: It has been an honour to serve the PM and I have huge respect for her. This decision was very hard. It comes amid a wave of resignations on Thursday in response to Theresa Mays Brexit proposals. Ms da Costa was brought in last year in the new role of Director of Legislative affairs. The role aimed to help cope with the difficulties of pushing through legislation without a majority in the commons with a focus on Brexit and domestic bills. She previously worked for her own company that provided business training to public affairs professionals. Earlier on Thursday, Esther McVey, Dominic Raab and Shailesh Vara announced their resignations from the cabinet. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has also resigned / EPA Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara went first saying that he cannot support the agreement between Britain and the EU. Mr Raab resigned over the Brexit deal he negotiated, saying: "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime." Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned on Thursday morning / AP Remain-backing Conservative MP Anna Soubry tweeted: "Raab's resignation marks the end of PMs Withdrawal Agreement. This is v serious the PM will clearly be considering her position. My own view is that we need a Govt of National Unity and we need it now." P rince William today attacked the worlds top tech firms for failing to combat cyber bullying and trolling on social media. In one of his hardest hitting speeches, the Duke of Cambridge highlighted the dangers of the internet at a speech at the BBCs broadcasting house. Warning of the dangers of not taking action to stop cyber bullying, William said, I am worried though that our technology companies still have a great deal to learn about the responsibilities that come with their significant power. I say this not in anger. Again, I believe that our tech leaders are people of integrity who are bringing many benefits to our lives and societies. I am very concerned though, that on every challenge they face fake news, extremism, polarisation, hate speech, trolling, mental health, privacy, and bullying our tech leaders seem to be on the back foot. William made the speech at BBC Broadcasting House, in London / PA Their self-image is so grounded in their positive power for good, that they seem unable to engage in constructive discussion about the social problems that they are creating, he said. He praised the Stop, Speak, Support, campaign which is now rolling out to schools across the country, and said it is just one of the things we should be celebrating. He added, I am so grateful to you all for the time, expertise, and resources you have contributed. It hasnt been easy, but I believe our attempt to work collaboratively has been instructive for the rest of the world. We launched our commitments one year ago. And when we did, I told the taskforce members that I would be honest in assessing what we achieved and what we did not. And thats what Im going to do today, he said. He went on, We have seen that the technology that can allow you to develop an online community around a shared hobby or interest can also be used to organise violence. The platform that can allow you to celebrate diversity can also be used to cocoon yourself in a cultural and political echo chamber. William warned of the dangers of not doing enough to stop cyber bullying / REUTERS William Warned: The tools that we use to congratulate each other on milestones and successes can also be used to normalise speech that is filled with bile and hate. The websites we use to stay connected can for some create profound feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. And the apps we use to make new friends, can also allow bullies to follow their targets even after they have left the classroom or the playing field. In cyberbullying he warned, For too many, social media and messaging was supercharging the age-old problem of bullying, leaving some children to take their own lives when they felt it was unescapable. I felt that I might be able to make a difference on this issue. I did not have the answers, but I did have the ability to invite the brightest leaders and researchers in social media to sit around the table, to listen to parents and children, and see what we might do together to make the online world safer and happier for our young people. Director-General of the BBC Tony Hall listens during a visit by Prince William / Getty Images What I found very quickly though was that the sector did not want to own this issue. I heard doubts being cast about the scale of the problem. I was told that companies were already doing plenty and just needed more credit for it. I saw denials about the age of young children on some of our most popular platforms. B ookmakers have Theresa May at 5/1 to resign or be ousted as Prime Minister by the end of the day after a fierce backlash to her Brexit deal plunged her future into doubt. Several ministers have resigned including high-profile figures Dominica Raab and Esther McVey. Betfair has given odds of 5/1 that the Prime Minister will leave today. She is odds-on at 4/5 not to see out the year, according to Betfair, who also install Home Secretary Sajid Javid as favourite at 6/1 to succeed Mrs May if she resigns. Voters want a new Brexit referendum, a poll reveals today / Jeremy Selwyn Bookies Fitzdares have former Foreign Secretary and staunch Brexiteer Boris Johnson as the most likely candidate to step into the Prime Minister's shoes. The ministers most likely to resign next are Penny Mordaunt, Michael Gove and David Mundell, according to Betfair. Mrs May gave a fighting statement in the Commons on Thursday morning to try to rally support for her deal. Odds for Theresa Mays replacement Boris Johnson 5/1 Sajid Javid 6/1 David Davis 13/2 Jacob Rees-Mogg 9/1 Michael Gove 9/1 Jeremy Hunt 11/1 Amber Rudd 40/1 Odds provided by Fitzdares. Which minister most likely to resign next? Penny Mordaunt - 2/5 Michael Gove - 4/7 David Mundell - 8/11 Theresa May 5/1 Sajid Javid - 11/2 Karen Bradley - 13/2 Liam Fox - 8/1 Chris Grayling - 10/1 James Brokenshire - 12/1 David Gauke - 12/1 Jeremy Hunt - 14/1 Greg Clark - 14/1 Baroness Evans of Bowes Park - 16/1 Alun Cairns - 16/1 Odds provided by Betfair. 'Truly make or break time for Theresa' One bookmaker suggests odds for Mrs May to face a vote of no confidence are now at 3/1 - the shortest it has been to date. Bookmakers.tv was forced to cut the odds on Mrs May being replaced as 94 per cent of bets coming in have been on the Prime Minister to vacate Number 10 by the end of November. Meanwhile, the odds are evens for that no Brexit deal is agreed by April 1 2019, whilst another EU referendum before the end of 2019 is now 5/2 having been cut from 3/1. Theresa May's future was plunged into doubt today / PA Wire/PA Images "This is truly make or break time for Theresa," William Woodhams, CEO of Fitzdares, said. "The money suggests she will be gone by Christmas and we think that Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt will throw their hat into the ring to take over. Rees-Mogg will suck up a lot of the publicity but will not win. "We are tipping Amber Rudd as the outsider who may surprise everyone." Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson is Fitzdares' most likely candidate to replace Theresa May / AFP/Getty Images Katie Baylis, a spokeswoman for Betfair, added: Before the announcement, May was 24/1 to leave her post this year, but in the aftermath of the draft text being released, those double-figure odds have been shortening by the hour and have gone from 3/1 last night to odds-on at 4/5 this morning. If that were to happen Sajid Javid is considered by Betfair as the likeliest candidate to lead the Tory party at 6/1. S audi Arabia said 11 suspects have been indicted in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with five facing the death penalty. Saudi prosecutors are requesting the punishment after Mr Khashoggi was slain when he attended the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul on October 2. Another ten people are in custody linked to the killing, making the total number detained 21, though they have not been indicted or referred to trial. "The Public Prosecutor has requested the death penalty for 5 individuals who are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals," Saudi Arabia's deputy public prosecutor and spokesman Shaalan al-Shaalan said. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his government was not satisfied with this announcement, . He repeated Turkey's demand members of what it claims to be a 15-man team involved in Mr Khashoggi's killing should be tried in Turkey. Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 / PA Mr Khashoggi had visited the consulate to pick up documents for his upcoming wedding with fiancee Hatice Cengiz. She attended the building with him and waited outside for hours, though he was never to return. CCTV shows Jamal Khashoggi enter consulate 1 /6 CCTV shows Jamal Khashoggi enter consulate Jamal Khashoggi, circled, outside the consulate on October 2 AP Images show him speaking to Hatice Cengiz, his wife-to-be, before entering AP He was entering the consulate to get documentation for his upcoming marriage AP The Saudi government has now described him as having been "murdered" AP He is seen in a black jacket, grey shirt and grey trousers AP Some 18 people have been arrested in connection with his death AP CCTV showed Mr Khashoggi entering the building, leaving Ms Cengiz at the gate leading up to it. Mr Khashoggi wrote for the Washington Post and was a vocal critic of the Saudi government. Hatice Cengiz waited outside the consulate for Mr Khashoggi, though he never returned / AP Mystery has surrounded the events which led to his death, though Saudi Arabia accepted he died in the building though statements as to what happened have been inconsistent. Now, Mr al-Shaalan has said the writer died after a struggle, in which he was given a lethal injection dose, before his body was dismembered and taken out of the building, There have been reports that his body was dissolved afterwards, and the whereabouts of his remains is still unknown, though this has not been confirmed. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) meeting with Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi (L), son of late Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi / EPA Continuing, Mr al-Shaalan said that Mr Khashoggi was murdered after "negotiations" for his return to the kingdom failed. He claimed the person who ordered the killing was the head of the negotiating team that was sent to repatriate Mr Khashoggi. Turkish officials have accused Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman of ordering the murder while President Erdogan said the killing was ordered at the "highest levels" of the Saudi government. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made grave accusations in regards to Jamal Khashoggi's death / AP In addition to this, President Donald Trump has suggested ultimate responsibility lies with the prince. However, Saudi Arabia has denied involvement of the royal family in connection to the death. A travel ban has been imposed on a top aide to the crown prince, Saud al-Qahtani, while investigations continue over his role. He has already been fired from the royal court. Turkey says it has a recording related to the killing, which President Erdogan called "appalling". A giant crater bigger than Paris that former when a meteorite smashed into Earth has been found deep below Greenlands ice sheets. The 31km-wide impact site was created between three million and 12,000 years ago and is the first to be found underneath one of Earth's continental ice sheets. An international team of scientists came across the crater below the Hiawatha Glacier in north-west Greenland. It is believed the impact of the meteorite could have drastically altered the climate and led to serious consequences for life on Earth at the time. The scars of the meteorite smash have been preserved since then after being buried underneath ice more than a kilometre thick. It was first discovered in July 2015 when researchers from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, detected a depressed area underneath the glacier while inspecting a new map of its physical features. A research plane then performed state-of-the-art ice radar measurements which revealed the huge crater in detail. Chemical analysis performed at Cardiff University allowed researchers to paint a picture of the type of object capable of causing the amount of destruction. They did this by measuring the sediment from a river that drains straight through the glacier, and looked for signs of metals that would indicate it was caused by a meteorite. A number of iron meteorites, including a 20-tonne fragment kept at the Geological Museum in Copenhagen, had previously been found in the area around Cape York, not far from Hiawatha. This led scientists to believe an impact must have occurred in the region, a theory which lacked evidence until now. Dr Iain McDonald, from Cardiff University's School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, co-authored the research, which has been published in the Science Advances journal. He said: "While it requires more research, we consider it possible that the Cape York irons may have been outer fragments or even boulders on the surface of the main meteorite. We suspect these initially detached in Earth's gravity field and then decelerated as they entered the atmosphere to fall south of the Hiawatha crater." Professor Kurt H Kjaer, from the Natural History Museum of Denmark and lead author of the research, said: "The crater is exceptionally well-preserved and that is surprising, because glacier ice is an incredibly efficient erosive agent that would have quickly removed traces of the impact. A fisherman on a kayak had to swim for his life when a shark attacked sending him flying into the water off the coast of Queensland today. Kyle Roberts was hurled several feet into the ocean when the 12-foot tiger shark sank its teeth into the kayak, about a mile off Moffat Beach on Australias Sunshine coast. Luckily an air bubble kept the front of the kayak afloat while the terrified fisherman alerted rescuers on his two-way radio. By the time two lifesavers on jet skis reached the fisherman the shark was still circling the kayak but eventually swam away. The kayaker was attacked by a Tiger shark Mr Roberts, 31, was treated for shock but was not hurt. Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) duty officer David McLean said: There was no blood in the water nothing else to attract any sharks just came out of the blue, completely broadsided him, and as he stated, hes very lucky to be here. The kayak was bitten by the shark / ABC He said the shark didnt make any physical contact with him, but it did make a second lunge at him after biting his craft, and it just missed him fortunately. When he swam back to it (the kayak), the shark was still holding onto his kayak, then let go, then did another lunge, and that lunge missed him and landed beside the kayak. Kyle Roberts was flung into the ocean and had to swim for his life Fellow surf lifesaver Jacob Thomson said they had difficulty finding him at first. He was quite a significant distance out to sea. Bite marks: The kayak was taking on water after being bitten by the shark I was on the headland with some binoculars and directed our jet skis over to him as best we could, he added. Mr Thomson described it as a random attack but an unbelievable experience for the kayaker. A spokesman for Surf Life Saving Queensland praised his members for performing an amazing and dramatic rescue. Speaking to The Courier Mail, Mr Roberts said the conditions had been relatively calm and there was zero warning of the attack. I have had a very lucky day, thats for sure, Mr Roberts said. Mr McLean said while Mr Roberts was waiting for help he was starting to panic, especially when the shark was starting to circle him. He would have been through a fair state of panic and that was evident in his voice when he was talking on the radio, he said. It was the seventh major shark attack in Australian waters in eight weeks, prompting calls for tougher action, including culling. M ichael Avenatti, the lawyer for porn star Stormy Daniels in her suit against Donald Trump, has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. Avenatti, who had said he was considering running for president in 2020, was being held on $50,000 bail after being detained on Wednesday. The lawyer has slammed the allegations as completely bogus. Police did not provide details about the alleged victim, including their relationship to Avenatti. But Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed the arrest. Michael Avenatti, attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels, leaves Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division after being arrested / REUTERS In a statement on Twitter, the force said: We can confirm that today LAPD Detectives arrested Michael Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available. Avenatti became famous as Ms Daniels' lawyer and pursued President Trump and those close to him relentlessly for months. Stormy Daniels claimed she had a sexual encounter with Donald Trump whilst he was still married / REUTERS Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had an affair with Trump in 2006. She has sued to invalidate the confidentiality agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election that prevents her discussing it. D eputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel has left her post a day after first lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. Aides said Ms Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month, reportedly on seating arrangements. A White House spokeswoman said she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration but did not elaborate. It was said to be highly unusual for a first lady, or her office, to intervene on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. Donald Trump and Melania / EPA On Tuesday Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, said in a statement: It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House. Melania Trump in Kenya - In pictures 1 /28 Melania Trump in Kenya - In pictures U.S. first lady Melania Trump holds a child during her visit to The Nest Children's Home near Nairobi, Kenya Reuters First lady Melania Trump holds a baby as she visits the Nest Orphanage in Limuru, Kenya AP U.S. first lady Melania Trump lifts a child during her visit to The Nest Children's Home near Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Children rehearse ahead of U.S. first lady Melania Trump arrival to watch a play at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi, Kenya Reuters First lady Melania Trump is handed a baby as she visits the Nest Orphanage in Limuru, Kenya AP First Lady of Kenya Margaret Kenyatta (R) and US First Lady Melania Trump stand alongside prior to their meeting at the State House in Nairob AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump (L) and the First Lady of Kenya Margaret Kenyatta greet children as they arrive to attend a performance at the Kenyan National Theater in Nairobi AFP/Getty Images First lady Melania Trump visits the Nest Orphanage in Limuru, Kenya, Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. Melania Trump has fed baby elephants as she visits a national park in Kenya to highlight conservation efforts. The U.S. first lady also went on a quick safari. Mrs. Trump is on her first-ever visit to Africa and her first extended solo international trip as first lady AP US First Lady Melania Trump walks and sings with children as she visits the Nest Childrens Home Orphanage in Nairobi, on October 5, 2018, which primarily cares for children whose parents have been incarcerated. AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump walks and sings with children as she visits the Nest Childrens Home Orphanage in Nairobi, on October 5, 2018, which primarily cares for children whose parents have been incarcerated. AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump feeds a baby elephant at The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi on October 5, 2018, as she pays a one day visit to the country during her solo tour of Africa promoting her children's welfare programme. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump (L) holds a baby as she visits the Nest Childrens Home Orphanage in Nairobi, on October 5, 2018, which primarily cares for children whose parents have been incarcerated. AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump walks and sings with children as she visits the Nest Childrens Home Orphanage in Nairobi, on October 5, 2018, which primarily cares for children whose parents have been incarcerated. AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump walks and sings with children as she visits the Nest childrens home orphanage, which primarily cares for children who's parents have been incarcerated, in Nairob AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump uses a smartphone as she travels in a vehicle while on a safari at The Nairobi National Park in Nairob AFP/Getty Images United States First Lady Melania Trump (C, top) drops a bottle of milk as she feeds a baby elephant at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya EPA A Secret Service agent (L) steps forward to protect US first lady Melania Trump as she steps backwards after being nudged by a baby elephant she petted, at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya AFP/Getty Images A Secret Service agent, left, holds U.S. first lady Melania Trump to protect her as she steps backwards after being nudged by a baby elephant she petted, at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya AP U.S. first lady Melania Trump, accompanied by CEO Angela Sheldrick, looks at the ear of a baby elephant, at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya Reuters AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US First Lady Melania Trump travels in a vehicle while on a safari at The Nairobi National Park in Nairobi AFP/Getty Images US first lady Melania Trump laughs after she was nudged by a baby elephant she petted, at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya AFP/Getty Images U.S. first lady Melania Trump pats a baby elephant, accompanied by CEO Angela Sheldrick (C), and Kenya's first lady Margaret Kenyatta (R), at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya Reuters U.S. first lady Melania Trump shoes are seen as she stands next to Angela Sheldrick, Executive Director of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust during her visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Elephant keepers prepare to receive U.S. first lady Melania Trump during her visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya Reuters U.S. first lady Melania Trump feeds a baby elephant milk with a bottle, at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya Reuters A US homeless man and a couple have been accused of conspiring to make up a heart-warming tale about giving the woman his last $20 in order to fundraise money for themselves. Kate McClure claimed that homeless man Johnny Bobbitt had given her his last $20 after her car ran out of petrol and she was stuck on a Philadelphia motorway. After the incident, Ms McClure, along with her boyfriend Mark DAmico raised over 300,000 for Mr Bobbitt on GoFundMe, with people from all over the world donating cash to help Mr Bobbitt find somewhere to live and start afresh. However NBC10 are reporting that the couple and Mr Bobbitt will all face charges including conspiracy and theft by deception. Johnny Bobbitt poses for a picture in November last year with Mark D'Amico and Kate McClure. Police raided their home on Thursday / Elizabeth Robertson/AP Its alleged that the three conspired together to make up the false story to raise funds for themselves. The couple allegedly turned themselves in on Wednesday to authorities. However it is unclear if Mr Bobbitt was with them. In August, Mr Bobbitt, 35, claimed that he had no access to the cash raised in his name. Mr Bobbitt, once again homeless and addicted to drugs, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he feared the couple squandered much of the money and claimed he cant access the remaining funds. He then sued the couple. Johnny Bobbitt pictured earlier this year / David Swanson/AP His lawyers accused them of enjoying a lifestyle they could not afford including buying a BMW by using the fund as their personal piggy bank. Ms McClure, a receptionist, and Mr DAmico, a car mechanic, said they withheld the money to stop Mr Bobbitt spending it on drugs. They claimed he had blown $25,000 in a fortnight. In September, the Burlington County Prosecutor's office confirmed that a search warrant had been executed on the couple's house. A statement said: "Due to the enormous public interest in this matter, I am confirming that a search warrant was executed early this morning by the Burlington County Prosecutors Office and the Florence Township Police Department at the residence of Mark D'Amico and Katelyn McClure in connection with a criminal investigation into the Johnny Bobbitt matter. D'Amico and McClure's lawyer told NBC News he had no comment today. P M faces Commons backlash over Brexit deal Theresa May is braced for a furious backlash from Tory Brexiteers as she presents her draft EU divorce deal to the Commons. The Prime Minister cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers yesterday approved the draft terms of her agreement with Brussels. But she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave MPs line up to condemn the plan. Mrs May has been accused of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of the EU. Queen pays heartfelt birthday tribute to Charles The Queen has paid a rare public tribute to her son Prince Charles, hailing him as a wonderful father to William and Harry. Her touching words came as Charles family and friends gathered at Buckingham Palace to celebrate his 70th birthday. The monarch described her son as a dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history. Scientists discover exoplanet A planet orbiting one of the closest stars to our Sun has been discovered by astronomers. Nearby planets like this are likely to be prime targets in the search for of life in space. The planet's mass is believed to be more than three times of our own, meaning it is in a category known as "super-Earths". It orbits Barnard's star - six light-years away. Give all smokers tobacco dependence treatment, medics demand The NHS should ensure every smoker it cares for is given tobacco dependence treatment, a group of leading medics have said. NHS England boss Simon Stevens has been urged to include the proposal for the treatment in the services long-term plan. Experts say such treatment is one of the most cost-effective healthcare interventions known. Revealed: Elton John stars in John Lewis Christmas ad Sir Elton John is the star of this years hotly-anticipated John Lewis Christmas advert. The pop legend performs his hit Your Song for the soundtrack over a festive retrospective of his life and career. The advert will first air on television this evening at 9.15pm on ITV, during Dark Heart. On this day 1577: English explorer and navigator Sir Francis Drake began his voyage to sail around the world. 1899: Winston Churchill was captured by the Boers while covering the war as a reporter for the Morning Post. He escaped a few weeks later. 1956: Elvis Presley's first film, Love Me Tender, was premiered in New York. The heart-warming advert charts Sir Johns career journey from receiving his first ever piano on Christmas day to becoming an international superstar. The story is beautifully told by the star himself, as well as actors playing young Elton and his family. This plays out alongside Sir John's classic hit single, Your Song. When was Your Song first released by Elton John? AFP/Getty Images Your Song was first released in 1970, appearing on John's self-titled album. The heartfelt song was composed by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin, who John frequently collaborates with. It was first performed by American rock band Three Dog Night in March 1970, but they never released it as a single. Elton went on to record the track and it shot to number seven on the UK Singles Chart. What is Elton John's Your Song about? The song was written in 1967, when Bernie Taupin was 17 years old. Both he and John have refused to say whether the song is about anyone in particular. In a 1989 interview with Music Connection, Taupin said: "It's like the perennial ballad 'Your Song,' which has got to be one of the most naive and childish lyrics in the entire repertoire of music, but I think the reason it still stands up is because it was real at the time." He added: "That was exactly what I was feeling. I was 17 years old and it was coming from someone whose outlook on love or experiences with love was totally new and naive." Which John Lewis adverts has Your Song appeared in? John Lewis Christmas advert 2018 1 /13 John Lewis Christmas advert 2018 PA PA John Lewis Christmas ad tells how a piano changed his life: Elton John in the present day John Lewis & Partners PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Some savvy viewers may recall that this isn't the only time Your Song has featured in a John Lewis advert through the years. Ellie Goulding performed a cover version for the retailer's 2010 Christmas ad, called A Tribute to Givers. Who else has covered Your Song by Elton John? Elton John and Lady Gaga perform onstage during the 52nd annual GRAMMY Awards in 2010. / Getty Images As well as Ellie Goulding, Your Song was also covered by Lady Gaga in 2018. B ollywood superstars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have shared breathtaking snaps from their lavish two-day wedding ceremony. The couple, who had leading roles in an adaptation of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet titled Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani, officially wed on Tuesday and have since posted a sneak peek into the intimate ceremony. Padukone posted an image showing the newly-married couple sat side-by-side as she looked lovingly at Singh. Another showed the actors decked out for the occasion in traditional red and gold outfits. Singh appeared very much in love, gazing at his new wife in the image. Fans couldnt get enough of the loved up couple with one writing: Congratulations deepveer... Ur best couple in this world I feel sooo so so happy finally u got married... Love u so much god bless uhh... Happy married life (sic). Another commented: Bless you both u guys look amazinggggg. [sic] A third added: Wow So Beautiful. Congratulations To Both. Deeps You're Looking So Beautiful. [sic] A fourth wrote: Congratulations my fav couple. Love you and God bless you. Padukone and Singh are believed to have organised the ultimate destination wedding at Lake Como in Italy, choosing a select number of film star friends and family for the occasion. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu believes that Romania must stay in Europe as, in her opinion, a possible Roexit would be a "national catastrophe." "My message is that Romania must remain in Europe. (...) We shouldn't play with our future. (...) It's surprising for a country who benefited so much from the support of the European Union (...) to consider turning its back to all these opportunities. I don't think that there are people who actually want this and I am sorry that this possibility that Romania would ever leave the European Union came out, I don't know, out of the blue. In my opinion, this would be a national catastrophe and we will all be responsible for our future and the future of our children," MEP Corina Cretu told Romania TV private television broadcaster. She also said that, after the resolution on the rule of law in Romania adopted by the European Parliament and the latest CVM Report, it is important that people aren't led to think that the European Union wants to do harm to Romania. "I would like the parties to be wise and not turn this into a complot or claim that someone wants to do us harm. This is the result of what happened in the recent time. It's hard to fight an image that has already been created, which is why our efforts must be strengthened. And of course that we are now in a pre-election stage related to the elections to the European Parliament, which are the most politicized debates in the European Parliament," specified Corina Cretu. The newly appointed Minister-delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba, who took office on Wednesday, has given assurances that Romania will meet its commitments, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) reported on Thursday. Ciamba took over the coordination of the entire process of preparation for Romania's assuming the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2019. He underscored "the importance of assuming the presidency of the Council of the EU and gave assurances that Romania will meet its commitments made and act as a European partner for the consolidation of the European project." Ciamba said the MAE team he runs has the resources and the ability to secure a successful EU Council presidency in the first half of next year. He pointed out that mobilising all the efforts to meet the stated objectives enjoys the support of all decision-makers at national level. The resolution of the European Parliament regarding Romania is "the expression of some electoral interests of European political groups," Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated on Thursday. "We are able to prove to our European partners that Romania is a balanced, responsible member state, determined to contribute to the formation of the future of the European Union, regardless of the purely political approaches at one time or another. The European Parliament vote on Tuesday is such a moment and I assure you that we will not stray away from our objectives. I believe that the European Parliament resolution is the expression of some electoral interests of European political groups," PM Dancila stated in the beginning of the Government sitting. The Executive head mentioned, taking into account that there are several points, that the vote "wasn't about Romania or about righteousness." "I am referring here to the rejection of the explicit condemnation amendments of the protocols between the intelligence services and the institutions of the judicial system, taking into account that such practices are unacceptable in another member state of the European Union. It is difficult to understand the crucifiction of the Romanian Gendarmerie for their intervention manner, which was identical to that of the law enforcement of other member states," Dancila stated. According to the PM, "the hardest thing to explain is the vote of some Romanian MEPs against Romania." "I an convinced that this attitude will be sanctioned by the Romanians. I saw that they said they voted against Romania's Government. The resolution was not against Romania's Government, nor against another institution, the resolution referred to Romania. Regarding this issue, I would ask those who talk about Romania's withdrawal from the European Union to show more responsibility. Staying within the European Union is our only way and our membership to the European Union was never in question. Personal interests or those of some political groups cannot be tied to the status of Romania as a member state of the European Union," Dancila also stated. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila welcomed on Wednesday at the Victoria Palace Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe (CoE) Dunja Mijatovic, whom she tackled with the situation of people with disabilities and the fight against domestic violence. According to a release of the Government sent to AGERPRES, Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic is paying her first visit to Romania since taking over the Commissioner mandate on 1 April. "Expressing her satisfaction with the fact that the current Human Rights Commissioner is a woman, for the first time since the office was created and, in addition, she represents a state from Romania's southern vicinity, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila thanked for the visit, the first one that the high official paid to our country, after the election in the Human Rights Commissioner office," the release says. The discussions also aimed at aspects regarding the cooperation between Romania and the Council of Europe, with an emphasis on strengthening protection and promoting human rights. The two officials exchanged views regarding the topic of persons with disabilities, including education for children with disabilities, fighting domestic violence, respectively, the Gov't release mentions. Moreover, the PM underscored that Romania's accession to the Council of Europe in 1993, which also preceded and prepared the accession to NATO and the European Union, represented in the first place a pillar for the democratic transition and the construction of the rule of law in our country, the release mentions. Furthermore, also reviewed were the main topics that are subjected to the Government's close attention, including from an institutional point of view, namely the protection of persons belonging to vulnerable categories, children and women, the rights of persons belonging to minorities, persons with disabilities, as well as the freedom of the media. "The PM showed that the woman's rights will represent a priority of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council in 2019 by the promotion of gender equality, but also the fight against domestic violence," the Gov't release mentions. Moreover, Dancila hailed the efforts of the Human Rights Commissioner to fight the phenomena that are developing in Europe regarding the speech inciting to hatred and intolerance. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Thursday reiterated the fact that Romania is ready to take over and successfully exercise the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, as the action programme is almost done. "I want to clarify a very important aspect, considering the irresponsible commentaries made in the public area in the recent days. I will say this once and very clearly. Romania is prepared to take over and exercise the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ever since the beginning of its mandate, the Romanian Government initiated and developed an ample process of preparations for taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The action programme is ready, as we created the mechanisms of action and we established the modalities," Dancila stated in the beginning of the government meeting. The PM underscored that these things are very well known on both domestic and external plan. "Next week, we will receive the visit of the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, the leaders of the political groups and other high level officials at European level. We will discuss about aspects of interest for the future of the European Union and the good management of important files and I mean here the Multiannual Financial Framework, Brexit, the future of the European Union post-Brexit, the development of the security policy," said Dancila. Romania's President Klaus Iohannis and his wife Carmen attended on Wednesday a dinner at Buckingham Palace that celebrated Prince Charles's 70th birth anniversary. Iohannis presented Prince Charles with a glass icon depicting the Great Holy Martyr George, the Dragon Slayer, a collection of representative wines from the three historical regions of Romania - Moldova, Muntenia and Transylvania, and also a 1948 vintage wine from the year when the Prince of Wales was born. The head of state attended this event at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Iohannis started an official visit to the UK to and he was scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday, but the meeting did not take place "for objective reasons exclusively attributable to the British side," according to the Presidential Administration. The meeting between the two officials had been scheduled for Wednesday at the request of May, and the reason why it did not happen had to do with the fact that the government meeting to approve the text of the UK withdrawal agreement was still in progress. Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) welcomes the agreement of the negotiators of the European Union and the UK on the final version of the text of the agreement on UK pulling out of the EU. "This agreement marks a significant moment in the negotiating process and paves the way for defining an increasingly closer, enhanced future relationship of the European Union and the UK, this being a strategic objective of Romania, given its bilateral strategic partnership with the UK, close security co-operation, which maintenance is essential amidst the developments in the Eastern Neighbourhood, where Romania and Britain share common objectives," MAE said in a press statement released on Thursday. MAE also said it appreciated the substantial efforts made by the negotiating team coordinated by the European Commission's chief negotiator Michel Barnier that has led to decisive progress, especially for agreeing on a backstop solution and avoiding a tough border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. It added that considers that the Brexit agreement is the most effective instrument for containing the negative consequences of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and for ensuring legal certainty for citizens and the business community. "The withdrawal agreement will guarantee the protection of the rights of all Romanian citizens residing in the UK before 31 December 2020. They will be able to continue working, living and studying in the UK on the basis of a new settled status." MAE voiced hope that the agreement will be soon approved by the European Parliament and ratified by the UK Parliament as negotiated. It pointed out that Romania has been actively involved throughout the negotiating process, including by attending the meeting of the Article 50 Working Group and the drawing up of the negotiating mandates of the European Union. Sichuan has launched a series of tourism campaigns in Finland and the Czech Republic to help the province become a more international destination and attract more visitors from Europe, local officials said. The two main campaigns, titled "Beautiful Sichuan, More Than Pandas" and "The Journey of Famed Sichuan Cuisine Restaurants", are part of the province's efforts to expand its presence in the European market and bring about more international exchanges. "There is a huge potential for long-term cooperation between Finland and China. I hope that people from both sides could conduct more cultural exchanges and foster friendly ties," said Deng Xiaogang, deputy Party secretary of Sichuan province. "Sichuan has been well-known as a land of abundance since ancient times. It is home to giant pandas and many prestigious world cultural heritages and scenic areas including the Jiuzhaigou Valley, the Huanglong Valley, Mount Qingcheng, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha. It is also one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilization, as evidenced by Sanxingdui Ruins and Jinsha Site. "As an old Chinese saying goes, 'What you hear from others might be false, but what you see with your own eyes is real'. I invite friends from Finland to travel in and invest in Sichuan," Deng added. Sponsored by Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the "Beautiful Sichuan, More Than Pandas" campaign aims to advance Sichuan's diversified tourism resources worldwide and attract more overseas tourists to visit the province. Sichuan has launched such campaigns in over 10 countries and regions including Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia and the United States. During this year's campaign in Finland and the Czech Republic, panda mascots captured the attention of locals, many of whom also took part in painting porcelain pandas. "Through the panda artwork activity which represented the qualities and characteristics of 'Sichuan in my eyes', the Finnish public were able to garner a deeper understanding of tourism in Sichuan," said an official. The giant panda is a cultural symbol of Sichuan. Some 80 percent of the world's giant panda population live in the province, where there are 16 of China's 18 panda sanctuaries. Another tourism campaign aims to promote the renowned local food. Sichuan cuisine holds a reputation for its rich and deep flavors, especially from the numbing and spicy Sichuan pepper which is rare in other cuisines. It is not only the most widely served cuisine in China, but also sold in countless restaurants abroad. Statistics show that Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight major cuisines in China, using over 38 different cooking methods. It has more than 6,000 types of dishes, making the province a center for spicy hot dishes in China. To make people learn more about this distinctive cuisine, the campaign held many cooking contests at home and abroad. A total of 86 people applied to take part in the "Talents of Global Gourmet Tour" and 169 restaurants worldwide competed to be the best Sichuan cuisine restaurant. Other tourism campaigns have covered photo exhibitions, bianlian - a rapid mask-changing technique that is part of Sichuan Opera and tea art performances. Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Development Commission, Song Ming, gave an in-depth introduction of Sichuan's tourism resources, tourism products, and incentives provided by the Sichuan government. These promotional campaigns have raised Sichuan's profile in northern Europe and the inbound tourism market in Sichuan is expected to grow, Song added. Company executives from Sichuan and Finland sign a cooperation agreement to expand tourism market at a promotional event.Photos Provided To China Daily From left: Visitors enjoy Sichuan cuisine. The Beautiful Sichuan, More Than Pandas' campaign aims to advance Sichuan's diversified tourism resources worldwide. Panda mascots captured the attention of locals in Finland. (China Daily 11/12/2018 page12) The United States of America has no peace movement even though the country has been mired in unwinnable wars since 2001 and opinion polls suggest that there is only lukewarm support among the public for what is taking place in Afghanistan and Syria. This is in part due to the fact that todays corporate media virtually functions as a branch of government, which some might refer to as the Ministry of Lies, and it is disinclined to report on just how dystopic American foreign and national security policy has become. This leaves the public in the dark and allows the continued worldwide blundering by the US military to fly under the radar. The irony is that Americas last three presidents quite plausibly can be regarded as having their margins of victory attributed to a peace vote. George W. Bush promised a more moderate foreign policy in his 2000 campaign, Obama pledged to undo much of the harsh response to 9/11 promulgated by Bush, and Donald Trump was seen as the less warlike candidate when compared to Hillary Clinton. So the public wants less war but the politicians promises to deliver have been little more than campaign chatter, meaning that the United States continues to be locked into the same cycle of seeking change through force of arms. Just last week Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to a BBC journalist and said Iran must do what Washington demands if they want their people to eat. Pompeos comments should have shocked the public, but they were not widely reported. If Pompeo spoke for the Administration, that means that Washington is now ready, willing and often able to starve civilians and deny them medicines as a foreign policy tool. Iran is now on the receiving end, but the US has also been supporting similar action by the Saudi Arabians in Yemen, which has resulted in widespread starvation, particularly among children. The current policy recalls former Secretary of State Madeleine Albrights infamous comment that the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children due to sanctions had been worth it. It is hard to believe that most Americans support Pompeo. To be sure, there are a number of groups in the United States that have the word peace or antiwar somewhere in their titles. Most would describe themselves as progressive, wherein lies the problem in pulling together a more broadly-based coalition that would make Americas warfare state a key target in the national election in 2020. Progressives, or, as they used to be called, liberals, are not like everyone else. Some commentators observing their antics describe them scathingly as social justice warriors or SJWs. That means that they have a mandate to oppose all the evils in the world, to include racism, sexism, limits on immigration and capitalism to name only a few. War is somewhere on the list but nowhere near the top. SJWs have no comfort zone for dealing with anyone who does not fully buy into their blueprint for global rejuvenation. This means in turn that the antiwar movement, such as it is, is fragmented into a gaggle of groups with grievances that have little ability to establish cohesion with other organizations that might agree completely with their worldview. Folks like me, who are socially and politically conservative but antiwar, do not fit well with their priorities and would prefer to focus on the wars, but that option is not on offer without accepting a lot of sanctimonious garbage. A recent email from the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights illustrates precisely what is wrong. I would support the group based on my concern for justice for the Palestinians but have no interest in its ridiculous stereotyping of who is the enemy, i.e. the omnipresent evil white supremacists who are also male, Gentile and heterosexual. The email, sent by one Nusayba Hammad, Communications Director, begins: In the past week, white supremacist gunmen murdered 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and two Black people in Louisville, and Trump announced his intention to try to erase trans, non-binary, and intersex folks Our struggles for justice are inextricably linked: rejecting white supremacy means rejecting antisemitism, anti-Black racism, Zionism, Islamophobia, transphobia, and all forms of oppression. This is especially important knowing that many, many people carry overlapping identities and thus are marginalized at the intersection of overlapping oppressions. Yes, I know, it is impossible to understand what she is going on about unless one is educated in the progressive codewords. And also yes, the text could have been written by Monty Python. After that introduction the email goes on to provide some resources to expand [ones] knowledge, including this gem: Palestine as a Queer Struggle (video) This webinar with Nada Elia, Falastine Dwikat, and Izzy Mustafa covers the intersecting struggles against heteropatriarchy and Zionism. With Trumps most recent attack on trans, non-binary, and intersex folks, its imperative that we understand the importance of standing with queer and trans people in the US and in Palestine as they face multiple layers of oppression. As war, in this case the slaughter of the Palestinians by the Jewish state, is the ultimate evil and it brings with it many other forms of suffering, it would seemingly not be asking too much to worry about it as a first priority before getting into the multiple layers of oppression that seem to bother lefties so much. But, alas, they cannot jettison that baggage and for that reason many normal people who want the wars to stop will not be participating in their protests. Its a shame really, as joining together and fighting to stop the next war is well worth doing for every human being on this planet. With an area of almost 1.8 million square kilometers (700,000 sq. mi), Libya is the fourth largest country in Africa and the 16th largest country in the world, and it also owns the 10th-largest proven oil reserves. Despite being an unstable and divided nation, it plans to hold elections by June 2019. The UNs Libya envoy, Ghassan Salame, believes Libyans should first hold a national conference in early 2019 to decide on the format of the poll. The international community is expected to help. Italy, the former colonial power in Libya, hosted a multinational conference Nov. 12-13 in an effort to resurrect the United Nations (UN) efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict there. The event was attended by the US as well as West European, UN, and League of Arab nations and African Union officials, in addition to the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents plus delegations from Qatar, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Niger, and Chad. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, the EUs foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev were among the attendees. Despite all their divisive differences, Libyas rival parties agreed to hold a UN-brokered election. Since 2011, Libya has been split between two rival governments: the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) that is recognized by the UN as the official government and the House of Representatives that is based in the eastern city of Tobruk and supported by the forces loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the self-styled Libyan National Army headquartered in eastern Libya. He is often called Libyas strongman. Each of them is backed by an array of rival militia groups. Terrorists of all kinds, including ISIS factions, add to the instability. To be honest, the outcome of the Palermo Conference was less than encouraging. It is true that the handshake with which GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Marshall Khalifa Hafter greeted each other looked like a step in the right direction, but the conspicuous exit from the hall by the delegation led by PM Serraj just as Marshall Haftar started to speak was hardly reassuring. That military leader was not even an official participant his entourage had emphasized the fact that he wasn't taking part in the conference itself but was rather there for side meetings with the leaders of neighboring countries. The Turkish delegation headed by Vice President Fuat Oktay withdrew from the conference in deep disappointment when Turkey was excluded from a meeting of key players taking part in the event. But neither Libyas rival fractions nor the other actors involved, such as France, Italy, or Russia, objected to the UN plan to organize the elections, and thats a positive sign. The problem is that neither of the rival factions exercises enough control over the country to ensure the law and order that would be needed for a national vote. The NATO intervention in 2011 did so much damage that the mission to get the country back on track now seems a tall order. The problems facing the country, such as rivalry between the two administrations in Tripoli and Tobruk, internal fighting between various armed factions, tribes, and city-states, the ruined economy, and the uncontrolled influx of weapons seem almost insurmountable. But letting the crisis continue to drag out is not an option, especially as the EU is facing waves of asylum-seekers arriving on European shores from Libya. The instability in Libya threatens the entire Maghreb. The best way to fight ISIS and other terror groups is to stabilize Libya. The country is a tumultuous place in need of rebuilding. It has been devastated, but there is enormous potential in the mining of oil and gas. With Italy supporting PM Sarraj and France taking the side of Marshal Haftar, this makes Moscow the perfect mediator, as it is in dialog with both. Both sides have already approached Russia to ask for help, seeing that country as the most reliable partner. Moscow also enjoys good relations with other pertinent actors, such as Egypt and the UAE active backers of Haftar. It took no part in the 2011 intervention and has managed to achieve something that would seem impossible positive results in Syria. Unlike the US, Moscow seeks to prevent conflict between Iran and the Gulf countries, as well as between Israel and Iran. In Libya, Russia is ready to cooperate with the West, as both are interested in preventing that big, oil-rich country from becoming a safe haven for terrorists. Russia was a good friend of Libya, closely cooperating with Tripoli when Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was in power. The majority of Libyas commissioned military officers speak Russian, which they learned during their military training in that country. They primarily use Russian-made weapons. The Russian-Libyan relationship goes way back, giving Moscow a special place and unique role in the peace process. The most significant remark made by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the second meeting of the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan held in the Russian capital on November 9 was when he said, We must not think in terms of geopolitical games, which can only make Afghanistan an area of international rivalry with grave consequences for the people of Afghanistan and their neighbours. It was an audacious remark singularly devoid of bitterness, since Russia has been the victim of geopolitical rivalry during the 17-year old Afghan war. Paradoxically, Russia was manifestly eager all through to facilitate the American intervention in Afghanistan but the US chose to do cherry picking. Notably, the Northern Distribution Network (NDN), established in 2009 in response to the increased risk of sending supplies through Pakistan, stands out. The most commonly used route started at the port of Riga in the Baltics and ran for 5,169 km by train southwards through Russia, using railroads built by Russia in the 1980s for supplying the Soviet troops deployed in Afghanistan. Originally only non-lethal resources were allowed on the NDN, but in July 2009, shortly before a visit by President Obama to Moscow, Russia announced that US troops and weapons could also use its airspace to reach Afghanistan. Moscow was forthcoming with a positive attitude despite the US repeatedly stonewalling Russian offers that the Collective Security Treaty Organization was prepared to contribute to the war on terror. The raging rivalry was entirely geopolitical. The recap of history is useful and necessary to underscore that the US seething sense of rivalry and its winner-takes-it-all approach not only vis-a-vis Russia but also with some other regional states lie at the heart of the present impasse in Afghanistan. The US failed to win the war and has run has itself aground as the lone ranger, whereas, it could have tapped into the goodwill in the region toward any sincere effort to stabilize the Afghan situation and establish durable peace. Therefore, the most significant thing about the Moscow conference may be that it prompts Washington to do some soul-searching as to where it lost the plot. Washington by now ought to realise that the West has been defeated in the war and that any meaningful intra-Afghan dialogue (Afghan-led, Afghan-controlled) can happen only after it commits to a timeline for withdrawal of troops. The Taliban delegation at the Moscow conference was categorical: For real peace, the will of the people should be adhered to; occupation should be ended, because history has proved that Afghan nation has never surrendered to occupation. Occupation is mother of all the miseries. Peace in Afghanistan and withdrawal of foreign troops are tied with each other, because withdrawal of foreign troops practically paves the way for peace. It is now known that US officials have held scores of clandestine meetings with the Taliban representatives, but the latter refused to budge from their pre-condition regarding foreign occupation of their country. The Taliban delegation at the Moscow conference also listed four preliminary steps that would constitute confidence-building measures: removal of sanctions list; release of detainees; formal opening of a Taliban office; and, stopping poisonous propaganda. Equally, the Taliban delegation listed as obstacles to peace the following: absence of an Islamic system in Afghanistan; lack of international guarantors for peace agreements (Taliban suggested that the UN, major powers, members of the Islamic Conference and facilitating countries must guarantee implementation of agreements); and, replacement of the present constitution (copied from the West and imposed on Afghanistans Muslim society under the shadow of occupation). To be sure, the path leading to a settlement is littered with obstacles and some heavy lifting by the regional states especially, Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran becomes crucial. The heart of the matter is that Russia is today uniquely placed as an influential major power in the emergent Afghan scenario. It instills confidence in the Taliban leadership while also enjoying excellent friendly relations with all the facilitating states surrounding Afghanistan China, India, Pakistan and Iran. Moscow describes last weeks conference as a modest first step toward full-fledged peace talks. And it candidly acknowledges the raison dtre of the event: Afghanistan is close to our underbelly so national interests of Russia and its allies are at stake. We can't just sit back and watch impassively what's going on, and we have let the US know that it doesn't appear to be successful in settlement efforts the presence of the US and NATO hasn't only failed to solve the problem but exacerbated it." Ironically, that is also how the American public would view the Afghan war. A YouGov poll last month revealed that 61 percent of American public support the president removing all troops from Afghanistan. Some 69 percent of US war veterans supported the idea. Everyone surveyed agreed that the process of withdrawal should begin soon 63 percent of the general public and 64 percent of vets want to see some or all of the US troops stationed in Afghanistan home within five years. There seems to be some churning going on in Washington Beltway. Possibly, Washington is taking note that the Moscow conference was neither a diplomatic coup by the Russians nor an act of one-upmanship, but rather a purposive initiative to contribute to the creation of favorable conditions for the launch of direct talks between the Afghan government, the Taliban and representatives of broad public and political forces in Afghanistan. Simply put, Moscow hopes to work together with its regional partners and Afghanistans friends as well as the broader international community, especially the US, to help launch a constructive intra-Afghan dialogue. Therefore, the American decision to nominate a observer to the Moscow conference was an encouraging step. Importantly, the US special representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad intends to visit Moscow in early December. Moscow has promptly signaled that it is willing to work with Khalilzad and even discuss drawing up a road map on a settlement in Afghanistan, if only he showed readiness for that. Of course, that is a big if considering the pervasive resistance within the US establishment to the very idea of working with Russia constructively to settle regional conflicts, apart from Khalilzads own neoconservative proclivity. But with the spectre of an Afghan quagmire staring at the face, realism may prevail in Washington. The Moscow conference should be seen as a lifeline that helps the US to avoid an Afghan quagmire. The regional states welcome it. On November 2nd one of the new Egyptian MiG-29M fighters crashed during a training flight. The pilot was able to eject safely. Apparently, there were problems with the flight controls and Russia is sending a tech team to help with the investigation. This particular model of the MiG-29 has a lot of new tech and Russia is hoping the Egyptians will find it useful and employ all the new ground attack features in their ongoing war with Islamic terrorists. Russia had also recently delivered Kh-31 air-to-surface missiles for the MiG-29M which is equipped (using a Russian targeting pod) to deliver guided missiles and smart bombs. Egypt ordered 40 of the Russian T220/e targeting pods. The MiG-29M also has high-tech air-combat equipment including an IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system which enables passive (without using radar signals) detection of enemy fighters via heat. Thus while most IRST systems can detect a jet fighter at least 50 kilometers away, the detection distance nearly doubles if the target is flying away from you thus providing more heat to detect because the engine exhaust is unobstructed. The latest Russian IRST system in the MiG-29M presents the data on the radar display along with an estimate of what type of aircraft it is. The MiG-29M also has a radar with a detection range of 120 kilometers. The pilot has a smart helmet with look and shoot capability. The pilot also uses a glass cockpit dominated by two large and one smaller flat screen displays. The MiG-29M also has upgraded engines that are smokeless, hide some of their heat exhaust and are more powerful and efficient. As a result the MiG-29M can fly 2,000 kilometers on a ground attack mission and return. Using drop tanks this can be extended to over 3,000 kilometers and if the in-flight refueling capability is used the aircraft can go 6,000 kilometers to hit a target. In short, the MiG-29M is a very competitive (with Western tech) aircraft and Egypt realizes that Egypt and Russia benefit if all the tech performs as intended. The 25 ton MiG-29M has a 30mm autocannon and 150 rounds along with nine hardpoints for carrying 5.5 tons of missiles, bombs, targeting pod or drop tanks. The aircraft has internal ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) and can also carry an EW (Electronic Warfare) pod. The MiG-29M is very similar to the MiG-35, which is basically a MiG-29 with all the latest gear and capabilities. That justifies the price ($55 million each) of the aircraft although that price also includes training and tech support. The Egyptian sales are also essential to the survival of a key part of the Russian defense industry. Russia has been taking desperate measures to keep the MiG company in business and their main product, the MiG-29, in production. The problem is that the MiG-29 is generally outclassed by the rival Su-27/30 aircraft from Sukhoi. Even foreign users have openly complained that the MiG-29 is too expensive to maintain. It costs about $5 million a year, per aircraft, to keep them going. The M model is supposed to have addressed that problem as well. Most of the MiG-29s provided satisfactory service but nations that also operate Western aircraft, like the F-16, are able to compare Russian and American warplanes. The Russian aircraft cost less than half as much as their American counterparts but require highly trained pilots to perform anything like Western fighters. Apparently, the Egyptians were attracted to the MiG-29M because of its range and ability to operate as a bomber. Russia has already delivered some of its Kh-31 guided missiles for the MiG-29M. These 600 kg (1,300 pound) high-speed missiles are mainly used for anti-ship work but can also hit land targets and there is a HARM (high-speed anti-radiation) version to destroying enemy radars. Russia also manufactures other ground-to-air guided missiles and smart (GPS guided) bombs. Many of these were heavily used in Syria but they are mainly meant for export customers because the Russian defense budget cannot afford stockpiles of such weapons for heavy use in wartime. Apparently, only the United States and China can afford to maintain such emergency war stocks of smart bombs and missiles. Egypt prefers these more accurate, and expensive, bombs and missiles because when fighting Islamic terrorists there are often civilians nearby. Killing these civilians, even inadvertently, reduces support for the Egyptian counter-terrorism efforts. Egypt ordered 46 MiG29M fighters in 2015 and the first of them arriving by the end of 2017 with deliveries to be completed by 2020. Russia could have begun deliveries earlier but there were problems with financing. Egypt is broke and dependent on gifts of cash and oil from the Arab oil states just to keep going. Apparently, Saudi Arabia or some other Gulf Oil state helped arrange the $2.5 billion to pay for the MiG-29s in a deal that includes training and maintenance support. This is actually a favor to Russia but the Russians have been trying to get closer to their Cold War era Arab arms customers and this sort of thing helps. The MiG-29 entered Russian service in 1983. Some 1,600 MiG-29s have been produced so far, with about 900 of them exported. The basic 22 ton MiG-29 is roughly comparable to the F-16 but it depends a lot on which version of either aircraft you are talking about. Russia is making a lot of money upgrading MiG-29s. Not just adding new electronics but also making the airframe more robust. The MiG-29 was originally rated at 2,500 total flight hours. At that time (early 1980s), Russia expected MiG-29s to fly about a hundred or so hours a year. India, for example, flew them at nearly twice that rate, as did Malaysia. So now Russia offers to spiff up the airframe so that the aircraft can fly up to 4,000 hours, with more life extension upgrades promised. This wasn't easy, as the MiG-29 has a history of unreliability and premature breakdowns (both mechanical and electronic). To counter that reputation Russia is sending the latest model of the MiG-29 to Egypt. This one has a more powerful and reliable RD-33MK engine and improved electronics including updated radar and flight controls. The Egyptian Air Force currently has over 200 F-16s, a hundred French Mirage 5 and 2000 fighters and 24 new Rafale fighters. There are still about fifty Cold War era MiG-21s flying for Egypt but these are being phased out and the few still around are listed as in reserve. Egypt has been pleased with the performance of the Mirage and F-16 aircraft so Russia has quite a challenge ahead of it. Bangladesh had planned to send 2,260 Rohingya refugees (485 families) back to Burma starting today. Burma said they were ready to receive 150 refugees a day and get them resettled. This effort was canceled at the last moment when it was discovered that voluntary return was most definitely not working. Most of the Rohingya selected for return refused to go and some fled their refugee camp accommodations because of fears they would be forced back into Burma. The UN and most foreign aid organizations also opposed the Bangladesh repatriation plan. Bangladeshi officials later found that none of the 2,260 Rohingya wanted to return. The reluctance to return is based on the fact that there was no assurance that they had anything to return to other than the threat of renewed violence. Many of the refugees knew their homes had been destroyed or taken over and no one (Burmese or otherwise) had done anything to reverse that situation. Thus refugees saw returning as going from one refugee camp to another with the added penalty of more personal risk in Burma. The Hypocrisy Defense The Burmese are pretty confident they can get away with their treatment of the Rohingya because this sort of thing is not a unique situation. What happened to the Rohingya is part of an ancient pattern that has become a common cause of large-scale disorder in the last century. This is all about the existence of large stateless populations and it is quite common in this part of the world and Bangladesh has produced more of these illegals than anyone else. Illegal migrants have become a more difficult problem since nation-states became the preferred form of government and it became common for there to be disputes over who belonged and who did not. The UN estimates that there are currently over ten million such stateless people. Thus many of the nations (especially Moslem ones) criticizing Burma over their treatment of the Rohingya are guilty of doing the same themselves or tolerating such misbehavior by an ally. Most of the stateless are that way because they dont want to live where they, or their ancestors, came from. Thus there are at least a million Moslems in Burma who originally (often over a century ago) came from Bangladesh but dont want to return there. They prefer to live in Burma, where most of the population is Buddhist. India has a similar problem in its northeast tribal territories, especially Assam, where four million Bengali migrants (most of them or ancestors entered illegally) are being denied citizen status. The tribal locals have long resented the illegal migrants, more so than the legal migrants. India sees this citizenship crackdown as a way to reducing support for local tribal separatist rebels. There is a similar situation in the African country of Ivory Coast, where 700,000 people (a quarter of the population) are migrants (or the descendants of migrants) from Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana. Over the last half-century, Ivory Coast encouraged these people to come work on coffee and cotton plantations. Unfortunately, Ivory Coast never agreed to offer citizenship and that led to a recent civil war between the migrants and the natives. In the Middle East, you have over 100,000 stateless nomads in Kuwait. Called the Bedouin, these people were not considered Kuwaitis in 1962 (when Kuwait became independent) because the nomads came and went as they pleased and did not seem interested. But as the oil wealth grew that attitude changed. Kuwait decided it was not making anyone else citizens. In Syria and Iraq there have been government attempts to punish rebellious Kurds by declaring some of them not citizens. That has not worked out well and the question of who the Kurds are and where they belong is still a problem. In Russia and former (after 1991) states of the Soviet Union, there are over half a million people who ended up in a country that did not want them. About half of these unwanted are ethnic Russians who ended up outside Russia and liked being where they were but the locals did not want them. The other half were non-Russians who ended up in Russia but were not wanted. In Thailand, there are over half a million tribal refugees from the numerous tribal rebellions in neighboring Burma. These people do not want to go back, would like to become Thai citizens but the Thais dont want them. In the Dominican Republic, you have hostility towards migrants from neighboring Haiti which led to new laws making many migrants non-citizens. In Europe, you have over 50,000 Roma (gypsies) who are nomadic and prefer to not register births with the state or leave any kind of paper trail. Many Roma have settled down, but enough have not to remain a problem. There is a worldwide problem with illegal migrants going somewhere to find jobs, staying, not being detected for a while, if at all, and eventually their descendants demand citizenship. This often leads to violence and resists lots of solutions thus becoming long-term problems. No one has found an easy or perfect solution to the problem. Landmine Politics In the tribal territories, there has not been much fighting lately, at least between tribal militias and the army, but there have been casualties, most of them civilians. The combat zones are dangerous even when there are no armed men around. Thats because both sides continue to use landmines. In 2017 there were 119 landmine detonations in Burma that left 52 dead and 124 wounded. Nearly all the victims were civilians and most of this occurred in a few tribal areas (like Shan State). For the first five months of 2018, there were 127 landmine incidents that left 23 dead and 136 wounded. In 2017 alone over a hundred Rohingya died or were wounded while fleeing the country because of unmarked minefields near the border. The continued violence in the north has made it impossible for mine-clearing teams to operate in many areas. Worse, you never know if there are any old, but still functional, mines anywhere up there as records were not kept on where all the mines were placed. The rebels and the military both use the mines to defend their bases. The military will allow many mines to be cleared in areas they control. But in most of the north, there are still thousands of old mines out there that cause several hundred casualties a year, mostly to unwary civilians. Since the 1960s over 100,000 landmines were planted by the military. These were used to protect infrastructure (roads, electricity lines, bridges) and government controlled towns. The rebels appear to have used nearly as many. The mines are a constant hazard in the thinly populated tribal areas and make a lot of grazing and farm land too dangerous to use. The military has offered to clear some mines if the tribes will reduce their operations or move their gunmen away from key roads or new economic enterprises up there that the military has an interest in. In many areas the tribes are reluctant to do this because that means abandoning tribal people who are being forcibly displaced from land they have occupied for centuries by massive (usually Chinese controlled) construction projects. In addition to the largely civilian landmine casualties, there are a growing number of losses from roadside bombs planted by tribal rebels. These are meant for military vehicles or pedestrians but sometimes civilians trigger them or, as happened in a recent case, some children found one of these and it went off when they began to handle it. The rebels believe that some of these bombs were planted by the military to make the rebels look bad. The military has used dirty tricks like this before so the accusation is not entirely groundless. November 12, 2018: Thailand has been identifying and expelling Burmese in the country illegally. So far over 2,000 illegals have been arrested and sent back to Burma. The crackdown began in early October and it is estimated that over 10,000 illegals have returned to Burma, most of them voluntarily. Meanwhile about 20,000 Burmese enter Thailand each month legally to take unfilled jobs. November 11, 2018: China and Burma finally signed the agreement for a new deep water port on the west coast (Bay of Bengal). It took 18 months of negotiations before Burma and China reached an agreement on how to finance and manage the new port China wants to build in northwestern Burma (Rakhine State). The original proposal was for China to take an ownership share of 85 percent of the new port being built at Kyaukpyu. The Chinese have agreed to reduce their share to 70 percent and expand the capacity of Kyaukpyu in line with demand, not all at once. Burma would be able to control the growth of the Kyaukpyu economic zone and this prevents Burma from getting stuck with more debt than it can handle. The Chinese are financing and building the port facilities there and offered to convert what was originally a $9 billion loan into an ownership stake. This would give China control of yet another newly built port near India. This proposal was not unexpected and became more likely after the completion (in 2015) of a 770 kilometer oil pipeline from China. The pipeline can move about 4.5 million barrels of oil a day. Back in 2013 a 2,500 kilometer natural gas pipeline from Burmese gas fields into China was completed and began operation. About a third of the pipeline is in Burma, the rest is in China. This pipeline delivers 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year. This is equivalent (in terms of energy) to 15 million barrels of oil. The Burmese gas replaces the more expensive liquefied natural gas in three provinces of southwest China as well as eliminates the need for 30 million tons of coal a year (a major source of air pollution). The success of the pipeline deal led to a January 2016 agreement that had Chinese firms investing over $9 billion to develop an SEZ (Special Economic Zone) around the pipeline terminal that will include the Kyaukpyu deepwater port and a huge (1,000 hectare/2,500 acre) industrial park. This facility and the port will provide over 100,000 jobs for local Burmese and lots of tax revenue for the government. China offered an additional inducement to allow the port ownership. If this was permitted China would abandon construction of an unpopular dam in Kachin State. This dam destroyed much land long used by local tribes and sends over 80 percent of the electricity generated to China. Burma was willing to negotiate and now there is a deal. October 24, 2018: At the UN China and Russia sought, unsuccessfully, to suppress presentation of a UN study on how the Burmese government mistreated their Rohingya minority. China and Russia can use their veto power to block active measures by the UN against Burma but shutting down discussion or research on the matter requires persuasion, which is often not enough. China is the main defender of Burma at the UN and uses its veto as needed. Russia helps because Russia is also dependent on China for economic and diplomatic assistance. This Chinese protection is repaid by Burma allowing a lot of questionable investments in Burma. Chengdu pledged to further open its local market and improve its business environment to welcome more overseas enterprises at a project signing ceremony held on Nov 6 during the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. At the subsidiary event to the expo, Chengdu signed contracts on 14 large-scale projects with companies from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, covering intelligent manufacturing, automobiles, new energy and the service industry. During the ceremony, the city government also released a string of new policies to attract foreign investment, highlighting Chengdu's desire to do business with companies from around the world. At present, Chengdu is holding fast to the opportunities springing from the Belt and Road Initiative, expanding its business channels and deepening its opening-up, said Luo Qiang, the city's mayor. "The next years will witness new growth in both import and export volumes in Chengdu on its path to building itself into an international hub city in West China," Luo said. To provide better services for its overseas investors, Chengdu has set up a BRI international exhibition and exchange center and BRI international food street, according to Li Dongchuan, secretary-general of Sichuan Promotion Association for the Belt and Road Initiative. "Prior to the expo, we have already reached agreements of intent on cooperation enterprises in the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Sri Lanka," said Li, praising the actions taken by the promotion association. More than 300 delegates from world renowned enterprises, cross-border traders, international business associations and foreign-funded enterprises as well as representatives from State-owned and private enterprises in Chengdu attended the project signing ceremony. Thanks to the open and inclusive environment in the city, it has become common sense for entrepreneurs to start businesses in Chengdu, according to the organizer of the ceremony. Chengdu Better City Group, a State-owned capital investment and operation company, announced an investment worth 62.5 billion yuan ($8.99 billion) at the CIIE. As the company that has invested in more than 1,000 key projects for Chengdu's urban planning, it is now paving the way for the projects by building apartments for skilled professionals, medical and health industry infrastructure, as well as the landmark projects such as the Jincheng Greenway and Tianfu Cultural Park. At present, the group is listed as a top 500 Chinese enterprise, with assets exceeding 150 billion yuan. In order to speed up the global expansion, the company has set the goal to enter the ranks of the world's top 500 enterprises by 2022. "The rise of the company is reliable evidence of the city's development," said Ren Zhineng, president of the company. "Better City is a representative model of State-owned enterprises in Chengdu, and also the epitome of thousands of enterprises in Chengdu. Chengdu will surely become a great place for more enterprises to develop their businesses and discover their own treasure," Ren said. Lord James Sassoon, chairman of the China-Britain Business Council, said: "Last year, I visited the China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Chengdu's Tianfu New Area. It impressed me deeply with the facilitation for trade. We hope to perform deeper cooperation with Sichuan via the platform of CIIE." Luo added that the area has plenty more to offer too. "Jinbao, the mascot of CIIE, is mirrored with the giant panda. Chengdu is not only the home to giant pandas, but also a large number of historical sites including the celebrated Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Wuhou Shrine, Du Fu Thatched Cottage and Qingcheng Mountain." The unique lifestyle of Chengdu citizens, which features dining in hot pot restaurants and sipping tea in tea houses, has helped the city to become a popular destination in the world, as rated by international tourism organizations, Luo said. In addition, the transport network established by Chengdu in recent years is helping to spearhead increased trade with foreign countries. Chengdu was included in the rail network initiated by the China Railway Express to Europe service five years ago. The Chengdu-Europe railway has linked 14 Chinese cities and 16 overseas cities as of the end of July. In the wake of Chengdu's increasing connection to the outside world, Chengdu has established economic and trade relations with 228 countries and regions worldwide. A total of 285 companies listed as the world's top 500 enterprises have invested in Chengdu. In 2017, the international trade volume for the city reached 394.18 billion yuan, an increase of 45.4 percent year-on-year. Foreign investment reached 1.84 billion yuan, an annual increase of 59.1 percent. liyou@chinadaily.com.cn Chengdu holds a project signing ceremony on Nov 6 during the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, releasing a string of new policies to attract foreign investment. Photos provided to China Daily More than 300 delegates from global enterprises and associations attend the event, where a total of 14 contracts for large-scale investment projects are signed. Attendees exchange their business cards during the project signing ceremony. (China Daily 11/13/2018 page24) Who is online In total there are 9 users online :: 6 registered, 1 hidden and 2 guests (based on users active over the past 60 minutes) Most users ever online was 122 on Thu Sep 19, 2019 11:05 am Registered users: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, Majestic-12 [Bot], Wiesli Legend: Administrators, Global moderators Ex-Nazi guard, 94, to testify at trial in Germany China Daily | Updated: 2018-11-14 07:46 MSTER, Germany - A former guard charged with complicity in mass murder at a Nazi concentration camp will testify at his trial in Germany on Tuesday, making a rare statement in one of the last cases of its kind. The 94-year-old German from the western district of Borken, North Rhine-Westphalia state, served as a watchman from June 1942 to September 1944 at the Stutthof camp in Poland. He was not publicly named but German media identified him as Johann R., a retired landscape architect and divorced father of three. His statement would mark a rare occasion for victims and their relatives to hear directly from the accused on the alleged crimes committed seven decades ago. At the opening of his trial last week, the defendant shed tears as he heard written testimony from Holocaust survivors who now live in the United States or Israel. The nonagenarian is charged with being an accessory to the murders of several hundred camp prisoners. These included more than 100 Polish prisoners gassed in June 1944 and "probably several hundred" Jews killed from August to December 1944 as part of the Nazis' so-called "Final Solution". Aged 18 to 20 at the time, and therefore now being tried under juvenile law, the defendant is "accused in his capacity as a guard of participating in the killing operations", Dortmund prosecutor Andreas Brendel said. If found guilty, he faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison - even though, given his age and the possibility of an appeal, he is considered unlikely to serve any time behind bars. Germany has been racing to put on trial surviving SS personnel, after the legal basis for prosecuting former Nazis changed in 2011 with the landmark conviction of former death camp guard John Demjanjuk. He was sentenced not for any atrocities he committed, but on the basis that he served as a cog in the Nazi killing machine at the Sobibor camp in occupied Poland. German courts subsequently convicted Oskar Groening, an accountant at Auschwitz, and Reinhold Hanning, a former SS guard at the same camp, of mass murder. Agence France-presse (China Daily 11/14/2018 page11) A new breed of sheep debuting at the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch is proving very popular with the crowds. The Swiss Valais Blacknose, which are considered to be the "the cutest sheep in the world," have a black head and black knees, and a fluffy white fleece. Wairarapa farmer Christine Reed, along with several business partners formed Valais Blacknose NZ and imported the breed as embryos from the UK about a year and a half ago. Ms Reed said before the venture she had never heard of the breed but having bred dorper sheep for a decade, she googled Valais Blacknose sheep to find the cutest sheep in the world peeking back. "If you were to imagine a poodle that was in fact a sheep ... they are the cutest thing on four legs," she said. Only a handful of farmers in New Zealand are breeding the Valais Blacknose and Ms Reed said they were now working on building up their flock. "We were lucky enough to work with some of the best breeders in the UK to get embryos into New Zealand," she said. "By the time we lamb this season we will have about 50 animals in the two flocks," she said. Ms Reed said they intended to sell the sheep to lifestyle block owners and other farmers who are looking to have something in their paddocks that has a bit of wow factor to it and was good with kids. "What we were really astounded by, when we got them on the ground, was their personalities, they're just like dogs, they're actually not like a sheep at all ... so they are very very inquisitive, very friendly ... the lambs will come up to you in the the paddock and climb all over you," she said. This weekend marks a turning point from the warm, settled weather that New Zealand has enjoyed for the last few days to a changeable, and even stormy regime. This week has seen temperatures in the high twenties, and summer-like quantities of sunshine hours. Next week, however, begins with cold southerlies and snow, potentially closing the higher passes. The cause of the fine weather has been high pressure sitting over the country, but that has been put under increasing pressure by a front edging up from the south. The front moves north over the western South Island on Saturday, then a cold southerly spreads up the east on Sunday, while the front makes ground over the North Island. This will mean increasing cloud, with a spell of rain just about everywhere as the front moves up the country. The good news for Christchurch is Fridays show day should stay dry until evening, with the worst of the weather waiting for Sundays southerly. This southerly will bring strong winds to the whole of the east coast, and snow as low as 600 metres to Southland and Canterbury on Sunday night. Spring still has a few tricks up its sleeve and windy, changeable conditions are a big part of that, explains MetService meteorologist Tom Adams. Although not unusual for the season it certainly will feel like a change from this week. People may have become used to the settled conditions, but next week will not reward complacency so make sure you keep checking the forecast. Once this cool southerly comes through the South Island on Sunday and the North Island on Monday, it will be followed by a series of weather features making for a changeable week." Minister for Biosecurity Damien OConnor has paid tribute to the winners at the 2018 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards. Among the list of local winners includes Te Runanga o Ngai te Rangi Iwi Trust, Kiwifruit Vine Health and Scion. Securing the events supreme award is Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity manager Greg Corbett. Greg has shown leadership from the grassroots up for over 35 years, protecting New Zealands farms, forests and waterways from animal pests since 1983, says Damien. It was a pleasure to have awarded the Ministers Biosecurity Award to him. The award has been celebrated within the organisation. BOPRC Integrated Catchments General Manager Chris Ingle says the award speaks volumes about Gregs background in the industry. Having started his biosecurity career in 1983 at the age of 17, this award acknowledges Gregs hard work and commitment to protecting not only our region but New Zealand from pest animals and plants and biosecurity disease such as bovine TB and Mycoplasma Bovis. Greg has dedicated 35 years and counting protecting NZ from pests. He has not only done the hard yards on hillsides and forest huts but he has been heavily involved in biosecurity research, developing innovative monitoring and control methods to tackle emerging threats to the region. Greg is also recognised for his ability to bring people, agencies and resources together to tackle issues. Chris also congratulates other local winners. Nearly half of the awards, three of the eight, went to Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital partners. In addition to Greg taking out the Ministers Award, Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust took the top Maori award for its Kaitiaki role in protecting local taonga, and Kiwifruit Vine Health won the top industry award for its ongoing biosecurity work in kiwifruit. This shows that The Bay of Plenty is at the forefront of protecting our region from pest incursions. Kiwivine Health has also expressed its pride at achieving the New Zealand Biosecurity Industry Award. KVH chairman Dr Dave Tanner said the win recognised KVHs pivotal role in managing the initial outbreak of the disease and developing robust biosecurity processes and resources to boost the industrys biosecurity integrity. KVH was formed in 2010 as the New Zealand kiwifruit industry reeled from the discovery of Psa, says Dave. The small team was tasked with working alongside industry and Government to help growers contain and manage Psa. KVH did a great job and was subsequently tasked with responsibility for addressing all possible pests and incursions. The KVH team is hugely dedicated to its role in helping protect the livelihoods of New Zealand kiwifruit growers through monitoring, education, technology, and partnerships with Government and biosecurity agencies. KVH chief executive Stu Hutchings says the award celebrated the partnership approach which had ensured the industry was better placed for any future biosecurity event. There is no doubt that by working in partnership, we can achieve better biosecurity outcomes. KVH was the first organisation in New Zealand to sign up to a new collaborative arrangement called Government Industry Agreements; an arrangement which enabled Government and industry to share decision-making, responsibilities and costs for incursions. We have also embraced a collaborative approach in partnering in the Port of Tauranga Biosecurity Excellence initiative for many years and are founding members of the exciting new Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital programme, says Stu. Stu says recovery from Psa was an achievement of which the entire kiwifruit industry could be proud. KVH and New Zealand growers were passionate supporters of the national strategy of creating a biosecurity team of 4.7 million people. Weve worked hard in the biosecurity space to ensure a resilient and united voice for the kiwifruit industry, and its great that our efforts - and those of the people who have worked with us over the years - have been recognised with this award. The growers are supporting more than 20 volunteer surf lifeguards through the Zespri Intermediate Lifeguard School at Whangamata. The school will enable the lifeguards to learn vital skills required to perform tricky rescues and ultimately save lives. This is the third year Zespri has supported the training and upskilling of Volunteer Lifeguards in the Eastern Region, with the Zespri Intermediate Lifeguard School becoming a core element within the lifeguard training calendar. Zespri is the Primary Regional Partner for Surf Life Saving New Zealand in the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Gisborne. The annual beach-side training school is for lifeguards aged 15 years and older who have already spent one or two seasons on lifeguard patrols. It helps develop their skills further and equips them to offer assistance in more challenging rescues, such as from rocky areas, working alongside a helicopter crew, rescues where challenging teamwork is involved or working with other agencies like police or paramedics. Young lifeguards make up an important component in Surf Lifesaving New Zealands beach patrols and rescue teams, and in previous years it has been exciting seeing the teens skills rocket up during the camp, says SLSNZ Bay of Plenty and Coromandel club and development officer Chaz Gibbons-Campbell. Two weeks after last years camp, one boy from Whangamata had already made a tricky rescue, saving a person stranded on rocks in the surf using his new skills. They approached in a boat and he had to jump out and swim over to the rocks. The person was very scared, so he had to coax them back into the water and swim them back to the boat, he says. Without this training, many of our lifeguards wouldnt be able to go out and help members of the public in these challenging situations. For these younger lifeguards, its the first time theyre doing these things. We teach them the techniques and what to watch out for, and we can provide this structured environment where we run the scenarios to test things out, rather than having to try them out when the heats on. They already have a solid base of general lifeguarding knowledge as a lifeguard before coming, and this reinforces that and gives them more skills, so by the end theyre really good, and confident with what theyre doing. This years candidates arrive Friday November 16, and the schools theory and practical classes will be held on Saturday November 17 and Sunday November 18 at Whangamata Surf LifeSaving Club. Twenty trainees will take part, from clubs in the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne areas. Whangamata is an absolutely perfect setting. It brings in all the elements we need to teach them we've got difficult rock elements with the islands, and a really big beach, and its nice and busy which adds another good element it's perfect, he says. The club has accommodation for the teens, and the course is fully paid for by Zespri. This course is really, really valuable, and the support from Zespri ensures our young lifeguards can do this without too many barriers. It allows us to provide the course free of charge, so it really takes the pressure off the smaller clubs that would normally have to foot the bill for member development. Ultimately it allows more people to do the course which is good news for everyone. Some of the skills the young lifeguards learn include: Setting up helicopter landing zones and safety around helicopters An introduction to SAR (search and rescue) Navigation and rescues from rocky areas, and entering and exiting the water around rocks Tube and board rescues Communication while under pressure, teamwork and leadership How to request help from, and work with, external agencies Reinforcing and building on first aid skills Scanning and surveillance Lifeguards taking part in the 2018 Eastern Region Zespri Intermediate Lifeguard School are: Carter Hodge Hot Water Beach LGS Tarras Rall Mt Maunganui LGS Samantha Reeder Mt Maunganui LGS Jaamin Fuller Mt Maunganui LGS Gene Hughes Mt Maunganui LGS Ella Svendsen Mt Maunganui LGS Nick Rea Omanu Beach SLSC Alissa Edlinger Omanu Beach SLSC Connor McLeay Onemana SLSC Sam Cox Pauanui SLSC Macayla Lock Pauanui SLSC Lukas Harris Pukehina SR Andrew McDowell Pukehina SR Tyla George Tairua SLSC Terri Warner Tairua SLSC Taine ABear-Horgan Waihi Beach LGS Josh Miller Waihi Beach LGS Sam Blackburne Waikanae SLSC Siobhan McDonald Whangamata SLSC Callum Fulton Whangamata SLSC Instructor & Mentor Team; James Lloyd Waihi Beach LGS Head Instructor Samuel Teteina Bethells Beach SLSC - Instructor Boyd Harris Pukehina SR - Instructor Natalie Wilson Whangamata SLSC - Instructor Max Jones Whangamata SLSC - Instructor Phoebe Havill Onemana SLSC - Instructor Tyla Rose Whangamata SLSC -Mentor Georgia Eldridge Waihi Beach LGS Mentor Hamish Clayton Waihi Beach LGS Mentor Ryan Hohneck Papamoa SLSC - Mentor The Surf Life Saving New Zealand Zespri Intermediate Lifeguard School will be held at Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday and Sunday November 17 and 18. Italy hosts Libya conference in fresh bid to solve crisis China Daily | Updated: 2018-11-14 07:46 PALERMO, Italy - A twoday conference on the future of Libya kicked off in Italy's southern city of Palermo on Monday, drawing key Libyan and international actors in an effort to support a fresh United Nations stabilization plan. Italy hopes the conference will resurrect efforts to stage elections in Libya, after the UN announced last week that the OPEC member country could not hold a planned election on Dec 10 because of violence and stalled talks. Participants included Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, Head of the High Council of State Khalid al-Mishri, President of the House of Representatives Ageela Saleh, and UN Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame. About 38 delegations - comprising heads of state and government and foreign ministers from 30 countries - were taking part in the summit, a representative for the Italian government said just ahead of the first arrivals on Monday evening. They would include representatives from France, Russia, China, the United States, Germany, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates among others, as well as from the European Union, the Arab League, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. Meanwhile, general Khalifa Haftar, the military commander of Libya's eastern-based army, has arrived in Italy for meetings with heads of state, but will not attend a conference on Libya hosted by Rome, his command said on Tuesday. "This conference has been organized as a contribution to the stabilization process within the framework of the United Nations," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a short declaration ahead of the opening ceremony. UN envoy Salame also said he hoped another attempt to hold an election will take place by June but Libyans should first hold a national conference in early 2019 to decide on the poll's format. The envoy said the national conference should "preferably" take place on Libyan soil. Surveys had shown that 80 percent of Libyans want elections to end the stalemate between Libya's rival administrations. Xinhua - Reuters (China Daily 11/14/2018 page11) Bay of Plenty Tired of lock down and want to get back too work? Are you looking to step up and become Supervisor? Well, my client might... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Teresa Qualtrough sees the great potential for Waihi Beach as a destination and is making it her mission to spread the word. Teresa is the recently appointed Community Coordinator for Waihi Beach Events and Promotions and comes to the job with domestic and international experience in marketing and events promotion. But it all began at the beach where Teresa spent most of her holidays as a youngster, growing up in Athenree and attending Katikati College. After 11 years overseas working in a range of marketing and public relations positions in New York, Melbourne and London, Teresa, her husband Philip and their two children Pia, 3 and Finley, 5, returned to New Zealand and to Waihi Beach. Some people will recall the Tumbleweed food truck at the Beach and Athenree last year that was Teresas first venture on returning to live locally. Teresa took over the reins at Waihi Beach Events and Promotions in April this year and is now in the thick of planning for the peak summer months. But she is equally as focused on the winter season and `shoulder season so that there is a year-round calendar of events to attract visitors to the beach. Its a big workload and theres much to organise. So, when Western Bay of Plenty District Council increased funding for the Events and Promotions group, Teresa and the Waihi Beach Events & Promotions Committee put the money toward employing a part-timer - Kirsty West to lend a hand. Kirsty and Teresa split the work Kirsty focusing on events and social media and Teresa on public relations, communications and community relationships. Longer term, Teresa is hopeful that Kirstys role will become a permanent position as she is proving invaluable and is enabling Teresa to plan events and give them a totally new twist over the summer season. My vision for this role is to raise the profile of Waihi Beach as a destination town all year round, to bring more visitors here and to increase their length of stay. I am looking at the gaps and trying to figure out a drawcard for winter particularly for the 20 to 40-year-old age group. And I am particularly interested in winter and the off-season because if we can have our local economy humming all year round that would be fantastic for everyone. The reason I took on this job is because I want to have an influence and make a difference for my community. KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said bankers at Goldman Sachs Group Inc "cheated" the country in dealings with state fund 1MDB and that US authorities have promised to help return the fees the Wall Street bank earned from the fund. The US investment bank has been under scrutiny for its role in helping raise funds through bond offerings for 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which is the subject of corruption and money-laundering investigations in at least six countries. Goldman's stock fell to a near two-year low on Monday after Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said his country would seek a "full refund" of the around $600 million in fees the bank earned from raising $6.5 billion for the fund. The stock eased 0.5 percent on Tuesday. A Goldman Sachs spokesman on Monday said in an email to Reuters that the bank denied any wrongdoing. The US Department of Justice (or DOJ) has said about $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, including some money that Goldman Sachs helped raise, by high-level officials of the fund and their associates from 2009 through 2014. US prosecutors filed criminal charges against two former Goldman Sachs bankers earlier this month. One of them, Tim Leissner, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. "There is evidence that Goldman Sachs has done things that are wrong," Mahathir said in an interview with US news channel CNBC aired on Tuesday. Asked about Goldman's compliance controls - which are supposed to monitor and prevent risky behavior at the bank - Mahathir responded: "It does not work very well." In later comments in Singapore, where he is due to attend a regional summit, Mahathir suggested Malaysia could take action against Goldman if it was found to have broken the law. "If the law says that somebody has committed a crime, then he should be accordingly punished through the process of law," he said. "It doesn't matter who - it may be Goldman Sachs, it may be whoever." Goldman Sachs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A DOJ spokeswoman said the United States continued to pursue justice with respect to its 1MDB investigations. Whenever possible, recovered assets would be used to "benefit the people" harmed by corruption and abuse of office, she added. Anwar Ibrahim, appointed successor to 93-year-old Mahathir, told parliament on Tuesday that Malaysia needed to take "more aggressive measures" to reclaim the fees and losses due to the harm the scandal had done to the country's image. Critics have said the fees earned by Goldman Sachs were far in excess of the normal 1-2 percent a bank could expect for helping sell bonds. Reuters - Afp (China Daily 11/15/2018 page11) AUBURN, N.Y. -- A 31-year-old Auburn man has been accused of sending "sexually explicit" images and messages to a minor, according to a Wednesday news release from the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office. Todd A. Klino, of 26 Cross St. in Auburn, has been accused of disseminating indecent materials to a minor, deputies said. Klino was arrested Tuesday after an investigation revealed Klino had an inappropriate relationship with a juvenile female for several months, deputies said. He sent sexually explicit images and messages to the girl, deputies said. He was arraigned in Town of Brutus Court and is being held at the Cayuga County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond, deputies said. They are still investigating the incident and more charges are expected, deputies said. Deputies ask that anyone with information about the investigation contact Detective Sergeant Frederick Cornelius at 315-253-6562. Tips can be submitted through the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office's website. GEDDES, N.Y. -- A woman was critically injured Wednesday night in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 690 west in Geddes. The woman was driving on west at 10:48 p.m. when her 2006 Ford Fusion struck a guardrail and became stuck facing eastbound in the far left lane near Exit 7 (Fairgrounds/Solvay), said Sgt. Jon Seeber, Onondaga County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Her car was then hit head-on by a westbound SUV, he said. A 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe struck the woman's Fusion, Seeber said. A third vehicle -- a 2014 Mercedes Benz -- was involved in the second crash, he said. The driver of the Fusion was rushed to Upstate University Hospital. She has life-threatening injuries and is in critical condition, Seeber said. The woman is in her 20s, Seeber said. Her name was not immediately released. A couple in their 40s were riding in the Tahoe. The man, who was the driver, and the woman were transported to Upstate with minor injuries, Seeber said. A woman in her 20s was driving the Mercedes. She was treated at Crouse Hospital for minor injuries, Seeber said. Multiple departments -- including the sheriff's office, the Geddes Police Department, American Medical Response and the Solvay Fire Department -- responded to the crash. I-690 west was shut down for five hours between Exit 7 and the Geddes Street off-ramp while deputies investigated the crash. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse taxpayers spent more than $13,000 on security this summer when Vice President Mike Pence headlined a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. John Katko. Pence visited Syracuse on June 19 to host a $1,000 per person, invitation-only fundraiser for Katko, his fellow Republican. Pence's political committee gave $80,000 to Katko's reelection campaign following that event and another fundraiser in Washington, D.C. The Syracuse Police Department provided protection for Pence's visit, which cost $13,101.52. Local police protection is provided to visiting dignitaries at the request of the U.S. Secret Service. It's standard practice for the city to pick up the tab. Greg Loh, director of city initiatives, said the city didn't request reimbursement from Katko. Federal election law doesn't require such a payment and, Loh said, there's no precedent for asking. "Protecting the safety of a dignitary is something we provide on a regular basis," Loh said. "It's a duty as a police force to ensure the safety of visitors...We're also ensuring public safety." Katko spokeswoman Erin O'Connor said Syracuse police have routinely provided coverage for presidents, presidential candidates and top officials of both parties for political and official events. This case was no different. "This is the city's standard policy for dignitary coverage, as explained to us by city officials," O'Connor said. "No special treatment was given here. We vigorously comply with House Ethics and FEC regulations and paid what was required by law." O'Connor also said the campaign paid for Pence's travel to Syracuse, which is required by federal election law. Katko's campaign paid $23,335 for Pence and his staff to fly here on Air Force Two. The campaign paid the Embassy Suites hotel $13,972. Municipalities are typically tasked with providing security for officials visiting on official or unofficial business, like when Gov. Andrew Cuomo comes to town. Former President Bill Clinton visited Syracuse in 2012 and again in 2014 to host rallies for former Congressman Dan Maffei. Those events were free and open to the public. The city provided police security at no cost to Maffei. Vice President Joe Biden also got police protection when he visited to stump for Maffei in 2014 at a rally at Hancock International Airport. So did presidential candidates who came to Syracuse to campaign during the primaries in 2016. Those events were all political in nature. They also were open to the public. Pence's event was a fundraiser that was invite-only. Perhaps the closest comparison is President Donald Trump's visit to Utica this summer to raise money for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney. After the fundraiser, Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri, a Democrat, asked Tenney, a Republican, to reimburse the city for nearly $30,000 spent on police protection for the visit, according to the Observer-Dispatch. Tenney refused, accusing Palmieri of having "sour grapes" because he didn't get to welcome the president during the visit, according to the O-D. In Syracuse's case, the city did not send Katko an invoice for police services. Just before the election, Katko had raised $2.5 million in the campaign cycle. He defeated Democratic challenger Dana Balter, who had raised around $2.4 million. To Whom It May Concern (Everyone): We're angry. In fact, we're more than angry: We're pissed. We're in a room full of teenagers attempting to channel our collective thoughts into a cohesive letter and that's the one theme we keep coming back to. According to USA Today, there have been 307 mass shootings in the past 311 days. That's an average of 1 shooting per day. This statistic has echoed through the halls of our schools over the past weeks as teenagers have been forced to reconcile that number with our own preconceived notions about what it means to be safe in America. We realize that mass shootings are uniquely an American problem, and we question why Congress hasn't passed common-sense reforms that have kept other countries safe for years. Many of us have written to representatives, demanding answers. Unfortunately, our pleas have been met with more auto-responses than real action. As our representatives, it is their duty to reflect the needs and desires of the American public. And here's what we can promise you: Angry teenagers will be your worst enemy. Despite his empty promises, Rep. John Katko still has an A rating from the NRA. And despite many proposed bills and lots of public discussions, Congress has still yet to pass a comprehensive gun reform bill. The 116th Congress must listen. We are the current and future voters of this country and we will hold our politicians accountable. Stella Heflin on behalf of Syracuse Students for Change Syracuse Syracuse Students For Change is a group of high school students from the greater Syracuse area that was created after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The group's goal is to make change in our community within issues like gun violence, mental health and ecological problems. Syracuse- Central New York will have quieter weather this weekend behind the major winter storm impacting the area for the end of the week. The low pressure system responsible for the early season snowstorm will be weakening over eastern Canada by Saturday. West winds will blow across Central New York under the influence of this low. The atmosphere will be moist, so clouds are likely for much of Saturday. Lake effect snow will develop off Lake Ontario but will stay to the north across the Tug Hill. A few flurries from Lake Erie may work in for the afternoon. Temperatures will remain well below normal on Saturday but will not be bitterly cold. Morning lows will start off in the low 30s and afternoon highs will push towards 40 degrees. The wind may gust as high as 30 mph during the day but will decline during the evening as it shifts to the northwest. With the shift in the wind, lake effect snow showers will move into Central New York from Lake Ontario. These will be most likely during the evening hours. High pressure will move in from the west overnight, quickly putting an end to the lake effect. Skies should partially clear after midnight and cold air will settle into the region. Morning lows Sunday will be in the low 20s. Some colder valley locations south and east of Syracuse could slip into the teens. Some sun will shine early Sunday, but clouds will be in the increase by the afternoon. A few snow showers from a weak storm system will arrive during the late afternoon or evening with minor accumulations. Temperatures on Sunday will top out in the low 30s. Winds will be light as the high pressure moves overhead with top gusts under 15 mph. Much of the weekend will be cloudy and dry for Central New York, but there are a couple chances for both snow and sunshine. Here is a look at each day's forecast details: Saturday Morning Lows: Low 30s Afternoon Highs: Near 40 degrees Cloud cover: Mostly cloudy. Precipitation: A few snow showers late Winds: West 7-12 mph, gusting to 30 mph. Confidence: Average Sunday Morning Lows: Low 20s Afternoon Highs: Low 30s Cloud cover: Some sun early, then cloudy. Precipitation: Some light evening snow. Winds: South 3-5 mph, gusting to 12 mph. Confidence: Average Editor's note: Last month, online reports showed a villa has been constructed on Qinling Mountain, Shaanxi province, where such construction is prohibited, with the owner being the son of a local official. The General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee recently issued a document about the incident, saying the local Communist Party of China committees had violated Party discipline. Beijing Youth Daily comments: According to the document, the Party committees of Shaanxi province and Xi'an city have seriously violated Party discipline. The case is publicized as a typical example of local officials committing wrongs on the issue of environmental protection. As early as 2003, the Shaanxi provincial government issued a notice prohibiting any company or individual from building on the north side of Qinling mountain range, and regulations were introduced banning any construction projects. Apparently, Slavoj Zizek likes to talk. That is the conclusion to which any interviewer would surely come. With only a few questions posed, he happily charges between topics that he wants to address whether or not they are related to those questions on the back of powerful trains of thought and not insubstantial charisma. It is not hard to see why the Slovenian Marxist has such a following, even though Marxism perhaps no longer has the sheen of glamour it once did. To begin, I ask him whether the culture war is a continuation of class struggle, and the first of these trains starts: No. Okay, I will be more precise. It is, but in a displaced, mystified form. In the same sense that antisemitism, lets be fair, is a continuation of class struggle. Because the figure of the Jew the anti-Semitic figure of the Jew condenses precisely the extremes of both classes. Jews [according to anti-Semites] are speculating, lazy but at the same time they smell bad, they work too hard and so on. So, it definitely is, but in a mystified, displaced way. An interesting thought, but apparently there isnt time to explain what the analogue in contemporary political discourse is (perhaps the opposing figures of the old white racist man and the snowflake on campus also have classist connotations?), because Zizek has already moved onto explaining his problem with contemporary forms of leftist populism. It [is] a beautiful formula, and [the anti-austerity party] Podemos in Spain especially practice it in a certain way. As their leader [Pablo] Iglesias once said he used the F word, not me F**k Marxism, Ideology, Socialism, Capitalism! There are ordinary people out there with their problems, their anxieties, their desires. Lets get in contact with them, lets listen to them. Sorry, I dont believe in this. I think and its a very tragic thing I think the problems we are facing today are not problems which can be so easily coordinated with the experiences, crises and so on of ordinary people. He illustrates this point with the environment. While ordinary people feel it when its hot or whatever, the consensus of approaching climate catastrophe is based predominantly on pieces of scientific evidence which to most of us, lets be frank, dont mean anything. Not that Zizek denies climate change. Im just saying that Im [] no longer this traditional Marxist who thinks we have a big problem today and that this problem can be resolved by mobilizing the gut feeling of ordinary people. I try to push him on whether this is a failure of Marxism, but barely get through half my sentence before Zizeks arms go up, and he exclaims: Why failure? Not leaving space for a response, he moves on to the great intellectual figure who was here [at the Cambridge Union] a week ago, Jordan Peterson he uses the term cultural Marxism which is, I think, total nonsense. This political correctness, blah blah blah, this is not Marxism [] If I may use consciously to provoke old-fashioned, hardline, almost Stalinist Marxist terms, this is a typical petty bourgeois moralizing as a defense against true political, economic, social radicalization. This kind of denunciation of the social left is perhaps why he makes period off-hand remarks about being lynched, and why he claims to have fallen from favour in America, though he makes no direct attack on students or young people, common targets for critics of identity politics. Zizek, of course, has quite a substantial following, but his political alignment sets him apart from the wave of popular figures, including Peterson, representing what might simplistically be termed the YouTube Right. I wonder if charisma is inherently politicized? I would say that Im not afraid of personal charismatic authorities. They are obviously needed. Lets not dismiss the figure of an authentic master. An authentic master is not the one like Stalinists, who giv[e] the orders, know better than you what you want. When we are caught in our daily lives, we are in an inertia, and the master is simply the one who kicks us [] As it were, the message of a true master is: You can do it better, you can change. Thats all the master does. Later when you do it, I am always sympathetic to the idea that then you chop off the head of the master Perhaps sensitivity is not, after all, what won him his fans. Neither, apparently, is respect for easy answers. I ask if he is an optimist, and he starts off: No ah I am an optimist because of my pessimism. This thought, which surely needs clarification, is immediately interrupted by another one: But another thing. You know what for me is the danger? We dont have only these alt-right new masters. Did you notice a strange thing lately the appearance of a very weird, lets call it a new corporate organic intellectual Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos they even think capitalism has reached its limits. They are for me almost more dangerous because they are the intelligent capitalists who see clearly that capitalism the way we have it cannot survive. But the model they are proposing is, as it were, capitalism without capitalism. But again, dont forget about this phenomenon which is tragic: the left has no idea about how to really move beyond capitalism. He then refers back to my original question: So again, I am [an] optimist, because, you know, we are in a very dangerous situation. By dangerous situation he doesnt just mean the lack of a clear leftist alternative to capitalism; rather, he segues to an even more alarmist topic: Are we aware that the big powers are seriously preparing for a new war? What is China doing, Russia, not to mention the United States? They of course claim they will never begin it, but they are all preparing for it, thats why for the situation now, [fascism before World War II] is not a good analogy its the decades before World War I. Nobody thought war [was] possible, we had, in Europe at least, fifty years of incredible progress and so on and we know what kind of absolute shock the war, the explosion was. A strange way for an optimist to talk, perhaps. Seemingly profound and entertaining insights aplenty come from the mouth of the most dangerous philosopher in the West, but given that the number of his published books is approaching the hundred mark, perhaps it is not surprising that he cannot explain his view of the world, with its underlying synthesis of Lacanian psychoanalysis and Marxist theory, in a few short minutes. Or perhaps he just knows how to captivate better than anyone. SHANGHAI - China spent $28.74 billion for the use of intellectual property imports last year, official data show. The figure was up nearly 14-fold from 2001 when the country joined the World Trade Organization, said the Report on China's Services Imports released by the Ministry of Commerce. The United States was the top source for such imports, followed by Japan and Germany, according to the report, which was published on the sidelines of the first China International Import Expo held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10. Most of China's payments for the use of intellectual property imports were for patents, trademarks and copyrights, according to the report. In 2017, the charges for the use of imported intellectual property accounted for 6.1 percent of China's total services imports, according to the report. China has always been an important player in and an active builder and firm defender of international property rules, the Ministry of Commerce said in the report. At present, China has joined almost all major international intellectual property conventions, it said. China's cumulative services imports are expected to exceed $2.5 trillion over the next five years, according to the report. The country's services imports will account for more than 10 percent of global services imports, contributing over 20 percent to the growth of the global total in the coming five years, the report predicts. During the period, China will see over $700 billion of cumulative imports in emerging services, including charges for the use of intellectual property, telecommunications, computer and information services, financial services, and personal cultural and recreational services, the report said. "This will provide a broader market, more valuable cooperation opportunities and greater benefits for the world," Xian Guoyi, head of the department of trade in services and commercial services at the Ministry of Commerce, said at a news conference held during the expo. Xinhua (China Daily 11/15/2018 page17) A new study revealed that bacterial pneumonia ups the patient's risk of having a heart attack or a stroke compared to those with viral pneumonia. The discovery was made by researchers from the Intermountain Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. It involved nearly 5,000 patients diagnosed with pneumonia between 2007 and 2014. Bacterial Pneumonia As A Risk Factor For Heart Attack, Stroke Experts have long known that pneumonia both bacterial and viral is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. It occurs when an infection causes inflammation of the air sacs of the lungs. However, this new study linked bacterial pneumonia with a higher risk of a major adverse cardiac event such as a heart attack. "What we didn't know was which type of pneumonia was more dangerous," stated J. Brent Muhlestein, a cardiovascular researcher and one of the authors of the study. "The results of this study provided a clear answer, which will allow physicians to better monitor patients and focus on reducing their risk of a major adverse cardiac event." The researchers found that patients who were diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia are 60 percent more likely to experience a heart attack or a stroke than those with viral pneumonia. Out of the nearly 5,000 patients, 34 percent of those who had bacterial pneumonia had a major cardiovascular event within 90 days. In comparison, only 26 percent of those who had viral pneumonia experienced a heart attack or a stroke within the same 90-day period. The researchers suspect that bacterial pneumonia causes a greater inflammation of the arteries, causing the build-up of plaque to become unstable and break loose from the artery wall. The loose plaque, then, blocks the passage of the blood, leading to heart attack and stroke. Muhlestein hopes that the findings of the study, which was presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago, will inform caregivers to more aggressively treat bacterial pneumonia before it turns into a major cardiac event. How To Prevent Bacterial And Viral Pneumonia The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that pneumonia is still the leading cause of death in children 5 years old and below around the world. Symptoms of bacterial and viral pneumonia include coughing, high fever, and difficulty breathing. Proper hand hygiene (regularly washing hands) and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces will reduce the risk of getting bacterial and viral pneumonia. Quitting smoking will also prevent the illness. Vaccines against some of the bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia are available. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The European Space Agency's Gaia, a space telescope, has spotted a faint dwarf galaxy that has been lurking around the Milky Way. Named the Antlia 2, scientists revealed that the dwarf galaxy is only one-third the size of the Milky Way but as big as the Large Magellanic Cloud. It has eluded detection until now because of its extremely low density and a perfect hiding place. Scientists have published the discovery in the online pre-print site arXiv. Ghost Galaxy Haunting The Milky Way The study used the data collected by Gaia, which has produced the richest star catalog to date. It monitors and measures nearly 1.7 billion stars in and across the Milky Way. A team of international researchers discovered the dwarf galaxy while trawling through the troves of new data recently released by the ESA Gaia. They searched for RR Lyrae stars, old stars typically found in dwarf galaxies and used by astronomers as standard candles to pin down distance. They found three sitting above the Milky Way's galactic disc. The scientists took it as an "overwhelming signal" of a cluster of stars, but finding the rest became a challenge. The dwarf galaxy was hiding behind the far side of the disk of the Milky Way, obstructed from view. Using the Anglo-Australian Telescope, the team was able to measure the spectra of about 100 red giant stars. They also found that the Antlia 2 never comes too close to Earth. It is always at least 130,000 light-years away from Earth. "RR Lyrae had been found in every known dwarf satellite, so when we found a group of them sitting above the Galactic disc, we weren't totally surprised," explained co-author Vasily Belokurov of Cambridge University. "But when we looked closer at their location on the sky it turned out we found something new, as no previously identified object came up in any of the databases we searched through." Explaining Milky Way's Unusual Companion The discovery of Antlia 2 challenges the current models of galaxy formation today. The researchers believe that the dwarf galaxy has so little mass because of the constant pull of the galactic tides of the Milky Way. However, this does not explain its impressive size. The team theorized that Antlia 2 was born huge but an explosion of stars early in its history blew dust and gas out of the galaxy, weakening gravity and allowing dark matter to drift away. The team thinks that the discovery of Antlia 2 could make scientists rethink of the properties of dark matter. The current theory claiming that dark matter is tightly packed in the centers of galaxies does not appear to apply to the newly-discovered ghost dwarf. "Compared to the rest of the 60 or so Milky Way satellites, Ant 2 is an oddball," added study co-author Matthew Walker of Carnegie Mellon University. "We are wondering whether this galaxy is just the tip of an iceberg, and the Milky Way is surrounded by a large population of nearly invisible dwarfs similar to this one." 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United States Preventive Services Task Force wants all adults, including pregnant women, across the country to be tested for unhealthy alcohol use. In a paper, the task force stated that adults who are found to drink more than the recommended limits must be given behavioral counseling to encourage them to reduce their alcohol consumption. For teens, however, the task force could not find enough evidence to recommend screening and counseling. The paper asks for further research on the topic. Alcohol Use Screening This is not the first time the USPSTF recommended doctors' intervention. Since 1996, the task force has made its position known, asking doctors to screen and briefly counsel adults who show signs of unhealthy alcohol use. In 1989, they also issued a recommendation, encouraging doctors to ask patients about their regular alcohol consumption. However, despite the repeated recommendations, not a lot of doctors screen patients for unhealthy alcohol use during clinic visits. "Yet implementation of screening and brief intervention still remains quite low," wrote Angela Bazzi and Richard Saitz of Boston University School of Public Health in the study published in the journal JAMA. "For example, in the United States, 1 in 6 patients reports having discussed alcohol with their physician; rates in Europe are similarly low." For the study, the USPSTF commissioned the review of studies on the effectiveness of screening and behavioral counseling in the reduction of excessive drinking in adults. They found sufficient evidence to continue recommending that doctors intervene by screening patients and talking to them to convince them to drink less. The task force added that numerous brief screening instruments can be used to detect unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings. Negative Effects Of Unhealthy Alcohol Use An estimated 88,000 alcohol-attributed deaths are recorded in the United States every year. This includes injuries from vehicular accidents, liver disease, etc. Pregnant women, meanwhile, put their children at risk of developing birth defects and developmental disabilities. Unhealthy alcohol use means drinking beyond the recommended limits, which is no more than four drinks in a single day and about 14 drinks in a week for men ages 21 to 64. For women, the recommended limit is three drinks a day or no more than seven drinks in a week, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sonali Bose was inspired to get into (SFMTA) and figure out what the hell is going on after buses passed her while she waited at a stop one day in 2003. Photo by Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle The woman who doubled the budget of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency replacing the junked buses of the past with a splashy new fleet is heading out the door, creating a new challenge for an agency that is struggling to gain public trust Sonali Bose, SFMTAs director of finance and information technology, will retire on Friday. A digital timer on her desk is counting down the seconds to that day. Its nestled among vases of blue and yellow daisies, prints of Monet paintings and a placard with a slogan that sums up Boses no-nonsense attitude: Because I said so.Some call her a political fixer: the rare transit bureaucrat who urged her allies to chair commissions and lined up votes for the policies she wanted. Others deem her a truth-teller: the woman in a blazer and a cotton dress who gamely criticized mayors and department heads when she thought they made bad decisions. Most people praise her for fixing the budget of a $1 billion agency that was in disarray before she arrived.When I walked in, I went, Whoa, Bose, 60, said. It was 2006, and the agency was starved of talent and resources. The budget was about half what it is today.Over the next 12 years, she raised the SFMTAs credit rating to be the highest of any transit agency in the country. She oversaw a new parking program that adjusts rates at meters and garages to match demand. She helped fund the biggest increase in Muni bus and rail service that San Francisco has ever seen and increased the revenue from the agencys advertising contracts from $400,000 to $30 million.Folks didnt want to do advertising, she said, referring to resistance she met from the Board of Supervisors, which approved bus shelter ads in a narrow 6-5 vote in 2007. I told them, Look, either you have ads on buses, or you have no bus at all. What do you want?As much as Boses story is marked by accomplishment and principled stands, its also marked by one tense confrontation after another.She wasnt just a CFO she was this tireless, in-your-face advocate for the SFMTA, said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, chair of the Transportation Authority, the body that makes decisions on sales tax spending and some projects.She was the kind of person who would text me in the middle of a Transportation Authority meeting, either berating me or provoking new thoughts, Peskin said. She did not allow her behavior to be boxed in politically or financially.He and others called Bose a guiding force who fought relentlessly to improve the financial situation at the SFMTA, and who saw results. Over the years, politicians grumbled about Munis turbulent management and unreliable rail service, but no supervisor is holding oversight hearings about its finances.Born in Kolkata, India, Bose moved all over the world with her engineer father and travel-loving mother. She spent her childhood riding rickshaws in India, buses in Cameroon and Ghana where passengers would place their valuables on the roofs and hang onto the sides and the underground rail in London. She learned to drive in Mexico City but generally eschews automobiles, preferring to take the bus instead.Im a horrible driver, she said. Ive always been reliant on transit.An unpleasant experience with Muni inspired her to join the SFMTA. In 2003, Bose was waiting for the 5 Fulton on McAllister Street, trying to get to her job at a downtown pension fund in the middle of a downpour. Three buses passed by. Two were jam-packed, and one just didnt stop.So I said to myself, OK, Ive had it, Bose said, remembering the day with a dry smile. Ive got to get into that agency and figure out what the hell is going on.Three years later Bose walked into a storm of a different nature, when former SFMTA director Nat Ford hired her to bring San Franciscos transit system out of a financial crisis.At that time, Muni was still chafing from an infamous meltdown in the summer of 1998 that left trains stuck in tunnels and corroded public trust in the agency. By 2006, SFMTA was surviving on a threadbare $580 million budget. Officials didnt have enough funding to buy parts or hire mechanics to repair the aging fleets. Buses were sitting in the yard, broken.Cars were breaking down all the time, and we couldnt fix them, said Tom Nolan, former chair of the SFMTA Board of Directors.During her first year on the job, Bose began instituting reforms, beginning with a ballot measure that she and Peskin successfully pressed in 2007. It increased funding for the SFMTA, while giving it more autonomy from the Board of Supervisors and allowing the agency to issue revenue bonds to pay for capital projects. Separately, Bose persuaded the city to expand advertising on bus shelters and vehicles, which generated more money for the beleaguered system.In the years that followed, Bose helped beef up Muni service by 10 percent, replaced the buses and light-rail vehicles, boosted the workforce from 4,000 to 6,000 employees, doubled the budget, and amassed enough money for colossal infrastructure projects like the Central Subway.She departs at a time when public confidence in the SFMTA is unraveling once again. Muni Director John Haley retired last month, shortly after his former assistant filed a lawsuit alleging he sexually harassed and belittled her. His exit happened weeks after Mayor London Breed appointed an ombudsman to evaluate complaints of discrimination within the department.Bose said those problems didnt touch her.On Tuesday afternoon, transit chief Ed Reiskin announced Boses successor: Leo Levenson, CFO of the citys Department of Technology. Before the new hire became public, Reiskin signaled that he wanted someone to fulfill the number-crunching duties of the job but that he wasnt necessarily seeking another outsized personality who knows how to play politics.At the same time, hes chipping away at what some saw as a culture of bullying and intimidation, by promoting more women to visible leadership positions. Among them is Haleys interim replacement, Julie Kirschbaum.As those changes take shape, well definitely feel the loss of Sonali, Reiskin said. As far as Im concerned, shes irreplaceable.San Francisco Chronicle 2018 The debate over what guidelines the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council will use on future industrial tax break requests was settled Wednesday. The council adopted stipulations proposed by Councilman LaMont Cole that include requiring businesses seeking tax cuts to create at least 15 permanent, full-time jobs or 10 percent of the business' "pre-project employment" baseline. Those numbers are lower than what Cole originally suggested in proposals before Wednesday night's meeting, but he said the reduction in the job creation benchmarks was an effort to reach a compromise between those in opposition of the state's Industrial Tax Exemption Program and proponents who see the program as a vital component in making the parish an attractive option for industries. "We as protectors of the taxpaying dollars should not allow companies to have tax exemptions if, at a minimum, they're not going to seek to create jobs," Cole said in a speech before the 10-2 vote. Disputes continue as Baton Rouge Metro Council crafts guidelines on tax breaks for industry The Metro Council's attempt to craft guidelines for granting future tax breaks to industry in East Baton Rouge Parish in a bipartisan fashion Councilmen Dwight Hudson and Scott Wilson voted against Cole's stipulations, which sparked a near two-hour debate. The state's ITEP program is designed to give manufacturers breaks on their property taxes in return for new capital expenditures. Cole and Watson have led the Metro Council's efforts to establish the city-parish's own set of guidelines regarding what factors would play into their approval or rejection of tax break requests after Gov. John Bel Edwards in an executive order gave control over the tax exemptions to local taxing authorities. Those decisions were previously made at the state level. Cole's original proposal stipulated that a company create at least 25 permanent full-time jobs, or 15 percent of the company's pre-project baseline employment level. But it received a lot of behind-the-scenes pushback from industry officials and from organizations like the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, whose representatives said those numbers would hurt small businesses. Liz Smith, BRAC's senior vice president of economic competitiveness, said increased sales tax revenues spurred by industrial companies' capital investments in new projects and/or facility expansions are more economically beneficial to the parish than new jobs. BREC abruptly drops its challenge of ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge property assessments The Baton Rouge parks department, which last month formally appealed ExxonMobil's property tax bill and claimed the petrochemical giant's prop Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "The state relies heavily on sales tax," she told council members Wednesday. "Sales tax come from capital investment. Capital investments create indirect jobs." Other pro-industrial speakers threw their support behind Watson's set of proposed guidelines, which didn't focus on job creation. Instead, Watson's version required analysis from the Louisiana Economic Development Department, which he consulted with on his proposed guidelines, proving that a project would spur more tax revenues over 15 years than the original tax break. Watson's stance on ITEP guidelines has been largely criticized by Together Baton Rouge, whose members and supporters said he just wanted to rubber stamp any tax break request the council receives. The councilman has denied that's the case. After Wednesday's vote, TBR leaders were pleased with the guidelines while expressing disappointment in the job benchmark being reduced. "This will be what is needed to get the needed funds and have industry pay their fair share and have things go forward in a better way for our parish," said Dianne Hanley, a volunteer leader with TBR. Watson tried to get some of his stipulations amended into Cole's guidelines, but those attempts were shot down by a majority of the council. "I'm pretty happy with what LaMont brought forth today," Watson said during the meeting, after having characterized Cole's proposal the day before as a "shady hustle" and accusing Cole of bending too much toward the desires of TBR. "The change with the job requirements was a great compromise," Watson said Wednesday. Husdon expressed some concerns over the guideline's job creation component as well and tried to get the item deferred so future tweaks could be made. That also was overruled by a majority of the Metro Council. "I didn't bend to the will of Together Baton Rouge, I bent to the will of the people," Cole said. "All were saying to you is try to create one job if youre a small business. If youre a big company, try as best you can to create at least 15 jobs. I dont think thats too much to ask." Editors note: This story was updated Nov. 15 because a previous version incorrectly stated that Watson voted in opposition of Cole's proposal. The Advocate regrets the error. Improving transit systems to keep up with the demands of the 21st century requires foundations to get involved in providing funding and advocacy on both the national and local levels. There needs to be a broad-based national campaign to convince political leaders to make the investments that need to be made, said Calvin Gladney, president and chief executive officer of Smart Growth America, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. Gladney was one of the panelists at the 13th annual Louisiana Smart Growth Summit, which started Tuesday at the Shaw Center for the Arts. Sean Wilson, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, said states will soon end up in a quagmire as federal spending on transportation funds get constrained due to income tax cuts. The places that have done a very good job of moving mass numbers of people in large amounts did not develop those systems quickly, he said. Louisiana faces further challenges because of the states urban-rural divide. This means, Wilson said, that he has to convince people in Bunkie that its important for them and their economy to create transit systems that make Baton Rouge or New Orleans more attractive to young professionals. One thing that may help with transit development is that the two largest generations of Americans, baby boomers and millennials, are driving less, said John Robert Smith, the chairman of Transportation for America and the former mayor of Meridian, Mississippi. Boomers dont want to be stuck in traffic, he said. Millennials are buying fewer cars. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The key is to take action quickly. Smith said the Federal Transit Administration is set to spend $600 billion during the current fiscal year. That number will be reduced by $400 million in the near future. "The window is closing and closing rapidly," he said. "We don't have much time to act." The smart growth summit, which is presented by the Center for Planning Excellence, concluded Wednesday. About 500 people were expected to attend each day of the event. Smart Growth Summit will tackle neighborhood transformation, flooding risks with collaboration The Center for Planning Excellence is shaking up the format of the 13th annual Louisiana Smart Growth Summit. Through the work of organizations such as CPEX, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Louisiana has a chance to become an international leader in issues such as coastal erosion and rising sea levels. Were developing expertise that will be in high demand across the world, he said. During his recent trip to Israel, Edwards said a team from the Water Institute for the Gulf was on hand. They have the same issues we do around water quality and how to live with water, he said. A 71-year-old Mandeville financial adviser who stole more than $1.1 million from elderly investors has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Brandon Fremin announced Wednesday. Ralph Willard Savoie, who previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud, also was ordered Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick to pay $1.1 million-plus in restitution and forfeit another $1.1 million, Fremin said. Savoie, who also had an office in Baton Rouge, defrauded clients by using their money for personal expenses, to pay off other investors and to invest in a risky real estate venture, according to federal court records. BR financial adviser accused of using investors' money for personal items, bills, more BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) A Louisiana-based investment adviser has been charged with defrauding clients by using their money for personal expenses, to pay off other investors and to invest in a risky real estate venture. Ralph Willard Savoie, a resident of Baton Rouge and Mandeville, was charged last Friday with two counts of wire fraud and one count of identity theft, federal court records show. He used some of the money on jewelry, hotels, restaurants, credit card bills, a car note and rent, court records indicate. Savoie, who had described the investment opportunities as a "sure thing," told one victim who confronted him that the investor would never see his money returned if he reported the matter to law enforcement, Fremin stated. "This conviction and sentence sends a loud and clear message those who abuse their fiduciary responsibilities and take advantage of the elderly in this district will face the full might of the federal government," the chief federal prosecutor for the Baton Rouge-based Middle District of Louisiana added. Savoie's scheme ran from January 2013 until at least March 2016, Fremin said. DALLAS (AP) Investigators in two states say they've been able to close four unsolved murder cases because of confessions by a man being held A Baton Rouge man was arrested Wednesday in the September killing of 28-year-old Jerry Spain, Baton Rouge police announced Wednesday. Warren Davis, 35, is accused of fatally shooting Spain about 5:50 a.m. on Sept. 1 in the 2000 block of Sherwood Meadow Drive. Spain was found with a single gunshot wound to the back of his head near an Oldsmobile Cutlass registered to him in the parking lot outside of an apartment complex off North Harrell's Ferry Road, according to Davis' arrest report. Balloons were placed at the scene and messages of "RIP Spud" were spray painted in a parking area and on a nearby building in the days following his death. The arrest report for Davis said detectives spoke with a witness who detailed multiple phone conversations between Spain and Davis during the early morning of Sept. 1 concerning Spain's car parked near Sherwood Meadow Drive. The witness said Davis made threats to Spain's life during the phone call, causing Spain to go to Sherwood Meadow Drive to confront Davis. The witness also told detectives Davis had a prosthetic leg, which was key information in another witness' statement about the shooting, according to the report. The second witness said they received a phone call from Spain on Sept. 1, telling them that "Peg Leg," referring to Davis, was messing with his vehicle outside the address at Sherwood Meadow Drive. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The second witness told detectives they heard Davis and Spain arguing at the location and they heard a single gunshot during the argument. The report said detectives obtained Davis' and Spain's phone records, confirming multiple phone calls from Davis to Spain, as well as a phone call from Spain to the second witness. When interviewed by detectives, Davis denied speaking with Spain on the phone, claiming he had not talked to him for several weeks in person, on the phone or through social media. Davis, of 650 N. Ardenwood Drive, was booked into Parish Prison on a count of second-degree murder. Though facing a nearly $1 billion revenue shortfall, a number of state lawmakers are putting together legislation that would restructure how L Nobody appears to relish the idea of going head to head with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards more than Attorney General Jeff Landry, who has battled with the administration over health care, the death penalty, LGBTQ rights and more. Unless its U.S. Sen. John Kennedy. But theres really only room for one of them in next years governors contest, and Landrys Wednesday announcement that hell run again for his own job adds yet another piece of evidence pointing to a Kennedy gubernatorial candidacy. Over the summer, Landry issued a call for Republicans to unite behind one challenger to the Democratic governor, and said that if nobody else steps up, hed do it. With Jeff Landry not running for Louisiana governor, here's how race is shaping up Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has ended speculation that he might mount a run for governor next year by announcing Wednesday that he Businessman Eddie Rispone has already announced his plans to get in. Kennedy has said hell make his decision by Dec. 1, but lots of folks believe he already has. He sure was sounding like a candidate and like Landry earlier in the day, when he issued a call for state Health Secretary Rebekah Gee to step down in light of a damning legislative audit, which found that her department may have spent as much as $85 million on Medicaid expansion for people who didnt qualify (Gee responded that the department is upgrading its system to determine eligibility). Kennedy also said he would author federal legislation to crack down on such problems. Stephanie Grace: Thanksgiving will be only a brief respite from Louisiana election cycle Enjoy the Thanksgiving break, Louisiana voters. Maybe try to talk about something other than politics over dinner, if your family dynamics all The report is stunning. It is breathtaking. There are not words in English to describe what our Legislative Auditor found, he wrote in a press release. Of course, Kennedy, who has earned a reputation in his short time in Washington as the Senates most colorful quote, is never actually at a loss for words. If this keeps up for a full year, we all might wish he were. In normal times, it's good news for a political incumbent when a major potential opponent announces he won't make the race. These are not normal times. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican, announced Nov. 14 that he won't run against Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. That might be the worst news Edwards has heard in quite some time. A number of the governor's supporters were relishing the idea of Landry being Edwards' primary GOP opponent. The reason is simple: They see Landry as easier to beat than U.S. Sen. John Neely Kennedy. Landry has been a frequent thorn in Edwards' side, both politically and administratively, though there's not much difference these days. He never misses a chance to issue press releases criticizing the governor's policy decisions and in some cases he scores points among conservatives by taking Edwards to court on cultural issues such as equal rights for LGBTQ citizens. For all his bluster, however, Landry doesn't have near the political war chest or the ability to fill a war chest that Kennedy has. The AG also is not nearly as smart as Kennedy, though the senator is doing his damnedest to convince everyone on the planet that he's a backwoods hick, his highfalutin Vanderbilt and Oxford degrees notwithstanding. Landry, bless his heart, doesn't have to pretend to be thick; it pretty much comes natural to him. Kennedy also is the only major Republican who can out-demagogue Landry when it comes to tossing red meat to the base. That's saying a lot. Landry's announcement that he'll stay in his AG lane strongly suggests that Kennedy is running for governor and that he may be clearing the field of establishment Republican candidates. With Jeff Landry not running for Louisiana governor, here's how race is shaping up Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has ended speculation that he might mount a run for governor next year by announcing Wednesday that he So far, only Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone, also a Republican, has formally announced his intention to run against Edwards. Rispone reportedly is willing to spend $5 million of his own money to launch his campaign. That's a lotta dough, but Kennedy has been running for something actually, many things for almost three decades. He has high name recognition and he's got a knack for getting his face (and his homespun quips) on the news. A recent poll conducted by SurveyUSA and commissioned by Kennedy showed the senator would begin his campaign if he announces his intention to run by Dec. 1, as he has promised to do in a strong position. The poll showed him beating Edwards in a head-to-head contest. Then again, polls four years ago showed then-U.S. Sen. David Vitter beating the pants off everybody in the early stage of that election cycle, and we saw how that turned out. As for Landry, the timing of his announcement serves him well. So far, no one of any consequence has surfaced as a potential opponent in the race for attorney general. He certainly doesn't appear to have alienated his GOP base, and Louisiana remains decidedly "red" in statewide elections, despite Edwards' election as governor in 2015. Which means, if Edwards were to get re-elected, he'd likely find himself the target of AG Jeff Landry's political barbs for four more years. In politics, you don't get to pick your opponents. They pick you - especially when you're the incumbent. Many of the high-profile art shows in New Orleans this year have used the occasion of the citys tricentennial to celebrate the more colorful moments in its history. This month, a group of three separate but thematically linked shows at the Contemporary Arts Center spotlights more often-overlooked aspects of the citys industrial and cultural environment and the concept of labor in general. If that doesnt sound like the most compelling reason to visit, give it a chance: The three collections featured at the CAC through February collectively have some of the most interesting work on view in the city right now. In a sound installation earlier this year, artist (and native New Orleanian) Zarouhie Abdalian positioned a series of ships bells throughout buildings in the French Quarter to focus listeners' attention on aspects of the neighborhoods history and culture that often go unobserved. In Production, her new show at the Contemporary Arts Center, Abdalian uses more directly visual strategies to underscore the presence of human labor in the built environment of the city and its environs. (A taped loop of sounds from various worksites functions more as background filler to the visuals here than anything.) That said, many of those objects arent immediately impressive. But this is a show that rewards patience and careful observation not to mention reading the wall text. A series of misshapen objects at the entrance to the exhibition turns out to be based on pieces of clay that were run through a motor assembly, and bear both the imprints of machine components and the fingerprints of the artist that occurred during their fabrication. In another gallery, a collection of unassuming chunks of material taken from a long-abandoned chalk mine in Mississippi bears traces of the chisels and picks used to excavate the mine more than a century ago, giving these otherwise mundane fragments a ghostly human presence. A large piece of red fabric on a wall looks like a particularly vibrant drop cloth until you notice that the random folds are actually a byproduct of a phrase inspired by Karl Marx that is stitched into the fabric. And a nearby sculpture consisting of a ship ballast stone found near the Port of New Orleans and a piece of gold plate expresses a literal and metaphorical weight with elegant simplicity. If industrial materials and traces of their production are subtle presences in Abdalians work, theyre foregrounded in William Monaghans extraordinary mixed-media assemblages on the second floor of the CAC. I Object marks Monaghans first museum retrospective in 40 years and includes older pieces from the 1970s and 1980s along with more recent ones. Raised in New Orleans, where his father worked in the Reily Coffee Company factory on Magazine Street, Monaghan returned to the city to create the newer assemblages in the current show. Monaghans earlier works use the natural processes of evaporation and oxidation to create flowing, almost shimmering textures on canvas surfaces. Its unlikely youve ever seen rust used to a more seductive effect. His newer pieces incorporate objects that Monaghan found via scavenging scrap yards and then layered onto wall-mounted supports. The mostly monochromatic works include everything from discarded tuna can lids to old articles of clothing and are painted and lit by the artist to disrupt the process of seeing itself: Its hard to tell whether theyre two- or three-dimensional. Even a closer look reveals them to be somewhere in between, and the result is both disorienting and intensely captivating. If Abdalian and Monaghan abstract the labor involved in industrial production by depicting it via often anonymous-looking objects and materials, Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick put human faces on it in their powerfully evocative portraits and scenes from laboring communities throughout Louisiana, including sugar cane and sweet potato harvesters, unionized dockworkers, hospitality industry workers, and inmates in enforced work programs at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Three shows Zarouhie Abdalian: Production William Monaghan: I - Object Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick: Labor Studies WHEN: Wednesdays through Mondays from 11 AM to 5 PM through February 10; closed Tuesday WHERE: Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St. INFO: (504) 528-3805, http://www.cacno.org Their Labor Studies installation at the CAC includes work created throughout their 40-year collaboration and has something of a retrospective quality to it. Its a stunning collection of dozens of images that are without exception resolutely unsentimental and emphatically real. Its also a body of work that most directly reflects the historical and current realities of New Orleans, and likely the works in this intriguing trifecta at the CAC that will stay with you the longest. ****************************** Zarouhie Abdalian: Production William Monaghan: I Object Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick: Labor Studies WHEN: Wednesdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Feb. 10; closed Tuesday WHERE: Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St. INFO: (504) 528-3805, http://www.cacno.org The Orleans Public Defenders Office faces a potentially sharp drop in its budget next year due to cuts in state funding and the planned removal of some of the city's traffic cameras, its leaders told the City Council during a hearing Wednesday on Mayor LaToya Cantrell's proposed 2019 budget. The office will receive about $7.6 million this year through a mix of state, local and grant funding, as well as traffic tickets, with $1.5 million coming from the city. The Cantrell administration kept city funding for the office at the same level for 2019 in its budget proposal. However, Chief Public Defender Derwyn Bunton said he expects his overall revenue to fall by roughly $1 million in 2019 because of Cantrell's plan to cut back on the city's unpopular traffic cameras, as well as a $700,000 reduction in state funding. His office gets a share of the revenue from each ticket. He asked council members to consider raising the city's allocation to $2.5 million next year. New Orleans will spend $258 million (in 2019) to arrest, prosecute and incarcerate, and only $1.51 million to protect innocence, provide accountability and ensure a fair and equitable justice system, Bunton said. Without a budget increase, Bunton said, he will need to enact a hiring freeze next year and terminate the offices contracts with private attorneys that handle some of its cases when its own attorneys cannot. Cantrell has proposed encouraging police officers to write costlier tickets under state laws to make up for lower traffic-camera revenue to the city. But that won't do enough to address the Public Defender's Offices losses or Louisiana's long-flawed system of relying on volatile traffic fines to fund indigent defense, the office's leaders said. They said a better plan would involve giving the office $2.5 million from the city's general fund, reinstating its lost camera revenue and coming up with a broader strategy to base less of its revenue each year on unpredictable traffic tickets. Some council members agreed that public defense entities across Lousiana are drastically underfunded, even if the prospects for a budget boost in 2019 look unlikely. We can at least agree that there is a huge discrepancy compared to what that budget looks like on the other side of the case, said Councilman Jason Williams, a criminal defense attorney who is planning to run for district attorney in 2020. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Cantrells office said Wednesday evening that it is not opposed to giving the defenders' office more money if that money can be found. Cantrell plans to shut off about 20 of the 31 traffic cameras that are not in school zones next year and to run those in school zones only during certain times of the day. Those moves would please many motorists but could also cost the city $4 million to $6 million annually. Cantrell plans to replace at least $500,000 of that by encouraging police to issue traffic tickets under state laws, rather than under city ordinances that have lower fines. But the Police Department's traffic squad cant match the roughly 260,000 tickets that have been churned out by the traffic cameras each year, Bunton said. That means that the Public Defenders Office, which draws more than a third of its revenue from traffic fees and fines, could lose out on at least $300,000 in 2019, he said. At the same time, the local office will receive less money from the Louisiana Defenders Board because other parishes needed more emergency funding from that agency due to flooding and other problems. Bunton said a broader solution to his perennial budget woes could include asking voters to support a new millage, redistributing existing property taxes to give public defenders a share, or amending local or state laws to put the defenders office on a par with the funding received by the District Attorney's Office. The DAs Office is due to receive about $6.6 million from the citys general fund next year, an increase of $600,000, and about $12.4 million in direct funding. Only about 1 percent of its budget comes from traffic fines. If his budget is not increased, Bunton said, by Jan. 1 he will be forced to enact a hiring freeze and end a contract with a private firm which handles cases when ethical concerns prevent lawyers in his office from doing so. He said a class-action lawsuit that claims Louisianas defense system is need of a major overhaul is moving through the courts and the state defender board is seeking to get more funding, but success on either front is uncertain at best. In a statement, Cantrells office urged Bunton to continue to advocate at the state level for a more stable source of financing. She didnt rule out amending the city's 2019 budget to provide more funding for his office, but another agency might need to lose so that his office could gain. A 20-year-old man met a 15-year-old girl at an abandoned home in Algiers earlier this month expecting an illicit liaison, but he ended up firing a bullet into her chest after an argument, New Orleans police said. Now, following his arrest, Eric Irons is facing criminal counts for both the teens shooting and a sexual relationship that authorities believe had lasted for years. According to court documents released Wednesday, Irons and the girl messaged each other on social media and planned to meet at an abandoned home in the 400 block of Thayer Street in the early morning hours of Nov. 4. Police said the girl sneaked out of her parents home and headed around the corner to the abandoned residence, where Irons expected to receive oral sex. But the two argued during a discussion about their relationship, which involved sexual intercourse and dated back between three and five years, police said. At some point, Irons grabbed a pistol out of a backpack, removed the clip, pointed it at the girl and pulled the trigger, police said. It isn't clear whether Irons believed the gun was empty after removing the clip and had forgotten to eject a round already loaded in the chamber. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In any case, a bullet struck the girl in her upper right chest, police said. The girl ran to her parents home for help after Irons allegedly asked her to report being shot by someone else. Paramedics took the girl to University Medical Center. The bullet had exited through her back, police said. Police said she underwent several medical procedures and emerged in stable condition. After questioning the girl, police said, investigators concluded she had been shot by Irons. They also believe, based on the questioning, that Irons had engaged in sexual acts with the girl dating to when she was too young to legally consent to any such activity. Police booked Irons on Nov. 7 on a count of aggravated second-degree battery stemming from the shooting. On Tuesday, they added counts of sexual battery, indecent behavior with a juvenile and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, often referred to as statutory rape. Irons remained behind bars Wednesday in lieu of $95,000 bail. He could face years in prison if he is convicted of the most serious crimes of which he is accused. As the end of year rush hits small businesses, the threat of false billing scams looms large and the consumer watchdog is warning vigilance is key as losses pile up. Over the past two months, firms like email security business Mailguard have raised the alarm about a range of PDF and invoice emails impersonating brands and services that small businesses regularly interact with. ACCC deputy chairman Delia Rickard has warned businesses to review the process they use to pay accounts as losses from fake billing jump. Last week Mailguard released a warning for an MYOB invoice scam doing the rounds, where a link to a professional-looking invoice leads to a blank page which likely contains phishing software. At Variety and Rolling Stone's Criminal Justice Reform Summit, when CNN commentator Van Jones implied that Kardashian West and her husband have different politics, the reality TV star objected. Rather, it was something that came from his heart. That being said, she doesn't think his recent visit to the White House to converse with President Donald Trump was particularly political, at least for West. "I feel like he's very misunderstood and the worst communicator," Kardashian West said. "But, when we talk about it, we have very similar politics. "He's very not political, actually, he just happens to like Donald Trump's personality, but doesn't know about the politics. So, I've educated him recently. "I think it gets really misconstrued. He will always say he was friendly with him before, and he's the same person and friendly with him now. I could also co-exist with someone and still have different political views. My mum and my step-dad did that. It's fine to be different and have your own view." Kim Kardashian West has said her and Kanye's politics aren't all that different after all. Credit:AP Kardashian West continued explaining the intent behind her husband's recent White House appearance: "What he fights for is the right to like what he wants to like. Even if it's different from what you like. Keith Urban has been named entertainer of the year at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards. His wife, actress Nicole Kidman, was in tears as her husband walked on stage to collect the prize on Wednesday night in Nashville. The country superstar told Kidman: "Baby girl, I love you so much", adding he was "shocked beyond shocked". Urban beat out Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Kenny Chesney for the prize. Hundreds of protesters have marched through Irish cities after a lawyer argued that an alleged rape victim's choice of underwear meant the teenage girl had consented to sex. The demonstrations in Dublin, Cork and Limerick followed the acquittal of a 27-year-old man after his lawyer told jurors that the teenage complainant "was wearing a thong with a lace front". Irish politician Ruth Coppinger holds a pair of underwear during a protest in support of victims of sexual violence in Dublin on Wednesday November 14, 2018. Credit:Niall Carson/PA Wire The case sparked fury in Ireland, with thousands of women sharing images of their underwear on Twitter with the hashtag #thisisnotconsent in the aftermath of the verdict. The man, who was acquitted by a jury at Cork's Central Criminal Court on November 5, denied raping the 17-year-old girl in a lane in the city. Household delivery drones could provide a $40 million boost to businesses in the ACT, according to new research, which predicts the technology would allow them to reach new customers, grow sales and slash overheads. Tech company Wing commissioned the economic impact study into household delivery drone services in the capital as it prepares to launch a permanent service in Canberra's northern suburbs. The economic impact study, prepared by consultancy firm AlphaBeta and published on Friday, estimated that aerial delivery method would create an additional 600,000 sales for ACT businesses by 2030, generating between $30-$40 million in added revenue. About $10-$15 million would be accrued by small businesses, equating to as much as $16,000 per trader. Research commissioned by tech company Wing has estimated drone deliveries could deliver a $40 million economic boost for ACT businesses. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong The projections rely on the premise that deliveries by air are more time and cost effective than deliveries via road, making customers more likely to indulge in "additional or higher-value purchases". In a rare move prosecutors on Thursday accepted a plea of not guilty because of mental impairment from a Canberra man accused of mowing down a pedestrian and cyclist in his car. If a judge agrees that is the appropriate verdict for Ashley Paul Kelly, 34, he will be transferred to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal where he will be dealt with under the territory's mental health laws. Mr Kelly's purple station wagon. Credit:Facebook Mr Kelly was arrested and later charged with two counts of attempted murder following the events on Alexandrina Drive in Yarralumla on June 4 last year. It was before 7am on that date when the cyclist heard a car approaching him from behind and then the horn beep, court documents tendered on an earlier occasion say. The vast majority of a 434 day delay to the territory government completing stage one of the Gundaroo Drive duplication was caused by the need to relocate a gas pipeline and fibre optic cables, officials have told an inquiry. Public servants faced a series of questions about the 18-month delay to finishing the $31 million road project during a Legislative Assembly committee hearing on Thursday, in the wake of auditors being called in to examine a series of problems on the job. TCCS' Duncan Edghill said the gas pipeline was the main cause of delays to the completion of the road duplication. Credit:Fairfax Media The audit underway is also examining the governance and management of the contracts for the duplication project amid a series of extensions and variations to the contract related to both the pipeline relocation and the new signalled intersection at Mirrabei Drive. Public servants managing the project also told the committee while they knew generally where the gas pipeline was, it was not until work started they realised exactly where it was and that it was initially lain at too shallow a depth. No courage in reform Your November 13 editorial, Assessing the Barr governments hits and misses gives Mr Barr a pass mark for tax reform. This might be deserved if he was replacing inefficient, inequitable charges with a flat, or progressive, land-value tax that proponents of such reform recommend. For rolling a progressive conveyance duty into a heavily regressive rates system, and an existing land tax that has become regressive during the reform period, he deserves a fail-minus. The likely end-result of this reform process is that $3million mansions on Mugga Way will be more than $8000 a year better off, while those at the other end of Canberras property market will be picking up the tab, to the tune of $1000 a year. The editorial says undertaking the recommended reform is courageous. Elsewhere in Australia it would be, involving state governments starting a discussion, with either local councils or property owners, to raise a new tax on principal residences. In the ACT, rates and land tax are both the responsibility of one treasury, Mr Barr talking to himself is hardly courageous. Peter Bradbury, Holt Costs questionable The article in The Canberra Times by Nicole Hasham on November 13 (Snowy Hydro says multibillion-dollar energy project doesnt need cost-benefit test, canberratimes.com.au) quotes a conservative price of $2billion, which is very conservative seeing that the Snowy 2.0 feasibility document quotes a price between $3.8 billion and $4.5billion without allowing for transmission costs. The business analysis and modelling section was classed as confidential and was not given in the feasibility document; perhaps because it would have shown why Snowy Hydro doesnt want a cost-benefit test. Norm Johnston, Monash Divestment mistakes A critical part of the economic viability test for the Snowy 2.0 extension, as reported in No need to test viability: Snowy Hydro (November 13, p13), is the cost of upgrades to transmission lines and other infrastructure, which would double the conservative estimate of the project. The delivery cost is likely to be similar for any alternate generator of similar output. The problem lies in the fact that the poles and wires end of the project is in private hands. They have proved, as one would expect of private enterprise, to be totally self interested, massively over-investing in infrastructure in order to maximise profits under existing contracts. A likely solution to this is to establish the feed-in system as a government-owned project, moving to block expansion of the private, foreign ownership of the distribution phase of this major utility. That would make the decision a strategic one and the relevant viability test a contractual or legal one. That is to say, this is necessarily a political decision. Obstructionists are already politicising their demands for delay, pointing out that former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull made it his signature project and touting for consumer protection. The glib argument, Weve been through a massive mistake in network investment over the last decade might hold water except that the word investment is an inversion of the reality. What we have been through is a massive mistake in divestment, that is sale. Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor Chinas glass jaw I see today that China is telling Australia that we shouldnt interfere or obstruct its deals with South Pacific nations, and in the ABC its reported that China is telling Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality. Every time China is in the least bit offended by another nations actions its leaders and diplomats take to the airwaves to air their grievances and our traders cop it on the chin by sudden changes in policy or procedure. China has been telling itself since the Cultural Revolution that its been terribly bullied by all these other big nations like Britain and the USA and Japan, and it must seek restitution for all those historic wrongs. Australians too have a first-hand view of how British colonialism worked for ill as well as good. So while I sympathise with their historic mistreatment, we must simply move on and be better global citizens rather than resorting to bully tactics and revenge. In international relations it seems China has a glass jaw and a hurt ego and economic clout. Paul Wayper, Cook Climate neglected Scott Morrison pledges to build a large naval ship that will cruise the South Pacific and help Australias neighbours deal with natural disasters (Ship to patrol Pacific amid long view on PNG, November 9, p8). What are the plans for the large naval ship to combat climate change and sea-level rise, which will obliterate some Island nations. The Morrison government does not have an adequate domestic climate strategy, is not taking a leading international role on climate change mitigation and has no Pacific climate plan. Labor had a very good Pacific climate policy, which was abolished by the Abbott government. Not to worry, Morrisons naval ship will deal with this problem. Rod Holesgrove, OConnor Fines double standard Targeting parking infringements at school fetes is certainly mean-spirited (Letters, November 14), especially when it seems a double standard is being applied. For 12 months, ever since a new bikeway and footpath were constructed on Matilda Street, Woden Town Centre, the Hellenic Club has been violating parking rules with immunity. On most mornings, delivery vans can be seen protruding from the club loading dock blocking the footpath and the bikeway. Pedestrians and bike riders are obliged to navigate around the front of the vans opening the way to a dangerous collision. Now theres a case where the application of parking fines might improve safety and public amenity. Richard Bush, Curtin Fete targeted Saturday, October 27, was the Canberra Girls Grammar School Fete. Cars were all around the school as the school community raised money. Many people returned to their cars to a parking fine of $270. This was with the compliments of the Barr governments mobile licence plate recognition camera car (the revenue car). This serves as a warning to the ACT community that the Barr government continues to target public events and community activities to raise yet more revenue. Interesting that the ACT governments priorities now target community activities to generate revenue. At the same time parking across Canberra is being squeezed out of the town. Peter Pharaoh, Yarralumla Staying clear of conflict Your correspondent, K. MacMillan, (Letters, November 14) asks about the necessity of sending of our troops to oppose Nazi Germany, as if the answer is an automatic forgone conclusion, simply because we did so. Military history, answers that question in numerous other ways. I seem to remember it noted at the Australian War Memorial that the US was officially neutral until the Day that will live in infamy (December 7, 1941), when Japan attacked the American territory at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. I also seem to remember that the land of my ancestors, the Republic of Ireland/Eire, managed to remain neutral all the way through the Second World War. If individual citizens of those and other neutral countries felt strongly enough to take up arms to fight the Nazi or Axis menace they did so. However, an independent country like the Republic of Ireland was able to stay neutral, avoid conscription and extensive bloody fatal involvement of its citizens. I wonder if Australia had been a republic, could it have embraced neutrality as well? Could/would Australia do so in the future? Would we have avoided the Darwin attacks by the Japanese, the abandonment and self destruction of Queensland and the mini-submarine off Sydney and our coast? Must we forever ask why we always seem to have to send our lads (and lassies) to fight, die and be physically and psychologically maimed in other countrys wars, at the behest of overseas foreign leaders? The lyrics of Imagine by John Lennon come to mind, so I wonder if our leaders have the imagination to steer us out of harms way, as the world sails towards further ideological conflict, with some obviously not so balanced or even rational people at the helm. Imagine just some little bit of the outrageous proposed $500millions being instead spent on a military workshop exploring Defending effective neutrality as a possible policy in a future republic of Australia. I wonder if we can? Charles Foley, Queanbeyan East NSW Lesson must be learnt Ross Gittins (Its a hard lesson that we are yet to heed, November 14, p17) highlights many reasons that we need to focus on quality public education for all. The current government funding, although supposed to be needs based, is actually based on political clout, especially from private religious-based schools. As Gittins points out, this funding approach undermines the future of all our children and our democracy by segregating children by socioeconomic class and religion. Children and youth need to learn and be together regardless of socioeconomic status, religion or ethnicity. Stratification has negative effects on learning and on social integration, which is fundamental to a dynamic democracy. All taxes should go to guaranteeing quality public school education for everyone. Pamela Collett, Narrabundah Election priorities The Labor Party and the Coalition are already in an election mode. But none of them are seriously talking about the plights of the asylum seekers, senior citizens and affordable housing. The next election will be fought on many other issues like collecting taxes from the multinational corporations to address funding problems in health, education and power supplies to industry and households without polluting the atmosphere. Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt We need better security The brutal terrorist attack in Bourke Street, Melbourne, is just one example that shows Australia needs better security as well as being tougher on crime. This should start when migrants first arrive at their sub-destination point, this being Nauru or wherever and if there is any doubt at all of them not becoming good citizens, they should be put on the first available plane to from whence they came. Immigration officers should not get soft on so-called sad cases. It is a shame citizenship cannot be withdrawn and these people cant be sent back to their countries of origin, never to return. This should have happened to the Bourke Street terrorist when his passport was cancelled in 2015. If that had happened, the restaurant owner who was stabbed would be alive and well. Failing a tougher approach, the only alternative to the above and the moves suggested in The Canberra Times would be high-security prison for life, not just 10 years. Anne Prendergast, Reid TO THE POINT PETTY BEHAVIOUR Well said Graeme Dobell (Letters, November 14). Some 200 cars received fines for parking on the centre plantation at Girls Grammar fete recently. Easy money for the government and petty behaviour against a one day of the year event. Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla LET NELSON PLAN SINK Brendon Kelson (Letters, November 14) has nailed it. Half a billion dollars. Nine years disruption. What was the Economic Review Committee thinking? There are better ways, cheaper ways, so let the Nelson Plan sink, and spend the savings on the vets and/or other needy cultural institutions. Ed Cory, Bywong STAIN ON HONOURED PAST If Bec Cody is serious about removing some Canberra place names then might I suggest that she start with prime ministers Barton, Deakin, Watson, Fisher, Hughes and Cook followed by state premiers Parkes and Forrest, as all were vehement supporters of a White Australia. All were politicians of their time, all are honoured now irrespective of this stain in their past. Graeme Rankin, Holder VALUE OF SUBMARINES Nicholas Stuarts argument that the purchase of new submarines should be scrapped and replaced by development of missiles (New subs stir up sea dogs, November 14, p16) ignores the obvious point that modern submarines are far harder to detect and destroy. Land-based missiles, even if mobile, can be located by satellite surveillance. David Roth, Kambah PASSPORT POLICY As a Muslim, I find the Australian governments policy difficult to understand. The Bourke St terrorist wanted to go to Syria and the Australian government cancelled his passport. Why not let him go to Syria and then cancel his passport so he is unable to come back here? Dr Shaheena Rana, Walkerville, SA FUND ALL ABOUT IDEOLOGY Treasurer Josh Frydenburg is busy promoting the governments $2billion fund to help struggling small businesses. If employment is booming, along with the economy, whats the justification for this latest taxpayer-funded handout (because thats what it will turn out to be), not a rigorously managed loan as the government claims? I wonder if it has anything to do with the coalitions ideology a motive not unlike Labors ideology, which, the government constantly asserts, is behind every move the opposition makes. Eric Hunter, Cook WATER SQUANDERED Why does the federal government allow people to squander the waters of the precious Murray Darling Basin on rice and cotton? Barrie Smillie, Duffy ACT cancer patients have still been slugged a co-payment for some chemotherapy treatments despite the government earlier this year vowing to fund all drug payments. The government announced it was scrapping the chemotherapy co-payment - which saw some Canberra residents battling cancer charged up to $1500 a year to receive public treatment- in July this year. Some public ACT cancer patients have continued to face chemotherapy charges. Credit:Simon Schluter But some patients who received their chemotherapy orally continued to be charged. The issue was raised with the government in August by cancer patient Caitlin Moorhouse - who earlier campaigned for the co-payment to be scrapped - who was shocked to receive a bill for medication after the government had pledged to cover the costs. "Thank you to Dr Eleanor who, when I asked for help, was decisive and supported my need to seek help. Thank you to Dr Andrew for making that call to the hospital to smooth the way for me. Getting into that gown confirmed that I was truly the patient on this occasion, totally dependent on the kindness and skills of others. Former AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton "Thank you to the staff at the triage desk, to whom I was just another person. I was treated with care and compassion. I was not that well, and not at my best, but very grateful. I wasnt the only one there. Around me were people from all walks of life, with a bandage here or there, and their own personal stories to tell. Some were impatient. But if it bothered them, they did not show it. "Thank you to the cleaners. Your work behind the scenes makes a huge difference. My body told me it was time to vomit, which is always a bit awkward when wearing a suit and tie. On one knee on the floor in a clean toilet rather than a soiled one made all the difference to me. I am sorry if I made your next run a little bit harder. "Thank you to the triage nurse who kept me informed while I was in the waiting area, and for showing me to my bed. "Thank you to the emergency nursing staff. You dont know how much comfort the sight of you in your uniform brings to those of us feeling helpless. "Getting changed out of my suit (which makes me feel important) into that gown confirmed that I was truly the patient on this occasion, totally dependent on the kindness and skills of others. "Thanks to the emergency physician who took a history from me. You asked me to describe my pain and I could not. It was pain, bad pain. It was waxing and waning every few minutes, and I was struggling to find an adjective that would help you. You smiled and were patient as you gently probed and questioned. Dr Steve Hambleton in his Brisbane medical practice in 2014. Credit:Paul Harris "I was not a very good historian. In that moment there was a lot of my history I could not remember. Certainly not dates and times, and what happened in what order, and I dont really have any chronic diseases. It made me think about how much harder it must be for those that do. "Thank you for putting in that intravenous line, which sort of validated for me that I was not a fraud and did need to be there. "Thank you to the student nurse, who recorded my observations and administered the first of the medications. I was not well, and probably did not express my thanks all that well. "Thank you to your senior, who was quietly guiding you as you administered the analgesia. The pain did not go away immediately, but the warm feeling on my skin was reassuring that something was being done. "I wondered how the meeting that I left was going, and what my colleagues were thinking about my sudden departure. After being treated at The Canberra Hospital, Dr Steve Hambleton was flown to his home town of Brisbane where he had bowel surgery. Credit:Jamila Toderas "Thank you to the wardsmen who transported me to the radiology department on two occasions. For your light-hearted banter as we weaved our way along the corridors in my bed, which seemed to have lost its steering. We need to get that trolley fixed it just wouldnt go straight. Sorry about the rubbish bin. It was a welcome distraction to take my mind off the way I was feeling. "Thank you to the ultrasound operator who was gently efficient his job was to be in that darkened room, applying his knowledge of anatomy to help answer the clinical questions. "Thank you to the CT scan nurse and the radiographer for your part of the diagnostic journey. "I spent a long time in your emergency department. I love the reference to the flight deck, which is your central point. I was there long enough to hear shift changes and the handovers. The Canberra Hospital emergency department Credit:Elesa Kurtz "I heard you gently managing the patient with the mental illness, whose understanding and connection with our reality was tenuous at best. "I heard you keeping the patients relatives informed about the next steps on their journey. Thank you for putting in that intravenous line, which sort of validated for me that I was not a fraud and did need to be there. "I heard you manage the man with dementia who was someones brother/husband/father. He was loud, and he was angry as he fought his demons. Despite that, he was treated with the same kindness as all your other patients. Do you remember telling me that by the time he left the department that he was 'the nicest old man'? I hoped that you would be around if ever I was that man in the future. "I wanted to go home but needed to stay. I needed help and you gave it to me willingly and I am so grateful. When I leaned on the call button accidentally or when I needed extra help, you were there quickly. "Did you know that if you hold your breath you can watch your oxygen 'sats' go down and make the alarm go off? The machines beep to tell you when things are going well, and when they are not. "I presented my groceries at the supermarket checkout, with sturdy jute bags in which to pack them, only to be told by the operator she was allergic to these bags," writes Joan Brown of Orange. "She had to call over another assistant to handle them." Joan wonders if this is a first and if will become more of an issue in the post-plastic bag era. Given the burgeoning international fame of the local spectacle of blooming jacaranda trees in November, Charles Davies-Scourfield of Moss Vale proposes an addition to the lexicon. "In the space of three paragraphs, the colour of jacarandas in the Herald (November 15) was described as purple, lavender and lilac. Perhaps the colour ought to be described simply as 'jacaranda'?" Ron Wessels bar/laundry in New Orleans (C8) reminded Brian Collins of Cronulla of "a long ago, less sophisticated time when I was living in London. The laundromat was opposite the pub and we had our own remote timing devices: a pint for the wash and half a pint for the dryer". During her current visit to her youngest son in the borough of Brooklyn in New York, Janice Creenaune of Austinmer noticed "the Sunshine Laundromat offers the traditional laundry, but behind a dryer facade/door is the hidden bar and dozens of pinball machines to while away the time. The chore of laundry duties always takes much longer than expected". Apropos Foxy John's in Dingle the hardware store with a bar (C8) Helen Hudson of Bondi writes that a relative of hers, also in Ireland, "has a combined fishing tackle and funeral business. I suppose he can tell by the look on the customers face as to which service he needs to provide". "When we first came to the mountains 20-odd years ago, you could sit among the nuts and bolts in the Lawson hardware store (C8) and get a haircut," reminisces Hal Ward of Wentworth Falls. While Lynsey Moore of Ashgrove is convinced that "multi-purpose hardware stores have been appearing across Australia for some years now. They all go by the name Aldi". It's not often that country kids outperform their city cousins, and even rarer that they eclipse Sydney's selective school students. But a group of kids scattered across the far reaches of the state have done just that. Aurora College, a virtual selective school set up almost four years ago to bridge the educational gap between the city and the bush, has been such a success that it will be expanded to trial a year six opportunity class. Its NAPLAN results are excellent, and in the VALID program, a state-wide assessment of improvement in science from year eight to 10, "we outperformed every other selective school in the state," said principal Chris Robertson. Teacher Lisa Pearson teaching OC STEM class with year 5 students at Aurora College. Credit:Louise Kennerley When Aurora College was set up in 2015 as part of a plan to give country students the same opportunities as their city counterparts, there were 150 students. Next year, there will be 380, including the opportunity class kids. The federal government will establish Australias first National Rare Diseases Framework and Action Plan to support people with rare conditions such as Batten disease, muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial disease. Advocacy group Rare Voices Australia (RVA) will receive $170,000 to develop the action plan, Health Minister Greg Hunt will announce at the 2018 Rare Diseases Summit in Melbourne on Friday. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt will announce the creation of the national action plan on Friday. Credit:Lukas Coch "Our government recognises the fact that these diseases are statistically rare with an estimated prevalence of five in 10,000 therefore special and concerted efforts are needed to address them," Mr Hunt said. Roughly 8000 rare diseases have been identified worldwide. An estimated 6 per cent to 8 per cent of Australians are affected by one of these life-threatening or debilitating "orphan" conditions and, of those, almost half are children. Police hope a $250,000 reward will finally smoke out the killer of former KGB Colonel Gennadi Bernovski, who died in a hail of bullets outside his luxury Gold Coast home. It's 18 years since Mr Bernovski was repeatedly shot with a semi-automatic weapon as he took his bins out on the night of July 24, 2000. Former KGB Colonel Gennadi Bernovski was gunned down outside his Gold Coast home on July 24, 2000. Credit:AAP The 41-year-old martial arts expert died after staggering back to the doorway of his Benowa Waters home, telling his wife: "Call the police, there's shooting." Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan says detectives are determined to solve the crime, and hope the reward will flush out those who can identify the killer. A man dubbed a "homeless hero" after he tried to ram a shopping trolley into the terrorist in the Bourke Street attack is wanted for questioning over a spate of recent burglaries, police have revealed. Michael Rogers, 46, drew widespread praise and the nickname 'Trolley Man" for pushing the trolley repeatedly at Hassan Khalif Shire Ali as the 30-year-old man attempted to stab police during the horrific incident last week. 'Trolley Man' Michael Rogers Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui A crowdfunding campaign Not all heroes wear capes to thank Mr Rogers had raised more than $143,000 by Thursday evening. Police revealed on Thursday evening that they wanted to speak with Mr Rogers over a series of burglaries that occurred in the St Kilda and CBD area and breach of bail conditions. EnergyAustralia operates the Yallourn brown coal-fired power station in Victoria's east where a worker died on Monday. Credit:Joe Armao Staff at a power station where a man was killed in the third explosion in months say they are now afraid to go to work. Much-loved unit controller Graeme Edwards died after a high-voltage circuit breaker exploded on him in unit three at Yallourn Power Station, in Victoria's east, about 4pm on Monday. He was performing a procedure known as racking, which involves manually winding the circuit into place, when it somehow turned on and burst into flames that burnt most of his body. Workers, who have been left traumatised by Mr Edwards' death, say the coal mine's owner EnergyAustralia has refused to implement safety provisions in response, including in unit four, which houses an identical circuit breaker. A woman who was brutally bashed and raped as a teenager in Kalgoorlie 31 years ago has urged authorities to keep her attacker also a convicted murderer behind bars as his parole date looms. Paul James Carr, a man with a long and violent criminal record, beat and raped the then 16-year-old woman in her Kalgoorlie home in March 1987. A mugshot of Paul James Carr from 1986 on the left and, on the right, from 2008. The woman ran from her house as Carr attacked her late at night but he chased her outside and dragged her back inside where she was beaten with an iron and sexually assaulted. Police pulling up outside the home scared Carr off and the woman survived the terrible ordeal. A 36-year-old man has been charged after he slashed the tyres of a parked car and set fire to a home near Lancelin on Wednesday afternoon. It is alleged the man slashed the tyres of a car parked on Indian Ocean Drive near Caraban Road at around 1.20pm. The man then went to a home of a person he knew, and set fire to a room. The room was destroyed. The man then left the house, and was spotted by police driving a Holden Commodore along Ocean Farm Drive. Police have charged two men after a gun was fired at a driver in a case of road rage in Perth's southern suburbs on Wednesday evening. It happened just before 6.30pm when a silver Hyundai Elantra was tailgating a white 2003 Hyundai Getz along Dodd Street. A man has been charged after allegedly using a starters pistol to fire blanks at a car during a road rage incident in Hamilton Hill. Credit:Anton La Macchia "It is alleged a passenger in the Getz exited the vehicle, and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the occupants of the Elantra, and appeared to fire several rounds at the vehicle," WA police spokeswoman Susan Usher said. The passenger is believed to have fired about four to six shots from what appeared to be a handgun at the Elantra. Nile has tried and failed to get this bill up before. Hes faced strong criticism from womens advocates. Concerns include the law being used to prosecute women or doctors for ending pregnancies (because abortions necessarily involve the destruction of a fetus). The Nationals have proposed amendments to Niles bill to exclude abortions from it. Premier Gladys Berejiklian says her government would propose its own version, also excluding abortion, if re-elected. Currently, NSW law allows for a person to be charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a pregnant woman - and that includes harm to her fetus. But there is no separate crime regarding the fetus, because the law does not recognise a fetus as a legal person. Zoes Law is Fred Niles bill to introduce this specific crime. It follows several tragic road deaths, in which heavily pregnant women were killed and/or their fetuses destroyed. If Niles bill becomes law, a person who seriously injures a pregnant woman could be charged with harming both the woman and her fetus. Living in the United States, I witnessed first-hand the ways that fetal personhood laws are used to punish women and police their pregnancies. Although touted as laws to protect women, fetal personhood laws dilute reproductive rights. The impact on women can be severe. So, when I returned to Australia this year, I was disappointed that Zoes Law, Fred Niles fetal personhood bill, was back on NSWs agenda. But, even if abortion is excluded, recognising a fetus as having legal rights that otherwise only apply after birth remains problematic. We only need to look at the recent experiences of women in the US to understand why. In the southern state of Alabama, fetal personhood arguments have been used to lock up pregnant women and take away their babies. Alabamas Chemical Endangerment Law was designed to prosecute parents with meth labs in their back sheds for exposing their kids to harmful fumes and risks of explosion. However, Alabamas highest court held that this law could be used to prosecute women for using controlled substances while pregnant, something that legislators never intended. The law refers to endangering a child. The court, pointing to other US laws that give a fetus legal rights, said the meaning of the word child included a fetus, from the moment of conception. Despite the law never having been intended for this purpose, it has been used to prosecute pregnant women for things as innocuous as taking anxiety controlling medications, or sleep aids. Following almost a decade of prosecutions, Alabama has just passed a new fetal personhood law. The new law requires the state to recognise and support the rights of unborn children. Advocates are concerned it may be used to ban the morning-after-pill. fetal personhood laws have also been used to criminalise poor pregnancy outcomes. A woman from Iowa, in the Midwest, was prosecuted after she fell down a flight of stairs and miscarried. Iowa has a feticide law, which criminalises abortions after the second trimester. The woman was charged after doctors formed the view she threw herself down the stairs on purpose. Another woman from Indiana was charged with attempted feticide when she tried to commit suicide and miscarried. These feticide laws effectively equate late-term miscarriages with homicide that is, murder. These draconian laws disproportionately affect poorer communities, women struggling with addiction, and women of colour. Promoting the idea of the fetus as a fully developed child has long been a centrepiece of anti-choice rhetoric in the US designed to chip away at womens constitutionally protected right to reproductive choice. They are even more dangerous in NSW, where there is no such right and abortion remains a crime. Four domestic violence offenders whose victims were their own parents have been the first to be referred to the ACT's newly expanded restorative justice scheme. Adults who've committed domestic violence against their parents have been among the first to be referred to the restorative justice unit, since it began accepting referrals for sexual and violent offenders. Credit:Gabriele Charotte Since November 1, people who've committed family violence and sexual offenders have been eligible to take part in restorative justice, which brings offenders face-to-face with their victims so they can try to repair the harm caused by their crime. But the first referrals the restorative justice unit has received have all been cases involving parents who are victims of violence from their adult children. "That's been an interesting development," restorative justice unit manager Amanda Lutz told annual reports hearings on Wednesday. Light rail testing is poised to begin on the southern stretch of the Gungahlin to Civic track in coming weeks, with the arrival of one of vehicles onto Northbourne Avenue. A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the light rail vehicle was towed from the depot to a stabling location between Cape Street and Antill Street on Northbourne Avenue between 10pm and midnight on Wednesday night. However the vehicle will remain parked until dynamic testing begins later this month. Canberra Metro protection officer, Graham Doneley preparing for the upcoming light rail testing. Credit:Elesa Kurtz The vehicle will be fenced off for safety reasons, with security on site overnight. Heres some breaking news for Baby Boomers. Youve had a very good run and youre just about done. The luckiest generation in history, at least in the developed economies, entered the world from the end of World War II through to the mid-1960s. Theyve never known global catastrophes like the world wars or the Great Depression, when millions went hungry, including in Australia. Millennials ... a voting force. Many experienced the advent of sewered homes, clean town water and free medical care and universities massive public investments. As they matured they rose to positions of power in business and government. For decades, theyve called the shots and in Australia arranged things into an edifice of self-interest. Now they and the policy settings they put in place are on the endangered list. We live in a democracy with compulsory voting. Generationally, the biggest voting bloc is now the Millennials, born from the mid-80s to the turn of the century and it is growing by 30,000 every year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is being urged to rethink his policy shift on Israel in an extraordinary warning from Indonesia that "radicals" could target Australians in response to his new stance. The party of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has predicted heightened dangers for Australians if Mr Morrison offends millions of Muslims with a divisive change in policy on the Middle East. I think in this case Australia is insensitive of Indonesia and Asia. We have to understand that we cannot choose neighbours, Indonesian politician Dian Islamiati Fatwa told Fairfax Media in an exclusive interview. The comments add to the backlash over Mr Morrisons decision to consider relocating the Australian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move opposed by Muslim leaders who argue it would harm the Palestinian cause. The NSW Liberals are investigating allegations of verbal abuse made by the party's federal vice-president Teena McQueen and levelled against a state Upper House MP. In the complaint sent to NSW Liberal director Chris Stone, Ms McQueen alleged Taylor Martin called her a "spoilt f---ing bitch who has to get her own way" and said "I'll get you, you f---ing wait". A spokesman for Mr Stone confirmed the complaint and said it would be "duly investigated". Teena McQueen is threatening to report a NSW Upper House MP to the police. Credit:Sky News Mr Taylor, who was locked in a preselection battle to be decided today with Ms McQueen before she pulled out of the race yesterday, denied all the claims. Alexa might have been listening, as she almost always is, when Christine Sullivan was stabbed to death in the kitchen of the New Hampshire home where Sullivan lived with her boyfriend Dean Smoronk. But does Alexa remember any of it? That's the question prosecutors in the US state are hoping will produce key evidence in the murder case against Timothy Verrill, who is accused of killing Sullivan and her friend, Jenna Pelligrini, over suspicions they were informing police about an alleged drug operation. Prosecutors say Alexa, the artificial woman who personifies the Amazon Echo smart device, was sitting on the kitchen counter the entire time. Phnom Penh: The tribunal judging the criminal responsibility of former Khmer Rouge leaders for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians will issue verdicts on Friday in the latest - and perhaps last - of such trials. Nuon Chea, 92, and Khieu Samphan, 87, are the last two surviving senior leaders of the radical communist group that brutally ruled Cambodia in the late 1970s. Khieu Samphan, left, and Nuon Chea at their trial in 2013. Credit:AP They are already serving life sentences after being convicted in a previous 2011-14 trial of crimes against humanity connected with forced transfers and disappearances of masses of people. The proceedings against them were split into two successive trials for fear that the ageing defendants might die before any verdict was reached in a single, more comprehensive trial and foreclose the opportunity for any sort of justice. The fear was justified - two co-defendants died before the trial was completed. In some ways, the real battle has just started. Mrs May has a deal with the EU and secured reluctant backing from her cabinet which includes many who, like Mr Johnson, would have liked to cut all ties with the EU. But Mrs May is not guaranteed a majority on the floor of Parliament, where Tory rebels and many MPs in Jeremy Corbyn's anti-globalisation Labour Party will reject it. Mrs May will struggle to secure the votes of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. The protestant loyalists will be worried that her deal gives the six counties a different status to the rest of Britain. Mrs May argues that keeping Northern Ireland in the EU single market is the only way to convince Brussels not to impose customs checks along the border with Ireland and imperil the Good Friday peace accords. Cue even more tabloid hysteria and apocalyptic warnings from Brexiteers, such as former foreign minister Boris Johnson who has described the deal as turning Britain into a "vassal state" because Britain will continue to pay cash into the EU budget and suffer the jurisdiction of some European courts. After two-and-a-half years of tabloid hysteria since Britain voted to leave the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a draft Brexit deal which is close to what everyone expected : a soft Brexit where Britain will remain subject to many EU laws and in exchange retain a lot of access to the EU's market. The debate in the House of Commons will be bitter and it is unlikely to end the decades of soul searching about Britain's relationship with Europe. Even if the deal passes with a narrow majority, the country will still be bitterly split between those who accept this muddling compromise, the little Englanders who demand a diamond-hard Brexit and the roughly 50 per cent of voters who wish this could all turn out to be a bad dream and Britain could just stay in the EU. Misty-eyed Australian anglophiles such as John Howard, Tony Abbott and Alexander Downer, who want Britain to throw off the shackles of the Continent and do Brexit hard, should ask themselves why Mrs May has ignored their gratuitous advice and opted for continuing ties with the EU, even at the expense of a loss of sovereignty. She has taken a pragmatic approach which acknowledges that, after 50 years, Britain is inextricably bound to the EU economy and also the EU is not as bad as British jingoist tabloids paint it. The Herald argues that the best outcome from Australia's point of view is still for Britain to remain in the EU. Australia has an interest in having a free market liberal country and a close ally inside the councils of the EU. Australia is currently negotiating a free trade deal with the EU where it is pressing for cuts to EU agriculture subsidies. If Britain leaves, Australia will lose a voice to oppose the power of the French farm lobby. Yet if the British Parliament rejects Mrs May's compromise soft Brexit proposal, there is no certainty that the "remain" cause would triumph. Mrs May would probably have to resign and Britain could stumble into a hard Brexit, which would create chaos at the ports of the English Channel in March next year when, under EU treaties, Brexit must take place. Given the considerable risk of a no-deal, accepting Mrs May's proposal is probably the least worst option. Netanyahu who is plagued by corruption investigations and facing possible bribery charges also could take on the role, at least temporarily. But critics said he ought to quickly find an alternative since he already has a second job as the country's foreign minister. He also nominally serves as minister of health. Loading Netanyahu held consultations Wednesday with the remaining coalition party heads in an effort to stabilise his government. Various coalition partners including Netanyahu's conservative Likud, Lieberman's ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu, and Bennett's Jewish Home are vying for support from the same right-wing electorate. Lieberman's announcement, made at a news conference in parliament, came a day after the right-wing government agreed to the cease-fire with Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, ending the brief but intense outburst of cross-border violence. In Gaza, there were celebrations about what the Palestinians viewed as a rare victory over Israel. Many Israelis, including commentators considered close to Netanyahu and residents of the south who had been under heavy barrages of rocket fire, assailed the government for what they called a humiliating surrender after militant groups fired some 460 rockets and mortar shells from Gaza into southern Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes against 160 targets in Gaza. A Palestinian boy stands next to the rubble of Hamas' al-Aqsa TV station building which was hit by Israeli airstrikes on Monday, in Gaza City. Credit:AP Explaining the timing of his resignation and appealing to his right-wing constituency, Lieberman said he considered the cease-fire to be a "capitulation to terror." He also listed a number of other recent policy decisions with which he disagreed. "What we are doing now as a state is buying short-term quiet at the price of serious damage to national long-term security," Lieberman said. Netanyahu apparently preferred a speedy cease-fire over the alternative a stronger and more sustained Israeli bombing campaign, the likelihood of longer-range rockets from Gaza reaching farther into Israel's densely populated coastal plain and the risk of sliding into an unwanted, full-scale conflict. Just before the latest spasm of violence broke out, he said he was doing everything he could to avoid what he called an "unnecessary war" that would achieve little in the long run. In his announcement, Lieberman also called for early elections, saying the lack of clarity over the country's security policy must be brought to an end. "I very much hope that by Sunday, negotiations between the parties will reach an agreed date for elections," he said. It takes at least three months to prepare for elections in Israel. The current government's four-year term is scheduled to run out a year from now. Despite the historical fragility of Israeli coalitions, until now Netanyahu's right-wing and religious coalition partners have not been eager to bring down the most right-wing and religious government Israel has known. Lieberman has outflanked Netanyahu from the right on the issue of national security. Netanyahu defended his acceptance of the cease-fire by saying Hamas had begged for it. He also hinted at other justifications and plans, but said he could not elaborate for security reasons. "I hear the voices of the residents of the south," he said, speaking at a state memorial ceremony for David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister. "Believe me, they are precious to me, their words penetrate my heart. "But together with the heads of the security forces," he said, "I see the overall picture of Israel's security, which I cannot share with the public." Avi Dichter, a former security agency chief and now the Likud head of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and defence Committee, said he regretted Lieberman's resignation, adding, "In my opinion, it stems from political interests, not security ones." Abraham Diskin, professor emeritus of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that there were no good solutions for the Gaza conundrum but that "maybe the cease-fire was reached too early, before Hamas was punished more severely." Lieberman entered the coalition with a history of far-reaching goals and demands, including the introduction of the death penalty for people convicted of terrorist attacks, the toppling of Hamas and the ousting of the more moderate President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. As defence minister, he soon proved more pragmatic. In reality, Israel's defence policy has largely been set by Netanyahu, in consultation with other senior security officials. Lieberman's other disagreements with Netanyahu included the entry of Qatari-financed fuel into Gaza, which he opposed but which Netanyahu forced him to permit in order to ease a chronic electricity shortage in the Palestinian territory. Washington: President Donald Trump has blasted the special counsel team, calling it a "disgrace" to the country in an early morning Twitter tirade and renewing previous attacks on the investigation that he believes is "A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY!" The fresh barrage comes after Trump spent the last three days meeting with his personal legal team, crafting answers to written questions from the special counsel, Robert Mueller. Trump incorrectly wrote that Mueller worked for Obama for eight years. In fact, Mueller was appointed FBI director by George W. Bush in 2001 and had his role extended under the Obama administration and approved unanimously by both parties in the Senate. AUTO LAB RADIO Saturday November 17, 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 Car Question or Concern? Automotive Career Opportunity, Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 To Speak With An Auto Lab Expert 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. Listeners can find audio recordings of the past 20 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on The Auto Channel; The Auto Lab Index Page includes; Audio-on-Demand Archives, Community College Auto Program Database, Guests Pictures This Weeks Show: November 17, 2018 IN STUDIO PANEL: Real World Auto Experts, Educators, Technicians, Shop Owners, Insurance Experts and Lawyers, Can Answer Your Automotive Questions About Repairs, Give Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Insurance, Ombudsmen Suggestions Harold Bendell - Major Auto Ivan Anderson - Brookdale Community College's Automotive Technology Department Fred Bordoff - Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Department-City University of New York - Retired Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Department Michael Porcelli - Bronx Community College Automotive Technology Department -City University of New York Tim Cacace - Master Mechanix David Goldsmith - Urban Classics Auto Repairs Nicholas Prague - MTA Auto Lab Correspondent Interviews: Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England ITS GLOVES OFF FOR TESLA'S RIVALS VW & FORD John Russell Senior Correspondents 2018 BUICK REGAL GS AWD Russ Rader,Senior Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety GM FRONT CRASH PREVENTION SYSTEMS CUT POLICE REPORTED CRASHES Robert Sinclair AAA Northeast OPEC, RUSSIA WEIGH PRODUCTION CUTS TO PROP UP OIL PRICES Michael Avenatti. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images On the evening of November 14, Michael Avenatti, the lawyer who represents Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Trump, was taken into police custody after being accused of domestic violence, according to the Associated Press. Avenatti has vehemently denied the claims, and just hours after the arrest, he was released on bail. Then, on the morning of November 15, he posted a somewhat cryptic tweet that seems to imply his arrest is part of a conspiracy. One week later, an actress named Mareli Miniutti filed a restraining order against Avenatti, and it was later confirmed that she was the alleged survivor in the lawyers arrest. Its already a very complicated situation heres what we know so far. Avenatti was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. On November 14, TMZ reported that Avenatti was arrested after an alleged injured woman filed a felony domestic-violence report; shortly after, other news outlets such as BuzzFeed and the AP confirmed the arrest. A few hours after TMZ published its report, the LAPD tweeted to confirm that the department had arrested Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence. We can confirm that today LAPD Detectives arrested Michael Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available. LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 15, 2018 He has suggested that the arrest was part of a conspiracy. On the evening of November 14, Avenatti released a statement denying any and all accusations of physical violence against him. That night, he was released on a $50,000 bond. I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night, read a portion of the statement. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated. New statement from @MichaelAvenatti via his law office: I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated. pic.twitter.com/f2fnThdt7O Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) November 15, 2018 Avenatti appears to think that right-wing troll Jacob Wohl had something to do with his arrest. (Wohl has been accused of playing the central role in a bizarre scheme to take down Special Counsel Robert Mueller.) First Mueller and now me, he tweeted on November 15. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire. First Mueller and now me. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire. Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) November 15, 2018 Stormy Daniels wants to reserve judgement. On November 15, Daniels released a statement, saying that while the allegations against her lawyer are disturbing, she will not give her opinion until an investigation into the claims are complete. These are serious and obviously very troubling allegations, but right now that is all they are: allegations, she said. We should all reserve judgement until the investigation an investigation Michael has said he welcomes is complete, and thats what Im going to do. If the allegations prove to be true, however, Daniels says she will be seeking new representation. The alleged survivor is Mareli Miniutti. On November 19, the Daily Beast reported that an Estonian actress named Mareli Miniutti, 24, had filed a restraining order against Avenatti. While it was unclear at first whether she was the alleged survivor in Avenattis arrest, CNN has confirmed that she was. In the restraining order, of which BuzzFeed News obtained a copy, Miniutti alleges that the lawyer dragged her across his floor, hit her in the face, and kicked her out of his apartment following a fight about money. Though Miniutti claims that Avenatti pushed her into a wall and threw his shoes at her in February, the report focuses on an incident that allegedly transpired on November 13. Per the restraining order, the lawyer called the 24-year-old an ungrateful bitch and told her, You dont get sleep in my house tonight. Then, Avenatti grabbed Miniuttis right arm, and dragged her across the floor and into the hallway, where she began ringing a neighbors doorbell in an attempt to get help, according to the declaration. Avenatti reportedly got Miniutti back into his apartment, but the document claims that she quickly gathered her belongings and rushed down to the lobby, where she telephoned her friend to come get her; later she reported the alleged incident to the police. On November 20, Miniutti was granted the restraining order. Avenatti, again, has denied any wrongdoing. When the truth and the facts are fully disclosed, including the security camera footage, I will be vindicated and a lot of people and news organizations are going to owe me an apology as well as money, he tweeted. Completely bogus. Relatives and friends of Luis Dagua, a community leader killed and whose body was found on the side of a road with apparent signs of violence, attend his funeral in rural area of Caloto, Cauca Department, Colombia, on July 18, 2018. (Luis Robayo Luis/ AFP/Getty Images) Activists Raise Concerns About Killing of Community Leaders in Colombia BOGOTA, ColombiaColombias 2016 peace deal that led to the Marxist guerrilla group FARC laying down their guns ended over 50 years of bloody conflict, starting a new chapter for the South American country. But violence continues to plague Colombia, with different groups trying to claim the territory once controlled by FARC. Particularly concerning is the killings of activists and community leaders, which have been increasing since the peace deal. So far this year, 173 community leaders in the country have been killed. NGOs say land activists who are fighting to reclaim land that was lost during the conflict are among the ones most heavily targeted. According to Paola Holguin, a senator from President Ivan Duques Democratic Center party, the murders are happening in parts of the country where drug traffickers are fighting for territory. Holguin insists that the government is doing all it can to protect the community leaders. The death of any person is unacceptable for democracy, and the state has a commitment to investigate, prosecute the killers of the community leaders, and protect them, she said, dismissing claims by some NGOs that some elements of the state may be involved in the killings as despicable. Dutch NGO PAX has claimed that some security forces may be playing a part in the murders or letting the murderers get away with their crimes. The countrys inspector general said in July that his office was investigating whether state agents are being co-opted by criminal groups to take part in the killings. Conflicts Over Land Issues surrounding land have always been at the heart of Colombias bloody strife. Whats more, the decades-long conflict itself has been the cause of displacement of millions from their lands. For decades, rural Colombia was a battlefield between left-wing guerrillas, government forces, right-wing paramilitary groups, and drug cartelswreaking havoc on daily life. Over 8 million people have been displaced, making Colombia one of the countries with the highest number of internally displaced people in the world. An estimated 8 million hectares of landabout 7 percent of Colombiahas been acquired illegally. Now that the peace agreement has been signed, some of those forced off, who are mainly peasant farmers, are fighting to get their land back. Colombian media have reported that eight land claimants were murdered in the first six months of this year alone. Human rights groups and NGOs dont believe the numbers of murders will decline in the near future. For the near future we are pessimistic. We hope the international community will play a stronger role in pressuring the government to take action, said Ilhan Can of the Fundacion Forjando Futuros NGO. President Duque, who was elected in August, has said he would modify the peace deal and has promised to offer increased legal protection for the private property of landowners and corporationseven presenting a bill that seeks to change a law aimed to restore land. CEO Alain Dehaze of Swiss Adecco Group is seen during an interview with Reuters in Zurich, Switzerland on Oct. 30, 2018. Picture taken October 30, 2018. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters) Adecco Chief Calls for Life-Long Learning to Dodge Jobs Time Bomb ZURICHCompanies should set up portable accounts to pay for life-long learning to help workers upgrade their skills and remain employable as robots take over more jobs, Adecco Group Chief Executive Alain Dehaze said. As increasing automation eliminates many roles, government and the private sector should work together to fill skills gaps, while workers must become more flexible, the head of the worlds largest staffing services company told Reuters in an interview. If they dont quickly reform their education system, countries will create a time bomb, said Dehaze. They wont have the correct talent anymore and companies will move away. The 55-year-old Belgian who has led Switzerland-based Adecco Group since 2015 said its customersemployers who take on temporary and permanent staffwant more flexible and more skilled workers. Digital skill shortages are one of the biggest problems for many of our clients. In Europe alone there will be 900,000 unfilled vacancies by 2020 due to a lack of digital skills, Dehaze said, citing a European Commission study. Companies and workers must improve training to fill these gaps, he said, especially as every four years people effectively lose 30 percent of their technical skills because the environment is changing so rapidly. Employers could either lay off existing workers and recruit new staffan expensive exerciseor retrain them. Cutting a job can cost roughly $100,000 in Switzerland, three times more than retraining, he said. Our current system comes from the time of the industrial revolution and is based on permanent work contracts, Dehaze said at the companys Zurich headquarters. But the era of life-long jobs will soon be over. Society needs a new social contract. Office Clerks, Food Workers Beware Up to 375 million employees globally may need to change their work category by 2030, according to a study by consultancy McKinsey & Co. Areas like office administration and food preparation will be among the hardest hit by the rise in automation, as robots and artificial intelligence programs take over repetitive tasks. Against this backdrop, Adecco Groupwhich competes with Randstad and ManpowerGrouphas invested in training, buying General Assembly for $412.5 million this year. To simplify career-long training, portable accounts, dubbed life-long learning accounts, could be created, Dehaze said. Employees and companies would pay into the accounts and when they change jobs, employees could take the accumulated capital with them. If they need further training they could activate the account to pay for it. Dehaze has discussed the idea with government officials in France, Italy, and Singapore, an Adecco spokeswoman said. Employees could be given tax incentives to pay into the scheme, the spokeswoman said. Individual training will be particularly important as freelance workers make up an increasing portion of the workforce in the so-called gig economy, as shown by ride-hailing company Uber. Manual workers like plumbers and electricians will still be needed, and those with broader training have the best chances, he said, adding fears about jobs completely disappearing are too pessimistic. He cited the United States, where the proportion of people working in agriculture has fallen to around 2 percent from 40 percent in 1902 even while U.S. unemployment hits its lowest level since the late 1960s. The main concern is not that we will have no or too little work, it is about quickly finding or developing the right skills when old job profiles disappear, Dehaze said. By John Revill Camera Captured 5 Suspects Robbing a Man Sitting in a Restaurant The Los Angeles Police Department on Nov. 13 released security video showing a man held at gunpoint and robbed by a group of men while he was sitting on a restaurant patio in Sherman Oaks. The armed robbery happened on Sept. 21 around 2:30 a.m. local time near the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard, according to a police report. The report says five suspects exited a local restaurant, walking past a man sitting in the open patio area. Then three of the five suspects walked back into the restaurant to attack the victim. Video footage of the attack shows that three of the suspects slowed down at the front door and waited for another two customers to walk out of the restaurant. After that, one suspect suddenly drew a handgun from his waist and approached the victim. The other two suspects followed. The victim barely had time to defend himself, with the gun pointed at him. The two other suspects quickly took his possessions out of his hands and pockets. The video also shows the suspect who held the gun attempting to take off a watch from victims wrist. After the suspect got the watch, police said that the three suspects entered a 2012-2014 white four-door Mercedes-Benz C-Class, driven by the fourth suspect, and fled the scene. In addition, another suspect waited in a white Infiniti QX70, which was parked across the street from the awaiting white Mercedes-Benz during the robbery. After the four suspects fled the scene in the white Mercedes-Benz, police said, the white Infiniti SUV also fled the scene behind the white Mercedes-Benz. The five male suspects are believed to be between the ages of 20 to 25. Police described the two get-away vehicles as a 2012-2014 white Mercedes-Benz C-Class four-door with tinted windows and a 2013-2017 white Infiniti QX70 (SUV) with black wheels and tinted windows. LAPD hopes the public could help to identify and locate the suspects. Anyone with information about the incident could call Van Nuys Division Detective Cheun at (818) 374-0081. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine delivers a speech during a debate on President Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the COP 21 Climate agreement, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on June 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERICK FLORIN (Photo credit should read FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images) China Seeks to Influence Local Politics in Marshall Islands, in Latest Bid to Sway Pacific Region Chinas latest effort to exert influence over the strategic Pacific region is an unprecedented attempt at directly interfering with political affairs in the tiny Pacific island nation of Marshall Islands. With a population of roughly 74,000 people, the Marshall Islands has a democratically elected government consisting of a president head of state and a unicameral parliament. The island was administered by the United States until it formally gained independence in 1986. Hilda Heine, the nations first female president, recently narrowly survived a vote of no confidence motion initiated by eight senators on Nov. 5. The senators said they opposed the president on plans for the nation to issue its own cryptocurrency as legal tender alongside its official currency, the U.S. dollar. But days before the vote was to take place, Heine broke her silence and alleged in a Nov. 9 interview with Radio New Zealand that the motion was brought by China-friendly politicians who were upset that her government rejected plans to set up an independent tax haven on one of the islands. The proposed Rongelap Atoll Special Administrative Region was conceived by Chinese businessman and Marshallese citizen Cary Yan, with the support of Kenneth Kedi, the parliamentary speaker, and Kessai Note, a senator and former president of the Marshall Islands, according to Radio NZ. The special region would have relaxed tax and visa requirements for foreign investors. Heines government initially rejected the proposal, because of concerns that it would allow rampant money-laundering. But in the interview with Radio NZ, Heine added that she was concerned the project could land in Chinas hands. We have to be cautious knowing what the geopolitical situation is in the Pacific region, and I think its important for the government to do its own due diligence and make sure that the sovereignty of the Pacific is secure, Heine said. On Nov. 12, the parliament voted 16-16, one short of the 17 votes needed to unseat Heine. Beijings Agenda China has long eyed the Pacific region, increasing its economic investments and military presence across different island nations in recent years. Not only does China seek to gain access to rich natural resources, but Beijing also wants to wrest historic influence away from Australia and New Zealand, two key U.S. military partners in the region. China has chiefly enticed countries to do its bidding through its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative: a bid to increase geopolitical influence by financing infrastructure development projects around the world. At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit being held in Papua New Guinea until Nov. 18, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is slated to meet with Pacific island nations in an effort to sign more OBOR deals. Fiji, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea have already made commitments to OBOR. The projects dont come cheap though. Pacific governments now owe about $1.3 billion in concessional debt to China, according to Reuters. Those allies face increasing challenges in ensuring a free and open environment and preserving their interests, according to a June report published by a U.S. congressional commission on Beijings encroachment in the Pacific region. Notably, the region is also home to a dwindling number of formal diplomatic allies to Taiwan. China has increasingly sought to coerce countries around the worldincluding Pacific nationsinto giving up relations with Taiwan in order to assert its sovereign claims over the self-ruled island. For example, after Palau hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in November 2017, Beijing banned Chinese tour groups from bringing mainland citizens to visit the island. Palaus economy heavily relies on its tourism industry. The Marshall Islands is one of six remaining Taiwan allies in the Pacific region; Heine visited Taiwan in July. Taiwanese media United Daily News noted that if Heine were voted out of office, pro-Beijing politicians could potentially impact the island nations relations with Taiwan. Reuters contributed to this report. Climate Critic Finds Mistake in Major Ocean Warming Study, Co-Author Grateful An independent climate scientist recently cast doubts on a major ocean warming study, causing the researchers to pull their findings and make corrections. Nicholas Lewis, who has a background in mathematics, posted his critique on Nov. 6 regarding the study that was authored by scientists at Princeton University, the University of California-San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and several other research facilities. The paper was published in the journal Nature on Oct. 31. The research purported to show that the worlds oceans are warming much more rapidly than prior estimates, which suggests that Earth is more sensitive to fossil-fuel emissions than previously thought, according to a press release. Lead author Laure Resplandy, assistant professor of geosciences at the Princeton Environmental Institute, said the research team estimated that oceans have absorbed 60 percent more heat per year than what was predicted by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2014. Lewis, who is based in the UK, said that he was asked to take a look at the groups paper, and in his critique, he called the results obviously doubtful. Blog post by Nic Lewis who found errorhttps://t.co/jXaA2K5R82 pic.twitter.com/vltGaUJDf5 Seeker of Knowledge (@ipkmaven) November 14, 2018 The method used by Resplandy et al. was novel, and certainly worthy of publication, Lewis wrote. However, he argued they had miscalculated the amount of heat the oceans had absorbed over time, and he demonstrated what he believed to be the correct calculations. Lewis ended up with a much higher level of uncertainty in the final estimates, making the results of the study significantly less surprising than before. Because of the wide dissemination of the papers results, it is extremely important that these errors are acknowledged by the authors without delay and then corrected, Lewis said. Co-author Ralph Keeling, a climate scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, accepted responsibility for the mistake and thanked Lewis for pointing it out. When we were confronted with his insight it became immediately clear there was an issue there, Keeling told the San Diego Union Tribune. Were grateful to have it be pointed out quickly so that we could correct it quickly. The researchers alarming findings were uncritically reported by numerous mainstream-media outlets but Nic Lewis, a mathematician and popular critic of the consensus on man-made climate change, quickly identified errors. https://t.co/ovSjeNrTWg Nancy Clay (@NancyLClay) November 15, 2018 The researchers have redone their calculations, according to the Tribune, and resubmitted their findings to Nature. The new numbers indicate the oceans are likely still warmer than the IPCCs estimate. However, due to the large amount of uncertainty, the new estimate resulted in a large range of possibilities between 10 percent and 70 percent. This result is no different than what other studies have found previously. Our error margins are too big now to really weigh in on the precise amount of warming thats going on in the ocean, Keeling said to the Tribune. We really muffed the error margins. Prior estimates of ocean warming used isolated measurements of ocean temperature, according to the studys press release. However, there were parts of the worlds oceans that were not fully covered, which also led to uncertainty in the results. A network of robotic sensors known as Argo now makes comprehensive measurements of ocean temperature and salinity across the globe, stated the release. The Argo network has also given higher temperature estimates than the IPCC predictions. Related Coverage Climate-Change Politics Nicholas Lewis has been criticized in the past for his skeptical view of climate change research, and he has even been added to a so-called Climate Denier online list. At the same time, he is the author or lead author of at least eight peer-reviewed publications, as well as a number of other reports, articles, and critiques. Ethiopia Arrests Ex Deputy Intelligence Chief in Corruption, Rights Crackdown ADDIS ABABAEthiopia said on Nov. 15, it had arrested the former deputy intelligence chief after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds administration launched a crackdown this week on senior security officials suspected of human rights abuses and corruption. Also on Thursday, state-affiliated television Fana Broadcasting said police had arrested the head of the security division at state-owned Ethio Telecom network. Since Monday more than 60 officials, some from the intelligence services and some from the military-run industrial conglomerate METEC, have been arrested. Some have already appeared in court. A judge has denied them bail and given police 14 days further to investigate. None have been charged. Fana Broadcasting said Gudeta Olana, head of security at Ethio Telecom, had also been apprehended by police. It gave no reason for the arrest. The detentions have been broadly welcomed by rights groups and opposition politicians as a first step by Abiy toward fulfilling pledges made when he took office in April to tackle impunity and seek justice for past crimes by the government. Former deputy of NISS and Federal Police Commission Commissioner General Yared Zerihun has been apprehended by police, Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye said on Twitter early on Thursday. He did not disclose details. Yareds wife was arrested on Monday and sources told Reuters that she had been trying to hide him. Yared was appointed head of the federal police in April but resigned three months later. The whereabouts of former intelligence chief Getachew Assefa are unknown, government sources say, and the attorney general declined at a news conference on Monday to say whether the government had issued an arrest warrant for him. Tsegaye has said evidence showed the senior leadership of the national security agency had instructed members of Abiys Oromo ethnic group to attack him at a rally in June, in which two people were killed and scores wounded. Analysts and diplomats are describing the arrests as a full frontal assault on the establishment. Though 42-year-old Abiy began sacking senior officials upon taking office, this weeks detentions have picked up the pace of his stated efforts to rein in the security services and tackle economic mismanagement and other problems. Abiy is Ethiopias first leader from its majority Oromo ethnic group. He was chosen by the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), as its new head after three years of street protests and strikes piled pressure on it to reform. Kinfe Dagnew, a brigadier general in Ethiopias army and former chief executive of METEC, was arrested on Tuesday close to the border with Sudan and Eritrea. He is due in court on Thursday, after a brief hearing on Wednesday at which he requested a lawyer. The attorney general has said that investigations uncovered corruption at METEC (Metal and Engineering Corporation), which makes military equipment and is involved in sectors from agriculture to construction. In August, Ethiopia removed METEC from the $4 billion Grand Renaissance Dam project on the River Nile due to delays and failure to complete the installation of turbines. Theres clear evidence that these people at METEC committed sophisticated, high-level economic crime, said Hallelujah Lulie, Addis Ababa-based program director at the Amani Africa thinktank. I dont think he can reform the economy without addressing the issue of METEC, he said, referring to Abiy. By Aaron Maasho Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by U.S. special forces, walk on a building near Raqa's central hospital as they clear the last positions on the frontline on Oct. 16, 2017, in the ISIS group jihadists' crumbling stronghold. US-backed fighters have battled hundreds of ISIS jihadists holed up in the last pockets of Syria's Raqa, as the former extremist stronghold stood on the verge of capture. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)US-backed fighters battled hundreds of ISIS jihadists holed up in the last pockets of Syria's Raqa, as the former extremist stronghold stood on the verge of capture. (BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images) Fight Against ISIS in Last Syria Stronghold May End Soon: US Envoy WASHINGTONThe Trump administration hopes that the U.S.-backed fight against the ISIS terrorist group in its last foothold in northeastern Syria will end within months, but American forces will remain to ensure the enduring defeat of the terrorist group, a top U.S. diplomat said on Nov. 14. Ambassador James Jeffrey, the U.S. special representative for Syria engagement, said the United States believes the way forward in Syria includes defeating ISIS, reinvigorating the political process and winding down the long-running civil war. Toward that end, he said, the United States hopes to see the formation of a committee before the end of the year to work on a new constitution for Syria as agreed by the leaders of Russia, Germany, France, and Turkey during their meeting in Istanbul in October. He said U.S. forces would remain in place after the coalition forces prevail over ISIS military units to ensure the group does not regenerate itself. The enduring defeat means not simply smashing the last of ISIS conventional military units holding terrain, but ensuring that ISIS doesnt immediately come back in sleeper cells, come back as an insurgent movement, Jeffrey said. Washington also wants the withdrawal of Iranian military forces from Syria once the underlying causes of the conflict have been resolved, he said, noting that Irans continued military presence would represent a threat to U.S. partners in the region. Jeffrey said the final ground combat is along the Euphrates River and is being led by Syrian Democratic Forces assisted by U.S. military personnel. The fight is continuing and we hope that it will be over in a few months and that will be the last of ISIS terrain that it holds in a quasi-conventional way, he said. Jeffrey said convening a committee under U.N. auspices to begin work on a new Syrian constitution was a critical step toward advancing the political process. He said the United States would hold Russia to account to use its influence to bring the government of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to the negotiating table. Our goal, which again was supported by Russia, France, Germany and Turkey and agreed in the Oct. 27 Istanbul communique, is to establish this constitutional committee by the end of the year, he said. Jeffrey said getting Iranian forces out of Syria, where they back Assads rule, was not a U.S. military goal but should be an outcome of the process to end the civil war and the only way to achieve lasting peace. He said newly reinstated U.S. sanctions against Iran would encourage Tehran to scale back its presence in Syria. By David Alexander, Eric Beech, David Brunnstrom, and Matt Spetalnick Watch Next: Why Banks Love War & the War Economy The global banking system has historically played both sides of major conflicts through war financing, and drawing out the battles by providing funds beyond what each country could have otherwise spent. Sen. Jeff Flake speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill after announcing he will not seek re-election on Oct. 24, 2017. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Flake Threatens to Block Judicial Nominees Unless Senate Votes on Bill to Protect Mueller Probe Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) threatened on Nov. 15 to oppose 53 of President Donald Trumps judicial nominations unless the Senate votes on a bill to protect the special counsels Russia investigation, after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to bringing the bill to the Senate floor. Flake is part of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which holds confirmation hearings on nominees before the Senate votes on their nomination. While Flakes vote is pivotal to secure a party-line majority for the Republicans on the committee, McConnell can bring a nomination to the Senate floor regardless of how the committee votes. Flakes stand could also spell trouble in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 5149 majority. Twenty-one judges were awaiting committee confirmation and 32 judges were awaiting action by the Senate as of Nov. 15. I will not vote to advance any of the 21 judicial nominees pending in the Judiciary Committee, or vote to confirm the 32 judges awaiting confirmation on the Senate floor until (the bill) is brought to the full Senate, Flake said in a floor speech after his effort to win consent for a vote failed on Nov. 14. The Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, which Flake is advocating for, would codify certain protections for Mueller, including a requirement that the power to remove him be relegated exclusively to the attorney general or, in special circumstances, the most senior Senate-confirmed Justice Department official. The bill also requires the attorney general to provide a written notice specifying the reason for termination and enables the special counsel to contest the firing in court. The bill includes a provision that allows an attorney general to terminate a special counsel for misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or other good cause, including violation of policies of the Department. While the full scope of Muellers probe remains classified, he is tasked with investigating allegations of collusion between Trump campaign associates and Russia, as well as related matters. Mueller has yet to accuse anyone of colluding with Russia or produce any evidence of collusion. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller in May 2017 after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions had recused himself from the Russia investigation before Muellers appointment. As a result, Rosenstein has held the reins of the Mueller probe since May 2017 until early November this year. Sessions resigned at Trumps request on Nov. 7. The president designated Matt Whitaker, the chief of staff for Sessions, as the acting attorney general. Trumps designation handed control of the Mueller probe from Rosenstein to Whitaker. The act, if approved by the House and Senate, would specifically prevent Whitaker from firing Mueller, as Whitaker was not approved by the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill in a 147 vote in April. It is supported by the panels chairman, Chuck Grassley, as well as prominent Sen. Lindsey Graham. Both are Republicans. I would certainly vote for it, Graham told reporters of the bill, which he supported when it passed the committee in April. I dont see any movement to get rid of Mueller. But it probably would be good to have this legislation in place just for the future. McConnell has maintained for months that there is no danger to Muellers investigation. I dont think any legislation is necessary, he told reporters after winning his bid to remain Senate Republican leader. We know how the president feels about the investigation, but hes never said he wants to shut it down. Whitaker has previously criticized the scope of Muellers probe, prompting Democrats to demand that he recuse himself from the Russia investigation. A number of Democrats, as well as the state of Maryland, argued that Trumps appointment of Whitaker was illegal. The Justice Department concluded on Nov. 14 that Trump acted within his authority. Trump has harshly criticized the Mueller probe, labeling it a witch hunt. On Nov. 15, the president said the inner workings of the probe are a total mess. Trump has previously opined, in a Twitter post, that Sessions should end the Mueller probe. Flake and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, also part of the effort to obtain a vote to protect Mueller, said they would continue to seek legislative action and could push to have a measure included in a government spending bill later this year. Reuters contributed to this report. Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp attends the Election Night event at the Classic Center in Athens, Ga., on Nov. 6, 2018. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Georgia Elections Hinge on Courts View of Provisional Ballots Only some 18,000 votes now separate the candidates in the gubernatorial race in Georgia from a runoff, while one Georgia seat in Congress only needs some 500 votes to flip. How much can the results still change, more than a week after the election, depends on how federal judges view thousands of rejected votes. The election was ripe for controversy since the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Brian Kemp, is also Georgias secretary of state, the official overseeing the election. He resigned two days after the election, but not before weathering the ire of his Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams. In the morning after the election, Kemp was ahead by 1.9 percentage points. But Abrams only needed to pare the lead by about 1 point to push Kemp under the 50 percent threshold to force a runoff in December, according to state law. Her bet was in large part on provisional ballots that are provided to people whose identity or registration cant be verified at the polls. Those votes are only counted if people prove their eligibility within three daysby Nov. 9. Abrams mobilized her campaign to contact voters and urge them to confirm their provisional votes. She also filed a lawsuit trying to change the rules for accepting ballots with errors and omissions. The tactic has worked some. As of Nov. 14, Kemp is only 0.2 points from a runoff. Moreover, the additional votes have buoyed Democrat Carolyn Bourdeauxs challenge to 7th district GOP Rep. Rob Woodall. While falling behind some 3,000 votes on the morning of Nov. 7, Bourdeaux only needed some 500 more votes on Nov. 14 to flip the seat to Democratic control for the first time since 1995. Abrams lawsuit (pdf) is asking U.S. District Judge Steve Jones to order absentee ballots that are missing correct birthdate information on the envelope to be counted as valid. The suit also requests for the deadline for verifying provisional ballot to be postponed to Nov. 14. Additionally, the suit is asking the judge to allow people who received a provisional ballot and tried to vote in a county where they werent registered to have their votes counted. The legal team of Georgia Secretary of State Robyn Crittenden didnt agree, saying such leniency would open the door to double voting and voter fraud, since poll workers have no way on election day to verify if somebody already voted in another county, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Another lawsuit was filed a day before the election by left-leaning watchdog Common Cause Georgia. On Nov. 12, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg ruled in the case (pdf), ordering election officials to review all provisional ballots, of which there was some 21,000 according to the Secretary of States Office or up to 27,000 by Abramss survey. Totenberg, an Obama appointee, also ordered the state to set up a hotline for people to check if their provisional ballots were counted. She gave the election officials until Nov. 14 morning to provide updated information on how many provisional ballots were rejected and why, as well as other documents. The judge, however, didnt indicate whether any of the rejected provisional ballots should be counted, despite the Nov. 9 deadline having passed. The headquarters of chemicals maker Lanxess are seen in Cologne, Germany on Nov. 15, 2018. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters) German Prosecutors Charge Chinese-Born Engineer in Industrial Espionage Case COLOGNE, GermanyGerman prosecutors are pressing criminal charges against a former employee of chemicals maker Lanxess for allegedly stealing trade secrets to set up a Chinese copycat chemical reactor. The case underscores fears among German officials and executives about industrial espionage in Europes largest manufacturing nation. State prosecutors in the city of Cologne, where the company is headquartered, told Reuters they had brought criminal charges in June against a Chinese-born German national based on a complaint filed with police by Lanxess about two years ago. There have been several reports in Germany of manufacturers with operations in China catching local staff doing work for copycat rivals. But the alleged data theft at Lanxess is a rare case in which a suspected leak has been identified at home. German intelligence agency BfV in July warned companies in its annual report that China could resort to intellectual property theft as it aspires to become an exporter of high-tech products, adding that it is hard to distinguish between state and industrial espionage. In the Lanxess case, which has not previously been reported, the 48-year-old engineer was fired when the company discovered the data theft related to a chemical reactor, prosecutors said. A 40-year-old German associate, also of Chinese descent, who allegedly received the trade secrets via email and sought to commercially exploit them in China, is also being prosecuted, they added. If convicted, the two face up to four years in prison. A third accomplice was allegedly also involved but prosecutors have no knowledge of his whereabouts. Lanxess and the prosecutors office declined to disclose the names of the accused. Criminal defense lawyer Martin Buecher of Birkenstock Rechtsanwaelte, the Cologne-based law firm that represents both defendants in the criminal case, said their clients would not comment on the accusations. He declined to identify them. Buecher said the case was highly complex and the prosecution was relying on assertions from Lanxess staff. The defense will seek external expert witnesses to be heard to ensure objectivity, he added. In an online synopsis of an earlier civil lawsuit heard in a Duesseldorf court in February 2017, which two sources said involved the same alleged infringement, the unnamed man denied that the emailed data amounted to trade secrets. The court ruled that he should pay damages of about 180,000 euros. An appellate court lowered the amount to around 167,000 euros, but ruled that the defendant was liable to compensate Lanxess for any future fallout from the infringement. In a statement to Reuters, Lanxess said a group of employees of Chinese origin stole confidential information about a new, innovative product several years ago and tried to exploit it commercially. The main culprit was a former employee, who abused a position of trust and access to confidential business information, it said. Lanxess was able to secure evidence and is holding the perpetrators accountable in court. Lanxess therefore managed to avert damage from the business, it added. The company declined to provide further details of the case. Rare Leak at Home Lanxess is a 2005 spin-off from German drugs and pesticides maker Bayer. Court filings from the civil lawsuit in Duesseldorf show that the firm accused the defendants of working on a 441 ton-per-year chemical reactor in China and promoting the copied product globally. Facing mature markets at home, European chemical companies have relied on the booming Chinese economy for much of their growth over the past decade. But strong rivals are emerging there in markets such as farming pesticides, caprolactam for engineering plastics or liquid crystals for flat screens. Lanxess, which makes additives, pesticide ingredients, construction pigments and engineering plastics, derived 28 percent of almost 10 billion euros in sales from Asia last year. The influential German industry group BDI (Federation of German Industries), in a draft China strategy paper seen by Reuters last month, called on firms to consider reducing dependence on the Chinese market despite its outsized importance for many big German companies. According to the prosecutors office, the employee gained access to large amounts of sensitive data as he moved up Lanxesss corporate ladder, and not by deploying sophisticated technology. In a senior technical role at Lanxess since February 2010, he sent Chinese-language emails in 2011 and 2013 to an external associate identified as Mr U, attaching information on a Lanxess-designed reactor and detailed instructions on how to operate it, court documents from the civil case show. Within weeks, U replied by email with a proposal for a rival production site in China. In 2016, the employee co-founded unspecified legal entities to produce and export the copied product from China and the business advertised its new capabilities online and in a press release, according to the documents. The copycat company also touted itself as a future supplier to Lanxesss customers at trade fairs, the prosecutors office said. The defendants are not held on remand because personal circumstances suggest a low risk of absconding, it added. A Cologne criminal court has yet to decide if and when the case will begin. According to the prosecutors office, the designated court chosen by prosecutors implies a non-suspended prison sentence of up to four years. Cross-border theft of confidential business information carries a prison sentence of up to five years in Germany. By Patricia Weiss & Ludwig Burger The Ohio House of Representatives passed an abortion bill that would ban abortions after the first fetal heartbeat is detected, on Nov. 15, 2018, according to The Associated Press. (Terry J. DuBose, M.S., RDMS via Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.) Heartbeat Abortion Bill Passed by Ohio House: Reports Watch: Video of day shows migrants climbing over US-Mexico border The Ohio House of Representatives has passed an abortion bill that would ban abortions after the first fetal heartbeat is detected, according to The Associated Press. The piece of legislation is called the heartbeat bill. It was passed 59-35 in the House and will move on to the Ohio Senate. It means that the ban on abortions could apply to mothers as early as six weeks into their pregnancy. Gov. John Kasich vetoed a bill in December 2016, and he contended that it was unconstitutional, AP reported. He signed a 20-week abortion ban at the same time. It gives a more consistent and reliable marker for the courts to use to determine the validity of a human baby, said Rep. Christina Hagan (R-Alliance), who is a bill sponsor, the Columbus Dispatch reported. We know that when a heartbeat stops, she added, weve lost a human life. The point is, its time. It doesnt matter if the governor is with us or against us, Hagan told the paper. Gov-elect Mike DeWine, Ohios Republican attorney general, who is slated to take office in a few months, said he would sign such a heartbeat bill. Kasich has said he would veto such a bill again, News5 reported. Abortion is an assault on the family. Abortion is an assault on Ohio because it destroys the hearts and minds of women, state Rep. Candice Keller (R-Middletown) to the Dayton Daily News. The bill, she said, would save 20,000 lives every year. Theres not a word about it in the Constitution, Keller said, referring to the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, reported Cleveland.com. The bill has been strongly opposed by many Democrats and groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice, the Daily News reported. The Daily News reported that in 2017, there were 20,893 induced abortions in Ohio, which is a 1 percent increase from 2016. Of those abortions, more than 11,000 were performed at nine weeks or less and 6,084 at between nine and 12 weeks. Homeless Man and Couple Allegedly Made Up Touching Story as GoFundMe Scam A New Jersey couple who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on GoFundMe for a homeless man allegedly worked with the vagrant in an elaborate scam, according to reports. Prosecutors now believe that Mark DAmico and Kate McClure worked with homeless man Johnny Bobbitt to come up with a false story to mislead the public and cash in on charitable contributions in 2017, NBC 10 Philadelphia reported. The story claimed that Bobbitt, a former Marine and first responder, spent his last $20 to help McClure buy gas after her car broke down on the I-95 exit ramp near Philadelphia. McClure posted the heart-warming rescue story on social media, directing people to a GoFundMe page set up to collect funds ostensibly to help Bobbitt get a leg-up in life. Lets do something special, McClure wrote, as news of the homeless mans alleged selfless act quickly went viral. The story is in the link guys. Thanks so much for even taking a quick look! Let's do something special https://t.co/MFugVz1mj2 #philly #love Kate McClure (@getjohnnyahome) November 11, 2017 The funding response was overwhelming. The goal was $10,000, but within nine months the amount collected reached $402,706an extraordinary result that received broad media coverage. It has changed my entire outlook about people, my outlook about people has skyrocketed, McClure said of the donations at the time. McClure said on the GoFundMe page that the money would be used to buy Bobbitt a house and truck, and the rest would be placed in two trustsone that would let him collect a small salary each year and another for his retirement. This is a well thought out plan that Johnny his lawyer and financial advisor came up with in order to give Johnny the means to acclimate back into a normal life and also to protect him and ensure he has a bright future, McClure wrote. But now it turns out that the entire story may have been a well-thought-out plan. A source with access to a criminal complaint in the case reportedly told NBC 10 that all three are expected to face charges of conspiracy and theft by deception. Investigators said the three deliberately prevented donors from gaining information that would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort, according to the news station. The couple turned themselves in to the police on Wednesday, Nov. 14, while Bobbitt remains at large, according to the New York Post. The feel-good tale suffered its first upset when Bobbitt claimed that the couple used the GoFundMe money as a personal piggy bank, and sued the couple in August for mismanaging his money. Bobbitts attorney, Jacqueline Promislo, told The New York Post in September that the couple started to spend the money right after depositing it into their bank account. They went on shopping sprees, Promislo told the paper. [Bobbitt] tells me they had a Louis Vuitton bag and Chanel sunglasses, a new iPhone 10. The couple denied mismanaging the funds and claimed they withheld the money from Bobbitt so as not to fuel his drug habit. DAmico said in August that he was holding on to the funds on behalf of Bobbitt, and would hand over his money once he got a job and stopped using drugs. From what I can see, the GoFundMe account raised $402,000 and GoFundMe charged a fee of approximately $30,000, Bobbitts lawyer, Chris Fallon, told CNN on Aug. 25. Mark DAmico and Kate McClure gave Johnny about $75,000. There should be close to another $300,000 available to Johnny. Superior Court Judge Paula Dow said that at one point the court learned there was no money left, according to Fox News. A lawyer for the couple said in September that he expected his clients would both be indicted for their role in the scam. It was not until Wednesday, however, that it became clear Bobbitt was also a suspect. The Burlington County Prosecutors office is expected to make an announcement in the case Thursday, according to multiple reports. (L-R) Pro-democracy activists Raphael Wong, Lee Wing-tat, Cheung Sau-yin, Chu Yiu-ming, Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man, Shiu Ka-chun, Chung Yiu-wa and Tanya Chan pose outside a court after a pre-trial hearing in Hong Kong, China on Jan. 9, 2018. (Bobby Yip/Reuters) Hong Kong Freedoms Under Scrutiny as Occupy Democracy Leaders Face Trial HONG KONGNine leaders of Hong Kongs 2014 civil disobedience Occupy Central movement go on trial on Nov. 19 at a time when the Chinese-ruled financial hubs civil liberties are coming under increasing strain. The nine leaders include law professor Benny Tai, 54, sociologist Chan Kin-man, 59, and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, 74, who face three charges related to public nuisance, including conspiracy and incitement, during street protests which brought much of the former British colonys Central business district to a halt. This case could be the most consequential against the pro-democracy movement, with repercussions for hundreds of other protesters who were arrested in 2014 and are not sure if they will face trial. The nine defendants, who have all pleaded not guilty, face a maximum seven years in jail on each charge. We will be given an opportunity to retell the story [of the Occupy movement], hoping that people will see the real spirit and relate it to whats really happening now, and think what they can do, said Tai, a professor at the University of Hong Kong. We want to reboot the spirit of the people. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a one country, two systems formula, with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy and freedoms denied citizens in mainland China, including freedom of speech and the right to protest. Critics say, however, that the guarantee is ringing increasingly hollow, with perceived meddling by Chinese Communist Party rulers in the territorys affairs. The 2014 Umbrella Movement blocked major roads for 79 days in a push for full democracy, presenting Beijing with one of its biggest political challenges in decades. The protest tents were eventually cleared away by police with no democratic concessions. Since then, authorities have pursued more than 40 criminal cases against more than 100 protesters, including two dozen or so pro-democracy leaders. Critics say these moves have scuppered the momentum of Hong Kongs youth-driven democracy movement, and substantially raised the stakes for future protests. Last year, Hong Kongs highest court freed three younger protest leaders, Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow, reversing a decision by a lower court to jail them for unlawful assembly. No Political Influence For the trial beginning on Nov. 19, the defendants said they had initially expected to face unauthorized assembly charges, but were charged with the graver offenses of conspiracy and public nuisance. One charge, incitement to incite public nuisance, has rarely been used before. Hong Kongs Solicitor General, Wesley Wong, said in a statement in July that the case was so large in terms of evidence and people involved that substantial time was needed to prepare for it. He also said prosecutors would not be influenced by political considerations. Authorities have banned a political party advocating Hong Kong independence, barred democracy activists from contesting local elections, and disqualified six opposition lawmakers from the legislature. Last week, a senior Financial Times journalist, Victor Mallet, was barred from the city after he helped host an independence activist at the Foreign Correspondents Club, in what critics said was an attack on freedom of speech. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has repeatedly stressed Hong Kong respects media and other freedoms, but has so far refused to give an explanation for Mallets de facto expulsion. The crackdown by the regime is more than I expected in that its so brazen, so shameless, said Chan, who will take early retirement from the Chinese University of Hong Kong to avoid the risk of being fired should he be jailed. Its a very frustrating, difficult moment for Hong Kongthey [the Hong Kong government] want to become another Singapore, he added, referring to the city states tight grip on civil society and political discourse. Some senior Western diplomats have privately expressed concerns that Hong Kongs liberal latitude will continue to shrink, despite objections from the international and business communities. By James Pomfret Hundreds of Illegal Aliens Detained in Arizona After Crossing Border More than 650 illegal aliens have been detained in Arizona after crossing the border this week, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said. The aliens were apprehended on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13. The groups were primarily Guatemalans and arent believed to be linked to the migrant caravans, the agency said in a news release. The groups illegally entered on both sides of the San Luis Port of Entry where there is outdated border wall infrastructure. Larger numbers have started to illegally cross shallow portions of the Colorado River near Yuma, CBP said. So far in fiscal year 2018, apprehensions in the Yuma Sector are more than double those in the previous fiscal year, the agency said. Migrants Scale Fence in San Diego The first migrants from the caravan are believed to have arrived at the border this week, where several dozens climbed to the top of the border barrier where it meets the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, taunting Border Patrol agents. Some set foot on the other side but quickly went back to Mexico when agents approached. CBP said that the migrants scaled the fence to provoke the agents to arrest them, but ran back across the border. Video footage and pictures showed the scene next to the ocean, where the wall separates beaches on both sides of the border, near Friendship Park. Some of the individuals were once traveling with the migrant caravan, the Border Patrol said. The main caravan is currently in Mexico and heading to California, with up to 10,000 migrants believed to be traveling across the three caravans. Mattis Visits Border In Texas, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen visited troops at the United States-Mexico border on Nov. 14. Mattis said that he does not expect the troops, of which currently 5,900 are deployed across California, Arizona, and Texas, to have direct contact with migrants. Addressing the range of reports about the migrant caravans, Mattis told the troops not to worry about them. If you read all that stuff, youll go nuts, he said, reminding troops to focus on the mission. He also noted that troops have been asked to put up obstacles such as concertina wire at the border to try to prevent the caravans from breaking through and to provide transportation for Border Patrol agents. The first phase of the mission should be accomplished within 10 days, he added. The initial authorization from Mattis stretched through mid-December, and that timeline could be extended. From NTD News A Chinese construction project is seen in Port Moresby, the capital city of the poorest nation in the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), in Papua New Guinea on Nov. 14, 2018. (Philip Wen/Reuters) In APEC Host Papua New Guinea, China, Australia, US Grapple Over Strategic Port SYDNEY/BEIJINGWhen Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter ONeill flagged the possibility of China bankrolling a port development off his countrys northern coast in June, the consternation in neighboring Australia set off a lightening-fast response. Despite a change in leadership in Australias government in August, a rival offer was swiftly formulated, government and diplomatic sources told Reuters, amid concern the strategically-located Manus Island port could regularly host Chinese military vessels. Canberra, a staunch Washington ally, said earlier this month it would fund the port development, part of what analysts see as a push to reassert its dominance in the South Pacific as Beijing seeks a more prominent role. The Manus Island port was a big concern for us, a senior U.S. diplomatic source told Reuters, on condition of anonymity. It was feasible Chinese military vessels could have used the port so we are very happy that Australia will fund the re-development. Australia is preparing to make the verbal agreement formal at this weeks Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, held in PNGs capital, Port Moresby. While conceived as a means to remove trade barriers in the Pacific, the hosting of this years APEC has also seen PNG become a staging ground for regional influence where the U.S. and China lock in competing alliances. China has spent $1.3 billion on concessionary loans and gifts since 2011 to become the Pacifics second-largest donor after Australia, stoking concern in the West that several tiny Pacific nations could end up overburdened and in debt to Beijing. On Nov. 16, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will showcase Chinas One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road) to Pacific leaders, several of whom are expected to sign up to the infrastructure initiative. Xi will spend several days in Port Moresby and conduct an official bilateral visit. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week characterized the Pacific as Australias patch while offering the region up to A$3 billion ($2.18 billion) in cheap infrastructure loans and grants to counter Chinas rising influence in the region. There is an acceptance within Australia that it has taken its eye off the ball and that has prompted Australias Pacific reset, said Nick Bisley, professor of international relations at Melbournes La Trobe University. This is the first time PNG, the poorest of the 21 countries in the economic bloc, is hosting the APEC summit. The countrys overriding focus is for the event in Port Moresby to be a success, Western officials say, overcoming perceptions of inadequate infrastructure, high crime rates and a crumbling healthcare system. Aware of the importance PNGs leadership has attached to the event, Australia and China have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to help stage the forum. U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence is attending the event. He will not stay in Port Moresby, instead flying in and out daily from the northeastern Australian city of Cairns. The President asked the Vice President specifically to do this trip on his behalf because he believed that he would be the ideal messenger for the President on American policy for the region, the Presidents objectives in trade and investments, and strategically, a senior U.S. administration official told reporters in a briefing. Asked whether Asian nations might view U.S. President Donald Trumps absence as a snub, Pence told reporters traveling with him to Asia: Not in the least, adding that Trump attended the ASEAN and APEC summits last year. Playing Catch-Up Manus Island was a major U.S. naval base during the Second World War, playing a key role in Washingtons Pacific strategy. More recently, the island has hosted one of Australias two controversial offshore immigration detention centers. Analysts say a Chinese presence there could impact the Wests ability to navigate the Pacific while offering Beijing close access to U.S. bases in Guam. Australia is concerned the Pacific could become the next South China Sea where Beijing militarizes the region, said La Trobes Bisley. The question is whether China has gained such a firm foothold it will prove difficult to shake, diplomats and officials told Reuters. Chinese presence is seen everywhere. It has been achieved in large part through its investment into the country, said a senior French diplomat who declined to be named as he is not authorized to talk to the media. PNG has the largest debt to China in the South Pacific, at almost $590 million, representing about one-quarter of its total external debt. ($1 = 1.3837 Australian dollars) By Colin Packham & Philip Wen War veterans and members of the Memorable Order Of the Tin Hat (MOTH) gather to take part in a Sunset Parade in Durban, on November 11, 2018. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP/Getty Images) In Armistices 100th Year, Why the White Poppy? Commentary LONDONThis year has been a special remembrance one for Britain and mainland Europe, as well as for Commonwealth nations around the globe. It represents the centenary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I, the war to end all wars. Millions died in the Great War. November is Remembrance Month, and commemoration events are carrying on into December. What has given me cause for concernokay, call it angeris the growing force of young people and even anti-war older folks wanting to dilute these ceremonies and the traditional wearing of the red poppy into a pacifist movement. In recent weeks, I have been at the receiving end of lectures from Britons who feel it is time we wore poppies to show our thanks not just for our own war dead but to remember Japanese, German, and Axis powers. Several people with whom I have come into contact in recent weeks say they will wear a white poppy because they object to taking sides. Their rationale? Wearing a red poppy connotes support for the Western war machine. Were the Third Reich and the Japanese Empire not also war machines? I ask them what sort of world they would be inhabiting if our war machine had failed and had Hitler and his allies won, creating a horrific Thousand-Year Reich. I remember my mother and aunt, both of whom served in the U.S. Army in World War II, telling me that they were being prepared for a land invasion of Japan in 1945, an endeavor that would have seen hundreds of thousands of men and women wiped out over decades of unending destruction. The white-poppy wearers tell me that their campaign to remember enemy dead includes the objection to the use of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yes, the mass casualties of civilians in Japan and Germany were tragic. Indeed, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara acknowledged that had the Allies lost World War II, he and his commander on the Japanese front, Gen. Curtis LeMay, could have been charged with war crimes for the carpet-bombing of towns and cities composed of wooden structures. The dropping of nuclear devices in August 1945, however, ended the war. The subsequent U.S. occupation of Japan resulted in the rebuilding of a prosperous, innovative, and peaceful country that, to this day, eschews notions of imperial domination. The movement to wear white poppies, Peace Pledge Union, came into being in 1933, founded by well-meaning British women who had lost husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers in World War I. They fervently sought an end to armed conflict. On their website, the organization writes: Many of the activities around Remembrance Day are detached from any meaningful attempt to learn the lessons of war. Arms companies instruct their staff to pause work for the two minutes silence. Oh, come on! Masses of citizens that arent involved in arms dealing also pause their work. Red Poppy Tradition The bright-red poppy is a tradition started in the United States and Canada after the Armistice. It was inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae, who served in the battle of Ypres. U.S. academic Moina Michael devised red silk poppies, which were brought to England by a French woman, Anna Guerin. The popularity of this spread like wildfire, and in its first year, 1921, the Royal British Legion sold nine million, raising a whopping 106,000 pounds ($135,000). The wearing of a red poppy pin from mid-October each year has been perpetuated ever since throughout the Commonwealth. This year, the resistance by so many to wearing the traditional red poppy has begun to alarm me. I have had heated confrontations with British friends who think red poppy-wearers are condoning the warmonger mentality. They tell me there is nothing wrong with pausing to remember our enemies. Yes, German and Japanese mothers wept as ours did, but I cant stretch my mourning to those who reveled in mass genocide and torture, or to ISIS executioners. Likewise, I did a research project 13 years ago and discovered that many in central Londons Asian and Middle Eastern immigrant population not only didnt wear poppies but became very agitated when I asked why. They didnt feel that the commemoration of British war dead had anything to do with them. At the time, I wrote in my diary, If I lived in Damascus and there was an annual tradition of some sort similar to Poppy Day, I would show my respect and join in. On the other side of the coin: In 2006, Ugandan-born UK commentator Yasmin Alibhai-Brown publicly expressed her shame at having refused to wear a poppy in 2005. In the intervening year, she had met ethnic minority war veterans who were particularly hurt by her impetuous attitude. (She had also returned her MBE to protest the war policy of the British government. As an immigrant myself, I would drop dead with pride to be awarded any honor by the Queen.) In 2006, Alibhai-Brown asserted she would thenceforward wear a red poppy and set aside her anti-war sentiments, which she now felt were secondary to the tribute that the nation must pay to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Now, in 2018, to the dismay of millionsincluding meSt. John Ambulance, the British first-aid organization, is for the first time in its long history allowing its staff to wear white poppies. In conclusion, all I know is that I do not wish to commemorate the Nazi SS or brutal masters of torture, but that I do wish to remember the millions of men and women who gave up their tomorrow for our today. Philadelphia-born Carol Gould is a UK-based BBC TV and LBC Radio political commentator. She is the author of Dont Tread on Me: Anti-Americanism Abroad and Spitfire Girls. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) Party Secretary Chen Quanguo attends a group discussion session on the second day of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 19, 2017. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) In Rare Coordinated Move, Western Envoys Seek Meeting on Xinjiang Concerns BEIJINGA group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing, spearheaded by Canada, are seeking a meeting with the top official in Chinas restive, heavily Muslim Xinjiang region for an explanation of alleged rights abuses against ethnic Uyghurs. The envoys are making their request in a letter to Chen Quanguo, Xinjiangs Communist Party boss, according to a copy of a draft letter seen by Reuters. The move represents unusually broad, coordinated action by a group of countries over a human rights issue in China, and illustrates the mounting backlash Beijing is facing over its crackdown in the western region. Beijing has faced an outcry from activists, academics, foreign governments and U.N. rights experts over mass detentions and strict surveillance of the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority and other Muslim groups who call Xinjiang home. In August, a United Nations human rights panel said it had received many credible reports that a million or more Uyghurs in China are being held in what resembles a massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy. China says it is not enforcing arbitrary detention and political re-education, but rather some citizens guilty of minor offenses were being sent to vocational centers to provide employment opportunities. However, a report published on Nov. 5 by U.S. think-tank the Jamestown Foundation found that despite the purported large vocational training campaign, employment outcomes had not markedly improved, according to Xinjiangs own official employment figures. Xinjiangs budget figures do not reflect increased spending on vocational educationRather, they reflect patterns of spending consistent with the construction and operation of highly secure political re-education camps designed to imprison hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs with minimal due process, said the reports author, Adrian Zenz, an anthropologist at the European School of Culture and Theology in Germany. It was not clear if the letter had been sent yet or if it contents could be revised. One diplomatic source said it was being passed around for more countries to potentially sign. Several other diplomats familiar with the letter would only confirm its existence and refused to discuss it further, citing its sensitivity. All of the diplomats declined to be identified. Many foreign governments have refrained from speaking out over the Xinjiang situation, with diplomats saying countries are fearful of angering China, an increasingly weighty diplomatic player thanks to its economic heft and initiatives such as the One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road) infrastructure program. We are Deeply Troubled In the draft letter addressed directly to Chen, who outranks the regions ethnic Uyghur governor Shohrat Zakir, the ambassadors said they were highly concerned by the U.N. findings on Xinjiang. We are deeply troubled by reports of the treatment of ethnic minorities, in particular individuals of Uyghur ethnicity, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the draft reads. In order to better understand the situation, we request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss these concerns. The letter is copied to Chinas Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Public Security and the Communist Partys international department. It is not possible to directly contact any senior Chinese leader for comment. The Xinjiang government, Ministry of Public Security, the partys international department and partys spokesmans office did not respond to requests for comment. The Chinese regime has used the excuse that Xinjiang faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists who plot attacks and stir up tensions with the ethnic Han Chinese majority to crack down on the local population in Xinjiang. The letter carries the names of 15 Western ambassadors, including the Canadian, British, French, Swiss, European Union, German, Dutch and Australian envoys. The other countries ambassadors names in the letter are Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Estonia, Finland and Denmark. Four diplomats familiar with the letter and its contents said Canada had taken the lead in its drafting. Canadas Foreign Ministry, in a statement sent to Reuters, did not comment directly on the letter but expressed deep concern over the reports of detention and mass surveillance of Uyghurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang. The Minister of Foreign Affairs raised the situation faced by the Uyghurs directly with Chinas Foreign Minister at the UN General Assembly. Canada regularly raises concerns about Xinjiang with Chinese authorities both publicly and privately, bilaterally and multilaterally, and will continue to do so. The EU, British, German, Swedish, Swiss, Belgian, Dutch, Finnish and Norwegian embassies declined to comment on the letter. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government was concerned about the situation in Xinjiang and officials had conveyed these concerns to China on a number of occasions. The Irish, Danish, French and Estonian embassies did not respond to requests for comment. The United States is not represented on the letter, although non-U.S. diplomats say the country has been deeply involved in advocacy on the Xinjiang issue. We remain alarmed that since April 2017 the Chinese government has detained an estimated 800,000 to possibly more than 2 million Uyghurs, Kazaks and other Muslims in internment camps for political re-education, a U.S. embassy spokesman said, responding to a question regarding the letter. The United States will continue to call on China to end these counterproductive policies and free all those arbitrarily detained. We are committed to promoting accountability for those who commit human rights violations and abuses, including by considering targeted measures against Xinjiang officials. The United States has said it is considering sanctions against Chen, other officials and Chinese companies linked to allegations of rights abuses in Xinjiang. By Philip Wen, Michael Martina & Ben Blanchard Little House on the Prairie Actress Katherine MacGregor Passes Away at 93 Little House on the Prairie star Katherine Scotty MacGregor, who played Harriet Oleson on the show, died at the age of 93 on Nov. 14, it was reported. The Today show and People magazine confirmed her death. She died in Woodland Hills, California. Rest in peace Katherine MacGregor. No one could've done greater job with Harriet, one of my favorite characters. She will be missed #katherinemacgregor pic.twitter.com/vkloor0MHd Little House on the Prairie (@lhprairiefan) November 14, 2018 Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder on the series, paid tribute to the actress. She was outspoken and hilariously funny. A truly gifted actress as she was able to play a despicable character but with so much heart. Her Harriet Oleson was the woman our fans loved to hate. A perfect antagonist, she wrote on Instagram. The thing people outside of our prairie family didnt know, was how loving and nurturing she was with the younger cast. Gilbert added: I really loved her and I find great comfort knowing that she is at peace, according to an Instagram post. Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson, said the actress had an extremely long and full life and is at peace we will all miss her. She also had guest roles on shows like All in the Family and Ironside. But she was best known for her Little House role. Anyone that mean has to be a fool, MacGregor told NBC about her character. So I began mixing farce into it. MacGregor said she was trying not to make the character totally black-and-white mean. In her later years, MacGregor moved to the Motion Picture Fund Long Term Nursing Care building in Woodland Hills, People magazine reported. The Midtown Manhattan's Macy's department store with holiday decorations in this file photo from 2009. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images) Macys Raises Profit Forecast Before Key Holiday Season Macys Inc. raised its annual earnings forecast on Nov. 14 signaling a strong holiday shopping season ahead, encouraged by good performance at its stores and its growing online business. The largest U.S. department store chain, which has closed more than 100 locations and cut thousands of jobs since 2015, also reported much better than expected profit and sales for the third quarter, boosted by double-digit growth at its online shopping service. Like many other major U.S. retail names, Macys has been struggling with plummeting mall traffic and a defection of customers to a new range of online and fast-fashion stores. In response, the 160-year old company has invested heavily in its off-price Backstage stores, loyalty program, mobile app, and website, while improving brick-and-mortar stores by equipping them with mobile checkouts and new shop layouts. Shares in the company are still up about 40 percent this year. I would characterize the quarter as solid but not great, said research firm Retail Metrics founder Ken Perkins. Strong economic growth coupled with low unemployment should be driving strong sales across retail. Chief Executive Jeffrey Gennette said the Cincinnati, Ohio-based retailer was so encouraged by the expansion of its Backstage discount stores, which sell excess and off-season inventory at steep discounts, it would invest more marketing dollars toward the initiative. The company expects the additional marketing, which launched last month, to increase awareness of Backstage and bring new customers into the store, Gennette said. Sales from Macys stores and third-party licensees open for more than 12 months rose 3.3 percent, the fourth consecutive quarterly increase. That topped analysts average estimate of a 2.82 percent increase, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Macys now expects adjusted earnings of between $4.10 and $4.30 per share in fiscal year 2018, compared with an earlier forecast of $3.95 to $4.15 per share. The owner of the Macys and Bloomingdales chains said net income attributable to shareholders rose to $62 million in the third quarter from $30 million a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, Macys earned 27 cents per share, nearly double analysts average estimate of 14 cents. Net sales rose 2.3 percent to $5.40 billion, matching expectations. By Aishwarya Venugopal & Melissa Fares A missing New Jersey teen who took $1,000 and ran away two weeks ago was found safe in Philadelphia, according to news reports. (Morris County Prosecutor's Office) Missing NJ Teen, Spotted at Train Stations After Leaving Home, Found Safe Watch: Video shows migrant caravan climbs US-Mexico border A missing New Jersey teen who took $1,000 and ran away two weeks ago was found safe in Philadelphia, according to news reports. He will need at least a night in the hospital as hes been through a lot over these last two weeks. In time, there may be more to share but, for now, we are grateful beyond words and will go quiet for a while to focus everything we can give to the long road to recovery, Nicolai Kolding, the boys father, said about 15-year-old Thomas Kolding. He was last seen at home on Oct. 30, Patch.com reported. Kolding ran away with a backpack filled with clothing and rode New Jersey Transit trains to New York Penn Station before heading to Camden, New Jersey. He was seen on surveillance footage in Camden. He was also spotted walking across the Ben Franklin Bridge into Philadelphia from New Jersey. But he was found by the Philadelphia Police Department near Penrose Plaza, said spokesman Eric McLaurin to the Daily Record. He was uninjured. An officer offered the teen pizza when he was found and he replied: No, Im good. I already ate, the paper reported. This was the best possible conclusion, and as far as we know he came to no harm, Mountain Lakes Police Chief Shawn Bennett said of the incident. Kolding was later to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia for an evaluation. Kolding, who is an honors student, left his home with around $1,000 following an argument with his father about his grades, according to NorthJersey.com. The boy left behind his phone and other electronic devices, and he left notes to his family and a friend. During the search, his father issued a statement via a Facebook video, saying, Thomas: please forgive me if this video embarrasses. It does me. Just please come home, NBC4 reported. To our family, our neighbors, our friends, the police, the media, and the literally thousands upon thousands who shared and cared, you all played a vital role in finding Thomas. From the bottom of our hearts: much love and thank you, Koldings father said, Patch.com reported. Morris County Prosecutor Fredrick Knapp issued a statement to Patch.com: Prosecutor Knapp, Chief Wilson, and Chief Bennett extend their sincerest appreciation to the multiple jurisdictions and agencies involved in this investigation including but not limited to New Jersey Transit Police Department, Amtrak Police Department, New Jersey State Police Department, Camden Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, Delaware Port Authority Police Department, Miami Township, Ohio Police Department, as well as transportation agencies who assisted in the coordination of a multi-state search for Thomas Kolding. Mom Warns Against Vape Pen After One Explodes, Leaving Son With Broken Jaw A mother is warning others about the potential dangers of vape pens after her sons jaw was broken in several places when one exploded in his mouth, according to reports this week. Mailan Krein, of Louisiana, said that her 21-year-old son, Christopher, began vaping to kick his smoking habit. In August, a vape pen exploded in his face, and he was rushed to the hospital. Her husband called her and said that you have to get to ER Oschner. Christophers face blew up, said Krein, Fox8 reported. He had an IV in there, the doctor was trying to control the bleeding, there was blood everywhere, and all I could think to ask him was, Do you still have your tongue? And he nodded yes, Krein said. I couldnt even look at him because it made me sick to my stomach. Thats my baby, she told the Fox affiliate. When he began inhaling from the pen, it was like a shotgun that went off in his mouth, said Krein. Its still shocking to me talking about it. Im visualizing what my son is going through. He has several years to reconstruct his mouth, said Krein, adding that his hospital bills could total $300,000. Christopher was using a vape pen called VGod, the report said. The family has now hired a lawyer and started a GoFundMe page. He is trying to take in as much liquid as he can. He is still in alot of pain as he can feel the stitches pulling. God bless for your love and support, the family wrote on the page. Shes now warning other parents. For me, when I saw my son I wanted to die. I wanted to take his pain away from him. It gives me the chills talking about it now. It doesnt matter if its your baby or your oldest to see something like that happen and then for him to not even talk or swallow, and all that pain going through him, I dont want any parents to have to go through that, Krein said. The Louisiana Vaping Association issued a statement to WTXL about the incident, saying that VGod markets its devices as being for advanced users. Though instances like this are incredibly infrequent, they are most commonly the result of a corrupted or misused battery; however, without knowing specifics its hard to tell what may have happened. One of the key tenets of the Louisiana Vaping Association is education. Member businesses of the association strive to educate customers on the safe use of batteries and vaping devices. We hope to monitor this situation and continue to educate Louisiana vapor businesses and the public to prevent similar incidents in the future, the statement reads. New Documents Reveal CIA Spied on Congress, Whistleblowers Newly declassified documents reveal the CIAwhich is supposed to be strictly limited in the types of surveillance and other secret operations it conducts on U.S. soilroutinely monitors U.S. government computer systems. That information is contained in two formerly secret letters of congressional notification written in 2014 by the Intelligence Community inspector general at the time, Charles McCullough. In the letters, McCullough reveals the CIA secretly intercepted and collected emails between congressional staff and the CIAs head of whistleblowing and source protection. The collection was said to occur as part of the CIAs routine counterintelligence monitoring of government computer systems. Several sources familiar with the congressional notifications at the time, but unable to speak about it until now because the material was classified, said it is extremely worrisome that the CIA intercepted private communications with Senate staff about Intelligence Community whistleblowers. Most of these emails concerned pending and developing whistleblower complaints, wrote McCullough in letters to lead Democrats and Republicans at the time on the House and Senate Intelligence CommitteesSen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.). McCullough said he was concerned about the CIAs potential compromise to whistleblower confidentiality and the consequent chilling effect that the present [counterintelligence] monitoring system might have on Intelligence Community whistleblowing. The intercepts in question were conducted under the leadership of CIA Director John Brennan and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Both men dragged their feet, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), when he originally sought to have the congressional notifications declassified. A then-staffer of Sen. Grassley was among those whose emails were intercepted by the CIA. Brennan and Clapper, now working in private industry and as consultants for NBC and CNN respectively, have been widely criticized for a variety of alleged surveillance missteps and abuses. Both men were involved in controversial 2016 election year unmaskingsidentifying protected names of Americans incidentally captured by government surveillance. Originally, when asked under oath in 2017 about unmasking requests made by any U.S. ambassador, including President Barack Obamas ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, Brennan claimed ignorance: I dont know. Maybe its ringing a vague bell but Im notI could not answer with any confidence. It was later revealed that hundreds of unmasking requests had been made in Powers name in 2016. Brennan also acknowledged that he requested that U.S. citizens names be unmasked on numerous occasions. As for Clapper, he admitted, during a May 8, 2017, Senate judiciary hearing, to making at least one unmasking request related to Mr. Trump, his associates, or any member of Congress. Clapper also acknowledged having personally reviewed unmasked documents and that he might have shared unmasked material with other officials. Clapper and Brennan have said they respected Americans right to privacy and did not violate any rules or laws. In 2013, Clapper was criticized by Democrats and Republicans after denying under oath that the National Security Agency (NSA) was engaged in mass spying on tens of millions of Americans. Soon after that testimony to Congress, revelations by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden proved the opposite was true. Clapper then argued he hadnt been intentionally misleading. In 2014, Brennan apologized to senators on the intelligence committee after it was revealed that the CIA had improperly monitored the computers of committee staff members. Brennan had previously vehemently denied the spying occurred. The newly public congressional notifications about the CIAs surveillance of whistleblower information were only released after Grassley appealed to current Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who was sworn in on May 17. Brennan and Clappers successors, appointed by President Donald Trump had ignored requests to declassify the documents, according to Grassley. The fact that the CIA under the Obama administration was reading congressional staffs emails about Intelligence Community whistleblowers raises serious policy concerns, as well as potential constitutional separation-of-powers issues that must be discussed publicly, wrote Grassley in a statement. Sharyl Attkisson is the New York Times bestselling author of Stonewalled, a five-time Emmy Award winner, and the host of Sinclairs national investigative television program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. She is a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting and has reported nationally for CBS News, PBS, and CNN. The historic meeting of the "Big Three" in Tehran, Iran, in December 1943. (LR) Soviet dictator Josef Stalin (18791953), U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (18821945), and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (18741965). The three leaders met in person for the first time to discuss the co-ordination of Allied war efforts and the post-war aims of their respective countries. (Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) On This Day in 1933 The US began a retreat from reality Commentary Nov. 16, 2018, is the 85th anniversary of an event that most Americans have never heard of. As I argue in my book, American Betrayal, its the seminal event in modern U.S. history. On this day in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt extended normal diplomatic relations to the communist dictatorship under Joseph Stalin in Moscow. In exchange for a page of Soviet concessions signed by Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov (who, with Prohibition-era beer on his breath, returned to the Soviet Embassy all smiles and said, Well, its all in the bag; we have it), the U.S. government found itself derailed onto a strange, new track through an unfamiliar, soon monotonous, land of endless apologetics. The crux of the U.S.USSR agreement rested on a series of promises, accepted and signed by Litvinov, that listed very specifically what the Soviet Union would not do in the United States, its territories or possessions: Namely, it would not attempt to subvert or overthrow the U.S. system. The declaration scrupulously stated the USSR would refrain and restrain all persons and all organizations, under its direct or indirect control, from taking any act, overt or covert, aimed at the overthrow or preparation for the overthrow of the United States. It further specifically stipulated that the Soviet government wouldnt form or support groups inside the United Statessuch as the Soviet-supported Communist Party USA, myriad front groups, the Soviet-directed underground espionage networks spies that Elizabeth Bentley and Whittaker Chambers later broke with, or the Communist Party USAComintern group on the West Coast that Roosevelt-aide Harry Hopkins found out J. Edgar Hoover was bugging (and knowingly told the Soviets). The agreement, in other words, was a bunch of lies. To make it all stick, however, to keep this sorriest of bad bargains, to perpetuate the myth of U.S.Soviet accord, the United States had to pretend otherwise. The United States had to retire to a new fantasy world of its own creation in which the Soviet Union was keeping its word, in which Soviet-directed and -financed espionage didnt exist in which communists werent under every bed, in which even the act of looking was Red-baiting and anti-communists were paranoid about bugaboos. As our most respected and beloved leaders increasingly sought refuge in this world of pretend, they led the nation on a disastrous retreat from reality from which we have never, ever returned. In our retreat, we left morality behind, undefended. Four presidents and their six secretaries of state for over a decade and a half held to this resolve not to recognize the Soviet government, Herbert Hoover, one of those four presidents, wrote in Freedom Betrayed, his monumental history of World War II and the early Cold War published posthumously in 2011. These U.S. leaders understood that the Bolsheviks seizure of the government by force, their reign of blood, and their pledge to conspire against other governments made the mutual confidence required for diplomatic relations impossible. Hoover, however, doesnt explain the shift in thinking between 1918 and 1933. Indeed, who or what specifically inspired Roosevelt to undertake this momentous decision is largely glossed over in history, although Soviet recognition was loudly applauded by businessmen eager to sell their rope to Lenin. A Question In his very first speech on his very first trip to the United States in 1975, 56-year-old Alexander Solzhenitsyn asked the question he had wanted to ask America most of his adult life. The renowned author of The Gulag Archipelago set it up by comparing the historic U.S. aversion to an alliance with czarist Russia to Roosevelts rush to recognize a far more repressive and infinitely more violent Bolshevik Russia in 1933. Pre-revolutionary executions by the czarist government came to about 17 per year, Solzhenitsyn said, while, as a point of comparison, the Spanish Inquisition at its height destroyed 10 people per month. In the revolutionary years of 1918 and 1919, he continued, the Cheka executed without trial more than a thousand per month. At the height of Stalins terror in 193738, tens of thousands of people were shot per month. Solzhenitsyn put it this way: Here are the figures: 17 a year, 10 a month, more than 1,000 a month, more than 40,000 a month! Thus, that which had made it difficult for the democratic West to form an alliance with pre-revolutionary Russia had, by 1941, grown to such an extent, yet still did not prevent the entire united democracies of the worldEngland, France, the United States, Canada, and other small countriesfrom entering into a military alliance with the Soviet Union. How is this to be explained? How can we understand it? U.S. Presidents Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover all rejected relations with the Bolshevik regime. This would seem to mark these men as belonging to the earlier era of Alfred Dreyfus, when, as historian Robert Conquest notes, the conscience of the civilized world could be aroused by the false condemnation to imprisonment of a single French captain for a crime which had actually been committed, though not by him. A generation or two later, the conscience of the civilized world couldnt be aroused, period, not by the false condemnation of one nor the false condemnation of thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, as Conquest explains: The Soviet equivalent of the Dreyfus case involved the execution of thousands of officers, from Marshals and Admirals down, on charges which were totally imaginary. What happened to the conscience of the civilized world? Defying Reason The Wests decision to recognize the USSRand its determination to keep recognizing it, no matter how much lying and acquiescence to the betrayal that entaileddid more to transform us than any single act before or since. The profound diplomatic shiftpart Faustian bargain, part moral lobotomydidnt just invite the Soviet Union into the community of nations. To make room for the monster-regime, the United States had to surrender the terra firma of objective morality and reality-based judgment. No wonder, then, that tens of thousands of Dreyfus cases in Russia meant nothing to the conscience of the civilized world. Implications had already been officially sundered from facts. To be sure, there was something new in the way that recognition forever after reordered the priorities and actions of our republic, something that marked the beginning of a very new era. The fact is, the implications of normalizing relations with the thoroughly abnormal USSR didnt just reward and legitimize a regime of rampantly metastasizing criminality. Because the communist regime was so openly and ideologically dedicated to our destruction, the act of recognition defied reason and the demands of self-preservation. Recognition and all that came with it, including alliance, would soon become the enemy of reason and self-preservation. In this way, as historian Dennis J. Dunn points out, we see a double standard in U.S. foreign policy evolve, and, I would add, in American thinking more generally. It was here that we abandoned the lodestars of good and evil, the clarity of black and white. Closing our eyes, we dove head first into a weltering morass of exquisitely enervating and agonizing grays. This is the journey that forced open our psyches to increasingly expansive experiments in moral relativism. Only a very few refused to go; only a very few saw the sin. There is something poignantly allegorical in Solzhenitsyns recollection of being a young Red Army soldier flummoxed by what he and his comrades heard as Roosevelts disastrous misreading of Stalin at around the time of the Tehran Conference, which brought together Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin in November 1943. As Solzhenitsyn and comrades marched on the Elbe, he said, they hoped to meet the Americans and tell them. He added, Just before that happened, I was taken off to prison and my meeting didnt take place. Just before that happened, just before he was going to tell his U.S. compatriots the truth about Stalin, and about the Soviet Union, the 26-year-old was arrested by the Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs for the most mildly derogatory statements about Stalin written in a letter. He was sentenced to a labor camp for eight years. Solzhenitsyn would have been too late anyway. Having abandoned the Western moral tradition as a precondition of the U.S.USSR relationship, we already inhabited a brave newand dangerousrealm. Wishful thinking was in. Evidence was out. Ideology was in. Facts were out. With an exchange of rustling paper at the White House, the revolution was here, the epicenter of American betrayal. Diana West is an award-winning journalist and the author of two books: American Betrayal: The Secret Assault on Our Nations Character and The Death of the Grown-Up: How Americas Arrested Development Is Bringing Down Western Civilization. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Palm Beach County Misses Florida Election Recount Deadline After Machines Stop Working WATCH: Migrants from caravan climb over US-Mexico border Election officials in Palm Beach County, Florida, have failed to meet a 3 p.m. ET deadline after machines stopped working. Palm Beach Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher said, The reality is that we were very close two nights ago and then our machines went down Its not for lack of human effort, according to Fox News on Nov. 15. As a result, numbers from the initial count, which were completed on Saturday, will stand, the Fox report said. Susan Bucher says they did not meet Senate recount deadline. She says it was a heroic effort, and might have completed it within a few hours. pic.twitter.com/LuuUzYPf78 Ali Schmitz (@SchmitzMedia) November 15, 2018 The machines went idle on Wednesday night because the technical manager had been working for 42 hours straight, she said. You see that were working 24/7, she told Fox. Its an unusual request to make of your staff. You know, can you leave your kids behind? Can you stay here and Ill feed you sub sandwiches and pizza? And youll work your brains out and were trying to meet a deadline that, really, reasonably shouldnt be there. Some have called on Bucher to step down amid the recount chaos. This is our democracy and I am here to count every vote and I will take the time thats required and you can see I havent been home for three days, she explained. I dont think youre going to find somebody else that has the dedication. But the fact of the matter is that I inherited this old equipment, Bucher told Local10. Were trying to buy new equipment. I needed to comply with the law and when it does, Ill buy it. Bucher told NBC News that there was an overheating issue with their out-of-date equipment. But Secretary of State Ken Detzner said that if counties fail the 3 p.m. deadline, they should keep going so that final tallies can be added to the official results. District Judge Mark Walker rejected a motion by Sen. Bill Nelsons team to get additional time in Palm Beach County. The recounts are for the states Senate seat, which pits Nelson, a Democrat, against Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis are vying for the governors seat. The recount was started on Saturday. Big counties like Miami-Dade and Broward finished their machine recounts ahead of the 3 p.m. deadline. This is a case about the precious and fundamental right to vote the right preservative of all other rights. And it is about the right of a voter to have his or her own vote counted, Walker wrote. Floridas election results are to be certified by Tuesday, Nov. 20, or two weeks after the midterm elections were held. Before the recount, Scott was leading Nelson by 12,000 votes. DeSantis was leading Gillum by 34,000 votes, according to NBC. Protesters demonstrate against the possible stockpiling of medecines and food in the event of a no-deal Brexit in London, Britain, on Aug 22, 2018. (Peter Nicholls/File Photo/Reuters) Patients and Industry Fret Over Drug Supplies, If No Brexit Deal LONDONConsumers and the pharmaceuticals industry alike are anxious about medicine supplies, if there is no deal on Britains departure from the European Union. While the EU and Britain have agreed a draft text of a Brexit withdrawal agreement, it remains unclear if Prime Minister Theresa May can get it approved by parliament. The highly regulated drugs sector is vulnerable to a no-deal Brexit due to uncertainty over how supply chains and regulatory oversight will function, and the UK government has told companies to build an additional six weeks of drug stockpiles. But despite the governments instructions, issued in August, 70 percent of consumers still believe that leaving the EU without a deal will have an adverse impact on medicine supplies, according to results of a KPMG survey published on Nov. 14. The finding comes as pharmaceutical industry leaders are grappling with details of how to secure drug supplies in the event of a disorderly exit on March 29, 2019both in Britain and continental Europe. More than 2,600 drugs have some stage of manufacture in Britain and 45 million patient packs are supplied from the UK to other European countries each month, while another 37 million flow in the opposite direction, industry figures show. Large pharmaceuticals companies already have stockpiling programs in place, in some cases building up many months of extra supply. Leading insulin maker Novo Nordisk, for example, will hold a 16-week stockpile from January, up from the usual seven weeks. But the picture is less clear for smaller firms, some of which may struggle to finance extra stocks. It is also difficult to build big additional stockpiles of certain specialist drugs with short shelf lives. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has already warned that some supply problems are inevitable in the event of Britain crashing out of the EU without a dealand the industry is continuing talks with government officials about contingency plans. One specific concern voiced by two senior industry executives speaking to Reuters is the risk of a sharp drop in sterling, which would increase the financial incentive to export drugs from Britain via so-called parallel trade. During its financial crisis, Greece also faced a problem with drugs being sucked out of the country through parallel trade, leading the government in Athens to temporarily ban the export of certain medicines. Prison Reform Bill First Step Act Faces Uphill Battle to Passage Before Years End Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is pressuring Senate leadership Nov. 15 to support a prison reform bill called the First Step Act, a version of which passed overwhelmingly in the House in May. Following on President Donald Trumps appeals to the leadership in both chambers the day before, Grassley called for members on both sides of the aisle to support what he called the most significant criminal justice reforms in a generation or more. And it will be significant if Congress can get it passed in time. Part of the reason why the legislation was held up in the Senate before is that legislators couldnt agree on the sentencing-reform aspect of it. Under no circumstances should Congress cut mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes or give judges more discretion to reduce those sentences, wrote Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in a Wall Street Journal op-ed in August. That foolish approach is not criminal-justice reformits a jailbreak. Some Democratic senators were equally adamant that the measure would do little in helping reform the criminal justice system if it didnt include sentencing reform. We have supported prison-reform legislation with some of the deficiencies outlined above as part of a broader criminal justice reform legislation that includes critical reforms to federal sentencing laws, a letter signed by five Senate Democrats in May says. However, we are unwilling to support a flawed prison reform legislation that does not include sentencing reform. The White House said in a press release that the leadership in both chambers has worked with the White House to hammer out a sentencing-reform compromise, which it says has been added to the legislation. But what legislation that is isnt exactly clear. At a press briefing on Nov. 14, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said, There have been a lot of different versions floating around. The White House didnt respond to an emailed request for clarification by the time of publication. McConnell said the first step is to get something finalized, then see what support it has before putting it to a vote. He wants at least 60 senators to support it before he brings it to the floor. Grassley said this version of the First Step Act could easily earn that support, considering the House version passed 36059. Cotton has asked for the Senate version of the legislation to be made public. Please release bill text to allow for full public discussion. @SenJudiciary hearing would be helpful too, Cotton wrote in a tweet on Nov. 15. The other obstacle the bill faces is a short three weeks until Congress is out of session, after which a new class of Congress members will come in. A single senator, by withholding consent, can require us to go through a laborious and time-consuming process, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the sponsor of the original Senate First Step Act, during a Nov. 15 Judiciary Committee meeting. I do think that it would be good to make sure that everybody in the Senate gets to contribute in some way or another. I just know the complexity of doing it in a lame-duck session. Based on the negotiations that he was aware of, Cornyn said that some of the more controversial aspects of the legislation had been left by the wayside. Even if it does get enough support, McConnell, who controls what bills go to the floor, said he had to see how it stacks up against other priorities such as funding the government and passing a farm bill. Assuming a First Step Act does pass in the Senate, it also will need approval in the House. Chinese tanks parade not far from the borders of China and Mongolia in Siberia, on Sept. 13, 2018. (MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images) Report: Hopes That Guided USChina Policy Have Proven Futile WASHINGTONU.S. policymakers have difficult decisions to make with the awareness that the Chinese Communist Partys long-term efforts to become a dominant global power have put at risk the national security and economic interests of the United States, its allies, and its partners, according to a new report to Congress by the top congressional commission on U.S.China affairs. Released Nov. 14, the 525-page report by the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) addresses issues in four areas: U.S.China economic and trade relations, U.S.China security relations, Chinas relationship with the world, and Chinas high-tech development. Michael Wessel, who has been a USCC commissioner since the agency was created in October 2000, said the 2018 report is evolutionary. Many of the concerns that we have raised continue to evolve, he said. We now see that the public policy system is caught up in part to the assessments weve been making for a number of years. This year is really about doubling down in terms of the assessment and looking at other tools that can be used to address the challenges we face. In the introduction to the report, its authors state: For several decades, U.S. policy toward China was rooted in hopes that economic, diplomatic, and security engagement would lay the foundation for a more open, liberal, and responsible China. Those hopes have, so far, proven futile. Many of those who supported Chinas accession to the World Trade Organization believed economic growth would raise the quality of life for the Chinese people, but hoped it would also deepen reform and perhaps eventually spark political liberalization. The opposite has happened. The CCP has used economic growthcoupled more recently with its anti-corruption campaignto strengthen its own grasp on authority, advance its state-capitalist model, buttress authoritarian governments abroad, leverage its market against other nations, and fund a massive buildup of Chinese military power to intimidate and silence its neighbors. The report says that Chinas economic liberalization has stalled, and many reforms have been reversed. It also describes the damage done to U.S. companies and the economy. Foreign companies hoping to participate in Chinas market must pay a high price for admission, transfer technology, and suffer regulations that tilt the playing field in favor of their Chinese competitors, the report states. U.S. companies, inventors, and workers have witnessed the damaging impact of Chinas trade-distorting policies in curtailed exports, stolen intellectual property, and dumped products flooding the U.S. market. Security Relations In regard to U.S.China security relations, the report notes that China has increased its efforts to build a world-class military and to advance its sovereignty claims over disputed territory. By 2018, leaders of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force have all publicly referred to Chinas military as a peer competitor in certain scenarios, the report states. In word and deed, the CCP has abandoned any inclination for economic and political liberalization. Rather than promoting fair trade and investment, China engages in predatory economic practices. Rather than providing development finance in line with established rules, China provides loans and investment in nontransparent ways on projects that do not always meet global governance standards and pass tests of commercial viability. Rather than respecting other countries sovereign rights, China is altering the status quo in the Indo-Pacific and has publicly congratulated itself on its militarization of the South China Sea. Rather than promoting the free flow of information and human rights at home and abroad, China is doubling down on censorship and technologically enabled repression, including against Chinas Uyghur ethnic-minority population. When discussing the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiativewhich is referred to by the CCP as the project of the century and was even written into Chinas constitutionthe report says it could pose a significant challenge for U.S. interests and values because it may enable China to export its model of authoritarian governance and encourages and validates authoritarian actors abroad. Influence Efforts When discussing Chinas relations with U.S. allies and partners, the report states: Beijing has intensified its influence efforts using an expanding array of tools, often to the detriment of the United States and its relationships with important allied and partner countries. Beijings use of these influence instruments aims to weaken opposition to Chinas policies and undermine and subvert U.S. alliances and partnerships. If successful, these efforts could fundamentally weaken the United States ability to support democracy and international law. The report uses one full chapter to discuss Chinas high-tech development in next-generation connectivity, and finds that the Chinese government seeks to overtake the United States in these industries to gain a higher share of the economic benefits and technological innovation. Chinese firms have already leveraged strong state support to become global leaders in information technology and network equipment manufacturing, and have strengthened their roles in international standards-setting and deployment of 5G, it states. The reports warn of not only the potential loss of economic and market opportunities, but also the security risks the U.S. would suffer if it cant catch up in those areas. The lax security protections and universal connectivity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices create numerous points of vulnerability that hackers or malicious state actors can exploit to hold U.S. critical infrastructure, businesses, and individuals at risk, it states. These types of risks will grow as IoT devices become more complex, more numerous, and embedded within existing physical structures. Recommendations To tackle all the challenges, the report lays out 26 recommendations, identifying the following as key: Preparing an annual report to Congress to ensure supply-chain vulnerabilities from China are adequately addressed; Examining whether the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative should bring, in coordination with U.S. allies and partners, a non-violation nullification or impairment casealongside violations of specific commitmentsagainst China at the World Trade Organization; Examining the application of current U.S. laws to prosecuting Chinese Communist Party affiliates who threaten, coerce, or otherwise intimidate U.S. residents, and clarifying that labels required by the Foreign Agents Registration Act on informational materials disseminated on behalf of foreign principals, such as China Daily, must appear prominently at the top of the first page of such materials; Producing a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), with a classified annex, that details the effect of existing and potential Chinese access and basing facilities along the Belt and Road on freedom of navigation and sea control, both in peacetime and during a conflict; Producing an unclassified annual report, with a classified annex, on the Chinese Communist Partys influence and propaganda activities in the United States; Providing a report, with a classified annex, assessing how the change in the China Coast Guards command structure affects its status as a law enforcement entity now that it reports to the Central Military Commission; Identifying (1) steps to ensure the rapid and secure deployment of a 5G network, with a particular focus on the threat posed by equipment and services designed or manufactured in China; and (2) whether any new statutory authorities are required to ensure the security of domestic 5G networks; Conducting an assessment of U.S.-China collaborative initiatives in technical cooperation; Providing a report within 180 days on the current state of Chinese enforcement of sanctions on North Korea; Identifying the trade-distorting practices of Chinese state-owned enterprises and developing policies to counteract their anti-competitive impact. Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi speaking on his cellphone at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) US Sanctions Saudi Officials as Riyadh Seeks Death Penalty for 5 in Khashoggi Killing The United States sanctioned 17 senior Saudi officials on Nov. 15, hours after Riyadhs top prosecutor called for the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb said that 11 suspects have been indicted in connection with Khashoggis slaying in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, and that five of the individuals should face the death penalty for their direct involvement in ordering and executing the crime. The announcement was published Nov. 15, in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Hours after Riyadhs announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions against 17 Saudi officials allegedly involved in the killing. The officials include Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Istanbul Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi. At the time of Khashoggis killing, these individuals occupied positions in the Royal Court and several ministries and offices of the Government of Saudi Arabia, Pompeo said in a statement. Our action today is an important step in responding to Khashoggis killing. The spokesman for al-Mojebs office, Shalan al-Shalan, told a rare press conference in Riyadh that Khashoggis killers had set in motion plans for the murder on Sept. 29three days before the slaying. He said the suspects killed Khashoggi inside the consulate before dismembering the body and handing it over to an unidentified local collaborator for disposal. The victims body hasnt been found. Meanwhile, Khashoggis family is planning a weekend prayer service without his body. The Saudi public prosecutors office also said Khashoggi was killed following a struggle, after which he was tied up and injected with an overdose of a sedative that killed him. According to Shalan, Prince Mohammed knew nothing of the operation. Prosecutors said the highest-level official incriminated in connection with the killing is former deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri, who was fired as pressure from Turkey and around the world mounted on Saudi Arabia. Al-Assiri deemed Khashoggi a threat because of his work as a writer and because he was allegedly backed by groups and countries that are hostile to Saudi Arabia, Saudi prosecutors said. Al-Assiri, a close confidant of the crown prince, is facing charges for allegedly ordering Khashoggis forced return to the Saudi kingdom. Turkey says an assassination squad was sent from Riyadh for the writer and insists the orders for the killing came from the highest levels of the Saudi government, but not King Salman. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey has played audio recordings related to Khashoggis killing for Saudi officials, something Shalaan declined to confirm or deny. He said Riyadh asked Ankara to share witness testimonies and hand over Khashoggis phones. Turkey says it also shared the recordings with Western allies. One Turkish official said that officials who heard the recordings, which include Khashoggis killing and conversations leading up to the operation, were horrified but their countries had done nothing. U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said he didnt think the tape implicated the crown prince. That is not the conclusion that the people who have heard it have come to, Bolton said. Bolton said President Donald Trump seeks to find the truth about what happened in the consulate where Khashoggi was killed. I have not listened to the tape myself, but in the assessment of those who have listened to it, it does not, in any way, link the crown prince to the killing, Bolton added. The Saudi government claims that a group of rogue operators are responsible for Khashoggis death. Without identifying them, Shalaan said the Saudi prosecutor had requested the death penalty for five individuals charged with ordering and committing the crime, and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals. He said 11 of 21 suspects have been indicted and will be referred to court, while investigations of the remaining suspects will continue. He said a travel ban has been imposed on Qahtani, who coordinated with Asiri, meeting the operatives ahead of their journey to Istanbul to brief them on Khashoggis activities. Qahtani has already been fired from the royal court, but four sources based in the Gulf have told Reuters that he is still at liberty and continues to operate discreetly. Reuters contributed to this report. Epoch Times staff writer Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. Sen. Lindsey Graham Vows to Investigate the FBIs Handling of Russia and Clinton Probes Sen. Lindsey Graham has confirmed he would look into the FBIs handling of investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons emails if he assumes chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Totally, Graham told CNN, adding the oversight function will be very much front and center. The South Carolina Republican could become the chairman of the Judiciary Committee if Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) relinquishes this post. Grassley is said to be considering a move to the Senate Finance Committee to serve as its head, according to The Hill. I dont know what Sen. Grassleys going to do, hes been a great chairman of the Committee. If Im chairman next year, were going to do judges, judges, and more judges, Graham said Wednesday, Nov. 14, on Fox News Hannity. Grassley is poised to become the Senate pro tempore, following his nomination that same day by unanimous decision of the Senates Republican majority. If confirmed, Grassley will become third in the line of presidential succession following the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The appointment, however, would not preclude Grassley serving as head of the Finance Committee. Graham has previously expressed a desire to look into the FBIs investigations and has suggested that a second special counsel should be appointed to probe Republican allegations of bias within the bureau. Ive seen not one scintilla of evidence of collusion, Graham told Hannity on the show. He added that Democrat claims that President Donald Trump tried to interfere with special counsel Robert Muellers probe are false. The obstruction of justice thing never made any sense to me, Graham said of the allegations. This is a manufactured problem. President Trump is not going to fire Mueller. Muellers going to be allowed to do his job. Graham also told CNN on Tuesday that he would support a bill to protect Mueller, but said he doesnt believe the bill is needed. Id support it if it came to the floor, but I dont see any threat to Mueller, said Graham, who cosponsored the special counsel bill that the Senate Judiciary Committee approved this year. The idea of a check and balance going forward makes sense to me. Democrats have called for swift passage of the bill after Jeff Sessions was fired as attorney general last week and Matt Whitaker was named acting Attorney General. Sessions was part of Trumps campaign before the president appointed him to lead the Justice Department. Sessions drew Trumps ire by recusing himself from the Russia investigation. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein oversaw the Russia investigation by Mueller until Whitaker took over the reins. Whitaker has previously taken issue with the scope of Muellers investigation. He has written several opinion pieces as a private citizen arguing for reducing Muellers funding and limiting the scope of his investigation, prompting Democrats to suggest that he may limit or end the probe. Graham has dismissed these suggestions. He understands the position hes in, Graham said, according to CNN. Hes probably not going to be the next attorney general, but this is a chance for him to show he can handle responsibility. This enhances his political future if he handles this well. It would be a nightmare for us to truncate the Mueller investigation. Trump has faced legal pushback over Whitakers appointment. The state of Maryland challenged the appointment in court on Nov. 13. Marylands legal filing argued in part that Trump violated the Constitutions appointments clause because the position of attorney general, as a principal officer, must be confirmed by the Senate. The Justice Department issued a legal opinion on Nov. 14 which concludes that Trump acted lawfully and within his authority in appointing Whitaker as acting AG. Epoch Times staff member Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington on June 30, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case on Racial Gerrymandering in Virginia The Supreme Court will hear a Republican appeal of a lower court ruling that redrew 11 districts in the Virginia House of Delegates after finding their boundaries had been drawn to dilute the power of black voters. The racial gerrymandering case is important because the court-imposed redistricting could help determine which party controls the House in Richmond in future elections. Currently, party standings in the chamber are 51 Republicans to 49 Democrats. Republicans also narrowly control the state Senate, where they occupy 21 of the 40 seats. This is the third time the Supreme Court has been asked to get involved in Virginia redistricting issues. Democrats prevailed in the two prior cases. An attorney acting for Virginia Democrats, Marc Elias, said his side would triumph a third time. What is most important is that the voters of [Virginia] will have constitutional maps in time for the 2019 state House elections, Elias wrote on Twitter. Elias is no stranger to controversy. Acting on behalf of the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, Elias and his law firm, Perkins Coie, hired Fusion GPS in April 2016 to conduct opposition research against the Trump campaign, The Washington Post previously reported. Fusion GPS hired former British spy Christopher Steele who compiled a scurrilous, still-uncorroborated dossier that purported to link the Trump campaign to the Russian government and laid the groundwork for special counsel Robert Muellers ongoing investigation. The appeal arises from a June 26 decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia invalidating the electoral districts located in the Richmond area and in coastal Hampton Roads. A special session of the General Assembly was called by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam in the summer, but it failed to resolve the issue, so the matter returned to the court. The district court appointed Bernard Grofman, a political science professor at the University of CaliforniaIrvine, as a special master to redraw the districts. Grofman is expected to present his report to the district court soon. The Supreme Court previously ordered Virginias congressional districts redrawn in 2011, and in 2017, it reversed a lower court decision affirming the state legislative districts in the current case and remanded the matter to the court for further consideration. In the current case, the district court panel found that black voters were bunched together in congressional districts in a manner that unconstitutionally deprived them of representation. Republicans dispute this, saying the 2011 redistricting plan won bipartisan approval, which included black lawmakers. The appeal, accepted Nov. 13 by the Supreme Court, was brought Sept. 4 by the Virginia House and its speaker, Republican M. Kirkland Cox. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, argues that the appellants have no legal standing and have usurped his authority to represent the state in court. Cox said state lawmakers havent yet decided whether they will ask a court to temporarily halt Grofmans work, the Petersburg-based Progress-Index reports. The district court committed clear legal errors, he said. Cox said he lodged the appeal because in his view it was implausible that every House fact witness was dishonest, that every House expert used bad methodology, that race predominated in every challenged district, and that no challenged district needed to be above 55 percent [black voting age population] and at the same time that every fact witness for plaintiffs was honest and accurate, every witness for plaintiffs used reliable methodology, and every factual inference was in their favor. The case also gives the Supreme Court the opportunity to provide clear guidance and address the chaos that has resulted from a bevy of redistricting laws and court cases in this difficult and confusing area of law, Cox said. Virginias House Democratic Caucus called Coxs appeal a waste of taxpayer money by House Republicans, but said there was a silver lining to the move because the high court will address concerns about Republicans standing to bring an appeal. Should the court rule House Republicans do not have standing, it would end any further delays in implementing new, constitutional maps for Virginias 2019 elections, the caucus said in a statement. We hope that the Supreme Court, which has previously ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, will once again act in the interest of Virginia voters constitutional rights. The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case in the spring. Samuel Little, a convicted serial killer, may be connected to more than 90 murders across the United States. If the claim is true, he would be the worst serial killer in U.S. history. (Wise County Sheriff's Office) Suspected Serial Killer Samuel Little Suspected in More Than 90 Murders Samuel Little, a convicted serial killer, may be connected to more than 90 murders across the United States. If the claim is true and hes convicted of the charges, he would be the worst serial killer in U.S. history. Little, also known as Samuel McDowell, is serving three life sentences for killing three women in the Los Angeles area in the late 1980s. Texas authorities on Nov. 13 told NBC News that the 78-year-old may be connected to dozens of murders in a dozen states over a three-decade span. Currently housed in a facility in Wise County, Little provided investigators details of a multitude of killings that might have committed between 1970 and 2005 in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois, Ohio, California, Indiana, Arizona, New Mexico, and South Carolina, the network reported. He was convicted in 2014 for the slayings of three Los Angeles women, a Fox affiliate reported. In the past three years, investigators from all over the U.S. have been sent to Wise County to speak with Little about their cases. In July, Little was charged in the 1994 killing of Denise Christie Brothers in Ector County, Texas, before he was extradited to California. An investigator was able to use this case as a catalyst to continue to gain trust and information from Little in order to solve dozens of other cases, Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland told NBC. Bland added that if hes found guilty of the murders, he will be confirmed as one of, if not the most, prolific serial killers in U.S. history, NBC reported. Little has provided details of more than 90 murders committed in multiple states, the sheriffs office stated, Newsweek reported. Gary Ridgway, the so-called Green River Killer who terrorized Washington state and Oregon, was convicted of killing 49 people between 1982 and 2000. He claimed to have killed 71 people, but he was suspected in 90 murders. John Wayne Gacy was convicted of killing around 33 people in the Chicago area, while Ted Bundy confessed to killing 30 or more people in the 1970s. Both Bundy and Gacy were sentenced to death and were later executed, while Ridgway, 69, is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole. Bland noted that none of Littles confessions have been disproven. When you lose someone like this, you dont know what happened to them or why it happened, its important to get the answers, Bland said, CBS7 reported. And now there are people across the country that are getting those answers. There are people all over this country that havent had answers, havent had justice, but now they will, he elaborated, ABC13 reported. So even though it was delayed, it will not be denied. ABC13 reported that 30 of the murders have been confirmed by authorities. Watch: Texas high-speed chase suspect crashes, runs with baby in hand Sweden Fails in First Attempt to Form New Government STOCKHOLMThe first bid to form a new Swedish government since a divisive election two months ago failed to win acceptance in Parliament on Nov. 13. After protracted speaker-led negotiations, Ulf Kristersson, leader of the center-right Moderate party, sought support for a minority government with the Christian Democrats. But his bid was predictably rejected by a parliamentary majorityincluding the Liberal party and the Center party from his own four-party center-right Alliance that ruled Sweden from 2006 to 2014. This is the most serious crisis for the Alliance during my years in politics, Kristersson said afterward. Many observers see this development as the final nail in the coffin of the Alliance, which was formed as a way to challenge the post-World War II Social Democrat hegemony. The rift in the Alliance, now definitely in the open with bitter recriminations online, is rooted in the tricky parliamentary situation, where neither the left-green bloc nor the center-right bloc can form a majority, due to the rise of the nationalist Sweden Democrats. RIP Alliance, Christian Democrat politician Sara Skyttedal tweeted after the vote. While all four Alliance parties rule out direct collaboration with the Sweden Democrats, the Moderates, and the Christian Democrats are open to policy talks, while the Liberal and Center parties reject this idea, and instead want to see talks across the aisle, with the Social Democrats or the Green party. Impossible Positions In order to form a government, any of the two current blocs would only need the tacit support of the Sweden Democrats, meaning that they wouldnt actively vote against such a bid in parliament. But even thats a bridge too far for the Liberals and the Center party, who had announced beforehand that they wouldnt support the Moderate-Christian Democrat minority government. But the Sweden Democrats, who have previously demanded policy influence to support any government bid, surprisingly supported it, possibly in an attempt to further split the Alliance. Many Moderate and Christian Democrat voters want their parties to negotiate with the Sweden Democrats, or even form a coalition with them. We still dont have a government in place, and this reflects very poorly on the parties of this body, which have locked themselves into impossible positions, Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson said after the vote. Several Sweden Democrat policy positions have quietly been adopted by the other partiesincluding the Social Democratsbut they are still the uncouth upstarts against whom all the other parties define themselves rhetorically. But collaboration with the Social Democratsthe very party the Alliance was formed to challengeis an even harder pill to swallow for many right-leaning voters. The Social Democrats, meanwhile, need to win the tacit support of at least one of the Alliance parties in order to form a government. They can count on the support of the Green party and the Left party. Its not clear what the speakers next move is, but this was the first of three possible attempts at getting a new government accepted by parliament. A failed third attempt would automatically trigger a snap election. In post-election polls, the Sweden Democrats have grown further, and might possibly surpass the Moderates and become the second largest party after the Social Democrats. The Liberal party, meanwhile, has shrunk to the point where they might not clear the minimum 4 percent bar to parliament. The Green party is also at risk of failing the bar, and if any of those parties thus would lose all their seats, the parliamentary situation would be completely different. Most observers predict that a snap election would mainly benefit the Sweden Democrats, the Social Democrats, and possibly the Center party, as they have the financial means to run another election campaign. Taiwanese Pro-Beijing Candidate Faces Bribery Charge That Points to China Election-Meddling A Taiwanese citizen who immigrated from mainland China and is a candidate for council in Taipei City has been arrested and charged with taking bribes from China, the latest instance of Beijings continued attempts at political meddling in democracies around the world. Zhang Xiuye, who is seeking to represent Taipei Citys Wanhua District, cannot leave the island and was confined to her residence by prosecutors on Nov. 13, Taiwanese media reported. She is the secretary general of the Patriotic Alliance Association (PAA), also known as the Concentric Patriotism Alliance, a pro-Beijing organization in Taiwan. On Nov. 24, Taiwanese citizens will elect a range of public officials, including mayors, county magistrates, legislators, as well as village and township-level public officials. The islands existing laws governing political donations and relations between Taiwan and China prevent mainland Chinese citizens or organizations from donating to Taiwans political candidates. In October, Taiwans Ministry of Justice announced that it had gathered intelligence on about 33 cases of Beijing assisting Taiwanese political candidates. In addition, Zhou Qingjun, founder of the PAA, is suspected of using funds from China to support Zhangs election bid. Zhou, also head of the China Democratic Progressive Party, a pro-Beijing political party that supports unification of Taiwan and China, has also been barred from leaving Taiwan and is confined to his residence. A day before the travel bans were announced, prosecutors conducted searches at five locations, including Zhangs home and her campaign office, while interrogating more than 10 individuals suspected of violating election rules, including Zhang and Zhou. The prosecutor established a case against Zhang and Zhou after acting on a tip that in early October, a large-scale banquet was held to rally for the support of Zhangs election bid, with many citizens residing in Wanhua District attending. Taiwanese media reported that the banquets total expenses could be over 250,000 Taiwan dollars (about $8,096). Zhou also frequently traveled to China, the prosecutors office said in its Nov. 13 announcement. When he returned, he often carried large sums of Chinese yuan. Zhou would then exchange the money into Taiwan currency through a man only identified by prosecutors by his surname Chen. Chen acknowledged that hed helped members of PAA with currency exchange, and posted bail of $300,000 yuan ($43,221) after the prosecutor determined that his actions had violated Taiwans banking law, which prohibits entities other than a bank or financial institute from exchanging currency. Taiwanese media United Daily News reported another incident in August that pointed to PPAs direct ties to Beijing. Zhang treated over 20 members of PAA and their spouses to a week-long trip to Guizhou, a mountainous province in southwestern China. All the expenses were paid for by Beijing, according to Taiwanese prosecutors. Beijings political meddling goes beyond Taiwan. Also this month, Hilda Heine, president of the Pacific island nation of Marshall Islands, narrowly survived a no-confidence motion initiated by Beijing-friendly senators. She alleged that they opposed her for rejecting a proposal to establish a tax haven that could have benefited China. In the United States, before the midterm elections, U.S. President Donald Trump also warned of Beijings interference in the November elections by seeking to sway American public opinionthrough printing propaganda advertorials in U.S. newspapers. Beijing employs many tactics to try to influence Taiwans elections. In a Nov. 11 article published by Taiwanese newspaper the Liberty Times, citing officials from Taiwans security bureau, Beijing tried to use funds to influence underground illegal election betting markets. By placing wagers on a certain candidate, it could mislead or sway ordinary Taiwanese into favoring one candidate over another. In addition, Beijing also has invited village-level and township-level officials, as well as heads of local farmers and fishery associations, on trips to China, with the goal of persuading these officials to convince more Taiwanese to vote for Beijing-friendly candidates. The Fake Russian Spy Who Came In From the Cold Commentary For more than a year, the most mysterious figure in the ongoing Spygate scandal has been professor Joseph Mifsud, the Maltese academic who played an instrumental role in entrapping Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos on behalf of the FBI. A great number of people have wanted to talk to Mifsud about what he knows concerning the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane sting, the counterintelligence operation designed to entrap the Trump campaign into accepting offers of Russian help during the 2016 election. However, nobodys been successful in talking to him thus far, since hes been in hiding since the news broke of his involvement. While his whereabouts are still unknown, a lawyer who claims to be representing Mifsud began recently giving interviews. Swiss lawyer Stephan Roh, who is reported to have been involved with handling Mifsuds legal affairs for many years, volunteered to news media that Mifsud had told him he was working for the FBI when he reached out to Papadopoulos. It was while in London in March 2016 that Mifsud introduced Papadopoulos to a woman pretending to be Vladimir Putins niece, as he attempted to convince the young man he had very real connections to powerful Russian government officials who wished to help Trump win the election. Thats something I detailed in an earlier column titled TrumpRussia Collusion Narrative Continues to Collapse. And now, in a most amazing plot twist, Roh has informed BuzzFeed News in an email that Mifsud wants to break his silence by testifying in front of the U.S. Senate. After detailing the facts of Mifsuds going into hiding and numerous interested parties not being able to locate him after his role in Spygate was publicly revealed, Alberto Nardelli reported: But in an email to BuzzFeed News sent on Monday, Stephan Roh, a 51-year-old Swiss lawyer with a long history of dealings with Mifsud, wrote, Prof. Mifsud is to testify in front of the U.S. Senatewe are working towards his appearance. Spokespeople for the Senate Intelligence Committee declined to comment, and BuzzFeed News has been unable to independently verify this claim. Monday refers to Nov. 12, and the Buzzfeed article appeared the next day, Nov. 13. Note the language used in the email: is to testify in front of the U.S. Senate. Not we hope he can testify or trying to arrange his testifying. Roh appears to be saying Mifsuds appearance has been scheduled, and the details of his appearance for his testimony are in the process of being finalized. If true, that tells me its extremely likely Mifsud has already been interviewed by Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz. So far, no congressional committee has heard from any of the Spygate participants until Horowitz was finished with them, and their testimony often had to be behind closed doors so as to not compromise his ongoing investigation. Congress didnt hear from Andrew McCabe, James Comey, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Bruce Ohr, James Baker or any others until Horowitz let it be known he was finished with them. Its been the same with the documentary evidence. Everything has had to go through Horowitz and the U.S. attorneys assisting him first before they were handed off to Congress. Even so, what was allowed to go public from the witness testimony and the evidence had to be tightly controlled. So I dont think it would be any different with Mifsud. Conspiracy-Within-a-Conspiracy In May, Roh made headlines of his own when he was reportedly detained and questioned by Robert Muellers special counsel team, most likely about his legal dealings with Mifsud and about his clients whereabouts. As mentioned earlier, in October, Roh garnered attention from the media again by claiming to reporters such as The Associated Presss Raphael Satter that Mifsud was actually working for the FBI and Western intelligence agencies when he approached Papadopoulos. As with all members of the mainstream media fixated on the TrumpRussia collusion narrative, Satter dismisses this claim from Roh in this fashion: Mifsuds disappearance contrasts with the media offensives undertaken by many others in the orbit of the special counsels investigation into Russian interference. Papadopoulos and his wife Simona Mangiante, in particular, post constantly to Twitter, alleging that Mifsud is part of a convoluted conspiracy-within-a-conspiracya Western intelligence asset masquerading as a Russian intelligence asset to fake evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin. Roh makes even more unverified claims. His book describes Mifsud as being very close not just to Britains MI6 but to the Italian secret services and maybe other Western services besides. The book claims Mifsud had been taking orders from unidentified people with strong ties to the Obama administration and that Papadopoulos was most probably a secret agent planted in the Trump campaigna charge Papadopoulos called fantasy. Its considered a wild convoluted conspiracy-within-a-conspiracy if Mifsud is anything other than a Russian agent doing Russian agent things. Any belief but that one is instantly ruled out by people who desperately want the TrumpRussia election collusion narrative be true. It should be recalled that Mifsud was actually in FBI custody in February 2017 when agents interviewed him while he was in Washington for a conference hosted by the State Department. The FBI then went on to claim they only let Mifsud go and failed to detain him because Papadopoulos lied to them about both his role in the Trump campaign and Mifsuds Russian connections. Any videos or 302 interview forms from Mifsuds FBI interview are likely now in possession of the Inspector Generals investigative team. For these reasons, its going to be interesting to see what Mifsud has to say in front of the Senate, if he does appear before that body to testify. Was he really a Russian spy? Or was he an oconus lure sent by the FBI to try to entrap Trump campaign personnel, so a false narrative could be used to spy on the Trump campaign and help ensure that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election? Brian Cates is a political pundit and writer based in South Texas and the author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion But Here It Is Anyway! Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, November 9, 2018, as they travel to Paris. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) Trump Is Right About Poor California Forest Management Commentary The tragic fires in Northern California have provoked predictable responses from the usual suspects. To President Trump, the fires were the inevitable consequence of poor forest management practices by the state of California. To Trumps opponents, the fires were the result of the theoretical effect humankind is exerting on the Earths climate that we commonly refer to as global warming, or the result of incompetent federal land management, or perhaps both. It should come as absolutely no surprise that the president came out swinging. There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor, Trump tweeted on Nov. 10. There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio fired back: The reason these wildfires have worsened is because of climate change and a historic drought. Brian Rice, president of the California Professional Firefighters union, complained that most of the states forests are managed by the federal government. The president of the United States is ignorant of the process of forest management and wildfires, Rice told NBC News. Another day, another descent into partisan rancor. Ho-hum. Environmental Protection One cannot help but wonder what John Muirthe legendary naturalist who founded the Sierra Club and did so much to spur the conservation movement in the United Stateswould think of the way his pioneering work has evolved in modern times. He would probably be appalled. To Muir, progress had its place in an evolving world. He simply chose to restrain progress when it threatened to distort or destroy remarkable natural wonders. Or, put in terms of one signature issue that would define how Muir approached the intersection of modern civilization and the environmenthe wasnt opposed to sheep, he just wanted them in their proper place. Muir was a lone Scotsman trying to ensure that the grandeur of amazing natural vistas remained in place for future generations to enjoy. He was no zealot. He understood people needed to harvest natural resources in order to survive. He knew, for example, that raising sheep provided a variety of products for people to use and eat, and that sheep needed places to graze. He only objected to sheep grazing in some remarkable places he thought should be preserved in their natural state. He engaged in a fierce battle with Gifford Pinchot, the first head of the U.S. Forest Service, in the late 19th century to protect what Muir deemed as sensitive areas from sheep farming, while accepting that sheep had their place in agriculture. Eventually, they figured it out, not to eithers complete satisfaction I suspect, but to the ultimate betterment of the nation. It would appear that weve passed the point where finding such middle ground is possible in the environmental realm and in so many other areas of contention. I cant imagine that Muir would approve. Mismanagement In fact, regardless that he expressed his opinion in classically inelegant Trumpian terms, the president is correct in at least this: The state of California has been doing an awful job of managing its forests. The degree to which that mismanagement contributed to this latest round of wildfires may be called into question, but the fact of the states mismanagement itself is beyond doubt. The non-partisan California Legislative Analysts Office released a report entitled Improving Californias Forest and Watershed Management in April of this year. In a related fact sheet, they recognized that [m]ost of the forests across the state are in an unhealthy condition. They further stated that overgrown, unhealthy forests resulted in increased risk of severe forest fires and recommended actions to thin Californias many overgrown, unhealthy forests that have developed in the name of environmental puritanism. And no, this sad situation is not the federal governments fault. While the feds own the land on which the wildfires occurred, the Bureau of Land Management delegated its authority to manage that landand most of the rest of the federally owned forests in Californiato the states Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) as part of that agencys State Responsibility Area (SRA) a long time ago. The fire that consumed Paradise, California, occurred in a part of Northern California within the states SRA, as is most of the state outside of the deserts in Southern California. Some say these fires started in the high chaparral, a bush-like vegetation that is unrelated to forestry management. Perhaps that is the case. Whatever the facts, no one can question that the fires started in a part of the state for which California itself is wholly responsible for fire protection and that Californias irresponsible forest-management practices are sure to lead to more fires in the future. Its just a matter of time. Richard Trzupek is a chemist and environmental consultant as well as an analyst at The Heartland Institute. He is also the author of Regulators Gone Wild: How the EPA Is Ruining American Industry. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Two Teens Charged With Second-Degree Murder in Montreal Slaying of 17-Year-Old MONTREALTwo teenagers appeared in Quebec Youth Court on Nov. 14 on charges of second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 17-year-old whose body was found in a wooded area in Montreal. The Crown asked that the accuseda boy and a girl, both 17 years oldbe sentenced as adults in the event they are found guilty. Police initially thought the death was the result of an accident, but an autopsy showed the victim was stabbed in the lower body. Sgt. Manuel Couture said in an interview that all signs point to an armed robbery that went awry. Police arrested the two suspects in the morning of Nov. 14. It is unclear whether they knew the victim. The 17-year-olds body was discovered on the morning of Nov. 12, in woods bordering a residential district on Nuns Island in southwestern Montreal. Defence lawyer Daniele Roy told reporters outside the courtroom that the Crowns request to have the suspects sentenced as adults if found guilty is standard in these types of cases. All I can say is that its the usual step, she said. Meaning, when there are murder accusations, its almost automatic that the Crown will make this kind of requestand its far from certain it will be accepted. The Al Jazira Centre, a local mosque, has launched an online funding campaign for the victims mother and brother and was holding a wake and vigil on the night of Nov. 14. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, neither the accused nor the victim can be identified. The case returns to court Nov. 21. UK Brexit Minister Raab Resigns, Rejects Draft Deal as Threat to UK Integrity LONDONWith the ink still drying on the draft Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU, the British minister in charge of negotiating the deal has resigned, saying it threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom. Brexit minister Dominic Raab made his announcement less than a day after Prime Minister Theresa May announced that her cabinet had endorsed the controversial draft agreement. Raabs resignation is likely to make it even harder for May to get the deal approved by Parliament, with Brexit supporters from her own party already ranged to undo her slim majority in lawmaking chambers. Its the terms of the deal aimed at preventing a hard-border between Ireland and Northern Irelandthe final sticking point in negotiationsthat Raab couldnt stomach. Under the deal, while a border in the Irish Sea is avoided, Northern Ireland will be in a closer customs union with the EU and the rest of the UK. I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom, Raab wrote in his resignation letter. Hybrid of Customs Union and Single Market Raab also said he could not support the indefinite backstop agreementa mechanism to prevent arrangements from lapsing into a return to a hard borderin which the EU holds veto over the UKs ability to exit. He said that the terms of the deal amounted to a hybrid of the EU customs union and single market. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement, he said. Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. Mays conservative party is a mixture of ministers and lawmakers who supported leaving and remaining in the EU, tasked with overseeing Brexit. A number of key Brexit-supporting ministers have already resigned in recent months, saying that Mays plans would offer a watered down Brexit that left the UK at the mercy of EU rules without the ability to influence them. May has promised lawmakers a meaningful vote on the deal, most likely in December. But with a wafer-thin majority in lawmaking chambers, and around 40 of her own party ready to vote against her, she may have to rely on rebel votes from the opposition Labour party, which is also somewhat split over Brexit. Northern Ireland Raabs resignation increases the likelihood that the draft deal will be rejected by lawmakers. If they do, a number of scenarios are possible, including the UK stumbling on and crashing out of the EU without a deal; lawmakers sparking a general election; lawmakers calling a second referendum; and a second vote on the draft deal. The Northern Ireland border has proven to be a difficult issue in negotiations. After Brexit, the UKs only land border with the EU will lie between Northern Ireland and Irelanda border that was once a flash-point in sectarian violence, targeted by Irish Republicans as a hated embodiment of what they saw as British occupation. After a peace deal was struck in 1998, border controls have all but disappeared, with customs and immigration handled seamlessly under common EU rules. With both the EU and UK agreeing that a return to a hard border would be in violation of the Good Friday agreement, and a risk to the peace, but with businesses pushing for frictionless trade, the Northern Ireland border became the main sticking point later in negotiations on the exit deal. Recaptured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted by soldiers at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City, Mexico, on Jan 8, 2016. (Henry Romero/Reuters) US Seeks to Strike El Chapo Lawyers Opening Statement NEW YORKU.S. prosecutors on Nov. 13 asked a federal judge to strike the opening statement made a day earlier by the lawyer for accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman on the first day of his trial in Brooklyn for drug smuggling. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan, prosecutors said the lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, tried improperly to sway the jury by arguing that Guzman had been selectively targeted for prosecution, an argument the court had barred him from making. According to the letter, Lichtman also repeatedly referred to hearsay evidence that jurors will not be allowed to consider, and made arguments based on evidence that is not expected to be presented at trial. Prosecutors said Lichtmans opening argument was rife with impropriety, and challenged more than 20 statements from it. Mr. Lichtmans opening statement was permeated with improper argument, unnoticed affirmative defenses and inadmissible hearsay, the letter said. The Court should strike it, and instruct the jury to disregard it. Guzmans trial was expected to resume on Nov. 14, and Lichtman could not immediately be reached for comment. The government said its request concerned only the part of Lichtmans opening statement heard so far, and would not deprive him of the ability to make an appropriate opening statement. Prosecutors hope to show at the trial how Guzman rose from a low-level marijuana trafficker in the 1970s to lead the powerful Sinaloa Cartel. Among the statements by Lichtman that prosecutors challenged was what they called his insistence that the government contended that Guzman was the worlds biggest drug trafficker. This repeated assertion is false, prosecutors said. The government has not charged the defendant as the biggest drug trafficker in the world, and it is required to prove no such thing. Guzman, 61, faces 17 criminal counts and a possible life sentence if convicted. By Jonathan Stempel Wildfire Victims Sue Utility Company as Search for Missing People Intensifies Victims of the deadliest wildfire in California history sued the states largest public utility on Nov. 13 as search teams combed through ash and embers in whats left of the town of Paradise. What came to be known as the Camp Fire now has a death toll of 48 as of the night of Nov. 13, and has expanded to 135,000 acres. Firefighting crews took advantage of rising humidity and diminished winds to contain more than a third of the blaze. A specialized National Guard contingent of 100 military police joined working search crews to look for remains in Paradise, a town of 27,000 people that was all but incinerated just hours after the fire ignited a week ago. The guardsmen joined recovery teams staffed with coroners, forensic anthropologists, and cadaver dogs. A group of three law firms representing victims of the Camp Fire filed a lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), alleging negligence by the utility company and blaming the blaze on poor maintenance. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. PG&E and Southern California Edison both reported to regulators they experienced problems with equipment in areas around the time the blazes were first reported. Its important to remember that the cause (of the Camp Fire) has yet to be determined, PG&E said in a statement. Right now, our primary focus is on the communities, supporting first responders and getting our crews positioned and ready to respond when we get access, so that we can safely restore gas and electricity to our customers. The lawsuit alleges that prior to the Camp Fire, PG&E began warning customers it might shut off power because of the high risk of wildfires. Despite its own recognition of these impending hazardous conditions, on the day of the Camp Fires ignition, PG&E ultimately made the decision not to proceed with its plans for a power shutoff, the lawsuit stated. More than 200 people have been reported missing. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea suggested that the actual number may be lower, since many people may have fallen out of touch after evacuation on short notice. President Donald Trump has declared the area a disaster, making federal emergency assistance more readily available. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and California Gov. Jerry Brown visited Paradise on Nov. 14. This is so devastating. I really dont have the words to describe it, said Brown, according to Chico Enterprise-Record. It looks like a war zone. Zinke told reporters he toured California four times this year in the aftermath of wildfires, commenting each time that the fire was the worst he has ever seen. Now, here we are today, and this is the worst fire Ive seen, Zinke said. Josh Campbell of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection told KRCR TV on Nov. 13 that in at least one instance, strong wind gusts in a canyon near the city of Chico, not far from Paradise, were actually helping by slowing the spread of the fire. This gives us the opportunity to construct our lines, so we can be ready for the fire and put it out, he said. Anna Dise, a resident of Butte Creek Canyon west of Paradise, told KRCR TV that her father, Gordon Dise, 66, was among those who had died. They had little time to evacuate and their house collapsed on her father when he went back to gather belongings. Dise said she couldnt flee in her car because the tires had melted. To survive, she hid overnight in a neighbors pond with her dogs. It (the fire) was so fast, Dise said. I didnt expect it to move so fast. Reuters contributed to this report. Though it took years to come together, Bridgeports Cherry Street Lofts are leased up and preparing for new residents. Following a bustling leasing period, developers from New York-based Corvus Capital Management announced Thursday that residents of the West Ends newest apartment complex are expected to move into their units by Nov. 25. The apartments hit the market roughly two months ago with over 140 units and most have been rented out. We shouldve built 300 units, said Gary Flocco, head of Corvus Capital. When we did market studies it said that we would lease about 18 units a month, so my partner and I said, Lets say that we are going to do 12 a month. On some days weve done 12 in one day. Though advertising for the apartments was scarce, the New York developer said they received more than 2,700 inquiries, though less than a quarter met the income-based requirements. While some units were leased at market rate, 80 percent, or 126 units, were set aside for tenants making no more than 60 percent of the area median income, which sits around $90,000. Among the affordable apartment units, 19 were reserved for tenants with disabilities. While two of those units have tenants, developers said they are working with Access Independence Inc. to lease the remaining 17 apartments. The development has been in the works since 2013, during the administration of former Mayor Bill Finch. Corvus Capital set out to transform the block of blighted factory buildings along Interstate 95 into apartments, retail space and a new charter school. Construction of the new Great Oaks Charter school is ongoing as Corvus Capital plans to complete that part of the project by July. Developers broke ground on the 70,000-square-foot building over the summer. There is also second wave of apartments slated to be built in coming years. Were just doing some exploratory work right now, which weve been doing for the last couple of months, Flocco said, adding that he and his team are looking to begin construction of another 150 units by spring. Barring any setbacks, developers are hopeful that they can get the second round of apartments ready toward the end of 2020. By that time, a number of other residential projects throughout the city will have added to Bridgeports rental inventory. Theres a lot of interest from developers looking at downtown said Tom Gill, director of economic development. Its a great trend as far as with a lot of young people moving in. Gill said projects like the Jayson-Newfield building are taking shape as developers push toward reconstructing and revamping the blighted buildings in the northern part of downtown Bridgeport. As construction continues on that project, Bill Coleman, deputy director of economic development, said developers are looking to complete and start leasing units in the Middle Street building next spring while the second building could see a fall leasing period. There is also another apartment building proposed for a parcel a short distance from Jayson-Newfield and across from the Poli Palace and Majestic theaters. Bridgeport-based Primrose Co. wants to bring 92 units of market rate housing and 7,000 square feet of ground level retail space to the area. That development is waiting for a City Council vote. Jordan.grice@hearstmediact.com NORWALK John P. Reilly, former editor emeritus of The Norwalk Hour, died Wednesday. He was 89. My dad had ink in his blood, the son of a newspaperman, the grandson of a newspaperman. He taught me everything I know about writing, his daughter, Genevieve Reilly, herself a longtime reporter, wrote on Twitter. Reilly was born in Bridgeport in 1929 and lived most of his life in Connecticut, aside from a stint from 1951 to 1953 in the U.S. Army on a base in Alabama during the Korean War. After his military service he settled in Norwalk, in the childhood home of his wife, Mary, to whom he was married from 1951 to her death in 2010. They had nine children and nine grandchildren. Reilly was a member of the first graduating classes at both Fairfield Preparatory High School and Fairfield University. Other than working briefly for the Postal Service and in public relations, Reilly was a career newsman and a constant and steadying presence at The Norwalk Hour, where he began as a reporter in 1954. He went on to become the suburban editor, city editor, managing editor and executive editor. Francis X. Fay Jr., a retired reporter and columnist for The Norwalk Hour, described Reilly as a terrific leader who knew everything about the newspaper business. Fay started working at the daily newspaper Jan. 1, 1961. Reilly placed him on the police beat. You couldnt have a better editor because he knew everything about newspapers, Fay said. Every time you had a question, you just called out to him and he could answer it for you. There was nothing he couldnt answer about journalism. Jerrod Ferrari, a former editor of The Norwalk Hour, remembered Reilly as a man who poured every bit of himself into his work, and one who nurtured and helped grow younger reporters and editors. John has been by my side for every stage of my career and I couldnt have asked for a better mentor, Ferrari said. When I first started as a reporter at The Hour, there would be a line of reporters waiting by his office just to get a minute of his time for advice. John cared about Norwalk deeply and about doing right by the readers and holding power accountable at every point. Hes remembered by those who worked with him for his mantra, Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable, the well-known paraphrase of a line penned by Chicago Evening Post journalist and humorist Finley Peter Dunne in the early 1900s. During his time as an editor, Reilly started up a weekly column, during which he jabbed at state and local politicians who had run amok or perhaps become too comfortable in their positions. In another column, Reilly kept readers up to date on happenings at Hooter Lake, N.H. a fictional place based loosely on author Garrison Keillors Lake Wobegon but also upon Reillys family vacations to New Hampshire. In a May 2011 column under the headline Some early political stirrings up at the lake, Reilly observed, amid the first signs of spring, evidence of the Tea Party movement in the Live Free or Die State. I reported recently that there was a small Tea Party nucleus forming at the lake, with the newest resident, Reeves Jenkleman, promoting the movement, Reilly wrote. He bought the old Taylor House on the far side of the lake. Hes counting on the independence of most Granite Heads to jump on his bandwagon. Here in New Hamshah the mantra is keep the roads open for the skiers and keep running those state liquor stores. Bill Collins, a former Norwalk mayor, said he always found Reilly to be helpful and never angry, mean or harsh to anybody. He was very kind and supportive to me, which I appreciated a lot, and I thought he was immensely professional, Collins said. In 1993, Reilly was awarded the Yankee Quill award from the Academy of New England Journalists and was instrumental in the passing of Connecticuts Freedom of Information Act, in 1975. He was an adjunct professor at Bridgeport University from 1972 to 1976, where he taught an Introduction to Journalism class, educating many who themselves would go on to lead impressive careers in journalism. He, as much as any journalism professor at the UB, prepared me for the real world of newspapers, said Gary Rogo, Hearst Connecticut Media night news editor and a former student. He was a good man and a very effective teacher. Reilly learned much of the trade from his father, who was managing editor of The Bridgeport Post now called The Connecticut Post. His grandfather was managing editor of the Meriden Journal (now the Record-Journal), Fay said. In turn, Reilly passed his passion for truth-telling down to his daughter, Genevieve. She credited her father for sparking her journalistic interests from an early age. When we were kids, our classes at school would always go for a tour of the newsroom, the composing room and the printing press, Genevieve Reilly remembered. He would always bring home a copy of the paper with a headline specially tailored for each of his kids on our birthdays. For him it wasnt a career or a profession, it was a craft, Genevieve Reilly said. Services will be held at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Ave., Norwalk, though a firm date has not been set. New Yorkers are infuriated the only infrastructure improvement they will see from the citys deal with Amazon is apparently a helipad for Jeff Bezos and his lieutenants at HQ2 (and-a-half). Its not the biggest item in the memorandum of understanding outlining the $1.5 billion incentive package, but it is laid out in detail in its own clause (see item B under section 5, Public Party Commitments). The helipad is particularly galling to New Yorkers crammed in overcrowded subways. Recently reelected Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is celebrating the Amazon deal as a big win, faced a determined primary challenge by actor and activist Cynthia Nixon, of Sex and the City fame, who campaigned on public anger over unreliable subway service. Related: Amazon Has Triggered a $5 Billion Bidding War -- Here Are the Craziest Proposals for Its New Headquarters $1.5 BILLION dollars we just paid Amazon. And we have to build Jeff a fucking helipad. Anyone who signed on to this should be shoved into the Hudson. https://t.co/DqEiZ8X7dt Jordan Courtland (@summerduckz) November 13, 2018 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the avowed Democratic Socialist who defeated a longtime incumbent to win election as the incoming Congressional representative of the district that includes the proposed Amazon location, said on Twitter that residents are "outraged." Amazon is a billion-dollar company. The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 13, 2018 Related: Amazon HQ2 Search Exposes Gaps in America's Tech Workforce Aside from Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, the announcement that New York "won" the competition for Amazon's new HQ has not been well received, including by elected representatives of the Queens neighborhood where it is slated to be built. State Sen. Mike Gianaris on Twitter condemned the Amazon incentives and announced coordinated opposition. #LIC is mad as hell about @amazons #HQ2. I met with a packed house of constituents to discuss our concerns over the $3 billion corporate welfare deal pic.twitter.com/1tufbmIlRt Sen. Mike Gianaris (@SenGianaris) November 14, 2018 State Assemblyman Ron T. Kim, who represents the same Queens district, introduced a bill in the New York Legislature to redirect the Amazon incentives to buy up and discharge distressed student loans. Giving Jeff Bezos hundreds of millions of dollars is an immoral waste of taxpayers money when its more than clear that the money would create more jobs and more economic growth when it is used to relieve student debt, Kim said in a written statement. Related: Amazon's Search for HQ2 Proves That Location, Location, Location Is Still What Matters Most It's worth noting that Democrats in the recent election won a majority in the state Senate for the first time in decades, giving the party a majority in both houses of the Legislature -- where they will, apparently, face off against the Democrat, Cuomo, who is governor and another Democrat, De Blasio, who is mayor. Amazon's very well publicized national search for a new headquarters sparked a giddy competition around the country with the least wealthy areas making the most extravagant offers. Newark, N.J., a near neighbor of New York with a tenth the population and struggling with unemployment and poverty, offered a $7 billion package is coordination with the state. That Amazon has selected New York and a Virginia suburb of Washington -- two of the wealthiest areas of the country with inherent advantages, has raised complaints that wealthy corporations should not be getting incentives in the first place. The wheelbarrow full of tax subsidies looks even worse than we thought, David Kallick, deputy director at the Fiscal Policy Institute, said to the Gothamist, noting that Bezos cited good public amenities and public transit, a vibrant and diverse neighborhood and an educated workforce in Queens when announcing the selection. So, why should the state be putting up $1.5 billion and counting to lure Amazon to Long Island City? Why should there be any subsidies at all to get a company to come to one of the most desirable business locations in the country? Related: New York Is Giving Amazon a Helipad and New Yorkers Are Furious Five Major Benefits of E-commerce Business for Retailers & Customers Google Home and Amazon Echo Can Store Your Voice Recordings. Here's When They Could Be Used Against You. Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK If you own property in Norwalk, you may want to come to Norwalk Concert Hall on Tuesday evening for a presentation on the citys 2018 revaluation. While individual property owners stand to see their property values go up, stay the same or decrease, the revaluation, once finalized, will be a major determinant of their tax bills through mid-2024. As such, city officials are asking property owners to engage themselves in the revaluation process. The City of Norwalk is notifying property owners of available opportunities to participate in the process of perfecting the assessment records for their properties, read a statement released by Mayor Harry W. Rillings office on Wednesday afternoon . Property information maintained by the (Tax) Assessors Office has a major impact on the valuation of property. Owners should review the records for their property at the start of each revaluation period. The Norwalk Tax Assessors Office is in the final stages of the 2018 revaluation, which is intended to accurately determine market values of properties as of Oct. 1, 2018. The city hired Tyler Technologies, a national mass appraisal company based in Texas, to spearhead the work. While the city and Tyler Technologies are in the last stages of their work, the opportunity for property owners to weigh in will continue into next year. On November 20, 2018, at 6:30 p.m., in the Concert Hall at City Hall, the Norwalk Assessors Office and Tyler (Technologies) will provide the public with an overview of the 2018 Revaluation process, and provide information on how property owners can further participate in the revaluation process, read the statement. The presentation is not geared toward the value of individual property or specific property issues. Starting the following day, property owners will receive preliminary notices from the revaluation. The notices will contain market value estimates and the assessed value for their properties. The net assessment information, along with the mill rate that will be announced in May 2019, will determine the real estate taxes due July 1, 2019 and Jan. 1, 2020. Property owners may challenge the market value estimates contained within their preliminary valuation notices by scheduling starting Nov. 21 informal appeal hearings. The hearings are opportunities for property owners to address concerns that are specific to their properties, according to the statement prepared by Norwalk Tax Assessor Michael J. Stewart and Norwalk Chief Financial Officer Robert O. Barron. The (preliminary) notices will also provide the telephone number and the website address for scheduling informal reviews of the preliminary values, the statement read. The hearings are by appointment only. Dates, times and rooms reserved for informal reviews are on the citys website www.norwalkct.org. Property owners may review their property information, as well as those of neighboring properties, on the citys website and also on public access terminals in the Tax Assessors Office at City Hall, 125 East Ave. From Dec. 5 until Dec. 29, Tyler Technologies will hold informal appeals reviews by appointment at City Hall. Staff will work on selected days, Monday through Saturday, generally, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hearings will be limited to 15 minutes per property. At the hearings, property owners may submit documentation supporting their claimed property value. On Jan. 31, 2019, the Tax Assessors Office will finalize the 2018 Grand List of taxable property. Property owners, however, will still be able to contest their new valuations. From Feb. 1 to Feb. 20, 2019, they may schedule one-on-one hearings with the Norwalk Board of Assessment Appeals. Those hearings will be held from March 1 to March 19, 2019. Afterward, properties owners whove availed themselves of the appeal opportunities and remain dissatisfied with their new valuations may go to Superior Court. The Tax Assessors Office will announce mill rates May 6 and mail tax bills June 10, 2019, according to Stewart. Under Connecticut law, municipalities must revalue all real property at least every five years. Norwalks last citywide revaluation was completed for the Oct. 1, 2013 Grand List of taxable properties. Final assessed values derived from the 2018 revaluation will be used for real estate taxes for fiscal years 2019-20 through 2023-24, according to Barron and Stewart. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported Tyler Technologies was based in Delaware. They are based in Plano, Texas. NORWALK The mayors of two cities that have seen their share of gun violence attended a discussion of the topic Wednesday afternoon at Norwalk Community College. Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and Stamford Mayor David Martin attended the schools weekly Common Read program, which helps new NCC students get to know about each other through the shared experience of reading the same book. This week it was Bullets into Bells, a call to end gun violence through poetry published last December on the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting. All one has to do is pick up the newspapers today and see the gun violence in our country, Rilling said. Once we have an incident like Columbine or Parkland or Orlando or Sandy Hook, it spurs us into action but as time starts to pass we become reticent again. Wednesdays gathering came almost a month after 11 people were killed and seven were injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. President Donald Trump soon after told reporters that if there had been an armed guard inside, the shooter would have been stopped. Rilling and Martin said more guns wont solve the crisis. Imagine that everyone in this room had a gun. Do you think everyone would be safer? Martin asked. Particularly if someone lost custody of a child, or went bankrupt or just filed for divorce. I can guarantee youre less safe. Rilling had a unique perspective, having served previously as a Norwalk police officer for 41 years, 17 of them as chief. He said he and many others in law enforcement believe common sense gun laws are needed. Rilling said that one in five police officers shot in line of duty are shot with their own firearm by someone else who used it against them. Five times out of six, a trained police officer will miss a target, Martin added. Those highly trained in using firearms do well in controlled situations, but dont perform as well in chaotic or stressful situations, Rilling said. Rilling also mentioned an accidental shooting that occurred at the Norwalk Police Departments gun range, which badly injured an officer. It shows guns are very, very dangerous and have to be treated with respect, he said. You know how people say Guns dont kill people, people kill people? Rilling added. Yeah, but it makes it a lot easier when theres a gun present. Meira Rosenberg, an NCC English teacher, started the conversation by offering an information sheet with steps on what to do in an active shooter situation. It told people to run, hide and fight. When she encouraged students to ask questions, Sean Ingraham asked if theres anything individuals could do to prevent mass shootings and if not, what tactics could he use to protect himself should he find himself in that situation. If you know something, say something, Rilling said. More often than not, in mass shootings, news coverage includes statements from neighbors who didnt suspect a thing, but also can include statements from others who know the suspect who say, there was something about him, Rilling said. The number one thing is, if youre concerned about somebody, you have to report it. Martin told the group to keep in mind, more people die from gun deaths in the home than on the street. The dangers from guns are less likely from an assault rifle, Stamfords mayor said. But people should remain alert and aware in public, like knowing where the exits are at a movie theater, for example. The Norwalk Police Department leads a citizens police academy and the Stamford Police Department has a public safety academy, Rilling and Martin said. They recommended the programs to attendees who wanted to learn more about law enforcement and emergency responders. Rilling and Martin encouraged the college students to exercise their right to vote, and choose candidates who arent influenced by the National Rifle Association. Rilling had been an NRA-certified firearms instructor, but let that and his membership with the group lapse after the NRA defended Teflon-coated bullets, which are designed to pierce bulletproof vests. Thats when I just kind of threw up my hands, he said. I could see just how far to the right they are with just having anybody carry any weapon that they choose. Rilling said most of the illegal guns confiscated in Connecticut come from other states, where regulation is far weaker. If we are going to make meaningful attempts to reduce gun violence, the only way is on a national level because we can have the best gun laws in the state, but guns come in from other states, the Norwalk mayor said. President Donald Trump intends to nominate John Abizaid, a retired Army general, to be the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the White House said on Tuesday night. Abizaid's career included tours as a commandant of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and as commander of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in 20 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He is now a security consultant and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Abizaid graduated from West Point and became a platoon leader. He took part in operations in Grenada and Kosovo as well as the war in Iraq, eventually rising to four-star general, according to his biography on the Defense Department website. He received a master's in Middle Eastern studies from Harvard. Washington has not had an ambassador to Riyadh even as Trump made the kingdom a crucial player in his strategy to contain Iran's ambitions in the Middle East. The nomination, which must be approved by the Senate, comes as U.S.-Saudi relations have been strained over the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and the kingdom's intervention in the civil war in Yemen, which has turned into a humanitarian crisis. The Saudi Crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has pursued the Yemen campaign vigorously, and Turkey has stopped just short of accusing him of having a role in Khashoggi's death. The prince has denied any involvement in the killing. But American political leaders have expressed outrage over the murder, including Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, who said Tuesday that he and other previous backers of Saudi Arabia were discussing sanctions. The Trump administration has turned away calls for penalties and insisted that arms sales to the Saudis go forward. Trump has backed out of a nuclear agreement with Iran and has proclaimed that the Iranians must never acquire atomic weapons. In a 2007 speech, Abizaid warned against military force to prevent Iran from developing such weapons, according to the Associated Press. He said that the U.S. could deter the Tehran government from using nuclear weapons if it possessed them, the AP added. Connecticut is joining a coalition of global investors to pressure gun manufacturers and sellers to make firearms safer. The $35-billion Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, which is part of the group, released a set of principles for a responsible civilian firearms industry Wednesday. State Treasurer Denise Nappier, who administers the retirement plans, said there is a potential long-term business risk posed by high rates of mortality that are attributed to the misuse of firearms. Nappier has lobbied firearms manufacturers and distributors to make a business argument for the reasonable regulation of guns and ammunition sales. "The proliferation of gun violence is not only a public health issue but also a business risk issue, both of which are central to our fiduciary role as long-term institutional shareholders," Nappier said in a statement. The group is asking the civilian firearms industry to comply with five principles that include the development of technology to make firearms safer and easier to trace, the adoption of responsible dealer standards, the establishment of complete background checks, education and training of employees at distributors, dealers and retailers and work collaboratively with the investors. Bloomberg News reports the initial alliance of five investors came together earlier this year and expanded to include pension funds from across the country; retirement systems representing the Methodist and Roman Catholic churches; and the California Public Employees Retirement System, known as Calpers, the largest U.S. pension fund. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt In exchange for billions of dollars worth of taxpayer-funded support for commercial and residential projects across New York City, local and state governments expect many things from Related Cos. one of the worlds largest real estate developers. Affordable housing and economic activity in underdeveloped areas are two examples, but at 50 Hudson Yards, a coalition of unions representing 100,000 workers citywide reckons that public money should also buy organized labor the exclusive right to do all the work it takes to make the $25 billion Hudson Yards project happen. That source of friction has sparked a war of attrition between Related and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, the umbrella group for construction unions in New York City. For the past year, the council has staged regular pickets on the West Side of Manhattan and rallies with elected officials under the hashtag #CountMeIn, as part of an effort to get a project labor agreement at the $4 billion 50 Hudson Yards project. With the conflict locked in a stalemate, the unions have turned to highlighting the public financial support that Related receives for projects citywide. In response, Related, and its longtime billionaire chairman Stephen Ross, may take on a divide-and-conquer strategy that aims to break the councils hold on labor at Hudson Yards. If they win, it would a major breakthrough for nonunion labor in commercial construction projects across the city. As the social media campaign and pro-union movement enters its second year, there are signs that the council has succeeded in creating some alliances that might help it win its war against Related even if it loses the battle over exclusive union work at 50 Hudson Yards. In the past year, the #CountMeIn campaign has morphed into a wider movement to generate support for organized labor at large. This includes extracting public promises of support from powerful figures like Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and a City Council resolution with 21 co-sponsors that asserts that what happens at Hudson Yards is a referendum on the identity of the city as a bastion of organized labor itself and that public financial support for real estate developers should be a means of protecting that. There should be obligations attached to that, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President Gary LaBarbera said. One of which should be the creation of good, strong middle-class jobs and in turn their undermining (of) good strong middle-class jobs with careers. According to an analysis shared with City & State by the Building and Construction Trades Council, Related has received $4.6 billion in tax breaks, subsidies and discretionary funding in recent years from local and state sources. This includes $1.1 billion in assistance from the Empire State Development Corp., $1.5 billion from the state Housing Finance Agency and $687 million from New York City Economic Development Corp. and New York City Industrial Development Agency. Overall, about two-thirds of the $4.6 billion comes from state sources. Projects included residential projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, Hudson Yards and Moynihan Station. Related did not respond to multiple requests for comment on its level of support from state and local government agencies, and associated nonprofits like the EDC and IDA. Photo by Richard Drew/AP/REX/Shutterstock The findings of that analysis also seemed to be reflected in the New York City Council resolution that was proposed last month. The city has invested millions of dollars into the Hudson Yards development, according to the #CountMeIn movement, reads the resolution that was proposed on Oct. 17 by City Councilman Costa Constantinides, one of several elected officials who joined union members in front of City Hall that day. Related Cos. attempted union-busting efforts are counter to what New York City is built on the back of organized labor, Constantinides said at the rally, according to a press release. Trying to construct one of New Yorks most defining projects with nonunion labor is a serious threat to the future of our middle class. I am proud to support our building trades against cost-cutting developers, so you can count me in. These remarks are just one example of one years worth of supportive statements from elected leaders, including Cuomo and Johnson. Though they have offered nominal support for organized labor, elected officials thus far have not concretely added to the pressure against Related not that weve asked them to, LaBarbera said. Representatives for Johnson, Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio did not directly respond to questions about whether any concrete action would be taken to compel Related to come to an agreement with the trades council, though there is general agreement that should happen. Like any labor dispute, we urge Related Companies and the Building and Construction Trades Council to meet at the table and keep a respectful dynamic to resolve any issues, Raul Contreras, a spokesman for de Blasio, wrote in an email. But the battle between Related and the council has long lacked civility. This past month, a representative of Related accused LaBarbera of malicious name-calling and spreading fake news after LaBarbera said Hudson Yards was falling behind schedule. This followed Relateds filing of a lawsuit against the council, accusing it of inflating costs at Hudson Yards by $100 million. The two sides had signed a 2013 project labor agreement that guaranteed that only union labor would be used during the first phase of the Hudson Yards project. Related now wants to make separate deals with each union, as it already done with a union representing carpenters. The 2013 agreement came at a time when LaBarbera said he had a cordial, if strictly professional, relationship with Relateds billionaire leader. But all of that changed in later years, starting with one comment made by Ross at a 2016 Crains event. LaBarbera recalled sitting at a table at the midtown Manhattan Sheraton Hotel when Ross said something that LaBarbera found shocking. The good news is today, New York is becoming more of an open shop city, Ross said, referencing the emerging practice of using both union and nonunion laborers at construction sites. LaBarbera quickly denounced the statement once he had a chance to speak on a panel at the event. To hear a developer, Steve Ross, say its a good thing that the city is open shop and costs are coming down, thats saying its a good thing that wages are going down in the city of New York, that workers are being exploited every day, theyre being put on job sites with no training, no benefits in my view, that is the worst thing for the city of New York, LaBarbera said, according to Crains. Organized labor has suffered several blows in recent years, whether through declining membership in many industries or the U.S. Supreme Courts Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 decision this year, which some observers say opened a Pandoras box for public sector unions. But its unclear to what extent unions have lost ground in commercial construction because reliable data is lacking and anecdotal evidence is mixed in New York City. LaBarbera claimed that unions maintain a firm hold on their overwhelming share of commercial construction jobs citywide. Others said a quick take on a complicated situation suggests otherwise: If youre talking about 2018 compared to a decade ago or compared to the 1980s, undoubtedly the nonunion share of overall construction activity has increased, James Parrott, director of economic and fiscal policies at The New Schools Center for New York City Affairs, told City & State in September. But other than some sort of vague statement like that, Im not ready to put numbers behind anything. Two things, however, are clear. The first is that Hudson Yards will signal whether or not nonunion labor can make serious inroads into a construction sector that has long been the domain of organized labor in New York City. The other takeaway is that public financing for projects using nonunion labor has become an issue in that fight. There is little hope that Related and the Building and Construction Trades Council can make peace, considering both sides positions in an existential fight, according to LaBarbera. Lawsuits are ongoing. Protests are planned. Nonunion labor is still at work, and organized labor recognizes the big stake it has to push them off the job at 50 Hudson Yards. Its really a dispute thats consistent with the history of labor and capital, LaBarbera said. I dont think anything is going to change anytime soon. Max Albert leading an awareness with mothers about the risks and prevention of cervical and breast cancer. Theres something about turning back our clocks that prompts personal reverie. The earlier darkness whereupon evening settles in late afternoon prompts contemplation of those things barely recognizable past twilight. Artificial illumination has its benefits, but also casts dark shadows that bring to mind Platos Allegory of the Cave. What is seen are often misleading representations rather than actual reality. Whats more, our media serves as gatekeepers of that filter and manipulate the shadows were allowed to observe that are cast by cathode ray tubes and newer technologies. Between the idea/And the reality/Between the motion/And the act/Falls the Shadow, wrote T.S. Eliot in The Hollow Men. He wasnt referring to Lamont Cranstons alter-ego, although Eliot not unlike the Shadow was well aware of the evils lurking in the hearts of men. Eliot, however, didnt need to cloud mens minds so they could not see him. Those minds had been clouded already by a culture increasingly turning its back on its Judeo-Christian heritage, contributing in no small part to two world wars, armed conflicts too numerous to recount in this space and millions upon millions (born and unborn) murdered, maimed or forced to suffer deprivation in pursuit of the New Man. A 1796 volume of Walkers Hibernian Magazine (yes, it was a thing, and, no, to the best of my knowledge theres no personal family connection with that particular Irishman), quoted a certain Frenchman named Francois de Charette, who declared hundreds of thousands of dead countrymen was justified for the preparation of his particular brand of souffle. The buffet from the past centurys collective abattoir was attended by a host of tin-pot dictators, tyrants and even democratically elected officials feasting on the rancid omelet concocted from those countless millions of broken eggs. Stalin apocryphally quipped: A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic. Wotta guy whether he actually said it or not, the stats on his Major League Despot card reveal some pretty staggering body counts accumulated during the Russian Revolution and subsequent purges, show trials, gulag incarcerations and Holodomor. MVP status, however, is reserved for his Chinese counterpart, Mao Zedong. Although Stalin and Mao make convenient poster boys for mass murder, starvation and a host of other nasty behaviors, Edmund Burke reminded us years before the Diabolical Duo donned their respective capes: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. But what constitutes good in our contemporary world of increasing moral relativism compounded by political tribalism? No race, religion nor political party holds a monopoly on virtuous behavior or, conversely, immoral behavior. In fact, members of each of these groups possess those qualities most befitting Gods plan for humanitys salvation for the time being, at least. If it wasnt for those confounded shadows telling us an intentionally confusing narrative about what it means to be truly human and humane. Freaking loving science and adhering to religious faith, for example, arent mutually exclusive. Loving science to the point it excludes the inherently unobservable, on the other hand, serves no other purpose than to position humanity as imminently perfectible if only this specific leader adopts the reins of power or that policy is adopted and enforced. Between the potency/And the existence/Between the essence/And the descent/Falls the Shadow, Eliot continued, before apocalyptically concluding: This is how the world ends/Not with a bang but a whimper. God is a jealous god, he reminds us elsewhere. It is past time to embrace the essence of the Divine mysteries once more, while ignoring the shadows that lead us into earthly temptations. For Thine is the Kingdom. 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. Anchors aweigh, my boy, anchors aweigh . . . Anchors Aweigh is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy, composed in 1906 by Charles Zimmermann, lyrics by Alfred Miles Since we are only a couple days past Veterans Day, here is a short piece about my fathers experiences in World War Two. My father told me very few stories about actual combat. He mostly spoke of the hardships of jungle warfare the oppressive heat the giant leeches that would drop out of the trees at night onto the bivouacked marines and latch onto any exposed flesh. The biggest fear was that the monsters would fall onto an eye. Living under these nightmare conditions, my father contracted a skin disease that reoccurred from time to time long after the war was over. I have no idea what it was actually called. My father simply referred to it as jungle rot. As a Navy medic attached to the 6th Fleet Marines, my father was officially, according to the rules of the Geneva Convention, a non-combatant. Unfortunately, the Japanese were in the habit of ignoring Geneva, in fact, my father told me, they considered field medics to be high priority targets. As a non-combatant he was not issued a weapon but because everyone knew what would happen when they engaged the enemy, several of his comrades snuck weapons to him prior to the landing on Okinawa. His weapon of choice became the .45 ACP. The Battle of Okinawa was a blood bath. It was after Okinawa, that the saying, Let them in, Father, for theyve served their time in Hell, originated. Open up, Im not kidding. I always thought this was one of my fathers more bizarre adventures. It was after Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Japanese had sued for peace but had not yet met to sign the surrender. My father accompanied a landing party looking for a Japanese prison camp reported to be in the area. My father thought the camp lay in one direction, his companions the other, so they split up, my father heading off alone. My father turned out to be correct, found the camp and approached the stockade. A Japanese officer was leaning on the gate smoking a cigarette. My father walked up and said, United States Marine Corps, open up. The officers only response was a wan smile. Thinking that his approach had been too subtle, my father drew his side arm and commanded, Open up. The officers only response was to straighten up and point back up over my fathers head. Im not kidding, open up, you sonuvabith, my father hissed, losing patience. The officer continued to smile and point. Without lowering his .45, my father twisted his head around. Above and behind him, in a conning tower, a Japanese soldier was taking careful aim with a .50 caliber machine gun. I handed him my weapon, he opened the gate and I went in, my father told me. No one attempted to interfere with me in any way, the other personnel ignored me and I went into one of the huts where Americans were being held. The POWs were in godawful shape I broke down and cried like a baby. They had been subsisting for who knows how long on meager rations of rice, usually crawling with maggots. To his dying day, my father has not eaten so much as a single grain of rice. To be honest, he told me, the Japanese werent eating much better. Within the hour, the rest of my fathers team arrived, the Japanese surrendered the camp and that was that. A month later, my father was surprised to receive one days POW pay. Shortly the camp was liberated, the Army Air Corps showed up and began dropping 55 gallon drums of food and medical supplies. My father and the other medical personnel had to rein in the starving Americans so that they didnt make themselves sick or even die from desperately cramming food in their mouths. On a note of sad irony, several POWs were hit and killed by falling containers. These men had stayed alive on nothing but willpower for years and now they were killed by drums of food, my father said, his voice trailing to a whisper. And so it went. In Flanders fields the poppies grow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields .? From a poem by John McCrae Great Britain has celebrated the end of World War I every year with the poppy as its symbol. They call it Remembrance Day. This November 11 was the centennial of that wars end. My father was a prisoner of war, and worked on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Soon after the truce he was released, and returned to his war-torn country. He became a destitute refugee to the United States where he built a new life and contributed to its prosperity. Sadly, Trumpublicans no longer accept asylum seekers. They see them as disease-ridden, job-stealing, rapist-murderers. They are labelled invaders, caravans of infiltrators, the enemy. The largest ceremony this year for Armistice Day was in Paris, France. WW I was poorly conceived, badly managed, and harshly ended. General John J. Pershing thought the armistice premature, but was overruled by President Woodrow Wilson. The resulting nationalism set the stage for the Fascists. French President Emmanuel Macron warned against nationalism as leaders from around the world listened. He said, Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of it. By saying our interests first ? who cares about the others ? we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values. Later he said, Humiliation, the spirit of revenge, economic and moral crises, fed the rise of nationalism and totalitarianism. War again, 20 years later, came to ravage the path of peace. Donald Trump attended, but barely. He did not walk down the Champs Elysees, with the other leaders to the Arc de Triomphe. When Vladimir Putin met him, he shook hands, gave him a thumbs up and a smiley face on his report card, Obeys orders. Trump did not comprehend Macrons lesson in 20th Century history. DonnyT wants to repeat the fallacies of nationalism, authoritarianism, and fascism. He is drawn to them as a shark is drawn to blood. He has become a danger to democracy, just as the dictators to which he is attracted. He did not join the rest as they motored to military grave sites and monuments. Instead he spent a short while at an American military cemetery, complaining about the rain. I guess he felt the victim. When on his plane he tweeted displeasure at how poorly he had been treated, and became engrossed in the results of the mid-term election. He claimed voter fraud in Florida even when Republican pollsters there could find no proof. And then on Veterans Day, November 12, he didnt bother to go to Arlington National Cemetery. Instead he pouted about the election results, blaming Republicans who lost for not loving him enough. Finally, there is the commercial on Fox Noose begging you to buy a Trump Bear stuffed animal with an orange toupee. Unzip its chest and cuddle down with an American flag. The ad ends with a muscular man wearing a MAGA cap, on a motorcycle saying, I never go anywhere without my Trump Bear! The damn things are made in China. If you have a tot you want to scare witless this Christmas this toy would do it. I hope your Thanksgiving will be pleasant. The end of the year brings much hope and pleasure. Take care. Aussie safe after yacht catches ablaze off Patong Beach PHUKET: An Australian yachtsman is safe after his yacht caught on fire off Patong Beach last night (Nov 14). marineSafetytransportaccidentspolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Thursday 15 November 2018, 11:18AM Police and firefighters arrived at the southern end of Patong Beach to see the yacht burning some 500 metres offshore. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Police and firefighters arrived at the southern end of Patong Beach to see the yacht burning some 500 metres offshore. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The 63-year-old Australian, named by police only as Brian Derek, safely on shore at PatongBeach last night (Nov 14). Photo: Tourist Police Lt Col Patiwat Yodkhwan of the Patong Police was notified of the fire at 9:07pm. Police arrived at the beach with firefighters and Tourist Police officers to see the yacht burning some 500 metres offshore from the Seaview Patong Hotel at the southern end of the beach. A fire team took a speedboat equipped with a pump out to the burning yacht, called Soraya, and took about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire. However, by that time, the boat was destroyed by the fire, police reported. Police explained that the boat was owned by a 63-year-old Australian man they named in the police report only as Brian Derek. The Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre and the Phuket Tourist Police this morning both refused to reveal to The Phuket News Mr Brians family name. Col Patiwat noted in his reported that Mr Brian has arrived in Phuket on his yacht a few days before the incident. The Australian explained to police that he was cooking dinner when a wave rocked the boat, causing hot oil to spill out of the pan, setting the boat on fire. He shouted out people on another boat nearby, who came to safely get him off the boat and call emergency services, Col Patiwat noted in his report. Col Patiwat also speculated that there may have been a gas leak on the boat, which may have accelerated the fire. PRU @ Trisara wins Phukets first Michelin star At the glitzy Park Hyatt in Bangkok, the culinary cognoscenti gathered for the gastronomic event of the year; the launch of the 2019 Michelin Guide to Bangkok, Phuket and Phang-Nga. Dining By Chris Watson Thursday 15 November 2018, 02:00PM Having launched the inaugural Guide to Bangkok last year, the red book extended its footprint this year to include Phuket and Phang-Nga. Whilst many restaurants in Bangkok surprisingly retained their stars, their plates and Bib Gourmands despite several Chef changes, the big news this year was Suhring promoted from one star to two stars, nine new one stars in Bangkok and of course, for Phuket, the first star restaurant ever, PRU at Trisara, made all the more special by being the only one across Phuket and Phang-Nga. Whilst there were no losses within the already awarded one star and two star restaurants in Bangkok, there were a few promotions and additions. Michelins almost 100 year old understated definitions of star meals state a one star meal is High quality cooking, worth a stop and a two star meal is Excellent cooking, worth a detour. Suhring, serving up European contemporary cooking joined the existing highest rated two star restaurants in Bangkok; Gaggan, Le Normandie and Mezzaluna. New one star restaurants consisted of two promotions from last years Michelin plates, Le Du and Gaa, newly awarded Canvas and Saawaan in the innovative category and Methavalai Sorndaeng, R-Haan, Ruean Panya, Sorn and Suan Thip seemingly rewarding the more traditional Thai restaurant offering and recognizing that fine restaurants are not only found in downtown Bangkok, but also within the provinces of Samut Sakhon and Nonthaburi. But PRU was not the only winner in Phuket and Phang-Nga, although one of Trisaras other restaurants, Seafood, a casual Thai bistro, serving up Mamas lost recipes also won a highly sought-after Michelin plate. There were also a number of other restaurants awarded. The award of a plate in Michelin terminology is Fresh ingredients, capably prepared: simply a good meal. Those awarded are: Phuket Plates: Acqua Italian, Bampot European Contemporary, Black Ginger @ The Slate Southern Thai, Blue Elephant Thai, Crust Italian, Ethos Thai, Go La Street Food, Jadjan Street Food, Jongjit Kitchen Street Food, Khao Tom Thanon Di Buk Street Food, La Gaetana Italian, La Sala Thai, Loba Bang Niao Street Food, Mee Ton Poe (Wong Wian Ho Nalika) Street Food, Nahmyaa Thai, O Cha Rot Street Food, O Tao Bang Niao Street Food, Pak Nam Seafood Seafood, Red Sauce @ Rosewood Phuket Italian, Ruen Thai Thai, Seafood @ Trisara Seafood, Suay (Cherngtalay) Thai Contemporary, Ta Khai @ Rosewood Phuket Thai, Talung Thai Thai, Tu Kab Khao Southern Thai. Phang-Nga Plates: Esenzi @ Iniala Seafood, Gop Phochana Street Food, Krua Bai Toey Thai, Nai Mueng Southern Thai. Bib Gourmands are described by Michelin as Good quality, good value cooking. Those awarded are: Phuket Bib Gourmands: Bang Pae Seafood Seafood, Chomchan Southern Thai, Chuan Chim Street Food, Go Benz Street Food, Hong Khao Tom Pla Street Food, Mor Mu Dong Street Food, One Chun Southern Thai, Raya Southern Thai, Roti Taew Nam Street Food, Surf & Turf by Soul Kitchen European Contemporary, Ta Tuay Southern Thai, The Charm Southern Thai. Phang-Nga Bib Gourmands: Khrua Luang Then Street Food, Khrua Nong Street Food. In total, in Phuket and Phang Nga, 44 restaurants received recognition and this is an impressive haul! Back to PRU; it is a restaurant at the leading edge of sustainable farm to table dining. Operating at the uber-deluxe Trisara hotel, the restaurant name stands for Plant, Raise and Understand. Ingredients are sourced from throughout Thailand; it even has its own farm, Pru Jampa. Local produce on the menu includes black crab from Phang Nga, river prawns from Surat Thani and a mouthwatering selection of Thai artisan cheeses which can give French cheese a run for their money. The innovative 6 and 8 course set menus including a vegetarian option are offered with an impressive wine pairing from a carefully curated world class wine list. Signature dishes to whet your appetite are pickled duck egg with a dashi broth of Phuket abalone and local carrots cooked in their soil. For those dessert lovers, a specialty is organic beetroot textures with an ice cream of sour dough bread, Isaan mountain almonds and marinated mulberries. The Chef and magician behind these dishes is Jimmy Ophorst, a Dutchman who has made Thailand his home. Despite only one starred restaurant highlighted in Phuket, it is encouraging that the region is definitely developing as a culinary destination. It is exciting to see many Southern Thai restaurants awarded and also simple street food recognised. This is the beginning for Phuket and Phang Nga. I am frantically booking tables in those restaurants I have yet to experience to gain a reservation before they get too busy and urge you to do the same. I also ponder what the 2020 guide will bring and anticipate perhaps a few more stars in Phuket and Phang-Nga next year. My heartfelt congratulations to all the winners! https://guide.michelin.com/th/en/bangkok/restaurants http://prurestaurant.com/ Chris is a former Michelin Guide Inspector who, following an international career in hospitality spanning 30 years in both the Middle East and Asia, has now settled in Thailand and will contribute a monthly restaurant column. Thais arrested for charging access fees to Freedom Beach PHUKET: Two Thai men have been arrested for charging tourists cash in order to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. The men are believed to have been raking in an estimated B10,000 a day. By The Phuket News Thursday 15 November 2018, 12:34PM The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The raid followed complaints that the men were charging B200 per person to access Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau The men were arrested for charging entrance fees to Freedom Beach, south of Patong. Photo: Immigration Bureau Tourist Police and Immigration officers made the arrests yesterday (Nov 14) during a raid led by national Immigration Chief Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn Gen Surachate previously served as the national Deputy Chief of the Tourist Police and remains one of the key figures in Thailands Action Taskforce for Information technology Crime Suppression (Tactics). The raid yesterday followed the Tactics taskforce and Tourist Police receiving complaints, Gen Surachate explained in a post on the Immigration Bureau Facebook page. The raid also came while Gen Surachate was in Phuket to join the media event to highlight the new salvage team hired to recover the sunken tour boat Phoenix. (See story here.) Police reported that they had been charging money for people to access Freedom Beach for more than one year. They charged B200 per person, police noted. The area the men were charging access to was protected national forest designated under the responsibility of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), police explained in their report. Police noted in their report that during questioning, the suspects who police have not publicly named said that they started charging the access fees before the land was designated a national protected forest area. South Dakota qualifies for FCS playoffs for first time since 2017 The Coyotes qualified for the playoffs for just the second time since they transitioned to Division-I football in 2008. Here is a list of schools letting out early: DELAWARE COUNTY Academy of Notre Dame de Namur: Dismissing at 10 a.m. Haverford Area High School: 1:30 p.m. BERKS COUNTY Boyertown School District: Early Dismissal All afternoon and evening activities are canceled Daniel Boone School District: Early dismissal Exeter Township School District (Berks) Closing at 10:45 a.m. St Catharine of Siena Mt. Penn (Berks) Closing 3 hours early. BUCKS COUNTY Bucks Learning Academy (Bucks) Closed. Central Bucks School District (Bucks) Closed. Council Rock School District (Bucks) EARLY DISMISSAL. Grey Nun Academy (Bucks) Closed. LifeWorks Academy-Doylestown (Bucks) Closed. LifeWorks School-Doylestown (Bucks) Closed. New Hope-Solebury School District (Bucks) EARLY DISMISSAL. St Katharine Drexel Regional Catholic (Bucks) Closing 3 1/4 hours early. Tiny Tots Nurs School Solebury (Bucks) Closed. CHESTER COUNTY Chester County Courthouse: Closing at 2 p.m. Camphill Special School-Beaver Run (Chester) Closing 3 1/4 hours early. Owen J. Roberts School District 3 hours early. Secondary at 11:15 AM and elementary students will be dismissed at 12:15 PM. No afternoon kindergarten. Students will be provided with lunch. All after school activities are cancelled today. Phoenixville School District: Dismissing at 12:30 PM Tredyffrin-Easttown School District: Early dismissal MONTGOMERY COUNTY Abington School District: Early dismissal Cheltenham School District.: Early Dismissal Eastern Ctr for Arts and Technology: Closing 3 hours early. Colonial School District: High School Dismissing at 10:30 a.m., Middle School at 11:15 a.m., Elementary Schools at noon. Hatboro-Horsham School District: Dismissing 3 hours early Lower Merion: Dismissing 3 hours early Lower Moreland Township School: Closing 2 3/4 hours early. Norristown School District: Following early Tuesday schedule North Penn School District: Early Dismissal Methacton School District: Check website for dismissal times Owen J. Roberts School District: Dismissing 3 hours early Perkiomen Valley School District: Early Dismissal- 11am secondary and 11:45am Elementary Pottstown School District: MS @ 11:15, HS @ 11:30, Elem @12 Pottsgrove School District: Dismissing 2hrs. Early Spring-Ford Area School District: No afternoon kindergarten. No other changes to dismissal or evening activities are planned at this point. Souderton Area School District: Secondary at 11:30, Elementary at 12:30, NO PM Kindergarten Upper Perkiomen School District: Dismissing 2hrs. Early Upper Merion School District: early Wissahickon School District: Middle/High 12 p.m. & Elementary 12:50 p.m. Californias largest utility suffered its steepest stock plunge in 16 years Wednesday as concerns grew that potential liability costs from destructive wildfires threaten the companys financial future. Shares in PG&E Corp. fell nearly 22% and its bonds were also hammered, capping five straight days of losses that have dragged shares down more than 47%, its worst such stretch on record. The free fall began after the company reported to state regulators that one of its transmission lines had malfunctioned before the start of a massive fire in Northern California. The fire has now destroyed more than 7,600 single-family homes and killed at least 48 people. The San Francisco-based company reported in a securities filing Tuesday night that it had exhausted its revolving lines of credit and warned that its $1.4 billion (U.S.) of insurance coverage for wildfires occurring between Aug. 1 and July 31, 2019, may be insufficient to cover all potential liability claims against the company. Geisha Williams, PG&Es chief executive, said in an interview that it was premature to speculate about whether the company would need to seek bankruptcy protection. She said the company tapped its credit lines to create more financial flexibility. The cause of the fire has not been determined, so its not clear if were going to be held responsible, Ms. Williams said, adding that it is currently focused on assisting communities and first responders. State investigators have yet to determine whether PG&E equipment caused any current wildfires, or whether the company was negligent, findings that could trigger state fines as well as fuel lawsuits from homeowners and others who lost property. But the utility, already facing billions in potential liability costs from last years wildfires, is confronting a sobering situation without any easy fixes, as an extended drought and population growth into fire-prone forested areas turns parts of California into a dangerous tinderbox. PG&Es Pacific Gas & Electric Co. unit serves about 16 million people from Santa Barbara almost all the way up to the Oregon border. The company owns and operates hundreds of miles of electrical wires that crisscross an increasingly dry region at rising risk of fire, a new reality that California Gov. Jerry Brown has attributed in part to a changing climate. State investigators have already concluded PG&E equipment helped spark at least 16 fires last year, generating hundreds of lawsuits. The company was worth more than $36 billion in September 2017, before the recent spate of fires in Northern California. It closed on Wednesday worth $13.27 billion. PG&E cut its dividend and took a $2.5 billion charge earlier this year. The reality is that fire season is year round and fires are spreading at rates weve never seen before, said Ms. Williams, PG&Es CEO. We must work together across all sectors and disciplines to address this issue with urgency. Citi analyst Praful Mehta estimated the total damage caused by the current fire could reach $15 billion, comparable to the 2017 fire damages, though PG&E wouldnt necessarily bear those costs in full if found liable for the blaze. Mr. Mehta said those potential liability costs could raise the risk of bankruptcy for PG&E, which could force the California Legislature to consider rescuing the company. All roads lead to Sacramento, he said. There is no way they could face all of those liabilities without a legislative solution. PG&E has already sought help from the state. Earlier this year, it successfully pushed for legislation that would allow it to pass on wildfire-liability costs to its customers under certain circumstances. But the bill takes effect in January, leaving the company currently unprotected from liability claims arising from the current blaze in Northern California, known as the Camp Fire. Another fire, known as the Woolsey Fire, was burning to the south in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura County that arent within PG&Es coverage area. The liabilities could be enormous. Lawyers who sued PG&E following devastating fires in 2015 and 2017 are already mobilizing to sue the company for the Camp Fire. A coalition of law firms calling itself Northern California Fire Lawyers filed a negligence lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of more than a dozen residents affected by the blaze, alleging PG&E failed to properly maintain its equipment. The lawsuit details what the lawyers call a regular pattern of placing its own profits before the safety of the California residents it serves. Following the 2017 fires, individuals, municipalities and insurance companies filed more than 800 civil lawsuits against PG&E. The first trial in those cases is slated to take place next September. Britt Strottman, a lawyer with Baron & Budd who has successfully sued PG&E over previous fires and a natural-gas explosion, said the company had neglected safety considerations, creating the current situation. They continue to have a culture where they neglect the maintenance of their system and divert money that should be used for safety to executive bonuses, she said. PG&E spokeswoman Lynsey Paulo strongly disagreed. Nothing is more important to PG&E than the safety of our customers, our communities, our employees and our contractors, she said. It could take years to sort out fines and liabilities, according to Height Capital Markets. It estimated that state fire investigators wouldnt formally determine the cause of the current fire, including PG&Es role, until next summer, and that settlements on claims could take until 2020 at the earliest. PG&E expressed concern last week about the potential for more wildfires, fueled by the states Santa Ana winds. It notified about 70,000 customers that it might turn off their power as a safety measure. Strong winds can blow electrical lines into trees or into each other, generating electrical arcs that can drop sparks and molten material onto dry vegetation. The company ultimately decided there wasnt enough risk to warrant shutting off the power. At 6:15 a.m. on Nov. 8, PG&E detected an outage on a high-voltage transmission line that connects a century-old dam in the Sierra Nevada mountains to the rest of the states power grid. The problem on the line occurred near Pulga in Northern California. Fifteen minutes later, a wildfire was reported in that vicinity. Whipped by high winds, the fire grew quickly into the deadliest in California history. When two top U.K. ministers resigned Thursday in protest of Theresa Mays Brexit pact, the implications were most apparent in one sector: the companies that fill Britons bath tubs and keep their houses warm. An index of utilities stocks sank as much as 3.4 per cent, the biggest drop among 12 industries in the FTSE All Share Index. Water giant United Utilities Group Plc slumped as much as 4.5 per cent, the most in almost five months, while energy providers like Centrica Plc, the owner of British Gas, also slid. Why? The U.K. Labour Party, under Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to nationalize sections of the industry, while also hitting it with new caps aimed at slashing household bills. The latest episode of Conservative Party turmoil re-stoked fears that a Prime Minister Corbyn could one day be a reality. Todays news does make the market more worried that the Labour Party will come to power, Ahmed Farman, a utilities analyst at Jefferies International Ltd. in London, said by phone. They have very clear pledges on nationalization, particularly the water companies, and they also intend to cut energy prices. Farman also highlighted a slump in another company targeted by Labour for nationalization, as evidence of growing Corbyn fears. When I watched them at the Labour Party conference earlier this year, they were very clear on the water companies, and also on Royal Mail, Farman added. Royal Mail Plc, Britains beleaguered 500-year-old mail firm, dropped almost 9 per cent on Thursday. The shares had risen as much as 2 per cent following the companys half-year earnings report, prior to the ministerial resignations being announced. While theres no sign yet that a general election is in the offing, the turmoil increased in the ruling Conservative Party as the day went on: Leading Brexit backer Jacob Rees-Mogg said he will call for a leadership challenge, seeking to oust May. A major Calgary-based energy company is facing its fourth lawsuit in U.S. courts over climate change. The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations the largest commercial fishermens group on the West Coast has included Encana in a lawsuit attempting to link greenhouse gas emissions from 30 energy companies to damage in the crab fishery. The worlds oceans are changing and commercial fishermen and -women, their businesses, their communities and their families are paying the price, says the lawsuit, filed in a San Francisco court on Wednesday. Encana is named because it once operated a large natural gas storage facility in the state. That facility was sold in 2006. An Encana spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit The statement of claim, which has not been tested in court, makes similar arguments to lawsuits filed by three California communities against the same group of defendants. It charges that the named companies produced and sold oil responsible for about one-fifth of all the worlds greenhouse gas emissions between 1965 and 2015. It goes on to say those companies have been aware through their own internal research starting in the 1960s that their product causes climate change. Instead of working to mitigate the damage, the document says the companies funded a massive campaign of disinformation and continued to market as much oil as they could. One consequence, says the lawsuit, has been warming oceans. Heat waves in the ocean have led to massive algae blooms, which have in turn released large amounts of toxins into waters the crab fishermen depend on. Crab-fishing waters in California and Oregon were closed for the first time ever in the 2015-16 season and again in 2016-17. Oregons waters were closed again in 2017-18. Hundreds of commercial fishermen and -women holding Dungeness crab licences could not untie their boats, the lawsuit says. The U.S. government declared Californias 2015-16 crab season a fishery disaster. This years season is expected to be delayed because of lingering toxic concerns. Plaintiff(s) suffered economic losses due to the prohibition on harvesting and transacting in Dungeness crabs, the lawsuit says. The markets for (the) plaintiffs products were artificially depressed because of public health concerns. The lawsuits draw on legal precedents used against tobacco companies, which reached a U.S. settlement of US$368.5 billion in 1998. Legal experts such as Michael Burger, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, have called such cases plausible, but warned they face an uphill battle. He has said both the tobacco and climate change lawsuits had strong evidence of corporate cover-up. But the causal link between smoking and cancer is much shorter and clearer than that between an oil well and specific climate damages, Burger has said. Similar lawsuits have been thrown out. But Vic Sher, the lawyer handling all four of the suits involving Encana, has said his lawsuits avoid conflicts with federal law that disallowed earlier attempts. Industry attempts to block change have become much clearer, he said. As well, research now allows scientists to make direct links between greenhouse gases, individual producers and climate impacts. A report last year for the United Nations counted 654 legal cases in 24 countries that dealt with the science of climate change and mitigation efforts. Read more about: BOSTONQuebec Premier Francois Legault has raised the possibility of a boycott against paint manufacturer Sico, which announced Thursday it will relocate to Ontario. The 81-year-old company said it plans to close its plant in Quebec City and distribution centre in the Montreal area next September, eliminating 125 jobs. Legault said Thursday he does not know whether Quebecers should continue to buy from Sico when its made out of province. Asked if he was calling for an outright boycott, the premier repeated that the situation bothered him, adding he had to see what other brands of paint were made in Quebec. I think Quebecers must be sensitive to buying local, so buying products that are made in Quebec, he said in Boston, where he was on the second and final day of an economic mission. The company, which has administrative offices in the Montreal area, cited competitiveness issues to justify the move, but promised to maintain a strong presence in Quebec and in Canada. Sico was founded in Quebec City in 1937 before coming under the ownership of Dutch multinational AkzoNobel in 2006 and U.S. paint supplier PPG Industries Inc. in 2013. Legault, who once sat on Sicos board of directors, said the bad news is the outcome of a local company ceding control to a foreign one. He said his government would look into whether it could convince the paint maker to reconsider its decision. But its the company, ultimately, that will make the decision, he said. This reinforces the fact that Mr. (Pierre) Fitzgibbon (the economy and innovation minister) is working on a plan to stop losing our headquarters, so that we stop selling our beautiful businesses abroad. Legault explained that he wanted to see Investissement Quebec get more involved in finding potential controlling shareholders who would help keep head offices in the province, which the previous Liberal government did not do, he said. Quebec has faced some tough economic news in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Lowes Companies Inc. announced it will reduce its Canadian footprint by closing 31 stores across the country by the end of January in a bid to streamline its business. The companys Canadian business is based in Boucherville, Que., and has more than 630 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores. Last week, Bombardier announced it will lay off 5,000 workers, including 2,500 in Quebec, within 18 months, as part of another major restructuring that will also see it sell off assets that include the Q400 turboprop program to B.C.s Viking Air Ltd. for US$300 million. Read more about: YouTube is about to crown a new king. T-Series Pvt., one of Indias largest record labels, will become the most-subscribed channel on the worlds most popular video site in the next couple of weeks. At the beginning of the year, the company had 30 million fans, fewer than half of the following for No. 1 PewDiePie, the Swedish video-game geek and jokester whose real name is Felix Kjellberg. The companys ascent has shocked the tight-knit community of online personalities, prompting some to rally behind PewDiePie and delay T-Series ascent. While claiming the most subscribers on YouTube is largely a symbolic achievement, and the company already has the most monthly views, the end of PewDiePies five-year reign is a watershed that reflects important changes as internet use gets more global. More than half of the 10 most popular channels on YouTube in terms of monthly views are from outside the U.S., and many of them belong to professional media companies. YouTubes previous champions have been young, male amateurs like the video blogger Ray William Johnson and comedy duo Smosh. But after years as a mostly Western site for pranks and cat clips, the Google-owned company has lured most of the worlds largest media giants to the site, blurring the line between professional and amateur. Opportunity Knocks Thats opened the door for Noida, India-based T-Series, which operates 29 channels and boasts more than 100 million combined YouTube subscribers. Its flagship, also called T-Series, has been adding three million subscribers a month and will be the first non-English-language channel to hit No. 1. This digital era is fantastic, Bhushan Kumar, T-Series chief executive officer, said in an interview. Its here to stay. Its giving us popularity. Its giving us recognition. T-Series was founded in 1984 by the CEOs father, Gulshan Dua. The son of a Delhi juice vendor, Dua started making money by producing and selling cassettes. Though dogged by rumours he was pirating music, Dua, who later adopted the family name Kumar, turned a mom-and-pop shop into a conglomerate that sold CDs and home electronics. The company achieved its breakout success with the soundtrack to Aashiqui, a Hindi musical romance that is still one of the best-selling records in the history of India. Bollywood soundtracks account for more than half of the Indian music market and still serve as the foundation of T-Series. T-Series used to cater to a much older generation, but it is making movie content and music videos to capture a younger generation, said Allison Stern, chief marketing officer at Tubular Labs, a research firm that tracks online video. It mirrors what a lot of media companies are doing in the U.S. From Tragedy Tragedy struck in 1997 when the T-Series founder, then 42, was murdered after refusing to pay extortion to an organized crime group linked to an infamous gangster, according to reports, and his son took over. The younger Kumar demonstrated a knack for picking the right soundtracks and pushed the company deeper into movie production. Bollywood music is like Russian roulette, said T-Series President Neeraj Kalyan, who joined the company shortly before the murder and has worked as Bhushan Kumars deputy for two decades. You keep on betting, but you dont know what will be a hit. In 1999, Kalyan was asked to look after T-Series music exports, just as the internet was about to rock the industry. CD sales started to fall as consumers began downloading pirated music. While online stores like iTunes ultimately replaced CD sales in many Western countries, that first wave of e-commerce bypassed India. The only way music companies made money online was by selling ringtones. YouTube vs. World YouTube came to India in 2007, still mostly a repository for one-off amateur videos. The most-popular channel was lonelygirl15, a web series about a video blogger, and the most-viewed video featured an eight-minute battle between a herd of buffalo, a pride of lions and a pair of crocodiles. Media companies viewed YouTube as a pariah. In March of that year, Viacom Inc., the owner of MTV and Nickelodeon, sued the company for copyright infringement. Kalyan soon followed. He noticed more and more of the companys music appearing on YouTube, none with his approval. T-Series and YouTube settled in 2011, at which point the video site was hosting popular comedians, like Ray William Johnson and Smosh, as well as proper music videos. The most-watched clip that year was Rebecca Blacks Friday. T-Series started uploading videos to YouTube in 2011. Growth was slow at first, but the company surpassed 1 million subscribers in 2012, one of the first channels in India to do so. Mobile Miracle Then came the Indian mobile miracle. In 2016, Reliance Industries Ltd. launched its modern wireless network and slashed prices for internet access. In just a few years, Indian data use soared. Online video consumption exploded, and nobody has benefited more than YouTube. Today YouTube has more than 300 channels in India with more than a million subscribers each. The company hosted five fan festivals in India this year and announced its first slate of shows there. India is now YouTubes second-largest market in views and first in users. India is a really great, bright spot, said Gautam Anand, head of YouTubes Asia Pacific business. Its one of the fastest-growing markets even within Asia. T-Series now posts all of its music on YouTube first, investing huge sums in videos that help promote its movies and spur song sales. YouTube now accounts for 20 per cent to 25 per cent of T-Series sales, which are nearing $100 million (U.S.). Size, Diversity T-Series has thrived by taking advantage of Indias size and diversity. The country is home to hundreds of languages, including at least 13 spoken by more than 10 million people. T-Series operates 29 channels that offer videos in regional tongues and different music genres, including one for devotional music, with 13 million subscribers, another in the Telugu language, with 2 million subscribers, and Bollywood classics at 6.5 million. They all feed into the main channel. And while Bollywood remains the most popular genre, individual creators with no link to any movie are T-Series fastest-growing segment. Supporters of PewDiePie have scrambled to delay the defenestration of their idol, posting critical comments about T-Series videos and opening up new accounts to boost his totals. Some have had a racial tinge, like one from MrBeast, who bought ads on the video service that said, Calling all Bros! You Can Save YouTube. But T-Series videos arent just popular in India. About 40 per cent of their viewership is from outside the country, says Kalyan, thanks to the diaspora of Punjabis and other Indians that has attracted fans across the world. Thanks to PewDiePie and MrBeast, that number may go up. Whatever those guys are doing, its helped me a lot, Kalyan said. The people in the West, or in the East as far as Japan were not even aware of us. They now know about us because of all that controversy. Read more about: EDMONTONAlbertas education minister has vowed to pull public funding from all private schools in the province that do not comply with legislation that supports gay-straight alliances in schools. At a news conference on Wednesday, Education Minister David Eggen said he tried to work with the 94 private schools in the province, but said 28 remain that have still not met their requirements under the legislation. The legislation, An Act to Support Gay-Straight Alliances, requires all schools in the province that get public funding from the Alberta government to post policies that outline support for GSAs. I have established policies for these school authorities under ministerial order, said Eggen. The provinces legislation requires schools to protect the privacy of students who join GSAs, to ensure principals assist students in creating GSAs in a timely matter, and to protect the groups from political interference. Eggen sent out a list to media of the 28 private schools that have not complied. He said he tried to work with the schools to help them achieve compliance, but eventually, they stopped interacting with us after while. Read more: Alberta Party leaders meeting with controversial parents group raises eyebrows Conversion therapy survivor worries ban wont be enough to stop the insidious practice in Alberta UCP says Jason Kenney views have evolved from anti-abortion and anti-gay adoption stances Schools have until June 30 to comply with Eggens order. If they dont, they will lose their taxpayer-funded subsidy for the next school year for their school, he said. The 28 schools not complying have about 4,000 students, Eggen said, and private schools are supported by up to 70 per cent public funds in Alberta. When asked if he would pull charters from schools that dont comply by the deadline, Eggen said, all options are on the table. The legislation aims to protect students like Myles Nahal, an 18-year-old transgender university student who didnt have access to a GSA when he attended Saint Augustine Elementary Junior High School in Calgary. Now a student at the University of Calgary, Nahal said a GSA could have gone a long way while he was in junior high. It was very hard on my mental health because I thought I was alone. I didnt think I was normal, he said. Nahal said he came out more than once, having to tell people he was transgender as well as bisexual. It was terrifying coming out, he said. I didnt have anyone to run through things with. I couldnt plan my coming out. I kind of had to have a leap of faith (with) my family thankfully, my family was supportive, but in a lot of cases, its not like that. Nahal said if schools take away an individuals right to privacy by outing them to their parents, it takes away the one thing a queer person has control over. I think thats incredibly important to protect an individuals privacy, he said. The individual knows if theyre safe or not in their household, and in quite a few cases, they know that if they come out, they often face rejection, abuse and ridicule. However, Eggens move might not have strong enough teeth if the 2019 election goes against the New Democrats. Jason Kenneys United Conservative Party is the main challenger to the NDP government in the next provincial election, which is slated to take place sometime between March 1 and May 31 before Eggens deadline. Speaking to reporters after a speech to Edmontons Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Kenney said that if his party takes power next year, the law is the law, but wed have to look at the state of play at that time. Kenney said his party supports GSAs in schools, but also respects freedom of religion of independent schools. At the same time, we dont think its very useful to be throwing around threats of defunding, Kenney said. The minister has demonstrated that hes been able to come to common understanding with a lot of schools through dialogue rather than confrontation thats our preferred approach. Kenneys party has been in hot water this week after one of its members, lawyer John Carpay, gave a speech at an event put on by The Rebel where he equated the LGBTQ rainbow flag with the Nazi swastika. Carpay has since apologized for his comments. Carpay is the head of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which is behind a court application to fight Bill 24. The bill bars schools from telling parents if their children are in a gay-straight alliance. A court hearing is slated for Dec. 3, according to the JCCF website. With files from Omar Mosleh Read more about: EDMONTONThe weather outside will be frightful, with Environment Canada issuing a heavy snowfall warning for northwest and west Alberta over the next 24 hours. Grande Prairie, Rocky Mountain House, Hinton, Whitecourt and areas in between are expected to receive up to 20 centimetres, according to a release Thursday. Drivers in affected parts of the province should consider postponing any unnecessary highway travel, the release says. Alberta Transportation and highway maintenance contractors are working to maintain safe driving conditions. Drivers are asked to give snowplows room to work and stay back at least 10 metres to prevent collisions. As a result of the heavy snow, drivers might experience reduced visibility and slippery roads, and are asked to adjust their driving habits accordingly. Drivers are also encouraged to have winter or all-weather tires on their vehicles. Drivers are advised to check 511 Alberta for real-time road conditions. Read more about: The Front Runner Starring Hugh Jackman, Sara Paxton, Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons and Mamoudou Athie. Written by Matt Bai, Jay Carson and Jason Reitman. Directed by Jason Reitman. Opens Friday at the Varsity. 113 minutes. 14A Was there really ever a time when people were shocked by philandering politicians? Or when pols could seriously claim that their private affairs were above public scrutiny? In these Trumpian days of shock-a-minute presidential peccadillos, Jason Reitmans dramatic recreation of Gary Harts 1988 flameout as a leading White House contender, thanks to his dallying aboard the bad ship Monkey Business with ex-model Donna Rice (Sara Paxton), might seem like the quaintest of fairy tales. But with Hugh Jackman strongly conjuring the Colorado senators fatal blend of idealism, naivety and arrogance, the story instead presents itself as the moment in recent history when the press and public alike stopped turning a blind eye to the private transgressions of public people and started going for the jugular, for better and for worse. Journalists arent presented as heroically as theyve been in such films as All the Presidents Men and The Post. Reporters for the Miami Herald and other newspapers who stalked and interrogated Hart are viewed more as gossipmongers than truth-tellers. Reitman wrote the screenplay with Matt Bai and Jay Carson, based on Bais book All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid. Vera Farmiga plays Harts wife Lee, brilliantly bringing home in just a few scenes the personal cost of a spouses betrayal. Yet it all seems pretty tame when set against the daily outrages perpetrated by Donald Trump against his family, his country and the world. A Halifax-based female military member is facing multiple sexual assault-related charges following reports of inappropriate behaviour last fall and winter. The Canadian Armed Forces National Investigation Services (CFNIS) said in a release Wednesday that it received a complaint from a third party that a military member was inappropriately touched while on a ship near Split, Croatia, and again while ashore in Athens, Greece. CFNIS said they started investigating the incident on Dec. 8, 2017, and soon discovered a second victim whod had a similar experience near Souda Bay, Greece. Navy Sub-Lt. Aidan Louise Brownlee now faces seven charges including three counts of sexual assault, one count of assault, and three counts of behaving in a disgraceful manner. Brownlee is a member of the HMCS Toronto, a ship with a home port of Halifax. Lt.-Col. Kevin Cadman, commanding officer of CFNIS, said in the release that military police investigate and where appropriate lay charges based on factual evidence regardless of location in Canada or abroad. All members of the Canadian Armed Forces should expect to serve in a respectful and professional environment safe from harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour. The release says a date and location for Brownlee to appear in court are yet to be determined. Read more about: OXFORD, N.S.Nova Scotias annual ritual of making a celebrity out of a tree began Thursday in Oxford, N.S. The Tree for Boston was carefully cut down under blue skies as about 200 people watched, including carol-singing schoolchildren. The 14-metre white spruce then began a four-day tour in which it will be feted and paraded and eventually make the 1,100-kilometre journey to Massachusetts. The huge Christmas tree is a gift meant to show Haligonians gratitude for the help Bostonians provided after the devastating Halifax Explosion 101 years ago. The provinces Lands and Forestry minister, Iain Rankin, was in Oxford for the tree-cutting, as was a Mikmaq elder, the local mayor and carollers from Oxford Regional Elementary. There was a lot of cheering, and a lot of flag-waving A large portion of the town of Oxford was there, said government spokesman Bruce Nunn. The tree which has its own Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts was then put on display at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro, N.S., where an author was teaching local children about the Halifax Explosion. The children are making decorations to donate to homeless shelters in Boston, said Nunn. Theyre made from little pieces of tree and they decorate them to go down with the Boston tree as our contribution to the Boston community. It had been scheduled for a public send-off at Halifaxs Grand Parade on Friday morning with the mayor, U.S. consul, and others, but the province said Thursday the event had been cancelled due to a forecast of inclement weather. The tree is still scheduled to stick around Halifax for another day, and appear in Saturday nights Chronicle Herald Holiday Parade of Lights in Halifax. On Sunday morning, it will be displayed once again, at the Amherst, N.S., Atlantic Superstore. Nunn said Teresa Simpson who donated the tree along with her partner Ross McKellar along with members of her family and even some Oxford residents would be travelling to Boston for a tree lightening ceremony on Nov. 29. Last year, the tree was given a Halifax police escort to the U.S. border, and also stopped in Augusta, Maine, en route to Boston Caused by the collision of two wartime ships one of which was carrying explosives the Halifax Explosion killed about 2,000 people, wounded 9,000 and flattened a wide swath of the port city, including a Mikmaq village on the other side of the harbour. It remains one of Canadas worst human-caused disasters. In 2015, the province spent $234,000 transporting the tree and staging ceremonies in Halifax and Boston, where the annual tree-lighting on the Boston Common typically attracts about 20,000 people, and is carried live on local television. Read more about: A family of Bruce Willis fans has claimed bragging rights to the ultimate trophy following a seven-year campaign to find a new owner for the movie stars home among the aspens of Idaho. The clan, unidentified beyond their huge adulation for the action-flick hero, scored his lakefront estate for a fraction of its original $15-million asking price. But both buyer and seller got a fair deal, says listing agent Travis Jones, whose team helped nudge Willis into accepting $5.5 million for the property he bought and rebuilt in 2003. For the buyers, moving in means having expansive new walls to display their heros movie posters. The fact it was Bruces house certainly didnt hurt, Jones says about the purchase in October. The estate, located a short hop from popular celebrity playground and ski destination Sun Valley, has other things going for it besides its Hollywood connection. Close to the resorts amenities, good restaurants and ski shops, its an entertainers and outdoor lovers delight, situated on a beautiful 20-acre aspen glade with forest as far as the eye can see, says Jones, of Engel & Volkers Sun Valley. The home is large and gracious and kind of timeless, he notes, commending Willis for his choice of design style and finishes that wont age. Theres also the amazing heated pool with three water slides and falls dominating the back yard. But it wasnt a quick or easy sell the luxury lodge languished for seven years following the first listing for $15 million by another real estate firm in 2011. The unrealistic very high number was compounded by the economic downturn, according to Jones. It might as well have been $100 million, he says, adding that Willis wasnt super motivated to sell and was trying to recoup what he put into the property. By the time Engel & Volkers took on the challenge, in partnership with Grady and Heather Burnett of Keller Williams Realty in 2016, Willis was willing to drop the price to $6.5 million. Two years later quick for the sale of a high-end residence, according to Jones the fan family negotiated the price down another million, bagging their heros home for less than 40 per cent of what he originally asked. Hes a busy guy, says the realtor, explaining that Willis, a multiple home owner, relinquished the retreat because he didnt have time to spend there. Known for playing hard-boiled and wisecracking characters, Willis achieved popularity as an action hero in Die Hard and The Expendables, a boxer in Pulp Fiction, and child psychologist in The Sixth Sense. He bought the Idaho compound just outside the former mining town of Hailey three years after he and actress Demi Moore divorced. Rustic yet elegant, the spacious six-bedroom main house, which Willis renovated and expanded, is a cross between lodge-style and craftsman-style, Jones says. Almost half of the massive 2,200-square-foot master bedroom is taken up by the ensuite bathroom, he says. The kitchen has been fully updated with wood cabinetry and flooring, steel-grey countertops and double fridges, ovens and dishwashers. The focal point of the large sunken living room is a soaring stone fireplace book-ended by floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the pool and woods. Willis also added a gym, ponds and separate guest house. Despite its jaw-dropping price cut, the estate is still the most expensive residential property ever sold in the Hailey area, according to Jones. Another claim to fame for the happy new owners. CV Carola Vyhnak is a Cobourg-based writer covering home and real-estate stories. She is a contributor for the Star. Reach her at cvyhnak@gmail.com The numbers Selling price: $5.495 million (U.S.) Size: 8,400 square feet Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 6.5 OTTAWANearly nine months after the federal Liberal government announced it would spend $50 million over five years to boost local journalism in underserved communities, not one dollar has gone out the door. Nor has the government outlined how it intends to facilitate charitable support for professional non-profit journalism and local news. Nor how it intends to support the transition to digital media. All were promises made in last years budget and repeated in the heritage ministers mandate letter. Its baffling to those in the journalism industry, newspaper publishers and the countrys largest media union, especially with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau championing the need for strong traditional media this past week. In France, Trudeau emphasized his governments commitment to supporting the need for a vibrant free press to hold government and their institutions to account. However Jerry Dias, president of Unifor which represents nearly 12,000 workers in the media sector, says the time for talk is past, and its time for action. Youre not going to all of a sudden change peoples habits to buying print media, I get all that, said Dias in an interview. But weve closed over 200 local newspapers in Canada so there has to be a mechanism in which to fund them. There needs to be some dramatic changes. A 2017 report by the Public Policy Forum said from 2008 to 2016, 169 local media outlets closed and another 54 reduced services, a trend that accelerated in 2017, most notably with the sale and purchase of assets by Torstar and Postmedia. A subsequent followup report in September shows the quality of news coverage across the country has also declined. Yet Dias said what the federal government announced in last Februarys budget amounted to nickels and dimes. What they threw at it was no solution, it was more tokenism than anything else, he said. Have your say News Media Canada, which represents 800 daily, weekly and community newspapers, had urged the government to provide $350 million to support a Canadian Journalism Fund, and was disappointed with last years announcement of $10 million a year, for five years. John Hinds, president and CEO of the industry association, said the associations numbers show that from 2009 to August this year, 137 Canadian daily or weekly community newspapers ceased publication, 38 of which closed since January. Its pretty chilling, he said in an interview. Yet the industry is still waiting for details of how the government will meet its nine-month old promises of support. We were told they would issue an RFP (request for proposals) at some point for a group to look at sort of managing the fund because they dont want to do it on their own in order to respect the independence of media outlets, Hinds said. Our view would be that wed like to replicate the model that they followed in the U.K. with the BBC, where the BBC has funded 120 journalists to work in local newspapers, he said. News Media Canada has talked to Canadian Press, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and a Quebec media coalition about joining forces to submit a proposal, Hinds added. Wed love to get working on it, as you know time is off the essence on this. But to date, we havent had any followup. Simon Ross, spokesman for Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, insisted the government is moving to quickly implement the measures promised last winter, but he declined to provide any details because I dont want to scoop myself. What I can tell you is we are working with organizations across the country so we can implement this as quickly as possible and to ensure that it respects journalistic independence because that of course is very important. OTTAWACanada stood firm against Chinese criticism Thursday after the Trudeau government rallied more than a dozen countries in expressing concern to Beijing about its jailing of hundreds of thousands of its Muslim minority. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused Canadas envoy and 14 others of going beyond their diplomatic roles by sending a letter that expressed concern about the incarcerations of Chinas Muslim minorities in re-education camps in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. Spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters the letter violated the terms of the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations and that the envoys should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. She noted the letter, which was spearheaded by Canada, was based on hearsay, despite widely distributed reports from detainees, relatives and officials documenting the sweeping and seemingly arbitrary detentions. A well-placed source from one of the 15 signatory countries also confirmed to The Canadian Press that Canada led the effort to send the letter. The United Nations estimates as many as one million Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities are being held in arbitrary detention. Canada is deeply concerned by credible reports of the mass detention, repression and surveillance of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang, said Adam Austen, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. Canada called on China to release all arbitrarily detained Muslims earlier this month at the UN where Chinas human rights record was under review. Freeland also raised their plight with her Chinese counterpart at the UN General Assembly in September, said Austen. Canada also regularly raises concerns about Xinjiang with Chinese authorities both publicly and privately, bilaterally and multilaterally, and will continue to do so, said Austen. But Canada is now part of a shrinking group of countries that are speaking out against China. Of the 130 countries that commented on Chinas human rights record at the UN review, only 15 mentioned Xinjiang, said Paul Evans, a China expert at the University of British Columbia. Chinas hardline response to the letter places it on a collision course with Western values of freedom of religion, Western values on culture, Evans said. This is the old Chinese hammer, and it does not look very good in the context of 2018. The absence of transparency on this, the disinformation that has been circulated by the Chinese side whatever your political position on this one, it makes you grit your teeth, said Evans. The letter emerged one day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a decidedly low-key version of his third-annual leaders summit with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders summit in Singapore. The one-hour meeting in a third country represented a downgrade compared to their two previous leaders summits part of a high-profile initiative to reinvigorate Sino-Canadian relations that saw Trudeau feted in Beijing and 2017 after Li was wined and dined in Ottawa a year earlier. With a push toward free trade talks all but stalled, Trudeau was unapologetic when asked about Canadas leadership role on the contentious letter, and whether it whether it would undermine his governments pursuit of more trade with China. This is something that we do at the same time as we engage in constructive and positive trade talks, Trudeau said, adding that he raised questions and concerns about the plight of Muslims in his meeting with Li. Canada will continue to look for ways to advance and promote human rights in partnership with our like-minded allies everywhere around the world. A former Canadian ambassador to China and a human rights advocate said it was about time somebody spoke up for its embattled Muslim minority regardless of the economic consequences. Having ambassadors address this issue directly and openly is far better than attempting to influence the domestic affairs of another country covertly, which has been Chinas preferred tactic in recent years, said David Mulroney, Canadas ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012. Mulroney, who has urged Canada to push for deeper economic ties with China and its Asian neighbours, said Canada still needs to find the courage to flag concerns about Chinas increasingly irresponsible behaviour under its newly assertive President Xi Jinping. As we get deeper into the Xi Jinping era, and as concerns grow about issues such as Chinas brutal crackdown on Uighurs and other minorities and its increasingly aggressive interference abroad, the scope of the bilateral relationship begins to shrink. Alex Neve, the head of Amnesty International Canada, said he was surprised to read about Canadas leadership role in sending the letter because hes grown accustomed to human rights concerns taking a back seat to trade and investment. China is feeling bruised. China is concerned, and thats precisely the moment at which Read more about: The city of Toronto has launched its annual war on winter with snow fighters ready around the clock to keep roads and sidewalks salted and plowed. After a military-style parade of plows and trucks for the news cameras Thursday, Mayor John Tory noted the first forecast of significant snow for Toronto since last spring. City crews are ready, for a months-long campaign that will cost Toronto more than $90 million, he declared. Through planning, technology and access to a robust fleet of snow-clearing vehicles, we are confident that residents and visitors will be able to get around safely and effectively all winter long. Myles Curry, the citys transportation director, struck a similar note of bravado. Between our contracted staff and our city staff, we have approximately 1,500 able snow fighters that are available 24 hours a day, he told reporters at a city facility on Eastern Ave., where a mountain of road salt awaits the white stuff. We have staff right now preparing for the winter event we expect later today. Read more: Snow on the way to GTA as Environment Canada issues travel advisory Environment Canada was predicting several centimetres of snow, starting in late afternoon and continuing overnight, to hit local streets. The citys fighting force includes 600 road plows, 300 sidewalk plows and 200 salters either owned or contracted, with additional vehicles available for use if needed. When big storms are looming, some city staff sleep near the plows, ready to jump into action, Tory noted admiringly. Most snowstorms batter the city for 14 to 16 hours. Salters are the first to be dispatched, to main roads and expressways and then local roads. Plows following on roads and non-residential public sidewalks if more than a few centimetres fall. Curry said this year city staff are prioritizing bike paths in the downtown core and on the Martin Goodman trail. They are also using more weather-sensing technology than ever before, including patrol trucks and weather information stations gauging air and road temperature and more. Citizens have a role in moving vehicles off roads about to be plowed, if possible, and reporting unplowed snow to the citys 311 service. Curry asked people to wait at least 16 hours until after the snow before calling to give city crews a chance to finish their cleanup. Still, winter has won battles before, if not the war. Most famously, in 1999 then-mayor Mel Lastman called in the army to fight drifts and get people moving, to the delight of the rest of Canada. Last April, the city was caught off-guard by a mid-April snowstorm that blanketed Toronto. Increased freeze-and-thaw cycles in recent years weaken pavement and cause holes to form. City crews this year have filled more than 230,330 potholes. Thats an increase over the previous two years but less than in 2015 and 2014. Potholes cost taxpayers because people with damaged cars can seek compensation. The Fixer reported the city faced about 900 such claims just in January of this year, more than the total in all of 2017. Torontos city manager has asked, with Torys blessing, all city departments including transportation services to try to find ways to freeze spending in 2019 budget submissions. Tory said residents expect the city to try to find efficiencies and ways to improve services at no cost or with savings, and that the citys war on winter will not shortchanged. We are not going to let potholes remain unfilled, he said. We are not going to let the streets drift into a state of disrepair in order to have the budget work out. We will do the things we need to do to make sure we provide the services to people and keep their infrastructure in the state that it needs to be in. David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering Toronto politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider Read more about: The lawyer representing Sammy Yatims father in a Toronto police disciplinary hearing is raising concerns about delays in the case of the officer who Tasered the young man as he lay dying. Sgt. Dusan Pravica is facing one count of misconduct under Ontarios Police Services Act in connection to the July 2013 incident that left Yatim, 18, dead and Pravicas colleague, Const. James Forcillo, convicted of attempted murder. Pravica, who has been with the police service for 22 years, was charged following an investigation by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), after a complaint was filed by Yatims father, Nabil Yatim. The watchdogs probe found that Pravica who climbed aboard the streetcar where Yatim was fatally shot and Tasered him as he lay on the ground used unnecessary force, failed to assess the totality of the circumstances and acted in haste. Accordingly, Toronto police charged Pravica with misconduct. More than five years after Yatims death, Pravicas case has still not been heard. This matter has been before the tribunal for many, many months, lawyer Joseph Figliomeni said at a brief appearance before the police tribunal Tuesday, urging hearing officer Insp. Richard Hegedus to set a hearing date. Figliomeni said Nabil Yatims concerns have been found to be legitimate and that his client would like the matter to move forward, saying a hearing date would at least allow everyone to know where the goalposts are. He alleged delays in the case were happening under the guise of disclosure deficiencies. Joanne Mulcahy, Pravicas lawyer, said there have been serious disclosure issues in the case, saying she has not yet received basic documents including transcripts of interviews she knows were done. The tribunal heard there have been some delays in providing disclosure to Pravica, in part because of issues surrounding Forcillos criminal case. This summer, Forcillo sought leave to appeal his attempted murder conviction to the Supreme Court of Canada. Hegedus said he was not prepared to set a hearing date Tuesday. The matter returns to the tribunal in January. Pravica, who arrived on the scene seconds after the Yatim was shot, was called as a witness during Forcillos trial. He said Yatim was still clutching a knife as he approached and he felt the young man posed a threat. He could potentially be getting ready to slash my throat or come across the abdomen. Im pointing the Taser at him and hes not going to drop the knife for me, Pravica testified. The OIPRD alleges Pravicas deployment of the Taser at the time was not a reasonable use of force option in these particular circumstances. The allegations against Pravica have not been proven at the tribunal. According to police documents outlining the allegations, Pravica failed to assess the totality of the circumstances and or, you failed to de-escalate the stand-off between Mr. Yatim and the other officers prior to deploying your Taser. At least 24 people, including the bus driver, have been sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a TTC bus crashed into a hydro pole on the southwest corner of Davenport Rd. and Bathurst St. on Wednesday afternoon. About 30 passengers were on board when the collision happened, said Toronto police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante. Theres no indication of any serious injuries, but all 24 were transported to hospital, she said. Toronto Police Traffic Services are investigating. TTC spokesperson Kadeem Griffiths said at about 3 p.m. the southbound 7 Bathurst bus was passing through a green light on Bathurst St. at Davenport Rd. when a pedestrian crossed the south side of Davenport Rd. The operator was swerving to avoid (the) pedestrian that darted in front of the bus, when it crashed into the pole, Griffiths said. The intersection is closed while Toronto Hydro works on repairing the pole, police said. Power outages affecting traffic lights in the area can be expected. Peel police have identified a 77-year-old woman who was struck by a pickup truck at a busy Mississauga intersection Wednesday morning but was not carrying identification. She has been reunited with her family. The victim, identified as Linda Landsberg, 77, remains in serious condition in a Toronto trauma centre, where she was taken after the 11:20 a.m. collision at the intersection of Glen Erin and Folkway Drs. She suffered serious head injuries, according to police. She had no identification on her, only a set of car keys, so police had been unable to identify her to contact her family. Officers on Wednesday night took the unusual step of releasing photographs of her clothing in the hopes of identifying her. Peel paramedics rushed the victim to a Toronto trauma centre after she was hit by the pickup truck. The truck driver remained at the scene and is co-operating with investigators, according to police. No charges have been laid. Ten pedestrians have been killed on Mississauga and Brampton streets so far in 2018, Peel police statistics show. Police are looking for witnesses to the collision. Witnesses can call investigators at 905-453-2121, ext. 3710. Pam Douglas is the crime reporter with the Brampton Guardian and Mississauga News. Email: pdouglas@thebramptonguardian.com Read more about: Theres a police spin on the saying, It takes a village to raise a child. It goes, It takes a village to catch a killer. The major way youre going to solve (a homicide) is through the public, said D. Kim Rossmo, an internationally respected criminologist and former Vancouver detective inspector. They have to have trust in the police. With the shooting death of Yohannes Brhanu, 22, Toronto on Wednesday matched a record for homicides in a single year, at 89, with more than six weeks to spare. By the Stars count, police have not yet made an arrest in 34 of those killings, excluding a single apparent murder-suicide. The Star does not know whether arrests are pending in any these killings. In at least seven, police have issued a warrant for one or more known suspects who have not yet been arrested. Toronto police say the force has a 67 per cent clearance rate on homicides this year a number which is comparable to recent years. So why do some killers avoid justice? Arresting them is easier said than done. It takes a commitment in staffing for police to cultivate links with often-alienated, vulnerable communities, said Rossmo, a pioneer in geographic profiling whos now director of the Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation at Texas State University. Read more: Every Toronto homicide in the past 15 years mapped What Torontos homicide record means and what we can do about it With 90 homicides in 2018, Toronto marks grim record One approach is to send more beat officers out into communities. Beat officers can learn the patterns and comfort zones for drug dealers, sexual predators and burglars. Perhaps more importantly, beat officers also can develop trust by putting a human face on the police force, encouraging members of the community to come forward with vital information, Rossmo said. I walked a beat for many years in Skid Row, said Rossmo. That was very useful. Getting beat officers out into communities is expensive and tough work. The alternative is frightening. The Washington Post studied more than 52,000 homicides in major American cities over past decade and found there are well-entrenched pockets of impunity in cities including Baltimore and Chicago where there are plenty of murders and few arrests. Almost all of those pockets of impunity are in low-income Black neighbourhoods. The Post found that arrests were made in 63 per cent of killings with white victims. For Latino victims, the arrest rate was 48 per cent, compared to 46 per cent of the killings of Black victims. Although research on this scale has not been conducted in Canada, cases like those of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls suggest such pockets of impunity may exist here, too. Here in Canada, its also vital to build links with communities that are often alienated from police, Rossmo said. They could be new arrivals to Canada who come from countries where police arent trusted or respected. They could also be members of local marginalized communities, like the poor and the homeless. Efforts to reach out could include marching in uniform in the Pride Parade. Rossmo investigated pig farmer Robert Pickton, who was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder after dozens of women went missing from Vancouvers Downtown Eastside. Many of Picktons victims were sex trade workers. Pickton was originally charged with 26 counts of first-degree murder, but 20 of them were stayed after his conviction. In Toronto, alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur has been charged with eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of men with ties to the downtown Gay Village. Solving cases within traditionally alienated communities builds trust and relationships, Rossmo notes. Letting killers remain free can embolden criminals and make residents even more nervous about talking. A Metroland Media investigation this fall found that a killer who uses a gun in Toronto still has a three in five chance of getting away with murder. The type of murder weapon isnt nearly as important a factor in solving a case as the level of community co-operation, Rossmo said. Rossmo notes theres also an irony to murder statistics: homicide rates are dropping across North America, but so are arrest rates. There are fewer murders but were solving fewer of them, Rossmo said. Crimes of passion by killers who knew their victims like domestic violence and bar fights tend to be relatively easy to solve. Killings by strangers who didnt have a relationship with their victims are particularly challenging. Theres often a fear factor in gang-related cases, meaning officers need trust to gather information, Rossmo said. In hardcore organized crime cases, a hired killer might not know his victim or even the motive for a killing. In Toronto, recent unsolved murders with sharp organized crime overtones include the slayings of Simon Giannini and Antonio (Tony Large) Sergi in 2017, and the fatal shootings of John Ignagni, Sukhvir Deo, and Alfredo Patriarca in 2016. In York region, recent unsolved murders with a professional edge include Cosimo Ernesto Commisso in 2018, Domenic Triumbari in 2017, Carmine Verduci in 2014, Salvatore (Sam) Calautti, 40, and his associate James Tusek in 2013. A retired veteran organized crime investigator in the GTA said that police often feel they know who committed gangland murders, but they cant make arrests because they dont have co-operating witnesses. Sometimes the victims are suspected hit men, who evaded murder charges themselves. It was utter frustration, the officer said. You knew who did it but you could rarely prove it unless you got someone to completely roll over. Organized crime cases often require a sizable budget, police say. They require a lot of surveillance and its expensive, said Paul Bailey, a retired York Regional Police detective said. Investigating organized crime cases often requires spin teams of several officers who follow suspects cars discreetly, Bailey said. Police forces have a restricted number of spin teams, and numerous investigations compete for their services, Bailey said. We would have to make a pitch to get a spin team to work on that, Bailey said. Britain tends to have a better clearance rate overall than Canada, while Canada tends to be ahead of the U.S. The Metropolitan Police Service (also known as Scotland Yard) approach to solving homicides in Greater London, England includes sending a large team of detectives to each killing immediately after the investigation begins. The Metropolitan Police have routinely solved more than 90 per cent of homicide cases, although that number has dipped to 72 per cent rate this year. Toronto police say their clearance rate is nearly 80 per cent since 1921; it has varied from between 40 and 80 per cent since 2010. The British put a lot of resources into a homicide case, Rossmo said. If you dont put enough resources on them, youre not going to solve it. That brings Rossmo back to talking about the need to work to build relationships with at-risk communities. Your contacts with them are even more challenging and even more important, Rossmo said. Premier Doug Ford repeatedly evaded questions Wednesday on news reports his chief of staff ordered Ontario Power Generation to fire a former top aide to ousted Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown, fanning speculation about political interference. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath pressed the premier in the legislatures daily question period to confirm or deny the role played by his right-hand man, Dean French. I think this is the third day, Ford said during the exchange. They just keep repeating and repeating the question. OPG is responsible for hiring their own staff. He flipped the confirm or deny query to Energy Minister Greg Rickford, who replied, OPG is a Crown corporation that is responsible for their own staffing decisions. Rickford ducked the traditional scrums with reporters outside the legislative chamber, where opposition parties suggested the lack of direct answers was telling. They were pretty straightforward questions. Mr. Ford needs to come clean ... did he ask Mr. French to make that approach? Horwath said, accusing the premier of carrying out a vendetta. Read more: Premier Doug Fords office caught in swirling scandals Patrick Browns explosive tell-all lashes out at Progressive Conservative enemies Former PC staffer John Sinclair fires back as scandals rock Ford government I suspect that there is something to hide here, I suspect that the premier is trying to change the channel on this and not be honest and up front with Ontarians on what his role is in having this person fired. Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers (Ottawa-Vanier) said they havent answered the question at all. The Star has reported that three PC sources confirm French phoned OPG chair Bernard Lord, the former Tory premier of New Brunswick, to demand that veteran Conservative staffer Alykhan Velshi be removed from his role as vice-president at the Crown utility, which runs the Pickering and Darlington nuclear power plants among other facilities. Velshis severance could cost taxpayers up to $500,000. He was chief of staff to both former PC leader Brown and then interim leader Vic Fedeli, who is now finance minister under Ford, as well as serving as a key aide to former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper. The call from French to Lord took place as Velshi was starting a new job as OPGs vice-president of corporate affairs and community relations. He remains in the post, with sources saying the terms of his severance are being negotiated. Velshi has declined to comment, referring calls to OPGs media relations department. The company says it does not comment on personnel matters. The government is hoping Fedelis fall economic statement, to be delivered Thursday, will change the channel on two weeks of bad news for the Ford administration that has also included sexual misconduct scandals resulting in the departures of cabinet minister Jim Wilson and Andrew Kimber, a top adviser to the premier. Fedeli, who did not scrum with reporters, will outline the governments fiscal plan going forward and update the size of the deficit expected this year. Critics are warning Ontarians to brace for bad news given Fords promise to cut $6 billion in spending by finding efficiencies. We expect an economic statement thats going to hurt everyday families, Horwath said. Read more about: LOS ANGELESMichael Avenatti, who skyrocketed to fame as a critic of U.S. President Donald Trump and the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, was arrested Wednesday and booked on a felony domestic violence charge, Los Angeles police said. The victim in the case had visible injuries, according to Officer Tony Im, a police spokesperson. But Avenatti slammed the allegation as completely bogus in a statement released by his law firm. Avenatti, who has said hes mulling a 2020 presidential run, was being held on $50,000 (U.S.) bail, Im said. He was arrested around 2 p.m. Wednesday on the same block where he lives in a skyscraper apartment. Police declined to provide any details about the victim, including the victims relationship to Avenatti. I wish to thank the hard working men and woman of the LAPD for their professionalism, they were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me, Avenatti said in a statement released through his law firm. I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated. Avenatti became famous as Daniels lawyer and pursued the president and those close to him relentlessly for months, taunting Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets. Read more: Trump attacks porn actress Stormy Daniels, calls her horseface Judge dismisses Stormy Daniels defamation suit against Trump, orders her to pay legal fees Donald, Eric Trump co-ordinated with former lawyer to keep Stormy Daniels quiet Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and has sued to invalidate the confidentiality agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election that prevents her discussing it. She also sued Trump and his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, alleging defamation. The Vermont Democratic Party cancelled events planned for Friday and Saturday, where Avenatti was scheduled to speak, and is refunding ticket sales. Read more about: The Navy will move forward with murder charges against four elite service members who are accused of strangling a Special Forces soldier in Mali last year, U.S. military officials said Thursday. Two Navy SEALs and two Marine Raiders face charges that include felony murder, involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, hazing and burglary, according to U.S. military documents. They are accused in the June 2017 death of Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar, a member of 3rd Special Forces Group. Military investigators said in charge sheets released Thursday that the accused service members broke into Melgars private bedroom in Bamako, Malis capital, while he was sleeping, with intent to assault and bound him with duct tape. Then one of the service members put Melgar in a chokehold that was inherently dangerous to another and evinced wanton disregard for human life, the charge sheets said. The charges, first reported Thursday by the Daily Beast, had been expected for some time in the close-knit Special Operations world, which was rocked by the reported fratricide. The Navy moved forward Wednesday and has scheduled a preliminary hearing for the four service members Dec. 10 in Norfolk. A one-star Navy officer, Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock, has been appointed by the Navy to oversee the proceedings. A spokesman for U.S. Special Operations Command, Navy Capt. Jason Salata, said in a statement that if substantiated, the allegations would represent a violation of the trust and standards required by all service members. The military trusts all of its members to safeguard U.S. interests and to do so with honour, he said. We will not allow allegations or substantiated incidents of misconduct to erode decades of honourable accomplishments by the members of U.S. Special Operations Command, Salata said. Ours is a culture of professionalism and accountability, which prides itself in being a learning organization that uses critical self-examination in a relentless dedication to improvement. The names of the accused service members were redacted from the charge sheets released Thursday, but they are identified by rank as a Marine staff sergeant, a Marine gunnery sergeant and two Navy petty officers. Melgars death was kept secret by the U.S. military for months as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and other federal officials began probing what happened. It was first reported in October 2017 by the New York Times. A native of Lubbock, Tex., Melgar had served two previous deployments in Afghanistan. The accused service members wanted to confront Melgar after he was invited to a party at the U.S. Embassy in Mali and they were not, the Daily Beast reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the case. There allegedly was an ongoing disagreement between Melgar and the others in part because some of them had solicited prostitutes in the past and brought them back to the militarys safe house in Bamako, the Daily Beast reported. The case marks the latest black eye for the Navy SEALs, who have been faced with a series of allegations involving war crimes. On Wednesday, the Navy began a hearing in San Diego for another SEAL, Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, who is accused of stabbing to death an unarmed Islamic State fighter in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Read more about: COLOMBO, SRI LANKAAs Sri Lankas president met with opposition lawmakers over a no-confidence vote against his newly appointed prime minister, thousands rallied in support of the prime minister he ousted, burning coffins representing what they called the death of democracy in the Indian Ocean nation. Earlier Thursday, rival lawmakers exchanged blows in Sri Lankas Parliament after disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed the speaker had no authority to remove him from office by a voice vote on Wednesday, when lawmakers convened for the first time since a political crisis began Oct. 26 with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes ouster. Read More: President of Sri Lanka suspends parliament after firing prime minister Sri Lanka president dissolves Parliament, calls for election Sri Lanka president summons Parliament to meet after PM turmoil Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told the chamber that the country had no government and there was no prime minister. Rajapaksa disagreed, saying a vote should have been taken. Such important motions should not be passed by a voice vote. He accused the speaker of partiality toward his party, the United National Party, led by Wickremesinghe. Rajapaksa also repeated his call for fresh elections, suggesting that it was the best way to resolve the crisis. The brawl erupted after the opposition asked for a vote on Rajapaksas statement, with some lawmakers supporting him gathering in the middle of the house while others rushed Jayasuriya, tussling for his microphone. Rajapaksa ally Dilum Amunugama was taken to a hospital with injuries to his hand incurred while attempting to take the microphone from the speakers table. Several dozen lawmakers in white robes in the 225-member house engaged in the melee, some throwing water bottles, pitching trash cans and landing kicks. Those opposed to Rajapaksa surrounded Jayasuriya to protect him. The commotion went on for about half an hour before Jayasuriya adjourned the house. The speaker was under complete siege, he came very close to being physically assaulted by MPs supporting Rajapaksa, said Chandani Kirinde, a senior correspondent of the Sunday Times, a weekly paper in Sri Lanka. While clashes have happened in the house, this is probably the first time the speaker came under so much intimidation and abuse. Similarly on Wednesday, Jayasuriya took a voice vote on the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa after the chamber descended into chaos. Hours after the parliamentary clashes, Sirisena held an emergency meeting with the leaders of the opposition parties that voted for the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa. Sirisena asked that Parliament take up the no-confidence motion again, striking the part that decried Wickremesinghes ouster and Rajapaksas appointment as unconstitutional, and allow it to be debated and a roll call vote to be taken. Sri Lanka has been in crisis since Oct. 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena suddenly fired Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa, a former president, is considered a hero by some in the ethnic Sinhalese majority for ending a long civil war by crushing ethnic Tamil Tiger rebels. However, his time in power was marred by allegations of wartime atrocities, corruption and nepotism. Tensions had been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of economic reforms introduced by the prime minister. Sirisena has also accused Wickremesinghe and another Cabinet member of plotting to assassinate him, a charge Wickremesinghe has repeatedly denied. Sirisena had also suspended Parliament, apparently to allow Rajapaksa time to gather support among lawmakers. But Wickremesinghe insisted his firing was unconstitutional. He refused to vacate his official residence and demanded that Parliament be summoned to prove he still has support. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court suspended Sirisenas order to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections next month. Read more about: The mother and daughter lived alone in a small candy-pink house hammered together by Habitat for Humanity in Springfield, Missouri. But more than walls kept Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter, Gypsy, barricaded away from the outside world. Gypsy Blanchard used a wheelchair, allegedly mentally and physically disabled from a host of ailments, including a childhood bout of leukaemia, muscular dystrophy, a seizure condition and asthma. As BuzzFeed reported in 2016, Dee Dee told friends and family the teenager Gypsy had the mind of a 7-year-old. Dee Dee diligently guarded Gypsy against the outside world, home-schooling her, monitoring her Internet usage, sticking with her daughter at all times. The young girls condition was like a bubble they both lived inside. They shuttled to doctor appointments together. They travelled to Disney World for charity trips. They even shared a Facebook page combining both their names: Dee Gyp Blancharde. On June, 14 2015, a post from the account attracted attention: That Bitch is dead! it read. As friends began piling up concerned comments, another message popped up: I . . . SLASHED THAT FAT PIG AND RAPED HER SWEET INNOCENT DAUGHTER . . . HER SCREAM WAS SO . . . LOUD LOL. Friends soon arrived at the pink house, followed by police. Inside, they discovered Dee Dee on her bed, dead from 17 stab wounds in her back, according to the Springfield News-Leader. When investigators arrested Gypsy, then 24, and her online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, in Big Bend, Wisconsin, in connection with the murder, it was just the first disorienting jolt. Police soon revealed that Gypsy was perfectly healthy. She could walk and never had cancer. Her ailments had been the product of Dee Dees imagination, a rare possible instance of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental condition where a parent grafts fictitious sicknesses onto a child. In June 2016, Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She was given a 10-year sentence. The themes tangling through the case mental illness, faked disease, online romance, a bloody murder created a media sensation around Gypsys arrest. She appeared on Dr. Phil. HBO featured a documentary on the case. Hulu is set to produce a scripted series based on the events. But the case is far from over. This week, the 29-year-old Godejohns own first-degree murder trial kicked off in a Missouri courtroom. Once again, mental capacity real or faked is the central issue. In the opening statement this week, Godejohns attorney argued that his client is autistic and therefore unable to hatch a murder plot on his own. Gypsy is the real culprit, Godejohn has maintained. He did not dispute his clients involvement in the killing. All the planning she did, every bit of it. She pretty much willed the knife in my hand to commit the deed herself, he told ABCs 20/20 last January. She is the mastermind behind the entire thing. Dee Dee was originally from a small town in Louisiana, according to BuzzFeed. She separated from Gypsys father shortly after the girl was born in 1991. As the child was growing up, Dee Dee continuously took her daughter to the doctor, claiming the child had seizures. BuzzFeed reported that Dee Dee later continued to tell doctors that her daughter was suffering from muscular dystrophy, even though tests proved otherwise. Medical professionals often went along with the diagnosis; if they didnt, Dee Dee went to a different practitioner. Over the years, Gypsy was put on anti-seizure medication, her eyes were operated on, and she had a feeding tube installed. Following Hurricane Katrina, the pair relocated to Missouri, where they continued the charade. The young girls condition opened doors. They met celebrities such as Miranda Lambert, went on trips, and were the beneficiaries of the goodwill and financial help of friends and neighbours. I think Dee Dees problem was she started a web of lies, and there was no escaping after, Gypsys father, Rod Blanchard, told BuzzFeed. She got so wound up in it, it was like a tornado got started, and then once she was in so deep that there was no escaping. One lie had to cover another lie, had to cover another lie, and that was her way of life. In an interview with 20/20, Gypsy claimed that she began to suspect her health was not as dire as her mother said as she grew older. I was so young, and me looking up to her so much, I didnt question it, she explained. There are certain illnesses that I knew I didnt have. I knew that I didnt need the feeding tube, I knew I could eat. And I knew that I could walk. But I did believe my mother when she said I had leukaemia. Gypsy also said life under her mothers roof was abusive. After arguments, Dee Dee allegedly would not feed Gypsy for days. Starting in 2011, Dee Dee also would beat her daughter with a coat hanger, Gypsy claimed. On one occasion, when the teenager ran away, Dee Dee found her hours later and then allegedly chained her to the bed. The prison that I was living in before, with my mom, its like, I couldnt walk. I couldnt eat. I couldnt have friends, I couldnt go outside, you know, and play with friends or anything, she told 20/20. For a long time I believed we were best friends. When I was younger, she was my best friend, other than my stuffed animals. The internet was her only path out to the world beyond Dee Dees fictions and rules. Thats where she met Godejohn, according to prosecutors. The pair linked up on the website Christian Dating for Free in 2012, the News-Leader reported. In his opening statement, defence attorney Andrew Mead told the court that Godejohn was a lonely autistic man who had a job holding a sign outside a pizza joint. Most of his socializing was through an internet connection. That was his outlet to the world, the attorney said this week. The messages between the two reportedly took on a sexually graphic edge. They swapped nicknames such as hun and daddy. Gypsy and Godejohn talked about living together in rural Wisconsin and having children. Three months before Dee Dees murder, Gypsy mailed $400 to Godejohn so he could come visit her in Missouri, according to an interview he gave to police after he was arrested. The two met at a movie theatre where Gypsy was going to see Cinderella dressed up as the Disney princess. At the theatre, Gypsy pulled him into the boys restroom, where they had sex for the first time, Godejohn told investigators. The truth is I worship her, he said in the interview. The couples messages allegedly also drifted into darker territory. The court heard testimony that both Gypsy and Godejohn referred to their own evil alter egos. Gypsy called hers Ruby. Godejohn referred to his evil side. On the day before the killing, Godejohn messaged Gypsy that his evil side required duct tape for the next day. Its my evil side doing it. He wont mess up, because he enjoys killing, he allegedly wrote. Did Gypsy know you were going to kill her mother? a detective asked Godejohn in his interview. She asked me to, he replied. She felt it was her only way to be with me. According to his own interview with police, when Godejohn arrived at the pink house on the night of the killing, Gypsy gave him a pair of gloves and the knife to use. He then crept into Dee Dees room, got on the bed and began slamming the knife into the older womans back. Never get between me and Ruby, Godejohn said he told Dee Dee as he jabbed the knife. Dee Dee cried out for Gypsy, he told detectives. The daughter, however, was in the bathroom shaving her legs. After Dee Dee was dead, Gypsy came into the murder room naked to clean up the mess. The two then had sex in Gypsys bed after knocking her stuffed animals off. Me and her did it naked, he told police. Police arrested Gypsy and Godejohn less than 48 hours after Dee Dees body was discovered. They were able to track the couple down to Wisconsin thanks to the post the pair put up on Dee Dee and Gypsys shared Facebook account. At his trial this week, Godejohns attorney has argued that the young man was simply an instrument in Gypsys gruesome escape plan. Nick was happy to do whatever Gypsy wanted, his attorney said. He was always compliant. Gypsy, serving her 10-year sentence, disagrees. Theres a big difference between someone that asks someone to kill someone, and someone who actually does it, she told 20/20. I would never kill somebody. I would never physically go through with it. LONDONPrime Minister Theresa May defied mounting calls to quit or change course Thursday over Britains withdrawal from the European Union, warning that abandoning her Brexit plan would plunge the country into deep and grave uncertainty. Britains long-simmering divisions over its future in the EU erupted into turmoil just a day after the government agreed to a divorce deal with the bloc. Two Cabinet ministers resigned and some lawmakers from Mays own party called for her to be replaced. The crisis threatened to destroy the Brexit agreement, unseat the prime minister and send the U.K. hurtling toward the EU exit without a plan. In an evening news conference aimed at regaining some control, May said she believed with every fibre of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for our country and all our people. Am I going to see this through? Yes, she said. The hard-won agreement with the EU has infuriated pro-Brexit members of Mays divided Conservative Party. They say the agreement, which calls for close trade ties between the U.K. and the bloc, would leave Britain a vassal state, bound to EU rules it has no say in making. Read More: U.K. cabinet ministers approve draft Brexit deal EU divorce deal in peril after two U.K. Cabinet ministers quit Brexit is already taking the Great out of Britain May insisted that Brexit meant making the right choices, not the easy ones and urged lawmakers to support the deal in the national interest. But she was weakened by the resignation of two senior Cabinet ministers, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Hours after he sat in the meeting that approved the deal, Raab said he cannot in good conscience support it. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey followed Raab out the door. She said in a letter that it is no good trying to pretend to (voters) that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesnt. A handful of junior government ministers also quit, and leading pro-Brexit lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg called for a vote of no-confidence in May. Rees-Mogg said Mays deal is not Brexit because it would keep Britain in a customs union with the EU, potentially for an indefinite period. He said May was losing the confidence of Conservative members of Parliament. Rees-Mogg called for May to be replaced by a more firmly pro-Brexit politician, naming ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, former Brexit Secretary David Davis and Raab as potential successors. Under Conservative rules, a confidence vote in the leader is triggered if 15 per cent of Conservative lawmakers currently 48 write a letter to the partys 1922 Committee of backbenchers, which oversees leadership votes. Only committee chairman Graham Brady knows for sure how many missives have been sent, but Rees-Moggs letter is likely to spur others to do the same. If a confidence vote is held and May loses, it would trigger a party leadership contest in which any Conservative lawmaker except her could run. The turmoil is the latest eruption in the Conservative Partys long-running civil war over Europe. Ever since Britain joined what was then the European Economic Community in 1973, the party has been split between supporters and opponents of Britains membership. In 2016, then-Prime Minister David Cameron called a referendum to settle this European question in British politics once and for all. He was confident the country would vote to remain, but voters opted by 52 per cent to 48 per cent to quit the EU, a result that left both the Conservatives and the country more divided than ever. Camerons successor, May, has been struggling ever since to deliver a Brexit that satisfies those who want to leave, reconciles those wanting to remain and doesnt rock the economy a near-impossible balancing act. Thursdays political mayhem prompted a big fall in the value of the pound, which was trading 1.5 per cent lower at $1.2797 as investors fretted that Britain could crash out of the EU in March without a deal. That could see tariffs on British exports, border checks and restrictions on travellers and workers a potentially toxic combination for businesses. Business groups have warned that if there is no deal by next month, companies will have to enact contingency plans that could include cutting jobs, stockpiling goods, and relocating production overseas. May and her supporters say the alternatives to her deal leaving the bloc without a deal or a second vote on Brexit are not realistic options. If the agreement was abandoned, nobody can know for sure the consequences that will follow, May said. It would be to take a path of deep and grave uncertainty when the British people just want us to get on with it. News that a deal had been struck after a year and a half of negotiations was welcomed in Brussels, and EU chief Donald Tusk called for a Nov. 25 summit of leaders so they can rubber-stamp the agreement. The deal requires the consent of the European Parliament, whose chief Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt, welcomed it as the best agreement we could obtain. It also needs approval from Britains Parliament before the U.K. leaves the bloc on March 29 and even if May survives as leader, the chances of that look slim. Her Conservative government doesnt have a parliamentary majority, and relies on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland. But the DUP has rejected the deal, saying its provisions to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland would impose new barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., weakening the bonds that hold the United Kingdom together. Opposition parties also signalled they would vote against the agreement. Main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said May should withdraw the half-baked Brexit deal and that Parliament cannot and will not accept a false choice between this deal and no deal. Ian Blackford, who heads the Scottish National Party in Parliament, said the deal was dead on arrival and urged May to stop the clock and go back to Brussels. An EU official warned that Britain was unlikely to get a better deal. Speaking on condition of anonymity because the process is still ongoing, the official said both sides exhausted our margin of manoeuvre under our respective mandates. In Brussels, where some EU officials hold out hope that Britain will change its mind about Brexit, officials watched the political upheaval with interest. Tusk said it was not for me to comment on the latest developments in London. All I can say is that the EU is prepared for a final deal with the U.K. in November, he said. We are also prepared for a no deal scenario but of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario. A 52-year-old American woman aboard a Princess Cruises ship sailing in the Caribbean died Tuesday in what authorities are treating as a possible murder case, according to several news outlets in the region. Aruba-based Diario reports the woman plunged from an upper deck of the 3,600-passenger Royal Princess onto a lifeboat after struggling with a man who was seen choking her. Another Aruba-based outlet, MasNoticia.com, reports authorities are investigating the incident as a possible murder case. The ship was sailing between the islands of Curacao and Aruba at the time of the incident. In a brief statement sent to USA TODAY, Princess Cruises confirmed that a 52-year-old American woman died on the Royal Princess early Tuesday as it was en route to Aruba but did not discuss details of the incident. The death was reported to the local authorities who met and boarded the ship upon arrival. The cause of death is not yet known at this time, Princess said in the statement. We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected, the line said. A passenger on the ship posting at the message boards of cruise fan site CruiseCritic.com said Aruba police officers and forensics technicians boarded the vessel soon after it arrived in Aruba on Tuesday. Passengers werent allowed off the ship before the authorities arrived. Royal Princess is in the midst of a seven-day voyage to the Southern Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its due back in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. Finance minister apologizes for calling NDP deputy an idiot, Nov. 14 Dear Mr. Fedeli, It was such a disappointment to read of your resorting to insults in the legislature. Your comment, Thats how business works. Idiot. betrays an arrogance that is out of place and not at all appropriate in our legislature. The majority of Ontarians did not vote for you or Doug Ford. Let us be clear: of the 5,715,324 votes cast in the June provincial election, Doug Fords Conservative party received 2,322,422 or 40 per cent. To claim that your decisions to roll back labour reforms, to end the guaranteed income program, to increase the minimum wage and recently to raise official party status minimum to 12 seats are supported by the majority of Ontarians is simply not true. As finance minister, you can appreciate the value of round figures. Only 23 per cent of eligible voters voted PC. A minority 41 per cent of cast votes went to your party. A majority 58 per cent of cast votes supported candidates other than Doug Ford and the PCs. The mandate is neither loud nor clear. E. Spanier, Etobicoke Nipissing district folks often say, I dont like Doug Ford at all, but Vics a good guy. And yet, when I heard that Mr. Fedeli called a woman who was doing her job in the legislature an idiot in front of cameras, I wasnt surprised. And I suspect it didnt surprise many of the folks who voted for him. Recalling that Mr. Fedeli and his associates stood and applauded as basic protections were stripped from the provinces lowest paid workers, it would seem that our definition of good guy also has room for contempt for the suffering of the poor. Even if one believed that the Ontario economy was in a desperate crisis and there was no alternative but to worsen conditions for the provinces most precarious workers, that would not explain why the Progressive Conservatives were so jubilant, so cruel, as they delivered that hard news to good people. Mr. Fedeli owes every woman and every low wage earner in Nipissing an apology for celebrating our pain in the provincial legislature. Making the hard calls is one thing, enjoying it is quite another. Catherine Murton Stoehr, North Bay, Ont. Read more about: Premier Doug Ford is cutting taxes for low-income earners, lifting some rent controls, and slashing oversight protections for the environment, vulnerable children, and Ontarios French-speaking minority. Fords changes, which also include loosening restrictions on political fundraising, came in Thursdays fall economic statement from the Progressive Conservatives with a smaller-than-expected $500 million drop in the $15 billion deficit and no timeline for balancing the provincial budget. Finance Minister Vic Fedeli called the slight shrinkage in red ink a pretty good start, but warned further cuts loom in next springs budget. Its going the right way and it will take time and it will require an extraordinary effort, added Fedeli, blaming the previous Liberal government for 15 years of reckless spending and mismanagement. In the meantime, Ontarians will have more time to stock up on beer, wine and liquor as the government allows authorized retailers like the LCBO, The Beer Store, and some supermarkets to sell alcohol between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. seven days a week. But critics denounced the elimination of the environmental commissioner, the child advocate, and the French-language services commissioner as independent officers of the legislature. Read more: Ford governments first fiscal update shows Ontario cut deficit to $14.5 billion 11 takeaways from the Ontario governments economic statement Editorial | Political score-settling at taxpayer expense is the height of hypocrisy Instead, starting next May, the environmental watchdog function will be folded into the auditor generals operation while the other two will be melded with the ombudsmans office. Fedelis economic update said that is to reduce unnecessary cost while preserving critical functions, but the government couldnt yet say how many jobs will be cut. Mr. Ford thinks he can do anything, say anything and have no accountability whatsoever. Thats not what democracy is...you should be able to take criticism and make sure your government is being held to account, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. This is a government that doesnt even have an environmental climate change in place after scrapping the previous Liberal governments cap-and-trade program, said Horwath. Ending that environmental pact with Quebec and California cost the provincial treasury much of the $2.7 billion in lost revenue detailed in the economic statement. The rest of the reduction in cash to provincial coffers will come from the scrapping of planned tax increases, such as a surtax of $200 for people earning over $92,000 a year, and the low-income tax credit. Offset by $3.2 billion in reduced spending, that left the $500 million reduction in the projected deficit for the fiscal year ending next March 31. Ford has promised to cut spending $6 billion a year by finding efficiencies, but has promised there will be no jobs cut. While the government is stopping a planned Jan. 1 increase to the $14-an-hour minimum wage, which will save businesses $1.4 billion a year, Fedeli had some good news for Ontarios lowest-income earners called a low-income individuals and families tax credit. It will benefit 1.1 million workers. The vast majority of low-income workers who earn $30,000 or less will pay no Ontario personal income tax at all. Zero. Renters moving into newly created housing units starting Friday, however, will no longer be covered by rent control laws, exposing them to potentially larger increases in housing costs in a move intended to spur construction. But existing rent controls will be preserved for all other tenants. Fedeli signalled the Tories will eliminate the public $2.71 per-vote subsidies for political parties in time for the 2022 election, which will eventually save the treasury about $15 million a year. Currently, the governing Tories receive $6.3 million while the NDP gets $5.2 million, the Liberals about $3 million and the Greens around $700,000. It shouldnt be a burden on the taxpayer, Fedeli said, noting politicians will once again be able to attend their own fundraisers once legislation is passed to align Ontario with federal election laws. Donation limits will rise to $1,600 from $1,200 within two years. There will still be no corporate donations, there will still be no union donations. That liberalizes campaign laws tightened by former premier Kathleen Wynne after a Star investigation. Green Leader Mike Schreiner said it paves the way for the return of cash for access fundraisers where donors pay to bend the ears of politicians. Im deeply concerned theyre laying the groundwork to reversing the changes that banned corporate and union donations, Schreiner told reporters, saying the existing rules provide a level playing field. Interim Liberal leader John Fraser accused Fedeli of inflating the deficit figure, which includes $5.7 billion in Liberal campaign promises that are not being funded. Fraser also blasted the Tories for their attack on the francophone community. French Language Services Commissioner Francois Boileau said the end of his independent office, which advocates for the linguistic minoritys rights, is a blow to the francophone community. This is a major setback for the francophone community, said Boileau. In another disappointment for the provinces 622,000 francophones, Fords government will no longer build a long-promised French-language university. However, the Tories couldnt say how much that will save. Thats on top of previously killing planned satellite university campuses in Brampton, Markham, and Milton, which saved around $300 million. Fedeli also promised legislation to streamline accountability and governance to spur the redevelopment of money-losing Ontario Place on Torontos waterfront. But the NDPs Horwath said: my suspicion would be it makes it easier to sell off. The Tories $14.5 billion deficit does not account for $11 billion in joint-sponsored public-sector pension plans, which could be worth $5 billion on the annual bottom line. Previous Liberal and Tory governments counted those assets starting in 2002. Fedeli claimed the Liberals used off-book accounting to make the deficit appear lower than it actually was. The treasurer said the Tories agree with auditor general Bonnie Lysyk, who reversed her accounting for those pension assets after a dispute with the Liberals two years ago. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Deposed former Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Browns explosive new tell-all book takes aim at the enemies including Finance Minister Vic Fedeli he blames for ousting him. His memoir, Takedown: The Attempted Political Assassination of Patrick Brown, will be published Friday, but the Star obtained an advance copy. Brown, elected mayor of Brampton last month, was forced out as Tory leader in January after CTV News broadcast allegations of a sex scandal involving two women. He is now suing CTV, which stands by its reporting, for $8 million. He also alleges that last year a female staffer accused Fedeli of inappropriate behaviour, but she chose not to pursue a complaint. I understand that soon after Fedeli became interim party leader, the woman was let go, but kept on the legislative payroll, Brown writes. Its not uncommon for political staff to be let go and receive severance pay following a change in leadership. The Star has not been able to confirm the allegation. Read more: Who is Patrick Brown? The Star sat down with him one year ago before his political career changed course Brown failed to disclose rental income, mortgage loan, Ontarios integrity commissioner rules Browns wife said it was wrong how media has treated him In a statement Wednesday, Fedeli said these accusations from Patrick Brown are categorically false and without any merit. The treasurer, who is to deliver the fall economic statement Thursday, said Brown is using his book to pursue old grievances and warned he has retained legal counsel and am prepared to take whatever action is necessary to hold any person making these false allegations accountable. In the 312-page tome, Brown claims that despite the sexual misconduct accusations broadcast by CTV, Doug Ford promised him any position I wanted if I threw my organization behind his candidacy during the March PC leadership. The lies in this book are disgusting, the premier tweeted Wednesday night. The ex-leader also lashes out at key advisers Alykhan Velshi, Dan Robertson, Andrew Boddington, and Nick Bergamini, who resigned en masse the night the CTV story broke, as rats jumping ship in his darkest hour. Not one of these guys was with me, as promised. I was alone, Brown writes of his dramatic, but ill-advised 81-second news conference at Queens Park minutes before the allegations were broadcast. My team of backstabbers. Forced out later that evening by his caucus mates, he does not mince words about what happened. Some of my colleagues had transformed into hyenas. Prior to being succeeded as Tory chief by Ford who beat Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney, and Tanya Granic Allen at the partys March 10 leadership convention Brown toyed briefly with a comeback as leader. Yet even before that bid fizzled, he was already engaged in secret negotiations for his support with Elliott, Mulroney, and Ford. Caroline was someone I was thinking of backing for leadership, having no interest in running myself at that point, Brown writes, adding her father, former prime minister Brian Mulroney, assured him youre going to be on her front bench we cant get into specifics, but you will be at the centre of her government. That offer was made despite Caroline Mulroneys public pronouncements about Browns alleged conduct. I was also being romanced by Elliott, who made the most attractive offer to me, the former PC leader continues. We met for lunch in the TD Tower in Toronto the meeting was to see what deal I might make with Elliott if I were to back her. Elliott was unbelievably nice (she) was very straightforward. She told me that she could promise me deputy leader/deputy premier, but not minister of finance because she had already promised that to someone else, he writes. Ford had also been calling everyone around me, asking me to join him at breakfast. He was saying that I could have any position I wanted if I threw my organization behind his candidacy. Ford, too, was prepared to make me an offer. In the end, he quietly backed Elliott in exchange for a promise he would be her minister of economic development and international trade. But Elliotts campaign made a fatal mistake. They felt I was tainted goods, and they didnt want me out there stumping for her. I had to be hidden, writes Brown. What could I have done for Elliott had they let me? I could have won her Scarborough, Brampton, and Mississauga, he continues. I had been vanquished and with that, so, too, were Elliotts chances. Indeed, thanks to the Tories convoluted points system, Elliott lost to Ford despite winning the most votes and the most ridings. In the book, Brown is at his most pointed when calling out his former colleagues for their policy U-turns. He notes when he led the party, PC MPPs voted for carbon pricing. The Tories now oppose that and are spending $30 million on a constitutional challenge against Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus carbon-pricing plan that Brown endorsed. I have kept emails in which Vic Fedeli reiterated this was a great idea, he writes, referring to the treasurer who is now an ardent opponent of putting a price on carbon. Similarly, Brown recalls Mulroney, now the attorney general, had been a big believer in climate change and carbon pricing. On sex education, he stresses the party wanted to put this issue to bed and keep former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynnes 2015 modernized curriculum that Ford has since scrapped. Browns fractious relationship with his successor and now premier is another theme in the book. I often wonder whether or not those around Ford realize that most people didnt vote for him or the PC party; they voted against Wynne. We could have run anyone, and it would not have mattered. He criticizes Ford and his close associate and adviser Dean French, now the premiers chief of staff, for scuttling any hopes of him running as a Tory candidate in the June 7 election. I handed Ford a turnkey operation. To this day, I dont really get it. Still, he conceded there was a strained relationship with Ford beginning after Browns deputy chief of staff, Pina Martino, asked him in 2015 to stop dropping by the office to visit his friend Kinga Surma, then a staffer and now Etobicoke Centre MPP, because this created a media distraction. While Brown asked Ford to be the PC candidate in a 2016 Scarborough-Rouge River byelection won by Tory Raymond Cho, in the end Ford decided against it. As he told me: Im making too much money with my company and Im not going to run. Brown saves some choice words for his former caucus colleagues and rivals: On Fedeli: His was the biggest betrayal because I always thought I treated him well. I recall that Fedeli sucked up to me non-stop with compliments like youre the best leader we ever had and you inspire me. Hed lay it on thick; it was over the top at times. My experience with Fedeli was that he was extremely competent, but that he was also duplicitous and too ambitious for his own good. On Lisa MacLeod, now the children, community, and social services minister and the first Tory MPP to denounce him after the CTV story broke: Lisa MacLeod was not a team player. She was just angry with everything, with everyone and with her situation in life. Members of caucus hated her. On Granic Allen, the social conservative who ran for leader with an anti-Brown candidacy: A prudish activist-turned-celebrity during the 2018 leadership, where she announced in a live TVO debate that students would do better in math if they werent learning about anal sex. Since then she has forever been crowned the Anal Sex Lady amongst PC party members not the way Id want to be remembered, but different strokes for different folks, I suppose. He also castigates his team for problems with PC candidate nominations that remain under police investigation: I finally lost it and held a conference call with (advisers): For f- sake! This is becoming a s- show! I trusted you guys to run these nominations. There are some mistakes in the book. Brown erroneously claims a leak of his Peoples Guarantee manifesto last November had been negotiated with the Star. In fact, it was an unauthorized leak that his team knew nothing about. Still, the then leader and his then-campaign team privately took credit for the great coverage of the centrist platform on the front page of the Saturday Star, Canadas largest circulation newspaper. It was a victory because Wynne and her Liberals believed that they had the ears of the Toronto Star, which played heavily in Toronto, an area dominated by Liberal-held ridings, he writes. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Premier Doug Ford must order an independent investigation into a 2017 sexual harassment allegation against Finance Minister Vic Fedeli and ask him to temporarily step down, says NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. Horwath said the accusation, detailed in a new book by former PC leader Patrick Brown, cannot go ignored. But Ford told the legislature Thursday the matter was previously investigated by a third party, and zero evidence came out; there wasnt a shred of evidence. Fedeli, speaking to reporters later in the day after unveiling his first fall economic statement, called the allegation false and malicious, adding he has retained legal counsel and will take whatever action is necessary to hold any person making these false accusations accountable. He repeatedly refused to take further questions on the issue. Horwath, however, said there are still a lot of questions that remain unanswered, and people in Ontario deserve the answers. We have a cabinet minister really one of the top cabinet positions who is implicated in this situation and it really begs the questions about Mr. Fords choices when it comes to his cabinet ministers. In the legislature, PC MPPs both male and female wore yellow ties in a show of support of Fedeli, a signature accessory for the politician who represents Nipissing and is a former mayor of North Bay. Government House Leader Todd Smith later said that reporters in the Queens Park press gallery were aware of an accusation against Fedeli months ago, and refused to report on them because they knew in their hearts that these were baseless allegations. Browns new book, Takedown: The Attempted Political Assassination of Patrick Brown says that a female staffer accused Fedeli of inappropriate behaviour last year. She did not pursue a formal complaint. (Brown himself was ousted as Tory leader in January after CTV News broadcast allegations of sexual misconduct involving two women. He has launched an $8 million lawsuit against the network, which stands by its reporting.) Ford tweeted Wednesday that he stands behind Fedeli completely from this disgusting smear campaign. He has my full support. MPP Randy Hiller put it more bluntly: Its all bull--, period. Last week in Trenton, addressing sexual misconduct accusations that prompted the ouster of cabinet minister Jim Wilson and top Ford aide Andrew Kimber on Nov. 2, the premier told reporters he has zero tolerance for this behaviour. I want to make sure that every single person on our team at Queens Park know theyre going to have a safe environment, Ford added, adding we acted decisive in the two cases and launched investigations by an independent company. As soon as I found out, within hours they were gone, they were done, the premier said. Wilson was asked to resign cabinet and the PC caucus after being accused of sexual impropriety by a male staffer while Kimber, who was Fords executive director of issues management and legislative affairs, left over allegations he texted at least five female PC staff including one unidentified MPP sexually inappropriate messages including pictures of him in a thong. Meanwhile, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Lisa MacLeod spoke out about comments concerning her mental health struggles in Browns book comments that have been widely criticized, especially from mental-health advocates. Brown claims organizers in eastern Ontario MacLeod is the MPP for Nepean believe she faked her depression to garner public sympathy. MacLeod told reporters that that man decided to write a book and try to undermine my mental health. That is wrong. Anybody who comes forward in disclosing their mental health should be treated with care and encouraged, and thanked. Mental health is not a laughing matter it is a very important matter, she also said. Ford tweeted that those comments in Browns book are dangerous and cruel. Read more about: VANCOUVERCanadian grocery store and food retailers need to step up to match their counterparts in other developed nations when it comes to protecting consumers from toxic chemicals in day-to-day products, according to a new report. Whats more, the authors argue regulations should be put in place to deter companies from using these chemicals in the first place. The third annual report card put together by the U.S. non-profit Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families in partnership with Canadian non-profit Environmental Defence graded the policies and practices of 40 of the largest North American retailers, including grocery stores and fast food establishments. They are not prioritizing harmful chemical exposures as a major issue through the products and services they offer. Thats a major gap, said Muhannad Malas, Environmental Defences toxics program manager. Its troubling to see Sobeys, a leading grocery retailer, and Restaurants Brands International (RBI), owner of Tim Hortons and Burger King, receiving an F grade. These toxic chemicals include hormone-disrupting bisphenols in food packaging and receipts, as well as phthalates, which are added to plastics to make them more malleable or to make fragrances last longer, he added. Other popular compounds are added to make products grease, water or stain proof but they too have toxic properties. Nearly half of the retailers received an F grade for failing to develop policies or publicly report progress to assess, reduce or eliminate toxic chemicals in the products or packaging they sell, the report found. By contrast, Loblaw Companies Limited owner of Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart received a better score, ranking a C grade. The company came out ahead due to removing toxic phthalates and antibacterial triclosan from private label personal care and cleaning products, Malas explained. But they can take it one step further by removing chemicals from receipts and food packaging materials, the authors said. These chemicals have been banned in the EU, particularly out of concern for cashiers, Malas noted. Meanwhile, the United States has had strong chemical policies at state and local levels, he added. For instance, he said, California state law requires full disclosure for cleaning products. Canadian retailers, who on the whole scored poorly, just need look south of the border to companies such as Apple and Target to see that having strong chemical policies has become a pillar of modern corporate social responsibility, Malas said. And taking action is not only good for consumers and the environment its also good for business, he argued. Retailers have an important role to play. They have both the power and the moral responsibility to eliminate and safely replace toxic chemicals, said Mike Schade, co-author and campaign director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families in a release. They should stop letting chemical corporations put public health at risk. The report recommends companies develop a publicly available chemicals policy and set timelines to replacing harmful chemicals with safer ones. After receiving a failing grade in 2016, Amazon was among the most improved following the announcement of sweeping chemical safety policies in October that helped increase its score to a C. And while Walmart U.S. ranked in the top three highest scoring retailers, Walmart Canada has not committed to the same policies and ranks far lower. But Malas said the Canadian operation did take action recently, removing products that contain a toxic chemical that is deadly and linked to 60 consumer and worker deaths. Though Canada has done a great job in assessing the risks of chemicals, Malas said, the nation has not done a good job of regulating. Fragrance, cleaning and personal care products are exempted from disclosure to Health Canada or the public, he explained. What we find is a lot of retailers sell shampoos or cleaners and they dont actually know whats in the ingredients. The federal government is mandated to evaluate top priority chemicals in terms of human health or environmental concerns, Malas said, and began listing classes of chemicals in 2006 with plans to be completed by 2020 in the Chemicals Management Plan. And while these chemicals are added to the list, there is no plan to reduce exposure among consumers or workers, he said. Retailers have a role to play in transforming harmful chemicals, Malas argued. Often this is seen as a responsibility of government or chemical manufacturers, he said. But they are the point that consumers interact with on a daily basis, so they do have a lot of power in telling suppliers what chemicals they should avoid. Read more about: VANCOUVERWith its slightly kitschy but homey pine-panelled interior, stunning view of the ocean and backyard swimming pool, its easy to imagine a family living in the four-bedroom home on Russet Way in West Vancouver. But today the house is empty, a court notice affixed to the door, the pool holding just a few inches of slimy green water. Like many houses in West Vancouver, this houses value has dropped dramatically since a series of government interventions, in response to a price spike in 2016, let air out of the market. Real estate market watchers say this home is also an example of how borrowers and private lenders are scrambling to recoup their investments in several high-priced neighbourhoods where home prices are rapidly deflating. A recent analysis shows private lending has been growing in Toronto, but a dearth of data in Vancouver makes this area, and its potential impact on the wider housing market, a mystery. Read more: Buyers need a $163,000-income to afford a home in Vancouver, study shows Fires at multimillion-dollar homes draw suspicion and debate in Vancouver Vancouver home left empty for 13 years in standoff over restoration between owner and city Two private lenders have registered a total of $4.47 million against two West Vancouver homes owned by Sherrin Lim, including the one on Russet Way. While the two properties together have an assessed value of $5.85 million, one of the homes sold for $2.4 million in a court-ordered sale in July, while the Russet Way home is currently listed at $2.1 million. The owner has seen $1.35 million in value disappear. Its much more vulnerable right now, and were already starting to see some very distressed sales in the Vancouver market where the lenders were private lenders, said Ben Rabidoux, the owner of North Cove Advisors, an investment research firm in Ontario. For nearly a year, Canadian banks have been required to stress test borrowers to make sure they can withstand a mortgage rate increase. The new requirements were brought in by a federal government concerned that homeowners were taking on too much debt. The regulation means that many borrowers can no longer qualify for as big a mortgage as before, and borrowers looking for a second mortgage are more likely to be turned away. B.C.s government has put in place a suite of measures targeted at rampant speculation in the provinces real-estate market, including higher taxes and stricter data collection rules. In response for a request for comment for this story, B.C.s Ministry of Finance sent a statement that said the province has secured a permanent federal-provincial table on white-collar crime and information sharing, where we will be discussing how to improve data collection on the mortgage market. In the Greater Toronto Area, private lending provided funds for 20 per cent of second mortgages in the second quarter of 2018. This is a 67 per cent increase compared to two years ago, according to an analysis published in October by John Pasalis of Realosophy and Paul McGowan of Teranet. The same study found that private lending was most heavily concentrated in areas of the GTA where there had been a lot of real-estate investment activity. There are no similar studies for Vancouver or British Columbia, and its simply not known how many properties have mortgages from private lenders, which are normally higher-interest, short-term loans of up to one year. Private lenders are usually less concerned with borrowers incomes than with property equity that can be used to cover the loan. As governments try to solve Vancouvers high-home-price crisis and rein in lending that could be fuelling price growth, not knowing the size of private lending is a blind spot, said Tom Davidoff, an economist at the University of British Columbia who studies real estate. When we think about solutions to high prices, theres build more homes, make sure people who dont live and work here arent buying houses cheaply, and then make sure there arent crazy loans driving people who normally wouldnt be able to buy homes pay prices they normally wouldnt be able to repay, Davidoff said. If you dont know the extent to which first-time home buyers, especially, are getting financing, or investors are getting financing to buy multiple properties, then you dont know how important credit is. The Bank of Canada has said the migration of lending to nonbank sources warrants monitoring, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is currently collecting more data on the sector. Private mortgage lenders and borrowers who rely on them say theyre meeting a need as banks turn away borrowers who cant meet the stricter new rules. When Sean Abadian wanted to tap the equity in the Yaletown condo hes owned for 14 years to invest in his own real-estate investment fund, he didnt want to wait months for his bank to evaluate his mortgage application, only to turn him down anyway. Instead, the former realtor-turned-real-estate-investor went to Neighbourhood Holdings, a private lender, for a one-year loan. Under the terms of the loan, hell make payments on the interest only and will pay back the rest of the loan in full at the end of the term. I invest it in my own fund; I mainly do land development, Abadian said. Im mainly involved in projects that are five-, six-, maybe seven-year cycle, usually, but of course I look for opportunities in the (building) I live in. Taylor Little, president of Neighbourhood Holdings, said he knows of private lenders who will lend to properties worth $10 million and up. But he said there are few buyers for those kinds of properties and the risk is greater. Were looking for liquid properties in urban markets, properties like condos, townhouses, renovated houses with rental suites that are easy to sell, Little said. Mark Cashin, the Toronto-based co-founder of an online private lending platform called MyBrokerBee.com, said his company is currently assisting with a deal in which the owner of a Vancouver house is looking for a short-term loan of $3 million to help with the carrying costs while the owner tries to sell the property. They bought an older property, tore it down, built a massive place and are trying to sell it at $15 million, Cashin said. Cashin said that kind of deal is not one I think I would personally play in. Safer bets for private lenders are urban properties in the $400,000 to $1 million range that can be sold quickly, said Cashin, who also owns a mortgage brokerage and created his platform in an attempt to make private lending more transparent and legitimate. Steve Saretsky is a Vancouver realtor who has been approached by companies like Neighbourhood Holdings to invest with them. The companies usually pitch investors a guaranteed investment return of eight or nine per cent, Saretsky said, although Neighbourhood Holdings said they have never claimed a guaranteed return. But Saretsky is wary of that promise and so far hasnt invested because I know the risk and where the markets going. There are possibilities where if the market goes down, investors can get a little more nervous and they can ask to get their funds back out, but a lot of these (mortgage investment corporations) have clauses that say they can put a hold on the funds if they wish, if they run into liquidity issues, Saretsky said. Theres definitely risk from an investor standpoint. Theres no such thing as a nine per cent guarantee. Little and Cashin both described the Greater Toronto market as a strong bet, with a large and growing population, high demand for housing and relatively high incomes to support real-estate purchases. But Vancouver is more of an open question right now, with the once red-hot market appearing to react to the governments new taxes and data disclosure rules. Its hard to come to a firm conclusion, Little said. Sales volumes are dropping, liquidity is dropping. Theres a lot less activity. Abadian said private lenders are needed especially now, as banks tighten their lending practices, to keep capital flowing in the real-estate market. I think theres a need, but its concerning how much theyre growing, Saretsky said. We saw this in the U.S. in 2006 and 2007. A lot of the lending growth started to turn more into the shadow lending sector, and thats kind of whats happening here. Clarification Nov. 15, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version to make clear that the statement about companies pitching investors a guaranteed investment return of eight or nine per cent was made by Vancouver realtor Steve Saretsky. As well, it has been updated to include a response from Neighbourhood Holdings. Correction Nov. 15, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated the value the owner saw disappear. In fact, the owner has seen $1.35 million in value disappear. Read more about: VANCOUVERMayor Kennedy Stewart is seeking a meeting with activist Desmond Cole, after Cole posted a video in which he alleges he was carded, or street checked, by a Vancouver police officer near a downtown park. Cole, a Toronto activist known for speaking out about racial profiling and carding, described in the video how he was stopped by an officer while walking on the sidewalk and smoking a cigarette, which the officer initially said was a bylaw infraction but which Cole disagreed. Cole alleges the officer then repeatedly questioned him about his identity and whereabouts. While the VPD has denied any wrongdoing, the post has elicited outrage on social media from city leaders and organizations. Mayor Stewart said in an interview with StarMetro on Wednesday that he is seeking a meeting with Cole, who is in Vancouver this week to give a talk on racial equity in Canada. Im reaching out to meet with Mr. Cole if he can this week before he leaves town, Id like to hear directly from him, not only this specific incident but also suggestions he might have for change, said Mayor Kennedy Stewart. He said that he will also be pursuing a meeting with police Chief Adam Palmer in order to gain a better understanding of the incident. I havent had the opportunity to speak with him about this matter, but I will be soon and Ill bring it up when I meet with him next, he said. But I have received a briefing from his office about this, so just trying to pull this all together to get a good understanding of whats happened here. Cole said that a VPD officer in a police cruiser stopped and questioned him when he was walking down Bayshore Drive on the edge of Marina Square while smoking. Cole said that the officer told him that smoking in a park was against a bylaw, which led to a disagreement about whether the place Cole was standing was within park limits. Cole said the officer then asked him to give his name, and Cole refused and then things quickly escalated. Clearly, we disagreed we were in a park, Cole said. He then said, Are you going to make this hard ... if you want to make this hard I can handcuff you and take you down to the police station. Cole said that officer left after approximately 15 minutes, leaving him enraged and scared. According to city regulations, smoking is banned in Vancouver parks, including Marina Square, but the bylaw does not state a ban on smoking on sidewalks. Cole is now calling for a complete end to carding in the city and across Canada, which unidentified as unnecessary policing, in favour of reinvesting that funding into public services. We have to start deciding whether stopping black people walking down the street on bylaw offences, by somebody with a gun or a taser, and driving a vehicle, using an enormous amount of resources to do what he did to me yesterday, and Vancouverites and Canadians have to decided if this is a good use of our resources, he said in an interview. Cole has been joined by city councillor Christine Boyle in calling for an end to carding in Vancouver, who tweeted her support on Tuesday. So glad to have @DesmondCole in town for this years @CCPA_BC gala. And very disappointed to hear that he was carded his first day here. The stats as stories are worth reading. We need to end carding in Vancouver. #BlackLivesMatter #IndigenousLivesMatter her tweet said. Josh Paterson, executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Association, confirmed that he had met with Cole following the incident on Tuesday. He said that while the organization is not calling for a complete end to carding, they want to see an end to discrimination within the practice. We do no think there is any room for arbitrary and discriminatory police stops here in Vancouver or anywhere in the country, he said. Weve called to an end to discriminatory street checks. While the VPD could not be reached for comment by the time of publication, in a previous statement they refuted the claims made in Coles video. The claim made in the video is not accurate. A street check was not conducted and no information was recorded. The officer did approach Mr. Cole about a bylaw infraction. In this case, our officer used his discretion and chose not to serve a bylaw offence ticket, said Const. Jason Doucette in the statement. In a previous story, StarMetro found that the VPD considered street checks to be a specific type of interaction, usually involving suspected criminal activity. However, police could be involved in many other kinds of interactions with the public that are not officially recorded. Cole said he believes the practice of police not recording their interactions with the public creates an environment of secrecy in which racialized people could potentially be targeted. I would ask: Why are the police engaging with the public and not recording it? What actual purpose do those interactions serve? he said. Earlier this year, the BCCLA and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) called for an investigation after a Freedom of Information request revealed that Black and Indigenous people were disproportionately carded in Vancouver compared to the rest of the citys population. Released in September, the police investigation concluded that there was no statistical basis for the allegations of racial discrimination in street checks. The BCCLA and the UBCIC then called for another investigation to be conducted by a third party, which is currently underway. With files from Jen St. Denis Read more about: EDWARDSVILLE Four of six proposed solar farms seeking special use permits from the Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals were approved by that board during a long meeting Tuesday. Property owner William Drake and SRE Solar Origination 1 LLC, also known as Summit Ridge Energy, had requested special use permits for six sites. The four sites approved were in Hamel Township, Worden and Marine. The two denied were in Hamel Township and St. Jacob Township. Several solar farm proposals have been approved by the ZBA, and later the Planning & Development Committee and full County Board. Other communities, including Godfrey, are also looking at proposals or changing ordinances to allow for the solar farms. There has been increased interest in solar projects throughout the state, in large part because of the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act. As part of the law the Illinois Power Commission will hold a lottery to determine which of Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016 has increased interest in solar projects around the state, including Madison County. The projects approved and being considered are community solar projects, which allow citizens to purchase power from the companies. The power is transmitted through the local power provider, in Madison County that would be Illinois Power. The projects are limited to two megawatts each. Kerri Neary, vice president of operations for Summit Ridge Energy, said that under the act the area served by Illinois Power will be initially allowed projects totaling about 100 megawatts, but various companies are expected to submit projects totaling estimated 1,400 megawatts. The projects moving forward will be determined by a lottery. She said the company will contract with individuals for up to 15 years, but the solar farms have an expected lifespan of approximately 25 years. After the facilities have ceased production the company is required to remove all the equipment and return the land to agricultural use. The sites approved are located at Green Hedge Road, Edwardsville; Staunton Road, Worden; and two sites in the 10200 block of Illinois State Route 143 in Marine. The two sites denied were referred to as the Hamel 3 and St. Jacob sites. The ZBA spent several hours hearing testimony and arguments over the proposals. A number of residents objected, citing issues ranging from flooding to encroachment on areas slated for business development. Many of the objections revolved around the views residents would have of the solar farms. Neary said in most cases the sites would be far enough away from residents that they would not be obtrusive. Several residents complained about the Hamel 3 site, which would have been located along Illinois State Route 157, drew objections from several neighbors. I dont want to look out my front door and see that, resident Diann Noll said. The other project that was denied, which would have been located on Ellis Road just outside of St. Jacob, had been objected to by several residents and St. Jacob village officials. Part of their objection was the land was within 1.5 miles of the village limits, and is under the villages comprehensive plan. That plan calls for that area to eventually to be zoned for business. The ZBAs action will go to the County Boards Planning & Development Committee for action, then to the full County Board for final approval. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. SPRINGFIELD, Illinois State Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) was honored this week with a retirement resolution in the Illinois State Senate. The resolution detailed the highlights of Haines public service career, including his 16 years in the Illinois Senate, 14 years as Madison County States Attorney and service as a member of the 1st Cavalry Division Airmobile in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. Its been an honor to serve the people of the 56th Senate District and Madison County for all of these years, Haine said. I appreciate their faith in re-electing me to represent them in the Illinois Senate and as a prosecutor in Madison County. Some of the top highlights of Haines tenure in the senate include: Spearheading a sweeping plan to modernize the levee system in the Metro East, which helped protect homes and businesses from damage in recent years flooding Maintaining state investment to allow the Edwardsville campus of Southern Illinois University to continue to expand Leading a successful effort to approve a Constitutional Amendment to protect the states Road Fund from being raided for non-transportation related spending, and Rallying the Illinois Senate to protest Chinas dumping of low quality, cheap steel to protect jobs at the US Steel plant in Granite City However, Haine cites his greatest accomplishment as his marriage to Anna, and the family they have built together. Haines retirement plans include spending time with Anna, their seven children and all 33 of their grandchildren. EDWARDSVILLE St. Johns United Methodist Church hosts a Holiday Market Place and breakfast with Santa Saturday, Dec. 1. The event is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, located at 7372 Marine Road, Rt. 143 in Edwardsville. Event features include Cookies by the Pound and a Craft and Flea Market, set with vendors, holiday goods, fresh cookies and fudge. Cookies cost $7 per pound. Child care is available for patrons while shopping. Breakfast with Santa is from 8 a.m. to noon, with an all-you-can-eat breakfast. Breakfast includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits with gravy. Adults cost $7; children cost $3; kids under 3 years old are free to dine. Santa will be available for photos from 9 a.m. noon. The church is also accepting new toys for Glen-Ed Pantry. All profits go to missions. For more information, contact the church office at 618-656-1853 or at thenewstjohns.com. John Badman | The Telegraph BETHALTO Mayor Alan Winslow says a vehicle that hit the Albers Lane Bridge near Bethalto three or four weeks ago, closing the bridge for a week, served as a partial trigger for the village to have the bridge replaced. Winslow said during the Nov. 12 village board meeting, the village passed a resolution to enter into an agreement with Oates & Associates to replace the current, one-lane bridge with a two-lane span, and to move the bridge to a different location over the Rocky Branch Creek. The current bridge is located near a curve where Culp Lane becomes Albers Lane. Lawmakers in the House could soon decide to raise the age limit for buying tobacco products to 21 despite a veto from the governor. The Senate approved the bill Wednesday with enough votes to override Gov. Bruce Rauners veto. It goes to the House next. The measure passed both chambers in the spring, Rauner vetoed it. The governor said that a Tobacco 21 law would just send smokers elsewhere to buy tobacco products rather than reducing the number of people who use it. Raising the age people can purchase tobacco products will push residents to buy tobacco products from non-licensed vendors or in neighboring states, the governor wrote in his veto message. Proponents of the measure said tobacco contains toxic chemicals and known carcinogens. They say it leads to increased public health costs. State Sen. Dan McConchie opposed the override attempt. He said 18-year-olds already have adult responsibilities. You can marry, he said. You can have children that youre financially responsible for. You can buy property. You can borrow money that you cant afford to pay back. You can even decide who should be governor of the state of Illinois or should be president of the United States but you are not wise enough to be able to determine whether or not to buy and use this particular product. Other opponents had said the measure is nonsensical given that 18-year-olds can volunteer to serve and die for their country in the military. State Sen. Michael Hastings, a veteran himself, dismissed that notion. He said a four-star general told him the military isnt meeting its recruitment goals and this will help. The senior-most military member in our entire country last week stated to me that obesity and health-related issues are one of the No. 1 reasons why we are not able to meet the recruiting mission to the United States Army Despite objections, the measure passed with enough votes to override the governors veto. It now heads to the House. Veto session runs through the end of the month. Attorney General Lisa Madigan has joined 12 other attorneys general supporting a California law that limits when and how local law enforcement officers can cooperate with federal immigration authorities. California passed the law to improve public safety by focusing on crime prevention and building trust between law enforcement and residents. In an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in United States v. State of California, Madigan and the other attorneys general said the court should uphold Californias law because states have the responsibility and the independent authority to protect public safety, regulate law enforcement, and decide how to use their limited resources. The federal government is going out of its way to prevent immigrants from entering and staying in our country and harming public safety efforts in the process, Madigan said. State and local officials are in the best position to make judgments about how to allocate resources to keep our communities safe and we will continue to follow that approach in Illinois. The lawsuit against California was filed by the federal government as part of its suppression of both legal and unauthorized immigration. It sought to strike down SB 54, the California law placing limits on how much state and local law enforcement officials can coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and enforce federal civil immigration law. In March, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions traveled to California to announce that he was filing a lawsuit against the state. A lower court denied his request for a preliminary injunction, and the Trump administration has appealed to the Ninth Circuit. In their amicus brief, the other attorneys generals contend Californias law should be upheld because states have independent authority to protect public safety, the law does not interfere with the enforcement of federal immigration law, and it is unconstitutional for the federal government to commandeer state resources. Joining Illinois in filing the brief are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.